Chapter 5
The remaining invaders were quickly finished by what remained of Arendelle's army. The sight truly was hell on earth with bodies and body parts covering every square inch of land on the docks. The sea turned red from the amount of blood, and the stench of dying corpses filled the air. Marcus collapsed to his knees as he took on the horrible sight. Had he known this was what war really was he would have become a farmer.
"You okay Marc?" Eli said coming up to him. Eli's once dark hair was now a grayish tint from the amount of ash and debris in the air. His dark olive skin covered in blood and bruises.
"You're alive?" Marcus said happily. "Where are Obi and Jonas?" Eli's face went dark.
"They didn't make it." Eli said sadly as he lowered his head. Marcus felt tears sting the corner of his eyes. How could all this have happened? Not even an hour ago everyone was inside celebrating alive and well and now, now they were nothing more than a pile of guts.
"Come on lets get some water." Eli said helping his friend up. Eli and Marcus headed for the castle courtyard to secure some water to quench their parched throats. Grant and Johanssen surveyed the battlefield. Grant saw that only twenty of his regiment were still alive while another seventy were wounded. Grant knew many of the wounded would not survive the night. Grant was used to these sights, he had seen the slaughter at many battles during the Civil War. Johanssen, who had the fortune of never being in battle till now was bubbling up in rage.
"There will be hell to pay for this." He muttered. "Come Ulysses, we must gather the bodies."
"Did you hear something?" Grant said as he stopped walking. "It sounded like a-"
BANG! The unmistakable sound of gunfire erupted from within the castle followed by an infernal scream.
"THE ROYAL SISTERS!" Johanssen yelled. Marcus heard this and realized Elsa was in danger. Without thinking Marcus sprinted into the castle with his sword drawn ready to kill any man who would dare lay his hands on her.
"Wait up Marcus!" Eli yelled as he followed his friend into the castle. Marcus saw three dead guards with slit throats laying in a pool of blood. He then saw another two dead bodies further down the hall. Marcus continued to follow the dead bodies until he approached what looked like a hidden bunker. He saw five of the enemy troops with one raised to execute-
"ANNA NO!" Elsa cried as two men ran to hold her down. The other advisers tried to help but the other two soldiers had their swords raised ready to cut them down.
"Elsa." Anna cried.
"Til death do we part Anna." Hans taunted as he raised his sword. Elsa fought with all her strength to get free but these men were so strong. What she would do for her powers to be fully charged right now. She found it ironic how the one point in her life she needed her powers they werent there. Realizing Anna was doomed, Elsa closed her eyes just hoping her sister wouldn't suffer. Anna closed her eyes waiting for the pain. She heard a loud clang but felt no pain. She slowly opened her eyes to see Hans' sword had been blocked by another one.
"Marcus!" Elsa cried. Marcus swung his sword up disarming Hans. Hans looked to his guards for help but they had been killed by Eli and the arriving guards.
"I had friends who died down there." Marcus said sadistically. "Friends who are now dead because of you!" Hans backed up looking for something, anything to use as a weapon. Marcus let out a furious roar as he charged into Hans and tackled him to the ground. Hans relentlessly punched Marcus in the kidneys but nothing could halt the enraged man. Marcus drove his fist with all his force into Hans' face splattering blood across the ground. Marcus continued his deadly assault as blood began to cover the floor.
"Marcus stop we need him alive!" Eli yelled as he tried to pull Marcus off of Hans but he wasn't strong enough.
"Marcus!" Elsa called. Hearing her voice calmed him as he slowly got off the badly beaten villian. Marcus looked into Elsa's eyes which were filled with terror. Marcus looked away ashamed.
"You okay friend?" Eli asked.
"I'm fine." Marcus said coldly.
"It's okay, I wanna kill that bastard too but hes the only survivor and we need him to talk." Eli said. Guards ran into to help Elsa, Anna, and her advisers to thier feet.
"General? How had is it?" Elsa asked fearing for the worst.
"Twenty one hundred dead, another four hundred wounded. Half the city has been leveled and most our ships were destroyed." Johanssen said.
"Civilian casualties?" Elsa asked.
"Few, most of them got out before the ice barrier fell." Johanssen said. Elsa sighed relieved, finally some good news. Hans was beginning to come to and he was grabbed hard by two guards.
"Throw him in the deepest darkest dungeon cell we have." Johanssen said. "Mark my words you will hang for his." The guards took Hans away as Elsa walked out of the room.
"Come, we must bury the dead." Elsa said.
Four hours later.
"May the angels give you safe passage to the Pearly Gates. May you cross triumphantly across the evergreen pastures and take your place in the Holy City. For he who believes shall not die but have everlasting life. Amen." The bishop said making the sign on the cross. Trumpets and bagpipes played a somber tune to commerate the fallen. Tens of thousands of civilians gathered to hold a candlelight for those killed.
"General Grant?" Elsa asked.
"Yes milday?" Grant responded.
"I understand that your men would have wanted to be buried on american soil but we have not enough ships to return them to america." Elsa said. "There is a plot of land a few miles west of here that I shall give to the United States as a burial ground."
"Thank you, it means much to us all." Grant said accepting her offer. Marcus and Eli stood at the coffins holding the remains of Obi and Jonas.
"See you boys on the other side." Marcus said as he bowed his head for his fallen comrades. Marcus didn't feel himself anymore after seeing such destruction. war truly did bring out the worst in mankind. Elsa placed her hand on her head and sighed, who would such a thing? Her thoughts were interrupted as hersister came running to her.
"Elsa I can't find Kristoff anywhere!" Anna cried. "What if he is dead!?"
"Its okay Anna, Kristoff would never allow himself to die." Elsa said embracing her broken sister.
"H-h-how do you know?" She asked between tears.
"Because he loves you and would never leave you." Elsa said causing Anna to smile.
"I don't know what I would do if I lost him." Anna said sadly. "I can't endure anymore heartbreak."
"It will be okay child." Elsa said. "Trust me." The two sisters made their way to the castle court room where they would discuss the nights events with her advisers. General Grant, Captain Peggy, General Johanssen, and the two surviving advisers: Marshall Soren Anders and Duke Mikel Sigurd.
"Do we have any leads on who is responsible?" Elsa asked.
"Our two primary suspects are the Southern Isles and Weselton." Marshall Anders said.
"Who are they?" Grant asked.
"Keep your mouth shut american, this does not concern you." Duke Sigurd said.
"Doesn't concern me?" Grant asked giving the duke a dark look. "Those are MY men who lie dead on that field protecting YOUR country."
"Enough Duke." Elsa said. "Forgive him General, he is exhausted from the night. We all are."
"He is exhausted? He hid in a room while I was out there getting shot at!" Grant thought to himself.
"To answer your question general, we are not on good terms with either of those kingdoms. A prince from the Southern Isles tried to kill me last year and the two men from Weselton also attempted assassination so we cut trade with them." Elsa explained.
"I did not see no flags aboard their ships." Peggy said. "Could have been a rogue group of extremists. Pirates."
"Preposterous! There hasn't been a pirate in these waters for over a decade!" Marshall Anders said.
"Things come back lad." Peggy said.
"Who ever they were they are well funded and well trained." Grant said. "Too much to be a small extremist group. They must have a lot of connections."
"Whoever they are they must be dealt with." Elsa said. "As much as it pains me I declare a state of war against this aggressor."
"We will need a draft." Marshall Anders said.
"Trust me Marshall, there shall be no shortage of volunteers after what has happened here." Johanssen said.
"I have one remaining question." Grant said. "Where did that ice barrier come from?" Everyone in the room looked to Elsa whose eyes went wide. Elsa was unsure what to do. Sure she had showed Marcus but Grant may be far less understanding. She looked to her sister who gave her a nod. Elsa sighed as she held out her hand and shot out a spark of ice. Grant and Peggy felt their jaws hit the floor at the display of magic.
"Lord bless me eyes." Peggy said.
"Incredible!" Grant said. "What I would do for a weapon like that!" The temperature in the room immediately dropped and veins of ice from Elsa's fists crawled across the room. Grant looked at Elsa who was furious.
"I. am. not. a. WEAPON!" She screamed unleashing a flurry in the room much to Anna's horror. The room was covered in snow and ice as Elsa calmed down and realized her mistake. She put her hand to her mouth and quickly thawed the ice.
"General! I-" Elsa began to say till Grant held up a finger. Great, she had just ruined any relation with the americans.
"That was my last cigar." Grant said sadly as he pulled out a soaked bundle of tobacco. "Could you inform me on what I said that heralded that snowstorm?"
"I'm so sorry General, I just hate when people think of me as a witch or a weapon. I was born with these powers and I have struggled my whole life to control them." Elsa said. "Please forgive me."
"It's okay, no one got hurt. I should have thought about what I said." Grant said secretly terrified of Elsa's power. "It has been a rough day for all of us we should retreat."
"An excellent idea." Johanssen said.
"Very well, you are all dismissed." Elsa said. Everyone left the room one by one. "General Grant?"
"Yes?" Grant said turning.
"Do you and your men need a place to stay?" Elsa asked.
"We originally stayed on the ships but since they are all destroyed we are in need of temporary housing arrangement." Grant said.
"You and your men may stay in the barracks. Consider it a token on my apology." Elsa said.
"Thank you." Grant said leaving the room. Elsa threw her hands on her head and fell to her knees.
"I can't believe I lost control like that!" Elsa yelled frustrated.
"It was rude of him to call you a weapon." Anna said.
"Still, I just cant believe even now I still don't have full control." Elsa said. "I need some sleep, this day has been so stressful."
"Come, I'll walk you to your room." Anna said as the two sisters made their way to their rooms. Outside Grant put his hand behind his back quite embarassed with himself.
"Well that could have gone worse." Grant said.
"Ye always did have a way with the ladies sir." Peggy said earning a death glare from Grant. "Sorry sir."
"Captain inform the men we will be staying in the barracks for now." Grant said walking away.
"Yes sir, where are ye goin if ye mind me askin?" Peggy said.
"Search this town till I find tobacco." Grant said exiting the castle. Peggy walked out to the courtyard where the surviving regiments stood.
"Listen up ye searats! We will be stayin in the barracks for now! Grab yer gear and get movin!" Peggy said as the men got whatever little they had and headed for the barracks. It was a large stone building fitted with thousands of bunks. Marcus and Eli dropped their stuff at an empty bunk and jumped on. Sleep quickly overcame Eli but evaded Marcus. He was kept up by the events of tonight. He tossed and turned and eventually gave up after an hour. Marcus grabbed his cover and walked outside. The barracks were just outside the castle and was connected by a stone bridge. Marcus made his way across the bridge where he approached the night watch team.
"Halt!" The guards said.
"Just let me through guys I have had a rough night." Marcus said paying no attention to the guards. The guards grabbed him and pulled him back.
"If you do not surrender we will kill you." A guard said pulling Marcus' cover off revealing his face.
"This is the one Queen Elsa spoke to us about." The other guard said.
"You may pass." They said letting Marcus through. She talked about him? What was there to say about him? Hopefully good things. Marcus went to the castle gardens and sat down on a bench and stared up at the stars.
"Can't sleep?" A voice said. Marcus drew his dagger and spun around ready to strike down the one who snuck up on him. He saw it was Queen Elsa in her nightgown standing before him. He put his dagger back.
"I fear I may never be able to again." He said sadly. Elsa saw the look on his face and sat down next to him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked him.
"Obi and Jonas died today, along with over four hundred other guys I knew." Marcus said choking up. "I killed a man today, first time. I can't get that terrified look on his face out of my head." Elsa didnt't know what to do or say. "I feel like I'm stuck in this eternal dark fog with no end or light in sight."
"Marcus." Elsa said softly moving her hand over his. Her tiny soft hand dwarfed by his large calloused hand. Her touch brought a calm to Marcus that he had never known before. He looked at her and caught in her eyes again. Damn those eyes. Elsa could see the pain and heartbreak Marcus was going though just by looking into his eyes. Elsa felt so bad for him, she wanted to cheer him up but didn't know how. Her face lit up as she thought of an idea.
"Do you wanna build a snowman?" She asked.