oO Arendelle: Two years on Oo
Life had returned to relative normalcy. Though the castle had never been more alive with the vigor of young lovers. In between every moment of possible respectable dignity. Anna and Kristoff had found ways to otherwise distract themselves from routine. Whether it had been in the stables, the gardens, the drawing room or even the dungeon. Their love was nearly unquenchable. Though the joy it brought to those around was nothing to be scoffed at. The Queen and King led with the grace and grandeur they were expected to. The Kingdom flourishing with their success.
Elsa had steadily become a more regular fixture both inside and outside of the castle walls. Coming by at least once a month if not more. Though there had been a time where the People of Arendelle had not seen her at all. The time during which the King and Queen had set sail on their grand tour. The people and royal court had hoped that their abdicated Queen would have returned home but there had whispers that she wasn't in the forest at all. The rumors and lies spread and worry grew in the people's hearts. The Kingdom left without a single heir to protect it. That had been over nearly a year ago, however, and now things seemed to have truly settled down.
"What are you doing?" Kristoff had gone in search of his wife. While it wasn't uncommon for him to lose her in the great maze that was the castle he always seemed to be able to find her in same place when all the others had been exhausted.
Anna hummed spreading herself out over Elsa's bed. a goofy day dream plastered over her face as she let her arms and legs lay akimbo.
"Just remembering." She turned her face into the pillow breathing deep.
"This obsession is unhealthy." His words chortled past his lips as he finally came into the room. It felt so much lighter now, as though the unseen weight had been lifted. The shadows on the walls not casting as dark as they had before. The air light and free, "She was just here four nights ago."
"It's not an obsession, it's sisterly love." Anna pouted matter of factly.
"Not according to this." Cheekily, Kristoff raised the journal in his hand waving it tauntingly before coming closer as he flipped through the pages, "Her skin glistened in the rising sun like freshly fallen snow. So pure, I wanted to bury my hands in it's frozen heat and destroy its beauty with my—"
"Where did you get that!?" Anna's voice squeaked high, her body jolting from the bed to try and rip the book from his grasp. Unfortunately, he turned and avoided her desperate attempt.
"Lips." The humor in his voice echoed into the chuckle that left his chest before he relented and lowered his hand down enough for her to snatch it away. Though something in his stomach warned him of the drastically shifting mood. "You left it under the pillow."
All humor drained from his face when Anna turned sharply away. Her shoulders trembling as though she were trying to restrain herself.
Anna heaved as silent tears bubbled up in her eyes. Her mind spiraling in every possible direction. It wasn't uncommon for Royal families to engage in incest. In fact—in some cases— it was even encouraged. Though she hadn't come across any accounts between sisters. The premise still stood without judgement. Still, she did not marry a man of Royal blood or customs. Rather a pure traditionalist who pushed back her ignorant advances until their wedding night. Cold fear wrapped around her heart at what he would think of her.
It was a completely normal progression in her world. All the things she and Elsa had gone through. Their fierce loyalty and wont to protect the other. Surely, had they not been sister's would they not have found each other in the bedroom? She was sure that Elsa wouldn't have denied her advances had she made them known. How she would have cared and loved for her needs despite their blood. That's what love truly was. Wasn't it?
"Anna, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you upset." Kristoff approached cautiously. His hands very lightly running down her arms. When she flinched his heart threatened to shatter into tiny pieces, "Really..."
Anna sniffled heavily not lifting her head from the binding, "You're... you're not going to leave me...?"
"Leave you?" Kristoff's voice trilled with shock, "Why on earth would I do that?"
Anna heaved in another breath, her head lifting to sound of hurt in his voice, "Because...Because I..." Could she say it out loud? Would that make everything too real?
"Because I want...wanted to have sex with my sister?"
Kristoff shook his head though she couldn't see him. There were many things he didn't understand about Royal life. Many things he had tried to come to terms with. Many things he still didn't know about Anna or Elsa. But there was one thing that he knew completely.
"My love is not fragile." He pulled himself around so that she could see the love shining in his eyes, "Just because I don't understand this, doesn't make me love you any less." His thumbs wiped away the tears that threatened to undo him, "If this makes you happy..." His fingers tapped the top of the book to make his point, "Then I want to share it with you."
Anna felt a wave of emotion crash down on her shoulders her voice trembling with disbelief, "You do?"
"I do."
"What did I ever do to find a man like you?"
"You were just you." He placed a chaste kiss along her brow, "And I love all of you."
Her lip quivered with too many emotions and her arms rose to wrap around the back of his neck, "I love you, too." She pressed a fierce ambivalence fueled kiss to his lips that steadily grew into something that had the potential to write a new chapter in her journal. The latter having fallen to their feet when she tried to pull herself up even higher on his frame.
Kristoff found himself falling back under her spell and there was no denying that he would have done anything inside that little book of hers if only to keep her happy. It was then he remembered just where they stood and he began to pull back with a heavily pounding heart.
"Do you…here?" His eyes skittered around the room that was still very much preserved like a sanctuary.
"Oh, yes…." A dangerous chill ran up Anna's spine as she allowed herself to back up towards Elsa's bed, the very one that her sister still used when she visited. The very one that had held her sister's first moment of love with another. Oh yes, there was no place else to be in that moment.
oO Northaldra Oo
Elsa let out a deep pleasured groan as she stretched her arms high over her head. The sun warm against her stomach as her long-tailed jacket stretched up with her before she near bonelessly melted back against the blanket that rested over the autumn leaves. Her hands cradled her head as she allowed her eyes to close to the crystal blue skies. The soft breeze bringing the scent of earth up to her nose.
"Mm, could I get in on that?"
Elsa wasn't startled, though she hadn't heard the woman's approach she had felt it somewhere deep inside, "I suppose company wouldn't go amiss."
"That could be changed." Honeymaren grinned devilishly as she came to stand at the edge of the blanket, the elder woman laid therein peeking open one of her eyes with her own grin.
"I thought we were supposed to be relaxing?" Her words came out with a content sigh, her bare feet being tickled by Gale who had decided to come for a brief spot of mischief.
"Yes, but there are many ways to do that." Honeymaren held out her hand as Gale retreated from Elsa and fluttered around her wrist in greeting before fluttering off somewhere else.
"I suppose you might have to teach me then, won't you?" Elsa had been steadily learning more and more not of just the world that she held in books but the world of people. Their past year having tested everything she had ever known. Leaving her more than confident within herself and those around her. It was a change she had never saw coming. While still reserved in her own right, it was more out of habit than fear. The darkness inside her heart having fled for its life from the love that radiated out of her now.
"You always did enjoy my lessons." Honeymaren made sure her words held two meanings as she came to sit down beside her. Curling her knees up to rest her arms around them as she let her staff sit just to the side.
"They were very enjoyable." Elsa turned her head just enough to see her lover's profile before she let out the softest mewl that she knew drove the younger woman crazy. Once she'd gathered the her attention she tilted back her head and offered her lips.
"Completely insufferable." Honeymaren grinned into the kiss, a few light pecks before letting herself just enjoy the moment. The hand that wove into her hair keeping her down much longer than she had originally intended. Not that she minded in the least.
"I don't think I should let you at my dictionaries anymore." Elsa lightly nipped at the Chieftess' nose when she released her.
"Oh, are you sure I couldn't change your mind?" Honeymaren let her legs uncurl as she leaned fully over her now. Her right arm coming over to trap the white clad woman beneath her while the other she had bent to support her lightly brushed away the hair spilled out over the rise of her cheek.
"I suppose I could be persuaded." Elsa sighed, letting her eyes lower down, the hands that still rested over her head lightly curling.
"Mm?" Honeymaren ghosted her lips over those raised to greet her, instead letting herself trail down towards the sensitive little spot under her jaw. A firm press released a heavenly sigh into her ear and her hand that had trapped the blonde moved down the rise and fall of her waist, her fingers deftly pushing away the short length split in her lower skirt to slip under the belt that held her pants.
"Maren…" A breathless groan tilted Elsa's head away and back into the leaves, though when those lithe fingers found the hollow of her hip and pushed, she felt her entire body jolt with fire. A teasing gesture that always left her weak in the knees, a snowball quickly formed in her open palm where she had every intention of smashing it against her lover's neck. Though before she could go through with her master plan, her fluttering lashes spotted someone she really didn't want to see in that moment.
"Ryder." A growling pant left her throat.
Honeymaren merely turned with the same look of annoyance, her hand slipping from beneath her belt surreptitiously. She gave a small glance to the snowball poised in the air before a grin curled her lips, "Do it."
Elsa chuckled softly before a small flick of her wrist sent the snowball spiraling with impressive speed and accuracy into the back of the head of the man who had disrupted their little moment of peace. To his credit, he had turned away. Unfortunately, it was to his detriment as the snowball hit him full force.
"Hey!" Ryder whirled around, his face a few shades redder than was normal before holding his arms out in indignation, "I turned away!"
"Why are you here at all?" Honeymaren called back. He was still a fair distance away. No way for him to have truly seen anything of value. Still, it was a disruption none-the-less.
Elsa pushed herself up slowly, her hands coming down to pull her skirt back over her legs before letting herself lean back on her palms. Her brow raised as she awaited the man's response.
"The elders want you!" Ryder cupped his hands so that his voice wouldn't be lost in the wind that rolled between them.
"Why?" Honeymaren didn't much want to speak with anyone at the moment, aside from the beautiful angel beside her now.
"I don't know! They just sent me to get you! Probably because of the ceremony!" Ryder had no intention of coming any closer, that snowball was very cold.
Resigned Honeymaren turned back to Elsa with slouched shoulders, "What are the chances they want to see both of us?"
"Probably very high, considering." Elsa gave her an understanding smile pushing back her impossibly long ebony hair.
"Fair point." Honeymaren pressed a kiss to her wrist when her fingers lingered before leaning back to push herself up. Once on her feet she held out her hand for Elsa who came just as easily.
As they neared Ryder, hand in hand, Elsa chuckled softly at the lump of snow still resting on his shoulder. To which the man glanced down and hastily brushed it off before coming to walk a little behind him.
"I didn't see anything you know…" He grumbled.
"If you had, you wouldn't be walking right now." Honeymaren warned turning back to thump him with the end of her staff.
"I didn't!" Ryder protested dodging just enough to keep his head on his shoulders but the matter was closed when Elsa pulled Honeymaren back around, though there was a gleam in her eye that warned him of just what she could do to him if she dared.
His hand subconsciously came to protect his manly bits before the path widened and he was able to slip away unnoticed. He had every intention of getting as far away from the village as possible.
Elsa and Honeymaren let their hands fall to their sides once inside the village. No other reason than they wanted to. Their relationship was no secret. Not to the people of Arendelle, nor to the people of Northuldra. The former had mixed responses depending on what level of prestige they held but ultimately everyone became comfortable with the idea. Though they were sure there were a few choice words behind the closed doors of the royal court from their Queen that had ultimately brought everyone around.
The Northuldran were not so dramatic. In fact, it was hardly news to anyone at all. They were completely at peace with the idea. Everyone had been overjoyed when their Chieftess had told them the news. A small celebration taking place in their honor once they'd officially claimed their status.
Honeymaren knocked politely on the expanded hut that held the Elder's council. A renovation project that Elsa had helped to design when a fierce storm had torn down some of their huts. A storm to which she had no power over as she'd been away at the time visiting Arendelle who had had similar damages. No one had expected her to do anything to stop the storm as it was just part of nature's course. A blessing in the long run as the new design provided better heating in the winter and a larger space for the fire that sat center of the room.
The bid to enter brought her in and she politely held the door as Elsa followed behind her. Once they were both inside they approached and lowered their heads to show their respect before taking a seat on the bench reserved for them.
"It is almost time, we wanted to give you this to help you prepare." The eldest of the group, her hair whiter than the snow that fell in winter raised her age trembled hands holding out a wooden box that Honeymaren had seen many times in her lifetime. Her eyes widening with the growing excitement of what was to come in just a day's time.
Elsa had been given the knowledge she'd requested in regards to tomorrow but there were still some of the finer details that she had yet to inquire about. So when Honeymaren took the box into her lap she leaned over to see what was inside.
Honeymaren opened the box for her, smiling gently at the softly shimmering blade inside. It's silver polished like new though she knew it was near a century old. Elsa's fingers hovered but didn't touch the blade before she turned her eyes towards up for explanation.
"It's for our hair."
"Oh…"
"Yes, and it is time that we prepare." Honeymaren's uncle rose to his feet, his eyes soft and kind.
Honeymaren nodded, and started to come to her feet letting a deep breath into the air around them. This was it, there was no turning back. She turned as Elsa rose as well. The taller woman taking her hand in hers twining their fingers tightly. She had only told her parts of what they would be doing, wanting to keep some of it a surprise, not wanting to spoil the joy of discovering something new.
Honeymaren led them around to a set of benches that had been set against the wall. They stood facing each other and when she took her seat she pulled Elsa to sit across from her, "You sure you want to do this?"
"Absolutely." Elsa could feel a little tremor in her stomach, both from excitement and a little bit of fear that came with taking the next step. Her heart calmed her worries as she let herself fall into golden brown eyes.
The younger elders of the council came to join them. Traditionally, the parents of each of them would be the ones to do what they were about to do. Though as Honeymaren's had perished in a flash flood five years before the mist had been lifted, her uncle had taken the right for himself. Elsa meanwhile was shadowed by a very distant aunt. Her mother's mother and father having been felled in the battle that had sealed the forest. Another heavy loss for her heart when she'd learned of what happened to them.
Still, her mother had descended from one of the oldest families, and was actually partly related to Yelena, distant cousins through marriage but related all the same. The family had been exceptionally small with only the woman who now lifted her hair from her neck the last remaining in the blood line, well except for Elsa and Anna of course. It had been a whirlwind of a day when they'd found the old birth records while they'd reverently cleaned out Yelena's hut.
"Is this going to hurt?" Elsa whispered, the brush moving through her hair at a gentle pace.
"You've never had your hair cut before?" Honeymaren couldn't help but grin as the braids that held her own hair back came loose and the brush pulled through the crown of her head. It was hard to believe that after all the time they'd spent together she'd never even thought to ask whether or not Elsa cut her hair.
"If I had, it was definitely in my sleep." Elsa chuckled softly, "Though I do remember one time Gerda had attempted to trim it...I froze the scissors." It was an early childhood memory. One of the few mirthful ones she could remember.
Honeymaren chuckled gently her head pulling back when the brush caught on a small knot. Still she reached forward and took Elsa's hand in her own, "It's not going to hurt. I promise."
Elsa smiled bashfully and let out a soft breath. Her eyes closing to the feeling of the brush running over her scalp. It was certainly relaxing, "So what do we do with it after it's cut?"
"We braid it into each others hair." Honeymaren glanced at the Elder's who were listening silently, soft looks of love filling their eyes as they allowed the women to have their private moment, "One today. One tomorrow."
"Two braids." Elsa had noticed that some of the people in the tribe held only one braid in their hair. Usually behind their right ear, and that sometimes she'd seen the men growing their hair out long though she hadn't thought anything of it at the time, it was starting to make sense now.
"So after this we wear two?" Elsa had enjoyed wearing her hair like the people she'd come to live with. Though sometimes she'd worn it completely down no one stopped her when she'd asked Honeymaren to braid it like they wore.
"That's right." Honeymaren gave her hands a small squeeze.
Elsa turned her eyes towards the Elders; their long greying or silver hair braiding sitting behind their ears while the rest of it flowed over their shoulders. Her mind cycled through the others of the village, who wore their hair similarly and suddenly she realized just what exactly it symbolized and her heart grew warmer.
"What does it stand for?"
"The bond between two souls. Our left and our right. Two sides of the same body." Honeymaren pressed a kiss to the back of Elsa's knuckles.
"That's so beautiful…" Elsa lowered her eyes down to their hands.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
oOOo
"She okay back there Olaf?" Kristoff turned his head behind him to check on Anna who had climbed into the back of the cart begrudgingly complaining of feeling sick.
"Yes, sleeping I think." A soft snore and a grumble accented his words, "Yep. Definitely sleeping." A soft grunt and groan turned the snowman down again.
"Are we there yet?" Anna's words were heavily slurred. Her stomach feeling more uneasy from the vibration of the cart beneath. She had been sleeping. That had been until her stomach decided to give a dangerous pull. Her hand came up to her mouth as she tried to take in slow breaths.
"Almost." Kristoff turned further, his hand reaching over the back of the bench to try and feel for fever, "Should we stop?"
"N-no. I'm fine…must be something I ate…" Anna lightly batted his hand away and began to push herself up, "Ah…How much longer?"
Kristoff turned back as the cart began to tilt down, the tall bridge that had been built of stone around the outside of the Valley of the Dead coming down just in front of the large monoliths denoting the entrance to the enchanted forest. A wreath of autumn flowers resting at the base of the memorial in remembrance of the day that was steadily approaching.
"Maybe another hour?" The village inside the woods was fairly deeply inlaid. He knew that the path leading to it was a bit rough and with Anna not feeling well he definitely didn't want them to go any faster.
Anna let out a heavy sigh letting her head fall back against the bench while her hands gently cradled her stomach, "Do we have any water?"
"Yes!" Olaf flounced over to one of the crates they'd brought with them. Small things mostly clothes and a few little gifts. Elsa hadn't been too forthcoming when she'd requested that they come to the forest to participate in a celebration. Her message having been delivered by Gale as Anna was sure if she'd been there in person she'd never been able to keep any information back if she'd asked. That had been nearly 6 weeks ago.
Plenty of time for her to clear her royal schedule. The very same time that she and Kristoff had all but ruined the sanctity of her bedroom. Not that she'd ever tell. Though she'd nearly had a heart attack when the letter had floated into the room just as they were coming down, almost as though she knew what she'd done. Thankfully, that had not been the case.
It wasn't too often that Anna had the chance to journey to the forest. Though her love for other cultures desperately made her want to go, her duties as Queen always held her at home. It wasn't exactly fair, but given that Elsa could literally ride over the fjord to come see her, she suspected it was a fair trade for being able to at least see her sister.
The year they'd spent completely apart nearly made her want to tear her hair out. By the simple fear that something would happen while she was gone and she wouldn't be there to save her sister from herself. Graciously, Honeymaren had taken up the task of keeping her sister from jumping head first into volcano's and had sent a letter once or twice to keep her from going completely insane.
"So this is the enchanted forest…" Elana who had been invited by Kristoff slowly leaned forward to look up at the beautifully red late autumn trees. Their white trunks gleaming in the sun. She had initially been sitting in the back keeping Olaf properly entertained before her Queen had become ill. She had quickly changed places with her and now sat as far as possible from the King to keep a respectful distance between them. Though she was more than excited to have been asked along.
"Yep. Full of magic and wonder." Kristoff grinned and gave her a disarming smile. He had found out through the grapevine that Ryder and her had started a somewhat awkward long distance relationship. Though Ryder had made it to Arendelle more than enough times to make the relationship worth while, Elana wasn't so sure she was ready to leave her service at the castle to live in the woods.
A sharp wind kicked up on the path in front of them before the whispering wind whipped around Kristoff in greeting, running through his sleeves and ruffling his hair before dipping behind to wrap around Anna's form, much more gently, eliciting a soft sigh from the woman. After a delighted squeal from Olaf she made her way back to the front curiously flipping up Elana's long hair over her eyes.
"Hey Gale." Kristoff pushed his hair back down, "Could you let them know we're on our way?"
There was a soft chittering sound before the leaves held in the wind's grasp bobbed and weaved as though nodding before the gust cleared the stone path ahead of them.
"Wow…" Elana pushed her hair back from her face completely in awe at the sight.
"Just be glad Bruni didn't come to greet us." Kristoff chuckled again before turning back around to check on Anna. When he leaned over he realized that she'd fallen back asleep, her previously furrowed brow of discomfort relaxed. He lovingly ran his fingers through the hair that Gale had swept over her shoulders before turning back to just let her rest.
By the time they'd arrived the entire village seemed to be in perfect coordinated motion. A beautiful arch made of trees and vines standing tall in the center with beautiful autumn flowers twined inside it. A fire burned safely in front, it's flames an unnatural purple as Bruni slept inside its tall stone circle that it almost looked like an alter. It was this observation that made Kristoff sit up a bit straighter when he realized just what they'd been invited to.
"Kirstoff!" Ryder pushed through into the center his hair without his iconic hat, one side of his nearly shoulder length hair neatly combed with a single braid behind his right ear. He definitely looked as though he was dressed for something based on the jewelry and other adornments to his normally plain attire.
"Elana!" As soon as Ryder had noticed the woman sitting next to his best friend he'd moved forward with great excitement. Not a second after Kristoff had pulled the cart to a stop had the woman jumped from the bench and straight into his arms where he twirled her with a raucous laugh.
"You're welcome." Kristoff chuckled before coming down himself moving to the side of the cart where he pulled down the side to get to his wife. Her skin was still lightly flushed and when he pressed his fingers against her cheek she let out a heavy sigh and curled up just a bit tighter.
"Hey snugglebug…" Kristoff lowered his voice so as to wake her gradually.
"Mm? Are we there?" Anna closed her eyes tighter and extended her legs out in a deeply needed stretch.
"Yep. How are you feeling?" Kristoff helped her sit up, worry growing in his brow.
"Better…tired?" Anna let out a deep yawn before rubbing at her eyes to look around, "Oh…this is lovely."
Ryder came around the cart, Elana pleasantly wrapped into his side; a bit of worry forming in his stomach when he saw her flushed state, "Is she okay?"
"She, is awake and yes. I am fine…" Anna gave him a playful pout before bringing her legs over the side of the cart. With help from Kristoff she was steadily put down on her feet where she let out another stretch before truly taking in everything around her, "What are you preparing for?"
"Elsa didn't tell you?" Ryder glanced to Kristoff where they shared a quick and silent conversation of facial expressions.
"Tell me what?" Anna smoothed down her long burgundy coat, her hand returning to her stomach as it gave another small twinge.
"Oh well you know, we're just having a little ceremony nothing uh- important. Actually I think she's in her home if you wanted to see her…"
"This woman is not going anywhere." Eresa could almost smell the illness in the air, her deep sea green eyes narrowing as she looked Anna up and down, "Come come, let's get you well first."
Before Anna could even begin to protest, her bicep was taken in a firm and unquestioning grip. She looked back helplessly as Kristoff and Ryder seemed too shocked to move. Though eventually Kristoff moved to follow after them, though not before Olaf ran through his path chasing after his carrot nose that Gale had slipped from his face.
"I feel fine…"
"Don't lie to your elders it's far from polite." Eresa pulled open her door and led the Queen to sit on one of the leather beds before moving towards her counter filed with herbs, "You've got life in you, you should take more care."
"I've got what?" Anna's eyes opened wide and her head shot down to look at her barely rounded stomach. She'd just though she'd put on a bit of weight. She had been craving an awful lot of chocolate recently.
"Life." Eresa shook her head as she pounded her pistol, "How could you have not known? Surely you know how this works."
Anna flushed all the way to her ears, her mind cycling back to the numerous opportunities this could have happened, "How uh…how far along do you think?"
"About six weeks, maybe more certainly not less." Eresa looked up as Kristoff opened her door before returning with a hum to the tea she was building.
Anna's eyes shot to him, her heart beating about three skips and a jump over normal. They had of course been trying though they'd not yet been successful, a few missed shots and buckets of tears but now…
"Is she going to be alright?" Kristoff came in fully, letting the door come closed behind him.
"Oh, yes. Quite so." Eresa turned holding a soft smelling tea in her hand, "Drink."
Anna could hardly hold the cup as her body filled with a complex array of excitement and faintheartedness. The pressure from the court to have an heir, the talks of what would happen if she would be unable to. The rehashed conversations over her and Elsa's potential fertility given their heritage. So many useless worries that hadn't helped the situation at all.
"Anna?" Kristoff lowered himself down in front of her, his hand coming over hers to help her drink down the tea. When she finished he nearly lost his heart when she jolted forward to wrap her arms around his neck.
"You're going to be a papa…" Her tears of unprecedented joy rolled down her nose as she buried herself into his hair.
"What?" His eyes opened wide as he was sure his heart stopped, his arms coming up to hold her tight to his chest as he just tried to process. He turned his head towards Eresa when she retrieved the cup with utmost confidence on her brow.
"Summer born. I'm sure of it." Eresa nodded her head a small smile of congratulations growing over her features.
"Summer born…" Kristoff pulled back slowly, his eyes lowering down to Anna's stomach where his hand gingerly pressed against it. How had he not noticed? "How far?"
"Not long. But you would have noticed on pretty soon." Eresa brought a cup of tea to her own lips, "She'll feel much better now. That tea will keep your stomach easy for the rest of the night."
Anna hastily wiped at her tears but before she could express her concern Eresa held up her hand for her silence, "Don't worry it's completely safe for the baby."
"Thank you…" Anna rubbed her stomach with the utmost care, her lip coming into her teeth as she tried to feel the life inside though it was much to early. As she came down from her emotional high, she had enough of a mind to inquire about what she'd seen in the village, "What's the celebration for?"
Eresa turned with a cocked brow, "Elsa didn't tell you?" A roll of her eyes thumped her cup down onto her bench, " Of course she didn't, cloak and dagger nonsense." She huffed, "Well, you're free to go now. Ask her yourself."
Anna came to her feet slowly, her hand still held tight in Kristoff's his eyes so deep in the low firelight. "We did it…"
"We did." He pressed a loving kiss on her forehead, "I'm so ready for this…"
"Me too…" Anna pulled him in close once more," I've got to tell Elsa." A disbelieving laugh barked up her throat before she slipped down around him to make her way to Elsa to try and discover what the big secret about this ceremony was all about and of course tell her the news.
"Ah! You stay." Eresa snapped her fingers when Kristoff turned to follow Anna his eyes and back snapping to attention.
oOo
Elsa hummed as she pulled the hair in her fingers tight. The intricate braid behind her left ear shining brightly, the two equally opposite waves of hair beautifully embraced. A endearing sigh lowered her shoulders and she picked up the long strands of string that were meant to wrap around the top and the bottom. Her ears picking up to the sound of someone coming through her front door.
"Elsa?"
"In here." Elsa's smile returned and she turned her focus back towards her looking glass, leaning forward so as to get the weaving just right.
Anna entered the room with all the confidence of the title she held though when her eyes landed on her sister her mouth fell completely open and the words she'd been so eager to share tumbled from her lips into an odd noise of incomprehensible gibberish. Anna blinked dumbly as she just tried to comprehend the sight before her.
Elsa turned her head slightly so as to see her properly, her hands still wrapping the string around the end of her braid, a slow nervous smile ticking at the corner of her lip, "Anna? Are you okay?"
Anna shook and nodded her head in an odd sideways motion before completely loosing herself. Her hands motioned to everything in and around Elsa still not believing that the woman sat so properly before her was an actual human being. A most excited squeal ending her charade as she tried to just take it all in.
Elsa's hair was the most elaborate of all. A shimmering headpiece that dipped just below the crown of her head, the intricately woven vines slipping in and out of her long platinum hair to from the base of a crown made of rounded thorns, and flowers. The string that she was presently tying off completing the beautiful and oddly colored black and blond braids that came from behind her ears while the rest of her hair tumbled down her back in neatly tamed curls. Beads and other shining things falling down from the headpiece to catch and shine against the waving tresses.
Her dress was the most pure midnight blue, with long winds of color akin to the northern lights sewn through its long and flowing skirt. The sheer blue train that fell from the top of her bare shoulders nearly as long as the one she'd had at her coronation but this one held all the runes of the spirits. An exceptionally elaborate snowflake branching out into long twining swirls as it crawled along the edge. As though the design had been put there by her magic. Her bodice held an Arendelle crest sewn in a lighter blue so that the end of the crest met with the point of the bodice before opening up towards her chest where beautiful diamond shaped beads that accented the square neck around her shoulders.
"How are you even human?" Anna finally regained use of her tongue by the time her eyes hit the floor, the final piece to the entire ensemble, a pair of beautiful black leather boots, that held the softest of gold accents along the sides.
Elsa shook her head, making the stones in her hair shine in the setting sun, "I assure you that I am as human as I've always been." She brought herself gracefully to her feet, having finally finished setting Honeymaren's lock of hair into her own. A symbol of their bond and ever lasting love. Easily closing the gap between them, where she took Anna's hands in her own and brought down a kiss to the tops of her knuckles, "Though I am very glad you approve."
Anna blushed softly from the kind gesture before dropping her hands in favor of a hug, though not as tight as she'd wanted nor as close as she definitely didn't want to mess up all the hard work that had obviously went into making up her overtly ethereal appearance. When they pulled back she couldn't stop herself from lightly pulling one of the braids from behind her ear so that it fell over her shoulder, "Is this your hair?"
"No, it's Honeymaren's." Elsa smiled fondly as Anna ran her thumb over the tightly woven strands.
A small tick sparked in the back of Anna's brain before her eyes opened comically wide and her hands shot down to hold Elsa firmly in place, "She hasn't died!?"
Elsa couldn't help the incredulous look that covered her face nor the bark of disbelief that puffed past her lips, "What? Of course not!" Her exclamation ended with a chuckle before it dawned on her that she'd never actually told Anna what she would be coming there for. She could have smacked herself if it weren't for her sister holding onto her so tightly.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Elsa raised her arms to cradle Anna's elbow.
"Elsa if you don't tell me right now I think I might explode. Though there is something I need to tell you too." Anna released her grip though only to bring their hands back together. There was an awkward silence before she realized that Elsa was waiting for her to speak, "Ah! You first!"
"Honeymaren and I are…we're being bound." Elsa's smile could have lit up the night sky with a thousand suns. Her blue eyes shining bright into her sister's own as the love clearly showed through every ounce of her being.
Anna's head and back snapped straight, her brow furrowing tight as she wasn't entirely sure what that meant. She felt that she should have known but the news she'd just received had sort of turned all of her processing power to mush, "Bound? Like…a wedding?" Her eyes widened with a new boundless energy, a girlish squeal echoing in the room around them.
"It's not a wedding Anna. It's a soul binding." Elsa corrected kindly, her head shaking just a little at the burst of energy now flowing through her sister.
"Yeah that sounds so much better. " Anna couldn't stop herself from letting out another squeal, "I wish you would have told me why you wanted me here. Not that there isn't any reason for me not to come. I just would have brought something for the both of you! A cake or-"
"Anna it's fine. Truly. Honeymaren and I both wanted this to be as simple as possible."
"I know but," Tears of joy bubbled over Anna's lashes and she just couldn't stop herself from opening and closing her hands in a bid to keep herself from crushing her sister with all her strength, "I'm just so happy for you."
"And jealous." Elsa raised an incredulous brow. She could see by the way Anna was standing: her arms pressed to her sides. her feet doing a very confined dance, her fingers fiddling with themselves under her chin, that she very much was holding herself back. Like a child who couldn't have a new toy that sat there so beautifully on the shelf.
"What! No!' her arms flew down to her sides completely unawares of her previous posture.
Elsa tilted her head with a crooked grin raising her brows knowingly.
"Anna." She singsonged.
"Okay! A little bit!" Anna deflated coming just a touch closer, "Only because I wanted to help you be happy. After all that time we lost...And then after I had you back...then you were gone again..."
"Anna. I understand." Elsa pressed her jeweled forehead gently to Anna's own instantly silencing anymore more ramblings. They shared the heartfelt moment for a long time before Elsa eventually pulled back absently adjusting the necklace of snowflakes resting in the dip of her throat, "So what did you want to tell me?"
Anna's enthusiasm ebbed just a little. Her lip coming into her teeth as she debated whether or not she should tell her now or later. After all, this was a day meant to be special just for Elsa. Could she really take that away from her? Would it actually take anything away from the day or only bring more joy? As her thoughts cycled through her face rose and fell with each emotion they brought with finally prompting the elder woman in front of her to give her a gentle shake.
"Anna?" Elsa dipped her head low to catch her sisters eyes, "Whatever it is, I promise it's not going to make today any less special. In fact, if you don't tell me I might forget what I need to say at the alter and then how will you feel?"
The small guilt trip immediately rounded Anna's focus and she finally turned her attention back to her loving sister. A deep breath filled her chest before the words came tumbling out near incomprehensibility, "I'm pregnant. It's Kristoff's, it's going to be born in the summer!"
Elsa could barely understand but what she did made her face light up even more than before, her head turning down to look at her sister's stomach before she lowered herself down to her knees to lightly press her fingertips over the tiny bump, "Oh, Anna…" her head tilted up with sparkling tears of pure elation, "I'm so happy for you!"
"Thank you…" The sight of her sister, dressed as the goddess of the forest kneeling down in front of her sent her heart doing spirals. She reached down and pulled her sister back to her feet hastily wiping both her and Elsa's tears from their cheeks, "You're going to mess up your make-up…"
Elsa shook her head with a bright smile before pulling her back close.
oOo
"Elsku, ég leitast við að vita af þér,
Beloved, I seek to know of you,
Og biðjið andann um að ég fái viskuna
And ask the spirits that I be given the wisdom
Til að sjá þig eins og þú ert,
To see you as you are,
Og elska þig sem leyndardóm,
And love you as a mystery,
Ég mun gleðja þig
I will take joy in you
Ég gleð þig með ást þinni
I delight in the love of you
Þú ert mér að hvísla sjávarföllin,
You are to me the whispering of the tides,
Að tæla hitann í sumar,
The seduction of summer's heat,
Jarðvegurinn sem færir fé,
The soil that brings bounty
Og vindurinn í lungunum
And the wind within my lungs
Þú ert vinur minn
You are my friend
Elskhugi minn
My lover
Líf fyrir okkur regnboga og sólsetur,
A life before us of rainbows and sunsets
Og vilji til að deila í hamingju og sorg.
And a willingness to share in happiness and in sadness.
ég elska þig
I love you
Ég dái þig."
I adore you.
Elsa's chest shuddered when the last of her promise left her lips. She had practiced relentlessly to speak her lover's language so fluently. Hours she had spent alone on the highest cliffs in the deepest caves all for this moment.
Her eyes closed from the gentle hand to the back of her head as the High Elder pressed them closer, their hands wound in rope to seal in their promise to each other. Her soul shot forth when their foreheads finally touched, a slow tear rolling down her cheek only to fall into the most beautiful snowflake she'd ever made.
Before it could fall too far, Gale wirled around them in her blessing, the beautiful leaves and garlands lending aid as she shot towards the sky, in the most elaborate dance of beauty and love. The softest voice whispering deep into her heart.
'All is found.'
When Elsa's eyes opened and the hand on her head retreated she turned and faced all those who had gathered. Anna was nearly a mess of tears, a handkerchief pressed up against her lips to try and keep herself from completely losing control. Kristoff held her close and showed his support with the look of love in his teary eyes. Ryder was nearly the same as Anna but he was doing a fairly good job of controlling himself by puffing out his chest and giving his sister a thumbs-up. His hand twined tightly in Elana's.
When their hands rose, clasped and tied, everyone rose with joyous cries. Honeymaren turned her head as she pulled their hands closer to the alter of fire in front of them. Elsa longingly nodded before they put their bound hands over the flames, the cord designed to burn away quickly in a flash of sparkles before the fire could even dare to harm them. Of course, Bruni made sure to make the display even more magical as the fire spirit shot a ball of pink flame high in the air where it met with a flash of lightning before exploding with amazing colors, nearly rivaling those of the Northern lights as they danced in the background.
As soon as their arms were free, Honeymaren turned and took Elsa's face in her hands and despite the break in tradition she brought her down into a fierce kiss of their love and devotion. Her arms wrapping behind her neck to keep her in place. Though initially stunned Elsa wrapped her arms tightly under her shoulders and held her as close as she possibly could.