Elsa watched as Anna cuddled closer to Kristoff who was holding onto her closely and smiling like she was the only thing keeping him warm. The two were standing on the ship and watching as the Southern Isles servants loaded crate after heavy crate. Elsa stood behind with her retinue of soldiers who watched with careful eyes.
The stay had been pleasant but bad memories still lingered in the backs of everyone's mind. Tensions weren't exactly alleviated seeing as one crate was too heavy and required the assistance of a few of the Southern Isle's guards to help carry it, at the insistence of the King.
"Your sister and her beloved make quite the couple." Theodo purred and Elsa clamped on her lips to hold back the shudder that wanted to work its way through her.
"Indeed they do. It's honestly a pleasure to watch my sister be so happy." Elsa said and smiled fondly at her younger sibling who was staring up at Kristoff with adoring eyes.
"The things we do for our siblings." Theodo chuckled and smiled at the queen.
Elsa had the thought of Hans staring up at her with bruised eyes and blood dribbling off his face, his hands held high above him with unforgiving chains as he pleaded with her to do whatever she liked, just don't tell his brother. Bile threatened to climb up her throat and she vainly fought for something to keep the disgust from showing. She recalled the memory of Anna pleading with her to just come down the mountain before being shot with a burst of ice.
"Yes. We seem to be quite involved." Elsa responded.
Theodo had attempted to subtly remind Elsa that he understood the role of elder child, having twelve others beneath him. Elsa seemed to value family over all else and he figured this would worm its way into her good graces but the ice queen seemed to be as impenetrable as the nickname suggested. As he spoke she faced away from him but when she responded she turned to face him with eyes as cold as eyes and a smile to mysterious to fully interpret. Several emotions were warring for control of her face but none could really be described before she turned back to stare at the boat. And here he believed he could not be more intrigued.
"I hope your purchases will be seen to your liking." He said, conceding the silent victory to Elsa.
The queen looked at the crates being taken down beneath the deck. Each holding precious cargo and trinkets proving the craftsmanship of the Southern Isles. She stared blankly at the ships before smiling devilishly at the proud king.
"I do believe they will be immensely satisfying. And even more so when we have them in the castle at Arendalle." She said.
Theodo found his heart stopping at the incredible sight of Elsa's smirk. It was regal and beautiful and befit a queen. Never had any woman he'd met held such power and grace as this woman before him and she was still so young in comparison to other monarchs. He must have her for an ally.
"A pleasure having made the acquaintance of such a lovely queen . May we meet again." He said before bowing regally.
"Time alone will tell." Elsa replied vaguely before offering a curtsey and leading her guards down to the boat.
"Indeed it shall." Theodo smirked to himself.
Elsa fought on keeping her footsteps straight and her spine unwavering though all she really wanted to was to hide in her room on the ship and not let anyone in as she tried to remember how to breathe. Her sister smiled brightly up at her but it quickly fled as she noticed the panic in her sister's eyes. Anna tugged on Kristoff's hand and led him down beneath the ship with a few whispered words.
"In regards to the excess cargo," Elsa said and rolled her eyes fondly "we shall return to Arandalle and lighten the load."
The crew laughed good naturedly before hurrying to their tasks, satisfied with their queen's orders. Elsa heaved out a quiet sigh and took one moment to appreciate the lack of questions for the change in route. But the moment was over and she gratefully hurried down to her room and neatly avoided running into the last of her crew who had placed the last of the boxes in the queen's chambers and were leading the jovial Southern Isles guardsmen off the ship so they could set sail.
Elsa quickly entered her room and waited for the knock on her door. Anna and her childish enthusiasm. She quickly threw it open and watched Anna bounce in, dragging a sheepish Kristoff in behind her.
"He's still nervous about being in your room." Anna explained while Kristoff spluttered and flushed bright red.
"Well I apologize but my room was the largest." Elsa said softly.
"Uh, guys," Anna said "maybe we should talk later and open this box first."
Kristoff and Elsa froze for one second before racing over to the crate. Elsa froze the chains with hardly a thought before Kristoff quickly shattered them with his bare hands. The three of them wrenched the heavy lid up and stared inside at the cargo wrapped in a few fabrics with anxious stares.
"So how are you feeling?" Anna asked brightly.
"Like a prince." Hans croaked.