Note:
Hello people! Here is chapter five! I am unsure when Chapter six will be up, as I have a stacked week, but I hope this settles things in the meantime.
Disclaimer:
I do not own Frozen (big sad). I only own these characters and this story. I especially own Gunn-Britt. She's definitely my favourite creation right now.
Enjoy!
- JQ
Chapter Five: Back in Town
After scavenging the wreckage for belongings and supplies, Honeymaren led the rescue team and the injured people back to the Northuldra's permanent camp. All hands were on deck immediately as they tended to the wounds of the soldiers and the three passengers. The princess, however, was still out cold. For her comfort and safety, she was placed in a tent while Elsa, Yelena, and Honeymaren did all they could to clean up her wounds.
"Her ankle is scuffed up pretty bad," Honeymaren told Elsa as she finished dressing the wound, "but it should be fine after about a week."
Elsa released a breath that she was unaware of holding, "That's good. What about her being unconscious?" Honeymaren sighed and went back up towards the princess' head wound. Elsa followed her and they observed her together.
"It looks like we did a good job of cleaning it up and dressing it with our medicine," she told the ice wielder, "but the injury could be something more than just the surface. There's no way of knowing how long she'll be out for – let alone if she'll even wake up at all." Elsa's heart sank at the news, but Honeymaren was prepared with a solution. "Maybe we can take her back to Arendelle. It is the closest place and I'm sure you and Anna will have access to a doctor who is more proficient in brain injuries than you and I."
Elsa was hesitant to agree. She hadn't visited Anna and her family in a few months and she felt awful about it. Well...not really. She loved her niece and nephew to the moon and back but she really did enjoy her alone time. She also didn't like feeling as if she was overstaying her welcome or intruding on Anna and Kristoff's new life. This inner turmoil was not new as it was associated with her preexisting feelings of not fitting in completely. Honeymaren could see the wheels turning in the blonde's mind so she coughed to get Elsa's attention.
"I know you hate feeling like a burden, but your sister loves you." Honeymaren then wiggled her eyebrows. "So does your hot brother in law."
Elsa groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, "Please calm yourself down." she was not having any of her friend's weird thirsty comments about the ice harvester today. "But I just...I just don't feel..." again, she wasn't prepared to bare her inner being to the world, let alone to one of her closest friends. Sensing this, Honeymaren put her hand on Elsa's shoulder.
"Don't force yourself into sharing." the raven-haired woman smiled and gave Elsa an encouraging hug, "But respectfully, I don't care. We are going to Arendelle to get this woman some help. She really needs it." Honeymaren then unwrapped her arms from around her friend and crossed them over her chest. "If you won't go, then Ryder and I will go alone."
Elsa sighed, swallowing her weird sense of cumulative pride and shame. "No, No, that won't be necessary." she said, "I'll come with you guys. We can take the same two wagons and leave in an hour's time."
Honeymaren nodded and began to make her way out of the tent. "Perfect. I'll tell Yelena. Watch over her while I get Ryder and the others prepped."
Once Honeymaren was out of the tent, Elsa returned her attention to the unconscious princess that lay before her. The princess was laid out on the cot under a quilt. Her long dark hair was splayed out over a pillow and her breathing was even. Elsa would be lying if she didn't admit that the princess was beautiful, but she was more concerned with why she was here in the first place.
To her knowledge, Botarskal seldom had their royal families interact with other countries directly. She recalled a time, during her reign, when she had to sign an amendment to an agreement with them: their import and export tax agreement and a document outlining the usage of each kingdom's respective shipping dock situation. King Hallgrimur of Botarskal sent three ministers of trade to Arendelle, along with many personal gifts for the Queen. Elsa supposed he believed that his lack of international presence could be sated with an overabundance of gifts. Elsa wasn't complaining – she rather enjoyed the smoked lamb he gave her (she often tried to finish it herself before Anna discovered it was even in their possession).
As Elsa looked over the princess once more, she observed her peaceful expression. Slowly, her gaze drifted downward to the heavy silver pendant that sat neatly on the princess' chest. She shook her head in awe and confusion.
"What on earth were you doing here?" she whispered to the princess (but she was unconscious, so it was basically to herself). After another moment of just watching the princess' breathing, Yelena came in to help Elsa move the young woman to a cot on the wagon.
...
"Hey, Gale?" Elsa called out to the wind spirit. A bunch of leaves then began to circle around the former queen. Elsa then took out a small note and gave it to the spirit. "Please send this to Anna. She needs to alert the royal doctor of our incoming visit." the wind made a slight whistling sound before taking the note to Arendelle. Elsa sighed and was going to make her way back to help Ryder with the reindeer. But once she turned around, she was face to face with the three passengers from the caravan.
"That was so cool..." Arnold said in awe.
Ingrid let out a sigh of relief. "Okay good – that means you all saw that too. I thought I was hallucinating from that tea they gave us."
"Oh," Elsa said in shock. She tried to regain her composure but she still came off as the shy person she always seemed to be, around new people. "Um – hello. D-Did you three need anything else, before we leave?"
Gunn-Britt walked towards the ice wielder and stared at her with an unreadable expression. Elsa couldn't see the woman's eyes behind the bangs under her viking helmet, but she knew she was being scrutinized in an inquisitive way. Like when a horse first tries to size you up. "You smell like a woman of royal blood."
Elsa was even more shocked than she was five seconds ago. "H-How d-did you –?"
"It's best not to ask." Ingrid said, walking away.
"You also look very familiar." Arnold added, limping slowly in a circle around her. Suddenly, Arnold gasped aloud. "WAIT! Ice powers?! Smelling like royalty?! Y-Y-You're Queen Elsa!" Ingrid scoffed dramatically.
"I could have told you idiots that," Ingrid said, returning with a bowl of dried fruit.
"I knew I smelled royalty." Gunn-Britt grunted.
"Or," Ingrid supplied in an exasperated tone, "she's got the exact same fucking face as Queen Anna? Hello? Did we not pay attention when that tiny snowman was giving us a tour of the castle?"
"You pay attention on tours?" Arnold quizzed.
Ingrid shrugged incredulously. "What the fuck else was I supposed to do?"
"You've met Olaf?" Elsa asked, essentially dumbfounded. "W-Wait...You were in Arendelle?"
"Ugh – YES." Ingrid was losing patience. "Damn, thank the Gods you took a hiatus from Queen crap." Elsa would have been more offended if she cared. Ingrid was already off to a bad start with her.
Arnold shoved Ingrid away. "Please excuse her rashness – we usually don't bring her on excursions related to...well, public relations."
"Well, to formally introduce myself – yes, I am the former Queen of Arendelle." she was always prepared to meet her 'fans', but the ungodly squeal that emanated from this man was not something she was really expecting.
"Forgive us, Your Majesty," Gunn-Britt said in her low and booming tone, "you are pretty big deal back in Botarskal."
"O-Oh. Well..." Elsa didn't want to make a joke about Iceland and the Ice Queen, so she just opted for her signature response of 'awkward flattery', "um...thank you. I am very pleased to meet you all, as well." the blonde then reflected on her thoughts from inside the tent, moments ago. "Why have you travelled so far from Botarskal, with the Princess?"
Gunn-Britt and Arnold just shared a knowing look with one another. It was Arnold who ultimately responded, "Princess Hrafntinna is set to marry the King of Vennesvurg, before the winter season ends." it was currently near the end of summer, so they had plenty of time to travel. "She is supposed to move in by next week, but I am assuming we have to write to Vennesvurg, once we arrive in Arendelle."
"Oh," Elsa said with a smile, "that sounds lovely. I can't wait to formally meet Princess Her...Raf...Raft-in –!"
"She prefers 'Tina'." Gunn-Britt advised.
"Thank you." Elsa cleared her throat and continued, "I-I can't wait to formally meet Princess Tina and offer her my congratulations." she then patted Arnold on the shoulder gently. "If you need anything else, before we leave, please let me know. I'll just be down by the wagons." as she headed toward Ryder and the reindeer, she failed to notice Arnold and Gunn-Britt's sad expressions at the mention of Tina's upcoming wedding.
...
When all the supplies and passengers were loaded up onto their respective wagons, Honeymaren, Ryder and Elsa stood before Yelena as she gave them a protective blessing. She usually did this to help guide travellers.
"I know you three are very capable," began the elder, "but that doesn't mean I won't worry for you." The three laughed and pulled Yelena into a group hug.
"We wouldn't have it any other way, Yelena!" Ryder said, squeezing the three women even tighter.
"Okay, brother," Honeymaren groaned, "I think that's enough hugging!" Ryder released them and then started to chase his sister around. They screamed and laughed while Elsa and Yelena observed them fondly.
"They have never ventured far out of these woods." Yelena sighed. She then turned to Elsa. "Please watch over them." Elsa held the elder's hands in hers and gave them a reassuring squeeze.
"They will be fine." the fifth spirit said to Yelena, "I will do my best to look after them."
Yelena just smiled proudly at the blonde. "I know you will." after one last hug, Elsa, Ryder, and Honeymaren began their trip to Arendelle. It would take them a few hours, but they should arrive before nightfall.
...
After receiving the note from Gale, Anna kicked herself into high gear. She alerted all of the maid staff and the doctors. She also took the liberty of starting draft letters to the kingdoms of Vennesvurg and Botarskal. She couldn't complete the correspondences until they found out Tina's health status, but she started on them anyway, knowing it may be more believable from a Queen than any other reporting official. One of the lines that she drafted in her letters to the kingdoms was 'Do not worry as Arendelle's chief of medical operations is currently overseeing her care'. That was pretty ironic considering that all Anna could do right now was worry.
Currently, She and Olaf were seated on the steps of the castle's entrance in the company of a few royal guards and some medical staff. The sun had just set and they were anticipating the arrival of Elsa, Ryder, Honeymaren, and the gang from Botarskal. Anna tried to be patient and calm but it was no use. Her hands were fidgety and her palms were sweaty. She thought she was holding it together better than she felt she was, but Olaf always proved her wrong.
"Why are you so shaky today?" he asked innocently enough.
The Queen just let out a nervous laugh, "I'm not shaky, I –!" she cut herself off. She hated lying to Olaf – even though he was kind of like a child. He was getting older and she had to start being more straightforward with him. Elsa was always better at talking to him like that than she was. She sighed before restructuring her answer. "I'm worried, Olaf."
The little snowman smiled at her and placed a twiggy hand on hers. "Are you worried about Tina?"
"Yes." the Queen responded weakly, "She's just...she's such a sweet girl and she doesn't deserve all the stuff she's going through." Olaf looked confused.
"What stuff?" he asked, "Isn't she getting married to the King? That's happy – right?"
Anna smiled at him sadly and squeezed his hand in hers. "It should be." she was about to spill the beans about the arranged marriage to him but thought better of it – Tina and her family didn't want news of this arrangement to spread before the wedding. "B-But I'm referring to her head injury – she doesn't deserve all that before...uh...before the wedding." Anna didn't have to hope for Olaf to not pickup on her little fib for long because he just smiled.
"Well she was rescued by Elsa, right?" Olaf asked the redhead. She just nodded. "So she has a very good chance of feeling better soon. Elsa's the best to have around when you're injured. One time, Nolan jumped off of the really big bed and landed weird on his finger. But Elsa froze it so it wouldn't hurt and Kristoff took him to the infirmary."
Anna happily nodded along with the story until she realized she never knew about this incident. "Wait what? Wha-when did this happen?"
"Oh, right before Christmas." he answered happily, "I think you and Mattias left for Denmark right before Elsa arrived. You know – for that meeting with the Duchess of Haalstag? Any who, Nolan wanted to play pirates and as usual, Sven is a pretty convincing Kraken so –!" Anna put her hand up to stop him from continuing his retelling of the event.
"Okay well," the Queen took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down for another reason, "Thank you for that, Olaf." she made a mental note to talk to Kristoff and Elsa about that later on. Right now, her priority was making sure that Tina recovered from her injuries.
Before she could think more on that, a guard yelled an order to open the gates. Another guard echoed the command and the gates began opening. Anna got to her feet and prepared for whatever was going to happen next.
...
"Her overall physical state is good – as far as I am aware, her ankle is sprained. But I am worried about her head injury." Dr. Halvorson told the Queen as he looked through his notes. He had just finished an evaluation of the princess. "There's no way of knowing it's true effects without her input, so the best we can do is wait and observe." he noticed the look of despair on Anna's face. "I've seen many cases like this before, Your Majesty. She should wake anywhere between three days and a week's time, but there are no guarantees to that. I don't know what caused the injury. Was it a fall? Was it an object that fell onto her?" Anna and the doctor looked towards Elsa for any information she may have. The former queen just shook her head.
"All I know is that I found her under a bunch of debris. She was partially submerged in a river when I found her. The water level was just under her shoulders. She was already unconscious by then." the blonde really hoped that her information could assist.
"Hmm..." the doctor began to think about this new information. "Then perhaps her injury may not have been the cause. It is also quite possible that the river was cold enough to induce her body into a comatose state. That would be a completely different situation." the Queen and her sister did not look any less worried. Unfortunately, he had to tell them the truth as a doctor. "But, we shall see. All we can do now is wait."
Anna and Elsa thanked Dr. Halvorson for his services and he promised to come see Tina at least twice a day to observe her condition. After he had left, Anna fell to her knees at Tina's bedside and began to sob. Elsa just knelt down beside her and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.
"Shh..." Elsa attempted to soothe her little sister. "...we won't be any good to her sobbing, now will we?"
Anna cried harder but leaned further into her sister. "I-I just knew I should have tried to stop her. I should have tried harder or I should have sent them directions or a guide! I d-d-didn't know t-they were g-going to go through the enchanted forest!" Although Elsa wanted to dissect the first half of Anna's statement, that was not what was important right now.
"There's no way you could have known that, Anna." the blonde just held her tighter. "All we can do is wait – that's what Halvorson said." Elsa looked over at the princess again, for her own sake. She was worried as well, but the sight of the brunette's steady breathing was enough to quell her fears. "And look – Halvorson said it was good that she was breathing normally. Her heart sounded good, when he listened to it, so that's good news right?" both sisters looked over at the peaceful princess.
The Queen sighed, continuing to lean on her older sister for support. "I guess."
"Now then," Elsa said, getting them both to stand, "I'll help you send off those letters to the Kings of Botarskal and Vennesvurg."
The redhead smiled – grateful to have some assistance. "Okay. Thanks, Elsa." the two sisters hugged once more before leaving the princess to rest. They both hoped that she would wake up soon.