July 21st, 1840
Arendelle Outskirts
It was another very early Scandinavian morning when the carriage pulled up, with Guardsmen dismounting to check the perimeter as was their duty. As the Queen's Own personal guardsmen, they executed this task quickly and efficiently, before the Queen stepped out.
Any doubt that this was indeed the right place vanished as Elsa saw the horse she had given to her contact mere days before. As such Elsa waited patiently until out of the mist the contact arrived. Wearing faded a faded brown jacket and pants, with a tan slouch hat and black boots, the contact certainly did go for inconspicuous, with a few issues. For starters, the red cotton kerchief acting to wick sweat from the neck did its best but failed to cover the grey undershirt that every soldier was issued. Secondly a knife and revolver hung from the belt, not to mention the arsenal strapped to the horse. Clearly this was a dangerous person. And of course finally, there was the biggest issue with the ability to blend in.
The contact was a woman.
"Ms. Holstadt, thank you for lending your services again. I do hope you've been successful."
The soldier turned spy shifted before clasping her hands in her lap, smiling. "Well your Majesty, I found the man you wanted, and he's ready to talk to you." She paused, before finishing. "And by the way, feel no need to thank me. I'm more than willing to serve the Queen in any capacity that keeps me in trousers."
Elsa kept a regal and stoic face even if she was very perplexed on the actions and dressing habits of the spy. Now Elsa had been taught a great many things that were not considered feminine, and she had even had to don trousers to do them. But she had always considered herself a Lady. And Elsa determined there was very little womanly qualities in Holstadt. But Elsa was a pragmatist. Here, she needed a loyal spy, not a Lady.
"Have you been briefed on your next mission?"
"Yes, your Majesty. The good Colonel has been informed of possible trouble in the north. I'm to verify."
Elsa nodded, causing Eva to smile, revealing slightly crooked teeth from a life of brawling and outdoor activity. Eager to get to work, she swiftly mounted her horse. Tipping her hat as a salute, she stated a simple "Farewell, your Majesty" before spurring her horse down the road. Elsa sighed, before tackling the task on hand.
The young Queen entered through the farm yard gate into the small clearing, surrounded by pine trees and dominated by a simple homestead on a slight rise. But the figure of main importance was already at work, splitting firewood. The older man had white hair and a full beard, but the areas his widow's peak and beard did not cover showed heavy scarring. His rough hands and vacant green eyes were just as telling in the simple fact that this man had seen more war than a man should.
This was why Elsa was here. The man was named Friedrich Bauer, and he held the distinction of being the only surviving member of her father's Freikorps band left in Arendelle. He was only one of two people left in Northern Europe able to tell her late father's tale, the other being King Frederick of the Southern Isles. And Elsa didn't think she was ready to talk to him yet.
"Mister Friedrich?"
"Ja, ja I'm here." He stopped splitting wood before turning to face the daughter of his former commander. "Do me a favor, just call me Bauer. With two freds in the band, it's all I was called anyways."
"As you wish… Bauer. I was told you served with my father in the Freikorps. As such I have some questions-"
Driving his axe deeply into a final cord of fire wood, he stopped and turned to face the queen. "Found daddy's war chest, have you?"
Elsa cast her eyes down for a moment, before shifting in discomfort. "…Yes."
"Well, I'll fully admit right now, I never knew your da' too well. I got there later, after he lost friends. He wasn't too interested in making more."
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious? So when we got killed, it wouldn't bother him. Not that he didn't care for us as his men. He was a good commander in that way."
Elsa's face lit up, lightly relieved that the words 'good' was used to describe her father. "So he was a good man?"
"Good commander, Queen Elsa. Not paragon of virtue. He whored, drank and looted as much as the rest of us. And let's not get started on what he did to the enemy."
"What did he do?"
Bauer looked a little nervous, his eyes shifting in clear discomfort. "I'd rather not say."
Elsa's demeanor changed to anger, before she demanded "What did he do!?"
The old man sighed, his shoulders slumping as discomfort washed over him. "There was this Frog fort. Was used to exert control over the area. Your dad had a grudge with the commander. Now we tricked the French dogs out into the open, where we cut down most of the garrison. But the commander escapes to the fort. Your father doesn't like that. Not one bit. So we return to the fort, and we take it without too much of a fuss. Kill the commander and the soldiers who fight, but some surrender."
Bauer paused, before drinking from a flask of some sort of grog. Elsa could tell that by the older man's facial expression, that this was an ugly, painful memory. She didn't like where this was going.
"Well, we do them in too. I was shocked but that was standard. They don't show us mercy, we show none in return. But your dad wasn't finished. There were a few locals there. Your dad ordered them locked in the food store. We think it's so they can't report, while giving them food to live off of until other French forces arrive."
Tears formed in the man's eyes, his whole body trembling with anger and shame as he finished his story.
"We… set fire to the stores. And we sat there, until the screams stopped. And the whole time, your da' just watched, blank as could be. Like he was waiting for the yule log to go out."
Both Elsa and Bauer stood in silence for an awkward moment.
"Your father was a great man to serve under. You could not ask for a more dedicated man to his troops. I would follow that man through the gates of hell. Trust me when I say that, Queen Elsa. For after that night, that's where we all thought we were headed."
…
It had been a long quiet ride back to the palace, in which Elsa had plenty of time to think about her next move. Today had been earmarked for a special occasion, one that had postponed for ages until now. Back during the coronation, Elsa was informed of the surprise visit of Princess Rapunzel, their cousin. During the time she was of course anxious to avoid it due to her powers, however even now she still was eager to avoid a visit for one simple reason.
If Rapunzel hadn't been found, her parents would still be alive.
Of course Elsa didn't hold a grudge against her closest living family outside Anna and her Aunt, but it was a living reminder of her loss. She never really knew the girl anyways, and unlike Anna had never bothered to correspond via letters. Unlike for Anna, who was desperate to expand her family unit, this was just business.
In addition to the unpleasantness of dealing with her cousin, Elsa decided today would be the day Anna found out about her father's activities during the war. While she wanted to avoid dampening the spirits of today's event with their cousin, it was important to Elsa to clear the air. Every hour she delayed would increase Anna's anger at Elsa for not telling the truth, and Elsa figured it would be best to sap Anna's joy now, for it to be regained by talking to Rapunzel.
As the carriage pulled into the castle, Elsa peered out the window and spotted a clearly excited Anna barely containing herself. Knowing that she was going to meet her cousin upon Elsa's return, Anna managed to drag herself out of bed early in order to be ready to go at the earliest possible moment. Elsa felt a little guilty that such enthusiasm was to be rained on, but sometimes the truth hurts.
Elsa took a deep breath, before exiting the carriage and walking up to Anna. Having no idea of Elsa's intentions, Anna ran towards her, intending of grasping her hand. Before she could, Elsa drew back, before casting her head down.
"Elsa?" Anna asked, having grown concerned in a moment. Anna still was unaware of Elsa's intentions, but was used to Elsa's understandable mood swings and panic attacks.
"Anna we need to talk. It's about Papa."
…
Half an hour later Anna sat on a chair in mind numbing shock. She saw Elsa's mouth move and heard her voice, but she had long since blocked it out. It was all too much for her.
Arrayed around her was the evidence from the chest and elsewhere that Elsa had brought in. The black uniform. The newspapers and reports on the Freikorps and the 'tooth fairy'. The wedding bands. Even the golden teeth and crowns. And tying it together was Elsa going over in detail on all thing things he had done, from childhood memories to the witness accounts of others. It was a mountain of evidence, and it was damning. But damn it all, because it was her father.
He had never shown any action that could have hinted at the abject cruelty displayed in these accounts. Was locking Elsa away for 10 years misguided? Yes. Cruel? Not intentionally. After the great thaw, Elsa had told her that father visited Elsa with mother every day. He went to great lengths to both comfort her and Elsa, as well as guiding them through childhood. Even with a nation to run, Agdar attempted to make up for Elsa's absence in her life by playing with her.
Thusly Anna's mind could simply not comprehend that the 'tooth fairy' and her loving father could be the same man. It didn't make sense. She knew all too well now that looks could be deceiving, that men like Hans existed in this world. But Hans made sense. He wore a mask for gain. But even that mask lasted only so long before true nature came out. But how could Agdar have been wearing a mask? He was kind and loving to them their whole life… Often at his own expense. How can someone so good be capable of such evil? Then a terrifying series of thoughts struck her. During both the coronation and since, she heard a recurring series of conversations.
Princess Anna, so glad to meet you! Why, you remind me so much of Agdar when he was younger…
Excuse me your highness, but did anyone tell you're just like your father did before the war…
To King Agdar, bless 'is soul. Why Anna, you look and act a lot like he did when he was a lad. You know, before the war? More Feminine, sure. But just like 'im!
Even Gerda had remarked more than once: "Princess Anna sure is her father's daughter!"
Could she… be like him?
Suddenly Anna felt ill, cradling her head in hands, rocking on the chair. Feeling nauseous, she only had time to spill out one thing. "Elsa, I think… I'm going to be sick."
"Anna?"
Anna slumped over in her chair, the nausea been strong enough to cause her to faint as she had a horrific thought of herself doing what Papa had done.
"ANNA!" As Guardsmen rushed into the room in response to the Queen's yells, Elsa wasted no time in organizing them. "One of you go inform Gerda and Kai that Anna has fainted! The rest of you, get Anna to the Infirmary!"
"Your Majesty!" Elsa turned to the familiar voice, somewhat pleased to see the young Guardsman who had distinguished himself during the great freeze, Corporal Eriksen. "How are we to move the Crown Princess? We'd have to destroy a table to carry her out on it!"
Elsa paused, before thinking of a solution. She tapped her emotions to summon a stretcher consisting of ice poles and the ice fabric her dress was made of. The Guardsmen still a little unused to such things paused in awe, before refocusing and moving the unconscious Princess onto the stretcher before the two Guardsmen carried out the Queen's order, leaving her alone with Corporal Eriksen. Realizing the conflict of scheduling that was about to occur, Elsa didn't waste any time.
"Corporal, go inform the Princess Rapunzel that Anna is feeling ill, and we'll have to postpone until tomorrow."
"Your Majesty, as a member of the Queen's Own, it's my duty to protect you. I can't simply leave you-"
"Corporal, I'm safe in my own castle. I'm willing to risk being alone for a brief period to avoid a diplomatic incident. Now go!"
Eriksen clicked his heels and bowed, before heading for the Coronan guest suite, feeling guilty but feeling he had no choice.
…
Corporal Eriksen was at attention in Sergeant Hvitstrom's office, and not in a good way. Shortly after he returned to Queen Elsa, he was ordered to report to his Commander on charges of dereliction of duty in regards to leaving Elsa alone. These events weren't rare, but they were serious business. Luckily, like most of the time these things start, there was a good reason.
"It didn't take too long after that to deliver the report, and by the time I had returned, I had found that Princess Anna had recovered, though she was confined to the infirmary on Queen's orders. And that Sergeant, is why Queen Elsa was alone when you had arrived on the scene. I had received a direct order from her Majesty, and was carrying it out."
Still looking far from pleased, Sergeant Hvitstrom stood up from his desk, placing his hands behind his back before moving around the room. "I can't say you acted wrongly, Eriksen. But I can't say you were in the right, either."
"Sergeant?"
"A common mistake many make, including the guard, is thinking that we are loyal to Queen Elsa. We are not. We… are loyal to the crown. Monarchs come and go Eriksen. We protect the position, the throne, and the crown at all costs. If heavens forbid, something where to happen, we would be expected to guard the next recipient no matter our thoughts towards them, or the previous occupant."
Eriksen shifted uncomfortably, not liking what he was hearing from his commander. He had after all accepted the position as a way of affirming loyalty to the Queen after his doubts in her during the great freeze. He didn't like this talk of non-loyalty. But he couldn't blame the man. Less than a month after joining the Queen's Own, a then Lance Corporal Hvitstrom received the blow of King Agdar's death. Perhaps he was trying to spare the Corporal any pain. Hvitstrom sighed, before finishing.
"Don't grow too attached to Queen Elsa, Corporal. Fate might steal her away from you."
…
Ever since the Grenadiers had arrived in Arendelle, there had been issues accommodating that many soldiers in what was a relatively small city. As such, while the staff scoured the city looking for places to fit NCOs and officers, the enlisted men had taken to camping in the courtyard of the Royal Castle.
While passes and leaves were being doled out by the stack in order to keep the men in good morale, as others were kept busy through work details, sooner or later the inevitable happened. Soldiers ran out of productive things to do as they sat around waiting for orders.
In other words, they got bored.
Mikael Eriksen and his comrades sat against one of the western castle walls as dinner brewed in a makeshift woodstove borrowed from one of the locals. They were cool thanks to the shade provided by the walls as the sun prepared to set in the west, despite their woolen uniforms. While in full uniform including caps, they had received permission from the Regimental Surgeon to air their feet out as much as possible. As such they lined their jackboots in the edge of their area, as the lads let their blistered and battered feet breathe.
Each soldier had their own way of passing the time. For Mikael this was writing letters, as well as his journal. Other hobbies enjoyed by the infantry was mending socks and uniforms, card games, wood carving, weapon maintenance, smoking and most of all, bullshitting.
"Hey Eriksen!" It was Karlsen, the squad's chatterbox. Coming from a family background of well-educated types, he had failed university and now found himself cut-off. He needed a job, and figured the Army would be a good way to get back. He also was not a stranger to pre-marital relations. "You know the game. Queen Elsa, Princess Anna, and Princess Rapunzel."
"No Karlsen, not with the royalty. We've talked about this." This was Lance Corporal Lundgren, the assistant Squad Leader. While the Corporal was out doing NCO business, he was expected to keep an eye on the others. It was a job he took seriously, and he didn't take foolishness lightly.
"Come on! We've done literally everybody else!"
"No, and that's final."
A brief moment of awkward silence ensued, before Mikael stopped writing his letter, looking up. He gave Karlsen a grin before slowly and deliberately announcing his intentions.
"Marry Elsa, fuck Anna, and kill Rapunzel. What can I say, I'm a patriot."
"Goddamnit Eriksen, now you know the whole squad is going to-"
"Nah, you got it all wrong Eriksen. Fuck Elsa, marry Rapunzel, and kill Anna."
"You do realize that's technically treason, right?" Lundgren said on a worried note, looking around to ensure no officers are about.
"Meh, better the spare than the heir, and not even love of country is going to stop me from getting that blonde Polish beauty!"
"Actually she's brunette now. My brother's a Royal Guardsman, he told me."
"She is? Well fuck me!"
"Not that any of us had a chance to begin with!" It was Vilgerdarsen, the joker and troublemaker. Always a little eccentric, he was capable of spinning some incredible stories and rumors. But he was extremely gifted at foraging and looting, and was an incredibly smooth talker. "I have it on very good authority that the Queen prefers the company of women, if you know what I mean. And when I say women, I mean her sister."
"There is no way the queen is an incestuous lesbian!"
Vilgerdarsen shrugged his shoulders. "What I hear is what I hear, Kamerat."
"How would that even work? I mean without dicks, how would they…"
"Tribadism" At this point Lance Corporal Asgeirsen spoke up. The oldest man in the squad, he spent many years in the Merchant marine, and was easily the most experienced in matters of life.
"What the Hell is Tribadism?"
The older man put down his pipe, before holding out his two hands. Making scissors with both of his hand's index and middle fingers, he carefully explained. "Imagine that these are both women's legs."
The others listened intently, with Eriksen prodding the conversation forward. "Alright."
Asgeirsen then rotated his right hand ninety degrees, before bringing both wedged together and proceeding to mash the two 'scissors' together at the base. A collective "ah" expression swept through them all, with some even saying it. As a few of them looked at him with inquisitive looks, he decided to preempt them and state the source of this forbidden knowledge.
"Singapore is one hell of a place, fellows."
As the fellows ran scenarios in their head of Singapore, one man finally spoke. It was Jegersen. Barely literate yet highly intelligent, Jegersen was by far the best shot in the squad. Having transferred from the Gebirgsjager to go campaigning, it was fully expected he would go back. Up to this point he had been silently chewing tobacco and cleaning his rifle to perfection.
"I don't know why you are so interested in the Queen anyways. I heard she's cold as ice, so you might as well stick your dick in a snow bank. Anna is the one I'd go for. Anna is a wildcat who clearly appreciates rugged men. Just look at her and that Kristoff fellow."
Having finished his spiel, he turned to spit out a bit of tobacco juice, before carrying on with rifle cleaning.
However Vilgerdarsen poked his head back in. "I say Jegersen's right. I heard that the Queen's vagina is not exactly the most hospitable environment for your member. Think about it. All that… fluid and next thing you now, flash freeze! You could get stuck!"
Nobody said it, but everybody thought it. The image of a flash freeze, followed by them caught up in the moment and continuing the rhythm… to tragic consequences. All the men at least winced, with a few even covering their genitals in a reflex. Eager to change the subject, and acting on a thought that came up the other day, Mikael spoke up.
"Wanna know what I think? The Queen can make things out of the snow and ice right?"
"Go on."
"Well, she can make anythingout of ice. Anything."
Lundgren stopped what he was doing, the realization of what was said just hitting him. And like or not, his mind began to ponder. "No… she wouldn't do that… would she?"
Pouncing on the kill, Vilgerdarsen leaped in. "The cold never bothered her anyway, right Kamerat?"
The rest of the squad burst into idiotic laughter as Lundgren sat disturbed at the thoughts now in his head. It continued for a good moment, before dying down as an officer neared earshot. Oblivious to the dirty minds of his men, he silently passed. Another period of silence passed, as the group reengaged themselves in their hobbies. But true to nature, Karlsen popped his head back up.
"Okay. Master Bjorgman, Prince Hans, and the Duke of Weselton"
Lundgren shook his head. "Oh for fuck's sake!"
…
The sun lingered above the mountains in the west in the last moments before nightfall, casting twilight's shadow upon the land as Eva rode north along the road. Having made the trip north before, she knew that she was about to stumble across a village with a decent inn. As such while Eva kept an eagle's eye out for possible highwaymen, she was not too terribly worried about her plans.
Even though she was on a mission for the Queen, she at this point allowed her horse Kaldvind to trot down the road at a relaxed pace. While she knew the grey horse could move much faster, she had no intention of wearing her horse out. The relaxed speed allowed also to get a good look at the land giving her more time to react to potential threats.
It was when she saw the other rider that she laid her hand on her holster. She was a thin and frail woman on a horse, moving at a similar pace to hers. While she wore fairly ordinary traveling gear for women, she wore a steel mask and hood covering her entire head. As she rode closer, an overpowering smell of lady's perfume hit her, with a hint of something else that she couldn't quite grasp what it was.
Normally Eva would have discounted the lone rider as the odd leper, except for how youthfully and forcefully she carried herself on horseback. Despite all the traits that would indicate a rich, diseased old woman, this woman had a hidden strength. Eva was about to shrug it off as a curiosity when it hit her.
A sudden sense of wrong hit Eva, as well as her horse Kaldvind who became incredibly panicked, forcing her to calm him. She felt her heart begin to pound as her subconscious mind told her to get away from this woman. For her part the elderly rider rested her right hand on something as well, as her masked face turning its gaze directly at Eva. At this point she saw the eyes, bright and blue. Eva felt an odd feeling that she'd seen those eyes before somewhere, but she couldn't put her finger on it though.
The two passed each other, and before long the two riders relaxed their postures and Eva recovered from… whatever that was. As she exhaled forcefully, she paused and turned around. She didn't want to, but she felt it was her duty to at least warn the woman about the dangers ahead.
"Excuse me ma'am?"
The masked rider paused, before wheeling her horse about. Once again those vivid blue eyes fell upon her, causing the feeling of Déjà vu. The woman paused before answering in a surprisingly younger voice, though carrying a strange accent.
"Yes?"
"Not sure if you traveled this road before, but there isn't an inn for a considerable distance. And bandits do appear on these roads at night. You may want to turn back and sleep at the village tonight."
"I see. No matter, the dark never bothered me anyway. As for bandits, I can take care of myself."
Eva was impressed by the old woman's bravado, though she also considered it foolish to press he luck at night. However, it was her life to live.
"Safe journey and Thor's blessings, traveler."
The masked woman cocked her head, looking strangely at Eva, blinking quite a bit. As Eva shrugged and turned her horse back around, she was startled by a surprising "Wait!" from the other traveler. Eva looked back to see the other rider lowering her raised hand, having been shot up as a reflex when calling her.
"If you're heading north, I'd… be careful. People up there have been less than tolerant of followers of the old gods."
"Thanks for the warning. Farewell."
With that the two parted ways, both oblivious to the role the other was to play in the coming events.
…
Capital Docks, the Duchy of Weselton
It was evening when the ship finally came in, the voyage having taken a week to cover the distance back to Weselton in shame. They could have arrived earlier or offloaded faster, but the crew was acting on orders to wait until nightfall before offloading the precious cargo:
The Duke of Weselton. A disturbed Duke of Weselton.
Due to their prudent but low-key actions, only a few were on hand to see a still distraught Duke and his men being led onto the dock by a few Naval Officers towards the ducal palace. Most of the observers were dock workers and sailors, who had been paid off to keep "the Duke's image noble" as most were happy to comply. After all the Duke was a hero in Weselton.
One of the men who witnessed the scene wasn't a sailor or dock worker, nor had he been paid off. The man in the black suit, and overcoat had come to see his ruler come home and provide assistance if necessary. Not only that, but to see if his boy came home as well. His son was recently enlisted as a body guard to the Duke, thanks to his father's loyalty and faithful service. The boy was precious to the old man.
So when the large, mustached man stepped off the ship, the elder exhaled in relief through his greying but matching facial hair, before removing his top hat and wiping the nervous sweat off his brow. He was genuinely carefree for a moment, before approaching footsteps reminded him he had business to attend to first before he could hug his son.
The man in the lighter brown suit moved up aside of the other, before making his own observation of the Duke's current state.
"What a senile old goat, he is. He needs to hurry up and die so-"
A gold handled cane smacked painfully into his chest, cutting him off before he could make any more slander about the ruler of their small nation.
"It'd do you well to keep your mouth shut about things you don't understand, lad."
"No disrespect to you Mister Hawkins, but look at him! He's off his rocker!"
"He's been traumatized, and his mind does… wander at times. But this is the same man who built this nation from nothing. We are prosperous, wealthy, and minimally taxed. If it wasn't for him, we'd likely have crawled back to British rule. And that's not even mentioning what he did at Waterloo."
He deeply sighed, before switching from nostalgia and loyalty to the current reality. "I wish he did stand down, for his own good though. Let him enjoy the last years of his life with his family. Instead he is insistent on holding ono the reigns till he no longer can. And it's killing him. In any case, you have business you wish to discuss, Mister Johnson?"
"Yes. Our good friends in London want to assist us in dealing with the Snow Queen." He sarcastically quipped. No one in Weselton liked the English, but without them their country would be in abject poverty. They escaped direct English rule only to find them a client state.
Hawkins rolled his eyes. "What kind of assistance? I'm not too fond of doing England's dirty work unless they offer real help."
"Well, a shipment came in today, one consisting of over three thousand Brown Bess muskets. Amongst over things."
"Perfect. I know a man or two in Arendelle that'd be quite glad to overthrow the current establishment. Make the arrangements of a smuggling vessel to slip into Arendelle, Johnson. I'll ensure that our friends are on hand to receive the goods. The ship needs be ready to sail tomorrow."
"Yes, Master Hawkins." With that the younger man tipped his hat and departed.
The Elder Hawkins stood quietly, pondering the situation. He was eager to resolve the Snow Queen trouble as soon as possible, for the longer she in power, the more distressed his Duke would become. And at his age, the Duke didn't need any more stress. But first things first, he needed to embrace his son.
…
Queen's Highway, Arendelle
Ásta had ultimately decided to venture through the night, though as she approached midnight according to the newfangled pocket-watch she was given, she wish she hadn't. Though she needed only a few hours of sleep to rest her brain, it was hunger that was bothering her. Just as she was about to pull over to the side of the road and go 'hunting', a rustling in the bushes around her told her that this would have to wait.
Armed men emerged from the bushes, highwaymen here to shake travelers down upon threat of death, or worse for women. The police had done a good job in reducing the numbers of these vermin over the decades since Agdar first addressed the problem, but nighttime remained a dangerous time to be traveling for most lone travelers.
"All right ye' ol' hag. Hand over yer' goods and we'll let ye' go. Don't and we'll get ugly."
A ratty looking man licked his lips as he determined that the rider was a woman. "I hope dis one fights. We hadn't had a woman in weeks now…"
"Keep it in yer pants, fool. We don't harm 'em if they cooperate. Besides, this one's clearly old, and based on that mask, diseased." Turning back to his prey, he made his ultimatum. "So wassit gonna be, pain or payment?"
Ásta looked at the half dozen men surrounding her, one or two with muskets but the rest armed with hand weapons. To most lone travelers, this would have been a near suicidal fight. But Ásta was no ordinary traveler. She looked at the horses they had, salivating at the thought of all that meat. She knew what she was, and she did not worry about what was before her. As she reached for her sword, however a thought struck her. Suddenly, she was in a different time again.
She was older than last time, but still not quite a full grown woman. She was wearing light armor, designed for training, and armed with a wooden sword and shield. She had just ridden up to an open area, where an older warrior was waiting for her. She had met this man many times before, and had fought many a mock battle with him. Soon she would be ready for that summer's raid.
"Ah, Lady Ásta. Good to see you again. Now dismount so we can begin training."
"I've been told that the Christians Nobles to the south fight on horse. Why don't we?"
"Simple Ásta. The Christian nobility fight on horseback to distance themselves from the fighting. They send their peasants to die so they can ride over their corpses to victory. It's cowardly. We north men are different. Everyone fights in the shieldwall, from the King, to the lowest freeman. The Valkyries judge a man by his deeds, not who his father was. We all can go to Valhalla."
Ásta nodded her head, fully understanding why she needed to dismount now. As she did so, the master presented a package to her. She quickly thanked the man, opening the package before being astonished by what was inside.
"An Ulfberht!? How did you-"
"Your father commissioned it for you, a while back. Cost him a great deal too. That's one of the finest swords in the world, lady Ásta. Be a shield maiden worthy of it."
And she was back in the present. She paused, wondering how long she was out. The thugs around her still stood silently, so it could not have been long. Like she did before, she followed the instructions in her flashback.
So she quietly dismounted her horse much to the joy to the highwaymen, who now thought she had submitted herself to them. As they chuckled and moved closer she quickly drew her sword, causing them to jump back, before laughing. The leader began to speak again.
"Bad move, Grandma. Boys, kill her."
As they moved in, Ásta could only smile. She looked loser at her sword, reading the runes.
Ulfberht.
The finest sword in the world…
She didn't know how worthy she had been in her previous life. But as far as she was concerned, she would work hard to prove herself worthy again.
Starting with the criminals before her…
…
Bit of Notes.
First of all, I do apologize for not including the long awaited Rapunzel meeting this chapter. As it stands I was nearing 6000 words, and I still had several things that needed to be written still. So I decided to push it back a chapter, for the sake of brevity and expediting speed of update. My bad.
I also apologize for thus far not participating in 'Frozen month'. Every time I get an idea and some free time, the day that I corresponds with the idea has already passed. However I do intend to get at least one story out, likely in the 'AU section' or 'Love is…'. We'll see.
Things I do not apologize for. "Joe talk." For ages now I've been meaning to include a scene that revolved entirely around the discussions Infantry soldiers have. Now I'll admit that in reality, soldiers during the Victorian era would not be so casual on the subject of sex. For the sake of my universe, mine do. Despite what the commercials would have you believe, this is the average fighting man. Once my unit participated in a game of "Fuck, Marry, Kill" that lasted over an hour while conducting the first leg of a 25 mile road march. And for some odd reason, 75 percent of the candidates were men. Why? Because we ran through the attractive women of Hollywood in the first 5 minutes. It isn't pretty, but it's truthful. By the way, if you didn't figure it out, When Eriksen said Elsa could make anything, he was referring to an ice dildo. Just putting it out there.
Secondly, Weselton. Holy fuck, does EVERYBODY hate Weselton. I have run into many stories that trivializes Hans' cold blooded attempt at murder, or rationalizes it or redeems it. Yet a non-good looking Villain becomes overwhelmed by fear and acts on it, in support of the interests of his nation's livelihood, no he's evil. I have not run into ONE story that even attempts to humanize or redeem Weselton. Despite Weselton having MUCH more redeemable qualities and a larger good side. The man that was saddened for Anna's "passing" somehow gets more shit than the man who left her to die. Ain't that a bitch? Is Weselton a "good" guy? No, he still tried to kill Elsa in the name of profit for himself and his country. Still think most like to give him more shit than he deserves, especially in comparison to Hans. He is after all, a man who in his own head was good and likely thought he was acting in the interest of everybody. So I attempt do the impossible. I want to humanize Weselton.
With that I will close this bad boy out. Be prepared for more Soldierly shenanigans, more Ásta, and finally Rapunzel.
See y'all soon hopefully,
Deuces.
Glossary.
Ulfberht- A manufacturer of Swords from roughly 800AD-1000 AD. While the maker is unknown, the swords made by the party were in a word, masterpieces. To this day, these swords are considered by many to be the finest swords ever made due to their flexibility, durability, and sharpness. Until recently, we didn't know how to reproduce steel of the quality in these swords, even with modern technology. These swords make katanas look like the cheap razor blades in comparison. Ásta was a VERY lucky person to have been given one.