I'm so sorry about such a late update, got really caught up with everything and didn't get to finish this chapter. But It's worth it I swear!
Longest chapter this one. Enjoy reading and remember to review;)xx
"I said stop," Anna giggled as Kristoff kissed her neck, distracting her. "I need to get ready." She shoved him off her roughly and he stumbled onto a foot stool. The couple were in Anna's room, preparing for the ball Elsa had organized. It was a sort of get-to-know-your-trade partners sort of event, so Arendelle could start bring in more of the trade they didn't have already. But Kristoff wasn't too excited to wear a suit, so he decided the best way to deal was by pestering Anna.
He sat on the stool and rested his chin on his fist. "God you're beautiful."
Anna glared at him, "You aren't going to get this with flattery Kristoff."
"And what are you referring to as this?"
"Drop it." She said and pulled up two coat hangers, each holding too similar ball gowns. "Which one?"
He squinted. "They're the exact same."
"No they aren't. This one's butter yellow and this one's scarlet."
Kristoff chuckled and pointed to the scarlet dress. "That one. I hate yellow."
She rolled her eyes. "You're a natural born pessimist of course you do." Anna slipped off her short, light baby doll dress over her head. Every inch of her skin was now exposed, except for the parts her lace lilac underwear and bra. She knew Kristoff's eyes were darting all over her, so Anna tossed her lengthy hair over her shoulder and turned, so he wasn't able to catch a glimpse of the front of her.
"You had to turn huh?" the blonde whined. Anna shrugged. Smoothing her hands up and down her upper thighs, she teased Kristoff. With her other hand she fixed up her breasts in her bra, letting one bounce a little. By now Kristoff was just getting upset.
When she finally turned around, Kristoff surprised her, making her drop the ignorant show by pulling her into his lap.
"Hey!" she exclaimed. "Don't you see I'm trying to get ready?"
He bellowed a laugh, "Trying to get ready? Bullshit Anna, you were in the midst of giving me a strip tease."
"Yeah, well too bad I'm not going to. Now help me with this dress." Anna stood and grabbed the crimson pile from the floor. Kristoff took it from her and spread out the hole for her to step into. He pulled it up around her figure and tugged up the zipper. Anna twirled for him, smiling down at her dress.
"It's beautiful." He said. "You're beautiful."
Anna kissed him softly, "You aren't too bad yourself. First time I've seen you in a suit."
"Ugh, how do people get around in these things? I can't even bend my arms."
She looked at his dark black suit, which hugged his well sculpted figure nicely. "I like it. Now help me with my hair mountain boy."
Later, Anna emerged from the stairwell, Kristoff in arm, and carefully descended down to the ballroom. The staff had prepared everything beautifully. The enormous crystal chandelier and stairwell banisters were now strung with garlands of lilies and jasmine, filling the air with a sweet aroma. More people had attended than Anna had thought. They stood laughing and chatting quietly, some waltzing amongst the dance floor, some standing in the corner bickering what was probably business.
"How do you know all these people? I know only like you and Elsa and the rest are just reindeers, talking snowmen and rocks." Kristoff said into her ear.
"Oh I know about one third of them, the rest I have never seen before." Replied Anna. The couple reached the floor and saw Elsa talking with what seemed from the back to be a tall, dark haired man.
"Anna, Kristoff!" Elsa called, beckoning them to her. "I want you to meet Prince Luca of the Western Archipelago."
The prince turned to face them and surprised Anna, but mostly Kristoff. He had to sharp features and a warm olive skin tone. His eyes were like hot melted chocolate. When he raised one side of his mouth, Anna felt as if she was floating on a cloud. "And you are my darling?"
"Princess Anna of Arendelle," she smiled as he kissed her hand. But she soon came to her senses, she was a taken girl. She felt guilty not thinking of Kristoff beside her. "Oh, and this is Kristoff Bjorgman of Arendelle."
Luca nodded to him, and Kristoff did the same.
Elsa cleared her throat. "Kristoff, Luca has come to bargain for ice for his kingdom. It's Summer you know and they are in short supply."
"I see. I'm sure something can be arranged." He didn't appear very willing to help.
"Well if you'd excuse Elsa and I, I'd like her to meet my father." Luca dazzled a flash of teeth and turned with Elsa in his arm.
"It was lovely meeting you!" Anna called to him as he walked away.
"Oh give it up Anna." Kristoff grumbled.
She gave him a look, "And what's gotten into you tonight?" he didn't say anything. "Are you mad about Luca?"
"No, I'm not mad about Luca. Why would I be anyway? I just wish you'd stop gawking over such an asshole."
"Kristoff!" she hissed, "Keep your voice down. And he's not an asshole; Luca is a perfectly sweet, friendly guy. And I wasn't gawking."
"You so were Anna, you're like an open book. Come on let's just drop it and get something to drink."
They went to the dining area, where a long large table had been set with cutlery and plates and bouquets of extravagant flowers. Kristoff picked up two champagne glasses and filled them up with the bottle sitting in an ice bucket. He handed hers and brought it up to clink glasses. "To us,"
Anna smiled and knocked the crystal like glass onto his gently, "To us." They drank their champagne, happy in their own company of the empty room, until Kristoff set his glass on the table with a clunk. "Come dance with me."
She giggled. "Are you sure? You scared if you don't ask soon enough Luca will?"
He kissed her nose. "Do you want to dance with me or not?"
"Yes, let's go!"
He led her to the dance floor, placing a hand on her hip and the other in her own hand. The blonde gazed her up and down while they twirled and stepped, taking in her beauty. The crimson mermaid style dress brought out the teal in her eyes and her hair which had been crafted into soft curls, sweeped down her back and framed her face.
"So are you enjoying yourself?" Anna said softly.
He sighed, "I'd rather be alone with you in our room. I don't do parties."
"Oh and what would we do to entertain ourselves alone up there?"
"I don't think that's the kind of party chit chat I should say out loud. Besides it's only for a night, I'm sure you'll make it up to me tomorrow."
She raised her brows. "Will I now?" Kristoff chuckled and pulled her closer to him, "I better wish that you will." he went to kiss her neck but was interrupted by someone clearing their throat behind them. The blonde pulled back, silencing his annoyance and keeping it contained inside. He spun slowly to find no one other than Luca standing there, beaming as if he'd won millions. "If you don't mind, I'd like to ask the princess to dance." He said grinning.
Anna looked up at Kristoff, as if she was asking for a confirmation to dance with him. Kristoff slapped on a small smile. "Sure. Anna I'll be with Elsa, ok?"
"Ok." He walked over to where her sister was conversing with more guests, leaving Anna in the hands of Luca. It wasn't a decision he wasn't exactly happy to make.
Luca took her in his arms and began waltzing with her. "So Anna, are you as close with Elsa as she says you are?" he almost purred. Anna felt warm instantly, things had been rough with her sister for years and now she was hearing, that through all that time she still considered her as close."Yeah, I guess we are. I mean she is my sister."
"And the blonde? He's your brother I'm sure." he asked.
Anna almost cracked with laughter, "Kristoff, my brother? Oh no, we're uh, well." She didn't know what exactly to call her Kristoff, he was closer than anything, but it felt odd saying that to someone she hardly knew.
"It's complicated?" Luca offered. "But a princess as gorgeous as you shouldn't be caught up in such troubles."
"Oh no we're-"
He cut her off and brought Anna closer into his hips. "You're tired of it? You want a passionate relationship with someone with a higher status in society?"
"What? No-"
"Then what is it? Why couldn't you give up on some peasant boy to have a man who'd treat you right?"
"Excuse me?" she loudly exclaimed and pushed him off of her. "Kristoff is no peasant and he treats me better than anyone could!"
Luca didn't break his smile and lightly grasped her arms, "Then tell me why you won't leave him for a man like me?"
Anna could think of every reason that was true but for some reason the only one she blurted out was a lie. "Because we're engaged!"
He looked taken back. "I see then. I'll let you make your way back to your fiancée then." With that, he left Anna alone in the middle of the dance floor, amidst the loud chatter and the sound of classical string orchestras. She was about to go look for Kristoff herself when she felt a soft nudge in the small of her back.
"Hey," he said to her when she spun around to find him standing behind her.
"Hey, can we talk?" Anna walked him over the other side of the room, where less people were accumulating.
"What's up?" Kristoff propped himself against the wall with his forearm.
"We're engaged."
"Sorry?" his face looked white as a sheet.
"I accidently might have said to Luca that you were my fiancée to get him to stop hitting on me."
"I told you he was a dick." He ran a hand through his usual messy blonde hair and shoved his other in his pockets.
"I'm sorry Kristoff," she began to apologize frantically "I didn't think, and now I dragged you into this."
"Hey, it's ok. I'll be your fiancée, just chill please Anna." He kissed her cheek and took her hands, swinging slight momentum in holding them. "Come on, I got interrupted trying to dance with you."
They sat at the dining table later, when dinner was being served, Anna sat between Elsa and Kristoff twiddling her entrée fork against her serviette. She made an effort to keep her eyes sight to a minimum of beside her and right in front of her. Because beyond that sat Luca, prince of the western archipelago and all. "Why are you acting so strange Anna?" her sister murmured.
"I'm not." She protested quietly.
"You don't seem very convincing," she leaned over Anna to try to get an answer out of Kristoff. "What's wrong with Anna? She's not telling me."
"I don't see what you're so worried about Elsa, she's completely normal." Kristoff replied blandly, tearing open a bread roll.
"Normal? If she was normal she'd be bouncing off the walls by now. Come on Anna something's up. Now spill." Kristoff shot her a look as if to say, not here. Anna raised not much of a smile to her older sister and went back to twiddling her little fork.
"So Anna, how long have you and your fiancée been engaged?" she heard Luca's warm tone ask and slowly lifted her head. "We-" she began, but answer was drowned out by Elsa almost choking on her wine. Kristoff mumbled across to her softly, "Play along." She picked up her serviette and patted her mouth, holding a hand up to signal she was ok.
"We've been engaged for a month now." Kristoff answered finally, breaking the silence.
"Is that so? You two must be thrilled to finally tie the knot." Luca grinned. He seemed like any affection for Anna that had been present had now disappeared.
Anna smiled, "Oh we're beyond thrilled. Can hardly wait, can't we Kristoff?"
"Yes, can hardly wait." He repeated.
"And Elsa, you gave them blessing at such a young age?"
Elsa, still in confusion, managed to fake a grin. "Oh, well you see they were so deep in their romance, you could just see that it was true love. I like to say that when you think you have something genuine, you have to seize it." Anna smiled a little to herself. She knew that Elsa was just saying this to fool Luca, but for some reason she believed what she said was true.
Luca nodded his head. "Well Kristoff, you couldn't have gotten anyone more beautiful than Anna. She's one to cherish for sure."
"She is," Kristoff turned to Anna, "I love her." After that remark no one really said anything more. They just watched the couple happily stare at each other, completely woozy with love.
"Thank you for attending." Elsa thanked guests as they left through the gates. "We'll definitely organize a trade soon." She was thanking a duchess from some northern village when Kristoff and Anna walked over to her. Kristoff had his arm wrapped around her waist and Anna had both of hers hugging his chest, her head resting in the crook of his neck.
"Did you two figure out when your wedding is?" Elsa chuckled.
"Drop it Elsa." Laughed Anna. Her sister thanked the last handful of guests and began to walk back inside the castle. Anna and Kristoff followed her.
"Do you two want tea?" Elsa asked them, taking off her deep purple cloak and tossing it across the bench near the door.
"Oh I think we should just go to bed. Anna looks partied out." said Kristoff.
"Me? Partied out?" Anna yawned, burying her head further into Kristoff's shoulder. "No such thing."
Elsa laughed and shook her head. "Go upstairs. I'll see you in the morning."
He took the sleepy strawberry blonde up the stairwell in his sturdy arms the entire way. When he put her down with a soft thud on their bed she shot her arms up and clasped them around his neck.
"Did you mean all those things at dinner?" she asked, looking into his amber eyes.
"About the potato being amazing or that your hair looks great?"
She punched his bicep playfully and giggled. "I'm serious Kristoff!"
He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it." The blonde paused. "Stay there, I'll be right back."
Anna sat herself up against the big European pillows and snuggled into the duvet. She she got up and changed into her silk camisole and short pajamas before Kristoff returned, walking into the bedroom, suit off and into his regular clothes. He suspiciously had his arm tucked behind his back.
"What have you got there?" she grinned. He climbed into bed and slipped himself under the covers beside her. "Anna," he began. "I thought about tonight and what happened with Luca. It kind of made me think of how I really do want to love you and cherish you."
He took a breath "Anna will you marry me?"
