Many Beauty and the Many Beast

by Felicity Collins

  As soon as I was done, the riders started to come in. I froze when I saw who were two of the riders: Storm and Skylynn. Catching another servant I immediately asked what they were doing among the riders. Turns out that apparently, someone insisted for the Queen of Drakora and the Southern Islander general to honor the races by participating. It didn't take a genius to understand that someone wanted them out of the way, in case I had second thoughts. By making them participate, they were forced to stay away from both Elsa and Anna. Neither of them could refuse, obviously. Skylynn was a foreign queen and if she refused to participate it could have been seen as an offence to the Arendellian tradition. Storm, on the other hand, was Elsa's suitor, if he refused people would have seen it as fear of losing and lack of trying, therefore, he would have immediately been catalogued as a poor choice of a possible husband for the Queen. I was sure that they were planning on losing on purpose, but in order not to look suspicious, it was going to take a while. They were probably planning on losing on the semifinals, right before Elsa's speech.

  I needed a new plan fast. When I was told of the scheme, the ex-minister made the mistake of naming all those who had a part in this, along with what they were going to do. I had the names, but now I had no idea how I was going to expose them and prove it. It was their word against mine.

  After the riders, other people started to arrive. Mostly politicians and a few other participants like other peasants and merchants, and soon the huge hippodrome was filled with people who chatted with one another and took their seats in the bleachers, waiting for their queen to arrive. Soon enough, Arendelle's royal chariot made its way to the hippodrome. As the carriage stopped, the people parted making way for the Queen, the Princess and the Ice Master, now soon-to-be Prince.

  "Queen Elsa of Arendelle!" announced the head butler, Kai, as Elsa regally stepped out of the chariot, wearing a light green sparkly dress similar to her blue one, her hair was up in a professional looking bun, but in all, she looked stunning "Princess Anna of Arendelle and Ice Master Sir Kristoff Bjorman!" Kai announced and Anna soon after followed her alongside Kristoff, they both looking very elegant. Kristoff though looked quiet unsure. He certainly wasn't used to have all eyes on him and dress that fancy.

  They soon took their seat in the royal bleachers and the hippodrome went silent. Elsa immediately stepped up and welcomed the people to the event with the grace and elegant eloquence worthy of a queen and let the races begin.

  As I served around, I kept scanning around the place to notice even the most subtle suspicious thing. I would also glance at the ministers, trying to figure out a way to expose them and not just sabotage their plan. The most obvious thing was to reach either Storm or Sky, give them the names and tell them where they could find the crossbow waiting for me, during the break. Along with Storm witnessing when the ministers came to me, it would have been evidence enough. Sky would have gained Elsa's trust, Storm would have been seen as a reliable ally. Problem was that as long as I was on duty around the bleachers, with all those guards watching me, I couldn't get close to the stables.

  Finally Skylynn and Storm got themselves eliminated from the races, losing on the semifinals. My first move would have been to immediately go to my sister and tell her everything about the ministers' plan, if it weren't for the guard who hooked his armored gloved hand on my shoulder and ordered me not to move, it was not time for me to leave to the stables yet. Someone would say to just tell the guard what was going on, but who was going to believe me?

  A moment later, Marquise Eriksen walked to me, telling the guard holding me to leave me to him. He was one of those behind the coup. As he lead me away, it was almost time for the toast. The final four riders were on their horses in front of the royal bleachers, all with a goblet in hand.

  Elsa stepped forward and started her speech, congratulating the riders, complimented Skylynn and Storm for the race even if they lost and until it was time for the toast. I kept scanning around the area trying to find something, anything, but before I was able to notice something, the Marquise handed me a tray with an elegant golden goblet for the toast, Elsa's goblet. The queen politely requested for her goblet and I could do nothing but walk to her and bring it to her. All the noblemen part of the coup were there, but everything was too calm, they were too calm, especially since they were seated behind the queen. There was something wrong.

  As I got in front of Elsa, I looked down, giving her a small bow not meeting her gaze. Elsa hesitated a second ad then took the goblet and I went back to put the tray in its place. It was when I put it down that I noticed it: a thin layer of white dust forming a little curved line was on the tray, the curved line resembling the goblet's base.

  "May the best rider win!" said Elsa, raising the goblet.

  "To the best!" the riders said raising their cups. Then it hit me. They were trying to frame me all along! That's why they took all those precautions! It also explained why I was supposed to go to the stables: to make sure it looked like I was running away! I turned around and saw Elsa bring the goblet to her lips. In a second I ran to her.

  "NO! DON'T DRINK IT!" I yelled running towards her. Elsa turned around surprised at my outburst, but I didn't make it to her as two guards held me back "DON'T DRINK IT! MARQUISE ERIKSEN POISONED IT!" I yelled as the two men blocked me. There were gasps among the crowd. Skylynn looked at me surprised just as much as Storm, the both of them with a hand on their sword, ready to pull it out at any moment.

  "What?! This is madness!" the Marquise yelled outraged.

  "What?!" the two sisters said incredulously as well.

  "YOUR MAJESTY, THAT WINE IS POISONED!" I yelled "It's a coup set up by: Count Haugen, Baron Westley, Marquise Eriksen, Count Landvik, and Sir Brenner. They poisoned it! They're trying to kill you!" I yelled.

  "This is an outrage!" Baron Westley said angrily, standing up from his seat, but his eyes showing panic.

  "How dare you, you traitor?!" said the Marquise unsheathing his sword like the others, but as Skylynn and Storm unsheathed theirs pointing at them, the four guards under Skylynn's command pointed their swords towards them as well.

  "Your Majesty! You can't believe this fool!" said another of the traitors, standing up from his seat.

  "My Queen! Have him rot in the dungeons forever for this atrocity!" yelled one of them.

  "Let us take care of this traitor!" demanded another.

  "Yes! Let us take care of this scumbag and you'll never have to worry about him again!" said Count Haugen

  "Yes! Leave him to us, Milady" said Sir Brenner.

  "Your Majesty this is an outrage!" shouted Baron Westley.

  "Enough!" Elsa said as silence reigned. She eyed me, then Skylynn and Storm, with an expressionless face but a stern look in her eyes "You are right, Count Landvik. This man is indeed a fool if he expects me to believe his words after what he tried to do to my sister and myself" she said. I couldn't believe my ears. Skylynn looked at Elsa with her eyes wide.

  "Queen Elsa, please! Listen to my brother, this once" she said.

  "Would you trust a man who has once betrayed you and your kingdom, Queen Skylynn? I don't think so" Elsa said sternly back at her. They shared a look which caused Skylynn not to insist. Anna was about to say something, but Elsa had struck her with a look that made her shut up even before she could mutter a word.

  "Very well said, my queen!" said the Marquise

  "Thank you, Marquise" Elsa said "Now, to prove you all that this fool is wrong, let us proceed with the toast"

  "Yes!- All hail to the queen!- Long live Queen Elsa!- A toast to our queen!" they said one over the other raising their glasses as well.

  "Yes, but not with those" Elsa said catching their attention "As the symbol of how much I treasure your loyalty, good sirs, I offer you to drink from my goblet" As soon as she said that I saw them pale. Skylynn and Anna's faces morphed into small smirks as Sky shared a look first with Anna, then with Storm "Come on gentleman. Don't be shy. You have nothing to fear.
Let's show this gentleman how much of a liar he is…" Elsa said offering them the golden goblet with an angelic smirk on her lips. None of them could make up a decent excuse for not taking the goblet. They were cornered, so they did the most natural thing, they ran.

  "Seize them!" Anna ordered

  "Take the former prince to the throne room!" Elsa commanded as more guards started the pursuing of the traitors.

  "No! Let me go! I can help! Let me help!" I shouted struggling, but the two men were stronger and took me away as their queen ordered, but I didn't give up. Chaos irrupted in the square and while the guards forcefully took me away an arrow came flying from above hitting a glass, and that's when I realized someone to shoot the queen had always been there, ready to strike in case I betrayed them.

  Elsa's POV:

  "Kristoff! Take Anna back to the palace!" I ordered him as the situation tumbled into chaos as the arrow came striking down.

  "No! I'm staying with you!" Anna said as Kristoff grabbed her arm to take her away.

  "NOW!" I thundered. Kristoff didn't need me to repeat it twice, he swept Anna off her feet and carried her away to the carriage, no matter how much she was struggling to have him let her go and stay by my side, calling my name in fear, fear that something might happen to me. Everyone saw the arrow and soon enough, others came shooting down. I hadn't seen where the archer was, yet, but it was close to us and I couldn't risk Anna getting hurt. People scrambled away screaming looking for cover, some of my soldiers had chased after the traitors, two of them had roughly dragged Hans away, while he struggled telling them to let him go so he could help, others had escorted Kristoff and Anna away back into the palace.

  Another arrow came flying down missing me by an inch as Storm, Skylynn and I hid under the royal bleachers.

  "Did you see the archers?" I asked Skylynn.

  "Hell no!" she answered, taking a peek before ducking immediately as another arrow came flying an inch above her head "And with that they better start praying I don't!"

  "They're on the stable roof, somewhere!" Storm said

  "Thanks, Stormy, please continue to point out the obvious!" Sky said sarcastically.

  "Well, obviously you and I can't take them down from here with a sword" he answered. There was another arrow that stuck right through the wood between Storm and I, making us flinch. "And obviously we can't get out of here or we'll be dead before we can climb up to him" he added

  "Who said we have to climb up when I can shoot him with my ice powers" I said taking a peak out of my hiding spot "If only I could see them" I added.

  "What are you doing?!" Sky said as she pulled me back down in the hiding spot "Don't get up that much!" she said

  "You'll be an easy target" Storm added.

  "Sorry, the last time I was ambushed alone they were two and in front of me" I answered. Another arrow and I saw one of the guards tumble to the ground in pain. But our troubles weren't over. A second later, a few men ran into the hippodrome with their swords drawn. We all noticed the dark uniforms, very different from Arendelle's military ones, and this wasn't good.

  "Really?!" I complained recognizing them.

  "Who the heck are these guys?!" Storm said noticing them as well

  "Baron Westley's little personal army" I answered.

  "Elsa, you're a bit prickly, but-seriously- what the hell did you do to these people?!" Another arrow, but this time we managed to see where the archers where.

  "Distract the soldiers, I'll get the archers!" I said and Sky and Storm sprang into action as I shot one blast of snow towards the archers before they could shoot either of them. Then before they could shoot once more, I blasted them once again with ice, chaining them to the roof. I finally got out of the hiding spot and looked around and saw Skylynn and Storm fighting in perfect synchronization. They knew each other's moves so well, they didn't even need to look at one another.

  Other soldiers started to move towards me and I blasted them with ice, cornering them with ice shards pointing to their throats keeping them from moving. Then I saw one of my soldiers about to be killed by one of the Baron's goons. I immediately blasted him with ice chaining him to a wall. The soldier looked at me and gave me a grateful nod of the head before going back to fighting, as I did the same. I turned around saw Skylynn step in front of me blocking one of our opponents' sword from hitting me and pushed him away with a kick in the stomach. I immediately shot ice to the two men who went for Sky, blocking their feet in a block of ice.

  "Now we're even!" I said, before Sky took out her dagger and threw it towards me hitting in the shoulder a man who was about to attack me, as the weapon flew a few inches from my face.

  "Now we are" she said taking her dagger back from the man and knocking him out and going back to fight alongside Storm. Other men came by and using my powers I cornered them with icy spikes or chained them to the ground or on a wall with my powers. Suddenly there was another arrow stroke and one of my soldiers fell on the ground severely wounded. I looked around and a second arrow followed, almost hitting Storm. Luckily for him, I raised a small ice wall, blocking the arrow before it could hit him. Sky, Storm and I quickly looked around us as we fought, trying to move as much as possible, so that the archer who freed himself couldn't aim. I had to block him again, fast. I knew where he was but it wasn't easy to aim when those soldiers came swarming in threes and ready to kill me in the blink of an eye.

  I could have done something drastic and freeze them all, but Storm, Sky and my valiant warriors were here and I couldn't risk hurting them by accident. Then I saw my chance to block the archer, but before I could shoot him an ice blast and block him, other soldiers ran towards me on both sides. I immediately blasted those on the left, making them slip on the ice I had just created under their feet. Then I turned around and shot ice shards towards the others, pushing them with their back on a wall pointing sharp icicles at their throats. I turned back around on the men who were still trying to get up from the ice, and chained them to the ground with my powers.

  "YOUR MAJESTY! LOOK OUT!" one of my soldiers yelled, and before I could comprehend what was happening, an arrow came flying in my direction. For a split of a second I thought I would have died, hadn't it been for Hans. He jumped out of nowhere pushing me to the ground. As we hit the dusty floor, I felt Hans flinch in pain, then I saw blood trickle down his arm. We looked at each other for just one instant, then he got immediately off of me quickly helping me up and we saw the man charging his crossbow again.

  "Now Queen QueeQElsa! Block him!" Hans said, but I was already pointing at him and blasted ice on him, making him lose his balance, but before he could fall down the roof I chained him to the wall with my powers, as Hans had my back engaging a fight with a soldier while I took care of the archer, then I turned around just in time to see Hans get the other man to bend down and knee him in the stomach, letting him fall to the ground. We looked at each other once more and I just gave him a small nod of the head in gratitude. But the moment, I saw one of my men being pierced through with a sword, I had had it!

  Suddenly the hippodrome was obscured by thick grey clouds, the temperature started to go terribly down as I concentrated. Snow started to fall down, slowly at first, but the cold winds quickly picked up, making the snow violently swirl, until I had finally created a storm. I saw the soldiers stop fighting as they saw the snow, but unexpectedly just one person realized what I was about to do.

  "Skylynn, get everyone to get cover! Now!" Hans shouted to his sister. Skylynn tried to do as he said, but most of my soldiers wouldn't budge, not daring to leave me.

  "Everyone out of here! Follow Queen Skylynn!" I shouted.

  "But your Majesty!-"

  "NOW!" I thundered as the snow became thicker and harder, making it difficult for everyone to see. My soldiers finally followed Skylynn out of the square, taking the injured ones with them and the other soldiers did exactly as I thought, they circled me in the snowstorm. Some of them were already mocking me and singing 'victory'!
But as they got ready to attack me, I channeled all the snowstorm's violence through my hands and into me, feeling the storm's fury race through my bones and released it in a ferocious violent blast. The soldiers flew in all directions and as they crashed onto the bleachers and the walls of the buildings around, my powers finished the job by locking them to the wall with ice handcuffs and the storm ceased completely.

  It took me a few seconds to realize the battle was over, Sky and Storm immediately came to me with the soldiers who looked around them still astonished.

  "Is everyone alright?" I asked with heavy breath, as I received positive answers.

  "That was awesome! You did it, Elsa!" Sky said walking towards me and hugging me.

  "Yeah… and I didn't hurt anyone" I couldn't help but answer as I hugged her back.

  "That was amazing!" Storm said hugging me as well as soon as Skylynn had let go of me. At first it felt awkward, but then I relaxed in his warm embrace, hugging him back.

  "It truly was" added Hans as Storm and I immediately pulled away. I narrowed my eyes at him and walked towards Hans until I was right in front of him "Yeah, I know I'm supposed to be in the throne room right now!" Hans said raising his hands in surrender, anticipating me.

  "You disobeyed me" I said sternly. His eyes widened.

  "Are you kidding me?!" Hans said offended.

  "You and I need to talk, just not here and not now. Guards! Take him to the throne room" I said as the guards walked to us and took him away. Soon after, the other guards who had gone chasing after the aristocrats came back holding the criminal masterminds and the other accomplice noblemen in handcuffs. I ordered that the wounded ones were to be immediately taken to the hospital and to take the traitors to the dungeons. Skylynn and Storm took care of their goons and had other of my men take them to the dungeons, as well. As soon as I was done ordering around, I left Sky in charge of the situation and headed back to the palace.

  The moment I set foot in the palace, I was swarmed by the servants, and the other dignitaries who had fled the hippodrome. Kai and Gerda were the first to come to me. They both looked like they were about to hug me, but restrained themselves, so before they would curtsy and bow to me I embraced them tightly. Kai and Gerda may be our head butler and maid, but they were like second parents to Anna and I.