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 Alfonse tried to reason with his mother.
"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 left 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, raise 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 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 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 Alfonse and Eugene stood as she left.
Normally, Elsa would have enjoyed the family banter over the 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 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 soon 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 soon be gone. 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 wouldn't be so forward with. She certainly wouldn't want them to tough her 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 soon that was once again what she would 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 baby stroller. "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 going to Corona."
"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 get. 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 Elsa. 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 up. We'll see to it."
"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 to just relax and enjoy your time away from your responsibilities. There's no trade conference this time. 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"
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.
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.
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!"
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 Isabele."
"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 both you and Kristoff. 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!"
On to Corona! What's going to happen there... and after?