The Reason

Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Animal

With a swiftness unusual for her age, Gerda dashed through the castle halls towards the queens bed chambers.  The last few hours had been a blur, but she remembered not knowing where Elsa was before a sudden exhaustion had come over her.  Awaking later in her own bed, she hurriedly began to search the castle for the royal sisters, praying that everything was alright. 

Pounding on the door she practically screamed.  "Queen Elsa!  Are you in there?  Are you alright!  Please ans—". The double doors pulled open, Elsa standing in her sweetheart coronation dress, black turtle neck and braid tied back in a bun.  Without thinking twice, Gerda threw herself onto Elsa in a tight familial hug.  "Oh thank Odin you're okay!"  Elsa returned the embrace with just as much enthusiasm.  Gerda looked past her queen to Anna also dressed in a teal sweetheart dress similar to her sister.  After Gerda and Anna held each other, she took a step back giving Elsa a chance to issue a simple command.

"Gather the people together in the courtyard."  Gerda was anxious to obey, but seemed confused.  "We're going to explain our plan for Arendelle."

Gerda sighed with relief.  "I knew you'd have a plan.  I'll get on that right away."  She bowed then scurried off to carry out her instructions.

Anna excitedly started clapping.  "I knew it.  I knew you'd have a plan!... so What's the plan?"

Elsa raised herself, clasping her hands in front of her and raised her chin, appearing as if she was ready to regale her sister with an intricate scheme that would turn the tides of this conflict. 

She inhaled, then released it slowly with her response.  "I don't know." 

Anna waited a moment.  "Is that a firm 'I don't know'?" 

Elsa left her room with Anna right on her heels.  "We have to keep Bjorn's death a secret from the public for now.  We have to give the appearance that we have everything under control." 

Anna nodded her head.  "Okay I can get behind that, but we need a leader to lead the soldiers, and technically, we don't have an army."

Elsa slowed.  "I know, but our first priority should be the people's safety." 

"Agreed, but how do we do that?  Lock them down here in the castle?"

Elsa twisted her face with a light shrug.  "Possibly, but I think taking shelter in the mountains may be a safer route."

"What about your ice palace?"

She shook her head.  "Hans knows about the palace, he'd likely expect us to go there.  We need something else."  The two hurriedly made their way to the war room, or at least what passed for a war room in Arendelle.  Anna used to joke that it was more like a broom closet with weapons, but for the moment it would have to do. 

Adorned with maps of the kingdom, books on battle techniques and strategies, and a miniature model of the kingdom, the sisters went to work formulating a plan. 

"Anna, I need you to go get Kristoff.  He knows these mountains by heart and he has to know where we can hide our people." 

She left with a curt nod.  "Don't worry Elsa.  We'll figure this out."  She was gone as Elsa pursed her lips in a tight smile.  Had Anna noticed her odd smile, she may have known that Elsa already had a plan in place for Hans and his armies. 

She moved around the miniature of her kingdom until she came to the replica of the fjord, Her fingers delicately tracing along crafted wood as she vanished into her thoughts. 

"I can tell what you're thinking, and I would advise against it."

Elsa maneuvered to the door, her breath hitching at the corpse that had spoken to her.  Even after sleeping last night, Malundra was still exhausted, leaning against the doorframe with her heavy eyes downcast as she spoke.  Her wavy red hair was a mess, her fair skin much more pale and dark black circles beneath her eyes.