Chapter 25: Deliberations
Author's note: Hey guys sorry about the delay but I've been pretty busy with the move. I'm gonna start summing up the story in the next few chapters, I'm contemplating whether or not to leave it open for a sequel. Ideally I'd like to get started on my novel but I do have ideas for another installment of Frozen, lemme know what you guys think and until then enjoy the latest chapter.
Alexander had returned the following day much to the anticipation of the royal family. Elsa warmly greeted her fiancée with open arms, positively enthralled to see him alive and well. He kissed her lovingly, jubilated to see her once again. For the first time in ten years he felt safe, he felt free. An hour later the small council had amassed to determine the fate of the Southern Isles and the surviving Westerguard family.
"We cannot allow them to retake the throne." Quintus declared. "The Westerguards will never bend the knee to Arendelle."
"Then what is to be done with them?" Inquired Earl.
"We will allow the surviving royal family to sail to the new world." Alex replied solemnly. "They have agreed to forsake all lands and titles, and to live out the rest of their days in exile on condition that no one else will be harmed. Should they ever try to return they will be arrested on site."
"Regardless, who will take up the mantle?" Sigmund inquired.
"Someone who is loyal to Arendelle." Replied the Queen. "The Southern Isles are a priceless asset, with us at the helm our power and resources will increase tenfold."
"Who did you have in mind?" Anna interjected.
"You." Her sister replied calmly.
The entire council looked to the royals in shock, even Alexander was surprised by this proposal. Anna looked at Elsa in astonishment, her jaw had practically dropped to the floor.
"M-me?..." She stammered. "You're joking right?"
"No, I'm dead serious."
"You want Anna to rule the Southern Isles?" Piped Kristoff.
"I want you both to rule in my stead, I cannot oversee both kingdoms from Arendelle I need someone down there."
"I-I am not fit to rule…" Anna protested.
"You've attended nearly as many council meetings as I have, you know diplomacy well, and you took care of Arendelle whilst I was recuperating." Elsa reassured. "I have faith you guys can do this. Besides you will have many council members to assist you."
"Surely there is someone else?" Kristoff persisted. "Alex perhaps?"
For a moment both the Queen and her fiancée were taken aback, their engagement had not yet been publicly announced. Elsa feverishly cleared her throat before addressing her family and council as regally as possible.
"Prince Alexander and I are engaged." The Queen declared. "He is to help rule Arendelle by my side." She then withdrew her indigo glove revealing her dazzling sapphire engagement ring. After a brief stunned silence the council broke into a congratulatory applause. Kristoff and Anna however gazed at the two lovers in bewilderment.
The princess was still unmoved. Never in her life had she aspired to rule, she loved her home dearly, furthermore there was the impending birth of her child. To move now was unthinkable.
"I'm very happy for you two… but Elsa my due date is in less than three months, I can't move to the Southern Isles…"
"You won't be going anywhere for some time." The Queen reassured. "The birth will happen here in Arendelle."
Anna looked at Elsa in horror. Was she completely oblivious to her protests? She did not want any of this.
"May I have a moment alone with the Queen?
Elsa signalled to the dismayed council members to withdraw from the room, even Kristoff and Alex were dismissed to give the two women some privacy. The second the door sealed shut Anna angrily faced her older sister.
"So you wanna send me away?!"
"Anna I…"
"No!" She intervened. "Arendelle is my home! My family is here, Kristoff's family is here! I'm going to have a baby soon, now our families will be hundreds of miles apart! Honestly how could you ask this of us?!"
Elsa tried to remain as composed as possible whilst she stood her ground. "You want to be honest? Alright, now that I have Alex to help rule Arendelle what will you do around here?"
Anna was speechless, her sister's words hurt but she sadly realized that she was right. She would become obsolete, with a proper king the princess would have no business partaking in council meetings and royal affairs. As much as she loved it here she hated the idea of having no purpose. Nevertheless the idea of leaving her family horrified her.
"Is there no one else?" She asked hopefully.
Elsa solemnly shook her head no. "We have no allies suitable to rule in our stead, Rapunzel and Eugene are heirs to Corona, you and Kristoff are a perfect fit."
"But why?"
Elsa placed her hands gently on her sister's slim shoulders. "Because you are the strongest, bravest, kindest, most energetic, most amazing woman I have ever known." She replied staring Anna dead in the eye. "People love you, and you would make a wonderful queen."
Anna looked to her in disbelief. "But it means I'll be away from you."
Both women began to tear up. "We're not children anymore Anna." The elder sister replied forlornly. "We're both gonna have our own families, our own jobs and obligations. It's not like we'll never see each other…"
"I know, but we were getting so close…" Anna protested tearfully.
Elsa was finding it harder to stay strong. She had gone over this conversation in her head countless times this morning yet her sister's words struck her like a wrecking ball.
"It will still be a long time before you go." She reassured. "Not until you pop your little prince or princess out, and Alex and I are married."
Anna vainly tried to recompose herself. "You're gonna make a beautiful bride." She replied, allowing herself a sad smile.
The two distraught women pulled each other in close. Anna held onto her sister for dear life not wanting to relinquish her. Elsa seemed to sense her growing possessiveness.
"I wouldn't ask this of you if there was any alternative." She whispered sadly.
"I know…" Anna sniffled. "Will we still see each other on holidays?"
"Oh course."
"Birthdays?"
"Absolutely."
"Good." The younger woman piped with a newfound sense of hope.
"And you'll certainly be here to meet your niece or nephew."
Anna's strawberry blonde head darted up to meet her sister. Her tears began to dispel as she looked at a beaming Elsa in sheer astonishment.
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"This is crazy Anna, I don't have the first idea about ruling a country." Kristoff protested.
"You'll have the next few months to learn." Anna reassured.
"I still can't believe you agreed to this."
"Believe me I'm not particularly thrilled either." She slumped down heavily on the couch next to Kristoff, her energy was wearing due to her pregnancy. Kristoff groaned as she nonchalantly placed her bare feet in his lap. He didn't much care for it, but a massage usually untensed her.
"How come you don't massage me anymore?" He whined.
"Hey I'll happily pamper you when you're pregnant." She rebuked playfully, relaxing as he rubbed her aching soles.
"Did she say when they're planning on getting married?"
"Soon, within the next month or two." She replied sleepily.
"That soon? Shouldn't we wait until after the baby's born?"
"She doesn't want to get too big for her dress."
Kristoff abruptly dropped her feet into his lap. The astonished mountain man glared at his wife in shock as she grinned mischievously at him.
On the other side of the castle Elsa found Alex standing out on the balcony overlooking the harbor. His robes billowed in the evening breeze, the fresh air seemed to relax him despite being frightfully cold this late at night. Then again the cold no longer bothered him. He happily turned to face her, his snow white features strangely incandescent in the moonlight. Crossing over to his fiancé he gently kissed her on the forehead as they embraced lovingly. She had to admit she missed his warmth, his skin had become as cool as hers, nevertheless being close to him felt comforting and safe.
"I've missed you." He whispered, giving her little pecks across her cheek and neck.
The Queen blushed from his affections, she shuddered as he seductively stroked the small of her back. He always seemed to know the right spots to touch her. Elsa suddenly withdrew as he began to kiss her more passionately. His confused expression was quickly replaced with that of wonder as she placed his right hand on her abdomen. He suspected what she meant, using his abilities he sensed it, at this stage the gender was indistinguishable but he sensed it nonetheless. There was life in her. His thoughts began to fill with dread, what if it was Hans's not his?
"Elsa…" He began.
"The doctor confirmed I'm six weeks along… It's yours."
Alex picked her up and spun her around like a doll. Overcome with joy he kissed her madly, absolutely enthralled by the news.
"So that's why you wanted the wedding so soon." He realized jubilantly.
They never broke eye contact as he set her back down to earth. However Nito's last words resonated distinctively in his mind; "whether or not magic survives in this world now rests in your hands my king." He wondered how he had known, somehow the man knew that he and Elsa would be together. Perhaps the deathlord was right? Would their child have powers as well? Elsa appeared to be pondering the same question.
"Do you think he or she will have ice powers?"
"Most likely, then again my father controlled fire, and my sister water… The baby could have any set of powers."
"Well it's a good thing he or she will have a teacher like you."
Alex beamed down at her, he couldn't believe how fast everything was happening. Suddenly he was struck by a burst of realization at the mention of his teachings.
"Actually… I think there's one more thing I can teach you." He offered slyly. "I never thought of it until you gave me these powers."
Elsa was now fully intrigued. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well it's quite risky, it will have to wait until after the baby is born." He replied mysteriously.
"Tell me!" The Queen demanded, growing increasingly impatient with anticipation.
"I'm gonna teach you to fly."