Hi everyone ! Already the tenth chapter, wow. This sure arrived very fast, much more faster than I expected. But it's just the beginning !
I would be glad to know what you think about it and what I could do to improve my writing, so please don't forget to leave a review once in a while !
Chapters will now be posted at a slightly slower pace, that is to say that I will post between three and four chapters each week.
Enjoy the tenth chapter and see you soon !
Chapter 10
Ten days later, when the queen's back had, finally, completely healed, the expedition could begin. Henry and Elsa went to the docks, leading the six warriors, as well as a dozen of soldiers, Zyga, who had insisted to accompany her queen, and thirty seamen that would get the ship to work. Sir Piotr Edenzas was walking with them, but would not come aboard, as he had been chosen to rule Arendelle while her queen was away. Well, actually, it was Princess Anna who was supposed to be on the throne during her sister's travel, and Piotr would only be her second, but what Elsa didn't know was that she had been hiding in a seaman's bag with Olaf and Kristoff. It was a really big and suspicious package, but the seaman who held it was also anormally tall and strong, so nobody really worried about it.
The boat they would travel on was a clipper. Easy to maneuver, very fast, but not really resistant. The captain was already on board, and helped his crew to load crates and equipments onto the ship's desk. Elsa let everyone get to their cabins and said to Piotr :
- Everything is going to be fine.
- Are you sure you don't want to say goodbye to your sister, my queen ? asked Edenzas.
- It's better for me to go without her seeing me. Or... maybe it's better for me, she said, looking at the ground, lost in her thoughts.
A giggle came out of the big seaman's bag, behind her, but she didn't notice it. Piotr bowed to show his respects, then said :
- I will pray for your success and your safety. Goodbye, your highness.
Elsa smiled and nodded. Then, she turned over and came on board. The crew let go of the ship's bridge and the mooring ropes, and the vessel could finally begin its trip under the waving signs of the people of Arendelle.
It took almost an hour for the ship to completely lose sight of the coast. Elsa's cabin was unexpectedly luxuous and comfortable, thanks to Zyga's special preparations. She could sleep in a true bed, had a closet full of travel clothes and two ceremonial dresses. She had direct access to clean water and towels. A mirror had been apposed on one of the wooden walls, and she could take a look outside through two portholes. She knew that she was the queen and had to be treated as such, but still, she couldn't help but feel a bit guilty when she thought about the fifty other members of the crew who had to share a great cabin and sleep in hammocks.
She went on the deck. It was midday, and everyone was at work. She saw Henry talking with one of the warriors, and decided to check what they were talking about. But while she was walking toward them, a scream on her right suddenly caught her attention. The tall seaman had finally opened his bag and found the three stowaways that were Anna, Kristoff and Olaf.
- Anna ! she exclaimed, raising her eyebrows. What in heavens are you doing here ?
The princess was gesticulating to get rid off the seaman's grasp, but she eventually abandoned and replied :
- You didn't expect me to stay here in Arendelle, while you and your bunch of new friends explore the western seas, did you ! Plus, this is precisely the kind of adventure I was looking for !
- Kristoff, how could you let her do that ? asked Elsa, exasperated. I thought you could handle her bursts of craziness !
The young man was hanging on the seaman's arm like it was a hook, and Olaf was trying to pull him by his feet, making it only worse. He replied :
- What actually happened might surprise you. But I don't know if I want to tell you.
- This is not important, said Anna with a movement of the hand. What matters is that we're all gathered to live this exciting adv...
- This is not a game, Anna ! shouted Elsa, asking the seaman to put the couple back on their feet with a movement of the head. You're not supposed to be here, this is extremely dangerous !
- Where you go, I go, full stop, replied Anna. I thought it was obvious that from now on, we would share our burdens, no matter what they would be.
Elsa gritted her teeth. She wanted her sister to be safe. And this new bitter whim of hers was particularly stupid and dangerous. But the queen had a weird feeling. Her intuition told her that Anna could not be safer than under her watch. Maybe something terrible would be happening to them during this expedition, but as long as Anna was on board, Elsa could protect her with her powers, at full capacity.
- I guess you can stay, finally said Elsa, and Anna was about to throw her fist into the air in a victorious pose when her sister added : But you have to do whatever we tell you to do. Follow the rules, don't break anything, don't act foolishly, or I will definitely send you back to Arendelle. Do you understand ?
Anna remained frozen in her victory pose for a second, before sticking her arms to her body in a military imitation, replying :
- I'll do my best, sir ! I mean, sister !
- The same statement applies for both of you, said Elsa, turning her head over Olaf and Kristoff.
- I promise I will keep an eye on them, replied Kristoff, taking Anna by the shoulder and putting his hand on Olaf's head. I can also help with the chores, if I have to.
- Well, that goes without saying, groaned the tall seaman behind them.
Elsa sighed in a smile, quite amused by the situation. In fact, she expected something weird to happen sooner or later, and she was not disappointed.
She turned back to take a look at Henry, but he had disappeared, leaving the warrior he was talking to by himself. She twisted her lips. Maybe she would talk to him later ? Anyway, she had not properly met all the warriors already, so she decided to go talk to the lonely one. He was a very strong man with a green leather armor, short dark hair and grey eyes. He was leaning on the guard-rail and was looking at the white waves with much attention. When Elsa put her hand on his shoulder to make him notice her, he barely looked at her.
- Hey, queen Elsa, he said with his grave voice and his german accent.
- How are you, Sir Gutjaeger ? asked Elsa in a smile.
- Fine. I just hope there won't be too much turmoil. It makes me sick.
- I have never set sail before, said the queen. So I don't know what it is to be seasick.
- Lucky you !
Elsa laughed, and Gutjaeger took a better look at her.
- My father thinks you're a great sovereign, he said. I love and trust my father. But I think it's weird that a woman can become a queen at such a young age.
It was rude. Elsa did't suspect Gutjaeger to act like this. He was obviously jealous, because she knew he was already thirty, while she was only twenty.
- I assume you don't know that my parents died in a storm, three years ago, said Elsa. I didn't choose to rule Arendelle so soon.
- Oh, simply replied Gutjaeger. So I did screw up, there. My bad.
The atmosphere got suddenly very dense, and the two of them remained silent for what seemed to be an eternity. Maybe there was a reason why Gutjaeger was so lonely.
- I'm a good fighter, finally said the warrior. I'm a terrible diplomat. That's why I will never be king. My little brother is better at almost everything else, so I guess it's normal that everybody wants him as their sovereign rather than me.
Elsa felt a lot of bitterness in his tone.
- I don't think it's true, she said. As much as I respect you, I think you are not fair with yourself. If what you're saying were true, then your father would have sent your brother instead of you.
- He sent me because I'm less precious, replied Gutjaeger.
- He sent you because he trusts you, said Elsa. He knows that you are the fittest to accomplish this mission, because he thought that your fighting skills would be far more useful than your brother's ability to talk.
Gutjaeger smirked.
- Then you should be worried, he said. Because it means that you will find war instead of peace, in that stupid Eresi kingdom.
And he left.