14. It's A Small World After All
Back in the Valley of the Living Rock, Kristoff woke shortly before dawn to say, as it were, "goodnight" to his troll family. Grand Pabbie once more assured everybody that he was indeed fine, but he was introspective as he arranged a number of Elsa's ice sculptures around his favorite sleeping spot. When the trolls rolled up into their round stone forms, Kristoff dozed off again, since it would be at least another hour before Anna roused herself, and Sven was still snoring softly, with Olaf nestled against his flank.
When Anna finally stirred, she wasn't sure if it was due to the morning light or her rumbling stomach. Her moaning yawn awakened Kristoff. Olaf was the next to greet the new day, and finally Sven got up and stretched before sauntering over to the picnic basket in search of any remaining carrots.
"Good morning, Your Royal Bedhead," Kristoff teased. As tousled as her hair was in the morning, she never seemed to take that long to braid it again. Kristoff was thankful for that little blessing. "Elsa's sandwich and cake from dinner are still left, if you're hungry."
Anna smacked her lips, not yet completely alert and aware, but the words "sandwich" and "cake," beckoned her consciousness to the forefront. "Soundzzz like a plaannn," she drawled.
"Come on, you can eat in the sled on the way back," he said as he fed Sven the last few carrots.
"What's the rush?" Anna said with another yawn as she tamed her infamous mop top.
"Don't you have classes today? It's Monday."
"Oh, it's not like I'm really enrolled at the university. I just attend some classes, sometimes," she said, unconcerned.
"I think Elsa would like it if you signed up, or at least showed up regularly and did the coursework," Kristoff urged as he hitched Sven to the sled.
Anna sighed. "I know, but there are so many other things to do and see, too. And Elsa would like it if I went to every council meeting, but that isn't going to happen, either."
"I love the stories the members tell afterward when you do go to the council meetings. I wish I could watch one with you in action," Olaf giggled. Anna's mouth hung open.
Kristoff shook his head. "Come on," he said. "Let's get going, because I might have some official ice master stuff to do with those diplomats that Elsa is meeting with this morning."
Their trip back was without incident, and once close to the town limits, they were greeted by everyone they met. The people of Arendelle were always happy to see Princess Anna, although they had learned by now to secure anything fragile and valuable when they saw her coming their way. Many of them had nicknamed her "the Sunflower Princess," since the sunflower was her favorite floral motif and her sunny disposition could chase away all manner of metaphorical gloomy skies. While most of the citizens loved their Queen, it was usually in a cerebral or reverential way; with the Princess, their affection was much more personal and familiar.
And Anna relished her job as liaison between the Queen and the people. She finally had all the company she had fantasized about as a child. As Elsa had told her not long after the Great Thaw, if she was ever bored nowadays, then it was her own fault. As much as Anna disliked going to the council meetings, she rarely missed an open court session. She could boost the confidence of the most shy and intimidated petitioner.
They reached the Royal Stables, where Sven had a stall next to the one at the end of the building that Sleipnir used when he felt like it. Once free from the sled, the reindeer readily trotted inside to get a nice drink of water. Kristoff could see that there was fresh straw bedding already prepared, and a mixture of hay, carrots, clover, dandelions, barley, and willow boughs was waiting in his manger. Elsa made sure that the stable staff pampered his long-time friend. Kristoff would never dare say it to the Queen, but his heart ached for her when other animals freaked out or made themselves scarce in her presence.
Olaf saw two stableboys who were extremely fond of him and immediately set to chattering away with them. Sven was settled into his stall, heaving a contented sigh at the delectable delights in his food trough. Satisfied that his partner was comfortable, Kristoff and Anna exited the building only to hear a familiar voice.
"And these are the Royal Stables, which might be of some interest to you, Ambassador Nasu," Elsa said in the Disnee language.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I have heard your horses are very hardy-" replied a man, stopping short both verbally and physically as the two groups nearly bumped into each other when Elsa, Rogalund, and the diplomats turned the corner.
Without missing a beat, Elsa said, "I would like to introduce you all to my sister, Crown Princess Anna of Arendelle and Ice Master Kristoff Bjorgman." Elsa subtly emphasized the word "crown." It was a signal to Anna -if the Princess was paying enough attention- that she should be on her most careful and formal behavior.
Anna took the hint and curtsied. Kristoff bowed rather fluidly; he was getting better at protocol, but he was not about to say a word during these niceties unless asked a direct question.
"These are Ambassador Cocody Jamang and the delegation from Daloa, and Ambassador Nasu and the diplomatic mission from Khentii." They all bowed smartly in return.
"I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs!" the snowman said as he toddled forward, stick arms outstretched expectantly.
The visitors all stared at him. Elsa tensed slightly and clamped down on her magic; she preferred for Olaf to meet new people under more controlled circumstances, so that the guests knew what to anticipate and how not to react. Olaf had had his head kicked off more than once when he took someone by surprise.
Fortunately, this set was not outwardly disturbed by a living snowman. They took it in stride and bowed in Olaf's direction.
"Wow, look at how colorful your clothes are! I love it!" Olaf gushed. "Oh, wait, let me try this out." He produced the bag of ice-fabric that held the rocks from the volcano, and took out the crystal-coated ones. He adroitly switched out his coal buttons, clearly thrilled with his new look. His cheerful laugh was infectious and the Daloans and Khentiians could not help smiling.
"He is like a child," Jamang said softly. "I understand your policy better now, Your Majesty. They really are alive."
"While I might be able to make one that is merely an automaton which can only perform a few limited functions and has no thoughts or emotions, it is not something I want to experiment with, ever. I don't yet have precise control over this aspect of my powers," Elsa admitted.
"And they don't all turn out this friendly," Anna added. Elsa shot her a warning glare.
As though on cue, Sleipnir swaggered into view, drawn by the voices of Elsa and Olaf, and the scent of Sven. All of the guests gasped in astonishment.
"The horse... is... made of snow..." Nakuta said slowly, trying to process the concept, as Sleipnir showed off every last detail of his physical perfection. The entire Khentiian contingent dropped to their knees in awe.
Sleipnir snorted to express his condescending amusement. "At last, humans who know their place in the natural order," he said in that whispery, far-off voice.
"The horse... is... made of snow... and talks..." Jamang said slowly. The Khentiians trembled.
"Sleipnir, please be nice," Elsa advised. She materialized two ice cubes and held them out to the snow-horse, who took them gently from her palm. "They have come in peace from distant lands."
"Very well," he murmured and strutted into the stable to see Sven. Olaf joined him; he wanted the stable staff to see his new buttons.
"We heard no tales of that," Nasu whispered, his eyes wide.
"He's, uh, somewhat new," Elsa confessed, imagining all too well the stories that would now be spread across Asia and down Africa. "Before anyone gets any ideas, he is not for sale, and I won't be making more of them."
"Yes, please don't ask her to make more of them," Anna concurred.
"So ... let's continue on to the town, Ambassadors," Rogalund jumped in. "The university should also be of interest to you."
"Queen Elsa, why have you not conquered the world yet?" asked Nasu, still clearly captivated. "Or at least bought it?"
"Because, Your Excellency, I really don't want to," said Elsa off-handedly as she tried to herd everyone away from the stables. "I think you should see the university. Besides, it's very close to Embassy Row, which is your next stop."
"Can we see the snow-horse run?" asked another Khentiian.
"Please, we need to stay on schedule right now. We will try to arrange something for you later on during the week," said Rogalund, all but shoving the dignitaries along. Kristoff and Anna also began to help usher the guests out. It reminded Anna of the last time she tried to guide a flock stubborn, wayward goslings to the safety of the pond in the castle's garden.
Finally, they succeeded in getting the visitors to the main gate, where they were joined by a squad of guards, and then out into the town. The people of the port had become accustomed to seeing all sorts of foreigners and had long since ceased to gawk; they could also tell when their Queen was on a "business outing," and knew to keep a polite distance unless she approached them. Elsa and her entourage reached the highest part of the old settlement with little delay. From there, it was a short trek up a flight of steps to the new terrace level that Elsa's ice magic had carved out of the hills and rock that surrounded the town. A monarch who could command glaciers was an incredibly useful piece of construction equipment.
It was on this new ledge that Arendelle's university and residential diplomatic community had been built. It was serviced by several sets of stairs hewn from the earth and cliffs and by a gently sloping road with many switchbacks for wheeled traffic. The buildings were mostly in Arendelle's traditional style: fairly narrow with steeply-pitched roofs to better shed snow. Anyone unfamiliar with the town before the Great Thaw would be hard pressed to tell where the new structures began and the older ones ended.
"Here we are, my friends," said Minister Rogalund, stopping by an edifice that was wider than most others. "The main hall of Arendelle's university."