Welcome back!
I'm so sorry for the huge delay. I've been pretty busy and distracted this summer (working, traveling, housekeeping, NBA Finals), and am so grateful to anyone who has not given up following this story. I also had a bout of Writer's Block in July this year. But here is Chapter 35!
Many of the earlier chapters were also revised to eliminate the Hans humor and profanity. As I rediscovered my faith this past year and re-dedicated my life and worldview to Jesus Christ, it is my sincere belief that such language has no place in the story—joking or not.
*Just a reminder, since it's been so long. Westergard 7 came to Arendelle in Chapter 31, hoping to win Elsa's hand in marriage in attempt to mend the bond between the 2 kingdoms. That's why he's here in this chapter.*
Without further ado, Chapter 35:
Elsa leaned back in her favorite chair in the castle library, with a book in hand. She had just finished her work for the day, and was planning to do a little bedtime reading. A few feet away, Henrik Jr slept soundly in a little wooden bassinet that Kristoff had built. Elsa reached out to softly rock the cradle, before settling down to read.
She had hardly made it past the first page, when the door opened. There stood Prince Conrad of the Southern Isles, with a huge bouquet of pink roses.
The seventh Westergard cleared his throat grandiosely. "I'm sorry to disturb you Elsa, but I wanted to bring you something very special. Kai tells me that pink roses are your favorite. Consider it a gift... a token of gratitude for your gracious pardoning of the Southern Isles, in light of the recent disaster with Hans and Henrik."
Elsa smiled and tucked the flowers into an empty vase. "Thank you. They're beautiful." It was true. Pink roses were her favorite.
The red-haired man leaned in closer and tucked a single rose behind her ear. "Not as beautiful as you, snowflake."
"Excuse me?"
The seventh Prince of the Southern Isles clarified his remark. "You're so beautiful, Elsa. A woman like you only deserves the very best. Allow me to present my case as your prospective consort."
Elsa set down her book. "That's very sweet of you. But I'm afraid I must decline. You see, Brian and I are already courting."
The Prince raised his eyebrows in confusion. "But Elsa, he's a doctor. Brilliant as he may be in his field of expertise, he has little or no political knowledge. Besides, wouldn't you agree that he is lacking in the refinement and suave needed to play the part of King?"
"I'm sure Brian will learn in no time at all." Elsa corrected him gently. She extended a hand to give the sleeping Henrik Jr a soothing pat on the back. "Let's not talk about Brian behind his back. Why don't we focus on his positive traits instead?"
The seventh Westergard would not be so easily deterred. "But does Brian have the right kind of positive traits? He isn't exactly the paragon of courage and decisiveness, if you know what I mean. Do you really think having Brian Helmholtz on the throne would be beneficial to Arendelle's international reputation?"
Elsa raised a finger to her lips. "The baby is sleeping," she whispered, gesturing vaguely towards Henrik Jr. "Let's try to keep our voices down."
"Right, sorry." He drew a deep breath and continued, "You and I both know the truth. Henrik destroyed their kingdom out of selfish greed, not out of justice. The blame rests solely on Henrik, not Brian. In a perfect world, people would judge impartially. But the world isn't perfect. It may not be fair or logical, but the fact remains that people ARE going to associate Brian with the destruction of his own kingdom. Think about it. Do you think he could make tough decisions? Stand up to scrutiny and be able to endure criticism? Exercise good leadership? Heck, does Brian even know how to swing a sword or shoot a crossbow? Can he even ride a horse? Could he even kill a mosquito without breaking his nails?"
The Snow Queen was liking this man less and less with every passing moment. But she had to remain courteous. "Brian may not be so handy with a sword or crossbow, but he is the King of the Scalpel. He uses his weapons to heal, not to kill. And that's what I love about him."
Prince Conrad was getting more and more persistent. "A fat lot of good that will do! Elsa, I know you are attracted by high intelligence. I'd expect nothing less from someone who possesses more intelligence and maturity than most people twice her age. But here's the problem. Brian doesn't have the right kind of intelligence! Brian has no backbone whatsoever, can't put his foot down, can't stand up for anything, doesn't have the heart or the passion or anything that—"
"Please," Elsa urged again. "Keep your voice down." Henrik Jr was beginning to stir in his sleep. The red-haired man stopped his tirade, but Elsa had no desire to continue this conversation.
"I think I'm going to retire for the evening. Good night, Prince Conrad." Elsa rose to her feet and began heading for the door, with Joseph's sleeping form in her arms. But she had hardly taken a single step, before the seventh Westergard bounded across the room to block her path.
"Elsa, wait! Listen to me. I'm nothing like Hans or Henrik. NOTHING! Please, just give me a chance!"
"The answer is still no. We can be friends or acquaintances or business partners, but I'd appreciate if you'd stop asking for more than that, and please stop shouting." Elsa tried to step around him, but he quickly stepped in front of her again. The Snow Queen covered Henrik Jr's ears with her hands, anticipating another loud and clamorous tirade from the seventh Prince of the Southern Isles.
"But Elsa, I'm not asking you. I'm imploring you to reconsider! You don't know what you're getting yourself into. Brian Helmholtz is bad news! Trust me, I have known him ever since he was six years old. He will drive your kingdom into a ditch, the same way—"
Brian's voice interrupted from down the hall. "Elsa sweetie, I just bought some chocolates from the market! They're your favorite!"
Before anyone could utter another sound, Brian stepped into the room with a neatly-wrapped package in hand, beaming from ear to ear. But when he noticed that Elsa wasn't alone, his gaze hardened and his jaw clenched. In long purposeful strides, Brian marched forward and wrapped a protective arm around Elsa's waist. He glared menacingly at the seventh Westergard. "Is there a problem here?"
The Southern Isles Prince raised both hands in the air. "No, I was just leaving."
As the room emptied, Brian walked Elsa back to the library sofa and sat by her side. "He won't bother you anymore, snowflake." Elsa smiled and leaned in closer to him.
Brian's eye fell on the bundle of blankets in her arms. "You really do love this child," he remarked.
"I do," Elsa confessed. "But Brian, this doesn't mean I love you any less. This child is all alone in the world. Just like Anna and myself were for thirteen years. Just like Hans was for almost his entire life. This little guy needs a place to call home."
Brian plopped down on the couch and wrapped an arm around Elsa's shoulders. "I'll never understand why you are so kind to the Westergards, when you could be blowing them off the map with one-tenth the effort. But that is who you are. And that is why I love my Frosty so much."
Elsa smiled and snuggled closer into Brian's embrace. "A soft answer turns away wrath."
"Huh?"
"A soft answer turns away wrath," Elsa repeated. "If we strike back, so will they, and it'll never end. But if we turn the other cheek, we can defuse their aggression. Chances are they will be too ashamed to strike another blow. Anyone with any decency will stop attacking when they see that the other party is refusing to fight back."
Elsa cuddled Henrik Jr to her chest. "And keeping the peace is much better than winning a fight or having the last word."
A few weeks later…
The royal chefs whistled merrily as they wheeled barrel after barrel full of ripe apples and peaches into the kitchen, in preparation for the Spring Banquet. They instantly got to work peeling and cooking, getting ready to make cider. Before long, the entire castle was full of the heavenly aroma of fresh fruit and mint leaves.
Soon they were interrupted by a high-pitched squeal. The chefs glanced up to see Elsa standing in the doorway, with Henrik Jr in her arms. The red-haired infant babbled incessantly and waved his chubby little hands vigorously in the direction of the fruity fragrance.
Elsa smiled warmly at the chefs. "It smells delightful in here!" Joseph cooed in agreement.
Kai nodded enthusiastically. "Only the best for the Spring Banquet!" He extended a wooden spoon full of mashed fruit and brown sugar towards Henrik Jr. The baby licked greedily and squealed with delight. He yanked the spoon out of Kai's hand, and continued to gnaw at it. Now ten months old, little Joseph was as active as ever. With just a few seconds of inattention, he could escape from his mother and dive into a world of mischief. Nothing and nobody was safe from his curious little hands and voracious gums.
The older man patted him on the cheek. "You like it?" Kai crouched down until he was eye-level with Henrik Jr, and spoke in a grandfatherly tone. "Well, I'll tell you what. How would you like to stay and help us make the rest of the delicious cider? And ice cream? And pie? When it is all done, you'll get the first and biggest piece!" Henrik Jr nearly jumped out of Elsa's arms in excitement.
Elsa quickly steadied her grip. "Kai, that's so sweet of you. But maybe it's best that we just stay on the side and watch. The little rascal does have the propensity to get into trouble."
The head chef patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Give yourself a well-earned rest. I'm sure our little Joey will behave himself just fine. After all, any child can be a perfect little angel when desserts are at stake." He gave a jocular wink. "Even Princess Anna." The rest of the kitchen chuckled heartily.
Elsa nuzzled her cheek against the top of Joseph's head. "What do you say, snowflake? Do you promise to be a good little helper?" The baby cooed in assent.
"All right, then." Elsa handed a squirming Henrik Jr to Kai. "I'll be in the parlor if you need anything."
Kai let the effervescent child back into the castle kitchen, which was now completely inundated by the mouthwatering fruity fragrance. Elsa retreated down the hall and listened from afar. She could hear the chefs oohing and aahing over his cuteness. Henrik Jr giggled with delight as they entertained him with silly faces and affectionate gestures. What a happy child he was! Elsa continued to linger, completely lost in her own mind. A dreamy expression crossed her features. The more she basked in the joyous sounds and delightful smells that emanated from the kitchen, the more vindicated and sure she felt.
Three months ago, she had committed to adopting Henrik Jr and raising him as her own. At the time, she wasn't sure she was making the best choice. Her heart was certain, but her head was vacillating. Her heart was wholly invested, but her head was fraught with concerns and uncertainties. But now there was no such dissonance. Her mind was now convinced of what her heart had known all along. Seeing how deeply everyone adored little Joseph made Elsa all the more confident in her decision to make this boy her son. She would never regret keeping him.
Brian's voice suddenly broke through her ruminations. "A penny for your thoughts."
Elsa looked up to see him standing by her side. "Isn't it wonderful?" she nodded vaguely in the direction of the kitchen, smiling blissfully.
"It is," Brian agreed. "It smells delicious. I can hardly wait another ten minutes."
Elsa playfully acted the part of the scolding mother. "Well young man, it looks like you'll just have to be patient and wait until tonight!"
Brian punched her shoulder affectionately. "Who says we can't sneak in there and help ourselves first? I'm sure nobody will notice if we lick a few spoons. Besides, who's to say Anna hasn't beat us to it already?"
Elsa took him by the hand. "Well, continuing to stand around isn't going to make the clock tick any faster. Why don't we go do something to pass time? A game of chess? Or maybe you could teach me how to throw a ball again? We could also head into town and go see the—"
"There she is!"
Elsa and Brian turned around. There, exiting the kitchen and toddling towards them with his face and shirt a sticky mess of fruit, was baby Joseph with Kai holding his hand. The red-haired infant was cooing and babbling happy. As he caught sight of his mother, he squealed with delight and picked up his pace.
"Go on Joey," Kai urged gently. "Show Mommy what you made." The grandfatherly older man handed Henrik Jr a small dish of the syrupy confection they had made. The child beamed at Elsa and Brian.
Elsa crouched down to his level. "Is that for me, snowflake?" The infant let out a high-pitched squeak.
"I take that as a yes." Elsa dipped the little spoon into the goo, and slipped it into her mouth. Instantly, her senses were inundated with the delightful fragrance of peaches, apples, maple syrup and mint leaves, mingling to form a syncretic burst of sugary euphoria. But nothing was sweeter than that bright smile on her child's face.
"Oh snowflake, it's delicious! What a great little chef you are! Here Brian, you have to try some!"
The royal physician hesitated. He reached out to take the dish from Elsa, but his hand faltered. His eyes flitted back and forth between Elsa, Kai, and that red-haired child who wasn't even a year old yet, but was already a spitting image of his father.
"Go ahead," Kai pressed. "It's a labor of love."
Brian shrugged as he swallowed a mouthful of the fruity syrup. Elsa wasn't lying—it was delicious. He couldn't help smiling, and suddenly he felt embarrassed and contrite about his earlier hesitation. The doctor reached down and patted Henrik Jr's wispy auburn hair. "Thank you, little guy. It really was delicious." The baby beamed with pride. For the first time in forever, Brian smiled at him.
But more than one first would be achieved on that momentous day. Amidst all the frenzied activity transpiring in his ten-month-old brain, as little Joseph tried to learn and make sense of the great big confusing world he lived in, one vital piece of information stood out above the rest. Of all the sights and sounds and smells that he encountered every day, one had become a permanent part of his consciousness.
The child who was once a Westergard opened his tiny mouth to utter his first word. A single, unmistakable sound.
"Mama."
Elsa stopped and froze. "What did you say, snowflake?"
Henrik Jr stared deeply into those big blue eyes. Slowly and deliberately, with greater conviction, he repeated himself. "Mama."
Then he toddled over to Brian and hugged him around the ankle. "Papa."
Brian nearly dropped the dish he was holding. All he could do was stare in dumbfounded wonder at the wide-eyed baby, and the baby stared back. As they locked eyes, Henrik Jr grabbed one of Brian's hands. The chubby little fingers wrapped themselves tightly around his thumb. Beneath the warm touch, Brian could feel a shuddering spasm of catharsis pulsing through his body. The strange sensation nearly brought him to his knees.
Like the mighty glaciers of the North Mountain, a heart frozen solid by fear and self-loathing could only be thawed with an inordinate amount of time and patience. But now the deed was done. The curse was broken. The pain of the past washed away by the tides of healing and liberation. Never again would Henrik haunt his nightmares. So all Brian could do was hoist the auburn-haired, green-eyed infant into his arms. "I love you too, snowflake."
"Brian, were are we going?" Elsa ran to catch up with Brian as they reached the outskirts of the kingdom, and began crossing through a grassy meadow.
The royal physician smiled cryptically. "You'll find out very soon. I have a special surprise for you."
Winter had gone and spring had come. The field was a dazzling kaleidoscope of wildflowers, and the air inundated with a delicate floral fragrance. The sun shone bright in the sapphire sky, reducing what had been mounds of snow into puddles of slush.
"Are we there yet?" Elsa pressed eagerly.
"Patience, Frosty!" Brian teased. "If Anna is feisty-pants, then you're whiny-pants."
The sound of bubbling water resonated in the distance. Brian smiled knowingly. "Almost there."
Soon they arrived at the edge of a lake. A wooden rowboat was harnessed on the end of a dock. Brian gave Elsa a courtly smile as he helped her aboard. Then he seized the oars and began to row. Without a sound, boat began to glide smoothly across the sleek, cool, immaculately clear water.
"I think it's time." Brian reached below his seat to retrieve a large burlap sack. He tugged open the drawstring to reveal what lay inside. Elsa peered into the dark interior, and could faintly discern the outlines of what seemed to be several rather large stones.
Brian cleared his throat and spoke in a soft, tender voice. His eyes were deep and somber as he gazed intently into her face. "My darling precious Frosty, we have come such a long way to be together to day. Just as we were meant to be. The stones in this bag tell the story of how we came to be. But more importantly, they tell the story of my love for you."
Brian reached into the sack and retrieved a black stone. He set it gently on the empty bench that stood between himself and Elsa. "My heart was dark with rage, resentment, self-pity... and most of all fear. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear that people wouldn't love me, respect me, or pay attention to me. Fear of being exposed for the coward and impostor I was. I walked in utter darkness, with no hope of deliverance. What hope was there for a miserable wretch as I?"
The boat continued its trajectory across the lake. High over heads, a chorus of birds chirped obliviously as they darted to and fro. Brian dipped his hand into the bag once more, and pulled out a red stone. "Love. When I forgot how to love myself, I also forgot how to love the people around me. Elsa, you taught me how to love again. You taught me that love is sacrifice. Love is putting others first. When you are motivated by love, even the greatest burden becomes a pleasure. Love isn't easy, comfortable, or fair... but that's what makes it love."
With watery eyes and a grateful smile, Brian set the red stone next to the black one. "Elsa, you took this cold, hostile heart full of enmity towards self and others... and filled it with love. For that, I can never thank you enough."
Elsa was fighting back her own tears, and was blushing furiously. "Oh Brian, don't say that about yourself. You give me so much credit, but you hardly give yourself any…"
They sailed a little further in silence, until they reached the middle of the lake. The water was getting deeper and darker. Brian reached into the sack for a third time, and emerged with a white stone in hand. "When you showed me that you loved me, I was finally at peace. All the wretchedness of the past had left a hideous dark stain upon the moral fabric of my life... but with love and forgiveness it was washed whiter than snow." Brian reached forward to set the white stone next to the red one.
"Love will thaw," Elsa whispered. She patted his hand lovingly. "And love will heal." A gentle spring breeze fluttered across the lake.
Next, an orange stone emerged from the bag, and joined its predecessors in the lineup. The four stones stood proud and majestic, immovable in their austere glory. Brian continued his monologue, "It would be nice if the story ended here. But it is through trial and tribulation that a relationship is proven true. The same way the refiner's fire purifies metal by burning away all that is phony or impure. The same way it sharpens a sword. Elsa, we were tried and tested in the furnace of adversity... and here we are today, stronger and purer than ever before."
As the boat neared the distant shore, Brian prepared to disembark. Clusters of reeds dotted the shoreline, no doubt housing a myriad of nesting waterfowl. Brian emptied the bag, and a green stone tumbled into his lap. "Fire destroys and kills, but it also gives opportunity to new life. Sometimes the old self must be burned away, in order for the new self to flourish. We must never grow complacent, never become stagnant, never stop learning and improving, never delude ourselves into thinking that the status quo is 'good enough already.'" Brian folded up the empty bag, and tucked it under his seat. "It is never easy to change the way you are... but continuing to grow is the only way to stay alive."
With a gentle bump that left the five stones unshaken, the boat bumped against the shoreline. Elsa was nearly breathless as she marveled at the artistic masterpiece that has just transpired before her very eyes. Who knew that the scholarly, scientific Doctor Helmholtz could be so poetic? "Brian…" her voice choked. "I don't know what to say… that was beautiful." She wiped away a tear.
Brian rose to his feet with a cryptic smile. "The best part of this story is that it's not over yet. In fact, it's only begun." He helped Elsa to her feet, as the pair disembarked and began hiking towards a homely wooden gazebo that stood on the outskirts of the forest.
Sitting on a dainty, delicate little table in the gazebo was a lonely golden stone. It sparked and glistened radiantly in the blazing afternoon sunshine. Smiling from ear to ear, Brian cradled it to his chest and walked slowly towards Elsa. "My precious darling Frosty, my love for you takes me out of time and space. Every time I look into your face and lose myself in adoration of you... I feel like I'm experiencing a little piece of heaven. I love you so much, Elsa. And I always will."
Brian dropped to one knee, and laid the golden stone gently in Elsa's awaiting hands. "My dear Frosty, will you be the Queen of my heart?"
Tears sprang to Elsa's bright cerulean eyes and she leapt forward to sweep him into a crushing embrace. "I will."
There we have it! Brian and Elsa are officially getting married!