She didn't want to go out on such a night but her sister was insisting. As Anna was pulling her along behind her through the halls of the castle, Elsa just wished she could go back to the solitary blue walls of her office. But no, she sister was taking her to a tavern. What was a queen going to do in a tavern? But it was Anna's birthday, she supposed she should let the girl have a little fun for the night, even if it had to include the blonde being shoved onto a bar stool fifteen minutes later between an old woman and a young man who immediately tried to strike up a conversation with her. A glass of deep red wine was soon in her hand, courtesy of the young red headed princess, and the queen sipped it as she watched her sister be pulled onto the dance floor by master Kristoff; twirling around in a sloppy manner that could only be perfected by a peasant. The young woman spun around so that she was facing the bar and no longer had to witness the couple on the wooden dance floor, all smile and heated stares. No, Elsa preferred to stare at the wall. Don't get me wrong, the queen was not bitter about her sister being in love, engaged at that, Elsa was very excited about the impending nuptials. It was just something about young love lately that seemed to set her teeth on edge. The young blonde man next to her connoted to try and flirt, hopelessly and to no avail. Else shot down every advance made from the obviously oblivious, obviously intoxicated boy.

"Elsa!" Kristoff voice cut through the music of the small band in the corner and soon his large rough hand was placed on her shoulder to spin her towards him. "Care to honour me with a dance, your highness?" The boy sunk into a bow and a silly grin graced his face.

"I don't dance, Kris. You know that." Elsa tried her best to smile back, but the atmosphere seemed to suck whatever hope of a smile she had out of her. She hated crowds, especially drunk ones. Still she managed a small grimace that she hoped could be taken as a smile.

"Don't worry, Darling." Anna strutted up behind her fiancé, throwing her hand in the air to signal for another round of drinks for the group. "A few more glasses of wine and I know for a fact my sister will be the life of the party."

"You know this how exactly?" Elsa laughed at the younger girl.

"Well I seem to remember a certain christmas eve a year ago when you got very enthusiastic after some wine, I don't think the dining room table has ever been the same after you danced on it." Anna smirked and took her new drink from the bar tender.

"Well that is a memory I wish I could have been there for." Kristoff laughed at the image, taking another sip from his newly refreshed glass.

"The only difference, dear sister, was that it was just you and me that night, and we were in our home, not a crowded pub!" Elsa argued playfully, still working on her first glass.

"Els, come on." Anna threw her arms around the older girls neck. "Please at least try and have fun tonight, for me?"

"I will try, but this night will not include table dancing if thats what you were hoping for, at least not from me" Else giggled and indulged her sister by throwing the rest of her glass into her mouth. Anna and kristoff cheered and sunk into one another as Elsa reached for her awaiting second glass from the bar.

:::

It took two and a half hours and almost two bottles of Arendelle wine for Kristoff to convince Elsa to even get off her bar stool. But when she did the young couple were able to drag her onto the floor and twirl her around as if she a young giddy child. Elsa had to admit, although she would never say it aloud, the queen did enjoy dancing. Especially without the pomp and circumstance of royal balls. In the ball room, surrounded by god knows how many other nobles from around the globe, one wrong dance step meant public ridicule and obnoxious smiles from her guests. But here, on the stained, sticky, wooden floor of Arendelle's most popular tavern, with one hand around Kristoff and the other twirling her younger sister, there were no wrong steps. There was only laughter and good friends, sharing a night to celebrate Anna's 20th birthday. That is, at least until they heard the canon fire…