Sorry this one took so long.
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Frozen or Aladdin, or any other Disney Franchise.
First Date Ever
"Sure, Elsa. I would be honored to teach you what I know," Ali says. "When should we start?"
"Well," I replied. "The first of these rulers' meetings will be tomorrow morning. After that, the next one will be the day after, and both these meetings will probably take all day. We can either start today or after Wednesday."
"I think you should wait till then." Kristoff interrupts. I forgot that he was still here. "Today, you two should have some fun."
"Fun?" I said. "Why do you say that?"
"Come on, Elsa! Don't you even want to have a life? You guys are going to be going through meetings and stuff, and then you want to train your powers? Anna's right. You really don't give yourself a break. Maybe you and Ali should do something that isn't work."
I thought about this. "Well, we did had a nice talk yesterday."
"That's not enough," Kristoff says. "You guys need to have a lot more time together."
"Why do you keep talking as if we're dating?" I ask. Ali jerks his head towards me.
"Dating?"
"Oh, uh, nothing." I blush.
Kristoff asks Ali, "Wouldn't that be nice, Ali? To have a romantic evening with Elsa?"
I look sharply at him, "Kristoff, stop? I know what you're trying to do. We're not dating!"
"Why?" Kristoff replies.
"Because… because that's not in Ali's best interest."
"You don't know that." Ali says.
"Do you want to?" I turn towards him curiously.
He hesitates. "I guess I don't really know that… We can try?"
"Yes," Kristoff interrupts again. "You two can try. How about it Elsa?"
*Sigh* As awkward as this whole thing is, I would really love to try it. "Yeah, sure, whatever," I try to say indefinitely. Although, Kristoff seems to have seen through my pokerface; he's grinning at me.
"You two don't have to worry about a thing. Anna is already booking one of Arendelle's finest cuisines as we speak."
"Wait a minute. You and Anna were planning this all along?"
"Oh yeah, future sis. Anna had everything in her mind since she first met Ali." He smiles at Ali who was rubbing the back of his neck.
"That explains all that excitement she had yesterday," Ali remarks.
"Oh that? She just thinks you're cute." Kristoff says.
"Nevermind then." Ali says. He turns his head back towards me. "So, um, I guess I'll see you tonight then."
"I guess so," I said. Putting my hands behind my back, I try to cover up most of my feelings for this guy, but I couldn't help but give him a smile. A really really big smile!
He bows to both of us and leaves. "Well, I guess I better be going," Kristoff says. "Anna wants me to help her set up the place. We're going to make it extra special for you."
"Thank you, Kristoff. I can't thank you and Anna enough for this."
"Hehe. Just focus on having fun. I know you're the queen and all, but you really need to enjoy your life every now and then. When tonight comes, I want you to be yourself and just have a good time."
"*Sigh* Okay I will." With that he walks away. Sven comes out of nowhere and follows him. Wasn't Sven also in the whole stealing-Weasel's-hair act? Oh right, I still need to go and apologize to Olaf. He's definitely not happy when he left.
I go inside the palace. Walking through the halls, rulers and royal family members alike all greet me as I pass by. I acknowledge each of them with a quick nod. It's a little annoying when you have to say hi to every person in your own home (especially when there's so many of them). Heading to my room, I hear sniffles coming from the other side. I don't think I had ever heard Olaf crying before. Is it because of me? I know he loves me a
lot and all, but would he really cry just because I scold him? Now I really hate myself.
Standing in front of the closed door, I start to wonder. Is this what it was like for Anna? Looking at this door for all those years, knocking and knocking just to hear me say "Go away"? Anna, I'm so sorry. I made most of your life miserable. And now I just made Olaf miserable. Why can't I just do something right for once! The only thing I did that was decent was clean up the mess I made when I learned to that 'love would thaw'. But that's only after I froze Arendelle for days, ran away like a coward, and almost killed Anna. I just hope that Ali can teach me to further control my powers, so that there's no way that I can hurt anyone ever again no matter how much fear is in me.
Opening the door, I spot Olaf sitting on the bed. The floor was covered in used tissues as he grabs another one from an almost emptied box. I run across the tissue covered floor and sit next to him, "Oh Olaf! My sweet sweet little Olaf!" putting my arms around the crying snowman.
"*Sniffle* I'm not a sweet Olaf anymore. *Sniffle* I'm a sour Olaf. *Sniffle* A bad Olaf."
"No you're not. I know the truth now. What you did was so heroic back there. Taking the blame for what Sabah did? That was so thoughtful of you, and I'm so sorry for being mad at you." I hold him tighter and cradle him. Technically, I am his mother (since I created him).
"But, but. I didn't try to stop her. I just let her do all those mean jokes to everyone.*Sniffle*"
"You are just too nice to Sabah. That's all. But that's not a bad thing. I love that you're so nice. You're the nicest person I ever met." He embraces me with his branch-made arms and cry on my shoulder. I pet his head, "There, there, my little snow angel."
"I- I- I don't like making people mad. I don't like it when people hate me. And I don't like it when Ali was scolding Sabah." Aww, he cares about Sabah.
"Don't worry. Everything is going to be alright. Sabah also feels bad that she got you in trouble. How about we both go and patch things up with her?"
"Okay," Olaf says trying to hold back more tears. I swear, he can make my heart melt faster than Ali's kiss could.
"A date! You and the Queen are going on a date!" Sabah yells so loud that her voice echos out into the halls.
"Shh, quiet. I don't want people to hear about this yet. I don't even know if this is even a good idea."
"What do you mean, Ali. This is a great idea! I knew you two had something going on."
"Okay, you were right, sort of."
"Sort of? What does that suppose to mean?"
"It means that I'm not sure if I really have feelings for her. In fact, I think I'm just doing this because Kristoff talked me into it."
"Well… Did Elsa looked like she was happy about it?"
"Now that you mention it, she did. She had such a big and lovely smile on her face, and gosh can her eyes sparkle. It was literally like looking at two gems."
"Wooo, Ali's gotta crush!"
"Stop it, Sabah. Just help me pick out something nice to wear. I have no idea what would look good for a date."
"That depends, where is this date going to be held?"
"Kristoff said that it was some fancy restaurant."
"Then you're going to have to dress up really nice. I think I know what to do!" Sabah flies to the open wardrobe and starts pulling out all of my clothes. Argh, she's so messy! I'd spent an hour just organizing them neatly into that wardrobe, and now she's ruining it.
Quick-Shot was laying on the bed. He's looking straight at me now; I can tell he has something on his mind. "My lord, if I may, don't you wish to reconsider all this. I fear for your safety, for if the Sultan learns about this, he would most likely disapprove."
"I know, Quick-Shot, I'm just praying that he doesn't find out."
"But what if you do fall in love with this woman? How would you return home then? You know you'll never see her again once you leave Arendelle."
"… What am I going to do?"
Knock Knock Knock
"Ali? It's me, Elsa, and Olaf. Can we come in?"
I open the door to see both of them. The second my eyes met Elsa's, lips flash an instant smile as if by instinct. "Hello, your m- majesty."
"Hi Ali, I was just wondering if Sabah was still here."
Sabah came when she heard her name. She looks at Elsa timidly, then she looks at Olaf who was smiling (but also looks as if he had been crying). "Sabah," I said, "would you like to say something to Olaf?"
"Olaf," she starts, "I'm so so sorry. I didn't want you to get in trouble. I was just… just a bully to you."
"That's okay, Sabah." Olaf says. "I just hope this doesn't ruin our friendship."
"Of course not!" Sabah says.
"See Olaf, everything is okay." Elsa says. "Now! Why don't you two go outside and play."
Sabah's face brightens. She flies on top of Olaf's head and bows to Elsa. "Yes, your majesty! Gladly. Come on Olaf, let's play something else."
"Okay!" Olaf says, completely back to his former overjoyed self.
They both were just about to leave, but then Sabah taps Olaf to stop. "Oh, and your majesty?" Elsa nods upward. "While we play outside, why don't you play with Ali inside?" She leaps into the air and flies away fast snicker. Olaf follows laughing as well.
I'm a little afraid to look at Elsa at the moment. I can just feel the heat radiating off her cheeks (heat? from her? that's ironic). Quick-Shot sighs, "She's so naughty, I swear."
Elsa jerks her head towards me, "I guess my business here is done. I got to go now, Ali. Before tonight, I need to go and check how the guest are doing."
I laugh. "You don't have to excuse yourself like that to me. If you want to go, then just go. I don't mind." She shrugs and smiles. I put my hand on her shoulder, "I'm looking forward to tonight."
"Me too." She places her hand on top of mine. I can feel my body freezing up again. She lets go and leaves my room. As her footsteps fade away from the halls, I stand there breathless.
"Your feelings for her are growing," Quick-Shot says. "Just remember what your father would think."
"Do you ever wear anything that's not blue?" Anna's been helping me pick out a dress for this date. She's been going through every outfit and always had something to criticize. "How about green? Don't you have one green dress, or maybe even pink?"
"Anna, blue is my color. I can't picture myself wearing anything that's not any shade of blue."
"*Sigh* Whatever. Fine, then how about this one? It's nice and has this beautiful red cape."
"A cape? I don't want to look like a queen this time, Anna. I want to look like a woman. Just like what Kristoff said, I want Ali to see me as Elsa, not the Queen of Arendelle. I want him to see me for who I am."
"Okay… Then what about this one?"
"That's way too puffy. How can I even sit with that?"
"But just think about the curves! Ooh, my hips are here, my hips are there. You'll definitely get a hoot from all the guys." We both laugh.
"You know what, I'm just going to wear this one." I pull out a navy blue dress with a simple design. I go behind the curtain and put it on. It's long and goes down to my ankles. "It's nice and modest. Don't you think?"
Anna looks it over. "Hmm, a little too modest." She snatches the top zipper that's on my collarbone and yanks it down, revealing my chest and hint of cleavage. "There! That's more like it."
"Anna! I am not going to expose myself like that!"
"You said you wanted him to see you for who you are."
"I didn't mean like that. I want his eyes to stay on my face." I rezip my zipper.
"Fine, be that way."
"Do you still think I look good in this?"
"Elsa, you should never ask me that."
"Why?"
"Because I'll always think you're beautiful, no matter what you wear."
"What about Ali?"
"If he really likes you, you can wear an old and dusty farmer's outfit, and he would still look at you as the most beautiful woman in the whole world."
I smile at her. Anna always knows what to say. "What time are we suppose to get there?"
"Eight." I look at the clock; it's seven-thirty. We better hurry.
We barely ever enter the actual city. Even though the palace gates have been open for half a year now, I can never make time out of my busy schedule to visit the places in Arendelle. The restaurant we're heading to, Sjømat Cuisine, has a special room in the upper level that Anna and Kristoff had not only reserved but also decorated it. I'm still surprised with the effort these two are putting in just for Ali and me. They must really want this whole relationship thing to work out.
Entering the cuisine now, everyone in the room stands up. "The Queen! The Queen is here!" some of them shout.
"Please, everyone. Settle back down. I merely wish to dine here, like you all." Everyone sits back down. But I can still feel their eyes wondering at me as I walk. Can't I ever just go somewhere without being a freaking spectacle. We talk to owner who showed us to the stairs. As we go up, my heart starts beating faster. Kristoff had already escorted Ali here before, so I know they're waiting for us. This is the first time I've ever went on a date. That's the same for Ali. We both have no experience with any of this, and I'm as nervous as I was back in my coronation.
Reaching up to the upper floor, my jaws dropped as I see the room. Anna and Kristoff had done an amazing job with the decorations. The whole place was decorated in red and blue, and there were candles as well as little ice sculptures around the place. I can definitely see the theme of this place.
Ali and Kristoff were both sitting at a single table for two. Funny, it looks like they're on a date right now. They both got up as we walk in. Ali was dressed in an arabian style outfit that's composed of a long shirt that covers the front and back of his knees but was cut from the sides. He also had on a vest and a new pair of long, slender boots. All in black of course!
Kristoff and Anna were also dressed up. I believe they were also going on a date, but I don't see a second table. "Where are you two going to sit?" I ask Anna.
"Downstairs. This room is just for you and your hot date."
"Nice pun."
"What pun?"
"Nevermind."
They walk up to us. Kristoff goes over and kisses Anna. I just look at Ali who looked unsure what to do. "Hello Elsa." He bows to me.
"You know, you don't have to bow to me. We're friends now Ali."
"If everything goes right, you two will soon be more than friends," Kristoff says.
Ali laughs (rather nervously). "Shall we take a seat?" he asks.
"Yes please." I replied.
Anna faces me, "While you two get cozy, Krissy and I will go down now. We'll come back up in two hours."
"Two hours! Why so long?"
"That's how long most dates are." What am I suppose to do in two hours? Eating will just take thirty minutes at most. I guess we're going to have to talk a lot.
Ali and I walk over to the table now. "Kristoff says that dinner will be served in ten minutes. Anna already told the chef what you like. Is that okay with you?"
"Yeah, sure. That's perfectly fine." Sitting down, I'm not sure what to say now. Ali looking around at the decorations, but he also looks uncomfortable right now. The awkward silence goes on for 1 minute. 2 minutes. 5 minutes. "So, um, ahem…" He focuses his eyes on me. "I.. don't really know what we're suppose to be doing right now." I said bluntly.
"Elsa?"
"Yes."
"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but did you really wanted to do this?"
"Pardon?"
"Did you really wanted to go out on a date? Or did Anna and Kristoff just talked you into it?" I look at him, stunned at his words. "Cause I don't want to force you to drag this on, if you really don't want this."
"No no no!" I said frantically. "I'm just nervous, Ali. I do want this."
"Okay. That's all I want to make sure." I smile and look down. I feel so out of it. I'm really not doing a real good job at this whole dating thing. Maybe I should give up. I don't think I can do this…. No Elsa. You never do anything for yourself. Everyone's trying to help you to have a little joy in your life, and you're just blowing it all off. You need to believe in yourself.
"Hey, Ali, um… so how's your day?"
"Well it went pretty good, but you know that don't you. I mean, you were pretty much was there for most of it."
I laugh. "How about when I wasn't there? Anything else you did?"
"I ran into Anna in the morning. We talked for a bit. Then um, I also had to go and apologize to some of the people that Sabah threw water balloons at." I laugh again. "Oh and I was snooping around in the royal library." He smiles sheepishly.
"At least you're honest about it," I said with a grin.
"What about your day?"
"Well, nothing special, except that I met my cousin."
"Cousin?"
"Yes. I have a cousin from Corona named Rapunzel. Since my isolation, Anna and I had never got to see our relatives from there, and Rapunzel actually went missing when she was a baby and didn't return until a few years ago, so we never got to know her."
"Wow. Interesting. What's it like to meet her? Is she like, you know, part of the family now?"
"Why yes. She is my cousin. Of course she's family. She's somewhat like a distant sister." (Ironic, considering that's how it was like with Anna and me before.)
"I see. I was just curious, because I don't have any relatives."
"None?"
"None, whatsoever."
"So it's really just you and your father and brother."
"Technically; if you don't include Quick-Shot and Sabah."
I'm really feeling sympathy for this guy. His family doesn't show any real love to him. I at least had parents who loved and supported me for most of my life. "I wish you didn't have to put up with all this. I wish your life was easier."
"We all want something to change in our lives. That's how the world works."
"But that doesn't mean you can't do anything about it. Maybe you can make that change somehow?"
He looks rather stunned at what I said and sits there pondering. "You know what, Ali. Nevermind that. We're suppose to be having fun, not talk about all these serious, life-size matters."
"You're right. Let's talk about something else." … Silence…
"So, um…." I can't think of anything else to say. Ali's also trying to come up with something, but I guess his mind is as blank as mine.
"Do we have to keep talking?" I look at him curiously. "I mean, you know, why are we forcing ourselves to talk if we have nothing to say?"
"Cause that's what everybody does on dates."
"This whole dating thing really isn't fair to the quiet people."
I giggle, "That's so true." We continue to smile at each other. I really enjoy the way his eyes just shimmer like the bay at a calm, sunny day. Even though we're not talking anymore, our eyes are busy communicating different emotions to each other. His smile is so genuinely real, and his whole self just shines with compassion. He's definitely much more than a pretty face!
"Dinner is here," says a voice. I snap out of my trance to see a middle-aged waiter at the door, carrying two silver platters.
"Alright," Ali says. "I'm starving!" So am I.
We spend a long forty-minutes eating. For some reason, I was eating much slower and didn't pay a lot of attention to the food. Ali and I would chat every now and then about the most unusual (and rather pointless) of things. First we talk about the difference of Arabian and European foods,. Then we started talking about the decorations and how Anna and Kristoff were enjoying their newly engaged relationship. We even started making stupid jokes about some of the guests back at the palace. I didn't even consider the fact that I'm still a queen and I'm suppose to act very "lady-like and sophisticated" 24/7.
"-and not just that, she and Flynn always carry a frying pan around, and no it's not for cooking," I said.
"Then why the hell do they have it?"
"As a weapon."
"A weapon?" Ali chuckles.
"A weapon!" I replied back, also laughing uncontrollably.
"Who uses a frying pan as a weapon?"
"I *gasp* don't know." We both can't control ourselves. I almost fell off my chair, laughing so loudly that I even snorted. I stop when that happened and hold my nose. Ali also stops and looks at me. My whole face feels like it's on fire. But then I see grin on his face as he snickers. "It's not funny," I said, feeling humiliated.
"I'm sorry, your majesty," he bows his head (still grinning), "but that actually kind of is." I don't think so. I snorted. That's embarrassing! I feel like total pig right now. "There's nothing to be ashamed about, Elsa. Everyone snorts when they laugh too hard. In fact, I've snorted so many times that Sabah even calls me the prince of camels."
I frown at him.
"Get it?" he says. "Cause a camel snorts?" He looks at me with an awkward a smile comes on my face, and I laugh again.
I don't even know what time it is anymore. Only when Anna and Kristoff came did I realize how long it's been. What was supposedly two hours felt like twenty minutes for me. I can't believe just how fast time can fly.
"You two are having a lot of fun," Anna says. "We could hear all the laughs from downstairs."
"Really?" I said. "Could everyone else hear us?"
"Everybody!" Kristoff replies. "Even the waiter who served you was talking about the way you two were looking at each other. There's already rumors spreading about the 'Queen's new romance'."
"Oh boy, this could be bad," I said.
"Why, Elsa? What's wrong if the people know about this?" Anna says.
"Because, people will start speculating things very quickly." I replied.
"Also," Ali says, "because I'm Arab, this could lead to some racial dilemmas among some of them. I bet some people will go berserks if they learn that their queen is dating an 'infidel'."
"Ali don't call yourself that," I said. "That word doesn't hold any weight on you."
"It's still the word used to describe me here," he says, "and since I might not be liked some of your people, this could lead to some nasty conflicts in the future." His tone changes, "You sure this date was a good idea?"
I stand up and stare down hard at him. "If you think that I'm going to give up on this just because of what some racist bastards are going to judge me as queen, then you've gone berserks. I'm queen, god damn it! I can do whatever I want, and no one in Arendelle can say otherwise!" Everyone is silent now. The only sound in the room was that of my heavy breathing as I still stood, flustered with anger. It's rare for me to feel so mad like this, but this is just ridiculous. Ali was actually going to let all this end? After all that just happened? Not only have we gain so much trust and fondness of each other, but I feel like I've known him my whole life. Even if I don't love him, I'll never let go of our friendship. That's for sure.
"Elsa," Ali stands up now. I start to feel vulnerable as he walks around the table and comes next to me. I guess I'm still a little intimidated knowing about his powers, but I trust him now so much that I don't feel threatened by him. He faces me eye-to-eye and traces his fingers down my arm. "I'm not going to give up on you. I like you." A shiver goes down my spine when he says that. Even though he just said like, it's the best feeling in the world to hear that.
"I like you too," I whispered. I turn my head and see Anna smiling at me. Kristoff is also giving a thumbs-up at us. "So, should we get going? It's late," I said trying to change the subject.
We're walking back from the restaurant now. I have to admit; this was really fun. Father would never allow me to mingle with friends late at night, and he would definitely disapprove of me building a close friendship with this girl. Not only is dating technically forbidden outside of the arranged courtships he would set up for Abdullah and me over the past few years (and trust me, if there's anything my brother and I have in common these days, it's that we both have no interest in most of those spoiled and deceitful princesses back home), but the fact that Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff are all Europeans would also put father in a rage that would literally set Agrabah on fire.
Going through Arendelle's bridges, I can see how awake the city is at night. Very different from home, where everyone sleeps early in order to wake before dawn. Elsa and Anna are both walking ahead while Kristoff and I are pacing behind. The sisters continue to talk among themselves, describing each others dates. I could still pick up a few things here and there through some of their gestures and a few words I can pick up. I can tell right away that these two keep nothing from each other. One tells the other about everything and describes every detail. I even started blushing when I realized that Elsa was telling Anna all the intimate feelings that go through her head when we touch. They would also turn around and look at us every now and then; the way that Elsa would smile at me makes me blush so badly.
"I think this date went well for you two," Kristoff says.
"I guess so," I replied.
"Hey, uh, not trying to be nosey or anything, but what do you think about Elsa now?"
"Not sure."
"Okaay, so how much do you like her now?"
"A lot."
"Enough to be considered love?"
"I don't think so… I hope not."
Kristoff double takes and give me a very surprised look. "What! Why? You had such a great time with her, AND you said that you like her 'a lot'."
"I know."
"Then don't you even care about her?"
"I do."
"Then what's up with all these split up feelings? Why do you keep going in two different directions?"
"Well…" I tried to begin. Although, I'm not sure if Kristoff is the right person to talk to about this. Then again, it's my fault for even bringing it up, so I can't really do much now. "Even though I really like her, and I mean really like her, it's just that… you know… uh…."
"IT'S JUST WHAT?" Kristoff says. He's trying to speak in a hushed voice so that the girls don't hear us, but that was a little too loud, and Anna turns around.
"Krissy, is everything okay?"
"Uh, yeah sweetheart, we're just talking about his home. Did you know that they don't even harvest ice there?"
Elsa responds, "Of course, moron, it's a hot desert there. Ice would just melt." They both turn back and continue their own talking, and Kristoff resumes to glaring at me.
"Ali, what's really going on?"
"*Sigh* It's just that, what if he finds out."
"Who's he?"
"My father."
I apologize for delaying this chapter for so long. I had some things to do for the last two weeks, and there was barely anytime for this. I know, excuses excuses. When will Metal Quill learn? XD
Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter. I have to admit, writing a date scene is much harder than I thought.
Till Then:
Hwyl Fawr
