AN: Alright! So, I've decided that the story will go on for just a bit longer. Will likely be one more chapter, possibly another. I am not promising anything though. Enjoy!
Anna found herself woken up amidst gentle shaking and hushed words, eyes still closed she muttered something about five more minutes and curled around the pillow she was nestled against.
"At this rate she'll miss breakfast, the Queen even had the cooks prepare all sorts of treats because she didn't know what she liked."
"We will need to fix her hair before anything else, goodness me that is quite the bird nest. Mia,set out the green dress with the black corset. Miss Anna?" A firmer grip on her shoulder, coupled with a rougher shake was enough to get Anna to at the very least sit up, the soft blankets twisting around her waist.
"I'm awake, I'm awake..." she mumbled, partially drowned out by a large yawn.
Immediately multiple hands found themselves brushing and tugging at her red hair, attempting to tame the matted and unruly mess.
"I am sorry Miss Anna, but we're already running late by trying to wake you. Queen Elsa wanted to dine with you before she met with her council" More tugging on her hair, but gentler, the strands being pulled up into a bun.
Another yawn escapes Anna as she's guided out of the constricting blankets and into the soft floor length green dress. "Come along Miss, we don't want to keep Her Majesty waiting much longer." A hand grips her elbow and the redhead follows the pressure on it, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes with her free hand. Her stomach growled loudly and the maids giggled behind their hands.
"I guess I could do with some food." Anna remarked sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck as the maids led her down a hallway to a large set of double doors. "I really hope they don't expect me to know which fork to use..." she thought to herself as the doors were pushed open to reveal the dining room.
"Wow..." the word slipped past her lips as she gazed around the room, delicate chains of ice and snowflakes hung from the ceiling, catching the light that trickled in through the high windows. It was mesmerizing, though not nearly as much as the Queen herself.
Elsa was standing next to a chair near the head of the table, a gentle smile on her pale lips as she watched Anna view the room. The red head tried not to openly stare too hard at Elsa, but she knew she was failing miserably. Teal eyes drank in the sight of Elsa wearing tan breeches and knee high black boots, leading up to a form fitting light blue button up shirt underneath a black riding jacket. The blonde's hair was still braided off to the side, contrasting greatly against the dark jacket. It still had that wild, untamed look to it and all Anna wanted to do was run her fingers through it. Her hands tingled at that thought.
Clenching her hands into a fist, she blushed lightly and moved her gaze from the Queen's form to the table next to her. She almost forgot entirely about how the pale blonde was making her feel at the sight of the food on the dining room table. Giant platters of various fruit, apple and pears sliced into bite size pieces, oranges and bananas ready to peel, and what looked like melon slices? A bowl of strawberries and grapes placed next to the plates. She wasn't entirely sure what the other fruits were, past breakfasts were very simple fare. There was plates of biscuits and toast, butter and so many different spreads. How could there be so many choices?
Peering closer she saw a bowl of oatmeal with what looked like cinnamon sprinkled on top and a smaller bowl of sugar next to it. Taking a deep breath, Anna could smell something sweet, it tickled her senses and she couldn't place it.
"You're probably smelling the chocolate pastries," a pale hand picks up a small bite sized pastry topped with a chocolate spread and held it up in front of Anna. Her teal eyes glanced at Elsa before focusing on the pastry. Taking it in her fingers, she brought it up to her lips and took a small bite of it. She closed her eyes as the taste of the chocolate burst over her tongue and she hummed to herself as she ate the last of it.
"That was amazing! We never got to eat too many sweet things but chocolate is my favorite," licking her lips Anna looked over to Elsa who had a faint blush to her cheeks. "Would I be allowed to have some more?"
The blonde moved to the chair next to the head of the table and pulled it out for Anna. "You can have whatever you like and if need be, I'll have the cooks make up some more. But please sit." And Anna did, while Elsa pushed the chair up underneath her. A cool hand squeezed her shoulder before sliding down her arm. Shivering slightly, Anna blushed and proceeded to fill up her plate with the various foods and quite a few of the pastries.
Glancing out of the corner of her eye she watched as Elsa gracefully sat down and crosses her legs, making the motion seem elegant to Anna. "Focus on your food, do not think of those long legs. Honestly, breeches should not be that flattering. Come on Anna, what would Bulda think if she..." her inner monologue screeches to halt and her hand fumbles with the piece of fruit in her hands, dropping the grape to the floor.
Blushing heavily she pushed her chair out and crouched under the table, intent on grabbing the wayward grape. Grasping at it she scoots back and pushes herself back up, only to knock her head against the underside of the table. "Shit!" she muttered, holding her hands against the back of her head.
A slender arm wraps around her waist and pulls her gently from underneath the edge of the table to lean her against a cool body. "Easy Anna, I've got you. Now let me see your head." Gentle fingers remove her own that were clutched tightly together. Ever so lightly could she feel Elsa massage the knot she gave herself, cool fingers even chillier then normal. "You're going to have quite the lump there for a while. Are you usually this adorably clumsy?" cold breath blew over her head, numbing the heat Anna could feel spreading from the lump.
"Better?" Anna turned her head and nodded, the words getting caught in her throat as she saw how close Elsa's face was to her, arctic blue eyes watching her with concern. Twisting her hands in her lap she tore her gaze away from that bewitching stare.
"What..." squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she took a shallow breath, wishing that Elsa wasn't so close so that she could think, "What happened to my family?" Anna could feel the girl next to her stiffen ever so slightly, the temperature dropping even more then usual.
A quiet sigh whispers into Anna ear and the comforting arm around her waist moves to rest against the cushion on Anna's chair behind them. "They've already left firefly. Your elders knew that someone was attempting to sell information about you and they sent a messenger ahead of your group to me as you were making your way north. Pabbie had been an old friend of my family and originally he was the one to help me when I was younger and worried my parents with my powers." Elsa brought up her hand and with a flash of blue a tiny snowman appeared in her palm with a tiny snowstorm floating above it.
Anna couldn't help the shudder that ran through her body, the thrum of fire pulsing in her veins. Elsa let the creation in her hand fade into a gust of snowflakes, glittering against the light before fading away.
"He asked me to protect you, help you understand your gift better so that you could down the line, properly learn to defend yourself if you decide to.." Elsa had paused to take a deep breath and flick away the snowflakes that landed on Anna's sleeve. "If you decide to leave and rejoin your circus."
Reaching into her jacket, Elsa pulled out a slip of paper, yellowed and frayed around the edges. She held it out for Anna. "Pabbie and Bulda wanted me to give you this, once the topic was broached."
Grasping the paper, Anna unfolded it and gazed at the single line written in Gran Pabbie's penmanship. Tears pricked at the edges of her eyes and she wiped them away quickly. Her family knew this would be good for her. She would not be sad at this change in her fate.
"Cha d'dhùin doras nach d'fhosgail doras." The words rolled off her tongue softly, the meaning never felt more right to her.
Laughing, she leaned back against Elsa's side still staring at the words. The feel of those striking blue eyes peering at her curiously make Anna twist at the waist to face the blonde, a smile spread wide across her face.
"No door ever closed, but another opened." Another laugh escapes her lips and she takes Elsa's hand in her own. "I won't worry anymore, they had my best interests in heart." Standing up she tugged on Elsa's hands and she followed suit, though she surprised Anna by standing closer and dipping her head to place a kiss on each of Anna's hands. A radiant smile on Elsa's lip managed another heated blush on Anna's cheeks and a surge of heat to pass through her fingertips.
"They weren't the only ones, dear heart," the blonde squeezes her hands, "Now, I think it's time we finished breakfast, without any more accidents to your poor head." She lets go of Anna to fix her chair, setting it closer to her own. "My lady?" Pale hands gesture her towards the chair, as she bowed at the waist.
"Thank you kind sir." Giggling behind her hand, Anna seats herself in the chair, smoothing out her dress. Her plate, still full of the delicious chocolate pastries was set back in front of her and a glass of apple cider.
Elsa returned to her seat, leaning her elbows on top of the table to rest her against her clasped hands. She watched as Anna happily went back to devouring the pastries and fruit. Nibbling on her own breakfast she made little snow creatures dance and play across the open space on the table. She drank in the sight of the Anna laughing and enjoying the silly antics of the snow creations.
As they were nearly finished their meals, Elsa reached over and took Anna's hand in her own, she lightly traced her thumb over the back of the smaller girls hand. Elsa was rewarded with a small smile and a blush across freckled cheeks.
"As much as I'd love to give you a tour of the castle, I have to meet with some dusty old men about trivial things, but only for an hour or so. Perhaps Gerda or Mia could show you the main parts of the castle and then we could meet in the library for lunch?" Honestly she had no desire to meet with her council, the fools were a part of the problem. She would rather spend the day with this beautiful girl and learn all about her.
But such is the life of the ruler.
Anna looked up from the last of her chocolate pastries, a curious look on her face. "Would I be able to just visit the library? It's been so long since I've read a good book."
"I'm sure we'll be able to find you something to read, the library is quite vast." Elsa smiles widely and stands up from her chair. Moving over to where Anna is seated, she leans down and hooks a finger under her chin, tilting Anna's head up slightly to look at her. "You've got some chocolate on your face Anna..."
With that Elsa places a kiss on the corner of Anna's mouth.
"I believe I'll have the cooks make these more often." Licking her lips, the taste of chocolate and cinnamon, burst on the tip of her tongue. "I shall take my leave and hope to see you in the library, firefly." Grinning widely, she bowed and confidently sauntered to the door.
Anna could only watch dumbly, her face matching the color of her hair quite easily, as Elsa walked away with that...sway to her hips, mesmerizing and befuddling her mind. Soon the doors closed and the spell broke.
The servants could only watch, small smiles on their faces as Anna covered her face in her hands and muffled a squeal.