Note:

God – life is getting so busy. Oh well, here is Chappy thirty-one! Thank you all for being patient with me. Another apology – this story is going to have to be thirty-four chapters (FINAL ANSWER, I SWEAR TO GOD). This chapter is mostly filler, but there are some key plot points. Please be kind and stay with me – we are almost at the finish line. ADDITIONALLY – there are some Icelandic phrases, in this chapter, that I used Google Translator for. If there is a better way to write it that is more authentic, please advise and I'll be happy to revise.

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Icelandic Phrases Used:

1. Framtíðardrottning – "Future Queen"

2. Vinsamlegast forðastu að ávarpa mig svona, elskan – "Please refrain from addressing me like that, dear."

3. Mér þykir það svo leitt, litla systir. Ég elska þig – "I'm sorry, little sister. I love you."

4. Nei, fyrirgefðu, systir. Ég ætlaði ekki að eyðileggja áætlunina – "No, I'm sorry, sister. I didn't mean to ruin the plan."

5. Elskan – "Darling."

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Disclaimer:

I own nothing that Disney has the exclusive rights to – this is all for the sake of creativity and a love of fanfiction – WELL WITHIN THE SCOPE of parody.

Happy Reading!

-JQ


Chapter Thirty-One: Recalculating Route

[Vennesvurg, Sweden]

At this point in her life, anyone could assume that her favourite dish was 'stew', considering how much of it she had been doing for the last few days. It had been exactly three days since Malkvist had forced her and Karl to move their wedding date closer. She had tried to keep her feelings at bay but it was rather difficult when your freedom was being ripped away while your lover and close friend were going to face trial and possible banishment.

All in all, Tina was having a horrible week.

Ingrid, Honeymaren, Ryder and Karl had tried their best to cheer her up, but there was just no use. She was going to have to marry Karl and watch as Malkvist slowly removed any form of political and sovereign autonomy of her beloved home kingdom. She honestly had no idea how any of this could get any worse.

"Princess?" Anton said suddenly, interrupting her stewing time, "I'm sorry to bother you while you...er...lay face down on your bed for the twelfth hour."

The brunette just groaned and raised her head just enough to address him. "Yes, Tony?"

Not finding any use in arguing his antagonism towards the nickname she gave him, he decided to ignore it this time. "You have some visitors down stairs."

"Unless it's somehow Elsa dressed up as another make believe cousin, I'd rather just remain up here." she sighed as Anton rolled his eyes. He was rather un-phased by Tina's melodramatic display.

"It's isn't your cousin, Your High –!"

"Then I don't give a sh –!"

"It's your sister."

Tina immediately sat up and stared at the butler. "My...my sister?"

"Yes." Anton stated as nonchalantly as he could manage. "And your other sister. And your other one. And your other one."

Tina fell back onto the pillows and sighed heavily. "Shit." she muttered to herself. The situation had definitely gotten much, much, worse.

...

King Karl was in the parlour of the castle, feeling delighted by the presence of the Botarskalic princesses. He found them wonderful conversationalists, especially when they told him little stories about Tina as a rebellious child and adolescent. In many ways, Karl was not surprised by the antics his fake fiancé had managed to get herself into (or, rather, situations that she most definitely started). Right from the outset, Tina had presented herself as a force to be reckoned with – someone who left little interpretation about who she was as a person to anyone who met her.

He was more surprised to see the range of personalities that were laid out before him. Princess Finn was the princess he was supposed to marry. Unlike Tina, she was one year younger than he was. Remarkably, she held a lot of the same interests that he did. She loved Greek Mythology and Western literature. She told him that she wished to study abroad and become an expert in something related to those fields. While she was interesting, he still believed that his heart and mind were now tied to one person: Gunn-Britt. Thankfully, Finn also had someone back home – a young man named Leif. He was happy for her and hoped that he and Gunn-Britt could enjoy a double date in the near future.

Next, there was Princess Rikki. She was the most intimidating as she was exactly what he envisioned for a Botarskalic princess. She was adorned in viking makeup and heavy leather. Her hair was done up in viking braids – much like Gunn-Britt, she appeared battle ready. He noticed many physical similarities between Rikki and Tina. The only difference they appeared to have were height and their eye colours. This princess was almost like a direct physical manifestation of the personality that Tina had, without the wartime regalia. Otherwise, their personalities seemed pretty aligned, although Rikki seemed to have even less of an internal dialogue when making decisions compared to Tina (if that was even possible).

Princess Gilly was hard to really read. She seemed to be silent and preferred to observe. From this alone, Karl inferred that she was the sister who was the most emotionally available. In other words, Gilly was most likely the sister that everyone turned to with their emotional problems. She exuded a type of calmness that Karl was thankful for. He knew that Tina's ability to listen to problems, and provide a safe space for people, came from this sister. He decided that he'd ask Tina more about his inference later as he knew that he probably couldn't ask Gilly directly. Physically, Tina had told him that Gilly looked most like their late mother, Queen Úna. She often told him this before she regrettably informed him that she resembled the likeness of her father.

Lastly, there was Crown Princess Arnkatla. In the original agreement, before it was nullified, she was supposed to wed his brother, Tobias. She was as every bit of regal as she was fierce. She sat with perfect posture and exuded a calming aura that told you she was important. The only reference Karl had to such professionalism was his own father, who's demeanor was closer to a spoiled toddler than it was to any sort of high-ranking official. On the outset, Karl couldn't identify any similarities between Princess Katla and Princess Tina – it was almost as if they were polar opposites – entirely juxtaposed in nearly every sense.

That was...until Tina decided to join them in Karl's study.

The silence that fell over the room was deafening. The gentle laughter of the princesses ceased to exist upon glancing at their sister. They had not seen each other in quite some time and Karl felt as though the distance did not make their hearts grow fonder.

"Hrafntinna." Katla said, taking a sip of the tea that Anton had brought for her earlier.

Tina narrowed her eyes at her older sister in contest. "Arnkatla," her amber eyes quickly scanned the other three, "And co."

"Damn." Rikki said with mock disappointment, "We're 'and co'?"

Ignoring Rikki's commentary, Katla stood and made her way towards Tina. Once she was in front of her younger sister, the Crown Princess took a steadying breath, as if to prevent herself from exploding. "Can I ask you something, my dear?"

Tina scoffed but nodded. "Certainly, Your Grace."

"Why does this feel like a fight scene?" Karl asked the other three sisters, "Should...should I stop them?" all three of the remaining sisters just shook their head at the young king.

"Just let this happen, Your Majesty." Gilly told him, never taking her eyes off of her sisters, "I strongly advise getting behind Finn and Rikki." Not one to disobey a woman, Karl cowered behind the young blonde and older brunette.

"Can you tell me how this...plan...failed?" Despite the obvious edge in her voice, Katla's face was the embodiment of calmness. Karl thought there was something awe-inspiring, powerful yet utterly chilling about that. He immediately saw why she would be a fantastic queen.

Tina scoffed at her sister's insinuations. "Well, firstly, I wouldn't use the term 'failed', as that implies something...harsher than what is necessary." she said. Unsurprisingly, Tina relied on her charm and her wit. Unfortunately for her, Katla was not having any of that. "Secondly, I feel like you already know so...I don't exactly wish to waste anymore of your –!"

"Enough!" Katla stated as her face contorted into the complete opposite of calm. The crown princess balled her fists as her eyes bore into Tina's soul with accusation and unbridled anger. "WE WORKED SO HARD FOR THIS TO WORK!"

If Tina was at all shaken by her sister's display, she did not show it. "Now, Kats," the brunette said carefully, "you know I don't respond well when you raise your voice –!"

"YOU JUST HAD TO RUIN IT." Katla cried out in frustration, "YOU HAVE A BRAIN, DON'T YOU? WHY DON'T YOU EVER THINK WITH IT?!"

"I DID THINK," Tina replied with equal force, "I THOUGHT we were in a secluded area!"

"OHHH, right. Sooo secluded." Katla laughed in disbelief at her sister's audaciousness, "YOU WERE CAUGHT IN THE PUBLIC AREA OF THE CASTLE GARDENS! BE FOR REAL, HRAFNTINNA!"

"It was dark..." Tina cleared her throat to ground herself and keep herself from crying. She hated when Katla scolded her and she was feeling very vulnerable knowing that Elsa was in the dungeons.

"NOT DARK ENOUGH!"

It was at this moment that Karl realized the resemblance between Tina and Katla: they both had a temper.

At this moment, Rikki leaned into the young king. "I told you this was going to be entertaining."

Karl sighed, "I just feel bad."

Rikki shoulder-bumped him and scoffed, "Wuss."

Suddenly, Finn stepped forward. Her smile was bright but weary as she approached her older sisters as if she was approaching two lionesses fighting over a kill, "Okay, girls – I think we've understood one another by now –!"

"STAY OUT OF THIS, FINN!" Katla and Tina spat at the youngest member of their family.

Immediately, Finn held up her hands and backed up, "Well, I tried."

"ALRIGHTY, GIRLS!" Gilly said, promptly stepping in between her bickering sisters – she obviously had more experience doing this that Finn. She wedged her tall frame between the shorter two women and shoved them away by pushing them by their shoulders. "That's enough of Tina versus Katla time." the redhead narrowed her eyes at both of them before scoffing. "Talk to one another properly or not at all."

"I'll take the second option." Tina hissed before making her way out of the king's study. After the door slammed shut behind the brunette, the silence in the room was almost deafening – like a battlefield after the soldiers had retreated. The only sound remaining was Katla's breathing as it started to calm down.

"Well..." Rikki said, stretching her arms out, "Don't we all just love a productive family meeting?"

...

Four levels below the events of the king's study, Lindahl and Arnold were prepping for trial with Gunn-Britt and Elsa. The advisor and the assistant were initially very skeptical about adhering to Elsa's plan, but it was clear that she was once a queen for a reason (other than birth order of course). Although she hadn't been a queen for six years, her intimate knowledge of all of her kingdom's allies was gobsmackingly incredible. As a result, her carefully crafted ideas had morphed into an argument that would definitely get the court to overlook their situation in favour of taking a closer look at man who sat at the head of the council.

"...and so," Elsa said as she munched on a piece of bread from her dungeon rations, "all we have to do is argue that there is technically no marriage as we have the nullifying document in our possession. Once we establish that the agreement did not have proper consideration, with Botarskal, we can introduce this paper as evidence."

"What are we going to do when they ask how we obtained the document in the first place?" Arnold asked, clearly nervous about what they were trying to do.

"Simple," the ice-wielder told him, "we just say that Lindahl retrieved it lawfully from Councilman Nilsen."

"Will that really work?" Arnold asked, not entirely convinced by her answer.

Elsa gulped down some water to help her digest some of the bread she was snacking on. "We'll get Lindahl to create a scenario in which Nilsen gave him the document on the eve of the party. Nilsen will agree if we spontaneously put him on the stand," she said with confidence.

Arnold narrowed his eyes at the former queen, "How can you be so sure?"

Elsa smirked, "You try getting a high-society man to admit he was flirting with another man in the home where his wife and children reside."

The Botarskalic advisor mulled over the scenario in his mind – the ice wielder was right. Nilsen will have to agree to whatever Lindahl states because if he contests the facts, he'll have no choice but to actually say what Lindahl was doing at his home.

"Alright, fine," Arnold relented with a sigh, "I just really hope this works out." after what seemed like hundreds of failed attempts to free Tina of her marital obligations to Karl, the advisor was quickly losing faith in their efforts. He wanted to believe that they could pull this off, but their shared history of doing this was not a reliable source.

Noticing her friend's disdain, Gunn-Britt reached out of her cell to place a strong and comforting hand on his shoulder. "Do not fret, Arnold. We will get through this, just like how Botarskal survived the yak war."

Lindahl shot a quizzical look at the viking woman's peculiar – yet oddly very classic – statement. Not getting any explanation from Arnold and Gunn-Britt, he looked to Elsa. The platinum haired woman just waved him off, signalling him to not ask.

"You're right, Gunnie," Arnold said, placing his hand over hers, "we'll get through this like we always do." the two friends shared a hopeful gaze before delving back into their strategy for their upcoming battle for freedom, in more ways than one.

...

[Arendelle, Norway]

Miles away, to the west, Anna and Kristoff stood at the docks of Arendelle's Fjord. The royal couple were waiting for the arrival of King Hallgrimur. Their initial plan was waiting back at the castle, but Anna had been restless since the sisters had left. She had been more fidgety than usual and she wore this blank stare, as she stared off into some other world. Kristoff had jokingly started calling it her 'Elsa' stare, but Anna was not a huge fan of that joke.

"Everything is going to turn out okay," Kristoff said, as he massaged his wife's shoulders. Her small frame was not usually as tense as it was but his ministrations were grounding for her.

"I know it will," she replied, not taking her eyes off of the horizon, "it's just so difficult to think so after...well...all that has gone awry." Kristoff could see how much Anna cared about Tina even after not knowing her for all that long. After a short month of being together everyday, he grew to also enjoy the young woman's company. She was funny, kind and ultimately looked after Stella and Nolan without a complaint. He also didn't mind that she appeared to make his standoffish sister-in-law happy, which was also a feat in and of itself.

The Arendellian prince consort hugged his wife close. "I know, but hey – it'll all work out in the end." as he held her, he spoke of the things that he wished to manifest. "Tina will be free, Elsa and her will be together...maybe they settle down and adopt some playmates for our little demons..."

Anna scoffed and shook her head, "I don't think Elsa's much of a 'kids' person." Even though her sister adored her niece and nephew, Elsa was not someone who trusted herself in raising them.

"But Tina is definitely a 'kids' person." Kristoff quipped, "I bet she'd convince her somehow."

At that thought, Anna let herself laugh. "I don't know..." Anna replied, "you know how stubborn Elsa can be."

"Yeah, but Katla told us that Tina was also pretty stubborn didn't she?" Kristoff said with a smile.

"Yeah, you're right." Anna relented, "They're both pretty stubborn."

"And they can both be stubborn together." Kristoff sighed happily as he held Anna close to his chest, "Just like us."

The queen rolled her eyes and settled into his embrace, "Well...maybe not 'just like' us," she told him, "but they'll definitely be happier than they are right now."

As the sun fell closer to the horizon line, Kristoff and Anna just stood at the docks, enjoying one another's company and continued to talk about the 'what if's' and possibilities that could occur after this weird chapter of their lives finally closes. As they spoke of a more hopeful future, a large ship came into view. As it drifted closer to the docks, the large ship's detailing was visible. It was adorned with a multitude of viking symbols. When it was closer to them, Anna could make out the royal crest of Botarskal on the bow of the ship. She carefully removed herself from Kristoff's embrace and stood tall.

Once the Botarskalic ship docked, the crew began to lower the plank for the passengers to exit. With a regal stride, Anna made her way to the end of the plank to wait for King Hallgrimur. Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long. Within minutes, a large and lumbering figure – adorned with heavy armour and thick furs – came into view. As he came closer towards her, it was clear that this man was close to a whopping seven feet in stature. His shoulders were broad and his facial expressions seemed eerily familiar.

"Queen Anna," came his booming voice, in a thick Icelandic accent, "it is an honour to finally make your acquaintance." he bowed before her.

Anna nodded and mirrored his bow. "Thank you, King Hallgrimur. It's great to finally meet you as well." as she stood before the elusive king, she could make out a few of his features. His eyes were a light brown colour – if they were any lighter, Anna guessed that they'd have a sort of amber-like appearance. His face, although it was dressed with a long and heavy beard, resembled Tina's. If she was a man, of course. The Arendellian queen felt a warmth seep through her chest as she saw the young princess in his features.

"Let's head back to the castle," came Kristoff's voice, "we have a lot to fill his majesty in on, and I feel like it will be better received over a plate of warm food and some ale."

The king offered him a quizzical glance. "What is he talking about, Queen Anna?"

The redheaded queen took a deep breath before meeting the king's eyes once more. "Like my husband said," she told him carefully, "what we have to tell you will be better received over dinner. It has to do with...the wedding between Karl and Tina."

The king's eyes widened. He didn't tell Anna anything about the agreement and the Vennesvurg council was very strict about keeping the information on a 'need to know' basis. "How do you know about the wedding?"

Anna sighed and reached for the king's hand. "Follow us, and we'll explain everything. Just..." Anna's eyes pleaded heavily, as if already asking Hallgrimur for forgiveness, "...promise me that you won't freak out."

The king sighed as well. He had five daughters and quickly recognized the current look that the Arendellian queen was sporting. Hesitantly, the king reached for Anna's hand and held it tenderly in his grip. "I promise."

...

[Vennesvurg, Sweden]

That night, Princess Tina managed to evade the curious eyes of the castle staff to slip into the dungeon. She brought some chocolate and bread for Gunn-Britt and Elsa. She was expecting to see her friend and lover, but she nearly dropped her gifts when she saw a surprise third figure in front of the cells.

"Don't let your mouth gape, dear, you'll catch flies."

Tina scoffed and set the tray of treats down on the vacant guard's chair. "Katla. What are you doing down here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" the crown princess said, gesturing to the prisoners. "I'm visiting Gunn-Britt and our cousin, Kjellfrid."

"Can we stop using the word 'cousin' when Tina's around, please?" the platinum blonde pleaded with a look of pure torture. It was already embarrassing that she was imprisoned for infidelity – she didn't need a reminder of the second charge of 'incest'.

"I mean it," Tina said, approaching her sister with a newfound determination, "it's not her fault, Katla. Leave her be."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Katla said, "I'm just talking to her about her plan to get out of being hung." Tina looked over at the ice wielder for confirmation of her sister's excuse. Elsa just nodded.

"It's true," said the former queen, "we're just talking strategy down here."

"Fine." Tina said. She then walked over to the cell and gave Elsa a kiss on the cheek between the bars, "Have they given you your dinner yet?" the brunette asked with care and concern.

Elsa smiled. "No, but Arnold and Ryder already came down to give us some soup."

"It was a goulash." Gunn-Britt announced, "It was a little too bland, but it reminded me of the times of the yak war."

Arnkatla shuddered at the thought. "Ugh, please don't talk about the yak wars when it isn't time the annual vigil."

Gunn-Britt grunted in agreement, "Truer words have never been spoken, framtíðardrottning."

The crown princess rolled her eyes at the large woman's choice of words. "Vinsamlegast forðastu að ávarpa mig svona, elskan." After addressing Gunn-Britt, Katla returned her attention to her younger sister. Her eyes appeared softer than earlier. "Say your 'goodnight' to the ice queen and meet me in my guest room." she then began to make her way out of the dungeon without waiting for the younger princess' response.

When she was finally out of sight, and they could hear the shutting of the dungeon's entrance, Tina groaned. "God, she's insufferable."

Elsa chuckled. "You're such a 'younger sister'." she said with an endearing tone. Tina rolled her eyes.

"Whatever," the brunette sighed, leaning back against the bars.

Elsa place a pale hand on the younger woman's shoulders. She could understand Tina's frustrations but she could also understand Katla's point of view. "As an older sister myself, I can vouch for the community by saying that we just love our little sisters. Sometimes the love comes across as harsh, or...unnecessary, but it's all love."

Tina scoffed. "Older sisters' love is lame."

Elsa smirked. "Oh yeah? Am I lame?"

"The most lame." the princess said, turning around and cupping the platinum blonde's cheek through the bars of the cell. "Gods, I wish you were out of this place."

The blonde melted into the warmth of the princess' soft palm, "You and me both."

Gunn-Britt then grunted extra loudly.

"And – uh – Gunn-Britt too, obviously."

After a few moments of staring into one another's eyes, longingly, Tina gave Elsa one last kiss and sighed. "I guess I should go talk to my sister."

"You should," Elsa told her sympathetically, "she feels awful about the argument you both had, earlier in the day."

Tina looked at her in disbelief, "Did she really said that?"

Elsa just shrugged. "Not in so many words, but I could tell. You know...because of the older sister community."

The brunette didn't seem all that convinced, although she was amused at Elsa's attempt to keep her from getting angrier. "I'm not sure I believe that. Maybe you should stick to one superpower."

...

Katla was brushing her hair in front of the mirror in her guest room when she heard three knocks at her door. Sighing, she placed the brush down on the vanity and got up to answer it. When she opened the door, she wasn't surprised to see Tina standing there. Without a word, Katla stepped to the side and gestured for her sister to enter the room.

Once they were both standing in the middle of the room, Katla spoke up. "Before I say anything that makes you upset, I just want to apologize." she told her sister with a solemn expression, "I was taking out my frustrations on you in an unfair way and I shouldn't have. I know that you're going through something immensely stressful and frightening and I'm sorry my tone from earlier didn't help with that." she tried to keep her emotions at bay, but she was quickly failing. "Mér þykir það svo leitt, litla systir. ég elska þig."

Wordlessly, Tina's eyes swelled up with unshed tears and launched herself into her eldest sister's embrace. She began to sob against her sister's nightgown, "Nei, fyrirgefðu, systir. Ég ætlaði ekki að eyðileggja áætlunina." she said, "I just...I just needed her, Kats."

Katla nodded and nuzzled her younger sister's hair with her nose, inhaling her familiar scent and finding comfort in it. "Loving someone is hard," Katla told her, as she held her close, "falling for someone is the worst of it. It feels like everything all at once, doesn't it?"

Tina groaned and sighed into her sister's shoulder, "It does. It really does."

Katla chuckled at her sister's words. Curiously, Katla pulled back from Tina and asked, "Have you told her how you feel?"

Tina blushed and sighed, "We...we h-haven't said 'love' just yet..." the younger princess admitted, "...but I don't think there's another word for it at this point."

Katla smiled and shook her head, "When we get you both out of this, make sure to tell her every day."

Tina smiled and pulled herself closer into her eldest sister's hold, "I will."

"That's my girl." Katla said, before kissing her on the forehead.

After a few minutes of calm silence, Tina finally spoke up. "You know, Kats?" she said in a careful tone, "Sometimes I'm grateful that mom wasn't here."

"Why is that, elskan?" Katla asked, very confused.

Tina just snuggled closer into her sister's embrace. "Because you did a good job and I would not have been able to see just how strong you are."

Feeling a warmth seep through her chest and into her soul, Katla willed herself not to cry. Instead, she held her baby sister tighter in her arms. In a way, she had raised her sisters as if she was their mother since she was twelve years of age. "I wish she was here all the time," Katla told Tina with a chuckle, "Because if she was, she could scold you lot for me and I don't have to be the bad guy."