Frozen 3

Chapter 54

Yelena

How had she dared to intervene like this? No one had ever tried to get in my way, yet in one evening, two people questioned my leadership qualities.

"I told you so."

I sighed. He came back and I couldn't do anything about it.

"Well, you don't even answer me now! "

"What's the point?" I murmured. "They all think I'm crazy, I don't need to add anything."

"And they are right! You do not have the shoulders to be their leader. I am already surprised that they blindly followed you for thirty-five years... But then... they finally opened their eyes to the misery you bring them, that's the main thing."

I clenched my fists. I was not to get carried away, it was useless.

"And why are you coming back now? Apart from humiliating me more of course..." I replied, staring at the ground.

There was a long moment of silence. I thought for a moment that it was over, that he was finally leaving me alone, but quickly realized that it was only an illusion:

"Because you asked. Why would you doubt otherwise?"

I paused. I got up and opened the sides of my tent entrance. They were always gathered in the centre of our village. All. All except Ryder and Honeymaren. I hadn't seen them slip away – luckily for them.

"You can't stop there. "

"I know. But what do you want me to do?"

"What any sane leader would do. Eliminate that threat. Somehow. If she rebelled today, who tells you that her act will not encourage others tomorrow? You must make her disappear. Her, and anyone who could support her. "

"And then? What will I do after I sow panic among our people? Everyone will live in constant fear – at best – or it could trigger a civil war. It's out of the question. I won't eliminate, as you say, one of ours. Despite everything you can say about Honeymaren, she's a Northuldra. And I will never get rid of one of mine. "

"What's what I thought.... I said only a sensible leader would do it. You wouldn't. I'm not surprised. After all, it's typical of your sex to take pity on someone weaker than yourself."

I stiffened up. I felt the anger seething in me for a while but his words only made things worse.

"A sensible leader?" I laughed. "Because YOU consider yourself a sensible leader perhaps?"

"Absolutely. "

"Should I remind you WHO invited the king of Arendelle to OUR lands? WHO accepted the construction of this damn dam that was designed only to humiliate us? Finally, WHO blindly trusted King Runeard to cause his own loss?"

Again the silence.

"Perfect, " I murmured.

Outside, they were still there, busy around the poor animal that the three men I was staring at proudly brought back. I did not know where they had found it. I had not asked any questions and had quickly withdrawn to my tent after their arrival. Anyway, no one seemed to worry about my disappearance. They were far too busy chatting around. I didn't have to wonder what they were talking about so vehemently, I suspected. Someone else was missing. Silja. I hadn't seen the old woman in a while. He sometimes disappeared, without anyone noticing, then came back as furtively as when he left. But who did it bother? Not many people, actually. Nobody talked to her, and she didn't talk to anybody. Except me. Yet I didn't know how she looked at me and even if I could see her as my friend. She knew everything about me. I didn't know anything about her. Or almost. Let's say I knew what she accepted that I knew, nothing more. I had gotten used to this situation over the years. I had no choice anyway.