You're gonna hate me but I need to tell you all:
I know this story is flawed. I know that Thomas and Elsa seem to be going too fast. I know that Bernard can be kicked out and he's not a good villain and blah blah blah. I've heard it from all of you.
And it stings because I know full well that I could have done better by you.
Yes, there are plot holes. Yes, my time should have been extended for the story. But it's not going to be perfect. So I'm sorry.
But I'm going to finish this story if it's the last thing I do and give reasons for every single flaw that I have put into this story by mistake. I will rectify the problems, I swear.
BUT, for those of you who love the story and all of its flaws, I thank you oh so very much and I do appreciate the reviews from EVERYONE. I'm just getting tired of seeing the same thing y'know? But that doesn't mean you should stop reviewing or telling me what to fix. And I really appreciate the wonderful amount of reviews you have left me to smile upon. So I really am grateful even though I totally became an asshole during the first part of this A/N.
No songs in this. This is all about the pranks Anna is causing and her time with Kristoff and how Elsa is trying to clear her head with all this Bernard business while trying to balance out her work which is getting very hard.
Disclaimer: Disney owns FROZEN
The floors creaked beneath her feet as she tip-toed across the floor. She was biting her lip with a devilish grin on her face, as if she were some tom cat waiting to capture an unsuspecting mouse. An ink bottle was in her hand, her thumb pushing down on the cork that was suppressing the over-flowing amount of blue ink inside. Once Bernard opened it… splash! All over his documents.
And Anna was given full permission from her Majesty the Queen to preform such a trick on their cruel advisor. The princess was shaking with excitement, her cheeks red with mirth and her freckles scrunching as she held in devious giggles. She slipped into the royal library where Bernard usually did his work. It was empty, the fireplace untouched and cold. Anna moved forward and replaced his ink bottle, thinking that this was the best trick she has ever pulled so far.
Then she split, running down the hall and laughing like a maniac. She slid across the floor and grabbed the handle of Elsa's study, flying it open. Startled, the queen jumped in her seat as Anna slammed the door behind her, the gust from the impact snuffing out the candles.
Grumbling with annoyance, Elsa struck another match and relit the candle on her desk as Anna strode forward, positively glowing.
"What is it, Anna?" Elsa said roughly. "I'm busy."
"I did it! I replaced the ink," Anna announced proudly, sitting in the seat across from Elsa. She eyed the uneaten tea sandwiches and cool cup of earl grey. "You feeling all right? You haven't eaten your lunch yet… it's been two weeks since Rapunzel's left and you've been awfully… well, your door's been more closed than usual. Never locked but closed nevertheless."
"I've been doing other things," Elsa said. "Working out these trade agreements as civilly as possible with Bernard, writing letters to different countries, and finding time to spend with Thomas— which is getting really hard to do with Bernard breathing down my neck…" Elsa pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to force back the migraine that was dangerously creeping up into the back of her eyes. "I'm sorry that it seems like I'm shutting you out again but I just… I got a lot on my plate."
"No, I totally get it," Anna said. "But just know that I'm here for—"
"Princess Anna!" Bernard's voice roared from down the hall.
Elsa blinked as Anna jumped to her feet.
"I gotta run. Kristoff is my getaway and we won't be back until late, okay?" She blew Elsa a kiss. "See you at dinner!"
"Stay safe," Elsa called after her sister as she ran off, leaving Elsa alone in the study.
She continued to write her letter to the ambassador of France when the doors burst open again, her candle being blown out once more. She glowered up at the intruder and found an ink-splattered Bernard huffing over the threshold.
Elsa was trying her hardest to keep a straight face.
"Where is your sister?" he demanded through gritted teeth.
"No idea," Elsa deadpanned.
"Don't. Lie. To me," he snarled, marching over to her.
"I really don't know," she said placidly, lighting the candle and returning to her letter. "Bernard, let her have her fun."
"I know full well who put her— and the rest of the staff— up to this," he said darkly, his face shadowed menacingly by the light of the flame.
"Then tell me," she replied smoothly. "I dare you."
They stared at one another for a few heavy seconds before he growled and turned on his heel and shutting the door curtly. She took in a deep breath and dropped her gaze down to her paper, loving the feeling of standing up to him for once. She was getting so tired of being pushed around by him.
And he did so many things that Elsa could have easily gotten rid of him for. There was something holding her back, however, that she couldn't just name. It was in the back of her mind and she was desperately trying to figure out his initial plan.
He was back for a reason and Elsa was getting the same curious itch that she shared with Anna. She had been asking around the staff but they all turned up short.
Which was getting on her nerves.
So Elsa moved on with her job and tried her best to do exactly what she told Anna. To get along with what she needed to do as queen. It was better than worrying about everything and not doing anything.
Her situation with Thomas was getting rocky and she could tell that her distractions were getting the better of her. Whenever she saw him, she forgot herself and that she had a reputation— a kingdom— to uphold and keep intact. She really liked him but he was becoming more of a nuisance than she wished he could be.
Therefore, her meetings with him were becoming less and less as time went on. He questioned it just last night when they snuck out of the harbor and on the hills. She simply said she had too much to do. It wasn't a lie but it wasn't the total truth.
Without him around, she was getting back into her usual cool demeanor. She was figuring out things and started to realize how wrong she had been about Bernard's authority. Although, she was still careful not to anger him or do anything that might send him running to sever the ties between Arendelle and other places in order to destroy all connections.
She had to confront him slowly…
Elsa was really starting to learn how to cope with her job and keep an even balance of authority and love over her citizens, staff, and sister.
Anna and Kristoff were in stitches as Sven dragged their sled up the mountain. She had just finished telling her boyfriend of the most recent pranks she had pulled on Bernard. He was digging her quirkiness, as always, and grinning at the reactions as she described them.
"He was so angry," Anna giggled. "Ooh, he looked like his head was about to explode."
"That would have been a good thing," Kristoff supplied.
"Absolutely," she agreed. "Ugh… and poor Elsa. She's under so much stress right now. I really hope she'll manage to get back on her feet and smile more again. I thought we were getting somewhere."
"It's only been a month or so since the Thaw," he reminded her soothingly. "Elsa is going to have difficulty. Sure she may have seemed to be happier but I wouldn't be surprised if she returned to her old ways."
"But she can't!" Anna huffed and crossed her arms. "She promised."
Kristoff chortled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and snuggled her close.
"Anna, she wouldn't shut you out again," he assured. "The Elsa now isn't the Elsa then but she is still herself. Old habits die hard."
The princess grunted with regrettable agreement and buried her head in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of hay. He slowed Sven's pace and the reindeer fell into an easy trot, snorting with slight relief. Kristoff planted a kiss on Anna's head.
"Anna, do you really think that Elsa would try to keep away from you again?" he said.
She shook her head into his shirt.
"Good. 'Cause Bernard is the only thing you need to worry about."
A giggle was rumbled into the fabric, Anna grinning in spite of herself.
"I know," was Anna's muffled response. "He's a big fat jerk and I want him gone. But Elsa isn't doing anything to kick him out." She sat up to look into his eyes. "She's planning something, though. I can feel it."
"Knowing Elsa, it will be a good plan."
Anna gave him a chaste kiss before murmuring, "Can we just, like, stop talking about my sister for once."
He smirked a tiny bit. "That's a surprise coming from you. You practically worship her."
"Yeah, but, I wanna kiss you," Anna said, quirking an eyebrow. "And Elsa is getting in the way."
He laughed. "As you wish, my princess."
With that, Kristoff closed the minimal gap between them, his hand cupping the back of her neck to bring her closer. Anna wrapped her arms around his shoulders, smiling against his lips.
The sled kept climbing and the two lovers enjoyed each other's company, kissing and talking about other things besides the Snow Queen and her choices.
When the couple returned to the kingdom, Kristoff was tending to Sven and his sled by his ice stand, Anna sitting on top of the table people watching. The summer sun was weaker than usual but her neck was burning from its bright rays anyway. The ocean breeze was rushing by, filling her lungs with salty air.
As they relaxed in silence, someone cleared their throat behind Anna, making her twist around to see who was attempting to talk with her.
"Oh! Ha, hiya, Thomas!" Anna said.
The young Prince of England was standing with his usual smile on his face. He had some grime on his shirt and face, showing he had been hard at work on his ship a while before.
"Good afternoon, Princess," he said with a small bow. "How are you today?"
"Oh, just wonderful," Anna said, swinging herself around so she could face him all the way. Kristoff glanced up from the ropes on his sled to watch and listen in on the conversation. Anna continued, "And how are you?"
"Fine… listen, uh… is Elsa busy tomorrow evening?" he asked.
"Yeah, she is," Anna said apologetically. "Sorry, Thomas, but she has a full schedule. Some sort of meeting with the staff and then she and I are going over trade routes. Frankly, I couldn't care less but she told me that if I'm her right hand, I have to learn these things in case I need to take over a meeting or something." She dusted off some dirt on her dress. "Which is fine with me 'cause I'm spending time with her but…" She clicked her tongue almost critically. "She's just… she's being Elsa."
Thomas was grinning at her rambling and exchanged a look with Kristoff, who gave him a knowing shrug before returning to his work.
"Being Elsa. I see," Thomas summarized. "Well, when you do see her next, tell her that I wish to discuss a few political—"
"Thomas, I am very well aware that her Majesty and yourself sneak off to be all googly-eyed with each other," Anna teased with a twinkle in her eye. "Elsa and I are sisters and sometimes what is her business ends up being mine because I am the one who keeps the secrets from others."
"Yes… quite, well I wanted to actually ask you about Elsa, too," he admitted. "She's been a little off lately and I'm getting worried about her."
"Relax," Kristoff finally piped up. "Elsa is going through so many emotional ranges, you have no idea."
"She's still a fun-loving gal, but then she's that brooding and respectful queen, then she returns to being a total dork, and then she's quiet and collected," Anna explained, ticking off her list on her fingers. "It's normal. Annoying? You bet. But normal."
"Mhm…" Thomas mused. "I do hope she'll be all right."
Anna waved away his concern. "Awh, don't worry. She'll be the Elsa you know in no time." She crossed her heart. "I promise you, Prince Thomas of England, Elsa still totally wants to see you. Or my name isn't Princess Anna of Arendelle."
"Wait, what?"
Anna gaped at Elsa from her bed. The queen was sitting at her vanity, brushing her hair calmly with lidded eyes.
"You heard me," she said coolly, meeting Anna's eyes from the reflection in the mirror. "I'm not that interested in distracting myself with Thomas at the moment."
"Then I'm gonna have to change my name," Anna mumbled under her breath. She shook her head and addressed her big sister, "But you can't be serious. I thought you liked him!"
"I do like him," Elsa said. "Nothing's changed with my feelings. I simply want to focus on my duties as a monarch."
"You're so difficult!" Anna let out in a whine, flopping onto her back and staring up at the canopy. "First you're this way, then you're that way… I can't keep up with you!" She sat up with a determined expression. "But are you still going to see him?"
"Of course."
"So… so, wait," Anna muttered, knitting her brows together. "I'm confused."
Elsa rolled her eyes and turned around in her stool. "I would like to see Thomas but he isn't my number one priority at the moment. I'm the queen of Arendelle and as such that should be my focus. Not some quick and random romance formulated inside my head."
"But it isn't inside your head," Anna told her, putting her hands on her hips. "He likes you, too."
"Maybe he does," Elsa said with a soft smile. "And that makes me happy but it's also a distraction."
"What will you say when you next see him, then?" Anna wondered.
The Snow Queen closed her eyes and ran a hand through her thick locks.
"I'm not sure. I know that once I see him, my emotions will take over and my troubles won't matter." She grimaced. "Frankly, it's getting harder and harder to allow that to happen."
"You're confusing me again. Explain, please?"
Elsa sighed. "Okay, listen closely because I'm only going to say this once. Got it?" After a firm nod from Anna, Elsa pressed on with a deep breath. "When I met Thomas, I was a little love-struck, I'll shamelessly admit that. He was charming and kind behind the royal mask he put on. Therefore, I believed I could relate to that. We had some things in common about being an older sibling and having so many troubles on our shoulders because we were royalty." She drummed her fingers against her knee. "Great. We had a connection. Then he was flirtatious and I got a little nervous. No man had ever done that to me because, hey, I've been locked away in a castle for thirteen years. I didn't know how to react so I just went with it.
"And it's wonderful to feel these emotions. I love every second I spend with him. Now, that makes you think that I want to be with him. Maybe one day, it could happen. If it does, I'd be very happy. But ever since he and Rapunzel and Eugene left the castle and Kristoff came back, giving you stuff to do, I returned to my daily activities." Elsa bit her lip for a moment as she mulled over her own words. "It was then I realized that I was getting distracted by fear and love in bad ways. I'm still afraid of what Bernard might do to us if I defy him but I know that he's already done so many things to get himself thrown out. It's almost as if he's… testing me, you know?
"But so much has happened and I've become overly smitten with a man I barely know. I think that's starting to run in the family—" Anna laughed awkwardly. "— However, with Thomas gone from the palace, I'm thinking clearly. I'll always have these feelings, I believe, but they are not important to me at the given time."
She finished with a big breath, her cheeks pink from her long rant. She rubbed the back of her neck and hoped Anna would understand. The princess was nodding slowly, her eyes set on the corner of the ceiling as she tried to keep up with what Elsa had explained.
"So… in short: you like Thomas but you feel like your job is more important because of conflicts such as Bernard and his devious ways?" Anna tried to recap, cringing at her elementary grade conclusion.
"If that's how it makes the most sense to you, then yes," Elsa said with a wry smile.
"So what now?"
"Now I clean up all the messes that I've made and hopefully I'll find a valid reason to kick Bernard out for good since I'm an idiot and I haven't acted upon any of his other shenanigans," the queen said, getting to her feet and cracking her back. "Ugh… being hunched over a stack of trade agreements is going to be the death of me."
Anna giggled. "You'll survive."
It was a calm morning in Arendelle when Elsa was reading peacefully in her study. She managed to find a small window of free time before her afternoon meeting with the town council and was going to take full advantage of it. Anna was with Gerda that morning, learning how to properly run a kitchen and so on, since Elsa was the ruler and Anna her right hand. Elsa had no time for such things, therefore Anna was acting as the 'queen' to Elsa's king-like authority.
The fireplace was crackling heartily, the smell of burning wood seeping through the curtains and the furniture and the pages of her book. The clock was ticking in the slow, mesmerizing beat that often made Elsa fall asleep is she sat on the window sill and closed her eyes.
But her peaceful morning was ruined when the door was opened and shut quickly. She glanced up from her book to find Bernard standing by her desk, his eyes glowing with fury.
"Yes, what has Anna done now?" Elsa said dryly.
"She has disrupted the meeting I was having with the servants," he snarled.
"Impossible. She's with Gerda in the kitchens," she said, dropping her eyes to the book. "What kind of ridiculous—?"
"Her lessons were cut short because of my meeting."
"Oh, I see. In her defense, she had every right to claim Gerda for the morning since she was scheduled to meet with her."
"My authority over the princess—"
"Is hardly any."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"Are you trying to get yourself into a jam, Elsa?"
She raised her gaze from the book and back onto him. He was grinning wickedly with a malevolent gleam in his eye, not unlike Hans. Elsa was disturbed but didn't dare show it. "Oh, Elsa… I could do so many things to get you in trouble. Say so many lies—"
"I could say the same about you, Bernard," Elsa countered. "I could have forced you into prison long ago for dragging Anna out of bed. I could have fired you for threatening me. Oh, Bernard, I can do so much to kick you out of Arendelle."
His face drained of its color. He was livid, his fists shaking at his sides. Elsa smiled plainly and stood up, calmly marking her page, and moving over to her advisor, staring up at him with the authority she knew she had over him.
"I could really do a number on your so-called reputation…" she hissed acidly. "However, I won't. I have a few plans for you. And I think you will find them quite, ah, interesting."
"Elsa…"
"You will address me as Queen Elsa from now on, Bernard, if you wish to keep your job here," Elsa shot at him, using all her courage that she had been storing within herself. "I will wait for you to carry out whatever ridiculous scheme you have up your sleeve and then figure out what to do with you. Unless you wish to leave now—"
He gave her a snide grin. "Not even close."
"I thought so."
"What of your sister?" he said darkly.
"You hurt a hair on her head I won't hesitate to freeze your heart," she said. "Although, that would be hard because yours is clearly frozen already."
"Clever. And what do you plan on doing now? You're now aware that things will turn out differently."
"I'm up for a nice challenge and you are as well, I'm sure."
They locked eyes, one daring the other to make the first move— to break the eye contact. Who was weaker?
Bernard was.
He tore his gaze away from his queen and said briskly, "Your meeting is in ten minutes, your Majesty. Do make sure you're there on time."
Then he left. Elsa smiled at herself, feeling proud, strong, and no longer like a weak and ignorant ruler. She was going to push him until he quit or reveal himself. Make him pay for all the suffering he had caused Anna over the years and all the harsh things he said to the both of them as they grew up. Karma was coming back to bite him hard and Elsa was more than happy to deliver it right to his smug face.
"Let's review. What's this route called?"
"The… uh… French one?"
Elsa gave her sister a long look as Anna cringed sheepishly over her lack of memory and short attention span. Who knows how many times Elsa had actually named the route but Anna hadn't been paying any mind, thinking about her day with her loving boyfriend.
"Really? The French one?" Elsa repeated.
"I don't know! It's in French right?" Anna said, jabbing a finger onto the map spread out on the table.
"Say it in French, Anna," Elsa said calmly.
"But… I…" She tried to sneak a peek at the name etched on the map but Elsa covered it up, leaving only the route's pathway.
"No peeking," Elsa chastised. "You need to prove that you were paying attention."
There was an awkward silence before Anna shyly admitted that she didn't pay attention at all. With a tolerating smile and roll of her eyes, Elsa uncovered the map and grabbed Anna's chin to direct her to look at the map.
"Now listen. This one is…"
Elsa began to reexplain the entire map to Anna, who was trying her very best not to get distracted. In truth, she was loving the attention she was getting from Elsa after all this time of her being distant and busy. When Elsa paused over the route through the Mediterranean, she met Anna's eyes. She realized that they were hazy and bored with the lesson but her face was interested and trying hard to concentrate.
The queen glanced up at the clock and realized that it was getting late. Anna was simply falling asleep.
"All right," she said. "We can continue this tomorrow."
Anna perked up. "Really!? I mean, uh… yeah. Sounds good."
"You look exhausted. Where did Kristoff take you today?" Elsa demanded as they started to make their way out of the meeting hall and to their room.
"No where," Anna said. "We just sat in the chocolate shop and went shopping for a new vest to match his shirt. It's the stuff Gerda put me through that tuckered me out. I mean, I have to do so much memorizing now that I'm your official right hand." Anna stretched as they turned the corner. "It's tiring."
"I'm sorry, Anna."
"'S not your fault. It's my job, anyway. I shouldn't be complaining." She rubbed her eyes. "I shoulda been paying attention…"
Elsa giggled, tugging playfully at Anna's braid. "I need to remind myself that you can't stay up past eight."
"I can so!" Anna retorted. "I just went to bed late that's all. That book I've been reading is really good and it's impossible to put down. Ooh, that reminds me! Thomas was asking about you the other day."
"Was he?"
"He misses you, y'know?"
Elsa smiled softly. "I know."
"So how are you going to cope with all the romantic confusion?"
Anna bumped her shoulder with Elsa's, grinning and trying to keep her tone teasing.
"I'm going to go along with it until I figure out how I feel," Elsa said. "I know that sounds bad… but it's all I can do."
"If that's what will make you feel better," Anna said with an understanding nod. "Then I will support you."
"Thank you, Anna… I'm just…"
"Confused? Troubled?" Anna supplied weakly. "How 'bout, confuzzled?"
"Con-what?"
"Never mind."
"Well— whatever it was. It sounds perfect," Elsa nodded. "I can't think straight but I've never had a clearer mind."
They reached their bedroom and Anna opened up the door. They entered and Elsa shut the door behind them, the girls parting to change into their nightgowns, ready for a long, peaceful slumber.
The girls and Kristoff were standing in the middle of the throne room as Nora and a few other servants were moving around them, stripping away the old tapestries and rolling them away for storage, pulling away the children sized thrones, and painting the walls.
"It's coming along nicely," Anna said. "Elsa, did you tell them to make sure it looks like icicles are coming down from the ceiling."
"No need," Elsa said simply, waving her hand and sending a string of magic upwards. It swirled along the rafters until icicles cemented themselves in the wood and hung down, sparkling in the light streaming from the windows.
"Oh right. You're the Snow Queen," Anna laughed.
"When is the tapestry going to be put up?" Kristoff asked.
"As soon as it's finished," Elsa answered. "But the walls are going to be painted like snowy mountains and snowflakes and whatnot. I want it all to be a nice reminder of my palace…" Her eyes grew glassy but she had a nostalgic smile on her face.
The doors behind them opened and in walked Bernard, checking his pocket watch. Kristoff and Anna turned and saw him before exchanging looks of disgust with each other. Elsa, however, turned and smiled pleasantly at her advisor.
"Good morning, Bernard," she said. "How can I help you?"
"Erm… well, your Majesty," he said sourly. "The royal ambassador from Denmark has arrived for your meeting."
"Ah, yes," Elsa said, loving the bitterness of his voice. He wasn't holding back a glower though, making it known to her how much she hated her game. "Anna, do come along. We must introduce ourselves to him."
"Yes, your Majesty," Anna said obediently but hesitantly, following Elsa out of the throne room, her hands folded in front of her.
Bernard gave Kristoff a critical once-over before striding off to join the sisters. The mountain man raised his eyebrows after them, slowly turning back to assist with the decorating.
"What in the world was that?" Anna hissed in Elsa's ear as they walked. "He was almost respectful… key word is almost, here."
Elsa laughed. "I'm doing him a favor and he's doing me one. I'd like to see what he plans on doing now that he knows I'm not going to be intimidated by him anymore."
"Ooh, Elsa! You're getting feistier than me," Anna said, cracking a grin. "I like this new you… sorta kinda. I mean, you're still confusing and whatever but… you know what. I should just stop before I get myself all jumbled up."
"That would be a good idea," Elsa agreed with a wink.
Shorter than most chapters, I know. I wanted to get this out to you guys before I forgot about it. I also didn't have a chance to edit it so I might go back and look it over again if I feel the need to. Otherwise I think it's okay.
Please do your best to leave suggestions and constructive criticism. I don't want anymore "Thomas and Elsa being fast" or "Bernard is a sucky villain why is Elsa doing this now?" Okay?
Great.
Thanks, though, and I do love you all very much.
If you want to contact me in any other way besides reviews my email can be found on my profile. 'Cause if you're signed in as a guest, I can't exactly reply back to you if you want to chat. Thanks!
See you next time!
