The sunlight shining bright on her face, Anna awoke with a huge yawn. She laid for a few minutes in that blissful half-awake, half-asleep place, the pillows and the blankets and the sheets feeling so cosy she didn't want to move. Finally, when the need for the bathroom was too great, she pushed her eyes open and rolled onto her side.
To see Elsa laying beside her, face squished into the pillow. This is a first, she thought. Usually by the time she woke Elsa was up, dressed, and in a meeting.
A mischievous grin worked its way up onto her face. She crawled towards her sister, fingers poised to give Elsa the tickling of her life.
—When the memories from last night came flooding back.
Anna sat. That was a dream, right? Or did I really…?
She tried to remember. There'd been the argument with Elsa. She'd been miserable, and one of the servants had given her a glass of wine. And then she'd kept taking them, because she'd gotten the idea in the head if she drunk enough, she wouldn't have to think anymore. But the truth was, all it did was make her head feel fuzzy.
By the time Kristoff found her, she'd decided she was going to make things right. Because— Even if Elsa thinks I'm a bother, Kristoff loves me. He loves me.
Anna bullied him into coming with her down into the kitchens, and there they stole a bottle of wine, high-tailing it out of the castle just before Gerda could catch them. It was exciting and it was fun, and it made her feel like maybe things would be alright between them after all.
And then somehow they were back at his house, in his bedroom, drinking and pillow fighting and laughing.
"I didn't know you drunk, your Majesty," she remembered him saying.
She'd poked him in the chest and said, "Maybe there's a lot of things you don't know about me."
Then they were kissing, the way they always did. Except this time it was different. Their kisses were deeper, needier. And Anna was unbuttoning her gown and Kristoff's shirt was gone. And it was only when Anna tried to wriggle out of her undergarments and laughed when they bunched and caught on her ankle that Kristoff stopped her.
"Anna— wait," he said. "You've drunk— I've drunk too much."
"Oh, shh," said Anna, silencing him with a kiss. But gently he pushed her away.
"You don't want this," he said.
"And you get to decide that for me now?" she said, knelt on the bed, pouting lips with hands on her hips.
"Of course not. But this— you'll regret this Anna."
In his eyes she saw all the hurt she'd inflicted upon him. The distance she'd imposed. The unspoken words with jagged edges, far more painful than their half-serious, half-playful arguments.
And she couldn't stand it.
"Kristoff, I love you," she said. Though even then he didn't look convinced. She squeezed his hands, tight. "I'm sorry about the last few weeks. I want to make it up to you. I want things to be like before. So let me prove it to you."
"Anna-" he said. In his eyes, she saw his resolve slipping.
"I want you. I do," she said.
"Oh Anna. I love you too," Kristoff said, pulling her into his arms.
But the person she'd been trying to convince, she realised now, wasn't Kristoff. It was herself.
And later Anna curled up by his side, crying. She couldn't seem to stop crying.
"I'm— I'm so sorry Kristoff," she choked.
Kristoff sat, lent against the headboard, staring into the dark.
"I'm sorry, too," he said.
All her resolve laid in pieces around her. Ideas of engagement, marriage, and children. Smashed like fine china into powder.
"I think," he said, "I think maybe we should just be friends…"
Some portion of time later she got up and tried to leave. Kristoff tried to stop her.
"It's the middle of the night," he protested. "Stay here tonight, at least."
"I need Elsa," she said. So Kristoff let her go.
—Until she remembered their argument, and sat down at Elsa's door. Crying, thinking what a fool she'd been. Sobering up. Until her sister came out and found her.
Sat on the side of the bed, sun streaming through, she still felt a slight pounding at her temple.
I'm never going to drink again, she vowed. Never.
She gazed at her sleeping sister. She'd been so sure Elsa would be incredibly angry at her. Instead, somehow, she'd understood.
Anna's eyes softened. How lucky she was to have a sister like Elsa.
As the children on stage moved into the final act, Elsa was struggling to keep her eyes open. When a yawn rose up in her throat, she swallowed it down. Queens did not yawn. Particularly not in public.
The local school children had decided, for the Pageant, to perform Sleeping Beauty. The prince, a little boy in a cavalier's hat, bent down to peck Briar Rose on the cheek, and hat slid off his head.
"Aww," crooned Anna, sat at her side. "That's the most adorable thing I've ever seen."
All Elsa knew was she felt so exhausted Briar Rose's bed was looking very comfortable right about now.
She stole a glance at Anna, who was looking enraptured as Briar Rose's eyes fluttered open and she sat up to the hug the tiny prince.
Since this morning her sister had stuck to her like glue, even attending Elsa's meeting with her small council. She behaved like her usual cheerful self, but somehow, something about her personality felt overcast. As though someone had cupped their hands around her candle. Her flame burned a shade dimmer today.
She seems more fragile, thought Elsa. Like how she gets when she talks about Hans.
Elsa was just happy Kristoff wasn't in the town today. She wanted to sit down and talk with him, but… But the way I feel now, I'd probably end up yelling at him.
She was trying not to think about her sister and Kristoff together, because the thought made her want to throw up in her mouth.
Elsa just wished she was a little more knowledgeable on the subject. Princesses, however, weren't supposed to know about sex. Years ago, if she hadn't found certain books in the library, she would have herself spent her adolescence in the dark. It made her wonder if Anna had even known what she was getting herself into. Unvoiced questions died in her mouth: What was it like? Did it hurt?
Elsa stared at her hands, folded on her lap. She'd never so much as kissed anyone. Well, except for her sister.
Unbidden, memories of last night returned. Anna's lips. She'd no idea lips could be so soft. Unconsciously, Elsa's fingers moved to touch her mouth. Her eyes slipped closed.
She imagined: not Kristoff now, but her. Her pushing Anna down onto the bed. Her, clambering up atop Anna. Skin sliding against skin. Lips against lips. Hands twisting in Anna's hair, and—
Loud cheering interrupted Elsa's daydream. Her eyes snapped open against the bright sunlight of the square. Onstage, the children were taking a bow. Anna was standing and applauding.
Dear god. Just what is wrong with me?
"Ahem. Queen Elsa." Her head whirled round to see Kai, holding a bouquet in his arms.
"Oh, of course." Unsteadily, Elsa got to her feet and took the flowers from Kai. Watching her footing she climbed the steps to the stage, and there presented the bouquet to the girl who'd played the part of Briar Rose.
"It was a lovely play," she said, bending down so she was eye height with the children. "You must have all practised so hard. You should be proud," she said.
The girl clutched the bouquet to her and gasped out, "Thank you Queen Elsa!"
Their innocent eyes burned her, like hellfire.
She glanced up into the crowd. Saw white skin, red cheeks. The seer Ada, on her queen's arm, watching her intently.
"Wow! These are really fancy cakes!" said Anna.
After a busy morning in the town watching the play by the children and visiting their school, she and Anna had only just had time to retire to the drawing room for lunch. And after their sandwiches, Gerda had brought in a tray of some very nice looking cakes.
Whistling, Anna picked up from the serving tray a fairy cake topped with lilies made from blue icing. She held it to the light. "I almost don't want to eat it, it looks so pretty."
"I'm not sure I can believe that," said Elsa.
"Okay, yeah, that's not true," said Anna, promptly stuffing it into her face.
"Oh, Anna." Still, she couldn't help but laugh at Anna's face she realised she'd bitten off more than she could chew. Gob full, cheeks pink, she banged on her chest.
"Are you okay?"
Anna turned redder, and then swallowed it down in one big gulp.
"Pass me another!" she said.
Elsa could only echo her previous sentiment: "Oh, Anna…" She eyed her face. Said, "Wait one moment. You've got a bit of…" she reached for a napkin, and lent over the coffee table to wipe the buttercream from Anna's cheek. Squinting one eye closed, Anna laughed.
"Elsa! Who do you think you are, Mum?" As though she'd just realised what she'd said, Anna's laughter died down. She quickly explained: "I… always used to get into a huge mess at dinner. Mum would wipe my face, just like that."
Elsa let the napkin float down onto the tray. "I remember," she said, brushing her skirt up behind her as she sat. "I was there… for some of it."
"Sorry, Elsa…"
Why? For what? She thought.
"Do you… still think about them?" Elsa asked.
Anna stroked one of her braids. "Sometimes… lately, quite a lot. I don't know why." She paused, glancing up at Elsa. "Do… do you?"
Elsa took a sip of her tea, and set it back on the saucer with a slight clatter.
"To tell the truth… I mean, unless I'm so busy I don't have the time… yes, everyday."
"What do you think about?" Anna asked quietly.
Elsa pushed out the creases in her dress. "I miss them. And I wonder… about what went wrong. How things turned out the way they did."
"I'm sure…" said Anna, "that they were just trying to help."
Elsa nodded. That was what she clung onto, too.
Papa didn't mean it, she thought, a familiar mantra. He was only trying to help. He didn't realise what it would do to us. She looked up at her sister. Felt, after all this time, the lingering distance between them. They weren't ordinary siblings anymore. They were regaining their closeness, but it wasn't the same one they'd had as children. After all, this was the first time they'd spoken of the parents, in what? A year? More?
When was the last time?She thought, in growing horror.
"Elsa… are you okay?"
She snapped away form her thoughts. Pushed the tray across the table to Anna.
"Have another cake," she said. "I want to see you eat one without choking on it this time."
Anna whipped out up, tossed it in her hand. "Challenge accepted!" she said.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in," said Elsa.
It was Kai. "Your Majesties. Prince Jareth and his companion Miss Ada have requested an audience with you." His eyes moved to Anna, face stuffed, a lemon meringue sticking out of her gob. Tactfully he added, "Shall I… tell them now is an inopportune time, Ma'am?"
Truth be told, Elsa had no particular desire to see Matilda's seer again any time soon. But before she could respond the negative, Anna swallowed down the rest of her cake.
"Prince Jareth?" she asked, eyes wide, open palms slammed down on the table. "Who's that?"
"One of Queen Matilda's grandsons," said Elsa. "Kai, could you kindly tell them that we're sorry but that—"
"—That we'll receive them immediately," Anna said. Elsa raised her eyebrows at her.
Anna crossed her arms. Raised her chin. "As your sister," she started, with pomp, "it's my job to assess these so-called suitors and see if they're up to standards."
"Not this again," said Elsa, exasperated.
"Yes, this again," said Anna, leaning forward with fervour. "And if he doesn't measure up…" with her foot, she gestured giving Jareth the boot. Except that she managed to kick the heavy oak coffee table instead. "Ouch… ouch… I'm fine."
Elsa sighed and picked up a scone. "Alright. Kai, please send them in."
"As you say, Ma'am," said Kai, with a not-so-well hidden smirk.
Anna was still rubbing her foot when the rap at the door came again.
"Come in Kai," Elsa said. Kai led in their guests.
"Your Majesties. Presenting Prince Jareth and Miss Ada," he said, still smiling at Anna. She glared at him.
Ada curtsied. "Thank you for receiving us. It's wonderful to see you again Queen Elsa," she said. She was wearing a green dress embroidered with flowers, in the low-cut back fashion of the Spring Court. But Elsa's eye was drawn to her hair. Just like last night, it was braided in the exact same style Anna wore it. For reasons she couldn't put into words, it made her feel deeply uncomfortable.
She stood, and Anna followed suit, leaping up out of the chair.
Jareth kissed Elsa's hand. "Truly is a pleasure, your Majesty," he said.
Now he wasn't surrounded by a hundred other interchangeable noblemen, she studied him closer. He wasn't tall, only her own height. Slim to the point of silliness, stick legs, with blond hair long enough he'd tied it back. Though, she had to admit, his hair was nice. Looking at the gleam it kept, she thought she knew several ladies who would kill for hair so fine.
Apparently, from Anna's stare of shock and envy, her sister was one of them. She saw her mouth the words, "Son of a—"
She only just managed to pull on a crooked smile by the time Jareth turned to her, taking her hand and planting a kiss on it.
"Yourself as well, Princess. My name's Prince Jareth of the Spring City."
"Uh…. hi," she said.
Elsa raised her eyebrows at her sister, as if to say: You better not be falling for this one.
'You're kidding!' Anna mouthed. She coughed and covered it with her hand.
"Join us and have a cake," she said. "They're super good."
"My sister certainly speaks from experience," Elsa said.
Anna kicked her.
"Scone?" she said sweetly, offering the tray to Ada.
Their guests took a cake each and Anna got straight to the point. "So… uh, for what do we owe you the pleasure of your company?"
Sipping her tea, Elsa smiled. Anna had always struggled with etiquette. She just ended up sounded like a child trying on her mother's shoes.
"Do we need to get straight to business?" asked Jareth, flashing a charming smile. "I'm quite enjoying being surrounded by so many lovely ladies."
Anna stared at him. He quickly took another scone.
Ada lent forward in her chair. "Your Majesty," she said to Elsa, "it's a trifle really. It's about her Grace Queen Matilda. She has a room on the third floor, and though she wouldn't ever admit it, she's having trouble with the stairs. I spoke with your master of the inventory but he seemed uncooperative. Which lead me to fear the Queen made have said something… inappropriate. I believe you have witnessed the kind of thing I'm talking about first-hand."
"What I have to live with everyday," Jareth said, arms slung behind the armchair, head tilted back in a sigh.
Stealthily, Anna put a hand to her chest. 'My heart bleeds,' she mouthed.
Elsa stifled a giggle behind her cup.
Ada continued, "If you could be so kind as to have a word, your Majesty, I would—"
Elsa set her cup down. "No problem at all. I'll speak to Kai this afternoon."
It occurred to Elsa now. Where was Queen Matilda? This was the first time she'd seen the girl not attached to the old woman. She asked Ada how her queen was faring. Ada responded that the queen was feeling tired and went to rest in her quarters, and thank you for asking.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Anna lining up the rest of the cakes into a circle on the tray. So much for all her sister's bravado. She was bored already.
"You'll have to forgive me," Elsa said. "I hate to ask you to leave so soon, but because of the Pageant we've a lot left to do…-"
"We understand, your Majesty," said Ada, standing and curtsying once more, very formal. "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice."
Jareth stood too, but then paused, as though a thought had hit him.
"I say," he said, "Princess Anna, you must let Ada read your fortune sometime. She read your sister's last night."
That caught Anna's attention.
Elsa bit her lip. The uneasy feeling was back in her stomach.
"You're a fortune-teller?" Anna asked Ada eagerly.
"Essentially, Princess, yes," said Ada.
"Ooh, Elsa," her sister said excitedly, whirling round to her. "What did you see?"
Good god. What do I say?
Ada, however, shook her head. "I couldn't get a clear reading for your sister. In my experience, some people are harder to read than others. But I'd be happy to look at for your future Princess Anna."
"That's very kind of you," Elsa said, quickly. "But I'm afraid we don't have time."
Anna looked aghast. "But El—-sa. She's a fortune-teller. A fortune-teller."
Elsa clasped her hands in front of her. "You've seen our schedule Anna."
"But—- Elsa—-" she implored.
"It won't take but a minute," Ada said.
Oh—
"Fine. Do as you wish." She turned, swiftly, to face the window, where Anna wouldn't see her shaking hands.
But she listened, intently.
"What do you wish to know, Princess?" the seer asked.
She'll ask about love, Elsa thought.
"I… I want to know what direction I need to travel in, to find happiness."
Elsa turned. What…?
Ada had hold of her sister's hands. She began to speak. "I see troubles ahead of you, Princess, I'm afraid. But there is a person… I see them standing close to you. They're a person you know very well. Through that person you will find happiness. The manner of that happiness, however, is up to you."
"A person close to me?" Anna murmured. She looked pleasantly mystified. "I love riddles."
"We'll take our leave now. Thank you for seeing us your Majesties," said Ada. Jareth said some courteous words. Though, puzzlingly, Ada dropped the stiffly formal curtsy. Instead she pressed Elsa's hand between her own. "Till next we meet," she said, before she and the prince left.
Elsa discovered why. She'd pressed a folded piece of paper into her hand. Elsa stared at it.
Behind her Anna said, "Can't say I think much of The Hair, unless you're interested in taking lessons on how to bore someone to death. Suppose he could be worse though…. Elsa?" Gingerly she asked, "You're not mad at me, are you?"
"No, of course not," Elsa said absently, unfolding the paper. She read through the short message once, and then again, in case she'd misread it. And then the note in her hands was solid ice.
Queen Elsa, I saw more of your future than I could say yesterday, in good company. If you wish to know more, meet me in my room tonight. I'd recommend you tell no one else about this, but I imagine you realise that already. I'll be waiting.To be continued.