Sorry update took so long – I was on vacation in a no-internet zone xx
She had three days to kill. That was doable, right? And Anna had a plan as well. She'd sit up in her room and wait it out. Simple, but that was part of its perfection. None of the men would be allowed up into her room, and if they can't find her, they can't propose. Right?
Of course, this genius plan worked for a grand total of about two hours before Anna got stir crazy. She didn't want to read, she didn't want to draw (she wasn't that good anyway) and she really didn't want to sit up in her room. Of course, she was of no mind to marry any of the dignitaries, and needed to avoid them at all costs, but she still had to be able to talk to someone.
"Elsa?" she said quietly, knocking on the door of her sister's office. Elsa was sitting in a dark blue day dress, reading some documents.
She looked up. "Yes, Anna? Are you okay?"
Anna groaned and dropped down onto a fainting sofa, sprawling out in a very un-princesslike manner. She wrapped her arms around herself, an old habit dying hard, and loudly sighed. Not for dramatic fashion, or necessarily for attention, but just because there was a force pushing in on her ribcage and she needed to get it out, out of her system!
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Elsa put down the documents and strolled over to her sister.
Anna groaned again, but followed up with words. "I don't want to marry them, Elsa! Why can't things ever just be easy?"
Elsa chucked a little. "Welcome to life."
"Why do they always have to come?"
"Because that's part of the royal duties." Elsa said softly, stroking her sister's hair.
Anna could have recited that sentence for herself, she had heard it enough. And it wasn't Elsa's fault, she knew that, but Anna had just hoped there'd be some power where Elsa could scare them all away. But that would be bad for the kingdom, bad for business, and bad for her people, so Anna knew that, no matter what, the men had to stay. The royal duties had to be carried out.
"What am I supposed to do?" Anna murmured, throwing an arm over her eyes.
"There are seven men here that are sweet on you, Anna, but all to different degrees. Three of them think you're pretty, but I know for a fact that they have more serious attachments to other girls. Three of them are a little more smitten, and I'd avoid them. David is the least serious of the three, Javier is definitely looking at you with intent. Jack is the one most enamored with you. He's tried to talk with me about you several times, but I keep brushing him off."
"He's been talking to you? About what?!" Anna screeched.
"I don't know, I always change the subject and bring it back to business." Elsa nodded. "He'll be leaving soon, anyway. I prioritized our trade and our business is complete, save for a few signatures on a document. That will be taken care of either tonight or tomorrow, and he'll head out in a day or two."
"Thank you." Anna sighed, sitting up a little. "And who's number seven?"
Elsa smiled a little. "Kristoff."
"Ugh." Anna sneered.
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Did…something happen?"
"That's the problem. Something didn't happen."
"Anna, if you're worried about Kristoff propos-"
"No, that's not it! It's just-" Anna let out a shuttering breath. "It's just he forgot about our one year anniversary, and he was planning to go up into the mountains instead of celebrating with me. And he's always up in the mountains, and he can only stay at the castle for a couple days because he gets tired of being here and I don't know if he's gonna stick around for long. He's going to leave, Elsa! I just know it!" Anna spat out quickly, tripping over her words a bit. "And it's terrible, so terrible, being stuck right in the middle of the knowing-spot, where I'm not completely sure he's going to leave me, I mean, he hasn't said anything, he hasn't been packing, I don't think he's been talking to any other girls and he's never really in town anyway, but I'm not sure he's staying either! He's so unhappy being in the castle – he doesn't exactly hide it well. And at first I figured he just didn't like being boxed in so I got him a larger room and tried to show him all the gardens and stables and pastures because we've got so much empty space, my God, Elsa, why do we always have to have everything so empty? And, and-"
"Sweetie, calm down a bit, okay?" Elsa hugged her sister and held her close, as Anna was right on the brink of tears and just about to spill herself out.
Anna heaved in big shuttering sobs because no, she was not going to go through this again. She couldn't spend another ten years holed up in a castle, waiting for the day that Kristoff might trot down from the mountains to say hello, waiting for someone to find the strength to come back to her. She couldn't be so powerless.
"Anna, understand me, please." Elsa said as soothingly as she could. "Kristoff loves you, he really does. I can tell. Everyone can."
Anna sniffed in response.
"You have every right to be mad, I won't stop you. What he did was insensitive. But also, unintentional. Kristoff loves you like I love you; imperfectly. Neither of us would ever want to hurt you Anna, but we're human and we make mistakes. Sometimes things happen because we don't think through things, or because we're careless."
Anna groaned a little, dipping her head onto her sister's shoulder.
"My advice would be to let him try and make it up to you." Elsa nodded. "I know that he'll try."
Anna mused over the idea, sitting up and supporting her own weight now. "I don't want to be mad at him…" she said softly. "We will fix this."
…
Maybe this was too much. Maybe it wasn't enough. But with Kristoff's luck, it probably wasn't going to be just right. He shuffled home from town quickly, pulling his hat down over his eyes. He hadn't taken Sven, for he was too well known around town, and Kristoff did not want to be recognized, stopped, or remembered. As far as the townspeople needed to know, he was never ever here.
Of course, one lady in particular would know, sitting back in her loft. She was too friendly, Kristoff shouldn't have gone to her. There were other options but she was standing there – right outside the building, ushering him in, loudly, drawing attention, and he had to get away before someone looked again and saw 'Hey, isn't that the Prince Consort?'
So he had stomped in there before checking his other options, and she got started right away, showing him everything, asking questions, prying. Her name was Annabelle, and oh, what was his? But she moved from question to question with such rapid speed that Kristoff couldn't keep up for the life of him and he mumbled responses to questions that were already passed.
And, oh, she was very good at her job. Efficient, which he appreciated, for Kristoff wanted to leave before he was missed, but she also had a pleasant manner where she was both very excited, and very soothing.
After about two dozen questions trying to pin down exactly what it was Kristoff was looking to get, he managed to spit out the key words.
"Engagement ring. Size 7. Whatever style you think is best."
…
The two sisters sat in near silence, save for a few sighs from Anna, here and there, for the better part of a half hour. Anna rested her head on her sister's shoulder, and Elsa rubbed her hair soothingly and tried to reassure the girl silently.
There was a sharp knock at the door, and Elsa granted permission for entrance.
"Your majesty…majesties." A young man, early twenties, entered the room with a tea tray. Clearing his throat, he continued. "I was informed you were hard at work today, my Queen, and wondered if you would perhaps like a bit of a bite."
"Thank you, Clark." Elsa beamed, rising to get the platter.
"Oh don't disturb yourself, highness." Clark said quickly, putting down the tray and flushing bright red.
"Thank you." Elsa said, with a bit more warmth than needed, patting his shoulder and giving him a slight smile. "It was very kind of you to think of me."
"Of course, how could I forget?" Clark smiled a little and then bowed forward, exiting quickly.
"What'd he bring?" Anna asked groggily, walking over.
"Tea. Sandwiches. That's not what's important, Anna." Elsa semi-scolded.
Anna huffed a little. "Whatever. It was nice of your boyfriend to think of you." She teased, batting her eyelashes.
"Anna, stop!" Elsa snapped a little, flushing.
Anna giggled and grabbed two scones, flopping down onto the couch. "Where's Kristoff?" she asked after she finished them. "I miss him already."
Elsa smiled. "Shocker." She teased, flicking a scone crumb at her. "Somewhere out on the grounds, I'm sure."
…
Anna tromped down to the grounds, looking high and low for Kristoff. The air was getting a bit of a nip to it, and she wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed vigorously, regretting that she hadn't brought her cloak.
She scampered down to the stabled: he was probably with Sven. He was always with Sven.
"Kristoff?" she called out, shutting the door behind her. "Are you here?"
"Princess Anna!" an accented voice responded. Javier put dismounted from his horse and strode over to greet her. "I was just about to go for a ride, my lovely. Care to join me?"
"Oh, oh…no thank you." Anna laughed uncomfortably. "You go have fun, I'm actually looking for someone."
Javier sneered. "That grimy reindeer man?"
"Hey!" Anna objected. He was her grimy reindeer man, and Javier had no right to speak of him in that way!
"I did not mean to use such language, princess. But I do not approve of his actions." Javier shook his head. "You deserve better."
"What do you mean?" Anna pushed her brow together, unknowingly taking a step toward him.
Javier cupped her face and tilted it up to meet his eyes. "He snuck off into town. Wrapped himself up into a disguise, didn't tell anyone he was leaving. Men only behave so secretly for one reason."
Anna had a thousand 'one reasons' flood into her brain, but she looked back up at Javier. "What?"
"I do not wish to distress you, Princess." He said sincerely, a look of true concern crossing his face. "Perhaps, ah, I should not have mentioned anything." He said quickly, taking a step back.
"No, tell me!" Anna said, stomping her foot assuredly.
"No, Princess, I'm so sorry."
"Please, Javier."
"…to meet someone. Often…a, uh, female someone." He mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
Anna crinkled her eyebrows together. "Don't ever even suggest that." She snapped, picking up her skirts and turning at her heel. "Kristoff!" she called out into the air. "KRISTOFF!"
"Do you need help, Princess?" another, non-Kristoff voice called out.
Anna gave an exasperated sigh and ignored him, pressing on. But he ran after her still, grabbing her arm, panting and grinning.
"What is it, Jack?" she said, a little irritated.
"Hey, hey!" he said, over exaggerating his hurt. "Don't be harsh."
"Sorry, sorry…" Anna mumbled, half-sincerely. "What do you need?"
"I just want to talk to you!" he said, smiling and letting go of her arm. "Is that really so bad?"
"No, no, of course not!" Anna said, walking and allowing him to follow.
"We've barely gotten to speak, and I've been here for weeks-"
"Well you've been doing business with my sister, I understand." Anna interrupted.
"Right, and that'll be done any day now so I –"
"Am sure you must be eager to get back home."
"Well, yes, of course, I love my country, but I've got some other business, per se, that I need to take care of very soon and I –"
"Need to get home and start working on it, well, I'd hate to keep you."
"Anna, please." Jack said, stepping in front of her. "I'm trying to treat this with a little more romance than a contract, and I'd just like to take you out on a walk, run this by you."
Anna felt her heart beat faster. "No, please, Jack, I've got to go."
"Anna-"
"COMING ELSA!" Anna shouted to no one in particular, running into the palace.
…
Elsa pulled the servant's cord and held her breath, fingers crossed.
"May I assist you, Queen Elsa?" Clark cracked open the door and let himself in.
Elsa smiled at him. "The trays, if it's not a bother."
"Of course not!" Clark said, stacking saucers and cutlery on the largest plate. "Anything else I can get you?"
"I-" Elsa shut her mouth quickly. This really wasn't a good idea!
Clark raised his eyebrows, still anticipating a response.
Elsa spat out her sentence before reason could overcome her. "I'd really like to go on a walk. Through the gardens maybe?"
"Of course, I'll make sure the workers are off the path. Any special requests?" Clark smiled.
"I…I could use an escort." Elsa said with a subtle confidence.
Clark looked panicky. "I could ask for Princess Anna, or, or if there's anyone you'd like to request or talk to, I'd-I'd be more than happy to-"
"Oh," Elsa sighed, feeling embarrassed. "I didn't mean to imply- if you're busy – of course,"
"No, no." Clark put down the tray and held up his hands. "Of course, my Queen, I'd be happy to escort you!"
Elsa smiled a little, but drew her face quickly back to a blank. "You're sure I'm not keeping you from anything?"
"Nothing is more important." Clark nodded, opening the door for her. As Elsa exited, he spun into the room to pull the servants' cord, allowing for someone else to pick up the tray.
The two strode down to a maze garden path, uncomfortably talking and trying not to make eye contact with the servants and gardeners that Clark didn't have time to shoo off the path.
Maybe this was a bad idea. "So what brings you to the palace, Clark?"
"Well, my father was a trader, but he hated it. Said the work was too stressful and kept him removed from his family. Told me to do anything I wanted, as long as it didn't keep me away from who I loved. And, well, I'm unmarried, no kids, so I'm not so much attached to a 'who' that I love as I am to a 'what' – food. I came to work in the kitchens when I was, erm, 16, and have been working my way up for the past 10 years." He nervously smiled.
"That's wonderful."
"So what's it like being Queen?"
"A job…" Elsa nodded. "I don't like complaining about it, because I have so much here in the palace, while some of my people are struggling every day, but it does get overwhelming. Looking and acting perfect, keeping the subjects happy, keeping the other countries happy, everyone always has to be in the best of spirits! It's draining." She sighed. "But of course," she brightened. "I always have lovely things. Like this garden."
Clark looked over her and nodded, smiling. "Very beautiful."