CHAPTER 7: HONOR & VALOR
Ayla was smiling as she left Queen Elsa in the Market Square, heading for home. Queen Elsa is attending the party. Sudden dread came upon her. I JUST invited Queen Elsa into my home. The QUEEN of Arendelle is coming to MY home. Her smile gradually faded and dread just added to her worries. What have I done?! She quickened her pace to return home quickly. She began to panic when she saw all of her paintings sitting around the small home. She quickly grabbed all of them and hid them in her room. Her mind was racing anxiously over everything that needed to be done in order to entertain her royal guest.
Her frantic movement drew her grandfather into the room. "Ayla, relax. It's just a small gathering to celebrate Ugar's retirement."
Just a small gathering? Not if Queen Elsa shows up. "I know, Grandfather. Ugar is a close friend of the family. He's practically family. I grabbed the best food, his favorite, for tomorrow. It's just…I invited the Queen of Arendelle." She looked up at her grandfather nervously and his eyes was wide.
"You did what?" he asked and Ayla was so worried for his heart since he looked like he was going to keel over right there. Her grandfather was one of the fiercely loyal and devoted citizens of Arendelle who hold such reverence for the Royal Family that the thought of one of them visiting their home was like a religious experience. Like a beautiful divine being descending from the highest Heaven to grace their humble home. "You must go to the Queen and tell her you made a big mistake. The Queen is far too important to just come to parties." Ayla didn't argue, because her grandfather was right. What was she thinking? Inviting the actual Queen of Arendelle to a simple party.
In the royal garden, Anna ran deeper into the floral paradise as she hid from Aesir. Despite their secret meet ups, not once did either tell the other they loved the other. Anna took his physical affection for her and her's for him as an automatic declaration of love. It didn't occur to her that a confession was required, but hearing Aesir's words awoken a new feeling inside she never felt before. She wasn't sure how to process her feelings as his declaration for her played on repeat as if his soft warm voice was whispering it in her hear over and over again. Her skin still tingled recalling his warm breath against her face when he spoke those wonderful words.
I love you.
What-? What did you just say?
I love you…Princess Anna of Arendelle.
Uh…Anna? Is there something you want to tell me?
Um. Uh…I-
Anna cringed at how she reacted and groaned loudly in frustration behind a bush. "WHY?! WHY DID YOU RUN AWAY?! YOU STUPID-!"
Aesir smiled, hearing her chide herself nearby and casually closed in, "Anna?!"
Anna began to panic again, hearing Aesir call her name. She became incredibly still as she ducked deeper behind the bush. Her mouth may have been silent of words but her heavy nervous breathing and her loud beating of her heart just got louder the closer he got to her.
"I used to play hide and seek with children I babysat when I was younger. You DON'T want to play this game with me, Anna. I'm just TOO GOOD," Aesir bragged, casually stepping backward towards the bush he was positive he heard the yelling come from.
Anna smirked at his arrogant tone and quickly covered her mouth, realizing she just betrayed her position to him. Aesir smiled before rushing into the bushes, making her scream before pinning her to the perfectly cut grass. She tried to escape but he grabbed her hands and smiled, "No. No."
He watched her intently. Her hair was partially undone. Her teal eyes looked up at him widely. Her chest rose and fell quickly from her heavy breathing as his hands slid down to her wrists where his finger tips felt her quickening heartbeat. His smile became warm as he leaned in. "Shhh," he whispered softly to comfort her before his lips gently met hers and kissed her slowly.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
Aesir immediately fell to her side when she randomly kneed him below the belt and ran off inside the palace, which he watched with a smile. Okay, Princess. If that's the game you want to play. He groaned as he got back up and headed inside.
Inside the palace, Elsa walked past Joseph's bedroom where Kristoff was laying their three-year-old to bed. Elsa smiled, seeing Joseph already deep in sleep. Kristoff noticed her and came out quietly. "He's going to be asleep for a while, eating as much as he did."
"How much of his sandwich was he able to eat?" Elsa asked with a giggle.
Kristoff covered his face with one of his hands before he began shaking, then laughing, "Not even a quarter of the sandwich."
Elsa laughed too as she took his arm and they walked to the Royal Office, where Elsa guided him to HER chair and sat him down, which confused him. "Uh, this is your-" Before he could finish, she sat on his lap and cuddled close, looking up into his eyes with a smile. Kristoff became concerned when her eyes began to tear up. They were tears of joy but Kristoff didn't know that and sat up and placed her rear on the table and cupped her face. "Hey. What's wrong?"
Tears ran down her smiling face. She wanted to tell him what she and Anna discovered but she didn't want to until she met with the doctor and confirmed Anna's suggestion. "Nothing," she replied before leaning in close to kiss her husband with a fiery boldness that caught him off guard.
Tears of joy kept running down her cheeks as she whispered with excitement in between her passionate kisses, "Thank you, Kristoff. Thank you."
"I assume I did something that made you happy?" Kristoff asked. He didn't mind his wife's surprising act of bold passion, but her shower of gratitude confused him even more.
She grabbed him by the collar of his royal attire, her forehead still against his as she bit her lower lip to control her smiling while looking into his puzzled hazel eyes. "Yes. Yes, you did, Reindeer Boy," she whispered, pulling him down on top of her on the desk. Kristoff didn't understand, but followed Elsa's lead and tilted his head too kiss his beautiful wife more deeply. He loved kissing her like this. The passion. The boldness. The hunger. "I love this. Kissing you is like making love to the perfect sandwich."
He pulled away embarrassed, seeing Elsa look at him with shock, trying to contain her sudden urge to laugh. He covered his red face, "I DID NOT say that out loud. PLEASE tell me I DIDN'T say that out loud."
Elsa composed herself as much as she could and replied for his sake, "You didn't say THAT out loud." Before she could finish, she burst with laughter, making Kristoff turn even redder.
Kristoff covered his face with his other hand too before groaning loudly.
Elsa decided he suffered long enough and pulled him close again and exposing his embarrassed face. "I think it's adorable. It makes me very happy I can please my husband…especially when he compares kissing me to eating a sandwich," she whispered with a smile at the end.
Kristoff smiled, feeling less embarrassed now. He kissed Elsa again while replying, "Why shouldn't I? I'd gobble you up in a heartbeat as well."
Elsa smiled as their lips continued meeting before pulling him against her body and showering his ear with tender kisses and feisty nibbles, "What's stopping you…King Kristoff of Arendelle?"
Kristoff glanced up at the office door to make sure it was closed while Elsa's lips ran along his chiseled jaw and neck. When his attention returned to his wife, he took in the beautiful sight of Elsa laying aroused on the desk beneath him. He smiled before leaning in again and enjoying the perfect taste of her lips. His hands traveled up the front of her dress to the blouse that concealed her perfectly small round bust, threatening to tear it.
The two jumped when Anna burst in the room and quickly stood up. Without explaining herself, Anna hid under Elsa's side of the desk. "Anna? What are you doing?"
"Shhh! I'm not here," she whispered back. Elsa and Anna looked up as Aesir entered.
"Have either of you seen Anna?" Aesir asked.
"Wasn't she with you?" Elsa asked.
"She was…before I told her I loved her and scared her off," Aesir explained.
"Really?" Elsa asked, looking at Anna casually under her desk.
Aesir saw Kristoff secretly point to the desk. Aesir sighed with regret and he touched the desk, "If you see her before I do…please tell her…I'm sorry for frightening her but I'm not sorry for what I said and I meant every word. Permission to leave the palace grounds. I need some time alone to think."
"We will, Aesir and permission granted," Elsa replied with a warm smile and Aesir left.
Elsa and Kristoff both looked at Anna under the desk who was covering her face, embarrassed by how she reacted.
Elsa scooted her chair back before covering her eyes with disappointment. "Oh, Anna."
"I'm sorry. He told me he loved me and I just panicked. I ran! I knead him in the family jewels!" Anna exclaimed.
"You what?!" Elsa spoke up firmly.
"Poor guy!" Kristoff laughed loudly but became silent when the two sisters gave him a scowl.
"The last man to ever tell me he loved me-" Anna said and immediately bit her tongue when she noticed them looking at her.
"I'll go talk to Aesir," Kristoff said, leaving the office.
"Scooch over, Anna," Elsa said, getting underneath the desk with her and held her little sister. "What Hans did to you. What you went through. It was all my fault. I'm sorry Anna. You just wanted love and I kept pushing you away. You desperately clung to the first person who would show you love because I wouldn't let you in. Despite my unforgivable transgression against you, sis, you can't hold Hans's sin against Aesir. He's different. I know it. He REALLY loves you, but he just has trouble showing it to you properly. He's impulsive. Reminds me of a young princess years ago. He's like you. Quite a bit, actually. It's terrifying actually. No wonder you two clung to each other since you met."
Anna smiled and hugged Elsa, "Thank you. I need to talk to him right now." Elsa climbed out and watched Anna run after Aesir.
Aesir sat by a pond in the Royal Garden, looking at his reflection in the water. Frustration got the better of him, causing him to strike the water's surface where his reflection was. When the water settled, he saw Kristoff's reflection behind him. He stood at attention.
"Don't take it personally, Aesir."
"Excuse me, sir?" Aesir asked.
"Anna's been hurt REALLY bad. When she was little, Elsa accidently struck her in the head with her magic, almost killed her. The rock trolls were able to save Anna, but had to take away her memories. King Agnarr, Queen Iduna and Princess Elsa had to keep Elsa's magic a secret for years. During that time, Elsa isolated herself in her room, staying away from Anna. That whole time Anna thought Elsa hated her and she never knew why until Elsa accidently brought winter upon Arendelle. However, she met a Prince from the Southern Isles, who was only pretending to love her. She didn't know any better and was left for dead when Hans betrayed her and Elsa," Kristoff explained, recalling what they shared with him when Anna brought him before Elsa to be rewarded for reuniting them and helping them save Arendelle.
Aesir may have heard the name, but had no idea out deep the blade was plunged. "But I'm not-"
"We all know, Aesir. You're twice the man he was, but…it was Anna who was hurt. Give her time to heal," Kristoff said, standing up and turned to head in.
"Aesir!" Anna's voice called and Aesir turned just in time for Anna to jump into him, making them both fall into the pond.
"Anna!" Aesir exclaimed, coming back up for air and soaked from head to toe.
Anna pulled him close and kissed him before confessing "I love you."
Aesir heard perfectly but quickly acted like he didn't, "What was that Princess? I didn't hear you. My ears are still ringing from that tackle."
Anna smiled and tried to dunk him, but he quickly grabbed her and tossed her into the water a few feet away, making her scream.
Kristoff shook his head at the sight of the two splashing around in the Royal Garden's pond. Aesir occasionally stealing kisses from Anna, making her gasp with shock at him before trying to lunge at him. "Then again, Anna was always able to bounce back," he muttered with a smile before looking up at the window and noticing Elsa watching out the window that overlooked the Royal Garden. He smiled up at her and pointed at the other two with his thumb. She responded by shaking her head and left the window.
When Elsa went down stairs to check on something, she ran into Kai. "Your Majesty. You have a visitor."
"Really? At this time of day? Who is it, Kai?" Elsa asked.
"It's the new artist you recruited, Ayla, Queen Elsa," Kai replied.
Elsa smiled, "Where is she?" She enjoyed Ayla's company. Elsa may not be used to having friends, but the way Ayla looks up to her and idolizes her makes her feel better about being her friend. However, she was partially confused about why Ayla had to see her so soon after just seeing her in the market square earlier. Was something wrong?
"She's out in the courtyard. She appeared very reluctant about setting foot in the palace," Kai explained.
Elsa looked at him with concern. "She…wouldn't come in?"
"The young lady seemed very upset about something and desperately needed to speak with you," Kai added. That was all Elsa needed to hear. She immediately headed out to the courtyard with a quick pace to see why Ayla was upset. She found Ayla anxiously pacing back and forth in front of one of the fountains that sat in the courtyard. He hands were in each other up by her chin, rubbing each other anxiously.
"Ayla? You wanted to see me?"
Ayla's eyes widened as soon as she saw the Queen and immediately fell to her knees, alarming Elsa. "I'm sorry, Queen Elsa."
Elsa smiled slightly with amusement. "Sorry? For what Ayla?"
"I disrespected you," Ayla began to cry. "You're the Queen of Arendelle. I invited you to my home without thinking what that would look like to others. You're the Queen and have far more important things to do than come to some stupid party in a commoner's home."
"Ayla-" Elsa tried to speak up.
"Ugar is a close friend of my family. He's retiring after working for the Kingdom. For years he has worked with no promotions or any acknowledgement. He's a humble man who wouldn't dream of making such demands, yet proud to serve Arendelle in whatever capacity. That's why I'm requesting it for him. I know I may be asking a lot from you, Your Majesty, but if you could write a personal letter to Ugar, that would mean the world to him." Ayla couldn't look the Queen in the eye after making such a stupid and embarrassing mistake earlier. Elsa was silent temporarily, seeing Ayla deeply prostrated on the Courtyard's stony ground, shaking in fear.
"Very well, Ayla. I will do as you request," Elsa calmed herself, on the verge of tears that Ayla was that shaken about inviting her into her home that Ayla would chide herself so harshly. "Please, return home in peace."
Ayla stood and formally bowed at the waist to her, "Thank you, Queen Elsa." Elsa noticed Kristoff standing nearby the gates, witnessing this. Ayla walked past him and out the gate. Kristoff walked over to Elsa cautiously studying her emotions. From a distance, Elsa seemed cold and regal, but the closer he got the more of the truth he saw. Elsa was standing in a regal stance, but was shaking slightly. When he got close enough, he saw her blue eyes on the verge of tears but was struggling so hard to not fall apart. "Oh, Elsa," he muttered.
Her jaw tightened and he stepped closer to hug his hurt wife, but she turned away and walked inside. He looked down at the stones beneath his feet and sighed. Sven who lives in the stables heard the commotion and came to Kristoff and nudged him. "She needs her space right now, Sven. She doesn't want me around her right now."
Sven's eye brow raised like he was saying, Really, idiot?
He got behind Kristoff and pushed him forward to the palace. "Thanks, Sven. You're right."
Since handing the position of Ice Master over to Henrik when he became King of Arendelle, Sven was retired. Sven would pull their sleigh during the winter or wagon during the rest of the year. Kristoff tried to find ways to still hang out with his reindeer companion so that Sven would still feel useful to his friend. Sven was just happy to be there for his friend and his family. As Kristoff entered, Sven went back into the stables. His good deed for the day was fulfilled.
Kristoff approached the office and watched Elsa look through the Book of Arendelle, which recorded the occupations of every citizen of Arendelle. Her finger slowly slid down the page, looking for the name Ugar. She felt the need to investigate this man that was retiring before she writes the letter. Finally, she found it.
Kristoff entered and silently sat across from her at their shared desk. He kept silent, still processing Ayla's behavior earlier. It reminded him of after the Great Fall. Everyone in Arendelle feared Elsa, because of her terrifying magic, the way she carried herself as cold royalty. When she began doing more for her people to show them a more caring and warm side, it shook the way they all looked at the Queen. He thought the people were past being afraid of her after these past several years, but that mentality still appeared to have a tight grip on certain individuals.
"Incredible," Elsa thought out loud, but already aware Kristoff was there with her. "I have never seen a more hard-working individual. Ayla wasn't exaggerating. Kristoff, look at this. Ugar has served in almost every profession in Arendelle. Farmer, Baker, Herbalist at a young age. He joined Arendelle's military and served as a guard but was honorably discharged due to an injury that prevented further service. After that, he sailed and caught fish and brought goods to the kingdom. After that, he worked as a blacksmith, ice harvester, and substitute teacher. During the last few years, he worked as a freelance handy man and fixed homes."
"Dang," Kristoff smiled. "A letter from you would definitely make his day."
Elsa looked down at the paper and her pen that she already had prepared. "No. Ugar has done so much for Arendelle. I will render the honor due to him."
Kristoff smiled at her determination and knew better than anyone that if anyone wanted to hold her back, she would like to see them try. "What's your plan? How can I help?"
"I'll handle everything. You on the other hand should keep your promise to Henrik and visit the harvesters," Elsa smiled, stroking his cheek with her hand. She watched him intently as he left. This was the perfect time to meet the doctor while he was out. She quickly stood and secretly followed him to make sure he left the palace grounds. When Kristoff took off on Sven, Elsa hurried to Kai, "Kai, please send Jason to my office."
Kristoff rode out north for the lakes that the harvesters always traveled too for harvesting their ice. Henrik smiled when he stood up and noticed Kristoff quickly approaching. He gestured to the others and all of them cheered when Sven came to a halt. As a joke, all of them bowed to him and chanted, "All hail, the Reindeer King! We are worms! Worthless worms!"
Kristoff shook his head and laughed, "Come on, guys."
They all came over to him and gave him a welcoming pat on the back or shoulders. As the group dispersed to return to work, Henrik kept speaking with Kristoff, "So, you bored being King yet?"
"I'm always going to miss working with you guys, but I'll never be bored as King," Kristoff smiled, thinking about Elsa.
Henrik recognized Kristoff's smile and asked, "How's Elsa and Joseph?"
"Joseph's sneaks out so Elsa had to assign one of the new Royal Guards to him to keep an eye on him. Elsa is busy running the kingdom and making sure I don't do any of the paper work. Elsa's…been acting strange lately," Kristoff confessed, recalling their moment of intimacy in the office.
"How so?" Henrik asked.
"She hasn't been eating much. She had to rush to the bathroom earlier at Hudson's to throw up before she could drink her wine. After that, she's been…well…VERY grateful for something I did."
Henrik understood immediately and chuckled, "Oh, you ignorant boy. If you want to know what's wrong with Elsa, you should go check on her. Like now."
Kristoff headed back to Sven and mountain the reindeer. Henrik called out, "Hey, boy! Don't forget the upcoming Ice Harvester event at the cabin this year. The wives sure missed Elsa the past two years."
Kristoff smiled, "Will do, Henrik." Kristoff rode back even more confused rode back to Arendelle.
Elsa kept looking out the window, keeping an eye out for Kristoff. She wanted to be the one to tell him, but she had to be sure. She looked at the door when a knock came. It was Jason, a 26-year-old replacement that succeeded his predecessor, Visser, who had served since Runeard was little. The dark-haired man entered when Elsa relied, "Enter, Jason."
"How may I serve you, Queen Elsa?" Jason asked.
Elsa turned to him silent but smiling, "I think I might be…" She didn't finish, but placed her hands on her belly. Jason smiled. The Queen didn't need to say any more. When Kristoff returned, he crossed paths with Jason who said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty."
Kristoff watched him walk away before entering the office to find Anna and Aesir with Elsa. Elsa and Anna were hugging with excitement. Aesir noticed him and nudged Anna and Elsa. Anna could barely contain her excitement. Elsa remained as regal as she could but was smiling slightly too. Something was going on with Elsa and everyone knew except him. This irritated him. Elsa could read him perfectly and quickly came over to him whispered in his ear. He looked at her with wide eyes, then at Anna and Aesir. "I'm going to have- I'm going to have a-?"
"A girl," Anna finished for him and Kristoff passed out on the floor right in front of Elsa, alarming her and the other quickly knelt by him. Kristoff woke up in the Royal Chambers with Elsa laying next to him, smiling. She giggled, "You okay?"
Kristoff smiled sitting up and gently placing his hand on her belly as if already searching for movement. Elsa giggled, "It's too early to notice anything now, but Jason was able to determine the gender with a new quick test. What should we name her? Any ideas?"
Kristoff looked at her with a smile. "How soon after the garden did you start feeling sick?"
"Shortly after. Why?" Elsa asked, wondering what that had to do with anything.
"Eden," Kristoff answered and Elsa immediately gave him a look, making the connection.
"You want to name our daughter after the Garden of Eden?" Elsa asked with a laugh. She sat up in the bed next to Kristoff.
"Why not? It's perfect. Naming our daughter after paradise," Kristoff tried to defend his choice.
Elsa got out of bed. It was a perfect choice and a beautiful name for a princess but it felt inappropriate for Elsa, "I don't think we should advertise that Arendelle's King got…EXCITED and ambushed his wife in the royal garden. How scandalous. What would people think Kristoff?"
"I think we're safe from people magically making the connection," Kristoff laughed, making fun of Elsa's over-reaction of his name suggestion, "You make it sound so dirty."
Elsa shot him a look before leaving the chambers. Kristoff followed and watched her leave. He stopped Anna who was coming the opposite direction and asked, "Hey, Anna. What do you think about the name Eden for a girl?"
Before Anna could agree that was the perfect name, Elsa cleared her throat at the end of the hallway and gave her a look. Anna immediately understood and rejoined Elsa who smiled at Kristoff before the sisters disappeared around the corner.
Anna glanced at Elsa before thinking out loud, "Eden IS a beautiful name."
"Anna."
"Sorry."
Elsa stopped, feeling the fear of having another child. Anna stopped and held her hands, "Hey. Everything is going to be okay. You won't go through this alone. We're all here."
Elsa smiled before saying, "I need to find the perfect gift for Ayla's friend."
"Well you could get him one of everything and lead him on a scavenger hunter," Anna suggested, making Elsa laughed.
"I could but I doubt a retired man would be in the mood for a long scavenger hunt. Something simple yet very meaningful for all he has done for Arendelle," Elsa replied and Anna had an idea and whispered it into her ear.
Elsa's face lit up, "Perfect!" She rushed off and Anna followed, "I'll help!"
The evening of Ayla's party came. Ayla and her grandfather entertained a few guests, Ugar and members of his family and his grandchildren. They spoke, sang and told stories. Ayla looked up at the clock, seeing the party was halfway over. She was still feeling guilty about what she did. I'm sorry, Queen Elsa. Her grandfather gave her a gentle hug as if he could read her mind. Suddenly a knock. Ayla and her grandfather were confused, not expecting anyone else. Ayla went to answer it. The young woman's face lit up when she saw not just Elsa, her family and Aesir as well. "I'm sorry Ayla for the intrusion but I have a gift for-"
"Come in. Come in, please," Ayla said urgently, feeling much happier that Elsa was there in person.
All the adults were speechless as the members of royalty entered their home. They all bowed, except the children who were too young to understand. "You don't have to do that. Please, rise," the Queen encouraged and they all stood nervously. Elsa noticed Ugar and approached him with her gifts. "Ugar. I have heard and read lots about you. Never have I met someone so devoted to this Kingdom. You have done so much for this Kingdom. Please accept this as the Crown's personal token of eternal gratitude and resect." She handed him what looked like a small piece of wood. He turned it over and began to tear up. It was a beautiful commemorative plank thanking him for his many years of service and her official signature was written beneath along with the other members of the Royal Family. All the text on the plank was Queen's own ice magic and shined like diamonds against the perfectly stained piece of smooth wood. He was about to say something else but Elsa spoke up, "That and a royal pension for your many years of service."
Kristoff and Aesir brought over a chest of royal coin. The aged man's eyes widened. He had never seen so much money, "Thank you, Queen Elsa, but I can't accept this. Your gifts are too much."
Elsa knelt and took his hand in her's gently, "Please accept. I may be Queen, but I am merely a servant of the people. Its people like you that Arendelle is prosperous and peaceful. To also thank you for your service in the Guard years ago…"
Aesir came over with a small box and pinned a medal of honor and valor before saluting the veteran. Ugar's eyes teared up as he looked back down at Queen Elsa who was still knelt by his chair and smiled when she smiled.
Elsa finally stood and excused herself and her family, "Thank you for having us, but we should leave." She noticed how silent the other people were and felt like her presence was intimidating them, recalling Ayla's behavior earlier. She headed for the door, but Ayla quickly stood, "Queen Elsa, please stay!"
The others began to smile and urge the same thing, "Yes, Your Majesty. Please join us."
Elsa smiled and went back to the others. Joseph noticed the other children close to his age and looked at his father who gave him a nod of approval. The adults all spoke with one another, the other guests warmed up to the members of Royalty as the evening went on. Elsa confirms Ayla's story and that she had been chosen as a Royal Artist for her talented artistic ability. Ayla turned red, being praised by the Queen in front of everyone. Kristoff talks with the guys casually like he was chatting with his harvester friends. More and more they didn't see them as royalty to be feared but as good friends. Anna played tag with Joseph and the other children, pretending to be a monster trying to gobble them up. The scenery was adorable and made Aesir smile at how silly Anna was being. Ayla came over to rescue Anna when the children rallied against her and pilled on her. "You know…the children get along well with Prince Joseph. Perhaps we could set up a play date."
"That would be awesome," Anna agreed seeing Elsa nod.
Anna joined Elsa side when one of the other guests asked, "Could you show us some of your magic, Queen Elsa?"
Elsa was caught off guard at first but smiled when Anna sat next to her and nodded, taking her other hand. With the wave of her hand, she created snow flurries which captivated everyone. Through concentration she manipulated the flurries into a cloud and formed a human shape which smiled, waved and bent down to kiss one of the children on the forehead, making them giggle happily.
Nearby, Joseph yawned loudly, making everyone laugh. Elsa smiled and walked over to him, "I think it's time for someone's bed time."
Joseph tried to run, not wanting to go to bed, but was swept up into his aunt's arm's.
Elsa turned to the others and bowed her head formally with her hands joined at her waist and a smile on her face, "Thank you for having us."
"The Queen of Arendelle is always welcome in this house," Ayla's grandfather replied with a warm smile, "Perhaps you can visit us again when it's possible and my granddaughter can teach you how to paint."
Ayla turned red from her grandfather's suggestion and muttered angrily to him.
Elsa smiled, "I'd like that very much."
"Get in line, Queenie. She still has to capture my devishly handsome face. Right, Ayla?" Aesir said from the doorway with a smile. Ayla turned her face from his gaze and replied with lack of enthusiasm and nervousness, "Yeah…sure." Elsa noticed this and also noticed Ayla seemed somewhat comfortable around Anna now that they have met but couldn't look at Aesir when they spoke, as if hurt. Her suspicions were growing.
"Ayla? May I speak with you privately outside?" Queen Elsa requested, heading for the door and Ayla followed Queen Elsa several feet from the others.
"Thank you, Queen Elsa, for coming tonight. He'll remember this night for the rest of his life," Ayla thanked.
Elsa turned to face her with a slight smile, appreciating her gratitude but crossed her arms and got in Ayla's face. "Um…is there something wrong, Your Majesty?"
"You tell me," Elsa smiled and gestured with her eyes at Aesir. Ayla looked at Aesir and then back at Elsa seeing her smile more, which made Ayla turn very red and deny what Elsa was insinuating, "I- I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Ayla. I have been watching your behavior around Aesir carefully. Is something going on between you two that I should be aware of?" Elsa probed.
Ayla clenched her jaw tightly, refusing to give an answer.
"Very well," Elsa replied, "You are to report to the palace tomorrow for your first job as a Royal Artist." She began walking away to rejoin her family.
Ayla was confused, "Are you the client?"
"No. Anna and Aesir are. They just don't know it yet. Since I have given Aesir my blessing to court my sister, I want you to paint them together." Elsa replied, glancing back at Ayla and noticing her shaking becoming more intense. Fear. Pain, Elsa recognized those emotions too well, despite Ayla's attempt to hide it with her smile. "Will that be a problem?"
"No," Ayla muttered, looking down at her feet when she felt tears coming.
Elsa's face softened. Please, Ayla. Stop hiding the truth. You love him. Admit it to yourself. "Ayla?"
"No, that won't be a problem. I'll arrive after breakfast. Thank you, Queen Elsa for the opportunity," Ayla bowed at the waist after perfectly burring her emotions, but Elsa already knew they were there.
Elsa rejoined the others and headed back to the palace. Ayla's emotions erupted and she collapsed to her knees. Nearby, a messenger like the one that Aesir killed was stalking her from the shadows. His soft gaze studied every detail of her. Why do you cry, Ayla? Ayla looked behind her feeling like she was being watched, but saw no one. When she returned inside, the figure emerged from the shadows, revealing himself in the full moon's light before leaving.
Soon, Ayla. You won't cry anymore. You have my word.