Chapter 10

The next afternoon seemed a bit stiff and uneasy for Elsa and her father. Not that Elsa hated having tea with him, but she was a little overwhelmed with yesterday's conversation and the thought of having her father go somewhere that didn't exist, to meet someone that had existed for a short period of time.

Well, he was drunk, so perhaps he'd forget what 'Al' looked like.

…As if that's ever going to happen.

"Elsa? Is everything alright?"

"Fine, fine," she said with a gentle smile, hoping it concealed her anxiety. "How did your meeting with the regents from Corona go?"

"Ah, fairly well, actually. There were a few quarrels, but other than that, they are very nice people. But you seem a bit out of sorts when I asked you about how you met Al." He took a sip of his tea. "Was it a good memory or a bad one?"

"Oh, a bit of both," she answered honestly with a private smile. When she noticed his eyebrow raised, she elaborated. "I thought he was a bit silly, and suspected the worst of him. But upon closer inspection, Al really is a very genuine, very kind person. One I hope to make a life with someday, should… should everything fall into place."

Agdar smiled. "I know you're going to have a bright and a wonderful future. And yes, Al is a very kind person, so I'm not really worried for when you decide it's time to marry."

"You… want me to marry him?"

"Better him than that despot Hans," he grumbled with a curl of his lip, and Elsa couldn't help the quiet titter into her cup of tea. "Every bit the snake I worry about under that veneer of kindness. Not like your Alfrid; he is precisely who he seems, I think."

She looked down to her lap as she placed her cup on her saucer. "Father, he's... " She sighed. "I prefer we not talk about him… he's irrelevant now."

"Perhaps that's for the best," Agdar said, shifting uncomfortably. "We'll look to the future, not the past. Have you arrived at a date for our visit?"

"I've had a letter written to Al," Elsa said, thinking quickly, "and I haven't received a response yet. But I expect one at any time." Cobbling a bit of truth into her lie, she said, "He is anxious to meet with you again; hoping to improve upon his initial good impression."

"Ah, he shouldn't worry so much; we had such a great time last we met. I'm sure everything will be the same." Elsa could only hope that would be the case.

"He is a shy person." Elsa grinned. "The first time we've met, I couldn't believe how much he had stuttered in front of me." God, this lie was getting bigger and bigger; she had to bring it back around to the truth, or else it would be impossible to remember every nuance of their falsehoods. "But he can also be confident sometimes. Sure of himself, even if not of others."

"I can see that. Do you miss him? He's away, and… you know, your mother and I never had this kind of affection from the start. I'm glad you don't have to experience what I've experienced in my youth," he laughed.

"We are… close. Near enough betrothed, I would venture," she breathed in complete honesty. "But we've…" She wasn't sure if she should share those intimate contacts they had with each other. "Well, we've been close."

"Ah, you two are quite affectionate, aren't you?"

She shrugged. "You can say that, Father."

His expression became slightly more guarded. "Well. It is not unheard of to become… affectionate before the betrothal has been formally announced. Although I have no strong desire to know of it."

Elsa laughed. "And I have no desire to tell you any of it. Seems a fair arrangement to me."

"It is. It's… I think I have a meeting in a bit, so if you want to go outside for a bit, or stay in here, I don't mind." Then he fixed her with a stern look. "Just don't do anything the church would not approve of, my dear."

"Yes, Father," she sighed in a tired tone of voice. She didn't want to hear what he had to say about the church; she already knew she'd done countless things that had gone against their teachings. It was tiresome to continue worrying about what the church would think, but in the end… she couldn't really care.

She was eager to see Anna when she approached the dock. Partly because they had much to discuss and much planning to do, but also because she was always eager to see Anna.

Elsa didn't get to surprise her like last time because Anna turned to see her approaching. "Elsa!" She waved. The princess smiled gently, and waved back. In seconds, Anna had vaulted from her boat onto the docks, bare feet slapping against the boards as she ran to embrace her love, twirling her around in a wide circle and earning a delighted shriek from the princess.

"Well, you look pretty excited to see me," she laughed and peppered her cheek with kisses. Anna hummed with content as she laid her head on her shoulder.

"I'm always excited to see you! Oh and, you see, I caught a really big fish! So I was thinking, tonight, maybe you want to have some with me?" She tilted her head up to meet her blue eyes. Oh, Elsa couldn't refuse her with those endearing puppy eyes, anyway.

"It's still the afternoon, Anna."

"We aren't allowed to plan ahead?" When Elsa giggled, she finally stepped back, leaving a final kiss on the tip of her nose. "But very well, tonight! Now, what brings you here early?" Elsa fidgeted, looking sheepish all of a sudden.

"Um… can we talk?"

At that, the younger woman tensed up with a frown. "I thought… we had the talk."

"No, no! Not that, I just… we should sit while we do this," she sighed. She held her hand and led her back to the boat. She could already feel the sweat forming on Anna's hand, but she didn't really mind, given that she was as nervous as Anna was. But for a different reason.

"You know, when people say they 'need to talk', it's rarely a good sign," Anna began.

"Well, then, I guess you're pretty prepared for what I have to say." The exasperated look on Anna's face made Elsa bite her lip and inhale deeply. "Our 'Lord Alfrid' needs a manor."

"Our L… oh, Elsa," she chuckled with a grin. "Don't talk nonsense. What was it you wanted to ask me?"

"Anna, I'm being serious here!" she huffed. "I… this lie, I've been telling my father… you know, about you. It's been getting bigger and bigger. Now I need a manor somewhere because my father's been demanding me to let him see you again!"

After blinking at her for a moment, Anna shrugged and said, "So why can't I just visit the castle? It's a lot easier for us to do that than to… to build an entire manor!"

"I-I just… I told him you were away! To your homeland!" she sighed. "I'm… I'm sorry, Anna."

"Then that… makes things a lot more difficult." Snapping her fingers, she said, "I have a few friends I can ask, perhaps they have a way out of this for us. No promises, though."

Arching a brow at her suspiciously, Elsa reluctantly nodded. She didn't trust anyone other than Anna after that whole incident from the night at the docks. "Very well… what do you have in mind?"

Anna folded her arms. "You don't sound convinced."

"Well, who else knows that we're courting? Trusting someone with not only that, but our secret, it's… a risky venture. But..." She took a deep breath before continuing. "If this is someone you trust, then I suppose I shall have to trust your good judgment.

She shrugged. "Remember when I told you about the… boy I used to be with?"

Slowly, Elsa nodded. "Yes?" And then coming into the realization… "Oh, no."

"Oh, yes! Come on, I want you to meet the love experts!"

"But he couldn't woo the fair Anna's heart—how much of an expert can he be?" When Anna merely glared, she sighed and nodded. "Very well, I suppose it can't hurt anything."

"You look like someone who doesn't know how to have fun."

"I've had plenty of fun being around you." Elsa rolled her eyes. "Now, are we going or not? My father really wants to see my prince."

Smirking, Anna offered Elsa her elbow. "Let us away to yon Kristoff!" When Elsa didn't take the elbow, she grabbed her wrist anyway and forcibly dragged her away from the docks and deeper into the village.

"You need me to find you what?!"

Anna covered her ears. "S-Shush, you're being too loud. I need you to find a manor. For me."

Kristoff sat back and folded his arms over his chest. "No, I'm not doing that."

"What? Why not? You've been doing me favors for a long time!"

"I have, and it's about time you started repaying me," he said with a haughty sigh, examining his thick leather gloves. As Elsa had discovered soon after being introduced, he worked as an errand boy, ferrying anything and everything for the other villagers.

She leaned in to whisper to Anna, a little worried at how angry Kristoff looked. "Maybe we shouldn't ask him?"

"Well, do you want help, or not, Elsa?"

"Yes, but how about not from someone you've been with? It is… unseemly. And you haven't even told me how… close you became."

"As close as you can get without…" Growing uncomfortable with their conversation, Anna merely finished, "Not as far as you and I, if that helps!"

It still didn't comfort Elsa to hear that they hadn't been… that intimate with each other. "I don't care," she bluntly replied, only to get a confused expression from Anna. "It bothers me that you… that you've been asking for favors from him."

Anna looked between the two. "Um… do you want to talk with me? Alone? Because we can do that."

"No, not alone. Just tell me what sort of favours."

"Nothing big, just… you know, sometimes I can't find the money to buy bait, or a new fishing rod. He loans it to me—and I pay him back, alright?!" She glared at Kristoff, but the blond only rolled his eyes.

"Yes, but those are small favors. What you're asking of me right now is impossible. Do you really think I have that much money to get you a manor?!"

Anna pointed at Elsa. "She does. We just need to figure out how to go about finding one… a little ways off from the village, if possible."

"Kristoff, I know you don't know me personally," Elsa began in a humble, diplomatic tone. "But if you could assist us with this… I shouldn't have to tell you how much it means to Anna. It means as much to me, as well."

Still, Kristoff was still as stubborn as ever, but after the look that Elsa had given him, he sighed. "Well, for a princess to tell me that she needs help… I suppose I can't disobey."

Anna gasped. "You're actually saying yes? But when I said—"

"What matters is what the princess says. I'll do it." When they both stared at him, he rolled his eyes. "Clearly, I was going to do it anyway, but I can't even pretend I won't with Princess Elsa asking me. Royal decrees are not a laughing matter."

"This isn't a decree," Elsa said quietly. "In fact, it's… not even something I'm openly acknowledging. Well, I wouldn't acknowledge it to anyone, but because Anna trusts you… I give in."

Kristoff nodded. "Well, just to assure you, I won't say anything that you don't want me to."

"Good. Now then… how do you plan to go about this fool's errand we're sending you on?"

Planning all this took more time than Elsa had expected, but eventually they had finished their conversation with the manor being on a nearby island. The expenses were of little importance to Elsa; as long as she had given her father a reasonable lie—which seemed to be getting a little bigger as the day passed—it was all well and good.

The sun was already setting when the couple left Kristoff's home. Elsa was not in great spirits, but she had the weary self-assurance of someone who had done their duty for the day. Anna was laying her head on her shoulder as they walked, hoping it would help relieve her of some small amount of stress. She hugged the princess' arm, and looked up to see her stoic expression.

"So… you're not worried at all?" Anna began. "Then again, you don't look too happy, either."

Elsa cracked a small smile. "Of course I'm worried." She placed her hand on top of Anna's and squeezed. "I'm keeping my lover a secret from my father… for now, who wouldn't be worried if they're in my position?"

"Your lover," Anna goaded, and Elsa couldn't help but laugh along with her. "You're right, I won't say that it's easy for us to hide my identity. But I'll do what I must. For you."

"You mean, for us. It's getting late, should we see about dinner?"

Anna gasped. "Oooh, the fish! I forgot about the fish! Can we have that tonight, or are you planning on going back?" There was a slight pout there for a second.

"I'm all yours," Elsa purred into Anna's ear. The russet-maned girl shivered entirely, which brought back Elsa's true smile. Even if their futures were uncertain, the present held a lot of promise.

The day officially ended with the couple in Anna's home, and with Elsa always craving for some kind of intimacy in the kitchen while Anna was cooking. Not that Anna seemed to mind, anyway, but Elsa knew she was quite distracting with her fingers wrapped around the girl's waist… loving words sounding from her lips and to Anna's reddened ears. But in the end, all was well, and it seemed as if Elsa was only testing her with all this physical contact.

"So when Kristoff and I eventually broke apart, he ended up telling me that he wanted to keep in contact despite that, so…" Anna shrugged, taking a small bite of her meal.

Elsa nodded silently, and as much as she wanted to continue hearing about how they'd met, a part of her did feel a pang of jealousy. "He's… very loyal, isn't he?"

"He is. And I mean, I felt really confused about why I didn't return his feelings; he and I get along so well!" Then she smiled over at Elsa mischievously. "That is, I was confused. Not anymore. Now I understand perfectly well why he and I were ill-suited."

"Well, then, aren't you glad that you managed to conquer a princess' heart?" Elsa giggled.

"I am very much so," she replied, as she leaned in to kiss the princess' cheek, her hand making its way to hers. "And I hope I can satisfy my princess with everything I've given her?"

Without hesitation, Elsa whispered, "I've never been dissatisfied with you. Well, other than the time you shoved me to the ground… And... you—"

Nuzzling her nose on the crook of Elsa's neck, Anna giggled. "Ah, I should satisfy my princess' desires, yes? It's unfortunate I want to court you slowly," she teased. Elsa rolled her eyes, immediately turning to the girl.

"You really like to tease me, don't you?"

"And don't you?" Anna wiggled her eyebrows. "Then I have something to tell you." When Elsa leaned in, Anna looked left, looked right. Then she whispered, "...Dinner's ready."

"O-Oh…" It wasn't so amusing anymore when Elsa faced her, her eyes dimming darkly with want. Anna couldn't seem to move… and Elsa knew what was going to get her lover to move on, and take her… to strip her from her innocence and purity. "Yes, it is; and it's standing before you now."

"Wha…? Elsa, y-you—" Giggling and flushing, she turned back to the stove. "Stop it. We must eat it while it's hot."

Elsa quickly grabbed her arm. "But I am hot, my dearest," she teased. "Hm, well I suppose we can finish up dinner and then, perhaps, I can be your dessert?"

Anna shook her head. "You are unbelievable, princess. Help me get this to the table."

Soon enough, they were making their way through another helping of Anna's herbed fish; this had the addition of a few breadcrumbs, which helped to entice the palate.

"Are you sure you won't go home, yet? After dinner… I think you have to… you know." Anna dropped her head low in guilt, only prompting Elsa to give her an exasperated sigh. "L-Look, I know you want to stay! And I really do want you to stay, but… you've said it, your father is ruthless."

Elsa didn't know why her lover would worry so much; she said she would take care of everything, and they were in the progress of working on the problem. Her father would be too busy to care what she was doing around town. "Anna, don't worry about it; I can take care of everything, alright?"

Nodding, Anna chewed on her food silently, her eyes occasionally picking up to look at Elsa. "I just… don't want this to be your burden."

The princess paused, cocking an eyebrow up. "So… are you saying that my love to you is a burden?"

"No! What? How could you think that from…" Anna frowned when Elsa tittered. "Stop teasing me. I'm very sensitive to this topic, you know!"

"I know where else you're sensitive." Elsa wiggled her eyebrows, prompting the girl before her to gasp.

"Princess, you can't be this improper!" But when Elsa merely kissed her neck, just below her earlobe, she closed her eyes and sighed. "Or… maybe… a little improper…"

Drawing back, she kissed her on the end of the nose. "I'm holding you to that 'dessert' promise, you know."

Humming with content, Elsa could feel the warmth of Anna's breath as she kissed her neck in return. Nothing felt so satisfying… so thrilling to know that her lover—who was seemingly quite stubborn about moving too quickly—was so willing to give in to Elsa's desire… to want her. She knew that Anna was the more reasonable party between them when it came to these new feelings, and she loved her all the more for it.

"You're so sweet," Anna told her in such earnest tones that Elsa felt her knees go weak. "How could I ever have resisted? How could anyone if you told them you desired them?"

Elsa smiled, letting her hand fall to Anna's lap. "Not to anyone; it's just you that I desire." The hand began to drift higher, closer to Anna's hips. The owner of the leg and hips squirmed, breathing growing faster as she at first tried to ignore the sensation, but it was proving quite impossible. "And…" Coming closer, Elsa let her lips caress her lover's neck, loving the shiver and the warmth that Anna brought in return. "And right now, I do desire you…"

"Elsa…"

Their lips met and tangled in another forbidden dance, one that could not be so simply ignored as before. Anna's fingertips slid up from Elsa's neck into her hair, clutching so hard that Elsa felt exquisite pain flaring along her scalp.

"Mm…" the blonde sighed, her arms quickly wrapped around Anna's neck, as she tried to bring the woman closer, even if she knew this was the closest they could ever get. Her fingers burrowed deep into her copper hair, and nothing felt better than to feel her lover tug her hair to part away from each other. And they both knew where this was going to lead to…

Breathing heavily, Anna looked into those burning eyes, aching with yearning desire. "Oh, my… we have a lewd princess here."

She rolled her eyes. "You started kissing me… and now you're on my lap. Who is the lewd one?"

"Both of us," Anna laughed. "Do… you wish to be more lewd with me?"

"I do, but we have made a promise. Haven't we?"

Worrying her bottom lip with her teeth, Anna pondered their options. Then she whispered, "We could… bend the promise without breaking it…"

"And… what do you suggest we do?" Elsa asked, arching a curious eyebrow. "Don't tell me we're doing what we did the other day…"

"That would be fine by me. But… I had another idea." Looking mischievous, enough so that Elsa couldn't help but giggle to watch her, she whispered, "Sit right there, Your Highness."

"Why?" Anna didn't answer. Little by little, she began to sink to the floor. Elsa folded her arms as Anna waggled her backside, as a cat would before pouncing upon its prey. Then she began to nip up the hem of Elsa's skirts. "Wait, what… what are you doing down there?"

As expected, Anna didn't answer her question and let her hands glide up her legs. Their eyes met as Elsa felt her lover's fingers untying and pulling down her pantalettes, earning a surprised yelp from the blonde. She couldn't even begin to say anything else when she found her skirt over Anna's head… and her cheeks flared red with she felt hands pushing her legs apart, fingers sending shivers down her spine.

"A-Anna, you're— Ahh…"

And there it was. The first kiss upon her hidden shame. The princess' heart leapt up into her throat as she gripped both the back of her chair and the edge of the table, eyes wide in disbelief. What was the meaning of Anna's actions?! How could she put her mouth somewhere so… uncivilized?!

Elsa immediately threw her head back, bringing a hand up against her lips. She was shaking… soaring into pleasure with Anna's lips wrapped around her forbidden flower, her fingers caressing her legs—pushing them apart when needed. Elsa looked down, only seeing the bulge of her lover's head under her skirt… just… wanting to lift the offending cloth up and look at her.

She chewed on her lip, gripping on her skirt to lift it up—and she couldn't as she felt bolts of pleasure from her most sensitive spot. Elsa was in ecstasy. "O-Oh God, Anna…" she moaned. "How… I thought you haven't done this before!"

Laughter sounded under the skirt, and Elsa nearly fainted from the vibrations it sent into her body. Then a muffled voice told her, "Sailors talk, Princess. I've heard all manner of tales—and details." Anna didn't bother hearing what Elsa was going to say next, as she continued her ministrations.

"W-What details?" When Anna answered by moving her tongue in a way that caused Elsa to quite literally scream into the rafters, she didn't bother asking again.

It didn't take long until Elsa felt body tense and grow hotter… and immediately, she pressed her hand where Anna's head was, trying not to grind herself against her lover. Just like that, Elsa called out to the heavens, letting her body squirm and jerk with pleasure.

When again she knew of her surroundings, Anna's head was perched in her lap—above her skirts this time, smiling serenely up at her. Contented and waiting. Elsa uncertainly returned her smile, reaching a hand down to caress her sweat-dampened brow. She didn't know what to say, staring down at Anna smiling up at her as she licked some of her essence from the corner of her lips.

"That was fun," Anna started, and Elsa was surprised of how cheerful she sounded. "You taste pretty g—"

"Oh God, please… do we have to talk about how I taste? You did such a… a vile thing, and only to…"

"Only to bring you all the pleasure you deserve."

Flushing bright crimson, Elsa couldn't help but smile. When put that way, how could she possibly find fault with her love's actions?

Letting Anna tidy her up while she was still relishing the afterglow, Elsa couldn't help but gaze at her adoringly. Oh, who would ever take care of her like this? She ran her fingers through Anna's copper hair, prompting the girl to gaze up at her, a curious tilt of a head responded back at her. "What?"

Elsa shrugged, and giggled when she lifted her up in her arms, and carried her to her room. "Thank you. For… tending after my needs?"

"Oh, it was a blessing," Anna assured her as she walked. "I… wasn't sure how I would enjoy that, but I did! It was… the feel of you, and taste, and sound…"

"Stop that, please," Elsa bade her in a shy voice. "I sounded so unladylike, it… I should never like for another to hear me that way again."

"Oh, I wouldn't mind hearing it again. Thrice. Four times? How about right now?" Anna giggled, as she dropped the woman to the bed, earning a loud yelp.

"A-Anna! Please, who's lewd now?!" But Anna's only response was cackles, and to leap atop her, nuzzling in close to her neck and forcing Elsa to release long strains of laughter. Indeed, it came straight from the bottom of her innermost heart.

Thank you for contributing: iamrotting, The Wandering Quill, metaphoricalbutton, Jessica X, nopantsparade/Issandri, CanITellUSmThin, Christian nickles 3, Peanut-Butter-Bandit/idunscrewedup