Winter's Echo
Chapter Eleven - Friends, Foes, and Fear
Honeymaren's brain was on overload as the group walked through the busy festival. The entire kingdom was celebrating the Solstice and the party was in full swing. So many new smells, sounds, and sights assaulted her senses, each experience more unique than the last. Her favorite new discovery so far was a dish called lefse, which basically consisted of a flat bread rolled over various fillings like meat, cheese, or the sweeter dessert versions.
Of course, the company was the best part of the whole affair she was reminded once more as she watched Elsa giggling conspiratorially with her sister at a booth that sold chocolates. She learned that night that both royals were absolutely addicted to the substance and filed that tidbit of information away for later. She would have to strike up a conversation with Kristoff or Anna later about the possibility of selling some of her whittling work to earn a currency she could later use to surprise the winter spirit with her favorite treat.
The mountain man, his reindeer, and the enchanted snowman had met the siblings, General Mattias and herself at the festival. Kristoff's reaction to Anna's appearance made her feel better about her own stunned speechlessness when she saw Elsa for the first time as he made an even bigger fool of himself than she did. She sympathized, but couldn't help the grin on her face when he nearly fell flat on his trying to walk over to her. The sheer amount of people in the crowded area had soon overpowered his twitterpated senses, however, so he took Sven and Olaf to try their luck at some of the games the festival had to offer rather than linger around the booths hawking trinkets and wares.
Honeymaren left the two royal siblings to their sweet obsession and walked casually up the extravagant row of shops and booths set up for the festival. She smiled when she spotted Mattias next to an exceptionally large tent with several long tables underneath it selling weapons, armor, and other iron works. Next to the tent was a sizable, roped off arena of wood chips that housed two large weapon racks and several straw dummies and archery targets, no doubt for interested buyers to test the quality of their potential purchases. She stood quietly next to him as she watched him admire an expensive looking broadsword, turning it this way and that in a scrutinizing inspection that only a soldier worth his salt would be capable of. "Shopping on duty, General?" she said teasingly, announcing her presence.
Matthias grinned and turned his head to look at her as he let the partially lifted sheath of the sword slide back down into its resting place. "It is for my duty I shop, Northuldran," he retorted in good humor. She chuckled and eyed the smaller knives and daggers on the table in front of her, lifting a particularly eye catching one up for inspection. The hilt was ornately decorated with several small green and purple gemstones set deep into the dark metal of the handle in the shape of Arendelle's sigil. She unsheathed it curiously, surprised to find the blade a similar deep gray color, the same sigil etched into each side near the hilt. Mattias watched her from the corner of his eye with a smile. "What do you think?" he asked, genuinely curious on her opinion.
Honeymaren studied the blade, turning it in her hand and rotating her wrist before balancing it on her finger where the blade met the hilt, testing the balance. "It's finely crafted, that's clear. The balance is perfect, the jewels are set deep enough that it doesn't obstruct the grip in any way," she commented. "All in all, the quality is quite impressive. True passion and dedication made these weapons."
"Just what would ye know about the quality of my weapons, little girl?"
Honeymaren's body went still at the sound of the rude, gruff voice with a strange accent approaching from the arena and entering the tent. She slowly lifted her gaze to meet dark green eyes filled with arrogant skepticism set in a hard, square face littered with scars. Broad, muscled arms crossed over an equally muscled chest as he looked at Honeymaren in obvious disapproval. The noaide eyed him evenly, looking his broad frame up and down - she was unimpressed. She could tell from his stance that he was not a stranger to conflict, but his attitude told her he was far too confident in his abilities. "Davos," came Mattias' voice to her right, a slight warning in his tone. "This is Honeymaren. She is an honored guest of the Queen from the enchanted forest." Mattias placed a hand on her shoulder - a sign of camaraderie. "Honeymaren, this is Davos. He's an ass, but he's a damn good smithe."
"If by ass ye mean I speak the truth, then I be takin' that as high praise, General," he chuckled, turning his attention to Matthias. "I saw ye eyein' that sword, Matty. The good Queen'll need 'ta give ye a raise if that's where your tastes be runnin'," he guffawed. "Or perhaps her forest pet can sharpen ye a stick?" he said with a smug, condescending grin as he looked at Honeymaren. The Northuldran raised an unimpressed eyebrow, snapping the sheath shut on the dagger she had been holding and Mattias winced. "I wouldn't poke that particular bear if I were you, Davos. You won't appreciate the bite the follows," he warned, though it was clear in his tone that he had no interest in saving the rude merchant from the hole he was digging himself into.
Davos snorted, looking Honeymaren up and down. "This little whelp? I'll tell ye what, girlie, I'll make ye a deal," he said, spreading his burly arms wide in challenge. "Ye can help yourself 'ta any piece I have for sale, free of charge, if ye can last a single minute against me in that arena. I'll even let ye pick any weapon!" Davos's loud, gruff voice attracted the attention of several of the mingling Arendellians, their curious gazes taking in the scene as they stopped to see what the commotion was. Mattias shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. This was not going to end well.
"Davos," he said tiredly. "You...are an idiot. You have no idea the mistake you're making." Davos laughed heartily, clearly unconcerned. The fact that Honeymaren had yet to reply to a single taunt or even move was beginning to make his senses tingle with a primal, all too late warning. Rather than listen to the tiny voice of logic, the crass man decided to double down. "What's the matter, Matty? Afraid I'll hurt the savage's feelings?"
"What did you just say?" came an authoritative voice from behind the suddenly parting crowd. Though her voice was not raised, the deadly ice in Elsa's tone cut through the tension better than any blade Davos had to offer as she came to stand next to Honeymaren, Anna appearing on her other, both eyeing Davos with rage and disgust. "What did you just call her?" she asked again, daring the man in front of her. The smithe immediately bowed low to his sovereigns. "Apologies, Your Majesties. Honey and I were just makin' a friendly wager on our skills with a weapon," he said, nearly spitting the derivative of the Northuldran's name. Mattias snorted, which drew Davos's attention to him. "Come now, General. Don't ya want 'ta know if our queen is protected out there in the forest, alone in the wilderness with those people?" Elsa moved to approach the arrogant man, her hands beginning to grow as her magic begged for vengeance, but was stopped by a subtle arm held in front of her. She looked down at it, then up at its owner who had yet to move. Honeymaren didn't look at her, her eyes fixed intently on Davos. Anna stepped forward between Mattias and Davos, glaring angrily at the smithe. "I've heard absolutely enough of this, you are lucky I don't throw you in the dungeon for your insolence, Davos."
"I accept your challenge."
All eyes turned to Honeymaren, who had yet to speak through the entire exchange until that moment. Normally soft brown eyes were hard and calculating, filled with a mixture of emotions that were somehow familiar, yet had not been seen in Honeymaren's sweet depths by the magical queen before. There was anger there, she had seen that quite recently when Elsa had told her of her less than polite experience with suitors, but there was something more; something the spirit couldn't put her finger on, despite the familiarity. "Maren," Elsa called gently as Honeymaren began to unfasten her dagger from her belt. "You have nothing to prove to anyone, let alone someone of his ilk," she tried to reason. Honeymaren held out her whale-bone dagger to Elsa, still wrapped in its reindeer-hide sheath. "Please hold this for me," she said simply, placing it in Elsa's hand and walking toward the arena.
Anna turned and blocked her path, placing herself between her and Davos' smug grin, laying her hands gently on the Northuldran's shoulders. "Honeymaren, I know he's an insufferable ass, but he is a former soldier under our father and absolutely lethal. He is highly trained and not to be trifled with," the redhead warned in a quiet voice. Honeymaren shook her head slightly. "I don't care," she said flatly, moving to step around Anna, intent on her task and not bothering to look at her. "Absolutely not," Anna said with more authority, stepping in her way again. "I forbid it." Honeymaren finally turned her eyes to Anna, the sharp, angry expression making the redhead subconsciously step back.
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, I am not a citizen of Arendelle. But, maybe it's time Arendelle learned what a savage looks like," she nearly growled. Honeymaren glanced out of the corner of her eye to see a growing crowd gathering around the commotion, several of them cheering what the Northuldran was now certain was once a war hero of Arendelle as he entered the arena. She smirked humorlessly, shaking her head. "Look at them, Anna," she said quietly, so only the queens would hear. Anna turned to see what she was looking at, her face falling a bit as she saw Davos preening under the attention, taking a slow lap around the arena, his arms open wide to his admirers. "That is the Arendelle my people fear," she said with a cold, disappointed tone.
Honeymaren turned when she felt a hand slip into hers, her eyes softening as they met Elsa's concerned gaze. Elsa looked about for a moment before pulling Honeymaren aside, ducking behind an empty tent, it's owner likely part of the growing crowd eager to see sport. "I swear to you on my life, this is not who Arendelle is, this is not who we are...this is not who I am," she said earnestly once she was sure they were alone, begging Honeymaren to believe her. "They are not you," Honeymaren replied with a frown. "They are also not my grandfather, Maren," Elsa said as she reached out to cup Honeymaren's cheek. "You don't have to do this," she said again, lightly caressing her cheek with her thumb. Honeymaren turned her head to press a gentle kiss into the queen's palm before grasping it lightly and lowering it from her face. "I do if I want to be a part of your life," she replied. Elsa opened her mouth to argue, but Honeymaren turned and walked away and back into public view, walking straight for the arena. "Maren, wait!"
The crowd cheered as the other challenger reappeared, Elsa coming around the corner too late to stop her. Elsa walked over to Anna, who appeared just as anxious as she was. "I couldn't stop her," she said quietly, wrapping her arms around herself, clutching Honeymaren's dagger in a white-knuckled grip. "She said...she said she's doing this so she can be a part of my life," she told Anna, shaking her head. Anna's brow furrowed as she watched Honeymaren calmly enter the arena with a madly grinning Davos. "I don't understand," Anna said. "How does losing a fight against a man like Davos make being in your life possible?"
"What makes you think she's going to lose, Majesties?" piped up a confident voice laced with humor. Both royals looked up at Mattias questioningly and Anna frowned. "I don't find that funny, General. She can be seriously hurt. We need to put a stop to this." Mattias grinned reassuringly at the siblings. "No, we really don't. Davos needs to learn some respect, and Honeymaren is the perfect person to take him down a couple of pegs. You'll see. Fear not, Majesties," he said as he made his way to the arena. Elsa and Anna looked at each other in confusion before a loud yell from the arena drew their attention to the two combatants where Davos was making a show of cracking his knuckles and neck. "I'm going to enjoy this, savage,"he said as Mattias entered the arena. "I figured you could use an official," he said as he entered. "There is a prize on the line, after all." Davos grinned and laughed loudly. "Whatever ye say, General. Choose your weapon, wildling," he taunted Honeymaren as he reached to the weapon rack behind him, removing a deadly looking broadsword and walking to the center of the arena where Mattias calmly stood.
Elsa began to step forward with a small growl at that, but Anna reached out and grabbed her sister's arm, holding her back. "Hold on, Elsa," she said quietly. "There's something we don't see here," she said with a furrowed brow as she watched Honeymaren closely. "Honeymaren and Mattias don't seem concerned in the slightest, which means they know something we don't. We should trust them." Elsa made a small noise of frustration, biting her lip as she watched Honeymaren approach one of the weapon racks in the arena, studying them carefully. "Anna..." she said quietly. Anna wrapped an arm around her waist comfortingly. "Trust her, Elsa," she encouraged the worried blonde. "She is one of the most level-headed people I've ever met. She wouldn't do anything rash, especially with you around." The comment didn't seem to ease her tension in any way, but Anna felt her anxious sister press closer to her rather than attempting to enter the ring to turn Davos into an ice cube. Elsa held Honeymaren's prized whale-bone dagger tightly, cradling it against her chest.
After a moment of deliberation, Honeymaren grabbed not a weapon on the rack, but a wooden staff leaning against it, testing the weight in her hand before walking to the center of the arena to the two men. Davos laughed heartily at the five-foot staff in her hand. "That's not a weapon, girl, we use that ta train the wee little ones. Do ye see what I mean, Matty? She can't even handle a blade, she expects 'ta defend herself with a stick," he crowed. Honeymaren said nothing as she stood patiently across from him, her face the picture of calm indifference. Her eyes were intense and focused, staring unblinkingly at Davos. Mattias shook his head and clapped the burly man on the back. "Her choosing that 'stick' is her choosing not to kill you, Davos," he said in a flat, serious tone. Davos raised an eyebrow at the general, looking suspiciously between him and the silent Northuldran. "May the Gods have mercy on your soul, Davos," he continued with a shake of his head. "For you deserve none from her."
With that, he backed away several paces, his hands clasped behind his back. "Ready?" Davos shook his head to rid himself of his sudden uncertainty, lifting his arms in the air triumphantly and eliciting a cheer from several citizens in the crowd. Honeymaren's eyes briefly took on a sad, pained look and she shook her head in disappointment before taking a deep, steadying breath. She released it slowly and stepped back with her right leg and assuming a ready stance, her staff tucked firmly at her side and held at the ready. Mattias nodded before calling out clearly, "Begin."
Davos jerked forward in an effort to intimidate her, uncertainty flickering in his eyes when the Northuldran didn't so much as flinch, her eyes never wavering from his. "Alright, little girl," he growled. "Ye want to play? Be the Snow Queen's lapdog? Let's show her what you're made of." With that, Davos gave a loud yell and swung his sword in a downward motion at Honeymaren, surprised to find the tip buried deep in the earth seconds later when the Northuldran easily side-stepped his attack, continuing to simply watch him. He growled in frustration and yanked his weapon from the ground, swinging it again and again at the dark-haired woman, his frustration growing when she easily avoided his every move with infuriating ease. Davos started breathing more heavily, the effort from swinging the large, heavy broadsword around slowly sapping his strength. "A wise man once told me that it takes twice as much effort to strike out at a target and miss than it does to actually land a blow," Honeymaren said slowly, drawing out the words as she stared intensely and unblinkingly into Davos's narrowed, hateful eyes. "You told him this evening that he was too poor to afford one of your swords because your Queen didn't pay him enough," Honeymaren said in a low, flat voice. Davos's eyes widened at that as he glanced at General Mattias, who simply smirked, before once more meeting the cold, focused eyes of the Northuldran who had yet to raise her own weapon.
She began to circle Davos slowly, deliberately, as a wolf would a sheep. "You know," she said in a cold tone. "Instincts are amazing things. Most humans have dulled theirs, over time - the price one pays for the constant comfort and privilege a society like this provides," she said, gesturing with her free hand to the crowd that had been stunned into silence as they watched the event unfold. "But the truth is, they're still there. People are just too ignorant to listen." She came closer, well within Davos's strike zone, staring him down in a way that shook even his boundless confidence as a very primal shiver traveled up his spine. Though her voice was low and quiet, it cut through the air like a knife. "You're feeling it right now, aren't you, cruel man? That tingle in your spine that makes your heart beat faster, makes your blood run colder than the queen's ice in your veins. Every nerve in your body is beginning to pulse with adrenaline as you are realizing all too late, all the warnings and all the signs that would have told you...this was a grave a mistake." Honeymaren took another step closer to him, sneering slightly when he took an instinctual step back. Retreat. Defeat.
Weakness.
"You think me your queen's dog?" she said in a cold, dark voice that sent a shiver down the spine of every person present. "Well...this is that fateful moment you realize, far too late...you are about to be bitten."
"ENOUGH!" Davos roared, rearing back as best he could to strike her down where she stood. The entire crowd was consumed with gasps of surprise or cries of dread, though Elsa's terrified scream rang out the loudest. Honeymaren ducked beneath the aggravated man's wild swing, using his own momentum against him. When Davos tried to catch his balance, Honeymaren was there to jab the butt of her staff into his face, causing him to drop his sword entirely as he clutched his profusely bleeding nose and mouth in pain. She immediately reached down and snatched the pummel of the fallen sword in a backward grip as she dropped into a crouch, spinning in a circle and using her leg to sweep the brute's feet out from underneath him. The blow sent him to the flat of his back with such force the crowd could hear the air being painfully forced from the soldier's lungs. In a flash, she knelt heavily on his chest with one knee to prevent them from refilling and pressed his own sword to his throat, a very thin line of blood appearing where the impossibly sharp edge bit into his skin. The brash man gasped for air, quite unsuccessfully between the concentrated pressure of Honeymaren's knee and the blood still pouring from his mouth and nose.
The entire thing was over in mere seconds.
Elsa felt herself go weak as relief washed through her, Anna tightening her grip around her waist to steady her as her sister began to shake slightly from the adrenaline. The royal siblings immediately began to make their way to the arena as Mattias peered over Honeymaren's shoulder at the gasping man. "Do you yield, Davos?" he asked with a smirk as Elsa and Anna entered the arena. "No," came Honeymaren's voice, but it sounded off to the winter spirit. Her voice was cold, bitter, and full of anger. "This man didn't lose to me because I was more skilled than he," she said as she pressed her knee harder into his chest for a moment, causing him to wheeze painfully through his own blood before rising to stand over him and glaring down at the now coughing man. "He lost because he thought me lesser than him, for no other reason than where I was born." She looked up then, glancing about the sea of faces in the crowd. She read an astonishing array of emotions in the Arendellian crowd, ranging from surprise to fear to guilt. "He lost to me because he thought me a simple savage," she said harshly. "That's what this crowd is here to see, isn't it Mattias? To see a war hero beat down a woman simply because I am Northuldra - because I am other."
She smirked humorlessly, shaking her head. "All those years in the mist, Mattias told me Arendelle was a kingdom that stood for the good and the many. A sentiment both of your queens insisted was truth. Yet, here we are," she said, gesturing down at Davos. Most of the crowd looked away in shame as the truth of Honeymaren's words hit hard. Elsa slowly approached the emotional Northuldran, calling her name softly. "Maren..." Honeymaren turned her head to look at Elsa, noticing her dagger clutched to the blonde queen's chest. "It's over now," she said quietly, trying to calm the dark-haired woman. "Oh, no," Honeymaren said coldly, the sight of her father's dagger further fueling her righteous anger. "Your people want to see a savage, Your Majesty." Without another word, Honeymaren raised the sword high in the air and Davos's eyes went wide as he saw his death fast approaching when she stabbed downward hard. The bleeding, defeated man winced and awaited his fate as another round of gasps and cries rose from the crowd. "MAREN, NO!" Elsa cried, her free hand reaching out helplessly.
Davos opened one eye experimentally when he didn't feel anything to find his sword buried deep in the earth, the flat of the blade mere inches from his face and Honeymaren hovering over him. "If you want to see a true savage, you cruel, ignorant fool...you just look here," she hissed, flicking his reflection in the flat of the blade with a metallic tinging sound before standing up and taking a deep breath to center herself. Mattias reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, but the Northuldran shook it off angrily. The general immediately gave her space, raising his hands in a placating gesture. Unlike the bleeding idiot that lay at their feet, he knew better than to provoke the Northuldran in this state.
After a moment of silent deliberation and several deep breaths, her fists clenching and unclenching as she fought an inner battle, Honeymaren surprised nearly everyone present when she extended her hand to Davos, looking at him expectantly. He blinked up at her in confusion and disbelief. "Why...?" he asked finally, his voice hoarse from coughing. "Because I'm not like you," she answered simply before reaching down and grasping his forearm, yanking him to his feet. "I stand by what I said earlier," she said as she released his forearm the moment he was steady. "Weapons as beautiful as yours require a level of passion, dedication, and skill that means you are capable of being far more than what you've shown the world today." She eyed the crowd once more before looking back at him. All the fight and righteous anger was drained from her then, replaced by disappointment and weariness. "Your queens deserve a better Arendelle than what has been shown today," she amended before turning and walking away. Mattias came and stood next to Davos, his face a mixture of pride and sadness as he watched her leave.
"Wait!"
Honeymaren froze and closed her eyes as she heard Davos's voice, pressing her lips together and taking a deep, calming breath. "We made a bargain, Northuldran," he said plainly. Honeymaren glanced at him blankly over her shoulder, only mildly curious as to his point. He walked over and stood in front of her, holding up his hands appeasingly as he noticed her eyes warily following his every move. "I promised ye your pick of my wares. Ye beat me fairly and deserve your reward." Honeymaren stared at him for a moment before beginning to move around him. "I want nothing from you." Davos moved to block her path once more. "Please," he insisted. "It...it's a matter of honor," he said quietly. "I've shown none 'ta ye today, I know. But I owe ye a debt. Please," he said again, gesturing to his tables. Honeymaren eyed him for a long moment, judging his seriousness and his intent before wordlessly walking over to the table and instantly reaching for a single piece - the expensive and ornate broadsword General Mattias had been admiring when the whole event had been set into motion. She walked back to the two men and offered it out to the general, who took it with surprise. "May it serve you and Arendelle's queens well, General," she said quietly. She nodded once to them before turning and walking away again.
Elsa reached out and grasped her hand gently as she walked by her. Honeymaren squeezed her hand weakly and tried her best to offer a small smile before letting it go. She delicately reached down and reclaimed her sheathed dagger from Elsa's other hand with a small nod of thanks before turning away from her and making her way through the crowd that instantly parted for her, giving her a wide berth. She needed to get away from this place. She needed to think. Elsa made to follow her, her hand reaching out for her but hesitated. Her outstretched hand slowly curled inward as she clasped both hands together over her heart, her head dropping in shame and guilt. She had assured Honeymaren she would be accepted in her home, that they would have a fun, relaxing weekend in the place she had loved for so long...only for this to happen. Anna placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, squeezing gently. "She's going to leave," Elsa whispered quietly, a tear escaping as she voiced her fear. "She's going to leave and I can't blame her."
"She's not going anywhere, my Queen, don't you worry," came a confident, deep voice from behind the royals. Elsa turned around to find Mattias behind them with a reassuring smile on his face, Davos standing behind him sheepishly as he strapped his new sword to his belt. "As long as you are here, Queen Elsa, she will not go far, that I can promise you. She just needs some time to cool off," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Honeymaren never enjoyed conflict, even though she begged me to teach her in the forest. She wanted only the strength and the skill to protect her people. She practiced endlessly, honing skills far beyond the rudimentary teachings I gave her, but never once did she ever look for a fight."
"No," Elsa agreed. "She's far too gentle for that. It's a different kind of person that goes out of their way to pick pointless fights," she said harshly, eyeing Davos who had been standing quietly behind the general. The brutish smithe had the decency to look abashed and slowly stepped around Mattias before dropping to a knee before his queens, bowing his head in shame. "I've no excuse for my behavior, Your Majesties," he said quietly, not daring to look up at Anna and Elsa. "I offer my deepest apologies for the rift I have caused an' the shame I have brought 'ta our people. That Northuldran has more honor than I ever had in a lifetime 'a war." Elsa shook her head and turned away as her lip trembled, biting her lip hard in to control her emotions. Anna stepped in, relieving her sister of the task before her. "You are correct, Davos. You have brought great shame upon yourself and upon the kingdom of Arendelle with the prejudice and outright barbarism you have shown here today. But," she said with a pause, looking around at the sea of quiet faces, most if not all brimming with a similar shame of the man kneeling before her. "You are not the only person guilty of this crime tonight. It pains me endlessly to say that for the first time in my life...I was genuinely disappointed by our people today." Anna moved away from Davos, who's head bowed even lower at the truth of the queen's words.
"We are of Arendelle," Anna continued passionately. "We are the kingdom of plenty, who stand for the good and the many. We are better than what we have shown today. I know we are. My sister, your queen, nearly lost her life to discover the hateful sins of our grandfather against Honeymaren's people. I nearly lost mine to rectify them, only for Elsa to come back from beyond to save our kingdom from the fate it rightfully deserved!" Anna cried, eyeing each citizen as she looked around the crowd. Elsa lifted her gaze to her sister as she passionately addressed their people. A deep sense of pride in her lifted her heavy heart as Anna spoke. "Honeymaren came here with Elsa in good faith, despite the sins of our kingdom, to be met with this shameful behavior. As your queens, we expect better. Honeymaren was right - Arendelle deserves better. We are better."
Anna took a deep, steadying breath before she spoke again. "Go about your business, my friends. What's done is done," she said as she returned to Elsa's side, reaching out and taking her cool hands in hers as the crowd began to slowly disperse in a subdued murmur. "You handled that wonderfully, Anna," Elsa said quietly. "I'm proud of you. I'm sorry you had to handle it, I just couldn't-" she began, but Anna shook her head. "No," she said immediately, taking a short trembling breath. "No. It should not have gotten that far. We need to find Honeymaren. She's one of the most important members of the Northuldran tribe and she has suffered great insult tonight. General," she called, Mattias appearing at her side instantly. "Your Majesty," he said with a nod of reverence. "Where do you think she may have gone?" Anna asked. "She doesn't know the area well enough to head for somewhere in particular, but we cannot waste time with aimless searching." Mattias crossed his arms over his chest and frowned in thought. "Well," he said thoughtfully, scratching his chin as he spoke. "She, understandably, is going to be feeling less than social toward Arendellians, so I would say that we should look anywhere that people aren't."
"The water," Elsa said suddenly, her eyes closing in concentration. "She's near the water." Anna blinked in surprise at her sister. "What? How do you know she's by water? Where by the water?" Elsa shook her head. "I can't tell, but I can sense that Nokk is near her. I can't see what he sees, though, I can only sense it through our connection." Mattias nodded, mulling over a list of possible low traffic areas the clever Northuldran may have found. "She was headed away from the docks when she left. I would bet she's found one of the alcoves along the sea wall, somewhere beyond the festival." Elsa nodded, looking back at her sister. "Anna, I need to find her, but I think I should go alone." The redhead hesitated, biting her lip. Though she agreed, given the relationship Elsa had with the Northuldran, the need to apologize properly ate at her conscience. "If you think it's best...just, try to make sure I get a chance to apologize to her, please?" Elsa nodded and reached out to hug her sister tightly before pulling away and nodding at the general. "I'll do what I can," she said with a small smile before turning and heading in the direction she last saw the dark-haired woman, Anna's eyes following her worriedly.
"Can this be repaired, General?" Anna asked quietly, staring after her sister. Mattias sighed deeply, breaking etiquette and protocol to place a comforting hand on the young queen's shoulder. "Honeymaren is a strong, confident, and self-sustaining young woman, Your Majesty. She's got a good head on her shoulders and an endlessly compassionate heart. But," he said after a pause, "She has little tolerance for prejudice or bigotry. No Northuldran does, really. Their survival relies too heavily on being open and honest with each other for them to permit such behavior within the tribe. They are far more advanced than what we would consider civilized society in that way," he said quietly. Anna wrung her hands nervously, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. "Then again," Mattias began again in a hopeful voice, "She also is completely enraptured with your sister. I doubt there is any rift that could be torn wide enough that Her Majesty could not convince our dear Northuldran to cross for her." Anna smiled a bit at that, nodding in agreement. "I hope you're right, General," she said quietly. "For all of our sakes. Come," she sighed. "Let's wait for them back at the castle." Anna took the general's offered arm and the two made their way through the emptying streets of the town to await any news to be had.