Arendelle was filled with crowds of bustling people; loud, jockeying voices and swooshes of bright colors as ships pulled in and out of harbors and shops were being opened to customers. It was a regular day in the kingdom that had just recently opened it's gates to everyone. The ice-skating rink Queen Elsa had created on the fateful day she had returned to her kingdom had become a permanent fixture of daily life. Young children were the most frequent visitors, dancing around the edges of the castle on free skates provided by the Queen. It was into this atmosphere, one so different from the one he'd just left, Gwaine, his king, his fellow knights, and Merlin entered.
They'd rode a ship over and it was the first time for everyone aboard. Gwaine was alright after having spent years drunk every waking moment but Arthur and Merlin and a majority of the knights, including Sir Leon, were very green in the face. Everyone stumbled off the ship and gazed up at the magnificent castle outlined in ice while the sun glistened overhead.
"Woah," Merlin breathed, his eyes glazed over.
Arthur shoved Merlin lightheartedly as he walked down the dock, his usual business face on. Sir Leon was right behind him. Gwaine was wandering around, looking at everything but the castle. Everything was the wrong word. He was examining every single girl that passed by. Some would get a passing glance others a passing smile, some an outright turn of the head. Merlin shook his head and dragged his friend along to the gates. He didn't want to get lost among the swarms of people and not be in view of his King. What if something went wrong?
Elsa was standing at a window that peered down to the square and the skating families. She was watching Anna with a small smile as Kristoff continued to try and teach her how to skate. Else had worked on her for hours but Anna hadn't improved much from sliding and colliding with other people. Elsa let Kristoff take over as soon as she had to go back to being Queen. It wasn't all fun and games anymore. Not that it had every really been. Just that one day.
She would be out there with her sister now, her duties were off for the day due to the guests arriving, but Kristoff and her preferred being alone, and to be honest, Elsa preferred them alone as well. They were sickly adorable in any situation, including in front of her and it made her strangely uncomfortable. She really liked Kristoff, and trusted him with Anna, but it didn't make her any less awkward in social situations involving public affection. A small voice in the back of her head piped up and mentioned that it might be jealousy but Elsa shook it away. She couldn't go back to depending on any of those feelings. They'd alienated her. Although, every day that passed by Elsa couldn't help but feel the walls closing back in. She had everything she'd ever wanted but there were still people that eyed her warily when they walked by and nobody besides Anna had reached out to be her friend. And even with Anna there was so much that had to be repaired. Elsa wasn't sure if it was because of what she'd done a couple of weeks ago or if it was the fact that she was queen. She couldn't help but wish it was the latter.
A billowing dash of red flew across the expanse of blue in the courtyard capturing Elsa's eye. Five capes of red to be precise. That must be King Arthur and his knights. Elsa had almost forgotten they were coming today. Ever since she'd terminated the trade agreement with Weselton she'd been in search for another trade partner to make up for it. The kingdom of Camelot, though far away, had offered their services and they had plenty of goods that could be used by Elsa's people. The king was here to discuss what would be the proper payment methods and to sign the agreement. It was supposed to take a couple of days and Elsa was miserable but excited about it. On one hand she was always delighted to meet new people because maybe they'd befriend her but more often then not it just became business or a casual conversation; one moment. There was never a second moment and Elsa could barely contain the pain of turning away so many people. She'd spent so many years alone she had no idea if it was how she acted, what she said, or just the persona she emanated.
She flew delicately down the spiral staircase to the base level of the castle and stoically strode to the throne room. It was the worst thing about being queen. There were moments she wanted to slouch and sprint like she had on the North Mountain; to let it go. But, that wasn't allowed as a queen. There were always people watching, whether they were guards or her people and she was expected to be perfect and princess-like. Elsa would never do anything that could be negatively judged. She'd had enough of that for one lifetime. It felt like forever ago she'd decided to screw everything and live in the mountains and now she was back at the start without passing go. The only exception this time was that she knew she belonged and that she was in the right place. Sometimes that was what made all the difference.
A guard marched in, slamming his feet together before his voice boomed and echoed through the mostly empty room. "King Arthur of Camelot."
Elsa rose, sweeping her gown out to the side, so that it wouldn't impede her in the even she either decided to sit back down or walk towards them.
The entourage entered just moments after the guard marched back into position and she couldn't help but stare. Every last one of them was a man and they were all around her age. And it was worth mentioning, not a single one was hard on the eyes by any means. She felt like gaping but on the outside her face was like stone. She heard one of them, a man with long dark hair, murmur to the only man not in a cape beside him. He chortled behind his hand while the capeless man slapped him on the arm. They had both tried to be subtle but sound carried easily in this room and Elsa felt the familiar twinge of pain and isolation. She was almost sure he'd been laughing at her for being too prudish or something.
They all, in sync, gave her small, respectful bows before stopping just below the stairs leading up to her throne. Elsa decided she would walk down. After all, this wasn't a common subject she was talking to this time but another king and he shouldn't have to climb up the stairs for her sake. She descended, head down, her hands holding up her skirts, and kept it that way until she'd seen both of her feet onto solid ground. Then she brought her eyes up to the other king's and smiled because he was smiling down at her. She wasn't sure what her face would've looked like if he hadn't been smiling but probably nothing welcoming. His eyes were kind and wiser then someone of his age should've been. That went for his capeless friend standing right beside him as well. In fact, she felt an automatic connection with the lanky, awkward capeless man beside Arthur. There was something about him that seemed familiar. She couldn't put a finger on it, however, so she returned her attention to the king.
"Queen Elsa," Arthur said.
"King Arthur. Thank you for coming and welcome to Arendelle."
"Thank you for having us. I think all of us," he began, gazing around at his friends, "Would like some rest before we begin." Elsa realized why she'd perceived Arthur as kind immediately. It was the way he acknowledged all of the people surrounding him. He loved and respected each one and saw them as equals. He wore his emotions like armor.
"Of course," she responded warmly. "I will personally escort all of you to your rooms. I would have some of my maids and manservants assist me, but it slipped my mind what day it was, and it was such a beautiful day that I gave them the day off. Sun is precious here at the moment. Only a couple of weeks ago we had a spot of bad weather."
"Thank you," Arthur nodded and Elsa smiled. "Please follow me," she murmured in her already naturally quiet voice. Everyone obeyed without question and she led them to the king's room first.
"Here you are, King Arthur. I hope it suits your needs. We have a manservant assigned to you if you have any needs that..."
"Oh that won't be necessary, but thank you. I have Merlin here. I'm sure he can get me anything I need," he smiled almost menacingly but in a teasing way as he slapped the back of his servant. Elsa hadn't realized that was their relationship. It was like they were friendly. Elsa took that thought back quickly, however, because she wouldn't be surprised if Arthur was indeed that sort of king. The type that befriended their servants.
"Of course. Then I won't have him stop by. Merlin, if you need any help finding anything the kitchen staff can always point you in the right direction and you can always come to me. I won't mind."
"Thank you, Your Highness," he bowed.
"Please don't," she murmured, falling out of character for just a second before she straightened her back and pretended she hadn't said a word. It didn't matter that she'd rather be treated as a normal person. That wasn't her role in the world. "Merlin, would you like to see your room?"
"No, he doesn't," Arthur interrupted. "I need him to polish my boots and fetch me dinner. I'll keep him for now. Just tell him where he needs to go." Elsa did and right after she gave the directions the long haired man who had chuckled at her broke in, "Oh, for god's sake Arthur, can't Merlin go to his room for five seconds? We all know you just want to know how his day was and share all your secrets."
"Thank you, Gwaine, for your input. Let's go, Merlin." The King and his servant disappeared into his room and Elsa was left with four knights. As she led them down the hall she asked what their names were.
"I'm Gwaine, as you probably just discovered. Nice to meet you. By the way, that color blue really does look lovely on you."
"For god's sake, Gwaine, stop it. It really does get old and she's a queen. I'm Elyan. Nice to meet you as well, Your Highness. Don't mind Gwaine. He's kind of a womanizer."
"Don't go giving away everything, Elyan," Gwaine fired back, "The element of surprise spices up life."
"I'm Leon, Your Majesty."
"And I'm Percival."
"Lovely to meet all of you." She'd reached the hallway where they'd be staying without being forced into any sort of involved small talk and for that she was immensely grateful. "Here we are. Any room in this hallway is yours. Feel free to choose. We have manservants for all of you as well so any need you may have can be met. And, as with Merlin, anything that can't be met with a manservant can be brought to me. Good day." The knights quickly bustled around fighting over rooms but one of them stayed behind watching Elsa as she turned her back and began to walk away.
Elsa felt a light tap on her shoulder and she spun around, unconsciously stepping back from the contact. She still wasn't used to not accidentally freezing anything with merely a glance of contact between flesh.
"I'm sorry," Gwaine whispered, pulling his finger back swiftly. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"You didn't scare me, I just wasn't expecting it." She realized then what she had said was basically admitting she'd been scared but Gwaine didn't press the fact.
"I didn't mean to keep you I just have two quick questions and then, I promise, I'll let you go."
Elsa waited in silence and Gwaine realized she had just wanted him to say what was on his mind, but a little late. There were a couple too many moments of silence to comfort Elsa. She desperately wanted to run but managed to keep her feet facing forward.
"Are there any good taverns around here is my first question and my second is: are you okay?"
"Excuse me?" Elsa replied.
"I...uh...I realize those are both not questions that are appropriate to ask a queen but nonetheless I would like to know the answers so if you'd be willing to part with them? I mean, if you even know."
That offended Elsa just a little bit. Just because she was Queen didn't mean she was innocent and pure and without problems. She wasn't sure she owed the answers to a man who had laughed at her, however. "There is a tavern which has quite good ale just outside of the castle walls which closes around two in the morning and, I'm fine, thank you."
"Great." He shot her a beautiful, carefree smile that almost swept her away into one of her fantasies; some of the only places she was truly happy. It reminded her of her own prince that she imagined was coming to steal her away to a world of less responsibilities and more snow. She'd always known that was never going to happen and it wasn't going to happen now either. What the fantasies and stories never reminded you is strangers who sweep you off your feet aren't romantic, they're creepy. Gwaine turned away and entered the last room that didn't have a shut door. When she thought he was gone, Elsa's face returned to the stone that was often it's natural position and she didn't notice as she stood there not moving, that Gwaine was still watching her.
"Excuse me," he declared, coming back towards her. "I don't mean...okay I do...but you really don't seem like you're that okay to me."
"That's very forward of you and none of your business."
"No, of course not," he smiled. "Thank you again, Your Highness."
"You're welcome," Elsa said icily. And this time she left the hallway so he couldn't catch her off guard again. She decided it was time to drag Anna and Kristoff in off the ice to help her decide what they could trade and what they couldn't afford to expend on other countries. Especially Kristoff, who had become an invaluable asset to the financial side of her decision making, which she'd never had much experience in. Besides, she needed to focus on work to get that smile out of her head. He'd laughed at her, she repeated over and over in her mind so maybe the smile would smartly run in the other direction. But it wasn't. It was stuck like mold on and old piece of cheese and she wasn't confident Anna's babble would take it away. At least not the same way it usually did when it solved her other short term problems. Elsa was going to have to solve this one all by herself and lately she hadn't been excelling at that skill.
