Chapter 4: The Festival of the Midnight Sun
Summer was slowly drawing to its natural close. Soon Rapunzel and Eugene would be departing Arendelle for their return voyage to Corona. Elsa and Anna wanted to do something special with them to commemorate their time in Arendelle, so they decided to take them to something that was uniquely Arendellian, the annual Festival of the Midnight Sun.
Neither Elsa nor Anna had ever actually attended the festival themselves, though they knew that it was always a spectacular event, complete with games, music, and a lively country dance that lasted until the wee small hours of the next morning, since the sun never fully set in the summer. It was one of the many things Anna had always dreamed of doing since she was a very little girl if the gates were ever opened again. Of course it had never happened. The thought of attending, no matter how fun it seemed to anyone else, had always terrified Elsa to her core.
Everything was different now though, and Elsa surprised Anna by actually wanting and suggesting that they all attend the festival. She believed that she was more than ready to be among her people and possibly to even dance among them. She wanted to dance! Or at least she wanted to think about dancing. More importantly, she wanted Anna to enjoy such a special piece of what made Arendelle special, and she wanted to share it with her cousins. All in all, it was to be a stupendous event that found the queen and the two princesses searching for just the right dresses to wear. Apparently being royalty and having closets that were larger than many of their subjects' houses didn't change the fact that they had nothing to wear.
It was a summer festival, and it wasn't a formal state function. It definitely wasn't a ball, much to Elsa's relief. It was a bygdedans, or village dance, where the primary music would come from a hardanger fiddle and other stringed instruments. So, the three girls were each looking for something light, airy, and lacking a cumbersome train as the dancing was to be of a livelier sort than that at Elsa's coronation. Altogether it was to be a lively evening of folksy, spirited dancing.
The girls rummaged through Elsa's vast wardrobe and realized that she didn't really have anything that didn't cover her from the top of her neck, down to her toes. Well, nothing except the dress she had made out of ice. While it was light and airy, it was also wholly too long and quite honestly too tight fitting for an event such as the Midnight Sun Festival. A night such as this required something more flowing and whimsical than that. At the insistence of her sister and cousin, she conjured up a delightful, midnight blue dress with capped sleeves, a scooped neck, and a flowing skirt that billowed when she twirled. She fixed her hair in the loose braid she came to love on the North Mountain. Anna and Rapunzel liked the dress so much that they had her make them each one in emerald and violet respectively, causing the family resemblance between the three to be particularly strong that night. Elsa and Anna even managed to talk Rapunzel into wearing shoes, which, after living the first eighteen years of her life in bare feet, she still rarely did.
It was the busy season for ice harvesting, and even though it was a made-up position, Kristoff was taking his new position as Arendelle's Official Ice Master and Deliverer very seriously. That meant he was unable to attend the celebration. He had never been comfortable in any type of social setting though, and that his work prevented him from having to attend didn't really bother the solitary mountain man. His only regret was that it seemed to sadden Anna when he told her he would be unable to escort her. So it fell upon Eugene to enjoy the pleasure of escorting the three loveliest ladies in Arendelle to the celebration, including his wife who constantly complained about having to wear shoes. Well, he and Olaf escorted them, because there was no way they were going to a festival without their friendly snowman.
As they walked together beyond the castle gates and into the village square, they were greeted by a lively, lovely celebration, illuminated by the sun that never set, with a children's choir giving a short concert, different contests, a grand amount of food, and of course, dancing at the end. Anna managed to find a booth selling chocolates, Rapunzel purchased a tiny ceramic unicorn for a friend back in Corona, and Eugene disappeared for a bit before presenting each of the ladies with beautiful wreaths of flowers with flowing ribbons that matched their dresses to crown their royal heads. Elsa, well Elsa just reveled in the unmitigated joy all around her. It was new and wonderful and filled her with warmth.
A local artist observed the young queen so happy with her sister and cousin, the orange glow of the midnight sun illuminating them from behind, making them seem rather ethereal. He carried the image in his head and later painted a portrait that he would present to Queen Elsa as a gift. It would grace the library of the castle for generations as one of the symbols of Arendelle's newest motto of "Amor dissipati," or "Love Will Thaw." had made for her Uncle and Aunt hung in the castle in Corona as well. Elsa cherished it so much that she had a copy made for her uncle and aunt, and they hung it in their castle in Corona.
A hardanger fiddle started playing near a wooden dance floor. Spirited dancing began, and Rapunzel was soon glad to have been wearing shoes as native Arendellian dancing included a great deal of jumping, clapping, and foot stomping.
Eugene stepped between Rapunzel and Elsa, leaned to Rapunzel's ear, and asked her, "Goldie, does this remind you of anything? Our first dance perhaps?" Rapunzel's glanced sideways at him, remembering her birthday three years before, when he took her to see the lanterns, and together they found their new dream. Eugene extended his hand to her, "Care to dance, wife?"
Though they had never danced the steps before, Eugene and Rapunzel fit perfectly with the crowd and were certainly enjoying themselves. Together, they were natural dancers, always fitting in to whatever steps were danced. Olaf and Anna joined in and appeared to be doing as well as a young lady could when her partner was a snowman. It was obvious to everyone that she was reveling in just the pure fun of the evening, a fact that caused Elsa no small amount of her own joy. She found that she actually enjoyed this informal celebration very much, and that it made Anna happy made her even happier.
Anna started a rather absurd dance that looked something like a cross between a chicken and an ape moving about and yelled to get Elsa's attention. "Hey Elsa, who do I remind you of? Like a chicken with the face of a monkey, I fly!"
Elsa laughed heartily, not even bothering to cover her mouth with her hand as she often did. "Oh Anna, I am so sorry I ever made you dance with that horrid, little man!"
Anna grabbed her sister's arms, pulling her to the dance floor. "You can apologize by joining us! I want to see the Snow Queen dance!" To her surprise, she did join them, and though she wasn't proficient, she delighted in it. The more she danced, the happier she felt. Several villagers gathered 'round to watch the young royals happily taking part in a native tradition. Several commented that the exercise lit a fire in the young queen's eyes that made her even more beautiful. They all soon found that so much dancing can cause a person to be very thirsty. The cider was good, but would have been better cold. Thankfully the resident queen was able to oblige the entire crowd by chilling it with just a touch of her hands. This caused the crowd to cheer, not just because she cooled the drinks, but just because the royal family was there, celebrating Arendelle among them, not closeted behind the gates any longer.
If any citizens still harbored ill will toward their queen, it was diminished by her friendly interaction with everyone from the greatest noble to the lowliest fisherman. She danced merrily and laughed sweetly with everyone who approached her, warming their hearts with her musical laughter. Theirs was certainly no malevolent snow queen, only one who had been taught to fear herself. It was obvious upon observation that she hadn't a malicious bone in her.
Anna watched her sister being so open with amazement and thought back to the coronation ball when she had been so adamant against keeping the gates open. It was an amazing transformation from the uptight woman who had been just so afraid. If she didn't know better, she wouldn't have recognized this cheerful queen as Elsa. It made her happier than she ever knew she could be. She was finally getting to live the life she had always dreamed of alongside her sister. Only one thing could have made her happier, but just then a large hand covered her eyes.
"Guess who?"
Anna knew only one person with hands so large, and excitedly turned around to find herself in his arms. "Kristoff! You made it after all!"
"Hello there, Feisty Pants!" He greeted her, as she pecked his cheek. "I just finished supervising loading the latest harvest into the ice house for storage and remembered you planned to come to this little shin dig. I decided it would be worth coming to see you happy. However, it looks like you're having a wonderful time without me."
"It's even wonderfuler, er I mean more wonderful, now that you're here!" A slow song began to play. "Let's dance!" She pulled him to the dance floor before he could decline.
Elsa saw the couple join her cousins on the dance floor and noticed that that it was a couples' dance. She backed away from the dancing and watched as Olaf played with some of the town's children. Everywhere men and women coupled together, and it seemed so natural a thing to do for all of them, yet so alien to her. It was one thing to dance next to someone during a faster song when there was little to no touching, but finding herself embraced in another's arms during a slow waltz rather frightened her. She was rather thankful no one had ventured to ask. She ran her hand up and down her arm as she was want to do whenever she felt somewhat uncomfortable. With her head down, she continued walking and didn't notice the tall man standing beneath the trees, watching the activity on the dance floor.
"Oh!" Elsa exclaimed as she walked right into him. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Please accept my apologies!"
With strong hands, he steadied her as she faltered. "You might want to watch where you're going, miss! The fjord is just a few feet away, and I wouldn't want you to drown or get wet and cold. It would be a shame to ruin such a beautiful… dress." He rested his hands on her shoulders as he gazed at her rather thoughtfully. He had chestnut colored hair, brown with a hint of red. His eyes were emerald green, and he couldn't have been more than twenty-five years of age. His face was clean-shaven, his boots and breeches bespoke a military man, but he wore no formal jacket, only a spotless linen shirt. Altogether there was an air about him of regality and possibly wisdom. Elsa found herself oddly intrigued and speechless that a stranger would just touch her, the queen and the Snow Queen at that. It was all just a tad shocking to her.
Gathering her senses, she nervously laughed with a wave of her hand. "Oh, the cold never bothered me anyway. I'm sorry. I'm not accustomed to such lively celebrations. I think I must be getting a little tired. I should have been paying attention to where I was walking."
"It's a pity," he told her.
"Excuse me?" she asked, wondering if she should be offended.
"It's a pity you're so tired. I was thinking of asking you to dance." He waited until he finished his last sentence to bow to her and smile an endearing grin that showed off one solitary dimple on his left cheek. He then extended his hand. "You look like a lady who needs to be danced with."
With nervous eyes, she looked down at the offered hand then back at the smiling man with those piercing green eyes and that dimple. Something within her pushed her to take it, albeit a little hesitantly, and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. Though she had danced that night, she had never danced with a single person before in her life. She had never known what it was to have a man's hand on her back. It was warm and seemed to send bolts of lightning through her spine. His other hand was grasping hers, their fingers intertwined as though they had been knit together, expertly guiding her as they glided across the floor. Elsa felt as if she could dance perfectly as long as he was leading her. It was all so frightening yet incredibly exhilarating!
When the fear within her started to grow, she could feel ice creeping through her veins, but then she looked up into those welcoming green eyes, and it disappeared. It was all odd and confusing, but she didn't want for it to end either! End it did, though. They had joined the dance late, and it was over all too quickly. The crowd started clapping, and that was that. "I thank you for the dance," he bowed to her, "though I am sorry that it ended so quickly."
She covered her embarrassed smile with her hand, wishing she was wearing her gloves. "The pleasure was mine."
The stranger offered his arm to escort her from the floor and found a chair for her. Then, surprisingly, he sat next to her rather than leaving her to find another partner. "You said that you aren't accustomed to such celebrations. I have to admit, neither am I."
"This is my first village dance," Elsa admitted, running her hands along her thighs nervously. "I've been to a ball once, but I didn't dance then, and it didn't end well. I had never waltzed before," she found herself revealing to him. "I never thought anyone would ever ask."
He arched his brows as if he found her words difficult to believe. Surely this breathtakingly beautiful creature had scores of suitors lining up for just the chance to be in her presence. "Well, I must admit that I've been to more than my fair share of balls, but rarely do I get to enjoy a celebration such as this. It's much less confining, I think."
Elsa nodded. "Yes. Formal balls have their place, but I have enjoyed the freedom of tonight."
"Are you a native of Arendelle?" he asked.
She realized that he had no idea who she was, but found him very easy to talk with. She found herself far more open with him than she would normally have been with anyone, much less a complete stranger. There just seemed to be an easiness between them that couldn't be explained. "Yes, she admitted. I have lived here all of my life, though I've only been 'out' in society just recently."
The stranger looked about the landscape with a scrupulous eye. Before him sat an interesting puzzle. She was surely young, but most girls were 'out' much when they were much younger so as to be sure and attract a suitable husband early. There was something refreshing about a young lady who appeared not to be in a hurry to catch a husband, so to speak. "I have been to the four corners of the earth and sailed the seven seas, and I will admit that Arendelle is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited."
She cocked her head to study this man. "You travel a great deal?"
He nodded. "Yes, I'm a sailor. We actually just docked in Arendelle this evening. I saw this festive celebration and couldn't resist visiting it as soon as I was able. I have a bit of a weakness for country dances."
Just then Elsa heard what was by then Rapunzel's familiar squeal and expected to be attacked by her exuberant cousin wanting details about her whatever it was with the strange, new man. Instead she flew into the arms of her dance partner, who thankfully stood when he heard her squeal.
"James! What are you doing here?" she asked him. Eugene followed not far behind and extended his hand to the man. "Westbrooke, it's good to see you again!"
"I'm sorry, you know each other?" Elsa asked, obviously confused as to how Rapunzel and Eugene knew the stranger.
Razunzel turned to Elsa and giggled. "Oh Elsa, I apologize!"
Upon hearing her name, the young man quickly brought himself to attention as Rapunzel continued, "Once again, I've forgotten my manners. Queen Elsa of Arendelle, this is my cousin James Westbrooke, Admiral of the Corona Navy. He's my mother's nephew!" She then turned to this James, who seemed surprised he had been dancing with the queen. "James, this is my cousin on my father's side, Queen Elsa of Arendelle."
Remembering that he was being presented to royalty, James quickly bowed. "Your Majesty! Please forgive my informality. I didn't know…"
Elsa also remembered that she was the queen and not just another village girl at the dance and held her hand out for him to kiss. "The pleasure is mine, Admiral Westbrooke. Don't worry about the informality. I'm not wearing a crown, and I never told you who I was." She had actually been enjoying just being an ordinary girl for a moment in time. She wished to change the subject to one infinitely more comfortable to discuss. "It seems we share family?"
He smiled, showing off that dimple again and nodded toward Rapunzel. Elsa realized that they favored each other a great deal. "My father, the late Duke of Westbrooke and the Verde Isle, was Queen Lillian's older brother. So yes, we share our rather spirited cousin."
Rapunzel took the opportunity to fill in some of the missing pieces. "James' older brother, Fergus, is the current Duke of Westbrooke. He is married to Mary, and they have three sons, Harris, Hubert, and Hamish. James also has a younger sister named Elinor."
James continued his history, "King Albert and Queen Lillian practically raised me, especially after my parents died. Since I am so far down the line of succession for the Duchy, I am very happy to serve my uncle and aunt in their navy. I am here, dear Cousin," he turned back to Rapunzel and Eugene, "to escort your ship back to Corona when you depart. Uncle Albert wishes every precaution be taken for your return. As always, I am happy to be at your service."
Knowing it would make Rapunzel happy, Elsa offered her hospitality to the admiral. "Since you are family, you must come stay at the castle until your departure."
It did please Rapunzel so much that she jumped up and down, clasping her hands, "Oh yes, James, you must! Elsa is going to take us up to the North Mountain in two days to show us her Ice Palace before we leave. You know you want to see it! You love wonders like that!"
Ever the gentleman, James attempted to refuse the offer. "I wouldn't want to impose on Queen Elsa. I'm quite happy in my quarters aboard the Isabel."
Elsa's head snapped up at the mention of her mother's name. "The Isabel?"
"The flagship of Their Majesties' Royal Navy is named for the king's beloved sister," Eugene informed her.
"How lovely," Elsa replied. In Arendelle she rarely heard her mother referred to by her given name of Isabel. Upon her coronation as Queen Consort, she took the more native and traditionally Arendellian name of Iðunn. Elsa found that she rather liked her mother's actual name more. It seemed musical to her, and her mother had been a very musical lady.
The dance had finally ended, and Anna met them as they started to walk back to the castle. "Where's Kristoff?" Elsa asked.
Anna was very interested in the young man with her family, hardly even looking at Elsa. "Oh, he's exhausted from harvesting ice and went home. He did tell me that he and Sven will be more than happy to drive us up to the North Mountain in his sled. Olaf went with him to see Sven. I am Princess Anna, by the way," she introduced herself to James.
Elsa's eyes grew large, realizing she forgot her manners. "Oh, Anna! This is Aunt Lillian's nephew, Admiral James Westbrooke. He has come to escort Eugene and Rapunzel back to Corona next week."
"Oh! It's a pleasure to meet any cousin of my cousins. That doesn't make us related does it?" she asked, eyeing Elsa.
"Only by marriage, Your Highness," James laughed.
Rapunzel grabbed Anna and pulled her to where she and Eugene were walking, about ten paces behind Elsa and James, who were having what seemed like a conversation about ships. "Elsa has kindly invited James to stay at the castle with us until we depart, Anna." She eyed her cousin knowingly.
Anna's eyes grew into saucers. "Oh!"
Eugene looked at his wife and cousin, "Just what are you up to, Goldie?" understanding that the two were already planning a lavish royal wedding for two people who had just met that very day.
Rapunzel squeezed his hand and only said, "Eugene!"
I'm back to posting the expanded version of The Gradual Thaw, trying to get back into the groove of writing after a death in our extended family.
