Frozen: CRG 1

Captain of the Royal Guard

Edit: Sorry about the first posting; didn't realise it was in bold. Also, I did have asterisks to indicate the character changes, but they disappeared, so I put in X's instead. Thanks for reading everyone, next chapter will be up in a few days hopefully

Nikolas

3 MONTHS AFTER THE WINTER

I'd always felt at home in the higher parts of the mountains, where the air was crisp and clean. Very few people ever came up here, and it was normally only the ice harvester's that did. Whenever I was up here, I was alone, and that was how I'd liked it.

Until now.

Today could be my last day alone in the mountains, which could prove to be both a blessing and a curse. Although I'd always lived in these mountains as a hunter, it was time to put my unique skills to a different use, as a member of Queen Elsa's personal guard

Yesterday I'd come into town with a number of pelts and things to sell to the townspeople. Mostly I sold the pelts of wolves that I'd killed, as they were worth the most to the townspeople. I sold these pelts for some a large sum of coin, enough to get food and firewood for my small hut in the mountains.

As I walked through the market place, I could feel the eyes of the people on my, their fear and distrust clearly showing to me. It was common in the kingdom of Arendelle for those who killed for a living to be treated with a modicum of distrust and fear, even the hunters. However, the people if Arendelle reserved a special kind if fear for me, due to the unique weapons I used.

Where some fought with a sword or an axe, and others with a bow and their arrows, I fought with a pair of claws that were attached to my armour. There were 4 blades on each gauntlet, and each blade was about 30 cm long.

One thing that was all too clear about my claws was that they were a very brutal weapon, and this was why the people feared me. Even when I didn't wear the blades, they were never far away, and the townspeople would talk behind my back in scared whispers.

However, I was determined to change that today. Once I'd sold my pelts, I headed towards the castle to ask for an audience with Queen Elsa.

Inside the castle gates, I was met by a plump man who I recognised as a servant from his attire. "Greetings sir, my name is Kai," he said, as way of introduction. "How may I help you?"

In an attempt to hide how nervous I was about this, I tried to put on an authoritative voice, and said "I'd like an audience with Queen Elsa, about joining her Royal Guard please." Although I was pleased with how I'd sounded, I quickly wrecked by nervously adding "If that's ok and she's not too busy or anything."

Managing to hide his smile, Kai replied "She is currently in the gardens with her sister, Princess Anna. However, she is due to return very soon, and I will make sure that you have your audience when she returns." With that, he bowed, gestured to a seat, and left, going off down the corridor.

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As Kai went to go and find the Queen, he frowned to himself slightly. The young man had seemed friendly enough, even though his nerves were clear for all to see. However, he was made slightly uncomfortable by the pair of gauntlets strapped across his back, and the claws attached to them.

However, it was not his place to judge the man's worthiness for the Royal Guard; that was something that Elsa would have to test herself. As Kai opened the door which led to the gardens, he could here Queen Elsa and Princess Anna's laughs, as the two sat and talked in the middle of the garden.

Kai sighed, knowing that telling Elsa that she had a guest would ruin their moment and upset Anna, but it had to be done. After all, it was Elsa's job as Queen to see people that came to her like this. Especially given this young man was seeking to join her Royal Guard, something Elsa had demanded to choose herself.

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"Oh Anna, I still can't believe you knocked a vase that large over, it must have taken forever for poor Gerda to clean it up!"

In the face if her sister's laughter, Anna pouted and replied "It's not entirely my fault, I slipped in the hallway and tried to grab something to hold on to." She paused for a second, before adding "Something which then came falling down with me."

The two sisters looked at each other, and burst into a fit of laughter all over again. They did not see Kai approach, and only realised he was there when he spoke up.

"Excuse me, your graces, but there is a young man here requesting an audience with you, Queen Elsa. He wishes to talk with you about the Royal Guard."

Although the two sisters had been laughing a few moments ago, it did not take long for Elsa to quickly compose herself and reply to Kai's message. "Thank you Kai. Please tell out guest that he will have his audience in the Throne Room." Once Elsa had given him her answer, Kai bowed and left the gardens to deliver the message.

Once Kai had gone, Elsa turned to Anna and saw that her sister's expression, which was joyous and happy before, was now an expression of hurt and sadness. "I thought we were going to spend time in the gardens, just the two of us, like you promised. No Queen business, just fun."

Elsa sighed, knowing that that was exactly what she'd promised her sister. "I know I did Anna, but at the time I did not expect to have someone want to speak to me about joining the Royal Guard, a position I that you know needs to be filled soon."

When this did nothing to improve Anna's temperament, Elsa sighed again, adding "If you want then you may accompany me to the Throne Room, and we can continue once I have spoken without guest."

Anna sighed, replying with a simple, but defeated "Ok."

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Within a few minutes of having been gone, Kai returned, and bowed to me. "Queen Elsa and Princess Anna will greet you in the Throne Room sir, please follow me."

Nodding, I followed the kindly servant to a pair of large doors, which I realised must lead to the Throne room. Before I could enter the room, Kai politely stopped me, asking "I'm sorry sir, but before you enter could you please remove the... gauntlets from their sheathes? They will remain here for the duration of your audience."

Chastising myself for being so foolish as to attempt to bring weapons into a meeting with the Queen, I quickly acquiesced to his request, and loosened the leather bindings which held the two claws in place, and passed it to him. Once it was in his hands, he bowed once more, gestured for me to enter, a movement made somewhat difficult by leather scabbard and claws that he carried.

When I entered the Throne Room, I was surprised that neither the Queen nor her sister was there in the Throne Room with me. However, I realised that they would not have had time to reach the room in the time that it had taken Kai to reach and deliver the message.

As I waited for the two royal sisters to arrive, I looked around and took in the details of the Throne Room. The room was long, but not so long that you could not see the Throne from the entrance. The curtains if the room were long, flowing and purple. The windows were almost floor-to-ceiling length, and allowed plenty of light.

Finally, at the top of several stairs on a slightly raised platform was the Royal Throne. The Throne itself was not overly embellished or jewelled, and was made of wood with plenty of cushioning to make it comfortable for whoever was to sit on it. Next to the Throne, but slightly further down the platform were two other chairs, similar to the Throne, but smaller and with less cushioning.

While I waited for the two sisters, I looked out one of the large windows, taking in the magnificent view of the city. A few seconds later, I heard a door open, and twirled around to see the Queen and the Princess enter through a door in the side of the room that I had not noticed before.

This was the second time that I had ever seen the sisters, the first time being just after Elsa had ended the winter that she had accidentally created. However, she looked very similar to how she had looked that day, as she was wearing a very similar icy dress to what she wore that day, and her platinum blonde hair was in a braid that came down over her left shoulder. Unlike the dress she had worn then, this dress did not have the cloak.

Anna, on the other hand, looked very different. Unable to create ice dresses like her sister, Anna was forced to wear real dresses, and she was dressed in a simple summer dress, even though it was almost the end of autumn. The dress had long sleeves and was a pale olive or green colour. Anna's red hair was done in two braids that just reached the top of her shoulders.

While Elsa's facial expression remained neutral but still friendly, Anna's expression was far less neutral, and she seemed almost bored, like there was no where she would rather not be. As Elsa sat down on her throne, Anna took her seat on the chair to the right of Elsa, but Anna's disinterested expression did not go away.

Realising that it was now my turn, I marched towards the platform and the throne, and went down on one knee before the Queen. Bowing my head, while still trying to find my nerves, I announced myself, saying "Queen Elsa, Princess Anna."

Elsa's voice rang out through the hall. "I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid I do not know your name. "Again I chastised myself for making such a simple mistake, before introducing myself. "I'm sorry, you're Graces. My name is Nikolas."

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Nikolas. Please, stand so that we may talk as equals." As I rose to my feet, Elsa continued. "Now, my servant, Kai tells me that you have come to seek an audience in regards to the Royal Guard?"

"Yes, your Grace. I have heard that you were looking for someone to serve as part of the Guard, and thought that perhaps my unique skills may be of more use to you than as a hunter in the mountains."

Elsa favoured me with a smile. "Perhaps they could be. But first, you should know that there is no one else in the Guard yet, and you would be responsible for recruiting anyone else that you thought might be of use to the Guard. Is that ok?"

Though I was surprised that there was no one else on the Guard, I hid that surprise and quickly agreed with what Elsa said. Before she continues to speak, I looked over at Anna and saw that the bored expression was still on her face. However, her eyes were regarding me coldly, and she clearly didn't want me to be here.

"There is something else you should know first; you are not the first to apply to be a member of the Royal Guard, but if you do well in my tests them you will be the last."

Again I nodded my agreement, and waited for Elsa to continue. "Before I tell you about the tests, there's something I need to know first; what weapons do you fight with? Sword and shield? Or a bow and arrow?"

Although this was a question that I'd been expecting, I hadn't come up with a good way to explain my claws. "My weapons are a little bit... unorthodox, and difficult to explain. However, with your permission, I could show you? I left them with Kai."

Elsa quickly nodded, and answered "Of course. We will wait for your return." I nodded and quickly left through the door.

I found Kai waiting outside, where I'd left him. "Excuse me, Kai, but may I please have my gauntlets? Queen Elsa wishes to know what weapons I fight with, and it is easier to show someone than to explain what they are." Kai nodded warily, and handed me the leather scabbards and I pulled the gauntlets out.

Strapping them onto my wrists, I strode back into the Throne Room, and Elsa and Anna both quickly snapped to attention and drew in a sharp breath when they saw what I was wearing on my wrists.

"Well I can see how they could be considered unorthodox, Nikolas, and they are not a weapon I think I've ever seen anywhere before. I assume you are proficient in their use?" I nodded again, and Elsa looked pleased.

"Ok then, well then I will tell you about the first test that I need you to perform. At the top of the North Mountain, there is an Ice Palace. Are you familiar with it?" I nodded, having seen it on one if my hunting trips. "At the top of the Palace, there is a chest, with several precious items. Bring back the right item, and give it to the right person, and you will have event my trust. Can you do this?"

"Yes my Queen. I'll return by sunfall tomorrow" I answered confidently. This didn't sound too hard, but I was sure that I could turn out to be difficult, especially if I wasn't being careful. However, Elsa looked at me with a confused look on her face. "I'm sorry, but what is sunfall?"

Momentarily thrown off, I answered "I'm sorry your Grace, it is a term from my old tribe. It's the same as sunset." Elsa nodded and said "you may leave whenever you wish. However, you are welcome to stay in the palace until tomorrow, and you may have dinner with my sister and I tonight as well."

"Thank you your Grace." I said, "What time would you like me to return?" Elsa thought for a minute, before replying "Sunfall should be good." I grinned at the use of my tribe's word, before bowing and leaving.

However, as I left I was sure I heard Anna mutter "I hope Marshmallow throws you off a cliff." However, I quickly dismissed it as it didn't make any sense.

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As Nikolas bowed, he thanked me and said "I will see you for dinner." Then, he made to leave the room, leaving myself and Anna alone. However just before he left, I heard Anna mutter "I hope Marshmallow throws you off a cliff."

As soon as Nikolas had left, I quickly turned on my sister, barely keeping my anger I'm check, and asked "What was that about?" I hope Marshmallow throws you off a cliff?!" What were you thinking Anna?"

Her cheeks suddenly red, Anna answered "I don't like him. He interrupted our time together, which you promised wouldn't happen!" Hesitantly, she also added "Plus, he makes me nervous with those claws."

I knew how Anna felt. The claws had unnerved me at first, but I had hidden it from both Nikolas and Anna, knowing that it would not be good if either of them saw that I was uncomfortable. Looking out the window, I saw that it was mid-afternoon, and thought of another guest that could be invited.

Still upset with Anna over her comment, I decided to send her on an errand. "Anna, I need you to do me a favour. Can you please go and find Kristoff, and invite him to dinner as well? I would like to see what he thinks of Nikolas."

Realising now that I was upset with her, Anna sighed and answered "Yes Elsa, I'll find him. But I have a condition; tomorrow, we have our sister time, without any interruptions."

I sighed in response, knowing that there would be no reasoning with here, and it would only lead to an argument. "Yes Anna, we will have our sister time tomorrow afternoon, as long as you go and invite Kristoff to dinner."

Anna smiled and ran off to go and find her boyfriend, and I was left alone.