Rifiuto: Non Miriena
New Prompt:
Crowns, Gowns, and Coronations
"Jack? Are you asleep?"
"No."
A sigh met him in response before,
"Are you thinking about what Grandfather said?"
He shifted, "I haven't been able to stop thinking about what he said."
She shifted to face him, tucking her arm under her pillow. "I haven't either." Two weeks had passed since Father Frost had announced his abdication in favor of his grandson, and the court had been in a tizzy as they prepared for the coronation that would take place within the next day. Elsa watched her husband shift closer, until he slid his hand down her side and over her hip, pulling her closer. Their noses brushed, and he slid his hand up her back, tangling it in her wild curls. "Do you think we're making the right choice? Agreeing to take the throne?" He sighed, swallowing.
"I... I don't know..." He stopped, blue eyes seeing through her, becoming lost in his thoughts.
"Jack. Jack." Slowly, the young man lifted his gaze to hers, and she saw the absolute and complete fear within her husband's gaze. A moment passed, before she shifted closer until she was pressed against his chest; her arms slid around his waist, tugging gently until they were hip-to-hip. She nestled into him, tucking her head beneath his chin, and sighed in contentment as she felt his arms slide around her waist, holding her closer.
"I'm worried, princess."
"About the coronation tomorrow?" He nodded. "And?" She pulled away, looking up at him. "Jack, I know you. I know you well enough to know when something else is bothering you. What is it?" Her husband sighed, licking his lips.
"Just... what if... what if I let Grandfather down?" She reached up, caressing his cheek.
"Oh Jack... you will be a wonderful king. I know you will be." Gently, she rested her forehead to his. "And I will be by your side. I promise."
"Is there anything else you need, Miss Elsa?" She shook her head, never taking her gaze from the mirror.
"No thank you, Helena." The young maid nodded, curtsying quickly before slipping out of the room. Elsa swallowed, finally removing her gaze when the door opened again and her husband entered, Snegurka and Gwyneira clinging tightly to his hands. Both girls were in their finest, and once the door shut behind them, Jack knelt down. He whispered something softly to the girls, before pressing a kiss to each head and making his way towards his wife. Slowly, his arms slide around her shoulders, and he brushed a kiss to where the skin of her neck and shoulder joined. She reached up, gently taking his chin her hand as she turned to look up at him. Without a word, she caught his lips in a soft kiss, before he pulled away and helped her up.
"You ready?" She swallowed, quickly smoothing down the skirt of her coronation gown. "You look absolutely beautiful, princess."
The gown she wore had been specifically made for the coronation- the off-the-shoulder silver and blue gown cinched in at her waist, the skirt flowing from her tiny waist down to the floor. The train was close to three feet; both it and the dress were covered in a beautiful frosted vine pattern. There were no official 'sleeves'- like her court dress, they were off the shoulder, and angel in cut. The bodice, a sweetheart, hugged her curves, cinching in at her tiny waist. Her hair was pulled back in a braided twist, and Anna's ribbon had been threaded through it. She made her way towards her husband, who had moved from her side, going to their daughters.
Jack knelt in front of Snegurka, gently straightening necklace she wore. The little girl stared at her mother with stars in her eyes, and after a moment, Jack turned. He caught the look on his wife's face and gave her a small smile, turning to his daughters. "Mama certainly is beautiful, isn't she?" Both girls nodded, and Jack stood, turning to Elsa. Seeing the fear on her face, he rushed to her, taking her hands. "What's wrong, princess? Elsa, talk to me."
She swallowed, before finally taking a deep breath. "I... I'm nervous. What... what if something goes wrong, or... or the court..." But he laid a finger against her lips, silencing her worries. He slipped his free arm around her waist, pulling until she was flush against him and then removed his finger from her lips.
"We will be fine, Elsa. Grandfather will be keeping an eye on things, as will Old Man Winter-" She choked on a sob, throwing her arms around him so violently he rocked back, the words catching in his throat.
"I wish Anna was here. And... and my parents... I miss them, Jack." He wrapped his arms tight around her, suddenly realizing where her fears were coming from. It wasn't the coronation she was upset over, it was the fact that she was basically becoming queen alone- in any coronation, the family would be there, certainly in Arendelle, her parents and sister would have stood by and reveled in the moment she was proclaimed queen, but here...
Here, Elsa was alone. Her immediate family- her parents and sister- wasn't here, wasn't allowed to be here, for the mere fact that they were mortal. He gathered her tight against him, pressing a kiss to her head. Though he longed to say something, he knew that anything he said would just be useless comfort to his wife- and so he kept quiet.
All of the Winter Court had arrived at the chapel to bear witness to the coronation. It was so silent, that only the winds howling on the moors and the voices of the priests could be heard. Father Frost stood with the girls; both stood tall, hands folded, knowing how important the ceremony was, even if they didn't grasp the full extent of it. Elsa, for her part, couldn't stop the knots tangling within her stomach; she glanced at Jack from her place kneeling beside him. A moment passed, before his own gaze slid to the side, catching hers, and he reached out, fingers sneaking across the frost-covered floor to brush against hers. Out of the corner of her eye, Elsa watched as her husband slid his pinkie around hers, locking them together. She squeezed lightly, which he returned- giving each other the strength to get through the ceremony.
It was a long, tedious process. Jack had heard stories about other coronations- Old Man Winter's, Father Frost's, his own father's... but he'd never witnessed one. And yet, there he was, kneeling before the priest with his wife by his side, going through his own coronation. Before they'd entered the cathedral, both he and Elsa had had the coronation robes- thick, mantels of snow, lined with ice crystals and frost- draped over their shoulders. After the prayers had been recited, the deacon of the church lifted the crown- a beautiful creation of ice, snow and frost- from the pillow, blessed it, and then turned, touching it first to Elsa's forehead and then to Jack's before placing it upon the young prince's head.
Father Frost had explained- when Elsa asked what the ceremony would entail- that the touching of each crown to both royals' foreheads symbolized that they would share the duties of ruling the court. The former Arendelle heir forced herself to calm as the deacon placed the other crown upon her head. Slowly, they both stood; their small embrace broke, as both were each handed a scepter and orb- another symbol that they would rule the court jointly, equally. As they both turned towards the witnesses, and the proclamation was read, Elsa glanced at her husband out of the corner of her eye. He appeared just as nervous as she.
The proclamation was followed by the anointing of the new rulers- though religion didn't play a major part in the Winter Court- the anointing was an important part of the ceremony, and performed by Old Man Winter himself. Both stood with hands free, having returning the regalia to the pillows which they rested upon; the older spirit's gaze drifted down- pinkies locked together, giving each other strength during the hours-long ceremony- and he chuckled softly to himself, watching as the couple blushed. With a gentle touch, Old Man Winter brushed a light breading of frost over first Jack's forehead and then Elsa's, creating small vines and leaves upon their skin- the official symbol of the Winter Court. He then trailed the frost lightly down the bridges of their noses, and over their lips. It melted instantly, as it was supposed to, and once done, both recited the oath, swearing to protect and govern the court fairly and for eternity.
As one last blessing was said, Jack glanced at Elsa, squeezing her pinkie. She met his gaze, and as the court recited the blessing back to them, Elsa released the breath she'd been holding.
"It's over. Finally..." Jack chuckled softly, watching as his wife removed the snowdrop earrings she wore and returned them to the jewelry box. They would still reside in their chamber, even though they now ruled the court; Elsa couldn't imagine living in any other room of the palace.
"Not quite, princess." He replied, going to her. "We still have the banquet and the ball to attend. And... since we're now the rulers, our presence is required." His arms slid around her waist, pulling her towards him. It was customary in the Winter Court for the newly crowned royals to change out of the clothing they'd worn for their coronation- seen as a sign of having accepted their new roles. She groaned softly and he chuckled. "It'll be over soon, princess."
"I'm not a princess anymore, Jack." She replied. "I'm a queen." He thought a moment, wrinkling his nose.
"You'll always be my princess." Before she could respond, he caught her in a kiss. Then, he took her hand, slipping it into the crook of his arm and tugging her gently from the room, towards the banquet and ball that awaited them.
