Chapter One: Queen Elsa
I turn the key in the lock and push open thick door to my new abode. The creaky wooden floor underneath me groans from the force of my few, but fully stocked bags crashing against it. I wince at the noise, but my downstairs neighbors don't seem to mind, at least not too vocally.
The room is decorated with an older, musty couch, a small fireplace sitting under a dusty shelf lined with classic books, and a large oval rug concealing the center of the room. Behind the couch there is my bedroom door, and across from the front door is the bathroom. The kitchen is in the corner, open to the living room. It's small, but it's cheap, and you don't make much renting out books for a living. I shut the door behind me, sliding the chain lock into place before collapsing on the couch.
Even though I had just been sitting on a ship for hours, I feel exhausted. The trip from my home in the sun kingdom to Arendelle takes 5 hours, and those 5 hours were filled with screaming children and apathetic adults. Social contact at the best of times for 5 hours was stretching it, but filling those hours with such insufferable people was torture in the worst form.
Rubbing my aching temples, I sigh into the cushions of my couch. The decision to come to Arendelle came after lots of shouting by parents who don't quite get the concept of "looking for work" and "no positions open". I saw an opening in the castle's private library in the small kingdom of Arendelle, and so I leaped for the opportunity. It isn't the large forum filled with great writers I had originally imagined, but it pays the bills, and as long as it still involves books i'm happy.
The hour of the night was ghastly, and I shut my eyes, wondering if I will make it to the bedroom. The couch seems a better and better option as time drags on, and I reach up to pull a faded quilt from the top of the couch down over my resting form. I curl up to preserve warmth, it's really damn cold in Arendelle, and surrender myself to sleep.
I wake up to sunlight streaming in through the dusty old window in my kitchen. The rays of light are tinted deep orange, and I sigh in relief, realizing it is still early morning. Sorting through my bags i so graciously left on the floor, I pull on some clothing and pocket the small amount of money I have left after purchasing this cramped cluster of rooms I call home. Turning to the exit, I breathe in a lungful of the crisp, cool air you can only find in the mountains, and pull open the door. There is a light layer of snow on the ground outside, unusual for this late in march, and the citizens of Arendelle move hurriedly around their business, seemingly ignorant to the fact that it is hardly more than 6 in the morning. Cheerful smiles shine on their faces, and I wonder what they have to be so happy about at this time of day. If not for work, I would sleep until at least 11, an hour I find acceptable.
Moving forward, I begin my quiet commute toward the towering infrastructure that this town calls a castle. Even though it is much smaller than the one back home in the sun kingdom, the compact buildings in Arendelle give it the illusion of being the largest castle in existence, and it stands guard over the various hamlets dotting the fjord. Ships move in and out of the harbor constantly, and today is no exception. The trade ships unload old goods and load new ones as quick as humanly possible, sailing out in search of profit in far off lands. Ever since the embargo against the kingdom of wesselton, Arendelle has put most of its resources into trading with the sun kingdom, and begrudgingly a few into the southern isles. The profits are enough to keep the kingdom afloat, but certainly not to allow it to prosper.
I find myself at the large, double doors to enter the castle grounds and I knock gently. My gaze drifts upward as I appreciate the towering doors, even if they aren't quite as impressive as the ones back home, they still appear awesome against the cobblestone walls that seem to rise to infinity. The gates are pulled open, and a short, round man ushers me inside.
"Ah, you must be the new librarian! We've been waiting for you, the Queen does enjoy her reading!" The butler says, after introducing himself as Kai. I smile politely at him, and wonder why the queen needs a librarian to get her books for her. What, is she going to be unable to pay late fees to her own library? Wouldn't she just be paying herself? I know better than to voice my remarks, and so I keep quiet, exchanging pleasantries between Kai as we walk down the largely empty corridors of the castle halls.
"...and then I leapt on his back, and we ran down the streets, and Sven raced us at top speed! Kristof almost managed to keep up! Can you believe it?!" A loud, rambling voice exploded into the hall as an animated redhead I can only assume to be princess Anna shoves open a side door with the elegance of a rhino. The other, employed librarians warned me about her when i took this job. She seems amusing to me, a stark contrast to myself. Behind her, another servant, Gerda I believe, smiles broadly and follows the princess's excited gait down the hall. As they pass by us, Anna waves furiously to Kai, and says "Hey!"
Kai smiles back at her, bowing slightly. "My princess"
"Pfft, don't call me that, call me Anna!" She responds, turning and walking backwards at the same speed while talking to Kai. She seems to register that I am here as well, and loudly proclaims, "The new librarian!"
I smile at her and introduce myself as Logan, Anna never slowing down on her journey to who knows where. As she turns the corner out of sight, she shouts "Nice to meet you!", her voice carrying, i'm certain, throughout the entire castle.
The library doors are a welcoming sight as I push my way inside, Kai pointing me in the right direction from down the hall, leaving me to my own devices citing, "Work to do!" With a cheerful wave.
I close the door behind me and stroll over to my desk, taking my seat and leaning back. It's nice to be on my own, where I don't particularly have to worry about Anna bursting in. She doesn't seem the reading type.
Glancing around my new workplace, I spot a beautiful, pale girl relaxing in a wooden chair in the back corner, eyes flying quickly and uniformly across the pages of a small book. Her platinum blonde hair falls over her shoulders and spills onto her chair, sharp ice blue eyes never once looking up from their business even though i'm sure she heard me enter. A small frown adorns her face, and I feel the need to turn it into a smile, even though I have hardly - scratch that, not met this girl. She is wearing a casual shirt, too large for her small frame, and a pair of loose shorts. She looks extraordinarily comfortable, and beautiful.
She glances up and catches me staring, mouth slightly agape. One corner of her mouth turns up slightly and I avert my eyes to the floor, pretending I wasn't just so obviously staring at her. I hear a giggle from the other corner of the room, followed by a quiet, careful voice. "I take it you're the new librarian?"
Her words are carefully chosen, and polite in nature. I sit a second before realizing I should probably reply. "Yes, that's me. I'm Logan"
"Nice to meet you, but if you don't mind, i'm in the middle of a great book here…"
"Oh, I know the feeling, go ahead!" I say, detecting excitement in my voice. Does this girl enjoy reading as much as I do? "By the way, what can I call you?"
"Queen Elsa" The girl says with a grin, focusing back on her book.