"What the devil were you thinking you daft fool? Who else could it have been? What other person in this kingdom would have had shadow powers?" Lord Derek had been howling at Captain Wells for over an hour without a care that what seemed to be the whole of Arendelle had gathered to watch the show.
"Lord Derek, you said yourself that she had already been wounded from her journey to Weselton, so it as much the Home Guard's fault as it is mine," he said as he tried to interrupt Lord Derek's stream, but Lord Derek would have none of it.
"Yes, they did shoot at her, but they did not expect a shadow mage to be visiting royalty! You, on the other hand, knew damn well who it was, or did you not think about that either?" screamed Lord Derek.
"You can't tell me that after what she did to you she isn't a witch," said Captain Wells in turn.
Lord Derek took a deep breath. "Captain, I want you to return the ship and settle into your chambers. You will then spend the remainder of the voyage contemplating all possible meanings of the phrase 'silent as the grave.' Do I make myself clear?"
Captain Wells scowled, but bowed. "Inescapably, Lord Derek," he said before marching away.
Lord Derek sighed and turned to face Kristoff, who'd been sent down to the docks by Elsa to keep an eye on things while she tended to Anna. "Well now that's taken care of. I would turn him over to you, but I think that the lords of Weselton will want to reap vengeance upon him themselves. I can send you any parts he loses if you like."
Kristoff shuddered. "No thanks. I think we can take your word for it." Kristoff turned around to go back to the castle and Lord Derek fell into step beside him.
"You know, you're being a lot calmer about this whole thing than I thought you'd be," said Kristoff once they were out earshot of the general populace. "If I'd been in your shoes I think I'd be a lot angrier at Anna."
Lord Derek chuckled. "Kristoff, I am a veteran of Weselton politics; hiding my emotions is a tool of the trade. At that moment, my rage was boundless. There were not words for how much I loathed her highness for what she did to me. My calm has returned somewhat, but I still very much consider myself at odds with Princess Anna."
Kristoff was shocked. Lord Derek said it with such casualness that it was unnerving. "Then why did you save her, if you hated her so much?" he asked after he found the words.
Lord Derek shrugged. "There was no reason not to save her. I wanted to do terrible things to her, unspeakable things, but when I saw what she looked like and how close to death she was, it didn't matter. She'd already done them to herself. And Estelle was there, calling her mommy," he added almost as an afterthought.
"Why does that matter?" Asked Kristoff as they reached the gates.
"Because Estelle had already heard the stories of how I'd made her mother 'go away,' I didn't want to paint a picture in front of her with the woman that she thought was her mother returned. She would have never forgiven me," said Lord Derek, not turning to face Kristoff.
"Estelle's opinion is that important to you?" Asked Kristoff, waiting to see what Lord Derek would say to that.
Lord Derek stopped, and the smile left his face. "Kristoff, Estelle is the light of my life and the fire that drives my soul. If not for the nightmares your dear Princess sent me, I would not be able to imagine my life without her. If she hated me I don't know what I'd do."
Kristoff nodded in agreement as thoughts of a dead and dying Anna flashed through his mind. "I think I know just what you mean. I don't know if this counts for anything, but Anna really is sorry about what happened."
"Let's hope so," Lord Derek said as he turned back to the door of the castle and waited.
Elsa came running out with Estelle, who was laughing and smiling as Olaf gave her a piggyback ride. A little plant creature was running beside her.
When Estelle saw Lord Derek, she got off of Olaf and ran up to give him a hug. "Daddy, it's so wonderful here! I can use my powers and talk to Mommy and Auntie Elsa! Can we stay here forever?"
Lord Derek laughed and picked her up. "I don't think so, flower. We have to go back to Weselton and tell everyone how nice it is here. But if Auntie Elsa allows it, we can return later."
"Oh please, can we?" asked Estelle with puppy dog eyes.
Elsa smiled at her. "Of course, Estelle. You may both come back whenever you like."
"Thank you, Auntie Elsa!" cried Estelle with glee. Lord Derek set her down and she raced back to Olaf. "Come on! I want to show you and Thistledown daddy's ship!"
"Who's Thistledown, flower?" Asked Lord Derek only to be answered with a goat-like bleat from the plant creature and he nodded in comprehension. "Ah. Well, be careful!" He shouted at her as she ran off.
Once the pair of them were out of earshot Elsa's face became serious. "I suppose that Arendelle's relationship with Weselton is at an end once again."
Lord Derek's eyes went wide. "Your Majesty, if I have done something to offend you then tell me and I will do my best to make it right."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Offend you? I assumed that you were leaving because of what happened."
Lord Derek shook his head. "No. It wasn't a pleasant experience to say the least, but personal isn't the same as important, and this is bigger than just me. I'm leaving so that I can settle the nerves of the Home Guard and let them know who they'd shot at. It was my intention to return as soon possible so that we might continue our discussions, if you would permit it."
"So long as you bring Estelle with you," said Elsa.
"Of course, your Majesty. I don't think I've ever seen her happy away from home so I would be pleased to bring her back," said Lord Derek.
"Anna certainly seemed happy with her, once she adjusted to the role of being Estelle's 'mommy'" said Kristoff.
Lord Derek froze and his face went blank. "She did, didn't she?" he said as he rolled the idea around in his mind. He stood still a few moments longer before Elsa spoke again.
"I will send someone to see you to your ship," said Elsa.
Lord Derek shook his head as he came out of his stupor and bowed again. "Thank you, your Majesty. Kristoff, I wish you much luck in the days and weeks to come. May your strength and stamina be up the tasks that will be set before you by your two companions."
"I, um, don't know what you mean, Lord Derek," said Kristoff with a stutter while Elsa blushed a deep red.
"Really? Then I suspect you're going to be learning a lot in the weeks to come. Tally ho!" He said and set off towards his ship.
Kristoff ran after him and caught him before he went very far. "You won't say anything to anyone, will you?" He asked Lord Derek.
He shook his head. "It's no one's business what you, the Princess and the Queen do in private. I will only suggest more discretion if you don't want rumors to abound." He patted him on the shoulder, then turned and waltzed back to his ship.