Well, it took a while, but here it is, the fourth and final chapter in my first frozen fanfic. I wanna thank you all yet again for all the faves! I'm so glad you're enjoying my story! Enjoy, and please review!
Chapter 4: Apologies and Surprises
The day before Queen Elsa's birthday saw a great increase of activity throughout the castle. Chambermaids could be seen scurrying through the halls, cleaning and preparing rooms for the foreign dignitaries that were to arrive late that afternoon. Elsa had been very insistent on not inviting anyone from the Southern Isles or Weselton, as the representatives of each had tried to kill her upon learning about her powers a year before.
On the bright side, the biggest preparations, such as the food and decorations, were nearly complete. As much as Elsa was looking forward to another big celebration, she would be glad once it was all over and the castle was back to its normal, much quieter state.
On the downside, Anna still hadn't come out of her room since her outburst in the great hall a few days ago, although Elsa had noticed a bit more activity outside Anna's door. She couldn't be sure, but it seemed that Anna had started accepting the trays of food that were set on the floor right outside her room three times a day. She still didn't answer any knocks or summons, but Elsa was at least glad that she was eating again.
As it turned out, Kristoff had had to go back to working long hours cutting and delivering ice, mainly for use in the castle to help prevent the spoiling of food that would be left out for a long period of time. But working those long hours helped keep his mind off Anna. He was really hoping that the plan he, Elsa, and Olaf had worked out would finally get her to come out of that room. It was simple. Just before the party was to start, Olaf would pick the lock on Anna's door with his nose and say that something had happened to Elsa and that she only wanted Anna's help. He would then take her to the small chamber just off the ballroom, where Elsa would be waiting, dressed and made up for the party. It wasn't the most brilliant plan, but it was certainly one of the only ones that was sure to get Anna out of that room. She would never in a million years refuse to help her sister, no matter how mad she was at her.
Meanwhile, Anna stayed shut up in her room, preparing the very special surprise for Elsa that no one but her knew about. She wanted it to be as much of a surprise for everyone else as it would be for Elsa. She thought that Elsa deserved that after what she had said to her. She had been spending long hours working on it, and her eyes itched with tiredness, but she refused to sleep. Like her dress, she wanted it to be absolutely perfect.
In hope that the plan would work, Elsa had given up trying to get Anna to come out and talk to her. But she couldn't help worrying that the plan would go wrong, and Anna would still refuse to come out of her room. When moments like this came up, she'd try to distract herself by giving last-minute instructions to the staff and overseeing the final preparations. But as it was the day before her party, there wasn't much left for her to do, and she would fall back to worrying. A couple of times, she was so worried that she accidentally froze whatever she was holding. Thankfully, no one was around to see it, but it still startled her. Ever since the Great Thaw, she had been able to control her magic, but there were times, like now, when she got herself so worked up that it just unexpectedly shot out.
"Your Majesty?" said a deep male voice.
Elsa turned to see the butler, a tall, older, strapping man with handsome features, standing just a few feet behind her. "Yes?" she replied, her voice shaking a little.
"Are you all right?" the butler asked her.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," Elsa replied, composing herself. Folding her hands in front of her so the butler wouldn't see them shaking, she asked, "What is it?"
"The foreign dignitaries have started arriving, ma'am," he said, bowing. "Your presence is requested in the receiving room." The receiving room was a small chamber just off the entrance hall, where dignitaries and other important guests were seen to discuss finances and other important matters in the kingdom.
"Thank you, Einar," said Elsa, inclining her head. "Tell them I will be with them shortly."
"Yes ma'am," said the butler, bowing again and retreating, leaving Elsa alone once more. She sighed and went over to the nearest window. Looking out, she could see the guards greeting the dignitaries as they disembarked from their respective ships and directing them inside. Suddenly, she remembered the mantra her father had taught her to say during those long years of isolation: Don't let them in. Don't let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be. Conceal, don't feel, don't let it show.
But now that everyone knew about her powers and had accepted her, she was no longer as worried or frightened as she had been then. Smoothing her skirts and taking a deep breath, she slowly started downstairs to welcome the dignitaries that were arriving.
The morning of Queen Elsa's 22nd birthday dawned bright, warm, and clear. All throughout Arendelle, there was a general stir of excitement. Those who were lucky enough to be invited to the celebration were waiting anxiously for the gates to open. Those who weren't lucky enough watched just as excitedly from a distance.
But the excitement in the village was nothing compared to the excitement within the castle. Servants could be seen bustling around in almost every room, setting the long table in the great hall, buffing up the suits of armor in the halls, and working on other last-minute preparations. Anna was probably the only one filled to the brim with excitement, for not only was it finally Elsa's birthday, but it would also be the first time she would come face to face with her sister since her outburst in the great hall almost a week ago. She just hoped that the surprise she had in store for Elsa would be enough to make them both forget the awful words that had been said.
She had changed into her new dress and was just putting the finishing touches on her hair (a coiled bun similar to the one she had at Elsa's coronation) when she heard a click and her door opened. Startled, she wondered who could possibly have been able to get into her room, as it had been locked from the inside. Then she saw that the point of a large carrot was stuck in the lock, and she smiled, shaking her head.
Olaf shuffled in, removing the carrot and sticking it back in its proper place. "Anna!" he cried, scurrying over to her, his little snow flurry following him. Oddly, Olaf looked anxious.
"Olaf, what is it?" Anna asked, kneeling down so she was on a level with him.
"Elsa needs you right away! Something's happened to her!" he answered, tugging on Anna's hand and looking even more anxious.
"Olaf, slow down!" Anna said, almost tripping as Olaf started pulling her toward the door. "What's happened to Elsa? Is she hurt?"
"You've just gotta come!" Olaf said, yanking harder. They were almost to the door when Anna remembered Elsa's present. "Wait!" she said, grabbing the present off her vanity table just as Olaf dragged her out the door.
They rushed through halls and down stairs, Anna panting as she tried to keep up and not trip over her skirts at the same time. Finally, Olaf stopped in front of a small, wooden door. "In here!" he said, opening the door and pushing Anna inside. He had led her to a small, dimly lit room with a flagged stone floor and stone walls.
"Olaf," said Anna, confused. "What—?"
And then she saw Elsa, in full queen regalia, standing on the other side of the room next to another small, wooden door. She was wearing the light blue dress she had made for herself and her hair was styled in its customary braid, but with an icy blue ribbon woven into it. She had light blue eye shadow that complimented her eyes and a dark pink lipstick on her mouth. On top of her head sat a beautiful, delicate crown made entirely of ice, as she had thrown away her real crown almost a year ago at the start of her self-imposed exile. Her hands were clasped in front of her and she had a smile on her face.
"I got her out!" said Olaf excitedly, breaking the silence.
"Thank you, Olaf," said Elsa, walking over to him, her skirts swishing with every step. "I'll take it from here."
"Okay," he said. "And Kristoff's waiting in the ballroom in the planned location," he whispered before scuttling out the door. The "planned location" was at the very front of the room near the platform where the thrones stood. No one knew about the surprise announcement besides Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf.
Elsa turned back to Anna, who looked just as confused as ever. "Elsa, what's going on?" she asked.
But Elsa just smiled and said, "You'll see soon enough. You look beautiful, by the way."
"Thank you," said Anna, but before she could say the same thing to Elsa, there was a knock on the door and a head poked in. It was Kai.
"They're all ready for you, Your Majesty," he said. From the other side of the door, they could the low hum of people talking. "Shall I make the announcement?"
"Yes, thank you, Kai," said Elsa, smoothing her skirts. She smiled at Anna, who smiled back, though a little uncertainly. "Walk in with me?" she asked.
"Of course, Elsa," Anna replied, stepping up beside her.
There was a moment of silence, then they heard Kai say from the other side of the door, "Ladies and gentlemen, presenting Their Royal Highnesses, Queen Elsa and Princess Anna of Arendelle."
After sharing a quick smile, the sisters walked into the ballroom to a multitude of applause. Men and women of different ranks and stations, from dukes and duchesses to lords and ladies, had gathered to celebrate the queen's 22nd birthday. Elsa smiled and nodded politely at everyone she met, but Anna only had eyes for the person standing next to the platform where the thrones stood.
Kristoff was standing with his feet outspread and his clasped behind his back. He was wearing a dark suit with a deep red shirt underneath, a red belt, and tall black boots. He smiled as the queen and princess came toward him. To Anna, he had never looked more handsome. To Kristoff, Anna had never looked more beautiful. Anna ran to him and he enveloped her in a tight hug.
"Oh, Anna, I was so worried about you," he said, his voice almost muffled against her hair.
"I'm all right, Kristoff," said Anna with her face against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent.
"How were we to know that?" he asked, breaking away from her and looking down into her eyes. "You ran off without an explanation, from either you or Elsa."
"I was too mad at you," Anna said, looking up at him and fighting to keep her voice steady.
"Mad at me or Elsa?" Kristoff asked quietly.
Anna hesitated for a moment. "Both, I guess," she answered just as quietly. "But then I realized that it was no one's fault but mine. You weren't the ones who made me upset, I was." Her voice broke, and tears started to form.
"Anna, what is it?" Kristoff asked, taking her small hands in his large ones.
"Oh, Kristoff, I feel so foolish!" Anna cried, hugging him tightly again. "For not listening to you, or Elsa, or even myself. Forgive me?" She pulled away and looked up at him.
Kristoff smiled and tilted her chin up. "I already have," he said, and he kissed her. "Now that that's settled, there's something I want to ask you. Wait here."
"Kristoff, what—?" Anna started, but Kristoff had already disappeared into the crowd, looking, she assumed, for Elsa.
Alone at the front of the room, and in plain view of everybody, Anna tried to compose herself and clasped her hands in front of her, smiling and nodding at anyone who looked her way. Realizing her hands were empty, she looked around frantically for Elsa's present, which she must've dropped unknowingly when she had spotted Kristoff. She spotted it just a few feet in front of the door through which she and Elsa had entered. She ran over to it and picked it up. She was just able to tuck it into her sash before Kristoff returned with Elsa. They were both smiling about something.
"What are you two smiling about?" Anna asked, trying not to get mad.
But Kristoff just winked mischievously at her, grabbed her hand, and kept on walking with Elsa back to the front of the room. Once back in the original positions, Elsa gave a signal to Kai, who nodded and cleared his throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention, please," he said in a loud voice. Everyone stopped talking to listen. "Young Mr. Bjorgman has something to say."
Kristoff stepped forward and cleared his throat. "First, I would like to thank Queen Elsa for allowing me to speak to you this evening, and I also want to wish her a very happy 22nd birthday." He looked back at Elsa, who smiled and nodded. "While I was growing up, I didn't know much about the royal family, especially during those thirteen long years when the gates were closed. As an orphan, I was alone most of the time, and I didn't have many friends, unless you count my reindeer, Sven." He smiled, then cleared his throat again and continued. "And then I met Princess Anna." He turned to look at Anna and smiled at her. She smiled back. "And she reminded me what it had been like to live a carefree life, and she is always full of energy and has the natural ability to make people laugh, even me. Granted, I wasn't too sure about her at first, but when I found out that she might die, my heart just melted, and I was willing to risk everything to make sure she was safe, even if that meant that I couldn't have her. But when the man she thought she had loved betrayed her, I realized that she was destined to be with me. And since then, my love for her has only grown."
He turned to Anna, who had her hands over her mouth in shock. She lowered them slowly as he came towards her. "Kristoff?" she said, breathless.
"Anna," he said, kneeling down, taking her hand in his, and looking up into her eyes. "I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do the honor of marrying me?"
"Oh, Kristoff," Anna breathed. "Do you really mean that?"
Kristoff stood up and gently took her face in his hands. "From the bottom of my heart," he said.
Anna threw her arms around him and kissed him, not caring that hundreds of people were watching.
Breaking apart, Kristoff smiled and asked, "Does that mean yes?"
"Absolutely," Anna replied, and hugged him. Over his shoulder, she could see Elsa, who was watching the whole scene with tears in her eyes.
Anna gently removed herself from Kristoff and went over to her sister. "Elsa, what's wrong?" she asked, taking Elsa's hands in her own.
"Oh Anna, I'm just so happy for you," Elsa said, hugging her.
"So this was the secret you and Kristoff kept from me?" Anna asked, hugging her back.
"Surprise," Elsa said, breaking apart from her and smiling.
"Oh, I have a surprise for you, too," said Anna, pulling out the small package.
Elsa carefully removed the brown paper and revealed a chain of small paper snowflakes decorated with glitter. She looked at Anna, stunned.
"Surprise," she said, shrugging.
"Anna, it's beautiful," said Elsa, hugging her again. I love it."
"Listen, I'm sorry for all those things I said," said Anna quietly. "I realized that I should've just listened to you."
"It's okay, Anna," Elsa said, taking her hands. "Thank you for the present."
"You forgive me, then?" Anna asked.
"Of course I forgive you," said Elsa, smiling. "And I promise, from now on, no more secrets."
The sisters hugged again. "Happy birthday, Elsa," said Anna. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Anna," said Elsa. And they hugged tighter as if they would never let go.
THE END! I hope you've enjoyed my story, and keep checking back for more! Bye for now!