Chapter Twenty-Two

The chains truly weren't necessary; Elsa didn't intend to break away from the boat. Yet her hands were still held tight by restraints that kept her below the deck. There was no point in struggling or screaming, since being released didn't look plausible, and she wouldn't even know what to do if she was granted freedom. Instead, she sat on the chair that some of the loaders had so courteously delivered and felt the waves bob the ship up and down ever so slightly. It was hard to notice the displacement of the ship, but if she closed her eyes and relaxed...

The thudding boots of the men above who were polishing the finishing touches on the ship and its supply did not help Elsa's focus. But as time wore on, the stomps grew less and less, the voices and slight laughs drew quiet, and Elsa wondered if she'd been left alone to drift out to sea.

Then steps above flooded onto the ship and mumbling voices spoke again, only to draw silent to listen to someone yelling. Elsa assumed this must be a speech from their captain. She couldn't make out any words, all noise becoming muffled jumbles.

And then a great cheer erupted and Elsa's heart sank. They were about to leave. She was actually leaving Arendelle. She suddenly felt sick; and before they were even out on the sea, too.

The ship lurched, throwing her balance ever so slightly. She stumbled on the chair, but didn't fall. The chains tugged harder than desired on her wrist, though, and she hissed as she righted herself. Really, she probably could have frozen the chains with her good hand, but again, it wasn't worth it. Besides, she was wearing her gloves. After such a long time of having free hands, she felt so overdressed with hand coverings.

Something like thirty minutes after the ship had lurched out from the dock, Elsa heard the hatch creak open, and a pair of heavy black boots made their way down the steps. She didn't want to look at them, because if she looked they might see how scared she actually was. She was good at wearing a mask, so she'd put it on and try her best to not have it ripped away.

"Awfully lonely down here," the person observed. The voice was amiable enough to be Jørgen's.

She didn't respond.

After painful silence, he added, "You don't have to be a prisoner, you know. I can see that your chains are removed and that you're given a bed."

Her wrists ached for her to agree and have the heavy, cold metal be lifted. She'd never not had a bed bdfore this ship. Even when she was captive in her own prison, she'd had a cot. The wooden floorboards here didn't creak in a comforting way during the darkest night.

"All you've got to do is follow a few conditions," he said like he was speaking to a child. "You've already got your gloves on, that's good. Just keep them on. The only other thing is for you to tell us where to go."

Curiosity caused her to break character and turn, inquisitive. When she'd realized her mistake, she whipped her head back around, but out of the corner of her eye he was smiling. He knew he had her attention.

"That's right, you're our navigator. No one's a freeloader on this ship, Miss Elsa. My brother Peter's the captain, first mate is Silje, we've got a cook from the Western Chain but honestly, you'd think Monsieur Didier's cuisine must have been what got him kicked out of France," he chuckled like it was an old inside joke. "And we'd be happy to have you assist our navigators. All you have to do is lead across the map on his path, and you'll be free to roam the ship as you please."

She didn't have to ask what path he was talking about; he wanted her to lead them to Hans.

"What do you say?" he asked, and he sounded so friendly that she wanted to accept right away. But she was able to keep herself composed and she stared firmly at the dark wall. The ship creaked and the waves quietly washed against the wood, and the voices of people above fought the muffled cries of gulls outside. And yet it was still silent.

"Give it some thought," he suggested. "We'll still bring you meals, and our doctor will check up on your wrist once a day. But let me know at any time if you've changed your mind. It's very depressing down here, and the sky is crystal clear today. It would be a shame to miss it."

His boots tromped away, up the steps and out the hatch. Elsa could breathe again. She didn't know why it was so hard to be around him. She told herself that she hated him because Hans had hated him, but Jørgen actually sounded sincerely kind. Which contrasted heavily from the whining brute she'd imagined when Hans described him complaining about his brother's birthday ship.

She fiddled her fingers in her gloves, realizing that it was dark and lonely down here. All she had to do was send them on a course to anywhere. Besides, it was her plan to catch the killer, so why hadn't she spoken up?

It's because Hans slipped his stupid grudge against his brothers onto you, she answered herself. You've got to start thinking for yourself. You don't have to think what he thinks.

She sighed and leaned against the cool wood of the ship. She didn't know what to think anymore.

A week and two days passed and Elsa still didn't say a word to anyone. Jørgen came down once or twice a day, usually with a meal or the doctor. He tried persuading her every time, his offers nothing but positive. She didn't answer.

The captain, the eighth brother Peter, stopped by to introduce himself and the first mate. Peter had a light brown ponytail and a scar on his upper lip, and Elsa knew he must be captain because everyone else was too scared to challenge him. First mate Silje had a longer, honey colored ponytail and at least three of her teeth were missing, but she looked happy and greeted Elsa. When Elsa didn't respond, Silje turned colder very quick, allowing Peter to try and persuade her to tell them where to go. No luck.

Hans' closest sibling, Christian, had to bring her meals down. He didn't speak much, but he did advise Elsa to take his brothers' offer. He was technically the only person she'd spoken to on the ship, since she mumbled 'thank you' when she received her meals, but she said nothing more.

On the ninth night, Elsa finally drew the strength to answer their plea. When the hatch opened, Elsa was already standing. She'd been pacing within her allowed space, devising the exact words that she'd say to Jørgen when he came in. She had an entire script planned. But it wasn't Jørgen who came in, it was the brother she hadn't seen since her five minute long trial.

Anderson quickly closed the hatch and rushed down the stairs. Elsa's heart beat fast; why was he acting so sneaky? What was he going to do?

He hurried to her side and put a single finger up to his lips. She must have looked petrified.

"I'm not here to hurt you, all right?" he whispered. "I just need to ask something. You can't tell no one, not my brothers, okay?"

She didn't say yes, but she didn't turn him down either. She only stared with wide eyes. He took this as a sign to continue.

"You've got magic, don't you? They call you the snow queen, you froze your kingdom last year. That's why my little brother hated you."

"What do you want?"

"I said I don't mean any harm," he reassured. "I need advice. It's my little boy."

Of all the things Elsa's hadn't expected, this was pretty high on the list.

"My August is seven. Him and his mother are the best things I've ever had. But I'm terrified. Last year August started talking some nonsense about what the birds had been saying, and how all the animals in the market were sad and he wanted to let them free. Alberte and I, we didn't think much at first, and then we saw him at his window talking to mice, and they seemed to listen to him, and we knew he'd been cursed."

"I'm... I'm sorry, wait. You're married?"

Anderson look guiltier than Elsa usually felt. "Not really, no. That's why I can't have you speaking about it to my brothers. If they knew I had a woman and a son, my mother would never..." he shook his head. "It's not the point. I need you to help me. What do I do with him? I love him with all my heart, but people with magic are never good news. What-"

But the hatch creaked open again, causing the eleventh brother to jump out of his skin.

Down the steps came Jørgen, his smile wiped away when he saw his brother standing perfectly still. "Anderson?"

"Jørgen," he greeted. "I...I was just speaking with the prisoner. About leading our navigation."

"She's not our prisoner, you know that," Jørgen corrected, and it seemed he didn't suspect any fowl play as he continued down the steps. Elsa heard Anderson breathe a sigh of relief. "She's our guest. Though she'd be better off as an assistant navigator, that's for sure. It's a shame you're missing the sunset, it's quite lovely."

Elsa remembered what she'd been preparing for, and though when she looked at Jørgen, she remembered Hans' resent, she spoke. "Prince Jørgen, your brother has convinced me. I'd like to see the sunset."

Jørgen looked so shocked, he didn't speak for five whole seconds. He hadn't expected the ex-queen to actually accept his offer, it seemed. But his surprise quickly melted into joy as he laughed and clapped his hands together. "Truly? You're going to help us?"

Elsa nodded faintly, glancing at Anderson. If Jørgen had looked shocked, then Anderson looked positively stupefied. It was clear no one on board had actually expected Elsa to accept.

Jørgen's laugh wasn't very pretty, but it made her want to smile.

It sounds like Hans'.

And immediately her mood dropped.

But her own thoughts couldn't ruin Jørgen's grinning. He told his brother to run up and grab the key to unlock Elsa, and to tell the crew to set food for her. He was still ranting as Anderson climbed the stairs, the elder saying how pleased he was and how things would be looking up after such a long time. He was buzzing as if the prodigal son had returned.

Elsa's wrists were soon released, and she'd never been so happy to leave solitude. Jørgen kept talking with bright eyes and that clever curve of a smile. He led her up the steps and out the hatch, and it was like stepping into another world.

They were so far out to sea, there was no chance she could see Arendelle. To one side was a dark haze of land, likely green in the day but now the dark, deep orange that the sun was. To the other angles, the sea stretched out, glimmering in the last of the light. They sailed towards the setting sun, straight into a fire, it seemed. And it was incomparably beautiful.

"I told you it would have been a shame, huh?" Jørgen said from behind.

She nodded, walking to the edges of the ship as she breathed in the air. So salty and cold, but fresh and clean.

Jørgen came up behind her, standing proudly at the rail. They faced the open ocean, continuing on until it seemed to curve and drop in a massive waterfall at the end of the world.

Jørgen broke the wordless air. "The crew will be pleased to finally have a navigator. We've been sailing very slowly to the west, a little south. Having direction will certainly boost morale."

Elsa nodded, not taking her eyes from the dark, quiet waves. The sunset was beautiful, of course, and she was grateful for her release from entrapment below. But she was still so sad. Not even this sunset could make Anna by her side again. Anna was probably terrified of being on the ship, and Elsa wasn't there for her... again.

"Where do you say we go, navigator?"

She turned to him, shaking Anna from mind. "I'm not sure yet. I may have an idea, but I still need to think."

He bit his lip, but nodded happily anyway. "Of course," his breath came out in puffs, swirling through the chilly air like smoke. "Take the time you need. But make sure it's by tonight, or else I'm afraid it will have to be back to the chains."

She hadn't had a smile before, but if she had, it would have fallen. Jørgen seemed kind enough, but she knew he wouldn't be a pushover.

"No matter, though! It's dinnertime," he announced, pushing himself away from the rail. "Miss Elsa- is that a good title?- if you might accompany me to the dining hall, I'm sure there's many people who would like to meet you."

He held out his arm for her to take and though she didn't want to, she took it. Better humor him rather than risk another night on the floor. She felt very in control of her powers, but the confiscating material of her gloves had to stay.

They passed various sailors on their way to the kitchen, all who looked surprised to see the former queen out of her cage. But they nodded to her and greeted Jørgen.

Elsa was a bit shocked at the sight of all these sailors. She'd half expected to have a rough bunch of rowdy men with tattoos lining their bodies, and half expected some elite battleship with ready soldiers. But these people weren't either way, really. A few had tattoos, and some looked like they could kill you if you batted an eyelash that way. But the heavily tattooed woman was too busy fussing about where to put the next one to be dangerous, and the man with the terrifying gaze laughed like a booming canon, wiping tears from his eyes. She felt herself relax slightly.

The overcrowded room they called the kitchen was bustling with activity. A line where sailors waited for their share of food wrapped around the wall. They were all busy talking in voices that ranged from gruff to high, and a man behind a short counter served steaming bowls full of some kind of brown soup- at least, she hoped it was soup.

Jørgen assured her they'd be able to cut in line, since this was a special occasion! Though the people in the line grumbled and glared at first, they began to widen their eyes and smile in her direction. Elsa hadn't felt this welcome since... well, since she'd brought summer back to her kingdom all that time ago.

Their food was served with the cook's tip of the hat towards Elsa. Jørgen said he'd lead the way, and Elsa followed carefully as to not let her bowl spill. The bowl was warm through her gloves.

Jørgen led her back to the railing of the ship, where a few of the men and women were also loitering.

"Is there no table for meals?" Elsa asked with surprise when Jørgen leaned against a mast and began devouring the contents of his bowl.

"Not for most. I have one in my chamber, and my brothers all have their own. But on nights like this, I don't mind a little air as I eat. Everyone else has to find their own place on the ship to eat. Most sit in their shared cabins."

Although she was unnerved slightly from the lack of a table, she'd been chained for a week, so she could survive eating while standing up.

"Have you thought over where we're to go?" Jørgen asked.

It had been less than fifteen minutes, Elsa was sure. Not nearly enough time to think.

"Well... there's multiple places we might look. Hans seems unpredictable."

Jørgen shook his head. "No need to tell me, I know. He's always been marching to his own drum. But if we're to catch the devil, we must think like him."

Though Elsa didn't know how much she enjoyed the comparison to Satan himself, she nodded.

Jørgen laughed a little, though it wasn't as... fun, as his other laughs. She looked to him and saw barely a smile across his face. "You know, I always knew he'd be a tough one. Never guessed he'd actually snap." The prince shook his head slowly. "How he killed all my older brothers eludes me. How can one man be in so many places in such a short time?"

Elsa wanted badly to defend the man she'd once kissed. But she wasn't sure how much would get her thrown back into the dungeon. "I don't think we'll ever know the real story until we have every fact-"

He turned his head, a curious cock to it. "You're... defending him?"

Her cheeks grew red.

"Sorry, no intention to embarrass you. I just find it interesting how you can defend the very man who once killed your sister," he explained.

It was a curiosity that Elsa had been asking herself for weeks. She stared out to the sea, now much darker and almost menacing. The waves were almost... hungry. Ready to swallow a ship.

She clutched her bowl tighter than she needed to. "I believe in bringing justice," she mumbled. "If he's guilty, then he should be fittingly punished."

Jørgen laughed again. "You mean you think he's innocent?"

"Not innocent, but Hans didn't kill your brothers. He was in Arendelle's prison from August until last week. He wouldn't have been able to get his hands on them. And he was so distressed to hear about his father's death... he couldn't have done it."

The prince shifted his weight, and the wood of the deck creaked ever so slightly. "He was always fond of Hans, my father. Was the runt of the litter too, I suppose. My mother married him because he was the only one who hadn't wanted to take her power and share it evenly.

"Now how did you know Hans was upset?" he asked, suddenly comprehending the words Elsa began to regret mentioning.

"I... your brother and I spoke a lot. We found that we shared more things in common than I ever expected," she said, holding her gloved hand up and wiggling her fingers. Jørgen's eyes grew the size of saucers. "I know about his magic. He's powerful. He showed me what he could do, and told me stories about all of you. He painted a very pretty picture of you, usually complaining."

Jørgen scowled. "He did, did he?"

Elsa nearly smiled.

"Well... keep quiet about the magic, okay? The last thing we need is even more scandal added to the case. Our family will be infamous."

Isn't that your mother's intention? She wanted to say, but caught herself before she revealed everything she knew about their family.

The finished their soup and Jørgen took her bowl, but again asked, "Have you decided where to go?"

She bit her lip, thinking. "The Southern Isles."

"The Southern Isles?"

"Yes. What better place for him to go than an empty throne?"

Jørgen's eyes sparkled. "It's a shame you had to help my brother break the law, Miss Elsa. You really would be a fine queen."

Elsa was sure this was a good answer, but as she looked into the quickly blackening ocean, she hoped the killer thought with the same mindset as her.

Two weeks is far too long to be without publishing a chapter. Unfortunately, life's decided to be tricky. But, it's been nice to catch up with you all briefly. thank you all for making TPatS what it is, too. Without all of you, I'd be nothing but a loser with a plot.