Elsa shared the story of the party invitations with Anna that evening over dinner. Anna read her own invitation with delight, squealing, "Oh, Elsa, this will be so much fun! And it says I can bring a guest...time to talk Kristoff into polishing those new boots of his again."
Her sister smiled indulgently at the Princess. "I'm sure he'd rather polish those boots than wear them, Anna. But he does look quite dashing in that suit you helped him pick out."
They finished their meal and went to the library for an evening of conversation over tea and cookies.
As Elsa sat in front of the fire Anna lay with her head in her sister's lap, dozing off in contentment as Elsa tenderly caressed her shoulder.
"There are times like this when I can't believe how lucky I was that she never stopped loving me. We should both be dead, not sitting here enjoying a warm fire." Elsa reflected to herself. "Oh, Anna, nothing will ever hurt you as long as I have anything to say about it."
She watched the crackling fire until it was time for bed, her sister snuggled warmly in her lap.
"Admiral Naismith is here for his regular meeting, Your Majesty." Kai announced to Elsa.
"Please show him in, Kai." Elsa tidied the papers in front of her and put them in a neat pile on the corner of her desk. Somehow the pile never seemed to shrink.
"Your Majesty," the Admiral bowed and sat down. He was carrying a leather dispatch folder with his regular reports to Elsa.
"Do we have anything interesting in this week's batch of fairy tales and fantasy, Admiral?" Elsa smiled at him.
She appreciated the hard work of Colonel Nordholm and his people, and she truly did understand how necessary it was to keep her and Anna safe. Never in the history of the world had any ruler ever been loved by everyone; there was always someone who felt enough of a grievance to risk their own life to strike back at a perceived oppressor. Elsa's magic complicated that even more; 'sorceress' and 'monster' she remained to some people. Not many, but it only took one determined assassin to end her life.
"Nothing really new, Your Majesty. Ongoing investigations, follow up on known trouble makers, and we are still trying to firm up that report of a potential assassin entering the kingdom." he replied. "Although I would like to discuss the security situation that we will be facing at Baron Thorstad's party next week."
Elsa said, "Security situation?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. You will be there along with most of the Royal Council and much of the rest of the nobility of Arendelle. Imagine the havoc that could be wreaked by someone determined to do you harm." the Admiral said.
"What do you suggest, Admiral?"
"Simply that you take a full squad of your Queen's Own with you. If you arrive shortly before the other guests, they can search the Baron's manor for anything or anyone suspicious, then be vigilant watching over you and the others during the event." he replied. He sighed and continued, "There is one further thing, however, and I know you won't like it."
Elsa simply looked at him and made a little gesture with her hand to encourage him to continue.
"It is my opinion that the Princess Anna should not attend this affair. We have nothing that would lead us to suspect any foul play is planned, but a worst case scenario would cause Arendelle to lose both of you, with no one but distant cousins left in the succession. It would cause chaos, even more chaos than would normally attend the assassination of the Queen." The Admiral waited for her reaction.
Elsa winced. He was right; she didn't like it, and Anna would like it even less. Anna was giddy in her anticipation of the gala and she would not take this news with anything other than angry disappointment.
The Admiral could tell from Elsa's expression that his suggestion troubled her. He knew Anna well enough to understand why. "Your Majesty, if you like, I could brief the Princess on our concerns and perhaps convince her of the necessity of this."
She waved him off. "No, Admiral, this is my responsibility. I do appreciate your offer, though." She smiled a little crookedly. "I would never ask you to face the wrath of Anna. Unfortunately, that's my job as I am in loco parentis to her. Even though the job sometimes drives me loco."
The Admiral winced at Elsa's bi-lingual pun. "As you wish, Your Majesty. I don't envy you the task at all."
They went on to review the rest of the information the Admiral had brought, then Elsa walked him out when they finished.
Turning back into the hallway leading to the dining room, Elsa thought about how to tell Anna the bad news. She wouldn't put it off; the best way to grasp a nettle is firmly. She would get it over with instead of surprising Anna with it at the last minute. Elsa decided to ask the cook for a little extra dessert tonight. Maybe it would help soothe Anna. It was a forlorn hope, but it was all she had.
Elsa was right about Anna's reaction to the news.
"Elsaaaa! Do you know how hard it was for me to convince Kristoff to get dressed up for a swank party?" Anna whined.
"Honey, there will be other parties; parties where I've declined the invitation. It's just prudent for us to take a precaution that doesn't put both of us at risk at the same time." Elsa tried to calm her sister down.
"Oh, for heaven's sake! How risky is a PARTY? With your guardsmen standing around watching everyone like hawks all night? Not to mention your magic. Who can hurt you? Or me? Like you would let something happen to me." Anna was trying to wheedle Elsa into changing her mind. And failing.
"No, Anna, I'm sorry. You can't go. Maybe you and Kristoff can do something else together, but you and I won't be together at the Baron's manor." Elsa forced herself to be firm, even though she felt guilty for spoiling the fun for Anna.
"Okay. Okay. Don't think I'm going to feel good about this, though. Sometimes I think you stay up late at nights thinking up ways to spoil my fun." Anna stomped out of the dining room in an ill temper. Elsa knew she was really angry; she had left her chocolates behind. Shaking her head, she picked them up; she would take them to Anna's room as a peace offering. Maybe they would help Anna forgive her.
Anna was still grumbling the next day as she went looking for Kristoff. "Sometimes, Elsa, you are just too cautious. You still haven't figured out how to have any fun, and you insist on spoiling mine, too."
When she wasn't being mad at her sister, Anna knew Elsa only had her best interests at heart. Right now however, she was working up a full blown tantrum again. She struggled to tamp her anger down. Somewhere inside, she knew Elsa wasn't doing it just to be mean.
When she got to the Ice Guild hall, she discovered that Kristoff was off somewhere in the mountains. It would be a month or more before they would start harvesting ice, but the harvesters liked to survey the lakes and decide which would provide the best ice crop once the weather turned warmer
"Great. Nothing is going right today." Anna stood outside the guild hall and decided a cup of hot chocolate would help lighten her mood. She walked to the inn and ordered her drink. She was sipping it with a scowl on her face when she noticed someone standing next to her.
"Bonjour, Your Highness, how good to see you again!" It was Monsieur Pierre and another man Anna had never met before.
"Um, bonjour, Monsieur Pierre, and …?" Anna looked at the second man with a questioning air.
"Forgive my poor manners. Princess Anna of Arendelle, may I present Georges Auguste Couthon, Marquis d'La Montagne, a business associate visiting your fair kingdom?"
The Marquis bowed graciously and murmured, "Enchanté, Your Highness. I am most gratified to make your acquaintance." He smiled a little shyly.
Anna simply nodded in acknowledgment. Her French was execrable, all five or six words of it. Elsa, of course, spoke it perfectly. It was one of those languages of diplomacy, so naturally the Queen had been educated to fluency. For the millionth time Anna glumly compared herself to her sister and found herself falling short.
Couthon spoke to Pierre, "Rob, I will meet you back at the warehouse, we have much work to do to prepare for the party next week." With a bow to the Princess, he left.
"May I join you briefly, Your Highness? If it is an imposition, I understand..." Pierre asked Anna.
"No, no. Please, sit. I'm just passing the time this afternoon anyway." Anna was always willing to talk to people. Maybe some conversation would help her shake the dismal mood she had worked herself into.
"Merci. May I offer to refresh your beverage? I feel the need for a hot coffee. Your kingdom is very pleasant, but your weather is not for one such as I. I spent most of my youth in the southern parts of France, where the warm breezes come from the Mediterranean." Pierre had waved over a server and ordered for them both.
"Is your friend also from the south?" Anna asked as they sipped their drinks.
"Non, he is from Paris. He seeks to make his own name in the world, rather than simply be known as his father's son. So he has come to learn the business of trade with me. A fine young man, not one of those useless princes of which Europe has such a glut."
Anna could feel empathy for someone trying to get out from another's shadow. "Will he be in Arendelle long?"
"Actually, I am hoping he will prove to be skilled enough for me to leave here as my business manager. I travel so much, seeking out new opportunities, and it is difficult to find subordinates who are both capable and can be trusted. Georges is shaping up well in that regard," Pierre responded. He went on, "I am hoping he will fit in here; he will be attending the soirée next week. Perhaps you could introduce him to some of the other young people of Arendelle's nobility, if that would not be too presumptuous a request."
"Well, I would certainly do so, but I won't be there, I'm afraid." Anna sighed with her disappointment.
"How distressing. Is there some conflict?" Pierre asked her.
"No, just my sister being paranoid. She doesn't want both of us to be somewhere together in case something awful were to happen," she explained.
Pierre mulled this over for a bit, then... "Your Highness, your sister is only acting as she is advised by those who are concerned for your safety. However minute the possibility of any risk at such a party, they must assume the worst. It is unfortunate that you will not be there … your beauty would brighten the gathering considerably."
"Thank you, but I'm sure my sister will brighten things up quite well," Anna replied a little sourly.
"Your Highness, you do not give yourself enough credit. Perhaps if you were to persuade her that her fears are groundless, we will indeed be graced by the presence of both of you. I only hope such a happy chance comes to pass." Pierre rose and bowed to her. "Now, sadly, I must return to my warehouse to help prepare for the Baron Thorstad's party. Au revoir."
Anna nodded and waved as he left. She continued to sit with her chocolate, thinking, "Maybe Elsa is wrong. What could happen at a party?" A crazy idea began to form. Perhaps forgiveness would be easier to get from Elsa than permission.
Elsa was preparing to leave for the wine-tasting at Baron Thorstad's manor when Anna met them at the main castle entrance. "Hi," Elsa said, wondering if Anna was going to make some last minute attempt to talk herself into the party.
"Hi. Just thought I'd see you off. Have fun!" Anna seemed cheerful enough, Elsa thought. Maybe she had misjudged her sister.
"I'll tell you all about it when I get back, okay?" Elsa was trying to make amends.
"Yeah, that sounds great!" Anna hugged her sister and waved as the entourage of Elsa and her guards left the castle.
Once Elsa and the guards had left the courtyard, Anna hurried back to her room and changed into her party dress. If she just showed up, what could Elsa do? She wouldn't want to make a scene in front of all the nobility of the kingdom, after all. Anna hadn't told Kristoff about Elsa's decision, and had arranged to meet him at the Ice Guild hall. He could plead that he was completely innocent if ... when Elsa got angry with Anna.
She arranged her hair, but left her braids down for the moment. Putting on her regular cloak to cover her formal dress, she left the castle, telling the guards she was off to the Ice Guild hall (true) to spend an evening with Kristoff. (Also true, albeit not the whole truth.) She wasn't really LYING to them, now was she? She would arrange her hair properly at the Guild Hall.
Kristoff tugged uncomfortably at the high starched collar of his shirt. He thought the high waist of his coat and the tails made him look ridiculous. The coat was a dark shade of forest green with the collar and cuffs in black velvet, and his cummerbund was the same tint of purple as the accents in Anna's dress.
He and Anna were on their way to Baron Thorstad's manor after she had met him at the guild hall.
"You look wonderful, Kristoff." Anna tried to reassure him. "With that white velvet vest and silk cravat, you'll have all the other ladies there swooning and trying to flirt with you. Just remember that the girl that brought you is a very jealous redhead! If you have eyes for someone else, she'll hunt you down and … and … tickle you!" she said, as she poked the arm she was holding on to.
"Yeah, well...don't worry. In these shoes, I can't run very fast, anyway." He was wearing low cut black boots and black trousers. The boots were plain, none of those silly buckles. It was hard enough getting them polished to the mirror-bright shininess Anna insisted on without complicating things.
Anna just hugged his arm more tightly and grinned. They made an elegant couple when she could talk him out of his work clothes. She started daydreaming about another situation where she would talk him out of his clothes...
** Estate of Bjorn Thorstad **
Pierre watched his subordinates bringing in the casks and cased bottles of the brandy, wine and cognac Baron Thorstad had ordered for the wine-tasting party.
"Careful with those casks, you fool! That's the finest liquor to be had on the Continent! Not the sorry excuse for what this miserable kingdom calls rum!" Pierre snarled as one of the men almost dropped a cask marked 'Special Edition'.
"Aye, sir, sorry, sir." the chastised servant got a better grip on the small barrel and continued on to the wine cellar.
Thorstad himself bustled over, a satisfied look on his face. Surveying the activity, he clapped Pierre on the back and smiled. "This will be a party the kingdom will never forget, hey, Rob?"
"Indeed." Pierre thought to himself, "If you only knew, mon ami."
He continued to supervise the unloading of the wagons that brought in the casks, barrels, and cases of the supplies for the party. Much of it was being stored in the wine cellar below the manor house, to be brought up as needed during the evening. Pierre paid particular attention to the small barrels marked "Brandy – Special Edition". Those were very special, indeed.
Thorstad surveyed the Great Hall of his manor, gratified by what he saw. There were tables set up near the walls, with footmen in black tailcoats prepared to present the drinks to the guests as they circulated. Along one wall was a long table with a display of all the various wines, cordials, and liquors that were available for purchase from Pierre's import firm. The samples would entice the Arendelle gentry into broadening their tastes and presumably create a newly fashionable appreciation for the sophistication of the Continent.
His guests would begin arriving soon, including the Queen of Arendelle. Once word had gotten out that Elsa would be attending, Thorstad was inundated by friends, and friends of friends, all begging for an invitation. It would be a social coup to be one of those at this event. He didn't think there was a single noble who would miss out on being present. It was just like Pierre had described it; everyone wanted to be in on the latest fashion.
His butler approached him and announced, "Baron Thorstad, the Queen has arrived. "
Thorstad hurried to the foyer of his manor, where he greeted Elsa with a deep bow and a murmured, "Your Majesty, you honor me with your presence."
She nodded in return. "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Grace. I do have one request, however."
"Anything at all, Your Majesty."
Elsa gestured at the Captain of the Queen's Own Guard who stood beside her. "My guardsmen must search your home, and they will be with us all through the evening." She smiled, "The demands of security are a burden I must bear, I'm afraid."
"Of course, Your Majesty, I understand completely." Baron Thorstad turned to his butler and instructed him, "Please take the Captain and his men where ever they wish to go."
The butler nodded, and said to the Captain, "If your men will please come this way?"
Elsa followed Thorstad as he led her into the Great Hall. The Guard Captain preceded them, a pace ahead, his eyes darting back and forth to assess the room as they entered. Thorstad led them to the large table where Pierre was giving last minute instructions to the footmen setting up the display.
"Your Majesty, I believe you remember Monsieur Robin Pierre? He is the supplier of the fine liquors and wines we will be sampling tonight."
"Indeed I remember Monsieur Pierre." Elsa replied. Pierre bowed, as did the servants behind the table.
Elsa made small talk with the two men as more guests arrived, and soon the hall was full of gaily dressed men and women moving from table to table and tasting the various libations offered. Her guards had returned from their search, and several of them stood against the walls, surveying the party with keen eyes. The Captain never left Elsa's side, and two guardsmen walked through the house on a continuous patrol.
Elsa circulated with the other guests, all of them sampling the fine wines and other liquors set out for the demonstration. She was careful to only sip at the offered drinks. Elsa had never been drunk and had no desire to discover what it was like. She had been told that the stuff went down a lot smoother than it came back up.
"Your Majesty, may I ask how you are enjoying the evening?" Baron Thorstad returned to from another conversation with a broad smile on his face.
"You set a fine table for us, Your Grace. Of course, this will only increase demand for the wares of Monsieur Pierre, will it not?" Elsa had a fine sense of how the market worked. The first sample was free; once the customer was enamored by the product, the price went up. She had no problem with her merchant class making money as long it was done through honest trade. So far as she knew, Thorstad had never been engaged in any business deal that had any hint of graft.
"You have found out our fiendish plot, Your Majesty! I applaud your keen sense of marketing savvy." Thorstad was beaming. "I had expected to see the Princess Anna here this evening. I hope she is not indisposed?"
Anna was not indisposed; she was furiously trying to free herself from her bonds and the gag that was choking her.
"Stop struggling, mon cheri, before I club you to sleep like we did your beau." The man riding with her in the wagon sneered at her, giving her a little kick in the ribs for emphasis. She glared at him with hatred in her eyes.
She and Kristoff had been met at the door to the manor by Pierre. He had greeted them both, then bowed and kissed her hand graciously and informed her that he had prepared a private room for a special tasting of some fine Belgian chocolates that Pierre was looking to import to Arendelle.
As they entered what was purportedly the sampling room, Anna was seized by two men, who clapped a hand over her mouth to muffle any screams and quickly tied her hands and gagged her. Kristoff was clubbed from behind, his unconscious body falling heavily to the floor. He was too dangerous to be left able to fight with them. They tied his hands and feet as well, then gagged him. It took four men to carry his limp body to follow the men holding the Princess.
They dragged them to a storage room near the kitchen, which was empty as all the servants were busy in the Great Hall with the guests. Pierre had dispatched one of his men to distract the two patrolling guards into checking out something 'suspicious' in the stable. They would find nothing more than a drunken stable hand waving a pitchfork, but it would keep them busy long enough for Pierre to get the Princess away.
Anna screamed something that might have been "What are you doing?!" through the gag.
Pierre made sure her bonds were tight before replying. "Why, Your Highness, I am fulfilling an oath I swore to my dying father as he bled out in my arms. My father was one of those peasants who stormed the Bastille and marched on Versailles to overthrow the decadent monarchy. Death to all Royalty!"
Anna could only look puzzled over her gag. He sneered as he explained.
"I was only ten years old when the Revolution was betrayed by the monarchists! The hero of the people Maximilian Robespierre was murdered to put an end to the uprising to throw off the yoke of tyranny! I took my nom de guerre to honor him, and swore that I would not rest until I had destroyed every monarch and noble I could reach."
He looked down at Anna with contempt. "Today will be the master stroke I have been dreaming of for years. All the royalty and nobility of Arendelle, wiped out in a single night! The people will rise up free at last of their masters and your evil sister's cruel reign!"
Anna was horrified. No! Elsa!
Pierre turned to his two henchmen and instructed them, "Put her in that cart out back, and take her to the warehouse. She will live long enough to realize that her sister and the rest of the wretched nobility are dead. Perhaps I will send her to one of those places where a beautiful red headed woman is worth much more than a cask of fine brandy, a place where her noble bloodline will only make her a more desirable concubine. Go now, get her out of here."
Checking Kristoff's bonds and the lump on the back of his head before he left the storage room, he was satisfied that the man would not regain consciousness before the manor went up in flames. Pierre locked the door to the storage room behind him and returned to the party.
The two minions picked Anna up and hustled her out the door of the manor's kitchen to the rear courtyard where an enclosed wagon emblazoned with the name of Pierre's import firm waited, the two-horse team snuffling restlessly. They lifted her into the back and one of them joined her, slamming the doors closed behind him. The other went to the front, got into the driver's seat, and flicked the reins to get the team hauling the wagon into motion. The driver waved casually to the guards at the gate as the wagon left the estate and headed back to the warehouse district near the docks.