Chapter 7: Who Controls Feelings Anyways?
Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen or Rise of the Guardians, or any of the other shows mentioned in this story. Disney and DreamWorks own it.
To say I was submissive was one thing. My parents reached my level and beyond after our confrontation hours ago. Adrenaline pumped through my veins faster than a horse drawn carriage. Jack and I quickened our gate as we searched for the appropriate scribe to rewrite and formalize our marriage. We both had wide smirks on our faces but refused to look at the other. We won our first battle.
"I can't thank you enough, Elsa." Jack said. I shrugged, figuring I did what most any girl would do. "Does this mean you truly want to be here?"
"Jack, this whole situation pissed me off before, but that was because I am bossy. Like you said last night, I like to control things. I'm ready for an entirely new life and you've brought me it. I wouldn't trade it with my old life if somebody paid me." I grinned and shoved his shoulder, stumbling closer to him. Our hands brushed and then he tried to grab mine. I yanked it away and stopped walking. He turned around in question. "I like how it is now." Jack's eyebrows, if they were visible, shot to his hairline.
"Elsa, incase you don't remember how sex works..." Jack implied. I huffed. "Once we go there, it's going to be hard to be your dream platonic couple."
I rolled my eyes. He thought I'd be his next follower, but I had bad news for him. "I don't believe you." If I had less dignity I would have stuck out my tongue. "We really need to stay united right now."
"Sure, but this isn't over," Jack skipped ahead but not before smacking my rear end. I gasped heatedly. If I wasn't so keen on being united against my parents I would have slapped him ten times over. Still I ignored his every word. He couldn't just do that! I didn't care who he was that was totally inappropriate. Not only was it rude and sexual, but it was in the middle of the hallway! It infuriated me that he thought he could do that. Just when I thought I could live with the guy...
By the time we made it back - silently - to the throne room, horns began to blare. With my parents settling in the throne room was more or less empty. Jack whispered to the herald who then called upon Kiara and Kovu. You wouldn't believe the entrance Simba and his wife made. Nala came in the front doors like a sane person. Simba on the other hand has obviously found the side entrance because he suddenly appeared at the throat of Kovu, who got pressed against the wall.
"Guards, separate them," Jack ordered. Kiara was in between the two, prying them apart as much as she could. I about fainted when she her dress ripped from Simba's nails trying to get past her. Kovu wasn't fighting back, per say, but he wasn't standing there letting him hit him. Finally, the prince, the king, and the princess were all pulled away from one another.
Jack and I exchanged glances as Simba and Kiara exchanged shouts. It was the most inopportune arrival of royals we had ever experienced. I supposed we should have said something, like bow to the king and queen, but the fight was utterly entertaining.
"I told you never to step foot in the Outlands. You directly disobeyed me and went as far as associate with them," Simba roared.
"They aren't all bad, father!" Kiara pleaded. Kovu stood brushing off his clothes with that sort of bored look.
"You should have never left the castle in Arendelle. Why were we not sent word of this, Elsa?" Simba suddenly brought me into the battle. I began to speak but it seemed that he didn't actually want my answer. "And you!" He lunged for Kovu. "No Outlander is allowed to come in contact with Pridelanders."
Kovu smirked a smirk that really didn't do him any help. He stepped forward, getting up in Simba's face. "Actually, Sir, that law is only in effect on your lands."
"That rule is always in effect for my daughter," Simba hissed. Jack stood up seeing as they were really getting close to serious fighting.
"Okay," he said, walking in between the two fighting lion-like rivals. "Simba, why don't we show you to your rooms and we can work this out in a meeting room."
"Do you think-,"
I stood up, knowing he would listen to somebody he trusted his daughter with for years. "I think that if you have a problem with Kiara's position here you should take it up with my parents, who are also here." They also were here on an angry note. "King Simba, I am sorry for your anger, but Kovu did nothing wrong and is welcome here."
Simba wasn't one to prowl on his friends. He took one look at the prince, sneered, and brushed roughly past him. Nala with a deep frown stepped forward and addressed me. She curtsied. "My apologies, your...Elsa, I'm afraid you've found yourself on the wrong throne. Or one at all." She shared a knowing look with me and I instantly ran down the steps and hugged her. When I was younger and my training didn't seem as important I convinced my parents to let me spend two full summers with Kiara at Pride Rock. Nala became a second mother to me, one that didn't pressure me.
"Surprise! I'm becoming queen here," I smiled unsurely. Nala beamed.
"Looks like we have another country to find a settlement with." She sighed and took in all of the room. Her eyes wandered to where her daughter stood, staring after the heat her father left. Nala didn't look at the prince as she passed Kovu. Finally, Kiara and her mother got a reunion, no matter how stressed it was. Jack walked to my side and huffed, and I did the same. Kovu walked up to us with a guilty expression, like he did do something wrong.
"A word?" He asked after bowing. By now my parents were most likely waiting to get the exact papers written. Nevertheless we followed him to Jack's study. "I really shouldn't even be here. With your permission, I can be out of here by tomorrow."
"Nonsense," Jack proclaimed. I had a bad feeling that he simply enjoyed the drama. After all it was the first time he ever clamped Kovu on the shoulder like a friend. "Rapunzel still has a week left. You will stay at least until then."
"We know her choice, Jack. I think I can just withdrawal," Kovu tried to make it sound like he didn't care about the matter but we both saw the anguish hidden in his features.
"Why do you want to leave so badly?" I asked. He was still in need of a bride, a wealthy one at that. Staying here he was much more likely to meet a prestige woman than in the Outlands.
His eyes darted through the window to where Nala and Kiara commenced their walk down the hall. He growled and shook his head. "Never mind, your highnesses. Forget I asked."
I was starting to think we would never have a boring hour, let alone a boring day here at court of Guardia.
My father would not speak to me. He barely even looked my way. Mother did her best to coax me to back out. "We don't even need your marriage." Mother insisted. "Anna has her eye on a certain youngest prince here. We can get the same deal and you won't have to deal with the horrible stress of being queen. It's a win-win!"
I stopped in my tracks and one of the servants shoved the flowers into my face. She dropped it in surprise, but the thing I loved the most was that she didn't have a heart attack that we would scold her. She simply apologized and began picking it up. I felt to blame so I grabbed a broom and helped. Mother tapped her foot impatiently all the while. Finally, I turned back to her and thanked the maid. "What are you talking about? I would know if Anna was interested in a man. She's not exactly a closed book."
"Of course she won't tell you!" Mother looked at the next vase. Even though they were against the wedding she insisted on picking out the last minute details down the the flowers. "If she marries that man, it will make this marriage that you are about to do futile!"
"It is no matter. I want to be queen," I stated boldly without shame. She could hate my attitude all she wanted but I was sticking to it.
"We've postponed the agreement as much as we can. Once we make it there is no going back." She was begging me. It was odd to see my mother begging me. It should have been the other way around honestly.
"Perfect," I smiled honestly. "Why don't we get to it? Oh, I like the poinsettia bouquet." I took her hand and led her back to the throne room. I entered the room to find Anna going ballistic.
"I said pillars! How hard is it to make pillars? The greeks had it on buildings last year, people! This is a simple cake." Anna rushed around doing last minute decisions. It was her distraction. Suddenly, I noticed how much Kristoff was by her side. He offered her assistance and an opinion. He looked like her little puppy. Sighing, I waved to Anna, feeling abruptly disconnected with her.
By the time we made it to the late king's study, Father was already snooping by the library. It took only a few awkwardly silent moments until Jack was brought into the room. "What is the meaning of this?" He asked, looking around as we stood outside the locked study.
"This is a formal matter, your highness. Surely you know that all formal matters are to be held in the king's study." My father deliberately chose this study. Jack had his own, slightly smaller, study. Jack's eyes enflamed. "And it's come to our knowledge that you are not yet the official king. So your father's will do."
"Will do?" I hissed, enraged at their utter disrespect. They had no room to throw out snide comments. "You should be-,"
"Elsa," Jack rested a hand on the small of my back in hopes to calm my nerves. I clenched my eyes shut and stepped back while Jack pulled out the key. He held open the door for all of us and pulled me aside at the last second. "Could you do me a favor and not be present for this meeting?"
"Why?" There was no way I was missing this. The scribe filed past us, leaving only us to enter. Suspicious behavior Jack did not have. His normally alight eyes were turned down in concern. I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and explain.
His eyes flickered from me to the door and back. "Your parents are going to do their absolute best to convince me that you are not fit to rule my kingdom. It will get nasty. They can be mean, Elsa, and-."
"And you want to protect me?" I asked, getting very much insulted. "That's cute. Now let's go school my father's disrespectful ass!" Jack's eyebrows went to the sky and his worry deepened. I decided to cut him slack, only because we were sure to win this next battle with ease. "Let me tell you a little secret, Jack Frost. You try to protect my innocence - outside of the bedchambers - again and you will find that my innocence in our bedchamber will no longer be an issue."
"Is that so?" Jack snorted, stepped in my face. I nodded, growing utterly serious, and stepped forward again. Our chests pressed against each other and his bent neck allowed me to stare into his bright blue eyes.
"Let's just say you and I would have much trouble performing the real deal," I pressed my hand over his cold heart and patted it lightly, making sure to walk away and leave him breathless. Little did he know how open I was to doing exactly what a normal girl my age should want to do now that I found my parents were disappointed in me, even though they pushed this submissiveness onto my shoulders. He followed directly behind me into the room. I sighed happily, even though I was disgusted with my parents' actions. "Let's begin, shall we?"
"You look gorgeous, Elsa."
"Are you excited?"
"Oh my baby!" I rolled my eyes at the last one. I was slightly embarrassed to be related to my mother. She irked me in the bad way. Ever since Jack removed the veil, I saw the truth behind my parents, and I didn't like it. Now that she was put in her place she was groveling to be the mother I used to see in her.
The only comment I truly cared about at that moment was Anna. She walked in, picking something out of her hair, and gasped when she saw me in my dress. It was the traditional white, but where others had 'something' blue, I had many things blue. The lace arms were a light, ice blue, along with the train. It shifted from plane white to an ice blue over a long period. My veil was also blue lace. "Everyone leave us." I declared, grinning at my sister. Astrid grinned and squeezed my hand on her way out. I wondered why Kiara was, but I figured it was no time to worry about that. After all, it was my wedding day, and I intended to put that to good use; Anna.
Her tears were enough to see she found me beautiful. "Oh Elsa," she squeezed me tight, holding my hands as she tried to decipher what I was thinking. She held a defeated smile. I knew she was happy for me even though it wasn't what she wanted. That was why I loved Anna so, among other things. All that mattered was that I was happy in her eyes even if she was wrong. It hurt to see that my parents didn't feel the same, but I found peace knowing they didn't rub off on Anna's kind soul. "Why did you not escape when you could?"
I knew she wasn't asking this in a scolding way. She simply didn't understand. And one thing Anna loved was knowledge of just about every thing and interaction. I softened my eyes, smiling tightly but in a amused manner toward my little sister. "I've been here but a week. How am I to judge whether I will be happy in these quarters with such small time?" She frowned, knowing I was just skirting by the subject. I huffed and let my shoulders drop. "I can't tell you, exactly, Anna. I just know I'll have a purpose here. Jack admitted that he needs me. Somebody needs me." I laughed mirthlessly.
"Other suitors need you," Anna pouted.
"None for my brains. Jack wants and needs me for something other than a body to use and a person to punch," I squeezed her hands. Silent tears slid down Anna's face knowing that I was marrying not out of love. I smiled a genuinely happy smile. "I want this, sister. I want to rule a kingdom, and I want to do it by Jack's side."
"He is not vile?" As a child we were both prepared for the worst when we married. Back then we were a poorer country and Anna was also scheduled to marry for the benefit of the country. Luckily we prospered from then. By doing so, we had both a vision of an abusive and sexist husband. In all honesty, most of the wealthy bachelors were exactly like that, but I hit lucky. I wasn't in love, but I was far from pain.
"No." I shook my head. "I will be happy here. Happy is good enough for me, Anna."
"Then it is good enough for me for you, too," Anna fumbled with her words. We both giggled and smiled, embracing each other in a mixture of our tears of joy and sadness. I pulled away and smirked, something I've mastered thanks to Jack.
"What's this I hear about Kristoff?" Her eyes widened at my knowledge and tears immediately spilled over her cheeks. Her apologies were amusing to see. It warmed my heart to know she cared for me so much. "Anna. Anna, stop." I laughed. "I think he is perfect for you."
"But-,"
"I don't want to hear it. You are happy. I am happy." Her tears wouldn't stop coming. I could tell she needed more assurance. I sighed. "I want to marry Jack either way. By doing so I become queen. Whether or not Kristoff courts you doesn't affect my decision."
She was about to speak when the doors burst open. Kiara ran in, her dress in ruffles and wrinkled. I laughed and my sister and I helped smooth down the ruffles. She seemed to be rushing around and distracted. Her bleary eyes were all over the place, but she still had a smile plastered on her lips. "Kiara, where have you been?" I hugged her. She smiled a flustered smile and shook her head. "It doesn't matter. You seem upset."
"Uh," Kiara wiped at her eyes. She was definitely crying now. "I'm just sad that you are getting married. It's so soon." I knew she wasn't being totally truthful. However, with Kiara, she was bound to explain eventually. If she didn't soon then she would never.
"I'll be fine," I said unconsciously while studying her. Her eyes darted to the left before she wrapped me in a hug. It lasted so long, but I didn't mind. She was m friend and obviously needed a hug. "Will you be?"
She didn't answer. Anna gave me a kiss on the cheek and left the room. I pulled back, gazing at her shaken form. She sighed. "Elsa, you won't be seeing much of me around here, but I'll be back."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"I can't tell you," she begged. "My father is taking me back to Pride Rock. That is all you need to know for now." I eyed her suspiciously. "But I'm not going down without a fight."
My throat froze. "Kiara, you can't-," I stopped myself. How could I not tell her to follow her own path? I was being selfish. She deserved to make her own decisions. Her father meat well. "Make your father get rid of the prejudice notions, Kiara." I squeezed her hand. She smiled slightly and nodded. "Is this our last goodbye?"
"No. I will be back," she affirmed. "And I'll be asking a lot when I do." I didn't care. She had always been the free willed one, the light hearted and, sometimes, slightly shallow one. This was her one and only chance to stray from the normal and deepen her soul. I didn't totally support her relationship with Kovu, but from what I heard, he wasn't dangerous, only snarky.
"Anything," I hugged her again. It was hard not to cry but I didn't want attention to my tears on my wedding day. People would ask questions. That would lead to an extra eye on Kiara, and I could guess by her body language she needed to keep under the radar.
The doors opened and they ushered us onto positions behind the huge ballroom doors. Astrid and Hiccup went first - don't ask how we convinced Astrid to walk with Hiccup - then Kiara went alongside a chosen duke, one chosen by her father. Anna went with Kristoff, who she urgently convinced to at the last second that it was okay for me to see them together. Kristoff wore a very happy smile and I knew in my heart he could keep an eye on my wild Anna. My father gripped my arm a little too tight. He still wouldn't speak a word to me.
Despite my reverences, I hated marriage rituals. It put all eyes on me. As a future queen I supposed I needed to get used to it, but it also showed weakness upon the bride and groom. If this was a true hearted ceremony it would show the king and queen were weak enough to focus on their emotions longer than minutes, which would mean we were selfish. That's exactly what the commoners thought of us, more or less. The nicer ones would think we were either cute or smart for pairing up. The ones who had a reason to resent Jack or I would think that we we weak and stupid for wasting time on marriages than dealing with poverty or war.
The royals and highly informed groups would know that this marriage hardly meant a thing aside from an alliance forming between two countries. That was my solitude for this ceremony. We were smart for turning to each other. With that in mind, I walked through the doors and put a undeterred expression. Jack beamed at me, looking like he was actually in love. He saw my emotionless expression and frowned before making a funny face, sticking out his tongue. Nobody else saw as they were watching the bride. I couldn't help but smirk, letting loose a little giggle. I put a hand over my mouth and continued down the aisle with a slightly brighter smile.
We were almost up to the steps when my father's cold tone struck a bone. "Do not come crawling back to us when this ends. Poverty will not suit you, Elsa." I stopped cold in my tracks but he yanked me along. Jack did not miss his jerking as his eyes turned stone cold. He broke away from the normal and stepped forward to take my hand, and I noticed with some possessiveness. The time came for my father to give me away. My heart broke when I heard how easily and how ready he was to say the words with disgust in his tone. "I do."
My hands shook as he strutted to his feet. Jack took my other hand to hide it from the other people. I had to admit he made a smart move. I looked to Jack. "Ready?" he asked.
"Ready."
A/N: Ready? Ready. OM-flipping-G. I asked for five and got seven? You all are downright my best reviewers. You are the nicest but aren't afraid to correct some of my mistakes and you are concise and have helpful ideas. Let's shoot for the same, guys! Woo.
So far it seems like BloodJewel has reviewed everyone? I may be mistaken but shout out to awesome BloodJewel!
BTW, to a guest who asked what I meant when Pitch will be involved, there is no way that Pitch and Elsa could ever be together. Yuckidy, yuck, yuck. When Pitch comes, he will make his grand entrance in his rightful place: villain with a sad background. :)
