Chapter Twenty-Four: The Pamphlet

Arendelle Castle

May 13, 1813

"Hold your aim steady. Trust yourselves. You cannot afford to doubt at the moment you pull the trigger. In battle, you must keep a calm mind even amid the chaos around you. Remember, you are protecting your lives and those of your brothers-in-arms. To hesitate sometimes means death. Now do it again. Ready? Fire!"

Shots rang in unison followed by the breaking of glass. When the smoke cleared Elsa could see a few bottles set up as targets in the distance had been struck clean and had fallen in pieces harmlessly on the ground.

"Good," Hans praised. "Now reset and do it again!"

The satisfied smiles on the faces of the young men warmed Elsa. She can see young Arvid looked like he wanted to jump and cheer at being able to hit his target but was restraining himself to act like an officer. Elsa wanted to cheer herself. In less than a week, these boys had progressed significantly in terms of demeanor and were showing marked improvement. She had been watching Hans' training program closely since he started. She had her doubts about his intentions in light of the circumstances his first five recruits had come on board. Thus, she came every other day in secret at dawn to watch how he was treating his trainees.

The exercises appeared brutal at first. Hans had all his trainees up before daylight each day, running laps all over Arendelle village and sometimes up the mountains. Then he had them take lectures from mid-morning until noon. Another round of practical exercises commenced after lunch until five. They had a two-hour break and then homework before bed. Hans had barracks built in an area at the edge of the village where all the recruits were made to stay away from their families for the entire training program. At the moment those barracks were just tents as construction of the building to house military facilities was still ongoing. They were hardly comfortable and Elsa was certain those boys would feel the chill each night without the warmth of their families. Elsa would have protested but she saw that Hans himself had slept in the past week in those tents along with General Mattias and the other members of his training team made up of both Swedish and Arendellian officers.

In the first few days, some of the villagers watched in slight horror and there were whispers among the townsfolk of how their children were being punished in such a harsh manner. But as the days grew by and the boys grew in stamina and skill, and the Swedish army members became friendly with the locals, the negative impressions began to die down. More and more young men and at least six girls had been persuaded to sign up to be trained. They now had thirty-five recruits and fifty-eight more from the existing Arendellian military and home guards. Hans trained the more advanced recruits but she noticed he gave special attention to the five initial boys who had wronged him. Elsa could see now from the boys' expressions that Hans had somehow earned their trust if not their admiration.

Which is his plan all along, thought Elsa. That was rather sneaky but clever of him. He used the opportunity to turn a threat to his advantage. If he keeps this up, everyone in Arendelle would soon be on his side, that when the Sixth Coalition calls for military aid these boys and more like them will be volunteering freely to join him.

It was a dangerous prospect if he was aiming to subdue her kingdom in the long term. It was why she had to set things rolling on her end soon. Marrying him would align his interests with hers in a more permanent manner and keep him in check. Elsa knew she was just procrastinating. Each day, she told herself she would propose to him to get it over with, but somehow she always found an excuse to delay it just one more day. Today as she watched him put her citizens through their shooting skills and saw how harmoniously he was getting on with her people, she told herself she can just go on like this a little longer. She knew deep down the real reason for her delay: She was afraid to break his heart.

His actions may put him in an advantageous position in the long run towards solidifying his support among her people, but the way he did it afforded Arendelle benefits they would not have otherwise gained had he been less generous. Prince Holford certainly wasn't making as much effort as he did to improve her people's capabilities. The older Southern Isles prince had been making rounds among her courtiers and was fast becoming friends with her council members. Holford, she recognized, was using the traditional strategies of a courtier to gain royal influence. Though such a move made the upper-class families of her kingdom more accepting of the Sixth Coalition alliance, she knew very well, such friendships afforded little effect on the lives or good opinion of the majority of her citizens. Hans, by comparison, was connecting with her people by involving them in a project they could all be a part of. It was just the kind of project that Anna would have done. Elsa could see that Anna had that influence on him. It solidified her realization that he was truly doing all of this for her sister and that he was holding out on the hope that Anna could find some affection for him. To ask him to marry her for Anna's sake was cruel and Elsa just didn't want to do it.

And then there was the awkward situation of announcing that marriage to her people. Although Hans seemed to be getting some headway in gaining trust among her local villagers, she could just imagine the scandal such news would bring across her nation if she announced too soon she was marrying the man who was once her sister's ex and one who attempted to kill her in the past. It was just the kind of ammunition the Purification League can use to brand her as a weak ruler.

The clock from the church in her castle rang to indicate the hour of six. It was time for her to head back to the castle for breakfast and to start her daily work. She didn't look forward to it for her council meeting at nine was scheduled to discuss what to do with Marshall Baujeu and his men, and to prepare for the inevitable declaration of war from France once news reaches them of Anna's insurrection.

As she walked in the village streets, she could see the early townsfolk about their usual morning activities. However, as she passed, she felt a sudden hush among them. She greeted people she passed by "Good morning" and they all muttered polite but rather hurried greetings. Something about their manner felt uneasy.

Three young girls armed with buckets and soiled fabrics crossed her path. They were giggling together but stopped when they saw her.

The youngest girl, who appeared to be around ten or eleven years old stared at her and the path where she came from before asking: "Have you been to see General Jorgenbjorgen this morning, your majesty?"

Her two other companions immediately elbowed the girl that spoke, which Elsa found rather odd.

"Well, no," she replied. "I was just checking on the recruits."

The girl that spoke up elbowed her companions back and boldly went on: "Your majesty, I just want you to know I think he's a fine choice."

Elsa was confused. "Err… fine choice?"

"Shut up, shut up…" she heard the two older companions of the girl whisper urgently to her.

The girl elbowed her companions again. "General Jorgenbjorgen, your majesty. I mean, we support you. With him, you know."

Elsa still didn't understand completely what they were talking about but she figured it might be about the training program. "You mean the military program? Well, of course, I can see he is doing a good job so far and I do support that because our people need to be ready for whatever will come in these times. I am glad you feel the same way. If any of your friends fifteen years old and older would like to be part of that program, I do encourage them to join. Men and women are both welcome to it."

The girl's smile faded and Elsa sensed they were not talking about the same thing. Nevertheless, the girl seemed to pick up on her meaning.

"Of course, your majesty. We… appreciate the uh hmmm… program…"

"What she means, your majesty," the oldest of the three girls interrupted. "Is that we appreciate everything you are doing. And now we don't want to keep you. W-we'll be on our way now. I'm sure you're busy and we don't want to keep you. Thank you for your time, your majesty."

The older girl almost pushed her two other companions away before Elsa could say anything more.

Elsa was confused but thought nothing of it. She walked back to her castle, where Kai greeted her at the door.

"Your majesty, I'm glad you're here. You need to see something."

The urgency of Kai's words gripped Elsa with a new fear. Nevertheless, she silently followed her minister. He didn't however use the main hallways. Instead, they used the back entrance from the kitchen through the servant's passages that led to her office through the hidden door. She dared not speak, as she figured this was something that needed to be discussed in private. Once ensconced in the safety of her office, Kai turned to her.

"It's better if you just read it. It's been circulating all over the village this morning," Kai said as he pointed to the paper on top of her desk.

She expected another gruesome pamphlet. She wondered if the Purification League had struck again. However, the image on the page in front of her was altogether something she did not expect. Her eyes bulged at the screaming headline:

ENEMIES TO ALLIES! QUEEN ELSA AND FORMER SOUTHERN ISLES PRINCE UNITE TO OUST THE FRENCH

The image was a caricature, quite well done in fact, of herself attired in her ice-made gown complete with a majestic flowing cape. She had one arm outstretched, and blasts of ice appeared to be coming from her ungloved hand and were aimed at a cowering man with his feathered cap askew. The rather stout man in a French officer's uniform was labeled "Baujeu." She stood back to back with an image of Hans attired in his green coat—the same outfit he wore when he had been in Arendelle the first time. He faced the opposite direction, with his sword in his left hand and he appeared poised to strike another cowering man in a French uniform. The man was labeled "Foix-Lescun." However, what captivated Elsa was that the image showed her and Hans' hands clasped together, and their expressions both showed similar triumphant smiles while glimpsing at each other even while they appeared to be battling with forces on their peripheries.

The image alone was enough to convey to anyone seeing it that they were more than allies. There was a clear hint of a romance between her and Hans being shown.

She poured over the accompanying text that detailed how Queen Elsa had been secretly corresponding with General Jorgenbjorgen long before she had left Arendelle as part of a plan to liberate her people. Together, they planned to rendezvous at sea and subdue Foix-Lescun's forces. The narrative detailed how Foix-Lescun attempted untoward advances towards the Queen which she rebuffed until General Jorgenbjorgen arrived at the scene and put an end to his treachery and united with his "new friend."

From there the article just went on to tell more exaggerations and lies on how Queen and General further battled French forces to rescue eighteen Arendellian soldier hostages from a dark gloomy fortress on a stormy night. They then attacked Arendelle's castle together to liberate Princess Anna and imprison the "Evil Subjugator Marshall Henri Baujeu."

Elsa stopped reading at this point to fume. It was Anna who liberated Arendelle from the French, not her and Hans. Yet, her sister wasn't even mentioned here.

"Is General Jorgenbjorgen responsible for this garbage?" Elsa demanded. It was a most logical assumption for the newspaper certainly painted Hans in the best possible light as a hero. Of course, she was also being given the same flattery, but that would only cement Hans' image as being on more than amicable terms with her. She remembered how the three girls she met this morning had referred to him and she realized this paper had already begun influencing their good opinion of him.

"I'm almost certain he is not," Kai replied. "Read on your majesty. It will become clear who is responsible."

Elsa continued with the text and caught the words:

The Duke of Weselton, an eyewitness throughout these very exciting events as they unfolded, attested to the growing friendship between the lovely Queen Elsa and the dashing General Jorgenbjorgen and assures that the former prince has been nothing but a perfect gentleman towards her majesty.

"He was very supportive. He even held his hand out to her the whole time they were climbing that fortress to rescue her people from that French prison," the Duke of Weselton had been heard to have said.

"Lord Ragnar wasn't even there when we rescued the soldiers!" Elsa exclaimed. "I never held Hans' hand! I created an ice platform—"

She stopped as she realized she was ranting to Kai.

"Well I suppose we know Lord Ragnar is behind this," Elsa said. "Why would he do this?"

"You can ask him yourself, Your Majesty. He has requested an audience and is waiting outside. I felt it prudent to show this to you first to prepare you."

Elsa heaved a sigh. "Thank you, Kai. And please let his lordship in. I would be very interested to know why he would be in the business of making false stories."

Kai bowed out of her office and was back in the minute to announce the Duke of Weselton. The elderly little man approached looking quite pleased.

"I see you've found my handiwork. My man Friedrik has such a way with words and his hand for artwork is quite superb," he greeted cheerfully. "I trust it pleased you?"

"Lord Ragnar," she warned as she brandished the copy. "I fail to see why you would think this would please me. It's all falsehoods. None of these details written in these pages are true."

"Of course, there's some truth to it. You do have an alliance with Jorgenbjorgen. He did rescue you from the French and you did recover your people together from that prison," the little man replied without even sounding disturbed. "I merely spiced it up a little."

"A little?" Elsa couldn't help but blurt out.

"Alright, a lot. But isn't this all for the best? I can have these distributed all over the country within the next few days. I can have it sent even across this region. This way, people are already conditioned to accept Jorgenbjorgen and you'll have fewer people objecting once you announce your marriage."

Elsa merely stared at him in shock as she realized this was the Duke of Weselton's way of pushing her to marry Hans. She had never met anyone so interfering in her life.

"You are going to marry him, are you?" Lord Ragnar said as he narrowed his beady eyes on her.

Elsa hesitated to answer and Lord Ragnar rolled his eyes at her. "Please don't tell me you are still planning to marry your sister off to him?"

"I'm not. I… I thought I would give it some time…" Elsa replied uncertainly.

The Duke sighed at her. "You don't have that time, your majesty. Eight weeks from now, Jorgenbjorgen and I leave to liberate my country as he promised. If it hasn't yet occurred to you, his brother Prince Holford has been circling your sister like a vulture. At any time, the Sixth Coalition can recall Jorgenbjorgen to the front. If he leaves, you can be assured Prince Holford will pressure you to let him marry Anna so you can continue to have military support against French retaliation. If you marry Jorgenbjorgen, you have the backing of the Swedish army, your sister will no longer be a prospective bride to some ambitious suitor and you can have the bonus of his child in your belly in case he dies in battle."

"I am well aware of the… benefits of such a union."

"And yet you hesitate."

Elsa knew she can only tell him the truth. "He loves Anna. I can't just tell him to take me as his wife when he's in love with my sister."

Lord Ragnar shook his head. "You disappoint me, your majesty. We have spoken about this before. Love is irrelevant in marriage. And he would know that more than anyone. Given an opportunity to advance himself he will take it. You are more of an advantageous match than Anna ever will be. Just ask him."

Elsa knew he was right. It was time to stop the excuses. "Alright, I will."

"Good to know it's settled. Ask him today. I will go and have my men send word to him to see you if I cannot find him myself."

"Thank you," Elsa nodded. "I appreciate the support."

"I am always at your service your majesty," Lord Ragnar said as he got up from his chair and gave her a bow. "And about the newspaper story?"

As much as Elsa wanted to condemn that article, she also knew it would help boost Hans' standing in the court of public opinion in the quickest possible way while combating her reputation as a fallen woman after the scandal of her so-called "abduction by pirates" must have made headlines before. If the Purification League was still at large in some of the remote villages in Arendelle, they were probably using that information already. Perhaps it was time for her to do her counterattack via pamphlet. But there was one more matter that she needed to address.

"You can release it nationwide and as far as you can," she told Lord Ragnar. "But only if you add another article to it."

Lord Ragnar raised an eyebrow. "And what article would that be about?"

"That General Jorgenbjorgen never executed my brother-in-law Kristoff Bjorgman when he was convicted for desertion of the French army. Instead, he let Kristoff and his other convicted companions go. It was his way of repaying me for forgiving him which prevented his execution when he committed treason against me."

Lord Ragnar's face lit up with a smile. "Why your majesty, I never thought you could be one to make up a story. And such a story it is that strikes the heart. And I thought I was the storyteller."

"I didn't make it up. It's the truth. And here's the proof." She pulled out one of her drawers and retrieved two sheets of carefully folded papers and handed it to Lord Ragnar who read through them quickly.

"So Kristoff Bjorgman was alive long after his so-called execution date. He was captured by Cossacks and this is his ransom note."

"Yes, and there is a note he penned himself that the Cossacks had sent alongside their demands as proof he was alive back then."

"Back then?" Lord Ragnar asked.

"We don't know if he is still alive. The Cossacks never returned him even when we paid his ransom."

"I see," Lord Ragnar said regretfully. "I am truly sorry about your brother-in-law and your sister. However, this does give us a very convenient opportunity to spin a very convincing tale."

For once, Elsa agreed with him wholeheartedly. "An act of forgiveness leads to another, and gratitude turns to friendship which blossoms to a romance and a marriage. Spin away, Lord Ragnar."

The little man grinned back almost gleefully at her. "With pleasure, your majesty."

A/N: Twisted Cupid strikes again. Isn't Lord Ragnar just wonderful as a love marksman in his own devious way? I think the Duke of Weselton is a pro at making political propaganda. He just has that kind of vibe.

I want to thank everyone who is still staying tuned to this story. I enjoy your comments although I can't reply to some of you. It's really hard to find time to write this but I do want to work it out.