The next day, before noon, in one of the chambers a sudden squeak was heard, struggling, hands were spinning uncontrollably until the eyes of the sleeping queen suddenly opened looking at the face of her older sister, holding her right and left hands.
- no, no!, what!, what happened, Elsa?, Elsa!. Anna screamed, getting up from the bed, hugging her sister in a strong and tender embrace.
- Don't be afraid, I'm here with you. Elsa said, clenching her hands on the black and green cloth that Anna hasn't even worked since the day before, then looked deep into her sister's blue eyes, seeing both fear and hope in them.
- Elsa, me, like you, when. Anna asked seeing her sister in a white-blue dress, her spread white hair and blue eyes full of strength and hope.
- Destin came to pick me up, I returned to Arendelle before midnight, but you were already asleep, Kristoff said you shouldn't wake up, so I waited here in your room, and I must say your sofa is not very comfortable. Said Elsa smiling at her sister who laughed and again hugged her older sister tenderly.
- It's good that you are, me. said Anna and suddenly became sad because the knowledge of what was coming was nothing joyful for her. Anna got up from the big bed and looked around the room, cupboards, table, sofa and window with open curtains.
Anna, not knowing where to start, went to the window overlooking the whole of Arendelle, the castle and the city, now marching soldiers in great numbers and fear in the hearts and eyes of all, what was threatened today in the face of imminent war, for a few moments Anna did not know what and how to say, her voice practically stuck in her mouth and seeing this, seeing this tension, her sister's trembling brown hair, trembling hands, she came over to her and offered her hand.
- I know everything, war, the Kingdom of the Southern Isles has declared war on us and justifies it with some false accusations. Said Elsa looking with her sister at the castle and the city located nearby by the flowing river.
- yes, I feel that I have failed everyone, everyone, myself, you, you certainly wouldn't allow something as terrible and stupid as war, I don't have your responsibility in me, I don't. Anna said angry with herself and her sister suddenly turned her sister around looking into her trembling blue eyes.
- if they prepared it, if they hide behind accusations, I doubt that I can do anything about it, but don't forget, you've done everything and today you must be strong for everyone, for me, because I'm also afraid of what's coming, our grandfather has already made a mistake, now history repeats itself but not in our performance, we didn't strike first, remember. Said Elsa trying to give strength and courage to her younger sister.
At first Anna gained courage, her eyes began to sparkle slightly, but not for long, seeing the marching soldiers, knowing how much they and their loved ones, their families could lose, she felt a deep regret, but there was something else in all this that showed up on castle square, it was Kristoff marching with soldiers and General Destin, her beloved had made a decision the day before that she didn't want to accept and there was only one way out, arrest.
- Anna, what happened. Tell me, I see you are very worried about something, I know many may lose so much in the war. Elsa said.
- Me too, I too can lose someone close to me. Anna said as she walked away from the window and sat on the bed, covering her face to cry over the impending tragedy.
- Anna, what happened, what do you mean. Elsa asked as she sat next to her sister on a huge bed overlooking the uncomfortable couch.
- and the fact that my Kristoff has decided to join the army and is leaving today to fight a battle at sea tomorrow in two days at the latest, this one battle in which everything can be decided, I don't want him to go, but what can I do but arrest him but he won't forgive me like I would if he didn't come back. Anna said staring blankly at the floor and the green carpet.
Elsa also looked at the carpet because it was unexpected, now I understood it perfectly, she understood what suffering can happen to everyone, including her closest person, her sister, and the war took so much away, and therefore she did not understand what made Kingdom of the Southern Isles decided to enter the path of open conflict, first destroying two merchant ships from Arendelle and then accusing of burning down the settlement on the south-eastern island of palm trees, there was some incomprehensible logic in all this, but the most incomprehensible was the decision Kristoff made, on the one hand he wanted to fight for his home, family, beloved on the other hand, if he didn't come back he would have caused even more suffering than anything so far, yet Elsa herself looked at her hands feeling in her heart that she also did not have enough strength to stop the coming war, come on Elsa wielded undoubtedly great power, she was not able to fight the entire army.
- I, Anna, when I look at it like this, I see that today you have more strength, you, not me, because I probably wouldn't be able to handle it. Elsa said looking at her younger sister.
- but you'd do anything to stop the war, I'm sure. Anna said clasping her hands on the black and green dress.
- if the enemy wants war, even I wouldn't be able to stop them, not them. said Elsa placing her left hand on her sister's clenched hands and Anna suddenly lifted her head and looked hopefully at her older sister.
- I know what you can do, maybe you will convince my beloved not to go to war, maybe Kristoff will listen to you because I don't want me. Anna said then quickly got up and pulled her sister to the door.
- but Anna, I don't know if I do. Elsa tried to say something but her sister didn't listen, instead she dragged her older sister with her all the way to the Throne Room where they now stood dressed in green uniforms with insignia and the Arendelle symbol on the chest, Destin Mattias and Kristof, they are seeing the present and abdicated queen they bowed, the black Destin immediately gave information about the strength of the troops and twenty battle-ready ships armed with ballistae and smaller launchers.
- the ships are now ready, just waiting for my order, our scout also informed us that the enemy fleet is coming from the south, it has the same number as our ships, but despite their larger size, our strength is speed and maneuverability, this is our strength, I have also prepared many archers and crossbowmen, I do not know how it will end but we will not fail. Destin Mattias said, his brown eyes showing both deep focus and determination for the upcoming battle.
- I'm also sailing with soldiers, I owe it to Arendelle, to all of you and to you. Kristoff said and Anna, hearing his words, immediately warmed his hands, pressed him to her and again asked him to stay at home.
- please is there no other way, you don't have to do this, it's not your fight, please, Kristoff, don't do this to me. Anna said, looking into her lover's brown eyes, but Kristoff looked to his right, stepped back, adjusted his golden hair, and spoke again confidently and ready to fight.
- everyone risks the same, everyone, without exception, I want to help you because as I said, I owe it to you, to myself, to everyone, but above all to you. Kristoff said and Anna looked pleadingly at her sister but Elsa looked at the ground because she knew that she wouldn't be able to convince anyone with her authority.
- I, that, Kristoff really has no other choice, you have to, I know, I understand but if you don't come back you know what you'll do. Said Elsa trying despite knowing it won't change anything.
- I know, I know what I can do, but if I don't go there and personally make sure that the enemies fail and so the enemy will come, I don't want to watch the enemies destroy everything I love, I don't want to. Kristoff said and his decision was in fact irrevocable, both Anna and Elsa understood it perfectly, looking into each other's eyes, but nevertheless Anna did not want to give up, everything was suddenly interrupted by Olaf running into the room, correcting his carrot in his nose and waving his hands.
- I think we have a madman here, the soldiers and Sven saw a man sitting on top of the tower above the castle, he seems to want to jump. Olaf said, shaking his wooden hands.
- what!, who!, one of the soldiers, residents, who. Destin Mattias asked as his face showed serious tension.
- probably none of us, a man in unusual clothes, red shirt, brown pants and black hair, from what I saw. Olaf said and his words immediately set off a great alarm in Elsa's head and heart.
- It's Anders, quick!. Elsa screamed and ran to the exit.
- what Anders again, sister, wait for us!. Anna screamed, after a while Anna, leading everyone, Kristoff, Destin and Olaf, ran out into the middle of the central castle square with a fountain where stood the bronze reindeer Sven Elsa and many soldiers staring up at the highest tower where a certain man from far away was sitting.
It was Anders Malinowski who, sitting on the top and edge of the largest of the towers, stared down at everything with a big inscrutable smile, a mysterious man in a red shirt and brown trousers calmly stared down until finally his green eyes stopped on two princesses, two soldiers, snowman and reindeer.
- it's him, Anders Malinowski. Elsa said, her voice trembling slightly which her sister quickly picked up.
- Anders Malinowski?, who is he, where did you meet him, sister, tell me, and what is he planning. Anna asked, lifting her head up high.
- something very crazy, I guess, what he wants to do and who he is. Destin Mattias asked, then addressed the last words to the man sitting at the top of the tower.
- hey you there, I don't know what you want to do but you don't have to. Destin said before a strong voice interrupted him.
- you see, it's always the same, war seeks war, just like me, my friend was right, everything ends with a lie and starts with fear, and whether you defend yourself, fight in open conflict, fear consumes you, here it takes true madness, to hit yourself, to counter your own counters, to break chaos and harmonies, and that's what I am, and my friend was the truth, full of pure innocent dreams. Anders Malinowski said, and suddenly without warning he jumped down from the tower.
- I can not look at this!. Olaf shouted, hiding behind the brown reindeer.
However, the newcomer's act was not without reaction, Elsa, knowing that only she could save the crazy man, immediately used her powers, two streams of ice shot out of the hand of the princess, leading the ice ray from right to left, an ice slide was created in front of the soldiers' eyes. Anders fell into the ice slide and, sliding down it all the way to the bottom, circled and stopped in front of the fountain, but when Anders stopped safely his eyes did not show joy or gratitude, on the contrary his gaze was full of suspicion.
- tell me the truth, what is your goal, evil goal, you want to prove something to someone, go ahead, because probably not for money or power, I'm nobody, say it. said Anders, stopping the princess in place and Elsa, making big eyes, understood what the newcomer meant.
- do you always have to see only evil, or do you always have to measure everyone by the yardstick of bad people you meet in your country. Elsa said and her angry tone was quickly noticed by everyone.
- wait, sister, you know him, and that's good, who is he?. Anna asked.
- I met him in the Enchanted Forest, already then he was telling both fear and lies, they say that everything is saturated with it, and now you think that I did it for a purpose, you really do. I am not ruled by fear, if it were I would not have my powers to control, once I was afraid but everything changed my love for my sister. Elsa said and Anders found another way to attack.
- love and everything you feel is born of lies and fear, but a man deliberately gives himself up to have an excuse, when these two forces push a man to ten steps, a man takes a hundred of them, that's how it was in my world, that's how it is here, only madness, dreams, truth, only this can give freedom. Anders said, and his words about the other world caught the attention of the three people, Elsa, Destin and Kristoff looked at each other then their eyes fell on a stranger in a red shirt, brown pants, unusual dress and accent, but not Anna, she joined to his own offensive.
- what you say is not true, I did something extraordinary, I was ready to give my life for my sister, and I did it when my heart froze, and I turned into a block of ice, I did it for her, for Arendelle. Anna said and her words made Anders take two steps back only to suddenly take six rapid steps forward, almost nose to nose with the self-confident princess.
- Anna, be careful, he can be dangerous. Kristoff said as he drew his sword and Sven roared next to him and jumped up to the princess and the man in the distance.
- you know what love is, then when someone is afraid for the other person more than for himself, that's what I did for my sister when a liar wanted to kill her with his sword, I covered her with my own body when I turned into ice. Anna added, and Anders, standing in front of her, listened to her every word with great attention.
- You must have known how it would end because you're still alive here, right. There must be some underlying truth, a hidden lie, there must be. Aders said looking at Anna and Elsa this time.
- I was never sure about anything, I couldn't know how it would end, and besides, my parents did the same for us, for my sister. Anna said, her voice getting more and more combative.
- what!, it's not impossible, family looks good only in photos, tell me, someone must have been favored here, had to, you? or her?. Anders asked.
- what's going on here, maybe we can stop this. Said Olaf standing next to the general and staring with bated breath at the word duel.
- I'd love to stop it, it's not the time. Destin Mattias said but instinctively sheathed his sword because he did not see any dangerous weapon in the newcomer, his chubby soldiers were close and could always react.
- our parents never favored us, my mum and dad always loved us the same, and through my big sister's power they sailed on a dangerous mission north to find answers, my parents loved us the same. said Anna and Anders looked uncertainly at the princess with white hair.
- you tell the truth, I can see it, but no, it's impossible, and if, maybe it was meant to be, maybe in this world I found someone who is not a slave, but no, it's impossible, and you know why, because you are naive, you believe in something that is not there, maybe what you say is true but not what surrounds you, the war is coming and I will be happy to watch the development of events, it's another process, in nature, which is also afraid, it's the same, nothing can be changed unless that you wield great power, but that doesn't matter anymore. Anders said, stepping back from the warrior princess who suddenly became sad as she mentioned the coming war.
- Wait!. Elsa screamed as she ran past her sister and grabbed the stranger's right hand, Anders looked back, his green eyes showing no more suspicion.
- what is it, come on. Anders asked and Elsa, suddenly parched, took a step back, giving the general a speech.
- tell us what was supposed to mean that your world is so bad, where did you come from. Destin asked this time feeling great uncertainty.
Anders silently looked at everyone, first at the brown reindeer and Sven until he stepped back behind Kristoff and a note of apprehension and fear descended all over the square except for a few people including a white-haired princess standing still, Anders smiled at everyone and looked into the almost clean sky.
- when it was night, I saw the moon, it is similar but different, it lacks a few craters, and the sky, stars, constellations are completely different, I have never seen them this way, but tell me why it is that many people when they look into the stars, why do you always have to calculate them, know them, discover them. Instead of looking into them, because that's where the most beautiful of dreams are born, Carlos was right, never stop dreaming, you must not forget that once you were a child, you must not. Anders said with a big smile.
- wait, those are beautiful words, but does it mean where you came from or from somewhere else. Kristoff asked himself, not knowing what to do, whether to draw his sword and fight or do nothing and wait, but to everyone's surprise Anders didn't answer, instead he shook his head and started walking towards the gate and the bridge connecting the castle with the city.
- no Please wait. Said Elsa again stopping the man in red grabbing him by the left hand, and Anders rested behind him in the blue eyes of the princess.
- I heard that you gave up power, right, tell me why. Anders asked.
- because that's what I wanted, when our peoples, Arendelle, fought an unnecessary war with the northerners of the Enchanted Forest, when our grandfather, overcome with fear, attacked, and our northerner mother saved my father, when I found out about it, I understood that my home is there, in the enchanted forest, among their own. Elsa said bowing her head and Anders listening to her again looked at her with wide eyes.
- that how!, so it's true, your grandfather, yes, seized with fear, ha, you only need an impulse, but you, why you, no, it's impossible. Anders said when his eyes met the blue eyes of the princess in her trembling voice, Anders tried to pull his left hand out of the strong grip but without a brutal exit he was unable and he didn't want to do it.
- You said you never found a home and now you're looking for it here. Elsa said.
- well, I'm looking for a real home, everyone, even a madman like me. Anders said, feeling the grip on his hand loosen slightly.
- stay here with, with us, stay, I'm not forcing you, but maybe with time. Elsa said before everyone was shaken by a sudden thunderclap.
A powerful thunderbolt struck not far outside the castle, chipping away some of the rocks, and everyone was momentarily blinded by a flash and bang, everyone grabbed their head, ears and eyes, and when everything fell silent the mysterious newcomer in red was nowhere to be found, Elsa immediately ran out onto the long bridge, looking around to the bridge, to the water, everything, but to her surprise she couldn't find the mysterious newcomer, Anders had disappeared and left no trace.
- Hey sister, what's going on here. Anna shouted running up, leading everyone behind her, including soldiers with weapons in their hands.
- hey sister, who, what, what's going on here, I haven't seen you like this yet, who is this man except that he's a complete madman who doesn't believe in anything good. Anna said looking at the water with her sister.
- maybe someone can explain to me how lightning from a clear sky could strike, after all, for lightning to form, clouds are needed, and here the sky is clear. Said Destin Mattias looking up at the sky and leading the troops.
- I don't know what's going on here, first the strange thunderbolts on the edge of the Enchanted Forest, now the same here, maybe it's the sixth element, I don't know myself, but why Anders, why he is like this, why he didn't want to stay here with us, he he is so wrong. Elsa said looking up at the sky for any chance of an answer.
- I don't know what to think about it, but this, this man is strange, not more like this thunderbolt, it's too strange, but it doesn't change one thing, my decision, forgive me Anna, but I have to do it. Kristoff said, treating the case of the mysterious newcomer in the background and Anna standing next to the edge of the bridge quickly looked back at her beloved in a green military uniform.
- you really can't, you can't, why?. Anna asked.
- You know why, I have to do it, I have to. Kristoff said, and hearing this, Sven grunted miserably and hugged his closest friend because he didn't want that either, didn't want his friend to leave him forever.
- does everything have to be so sad. Olaf asked looking at the two friends.
- unfortunately yes, but, there is something else here, I don't know what to think about these lightning bolts, but when they strike on a day where there are no clouds, it's not normal, I need to know if there is another ghost, if so, I don't know, but I have to go back north tonight, Anders, why. Elsa said the last words only to herself but loud enough for her younger sister to hear.
- hey sister, is there something here that I don't know and I should know, you know I haven't seen you want to keep someone so much, you were saving him. Anna said.
- I would do it every time, whether it was him or someone else, well, maybe if it was Hans. Said Elsa trying to turn the whole thing into a joke.
- well, I don't know, but if it had been Hans, I certainly would have stopped you, but it was unknown why. Anna said looking warily into her elder sister's eyes and Elsa shook her head avoiding her younger sister's vigilant blue eyes and then, escaping the subject, she looked at the city and the ships.
- war, I didn't think I'd see its horror again. Elsa said to herself.
- yes, war is terrible, war is called beautiful by those who have never seen it. Said Anna, standing with Olaf, Sven, Kristoff and Destin, looking at the gathering twin-sail ships, smaller but more manoeuvrable.
- anyway, sister, today you must be strong, and I must find answers about what we all saw, this lightning bolt from the clear sky, it's not natural. Elsa said clasping her hands tightly on the stone wall.
- sister, what do you think, you think that the element has come, it was awakened by the war like the others in the Enchanted Forest. Anna asked and the vision of something like this, something worse, looked into her eyes, because probably no one has yet faced the element of thunder which, when intense enough, can even create ball lightning, i.e. heated plasma that can melt even lava and rocks.
- I don't know myself, but I need to know, if the war is gathering the anger of an unknown element, we must do something, if necessary, I will personally stop the war and the entire army, my powers, I know against the army, maybe they will not be enough, but I will do everything. Said Elsa, agreeing to the fate that I will do today, she appointed.
So it began, in the afternoon a fleet of twenty ships set off, and Kristoff was on board one of them, waving to Anna who was afraid that today was the last time she would see him, as well as Sven moaning and trembling from a similar vision and pain Olaf, and Elsa as she said before sunset, she left Arendelle, returning to her home, riding a brown horse to find an answer to a bothering question, also having a man from afar in her mind.
Meanwhile, a shadow appeared behind one of the trees, a man with a raven on his right hand.
- excellent, it has begun, now just cast the net, Horgan and Ressa must know about it. Said a dark raspy voice.
A black raven soared to the sky, flying towards the north-east where the great steppes stretched and behind them the lands of wild tribes, lands so far mysterious and infamous, but the raven flew further north-east to a place shrouded in myth and legend and its shadow and the croaking heralded more than the evils of war, but the shadow pierced another thunder now hurtling south in another broad arc that could mean much more.
L
Nothing can change war, it is always initiated by lust for power, greed, gaining the greatest possible position, always from evil, never from good, but most of all it is born of intrigue, lies, fear, because Fear and Lies have always been the worst evil, no strange that Anders Malinowski sees only evil in everything that is human, does a man really have no chance, too easily people take away their dreams, childhood, dreams are too rare, the truth is never told, and sometimes there is no real madness to forgive, give a second chance to dream, and rightly with real strength to fight for everything with real evil and have no mercy for the real evil that is Fear and Lie.