Chapter IV - Connections

Stoneridge sits on a hill. Every morning, a gray layer of fog crawls across the countryside and carpets the ancient city in a fake, industrial smoke. When walking to work in the morning gloom, the only company is the lantern light and your thoughts. The sky is gone, the ground is dull, and companionship is lost in the fog. Feet push forward for the promise of a clear sky at midday and a pocket of coin in the evening. There are few routines as lonely as this journey in the morning haze.

My old shop sat in a profitable location. I knew the right people, said the right words, and had enough luck to land a spot on the busiest street in town. Each morning, I opened my shop as the fog rolled in. I would watch the farmers and laborers slump through the morning air, faces down, tools slung over their shoulders, down the hill and into the fields. When they passed my corner, the yellow lantern light would illuminate their faces, like a candle in the night, detailing every small freckle and wrinkle on their leathered skin, and they slipped into the grey smoke.

I would often stop and watch this moment, this ray of light in the haze. Perhaps that is when my mind began to wander, to draw on the small glimpses of the clear midday sky in the morning fog. It was before I had this accursed gift – this insatiable mourning and praising of my time in Arendelle.

My mind allowed me to march into Arendelle with confidence despite my unfortunate situation. I was lost in a foreign land with nothing but an insecure venture and dreams of a girl. I am still in my dreams, but there's a knife in my chest and each day, its cold razor pierces closer to my heart, and I cling to nothing but my insanity.

I was lost.

The visit from the Princess left me in a trance. Every time the door cracked open, my heart would jump, and I would pray it was her alluring smile peering through the door. With each visitor, disappointment entered my shop, and I soon accepted the monotony of the day. Yet, my elation marched on. I had encountered royalty, and chances of a second random meeting or uneasy conversation were promising. Until then, the memory of her sun filled hair and warming smile and loving aura was enough to keep my mind in the sky.

The sense of adventure and novelty drove townsfolk to my shop. With every visit, I helped the customer in exchange for a coin and information. The people were hospitable, telling me of the celebration, the Great Freeze, the Queen, and the Princess. It would have taken weeks to extract the same information in Stoneridge, but Arendelle took pride in the wealth and magic of the city. The tongues flowed with ease.

Still, business was slow on the first day. I expected it to be, so I took the time to sort the books – first by genre, then by author – and terminated every last speck of dust that clung to the undersides of tables and between the cracks of the wood.

I closed the shop when the sky returned to its orange hue and the Ice Harvesters hiked home through the streets. I locked the door, leaving my commercial mindset and taking my modest profits. The weight of the coin in my pockets was noticeable yet disappointing – On an average day, I was more successful in Stoneridge.

I found myself torn, longing for success in Arendelle and longing for the stability of home. I could not return to Stoneridge, not at that time, and so I sought to improve my life in the archaic fjords of the North. I need supplies, sellable goods, something to dazzle my customers and keep them returning to my shop. I had no friends in Arendelle, save one shaky royal acquaintance, and the promise of a drunken, retired merchant that a stranger could help me.

The Searing Seafish was mellow. Its pink wood and cramped framework brought the promise of rest. A group of laborers sat around a table and ale, the thin woman was taking messy plates from the tables into the storeroom, and the thin man with spectacles was sitting behind the counter.

"Good evening, sir. Did you have a successful day in the town?"

"Yeah." I pulled the bag of coins out of my bag and sat them on the counter. "This should cover the first few nights."

"What did you say you were doing again?"

"I'm a merchant. I've opened a small shop on the outskirts of town."

"Oh, we've gotten several of those during the day. Was today a success?"

"It was hoping for more, but I can't complain."

"All things take time. You'll make it someday."

The thin man rummaged through the sack, confirming the number and authenticity of the coin. He had my trust.

"Yes sir, this will cover it. It was… Rutherford, correct?"

"Yes."

He extended his arm over the counter.

"My name is Sebastian."

I shook his hand, firm and resolute.

"Nice to meet you."

Sebastian took the coins off the counter and shoved them below.

"Over there's Silvia, my sister. We inherited this place from our parents. It was slow, and it still is, but we've able to bring some life to the old place. Keep working and you'll make it."

I thanked him and walked upstairs to the solitary space I could call my own for a handful of coins each day. I unpacked my things from the day. I hung my coat, took off my cap, and washed my face from all worry except whether I would meet the Princess again.

The desk was scattered with notes – drab attempts at my writing, forced and tiresome after my long voyage from the West, which had managed to stay ruffled and on my desk instead of crumpled and in the corner. I pushed the papers aside until I found one untouched by the black ink. I took the pen and began to write.

Katie,

I regret that I have not written you in recent weeks. My current work has undergone numerous complications that have prevented me from remembering the essential… I am looking to reestablish contact with family in my new life.

Unfortunately, business in Stoneridge was a failure. I lost money and closed the shop. I have relocated my enterprise to Arendelle, a port on the Scandinavian shores of the Baltic. The location is promising, and I expect to be returning a decent profit within a few weeks.

The Kingdom itself is mesmerizing – a nation reminiscent of the ones we heard in stories as children. Arendelle has risen from an internal crisis (the nature of which you would only believe if you were here) and is now wealthy, prosperous, and powerful. It will make a good home for me. I have had much luck in my first days in Arendelle.

I hope you are doing well. It would be nice to see you again soon. Perhaps I will be able to visit you in Colvend when time and money allow.

Your Brother,

-Mark

I sat back in the chair, placed the pen on the table, and left my writer's mind on the page. I rubbed my eyes, trying to rid myself of the struggles of the day and keep my mind focused on the success, and my chance meeting. I replayed my last encounter with Katie, searching for amendments to my letter. At last, I took the pen and scribbled a final note.

P.S. Have you heard from Gregory? He never replied to my letter…

I found an envelope in a desk drawer beneath empty files and unused pens. I sealed the letter and left the room. I gave the letter to Sebastian, who said he would get it on the first ship in the morning. I thanked him, returned to my room, and lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. It was quiet.

It is my subconscious desire to drive for the unobtainable – the foolish thoughts of returning home to Stoneridge, the difficulty of leading a successful venture in the growing city, the impossibility of connecting with the Princess and her royal blood. And yet, my mind wandered. I was a dreamer. I pushed onwards; fighting against the wind, searching for the right path to prosperity, and blissful ambition disguised the doubt that covered every option. Fate lacked the audacity to stop my stubborn blood.

Lost beneath the disheveled papers on my desk, sat a note. It was my key to success in Arendelle, and I prayed that its contents would mean something to the recipient. I needed all the help I could get.

After pondering the day grew tiresome, I succumbed to the pressing influence of sleep, and walked amongst my dreams.

The Northern Dawn was early. I left as the sun arrived, with nothing but the uneasy promise of a drunken stranger. It was not the first time I was going into a business accord blind, but I was confident my judgment and intuition would guide me through the arrangement. Luck had given me a chance, and I trusted it.

The docks were busy. While the rest of the town slept, it worked. Laborers were unloading the contents of merchant ships during the night. The men working saw Arendelle's promising future, and they sought to deliver.

I approached one of the gruff men moving crates.

"Excuse me… Hi, I'm really sorry to bother you, I was just looking for someone named 'Bentley'. I don't suppose you-"

"Bentley, eh?"

"Uh, yes."

"He's that formal lookin' fellow down over there. You'll hear 'em barkin' out orders to seafarers."

"Thank you, sir."

Bentley was at the end of the docks. His stout physique was akin to a moneybag, short and boastful. He wore a green jacket that craved to be noble, and his bark was louder than a town crier at noon. Everything about this man, from how he held his chin high to the way he looked down on the taller dockhands when delegating, sent one message – He wanted to win.

His hand held a clipboard and his arms were pointing and waving. He directed the men who were unloading merchandise and goods from a trading vessel. They took crates and blocks of ice and stacked them at the end of the docks in neat piles or took them to another vessel and loaded them for trade in another port.

I walked to him with the letter, my security, held in my hands.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for someone named Bentley. Uh…"

"Ah, that's me kid." He grabbed my hand and shook it. "Cornelius Bentley, although I doubt anyone's used the first name in six years. How can I help you?"

"I actually had something for you…"

"Thanks. Give it to one of the dockhands, and I'll look at it after I go through these shipments." He broke his gaze. "Mr. Bjorgman! I told you I needed that manifest!"

"Uh, yes sir. Let me find it." The man stopped moving ice and started foraging through a pile of papers resting on a wooden table.

"Can you believe this town makes a killing off ice shipments? I know there's the Queen, but its ice. Apparently, Mr. Bjorgman is the fellow they put in charge of the whole mess."

I held out the letter.

"It's from someone named Cortland."

His darting eyes stopped and focused on the letter.

"Wait, where did you get that?"

"I met Cortland at a tavern in Weselton. He told me to give you this and-"

"Let me see."

He took the letter, tearing it with his quick hands. He held the page close to his darting eyes, shifting across the page and widening as he reached the bottom.

"So ol' Cortland's finally decided to give it up, eh?"

"I… I guess so. He told me he was done with the business life."

"That's unfortunate. The old man and I… we go way back, and I never would have made it here without him."

His gaze drifted to the sea, and we both said a silent prayer for peace in the old merchant's life. There was a strange connection to the somber end of the old merchant's trade. He had given me his entire inheritance because he had drunk too much on that dreary night.

"I was wondering if-"

"Wait a second. You're here seeking a business deal."

"Umm… yes."

"Huh. Well, you have any experience in the trade?"

"I ran a small shop back in Stoneridge."

"So, how did you end up here?"

"I uh, lost the shop. Poor decisions."

"No kidding."

He ran his hand across his chin and gazed around the docks, monitoring the dockhands that were unloading his cargo. His mind was on business, and I had lost it.

"Listen kid. I know Cortland might have thought you would be good in this trade. And you may be. But I don't know enough about you to consider any partnership. I'm sorry."He pulled up his clipboard and flipped through the pages. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to."

And those words wounded my prideful optimism. I stared at Bentley for a moment, then at the wooden docks, and then to Arendelle. I walked across the pier, pulling at any sign of other opportunities to increase my shop's value. There was nothing.

Bentley's shrill caught me halfway.

"What do you mean we've lost the shipment? We don't just lose shipments."

"It was supposed to arrive a few days ago, but with the Great Thaw, they probably turned around once they saw the ice."

"We've got to find it, or I'll make sure your ice never makes it off this port! I don't care who your royal friends are…

My feet were carrying me to the confused Mr. Bjorgman and the berating Bentley, unsure of any motive. I spoke before the words entered my mind.

"Hey! Calm down. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for-"

"There's no explanation for mistakes. Mr. Bjorgman here needs to get it together or go back home to his little shack in the woods."

"Come on. Leave him alone… I don't want to take this up with the city guard."

Bentley pointed at Kristoff, "If you were anybody else…"

He stormed down the pier and boarded a merchant ship, where he continued barking orders to the poor laborers within.

"Hey, uh… thanks."

"No problem."

"I'm Kristoff."

"Mark."

We shook hands, and he nodded.

"Nice to meet you. I'm a uh, Ice-"

"Kristoff!"

The voice was not mine. It was melodic, pleasing, charming, and danced through the swift air with grace and care. It was Anna's.

They hugged and my heart sank. It was an easy connection to make. I was foolish for hoping a girl as dazzling as her would ever fall into my hapless arms.

After two lifetimes, they broke the embrace.

"Anna! Hey! I… this is…"

"Mark! Hey!"

"Uh… hi." My mind scrambled my past knowledge for words, and I stammered with each breath the Princess took.

"She couldn't remember my name when we first met."

"That's because your name is Kristoff… That's like, ten times harder to remember than Mark…" She smiled. "I like it."

"Thanks."

Words struggled to find my tongue. I watched the couple, the union of perfection and normality, the royalty and the ruggedness. I sat torn, scolding myself for my selfishness, but my heart tore for Anna, her perfection, the soft reminder of vulnerability beneath the confidence of her blue eyes… I had fallen for her, there was no regaining my former sanity, and I realized my helplessness when she was beyond my reach.

"Oh! By the way, I love that little shop you own. I'll be going back there more."

"Thanks… It's a little small right now, but hopefully it will grow."

"Trust me. If you're as helpful to everyone else as you were to me, you'll have no problem in this town."

"I suppose you don't have a problem making friends here."

"Oh, you wouldn't believe," said Kristoff, "half the town is in love with her after the Great Thaw."

"No surprise there…"

"Wait. Kristoff." Anna's stepped aside, her eyes widened. She bit her lip. I would die to see that again. "Gerda needs to talk to you about your new position."

"What? Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer? That's not a real thing."

"Oh, of course it is. Just go talk to her later."

"Okay…"

"Now, I've got to go back to running a kingdom."

Kristoff smiled, "Are you really doing anything besides talking to Gerda and eating chocolate?"

"Yes! Of course. I'm also making sure this entire city doesn't burn to the ground by morning."

"Right…"

"Ugh… Stop being so sweet. I've got to go. Good luck with work, Kristoff! See you later, Mark!"

We both waved as she turned and glided across the docks, the town a mere backdrop to her color and resonance. It was euphoric, the emotions I felt, and it wasn't a mere type of attraction, but a soothing sense of belonging when I was near the Princess. She had the ability to take the weary traveler and give them rest…

"I should probably get to work."

"Yeah, me too."

"It was nice meeting you Mark."

We both left the docks, and I went to face the trials of the day.

Tedium ensued, the second day followed the first with the notable absence of the Princess's grace blessing my shop. It was dull. I was able to help every needy customer, but I wanted to offer something more than the economical and ordinary trinkets and supplies that sat on the counters.

The dreary rooms of the Searing Seafish livened up at night when workers came to drink off and eat away the day's labor. Sebastian and Silvia served the crowds together, keeping the drinks full and the room pleasant. A mild chatter filled the room as conversations of the day, night, and life's longing carried into the night.

I sat in the corner, staring at an unoccupied chair across from me and an empty mug on the table. I was lost to the room, but the owners remembered me. Silvia walked over with a steaming pitcher in hand.

"More coffee?"

"Yeah."

She took my mug off the table and filled it with brew darker than the night sky during a full moon.

"You keep this up and you're not going to sleep tonight…"

"Yeah."

"Shout if you need anything else."

She left. I pushed the mug to my lips. I was not accustomed to the colder nights of the North, and it brought me meager amounts of valuable warmth in the evening.

A musician was trying to relive the recent festival, their fingers running across a fiddle and hand jerking the bow over the string. It was a jubilant piece that climbed up arpeggios, down scales, and into the hearts of listeners. Each shift of the fingers and screech of the strings pounded at the soul. The crowd clapped as the song finished and the musician bowed, taking their minds from concentration to cheer before returning to discussion. I fell into the stupor of the room.

"Mark!"

And there, Bentley was working his way through the tables to my solitary corner.

"Mark, thank goodness I found you."

He pulled the chair out and plopped down across from me.

"Bentley, what are you doing here?"

"Why didn't you tell me that you knew the Princess of Arendelle?"

Silvia was back at the table.

"Can I get you anything, sir?"

"Yes. I want the most expensive bottle of wine you have."

"I don't drink…" I said.

"That'll change. Bring it anyway."

Silvia left the table and disappeared into the storeroom.

"Look. I don't really know her, I just-"

"Come on, I saw you talking with her at the docks. I mean… Princess Anna of Arendelle…"

He sat back in his chair and smiled, laughing as Silvia brought a bottle of wine and sat it on the table. It filled the glass, the first of that night. I seemed to make deals when booze was involved.

"Okay, I know her, I guess, but I just met her yesterday."

"That doesn't matter. Look, my friend, what you have is a way in. You can influence what happens in this town. A small favor can go a long way."

"I'm not sure I follow…"

"Look, kid. Do you know what the secret to this business is?"

"Uh, I imagine it would help to have a good location, and maybe-"

"Connections." He placed a hand on the table. "Connections. Do you know how I get all my merchandise sailing into Arendelle harbor?"

"No…"

"I have connections in Weselton, Corona, The Southern Isles, the rest of Europe, the Caribbean. I'm working on someone in Asia. You name it, I've got someone there. We do each other favors and we all make money. But what I don't have," He took a drink, "Is connections with royal blood."

"I don't know if I have… connections… I met her by luck."

"Don't underestimate the power of luck, my friend. I know people who would kill to have that gift." He Leaned forward and our eyes met. "Look kid. I've changed my mind about you. I think we can help each other out. I'll help you run the shop. We'll fill it with the best goods in all of Europe. People will come, we'll do business, and we both make a good amount of coin. We can grow this together."

"I would like that, but-"

"I know you would. All you have to do is keep doing what you're doing, and try to get as close to the Princess as possible. I'm willing to bet that was your plan anyway."

"Look, I'm not comfortable-"

"We're not doing anything illegal. All we need is a little influence. Advertisement, if you will. Knowing a Princess as popular as her can go a long way."

"Why don't you ask Kristoff?"

"Mr. Bjorgman? Because he's not you." He leaned forward, set the glass on the table, and our eyes met. "Look kid. In your eyes, there's this… lust. We all secretly want something, whether it's wealth, power, or women. And I'm willing to bet which one you want most."

"Okay, I don't know if-"

"You're a shark, kid. I can tell. You were made for this business, even if you don't see it yet. You know what you want, and you're willing to do anything to get it."

I stared at him.

"Look kid, there are two types of people in this world – Dreamers and doers. Which are you?"

"I'll do it. Let's work together."

I raised my mug. He put his hand on his glass.

"First, let me ask you one question – Why are you in Arendelle?"

The question, so obvious yet eluding, had seemed so simple at first, but pondering the words lead to introspection. My old partners forced me out of Stoneridge, but I was in Arendelle to find my purpose. It was once a blank canvas, now dancing with colors from the shop, Bentley's offer, and dreams of a simple life on the fjord. They all fused together into a simple dream of life and a girl.

"I'm here to find my fortune."

"I can drink to that."

Our glasses clinked and the deal was complete. We drank, and the coffee burned as much as the booze. The pattern continued. Life disheartens me before offering salvation. We sat in silence listening to the chatter and banter and soaring dreams of prosperity for our little enterprise.

"I suppose we need a name."

"Yes. You haven't named your new shop, have you?"

"Nope."

"Got any ideas?"

"Uhh… Rutherford and Bentley's Trading Goods."

"Heh. That's awful." A chuckle escaped and the myth that this man was business to the core was broken.

"Ha! You have any other ideas?"

"Nope. No one looks at the sign anyways." He took a drink, loosening himself. "Let's go with it."

"Sounds good."

"I'll write some people tonight and get some goods shipped here. In the meantime, I'll find some stuff from the current shipments and bring it by in the morning." He pulled a watch out of his jacket. "It's getting late. I've got to run. I look forward to doing business with you, Mr. Rutherford."

We shook hands. He dropped a pile of coins on the table and left the tavern.

I sat in the corner as the conversations died and the townsfolk left. There was nothing but Sebastian, Silvia, and the crackling fireplace. The refills of coffee made the black liquid as bottomless as my thoughts, and by the end of the night, I was running off caffeine and optimism. I had found my path to success in Arendelle, bestowed upon me by a drunken merchant. It was my gift from fate, and I had enough time to befriend the Princess.

The door opened for one last visitor that night. Anna walked in head starting around the room as the door closed. She was the color in the wooden room, her green dress and strawberry blonde hair reflecting the dancing glow of the orange flames. Her cute freckles textured her skin, and her curious smile brightened the room.

"Your Highness!"

Sebastian bowed, forgetting about the plate he was carrying. It hit the floor and shattered across the hardwood. I was on my feet, and the owner was on the ground grabbing the miniature shards.

"Oh dear…"

"I'm… I'm so sorry, Your Highness. We'll have this cleaned up very soon."

She bent down and joined his hands, subjecting herself to the peasantry of the task.

"Oh no, My Lady. Don't…"

"It's fine. Here you go!" She handed him the shards of porcelain amidst his frantic apologies. "I'm just another customer tonight."

"But… I-"

"Princess's orders!"

"As you wish, My Lady."

Sebastian snuck one last bow and went back to cleaning tables.

"Mark!"

"Princess-"

"Oh, I told you to call me Anna…"

"Oops. Hey Anna." The simple greeting was uncomfortable in my mouth. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you, actually."

My heart shot up and my stomach dropped and I had to remind my brain to keep the blood flowing.

"Well, that, and it's really boring in the castle, and Kristoff has already left for the night, so I decided to walk around town."

"Don't the guards..."

"Oh, they're fine. You wouldn't believe the stuff they let me do before my sister's coronation." She glanced at the door. "Actually, they're probably watching this place. Right now. I dunno. Let's sit!"

We retreated to the nearest table. Sebastian came over and asked if we wanted anything to drink, reminded Anna it was on the house, but we both declined.

"So, Kristoff told me about how Bentley was about to slice his head off or something, but you stepped in. I just wanted to thank you for that."

"Thanks. It was nothing."

"Kristoff said Bentley is… competitive and it could have gotten out of hand. Of course, he couldn't do anything really bad because I'm me, you know, and he's smart enough to realize that hurting Kristoff's business would uh, not be smart."

She bit her lip, and I was lost in a trance. I was sitting in a tavern with royal beauty, and I strove to remember every second of this meeting.

"So this is a tavern, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Hmmm… I've never been to one before. It seems nice."

"Wait, you've never been to one of these before? I mean, you're a Princess, but…"

"Oh, I spent most of my life around the castle. But this seems exciting."

I laughed, "Just don't come here on week nights unless you want to dodge fights and drunks... But I think you would just have to worry about half the tavern begging you for a dance."

My mind was idle, preoccupied with the girl in front of me.

She laughed, "It's hard enough just trying to get through the streets!"

I saw the sadness through her smile, her beautiful smile. She was looking for a dash of normalcy in a life of royalty. She wanted a friend, and I could be that for now.

Anna asked about my travels before I came to Arendelle. I told her of my simple childhood in Stoneridge, how I opened my old shop as a teen, and came to Arendelle when the opportunity arose. I left out the nasty parts, particularly the beating and deals I endured. She listened to every second of it, her mind lingered on the words, and her eyes concentrated on my own and never lost focus.

It was that night when I learned of her childhood of neglect and abuse, and I wanted nothing more than to reach across the table, embrace her, hold her warmth and let her hold mine, but my reluctance and anxiety kept me pinned to the chair.

"Anyways, I was just bored and Elsa is away so I wandered here and decided to thank you. Uh… thanks." She smiled. "I need to get back to the castle before Gerda sends the guard to break in the door and drag me home. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"I hope you do. Uh, goodnight!"

"Goodnight, Mark."

She left the tavern. I stood from the table, high on optimism and drunk on love.

"She's really sweet, isn't she?" said Sebastian.

"Yeah…"

"Hey, you got a letter earlier today. I slid it underneath your door."

"Thanks, Sebastian. I should get some sleep."

"Let me know if you need anything, sir. Sleep well."

I trudged up the steps to room 207. The letter was laying in the entryway. I laid it on my desk, took off my jacket, and cleaned up for bed. I gazed out the window. The city had lost its celebration, but not its life. The yellow lantern light still dotted the streets below the teal and green auroras dancing in the sky. It rested in the hills with the stars above.

I sat at my desk. The letter had no address, no name – the solitary marking was an imposing red seal. Its nature was odd, yet my fingers broke the seal and slipped in the envelope. The message was on formal stationery with gold decoration, and the note consisted of brisk, black ink and a simple message.

Welcome to Arendelle. You should not have ran. One month.

-Old Friends

I stood up and dropped the note. It plagued the desk more than my dismal writings and outlines. It was a knife, plunged in my chest and keeping me from reaching the fresh air, the prosperity of Arendelle. I sank into my bed, panicking over the thoughts of slow deaths and years of torture. They had people everywhere – they knew my whereabouts, my connections… connections. I prayed they didn't learn whom I had been talking with. And I would not allow it to come to that.

There was no running from the past, from mistakes. Only acceptance. I curled in my bed and brought my hands to my face as my lips quivered and I fought the panicked fear. The business was unforgiving, and I had now made two mistakes.

I needed money, and I needed it fast. Connections. There was a way to do it.