1: Sunflowers
"This iron is the highest quality on the market! And with the furnace fires we had in the spring, production was drastically impaired this year." Deep and booming, his protest echoed over the rich wooden furnishings. "Her highness can't possibly be suggesting that we might cut the cost by a whole two percent, that's nothing short of absurd!" The man who spoke, a hearty gentleman - barrel chested with the frame of a giant - touched a meaty finger to the documents before him in earnest as he looked between the two women who sat across from him. His eyes first went to the queen, who's gaze had wandered elsewhere, and then to Nora's.
Nora had worked hard to get this position next to the queen. Over a year ago she had proudly worn the crest of her station. She had proudly sat beside the newly coronated Queen Elsa of Arendelle. The two of them had been an unstoppable team against the likes of this. But now...
Now she glanced sideways at Anna's distant look and squirmed. She tried her best, really, not to look as frustrated as she felt, and offered the ambassador an adequately confident smile. "A-a-a noo! Not at all, My Lord. Her Majesty the Queen is suggesting that, rather than pure coin, Arendelle would be willing to offer more in fish." She tapped her fingers lightly on the table as she looked to Anna helplessly. "To make up the difference. Right, your Majesty?" The sound didn't so much as budge Anna. She had fully left the conversation and was lost in whatever thoughts had taken her away. The trade advisor bit her bottom lip.
Across from them their adversary scowled through his beard, squinting at the poor girl left to her own defense. "It's clear to me that Arendelle has no interest in the iron of East Marche."
"No!" Nora was out of her seat with a shout. The height barely put her at his eye level but it didn't matter, she followed his gaze, fixing her eyes on the lost queen. "Not at all My Lord." Please, Queen Anna. "Arendelle is still interested in the iron and would simply like to renegotiate for the mutual benefit of our two nations." Please? "Right, your Majesty?"
Anna finally perked out of her daze, a look of horror spilling over her features as her eyes met Nora's. "Do you think the sunflowers will be too much for her? Tell me, honestly"
Nora balked.
"I have heard enough." The ambassador rose to his feet and firmly tugged his robes into place. "Perhaps when the Queen of Arendelle has time for East Marche we can discuss this… renegotiation of yours."
The little advisor rounded the table, desperate to stop him. "My Lord, please, a moment more?" She shot Anna a glare but the Queen, finally aroused from her stupor, didn't even have the decency to look guilty so much as surprised. "The impending wedding has her Majesty a little distracted. Perhaps we can reconvene after lunch?"
The look on the man's face was long suffering but he bowed his head. "After lunch, perhaps."
Nora watched him go, nervous energy spilling out of her in the small tap of her foot, waiting until he passed through the massive doors of the great hall to turn on the queen. "Your Majesty." Her brown eyes narrowed.
Anna laughed nervously, grinning. "I-I really botched that one, didn't I?" The queen's smile faltered as the humor all but slid off her advisor's incredulous expression. Her elbows touched the table and she slumped, face falling into her hands. "I'm so bad at this…"
Nora let out a deep sigh though her nose. Counting down. Counting always helps. "You're worried about… Princess Elsa?" She pressed her lips into a firm line. She prayed the powers that be would give her patience. And a different queen. No, no don't think like that, that's treason. She shook her head,
"I just want everything to be perfect!" Anna hopped to her feet and spun. Her emerald skirts, spotted with delicately needled flowers, fanned around her like a spray of daisies and fresh spring grass. "It's my wedding! My whole life has been just… pointing to this moment, you know?"
"Right." Her advisor pressed a palm to her mouth as she watched the queen pace.
"A-and I haven't seen her in over a year, and I want to make sure everything is just…"
"Perfect."
"Yes, right! Exactly. See? You understand, right?" The queen turned her big pleading eyes on Nora and caught her arms, fingers digging into the fabric of the other woman's immaculate jacket. Nora forced a smile. The poor girl wasn't speaking sense.
"It's your wedding, right? Does it really matter what your sister thinks?" The advisor very carefully nudged Anna's hands off of her. "Shouldn't this be about you and him?"
"I-." Her queen, if begrudgingly, stammered. Nora's question had caught her off guard. "W-well, yes..."
"Exactly. So, Your Majesty. We have to regroup." The advisor glanced at the clock and tapped her lip. Three hours… three hours if we continue through lunch and then…
"You're right." Anna straightened. "I have to regroup."
"Good" Excellent. The queen is on the same- wait. Anna had walked straight passed her and started for the doors. "W-wait. My Queen!" Nora quickly gathered up the papers on the table into her arms in a heap before desperately trying to catch up. Curse the royal siblings and their long legs! "Where are you going!?"
Queen Anna of Arendelle, first of her name, waved back at her dismissively as she bolted for the wide open doorway, free hand grasping the front of her skirts to keep from tripping on them. "I'll be right back! I just have to send a message to my sister." She skid to a halt right outside the great hall and grinned back at Nora. "I can trust you to prepare to meet the ambassador after lunch, right? Good!" She disappeared around the corner, her voice all that echoed back. "Thanks, Nora! I owe you!"
The advisor's face contorted with frustration and with an angry shout she dumped the papers on the table. "Well!" She barked uselessly into the empty air. "Tell her to come back, will you?!" It was honestly all she could do to keep from crying.
Perched high in the mountains and nestled deep in the Enchanted Forest hid a small cottage made of birch and pine. The white of the dogwood planks stood stark against the deep reds of the burning bush, flecked with patches of snow. In spite of the warm summer sun the ice princess' magic held winter by the nape.
Honeymaren hopped from the back of her reindeer, wincing somewhat as her boots crunched noisily on the underbrush. Her antlered friend huffed at the sound and she quickly shooshed him, glancing at the house to check and see if they'd been spotted. He didn't get why they were being so secretive, what with the basket that was clearly meant for the lady inside resting in his antlers, but reindeer didn't tend to understand the… complex nature of… whatever it was Honeymaren was up to. Either way it earned him a carrot, and a soft pat on his nose, and he was content to watch her make a fool of herself while he munched away.
The girl looked back at the reindeer nervously and he gestured with his muzzle that she keep going. We can't back out now, right? Right. She nodded firmly in agreement and pulled the basket free. She walked passed the small collection of potted sunflowers, still too fresh to bloom, by the doorsteps and just as her foot toed the entryway she realized that this wasn't a very well thought out surprise. What if the ice princess wasn't even here? What if she was busy? What if- the door opened before she could talk herself out of this, and her dark eyes met that beautiful clear blue that froze her to her core with nervous butterflies.
"A-a. Hi."
Bemused, Elsa smiled back at her. "Hello..?" She looked perfect. More than perfect, even. She looked prepared. A quick glance noted that she was dressed for travel, the likely enchanted gown suited for riding the way it parted and revealed pants underneath.
"I- uh. Are you leaving?" Please say yes. This was suddenly all too much and her knuckles had turned white on the handle of her prized basket. "I'm sorry, I can come back another time…"
Elsa gently laughed, the sound was rich and musical, humming in the small ice chimes that hung from the eaves. "No, no. Well-," she paused, "I was but it can wait. Would you like to come inside for a moment?" The door opened a bit more, exposing her to the warmth of the Arendellian's home, and Honeymaren chanced a glance at the reindeer. For support.
The jerk snickered at her.
Honeymaren made a face at him but before she could openly rebel the ice princess gently swept her inside, urging her to settle into the main room. "I was hoping you'd stop by, actually." Elsa, graceful even on the step of her heels, wrung her hands as she passed her. "Ah, please have a seat. I'll be right back." She disappeared around the corner into the small study tucked deep within.
Her guest aimlessly followed after her instead, eyes searching the small space with eager curiosity. It was a tight, modest little cottage. No fancy decorations or ornaments save for a few small ice pieces and the richly made furniture. A departure from what she would have expected of an 'ex-queen.' Honeymaren wandered toward the study door and her eyes fell on a vase sitting on the desk, ice of course, but full of sunflowers that had begun to fade. Her heart swelled. That was perfect.
"Here. Here it is." Elsa plucked a small book from the shelf and quickly shuffled through the pages. "It looked like this, didn't it?" The Northuldran girl blinked down at the small sketchbook. The painting, a small scene of trees, was pretty but with a light tap of the princess' finger she noticed the masses of white hiding in the branches. Those affected had dead and spiney leaves, and a darkening at the base of the trunks toward the roots.
Honeymaren felt her face heat. She'd almost forgotten that she and her brother Ryder had come to ask the princess for advice about the affliction in the forest only a few days ago. It had been lost somewhere in a shy smile, a warm laugh, and a seemingly effortless elegant bearing. "Yes, actually. That's exactly what we saw."
Elsa tucked a few stray strands of beautiful golden hair behind her ear as she mused over the notes written within. "The artist mentions some sort of imbalance in the spirits, but it looks like some kind of parasite..." She was beginning to wander away, back toward her books. Calling on the last of her courage, Honeymaren opened her basket. She almost strangled the fresh sunflowers in her nervous fist as she steadied herself. "Do you think you and your brother could take me to it? To see it for myself?"
In the back of her mind Honeymaren hoped her brother didn't mind being volunteered. "W-well, yeah. We wouldn't mind at all." She swallowed and lifted the thick bunch so they could be seen. A deep breath, in and out. Can't back out now, she reminded herself."Elsa… I thought you might like-."
Her voice was drowned in an abrupt ringing of chimes. A small door set above the window viewing out into the forest ticked open and Gale, the wind spirit, spilled into the room, gently rustling the princess's hair. Honeymaren saw, amidst the birch leaves and sprigs caught in the wash of air, a small folded paper bird flapping tiny wings.
Elsa's eyes thawed, the warmth spreading through her features to the press of her smile. Light filled her. It was like the sun had risen over a dark cold night. "Thank you, Gale," the pure love and joy in her voice sent Honeymaren's heart into a flutter. The woman before her had never been so radiant. Not since the day she had first laid eyes on her. Those long slender fingers gently caught the little bird and she turned away, withdrawing into the message hidden within. Honeymaren couldn't help but try to steal a peek over her shoulder.
It was like night and day. The life went out of her host as quickly as it had come.
After a pause the princess turned to face her guest, fingers brushing her lips thoughtfully. Her gaze first sank to the bundle of sunflowers caught in Honeymaren's hand before meeting her eyes. "This is… going to sound sudden," her voice barely split the quiet between them, soft and fragile as it was, "but could you do me a favor?"
"Of course." Honeymaren didn't hesitate.
A strained smile pulled on Elsa's face. "You haven't even asked me what it is."
"It doesn't matter. Whatever you need, I want to help."