Anna

Okay, maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. It had only been two and a half days since leaving the castle, and Anna was already having trouble remaining upright in the saddle. Twice, she was swaying so much, Kristoff had to keep her from falling to the ground. To his credit and her eternal gratitude, he never said anything about it, just placing a hand on her shoulder until she had steadied herself. The wound was more taxing than she thought it would be, even with Gerda's herbs. She was just so exhausted. Still, she was determined to not show her weakness. It was her choice to come, and there was no way she would hinder the others now. Besides, they were almost at the town of Nibelheim, where they hoped to rest and recover for the night before setting out again. Gritting her teeth, she adjusted in her saddle and rode on.

After Anna had announced her intent to come along, Kristoff had relented and explained what he knew. Heins had taken Elsa to a camp on the shores of Lake Fyresvatn, which was about day's ride east from the castle. They had arrived to find nothing but an empty clearing. It was obvious the camp had been there, but it had already been four days since Elsa was taken. Anna would have been shocked if the camp had still been there. In a way, Anna was glad- what were they supposed to do anyway, break in, all nine of them versus how many?

Whatever the case, she knew that Elsa was still being prevented from using her powers. Yeah, there was the ace up Kristoff's sleeve, but even so, without Elsa's help, they stood no chance of escaping with their lives if a fight broke out. Alarik had determined the most likely route the enemy might have taken, and they set out, hoping against hope they would be able to catch them before it was too late. The path had taken them past farms and fields, over mountains and through forests, and it was all beginning to blur together in Anna's mind as one big sludge of plodding along, just following the rider in front of her. And it's only been a few days. Man, I'd make one lousy soldier. Well, at least I look the part.

Once the company had been set, Anna had decreed that the Royal Armory be opened for their use. The Royal Armory contained all the finest arms and armor in the kingdom, wrought by legendary smiths generations prior. Servants helped dress them, and Leila, Anna, Cari, and Silas all opted for the lighter armor: over their heads went a sleeveless hauberk, then a polished steel cuirass engraved with Arendelle's crocus on the right breast. On their legs went steel greaves over white padded breeches with a black stripe on the outside of each leg, going down to disappear inside black leather boots.

Their arms and heads were bare, save for metal vambraces on both arms, a necessity when fighting with only a dagger. Their bows they slung across their backs in a tube of buckskin alongside their quivers, unstrung until they were needed to preserve their flex and strength. Long daggers and swords hung off their hips, hilts and crossguards specially designed to fight any weapons, using their small size and surprising leverage to disarm their foes.

As Royalty, Anna also received two things, a small silver circlet nestled in her hair, which had been drawn up into a tight bun, and a half-cape hanging from her left shoulder. The delicate circlet was made from silver, formed into several vines winding around her head, carried by two tiny birds in full flight that met in the front, holding the crocus of Arendelle in their beaks. The birds' eyes were made from tiny emeralds, winking in the sunlight.

The cape was Anna's favorite part of the ensemble. It was white as snow on the outside, dark green on the inside, with delicate golden flowers embroidered around the hem. It always reminded Anna of the Great Freeze, with Elsa's snowy white over the green summer of Arendelle. It hung to just below Anna's waist. The cape could be pulled forward, around her shoulder, to hide the dagger at her hip, or thrown back, to free her arms for her bow.

An identical cape draped over her husband's back. Alarik, Kristoff, Liam, and Baldur had chosen to wear much heavier armor. Kristoff in particular looked a fearsome sight, standing straight and proud next to Alan. While Anna was dressed for agility and mobility, Kristoff was dressed like the powerful knight he had become, dressed head to toe in metal. Steel greaves and boots rested on leather-backed chainmail leggings.

His torso was completely encased, with a full hauberk under a cuirass nearly twice the size and weight of Anna's, but otherwise the same. He wore heavy pauldrons on his shoulders, and his arms were clad in steel vambraces and mail-backed gauntlets. A magnificent sword rested on his hip, a wire wrapped hilt spiralling up to hold a sapphire the size of Anna's fist. The sheath was white. The sword had belonged to her father once, and it seemed only fitting that Kristoff wield it now.

His head bore a similar circlet to Anna's, this one made of gold with sapphire eyes. The nine of them made for quite a sight as they strode through the castle, Anna and Kristoff side by side, then Alan and Cari, Liam and Alarik, Leila and Baldur, and Silas on his own, as usual.

"Ooooh," Anna said. "Look at us! We need a name." Kristoff looked sideways at her and cocked an eyebrow. "Well, we do! What's the point of having all this fancy armor if we don't even have a name!"

Kristoff shrugged, and Alan spoke up. "It's a fair point. We do look pretty intimidating, after all. I'm pretty sure what I'm wearing is worth more than my house."

"I have a name!", said Baldur. "The Masters of Death and Destruction!" No one was really quite sure what to say to that, and Anna tried to find a way to let him down gently.

"Ummm… Well, we could, but I was thinking of something more… I mean, of something less… um..."

"Less like we're a bunch of children?", offered up Liam. Baldur glared at him.

"Well, we are trying to save the queen," said Alan. "How about just… the Queensguard?" This was met with a smattering of approval, and Anna turned back to the front.

"Make way for the Queensguard!", she called with exaggerated pomp.

Her horse missed a step, jolting Anna out of her daze. She quickened her pace to ride up to Cari, who favored her with a quizzical look. "My Lady?", she asked.

"If I've told you once, Cari, I've told you eight thousand times- it's just Anna. I won't stand for that formal nonsense."

"Yes, My Lady." Anna groaned. Walked into that one. "What's on your mind, Anna?"

"Everything and nothing, Cari. Elsa keeps making appearances, though. What could they be doing to her? Why hasn't she escaped? Last time she was captive, she tore down a dungeon wall to escape. Do… do you think they're torturing her?"

Cari was silent for a long while. Right when Anna had decided she wasn't going to answer, Cari began to speak, choosing her words carefully. "With all likelihood…. yes. Whether physically, mentally, or both, something is preventing her from using her powers. She could escape in seconds if she were able to. So… yes, she probably is." Anna took a moment, then said, "We have to get her out of there." Cari did not answer, but nodded and looked away. "How do we do it?"

"I don't know", Cari said. "We just have to put our trust in Kristoff now. The plan is solid. Besides, it's likely it won't matter yet. The enemy wouldn't stay in the area long. They must know we'll catch up soon. They probably only made camp for a day or two and headed off, probably back to Weselton."

"You think it was Weselton, then?"

Cari snorted. "Who else? The Southern Isles?" She shook her head. "No. This isn't their style. Hans was one thing, but… I don't know. It just seems like the sort of thing the Duke would do. That cowardly bastard tried to have Elsa killed without cause. Using other men to do his dirty work, daggers in the night… it feels like the hand of the Duke."

"Kidnapping one of Hein's brothers has the feel of his work as well", piped up Baldur from behind him.

"What would you know about that?", laughed Liam. "You were still in diapers during the Great Freeze!"

"I was not! I was thirteen, I remember it fine!"

"Thirteen months, maybe!"

"Leave him alone," said Leila. Liam looked down in shame. Baldur had just had time to shoot her a grateful look, and then... "After all, he's just a child. He's delicate." Even Baldur cracked a smile at that, and Liam clapped him on the shoulder good-naturedly.

"Hey, isn't that the town?", Anna asked, pointing. Kristoff glanced over. "Yeah, I think so. I've only heard of this place, never actually been. They never bought ice from me or the other harvesters, they must have had some other way of getting it." Nibelheim was a small town, with a simple white picket fence surrounding it and only a dozen houses, a few shops, and an inn. It was there they hoped to spend the night. The buildings were arranged in a semicircle, and they were quite reminiscent of Arendelle, with steep roofs and wood detailing. A large well was in the middle of the town. A dirt path led from the town towards Mt. Nibel to an enormous run-down mansion a quarter mile from the center of town. Fields of crops surrounded the town, stretching near to the horizon.

The entire village had burned down years ago, by someone they called "The Man In Black", but had soon been rebuilt exactly as it was, and the man was caught before too long. Fearsome jagged mountains circled them, but Anna could see the pass they were to take, heading north through Mt. Nibel. It was an intimidating sight. Anna knew that Kristoff had been quite reluctant to go through the mountain, but in the end, they had no choice. Silence fell as the Queensguard approached the village, the air around them seeming to deaden every hoofbeat. The horses were agitated, snorting and pawing at the ground. Something is wrong… When they were a quarter mile shy of the gate, Kristoff drew his horse to a halt.

"My Lord?", asked Alarik. "What is it?"

"What's wrong here, Captain?" Alarik peered forward, then shook his head. "Nothing as far as I can see, My Lord."

"Exactly, Captain. Nothing. Where are the people?"

Alarik turned back to the village, an expression of surprise crossing his face. "Umm… maybe in the fields?" He turned as he spoke. "No, no one there either. It's only midday…"

"I don't like it," Alan said. "Should we go around?"

"No," Leila said. "We need supplies." It was true, they had only another day's worth of provisions, and Nibelheim was the last town before crossing through the mountains.

"Then what do we do?" asked Baldur. "Should we scout ahead?"

"Yes," answered Kristoff. "Take Leila. Report back as fast as you can." Pure excitement shone on Baldur's face, and Anna fought back a smile. Awwww…. he likes her! Anna glanced at Leila, who looked like she had eaten something foul. Oh… well then…

"Come on, Leila! Let's go!", Baldur said, and spurred his horse forward. With a miserable glance at Kristoff, who merely chuckled, Leila hurried to catch up. When they were out of earshot, Anna approached Kristoff.

"You knew!"

"Well, yeah," Kristoff replied. "I thought it would be funny…"

"It is. Poor thing looked like she was going to be sick! But still… One young and excited and carefree, one older and grumpier… remind you of anyone?", Anna teased.

"No, no one at all," Kristoff said sarcastically. "I figured, you know, they remind me of us when we first met, so… why not?" Anna shrugged. "Why not indeed," she said, turning to look at the village. "Wow, here they come." Baldur and Leila were bent low over their steeds, galloping towards them. Kristoff's fingers reflexively inched towards his sword. They skidded to a stop in front of Anna.

"Kristoff," said Baldur. "You better come quick."

In the town, Kristoff met with the man who had organized the defense of Nibelheim, a man with spiky blonde hair, eyes that seemed to glow blue, and an absolutely enormous bloodstained sword slung over his back. That thing is taller than me! And that's gotta be a foot wide. How does he swing that thing? He's not exactly a big guy, his arms look like sticks! The man's name was Zack, and he had opened his house to them.

"We didn't stand a chance." He was wiping blood off of himself as he spoke- none of it is, he claimed. "There were too many of them. Four men, three women, and a child died before we managed to kill enough of them to convince them we're not worth the trouble. We have a dozen wounded. Do you have medical supplies?"

"Yes- but we lack the knowledge to use them for anything more than temporary measures. Do you have healers?", Kristoff asked.

Zack nodded and gestured to a pretty young girl behind him, wearing a pink dress and a pink bow in her hair, sitting near the fireplace. A gentle blaze crackled there. "She is."

"Anna, Leila," Kristoff said. "Gather the supplies and help her, if you can."

"Sure," Anna said. She planted a kiss on Kristoff's cheek and went with Leila outside the house to the well, where their horses were tied. While they were gathering the medicines, Anna's curiosity won out over her tact, and she said, "So- Baldur. I take it you know?"

Leila let out a noncommittal grunt and shrugged. Anna would not be deterred that easily. She was no longer as naive about matters of the heart as she was, but still, she found the idea of herself as a matchmaker too enticing to ignore.

"Well, what do you think of him? He clearly thinks highly of you," she asked while digging into her pack, chasing an elusive bandage wrap.

"He is young and naive. Immature."

"And?", Anna asked. "Your point?" Where is this stupid bandage? I know it was right here…

"It's clearly not a good fit."

"You know this how? How long have you known him?" Anna's fingers closed around cloth, and she pulled it out in excitement. "Gotcha!" Her underwear hung loosely in her fist. She hurriedly stuffed it back into the pack, blushing. "Whoops…"

"This is the first time we have worked together. But I just know. It would not work out. He is not right for me, nor I for him."

Anna had resumed her hunt. "You know, when I first met Kristoff, I still had this fairy-tale notion of love, so much so that I accepted a marriage proposal in just one night! Aha!" She felt the bandage brush against her hand, and she seized it before it could escape back into the dark pit of her pack. "There we go. Anyway, I knew that Hans and I were right for one another after one night. After a day with Kristoff, I knew that he and I would never work. I just knew it. We weren't right for one another, Hans and I were." Anna smiled. "Funny how things can change, isn't it?"