Scene 4- Later that week. Afternoon
Elsa
Elsa was again questioning her new assistant for info when a guardsman rushed into her office. The mans' face was shining with sweat, and he was panting with exertion. "Your… Majesty... huh huh… there is… a ship in… the harbor." Elsa, miffed at the interruption, said dryly, "Well, that's never happened before. Calm down and tell me anything else I should know."
"Your Majesty, it's a warship! And flying a flag we can't identify!" She stood and piled the documents she was working on in a small iron box, and waved her hand to make an impenetrable lock out of ice. No matter how many times you shattered it, it always re-formed instantly. She gestured for Franz to follow her and she exited, walking as fast as she could while still retaining her dignity.
"So it's not pirates, then?" She asked the guardsman. "No, milady, not as far as we can tell. It hasn't made any hostile moves, yet."
"Send Guardsmen to the docks, just in case."
He saluted and took off running.
Soon, they arrived at a spiral staircase that would take them to the lighthouse tower. They ascended, and at the top they found Anna and Kai frantically searching a huge tome detailing national flags and sigils. "No, it's not Eraskia." Anna said. Kai replied, "Nor Ituse." Now Elsa finally caught sight of the object of attention. A small warship, painted with black stripes along the sides of its hull and sails. It had three masts and two decks, with strange holes in the sides of the hull. On the highest mast, a black flag flew. She picked up a spyglass that Anna had been using and studied the flag. There were three golden diamonds in a triangle pointing down on a field of black. She didn't recognize it, so she handed it to Schneider. He took a long look and muttered to himself, "It can't be."
"What is it?" Elsa asked impatiently, just as Anna cried out, "Found it! Well, kinda." She pointed to a specific flag.
"Darahdia?" Kai asked skeptically. Elsa looked over and saw black diamonds in a triangle, facing up on a field of gold.
"But that's impossible! Darahdia fell fifty years ago to civil war!" Kai said.
Anna cried in consternation, "But here it is! It's the closest one!"
Elsa glanced back at the dark ship. She shouted, "Everyone just be quiet!" They all looked at her in surprise until they saw what was going on outside. The dark ship had launched a longboat and they were rowing steadily towards the docks. Elsa grabbed the spyglass back and trained it on the approaching longboat. A quartet of muscular rowers made good time towards land, and in the middle of the ship rode three people. It was hard to make out details at this distance, but she could tell that all three of them were warriors. One carried a staff with two small flags on it. One was a miniature version of the flag on the ship, and the other was plain white. "Well, now we know that they aren't pirates. They are flying the white flag, so I guess they don't intend to attack us. I will wait for their message in the throne chamber." She began to descend, Anna hefting the huge book and giving it to Kai before following Elsa down the stairs and Schneider right behind her. As they walked, Elsa changed seamlessly from a comfortable skirt and blouse to a full-length gown with sparkling ice crystals reflecting light in every direction. While some parts of her power were annoying and even dangerous, being able to change clothes instantly and without needing privacy was strangely amazing. She also changed her crown from a small circlet to remind all of who she was to gleaming flawless tiara. When they reached the entrance to the throne room, there was already a courier waiting, speaking to another of her personal servants.
"I told you," The courier was saying, "this message is to be delivered to the Queen herself and no others!" The servant was about to protest when she saw Elsa and her entourage. The servant bowed hastily, followed by the messenger. Elsa swept to the doors, the others following a small distance behind. Elsa stated regally, "I am here. Please give me the message."
The courier cleared his throat and began. "The High Warlord Donovan Ironhand of Arradia wishes to meet with Queen Elsa of Arendelle as soon as possible, for he has valuable information he wishes to give the Queen regarding his nation. End message." Elsa looked back to Schneider, and he shrugged and shook his head slightly. He knew nothing about Donovan, it seemed. Elsa thought quickly. Warlord? Sounded menacing, and who was this Donovan, that he could demand a meeting whenever he desires? On the other hand, she reasoned, if he had important information, it would make sense that he would want to speak with her immediately. What is Arradia? She'd never heard the word before in her life, but it shared a resemblance to Darahdia. Maybe they were the same country? And besides, she was as prepared as she could possibly be. She spoke loudly and with precision. "Tell him to meet me in one hour's time, in the Throne Chamber, and that I am anxious to know what information he has brought me." The courier bowed and scurried off to deliver the message, and Elsa passed into the throne room, seeing it occupied with guardsmen and several minor nobles from outlying provinces, who had undoubtedly heard of the new arrival and had come to see the show.
Anna walked up next to her. "Are you sure this is a good idea? You know next to nothing about him."
Elsa looked at her sister, and countered quietly. "I know that he is a soldier, and that whatever he is here to do, he has already set in motion. He is wasting no time, and neither should we. Now go get dressed, please." She raised her voice to be heard by all occupants of the room. "I want all of you to look your finest, for we have a royal guest arriving in one hour's time, and I expect him to be impressed." The nobles' hushed words grew more excited, and several of them left. She wasn't too worried about them, the loyal ones would obey her, and the others would still do it because they were interested. She was thinking of ways to change that, but the earls and dukes ruling the outlying cities of Arendelle had a long history of not listening to the crown, even in her father's time. Sure, they were courteous, but they didn't obey her explicitly. Elsa seated herself and gestured for Schneider. He knelt next to her, and she said in hushed tones. "Tell me everything you know about Darahdia and Arradia."
