Kaya liked to think that she was very good at minding her own business. She didn't save people, didn't try to be a hero. She knew the consequences of fighting other people's battles; she'd learned that lesson the hard way a long time ago. Not that many people had wanted anything to do with her in the first place.
She sighed softly. I should never have interfered, she thought. But why a sweet, innocent-looking girl would choose to work in a tavern, of all places, is beyond me.
There were many reasons, if Kaya had actually stopped to think about it. So many, she didn't care to count them all. Money, attention, special circumstances, the list went on and on. Kaya hadn't been forced to step in when the so-called Captain of the Queen's guard started to manhandle the barmaid, but intervene she had.
Admittedly, the reason Kaya had probably felt inclined to get involved was the fact the girl bore a close resemblance to her stepsister who was currently studying abroad at an all-girls' academy. Quite frankly, it was one of the few good ideas that Catherine's mother had ever had for her daughter. It had ended up being the only thing saving from certain death, had she been home at the time of Zmeya's betrayal.
I told you that you should have killed her when you had the chance. Orinda seethed.
They both knew it would have been impossible. Cold as the Palladonians had always been to their former first-born princess, Kaya wasn't about to have a beloved duchess-turned-empress' blood on her hands, and then be wanted by an entire country for the rest of her life. The best course of action was to be patient and wait out the storm, so to speak. Catherine would eventually come of age and take the throne, something Kaya never would have done anyway, and Kaya knew Catherine would make a kind and gentle Empress.
As a result of her past, laden with good intentions being hatefully slapped away, even after the lecherous Captain, still mostly sober, had started harassing the girl with the Catherine-like demeanor, Kaya had been determined to stay out of it. Especially since the man had been wearing the insignia of the kingdom of Arendelle, marking him as one of the Queen's own guards. One would be foolish to trifle with such a high-ranking soldier for no reason at all.
Kaya had to hold back a growl of frustration. I'm not usually so sentimental. But was done was done, and that uncharacteristic act of kindness had ironically landed her here, awaiting the Queen so that she could decide Kaya's punishment.
Damn. It appalled Kaya to think that the Queen herself was forced to deal with all trial-like issues, but then, maybe Arendelle was really that peaceful. Even her late mother would never have done such a thing.
She had to restrain herself from snapping her head up when she heard the door open, likely admitting Queen Elsa and whichever guard had been sent to fetch the monarch. Soft footsteps followed the sound of the closing door, and Kaya kept her head lowered; she of all people would know how to act in the presence of royalty.
Kaya felt rather than saw Queen Elsa's eyes on her form just before the Snow Queen addressed the Captain, sounding almost amused. "Now what could she have possibly done to warrant such a harsh position?"
The fire-user almost laughed at the tone of the Queen's voice. Idiotic and ill-tempered as the Captain was, it didn't surprise her that he made false accusations on a daily basis.
The Captain seemed startled at the Queen's direct question. Apparently the infamous Snow Queen didn't often jump immediately to the crux of a problem, instead choosing to skirt the issue until an opening appeared.
The Captain scrambled to come up with an answer.
Clearing his throat, he said, "This woman stands accused of attacking a member of the Royal Guard, Your Majesty."
"Was it unprovoked?" Queen Elsa inquired. Kaya's head was still lowered, but the raised eyebrow was almost audible.
No one spoke. One would think that the guards would have a bit more loyalty to the Captain, but it was apparent that Kaya wasn't the only one who thought the man was undeserving of his position.
Queen Elsa seemed to take notice as well, even when the Captain was forced to jump to his own defense.
Evidently thinking better of speaking up for his own actions, the Captain elected to elbow the guard beside him.
"The Captain was quietly enjoying his time off-duty in one of the local taverns," he gestured to Kaya. "Then this woman-"
"Comes out of nowhere and attacks me!"
It was clear the Captain simply did not know when to keep his mouth shut. As was the fact that subtlety was most certainly not his strong suit.
Kaya rolled her eyes from behind the curtain of hair that she was unable to brush back because her hands were otherwise occupied. Just keep talking, old man. I'll be out of here in record time.
"I did nothing to warrant such a violent and -" The Captain continued.
"Did anyone think to ask this woman her side of the story?" Queen Elsa asked.
Silence. Kaya then felt Queen Elsa's gaze on her once again. She seemed to make a decision and spoke with a most authoritative tone.
"Release her hands."
"But Queen Elsa-"
"She is unarmed, correct?" Kaya could hear the smile on Queen Elsa's lips.
"She could be hiding concealed weapons-"
The Queen calmly deflected the concern. "Then if the rumors about me were to be believed, then you should know that airborne weapons will be useless against me."
Kaya had no doubt. From what she'd heard, the Snow Queen had proved quite formidable. But then again, spoken tales had a tendency to be over-exaggerated. Still, the point was moot as the only tangible weapon she usually carried was her sword. Weapons training had always been the most hated part of her day. By contrast, the part of the day when she could sneak away to the ocean to practice her magic had easily been the most joyful, even if the magic wasn't technically hers. However, she no longer needed a catalyst to channel her magic as she had when she'd been a child. The sword at her hip now was merely for appearances.
The Captain must have reluctantly nodded to the two men pulling back her arms, because the chains were suddenly released and Kaya bent forward to rest her weight on her hands. Taking only a moment to collect herself, she drew up halfway and brushed her long hair back from the front, casually pulling out the loose tie that had once held her hair back.
Kaya thought she saw the Queen's breath catch, but that might have just been a trick of her imagination. What was not imagined, however, were the widening of the Snow Queen's eyes as their gazes locked for the first time. People often reacted that way to the golden color of her irises. Kaya suspected it was probably a physical manifestation of Orinda's fire magic, not unlike her higher-than-normal body temperature.
The Snow Queen had proven most magnanimous thus far. Still, it intrigued Kaya to think of what the ruler would do next.
