It's been forever since I've updated this story. Last time I left a certain bit of information vague, and it will remain as such. So, sorry, I won't be telling you exactly what that book was. I did say it's personal to Elsa, and I'm sure she wouldn't be pleased it that got out there. But to paraphrase the brilliant Jennifer Lee 'I know what I made, but once I post a story, it belongs to everyone. So I don't say anything, it's up to you.'
Enough of me blabbing, enjoy the chapter.
"I can see the carriage!" Erian cried happily. He turned from the window and raced down the corridor, jumped on the banister and slid down. "They're here!" He shouted running into the main hall where his parents and aunt were. He didn't even pause, passing them in a blur.
"Looks like he's excited," Kristoff said with a chuckle. He shifted Karianna in his arms.
"When is he ever not excited to see them," Anna said. Arisol was in her arms.
"Exited to see them or to see her," Elsa said making Anna and Kristoff chuckle. The three adults went outside. Erian was waving excitedly. A girl with brown hair was leaning out the carriage window, waving back. As soon as the carriage pulled to a stop she was out running across courtyard. She jumped on Erian, knocking him over. The pair laughed brightly.
"Hello Solara," Elsa said extending her hands for the two. They both took her hands and got to their feet.
"It's wonderful to see you again your majesty," Solara said politely.
"Solara, you know better than that. You call me Aunt Elsa, okay?"
Solara giggled, "Yes aunt Elsa," She hugged Elsa.
"How have you been sweetheart?" Anna asked the young princess.
"I lost a tooth yesterday!" She said excitedly. She grinned widely showing Elsa, Anna and Kristoff the gap in her smile. "And I can wiggle my tongue through it,"
"Stop showing everyone the big hole in your mouth," A young boy said walking over with his hands in his pockets, "Don't you know you look like a lizard, sticking your tongue out like that,"
"I do not!" She said adamantly. The boy chuckled.
"Cyrus, stop harassing your sister," said a woman with short brown hair.
"I'm just teasing mom," He said lightly. "I meant it as a compliment,"
"I agree with him, she reminds a little of Pascal," A man said, ruffling the boy's hair.
"See, dad agrees," Cyrus said to his sister. Solara stuck her tongue at him.
"Eugene," Rapunzel said folding her arms. Eugene laughed.
"I'm joking sweetie," He said to his daughter.
"Where are my little goddaughters?" Rapunzel asked. She moved next to Kristoff taking the little girl from his hands. "Let's see, hair like her mother's. This is Karianna," She looked over at Anna who nodded.
"That makes this little tyke Arisol," Eugene said holding his arms out. Anna placed Ari in his arms. "But I forgot, which one's like Elsa?"
Before anyone could answer Arisol started crying and frost appeared on Eugene's sleeves.
"This one's the ice maker, got it," he said passing her back to Anna, "Take her quick before I make her cause a storm,"
Anna laughed as she gently rocked Arisol, "Just give her a little time you warm up to you,"
"And don't worry about her causing any storms. Her powers won't be that strong for a few years, thankfully," Elsa said.
"What's it been like, with the twins," Rapunzel asked.
"It's…interesting to say the least," Kristoff replied.
"Ari especially, she has a tendency to get moody, she takes after her aunt like that," Anna said smirking at Elsa. The Queen rolled her eyes, despite the smile on her face.
"And she refuses to sleep at night, she takes after her mother like that," Elsa said earning a tease from Anna.
"Mommy, can Solara and I go play in the gardens? Please?" Erian asked pulling on his mother's skirt.
"Of course sweetheart,"
"Cyrus why don't you go with them?" Eugene suggested.
"Why? They probably want to play baby games."
"Cyrus we do not play baby games!" Solara snapped at her brother. Cyrus laughed.
"Alright, what are you going to play?"
"I got my first bike, I'm still learn how to ride it though,"
"Really?" Cyrus raised an eyebrow, his interest peaked. "I know how, I can show you,"
"Okay, it's this way," Erian took off leading the other two.
"Be careful!" Rapunzel and Anna called after the trio as they disappeared around the castle.
Erian lead to the pair to where he kept his bike. "We have to take it outside. Aunty Elsa doesn't let me ride inside. She says I knock over too many things," Solara giggled at this and Cyrus smirked.
"Riding a bike is easy," Cyrus said climbing on the bicycle. He pushed off easily riding along the garden path a short way before turning around and coming back. "Once you find your balance the rest comes naturally," He hopped off and offered the bike to Erian.
The young prince got on, taking a few wobbly steps with his legs on either side of the bike before placing one foot on a pedal and pushing off. He was alright for a few meters, but then he turned back to smile at Cyrus and Solara and that's when his balance failed him. He toppled over.
"Erian!" Solara exclaimed running to his side. She helped lift the bike off of him.
"Not a bad attempt, but you might want to keep your eyes on where you're going next time." Cyrus said helping Erian to his feet. "I'll tell you what, I'll help you this time."
So when Erian got back on the bike Cyrus ran behind him, keeping on hand on the seat to keep it steady. He did the same for his sister when she was feeling left out. After a while Cyrus collapsed on the grass after pushing his sister a full lap around the garden.
"Again Rus!" Solara asked excitedly. The older boy shook his head.
"No again. It's not easy to run behind a bike you know,"
"Aww, but I want to ride the bike more," She pouted. Cyrus frowned.
"No. Don't use that face with me. If you want to ride a bike, learn to ride one."
"Rus, I don't have bike,"
"When we go back home we can get one for you."
"But what will we play now?" She asked looking between Erian and her brother. Cyrus was too tired to think of anything but Erian's face lit up. He jumped up grabbing Solara's and Cyrus' hands.
"Whoa, wait. Where are we going?" Cyrus asked.
"It's a surprise." Erian said grinning.
He took them to the highest floor of the castle, stopping at the top of a spiral staircase.
"Watch this," Erian said, climbing up on the banister. He slid down quickly disappearing around the turn.
"Cool!" Cyrus exclaimed. He climbed on and followed after Erian. At the bottom of the steps he slowed down and rolled off laughing with Erian. The two boys stood there for a moment looking up the stairs.
"Where's Solara?" Erian asked. Cyrus took a few steps up the stairs.
"Sis?" He called up the steps. "Lara?"
"Yeah," Came a quiet reply. Erian and Cyrus looked at each other before jogging up the stairs. They found Solara sitting on the top step.
"What's wrong?" Cyrus asked. Solara blushed and didn't answer. "What is it?" he asked again, kneeling in front his sister.
"I don't know how to do it," She said, red in the face. Cyrus and Erian started laughing. Solara pushed both of them. "It's not funny!"
"Sorry, sorry," Cyrus said stopping his laughter.
"Solara all you have to do is let go of the rail and you'll slide down," Erian said. He climbed back on and demonstrated for her. Solara bit her lip in thought, a serious look on her face. She tried to climb on the banister, but was a litte too short so Cyrus helped her up.
"Okay, not too fast now," Cyrus warned.
"I'm not a baby I don't have to go slow." Solara complained.
"It's not because you're a…wait not so fast!" Solara, didn't bother to wait around to listen to her brother. She slid down the railing, going faster than Erian and Cyrus had. Cyrus took off running down the steps barely able to keep his sister in his sight. At the bottom of the steps Erian heard Solara's laughter but he got a surprise as she came shooting into view.
"Slow do-" He didn't have time to finish his sentence before he had to duck as the princess flew off the end of the banisher. Erian and Cyrus closed their eyes when they realised she was heading right for a suit of armour. They expected to hear a tremendous 'crash' so the muffled 'thuff' that came instead surprised them. Opening their eyes they saw the princess giggling in a pile of snow.
"Erian Kristopher Bjorgman!"
Erian flinched at the sound of his full name. Getting 'full named' was never a good sign. He spotted his mother and aunt, instinctively shrinking away from the look his mother was giving him.
"What were you thinking? Sliding down the banisher, you could have been seriously hurt," Anna said walking over to him.
"Aunt Anna, it's not his fault," Cyrus said trying to come to the rescue.
"Then I guess it was someone else who showed Solara how to slide down." Both Cyrus and Erian looked away. Elsa had moved next to Solara.
"Solara, are you oaky?" She asked. Solara was still giggled oblivious to the danger she'd just been in.
"That was fun, can we go again?"
Elsa smiled a bit ruefully, "I'd rather you not sweetheart," She helped the girl out of the snow and turned to her sister. "Anna, why don't you give Erian a warning this time?"
"But-"
"I remember a certain princess who used to do the same thing when she was little girl,"
It was Anna's turn to blush. She folded her arms and pursed her lips, "Wasn't nearly as young as he is," She mumbled making Elsa laugh. The queen looked at the three children.
"If you want to slide, I'd much rather if you use this," Elsa waved her hands, making a large slide from snow. The princes and princess gasped together and let out shrieks of excitement running to the slide.
Elsa stood next to Anna, "You can lecture him later. Let him have his fun now, when his friends are here. He so rarely gets the opportunity to play with children his own age."
Anna sighed, "I guess you're right." She said turning to the door. She and Elsa had only gone a few steps when Anna was hit in the back. She stopped, surprised and turned around. Erian and Cyrus both had a snowball in their hands but Erian dropped his and pointed to Cyrus.
"What? No!" Cyrus exclaimed.
"Oh," Anna said grinning, "So that's how it's going to be." She looked at Elsa. "Sis, if you would?"
Elsa couldn't contain her own grin, "It would be my pleasure," She made a snowball and handed it to Anna. The latter tossed it once in the air to test the weight before drawing back her hand. Erian and Cyrus dived for cover.
Minutes later Rapunzel, Eugene and Kristoff walked into the room, Kristoff with Ari and Kari in his hands.
"Whoa," Eugene said ducking a stray snowball, "Looks like we've been missing the party."
"Daddy! Mommy!" Cyrus yelled seeing them, "We need help!"
"Yeah! Help!" Solara agreed.
"Daddy to the rescue!" Eugene ran into the fray, ziging and zaging to avoiding the falling ammunition. Rapunzel laughed watching Eugene as he tried to mount a counter.
"Mommy! Come help us!" Solara called. Rapunzel smiled wickedly.
"Actually, I think I'm going on Anna and Elsa's side." She said.
"What? Mom, you can't," Cyrus said.
"Yeah, mom you can't do that," Eugene said.
"They only have two persons, there are four on your side," Rapunzel reasoned.
"One of those two is the snow queen," Eugene said pointing over the snow wall, only to duck back behind it again when two snowballs sailed towards his head. "She's worth at least ten people,"
"And that would be the real reason I'm going on their side."
"Mom!" Solara and Cyrus complained together.
"Sorry, my loves,"
"Dad, you'll help us right?" Erian asked.
"Sorry kiddo, I have the girls," Kristoff tried not to look too happy for the excuse not to go up against Elsa in a snowball fight. He opted to watch in the corner while making a snow castle with Ari and Kari. Well, he was trying to make a snow castle, Arisol and Karianna seemed more interested in making a snow blob, as Ari knocked over the tower he'd been making for the third time while her twin laughed.
When the fight ended, (I don't have to tell you which side won, do I?) the group sat down with mugs of hot chocolate. Cyrus, Erian and Solara sat together in one couch laughing about the events of the evening.
"Sure you can laugh, you didn't get hit with the most snowballs," Eugene said, huddled under a blanket.
"Honey…"
"Don't honey me, you three targeted me on purpose,"
"We did not," Rapunzel said in mock shock, "You just happened to be the biggest target," Anna and Elsa chuckled at this. Eugene huffed.
"Still not fair, going up against the snow queen," He said.
"You were the one crazy enough to jump into the fight," Kristoff said.
"And thanks for the help by the way,"
"I had the girls," Kristoff retorted. The ladies only laughed harder at this.
"Well, in a couple years I'll have the little ice maker to help me," Eugene said looking at Ari.
"Oh no, she's going to be on her aunt's team, isn't that right Arisol?" Elsa said taking Ari into her arms. The girl giggled in response.
"Oh god help me, there's no way anyone will be able to survive two snow queens."
"We'll have mercy," Elsa said, "What do you think Ari? We stop once they're partly buried in snow,"
"And again, that is why I'd never go against Elsa in a snowball fight," Rapunzel said.
"Some wife you are. Remind me, why'd I go back to save you?" Eugene asked.
"Because you love me," She said sweetly.
"Sadly it's true," He said smiling. He wrapped one hand around Rapunzel's shoulders and she leaned into him.
They continued the light talk until Krianna began to grow fussy in her father's arms. On queue the 'twin senses', as Anna liked to call it, kicked in and Arisol started to cry.
"We should get the girls to bed," Anna said.
"They aren't the only ones," Elsa said, noticing that Erian, Solara and Cyrus had all dozed off, mugs of half finished hot chocolate still in their hands.
"Don't they look precious?" Rapunzel gushed. The adults all smiled, taking a second to commit the sight to memory before standing. Kristoff handed Kari, to Anna before lifting Erian gently. Eugene and Rapunzel took up Cyrus and Solara respectively. Each carried their precious cargo carefully to their rooms, placing them down quietly and kissing them good night.
And so we meet two more of my OC's Solara and Cyrus, the Crown Prince and Princess of Corona. And probably next chapter I might introduce some more. Something Elsa said in this chapter got me thinking and I have a very interesting idea taking shape about the next big moment in Erian's life, but I shall say no more, lest I ruin the surprize.
Nardragon~ until the next page.
