Chapter 4:

A Rainy Day

Yes, I know, not my most thrilling title.

The next day it rained all day, with no relief in sight. The skies were overcast, with not lighting or wind in the air; it was just a long, wet downpour. It was the perfect day to be lazy for anyone who enjoyed the prospect. On rainy days, work outdoors was usually impossible, and people tended to stay indoors, so no one went to stores, doctors, or banks. Many resorted to napping. Some who were busy people by nature, like Elsa, found themselves going insane from the lack of activity. No traveling meant no mail, no visitors, no meetings. There was literally nothing for the Queen to do today.

She lied sprawled out on the couch in the library. Over the years, she had read every single page of every book in the collection, and it's been months since any new one have been available in this time before the printing press. She stared out the window over her currently dreary kingdom It was about midday when Anna came in.

"You know, I don't know what it is, but men seem to enjoy sleeping on rainy days" said Anna as she walked in. "Or at least my men... Hmm, I wonder if it's genetic?"

"I'm so bored!" said Elsa, leaning back, staring at the ceiling in the couch.

"Have you read a book?"

"Read them all."

"Oh, well, how about we play a game... chess?"

Elsa's head perked up, her attention seized. "Chess?" It was one of Elsa's favorite past times, one she rarely lost at. Anna on the other hand had a less focused mind for the game of kings, losing the most to her sister, but she just liked to play for the sake of the game.

"Sounds like we've got a game. I'll get the board!"

After setting up the game, Elsa and Anna found themselves in a heated game of wit and strategy. Neither really had the upper hand, though a few pawns, rooks, and bishops sat at each other side of the board. They found themselves at a standstill. With over a hundred possible scenarios to play, the next move could either make or break them. It lasted several minutes before Anna decided to break the tense silence in hopes of either distracting Elsa or the change in tone giving her a possible idea. That, and there was something she really yet hesitantly wanting to bring up, and she hated it when things got quiet.

"So, tell me, has Jase talked to you about something, I don't know, interesting, life-changing, romantic?" she asked, twilling her fingers.

Elsa looked up briefly before returning to the board, it being her turn and all. A hint of a smile crossed her face; of course she knew what Anna was getting at, but she just loved to tease her so.

"Oh, nothing really. Just business as usual" she said, hiding a smile.

"Business?!" Anna remarked, almost shocked. "Um, I mean, oh, business... let me rephrase that, have you two been talking about, oh, I don't know, the future?"

"The future?" Elsa asked in mock surprise. "Well, we like how things are going."

"Like how things are... Elsa are you smiling!?" Anna said, seeing Elsa's teasing smile grow. "You know full well what I'm talking about don't you?!"

Elsa laughed. "Sorry, I just love that face you make when you get all flustered... that one exactly!" Elsa said when Anna made a frown and narrowed her eyes.

"Ha ha, hilarious" Anna said sarcastically. "I can't believe you guys are talking about this rather than have him make some big surprise proposal."

"Anna, I asked him to bring it up. Besides, I know of tons of people who do it this way."

"Oh you and your 'reality'. Don't you ever wish you lived in a fantasy?" Elsa looked up at her, raising her right eyebrow, as if to say 'really?'. "I mean more of a fantasy!"

"More fantasy?" Elsa asked, letting some magic hover about in her hand, as if to clarify a point. "Given the amount of 'fantasy' we get on a regular basis, I would be happy with some 'reality', assuming it actually exists."

"Oh, it exists alright" said Anna. "And right now, you two are exhibiting way to much reality for this 'fantasy'."

"Hey, at least I'm talking about it rather than running away this time" Elsa said as she finally moved her rook.

Anna was about to say something, then shrugged. "Well, that is true..."

"And it's not like it's an arranged marriage or anything. I mean, I love him, and he loves me."

"And I'm more than happy for you" said Anna. She made silent "oh" as she moved her queen. "And you know I think the world of Jase. I see the way he looks at you sometimes; it looks like, like..."

"The same way Kristoff looks at you?"

Anna nodded. "Well, yeah. I was going to say it was the same way Dad looked at Mom."

Elsa nodded, smiling at the memory. "Yeah, I know that look." Elsa the made her next move, eating one of Anna's rooks

Anna frowned as Elsa took her pawn. Odds started to turn against her as Elsa took one of her favorite pieces. Anna stared at the board, pondering her next move. "So it's official then?"

Elsa nodded, just as she ate Anna's rook with her knight. "Just about, he just has to ask me to make it so."

Anna smiled. "My sister's getting married!" she said, then ate Elsa's knight with her queen. "Oh and check!"

Elsa's eyes shot wide, surprised by the sudden move. "Uh, yes, yes I am" she said, staring more intently at the board, looking at the board from every angle. Somehow, in the midst of conversation, Elsa had foolishly left her king exposed, and any wrong move now could cost her the game, and her pride.

"So" Anna said, "are you excited?"

Elsa smiled, still concerned with her predicament in the game. "Of course I'm excited" she said, moving her bishop to protect her king.

"Are you really?" Anna asked, crossing her arms.

"Of course I am. I'm just concerned about you eating my knight."

"For your information, I would never eat Jase."

"That's not what I meant!"

"I'm just messing with you!" said Anna, moving her queen back. "But really, game aside, are you happy with this?"

Elsa looked at Anna, her attention off the game. "You really want to know?"

"Have you met me?"

Elsa looked down, collecting her thoughts. Then she smiled. "Anna, I am truly, absolutely, infinitely happy, beyond comparison. I have a family who loves me, a kingdom that respects and admires me, a man who I really want to spend the rest of my life with, and a sister who made all that possible."

Anna perked up. "Oh, you... (sniff) you're making me cry!" she said, wiping away a happy tear.

"Hey, it's true. I really wouldn't be where I am without you. For all I know, I would still be behind those doors." Elsa then moved her bishop forward, eating Anna's rook.

"Oh Elsa, I think we both know I would have resulted to black powder by then."

"That's probably true... but seriously, thank you for grabbing my glove all those years ago."

Anna glanced back up for mthe game to her sister. "Aw, your welcome Elsa." The sisters had a brief, happy moment of silence before... "And, check mate!" Anna said with glee as she moved her queen back forward, trapping Elsa's king.

Elsa gawked at the board. "But, but..."

"I did it!" Anna shouted, jumping up, knocking the table with her knee, causing much of the pieces to fall over. "Ow!" she said, grabbing her knee. "I did it! (ow) Hear that world? I finally beat Elsa at chess! (ow)" she screamed through the halls, occasionally limping from her knee.

Elsa leaned back, slouching in her chair while staring at the board. Two more weeks and she would have gone a year undefeated. She sighed in defeat.

Lionel Leewell was busy at the anvil the next rainy evening, busy repairing a sword for one of the guards which was damaged beyond repair. The blade was broken into three pieces after accicently hitting a stone pillar, one of the pieces to small to be forged with any accuracy. Any other blacksmith would have tossed the weapon, declaring it unserviceable. While beyond hope of repair to most, Lionel knew full well he could easily fix such a damaged weapon.

Three of the guards, not including his personal guard Fredrick, watched as he held the small piece in one hand, letting his fire magic enter the blade, turning the metal a blazing orange color. He then placed the metal on he edge of the broken blade, holding it until the semi liquid metal reattached itself back to the original blade. Then, taking the tip, he placed it onto the sword, once again letting his fire work its magic. When it was completed, the three pieces were now once again back into one blade, thought there was still some work to be done. While once piece again, the pieces didn't adhere evenly to each other, giving the sword a horribly crooked appearance.

Lionel then took the sword in his left hand, then let a blaze of flame emit from his right, aiming it at the problem area. He held it there until it was just the right shade of orange, then placed the sword on his anvil. He took his hammer, then swung it down, fire and magic coming of the hammer's tip each time it made contact with the metal. Slowly, the metal on the sword realigned itself, smoothening out and forming a straight, dignified blade once again. After about ten swings, he held the sword up and inspected it, turning it around and looking down its length to ensure a job well done.

"Alright Jep" he said. "Looks like she's usable again." The orange color then left the sword, flame returning to Lionel's hand as he called the flame out of the sword, returning it to a cool temperature. Once cool, he held it out to the anxious guard, who took a few practice swings with it. He laughed.

"Good as new!" he said. "Wow, thanks a lot Leewell!"

"Hey, no problem" said Lionel as he took off his apron and placed it on the hook. The three guards left, hunching under their coats in cover from the rain, leaving Lionel with Fredrick, his handler who was turning into a descent friend. "Hey Fred, is there any more work today?"

Nope said Fred as he rose up, stretching. "Nothing until tomorrow, sorry."

"Eh, it was a long day, I'm not complaining" Lionel said disheartened. No more work meant no reason to stay out, and that meant he had to return to his cell. In the last ten months, Lionel had served over half of his almost two year sentence, with only eight months to go. He had been worked like a mule and was tired to the bone each and every day, as he had expected. When there wasn't any blacksmithing to be done, he did hard labor. He couldn't complain however. In fact, he considered himself lucky, feeling that he should have deserved more.

Fred picked up the blue crystal lined cuffs, ready to escort him back to his cell.

"Wait!"

Fred and Lionel looked out the small shop, seeing Jase running at them in the rain. "Wait, Lionel" he said out of breath, having run from where ever he was. He took of his wet coat and hung it on a nail in the wooden wall.

"Sir Jase" Lionel greeted. "What can I do for you?"

"What can you do for me?" Jase repeated, trying to remember all that he came here for. "Well, first I would like to talk to you."

"Alright, shoot."

Jase looked at Fredrick. "In private, if you don't mind" Jase said respectfully.

Fred shared a curious glance with Lionel. "Well, I don't know" he said, swinging the cuffs. "The wife's expecting me early, you know with the baby and all, she's been giving me a hard time..."

Jase sighed. "Fine, I'll take him to his cell for tonight."

"Awesome!" he said as he through the cuffs and the keys to Jase, then picked up his coat. He waved goodbye to Lionel. "Alright, see you Lionel. Let's see if we can finish that game of checkers tomorrow, shall we?"

Lionel laughed. "Sure thing! Tell the Misses I said hi." With that, Fredrick nodded, then left, leaving Jase with Lionel. "Alright Mr. Lindstrom, what can I do you for?" Jase looked over his back, making sure they were truly alone. He walked inside the shop where they were alone. Lionel looked at his with curiosity. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes. Now listen, this has to be top secret. You can't tell anyone."

"Well that's a problem. See, I promised Luke no more secrets, and well he's my flesh and blood, so it would be wired not telling my own flesh and blood..."

"Have you been talking to Anna?" Jase interrupted, feeling a sense of deja vue.

"Princess Anna?" Lionel asked. "Um, no."

"Huh, she said something similar... Oh whatever! Fine, but just Luke, OK?!"

"Alright, sheez! What's so important?"

Jase looked around one more time. "I'm, going to propose to Elsa."

Lionel's eyes went wide. "Really? Hey that's great" Lionel said, careful not to say it to loud. He then took a step forward and slapped Jase on the back, somewhat harder than the knight had expected.

Jase jumped forward slightly from the impact of the more built man, rubbing his shoulder. "Yeah, thank you, ow" he muttered under his breath." Anyway, I have this ring here..." he pulled out a ring from his jacket pocket.

"Oh wow, hey that's beautiful" said Lionel as he looked at the shimmering piece of metal.

"Yes. Well, the thing is, after looking at it for a while, I realize it's not what I want."

"What? Why?"

"Well... things changed after I got it. Elsa and I, our relationship is, stronger than before, and I want it to signify that. When I got this ring, I had a different feeling about her, and now, well, I believe it should have a more personal touch. Can you help me change this up a bit?"

Lionel picked up the ring. It was silver ring, and on the top sat a small, flower shaped diamond. It was beautiful in all respect, a flawless work of art. "Well, it's a beautiful ring. What exactly do you want me to do?"

"I have a drawing here..." Jase said as he pulled out a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it then showed it to Lionel. He looked at it, squinting his eyes and tilting his head.

"You, want me to draw a... bunch of squiggly lines?"

Jase looked back at it, then frowned. "Is it that bad?"

"It looks like it was drawn by a five year old." Jase arched his neck back, groaning in frustration. Lionel smiled, shaking his head. "How about you tell me in detail what you want?"

As Jase talked to Lionel, the small ship that had been at sea for weeks now had finally arrived, being slowed down by the torrential downpour of rain all afternoon. Finally sailing into the dock, it's owner hoped down from the wheel and was quick to help his partner tie it up to the docks.

"So much for miday!" grumbled the short, feminine figure of Madge through the rain, sopping wet. "We'll be lucky to make it to the castle before nightfall!"

"Ah, I think we're going to have and wait till tomorrow" said the taller man as he finished tying his cleat knot. "I somehow doubt they're going to let us have a good night's rest once we show ourselves."

"You know what?" asked the short figure. "Good point. You deal with the harbor master, I'm going to bed!"

"For the last time, you go to bed way to early! There are still plenty of things to do at night!"

"Night time is boring, there's nothing to do but socialize and party."

"Exactly!"

"Look, I don't care what the sun says; it's not the boss of me! I'm going to bed, see you bright and early!" she grumbled as she walked down to the lower levels. The lone man sighed.

"Can I help you?" asked a man, the harbor master, walking down the docks. The older man had on a full trench coat, the whiskers of his greying mustache wet with rain drops. The man had on a similar coat, with the hood only covering the top part of his head, his face clearly visible to anyone passing by. He stood at attention, his bright and cheerful face showing under the hood.

"Ah, yes!" he said nervously. "I would like to park my ship here for the night, possibly two?"

"It's three shillings a night" said the harbor master. The man then reached into his pockets, counting out the price. "You and your wife here for long?"

"Whoa oh no!" the man immediately corrected, waving his finger to further exemplify the point. He was greatly insulted by the comment. "She is not my wife!"

The harbor master tilted his head. "Mother?"

The man shrugged, curling his lip. "Yeah, sure, let's go with that" he said suspiciously as he handed the master his money. The harbor master took the payment without question. The man grinned a toothy smile, then waved goodbye. The harbor master decided to let it be, making a note to keep an eye on that boat. Alone, the man sighed in relief. "My wife indeed. Puh!" he said, returning to the lower decks to get out of the rain.

Who are these two? Find out in the next chapter!

Also, I might have gotten a full time job that I love since the last chapter (Jumping up and down for joy), so chapters might come out a little slower... then again, I might be wrong. Every time I say this, I end up with a burst of creativity and end up writing more in a shorter amount of time.