Ice, Snow & Steel (Jelsa adventure) [Discontinued]

Chapter 1: The prisoners

"It's nothing to be worried about Milady, really! There's no need to-"

"I'll do this my way", sternly answered Elsa. "Thank you for your concern Gerda, but I won't be needing your council."

The queen was walking at a fast pace down the main hall and was headed towards the throne and ball room of the caslte. Gerda, her faithful servant, danced around behind Elsa to catch up with her brisk pace without tripping over the queen's long icy cape.

"This is something you can leave to Admiral Solheim, he's dealt with many situations like this! Your Highness, please-"

"That's enough Gerda, " said she, stopping to look at her in all seriousness. "I rule over Arendelle and I can do as I please within my borders to keep my people safe. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a hearing to attend." The queen pursued her way down the long echoing hall with a frown furrowed on her brow, leaving Gerda behind.

Reaching the large wooden doors at the end of the hall, the guards posted on either side pulled the heavy hinges to let the queen inside. She straightened herself and regally set foot into the crowded throne room.

The councilmen, generals, soldiers and staff present looked in her direction and surprised by her unannounced presence, they quickly bowed to their monarch. Elsa looked ahead and walked with her head held high as the agitated assembly parted to allow her to reach her throne at the end of the room. Only once she was seated did they rectify themselves.

From the uncertain audience, a man clad in a dark blue officer's uniform ornate with colourful medals came forward. The crowd hushed as he respectfully kneeled at the bottom of the stairs before the throne.

"Your Highness."

"You may rise." Elsa said to the man.

He stood, his sunken eyes looking up from a concerned frown. His auburn hair was neatly slicked back, exposing the slight greying of his short sideburns.

"My lady Elsa, my apologies for not having informed you any sooner of the situation-"

"Please don't let it happen again, Admiral."

"I won't," he replied, and continued. "As you know, we have been sending troops to help France in its war for the past ten years and it would seem our enemies have taken a note of it. Our lack of protection around the country's borders has left us open to threats from Sweden, and it seems that all this time we haven't even noticed our vulnerability. Our implication in the war is minimal, but we still didn't think of augmenting the palace guard in these difficult times..." Admiral Solheim turned away from Elsa. "Bring forth the prisoners!" he ordered.

Elsa hadn't noticed the four guards that had been standing along the wall to her left. They were the ones conjured and they stepped forward, but with difficulty.

They were restraining two chained up men, who were trying to resist the guards' hold as they were eventually brought to their knees before the queen's throne.

They were scruffy looking characters, their overgrown dirty hair falling over their eyes filled with hate. Elsa analysed them from her seat and caught a glance from one of the prisoners. His eyes narrowed at her and his mouth turned into a snarl, his rage restrained by the threat of the guards' spears. His boiling stare was communicating the insults he would throw at the queen, had they spoken the same language. Uncomfortable, Elsa looked to the Admiral.

"Who are these men?" She asked.

Her simple question made the crowd uneasy, worried whispers filling the stillness of the room. Admiral Solheim raised an arm and gestured for them to quiet, then weighed his words carefully as he answered.

"They claim to be on a holy mission to rid the world of the threat of 'The Witch Queen of Norway'. All we know is they're Swedish, but they won't say who sent them, or how they got this far into our borders."

"How far exactly...?" Elsa was unsure about weather or not she wanted the answer.

The admiral hesitated and drew a long breath. "They managed to climb over the fortified walls of the castle yesterday night before they were caught by the watch."

Time seemed to have frozen as it dawned upon Elsa that she could have been murdered in her sleep the previous night. Even worse, she was now known as the Witch Queen of Norway. Her mind scrambled as she envisioned the bloody scenario and her eyes didn't know where to look.

"This is why we delayed informing you of this, we were unsure of how to tell you your Highness..."

Elsa didn't look as if she was listening as she stood with a stern face, wanting to address herself to the crowd.

"I wish you had all told me sooner. I am your queen, and I need to know this as soon as possible. I know that you are all very wise but regardless of my youth, I have a say in these decisions." She looked down at the prisoners at her feet. "Take them to the dungeons as they will await trial and punishment as soon as possible."

The prisoners were tediously brought to their feet and as the guards were about to take them away they gave Elsa a deadly glare.

"Monster," uttered one of them. "Demon," said the other. Their heinous eyes were solidly fixed on the queen's. Fear crept into her mind, breaking the shell she had tried to build against their hatred.

As the two Swedes were finally taken away, a gentle snowfall had begun in the room.