Chapter 8:
Invasion
Arendelle
Despite all the chaos the day before, today seemed to be a pretty normal day for Arendelle. The mob that had marched on the castle had agreed to refrain from any further destruction of Arendelle's business district. In fact, some of those who had participated in destroying and looting shops were now helping to repair those same shops as a sign of good faith.
Of course, that did not stop the guards from patrolling and making sure no one was attempting any further hostilities. Two guards in particular were patrolling through the market.
"How do you think the army we sent are doing with finding those captured soldiers?" Asked one of the soldiers.
"I have no idea. All we can do is pray that they find them alive and bring them home, hopefully without any further casualties." Replied the other.
"Right..."
Just then the first soldier looked out to the Fjord and saw a strange shadowy silhouette.
"Hey, look! Is that a ship? Maybe they're back!"
"So soon? That doesn't make any sense."
Then suddenly, the one silhouette turned into four of them. The guards' eyes widened. Many of the people nearby also saw them.
"We gotta warn the General, now!" Said the second guard as he and the other guard started running towards the castle. They burst through the main doors and found General Mattias speaking to other guards. They all turned their attention to the running guards, who by now were panicking.
After hearing what the running guards had seen, Mattias was running up the large stairs and barged into the Royal study. Elsa and Anna jumped at the sudden intrusion and felt alerted.
"Your Majesties! We're being invaded by ships from Weselton!" Mattias shouted.
The sisters' eyes widened in shock and fear and ran to the window overlooking the town and saw that there were indeed ships from Weselton approaching the docks.
"Son of a-! Why the fuck is Weselton attacking us?! Did they not get the message when we cut off trade with them three years ago!" Anna shouted.
Anna didn't waste anymore time and turned to Mattias.
"General! Prepare every soldier you can to defend Arendelle from these invaders!"
The three then ran out of the study. Mattias was shouting orders at his men while the castle staff were beginning to panic.
"Everyone, run and get to shelter, now!" Elsa ordered.
The maids and servants then started running to get to safety.
"Your majesty! I must escort you and your sister to safety!" Said a guard.
"No." Anna replied firmly.
"Your majesty, please! The riots were one thing, but this is a direct attack on Arendelle!" Begged Kai, who was next to the guard.
"Which is why, once again, I will not cower and hide while my people and my kingdom are under siege, Kai." Anna replied firmly.
The Weselton ships were fast approaching the docks until they finally ran aground by ramping through the docks, breaking them to shreds as the Arendellian citizens panicked and ran for safety. Then the planks dropped and the Weselton soldiers ran to the village and immediately begun their invasion by attacking the innocent citizens of Arenedelle. Men yelled, women screamed, and little children cried as the people ran to safety.
Immediately after the Weselton soldiers began their assault, Mattias ran out with all the men he had available and led the charge towards the Weselton army, which had begun a counter-charge. The two armies clashed in the market.
The invasion of Arendelle had begun.
Norwegian Sea, Near Iceland
The Valhalla continued sailing towards Iceland, which was where the missing soldiers were being held.
A couple of soldiers and sailors were having their injuries from the recent skirmish attended to.
Inside the captain's cabin, Hans, Hanna, Ragnar, Björn, and Damien were once again surrounding the large table while going over the map and voyage.
"So, if we come around here and disembark here, we should be able to avoid getting ambushed again while trying to survive this godforsaken winter at the same time." Hans explained.
"And how sure are you of this?" Ragnar asked.
"I'm sure. And it's not like we got any other options." Hans replied.
Meanwhile, Kristoff was on the top deck of the ship helping a few of his fellow soldiers. He looked up and saw something strange; a sealed envelope flying in the air. He was confused at first but then he saw something he recognized.
The Royal Crest of Arendelle.
Kristoff's eyes widened. He quickly ran to the upper part of the deck and was just barely able to snatch the envelope out of the air.
Whewww~
Kristoff recognized Gale's whistling before the spirit flew away. He knew in his heart that it was Anna who wrote this letter. Kristoff quickly ran towards the Captain's cabin and barged through the doors.
"What If we cut through the Norway? It would probably make the voyage quicker too." Added Björn as they still surrounded the large table with the Scandinavian map on top it.
"Lars has spies everywhere. I'm sure he would have spies even in Oslo--"
(SLAM!)
The four men and woman were startled by the sudden, loud, and somewhat rude entrance of the mountain man.
"A letter from Arendelle has arrived! It's from Queen Anna!" Kristoff exclaimed with desperate eyes.
Hans eyes widened and quickly retreated to e letter before opening it and skimming through Anna's writing.
Each second that passed by only made his eyes widen larger. It was making everyone inside cabin anxious, especially Kristoff.
"What is it? Has something happened??" Asked Damien with serious concern.
Hans looked back up at the crew. "Arendelle's been attacked."
"What!?" Said Hanna as she took a step forward. B-but.. I don't understand. How is that even possible!"
"Lars." Sighed Hans as he rubbed his forehead stressfully. "He took his shot as soon as he realized we separated from the rest of the army and when he found out that Arendelle sent more men with Kaleb. GOD DAMN IT!"
Hans angrily kicked a barstool near by.
"No that's not possible." Said Damien with a challenging tone. "Queen Anna and Queen Elsa have put more men and police around the kingdom. Many even working overtime hours."
Kristoff bent down and gently picked up the letter as he read Anna's familiar handwriting. He knew it so well. Sighed with her signature and stamped with her seal.
"Then why would your own queen send the letter then?" Asked Cassandra.
"You don't understand! Arendelle has no enemies. We've made sure no one can enter our shores." Exclaimed Damien.
"You don't know my brother." Said Hans as Damien turned to him with widened eyes. "He's smart and calculating. He saw his opportunity and grasped it. Youre kingdom is under attack.
Damien eyes widened in worry. Hanna could see how panicked he looked.
"We have to save them.." Muttered Kristoff as he stood up on his feet, still glancing over his former fiancés letter as they turned to look at him. "We have to save them--"
(BOOM!)
The whole ship rocked followed by another loud boom. Immediately they hanged on to whatever they could, even each other.
Hans quickly made his way back to the main deck with everyone following behind him.
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK AGAIN! THERE'S TOO MANY OF THEM!" Exclaimed a pirate from the top of the main mast as he began to blow his horn in warning while ringing the bell.
The ship was chaotic with everyone running to their battle stations while Ragnar shouted orders. But Hans took steps forward to the sea and his eyes widened in worry for what he saw.
Six ships were surrounding them. This time they belonged to Sweden with one damaged Weselton ship staying behind them all.
"Oh my God... Hans.." Muttered Hanna as she walked up next to her brother.
"We're not going to make it." He shook his head.
"What?" Said Ragnar who heard him. "What the hell are you talking about. We beat them once we can beat them again."
"Not this time. Take a look around." Said Hans as he gestured towards everyone on deck. "We're outnumbered. We don't have enough men and the ones we do are still have men badly injured.
Ragnar and the others looked around the deck with worry.
"The ship itself is also has also taken too much damage. She won't make it if we go against six."
Björn pulled out his sword. "So what do we suggest we do then Hans. We punch our way out of this?"
Everyone began to do the same as they pulled out their weapons. Even Hanna and her warriors.
"No we're not getting out of this." Said Hans before he turned to Damien and Kristoff. "But you two are."
"What?" Said Kristoff who was just about to pull out his own sword with Damien.
"You said it yourself, Kristoff. We have to save them." Said Hans.
Kristoff pressed his brows together as he realized what he finally meant.
"Yes. All of us. As in you included." Argued Kristoff.
"No. You both need to sail back to Arendelle as quickly as you can. You along with your men must help Queen Elsa and Queen Anna fend off Weselton and Sweden." Said Hans to Kristoff and Damien.
"What and you can't come?" Retaliated Kristoff with a scoff. "You and the others are committing suicide by staying on this doomed ship--
"HEY!" Yelled Hans as he grabbed Kristoffs tense shoulders tightly. "You're kingdom comes first! Now quit talking back and get on the escape boat before I send you back unconscious!"
Hans shoved Kristoff back before turning around to join the rest of the group aboard who were taking their swords, muskets and shields out.
He took out his own sword and held it firmly in his hand.
"GO!" Exclaimed Hans as he gestured the escape boats to the two of them as the six ships surrounded them closer and closer.
Kristoff pressed his lips and nodded before joining Damien and the rest of the Arendelle's who were boarding the escape boats.
Then suddenly the loud canons seized their firing. It was quiet and the only thing that could be heard were the rocking ships and the sea.
Damien and Kristoff were helping board the last of the Arendellians into the escape boats as they also worried about the sudden silence.
Everyone gripped their weapons tighter as they stood close to their fellow soldiers. Hans took in a deep long breath before letting it out.
YAAAHHHHH!!!
Suddenly and all at once the canons returned and this time with what seemed hundred of men swinging and making their way into the Valhalla ship with weapons of every kind. It was a full out battle.
Everyone began to fight. Sword with sword, musket with musket, ace with axe and shield with shields.
"KEEP YOUR GROUND MEN! DEFEND THIS LIKE IT'S YOU'RE WOMANS BODY!!!" Ragnar yelled out as he dueled with a Swedish soldier before striking him down.
Cassandra and the shield maidens fought bravely as they helped each other fend off the attacking Swedes.
Hanna fought off two Swedes that were trying to jab their sword into her body to wound her. She ducked just in time and sliced both the men's stomach in a perfect spin as they held their stomach and screamed in agony while their intestines slid off their stomach.
A Swede quickly took advantage and ran up to Hanna and yanked her braided long auburn hair backwards with much force. Thinking that it would yank her neck and whole body back and bring her tumbling to the ground.
But he was surprised when he saw Hanna didn't even flinch or even yelp out at all. Instead Hanna turned around slowly to him with pressed brows before she collided her knee into his crotch as he yelled in agony before then sticking her sword through his stomach as he gasped.
He looked into her glowing emerald eyes with fear.
"You'll have to pull harder than that if you want to get a noise out of me." She said ruthlessly to the shocked and impaled man before drawing her sword out covered in his blood as she then kicked him backwards as he fell to the ground.
Hans fought off many Swedes. In fact there were more soldiers going against him compres to any other person aboard the ship. He was the one Lars wanted the most.
Björn came from behind and made his way through the large squad of Swedes that were ganging up on his brother. He showed off his pure strength as he grabbed many by the neck and threw them overboard while cutting many down to their death.
"Looks like Lars has it out for you!" Exclaimed Bjorn as he threw another Swede overboard.
"You think!?" Responded Hans as he ducked just in time before rising up again and slicing a soldiers head off clean.
Kristoff helped the last Arendellian soldiers aboard the escape boat. "That's it that's the last of them-- whoa!"
A Swede jumped before them and began striking his sword at Kristoff who was ducking and moving away with each strike that tried to cut and produce him.
He rolled out of the way successfully when he had a chance and Damien stepped forward and struck the man with his own sword.
"Kristoff get to the boat!" Exclaimed Damien but then two more Swedes came at him.
Kristoff couldn't just stand there so then he pulled out his sword and helped fight them off with Damien.
He killed one successfully but it seemed to never end. Hans was right, they were truly outnumbered. They could see more yellow uniforms than their own.
Damien noticed the Swedes approaching the young Arendellians aboard the three escape boats who had to even defend themselves too.
"We need to get them the hell out of here!" Exclaimed Damien to Kristoff as he continued to fight off the Swedes.
Kristoff cut a man across his chest as he looked towards the escape boats. Another Swede came charging at him and Kristoff quickly rolled out of the way before sprinting back to the boats.
He had to lower all three hairs down to the sea. He began with the first boat as Damien made his way in front of Kristoff so no one would get to him.
"I'll cover you!" Exclaimed Damien as he slammed his shield on a Swedes head.
Kristoff tried to go as fast as he could as the Arendellian shouted at Kristoff to keep going that they haven't touched the sea yet.
Hanna struck another Swede to his death when he saw what was going on. She quickly whistled to Cassandra who looked at her.
Hanna gestured to the boats before she ran to them.
"Follow Princess Hanna she needs us!" Exclaimed Cassandra as she pierced another Swede before she and the rest of the shield maidens made their way through the crowd to catch up with her.
Damien flight with a rather large Swede who was trying to jam his axe through his shield to kill him. He was too tall and hard to strike with so many trying to do the same.
Suddenly Hanna rolled and sliced the large swede on his two hamstrings and his ankles, causing him to fall to his knees. Then she stood up back on her feet and struck her sword through the Swedes eye before he fell to his death.
She stood next to Damien as she joined in helping him. Damien was surprised by didn't have time to stare. He too continued the fighting.
Kristoff finally was able to get the first boat on the sea. He quickly made his way to the second boy and began to do the same.
Cassandra and the shield maidens made it through the crowd and joined Hanna as they began to create a wall separating Kristoff and the boats from the Swedes.
"How much longer till you're finished there Kristoff!" Exclaimed Hanna as she protected herself with her shield before piercing another man.
"I barely started on the second boat!" Exclaimed Kristoff as he tried to quickly row down the boat.
"There's too many of them! Who knows if we'll make it!" Exclaimed Cassandra.
"Let's get the ships on the sea and then on the boats first and then we'll worry about it we make it or not!" Exclaimed Hanna.
Hans noticed Hanna and Cassandra fighting off the Swedes and then saw Kristoff trying to bring down the boats.
"Björn! Go help Kristoff!" Exclaimed Hans.
Björn looked over to what Hans was referring to and quickly charged his way through the crowd with his mighty strength before reaching Hanna and the rest.
"Can you hold them off more another minute or two!?" Exclaimed Björn as he struck a couple of them down.
"As long as it's a minute or two!" Exclaimed Hanna before turning to Damien. "You should go too! He needs all the help he can get!"
"But.. what about--"
"We'll be fine just go!" Exclaimed Hanna as she continued fighting off the Swedes with her shield maidens.
Damien quickly nodded and ran to Kristoff with Björn beside him. When they reached Kristoff they all used their strength to try to the lowers the second boat as fast as possible.
Ragnar was noticing all his men were going down and getting captured one by one. He tried fighting off a couple of other Swedes that went at him but he lost his sword and soon thereafter he was brought down.
Hans noticed this and sighed before he began back to the battle. He knew this was going to happen. There was nothing they can do to stop it.
"Second boats done now we're on to the third!" Exclaimed Björn.
"Hurry!" Exclaimed Hanna as she kept fighting.
They began on the third boat as Björn, Damien and Kristoff lowered the heavy and packed boat. The three of them working together did help it go faster but the bait was still very heavy.
"You all need to lose a couple pounds!" Grunted Björn as he continued to use his strength to lower the Arendellians.
Hans grunted as several Swedes tackled him down to the ground yet he still held up a good fight even if they were trying to hold him down.
Hanna noticed this and quickly ran towards her brother. She jumped on top of a Swede man's shield and leaped over several men before landing close to her brother.
One by one she struck them down before helping hans up to his feet.
"Thanks for the help but I had that under control!" Exclaimed Hans as he and Hanna faced each others back while they continued fighting off Swedes
"Yeah, yeah sure!" Exclaimed Hanna as she jammed her shield in a swedes stomach before then jamming it into the back of his neck, permanently paralyzing him.
They made their way back to the group where Hans joined them. They were the only ones left who hadn't been captured.
The boat was only 20 inches from touching the water when suddenly it seized and the three of them couldn't lower the boat anymore.
"IT'S STUCK!" Exclaimed Kristoff.
"What do you mean it's stuck!" Exclaimed Hanna with pressed brows as she turned to look at the men.
"It won't budge!" Exclaimed Björn as he tried forcing the boat down.
Hanna breathed quickly in worry when suddenly a Swede behind her took advantage of her distraction and brought his spear up to strike her.
But Damien saw this and quickly reacted as he lunged himself forward coming between the spear and Hanna.
"AH!" He grunted as it pierced right below the left side of his pelvis as he pushed her out of the way.
Hanna gasped as she saw what he did. But Damien didn't waste time and instead jammed his sword through the Swedes stomach as he shouted in pain.
Hanna quickly jumped to her feet and knocked the man down before striking him too.
"Are you okay!? Oh my God you're bleeding--"
"I'll be fine, I'll be fine.." grunted Damien as he held his pelvis and any more blood from coming out. Before he continued fighting with only one arm this time.
Hans turned to Kristoff in panic. "GET THOSE BLOODY BOATS ON THE WATERS NOW!"
Kristoff looked around with fear and worry in his eyes. There were just far too much men and they were too outnumbered to the point they couldn't hold them off at this point.
Even Björn had to rejoin the fight to make sure they didn't advance towards both of them. Then in one quick thinking act, Kristoff drew out his sword and cut the the ropes with one swing.
The men on the boats yelled as the boat fell fast before it splashed on the sea. Than Kristoff quickly began to defend himself against the attack.
Damien grunted as he struck another Swede down before his strength finally gave out as he fell down one knee.
"Get up! Get up!" Exclaimed Hanna as she threw his arm around her shoulder to help him up on his feet.
"You.. need to save yourself." Grunted Damien.
"And you need to get on those boats!" Exclaimed Hanna as she fought off more Swedes.
Hans moved out of the way and threw a scene back before Björn knocked him down with a powerful clothesline.
Hans breathed heavily as he saw more Swedes come aboard the ship. He knew this was going to happen.
"Björn.." said Hans to his brother. "Get ready to surrender yourself."
Kristoff slayed a few Swedes before he jumped on top of the edge of the ship. He looked towards Hanna who was bringing Damien as quickly as she could.
She got the the edge of the ship and Damien was pulling himself up to jump with Kristoff when suddenly they were both knocked down.
"NO!" Exclaimed Hanna as she quickly jumped forward and killed several men so they let go off Kristoff and Damien.
Kristoff quickly jumped to his feet as he continued defending himself. Hanna approached Damien again to help him up.
"No! No! Dont.." grunted Damien as he shook his head.
"But we need to get you to the boats. You need to sail back to Arendelle--"
"I'm.. not sailing to Arendelle!" Grunted Damien. "You are."
Hanna's emerald glowing eyes widened at hearing that. Kristoff fought several men off the best he could until someone with knocked the sword out of his hand. He was a wordless. His hands went up in surrender and they tried to sustain him but Kristoff the began to throw punches and kicks.
He landed a few but was then quickly brought down.
Björn saw Kristoff being captured and was sprinting towards him until he saw Kristoff shake his head.
"NO! Don't!" Exclaimed Kristoff as he looked up at him while they tied his hands together behind his back.
Bjorn's brows pressed together in confusion.
"They'll only capture you too. Head to the boats! Gale will help you get there faster!" He exclaimed.
"Gale??" Said Björn with an even more confused expression.
"Save Arendelle!!!" Exclaimed Kristoff before they slammed his head on the wood deck again.
Björn didn't know what to do. But he knew someone had to lead those young Arendellians so he quickly sprinted to the edge of the ship.
"You have to go." Grunted Damien. "I'll be fine just go."
Hanna shook her head. She didn't want to. She couldn't leave him.
"GO! Save Arendelle!" Exclaimed Damien as Hanna rose to her feet.
"I'll come back for you. I promise." She said.
"I'm sorry about last night.." Muttered Damien as Hanna's eyes widened again. "It's been an honor to serve with you, Princess Hanna."
Hanna slowly backed away with what seemed tears building up as she Damien raise his hands and surrender before they began to tie him down too.
Hanna have a whistle and all her shield maidens including Cassandra saw her as she gestured her to follow. They did as they were told as they made there way through the chaos and joined Hanna at the edge of the ship.
Hanna quickly explained the plan to them and soon enough all her shield maidens jumped overboard to the chilly sea, including Cassandra.
Hanna and Björn jumped on top of the edge of the ship. She turned to Hans who was quite literally the last man standing. He was completely surrounded by a army of Swedes with his sword still in his hands.
They looked at each other. Glowing emerald eyes staring into each other. Hans nodded at her and she nodded back before she turned again and jumped off the ship with Björn.
As soon as Hans saw her jump and heard the ship he turned back to the surrounding Swedes, waiting for him to return to his viscous attack.
Hans let out a exhausted breath as he threw his sword on the ship. He surrendered. He was just waiting for his sister and brother to be safe off the ship.
A Swede carefully approached Hans from behind before colliding his shield against the back of his head. Knocking the former prince out cold before he fell to the ground as they began to tie his hands too.
Valhalla was captured.
Hanna came out of the cold waters as she gasped for air. She swam towards the boat where Björn and Cassandra were in as they helped her aboard.
The other sheild maidens made themselves into the two other boats.
"What happened? Where's Kristoff and Lieutenant Mattias?" Asked a young Arendellian corporal.
"They're staying behind." Said Hanna softly as she hugged her cold arms.
"They're staying behind?" Questioned the young Arendellian as the others Arendellian looked at each other with confusion and concern.
"We're going to help save your kingdom now." Said Hanna.
"You three?" Said the Arendellian Corporal with a questionable brow raised. "Two Danes and a German."
There was a long silence as they stared at each other. It was clear that although they were ally's the tense energy from both countries still remained.
"We're going to save Arendelle." Said Björn as he put a firm hand on the Arendellian Corporal. "We promise."
Hanna looked up at the overthrown ship as they sailed away. The thoughts of her brother remained on her mind and also now Damien and what he said to her.
"How are we going to get there fast. Arendelle is a day and a half away." Said a Arendellian aboard another boat.
"We'll have help." Said Hanna as she looked up. They all followed her gaze where they heard the whistles front the wind.
There was the wind spirit descending with twigs and leaves before it began pushing them as they began to sail fast. Hanna focused her gaze towards to sea.
Her mind focused on saving Arendelle. Her eyes still glowing.
Stockholm Castle, Sweden
Lars was in his study, looking at letters from leaders of the other nations that had joined his coalition. Some of them were afraid they were losing their advantage against The Southern Isles.
(Knock-Knock-Knock! )
"Enter." He permitted.
The door opened and a guard walked in.
"Your majesty, I came to alert you that a Danish soldier is approaching the castle. And he looks like one of your brothers."
Lars' eyes widened and he quickly got up from his study desk, grabbed his winter coat, and ran down to where the rest of the Swedish battalion were standing position, ready to fire their weapons at the approaching individual.
Indeed it was one of his brothers. Rudi, to be exact. He got off his horse, carrying a wooden pole with a white flag attached.
Lars stared at his smirking brother and then raised his fist, signalling the Swedish soldiers to hold their fire.
Rudi smirked at Lars as he struck the flagpole into the dirt beneath him and quickly returned to his horse, which galloped away until they were both out of sight.
Lars walked up to the flagpole and removed it from the ground before turning around.
"General." He said to the General of the Swedish Army. "Prepare the hall and have guards ready to receive my brothers and their men. Have our servants prepare a meal as well."
"Yes sir." Replied the General. "Shall I assume this is a meeting, then?"
"That's exactly what it is, General. My brothers have asked for a meeting. And a meeting I shall give them." Lars said coldly as he handed the flagpole to the General before returning to the castle.
Southern Isles Camp, Stockholm Outskirts
Kaleb stood net to his horse at the camp patiently waiting with the rest of his brothers and the army behind him.
They heard the approaching galloping noises of the horses hooves with Rudi riding back.
"Well?" Asked Kaleb.
"Lard accepted the temporary ceasefire. He'll be waiting for us back at the castle." Said Rudi.
The army and brothers behind Kaleb all muttered to each at hearing the news.
"Well what are we waiting for then." Said Lars as he boarded his horse and held unto the reins. "Lead the way."
"Yah!" He said out loud as he followed Rudi and the path he had come from with the rest of their brothers and the army following behind.
Stockholm Castle, Sweden
As Kaleb and his brothers approached the castle gate, they saw men at the top armed with muskets.
Lars' royal Adviser stood just past the gate, ready to welcome his brothers in.
"Only the brothers of Prince Lars are permitted beyond this gate. Your soldiers will have to wait out here."
"That's just fine by us." Kaleb replied.
Kaleb and his brothers followed the adviser into the castle, where they were greeted by Lars and Judith, with Guards on either side of them.
Kaleb glared at his brother. "Lars."
"Kaleb." Lars replied, glaring back. "I assume you all must be hungry."
"Oh, I'm starving~" Erik said suddenly, which he indeed was.
"Shut up, Erik." Kaleb scolded. "I will do the talking here."
Erik rolled his eyes and sniffed, making a slight whistling sound with his nose, an unfortunate permanent effect of Hanna breaking his nose after he insulted her fallen shield maiden.
"We would be glad to join you for a meal, yes." Kaleb reaffirmed.
"Very good, follow me." Lars said as he started to lead his brothers to the banquet hall.
As Kaleb followed Lars, he stopped to speak to Judith.
"Judith." He said.
Judith didn't respond.
"Is Linnea here? I didn't see her."
"My daughter is safe in her room. She will not be joining us."
"That's too bad, I would've liked to tell her how her cousins are doing."
"If you so much as attempt to speak to my daughter, I will personally have you dismembered one limb at a time." Judith threatened.
Kaleb's eyes widened at Judith's threat just as she went to join her husband. Kaleb shook his head and continued walking to the banquet hall.
Valhalla ship, Iceland coast
Loud roaring voices of victory were heard across the Valhalla ship as they led the captured soldiers and pirates to the center of the deck were they were surrounded by a multitude of Swedish soldiers and a few Weselton soldiers.
It was still pouring cold drops of rain.
Hans had finally come back to his senses and was awaken by the hollow roars of the Swedish soldiers.
"Uff!" Grunted Ragnar as the soldiers pushed him down to his knees while doing the same to the others who were captured. "Way to go Westergaard!"
"Oh yeah this is totally my fault." Said Hans sarcastically who was also pushed down to his knees while rolling his eyes.
"It is your fault! Thank you you now we're tied up like a bunch of wench's!"
"What's a wench?!" Yelled Kristoff as they pushed him down while the soldiers continued to roar screams of victory.
"It's sailor talk for woman." Replied Hans before turning back to Ragnar. "Now can do me a favor and shut up so I can die without hearing you're god awful voice."
"You shut up, Westergaard--"
"Ohhh well you both shut up already!" Exclaimed a frustrated Damien.
Ragnar, Kristoff and Hans stared at the Arendellian lieutenant with surprise. They never heard that from Damien or seen him behave that way.
But Ragnar studied him more than the others. Almost as if he could sense something.
Then suddenly a loud rifle fired in the air causing all the Swedish soldiers to cease the yelling.
"Silence!" A Weselton soldier stepped forward as everyone turned to look at him. "Stand in respect and make way for the Duke!"
"The Duke?" Said Kristoff with pressed and surprised brows.
Hans let out a sigh with an annoyed smirk on his face. "Here we go..."
Light footsteps were heard and a man was walking through the plank that was connected to the Valhalla ships and to one of the Swedish ships.
There were several soldiers following close behind him and two at the very front as if they were escorting him.
Finally his feet touched the ship as he came aboard. The two soldiers as the front made way and there in front of Hans and the rest of the men aboard was revealed the Duke of Weselton himself. Walking towards them with his hands behind his back.
"Well Well Well... my it has been a very long time. Hasn't it Prince Hans?" Asked the snarky Duke.
His Mustache was still long and exaggerated. He still wore the same toupee on his head. He seemed a little older too. Or perhaps Hans just didn't recall how old he was.
"Lord Weselton. You look as old and wrinkly as I remember." Hans replied as several captured soldiers couldn't help but laugh at his response.
"HMPH! I see you still haven't learned any manners!" Said the Duke with anger. "Then again you must be very surprised to see me again.
"Why should I be surprised? A rat like you joining forces with Sweden for your own gain." Retaliated Hans.
"You know me so well Hans!" The Duke replied.
"So you did this all so you could get revenge on Arendelle for cutting off trade with you?!" Yelled Kristoff.
"Of course! What better way to wipe a kingdom that embraces a Queen that uses sorcery off the face of the planet?!" The Duke yelled back.
"Queen Elsa and Queen Anna will never allow you to do that to Arendelle." Damien said, still recovering from his stab wound. "Nor will my uncle, General Mattias."
"Soon enough they won't have any say in the matter, because they'll all be dead."
Kristoff growled.
"What is it you hope to gain out of this? Aside from plundering Arendelle's wealth, of course." Hans asked.
"I'm so glad you asked, Hans. And since you're all going to die here, there's no harm in telling you. In exchange for Weselton's service in aiding Sweden in their war against Denmark, Prince Lars has gaurenteed to grant me both a portion of Arendelle's territory and an inheritance that will ensure Weselton's future for generations to come."
"I see. And by Weselton's future, I assume you mean just your family, right? I mean, considering how greedy you are, I doubt you'd allow even a single krone to go to your people." Hans said with an accusing tone.
"How dare you call me greedy?!" The Duke snapped.
"I do wonder how the people of Weselton get by everyday when you take most of the wealth for yourself. How do they feed their familes? How do they pay their mortgages? How many of them are homeless and living on the streets, scavenging for whatever scraps of food they can find. And if you think things are bad now, how do you think they'll feel when you get most of the inheritance you mentioned." Hans continued.
"I'm warning you, Westergaard!" The Duke threatened.
"Or better yet, what if you fail? What if you can't capture Arendelle? In case you weren't aware, two longboats full of soldiers led by my brother, Prince Bjorn, and my sister, Princess Hanna, are currently en-route to Arendelle at a rapid speed, hell by now I imagine they've arrived to assist the Arendellian soldiers with repelling your little invasion force. And once they do, there's nothing to stop them from coming here to rescue us and the other soldiers you're holding hostage. And once they do, Prince Lars loses his barganing power and will have no course but to Surrender, which means no inheritance and no territory for you. And when the reparations come down, it'll be you who pays for them, and when your people find out you've been plundering from them, well, I think that calls for a little revolution against the Duchy of Wesleton, wouldn't you say?" Hans finished.
"SILENCE!!!" The Duke exploded. He then barked orders to his men. "Take them to the fortress and lock them all in cells!!"
The Weselton and Swedish soldiers did as they were told and started moving Hans, Kristoff, Damien, the captured Soldiers, Ragnar, and his crew off the ship and through the cold, snowy landscape of Iceland.
All the while Hans could only hope that Hanna and Bjorn would come through for him.
Arendelle Castle
Anna watched from the throne room window as the village burned and the battle raged on. Elsa stood by her side.
"That's it. Enough of this." Anna said suddenly and began to walk towards the large doors leading into the rest of the castle.
"Anna, where are you going?" Elsa asked.
"I'm going to join my soldiers in this fight, Elsa." Anna replied boldly.
Elsa's eyes widened and ran up to block Anna from leaving. "Anna, no. Absolutely not."
"Elsa! Get out of my way!" Anna demanded.
"No! I'm not going to let you go out there and get killed!"
"What do you suggest I do?! I can't just stand by a window and watch my kindom burn to the ground!"
"I know! But there is no way I'm letting you go out there!"
The two sisters glared at each other until they heard a familar sound.
WHEW~
Both Elsa and Anna's eyes widened as they turned to the window and saw Gale trying to get their attention.
"Gale?" Elsa asked as she ran over to the window and opened it just slightly for a second so Gale could enter.
"Gale, what're you doing here?! I told you to go-"
Whew!
Elsa stopped talking after that whistle.
"What? Elsa, what is it? What did she say?" Anna asked in a panic.
"YAHHHHHHH!!!"
The sisters were startled by the sudden loud shouts of victory coming from outside. They looked at each other before quickly running out of the throne room and heading outside to the courtyard, where they saw the Guards that were meant to be the last line of defence for the castle were celebrating something.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Anna shouted.
The guards all stopped and turned to face their queens and bowed respectfully.
"Queen Anna! Queen Elsa! The weselton invaders have withdrawn to their ships and are retreating!" One of the closest guards said to them.
Anna and Elsa looked at each other before heading to the main gate.
"Open the gates!" Anna ordered.
The guards opened the gates and what Anna and Elsa saw surprised them.
A/N: WE'RE BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!
That's right everyone! Despite our announcement of cancellation back in April, The North: Winter War, and the rest of the North Series, is back in buisness!
Now, first of all, I'd like to apolgize for discontinuing The North and suddenly reviving it. Meaning that we never should have discontinued it in the first place, but rather should've taken a much-needed hiatus instead.
So yeah, The North is back, ladies and Gentelmen!
And even though chapters going forward may be shorter like this one, don't think my quality has declined in any way.
See you next time!