Chapter 4: Embercrow
The evening's waning rays shone through the window of Elsa's study, providing ample enough light for her to work. Strewn across the surface of her desk were several documents and state records but none of them had offered what she was seeking. She set a thick, dark-covered book onto the desk now, looking again at the title written in the runic language of Arendelle: Lineage of the Noble Houses of the North. The books age was readily apparent as she pried back the cover and the wrinkled pages crackled between her fingers.
She leaned her elbow against her desk, pressing a finger to her temple as she turned the pages with her other hand. It was not something that she thought about often, but now it tugged at her ceaselessly: hers was not the only noble family of Arendelle.
The queen traced her fingers over the heraldry of her house, a gold crocus against a green and violet background above their family name; 'Floran'. She and her sister owed their Arendellian royalty to their father Agnarr and house Floran had been the ruling house of the northern kingdom for as long as it had stood. Their mother's heritage however traced back to both Arendelle and their ally, the kingdom of Corona to the west. Iduna Floran had formerly been Iduna von der Sonne, half cousin to Frederick Herz der Sonne, the current ruling king. She looked on her family tree only for a short moment before turning the page.
The next entry made her grimace slightly, a crest in the image of a golden boar against a walnut brown background sat above the name 'Goldtusk'. When her parents were even younger than she was now Eric Goldtusk broke his oath of loyalty to the Floran's and attempted to usurp her father's throne. He failed to garner support from the other two noble families, this led to a civil war that ended with the death of Erik along with his son and heir Baldr. Every name from the family tree had been crossed out by a red line of ink save for one; Freja, Erik's widow and Baldr's mother. Because she bore the Goldtusk name through marriage only, as far as most of Arendelle was concerned the house of the golden boar was extinct.
The Goldtusk's rebellion had been the last war that Arendelle had known...'war', the word hit her with the force of an avalanche whenever she said it aloud, the same as in her mind. She flipped the page again and leaned forward with both hands against the pages as her eyes narrowed at the sight of the next crest. A black crow wreathed in flames against an iron gray background was the heraldry of house Embercrow, she'd found what she sought.
She traced her finger down the family tree towards the bottom where several names stood out to her: lord Aldric Embercrow and his brother Aldris. Beside Aldric was his wife Reyna and below were their children, their daughter Alandra and their eldest son-
A knock at her door startled her, she closed her eyes and sighed before bringing her hands together and sitting tall. "Come in."
The door opened and Kai entered, he gave a bow before turning with his arm out, "Your majesty, forgemaster Gillian."
The old man walked cautiously into the room and bowed, "Your majesty."
She motioned to one of the two chairs in front of her desk, "Gillian please, sit."
He did as she asked while Kai stood to the side with his hands behind him. She gave Gillian a reassuring smile, "I trust Aldren's instructions were met without issue?"
"Yes, your majesty, unless that brute is a lot tougher than he looks I believe he'll be staying plenty put this time."
"And the enemy arms and armor?"
"Gathered. I haven't yet been afforded the chance examine them but even at first glance I must admit that many of them seemed strange. I imagine he'll want to be there with me when I do."
"Most likely." She looked down at the book and drummed her fingers against her desk, "Gillian, you've served at this castle for many years, longer than most that walk the grounds even as we speak. So, I feel comfortable in telling you that the matter which we're about to discuss may prove paramount to Arendelle's survival in the days ahead."
He nodded, "I understand my queen."
"Good." she looked to him, her smile dropping slightly, "How do you know Aldren?"
He pursed his lips as his eyes met the floor, "I thought I'd seen a ghost, I wasn't even sure it was him until I looked into his eyes...those-eyes. I've only ever known one person with eyes like those."
"Her majesty's question stands forgemaster." Kai stated.
He looked up at the book on her desk, "May I?"
She nodded and the elder smith scooted his chair closer to her desk and leaned forward to look over the pages, "Well I see you've figured out part of the story on your own."
She shook her head, gesturing to the book, "I have a family name and the story that he's elected to tell me but little else beyond that."
"Hm." he sat back in his chair, "What do you know about the Embercrow's your majesty?"
She looked down at the book and was silent for a moment before replying, "My father never spoke much about them, even in my studies growing up, preparing me to be queen one day. Almost as if...their very name was a taboo, a cautionary tale."
He nodded solemnly, "That's unfortunate, it makes sense however."
She cocked her head at him, "How so?"
"In my day Aldric Embercrow was praised as the greatest warrior and smith Arendelle had seen since the founding of our very nation. The house of the blazing crow always held the martial traditions of our ancestors in highest esteem and their loyalty to the ruling house, some would say, is the reason you sit on the throne today. The outcome of the war hinged on who the Embercrow's would side with, The Goldtusks or the Florans."
"Would not the Starlon's pledge have swayed the outcome depending on what side they chose?"
"Rodrik, the lord of house Starlon's sister Reyna was wife to Aldric Embercrow, the two families were bound through marriage and loyalty to one another. Wherever Aldric lead, Rodrik would follow and tip the scales in favor of either your father... or the would-be usurper."
She looked down at the book and traced her hand over the late lord's name, "He chose my father."
"Yes, your majesty. Though your father wasn't known as a great warrior, he was regarded as kind, dutiful and levelheaded. These things, along with Agnarr's right to the throne, meant more to the other lords than anything Goldtusk claimed to offer. When the other two families stood with house Floran, your father named Aldric Embercrow the War Master of Arendelle's armies-he was the natural choice. Together they defeated the usurper and vanquished an evil that likely would have made Arendelle a poisoned nation today."
Elsa raised an eyebrow, "You were involved then, in the war I mean?"
He smiled, "Well I am quite old. Before the days of war, I was sent to the Embercrow stronghold of Hammerhel, in the forge lands to the south by your father, to learn from lord Aldric himself how to perfect my craft. Two years later when Erik declared his rebellion openly, I returned to the capital and your father named me forgemaster of the city. I led the many smiths of Arendelle to forge weapons and armor for the soldiers of house Floran, proudest days of my life...but they would not last."
His smile dropped as he leaned forward with his fingers interlocked, "It was about a year after the war, you yourself were only three at the time if I recall, Agnarr began to resent the warrior ways of Arendelle's past and so began to resent the Embercrow's and they in turn him. They were never friends-your father and Aldric, seldom did they see eye to eye on many things even during the war. When your father began to reform and reduce the kingdoms armies, 'to promote continued peace and stability' as he put it. He received the greatest push back to these changes from the Embercrow's who refused to lay down their swords."
Her expression held dread as she shook her head, "Don't tell me there was another war."
He shook his head in return, "No. Even when faced with the suppression of their culture they would not take up arms against their king, they were simply too noble for that...but they did turn their back on him. Many times, his majesty attempted to reconcile with the Embercrow's, but never free of the condition that they must disown their warrior heritage. And so, every emissary sent by the king in the year following were turned away from Hammerhel, time and time again." He lowered his gaze at her "Sometime after one of those attempts, tragedy struck...It was nearly two decades ago now, do you know what happened?"
She nodded slowly, "They all died. Fire engulfed the Embercrow keep...their family-their entire house wiped out in one night."
"Yes. That the house of the blazing crow would meet their end in flames was seen as very ironic, some might say too ironic to have been mere misfortune."
Her eyes widened as she was gripped with disbelief and anger, "If you mean to insinuate that my parents had something to do with that fire! That my father would condone the murder of one Arendelle's noble families, you tread on very dangerous ground with me Gillian-"
"I'm not insinuating anything my queen. I knew your father-well enough that he trusted me to know your secret, I never believed him capable of such a thing. But I think now we both have some idea of how it did happen."
She exhaled through her nose, her previous ire fading as she sat back, "Did you know about his powers?"
He looked down with some sadness in his voice, "It would have seemed that lord Aldric did not share the same trust in me that your father did."
Her next question was one that she hesitated to even ask, but the words left her lips anyway, "Do you believe-...do you believe it was intentional?"
"No." he answered quickly, his expression firmer than before, "With respect your majesty, I will not believe that of him."
"How can you be so sure?"
He sighed deeply, before his lips curved into a small smile, "I'd only spent a couple of years with the Embercrow's before I was called to the capital. Young Aldren was only seven at the time but even as a boy he was well loved, he had a close bond with his sister, his cousins, the people of Hammerhel and his parents who proudly celebrated their heir. He had his father's discipline and dutiful nature but also his mother's grace and kindness."
A smile returned to her face, "It sounds like you were very close with the family."
He chuckled, "They certainly made an impression on me in the short time I knew them, and I like to think I made an impression on them, lowborn as I am. And if he is anything like his parents then he is not only a great warrior but a good man as well. I believe Arendelle is lucky to have him return in our moment of need."
Another moment of silence began to fill the air as they both took in the weight of their conversation. Elsa reflected on all that she knew about her new friend up to this point. It was then that Kai cleared his throat and stepped forward, hands together; "I know little of Aldren, beyond what I've seen firsthand and what I've just now heard tonight...but I did watch you grow up your majesty and I watched how you struggled with your gift. Dare I say, I saw how it tormented you at times and if your own struggle is any standard by which to judge this situation, then perhaps he endured a similar circumstance...though perhaps with more dire consequences."
She nodded to him before looking down again at Aldren's name in the book, "If he caused the deaths of his closest kin, the only ones who knew or understood his strife...who could blame him for running away. Only he didn't have anyone to run after him and bring him home, to tell him it wasn't his fault..." She closed her eyes, breathing out shakily as she realized they had even more in common than she first realized, yet his pain and regret was almost certainly even greater than hers.
She opened her eyes as Gillian spoke again, some enthusiasm in his tone, "Your majesty, maybe there's a way to help the situation as it stands."
"What did you have in mind?"
He stood and motioned to the book in front of her, "If I might?"
She nodded and he turned the page to the next entry: a white and yellow star flanked by a silver wolf on one side and a gold wolf on the other, all which stood against an azure background was the heraldry above the name Starlon. He traced his finger down the family line, below Rodrik's name were the names of his daughter Sol and his son Mane.
"As I said your majesty, I never believed that your father had any hand in the Embercrow's deaths but there are those who did-who still might. The deaths of his sister and her family poised Rodrik Starlon against your father even more than he already was. While he passed away some time ago, I'd wager his children likely carry his bitterness towards your family as well, Aldren's cousins-the twins. We should assume that Aldren's powers were kept secret from them as well and if so, were you to write them and give them news that their late cousin isn't so late anymore, it might go a long way to not only sealing the breach between your houses but also help bring his secrets to light-"
"No."
His smile vanished as he looked at her confused, "Your majesty?"
"I want him to trust me, Gillian. If I attempt to expose him in such a way as you propose I may lose any hope of gaining that trust."
Kai spoke up, "Your majesty, if he did cause the deaths of his family-accidental or not, then should he not be made to answer for that at the very least?"
"We're at war Kai. We need his help more than we need the whole of the truth right now." she looked between them, "I want answers too, my own feelings on this matter are just as strong as yours forgemaster and I swear to you both that I will hear the truth from his lips-in time. For now, I want what we've discussed here tonight to remain between the three of us...do I have your word?"
Kai bowed his head, "You have mine your majesty."
She looked to Gillian who bowed his head, though more reluctantly, "Yes your majesty." he lifted his head, "And I'd apologize for my frankness earlier in regard to your father. When you get to be as old as I am, you tend to say what is on your mind, even when speaking to a queen."
She chuckled, "Is that what's going to happen to me when I get to be your age Gillian? Will that same blunt disposition take hold of me as well?"
He smiled, "Time will tell your majesty. If I might also ask, how do you intend to persuade Aldren to share the truth with you?"
She brought her hands together, "I'm still working out all the steps in my head, but...I think I'll start by having him bathed." she said with a grin.
Kai and Gillian looked between her and each other with perplexed expression as they waited for her punchline. When none came Gillian blinked and cleared his throat, "I'll trust that you know what you're doing then."
She nodded, "Get some rest Gillian, you're going to have some very busy days ahead of you."
He bowed, "Your majesty."
As he left the room she looked to her overseer, "Where is Aldren now?"
"I believe he was last seen in the courtyard, organizing some of the guard to post his fliers around the city. Shall I send for him?"
She stood and walked around her desk, "I'll meet him myself." she then beckoned for him to lean in, "As for that bath I mentioned, I have some very specific instructions for you to pass on to Gerda." she said this with a glint of mischief in her eye.
OoO
Once again wearing his leather armor Aldren stood at the base of the palace steps alongside Arvid as they watched several guardsmen on horseback ride out through the open gates of the city.
The guard looked to Aldren as he spoke, "How many men do we have here at the palace?"
"Of those that are uninjured, we stand at forty-seven."
Aldren closed his eyes and sighed, "It's unlikely we'll see many recruits show tomorrow, if they do I want them dressed and armed as the other guard are. Have them all gathered here in the courtyard tomorrow at midday, we'll begin the first drills then."
They both turned towards the palace when they heard someone clear their throat, the queen stood at the top of the stairs with her hands together. Arvid quickly bowed while Aldren followed more slowly, she smiled, "Have you finished with your duties for tonight then Aldren?"
He folded his arms, "Yes your majesty. And we'll be ready to begin training tomorrow."
"Good." She motioned into the castle, "Walk with me if you will."
As he ascended the steps Arvid spoke up, "Your majesty, is there anything further you require of me?"
She shook her head, "No Arvid, thank you. Get some rest tonight."
He smiled, "Yes your majesty."
She turned away with Aldren into the palace and when they were out of sight, Arvid's smile vanished as he kicked a pebble on the ground.
As they walked the palace halls Aldren spoke, "Is there something you wish to discuss, your majesty?"
"Eventually. But there is a matter we should attend to first, if you are to lead Arendelle's soldiers then you should look and smell the part."
He looked to himself with some shame, "Ah...yes, I apologize for my lapse in cleanliness. I will attend to this before I retire tonight."
"There's no need, I've arranged for the issue to be resolved myself."
He raised an eyebrow at her, "You've...arranged?"
His concern grew at the deviousness in her expression. She smiled at him, and he followed her gaze to an elder servant woman who seemed to be waiting for them near a closed door.
"Here we are. Gerda will take good care of you and make sure you are thoroughly cleansed."
He looked between them in worry and confusion before laughing nervously, "Your majesty, I assure you I know how to bathe myself."
Her smile remained as she moved towards the door, "Oh but I insist. I've spared no expense in seeing that you look your best tomorrow." she opened the door, revealing several more servant girls armed with scrubs and brushed that stood around a freshly drawn bath.
For the first time she saw some color in his cheeks as he smiled bashfully towards the servants, his hands rested on his hips as he looked back to Elsa with squinted eyes, "Have I done something to offend you, your majesty?
She chuckled, "Not at all." she reached up to his neck, plucking a speck of dirt from his skin and flicking it away, "I just wish to wash away the grime and see who lies underneath, dear Aldren."
She turned away to leave, "He's all yours Gerda. You're in capable hands my friend, come see me when they've finished with you."
She gave him one last cheeky look over her shoulder that he returned with a smirk that held only slight irritation, despite his displeasure at the situation he couldn't help but admire her guile in the moment.
Gerda stepped towards him, "The water won't stay warm forever Sir."
"I'm not a-...indeed." he ended with a smile and removed Black Autumn from his waist, handing it to the elder servant. He then began to unbuckle the clasps of his armor and looked up to survey the smiling servant girls, some were a little more enthusiastic than his liking. He paused and sighed, "I ask that you at least let me do the shaving myself."
OoO
Elsa sat behind the desk in her study while Kristoff stood quietly in thought, arms folded and a concerned look on his face. Anna however, paced the length of the room and paused only to pivot as she absorbed what the queen had told them.
The princess held her finger up, "So let me get this straight. The assassins that attacked us aren't human; they're a bunch of snake people following some creep calling himself 'the Witch King'." she rolled her eyes at the last words.
Elsa smiled slightly and nodded, "Correct."
"And Aldren is the lost son of an extinct Arendellian house, that people thought our parents might've murdered?" She looked at Elsa with some wounded disbelief in her expression.
Elsa's smile faded slightly, "Yes."
Kristoff exhaled and shrugged, "Well...it's nice to know your parents weren't murderers at least."
Elsa looked at him, her expression somewhat harsh, "I never believed they were."
"I'm sorry, I just meant that-"
She closed her eyes and shook her head, "No. I know what you meant...I'm sorry, it's still a sensitive thing to address. The idea that anyone could believe our parents would do something so-so..." she sighed, running a hand through her hair, "In any case, it doesn't matter now because it's not true."
"But Aldren." the princess scratched the back of her head, "He's not just Arendellian, he's nobility, the heir to a great house and yet he's not- I mean why isn't he saying anything?"
The queen brought her hands together, "When the Embercrow's-...their deaths were the result of a fire that engulfed their keep at Hammerhel."
The couple's eyes became alight with realization, Kristoff was suddenly more guarded as he turned away, "Did he-...I mean is there any chance that he meant to-"
"No."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because Kristoff, I trust Gillian's account of Aldren's character. And besides that, I believe I've seen enough of his true self to know that whatever his motives, they are not covetous."
He scoffed quietly, noticing this Elsa grimaced, "If you have something to say then I suggest you say it!"
He turned to her with his brow raised, "He turns up after years being away-right as Arendelle is being attacked by 'snake people'. You've given him command of the guards and now we find out that he's responsible for the deaths of his family. You've only known this guy for what, a day? And after all this you're just going to trust him!?" he looked between the sisters in disbelief, "Does this situation not ring any bells!?"
Elsa slammed her palm against her desk, seizing his attention as she lowered her gaze towards him, "Mind-your-tone Kristoff! You may be my sister's consort, someday I hope to even call you brother in law. But take care you do not overstep your bounds with me, I am still and always will be your-queen!"
His expression became shameful, and he looked away from her, she exhaled deeply as she returned to her previous position, "Hans was a charlatan, he feigned chivalry and bravado but only when eyes were on him and the odds were in his favor-he is not brave. Aldren fought against a superior force on our behalf twice when he could have easily fled and asked nothing in return. He shed blood for me, risked his life and it is for those reasons I will not have comparisons drawn between him and that conniving islander princeling!"
She looked to her sister now with softer eyes, "As for a further elaboration to your question Anna, he would have only been a child when his family died. You know firsthand how difficult it was for me to control my powers until very recently, can either of you imagine what that must have been like for someone with his ability? Yes, he was the cause of his families' deaths, just as I was nearly the cause of my own. Yet I say this with certainty, he is not a murderer... but he is ashamed of what he's done and it's holding him back."
Anna looked towards the floor while Kristoff sighed, "I understand Elsa and I'm sorry if I crossed a line...but the similarities can't just be ignored-"
"He's right." They both looked to the princess as she walked closer to the desk with her arms folded, "When I met Hans for the first time, I thought he was dream come true; he was charming, polite, handsome...but it was all a front. I was so blinded by my loneliness, it made me vulnerable, it made me easy to deceive and manipulate...But." she looked directly to her elder sister, "I know you won't let your feelings get in the way of doing what's right or let yourself get tricked by somebody you don't know, you're smarter than that. I agree with you Elsa, I don't believe he's a murderer or that he's here to deceive us and if you trust him...so do I."
Elsa stood and walked to Anna, smiling proudly at her little sister's wisdom as she took her hand, "Thank you Anna." they smiled to one another for a moment longer before the queen's faded, "However 'trust' is perhaps too strong a word, I want to trust him, and I think he wants to trust me also. But until he is willing to share the truth that we all now know, I'm afraid we will not be able to fully help one another."
Anna took both of her sister's hands in her own, "I know Elsa, he just needs time and for you to be patient."
"Time isn't on our side dear sister; we need his help-his full help. We will need the heir of Arendelle's warmaster before this is over."
"You can't rush these things; he needs your help too just like you need his. And I know that you know that."
Elsa nodded, grasping Anna's hands a little tighter. Kristoff cleared his throat as he walked closer to them, "There's one other question I'd like to ask."
She turned to him, "Yes?"
"What made you decide to tell us-or rather...me?"
The queen looked back to the princess, "We promised each other, 'no more secrets'. I stand by that promise, and I trust her with my burdens." she glanced to Kristoff from the corner of her eye, "I included you in the conversation because I know she would tell you anyway."
He rolled his eyes, "Well that's nice to know..."
She chuckled, "And because she trusts you, so I do too."
Just as he smiled there was a knock that all drew their attention, Elsa released Anna's hands and took a step towards the door, "Come in."
The door opened and Kai walked through first and bowing, then holding an arm out towards Aldren as he followed, "Aldren, your majesty."
No longer wearing his worn leather armor from before, he was instead dressed in a black, long sleeve uniform and pants with knee high boots of the same color while a red and orange sash was tied around his waist. Besides the colors of the uniform that would set him apart from the guard he also wore his steel bracers over his arms and forwent the gloves and hat.
His face was no longer concealed by the thick facial hair from before, instead being trimmed down to neater mustache and goatee that suited his face. His hair was also cut down to be shorter and more manageable.
With Black Autumn in one hand, he bowed his head, "Your majesty, princess."
Elsa nodded, "And how do you feel Aldren?"
"Violated...and clean."
She brought her hands together and smirked, "I certainly hope they were gentle with you at least."
He smirked back and looked to Kristoff, "Is this a punishment she deals out often?"
When he hesitated to answer Anna elbowed him in the side, he cleared his throat, "Oh-yeah! Yeah, all the time."
Aldren nodded disbelievingly, "Hmm."
Anna laughed, "I was beginning to wonder if there was a face under all that hair." she said, pointing to him.
He chuckled and rolled his eyes, "I assure you princess, your fears were unwarranted." he looked back to the queen and gestured to his outfit, "I must commend you for the choice of attire your majesty, I admit it suits me."
She folded her arms and walked a bit closer, "Well I haven't known you for long but based on what I do know...they seemed like your colors."
Anna and Kristoff glanced between one another as they waited for Aldren's response to her subtle dig, still he gave no tells only giving her a small smile and tilting his gaze slightly up, "Indeed...though I believe there was something you wished to discuss, was there not?"
She put a hand on her sister's shoulder, "Anna, would you give us a moment?"
"Sure." the princess took her consort's hand to lead them out of the room, "Bye Aldren." she waved, to which he returned with a bow of his head.
Kai exited, closing the door behind him.
She returned to her desk and motioned to one of the chairs, "Have a seat please."
He sat and was slightly surprised when, instead of sitting behind her desk, she moved to lean on the front edge directly in front of his chair.
Her hands rested together in her lap as she smiled, "Do you at least feel better now?"
He chuckled, "My aesthetic was something I failed to consider, I thank you for making up that difference."
She nodded, "And what of your recruitment efforts?"
"Arvid has instruction to gather the guard and any new recruits in the courtyard tomorrow at noon. With luck I'll have more than a mere fifty to work with by weeks end."
"Good." she rested her hands against her desk, grasping slightly at the edge, "I was actually wanting to ask you about our new guests' downstairs."
He nodded, "They've been on my mind also your majesty."
She shook her head, "What are they?"
"Other than what they say they are I'm not sure."
"But you mentioned their language was similar to that of the alfar's."
He leaned back and gripped his chin as he looked off to the side, "I assure you they are not alfar, but you are right...there are some striking similarities. And yet I have never encountered their like before, nor have they ever been spoken of by the elves. Unless..."
"What?"
He looked back to her, "Do you have any books about old folklore here in your study?"
She stood and walked to the large bookshelf opposite her desk, "Most likely."
He stood and followed her, "It'll be a fairy story, the sort of thing you'd read to children to scare them into-"
"Here." she held up a book for them to both look through, its title reading Tales, Fables and Songs for Children, he stood beside her as she flipped through the pages until she came to a particular entry.
He leaned in over her shoulder, "This looks promising."
Upon the pages was an illustration that depicted several elf-like beings clad in shadowy robes that looked as they were dancing, spreading ill spells and sorcery to the human characters.
She narrowed her eyes and brought the book closer to her face, "I remember this story, our mother would read this to us whenever we misbehaved." she had him hold one side while she traced a finger along the verses below the illustrations, "'When song is silent and light is dim, the foulest cast their darkest whims. Shadows hiss from here to afar, beware the dance of the dokkalfar.'"
"Dokkalfar..." she repeated
"Dark elves." Aldren answered, he peered closer to the illustrations and sighed, "There is only a superficial resemblance to the naga. Still, it could be them...and yet if they are as significant of a threat as they claim, why was I never told of them?"
She looked back to him, "The alfar never mentioned them?"
He shook his head as he walked away from her towards the center of the room, "No. And it seems the sort of thing that would've been disclosed to me as well. Why wouldn't they have told me?" He seemed to say these last words to himself more than her.
She could sense his anxiety, she moved to set the book on her desk, "Everyone keeps secrets, sometimes we feel that's the only way to protect those we love. I know that, better than most."
With his back still to her he folded his arms, "Yes...that is true at times."
She stared at him for a few moments before looking back to the book and exhaling, "Right. I think we need to approach this from a different angle."
He moved to join her at the desk, "How so?"
She leaned her palms against the desk as she explained, "Ever since we saw they have pointed ears and speak the tongue that they do, we've been relating them to the elves. But this is a Arendellian book, we need to consider our people's connection to the naga rather than the alfar's. This book is likely only a few decades old at best, but maybe the story it's telling isn't. We may be looking at a blithe depiction of events centuries-if not millennium old."
He nodded in understanding, "Man's memory is short, perhaps they only seem strange to us because it has been so long since we last crossed paths with them."
She turned the page of the book; one page was another illustration that depicted the dokkalfar again but this time they seemed to cower and lurch away from a blue light emanating from the next page. She began to read once again, "'They slither and slide to spread their curse, plaguing dreams and so much worse'...it cuts off."
She looked to the bend of the pages and found that one had been torn out, flipping forward she found no continuation, only the beginning of another unrelated tale. She grumbled in frustration, "Why is there a page missing?"
"I don't suppose you recall from your childhood how the fable ends."
She shook her head, still glaring down at the book.
He sighed, "That is unfortunate, seems we're left with more questions than answers at this point. But we know one thing at least that is of some comfort."
She stood and looked to him with her arms folded, some annoyance in her expression, "And what is that?"
He pointed to the partial illustration, "Whatever conflicts we may have had with the dark elves in ages past, it would seem their machinations were thwarted. Considering that they've evidently been in hiding till now, while the race of men still stands today."
She smiled slightly, "I hadn't thought of it that way..."
"If they were defeated once before, they can be defeated again."
She nodded, her smile faded as she looked out the window to the now setting sun, "Do you really believe we can? Defeat them I mean; with the way we are now..."
Seeing the doubt and fear in her expression he slowly approached her and hesitantly he reached out to set a hand on her shoulder. She looked back to him slightly surprised as he spoke, "You seem to have inspired a deep loyalty from your guard despite how brief your reign has been thus far. I suspect that loyalty extends to the rest of your people as well, they will answer your call. All they need is-if you'll forgive my phrasing, 'a spark' for them to be the warriors of old once more."
He earned a smile and a small laugh from her that made him smile a little wider, "I hope my words are of some reassurance."
She nodded, setting her hand atop his on her shoulder and locking eyes with him, "They are...thank you Aldren."
He nodded back, removing his hand from her shoulder, her pale fingers brushing against his skin as he did. He stood back with his hands clasped, "We'll have words with the naga prisoners soon as well, they may provide further clairvoyance."
"We should begin with the one called Meren, I suspect he'll be more forthcoming than the other."
"I think that is wise, was there anything else you needed tonight?"
She shook her head, "No. I look forward to seeing your progress with Arendelle's soldiers...goodnight Aldren."
He bowed his head, "Goodnight, your majesty."
He turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him. Still, he evaded her prompts, it was difficult for her to hide her disappointment at this, but she did not think less of him for his secrecy. After he had gone, she traced her fingers along her shoulder and her opposing palm. A lingering warmth was left behind where she had felt his touch, against her naturally cool flesh it was strangely soothing. For a moment, her mind was freed from her queenly burdens as she smiled and simply enjoyed the feeling as it slowly faded from her skin.