The Head That Wears the Crown

Chapter Eleven

Recovery

"Elsa? Elsa, can you hear me? Elsa?!"

Elsa opened her eyes slowly, wincing as the brightness of the room overloaded her vision. Groaning in pain, she forced herself to sit up, delicately placing her weight on her hands to steady herself.

"Oh, Elsa! Thank God! I was so worried!"

Anna's arms embraced the injured queen, holding her so tightly that Elsa began to run out of air. "Anna!" she rasped. "Can't . . . breathe!"

"Oh, sorry!" Anna released her, allowing Elsa to fill her lungs with much-needed oxygen.

"Anna, what . . . happened? Where am I?"

Anna held Elsa's hand, staring at her with concern. "You don't remember?"

Elsa closed her eyes, concentrating. "I remember . . . leaving the dinner to go upstairs, but . . . but . . .!" Panic began to set in. Tears rolled down her face and she turned back to Anna, her eyes pleading. "Why can't I remember?!"

Anna tightened her grip on Elsa's hand, her other hand reaching up to gently move a stray lock of hair from Elsa's face. "You were attacked," Anna said. "Pretty viciously. A man threw you into the ballroom through the ceiling. And then, he told us . . . he told us he was taking over Arendelle!"

Elsa tried to remember, but nothing sounded familiar. "What did he look like?"

"Tall, older, short blonde hair, blue eyes." Anna paused. "They looked an awful lot like yours, actually. And he said his name! That's right! He said his name was . . . oh, what was it?! Izerd . . . Ison . . ."

Suddenly, Elsa sat upright. "ISARN!" she cried.

Memories flooded back into her mind. Having drinks upstairs . . . the revelation about her identity . . . Isarn's threats . . . blocking the blast from the Eldarish oil.

"You remember?" Anna asked, hopefully.

Elsa nodded. "Yes. Yes I do."

"Who is he?" Anna asked. "What does he want?"

"He wants . . . He wants me," Elsa said.

"You? Why?"

"He's the leader of the conspiracy," Elsa said. "He's the one who came to the Council and convinced them to plot against us. He was going to use their influence to help him overthrow me, then betray the ministers and dispose of them. He's been plotting this for years."

"But . . ." Anna's mind raced, replaying the events of the previous evening. "Elsa, what does he want with you? He could have killed you, but he didn't! He even seemed . . . worried about you. What's going on?"

Elsa exhaled, her lungs aching as she did so. Taking Anna's hands, she looked directly in her sister's eyes. "Anna, last night, before he attacked me, Isarn told me something. Something that . . . that I'm afraid to share with you."

Anna was confused. "You don't have to be afraid, Elsa. Please, tell me!"

"I . . . I can't!"

"Elsa, you promised! No more secrets! No more shutting me out! I don't care what he said! You can tell me. Please!"

Anna's eyes begged Elsa to tell her the truth, a truth Elsa knew might shatter the closeness the two had developed over the past weeks.

"Please . . . don't hate me," Elsa whispered. "Please don't abandon me if I tell you. I can live with the knowledge, but not . . . not if you cast me aside."

Anna looked at her sister, worried, hurt. "What did he say that has you so worried? What could he have possibly told you?"

Elsa turned to Anna. "He's my father, Anna."

Anna stared at Elsa, her face contorted in shock, horror, confusion, denial. "No!" she whispered. "That's impossible!"

Elsa couldn't bear to look at Anna anymore. She turned her head away in shame. "It's true," she said softly. "I can feel it in his words. I'm . . . I'm his daughter."

Anna stood, her mind overwhelmed. She turned to Elsa, staring at her sis—

No, she thought. She's not my sister! She's NOT my sister!

"Anna," Elsa pleaded. "Anna, please, don't hate me! I didn't know! Please!"

"Don't talk to me!" Anna cried. "I . . . I can't be around you now! I don't even know you anymore! I . . . I have to go!"

Anna crossed the room and opened the door.

"Anna, please!" Elsa cried. "Please, don't!"

Anna turned and stared longingly at the woman she once believed was her sister. "I can't," she said, closing the door.

"ANNA!" Elsa sobbed. "ANNA, NO! PLEASE!"

Anna did not return. The door remained shut. Elsa cried, over and over and over again, screaming in pain and sorrow, once again, as she always had been, alone.

Elsa had lost track of how long she had been lying in bed. She had been visited once by the doctor, who for the life of him couldn't fathom how she could possibly still be alive. A servant had brought her meal, but she refused to touch it.

I can't do this! she thought. I can't be alone again! I can't!

She tried to pull herself out of bed, to get to her feet and run away, far away, but the pain in her limbs sent her back to the mattress in agony. Screaming in frustration, anger, despair, the tears returned, racking her battered body with a fresh wave of sobs.

She didn't hear the door quietly open beneath the sound of her cries, didn't realize someone was standing next to her until she felt a gentle touch on her hand.

"An– . . . Anna?"

Anna sat at the foot of Elsa's bed, gingerly clutching her hand once more. "Hey," she said softly.

Elsa wiped the tears from her face with her free hand. "What are . . . What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I had to . . . to clear my head," Anna replied. "I . . . I talked to Kristoff for a long, long time. He helped me sort out my thoughts."

"Good for him," Elsa said bitterly. "I told you he was worth keeping around."

Anna leaned over until her face was directly in front of Elsa's. "I'm sorry about before," she said softly. "Leaving you like that, I mean."

"No," Elsa whispered. "You had every right to leave. I'm not your sister anymore. I'm no longer your concern. I'm just a freak who keeps ruining your life. You'd be better off without me."

Anna pulled Elsa to a sitting position and wrapped her arms around her. "No," she said. "I wouldn't. I don't care, Elsa. I don't care if we're only half-sisters. I don't care who your real father is. Because . . . Because it doesn't really matter. It doesn't change how I feel about you at all."

"It doesn't?" Elsa asked in disbelief.

"Of course not!" Anna said. "I. Love. You. No matter what! And I'm sorry I overreacted earlier."

"Anna!" Elsa embraced Anna, both royals holding each other with all their might, never wanting to let each other go again.

Anna laughed, wiping tears from her eyes. "Look at us! We're a mess!"

Elsa smiled. "I guess we are."

A knock sounded at the door. "Ohmygosh!" Anna cried. "I almost forgot. On my way back up here, I ran into some people who want to talk to you."

"Anna, I'm not really in the mood for visitors right now," Elsa said.

"No, you really need to talk to them. Now." Anna opened the door. "Get in here!" she commanded, her voice suddenly cold, tinged with fury.

Elsa pulled back in shock as, one by one, twenty hooded men in red robes entered the room. Panicked, she looked at Anna. "What is this?!"

"Elsa, this is the Council. They have . . . something to say to you." She turned to the men. "Don't you?!"

One of the men stepped forward, bowing before Elsa. "Your Majesty, let me begin by offering my sincerest apologies—"

"Save it!" Anna snapped. "Don't waste Her Majesty's time groveling, begging for forgiveness. You're fortunate she hasn't already had the guards escort you to the execution chamber."

Elsa slowly, painfully, pulled herself to her feet and stood before the Council. "What is it, Ministers?"

The leader took a deep breath. "We have made a grave mistake, Majesty. We . . . We have committed treason against you and against Arendelle, and now our kingdom may be lost due to our hubris."

"A mistake?" Anna couldn't believe what she was hearing. "A mistake?! You call allying yourselves with Isarn a mistake?!"

"We didn't know!" one of the ministers protested. "We thought he was only going to help persuade Your Majesty to step aside. He promised we could take control peacefully!"

"And you believed him?! How foolish are you?!"

The ministers were silent. "What we have done is unforgivable, we know," the leader said. "But we would like . . . If you would allow us, we would like the opportunity to correct our error."

Elsa was finished listening. "No. Why should I trust you now? How do I know you're not still working with Isarn? Get out! NOW!"

"Majesty, please!" the leader said. "We had our doubts about you, it is true! We couldn't believe a . . . a woman could possibly handle the responsibilities of ruling Arendelle! We were sure you would fail!"

He took a breath and continued before Elsa could respond. "But last night, when Isarn tried to kill us all, and you saved us, we realized how wrong we were! You are the only worthy ruler of our land, Majesty! You have proven yourself beyond all doubt! Please! Let us help you put an end to this madman's quest for vengeance!"

The minister removed his hood, and Elsa gasped in recognition. "Minster Jansen?!"

Jansen genuflected before Elsa. "Majesty, I know we . . . I am unworthy to even be in your presence. But I beg of you! Please allow us to spare Arendelle from the suffering she will endure if our error is not corrected!"

Silence filled the room as Elsa stared at the ministers. One by one, they removed their hoods, kneeling before their queen.

"All right," Elsa said. "I will allow you the opportunity to redeem yourselves."

"Thank you, Majesty!" Jansen said. "Thank you!"

"One problem," Anna interjected. "We have no idea where to even find Isarn. He could be anywhere! How are we going to oppose him if we don't even know where he is?"

Jansen smiled. "Majesty, if you would permit me." He stood and spoke the ancient words of the now-familiar ritual. The green mist swirled about him once again, forming the window on which he gazed upon Isarn's face. "My Lord," he said.

"What is it now?" Isarn's voice was irritated, annoyed. "This had best be worth my time."

"My Lord, I want to apologize on behalf of my colleagues for our cowardice yesterday. Of course we should have stood with you as you presented yourself before Arendelle—"

"SILENCE!" Isarn roared. "You dare to grovel before me now, begging me for forgiveness, after you revealed yourselves to be less than men? FOOLS!"

"My Lord, please! Allow us to redeem ourselves in your majestic eyes!"

"Nothing you say could possibly change my mind! Goodbye, Minister! Enjoy the next few days. They are the last you and your filth will ever see!"

"But, My Lord!" Jansen protested. "It is the queen!"

Isarn stopped. "What about the queen?" he snarled, glaring at Jansen.

"She . . . She is not well, My Lord. I fear the injuries she sustained yesterday were far more serious than our doctors had anticipated!"

"Is she . . . Is she in danger of death?"

"We cannot be certain, My Lord, but I believe all precautions should be taken to ensure that she survives! If you could just tell us where to find you, we could bring her to you so you may revive her. Unless, of course, she really is of no concern to you, in which case . . ."

"NO!" Isarn cried. "I will not permit her to die. Bring her to the Abandoned Forest. I will meet you there personally!"

"The . . . The Abandoned Forest, My Lord?" Jansen trembled. "But . . . But, My Lord, what of the infestation? Surely there must be—"

"I will meet you at the Abandoned Forest in five hours' time!" Isarn said. "You will bring the queen to me. Then, and only then, will I decide if you are cowards or if you are truly worthy of sharing in my glory."

"My Lord!" Jansen cried. "We are! We are! Thank you!"

"Stop sniveling! Bring the queen to me! Do not fail me again, Minister. I will not be so . . . forgiving this time!"

Jansen bowed as the mist began to swirl again. "My Lord."

The green light glowed and Isarn vanished. Jansen turned to Elsa and Anna. "Your Majesty?"

Elsa nodded. "A fine performance, Minister."

"Do you think he bought it?" Anna asked. "Or do you think he suspects?"

"I believe . . . I believe he thinks I am sincere," Jansen said. "But, either way, we now know where to meet him."

"We'd better get ready," Elsa said. "We have five hours. Not much time." She began to move to the door.

"Elsa, what are you doing?" Anna cried, holding her sister back. "You can't go! You're still recovering!"

"I agree, Majesty," Jansen said. "It is far too dangerous for you!"

"No," Elsa said. "I have to go. Isarn will not allow you to approach him unless he knows I am with you. He's far too clever for that. Besides, I'm the only one who has a chance to stop him. He would kill the rest of you without batting an eyelid."

Anna shook her head. "You can't! You've already given up so much! Why can't you take care of yourself for once?"

Elsa put her arms on Anna's shoulders. "Because I am Queen of Arendelle, Anna. It is my responsibility and mine alone."

"But you won't be alone!" Anna said. "I'm coming with you. And if you think you can keep me here, you're out of your mind!"

Elsa turned to Jansen. "Well, Minister. We had best be on our way."

AN: Thank you for all the wonderful feedback. More is on its way as soon as I get a chance to type.