** I'm sorry for being terrible and not updating. Reread the last chapter if you forgot where we left off :p Also maybe the first chapter if any characters get confusing.
also… tw #violence? #blood? be careful when reading this chap, i want ya'll to be comfortable.
again, very sorry for the wait.
Andy
Krista came back from her date sooner than he'd anticipated.
He'd been hanging out in the courtyard with General Winter and practicing his swordplay. And by 'practicing' he really meant watching in amusement as the General beat the living heck out of the random stone statues, classic stuff like little winged cupids and a replica of that famous one with no arms. The General's sword was ice so not a lot of damage was done.
"Hey," Krista greeted, managing to look both pissed and happy. It was a fun expression for someone to have. He didn't know if he liked that she looked happy after her date with that guy.
"Hey you," he said. "How was Brandong?"
"Brandon was good— great, actually," she grinned. He tried not to fume at the jealousy poking at his heart. "Did you know he's an excellent thief?"
"Um, is that code for something? I'm a little lost— move," he gently pulled her back as the General barreled past, yelling and whooping about 'stone Meltlings.' The poor snowman was probably bored out of its mind. He guided her to the stone bench at the side of the courtyard and halfheartedly encouraged her to continue talking about her date.
The General's intrusion didn't deter her from talking about the wonderful Brandohanger. "He tried to rob me at first, yeah? 'cos he didn't know it was me. He gets, like, these impulses—"
"Okay, hold on, wait— he tried to rob you? How's that romantic? Like at all? You find stealing worldly possessions attractive?" Andy raised his eyebrows, "I could totally do that— if you find it hot, that is."
Krista looked confused for a second before she snorted with laughter. "No! Okay— you're completely missing the point! We didn't go anywhere, it was not a proper date at all! I hired him— for his services."
"Oh, what? Gross. You do not tell that to your almost-boyfriend! What kind of services—?"
That earned him a smack on the arm. "Andy, come on. Hear me out— even if the services thing did come out kind of wrong… he is an excellent thief. A thief of information."
She dragged out the word, like it was supposed to mean something to him. Whatever it was, he didn't catch it. He was still upset about Helena and his brother. He'd had a good laugh watching the General fight the statues so passionately, but his heart still ached for Elliott and then contracted in rage about Helena and her sisters. It was all just too unfair and it made him feel a new kind of bitter.
Plus he was distracted by how nice Krista looked this fine summer day. Her blonde hair was out of a braid for once and rested just above her shoulders, he liked that it wasn't too long. Her yellow dress and the sun both brought out the gold in her brown eyes. Brown eyes in the sun man, they were like—
"Are you listening? Cause this is important! It could stop their marriage!" Krista shook his shoulder in exasperation.
The words stop and marriage almost made him jump. She immediately got his undivided attention, "Tell me."
She sighed and her cheeks were suddenly flushed, but she said "Brandon. I asked him to do a secret mission to the Southern Isles to get information— he said he'd get back to me in a week's time, but still… you know what this means?"
"I do, but it'd be sweet if you said it… out loud?" Honest to the gods he didn't know what that meant. What was this Brandon guy going to do? Steal the queen's panties? Would that be sufficient to stop this stupid wedding—
"You know the rumors about how Helena's mother killed her father, right? And then Astrid killed her own mother? Well— if Brandon found proof of that, I'm sure Astrid would be forced to step down. And then the girl with the scar—"
"Madeleine—uh, Maddy. Maddy would take her place," Andy finished.
Krista beamed, "Exactly!"
He didn't dare let himself get his hopes up. "But what if Maddy just wants the same as Astrid? A forced marriage?"
"And what if she doesn't?" She challenged. "She could stop this. If you ask me, she seems a lot less evil… and fair enough. Let's say she doesn't want to stop the marriage— the Southern Isles would be unstable-ish due to the change of having Maddy over Astrid. Hell— maybe some family fighting from the other sisters stating their own claim?"
"You're good at imaginary politics," he finally allowed a small, hopeful smile. "Oh, gods, this… this could maybe work. If nothing goes terribly wrong it could honestly actually work!"
Her smile only grew, "And during the instability of the Southern Isles we could— I mean, Elliott could… make a move. Attack first, if it comes to that?"
Andy couldn't stand it anymore. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to him into a deep, long kiss. He almost lost it when she made a soft mm sound against his lips.
"One meter rule!"
Andy was beyond startled when their kiss was rudely interrupted by General Winter's sword smacking the ground right in front of them. It effectively made Krista move away from him on the bench, at least a good twenty centimeters.
"General," Andy groaned in annoyance.
"This is the royal courtyard, boy," General Winter snapped. "Not a brothel," he whispered, expecting Krista not to hear. She did.
She scoffed, "Are you calling me a prosti—"
"No! No I didn't. I intended no offence." He gestured at Andy, "If anything, that's him."
"Hey!"
The General seemed embarrassed, "I must go."
Andy sighed as the General trotted away, the moment ruined. Well— not completely ruined. He was very impressed by the way Krista solved the problem— almost solved. Same thing. If anything, he put his arm around her.
"The plan is digging up the murder case of the previous Southern queen and proving it was her daughter— I love it. Love it, love it, love it. I can't wait. We should get that info as soon as possible. Where's Brandon?" Andy decided Brandon was a good guy—for now.
"He's away. He'll meet with me in a week. Let's just hope the wedding doesn't happen until then," she snuggled against his arm, obviously immensely pleased with the plan too, as she should be.
"We need to tell Elliott."
"Hmm. Maybe in a little while?"
Andy closed his eyes and let the warm summer sun roll over both of them. "Yeah."
Elliott
Drinking a whole bottle of wine with the Princess of the Southern Isles had never crossed his mind until it had actually happened. Now his head was spinning and the tangy taste of the drink refused to leave his mouth no matter how much he wanted to wash it away with plain water. He wasn't exactly drunk, but his hand coordination left much to be desired.
The word to describe Helena's state was worryingly tipsy. She kept giggling a lot and bad-mouthing each of her sisters every chance she got in a slurred mess. He didn't know half the people she was bashing. Familiar names kept popping up like 'Maddy, Sophia and Sonja,' but others he was clueless about. He kept reminding himself she was the thirteenth sister. She had a whole family of people he didn't know—people who would soon be his family, too.
It was terrifying to think about. He would become someone's brother-in-law, a cousin, an uncle… to people he refused to allow himself to like. Some kid would become his forced nephew. He only ever wanted to be an uncle for Andy's children, not Helena's sisters. Astrid wasn't just forcing an union between two people; she was joining two families. Granted Elliott's was a small one, but it was still his own. The troubling thoughts cleared his mind if only for a moment.
"I've got to go," he stood up suddenly. "I will tell Astrid I accept."
Helena pouted. "But we're getting to know one another."
A sort of panic started creeping up his throat. "We have a whole lifetime for that," the words tasted more sour than the wine. "I won't be long."
"I hope Cristina doesn't show up at the wedding," Helena mused, quickly losing interest in him. "I'd hate for that bitch to—"
Head pounding, Elliott exited the room. He ran a hand through his blond hair which was getting alarmingly long. He didn't actually want to face Astrid's smug face until he absolutely had to. He had until sunset to do that. But the longer he put it off, the more anxious and stressed he would get. Let's just get it over with.
It wasn't hard to find the Queen of the Southern Isles. Pretty much everyone in his castle made it a point to be aware of Astrid's location at all times as to avoid her. He could sense they were scared of her. Better her than me, he figured.
The tall blonde woman had pretty much made herself at home in one of the guest rooms. Her fancy gowns and random papers already littered her room, she'd got right to unpacking. The walk here had been torture to him, and the dread had pretty much fought away the effects of the wine which hadn't been that strong anyway.
Astrid and 'Maddy' were on the balcony, eating cakes he didn't remember sending or offering to them. Right at home. 'Maddy' (he wasn't sure if he should call her by the nickname or her full name) seemed surprised to see him and the scar on her face stretched out when she smiled politely. Astrid didn't even bother to look up. "King Elliott, hello," the princess said.
He inclined his head as he approached their table. "Lady Madeleine," he greeted.
"So? Have you decided?" the queen asked. No formalities. This was business. Maddy gestured at a third chair (like they'd been expecting him) but he remained standing.
"I have," he said. He sighed through his nose, "And I do. I accept." His jaw tightened, "I will marry Helena."
Astrid allowed a cat-like smile to spread across her face, the victory too sweet to attempt to hide. "I'm glad you're starting to see things my way, King Elliott."
Standing there alone was humiliating enough, and the queen trying not to gloat made his insides boil. He shifted his eyes to Madeleine who had a look of pity. Elliott swallowed hard. He couldn't decide which reaction he hated more.
"You will be married within the fortnight, if that's okay with you, Your Grace," Astrid continued. "We do not wish for the strain between our families to become worse."
Two weeks. It felt like being given a death sentence. It wasn't exactly because of Helena. It was more about Astrid. He was a king whose hand had been forced by a woman— a very powerful woman, but it still didn't make him any less bitter. His only comfort was that his people, the people of Arendelle— they would be safe. They would get food, supplies, the summer festival. No war. And that was what was important.
"That's fine by me," he replied in a clipped tone.
"Excellent. Then we'll begin preparations immediately," the queen finally looked up to meet his gaze. The arrogance in her blue eyes made frost spread between the fingers of his clenched hands. "After all, it is customary for the bride's family to pay for the wedding."
"Of course, Queen Astrid," Elliott said. He took a step backwards, "Well, if there's not anything else…"
"Actually, there is." Astrid said. "Helena's coronation as your Queen? I wanted to ask if you wanted it to happen during the wedding ceremony or after?"
It took a lot of self-control for him not to snarl. It had kind of slipped his mind. He'd been so focused on thinking of Helena as his wife alone he hadn't even had time to think of her as his queen. The queen of his people. Ruling alongside him—
"During," he snapped before his thoughts could spiral out of control and cause a storm right there on the balcony. So far his powers were behaving, but the woman was pushing him. "I don't particularly mind."
"Okay then. Don't you worry about preparations. We'll be taking care of it, the whole thing." The queen's smile was too sweet and her eyes too bright and Elliott wasn't a violent person, but she just—
"Excuse me." He cut her off and left straightaway, a trail of ice following in his wake.
Maddy
"He hates you," Maddy said in awe, staring at the already melting ice the king had left after his angry exit. She forced her eyes away and looked at her sister, "He deeply, truly hates you."
"What he feels towards me has no relevance. He can pout and he can yell and he can throw tantrums— I do not care. He's agreed to the wedding and that's all that matters," her sister grabbed one of the Arendellan cakes, less sugary than the ones at home but just as good. "I've won."
Typical of Astrid to sing victory too early. Elliott had two weeks to foil her plans. Secretly, Maddy hoped he would. She wasn't exactly rooting for Anders and Elliott, but she sure as hell wasn't rooting for Astrid even if she did represent their country. The queen wasn't only hurting the two brothers, Helena was bound to suffer as well. They were marrying her off like she was cattle. After Maddy's talk with Katherine, she felt strangely protective of the girl.
"I want you on your best behavior," Astrid said suddenly, sharply. Maddy was immediately dragged out of her thoughts. The smugness was gone from her sister's face and was replaced by a fierce warning.
"Me?" she asked. A-B-R-U-P-T mood swing much?
"Yes, you," Astrid's voice was tight and ugly. "Don't you dare think I don't remember your betrayal, sweet sister. On the last coronation you attended, well— need I get into details?"
It hit her like a ton of bricks, what Astrid meant. 'The last coronation you attended'... years ago. The coronation from that guy from the Eastern Isles, the guy their parents had wanted Astrid to marry to unite their kingdoms. Maddy felt her cheeks get warm with shame and anger. The scar on her face seemed to throb, though it was impossible. That wound had healed…
"I forgave you of course. How could I not? Since then you've become my closest confidant… but I warn you, Madeleine, and heed my words," her sister's cold face and voice pinned her in place like a cat would a mouse. "If you do anything— anything at all that may interfere with me getting Arendelle— you will pay. It will not be only your face this time. It will be your life. Your husband's life. Anything you love." By the end of her threat Astrid was breathing heavily. "Do I make myself clear?"
All Maddy could do was nod her understanding. Her head was spinning, her sister's words had triggered the memory of that night inside her head and it kept replaying, over and over. An embarrassing whimper was the only sound that left her throat. The deep line on her face felt warm and as if it were fresh, with blood and tears—
"You don't look well," and just as fast, Astrid's demeanor changed. Concern clouded her features. "I'll get you some water."
She must've looked extremely upset for Astrid to offer to go herself and not just bark for some of the castle staff. Once alone, she allowed for the shaking to start. These episodes that were not quite panic attacks had happened often when she was younger. The trauma her older sister had inflicted upon her had haunted her for years growing up to her adult life. They'd fully stopped a while after she married Josef, but now, for some reason, the flashback was assaulting her once more.
She closed her eyes and let it.
The memory brought on a tidal wave of emotions.
It was her darkest secret, the lowest moment in her life. For a couple of seconds it had been the greatest moment. But it only lasted that; a couple of seconds. Then it all went downhill.
Maybe explaining things from the beginning would be best.
Back then there weren't thirteen sisters. They were five. Astrid, obviously, the eldest. Maddy. The feverish toddler Cecile, who needed intensive care at all times just to stay alive. The twins Olivia and Emilia, who were newborns at the time. So in a sense, it was just Maddy and Astrid, on their early teens. Wild little girls, they were. Maddy more than Astrid.
The second princess wasn't meant to marry Joseph when she was young. She was promised to another, a man whose name she'd swore to forget. When the then-ruler of the Southern Isles, their mother, announced their betrothal Maddy was high on glee. He was older than her at the time and He soon became her whole world. He was even handsomer than Astrid's then-fiancé, the prince of the Eastern Isles and Maddy could not be happier. Even better, He was heir to his own nation. Maddy would never be Queen with Astrid on the way, so her marriage to Him would guarantee her to be queen on His.
He liked her, too. They would ride horses together and have picnics and do all sorts of things— she counted down the days to her eighteenth birthday when they'd finally be able to marry. It was years away— but it would be worth it.
One day, He pointed out how she was prettier than Astrid. Smarter. Kinder.
"Her hair's like barn straw and she has the sense of humor of a donkey," He would say, and she would laugh and agree. "Your hair's like fire, Maddy. Silky and beautiful. And your smile— so gorgeous." It was all fun and flattering until he said… it.
"You would make a much better queen than Astrid ever would."
Years later she'd wonder if that had been the moment. The moment she started doubting Astrid, the moment she decided that she agreed with Him. From then on his comments turned to whispers about power— plots against Astrid.
"You could be queen of both places— the Southern Isles and my home, love. Think about it."
She was too young to realize the manipulation taking place. The way He was egging her on. She was too naïve to know back then, everything He said sounded like the absolute truth to her ears. The empty daydreams soon started to turn into a reality as His words gained influence over her. Astrid didn't help her sister's growing jealousy, she actually fueled the fire that was catching inside.
She outshined Maddy in everything they did and hoarded their father's affections. If Maddy learned to ride a horse, Astrid was already jumping obstacles. If they were doing needlework, Maddy would be working on getting the thread inside the needle and Astrid would have already completed a masterpiece. And Astrid knew it. How she gloated and rubbed it in— mocked her too. She couldn't breathe.
The father of Astrid's then-fiancé died, and they were going to crown her boyfriend as king of the Eastern Isles. They were invited to the coronation. The Westergard family attended— and so did He.
He was relentlessness with his plotting now— and a lot more open. He would not stop whispering at her during the coronation ceremony, and then during the party all of his careful scheming seemed to bloom when in a moment of crazed impulse Maddy stole a steak knife.
"I will get her alone," she told Him.
"Good," He'd smiled. "We're on this together. I will join you soon. Keep it safe, and when the time comes, give me the knife and I will do it."
"Together," she echoed. And He kissed her.
She asked Astrid that they walk the gardens together, away from the party, and she said yes. They went inside the hedge maze taller than they were and wandered about.
"Can you believe it? He's king now. And when we marry, I will be his queen." Astrid said as they walked. "Queen of the Eastern-Southern Isles. I'm loving the sound of it. If only he wasn't such a weak, boring boy."
The conversation was one-sided, and Astrid didn't care if Maddy replied or not. As always she was too self-absorbed in herself to notice that her sister had murder in her heart.
"It'll be lovely anyway. We'll unite both kingdoms, and become unstoppable. The North and the West Isles will join in when my children marry theirs— one big, powerful nation!" they stopped in the middle of the hedge maze. The only light, the only witness, was the moon.
Astrid sensed something was off. She looked at Maddy with her shiny, shiny blue eyes. "Sister?"
She had not time to wait for Him. This ended now. "You are no sister of mine."
And she lunged.
She should have known. She should have known. Astrid was better at everything. Astrid knew everything. Maddy barely nicked her sister's chin with the point of the knife before she was flat on her back, Astrid's whole weight pinning her down and the knife on her hand.
"I knew it," Astrid snarled right on her face. "You and that boy— he poisoned your mind. We were friends, Madeleine. And now you've betrayed me."
Maddy was crying and trying to throw her sister off of her but she couldn't. Astrid was using the same voice she'd used before she'd viciously beat that one rat to death with an iron poker down on the dungeons when they had gone exploring their father's castle.
"P-Please," Maddy yelled for help buy her plea was ignored, and Astrid grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it inside her mouth to silence her. The furious blonde could keep her waist pinned down to the ground with her legs alone, and that left Astrid's hands free.
"Don't you dare. You brought this on yourself, fucking traitor—" the moon's light caught on the knife's reflection as Astrid raised it, "What were you going to do with this, huh? Stab me? Through the heart? On my brain?"
Maddy screamed and tried not to choke on the dirt or on her tears— this had been a terrible mistake. The worst. He was supposed to be here. Where was He? Had He abandoned her? Again Maddy tried to squirm out of from under Astrid, but the older teen was determined to keep her in place and all her struggles were useless.
Instead of putting her out of her misery, Astrid lowered the knife and pressed the blade right below her eye, the coldness making her stop jerking. If she moved, she would be cut. Of all things, the regret was gnawing at her gut the hardest. This was her sister. How could Maddy have tried to do this? Why had she picked Him over her own blood?
"You deserve this. I should— I should—" Astrid's voice shook, from rage or sadness Maddy couldn't tell and didn't care. She was terrified. Even if her sister seemed to be hesitating, she was going to die. She was sure. Maddy would be dead.
"You wanted to become queen, didn't you? That's why…" Astrid screamed at her. She pressed the knife harder, drawing blood. All Maddy could do was whimper and pray in her mind to any god that would listen. "That's why, that's why, that's why! My throne! MINE."
Maddy didn't know why her sister cared so much about the reason. Maddy's hands were also free and she knew trying to punch her sister off was pointless, so she tried to pry the blade away from being so close to her eye.
"No!" Astrid screeched and bashed the side of Maddy's head with the handle of the knife. Maddy cried out and spat out the dirt, her right hand flying to her temple. Her fingers came back wet with blood.
"Please don't kill me. Please, please, please. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She was down to begging and more afraid than before if that was at all possible. Through her tears she could see Astrid's red face, her previously neat hair was disheveled and hanging around her, adding to the murderous look she had. Her blue eyes shone… with tears? Another pang of regret stabbed her heart. The look on Astrid's face wasn't so much anger. It spelled H-U-R-T.
Maddy was shocked she hadn't gone into cardiac arrest with the way her heart was beating crazily on her chest. Astrid looked down at her, her face suddenly a mask. No snarl, just a still line that was her lips. Even her eyes gave away nothing.
"Astrid…" Maddy couldn't even raise her voice at the end to make it seem like a question.
"I will choose to believe it was His idea," her sister said almost casually. "You're pardoned."
Maddy didn't let relief fill her, because her sister wasn't done. She saw Astrid's fingers tighten around the handle of the knife— the butt of it was dripping with the blood from her temple.
"However… you must learn a lesson." She leaned down. "A permanent lesson."
"Astrid please don't. Please. I'll do anything— don't do this," Maddy's voice was breathy with fear and it was as thin as a line. T-E-R-R-O-R didn't even cover what she was feeling. "I'M SORRY!"
"If you move.. if you speak.. I'll do it again. Again and again." Astrid said slowly, completely deaf to her sister's voice, "Until your pretty little face is striped completely red. Do I make myself clear?"
Maddy sobbed as Astrid brought down the knife to the spot she'd previously cut, right below her eye. The coldness bit into her skin and Astrid took her sweet time dragging it down. Maddy made the mistake of instinctively trying to move her face away, which only caused Astrid to grip her chin in place with her free hand."I said no moving."
It cost her. Instead of stopping at her cheek, Astrid cut all the way down to her chin. Every second was agony. She would rather be dead. She would rather be dead.
"A permanent lesson," Astrid repeated, and she leaned away to study her handiwork. Maddy didn't dare breathe. Her sister then used her index finger to run it down the fresh cut, pressing on the sensitive flesh and making her scream. She could feel the warm blood seeping out.
"Maddy?"
It was Him. But He was too late.
A predator-like smile appeared on her sister's face. "Stay down, sweet sister," she said. Her sister's weight left her and she could breathe again. She didn't dare touch her own face, even if it hurt like hell and it was burning. She ought to stop the bleeding— but she couldn't bring herself to. Somewhere out of her eye reach her sister confronted her lover. Maddy could only see the stars.
His voice was like a slap to the face. "What the hell?"
"Listen here horse-face. You're going to leave right now. Right this second. And you will never show your sorry face around me or my sister again." Astrid's voice yelling at Him. There was a grunt. She had shoved Him. Maddy remained on the ground, letting the salty tears sting the cut. "If you try to contact her— and I'll know if you fucking do— you will not live to see twenty-one."
"Is that a threat? Why's she laying down over there? Maddy? What did you do to her—"
Another grunt, followed by the shing of the knife slicing across the air. She hadn't cut him but she was making it very clear she would. "It's more than a threat. It's a promise. I am sparing your pathetic self only for today. And you better pray out paths never cross. Get on the first fucking boat you see and leave us now. If you don't, I'll have my beloved throw you for the dogs to eat. LEAVE!"
Maddy knew that by 'her beloved' she meant the prince—now king— of the Eastern Isles. And by the heavy sound of boots pounding on the ground she knew He was doing that. Leaving her. Running away.
Astrid came back and stared down at her, her lip curled. "You will tell mother and father that He did this. He assaulted and disrespected you, but I stopped him. If you do not, I will tell them the truth. And they won't ever want to see you again. Now, get up."
That was the last thing in the world that she wanted to do.
But she did anyway.
When He was gone her parents were disappointed and they thought it was something she'd done to make him mad. He'd been a fine boy, they'd said, heir to becoming someone and now that was over for her. They found Josef for her instead, the youngest brother of five but he was kind and tall like a bear. Plus, he didn't talk about overthrowing anybody.
Astrid changed. The rivalry between them was larger than ever and she didn't speak to her kindly for over a year. They stopped sharing a room and Maddy was moved to the other side of the castle, her new room on another tower where Cecile's room also was. Astrid broke off her engagement with the Eastern Isles king, claiming that she "could not trust anybody."
Maddy had changed, too. Half her face was bandaged for weeks and she burst into tears every time Astrid entered the same room. And when they peeled the bandages away, the deep, thin scar was all that remained from the most traumatic night of her short existence.
A permanent reminder.
A permanent lesson.
I know I've asked before about Elliott/Helena becoming a thing, and last time I decided… not to. But I think it's time to ask again. It was mainly because so many people were neutral on it, and the people against it put up good arguments. But the characters do have a lot of chemistry, and I think it has a chance of working, maybe… tho I could still leave Elliott single. I just wanna know what the readers think!
Hans/Elsa from the original movie is a sort of crackship that would probably never work in my humble opinion. But my characters are different from them, this genderbent version is its own thing, I like to think… and don't worry, the relationship will not affect the plot/story like at all. It's still going to end the way I always intended it to, Helsa or not.
So I think I'm going to have to ask for another vote. No neutrality this time. YES or NO. I'm down either way, and this time it's democracy and majority wins, okay? Strong arguments also help.
Thank you for reading! :)
**18/01/15 EDIT!
Oookay guys, I thought this went unsaid, but I suppose now I'll have to be explicit: spamming votes on Guest does not count as a vote. I thought this would have been assumed but apparently not. If you have an account, use it. Don't send 50 reviews on anonymous saying the same thing 'cause I know it's you. I can totally tell i'm not stupid?
