A/N: So here is the last chapter. Thank you so much to everyone who read it.
Chapter 10 – So Long, Farewell (Reprise)
Elsa couldn't help but smile a bit when she spotted the hull of her destroyer H.M.S Crocus. The Crocus had been her ship all throughout the Great War, and when she had contacted its current commander, her cousin Captain Jack Schrader, during the planning for the liberation of Arendelle, the officer had been only too happy to provide the ship. Now her ship, and as much of the Arendellian Navy that could be mustered was waiting for her just outside Arendelle Harbor. As she came aboard, Jack proudly provided her with one of his Captain's uniforms, and Elsa, touched by his show of respect, spared the time to change into it. Now properly dressed, she came onto the bridge, only to find every man and woman standing at attention and saluting her, including Jack. "Welcome aboard, Captain," Jack said with a smile as she returned his salute. "I hereby relinquish command of the Crocus to Captain Elsa Schrader. The ship and its crew are yours to command, Captain," he said bowing his head in respect.
Elsa looked at him, letting her gratitude show in her eyes for the briefest of seconds before her expression changed, and her well-known battle visage emerged. "Thank you, Commander Schrader," she replied crisply, temporarily demoting him for the sake of the operation. "And thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for allowing me to be your Captain. Please return to your stations so we can get rid of these Weasels once and for all," she ordered. Everyone snapped off sharp salutes and returned to their seats. "Helmsman, lay in course for the harbor," she commanded.
"Aye, Captain," the young woman responded.
"Radio operator, I want the Captains of Corona, Dunbroch and the Southern Isles on an open channel at all times. Radio these captains as well as the other ships in the Arendellian fleet that we are moving in." Elsa ordered.
"Aye, Captain," the sailor responded.
The ship began to move, and the blood started to sing in Elsa's veins. It felt so familiar, and Elsa was reminded of how much she loved the Navy and how she could leave her home and children as often as she did. But just as quickly, she thought of Anna and the home they had made together with their children, and the longing was muted. Yes, she loved being here, Elsa realized, but she wanted to be home with Anna and their children more. "Then we had better get these Weasels out as soon as possible," Elsa decided with a smirk. "Artillery!" she barked. "Focus all weapons on the Weasel-town ships. They only have a few ships in that pitiful navy of theirs, and I want them all destroyed. Fire a few warning shots to make anyone aboard evacuate, then hit them with everything you've got."
"Aye, Captain!" the artillery lieutenant replied.
"Radio! Open the channels to the captains!" Elsa ordered.
"Channel open, Captain!" the sailor responded.
"Fellow Arendelle Captains and honored Captains of the allies of Arendelle," she said. "Focus all your fire on taking back Arendelle Harbor. Force evacuations and then sink Weselton's navy; it won't be hard considering they took over Arendelle for her naval might. When the harbor is secure, anchor at the docks and spread your men and women out into the city. Secure the Parliament building and the Palace first. Most of the civilians, including the Queen, are in the Felsenreitschule, and this building must be surrounded as well. Because I was delayed, the Duke of Weselton is most likely no longer there, but I promise we will flush out the Weasel. It goes without saying that casualties must be kept to a minimum. Shoot to injure, not to kill, if it becomes necessary to engage. When everything is secure, the Captains will meet me at the Felsenreitschule. Good luck everyone, and thank you for your service to Arendelle."
"Understood, Captain Schrader, and it is an honor," Kristoff radioed in proudly, and the rest of the Captains, both Arendellian and foreign, echoed his response.
"Then let's move in, people," Elsa said decisively. The Crocus, its Arendellian flag flying proudly, took the lead, and the other ships fell into formation behind her. Within minutes, the Crocus sailed into the harbor, and the artillery officer, following Elsa's orders, fired warning shots across the Weselton ships' bow. Alarms blared and Weselton sailors flooded out onto the docks as the other ships followed the Crocus' lead. "Fire!" Elsa commanded when the last of the sailors staggered off. All around them, cannons boomed and shook, tearing into the Weselton ships. When the smoke cleared, the Weselton Navy lay in ruins, and with a shout of victory, the allied fleet sailed into the harbor and weighed anchor. Allied sailors and soldiers went ashore immediately, and under the command of their officers, their squadrons and platoons went to secure the city. Elsa joined them, taking command of twenty, and she blew a kiss towards Nordfell Abbey as she ran into the city.
AAAAAA
Anna drove the car as quickly but as carefully as she could through the streets of Arendelle. She took the mountain road up into the foothills and drove straight for Nordfell Abbey. The sister at the back gate opened it immediately and led them all straight to Mother Gerda. The older nun led them further into the abbey. "We left right after the encore to the Festival, Mother," Anna explained. "Elsa is leading the liberation force, and she made me promise to seek shelter here where we would be safe. Presumably, the Weasels will be too distracted to come looking for us, and I don't think they know where we are, so we will just be here a short while."
Just then, the screeching of tires could be heard out front, and the gate bell rang loudly, announcing the arrival of a Weselton Youth squadron. Mother Gerda rolled her eyes and sighed. "You should know better than to tempt fate like that, Anna-Maria," she chastised with just a bit of humor.
"I apologize, Reverend Mother," Anna said sincerely.
"At least it's the young ones," the Reverend Mother replied with another sigh. "Quickly, quickly," she prompted Anna and the children, opening a side door for them all to go through. "I have a place you can hide," she told them. She gestured to Sister Bertha. "Answer the gate, Sister Bertha, but as slowly as you possibly can," she requested. Sister Bertha smirked and went to the gate as she was told. Mother Gerda followed Anna and the children.
Sister Bertha strolled as slowly and nonchalantly as she could, exuding the mellow peace of the Maker with every step. She was enjoying this with everything that she was. Like all of the other sisters in the abbey, she was a proud supporter of Arendelle and the Crown, and with the Maker's help, she and her fellow sisters would make the Weasels of Weasel-town suffer the Maker's judgment for annexing Her beautiful country. She turned into the entryway hall, and at the end of the hall was a group of about twenty young people in brown shirts. It wasn't a very large group for a capture operation, and Sister Bertha surmised that this tiny group of untrained, youthful soldiers were all that Weasel-town could spare with the main fight waging down in Arendelle.
"Open this gate!" one of them demanded.
Sister Bertha composed her smirk into a serene smile. "Good evening," she replied evenly, stepping up to the gate. Taking some time to fiddle with the set of keys that she held, she at last turned to the right one, and ever-so-slowly inserted it into the keyhole. She turned the key with agonizing slowness, and the baby soldier grew impatient.
"Hurry up, woman," he commanded. Sister Bertha stopped turning the key and fixed him with her finest school-disciplinarian glare. The young man gulped and capitulated instantly, his boots suddenly becoming the focal point of his attention. "I'm sorry, ma'am, um, Sister," he mumbled contritely, his head bowed. Sister Bertha nodded with her stern look still on her face and started turning the key again. The lock clicked, and she opened the gate. The Weselton soldiers paused, and Sister Bertha hid her smirk.
"You may go in," she said, granting them permission, and only then did they enter the abbey. After they all filed past her and were out of earshot, she glanced over to Sister Marguerite who had come to join her. "We have our ruling Duchess and her children within our walls, Sister. Don't you think we and our fellow sisters should do something to safeguard her security?" she asked, her smirk appearing at last and growing wicked.
Sister Marguerite always suspected Sister Bertha disliked Anna-Maria because they were very alike in certain ways. The mischievous smirk was a nice piece of verifying data. "I always knew you secretly liked her," Sister Marguerite stated. "And yes, I think that is a fine idea, Sister Bertha. What did you have in mind?"
"Just gather most of the sisters up," Sister Bertha answered enigmatically. "Leave enough behind so that that the abbey doesn't look suspiciously empty."
"As you wish, Sister," Sister Marguerite replied giving her fellow nun once last smile before she spread out to find her fellow sisters.
While the sisters were plotting and the Weselton Youth fanning out and covering the yard, Mother Gerda, Anna and the children hurried along in the inner recesses of the abbey. It was dark, and they couldn't really see where they were going, so when Kurt realized they were hurrying past tombstones and graves, he let out a small squeak of fright. That alerted his siblings to where they were, and the little ones, Marta and Gretl, huddled closer to Anna. Louisa, on the other hand, mocked him for being a coward. "They're already dead, Kurt," she pointed out. "They don't care about you, and they can't do anything to hurt you."
"That doesn't mean I want to keep their company," Kurt grumbled.
The group came to a gate which separated a few of the graves with larger headstones away from the general population. "Were they bad?" Marta asked Liesel when they came to a stop. "Is that why they are in jail away from the others?" she asked.
"No, these are the super important people," Liesel replied. "The bars are there to keep other people away from them."
"Like GeeGee's guard?" Marta clarified.
"Exactly," Liesel confirmed, and Marta nodded.
"I can see now why you and your new children get along so well," Mother Gerda chuckled, overhearing the conversations.
Anna didn't know whether that statement was a compliment or a slight insult, so her only response was to blush. Behind them, they heard the heels of the soldiers' boots on the bricks of the courtyard, and Anna tensed. "I'm sorry, Reverend Mother," she apologized. "We didn't realize we put the abbey in such danger."
"No, Anna-Maria, it was right for you to come here," Mother Gerda said reassuringly as she opened the gate. "Besides, we aren't in any danger. Because of who I used to be, we are prepared for certain things, and even without that, the Maker protects those who are in Her service. Stay hidden here; I will come to get you when it is safe for you all."
"Yes, Mother," Anna said, giving her hug. Mother Gerda smiled and gave Anna the key to the gate, ensuring they could get out if they needed to. After one last hug, she left them, and Anna herded the children to hide behind the tombstones. When they were all concealed, Anna locked the gate, and she crouched behind the stone closest to her.
AAAAAAAAA
Elsa ordered five of her people to surround the latest group of Weasel-town soldiers that had surrendered. So far, the "battle" had been laughably easy; no shots had needed to be fired, because Weasel-ton's people had proved to be as sniveling and cowardly as he was. When they were aggressors, taking over a city that was sleeping, war had been fine; but now, with Arendelle full of allied troops willing to fight, the battle grew too real and too fierce for them. They laid down their arms and surrendered en masse without a second thought.
"Captain!" a voice called out, and Elsa turned to the messenger that was running up breathlessly. "Captain Fitzherbert has received reports that soldiers have been sent to Nordfell Abbey," the man explained. "He told me to tell you at once."
Elsa's chest seized up in fear, but she put the fear aside so she could think clearly. "Find Captain Jack Schrader and tell him to come here immediately," she ordered him. The man nodded and ran off. Elsa waited impatiently for about ten minutes, but at last her cousin and his troops came around the corner. "Some of Weselton's men have been sent to Nordfell Abbey," she said, and Jack understood immediately why he was there. "I am taking my people to intercept. I need to you stay here and help with all of the unconditional surrenders."
"Understood, Captain," Jack said immediately. "Go."
Elsa nodded and ordered her people to follow. They confiscated the nearest military transport and sped off towards the hills.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Come, Your Grace! I have a perfect hiding spot for you and your children over here!" Sister Bertha called overly loudly. The two Weselton Youth who had been searching for the Schrader family smiled and followed the sound of her voice, too inexperienced to realize they were heading right into a trap. As soon as they walked into the room, the door slammed behind them, the lights were extinguished, and bodies surrounded them. A couple of minutes later, the lights came on, and the two Youths were sitting on the floor with their hands bound behind them. "Well done, Sisters," Sister Bertha complimented them. "Sister Augusta, please take these gentlemen to the courtyard and put them with the rest of the people we've captured. Sister Sophia, Sister Catherine, take several of the sisters with you and see if you can find the one Youth that we are missing. Sister Marguerite, you are coming with me," she stated.
"And what are we doing?" Sister Marguerite asked curiously.
"Making sure the Weasels can't escape," Sister Bertha replied smugly.
As all of this was happening, the one Weselton Youth that the sisters hadn't managed to capture wandered into the graveyard. He got out his flashlight and swept it around the graves, looking for anyone who might be hidden amongst the tombstones. When that search yielded nothing, he shone his light on the back wall, illuminating the wrought-iron gate that separated some tombstones from the rest. He walked towards it, and Liesel involuntarily gasped. Anna looked at her, and from her face, it was clear that this was the young man Liesel had once been in love with.
Hans heard the gasp, but he didn't let on. He merely went down the length of the gate, shaking it to see if he could open it and trying to use his flashlight to see if there were people behind the stones. Anna and the children artfully avoided the light beam, and at last Hans seemingly gave up. He retreated to the far end of the graveyard, but he was only pretending to leave. He hid behind a large grave marker and waited.
Deciding that encounter had been too close for her liking, Anna made the choice to leave where they were. It was too constricting, and Anna wanted some place less claustrophobic. She slowly stood up and encouraged the children to do the same. She walked towards the gate, but when she went to put the key in the lock, Hans reappeared from behind the tombstone and turned on his flashlight. The sudden light startled everyone, and they froze.
Hans went to grab his whistle to call for backup, but after a moment's thought, he put it away. It would be so much more impressive if he brought the Duchess to the Duke on his own. "Come out of there!" he ordered. At his pompous tone, Anna unfroze, and she looked at him critically. Mindful of the children, though, she did as he asked, but she directed the children to wait for her just outside the graveyard and down the stairs. All did as she asked except for Liesel, who stayed by her side.
"It's you we want, not them," Hans said, as if giving Anna permission to do something that she had already done.
"Well, you are never going to arrest any of us, so it doesn't really matter who you want, Weasel," Anna said unconcernedly.
"My name is Hans," Hans said through gritted teeth.
"Is it now?" Anna mocked. "I'm sorry, but in my family, anyone who sides with Weasel-town is automatically a Weasel."
"Don't mock me, Your Grace," Hans said threateningly. He stepped up to Anna, but Liesel stepped in between them.
"Hans, please," she pleaded. "Please remember how you once loved me. Leave my family alone."
"I never loved you," Hans spat angrily. "My only thought was that being married to you would help me get the money and power I always wanted."
Liesel looked shocked for a second, but then she slapped Hans in the face. Hans made a move towards her, so Anna reached for her and pulled her back. "Go, join your brothers and sisters," Anna murmured. "I'll take care of him for you." Liesel angrily nodded and did as she was told. "Just when I thought you couldn't get any weasel-lier, you show how truly despicable and weasel-like you are. You are contemptable," Anna stated.
The insult caused Hans' temper to snap. "Stop calling me a weasel!" he demanded petulantly, charging Anna. She calmly stepped out of his way, and his momentum carried him to the ground. The tombstone he landed on did his head no favors, and he lay there dazed. Coming to, he finally decided that backup might be a good idea, so he reached for his whistle and blew on it loudly. "Lieutenant! Lieutenant, they're here!" he shouted, not realizing that his entire company had been already captured by the Sisters of Nordfell.
From their place in the courtyard, those same sisters heard the whistles and the yells. "That's our missing Weasel," Mother Gerda guessed. All the sisters assembled nodded in agreement, and they all went rushing out of the courtyard. Seeing their chance now they were unattended, their Weselton Youth prisoners stood up and ran to the gate for their transports, untying their bonds as they went.
Anna waited patiently for the rest of the soldiers, but moments passed and no one came to Hans' aid. "Seems like your compatriots are just as weaselly as you," Anna commented. "They must have decided you aren't worth it."
"I am not a weasel!" Hans yelled, staggering to his feet.
Anna reached out a hand and grabbed a fist full of his brown shirt to steady him. "Yes, you are, and if you ever come near me, my daughter, my wife, my other children, the abbey or any of my family again, you will be sorry," she warned.
"What will you do, Your Grace? Sing me a threatening song?" Hans taunted.
Anna's lips pursed for just a second before the fist holding Hans' shirt brought him within range of her other fist. She socked him right between the eyes, and he tumbled head-over-heels into one of the nearby gravestones. She glared at him, her fists still cocked and ready, but he stayed on the ground. Her children, especially Liesel, cheered her from the pathway, and to Anna's surprise, another group joined in from the other entrance to the graveyard. She turned around to see most of the sisters of the Abbey assembled, including Mother Gerda, Sister Marguerite and Sister Bertha. "Well done, Anna-Maria," Sister Bertha said, giving Anna the first complement she had ever bestowed upon the young woman.
Anna smiled at her. "Thank you, Sister Bertha," she said warmly.
Sister Bertha smiled at her before turning to another sister. "Help him up and escort him to the courtyard so we can put him with the others," she requested. Looking around, she noticed that almost every sister was there. "Who remained with the prisoners?" she asked. Panicked looks crossed several faces. "You left no one with the soldiers," she deduced, and several sisters hung their heads. "Then it was a good thing Sister Marguerite and I took precautions. Let's intercept them before they flee," she said, as she turned and left. The sisters restraining Hans followed her, along with the rest of the sisters, Mother Gerda, and Anna's family.
When they got to the gate, the members of the Weselton Youth realized with dismay that Sister Bertha had locked it. Two of their burliest men tried shaking it, but the iron was well-crafted, and the lock didn't budge. Desperate, they looked around for escape, and they noticed a small gap between the top of the gate's doorway arch and the spikes at the top of the gate. It looked big enough for them to wiggle through, so they helped each other climb the fence as footsteps sounded closer. It seemed that luck was on their side, for they all made it up and over, and they ran to their cars just as the sisters made it to the locked gate. They all jumped in, and the drivers inserted the keys and turned them to start the cars…only to have the engines whirr and sputter without turning over.
Sister Marguerite and Sister Bertha looked one another and smirked. "Reverend Mother, we have sinned," Sister Marguerite said with mock regret.
"And what is this sin, my children?" Mother Gerda asked, amused. Sister Bertha and Sister Marguerite didn't answer but took vital car parts out from behind their habits. Mother Gerda chuckled. "I'm sure the Maker will forgive you, my children," she said wryly.
The Weselton Youth continued to try to start their cars, but they realized it wasn't working, and when Sister Bertha started to unlock the gate, it seemed foolish to try anymore. They abandoned ship and went running down the darkened street. Or rather, they would have, except a military transport, a group of soldiers pointing their weapons at them and a platinum-blond naval captain with a frigidly-menacing glower blocked their path. Turning around, their path was blocked by a group of sisters who had already subdued them once. Knowing they had no other options, the Weselton Youth squadron held up their hands in surrender
"Surround them," Elsa barked to her people. "Make sure they don't move a muscle."
"Aye, Captain," her company responded, surrounding the Weasels at once.
Elsa nodded and stalked past the group, paying them little mind as her gaze sought out people that were far more important. She found them standing in a line near the gate, not the formal military one that they used to align themselves in, but a looser one full of happy eyes and welcoming smiles. Elsa took a deep breath, holstered her weapon, and held out her arms. Her children ran to her immediately, and she embraced them fervently. Looking around the group, she realized someone was missing. "Where is your Mama?" she asked in concern.
"Right here, sweetheart," Anna answered affectionately from just outside the group.
"What are you doing all the way over there?" Elsa questioned. "This is a family hug."
"Yes, it is," Anna agreed, "but the rabble have you surrounded. I'll wait."
"Nonsense," Elsa contradicted promptly. "Children, make some space for your Mama," she requested. The children parted like a wave, and Elsa grabbed Anna's right hand to pull her in. Anna let out a yelp of pain at the contact, and now concerned, Elsa loosened her grip but guided Anna in anyway. She brought the hand up to look at it, and even in the bad lighting of the street, she could see the swollen knuckles. Elsa kissed Anna's hand carefully and tenderly before taking her wife into her arms with a wry smile. "And just what have you been up to, my love, that your hand should be so damaged?" she asked with wry curiosity.
"Mama punched out a Weasel!" Gretl announced proudly.
Elsa paused at the unexpected response, and then she chuckled. "Did she now?" she asked the children. All of them nodded happily. "I knew you were the perfect woman for me," Elsa said lovingly. Anna blushed, and Elsa kissed the injured hand once more before kissing her wife on the lips briefly. "Which one was it?" she asked. Anna pointed, indicating the Weselton Youth being held by the Sisters Catherine and Agatha. His nose was crooked and swollen, and the bruises were starting to make their appearance. Elsa chuckled again. "Remind me not to make you mad," she joked. Anna blushed again, earning her another kiss from Elsa. When that was done, Elsa hugged her family once more and let them go. "All right!" she announced. "I believe we have bothered the kind Sisters of Nordfell enough. You five, load the prisoners into the military transport and wait for me to join you," she ordered some of her people. "The remaining ten of you will stay here to protect the Sisters and my family, although it doesn't seem like they need it. They did rather well on their own," she said proudly. Her people scattered, and Elsa gave everyone in her family one last hug before she climbed into the driver's seat of the transport. "The liberation is almost complete," she told Anna confidently. "I will send someone for you when Weasel-ton has surrendered."
"Stay safe, sweetheart," Anna responded. Elsa smiled at her warmly and started the transport, turning around carefully to head back down into Arendelle.
When Elsa arrived back in Arendelle, the "battle" was even more lopsided than it had been before she had left. Row upon row of enemy forces were lined up, weaponless and being guarded by allied forces. Spotting Jack, Elsa stopped the transport, and her people got out, leading their prisoners over to join the rest. "How goes everything, Commander Schrader?" Elsa asked.
"All precincts and neighborhoods have been cleared of Weselton forces, Captain," Jack stated. "The only outstanding concern is that the Head Weasel has not been located, but his top advisors and military commanders have been captured, and they were most helpful in divulging his location. I expect his capture within the hour."
"Excellent," Elsa commented.
"And what of the Duchess and your children, Captain?" Jack asked.
"Well, when I got there, the Weselton Youth assigned to their capture were running away from the abbey, weaponless and panicked," Elsa said, her lip curling up in a smile. "And, my wife's right fist was painfully swollen because she had knocked out one of the Weasels. It seems like they had the situation well in hand, and my only contribution was providing transport for their prisoners."
Jack laughed. "Never underestimate women of the cloth," he advised, amused.
"Indeed," Elsa agreed.
A shout caught their attention, and they looked to the other side of the square to see the Duke of Weselton being led into the area. The forces of Arendelle and their allies began to cheer, Elsa and Jack included, and soon the noise became deafening. The soldiers who had captured him scanned the crowd, obviously looking for someone, and when they saw Elsa, they found her. They brought the Duke over to her at once, saluting when they stood before her. "You should have the honor of bringing him to the Queen, Captain," their commander said with a respectful bow. "If not for you, Arendelle would not have her liberty."
"I am one of many that brought Arendelle her liberty, Lieutenant, but thank you," Elsa replied, sincerely touched as she returned his salute. "Will you and your squadron do me the honor of accompanying me to the Felsenreitschule?"
"Of course, Captain. The honor would be ours," the man said immediately.
"Good," Elsa said. Turning to her cousin, she made another request. "Commander Schrader, would you send some of your people to fetch the Duchess and my children?" she requested.
"With pleasure, Captain," Jack replied. A small gesture of his hand was all it took, and two of his sailors were running for a transport.
Elsa firmly took the Duke's arm from the soldier holding him, and she steered him towards the Felsenreitschule. "I am sure my grandmother will tell you much of the same, but if I ever see you again anywhere within Arendelle's borders, I will kill you on sight with my own bare hands," she promised. The Duke paled but said nothing, and the soldiers and sailors who accompanied her puffed their chests out with pride.
The allied forces guarding the Felsenreitschule let out a cheer when they saw Elsa and the Duke approaching, letting the Captains assembled under Elsa's orders know that the Captain and the Duke were near. They in turn spread the news to all of the civilians who were being kept safe in the structure, including the Queen. She left her royal box immediately and went down to the bottom floor, intending to speak to the crowd from the stage where her family had sung only hours before. Olaf quickly figured out her intentions, so he clambered on to the stage first, determined to give Her Majesty the proper welcome. "People of Arendelle!" he called to the crowd through the microphone. "Please welcome our Queen, Her Majesty, Queen Bulda the Third!"
The Queen climbed the steps to the stage, and the crowd, in spite of their fatigue at spending many hours in the amphitheater, cheered loudly as she crossed the stage to the microphone. The Queen let them cheer, and she smiled indulgently when the cheer became a roar when Elsa entered with the Duke in tow. Elsa brought the Duke on to the stage, followed by the company that had captured him, and the Captains of the ships that had come to Arendelle's aid. They formed a crisp line, and when they were settled, the Queen lifted her hand to ask for silence.
The crowd quieted at once, and the Queen took the microphone. "My people," she said. "Tonight will be a night that will be long remembered by our people. Thanks to these brave Captains and their soldiers and sailors, Arendelle has been freed from the abhorrent annexation that was forced upon it. As soon as this assembly is finished, the Duke will be escorted back to the Palace where the Annexation decree will be revoked once and for all. Then, he and his people will be taken back to their country, and never again will their feet be allowed to taint the soil of Arendelle. Lieutenant, please take this scoundrel away." A mighty cheer rose up as the Duke was led offstage, and the Queen basked in it before she quieted the crowd again.
"Arendelle would not be free without the help of her allies," Queen Bulda continued. "My people, please join me in honoring them." She brought the microphone with her and started from the far end. "The Marquis and Marchioness de la Bête!" she announced, and the crowd cheered. "Her Highness, Captain Merida of Dunbroch!" was introduced, and another cheer sounded.
As "Captains Eugene and Rapunzel Fitzherbert of Corona!" were introduced to another cheer, Elsa began to grow anxious. Jack's people should have been able to make the round trip from the abbey by now, and she was anxious to be reunited with her family. Just then a familiar collection of people came quietly into the theatre through the tunnel, and Elsa smiled as Anna blew her a kiss. "Now see, aren't you glad Olaf and I schemed to get the two of you together?" Kristoff teased her from his place beside her in line.
"Hush, you," Elsa admonished embarrassedly. "You're about to be honored."
"And finally, Baron Kristoff von Groff of the Southern Isles!" the Queen concluded. Kristoff bowed, and the crowd cheered loudly for him.
"Now, my people, we have one last person to honor," the Queen said, and the crowd grew quiet once again. "As many of you know, Captain Elsa Schrader fought hard and valiantly for Arendelle during the Great War, and once again, she has shown her bravery and commitment to Arendelle and her Queen by leading the fight for liberation. As her grandmother and her Queen, I declare before you all that she is one of the best officers Arendelle has ever had to offer, and my love for her and my pride in her accomplishments is limitless. People of Arendelle, please help me honor my granddaughter, Baroness Elsa Schrader, Admiral of Arendelle's Naval Forces!"
The roar of the crowd filled the amphitheater, and Elsa stood at attention, masking her shock at the promotion and her other emotions as she usually did. She looked around at the crowd, all of them cheering for her, and Elsa started to feel overwhelmed, at least until she saw the proud, joyful faces just off to the side of the entrance tunnel. She smiled then, and the roar of the crowd got louder. It lasted for a while, until the Queen held up her hand, quieting the crowd. "Now my people, as a new day dawns in Arendelle, I have one last proclamation. We have spent a sleepless night, one in which the future of our county was held in the balance. We have emerged victorious, and so today shall be now and forever more, a national holiday. Go to your homes, rest, and emerge refreshed so that we may celebrate. Long live Arendelle!" she proclaimed proudly.
"Long live the Queen!" they replied, and with one last cheer, people started to file out of the Felsenreitschule.
The ceremony over, Elsa went over and shook her allies' hands one-by-one, thanking them personally and sincerely. When she got to Kristoff, he gave her a hug and shooed her off to the people he knew she really wanted to be with. Elsa did not argue, eschewing the steps to jump off the stage in a show of athleticism. Anna and their children met her halfway, and after she and Anna shared a thorough kiss, she hugged and kissed her children. "You did it, sweetheart!" Anna said happily, as Elsa wrapped her up in another hug. "I am so proud of you."
"We did it, my love," Elsa contradicted, holding her tightly. "We could not have done this with out you."
"You're sweet," Anna said affectionately. "You're wrong, but you're sweet."
"She's not wrong, lass," a new voice interrupted, and Elsa and Anna turned to see the allied Captains around them. "The frosty, prickly Ice Captain was much easier to deal with this time 'round," Captain Merida teased. "It was like she had melted or somethin'. And from the way she kissed ya, I would think that's your doin'." The other Captains chuckled as Elsa glared at them. "Put the glare away, Admiral," Merida said wryly. "We know you're fakin'. Just tell us what we need to do to help you rid yourselves of the Weasels completely."
Elsa glared at her for a second longer, but then relaxed and gave Anna a kiss on the forehead. "Please take everyone back to the house and get some rest," she requested. "Captain Merida is right; there are still several things to be done, not the least of which is ferrying the Weasels back to their own country now that we have destroyed their navy. I'll be home as soon as I can."
"Is there any way we can help?" Anna asked.
"No," Elsa answered. "You and the children go home and rest."
"All right," Anna said reluctantly. "But come home as soon as you are able."
"I promise," Elsa said, kissing her gently and ignoring the wry grins of her fellow captains when they parted.
Anna gathered up the children and Olaf, who presented her with a large bouquet of flowers. When Anna looked at him questioningly, Olaf shrugged. "You won the festival," he explained with a smile. "Your engraved medals from the Queen will be arriving shortly. Probably with all of your "Liberators of Arendelle" ones," he joked.
"We won?" Brigitta questioned in delight.
"Yes, darling, you did," Olaf said, and all of the children smiled, chattering excitedly as they went back to the car to go home.
Elsa smiled after them as they left, but when they were gone, she got down to the business of organizing and ordering people around. As the Queen had promised, the Duke of Weselton was escorted immediately back to the palace, and a new treaty dissolving the union between Arendelle and Weselton was hastily drafted, reviewed and signed. Within its words, it was made explicit that Arendelle would no longer have any diplomatic ties with Weselton, and any Weselton citizen found within Arendelle's borders would need to have a very good reason for being there or face imprisonment. Any of the Weselton soldiers or sailors that took part in the invasion, however, were permanently banned, including those Arendellian-born like Hans. When the treaty was witnessed and signed, Elsa and the other Captains escorted the Duke and all of the other Weselton prisoners onto the allied ships to dispose of the refuse back on its own soil.
From her place at the palace window, Queen Bulda could see the people being loaded on to the ships. She was happy, of course, but also relieved. There had been no loss of life on either side, and she was grateful. "All praise be to the Maker," she whispered.
"That is usually my thought," a voice behind her said wryly, and Bulda spun around.
"Gerda! What are you doing here?" Bulda asked, trying to calm her surprised and quickly-beating heart.
"You said I shouldn't stay away so long," Gerda replied drily.
"I can't believe that is the only reason," Bulda answered pointedly.
"No, it's not," Gerda confirmed, coming over to the window. She gazed out and watched the departing soldiers much as her sister had. "I came to ask why there were armed soldiers at my abbey today. Granted, they were inept, but they were still there. Why did you let the annexation happen, Biulda? You could have stopped it as soon as it started. Why take the risk of having war?"
"If a single Arendellian had fallen, I would have stopped everything immediately," Bulda assured her. "But I had faith in Elsa to bring it to a natural end."
"Are you still so afraid of your powers?" Gerda asked sadly.
"I have never been afraid of my powers, Gerda," Bulda corrected her defensively. "I only fear people's reaction to them. The Snow Queens of Arendelle have been gone for generations, so long that their deeds are now legend and myth. The age of reason is upon us, and magic has no place in it. The Snow Queens and their magic need to remain legend and myth. But, if Elsa had failed, the whole world would have known that a new Snow Queen had arisen."
"Well, I suppose I understand your reasoning, but I would have loved to see you as you were meant to be," Gerda admitted. "Your powers are beautiful, and it has been years since I've seen them."
Bulda smiled. "Just for you then, little sister," she said, lifting her hands. Within seconds, snow started to fall, and Gerda laughed in delight. Bulda laughed along with her, that was until a snowball to her face started an epic snowball fight that was years in the making.
One Year Later
Anna, Elsa and their children, along with Her Majesty Queen Bulda, sat quietly in the front pew of the cathedral waiting for the entrance of the Reverend Mother. Traditionally a priestess would have overseen this rite, but Mother Gerda's familial relationship, plus the insistence of Anna and the Queen, had ensured the Reverend Mother's participation. When the music stopped, the Reverend Mother rose and stepped up the altar. "Let the new servant of the Maker come forth," she intoned.
With a smile, Queen Bulda rose, bringing with her the white lace clad bundle she was so carefully cradling. The bundle gurgled, waving her chubby little fists in happiness, and Bulda laughed as she kissed the scattered copper strands on the top of her newest great-granddaughter's head. Normally her mothers would have been the only ones to bring the baby to the altar, but the Queen finally had her redhead, and she was not letting her go. And since she was the Queen, she could do whatever it was she felt like, so it was Bulda who brought the infant to Mother Gerda.
Elsa and Anna rose right after her, and they accompanied the Queen and their child to the altar, standing to the right of the naval bell that was serving as the baptismal font. When the ceremony was over, the baby's name would be inscribed on its surface as was the naval tradition, and then it would be returned to the Crocus. Dipping her two fingers into holy water held in the bell, Mother Gerda wetted her fingertips before making the symbol of the Maker on the baby's forehead. The baby's face scrunched up, and Mother Gerda smiled. "In the Name of the Maker, the Daughter and the Sacred Spirits, I welcome you into our fellowship, Gerda Marguerite Anna-Maria Schrader," she blessed the baby as she took some water in her palm and poured it over the wispy red strands.
The littlest Schrader let out a disgruntled cry at the cold water, and everyone in attendance at her baptism let out a chuckle. Now that the baby was no longer needed over the bell, Queen Bulda brought her up to cuddle and soothe her as the Reverend Mother called up her Maker-parents, Liesel and Kristoff. After Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Liesel reaffirmed their commitment to bring up Maggie (as she was already being called) in the service of the Maker, Mother Gerda blessed them all and dismissed the congregation.
Normally, there would have been a grand party celebrating the baptism, but since the whole of Arendelle was already celebrating, another party seemed superfluous. Officially, it was "Annexation Liberation Day", but the name that had stuck was Wieselstampfentag, or "Weasel Stomp(ing) Day". The City of Arendelle had turned into a festival with delicious food and dancing, as well as more than a few stands where harming a stuffed weasel was the goal that earned the victor a prize. The family Schrader went back to the palace to change out of their cathedral finery, and once the children were in their play clothes, their mothers gave them money and let them go.
Elsa and Anna strolled together along the city streets, with Elsa proudly holding Maggie and Anna holding her other arm. Many people stopped them, both to congratulate them on the new arrival and to thank them for making the day possible. Anna and Elsa thanked them all, but after a while, the busy atmosphere made them want some place quieter. They moved away from the bustle of the interior of Arendelle out towards the hills, and without thinking, the three of them ended up in front of Nordfell Abbey. Anna studied its iron gates for a long time, until a soft, contemplative smile crossed her face.
"What is it, Anna?" Elsa asked, curious.
"I am so glad I was a horrible nun," Anna confessed.
Elsa laughed. "As am I, my love, as am I. Aren't we, Maggie?" she asked, gently squeezing the baby in her arms who giggled.
Anna smiled at them both before giving each one a kiss. "Let's go back down," she offered. "I want to be with the rest of my family." Elsa nodded her agreement, offering Anna her arm as they headed back down into the city.