London
Belgravia
"They are late." Alex said, glancing down at his watch. He was wearing a black outfit, grey vest, and red cravat ensemble with a pale blue sash that stretched from his right shoulder to left hip. A silver and gold star decorated with a black double headed eagle rested on the left breast of his jacket. It was the first time Elsa had seen Alex "cleaned up," and he'd even gone as far to get a fresh shave and trim. Though she really didn't know how to say it, he really did look dashing all dressed up like this. She wondered what the sash meant.
"They're busy people, I'm sure they've just been delayed." Facilier said, offering a pair of drinks to Alex and Elsa as they waited in Pythian House's atrium. The Earl DunBroch, Dr. Goldwyn, and Louis Napoleon had already arrived.
"So you're Bonie's nephew, eh? The one responsible for those farces in Strasbourg and Bolougne?" The Commodore said upon introductions. "I've always heard you never quite measured up to the man."
"But you have heard of me." Louis Napoleon replied with a shrug and a grin. Gordon had responded with a loud cackle and slap against his knee. The two men had grown fond of each other almost instantly, and the sounds of laughter regularly echoed from the parlour the others were sharing drinks in.
"Who is this again? You described them as an old friend?" Elsa asked. At Mrs. Ozolina's suggestion she wore something a bit more formal this evening, she wore a deep purple dress with green and gold embroidery. Snowflake patterned lace highlighted her neckline, and in accordance to what she understood of London fashion she wore her mother's shawl. Anna had packed it in her things. Ginny and Mary had suggested she wear her hair up for the occasion as well, and Elsa realized this was the first time she'd worn it in this manner since her coronation. She refused the gloves suggestion, however. Louis-Napoleon had described her as radiant, and the Commodore and Doctor had both agreed she was absolutely stunning.
Alex had only given her a polite "you look nice."
"She is probably my oldest friend." Alex explained. "I was given to her as a sort of playmate when we were very little. I am not sure what the actual arrangement was. I was six after all."
"Your parents just gave you away like that? I thought you said they were supportive." Elsa asked. She took a sip of her drink, apparently a vintage Amontillado, and it tasted of caramels and roasted nuts.
"They had passed away by that point, Elsa."
"When you were six? Why did you never mention that?"
"You never asked, and it had no relevance to our other conversations. It's the same reason I have never asked much about your personal life." Elsa was about to respond, but she caught herself. He was right, and Elsa realized just how little she actually knew about her host. Sure, he had promised her he would never lie to her, and Elsa believed him, but the sheer amount of information he might be omitting bothered her. He was always kind to her, but Elsa realized Alex also always kept her at an arm's length too.
Was this what Anna felt? Elsa wondered. Why do I want to know more anyway? He's just helping me. I doubt I'll ever see him again after all of this. Even if we both seem to be connected by our powers.
"I am sorry for your loss, I can't imagine…"
"I think you can. You lost your parents too, and you have had plenty of suffering in your life. We all deal with our pain in our own ways." Alex said before taking a sip of his own drink. There was the slightest flicker in his eyes that suggested to her otherwise.
"Should I gather the guests and send them to the dining room, Alex?" Facilier asked. Alex nodded.
"We'll join you soon, Jean-Pierre. I'll give her a few more minutes." He said, before turning to Elsa. "I apologize for not making you aware of that sooner, Elsa."
"No, you are right. It isn't something we've discussed. I guess we're just very private people." Elsa said, running a hand through her hair and passing a kindly smile to Alex. He reciprocated, and the doors to Pythian House opened as the doorman ushered the newcomers in.
They were a couple not much older than Elsa or Alex. The husband was a man of average height but with an attractive face and caring blue eyes. He had long sideburns and a trimmed moustache of dark hair. His wife was almost a head shorter than him, plain looking at first glance, and somewhat stout. Her head was small and round with a receding chin, and her hair and eyes gave off a hint of a family resemblance to her husband. But there was also a grace and elegance in her movements which surprised Elsa, and when she removed her travel attire she was wearing a pristine white lace dress complemented with blue ribbons. A golden, heart-shaped locket rested at her neckline. When she glanced over at her husband, wearing a similar black ensemble to Alex, her rosy cheeks brightened with joy and excitement. Both wore a light blue sash from their left shoulders to right hip, and the husband wore a similar star to Alex, but Elsa could not recognize the further design from where she stood.
Alex stepped forward, bowed to the couple, and immediately addressed them in German. Elsa cursed herself for never learning the language, and Alex had picked up on her ignorance of it fairly quickly. There were enthusiastic handshakes, and the wife giggled excitedly as she hugged Alex. Then she glanced around him to look at Elsa.
"Ist sie das?" Elsa overheard, and Alex stepped out of the way so that he could face both of them.
"Queen Elsa of Arendelle, may I have the honor to introduce you to Her Majesty the Queen Victoria and his Royal Highness Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha." There was a sudden crash of glass against the floor, and the group looked over to see the Commodore DunBroch, wearing his finest navy uniform, standing with mouth agape and frozen in shock, and Dr. Goldwyn looked as though he had seen a ghost. Louis-Napoleon simply passed a conspirators' grin to Alex. Facilier quickly shuffled the group on Without missing a beat, the queen gracefully turned her head back to Elsa and addressed her.
"It is my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Elsa."
"As it is mine." Elsa replied, trying to recenter herself. "This is quite unexpected."
"Indeed it is, but I am glad we are able to meet under these circumstances. I had been afraid our meeting would be at some overcrowded, overscheduled affair. I much prefer more private and intimate affairs."
"So do I." Elsa replied. That was an honest answer too. She'd always hated public gatherings as queen. "But I must correct you. I am no longer Queen of Arendelle. I abdicated in favour of my sister."
"I do not care." Victoria said calmly. Elsa raised a curious eyebrow. "And I have never seen any formal writ of abdication either. But that is something we may discuss later."
"Indeed" Albert added with heavily accented English. "There is so much to discuss. You have been quite the enigma and mystery, Elsa. We have been looking forward to meeting the real thing."
"Then I hope not to disappoint." Elsa smiled back. "Do you normally visit homes like this?"
"Not often, no, and especially not like this in London, but we decided to make an exception for this. You might even say Albert and I snuck out..." Victoria, satisfied with her mischief, chuckled.
"All this to see me?"
"Well, of course, but I would be lying if I said it was not also because I have not seen Wilhelm for … how long has it been now?"
"It was Bertie's christening, wasn't it? So over four years?" Alex suggested, and Albert nodded in agreement.
"Right, just before all that dreadful business began with the Tzar." Victoria agreed.
"Wilhelm?" Elsa interrupted. She was also curious what the Queen meant by Alex's dreadful business. What else was he omitting?
"Oh, my apologies Elsa. You see, I was born Victoria Alexandrina. Alex is Victor Wilhelm Alexander. I know he prefers Alex, but I was Alexandrina as a child and so Wilhelm was the simplest solution." Victoria explained. "Old habits."
"How are the children?" Alex chimed in. The couple smiled.
"Oh, just wonderful! We had a bit of a struggle with little Helena but she is growing more and more strongly by the day! You really ought to see them while you are here. Vicky remembers you, and she has grown into such a diligent and clever little girl, has she not, Albert?"
"Indeed she has, my dear. In fact, Alex, you might be able to help inspire Bertie to the same. I do wish he'd focus more on his studies."
"Oh, I am not sure I would be of any assistance there."
"Nonsense. You are one of his godparents, and Bertie admires you. I told him all of your stories." Victoria chided. "Perhaps we could make an arrangement? And you could come as well, Elsa, if you are still here. I feel it would be very good for you to see what you might expect from motherhood."
Elsa turned a bright shade of pink. Outside of one private conversation with Anna over drinks on what exactly Olaf was, the last time she had even contemplated the idea of motherhood was a distant memory of a particularly dark and lonely night where she had told her mother she never wanted to bring any children into the world if it meant they would suffer her curse. Her mother had sat with her and quietly listened that night as she cried relentlessly into her lap.
"Now, now, there is nothing to be bashful about. It may be an utterly abominable process, believe me Elsa, but it is part of being a woman. And children are absolutely wonderful once they are no longer babies. But that's another matter we can discuss when we are away from the gentlemen."
"How many children do you have?" Elsa asked. Facilier was standing in the nearby hallway and tapping his foot. His frustrated face shouted the food was getting cold.
"Five." Albert replied. "Vicky is our oldest, followed by Bertie who is the heir, then Alice, Alfred, and Helena who came to us just this last May." Albert and Victoria shared another smile, and despite the strangeness of their match Elsa could not help but the same look shared between them as what Anna and Kristoff shared. In a way, it was very similar to how Anna looked at her, yet there was something very different about it as well. It was something Elsa felt she would never understand, and a look she would probably never share.
Dinner that evening put the first meal she had at Pythian House to absolute shame. It was double the food, double the courses, and double the drinks. Victoria and Albert made for very pleasant company, and worthy conversations passed around the table. They talked of advancements in the sciences and technology, the distant corners of the Earth, and everyone had their own recommendations for places for Elsa to visit while she remained in Britain.
"I keep telling her, your majesty, that she needs to get away from London and travel up to Scotland. It is an environment so much more conducive to pleasant living than this madness." The Earl DunBroch said. He'd spent much of the earlier courses still in shock over the Queen's presence, but he had returned to his normal manner after about a dozen glasses of gin. "Too many people, too many machines, too much. There is too much in London."
"I am inclined to agree, Earl DunBroch." Victoria said, gently tapping at her lips after devouring a particularly large chunk of roast beef. For such a petite woman she certainly had an appetite. "Albert and I have been looking to purchase property in Scotland, actually. We are very fond of it. You would like it too, Elsa. I'm sure it would remind you of Arendelle in a great many ways."
"More than a great many ways!" Gordon laughed. "We have magic of our own in Scotland. If you can call it that anyway. In fact, Elsa, did I ever tell you the story of my great, great, great, great ancestor? This was the story I was telling you about earlier, Bonaparte, with the ancestor who had a beard like yours."
"You have not." Elsa said, looking up from her plate.
"Now you've done it." Collin sighed, slumping into his seat and immediately downing a glass of wine.
"In old castle DunBroch, there's an old tapestry that tells us of the King Fergus of Clan DunBroch. He was a mighty warrior who ruled over all of Scotland with an Iron Fist." DunBroch explained with great enthusiasm and gestures.. "The tapestry tells us of how old Fergus got his nickname, the Bear Slayer. After he had conquered his enemies, Fergus returned home to find a great, demonic bear by the name of Mor'Du had devoured his poor wife and wee daughter. Rallying his sons, he pursued the beast, but he was unable to slay it and the beast devoured his leg! Then, the tapestry says, an Angel of the Lord appeared to Fergus and told him he would not be able to slay Mor'Du unless he submitted to Christ. So Fergus found a priest, accepted the true faith, and was able to slay the demon bear." Victoria clapped, quite pleased by DunBroch's showmanship with the story. The gentlemen said nothing, and Alex went out of his way to down his own beverage.
"That's quite a story." Elsa said with a polite smile.
"Indeed. A shame Walter Scott called it 'bizarre' and 'without impact.' Bastard."
"I believe that is Sir Walter Scott, Earl DunBroch." Victoria chided. "Personal vendettas are no excuse for ignoring manners." The Earl DunBroch moved back into his seat like a frightened puppy.
Elsa was contemplating DunBroch's story with a glass of Bordeaux when the next course came. A familiar smell almost immediately reached her nose, and when she looked down she was absolutely shocked to see the familiar dishes laid out before her.
"Pinnekjøtt and Mølje! How?" Elsa exclaimed. There were even more Arendellian dishes laid out before her as part of the course, and she looked to Alex who only offered a shrug.
"Don't look at me, Elsa, this was all Jean-Pierre's idea. He actually managed to locate an Arendellian family who accepted our offer to help prepare tonight's dinner." Facilier, ever Alex's shadow, smiled from his place behind the head of the table.
"Oh this is absolutely delicious!" Victoria exclaimed as she tore into one of the sets of lamb ribs. "What was it you called this dish?" It felt like Elsa would spend more time explaining the dishes with that particular course than actually eating any of it. What few bites she was able to get were good, the dishes were well made if not exactly how Elsa liked them, but no one could make Arendellian home cooking quite like Gerda. Home Cooking.
Elsa sighed and took another sip of her wine. She'd left Arendelle two weeks ago, and a little over a month before that had been the journey to Ahtohallan. What even was home to her now? More courses passed by, but Elsa found her appetite had waned significantly by then, and she spent most of the meal engaged in polite conversation with Victoria. At one point, the Earl DunBroch gave an oral history of the war against the Chinese complete with demonstrations of various naval engagements using plates and dishes. Louis Napoleon and Albert discussed city planning and urban reform. Alex started working, and the scritch-scratch of pen on paper annoyed Elsa immensely.
"Do you play music, Elsa?" Victoria asked, as desert and sorbet began to arrive from the kitchens.
"No. I tried learning the Piano when I was little, but I would get frustrated and my powers would act up. So we stopped with that, and I have never had the time ever since. I have been complimented on my singing, though."
"Singing! How wonderful. I actually received lessons from Mr. Mendelssohn once. Oh that was so wonderful. Have you heard of him? He is a phenomenal composer and pianist."
"I am not that familiar with his works, sadly."
"Goodness. Wilhelm, you ought to attend to that while you are here. Certainly you have heard of Miss Lind, then, as she is from your part of the world. Mr. Mendelssohn only sings her highest praises. Sings. Ha!"
"I'm sorry but I am not too familiar with her either. I know her name, but she never visited Arendelle. We never really received famous guests such as her or anyone else in our part of the world. Even before I kind of ruined our relations with the rest of Scandinavia."
"What a shame. Say, Wilhelm, your man is performing that new opera of his on the Solstice, is he not? What was his name again?"
"Herr Wagner? Yes the premier for his new work is still on schedule."
"Excellent! You might not know this, Elsa, but your host is widely recognized as one of finest patrons of the arts in all of Europe."
"Indeed he is!" Louis Napoleon chimed in from his place towards the end of the table. Alex blushed. That was another thing he hadn't told her.
"Do take the time to enjoy some culture while you are here, Elsa. You must not spend all your time buried in whatever it is you are reading."
"You said it was on the Solstice? The 21st?"
"That is correct." Alex said.
"That's .. that's actually my birthday." Elsa blushed, and Victoria's mischievous smile returned as she looked between Alex and his guest.
"Your birthday is the 21st?" Alex asked. He clearly wanted to say something else but he was interrupted.
"Why, that sounds like such a perfect opportunity, does it not? A fine dinner and a show makes for a wonderful birthday present, Alex." Victoria suggested, and as she finished speaking, a server brought a large dish of ice cream and laid it at the center of the table. The Queen of England hungrily watched as the silver cover rose from the dish, and she came face to face with Bruni standing in a half melted trough. The Salamander looked up at her and licked its eye, and that was the end of dinner.
It was some time later Elsa and Victoria sat down alone in one of Pythian House's extra parlours. They could hear the poompoompom of Alex warming up on the Cello and the tingtingtangtong of the piano. Both women had a cup of warm coffee, and Victoria watched with some concern as Bruni nestled into Elsa's hair.
"He does that. Don't worry." Elsa said. The Queen of Britain's reaction to the Fire Spirits appearance would have bordered on farce had it not been her, but Elsa was also amazed at how quickly she had recovered. "Was that the first time you have ever seen magic?"
"Actually, no it is not. I learned about Wilhelm's powers not long after we met. He used to have quite the temper, you know." Victoria said. She smiled at Elsa. "I hope he has been treating you well."
"He has been very kind to me, and a great help."
"I am glad. He speaks highly of you as well. Especially when I had been so disappointed in you, Elsa. So very disappointed." And when Elsa looked over, she no longer saw the warm and friendly woman looking at her, but the terrible visage of The Queen. "In fact, if I am being honest with you, Wilhelm is the one who talked us even into coming tonight."
"Why?"
"Because I do not think you understand the position you left your country in, Elsa. There has been question enough of its legitimacy as an actual state, and then you went and abdicated to your younger sister. Your younger sister who is now married to the left hand. You do understand what that means, yes?"
"Yes." Elsa said quietly. "But Arendelle has no law against morganatic marriage. My parents had a left-handed marriage! I'm half Northuldra! What does this have to do with Anna being happy?!" In her excitement she had risen to her feet, spooking Bruni, and Elsa stared down at a mildly amused Victoria. The Queen added another cube of sugar to her coffee.
"Are you finished, or do you need to rant a little more? Best you get it out now, because reacting so dramatically come the spring will see you laughed out of the building or worse." Victoria sighed, the disappointment glowing in her eyes again. "You are a Queen. Act like one."
"You do not know what I have-" Elsa replied. What gives her the right to talk to me like this?
"Indeed I do, Elsa." Victoria snapped. "I too know what it is like to be forced to grow up alone and separated from the world because of something outside of your control. I know what it is like to finally be in control of that power, only to learn your power is only a very small part of something far, far greater. I know what all of that is like, Elsa, and I was so disappointed because I finally believed I might meet a kindred spirit in this world. And you gave it all up. For what?" The Queen was quite red in the face, but her voice never rose above a calm dressing-down. Victoria closed her eyes, took a sip of her coffee, and her expression returned to normal. "I would very much appreciate it if we return to our previous discussion. I do not desire this to be an unpleasant encounter. I sincerely want to be your friend, Elsa."
"You are right." Elsa admitted to break the long silence that had fallen over them. "I was selfish."
"I wasn't trying to suggest that…"
"But I was, Victoria. I hated being Queen. I hated the appearances, the smiles, and the public events where I had to talk to people I had no interest at all in seeing. I hated smiling at dignitaries who didn't take Arendelle seriously and just wanted to see my powers. I didn't think so at first. That first year I genuinely enjoyed it. After being so separated and locked away I thought I would be free … but it really is just another set of walls, isn't it?" Elsa chuckled to herself. "But Anna? Anna actually loved all of those things. Everyone loved Anna because of who she is. She just pulls you in, Victoria, with a warmth and gravity unlike anyone else in this world and she cares. She cares so much, and she'll do anything to make things right. I - " Elsa paused and leaned back. "I just run away. It's all I have really ever been good at."
"Wilhelm says otherwise, Elsa, and I feel like you continue to sell yourself short.. It was still your decision, and despite my disagreement with your choice we cannot know what the future holds. Even if Wilhelm might claim otherwise. I envy it in a great many ways, but we all must find our own happiness. I know you will find yours as I found mine.." Victoria smiled as she touched a pale hand to her golden locket. "Marriage can be a wonderful thing, Elsa."
"I am sure it is."
"Wilhelm is a gentleman of not substantial means, Elsa. It would be a good match."
"I don't think anyone is looking for a match…"
"Perhaps." Victoria said. The clock struck midnight and the chimes began to ring across London. But I do see the way he looks at you. He certainly finds you interesting." Elsa blushed, and there was a knock on the door as Albert stepped in. Behind him, Facilier was carrying a passed out Louis-Napoleon over his shoulders and down the hallway.
"I have enjoyed meeting you, Queen Elsa of Arendelle. May we meet again soon."
"I should like that." Elsa agreed, and she followed the couple down to the courtyard where Alex helped them into an unmarked coach. He spent quite some time chatting with them before their departure, and Elsa wrapped her mother's shawl around her a little tighter. It surprised her how much she could feel the cold in London, and she looked up to see the glowing light of factories and shipyards far on the eastern side of London. It grew much warmer, however, when Alex returned and stood next to her.
"Victoria says you gave quite the impression."
"She suggested you propose." Elsa laughed, and Alex shrugged.
"Albert did the same. She's been on about that for years. Big Sisters."
"You certainly have some very influential friends for someone who says he is so disliked."
"You have also now met all of my friends." Alex admitted, closing the doors to Pythian house.
"Am I not your friend?" Elsa asked with a laugh.
"I would like to think so. Unless you haven't actually met yourself yet." Alex countered. She'd certainly walked into that one.
"Though if we are going to be friends, I think we need to have a conversation about things we haven't discussed."
"I think that could be arranged. Now, is there anything else I could do for you before the evening closes out?"
Elsa looked up to see the Earl DunBroch and Dr. Goldwyn descending the stairs. She smiled.
"Actually, since I've been feeling a little homesick, I was wondering if you could treat me to a just a small favour. It's kind of a family tradition."
"And what would that be?" Alex asked.
"Have you ever played charades?"
Alex and Elsa would lose by about a score of 50 to 10, but it didn't matter. As she leaned her head on Alex's shoulder and watched the Earl DunBroch's attempt at portraying a Walrus, she couldn't help but feel the same warmth and comfort she once felt at home. Her true home.