Chapter 10: First Flower
They entered an enclosed oasis. Anna looked around in wonder. Tall palm trees provided shade over a carved wooden table and chairs. Exotic plants surrounded the dining area. A dark skinned woman with a slight resemblance to Lady Sharmeen stood by the table. Compared to the lady noble's hair, this woman's hair reached past her waist and was secured by gold clasps.
"Welcome to Agrabah. I am Sultana Jasmine."
"I am Queen Elsa of Arendelle. This is my sister, Princess Anna of Arendelle."
"Where is my Emir, Iago?"
"He's talking to the Grand Vizier. Something about a law. He said it'd be quick."
"Thank you. You may leave."
"I was hoping I could have..." The Sultana gave the bird a hard stare. "I'm goin'... I'm goin'..." He flew back into the palace.
The Sultana spoke a little louder. "I require privacy." At her words, several concealed guards filed out of the garden. Behind some bushes, Anna noticed some movement. There was a low growl and another guard climbed a nearby tree and leapt over a wall. She gestured towards the table. "Please sit."
"What was that?" asked Anna apprehensively.
"Rajah. He's just making sure my orders were followed." As if on cue, a large tiger stalked out of the bushes and sat down next to the Sultana. Yellow eyes stared at them. Their host knelt down and hugged his head affectionately. "I raised him since he was a cub. Don't worry. He won't harm you. Would you like to pet him?"
"Really?" Suddenly, there was a slight chill in the air. Anna reached over and touched her sister's hand which curled tightly around hers. She asked her sister, "May I?"
"Lie, Rajah." The tiger obeyed and lowered his head between his forelegs. The Sultana put an arm around his head. "He won't bite. I promise."
Slowly, Elsa's fingers uncurled and she nodded. Anna approached cautiously on the Sultana's side and knelt down. She reached out and touched the tip of its ear with her finger. The ear wiggled. Lightly, she patted its head and a slow thrum issued from its throat.
"He likes you," said Sultana Jasmine smiling.
Anna quickly glanced at her sister who seemed to have relaxed a bit. Elsa sat down so she stopped petting and sat down next to her. Sultana Jasmine sat across from them while Rajah lay by her side.
"Did you pass the Hall of Remembrance?"
"Yes, we did," replied Elsa.
"Did Iago tell you about the last portrait?"
The air felt a bit chilly for a moment. Her sister answered. "Yes, he did."
"That's too bad. My husband will tell you about the circumstances. I'm sorry that you heard about it this way, so please, let's put it aside and enjoy our meal." She gestured to the food. "As you can see, this half of the table is local dishes while the other half is our attempt to prepare Arendic food. I hope you like it."
"Thank you for your consideration," said Elsa. "Since we are here, we would be delighted to partake in an Agraban meal."
"I won't be offended if you prefer to eat foods that you're used to. You're our guests so we want you to be comfortable."
The Sultana told them about each entree, fruit and drink. They were treated to a myriad of delicious flavors. A few minutes later, Aladdin arrived and sat next to his wife.
"My dear, Iago gave them a tour of the Hall," said his wife casually.
"Oh... he did..." He scratched his chin and gave an embarrassed smile. "I was planning to give you ladies a proper tour after breakfast. There's more interesting places to see in the palace than that."
They spent the rest of breakfast talking about various cultural differences. Meanwhile, Anna kept a careful but discreet watch on Elsa. Iago's revelation seemed to have unsettled her and her sister appeared to be tenser.
"So you didn't have to marry before taking the crown?" asked Sultana Jasmine.
Elsa shook her head. "Arendelle has no such law barring an heir from being crowned."
Sultana Jasmine's hand reached over and held her husband's. "I envy you. If it wasn't for my father's kind understanding, I wouldn't have been able to marry the one I love, much less be Sultana. When do you plan to marry?"
"I want to be comfortable in my role as Queen before I become a mother."
At her sister's words, a deep ache formed in Anna's heart. The idea of Elsa marrying filled her with dread.
A look of pity formed on the Sultana's face. "I hope you find someone you can be happy with." She turned to her. "What about you, Princess Anna?"
"Marry? Me? Um... I'm not sure." She glanced at her sister.
The Sultana's eyes softened. "Take your time, Your Highness. There's no need to rush."
Anna wondered about the Sultana's reaction to Elsa's answer. Elsa didn't say anything about any romantic interests and spoke about being a mother. What did she mean?
After breakfast, they adjourned to a meeting room to discuss the trade agreement and their schedule for the visit. When they were done, they bid the Sultana farewell and went with Aladdin to see the cisterns. To travel there, they recruited the services of the magic carpet.
Once they were airborne, Anna asked, "How is Shar?"
"She's doin' ok. I guess you know, huh?"
"I'm not sure what we know," said Elsa icily.
Aladdin looked at them seriously. "Do you trust me?"
Anna stared at his guileless face. "Yes."
"Our plan was to tell you when you arrived at the palace, but y'know what happened. I didn't want to tell you without her there to fill in the details. So here's the deal. When she was around twelve, her dad set her up with a distant relative. The guy was like thirty or something, but he was rich."
"Twelve? That's young!" exclaimed Anna.
"Yeah, it's pretty common. I heard it has something to do with a dowry and getting business connections. They don't get married right away though. She'll probably get hitched around fifteen or sixteen. Anyway... Shar didn't like it, so she ran away. Well, her dad didn't like that, so he beat her when she got caught. She tried running away again, and that's when her magic first showed up. A sandstorm appeared in the middle of the city. Her dad was chasing her in an alley and then a wall fell on him. He's been in a coma since."
"That's terrible!" cried Anna, pressing her hands on her cheeks in shock.
"That's not the worst part. Shar ran into the desert. She wanted to lose herself there." Sadness filled his easy going face. "However, her older sister, Sharma found her. Sharma faked her death by making it seem that wolves got her. They went to her youngest brother, Humam, who was stationed out in the desert. Together, they raised Shar in secret and helped her control her magic. So to everyone else, Shar is dead. Only me, Jasmine, Sharma and Humam know that she still lives. I trust you ladies. I'm gonna trust you not to mention her name around here."
"Then how come she introduced herself with her real name as an ambassador to Agrabah?" asked Elsa.
He shrugged. "I don't know. She does hold a rank as ambassador but under another name, Vizier Jal."
"I see... that explains why she dresses like a man," said Elsa thoughtfully.
They arrived at a wide plain outside the city walls. Squat domes littered the plain and they landed near one. Aladdin put his foot on top of a dome which was about fifty feet across. "Each one of these is a cistern that's about as deep as the height of the city wall. If Shar were here, she'd open it and have you fill it with snow."
"I can still do that, but I'd like to verify the width and depth of each one."
"Be my guest." He gestured towards the cistern
With an ice spike, her sister punched a hole in the dome and created an ice pole that descended into the cistern. When it hit the bottom, she marked the top of the pole and lifted it out of the cistern. As they agreed, Anna recorded the height and width on a piece of parchment. Her sister put her hand near the hole and streams of snow flowed down into the cistern.
"There. I made a cloud inside that will snow for two days or until the cistern fills."
"That's great! I was afraid you weren't going to be able to fill these till Shar gets back."
"I'm curious. I could just make it snow over the river instead of filling these."
"It's Shar's idea. The river runs through a lot of other countries, so you'd just be doing them a favor and you won't be compensated for your efforts. These cisterns are insulated, so we can track how much snow you give and how much water we use in a month. Based on that, we can adjust the trade terms."
They measured around twenty cisterns before going back to the palace for lunch and to have Anna measured for clothes. After that, Aladdin gave them a tour of the Palace and notable landmarks in the city. When they were done, he escorted them back to their rooms.
"I don't recommend going out on your own and exploring the city. Noble ladies are supposed to be with a male escort or bodyguards. If you want to go out, tell the servant to get me. I'm gonna check on Shar now, so you ladies rest up before the feast."
Pushing aside the silk canopy, Anna sat down on the bed and kicked off her shoes. She plopped down on the silk covers and relished its cool texture against her skin.
"That's not very lady-like, my princess," said Elsa as she lay down next to her.
Her heart was filled with a warm glow. When Kai called her princess, he said it with respect and devotion. When Capt. Vozz said it, his tone indicated obedience and honor. However, when Elsa said it, her voice had an endearing cadence with implied possession emphasized with the word 'my'.
Anna snuggled closer. "So... what are we supposed to do at this feast?"
With a twinkle in her eye, her sister replied, "I act Queen-like and you act Princess-like. Can you manage that?"
She snorted. "Of course, I can!"
Elsa face palmed with an air of long suffering patience. "After hearing the complaints of the palace staff about your adventures, sometimes I wonder..."
Her face flamed with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to... things just happened..." She decided to change the subject by tickling.
"Stop! No! Hahahaha Ahahahaha!"
Her laugh was like music to her ears so her fingers decided to coax more notes from the wriggling snow instrument before her. Unfortunately, the instrument decided to retaliate. In the process of rolling about the bed, her foot hit the table again and the lever engaged. The bed began to spin. After many minutes of tickling they lay on the bed breathless and very, very dizzy.
"I think I'm going to faint... the room is moving around," said Anna as her eyes tried to adjust to the constantly changing perspective.
Elsa closed her eyes. "I think you moved that lever again. I'll get it."
A few seconds later, the bed stopped. Anna looked over the side of the bed and managed to see a small version of Olaf but with ice arms instead of twigs. Its hands were on the lever which was moved back to its original position.
"Oh, so you used that trick," said Anna.
"Someone else had to do it, since I'm too dizzy to get up."
Anna rolled over to her sister and snuggled against her. "I'm dizzy too. I don't want to get up."
"We have to get ready for the feast."
"What am I supposed to wear?"
"We can probably find something in the cabinet."
"Maybe you can make me a dress?"
"I need colored water."
"Oh well... so much for that idea."
After their dizziness went away, they rummaged through the cabinet. Most of it was in shades of blue and black since the clothes were originally intended for Elsa. Much to Anna's dismay, the low neckline gowns were out of the question since the chest area sagged.
While they were looking through the clothes, Anna gathered her courage and asked, "This morning, you said something about being a mother. What did you mean by that?"
Elsa turned slightly to examine a dress. "As queen, it is my duty to provide an heir. When I was eighteen, Father gave me a list of possible husbands. I'll choose when I'm ready."
It was then that she understood the Sultana's reaction. Elsa would only marry to have an heir. Her heart ached at the idea of Elsa having an arranged marriage. "If you need an heir, I'll marry Kristoff and give you one!"
The temperature of the room seemed to drop and her sister looked at her sternly. Specks of icy blue appeared in those deep blue eyes. "Didn't you promise me that you would marry for love?"
"Yes, I did, but... if I can help you in any way..."
"No! Not like that! I want you to be happy, Anna. This is my duty. Let me bear it." She took down a dress from the cabinet. "For royalty like us, it is better to choose a partner who can help keep the bloodline pure or have some political connections. I want you to choose whoever you want to marry. Don't worry about me."
"Have you... decided who you want to marry?" Her voice sounded timid.
Elsa glanced at her. Blue eyes gazed into each other. Her sister looked away and began unbuttoning the dress. "No. I need more time. I'll decide after a few years."
They settled on a blue gown with a high neckline and added more padding, much to Anna's embarrassment.
"That doesn't look so bad," said Elsa with an ill-concealed smirk.
"You're enjoying this far too much," pouted Anna as she viewed her reflection in the mirror.
Her sister hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek. "You look beautiful."
Warmth flowed across her face.
"Oh! Now you're even more beautifuller! We should add a bit of rouge here." The back of Elsa's fingers caressed her cheek lightly, causing her skin to tingle.
"Elsa! You stinker! Stop teasing me!" complained Anna, but her sister was already opening the cosmetics kit. When she held up the brush with such an expectant look on her face, Anna's will crumbled.
"There." Elsa gently turned her to face the mirror.
Anna gazed at her reflection. Elsa had applied light rouge, which hid some of her freckles so her cheeks seemed smoother. "I like it. Thanks! What about you? Are you just going to wear your regular ice gown?"
Elsa stepped back as streams of snow swirled around her. "Oh, I was thinking of a new look. Maybe some shoulder pads... glittering ice jewelry... how about a chest piece... and a tall staff. Then I'll top it off with a fancy tiara."
Anna's jaw dropped at the sight. The shoulder pads stuck out, making her look more imposing. Bracelets, rings and long earrings were all over the place. On her chest was a large crystal snowflake. The tiara was studded with sparkling ice crystals. In her right hand, she held an ornate ice staff with a swirling stream of snow contained in a clear globe.
Crossing her arms, Anna shook her head. "Uh-uh... I'm not going in there if you're gonna wear that. Waaaaay too flashy."
Elsa peered at her reflection. "You're right. Not really my style. It is a bit hot though." She waved her hand and her gown was restored, except that the skirt was knee-high and sleeves were shorter.
Anna waved her hands in protest. "No way! That's just as bad! I don't want men looking at you!"
Her sister laughed and reconstructed her usual ice gown. "Then normal me it is."
Aladdin came to fetch them when the feast was ready. At their entrance, their names were announced and guests cheered in welcome. They were seated to the right of Sultana Jasmine. An army of servants served entree after entree, followed by trays of dessert. Meanwhile, entertainment consisted of dancing girls and acrobatics with animals such as monkeys, elephants, tigers and lions.
Whenever large animals appeared, sometimes Anna felt a chill in the air, so she would reach over and squeeze Elsa's hand. The anxious look on her sister's face melted away. The feast lasted for at least three hours. When the Sultana bid everyone good night, Aladdin escorted them back to their room and wished them good night. Tired from the day's activities, they prepared for bed as usual.
Anna took out the book of foreign tales from her bag. "Do you want to me to read you a story?"
"All right." Elsa held out her hand for the book.
"No, no..." Anna slipped into bed and patted her lap. "I'll read the story."
"Oh... I misunderstood. I must be tired..."
"So let me read to you this time."
Her sister laid her head on her lap. Her hand stroked those platinum blonde locks and twirled some around her finger. It felt cool and silky. With her other hand, she held the book at its first page.
"From Zero to Hero by Wulotorius Deusnysius. Once upon a time, a beautiful boy was born to the king of the gods and his wife. However, the brother of the gods was afraid of the boy, because the three Fates of Fortune foretold that the boy will interfere with his future. The brother had been planning for a long time to overthrow the king. To get rid of the boy, he fed him fruit that made him mortal. Because of his mortality, the boy could no longer stay in heaven and was cast down to the mortal realm."
The story told of how the boy was found and raised. Even though he was mortal, he had superhuman strength which he used to pass many trials that were secretly created by his traitorous uncle. With each success, many people came to love him and called him a hero.
The next thing she knew, she was being shaken awake by Elsa.
"Wake up, sleepy head! Some storyteller you are! You fell asleep while reading last night," chided her sister.
Anna yawned. "It's morning already?"
"Yes. We have to get ready for breakfast."
They prepared for breakfast and ate with the Sultana and the Emir. After breakfast, they went to the cisterns again to fill more of them. For lunch, they went back to the palace and enjoyed lunch with the Sultana. Next, they went to a room where a variety of tradable goods were displayed. For two hours, they discussed pricing and quantities. For Anna, this was the most boring part of the trip so far as her sister negotiated for certain terms which she didn't understand why.
When they finally left the room, Anna almost felt like skipping with joy but restrained herself. The Sultana bade them farewell to hold court. A servant came with a message that Agent Bezil requested an audience, so she and Elsa talked to him privately. After Elsa received his report, they met with Aladdin.
The next item on their schedule was a visit to a wise adviser who was recommended by Shar. For this, they rode on the magic carpet and travelled into the desert. About an hour later, they arrived at a series of rocky hills. The carpet landed on a ledge by a dimly lit cave. Aladdin went in the cave first, followed by a nervous Elsa.
"Hello! It's me, Aladdin!"
"Welcome, Aladdin. It has been a while," echoed a soft raspy voice from within the cave. Anna squinted at the darkness and managed to see a very old man with a long beard and light clothing.
Anna sighed and prepared to wait under the shade of the entrance. Elsa would probably talk to the adviser for a while. Her eyes wandered over the sweeping landscape. Various shapes of cliffs and rock faces lined up against a blue horizon. The sand dunes seemed like waves in between pockmarked hillsides. At the bottom of the cliff was a small oasis with palm trees protecting a precious spring. Meanwhile, Aladdin spoke to the old man.
"How are you, Elder Halim?"
"I am well."
"Did you get Shar's message?"
"Yes. How is she?"
He hesitated. "She's unable to get away right now, so I came in her place. I brought the young lady with me."
"Ah! How blessed I am to meet such a one!"
Anna heard footsteps and felt rough hands touch her own. She turned to see a wizened old face.
"Such spirit! It makes me feel young to be in its presence."
"Uh... excuse me?"
"Be patient, child. All will be revealed to you in due time."
Anna stared at Aladdin with appeal in her eyes. The Emir just shrugged with his palms out in bewildered helplessness. Meanwhile, Elsa stood there with her mouth agape.
"I think you have me confused with..."
"Come! You have much to learn!" He tugged at her left hand with surprising strength. Off-balanced, she stumbled along after him down a path to the oasis below.
"Wait! What's going on?"
"It is time to learn about yourself." He changed his grip so that his hand was behind the back of her hand. He guided her hand across the soft leaves of the plants along the edge of the spring until they made a complete circle around the spring. With his other hand, he plucked a berry and put it in her hand.
"Taste their joy; though the land is cruel, they yearn to grow."
Anna bit into the berry. Her tongue was tickled by its tart and sweet flavor. He scooped up water and cupped her other hand. He transferred the water into her palm, trapping a tiny fish that wriggled.
"Feel the water of life and be one with its flow."
Still with her in tow, he hopped over stones to a small sandbar in the middle of the spring. In struggling for balance, her hand tipped and the fish dropped into the spring. The old man sat down on the sandbar, pulling her down with him. This time, he dumped a handful of sand in her left hand. In the middle of her right palm, he put a small bud.
"Listen until you understand and feel the land in the palm of your hand."
He closed his eyes and began to hum softly. Anna stared at her hands and then at Aladdin and Elsa who stood beyond the plants surrounding the oasis. Her sister's gaze fell on the old man and the concern melted from her face. She moved slowly through a gap in the bushes, as if she didn't want to disturb anything. At the edge of the spring, she knelt down and closed her eyes.
At the sight of her sister meditating, Anna's worry faded away and she relaxed. She rested her hands on her knees and closed her eyes. The sand in her left hand was a little moist and her fingers played with its texture. She could feel small roots mixed in. The bud in her right hand felt small and delicate. She wondered what kind of flower it was.
"If Elsa were a flower, she would have six graceful petals... pale ivory tinged with blue, just like a little snowflake," thought Anna as she pictured it in her mind. "She'd smell like a gardenia, but a bit more subtle. And her nectar..." Anna licked her lips. "...would be as sweet as honey."
Eventually, the humming stopped, but she still held the flower in her mind and imagined it tucked behind Elsa's ear. "She'd look so adorable," thought Anna smiling to herself. Then, she would hug her and kiss her and tell her how much she loved her.
"Oh, wonders of wonders, indeed..." whispered the old man in awe.
Anna opened her eyes and gasped when she saw her right palm. A tiny pale blossom nestled in its center. It had white petals with blue tips. The sand slipped down her left hand as it grew slack.
"This flower normally has five petals, but this one has six," said the old man as he cradled her right hand between his own.
A bee hovered nearby. Her initial reflex was to run away, but she fought the urge and covered the blossom instead. The bee circled her hands a few times before the Elder guided it toward a plant with similar white flowers clustered on top of long stems.
"There are more over there, little one. Let this one go." He turned to Anna, his weathered face smiling gently. "Take a bit of time each day to listen and feel. Come again whenever you wish." He hopped over the stones with uncanny agility for someone so old.
Anna stood up and wiped the sand off her left hand. "Wait, what about Elsa?"
The old man stood at the edge of the spring and looked at her sister. "There's no harm in being cautious." He walked to where Elsa stood and spoke seriously. "Be careful. She doesn't have the skill if she takes in your magic. Warn Shar as well."
"What do you mean? I don't understand," said Elsa.
"Don't give her your magic." The old man turned and began to walk up the path.
"Huh?" Anna's jaw dropped. "That's it? That's all you're going to tell her?"
"She has begun the path of discovering her true self. There is no better teacher than the truth." The Elder continued walking.
Carefully, Anna hopped over the stones and hurried to her sister. "I'm sorry, Elsa. This was supposed to be for you, but that old geezer just latched on to me." She sighed. "Why do I attract old men and birds?"
Her sister put her arm around her shoulders. "It's all right, Anna. He gave me feedback on my progress. I'm really happy about what he said."
"At least, I got a little something out of it." Anna uncovered the blossom and lifted it near Elsa's ear. Gently, she tucked it in her sister's hair. "There... it looks nice on you."
A slight blush appeared on her sister's cheeks. "Thank you."
Aladdin whistled. "We've stayed longer than I expected. We had better go, ladies, or we'll be late for dinner."
"Hold on. How long was I meditating?" asked Anna.
"I'd say at least an hour," he replied. The magic carpet found them and flew down.
As soon as Aladdin and Elsa turned their backs, Anna quickly licked her right middle finger. The nectar was as sweet as she imagined it to be. Her lips curved to a smug smile. When Elsa was seated, she sat next to her and slipped her hands around her arm. As the carpet rose into the sky, her sister moved the flower to her palm.
"You don't like it?" asked Anna, feeling anxious.
Elsa cupped the flower between her hands and created an ice globe around it. "I do. I like it very much, so I don't want to lose it while flying.
Warmth filled her heart as she watched her sister hold the globe protectively on her lap.
"So... what can you do?" asked Elsa.
Anna threw up her hands. "I'm not sure... he just dragged me around and made me touch things." She looked at the flower in the globe. "I don't know what happened."
"Didn't you feel anything?"
"Well... the sand was sort of wet... there were some roots."
"What about the flower?"
For a few moments, Anna debated about whether to tell Elsa what she was imagining about the flower. She shrugged and replied offhandedly, "I just wondered what kind of flower it was."
"That's it?"
"Yeah..."
"If you say so..." Her sister's fingers stroked the globe.
By the time they reached the palace, the sun had set half an hour ago. There was no feast this time, and dinner was just the four of them with servants weaving in with food and musicians playing relaxing music on flutes and on a triangular stringed instrument that was positioned over one's lap. Dinner topics ranged from clothes, weather and law.
"I'm phasing out chopping of hands as punishment, but I'm still getting some resistance," complained Sultana Jasmine with exasperation.
Her sister nodded. "I understand what you mean. I have some old councilors who stubbornly say, 'It was done this way in my day.' as if it's been set in stone."
"Don't you hate it when they act so all knowing? It really grates on my nerves."
"I couldn't agree more. If they keep insisting, I would say that I'll take their opinions under consideration and make a decision later. That stops the discussion cold."
"Interesting... I'll have to try such a delaying tactic next time."
Anna sighed. From across the table, she caught Aladdin's gaze. He shrugged good naturedly before plucking a grape and flicking it towards her. It hit her glass, bounced off a bowl and landed on her plate. She giggled into her hand and popped the grape in her mouth. When she plucked a grape, and imitated his hand position, Aladdin's mouth silently formed a word and he crossed his hands in an X. Disappointed, she stared at the grape at first. Then an idea formed in her mind. She could still show him a trick. Instead of flicking the grape across, she flicked it up and turned her head towards the ceiling to catch it in her mouth on the way down. The grape's arc was wider than she had expected, so she tilted the chair back to catch it. The grape fell into her mouth and she smiled at Aladdin in triumph.
Then the chair tumbled back. Then her hand grabbed the tablecloth. Then dishes fell onto the floor. Then chaos ensued. A nearby servant slipped on the spilt sauces and dumped a tray of desserts on another servant who attempted to get out of the way, knocking the flute player into another. The other musician reached out to stop his fall and grabbed a hanging tapestry which fell down upon the rest of the musicians.
Immediately, Elsa was at her side. "Anna! Are you ok?"
Embarrassed, Anna got out of the chair. "I... uh... I'm fine."
"What happened?" asked her sister whose hands wandered over her limbs as if to reassure herself that she wasn't broken.
Aladdin picked up the chair and wiggled it slightly. "Looks like it's a bit wobbly. I'm so sorry. I'll have it replaced." He winked at Anna.
Anna exhaled with relief. "It seemed to rock a bit, but I thought I'd just sit closer to the edge."
"Next time, please let me know if anything's wrong. There's no need to hold back," said the Sultana, her face showing her concern. She clapped and spoke to the servants. "Clean this up."
"We can have dessert on the balcony," suggested Aladdin.
"That's a good idea," agreed Sultana Jasmine.
He led them to a large balcony which overlooked the city. Burly servants brought out two tall torch lamps and lit them while female servants arranged the table and placed their dessert portions. The conversation centered on desserts and Elsa demonstrated her magic with the creation of simple ice cream using milk and honey. Both Aladdin and Sultana Jasmine were delighted at the cool taste.
After dinner, Aladdin took them see Lady Sharmeen. She tried to sit up but grimaced in pain, so he propped her against the wall with cushions. The room was no longer sparse and she had a cot to lie on. Along the wall, there were bags of food and water.
"I'm sorry that I can't take you back," apologized the lady noble.
Aladdin patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll take care of them. You take care of yourself."
"In a couple of days, I'll be fine. I'll return to Arendelle as soon as possible."
"Emir Aladdin is right. Don't push yourself," said Anna.
"I thank you for your concern."
"Anna is right. It wouldn't do if my instructor isn't there to give me a good challenge," said Elsa with a teasing smile.
Lady Sharmeen laughed lightly. "Then I'd better be in top condition when I return. Enjoy your short break and be prepared when I come back. Safe journey to all of you."
They bid Lady Sharmeen good night and went back to the palace. Aladdin escorted them back to their rooms. "Please expect to wake up around dawn so we can make the most of daylight."
"We will. Good night, Emir Aladdin," replied Elsa.
"Good night," said Anna.
"G'night, ladies." He sauntered away.
Anna plopped herself down on the bed. "I'm so tired... I wasn't expecting to sit so much."
Elsa laid down next to her and yawned. "We're not on vacation, Anna, at least for me. I had work to do." Then she added hastily. "But I'm glad that you're here."
Anna looked at her guiltily. "Was I... in your way?"
Her sister hugged her tightly and stroked her back. "No! I'm really happy you're here. Did you have fun?"
"As long as I'm with you, I'm having the bestest time!"
Elsa giggled. "Is bestest even a word?"
"Now it is!" said Anna snuggling closer and leaned against her sister's cool ice gown. She closed her eyes and listened to her heart. Meanwhile, her sister didn't say anything and gently stroked her hair. They lay quietly for a while until a crier announced the time.
"We should get ready for bed. We're leaving early tomorrow," said Elsa.
"Wow, two days sure went fast."
"We'll be back here in three months."
They bathed and prepared for bed. As she sat down on the bed, Anna noticed the lever under the bedside table. "Elsa, since we're leaving tomorrow, may we do one last spin?"
Her sister stared at the lever. Her hand twitched.
"Please?" Anna followed up with her best pleading face.
Her sister sighed and returned her smile. "All right." She sat down on the middle of the bed.
Excited, Anna moved the table and pushed the lever. She pushed the bed into a spin and hopped on. They took turns sitting up and attempting to stand while the other provided support. Giggling with dizziness, they collapsed into each other s arms.
Anna closed her eyes and stroked her sister's hair. "This is the King's suite, right?"
"Yes."
"I wonder why they have a bed like this."
Her sister didn't answer right away. "It must be a cultural thing. Anyway, we should go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow."
"Ok, but first..." Anna cupped her sister's face between her hands. She kissed her left cheek and then her right. "Good night, Elsa."
Elsa returned the kisses. The side of her index finger caressed her cheek. Blue sapphire eyes looked at her tenderly. "Thank you for the flower, my Princess."
Her heart skipped a beat. "You're welcome."
With a wave of her sister's hand, streams of snow floated to each candle and lamp. All were doused except one. Elsa kissed the top of her forehead and slipped her hands around her waist to draw her close. Anna tucked her head at the crook of her sister's neck and closed her eyes. The image of Elsa with the flower in her hair was the last thing she saw before she fell asleep.
At the crack of dawn, they left Agrabah on the magic carpet. When the carpet got tired, they switched to a carriage. Unlike Lady Sharmeen, Aladdin opted not to travel after sunset, so they stayed at the best inn that they could find. Finally, they arrived in Arendelle in the late morning of the second day.
Aladdin held out his hand. "I don't think you'll need the amulet and earring anymore."
Anna and Elsa took off the magic jewelry and handed it to Aladdin. He wore a set and put the other set away. Their aunt and uncle were already waiting at the courtyard and approached them when they landed.
"Aunt Belle!" cried Anna as she hugged Princess Belle. As soon as she let go, her uncle gave her a great bear hug. "I missed you, Uncle Adam!"
"You were missed very much." He stepped aside and gestured to Kristoff.
Anna paled. She didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Kristoff. With the biggest smile she could manage, she hugged him. "Kristoff!"
"Anna!" He hugged her back and aimed for her lips but she turned her head at the last second so that he kissed the side of her lips instead. The memory of him biting a saliva coated carrot was still fresh in her mind. "I stopped seeing you when I made deliveries. How come you didn't tell me that you were going on a trip? I thought you got sick or something."
"I'm sorry. It was sort of a spur of the moment. We were a bit rushed on time, so I wasn't able to tell you."
He rubbed the back of his head. "So... uh... if you're not too busy this coming weekend, do you want to do something together? Y'know... to celebrate coming home..." His words trailed off.
"Sure, what do you have in mind?"
"Well, since you like horses, there's horse racing this weekend. Would you like to go?"
"Ok."
"Anna, we're going in now. Are you coming?" asked Elsa.
"In a minute!" called Anna over her shoulder. She faced Kristoff. "I've got to go. We have Agraban royalty with us."
"I better not hold you up." He kissed her on the cheek this time. "I'll see you later."
Anna waved. "Bye." She hurried after her sister and fell in step next to her.
"Who was that?" asked Elsa.
"Who was who?"
"That man you were talking to."
"That's Kristoff."
"Who is he?"
"Don't you remember? He was next to us when I thawed. I introduced you to him."
"Oh." Her sister paused. "I'm sorry. It slipped my mind."
"This isn't the first time, Elsa. I told you about him before."
"I'm sorry. It's just... I think I had something else on my mind."
They entered a reception room where the servants prepared some refreshments. For the next hour, their aunt and uncle chatted with Aladdin. When lunch was ready, they adjourned to the dining hall. Conversation was continued over familiar dishes of meats, fish and vegetables.
"We rarely have fish!" exclaimed Aladdin as he got another helping of salmon. "This tastes great!"
"I can ask my trade minister to explore the possibilities of shipping frozen fish to Agrabah."
He smiled widely. "That'll be great if it works out."
After lunch, Prince Adam said, "I'll handle things here for the rest of the day. Please get some rest."
"Thank you, Uncle," replied Elsa gratefully.
Kai escorted Aladdin to a guest room while Anna walked with Elsa back to the Queen's bedchamber. Once there, Anna flopped down on the bed with her arms out. "Home, sweet home!"
To her surprise, Elsa flopped down as well, her arm overlapping hers. It was rare to see her move without her usual grace. "I never thought I'd be so glad to come back to this room!"
At her words, Anna's heart twinged with a small ache. This room once defined the boundaries of Elsa's world for many long and lonely years. She attempted humor. "It's because I'm in it!"
Her sister turned on her side. Sapphire blue eyes watched her with affection. The back of her fingers caressed her cheek and cupped her face. "You're right."
Her heart skipped at her sister's unexpected behavior. Warmth spread across her cheeks as those deep blue eyes seemed to draw her in. Elsa inched forward. Her breath caught in her throat. She closed her eyes.
Her forehead tingled with the touch of a soft kiss. Strangely disappointed, she opened her eyes to see her sister's smiling face.
"I'm up for a nap. How about you?" said Elsa.
After sitting so long on the carpet, her muscles were relishing the familiar comfort of the bed. "Ok. May we take a bath first? I was sweating like crazy."
"Of course. I tried, but I couldn't beat the sun."
They bathed as usual and settled in the tub for a soak. Anna intertwined their fingers and leaned against her sister. "I missed this."
Elsa kissed her temple. "Me too."
They relaxed in the soothing waters longer than usual and paid for it with wrinkled fingers and toes. After drying up and brushing their hair, they settled into bed.
"Ah... our own bed feels nice..." said Anna as she snuggled against her sister.
"Our? Don't you mean MY bed?" said Elsa, emphasizing the word 'my'.
Flustered, Anna babbled for an excuse. "Um... of course, it's yours... I just... well... figuratively speaking, you know... since I'm here too." Her sister giggled and kissed her forehead. "Shall I get a bigger bed? Then it'll really be our bed."
Anna's jaw dropped. "Really?"
"Since you sleep here every night anyway, we might as well be more comfortable."
"Am I making you uncomfortable?" asked Anna with worry.
Elsa stroked her hair. "Not at all. It's just that this bed isn't made for two people."
Anna closed her eyes and smiled contentedly. "Our bed... I like the sound of that..."
They slept blissfully for a few hours and got up around dinner time. They had dinner with their aunt, uncle and Aladdin. After that, they went to the castle's private theater where performers put on a play about the adventures of Thor. It was getting late when the play finished, so they bid each other good night and headed back to their respective rooms.
The next day, they bid Aladdin farewell in the morning.
"I'll see you in three months, Your Majesties." The carpet rose as he waved to them.
"Quite an interesting young man," remarked Prince Adam as they walked back into the main hall.
"I don't sense any pretentious attitude, like some lords have," said Princess Belle.
"Elsa, how do you feel?" asked Prince Adam.
"I'm quite well, Uncle."
"That's good, because your Aunt and I would like to go home soon."
Elsa held his hand. "Of course, you do. I'm so sorry that you had to stay longer. When do you plan to leave?"
"Tomorrow, if all is well with you. Let me return the scepter now."
"What are you doing today, Anna?" asked Princess Belle.
"I guess I'll go to my lessons."
"In that case, I'll ask Master Hugh to let me take over today. I'd like to spend some time with you, even if it's just lessons."
Joy filled her heart. Her Aunt Belle was a much more interesting teacher than Master Hugh. "I'd love that, Auntie! Let's go see him now!"
Master Hugh more than readily agreed to their suggestion and happily left the library muttering something about fertilizer research. They went to a private library room and began to study until lunch. For lunch, Prince Adam chartered a small boat, and they ate while admiring the scenery along the coast. By sheer luck, they spotted a group of dolphins frolicking some distance away. After lunch, they returned to studying. For the last half hour of study time, her aunt discussed a rather personal topic, clearly dropping hints which made Anna feel awkward and embarrassed.
"I'm sorry for talking about this. I don't know if your parents ever talked to you about it, and since you're seeing a man right now, I thought I'd warn you in advance. Please exercise discretion," said Princess Belle.
Anna twiddled her fingers. "N-not at all, Auntie. It was umm... very interesting... and educational... very educational."
Her aunt piled up the books. "Let's get ready for dinner."
They had dinner as usual. After dinner, they went to the greenhouse for a moonlit dance.
Princess Belle went out of her way to get Olaf. "Olaf, please play 'Once Upon My Dreams'."
"Sure!" He grabbed the percussion sticks and began to play a charming and catchy melody. It was a bit faster than the other music that they danced to, but she felt that Elsa was good enough to lead it.
Elsa created Sindy's gown and gestured to the bottles. "What shall it be tonight, my Princess?"
Anna took a moment to form the image in her mind. "Sindy went to the balcony for some fresh air. She thought that she was alone, but a young man was on the balcony also. He was leaning on the wall near the door, so she didn't see him at first. He was wearing a black coat and pants with a purple vest and a silver sash. When the music began to play, he asked to dance with her on the balcony. So they danced under the moonlit sky."
"You're getting more and more creative," commented Elsa as she commanded streams of colored snow to form her outfit. "It's a good thing that I asked Kai to get water based inks of different colors."
As soon as Elsa was done with her outfit, Anna asked, "Do you mind if I try something crazy?"
Her sister smiled indulgently. "Go ahead."
Anna reached out and mussed up her sister's hair, so that spiky locks stuck out from the side. "There. All done."
Elsa offered her hand. "If milady doesn't mind, this balcony shall be our ballroom and this dance shall be ours alone."
Anna put her hand on top of hers. "Then let us claim this dance together."
Elsa swept her into the dance. Blue eyes gazed into each other while feet moved smoothly in time with the music. When they neared the center, Elsa broke eye contact and looked behind her. Anna quickly understood her intention. Keeping in step, they reversed direction away from the center. Anna didn't mind. She didn't want to part with Elsa yet.
Eventually, their aunt and uncle rounded the corner. Elsa reversed their direction again so that they danced ahead of them. The beat was faster, but Elsa lead the way smoothly, her deep blue eyes locked with her own. As their bodies swayed to the music, her heart raced with the rhythm, filling her with a rhapsody of bliss.
They danced two full circuits around the greenhouse before Elsa cut through the center and danced in the opposite direction of Prince Adam and Princess Belle. When they passed the center again, Elsa dipped her and spun her towards Prince Adam.
Her uncle caught her in his arms. He chuckled softly. "Elsa is a bit selfish today."
Anna looked away guiltily. She was being selfish too. For now, she decided to play along and giggled. "I was wondering when she'd let me go."
"I do have a great ballroom, but dancing under the moonlight among blooming flowers has a different kind of romantic feel to it. Don't you think so?"
"Yes... I guess it does," replied Anna, blushing when he mentioned the word romantic.
"Did you get the idea of dancing here from your parents?"
Her heart ached with a deep sense of loss. "I've never seen my parents dance here."
He squeezed her hand. "I'm so sorry, Anna. That was careless of me to mention them. Forgive me?"
"It's all right. I have Elsa now."
He grinned widely. "So you do. I think I'll have my outdoor garden paved and part of it enclosed so your aunt and I can dance under the moon too. We'll have to find someone to play music though."
"About that, has she been teaching Olaf new songs?"
"Yes. While you were away, she taught him quite a few songs, so he can play for us. I must admit that we danced here every night during your trip."
They passed the center and Prince Adam spun her towards Princess Belle. Her aunt led the way.
"You two are in top form tonight. We've been chasing you all over the greenhouse."
"Uh... thank you, Aunt Belle." Anna wasn't sure if that was a compliment. She decided to change the topic. "So... Uncle said that you taught Olaf some new songs."
"Yes. He learns quickly. I just sing a song a few times and he can play the melody."
"What else did you teach him?"
"Wishing for One Song, So There is Love, Beautiful Night and My True Love's Kiss."
Anna repeated the names to commit them to memory. Her aunt laughed at her efforts.
"Just ask Olaf, Anna. But if you're worried that you'll forget, I'll write it down for you."
"Thank you, Auntie! You're the best!"
They danced and changed partners until the clock tower rang nine times. Since Prince Adam and Princess Belle were leaving in the morning, they all prepared for bed. That night, she dreamt of dancing with Elsa under the moonlit sky.
The next morning, they met Prince Adam and Princess Belle at the courtyard with their retinue.
Elsa hugged Prince Adam. "Thank you very much for visiting, Uncle. I really appreciate your help."
He engulfed her in a great bear hug. "You're very welcome. Be a good queen, Elsa."
"I'll do my best."
Her Aunt Belle hugged her. "Keep up with your studies, Anna, and watch out for your sister."
"I will."
Her uncle hugged her next while her aunt hugged Elsa. "Take care of each other."
"You too, Uncle."
Prince Adam and Princess Belle went inside the carriage and waved as it pulled away. Hand in hand, they watched as their carriage went through the front gates and into the main road. When they could no longer see them, they walked back into the main hall.
"I'm going to miss them," said Anna her voice cracking.
Elsa put her arm around her shoulders. "I already miss them."
Tears rolled down her face and she leaned against her sister's shoulder. Instead of heading to court, Elsa turned toward the residential wing. Anna looked up to see a tear falling down her sister's cheek.
"Let's take a little break." Elsa said softly while blinking rapidly.
They went to the Queen's bedchamber where they sat on the bed and held each other quietly, letting their tears run their course.
Her sister caressed her cheek. "Anna..."
Those fingers made her skin tingle. She looked up. "Yes?"
"Don't put rouge on if you plan to cry. It looks so messy."
Her lips pouted. "You don't look great yourself either, Elsa!"
Her gentle laugh tickled her ears. Elsa stood up. "Let's wash up then."
After they refreshed themselves, Elsa prepared for court while she gathered her books for her lessons.
The days after followed a similar routine of their royal duties and spending time together during a break. Next weekend, Anna went with Kristoff to the horse races in the afternoon.
"I know a great spot!" Kristoff led her up a hill. At the top, they stopped under a tree and sat on a fallen log. The racetrack was at the bottom of the hill. Several rows of benches were near the track and were already full of well-dressed nobles. The rest of the incline was occupied by people sitting on picnic blankets. "Great view, huh?"
"Yeah, I could see everything up here." She squinted at the numbers on the side of the horses. "Which one is your favorite?"
He was writing on a piece of parchment. "Captain. He's Number 37."
A white horse with a pale blonde mane trotted into view. Somehow, the horse reminded her of Elsa. "What's number 69's name?"
"Buttercup," replied Kristoff with derision.
"Is the race starting soon?"
Kristoff peered around the racetrack. "Some of the stalls are still empty. I guess they might be ready in 15 minutes."
Anna stood up. "I want to check that horse out."
"I'll..." He stood up partway and looked worriedly at the crowd gathering below.
She understood. "Don't worry. My guards are with me, so if you want to stay here and keep our spot, I don't mind."
He sat down with relief. "Ok."
Careful not to step on anyone, Anna walked down the hill to the stalls. She approached Buttercup's groomer. "He's beautiful."
The groomer smiled at her. "Aye, but his owner's been upset. He hasn't won a single race."
Her hand hovered over the horse's back. "May I?"
"Be my guest, milady."
She ran her hand over his coat and then picked up a handful of oats from the bucket. She held the oats in her hand and wished him victory. Then she opened her hand and patiently waited as he nibbled the oats. When he was done, she patted him fondly on his cheeks. "Do you best!"
The horse tossed his head and neighed. The groomer grinned. "Thank ye, milady. That seemed to have perked him up!"
Anna giggled. "You're welcome." She returned to where Kristoff was. Several pieces of parchment were at his feet, pinned down by a rock. "What are you doing?"
"Putting down some bets. Do you want to try?"
"How do I do it?"
He handed her some blank pieces of parchment. "Here's the racing lineup. Only ten horses are selected to race, so make sure the horse you like is in that race. Most horses race twice to give them two chances to win. Write down which race you want to bet on and then write down three numbers for first, second and third place. Get first place right, you win thrice the money you bet. Get second place right, you win one and a half. Get third place right, you get your money back. When you're done, you give your bets to the guy at the red booth below."
Anna filled two sheets and handed her bets in. Meanwhile, Kristoff appeared to be comparing some numbers and rewriting his bet sheets. Just then, someone blew a horn. He looked at his pile of sheets and picked out five sheets before hurrying down to the booth.
Below them, the crowd chattered excitedly as horses were lined up at the starting line. Kristoff held up a sheet and looked as anxious as the horses pawing the ground of the track. The horn sounded again, and the horses bolted forward.
"Come on! Come on!" cried Kristoff as he urged his favorites on.
Not really interested in this particular race, Anna just watched with detachment. Number 15 crossed the finish line.
"Awww, man!" Kristoff plopped down heavily on the log.
The log tilted sideways, making her slide towards Kristoff who caught her.
"Whoa! Sorry about that!" said Kristoff as he hugged her. "Oh by the way... I think you owe me a kiss."
"I do?"
"Remember the fishing bet?"
"I thought I gave you all the kisses already."
"Except that last one. You just got on your horse and rode away."
Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she searched her memories. "I'm sorry... I don't remember."
He sighed sadly and released his hug. "It's okay if you don't want to kiss me."
"No, if I owe you something, I should hold up my end of the bargain." She took a deep breath and steeled herself, trying not to think of carrots.
A smile formed on his face. He cupped her chin and leaned down.
At the first taste of his rancid lips, her hands gripped her skirt tightly in an effort not to cringe away. Finally, he finished.
"An extra-long one since we didn't see each other for a while." He declared, looking rather pleased as he put his arm around her shoulders.
Horses were being lined up again. Her face lit up when she saw Buttercup at the starting line.
"Captain's in this one. He's sure to win, so dinner's on me."
The horn sounded and the horses galloped into action. Excited, her eyes followed Buttercup as they rounded the first bend. Captain had at least two horse lengths advantage compared to the rest. Meanwhile, Buttercup was almost last place. They rounded another bend, and Captain was still in the lead.
"Go Buttercup! You can do it!" yelled Anna.
Under that snowy coat, Buttercup's muscles rippled and he sprang forward. By the third bend, he had moved to the front of the pack, behind Captain.
"Go! Go! Go!" cheered Anna.
White hoofs thundered on the track, spewing dust in its wake. Buttercup raced just one horse length behind Captain. They were nearing the finish line. With another dash, he was neck in neck with Captain. Then it was over. Buttercup stood proudly with the finish line ribbon caught between his teeth. Kristoff and a good part of the crowd groaned with their loss.
Meanwhile, Anna jumped up and down. "He won! He won! Did you see that?" When she saw Kristoff's bowed head and the crumpled sheet in his hand, she composed herself and went down to claim her winnings. When she returned with a small bag in her hand, he stared at her incredulously.
"Hold on... you won?"
"Yeah, first place." She held the bag in front of him, jingling its contents.
"Just how much did you bet?"
"Just twenty gold pieces."
"Twenty! That's like a price of a new sled! Wait a minute..." His eyes widened with realization. "That means you got back thrice that!"
She remembered the pitiful look on the broker's face when he counted her winnings. "You didn't say how much I should bet. So how much did you bet?"
"Ten silver," he muttered.
"Oh." One hundred silvers was one gold piece. The bag in her hand felt strangely heavy. She turned around. "Jeza!"
Jeza appeared from behind a bush and knelt before her. "How may I serve you, Your Highness?"
"Hold this for me, please." She handed her the bag.
"As you wish."
Her second bet with Buttercup ended with the same results. Meanwhile, Kristoff managed to win a second place bet. He looked sullenly at the bulging bag in her hand while holding his smaller bag.
"Beginner's luck..." He said darkly under his breath.
At the end of the races, his mood didn't improve. Anna cleared her throat. "Since I won, I'll treat you to dinner."
He sighed. "I guess it just wasn't my day. Well, since you're treating, I know this place that has pretty good food."
They rode through the town square and turned on the street where the upscale inn was located.
"Oh, nice... he's taking me there," thought Anna. Her mouth watered as she remembered the succulent lunch that that she and Elsa had there.
To her surprise, he passed it and stopped in front of a small tavern instead. The door opened and a burly man shoved a red-faced man into the street. "And don't come back!" The burly man yanked on the door and it closed with a loud bang, causing the open sign to clatter against its weathered wood.
Kristoff gave her an embarrassed grin. "They get these sometimes."
"Actually... why don't we eat over here instead?" Anna gestured to the upscale inn.
"That place? Their helpings are really small for what you pay for." He got off Sven and opened the door.
Anna sighed and gave the reigns of her horse to Wuthe. Discreetly, Jeza followed her in.
The tavern was dimly lit and had a stage on the other side of the room. A lute player strummed a catchy tune while a girl danced on the stage, flipping her skirt up to the delight of the customers. Patrons clapped or stomped on the floor with the beat. Kristoff led her to an empty table littered with crumbs and sticky with beer rings which attracted quite a number of flies.
"Want a drink?" asked Kristoff.
"Uh, no thanks," said Anna as she shooed a fly buzzing by her ear.
He ordered a tankard and the meal of the day. "The special comes with free pie for only two silvers," he said gleefully.
Their meals arrived and Anna paid for it. Each plate had a large helping but tasted bland. Kristoff gobbled his up faster than she had ever seen anyone eat. She managed a few polite bites. Dessert was an apple pie with mostly gelatinous filling and small bits of diced apple.
Kristoff burped with satisfaction and downed his beer. "Man, that was good. Thanks for the treat."
"No problem." She headed for the door.
They rode back to the castle gate. Once there, they dismounted.
"So... uh... did you have fun today?" asked Kristoff.
"It... was interesting. And, oh, I won. So that was fun."
A smile forced its way to his face. "Yeah, that was unexpected. Lucky you." He glanced quickly at the guards and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "I'll see you later, I guess."
"Good night," said Anna.
"Good night." He mounted Sven and waved as he rode off.
Anna waved back until he rounded a corner. Then she walked hurriedly into the main hall. She dashed up the stairs and into the main bath where she stripped off her clothes and turned on the water at full blast. After some vigorous scrubbing, she filled the tub and soaked.
When she entered the Queen's bedchamber, Elsa was at her desk reading.
"Hi Anna. How was your day?"
"It was ok. How about you?"
She closed the book. "I was just doing some research on trade goods." She turned to look at her. "Oh. You bathed already."
"Ah... yes, I did. I just felt like bathing."
"I guess I'll go and take a bath too."
Anna walked over to her desk and noticed an ice globe next to the music box. When she recognized the flower, she exclaimed, "You still have it?"
"Yes. Be very careful if you pick it up." Elsa walked to her closet and began picking through clothes.
Her hand hovered over it for a few moments before deciding to leave it alone. Instead, she knelt down and peered through the ice. Several days had passed, but the flower had not wilted. She brought her finger to her lips and remembered the sweet taste of its nectar.
While Elsa was bathing, Anna went down to the dining hall to have a quick meal. When they were ready for bed, she asked her sister to read a story. Glad to be in the comfort of her presence, Anna fell asleep.
Behind the Scenes
Anna: I can't believe our movie was shown in so many different countries!
Elsa: Yes, it's amazing isn't it?
Anna: I really like Japan's title: Anna and the Snow Queen.
Elsa: Well, the movie is about us.
Anna: Yeah, for sure! They named it just like other romantic Disney movies, like Beauty and the Beast.
Elsa: Wait... what?
Anna: (gasp) Does this mean... we're a couple? (glomp) Onee-sama!
Elsa: H-hold on! Not in public! Wait till we're alone!