"He's an evil, scheming Weasel Towner and I just don't think that this is a good plan," said Kristoff yet again.
Anna laughed. "You're just upset because he thought to include some smart clothes for you," she said as she adjusted his dinner jacket for what felt like the dozenth time.
"I look like an idiot," muttered Kristoff as they joined Elsa in the dining hall.
"You look wonderful," said Anna as she slipped into his arm.
Elsa and Anna had ganged up on Kristoff as soon as they found the cornucopia of clothes that had been tailored to fit Kristoff. According to Lord Derek, these kinds of clothes were all the rage in Paris and so he'd included a smattering for Kristoff so that he might "Look Dapper." Kristoff had objected on the grounds that clothes with that many frills couldn't possibly be for men but Anna and Elsa had forced him into them anyway.
When he'd wondered how Lord Derek knew his measurements, Anna had shrugged and said "Another question to ask at dinner," and that was that. Anna, meanwhile wore a fetching green and yellow dress similar to the one that she'd first met Kristoff in.
When they walked into the dining room they found that they were among the first to arrive. Lord Derek's lack of presence wasn't surprising, since he might just be delaying his entrance until he thought it was appropriate, but they had both expected to find Elsa there.
"I wonder what she's up to?" asked Anna, looking around the room as if she might jump out from behind a chair or curtain to surprise them.
Just then Lord Derek burst into the room, panting for breath. Another man followed shortly after. The second man was a small, well put together fellow who seemed to give off an aura that screamed 'I am bland, ignore me.'
"That's another tenner you owe me, Jenkins!" said Lord Derek between breaths.
"I don't think so, sir," said the man Lord Derek called Jenkins.
"Why not? It's not as if … oh." Lord Derek paused, seeming to have only just noticed Anna and Kristoff. "Jenkins, head back to the ship, and never mind about the tenner you owe me from before."
Jenkins bowed to Lord Derek, then to Anna and Kristoff. "Of course milord. Princess Anna, Sir Kristoff, a pleasure to meet you both," and just like that he was gone.
Anna and Kristoff just stared at Lord Derek as he caught his breath. "What was that all about?" Kristoff asked while Lord Derek caught his breath.
" 's Jenkins. Manservant. Came up here with me and when we found no one else around he made me a bet that I couldn't beat him in a race down the dock and back before anyone else was here. Guess I underestimated how far it was," said Lord Derek as he caught his breath. After a while, he staggered up to the table, grabbed a pitcher of water and poured himself glass after glass until it was gone.
Kristoff was astonished to see that Lord Derek was wearing the same sort of frilly outfit that he was wearing although his wasn't marked with the sweat stains that ran across Lord Derek's. "I didn't think that I this was made for running in."
Lord Derek looked up and grinned. "I didn't think that I'd catch you in that! No, it's really not, I'll admit. Finery isn't meant for doing anything in except standing still or dancing in. Nothing wrong with that, mind you, but there's a time and a place." Lord Derek sniffed and then grimaced. "Although there's a time and place for running as well, and this wasn't that time either. I apologize."
Just then Lord Derek stood straight up, almost dropping both the glass and pitcher as he did so. Anna and Kristoff watched as the sweat stains turned to ice then vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind but unmarked and non-smelly clothes. Elsa had arrived.
"Lord Derek, I've asked Anna not to run in the halls. I didn't think I would need to tell you, but for future reference, please don't run in the castle."
"Of course, your Majesty," said Lord Derek with a bow to Elsa.
The four of them went to the table and once Elsa had seated herself, they sat to join her. Elsa had taken the blue and white dress that she'd found among Lord Derek's gifts and, like she'd done to her coronation gown, had modified it to her liking.
Kai and Gerda brought in the first course, a small salad, then retreated to the door.
"Just the four of us?" Asked Lord Derek as he shoveled into his salad.
"We don't normally have feasts fit for hundreds. If you're uncomfortable you may leave if you like," said Anna with a wave at the door.
Lord Derek spoke up right away. "No, I'm fine. It's just odd having such an intimate meal with the rulers of a realm after having only just met them. In fact, I don't think that I've ever had a meal with even another noble without it being a large, triumphant affair, so this is a nice change of pace. Are your meals normally like this, if you don't mind my asking?"
"The last few weeks they have been, yes," said Elsa. "It's nice to spend time with family and it gives me the chance to speak with Anna and Kristoff with as few prying ears as possible."
Kristoff, meanwhile, watched how he ate. He'd been raised by trolls, it was true, but it seemed that he had a better sense of decorum than Lord Derek did, who appeared to treat his fork as little more than a scoop than as the eating utensil it was. "I guess you don't know everything after all," said Kristoff, more to the Elsa and Anna than Lord Derek.
"Don't know everything about what?" asked Lord Derek, his fork halfway to his mouth.
"We just thought it was strange that you knew just what sort of gifts to bring to us and what our clothing sizes were," said Anna. She then hurried to fill her mouth with salad so she wouldn't need to respond.
Lord Derek gave a deep, barrel chested laugh. "Like I said, Weselton doesn't do things by half measure. But to answer your question, the former Duke is the one who guided me in selecting your gifts, more than not. He may be a complete idiot about seeing the bigger picture, but when it comes to noticing fine details there is no one I would rather have on my side than him."
Anna, Elsa and Kristoff all shifted nervously in their seats. The idea that the former Duke had been paying that much attention them in any way was unsettling.
"So do you like to watch, Lord Derek?" asked Elsa with a smirk. Anna snorted into her salad and Kristoff tried and failed to hide a smile.
Lord Derek shook his head no, appearing to have either not risen to the bait or had missed it entirely then said "The former Duke is leagues beyond me when it comes to things like that. I have other talents," Lord Derek said as he calmly poured himself a glass of wine. "For instance, I excel at going the distance. I will hammer long and hard against any barriers presented to me until things have reached their inevitable climax. More wine, Queen Elsa?"
Silence filled the room. Elsa began to blush, Anna played with her salad and Kristoff stared in admiration. Lord Derek just sipped at his wine until he couldn't contain himself anymore and he burst out laughing. "I am sorry, your Majesty, but you did ask," he said, wiping a tear away from his eye as he regrouped himself. With that the tension eased from the room and everyone laughed. Dinner went much smoother afterwards although the wine that came with each course helped the process along.