The Head That Wears the Crown

Chapter Eight

Resolution

"This is an outrage!"

Minster Jansen was incensed. The whole company of ministers was riveted as he continued his litany of grievances on the throne room floor. "First, you have the audacity to reassign Minister Ingeborson—one of our most important members—to a post in a frozen wasteland! Then, you dare to come before us speaking of conspiracies to overthrow Arendelle's government, assassinating the character of every man in this chamber in the process!"

Elsa stared Jansen down. "I would not use the term 'assassinate' lightly, Minister. An attempt was made on my life several nights ago by a trained mercenary, hired by Ingeborson himself to murder me."

Murmurs buzzed about the throne room, but Jansen would not yield. "Then, by all means, Your Majesty, produce for us this supposed assassin, so he may verify your ridiculous claims!"

"And you know perfectly well, Minister, that the assassin is no longer in our custody. A traitor within our security corps freed him before we could extract further information from him."

Andersen, seated in his chair at the head of the minsters' level, rubbed his face in frustration. That little detail is not going to help things!

Jansen was beside himself. "Oh! I see! What a perfectly-contrived story! So, with no evidence and no assassin, you come before us expecting us to believe you? How convenient!" He turned to the ministers. "Gentlemen, are we to believe the ravings of our monarch? Clearly, the queen is suffering from hysteria or some other malady of the mind!"

"How dare you!" Anna rose from her chair and stood directly before Jansen. "All of you! You should be ashamed of yourselves! You dare to accuse Queen Elsa of fabricating outlandish stories, yet have you ever once before heard of her doing this before? You have witnessed Elsa's behavior over the years. Many of you guided her during the time after our parents' deaths! Have you ever known her to lie before? Or act in any fashion except in the best interests of Arendelle?"

Silence descended upon the throne room. Even Jansen was silent, no longer railing in righteous indignation.

"Whether or not you believe me is your own concern," Elsa said. "But the facts remain. Ingeborson told me of a conspiracy amongst a select group of ministers known only as the Council to take over our government. He then tried to have me assassinated." She looked at the assembly. "I am asking—no, begging—the honest men among you who love your country before all else to join with me in finding the conspirators and bringing them to justice. Please."

Andersen looked about the room, trying to gauge how the ministers would react.

Minister Angsborn rose. "I stand with Your Majesty."

Minister Haarland. "I, too, stand with Your Majesty."

Three more ministers stood. "I, too."

All about the throne room, ministers rose and joined the throng, until the entire company was on its feet, applauding.

Anna beamed at her older sister. "You did it!" she whispered. "You did it!"

Elsa looked at Andersen, who returned her gaze with a glowing smile.

The assembly dismissed for the day, Elsa and Anna remained at the throne.

"Now what?" Anna asked.

"We wait," Elsa said. "The conspirators now know that we know about them, which should make them quite nervous."

"And . . . what do you think they'll do when they're nervous?"

"I suspect," Elsa said, "that they will look for the first opportunity to discredit me. To make not only our people but also our allies believe I am not to be trusted, and attempt to have me deposed so the bureaucracy can completely take control."

"You think . . ." Anna made the connection. "You think they will make their move at the dinner tomorrow?"

Elsa nodded. "Why else do you think I waited until now to confront them? Now, they have less than twenty-four hours to plan something, and with the influx of visitors to Arendelle, it's going to be very difficult for them to find the resources to do anything that would seriously jeopardize our kingdom."

Anna frowned. "Elsa, I don't like this. You're playing with fire here. And, sooner or later, everyone who plays with fire gets burned."

Elsa smiled. "Except me. I don't burn, remember?"

Before Anna could reply, Jansen stormed up to the throne, his face contorted in barely-concealed outrage. "You may think you have won today, Majesty, but I wouldn't rest so comfortably if I were you. Many of the ministers in this assembly are still offended by your accusations, and are just waiting for the egg to hit you square in the face."

"If I didn't know any better, Minister," interrupted Anna, "I would guess you look a little . . . uncomfortable right now. You wouldn't happen to be a member of the Council, now, would you?"

"How dare you!" Jansen roared. "I have served Arendelle honorably for more than thirty years! I am a respected member of this assembly! By what right do you accuse me of treachery?"

"By what right do you accuse your queen of hysteria?" Anna retorted. "Just because you're upset with her doesn't give you the right to cast doubt upon her sanity!"

"Now, SEE HERE, Your Highness!" Jansen was apoplectic.

"Is there a problem, Minister?" came a voice from behind him.

Jansen turned and grimaced as he came face to face with Andersen. "No, Minister, no problem at all. Her Majesty, Her Highness, and I were just having a . . . friendly disagreement regarding their tactics in confronting this 'conspiracy' they are so convinced exists."

"Oh, so we're having a disagreement now?!" Anna snapped.

"Anna!" Elsa whispered. Anna begrudgingly held her tongue, continuing to aim daggers at Jansen with her eyes.

"I see," Andersen said. "This all appears to be an unfortunate misunderstanding. Your Majesty, might I suggest dismissing Minister Jansen for the evening? He will most certainly want adequate time to rest and recover before tomorrow's dinner."

Elsa nodded. "You are dismissed, Minister. I will see you tomorrow night."

Still shaking in anger, Jansen bowed before Elsa. "Majesty." Not bothering to acknowledge Anna, he turned and stormed out of the throne room.

"And goodbye to you, too!" Anna called after him.

Andersen turned to the two royals. "Both of you need to be very, very careful. Those involved in the conspiracy will most certainly be out for blood. I want you two to keep to yourselves until tomorrow night. You may arrive two hours before the dinner begins to use your abilities to finish decorating, and then you are to remain within the view of a palace guard at all times."

Anna opened her mouth to protest, but Andersen raised a finger. "No exceptions. Please, for an old man's peace of mind, honor my request."

Elsa nodded. "We shall."

After Andersen had left, Elsa turned to Anna. "Thank you for standing up for me today."

"Trust me, it was nothing," Anna said. "Jansen's lucky I didn't try to strangle him."

The two sisters returned to their room, anxiously awaiting the following night, which would most certainly be the most important day yet in Elsa's tenure as queen.

Deep within the bowels of the palace, a hooded man unlocked an unobtrusive-looking door. Checking to be certain he had not been followed, he entered the small room, locking the door behind him.

Removing his hood, he knelt and repeated the ancient incantation he had practiced for so long. As he did, mists of cold, green light swirled before him, coming to rest in front of his face, forming a glassy surface, much like a mirror.

A hooded face filled the surface, gazing coldly upon the man. "Report."

"My Lord," the man said, "I'm afraid I have . . . unfortunate news."

"I hope, for your sake, you are not at fault." The voice that replied was cold, heartless, unfeeling.

"No, My Lord, I assure you, I had no role in this! The queen has uncovered our conspiracy! She knows!"

"Is she aware of my involvement?"

"I don't think so. Not yet, at least. But it is only a matter of time. My Lord, I implore you, we must stop immediately!"

"STOP?!" the voice roared. "What kind of man are you? I have worked far too hard for far too long to stop now!"

"But, My Lord, the queen! She is much more intelligent than we gave her credit for!"

"Then, she needs to be . . . taken care of." The voice now sounded annoyed that he should have to be the one to suggest the obvious.

"We already tried!" the man protested. "Ingeborson hired the best!"

"Clearly not, if the queen still breathes." The voice grew harsher. "I find it difficult to believe that men I thought to be Arendelle's best and brightest are incapable of performing a task as simple as killing the queen. She is only a woman, after all."

"But, My Lord!" The kneeling man trembled. "Has no one informed you?"

"What have I not been told? I do not like surprises!"

The kneeling man braced himself. "My Lord, the queen is more than a mortal woman. She bears . . . She bears the power over ice and snow!"

Silence descended upon the chamber. The voice returned, now outraged. "HOW DID YOU POSSIBLY MISS THIS? WHY AM I JUST NOW FINDING THIS OUT?!"

"My Lord, please!" The kneeling man was truly terrified. "We only discovered recently! The queen is very good at concealing herself!"

"CLEARLY!" The voice paused, hesitating, as if considering an idea that was just now occurring to him. "However, this may work to our advantage."

"My . . . My Lord?"

"I want my name on the guest list for tomorrow's state dinner," the voice commanded.

"But, My Lord, at this point, that cannot be done! It is too—"

"I WILL be present at the dinner tomorrow," the voice said. "It is time for the queen and I to become better . . . acquainted."

AN: A new enemy prowls at the gates. Much more on the way.