More Gloves

Kai led Goody Glover into the sitting room on the top floor of Castle Arendelle where she saw the princess on her father's lap. She curtsied as Kai announced her balancing herself with her bag.

"Welcome Miss Goody. Is there anything we can get for you? No. Very well, Elsa's gloves are wearing out and she would like some new ones." Said the king as Kai retreated closing the painted door behind him.

"Of course your majesty, your highness." Goody said. It was winter and it wasn't a surprise that the royal family wanted gloves. A few weeks ago she had made a pair of nice white gloves for the princess for indoor use. They had also asked for some mittens for Princess Anna, as well as pairs of gloves for the king and queen.

It seemed warm enough up here at the top of the castle. It was a little chilly at the entrance. Elsa was wearing long sleeves, but they had seen Princess Anna run past in short sleeves.

It was strange coming in the sally port instead of the main gates, something was up with the royal family. Rumors were scuttling around the marketplace but nothing definitive that she could hang her hat on.

She discounted most of them because the royal family had been so good to them all these years. Locking the gates and reducing the staff meant something. A number of people were concerned about invasion or maybe an economic collapse, but nothing had happened since summer, so people were going about their business as best they could.

Fortunately, this winter was colder then normal and business was brisk. The former castle seamstress she had picked up as a worker so she wouldn't starve was busy making gloves and mittens as fast as she could. With all the unknowns Goody was careful to save her profits, winter wouldn't be here forever and with the seamstress she could expand into more clothing lines to sustain the business in the summer. She was thinking swimsuits would be good as they were an excellent compliment to her winter glove business.

Goody set down her bag and got down so she was nearer to eye level with the princess. "Have the gloves been keeping your hands warm this winter, Princess?"

Princess Elsa looked away and licked her lips, "Um, yeah."

Goody cocked her head slightly, why was the princess acting like her nieces and nephews when they were lying? She glanced at the king but he had his attention on his daughter.

"How have the gloves been fitting?"

"Good," said the princess as she folded her hands in front of her. "But they are wearing out. I need new ones."

"Okay, can I see them."

"It's okay." Said the king.

Princess Elsa bit her lip and held out her hands.

Goody could see that the stitching was blowing out around the knuckles and the fingertips on thumb and forefinger were wearing through and splitting.

"Oh, dear, they have worn quickly. Here, let me take those."

Princess Elsa jerked back her hands, "But I need them."

"No, no. It's okay, you can do this, just like you've been practicing. It's not a big deal. Just like the ambassador from yesterday."

Goody just tried to hold still, she wasn't sure what that conversation was about. She saw Princess Elsa look at the King and then nod at her father, before extending her hands again.

Goody held out her own hand and let the princess put her hand in hers when she was ready. She gently pulled on the fingers until the glove came free, then her eyes widened.

The King asked, "Elsa, haven't you been taking the gloves off?"

Goody was just as glad the king asked the question. The girl's hands were all pale and slightly wrinkly like having been under the water for too long, but there were also red patches were they were abrading on the gloves, and there was a sore at the base of her thumb.

"No." said the princess in a small voice.

"Princess, you really do need to take the gloves off from time to time, I know it is cold this winter but your hands need to breathe too."

"But I need them." Princess Elsa said, it didn't sound whiny like some of her nieces could get when they wanted something, it sounded more scared.

"Okay, but how about letting them out for bed? You won't need the gloves in bed." Goody asked.

Goody could see the princess thinking about it.

"I guess."

"Good girl," said the king.

"Princess, the gloves shouldn't hurt. These red spots are not good, I need to make your gloves better so that doesn't happen again." Goody reached into her bag and removed some balm. "This will help your hands, can I put some on you?"

The princess looked to her father again who nodded encouragingly, then she nodded too.

Goody opened the container and dipped a pair of fingers in and held out her other hand waiting for the princess to place her hand in hers. She saw the princess take and hold a breath before doing so.

Goody was not expecting how icy cold the princess's hand to be. It took a great deal of effort not to pull her hand away but she knew that there was something up with the princess and that whatever it was, it was vital for her not to react. She could sense the need that the princess had for reassurance. So she acted as if everything was normal.

Goody worked the balm into the hands of the child, cooing gently and singing a little calming song like her sister did when nursing a fussing baby.

Soon the gentle sounds and touch worked their magic and the princesses hands were looking better and feeling if not warm, then not so cold anymore.

"There now, much better."

The little princess smiled a little and nodded.

"Good, now let's bandage that sore."

Goody treated the sore and then said

"I do have some new gloves for you, since that was what the message was about." Goody returned the balm to her bag and removed some new white gloves. "But this time I want to make some notes. Now make a fist and please tell me where it binds or pinches."

Goody had the princess do a number of gestures and made copious notes. The princess was obviously having some health issue of some kind and if gloves helped her princess feel a little better then goody would make the best gloves she could.

"I'll bring better gloves tomorrow, and more balm, but I want to check on your hands daily until they heal. May I come back tomorrow afternoon?"

"Of course," said the king.

"Thank you, your majesty, your highness." said Goody as she packed things back into her bag.

"Papa, may I be excused."

"Is there anything else you need of Elsa, Miss Glover?"

"No, your majesty."

"Then you may, Elsa. Go have fun." Called the king as the princess raced out of the room.

"These are for you, the queen and Princess Anna." said Goody as she handed her king a bundle of gloves and mittens.

"Thank you."

"If I may speak freely, sire? Is the princess going to be alright? One of my sister's children is cold and sickly. We all worry about her." Goody asked at his nod.

The King put the bundle down and rubbed his temples. "She is not sick... at the moment. We are trying to do all we can for her. The gloves were supposed to help, but now I wonder."

"Sire, you are a good king, and from what I can see you are trying to be a great father. I don't know how hard it is for you but you are doing well. I know it is hard for my sister's family. My sister's husband is often on the fishing boats, he was providing well, but he was never there and they needed him. I'm glad you can be there for your daughter."

"Thank you. Please, talk to Kai and he will compensate you for the gloves."

"Of course." Goody suddenly didn't care of the cost of the gloves, she instead put a hand on the kings arm. "You're going to get through this."

The king looked very old for a moment, then straighten and nodded.