Chapter 12

After King Ulf's entourage dragged Elsa to his waiting ship, Freya said, "I will instruct my ship to escort you home with your prize, your highness! You will be safe from any attacks!"

"Thank you, Freya!" Ulf said with a smile, as he went to board his ship.

As Ulf got out of earshot, Freya instructed her ship Captain, "You know what to do! Use the 50 guards on board!"

"Your wish is my command, highness!" the Captain said with a bow and smile.

Freya then instructed her guards to put the Royal Family and all the Imperial Guards in the dungeon.

She then entered the castle with Hans.

"How do we access the secret catacombs, Hans?"

"There are five rooms that have entrances: Elsa's room; Anna's room; the Ballroom; the Banquet Hall; and the Throne room," answered Hans, as they headed toward the Throne Room.

Hans then showed Freya how to access the catacombs, using the candle stick and railing. He also showed her the branches to the port and the meadow, with their access actions.

They both returned to the circular like hall connecting the entrances to the Ballroom, Throne room, and Banquet Hall.

"This is a perfect place for the Pit of Fire!" stated Freya.

"Pit of Fire?" asked Hans.

"Yes, I provided one for Ludwig in each of his dungeons, and I will provide you with one now!" With that Freya waved her wand, and a bottomless Pit of Fire appeared, surrounded by a ten foot path around it.

"Use this to eliminate any opposition!"

Hans smiled. No one would dare oppose him now!

"And now for my wages. For granting your request and providing you with the means to control your kingdom, you must give me 90% of all the gold in your treasury plus 90% of all future wealth collected. Failure to do so means we will have an appointment with the Pit of Fire!" Freya revealed.

Hans was taken aback, but he knew he had no choice. He didn't want to face the Pit of Fire!

"I'll be happy to provide that to you, Freya!" Hans said almost in a whisper.

Freya smiled. "Good! Then make ready to become king tomorrow!"

/

During the journey to Dolencia, all Elsa did was cry .King Ulf was not pleased.

"You'll be spending the rest of your life with me, so you may as well accept that fact!" Ulf stated.

"I will try to escape from you, King Ulf, at the first opportunity, and will never stop trying, even if it means my death!" Elsa exclaimed.

The rest of the journey, Ulf was in an angry stew! Such impudence! But he WILL find some way to break her will!

Then an idea crossed his mind. He'd ask Freya for Captain Smith, and he would threaten to execute him, unless Elsa submits to Ulf! He smiled.

The next day, both ships docked in Dolencia. Ten of Freya's guards insisted on accompanying Ulf and Elsa to the Throne Room, so they could report compliance with Freya's orders. Ulf was miffed, but he didn't want to anger Freya. The escort ship left right after arrival, but did not wait for the ten guards. Ulf reasoned that they would return to get them. He was wrong.

As soon as Ulf and Elsa were seated in the Throne Room, they were surrounded by six of the guards, with swords drawn.

"WHAT is the MEANING of THIS?" boomed Ulf.

"Freya has decided to annex the Kingdom of Dolencia, and you are our prisoners!" responded the Captain of the guards.

"You are CRAZY! GUARDS!" cried Ulf.

But as his guards entered, Freya's guards put swords to the throats and abdomen of Ulf and Elsa. "Drop your weapons, unless you want your King and Queen to be die!" Ordered the Captain.

Ulf was in fear for his life for the first time, he crumbled. "Do what they say! Do what they say!" He ordered. Ulf's guards dropped their weapons.

"Good!" Replied the Captain. "The Throne Room is unapproachable, under the pain of death! I and my guards will be posted outside of the two entrances until Freya arrives, appoints a new king, and determines the fate of these Royals!" And it was done.

Ulf was a mumbling bowl of jelly. He whimpered while he sat on his throne, but Elsa addressed him.

"Pull yourself together, Ulf! You call yourself a KING? Act like a man, and we can escape this fate!"

Ulf stared at Elsa. She continued, "You have the key to release me from these shackles. With my power we can easily defeat these blackhearts!"

"But how do I know you won't turn your power lose on me?"

"Because I need you to command your ship to return me to Arendelle! You'll have your kingdom back, and I'm going to fight to get mine back!"

With trembling hands, Ulf produced the key and removed Elsa's shackles. Secretly, he planned to put the shackles back on Elsa, after she helped him win back his kingdom with her power, so he retained the shackles. He didn't realize that Elsa noted that he didn't get rid of the shackles, and she guessed his plan. She still would help him, but he'll help her as well; she'll turn the tables on him.

With her hands free, Elsa quietly went to each entrance, and made a small stomp of her foot. She produced a sheet of crystal clear ice as wide as the doorway by each entrance. She then started to make a great deal of noise.

"What's going on in here?" said the ten guards as they rushed in, right on the sheet of ice. They all feel to the floor, loosing their swords. Elsa quickly created an ice dome to imprison the guards. Ulf then called out, "Guards, come quickly!"

Ulf's guards responded instantaneously. Soon the Freya guards were all captured. They were smug, however. "Wait until Freya arrives! You'll wish you hadn't done this!"

Elsa replied, "Assuming she arrives!"

That statement by this upstart surprised the Freya guards. Did she THINK she was a match for Freya? Time would tell.

"And now, Ulf, it is time for you to live up to your part of the bargain! Order your ship to return me to Arendelle!"

Ulf agreed, but he gave special instructions to his ship Captain. "When Elsa sleeps, sneak into her quarters, and put these shackles on her. Then she will be mine again!" the Captain agreed.