This is part two of the previous story.
Bards and Hearts
Though he didn't show it much, Ignus had been grappling with the same question for a very long time.
How the heck do you ask a Queen to marry you?!
His most trusted, albeit sometimes grumpy advisor, Kristoff, had long suffered Ignus' continuous worries and 'what-ifs'.
"…I mean, she's a Queen! Am I even allowed to propose? Isn't there some sort of law demanding I be of royal lineage or something?!"
Kristoff had grabbed the top of his head, trying to stop his jabbering.
"One, yes you are. Two, if there was, Elsa would change it. Three, I hope this isn't how you're going to sound when you show her the ring."
Ignus realized Kristoff had a magnificent point. He sounded like a kid.
"Hoo…okay. So, I mean, do I just give it to her?"
"No. You say something extremely romantic, and then you give it to her."
"Oh, well, that's good." Ignus said, flopping his arms hopelessly.
"Look, it's not like she's gonna say no."
Ignus mostly believed him, but as is usually the case, the little needle of doubt in his brain had, as of late, grown into a massive pike.
"But what if-"
"Oh for-could you just not?"
Kristoff had been in Ignus' shoes before, certainly, but his patience was fraying.
Ignus slowly slid his hands down his face, exhaling stressfully through his fingers.
"Fine. Okay."
Kristoff shook his head, annoyed. "Look, it can't be any worse than my proposal."
"Why was yours so-" Ignus' words caught in his throat as he realized that he, in fact, was the one who single-handedly made the event unbearably awkward.
He put a hand on the back of his head sheepishly. "I apologized for that, literally, a hundred times."
Kristoff snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Well, listen, just do something you think she'd like. It doesn't have to be extravagant or astounding, just heartfelt."
Ignus thought about that for a while. It was good advice.
That had been about a week ago.
And Ignus was still thinking about it, even as he walked with Elsa through the streets of Arendelle.
"Ignus? Hello?"
Ignus immediately was roused out of his thoughts, noticing Elsa's confused look.
"You look like you're miles away."
Ignus clapped his face. "Sorry. Stressful morning."
Elsa crinkled her brow in confusion. "How so?"
"Anna."
"Ah." Elsa said, understanding completely. "Yes, she's more effective than ten roosters."
"Don't ever tell her that. She'll make it a competition." Ignus said, chuckling.
Elsa laughed as well.
"But seriously, don't." Ignus said, with a hint of sincerity.
Elsa lightly hit his arm with the back of her hand, shaking her head. She was still smiling, though.
"Now then…we have the entire day! What do you want to do?" Elsa said, looking at him with energetic eyes.
Ignus, unfortunately, had only one thing on his mind. It was hard to picture anything else.
"Um…well, we could…"
Elsa rolled her eyes. "You know, as Queen, It's not often I get a day off like this. You're certain you can't think of anything?"
Ignus stammered a bit, but realized Elsa was teasing him once again.
"Alright, I see what you're doing." Ignus said, eyeing her. "Since it's your day off, how about you decide what to do?"
Elsa laughed at Ignus' awareness. "Very well. I have a few ideas in mind…"
That was an understatement.
Elsa practically ran from place to place, Ignus in tow. She was showing a kind of energy Ignus thought only Anna possessed.
Work hard, play hard I guess. And no one works harder than her.
She took him to the Arendellian Gardens, where she flaunted her wide knowledge of botany to a clueless Ignus. She visited many clothing stores, purchasing dresses for Anna and Rapunzel, though none for herself (Most of her dresses were of her own creation, after all).
She and Ignus tried about six different varieties of chocolate (vowing to never touch the wicked treat again, very falsely). They even visited Wandering Oaken's to try the sauna. Ignus was a bit bored (heat was nothing new to him, after all) but Elsa was in heaven.
Finally, they went to visit Eddie the bartender, who was now running the most successful bar and inn throughout the kingdom, due to it being favored by the Queen herself.
"Bless my bones! Your majesty! You're gonna have to give me some sort of warning next time you decide to drop by, I'm not sure my frail heart can take it!"
Eddie was as excited as ever to see the two of them, and set to work cleaning every surface he could find.
The bar was no longer dingy and quiet. It was now filled with workers, waitresses and even a bard. There was a very merry feeling to it.
Ignus looked around. "Are you sure we're in the right bar? I don't remember it being this loud!" He exclaimed to Eddie over the music.
Eddie laughed at that. "I can't blame you, lad! Had someone told me that in a year my bar would be the most lively hole in town, I'd have thrown you out by your haunches!"
Elsa smiled softly, looking around. She was very comfortable around Ignus, but she always shrunk a bit around crowds. Though she was getting better, little by little.
"Your majesty! And milord Ignus!" the bard had noticed the two of them.
Ignus grinned in acknowledgement. He had actually met this bard a while ago in this bar, and the two of them had gotten on pretty well, although he usually found himself at the butt's end of the bard's jokes.
"Out for a night on the town? It'd honor me to the bone if you'd listen to a humble tune of a bard!" He had a gleam of mischief in his eyes.
Ignus was immediately suspicious, but Elsa looked interested.
"If you would be so kind." Elsa said politely.
The bard smiled and cleared his throat. He strummed his guitar.
"Oh, in the land where the ocean and mountains do meet,
A lad did wander in his rags through the streets,
And he gazed with his eyes 'pon a humble old inn,
Thought he'd warm his weak soul with a drink from within-"
"Wait a sec…" Ignus said, mortified.
Sat upon an old stool and pulled to the bench,
Nearly killed the old tap with his horrid old stench.
"Need a drink?" Said the man, with his hand on his nose,
"Something fiery to warm this weary heart, I suppose"
Elsa slowly turned to look at Ignus, with a look of recognition and amusement on her face. Ignus looked like he had just been told he'd soiled himself onstage.
"Knocked back a few drinks, did the man in the rags,
his scarlet eyes carrying a few droopy bags,
He longed to sleep sound for a very long time,
Then the door opened up with an ominous chime,
Three fellows whose bellows were akin to a whale,
Did stumble into the bar, causing the tap to inhale
A great bit of wind, for he knew these three men.
They'd cheated him on drinks more times than ten.
The men smiled and laughed at the poor old tap,
Knowing full well they'd have another round on this sap.
The bartender looked to the stranger, eyes round and pleadin',
"If yeh'd be so kind, give these loud drunks a sound beatin!"
The man in the rags looked up and he slurred,
"I could roast 'em to a blackened crisp, if you preferred"
The tap was disheartened, 'this man's mad', he deemed
And readied three drinks for the trio of fiends,
Yet did not see the look in the ragged man's eyes
Whose pupils were lit like the morning sky
And as he swigged his last sip from his empty glass,
A great inferno did fly out the man's ass!
It caused the three drunks to cower and fear
For there was surely perverse and occult magic here!
They ran from the bar, never to return,
And the tap, in shock, to the man did turn.
'How can this be?' he asked in surprise,
Yet the man said nothing, and from the stool did rise.
He walked out from the bar, but failed to learn
'Twas not only the men that his great flame had burned.
And for the rest of the evening, the Arendellians did laugh,
For they beheld two moons that night: one full, one an ass."
By the time the bard's song had ended, the entire inn had been listening. Which made it all the worse as they howled in laughter.
Eddie was pounding the stand, doubled over with the force of his laughs. Elsa was laughing so hard a few tears formed, and she had to hold onto Ignus' arm for support.
Ignus' face was as red as wine. He was completely taken off guard.
"That-That wasn't even how it happened! I wasn't drunk! I didn't-"
He stopped as he realized no one was having it. He simply stood there as the entire Inn judged him for the Bard's deceitful tale.
The bard tipped his hat gleefully and skipped out of the bar before Ignus could get his hands on him.
It had taken about ten, agonizing, humiliating minutes for Ignus to finally convince Elsa to leave the bar. She was still giggling, and would burst into renewed laughter whenever she thought about the song.
Ignus' face was like a rock.
"You-you didn't tell me you set three men on fire by breaking wind!" Elsa managed to say through her laughs.
"That's because I didn't!" Ignus yelled indignantly. "The bard made that up!"
He knew Elsa believed him, but her laughter did not stop until they had walked a good distance from the bar.
"Oh, heavens above…remind me to hire the castle an official bard." Elsa finally said.
"I will torch every one who even sends in an application." Ignus said moodily.
Elsa gave him a playful nudge. "It was funny."
Ignus exhaled. "Yeah. It was. It was hysterical. And I'm gonna hear about for the rest of my life."
"There could be worse things-"
"Worse than people asking whether or not I really walked through Arendelle with the back of my trousers burnt off?"
Elsa had to stifle her laughter as she remembered that bit. She cleared her throat, however. Ignus was looking like he was about to snap.
"I'll tell you what." Elsa said, smiling. "If anyone needs clarification on the story, I'll correct them."
Ignus groaned. "Like people are gonna ask the Queen of Arendelle for clarification."
Elsa smiled once again and gave Ignus a soft, lingering kiss. After a foolish few moments of stubbornness, Ignus returned her embrace.
As they separated, Ignus gave her a scolding look. "That's cheating."
Elsa smirked. "I'm the Queen. I say it's not cheating."
"That's abusing your power!"
"No it's not. I say so."
"Wh-it doesn't work like that."
"Sure it does. I say it does."
Ignus vehemently groaned and kissed her again, if only to get her to stop doing that.
00000000000000
It was evening as Elsa and Ignus returned to the castle. Despite the bard's song, Ignus had enjoyed the day immensely.
Elsa looked at him, sighing sadly. "Back to being an actual Queen I suppose."
Ignus felt the ring in his pocket.
And he smiled.
"Not quite yet, your majesty."
And without warning, he scooped up Elsa and blasted into the air, propelling himself like a firecracker.
Elsa let out a gasp of fear, clinging to Ignus desperately as they climbed higher and higher, flying across the kingdom. Ignus could see her mouth make words somewhat akin to "What in the name of all that is good are you doing?!".
He grinned and mouthed one word very clearly. Payback.
Elsa's eyes widened in disbelief. Are you serious?!
I'm dead serious.
You said it was funny!
It was! But I never said I was over it.
I didn't sing that song!
No, but you laughed about it.
Ignus!
Elsa!
With vindictive glee, Ignus carried Elsa through the sky, finally slowing down and landing on a clear, glassy floor.
He had carried Elsa to her Ice Palace aside the North Mountain.
Elsa was shaking as she held Ignus, refusing to open her eyes.
Ignus jostled her gently. "We're on the ground, Els."
She poked open an eye, looking around. She got to her feet.
"So I'd say we're even noOOMPGH"
Ignus couldn't finish his sentence, as Elsa had buried him in a pile of snow.
"That was so immature!" Elsa said, her heart still ramming in her chest thunderously.
"Ppflt!" Ignus said, blowing the snow away from his mouth. The rest melted off his otherwise warmer body. "What'd you expect from someone who farts fire?"
Elsa blushed, putting a hand on her arm. "Fine, fine, we're even."
Ignus smiled warmly. "Can we try to enjoy the view now?"
Elsa had almost forgotten where she actually was. As she looked out over the kingdom, she breathed, entranced.
"As beautiful as ever." She said, her back to Ignus.
"I thought it'd be a fitting way to finish the day." Ignus said as he got down on one knee (more out of sheer anxiety than actual cognitive action).
Elsa smiled, still looking out. "I was so alone when I first came here. It's…so amazing how different it is now."
"Yup. Amazing." Ignus' heart was now hammering so quickly it threatened to jump out of his chest.
He struggled to keep his voice calm as he said, "A lot of things are amazing."
"I know." Elsa said, looking down and laughing silently, thinking about how she and Ignus had met under such extraordinary circumstances. "Amazing" pretty much described their entire story.
Ignus was now trying to mentally will Elsa into turning around before he lost his nerve.
Turn around.
Turn around.
Turnaroundturnaroundturnnaroundturnaround.
"It's funny…I used to think I'd live here for the rest of my life…"
FRLLRFRRMFRMMFFGRR TURN AROOOOOOOOOUND
"And now…" Elsa chuckled incredulously, "Now I can only think of that place down there as home."
God help me...
"Elsa."
Elsa immediately noticed his serious tone. Turning to look at him, she was surprised to see him kneeling.
Her brow creased in confusion. "Um…what are-"
"I don't know if it works this way, but…"
Ignus took the small box from his pocket and held it in his hands, staring at it. He couldn't bring himself to look at Elsa just yet.
"Hopefully this at least gets my feelings across."
He continued staring at the box as Elsa's eyes widened. Her hands shot to her mouth. She was silent as a ghost.
"Queen Elsa of Arendelle." Ignus said, using every nerve in his body to keep his voice steady.
"When I sacrificed my powers to Fenrir, I thought I was dead. I thought without magic, I couldn't live. I…I was wrong."
"I can live without magic. I can live without a face. I can live without a name, respect, wealth or power. But I can't live without you."
Ignus finally found the strength to look into Elsa's tear-soaked eyes.
"Elsa, I love you more than life itself. And I always want to be beside you to make you smile with my absolute ridiculousness."
He opened the case. The stellar ring Fraxinus and Isen created for them seemed to glow even more radiant in the dying sunlight.
He simply waited, letting his silent question speak through the ring in his hands.
After an eternity, he saw Elsa give him the tiniest nod.
Ignus blinked.
"Really?" He asked stupidly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Elsa nodded again, and Ignus could see the smile beneath her hands and tears.
Everything vanished from Ignus' mind as he rushed to Elsa and kissed her with every ounce of passion he had. Fire flew from him and wrapped itself around the two of them. Elsa's ice seemed to respond to this, and spiraled around them as well, as though tying them together.
It could have been hours for all Ignus knew. Time had no meaning. When he and Elsa finally managed to stop, they simply laughed incredulously.
Elsa hugged Ignus tightly, putting her head under his neck. She closed her eyes and simply smiled. He was hers. Forever…
"So…Is this actually the right way to do it?" Ignus asked quietly.
Elsa simply sighed rapturously.
"I'm the Queen. I say it's the right way to do it."
Ignus kissed her forehead. "As you command, your majesty."
The Ice Palace gleamed gloriously as the sun finally relinquished it's grip on the day, and allowed a peaceful, wonderful night sky to blanket Arendelle.
