As another threat rocketed towards Elsie’s head, magic once again took over, a blue barrier forming in front of her outstretched hands, the dagger clattering to the floor on impact. “WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP DOING THAT?!” Elsie yelled, moving away from the stunned Vira. 

“So, Henrick was right then,” Vira muttered to herself, turning away from Elsie. “Tell me,” She said, gazing back out the window, “how long have you had these powers?”

“I don’t know! A couple of hours? Maybe about a day? Elsie sat down, rubbing her hands that were still sparking from the stress of her predicament.  

“Can you control them at will?”

‘Why do you care!” Vira turned to face Elsie, angry at the girl's ignorance. Taking a deep breath, she tried her best to stay calm as she closed the gap between her and Elsie. 

“Look, I don’t know from what backwoods village my brother got you from, but in case you haven't noticed, THERE'S A WAR GOING ON!” Elsie shrunk back at the sudden burst of anger, Vira noticed this and immediately reigned in her anger. She hadn't been expecting that sort of reaction.

“All I'm asking,” Vira sighed, “is for you to answer some questions.” Elsie gave a faint nod, but her posture still indicated that Vira had not done a good job at making her welcome. The young queen made her way to the chair opposite Elsie, offering a kindly smile as she sat.

“I suppose it must be startling to be here, isn't it?” She probed. 

“Everything has just been happening so fast. It’s really hard to understand what is going on; who I am, what I'm supposed to be doing; and no one seems to care as long as I fulfill some sort of prophecy.”

“Mmm, yes, the one that says you're a princess who’s supposed to help Henrick kill Mordal?” 

Elsie nodded silently, before focusing back on Vira, eyes going wide. “Wait, did you say kill?!” 

“Well yes, of course,” Vira replied, her careful smile disappearing, confused by the girl's reaction. “What did you think you had to do?”Elsie stood up, beginning to panic. Magic flashed through her fingers as she moved around the room, trying to make sense of what Vira had just told her. “Wait, do you mean to say that you never knew that you had to KILL Mordal!?”

Vira’s anger was back as she watched the panicked girl turn to face her. “Look, lady!” Elsie yelled back. “I had no idea who Mordal was until your crazy brother told me about him!” Virus eyes went wide. The girl's anger and fear were genuine, there was no faking the fact that she really had no clue. Vira's face was pale as she once more attempted to close the gap between her and the mystery girl. 

“Elsie,” she said, fear apparent in her voice. “What country is this?”

“I don't know.” 

“What country are you from?” 

“What do you want me to say, America?” Elsie was starting to become angry. Vira was getting more scared. 

“Does this mean you’re from the far continent?” 

“I. Don’t. Know. What. That. Means!” Elsie yelled, now frightening Vira.

“Well that settles it then,” Vira murmured, slumping in her chair. “You are not from here, which means that some way or another, my brother made it to god’s know where told you next to nothing and then somehow got you back here.”

“That's the first thing you’ve said that makes sense.” Elsie huffed, sitting back down, now less frightened and angrier with her situation. Vira considered the specifics of her analysis before proceeding with her questions.

“How did Henrick convince you to come with him?” Vira asked. Elsie chuckled darkly at the question recalling the similarities between Henrick and Vira's assessment of her magic.

“He didn't really convince me. He, um, struck a bet with me, and won.”

“That much is obvious.”  Vira groaned as she stood, making her way to the room's exit. Tugging open the heavy wooden door, Vira turned to Elsie, a quizzical look in her eye. “Do you even want to do it? Fulfill the destiny I mean.”

Elsie met her gaze, as she instinctively drew her knees back to her chest. “I don't know. I just… really, I don’t know.” Vira nodded, sympathizing with the girl. As much as Henrick was hoping that she would be up to the task, it was obvious she was conflicted about what she should do. 

A second later, Henrick reappeared, his face red from the biting winter air, his hands full of thick furs. “Sorry if I kept anyone waiting,” he said, noticing his sister in the doorway. “I think I found some clothes that will fit you, Elsie. I also found some for Max, yes he’s fine.” He said as Elsie's head contorted with worry at the mention of her brother. 

“Do you think I could see him?” She asked, looking at the siblings.

“Yeah, sure.” Henrick smiled, tossing the bundle of clothing at Elsie. “As soon as you change out of those cursed clothes.” Henrick joked looking at his sister. Vira had become lost in thought, the joke to her earlier comment about Elsie's clothes being lost within her jumble of ideas and plans. “Vira?” Henrick said, nudging his sister gently.

“Hm?” Vira mused, refocusing on her brother.

“I was just wondering if I could take Elsie to the medical ward. Let her see her brother?”

“Oh, yes, yes, that's fine Hen, just no running off this time!” 

“Promise.” Henrick chuckled nervously as his sister stared him down.

“Good, now if you excuse me, I need to go make some plans, specifically regarding you Mrs. Elsie.” Vira pointed a finger at the girl as she walked away, politely calling over her shoulder as she went. “Lovely talking to you by the way.”

Once the two were alone, Henrick guided Elsie to a small anti-chamber in his room, letting her change. After a brief presentation of her new finaries (which consisted of a wool coat that went to her feet and a matching hat), Henrick led Elsie down a long corridor towards the hospital wing. 

“So. What did my sister have to say to you?” Henrick asked as they made their way to the expanse of hallways. 

“Trust me, it's complicated.” Elsie sighed, taking a look around the castle as she kept up with Henrick's brisk walk. 

“We have the time.”

“Well then,” Elsie grimaced. “Might as well share.” 

***

Mordal sat, reclined in his study. After several hours of waiting for a report from his faithful captain Madea, she had just now reported in, along with a somewhat confusing report.  

“I’m sorry, let me get this straight. After successfully filling out my orders-surpassing my expectations really- your entire squadron is stopped by a CHILD!?”

“Sir, you have to understand the circumstances-” Mordal was on his feet in seconds, his hand quickly finding its way to Madea’s throat. 

“There are no circumstances, captain,” He growled. “Only minor inconveniences that you should have no trouble destroying.” The captain struggled in Mordals vice-like grip panic coding her eyes, as she slowly lost oxygen. After a few more seconds, the dictator finally released the woman, leaving her gasping for breath as he poured a glass of wine. 

“Well, now that that unpleasantness is out of the way… why don't we get down to this child, a girl, was it? What made her so special?” The captain regained her footing, standing at attention, though horse, she knew that keeping the information from her master would be unwise, even after almost being choked to death. 

“I don’t know how to explain it, sir. One minute she was there, and the next, she was controlling this blue light or something. It startled the horses and protected prince Henrick, the boy she was traveling with.” Mordal listened as his general relayed her story, catching interest in the magical girl. He turned to Madea, glass in hand, a look of morbid curiosity on his face. 

“Tell me, Captain,” He sneered. “How old was this girl? What did she look like?” 

“I don’t know sir, maybe about fourteen, fifteen years of age. Hardly an adult. She had red hair, dimples, not that uncommon. The young prince called her Elsie. 

“Well, I've never heard of that name, probably some gutter peasant that he stole away," Mordal said, brushing away the idea of the girl before apparently changing his mind, a finger poised dramatically in the air. "Nevertheless, if she possesses magic, AND she's with that brat of a prince, nothing good will come out of it. Can she control it?”

“Not that I could see sir. Seems like her magic only comes out when she's scared.”

“Well that's to be expected,” Drolled Mordal, swirling his drink around in the glass. “Nevertheless, the fewer issues we face with this girl the better.” He mused for a second before turning to Captain Madea, a bored look on his face. “How about this? Try and bring the girl to me, and if she refuses to come, kill her. I’d love to have an apprentice, but I'd hate having to go through all the trouble.”

A knock on the door interrupted the mage's musings as a nervous-looking guard made his presence known. Avoiding eye contact with mordal, he saluted Madea who received his message with quiet stoicism. After the courier had left, she turned to Mordal to relay the message. “Sir, Queen Vira has returned to discuss another deal.

The mage perked up at the thought of toying with the young queen again. “Well, isn't that a surprise.” Mordal said, a sickening smile spreading across his lips. “Has she said what she wants to discuss.”

“Yes, sir she has. It’s, um…”

“Yes, what is it? Spit it out!”

“The prophecy sir. The courier said that she comes with news of a young woman who possesses magic. She apparently arrived with the prince earlier today.” Mordal froze, as pieces of this mystery girl’s puzzle came together. His once wicked smile now contorted into a tight line as he was faced with a more serious matter.

“Well, this is interesting isn't it?”