Chapter 36: The Days Go By

The morning following the wedding, Eugene walked into the breakfast room with his palm pressed against his temple, trying to stop the incessant pounding there. He, of course, had imbibed a little much and was now paying the consequences. Sitting next to his wife, he found Rapunzel's buoyant chatter with her mother, comparing notes over any and everything at the wedding as she fed Baby Elsa a bit… trying. Painfully, he lifted his leaden eyelids across the table to find Elsa, eyes downcast, face dreadfully long, quietly pushing her food around her plate but eating very little. His father-in-law and Granny appeared to both be just eating as normal.

"Why the long face, Frosty?" he managed to ask. "Don't tell me I'm not the only one who had a little too much to drink yesterday."

"What I don't understand is why he had to disappear with the morning mist without giving the rest of us so much as a by your leave," Granny complained. "It's not as if the poor girl will be any less dead if he gets there any earlier."

"Mother, Elsa and James promised Celia that they would lend their total support to Amelia when the time came. By Prince Olaf's letter, it seemed that time was of the essence. Amelia has taken to her rooms, and Olaf has no idea what to do," King Albert tried to reason with his mother.

Granny scoffed into her tea. "Of course a former snowman has absolutely no idea how to run a country. It was just yesterday he had no brain!"

Eugene was having trouble keeping up with the conversation, due to drum corp taking up residence in his head. He leaned over to Rapunzel and whispered, "Mind filling me in, Blondie?"

Rapunzel aimed a spoonful of oatmeal into her daughter's eager mouth. "That's Mama's good girl! Late last night, a letter arrived from Genovia. Queen Celia has died, and Olaf requested immediate help from Arendelle. James departed at first light for Genovia." She nodded her head in the direction of her grandmother, "Granny is pouting because her favorite has departed without saying goodbye to her, and she is left with the rest of us Philistines to entertain her."

Eugene took a sip of coffee. "Well, that explains Frosty's despairing demeanor as well. Hey, when are Anna and Kristoff expected to return?"

Elsa glanced up from her plate. "We're set to depart for Corona a week from tomorrow, which is a Thursday, so I told them we were leaving a week from today. They should be back hopefully by next Tuesday."

"Do you know what their plans were for their time alone?" Rapunzel curiously asked.

Elsa shook her head. "No. I didn't feel the need to go into specifics. They're a married couple now." She took a sip of coffee. "I do know that they're planning to spend some of their time away with Kristoff's family."

"Excuse me," Granny interrupted. "I was under the impression that Christopher is an orphan? If he has family, then why have we not seen them throughout the festivities? What was he, raised by trolls?" she laughed, thinking she had just made quite the joke. Everyone else at the table gave a slight, nervous laugh.

Elsa sat down her cup of coffee. "Uhm, well yes actually. Kristoff was adopted by trolls when he was eight years old."

"Well, that explains some of the odor. Trolls are a rather earthy lot." She looked to Eugene, "Goodness Fitzherbert, you're starting to look like a Grande Duke compared to Christian."

"Really?" he asked, never expecting any sort of approval from his wife's grandmother.

"Yes. At least you were raised among humans and taught to bathe and whatnot in that orphanage. After all, what's a little larceny?"

Elsa abruptly stood up to take her leave. "Please excuse me, I feel the need to take a walk before seeing what awaits me in my study." King Albert and Eugene stood as she left.

Normally, Elsa would have enjoyed the usual family banter over the breakfast table. She had come to look forward to every meal, because she was never sure what would be discussed. She loved just listening to her grandmother's proclamations and everyone else's jokes and responses. It was what she always dreamed life with large family would be like. Yet it also made her sad.

Celia's death and James' departure for Genovia reminded her that the castle, which seemed full of happiness, love, and family would soon be empty again. Though Anna and Kristoff would be back eventually, James would be off doing his duty to Arendelle, and their Corona family would be back in their own kingdom. Baby Elsa's babbles and squeals would be but a memory. Eugene wouldn't constantly be calling her "Frosty." She would miss Rapunzel's friendship, her aunt's mothering, and her uncle's quiet support. She would even miss Granny's razor sharp tongue, though she was working hard to talk Granny into taking up permanent residence once again in Arendelle.

Mostly, she just missed James. It was still odd to her, how she acted with him. Any other young man, she couldn't imagine be so forward with. She certainly wouldn't want them to touch her in any manner or to touch them. In the two years since her coronation, she still only made physical contact with her closest friends and family. She probably would never be comfortable with random people, always recoiling when they touched her. James though… She actively sought out his touch. She craved it. She didn't think she could ever get enough. It was addictive, and whenever she was able to step back an assess her feelings and actions, it frightened her.

She had grown used to not needing anything or anyone. Being alone was once her solace, her comfort, but of course she also realized it was also her prison. She spent years telling herself that she wanted to be alone, that it was what was best. She had herself convinced of that too, but something Anna said once to her stuck. "No one wants to be alone."

Maybe somewhere there were people who wanted to be left alone, but Elsa realized that she wasn't one of them. She did love being surrounded by loved ones and friends. She did love her secret trysts with James. They left her feeling positively warm. No, she didn't want to be alone, but that was once again what she would soon be - at least part of the time.

She was wandering along the gardens, all alone, brooding on the fact that she would soon be alone,when she ran into Rapunzel pushing Elsa in a pram. "I hoped to find you out here," Rapunzel admitted.

Elsa sighed, "Well, here I am." Elsa heard the frustration in her voice and apologized to her cousin. "I'm sorry. That was rude of me. I'm just…" She slowed her pace to walk alongside Rapunzel.

Rapunzel stopped her, "You're tired, Elsa. Everyone can see it but you, I think."

Elsa gave a sad little laugh. "Do I look that bad?"

Rapunzel placed a hand on Elsa's back. "Hardly, but you aren't carrying yourself the same. Your shoulders slump more, and you eyes just look tired. When was the last time you had a full night's sleep? I know you hardly had any before the wedding, and I doubt you had any at all last night."

"I honestly don't remember, Rapunzel. There's been so much to do and take care of before the wedding and leaving for a trip to Corona."

"Elsa you're always taking care of someone else. You took care that all the arrangements Anna made for the wedding were executed. You took care of Anna, and Kristoff. You took care of Granny. You take Baby Elsa every chance you can. You're even taking care of another kingdom as a favor to a dear friend whom you just lost. When do you plan to take care of yourself?"

"Oh Rapunzel, I've been trying to take care of Anna all of her life, and will until my dying day. I actually have found that I enjoy Granny's company. I adore my little namesake," she reached down to caress the child's face. "Everything must be taken care of by someone. It's just easy to let taking care of myself slide." She yawned. I guess that I am tired.

"You should go get some rest, Elsa. Everything will still be here when you wake. We'll see to it. Arendelle will not fall to pieces if you take a nap."

"I don't know…" Elsa tried to resist.

Rapunzel realized she would have to resort to threatening Elsa. "I am not arguing, Missy. I'll knock you out with a frying pan if I have to!"

Elsa backed away, holding up her hands, "Oh no, please not that!" she laughed. "I will."

"And you have to promise me that when you get to Corona, you will allow yourself time to just relax and enjoy your a break from your responsibilities. There's no trade conference this time. You won't be there to make a diplomatic statement. It's just more time with your crazy family."

"I love my crazy family," Elsa admitted.

Rapuzel wrapped her arm around the taller woman's waist, "Your crazy family loves you too! Now really, you have to promise me, or I won't leave you alone."

Elsa sighed in resignation. Rapunzel could be a very hard-nosed negotiator. "I promise."

"Okay," Rapunzel replied. "I want you to know that when someone promises something to me, I expect them to never, ever break that promise. EVER!"

"Yes ma'am!" Elsa laughed. "You're getting much better at ordering people about, you know that?"

Rapunzel shrugged. "It's easy when you see a need to speak up."

Just over a week later Elsa and Anna stood on the docks, watching as everyone's luggage was loaded onto the two ships heading to Corona. It was the first time they had been alone since Anna married.

"So, sister dear, how do you like married life?" Elsa asked, hoping Anna wouldn't be too forthcoming with the most intimate of details.

Anna pretended to swoon, leaning heavily on her sister. "Oh Elsa, it's just the most wonderful thing in the world! I can't really explain it. It's nothing at all like I imagined it would be though."

Elsa laughed. "Somehow I don't have difficulty believing that. You have a very active imagination, Anna."

"Yeah well, Kristoff snores."

"So do you," Elsa reminded her.

Anna waved her hands about. "Yes, but I can't hear myself snoring! I can't even get to the point of snoring for his snoring! I'm going to die from exhaustion as a newlywed, and not even for a fun reason."

Elsa noticed the rest of their party leaving the castel gates. Kristoff had the pleasure of escorting Granny. Elsa wasn't sure which one was more uncomfortable. "Here comes everyone else. Are you ready for an adventure in Corona?"

Anna perked up. "You have no idea. I love Arendelle, but it would be nice to see something different for a bit."

Elsa hugged her sister. "Well, have a safe journey, I'll see you in Corona!"

"Wait what? Aren't you traveling in our ship?"

Elsa laughed. "Oh no. I'm letting you and Kristoff have the Ackbar all to yourselves, well you and the crew, as an extended honeymoon. I'm going on the Isabel."

"Don't you want to spend time with me? We've been apart for over a week!" Anna asked.

Elsa hugged Anna. "It's not that I don't want to spend time with you. I've missed you very much and even Kristoff... some. That said, noise carries on a ship, and well you two are newlyweds. I want to be able to spend time with you from here on out as well and still look both of you in the eye."

"Oh," Anna said, as she realized what Elsa was telling her. "Well then, I'll see you in Corona!"

"God reise!, Anna!"

"Se deg der, Elsa!"

Once they were in Corona, Elsa did her best to follow Rapunzel's orders and relax. It was a fairly easy order to fill. Unlike her visit a year before, she wasn't nervous about leaving Arendelle for the first time in decades. She was familiar with the castle, and even was given the same suite of rooms as before, those that had belonged to her mother. She didn't have to worry about standing on her own at a trade conference and dealing with other dignitaries. She didn't have to worry about what Anna was doing in Arendelle, because she was also in Corona. Chancellor Hummel was more than capable of taking care of things for the short time they were going to be away. She was a queen but not the queen in Corona. She didn't even have to worry about dealing with possible suitors. She had one suitor… the one, for all she cared. Her only concern was that James wouldn't make it to Corona in time for the lantern release. In later days, she would sometimes look back at this trip to Corona and wonder if perhaps she had been too carefree.

She didn't know what trials were before her though. She was under the impression that the worst days of her life were in her past, not realizing at her still young age exactly exactly how long and difficult life could actually be. No, she didn't know what griefs and joys were to come. She happily spent many of her days riding through Corona with her sister, cousin, and their husbands - both of whom had become a brother to her, seeing all the magnificent things her mother's home country contained, sometimes allowing her long, platinum locks to fly in the wind.

Her evenings were spent taking part in the lively conversations that had become common within the family circle. Those conversations were cherished by each member of the family, because there wasn't a member who hadn't spent a large portion of life either alone or separated from those they loved the most. They were a family that, under different circumstances, had been broken. Yet miraculously they had managed to put the pieces back together as best they could, and possibly appreciated each other all the more, even Granny.

When they arrived in Corona, Granny surprised everyone by not returning to her Island of Haven. Instead, she took up temporary residence at the castle with the rest of her family. It was temporary, because she eventually relented to Elsa's requests and decided to spend her twilight years in the land of her birth with her daughter's daughters and maybe possibly their children. It was because of this decision that Elsa found herself on Haven with the the younger members of the family one day as they helped Granny decide what to take to Arendelle.

"This is the story of how I, Eugene Fitzherbert, set foot on the forbidden Island of Haven."

"Eugene!" Rapunzel called from behind him.

"Oh come on! Do you not understand how momentous an event this is?" He looked to Rapunzel, then Elsa, and then Anna and Kristoff, searching for understanding and received nothing but blank stares. "Growing up in the orphanage, we used to hear stories of the Island of Haven and the reclusive queen who lived here. It was said that the floors were gold, the doorknobs diamonds, and the closets filled with treasure. They, along with the Tales of Flynnagin Ryder, were the basis of my dream of living on an island that I owned, tanned and rested and alone…"

Rapunzel rolled her eyes, "Surrounded by enormous piles of money. Yes, I seem to recall that dream," she laughed. "Is it what you imagined?"

Eugene's face fell as he looked around at the seemingly ordinary gardens. There were no mystical waterfalls, no wagonloads of diamonds. It wasn't very different from the castle in Corona. "Not really." He turned to Rapunzel and smiled. "It's a good thing I have a new dream and am living it."

An umbrella was suddenly thrust into Eugene's gut. "Your sentimentality is positively nauseating, Fitzherbert," Granny complained as she walked past him. "It is just an island where I have lived alone in order to keep my family safe. I never imagined that my home was the subject of such intrigue."

Anna picked an aster, smelling it. "You can't be serious, Granny. Why, even Elsa and I, living in Arendelle, speculated about the mysterious Island of Haven just recently."

"Yes, well I have come out into the open, so all speculation can now stop. As you see, this is not Prospero's Island. Come, come now. I can't take the flowers with me to Arendelle. Let us go inside and busy ourselves labeling things for the servants to pack."

A few hours later, they were knee deep into trunks that hadn't been opened in years. Elsa found one trunk in particular that sparked her interest. "Oh look at these!" she exclaimed as she held up the tiniest, most delicate baby clothes. "Granny, were these Mama's or Uncle Albert's?

Granny looked up from an inventory list and squinted. "Oh, those were your mother's. If you look further, you'll notice several pieces with little bits of pink." She stopped what she was doing a moment and sighed. "Goodness, she was such a beautiful, delicate little thing. It seems to me just yesterday she was wearing this," she fingered the dress Elsa held in her hands. "and your grandfather doubled the palace guard because she was so perfect. Bertie's baby things are at the castle. They belong to Corona or some future king," she looked to Rapunzel who kept mysteriously quiet.

Kristoff spun a large globe in circles. "How does the line of succession work in Corona? If Rapunzel and Eugene have a son some day, will he inherit the throne over Elsa?"

"Primogeniture is common practice in Corona but not the law, as it is in Arendelle. I believe in the end that will be a decision for Rapunzel to make, if there is even need of one," her grandmother answered, eyeing her with interest.

"Primo-what?" Kristoff asked.

Eugene leaned over to whisper, "The firstborn male inherits everything."

"Oh!" Kristoff nodded. "So, if Elsa and Anna had a brother, even one who was younger?"

"He would be king, and I would probably be locked away somewhere or married off to some unsuspecting prince of somewhere," Elsa said only half-jokingly.

"That hardly seems fair," Kristoff replied.

Granny shrugged. "Such is our lot, Krisco. Such is our lot. In France, women weren't even allowed to inherit."

"That seems insane. I have no doubt that Elsa, Anna, and Rapunzel all are more qualified to rule a kingdom that I ever could be, yet if I had been born a royal just the coincidence of my sex would have made me more desirable?"

Granny looked back at her inventory list. "I have no doubt the girls could and do rule better than most any man, especially you, Kristian. No offense."

"None taken. I'm aware of my limitations. I know ice, not statecraft."

Rapunzel noticed several ornate chess sets, making her think of her absent cousin. "Elsa, have you heard from James?"

Elsa glanced lovingly at more of her mother's baby clothes. "I received a letter from him just yesterday. Amelia is out of her rooms. She and Olaf are coping with everything better. Her uncle, Mary's father, has been named Regent until Amelia comes of age. It seems that Celia left everything in perfect order for the transition. If there was any bright side to Celia's illness, it's that there was time to prepare. James was planning to sail from Genovia the day after he wrote the letter."

"So he should be here soon?" Anna asked, a hopeful glint in her eye. She, above everyone else, was anticipating an engagement announcement from her sister and James.

Elsa shook her head. "No. He still plans to make that trip to Weselton that I have argued against. He won't be here until probably a day or so before the lantern release."

Granny looked up from again. "Weselton? Weselton is an utterly crude, humorless, cruel, and totalitarian family. Every year that passes without a bloody coup to replace them amazes me. Whatever is James doing going there on your behalf? Didn't the previous duke try to have you killed?"

"Yes. As a result, I severed all ties with them," Elsa answered. "However, James argued the point that the people are likely to want to blame someone for their misery, and some day could likely turn their rage on Arendelle. It would be best for future relations if at least we publicly attempted to be on friendly terms with them again. He's right, but I certainly hate admitting it."

Granny laughed. "Elsa, you're letting your personal feelings determine how your policy regarding this. Of course, I can't say that I blame you entirely. The Weseltons have always reminded me of that tiny, little Corsican who caused all that ruckus on the continent. I have no doubt that some day they too will meet their Waterloo. I just hope that they don't embroil all of us in war before that happens." She stopped, growing very serious as the hair on her arms rose. She hated premonitions and chose then to ignore it. "Remember this girls, never underestimate a man who wears heels to feel more powerful. He is never to be trusted."

Anna saddled up next to Elsa, "So, what else did James' letter say?"

Elsa went back to looking through the baby clothes. "That was pretty much it."

"Pretty much?"

Elsa just shook her head in disbelief. "It's an official document, Anna. If you're hoping he wrote some romantic or racy love letter, you are going to be sorely disappointed. There was nothing private mentioned within the contents of the official letter." What she didn't share was that folded within the official letter was another, more private letter whose contents she wouldn't share with Anna, especially in front of Granny. That was just for her to know.

Anna slumped back in her seat, "Elsa, seriously. You and James are absolutely the most boring couple I have ever met. You would think that the queen with the magical powers of ice and snow," she waved her fingers in the air as she spoke, "could have a love life that is a little more interesting."

"What do you want them to do to make things more interesting?" Granny asked. "Interesting love lives and royals don't usually mix well, just ask Catherine the Great's horse!"

Elsa sneered, somewhat repulsed by her grandmother's comment. Anna and Kristoff both looked wonderfully ignorant, and Eugene turned to Rapunzel and whispered, "I think that I need to visit the Snuggly Duckling once we're back on the main land." Rapunzel nodded.

Once Granny was deposited back at the castle, the remaining five ventured into the woods to find Rapunzel's favorite watering hole. The place had been a point of fascination for Anna since Elsa returned from her previous visit to Corona, though Kristoff was a little worried about going there. Though he was known to visit a tavern or two from time to time, he wasn't used to overly social situations. From all that he had heard, Rapunzel was very social at the Snuggly Duckling.

Eugene opened the door for them, the darkness blinding them as their eyes adjusted from the brightness of the day to the very dark tavern interior. The patrons all turned to see who entered, and upon seeing their princess yelled, "Rapunzel!" Eugene didn't get quite as warm a welcome. Anna soon found that Elsa had been correct about the odor of the place. It could be described as the smell of the color brown, if that made any sense at all.

An unattractive fellow with a large nose yelled, "Wonderful! You brought back Queen Elsa! Who else do you have with you?"

Rapunzel pointed to Anna, "This is my other cousin and Elsa's younger sister, Anna. This tall fellow is her new husband, Kristoff." A man with a hook for a hand offered his hook to a dubious Kristoff. "Pleased to meet you, sir! Any family of Rapunzel and Elsa's is welcome here!"

"Th-thank you," Kristoff told Hook-hand as the gentleman ventured to the piano. "Ok, which of you girls is going to sing first? I'm dying to accompany someone with a pretty voice again. These lugs can't hold a pitch to save their lives."

Elsa surprised her sister and brother-in-law by volunteering to go first and sang a ribald song with such gusto, Anna would have been embarrassed had she not been quite so shocked. The was not the Elsa she was used to. Rapunzel was next, singing another song that would never have been allowed in either of the family's castles. Anna grew nervous, because she knew her turn was coming soon, and she honestly didn't know any dirty songs. She was very surprised that Elsa did! Then it dawned on her that perhaps Elsa wasn't quite as boring as she had earlier proclaimed her to be. There were many facets to the diamond that was her sister.

Anna ended up not having to sing after all though, because after Rapunzel's song, Hook-hand got into a fight with a fellow dressed as a mime, thus causing an all-out brawl. The young royals managed to escape before getting caught up in the brouhaha, laughing as they rode all the way back to the castle. Once Elsa was safely alone in her quarters, she opened her private letter from James and read it over and over agin until she fell asleep with it clutched to her chest. Certainly only good days were to come for her and her family.

Here's another chapter where I combined two shorter ones from the original that fit together. This is the last of the chapters that seem sort of slow. The story starts to really pick up in the next chapter.