Scene 18

I have given pseudo-themes for each of the three armies featured in this chapter. For the noble Grand Army of Arendelle, I give you "One Day" by Hans Zimmer from the Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End OST. For the massive army of the Mjolgir, I give you "Miraz Crowned", by Harry Gregson Williams from the Prince Caspian OST. And finally, for the Arradians, I give you "What Shall We Die For", by Hans Zimmer from the Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End OST. If you listen carefully, you can hear the Song of War.

"Wow. That's really big." Skahdi muttered quietly. Elsa was generally stunned by the sheer size of armies, in general, but she had to agree with Skahdi on this one point. The army of the Mjolgir was simply ridiculous. 60,000 plus soldiers arranged in full battle array, facing the relatively tiny army of Arendelle, only 6,000 strong, was enough to make anyone not feel very good. The Mjolgir were outfitted in the latest designs of armor, with the most advanced war machines she had ever seen. Donovan and Elsa stood on a rise overlooking the Plains of Erikis, the flattest spot of land in all of Arendelle. The fields looked relatively flat, but appearances from this height were never accurate. Rolling hills covered in all manner of grass waved in the chilly breeze, while the sun appeared to be trying to make up for the weeks it had missed. Donovan looked to her, his eyes alight with excitement.

"Are you ready?" He asked. She nodded, not sharing in his enthusiasm. They were outnumbered ten to one, and she could not see where his good mood was coming from. She could also see half the Mjolgirn navy, over 400 ships of varying sizes, just off the shore, ready to support their army. She suddenly formed her wings and launched off the edge of the cliff, followed closely by Donovan. As they neared the army, the Mjolgirn disappeared from view. She landed behind the last ranks of the infantry, and they began to notice her. Cries of, "The Queen! The Queen is alive!" and gasps of astonishment followed her and Donovan, as Elsa strode confidently between the ranks of her army. They parted to make way for her, as she materialized her sleek ice armor around her. Donovan stayed behind as she reached the vanguard, passing Anna dressed in full plate armor of an Arradian make. Elsa sighed in exasperation. She had ordered Anna to stay behind! She continued to walk beyond the front of the army. She stopped and raised a small platform from which she could see her entire army. She turned suddenly, and found her memorized speech had fled from her mind.

"Don't look at me! You were the one that lost it!" Skahdi stated innocently. So she had to ad-lib, did she?! She drew herself up to her full height, and began.

"Men of Arendelle! You stand here, a testament of true loyalty! Even though you thought me fallen, you raised my banner high in defense of our country!" She lowered her voice slightly. "I applaud your devotion, but now is not the time for patriotism." Confused whisperings and mutters greeted her words. She spoke again with greater intensity. "Now is not the time for patriotism. Now is the time for courage. The enemy over this hill does not care about to what nation we belong, but that we stand in their way." The army was silent, every man listening intently. She raised her voice again. "And what truly matters is that we must! We must stand in their way! So stand with me, and fight! Fight for your country! For your families! For your freedom!" At these last words, she extended her wings to their greatest extent and raised her ice blade high. The gathered army roared its approval, and Donovan nodded with a wide smile on his face. She then signaled forward, and the army began to advance slowly.

Sagr

On the opposite side of the battlefield, Sagr was stunned. How had she survived!? That furnace would have been enough to burn her ashes to dust, yet here she was! He forced himself to calm down. He had obviously underestimated them, and he would not do so again. He looked at the tiny army opposing him, and smirked. He would play with them for a time, and then utterly crush them, as befitting a worthy opponent. He settled back to watch the show.

Elsa

"Oh, Skahdi is feeling sooo inspired right now." Skahdi stated with wide eyes. Elsa ignored the comment, dissolving the pillar and took off, flying high to spy on the advancing Mjolgir. In the short minutes, she had already forgotten how huge Sagr's army was. She looked back at the Arrendellians, trying to seek comfort in their organization. They were ordered in a basic, but effective arrangement. Cavalry in the front, with columns of pikemen forming the front lines of the infantry. They were supported by lines of archers and crossbowmen, mostly at the rear. She took another glance at the Mjolgir, and realized, despite their masses, they were woefully unorganized. She took little comfort in that fact. She dove back to the front lines of her army, and landed next to Donovan and Anna. After dissolving her wings, Elsa pointed an accusing finger up at Anna, who was mounted.

"I told you to stay behind. Give me three good reasons why you are here." Anna looked up and began to count on her fingers.

"Well, for one, Donovan said he thought I was ready." She shot a glare at him, and he looked away, looking nervous all of a sudden. "And, also, I'm a better fighter than most of the soldiers in this army! Iy'ate and Donovan both said that, and if I can beat you in a duel, then why shouldn't I fight?" Elsa narrowed her eyes, trying to forget that embarrassing day. Skahdi was just looking through her eyes, enjoying the show.

Anna continued. "And three, if we lose, we'll all die anyway, so what's the use of staying behind?"

"You have to admit, she's got a point." Donovan interjected. She looked at him in consternation.

"Whose side are you on, anyway? This is a family affair!" He held his hands up in surrender, and backed up a couple feet.

Anna piped up, "Well, he's practically family anyway, so…" Skahdi started to laugh at Elsa's rising annoyance, but Elsa shut her out. She turned back to Anna, face set sternly.

"Anna, I don't want you risking your life needlessly. The reason I let you learn how to fight was because you promised not to seek out battles." Anna nodded.

"That is why I'll be staying behind to coordinate troop movements." Elsa was taken aback. "Wait, you'll… what?" Donovan returned, and grabbed Elsa's attention.

"She told me about her promise, and I suggested she could stay behind with the generals." He turned to Anna. "You, young lady, should get back to the rear." Anna saluted smartly, smiled happily at Elsa, and spun her horse around and galloped back between the columns. Elsa watched her go, feeling as if she had no control of the situation. She took off and flew to a nearby hill overlooking the plains, Donovan following close behind her. She folded her wings and stated irritably.

"I'm dead for one day, and start losing my touch." Donovan smiled roguishly and pulled her close.

"I dunno. You looked like you had everything under control when you inspired a six thousand man army. And one Arradian. That's got to count, too." She smiled softly, and let her head rest on his shoulder.

"Honestly, what chance do we have against that monstrous army?" Donovan was silent, considering. He finally spoke.

"Well, if your army stays true to my training, with the new strategies and tactics, they might last through the night." Elsa looked up at him.

"No matter how much training they have, how will we survive against ten to one odds?" Donovan looked away, at the advancing armies, which should be visible to each other now. He pulled her closer, and stated quietly.

"I don't know. But I do know this." She looked at him inquisitively. He kissed her softly, and smiled. "I just got you back. I don't want to lose you again." She looked down, flushing. "I mean, especially now that we're engaged, for Light's sake! That would be a real downer, wouldn't it?" She couldn't hold back laughter.

Later-

Elsa stood at the head of the cavalry line, ready to charge, the 600 horsemen behind her taking courage that their queen would be fighting with them. On the opposite side of the battlefield, the infantry had already begun advancing at double-time towards the Grand Army, and Elsa intended to crush them in their vulnerability. There was no sign of Sagr or Ven'isai, which worried her more that she cared to admit. She shouted into the morning air, and the double line of cavalry charged, her flying at the forefront. The opposing army was so large, that her cavalry line barely covered a fourth of the front lines of the Mjolgir. She soared mere feet above the ground, rapidly outpacing the galloping horses. Skahdi whooped in excitement as they neared the lines of infantry. She looked around and noticed the other sides of the army swinging to trap them in, but they would be too late.

The line of infantry lowered spears and pikes in unison, as Elsa had expected them to. She batted away their attempts at shooting her down, and just before the cavalry were to commit suicide on the lines of spears, she thrust her arms to the heavens. Lines of slick ice covered the ground, making the entire front rank of the army lose their footing. Then the cavalry smashed into them. They drove through the ranks like a maul through butter, utterly destroying the front lines. The sound was terrible, metal smashing metal, the beating of hooves on the hard soil, the cries of dying men. Elsa shut it out. They continued charging, hacking and bashing their way through the sea of enemies, and before they could be surrounded, Elsa ordered them to retreat by way of colored ice flashes. They wheeled around and charged the opposite direction, dealing even more damage. The front half center of the Mjolgirn army was in complete disarray, and the Arendellians had gotten away, and Elsa could see that barely any of them had fallen. Enraged, the Mjolgir charged over their fallen companions, chasing after the retreating cavalry. Straight into Elsa's trap. The line of ice remained on the ground, and Elsa waved one hand as if she were swinging a sword. Huge spikes of blue ice erupted from the line, impaling the first of the reckless enemies, and making a barrier for her soldiers to safely retreat behind. She dove and flew directly over the mass of soldiers, channeling her power directly beneath her. Wherever she flew, ice statues stood motionless, frozen in mid-stride. She turned around and headed back to her side of the battlefield, following the triumphant cavalry to the rest of the waiting army. She landed in the rear of the army, next to Donovan and the commanding generals, who looked on approvingly at the carnage she had wrought. She forced herself not to be sick, and Donovan looked at her in concern. She took deep breaths, trying to force away the sights of dying men. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you all right?" She nodded hastily.

"Yes. Of course." She straightened, and dissolved her wings, and he looked on, his eyes searching hers. She looked away, not wanting him to see her fear. He nodded, and took off, his feet surrounded by blazing energy.

"I'll lead the next charge!" He called to the battle leaders, and turned to Elsa.

"Elsa, you take a break!" He flew away, directing the next attack. She sat down, heavily, and tried not to think on the lives that would be lost today.

Several hours and many assaults later, Elsa and Donovan stood atop the same hill they had earlier. The armies had drawn closer, but neither was willing to commit its full strength. Arendelle was content with small roving attacks, quick and sudden, and through Donovan's new tactics, they had lost barely any soldiers, causing massive losses to the Mjolgir. But strangely, the Mjolgir, knowing they could destroy Arendelle at their leisure, held themselves back. For now.

"My one question is, where is Sagr?" Donovan asked. Elsa shrugged, and replied, "Maybe he died in your collapse of his castle?" Donovan snorted.

"If only we were that lucky. He's too powerful to be killed that easily. He's letting us grind down his army at will, never committing them to any one attack, but making them stay back and take damage. He hasn't even used his war machines yet!" Elsa looked at him and stated.

"You're the general here, not me. It seems like he doesn't think us worthy opponents." She was interrupted by the ground shaking beneath their feet. Donovan shouted in surprise and pointed to the opposing army. A spire of rock lifted itself out of the ground, and they could both see, even at this distance, the white of Sagr's uniform. He shouted, and the massive army began to move as one. The great catapults began to wind back and unleash their projectiles. The huge stones landed dozens of yards in front of the main body of the army, but Elsa knew their aim would improve.

"Speak of Hehl, and he comes." Donovan muttered.

Once back in the main body of the army, Elsa concentrated on destroying the incoming projectiles while Donovan directed the firing of their smaller trebuchets. She missed one, and it struck a direct hit on a battalion less than a dozen feet from her. The impact shook the earth, men falling and screaming as they were thrown into the air. Elsa grimaced and concentrated harder. The main body of the Mjolgir was approaching, and she heard Donovan order the archers and trebuchets to fire at will. They barely slowed the advancing army, and Mjolgirn heavy cavalry separated from the main body of the force and charged at the front lines. Elsa looked around in frustration and fear, forming her wings and taking off. Who would direct them? She was busy, and Donovan was otherwise occupied. The charge was approaching rapidly, the weight of over a thousand armored horsemen shaking the ground under her feet. She couldn't get there in time! Then, distantly, she heard someone ordering,

"First rank, fire!" It was Anna's voice. The crossbowmen spread through the pikemen fired, taking down many of the advancing charge. "Lower pikes!" They obeyed her without question, driving the butts of their weapons into the ground. "Second rank, fire!" The second group fired, again decreasing the number approaching. Suddenly, the charge faltered as one of the vanguard fell, his horse falling too quickly for the others behind him to dodge. It caused a chain reaction, felling over a sixth of the advancing horsemen. "Shields up!" Anna commanded, voice higher with fear but steady. The shieldmen slammed the sharp bottoms of their massive shields into the ground, bracing themselves.

The heavy cavalry impacted. The sound of metal slamming into metal shrieked in Elsa's ears as the hundreds of horses crashed into the ranks of shields and spears. The Mjolgir bashed about them with huge axes and maces, forcing the pikemen to throw down their weapons and engage in close quarters. For a second it seemed they would penetrate, but Anna screamed at the top of her lungs, helmet abandoned. She raised a fallen banner, the golden crocus shining in the midday sun.

"For Arendelle! For your lives! For your freedom!" The soldiers roared and forced the horsemen back. The line held. The area around where Anna had raised the banner disappeared under a mass of dark armor and hoses. Elsa dove and landed amidst the chaos of war. She formed her armor and sword and joined the opposition, the soldiers around her increasing in strength, bolstered by the presence of their Queen. Every opponent she touched froze instantly, and with a group of determined soldiers, she carved a hole in the Mjolgirn lines to reach where Anna had fallen. She was surrounded by unhorsed opponents, holding the banner in one hand, and her thin sword in the other. Her face was drawn but determined, armor dented but whole. Elsa drove through the ranks to stand beside her sister. Anna's expression change to one of joy, and the sisters fought back-to-back, no opponent daring to stand before them.

Finally the charge was broken, and the remnants of the cavalry retreated back to their own lines. Elsa and Anna stood, shaken. Anna had received many scratches, none of them life-threatening, and Elsa stood unharmed, energy still raging within her. They had reorganized the army back into position, preparing to meet the main body of the Mjolgir, over 50,000 soldiers all told. Elsa and Anna stood in front of their lines, faces grim, as the huge force approached slowly, marching feet loud as thunder. The Mjolgir halted just over a hundred yards away, preparing to charge. Donovan landed next to them, fire blazing in his eyes and hands. Elsa and Anna prepared for the end.

But where there should have been silence, there was not. A distant echo reverberated off the foothills of the mountains, making the Mjolgir pause. On a far-off hill, a lone figure stood.

"Light bless her soul." Donovan muttered, smiling widely. Elsa and Anna looked at him in confusion. He gestured for them to watch. The lone figure raised a flag. A golden triangle, point down, on a field of black.

The echoes grew exponentially in strength, and Elsa could hear the pounding of drums. And voices. The singing of countless voices. A great host rose into sight over the hill, thousands strong.

"The Song of War." Donovan stated softly. The hill was covered in warriors of all kinds, banners and flags raised above them. Iy'ate brought her blade down, and the Arradians charged, men and women chanting and vocalizing one great melody of power. One voice stood out among thousands. Sirili Heartvoice led Elsa's Honor Guard, curved sword raised high, charging between the lines of the two armies to protect Elsa. A huge flight of arrows soared down on the Mjolgir, and heavy cavalry, led by General Harid himself, smashed into the unprepared top third of the Mjolgirn lines. All of a sudden, the huge catapults disappeared in huge clouds of smoke. Elsa turned to the sea, and there was the Navy of Arradia. Blasts of fire rained steel balls down on the vulnerable Mjolgirn war machines, and they clashed with Mjolgirn navy, wreathed in fire and smoke. Elsa raised her sword and the Grand Army of Arendelle charged.