Disclaimer- I don't own Wolf and Spice nor Frozen or any characters from either. This story is purely for entertainment purposes.

Chapter 16

Ragnar watched as Holo left the room, and she turned and smiled. "It is good to see you again as well, my young nephew."

The "old" sergeant smiled, "I do wish you would visit us all more often."

Holo smiled sadly, and then her smile turned ferocious, "You could all visit US more often!"

Ragnar backed up, but then nodded, "That's true, we really should."

Holo bowed, "Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back to Yoitsu." She leaned into the Sergeant, "Keep an eye on him Ragnar, he's more likely to make foolish decisions now...not that I necessarily disapprove."

The guard sergeant bowed, "As you wish, Wise One."

Holo smiled and then stopped, because she'd spotted the form of a young woman rounding the corner in robes and slippered feet. Elsa stopped and couldn't help the slightest flash of anger and jealousy that raged through her. Holo smiled and walked towards her, "And you must be the one who has stolen my grandson's heart."

Elsa's face shifted to surprise, "Grandson, but that would make her..." Elsa nodded respectfully, "My honor, Queen Holo."

Holo grimaced slightly, "I was never fond of titles, save for Mom, Aunt, and Grams." The last she said as Naeil appeared in the doorway, having heard Elsa's voice. "Elsa! Uh...I see you've already met my Grandmother."

Elsa nodded slowly, and returned her gaze to Holo, who was just smiled knowingly. "I wish I could stay and chat Queen Elsa, but I really must be getting back to Yoitsu." With that she turned and walked down the corridor, vanishing around the other corner. Elsa returned her gaze to Naeil and stood stunned. She'd seen him without a shirt on from a distance, but now she got a good look at just how toned the Wolf Prince really was. Naeil realized what was happening as her pale face went beet red and raced back into his room to grab a shirt. Elsa regained her composure, and felt a pang of regret when she moved to his doorway to find that he already donned a shirt. "So...family visiting you?" she asked with forced joviality.

Naeil nodded slowly, "It caught me by surprise, the last time she left her wheat was when my youngest sister was born, and that would have be 12 years ago. She hasn't left Yoitsu since...well since her husband passed."

Elsa stood, fingering the token chain around her neck, thoughtfully. Naeil suddenly felt uncomfortable, "What brings you here, Elsa?"

Elsa looked at the Wolf Prince and her face gained the hint of annoyance. "To see you, obviously."

Naeil smiled sheepishly, "Of course, would you like to sit down."

He motioned to the chair, but Elsa moved and plopped down on the bed. Naeil hesitated a moment before he sat down beside her. She leaned against his shoulder and sighed. "Your "grandmother" looks all of 20, if that."

Naeil sighed, "That's just the way it is with her. She's actually even older than Ragnar."

Elsa frowned, "Why does Ragnar look so old then?

Naeil chuckled, "The elder Wolves seem to be able to "pick" their human appearance to a certain extent. Ragnar finds the Guard listen to him more if he looks crotchety."

There was a grumbling outside the door, and Ragnar's voice was heard mumbling, "I'll show you crotchety, you pup."

Elsa grimaced and Naeil just laughed, "If you don't like our conversation, stop eavesdropping then."

Elsa breathed a sigh of relief as she heard footsteps walking down the corridor. "Then, you could look older or younger."

Naeil shook his head, "Apparently, that's part of our "human" blood's legacy. Neither of my parents, nor any of my aunts, nor my siblings can alter their appearance We apparently age as normal humans do, up until about 30, and then it slows to a such a rate as to be nearly stopped.

She nodded in understanding and closed her eyes. "I'm still so exhausted, but I couldn't sleep well...my dreams were...confusing."

He put is arm around her shoulders and held her close. "I know what you mean...I had a some troubled sleep myself."

She sighed and suddenly shifted and crawled into the bed. Naeil froze, unsure of what he should do, but finally he stood and pulled the cover over the Queen. She rolled over and looked at him, her eyes filled with an expression that both terrified and entranced the young man. "Please don't go...I need more sleep, but I need you near me...please."

Naeil smiled, and pulled the chair up to the bed, and sat down in it. Elsa's eyes never left his, as he took one of her hands into his. "You don't have to do that," she said simply.

Naeil nodded, squeezing her hand as he sat by her side, "Yes, actually, I do."

Elsa's face fluttered with something, that Naeil couldn't quite place, but she closed her eyes and soon her breathing indicated she'd fallen fast asleep. Naeil leaned over and placed his head on the bed beside her, still clutching her hand in his, and soon he too had returned to slumber.

Kai knocked on the queen's door, and waited to hear sounds of movement. He knocked once more, and Ragnar rounded the corner. "She's not in there," he said.

Kai paused, "Where is she then?"

Ragnar smiled, "With the Captain."

Kai rubbed his temples, "What?"

Ragnar grinned, "Yep, apparently came in after having bad dreams and crawled into the Captain's bed."

Kai sighed, "I don't know how things are done in Yoitsu, but we have this thing called etiquette, and it is completely improper for the Queen..."

Ragnar laughed, "Don't worry...he's not in bed with her. He just sat by her side sleeping with his head on the mattress. I just wanted to see your reaction."

Kai pinched his nose, "Ragnar..."

The Sergeant laughed as he started to walk back to his post. Kai started to follow him, but the Sergeant stopped him, "Eh, the Captain requested to be uninterrupted until one."

Kai was about to argue that the Queen asked to be awoken at noon, but he reconsidered. If she'd decided she needed the Prince's presence to get some genuine sleep, then he would give her that extra hour. He nodded and sighed, "Will you wake her along with your Captain?"

Ragnar nodded, "Of course."

Naeil stirred and groaned. Sleeping this way wasn't exactly the most comfortable, but then he spied a sight that reminded him that it was worth the sore back. Elsa's still slept, a faint smile played on her face. Pausing a moment, he made a mental note that this was a pleasant sight to wake up to.

"Elsa," he whispered.

Her eyes fluttered open as she took a deep breath. "You're still here," she said softly.

He nodded, "I won't leave your side...not ever."

She smiled half awake, and mumbled, "Promises..."

Ragnar knocked on the wall, "Rise and shine laddie...you and the misses have slept half the day away."

Elsa let loose an audible growl, and both Naeil and Ragnar paused, "Eh, your Majesty, are you learning your future husband's native tongue now?"

She look at the sergeant sternly, and then laughed, "Maybe I am...how's my accent?"

Naeil snickered, "Terrible."

The pillow flew at the prince...and he laughed again.

"Hey, even I understood it. '5 more minutes?'"

She laughed, "More like '5 more hours.'"

Naeil shrugged, "Oh, then the accent was even worse than I thought..."

The second pillow flew at him...frozen solid.

"Ow! Elsa!"

The Snow Queen stood up, and adjusted her robe quickly. "Well, I must get dressed and prepared, the rest of Yoitsu's army will be arriving this evening, correct?"

Ragnar nodded, "Aye, we'll be working through the night to get the howitzers in position for them Weaseltons!

Elsa smiled at the sergeant's joke, but quickly took on a serious tone. "Weselton's navy is no joke...they will outnumber us at least 3 to 1.

Naeil smiled, "Yes, but I'm pretty sure Weselton will get a big surprise when they get here..."

Elsa looked at him, but he simply smiled. "Eh, it's a surprise, you can yell at me when it gets here."

As the army from Yoitsu slowly filed down the road, Naeil, Ragnar and Horwitz walked through the ever growing encampment outside the castle walls. Naeil greeted warriors of all ranks, from majors to privates, thanking them personally for joining him in his defense of Arendelle from Weselton and it's allies. Soon they left the encampment and traveled along the walls to the old foundations along the seawall, to inspect the emplacement of the large bore cannons that had been brought from the Wolf Palace. Closer to the actual gates at the mouth of the fjord, crews were setting up smaller howitzers, stacking ammunition for the coming battle. Horwitz looked along one of the sights and frowned. "We really should make some test shots to get our range."

Naeil nodded, but frowned, "It wouldn't be a waste of ammo, but if that fleet is as large as we were told, we're going to need every round we can. I trust our crews to get the range in battle, and to do it quickly."

Horwitz sighed but nodded, "As you wish, Your Highness."

Ragnar frowned and coughed, "Captain?"

Naeil paused and then sighed, "10 rounds...no more."

Elsa walked along the walls with Kai, greeting the solders and asking questions as they occurred to her. She spied Naeil with Ragnar and Horwitz at one of the cannons as it's crew loaded and prepared to fire another ranging shot. After the cannon fired, she saw a splash out on the ocean near a colored buoy and heard cheers erupt from the crew. Kai whistled appreciatively.

"Only 3 shots and they have their range. These gunners are living up to the Prince's promises."

Elsa nodded and continued her walk, hoping that the coming battle would not be too destructive to the port's walls. Kai sensed her worry and tried to lift her spirits. "Our defenses are at least twice as strong with the addition of these cannons, and with the skill of our sailors, combined with the Yoitsuan army defending against any forces that manage to land, we will carry the day, your Majesty."

Elsa stopped and looked out to sea, knowing that somewhere, just over the horizon, a fleet of at least 30 ships was sailing towards them.

"I just wish I could fight them out there, Kai. When this is done, I have already decided we should increase our naval strength. Naeil has suggestions for further fortifying the harbor."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Are we turning Arendelle into a fortress, your Majesty?"

Elsa sighed, "My people will be safe, Kai. That is my principle duty as their Queen."

Kai frowned, "I'm concerned, your Majesty. How much of this is being influenced by the Prince's opinions?"

Elsa looked at her aide, "These are my ideas, Kai. Naeil merely supports my thinking with his own perspective."

Kai bowed, "My apologies, your Majesty. This is all very sudden, and given what happened with Prince Hans and your sister..."

Elsa smiled and turned, having spotted Naeil climbing the stairs to join them. "I appreciate your concern, Kai. Naeil is concerned about the security of the port, due to it's value to Yoitsu as well. However..."

Naeil spoke as he climbed the final steps, "Elsa is and always will be ruler of Arendelle, even after our wedding day. I will stand by her side and offer my opinion, but she ultimately is the Queen, she is the Alpha."

Kai bowed to the prince as he took Elsa's hand in his own. "Are you ready for this?" he asked her.

She sighed, "I don't think a year would have made me ready for this."

The Wolf Prince wrapped his arms around her and chuckled, "You'll do fine. I'm going to be by your side through it all."

Far out to sea, the coast of Arendelle was spotted by the lookouts in the crows nest of the approaching ships. The Duke smiled at the announcement and turned to a much younger man beside him. "Soon, my boy. A glittering jewel to add to King Karlsonn's crown, and you'll be the one delivering it to him."

The young man glanced sideways at the Duke, then snorted. "I'm far more interested in saving these poor souls from the witch who has enslaved them."

The Duke sighed. His son had always been more interested in gaining favor with the Church. In fact, his efforts had been instrumental in securing support from the Vatican to mount this expedition. The Duke just wished the boy would realize the Church was just another tool to be utilized, for he was equally certain the Vatican held a very similar view towards nobles such as himself.

"Worry not, Arik. Once we've secured Arendelle and either captured or killed Elsa and her sister, their souls will easily be returned to grace."

Arik nodded and looked over the armada, in particular to a cluster of five ships which did not fly the colors of Weselton. Instead they flew black banners with white flowers and golden feathers, marking them as belonging to the personal fleet of one Countess Anora Marchaunt. The Duke chuckled, "It was generous of the Countess to pledge her own ships to our cause."

Arik frowned, "Perhaps, although if the Countess's reputation is to be believed, I'm sure generosity had nothing to with it."

The Duke smiled, "I wouldn't know, I've never had the pleasure of meeting the Countess."

Arik nodded, "I have yet to meet anyone who has, which is why I'm wary of those ships."

The Duke laughed, "You worry too much."

Elsa watched as the 10 ships of Arendelle's navy took their positions at the entrance to the fjord. Naeil stood behind her, gazing silently over her shoulder "10 ships against at least 30..." she whispered.

Naeil nodded, "But you now have cannons along your shoreline, so the disparity isn't as much as it would seem."

Elsa frowned, "Have you ever fought in battle, Naeil?"

Naeil nodded, "Several times."

Elsa sighed, "How many times before you stopped being afraid? Before you stopped thinking about the fact that people were going to be hurt or worse..."

Naeil turned the young woman so he could look her straight in the eye. She gazed at him earnestly and he took her hands into his own. "Honestly? I'm scared every time. I ponder the potential casualties every time. Right now, I'm scared that something could happen to you, Anna, Kristoff, Ragnar, or any number of people. Courage is not the absence of fear, Elsa. It's being scared but doing what needs to be done anyways."

She looked down, but he squeezed her hands, "And you are one of the most courageous women I've ever known."

She smiled and embraced the Wolf Prince, who wrapped his own arms protectively around her. She sighed contentedly, and then spotted a ship still moored in the harbor. "That's odd."

Naeil's ears twitched, "What?"

Elsa nodded to the ship. "I ordered all the civilian trading vessels out of the harbor for their own safety, but there's one still down there."

Naeil's tail stiffened, "Hmmm." Naeil motioned one of his Wulfen over. The woman saluted, "Captain, Majesty?"

Naeil returned the salute briskly and pointed down at the ship. "They're not supposed to be here, Reisha. Take Thorin and find out who they are, and why they didn't leave."

The Wulfen bowed and walked away swiftly. Elsa's brow furrowed.

"It could be nothing, maybe they can't leave."

Naeil grimaced. "I hope that's all it is.