Preview of Chapter 24 at the end
AND THE WINNER IS...
The grand ball room was packed to capacity, beyond the normal crowds that would have attended during a formal dance. The royal and noble suitors were not the only people in attendance. Their entourages, and invited guests, in addition to Arendelle's own upper ranks of nobles jostled for space in the largest room of the castle. Even the head merchants, labour bosses and civil servants shared space with the other distinguished guests. If Elsa could have arranged it, she would have invited ALL of her citizens to witness her announcement. There just wasn't enough room!
Still, after her proclamation here in the ball room, she planned to take her party of family and close friends to the main balcony overlooking the courtyard. It was there that a large portion of her subjects waited to be introduced to their new future king.
"Are you ready John Samuels?" Elsa asked apprehensively? Looking around her to see if everything and everyone was in place. Elsa sucked in her breath and slowly let it out.
John Samuels moved up and stood to her right and held out his left arm so Elsa could take his hand, "I'm ready your Majesty! We will finally end the speculation that is on the minds of everyone in the kingdom."
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For most of her life, Sigrid attended, assisted and accompanied the Queen. Introduced to Elsa at only eight years of age, she was only three years older than the eldest princess of Arendelle. She had not even met her future best friend, Isolde, yet.
Then, three years after being charged with aiding Princess Elsa, Sigrid's routine life changed when her mistress was confined to her room?
"What did Elsa do? What am I to do?" she thought to herself. Fortunately, both the Queen and King, as well as the senior house servants, Kai and Gerda, trained and instructed her on how to care for her sequestered princess.
During that strange period, she managed as best she could to fulfill her role as handmaiden to Princess Elsa. And though it meant that she would spend a far greater portion of her on-duty time away from Elsa, she was the only contact the princess had with the outside world. Naturally, Elsa grew fond of her handmaiden, and Sigrid returned the friendship with devotion, admiration and loyalty. Witnessing the young girl growing up alone yet having the courage and strength to retain her mind and senses awed Sigrid. Surely anyone else would have been driven mad at such an age to endure what effectively amounted to a prison term.
For over a decade, the relationship Sigrid had with her princess evolved into a lasting friendship that only returned to normal a few months ago. Still, the Queen had only to say what she needed or wanted, and Sigrid would obey without question. As far as Sigrid was concerned, Elsa deserved far better than she received, and she would do everything in her power to make her Queen happy.
Over the years, Sigrid bathed, dressed and aided Elsa during her daily but hidden existence. As personal hand-maiden to the Crown Princess, Sigrid had never had to care for anyone other than Elsa. So it came as a surprise when her liege asked her to aid and assist John Samuels in the daily affairs of nobility in the royal court.
She was instructed by her queen to not only teach the young soldier on the rules and etiquette of European Nobility, but also on the care and grooming standards of members of the royal household.
"But he's a MAN!" Sigrid was thinking to herself, when Elsa asked her in person. Having only known the female form personally, herself and Elsa, Sigrid didn't really expect Elsa meant that she was to wash and bathe this American?
Did she?!
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The patrol along the Eastern Border was uneventful. The lowlands stretched as far as the eye could see. With the exception of the rolling hills and patches of evergreen forests, there was nothing unusual on this stretch of road. Occasionally a trader on a wooden cart pulled by tired horses would amble by.
The corporal held up his hand in greeting whenever a citizen on horse or foot came by.
"Guten Morgen." he would say.
"Ein wunderschöner Tag heute, nicht wahr?", would be another comment.
"Wohin gehen Sie heute?", always polite.
His three other companions, all wearing uniforms with the rank of Private would just stop behind him and keep their mouths shut. He was the corporal. He conversed with the populace. Their jobs were to enforce the law and protect the people.
They stopped for a break at the side of the dirt road and pulled out their soft leather canteens. The water cooling them down in the summer heat. The view of the Bavarian Alps far in the distance looking south blurred with the temperature.
Looking east again in the direction they were headed, an anomaly caught his eye. The previously unbroken brown and green landscape was monotonous and routine until recently. Over the hills, a dark stain was forming over the rise of the gentle hilltops. It grew larger and darker as he watched. It reminded him of ants slowly swarming out of their nest when you disturbed it with your foot.
He took out his eyepiece and struggled to get a better look under magnification. No, the growing stain didn't resolve itself any better. Maybe as they headed further east it would be easier to make out. Addressing his squad to get up and ready to march, he put away his telescope. So flat were the lands in this part of Corona that what he was looking at was many scores of miles away.
Wait!
He looked up again. His patrol route was to head close to the border and then head south to parallel it until he reached one of the border stations. That would mean that what he was looking at earlier was across the border. So distant it was. But if it was so distant, yet he could still see it from this distance, it would mean that it was large?
Hurriedly he pulls out his eyepiece and trains it to the distant hills. Towards the Kingdom of Weselton.
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"Curse those fools! When the dust settles, and I walk into the halls of Arendelle Castle, they will tremble as a New Order rises in Europe and across the world!" Crown Prince Josef exclaimed as he watched the dignitaries' ships leave one by one from the harbour.
A shuffling from behind catches his attention. "You mean when WE walk into the halls of Arendelle Castle?" Prince Hans insists.
"You did that once, brother. And you failed!" Josef smirks. "I didn't believe you could pull it off! But if you did, we could have re-acquired a kingdom that Copenhagen lost scarcely a quarter of a century ago! And with almost no bloodshed!"
"I was this close to pulling it off! If only that little bitch didn't come between me and Elsa! I would have been King!" Hans gripes.
"Count yourself fortunate that I didn't have you executed for your incompetence brother! Your failed little escapade has already cost us and our allies much humiliation and prestige in the eyes of the world!" the elder prince proclaims. "It is only that the Queen has revealed what she has hidden from the rest of the world, her incredible powers, that Copenhagen has agreed to undertake this risky endeavour to claim what was rightfully theirs... and ours."
"Even if we lose EVERYTHING to our enemies, BUT can claim Queen Elsa to do our bidding, the world will be ours!" Josef explains. "It is most fortunate that this Viktor has many contacts across the Atlantic, because even we could not accomplish what he intended to do in his letters to us. The very fact he personally knows this ex-thief "Flynn" who now is a member of the House of Corona, is good fortune indeed!"l
"Both Kingdoms have remained independent and indifferent to the alliances forming around them. Neither would have merited attention save now. Even Corona, the stronger of the two is merely a pawn as we seek to acquire Arendelle itself. And ONLY because we want her Queen alive." the Crown Prince continues. By now three more of his siblings, all dressed alike in the military uniforms of their homeland stood behind Hans.
"Father is far too old to understand what we are doing, let alone lead us." another brother said.
"Take command of this enterprise and follow it through. If we succeed, than the future awaits us!" a third brother interjects. "If it fails, than father can declare it was unsanctioned, and appeal to Copanhagen that he retains the crown and keep the status quo ante bellum".
"And I will be the one who takes the fall and offer my head to Denmark? Is that not what you mean?" Josef glared at his brothers.
"You are the oldest, and whatever happens, our Kingdom must continue. With or without you. Father may not be around much longer, but give him the dignity of departing our world with his Kingdom intact! Not a smouldering ruin should our escapade fail." Hans responded.
"Ha ha ha! Such noble words from the runt?" still another older brother mocks him. "Tell me Hans, if you knew then what you know now about Queen Elsa, would you have remained content ruling that small Kingdom tucked away and apart from the rest of Europe? Or would you have come out, guns blazing and demanded much more from us or anyone else, ambitious as you are?"
Fuming but not responding to the insult as all his brothers joined in the jocularity, Hans folded his arms and looked away. "What I would or wouldn't have done is moot. I would have been a King, which is much more than any of you would have been save for Josef. And even then he would be king solely because of inheritance!"
"Understand this Hans, should we succeed, I will be the one who commands the power Queen Elsa represents! Whether it be you or anyone of our brothers sitting on the throne of Arendelle, he will do MY bidding since I alone will ultimately be risking my future and life should we fail!" Prince Josef exclaims. "Is that understood!?" he asks the group as a whole.
One by one, each of his brothers nods their heads in acquiescence.
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The noise from the clapping was loud. As were the cheers and congratulations when Elsa announced that she chose John Samuels from America as her consort and future husband and King. Her right hand was raised at shoulder level and rested on John Samuels outstretched left hand. Both of them dressed splendidly standing on the raised platform in front of the thrones brought into the Grand Ballroom.
There was some dissent evident. At least a dozen suitors and their servants, stung by rejection made their way out of the ballroom. Some didn't leave but the looks of displeasure clearly written on their faces. But most were clapping and cheering.
It mattered not to Elsa.
Her people are what mattered, not all her Lords and Nobles gathered in the Grand Ball Room. Not the politicians, the guild-masters, nor the merchants. Not even the distinguished suitors, their entourages and sciophants.
It was for the commoners. The plain, simple, honest and hard-working Arendellian that deserved to be personally informed about their future King. True that it was a false King she would present to them since fate had decreed that only her beloved sister would ever claim her heart. But nevertheless, she would present a man that would suit both her people and herself. It was bittersweet that the man she would present as her betrothed would have indeed made an Excellent Monarch. He was kind, honourable and unexpectedly well-mannered considering he too was of common stock, albeit from a foreign country.
King John Samuels the First, he would be in name and title. But never her husband or mate in her heart.
Flanked by the Royal Guards, John Samuels led Elsa and her small family down the halls towards the main balcony overlooking the courtyard. Walking immediately behind the royal couple, Prince Eugene Fitzherbert escorted Princess Anna and Princess Rapunzel. Both lovely ladies holding onto each of Flynn's arms. Behind them walked Viktor Carlyle.
As they approached the large double doors leading to the balcony, Anna could see a pair of trumpeters raise their instruments to their mouths and announce their presence to the people. Rapunzel took a quick glance at Anna to see how she was holding up. To Anna's credit, she maintained an appearance of grace and beauty. Her head held high and a sincere smile on her face. She did notice that Anna's eyes remained focused solely on her sister before her and that her eyes wore a watery appearance.
Anna knew that to most on-lookers, her misty gaze towards the Queen probably meant that she was truly happy her sister was to be married. It was a perfect and predictable appearance that everyone would have expected from one sibling to another.
However Rapunzel knew deep down that Anna was also wistfully thinking that even though Elsa and her would never be separated in this life, she would never have been able to walk hand in hand with her sister in the manner John Samuels was doing now. She would never be able to publically declare her romantic love and claim Elsa as her bride.
"Just hold on Anna! This is merely a show. Your love for Elsa is just as strong as my love for Flynn. Please God give Anna and Elsa the will to follow this through!" Rapunzel prayed silently. Her long blonde hair flowing behind her and almost reaching her buttocks. "And please God, make my hair stop growing any longer!" she added.
They stopped upon reaching the balcony. Below them, hundreds of her citizens packed the courtyard solid. Beyond the castle walls, Elsa could see thousands of her subjects packing the bridge, the town square and even the docks beyond.
The cheering and shouts slowly subsided as Kai approached the banister and held out a parchment before him. In his loudest voice he proclaimed:
"FRIENDS, ARENDELLIANS, COUNTRYMEN: Lend me your ears! On this day, the twenty-eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord 1840. Elsa, oldest daughter of King Agnarr and Queen Iduna, and Queen of Arendelle, is betrothed to John Samuels Carlyle of the United States of America!"
He continues:
"The Royal family thanks all our distinguished guests, from near and from far, as well as all our friends who made this trip to our Kingdom. But most importantly, thanks go to you, our fine citizens who have graciously hosted this event. The Royal wedding will take place in three days hence.
And now, may I present: Queen Elsa and Lieutennant John Samuels!"
After a second or two, the crowd roared in claps and cheers.
"Yes!" Elsa reflected as she gazed down to all her people assembled to give their Queen the respect and love she thought she didn't deserve. "I do this for you as well as for myself. I know that I can never be the model ruler you wish me to be, but I cannot give up my Anna for anyone. I am the Snow Queen, but I am flawed too. I will give you, my subjects something I myself cannot be..."
Turning to her consort beside her, Elsa forms a small smile and squeezes his hand a little. He would be a good King, despite his short reign. His legacy to Arendelle would be far more valuable and lasting.
Turning a little more, she captures the gaze of her sister. Her smile grows wider as she drinks in the lovely image of the woman who has claimed her heart.
Her people deserved a future that she was obligated to provide. The security that the Monarchy of the Kingdom of Arendelle would continue after her reign was over and she was long gone.
They deserved an heir. And she would provide them with one. All she needed was a little magic...and Anna.
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AUTHOR NOTES:
1) Copenhagen (IPA /ˌkoʊpənˈheɪɡən/, IPA /ˈkuːpənhɑːɡən/;Danish: København[kʰøb̥m̩ˈhɑʊ̯ˀn] is the capital and most populated city of Denmark. It has a municipal population of 591,481 and a larger urban population of 1,280,371 (as of 1 January 2016). The Copenhagen metropolitan area has just over 2 million.
Originally a Viking fishing village founded in the 10th century, Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in the early 15th century. Beginning in the 17th century, under the reign of Christian IV, it developed into an important regional centre, consolidating its position as capital of Denmark–Norway with its institutions, defences and armed forces.
The personal union of the two kingdoms lasted until 1814, when the victorious powers of the Napoleonic wars forced the king of Denmark–Norway to cede Norway to Sweden; Norway however resisted the attempt, but was forced to accept another personal union with Sweden on relatively equal terms after a short war with no winner. The Dano-Norwegian union had a lasting impact on Norway which maintained its cultural ties with Denmark. Throughout its union with Sweden, Norway used the Danish written language which descended from Old East Norse instead of Classical Norwegian or Old West Norse.
2) Status Quo Ante Bellum: The term (often shortened to statu quo ante) is a Latin phrase meaning "the state existing before the war".
The term was originally used in treaties to refer to the withdrawal of enemy troops and the restoration of prewar leadership. When used as such, it means that no side gains or loses territory or economic and political rights. This contrasts with uti possidetis, where each side retains whatever territory and other property it holds at the end of the war
3) "Guten Morgen." means "Good Morning." .
"Ein wunderschöner Tag heute, nicht wahr?" means "A beautiful day, yes?"
"Wohin gehen Sie heute?" means "Where are you headed?"
* from the German(ic) language
4) The Bavarian Alps (German: Bayerische Alpen) are a mountain range in the north-eastern part of the Alps.
5) "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" is the first line of a speech by Mark Antony in the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare. Occurring in Act III, scene II, it is one of the most famous lines in all of Shakespeare's works.
6) King Agnarr and Queen Iduna are minor characters in the 2013 Disney animated feature film, Frozen. They are the parents of Elsa and Anna and were the rulers of Arendelle until their deaths. [source: Disney Wiki]
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Preview of Chapter 24
HOW TO TRAIN A KING, BY SIGRID JORGENSEN
He was not at all what Sigrid thought an American would be! Boorish and crass were the words she heard usually associated to most Americans.
"He is an American but he can speak our tongue, Sigrid. Don't be afraid to ask him in Norwegian if you don't understand what he is saying. We have such a short time to do this. After the wedding, we will be sailing to the United States for our honeymoon. And my 'husband' needs to know certain things to perform the duties required of him before we leave. He will not be coming back. Do you understand?" Elsa's look was so focussed that Sigrid just shook her head in agreement. In truth, she really didn't know what her Queen was talking about. No doubt, only Elsa probably knew what was going on. Still.. she caught the urgency of her Queen.