For My Kingdom
A Frozen Fan Fiction
Chapter Eleven:
The Suitor
After a lot of coaxing, Elsa finally managed to thaw out her bedroom. However, it was nothing like when she thawed summer. That warmth flowed through her like water down a mountain. This time it was more like honey. Slow and sticky, she had barely managed to melt the ice encasing her things when someone knocked softly at the door.
She looked to Anna, her eyes wide and afraid, who nodded encouragingly for her to open the door.
Elsa took a steadying breath and rolled her shoulders back, taking on a cool, imperial demeanor befitting of the Snow Queen. Her fingers wrapped around the door handle and she pulled it open as normally as she could get herself to do. She had expected to find one of her advisers, probably Sir Rehm, outside her bedroom, so it came as quite a shock to find Prince Alexander of Denmark, dressed for the banquet that would be beginning in the next half hour, instead.
"Your majesty." The prince bowed, his back perfectly aligned.
"Your highness..." Elsa returned the bow with a curtsy, just managing to keep the surprise out of her voice.
He cleared his throat quietly. Was it nerves? "Please, call me Alex."
The queen smiled incredulously. "Then you can call me Elsa."
"Heh..." Alex rubbed the back of his neck and gripped the white gloves that he held in both hands.
"To what do I owe this honor... Alex?" Elsa could have compared the awkwardness in that moment to the time she witnessed two squirrels making love when she was kid and asked her caretaker, Kara, what they were doing. This, however, was much worse.
Prince Alexander closed his eyes and let out a sharp breath. When his eyes opened, Elsa could see a change there: from an awkward young man to a prince.
"May I be frank with you, Elsa?" he asked.
She was slightly taken aback by the question (a prince? Be frank?), but curious nonetheless, she nodded and said, "You may."
"As you probably are aware, I am second in line to the throne in my kingdom." Elsa found this an odd way to start a frank discussion, but she continued to listen. "There is very little responsibility on my shoulders because of that fact. I mainly give the occasional speech, give advice, and attend events like your sister's wedding. There is, however, an expectation of me to marry, which I have yet to accomplish. It is also desired that I marry into a throne." Elsa watched him carefully and skeptically as he spoke. "Up until earlier this afternoon, I must admit the idea was not... preferable. I have always somewhat considered myself a... well, a lone wolf." He chuckled a little at that before returning to his serious attitude. "Seeing you today, Elsa... Clearly you have been avoiding marriage for so long, but seeing you today... Promising your court and allies to marry someone, anyone, to protect your kingdom... It was inspiring. In Denmark, I'm not just a poster prince. I've led armies into battle. I've worked as a diplomat between nations..." He shifted his weight in slight discomfort. "Well, to cut to the chase, we may not ever really love each other, but I think I could be a good king to your people, and a good husband... to you. Now, my adviser who attended with me thought he should ask this of you, but..." He shook his head. "I didn't think it'd be right." At this point, Elsa's face seemed to be frozen into an appearance of aloofness. "Elsa," he took to one knee, "I'd like to ask for your hand in marriage."
Elsa's frozen mask broke as she cocked an eyebrow. "Prince Alexander," she began, slightly patronizing, "I know we have met, but I do not know you. My sister tried to marry a prince after one day before, and do you know what happened?"
The prince stood quickly, but remained silent and stoic.
She continued, "I froze summer. So, if you would like to court, I shall agree to that, but if you think I am daft enough to marry you right on the spot... Perhaps it'd be best for you to not waste my time or yours."
"Your majesty," he fumbled with words. He had expected a couple different reactions, none of which were that. "I apologize for my forwardness... I did not mean to imply that you were daft... I am willing to accept courtship for as long as your majesty sees fit."
"Excellent," the queen replied with a manufactured smile. "I expect I shall see you at the banquet then."
"Yes, your majesty. Goodbye, your majesty..."
"Goodbye." As Elsa closed the door, she could see the appropriately reproved prince walking away with his head in his hands. She couldn't contain the chuckle after the door clicked shut. She looked at Anna who was sitting in the chair across the room who was grinning like a fool.
"What was that all about?!" she asked, shaking her head disbelievingly.
"Honestly, I haven't the slightest." Elsa rolled her eyes and walked back to Anna and sat in the chair across from her, laughing lightly.
"'I froze summer'!" Anna imitated and giggled happily. "Elsa, have I ever told you how awesome you are?"
The queen grinned. "Perhaps you can stand to mention it a little more."
Anna sat forward and looked at her sister with mock sincerity, "Elsa, you are awesome." She then smiled and rushed forward to hug the queen.
"Hey," Elsa replied, hugging her back tightly, "I don't monopolize the awesomeness in this family."
Rolling her eyes, Anna looked toward the door. "We probably should head down to the banquet. Maybe we can beat Prince Fancy-Pants."
"Alright." Elsa chuckled. They stood together and left the room. It was such a relief to be leaving in such high spirits compared to when she entered, though she couldn't quite convince herself that she was happy.
