Chapter VII: Requesting Peace
Kai dropped the letter from his hands. It slowly fell to the ground, and the wind then blew it away. He was paralyzed, and his eyes were wide open. His jaw was slightly dropped. He was in shock. He couldn't believe that this was happening to Arendelle. By the look on Elsa's face, this is harder on her than it is for him. Both of them were in shock and so will the rest of Arendelle when they heard the news. Kai felt sorry for Elsa as he saw her walk off. Kai didn't know what Elsa was going to do, but he knew that he had to keep an eye on her... for everyone's sake.
For Elsa, the timing for this news was horrible. After three months of depression and mourning, she had a short period of happiness when Kai returned. But, hearing this news, the bit of happiness she gained was washed away. This would be the first time in quite a while that war would be declared on Arendelle. Arendelle has been in a long period of peace for the last few generations, and now, the Southern Isles was going to ruin this streak of peace. Elsa thought that Arendelle and the Southern Isles had a close relationship, but then, she remembered one name; Hans.
For some reason, Elsa knew that Hans was responsible. But, she didn't know how he could be. She assumed that he was jailed when he returned to his country, but as it seems, that's not the case. Elsa kept asking herself questions in her head. Did Hans' father drop his charges? Did her convince his father to declare war? Then, Elsa remembered more details in the letter. It said that many other kingdoms will support the war effort. Hans didn't just convince his father. He convinced many of the monarchs from the other countries. Arendelle didn't have many countries they could consider as "friends", and that would be their downfall.
Elsa remembered King Lyre. Teranhall become one of the most powerful countries after their little skirmish. Surely King Lyre was invited to the war council. If Teranhall supported the war effort, Lyre has betrayed Elsa's trust. Elsa had to prevent this war or else Arendelle will be reduced to rubble. Arendelle had a very weak military, and an almost non-existent navy. Their military strength was very low because Elsa had not expected war during her rule. Elsa knew about the Southern Isles' military. It had the strongest army across the seas and a navy with equal strength. Arendelle had no chance against the Southern Isles alone, much less the other kingdoms.
Kai got out of his chair in the cafe and ran after Elsa. As he ran, his back pain started to act up again. He was in no shape for physical activities, but he couldn't show it. He didn't want Elsa to baby him. He especially didn't want Elsa to worry about him with everything she has on her plate. Kai caught up to Elsa, and walked side by side with her.
"Elsa..." he said.
She ignored him. She was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to acknowledge him. Kai studied her face to see what she was thinking about. He saw anger in her eyes, and at the same time, he saw worry. Kai, too, knew that Arendelle had no chance of victory in this war. He also knew how it was going to go down. He's noticed some of Elsa's military strategies when she practiced them. She would focus on defending the city rather than attacking. That plan was the best Elsa had, and it was a great plan to get them all killed.
Kai was just as worried as Elsa. He knew the stress that this would bring to both of them. As Captain of the Guard, Kai would also serve as head of Elsa's military. Kai would be the one helping Elsa make battle plans. Kai was more of a fighter than a planner. He would rather go with some troops and fight on the field than tell troops to fight for him while he was under the safety of a castle.
Both Kai and Elsa knew that this was going to be the end for Arendelle if they didn't do something about it. Elsa wondered how Anna was going to react. Anna was too innocent. She had never seen war and she never felt the pain it brought. Then again, no one did. Not even Elsa. They couldn't understand the horrors people would face in war, neither did they want to. Even Kai, after all hes been through, as never experienced war. He knew that he would have to be prepared if that time ever came, but he was never prepared. Neither was Elsa.
The two couldn't bare seeing the people of Arendelle get hurt. Elsa realized that this was her fault. The letter stated that she was a danger to the other kingdoms. How can Elsa sleep at night knowing that the good people of Arendelle will suffer because of her. She didn't know how she was going to break it to them, but she knew that the time will come that she'll have to. Elsa looked to her side and saw Kai walking next to her. She smiled knowing that she won't be alone.
Elsa had to stop this war. As Queen, it's her job to protect her citizens and make them happy. But, Elsa refused to waste lives sending her soldiers to their certain death. She had to find a peaceful solution to their current... predicament.
"What're we going to do, Elsa?" Kai asked.
"I know what we have to do. But, I'll tell you later. I feel that Anna and Kristoff need to be there when I do."
Kai nodded. The two walked back to the castle. They ignored the people who tried to greet them. They seemed a bit rude, but they didn't have time to waste. They were in a rush to get to Anna and Kristoff. This urgent news was their priority. As they walked, Elsa was thinking about how she was going to break it down to her sister. She was worried about Anna's reaction. They knew that Kristoff would take the news calmly, and that Olaf didn't even know what the word "war" was. But, Anna was a wildcard.
Kai surprised about how well Elsa was taking the news. She was acting very calmly about this. Kai was worried. Did she not care, or did she not want to break down in public? Either way, Elsa had to deal with the upcoming war.
When they reached the stone bridge to the castle, they saw that a few guests were already leaving. They walked across the bridge, once again ignoring the leaving guests. The opened the gate to find Anna and Kristoff socializing with other guests. They looked around and found a fair amount of guests still enjoying themselves. They didn't need to cause a panic for the guests, so their conversation needed to be private.
Elsa and Kai walked up to Anna and Kristoff who were in the middle of talking about snowmen. Elsa had to end the conversation now, but she didn't want to end her sister's good time. Elsa owed her that much. But, Kai was different. This was urgent, and telling Anna this news was more important than letting her enjoy herself.
"Please excuse us." Kai told the guests. The guests looked at Kai, confused. Then, Kai glared at them with eyes that told them he was ordering them to. The guests quickly walked away, leaving Kai, Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff alone.
"What's your problem?" Anna asked Kai.
Kai didn't answer.
"We need to get inside," Elsa said, "now."
Elsa grabbed Anna's hand, and walked to the main doors that led into the castle. Kristoff and Kai followed them. Anna felt the coldness in Elsa's hands, and she knew that her emotions were acting up again. The one thing Elsa couldn't control was her body temperature and the temperature of the area around her. It always varied according to Elsa's emotions. Whenever she had negative emotions, Elsa's body would get cold and so would the area around her. If Elsa had positive emotions, her body would get warmer, but, the area around her would stay it's natural temperature. Kai was slightly different. Kai's body temperature reflected his health.
Guards opened the main doors to the castle and the four of them walked in. Elsa led them upstairs and into a lounge like room that was unlit. Elsa motioned for Kai to light it up, and Kai shot a spark of fire at the fireplace. The room was illuminated and it got warmer. Elsa sat Anna down on a couch, and Elsa sat next to her. Kristoff sat on a couch meant for one person, and Kai stood up, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"What's going on?" Kristoff asked.
Elsa looked at Kai. She wanted Kai's approval to tell them. Kai nodded, and motioned her to start telling. Elsa took a deep breath, and readied herself to tell Anna the news.
"I received a letter." Elsa said. "Addressed to me. It was from the Southern Isles."
"Isn't that where Hans is from?" Anna asked. Elsa nodded. "Hans... that sick, twisted, demented, side-burned, heartless animal?"
"Yes," Elsa said, "that one. The letter spoke of a war council hosted by the Southern Isles. Most of who attended the war council agreed to..."
Elsa sniffed. Her eyes began to water. She couldn't go through with telling Anna. It pained her to even think about it, and it was the only thing Elsa could ever think about now. It seemed like a nightmare. The destruction of Arendelle was nearing, and it was Elsa's fault. As a child, she wished that she didn't have powers. Later, she was glad she had them. Now, she had her old mentality. It was her powers that brought this upon Arendelle. She couldn't look her sister in the eye and tell her that. Kai saw that she was struggling, and so he continued for her.
"War has been declared on Arendelle." Kai said, straightforward.
Both Anna's and Kristoff's eyes widened. They were just as shocked as Kai and Elsa. They couldn't believe this was happening. It's been such a long time since war was declared. Elsa thought she was foolish that she couldn't see it coming. Arendelle was not prepared.
"They said I..." Elsa said. "They said I was too much of a threat, and that they're just looking out for the safety of their own kingdoms."
"You're not dangerous, neither are you a threat." Anna said.
"Two kingdoms have been put into eternal winter because of my powers!" Elsa said.
"It wasn't your fault for either of them." Kristoff said.
It was true. It wasn't Elsa's fault Arendelle suffered an eternal winter. Anna was the one who unintentionally pushed Elsa into creating the winter. It wasn't Elsa's fault for Teranhall's eternal winter as well. King Lyre used the Conduit to steal her powers and use them for his own selfish plan. Elsa didn't respond to Kristoff. She knew he was right.
Suddenly, Anna broke down crying. She was taking it harder than Elsa. Her beloved kingdom was on the brink of destruction, and she didn't know what she could do about it. Anna was scared, not for her life, but for the lives of the others of Arendelle. Elsa rubbed Anna's back as she sobbed. Kristoff stood up, and held Anna's hand. He knelt down, and hugged her while she was on the couch. Kai kept his distance. He wasn't good with showing this type of affection.
Anna's tears died down, but she was still crying on the inside.
"What're we going to do?" Anna asked Elsa.
Elsa had a plan that she hadn't told anyone yet. This plan could and could not work. It could go either way. She prayed that it will work.
"The letter said I can request a peace council." Elsa said. "That's exactly what I'm going to do."
Ancient rules stated that countries on the brink of war can negotiate peace through a peace council. It was considered treason within all countries to refuse to go to a peace council. Elsa had never been in a peace council before, and she didn't exactly know how it would work or what she should say, but she knew one thing; the peace council will be Arendelle's only hope.
"Won't the hosting country be Arendelle?" Kristoff asked.
Elsa nodded. "They may not like the idea of visiting an enemy country, but they have no choice."
"What're we going to tell them?" Anna asked.
Elsa smiled, and stroked Anna's hair. She was giving her sister hope, and that's what lifted up Elsa's spirits. She felt that as long as she had her sister, she would be alright.
"Don't worry, Anna." Elsa said. "You leave that to me and Kai."
"But I wanna help!" Anna said.
"Tell you what." Kai said. He stopped leaning on the wall, and knelt next to Anna. "The people out there are still in the dark about this. You're obviously more... How should I say this? More charismatic than everyone else in this room, no offense guys."
"None taken." Elsa and Kristoff said.
"Anna," Kai continued, "can you go out and tell them about our... situation."
Anna nodded. She didn't want to do it, but if that's what was required of her, she would do it for Arendelle. She wished she had a bigger role to play.
"Elsa," Anna said. "can I be apart of the council?"
Elsa's eyes gave off a disappointed look. "Sorry, Anna. But, I don't think you'll get the politics. It's best that you just stay out of it and look pretty."
Anna looked down at her feet. Elsa refused her request, and that disappointed Anna. She wouldn't get the role she wanted. Come to think of it, she never got the role she wanted. Elsa never let Anna deal with things like these. Elsa always shuts Anna away from it. Anna didn't know why, but it seems as if Elsa doesn't want Anna to learn it. In truth, Elsa didn't believe Anna was able to talk politics, and that's why she shelters her from it.
Anna stood up, and walked out. Kristoff followed her out, and took one last glance at Elsa before he shut the door.
"She's smarter than you think." Kristoff told Elsa. Then, Kristoff shut the door behind him, leaving Kai and Elsa alone in the room.
Elsa stood up at walked toward the window. She opened it up and looked down. From there, she could see the courtyard and the guests in it. She hated to ruin the day for them, but it had to be done. It was morning time, and bad news already came in.
Anna walked through the main hall and opened the grand door that led to the courtyard. The guests clapped as Anna showed her face. Anna didn't acknowledge the praise. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The crowd's clapping died, and they were all ears for Anna. Anna opened her eyes, and prepared to tell the news.
"Word has just come it that the Southern Isles has declared war on Arendelle." Anna said.
Whispers came from the crowd. What? How? Why? Those were some of the questions that Anna heard. Suddenly, a roar of yelling came from the crowd. They raised their fists in the air, and yelled angrily.
Well, Anna thought, this escalated quickly.
Elsa and Kai watched from afar the chaos that was ensuing. Anna had to stop it fast, but she wasn't good with crowd control.
"Silence!" Kristoff yelled. It echoed across the courtyard. It woke up some of the sleeping guards, and silenced the crowd. Kristoff smiled, proud of his accomplishment. Anna was jealous. Why could she not be able to do that? But, it was one of the gifts Kristoff had that Anna loved.
"Now is no time to cause a panic." Anna said.
"Of course it is!" Said someone in the crowd.
"We're going to die!" Said another.
"We are not..." Anna said. "Queen Elsa will request a peace council with the nations that support this war effort."
"What then?" asked a guest.
"Then," Anna said, "hopefully the Queen and the Captain of the Guard will convince them to not kill us."
"What if they don't? What if they can't?" asked a guest.
Anna didn't have an answer. It couldn't come to that. They had to make sure it didn't come to that. All hope will be lost it it did. Anna hoped that Elsa and Kai will do everything in their power to stop the coming bloodshed. They had to stop the coming storm. There was no Plan B. This was their only hope, and their only chance.
"It won't come to that." Anna assured the crowd. Anna grabbed Kristoff's hand and walked back into the castle, locking the doors behind them. They could hear the shouting coming from behind the door. It was obvious that the party was over. She hoped that the guards could control the crowd.
Anna looked at a guard standing in the main hall. "Send the guests home, please." Anna ordered him. The guard nodded, and walked out to do his job.
Elsa and Kai watched as the guests left the courtyard one by one. Kai held onto Elsa's hand, and she looked at him. He gave her a assuring look, and smiled.
"It's going to be alright." Kai told Elsa.
Elsa wasn't sure of that. She never dealt with war politics before, and she wasn't prepared to deal with them now. All that was on her mind was saving her kingdom. This news overshadowed Kai's return, but, she was glad that he was at her side. Elsa hugged Kai.
"I hope you're right..." Elsa said.
Kai broke the hug and walked away.
"Come on, Elsa." He said. "We have to send a letter to a lot of countries."
It took about a week for all of the invited countries to receive the letter from Arendelle. It was their duty to send a representative down to Arendelle to attend the peace council.
The King of the Southern Isles sat on his throne. In front of him were all thirteen of his sons, ordered from youngest to oldest. They all stood with their arms behind their backs. The King held a letter in his hand from Arendelle. The King stood up from his throne.
"In my old age," the King said, "I can no longer travel. That is why twelve of you shall do it for me."
There were whispers between the brothers. They didn't know what their father was talking about, or the reason they stood there.
The King continued to talk. "Arendelle has requested a peace council, and we have to go."
"We must we all go?" asked one of the brothers. "This is Hans' crusade, not ours."
Talk broke out among the brothers. It was true though. Only Hans wanted this war, and the King helped him with it. War was declared without any of the brothers' consent. They resented Hans for doing this behind their backs.
"All but one do you will go." The King said. "Ander shall stay here and help me run the kingdom."
"Of course your favorite child gets the comfort of our castle." said one of the King's younger sons.
Many of his children resented Ander. Ander was without a doubt the kings favorite child. The King spent hours a day teaching him everything he knew about being a King. Ander was heir to the throne, and thats what made many of them jealous.
"Ander shall stay because he knows much about war politics already. Plus, he knows more about running a kingdom than any of you." The King said. "You all, except maybe for Christian, are weak with politics. This will be a good training experience for you."
Many of them silently got angry. They didn't need nor want training. But, as they've always been told, their father knew what was best for them. Yet, they were still angry at him. The King ignored many of his children when the Queen passed. They were jealous of Hans. The King now had all the time in the world for Hans since he committed a few crimes. But, the King had no time for the children who respect authority.
Christian knew why he was going. He needed to help guide his kin in politics.
"Our top representative will be Hans." The King said.
That was controversial to them. The brothers spoke out loudly, and resented the King's decision. No one thought this was a good idea, except for Hans of course. They didn't understand the King's decision. They assumed that Christian would be the top representative, but that's not the case. Christian was the most shocked for this decision.
The King held up his hand, and the brothers stopped talking. "This war was Hans' idea, so, he must be the one to back it up the most." The King said. "If he shall fail, if the war will be canceled, it will be on his hands."
This gave the brothers more hope. No one supported the war in Hans' family, and that would be his downfall. They had to make sure Hans lost during the council, then everything would be alright.
"You leave the night before the council. You should arrive in Arendelle shortly before the council begins. Dismissed!"
The brothers spread and went back to their rooms. Everyone left unsatisfied except for Hans. Christian hoped that his father knew what he was doing. But, once again, he trusted his father's decision. But, he had to do whatever he could in his power to stop this war. They had no quarrel with Arendelle, and they're going to war over ice powers. That was ridiculous by the brothers.
Ander didn't trust not being there to watch over Hans. He always had his suspicions on his brother ever since he returned. But, Hans had a passion for this war, and Ander respected passion, no matter who it may come from.
Hans walked back to his while thinking about what he was going to say. He knew that his brothers would go against him, but that didn't matter. He would get his war no matter what. He made sure of it.
Hans opened the door to his room and closed it behind him.
"It's all coming together. Thank you, father, for this opportunity. Elsa and Anna won'to know what hit them. Mwahahahaha!"
Hans heard a knock on his door, and stopped laughing. Hans opened his door and stuck his head out. He saw one of his brothers standing before him.
"Are you alright?" asked the brother. "I thought I heard maniacal laughter."
"No, you didn't." Hans lied. "It must've been the wind."
The brother looked around the hallway and found no windows. He looked back at Hans skeptically. Then, he shrugged.
"Okay." said the brother.
He walked away, and Hans closed the door. Hans out his ear on the door until he could no longer hear footsteps. Then, Hans continued to maniacally laugh. His laughs soon turned to coughs.
"I gotta work on that." Hans said.
Author's Note: At this point, this is where the story is going to kick up, and we'll dive deeper into the main plot. How'd you guys like the story so far? I'd love to know! Ciao.