The Guardian
by Concolor44
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Author's Note:
Okay, we had our little fluffy interlude. Now, shite's gonna get real. And keep in mind this time-tested axiom: Most people suck.
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Chapter 3: Realpolitik
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Arendelle Castle, 10 May 1841, 7:50pm
Anna huffed, "If we'd had a telescope, it wouldn't have been an issue."
"That is entirely beside the point. Everyone is on edge. You thought they were the bad guys. They thought you were the bad guys. If Rolf hadn't recognized his brother's horse … things could have … it just doesn't bear thinking about." Elsa leaned her elbows on the desk and her face into her hands and took a few deep breaths. "This is just so exhausting."
Twisting her lips in concern, Anna stepped over and wrapped her sister in a gentle hug. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault." Her voice was muffled.
"I know. It's Duke Stupid-Head's fault."
"He's not the only one."
"He's the main one! If he hadn't sent that emissary to Rome and got 'em all stirred up with 'sorceress' this and 'witchcraft' that, we wouldn't be having this big stink with the Vatican right now!"
Elsa couldn't really argue with that. Still … "I just can't help thinking, what if that troop had been invaders instead of my own soldiers?"
"Well, they weren't. So don't worry about it. And you might consider having them wear their uniforms when they're on patrol, so we don't make that mistake again."
"The uniforms are too easy to spot. That's why they were dressed in gray and brown and dark green motley."
"… Huh?"
The Queen raised red-rimmed eyes to her sister. "We came up with the camouflage after … well … not that you knew about it. I didn't … want you to worry. But two weeks ago we lost a patrol to an ambush precisely because they were that easy to spot."
Anna rocked back. "… Oh."
"Yes. And now I'm thinking that the enemy may be using the same tactics, and so they would be able to get close enough to you to … to …"
"Shhhh. Shh. It's okay." Anna noted the spidery trails of frost growing across the desk and gave her sister's brow a kiss. "We'll stick close for a while until you're sure it's safe. Okay?"
"Anna …" She gripped her sister's hand with one of her own. "If something happened to you it would end me."
"Then we'll make sure nothing does. 'cause Arendelle can't afford to lose you."
"… Not everyone believes that."
"Most of them do. Most of them love you. It's just the stupid, old superstitious types who raise a fuss. They're loud, yeah, but there aren't that many of them." She nuzzled her sister's hair.
Elsa leaned back into the embrace. "They're devising another test."
"… Who?"
"The Italians. Cardinal Isperizza, their High Inquisitor, or whatever he is, said that the first two tests weren't sufficient."
"I think they just want to keep trying until they come up with something they can blame you for."
The Queen considered that. "Maybe. It's hard to tell." She was silent for a time. "This is a case of guilty until proven innocent, and it's really hard to prove the absence of ill intent. I recited their catechism. I handled their holy relics. They already don't like me because we're Lutheran." She sighed. "Perhaps they are simply looking for an excuse to pronounce me anathema."
That, as Anna had learned, could have serious political consequences. The other primarily Roman Catholic nations would be forbidden from trading with Arendelle – not that such a pronouncement would stop some of them. But Spain had already cut off all trade and diplomatic ties. Their representative at Elsa's coronation had fled Arendelle that night, traveling south along the coast as fast as the artificial winter would allow, and not slowing until he was many leagues beyond the edges of the storm. As soon as he had returned to Madrid and made his report, Queen Isabella closed down Arendelle's small trading house and deported the staff. Elsa feared they were preparing to declare war, though her Council assured her that wasn't so.
On the other hand, two of the major Roman Catholic nations, France and Ireland, had been eager to set up permanent embassies in Arendelle, as had King Gregor of the Southern Isles. His abject mortification over Hans's actions had translated into one of the best trade deals Arendelle had received in decades. Hardly a week went by without one or two of his older brothers stopping by to reassure Elsa that Hans was the drastic exception to the rule. (The second oldest brother, Ferdinand, had visited about every three weeks. Anna was positive he was going to sue for Elsa's hand any time now.)
Elsa sighed again, turned in her chair, and wrapped her arms around Anna. "That's actually not even the main problem, either. Weselton's piracy is getting worse by the day."
The Princess didn't really have anything constructive to say about that, either. She knew as well as Elsa that their small navy – nine ships, none of which carried more than sixteen guns – was completely outclassed by just the scout ships of Weselton's massive fleet.
Elsa could keep them out of the fjord, and had on two occasions, creating a field of icebergs that turned their big warships into floating targets. The first time, she had made the ice the moment the lookout identified them, and they had sailed around for a bit beyond the scattering of floes, and then left. The second time the force was a good bit larger (some twenty ships). Elsa had waited until they were half a league from the fjord, and then crafted the bergs to come up under the ships. Four of them were wrecked and sunk, and four more trapped up on the ice. The remainder rescued the sailors from the lost ships and made their careful way out of the ice field and away to the west with as much sail as they could hang. The trapped ships had been quite the prize, every one boasting seventy-four guns, but none of them was really sea-worthy after being hoisted up on the ice. It would be many more weeks of repairs before they would be ready to supplement Arendelle's navy.
Meanwhile, Weselton had retaliated by attacking Arendelle's trading ships. At first they simply stopped the ships, boarded them, and made off with whatever valuables they could find. Then one ship went missing in calm seas. Then one was found adrift … with all hands hanging from the yardarms. None of the cargo had been touched. That message was crystal clear.
King Gregor had come to her aid then. His navy, while not as formidable as Weselton's, had ships that were big enough and fast enough to successfully patrol the shipping lanes. This usually kept the traders from being preyed upon. But not always. The result was the current economic crisis. Every warehouse at the docks was full. Some of the goods were perishable. Elsa had turned two of the buildings into deep-freezes, to prevent spoilage … but that could only help so far. And if no one came to buy the wares …
"If only Weselton didn't have such a huge … huge presence on the sea! Avalon and Denmark and France – and the Southern Isles now – aren't afraid of them, but most other nations are, and I can't blame them. The ocean is vast. So many attacks can happen where no one else would ever know."
Anna had heard this same lament just the day before. She had no better answers now. There was no law in international waters. Who would enforce it?
A muted knock sounded at the study door. Elsa raised her head and released her sister, straightening her dress and hair. "Come in."
The man who entered, Lieutenant Olaf Dahl, was one of Admiral Naismith's aides. He handed Elsa a letter, bowed, and went to stand by the door.
She eyed the thing with trepidation, noting the Admiral's seal, but then drew a long breath, opened it, and read.
Your Majesty,
There has been a late development in our ongoing series of skirmishes on the borders. We have captured two of the brigands. Their band was caught just as they were about to set fire to a farm. Of the fifteen attackers, these two alone survive, and one will not last the night. We lost one soldier killed, and suffered three wounded, but none seriously.
Having vigorously questioned the one man left, I have discovered that it is as you had feared. They are mercenaries, hired by Weselton to harass our outlying lands. They all had Weselton's coin on their persons when captured.
My Queen, as you know, this is cause to declare war. Weselton has begun the fight without that declaration, which any civilized kingdom would view as piracy. Those neighboring nations who are aware of our plight are disgusted by his lack of honor, but there is little they can do. Nor can we. Arendelle does not have the resources to mount any sort of campaign against Weselton, nor will we be able to in the near future. We might manage to put together a coalition force with France and the Southern Isles, but it would take time, and there is no guarantee such an alliance would be effective.
I have sent spies into Weselton, but so far they have given me very little to work with. I did get one bit of odd news, but I would rather discuss it with you in person.
We shall continue in our efforts to extract information from the captured rogue. Until then, I remain,
Your Humble Servant,
Mikael Naismith
Elsa dropped the letter to her desk and dropped her head into her hands. Anna scooped up the letter and read it, her frown giving way to a look of near-panic. When she got to the end, she crumpled it in one hand and knelt by her sister. "Elsa?"
"If we only … if we so much as had a target. But he's using these … these hit-and-run tactics … blockades … privateers … I can't ask the merchants to go out sailing when there is an even chance they may be murdered!"
"Elsa … do you remember what we talked about back in March, after their second armada tried to invade?"
"No."
"Sure you do! I mentioned how you could-"
"I mean, No, that isn't going to happen."
Anna leaned her head against her sister's arm. "Do you recall what Bishop Torvik said about your powers?"
"He's wrong."
"He's not. Elsa, it's not a curse. It's a gift. You were given this gift for a reason. I think – and the Bishop backs me up on this – that God intended for you to use them in the defense of Arendelle."
"And I did. In defense. Defense, Anna, not as some sort of … juggernaut, some unstoppable … no. Just … no. I'm not a war machine."
"You're the Queen of Arendelle. Protector of the Dominion."
"Yes. Protector of the Dominion, not murderer of a bunch of sailors who are barely old enough to shave."
Anna bit her lip. After the second incident, where four of the ships sank, not all the sailors were rescued. Two of them washed up on Arendelle's shore. Neither was as old as Anna. That happenstance had shaken the Queen to her core, and she had been exceedingly circumspect in the use of her powers ever since.
Lieutenant Dahl cleared his throat. "Any message back for the Admiral, Mum?"
"Yes. Tell him I will meet with him here at ten in the morning."
"Very good, Your Majesty." He bowed again and left.
Elsa sat silently for most of a minute, absently stroking Anna's hair. Finally she said, "I believe I'll turn in for the night."
"Already? It's not even eight-thirty yet!"
"And I have an early start tomorrow. And, as I think I said once already, I'm exhausted."
"… Okay. I'll send for Teela."
"Thank you." She considered something for a moment, then nodded and said, "Could you have her run me a bath?"
Anna brightened at that. "Sure! That sounds great. For that matter, I might join you."
"Perfect. You can wash my hair."
"Only if you wash mine."
Covering a yawn, Elsa muttered, "Deal."
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End Note:
So. Things aren't looking good. There's power ... and then there is powerful position. There is ability ... and then there is ruthless cunning. What's that saying? Age and treachery will always win over youth and talent? Let's hope that isn't so.
