Chapter 4
Nate was on top of his roof fixing the leak leak and every possible leak there was to come; he placed a piece of plywood across the hole, taking a nail away from his mouth. Taking the hammer that was in the frog of his belt, he pounded away at the nail into the plywood hitting the board underneath, again placing another nail and hammering it in. Todd was on the ground, leaning on the wall when his ears heard the hooves of a horse approaching; he strolled around front seeing what exactly what he heard coming forward. He waltzed up to the incoming horse with royalty riding on the back, surprised to see the princess in front of the queen; Anna tugged at the reins giving the command for it to halt, she looked down to only see a man with gray eyes and brown hair that was chopped on the sides and a short tail that goes down his neck. Anna was stricken to seeing a handsome, she quickly composed herself.
"Hi, were looking for-"
"Nathan. I'm his friend Todd," He offered her his hand "let me help you down there."
"Oh, no thanks I can get down myself." Anna denying his offer, by dismounting the horse herself.
"Do you need any help, your majesty."
"Yes, thank you." Elsa took hold of Todd's hand and dismounted the horse carefully. "Where is Nathan?"
"Up on the roof." Todd pointed his thumb behind him towards the roof.
"Thank you." Elsa bowed her head and walked off from her sister and the young man.
Todd turned his attention to the princess, examining her liking what he saw; getting closer to her and smiled.
"Hi." Rubbing his hand through his hair.
"I'm taken." Anna blushed from his flirtatious voice.
"Backing off." He stepped away giving Anna her space, he turned towards the house realizing the sabre was still in the kitchen, not in its hiding place. "Nate's sword." He said his thought outloud.
"Nathan has a sword?" Anna asked, Todd's eyes widened when she asked him that, turning his attention back to her, thinking of something and fast.
"What? No, I didn't say sword; I said sward." Todd grinned backing away towards the house, causing Anna to lift her eyebrows at his awkwardness, then quickly realized she wasn't the one to judge someone of their awkwardness.
Todd entered the house taking the sheathed sword away from the dining table, carrying it off back to the hidden panel; laying it inside he quickly replaced the wooden panel to it rightful place. Todd glanced over to the doorway seeing the princess coming close to the doorway, Todd went over to the stairs and sat on the steps placing his hand underneath his cheek. Anna opened the door seeing Todd they're sitting on the steps with a goofy grin on his face.
"Hi, princess."
"Hey Todd, I have a question for you?"
"What would that question be?"
"Well I don't mean to pry but Elsa and I met this man, and he told us something about Nathan. It was that royalty ruined his life." Anna saw Todd's mouth open in surprise and then return to grin with a chuckle.
"Nate is going to kill Roger." Todd stood up still laughing seeing Anna's right brow raise in question. Todd cleared his throat calming himself down.
"Why?"
"One, Roger shouldn't have said anything. Two, it is not his place say anything about our past."
"Our past?"
"Yeah, I've been Nate's friend for a while and some friends experience the same thing as the other." Some worse than others. He thought
Elsa came up to the side of the house seeing the wooden ladder leaned against the abode, she could hear the sound of light sound of pounding coming from above. Elsa's hand grabbed the braces hearing the creak as her magic went through the splinters of wood and frosted them, she began to step up each of steps; her eyes caught sight of the man with a hammer in his palm.
"Nathan."
Nathan halted his movement of his arm, confused on hearing the queen's voice; he looked over to where the voice was coming from. His eyes widen in surprise seeing the blonde haired beauty, there.
"Wow."
"Wow, what?"
"You surprised me, I didn't expect to see you here."
"I can't see you?"
Nathan stood shifting his weight to balance himself on his slanted roof, he began walking over to her.
"What, no. I mean yes you can it's just-" His foot caught a sleek patch of ice on his roof, slipping downward sliding close to the edge of the roof. Elsa flicked her wrist creating an ice slide to lead him a safe passage to the ground, Nathan slid down the crystal ice slide to the dirt covered ground. Elsa slide down the ladder, going over to the down body; kneeling down next to him.
"Are you alright?" Elsa touched his back, Nathan turned over and stood back up with her.
"That," Nathan gave a grin "was awesome snowflake."
"Snowflake?" Elsa cheeks reddened hearing him call her that.
"Yeah, I thought it be a cute nickname considering you can control ice and snow. Since you know snowflakes are made of ice and snow." Nathan started to ramble ceasing his voice when he saw her raise one of her eyebrows with an amused smile. "What?"
"You rambling, it pretty cute. But please don't call me that."
"Okay, come on inside." Nathan gestured for her to go ahead of him, Elsa strolled ahead of him. "Snowflake." He said to himself. When they were both near the front door, Nathan went ahead of her and held open the door; she went past him.
"Why, thank you."
"You're welcome my lady." Nathan let the door close when seeing his best friend and Anna at the dining table, Anna eating whatever was left on Nathaniel's plate as Todd was just finishing his.
"What are you two doing?" Elsa asked.
"Elsa, you've got to try this." Anna said, biting into the flakey crust from the biscuit in her hand.
"Maybe another time, we came here to ask something." Elsa reminded her.
"Oh, right, Nate. I was wondering if you could come to my wedding?" Anna inquired.
"Ohm, yeah, I loved too. Never been to one before, seem like it would be fun."
"A wedding could come!" Todd could contain his excitement, asking the princess.
"Sure, of course you can come." Anna said.
"Great, and also," Todd turned his attention back to Nate "Guess who they met in town?"
"Roger." Nathan said concerned on what he said.
"Yeah, he told them something." Todd told him, Nathan heart pinged with anger, his brows narrowed; calming himself down not wanting to show anyone his dark side quite yet.
"What-" he cleared his throat. "What did he say exactly?"
"Are you okay?" Elsa placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine just want to know what he said."
"He told us that royalty ruined yours and his life. Is it true?" Elsa inquired.
"Back where we used to live, yes. But I turned over a leaf when I came here. But Roger believes that all royalty is the same."
"Well, maybe I could-" Elsa began before getting interrupted.
"No." Todd and Nate said in unision.
"You two didn't even know what I was going to-"
"Yes, we did." They both said at the same time again.
"Please stop that?" Elsa asked.
"Sorry." They both said again.
"You two both doing that is freaking me out." Anna told them both.
"Elsa listen to me, Roger will not change his mind about nobility." Elsa opened her mouth. "Even if you said anything, if I want him to behave or be nice is to put him through a window." The sisters glanced at eachother then back at him. "Literally."
"Nathan, I could try to speak to him."
"He still won't listen even if you try, sometimes people can do something so awful that the victim can never forgive."
"Isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black." Todd spoke, Nathan turned his head glaring at his friend; when seeing Nate's glare was like staring at and angry wolf baring its teeth. Todd shrunk in his chair. "Sorry." Todd squeaked out, Nathan sighed turning towards Elsa having one of her eyebrows raised towards him. "What?"
"Nothing, I understand that you don't want to share your past at the moment."
"You do?" Anna and Todd both said, their eyes widened staring at eachother. "Jinx. jinx again." Todd rubbed his chin thinking of something to break their unison. "Chocolate sandwiches!" Nathan and Elsa just watched as they continued their banter to see who would slip.
"An she thought it was freaky when Todd and I spoke at the same time."
"Nathan," Elsa spoke softly, Nathan turned towards her but she was paying no attention to him; just to her sister and his friend. "I want to ask you a something."
"Go ahead."
"When the time comes when you're ready to tell me about your past. I will not judge you." Elsa hand reached for his and gripped his fingers gently, Nathan smiled at the touch of her hand; Nathan smirked hearing her say that. But he still had his doubts on her judging him. "Do you have plans Sunday?"
"No, why?"
"Would you like to join us for christmas?
"Yeah, I'd love too."
"Great, sunday don't forget." Elsa backed up towards the door.
"I won't." Nathan smiled as her back connected with the door, she turned pointing towards it.
"Door." Elsa opened the door and before she exited Nathan's domain, she turned back around seeing her sister still sitting their with the goofball of a man that was almost like her. "Anna come on."
"What?" Anna saw her sister by the door, she stood from her chair, taking hold of the sides of her winter gown, bending her knees underneath and bowed her head. "Have a good day, Todd."
"You to princess." Todd respectfully nodded at her curtsy.
"Thank you for your hospitality." went over to Nathan bending her knees and bowing her head at Nathan, turning up to see his green eyes and a blush rose to her cheeks.
"No, its is I who thank you, for honoring my home with two beautiful goddesses presence." Nathan held his left hand over his waist, leaning his body forward, his green eyes meet Elsa's blue orbs and winked at her, Elsa's face crept up the color red; she returned with a goofy grin. Nate reverts back to his stance, Anna heartbeats faster, but she knows the flirting nows it was all in good fun.
Anna and Elsa excited Nathan's domain, Elsa could feel her sister's turquoise eyes gazing at her skull, with a smile on her. Elsa sighed glancing over to her sister with a chuckle.
"What is it?" Elsa inquired.
"He has pretty eyes."
"Who?" Elsa was curious who she was talking about.
"Nathan."
"Oh," she was surprised by that answer. "Yes his eyes are quite nice." Elsa regained her elegant way of speaking for a queen.
"Oh, no, don't try the proper voice. Was it his green eyes that made you want to dance, because you never dance fearing of hurting someone." Anna mounted the horse, giving her sister, her hand.
"Yes, it was his jade eyes they made me fill safe and his enticing voice, made me not fear of hurting anyone." Elsa reached up for her sister's hand and mounted the horse behind her little sister.
"Ohhh…."
"Shut up." Elsa rolled her eyes, hitting her sister's shoulder playfully.
Inside the farmhouse Nathan watched them ride away, Todd came up beside Nathan.
"What are we going to do?"
"Beat the hell out of Roger till he's nice."
"Okay right behind you buddy, but why do you want him to be friendly to her; I mean she is a royal."
"She's different, she kind, carrying, and compassionate."
"You got all that from one dance?"
"Yes and no." Nathan walked out of his house, leaving Todd behind.
"What the hell does that mean?" Todd just stood there, trying to figure out what his friend mentioned but he was hitting zeros. Todd excited Nate's farmhouse, jogging after him to the dirt road. "So, wait a minute where are you going?"
"Work."
"So where do you work now."
"I'm a blacksmith remember."
"Ah, then you can buy a different place, considering being a farmer didn't work out."
"First, I am not selling this place. Second, the farming didn't work because I bought dead land but the grass is green. Thirdly, I like this place because I can keep my demons in check."
"Yeah, keep your inner demons in check."
"Could we just walk in peace and quiet."
"Yeah, sure….." The moment of silence didn't last long. "So did you have another nightmare last night."
"Todd God Dammit! What do you think?"
"Yes, what was it about though?" Todd stared at Nathan, Nate bit his inner cheek grunting in annoyance that his friend kept asking questions. But Nate knew him all too well, that if he didn't answer he'll keep bothering him till he did.
"I was drowning beneath the ice caps and something was dragging me down, but nothing was there."
"Wow, you know it might mean something."
"It's just a stupid nightmare, they don't mean anything."
"Whatever you say."
The sisters rode along inside the castle's stables, where the mountain man Kristoff and his reindeer Sven. Kristoff turned his head to see his fiancée return from her short trip, he strolled over to her; holding out how hand to help her down, she placed her hand in his sweaty palm.
"Such a gentlemen." Anna teased helping helping her down from the saddle with a goofy grin on his face.
"Only for you," once he set Anna on the ground, he moved towards Elsa offering both of his hands. "And of course for my dearest sister." Elsa quirked up one her eyebrows. "in-law, sister-in-law." helping her down, Elsa bowed her head slightly.
"Thank you. "
"No, problem."
"So, what happened?" Kristoff lowered his voice to assume that Sven could speak.
"I invited him to Christmas."
"You did, when?" Anna inquired.
"While you were trying to see if Todd would slip up in your mind sync."
"Who's Todd?" Kristoff eyed his fiancée, slightly coveted who she was talking about.
"One of Nate's friends."
"Wow."
"What?" Elsa questioned, she quirked up an eyebrow.
"Nathan has a friend, he just seems so secretive."
"He has two friends, one very rude that gave us a little insight on why Nate is so secretive, the other very nice."
"Why? Also who was rude to you?" Kristoff said in annoyance placing his arms across his chest.
"His name is Roger and his reason for being so rude to us is the same reason, why Nate is so secretive."
"Which is what exactly?" his voice was agitated.
"Royalty seemed to ruin both Roger and Nate's life." Elsa answered.
"I hope you asked him this?" Kristoff was getting more agitated by the second by the man he met and have not yet met. Nathan and Roger.
"I did."
"What did he say?" Kristoff's attitude was beginning to upset the snow queen, but she held it back not wanting to release her powers.
"Well, he said "back were they used to live something bad happened.""
"Yeah, Todd and Nate turned over a new leaf when the got here."
"What the hell kind of answer was that and what does that even mean?"
"Enough!" Her hands frosted over. "I am satisfied with the answer for now at least. When he is ready to tell me, than I will be ready; I'm not going to pry into his past." Elsa's authoritative voice broke out, her annoyance with Kristoff's attitude was posting her off.
"Why? Why not pry into his past?"
"Because I can see it in his eyes something bad happened to him that he tries to hide. All the agony, anguish, and anger that he tries to hide." Elsa exhaled, Kristoff opened his mouth. "I am done discussing this."
Elsa strolled off with grace in her steps, but you could feel the anger radiating radiating off of her. Anna eyed Kristoff with a brow quirked and a displeased demeanor on her face.
"What?"
"What do you mean what. Why are you so skeptical?"
"Because he had a bad past of royalty, and now he suddenly is dating one. I find it suspicious is all."
"Kristoff back in his country of origin something bad happened, yes, but here he turned over a new leaf. Also everybody has their secrets. Please leave it alone." Anna strolled off from him, Kristoff turned to his long time best friend, pulling a carrot out of his pocket from his vest, letting Sven take a bite of half of it. "I don't trust him." he snapped off a chunk of carrot, chewing and sealed. "What if he's like Hans, having an ulterior motive. If they're not going to pry, then I will." he took another chunk of carrot.