Anna awoke early the next morning, unable to fall back into the trance-like slumber she had stirred from. Sitting up groggily, she pushed limp hair from her face and pressed her eyelids together in a bid to blink away remnants of sleep. Stretching her arms outwards, her eyes still closed, she immediately felt as if something was missing. Sure enough, the weight of Kristoff's body had been removed from his usual position - lying next to her. Longingly, Anna reached a hand over to where her love would lay, stroking the empty sheets. A mournful air passed over her, and Anna found herself grieving for the man who so belonged to her bedroom, the man whom she had accustomed herself to constantly being with.
Footsteps echoed their way up the long hallway, passing Anna's door in a hurry. They abruptly stopped, and Anna listened as they returned. A few hesitant seconds passed, until a voice made a decision and spoke. "Anna? Are you awake?" Anna opened an eye, following the familiar voice toward the doorway.
"Hmm? Elsa?" Her reply was husky; her voice had not yet begun to form words purely this morning. Anna coughed loudly, covering her mouth with a fist. "Elsa?"
"The band'll be here in an hour," her sister told her. Her confident voice shook as she continued, "Can I come in?"
"Of course you can!" The much welcomed reply enabled Elsa to twist the door handle and enter the room, looking sheepishly at her younger sister. Anna looked Elsa over before raising herself into a sitting position. "I told you, you don't have to ask unless-"
"Kristoff's here, I know," Elsa finished. The pair looked away from each other; Anna's cheeks flamed as red as her hair, and Elsa paled at past memories. "I just don't want to take any chances."
Anna shrugged, the strap of her nightgown falling down her shoulder. "Fair enough," she replied, absent-mindedly pulling the material fixture back into the station it belonged. "What did you come in for?" Anna asked softly, indicating for Elsa to sit beside her on the bed.
Elsa ignored the gesture, choosing instead to sit on the chair paired with Anna's desk. "I've fed Sven already," she announced, pulling a slipper from her foot and inspecting it. Sensing Anna's indignation, she quickly continued. "Carrots, obviously."
"Thank you," Anna said, looking out of her bedroom window, sighing. "I was looking forward to that, though."
"You were?" Removing a small stone from the sole of the slipper, Elsa placed the article back on her foot. "You should have said."
"I was asleep," Anna said bitterly. Sven was the closest thing she had left of Kristoff, and she was determined to keep him in good shape, without help from anyone else. She could just imagine the impressed look on Kristoff's face when he came back home; him seeing Sven stand healthily with a glossy coat and a pile of carrots to his side to share. He'd sweep Anna up in his arms, kissing her over and over, praising her for all of her hard work…
Elsa stood hastily, brushing her hands down the sides of her dress. "Yes," she said quietly, moving toward the door. With a harder tone, she turned to face Anna. "Be ready for the band. I trust you with this."
"So you say."
"Anna," Elsa began, attuning her speech to host a much gentler tone. "I know you miss him, but please don't take this out on me. I'm only trying to help you." The eldest sibling paused, assessing Anna, who was still on her bed. Anna's hands were clasped irately into two fists, her eyes clamped together. "If you need any help, you know where I am," Elsa said. She didn't move for a long few seconds, concern etched onto her face. After realising Anna wasn't going to speak, Elsa sighed and left the room.
The click of the door closing allowed Anna to relax and open her palms. "I'll come and find you so that you can tell me how you want me to live my life, right Elsa?" she muttered, the words lost in the anger of her breath. Frustrated, she threw herself back down onto her bed, closing her eyes.
"How did it go?" Kai asked, scrutinising the disgruntled queen as she walked into the throne room. With a withering look at the servant, Elsa seated herself on a chair left at the side of the room after she'd hosted the last reception. "Not well then?" Kai grinned as he pulled a chair up alongside Elsa.
"Not really. With all her talk of me shutting her out, she seems to be doing a pretty good job of shutting herself out." Elsa dropped her face into her hands, rubbing her eyes.
"She's just missing Kristoff."
"I know. But this is out of character, even for her."
Kai shrugged. "The girl's in love. Erratically in love."
"It's been a day."
"And it'll get easier for her. Right now she needs to be left alone. You've done what you can, and when she realises she needs you she'll be straight there. I promise." Elsa nodded in recognition of Kai's words, sitting up. "Your majesty, if you don't mind me asking, what time did you get in last night?"
"Funny story," Elsa said. "I actually met Anna coming back in from seeing off Kristoff. I don't know what time it was, it was quite late."
"Anna came in late? No wonder she's still in bed... And how is Henrik? I've been meaning to ask."
Elsa flushed a deep red. "He's fine, thank you for asking."
"I thought Your Majesty would spend the night there…"
"Kai!"
The servant laughed, standing up. "Would you like anything from the kitchens, Your Majesty?"
"No thanks, I'm fine," Elsa replied.
"If you need anything, just let myself or Gerda know. We'll get it right away."
"Thank you, Kai."
Kai smiled, exiting through the colossal throne room doors. Elsa remained seated momentarily, her face darkening. She'd placed Anna in charge of the upcoming ball in order to keep Anna's mind focused on something other than Kristoff. Elsa hoped that as soon as the band members arrived, Anna would be thrust into hard work in choosing songs and staging the musicians in the Minstrel's Gallery, and would barely have time for her mind to flicker to thoughts other than what was at hand. Shaking her head, Elsa rose. She walked through into the corridor, deciding to view the artwork in the entrance hall before she would begin her paperwork.
As she reached the door of the entrance hall, Elsa noticed the suit of armour that Anna had taken the sword from the night before in a bout of excitement. The Queen moved over to it, looking at her reflection in the brilliant metal. The rays of light filtering in through the windows each side of the door to the castle captured particles in the air that hung over Elsa. Elsa looked at her flush complexion, filled with newfound love. Her eyes seemed brighter; her royal attire clung exquisitely to every curve on her body. White-blonde hair lay just passed her breasts, drawing a voyeur's eye to them.
A loud mix of voices turned Elsa's attention to a rabble gathering outside the castle doors.
"Did you say you'd met the Queen before?" A female was speaking, her words instantly hushing the small crowd around her.
"No, I said I was sick for the coronation." A second voice, male, answered her.
The female replied, "no way – me too!"
"I swear, if you're the person who made me ill I'll-"
"There was a bug, it wasn't my fault!"
Realising the musicians had arrived, Elsa made a start for the door.
"I heard that Queen Elsa can be really cold…" A new voice had created a different conversation, stopping Elsa in her tracks.
"Ha, funny."
"No - I'm serious. One of the girls down at the school said that she refused to let the princess marry her Kristoff!"
Elsa rolled her eyes. "That would be Hans," she muttered.
"But they've been together for almost a year!"
"I know. Apparently Elsa said Anna couldn't marry him, so Anna and Kristoff went on a 'honeymoon' anyway."
"Don't be stupid," the female voice countered, "After the coronation, Anna went to save Elsa."
The male sputtered. "She went to bring back summer, not to save a powerful sorceress who'd never need saving…"
"Oh shut up! How can you possibly know that?"
"Everyone knows…"
Elsa refused to listen to any more of the exchange outside. She took a deep breath and opened up the door. Immediately, the trio stopped bickering and bowed low to their Queen.
"Queen Elsa," the loudest female gasped, dropping her instrumental case.
"It's nice to meet you," Elsa said, forcing a smile. "Won't you come in?" She motioned to the male instrumentalist, and then to the inside of the castle. The queen lent her head back, shouting up the stairs. "Kai? Gerda? The musicians are here!"
Upstairs, Anna's eyes opened wide. "Oh shoot," she exclaimed, bolting out of bed. Panicking, she pulled an outfit from her armoire and ran from her room, sliding down the bannister until she hit the ground floor of the castle. All three musicians looked up as Anna entered the Minstrel's Gallery, her face red with effort.
Puzzled, Elsa raised her eyebrows inquisitively at her sister. Letting out a gasp she started to say, "what are you-"
"Hi, I'm Anna!" Anna said breathlessly, smiling profusely at each of the band members in turn. "I'm going to be the person in charge of positioning you etcetera, etcetera, but you probably assume that from my eagerness and excitement."
Elsa tried again. "Anna-"
"You must be Aida," Anna said, gesturing to the first female. "And you're… Cecily?"
"Cecilia," the third band member stated, looking flustered.
"Aida, Cecilia, which means you're either Vigulf or Henrik." Anna placed her hands on her hips, proud at her own memory.
"Anna, I must insist-"
"Oh Elsa please, I'm doing fine here. Can't you just let me be in control for once?" Angry, Anna felt her hands closing back into fists, her arms now resting at her side.
"Anna," Elsa began, her eyes on the floor. "Your dress-"
Anna exploded. "Are you really telling me what to wear now?!"
Vigulf coughed, drawing Anna's attention to him. "Look down, princess."
The dress Anna had chosen to wear would have been perfect for the occasion; there was no doubt about that. When putting it on, however, Anna had missed the vital fact that her breasts were supposed to align themselves with the space in the dress allocated for breasts, and not above this space. Hastily, Anna turned around, readjusting the front panel of the garment. She sheepishly twisted, grimacing at her audience.
"I thought something felt a bit breezy," she said, laughing uneasily. Smiling a toothy smile, she leaned towards Elsa and said through her gritted teeth, "you couldn't have said anything?"
Elsa's head snapped around to face her younger sister. "Anna, I tried to tell you…"
"Whatever."
"You called?" Gerda had entered the room, carrying a tray of hot drinks.
"Thank you, Gerda," Elsa said, moving aside so Gerda could place the tray down on a small table. A plethora of thankful smiles exchanged between the band and the servant.
"I'm Vigulf, by the way," the male said, addressing the sisters. "Henrik hasn't arrived yet." As if on cue, a knock resounded from the heavy wood of the door.
"Henrik?" Elsa asked as Anna went in answer of the sound. As she did so, ice crystals expelled themselves from Elsa's fingertips, coating the floor.
"Yes, he's one of our hardingfele players."
"Oooh, you have hardinfele players?" Anna asked, re-entering the room with a taller man. Henrik was around six foot three, slim faced and bodied, yet still sported well-muscled arms. His dark hair had been recently cut, although his sideburns verged on 'long'. Elsa squeaked, causing the group to look at her in surprise.
"Uh, we do, yes," Vigulf answered, talking to Anna but keeping a curious expression targeted on Elsa.
"Queen Elsa, if it isn't my pleasure to see you on this fine morning I have no idea what is," said Henrik, charming Elsa with a beam.
"Henrik, how lovely it is to see you again," Elsa replied politely, calming herself. "Would you like a tour of the rooms?"
Aida nudged Cecilia suggestively; on noticing this action, Anna clasped her hands over her mouth, stifling her giggling.
"Of course, that would be delightful, my Queen," Henrik answered, holding out an arm for Elsa to take. Reddening, she did so, and the pair left the room. Waiting for their footsteps to fade from earshot, Vigulf leaned in towards his fellow band mates as Anna took a seat next to them.
"What was all that about?" he asked, grinning.
Cecilia laughed, her mouth being quickly covered by a 'shh'-ing Aida. "The Queen and Henrik have been seeing each other."
"Is that another of your rumours?" Vigulf looked unimpressed.
"Can't you tell? They're smitten."
"Wait, what? Elsa and Henrik are a thing?" Anna asked, puzzled.
"Yes, why?"
Anna bit her lip in thought. "Elsa came home late last night… I wonder if she was seeing him?"
"Ooh, that's very exciting." Cecilia seemed to be taking mental notes, as if she were a journalist writing for a gossip magazine.
"Oh!" Anna said. "I'm not sure if I was meant to say anything."
"Don't mind her," Aida said, looping an arm through Anna's. "Maybe we could get a tour of the place as well? Your sister just took our lead player." She and Cecilia sniggered. In an attempt to join in with her new acquaintances, Anna too began to laugh, her own laughter finishing late after the other two females. She coughed, embarrassed.
"I suppose we should begin this tour then, hey?" Vigulf said, kindly. He stood, reaching a hand down to Anna. Looking at his hand, Anna's eyes widened. Grinning at her innocence, Vigulf took Anna's hand in his and pulled her upwards.
The two stood, their eyes locking together. Minutes passed before Aida coughed; Anna quickly dropped Vigulf's hand, looking down.
Aida and Cecilia joined the pair in standing. Vigulf turned to Anna, catching her eye. His mouth pulled up into a one-sided grin, perfect teeth flashing. "So, where should we start?"