Chapter 9
"I still don't get why I have to dress nicely," Jack complained. pulling impatiently at the collar of the overly fancy outfit provided for him by the palace. "This isn't even my wedding!"
"No, but this is still an official event," said Elsa. "There are lots of representatives from different countries here, and the best man should look presentable."
Jack rolled his eyes.
"Well," Elsa said, "if it makes you feel better, the stuff Kristoff is wearing is much worse."
Jack smiled and said, "But Sven doesn't have to wear a tux. It's just me."
This time it was Elsa's turn to roll her eyes, as she said, "He doesn't look as good in one as you. That's the only reason you're the best man."
"Yeah, you're right. I do look pretty amazing. And at least I get to look at you. You look beautiful."
Elsa turned a little red. Jack had meant that, what with her dark blue bodice and flowy light blue skirt. And with the little way that her bangs fell out of her tight bun. And the way that her hands gently straightened out her dress. And how she was carefully fixing his lopsided collar. And the way that her eyes twinkled as she smiled…
Jack was snapped out of his little trance by Kristoff tromping into the room, wearing a dark blue outfit, and (much to Elsa's disapproval) a traditional troll wedding cape. Elsa couldn't talk him out of it, and it was his wedding after all.
"Is it gonna start soon?" Kristoff asked, fidgeting with the bottom of his shirt.
"Still got half an hour," said Elsa. "And both of you should try to refrain from messing with your outfits, if you can. I'll be with Anna, if anyone needs me." She walked out of the room, leaving Kristoff and Jack to suffer together in their stuffy and uncomfortable outfits.
"Anna!" Elsa exclaimed. "You look wonderful!"
Anna truly did, in her pure white dress. Floral lace acted as long, graceful sleeves from her white bodice with small designs embroidered on it, and her white skirt had a sparkle to it. Her strawberry blonde hair was loose, falling down her back with everything but the bangs just pinned out of her face. Elsa had never seen her sister look so beautiful.
"I'm gonna throw up," Anna admitted.
"Um… should I get you water?"
"Nevermind, I think I'll be alright. It's just that I've been looking forward to this day for so long, yet now that I'm here, what if I forget my vows? What if I trip? What if-"
"You'll be fine, Anna," said Elsa. "Just take deep breaths. You and Kristoff have been together for over a year. Even if you mess up here, nothing much can change."
"But what if-"
"You'll be fine! Do you love Kristoff?"
"Well, yes," said Anna.
"And he loves you, too. And that's all that really matters, isn't it? You already know you can live with each other, so now all that there is left to do is show everyone else that. Which you're pretty good at."
Anna smiled and hugged Elsa saying, "When did you get so good at this stuff?"
"When I saw my sister needed it," Elsa replied, hugging her back and smiling at her sister. "You really do look wonderful."
"And after this," Anna said, "there'll be a huge party, with lots of chocolate, so that'll be fun! I hear that there's a cool new dance move everyone's doing, the 'chicken with the face of a monkey'."
"That should be… interesting," Elsa replied.
Anna felt better after talking to Elsa, but in no time at all it was time for her to walk down the aisle. Her heart was beating in her throat as she walked towards Kristoff, who looked amazing. As she stepped up next to him, the minister started talking - probably some kind of blessing - but she found that she couldn't listen to a word he was saying. She looked up at Kristoff, and suddenly wanted it all to be over with, so she could just kiss him already.
Then, finally, she heard, "Do you, Anna, take this this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, 'till death do you part?"
"Yes, yup, absolutely," she said.
"And do you, Kristoff, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"Yes!" Kristoff exclaimed. Anna leaned up and kissed him even before she was told to, and in that moment, she knew that this would be a time she could never forget. Even though they hadn't been allowed to write their own vows like she had wanted to, this was the best day of her life.
The party was fun, although the dance that they had heard about tended to end in feet being stepped on. There were fountains of chocolate and, of course, and all-you-can-eat sandwich bar. Anna had ended up dancing with what felt like everyone at the party, but managed to dance with Kristoff the most. Sven and Olaf dancing 'the chicken with the face of a monkey' turned out to be too much of a safety hazard for anyone. That night was one that she would never, ever be able to forget, nor want to. And she knew that Kristoff felt just the same way.
