A/N: So I totally misspelled the King and Queen's names because I didn't bother to look them up and make sure I was right lol. Sorry about that. And I'm too lazy to go back and edit the first chapter all over again. So from THIS chapter onwards, their names will be correct. Ignore my stupidness up until this point haha.
Also, I know. You waited forever and this is short. But I screwed up and deleted this chapter twice already and literally just gave up. Sorry guys. I swear chapters will be longer and that they'll be up faster than this. Thanks for still sticking with it!
She'd gone over it a thousand times in her head, what to say. She'd practiced it in the mirror and even to the handmaiden that had come in earlier to help her dress for the evening - the poor woman had looked uncomfortable and unsure the entire time, and had babbled more than even Anna herself did when embarrassed. And yet, standing before her parents now, in the grand entrance to the ball room, Anna was utterly clueless as to the social graces she was supposed to be exuberating.
Her mother scowled, brows low over her eyes as she came up and began picking at the bosom of Anna's gown. "For the Heavens' sake, darling, show some class," she hissed, meeting her daughter's eye and tugging the fabric upward.
Anna frantically swatted at the intruding hands, taking a half step back. "Mother! Please, I can do this myself."
"Well it certainly doesn't look like it."
"Ladies," her Father murmured, stepping up alongside Iduna and smiling fondly at Anna. "Everything is fine. Anna, you look absolutely breathtaking. I'm sure that no one will be able to take their eyes off of you tonight."
Anna only had a moment to beam at the compliment before her mother scoffed, once more reaching out, but this time to straighten the sapphire pendant pinned to the sky blue of her dress. "That's because she's putting herself on display," the woman mumbled.
It took sheer willpower alone not to roll her eyes, but somehow Anna managed. The smile that danced along her lips was forced and uneasy as she slipped back, out of reach of her vying mother. "Yes, well, I believe everyone is waiting, right? We wouldn't want to be late to our own ball, mother."
A shared look between the King and Queen. Agnarr smiled at his beloved, held out his hand for her to take; Iduna returned the gesture with less enthusiasm but more poise, accepting his outstretched palm. Anna sighed quietly to herself and straightened her back, waited for her parents to pass her before following behind them as they entered the doorway.
Upon their arrival, all others seemed to fade into silence. The room was filled, yet conversation became dashed as the leading royals made their ways steadily to their thrones, a wave of respect and admiration for their monarchs passing over everyone in the room. Anna peaked out the corner of her eye and caught sight of at least two dignitaries she somewhat recalled from previous events. But aside from them, everyone she glanced over was new and awestruck and made her palms feel slick with embarrassed perspiration.
Gods above, let this night not crash and burn.
After introductions were made, Anna found herself in the midst of the dancefloor, an older gentleman leading her in the first dance of the night. Already her heels were stinging in their glass prison, her steps unsteady. She knew how to dance, somewhat, but didn't seem to be able to find an ounce of grace as the man spun her once before pulling her close.
"You look lovely, Princess," he murmured, a gentle smile along his features, and Anna had to remind herself to keep her eyes up and off their feet as she tried to mirror his steps.
"Oh, ah, thank you, Duke Hahlming." She winced as she stepped on his toes, an apology falling from her lips instantly. "I'm sorry!"
But he simply chuckled. His eyes danced with the long since faded sunlight. "There's nothing to be sorry for, my lady. We all misstep sometimes." As if to prove his point, whether accidentally or on purpose, he stumbled over his own feet.
A small laugh bubbled up from the redhead as she held on to his upper arm, looking down without thought at her movements. "Very true, indeed."
They danced until the music shifted, and then Anna excused herself and eased herself through the crowd. Her destination was the exquisite chocolate fountain that had been set up across the room; her Father had made it clear she could only have some should she be respectful and dance with those that asked for her hand. As far as she was concerned, that had happened.
She made it half way before bumping into someone. The apology was along her tongue as she turned to the stranger, only for the words to die somewhere across her lips.
Who stood before her, she hadn't the faintest idea. But this woman, this... Goddess, for surely that was the only explanation for her beauty, blinked at her with lashes the color of snow, and eyes the color of an Autumn sky at midday.
When she spoke, it was liquid and flowing and sounded like the song of the sea. "Forgive me, Princess Anna." Each syllable settled on Anna's ears like they were made just for her.
Anna didn't even realize she was smiling until she found her voice again, and responded. "O-oh. Oh! Oh, um, it's okay. It was my fault anyway, so you have nothing to ask forgiveness for. I don't know how I didn't see you."
The mystery woman returned the gesture, an easy smile finding its way along her thin lips. She cocked her head and loose strands of the most pure platinum blonde hair Anna had ever had the pleasure of witnessing brushed along her forehead. They were too short to be pulled back in the tight bun the woman had pulled her hair into, and something in the redhead's arm twitched with the want to reach out and push them back behind the woman's ears.
Sharp cheekbones, hollow cheeks. Skin so pale it only held a shade more color than the long sleeved gown she adorned. And even... Those were freckles, dusting along her sharp, narrow nose.
Anna didn't realize she'd subconsciously leaned in until the woman was taking a step back, smile still in place but slightly more strained due to the strange, sudden action. "Yes, well," she began quietly, the uneasiness in her voice forcing Anna back into reality. "It is a pleasure to meet you, at last. My father has talked so much about you."
Anna blinked. Furrowed her brow as the words settled. "Your father? Who is-"
"King Matheus, of course." When the redhead only stared, confused, the woman mimicked the brow furrowing. "I... Surely you know my father, yes?"
"Y-yes, yes." Anna looked away out of embarrassment, only finally noticing that they were standing in the middle of the dancefloor, surrounded by couples, the steady playing of the orchestra loud and clear and reverberating off the high walls. "I just... wasn't aware he had a daughter."
"Oh." There was a quiet moment, Anna looked back up to find the blonde looking off to the far right. When she dared glance that way, she caught the briefest of glimpses of King Matheus and a woman, someone she assumed was his bride. "Well, this is rather unorthodox," she heard the mystery woman murmur.
Enough of that. Anna looked back and shrugged, outstretched her hand. "Well, no matter. As you know, I'm Anna. But I'm afraid I still haven't caught your name."
The blonde looked at the hand like it might bite her. As if it was the most unruly of actions Anna could have taken. And, as it dawned on her, Anna supposed it sort of was. She gave a sheepish smile as she quickly jerked her hand back to her side, watching the way the woman's face contorted. Curse the guardsmen and how they had taught her mannerisms unbefitting of her stature, Anna mused. Not in any seriousness, though.
The woman nodded once, smile coming back, though smaller and more cautious than previously. "My name is Elsa."
Elsa. Anna couldn't help the way her mind immediately associated the name to the face and just knew. It fit so perfectly and surely someone that looked like that had a befitting name to go along with the image. She smiled at the thought despite herself and nodded.
"Well, it's lovely to meet you, Elsa. And may I humbly thank you and your family for agreeing to be here tonight, and to stay for the remaining week. Arendelle can seem awfully dull but it is quite welcoming, I can assure you."
"Yes, I... have seen that already." Anna looked to her and found her looking back in this way that was all searching and almost knowing. As if she could see clear through Anna. It was... uncomfortable. Not to mention that the blonde was at minimum a head taller than her, towering over her like some perfect statuette of regality. It was eerily intimidating, if she were to be completely honest.
She gave a crooked sort of smile and looked away, hoping to escape whatever scrutiny she was under as she feigned looking around. "So, um, when do I get to meet your brother?"
A moment of utter quiet. She couldn't help glancing back because surely Elsa had heard her. Their eyes met. "I don't have one," the blonde finally stated.
That moment of quiet turned to dead silence in Anna's ears. Didn't have-.
"Woah, woah, woah. Wait a second," she scoffed, furrowing her brow to the point it actually sort of hurt her forehead. "Don't have one? But I... Your father said that he wanted me to-" She paused, waited. Then couldn't hide the snort that broke free. "Oh, I get it. This is a joke, right? He's right behind me or something and I turn and, bam, the joke's on Anna. You had me going for a moment there, Elsa."
And with that she turned, expecting someone to be towering over her or to be just off to the side waiting for some signal or something. But there was no one there. Well, aside from the dancing couples, but there was no one that looked remotely interested in their conversation or that looked even distantly related to the blonde now behind her. Something in her stomach dropped as she caught the sound of Elsa clearing her throat.
"If you're done, now," the blonde spoke, and Anna turned back to find herself being looked down at as if she'd just broken a priceless heirloom. She winced back subconsciously. "I am the only heir to my father's throne. I don't joke," she spat the word as if it were unimaginably sour, "about such things."
Anna couldn't seem to find her voice as the situation really registered in her mind.
Elsa watched her a moment longer before huffing and clasping her hands before herself. They were gloved, Anna noted. One of the only things she could note. "I'm sorry that this had to be dragged out in such a way. As I understood, you were already aware of the... unusual circumstances we were facing. I'm sorry if I have offended or wasted your time, my lady."
Anna blinked, looked up and at the blonde's face. She looked sincere in her apology and that somewhat shocked her.
Elsa only returned the look briefly before turning back to look towards her father. Then at her again as she gave a partial curtsy. "If I may take my leave, then, Princess Anna. It was a pleasure meeting you at last. Should you wish to speak with me further, I shall more than likely be near my parents."
Anna didn't get a chance to say goodbye before the blonde was being swallowed by the crowd. But she did catch the way the woman seemed to almost float over the floor, as if gliding. And it was as if she had never even been there in the first place, couple after dancing couple filling in the spaces she left as the music continued. Anna didn't fully understand why she felt a pang of something unknown hit her when she lost sight of the burning platinum she'd been following through the people.
She shook her head as she wove around the couples. Surely she wasn't really as hung up over this Elsa person as her brain was trying to vie her into being. No, it was nothing. She was just shocked because she had never seen someone so perfectly royal before. Never witnessed someone with such charm and poise and delicate commandeer. If anything, she somewhat looked up to this woman. Elsa was everything her mother had had her believing she should be, given her status. She was allowed to envy that.
But this whole ordeal... Had her father not know? Or had he simply assumed it would be easier for her to figure this out on her own? Anna swallowed and shook her head and turned, deciding that she desperately needed that chocolate right about now.