"What do you think she's like?" Anna bounced on her heels as the ship came into view. It wasn't often that they got new staff for the castle, let alone one with a royal recommendation.
Kristoff pulled out a letter and looked it over. The script was flowey and described Cassandra as studious and skilled in court manners, as well as skilled with sword and defense. "I can't tell if she's supposed to be a Lady in Waiting or a personal bodyguard."
"Both." Anna started to bounce faster.
Flipping the letter over, Kristoff noticed different handwriting, much messier, "She's apparently and I quote, 'A really nice person for a she-devil with a sword'.'"
"I think I like her already." Anna clasped her hands behind her back as she waited impatiently for the ship to dock. It wasn't so bad, she liked watching the sailors work.
Once the ship was tied off, the gangplank lowered and they were greeted with their first look at Elsa's new Lady in Waiting.
She was dressed in a nice tunic and pants, and had shoulder length brown hair, and her expression was unguarded, as though her thoughts were very far away. Anna figured she must be a little homesick. She knew she would be. "Cassandra!"
She waved enthusiastically, "Over here! Hi! I'm Anna, this is Kristoff. You can call me Princess. I mean, Anna, call me Anna. You're pretty."
Kristoff put his hand on Anna's shoulder. "Reel it in."
"Right." Anna jumped up the gangplank and held out her hand.
Cassandra took it, smiling easily, "Princess Anna, it's nice to meet you. I wasn't expecting a royal welcome. It reminds me a little of..."
Her expression faltered, and then she seemed to close up. "Thank you."
Anna glanced at Kristoff, then back to Cassandra. "Well. Okay. Let's give you a quick tour of the town and then on to the castle, all right?"
"Sounds good."
Leading the way, Anna pointed towards part of the dock. "That's where I punched Prince Hans. They won't let me put up a statue. Something about it being a waste of money. Pfft."
When Raps and Eugene had a kid eventually, Cassandra was positive Anna would be the result. "They're big on statues in Corona."
"Hear that, Kristoff? They're big on statues in Corona," Anna said, smugly. "I'm gonna use that argument next time. Nothing gets things done like competition!"
She turned back to Cassandra, "Anyway, you're almost in time for winter, I hope you like snow!"
"I'm used to a little snow," Cass assured them. "It doesn't bother me."
Anna waved her hand dismissively, "You're so cute. A little snow."
"You'd think with an Ice Queen we'd have calmer winters," Kristoff remarked.
"She makes ice and snow, she can't control the weather. I think." Anna shrugged, grabbing both their hands and dragging them into the town proper. "Besides, it's probably a bad idea to mess with the weather too much. What if it affected like, the harvest?"
What, she'd totally been paying attention to the advisors when they talked about the state of the country.
"Magic is tricky," Cass said. "Sometimes what seems like a good idea ends up having consequences."
"Kind of that way with everything," Kristoff agreed. Life was much simpler when everyone slowed down and calmed down and thought before they did it. Whatever the it might happen to be.
"Hello!"
Something grabbed Cass's hand, and she looked down, expecting a child. Instead of a child it was a snowman. Honestly, not even in the top ten weirdest things so she didn't miss a beat, "Hello."
"I'm Olaf, and you are…?"
"Cassandra. I'm Queen Elsa's new Lady in Waiting."
"What are you waiting for?"
"It's just a title." She glanced up at Anna and Kristoff, then back to Olaf. "It means I help her out. Everything from getting dressed in the morning to offering advice at court."
"Why?"
"Even a Queen needs some help now and again."
Olaf stared at her for a long moment. "Okay!" He started to walk off towards the castle, commenting, "I'm gonna be a snowman in waiting."
"You kinda look a lot less freaked out than I figured," Anna said, looking Cassandra over with a mix of confusion and respect. "Like most people at least jump a little when he starts talking."
"My last job involved chasing around a girl with glowing magical hair," Cassandra deadpanned. " A talking snowman is nothing."
She rubbed her arm, then took a breath. "I'm ready to see the castle, Princess."
"Okay! Great! This is gonna be great! You know, maybe I should get a Lady in Waiting." Anna started to walk, then slowed down so the other two could keep up. "But I mean, do I need one? I don't even know. It's not like I'm gonna rule the kingdom or something. My kids won't even, unless Elsa like, doesn't have any. Which is honestly a kind of a possibility."
She glanced back at Cassandra and flushed. "Uh, sorry, I get..I start talking and then the words keep coming and I don't stop and really you could just tell me to stop at any time and I meant to ask, and you don't have to answer but I'm dying to know why did you come to Arendelle?"
"Honey?"
"Yes?"
Kristoff gestured towards his chest, "Remember to breathe when talking."
"Right. Got it!"
A pained expression crossed Cassandra's face for a split second before she replied, "I needed a change."
"Well, moving from Princess to a Queen is definitely a promotion!" Anna turned around and started to walk backwards. "I'm sure you'll fit in. And just wait until you meet my sister! She's really nice, especially when you get her to warm up to you."
"Does she warm up to strangers?"
"Kinda? If you ask me, she's still worried about her powers, but she's gotten a lot better at using them and a lot more relaxed than she used to be. She was so uptight."
"You should have seen how overboard she went for Anna's birthday," Kristoff said. "Made herself sick in the process."
"It sounds like she really cares. Raps— Princess Rapunzel would do something like that. Make herself sick for someone she cared about."
Anna darted her eyes, but didn't call attention to Cassandra's slip. Go her! "You just described Elsa and me and Kristoff."
"Sounds great, I'm going to have my hands full with all of you."
Kristoff smiled, "Yep."
"Oh!" Anna grabbed Cassandra's hand again. "You've gotta meet Sven!"