Deed of the Invisible Weasel Ch. 2
“Pantomime and Pageantry”
Elsa, Kristoff, and her guards stood by the pier staring at the ship across the harbor. Although she stood behind the guards, she was at the ready to use her ice magic to both protect and defend her life, the lives of her guards, Kristoff, and the lives of every Arendellian in the village should the need arise. The guards stood at the ready with loaded crossbows that only needed aiming.
“Look, Elsa!” Kristoff pointed out movements on the massive ship and it began to lower a small boat into the waters of the fjord. The smaller ship had a white flag up before it even hit the calm waters. Elsa squinted and she could see five men, four of which were in familiar red suits with gold buttoning and white gloves. She gasped and took a step backwards unintentionally. Kristoff watched her carefully.
“Those men are from Weselton!” Elsa stated. She couldn’t help but feel angry. She remembered how the Duke had specifically sent men to kill her during her accidental winter and how she in turn had nearly lost control of herself and killed them. She could never forget those red and gold uniforms. She also knew that Kai had delivered a decree that Weselton, both its traded goods and the Duke himself, was not welcome in Arendelle ever again. Anger boiled inside of her that he would dare return and she felt ice spark at her fingertips.
The Captain of the Guard looked at her for guidance. Elsa shook her head at him. She watched the white flag waving as the small boat approached, and a sour feeling began to grow in her stomach. She looked over the men and noted among the bodyguards there was a fifth man, clearly a noble of some sort, but not the Duke she remembered and despised so much. The water licked at the port and the boat splashed noisily as its prow cut closer. The guards kept their crossbows armed and ready to raise at their captain’s command. The Weseltonian men did not move aside from the rowers and the man waving the white flag; none of them appeared to have any weapons despite being bodyguards.
“Greetings!” The nobleman called loud enough to be heard over the lapping water. “My name is Duke Archibald Sauer of Weselton.” He stood up and bowed, nearly toppling out of the boat. Elsa heard Kristoff chuckling under his breath. Weselton regained his balance and sat back down. “I know that your previous experience with a representative of Weselton was very poor, but I’ve come in hopes of restoring not only the trade agreements between our two nations, but in hopes of restarting a whole new and beautiful relationship with a dazzling queen and her wonderful kingdom!” He flourished grandly with his arms despite being seated, and his smile showed off stunningly white teeth. The man appeared not much older than Anna had been during Elsa’s coronation, and she wondered how he had risen to dukedom so quickly. Elsa’s ice magic continued to tingle at her fingertips despite his congenial words.
“Duke,” Elsa said loudly and boldly. “You’ll have to excuse my misgivings, but you’ve got four guards and your nation does not have the best record here in Arendelle. Your predecessor was told in no uncertain terms that he was not welcome here and Arendelle would not be trading with Weselton again. What makes you think that you are deserving of a different answer?” Elsa spoke daringly, much more so than she felt after the slew of memories that had sliced through her. The Duke didn’t look concerned with her answer and the guards in the boat seemed no less emboldened than they had a moment ago. The boat was almost to the pier and the Duke himself took the white flag from his man and began to wave it.
“Your Majesty,” Weselton said in a rich tone, “I am here to serve you.” He seemed to speak sincerely. Elsa allowed her saliva to freeze as ice between her teeth so she wouldn’t clench them. She took a deep breath and waited. He had better have something very interesting to say, or else. The Duke, sensing the ice forming, so to speak: “My Dearest Queen Elsa, I’m here to heal the rift between our nations and bring us the wealth of trades we both deserve after my nation, and my uncle, betrayed you.” The boat arrived at the pier and the Duke stood and bowed deeply in his boat. Elsa looked him over: he was a slender man of unusually young age for a duke, roughly Kristoff’s age, with dirty blonde hair and a hint of a beard on his chin. The guards in the boat made no move to rise much to Elsa’s relief. “Please, Your Majesty, just give me the chance to prove myself.” Weselton begged from his deep bow.
“Rise.” Elsa ordered and he stood. “The guards are forbidden to come ashore.” Elsa said commandingly. “If I find that rule is broken then you are banished. You may bring with you one manservant to attend to your personal needs, or I can provide you with one. If I find that you have broken any of my kingdom’s rules, but particularly keeping your guards on your ship, you will be forced to leave. Until then I am willing to try to meet you halfway.” Elsa nodded at the Duke and he stepped up onto the pier. “Guards, you may stand down.” Elsa said.
“Your Majesty,” the Duke said and he bowed again with the biggest flourish yet. He held his bow until she allowed him up. “I have brought you several gifts on board my ship. Would you prefer to take your men and retrieve them or would you prefer I send my men to go and retrieve them for you?”
“Will a servant of yours be coming ashore?” Elsa asked him.
“Yes, my servant, Andreas, will be attending to me while I am here. He travels wherever I travel,” the Duke said.
“Send your guards back to the ship and only Andreas may come back in their stead.” Elsa told him. “In the meantime, let us return to the castle for lunch.” She turned and her guard and Kristoff followed toward the castle.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” The Duke cried enthusiastically. He shouted to his guards and they began to row out. Then he hurried down the pier to follow Queen Elsa and her guards.
