Scene 20
Elsa took off from the crumbling plateau, only pausing to pick up Donovan. He gasped in pain as she held him. She smiled at him.
"I give you full permission to cry in front of your queen, milord." He gasped a laugh and tried to smile back, failing miserably. She formed a splint out of ice on his leg, and he gritted his teeth, desperately trying not to cry out. She alit clumsily on the top of a nearby hill, where they could see the entirety of the battle. Elsa did not think she had enough power to chill a glass of water, and Donovan was in no condition to fight anymore, so they just watched. The Arradians' arrival had given the Arrendellians hope, and they were fighting with renewed vigor. Because the plateau had collapsed among the lines of the Mjolgir, their numbers were greatly reduced, but they were still a huge threat. They would not be for much longer. The navy battle was all but concluded. Despite being outnumbered, Donovan's cannons had completely wiped out the Mjolgirn fleet. Some of the nearer ships were now turning their weapons to the Mjolgir forces on land, shattering positions and creating all manner of chaos. Skahdi appeared sitting next to Elsa, her normally bright eyes heavy with sadness and exhaustion.
"Orahnos should be making his move any time now." Skahdi stated wearily to both of them, and Elsa looked to her questioningly.
"What did you tell him that made him leave?" She asked out loud. Skahdi shrugged.
"The Great Ones decided that Sagr had been abusing his power for too long, and that he had gone too far in killing another Elemental. They told Skahdi the secret words that would free Orahnos from Sagr."
Donovan asked her with a worried expression, "So now you can order Elmenti to leave their hosts?" She shook her head.
"No, Skahdi forgot the words as soon as Skahdi spoke them. And besides, it would only work if the Elmenti wanted to leave." They sat and watched for long minutes, and all of a sudden, the earth began to rumble.
"There he goes." Skahdi pronounced, and Elsa stood and used the last of her energy to create a huge flare in the shape of a red snowflake, and in unison, the troops of Arendelle and Arradia began to disengage and retreat with all haste. The Mjolgir seemed surprised before giving chase. The earth began to rend itself, from the center of the plains to the edges. The lines of the Mjolgir were broken from the inside out and huge fissures and chasms appeared in the previously flat ground, taking many enemies with them. Soon the rumbling faded, and all was obscured by a huge cloud of dust.
Skahdi bowed her head in respect. "Two of my people have died today." Elsa reached out and "touched" her arm gently.
"Orahnos died to save the freedom of the world. I think he considered that a fair trade. So should you." Skahdi looked at her hesitantly, dark eyes wet with emotion. Elsa tried to embrace her, and she fell against Elsa, sobbing softly. Donovan looked over the battlefield, expression one of solemn dignity. Before Elsa could stop him, he stood, wincing in pain. He began to sing. Elsa and Skahdi looked on in wonder. Elsa had heard him sing before, surrounded by his countrymen, but never by himself. His voice was strong, clear, and unexpectedly versatile. He did not sing in any language that Elsa could recognize; just pure vocalization. His voice rang out over the shattered valley, above the noise of the battlefield. The song lifted Elsa's heart, but at the same time, left a sense of loss deep within her. Other voices joined him, emerging from the great cloud of dust. The sounds of battle began to fade, and the voices grew louder. The song continued, dozens of harmonies with one melody, with the bass line reminiscent of the Song of War. The great fog began to settle, and Elsa could see that the fighting had completely stopped. Her hands flew to her mouth, as she realized the outcome. The Mjolgir had refused to surrender, even when they had been completely defeated, and had fought to the last man. Both the Arradian and Arendellian armies were noticeably smaller, and the shattered plain was strewn with the remnants of war. Elsa understood the meaning of the song in that moment.
"The Song of Victory." Skahdi stated for her. The Arradians that had not been previously singing all came in as one; the hearts of all listening followed the rise and fall of the bittersweet melody. Donovan's voice rose in intensity, and he lifted his arms to the sky, and the great song seemed to touch the very heavens.
Later-
The triumphant armies marched back to Arendelle, weary and exhausted. The hundreds of wounded were being tended in great hospitals Elsa had ordered built for that purpose, staffed by a legion of Arradian field doctors. There was a traditional week of mourning, and on the last day, a great celebration was held, for while many thousands of lives had been destroyed, the armies of the Mjolgir had been stopped, and world was safe.
Anna was one of those confined to the hospitals. After a direct hit from a war hammer broke three of her ribs, she continued fighting, raising the banner of Arendelle wherever it was needed, and supposedly single-handedly holding the line on three separate occasions. The people had begun calling her the Warrior Princess, and while Anna tried to stop the spread of the title, Elsa knew she was secretly very pleased with herself. Her reunion with Kristoff was a tearful one, and apparently during her days in the hospital the nurses had discovered something which made Anna very happy and Kristoff very nervous. Anna was pregnant. Elsa truly wasn't surprised.
Elsa and Donovan looked over the city of Arendelle. The fjord was filled with Arradian ships, and the sun was nearing the horizon, setting the sky alight with red and white. Elsa moved in closer to Donovan, and he put his arm around her as they enjoyed the fresh air, the chilly wind coming from the North. Winter was here. Skahdi and Vordahn had gone off together, and neither Elsa nor Donovan knowing what they were up to. Elsa looked up at him.
"Now what?" She asked him quietly. He smiled his roguish smile, eyes twinkling.
"You know, I really do not care what happens next." Elsa tilted her head quizzically.
"And why is that?" He turned to look back at the horizon. "Because, for the first time in my life, my mind is at peace." He looked back at her, smile fading. "You. You are my peace. And when I lost you…" She clasped his hand in hers, a hint of her power swirling in the breeze. She leaned in and kissed him softly.
"It does not matter anymore. Do not linger on the past. I am here, you are here, that is all that matters." She embraced him, and his strong arms wrapped around her, enfolding her in glorious warmth.
Eventually, she pulled away, and asked him one more question.
"What was that last secret you were going to tell me? I got three of them, but what is the last one?" He looked at her, confused for a second, but comprehension dawned in his eyes.
"Oh yes, that. Iy'ate really enjoyed doing that, it was a nice test of her skills. It should be arriving soon." Her eyebrows drew together in confusion.
"It?" His gave her a secretive grin and said one word.
"Them."
After the Battle of Shattered Plains, it was said that the Queen and the High Warlord set out on a campaign to erase the Mjolgir's influence from the earth, their assistance arriving just in time to save the kingdoms of the East. It was said that they liberated the capital of Weselton, the King himself was sent to his knees apologizing for his many misdeeds. The Mjolgir, leaderless, fled back to their island, coerced into signing a document that sealed them there for a period of one hundred years, to never attack the world again. Arradia was recognized universally as a new country, and King Donovan Ironhand honored as the savior of the Southern nations. The wedding of Queen Elsa and King Donovan was announced to take place in six months' time, and the Princess gave birth to a healthy baby girl, who was named Elizabeth after her grandmother. Skahdi and Vordahn lived happily ever after.
The End. (ish)
