GeeklygirlJeslalover: Which sad song?
olimacproductions: No a landlord is something completely different. A landlord is someone who owns a house or an apartment and then leases it out. A Lord is someone of nobility who has power or control over people.
AutumnEve: Not actually what I was going for but thanks anyway =)
Livia Toric: Ah that quote, I like it too, it is taken from the movie A Knight's Tale and really? Awesome =)
Chapter 7: My Hand Cannot Be Claimed
When Elsa awoke the next morning, she was determined to put on a brave face. Her kingdom had just won the tournament after all. She had to look happy when in fact she wasn't. She had a feeling of mixed dread and sadness. She was dreading in running into and facing Jack. Gerda soon knocked on Elsa's door and started helping Elsa get ready. Elsa was walking down to her council room. She wasn't thinking on what she was doing. She was too busy thinking about the kiss. Elsa tried to shake these thoughts out of her head. She mustn't think of it. If she did, it would just make everything a lot worst. She cannot fall in love with man who she can never marry. On the way, she bumped, literally, into Jack who was coming from the opposite direction. Elsa's mind was so topsy-turvy that she hadn't been paying attention on what she had been doing or going.
"Your majesty," Jack said bowing.
"Sir Jackson," Elsa gave him a nod of her head. "I don't think I've personally congratulated on your excellent work in winning the tournament."
"Thank you," Jack seemed confused about something. He seemed confused about the way Elsa was acting, about the way she spoke. There was a long awkward pause between them. "So we aren't even going to discuss last night?"
"Last night never happened," Elsa said sharply. "Now if you would excuse me."
Elsa turned to leave but Jack grabbed her arm. Elsa looked down at his grip and Jack instantly let go when he realised what he had done.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "I just think we need to discuss this."
"There is nothing to be discussed," Elsa said firmly. "I'm sorry but that's my final word on the matter."
"Well then don't pretend that it didn't mean anything."
"It has to be. That's the way it is."
"It doesn't have to be."
"Yes it does!" Elsa snapped at him, her voice growing louder and louder.
"Your majesty?" Elsa turned around and saw Anton, one of her most trusted advisors, standing a short distance away. He seemed confused about why Elsa was yelling at the man who had just won Arendelle the tournament.
"Anton," Elsa smiled at him.
"My Queen, the council has assembled," he said.
"I'm coming," Elsa said. She turned to Jack. "Once again, excellent job on yesterday."
"Thank you my Queen," Jack gave Elsa another bow.
Elsa then followed Anton towards the council chambers. He seemed to be giving her looks as if he didn't understand what had just happened. He didn't say anything or push the subject to which Elsa was glad. She didn't exactly what to have to explain things. It would be quite an interesting topic for him which Elsa did not want discussed. Elsa followed Anton when he pushed open the council room door. All the other advisors were standing around, just chatting to each other. They immediately stopped whatever they were doing when Elsa came into the room. They gave her a bow and then Elsa took her seat at the head of the table. She gestured for them to do the same which they did.
"So gentlemen," Elsa said. "I think we can start. Item one on the agenda is do with the tournament which I believed was a ginormous success. People have thoroughly enjoyed it and I can say that I am very happy with the result."
"Here, here," Erik, another one of Elsa's trusted advisors said to which heartened Elsa.
"The ball of course will take place tonight in which we will celebrate our victory and the tournament," Elsa continued. "Is everything arranged for that?"
"Indeed it is," Dierk said.
"Excellent," Elsa smiled. "Then let's proceed onto item two which I believe is something to with the taxes."
They continued with the meeting. Elsa seemed happy with what they were discussing. They managed to sort out all the current issues in Arendelle before they wrapped up the meeting. Elsa shuffled her papers around into the correct order and tidied them before she spoke again.
"I believe that's everything," she said. "So I think we can adjourn early today."
"Actually there is something," Gregor said interrupting Elsa.
"Go ahead Gregor," prompted Elsa.
"Now that the tournament has finished, I believe we can turn to another matter," Gregor said.
"Which is?" Elsa asked.
"The matter of who is going to be your future husband."
Elsa was a little shocked and taken aback at Gregor's statement. She felt like she shouldn't have been surprised though. This was a topic that her advisors loved to discuss with her and it wasn't as if Elsa hadn't complied with it. She had met countless suitors that her advisors had set up for her. Elsa didn't like a single one of them. They all seemed rather fake to her in the way they acted and spoke to her. She found each of them to be very annoying.
"I believe that matter is a matter for my concern and not my advisors," Elsa said.
"Unfortunately in some sense it is," Magnus said giving Elsa a look which told her he sympathised with her. "Who you choose to be your husband could impact the kingdom which is our area of concern."
"Even though that is true," Elsa said. "I do not wish to be forced into marriage. I want to marry who I want to marry. I do not wish to marry someone who I barely know and just met. I will not budge on this issue."
"Well in that case, would you just consider our proposed suitor," Dierk suggested.
"Well, alright," Elsa said finally. "Who is your latest suitor?"
"Lord Pitch Black," Pieter said.
"No," Elsa said at once.
"But your majesty-" Gregor started.
"No," Elsa cut him off. "No, just no."
"You haven't even considered it," Pieter said.
"I did and the answer is still no," Elsa said. "I refuse to marry Lord Black."
"But your majesty-" Gregor started again.
"I think her majesty has the matter quite clear," Anton said interrupting him.
Gregor gave Anton a look of pure shock at his comment. Elsa had a suspicion that they all had rallied over this matter and now that Anton was breaking it, it threw them off.
"I believe Anton is correct," Elsa said. "I think that concludes our meeting."
Elsa stood up. Pieter looked like he was going to say something but he decided against it. Elsa then swept out of the room. She heard a pattering of footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw that Anton running towards her. She stopped and smiled.
"Yes?" she said to him.
"May we walk and talk?" he asked.
"Certainly."
They set off down the corridor together. Elsa waited for Anton to say something. He seemed like he was struggling to find the right words.
"You don't like Lord Black, do you?" he asked her.
"Not one bit," answered Elsa.
"He is a good match," Anton said reasonably. "He is a Lord, close to the royal family of The Southern Isles, a good suitor all round."
"I know all that. It's just that he's…..creepy."
"I know what you mean." Anton heaved a deep sigh and stopped in his tracks. Elsa stopped too and looked at him. "I knew your Father for a long time," Anton continued. "I was his advisor for many years and now I get the honour of being his daughter's advisor. If there was one thing I learned from him it was that to carve out your own pathway, do what feels right to you not to someone else. If you do not wish to be forced into marriage, then don't be. Marry who you want to marry, not who the rest of us do. Follow your sister's example. She married the right man for her and not for the kingdom."
"Thank you Anton," Elsa smiled at him. "It means a lot that you are in my corner."
"I will always be in your corner milady," Anton gave her a bow. "If there is anything you need, feel free to ask."
Elsa opened her mouth to ask him about her problem but then she shut it.
"Thank you," she finally said.
Anton gave her a smile before he departed her presence. Elsa walked back to her room thinking about what Anton had said. He might think that and Elsa wished it was that simple. Anton's view weren't exactly going to be shared by the rest of her advisors and potentially the rest of Arendelle. Why must it be like this? Elsa groaned into her hands. This was too hard.
"Elsa?" came a voice.
Elsa looked up and saw her sister standing a few feet away from her. She was looking at Elsa with a look of concern on her face.
"You okay?"
"Sure," Elsa forced a smile. "Just can't decide on what to wear tonight."
"Oh me too," Anna clapped her hands together.
"Okay, what is up with you?" Bunnymund asked Jack with his arms folded.
"What do you mean?" Jack responded.
They were at the stables. Jack had randomly followed Bunnymund around the castle and they somehow came to the stables. Jack was now affectingly patting Elsa's horse Snødekt (1) while feeding her carrots.
"You won the tournament but you're acting weird," Bunnymund explained. "It's like you're not even happy that you won."
"I'm not acting weird," Jack said. "This is how I celebrate when I win tournaments."
Bunnymund gave a look of disbelief. "Did something happen and now you're not telling me about it?"
"Bunny, nothing happened."
"Sure," Bunny said sarcastically. "I totally believe you Frosty."
"Seriously, nothing is going on, I'm happy," as to illustrate his point, Jack smiled at Bunnymund.
"Okay then," Bunnymund threw up his hands as to signal his defeat. "Just so you know, you can tell me anything because I know something is up."
Jack hesitated for a moment. "Okay I'll tell you but you cannot ask for specifics or tell anyone what I'm about to say."
"Okay, I can play by those rules."
"There's this girl," Jack said not looking at Bunnymund but instead continuing his grooming of Elsa's horse.
"Who's the girl?" Bunnymund asked with a bit of a grin.
"No specifics remember?"
"Okay, okay, so, um, what's the matter then?"
"Well she's saying that we can't be together," Jack mumbled.
"Why not?" Bunnymund asked but Jack shot him a look. "Okay, okay, specifics, gotcha. Well, um, does she like you?"
"I think so," Jack said. "When we kissed it certainly felt like it."
"So did she initiate the kiss?"
"We both kind of did."
"Ah," Bunnymund paused as he thought. "Well without knowing any of the circumstances I can only give you broad advice."
"I welcome any advice."
"I suggest you go after this girl," Bunnymund said. "It sounds as if you really like her. Keep trying. Who knows? It might end with happily ever after, it might not but at least you would have tried and would know what would have happened if you had gone for it."
"That does make sense."
"Of course it makes sense, it's from me," Bunnymund then gave Jack a smirk. "So Jacky Frost is just lovesick. Oh this is so amazing."
"Oh shut up."
Bunnymund checked his watch and realised he had to be on duty ten minutes ago. He raced off, leaving Jack alone at the stables. Jack continued to stroke Elsa's horse.
"What do you think Snødekt?" Jack asked the horse. "You think I have a shot with your Master?"
The horse gave an affectingly grunt in response to Jack's question.
"I'll take that as a yes," Jack grinned.
Jack then thought about what Bunnymund had said. He did make sense with what he said. The problem was that Bunnymund didn't know that the woman that he had fallen for was the Queen herself and that he thought that she had fallen for him as well. The other major problem was that there was no way he could ever marry her. She may fall in love with him but she could never marry him. She could only marry someone either of noble or royal blood, not some peasant boy like him. Jack gave a sigh. He wished the rules weren't those. He wished he was free to love and marry her.
That night at the ball, Elsa was standing in front of the crowd of people in a magnificent blue ball gown. The night was growing longer and longer. Elsa was starting to feel the effects of it. The night had started out like any other ball, bowing to her guests, meeting endless people, dancing with practically every one. Elsa was starting to feel like it was almost time for her to slip away to bed. She smiled as she looked out at the people before her and her eyes fell on Jack who was dancing with Rapunzel. Jack had a smile on his face as he was chatting to Rapunzel. Elsa couldn't take her eyes off him. He seemed to be hypnotising her and drawing her in. Elsa had to shake herself out it and stare at Anna and Kristoff instead. Elsa's eyes did flicker every now and then back to Jack but Elsa would force her gaze away. She had to think straight which was something that she couldn't do when she looked into Jack's deep blue eyes. When Anna had finished her dance with Kristoff, she came up to start a conversation with Elsa.
"Sir Jackson seems to be enjoying his night," Anna said nodding in the direction of Jack who was now dancing with Lady Tooth.
"Yeah, I guess," Elsa shrugged.
Anna peered into Elsa's eyes. "Are you okay? You seem a little off."
"Oh no," Elsa lied and she forced a smile. "I'm fine."
"Okay then," Anna said brightly.
A/N (1) Means Snowy in Norwegian. I felt like naming Elsa's horse something to do with winter and that came to me. I felt like naming it after Tintin's dog.
Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed this update. Please review =)
