G'day!

Like always, thanks for the reviews and support!

I have been stuck with this chapter for weeks, so I'm so happy to finally have it finished. Since it lost it's way a few times, I hope it doesn't sound too disjointed.

According to my research, National Anthems/songs /hymns rose to prominence in Europe in the nineteenth century but some originated much earlier than that, and some a century later so, this is Disney…Not that it has any big impact on the story.

Disclaimer: I have no claim on Disney's Frozen or any of it's attributes. I'm still having fun in the magical land someone else's brilliance has created.


The Meadows

Kai took a moment to check his appearance before tapping lightly on one of the two main access doors to the castle office. He wasn't vain but he liked to look his best. As usual, there was no response, but that didn't stop him from pushing one of the two doors open and stepping inside, his eyes immediately looking toward the desk, and frowning.

It was just as the young housemaid Annalise had claimed during her restless early morning stroll through the castle halls when Kai had encountered her in the kitchen. After having had this talk several times this month alone, Kai prayed his advice was being taken to heart.

Clearly it wasn't.

His monarch was young, yes, and determined to do her very best for her people, but, in his opinion, she was trying too hard. Papers were scattered all over the desk, and the two candles in holders on two corners of the desk had almost burned down to nothing. Why she had pulled an all-nighter was beyond him, but she did it so often he was afraid she was going to burn out.

And besides, with today's schedule, she was going to need her energy, so she really should have gone to bed.

With her attention focused completely on whatever she was working on she didn't notice him as he came to a stop directly before the desk, so he took a deep breath and somewhat pointedly cleared his throat, "Good morning, your majesty."

Elsa jumped, her face showing her surprise, and a very light layer of frost shot forth from her hands. Inwardly Kai cringed, he kept forgetting that always happened, but sighed with relief when she instantly undid what her powers caused. Satisfied all her papers were okay, she looked up at him again and raised an eyebrow, "What time is it?"

"Six am."

She blinked, "Oh." Then she nodded briskly, and half smiled a little sheepishly at him, "Good morning then."

"Have you been up all night?"

"Apparently so," she replied a little distractedly having already returned her attention to what she was working on. "Is there something you wanted?"

He sighed wearily, "I've given up expecting prudence from you, your majesty."

That got her full attention, and he saw a different, indignant response forming on her face before she relaxed, rolled her eyes and laughed, "Only you can get away with saying that to me, Kai."

"I know," he replied with an answering grin. "But in all seriousness, you really should get some rest."

"I'm fine."

That was her answer to everything, especially health related subjects. And considering what today was going to bring, it was clear to him she truly had forgotten to check her schedule recently. "Only you're going to need your energy for The Meadows."

She frowned, "I'm sorry, the what?"

"The Meadows," he repeated slowly, and she raised an eyebrow at him. Wow, she really had forgotten. He fought off another teasing grin, "From Pine Tree Gully." Her expression still remained blank, so he sighed and shook his head somewhat fondly. "The school group."

She blinked once…twice…three times…then her eyes went wide and she groaned, "That's today?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She started digging through the pile of parchment on her desk, looking for her personal monthly planner, apparently oblivious to the light snow drifting down lazily from the ceiling, "What time?"

"At nine. You've already cancelled them twice."

"I have?" She belatedly realised it was snowing, and waved a distracted hand, instantly evaporating the soft white mess, and unfolded her planner over the top of the untidy desk. She sighed, "Oh." Then her eyes went wide, "Wait, three hours!" The snow was back in an instant, and heavier than before, as she glared at her monthly planner, obviously thinking. Then her face brightened, and the snow lessened, "What's Anna doing today?"

That urge to grin was almost overpowering, but Kai only just managed to fight it off. He was certain she didn't notice the slight warble in his voice. "She has no plans that I am aware of, but that usually changes minute to minute. Mister Kristoff is away ice harvesting. Do you wish for her to attend in your stead?"

"It wouldn't hurt."


Kai knocked loud and hard on the double white doors with green floral pattern, "Princess Anna?" There was a sleepy groan, but then silence. So he knocked again, harder and louder, "Princess Anna?"

Another sleepy groan answered, before Anna's lethargic voice sung out, "Who is it?"

"Kai, ma'am. Sorry to wake you but you have a meeting at nine."

"I…" he could hear her sleepy yawn from the other side of the door. "I do?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Doing what?" her voice asked puzzled.

"Spending three hours with the school children at the Meadows, Pine Tree Gully."

"Wait a minute!" she cried, and there was a bang, several crashes, and a thud, before the door opened and a fully dressed Anna hopped out pulling on a shoe. She beamed at Kai, "Three whole hours with the town kids?" She actually seemed overly excited about it, and Kai bit back a grin seeing the complete opposite reaction to the 'booking'. "How come I'm only been told now? Did Elsa forget?"

How to explain that? Kai, like the entire castle staff, was well aware of Anna's fondness for baiting her sister with anything and everything she could think of. Elsa gave back as good as she got, but Anna truly had more to work with. Try for tact, he thought. "She's been up all night working on a trade agreement."

"Sure she has," replied a dubious, skeptical Anna. "Let's face it. Our Queen is skittish around people, and terrified of children."

"Her fear is justifiable, ma'am."

"Yeah, I know," said Anna with a sigh, and then she imitated her sister, "'Just because I know how to reverse my powers now doesn't mean I have complete control'. That's her excuse for everything. She doesn't even know how to dance! That's like a prerequisite for being a Queen!"

"No, that's a prerequisite for being a Princess," a lower, drier female voice spoke up, and both spun around to see their unimpressed monarch standing a few feet away. Her arms were crossed, both hands pressed to her sides, and she raised an eyebrow when Anna started to stammer out a bright greeting.

"Hi ya, Sis! How are you this morning? Wow, you look tired! Did you really stay up all night? Seriously, everything you do is so boring, how do you even stay awake?" Her voice trailed off at the cool stare Elsa was giving her, and she grinned sheepishly. "It's true though. You should learn how to dance. I'll teach you. I've asked Ingrid Kessel to help me teach Kristoff. You could join us."

Elsa frowned, "Who?"

"Kristoff," Anna repeated, a wry grin tugging at the corner of her mouth as she forced a concerned frown, "You remember Kristoff right? Tall, handsome, messy blonde locks, brown eyes-" She broke off when she heard Elsa's teeth starting to grind, and laughed, "You're too easy, sis. Ingrid Kessel. She's like the best dance instructor in the Kingdom."

"Good for her," Elsa replied dryly, before walking past Kai and her irritating younger sister. She turned back a few steps away, "Oh, and Anna? Take Olaf with you."


Despite Elsa's suggestion, Anna couldn't find Olaf anywhere. She really didn't know where the little snowman was, and none of the staff she passed had seen him either. Which was a shame really, since all the kids loved him. And she didn't have time to look since Pine Tree Gully was two hours horse ride away. She idly wondered how Elsa had originally planned to get there. On Gunnar or by walking? Arendelle's mountainous ranges made carriages impractical.

The Meadows Headmaster (and priest), Viggy Kolar, shook her hand enthusiastically. Anna wasn't sure, but she had got the slight impression he was relieved to see her instead of Elsa. He was about the same height as her, heavyset with greying brown hair and brown eyes, with neatly trimmed brown moustache and beard.

"Princess Anna, it's an absolute delight you can visit the school today."

She shrugged and carefully extracted her hand before he could do any damage to it, "My sister, Queen Elsa, sends her regrets."

A flicker of relief crossed his face, confirming Anna's initial impression, before he shrugged regretfully, "Ah, we understand she is very busy managing the Kingdom." He waved a hand at his fellow teacher, a very tall masculine man, who he introduced as Jon Kildahl. "We understand your time is limited but hope that perhaps, as the year progresses, you will be able to come back and visit us again."

Considering this was the first time Elsa had let Anna do something official for her, she was determined to not mess it up. She wanted to prove her older sister's lack of faith was unjustified.

"Of course, of course. I'd be delighted to return throughout the school year."

The Headmaster clapped his hands together, "Great! I'm sure they'll all look forward to it. I know the children have been very…err…excited to meet Queen Elsa, so I'm sure they'll be over the moon to meet you. First off, assembly."


Anna struggled to keep that polite smile plastered on her face as the Headmaster droned on and on and on and on in his monotone voice. Her hands were clasped together, and her elbows slightly bent. Informal, and attentive. She fought off another yawn, the skin tightening around her eyes briefly. At least she managed that much.

Pine Tree Gully was a small community of farming families on the other side of the mountain ridge Arendelle Town was built into. Still, there were around forty kids present at the assembly, sitting in perfect rows on the floor, some not even trying to conceal their boredom. A few of the older kids at the back dared to whisper amongst themselves.

Anna knew Elsa was reviewing the education system. Their great-grandfather had introduced the system almost a century ago, and their own father had amended that to be a compulsory attendance requirement for children to attend for six years -they could be any age to start although preferably around seven, but they had to finish the six years. Elsa's main opposition came from the fact most of the children were required to take up work on their family farms, or get apprenticeships or any other kind of work from when they were fourteen, fifteen to help support both themselves and their families. What would they do if they're children had to stay in school longer?

Anyway, that was Elsa's problem, not Anna's, and if the boring Headmaster didn't shut up soon and dismiss everyone, she wasn't going to get a chance to talk with them.

Wait…movement. She blinked, and retuned in as a few students got up and formed a small band. She tried not to cringe as they played out of key and out of tune, but that was soon drowned out as the whole assembly stood and started singing the National Hymn –wait, was that really what the band was playing?. Of course, the assembly was almost as bad as the band, but at least she could sing the song and know when it was going to end.

Once the dreadful anthem was over –Anna really needed to talk to Elsa about that- the children got up and started somewhat noisily rearranging the stacked desks and chairs at the end of the room to form rows. She wondered why they went to all the trouble of clearing the room to sit on the cold, hard floor for assembly when they were going to use the furniture immediately after.

It took a little time, and a bit more enforcement from the teacher –Anna jumped when his wooden ruler snapped down across the desk- before the children actually stopped laughing, talking, playing up, took their seats and payed attention to him.

"That's better," approved Kildahl, and he waved a hand at Anna. "We have a very special guest today. Everyone, say hello to Princess Anna."

"Good morning, Princess Anna," the class said in chorus, and all –a quick count revealed there were thirty-nine students - faces were turned her way.

It occurred to her then she probably should have thought of something to say to them on the morning ride instead of enjoying the fresh mountain air so much. Her stomach knotted anxiously, and she forced a few deep breaths past the lump in her throat. "Uh, hi everyone. Well, uh, I'm Princess Anna and…I haven't got much to say. I'm not good at speeches, so…uh…feel free to ask me anything you want."

Silence greeted her words. Silence except for the loud tick, tick, tick of the clock.

Well this is awkward, she thought. She expected the kids to say something. They stared at her with wide-eyes. She glanced at the teacher, and he stared back at her, clearly expecting her to lead the class. The silence was unnerving, and just as she made up her mind to try again, a lean boy near the back raised his hand.

He stood and introduced himself as Magnus Shankue, and bowed a little awkwardly. Well, at least he had manners. "Princess, what's it like to go ice harvesting?"

That was probably the last thing she expected to be asked, "Oh! Um, well, I haven't actually been ice harvesting, but Kristoff tells me it's hard, dangerous work, but he enjoys it. I'm not sure if he's exaggerating to put me off going with him, but he's been doing it since he was seven."

"Seven?" Two boys around the same age spoke up, and a third scoffed, "Surely you jest!"

"No, no, it's true." Anna insisted, "His parents died when he was really little, so he started tagging after the ice harvesters. He's pretty much been doing it his whole life."

The boys whispered amongst themselves, as two of the elder girls looked at each other and sighed dramatically, "He's so handsome." The others giggled.

Anna smiled, thinking Kristoff was more than just handsome, when one of the giggling girls stood, "Princess, is he a good kisser?"

"Lisa!" snapped the teacher.

"Sir?" the girl asked innocently.

The teacher had his hands on his hips as he glared at the young woman, "That is not an appropriate thing to say out loud. Shame on you. You should know better, and your parents will be informed!"

"But sir!" objected Lisa, raising her voice above her snickering friends, "The Princess said we could ask her anything!"

"Be that as it may, young ladies do not speculate about such indecent acts, nor do they discuss them! Now apologise to the Princess."

Lisa glared at all the younger students who were staring at her and waited until they turned away, before giving Anna a forced smile, "My sincerest apologies, Princess Anna. My question was rude and tackles, and I hope you will not see it as a reflection upon my character."

Anna blinked, "Uh…Apology, uh, apology accepted. That's…wow, that's like the best apology I've ever heard."

The young girl grinned, and shrugged, "I've had practice."

"It shows!"

"I suppose as Princess you wouldn't need to apologise much."

"Lisa!"

Anna laughed, "Oh, I'm apologising all the time. Elsa says I'm a walking hazard. I'm forever tripping on things, bumping into things, and knocking thing over. Sometimes I feel like every second word that comes out my mouth is 'sorry!'."

"And you don't get into trouble?" asked one of the younger kids with wide eyes.

"The staff is used to it, and Elsa…well," Anna shrugged, "I'm constantly driving her crazy –you wouldn't believe how much fun it is to annoy her, to push her to the edge, because, she is so funny when she snaps –of course, when I laugh at her it only makes her angrier, but oh gosh, it's so worth the repercussions."

That got the students talking amongst themselves until the littlest child in the class put up his hand. When Anna nodded to him, he stood and pushed his glasses up his nose, to ask seriously in a voice that was still higher pitched, "Princess, is it true she freezes everything she touches?"

"Anton! You should not-"

Anna cut the indignant school teacher off with a raised hand, "No, it's okay." She noticed how attentive the class students suddenly were, and cleared her throat, "Uh, no. She doesn't. Not anymore. And anything she does accidently freeze, usually unfreezes just fine." The kids were staring at her, so she grinned, sharing a recent incident with them, "I mean, there was this mouse that was frozen for like a week before I convinced her to unfreeze it and it was totally okay. Took off, squeaking like mad, probably warning it's family and friends not to run across the office floor at two am."

"She froze a mouse?" another of the younger children asked horrified. Anna quickly scanned the faces of all present, and only a few seemed as concerned as this little girl.

"Well, yeah, but it was super fine."

"Why did she freeze it?" asked another little girl.

"Because it's a mouse, silly!" snapped one of the older boys.

"Jonas!" barked the teacher.

"But sir! That's what people do to house mice! Jump on them and squash 'em flat!"

"Ewwwww!" the girls answered back in a chorus, as the teacher, red faced and puffy, glared at the youth.

After several seconds of a stare off, the teenager sighed and rolled his eyes, "Sorry, Hanna."

The younger girl went bright red and hunched over, trying to appear invisible.

Anna decided to try a little damage control and smiled at Hanna, "She didn't mean to freeze it. It gave her a fright, that's all, and that's like her instant response. Her papers and desk are usually on the receiving end, and…well, after an…incident involving a mousetrap or two or fifty three, the staff have had to find other ways to keep the mice out."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a long story. So…uh…any other questions?"

Silence greeted her words, before Jonas raised his hand, "What's it like spending time in the pillory?"

"Oh." Talk about spontaneous awkward questions. She was definitely going to have to figure out a speech or something next time she came back. The whole class was very attentive –even the teacher was waiting for her answer. "Uh…well…I…I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, so, uh, behave and don't break the law. It's there for a reason, to, uh, protect us and others. Something like that."

"But what's it like?" the boy insisted, really curious.

She sighed, closing her eyes as her body remembered the aching pain ten hours straight in the pillory had caused. She still couldn't believe Elsa had done that to her when she discovered the truth behind her Midsummer's Eve Festival prank –but at least the Guy with the Silver Flask (Bobby) had been good company in the pillory next to hers. The disastrous camping trip as per the now torn up parchment that had dictated the negotiated end of the Prank War probably contributed to Elsa's harsh retaliating punishment. Humiliation deserved equal humiliation.

Well...okay, so it didn't actually quite unfold that way, but it annoyed Elsa to no end when Anna constantly blamed her for it, and gained her sympathy whenever she brought it up with people who didn't know the full story and asked her what it was like to live with the Snow Queen (after ensuring, of course, that Elsa was in ear shot). So now the whole Kingdom firmly believed Elsa was behind it.

"It's…uh…well, it's really uncomfortable. I mean, the first fifteen minutes are sort of okay, but after that," she shuddered with feeling, "I could hardly walk, my back and neck were that sore, and it took days for the aching to go away."

A little boy spoke up from the front, "Mama told me you must have been very naughty to end up in the pwillory on Queen Elsa's orders."

"Well, like I said, the repercussions are usually worth it."

The group of younger children stared at her with wide eyes, and an older boy smirked, "You mean Queen Elsa did it because you annoyed her?"

Anna laughed, and hoped her laugh didn't sound as fake to their ears as it did to hers, "Well, it was a bit more than that." Time for a subject change she decided, and one that was safe, so she smiled at the younger children, "Have any of you been to the castle?"

A chorus of 'no' seemed to outweigh the few that said 'yes'. Well, so much for that approach. "Raise your hands if you have."

Just as she thought from the initial response. Only six hands were in the air, and one of them was waving at her. She smiled at the owner, "Yes?"

The girl of about ten with braided bright red hair and a very freckled face stood, "Princess, what's it like to live in the Royal Castle?"

Inwardly, Anna sighed with relief. Finally an easy question, "The castle is pretty amazing. Long corridors to slide along, secret passages to find and explore – every time I think I've found them all, I stumble across another one." Then an idea occurred to her and she beamed at them, especially because it had the potential to affect Elsa. "Hey, maybe I can talk El- I mean, Queen Elsa, into letting me give you all a tour."

Pure enthusiasm greeted her words, and it took the teacher some time to settle them down.

"Of course, we'll have to speak with your parents and arrange passage to Arendelle Town, but I'm sure you'll all enjoy it."

"Will we see the horses?"

"Will we see the harbour?"

"Can we see the ballroom?"

"Can our parents come?"

"Can we dance in the ballroom?"

"Can we slide down a banister?"

"Can I push my brother down the well?

"Jonas!"

"Can we pat the horses?"

"Will we meet the Captain of the Royal Guard?"

"Is he recruiting?"

"Can we ride a horse?"

"Can we go swimming?"

"Can we go shopping?"

"Can we go fishing?"

Anna was stunned by all the enthusiastic questions and raised voices (it was certainly better than talking about the pillory –why didn't she think of the castle earlier?) –the giggling girls were debating what they should wear – and required the teacher's help to quiet them down, "Of course, of course. I'll even show you the art gallery, and…we'll have to ask her real nice, but Queen Elsa might even show you her office. And she might let us have a small function in the ballroom."

"Will Kristoff be there?" asked Lisa over the cheering group.

"Uh…I'm not sure." Anna was starting to wonder if she should ask Kristoff about where he used to go during his free time. These girls certainly seemed to be fond of him. Just who did he sell ice to anyway? "But, uh, Olaf should be. He loves meeting new people."

"Who is Olaf?"

"Is that the snowman?"

"Mama says living snowmen are unnatural and the devil's work."

Absolute silence greeted those words as all eyes turned to a seven year old boy with thick black hair settled at the far side of the room. He went bright red, and tried to shrink in his chair, "Well, she does."

"Right...well…uh…moving on…"

"Princess, what's it like having a lady's maid?"

"A what?"

"She dresses the Princess, silly!"

"I can dress myself and I learned when I was really little!"

"Me too!"

"Me three!"

"You mean you can't dress yourself?"

Anna blinked when all eyes were suddenly redirected at her and felt heat rushing to her cheeks, "Uh, no, I don't have a lady's maid. Nor does Queen Elsa. I can get dressed for a ball in seven minutes flat. Elsa takes forever but she has to look her best – first impressions and all that. I can't stay still long enough to care."

"So you cook and clean and everything?"

"Hahaha, no. I'm a hopeless cook. I've tried, and Minnie –I mean, Mistress Thawn, the castle head cook is a brilliant teacher, but I fail miserably. I'm sure she'll be happy to serve a selection of specialties for our impromptu tour ball –assuming Elsa approves."

"Does Kristoff live in the castle?"

"I bet he sleeps in the stables with that reindeer of his."

"He's so gorgeous."

"And smells like the wilderness."

"Mountain men…so dreamy."

"Girls!"

Kristoff was definitely staying away if this tour ever took place. Just how did these girls know him?!

When the Headmaster rang the bell and kids joyfully raced outside for fifteen minutes freedom, Kildahl informed him off Anna's tour proposal. The Headmaster looked both pleased and worried, "Pine Tree Gully isn't as prosperous as some of the other townships in the province, Princess. I worry that you might be getting the children's' hopes up."

She was equally surprised when Elsa expressed the same view to her during dinner.

"You really should have spoken with me first."

"But Elsa! Education is about opening doors, right? All these kids know is farming. What if they don't want to be farmers?"

Elsa sighed and put her fork down, "Pine Tree Gully is financially depended on the Kingdom as a whole. Their farms are only productive during the warmer months, and they struggle during winter. They objected strenuously when Papa made schooling compulsory because they rely on the help of their children."

"Are…you saying no?"

Elsa rubbed her forehead thoughtfully, before exhaling slowly, "I can't do that to them. You are right; this is an opportunity for those children to see what's outside Pine Tree Gully, but…it'll be tricky."

"I'll sort it all out."

"Are you sure?"

"I can do this. I know I can. Please?"

"And when word gets out and every Mayor and Headmaster in the Kingdom demands the same, then what?"

"Oh…I didn't think of them. Meh, it'll be fun."

"Mmmhmmm. You just keep telling yourself that. And don't forget, you're going to have to convince Kai and Gerda yet."


It was time for winter to be over, and the snow had all but melted all over the lower parts of the Kingdom. She had hoped the day would be clearer, but had made allowances -especially considering the very light snowfall. The Royal Guard had already been drafted into escort duty should they be required -Arendelle's mountain paths became deadly slippery during the wet and snow.

Even though it was cool outside, and the group weary from the long walk, the children had a ball slipping and sliding across the ice rink courtyard, and several of the parents enjoyed the challenge, while the reserved few took the long route around the side. At the Mayor's suggestion, Anna had extended the invitation to the older teenagers no longer required to attend school, so it was moderately large group.

Kai had expressed reservations, but Gerda, Simone and Minnie had been exited to have the castle opened up. They took over half the planning, and were determined to give the 'school group' the best experience, despite the extra work it would give them all. Simone was pleased to finally have a real chance to test her new housemaids, and Minnie delighted to be catering for a large crowd.

A few stable hands waited to take care of the horses and donkeys the group used on the journey.

When they were assembled at the steps, she jokingly pointed up at the sky, "Don't worry, Elsa has already informed me this isn't her doing. Hopefully it won't last long."

Uncertain of when they would arrive, the first day of the 'tour' had little planned. Considering they would be tired, Anna had decided on dinner and an early night. Eyes had bulged, and jaws dropped when they had been shown their rooms, and several families awkwardly accepted the assistance of their assigned housemaids.

After dinner, which was inhaled with indecent haste –Anna had been very relieved Elsa had declined her invitation to attended- the guests had gratefully gone to bed.


Knock, knock, knock.

"Princess Anna, time to get up, ma'am."

Snuggled up warmly in her bed and dreaming about bunnies and bees, Anna groaned in protest, trying to return to that level of blissful slumber Kai insisted on dragging her out of.

"You asked me to get you up at seven, ma'am."

She did? Why would she make such a stupid request?

"Ma'am, the guests will be up soon."

Guests? What guests?

"The school group, ma'am," Kai's deep voice replied. Oh, she must have asked that out loud. School group….hmmm. "From Pine Tree Gully."

She rolled over in her bed, thinking about Kai's words. It took several long seconds before it forcefully clicked in her mind, and she tumbled out of bed, legs tangled in her blankets.

"Are you okay, ma'am?"

"Ugh…all fine. Thank you, Kai. I'll be downstairs shortly."

"Yes, ma'am."


She had a feeling they only stopped eating because everything was gone, not because they were full. Several of the older kids and male parents had three helpings. She remembered Elsa mentioning Pine Tree Gully struggled during winter -did that mean they didn't have much to eat? It certainly seemed that way, or maybe it was because Minnie was an amazing cook. Anna hoped it was the latter.

Throughout the whole tour, Anna was convinced several of the children were going to have bug-eyes for the rest of their lives. Every room seemed to make their eyes go wider and wider, and she was able to answer almost every question directed her way. She was relieved she had seriously considered Elsa's suggestion to review the castle history. It had certainly come in handy.

The stable master, on his best behaviour, showed them most of the stable and let the children hand feed a few of the horses.

"Wow, Papa, look at that horse!" one of the eldest teenagers of the group nudged his father, pointing down the stable. All heads turned in that direction, and Anna strained to see around them. Why did she have to be born so short?

The stable master half smiled, "That there, lad, is Gunnar."

"Handsomest horse I've ever seen," the boy's father said, awe on his face. Several of the other male parents agreed. "Is he the Captain's horse?"

"No. Queen Elsa's. When she can be persuaded to ride, that is. Begging your pardon, Princess."

Anna laughed, and held up her hands, "No need to apologise, Rolf. At least Gunnar has stopped giving her the cold shoulder."

"I think he finds her ice tasty."

"Bribery. At any rate, I know Sven certainly does."

"That reindeer is an oddity, Princess."

From the stables they went to the church where the archbishop gave them a long, and somewhat boring, spiel on religion, and the history of the church in Arendelle. Thankfully, especially in Anna's opinion, he allowed them all to take seats in the pews first. "-Now, who can tell me the Ten Commandments?"

The question was directed at the younger children and several hands shot into the air. The archbishop singled ten children out, and one by one they told him all ten Commandments (all correct, much to the relief of the Headmaster).

"Now who here has a brother or sister?"

All but three hands rose in the air.

"Why do you think there is a Commandment about honouring they mother and father, but not one about our brothers and sisters? Shouldn't we honour them as well?"

A chorus of answers were directed his way, most involving how mean or annoying their older or younger siblings were ("We should throw them down a well!" ("Jonas!"). The archbishop held up his hands and one by one they all fell silent.

"Why do you think God forgot to make a Commandment about our brothers and sisters?"

Several stumped faces looked at him.

"Because he forgot?"

"Maybe he doesn't have any brothers or sisters."

"Maybe he didn't like his brother either!"

The archbishop smiled, "Alright then, if God did make a Commandment for our brothers and sisters, what should it say?"

Before any of the children could speak up, a clear voice spoke up from the church entrance, "Thou shall not kill."

As one the group turned, and then scrambled to their feet to bow/curtsey awkwardly in the small gap between pews when they realised who it was. The archbishop laughed, "Well said, your majesty."

For the afternoon, the families explored the town at their own leisure, before returning to their rooms to prepare for the small ball Anna had prepared.

In the last room of the hall, a mother pulled at her hair, "Emma would you please put it on."

"Please is just another way of saying 'do it now'," a little voice sniffled.

In another room, "Anton, you've got your shoes on the wrong feet again!"

"But, Mama, these are the only feet I have!"

In the next room a desperate Lisa asked her friends, "Do you think Kristoff will like me in the blue dress or the pink one?"

Down the hall a serious seventeen year old turned to his father, "Do you think Princess Anna would dance with me if I asked her?"

Across the hallway, a lanky teen lounged across the bed "Do you think Queen Elsa will freeze Thomas if I asked her?"

"Jonas!"

Two rooms back, an exasperated mother said to her young daughter, "Hurry up, Petra, or we'll be late!"

"Can you pause the clock?"

In another room, "Papa, do I have to dance with Mama?"

In the hallway outside the room assigned to Kristoff, "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"Instructor Kessel said I was the worst student she had ever had."

"No, she said that about Elsa. You're her second-worst student."

"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"

Despite the harassed scrambling by parents, and the stress by those at the age of vanity, all managed to make it to the ballroom in one piece, although a few parents were still making last minute adjustments to their children as they entered the room.

And they clumsily bowed and curtsied when Elsa and Anna entered after Kai's announcement – Anna had tried to persuade him out of that but Kai was a sticker for protocol, and she had a funny feeling both he and Elsa would be lost without it.

It was an awkward start, but before long the main centre of the ballroom was filled with twirling, giggling children, those who mostly knew the steps, and a few parents.

Kristoff spent most of the night talking about ice harvesting and avoiding Lisa and her giggling gaggle of friends. So Anna danced with anyone bold enough to ask – she snorted when she passed a small group of boys daring each other to ask Elsa. She wasn't sure if any did, but considering Elsa presided over the entire night from her spot on the podium, she knew what her sister's answer had been.

Much later that night, Anna ungracefully sprawled across the chaise couch in Elsa's office, sticking her aching feet up on the armrest, having followed her sister there at the end of the ball.

Elsa was already shuffling through papers on her desk. Anna heard a match light, and from behind closed eyelids, saw the room grow a little brighter. "You do realise you're going to have to do all this again for the next school group."

"Uh…why did you make me go to Pine Tree Gully in the first place?"

"You know very well I'm not comfortably around children."

Anna snorted, and draped an arm over her eyes, "You know you're required to produce one of your own someday."

"I already have an heir."

Wait…what? Anna sat up a little to peer around at her sister, "You're talking about me, right?"

Elsa frowned, "Who else would I be talking about?"

She was leaving herself wide open and didn't even realise it, but luckily for Elsa, Anna was too tired to tease her. Almost too tired, that is. "You never know."

"What?"

Anna shrugged and lay back down, "Never mind."

It took longer than Anna thought it would, but eventually Elsa's prudish brain realised what her sister was suggesting, "…Anna! I'm only twenty-two!"

"So? Most young ladies of prominent birth are married with children by twenty-two."

"Don't you think you would have noticed?"

"You did spend thirteen years behind closed doors."

"Anna!"