Chapter Four: Coup d'état
Arendelle Castle
March 30, 1813
Elsa watched from her balcony as the Northern Isles guards stationed on the bridge leading to the castle gates changed shifts with smart efficiency. Her gaze then focused on the Arendellian banners that fluttered along each post that bordered the bridge, all set at half-mast. The grandfather clock behind her chimed to indicate the hour of nine.
Three hours, Elsa sighed. Three hours and then it begins.
At noon, half of the banners on that bridge will be brought up again to their normal height. The other half would be replaced by new banners bearing the sigil of the Northern Isles, indicating the end of the mourning period for King Charles and the union of his nation with Arendelle under their new Queen.
Elsa left the balcony and strode to the life-sized painting of her father at his coronation. She raised her eyes to the portrait, gazing reverently at his kindly face.
"I'm here again Papa. I'm going to be crowned Queen of the Northern Isles at three 'o clock today. But I'm going to do so based on a lie. You told me once that my integrity is the most vital part of me that I must protect and that honesty should always be my guide. But how can I Papa, when lives of innocent men are at stake? Do you look at me now with disappointment? What must I do?"
Silence met her. Ominous silence that did nothing to ease her nerves.
Elsa felt she was in a calm before the storm. No further incidents had sparked between the French and the Arendellians since last week although Marshall Baujeu was still lurking in the background with his soldiers positioned in the village just outside her castle. The French maintained a polite and respectful distance and did nothing to interfere with daily business in Arendelle. Elsa however, feared one wrong move, even a tiny incident between the French soldiers and the Arendellians may spark a conflict similar to what she had prevented during the honor ceremony. Added to Elsa's worry, was guilt on her own role in this conspiracy with the Northern Isles lords to keep her husband powerless and away from the public eye. Kai told her Knudsvig and his supporters were being treated decently in the country manor where they were kept under house arrest. However, she knew Lord Nyberg must have threatened her husband in some way to get him to sign that abdication so quickly. It ate at Elsa everyday what could have made her husband give up his own throne and sign an outright lie that would forever keep him away from his birthright. Elsa imagined it may have something to do with his two young sons. Lord Nyberg told her Knudsvig signed the abdication because he was told it was the only way he could live peacefully. However, what if the Northern Isles lord dangled the lives of Knudsvig's children in front of him as an additional threat?
Knudsvig may have been a bad husband but he is still a father. What father would not give up a kingdom for the sake of his children? And what will happen now to those children? Have I condemned them to live for the rest of their lives with their freedoms restricted? I sacrificed the fate of two innocent little boys for the sake of peace. I prevented a civil war in the Northern Isles. I am paving the way for Arendellian families to be reunited. Certainly the prevention of bloodshed is justified. Certainly that sacrifice is worth the restoration of my soldiers to their families. And yet I still feel I am the villain here. I will forever be the woman that destroyed the lives of two innocent children. If I decide to let them go, will they be a threat to me one day?
There were no answers for her. All she could do was go on.
The clock chimed again indicating a quarter of an hour had passed. Another quarter closer to the culmination of my deception.
"Queen Elsa?" Elsa recognized Gerda on the other side of the door and it broke through her thoughts. She was glad for the distraction. It was time to move forward. There was nothing more to be done. She glanced back one last time to her father's portrait, then squared her shoulders to meet her trusted servant.
"Is everything well?" Elsa asked as Gerda entered. She could not help but fear each time she spoke those words that the answer was a disaster.
Gerda however, merely smiled at her. "As well as we could hope to be, your majesty. Preparations for the announcement are all in place in the courtyard. The chapel is also ready for the coronation later.
Anna and the children will be arriving before noon today. I am sure she is eager to see you crowned."
"Well that makes one of us," she said sullenly.
Gerda was beside her immediately. She reached out a hand to hers. "Elsa," she said gently. "It will be alright. I know you don't like this, but it has to be done."
"I know, Gerda. I just don't know how long I can keep this charade. At some point, people will know I am not really pregnant and then it will all come down into my head."
"Or…" Gerda hesitated. "At some point, you can really be pregnant…"
"Gerda!" Elsa gasped with disbelief.
The older woman merely placed a warm pair of arms on her shoulders. "Look, Elsa, I've known you since you were a girl. I would never want to see you come to harm. I have seen you suffer enough with Knudsvig. Would it really be so bad for you to find happiness with someone who would treat you as you deserve even if it is not in the context of a traditional marriage?"
Elsa couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at the notion. She knew from an early age that she was meant to marry for political purposes just as her parents have done. It was ingrained on her since she was a child and she wasn't one to think of true love in the context of her marriage as Anna had. Yet still, she felt ill of the concept of betraying a sacred duty to her marriage by finding love outside of it.
"Do you really think that someone that can make me happy is Lord Svenson?"
"Lord Svenson is not so bad. He's a handsome gentleman who worships the ground you walk on."
Elsa let out a bitter laugh. As practical as Gerda was, she also had a streak of the romantic in her that Elsa sometimes found rather odd. "Worships the ground I walk on? Oh Gerda certainly not."
"He does if you notice the way he looks at you."
"Or looks at my crown and all the benefits attached to it," Elsa bit back though her tone was in half-jest.
"What man does not have ambition?" Gerda remarked. "The point is, you and he have the same interests and he has fulfilled his part of the bargain so far. You'll be happy to know, five Northern Isles ships have been sighted and are entering the fjord as we speak. The reinforcements he promised are here. The man seems to be hell-bent on protecting you from our French friends."
Elsa could not help but feel at ease with the news of these additional ships. Perhaps they were even sent here by Amelia to honor her in the coronation. She had written to her sister-in-law about what to expect with regards to her situation and she had received no reply. She was worried she had offended her. However, she was certain Amelia would want her country to transition peacefully as the rest of the Northern Isles lords did.
"I admit, he is supportive," Elsa gave in.
"And handsome?" Gerda teased.
"Alright, and handsome. But I'm not going to be making a baby with him just because of that. I want to get to know him better."
"Then you have ample opportunity at the ball tonight when you dance with him."
"I don't dance, Gerda," Elsa deadpanned.
"Keep telling yourself that. I know how good you are at dancing. I saw you grow up."
Elsa laughed and held the older woman in warm hug. "Now, come along, it's time you got dressed for the occasion," Gerda urged.
They walked arm-in-arm towards the door. Gerda was just about to turn the knob to the library door when it burst open. Kai came in gasping. He looked like he had been running. "Your majesty!" he cried.
Elsa was immediately alarmed. "What's happened Kai?"
The portly steward gasped raggedly for a split-second before he spoke. "The safehouse where Prince Knudsvig's friends were kept. It burned down last night."
"Burned?" Elsa gasped. "What do you mean?"
"My men came over this morning to check on them like they usually do," Kai continued. "They only found charred remains. They believe an explosive device was planted under the house, deliberately rigged to explode. What the blast did not kill, the fire that blazed in the aftermath took care of the rest. My people are still identifying the bodies. However, Lord Bentley and Prince Knudsvig's bastards have already been confirmed dead."
Elsa's heart plummeted at this news. Those children! No! What have I done?!
"And Knudsvig?" It was Gerda who spoke. "Is he…?"
"He wasn't in the house last night…"
"Oh thank God!" Gerda exclaimed but Kai shook his head.
"But he's also dead. He was found this morning in an inn near the docks. It appears he died from an absinthe overdose. The managers of the inn claimed they thought he was only drunk since last night."
"No one will believe he wasn't dead by accident!" Elsa gasped. "Not today of all days!"
She grimaced as she ran out into the hall and towards the wing where the Northern Isles' offices were housed. She didn't even wait for the guards to announce her. She forced herself in where she found Lord Svenson and Lord Nyberg speaking to one of their generals. They appeared to be startled at her entrance.
"You told me they were being kept safe! Explain to me now why my husband, his supporters and his children are dead!"
"Your majesty… I swear I don't know…" Lord Svenson stuttered before his voice faltered completely. He was as white as a sheet.
It was Lord Nyberg who faced her. The man pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose nervously and looked like he too was at a loss, but he had more control of his emotions than his nephew. "Your majesty, we've only just heard as well. Rest assured, we are not behind this. I have strict instructions that they are to be kept safe. My own men who I sent to guard them were also killed last night in the blast that took down the house."
If he was lying, Elsa decided, he was a very good actor. What have I allied myself with?
"And Prince Knudsvig?" Kai demanded. "Why is he even out of the safe house? What was he doing in an inn near the docks?"
Lord Nyberg shook his head. "I honestly don't know. But I will get to the bottom—"
Bang!
The sound of the bullet froze everyone in the room.
"What was that?" Gerda asked.
Bang!
Another bullet rang and it was immediately followed by the crash of the glass from the window behind Lord Svenson.
Elsa felt someone push her to the floor just as a series of gunshots erupted around them, sending shards of glass from the windows raining everywhere.
"Someone is shooting at us!" Lord Svenson said in her ear. It was he that pushed her. "We need to get you out of here, your majesty! Follow me and keep your head down."
Elsa didn't need to be told. She crawled on her hands and knees, and followed him as they headed towards the door.
Another round of gunshots blasted the room and she heard Kai scream.
"He's been hit!" Gerda cried.
Elsa moved to turn back for her stewart but Lord Svenson grabbed her arm and forced her to move forward. "Don't turn back. My men will take care of him. It's more important to get you out!"
Elsa felt a sting of annoyance at him but realized she had no choice. She inched her way to the door until she reached it. In the corridor where there were no windows, she was able to stand once more. There she found the Northern Isles soldiers armed and ready.
"What's going on?" Lord Svenson demanded.
"It's the French, Sir," one of the soldiers answered grimly. "They're in the streets now fighting our men. Some of them have already entered the courtyard. They're demanding we release to them the Queen."
Road to Arendelle Castle
March 30, 1813
"Are we there yet Mama?" Little Agdar asked for about the twentieth time today as their carriage rolled onwards along the lonely dirt road. The journey had been less than two hours but the four-year-old was simply too excited he had taken to questioning almost every two minutes about their progress. Anna was nearly at the end of her rope. When had her son stopped being adorable and started becoming a pest?
"No, we're not yet there. I swear if you ask that one more time, I'm going to fling you out the window," his sister Idunn shot back with a scowl as she folded her arms across her chest. She looked like she was going to do it too that Anna had to intervene.
"Idunn, you are not flinging your brother out the carriage and Agdar, please just try to enjoy the scenery. We will get there when we get there."
Agdar didn't even seem to hear her. He merely stuck his tongue out at his sister and Idunn replied with her own wagging tongue. What followed was a tongue-sticking match between the twins that only escalated into them making faces at each other and slapping each other's arms.
"Alright, enough!" Anna almost screamed. "Both of you face opposite ends of the carriage until we see the castle or there will be no chocolate cookies tonight!"
The twins gave her identical scowls but didn't turn away from each other. One just looked up at carriage ceiling, the other at the floor. Both children still had a tongue stuck out, provoking each other from their peripheral vision.
"I said opposite ends," Anna warned.
"We are looking at opposite ends," Agdar retorted without removing his gaze from the floor.
"Aunt Elsa says 'opposite' means not the same. I'm looking up, Agdar's looking down. That's not the same."
Anna mentally slapped herself. When did my children get this cheeky? How in the world Elsa dealt with them, I could never understand.
"I meant opposite ends with both of you facing outside the carriage window," she said sternly. "And no more tongue teasing."
The children smirked but complied. For about ten seconds there was blissful silence.
"Mama?" Agdar asked.
Anna rolled her eyes. Great he's going to ask if we are there yet again!
"Why can't I just sit outside the carriage in front of the horses with Private Thomson? Papa always makes me sit beside him outside."
Anna's heart immediately softened and it struck at her more when Idunn spoke.
"I wish Papa was going with us."
She took the hands of both her children and faced them seriously. "Agdar, Idunn, it's not safe for us to be outside while traveling. And it's not safe for Papa to be with us. Do you remember what I told you about Papa in danger?"
Both the twins nodded seriously. "There are people who want to hurt Papa," said Agdar.
"So we must never tell anyone where he is or that we've seen him," said Idunn.
"It will keep him safe," continued Agdar.
"And it will keep us safe too," finished Idunn.
"Good," nodded Anna. "Now it's very important you remember that okay?"
The twins both nodded solemnly. Anna gathered them into her arms and they clung to her tightly. "One day when we're all safe we'll be together again. All of us with Papa and your Aunt Elsa and Sven and Olaf," she whispered.
Anna wished her own words could comfort her but the truth was she was just so scared of everything that was happening. Two nights ago, Tommy Thomson came by bearing a letter from Elsa. Anna took it out again now from her pocket and read the words:
Dear Anna,
Before anything else I want to assure you, I have everything under control. However, you need to hear it from me first so you do not worry: the French military has officially given a proclamation that Kristoff died honorably in battle. His previous record has not come up. I know you must be alarmed by this, but I assure you it is for the best at the present circumstances. For everyone's safety, we must let the French proclamation on Kristoff stand. A French company is now stationed in Arendelle under the command of Marshall Henri Baujeu. They are here as our guests. Our hospitality to them is vital to the safe return of our men in the front.
Another development dear Anna is perhaps something you must have heard already from Otto. I will take the crown of the Northern Isles in two days and I need you and the children beside me when that happens. Knudsvig's current circumstances, I leave to Private Thomson to relay to you and I will tell you more once I see you in person. For now, all I can say is that my friendship with Lords Nyberg and Svenson assures us with a certain amount of protection should matters against us turn.
I look forward to seeing you again soon. Otto and Private Thomson will conduct you and the children home in a manner that ensures your safety.
Be careful dearest of how you speak and apprise the children of our situation as much as you can.
Your loving sister,
Elsa
No matter how many times Anna read her sister's letter, it does not sound like Elsa was in any way in control of the situation. The way Elsa phrased her words betrayed how cautious she was of the precarious situation their family was in. Tommy confirmed much of her suspicions when he told her exactly what was happening in Arendelle. The young soldier admitted to her and Kristoff the extent of the threat to their family. He told her about the pamphlets, graffiti and horrible gossip that painted her husband and her children as evil among the remote villages. Meanwhile, closer to home, support for Elsa's reign was also under threat with people fearing she wasn't acting enough to keep Arendelle away from becoming a French state.
The latest situation with Elsa now becoming Queen of the Northern Isles worried Anna the most. It was precisely the dangerous scenario Anna had feared would pass since she heard of this plan from Lord Nyberg. Otto told her that Knudsvig and his supporters had been put under house arrest a fortnight ago but he could not tell her anymore details. Anna suspected the Northern Isles lords and Elsa had somehow colluded together to accomplish what Lord Svenson told her they would do. It can only mean Elsa was now pregnant and claiming a regency in her unborn child's name. Otto had advised her that she must trust her sister and Anna was determined to do so once she arrived. However, she couldn't help but feel helpless about the situation.
Oh Elsa! I want to tell you that you shouldn't be doing this but I don't know what else to do. What will I find when I see you? What can I say? What can I do?
She felt a sudden lurch as the horses neighed and the carriage abruptly stopped. Instinctively, Anna held her children close to her.
There was a quick rap on the carriage roof and Tommy's voice called out softly to her from the driver's seat. "Anna, stay in the carriage with the children. Don't come out."
Anna was immediately alarmed. "What it is?"
"It's nothing," Tommy replied but the alarm in his voice told her something was very wrong. She could hear their escorts on horseback move ahead of their carriage and Otto distinctly call out to someone. His words were too soft for her to discern anything.
Anna stealthily stuck her head outside of the carriage. She glimpsed the figure of a lone woman on the road ahead. She was not dressed as a peasant. That much was obvious, for it was tastefully cut similar to the latest Parisian fashions she had seen in Copenhagen during the holidays. However, what was strange was that it was rumpled and covered in soot. Her silken bonnet was tethering to one side of her head, revealing her equally messy hair. She was walking listlessly as if she was about to collapse any minute.
Otto stopped in front of her and got off his horse. He caught the woman in his arms just in time for her knees buckled and she fell forward.
"Tommy, let me out! I think she needs help," Anna called out.
"Anna, please just stay there. Let Captain Otto handle it," Tommy replied.
"Well at least get her some water," Anna said. She fished out the little bottle she had kept on hand for her children and handed it to Tommy. The younger soldier passed it to another one of their escorts who brought it to Otto. The Captain laid the seemingly unconscious woman on the ground under his spread coat. He quickly loosened her bonnet and removed it completely. As he did, Anna immediately recognized her from her dirty blonde curls and her milky pale face.
"Lavinia?" Anna gasped.
Anna had known Lady Lavinia Bentley since she was four years old. At one point, her father had even allowed her in the castle with two other noble young ladies as playmates for Anna. They never really got along well for Lavinia's interests seemed focused only on clothes and jewelry and other petty things. She also tended to think highly of herself and always made Anna feel incompetent of her little talents as a child. Lately, Anna had more reason to not like her as she was currently Knudsvig's mistress and from what she had heard she had been lording it over Elsa at court as she flaunted her position as the royal mistress. Yet seeing her in this state, Anna was immediately concerned.
"Stay here," Anna told her children before she opened the carriage door. Tommy was immediately in front of her blocking her path.
"Anna, go back inside, please."
"I know her, Tommy. It's Lady Bentley. She might need medical attention," Anna explained.
"Captain Otto can handle her," Tommy said.
"Captain Otto is not a trained medic. I am," Anna protested.
Tommy held out a hand to protest, but Anna saw that Lavinia was coming to. She slowly sat up, shaking her head and wincing as if the light hurt her eyes. She stared at Otto who held out the bottle of water to her. Her eyes focused on the royal insignia on his chest for a moment before she pushed him back viciously.
"Get away from me!"
"Lady… we just want to help," Otto began.
"You're not killing me. You killed them all. You are not killing me!"
"No one's going to hurt you," Otto went on.
The woman didn't seem to hear him. She crawled away from the young captain and grabbed a stone on the ground. She stood at a distance, brandishing the stone at him. "Leave me alone!"
Anna had seen enough soldiers who came from traumatized experiences to know Lavinia Bentley was exhibiting the same conditions. The haunted eyes, the anger and the deep-seated fear—they were all signs this woman had been through something horrendous. Anna feared if no one took care of her she might want to hurt herself.
"Tommy, let me try," pleaded Anna. "She might calm down if she sees someone familiar."
"Alright," Tommy said. "But don't get too close."
Anna nodded slowly came forward. "Lavinia?"
Her head shot up at the sound of her name. She stared at Anna before her face turned even more vicious than before. "YOU!" she cried.
"Lavinia, please, let me help you," Anna began.
The other woman's response was to throw the stone at her. Anna didn't even need to veer. The stone missed her by a wide margin. However, Otto, still stood in front of Anna in a protective stance.
"Your highness, stay back. Please go back to the carriage."
Anna remained rooted to where she stood, startled with the ferocity that blazed in Lavinia's eyes.
"Where's your sister? Where's that witch?!"
"Lady, watch your language…" Otto warned but she didn't seem to hear. She went on screaming:
"YOU TELL THAT WITCH SISTER OF YOURS SHE'S A MURDERER! SHE HAS THE BLOOD OF MY SONS IN HER HANDS!"
"Lady, I am warning you…"
"SHE KILLED MY BABIES! Her womb cannot bear anything so SHE KILLED MY BABIES! She killed my father too! SHE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!"
She went on raving incoherently then her legs gave way again. She fell sobbing into the ground.
"What is she talking about?" Anna asked fearfully. She turned to Otto. "You said the Northern Isles Lords kept Knudsvig and his children safe in a country house?"
"They did," replied Otto. "They were being treated well. I have someone checking on them every two days. My man was supposed to report to me this afternoon once I get you and the children back to the castle." He looked to the sobbing woman and then back to Anna, his face etched with deep worry. "I think we should go now. We'll return to the castle and then I'll go there personally to check on Knudsvig."
"We can't just leave her here," Anna said. She turned back to Lavinia but the woman had gotten on her feet again. She ran to the road ahead and disappeared from their line of vision when she went past a cluster of trees.
"I should go after her," Tommy offered but he never got to move. There was the sound of galloping horses on the same road where Lavinia disappeared to and in the next instant, they heard her scream. Anna instinctively tried to run after her but Otto caught her by the arm.
"Tommy, take her back into the carriage. Now!" Otto ordered.
Anna no longer protested and half-ran back into the carriage. Her children clung to her desperately, as they were scared of all the shouting. The carriage began to move again, but only for a few seconds. It stopped once more. The sounds of hoofbeats were now in front of them and she could hear new voices speaking in French.
A few seconds passed and then Tommy's voice called out: "Anna, it's a group of French soldiers. They wish to speak to you."
Tommy moved aside and a tall middle-aged French officer came over to the side of her carriage on horseback. He immediately got off his horse, took off his plumed bicorn and bowed politely to her.
"Princess Anna. I am Marshall Henri Baujeu, commander of the sixteenth regiment of his majesty, Emperor Bonaparte's army. You need not fear me. I am here to escort you and your children to safety."
"Escort us?" Anna gasped. "But we are on our way home. Our guards will take care…"
"I am afraid your guards are not enough to protect you at the moment," he interrupted.
Anna's heart pounded in her chest. "What do you mean?"
"A coup d'état has occurred in the Arendellian capitol, Madame. It is fortunate that I have met you and your children before you have entered it."
"A coup…" Anna repeated but could not quite pronounce it the way he did. The meaning of the French word escaped her for a moment. Then she remembered vaguely a translation of it from her French language class that she had mostly forgotten.
Coup d'état. Stroke of the state. A sudden violent overthrow of the reigning government.
Elsa's government!
"My sister…?" Anna gasped.
The man shook his head and stared at her gravely. "I am sorry to tell you this Madame, but I am afraid Queen Elsa is in the middle of it."
Author's Note: A historical background on the word "coup d'état:" This term only became in use shortly just before the Napoleonic era to describe the quick sudden seizure of power by one group against the existing political leader of a state. Napoleon in fact, staged his own coup to gain power in France.
I want to thank everyone who has stuck to reading and reviewing this piece. It's a bit of a challenge to write it as the plot just gets messier for our characters and I have to think of ways how to get them out. By next chapter, Elsa's situation will take on an even bloodier turn and she will be forced to continue a game of deception with an ally for survival.