Elsa was awoken an hour earlier than usual in order to be dressed and ready for a mid-morning greeting ceremony. She knew Anna would also be present, but that once everyone went inside the palace, she would be free to seek out Kristoff and formally propose. Elsa hoped he wouldn't be too busy overseeing the ice deliveries to the festivities. Such work was typically done at night anyways, when the ice was less likely to melt under the sun.
It took nearly two hours for Elsa's maids to help her dress and style her hair in the traditional fashion for such an event. Normally, Elsa could be seen with loose braids and her more comfortable ice dresses. Today and for the next two weeks, however, she would have to dress in the traditional Arendellian way: high-necked, tight velvet gowns, corsets, and hair swept up and away from the face. Elsa was wearing an old, indigo-colored dress of her mother's and a black stay. The dress fell over Elsa's body tightly, allowing for little movement (and little left to the imagination). As lithe as she was, Elsa was still a bit fuller than Queen Idunn had been.
Elsa met Anna in the front hallway, reading to meet the Moravian fleet and Duke Rolfe. Lucky Anna didn't have to wear a corset, and instead she wore a pink dress under a power-blue jacket. Anna's hair was in two braids, each laced with pink and blue flowers. She was glowing, perhaps with the fact that her secret was out, and there was the possibility of a wedding to her true love before the end of the week. She had so much to be excited about.
Elsa envied her. All that she saw in her own near future were stressful meetings, conflicted feelings, and unwanted attention.
Out of courtesy, the Moravians spent the night on their ships for being early to arrive, but curious citizens of Arendelle began gathering as early as dawn the following morning. By the time Elsa and Anna arrived with their entourage, the entire country was looking on and cheering. It appeared that, in spite of the morose atmosphere surrounding Hans' trial, the people were excited to meet and greet the visitors, which was fantastic.
The grandest Moravian ship, the Lady of Temperance, disembarked first. Among the first was a short, squat man with formal attire. He carried a scroll in his hand, which he unrolled as he prepared to announce the gentry as they stepped onto the dock. Elsa and Anna stood on a riser three heads above the crowd, at the end of a large red carpet, set to greet each member of the entourage as they offered their gratitude to their hosts.
"Presenting, his Royal Highness, Duke Magnus Rolfe Elias von Naess, Grand Duke of the Four Provinces of Moravia!"
Anna playfully nudged Elsa's arm as Duke Rolfe appeared at the top of the gangway. For a man approaching forty, he was very energetic in his movements. His black hair was neatly kept close to his head, his sideburns almost to his strong, square chin. His skin was tanner than any Arendellian, a testament to the larger amounts of sun his country thrived in. He had no beard, but a straight, thin moustache that did not extend beyond the corners of his lips. He stood straight-backed, even as he stepped. His eyes were honey brown and focused. He wasn't stocky, but he did have a hint of a girth that betrayed his age.
"He's not bad looking," Anna whispered in Elsa's ear. And she had to agree. Aside from a little streak of grey running off of his left temple and crossing over his forehead, there was no sign of the man being eighteen years Elsa's senior.
Gallantly, Duke Rolfe strutted off of the ship, and directly for where Elsa stood, ignoring the crowd of Arendellians cheering him forward. More than a few of them had to have known that he was the closest any man had ever been to courting the Queen. Perhaps Arendelle would have a King Consort and an heir before too long.
The Duke clicked his heels at Elsa's feet and made a deep bow at the waist. A few girlish squeals uttered in the crowd. Elsa smiled and returned with a deep curtsy. Anna followed (without much grace) with a similar curtsy. Then, the Duke reached out for Elsa's outstretched hand, falling to one knee, and softly bringing her hand to his forehead.
"Arendelle welcomes you, Duke Rolfe," Elsa greeted. "Quite warmly. Thank you for honoring us with your visit."
The Duke rose to his feet. "I thank you, Your Majesty, as does every Moravian man who has sailed with me today. We all thank Arendelle for its' hospitality in holding our ships in your harbor. We have brought gifts for you and your kingdom in gratitude."
"Thank you! And thanks for coming," chimed Anna unceremoniously. Elsa didn't mind. Anna added personality to the otherwise dull routine of greeting a foreign noble. Plus, having her sister there made Elsa feel a little safer being among so many people, where she could easily be lost.
"I look forward to learning about your kingdom," the Duke continued, smiling kindly at Anna. "And to learn more about you, Your Majesty." He made eye contact with Elsa again, his eyebrows raised with interest.
Elsa had to swallow her mild disdain in order to keep the smile on her face.
"Then, shall we see you to the castle?" She asked politely. The Duke took her thin arm and brought it through his. Anna grinned, but Elsa was reserved.
"Yes, we shall, Your Majesty," he replied.
The reception that evening was, as Anna would have probably called it, 'stiff.' There was a four-man orchestra, but no dancing. The hors d'oeuvres were standard, delicately made, but typical fare. People sipped brandy and champagne, talking in hushed tones with one another. Some of the men retreated onto the balcony for cigars. The Duke stayed attached to Elsa's side the entire time, making polite, if not dull, conversation. It was banter that suited two amicable monarchs rather than two people who were searching for a romantic match in each other.
"I, too have a younger sister," the Duke mentioned. "Marquess Linnea Ingrid. She, my brother, and I are all less than five years apart in age. Though, admittedly, it was difficult being the middle child."
"How so?" Elsa inquired.
Duke Rolfe thought a moment. "My brother was often at lessons preparing him for his future place as King, and Linnea, being the youngest, was always doted on by Mother and the maids. Although our tutors insisted I was the most intelligent of the three of us, I often went ignored."
"I am sorry to hear that," said Elsa.
"But tonight, I feel like the most fortunate man in all of the Northern Kingdoms," he said proudly. "For on my arm is the loveliest Queen I have ever beheld."
Elsa didn't blush or bashfully look down as Anna probably would have. Instead she took the flattery in her stride. "Thank you," she said evenly.
"There is little doubt in my mind that you would make beautiful children, as well as a strong, lovely wife," The Duke continued, nearly causing Elsa to choke on the sip of champagne she was taking.
"Ch...chil...ahem...talk of children already?" stuttered Elsa. Elsa rarely, if ever, stuttered. She was always the more articulate sister. It suited her rulership, but in awkward conversational prompts like this one the DUke was placing before her (especially so quickly), the Queen was at a complete loss for words.
"Oh yes," said the Duke. "As I am approaching middle age and childless, I do hope for a wife who would be willing to bear me as many children as possible. Perhaps...ten?"
TEN?!
From the corner of her eye, she could see Anna's bright pink dress moving spritely among the sea of dark velvet dresses and dinner jackets. Then she could see the familiar grey tunic of Kristoff follow her, struggling to keep up with Anna's mercurial movements. Elsa smiled. Thank you for your timing!
"I see my sister," Elsa said. "There is something important I need to ask her. Would you excuse me for just a moment, Duke?"
The Duke nodded his head. "Certainly. It is your party, Your Highness."
"Thank you," she said quickly, leaving the Duke to his own devices as she rushed over to find Anna and Kristoff. Something about the scene felt familiar, but altogether less ominous.
"Elsa!" Anna said excitedly. They met in the center of the room. "We have something to ask you."
Kristoff looked a little bashful at the sudden rush of excitement. His cheeks were violent red, and he was out of breath, as if he'd been running heavily for a long time. He looked a little tense, but he was smiling. Even Elsa grinned wider than she normally did.
"Do you want to?" Anna asked her true love. Kristoff smiled and chuckled in spite of himself.
"I think it'd be better if you-"
"-we'd like to ask for your formal blessing of our marriage!" Anna chirped.
Elsa took Anna's hands in hers and gave a graceful nod.
"I happily give my blessing and consent to you and Kristoff, Anna," she answered. Anna couldn't help but throw herself into Elsa's arms, wrapping her own limbs around her sister's neck in a tight, intimate embrace. A few of the party goers glanced in their direction.
"I will make the formal announcement at once," Elsa declared, nearly tearing Anna off of her to take a deep breath.
Kristoff chortled as Anna retook her place next to his, slipping her arm through his. They followed Elsa as she led them to the front of the room, and asked Kai, who was standing by the door, to command the attention of everyone.
"The Queen of Arendelle wishes to make an announcement!" Kai piped up. His naturally loud voice did exactly what Elsa wanted. The room went silent.
"It is my pleasure to announce that I have bestowed my royal blessing for Princess Anna of Arendelle to wed Kristoff Bjorgman, Royal Icemaster, this Saturday at twelve o'clock. All of you are invited to attend the ceremony, including our esteemed visitors from Moravia, and our friends here on business from the Southern Isles!" the Queen said, happy and proud.
The room erupted in claps and cheers, particularly from the natives of Arendelle. Anna gave a little, modest bow, which Kristoff copied. People began to swarm around them to congratulate the pair, which gave Elsa a chance to slip away. Anna could thrive in such attention a lot more than she herself could. She purposefully walked out of the hall without making eye contact with the Duke. She walked briskly to her apartments and chose to go out onto her private balcony, which overlooked the inner courtyard and garden.
It wasn't that she disliked Duke Rolfe. He was cordial, if not a little forward. And he would make a great husband, as he'd had experience with being one. The alliance the match would make would be beneficial to both nations. There was no reason to dislike the man.
But Elsa felt uncomfortable around him all the same, and she didn't quite understand why.
Looking down below, Elsa could see three figures walking down in the garden. It appeared that Hans had chosen a rather late hour to take his exercise today. Not that Elsa blamed him. The day had been warm and humid. Tonight, a cool wind rustled through the trees, making the air perfectly temperate. The moon was a few days off from being full, but it nonetheless cast a bright beam over Arendelle, illuminating the path.
Elsa was beginning to understand why Hans was intriguing her. He may have been a violent traitor, but when all of the power was stripped away from him, he lost all of it, and not under a mask of fake humility. Elsa knew about masks, and the people who wore them to conceal their true selves. Hans wore no mask. He was proverbially naked before her and Arendelle.
And who was the true Hans? Elsa couldn't say, but she knew a few things for certain. He was actively searching for forgiveness. He wore his personal pains on his sleeves. His past formed only part of the core of his being, but it was a part that could not be overlooked. He was cordial, a bit broken, and….quite handsome without the evil intentions.
The Queen knew what it was like to use a false front to get what she wanted. She wanted to be normal, and so she wore gloves to hide her powers, and she let her fear drive her body and mind. Hans wanted power, so he took his ambition and let it guide his whole body and mind.
Both masks nearly led to death. And underneath each, lied more complex individuals...and more benevolent creatures. Elsa still wasn't sure she was completely ready to forgive the man for preying on her innocent sister. It befuddled her even more that he didn't try and go directly to her at first.
"Hans," Elsa whispered as she watched him move about with his escort below. "Who are you?"