Hiya everyone!
Sorry I missed last week's update – head cold…sigh. May is turning out to be one of those crazy months and I can't believe it's almost June. Soon Christmas decorations will start appearing in the shops gain!
Anyway, this chapter is the conclusion of what I started in Chapter 15. I still have very mixed feelings about that chapter and have come close to removing it several times. Then I remind myself this is a series of random work, so it gets to stay another day. And since it had a rather abrupt ending, I had to give it a finish, just so it's out of the way and I can move on.
Now, I've been working on this chapter for a few weeks now, hence why it's very, very long. I debated over posting it as one or separately but since it's 24 000 words, it needed to be split.
This is very different to my usual line of work, and I'm still conflicted over it, so keep a very open mind…
As usual, apologies for any spelling mistakes or grammar errors, and sorry if it's disjointed in sections. I also aim for continuity between all my chapters, but it might clash a little with the chapters that occur 'after' this (Meadows, Rainy Days, and Fire Verse Ice).
Disclaimer: Disney is the sole masterminds behind Frozen and Tangled. I have no claim whatsoever on their brilliance but am happily playing in the playground they so kindly created.
The Southern Isles and Friends
Part 1
The last few days of September proved winter was close at hand. Short cool blusterous days followed by cooler -often rainy- nights. Clouds whizzed through the sky so fast it was a pure guessing game as to whether they contained rain, hail, snow, or nothing at all. Higher in the mountains, winter had already started to appear, but the coastal regions didn't expect the same snow paradise for at least another month yet.
The natives of Arendelle were used to a cooler climate, and it was often a competition between neighbours, streets, and work places on who would hold out the longest. They can claim denial all they want but chimney smoke was all the evidence that was needed to prove those who caved in first and those who managed to stick it out until the first snow fell. Usually the wife and children were blamed for any weaknesses.
From the unattached men, the ones with egos on the line, the publican -with it's warm roaring fires- was making a small fortune.
In the Royal Castle, only one room had a fireplace roaring during the night. At least, that was until the visitors arrived and Elsa announced she had invited them to stay for a few days. Once they got over the shock of Elsa finally inviting someone to stay in her castle, the staff frantically prepared two of the best adjoining suites available, stockpiling the fireplaces with plenty of wood. Just as they prepared several of the communal fireplaces throughout the castle in preparation for Arendelle's unpredictable cool weather.
"What's your opinion of our guests?"
Princess Anna was so absorbed in her chess battle against herself that it took a while for Elsa's soft thoughtful voice to even register, and even then, she wasn't entirely certain if Elsa had spoken. She glanced up from the chess board – the black army was decimating the white- and frowned at her sister's magenta cloaked back. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"
Elsa didn't turn away from the window, but there was an edge of weariness in her voice that hadn't been there before as she repeated her question. Again, that bubble of worry blossomed inside Anna's chest. She couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong with Elsa, something more than her confession an hour earlier on the way back from the stables.
For the last two weeks, ever since returning from the swimming trip Elsa had been edgy, angry, exhausted, and constantly uncontrollably unleashing strong outbursts of her powers on anyone and everything close by. And not only that, but plagued with intense headaches and sore eyes. She might claim it was related to the Southern Isles showdown but Anna, like all the senior staff, knew her too well for that.
Was the stress and responsibility finally getting to her? She had seemed more like her usual self when she returned from the Valley, albeit tired but relaxed in a way she hadn't been in a weeks, and today, especially in the stables, she appeared to be in perfect control of her powers.
Was it really her magic that had been troubling her these last two weeks or something more?
"Anyone home?"
Anna blinked, and refocused on her sister, "Uh, you want my opinion?"
Elsa shrugged, finally turning away from the window, and this time there was no mistaking the weariness on her face and in her voice, "Sure, why not?"
"Well, uh, I'm not a very good judge of character," admitted Anna uncertainly, watching her sister, with her arms crossed and hands pressed to her sides, walk to her desk and resume her seat. She was surprised Elsa was asking her, especially considering who the 'guests' were. Hans had completely swept her off her feet, and her first initial impression of Daven was arrogant but pleasant enough until he deliberately challenged Elsa in front of his companions, the stable workers, and the Royal Guards from both Corona and Arendelle.
"You are too," insisted Elsa. "Stop being so hard on yourself. Hans fooled everyone, me included."
"You were a little preoccupied at the time," Anna couldn't resist pointing out a little forlornly, despite the boost in her feelings from Elsa's sincere comment.
"Forget about that two faced monkey," Elsa said firmly, slapping her palm on the desk surface.
Anna recoiled in surprise at the venom in Elsa's voice. Even after two weeks exposure (and avoidance) she still wasn't used to seeing her sister openly moody. Normally Elsa had superb control over her voice and body language, and when she was displeased (or mad) then she would become the 'Ice Queen' – icy cold, eerily calm, and completely in control (of her body at least, the powers were usually a different story). It was rare for her to simply snap and yell.
Then, almost unbidden, an image of Hans as a monkey came to mind, distracting Anna from her worry about her sister's uncharacteristic behaviour, and she giggled, although a little weakly.
Elsa nodded, the anger receding from her face and voice as a half-smile twisted her lips, "That's better." She gestured for Anna to take the seat across from her desk, "Now, start with Princess Rapunzel. Friend or foe?"
"Definitely friend," Anna answered promptly without hesitation as she abandoned her game to do as Elsa indicated, sinking into the soft red cushion of the high backed chair. There was no way Rapunzel could harbour a harmful bone in her body. But then again, she would have said the same thing about Hans when they first met.
Either Elsa was thinking the same thing, or some indication of those miserable thoughts showed on Anna's face, because she asked, "On what basis?"
Anna thought about it for a moment before shrugging, and looking down at her feet, "I don't know."
"You do so know," insisted Elsa gently. "Relying on your gut instinct is part of the job, Anna, but sometimes it's handy to have some proof to back up those feelings. You need to constantly keep re-evaluating, especially when something is amiss."
During her sister's quiet explanation, Anna looked up from her shoes and frowned, "Wait…are you testing me?"
"No," replied Elsa with a shake of her head. Then she frowned thoughtfully, "Did…our parents ever go through this with you?"
"No, not really," replied Anna after a moment of thought. "Not that I remember, anyway."
"Oh," said Elsa in surprise and she smiled, "Well then, maybe it's time I taught you the basics."
"You're not planning on going anywhere, are you?" Anna asked suspiciously.
Elsa frowned, puzzled, "No, why?"
Anna shrugged, a mischievous grin on her face, "Just checking. Princesses have more fun."
"Well, this Queen could do with a break every once in a while," replied Elsa with a weary laugh. Then she raised a wry eyebrow, "If it suits your Royal Highness, that is."
"Do I have a choice?"
Elsa shook her head, "No, not really."
"I thought so," sighed Anna dramatically before reclining rather uncomfortably against the straight backed chair. She waved a hand, "You may begin."
Klara Anderson, Queen Mother of the Southern Isles, glared at the reflection of her son through the glass mirror as he exiting his room and casually strolled across the vast living space of their assigned adjoining suite to take a seat on the plush couch. Leaning back, with his feet crossed at the ankles and propped up on the coffee table, he picked up a nearby book and began flicking through the pages at such a rapid pace she doubted he was properly reading it. He had always been one of those who read the first and last chapters first before deciding if it was worth reading the book as a whole.
He was mostly dressed for this evening's formal dinner; all that was missing was the white jacket with gold epaulettes and braid that declared his station as a Prince of the Southern Isles and his white gloves.
She finished checking her hair over, carefully thinking over the words she wanted to say to him. On her return from the gardens, and her glimpse at the vulnerable side of the infamous Snow Queen, she had been so livid with him she could hardly speak. How dare he try intimidating a foreign monarch, especially when in her Kingdom. Whatever justification he might claim to have –and she didn't believe the one he told her- he had no right, at all, to behave the way he did.
Her initial impression of Queen Elsa was of a beautiful young woman with integrity and grace, much like her mother had been.
With a determined deep breath, Klara stepped away from the mirror and strode across the room, hands on her hips, "You will apologise to Princess Anna and Queen Elsa for your rude behaviour at dinner."
"I will do no such thing," he snarled, not even looking up from his book, completely unperturbed by the angry and authority in her voice. "Princess Anna lied to us, and in the interests of your safety and in turn, the Southern Isles, it was necessary to push for answers. She should be the one to apologise, not me."
"It's not our place to question them!" she snapped, glaring at his head. "We are here as guests, not interrogators! Did you feel threatened by her? Because I certainly didn't!"
His book snapped shut and his angry brown eyes glared up at her, "Do you honestly expect me to be threatened by a twenty-one year old child?"
"That twenty-one year old young lady is the Queen of this Kingdom," Klara pointed out harshly, "and despite your arrogant insolent behaviour, graciously invited us to stay in her castle. If you put another toe out of line, you'll spend the rest of the trip on the boat."
"Put another toe out of line?" demanded Daven with a fierce scowl on his face. "I'm thirty-one, not twelve!"
"Then act your age, not your shoe size!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Me? Ridiculous? How dare-! One chance, Mister, and that's it."
"Now that is a handsome face right there."
"Eugene!"
"What? No one is this good looking," amended Prince Eugene Fitzherbet as he carefully inspected his shaving job and beard tidy up. Not one embarrassing nick, not a single pimple or zit…wait, his hair was a bit too perfect. He swept a hand through his smooth brown hair, giving it a rakish style. Then he meticulously inspected his clothes, adjusted the gold sash, and looked up in time to see Rapunzel's reflection shaking her head fondly at him. "Okay, you're not too bad yourself, Goldie."
She rolled her eyes and headed back into the small living space that their rooms adjoined. They had placed bets on which part of the castle they would be assigned, and both agreed this was the prestige guest wing. When the Eternal Winter descended on Arendelle, and it was deemed unsafe to return to the ships, the guests had been pointed in the direction of the guest wings and given the freedom to pick their own room. Then the very small castle staff hurried about preparing the selected rooms as best they could. There wasn't enough wood for all the fireplaces, so people were advised to share as much as possible, and to stay in the larger living areas.
Many of the women spent their time in the informal sitting room talking, readying books from the vast library, playing the piano, singing and dancing, while the men crowded in the games room, playing card games and pocket billiards or snooker on one of the finest tables many had ever seen.
Three days later the Eternal Winter was over and everyone sent on their merry way home, after a personal, yet very brief, meeting with the Queen, who looked years younger than she had during her coronation, and very attractive in her ice material dress.
Rapunzel had been very disappointed not to get more time to spend with another person who possessed magical abilities, which was why she jumped at the chance to return to Arendelle, even if she had to beg for permission from her father. She was the only heir to the Corona throne, and the seas between Corona and Arendelle had been known to become unpredictable and very dangerous late august to mid spring.
With her mother on her side, King Thomas had no option but to allow the trip to go ahead on the official pretext of maintaining good diplomatic ties with Arendelle and the Southern Isles. The unofficial reason depended on Rapunzel's careful assessment of the Arendelle royal sisters. And if the way Anna and Rapunzel had interacted earlier today was anything to go by, then Eugene was certain his wife would reveal the real reason behind their return to Arendelle.
After one last inspection in the mirror, and exchange of the smoulder look, Eugene followed his wife back into their living area, and was very surprised to see she hadn't even started to prepare for the dinner. Normally it only ever took her fifteen minutes to get ready but a quick glance at the clock told him they would be escorted to the dining room by Kai in about twenty.
"Why aren't you getting ready?" he asked, dropping down onto the couch beside her and draping an arm over the top of the backrest.
"Dinner's not for another hour," she replied absently, turning the page in the book she had been given by her mother to pass the time on the ship. Unfortunately, her morning sickness had doubled in strength out to sea, and she had spent the whole trip in bed sleeping, or trying to sleep.
"What?! I thought you said five thirty!"
"I did," she answered, this time looking up from her book with a cheeky grin on her face, and she patted his knee, "I know how long it takes you to get ready."
His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, before he sighed, "You cut me real deep, Goldie." She wasn't fooled by his feigned hurt voice and simply raised a pointed eyebrow, so he switched tactics. "So, an hour, huh?"
She recognised the expression on his face, the huskiness in his voice, his intent, and her hand went to his chest in a half-hearted protest, "You'll get all mussed up."
He smirked, "I do have a reputation to maintain, you know."
She made a point of sighing and rolling her eyes before her hand tightened on his golden sash and pulled him closer.
Knock, knock, knock.
The young couple jumped at the loud intrusion, and Eugene pulled back to glare at the door, "Who is it?"
Instead of answering, whoever it was opened the door, stormed inside and slammed the door shut. Eugene switched his glare from the door to the intruder, "What do you want?"
"A drink," snarled Daven as he marched across the room to the lead crystal decanter, poured a glass full, and downed it in one. "Why did I agree to come here?"
"Here, as in our private quarters, or here, as in Arendelle?" asked Eugene, unable to keep his irritation at the untimely intrusion out of his voice. "Because if it's the first, you better have a damned good reason, and if it's the second, I have no idea. After the way you challenged Queen Elsa I'm surprised you're still alive."
"Eugene!" hissed Rapunzel.
"What?" he asked innocently.
She rolled her eyes, and redirected her attention to Daven who was sculling his second glass, "Alcohol isn't the answer, you know."
Daven grunted.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked softly.
"What's there to talk about?" he demanded, pouring a third glass. "My mother is overbearing."
"Let me guess, she's peeved you were a prick to Queen Elsa?"
"Bugger off, thief."
"Ah, see, that's a little tricky since you are in my room."
Anna meticulously assessed her appearance in her mirror.
Shoes: correct feet, no obvious scuffs. Shoes: check!
Dress: Right way, not inside out, crease free, corset fully concealed at the top, skirt not caught in her bloomers…wait…what were those white specs?...Fluff, easy fix. Dress: check!
Face: makeup light, natural, no smudged lipstick, mascara neat, no dirt, all perfect. Therefore, face: check!
Hair: Neatly coiled braid with green ribbon…wait, one wayward curl. Why was there always one curl that had to be difficult? It took longer to coax that curl back into place but…Why didn't she have a crown? As a Princess, and especially the Crown Princess of Arendelle, shouldn't she have a crown? What was the point of being 'crown' anything if she didn't actually get a crown? Elsa had a crown. It was beautiful, like her sister, and surprisingly heavy. Elsa had only let her wear it once – she claimed Anna's head swelled too big for the crown during that 'moment of weakness' and refused to share again.
Oh well.
Hair: check!
Everything looked perfect.
Satisfied she wouldn't disappoint her picky perfectionist sister, Anna turned away from her mirror toward her clock.
Wow, that had only taken eight and a half minutes. Dinner was still an hour away.
What to do? What to do?
The solution was simple.
Ten seconds later she was outside Elsa's door. The thought of knocking didn't even occur to her. After all, Elsa was very self-conscious and dressed behind her privacy shield even when her room was empty.
She pushed the door open, and her gaze immediate sought out her sister, before her eyebrows rose high. There, curled up into a little ball in the centre of her large bed, in the usual unnaturally cold room where little snowflakes floated around lazily, slept Elsa.
Her eyebrows lowered into a thoughtful frown. What was Elsa doing asleep? Gerda had interrupted the 'How to be Queen' lesson –which was surprisingly interesting, Elsa was a really good teacher- to announce their respective baths were ready. Anna had soaked in her bath for at least thirty minutes, long enough for the water to turn cold and her fingers to wrinkle, before reluctantly climbing out and getting dressed.
From the looks of it, Elsa had found her bed too tempting to resist.
Yet again, the worry she had been feeling for the last two weeks started to rear up inside her. Elsa wasn't well, that seemed to be the simplest explanation. Was she burning out? Could the Snow Queen burn out? All throughout the informal education session, Elsa had been constantly rubbing her eyes and massaging her forehead.
Maybe she really did need a break? The only time away in the last three years had been the camping trip, and that had turning into a traumatic disaster. Or…were her powers growing even stronger? Could they grow stronger? They were already capable of affecting the entire Kingdom and neighbours. How stronger could they get? Was that why she had gone to the trolls?
The thought of being in charge, even temporarily, gave Anna the heebie-jeebies. How had Elsa felt when she first became Queen? But then again, Elsa had grown up completely focused on becoming Queen (and controlling her powers) that she didn't know what she missed out on. Maybe it was time Anna took over for a little while (as in a day at the absolute most) to give her sister a chance to breath the fresh air, regenerate, and reign in her spiralling out of control powers.
Anna carefully shut the door and climbed onto her older sister's bed. Dinner wasn't for an hour yet, and surely Elsa only needed thirty minutes at most to get ready. Another thirty minutes rest wouldn't hurt.
She lay back on the pillow, hands under her head, and watched the snowflakes drift about as though mesmerised. It was times like these that Anna realised she got to see her sister's magic at it's purest, when the host was asleep. Only…maybe seven times –or was it eight?- had she snuck into Elsa's rom in the middle of the night, particularly after a bad dream, to find it under siege by a ferocious blizzard.
The level of control her sister had learned to employ at will over her body language, emotions, and voice often had Anna envious, at least until she quickly reminded herself it had taken thirteen years of isolation and practice to achieve it. Anna had a quick fuse and didn't care if those who cheesed her off knew about it. However, despite her determination, Elsa's powers were stubborn, and snippets always shone through giving Elsa's true mood and feelings away.
Like now.
Elsa was peacefully asleep.
Kai inspected the six footmen and their livery carefully, looking for anything amiss that would bring a stain on the honour of the Royal Castle of Arendelle. All six were new recruits to the castle and over the last three months, one by one, were replacing the older retiring footmen. Surprisingly, Queen Elsa still hadn't noticed all the new faces. Or if she had, she hadn't said anything about it to Kai, and since she had been firmly against re-recruiting, he was certain she would have said something had she noticed.
As it were, all the older staff felt it refreshing to have new, young helping hands to pass their knowledge and experience onto. It was the highest privilege to work in the castle and serve the royal family; one many of the new recruits still had trouble believing their luck. Normally older, more experienced servants would be taken on first.
The last three official banquets had gone smoothly from the staff side of things, unlike the first disastrous one. The guests, well, that was Elsa's job, and there was a bet going to see how long it would take before Elsa finally snapped and lost her temper with the lot of them. From the tell-tale frost that formed on the ceiling, on her chair, and sometimes on the floor under her feet, during those dinners, thankfully unnoticed by any guest, it was only a matter of time. They were just lucky Elsa had learned to be incredibly patient during her years of isolation, and having her entire nobility encased in ice wouldn't win her any favourable points with foreign affairs.
Satisfied the six were presentable enough, he indicated for them to follow him into the kitchen.
Mistress Minnie Thawn was in her element. She loved catering for formal occasions, craved the chance to show off her talents and bedazzle guests with her delicious creations. And from the mouthwatering smell wafting from the kitchen, tonight's guests were in for a real treat. In her opinion, there was nothing like fine dining to help make a good impression.
She paused long enough in the midst of whatever she was doing to point out the dishes to take upstairs for the first course.
The dining room table also received a careful inspection, the silverware neatly arranged, the chairs the correct distance from the table, the cloth napkins artfully displayed, and the candles burned bright. All perfect.
A quick glance at his pocket watch showed fifteen minutes to go. As per her instructions, if Elsa wasn't present at ten minutes before commencement, it was his job to collect her. Only once had she been late, and that was after the Midsummer's Eve Festival, where she was still recovering from Anna's deceitfulness.
After ensuring everything looked spotless, and his footmen in a perfect line at the serving table, Kai headed toward Elsa's room, accepting Princess Rapunzel's bright greeting with a warm smile of his own as they passed in the hallway. She was so like Anna it was uncanny. Despite his negative feelings, Kai bowed his head politely to Lord Daven, before kindly assuring his mother that the dining room was the way they were headed.
Finally outside Elsa's room, he knocked hard, "Your majesty, it is time."
Elsa jerked awake on her bed, peering about her lantern light room with bleary eyes, her befuddled mind first trying to figure out what was going on and why she suddenly woke up. Her eyes instantly sought out her clock. Six thirty. She frowned at it before peering out the dark windows. Was it morning or night?
Wait…what was that noise?...snoring?...Both eyes widened at Anna's snoring form on her bed. Her sister was in a formal dress…why? And why was Anna on her bed in the first place?
It was just starting to dawn on her when there was a knock on the door and Kai's deep voice spoke up, "Uh, your majesty, it's time for dinner."
Shoot! The dinner! And she wasn't even dressed! It usually took her fifteen minutes to get ready!
Kai knocked again, "Your majesty, are you in there?"
"Uh, just a minute, Kai," she called out, taking a second to clear her unusually husky voice.
"A minute is about all you've got, your majesty," he politely reminded her.
"Yes, thank you, Kai, I'm aware of that." Damn, damn, damn! What was she going to do? Her dress from today was too casual for dinner, and after a quick sniff –thank goodness she didn't suffer from personal body odour or sweating!- her undergarments should still be fine.
Belatedly she realised she was spinning on the spot, with snow failing thick and fast from her ceiling, and stopped just as Anna snorted in her sleep.
Without any real thought, except that of desperation, Elsa yanked the pillow out from under her sister's head and whacked her with it, "Anna, wake up!"
Anna grunted, "Wazz…hmmmm…."
No, no, no, she was going back to sleep. A second whack! Third! On the fourth, Anna jerked awake, "What?...Elsa?...Why are you in my room?"
Elsa threw the pillow at her, "I'm not! You're in mine! Why didn't you wake me?!" With her hands free, she started fumbling with the buttons on her shirt.
Anna yawned, hugging the pillow as she sat up and rubbed a bleary eye, smudging her eyeliner, "Wake you for what?"
"Dinner!" Why was it so much harder to undo buttons in a hurry? And why did her shirt have to have so many buttons in the first place? Why didn't she pick a button free shirt to wear today? What prompted her to pick an outfit from her older style wardrobe? And why wouldn't it stop snowing?!
"Piff, it's only five thirty," Anna's sleepy voice said from the bed. "What's the big deal?"
"Big deal?!" demanded Elsa as she spun toward her sister, paused one hand long enough to point at the clock, before continuing her battle with her buttons. Five down, six to go. "It's six thirty!"
"No it's…" Anna's voice trailed off as she focused on the clock. Her eyes went wide, "Oh my gosh! It's six thirty!" Then she seemed to notice the black stain on her hand. "My hand! My makeup! Move it, I need the mirror!" And she all but pushed Elsa aside in her desperation to get to the mirror on the vanity, her hands knocking everything over in her haste to find the expensive cleanser.
"Never mind your makeup, can you give me a hand?" Her shirt was finally undone, but Elsa was discovering why it was a bad idea not to remove the over jacket first. Her hands were stuck behind her back, the two layers bulging together tightly on her upper arms.
"Turn around," instructed Anna, and she took a firm hold of both garments and tugged hard. It took a bit more pulling and wriggling of her hands before she finally slipped free. The discarded clothes were tossed on the bed, and Elsa fumbling fingers struggled to undo her skirt clasp and buttons.
Kai knocked on the door again, "Your majesty, you really need to be leaving now."
Elsa glanced at the clock –what?! Five minutes had passed already? She was officially late! And she was never late! She spun toward her sister, "Anna, help me with my dress."
Anna was too preoccupied with fixing her makeup. The black smear was mostly gone. She spared Elsa a glance, "Just make one from ice."
"You remember what happened the last time I tried to make something from ice right?!" demanded Elsa, vividly remembering the scandalous indecent bathing suit, if it could be called that.
Anna pointed at the dress on the stand, "Well, look at that dress, picture it in your mind or whatever the heck you do, and just do it!"
That…was a surprisingly good idea. She gave up on undoing her skirt, took a deep breath, and focused on the dress hanging on the dress stand. Then she took another deep breath and closed her eyes, opening herself fully to that part of her core that she feared the most. Like always, the strength, radiance, purity of her magic took her breath away. It was so alive, it always had been, and she was a fool to think she could control it.
It welcomed her touch, soured inside her, filled her so completely her veins tingled with the build-up of energy.
Then she waved her hands at her body, visualising what she wanted to happen clearly, and felt the familiar chill running down her arms, out her hands, and all over her body as her clothing loosened and changed.
"You can open your eyes," Anna informed her moments later, sounding impressed. "All done."
Elsa opened one eye, looked down, opened the other eye and sighed with relief. Despite the difference in material, and she really liked the way her ice shimmered in the lantern light, the two dresses were identical. Well, that was what she thought until she stepped toward her mirror. Above right knee split, like the last ice dress.
She stared at her bare right knee and lower leg. Why did her powers keep doing this to her? She was brought up a proper lady, and this wasn't proper. She glowered at Anna when she heard her younger sister giggling, and she directed a similar feeling toward her powers. This was not funny! So she closed her eyes, focused on her powers again, felt them respond, visualised what she wanted to happen, waited for the build-up of energy and waved her hands at her knee.
Like before, she felt the chill go down her arms and…up her arms? What the? The power settled down inside her again, and felt…smug? What was going on? When Anna snorted, she opened her eyes and stared at her knee still poking through the high split. She frowned and carefully inspected the rest of the front of the dress. No change that she could see. But she was positive something had happened.
She raised her gloved hands and stared at them thoughtfully, then she looked up at the ceiling and around her room for signs of her magic other than the still falling snow. Nothing.
Oh well, whatever had happened there wasn't time to figure it out now. Clearly her powers were still as temperamental as ever and the last thing she needed was for them to make this worse. If she concentrated on small slow steps, hopefully no one would notice.
Now she peered into the mirror over Anna's shoulder. The touch-up her makeup needed took longer that it should thanks to the disorderly chaos Anna had unfolded on her previously neat and organised vanity. Unfortunately her hair was a mess, but she had once managed to brush and style it on the run after a certain midnight practical joke spree that required an entirely new hairbrush after the old one was stained blue.
She tugged at the coil and her hair spilled free, unfolding down her back. Gathering all her pins in her mouth, Elsa headed for the door, brushing her hair as she moved, ignoring Anna's sudden plea for her to wait a second.
She didn't have a second.
The last thing she wanted was to give that insufferable Daven something to bait her with. Despite Klara's seemingly genuine reason for visiting Arendelle, Elsa knew exactly why King Emanuel had sent the less reputable of his brothers along.
Her father had made her study every Kingdom, Empire, and country in the world to the finest insignificant detail. King Emanuel would be surprised with the level of detail she knew about the Southern Isles. He was scared, paranoid even, and maintaining good ties with Arendelle obviously wasn't as beneficial to him as knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the Snow Queen. She had no qualms about cutting ties completely with the Southern Isles as well, since they weren't even trade partners but neighbours occupying the same area of the world, but hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Exchanging sharp wit wasn't an issue; her father had trained her well in all aspects of being a good Queen. Although he never envisioned her inheriting so young –how could he?- he prepared her as best he could. He knew she would be under more pressure than he ever had been because of her gender. So he taught her to stand her ground and expertly wield the double-edged sword that was politics.
The only reason she didn't send them on their way the moment the official apology was out of the way was because of Princess Rapunzel. Corona had never been a strong trade partner because of the vast distance and differences between the two Kingdoms. What could a country that spent five months under snow offer a land of never ending sunshine? And vice versa.
Despite that, her grandfather had made efforts to keep the two on friendly ties, and it was her mother's homeland, so that made it important to Elsa. Another reason was because of Anna. The two Princesses were similar in many ways but Rapunzel was older with a few more life experiences. Hopefully she could have a stabling influence on Elsa's impulsive younger sister.
Kai was anxiously peering at his pocket watch and contemplating knocking yet again when the door was yanked open and Elsa sprinted out. She spared him a sheepish hello and apology, both of which were muffled by the pins in her mouth and practically incomprehensible, not noticing his stunned expression before she turned on the ball of her foot and raced down the hallway.
Anna appeared in the door threshold, the magenta cloak bundled up in her arms. "Elsa, wait!" she cried out, running down the hall after her sister.
Despite being rather overweight and unfit, two factors he didn't care to regard, Kai ran after the two sisters as best he could. Normally he frowned at such undignified behaviour but there was no way he was letting Elsa enter the dining room without the proper announcement.
Anna caught up to her quicker sister closer to the dining room where she had come to almost complete standstill to begin the complex beginning phase of styling her hair. With all her hair brushed over to the left side of her head it allowed Anna the chance to confirm what she thought she had seen when Elsa turned to run out of her room actually was what she had seen.
Apart from the indecent knee high split that clearly revealed way to much skin and a lack of 'proper' undergarments -which Anna was starting to think of as the Snow Queen's personal fashion statement and hoped it might become a trend in the future- there was nothing wrong with the front of the dress. It was an exact replica of what hung on the stand except for the beautiful shimmering ice material it was made from. The back however…if Elsa was aware of what had happened, she doubted her older sister would have been in such a rush to leave her room.
The skirt part was fine, as were the crisscross of the straps at the base of her neck, it was just the bit where the rest of the back of the dress was missing…as were Elsa's other undergarments. Her back was completely bare, and the natural paleness of her skin highlighted against the light blue material.
It was really a beautiful dress, and Anna hoped one day it might become a fashionable style, but she doubted Elsa would see it that way. Her sister was very conservative with her clothing choices, a perfect picture of elegance at all times, that it was surprising her powers had done something rebellious like this the three times they had been called on to create garments. And both times she had tried to 'amend' her ice outfit, her powers hadn't cooperated. Like tonight – above elbow gloves.
Now how to tell her…
She trotted to be a few paces ahead of Elsa's sudden snail pace and held out the cloak in her hands, "You forgot this."
Instead of answering, Elsa tossed her the hairbrush -which she missed and it clattered to the floor. Upon retrieving it, she decided it was better to wait for her sister to finish what she was doing first considering the complete look on concentration on her face.
After the pins were slowly put in place, one by one, Elsa cautiously first released, then moved her hands away from the complex bun. Satisfied her hair was perfect -and it was- she frowned at the cloak, "Do you think I need it?"
Anna nodded vigorously, "Trust me, it goes with the look."
"The look?" repeated Elsa with a puzzled expression on her face as she slowly took the garment from Anna's hands. She raised an eyebrow, "What look?"
"The Queen look," replied Anna, now holding up the other item she was carrying, her sister's crown.
Elsa considered both for several seconds before sighing, "Well, if you think I need them, then okay. I trust you, Anna."
From the way the young footmen kept darting quick glances at each other, the clock above the fireplace mantel and the main door, Daven gathered it was very unusual for the Queen and Princess to be twenty minutes late. Without the butler Kai to direct them or take charge, the young men somewhat helplessly watched on as the six guests chose their own seats.
From his memory of his family dinner table and the several times he had dined in the Corona Royal Palace, Daven assumed that Elsa, as Queen and head of the royal family, sat at the end of the table. He wasn't sure which side Anna would take, left or right, and decided to simply take the chair to Elsa's immediate left, after ensuring his mother was fully occupied.
Klara was talking with the kind old man who had introduced himself as the archbishop, that when she did notice her seated son, a knowing and worried expression crossed her face, before she quickly concealed it. Rapunzel and the thief were talking with the other guest, Baron Mellem, Mayor of Arendelle Town.
It took all of Elsa's self-control not to growl when she realised the seating arrangement at the table put Daven directly to her left side. Given the first two…interesting official dinners with her noble court, Elsa instructed Kai to always ensure the archbishop was not only invited but attending, and to have him sit in that chair. With the older man and Anna on either side, she felt the odds of a power mishap involving her other pompous guests were significantly lower.
Instead, she forced the polite tight-lipped smile onto her face, raised her chin, moved her hands together, and regarded the gathering in her usual regal deportment. Until she realised the footman that hastened to her chair wasn't a face she recognised.
He was a tall young man, with bright red hair, tanned and heavily freckled face, with green eyes. His polite expression flickered to one of uncertainty and a little fear when she stopped in her tracks to stare at him.
Who was he?
Clearly a footmen from his formal dark green livery and presence in her dining hall, but she hadn't recruited any new staff despite Kai's insistence she should.
Surely Kai wouldn't have gone around her and recruited anyway?
She glanced at the serving table to where Kai normally stood, but found two other tense young unfamiliar men.
"Uh, Elsa, everything okay?" asked her worried sister, who was standing at her own seat waiting on the Queen. Behind her chair was a fourth unfamiliar face. And next to her, waiting behind a concerned Princess Rapunzel, was a fifth unfamiliar face.
There was only one explanation, and when this dinner was over, she was going to have a firm word with Kai. How dare he go behind her back and recruit new staff like this. And how dare he surprise her like this!
Belatedly she realised everyone was staring at her oddly, so she took a deep breath, pushed the issue from her mind and forced the tight-lip polite smile back in place before continuing to her chair as if nothing had happened, easily manipulating her cloak so that it didn't pull uncomfortable when she sat down.
All but Daven took their seats after her, and she noticed a sixth unfamiliar face moving away from Klara's chair.
Just how many people did Kai recruit?! And why wasn't Mister Insufferable sitting down? She'd rather not talk to him if she didn't have too, and it was straining her neck to look up at his smug face.
He cleared his throat and inclined his head, "Queen Elsa, Princess Anna, I wish to offer my sincerest apology for the hostile behaviour I used in the stables this afternoon." He had the deepest voice she had ever imagined a man could have, not even Kai's came close.
However, despite the words and the seriousness on his face –which had hastily replaced the smugness- Elsa didn't believe a word of his apology. Something about the way his teeth hardly moved when he spoke gave her the impression he was only saying what he had to say to please his mother. A quick glance at the older woman seated beside him confirmed that impression. "It was uncalled for and inappropriate. I assure you it is not a reflection of my Kingdom, or my own views, but of a son ordered to protect his mother against any adversity."
"Adversity?" asked Anna thoughtfully, a very innocent expression on her face. One that didn't fool Elsa who was learning to recognise her sister's sneakier body language, and she silently thanked her sister for taking the lead. It gave her a moment to compose her thoughts and feelings. Arendelle had her fair share of conceited, pompous nobles –she usually enjoyed putting them back in their place whenever they started to get ambitious- but none of them came close to comparing with the Southern Isles Prince. "I don't understand. What was the problem? Did you feel threatened?"
Daven laughed shortly, but there was no amusement on his face, "Hardly."
Anna cocked her head to the side, "Then what was the problem?"
"You lied about your sister's whereabouts," he explained bluntly. "When the safety of my mother is in my hands, I do not appreciate being lied to."
"And you thought it was your place to call her up on it?" It took Elsa a moment to realise that soft voiced yet harsh question orientated from Princess Rapunzel, not her sister, and from the way his eyes widened –it was difficult to tell with his head so high above them- Daven too was surprised by the older Princess' decision to cut in.
Rapunzel wasn't even bothering to conceal her anger with the man who was supposedly her friend. From Elsa's point of view, there was no way someone like Rapunzel would be friends with a man like Daven if this was his normal behaviour, and she wouldn't be challenging him like this if it was.
King Emanuel must be really something if he could persuade his eighth brother to risk everything in this manner. Maybe she should slam the 'neutral door' shut after all. She didn't want to be 'friends' with a Kingdom run by a man like Emanuel was being painted to be.
She was so preoccupied with her thought she actually missed Daven's response, but Anna was paying close attention. Either it was the 'Queen lesson' from earlier today, or Anna had been hiding her training –or potential- because she had a real knack for this. Reading between the lines, hearing what wasn't being said, correctly interpreting all signs of body language whilst not giving away anything in return was a tricky skill to master.
Anna leaned forward in her chair, elbows on the table –the way Elsa hated- and linked her fingers together under her chin, to innocently ask, "Then why are you here?"
Elsa wasn't the only one surprised by Anna's deliberately direct question if the archbishop's sudden intake of air was anything to go by. They had discussed the Southern Isles, and all members of the Royal family, as thoroughly as possible during the lesson. Some of the brothers didn't have much of a dossier –Hans hadn't- but a few –like Daven- had been impressively detailed.
"Haven't I made that clear enough, Princess?"
Anna shrugged, "No, not really." Then she gestured at his mother, "You claim to be here under orders –from you're King, I'm assuming- to safeguard your mother. Yet she is here to apologise to Elsa and I over what…Hans did." –There was no missing the venom in her voice when she practically spat Hans's name- "Now, if I was King Emanuel, and I had one brother who I knew was a loose cannon, I wouldn't be sending him anywhere near a place like Arendelle if I was worried about maintaining diplomatic ties."
In that moment, Elsa suddenly realised she hadn't been giving Anna enough credit. Her younger sister had a short fuse and willingly snapped at whoever peeved her off. From the archbishop and Mellum's expressions, she could see they were surprised by Anna's calm, thoughtful even, assessment of Daven's 'predicament'.
Elsa fought down the urge to smile, Bravo, Anna.
Anna wasn't feeling brave at all, in fact it was an effort to keep her body from shrinking back and trembling in fear as Daven's brown eyes smouldered at her. She still couldn't believe she was challenging him! This was Elsa's job, not hers! And Elsa did the 'Ice Queen' thing so much better than Anna could possibly pull off.
But the jerk just made her so mad! And Elsa wasn't well –despite her assurances that she was-, she shouldn't have to deal with a prick like this. Anna hadn't intended to speak up at all –she actually wanted to punch him in the face- but the words left her mouth before she could stop them. No doubt Elsa could have done it better – and she probably was cursing Anna for hinting at the extensive dossier her father had collected on the Southern Isles brothers.
She risked a glance at Elsa –it was an effort to keep her eyes from widening when she realised her sister was trying not to smile. Instantly, some of the fear –from both scary tall intimidating Daven and her conviction she was making a mess of an already delicate situation- evaporated. Elsa was impressed! An all but impossible feat!
It was a struggle to keep her voice level -in her version of Elsa's Ice Queen voice- and to keep her happiness about finally doing something right off her face. "So I ask you again, Prince Daven, why are you here?"
Daven stiffened –either from Anna's enquiry, the use of his 'Prince' title, or from the way everyone turned to regard him. The muscles in his neck tightened and his jaw clenched, while his burning brown eyes, under narrowed black eyebrows, glared at her. A bit of that fear crept back up inside her. This wasn't a man who would tolerate being trifled with, and the last person to cross in a dark alley –not that she had any intention of ever being caught in a dark alley.
Perhaps Elsa realised that –actually, she probably knew it all along but was happy to let Anna take the lead for a while- because she raised her hand, attracting their attention. "Your reputation precedes you, Prince Daven."
Now that was the Ice Queen. Cool, neutral, calm. While Anna hated being on the receiving end of that voice –and shuddered at the way the room suddenly dropped ten degrees in temperature- she loved watching Elsa in action –especially when it involved men like Daven. There was no denying it, the Ice Queen had style.
Daven's eyes flashed, "How flattering. So does yours."
"Indeed?" inquired Elsa, with a flash of amusement in her voice. Anna tried not to frown at her – was Elsa actually enjoying this or was that warble in her voice fake? Her sister smiled – and from Anna's perspective, it actually looked like a genuine smile. "However, unlike you, I am only guilty of being born with magical" –she flicked her gloved wrist and set a small shower of snowflakes into the air above her palm- "abilities."
Rapunzel and Klara gasped, their eyes going wide, and a delighted yet awed expression forming on their faces. Even Anna felt her eyebrows rise –first off, Elsa rarely displayed her magic so openly in front of anyone, and secondly, she was wearing gloves! She shouldn't be able to do that! But…then again, they were gloves made of ice, her ice, so maybe that was why it was possible.
…Unless the gloves never did anything…?
Anyway, if she was reading him right –and there was very chance she wasn't- Daven too was impressed with the innocent swirl of snowflakes now floating down onto Elsa's cutlery. Until he forced that superior expression back onto his face, "Magical abilities capable of altering the climate and affecting an entire Kingdom," he pointed out before adding smugly, "I only affect the people around me."
Gah, he was so full of himself and so arrogant! Anna wanted nothing more than to punch his smug face in and (hopefully) knock out a few teeth in the process.
"I've noticed," Elsa replied dryly. She raised an eyebrow in Rapunzel's direction, "Is he always this charming?"
The older Princess spoke through clenched teeth, "If I realised he was going to be like this I doubt I would have offered to come as support."
"Ah, so he can be civilised when it suits," remarked Elsa with a small laugh. Anna stared at her –the twinkle in her blue eyes, the soft smile on her lips, the laughter – she was seriously enjoying this. How was that even possible?!
"Very civilised," replied Rapunzel. "I'm…at a loss to understand why he's being such a prick to you."
"Oh, that's the easy part," declared Elsa. Then she frowned, as if troubled, "The hard part is deciding where to put him on display once he becomes my latest ice sculpture."
Wait, what?! She was joking right? Right?
Elsa ignored the alarmed expressions directed her way to raise a delicate eyebrow at Anna, "What do you think? My office? Castle courtyard? Town square?" She was serious. Holy cow, she was serious. Anna felt her face drain of colour as Elsa glanced over at the Mayor. "Or would that be a bit too ghastly for you, Mellem?"
The Mayor's obvious panic had his face turning an alarming shade of red as he spluttered into a gloved fist, his beady eyes darting between the two sisters, "Uh…you're…only joking, right, your majesty?"
Elsa blue eyes flashed, and she took a noisy deep breath that she released in a huff, rolling her eyes, "Of course I'm only joking." –several breaths were sighed in relief, including Anna's, at the irritation in Elsa's voice- "If I was that way inclined there'd be no room left in the town square!"
Anna snorted, she couldn't help it. A vivid picture came to her mind of exactly what Elsa implied, with the villagers shopping around the statues, and Daven towering over the lot of them. She giggled, and the sharp warning kick under the table from Elsa's direction only set her off more. The napkin she belatedly raised to her lips did little to muffle the laughter, and when Rapunzel started snickering beside her –probably because of the exasperated long suffering look only an older sister could get directed toward her younger sister on Elsa's face- set the whole table off.
Except for Daven of course, but if anyone was watching him, they would have seen the brief flicker of sympathy and understanding cross his face, before he concealed that too.
When the laughter settled, Elsa continued in a firm voice, "Let me perfectly frank with you, Prince Charming, I am only concerned about Arendelle and her interests, not the Southern Isles -or even Corona for that matter." She paused long enough to give Rapunzel an apologetic look before fixing her blue eyes back on Daven, "So you can tell your King to stand down and stop being so paranoid, and maybe we can get through the next few days in a civilised manner. I'd rather not cut all ties with the Southern Isles the same way I did with Weaseltown –Weselton," she hastily corrected. Despite Kai's continued use of the improper pronunciation, Elsa had always referred to the Duke's homeland the correct way.
Anna snickered again at the unintentional blunder.
"Now, I believe it's time we start eating before an angry cook descends upon us, or rather, me in particular, for letting all her hard work be spoiled." Elsa raised an eyebrow at Daven, "Are we in agreement?"
"Perfectly, your majesty," replied Daven in a cold voice of his own.
Elsa waved a hand at Daven's chair, "You may sit now."
The footmen were just moving forward with the serving platers when Daven lunched upright off his seat mere moments after sitting down, a flabbergast look on his face as he spun around to stare at the chair cushion. His mouth moved but no sound came out as he turned that expression toward Elsa.
She raised an eyebrow again, "Is there something else you wish to get off your chest?"
He took a deep breath before exhaling so forcefully his nostrils flared. Then he sat down again, tensing up as if uncomfortable, with a stony expression now on his face.
Elsa smiled, "Good."
"She froze my chair!" ranted Daven to his mother minutes after the two had returned from dinner. "You call my behaviour unprovoked! Hers is childish!" He whipped off his formal white jacket and gloves, tossing both on a nearby couch, before stalking over to the customary drinks table. He needed a drink of something strong, and glared at the empty decanter.
How dare Queen Elsa humiliate him like that in front of everyone! The back of his pants felt damp and his bottom had long gone numb from the cold. He had been forced to wait until everyone else exited before leaving the room, knowing how tell-tale white pants became when wet.
"I thought she handled you very elegantly," reported his mother. She sounded impressed, and looked it. Clearly, she was still on Elsa's side. The thought of telling her Emanuel's strict orders didn't even occur to him. There was no way she would understand, nor would she ever forgive Emanuel for using her in this fashion.
"Elegantly, my ass!" he retorted angrily, storming across the room to the warm fireplace, positioning his backside in front of the fire. "She's a damn child!"
Klara shook her head somewhat sadly at him, "She's much more than that, Daven. You're the child if you cannot see it."
"See what?" he demanded, now rubbing his posterior with both hands, trying to entice feeling back into the cheeks. Despite the beginning and the way Elsa ignored him for the rest of the meal, the five course dinner had been pleasant…if not for the effects of the frozen cushion. Having never been one for small talk anyway, Daven listened in and observed the conversation happening around him. He had discovered a long time ago he could learn more about his companions that way and had been surprised by the different snippets of Queen Elsa's personality that shone through the icy exterior throughout the night.
There was definitely more to her than met the eye, and though he would never admit it, she had intrigued him. It was obvious the two sisters cared a great deal about the other, and while Elsa was content to leave the majority of the small talk to Anna and the archbishop, whenever she became uncomfortable with the direction of the talk, Anna would redirect the subject so fast and yet so subtly no one seemed to notice.
Unfortunately for her, Daven was paying close attention to Elsa.
It was already abundantly clear intimidation wouldn't work with her. He needed a new approach, but that could wait for tomorrow. Right now, he needed a drink. Surely Arendelle Town had a publican with late opening hours.
And he needed to find out more about this Midsummer's Eve Festival. Something had happened during it, something the young Queen wasn't happy about and it involved Anna somehow. Why else would she have glared at her suddenly apprehensive sister when she said, "Of course, how could I forget that?" when the subject of singing was brought up by the priest –and backed up by the Mayor.
The last time the Town's few cells were this crowded was the night of the Midsummer's Eve Festival, and like that night, the inmates found themselves in the company of the Queen once again. Although, this time she was their interrogator.
It was two in the morning, and being the last week of September, rather uncomfortably cold. The twenty-three men huddled closer together while they waited for the heat from the fireplace to warm up the vast room, watching their unimpressed Queen pace from one side of the cell they were detained in to the other, expertly manipulating her long flowing cloak so that she didn't trip on it.
Despite eighteen of the men being married, all admired the way that one toned pale leg slipped out from the knee high split in her shimmering ice material formal dress. Normally a pub brawl wouldn't be called to her attention minutes after it had started, especially when it occurred in the middle of the night, but Bobby Eversen assumed it was because of the other party involved that she had been notified.
He, and his fellows, were still surprised when she did turn up with her protective Royal Guard. The usual punishment for a brawl depended on the injuries sustained and damages to private and public property but usually ended up with the guilty parties spending a few hours in the pillory. With Queen Elsa's direct involvement, they all prayed she wouldn't do anything…unnatural to them.
Now they watched her pacing with baited breaths and anxious eyes.
Eventually she sighed, and came to a standstill in front of the group, with one hand on a hip and her other hand massaging her forehead, as she surveyed the battered, bruised and bleeding mob sitting on the ground before her. On the outside of the bars stood five members of the Royal Guard, including the Captain, in one impressive, intimidating line.
"So let me get this straight," she began, slowly lowering the hand from her forehead and placing it on a hip as well. She looked and sounded tired, and Bobby felt a pang of guilt go through him, and from the way his mates shifted uncomfortably, he knew they felt the same way. "Prince Daven came into the publican and…"
Her voice trailed off suggestively, and her big blue eyes regarded them somewhat imploringly. Certainly Constable Fett told her the story before she arrived to interrogate them? Either she didn't trust Fett, and considering the tension between the two after what happened to Princess Anna, Bobby thought that was probably likely, or she wanted to hear the events from her subject's mouths.
Ivan, the blacksmith, somewhat unrecognisable with his right cheek swollen, lifted the bloodstained cloth from the cut on his forehead, and answered for the nervous bunch, "He wanted a pint, your majesty, but Ernie refused him."
"Ernie's pub, Ernie's rules," five of the men spoke up in unison. They had often been on the receiving end of Ernie's rules. The old bartender was fair and well respected, and he had no quarrels throwing anyone out or refusing service if he felt it was warranted. His two sons were twice his size, packed with muscle, and no one was stupid enough to challenge Ernie twice.
Elsa slowly nodded, "And the reason he wasn't served was because…?"
Then men squirmed under her steady gaze, exchanging looks with each other, asking silently if they should or shouldn't. After several long minutes of uncomfortable silence and nervous fidgeting, Bobby decided to risk it. Being Anna's accomplice during the Midsummer's Eve Festival, he had had the unique opportunity to watch his Queen slowly loosen up and relax under the effects of alcohol. If he was reading her right, and he probably wasn't, he thought she seemed a little amused by the night's events, instead of angered, like she should be.
"We knows what he did to you, majesty," he explained in a voice that started trembling when her blue eyes gazed directly at him and recognition dawned on her face. He paused to clear it, "In the stables. We knows what he said, and we don't like hearing it."
"Hear, hear," the others chanted, several pumping their fists into the air.
"No one talks to our Queen like that!" snarled Burnaby, a dock worker with three little daughters, and now missing two front teeth. "The prick was asking for it."
"Southern Isles scum!" seethed Paul, another dock worker. Half his face was covered in blood from a split eyebrow and lip. Despite all the hard hits, he kept going back for more. "You should send him home in ice!"
"Yeah!" cheered the rest of the men, and several offered other descriptions of Daven's character that weren't really appropriate for the young Queen's ears. Bobby noticed her eyes widen at a particularly crude comment that was very applicable in his opinion.
She held up both of her hands, palm towards them. "Alright, alright, you've made you point," she all but shouted over the rowdy men. One by one they fell silent and looked up at her. She rubbed her forehead again, "I…uh…" Her voice trailed off and she shook her head at them with a small laugh, "I don't think I needed to hear half of that but I appreciate your honesty."
The men laughed in turn as the last of the tension in the small cell seemed to lift and they all relaxed a little before their Queen. "Sorry, majesty, but it's true," shouted Knut over the laughter.
"Whether or not it's true, I, uh, well, for starters, I don't even what to ask what half the stuff you lot just said meant, and for seconds, I…" she paused to take a deep breath, and a vulnerability a Queen should probably never show to anyone that made her look so much younger replaced the laughter on her face as she told them in a soft, sincere voice, "I really appreciate you all standing up for me. After…" her voice wavered a little, "after everything that's happened, it really means a lot to me."
The men squirmed a little and tried to shrug off their Queen's touched admission as manly as they could. Bobby wanted to give her a hug but realised she probably wouldn't appreciate it.
Noticing their discomfort, Elsa cleared her throat, "What I don't understand is how none of you actually managed to hit him."
"Because you have a bunch of slow overweight pacifists for subjects, your majesty," a deep voice replied, and all heads whirled to where four members of the Corona Royal Guard were escorting Daven and a young woman in a purple dress with short brown hair and big green eyes – big angry green eyes- by.
For a split second the men simply stared at him, as if struggling to understand what he had just said. Then it clicked, and as one, they surged at the smug, superior man, held back by the closed bar wall, which was how Bobby found Elsa practically wedged into his arms. She had drawn her arms in close and seemed rather uncomfortable being squeezed in the middle of a pack of enraged men. Not once had it ever occurred to him that she would feel like touching ice, and he wished he could pull back to first, give her some space, and second protect his body from any accidental ice related damage. Gosh she was cold!
"All bark and no bite," Daven sneered loudly over the jeering, ignoring whatever the young woman beside him said to him. She looked livid, whoever she was.
Next thing Bobby knew Elsa was pushing the top of her cloak into his hands –suddenly he realised he was standing on the other end of it- and trying to squeeze between the two men in front of her toward the closed sliding gate. Suddenly the jerk on the outside didn't matter anymore. He forced his eyes to blink…once…twice…three times. Yes, he was definitely seeing what he thought he was seeing. Wow!
And he wasn't the only one. Around him, his fellow inmates fell silent, and they too stared. The rest quietened down one by one when they noticed those around them shutting up and peered around each other to try figure out what was so fascinating. By this stage, Elsa had managed to push through to the front of the pack.
Breaths were sucked in, eyes went wide, pulses quickened. Breathing was completely forgotten. This was too much skin for a man to handle easily, especially for a very beautiful young woman.
Captain Nielsen's order to 'stand back' was unnecessary and fell on deaf ears, and he regarded them all curiously as he released Elsa from the cell. By the time he figured out what was going on –and his eyes also went wide before he pointedly looked away- Elsa was already glaring up at Daven with her hands on her hips.
"I will not tolerate anyone speaking about my subjects in that manner," she informed him coldly, and Bobby shivered as the temperature in the cell dropped dramatically, the men in front of him pushed back on the group as frost formed on the cell bars. Even the young woman in purple backed up a step, staring down at the frost spreading across the ground from Elsa's feet.
Daven sneered down at the young Queen, "Why? Because it's true?"
Clang!
The sound echoed in the air long after Daven had crumpled to the frosted floor at Elsa's feet. The young Queen's jaw had dropped and she was staring at the other young woman in wide eyed horror. The woman in purple shrugged, and tossed a frying pan –frying pan?!- at one of the Corona guards, "He was asking for it."
"But-"
She waved an unworried hand at the unconscious man at her feet, "Don't worry. It's not the first time, and clearly, it certainly won't be the last. He'll be fine."
Then she stepped over Daven and stalked out leaving a flabbergast crowd in her wake. Two of the Corona Guards snapped out of their daze and hastened after her.
Once it sunk in and Daven didn't get up, the wild cheering from the inmates could have lifted the roof off the building and did wake up everyone in a two hundred metre radius of the cells. As it were, Elsa had to cover her ears as she turned on her heel to follow the mysterious frying pan wielding woman in purple from the cells.
Arendelle is certainly cooler than Corona, thought Princess Rapunzel as she snuggled back into bed pulling the blankets high over her shoulders and nestling into Eugene's side. He shifted in his sleep, his arms automatically tightening around her, repositioning her against him.
No one had mentioned what time breakfast normally occurred in the morning, but she assumed one of the Arendelle staff would perform the wake-up call when it was time. And it was only…three?...in the morning, so surely she could get at least another four hours sleep.
She didn't regret clonking Daven over the head with a frying pan for a millisecond. He deserved it, and when he woke up with that familiar headache, bruise and bump, he would know exactly what happened. And if he was smart enough –which she was starting to question- he would understand why.
It didn't make sense for him to be this horrible toward Queen Elsa, and she hated the fact his actions were reflecting poorly on Corona.
Next time she wouldn't save him from being iced.
Klara Anderson woke at the crack of dawn, and began the morning with her usual rituals. Prayer, then a soak in the warm bath her lady's maid had prepared, before getting ready for breakfast. She wasn't surprised to not see her son in the adjoining living room. After his childish rant after a splendid and immensely enjoyable dinner, she figured he would now be sulking in his room.
At least, she hoped he was still in his room.
Once again, he had embarrassed her last night and not only made her good intentions seem questionable, but those of his brother, the King. And his unexpected hostile attitude and behaviour was putting a strain on his apparent friendship with Princess Rapunzel.
This wasn't like him, at all. Even during his drunken years he had never attacked someone without good reason. As far as she was aware, all Queen Elsa was guilty of was accidently causing an Eternal Winter – and she managed to unthaw everything as though the snow had never been there, not a single life was lost –human and animal alike- nor did any farmer's lose their crops. And she had granted mercy on Hans instead of executing him as was her lawful right.
She lay awake most of the night thinking about this, and how she really didn't know her son…how she really didn't know several of her sons. If Princess Anna's speculation was correct –and the way she took charge of the conversation in the beginning after Daven's apology had both surprised and impressed Klara- then Emanuel didn't care about staying on good terms with Arendelle. If that was true, Elsa would technically be in her rights to declare Daven's actions as hostile intent on behalf of the Southern Isles. And Emanuel would know that –so why risk it? Was he hoping Elsa would let it slide the same way she allowed Hans to live –that her compassion would permit this kind of behaviour?
And Daven…he had been such a sweet boy growing up, infatuated with everything Navy from the age of seven. Honest, spirited, a real challenge for the nannies and tutors, and so curious about everything. And after he enlisted at sixteen and returned from his two year training exchange with the British Navy, he came back a handsome, mature, talented, very respectable and sensitive young Lieutenant. And he continued to grow into the one of the finest Captain's in the fleet –and youngest, at twenty-one. Despite the usual grumbling, Daven owed his early promotion more to his achievements than his family connections.
Until the accident three years later.
The doctor's called it 'survivor's guilt'. A mental breakdown. Grief.
He couldn't cope. He was so angry with everyone and everything. Opioid abuse, alcohol, drunken brawls. His father could only tolerate so much, and with Daven spurning all treatment and offers of help, he had no choice but to send the son he had been most proud of away.
They lost word of him, until one day out of the blue years later the Southern Isles agent in Corona sent word that he had been spotted in the company of Princess Rapunzel and Eugene. The reports that followed were encouraging, and the man who stepped off the Corona ship several weeks ago looked and sounded like the Captain Daven Anderson she remembered.
Now this.
If she had any hope of leaving on good terms, Daven needed to be confined to the ship where he could cause no more harm.
It was still early morning according to the level of light shining in through the windows, but a brisk morning walk usually helped her prepare for potentially difficult days. The long carpeted halls were deserted, and much colder than in her room. She pulled her light coat tighter around her body.
Now…where were the main doors located again?
Without a device to keep track of time except the slowly strengthening sunlight, Klara had no idea how long she wandered around the castle completely lost and disorientated, and she sighed in obvious relief when she crossed paths with Kai.
The man was tall by Arendelle standards but a head shorter than her giant eighth son, and very large. Most of the Kingdom's subjects seem to be on that side of the scale. He bowed politely, "Good morning, your majesty."
"Good morning, Kai," she began but her voice faltered a little at the flicker of annoyance that crossed his face before he quickly concealed it. She cleared her throat, "I was looking for the gardens but feel like I've been going around in circles for an hour. Can you help me?"
He smiled and bobbed his head, "Of course. This way if you please."
They backtracked along the corridors and when they found the large circular flight of stairs, she finally felt like she had her bearings back, and turned to thank him. "I should be right from here. When is breakfast served?"
"Not for another hour, your majesty."
The autumn colours of the garden were spectacular, and she wove around the stone paths admiring every part. Several geese strolled past, and a few birds tweeted in the trees. In the not so far away stables that she was yet to find, horses neighed, and the voices of the castle workers floated on the morning breeze.
When she guessed about thirty minutes had passed, Klara turned back toward the castle. With it towering over the garden, at least she didn't get lost this time, but she was surprised to find a young housemaid waiting just inside the side entrance.
She curtseyed, "Queen Elsa has asked to speak with you, your majesty."
"Of course, please show me the way."
Elsa often joked that the only time Anna was on time was when it was food related.
So Anna was very surprised to walk into the dining room that morning to find the only other occupants were the young footmen waiting patiently at the serving table. Usually she wouldn't be surprised as Elsa rarely had breakfast with her but today was different.
There were guests in the castle. People she actually wanted to talk to.
She smiled brightly at the men, bid them good morning, and took her customary seat.
Breakfast smelt like…eggs and toast. Her favourite. She was so hungry that she didn't care if it offended anyone if she started early.
A second helping was just being placed before her when Rapunzel and Eugene made their appearance.
Both looked refreshed, although Eugene was rubbing an eye sleepily, and wore light winter clothing. Morning greetings were exchanged, and Anna waited until the couple were seated –across from her- before enquiring politely, "Did you sleep well? Was the room warm enough?"
Rapunzel smiled, "I slept very well. I was snug as a bug in a rug." Then she looked up at the nearby footmen, "Just some toast and butter, please."
"Certainly, your highness," acknowledged Tobias, and he waited until he had Eugene's request before preparing both.
"So what's on the agenda for today?" asked Eugene eagerly, his eyes peering out the window at the bright blue sky. When his wife not so subtly elbowed him in the ribs, he raised his eyebrows at her, "What?"
Rapunzel sighed, "I'm sorry, Anna –I may call you Anna, right? I mean, if that's okay-"
"Anna's fine," assured Anna with a grin. "If Rapunzel is fine with you?"
"More than fine," she answered with a wide grin. "Anyway, last time we were here we didn't get to see much of the Kingdom, so Eugene – and I – are keen to explore, if that's acceptable."
It was more than acceptable. "What do you want to see?" Anna asked eagerly. "I can show you the town, but we'll have to have a Royal Guard escort if we go beyond."
Eugene frowned, "Why? Is it dangerous?"
"No, not really." Anna shrugged, "I mean, we have wild animals and stuff the same as any other forest, but Elsa thinks I'm reckless." She said the last part with a laugh and eye roll. "And since I'm the heir, and she's determined to keep it that way, I have to be safeguarded. At all times. Except in the town, normally she's okay with that. Probably because Major Tag-a-long is discreetly following me."
"Major Tag-a-long?"
"Oh, you met him yesterday. Major Treslow. He's like second in charge of the Royal Guard. I just call him that because…well…he always has to tag-a-long. Kind of a bummer. And it's irritating, because I know he reports back to Elsa on everything Kristoff and I do."
"Kristoff?" asked Rapunzel, after taking a bite from her piece of toast.
Anna blushed and tucked a curl behind an ear, "Oh, he's…uh…well, he's my…" Her voice trailed off, and she didn't know why she always felt…like she had butterflies in her stomach whenever asked about the man she was very much in love with. She wasn't embarrassed by him, far from him, but sometimes just thinking about him made her go all shy. With his messy blonde curls, his big brown eyes, the stubble he had to shave off almost every day, the goofy way he walked…he tried to act like a tough guy but he was so sweet on the inside. The honest goods, as Bulda claimed.
Rapunzel smiled, "Boyfriend?"
Her cheeks were burning, "Yeah."
"Can we meet him?" the older Princess asked eagerly.
"I…probably not." At her crestfallen look, Anna hastily explained, "It depends on when you leave. He's an ice harvester, see, and he should be back sometime next week."
Eugene frowned, "Ice harvester?"
"Uh-huh," nodded Anna. "High up in the mountains, on the frozen lakes. They supply ice to everyone who needs it – we have an ice cellar below the dungeons."
"And do the ice harvester's provide the ice for that?"
"Yep."
"Uh…not to seem…uh…I mean, why them? Why not-"
"Elsa?"
"Yeah."
"Arendelle's economy depends on the ice harvesters as much as it does on our fishing and timber industries," explained Anna, just as she had once explained to those fishermen a few weeks ago. "Elsa's ice doesn't melt, so if she supplied the ice, then there goes the ice harvesting trade and the income it brings to the Kingdom as a whole." She shrugged. "Something like that anyway."
"Makes sense," agreed Eugene.
"Besides, Elsa's magic is precious."
"And dangerous."
"Nah, not really," disagreed Anna around a mouthful of eggs. She swallowed, "I mean, yes, it could be dangerous, but Elsa's got a big heart. She cares a great deal about everyone and everything." Seeing the curious looks on her companions, Anna continued with conviction, "She wouldn't have run away to the top of the North Mountain fully prepared to live the remainder of her life out in isolation if she didn't care. She didn't even know about the Eternal Winter until I told her, and then she panicked which is how -she told me I wasn't safe, begged me to leave, but I refused. So I was caught in a powerful outburst of her powers. It wasn't intentional. None of the Eternal Winter was." She sighed heavily, "It…just took her thirteen years to figure out love was the key. Thirteen long miserable years."
"…And now?"
"Well, despite considerable temptation, she hasn't frozen anyone," replied Anna with a laugh, forcing the gloominess from her thoughts and feelings. Besides, Elsa probably wouldn't be happy when –not if- she discovered Anna talking about those years.
"Like Daven, you mean?" asked Rapunzel darkly. "I'm really sorry about his behaviour. He's not normally like this. I wouldn't have anything to do with him if he was, and if I had Queen Elsa's abilities he'd be an ice statue on proud display in my office. I don't know what's possessed him to be so…" her voice trailed off and she sighed.
Eugene leaned over to wrap an arm around her shoulders and squeezed tight, "Forget about that two-faced scoundrel." He planted a quick kiss on her temple before changing subject, "Instead, let's figure out what we're going to do today. I'm happy to see the town again."
End Part 1
Author's note: Yep, like I mentioned up top, this is different to my usual work, and I'm still very conflicted over it, but…meh, it's driving me to distraction. Part 2 will be up shortly since it's already written but undergoing proof-reading (even though errors always managed to slip by…)
If you think it sucked (and it probably does) please let me know – feedback is how I improve (and avoid dodgy subjects).