14- Call the Queen

The Midnight Sun illuminated the valley with a cold and eerie light, the Northern wind had become much stronger and the Arendellian troops were in a state of alarm, with the field hospitals getting ready and entire divisions loading their weapons at every trench.

There were riders taking messages and instructions between the hundreds of trenches and artillery positions, the Captains were screaming orders everywhere and the sentinels observed every movement of the enemy forces from the summit of the hills…

"General Alistair" Anna said, lowering her telescope after observing the enemy advances from the highest part of the Sammel Line- "I would prefer to open fire right now, before they invade this side of the valley!"

"Your Highness, that would be wise but Queen Elsa designed a different strategy" Alistair replied, a cold note of cruelty clearly noticeable in his voice- "She wanted us to let them cross the river, recall that?"

Anna and Alistair analyzed together a map of the valley, the General pointing at the many parts of the river where the Southern Isles forces had started to build great wooden bridges to get across.

The General then described the most likely paths that the enemy forces would follow after crossing the river, and it seemed to Anna that a deadly strategy was forming somewhere in a dark corner of Alistair's mind…

"We have to let them advance three quarters of the way" Alistair continued- "They will be confident, and then… our Crackers open fire!"

Anna had a bad feeling about it, and judging from Alistair's voice she was sure that her General aimed to kill as many enemy soldiers as possible… Anna was inclined to destroy the bridges before they could cross, and to make things worse she did not know yet what exactly the Crackers were.

However, Anna did remember what Elsa had said at the War Council: "I expect Hans will be furious after our first offensive, and after that… Let them attack us!"

"What the hell are the Crackers?" Anna asked, looking straight into Alistair's eyes.

"They are one of the new technologies of war, a top secret weapon that Queen Elsa purchased for Arendelle two years ago" the General explained- "We have five hundred Crackers ready here in the Line, while two hundred more remain at the North!"

"What do they do?"

Alistair stayed in silence for awhile, Anna remained looking right into his eyes and eventually the fearsome General, displaying a mischievous smile, offered a hand to Anna and led her down the grassy hill.

"You'll see, your Highness…"

Anna looked at the Arendellian positions as they descended, and she was surprised at how fast her forces were getting ready for battle. She could see that the Artillery teams were already taking large shells from the underground bunkers, and the Cavalry units were preparing their horses just in case.

A few minutes later they reached a deep and long trench not far from the main hill, and there Kristoff and Alice hurried to greet the Princess:

"It looks like things will get interesting rather soon" Kristoff commented, looking into Anna's eyes after a hug- "Have you seen those bridges they are building?!"

"Yes…"

"Here, your Highness!" Alice said, grabbing a military backpack from the ground- "I carried this bag all the way from Snowhall Forest, just had forgotten to hand it over… I guess that it's important for you."

"What is it?"

Anna was a little surprised at first as she stared at the bag, but a few seconds later she came to remember what it was: She had used that backpack to carry some of her personal belongings all the way from the Palace, but she had not seen it since the artillery attack and the fighting at Tannya.

How could she have forgotten about it?

Anna realized that her memory was failing, but she concealed it as best as she could and, accepting the bag, she opened it immediately:

A portrait of Elsa with a cover of glass, a comb of pure silver, three oranges, a small strawberry pie, her favorite gold bracelet, a squirrel plushy toy that she had loved when she was little and a mysterious mirror all made of ice…

"I wish we could call the Queen and inform her about everything" Alistair commented, standing beside Kristoff- "The war has developed so fast!"

"Call the Queen?" Anna whispered, holding the ice mirror between both hands- "To call the Queen… Oh my stars, how could I have forgotten about this?!"

"What?" Kristoff asked.

"Elsa!" Anna cried out, staring at her reflection on the ice- "Elsa, can you hear me? Elsa! Come on! Elsa! Elsa!"

The perfect ice surface released a flash of white light, vague images started to form at the other side and then a voice came from the mirror:

"Anna!"