Chapter Sixteen: Fight
Grass was stuck in her hair. Her blue eyes stared up at the sky with the same colors as she laid down in the grass. Her dress was covered in mud stains and sweat was dripping from her forehead.
"Are you already tired, your majesty?"
Elsa sat up. She let out a small groan as Christian wiped his wooden sword on his pants. They had been training for Elsa's battle against the king of the Darkened Forest.
"We've been at it for hours..." Elsa said. "Can't we take a rest?"
"Stop whining, Elsa." Christian walked over her. He extended his hand, Elsa grabbed it and he helped her up. "On a battlefield there aren't any breaks either."
Elsa rolled her eyes at him. "I know, Chris, calm down. I'm only frustrated at the fact that I'm not improving."
Christian stared at her in silence before he suddenly chuckled a little. Elsa glared at him and folded her arms.
"What?"
"Nothing...it's the first time you called me by my nickname...usually you refer to me as vermin, piece of shit, creep, jerk or king Christian...don't tell me that you're warming up to me after a few weeks of training?"
"I'm not, your name is too much of a bother." Elsa sighed. She wiped some mud from her dress.
"Ah, that's too bad, I'm quite fond of you." Christian threw a wooden sword her way. Elsa caught it easily with her hand. "And I'm even helping you prepare for your battle."
"Yes, but why?" Elsa asked. "What would you gain from this?"
"The safety of you and my brother. Plus, you're a lot like Agdar. If you keep practicing everyday then your skills will eventually outshine any enemy."
"I'm nothing like him. My father was a ruthless leader, and as you might already know, he didn't love me. Only after my mother died."
"That doesn't mean that he wasn't your father. You resemble him, Elsa, like it or not."
Elsa shrugged. "In what way?"
"You have a fire in you that never goes out. You can be strict, but with a good feeling of righteouness. Even if that righteouness is in your favour. But you also resemble Idun, her more soft character and how she might have ruled if she were born a royal."
Elsa cocked her head at him. "You do know a lot about me..."
"We're family, Elsie. It is my duty to know my brother's wife...and maybe my mistress."
"Aaand we're back to your strange and creepy remarks." Elsa said. "Let us keep training, Christian. I have a war to prevend."
"As you wish your majesty!"
Meanwhile Jack was in town, doing grocery shopping. He stepped into the bakery of North.
"Hey-a Jack!"" North yelled as he saw his friend.
Jack chuckled and walked up to the counter. "Goodday, North. I need two full breads for the royal house."
"Of course, of course..."
As North wrote his order down and handed it to his employee Andrew, Jack turned around and noticed Aster sitting in a corner by the window. Jack chuckled and walked up to him. Aster noticed him too, but before he could say anything Jack took a chair and sat on the other side of the table.
"So, you're back in town?" Jack asked immediately.
Aster sighed. "Frost, I'm not here to spy this time. And aren't ya supposed to look after that queen of yours?"
"Queen Elsa is training right now, there is no need for me to stand by her side."
"Ah...so you got more professional with her, huh?"
Jack blinked and looked confused at him. "What do you mean?"
"I heard everything from Thiana." Aster said. He folded his arms and sighed again. "Really...I knew it was irresponsible of you...I'm glad you gave it up. There's no future with a queen. You need to look for someone more in your league."
Jack narrowed his eyes at him. "I don't need someone in my league. And I decided to be more professional with her since right now isn't the best time to play around."
"But you still love her?"
Jack gulped and became red. He rubbed his neck and gave an idiotic grin. "I...I guess I do...but those feelings are not part of my job. And Elsa might not even feel the same...she is still 18, Aster, and must be confused in her heart..."
"So, you think just because she's a few years younger than you, she doesn't understand her own feelings? What kind of bullshit is that? What if she does love you?"
"Believe me..." Jack shook his head. "She doesn't. She cares about me, that's true, but her feelings are different than mine."
"So, how long are you staying?"
Hannah looked at Kristoff as they walked through the town. It had been a bit since Kristoff had come to deliver the message about the upcoming war and Hannah knew that he wasn't going to stay forever.
"I don't know...there is still something I have to do here." Kristoff answered Hannah's question. Hannah put her hands behind her back and cocked her head at him.
"What exactly?"
"I..." Kristoff stopped in his tracks. He became red and rubbed his head. "I'm here to make it up to you."
Hannah stopped walking too. "W-what?"
"I have been a jerk before I left for Corona. I've heard about your father's death and everything that has happened since then. I want us to be like before..."
"We can't."
"Huh?" Kristoff looked confused at Hannah.
"Some time has passed after you left. I actually started to become more of a sister to Elsa and I...care about her. I know I can't turn back time, but I want us to be family again. And my feelings for Jack dissapeared. He loves Elsa and I can't force his heart towards me." Hannah looked up at the sky. "And now everyone knows about Elsa's powers! There are no secrets between us sisters anymore..."
"I see..." Kristoff smiled at her. "You've really become a better person, Hannah."
"What do you mean?"
"Before you were angry at Elsa, but now...it looks like you're starting to find your way. I'm happy for ya. But I still want us to be friends again."
"Then you should try really hard." Hannah walked further.
Kristoff gulped and ran after her.
Elsa grumbled after she was done with hours of training.
She went to take a quick bath to calm her sore muscles. After a bath she dried off and put on a fresh purple dress. She put her hair in a quick ponytail. Elsa looked at herself in the mirror.
"Okay...I can do this..." She whispered to herself. "I need to defeat the king of the Darkened forest..."
She put her head against the glass of the mirror and sighed. She was a bit afraid. The thought of fighting in a war...she knew she could, but...she could die. And if she were gone...then Hans would be in charge...
A knock on the door caught her out of her thoughts. Elsa stepped away from the mirror and quickly straigtened her back.
"Come in!" She said.
The door opened up and Hans stepped into the room. Elsa immediately felt tense again.
"Hans, what's wrong?" Elsa asked.
"I..." He walked over to her. He put his hands onto her shoulders and rubbed her upperarms. "How was your training?"
"It was alright..." Elsa sensed that something was wrong. "Hans...what is wrong? Really?"
"I..." Hans took a step back. He looked as if he were guilty of something. "I...found out that I was...that I am...sterile."
Elsa gasped. "What?"
"Yes." Hans looked away from her. "I found out recently. That's why you're not pregnant yet. Although it might have something to do with the fact that you have powers, because you slept with Jack and nothing came of that either, I'm partly to blame."
"Hans..." Elsa took a step closer to him. She put her hand gently against his arm. "I'm so sorry...it must be hard for you."
Hans looked back at her. "Don't worry about me, my Elsa...I still want to be with you."
"Hm?"
"We just have to come up with a plan. But you have a war to win first, we'll think about this later."
"Okay." Elsa whispered.
Hans stepped back from her. "Are you nervous about the fight?"
"A little...but I have to do this. For Arendelle."
"I understand, sweetheart."
"Thanks." Elsa said.
"Oh, and one more thing, Thiana wanted to speak with you in her lab."
"Right."
Elsa walked into Thiana's laboratory. Thiana looked excited when Elsa walked in.
"Ah, my queen, nice to see you again!" Thiana yelled.
"Thiana..." Elsa walked up to her and stood still in front of her. "You asked to see me."
"I have something important for you!" Thiana ran to a desk. She opened up a cupboard and pulled a strange bottle out. It looked like a small bottle of wine.
"What is that?" Elsa asked.
"This bottle will help you, queen Elsa."
"How?"
Thiana grinned. She turned around and walked back Elsa. She held the bottle in front of her face. "Queen Elsa, I know that you have a problem to get pregnant. So, if you and prince, I mean, king Hans drink some of my special made wine then you will have a child in no time!"
"Okay, okay, slow down." Elsa pushed the bottle out of her face. "First of all, Hans is sterile. Secondly, how would I get pregnant from this?!"
"Ah, king Hans isn't able to make babies? That does explain a lot. But nonetheless, your uterus is not a quick baby-maker either. This drink will boost your eggs and whoevers wants to make love to you...it will boost their sperm too."
"So..." Elsa took the bottle from her hands. "This will definitely get me pregnant?"
"Yes! I mean, it is what you want, so..."
"It is more what others want." Elsa said. "I only want to lead this kingdom and live happily with everyone. And to win the war."
"I see...so king Hans really wants a heir, doesn't he? Too bad it won't be his own."
Elsa looked at Thiana with a confused look. "But doesn't this drink boost someone's sperm too?"
"Only if that person has any living sperm...the king doesn't. I know that he will have a plan in his mind and it will probably involve some other man's seed."
"Gross." Elsa said. "And impossible. Hans won't allow some random man to..."
"I never said that it would be random. Maybe you can choose Jack?"
"Jack and I are only a queen and a servant. I don't know what you think, but that's all there is to it."
"Poor Jack, he has been so good to you and now...you're treating him like..."
"Stop."
Thiana noticed Elsa's stern voice and stopped talking. Elsa looked at her with an annoyed look.
"Do not speak to me in that tone of voice. I am not your friend like my mother was. And you don't need to bother with my relationships. Not with what the king does or Jack or anyone else for that matter. Jack is my servant and that is final."
"Ah..." Thiana nodded. "Understood, your majesty...I am sorry."
"Good. I'll make sure to use your wine carefully. Thank you."
And with that Elsa left. Thiana chuckled after the queen had left. For a moment she saw king Agdar in queen Elsa. But she also saw a glint of her Idun in the young queen, right before the hard personality traits of the former king. It was interesting to see how queen Elsa would lead this kingdom.
Soon a week passed by.
Elsa had been training nonstop, so much that she could see her stomach abs more clearly. But not only that, her skill got better and better. Christian even complimented her on it.
One day she was in the ballroom. In her hands was a wooden stick she was swinging around, practicing for the battle.
"Hey."
Elsa jumped around. She swung her stick at the person who caught it between his hands.
It was Jack who looked at her with wide eyes. Elsa gasped when she saw how she had almost hit him on his head.
"Jack! Oh my goodness, I am so sorry!"
Jack pulled the wooden stick down. "Queen Elsa, I'm assuming that your lessons are going well?"
Elsa nodded. "Yes..." She pulled the stick out from between his hands and threw it down. "Chris even told me that I might actually win this."
"Chris?"
"Oh, that's what I call king Christian, Hans' brother, sometimes!"
Jack raised his eyebrows. "So, you two get along, huh?"
"No, he is still a creep. But he is a good teacher."
"I see..."
"Wait, why were you looking for me?" Elsa asked.
"The council wanted to speak with you...it's urgent."
"Again? I've had more meetings than my father had..."
Jack smiled a little at her. Elsa noticed it and cocked her head at him.
"What?"
"Nothing...I...I am proud of you."
Elsa let his words sank in and her cheeks became flushed. She gulped and nodded slowly. "T-t-thank you, Jack..."
Jack made a small bow in front of her. "Of course, your majesty." He straightened his back again with a smile but his smile fell when he saw Elsa's hurtful look.
But Elsa noticed Jack seeing her hurt look and quickly forced on a smile.
"Queen Elsa, is something wrong?"
Elsa shook her head. "No. My thoughts were captured by the war again."
"Ah...don't worry, I'll be by your side."
"Thank you." Elsa said. "But I better get going before the council gets wary or they might want my head."
"The council never gives you a break, huh?"
"Queen Elsa, this is a mess!"
Elsa looked at the nervous council members during the meeting. Hans was in talk with his brother, so she was the only royal present.
"What is a mess exactly?" Elsa asked for confirmation.
"We have heard that the king of the Darkened Forest is moving faster than expected! There aren't enough soldiers to take him on!"
Elsa narrowed her eyes at him. "Not enough? What are you talking about?"
"Only the highest soldiers in training can take part in the war...but those who haven't trained hard enough...they are supposed to stay here to train more. We can't send them into battle."
Elsa crossed her arms. "We really can't, hm?"
"Your majesty..." The man's eyes became widened. "You are not suggesting that we put unexperienced soldiers onto the battlefield?"
"No, but...perhaps you are underestimating them." Elsa said. "Those soldiers who are 'unexperienced' could do really well when the stakes are high. We could let them stay here, but if that means losing a war..."
"We can't sacrifice lives." One of the councilmen said. "It is unethical."
"It is. However, what if we give those rookies a choice? We can let those who really know that they will only get in the way stay here and those who want to fight for Arendelle come with us."
"That isn't such a bad idea..."
"Good. Anything else?" Elsa asked.
The councilmen all shook their head and Elsa sighed.
"Then we have work to do, gentlemen."
And so, Elsa told the knights in training their plan. Some stayed behind, but others, who hadn't been training that long either, decided to participate in the war. She told them that there was a change that they were would die, but the men didn't care.
Elsa also told Hans that he was going to stay behind too. Which he didn't take too well.
"Why?!" Hans yelled at her as they stood in the empty ballroom with Christian and Jack behind them.
"It is because you weren't born here. My mother wasn't allowed to be in battles either, and believe me, it wasn't because she was a woman. Also, I have been training with your brother for days."
"But I can't let my wife go alone to war..."
"You need to lead Arendelle while I'm gone." Elsa said calmly. "Someone needs to look after my home while I'm out there defending it."
Hans scoffed. "Let me guess, Jack is going with you?"
Elsa shook her head. "No..." She clenched her fists. "Jack will stay here like the good servant he is."
Everyone was confused to hear her say that. Jack the most. He took a step forward, but Elsa held her hand up with meant that he had to stay silent.
"I'm a grown woman. I can't rely on Jack during the fight and...he is not a trained soldier. The other servants are staying here as well. I can't make an exception."
Christian, who had stayed quiet, spoke up and said; "Good for you. Do I need to come too or...?"
Elsa glared at him. "Do whatever you want. But I suggest you stay here, Chris. It might be too dangerous for you too." She clapped in her hands. "That's all, I have to read up on my french and I'll see you all at dinner."
She turned around and left the ballroom. Jack immediately followed her closely.
"Queen Elsa!" Jack said. "Wait!"
Elsa ignored him. She walked to the library. Jack ran after her and closed the door behind them. He then ran up to Elsa who turned around to face him.
"What is it?" Elsa asked.
"I...I want to accompany you."
"You're too weak, you can't."
"Haven't I always protected you?! I can do it this time too..."
"I don't need protection." Elsa bit on her lip and furrowed her eyebrows. "I need to do this..."
"How can you say that with such a pained expression on your face?"
Elsa looked at him with a surprised look. Jack stared back with an intense gaze. He wanted to hold her, but couldn't. They were only a servant and a queen. But he knew he could protect her if he were to accompany her to the battle.
"Elsa." Jack said softly. "I know you must be scared...the king of the Darkened forest is..."
"He is what? Stronger?" Elsa rolled her eyes. "Don't make me laugh, Jack. I can take him. And I don't need you to protect me...I'll be fine on my own. I'm the queen of Arendelle, I have to do this."
"You keep saying that...but you're also just human and the wife of the king, Hannah's sister and..."
He blushed and rubbed his head before he spoke further.
"...someone I really love..."
Elsa felt her heart skip a beat. She wanted to kiss him and tell him how much she loved him, but...
"Stop with those useless words."
She couldn't give him that. She had to protect him...even if it meant hurting him.
"You are only a servant to me." Elsa narrowed her eyes at him. "You are going to stay here. That is an order."
Jack felt his heart clench at her harsh words. He took a step back and nodded slowly. "Ah...understood...your majesty..."
He turned around and walked away. Elsa wanted to run after him, but instead stayed frozen in her place. She knew she had to create more distance between them to protect him. Otherwise he would follow her to the battlefield and risk his life for her...
Jack on the other hand felt like he had confirmed what he just told Aster last week.
She didn't have feelings for him.
Another week soon passed by.
And soon that day was there.
"It's time to go, your majesty."
Elsa was in the hallway. The knights were outside, saddling up their horses. She looked at Kai with a nervous smile as he spoke to her.
"Yes, I'll join them."
She grabbed a sack filled with armor for her. She put her sword in her holster and into her belt. She turned around to face Hans.
"Take care of Arendelle." Elsa said.
Hans gave her a quick kiss and pulled back. "I promise. You..." He rubbed her upperarms. "Be carefull. Don't let that king defeat you, my love."
"Of course not."
Elsa then turned to Jack. She wanted to hug him, but stopped herself from doing so.
"Be careful." Jack said.
"I will. Be a good servant."
"Yes, your majesty." Jack made a bow like usual. Except this time he didn't smile.
Elsa and the other knights rode away towards the Darkened Forest.
After riding for what seemed like hours, they stopped to set up camp for the night.
Elsa was tired from riding all day and sat down on a nearby tree branch.
"Are you tired, your majesty?"
Elsa looked up at the captain of the knights, Albert Laine. The man had dark-blond hair and green eyes and was about 30 years old.
"A little..." Elsa said. "But I'm alright."
"Well, I think you're admirable." Albert sat down next to her and gave her a smile. "At only 18 years old you are defending our kingdom..."
"Someone has too...and I haven't been training for nothing."
Albert chuckled. "That is right. But aren't you afraid?"
"No. I know I can lead us to victory."
"I'm scared shitless."
Elsa raised her eyebrows at him and smirked a little. "A captain like yourself?"
"Yes. I mean, we don't know what tricks that weird king will pull or why he even wants our kingdom."
"Maybe it's because our kingdom is doing better?"
"Our kingdom is, but it is not the greatest place either. I mean, maybe Burgess would more up his league?"
Elsa giggled. "Burgess? Isn't that just a village? I heard Jack talk about it once..."
"Jack? Oh, your servant?"
"Yeah...he told me that Burgess was a village he used to visit sometimes when his parents were still alive. But after they died he settled down in Arendelle and eventually started to work in the castle."
"You two are good friends, huh?"
"No, we're only a queen and her servant."
"Queens can't be good friends with their servants? And hasn't he been serving you for years now?"
"He has, but we're not friends. You're not friends with every knight here, right?"
"I actually know these men pretty good." Albert said.
"Oh really?" Elsa looked at the knight who were setting up a few tents and walking around with sticks for the fire. "Then..." Her eyes shifted between the men. She chuckled lightly and pointed at one of the knights. "Who is that?"
"Hendrik, 24, married, trained for 8 years."
"And that man?" Elsa pointed at another guy.
"Loran, 30, married with kids, fought in two wars."
"So...you are friends with every knight?"
Albert nodded. "I am, your majesty."
"Well, lucky you."
"I know."
"But...what about yourself?" Elsa asked.
"I'm 30, loved by many and I have a special love waiting for me at home."
"Hm?"
"My fiancé just had twins. We plan to marry in a few months since we couldn't do it when I got injured during training and...it's a long story."
"Aah..." Elsa smirked a little. "So...you really are that old?"
Albert wanted to say something in return, but one of the knights ran up to them.
"Captain Albert, Queen Elsa, we are ready to serve soup for the night. Would you like to join us?"
That evening all the knights sat down around a campfire with a bowl of soup.
Elsa and Albert both sat down and started to eat too.
"This is good." Elsa said as she took another sip. "Really good. Who made this?"
"I did!" A knight named Leon yelled.
Elsa smiled at him. "Great job, sir. I'll let Kai know of your skills, maybe you can work in the kitchen?"
"But Leon is a knight." Albert remarked.
"So? We are always in need of chefs. And maybe he doesn't want to work as a knight anymore."
"You can't just make people switch work."
Elsa cocked her head at Albert. "Of course I can, I'm the queen."
"Let me at least think about it!" Leon yelled and all the knights laughed. Elsa became red and Albert chuckled too.
Kilometers away, in the kingdom of Arendelle, it was a bit more quiet.
Jack was sitting in the garden. He had just finished his dinner and was now resting in the garden before he had to help Kai.
He sighed and looked up at the stars in the sky. Jack wondered how Elsa was doing. Was she eating well, sleeping good...
"Jack."
Jack turned his head to see Christian staring down at him.
"King Christian!" Jack said and he wanted to jump up, but Christian stopped him.
The brother of Hans sat down next to him and smiled slightly at him. "What are you doing out here, it's cold."
"Nothing...I...was only worried about the queen, king Christian."
"Queen Elsa will be okay." Christian said. "That girl has some fight in her. I don't think she will loose this war. She might get some ptsd from it."
"Ptsd?"
Christian rolled his eyes at him. "It is her first war, servant. It will be hard on her, she might get some trauma. But you'll be there to pick her up, correct?"
"King Hans will be, I am only her servant."
"Oh, please. I've seen the way you look at her. You love her more than your own life. And I know that you've slept with her, so don't say things like 'you're only her servant' when you are head over heels for her!"
"I..." Jack blushed a little.
"Tell me." Christian said and he leaned a bit close to Jack. "Does Elsa have a nice body?"
Jack immediately moved away from him. "I'm sorry, king Christian, but I am not discussing that with you!"
Christian chuckled. "Come on...she is a beautiful woman. I am betting that she is great in bed."
"Again, I am not discussing this with you. And also, I am only a servant to her now, whatever you may have heard."
"Jack, don't worry, I won't tell Hans. I only want to get to know you better to see what Elsa sees what I don't see."
"Excuse me?" Jack raised his eyebrows at him.
"You have been her servant for years, yet you weren't able to protect her against her father, against some disgusting homeless man and the man who killed Idun. I don't understand why you haven't been fired years ago."
"Well..." Jack scatched his chin and then leaned on his hand. "To be honest with you, king Christian, since it is only us two...I thought about that too. I blame myself for queen Idun's death and the case with the homeless man. I couldn't protect her against her father, he would've beheaded me before I could even protest. But...I always comforted her whenever she needed it. She couldn't talk to many people, so I was there for her. Being a personal servant isn't only about protection. You are a shoulder for the royal to lean on, someone to have their back at all times. You are there for them and no one else. That is what makes a personal servant."
Christian stared at him in silence. Jack pulled his hand down and straightened his back. He looked at Christian with confident eyes.
"That was quite a speech..." Christian said. "I might see a little now why Elsa is so fond of you...but what if she will betray you or something?"
"I'll be fine with that."
"Such a way a servant answers...but...I guess it's good Elsa has someone like you around to play with. Hans is not exactly the greatest husband and she doesn't have anyone else."
Jack nodded silently. Christian smiled at him and gave him a pat on his shoulder.
A week passed by.
After travelling for what seemed like ages, Elsa and the knights almost reached the Darkened Forest.
They were resting for a bit before their battle would begin. Elsa put on her armor. It felt heavy on her body, but she had been practicing with wearing it. She tied her hair in a knot and walked over to the other knights with her helmet in her hands.
"Gentlemen..." She looked at captain Albert. "Does everyone know their formation?"
Albert nodded. "Yes, your majesty. I believe that we are ready for battle."
Elsa took a deep breath. She then looked at everyone's faces. Some of the men seemed scared, others were full of confidence.
"We can do this." Elsa said. "Our army might be small, but our hearts for Arendelle are strong. We will win this fight and return victoriously!"
All the men cheered. The ones who were scared before were now full of confidence as well.
Elsa put her helmet onto her head. "Ready, men?"
"Ready!"
They jumped onto their horses and trotted further. Soon they were met with the other army.
Elsa gulped when she saw how much bigger the other army was. She stopped her horse and her men stopped their horses too.
"Alright..." She looked at the soldiers. "Let us follow our hearts!"
The soldiers all yelled and everyone charged forward.
They immediately clashed with the other army. There was the sounds of horses bumping into each other, men falling down and swords clashing against each other.
Elsa rode her horse past them. She had to find the king of the Darkened forest and take him out. That was what she and the others agreed upon. If the king was dead, then the opposing side would no longer have a strategy...if she...
All of a sudden her horse fell down.
Elsa rolled from the horse and landed on her stomach.
She quickly stood up only to be met by a sword. Elsa quickly drew her own sword and stopped the attacker. She groaned as she pushed the soldier away.
"Queen Elsa!"
Albert ran up to her. He pushed another man away to reach her.
When he reached her he looked worried at her. "The king is further up. We cannot reach him, there are too many soldiers blocking him!"
Elsa looked around. She saw the soldiers fighting against the enemies, but all of them were fighting against atleast two knights.
"Your powers are growing. Soon you will be able to make ice monsters...an army of that and you can conquer anything! But you are wasting them on flowers and saving people's lives!"
Her father's voice rang through her head. She clenched her fists. She knew what she had to do.
"Unbelievable...that jerk was correct..." Elsa whispered.
She pulled a glove from her hand and put her hands against the ground.
The ground started to shake. Ice swirled around on the battlefield. Albert gasped and took a step back.
Ice monsters grew out of the ground. They had glowing blue eyes and were meters tall. There had ice spikes instead of hands and teeth. The rest of their bodies were made from snow.
There were at least ten of them. Elsa looked at Albert and nodded.
"These monster shall fight along with you, mr Albert. I am going to look for the king. Cover me."
Without waiting for a response Elsa ran past the soldiers. She heard the screams as the monsters started to fight against the army as well, but didn't bother to look back. She had to find the king to end all of this.
Elsa jumped up onto a higher rock. Her eyes scanned the area and stopped on a figure. He had black armor and looked different from the other knights.
"There he is." Elsa made a plateau of ice and jumped onto it.
She soared over the astounished and fighting men and jumped off it in front of the stranger.
The man had yellow eyes. His hair was black as the night and his skin was as pale as the daylight. He held a dark sword in his hands and didn't seemed faced by Elsa at all.
"There you finally are." The man said in a low voice. "Queen Elsa Winters. It is a pleasure to meet you. The name is Pitch Black."
Elsa gripped her sword tighter and glared at him. "I do not care who you are. You are trying to take my kingdom and hurt the ones I love."
"That is correct...but it is a pity that you do not care about me!"
Pitch launched forward with his sword. Elsa immediately drew her own sword.
But it broke.
As soon as Pitch made contact with her sword, it was destroyed.
Elsa fell down onto her back. Pitch put his foot down upon her stomach. Elsa yelled in pain. She grabbed his ankle with her hands tightly and tried to freeze his foot.
"It is so sad." Pitch said. "You will die knowing that you couldn't save anyone. And that no one came to save you...really, where is that rumored husband of yours?"
Elsa didn't answer him. Pitch scoffed at her.
"Really, you are nothing, ice witch."
"HEY!"
Pitch turned around. Albert was suddenly behind him, swinging his sword at him.
Pitch quickly moved out of the way and Albert missed him. Elsa coughed and she rolled around to lay on her stomach.
"It looks like her knight in shining armor is trying to protect her." Pitch drew his sword again and smiled at Albert. "Really, are you going to sacrifice your life for her?"
Albert ran towards him. "I am not afraid of you!"
Elsa caught her breath again, but she gasped when she saw Albert fighting against king Pitch.
"W-wait..." Elsa whispered. She watched as their swords clashed. She had to warn Albert of Pitch's dirty trick, the same one he pulled on her...
The men both pulled back. Albert was panting heavily. He had been fighting for years and had never encountered such a strong enemy before...if he could...
"Queen Elsa!" Pitch suddenly yelled at her. He turned his head with an evil grin which shook Elsa to her core. "It is time we draw the curtains, isn't it?"
"Don't fucking talk to queen Elsa!" Albert yelled and he ran forward. Pitch looked back at him and drew his sword again.
"Albert, DON'T!" Elsa screamed.
Splutter
Elsa heard the sound of death.
Albert's eyes glanced towards her. There was a light sparkly in them that quickly went out.
The sword of Pitch was lodged into his throat. Albert's sword fell from his lifeless hand down onto the ground.
Pitch pulled his sword out of the man and threw his down next to Elsa. Elsa stared in shock as his body fell down besides her.
"Albert..." Elsa whimpered. Blood was seeping from his neck. She put her hand against his shoulder as if she was hoping to wake him up. But he just laid there, motionless, like a ragged doll.
Pitch laughed loudly.
"My, it never gets old! Killing the ones your enemy truly cares about is always satisfying!"
Elsa looked at him. She felt hatred in her heart like never before.
She stood up and clenched her fists.
"You..." Elsa said.
"Ah...right..." King Pitch looked at her with an amused chuckle. "Are you ready to die too?"
Ice shot out of the ground around Elsa. Pitch took a step back. Elsa's arms became ice claws and her armor was replaced by an armor of ice. Spikes stuck out of the shoulders and heels.
"Die."
Elsa ran towards him. Pitch tried to use his sword to block her attack, but his sword broke.
Die
Elsa bore with one of her claws through his chest. She grabbed his heart with one of her claws and froze his blood.
Die
Pitch screamed in pain, but it was too late. Elsa pushed his body down onto the ground and...
Die
His body froze and shattered.
Elsa stood up. She looked down at Pitch's body without remorse.
"Piece of shit." Elsa muttered under her breath.
"Queen Elsa!"
One of the knights, named Micha, ran towards her, out of breath and with a bloodied sword.
"We have defeated..." Micha looked at the shattered body.
"Yes?" Elsa asked.
"The army has been defeated. We've won...although there have been casualties."
"I know..." Elsa walked over to the body of Albert.
Micha was shocked. "Captain Albert..." he whispered.
"He was killed by king Pitch." Elsa said. "And thus I killed king Pitch. Now..." She took a sigh and adjusted her voice to a more stable one. "We need to get a couple of knights together to gather the bodies and bring them back with us to Arendelle."
"Yes your majesty!"
Micha ran back to the others. Elsa bit on her lip and glared down at the body of the king.
"They have returned!"
A few weeks later the queen and the knights returned.
Hannah, Gerda and Kristoff looked from the crowd as they rode through the town. Elsa was riding in the front with the knights following her on their horses.
Hannah saw how tired they all looked. Elsa was looking forward and not at the crowd. The crowd started to talk among each other as they saw the carriage with some of the bodies.
"Theodore!"
A woman screamed as she saw one of the bodies. She tried to get closer, but some of the guards held her back.
Hannah looked at Gerda. "I'm gonna try to get in the castle."
"I don't think that's a good idea...Hannah!"
Before Gerda could stop her, Hannah ran away from the crowd.
Elsa walked back into the castle. The knights were all brought to the nurse and the dead ones were laid down in the garden. Hans, Christian, Kai and Jack immediately walked up to her.
"Elsa, sweetheart..." Hans looked worried at her. "You're back...are you alright?"
Elsa nodded slightly. "Yes...I am. I need to adress the public, they don't know that we've won yet."
"You've won? That is great news, honey!"
Jack noticed how tired Elsa looked. But he kept his mouth shut.
"I know..." Elsa said. "But...I need to adress the public now, if you'll excuse me."
Elsa turned around and walked off.
She walked towards the town. Her body felt tired, but she knew she had to do this.
"Elsa, wait!"
Hans ran after her. He grabbed her by her shoulder and turned her around.
"You need to rest, let me adress the public."
"You don't know who died!" Elsa yelled suddenly, making Hans jumped a little and his hands fell from her shoulders. Elsa glared at him. "And I'm the queen, it's my responsibility! Now, let me do this and stay out of my way!"
"Elsa..."
"Did I stutter?!"
An ice spike shot out of the ground close to Hans. Hans immediately shut his mouth.
Elsa turned around and marched to the town. Kai gave Hans a sympathetic smile and ran after the queen.
Christian walked up to Hans. "I never thought that I would see the day that Elsa would really become like him. You're going to have a hard time, Hans."
"I won't." Hans said. "Elsa is still my wife, she won't be as strong as him."
Elsa stepped in front of the crowd with a few knights behind her.
"Everyone!" Elsa yelled.
The crowd looked at her. Elsa could feel their stares, filled with curiosity.
"There have been casualties, fifteen of our men have perished..." Elsa clenched her fists tightly. "I am truly sorry for everyone who has lost someone. But despite the huge losses, I also have some good news. I am glad to inform you all that we have won the battle..."
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Elsa jumped a little at the loud sound, but kept her powers in check.
"Celebrations will be held tomorrow. For now our knights will have to rest. Thank you."
The queen sighed, turned around and walked back to the castle.
"Okay, I'll put some lotion on this..."
Later Elsa was in the nurse's office. The nurse looked at the bruise on Elsa's stomach. She grabbed some lotion to easy to pain and make sure that the bruise would heal faster.
"Thank you..." Elsa whispered.
The nurse nodded and told her to apply the lotion at least once a day. She walked away, closed the door and Elsa was left alone in the nurse's office.
She put her dress back on and put the lotion in her pocket. She put her hair up into a ponytail.
"Your majesty?"
The door opened up and the knight named Leon walked into the room.
"Leon..." Elsa whispered. She and some of the knights had become closer than before during their journey.
"Are you alright?" Leon asked carefully.
"I saw my friend getting killed and I have a big bruise on my stomach. So, yes, I am fine."
"I'm so sorry...I can't imagine how it must be to see captain Albert die...may he rest in peace."
"Yes...has he been buried yet?"
"It is being carried out...I saw his fiancé grieving..."
"I need to get there." Elsa wanted to leave, but Leon held his arm out, stopping her.
"Queen Elsa, you need to rest. You look tired."
Elsa glared at him and said with a stern voice; "Stand down, knight. I am going there to pay my respects and you are not stopping me. Plus, wasn't captain Albert your friend too?"
"Yeah...yeah!" Leon put his arm down. "Screw orders, we're going to that funeral!"
"Wait..." Elsa eyed him suspiciously. "Orders? Who ordered you?"
"Ah...king Hans told me to let you rest and keep you inside..."
"He did what?!"
"I think the king wants to keep you safe."
"As if. Follow me. We are going to the funeral."
Hannah was in the whore house. She was mopping the floor while Kristoff and some other girls were cleaning the tables while Gerda was at the bar, rearranging the wine bottles.
Hannah stared at the ground. She thought about the way her sister had announced things...her sister didn't look too well...they had won the war, but knowing that her sister fought in it...
"Argh! This sucks!"
Hannah said as she threw the mop onto the floor.
Kristoff looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"What's wrong?"
"Everything!"
Kristoff walked over to her. "Hannah, is it your sister again?"
Hannah sighed. "I...I am worried about her. She looked tired and wornout when she announced our win and Jack wasn't by her side...something is wrong, I can feel it."
"You really care about her, huh?"
Hannah stared at him. She became flustered and put her hands against her cheeks.
"Is it that obvious? My goodness!"
Kristoff looked at her with an sudden intense stare.
"What?" Hannah asked a bit confused.
"You look cute right now."
"H-huh?!" Hannah pulled her hands away from her face and took a step back. "Did you just said that I was cute?!"
"No!" Kristoff seemed to get back to his senses and glared at her. "I called you a brute!"
"Excuse me?!" Hannah yelled. She grabbed Kristoff by his lapel. "Did you just call me a brute?! I'm not agressive!"
"You are grabbing me in a very aggressive manner right now."
"Oh shut up!" Hannah said and she pushed him away. "Just go and work harder, you idiot!"
"I am working hard, dumbass! You're the one who stopped mopping to start moping!"
Hannah grabbed her mop again and tried to hit Kristoff with it who simply just laughed.
Elsa and Leon arrived at the funeral.
The fiancé of captain Albert was weeping as they lowered a wooden casket into the ground. Besides the fiancé were a priest and a young woman and old man who was carrying two small babies.
They walked up to them. Everyone gasped when they saw the queen.
"Your majesty!" The priest said. "What..."
"How dare you." The fiancé said and she glared at Elsa. "First you let my husband die in the war and then you suddenly come here to act as if you're sorry..."
"Captain Albert was my friend." Elsa looked at the casket. "He...he told me about you, Petra Laine...how you two met...and how much he wanted to return to thee."
Petra's eyes softened. "He told you that?
Elsa looked back at her. She kneeled down in front of the woman and lowered her head.
"I am so sorry for you loss. May captain Albert Laine rest in peace."
"Queen Elsa!" Leon said. "You don't have to bow to a civilian!"
Elsa didn't answer him. She kept her head low. Petra kneeled down by her and smiled at her.
"Your majesty, please stand up." Perta said. "I overreacted...you really don't need to bow for me."
Elsa stood up and looked at her. "I know I don't need to, but I wanted to. Your fiancé saved me...I cannot be grateful enough."
Petra looked at the casket. "Albert was always someone who would jump into hot fire for someone...I told him to stop working, but when Arendelle fell on hard times and we didn't have much, he insisted on working his way up the ladder and become captain."
"Yes...wait...Arendelle fell on hard times?"
Petra nodded. "Didn't you know? 10 years ago the citizens barely had any food, we barely managed through the winter."
"Ah..." Elsa glanced at Leon. "I remember...anyhow, I am grateful to Albert."
"I know..." Petra smiled. "I know..."
After that Elsa and Leon returned to the castle.
Elsa told Leon to stand down and go take a rest. She herself went to her office.
She sat down behind the desk and buried her head between her hands.
Arendelle had fallen on hard times and she barely knew about it...her parents kept it from her. She remembered how she was only focused on studying when she was a kid and how her days were filled with that. She...
There was a knock on her door.
"Come in." Elsa said.
Jack walked into the room with a serious face.
"Queen Elsa, the king is worried about you..."
"It doesn't matter." Elsa said. "Jack..." She stared up at him when he stood in front of her desk. "10 years ago Arendelle went through a hard time and I didn't know about it...I had no problem with food while the citizens were starving...what kind of queen am I?"
"Your majesty..."
"And now, we've won the war but with the sacrifice of our captain and many other knights...even when I made those ice monsters to help us fight, they still managed to get some of us..."
Jack sighed. He walked around the table and kneeled down in front of her. He grabbed her hands and gave her a small smile.
"You're a good queen, Elsa...the fact that you trained hard to defend Arendelle and managed to save us from a war..."
"I could have done better." Elsa pulled her hands back and looked at him with a hardened stare. "I am going to be better. This war was only one of many to come. I can't keep being this weak."
Jack grabbed her hands again. "You aren't weak."
"Stop lying to me because you like me." Elsa pulled her hands back and she stood up. "If it weren't for captain Albert then I would have died. I got lucky this time, Jack."
Jack stood up too. He grabbed her hands again.
"Will you quit grabbing my hands?" Elsa asked. "I might freeze yours off if you keep doing that..."
"Alright..." Jack's voice became lower. He took a step closer to her as he released her hands. "Your majesty...I'm sorry for what you've gone through. But the fact that you are taking the lead and adressing our people, visiting the captain's funeral and making sure that the knights have some rest...I don't think that some who is weak would be able to do all of that..."
"Like I said; stop lying to me because you..."
"Yes, I like you, princess, now stop acting as if everything I say is a lie. You did well, you defended Arendelle and that is it. Now it is time for you to rest."
Elsa stared at him in silence before she suddenly started to giggle.
Jack lit up at her small laugh. It was something he hadn't heard for a while and seeing her face relax and her old happy smile back...it gave her a glow again.
"Did you just call me a princess?" Elsa giggled.
Jack grinned at her. "Old habits die hard."
"You're an idiot."
"I guess so..."
Elsa quirked her eyebrow at him. "So, you're not denying it?"
"No, I'm wearing the badge of idiocy loud and proud." Jack put his hand against his chest and made a dramatic face.
Elsa giggled again. She put her hand over his and made it into a fist. "Hold tight onto that badge!"
Jack laughed along with her over their silly joke, but he stopped laughing when she pulled her hand back and her smile dissapeared.
"Just..." Elsa's voice became serious again. She moved her hand to his cheek and looked him straight into his eyes. "Be happy, Jack. I...want you to stay the same and live a long life."
"I will. And you will too..."
Elsa retracted her hand. "I hope so. But after what happened in battle..."
Her eyes averted his as she started to tear up and her lips started to tremble.
"Queen Elsa..." Jack moved closer to her. He pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "You must have been so scared..."
Elsa buried her head into his chest. She wrapped her arms around him too and grasped the fabric of his clothing. She knew that she shouldn't be close with Jack anymore, but there was no one else who could soothe her.
"And you musn't forget..." Jack whispered. "That I will always be on your side. No matter what happens."
Elsa nodded and kept crying. Jack put his head onto her head and held her even tighter.
Unfortunately the two didn't notice Hans on the other side of the door, listening in.