Elsa wakes up with a light, yet refreshing sting in her eyes.
"Hans…?" she mutters, reaching for her husband's sleeping hand. But he is not there. His side of the bed is empty, and he is nowhere to be seen.
"Hans? Are you there?" she calls, anxiety starts to engulf her as the memory from last night resurfaces. Fortunately the door opens before her train of thoughts derails further, revealing his smiling face.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," he grins.
"Oh, there you are," she wheezes. "What time is it now?"
"Almost 7 AM, why?"
"Almost… 7…" she repeats drowsily. The shock of realization jolts her awake as the information starts to sink in. "7 AM! Oh, this is so bad, so late! Why didn't you wake me up sooner?"
"I would love to, but you seemed to be sleeping so peacefully it pains me to wake you up," he laughs.
"Oh, I can't believe this! We will be late to the morning meeting! I'll have to skip breakfast! Tell them-"
"No can do. A nutritious breakfast is part of a healthy life," he says, shoving a slice of bread between her teeth and setting down a tray of eggs beside her.
"Fanks," she chomped on the bread and brushes her hair out. It's delicious; the amount of butter and jam is just right. Only at times like this can she appreciate his 'thoughtfulness'.
"Still, you'd better go and freshen yourself up now," he says, pecking her bulging cheek. "We've much to attend to today, too."
"…I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but perhaps you could reconsider it-"
"…How about looking at it from this point of view, Your Majesty?"
"Your Majesty! I have another proposal-"
Just another day at the office, Elsa thinks. From when she was crowned Queen, Elsa has been granted full authority regarding state matters. Which means a whole lot more responsibility for her to bear. The worst period was when Hans fell into a coma for three months since that incident. The stress of managing a country and her fiancée being on the border of life and death almost literally killed her; more than once her wayward powers imploded and devastated her own body. Fortunately, she still has Anna. The most beloved sister of hers provided the strongest pillar of support, both physically and emotionally. Today, too, she sits beside her to 'assist' with her duties – if only she manages to keep herself awake.
"Anna!" the Queen nudges her dozing sister.
"Huh! Yeah?" the Princess jolts awake, drawing attention from her surroundings. "O-oh, pardon me. I was thinking, that may be a good idea!" she grinned nervously.
"What is? Doubling the import quota of carrots?" a councilor asked.
"Uh – oh, yeah, that! After all, we will have a lot more horses to feed."
"I see. We shall take a note of that, then," the councilor says.
Anna looked at her sister with sheepish grin.
"Pay more attention!" Elsa mouths, even though she too is smiling. Truthfully, Anna has absorbed her lessons about politics and governance faster than she can ever imagine. The Princess truly has a flair to assimilate things quickly when she puts her focus into it. Even Hans does not doubt that she too will be able to become a fine ruler in her own right.
"Now, we shall move into the main subject today. Prince Hans," Prime Minister Ludvig called.
"Yes."
"About the plan to strengthen our national defenses…"
"I have made the necessary preparations. We are to put up a draft for the Army of Arendelle as of now. Aim the focus at able-bodied young men between the ages of eighteen to twenty nine. We will need as many as possible. But be mindful; take only those who are able and willing. And put up a raise in wages for military officers and soldiers alike."
"Understood. What about the training and housing?"
"Construction for the new barracks has already been underway. Minister Armin, how is the progress?"
"Smooth, My Lord. We expect to be able to house 2,000 more men by the next month."
"Good. I have sent a message to the Southern Isles. They are willing to lend some of their finest military instructors to help supervise the training of the new soldiers."
"Pardon me, My Lord, but isn't having foreign instructors to act as a supervisor for our own military rather… sensitive?"
"These men are personally trained and trusted by General Edvar of the Southern Isles Army. We have nothing to fear. Besides, the Queen herself has already given her approval regarding this."
"I have, indeed," Elsa nods. "I ask you to trust in Prince Hans's judgment. We cannot ignore the possibilities of war, with the state of tension between Nordgard and Iscalius as it is, and we need all the help we can get now. Drastic times calls for drastic measures."
The hall falls silent at their conviction. Most of the councilors are seen nodding in approval, and those who don't are either too afraid to voice their own opinions or can't manage to find an appropriate counterargument.
"If that's all the concern, then ladies and gentlemen, we shall put these plans into action with immediate effect. Meeting adjourned," Elsa concluded. "God save Arendelle."
"God save Arendelle," the room repeated. Slowly, each and every one of the councilors left their seat, followed by the Royal Family at last. Just as Hans was about to take his leave, however, he was stopped in his track.
"Prince Hans, please wait for a moment."
"Yes, Kai, what is it?"
"A letter has just arrived for you. From the Southern Isles."
"Let me see it."
Hans took the envelope bearing the royal crest of the Southern Isles and tears it open. For more than a minute, his face is impassive.
"Thank you, Kai. You may leave now," he finally says.
"As you wish, Your Highness."
The sisters look at the Prince with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"What does it say?" Anna asks.
"Just what I expected. The arrangement for military instructors with Southern Isles has been confirmed. We can rest easy now."
He says it firmly with a smile, but something in his tone does not manage to convince Elsa.
The sun is now a beautiful hue of red. Loud stampedes can be heard across the plains, where the last glimmer of sunlight paints it a light shade of yellow.
"Hya! Hya!"
"Ha! Faster, Bris! Come on! Don't let them catch up!"
"Oh no, you are not going anywhere but behind Sitron's tail!"
The Prince paces his steed faster and faster – the distance between the two shrinks as seconds pass by. Yet his opponent is no slouch; the Princess managed to keep the lead despite the aggressive chase by her brother-in-law. And after a hundred and seventy seconds of harsh struggle…
"The winner is Anna and Bris!"
The Princess jumps off her steed and starts skipping jovially.
"Yes! Bris, we won!" she hugs her horse. "Suck it, Hans!"
"You are fast," Hans huffs. "We admit defeat, Sitron and I."
"I told you so!" Anna grins. So in this free afternoon, they decide to horse-ride after all. The full fragrance of spring makes it perfect to ride across the meadow plains; even the normally indoors Elsa agrees and takes Diamant out to accompany the two. With Sven and Kristoff not far behind, the Royal Family has a merry time galloping around the castle plains.
"So it seems Sitron is not satisfied with the last match," Anna says, cuddling the stallion. "But Bris seems tired. Is there anyone else raring to go?" she looks around. "Oh! How about Sven? He seems eager."
"But he's not… a horse," Hans eyes the reindeer doubtfully. "I'm not sure if we are playing on the same ground."
"Ooh, did you hear that, Sven? He says he'll mop the floor with you since you're not even a horse," Anna snorts mischievously.
"That's not what I'm saying," Hans snaps, but it's too late. The reindeer looks more fired up than ever.
"He seems really eager to go," Kristoff says. "I'm sorry… Your Highness? But do you mind entertaining us for a round?"
"Call me Hans. And no, I do not mind. Let us go, then," Hans says, climbing up Sitron's back once again. He shoots Anna an annoyed look as he sets himself behind the starting line. But he's not going to back down from a challenge – since the reindeer and his partner have shown their mettle, he too must show his.
"Ready...? In 3… 2… 1… GO!"
The stallion and the reindeer take off with blinding speed, leaving only dust behind them.
"They sure… are fast," Elsa whispers in awe.
"Yes, but…" Anna frowns. "Something doesn't sit right."
"What is it?"
"It looks like Hans was holding back against me."
"Did he?"
"Yeah, he had a clear shot at victory had he taken the chance to slip by me at the last cornering, yet he didn't take it. It seemed like his mind was wandering off… or that he went easy on me. Either way, it sucks."
"Don't take it too seriously; he probably wasn't. It could be that something distracted him, as you said."
"Probably… but what could it be?" Anna ponders. "It couldn't be- GUYS DO YOUR BEST! COME ON!" (the first lap has just finished) "-Sorry. I was saying, it couldn't be that letter, could it? Did you ask him what's truly inside?"
"No I didn't. I have not yet the chance to talk to him, let alone ask him about the letter," Elsa shakes her beautiful head. "What do you think could be inside?"
"I don't know, I'm not married to him. You are," Anna teases.
"Oh shut it, you," Elsa blushes, which in turn makes Anna even more eager.
"Ooh, somebody is blushing. Love is in the air. I'm sure he must be sooo good, isn't he?"
"What are you talking about, Anna?"
"Oh Elsa, you know what I'm talking about! The thing that you do as couples?"
"Reading? Oh yes, I'm impressed by how much he knows about books and literature. Apparently the library in his castle back home is so vast beyond our imagination."
"Not that! You know, the one that you do… after you get married?"
"Chatting over a cup of tea? Thinking what laws and bills to pass next?"
"Elsa-a!"
"Fine, fine," Elsa laughs, her cheeks still rosy red from the building embarrassment. "The truth is… we haven't done it yet."
"What!? Are you serious!?"
"Ssssh! Yes, I am serious, Anna!" the red tint on Elsa's cheeks grows deeper.
"But why? Is he-"
"No. It's me. I just don't think… we are ready yet."
"But – LAST LAP GUYS, COME ON! –Sorry."
Elsa giggles but quickly reverts to frown. "I'm scared, Anna. Every time I look at him, at his hair, it reminds me how I hurt you. How I hurt everyone, with my powers, my curse."
"But the very same power was what saved him in the first place!"
"I know! But… I just can't stop thinking otherwise. I can barely keep it in check lately; it's been getting to me. What if I lose control again? What if, in the process, I lose-" Elsa trails off. The brain knows, but the heart… is complicated.
"Elsa, you need to have more faith in yourself. Love will thaw, remember?" the younger Princess moves in to hold her Queen Sister. "I love you. And I'm sure he does too."
"Thank you, Anna. I love you too," Elsa hugs her back.
"So… will I hear the good news next time?" Anna grins.
"We'll see about that," Elsa chuckles, forming an ice rose with a wave of her hand. It seems she is fine… for now. "Besides this, there's just so much we have to take care of as well. Managing a country can be quite stressful, you see."
"Well just make sure to spare some time, the- Oh look, here they come! Who will win!?"
The silhouette of the two men comes closer and closer… until it becomes clear who is leading. Hans. It is only by a narrow margin, yet he is not going to let up. And thus…
"The winner is… Hans and Sitron!"
"Yes! Sitron, well done! We did it, sport!" the Prince does a little self-congratulatory dance. "But it was a good match. Thank you, Kristoff, Sven, for the excitement."
"Yeah, it was good. But his stamina is really something to see. Especially after going on two races in a row, he still doesn't look that tired."
"And I never knew any reindeer who can run fast at all, let alone go toe to toe in a race with Sitron. Sven is truly amazing in this regard, as well."
"Okay, if you boys are done kissing each other's butts (Hans cringes at the Princess's usage of the word 'butt'), how about we go back and have dinner?"
"That sounds good," Elsa agrees. "Let us go back to the castle then?"
Little do the men know that Elsa has just sent a signal through the side of her eye. Anna, who has been waiting, takes note and drags Kristoff by the arm.
"Kristoff! Let's RACE to the castle!"
"Wait, again? Now?"
"Yes, now! The winner gets a week's worth of carrots!" the Princess jumps onto her steed without looking back. "Ready? GO!"
"Anna, wait!" the mountain man reflexively followed her and disappears from sight soon after.
"I wonder where she gets that energy sometimes," Hans says, peering over their ever blurry figures.
"I wonder about that too," Elsa giggles, "Good race, by the way."
"Thank you," Hans smiles. Her one praise worth a thousand for him.
"Still, she seems a little bitter on what happened during your match with her. She said you were going easy."
"I wasn't. I never go easy on matches whoever my opponents might be. It's disrespectful."
"I know," Elsa smiles. "But you were distracted, weren't you?"
"Yes. I was thinking about you," he flashes a charming smile. "Your beauty is the most lethal weapon of distraction, My Queen."
"Nice try, My Prince, but that was not it," Elsa rolls her eyes. "It's something far more concrete. And personal. It's the letter, isn't it? The message wasn't about the arrival of military aid."
They exchange stares; blue eyes baring into green. The need to reveal the truth versus the need to conceal it.
"Nothing escapes you, I see," he finally relents.
"It's not just me. Apparently Anna sensed it too," she says. "May I know what's written inside?"
"I can never win against you," Hans sighs, pulling a torn white envelope from his jacket. "Sooner or later, you're going to have to know anyway."
Elsa takes the envelope and unraveled the letter. Inside, her eyes can find only two sentences formed by a sharp, slanted handwriting:
Father is sick. Come home now.
- Karl
A/N: Story title is of course taken from "A Song of Ice and Fire", but it won't be a story where everybody, uh, dies! I have a vague idea of how this story will end, but I have yet to know how to get there. Your continuous feedbacks will be much appreciated!