Scene 13
Anna looked beautiful. And more nervous than Elsa had ever seen her, for good reason. Her wedding dress was exquisite, made from the purest cotton and silk from the West, with streaks of blue ice on the hems and sleeves. The green-tinted train was carried by two young girls, and standing on the front row, stood Kristoff, in a spotless blue and white military uniform, positively beaming. Sven lay on the ground not too far away, in the traditional spot for the best man(?), still looking shocked from the vigorous cleaning he had received. Elsa looked on from her customary small throne on a raised dais to the side of the chapel, smiling in pride for her sister.
Donovan sat in the second row, trying earnestly not to stare at the three trolls seated in front of him, Grandpabbie sitting in the chair reserved for the grooms' father. Beside and a little behind Anna stood Iy'ate, the Maid of Honor, who was trying desperately to restrain an expression of horror. Elsa thought that it was probably because she was wearing a dress, a lesser version of Anna's. An Arradian choir of soldiers from Elsa's Honor Guard sang the Song of Elegant Joy from the tier above the chapel's organ. Finally, Anna reached the end of aisle, and Kristoff took her hand and bowed with surprising grace. They walked up the steps and knelt at the altar, and the choir ended their song, the last note reverberating through the chapel. The bishop began the rites of ceremony, and Elsa hid her wide grin behind her hand. She couldn't believe that this was happening! The same night that she had destroyed her palace, Kristoff had proposed to Anna privately, keeping the entire thing quiet. Elsa herself hadn't known until the next morning! They planned the wedding for two weeks later, and another for the trolls that same night, who didn't consider a wedding in the biggest chapel in Arendelle as legitimate.
She looked discreetly at Donovan, who was watching the ceremony with a wide smile. During the months he had been here, he and Kristoff had grown close, which Elsa considered strange, with their completely different personalities. Apparently, it had been a close one to decide who the best man would be, but Sven had won simply because he knew Kristoff better and longer. Elsa had not talked to Donovan about that night, except to tell him of her destroying of her Palace. He hadn't brought up what had also happened, and Elsa was happy to leave it alone as well. The entire city had seen the eruption of their power, and Elsa suspected that Anna knew exactly what had happened. Anna had given her a knowing smile when she had returned, but Anna had also informed her of the latest message in her rooms. Three known, the last remains. Now she knew it had something to do with Donovan, but she hadn't been able to think of a good way to bring it up.
She made herself focus. This wasn't about her, this was about Anna and Kristoff.
"Kristoff, Icemaster and Captain-General of Arendelle, do you take Anna, Princess of Arendelle, to be your lawfully wedded wife, so long as you both should live and beyond, to protect her in sickness and health, in peace and war, in every trial you shall face?"
Kristoff replied without hesitation. "I will." The bishop turned to Anna.
"Do you, Anna, Princess of Arendelle, accept Kristoff, Icemaster and Captain-General of Arendelle, to be your lawfully wedded husband, so long as you both shall live and beyond, to support him in sickness, in health, in peace and war, in every trial you shall face?"
Anna took a deep breath, then cried, "Of course I do!" Elsa bit her lip to keep from laughing aloud, and the bishop placed their hands on top of each other. He stated a few words in Lotin, and then pronounced,
"You may kiss the bride." Anna leapt on Kristoff, and their embrace was long but not inappropriate. All assembled stood and applauded, the trolls standing up in their seats to cheer. Elsa stood and walked over to the couple. Clutching each other, breathless, they looked happier that anyone she had ever seen. The bishop bowed and moved to make room for her. She stood before them in full regal glory, her ice crown shining in the bright light. They knelt in front of her. She placed her hands on both their heads, and stated,
"I, Queen Elsa of Arendelle, Light of the North, bless this marriage." She removed her hands, and they looked up at her. "May you live long, have a beautiful family, and have a wonderful life together." Elsa leaned in closer and smiled at both of them. "I know you will." Elsa pointedly ignored Skahdi, who sounded like she was choking on her own tongue. She took their hands and gracefully pulled them to their feet again. They turned to face the audience, and Anna spoke clearly, hiding her excitement. "There will a reception lunch and dance at the Palace, and everyone is invited!"
Later-
Elsa stood a distance away from Anna and Kristoff, who were facing a long line of well-wishers. Kristoff looked strange in his new uniform. He had been among the first to volunteer for the Grand Army of Arendelle, and had requested specifically to be placed to protect Anna. Apparently, he had great potential as a warrior, his long years of hauling ice from the glaciers hardening him so much that he had passed through Donovan's basic fitness exam with ease. She hadn't been able to see him as a warrior, but he seemed happy enough, especially that now he and Anna could train together. She watched them, glad that they had worked out. After Prince Hans, Elsa had wondered if Anna could ever truly trust someone like that again.
"Ohhh… but you're not just happy for them, are you?" Skahdi appeared next to her, a dark figure that only Elsa could see.
"Skahdi, you know what I'm feeling. Please don't make me say it." She was jealous, and Skahdi knew it. She walked away, and Skahdi followed her, sometimes going right through the oblivious people like a ghost. Elsa moved to the outskirts of the dance hall, Skahdi striding along with her insolent smile. She looked at Skahdi disdainfully and ran into Donovan. He regained his balance skillfully, and caught Elsa's hand to keep her from falling over.
"Careful now, we wouldn't want the Queen to go falling on her rump at a nice occasion like this. Skahdi, be nice." Skahdi widened her eyes in shock, and Donovan smiled. "I could tell, because Elsa was scowling at nothing." Elsa smiled, and kept her hold on his hand. "I'm guessing she's somewhere over here." He poked Skahdi between the eyes, and her thin eyebrows drew together. His armored finger was suddenly coated in frost as Skahdi disappeared from Elsa's view. "Ah, guessed right!" Elsa chuckled. Donovan escorted her to the dance floor, and they danced for several songs, him seeming even better than the last time, if that were possible. The guests looked at them and muttered to themselves, and it seemed despite their best efforts, rumors had spread about their relationship, and Elsa had heard that some people were even expecting upcoming announcements. She made herself focus on dancing.
After several dances which she enjoyed immensely, they stepped out onto a nearby balcony, to enjoy the fresh air. Grey clouds covered the southern horizon, and the air was chilly. Fall was coming to an end, and winter was coming. She wondered if her Unleashing had impacted the seasons themselves, because the fall had seemed unusually warm. They looked out over the harbor, and Skahdi appeared again and leaned on the railing, seemingly watching the ships in the harbor. Another being appeared, right next to her. He was huge, a mountain of a form, having short-cut black hair and a large black leather coat. His face resembled the side of a mountain, with a square chin and deep-set eyes.
"Who is this?" Elsa asked, though she could guess. "Ah, I believe introductions are in order. Elsa, Vordahn, Vordahn, Elsa." The Elmenti nodded respectfully, and Elsa bowed her head back.
"Would you please ask Skahdi to appear to us? I am incredibly anxious to meet this firebrand you tell us so much about." Elsa sighed in exasperation.
"If you really want to." She commanded Skahdi to show herself to them.
Donovan stated softly, "Woah." , as Skahdi made herself visible to them. Vordahn's small eyes widened.
"What do you think of Skahdi, boys?" She swayed over to Donovan and tried to touch his face with slim fingers, batting her eyelids suggestively. Donovan looked at her appreciatively, but didn't respond.
"Skahdi, get off of him." She turned back to Elsa, lips curved in a pout. "You never let me have any fun. And I'll get him anyway, when you do." Donovan looked at her in astonishment, and Elsa blushed, remembering that whatever Skahdi said, they could hear.
"Why look so surprised, Master? Vordahn knows your plans for Queen Elsa." Vordahn spoke up, and they both looked at him in surprise, faces burning. Skahdi laughed and walked over to Vordahn, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're good! Skahdi loves teasing Elsa! Skahdi feels Elsa is not happy with Skahdi. We should give them some privacy. " Vordahn replied, but Elsa and Donovan could not heard what he said.
Donovan stated with a smile, "This may not have been so good of an idea." Elsa nodded enthusiastically. "Too bad I promised Vordahn he could spend half an hour with her." Elsa's eyebrows rose.
"You're going to make us endure thirty minutes of this?" Donovan nodded morosely.
"They are, both of them, the only Elmenti they've ever met. It is only proper to let them interact. And at least they've switched to their native language, so we can be ridiculed in private."
Elsa sniffed. "That sure is nice of them." Donovan grunted an affirmative. They stepped up to the rail again, Elsa putting her hands on the railing. Donovan took off a gauntlet, and set his hand on hers. A spark leapt between them, but neither noticed. She looked at him, face showing but a hint of curiosity. He smiled back and looked at the ground. They stood there for several minutes, enjoying each other's company. He had promised to go flying with her tonight, and she couldn't wait for the sun to go down.
They were interrupted by a Arradian soldier kneeling behind them. Most of the Arradians had been assigned as trainers for the newly formed Grand Army, but some still remained to complement the Guardsmen. They quickly separated hands, and Donovan asked briskly, but not unkindly.
"What is it, soldier?"
"My Lord, Your Highness, there is an injured man requesting to see you. He says he has urgent news from Eraskia, only to be told to the Queen herself."
Elsa ordered, "Take me to him." The soldier bowed and accompanied them down to the docks, walking casually so as not to grab attention. The soldier explained as they walked.
"He arrived in a boat packed with refugees from Eraskia. Many wounded are aboard."
"How did I not hear sooner?" Elsa demanded quietly.
"The captain didn't want to interrupt the occasion." Elsa nodded. She determined not to tell Anna until they got back from the mountains. They arrived at the docks, and waiting for them was a once-fine vessel, a large merchant ship. It flew the flag of Eraskia, but tattered and torn. Refugees were being loaded off the ship, with haunted eyes and few possessions. They, upon seeing her, dropped what they held and knelt in reverence.
"No, please stand. What has happened to you? To Eraskia?"
A graying older man stated in a gruff voice, "The Mjolgirn. They have returned from the High North. They overran Eraskia in less than a month."
Elsa gasped and put her hands to her mouth, and Donovan stifled a curse. The Mjolgirn were a warrior race from the high North, and the last time they had poured out of the Northern Sea, the Southern nations had barely been able to stop them. The Mjolgir always had been powerful warriors, but to completely outmatch one of the few nations with a permanent standing army was bad news indeed.
"Where is the man that summoned me?" Elsa called, and two young men brought a stretcher from the ship bearing an older man, dressed in a colorful uniform covered in stained bandages. Elsa ran to him, and Donovan followed. He gasped weakly, and Elsa made bindings of ice to stop further bleeding.
"I am here." Elsa told him, and the old man turned to look at her. His eyes finally focused and said weakly,
"Your Majesty. I have seen… their leader." He coughed up blood, but seemed determined to tell her. "He… is powerful. The earth itself obeys him. You must… stop him. It is too late for me or Eraskia, but you can still save your own kingdom." Liquid gurgled in his throat, and Donovan called for a doctor, but it was too late. He gave his last breath, and then stopped breathing, his face peaceful. Donovan intoned the Song of Mourning.
