A/N: I absolutely loved Frozen and didn't want it to end. So here's my attempt at a sequel. Also the standard disclaimers apply; I don't own Frozen, or Disney. I don't have a lawyer so please don't sue me.
Apologies for my first wonky upload which put all the content in bold. Have re-uploaded and hope it reads better now. Thanks for the reviews, favs and follows. Merry Christmas everyone.
Party Preparations
"And if you would just sign here, Your Majesty… and here, and here and finally here."
Queen Elsa of Arendelle groaned inwardly as she plied the pen. Being queen had its charms, but paperwork wasn't one of them. And planning the party to celebrate her one year reign was throwing up more headaches than it seemed worth.
"Done. Thank you, Your Majesty," William bowed low. Elsa smiled at the middle-aged, slightly obese man who had been of immense help to her. As her assistant, he took care of the day to day matters that she had to attend to and Elsa knew that without him she would soon have been swamped.
"The caterers will be here shortly, Your Majesty," William continued, "and the decorators at five."
Elsa nodded, her eyes drawn to the sunlight streaming through the window. It was a beautiful day in July but apparently she would not have a chance to enjoy it. It was just past two in the afternoon and a gentle breeze was blowing, keeping the weather pleasant.
"I'm going to step outside for a few moments, William," she said, coming to a decision, "Call out to me if they get here before I'm back."
"Very well, Your Majesty," William bowed again and left the room. Elsa walked across to the window and looked out over the high gates of the castle at the majestic fjord and the Arendellian landscape. Not for the first time she felt overwhelmed at being responsible for the well-being of so many. Shaking herself, she strolled out into the large outer courtyard and breathed in the fresh, summer air. People bowed and curtsied as she walked around and Elsa graciously acknowledged each one.
Just outside the now permanently open castle gates, she saw a strawberry-blonde girl and a sentient snowman perched on the wall of the bridge that led to the town, skipping stones over the calm waters of the fjord. Elsa almost cried out as the girl nearly unseated herself after a particularly spirited throw. Her younger sister, Anna, had always been the free spirited one, willing to take a chance on anything… and anyone. Elsa half-smiled and half-shuddered at the memory of Hans, Anna's first 'love'. Years of isolation in the castle had made Anna crave the company of someone her age, and the dashing prince from the Southern Isles had seemed perfect. She could remember their excitement as they had come to her asking for her blessing to be married.
Elsa shook her head unconsciously. She had forbidden the banns in no uncertain terms, much to Anna's chagrin. That had resulted in a heated argument and the exposure of Elsa's powers, her ability to control snow and ice. Afraid of hurting others and fearing for her life, she had fled to the North Mountain and built herself an ice palace, resigned to spending the rest of her life alone. And then Anna had come to find her and take her back, and in a moment of terror, she had struck her and frozen her heart. Elsa shuddered again at the thought that she had nearly killed her own sister, and had followed that up by setting a snow monster on her.
The memories were flooding back now. She remembered the two men who had tried to kill her on the orders of the Duke of Wesselton. Elsa shivered as she remembered that she had nearly killed them in a blind rage. Hans had distracted her and saved their lives but she had been captured after nearly having been crushed by an icy chandelier. Returned to Arendelle in chains, she had begun to suspect that something was not quite right about the saintly Hans. Something in his manner had sent up red flags, and she had managed to break free just in time to escape. In her confused and frightened state of mind, a blizzard had descended upon Arendelle. Struggling through the blinding snow, she had been confronted by Hans who had told her that Anna was dead because of her. Overcome with grief, she had collapsed, not noticing that Hans had drawn his sword to kill her. And Anna, weakened by her frozen heart, had come between Hans and her, saving her life. It was to her eternal relief that Anna's act of love had thawed her frozen heart and brought her back to life.
Memories had often chained Elsa to the past, but now she could reflect on happier ones. Of sending Hans back to his brothers in chains and suspending trade operations with the scheming Duke of Wesselton. She remembered the love that the people of Arendelle had showered on her, accepting her powers and supporting her reign as queen. And standing behind her sister, she thought of how happy Anna was now, more than she had ever known her to be.
"Hi," Elsa said, suppressing the urge to call out boo.
Anna spun around and nearly slid off the wall. Elsa lunged forward and grabbed her arm to steady her.
"Must you sit on the wall?" she remonstrated, "You know I'm always afraid you'll fall off."
"And you'll be there to catch me," Anna grinned. Elsa couldn't help but feel flattered. Anna did have the ability to sweet talk people.
"And Olaf's here," Anna continued, "He wouldn't let anything happen to me, either."
"That's right," stated the snowman, "You're safe with me."
Olaf was one of Elsa's snow creations which had come alive; an ability that Elsa had not known she had until she had seen Olaf stroll into her ice palace. The courageous and endearing little snowman had made such an impression on the sisters that Elsa had created a personal snow flurry to keep him alive through the sunny summer months.
"So how's the planning coming?" Anna enquired. Elsa sighed dramatically. "That bad, huh?" Anna continued, giggling.
"You're going to be there when the decorators come, right?" Elsa pleaded. She didn't think she could have another conversation about flower and colour combinations without some sisterly support.
"Yup, they're coming at five, aren't they?"
"Yes, I wish you'd come in to meet the caterers too."
"Hey, if you want every dish at the party to be chocolate, then I'll come," Anna warned her, "Besides you've got Gustav to help you." Gustav was the head-chef at the castle, a brilliant but temperamental genius with food.
"You never know with Gustav," Elsa mused, "If he's in one of his moods, we might end up with lutefisk on the menu. Remember your birthday?"
"Ugh…how could I forget," Anna replied, shuddering at the thought of the indigestible birthday meal she'd had to struggle through.
"Hmm… anyway, I think he's going to be ok this time. I hear he's met someone recently who has considerably improved his general outlook on life," Elsa said, and then stopped short. Anna wasn't listening, and her drumming fingers and quick glances out into the distance were only too obvious. Elsa smiled at just how transparent her sister was.
"Sooo… what are you planning to do till five?" Elsa asked, attempting to seem uninterested.
"Hmmm… oh, I thought I'd roam around. You know, go out into the forest, shoot the breeze, you know…" Anna was babbling now.
"Well, alright," Elsa cut in, as Anna signaled for her horse, "Just make sure you're back at four thirty."
"Oh sure, I'm not going too far, I'll be back. You don't have to worry. Four thirty on the dot," Anna continued gabbling as her horse was brought out, "Come on, Olaf."
'I'm comin'," the snowman said as he swung himself on behind Anna.
"And say hi to Kristoff and Sven for me," Elsa called with a twinkle as Anna began to ride off.
"Who? Oh yeah, sure… If I see them," Anna shot back, a red flush spreading across her cheeks.
Elsa shook her head, smiling as she watched her sister ride off. Anna was trying so hard to prove that she was not going to make the same mistake with Hans, and she was failing so miserably. She just couldn't disguise how much she cared for Kristoff. Elsa was glad that Kristoff genuinely reciprocated her feelings. She didn't want Anna to be hurt again. Satisfied that her sister would be in safe hands, Elsa turned back to the castle.