Please review! Disclaimer: I own nothing.

The ballroom stole Merida's breath away. She had never seen anything like it. Far from the stone monotony of home, everything was painted in brilliant swirling colors.

She had fought and fought her parents from going to this cursed ball. She had wanted nothing of Arendale. Yet they had put her on the ship none the less, forcing her to promise to make "good relations" with the country. DunBroch was in desperate need of alliances, and they thought since the Queen of Arendale was near her age they might make good friends. Still, Merida questioned whether they were hoping she might find a suitable husband here as well.

She stayed mostly by the refreshments table for the night, dancing when asked, but never really caring all too much. She tried to make short acquaintance with the Princess Anna, but was unsuccessful with the amount of people vying for her attention.

Why must every ball turn out the same way? The same flouncing women in puffy dresses with the same dancing men far too over groomed and the same tedious music.

Horns sounded by the great double door as the Queen was announced. She looked like the appitamy of royalty, calm and smiling without a care in the world. But Merida could see something in her eyes that seemed to be worrying her. Probably some odd matter of state. Merida had seen plenty of those, and brushed it off. That was probably why she was so late to her own ball.

People, mostly young men, swarmed around her. She was gracious enough to them as Merida watched, but she could see they were getting on her nerves. She strolled over to her as discretely as she could, feeling sympathy for all the times the same had happened to her.

"You Majesty?" Merida interrupted the crowd of suitors. They all surveyed her, wondering if she was worth the effort of trying to woo. Not many people recognized her here, most of them didn't give her a second glance. "Do you have a moment to spare?"

Relief filled the Queen's eyes as she caught on to what Merida was doing. "You must excuse me." She let her hand rest on the forearm of her nearest suitor, and followed Merida back over to the refreshments table, promptly pouring herself a glass of wine.

"I can't thank you enough for that. God, I hate these balls." She downed the glass of wine in a way Merida had only seen the burliest of Lords do. The smell of alcohol wafted off her. She set the glass down and turned her attention back to Merida, trying to keep up the appearance that they were having an important diplomatic discussion. "I can't remember you. Have we met before?"

"No, I am the Princess Merida of DunBroch." She dipped into a curtsy. She needed to prove to her parents she could successfully conduct one mission on behalf of her country.

"Ah yes, they told me you were coming. Queen Elsa. I am sorry for you to have to go through such a thing as these terrible balls. Honestly, I wouldn't host them if not for the way my sister enjoys them so much. Plus, it looks like good face." Merida had never heard a dignitary talk like this. She was exhilarated to find such a woman who would not hide behind false pretenses and soft words. "So Merida, what is it you hope to find in Arendale?"

As Elsa poured herself another drink, this time thankfully sipping it slower, Merida finally was able to take in the beauty of the Queen in front of her. She had never seen hair so thick and icey white. Her Dress waved around her like she had never seen cloth do before, and her delicate features only added to the look of the frail, and yet strong ice Queen.

"Hmm?" Elsa prompted her again, with an arched eyebrow. Merida had spaced out and taken too long to answer.

"Oh um, sorry." Merida searched her brain for a reason other than the fact to make friends with the Queen. She figured that wasn't the best way to go about this.

Elsa laughed a little at her blush. The sound was like music. "Only to make good relations with the great kingdom of Arendale." Merida mentally crossed her fingers that that was a sufficient answer.

"Bullshit." Her words were starting to slur, and she giggled at her own cursing. Merida was taken back, but she did not say anything. Her mother had tried to make her study Arendale culture, though she had neglected it. Maybe this was just how things were done here.

A brave suitor came up to Elsa at that moment, and politely bowed and asked her for a dance. She let herself be swept off, though her image of the great regal queen was quickly disappearing.

Merida watched the reckless queen for much of the night. Her parents would have killed her for acting like that, and she admired her all the more for it.

The partygoers started to notice Elsa's behavior slowly through the night. She yelled at the musicians to speed up the music twirling in the middle of the ballroom floor. Most looked aghast, but few, like Merida, simply joined in the fun.

Elsa snatched her hands and together they swirled around the ballroom far faster than the bands pace. If either of them let go at this moment they would go spinning wildly out of control across the room. She laughed again. Merida loved the sound of that laugh, though she didn't know why. She just knew she couldn't get enough of it.

Merida caught the stares of the people around her, and tried to calm down. She was having fun, but she couldn't blow her one chance to prove herself to her parents. A little was okay, when the queen was doing the same, but she had best stop soon. Still, Elsa wouldn't let her.

"Come on!" She screamed so loud the peasants in the countryside could most likely hear here. The music came to a stop. "Let's dance!" She almost play growled, stumbling on her skirt as she walked towards Merida.

She was far more drunk that she had expected. "Elsa, dear, how about we get you upstairs." Her sister Anna rushed to the scene.

"Yeah I think that would be—" Merida tried to help the princess. She had no idea Elsa had been this intoxicated. A little tipsy, but weren't they just dancing?

"I want to dance!" Elsa wasn't going to budge. She threw her arms back up into the arm and started twirling again to her own imaginary music.

"Elsa." Anna reached out to grab her sister's arm, pulling her to a stop. "I think it's time for you to go." She pouted, but seemed to give in. Anna looked over at Merida, who was standing there with a terribly guilty face. "Take her back up to her rooms." Her voice came in a rushed whisper. "The guards will show you were it is. I take care of everything here." Merida just nodded and took the fair girl's hand, dragging her out of the ballroom.

Magically, the guards seemed to know exactly what to do, and fell into line next to them as they exited the party. Elsa tripped over her dress countless times, though each time Merida was there to hold her back up. "Come on." She whispered encouragingly in the queen's ear.

The entire party had watched them exit the room. Merida had a bad feeling about how this mission was going to end for her now, but all she really cared about was saving as much of the Queen's dignity as she could. As the door closed behind them, she could hear soft rumblings of Anna's voice, making some excuse for her sister's behavior.

The way to Elsa's chambers was long, but they thankfully didn't run into any stray people save a few maids.

"Leave us." Merida ordered the guards as soon as they reached the room. She set Elsa on the bed, as they closed the door behind them, but she got up just a quickly.

"I hate parties."

"I think you've made that clear." Merida let out a breath. Free from eyes of diplomats—save Merida—she didn't have to worry as much about what incident the drunk queen might cause.

"You're pretty." She sauntered over to where Merida was standing by the door.

"Uhhh…"

"Very. Very Pretty." Her words slurred and the scent of alcohol was overpowering as she ran her hands up and down the length of Merida's sides. She took a step back.

"Your Majesty I think—"

"Don't tell me what you 'think'! That's all people do anymore! I think you should do this! I think you should do that! I think I think I think! What about me! What about what I think?"

"Elsa what's wrong?" They had just met, but Merida couldn't stand to see her like this.

"I just want to—" The door started to open to let Anna in. Merida flashed her attention to it for a smallest second, but that little time was enough. Elsa rushed at her, and grabbed her face between her hands and pressed their lips together.

Merida froze shock still, while Anna's jaw dropped to the floor. Elsa finally pulled away with a very impish grin on her face. Merida and Anna's eyes could have been the size of dinner plates. Merida pushed the queen off her, still at a loss for words.

She seemed sad at the lost contact, but went to go sit on her bed and pout.

"I swear—I—please—I didn't mean—" Merida tried to force out an apology, but her brain couldn't form full sentences. Her mind raced, yet felt like it was stuck in molasses at the same time. Every nerve tingled, and yet her body was numb.

"It's not your fault." Anna breathed, her shock wearing off much quicker than the scot's. "I'm sorry for the trouble she might have caused. I swear I have never seen her like this." They both glanced at Elsa. Her giddiness seemed to have worn off. Now she only lay face down in her pillow.

"It's okay we all have bad times." She could still feel the kiss on her lips. Why had none of her countless suitor's ever been able to kiss her like that?

"This must look terrible bad for Arendale huh?" The Princess turned a sheepish face towards her.

"Not at all. I promise." Merida meant it. "I hope you can forgive me for encouraging her actions earlier in the ballroom. I assure you I meant no harm."

"It's fine. By the way. We have not met. Princess Anna of Arendale."

"Princess Merida of DunBroch."

Elsa seemed to have fallen asleep. Her snores rivaled some that Merida's father uttered.

The princesses looked at each other and laughed."It's late. I have to go back down to the party, but why don't you get some rest?" Merida gratefully took the Princess's suggestion. She seemed to be the kind of person who would always be happy, but weariness was tearing at her features.

Elsa rolled over in her sleep as the both of them exited the room, with a quick word to the guards to not let the queen out until morning.