Preview of Chapter 18 at the end
THE COLD, HARD TRUTH
"You're not seriously going to give him Marshmallow or make him an army, are you?" Rapunzel asked in disbelief.
Elsa was deep in thought, "Of course not, that would be insane! Imagine what he would do with them. Imagine what would happen to Arendelle, to NORWAY, if he commanded an army made by me?! Could you imagine what the leaders of the world would do to us?"
The gravity of the situation was slowly getting out of control, but only now, faced with the desires of one man, did Elsa realize what she meant to others?
Simply put, she was a PRIZE. If she could be manipulated and controlled, no place in the world would be safe from her powers. She is, or what could become the ultimate weapon. A scripture from the Hindu religion came to her mind, "I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds!"
Her life changed forever with that realization.
Her Grand Plan to evade being married to Prince Johan. To marry and live with Anna in peace and happiness. To have children and an heir, all seemed small and insignificant.
Not that she still didn't want that. Nor did she think that her plan would fail. It could succeed, but it was now a smaller piece in the grander scale of things. She could never have a normal, routine life that most Kings and Queens had.
She was different. She had powers. Powers unlike anything on this planet. Nobody even came close to what she could do!
She was the Snow Queen.
It began to get colder and occasional flakes of snow began falling in her room. Anna was hugging her sister at what she had just said, as Rapunzel looked on with a worried mask for her cousin. Both sisters moved to the bed and sat down while Rapunzel went to the nearby table and brought over a chair to sit next to them.
"If we don't plan on making an Army for Viktor, why are we showing him Marshmallow in your Ice Castle?" Anna softly said as her face was buried in Elsa's neck.
"Two reasons Anna. First, to show him what Marshmallow is as a snow creature. How being made of snow and ice would not allow him to operate in any climate above the freezing temperature." Elsa said.
"And secondly, if he had any idea or notion that we would NOT be giving him Marshmallow or an army of snow creatures, he would probably denounce our plan and leave. That cannot happen either. So for now, we have to pretend to go along." Elsa finally finished.
"There is a third option." Rapunzel added. She was sitting on a chair that was perched backwards. Her arms and chin were resting on the back of the chair and her legs straddled the seat. "We could have Viktor Carlyle... eliminated?"
Elsa's pupils grew wide and her eyes displayed shock. Truthfully, she had considered that option, but was too afraid to voice it out loud and frighten Anna. It amounted to murder, plain and simple. Leave it to Rapunzel to say it out loud in the cold, cold light of reality.
"No, Punzel, I've done many things that were ...questionable, but cold blooded killing is not something I want on my soul. I can and will kill to protect my loved ones, but I won't have blood on my hands like that!" Elsa said shakily. Rapunzel slowly nodded her acquiescence.
Anna could sense her sister's grief. She nuzzled her neck while quietly hugging her as they both sat on the bed. Her ear was pressed just above below Elsa's collarbone and she could hear her sister's heart beating.
The world was getting more and more serious. Events were coming fast and more complicated. Barely two months ago she was preparing for the Coronation and what she was going to eat for dessert! Now, the outcome of her family, her town of Arendelle and her whole world were changing! She knew she had to grow up faster and help Elsa as her own true love and as her future mate.
But for now... she raised her head and gazed at her sister's mouth. She could feel Elsa look down slightly at her movement. Anna's lips began to pucker, and she slowly and softly tasted her sister's lips. Elsa responded by gently opening her mouth and brushed her tongue over Anna's pursed lips.
Soon, both of their mouths were quietly and gently pressing together, and Anna heard her sister sigh slightly, as if the pressure that weighed her down was lifted.
Rapunzel smiled as her cousins found the only way they could share each other's grief and provide each other comfort. She slowly got up from her chair and backed out of their room. As she quietly closed the door, she heard them removing each other's clothes.
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Senator Tallmadge had waited for the Post Office Clerk at the main gates well before two in the afternoon. He was dressed in his best suit and top hat and had a parcel tucked under his arms. It was a small wooden keg with smoked oysters, a delicacy from New York.
Upon meeting his translator, Nathaniel Tallmadge made his way to the receiving room just outside the throne room and waited with the other suitors. Many of the young European princes, dukes and counts eyed him warily. An old man dressed to the nines appealing for an audience with one of the most beautiful and powerful queens in all of Europe?
"Surely he must be mad?"
"What rules of court does this American think he's playing in?"
"The Queen would be insulted if he were the best his country can offer?"
Had his knowledge of languages had been any less, the muted comments and whispers he just heard were the least offensive. He displayed a wane smile whenever one the young strutting peacocks eyed him with disdain.
He was here for other reasons. Still, it would not do to appear weak, so he made sure he squarely met any eyes that lingered on his less than muscular frame.
Most of the nobles were bedecked in military uniforms adorned with ribbons, medals and sashes of all the colours of the rainbow. None were armed since that was forbidden in the presence of the Queen. No doubt some of them wished they had their dirks or rapiers so as to intimidate the foreigner in their midst.
"I apologize if the circumstance you are in makes you uncomfortable, Monsieur? Some of the young rakes in attendance act as villains, especially if you act like another rooster in the hen house." the Arendellian Postal clerk offered.
"It matters not to me." Senator Tallmadge answered calmly. "I have my own reasons, Manifest Destiny be damned!".
An elder noble came into the receiving room adjacent to the throne room and introduced himself as a Minister of the Royal Council. He quickly declared that a situation regarding the Royal Family needed to be addressed and that the Queen and her court would not be available for a personal audience.
Senator Tallmadge hung his head at the news. The sounds from the gathered nobles echoed his disappointment. "It seems even something as simple as a personal greeting isn't in the cards, eh?" he consoled himself. "Can't do much about it now, I hope the oysters keep holding up...eh, what's that official saying?"
"... and so regretfully she will not be in attendance until this evening. I will accept your application if you do not wish to postpone. And I have been instructed that the Queen would like to ask the personal favour of a dance at the upcoming Grand Ball for those of you who have been denied your audience this afternoon." the Minister said.
His eyes lit up and a small smile appeared. "Perhaps I will get a chance to hear her talk, and privately might I add."
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"Isn't that Eagle, sir?" the young midshipman said to the executive officer on board Constitution. His boyish features were frowning as he pointed to the war-sloop that was just entering the harbour gates.
The senior officer too was puzzled at the return of their fellow naval partner, though Eagle was no longer part of the United States Navy. Still, he scratched his head at the unusual turn of events that transpired.
"Send a squad of marines with the deck officer on-duty to that ship as soon as it makes port and inquire as to their latest trip. Inform their Captain or whoever is in charge that it is their obligation to inform us of any leave of absence they make since they agreed to be escorted and protected by us!" the Commander ordered.
The junior officer saluted and carried on as the "Ex-oh" scratched his chin. "What the devil are these civilians playing at?" he wondered to himself. Raising his telescope, he gazed at the one-time American warship. The current owners did an excellent job of maintaining their ship. All the canons he observed looked completely functional, and her sails were not jury-rigged or weather damaged like many civilian ships.
"There must be some regulars or retirees aboard that ship as her crew!" he judged from the apparent combat-readiness of Eagle's appearance. "Now, why would civilians need to be in fighting-form for a diplomatic event such as this festival?"
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Flynn and John Samuels entered the stables just as Kristoff was finishing loading the sleds. "It's almost past midday, we best get going if we're to be back by nightfall." the Ice Master said upon seeing the two.
"Yes, where are they?" Flynn was not surprised none of the women had yet arrived.
"They'll be here soon, just get ready to go." Rapunzel said as she too just arrived. Her long hair was now the colour spun gold. "They were a little busy when I left them, but I'm pretty sure it was a quicky... I mean they'll be here quickly." a light blush coloured her cheeks at her faux pas.
Moments later Viktor came in accompanied by the two sisters of Arendelle. Anna was ready to go but it seemed Elsa needed to catch her breath, or at least her face seemed flush.
"Must we travel to your Ice Palace just so I can see for myself this snow creature you created?" Viktor asked aloud. "Couldn't you just make another here in the courtyard?"
"As I told you earlier, Mister Carlyle, these are creatures made of snow and ice! And though it may not be the height of Summer, ice-creatures will melt if I created them here in Arendelle."
"And so...?" the offensive man sneered. Elsa's face displayed shock and anger at his casual display of indifference.
"Mister Carlyle, anything my sister makes is ALIVE! She will not make an ice creature merely for your entertainment and watch it die as it melts!" Anna scolded him as she protectively held her sister's arm.
Viktor shrugged and relented, "Very Well, let's proceed then, I have to see my crew as soon as we get back."
"It'll take a couple of hours to get there even if we go at full speed. I don't know if we can get back before nightfall?" Kristoff told all those assembled.
"Don't worry about taking the normal route, Kristoff. I'll make a passage of ice once we clear the city. We can make detours that will get us there in half the time. Just make sure you guide Sven and the horses on the path I'll be making." Elsa commanded.
As soon as they were all on board the two carriages, Kristoff and Flynn snapped the reigns and they were off.
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AUTHOR NOTES:
1) Marshmallow is an enormous icy snowman born from Elsa's powers. He serves as a brute bodyguard charged with keeping intruders away from her ice palace. The menacing white beast doesn't say much, but he packs a powerful punch.
2) Elsa's quote is a quote from Robert Oppenheimer who himself quoted the scripture:
The Supreme Lord said: I am death, the mighty destroyer of the world, out to destroy. Even without your participation all the warriors standing arrayed in the opposing armies shall cease to exist.
Therefore, get up and attain glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. All these (warriors) have already been destroyed by Me. You are only an instrument, O Arjuna.
Bhagavad Gita, chapter 11, verses 31-33
3) Faux Pas - Noun
(plural faux pas)
An embarrassing or tactless blunder (especially used in social situations and contexts); a misstep.
Origin: Borrowing from French faux pas, of the same meaning; composed of faux, "false, wrong", and pas, "step".
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Preview of Chapter 18
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
It was only a short message that was written on the scroll parchment that was handed to him from the Captain of the warship that just arrived. The ship itself was moored with many of her sister ships as well as those from the Mainland back in Denmark. The frigates and sloops and cutters that crowded the harbour represented a vested interest from his Majesty.
Not all the heads of the the Danish Empire have necessarily agreed that Arendelle and Queen Elsa represented an unacceptable factor in Europe. Some of the other Kings and Monarchs actually believed that a form of 'peace' could be achieved!
The letter from Viktor Carlyle presented a truly wonderful opportunity to secure peace not only for Denmark and her allies, but also provide a counter-balance to England and possibly the United States.
He smiled at the thought, knowing full well that the Southern Isles was the strongest member and greatest ally to Denmark.