Scene 3- The next morning

Elsa

Queen Elsa stood up from her throne, stretching tiredly as the exhaustion of the previous night invaded her body yet again. She forced it back and used a tiny hint of her power to close the huge double doors of her throne Chamber.

"Well, that wasn't as painful as we thought it would be." Anna stated happily.

Elsa gave a small smile. "Maybe not for you. You just have to sit and look pretty." It was the end of visiting hours, and Elsa always felt tired but satisfied after these sessions, where the various people of Arendelle would come to Elsa and Anna with their problems, and they would do their best to help. Elsa hurriedly spoke again, "Which you're very good at doing, by the way."

Anna curtsied gratefully. "Thank you! But I think the reason that I don't get to speak much, is because you are too good at doing her job!"

Elsa glanced back at Anna's wide-eyed enthusiasm. How could she remain so positive? She had received the news about the Southern Isles relatively well, but Elsa had almost had a nervous breakdown. Anna said something. Elsa shook her head to clear it.

"Sorry, didn't catch that. Say it again, please?" Anna moved closer to her sister, and pulled her close.

"The people love you. I hope you realize that. You just have to keep going, like Father did, and everything will be all right."

Elsa let her doubt show, and pulled away gently, lowering her head.

"Oh, Anna, I hope that is true, for Arendelle's sake."

Master Kai stepped through one of the many side doors lining the Throne Chamber. Elsa stepped back hastily, old habits still strong. Anna called to him, "Master Kai, is it good news this time?" He smiled back, confidence returned with the new day.

"Very good, Your Majesties. Princess Anna, I have found the man you were looking for." Anna's face brightened even more, if that was possible. Elsa looked at Anna in confusion, and smiled reassuringly back.

Anna said, "Then send him in!" Kai nodded and went back through the door, closing it softly behind him. Elsa spun to face Anna.

"What man? Looking for what? Is there something you haven't been telling me?"

Anna stated innocently, "I thought you might need some help, so I told Kai to find you a personal secretary. And you know you do, need help, I mean." Elsa glared at Anna in annoyance.

"Why didn't you tell me about this? I need to know about things like this!" Anna shifted her feet uncomfortably.

"You were kind of fast asleep."

"Wait, are you telling me you did this last night?!"

Anna went on the offensive. Hands on hips, head cocked in the very posture of sass. "Yes, in fact I did. Everybody in the castle can tell you don't get enough sleep, and even Olaf can tell the politics is wearing you down! You need someone to help you, and since I can't do it, I got someone who can!"

Elsa stared in amazement at her little sister. Ever since Elsa's incident four months ago, Anna had changed, imperceptibly at first, but Elsa had barely noticed that Anna had had grown from the innocent, naïve princess to a grown woman. Elsa suspected most of it was because of Hans' cruelly casual betrayal, and the rest was because of her relationship with Kristoff. Of course, the innocent side was definitely still there, just buried beneath some life experience. Elsa smiled reassuringly, and wearily, at Anna. She looked a little bit surprised herself, at her outburst, but Elsa felt she deserved it.

"I'm sorry Anna, I just… I don't know. Thank you for helping me." Anna was about to reply when the double doors opened again, and Kai and another man walked in. Elsa straightened and assumed the expression of complete serenity her mother had taught her. The small man walked to the front of the throne dais and knelt on the floor facing her. Kai stated in his heraldic voice, "Your Majesty Queen Elsa, may I present to you Franz Schneider of Weselton, an accomplished accountant and secretary of much renown." Elsa fought to keep her face still at the mention of her least favorite country, though her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Please rise, Master Schneider, and welcome to Arendelle. I trust your visit has been pleasant?" He rose smoothly, and smiled up at the two of them. He had a small resemblance to the Duke himself, a thin, small man with a strange hairstyle (if it was hair) and thick glasses. But he varied in other ways, such as being obviously younger, and more importantly, the kindly light in his eyes. He seemed unafraid of Elsa's power.

"It has been the example of hospitality, and I am honored that you have received me as graciously as you have. I have heard reports of your unfortunate dealings with my previous country of residence, and I can assure you, the Duke and the King bring great disgrace to the noble history of Weselton through their cowardly actions."

Anna's ears perked up. She asked, "Wait, are you telling us that the King was in on it?"

Franz nodded. "Yes, the king sent the Duke to your coronation, Highness, seemingly to establish a trade treaty but also to uncover the secret of why your late father, God bless his soul, had closed Arendelle off to trade negotiations, and through any means necessary, to tie a string to Arendelle for future ventures."

Elsa stated quietly, "Or a hangman's noose."

Franz bowed in acquiescence, "Yes, the Duke took a surprisingly bold move with the assassination attempt, for which he was chastised strongly." Anna stood in surprise. "Chastised?! He tried to kill my sister! If international law hadn't have demanded he be sent back, he would have faced the headsman." Elsa gestured calmly to Anna, and she sat down reluctantly. Elsa stood slowly and floated down the steps to meet the small man eye-to-eye. Elsa was not extremely tall, but she towered over the small man. She spoke deliberately. "This was supposed to be an interview for a position in my court. But it turns out you know more than we do. The only question I have for you, dear sir, is why are you telling us this?"

He bobbed another bow, looking nervous now. "To show you my value, your majesty. I could be just another scribbler that knows how to read a trade report, but as I have figured, Your Majesty, you need more than that.I do not doubt your capability…"

Elsa interrupted. "Then what do you doubt?" she asked as she walked past him to stare out one of the stain-glass windows lining the chamber.

He gulped nervously, but continued regardless. "I doubt your experience. Having just emerged from your castle four months ago, you have emerged onto a global theater that you know little about. You need information, and that is something I can give you, especially regarding the game of nations. I will be your information master, as well as secretary. The only thing you will need to do regarding paperwork is signing."

It sounded almost too good to be true. Elsa turned around and strode back to Franz. She looked him in the eye. "Swear, on the highest oath you know, that you will not betray me or Arendelle in any way."

He gulped again, this time audibly, and started to speak, "On my honor…"

Anna interrupted him. "Don't you dare say honor as a Weseltonian!"

He stopped, and started again. "On my saintly mother's grave, I solemnly swear not to betray Queen Elsa or her country of Arendelle in any way; word, act, or thought."

Elsa looked up at Anna, and said, "I'll say that's good enough. What do you think?" Anna walked down the steps to stand next to Elsa and nodded. "That's an awfully heavy oath." Elsa spoke to him directly. "You will be paid handsomely, with a small bonus for every time your information bears fruit. Dismissed."

Kai stepped forward and clapped Franz on the shoulder, almost knocking him over. "Welcome to the court! If he is done with your Highnesses, I need to get him some proper livery. "

Elsa lifted a finger and froze a single lock of Franz's hair to get his attention. He paled, and turned around slowly. She smiled, showing teeth. "I will talk to you later." The pair of them exited through the side door, Kai chatting animatedly. Elsa glanced at Anna. "Thank you for finding him for me. While he may be a little too intelligent, he will be extremely helpful."