Chapter 15.

"I'm gonna miss you. Both of you." Rapunzel says, standing in front of her ship as she looks at both the Queen and me, a sad smile gracing her otherwise exuberant face. It is already around noon, but despite the summer sun shining brightly in the sky, a light breeze coming from the mountains makes it the perfect sailing weather. At least for most people; I honestly prefer the cold but… I guess that's quite an unpopular opinion, so I don't dare using my powers to cool down the air around me.

"Awww! I'll miss you too." Anna says before pulling her cousin in a crushing hug. "Promise me you'll visit soon." She releases the brunette as she says this, alternating her gaze between her and Eugene.

"Sure. I would love to see Elsa drunk again. That was fun!" He exclaims, looking teasingly at me. I just pout and consider pouring a bit of snow inside his shirt.

"I'm going to make you pay for that." Anna retorts glaring playfully at him. "Now I have a not-so-little situation to get under control before it escalates further."

"It isn't that bad, is it?" I ask, worrying about the repercussions my actions from last night could have, not only on me personally but on other ice-wielders as well. I hope I didn't worsen the conflict by fanning people's paranoia.

"No, everything will be fine, you'll see." The redhead answers playfully, but in her eyes there's a slowly growing sense of dread. She's no doubt anxious about having to face the council and try to explain last night's sudden drop in temperature without revealing my identity or starting a witch hunt. I still don't know how we'll manage to pull it off.

"Yeah, don't worry about it, Elsa." Eugene tries to cheer me up too, probably in part due to the fact that this whole mess is partially his fault. "And if someone gives you trouble, you can always turn them into some incredibly realistic looking ice-statues for the royal garden." This last statement makes a small carefree smile appear on my face for the first time since Anna left my bedroom earlier this morning.

"They would look nice." Rapunzel chuckles, but she most realize that I'm still worrying about it, because she soon pulls me into a hug and tries to reassure me. "Everything will work out, don't worry. And even if it doesn't, you'll always be welcomed in Corona."

"Thank you." I answer, truly grateful for her offer, but I know I wouldn't want to live apart from Anna if I can help it. Even if that means facing a whole kingdom that hates people like me. "I'll take that into consideration."

"Your highness." The captain suddenly says, from the ship's deck, making Rapunzel release me as we all turn to look at him. "I'm sorry, but it's time."

"Thank you, captain. We'll come on board shortly." The princess answers, at which the captain gives her a nod before retiring to deliver some orders to the sailors.

"Okay then. I guess this is the part where we say goodbye." Eugene says, extending his hand for me to take, something I appreciate. Truth to be told, I'm not a very touchy person, and though I like Anna's hugs and tolerate Rapunzel's, I prefer to keep a little more distance with others.

"I guess it is." I answer, taking his hand and smiling at the prince. "Take care."

"Will do." He promises, before turning to Anna and opening his arms as an invitation to hug, which Anna immediately does.

"Don't get in too much trouble, you crook." The queen says playfully when they separate.

"Me? Please, you are the queen of trouble." He answers.

"Your highness…" The captain calls once again, but Rapunzel interrupts him.

"Yes. I know." She sighs, and then turns to look at us, her gaze slightly saddened. "I'm sorry. We really have to go, but we'll come back soon, I promise."

"It's alright." Anna says, though she looks equally sad about their departure. "Now go, before they leave without you."

They both just chuckle at her ridiculous statement and, after Rapunzel has hugged us one more time, they get on their ship.

We wave them goodbye and watch them go until their vessel is but a small point on the horizon. Is in that moment that I know I'm really going to miss them.

"Hey, Elsa." Anna calls to me from the other seat in the carriage, making me tear my gaze of the rather lovely and interesting sight of people just living their lives happily to look at a much better one: the Queen. My heart literally does a little dance inside my chest every time my eyes land on her.

"Yes?" I ask, giving her a little smile (as if I could ever do anything but smile when Anna is around).

"I need to pay a quick visit to one of the nobles that attended to the party last night. I heard she almost had a heart attack!" She explains, looking slightly concerned. "I just want to make sure she's okay, so this won't take long. But…" She pauses, making a face. "She'll probably say some rather nasty things about Northerners, so I think it's better if you wait here. Is that okay with you?" She casts me a rather apologetic look, like she doesn't really like the idea of just leaving me here on my own, but knows that's probably necessary. And of course, how could I ever say no to Anna, much less regarding something like this?

"Don't worry, Anna. That's quite alright." I answer with a kind smile. "I think last night I dealt with enough nobles for a lifetime, so I would prefer to stay here."

"Great." She breathes, obviously relieved I didn't take offense on that, and after that we fall silent until we arrive at her destination, which actually wasn't all that far. Then she assures me once more that she won't take long, before exiting the carriage and approaching a large mansion accompanied by two of her guards.

I just stay there, trying to pass the time by observing the people that pass through the streets, and I have to say it's a pretty interesting activity. I end up watching a couple fight over some petty thing and then make up when they realize it's not worth it, a child throwing a tantrum because his mom won't buy him a toy, a group of about ten children playing hide and seek (and hiding in the most ridiculous places), a man with a basket, selling the most amazing-smelling variety of bread… There's just a lot to see here. At least for me, since I don't really remember having ever watched something like this.

However, after a just few minutes observing, I realize something's happening. Something bad.

Some people start retreating to their houses after hearing what other people tell them, but I'm too far away to hear what it is. Others (which are the majority), start rushing to some place out of my sight. I, however, fight the impulse to get out and follow them, at least until Anna comes back. But curiosity is killing me! And so, when I finally hear what they're saying, I decide to exit the carriage and follow them.

"Ice-wielders! Ice-welders have been captured in the central plaza!" Is the news a handful of men are spreading, so of course I flat out ignore the guards trying to stop me and rush to follow the crowds of people, wondering if what they said is true and, if it is, what implications it might have.

Are they really ice-wielders? Did they escape the Northern Lands? Or have they secretly been living in Arendelle the whole time? How were they discovered? Are they good or evil people? Did they come here to kill and pillage as did many before them?

There are so many questions inside my head that for a moment I think it's going to explode. However, they all vanish as soon as I make my way trough the crowd and to the central plaza, because I'm met with a scene that's very concerning and not at all what I was expecting.

Kneeling there, bound by heavy pairs of ice-proof shackles, are about fifty men and women of very different ages, and… despite their blond hair and blue eyes none of them are ice-wielders. I know this because the shades of both their hair and their eyes aren't as pale as they'd be if they had powers. Around them, a circle of Arendellian soldiers prevents anyone from reaching them. And more than a few people are trying to do just that (I'm guessing their friends and family).

In the crowd people are talking, clearly confused. Some are trying to talk to the soldiers, and a few are yelling at them, demanding them to release the prisoners and insulting them when they are just shoved aside.

But this is a mistake! Those people don't have powers at all! Yes, they are blond, but their hair isn't as pale as mine. And sure, their eyes are blue, but it's not as if that was an uncommon color in Arendelle to begin with. It's clear as day this is a grave injustice, so why don't they free them?

Without stopping to considering the possible consequences of what I'm about to do, I go to the nearest guard and, with the most authority I can muster, I speak to him (though maybe yell might be more accurate).

"What are you doing? Release them this very instant!" I glare at him as intimidatingly as I can, but he just gives me a bored look.

"I'm sorry, madam, but I can't do that. According to the law, once captured, ice-wielders shall be exiled." He says that like I'm the tenth person he's told those words to today. Of course, his words only serve to infuriate me.

"Those are not ice-wielders! They just happen to have blond hair and blue eyes, which in case you haven't noticed, are quite common in Arendalle!" By this point, the magic inside my veins is so agitated, I fear I won't be able to keep it in, but I take a few deep breaths to calm down and not make this worse. I don't want a situation like those in my dreams to happen again, after all. Thankfully, I'm wearing my gloves, and the few magical sparks that manage to escape remain hidden inside them.

"That is to be decided by General Haugen." He answers coldly, obviously upset at being questioned by me.

"And where is this General Haugen? Let me talk to him." I pretty much demand.

"He won't speak with you, or anyone else. So back off." The soldier answers, obviously angry at my attitude, but I couldn't care less.

"Listen, soldier, do you have any idea of who I am?" I retort, trying to appear intimidating, but unfortunately he doesn't even flinch, and just keeps looking at me with that bored expression.

"Should I?" He raises an eyebrow.

"Of course you should! I'm the Quee… " I catch myself before saying something stupid. "T-the Queen's counselor." I correct with a stutter, trying not to think too much about the implications of what I almost said as an automatic response. I have no time to ponder it right now.

"Well, counselor." He starts, with obvious disdain in his voice. "Forgive me, but you obviously have no authority over me or anyone else. You just give counsel." The way he says that last word, makes my blood boil with anger, but when I try to open my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, he interrupts me. "And I suggest you keep your counsel to yourself."

In that moment all I want is to freeze him and be done with this, but… unfortunately that would only serve to get me captured, instead of freeing the prisoners, which (I have to remind myself) is my main goal. And so, I swallow my anger and try a slightly more diplomatic approach.

"Well, if you're not going to let me talk to the General, can I at least see your direct supervisor?" I ask, but just as I'm saying that, a man appears behind the soldier I'm talking to, and I recognize him as a member of Anna's council. He's wearing a blue military uniform and has his long gray beard perfectly trimmed, as the last time I saw him. If I recall correctly, he's the highest authority when it comes to the military, and… he really hates ice-wielders. And he's weary of me, even if he doesn't know who I truly am. Great.

"Baroness Elsa." He addresses me with a nod of his head, which I acknowledge with a nod of my own, waiting to see what he'll say before talking, so I can choose my words more carefully. "If I remember correctly, last time we met it was decided you'd be in a period of probation, before the decision about you taking the position as Queen Anna's counselor was made. So, unless something has changed since then, I'd say you have no real position or authority in this matter."

His strict voice is actually pretty scary, and I'm tempted to just apologize and go in search of Anna so she can deal with this, but… I can't. I need to save these people, and if to do that I have to confront this man, well… then I guess I'll have to swallow my fear and hold my ground.

"That would be correct." I admit reluctantly, since there's no point in arguing about that. "I just didn't feel like explaining the whole situation." That hardly sounds like an excuse, much less one a man like him will accept, but it's better than not giving an excuse at all, I guess.

"General Haugen." The soldier with who I'd been talking up until that point finally addresses his superior with a salute, before informing him about the situation. "As you ordered, we captured every citizen that could theoretically be an ice-wielder. However, the people are giving us trouble." He shoots me a glance when he says the last part, and I decide this is as good as a moment as any to try and convince the General to free the prisoners.

"Maybe because you've made a terrible mistake." I say with a scowl, then turning to the General and changing my previously accusatory tone to a more neutral one. "These people are obviously not ice-wielders, so I suggest you let them go before you end up with a rebellion on your hands." I'm not sure if what I said is true, but people do seem pretty upset, and I saw more than a few of them holding domestic utensils like they were weapons, so… yes, I'd say there's at least a possibility of there being a riot here in the near future.

"Listen, child." He spits out the last word like an insult. And in his mind it might as well be; he's trying to make me feel inferior due to his far greater experience. "I've been dealing with those weirdos for more than thirty years now, and I know they can be as sneaky and deceiving as snakes, which led me to believe some might be hiding amongst us without anyone knowing it. And yes, they might look like normal people, but that's the point of blending in, right?" He pauses, looking at them with both weariness and hatred. "Some may not have magic, and after proving that, I'll let them go. The others, however, will be condemned and executed, since they were probably behind last night's attack."

"But don't you think that the entire situation is weird? That after living peacefully and unnoticed in Arendelle for so many years, they suddenly decided to attack the castle?" I question, hoping to make him see reason, since he at least seems calmer than his subordinates (probably because he hasn't been dealing with angry people all morning). "Plus, how are you even going to prove they're ice-wielders? You're going to ask them to do magic and release them if they don't?"

"Of course not." He scoffs at my question. "Magic is tied to emotions, right? Well, let's just say a bit of induced stress or pain will be enough for me to know if they have powers." He smirks cruelly, like he's already imagining executing those he deems guilty. "I've known some ice-wielders that were rather good at hiding their true nature, and even they cracked after a few hits."

I'm not able to repress a rather loud gasp at his words, as I finally understand the implications of what he's saying.

"You're going to torture them?!" I exclaim, horrified. "It doesn't matter if they're ice-wielders or not, that's just inhumane!"

"I really hate when women get all sentimental about things like this." He says contemptuously. "That's why they shouldn't have positions of power. They just don't understand some sacrifices must be done for the greater good."

At this, my already unstable magic grows even more agitated, and the internal part of my gloves covers with a layer of frost that grows thicker every second. Some of that magic also escapes through the gloves and cools down the area around me by couple of degrees. I just hope they think it's due to a cold wind coming from the mountains, and not magic. Still, I can't bring myself to care. I'm too focused on this jerk to think about anything else.

"Listen, you…" I'm about to say some very nasty words to him, but I realize it's probably not a good idea, and interrupt myself in the last second, taking a couple of deep breaths in order to calm down. I can only do it partially though. "You know nothing about sacrifices! And torture and violence against innocent people can't ever be justified!" As I say this, I remember some of the scenes I saw on my dreams; the Arendellian soldiers killing us, torturing us like we were nothing. No. No matter how dangerous magic can be, it doesn't justify the army's actions against us. And certainly not against powerless people who were just living their lives in peace. "You're a monster! You should be condemned, tortured and exiled, not us!"

Startled, I realize what I said a little too late. And I also realize I yelled, meaning pretty much all the people around me heard. But I don't let myself panic, seeing the question written in everyone's faces, and instead decide to turn and address the crowd, taking opportunity on the sudden silence.

"That's right, I said us." I affirm looking to a point over the people's heads in order not to be intimidated by the sheer size of the circle around me, and maintain a firm tone of voice. "I said us because, yes, today they captured around fifty people just because they have blond hair and blue eyes. But if we let this slide, tomorrow they might start capturing every person who is even the slightest bit different, or that doesn't agree with what the authorities say. Anyone and everyone could be sent to jail, or at worse executed, just because we let ourselves be led by fear." I pause, letting my words sink in, and smiling internally when I see they're all listening attentively to my every word.

"These people are your neighbors, your friends, your family." I continue. "You know them, you've talked to them, and you surely know that they're not bad people." I pause, choosing very carefully my next words. "Fear has dominated this nation for too long. Fear has led Arendelle to lose a great portion of its territory and a few thousand of its people, and for what? Has that really protected us? How many soldiers have died since the king imposed that law? How many children, both here and in the Northern Lands, were orphaned?" I see some people shift uncomfortably and mumble like they disagree with me, but I don't let this discourage me.

"I know this is a rather unpopular opinion, but fear can be really destructive when taken to the extreme." I say, hoping they'll see reason. "Don't let fear dominate this prosperous nation. We need to remain united, or else we'll destroy each other."

After I finished talking, a few seconds of silence followed, but for me they seemed like ages. I realize what I said was rather subversive, and I realize many probably won't agree with me, more so considering I'm not really an authority figure at this moment. Heck, they probably don't have any idea of who I am! This is stupid. Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut?

To my surprise, however, when they appear to have fully digested my words, many start murmuring with each other, while others look at my general direction with determination and anger. At first I fear they may be angry at me, but when some start shouting things like "Yes, let them go!" or "This is unfair, they're innocent!", I realize their anger is directed towards the General.

Apparently, my little improvised speech really motivated them and inspired them, because now the ones that were just looking the scene with curiosity, and even some that were probably just hoping to see "justice" imparted over the ice-wielders, are protesting against the soldiers' actions.

When a bunch of people even start trying to push past the soldiers and free the prisoners, forcing the soldiers to shove them away forcefully and form a firmer barricade, I'm so astounded I don't know what to do. I never thought I could have such a powerful influence on people who don't know who I am and many of which double my age. And yet… they listened to me like a leader. Sure, they probably don't agree with my views about the Northerners, but they recognize the rest of what I said actually makes sense. They recognize I'm just trying to help!

A rather hard pull on my left arm interrupts my thoughts. I turn to yell at the person, but the hard look on the General's eyes shuts my mouth instantly.

"Look at what you've done!" He says angrily, pointing to the mass of people trying to get past the soldiers, only to get hurt in the process. "Now even more people are going to suffer. Is that what you wanted?"

I try not to make my fear of him obvious, but still cringe a little at the scene around us. No, I didn't want people to get hurt at all.

"No, I'm just trying to make things right!" At my words, his hand clamps more firmly around my arm, and I have to suppress a pained groan.

"Right for who?!" He yells so loudly and scarily, this time I can't help but I cower in fear. "For us? Or for your kind?" The way he says this, leaves pretty clear what he's referring to by saying "my kind", but I still decide to play dumb.

"What kind?" I say though gritted teeth.

"I think you know." He casts a glance to my gloves, on which a few ice crystals have formed. Sure, it isn't obvious, and most people wouldn't notice, but… I think he did. He said he'd dealt with ice-wielders for many years after all. Instantly, a knot forms inside my stomach, and my magic agitates even more, ready to defend me if necessary.

I look at his left hand taking hold of his sword's hilt, and instantly I prepare to release some magic with my right hand, but before either of us can make a movement, a familiar voice is heard above all the noise, making us turn and search for the source.

"Stop!" Anna yells as she makes her way through the crowd, and towards where we are standing. Her guards thankfully make the process quicker and smoother than it would have been otherwise. "Everyone. Stop Right Now!" She yells again, this time louder, and everyone (both soldiers and citizens) stop hitting each other and fall to their knees at the Queen's order.

I don't think I've ever been happier to see Anna in my entire life! She's going to put an end to this madness.

"Your majesty." The General bows after reluctantly letting go of my arm. I fight the urge to rub the sore spot in an attempt to ease the pain.

"General." Anna answers with a tone that makes it clear she isn't happy with him. "Release those people this very instant!" She commands with as much authority she can muster, but considering she's a good five inches smaller and many decades younger than the General, it's quite difficult to see her as the one with the power here.

"With all due respect, your majesty, these are ice-wielders. They attacked the palace last night, and need to be dealt with before even more people are hurt." He tries to convince her, and if I didn't know Anna, I'd make my arguments as well, but if I had to guess, I'd say the Queen thinks very much like me on this matter.

"With all due respect, General, they are quite clearly not ice-wielders. And even if they were, you'd have to have proof before capturing them." She pauses, glaring daggers at him, obviously as upset at his actions as I am. I try not to smile too smugly, but I can't say I succeed. "Plus, no one attacked the castle last night; the Northerner I took in simply had a small panic attack, which unfortunately caused her powers to spike out of control. But everything is fine now; I verified it myself."

"You would know this if you had consulted me before making a decision that negatively affects the lives of Arendelle's citizens. And in the future, I suggest you speak with me personally before doing anything as radical as this."

"But your majesty…" He tries to protest once more, only to be interrupted by Anna.

"Now, release them! That's an order." The Queen says, and this time the General only hesitates for a second before giving the order to the soldiers guarding the prisoners. Of course, he can't disobey a direct order from the Queen, even if I have a feeling he would if he had a choice.

Soon, the now-freed prisoners go to reunite with their friends and family, not before stopping to thank both Anna and me, as the rest of the people cheer for us. And for a moment, I think everything's right and I can just relax and forget about this incident. However, just after the General orders his men to retire, he stops by my side and whispers in my ear.

"You don't fool me. I'll be keeping an eye on you."

And then he's gone, leaving me with a feeling of doom in my stomach.

A/N: Yes, I updated sooner than I intended, but that was solely because I ignored the doctor's instructions (and I'm regretting it hard), so don't expect another update soon. That said, if you liked this chapter, please leave a review and favorite/follow if you haven't. It'll encourage me to keep writing despite not being able to use one hand :P

Thanks for reading and see you (not so) soon :)

Thanks to my beta reader moonwatcher13.