Loved - Rapunzel

Princess Rapunzel was ladling out a bowl of soup to an old woman who had come to the castle for something warm to eat and a place to warm her hands and feet. The castle’s kitchen seemed to be one of the few warm places left. The cold was relentless, but at least it was calm outside now, several hours ago a storm had battered the city but then suddenly calmed.

Prince Hans had assigned them here to oversee relief efforts inside the castle, since the castle had the most resources available at the time. Rapunzel had had the food for the party repurposed into soup for the people. The old woman had explained she was sorry to be a bother, and hadn’t earned enough yet for her winter supply of firewood. She hadn’t expected a July winter.

Rapunzel grimaced ruefully, “None of us did. Magic can be …unpredictable that way.”

The old woman looked up at the princess, “Do you think Queen Elsa will be okay?”

Rapunzel smiled gently, “Yes, I think so. I endured an incredible amount, and I am sure she can too, since she’s my cousin. She’ll be okay. We’ll sort this out once she comes home. I’m sure we can.”

Rapunzel didn’t mention anything about the magic she had once had inside her. Once Rapunzel had settled the old woman in a chair near the fire, she pushed a cauldron of soup to the Great Hall. The kitchen staff had spent a week going all out of the coronation, then Elsa had frozen everything, so they then had to find a way to feed everyone for the duration, which has gone on for days and now that lunch was over she had sent most of them to rest.

Princess Rapunzel had held a rather intense meeting with the chef, a military attache, some farmers and fishers about food stores. There were strategic reserves of salted fish and reindeer meat, as well as sauerkraut and other preserved vegetables. There was food available for the current population for years. Fuel was the big concern, and it all depended on how long this winter would last. She had set a couple of people to come up with a plan for that. She really didn’t know much about that as Mother had always brought wood back for the fire. She had made a note to learn more about that in her pocket notebook. She had never learned where Mother got the wood, even though Briar Rose had found gardens hidden in the forest around the tower.

Rapunzel had had to borrow a winter dress from the castle, Gerda had said it to be one of Princess Anna’s, the painted edges were so fun. She definitely would have to try that once she returned to Corona.

Entering the Great Hall she looked around and found Eugene with some blankets coming across the hall. He gave her an encouraging wink as he stopped by some huddled children. Rapunzel knew he’d keep the children entertained with a good story, probably hers again. He liked to tell it, even though the way he told it didn’t exactly match the way she remembered it. Everything he talked about happened but it was way more boring then he made it out to be.

The doors creaked open as frost shattered on the hinges and cold air forced everyone to huddle for warmth.

“We have the queen!” Prince Hans announced carrying Queen Elsa.

Rapunzel rushed over to the stretcher and her cousin.

“Elsa! Elsa!” said Rapunzel. She pulled her hand back as she felt the cold of the ice dress and the cold skin of Queen Elsa.

“What happened?” Rapunzel quietly asked the prone and unconscious woman as she took in the new clothes and hairstyle.

Rapunzel ran a hand through her hair, wishing once again that it was long and blonde again so she could heal her cousin.

“Why isn’t she waking up?” Rapunzel asked of Prince Hans, “You promised no harm would come to her.”

“I’m sorry, but she was injured in the fighting. She knocked herself out getting out of the way.” Hans said ruefully.

“Okay, but I can take care of you right now, your lips are blue and you’re shivering.” Rapunzel waved for some soup which servants brought over quickly.

“My needs can wait. I need to talk to Anna, did she make it back?”

“No. You were the one who went to look for her.” Rapunzel shoved a bowl into Hans’ hands.

“Bother! We followed the tracks of her horse, and found she went to Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post and Sauna. She left for the North Mountain with an ice harvester. At the North Mountain we found Queen Elsa in an Ice Palace.” Hans slurped some of the soup.

“Wow, that’s good soup, and so warm.” He cupped it in his hands for a moment.

“That’s the idea.” Rapunzel looked over the other guards and they were looking warmer after a few sips of the hot soup, then asked, “An Ice Palace?”

“Indeed, it was the most beautiful building I have ever seen, but it was guarded a huge snow golem. There was a bit of a fight.” Hans paused for another sip of soup,

“Ahh. We brought her back, hopefully when she awakes she can end this winter. I need to update the dignitaries and then go out looking for Anna again.” Hans turned.

Rapunzel put a hand on his chest as Eugene came up beside her. “No.”

“What?”

“You are going to update the dignitaries but someone else has to go looking for Anna. We can send Prince Consort Eugene and some fresh men out. You have to recover from the cold. You can go searching again after warm up.” Stated Rapunzel

“But Anna...” Hans protested.

“You’ll do Arendelle no good if you get yourself killed by doing something stupid because you were too tired and cold.” Princess Rapunzel commanded.

“Okay, okay. Oh, Kai, if I may have a moment,” Hans called to the man as he entered the Great Hall.

Kai spared a glance at the prince but continued approaching the unconscious queen carrying a large case. “Not just yet, your Highness. I have something to do first.”

Kai set the case down, pulled out a key from under his shirt, unlocked it and opened the lid. He sat back on his heels.

“No!” Rapunzel gasped.

“What are those?” Hans asked slowly.

“I think it’s obvious what they are,” said Eugene as he placed an arm around Rapunzel.

Kai took a letter that was attached to the lid of the case, scanned it quickly then read it out loud.

“To my dear subjects and kingdom. If you are reading this, it has become obvious that I am no longer in control of myself. I was born with magic, the power to control ice and snow. You have all noticed that I always wear gloves. I do not wear gloves to protect my hands but to protect all of you. My magic comes out through my hands. I and my gloves have failed to protect you. (I am so sorry Goody Glover, you were so gentle to me all these years.) I don’t know if I will be rational enough to use these myself. You must now protect yourselves from me. These iron shackles should be enough to contain my magic. Place them on my hands. Please, help me protect you. I can no longer do it myself anymore. A cahmber in the northeast tower has been prepared for this contingency. It is stone and should be strong enough to contain me. Please do this to me. For your sakes. Please. Signed Princess Elsa.”

Kai thought for a moment. “It is dated nearly three years ago. That was not long after the king and queen died. She had these made for just such a circumstance. The royal blacksmith gave these to me, he had kept her secret.”

“But we can’t.” Rapunzel said, she was hunched over and her eyes were wet.

“I must. She commanded it. We need to help her. She anticipated this.” Kai waved to the windows and the snow covered kingdom beyond.

Rapunzel looked from the seneschal of Arendelle to Eugene, who nodded. Rapunzel straightened.

“I will do it.”

“You? Why you?” asked Hans.

“I spent time in chains!” Rapunzel nearly screamed. She took a steadying breath.

“She is…family. This may be what she needs to help herself, so I need to do this for my cousin. As others did for me what I could not for myself.” Rapunzel was looking at a sad Eugene.

Hans nodded.

Rapunzel knelt next to her cousin as Kai held out the first shackle. Rapunzel gently lifted Elsa’s hand and placed it in the cold, black steel, smoothing her cousin’s cold fingers down so they fit into place. The lock snapped loudly into place in the quiet hall.

Rapunzel went to the other side and with a bite to her lip, snapped the other shackle closed.

Rapunzel shivered then looked to the windows, but she could only see whiteness.

Hans turned to a guard by the doors, “Is there any change outside?”

The guard opened the door but closed it quickly as an icy blast swept in. He shook his head but everyone knew the answer.

“Oh Elsa. I’m sorry.” Rapunzel said as she smoothed her cousin’s hair. The far back of her mind wondered about the change in clothes, makeup and hairstyle, not knowing what it meant, but something had changed Elsa, profoundly, and now the shackles she had had made didn’t work like Elsa had hoped.

“Now what?” asked Hans.

“Now we put her in the chamber as she instructed.” said Kai.

Rapunzel gazed at the face of her cousin for a long moment, then whispered, “Do it.”

Hans waved over some men and they carried the queen away. Eugene knelt next to Rapunzel and put his arms around her. “It’ll be okay.”

Hans turned to Kai, “Where are the dignitaries?”

“In the family library, upstairs.”

“Okay. Prince Eugene, could you organize some men to find Anna for me, please? There are getting to be too many places for me to be all at the same time and I need to see to the kingdom’s needs. Hopefully, when Queen Elsa awakes she can end this winter and everything will go back to the way it was.”

Eugene nodded but looked at Rapunzel, she straightened and nodded back.

“I’m on it.” Eugene said.

“Thank you princess for taking care of the people, can you continue that duty?” Hans asked.

Rapunzel looked shaken but she nodded, took the empty bowl from Hans.

“Thank you. Now, Kai let’s see those dignitaries.” Hans said as they strode out of the Great Hall.

Princess Rapunzel watched as Elsa was taken in one direction, Hans in another and Eugene shrugged on a heavy coat and left to continue the search for the princess.

Eugene looked back and seeing her pensive face blew her a kiss that made her smile just a little.

Rapunzel took a breath, settled Anna’s dress and turned back to the work.