Chapter 2: Complications
It had been a beautiful day when the HMS Skadi descended to the bottom of the sea.
Used by Arendelle's monarchy for generations, the aged ship was weathered, but still in fine condition. It had never been damaged in its century of service. The pinewood was polished so that the surface gleamed in the sunlight. The flag of Arendelle swung proudly from the mast. The sails were all up, driving the ship towards its final destination. Despite the size of the vessel, the number of occupants was low. Twenty crew members, the Captain of the royal vessel, and the two monarchs, King Agdar and Queen Idunn of Arendelle.
Aboard the ship's dining hall, nowhere near as extravagant as the one back in the palace, the King and Queen were talking quietly.
"I don't know about this," Idunn muttered. "I've had a lot of time to think since we left Arendelle, and every time I end up with the same conclusion. This isn't right Agdar."
Agdar sighed impatiently. "We've been over this Idunn. We need a solution and Bjorn has one."
"Abandoning our daughter is not a solution!"
The tension in the room was thick as Agdar tried to appease his wife. "Elsa is out of control Idunn. And you know it. Bjorn will help tremendously. The Morgenstern family has deep ties with Arendelle. I've known Bjorn all my life. I would trust him with my life."
"She's our daughter though Agdar."
"It's for the best"
They both gazed as each other sadly. Suddenly, a loud crack from above startled them out of their reverie. The monarchs looked around in surprise, and with an inkling of fear. Something intangible had pervaded the room. The atmosphere had turned dark and ominous. The hairs on the back of the King's neck were at attention. The Queen almost screamed when Captain Nordstrom entered the room.
Captain Nordstrom was a grizzled sailor with decades of experience. He had fought in the brutal Nordic Wars when he was a teenager; he had seen horrors far beyond his age. He had sailed through typhoons; legend had he fought a sea monster off the coast of Scotland and killed the mighty beast. So when the Captain burst into the room, agitation clear in his posture, the King and Queen knew something terrible was happening.
"Your Majesties, you had better come with me."
The King and Queen followed the Captain from the ship's hull to the upper deck. Oddly, not a soul was in sight as they ascended the stairwell. It truly was the calm before the storm. At the top of the stairwell, a doorway the only thing between them and the outside, the Captain turned to face the couple.
"In my 40 years of sailing, I have never seen a storm emerge so quickly and so fiercely," Nordstrom said gravely. "The crew is doing its best to get us out of the storm, but I make no promises."
"Of course Captain," Agdar responded. He glanced at the door. "Shall we?"
The two men nodded at each other and together, they heaved the wooden door open.
The group emerged into what could only be described as Ragnarök. What had only minutes ago been a clear day had turned into a whirling maelstrom of chaos. Ægir, the Norse god of the sea, was unleashing his wrath upon the HMS Skadi. The main mast had a gigantic gash right through the center. It was a miracle it hadn't snapped yet. The sails were ripped apart by the ungodly winds. Amidst the yells of the crewmen, desperately trying to restore some semblance of order to the ship, the Captain spotted a patch of blue skies.
"There." He pointed in the direction of the oasis. "That is our only hope. This storm will tear us apart within minutes." He began shouting orders at the crew while he steadily made his way to the wheel, the rocking of the boat making the task nigh-impossible.
The King and Queen held each other tightly.
"If we don't make it Agdar, what's going to happen to Elsa?"
The King held his Queen tightly and kissed her gently on the forehead. "We will. I promise."
As the storm raged on, the King prayed that he could keep his promise.
It was July 21. The first day of the Midsummer's Gala.
The city was already bustling with activity. The merchants and vendors were vicious, jostling for prime position in the city. Despite the early hour, the streets were already starting to fill with people, eager to enjoy the atmosphere and festivities. Children were running from cart to cart while their parents frantically chased them through the busy crowds. Smiles and laughs were abundant in Arendelle.
Its Queen however was giving anything but smiles.
"Elsa! It's one speech. You can just improvise it on the spot! It only has to be a minute!" Anna exclaimed to her frantic older sister.
"Why wasn't I preparing yesterday? I should have written something! I can't just say 'This Gala is open' and leave it at that!" The air around Elsa was chilly and crystals of snow were forming in the air. Elsa started to mumble to herself, probably about her impending speech.
Anna sighed, exasperated. They had been going at this for a good hour or so. Elsa trying (and failing) to come up with ideas for her speech and Anna trying to soothe her sister.
Anna glanced at the clock. 11:30
Not much time left, Anna thought. The two sisters were expected to make an appearance at high noon in the Grand Stadium, Elsa giving a speech to officially open the Gala. With how frayed Elsa was, it was unlikely she would be able to come up with any coherent speech within the time left.
Anna made a split decision.
"Elsa! I will be at the Grand Stadium at 12. Don't worry about the speech. I've got this!" Anna yelled, as she ran out the door.
Elsa looked at the swinging door in disbelief. I can't believe she left. How are you going to do this without her?
Meanwhile, Anna had already hightailed it to the library. By the time she opened the door to the musty room, a faint sheen of sweat lined her brow.
"Alright," she muttered to herself. "Now where are you?"
Anna started to ruffle through the library, going through book after book, shelf after shelf, searching for the book that would help her. The clock kept ticking and Anna had no idea how much time had passed, too occupied with her task to look. The floor of the library, once covered in an expansive carpet, was now littered with books and papers.
"AHA!" Anna exclaimed, joy evident in her voice. "Found it!"
She looked at the clock, which read 11:55.
Crap, no time to transcribe, she cursed internally. Silently apologizing for the act she was about to commit, she ripped two of the pages right from the antique book and immediately dashed out of the room.
Anna only had one thing on her mind. Getting to Elsa as fast as she could. The servants that were still in the castle witnessed a feat of amazing athleticism from the usually clumsy princess. Anna was now sliding down staircases and vaulting around corners like a professional gymnast, crashing into nothing and avoiding all obstacles. Anna had never felt as alive as when she was racing to get to her sister. Her breath was getting heavy, and sweat had started to drip down her face, but Anna knew she had a job to do. Without her, Elsa wouldn't be able to open the Midsummer's Gala. She just hoped she would make it on time.
High noon, Elsa reflected. And no signs of Anna.
"Your majesty," Kai bowed. "It is time to give the opening address. The people are waiting for you."
"Of course Kai. Give me a moment."
The faithful servant bowed and left through the curtain that separated the Queen from the outside.
Elsa was in the royal box at the Grand Stadium. The stadium itself was shaped like an oval. The design was similar to the Roman Coliseum, with huge stone arches and a certain grandeur. The royal box was strategically placed near one of the longer curves so the entire stadium could see it. Despite being shielded by curtains, she could hear the crowd outside. Thousands of spectators from around the world were packed into the arena, waiting for the official start to the Gala. They expected a rousing speech from the reigning monarch, but Elsa knew without a miracle, she would disappoint them. Anna had said she would help, but it was too late. She had no speech. She was totally unprepared.
But she was the Queen. She had to do this. Her father had done it. Now she would do it, probably making a fool of herself in the process. Taking a deep breath, she stepped through the curtain.
A thunderous applause sounded from all around her. The sunlight streamed brightly onto Elsa, making her appear radiant and goddess-like. From Elsa's perspective, the scene before her was a magnificent sight. Flags from all the different nations lined the stadium and people from all different nations filled the stands. She saw lords and ladies, knights and knaves, sheikhs and servants. All fell silent when she raised her hand.
"Whenever you are ready your majesty," Kai said.
Elsa gulped nervously. Here goes nothing.
"Good morning," Elsa started, before she hesitated. "Or is it afternoon?"
The crowd chuckled at that, causing Elsa to shrink further into her shell. Despite her status as Queen, Elsa was always uncomfortable talking in front of large crowds. However, she forged onwards, resilient as ever.
"No matter. Today marks a historic day for not just Arendelle, but the world," she said, faux confidence in her voice.
And at that moment, Elsa's mind went blank. She could not think of anything else to say. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. For Elsa, the silence seemed to stretch on for a millennium, but it couldn't have been more than a couple seconds.
"SORRY. EXCUSE ME! GOT A SISTER TO HELP!"
Anna suddenly emerged out from the curtains behind Elsa. She was sweaty and panting heavily, but in her hand were two pages, which she held out to Elsa.
"Elsa," she said tiredly. "Use this." Anna looked like she wanted to pass out, but she handed the pages to Elsa with a smile. "Good luck Elsa. You can do this."
Luckily, Kai had the sense to get a chair for the princess which she promptly sat on. Elsa took one more glance at her sister, thanking her with her eyes, and then faced the crowd, confident that she would succeed.
"I'm sorry for the disruption. My sister, Princess Anna of Arendelle, had something important to give me." Elsa glanced down at the sheets. "Today is a beautiful day. Today is a day of celebration. Today the Midsummer's Gala returns once again. It has been 10 years since the last one occurred and much has changed in the time between them."
The written speech continued, but all the content was irrelevant to Elsa. The former King's speech talked about some trade politics, a miraculous victory at sea, and of course the birth of Anna. Elsa couldn't just read off the papers. She had to improvise. A quick glance at Anna gave her all the inspiration she need.
"Since the last Gala, a lot of crazy stuff has happened. Corona found its lost princess," Elsa said, smiling at the thought of her now found cousin. "A princess defied all expectations set on her. She truly changed her fate." She had never met Merida of Dunbroch, but the legends and stories amazed Elsa. "And of course, Arendelle survived an eternal winter." Elsa glanced at her sister and smiled. "These last 10 years were especially painful for me, as I spent most of it separated from my sister, afraid to hurt her. But now, I'm not afraid. My sister, Anna, saved Arendelle, but she also saved me. Her love thawed more than the snow that day."
Anna's eyes glistened with love as she listened to her sister.
"Ladies and gentleman, I present my sister Anna, the hero of Arendelle!" Elsa held out a hand to Anna as the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. The two sisters walked to the very edge of the royal box, elation in both their hearts. They turned to each other at the same time.
Anna might have been sweaty and tired from the run to the stadium, but Elsa only saw the beautiful goddess that was her sister. Wow. Her lips look so gorgeous right now, Elsa thought. I just want to kiss…
Abruptly, Elsa stopped that train of thought. God Elsa. She's your sister. You're disgusting. The self-loathing that had plagued Elsa her entire childhood started to creep back in.
"Elsa," Anna whispered while looking at the crowd. "I think you still have a speech to finish."
"Of course," Elsa said guiltily. She had been so enamoured with her sister, she totally forgot she had to conclude her speech. Turning back to the crowd, which had quieted down, Elsa continued her speech.
"Arendelle has gone through many challenges in the past decade, but a new dawn is upon us. This Midsummer's Gala will mark a time of prosperity for not just Arendelle, but for the world. It is a time to celebrate new life. The summer sun shines brightly upon us this fine day. As the Queen of Arendelle, it is my great pleasure to declare this Midsummer's Gala, officially open!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from around the stadium. Cannon fire from Arendelle's navy added to the explosion of sound. Despite it being the middle of the day, fireworks were shot off from around the stadium and in the harbour, lighting the blue skies up in a kaleidoscope of colour.
Elsa herself decided to have some fun, and with a quick glance at Anna, she shot her hand straight to the sky. A brilliant pattern of ice scattered high in the air, the Queen's personal 'iceworks.'
"Wow Elsa that was amazing!" Anna squealed, hugging her sister.
"The speech or the iceworks?" Elsa asked.
Anna looked her sister in the eyes. Elsa really has the most beautiful eyes. "Both."
"Well, it was thanks to you I actually had something to say during the speech. I was totally tanking it before you got here."
Anna giggled. "Well you did great Elsa. I especially liked that part about me." Anna looked down and blushed. "You said a lot of really nice things. So… um… thank you."
Elsa smiled at her sister's awkward behaviour. It was out of character for Anna to act like this around her. They were usually so comfortable around each other.
Kai interrupted before either of them could be too embarrassed by the situation. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Royal Ball is in a couple of hours…"
He stopped when Elsa gave him a questioning look.
"It is customary to have a ball to introduce the foreign heads of state and diplomats and to recognize the knights who will be competing in the tournament. You gave your signature to organize this event a couple months ago, Your Majesty. But there are still a couple items which need your approval."
Elsa once again cringed inwardly. "Yes of course Kai. I will come with you shortly." He bowed and left through the curtain.
Elsa turned to say something to Anna, but the princess beat her to it. "It's fine, Elsa," she said with a sad smile on her face. "I didn't expect you to spend all your time with me."
It broke Elsa's heart to see her sister so sad. She had an idea. "Tonight, at the ball, I will save a dance for you and only you," Elsa said. "It's been awhile since I've danced at a ball and I need someone experienced to show me."
Anna's frown flipped near instantaneously. "Okay! But I warn you, I'm not that great a dancer myself."
"Please. You survived a dance with the Duke of Weasel-town," Elsa laughed, emphasizing the name of the traitorous nation.
They both laughed at the memory at Elsa's coronation.
Elsa turned to leave. "I'll see you tonight Anna."
Anna smiled. "Yes you will!"
With that, Elsa exited through the curtains. Anna watched her go sadly. She spent most of her free time with Elsa, but it never seemed like enough. They had lost years because of Elsa's powers and now Anna just wanted to become close again. But Elsa was the Queen and she had duties to handle.
Guess I'll go find Kristoff and find what he's up to, Anna thought, her trademark optimism starting to shine through. She ran through the curtain and down the long, spiral staircase to the ground. Then, she continued her brisk walk to Kristoff's cabin near the outskirts of Arendelle.
She did not see the two men watching her from a distance.
"So that's Princess Anna of Arendelle?" the younger man asked.
"Yes it is. She's quite beautiful, don't you think?" the elder replied.
"You're a dirty man, Odin. We don't have time for that though. We have a job to do." The younger turned around and looked at Odin with his electric blue eyes. "Last night, I explored Arendelle. In the streets, in the taverns, I sensed something off. The stuff I overheard…" He shook his head in disgust. "You were right when you said something sinister was lurking in Arendelle. There will be a threat against the Crown. I'm sure of it."
"Well, it's your duty to protect Arendelle." Odin had a wry grin on his face. "So protect it."
"Wise advice from the great sage," the younger said sarcastically.
Odin chuckled. "Word has it there's a ball tonight at the castle for all the knights competing in the tournament."
"But I'm not competing."
"You are now," Odin said, giving him the correct documentation. Being an official 'knight' was little more than having papers signed with the royal seal of the country. "It is much easier to guard someone when you are close to them. And now you won't attract suspicion when you're watching the royals."
The dark haired, pale man looked at the papers and smiled. "A knight of Arendelle huh? This should be fun."
"Just remember what you're here to do. Protect Arendelle and its monarchy." Odin scratched his chin, looking deep in thought. "Though 10 000 kronor would be nice."
They both laughed at the irony. The duo had no need for any more money.
"You will need this though to protect your identity." Odin reached into his satchel and pulled out a carnival mask.
"Isn't that highly conspicuous?"
"Not when it's a masked ball," Odin said with a smile.
A signature knock reverberated throughout Kristoff's small cabin, bringing a smile to the man's face. "I wonder who that is Sven?" Kristoff said, sarcasm dripping in his voice. The reindeer looked at him, unamused by the human's antics. With a hop in his step, Kristoff walked to the door and opened it.
"Anna!" he exclaimed, feigning surprise. He wrapped her in a tight bear hug. "It's been awhile hasn't it?"
"Kristoff," Anna wheezed. "Too tight!"
Kristoff loosened his grip and Anna took a deep breath. He shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry Anna. It just feels like forever since I've seen you."
Truth be told, it had been nearly a month since they last saw each other. After Anna's birthday, a rather awkward period ensued. Kristoff had confessed his true feelings to Anna that day, but Anna had not responded. She was very confused about her feelings to Kristoff. They had been through so much together and she knew she liked him, but as a friend or as something more she didn't know. Anna hadn't talked to anyone about her inner conflict, not Kristoff, not even Elsa. She had purposefully avoided Kristoff after her birthday to avoid any weirdness. Kristoff had tried to make contact multiple times, often coming to the castle with flowers or chocolates, but each time Anna had said she was busy. Eventually, he stopped trying.
Anna untangled herself from the hug. "I'm sorry. This past month has been really crazy with Elsa. She's been doing research into our parents' journey and I've just been helping her through it."
"Well I'm happy I get to see you now and hopefully throughout the Gala," Kristoff said with a smile.
Not wanting to hurt his feelings so soon, Anna nodded and smiled.
"So I think I know why you're here Anna."
Anna looked at him confusedly. She really had no reason other than Elsa was busy.
"Let me just that I am flattered that you would ask me to the castle ball tonight. I mean all the nobles and knights are going to be there, but you would still invite me? It really shows how much you care."
Crap, Anna thought. That's totally not why I came here. I don't want to hurt him… and he looks so happy.
Kristoff was gazing at Anna with bright eyes and an expectant smile.
I guess it wouldn't be so bad if he was there. I wonder what Elsa will think.
During that silence with Anna thinking, Kristoff's smile started to fade. Luckily, Anna saw this before it vanished completely.
"YES! YES! Of course I came to invite you," Anna started. "It's just that I was thinking about this butterfly I saw on the way here and how amazing it is for a caterpillar to transform into a butterfly and if it hurts to change or…"
Kristoff laughed heartily. "Woah, calm down Feistypants. And for the record, pretty sure the caterpillar is fine. I'm honoured that you would invite me to the event though. Guess I need something fancy to wear huh?"
Anna knew he didn't have anything nice to wear to such a formal event. "It's okay honestly Kristoff. Maybe wear something a little cleaner though." Kristoff's shirt was covered in soot, sweat, scratches and Anna really hoped that brown stain wasn't scat. His pants didn't fare much better. There was a large hole by his left knee and dust was practically growing off of them. He looked like he hadn't showered in weeks which, judging by the smell Anna sensed during the hug was probably true.
"I was actually about to go buy some carrots at the market. But I guess I'll be looking for something classy to wear."
Not wanting to be alone the entire afternoon, Anna asked if she could accompany him.
"I think it's best if you don't. I want you to be surprised when you see me tonight."
For better or for worse, Anna had a feeling she would be.
Kristoff grabbed his jacket and walked towards the door. "You're welcome to stay here if you want. I won't be back for a couple hours."
"C'mon Sven. We need something fancy for you too!" The reindeer and the man left the house, leaving Anna alone once again.
Sven, Anna thought while shaking her head. Because of course a reindeer would totally fit in at a high class ball.
Anna sighed and fell back onto a chair. She closed her eyes. The day had already been so mentally and physically draining. "Since when did everything become so complicated," she said to no one in particular.
I just hope nothing goes wrong tonight.
It was at dusk a handsomely dressed man in a jet black suit made his way to the castle. He turned quite a few heads with his tall stature and confident gait.
The castle at sunset was a magnificent sight. The sunlight caught the castle in such a way that the shadows appeared alive and dancing. The fading light was warm, but not harsh; many of the onlookers would call it romantic. And the ice! Elsa had truly outdone herself with the ice decorations. Flowers with petals as thin as paper adorned the massive courtyard. Large ice sculptures of fauns, unicorns, and other mythical beasts attracted the eyes of many people. The walls were coated in a thin layer of permafrost, with chaotically beautiful patterns etched into it.
The young man in the suit however had other things on his mind.
He walked right up to the servant at the main gate that was checking in all the guests.
"Good evening sir. Name please."
"I'm actually a knight competing in the tournament so my name won't be with all those nobles." Reaching into his jacket, the 'knight' pulled out the papers that Odin had given him.
The servant read through the papers carefully, face becoming more confused as he read onward. "This… it can't be right. It says that you are…"
"The documents are correct," the 'knight' interrupted.
Those piercing blue eyes were dead serious as the next words came out of his mouth.
"Allow me to introduce myself. The name is Jack."
"Jack Morgenstern."
AN: Hey everyone! This is my first story so I hope you like it :) It is a canon continuation of Frozen and Frozen Fever. Two OC's, Odin and Jack were introduced and they will be very important characters later on. These opening chapters were fluffy but the plot should be coming in in the next couple of chapters.
Thanks for all the support. Reviews are appreciated :D