Far too late, here's the latest chapter of Requiem of a Queen. Thanks to that one Guest reviewer that FINALLY motivated me enough to finish this chapter and for everyone that kept checking in - looking at you Copper Anise.

Here's over 10,000 words as an apology for taking so long.

I do not own Frozen, nor am I deliberately stealing other author's ideas. However the language I use is my own. Translations are at the bottom. I'm trying one more way of writing them.

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Chapter 4

The Raid of Ravenden

Ravenden. It is the third largest port city of Arendelle.

Now, having the title 'third largest' doesn't sound like it should be a point of pride, but any inhabitant of Ravenden would make it one. For them, being third is an accomplishment; that they stand out from the others.

"Yes,"they would admit, "Yvenis is a larger cityand has a larger bay; that's how it became the trading hub of the North. And the city of Arendelle is the capital and therefore more important, despite it having a smaller bay.

"But no other city is home to half of Arendelle's total navy. No other city produces the quality of sailors that Ravenden does. And only Arendelle City has such a rich folklore as we do."

Ravenden is a city rich with folktales, with many sailing into its harbor with a story or two to share and trade. Even though Yvenis is larger, it never gained the thriving culture – the personality, that Ravenden possesses.

Out of the several dozen local tales, there's one that everybody who lives there knows. It's the story of how their city was the second city created by King Aren I, the founder of the kingdom. Their tale says that the ravens living in the mountains had flocked to King Aren's ships as he arrived in the bay with a cacophony of cawing, announcing his arrival louder than any man-made accompaniment. The king was so awed by the sight that he named the new town the 'Den of Ravens'.

As the town grew into a city, it became rapidly renown for its incredible shipwrights and talented sailors. So when King Aren needed to raise a fleet to assist in The Great Siege, he came to Ravenden. As he sailed for the Siege, all the ravens once again flocked and cawed as he departed. King Aren would never set foot in the city again for the rest of his life.

Thus an addition to the legend was made: that the ravens knew when the ruling monarch would arrive in the city for the first time in their life, and when they would depart from the city for the last time in their life. Indeed, for whenever a new king or queen would arrive in Ravenden for their first time, the ravens would flock and create their harsh but equally aweing music.

Because the city's history is entwined with the ravens, the city folk never tried to eradicate the black birds, and were revered and honored (though privately they would grumble if the ravens got too rowdy in the morning – or anytime really). The populace says quite often that the ravens would warn them of any attacks, cawing and being a nuisance to the enemy when they would try to sail their ships into the harbor.

Only twice before has Ravenden come under attack. Both times, due to the naval capabilities and harbor defenses, each attack was repulsed and crushed expediently.

So for Ravenden to be under attack now meant that the enemy was either desperate…

Or something spurred them to attack in such a decisive manner…

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"Our scouts report seeing an enemy fleet in the harbor and fighting in the streets. Parts of the city are aflame."

"And what of the defense fleet? Where is it in all of this?" The Queen immediately asked.

Elsa nervously looked up at Anna, who had her face set in a hard, expressionless mask, as Deserun finished his report. There was no gentleness in her manner anymore, no calm authority exuding from her, no relaxed and open posture. No, Elsa now could almost feel a boiling energy, barely contained under Anna's human skin.

This was the feeling of anger.

Though not a blinding or consuming anger. It was focused, controlled and tempered. And it was directed at those who were attacking one of her cities.

"A majority of the flotilla is absent," Deserun answered Anna's question. "Though the scouts say there's not enough flotsam in the harbor to suggest they've been sunk. Best guess is they were performing naval maneuvers away from the city when the enemy struck. It's possible the enemy was motivated to launch their attack because they saw the lack of ships defending the city."

Anna growled in frustration. "When I find the one who ordered…We make for Ravenden post-haste!" She barked. All the guards brought up their arms and made to ride.

In all this, Anna turned to Elsa, and the blonde's breath caught in her throat. The intensity in the Queen's eyes intimidated her. "I'm sorry, but you mustride now. I need to protect my people, but I do not wish to leave you behind. I promised that I would get you to Hemir Arendar. But right now, you must overcome your fear, if only for an hour or so." Elsa felt herself instinctively quail under Anna's strong gaze, doubly so when she understood what she was being asked to do.

Elsa stammered without words, trying to formulate some sort of alternative, some sort of refusal –her fear of losing control rising. But even then, she knew that she couldn't put Anna in such a position to choose. She would, and rightfully so, choose her Kingdom over me… but if I don't go with her… I would be distracting her, a thought in the back of her mind when she needs all the concentration she can muster. And every moment I hesitate and hold them back, more lives could be lost…

And… to be honest with myself, I don't want to disappoint her. I don't want to leave and lose this chance… Ba Den Orlene, Mé'l su iémrll. Thinking about my wants rather than hers. I'm worthless. *1

So, with much trembling, Elsa nodded and went to her horse. Conceal, don't feel. Conceal, hold it together… You have the gloves, right? They should be enough to contain my curse long enough. Cünit. Right.She reached out for the reigns, flinching when the horse jittered, almost giving up right then. But feeling the weight of the Queen's turquoise eyes behind her, Elsa swallowed and grabbed the dangling reigns. She quickly grabbed the mane and then jumped, using her arms to get herself high enough, and then swung her leg over the horse's back.

She almost didn't make it, nervous as she was, and had to readjust to be more comfortable – as comfortable as she could be. Despite never ridden a horse before, Elsa instinctively knew how to adjust her posture to have it be more comfortable for both herself and the horse.

Looking at the… Looking at Anna, she received a smile and an approving nod. Elsa returned it timidly, feeling her stomach loosen a little. Now that she was on the horse, some of the fear had lessened –though not yet vanished.Okay… I can manage for just a little bit. Don't feel. Don't feel. Anna's waiting. Keep it together for her sake.

"Let's move!" Anna barked and the unit rode off, leaving Elsa behind in a panic before her own horse followed of its own volition, following pack mentality. Elsa crouched low on the back of the horse, clenching the reigns in her left had whilst holding onto the mane with her right, desperately trying to adjust to the gallop movement and stay on and just concentrating on not letting Itout. Her breaths started coming shallower as the movement continued, and she almost felt sick to her stomach trying to hold back her curse. The loud sounds made by the rest of the group weren't helping, with the clattering and clanking and thunderous hoof beats all around her.

Concealdon'tfeelconcealdon'tfeelohgodspleasestopIdon'twanttoriskit-

"Don't hold the reigns so tightly." Anna's voice cut through the panic, through the blood rushing in her ears, and Elsa realized she had closed her eyes at some point. She peaked open one eye to look at the Queen who was now riding right next to her. "The horse will run smoother if you don't clench the reigns. And trust the horse. It won't drop you."

Elsa by now was practically bent over, her stomach almost touching the horse's back. I don't want to let go but I'm scared to hold on. Why am I doing this?Of course she knew why, the reason was riding next to her, but it didn't lessen the fear she felt. She closed her eyes again, but forced herself to react to the Queen's suggestions. Forcing each individual muscle in her hand, she painstakingly loosened her grip on the reigns –enough that she no longer had a death grip on them, but still a firm grip.

She waited, waited for the moment where she would get thrown off, the animal trying to get rid of her and her curse. But as moments ticked by and the gait of the horse continued (even smoothened), a hint of puzzlement came through her. Wh- why isn't it throwing me off? How am I not hurting it?

In her confusion, Elsa looked over to Anna and only received a smile and a nod before the Queen refocused on the path ahead. Still confused, and feeling a tad flustered after the indecipherable look the Queen gave her, Elsa continued to do what she was doing. It seemed to be working.

And after all, feeling confusion was better than feeling fear. She dared not risk changing what she felt.

The landscape flew by and Elsa got used to the noise the group was creating and the movements of her horse. She still had major reservations; not the least being that all of this was so far beyond what she had sadly grown used to. Hell, she was riding off to war right now. Despite how unbelievable this was though –or maybe becauseof it- Elsa was preparing herself for when this intricate illusion would shatter. For when reality would rob her of this chance like it had many times over and shatter what was left of her just a little bit more. But… I want to hold on, if only for Anna's sake. If doing this gives her some satisfaction, then I can't take that away from her. Everyone else's feelings are more important than mine.

The downhill slope they'd been riding down started leveling out and after clearing a wooded bend in the road, they were presented with a view of Ravenden. It was some distance away, so nothing was clear, but they could see shapes in the water and smoke (thankfully thin and not pitch black) rising from parts of the city.

The group paused for a moment, and Elsa was startled when a fluttering of black wings flew in front of her. She snapped her head around to see a raven flying over the group, soon followed by another, headed towards the harbor.

"They do that." An unfamiliar voice surprised Elsa again, and she gasped. One of the guards had spoken to her. "Mischievous buggers. I grew up here so I know better than most."

Elsa's throat constricted and her mouth dried, knowing that she'd have to respond to him, a stranger. "O-oh," she gasped out.

It seemed like it was enough of a response for him, and mercifully the conversation between the Queen and Deserun overrode any further attempts at 'banter' from him.

"Well… I have to say there isenough wreckage… but its mostly the attackers'," Anna quipped with grim humor, as she handed Deserun back his spyglass after looking through it.

After a moment of looking at the distant ships, Deserun said, "I see the Unyieldingis still afloat, using her long range cannons to keep most of the larger enemy ships from getting a better position, and more of ours running interference. Though it looks like Admiral Hendrickson is only buying time…" He trailed off, lowering the glass. "It's the Weselton Fourth Fleet," he said, recognizing the enemy fleet.

"But they're primarily a raiding and harassment force," Anna recollected, now squinting at the battle due to the lack of a spyglass, "not outfitted for assaults or sieges. Their ships aren't supposed to be equipped for that. Not on this scale… There must be a reason," Anna mused, "A motive for them to risk a prolonged attack against one of our most defended cities, with my flagship defending it further."

Elsa, unable to noteavesdrop, felt something register with the Queen's last sentence. She'd been paying attention with the mind of a frightened person, hyperaware and able to make connections a levelheaded person couldn't. Elsa had a thought flash through her mind, and she realized what it was without being able to put it to words.

And then promptly squashed the notion of speaking out. It wouldn't be proper, and they probably wouldn't want to listen to me anyway. They're much more knowledgeable about this subject. I should just keep quiet and stay out of the way. Don't want to burden anyone.

However, the fates weren't being forgiving to her, as the sound of her name caught her attention. "Elsa?" She looked up suddenly into the Queen's teal eyes –too close! Elsa jolted, instinctively trying to back away and protect herself. But she was still on her horse and her movements were limited, and there was a wall of soldiers around her – she couldn't get to close to them either, lest she somehow hurt them.

I'm trapped, I'm trapped, trapped by those men agai… no… no. Rational thought slowly crawled back to her, as the echoes of the past faded. No, I'm not trapped. These are the Queen's guards… Anna's guards. They're not going to hurt me. Conceal, don't feel. Conceal, don't feel it. Pull it together.

"Elsa?" Elsa looked back into the Queen's… Anna'seyes, seeing concern, yet a question also in them. "You made a noise. You looked like you had something to say about our situation," she clarified, seeing the confusion Elsa now felt. "What is it?"

Elsa's mouth suddenly felt dry, and felt dozens of eyes on her. She wanted nothing more than to become so small they couldn't see her, to be ignored so she would be safer. A lifetime of being kept, and then being willingly silent to avoid notice stayed whatever words she wanted to say. But those turquoise eyes gave some measure of courage to timidly speak up.

"Ah… I was thinking… about what you said, a-and… y-you were wondering why they were attacking… Even though your ship is there. But… maybe they knowit's your ship and they're looking for you," Elsa gave voice to her thought, fragmented as it was.

Anna and Deserun stared blankly at her, unspeaking, and the other guards shifted in place. Elsa just wanted to disappear, feeling so ashamed and afraid of speaking up. M-Mé nukén ænci öp siled a tawe çiyek...As she was about to make apologies for daring to speak (even though she was asked to do so), Anna and Deserun turned to each other. "Wow, I suppose we've been thinking too much like Mud Thumpers than Boat Boys, huh?" Anna said with a crooked smirk. *2

Now Elsa was confused at the blasé comment. "You're right," Anna told her, noticing the confusion, confusing Elsa even more with that statement. H-how can I be right? I couldn't be… An odd feeling came to her. It was… warm. Fuzzy. What's this feeling… she told me I was right. Am I… pleased?

"I suppose I considered my ship as an added deterrent," Anna continued her explanation, "forgetting that if it's present, then I usually am as well. I see it as a reason to avoid a fight, but if they want to strike a crippling blow to Arendelle by capturing or killing me, then that would be more than enough cause to make such a risky attack."

"Naval power is vastly different than army power," Deserun took over the explanation. "While an army is a show of force, sometimes a single ship is the equivalent of one. And Her Majesty's flagship definitely counts as one."

"And because of their greed, their arrogance, they're condemning more of my people to fight and die. Damn them…"

Elsa saw a change happen in Anna. She'd seen smaller instances of it before, when she took command or gave out orders. But this was different, more intense than even when she found out Ravenden was under attack. It was resolution. It was a burning energy that just needed a spark to turn into an inferno.

"Well. If they want the Queen, then they'll get me. Bring out my armor!" Anna commanded. Two guards dropped from their horses and went to the other packhorse, unfastening one of the chests and putting it on the ground. Elsa realized it was Anna's chest, the one she had attempted to pilfer from the other night. They opened it and pulled out several pieces of armor.

They weren't quite the heavy plate armor that she'd seen on knights, but they were similar. However there was only a chest piece, greaves, and vambraces – still a lot, but not as much as the guards were wearing. Elsa blinked in disbelief seeing all this. How did I miss this when I was rummaging through her chest?She watched fascinated as the two guards handed those still on their horses the armor. Anna held out her arms so the chest piece could be fastened around her, and then the vambraces. Since the first two guards were on the ground, they fitted her greaves onto her legs. All of this was done within a minute, the soldiers moving like a well running mill.

The breastplate was a dark grey with the golden Arendelle crocus presumably painted on the front. The vambraces were the most interesting piece, as they were a light silver-grey, with golden threads curling and wrapping around the metal almost like vines.

This was a completely different facet of the Queen – of Anna, than what she's seen. And while she knew she shouldn't have been surprised due to the situation, Elsa couldn't help but be in awe at the sight of Anna dressed for war. The image she had that night ago of the "Warrior Queen" was far surpassed by this reality. Despite the anxiety of what was to come, a warm feeling crept up her body, and she felt a slight tingling in her fingertips. She's even more beautiful than I thought…

What am I thinking?! Stop it! You can't have such impure thoughts. It's wrong. I shouldn't have them. I'd be even more of a freak…

Deserun spoke to Anna after she was suited. "I feel I should tell you not to charge right in and fight yourself, but I know you can fight as well if not better than most of us. Just don't take any unnecessary risks," he warned.

Anna smirked, but it was a solemn one. "A Noble must put the people ahead of themselves. A King, or Queen, must put the country ahead of themselves. I can do no less." With that resolute statement, Anna turned to the other guards.

"Today Weselton and their Oathbreaker allies have made yet another error, attacking one of our most prosperous cities. Not only that, but they seek to force Arendelle to surrender by capturing me. At this moment, their forces rampage through Ravenden searching for me, believing me to be with the Unyielding. I intend to meet them with steel and blood. We will triumph this day! Forward!" She cried, drawing her sword and pointing it at the city. A moment later, the guards cheered and as a group they urged their horses onwards.

Elsa could do little but ride with them, vainly attempting to control herself from panicking. The reigns started frosting over, her power fluctuating with her extreme emotions. The walls of Ravenden grew closer, and through her squinting eyes, Elsa saw a few figures at the top of the wall scrambling around.

Deserun had unfolded and mounted a banner on a wooden pole he had been carrying (Elsa had seen the pole but had put it out of mind), displaying their Arendelle colors. The banner flapped vigorously in the wind as they charged, and Elsa would think that it was a poetic sight if she wasn't so frightened and out of her element.

The gates opened for the Queen and they entered the city. "We make for the city hall!" The Queen shouted, and they pressed onward, the few soldiers on the roads parting to make way for them. So far there were no signs of a battle, but they were on the outskirts of the city, opposite of the bay where the battle was. But Elsa caught glimpses of people behind shutters and windows, barricaded inside their homes while the fighting went on, waiting it out for one side to be victorious.

If I wasn't with the Queen, I would be hiding along with them. But I would never have been in a house – maybe an alley or a shed with a weak lock I could frost over and break. In the outskirts like where I roamed before… What am I doing? Neves sil kerr. Why am I here? I'm not a soldier, I'm not a fighter, I can barely survive normality. I shouldn't be doing this, shouldn't be following them. This was a mistake. *3

It was with thunderous noise that they rode through the city, the hooves of their horses loudly stomping on the cobblestone roads. As they got closer to the fighting, Elsa couldn't differentiate between the hoof beats, the cannon blasts, and the hammering of her heart. The smell of smoke, of something burning, and iron wafted into her nostrils.

"There!" The sudden shout jolted Elsa, and she looked up to see a group of soldiers wearing maroon and grey ahead. The soldiers saw them and scrambled to mount a defense, but were too late to avoid the Queen's guard smashing into them full gallop, weapons piercing through them, slashing, hacking. The noise and screams of pain were something out of a nightmare to Elsa. Foregoing all appearances of calm, she closed her eyes, clutched her reigns, and laid down on the back of her horse, chanting her mantra over and over again until the horrible sounds stopped.

When a hand rested on her back, Elsa violently flinched away, and briefly saw the Queen's hurt expression before ducking her head. She heard more than saw the Queen shake her head before she barked, "Sound off!" A round of positive responses went off, save for one.

"My horse got hit," one guard said, who had now dismounted and was holding his limping horse by the reigns. "I'll have to continue on foot."

Elsa could see the conflict and indecision cross the Queen's face for a moment before she came to a decision. "Then we'll all continue on foot. The city hall is not far from here. We'll go and coordinate the defense from there."

The men dismounted. It was only when the Queen, Anna, held out her hand for Elsa to take did Elsa rouse herself from the trance she was in. She eyed the offered hand, but her eyes slid down to the sword Anna held in her left. There was a dark red liquid slowly dripping off of it that could only be one thing. In the future, she would regret her next action, but she shed away from the hand, from both revulsion and the lack of control she felt over her powers at the moment.

She slid off the horse on the other side of the Queen, reluctant to see what she knew would be disappointment in Anna's eyes and absently handed the reigns to a soldier.

"Fergus, Hawthorn. Take the horses to a safe stable," the Queen ordered. "The rest, follow me to the city hall." They moved to comply, and Elsa was left standing for a moment before the Queen spoke urgently to her. "I want you to stay close. When we get to the city hall, take refuge inside and stay safe. I should never have brought you into this," she said, quietly, almost as if she wasn't supposed to hear it.

Elsa made herself look at the Queen. She could see pain in her eyes, but from what, Elsa didn't know, for there were no wounds to be seen. She nodded in agreement and followed the guards, Anna bringing up the rear with Deserun.

The sounds of battle elsewhere echoed, with distant clashes of armor, weapons, and screams, punctuated by cannon blasts from the bay. The guard's armor also clacked as they briskly went to the hall, further adding to the sound. Elsa could barely hear herself think, couldn't form a coherent thought, and she wasn't sure she wanted to.

There was rubble, and the occasional body from a previous skirmish –all Weselton soldiers however, as the Arendelle defenders had most likely retrieved their wounded or dead. On one occasion, the group had to duck down as an errant cannonball blew overhead, bringing some wooden splinters and glass down on them as the cannonball skimmed the front of a building. Elsa got a few small cuts from the glass, but nothing she couldn't handle –she'd had worse and done worse to herself. In a way, the glass cuts were almost a relief; that she could wait just a little longer.

Eventually, the city hall stood in front of them. It was a long structure, and only in the middle did it rise above the other buildings around it to form a bell tower, which was astoundingly unscathed from the battle. The bell was silent, having no need of use in this current crisis, serving no purpose, as it would be pointless to alert anyone of an attack that has been occurring for some time.

However, it wasn't the bastion of safety they'd expected. There were a large group of enemy soldiers in front of the city hall. Someone had barricaded themselves inside, and the Weselton soldiers had brought with them a makeshift battering ram to break down the doors. Those same doors were almost spent, the middle heavily dented. A few more hits and they could get through. The dead and dying bodies around the courtyard gave proof of a vicious fight for ground, as the colors of both sides littered the cobblestone. Elsa could hearthe Queen seethe at this sight, of her people dying.

Seeing their approach, the commander of the Weselton forces besieging the city hall made a group of around 15 men break off and charge at them.

The guards made to form ranks and meet them, but the Queen held a hand to stop them, baffling Elsa. "Stay here. I shall face them myself."

"Your Majesty, are you sure? You seem… angry. More so than you've been before," Deserun said, concernedly.

"Yes. You are right, Deserun. I'm angry that Weselton has killed my people. I'm angry that people had to die for the greed of petty men. But I'm also mad at myself, Deserun," she said, in a more somber tone. "I'm mad because I pushed when I shouldn't have. And I want to work some of this anger out." She paused and half turned her head. "Keep Elsa safe."

Elsa couldn't believe it when all Deserun did was sigh and tell the other guards to back off, leaving the Queen to fight alone. Yes, she'd heard rumors of the Queen's battle prowess, how she had gotten the name 'The Warrior Queen', and seeing the Queen in armor bolstered that image. But to face over a dozen soldiers by oneself is the utmost foolhardiness. Yet the Queen – yet Annadid.

With calm measured steps, Anna strode to meet them. Elsa watched, confounded, as Anna removed her sheath from her belt and did somethingwith it. Then, with a surprisingly audible metallic clink over the ruckus, Anna's sheathspread open, unfolding into a shield.

"What…?" Elsa murmured, not quietly enough, for Deserun gave a small chuckle and answered her unspoken question.

"That blade, and the shield that sheathes it, is unique – a relic of a bygone civilization. Not even Her Majesty knows its true origins, having only stories and legends. According to her, her three times great grandfather last used it, and supposedly King Aren I was the one to first wield it."

And now, she does, Elsa finished the unspoken line as Anna met the enemy's charge.

Anna ducked under the first strike, parried the second, and then moved. With almost unnatural grace, Anna deflected their blows and made sure hers struck. The first one to attack was also the first to die, her sword finding a chink in his armor and plunging deep before retreating with a spray of blood as it sought another victim, uncaring of the body slumping to the ground.

Elsa couldn't believe the sight before them. The Queen moved like water, flowing and striking almost as quick. She was constantly on the move, taking advantage of the enemies' numbers by making them get in their own way. She tripped one and quickly sprung up to hit another with the pummel of her sword, before using the momentum to spin and pierce another whilst deflecting a sword strike with her shield. The Queen used the shield as another weapon with almost as deadly effect as her sword, hitting faces and limbs with bone-breaking force.

The fight, if it could be called that, had only been going on for two minutes at the most. Indeed, nearly half the force was either dead or dying, and all that were left were suffering some sort of wound or bruise (at the least), while the Queen had nary a scratch. In fact, save for her parted lips drawing in heavy breath, it looked like it was taking no effort to fight those soldiers.

Elsa couldn't peel her eyes away from the Queen's lithe and powerful form. Much like when they first met, Elsa now saw the full beauty of Arendelle's Warrior Queen, and was enthralled. The ugliness that she'd seen before, the revulsion of seeing another life taken by someone that she'd become attached to swept away by the flowing waves of the Queen's red hair. The bloodshed had become the creation of an artist at work. It was brutal, yet elegant.

The enemy soldiers, their former bravado gone, were panicking. Four were left and they nervously clutched their weapons as the Queen calmly strode forward, pausing only to casually drive her sword into a wounded man, ending his life. This last act of intimidation broke their resolve, and they fled back to the main group, yelling and babbling in their panic.

"Miss Elsa." Deserun's voice cut through the enraptured haze Elsa was in. "If I know Her Majesty, in a moment we're going to join the battle. Find a spot to stay safe like she requested until the fighting's done." Elsa, still off balance from the vision he beheld, nodded dumbly and nearly stumbled backwards against a wall, gaining some emotional stability from leaning against it.

The attackers by now had abandoned the battering ram, as the commander saw they no longer needed it, for their quarry which they'd thought was trapped inside the city hall was instead right in front of them. They rallied and as a group charged forward, war cries echoing from their lips.

The Queen merely lifted her sword and pointed it at the charging enemy. Taking it as a sign, her guards charged forward in formation, far more disciplined than their foes. In a few moments they passed the Queen, who followed them, taking to the rear instead of being part of the spear point as she was before. The two forces clashed, and the way they had ended up let Elsa see the difference in training between the common Weselton soldier and the Arendelle Royal Guard.

The Weselton forces smashed against the Guards like water against rocks. The discipline of the Royal Guards held firm against the rabble and they advanced methodically, cutting through the enemy relentlessly, pushing towards the city hall.

Elsa watched this and reality came back to her, the fog that had enveloped her mind dispersing as the brutal clash jolted her senses. What… It happened again. Why, why does this happen with the Queen? I can't do that. Elsa's hand came to grasp the knife she had, itching to punish herself for such thoughts, but was restrained by her rational mind. It was not the time for that. Not while the danger was so close.

Instead she refocused on the battle. The Royal Guards were showing their superiority as not one of them had fallen, yet many of the Weselton soldiers had. Better armored and better trained to fight as a group, they were steadily marching forward, and the enemy showed signs of breaking.

Suddenly one the Royal Guards lurched and fell, an arrow shaft penetrating deep into his neck, having found its mark in a gap between his armor and helmet. No one else noticed as he had temporarily fallen back to the rear while everyone was pushing forward, the sound of his falling absorbed by the fighting. But because she was away from the fighting, Elsa saw it all. She was shocked, it was so sudden and abrupt that she froze. Recalling the arrow's flight, Elsa's worry prompted her to peak out from the overhang of the roof she was under to see who shot it.

On the roof of a building, two houses down to the right, stood a cloaked figure. Black wrappings over their face gave them no distinct features, and despite the sun shining strongly, she couldn't see much in the shadows the cloak created, giving her no idea of their gender or body shape. They carried a recursive bow with a quiver on their back, which the person was reaching for to get another arrow.

Clearly the person was an enemy, targeting the Royal Guards, but they didn't seem affiliated with the Weselton forces. The thought that they were didn't seem right to Elsa. A rouge of some sort? Or perhaps a mercenary or bounty hunter? Or maybe… an assassin. And if he is an assassin,Elsa thought to herself, a sense of horror dawning on her, then who would his target be?...

With that cold horror coursing through her, her eyes traced the line of fire back to the battle and saw her dreadful thoughts were right. With the guard out of the way, the vulnerable back of Queen Anna was now an irresistible target.

Elsa frantically glanced back to the archer, and saw that he had another arrow knocked, and was about to draw. Her voice was caught in her throat, strangled by the panic and sudden indecision. She shouldwarn the Queen that her life was in danger. She shouldprotect her Queen from harm. But a lifetime of forcing and being forced out of the way - to keep quiet when actual peoplewere talking or doing things, prevented her from doing anything. When she tried it always backfired, causing her pain.

But Anna ran counter to everything she'd been taught. She knows about her curse - she knows what she's done yet doesn't flinch away. She promised more than what others have done and has worked to deliver, to make good on her word. And it was also that she was the Queen of Arendellethat both made it so unbelievable and let her have hope. Hope that the life she was ghosting through would become something she wanted to live.

Elsa had wanted nothing more than to leap at Anna's offerings, but her own modesty and lack of self-worth made her resist. Maybe a bit of what was left of her pride as well, for she didn't want to be just a charity case –despite how much she probably needed it. Or perhaps she had just taught herself to never get her hopes up, that if she refused there would be no pain from having it ripped away. It had happened every time, so there was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again… except the Queen's word. Except Anna's word.

And maybe that made all the difference.

I want this chance. And I want the Queen – I want Anna to live. Her life is far more valuable, far more important than mine. And maybe I can redeem myself for what I've done…

Elsa's legs moved, and she ran towards the battle. It was an impulse that she willingly followed, her thoughts narrowed down to just one. Protect the Queen. Protect Anna.

Her voice found a way out of her throat and cried out a warning. Her legs pounded on the ground as she urged her abused and mistreated body ever faster before it was too late, her arms outstretched to push Anna out of the way. She didn't care if her curse could hurt Anna, and in that moment she didn't even think about it. She turned her head and saw the archer let loose their shot.

I'm not going to make it.

She lunged forward. One last desperate attempt.

Her outstretched arms met Anna's back, shoving her forward. There was a split second where Anna had time to turn and meet Elsa's eyes, a moment where Elsa felt the satisfaction of saving someone's life.

Then she felt like fire had gone through her right side. She felt the pain abruptly stop, and then there was only blackness.

xxxxxxxxxx

Anna felt someone forcefully push her from behind, and berated herself for not paying attention to her surroundings, her mind thinking that her guards were behind her. She turned to confront the person and was shocked to see Elsa of all people was the one who had pushed her. Before she could question her, or even comprehend this, an arrow shaft pierced straight through Elsa's upper right arm, which was still outstretched after pushing her.

A horrendous cry of pain crawled out of Elsa's mouth for a second before her eyes rolled back and she passed out from shock. Anna looked down at Elsa's crumpled form, stunned. No. Don't freeze up. The danger is still here. I can't afford to worry about Elsa's condition right now. I need to find where that archer is. Worrying can come later.Anna forced herself to concentrate and pinpoint where the archer/assassin was. There, two houses down.She saw a figure on a roof with a telltale bow-shaped object in their hand. Acting on instinct, channeling the rage she felt building from someone she cared about getting hurt, she dropped her weapons and bent down, grasping a rusty looking knife off of the ground. Then, pausing only for a spit second, flung the knife at the archer in a perfect throw –the sheer force of her throw making up for the unbalanced nature of the knife.

The archer saw the knife coming and dropped off the building, his cloak bellowing behind him. With the Queen now aware of him and ready for any further attacks, there was no point in continuing his mission for it would be a fruitless endeavor. Dropping off on the opposite side, the archer vanished from sight.

Anna bit back a curse at the archer getting away and not being able to make him pay for hurting Elsa. Elsa!Anna quickly scooped down and easily –far too easily, she's so light- picked up the blond, taking care not to jostle her injured and bloodied arm further. "Push onward! We're almost through!" She shouted. Indeed, the battle had been nearly a one-sided affair, her Royal Guards fighting as a unit compared to the rabble Weselton had scrounged up. They were far more motivated and determined, and that made all the more difference.

Suddenly, the bell atop the city hall started to ring, loud gongs echoing over the city. Anna looked up to see a lone sentry pulling the rope in the tower, previously sheltered atop unnoticed by all observers.

This bell was apparently a signal, for the doors of the city hall burst outward, and Ravenden defenders streamed out, falling upon the unprotected backs of the Weselton forces. Caught in a vice, the only two choices given were surrender or death, a choice many of the cowardly soldiers swiftly made. Weapons clattered to the ground and the Weselton soldiers threw their hands up in the universal gesture of a surrendering foe. For a brief moment, Anna was tempted to not be a merciful Queen. My city was attacked, my people killed, and Elsa injured. They should be punished.

However the impulse was easily stifled and Anna let her soldiers round up those that had surrendered, instead walking towards the city hall, Elsa's still form held in her grasp. Intending to get medical help for the injured woman, Anna ignored everyone as she walked inside the hall, some of who were trying to get her attention.

It was a mess inside. Tables, chairs, benches, and all other miscellaneous things had been moved aside or barricaded up against windows or doors. There were a few injured Arendelle soldiers being taken care of by medics, and Anna made a beeline to them. "Help her," she said to one when he noticed her approach.

He looked surprised at seeing the Queen there, but as he made to kneel or bow, Anna stopped him. "There is a time for formalities -this is not it. Help her." She gently set Elsa down and let the medic check her. As he inspected the wound, Anna saw it was covered with a thin film of frost – enough to stay the bleeding somewhat. When the medic realized this and the implications, he abruptly looked to Anna.

"Not a word," she ordered. She saw him swallow, but eventually nod in consent. "Will she be alright?" She asked after a minute of silence.

The medic nodded, getting his bearings. "Yes, Your Majesty, she will be. The whole arrow went through her arm, but once disinfect and bind her arm she will be fine. As long as she doesn't use it for a while it should heal."

Anna gave a slight sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"I'm merely doing my duty, Your Majesty…. But… about the wound…"

"You will tell no-one of that. I am fully aware of it and you will keep silent. Understood?"

"Yes m'lady," he bowed, following his Queen's commands.

Anna stood up and turned. Standing a short distance away was Deserun and the commander of the Ravenden forces, Colonel Benjonson. Deserun had retrieved her dropped weapons and handed them back to her.

"We lost Walters," Deserun said. "He got shot by an archer."

"I know," Anna said, holding her sheathed sword. "He was aiming for me. That's how Elsa got hurt, pushing me out of the way of his second shot."

Deserun's eyes flashed with surprise before they turned to the blond, softening marginally with respect. "She did a very brave thing in that case. She probably saved your life," he said, both of them knowing Anna's little secret.

"Yes…" Anna didn't know what else to say. I need a way to make it up to her. I won't stand for her working as a maid or whatever anymore, not after what she did here. She deserves more…

Her ruminations were disrupted when Colonel Benjonson greeted her. They'd met briefly when she'd arrived in Ravenden before setting off to Galørn, though it was merely a courtesy for him to introduce himself to his Queen and the meeting was short. "Queen Anna, I wish your return was heralded by better tidings, and not this violence."

"As do I. And on that subject, I would like an explanation as to why Weselton forces are in the city and why the defense fleet is gone, letting this attack occur." Anna's tone had gone cold and intimidating, her anger not yet cooled –rather stoked by Elsa's injury, and her carelessness and inconsideration.

I'm the one that has been pushing Elsa when she's clearly not comfortable with… anything really! She's so worried about her magic getting out. And what do I do? Drag her into a battle where she sees people killing people… me killing people. I hope I haven't made her think the worst of me. And then, I get her injured with a lapse in awareness! I mean, I might've gotten a littlehurt if I had been hit, but Elsa wouldn't have known that! "Just great Anna, you're really making a case for why she should come with you." Yeah, I know.

While her internal brooding was going on, Anna was also paying attention to what Benjonson was telling her. "Your Grace, this attack is part of a ploy to encircle and destroy the Weselton Fourth fleet. We've been having issues with vessels coming in and out of Ravenden getting harassed by their fleet, and while they haven't dared attack the city, it was too much too ignore. Every time we've tried to hunt them down they slip away, like a pack of hyenas trying to sneak the kill away from a lion. We could never lure them into a decisive battle until now.

"I approached High Admiral Hendrickson with a plan to destroy them for good, using an undefended harbor as enticement and the Unyieldingas bait for the trap. If they thought that Your Majesty were here, then they would use all available force to attack."

Another thing Elsa got right that I overlooked,Anna thought as she continued listening to his explanation.

Seeing the Queen understood so far, he continued. "We had to wait until they committed all their forces to make sure the trap would work. The navy would return once they had done so, blocking them from leaving the harbor and pinning them against the shores. Then the ground forces would push them back. That bell you heard signaled both that the fleet has returned and for the forces we've held in reserve to counterattack."

A good plan,Anna approved, her anger cooled at the rational and pragmatic plan, now knowing it was a deliberate move to have the fleet gone rather than gross incompetence –something Arendelle could scarcely afford. However, there is one detail that I need to know."A very good plan Colonel. I commend both you and the Admiral for this. Although, I wish to know why I wasn't informed of this plan when I was here."

Deserun politely coughed into his fist, getting her attention. "Your Majesty, it was on your insistence that we left for Galørn as soon as possible. There wasn't time allotted for such a meeting to take place," he said, politely saying that she was too impatient. The Colonel, picking up on the latent hostility, nodded quickly.

Anna blinked.

Oh.Oops.

She fought the urge to cough, embarrassed. "Ah. Well, in any case it seems to have worked," Anna hid her flustered state. Deserun gave her a knowing smirk and she just barely resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him in a very un-queenly like manner. The three of them walked to the door and Anna listened harder. She heard more echoed cannons than before and more shouts in the distance. Seems that the trap has indeed worked.

"Congratulations are in order, Colonel Benjonson. I'm assuming that you are going to be coordinating the battle from here?"

"Yes, that's one of the reasons why the weasels were trying to break in when you arrived, aside from assuming your Highness was inside."

Good. Then I have free reign to go out. "Then I shall go out and finish this fight."

The Colonel seemed surprised. "Your Majesty, you shouldn't go back into the fighting, it's too dangerous."

Yeah, for them. "As the Queen, I must lead by example. I want to make the Weselton forces pay. Besides, I led the Battle of Fredja and I ended up fine." Literally, I led the charge.

Instead of waiting for him to reply, Anna strode out of the city hall. In front were a bunch of Arendelle soldiers –more than before. Some were leading Weselton prisoners away, but most were readying for the counterattack. Her personal guard was alert and on standby, their faces hardened at loosing one of their own.

"How many do you require to defend the hall?" She inquired the Colonel.

"No more than two dozen thereabouts," he replied. "Before the battle started I ordered them to go on the offensive once the trap was sprung, so there shouldn't be much defending to do."

Anna nodded and then spoke to the soldiers, who quickly quieted down when they realized who was speaking. "All of you! Now is the time to drive the enemy out of our city! It's time to make them regret invading our land and forsaking their vows! To me, and drive them out of the city!"

She was greeted with a roar of enthusiasm, making a gleeful grin spread across her face. I love this. This is why I like being the Queen. Commanding them and having them follow me literally to death.

"You do have a way of motivating the men," Deserun commented softly, leaning towards her to say so.

"I know right?" Anna replied with a grin. The grin soon faded though and she turned to her guards. "Stay in a loose formation. We have the momentum and now's the time to catch them unprepared. We make for the docks." The men nodded in affirmation and clanged their weapons together.

Anna drew her sword and cried to the assembled men, "For Arendelle!"

"FOR ARENDELLE!" The soldiers roared.

The fighting was short yet brutal. With over 40 soldiers and guards they made up one of the larger parties roaming the city. The citywide counterattack was working as planned, with the Weselton soldiers caught off guard when the defenders they've been pushing back abruptly started to push back with twice the men as before. Blocks previously thought secured were suddenly inundated with Arendelle forces, cutting off retreat routes to the harbor.

Many surrendered with a token resistance. Largely, those were the ones who'd been pressed into Weselton's army or navy, having no real motivation to 'fight for the cause'. These were the easier ones to deal with, as they knew to give up.

Then there were those that were in it for Weselton's profits, the 'cause' so to speak. These were the ones that believed the propaganda the Duke was spewing out, safe in his fortress far away from the real fighting. They were the ones that fought the fiercest, venomously standing their ground despite being overwhelmed and cut off, and also died for their trouble. Problem was, they also killed for their trouble.

And lastly there were the mercenaries who were only in it for profit. They were the ones that had no true allegiance to Weselton or the Coalition, but to the Mëten supplied to them and what they could make off of what they pillaged. They were the worst of the lot, for they looted the city rather than try and keep it intact. They were the ones who surrendered, and then tried to escape or stabbed the soldiers in the back.

Anna saw all three of them, and while she made them pay, in her heart she cried for all of them. For the ones forced to fight, the ones deluded into sacrificing their lives for one man's greed, and the ones who've strayed from moral paths – who enjoy peoples suffering. She both hated and loved fighting, for despite how much she enjoyed it, how much she was a natural at it, she hated that she had to take lives because of it – regardless of how twisted their lives had become.

Thankfully there seemed to be few of the mercenaries and fewer fanatics, so they took more prisoners than killed. The hired weapons were easy to identify by their attire – no consistency or resemblance to the Weselton uniforms, save for some sort of maroon band around their arm or such sort to signal what side they were on.

Is Weselton getting low on men, or are they just being cheap?The thought occurred to Anna as they finished off a mixed group of soldiers and mercenaries. Arendelle forces were quickly securing the city with their counterattack and they were close to the docks now. Probably cheap. Definitely cheap. But effective none-the-less,she thought as she looked at two more dead Arendelle soldiers, bringing their losses up to nine. However, as they went, they gathered more Arendelle soldiers, bolstering their numbers.

Bringing her mind back to the present, she almost casually swiped her sword outward and lopped off the head of an enemy trying to attack her. There was some pity, some remorse she felt, but it was overshadowed by the knowledge of what they've done and the anger because of it. They brought this on themselves.

"They're on their last stand, they know they're beaten!" She shouted, encouraging her group. "Once we recapture the docks, our victory is assured!"

Another side benefit to her fondness of fighting was she tried to lead from the front, unlike most generals or kings. And in turn, seeing their Queen fighting along side them boosted her soldiers' moral, making them fight harder. This hasn't failed her yet - though because there was only one of her, she couldn't be at every battle. Also she was the Queen. Someone had to keep the kingdom running. It certainly wouldn't be the council.

The group pushed onward and soon came to the docks. Because Ravenden had such a wide harbor, if one looked in either direction, they would be able to see the curve of the bay and most of the coastline. That's how her group was able to spot a cluster of enemy fighters at the end of a pier. Quickly moving to prevent them from escaping, they advanced towards them.

Anna took the lead, shield in front in case anyone had longer-range weapons and tried to use them. As they advanced she took stock of the naval side of things. The Arendelle fleet had blockaded the harbor and was in the process of shredding the Weselton Fourth fleet as they tried to escape. The Unyielding, her personal flagship, had pealed off from the fighting and docked to rest and repair, having took the brunt of the first assault nearly by herself. Thanks to her special hull though, she was in no danger of sinking and would be able to sail back to Heimr Àrnadalr after minor repairs.

She refocused on the enemy group… and they seemed to be arguing with each other? Wait, what?Sure enough, she could hear two people bickering with each other, though one sounded like he was doing more bickering than the other. As they approached, she got a good look at the two.

One was a taller man, black hair with black clothes of a mercenary, though his clothes looked more professional – more like an actual uniform than the others. Later Anna would admit he had a roguish look to him, which made him quite handsome. He carried a sword, but the most defining thing about him was his left hand had been replaced with a hook. He seemed like the calmer of the two, but more frustrated with the other.

The other man was someone that Anna immediately thought as a Weselton. Not the duchy, but from the family Weselton. Looking like a stiff breeze could blow him over, his wispy grey hair and white goatee signaled him as a noble. Probably someone who'd bought their commission and had never personally fought in their life.He was dressed in a fancy uniform, showing he had more money than strength. The rest of the group appeared to be mercenaries, as there wasn't a single Weselton uniform among them.

The Weselton commander stopped his arguing with the other and hid behind him when her group approached.

"Protect me!" He ordered, trying to sound authoritative yet utterly failing with his cowering. The assorted men rolled their eyes but did so, though less than halfheartedly. The hook handed man muttered "Bloody hell, you can't even face surrender with backbone. My god man."

"This is not the time for this! Are you blind? The enemy is right in front of you!" The commander complained. "Fight them and get us out of this city!"

"Yeaaaah how 'bout no? I prefer living over dying in a pointless fight," the man replied. While the Weselton commander sputtered (okay, hehas to be related to the Duke somehow, Anna thought, seeing the resemblance), the dark haired-man turned to her group and greeted them.

"Why hello there, your Highness. Such a surprise seeing you here. I'm utterly charmed by your presence. But where are my manors," he said, then bowed. "Captain Killian Jones, at your service. I'm afraid you've caught me at a rather bad time and not in the bests of situations." As he spoke, Anna detected a hint of an accent, similar to a DunBroch one, but far less heavy (and more understandable – for as much as Anna liked Princess Merida and King Fergus, sometimes it was downright impossible to understand them.)

Despite his pleasant words, Anna did not let down her guard. "With the authority I have as the reigning Monarch of Arendelle, I am offering you one chance to surrender peacefully. No further harm will come to you if you accept and will be treated fairly as a prisoner of war."

Jones winced at her harsh tone. "Don't suppose we can come to a deal? I don't fancy having to sit inside a prison until this bloody war's over."

"No! No compromise! No deals!" The Weselton commander shrieked, interrupting. "Fight to the last man!" It would be a tad bit more inspiring if he weren't trying to hide behind them all,Anna thought.

"And I suppose you'll lead the charge in that case, just like our dear Queen here?" Jones taunted back, cowing the commander. After a moment, he spoke to the men behind him. "You know boys, I think our dear handler here should set the example for us. We are, after all, 'stupid mercenaries'," he said, clearly mocking the commander for a previous insult. He then kicked the commander in front of him, causing him to fall over.

"Y-you! I am your commanding officer! I order you to fight! I order you all to fight!" The commander stammered, clearly rattled by this. Honestly, Anna was wondering what in the world was going on. I've clearly walked in onto some sort of internal strife-slash-power struggle. But what's Jones' angle here?

Jones gave him a demeaning look. "You must be barmy to think that we will take any further orders from you." For some reason, Jones then looked to Anna. "This weasel has been running us ragged for no reason, tries to order unnecessary attacks, and is in essence, a prick. However he's a high ranking prick, so I leave him in your capable hands." Oh. Now I think I see the angle he's trying to play. Trying to get a pardon, or at least better conditions, in exchange for their willing surrender and handing over their commanding officer –with additional information probably to pad the deal. However, I don't doubt he knows that Iknow I could just capture them all without making a deal.

The 'Prick' commander, however, was taking this as well as could be expected. "This-this is mutiny!" He cried, aghast at what was happening.

"Why yes, I believe it is," Killian Jones dryly agreed. Then he stepped forward and booted the still unnamed commander off the pier. 'Prick' gave a very high-pitched cry before there was a splash. Nobody on either side seemed to care all that much.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, though I'd personally send someone to pull him out before he drowns." He peered over the edge. "Bloody hell, what do you know? He can actually swim." Jones sounded genuinely surprised at that. "Can you believe that he named my ship theJewel of the Realm? Honestly it's such a pompous title; the Coalition hasn't even won the war they started."

That last line caught Anna's attention. "You know the truth about this war?"

"Oh honey, everyone that isn't involved knows that this is just a couple of Dukes and lesser Kings getting uppity and seizing a chance when they saw it. Though they weren't banking on someone such as Your Majesty being a competent Queen. Or a superb fighter. Most bet that Arendelle would have a new King in a month or two. It's been over a year, so kudos to you, Your Highness."

Anna was a bit disturbed at the nonchalant way he described the war and what others outside thought of it. Then again, I have to take his words with a grain of salt. Though with the information Viscount Oulf gave me…

Deserun seemed to have had enough of the mercenary's causal tone. "Mind your words, sir. You are speaking to the Queen."

"I very well know who I'm speaking to, thank you very much," Jones snapped back.

"Enough," Anna cut in. "Are you going to surrender?" She gripped her sword a little tighter as a warning, which he clearly got as his eyes glanced down momentarily.

"Look, now that the prick's out of the way, why don't we all just ease up a bit and resolve this without further violence?" He offered, a business tone coming into his voice. "There's been unfortunately enough of it already. And as I said before, I really don't want to be sitting in a prison watched."

There was a moment of relative silence. A raven somewhere cawed. Then, "You like to talk a lot, don't you," Anna dryly said.

Killian smirked, amusement in his eyes. "A personal flaw of mine, but one that has rarely failed me." His eyes flicked to the right. "After all, all I needed to do was keep talking to buy time."

Instantly Anna's guard came up, and she knew she would regret asking, but she did anyway. "Buy time for what?"

Jones gave her a smile that, in other circumstances would've been quite appealing. "For my ship to come and pick us up."

Anna felt the soldiers behind her react before her, in surprise and in alarm. Internally sighing, she looked. Bearing down on them with full speed was a ship, not flying any colors, but clearly of Southern Isle make. On deck, a cannon had been mounted at the front, and the gunner was aiming at her. "Back! Fall back!" She shouted in a panic. She would never dare try to block a cannon shot.

The cannon fired, and the wooden pier in front of her violently exploded into splinters, a sizable hole in-between them and the mercenary group. Anna's shield protected her from the splinters, so she was one of the first to recover. The hole was too big to safely cross over, so the mercenaries had isolated themselves. But not without a way to escape.

With an expert helmsman at the wheel, the ship barely missed the pier. The crew aboard had fixed a wide rope net to the starboard side, which the mercenaries leapt and grabbed ahold of, allowing the crew to get onboard without the ship slowing down. It was the most impressive and ingenious retreat that Anna had seen.

As if hearing her praise, Killian, who was holding on by his hook hand, turned and gave a parting taunt. "Farewell, Queen Anna! Best of luck with your war, me and my crew want of further part in it! If you should hear of me again, it will be of the pirate ship The Jolly Roger!" The crew cheered as they sailed away, heading towards the other end of the harbor where a gap in the Arendelle blockade was.

As the cheers and celebrations of the newly declared pirates faded, the group of Arendellians were left silent and speechless, confused by the turn of events. Even Deserun was fazed.

Anna… Anna had one thing that summed it all up.

"Well… that happened."

XXXXXXXXXX

*1- Ba Den Orlene, Mé'l su iémrll: By the Gods, I'm so selfish.

*2- M-Mé nukén ænci öp siled a tawe çiyek: I knew speaking up was a bad idea.

*3 - Neves sil kerr: This is crazy.

I was 6,000 words in, wrapping up Elsa's POV segment, when I thought I was done.

Then I realized that I wasn't. The first reason was I hadn't wrapped as much up as I wanted to, and with the next chapter being mainly exposition (sorry for that in advance), I wanted to finish up the raid as it would've flowed better. The second is that it would've been really poor taste to leave it on yet another cliffhanger after a year of not updating. So hopefully this makes up for it.

I'm actually somewhat afraid of this, as it's been a year and I feel that the style of writing for this has subtly changed enough to be different. I'm also afraid that my characterizations of Anna and Elsa, the two most important characters, are off somehow. I haven't exactly gone back and re-read my story, so that may backfire. But I'm trying to stick to my ideas.

So to actually talk about the details, first off ravens are actually one of my favorite birds, so I named a city after them. Simple as that. Elsa's still having a lot of trouble and Anna's still trying to be helpful but has to fight a war and run a country first.

And if you recognize the name Killian Jones, it is from one of my favorite shows (that I used to watch) Once Upon a Time. Stopped watching it during season 5 when they went to Hell or something like that (it's been a few years) because it was getting hard to follow and plus the villains never stayed dead. It was kinda annoying. In any case, I used him because I wanted to, and I may have more references and characters from that show in the future (and others). I'm cherry picking of course, as this is it's own thing, not trying to be related to any other shows.

Further, with Anna's sword/sheath/shield combo, fans of the show RWBY might recognize the concept, and I will admit I did take it from the show. However, in the next chapter I will describe how the shield is a different shape (and the story picture shows the sword), and there will be a perfectly legitimate reason it's designed the way it is - it'll take a while for the reveal, but it'll make sense, trust me. I'm playing the long game here (in more ways than one).
It's one of 3 things I've 'stolen' from RWBY. I plan to use them sparingly so don't get too mad.

I've been following a pattern with my chapters, first Anna's POV, then Elsa's, then Anna, then this chapter starts off with Elsa then goes into Anna. I've planned out the story this way and it'll continue like this, so if there's a chapter that flips back and forth between the two, then it's a more critical chapter than others. Just a bit of info if anybody noticed.

So that's all I have to say. Sorry for the long wait and I frankly have no excuses and the only reason is bad time management and laziness. Also with that, as I usually update another story during this time of the year, there's no way in hell I'll be able to get the next chapter of An Unexpected Rose out this year. Best estimate is mid to late January.

That wraps this chapter up. Read, Review, Favorite, and Follow! Reviews are most welcome and are constructive criticisms! I always want to improve.

So until next time!

-OrangeGalen