It'd been nearly a year since Elsa had Anna expelled from the castle and it went back to how it had been before they'd met. Inside the castle was cold and dark, the gates remained shut and the courtyard empty, void of the children that had regularly played there. Elsa was seated at her desk in her study, pouring over yet another missive. The breakup didn't affect Elsa's ability to rule by pen at all. In fact, she seemed to up productivity ever since. Her body however was suffering as a result of all the extra work. She was thinning, refusing nearly all meals, and barely sleeping. Gerda had caught the queen sleeping at her desk more than once but whenever she woke her to retire to her bed, Elsa would just pick up her work where she left off. Eventually Gerda stopped waking her; sleeping at her desk was better than no sleep at all. The only time she seemed to relax was in the dead of the night when the kingdom was mostly asleep. Sometimes the maids would catch a glimpse of their reclusive queen outside, perched on the roof. They didn't dare say anything about it though.
Gerda gently knocked on the study door that day, receiving a gentle grunt in response. She knew it was Gerda; it was always Gerda. The maid brought over a steaming cup of tea, the scent filling the room. It wafted up to Elsa's nose before Gerda even reached the desk causing her to look up, a few strands of hair falling into her face at the motion.
"What kind?" she asked, peering at the cup Gerda set down in front of her. The scent was unfamiliar but it was enticing.
"It's a Coronan blend," Gerda replied as she reached forward, tucking the queen's hair back behind her ear. It had been thrown into a simple ponytail and it was clear Elsa neither wanted nor expected any guests.
"From Rapunzel?" Elsa asked, looking up at Gerda. The maid shook her head and extended a note to her with her other hand.
"This came with the tea," she supplied, with a small smile. Elsa took the note and read through the neat cursive carefully. It read:
It has come to my attention that a fair maiden sits atop her tower all alone, nose to the sky.
Stargazing is an activity one should partake in with another.
Care to accompany my telescope and I up the North Mountain for a closer look?
Elsa furrowed her brow and then turned the note over. On the back, were only the initials DT. "How did you receive this?" she asked, rereading the note again.
"By courier. Professional too. Not just any lad with a satchel looking for coin," Gerda replied. Elsa felt herself pout; she hadn't the slightest idea who this DT was but apparently they were close enough to know Elsa liked to stargaze when she couldn't sleep and her hand cramped after too much work. She'd lift herself up to the roof of the castle with her magic and then turn her eyes to the sky. Searching; entirely unsure of what she was looking for.
"Did someone sample the tea?" Elsa inquired, setting the note aside and turning her attention to the cup. Gerda raised her brow at her as if to say 'Really?' and that brought the barest of smiles to Elsa's somber face. "Of course you had someone taste it else it would not be set before me," the queen said, lifting the cup to her lips. She took a sip and her eyes fell shut at the rich flavor. She'd never tasted it before so the plant it was brewed from must have originated from Corona. "It's exquisite."
"Hmm yes. Lars seemed to think so. He finished the cup and reused the same leaves," Gerda chuckled referring to Elsa's taster. "So...Will you respond?"
"How can I? I haven't the slightest clue who sent it," Elsa replied, pulling the cup from her lips but not setting it down. "This DT is very bold."
"They certainly captured your attention though," Gerda stated, looking at Elsa intently.
"That they did..."
"Duchess Dorothea Tully?" Kai asked incredulously, even lowering his glasses a bit to make sure he was seeing who he thought he was seeing.
"It's lovely to see you again Kai," Dorothea greeted him. The butler, much like his queen was also stunned to silence but he nonetheless dropped into a slow bow. The brunette then turned her eyes back towards Elsa who was still staring owlishly at the woman before her, heart hammering in her chest.
"Dorothea I-Pardon me please but what are you doing here? I was expecting-" Elsa was cut off by a light chuckle.
"You were expecting Iwan?" Dorothea asked, tilting her head to the side and smiling knowingly at the queen. Elsa swallowed as she looked up into the grey eyes she never thought she'd see again.
"Yes in fact, I was. What is the meaning of this?" Elsa asked with little conviction in her voice.
"Why I've come in his place, as you can see," Dorothea replied as if it were the simplest of things. "My brother took ill just after the Queen and Prince Consort left for Arendelle. I've come in his stead."
"Your b-brother?"
"Iwan? Yes of course!"
"But Iwan is a Norfork."
"Indeed he is. That was his father's surname. Tully is my father's," Dorothea explained patiently, the smile never leaving her lips. She watched as the wheels turned in Elsa's head, trying to understand just how this could have happened and she reveled in it. She'd always loved getting under Elsa's skin, seeing what made the queen tick.
"Of course...Duchess I apologize for keeping you outside..." Elsa trailed off, turning to usher her inside. Still her heart hammered in her chest and her free hand twisted and flexed as she was unable to wring her fingers together with the others. "Please follow me and I will show you to your rooms. Would you prefer to begin discussion in the morning?" The duchess seemed to think on it as she watched Elsa awkwardly lead her through the castle. Something was clearly wearing on the queen's mind.
"We shall begin tomorrow but please do tell me dear, is something troubling you?" Dorothea asked, placing a hand on Elsa's shoulder. "Am I interrupting your time with your beloved cousin?" Elsa bit her lip and turned around to face her but found her words stuck in her throat as she looked at the beautiful woman again. Dorothea was a head taller than her and buxom, filling out her dress very well. She was clad in a lavender princess cut dress with a daring, low neckline that certainly drew attention but not enough to cause a fuss over. Her dark brown tresses were pulled to one side, falling over one shoulder and her smoldering grey eyes pierced Elsa, pinning her in her spot. Dorothea was honestly a sight to behold.
*1"Tu attraperas des mouches, chérie," Dorothea whispered, leaning in towards Elsa's ears. At Elsa's sudden blush, the duchess chuckled behind a hand. The queen cleared her throat, realising she'd been caught staring and quickly refocused.
"I-Yes. I have guests, my cousin and her family aside," Elsa finally replied. "Their home is in need of repairs and they are staying with me for the duration," she added, turning to walk again.
"Repairs? Do you house every subject within the castle without a home?" Dorothea asked, arching a perfect brow.
"No," Elsa simply replied. "But this is a...special exception."
"I see. Well I'll do my best to keep out of the way but do tell me darling, how have you been?" the duchess inquired.
"The last few days have been the most stressful of my life, that is certain..." Elsa muttered under her breath. Dorothea arched her brow, humming as if to say go on. "Some things have...happened since we last-" She searched for the right word. "-spoke." Elsa then paused, taking into consideration Dorothea's affinity for gossip. She'd never told anyone anything particularly sensitive about Elsa when they were together but the duchess always seemed to know a little too much about everything. She could play the game very well. "They are of the personal sort," Elsa stressed. The Duchess would figure out Anna and Synnöve by the end of the night if someone didn't tell her within the hour, Elsa was sure but that didn't mean she would be so forthright with the information.
To Elsa's surprise, the duchess just gave a nod and quietly followed after her. The queen lead her through a length of corridors and then stopped in front of the bed chambers she'd had prepared. Elsa pressed the doors open to reveal a tidy, well decorated room bathed in reds and browns and yellows. If Elsa remembered correctly, Dorothea preferred whites and purples and blues. "I apologize for the more masculine setting. I was expecting your brother. If you'd like, I'll have Gerda and the girls prepare another room for you," she suggested, turning to face to the duchess. Her mouth clamped shut however at the sight of the other woman. Dorothea was staring at Elsa intently, looking her up and down. "Duch-?"
"You look very good Elsa," Dorothea stated suddenly, lifting a hand to her elbow and the other to her chin. "I'm a tad bit interested and worried about that sling around your arm. I'm sure there's a story there but that aside, there's something about you...Something has changed and I'm inclined to believe it has little to do with the kingdom." Elsa was at a total loss for words.
"I have no idea what you mean," Elsa replied quietly, eyes drifting anywhere but the woman in front of her.
"You aren't wearing your gloves."
"What?" Elsa asked dumbly, glancing down at her left hand. Panic coursed through her when she realised that Dorothea was correct; she wasn't wearing her gloves. She'd gone out with her cousin into the town without them and she hadn't even noticed. "I can't believe I did that..."
"That's good, is it not?" Dorothea asked, tilting her head to the side.
"N-no! That's not good at all! I should have been more careful. What if something happened while I was in town?" Elsa asked in a slightly panicked voice. She was staring at her bare hand, wondering how she could have left the castle walls without her gloves when a pair of soft hands enveloped hers. The queen looked up at Dorothea only to be met with a gentle smile.
"Has no one ever told you that your magic is beautiful?" she asked, raising a brow. Elsa blushed, recalling Anna saying the same thing. "Confidence is key darling."
"That's an easy statement from you," Elsa retorted, smiling slightly.
"But of course! I wasn't always so sure of myself. Once upon a time, I was a shy thing too," Dorothea replied with a chuckle.
"Duchess, I find that very hard to believe. You're simply always the focus in the room," Elsa replied as the other woman rubbed her palm.
"Oh but here, all they ever talk about is you darling." Dorothea laughed at the stunned look on Elsa's face so she elaborated. "They will openly look at me because I will openly look back at them but you are as frightening as you are beautiful. Ah, don't frown! That is not a bad thing. A queen should be loved and perhaps a bit feared." Elsa's shoulders relaxed a little as she thought about it. She was certainly an excellent queen and if her outing with Rapunzel earlier in the morning proved anything, her people did seem to love her more than fear her. Children were still respectfully docile around her but they smiled and waved when she passed by. Shopkeepers tried to shower them with gifts and the majority of the townsfolk stopped to wave hello but mostly stayed out of her way.
Years of training and lecturing from her father taught her that when faced with anyone outside the castle walls, she needed to keep her head high and her back straight. In retrospect she supposed she could smile more while out and about but the sort of distant, locked expression she donned was something she'd also picked up from her father. The late king would keep an even face whenever they left the castle, never showing too much emotion. Elsa could recall practicing the very same face in the mirror when they returned home. Her mother caught her once scowling into her bedroom mirror and laughed, asking her what about her reflection made her so angry. Her late mother was the one who smiled outside the castle walls and she was radiant but she wasn't the one teaching Elsa how to one day rule.
"You're an excellent queen darling; no need to think too hard on it," Dorothea said softly, patting her hand. Elsa looked up at her and smiled, nodding a bit.
"Thank you..."
"Now! As for the room, a change won't be necessary. You know I'm not too picky," Dorothea said, gesturing around.
"I did always like that about you..." Elsa mumbled. "Duchess, you must be famished after your travels," she segwayed, drawing her hand back.
"Actually I'm quite sated. I arrived early this morning. I had the chance the explore your wonderful kingdom and eat my fill," Dorothea explained with a smirk. "Oh there's a baker in town that makes these little sweet buns. Delightful little things!"
"You've been in the kingdom since the early morning? Why did you not send word ahead?" Elsa asked incredulously.
*2"Chéri, tu sais que les chats viennent comme ils veulent," Dorothea said in jest, earning a look from the queen. The duchess rolled her eyes and continued. "Alright. Truth be told, I spied you and Queen Rapunzel out and about. I figured I could allow you a few hours to yourselves."
"You saw-Thank you," Elsa replied, genuinely stunned.
"But judging by the time, I probably still pulled you from lunch with your family. For that I apologize. Please, we'll conduct business tomorrow. Go enjoy the rest of the day with your family," Dorothea said before turning to the windows. She strode over to them and drew back the heavy curtains to see that her room overlooked the massive courtyard. "I'll keep myself busy for the rest of the night. I still remember the way to the observatory."
Elsa's cheeks colored at mention of the observatory she'd had installed shortly after meeting the duchess. Stargazing had always been something she was interested in from youth but when learning to become queen, one has little time for star charts and telescopes. It wasn't exactly an activity her father approved of. It wasn't until Dorothea took her up the North Mountain to where her ice castle still stood that she really allowed herself to enjoy the hobby. They set the telescope up on the balcony and watched until the sun was peeking up from the horizon. Gerda had quite the fit when Elsa returned that morning.
"Of course," Elsa replied, turning to leave the room. Slowly she walked back towards the foyer, heart hammering in her chest. She just couldn't understand how the duchess could come back to the castle so nonchalantly. It wasn't that Elsa was displeased with her appearance and it wasn't as though their breakup was messy but she honestly hadn't expected her to take it in stride.
"Queen Elsa?"
She supposed she shouldn't have been surprised though. Dorothea was a strangely confident woman. She cared little for gender roles and expectations and was sharp as a tack, always seeming to know something that someone else did not.
"Queen Elsa?"
She was disarmingly charming as well, especially to someone like Elsa who mostly dealt with people trying to suck up to her and impress her. While they were together, Dorothea set the pace and though her heart hadn't exactly been in it, Elsa was very content to follow for once.
"Qu-Queen Elsa?!"
So, it shouldn't have come as a shock to her that the duchess could get over a breakup so cleanly. Now it was just Elsa who was being awkward and overly cautious.
"MOMMY!"
Elsa snapped out of her thoughts to realize that she'd brought herself back to the foyer and was just standing there, staring at the door. Turning her gaze down, she met the worried eyes of Synnöve staring back up at her. Too far gone to have even noticed what the girl had called her, she dropped to her knee to address her.
"I'm very sorry Sweetheart. What is it?"
"Is it time for my magic lesson?" Synnöve asked, suddenly beaming.
"Oh! Of course...Though, perhaps we should keep it inside this time. Let's practice in the western ballroom today," Elsa suggested, well aware of the view Dorothea had of the courtyard from her bedroom window. Synnöve simply nodded just happy to spend time with her. Elsa stood and took her hand and then she led the girl to the ballroom where she had too practiced her magic as a child. Synnöve hummed a song as she skipped alongside her, her singular braid bouncing with every step. Elsa briefly wondered how lucky she had to be to have ended up with a daughter so cheery and adorable. Nothing like her at all.
In a way, she was glad that she didn't get the chance to raise Synnöve herself because she wouldn't have been the same girl. Yes, Elsa was intelligent and graceful but that glint of joy in Synnöve's eye she saw every day was something she was sure she'd have ruined. On the other hand, the girl grew up with a lingering want to meet and know her other parent. It was undeniable that Elsa's very existence was more important to Synnöve than anyone had cared to notice. It made the queen frown as she glanced down at the little girl. Perhaps she'd have had it so much easier if Elsa weren't her parent at all; if she'd had a commoner for a father who could have been there for her.
Then, as if she could sense Elsa thinking about her, Synnöve looked up and shot her a brilliant smile.
Elsa took it back.
Rapunzel had developed a well of patience since she was crowned queen of Corona. So when Anna kept flitting around her, trying to talk to her about Elsa and failing to get the words out, she calmly waited for Anna to gather herself all the while watching her pace about her bedroom. Synnöve ran off to find Elsa for her next magic lesson and Eugene had taken Robin and subsequently, Little John out to the stables again to ride one of the mares together. Rapunzel offered to brush Anna's hair while they spoke and that eventually turned into this game of cat and mouse that the brunette was desperately hoping would end. Rapunzel didn't want to pressure it out of her; Anna needed to address it herself.
"Rapunzel?" Anna piped up finally.
"Yes Anna," Rapunzel answered kindly, smiling at her. Anna bit her lip and ran her fingers through her freshly brushed hair. This had been the fourth time she'd stop to talk and Rapunzel was hoping this would be the one.
"C-Can I tell you something?"
"You can tell me anything," Rapunzel reassured truthfully.
"Look, it's just that-Well...Yesterday, Elsa and I...She kissed me! I-I mean I kissed back too. I didn't mean too! At least, not in the moment. I mean, of course I wanted to but I didn't. Not then, like that! That doesn't make any sense! Oh god..."
"Anna calm down. It's okay," Rapunzel said as she stood. She walked over to Anna and stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder.
"It's not okay! I'm-I'm still so mad!" Anna exclaimed, shoving her head into her hands.
"I know. It must be difficult to deal with Elsa's betrayal even after all this ti-"
"No! That's not it…I'm not mad at her. I mean, I am but not really," Anna struggled, pausing to gather her thoughts. Rapunzel looked on in confusion as Anna took a calming breath.
"Anna?"
"I'm mad at myself for forgiving her. I've never stopped loving her, Rapunzel and I know that no one else will ever make me as happy as she did but I'm still so angry. Her being my-my…"
"Your what? Your true love?" Rapunzel supplemented.
"What? How did you know?"
"I've dabbled in true love's magic before. Little Synn wouldn't have come to be without it," Rapunzel replied with a giggle. "Besides, a blind man could see that the two of you are true loves."
"Yes but Elsa being my true love doesn't excuse what she did and in my head, I know that. But in my heart..."
"The heart is a powerful motivator Anna."
"The heart is stupid," Anna deadpanned. "It pounds when I see her, it stops when she smiles at me, it flutters when she touches me. It just isn't fair!" Anna stopped and tried to calm herself again, pulling back from Rapunzel's hold. "I'm angry that I've already forgiven her because I don't think she deserves it yet."
"Yet?"
"Yet."
"Then you've already decided in your mind that you want a future with Elsa?" Rapunzel asked hopefully, ducking to catch Anna's downcast gaze. Anna rolled her eyes but her pink cheeks and the smile teasing at the corner of her mouth spoke her true feelings. She'd longed to be in Elsa's arms again for years. Even in the heat of her anger, whenever she tucked herself into sleep at night in her brother's home, she tossed and turned, so unused to sleeping by herself anymore. Back then she could at least combat those feelings with anger though; Elsa wasn't around to smooth talk her way back into her heart.
It got a little easier when Synnöve finally arrived. Of course seeing Elsa's brilliant blue eyes staring back at her whenever she looked at Synnöve was jarring in the beginning but then they only added to the child's charm. When she turned three, she started sleeping alongside her mother and that most definitely helped Anna settle down. The joy she once felt being encapsulated by Elsa's arms she then felt whenever Synnöve burrowed herself into her abdomen. With her daughter, Anna was content at least but even she could see how she was screwing things up for her brother.
Kristoff was thirty three that year and still unmarried, claiming that his family was more important than some air-headed milkmaid. And of course Anna noticed just how close Vivienne was to her brother before she moved back and Anna had become the focus of their attention, effectively taking their focus off of one another. She couldn't help but think that had she still been with Elsa, everyone involved would be happier.
Synnöve would have grown up knowing who Elsa really was, Kristoff would have gone on to marry and start his own family, and Elsa wouldn't have been so dreary and moody. Of course Anna blamed the queen for her dismissal but it was hard not to blame herself the day Elsa stopped opening the castle courtyard to the public to ice skate in the afternoons. The kingdom's children were sorely disappointed and that struck Anna in the gut. It was reminiscent of the time when the late king and queen perished and the castle closed up, gates shut tightly. One mistake on Elsa's part had such a severe trickle down effect and Anna was sure she didn't realize just how much of her kingdom had been affected.
"I have," Anna replied, playing her fingers. Rapunzel took in her stance and pressed a bit.
"But?"
"But I need Elsa to be clear in her intentions."
"How?"
"If she wants me and especially Synnöve in her life, then she needs to fight for me."
In many ways, Duchess Dorothea Tully was very much like a feline. Bold but quiet, superior but flexible, cunning but charming, and very sensual. But much like a cat, she was terribly curious and Dorothea wielded knowledge like a knight would a sword. By no means did she wish to harm Elsa or her reputation but she did want to know why she'd taken a seemingly average family of common birth into her castle. She of course had heard of the destruction of the house beforehand; when anything to do with magic was afoot, word traveled particularly fast. No one seemed to be able to make much sense of what happened however. The townspeople seemed more concerned with boasting about the fact that they were there rather than retelling the actual story but Dorothea was intelligent enough to fill in bits of the pieces. She just couldn't figure out why Elsa had housed them though. She could have set them up in another establishment or paid their way through an inn but to take them into the castle?
She spent an hour or so on the window bench, overlooking the courtyard while the maids hurried about the room with her things. Dorothea insisted she'd deal with it later but to no avail as Elsa had instilled it in her staff to look after guests hand and foot. When she grew tired of the afternoon sun, she decided a stroll about the castle was in order. She could remember the way to the observatory well as she'd spent most of her time there but the sky was still bright.
"I wonder if I can find my way to the library without winding up in the Queen's Breakfast again," she murmured to herself, chuckling at the memory. The castle was more winding and spacious than she'd anticipated the first time around. Dorothea managed to find her way without issue however and soon she was pressing open the doors to Elsa's impressive library. To her delight, it had been expanded since she'd last been, noticing a set of new shelves. Wandering over to the new additions, she ran her fingers over the clean spines before selecting one near the top. Dorothea pulled it from the shelf then went to sit down on a chair in the center of the room. There was a table in front of it as well as several other plush chairs positioned around it.
She smiled fondly as she recalled her games of chess at the table with Elsa on nights that it rained. It was months into their relationship and Dorothea was beginning to feel the queen's distance or rather, her hesitance to take it any further. Elsa had only ever kissed her on the lips once, a short and sweet thing but there was nothing there. They didn't speak of it but they both understood it. Elsa was still hung up on whoever was there before and Dorothea treated Elsa like a flirtatious friend more than a lover. They went riding together, spent many nights in the observatory, read to one another, and danced together in the wide open ballroom; things that friends did. Perhaps they could have remained friends after they decided to end the charade but she figured Elsa couldn't handle the awkwardness so she went on her way quietly.
*3"Peut-être dans une autre vie, chérie..." Dorothea sighed before she turned the cover of the book and began to read.
That was how Synnöve found her nearly two hours later. The girl pressed open one of the doors gingerly then went in search of a hair ribbon she'd left behind from before. Anna had been playing with her hair and scratching her scalp so she took the ribbon out but the girl forgot to grab it after her mother braided it back. Dorothea was much too engrossed in her book to have heard the door but she did hear the light pitter patter of feet as Synnöve drew closer. Focus broken, she looked up just in time to meet Synnöve's eyes as she too took notice of her. Truly at a loss, Dorothea blinked owlishly, a million questions suddenly coming to mind. The first of course being, why did this girl have Elsa's eyes?
"Good afternoon," Dorothea greeted a second later, relaxing her features and settling down. Synnöve seemed to relax as well albeit slightly.
"G-good afternoon, my lady," she parroted, eyes dropping.
"Scouting for a book, my dear?" the duchess asked, leaning her head on her hand. Synnöve shook her head, swinging her braid.
"I'm looking for my hair ribbon. I think I left it in here," she replied, looking around again. "I'm always losing it."
"You should find it but perhaps you don't need it," Dorothea stated to which Synnöve cast her a curious look. "You look just fine with your hair braided down. It suits you."
"You think so?" Synnöve asked, reaching around to take a hold of it. She played with the end a bit and then let it go. However it didn't swing back around, instead laying on her shoulder much like Elsa's braid. Dorothea felt her brows raise as she found herself looking at miniature, version of her ex-lover. Granted the girl was strawberry blonde and she lacked Elsa's quiff but there was no mistaking the resemblance.
"My name is Dorothea Tully. May I know yours?" she asked the girl.
"Synnöve Bjorgman," the girl replied.
"Well Synnöve, do you mind if I help you look for your ribbon?" Dorothea asked, standing from her seat gracefully. Synnöve shook her head and the two of them split up, the girl in between the bookshelves and the duchess by the chairs. It only took her a few moments to shift the cushions on the chairs around and find the ribbon. "Synnöve, my dear?"
"Yes ma'am?" the child replied, popping out from behind a bookcase.
"I've found it here." When Synnöve approached, Dorothea looked at the ribbon then up at her braid. "Would you like me to fasten it to the end?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful," the girl replied with a bright smile. She spun around and allowed the duchess to quickly weave the ribbon around the end of her braid into a bow. "Thank you ma'am," she added once she was finished. Dorothea chuckled behind her hand and shook her head.
"My dear girl, please. Ma'am makes me feel so old. Just call me Dorothea," she told Synnöve, sweeping the girl's fringe to the side.
"Okay...Uhm, Dorothea? Can I ask why you're here?" Synnöve asked curiously.
"Curious one, aren't we?" At Synnöve's blush, she chuckled again. "It's alright dear. I'm quite curious myself. I've actually come from Corona for an audience with the queen. We've a bit of business to discuss."
"Oh! I thought she was meeting with a man," Synnöve replied, her face turning in confusion.
"She was. My brother, but he took ill and I came in his stead," Dorothea explained patiently.
"I wish I had a brother," Synnöve pouted adorably.
"Excuse me?" Dorothea asked with a chuckle.
"You have a brother, my momma has a brother and my friend Diana has a brother. I wish I had a big brother too. Diana's brother stops the other kids from picking on her..."
"Do other children pick on you?" Dorothea found herself asking.
"Yes. There's a boy in my class, Erich. He keeps pulling on my braids. I wish I had a brother so he could tell him to stop," Synnöve replied with a puff, crossing her arms. "Does your brother scare away bullies?" The duchess chuckled behind her hand and shrugged.
"I suppose not. Not anymore at least. Iwan would look out for me when we were small, yes but as soon as we were older, it was I looking out for him," Dorothea replied with a wink. "Girls can fight too."
Synnöve seemed to smile at that knowingly. "Momma told me it's impolite for girls to fight but one time, Mr. Nilsson tried to touch Momma without permission and she hit him. In the face!" The girl giggled at the memory mischievously.
"Well she sounds the fiery sort. Is your mother about?" Dorothea asked casually, feigning indifference. The girl said her mother had a brother so clearly it was not Elsa as she was an only child. There was no mistaking the resemblance to the Arendelle's however.
"Yes. I think Queen Rapunzel went with Momma to brush her hair," Synnöve replied, her face scrunching in thought. That caught the duchess off guard though. What was her queen doing brushing a common woman's hair? Of course Dorothea knew of Rapunzel's unorthodoxed upbringing and that she too was once common but this seemed a bit much. "Momma got hurt on her head so she can't brush it herself," the girl piped up, bringing Dorothea back from her thoughts. "Do you...want to meet Momma?"
"Of course, my dear. I'd love to meet anyone responsible for someone as sweet as you," Dorothea fired back with a smile. Synnöve beamed and took the duchess's hand at that, leading her out of the library. She treated Dorothea to an earful about her mother and her uncle along the way and by time they found Anna's room, Dorothea felt as though she knew the woman. Knocking gently on the door, Synnöve rocked back on her heels as she waited for approval, excited to introduce her mother to a new friend. The door swung open to reveal Rapunzel and the brunette smiled widely at the girl, not yet noticing Dorothea.
"Hey there Synn. All finished with Elsa?" she asked, reaching down to ruffle the girl's hair.
"Yes and then I went to the library to find my ribbon," Synnöve replied and Dorothea chose then to step forward, catching her queen's attention. "And then I made a new friend!"
"Dorothea?" Rapunzel asked, her brows raised in surprise.
"My queen," the duchess greeted, curtsying gracefully. Rapunzel stepped aside to allow the both of them inside and then she took Dorothea's hands in hers.
"Has your brother taken ill?" Rapunzel asked, knowing that that was most likely the reason she was here.
"He has; a fever. Nothing too alarming but he was unsuitable for travel by ship," Dorothea replied, frowning.
"I'll make certain to visit him when we return," Rapunzel said, squeezing her hands gently before letting them go.
"Queen Rapunzel?" Synnöve asked, looking up at her after a cursory glance about the room. "Where's Momma?"
"I'm here Sweet Pea," Anna replied, just emerging from the adjacent wash room. "I was just checking the bump," she elaborated. She then noticed that another woman was in the room and she looked to Rapunzel expectantly.
"Anna this is Dorothea Tully. She presides over a duchy in Corona," Rapunzel was quick to supply.
"Oh! Your grace," Anna greeted, dropping to a quick, awkward curtsy to which Dorothea inclined her head.
"Dorothea, this is Anna Bjorgman," Rapunzel seemed to hesitate for a moment before continuing on, which of course the duchess noticed. "She and her family are staying with Elsa for a time."
"Of course. Queen Elsa did mention a family staying in the castle while their home was rebuilt. I'll try my best to stay out of the way," Dorothea replied.
"Nonsense," Rapunzel huffed, waving her comment off. "You're the one here on business."
"Elsa and I will begin tomorrow. I didn't want to get in the way of her time with her family today," Dorothea said, not realizing how that applied to nearly all of her guests. Rapunzel bit her lip gently at that as well; she was well aware of Dorothea and Elsa's former relationship.
"Anna? Why don't you go speak to Elsa about what we talked about while Dorothea and I catch up?" Rapunzel suggested suddenly. Anna looked up questioningly but she nodded.
"I should. Synn? Would you like to come with me?" Anna asked as she started for the door.
"No Momma. I want to go practice again," Synnöve replied, tailing after her out the door.
"Oh? Where will you be going?" Anna asked, glancing down at her.
"In the ballroom on the west side," the girl replied. Glancing back to make sure she was out of earshot of Dorothea, Synnöve continued. "Queen Elsa had us practice inside today."
"In the castle? Why?" Anna asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.
"I don't know but I don't mind. At least in the ballroom, no one can see me mess up!" Synnöve replied before sticking out her tongue and running off. Anna giggled as she watched the girl bounce around the corner and briefly wondered if that was how it would have been if she and Elsa had stayed together. If Synnöve would have spent her mornings with Anna learning to sew and sing only to eventually get distracted by the rose gardens and the horses then to run inside to Elsa so she could learn to rule only to then get distracted by her magic. Synnöve was an impossibly happy child but Anna just couldn't help but wonder if she could have been happier.
Coming to a stop in front of Elsa's study, Anna gently knocked on the door.
"Come in," Elsa chimed from behind the door. Anna pressed it open and spied the queen sitting at her desk, peering up from her papers in confusion. Elsa cocked a brow then set her quill down and leaned back in her seat a bit. "I thought I'd have to seek you out, to be honest. I was however allowing you some space for the time being," she stated evenly.
"We need to talk Elsa..." Anna said as she shut the door.
"And I'm willing to listen," Elsa replied with a nod. She shut her eyes and drew in a long breath and then gestured for Anna to sit on the settee in the middle of the room. Drawing herself up from her seat, she glided over to sit next to her. Anna clasped her hands together and looked anywhere but Elsa's face as she could feel the queen drilling holes into the side of her head.
"E-Elsa-" she began but Elsa stopped her there with a hand.
"No. Stop right there. You're angry with me; I can tell. Just say what you really want to say Anna. I love you. Please don't be afraid of me," she told Anna, finally catching her eye. Anna swallowed thickly but she nodded. Then suddenly Anna's hand flew up and Elsa's neck cracked as it turned with the force in which her face was met. Anna had struck her. Elsa's eyes went wide as white hot pain spread through her cheek. She slowly turned her head back towards Anna replacing her shock with an even look.
"That was for cornering me yesterday," Anna heaved, finding a little conviction in her voice. She then schooled her expression and leaned over, kissing the cheek she'd just abused. "And that is for keeping your distance. I appreciate it."
"I suppose I deserved that," Elsa replied referring to the slap. It certainly stung and seeing as she was queen and quite literally no one in their right mind would ever dare to strike her unless they had a death wish, the pain was unfamiliar. Still she refrained from chilling her hand and putting it to her cheek. If that was how Anna saw fit to punish her, she'd allow the pain to linger.
"Yes. You did. You always asked me before..." Anna replied, clasping her hands together on her lap. When they were still together, no matter how small the kiss was, Elsa would ask permission. Aside from when they were intimate with one another, the queen was careful about it. Initially it was Elsa's way of formality, not wanting to do something Anna might not like but soon Anna found it endearing, relishing in the way the queen would move in to kiss her only to stop, pout and ask first.
"I apologize," Elsa spoke sincerely, her eyes softening as she looked at her. She then reached up and gently cupped Anna's cheek with her left hand, stroking her bottom lip with her thumb. She didn't want to but Anna's eyes fell shut as she soaked in the familiar feeling. She could feel Elsa draw closer and she held her breath. "May I?" Elsa asked close enough for her to feel the light puffs of breath while she spoke. It was positively intoxicating.
"N-No. You may not," Anna finally managed after a beat, regaining her control. She opened her eyes just in time to see the queen pull back, an almost satisfied look on her face. "As I said Elsa...We need to talk. Actually talk. No cornering. No lies," Anna added with a stern look.
"Speak then," Elsa shot back.
"You've been getting pretty close to Synn," Anna started and there was a sudden chill. Elsa's gaze sharpened just slightly but Anna knew her well enough to notice.
"I have."
"She's taken to you Elsa and that scares me."
"Why would that scare you?" Elsa asked almost exasperatedly. Anna felt a little bad for her but her daughter was ultimately more important than Elsa's feelings.
"If this-" Anna gestured between the two of them. "-doesn't work, she's going to be devastated. It won't just be my one broken heart; it'll be two."
"This? You are willing to try again?" Elsa asked hopefully.
"I'm willing to let you court me again. If we're going to do this, we're starting from the beginning," Anna deadpanned. "Elsa listen to me; I'm serious. I'm giving you one shot. Don't break my heart again." She looked into Elsa's eyes, searching for sincerity desperately. The queen glanced down and took Anna's hand in hers and she interlocked their fingers. Gently she drew Anna's hand up towards her face and kissed the back of her hand.
"You have my word."
*1 You'll catch flies, darling
*2 Darling you know cats come as they please
*3 Perhaps in another life, darling...
AN: News Flash! I really like drama and I really like secrets and I am soooo not above using little Synnöve as a plot device :D