~Chapter 10~
Elsa
The ship was scarcely manned by sailors. It wasn't a galleon by any means, but I expected more people on board. Hans walked on eggshells around me and I wish I could remember why. I hated this. The morning sun hit the fjord beautifully as I stared off the starboard bow drinking in the salty air. Hans approached me from behind clearing his throat as my palms began to add a light layer of frost to the rail where I was resting my hands. I squeezed my eyes shut trying to keep it together.
"Queen Elsa, I was sorry to hear about the Great Flood. How has the rebuild been going?"
"There's no need for formalities." I replied, "And thanks for your concern. The rebuilding process is...well, it's being dealt with."
"A lot has changed in the past year."
"Has it?"
"You've definitely changed."
My hands balled into fists as everything in my gut was screaming against this man.
"Enough with the small talk, alright. I'm not in the mood."
"Someone is snippy this morning."
"Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
"I thought I did, but now I'm not so sure."
He paused for a moment and I hoped he would leave me alone, but of course, it wasn't going to be that easy.
"I'm not the same man I was before, you know." He muttered.
I looked at him trying to read what he was telling me, but I continued to have no recollections. If no memories triggered with my own sister, why would they trigger with this stranger?
"People change all the time." I muttered.
His mouth tilted into an intrigued smile.
"I'm happy to hear you say that." Hans nodded, "Look, as I said, I don't expect your forgiveness after what happened last year, but after returning to the Isles disgraced, my father made me work off my debts in hard labor. My title was revoked and father barely acknowledges me as his son. I don't know if I'll ever gain his trust again…"
His voice trailed off and I felt sympathy for the man. I may not remember anything about my life, but I had a keen sense to see if someone was lying. Hans was sincere. He seemed almost as lost and as hurt as I was.
"Don't give up." I replied, looking away out toward the water, "Sometimes forgiveness takes time. I'm sure your father will come around."
"I'm well on my way…" He nodded with a smile, "He never thought I'd get you to come with me anywhere calling it a lost cause."
"You said he sent you here."
"He did, he just didn't think you'd come."
My body stiffened feeling uneasy. Was something false?
"Else, you're not good at hiding your emotions…"
"You're still mad and have every reason to be, but can I request a favor even though I have no right to ask…"
"What?" I snapped.
"Can we start over?" He pleaded.
"Start over…" I pressed trying to identify what exactly he was meaning.
"What happened before, happened and I want to begin again."
I shrugged.
"I mean, why not?"
Clearly there was some discord that happened before between us, but what good would it do me remembering now? It was a relief to me to start over with this man.
"Really?" He asked in disbelief and then he bowed low.
"I'm Hans of the Southern Isles. Pleased to meet you."
"Elsa of Arendelle." I replied.
"I can't wait to show you my home." He nodded with a smile.
After a few hours on the ship, I was counting down the minutes until I could be on land again. I had decent sea legs, but the waters of the fjord were rough today and that made this journey more difficult than I anticipated. At one point I tried practicing my magic containment by freezing one of my boots to the floor of the ship so I wouldn't wobble around as much. I don't know if I got out on ships much before, but judging by my lack of sturdy sea legs, it didn't seem like that was the case. I took steady breaths drinking in the salty air. It was soothing to me. Maybe I should make a point to do this more often. Out here in the open water, I had less of a chance to hurt people if my powers got unruly. Gaining my control was tricky and it didn't help that they definitely got a surge in power depending on my mood and emotions.
"So how is your sister doing?" Hans suddenly asked.
I glanced at him curiously.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious." He shrugged.
She's probably better not having me around, I thought to myself. She can run Arendelle free of worry over her sister. She had support there and that's what she needed most.
"I don't want to talk about her." I said looking away as my hands balled into fists.
Hans frowned, biting his lip.
"I thought we were starting over." He muttered.
"Let's talk about your family then." I said.
He sighed hesitating a reply.
"Fine, we're getting off the subject." He said.
Frost began to exude from my palms beginning to grow over the railing.
"You know, in another month it'll be the holidays on the Isles. You should come back over and judge the snowman contest."
"Don't mock me."
"I'm serious."
"I don't think you or your father will want me around. My coming here is a formality I'm sure. I just desperately needed a change of scenery."
"What's going on, Elsa?" Hans pressed.
He looked at me sympathetically stepping toward me getting uncomfortably close.
"After I take you to my father, we can ditch the Isles. I don't have any ties there anymore anyway. We can just travel the world together. What do you say?"
My first thought was how amazing the idea sounded. Though my gut was screaming at me that it was a bad idea.
"I say, let's just start by seeing your father." I nodded.
An eerie fog began to settle in around us. The lookout above us sitting on a stoop near the mast looked out upon the waters with a spyglass.
"Southern Isles off the port bow!" He cried.
The crewman steering the ship called to Hans suddenly.
"It'll be hard to dock if we can't see, Hans."
"Slow our speed, captain. We'll get ashore." Hans nodded.
It was easy to notice the change in speed. I shook my feet free of my protective frost and looked up above me. Mist held water, which was technically ice in its natural form. I took in a breath and threw my arms above my head and swayed them over my head. With a quick thrust, I threw my arms to my side and I parted the mist just around the immediate area of the ship, but it was just enough to see the port of the Southern Isles, which we were nearing. The captain sped us right to the dock and Hans offered me his arm as the crewmen steadied the gangplank to get off the ship.
"Come on, Elsa. Let me show you my home." Hans smiled.
For being so late in the year, this place was quite green and lush. Up from the dock lay a small cobblestone path heading north. There was a small shack in the middle of the docks for the harbormaster to keep track of all the ships. Near that was a small stable where two horses were saddled already waiting.
"You know how right?" Hans asked, as we approached the horses.
I couldn't tell if he was teasing or being serious. In either case, I felt immediately annoyed. I made him eat his words as I threw my leg over the saddle and reared the horse speeding down the path.
"Hey wait up, Elsa!" Hans called toward me.
I could barely hear him over the thunderous hoof sounds on the cobblestones. Of course, I didn't know where I was going, but there was only one path to follow and it was the Southern Isles, it's not like there would be too much land to cover.
Just as I noticed from the docks, the land was green and beautiful. The landscape looked like it came straight out of a painting. Deer darted across the path ahead of us as we made our way forward and I gripped the reins tensely. I grew more nervous the further we got. Immediately I pulled back on the reins slowing my speed as Hans sped past me. Curiously, he pulled back and turned to face me.
"What's the matter?"
"I shouldn't be here."
"Why? My father sent me to get you as our guest. He wants to make amends after what I did last year."
There it was again, the memories I didn't remember.
"What happened to starting over?"
"We can, but my father will most definitely bring it up." Hans said.
"Your homeland is beautiful. Almost as lush as Arendelle." I winked.
"Of course, you're biased. Though Arendelle has one thing on the Southern Isles…"
"And what's that?"
"Good leadership." Hans nodded.
I smirked slightly.
"Hans, I think you've got a brown little something on your nose." I teased.
"I mean it, Elsa." He said.
"You speak so openly against your father. Isn't that treason?" I said, lowering my voice.
"What does that matter? My father hasn't treated me like a son in a long time."
I felt sympathy for him. The hurt was easily heard in his voice. I wish I knew what to say.
"I know it can be hard…" I started to say, "But I don't think you should take family for granted…"
My voice trailed off as I thought of my sister. Anna who has fought so hard for me to remember things about our past, which only made me feel that much more pressure and strain. Was the amnesia a way for my mind to protect itself from pains of my past?
"Elsa?" Hans said waving his hand in front of my eyes as I snapped back to attention.
"Follow me to the palace, yeah?"
"Uh-huh, lead the way." I nodded.
I let Hans take the lead, but I kept up with him as we continued down that cobblestone path. The terrain soon went from flat to a slight incline. Then the path narrowed as it wound around the side of a cliff. As we came around the corner, I saw a grand sight in the form of the Southern Isles palace. It was an architectural marvel. The building itself was some sort of reddish color like brick, but it was a light stone. Several spires decorated the edge of the roof of the main building. Though there was one singular tall tower that rose adjacent to the palace. A pair of flags decorated the archway above the bridge leading beyond the walls that surrounded the place.
"Wow, you grew up here?"
"Eh, it's alright. Though it is a bit bigger on the inside." Hans shrugged.
Did he seriously think the outside wasn't big?
The cobblestone path became a bridge with supports that came up from a flowing river several yards below. It was quite the drop down. The bridge led up to the gate with two guards stationed waiting for us.
"Hans, you're early." One of them greeted.
"Much to my father's disapproval I'm sure." Hans muttered.
Hans hopped off his horse and offered me his hand as a polite gesture to help me down next. The gate opened into a beautiful courtyard filled with various flowers and several water fountains spread throughout. The smells that filled my nose were overwhelming. With each step I took I was focusing quite hard to not let my nerves get the better of me. The least of my worries would be accidentally freezing the flowers and fountains, let alone everything within sight. Had Anna and I ever traveled here before? I wish I knew.
Hans led me forward into the palace as I clapped my hands to my side nervously. Hanging above the gate was the flag of the Southern Isles; the whole of the triangular flag was navy with thin stripes covering it with a single star in the corner. Upon entering the main hall, a few servants greeted Hans with polite bows as we came in.
"I thought you were renounced of your title?" I questioned.
"In my father's eyes, yes, but I still have loyal subjects I suppose." Hans shrugged.
A deep red carpet covered the tiled marble floor that rounded at the end up a wide staircase leading to the second floor. Hans was right, it was bigger inside than it looked outside. Pillars of stone held the ceiling that was covered in bright artistic paintings of various designs. Some watercolor and others were oils. So much art in just this room alone. Upstairs, we came down a long narrow hallway as two guards yanked open a pair of wooden doors leading into the throne room. It was a large circular room with a man sitting on a large carved chair in the center. He locked eyes with me as Hans made the introductions.
"Father, may I present Queen Elsa of Arendelle, brought here by your request."
I swallowed an unnerved gulp as I bowed respectfully.
"King Magnus of the Southern Isles." The man bellowed as he lowered the scepter in his hand.
"Your palace and grounds are breathtaking, your majesty...I appreciate your invitation-"
"Enough with the formalities Queen Elsa!" King Magnus scowled, "I'm a blunt man and an impatient one so I will get straight to the point of why I sent for you."
Hans took a step toward his father.
"Father, please we traveled a great distance. Details can be discussed in the morning." Hans pleaded and the king glared at his son.
"Silence boy, know your place!" Magnus shouted, "Leave us."
Hans hesitated, barely glancing at me and left the room with no argument. Magnus fell quiet for a moment and it was so quiet I was afraid he would be able to hear my restless heart beating frantically inside my chest.
"I've heard a lot about the ice queen of the north…" He began.
"Oh?" I replied nonchalantly.
"Hans was after a throne and disgraced our nation by his actions. I will never forgive him for his crimes."
"Surely with some time…"
"Enough, that is none of your concern!" Magnus roared, "Now what is your concern is what I need you to do for me…"
"And what might that be?" I snapped ignoring any sort of pleasantries. He was snapping at me and I had half a mind to snap right back due to his rudeness. King or not.
"Two of my sons have gone missing."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but I don't understand how I might possibly help when you have soldiers at your disposal."
"My late wife and I only had one set of fraternal twins a year before Hans was born. They never agreed with the royal lifestyle and did everything in their power to abandon it turning to a life of crime. I had no choice but to banish them."
"King Magnus, I'm still confused as to why I'm here. If you banished them, why send anybody after them now?"
"Because they have a lust for power and I hear from my scouts who I have sent time and again to keep tabs on them that my sons have their eyes fixed on Arendelle."
My heart immediately sank as my heart went to my sister. My protective instincts took over and I wanted to leave and return home to warn Anna, but then I thought rationally. I easily would have the power to stop the threat before it would even hit Arendelle shores.
"Find my boys, bring them back here in my custody and I will offer anything that Arendelle might need after the flood. Money? Food? Man power for any construction needs? You name it, it's yours. The Isles will be indebted to Arendelle forever."
"Where will I find them?" I asked.
"My scouts last saw them in Corona in person. They have left quite the legacy with wanted posters naming them The Stabbington Brothers."
"One more question your Majesty…" My voice trailed off timidly, "Why me?"
"You have power. You're a strong leader. You're the perfect bait to get them to come to you. Do whatever you have to. You will be rewarded."
"I don't need a reward for myself, but just assurances for Arendelle."
"Indeed." He replied curtly and waved his hand for me to leave.
I left that room feeling like I had been gutted without someone taking a stab at me with a knife. Hans said whatever he did to get me here and I fell for it. He was a puppet sent by his father just to use me for his father to get what he needed. Now that Arendelle was on the line, I had no choice in the matter. Did this tie into whatever the past history was?
After meeting King Magnus, Hans asked a few questions about the meeting with his father, but I dodged answering insisting not to talk about it here. Hans didn't push me like I thought he would and took me back to the main hall where he introduced me to a few of his brothers. After six, I was beginning to lose track.
"Forgot I had twelve?" Hans teased.
Yes. Yes I did. I thought.
"Must have slipped my mind." I shrugged.
With all the introductions, I felt tired and my hands grew colder than normal. It was time to step away and be alone for a bit before I power reared its ugly self. I was shown to a guest room by a pair of servants. They filled a large bowl on the dresser with fresh water and laid a small towel beside it. I didn't realize how tired I was until I sat down on the edge of the bed. It felt weird being so far from home in a new country. I walked over to the dresser dipping the towel in water to gently wash my face. It felt nice washing the muck of travels away. I peered down into the water as I went to dip the towel again and saw a pair of purple eyes starting back. It looked like the face of a horse, but it scared me and blasted the bowl with my ice sending it crashing to the ground. The ruckus naturally sent a servant banging on my door.
"Queen Elsa, are you quite alright?" The servant asked.
I took several deep breaths before opening the door awkwardly handing the servant the large bits of broken glass.
"Forgive me, I tripped." I lied, "I can pay to replace the bowl."
"Don't be silly." the servant replied, taking the broken glass from me, "Goodnight."
She curtsied and quickly disappeared down the long hall. I returned to the bed quickly laying myself down on the pillow pulling the covers up close. I had felt like a fraud for months in Arendelle and coming here and acting like a queen diplomat for Arendelle made me sick. The king made his demands clear and I was trying to make plans in my head. Hans must have known what his father was up to and that is what infuriated me most. Trying to earn sympathy points by talking about his grievances between him and his father. What an act! I would leave first thing in the morning and do what I could with what was demanded of me. The blackmail was underhanded and I had no choice, but to meet his demands otherwise, people of Arendelle or even my sister, would never forgive me. My eyes finally closed trying to put my worries at ease and thoughts of that man Marcus filled my mind as I drifted off.
Hey Readers! Hope you're liking Echoes of Revelation thus far! This specific chapter was fun for me to brainstorm just imagining what the Southern Isles would be like since we didn't get any context from the movies. So yeah, stay tuned. More to come :D