Chapter 28

~ Dawn of War ~

She's beautiful. God, she's so beautiful.

Kristoff slid his hands around Elsa's tiny waist, relishing the coolness of her skin. Her lips were soft and wet.

She sighed in contentment through their kiss. They parted slightly, just enough to steal a breath, then they were joined again. One hand drapped over his back, the other groped at his shirt with shocking strength. He felt his pants grow tight.

"Elsa–" he started, but she crushed their mouths together, drowning his words with her tongue. Her fingers worked at his belt, tugging hard.

Kristoff pulled back, his chest heaving.

"Too soon?" When he heard the fear and disappointment in her voice, he wanted to yank her back in and tell her she did nothing wrong. Elsa must've sensed it, for she leaned forward, her lips quirking into a smile. So close, her breath tickled his skin, and he saw every freckle on her cheeks, so much like Anna–

"No." He twisted his head away.

"Kristoff?" Elsa's eyes gleamed like sapphires, full of promise and hope – such hope that his gaze was pushed away. He stepped back, letting her arms drop. Her face made him feel at once foul and horrible. But in his mind, Anna was already sobbing and beating her fists against his chest.

"What's wrong? Am I–am I not beautiful?" Her hand slid up his arm as she drew in for another kiss.

Kristoff held her shoulders firmly. "I can't. I can't. I'm sorry."

"Why? Don't say sorry! Can't you see? I love you, Kristoff. I've loved you since I first saw you! I was alone. No one would come for me, no one would help! But you– you came!"

"I did it for Anna."

"…I know." Elsa reached out hesitantly, her fingers closing and opening. "Please… I don't want to be alone anymore."

"Elsa, you know we can't."

Her eyes were nailed to the floor. Unbearable as the silence was, Kristoff stood still, his head lowered as well; he would let her speak her part – she deserved this much at least. Several times her hand twitched, but she never raised it.

For an eternity their conversation was the noise of their breaths. In and out. In and out. When he found the courage to glance again, he was startled to see her face glistening wet.

Kristoff made an involuntary movement; for a fraction of a second, he meant to wipe for her, but he snatched his hand back as soon as he moved it.

Elsa did not miss the gesture. "Please–please–please– won't you stay with me a little longer? That's all I'm asking… just tonight…"

He began to walk to the door. "I… I order you to stay!" Panic crept into her voice. "Don't leave me again. Don't! I will do anything you want! Kristoff, Kristoff… Please, please don't do this to me…"

"I'm sorry." Kristoff felt her eyes on his back as he fled the room. Her sobs racked at him, but he dared not look back.

Dawn bled into morning. Heavy clouds loomed overhead, piled on top of one another like the feathers of a great sky raven.

Kristoff trudged into the castle. A churning headache forced all sleepiness aside. The droning grumbles of men unused to waking so early seeped through the door. He entered the great hall and took position opposite Anna.

"–wanted us all here at once!"

"–know what's our queen up to?"

"–heard the harbourmaster say the admiral's back."

Kristoff could hardly blame the ministers for being restless; most have not even had breakfast yet, and the weather only made it worst. The chill nipped at his fingers, creeping under his garments to molest his body. He pulled his arms tight around himself, scrunching his toes while exhaling warm air. Everywhere, men and women shifted in discomfort despite layered clothes.

Anna didn't even have her cape, but her expression betrayed nothing; she was the perfect imitation of a statue. Kristoff yearned to embrace her, but right now, she was not his to touch. He bit his frustration in and joined the others in this irritable wait. The doors opened and closed, but Elsa was nowhere to be seen. Soon, every minister was present. Standing beside and behind them were Kai, Eirik and two dozen guards.

Worry gnawed at him. What was Elsa up to? Was she enraged still? Surely not, it must've only been a passing thing for her, a heat-of-the-moment thing. Nonetheless, dark whispers filled his mind; he'd be stripped of his title for denying his queen; he'd be thrown out of the castle; he'd be forced to break up with Anna…

Kristoff threshed his head.

Perhaps it'd been a mistake to leave Elsa in her state of mind. But he didn't trust himself to stay in her room for even a minute longer. Now at least, he could look his fiancée in the eye. That said... she was still avoiding his gaze; what was she thinking? He'd told Anna of all that transpired. When she raised a fist, he gritted his teeth for the coming blow. Instead her knuckle met the wall, then she staggered away, chanting, "Something's wrong with Elsa. Something's wrong–something's wrong–"

The doors flew open with a gush of piercing cold. All talk died.

Elsa strode into the great hall. Her ice cape swept behind her, more striking than ever against the timber of the floor. The clanks of her heels were like the lashes of a whip. Every soul froze still, as though they were sheep paralysed before a wolf.

The snow queen possessed a force of presence he'd never felt before. None uttered a sound; none dared. Anna had broken out of her trance, and disbelief played across her face.

Elsa reached the steps of her throne and whipped around. Her eyes, like blue fire, blazed across her subjects; they fixed on Kristoff a second longer than the rest, then passed. He dug his nails into his hand to stop them from shivering, feeling ashamed and yet, relived.

He nearly jumped when Kai announced, "Queen Elsa of Arendelle!" Every head plunged.

There was something markedly different about the way Elsa sat too – the way she composed herself, with her head held high, back straight and a gaze sharper than any blade. She'd always been uncomfortable on the throne, constantly shifting about as if it was either too big or too small; Anna often teased her about it. But now, Elsa filled the throne utterly.

It terrified him.

The ministers exchanged apprehensive looks, but even mutes were chattier.

"Is my court filled by naught but cowards?" Elsa's voice carried easily across the hall. "If you have something to say, come forth and say it before your queen."

"Your Majesty," the de facto leader of the ministers began first as always. "Are you well? You seem different today."

Elsa cocked her head to a side. "Speak clearly, Louis. What do you mean by different?"

That she had not addressed him by his title was not lost on the former regent, judging by his scowl. "I do not mean to offend, Your Majesty. But your demeanour is rather, pardon me, hostile."

"Hostile. Interesting choice of a word." Elsa tasted the air with her tongue. "Hostile?"

"Aye. Perhaps you are displeased with something, or–" Louis gasped and bent over. The guards made to move towards him but a glare from Elsa snapped them back into positions. Frost slithered over Louis's throat before dissolving into the air.

"Do not waste my time with pointless observations, old man." Elsa dismissed him with a gesture of her finger. "I save my hostility for fools more deserving." She allowed her words to sink in. "Nafanieus!"

The usually-defiant man staggered before the throne, bowing deeply. "Queen Elsa?"

"Tell me of the state of the villages in the outskirts. Tell me how this court handles the welfare for peasants too poor to even make the journey to my castle."

Nafanieus could hardly mask the treble in his voice. "Q–Queen Elsa, if you want a financial report, wouldn't Lord Louis be–"

"No." Elsa wagged a finger. "I want to hear it from you. Your mansion dwarves the rest, and your whores are prettier. Surely, your finances are in good standing."

"I… I don't know how to answer…"

Elsa bared her teeth. "Of course you don't. Your coat is lined with too much fur and your pockets too full. I shall lighten that burden so you can think up an answer. Nafanieus Jaryvue, Minister of Foreign Affairs – I hereby seize your assets for the good of Arendelle! Your wealth shall be distributed to the people and to the betterment of our military."

A low murmuring surged through the hall. Anna's mouth was agape.

"This! This is… unprecedented!" Nafanieus said. "You can't just– God! You can't do this–"

"If pleads are all you have, then surrender your title to outskirt beggars! Even they grovel better."

No… this is not Elsa. This cannot be Elsa!

"F–forgive my outburst, Queen Elsa; that was most unsightly." Quick as a viper, Nafanieus regained his trained composure. "The military is important yes, but increasing their budget is a needless endeavour, for what force can stand against you?"

There was the slightest twist on the corner of Elsa's lips as though she was satisfied, then it was gone. "Honeyed words, Nafanieus. But too much of it makes us fat and lazy. I'll not stand for this any longer. We gorge on pork. We feast on roast turkey. And we sleep in warm beds. Yet our peasants suffer mud and gruel while their ears drop off from frostbite."

Nothing motivated a man quite as much as seeing his comforts threatened. Nafanieus, sharp-witted as ever, came up with his speech in record time. "What is the storm but a breeze from your lips? Or the ice but the music of your instrument? If our peasants fear the cold, you merely have to send it away. After all, you are the winter."

A smirk broke out on Elsa's face. "Do my ears deceive me? Or does our Minister of Foreign Affairs approve of my… sorcery at last?"

"I have been blind, Queen Elsa. I beg your forgiveness. Your magic is the might of Arendelle." He bowed deeply.

Kristoff stole a glance at Martin and Oddvar; the pair that had always threw their weight behind Nafanieus; Elsa's most bitter opponents within the Council of State. Any other time, he would've laughed at the looks on their faces. Now, he was startled to find himself sharing their discomfort.

Elsa clicked her tongue. "This doesn't change the fact your coffers are heavier than the rest. Besides, there is still the threat of Weselton."

"That vile nation shall pay for what it has done to you! Queen Elsa, I beseech you– allow me to share my wealth by my own terms. You are just and wise. Matters such as this are beneath you."

Elsa leaned forward, surveying Nafanieus as a hawk does to a mouse. The world held its breath. Finally, she gave a chuckle. "If the tongue is a weapon, then yours is sharp without equal. But be warned, Nafanieus… I am watching you. I will not have our men go to war with dull blades and empty cannons."

"As always, Queen Elsa. Your lightest touch commands obedience," Nafanieus said, head lowered and white fists trembling.

He fears for his life, Kristoff realized with a jolt. Is this what we have come to? Ministers fearing the queen's retribution in the middle of the castle?

Elsa snorted, whether in amusement or disgust Kristoff knew not, but she waved Nafanieus away.

"War?" Anna stepped forward. "Elsa, what are you talking about?"

At long last, Elsa acknowledged her sister; her face became tender. "Eirik, come forward."

The guard captain stood beside the princess and dipped his head. "Your Majesty."

"How fares our guests?"

"The prisoners claim to know nothing of Lars' and Rasmus' plot still. And they are too stubborn to surrender information on Weselton."

"That's not what I asked," Elsa said. Eirik blinked in surprise. "Is the crew of the Splendor well? Did you torture them?"

"What? No, Your Majesty! I interrogated them, but I would not hurt civilians!"

"Not even treacherous ones I see. And what of the mercenaries?"

Eirik stood tall and proud. "The guards of the crown do not torture bound men."

Elsa nodded. "Anna, do you understand now? I need to protect Arendelle, yet they will not give up their secrets. What am I to do?"

"Free them! They are innocent!" Anna said.

Elsa threw her head back in disdain. "If I did, they'd just run back to their masters. Tomorrow Arendelle would see ten more assassins disguised as merchants. And the day after, two dozen! I won't risk it. The crew of the Splendor will remain as our guests. I assure you, they will be treated fairly."

Fairly? Kristoff balled his fist. What fairness was there in being imprisoned for the crimes of your countrymen?

The door opened with a bang, and a giant in navel uniform covered with medals marched before Elsa. The stares everyone awarded the newcomer was either respect, fear, disgust or a combination of all three.

"How pleasant of you to grace us with your presence, Vigard." Elsa's voice was as icy as death.

The admiral made for an intimidating sight; taller even than his cousin Eirik and far more muscled than Kristoff, he had a face out of nightmares – a scar split half his cheek open running to his hairline, leaving him with half a left ear where crusty flesh dangled underneath. The veteran of a lifetime of navel combat, Vigard had his pickings of dozens of powerful kingdoms to sell his loyalty to. He swore his service to King Agdar instead; the assurance of a haven for his family and a promise he'd never be made to wage war again proved more irresistible than any amount of gold or women.

It was only Kristoff's third time seeing Vigard, and the scar still made his stomach crawl.

"Good morrow, Your Majesty. Good morrow, Your Highness." Vigard dropped two curt nods to the sisters. "This summon comes most early."

Kai once claimed the two most powerful men in Arendelle were Louis and Vigard, but Elsa had already laid low the former regent. Kirstoff wondered if the same fate awaited the admiral.

"I trust I did not inconvenient you," Elsa said.

"Only this one's breakfast, but that can wait."

"Good. I was just speaking to my dear sister of war."

"War?" The scarred side of Vigard's cheek twitched. "Enlighten this one. Who dares violate us?"

"Weselton."

Vigard let out a grunt that sounded like a troll being strangled. "Those goat-fuckers? We have nothing to fear; they dare not play at war."

At once, murmurs of agreement swept through the hall.

"–most right, Weselton has not shown hostilities since…"

"–mustn't go to war. Yindu will attack when we are weak!"

"–what evidence have we of…"

All it took was a strong voice of difference for every man to find their own. Elsa realized as much as she slammed a fist on the armrest, forcing silence into the hall.

"We are already at war! Lars said so himself! Our men would be chopped to pieces, our women raped, and our children slaves or worst! Are you such fools you do not see the plain truth? Weselton is a kingdom that knows no shame and no mercy. They tried to kill me after my coronation, they tried to kill me on the Eternity, and yet again they came with the Splendor under the pretence of friendship and trade. They would never stop trying to conquer Arendelle. I'm all that stands between you and them!"

Vigard angled his head. "Weselton will not attack us, this one is certain. Our royal navy monitors their shores always; if there be activities or ships from their harbour, that indicate preparation for an invasion, we would know. But there is none."

"Then we must strike first," Elsa said.

"What!" Anna blurted. "No, we can't!"

"Hear Her Highness, bless her insight. Invading Weselton avails us nothing." Vigard met Elsa's eyes with his grey ones. "And you're too young to play at war, Your Majesty."

Elsa's nostrils flared. "Admiral, long have you kept our borders safe. But your fleet has no defence against treachery and spies. You swore an oath to defend this kingdom, and disarming Weselton is how you shall fulfil it."

"The seas of Arendelle are kept safe, not just by this one's coast guards–" Vigard's voice rang out. "–but by our pacifist policy. His Majesty Agdar would never condone an invasion."

Elsa faltered, sinking into the throne. For a moment there was a weary silence, and Kristoff dared hope she might relent. But her face hardened. "My father is dead, and I am your ruler now. We will have war with Weselton. Vigard, you will lead our fleet or I shall have a new admiral."

"Be that as it shall be then."

"You dare!" Elsa jumped to her feet, and the temperature in the room plummeted. The ministers looked as though they were ready to flee, but the cold glint in the snow queen's eyes nailed their feet down.

Kristoff forgot to breath as ice fingers crawl up his legs.

"If you will not serve–" Elsa's voice lowered, and Kristoff felt a knife pressed on his throat though her words were for Vigard's ears. "–then Arendelle is no longer your home. Your family will be evicted by noon."

And left to the mercy of the nations that Vigard once stood against?

Kai raised his hand. "Please, Queen Elsa! There's no need to go this far."

"I will not be betrayed again."

At this instance, the admiral looked as though he wanted to be anywhere but here. "This one… is yours to command."

"Good. Once Weselton has fallen, you shall be rewarded handsomely. In addition, I will see to it that your sons become apprenticed to our ministers, and your daughter a lady of the court once she comes of age." Vigard returned a subdued nod. "Eirik, summon the reserve guards. Isabelle, I have need of every able-bodied man you can–"

"Elsa, please!" Anna had not moved from her spot. "Must we do this? Must you do this?"

The snow queen closed her eyes. "…Yes. I'm sorry, but I must." Blessed warmth found its way back to Kristoff. "Ministers, I will hear your oaths of fealty again."

Lunch was tasteless to Anna. She could be eating the sweetest honey cake, and it'd still be no better than ground bread. Whatever miracles chocolate usually brought fled her today; she doubted even fondue would help.

The castle was dark and quiet. The greetings from the servants seemed more subdued while the guards were restless. Elsa was committed to attacking and there was no stopping her.

Something was definitely wrong with her sister. But what? Was Lars' betrayal the final straw? Anna would have given anything in the world for an answer. For the umpteen time, she found herself cursing her stupidity in going to Weselton. All this would never have happened if she'd only stayed.

"What's Elsa thinking?" Gerda dabbed at her eye with a cloth. "King Agdar never once attacked another land, not even when Manbul gave asylum to those damnable pirates... Our military is a deterrent force! Those boys... are we to send them to their deaths? We don't have the numbers to take Weselton!"

"Elsa intends to do it herself," Anna said, matter-of-factly.

Gerda let out a gasp.

Kristoff pushed his bowl aside. He'd scarcely touched the soup. "Elsa said something strange to me."

"She's been saying plenty of weird stuff," Anna said.

"No, it's when I was in her room–" Kristoff winced. He shared a look with her, perhaps to see if she'd lash out. In truth, Anna yearned to. But she crossed her arms and gestured at him to continue. "–I was in her room, and Elsa said, 'Don't leave me again.' Doesn't that sound kinda strange?"

Anna narrowed her eyes. "So, even before yesterday, you and her–"

"Nothing ever happened between us. I swear," Kristoff said. Anna flirted with the thought of challenging him, but she let it pass. Gerda and Kai exchanged confused looks.

"Don't leave me again." Anna closed her left fist in her right. "Again. Again."

'Again.' Why did Elsa say that?

Gerda let out a whine and wrapped her head in her arms. "Ooh– what has happened to our Elsa? I don't even know her anymore! It's like... it's like she isn't herself."

Something in her servant's words sent gears clicking. "It's like she isn't herself…" Anna echoed. Prickly dread crept up her spine. She blinked hard, suddenly finding it hard to breathe. Impossible. Elsa's acting weird, but this is just–

'I have not forgotten what Weselton did.'

'Can we start over again? Will– will you let me be your sister again?'

'Silly, stop saying sorry for everything.'

"Silly." When Kristoff glanced, Anna explained, "Ever since we returned, Elsa's been calling me 'Silly'." That nickname; someone called me that before. It was...

Anna retched, feeling the world shift under her. Kristoff lurched forward to support her. "Whoa whoa whoa! What's wrong?"

The one who gave me that nickname was– was – No! No no no no no no – It couldn't be–

"Anna?" Kristoff said.

She ignored him. Clinging to the chair for support, she spun to Kai who'd kept silent throughout. He rested his spoon far too slowly and turned to look at her.

"Kai, you know something, don't you?" He rubbed the bridge of his nose between his fingers as though in deep thought. "Kai, if there's anything at all that you know. Please...tell me. We need to help Elsa."

The royal butler clenched and unclenched his fists. "The day after the Eternity returned. Elsa told me of things, and made me swear to keep her secret."

"Kai..."

"I swore… I swore… God forgive me for this but I love the two of you more." Kai wheeled around to behold a portrait of her parents. "Elsa told me there was someone accompanying Lars."

Kristoff sat straight up. "Who?"

"…A woman with magic."

Everything locked into place. The words brought a realization so horrifying that it almost struck like a physical blow.

Anna didn't recall collapsing, but when the darkness cleared she found herself staring up at a white ceiling full of rosemaling, with Kai and Gerda on either sides of her.

How could I have been so blind? How–?

Kristoff was clutching her. Hot tears ran down Anna's cheek at the grim understanding on his face. They whispered the dread name together.

"Freya."

A/N: This story began on a voyage, when the idea of a possessed Elsa wrecking havoc came outta nowhere, so I started scribbling notes into my phone. I never dreamed I'd still be writing one year later. Throughout, it was your continued support which gave me the strength to craft chapter after chapter. Words can't convey my thanks to each and every one of you.

PS: Happy 50th Birthday Singapore!