Precisely one week after the letters were sent, two ships arrived in the harbor, and the royal family met them with carriages and horses. Rapunzel stood next to Eugene, nearly standing on tiptoe, clutching the skirts of her soft pink gown. Their guests would be arriving soon, and the castle was a frenzy of preparations, getting rooms ready, and cooking a feast. Rapunzel was so excited she could hardly stand it, adjusting and re-adjusting her crown as they waited. As the ships lowered the gangplanks she lifted her head, trying to catch a glimpse of Anna or Elsa, and Merida. The first ship's passengers slowly made their down the ramp, and Rapunzel saw that it was Queen Elsa, looking regal in a royal blue traveling dress. Princess Anna followed close on her heels, tugging a seasick Kristoff behind her. She was wearing a spring green dress, her traveling cloak draped over her arm in the warm Corona air. Rapunzel stepped forward to greet them, curtsying deeply "Your majesties" Elsa inclined her head, following royal procedures perfectly. Anna bobbed a curtsy, smiling eagerly. "We're so pleased you could make it." Said Rapunzel, her own excitement building. Eugene and Kristoff shook hands, and Kristoff bowed to her parents, who nodded respectively to him in return. "You two girls have grown so much. The last time I saw you was when you were only babies." Queen Isabel said to Anna and Elsa. Elsa relaxed more, becoming more comfortable "Your mother would be so proud of you Elsa" Elsa smiled again. "Thank you Aunt Isabel" As her mother and Elsa conversed quietly Anna approached Rapunzel. "We're so glad to be here, it's so nice to finally see our cousin!" Her smile faltered a moment as she remembered why they were here "Is the situation very dire?" she said quietly. Rapunzel nodded. "Well, I'm sure it's nothing you, Elsa, and Merida can't handle! Speaking of Merida, where is she?" she said, standing on tiptoe and peering toward the other ship. A moment later a girl on a large black and white horse came flying off the ship, her bright red hair glinting in the sun. The horse flew down the gangplank, slamming to a halt in front of the group. Rapunzel dropped into a curtsy, Anna following suit. "Princess Merida, thank you for coming on such short notice." Spoke Rapunzel. Merida dropped down to the ground, her red hair flying every which way "Pleased to be here your highness" She said in her thick Scottish accent ,Rapunzel smiled. "That is quite some hair you've got there, its lovely!" Merida grinned "Me? Look at yours, almost makin' it to the floor, it is. And like spun gold from the fairytales!" They laughed together, Anna chuckling at the two as well. Elsa smiled good-naturedly, and the King and Queen watched with amusement. Kristoff and Eugene had struck up a conversation on the winter season in Corona, his interest on that of the ice business. King Marcus stepped forward as the servants filed by carrying the young royals' luggage. "Perhaps we should make our way back to the castle; I do not like having you ladies out here in the open at this late hour." They all glanced up, now noticing the sky darkening, and the air becoming chilled. Cloaks were brought out, all gladly taking one except for Elsa, who waved hers away. Merida hopped back up into the saddle, and horses were brought out for the others. They slowly made their way through the town, and people waved and smiled, curtsying and bowing at the group. When they arrived at the large front gates, the guards shouted to one another, as the group came to a halt. The gates were slowly opened, and as they waited Elsa felt a tug on the hem of her gown, but when they looked down, she saw nothing. Shaking her head, she nudged her horse in the side, urging it forward. When they entered the courtyard they quickly dismounted and were escorted inside. They were ushered into the dining room, and each was led to their chair. As they settled in, servants brought the first course out. They all talked over the meal, laughing and getting to know each other. By the end everyone was in stitches as Merida regaled them with tales of her mischievous brothers. When the meal was over, Elsa stood, her napkin falling to the floor. She bent to pick it and she felt a rush of air. She looked up but only saw a servant standing by the door. She grabbed the napkin quickly, setting it on the table and following the others out of the dining room. Anna had her arm around Rapunzel's waist, and they were chatting animatedly, and Merida and the King were discussing battle strategy. Eugene and Kristoff were talking about Castle layout, and Elsa fell in step with the Queen, chalking up the strange feelings to nerves from traveling. Isabel looped her arm through hers, smiling at her as they went into a cozy sitting room. Full of overstuffed couches, a piano in the corner, and a table surrounded by maps and books, it was the perfect place for a bit of relaxing. "Anna" she called, "why don't you play something on the piano for us, if they don't mind that is." She said, looking to Aunt Isabel for approval. "That sounds like a wonderful idea" She nodded to Anna, who went directly to the piano and began playing a lively jig. King Marcus held his hand out to Queen Isabel, who took it, laughing about how she didn't know this dance. Merida sat back on the couch, choosing not to partake, and Eugene had grabbed Elsa before she could protest, whirling her onto the dance floor. Kristoff leaned against the table, and Rapunzel bounded up to him, dragging him out as well. He let her lead him, and tried not to step on her feet, and they both ended up laughing too hard about the hopping she was doing to avoid his shoes to continue the dance. Rapunzel offered to take over the piano, and Anna skipped up and grabbed Elsa, pulling her into the fast paced dancing. Anna tried to teach her the steps, and after a few minutes she had caught on. Suddenly the tune picked up, and everyone was trading partners, Kristoff with Queen Isabel, Merida with King Marcus, Eugene with Anna. Elsa became aware of an invisible grip on her hand and waist, and was being whirled around the floor as if by a nonexistent dance partner. Suddenly she saw a flash of dark hair and twinkling brown eyes, and Cheshire cat grin smiling at her as they spun. She jerked away, stumbling backward into a tall vase. As it shattered against the wood floor everyone turned in her direction, the piano abruptly stopping with a painful combination of keys. The handsome stranger was gone, but this time she knew for sure she wasn't seeing and hearing things. She glanced around the room, searching for movement. Suddenly beside her, he appeared again "A thousand pardons my queen" he kneeled before her. She stepped back, sending a blast of ice at his foot, freezing his shoe to the floor. He glanced down, his laugh bubbling out. "Very fast thinking." He vanished again, reappearing a few feet away, the ice still stuck to the floor, but with only a shoe left in it. "How did you..?" The King stepped forward, standing between Elsa and the stranger. "Who are you?" The stranger had the decency to look embarrassed. "Forgive me for arriving unannounced, it was awfully rude of me, but I heard of the on goings of Cimmeria, and I assumed you would need help. I am Prince Ijori*, from the Kingdom of Salomea."
*Rhymes with Ivory