Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.
To Grow Up
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Arrendale was thriving with life once again. The port boomed with ships from other cities for trade, the townsfolk had a bounce to their step, and the Queen couldn't help but be proud of herself for overcoming her fear. If she would've continued on the path of fear, she knew one day her beloved home would have been destroyed. But like a nightmare ending, her sweet sister Anna helped her realize it was love that conquered her demon of fear. So, here they were, a year later, and things seemed to be looking up.
At least for awhile. Elsa held the unsealed letter in her hand. How many times had she read it again? The Queen pressed the letter to her chest as she leaned onto her elbows against the castle's balcony ledge. From three stories up, she could see everything. She had loved to observe her people. Loved to see them happy. Loved to watch the children play, the ships come in, the couples embrace.
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Xxx
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"Oh, Anna," she sighed. Her blue eyes found her little sister in just a second of searching for her. Below her, in the castle garden, was the red headed brave soul that had loved her through her darkest time. What she wouldn't give to make her happy.
The gardens were lined with pink roses in full bloom. Anna, armed with a basket and scissors, had clipped some of the blooms for her room. She loved the smell of them. They brought just a little more happiness into her life. Why shouldn't she clip them? Her mother use to scold her for picking the flowers. The former Queen was scold,"Anna, dearest, roses are meant to live on the vine, not die in a vase."
A frown tugged at her face. She missed mama. She missed having a mother's love. It had seemed that Elsa, though a wonderful Queen, had tried to step in as her mother recently. Whether it was critiquing her to act more like a lady, to wear something more flattering, or to guard her tongue from saying nasty remarks. Elsa was no longer a sister, but a motherly dictator.
The snapping of a twig caused her thoughts to shatter. Her heart skipped from fear momentarily, but once she saw who emerged, a smile spread across her face. There he was. All six foot of him. Kristoff lifted his hand in a friendly wave. It didn't take long for him to get to his destination.
"Are you really here?" Anna whispered. It had been a long time. It had been almost four months since she had seen her ice harvester. When the snow melted, it was the perfect time for him to go into the mountains to retrieve the thawing ice. It was easier to cut and easier not to get lost in the blistering winter storms. But it was a job that required time, strength, and a dedicated soul. That was who Kristoff was.
The tall blonde didn't say much. He couldn't stop looking at her. It had been a long time. His cheeks flamed red as he realized he didn't even hear what she said. "Hi," he whispered finally,"I missed you."
That was all it took. Kristoff pulled Anna into his arms, inhaled the scent of the roses. His large hands framed her face as he tilted her chin up. The first few months of courting, he had been very embarrassed and reserved, always asking if it was okay to kiss her. Not now. Now, he did what any man did: he pressed his lips against hers. His heart hummed. He loved her. He knew it. He had just discovered it after he left Arrendale for his journey. The distance just confirmed in his heart that he loved this woman and wanted to be with her always.
Anna had lost track of sense. Her mind whirled. This kiss was different. The pressure of his lips. The roughness of his hands. The soft nips on her neck. Heat rushed to her face. What had gotten into him?
"Welcome home, Kristoff." A voice from above called down. That was all it took for the lovers to push each other away. Gazing up, they saw just who had witnessed their entire encounter. The Queen.
Kristoff felt his voice quiver,"Hi, Queen Elsa, I, uh...was just coming to see Anna..." And see her he did...The couple held hands and quickly entered into the kitchen castle.
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xxx
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Elsa stayed on the balcony for a bit longer. Anna was happy. Even a fool could tell. She had been thankful for what her sister did a year ago. What she did was brave, courageous, sacrificing. But would her heart always be like that?
Leading a kingdom meant more than beautiful dresses and balls. It meant leading with wisdom. It meant giving direction to ones who couldn't see above the clouds. It meant breaking hearts, too, sometimes.
The letter had been sent to her a week ago by ship from the Southern Isles. It seemed as though a year was all they needed to build up their war ships, increase their artillery, and train enough men to fight in a battle. While Arrendale had prospered in trades and friendships, Elsa had thought her little kingdom was free from threats. Who would want to harm such a wonderful city? Apparently, the Southern Isles had some unfinished business with the kingdom.
There will be a union or there will be a war.
The message was so simple. So to the point. It ripped Elsa's heart in half, but it also opened her eyes to reality. Life wasn't a happily ever after. It was a day to day battle. Sacrifices had to be made for the prosperity of a kingdom. Even if it meant forcing her leadership as Queen.
The Southern Isles wanted one thing...Anna as a peace treaty. Elsa thought that the kingdom would punish their prince for behaving so horrible...no, they did the opposite. They deemed Haans as a prince that was mistreated and only showed interest in a princess for it to be thrown in his face and it insulted not only Haans, but the King himself. The letter stated Anna as "a young fool" and "that she needed guidance." And even after all of the evil Anna caused, the prince was willing to wed the young princess still.
Rumors had floated around the kingdom about Haans after he was shipped back home. The rumors included ones of abuse. Severe abuse. One story caught Elsa's attention of the young Haans being forced to sleep in the dungeon for three weeks after his brothers lured him down there during a masquerade ball. His parents so drunk and busy, they had yet to realize their son was missing until a public outing. Had Haans only been acting out of anger, out of spite, out of a desire to escape a hell? To find refuse in a place as wonderful as Arrendale?
Something tugged on the Queen's heart. She knew what it felt like to be the outcast and to be deemed "unlovable" for a time. Maybe it was a good idea to join the kingdoms, to give them a second chance? Was her mind right or was her heart right?
She crumpled the letter in her hand. Oh, the battle inside of her mind! What was a queen to do? Part of her understood the hurts of this Haans, but after seeing Anna in the arms of Kristoff, she wondered if it was the right decision?
Kristoff had been a great distraction for Anna. Keeping her busy and out of trouble as Elsa began to see the real needs of Arrendale. It wasn't a fairy tale. Life in a castle required a lot of work. It made Elsa grow up quickly the year after her powers were discovered.
Now, after watching the ice harvester's return, she knew that Kristoff seemed to be in love with her sister...and that wasn't good. Anna was royalty. She needed to be surrounded by dukes and lords...and she has found fancy with a reindeer king. It had been cute and innocent at first, but was it really possible for royalty to marry a commoner?
He was a good man, but how did this help her kingdom? It was time Anna began to learn about the government, to start to act like a lady, to prepare to be a wife. Maybe this letter wasn't a threat, maybe it was life handing Anna a reason to grow up and take her place in the kingdom-through a marriage to join two kingdoms together.
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