Disclaimer: I don't own Frozen
Rating: for implied adult situations.
A/n: I saw a blog post a while ago - I don't recall whose blog - asking why, if Elsa is paired with a woman in a fic, that woman is almost never an OC (usually it's Anna but if not, it's often another Disney woman), when there are a lot of Elsa/Male OC fics. I started wondering how hard it would be to do an Elsa/Female OC fic. Then, because I apparently like to challenge myself for no explicable reason, I decided the story had to be told through alphabetical prompts and interludes. Every prompt except apathy was picked randomly (it originally wasn't going to be random but I got as far as Apathy before changing my mind) and every segment features the prompt word at least once, except for R. Then I decided I might as well put the result up because why not? I mean, by doing an ElsaxOC fic, I've pretty much guaranteed myself no readers and thus no flaming. Genius! There are three chapters which I'll try to update every 1-3 days. Hope you read and enjoy.
The Alphabet Story
Interval I – Prelude
Elsa has rarely had the feeling of doing something that feels so right and natural before. But standing here under the stars, with soft lips parting hers and fingers tangled in hair, she starts to realise why other people do this. Why wars have been fought and lost for this.
But this isn't the beginning of the story, and all stories must begin somewhere.
Apathy
In the weeks after the Great Thaw, Elsa focuses on two things: (a) restoring Arendelle to economic stability without causing any more damage; and (b) rekindling her relationship with Anna. She's never been one to shy from a challenge, and certainly not from duty, but it's difficult. People want quick and easy fixes; there are gaps between her and Anna that may never be filled. On some days, she convinces herself that nothing will ever be fixed and that it's her fault. Those are the days which bring Anna closer to her but push her further from Arendelle.
One day – one of her good days – maybe four or five months after the Great Thaw, she receives a missive from a nearby country asking if she would be open to negotiating a betrothal with one of their princes. She considers accepting but it's too early to bring in an unknown factor. Certainly not after Hans. So with a confidence that she's only now beginning discovering she has, she tells her ministers that and writes the refusal herself.
When she tells Anna about it, Anna says, "Good for you. You don't need a man in here telling you what to do!" She pauses before grinning at Elsa. "But didn't you at least wanna meet him? You know, to see if he's cute?"
"I wouldn't want to give in to temptation," Elsa says but it feels hollow. The truth is that until this letter, she's not thought about the possibility of marriage – and she can't summon up any excitement now that she is thinking about it. Not even after seeing how happy Anna is with Kristoff. The thought of tethering herself to a man, discussing everything with him, feeling all of that just doesn't feel right. She thinks that the feeling might be what scares her the most – she can love Anna easily because everything she's done, she's done for Anna. But the kind of love that marriage requires just seems too much…
Anyway. That's probably another thing she quashed growing up. One day, she'll have to be rid of this apathy, the same way she's had to rid herself of apathy in other areas. But slowly. Carefully. That's how she's taking each day and it's not as though she doesn't have time.
Beholder
But as time goes on, she starts to think that maybe it would be nice to have someone to team up with. Someone to hold her and tell her she's beautiful. Someone to laugh or argue with, to be loud when she is quiet and silly when she is sensible. Someone who would make her happy. Someone she could grow old with.
She receives her share of proposals, of course. Her advisers start to suggest she meet the young men. She could cement alliances they say, but she can hear in some of their voices that they think it might bring her happiness. For that, she loves them.
With her own curiosity pushing her, she starts to look into the matter but slowly, carefully. She meets young men in the form of nobles and princes and servants and soldiers. She eats with them, talks with them, dances with them. She laughs and walks with them. She asks them questions and nods at their answers.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder but her eye must be broken because she sees men who are tall and striking; small and spindly; fat; thin; handsome; ugly; men who make her laugh; men who make her angry … but no matter how hard she looks, no matter how much she listens or talks or laughs or just tries, she looks at all of these men and sees … men. No more or less appealing than anyone else.
"I wouldn't worry so much, Elsa," Anna says one evening, in response to the comment Elsa does not make. "You're the kinda person whose husband's gonna be totally unexpected. You don't look for love. It finds you."
It's such a move from the girl who once tried to marry a man she'd just met that Elsa feels herself calming again. Anna's right. She just needs time.
Confident
Frentis and Arendelle exchange diplomats a few years after the Great Thaw as a sign of good future relations. The countries border each other but it's the gesture that counts in politics. Elsa likes the idea, not least because Frentis is one of the few countries who hasn't asked to marry her to someone.
Lord Absalom Laukkanen brings his family with him to their first meeting. They're all to live in Arendelle so she doesn't suppose she minds – she'll have to meet them eventually. His wife, Lady Maja Laukkanen, walks with the same authoritative air as Absalom, which surprises Elsa. Their children are twins, both around Elsa's age. Kedar is tall, with his father's dark hair but his mother's strong chin. When he smiles at her, there is a twinkle in his eyes, and his lips are soft when they kiss the back of her hand.
Kyra is shorter than her brother – maybe a little shorter than Elsa – with black, curling hair falling past her shoulders. Her lips are red and vibrant against pale skin; her brown eyes share her brother's twinkle. When she curtseys – with a certain amount of grace – she does so with a confident smile. Elsa feels her stomach tighten and, for a moment, she loses track of what Absalom is saying.
She's had this feeling once or twice before. A sudden shortness of breath, an intense awareness of how close she is to people, and how she looks. A lack of words. She's never been able to work out what it is. She asked Anna once, safe in the knowledge that Anna will never laugh at Elsa for her questions about feelings, but she only smiled and said, "It sounds like you've got a crush. Who's the lucky guy?"
But there is no lucky guy. Elsa doesn't recall ever connecting this feeling with a man – is sure, in fact, that on one occasion there were no men nearby – so it must be something else. A side-effect, perhaps, of her childhood.
She makes herself focus on Absalom, nodding along. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Kyra smirk and somehow, that makes her smile again. Smirking looks good on Kyra.
Delicacy
At the dinner to welcome the Laukkanen family, she sits next to Absalom all night. He's a serious man and most of their conversation is about his home country, what he hopes to achieve in Arendelle, and what she hopes to achieve in Frentis. When she asks about his family, he makes some suggestion that he is hoping for his children to marry here, and so cement the bond between their countries further.
Once the food is finished, there is music. Kedar invites her to dance with him. He's a good dancer and easy to talk to, with little of his father's seriousness. She can't help wondering whether Absalom hopes that she will marry him but she's probably reading too much into his dinnertime conversation. She supposes Kedar is handsome, in a way. And nice enough.
After a few more dances (including another with Kedar), she heads to a nearby balcony for some fresh air, only to find there's someone already there. For a few seconds, the sight of Kyra Laukkanen eating krumkake on a balcony during a party is so startling that Elsa can only stare. Kyra pauses mid-chew and then swallows guiltily.
"It's good," she says by way of explanation. Her voice is accented, low and mellow, and it gives Elsa a strange feeling. "Your Majesty," she adds. Then, seemingly remembering herself, she hurriedly stands and curtseys. Her dress is tight against her, outlining her curves.
"Tha- that's OK," Elsa says, and coughs, fighting an urge to straighten her own dress. "It's a delicacy and, uh, deserves to be eaten." She coughs again. She's gotten over this. She's supposed to be over this. "Lady Laukkanen, may I ask why you're eating krumkake on a balcony by yourself?"
Kyra shivers. "Please, just call me Kyra. I'm no lady. Uh, your Majesty." She smiles that confident smile from their first meeting but there's a tinge of unease. "I suppose because I've never had the chance to eat krumkake on a castle balcony under the stars before."
Elsa blinks. "I guess I can see that," she says slowly, "but surely there are a lot of things you haven't done on a castle balcony before that you aren't doing now?"
"True," Kyra says, and takes a final bite of krumkake. "But who says I'm notabout to do them?"
"You'd really rather sit on a balcony than attend a dance that's being held in your honour?"
She's asking out of genuine curiosity but Kyra flinches and swallows. "I'm sorry, your Majesty," she says and the confidence slips from her smile. "I'm being terribly rude." She glances at the ballroom. "The truth is that if I go in there now, a few men will ask me to dance out of politeness to you or my father, not because it's me. After tonight…" She shrugs. "These events are boring when all you do is sit at the side and watch. I thought I'd get it out of the way now."
Elsa stares at her for a few seconds. "You're not hoping to follow your father into diplomacy, are you?"
"No," Kyra says and then grins. It still has that tint of uneasiness. "I know: I'd be terrible at it. Kedar always says that." She pauses. "You, uh, you don't really care, do you? Your Majesty. I'm sorry, I-"
Elsa holds one hand up. "You might as well call me Elsa," she says. "Otherwise all of our conversations will stop every few minutes when you forget I'm the Queen."
"Sorry. I … you caught me off guard, your … uh, Elsa."
"That's OK." She looks at Kyra and smiles. The more she speaks to her, the more she likes her. "Have you met my sister and her betrothed? I think you'd get on." Seeing Kyra's quizzical look, she explains, "My sister tends to speak without thinking while her betrothed hates formal events. In fact, I believe it's his mother's birthday for the second time this year, and that's why he isn't here."
Kyra laughs. It's full and throaty, a proper laugh from the diaphragm, and Elsa loves it. "I'll have to remember that … uh, at an event that isn't being hosted by you, of course."
"It's my country. I think they're all indirectly hosted by me."
"Even any which are about overthrowing you?" When Elsa stares, Kyra blinks. "That, uh … that wasn't a declaration of war." She looks at her hands. "My father is going to kill me if I've just declared war on Arendelle."
"It's OK. I'll accept your unconditional surrender."
"I can't surrender either. My mother will kill me if I start a war and then lose it."
Elsa laughs again. She can't help it – there's something about Kyra that's just inherently likeable, she thinks. Maybe it's her complete lack of tact, or the way she smiles, or just how friendly and familiar she sounds. Maybe it's how Elsa hasn't nearly made ice or snow, or how she's not usually so calm and relaxed around strangers this quickly. Well, almost calm and relaxed anyway.
She should go back in but Kyra gives her a crooked grin and she tells herself, just five more minutes.
Anna finds her an hour and a half later and drags her by her arm back into the hall, shouting an apology at Kyra. Apparently everyone's been waiting for Elsa to give the closing speech for forty minutes.
Existent
"You're quiet today. Quieter than usual. I mean, that's not hard, 'cause it's you. Not that you're not, you know, chatty, but…"
"Just thinking."
"Is he handsome?"
"Who?"
"The man you're thinking about?"
"I'm not thinking about a man."
"Uh huh, sure. The wall's just that wonderful." Anna pushes Elsa's shoulder gently. "I bet it's Kedar Laukkanen. You're always together at parties and stuff and he always asks you to dance first. And you spend loads of time talking to him, even if his sister is usually hanging around." When Elsa doesn't reply, Anna says, "It's not a bad thing, you know. If he makes you feel alive and happy then you should spend time with him. He's not bad looking either."
Elsa smiles because she doesn't want to tell Anna the truth. She does like Kedar. But she doesn't know that she always feels alive with him. A lot of the time, she feels more … existent.
No, that's too harsh. She feels happy with him. He makes her laugh and he's nice. And sometimes she does have that alive feeling but only when Kyra is there. There's just something about Kyra that makes her want to-
"Either way," Elsa says, still smiling, trying to push that thought out of her mind, "I was thinking about something else."
"A part of Kedar?"
"Oh, shut up," Elsa says, and lightly shoves Anna.
Fighting
She is walking through the city with Anna, Kristoff and what feels like half of the Arendelle army – which is ridiculous because she's already proven she could kill the entire country if she feels like it (Anna freezing, people dying, and she can only be this humorously angry about it when it's daylight and she can easily distract herself) – when they hear the commotion. Everyone moves out of their way as they march forwards.
Two men are fighting. As Elsa arrives, a guard grabs one of the men and restrains him. The other man looks as though he may lunge anyway.
"What is going on here?" Elsa asks in that cold voice she's used so rarely since she was twenty-one. People turn to look at her. "Can someone please explain why two men are brawling like children?"
She assumes like children anyway. It's not as though she's had many to watch.
It turns out the fight was about one man feeling cheated about a trade of something or other for a substance that is illegal, but commonly used. When she points out that it's illegal, the man actually blushes. She orders them both to be taken to the cells to cool down and be dealt with in accordance with the law, stuffing her hands behind her back because the skin on her palms is at that worrying temperature that means she's on the verge of making ice.
As the crowd disperses, a young man and woman approach her. The soldiers hesitate before letting them through. The man bows and the woman curtseys.
"Hello, your Majesty," Kedar says in his amused, easy-going drawl. Kyra said once that if Kedar were any more laidback, he would be almost horizontal. Kyra doesn't view herself as laidback, but she is. Just not in the same way he is. "Does that sort of thing happen often to you?"
When she looks at him, she sees that he's grinning in the same way his sister is, although it looks a little goofy on him. But then, most things look better on Kyra. "Occasionally," she says, which is true. She'd much rather not intervene in fights if she can help it. She doesn't want people to associate her with violence. "What brings you two out here?"
Kedar shrugs. "We wanted to look around properly. You get a feel for a city when you walk around it yourself, don't you think?"
She has no idea. The only times she's been to other cities, she's been accompanied.
"What Kedar means," Kyra says, "is that our mother told us to make friends with Baron Anker but Kedar finds him boring and he wants to kiss me so we ran for it."
"Kyra," Kedar says, looking sharply at his sister. Then he shrugs and smiles. "Actually, she's right. Unless you're fond of Baron Anker, in which case she isn't."
Elsa laughs. She's spent a lot of time with Kedar and Kyra – more than she would normally spend with any noble – but it's partly because she likes them. They're friendly and funny. She knows that Kedar sometimes assists his father with managing their land in Frentis and is actually quite studious when it comes to it. Kyra is learning to be a lady which, in her words, involves a lot of sitting around, stumbling over her own feet and then sneaking off to help her brother. Kyra is the more serious – and cynical – of the two, except when it comes to decorum. Kedar tends to speak as though he's hiding something that amuses him whereas Kyra's just blunt. It's often easier to speak to Kyra – at least you know where you are with her and she's someone who doesn't always need to fill silence. Someone you can be comfortable with.
"I don't dislike Baron Anker," Elsa says, "but I won't hold it against you."
She wants to ask about Baron Anker kissing Kyra but she can't think of a subtle way to do it. It isn't her business anyway.
"So," Kedar says, "why are your hands behind your back?"
She'd forgotten about that but now that he's called attention to it she can feel ice play over her hands. She entwines her fingers together, forcing herself to be normal. When a small hand slips onto her shoulder, she looks gratefully at her sister. Anna always, always knows how to calm Elsa. Sometimes, it feels as though the thirteen years of isolation never happened.
Kyra sticks her own hands behind her back. "It feels quite comfortable actually. Makes you look regal too. Probably a good effect if you want to stop fights."
Kyra is looking directly at Elsa as Kedar says, "It does feel quite comfy. Although I feel like a bird."
Anna laughs but when Elsa looks at her, she is watching Elsa with concerned eyes. She tilts her head a fraction, and Elsa nods. She places her arms by her side and Anna relaxes slightly.
Sometimes, it hurts to see Anna acting so seriously and grown-up.
"We should get going," Kristoff says, "unless you're all planning on flying away?" Anna shoves him as Elsa smiles, but she feels a pang of disappointment. She likes talking to Kyra and Kedar. They're two of the only people she knows who don't treat her like the Queen.
"Yeah, c'mon Elsa."
"Coming. It was lovely to see both of you," she says to Kyra and Kedar, and starts to walk before anyone can say anything to tempt her to stay.
Gravy
Lady Maja Laukkanen celebrates her birthday four and a half months after the Laukkanens arrive in Arendelle. Naturally, Elsa is invited to the party, and naturally she accepts, lest she offend Frentis.
She is given a place at the Laukkanen's table between Kedar and Absalom. Kyra sits further down the table, next to Baron Anker. Kyra sees her watching and pulls a face when Baron Anker isn't looking, making Elsa grin.
The evening passes pleasantly enough – Absalom is still strict and a little humourless but he's nice enough. He seems content to let Kedar talk to her, which she prefers, although it's not quite the same without Kyra. Without Kyra, Kedar is mainly good humour and charming comments.
During the main course, Elsa accidentally knocks gravy onto her dress. Excusing herself from the table, she heads to the nearest lavatory to wipe it off, secretly wishing she had chosen to wear an ice dress. After a few minutes of wiping, the door opens. She turns to see Kyra with her jaw clenched and eyes angry.
"Kyra?"
Kyra whirls and, after a few seconds, relaxes. Her dress is bright white, a sharp contrast to her hair, which still cascades down her shoulders, curls spilling over seams. Elsa can just about catch a trace of perfume.
"Hi, Elsa."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Kyra pauses. "If I were to murder Baron Anker, what would happen to me?"
"That's an interesting question actually. You're the daughter of a diplomat. Your father would have diplomatic immunity, so all I could do is expel him, but the question is whether you're also here in a diplomatic capacity. I suppose…" She pauses when she sees Kyra's expression. "That was a hypothetical question, wasn't it?"
"No, no, I really am planning to murder one of your nobles and thought the best way to go about it would be to confess to you." Her eyes are laughing. Elsa likes that about her, likes how casual Kyra is with her, despite the difference in rank. Even Kedar can't manage that. "I take it your advice is not to do it?"
"I'd rather you didn't, yes."
Kyra nods and goes to splash some water on her face. She brushes by Elsa as she does so, fingertips lightly tracing a brief path over Elsa's wrist. Elsa doesn't jump but only through sheer self-control. Kyra's done this a few times over the last few weeks – occasionally even patting Elsa's arm or shoulder – and Elsa's only accidentally iced something twice.
Kedar sometimes escorts Elsa somewhere, arm in arm, and Elsa's not nearly iced anything.
"He just … I know Mother thinks he'd be a good match for me but Kedar's right. He's so boring. And … I don't know. I just don't … feel anything, you know?" She sighs, something Kyra rarely does. "Ignore me. I'm being difficult. I'm always difficult. That's what my mother says."
"Difficult?"
"I antagonise all of the young men my parents bring to court me, apparently. I'm too cheeky and not demure, and Kedar encourages me too much. I should sit still, learn to sew and shut up."
"But that's not you at all," Elsa says, trying desperately to think of words to cheer her up. She needs Anna. Anna's good at things like that.
"I know," Kyra says. "That's the problem." But she's smiling now and Elsa's heart lifts slightly. Kyra looks best when she smiles.
"I mean you're fine as you are. Great. I like you because you're you."
Kyra laughs now. "You sound like your sister. But she's always saying what she thinks so I'll take it as a compliment." As Elsa blushes, Kyra adds, "You're lucky, you know, getting to pick your husband. And not that I'm saying anything, but you do spend a lot of time with my brother – he'd be happy to let you be you. He hasn't got enough mean in him to do anything else."
"I don't spend that much time with him."
"More than you spend with our father."
"Well, yes, but you're usually there as well. I just like both of your company. In fact, I probably spend more time with you than I do with Kedar."
Kyra starts to smirk then pauses. After a few seconds, she says, "You and he don't do much alone?" Before Elsa can respond, she says, "I suppose it wouldn't be proper." She grins but this one has more uneasiness than confidence. "Maybe I'm too good at being a chaperone."
Elsa doesn't know how to respond to that. Kedar is attempting to court her although she doesn't think she likes him that way. Maybe she's expecting too much from this. She has to like at least one of the men she meets otherwise … otherwise …anyway, why can't it be Kedar?
It would mean you'd still see Kyra, a little voice whispers to her, but that's not a good reason.
"Can't you tell your mother that Baron Anker is boring?" she says, trying to banish those thoughts. "We have more interesting men in Arendelle. Viscount Semund can be quite amusing, you know. Or I could ask Anna to look. She and Kristoff have a habit of meeting all kinds of unusual people."
"I could tell her but … could you help me maybe? Think of the words to say to her? You're better at stuff like that than I am."
"Nearest balcony during the dancing? I think Olaf might be guarding it for us."
Kyra smiles. "You know me too well." She suddenly wraps her arms around Elsa. "Thanks, Elsa."
Elsa hesitantly wraps her own arms around Kyra. She's not as skinny as Elsa thought she was – in fact, there's a nice fullness to her body – and her hair has a pleasantly smoky smell. She should say something like you're welcome but all she can think is that Kyra is still holding her and if she were to move her hands lower-
"Hey, Elsa, are you ever … hi, guys." She and Kyra spring apart as Anna walks in. Anna gives them an odd look. "Kyra's father was wondering if you were OK. Oh, and Baron Anker's wondering if you're OK, Kyra. So I got sent to look for both of you as I'm a common link apparently, whatever that means." She pauses. "Was I, uh, interrupting something?"
Elsa glances at Kyra, whose cheeks are oddly flushed. "No," she says in as non-strangled a voice as she can manage. "We lost track of time. I'm coming."
Heavyset
They are sitting together in one of the gardens one evening, watching the sunset, when Kyra suddenly says, "So what kind of man do you like, if not my brother?"
"I didn't say I don't like your brother," Elsa says. In fact, she's spending more time with him these days. She knows the rumours going around but hasn't done much to discourage them. There are worse people to marry than Kedar Laukkanen – it would finalise a strong alliance, apart from anything else. And she must like him. He looks good, he's funny, he's smart, he's nice, he's charming. She likes being with him so what else is she expecting?
(Sparks, a part of her whispers, warmth when he brushes by you. Like when-)
"Good luck trying to find out," Anna – who has joined them – says. "I've been trying for years."
"I bet I can guess," Kyra says. She peers at Elsa, who tries not to blush. "Big, muscly, heavyset. Am I right?"
Anna snorts. "Wrong sister. That's blatantly me. Have you seen Kristoff?"
"I don't think we want to know how much of Kristoff you've seen," Elsa says sternly. Anna only laughs and rests a head on Elsa's shoulder. It's moments like these that make Elsa think she and Anna have come a long way in three and a half years.
"It's a pity Kristoff doesn't have any human siblings," Anna muses.
"Human?"
"Long story."
"OK." Kyra looks at Elsa. "You still haven't answered, you know."
"I'm the Queen. I don't have to." Kyra looks a little hurt and Elsa feels guilty. By now, it's well known that Kyra is one of Elsa's favoured nobles – despite being the daughter of a foreign diplomat – but people don't know how close they have become. Elsa sometimes wonders if they're only this close because she's the first person outside Anna and Kristoff to like her for her. "I don't know," she says. "Slim, maybe. Definitely not big and strong – muscles make me think of being crushed. And graceful, I guess with dark hair and…" She cuts herself off because the image in her head that she's describing, rather weirdly, is-
"So you do like my brother."
She blinks. Everything she's said does describe Kedar. "Oh. Um … wait, I never said I didn't."
Anna only stares at Kyra. "How'd you do that? I've been trying for years. You've gotta tell me your secrets. Or maybe Elsa loves you more than me."
Elsa nearly chokes on that but Kyra only laughs and says, "You just need to have no tact whatsoever. I don't know why but that works wonders on your sister." She leans over and ruffles Elsa's hair, letting her hand trail down Elsa's back which makes not choking even harder.
"But I don't have any tact," Anna says, oblivious to Elsa's choking problems.
"It's true," Elsa gets out, feeling absurdly pleased that she managed it. Anna pretends to hit her, before tickling her. Soon enough, they're all laughing and the conversation is forgotten.
Indecent
Kedar invites her to walk with him one evening. Their conversation is light and easy, although he seems nervous about something. Unusually so for him – when Kyra isn't around, he becomes even less sensible than usual.
They are talking about his family's life in Arendelle compared to Frentis, when he says, "Kyra's much happier here. But I worry about her."
"Why?" she asks, startled, because Kedar does not worry about much at all.
He seems to be considering whether to say anything.
"Because she's fallen in love."
It takes all of her self-control not to freeze something. She can feel ice building at her fingertips and clenches her fists as she says, in as neutral a voice as she can manage, "Has she? She's not said anything to me. So, who is the lucky man? It's not Baron Anker, is it?"
Kedar's lips quirk for a second. "She hasn't told me either but I can tell. We are twins. As for who she's in love with … I don't think I can say. But it won't end well." His expression turns unusually serious. "I suppose it would make her happy though."
Elsa doesn't know what to say, though she's almost burning with her questions. Should she confront Kyra the next time they meet? But if Kyra wanted her to know, surely she would have said?
Kedar changes the subject and for an hour or so, she thinks that's the end of that. But as they reach the top of the hill they've been climbing, he says, "You know, I've never had any luck with women."
She frowns. "Oh. I'm, um, sorry to hear that."
He's looking into the distance rather than at her. "Either I fall hard for them and they break my heart in cruel ways or … I just don't like them that much. Usually the former. My parents tell me I'm too nice and that I expect too. But I want to marry someone I love, and someone who loves me. It's not too much to ask, is it?"
"I suppose not. If your parents are happy with it … well. I don't know. I have … I should marry for Arendelle so…" She shrugs. "I suppose it's a freedom I don't have. But Anna has that freedom so why shouldn't you?"
He smiles. "See, this is exactly why you're my kind of queen."
"Were you on good terms with the Frentish queen?"
He laughs. "No." He looks at her for a few seconds and then says, "But I've gotten pretty good at working things out and … I don't think we should court."
"What?"
He looks at her, and there's none of his easy-going humour in his face. "I think you're great but you don't feel the same about me, do you?"
"That's not true," she says immediately. "I like you. You're kind, you're funny, you're-"
"Not the person you have feelings for. That's someone else."
"Like who? I've barely seen any other men except you outside an official context," she says, though her heart begins to hammer. He can't possibly know… There's nothing to know… He's just-
"Maybe a better way to put it is: if we got married, would it just be because we'd make a good alliance and I'm tolerable?"
"Kedar-"
He nods. "I'm sorry, Elsa but I … I don't want both of us to be miserable, pretending we're more than friends. Pretending you don't want someone else. I have the freedom to choose, even if you don't."
"Kedar, I don't-"
"Really?"
They lock eyes. She should say yes.
He nods again. "Well, now that I've offended you by breaking off this courtship, do I get executed?" Now some of his smile creeps onto his face. "Could it be by being turned into a snowman? I kind of envy Olaf, you know."
She snorts, despite herself. "Well, that escalated quickly. No, no executions for me. Thank you for being so honest with me." She feels like she should say more but she doesn't know what. If she felt something more than alarm, maybe she'd know what to say. Why doesn't she feel anything more? "I don't know that we ever were really courting so I don't know that we need to announce it."
"Speak for yourself – I have to tell my parents. My mother will be so upset – she really wanted me to marry you."
"I should probably mention it to Anna."
"We can swap if you want."
She's heard plenty of things about Maja Laukkanen but has only had a handful of conversations with her. "No, thanks. Anna's easier to deal with."
"Thought so." He stretches and looks around. "Guess I should be going. I … we can still be friends, can't we? Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think you're heartbroken about this."
"I'd like it if we were friends," she says.
"Good. Given how much time you spend with my sister, it would have been awkward." He starts to walk away but then pauses. "El … your Majesty?"
"Hmm?"
"The law on same sex relations here … it's illegal, isn't it?"
"Huh? Yes. Why? Is that the real reason you don't want us to court?"
"No, I just… Hmm." He considers her carefully. "It's not my place to say… But … you might want to bear in mind that it's illegal in Frentis too."
"What? Why?"
He grins slightly. "Like I said, your Majesty. My sister's fallen in love with someone indecent."
And before she can say anything, he walks away.