To Warm the Frozen Heart Ch. 8

The Queen of Arendelle remained in the city of Fenwick while her sister recovered enough to travel. She split her time between visiting with Anna and walking the streets of the city offering her condolences to those who lost family or friends and paying homage to the dead. Elsa found that the disease had caused another humanitarian crisis: orphans. She could sympathize with these poor children more than most as she and her sister had also been orphaned.

Relatives and friends of the family offered to take some of them in, and in some cases parents who suffered the death of a boy or girl gladly took in the parentless children to replace their own losses. Unfortunately, the remaining children who had no one else to claim them were left in the care of the nuns or the local orphanage. Unwilling to leave these unfortunate souls to fend for themselves Elsa sent word back to the capital city explaining the situation and asking for families to open their hearts and homes. Two weeks later the response was overwhelming, nearly one hundred families volunteered.

For Elsa, it was most satisfying to witness her nation come together in the shadow of a crisis and rise above whatever great difficulty faced them.

~O~

In the hours before the last caravan ferrying Elsa and Anna back to their home Hans Westergaard asked to speak with the queen in private. "I have a confession to make, Your Majesty."

"Proceed, Governor."

Hans Westergaard acknowledged that when the disease struck and took hold on the province he became most furious with Queen Elsa. His conclusion was that without any means of collecting assistance he was being set up to fail. "I was certain you wanted nothing more than for me to return to my home kingdom in full disgrace. Your final revenge for my attempt on your life."

"I see. What changed?"

One day while staring out the window he noticed a small group of children yet unaffected by the sickness playing, riding a sled down a mound of snow and ice. Framed against this in the distance were the docks where several tall ships sat waiting out the winter. It was at the moment that the idea for the ice ship came to him in a flash of innovation. "I mused why we didn't have ships that could skate the ice as easily as a sled on the snow. And then it dawned on me that no one had bothered to ask."

The shipbuilders were initially resistant to his suggestion, but with no other alternative for dealing with the growing illness Hans ordered them to investigate. Surprisingly a design was crafted and agreed upon. "I remembered what you had said to me when you offered me this post. From that moment forward, from that spark of creativity, I treated each obstacle as a challenge to overcome rather than a setback destined to produce failure. I hope it does not lessen my standing in your view."

"On the contrary, Governor, it only increases it," Elsa replied. "You were racked by doubts and needed to face down your demons to see what was before you. Rather than give in, you overcome them. As someone who has experienced similar fears I can assure you that it is a sign of a maturing leader. I think your father would be most proud of you."

Hans stiffened. "Sadly, nothing I can do will make my father proud of me. He has drawn his conclusions about who I am and nothing will change his mind."

"I am very sorry to hear that," she said. "If it is of any consolation, I am most proud of your good work here. I could not have selected a better, more qualified individual."

Hans bowed courteously, accepting her praise with quiet grace. Then she spoke again, "Now then, with that in mind will you accompany me and Anna back to the capital city? I have a unique task which may suit your specific talents."

"May I ask Her Majesty what that entails?"

"Diplomacy."

~O~

On the coach ride back to the royal palace Elsa explained to her travel companions that in the interim trade negotiations between Arendelle and the Kingdom of Weselton had broken down. (Once again, she misspoke it as "Weaseltown" and had to be corrected by Governor Hans). Apparently, the Duke was not pleased with his expulsion and he took out his bitterness by negotiating in poor faith. Unwilling to play his games Queen Elsa terminated any further discussions. Without a treaty in place, all commerce between the two kingdoms had come to an abrupt end.

Anna was shocked. "Elsa, Weselton is… um, was a major trading partner. Without that treaty our tradesmen will suffer."

"Yes, I know, but I have a plan. At the end of this month I will begin a lengthy goodwill tour to open diplomatic relations with other countries and if possible negotiate treaties for the exchange of goods. My goal is to equal or better what would have bought and sold with or former trade partner."

"That's brilliant, Elsa," Anna grinned. "But if you're away who is going to run the country?"

"That is why I wanted both of you," Elsa replied. Arendelle was to be left in Anna's capable hands. Governor Westergaard was to act as her advisor. Additionally, Elsa insisted that both undergo their own, intense diplomatic training. Upon her return she intended for both to engage in an ambassadorial mission of their own. "Anna, this will provide the training and practical experience you seek. Governor, succeed and I will name you Ambassador to a foreign nation representing Arendelle."

So surprised that Hans sputtered at first. Such a posting would be a promotion from mere governor of a province. "Am- Ambassador?" Inwardly Hans considered the rewards. Demonstrating that he could indeed be a master negotiator would only add to his stature if a nation such as Weselton were to suddenly find itself without a ruler. However, he kept his enthusiasm under control. "What if I fail?" he asked of Elsa.

"Then you will try again. Now then, are you two up to the task?"

"Yes!"

THE END

… until the next story