LEGAL STUFF: Even to this day I don't own the rights to the Frozen franchise, and I most likely never will. If I did I would've most likely take it to a rather creative spin to it than just rehashes of the same old F1 story.
Protocols are, in simple terms, a set of rules one must observe strictly. The Royal Family has its own set of protocols both the monarch, their family and staff observe. Servants must keep their place and defer to the king and queen at all times, and the same goes with the royals who reign in the kingdom.
But it's not like Kai, my friend and confidant, or rather the closest person my sister and I have for an uncle, would just stick to the rules and act like one of those expensive automatons those Swiss artisans have used their talents in precision into. Kai knew his place, sure, he maintains proper decorum and is quite nervous at times, somewhat fearing he'd bungle up and lose his job. But in no way was he too incompetent or lazy either, and his penchant for turning things around no matter how dire or silly the situation is without a doubt one of his biggest assets. Lord knows how many times his quick thinking saved my sister and I from some of the ministers and villagers who are hard to please.
Things have changed since I moved to the Enchanted Forest as its protector. Not that I don't enjoy serving my people back home, and I don't want to burden my sister with statecraft either, but I find it better being in a place where there's less stress from bureaucratic work and you get to champion for a greater cause than just a kingdom. I wanted to stand up for Mother Nature, and I also wanted to make up for what Grandfather did with my mother's home tribe back then. But there were also times where your family back home misses you and calls you back. Not necessarily out of dire need or for an emergency, but because no matter how comfortable you are at your new place and all, nothing beats going back to where it all started, to where you were born and raised. While I mostly do this to check on things and play charades with Anna, Kristoff and Olaf, in this case I simply wanted to have a pep talk with my family and friends about my new life and my place in this world.
I rode my way home in the middle of the night with Nokk, especially as I didn't really feel like attracting the attention of the populace-at-large. Even if I am rightfully adored by the villagers back home, I personally prefer to be private unless necessary, and while I am indeed the protector of the Enchanted Forest and the Fifth Spirit, I don't want to be simply viewed as "divine" or a god for that matter. I believe in a higher being too; it's that I had the privilege of having ice powers. I initially resented it as a curse, the bane of my existence, but thanks to my sister's unwavering love and appreciation for who I am, I learned to control and make good use of it for the betterment of my people.
Seeing an opening, I went through the back door and sneaked my way through the castle's interior. Wearing an unassuming robe typical of an ordinary citizen and tying my hair in a ponytail, I walked my way around the maze-like corridors of the place, feeling the warmth and atmosphere I never had in quite a while. Spotting the door to Kai's chambers, which was next to my late parents' bedroom (Kai being a trusted staff member called for him to be near Mama and Papa so he can tend to their needs as swiftly as possible), I gave a soft knock on the door. Kai, who was reading a book at the time, was quite surprised at the sudden interruption. He was even more surprised when I showed up as I opened the door.
"Your Majesty? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" Kai asked, visibly surprised.
"It's alright Kai, there's no need for the formalities," I assured, "After all, I'm no longer the Queen anyway,"
"Alright, have a seat dear," Kai gestured, still not sure if he would want to call his former employer casually.
"Well, if you don't feel like calling me just 'Elsa' you could just call me the way you did when I was little," I said, "Would you mind if I call you Uncle Kai again?"
"With pleasure, my dear Ellie!" Kai cried. I gave him a big bear hug, as I always did when my sister and I were little. "You may be all grown up, but I see you and your sister still love and appreciate us here at the castle, just like what your parents, bless their souls, have taught you,"
"Indeed," I concurred, "It's why I viewed you as more of an uncle figure than a mere grunt or employee to be honest, especially when Anna and I are the only family left and we haven't heard from our relatives,"
"It is my honour, Ellie," Kai nodded. "So, what brings you here? Would you like some tea, a krumkake or any midnight snack? I can call Olina to serve you some if you want to,"
"It's OK uncle," I scoffed. "I just wanted to have a little bit of a chat, that's all,"
"Like the time when I told you about Mattias and I being drunk as skunks in the Philippines not too long ago?" Kai recalled. "I am so sorry my dear, I just didn't have any idea what I was going to be into at that time,"
"Woah really?" I chuckled. "I know you really are a man of decorum but I see you do know how to cool off every now and then,"
"I guess there's a silver lining to all that silliness," Kai concluded. "I'm glad your Papa didn't fire me for that indiscretion. Even he had the laugh of his life as it was out of the ordinary for me to go on such an excursion. I really don't want to do that sort of thing again though,"
"Tell me about it," I replied. "The moment I went groggy whilst helping with Anna's birthday celebrations was just as humiliating to be honest. On top of spawning so many snowgies I sort of had an image problem as I feared that some would mistake the Queen as having one too many drinks at the local pub,"
Kai and I let out a hearty laugh while we clinked at both our drinks. Nothing too intoxicating though, just a cup of Grey Earl tea Mr. Mikkelsen grew fond of ever since he and the advisers went to England for a diplomatic trip.
"To be honest it pays to shed the seriousness from time to time," Kai admitted. "When you were Queen back then, all I ever thought about was to serve Arendelle to the T, not wanting to slip up even just a bit,"
"But you're only human," I added. "And I don't want you to get past your breaking point either just because you loved your job so much and you loved to serve our kingdom. That's why we kept on telling you to tone down the formalities back then,"
"Correct,"
"And that's why we took you along when we paid a visit to your hometown in Snoob," I said. "Your brother Karl was a 'swell man, I must add. Does he still work for the King?"
"Last time I asked he still does," Kai recalled. "He sent me daguerreotypes of the projects they came up with lately and I'm glad my home's back on its feet again after being on hard times when Gerda and I left it,"
"Aren't you concerned about Weselton?" I asked out of concern. "You know that the Duke's quite the character and he still isn't pleased with how I dealt with him,"
"Weasel-town eh?" Kai snarled. "Drittsekk, I don't want to hold a grudge with that Duke but bah, he's not even a problem with us ever since Anna managed to snag trade deals with the Capitancy General and other East Indies in the Pacific,"
"And I'm glad Kristoff's connections with the ice industry helped," I smiled. "Has the King Consort been good with his duties lately?"
"Oh, he's doing well," Kai replied. "He may not be in it for statecraft as he preferred to be more of a mountain man and ice harvester, but he said he didn't want to be a burden to the royal family so he decided to make himself useful,"
"Giving him a crash course sure paid off I guess," I quipped. "Oh, someone's knocking on the door,"
"Elsa?"
"Anna? Oh, I am so glad to see you!" I cried.
"Kind of surprising to see you here to be honest," Anna said, "It's been quite a while since we last saw you, and I didn't expect you in that getup either."
"Reminds me of when Mama had to travel incognito under an assumed name to visit a friend of hers," I reminisced.
"She went under the name 'Freya' if I may recall,"
"So, how's the kingdom with you lately?" I asked.
"To be honest, it's been rather stressful and the stacks of documents I had to review and sign just isn't my thing," Anna sighed. "But I can manage anyway especially with Kai around. Oh, and Kristoff's giving the kingdom a new twist to attract tourists and investors too. Never expected him to come up with things like rally races and expanding the ice trade but he said he wanted to help so here we are,"
Kai smiled, being proud of how he and his wife raised us sisters much like how our late parents did back in the day. At that point he wasn't in his usual attire, i.e. a forest green suit with the Arendelle crest and a dark tie; he was simply wearing his night robe and reading glasses, having enjoyed "Oliver Twist" and a few other stories in his free time. It wasn't really that often for him to have a good read due to the nature of his work, but whenever he read, he did it voraciously. He fondly recalled the time when he and Gerda went to the library in their youth after school, and while most youths were simply content with playing outside, the two made it a point to be a little more intellectual, something they carried over even in their service to the royal court.
"Would you mind if I take you two to your rooms?" Kai asked. "You seem more comfortable there,"
"No, you don't have to," I assured. "I have to head back home anyway,"
"You're heading back soon?" Anna asked. "Why so abrupt? You've only been here for a few hours and now you're leaving?"
"Duty calls I guess," I shrugged. "Not that I don't want to stay, but-"
"No, Elsa, you have to stay," Anna insisted. "At least for a while, please,"
I left out a sigh. While I do embrace my new role, to be honest I'm still torn between being at home at the castle and live with my sister and her husband, and being with the Northuldra and fulfill my role as their protector and guide. I may have learned to both control my powers and make the best out of every situation, but there are some things that are a hard pill to swallow, I must admit.
"It's OK Ellie, we're all here for you," Kai assured, placing her big, portly hand over my shoulder. Anna followed suit, and I shed tears of happiness, knowing they're all here by my side.
"Whichever makes you happy, we're all happy," Kai and Anna chorused.
"Thanks, you two!" I cried. "Alright, if it's OK with you, I'll stay here for a while. After all, I might come up with something at the castle for the villagers,"
"Really?" Anna asked. "That's so 'swell of you!"
"Yes, really," I promised. "I am putting up a way for both the Northuldra and us Arendellians to more easily trade and co-exist with each other. As a way to more than make up for the atrocities our grandfather did,"
"That's my sister!" Anna smiled.
"I'm so proud of you two," Kai concurred.
A/N: Couldn't resist doing another slice-of-life story involving everyone's favourite Arendellian chamberlain and advisor. After all, he and Gerda are a little underrated especially when they were named after the two protagonists of HCA's original Snow Queen fairy tale.