Chapter Twenty Two

The March to Korynes

ANNA

"Really? Five days?" Annoyed, Anna scowled as Frederick pushed aside the tent flap and allowed the fading blue light of the evening to stream into her dark tent.

Since she had learnt that the Blue Wolves had engaged her sister and the rest of the Warriors in Turnsheim, Anna had been on edge, itching for new information. She'd been expecting at least some confirmation: whether the Warriors had gotten away, or in the worst case scenario, captured. However, none came, to Anna's great vexation.

She had spent the past five days fidgeting, twiddling her thumbs and getting distracted from the previous few days' activities while waiting for Frederick's spies to send word. However, she had not seen him in the past five days since he had been promoted. But even though she was annoyed, she knew she couldn't really blame him.

Apparently, the light cavalry scouts that were dispatched to search for King Uxzas found him after two days. He was in some village hidden away in the woods near Turnsheim, drinking his time away in a local tavern.

The rest of the Confederation had been greatly vexed at his irresponsible disappearance in a time like this, but no one had voiced their displeasure when he was escorted back to the Coalition camp in Turnsheim. He was the most senior member and head of the Confederation anyway, and besides, no one could really blame him. The King was still in mourning for his dear friend, Marshal Cicero, who had died in battle.

He had returned looking in a less than ideal state, drunk in mid day and smelling strongly of alcohol. His dishevelled appearance certainly wouldn't make a foreigner believe that he was the reigning monarch of the great kingdom of Molcorra.

However, once he had freshened up and put his metaphorical crown back on, a Confederation meeting had been called again to discuss the Coalition's plan going forward. Already it had begun to snow lightly, though it didn't seem to deter the more blood-thirsty members of the Confederation.

King Uxzas had of course sided with Duke Helmsley and Marquess Horatio, the latter just itching to get back in the saddle and raise hell on the battlefield. The three of them had tipped the balance of the votes due to seniority. Therefore, Anna, Melody and Prince August had no choice but to follow their decision, much to Horatio's delight.

Anna and Melody had privately agreed that the Confederation was no longer an organisation that gave each of its representatives free say and equal weight. However, there was nothing they could do about it this late in the campaign. All they could do was spread the word to their senior officers and get their armies ready to break camp the next day.

That had been three days ago, and ever since, the entire column of combined armies were on the march through forests and fields once again. Headed in the direction of Korynes, the Arendellians formed the vanguard of the Coalition this time, since Frederick was the new Field Marshal and overall commander of the combined armies.

And now, only now, was she getting news about her sister and her friends. After five days of waiting?

"Your Majesty-" Hayley gave an alarmed squeak in the corner, and Melody put a hand on the assistant's shoulder to calm her. No one was used to seeing Anna as agitated as she was now. This was a very rare occurrence, one which Anna herself wasn't accustomed to.

"No, really." Anna ignored Hayley, fixing Frederick with an exasperated stare. "Five days?"

"Anna, please." Kristoff said, quietly putting a hand on her arm. "Let Frederick finish. We should hear what he came to say."

The frustration in Anna subsided slightly, and she composed herself. Frankly, she was appalled that she had lashed out at Frederick, and she felt incredibly guilty. She glanced across her tent, biting her lip. Kristoff and Melody were both rather concerned, Hayley was hugging herself in fright at her queen's rage and almost in tears. Frederick, though, looked as unflappable as ever, but there was regret and a deep apologetic manner in his body language.

"Right, right, I'm sorry." Anna said, swallowing hard as she felt something get stuck in her throat. She could feel her cheeks turning pink with embarrassment. "Please continue."

Frederick cleared his throat. "Forgive me, I only just received word. Our intelligence network hasn't been able to intercept any reports from the Blue Wolves, only because there haven't been any reports. But we just received one ten minutes ago after we'd made camp."

"And what did the report have to say?" Kristoff asked.

Frederick shifted a little, his expression betraying unease. "Her Royal Highness - Princess Elsa - and her allies have been captured four days ago and the CAST Force agents have just delivered them to Stormtide Prison."

Anna felt her heart sink and looked up at Frederick again. "Why…why would they delay their report for this long?"

"Probably to keep their capture under wraps." Melody finally spoke. "The Confederation is smart enough to know that we're their former allies and that we might have tried something."

"Which means more likely than not, they're aware that we've been intercepting their reports." Kristoff said grimly. "Uxzas and the others would have wanted to keep everything quiet from us until our friends have already been locked up."

"No, no, no. This…this can't be happening." Anna muttered under her breath, sinking back into her foldable chair which creaked loudly.

Everyone else in the room was silently contemplating what the news meant. They were, after all, the final few remaining people who were friends of the captured Warriors. After a long and sombre silence, Anna finally spoke in a small voice.

"Could I have a moment alone with Frederick, please?"

"Of course." Kristoff squeezed her arm comfortingly and left her tent. Melody nodded and guided Hayley out by the arm. The latter still looked slightly shaken up, having caught a glimpse of the queen's rare temper.

"I'm sorry, Hayley." Anna tried to give her an apologetic smile.

Her assistant paused and lingered for a moment, before returning an uncertain curtsey. She then left with Melody and Kristoff, leaving Anna alone in the tent with Frederick.

Anna waited till she was sure they were out of earshot before turning her attention back to Frederick. Watching him, she could see no trace of resentment or fear, only the minute hint of a sympathetic expression breaking through his disciplined and well controlled disposition.

She felt incredibly guilty for having vented her frustration on him. It wasn't his fault at all that the news had come late, and she was quite sure he had rushed to bring her the latest report as soon as possible, even though he could have just sent a messenger or one of his personal spies. She pictured the greying field marshal hastening across the rows of tents to deliver the message to her, only to get berated for something that was out of his control.

The man had been somewhat of a surrogate father figure to her and Elsa as they had been growing up, and faithfully being a loyal subordinate to them after they stepped into their new roles and responsibilities. He definitely didn't deserve to be yelled at. That was uncalled for, and Anna could not have felt more ashamed.

Blinking away tears that threatened to brim to the surface, she swallowed and gestured to the chair opposite her portable writing desk. "Have a seat, Fred."

He sat down immaculately without dragging out the chair, placing his hands in his laps in a disciplined fashion.

"I apologise again, Ma'am." Frederick broke the long silence. "I wish I could've brought better news and sooner too."

Anna held up a hand stiffly, and he abstained from continuing any further. She took a deep breath and swallowed again. "No, Fred. It's me who should be apologising. I shouldn't have been so hard on you when you came in. You didn't deserve that at all. That wasn't fair, and I'm truly sorry."

"No need to apologise." Frederick responded, his voice courteous and manner as unflappable as ever. Obviously he wasn't shaken at all by her little outburst.

"No, I do." Anna inhaled in another sharp breath. "It's not your fault at all that the reports came in late. It's those damn Blue Wolves."

"I know it must have been frustrating not knowing what happened to Her Royal Highness and the rest of your friends."

"Yeah." Anna's voice cracked a little. "I'm just so worried about Elsa and the rest. I tossed and turned in bed for the past few days not knowing whether they had escaped or not, and now…" she blinked back tears. "Now I know. They're in Stormtide, languishing behind bars for crimes they never committed."

"I'm sorry." Frederick said quietly. "I wish things didn't turn out like this. Your sister and the others…they deserved better."

"No, this isn't the end." Anna said fiercely. "It's not. I'll find a way to get them back. I will."

"In time, yes. But for now, you need to rest." Frederick's voice was kind but his expression made it clear that his words were to be heeded. "Leave the paperwork and whatever else you have to me. I'll have my staff sort it out."

"Thank you, Fred." Anna deflated considerably. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"I shudder to imagine." He gave her a sympathetic half smile.

"You've done a marvellous job as general, and now Field Marshal." Anna waved at the newly sewn five silver stars on each epaulette of his immaculate uniform. "It can't be easy being the new commander of the Coalition now that Cicero is gone."

"No, it isn't." Frederick admitted. "But I'll manage."

The past few days of organising things as the new Field Marshal must have been hell for the poor man. Anna could only imagine him having to pick up the organisational and administrative mess that Cicero had left behind. Thankfully, he had Kristoff, the new Commander-in-Chief, to help him in certain matters and dividing the load.

"I haven't seen you in days." Anna said. "You must be really that busy running the entire Coalition. Tell me you have a plan for when we get to Korynes?"

"I'm working on something with the general staff. I'll let you know when we have a solid plan."

"Right." Anna gave him a feeble smile and stood up. "Once again, I'm sorry."

"Please. Enough of that." Frederick stood up, regarding her with firm but caring eyes. "Get some rest. If you need me, just send a message. My tent isn't far away."

"Thank you." She rounded the table and gave him a hug. The Field Marshal stood rigidly as she hugged him, and finally conceded to give her a comforting pat on the shoulder.

"Things will work out." He reassured her. "They will."

Silently, Anna watched as Frederick saluted and left her tent. Alone once again, she sank back down into her chair and sighed. Closing her eyes, the only image that came to her mind was of her sister and friends clutching the iron bars of their cells, frightened and without hope of ever being free again. She allowed the tears to run down her face. There has to be a way to free them.

MELODY

"I don't like it." Melody stared at the tent flap of the royal tent. "I'm worried about her."

"So am I." Kristoff agreed. "But for now all Anna needs is a good rest. She's been under too much stress. Having to deal with the Confederation members and all, as well as voluntarily chipping in to help with Frederick's paperwork as well as her assistant's."

Melody nodded. Hayley had asked to be excused, retreating to her own small tent beside Anna's. The girl still seemed to be a little shaken and upset, and no one could blame her.

As for the Confederation, Melody could also feel herself growing increasingly annoyed at having to deal with the other members. After Uxzas had swayed the decision and the Coalition left Turnsheim, Melody, Anna and those who had opposed were obviously unhappy about having to force the soldiers to march again so soon after the last battle.

Of course, there was some logic to the hasty continuation of the march. Winter had already begun and it had started snowing, which meant that the Coalition didn't have a whole lot of time to break the Empire's forces and win the war. Soon, the entire landscape would be blanketed in thick white snow, making it impossible to fight.

Uxzas, Helmsley and Norman had all argued that they needed to reach Exon and end the war before it was too late, but even at this killing pace they were marching, there was no way the campaign would end anytime soon. Logically, they would have to dig in at some nearby city or kingdom at some point and wait out the winter season.

However, the Coalition was now making haste to cut Hydrech off from reaching the rest of his reinforcements in the occupied city of Korynes. At this point it was moot really, since Hydrech already had a few days' head start. But still, Uxzas and the others had stubbornly insisted on resuming the march. That decision which had thoroughly displeased Anna, along with the million other things she had heaped upon herself, had evidently taken their toll.

"You're right." Melody sighed. "She needs to rest. It's up to you to see to it that she gets enough sleep at night."

"I know." Kristoff said, sounding a little indignant. "Don't worry, I'll have her handled. But what are we going to do about Elsa and the others? Surely we're not just going to-" he trailed off.

"No, of course not."

"Good, good." He sounded relieved. "But what can we do?"

"I'll have to think about it." Melody looked pensively into the distance, far out over the uneven terrain on which the Coalition was now camped for the night. Out there somewhere, towards Northeast, was the notorious Stormtide Prison where Elsa, Tracy and the rest of her friends were being held captive.

"Whatever you're planning," Kristoff said with a look of resolve on his face. "Rope me in."

"I will." Melody reassured him. Didn't he have enough on his plate as the new Commander-in-Chief? "But for now, the ideas are a little sketchy. And there's no way of knowing for sure what we'll be running into without knowing the layout of the place. It'll be like walking into a kill zone. But I'll figure something out. Hopefully."

###

Things didn't exactly get any easier the next day. The march continued, as it did the last few days. Soldiers began to stir long before dawn, and set about packing their items and getting back into column. Before the sun rose, the column set off again in the direction of Korynes.

Each day thus far, the column covered sixteen or seventeen miles. That was far from a killing pace, though it was faster than average, considering the terrain they were travelling on. As winter had just begun, the snow was still falling, and to make things worse, there was even a light drizzle that came and went on some days, making the weather even more chilly.

Today, they were traversing some pretty harsh roads, and even mounted on her horse, Melody felt uncomfortable. The road was narrow, and there were many potholes and large gaps that made the road more like a track than an actual road. For all her other talents, she considered herself an indifferent rider, but thankfully her experienced mount did all the work for her.

Her horse knew how to navigate such terrain, carefully choosing where to place its hooves. They weaved in and out, around threatening and weak spots in the road, taking way longer to cross certain stretches than one would usually be able to on a proper road.

Seated on her horse while the rest of the soldiers trudged along, getting their legs stuck in mud and water along the way made Melody feel bad. She pitied them, having to march in unfriendly weather and on such tough terrain as well. However, they had no choice, seeing as how the Confederation wanted to press on before the harshest part of winter struck.

And so they went on, the road that was once solid soil and dirt now churned to mud by the snow, drizzle, and constant squelching of boots. The path became harder to traverse as the day wore on, and they barely made it to their planned campsite.

Fourteen miles, Melody mused to herself as she finally dismounted after the entire day on horseback. She knew she didn't have the right to complain, but her muscles were stiff and protesting after so many hours in the saddle. Unfortunately, it hadn't stopped drizzling and the camp site they had chosen was still muddy, with pockets of water gathered in small pools in the uneven ground.

While the servants pitched her tent, Melody went off in search of Anna. She was still feeling anxious for her friend, especially since the knowledge of her sister and the rest of their friends being imprisoned had somehow leaked and the soldiers were talking about it wherever she walked or rode past. The campaign has certainly taken a toll on Anna, Melody lamented.

She found Anna staring out into the distance as her own servants constructed her own tent on a slight rise in the ground, not too far away from where Melody had her own tent. Hayley, Anna's administrative assistant was with them, pitching in to help get the tent up quickly so that the queen wouldn't have to keep standing in the rain.

Not that it seemed to bother Anna though. The Arendellian Queen was soaked to the bone as well, strawberry blonde hair clumped in thick wet bunches and dripping water from her fringe. Her boots were beginning to sink into the mud though she didn't appear to take notice, her mind somewhere far away.

"Anna," the girl didn't seem to hear her. "Anna," Melody tried again, a little louder this time as she came up beside her. "How are you holding up?"

This time, Anna heard her and turned abruptly, sending a few drops of rainwater flying. She looked tired.

"I'm alright." Anna said. But she definitely didn't look it. "How about you?"

"Just got into camp." Melody said. The Danish Division had marched in behind the Arendellians, who had been at the head of the long snake-like column of the Coalition.

"Where's Kristoff?" Melody asked, watching her friend cautiously.

"He's off at the Command Tent with Frederick. Planning the route for tomorrow among other stuff." Anna mumbled, still looking a little absent-minded.

"You don't look okay." Melody said bluntly.

Anna snorted. "What gave it away?"

"Look, I know it hasn't been easy, what with Elsa and the rest in prison now." Just saying the words made Melody remember how real and depressing their current predicament really was. "I'm sorry. I'm worried about Tracy too. And Maui, Jade and the others."

"Do you think Jordan made it?" Anna asked. "The report that he'd been shot…"

"I don't know." Melody said helplessly. "I really don't know. I can only hope he did."

"I just can't get the images out of my head." Anna turned back to the faraway horizon that lay beyond the forest that stretched out into an endless clump of half barren trees covered in snow. "Of Jordan lying dead in a ditch. Of Elsa. Of Tracy. Of all of them clutching at the bars of their cells. Frightened, depressed, losing hope each day." She closed her eyes, and Melody couldn't tell if it was tears running down Anna's cheeks, or if it was rainwater.

Filled with sympathy, Melody put an arm around Anna and hugged her. "Is there anything I can do?"

"I don't know." Anna slumped against Melody. "Unless of course you can find a way into Stormtide and free Elsa and the others."

"Actually, I'm working on something."

Anna perked up almost instantly. There was a certain faint glimmer of hope in her eye. Faint, but it was there. "Really?"

"It's a little sketchy now. I'm still working out the finer details." Melody's eyebrow creased. "But it's hard to know if it'll work since I don't know anything about Stormtide's layout."

"It's alright. I know you'll have it all worked out." Anna's eyes seemed to gleam with some hope again, and Melody felt another great weight of pressure being loaded onto her shoulders. Now I can't let her down.

"I'm going to run through the plan with some of the others." Melody went on. "Oliver, Kristoff and a couple of the guys from the Insurgency days. If we actually put this plan into action, they'll be coming with me."

Anna nodded. "I'm coming too."

"No!" Melody exclaimed a little too loudly, earning herself a few glances from the nearest servants and soldiers. "You can't."

For a moment, Anna looked taken aback, but the expression was quickly replaced by one of indignation as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Why not?"

"The Coalition needs you here. Your talent at navigating politics. Your mind. Your connection with the troops. Someone has to keep the Confederation in line before they decide to kill us all. You'll do more good here than anywhere else."

"Well if you want to put it that way, then we need you here too."

Melody shook her head. "Not as much. My skills are better put to use out in the field."

Anna looked hesitant, and thoughtful. Then she looked up. "Come on," she motioned for Melody to follow her into her spacious tent which had just been erected by the servants. "Let's get out of the rain first and then we'll talk."

"Good idea." Melody followed Anna towards her tent. "We're soaking out here."