Chapter 1 – The Color of Invisible Blood

Author's Notes:

This story immediately follows Worthy Queen of Greatness, and starts in November, 1840. It takes place in the alternate timeline of my headcanon universe. Up until the events of Worthy Queen, the two universes are the same, so there is a political plot simmering unknown to Elsa that began before she became Queen. (See 'The Spare' for details...[shameless plug])

I will include some flashbacks in this story to fill in backstory for those who have not read 'The Spare'. Trust me when I say the political plot will NOT go in the same way as it did in that story. This is, after all, a different universe.

In both universes, Elsa's Coronation Day was July 14, 1840, and the events of the movie ended with the Great Thaw on July 17, 1840.

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Marcus Antonius:
And Caesar's spirit, raging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Julius Caesar Act 3, scene 1, 270–275

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Violence does not always take visible form, and not all wounds gush blood.

– Haruki Murakami, 1Q84

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*** November, 1840 – Kingdom of Arendelle ***

Three weeks had passed since the battle to free Arendelle from the attackers, sent by the Duke of Weselton, who had taken Anna hostage. It had been a fierce, if brief, battle. The cost in casualties had been light, except for the families of the dead. For them, the cost had been infinitely high.

Queen Elsa of Arendelle stared at the fire in the library hearth, remembering.

She was on her knees in front of her own throne, hands bound behind her back, glaring at the enemy commander sprawled arrogantly on her throne. His men had dragged her in here from the castle courtyard, tripping her and twisting their fists into her hair to pull her back on her feet. They had intended to degrade and intimidate her. She was not intimidated. She was, however, afraid, but her fear was more for her sister Anna than for her own safety. Elsa was afraid that her plan to defeat these enemies of Arendelle would fail, leaving the kingdom helpless and the two sisters dead.

The Duke had been clever; he knew he needed some way to neutralize the magic power of the Snow Queen of Arendelle. His leverage had been Princess Anna, the younger sister of the Queen. The two women had been separated for thirteen years but that had not been long enough for them to lose the love they had for each other. The Duke's men kidnapped Anna while the Queen was on a visit to a nearby town; they threatened to kill her if Elsa did not submit to their demands. Of course Elsa submitted.

She remembered how she had walked up to the enemy officer and said, "I'm ready. Let's go."

She remembered the pain as they twisted her arms behind her and tied her wrists. Then more pain as the officer stepped close to Elsa and backhanded a hard slap across her face. The blow cut her lip and made her stumble to one knee. A trickle of blood dripped from the corner of her mouth and her fear caused a small patch of ice to form on the pavement where she knelt. She had glared up at the officer. "What was that for?"

"A lesson. The first of many. You are helpless, and your kingdom belongs to us. Don't forget it."

She had been more frightened than she had ever been in her life; Colonel Nordholm had been appalled at her plan; it put her at the mercy of violent men; men who had no qualms about taking what they wanted from helpless women; anything they wanted. She had told him she would not allow herself to be so violated, but if Anna were still at risk … she might have to.

Ice began to form on the floor beneath her as she sat in front of the fireplace caught in the spell of her daydream. They had confined her in her own dungeons, she had suffered night terrors beyond terrifying, then she had fought beside her guardsmen as they battled to escape and signal for help. At the last, she had confronted the commander of the Weselton forces and barely escaped with her life as her magic almost failed her.

The Commander snarled and lunged forward to drive the point of his sword into Elsa's upper arm, pinning her to the door as the sword sank at least three inches into the wood. She screamed and dropped the sword. Blood ran freely from her wound, painting the door with a crimson streak. It was all she could do to remain upright, bracing herself against the door and trying to blink the tears out of her eyes so she could see her murderer.

But she had found enough strength left to free herself, and Anna had brought a relief force to the castle that turned the tide of the battle.

Elsa remembered; and the ice grew spiky and angry as she did. She trembled and hugged herself as she tried to drive away the images of the fight, the smell of the blood, the pain of the sword driving into her body.

"Anna ..." She squeezed her eyes tightly closed and remembered her sister holding her as she lay on the pavement, spent from the loss of blood and the effort of the battle. She hugged herself, rocking back and forth as she was transported back to the courtyard and the life-or-death struggle there.

She remembered feeling relief when Anna caught her as she slumped bonelessly to the cobblestones. She remembered her sister's gentle touch as Anna knelt and cradled Elsa in her arms, then tenderly brushed the sweat- and blood-soaked hair back from her face. Elsa's eyes were open but she couldn't seem to focus them on anything. She pawed clumsily for Anna's hand with her own, finally wrapping her fingers around it and squeezing weakly.

"Elsa!" She heard her sister calling to her in her vision.

"ELSA!" Anna was shaking her shoulder, here in the room as well. "Elsa, it's me, it's okay, you don't have to be afraid, you're safe!" Anna had slipped on the icy floor, but managed to slide to her knees and hug her sister without falling flat on her face or impaling herself on an ice spike.

"Anna?" Elsa regained her awareness of where she was. "I'm … sorry. I'll fix it." A wave of her hand and the ice disappeared as though it had never been.

"Honey, are you okay?" Anna looked into her sister's eyes, looking for reassurance that she was back in the present.

"Y .. yes. I was just … re ... remembering," Elsa stuttered as she leaned into Anna's warmth.

"You promised you'd try not to do that when you're alone. So we could talk about it," Anna said as she hugged Elsa.

"It was a foolish promise, Anna. The memories just … come. A sound, a twinge in my arm, and suddenly I'm back then, scared out of my wits." Elsa shuddered and buried her face in her sister's shoulder.

Anna soothed her for a few minutes; this had happened almost every day since Elsa had healed enough to be allowed out of bed. She still wasn't strong enough to take up her duties as Queen, and Anna was still acting as her regent. This left Elsa with too much time to brood without Anna available to help her break out of the nightmarish flashbacks.

"Honey, when will you be able to take back the kingdom? I think me and the Council are both hoping you'll be back soon," Anna decided to try to distract her sister from the memories.

Elsa sniffled and wiped her cheeks as she sat up and looked at Anna. "I'm not sure. Maybe a week? The doctor said everything is healing nicely, and I'm certainly feeling stronger."

Anna stood, then helped Elsa get to her feet. "Good. But I think starting tomorrow you and I should spend some time in your study every day letting me catch you up on everything. The council has been meeting once a week because of all the cleanup and everything. Next week is the day for the regular monthly meeting, so we decided that would be a good time to go back to the normal schedule. We set up the agenda today, I think you should plan on taking over then, if you can."

The two sisters were walking down the hall toward their bedrooms, arm in arm.

"I would like that," Elsa said. "I'm so proud of how you've done as Regent, Anna. I don't know what the kingdom would have done without you."

"Well, what good's a spare if she's not ready when you need her? Although, I will confess that more often than I like admitting, I just put on what I call my 'Elsa face' and nod like I know what they're talking about." Anna showed Elsa the face she was talking about and was glad to get a giggle in response.

"Yes, well, don't tell anyone, but I do that too," Elsa confided sheepishly. "Some of the councilors are just … sooooo in love with the sound of their own voices that it almost drives me into a sound slumber."

The two sisters giggled together. Anna said, "I am so glad to hear you say that! I would be embarrassed to think I'm the only one who has to suppress the urge to get caught up on my sleep in those meetings."

They were in front of Elsa's bedroom door. Anna looked at her sister with concern and asked, "Do you want me to sleep with you tonight?" Elsa's nightmares had diminished in frequency, but every third night or so she would wake up screaming.

Elsa hugged Anna and said, "I feel okay now. I think I'll be fine tonight." She made a wry face, "And it's not as though you won't know if I have a bad dream." Anna's room was close enough that the sound of Elsa screaming easily woke the younger woman.

"Okay. But let me put you to bed, at least?" Anna led her sister into the bedroom and sat her down in front of the vanity. "Hand me your hair brush, honey."

Humming softly, Anna loosened Elsa's braid and began to brush out the tangles and snarls of the day. With each stroke of the brush through her thick hair Elsa felt some of the tension in her body ease as well. The pure sensuous joy of Anna's touch lulled her halfway toward sleep. Eyes closed, her hands relaxed in her lap, Elsa could pretend they were little girls again and this was part of their nightly ritual.

She was sorry when the task was finished and Anna helped her remove her dressing gown and tucked her into bed; it felt so good. Elsa let herself relax and let Anna mother her; there were so many long years of isolation to be made up for. Each of these moments were precious to Elsa; she hoarded them against need, in case … in case …

"No bad dreams, tonight, understand? Think happy thoughts, like, playing with Olaf and me in the courtyard," Anna kissed her sister tenderly on the cheek and left for her own room. Elsa slipped the rest of the way into slumber before the door had clicked shut.

There were no bad dreams.

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** Flashback - August, 1840 - Weselton - Palace of the Duke of Weselton **

The Duke of Weselton's butler announced his visitor. "Mr. Anders Reinertsen, Your Grace."

"Hello, again, Your Grace. It is good to see you again," Reinertsen nodded to his host.

The Ducal Palace was opulent to the point of ostentatious extravagance. It was large, he had thought, as the butler led Reinertsen from the enormous entrance foyer, through long hallways back to the patio overlooking the lush garden. The furnishings and objets d'art scattered on pedestals and hanging on the walls were impressive and intimidating to the Arendelle merchant. In his own kingdom, Reinertsen was considering very wealthy; the Ducal Palace made him feel like a pauper.

"Harrumph, yes, well, I am still greatly annoyed at that … monster … ruling Arendelle. Has your country chafed under her rule, yet? Will they be deposing her any time soon?" The Duke waved his visitor to a chair on the patio, in the shade where the heat of an August day in Weselton could be enjoyed rather than endured.

"Ah, I'm afraid not, Your Grace. She seems intent on toadying to the mob, apologizing profusely and making a show of traveling about the kingdom in some sort of attempt at expiation of the damage she's done. So far, most people seem to be accepting her efforts. There's always a few disgruntled trouble makers in any kingdom, but for now there doesn't seem to be enough of them to make her worry about a rebellion," Reinertsen settled himself comfortably and in response to a polite query from a footman asked for a cool drink.

"Well, we can exploit that. I intend to make her pay for the insult she has done to me! To pay for the damage she has done to our business. My profits are down substantially, and I can't believe yours are in any better shape," the Duke glared at Reinertsen.

The two men had been doing business for years before Elsa of Arendelle had become Queen. At one time, Reinertsen had served on the Royal Advisory Council. Unfortunately for him, Elsa had exposed him in a scheme to profit from a shady trade deal with Weselton and removed him from the Council. He had been contemptuous of her rule before that, but since that humiliation he had seethed and looked for any opportunity to take his revenge on her. He was interested in what the Duke had planned, and his visit here had been set up when the Duke had been kicked out of Arendelle in the days after the Great Thaw.

"What are you thinking we should do about it, Your Grace?" Reinertsen accepted his drink from the butler, then sipped at it appreciatively while he waited for the Duke to respond. The ice cubes in the glass clinked softly, and Reinertsen wondered idly where the Duke was purchasing ice now that Arendelle refused to do business with him.

The little man was a bundle of nervous energy, pacing around the shaded patio while his guest watched.

"I intend to send an expedition to take that smug smile off her face," he declared.

"Ah, Your Grace, isn't that somewhat … futile? I mean, with her magic, she could simply freeze whatever ships you send and let her Navy and Marines detain your forces," protested Reinertsen. "Even without magic, the Arendelle Navy is skilled and vigilant. Your Navy has no chance against them. Forgive me if I seem … skeptical, but your Duchy is not known for the size and power of your fleet."

The Duke stopped and scowled at Reinertsen, who worried that he had insulted his host, then said, "Ah, but I have a plan to neutralize that witch's magic and her Navy!"

Startled, Reinertsen said, "How? That seems … incredible. Have you sought out scholars who study the arcane arts, have they discovered the roots of her powers and how they can be negated?"

"Nothing so complicated! It is a simple matter of striking at her heart, at that which she holds most dear, Anders! If Princess Anna is our captive, she is proof against any move that the Queen or her armed forces might make. So I plan to have my men take the Princess hostage before we reveal ourselves as invaders."

Reinertsen looked thoughtful as he considered what the Duke had said. "I admit, it was somewhat of a surprise when the two women reconciled after that disastrous coronation fiasco. You think that a threat to kill the Princess will tie the Queen's hands? She might shrug it off, let your men murder the Princess and then kill your entire invading force, after which she will come looking for you."

"My agents tell me that this will work. And my Navy will not be involved, so that is where you come in."

"Me?" squeaked Reinertsen. He was no military expert, why would the Duke look to him for this?

"Yes, I need your contacts in the shipping trade to hire ships and their crews. They will sail peacefully into Arendelle's harbor looking like innocent merchant ships. I will provide the soldiers that will make up the invading force that will be hidden below decks. Once the Princess is safely aboard one of the ships as a prisoner, their true purpose will be revealed in a demand to the Queen to submit or watch her sister die."

"You're sure this will work? It still seems risky." Reinertsen was rather more wary of Elsa's power than the Duke apparently was.

The Duke waved off his objection, "Yes, this will work. She will submit, we will plunder the kingdom of Arendelle until there isn't a loose skilling left, and then we will split the profits evenly when those spoils are returned here to Weselton. This will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams of avarice, Anders."

"Or it will get me hung as a traitor," muttered Reinertsen.

"'Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason.' " quoted the Duke. "If we prosper, she won't be able to call it treason, you fool. She'll be dead! I intend to have her brought here for trial as a witch and then execute her. Leaving the kingdom in the hands of a grieving and terrorized Princess. Who I may marry off to a likely consort that can keep her too busy raising hoards of squalling brats to bother us with some plan of revenge."

The Duke poured himself a drink, then refilled the glass on the table next to his guest. "A toast, Anders. Let us drink to our partnership in exploiting the riches of Arendelle!"