Northuldra-Arendelle: A Government Blueprint for the Two Realms’ Re-Integration

Featured art by the amazing Arute (@ast05water)

Presented in the parliament of Arendelle’s Great Assembly by HM Queen Anna and Lady Honeymaren Nattura, Head Liaison of Northuldra-Arendelle Relations

1. This proposal, if passed by the House of Ministers, and then the House of Jarls, binds Northuldra and Arendelle towards obligations that will result in an orderly and mutually beneficial re-integration between the two regions. The three core principles agreed between Her Majesty and Lady Maren, representing Northuldra, are:

Partnership,
Equality, and:
Sovereignty for both regions.

2. This re-integration is a long-term initiative that may be accomplished during Queen Anna’s reign, or that of a distant successor’s.

3. Northuldra’s primary obligation is to quickly set up the necessary branches of government that will allow it to communicate with the family of nations, chief among them an executive, treasury, and foreign ministry. Arendelle will not interfere in Northuldra’s choice of government, whether it decides on monarchy, democracy, or republicanism. The span of time for Northuldra’s representatives to complete this can be negotiated with Queen Anna.

4. Arendelle’s obligation is to assist in Northuldra’s political reconfiguration, during which time its army and navy are to be deployed in the defence of Northuldra.

5. Arendelle will commit to fostering an active but sustainable and balanced economic relationship with Northuldra, in consultation with the tribes and peoples of the region.

6. The kingdom has already fulfilled its promise to provide Northuldra with an influential lobby and voice in the Arendellian government, by appointing a Northuldran-born Head Liaison of Northuldra-Arendelle Relations (a post currently filled by Honeymaren).

7. The final goal is the reconstitution of both Northuldra and Arendelle as a legally united, sovereign territory called Northuldra-Arendelle.

8. In the distant future, there will be a need to ensure that a sustainable political entity exists for both region’s peoples. Queen Anna and Honeymaren propose that the physical territories of what are currently known as the Kingdom of Arendelle and Northuldra each be reorganised as “Geographically Autonomous Lands” (GAL), both of which remain independent but share one destiny and common interests. Legally, the two GALs of Northuldra-Arendelle will not constitute provincialism, federalism, or unionism. Each GAL will chart their own way, but with the assurance of each other’s protection and assistance. This proposed arrangement is geared towards maximising both sovereignty while binding both closer together.

9. This bold yet practical proposal offers to both Arendellian and Northuldran peoples a unique partnership that reflects the special relationship between sister-queens Anna and Elsa. Her Majesty and Maren urge that this bill be passed so that the government can move quickly on the work of serving the people.

Put forward in this session of parliament, on this day of our Lord, 1842.

Signed and sealed, HM Queen Anna

Three Fiefs in a Kingdom: A Guide to Arendelle’s Newspaper Empires

As you might have heard from the local gossip, there was a bit of a verbal confrontation at the Nokk Club. The kingdom’s only private ladies’ and gentlemen’s haunt, the Club isn’t a place for the stuffy jarldom or even the royal family. This is where Arendelle’s ascendant captains of industry, managerial and professional classes, and politicians and journalists congregate.

It was our usual inter-outlet meeting, where we debate and negotiate how we’ll frame the news and stake out our territory. My fellow press barons and I got a bit more heated than usual about Queen Anna, probably due to her recent political accomplishments. It climaxed with the owner of the Snow Herald throwing a bottle of fine aged wine against the wall, screaming an obscenity against Her Majesty. Meanwhile, the proprietor of the Fjord Times threatened to sic thugs on me to rough me up a bit. I guess I also floated the idea of sending reporters to rummage through her garbage. Not exactly our most noble moment of journalism.

You might be surprised at how high the stakes are in our small kingdom. In this editorial, I want to come clean and tell you all about Arendelle’s newspapers, from our constituents and readership to our power base and beliefs.

Continue reading “Three Fiefs in a Kingdom: A Guide to Arendelle’s Newspaper Empires” →

The Fall of a Jarl

I hadn’t been inside Arendelle Chapel since Anna’s coronation, and Elsa’s before that. I made my way to the empty pews, passing under the yawning wooden beams that had seen generations of the royal family crowned all the way back to that mistiest of eras, the Viking Age. My finger lightly trailed along the seats’ frames, my bloodstone signet ring gleaming in the afternoon light.

Sitting by the front pew was a hefty, suited gentleman with a generous red beard. He looked straight ahead, avoiding my gaze.

“Interesting choice of a private rendezvous, Jarl Volker,” I said, sitting down in the row behind him. My voice was a murmur, but I didn’t hide the sneer in it. “You could have just asked me to get the Nokk Club’s doorman to let you in.”

“And humiliate myself further, you power-hungry woman?” scoffed Volker. “No thanks.”

I laughed. “When men call me power-hungry, I know I’ve won because they’d never use that as an insult against each other. So, you resigned from your seat in House of Jarls this morning?”

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Anna’s Column: Honeymaren Rising

By HM Queen Anna

Her Majesty’s column is published in both the morning and evening editions of The AG.

You might have heard the news the other day: our Northuldran embassy has finally finished construction! Honeymaren’s moving out of Arendelle castle after several very happy months with me. A while ago, she came to stay with me on Elsa’s recommendation, after I visited Northuldra one starry night to discuss with my sister the future of our two realms. Who better than Honeymaren, Elsa suggested at the time, to help me steer the gradual integration between our mother’s homeland and our father’s kingdom?

The new embassy is a short walk from Oaken’s shop and has a comfortable apartment above its offices, complete with a fireplace and a nice open space for a small dining table and bed. I’ve asked some Northuldran friends to send over some textiles and decorations so that the loft will feel a bit more like home for Maren.

And I’m proud to announce to you that I’ve formally appointed Maren as Head Liaison of Northuldra-Arendelle Relations. She was sworn in by my ministers in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Continue reading “Anna’s Column: Honeymaren Rising” →

Anna, to Victoria (I)

To Your Majesty Queen Victoria,

I should have felt angry when I read what you wrote to me. Your words were the perfect blend of condescension and flippant arrogance. Is this typical of the queens and kings of Albion? You spoke as if I had no choice in the matter of meeting you, despite what was clearly a diplomatic victory for me against Lord Palmerston. What if, perchance, I refused? After all, it is you who suggested this.

I don’t really care if you find me fascinating, just because I gave the East India Company the shellacking it deserved. They attacked private civilian ships from my country. Did your foreign secretary really expect me not to pressure him to punish these pirates-masquerading-as-businessmen? After all, Lord Palmerston assured me that they were not representative of your empire’s military, and therefore their attack did not mean a declaration of war on Arendelle. So who else was supposed to eat humble pie? Surely not you.

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Elsa’s Guest Column: What I Miss About Arendelle

By Elsa

The Snow Queen’s column is published whenever she visits The AG’s newsroom. This piece was published in yesterday’s morning edition of the paper.

“Do I really like living in the wild?”

“Can I get used to being outdoors all the time?

“Doesn’t it get boring, hanging around with animals and spirits?”

These are just some of the well-meaning, good-hearted questions I get when I visit Arendelle on the weekends. Anna says that many Arendellians miss me, and that is very kind of them if they do. If being the monarch of our kingdom was my true place in this world, I would have gladly stayed and taken on all its pressures. It wasn’t simply because I couldn’t take it. Plenty of sovereigns and leaders face backbreaking burdens. That wouldn’t be a sufficient reason to abdicate and pass on the throne to Anna.

Rather, the throne quite literally was not for me. My place as Snow Queen was elsewhere, up north with the tribes of Yelena, and with Bruni and Gale and the others.

So, to be as honest to the readers of this newspaper as possible: there isn’t much I miss about being ruler of Arendelle. What I do miss are certain… sights. Sounds. Smells.

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Stop the Slander Against Elsa!

By Alan (@Arenalan)

Alan Nadeau III is one of Arendelle’s citizens, a member of the Order of the Wheat Stalk, and a staunch supporter of Elsa and Anna and others involved with Arendelle, including aligned kingdoms. This is his opinion on the slander being directed towards Elsa and Northuldra’s influence on Anna and Arendelle.

“For too long my sister has borne the brunt of criticism for my frequent presence in Arendelle. It would seem to me that since my transformation, I’ve been looked at with slightly more suspicious eyes in some quarters of government and the press – in particular, those who long for a return of our grandfather’s era, when Northuldra wasn’t so… close to home.” – Queen Elsa, in “Elsa’s Guest Column: Northuldra Joins the Family of Nations”

This is a quote from the Snow Queen, the Fifth Spirit herself, from the opening paragraph of her recent column in The Arendelle Guardian.

“I think the owner and the reporters of this newspaper have grown so hyper-partisan, so fanatical in their devotion to the queen, that they’ve done a lot of damage to the credibility of the kingdom’s Great Assembly. Not everyone has to agree with Her Majesty, and it’s certainly not in The Arendelle Guardian’s business to manipulate the public in her favour. I think your team is doing journalism a disservice.” – Georg, retired

This quote comes from someone via another newspaper, rivals to The Arendelle Guardian. What do these have in common? They both address the same thing: slander. Specifically, the slander being thrown at Elsa and Anna. I’m not going to sugarcoat it; the slander is unnecessary. Quite frankly, it’s a travesty to see people so adamant about this, that people within Anna’s own Assembly want Elsa and Northuldra to not be involved with Arendelle by any means.

Continue reading “Stop the Slander Against Elsa!” →

Letters to the Editor

Recently, Elsa showed me articles from The Arendelle Guardian’s rivals like the Snow Herald and the Fjord Times, which called Queen Anna “a child of Northuldra” like it was a bad thing, an insult. To me, Anna’s real foes are not external challengers or even aggressive empires, but bigoted attitudes lurking within the corridors of Arendellian power. – Yelena of Northuldra, tribal chieftain

Her Majesty was very brave to resist calls within the Great Assembly to keep Arendelle in relative isolation. There is a certain comfort in remaining distant from the conflicts of much larger powers beyond our borders, but everyone can see the world is becoming more and more interconnected and I don’t see how we can do anything except try to engage it. – Aleksander, schoolteacher

I think the owner and the reporters of this newspaper have grown so hyper-partisan, so fanatical in their devotion to the queen, that they’ve done a lot of damage to the credibility of the kingdom’s Great Assembly. Not everyone has to agree with Her Majesty, and it’s certainly not in The Arendelle Guardian’s business to manipulate the public in her favour. I think your team is doing journalism a disservice. – Georg, retired

I am thrilled that Arendelle Plaza is so alive these days. Products from all over the world are being showcased thanks to the Yokohama delegation, from textiles like cotton and silk to spices and peppers. I love looking at good coffee and tea to buy for my wife. I think the queen should make a bigger deal out of this: didn’t the government try to promote our kingdom’s tourism a while ago? – Ugo, train builder

Anna’s Column: My Meeting with the British Foreign Secretary

By HM Queen Anna

Her Majesty’s column is published exclusively by The AG. This piece was reprinted from our last morning edition.

Well, after many days of Viscount Palmerston long overstaying his welcome at the palace, I’m pleased to tell you that I signed with him a concordat.

There will be no war with the British Empire, and nor will either country be seen to be the loser. I successfully convinced him to make an example of the East India Company for their attack on our Bjorgman House ships – it was quite a gamble! I’m still new to this diplomacy thing, but what I needed to do was convince him that Arendelle and Britain have no reason to go to war, but every reason to punish the EIC.

I was armed with plenty of news reports, many of them supplied by journalists employed at this very paper, of the EIC’s corruption, greed, and venality in the princely states of India – that they were brutalizing the local population, sucking up British government subsidies, and paying little to no taxes to the state coffers. Honestly, I don’t think the British foreign secretary cared a jot about the first matter, but the other two, very much so.

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Anna’s Column: Is Hans Working with the British Empire?

Featured image art by Iceburns, at: https://iceburns-manri.tumblr.com/post/143427181824/i-hate-you-so-much

By HM Queen Anna

Her Majesty’s personal column is published exclusively by The AG.

Let me confess something to you: I’ve been in touch with Hans.

Yes, him. Prince Hans, the piece of crap (I hope my editor will let me print that) who wanted to stage a coup and murder my Elsa, before tricking me into marrying him and becoming King of Arendelle. The only reason why he ever revealed his true evil to me was because I was about to literally die from my frozen heart, and he didn’t see me as useful to his plans anymore. By all rights he should have been locked up, if not worse, by Elsa after I punched him in his smug mug and sent him plunging into Arendelle’s cold sea. We did him a mercy by sending him back home in disgrace.

My spies in the Southern Isles were able to relay to me his abusive childhood and unhappy upbringing, and from then on I did my best to let go of my resentment and vengeance. But no, I didn’t feel sorry for his penance of shovelling horse and ass shit. No personal suffering excuses you to become a psychopath who lies like second nature and uses and discards people like chattel. Can you imagine if Elsa and I let the losses and tragedies in our lives define us? We’d be the best baddies ever.

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