In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.
– Dwight D. Eisenhower
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The Commander of the Weselton force strode briskly up the gangplank of his ship. He was met on the deck by his second-in-command who had been left in charge while the Commander had gone off to negotiate with the Queen.
"Well? How'd it go?" asked the man.
"I need a drink. Let's go have one and I'll tell you the good news. First, get about half the men turned out with full weapons kit and formed up on the quay. In two hours, we take over the castle."
Startled, his lieutenant said, "A hundred men can't take over that castle!"
The Commander laughed. "They can when they have a writ signed by the Witch Queen herself ordering her men to surrender it to us! Go do it, then join me in my cabin."
"Uh, we can't meet there."
"What? Why not?"
"That's where I put the Princess. She was driving me nuts with her babbling. It's the only place on this ship where she'd be comfortable, and you said we needed to coddle her until we knew if we'd have to kill her or not."
The Commander groaned. "Okay. I'll have a couple of the men take her for a walk on the quarterdeck while you and I talk. Get the men formed up and join me as quick as you can." He Looked around the deck and gestured for two men leaning against the rail to join him.
When he got to his cabin, Anna was leaning out the stern window, watching the activity in the harbor and wishing she could swim. Not that she would get very far if she attempted to escape that way.
"Well, Your Highness, it seems your sister can be sensible when she needs to be," he said as he slammed the door open. Anna jumped at the sudden noise and whirled to face him.
"What do you mean?"
"You're so important to her that not only did she agree to our terms, she gave me control of the castle. And she will be surrendering herself to me tomorrow morning," his contempt was clear in his voice.
"No, she wouldn't do that, not even for me!" protested Anna.
"You're too modest, my dear. It seems she has more regard for her sister than you thought; I assure you every word I just told you is the absolute truth. Rejoice! You get to sleep in your own bed tonight. For now, these two men will guard you up on the quarterdeck, I need this cabin before we go take over the castle." He bowed toward her with a mocking smile, and Anna grabbed her cloak and marched out of the cabin, glowering at him as she left.
The Commander walked over to his liquor cabinet, took out a bottle and two glasses, poured two fingers of whiskey into one of them and drained it in one gulp.
His lieutenant came back just then and chuckled, "That kind of day, huh?"
The Commander refilled his glass and poured one for the other man. Holding his own glass high, he said, "Here's a toast to the little weasel. I never thought we'd pull this off, but it looks like we did. Skal!" and he emptied his glass again.
Sipping at his own on the theory that ONE of them needed to remain sober until they got back to Weselton, the lieutenant said, "How'd you pull this one out of your … hat?"
The Commander sat in his desk chair, crossed his ankles and leaned back. "She's as squeamish as the old man said she was. Her Admiral had the right of it; she should have hung the Duke and his two goons when they tried to kill her. Women! Soft-hearted and soft-headed. This kingdom needs a strong man to rule it."
"Maybe he'll give it to you, along with the Princess after he burns the Queen. We both know he intends to make this part of the new GRAND Duchy of Weselton. He'll need someone to run it for him."
"Yeah, I'm guessing the Princess won't be that interested in a wedding after we whack her sister."
"Who cares what she thinks? Won't be the first 'arranged' marriage for a princess in this part of the world. Bed her, get her pregnant, keep her pregnant; she'll be too busy chasing after the little brats to worry about her long-dead sister." A cynical shrug accompanied this comment as the lieutenant finished his drink and put the glass on the sideboard. "But I think what we need to do first is get to that castle and take it over."
The commander slammed back the last of his drink, got up and walked out with his second-in-command. "You're right about that. Let's go drink the Snow Queen's booze while we put our muddy boots up on her furniture!"
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The ship dropped anchor as close to shore as it could and Elsa and the rest were rowed to land where a small group of Marines waited with extra horses. The party was made up of Elsa, Kristoff, the Admiral, Gunnarsson and the rest of her guard detail. They mounted up and rode to where the Marine encampment and Colonel Nordholm waited for them.
Elsa was as uncomfortable on a horse as it was possible to be without falling off. Riding wasn't something she had been able to practice much for thirteen years. Her skills when she was an eight-year old were still rudimentary and then there were no more lessons. She hung on as best she could and tried very hard not to spook the horse with any little bursts of ice on the reins or the stirrups.
The Marine camp was in a clearing surrounded by dense forest. Only game trails led here, so it was unlikely that any of the Weselton men would find it without expert guidance. Considering they were now in the position of the python trying to digest an elephant, Elsa doubted they had time for explorations of the beautiful Arendelle countryside in any case.
Gunnarsson helped her dismount. Kristoff had been almost as uncomfortable as she was, he was used to riding Sven bareback and that not often. He did manage to get back onto solid ground without help. Marines took the reins of their horses and led them away.
Nordlholm was waiting for them. He saluted, then said, "Your Majesty, Admiral. Please, join me in the command tent. I have set a picket line of guards camouflaged in the trees. The men have set up camp for the night and supper will be served soon. I suspect we have a long night ahead of us."
The little party joined him at a camp table set up in the tent, then gratefully accepted servings of stew and mugs of coffee from the camp cooks. The Colonel was right about the long night.
Once the remnants of the meal were cleared and everyone's coffee had been refreshed, the Admiral took his place at the head of the table and recapped the plan for the little group. Nordholm's jaw hung open when he heard the part about the Queen surrendering herself in the morning.
He turned to Elsa and said, "Your Majesty, forgive me, but that plan is insane. You must not put yourself at the mercy of those … animals."
Startled at his vehemence, the Admiral asked him sharply, "Lars, do you know something we don't?"
"No, Admiral, if you're asking me if they've engaged in any atrocities. They've stayed aboard their ships, guns at the ready to repel any foolish attempts to take them over. Which we couldn't do in any case without endangering the Princess."
"But? I think I hear a 'but' in there somewhere." prodded the Admiral.
"But, I recognized their Commander and his second. Those two are known to be notorious mercenaries across the northern realms and even into southern Europe. Unless they've changed their spots, that crew they've brought here is a motley collection of the scum and scrapings from every run-down dockside bar in this part of the world. Not a choir boy in the lot. I suspect their 'tribute collection' will result in a lot of beatings and other brutalities." He had to look away from Elsa's intent stare. "Particularly against the women. Ahem." His embarrassment was clear.
A few seconds went by as they absorbed this information. The Admiral spoke first, "All the more reason to make sure that our own people are the ones to actually collect the requested tribute and bring it to the docks. Lars, I want Marines in farmer's clothing in every group. No weapons except work knives, but trained men to keep an eye on those bastards and intervene if they see any violence from those scum."
Nordholm nodded. "But … the Queen ..."
Elsa felt horrified at the Colonel's explanation. Her face was impassive, of course, even as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She looked down the table at Colonel Nordholm and said, "Nothing like that will happen to me, Colonel. I will accept some indignities and even physical abuse but there are limits beyond which I will not allow them to go. Once I make that clear, they won't push those limits. I will fight back if they do, and that will end the stalemate, leaving them to face your vengeance. They have too much at stake to risk it for something easily available in any brothel."
Kristoff felt sick to his stomach, he had never considered this particular threat.
The thick silence dragged out for a few more minutes before Elsa spoke again. "Admiral, something you said gives me a thought about how we can add to our strength in the town and the castle for our rescue attempt. Colonel Nordholm, we had not discussed the entire plan when you began to tell us about the Weselton Commander. There is more that you need to hear, then let's discuss more options."
The Admiral started again, "Lars, here's the part we hadn't gotten to. Before I explain this, I need to ask you for an oath of silence, unbreakable under any circumstance and to be taken to your grave. This is a Crown Secret, something that has only been known to members of the Royal Family before now."
Nordholm stood and turned to Elsa, "Your Majesty, I swear to you by all that I hold Holy, and upon my honor, that I shall never speak of this secret to anyone. I will take this secret to my grave. So help me God."
Elsa nodded her acceptance of his oath and gestured at him to resume his seat. "Thank you, Colonel. I know that I can trust you." She turned to Naismith, "Admiral, you may continue."
"Lars, this plan is predicated on the Princess Anna escaping from the castle once those bastards move in. That's the reason Her Majesty offered them the castle. On board their ships, the Princess has no opportunity to escape. That dynamic changes completely once she's back in the castle and presumably able to move around somewhat freely, and with loyal servants to help her."
"What makes you think he'll take her back to the castle?" asked Nordholm.
Naismith chuckled, "Lars, you've spent enough time aboard ship. Do you really think he's going to spend one more night in a hammock, eating weevil-infested hardtack and drinking the swill out of the water casks, when he can track mud into Her Majesty's parlor and help himself to her liquor supply?" Elsa had to smile at the picture the Admiral painted.
"When you put it that way, of course not," Nordholm responded with a wry grin. "But he could leave the Princess on the ship."
"No, Colonel, he would not," interjected Elsa. "His only safety lies in keeping her close at hand, under his control. He would never leave her on the ship while he was in the castle. Additionally, he will think the castle gives him a better defensive position. He will be wrong."
"How so, Your Majesty?" Nordholm asked.
"For one thing, Colonel, there will be 13 members of the Queen's Own Guard running around the castle and the stables, pretending to be ordinary servants and stable hands," Gunnarsson chimed in. "I sent a message to the castle before we landed, instructing the men we left behind to put their uniforms on some of the more likely looking real servants, and teach them enough to march out in a group when the Weselton men show up to take over the castle tonight. I'm sure Sergeant Jorgensen can manage that."
"Thirteen against two hundred. And what about weapons?" Nordholm was skeptical.
"I doubt all two hundred will be in the castle. At least half of them will need to stay with the ships and deal with the people bringing the tribute for loading. And the castle armory will have muskets in it, which I am sure the Weselton men will confiscate. Let them. Our breechloaders and ammunition for them will be tucked away in one of the many nooks and crannies in that drafty pile of masonry. No insult intended, Your Majesty!" Eric looked at Elsa with a little smile.
"None taken, Captain. No one knows better than I how many drafts can blow through those halls."
Eric continued, "And the thirteen won't be alone. We'll be infiltrating some Marines as well, in disguise as tradesmen bringing in supplies for the Weselton troops. Kai will explain to their Commander that the castle larders can't feed that many men without replenishment, a statement that has the virtue of actually being true. I doubt they'll be counting bodies as the wagons come in. So, seven men bring in food, but only six leave. They'll be tucked away in more of those crannies. We should be able to smuggle in at least ten more men, I think."
"But, what about the Princess? We still can't do anything to put her at risk."
Elsa looked at him grimly, "And now we come to the one absolutely critical piece of this puzzle, Colonel. The part that is the Crown Secret. This plan assumes that my sister can escape from the castle before the day the tribute fleet is scheduled to sail back to Weselton. She will escape through a set of secret passages that go under the castle wall and up into the curtain wall leading to the hills. I will show you where the exit is, and you will place a troop of your Marines there to meet her. They will be nearby, at a landmark that Anna is familiar with, so they won't know how she got there."
The Colonel digested this statement in silence. No one in the tent said anything; the small sounds of a field camp could be heard from outside the tent with an occasional hoot of an owl or a distant wolf howling at the moon mixed in.
"Your Majesty, let's assume that the Princess Anna manages to do what you described..." Elsa could tell by the skeptical look on his face that he found that assumption far-fetched. "But you will still be a prisoner and at the mercy of those … those … bastards. How will you know that she has escaped and you are free to unleash hell on them? How will we know that you know? It seems to me there's a rather tricky timing issue in this plan."
Lars looked around and could tell from the stony expressions on the faces of Admiral Naismith and Captain Gunnarsson that he wasn't the only skeptic at the table.
Elsa sighed. "Colonel, I know how hard it is for you to believe that my sister can do this. Anna's normal carefree demeanor is an excellent disguise of her real abilities. I assure you that she is clever enough, and certainly brave enough, to pull this off." Kristoff nodded in agreement. Anna's quick thinking had saved his life the first day they had met. And no one knew better than he that 'fearless' understated Anna's willingness to charge headlong into danger when she felt the need.
The Queen continued, "As to how I will know it is safe, I trust in my sister to escape. I can only hope that there will be sufficient commotion once they discover she is missing to give me enough warning to defend myself and to break out of wherever they confine me. Once I have freed myself I will get outside and send you a signal. That will tell you to attack with everything you have as quickly as you can before I am overwhelmed."
"What kind of signal, Your Majesty?" Lars asked.
She looked at him wryly, "Why, what else, Colonel? A giant snowflake in the sky over the castle should be clear enough for you, no?"
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The discussion of how to place Marines in disguise at the docks and around the castle went on for some time. If and when the Queen and Anna were safely away from the Weselton men, the invaders would find themselves in deep, deep, deep, deep … reindeer poop. Naismith believed that in a battle there was no such thing as overkill. There was only 'Open fire!' and 'Reload!'.
"Finally, Captain Gunnarsson, I want you, your men, and Kristoff waiting for Anna at the location I showed you on the map. I believe Kristoff and Anna have picnicked there before, so he can guide you there even in the dark." Elsa finished.
Kristoff added, "It's a place I've been to many times, Captain, not just to picnic with Anna. I know that part of the forest like my own home."
"Your Majesty," Eric protested, "Our place is with you."
Elsa shook her head sadly. "Unfortunately, Captain, where I go tomorrow I must go alone. Your place is waiting for Anna. If anything happens to me, she will … be your Queen."
This last statement caused the Admiral to clear his throat and ask, "Your Majesty, if anything does happen to you, how will we know that?"
Before Elsa could explain, they heard a commotion outside the tent, some startled shouts of "Hey!", and "What the hell?!" and the sounds of men running. Gunnarsson immediately jumped to his feet and positioned himself between Elsa and the tent flap, his sword at the ready. The flap opened and Olaf skipped in, unruffled by the chaos he had left in his wake. Eric managed to avoid impaling him on his sword.
"Hi, everyone! I'm Olaf!" he announced, throwing his arms wide and looking around the tent. "Elsa! I'm here, I knew you wanted me, and I came!"
Eric sheathed his sword, cursing under his breath. The little snowman had become a familiar sight around the castle and in the town in the three months since Elsa brought back summer. He seemed to have a gift for passing right through any guards without being seen. It happened the first time the day of the Great Thaw when somehow Olaf found Anna in the castle library without anyone seeing him. It was a puzzlement how a living snowman with a flurry cloud over his head could seem invisible, but there it was.
Elsa held out her hands to invite Olaf into a hug, then said, "Olaf, I'm glad you're here little guy. The Colonel there," she pointed to Nordholm, "will need your help."
"Okay. What does he want me to help him with?" Olaf asked cheerfully.
"You have to stay with him until we all get back together. He's going to take you back to Arendelle with him." Elsa saw no need to go into any more detail than that. She had tried to explain this to Olaf before, but she wasn't sure he really grasped the concept of death. There was only one thing Olaf needed to do, and she was about to explain it to Eric, the Admiral, and the Colonel. "Do you think you could go back outside and make some new friends with the Marines? I think the rest of my guards are out there, too, and you know them already, and I'll bet they'd like to see you." Eric couldn't suppress his eyeroll at this last. Elsa's eyes twinkled as she caught him at it and winked at him. Olaf was just one of the trials Elsa imposed on the good Captain.
"Okay. Bye." Olaf skipped back outside the tent. His happy personality cheered Elsa a little.
She turned back to the men around the table. Eric had seated himself again.
Nordholm was bewildered. "Your Majesty, what did he mean when he said, 'I knew you wanted me'? And how did he find us?"
Elsa tried to reassure him, "I created Olaf on the day of my Coronation when I was on North Mountain. He was an expression of my bond with Anna, a living memory of how close we were as children. I can't explain how he came to life but he did, and he appears to have a link to both of us. His sense of 'where' is stronger with Anna, but if I concentrate hard enough, he seems to know what I want and where I am."
She went on, "You asked how you would know if anything happened to me, Admiral? Olaf will tell you." Kristoff nodded. He had been with Elsa and Anna when they went seeking clues about where Elsa's magic had come from and knew what she would say next.
"How?" Naismith asked.
"By melting," Elsa's voice was melancholy. "In my research into my powers, I found very little about where they came from or why I have them. But one thing was clear: when I die, anything that I had created with my magic would also pass away. Olaf, Marshmallow, the Ice Palace...all gone." She looked at them, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "When Olaf melts, you will know that I am dead and that you must attack at once and try to save my sister."