The Hero of Frost (Jelsa/Mulan merge)

Chapter 7

Jack's POV

"Commander, the invaders are regrouping. What are your orders?" asked one of my generals. My thoughts were far from the battle raging below. Instead, they were on the young man who had risked everything to save my life.

The scene kept replaying itself over and over in my mind, a shattered slideshow of moments. Alexander racing down the hill, barely keeping his balance and shouting that there was a traitor in our midst. Glancing past him, at the archer's position above. Thorn was cutting down any soldier his sword could reach, and Hans had his bow drawn taunt. Our eyes met. I knew I was going to die, despite Alexander's warning.

And Hans changed his aim, ready to kill the young man who had ruined his scheme. The arrow flew and Alexander stumbled to the ground. Soldiers and generals swarmed the archer's hill, but Hans and Thorn escaped. Alexander was taken to the medical tent and the invaders drew back for a moment.

"Commander," the general repeated. "What are your orders?"

"Jack," a different general, this one a close family friend named General Hawk, said softly. He laid a hand on my shoulder. "Alexander is one soldier. He did his duty to save his country. Now you must do yours."

"It's not right," I murmured. "I shouldn't lead. I couldn't be trusted to choose good men to lead my army. How can I be trusted to lead the army?"

"None of us anticipated Hans' betrayal," General Hawk reminded me. "The loss of our archer unit was a devastating blow, but it would have been far worse had we lost all of our commanders and generals."

"Have they caught the traitors yet?" I asked hopefully. General Hawk shook his head.

"They escaped over enemy lines and have joined the invaders."

"The invaders are withdrawing," the original general I had been speaking with announced, the surprise clear in his voice.

"Tell our men to rest while they can," General Hawk ordered. The general bowed and hurried away. A young boy, a messenger by the looks of it, ran out of the crowd and approached General Hawk and I. Messengers were boys between the ages of ten and twelve who ran between generals to deliver orders.

"Healer Kai wants to inform you that Alexander Snow will make a recovery," the boy announced.

"You might as well go see how he's doing," General Hawk suggested. "I know you won't rest until you know he's ok."

"Thank you," I told General Hawk before turning to the messenger. "Bring me to Healer Kai and Alexander."

The messenger led the way through the crowd of soldiers and to the base of Spire where a temporary tent had been set up. He ducked inside and a moment later a healer came out. Healer Kai was an elderly woman who showed great wisdom in the arts of healing.

"Commander Frost," Healer Kai said. "I assume you are here to check on young Alexander?"

"Right as always," I replied. "What have you found so far?"

Healer Kai plucked an arrow from the small bag she carried and held it up for examination. The arrow had been cleaned, but I had no doubt it was the same arrow which had hit Alexander.

"The arrow was poisoned," Healer Kai announced. "But Alexander was lucky. It was a very small dose, and the arrow passed straight through his calf and didn't leave much poison behind. Unfortunately, although the poison won't kill him, he will be permanently scarred because of it. Chances are he will always have pain attacks. I'm not sure how often, or even if it will happen, but there is nothing I can do if it does."

"Why do those who serve the most also suffer the most?" I asked sadly.

"Because sometimes, for the greatest reward, you must go through the greatest pain," Healer Kai replied.

"Is Alexander awake?" I asked.

"No. But I will send for you when he is."

"Thank you."

I trudged back to my command post. Only time would tell how Alexander would fare.

Elsa's POV

When I woke up, I was in a tent. I was still dressed in my uniform, but the leg of one of my pants and been cut off and the leg beneath it wrapped in bandages. An old woman entered the tent, mumbling to herself.

"Where am I?" I asked, sitting up.

"Somewhere you shouldn't be," the woman replied grumpily. "I'm Healer Kai. Who are you?"

"I'm Alexander Snow," I responded. Healer Kai shook her head.

"No child, your real name. Don't bother trying to trick an elder into believing you are a boy, because you are not."

My heart plummeted. So they had found out.

"Have you told everyone?" I asked.

"No, and I don't intent to," she replied. "I'm a healer, and I've sworn not to harm anyone. Getting you killed would certainly mean harming you in some way."

"So you're going to let me go back out and fight?"

"Of course not. It's only a matter of time until your secret is discovered. I plan to send you home, where your family can keep its honor and you can live."

"Did they catch Hans and Thorn?"

"No, those traitors escaped over enemy lines," Healer Kai told me.

"Then I can't leave yet," I decided. "Besides, I'm the only archer Commander Frost has left. I need to report back to duty."

"Are you mad?" Healer Kai demanded. "I'm giving you a chance to return home, the honor of your family intact! Will you refuse it?"

I hesitated for a moment. It was tempting. My original mission was complete. My father wouldn't have to fight. But now I had Commander Frost and Hans and Thorn to think about. It wasn't just my family anymore.

"I'll stay," I announced.

"Your fate is your own," Healer Kai muttered. "But from now on your will stay in this tent. I won't have you sleeping among those soldier boys any longer. It's a miracle you haven't been discovered before now."

"My roomate, Kristoff, knew who I was before I came here," I explained.

"A shame he did not stop you. You are flirting with death, child. This will be your undoing."