Epilogue Part 1 of 2: Wedding Night.
Some descriptions of marital intimacy, but nothing too graphic. Enjoy!
The reception and banquet passed in a haze of excitement. Elsa and Brian hardly remembered the evening. Their senses were completely saturated by pure, unadulterated love for the wonderful husband or wife who had filled the aching void in their hearts and silenced their self-doubts once and for all.
As the party neared its six-hour mark, it was time for the newlyweds to retire. The new King of Arendelle was beaming from ear to ear as he passed through a gauntlet of ecstatic onlookers with a protective arm around his beautiful wife. Elsa peeked shyly at the revelers, with her face partially concealed by the veil. Two guards rushed forward to escort a very inebriated Prince Eugene of Corona back to his quarters. The handsome Casanova was whistling, catcalling, blowing kisses, and cracking lewd jokes about "making heirs with Frosty." Matthias the stable boy, now fifteen years old and freshly-knighted for his valiant efforts against Hans and Henrik, struggled to choke back his laughter as two very strong but diametrically opposed sentiments―his tremendous love and respect for the Snow Queen, versus the sheer hilarity of Prince Eugene's vulgar jokes―came into conflict.
Elsa smiled at the teenager as she passed him, and patted him warmly on the shoulder. The stable boy and son of the Royal Coachman was like a younger brother to her. When they first met nearly four years ago, Matthias hadn't even come up to her shoulder. Now they stood eye to eye. She was so proud of the man he was becoming. From a playful, ebullient little boy to a brave, patriotic young man who had stood up against two of the evilest men on the planet.
The newlyweds ascended several flights of stairs into a quieter wing of the castle, before briefly parting ways and going to separate rooms to prepare.
Gerda smiled tenderly as she helped Elsa remove the flowers from her hair. "Elsa darling, do you know what is expected to happen tonight?"
Elsa felt nervousness strike her heart, as the uncomfortable but inevitable topic of marital intimacy arose. Of course she knew what was expected. She just didn't want to think about it. "The married couple must sleep in the same room for the first time."
Kai spoke up. "Elsa, my precious snowflake, are you familiar with the concept of consummation?"
The blonde nodded mutely, her hands shaking. Kai hesitated to choose his words carefully. He could tell that she was nervous and agitated, and did not wish to upset her further. "Consummation involves a little more physical proximity than just hugging or kissing or sleeping in the same room. You see, snowflake, consummation is an act of... lovemaking."
The room instantly became twenty degrees colder. "We can't! I'm not ready!"
Gerda gave her a comfortable pat on the back. "Brian loves you so dearly. I'm sure he will be gentle and considerate of your feelings, if you communicate your concerns to him."
The room became colder still, as Elsa began pacing frantically back and forth, taking several deep breaths in attempt to calm herself down. "Can I keep my clothes on?"
Kai had to withhold a chuckle at her adorable innocence. "I'm afraid that will be very difficult."
Elsa fidgeted nervously. "Does it... hurt?"
Kai pulled the distressed young woman into a hug. "If it does, I'm sure it will hurt Brian a lot more than it hurts you. You are the most precious thing to him in the world."
Elsa wasn't stupid. Kai was blatantly avoiding her question and beating around the bush. His vagueness, equivocation, and inability (or perhaps refusal) to give a straightforward answer told Elsa all she needed to know: That a wedding night was anything but a stress-free event.
Elsa pouted very childishly and stomped her foot, as she spoke in a toddler-like whine, "Kaiiiiii, you didn't answer my questionnnnnn!" She flung her arms around the corpulent man, as if he were a life raft in the middle of a raging tempest.
Kai pushed Elsa back gently, and gazed into her eyes with all the sincerity and love he could muster, whilst maintaining a bedrock of firmness. He had helped raise her from the day she was born, and he would always carry in his heart fond recollections of the adorable child she was. Elsa would always be his little girl, and he would forever have her best interests at heart. But tonight was a mountain she must climb without him. "I think this is a conversation you'll have to have with Brian. After all, he is now your husband and the King of Arendelle."
Thirty minutes later...
Elsa sat alone on the bed of a candlelit room, adorning a simple white cotton nightgown. Rose petals scattered all over the burgundy red carpet. Any moment now, the moment she both eagerly and fearfully anticipate would arrive.
A knock on the door. Brian entered the room donning his physician's uniform and a charming smile. "My sweet darling Frosty, are you ready for the first of many magical moments we will enjoy together on this lifelong adventure?" With a glimmer of excitement in her eye, Elsa crossed the room in three long strides and closed the door firmly. Then she raised her hands and covered the door-and the entire wall surrounding it-with a twelve-inch thick layer of ice. "Let's give ourselves some privacy."
Brian leaned down and gently kissed Elsa on the forehead. "Ready, snowflake?" Elsa returned the kiss. "As ready as I'll ever be." Their lips touched in a tentative moment, before the couple melted into each other's arms, overcome with love. Brian whispered in Elsa's ear about how beautiful she was, as his fingers combed her hair. The downy blonde locks were softer than the finest silk. Brian gently pushed Elsa back a full arm's length, and feasted his eyes upon the fullness of her beautiful face, silhouetted against the candlelight.
He had to blink several times in order to recalibrate his senses enough to rationalize what he was seeing, and at least attempt an articulate sentence. "Elsa, you're beautiful," he managed to croak. In the candlelight, her snowy white skin shone like diamonds. Brighter and purer than freshly-fallen snow on the highest peaks of the North Mountain... removed from anthropogenic defilements as far as the heavens were from the earth.
Tears welled up in Brian's eyes as he struggled for appropriate words. Angels should not be complimented by the bumbling, stammering tongues of mortal men.
"Elsa, you're perfect."
Elsa smiled as she clasped his hands. "No, Brian. I'm only perfect because you made me so. The credit is yours, my beloved." Another ten minutes of kissing elapsed, before things took another turn. Brian's fingers reached for the top button of her nightgown.
The Snow Queen took his hands and stepped back, detaching herself from his kiss and embrace. Brian stepped back as well, his hands raised into the air. "I'm sorry my love, is everything all right? Did I make you uncomfortable?"
But Elsa appeared more shy than afraid. "No, you didn't do anything wrong." To assuage his concerns, she laid her head against his shoulder and wrapped both arms around him. "It's just... I'm a little nervous. I've never undressed in front of anyone before."
She cuddled closer to him. "Do you think we could put out a few of the candles? If the room is a little darker, I won't feel so self-conscious."
"Of course, snowflake." Brian whispered into her ear. "This is our special night, and we're going to do everything in our power to make this a wonderful experience."
Elsa happily scurried across the room and extinguished two of the candles with a gentle puff of icy wind. Then she rushed back into Brian's arms. "Oh Brian, I love you so much. You're so sweet and considerate... and I feel so good when we're together."
Brian observed her face carefully, looking for consent. When he found it, he took Elsa back into his arms. Elsa smiled as she reciprocated. His embrace was so warm and strong, and she felt so safe and comforted in his presence.
Then he swept her off her feet, and laid her gently on the bed. "Shall we proceed, snowflake?"
Elsa smiled broadly up at him. "We shall." Brian chuckled at her adorable demeanor, before laying beside her. The newlyweds continued to exchange tender words, enjoying each other's company. The minutes ticked by, and soon it was almost time for the crowning moment of an already magical night. Elsa's body tensed as Brian began lifting the hem of her skirt, and she realized that the consummation was imminent. It was her first time, and she suddenly felt terrified.
"Wait!" she suddenly blurted. "Brian, please! I'm not ready!" But the royal physician was so deeply immersed in the moment, and his mind so thoroughly saturated with love, he failed to notice her apprehension.
An explosion of ice shook the entire room, and the temperature instantly plummeted by fifty degrees. Razor-sharp icicles erupted out from every inch of the walls and ceiling. "BRIAN STOP!" Elsa burst into hysteric tears.
Brian immediately withdrew. "Oh my gosh! Elsa, what's wrong?"
The Snow Queen covered herself with a blanket. "I'm scared," she sniffled. "What if I freeze everything?"
Brian reached forward to clasp her hands. "You won't freeze everything, my precious snowflake. And even if you did, remember that Love Will Thaw. Never forget how much everyone―and how much I―love you."
The ice in the room began to dissipate as Elsa slowly calmed down. But her hands were still shaking. "Kai told me that it would hurt."
Brian hugged Elsa tightly and rubbed soothing circles into the small of her back. Her body began to relax as she melted into his arms and allowed him to comfort her. "Elsa, listen to me. I love you more than anything in the entire world. I would never ever EVER do anything to hurt my precious Frosty. It would shatter my heart into a million pieces."
Elsa buried her face into Brian's shoulder. "I was so afraid that you wouldn't stop."
Now it was Brian's turn to tear up in contrition. "Elsa, I'm no Henrik. I am so, so very sorry for making you uncomfortable. The day I disregard your feelings is the day I'll throw myself off the highest tower of this castle."
Elsa wiped away the final remnants of her tears, and smiled up at her new husband and King. "I love you too, Brian. You are so sweet and considerate, and I'm sorry for doubting you. I know your heart. You are a man of healing and comfort, and you are as far from being Henrik as the east is from the west."
After another half an hour of cuddling and tender words, Elsa beamed at the dear, sweet, wonderful man with whom she would be spending the rest of her life. The man who had overcome a lonely childhood without the slightest hint of bitterness, to become the finest physician in the Western Hemisphere and now the King of Arendelle. "Brian, I think I'm ready now. May we try again?"
Brian leaned forward to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Of course we may." As they came together once again, a very brief and ephermeral moment of hesitation flickered in Elsa's heart. But the man by her side was truly the master of healing and comfort. No one understood the intricacies of human physiology one-tenth as well as Brian Helmholtz. With the unerring skill of the finest doctor the world had ever seen, one gentle touch from Brian laid Elsa's hesitation to rest forever. There would be no pain, only love. Their bodies converged and their hearts overflowed with the exquisite sensation of two souls righting the past... forging a future... and uniting in heavenly love.
Whew! It's official now!
Well, it's been 5 and a half years since I started writing Fanfiction, and what a magical journey it's been! To my loyal reviewers, from those who love everything to those brutally honest, I love you all.
Sincere apologies for the inconsistent updates and long delays that have characterized by 3rd full-length Frozen story, in comparison to the previous two, which were updated nearly every other day. My personal and professional life were going through a "drought" from 2014-2015, which was why I was able to be on Fanfiction nearly 24/7. As life got back on track in 2016 onwards, Fanfiction was sadly pushed to the backburner. But FF is something that you can never truly leave behind, though there may be periods of time when you are less active on it! You always come back to FF in the end!
My next adventure may be a series of fluffy one-shots, since I think I've exhausted all the ideas for full-length stories in my repertoire. Will keep everyone posted!