Forever At Your Side ch. 5


I've never been very good at feelings or dealing with crying women and it didn't make it any easier when it was someone else's wife, crying on my shoulder when I delivered the news to Derek's very pregnant wife. I told me how he was very brave and strong so she'd be proud of him for being a great solider. I gave her the money that I intended to give her but it didn't make me feel better about the whole situation because a baby is gonna have to grow up without their father to teach them how to survive in this world. It truly sucks and is a very fucked up situation no matter how much I wish that it wasn't. I left Derek's wife to her thoughts as I turned to leave when she called out my name.

"Thank you for giving me the money. I know that you didn't have to do this" Derek's wife said smiling sadly.

"Yes I did and I wanted to. Good luck with your baby" I said with a half smile.

"Good luck on your journey. Come back any time you want and I make you some supper" Derek's wife replies.

"Thank you" I said with a nod.

We left without another word as I stuffed my hands into my pockets with Kristoff at my side. He puts his hand on my shoulder as he smiles a little bit at me and I shake my head at him. I don't know why the shape-shifter is smiling at me like that for because that was the hardest and weirdest thing that I have ever had to do and I killed supernatural beings for a living. I leave my emotions out of stuff like that but dealing with feelings is a lot harder than killing and I never know what to do. It would be so much easier just to put all my feelings and emotions in a box, tied it up a metal chain and throw it into the nearest lake to never be seen again. What I did for Derek's wife was something that I had to and I wouldn't feel right if I didn't.

"You did a nice thing for her, Anna and I'm sure that Derek would appreciate it" Kristoff said smiling.

"I'm sure that he would rather be live to be with his wife and child then in afterlife" I said rolling my eyes.

"Maybe so but still doesn't take any that you did a good thing" Kristoff replies.

"I guess" I said shrugging.

"I think that this calls for some beer" Kristoff said wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah, that sounds good… maybe some good-looking women" I said smirking suggestively.

"Ugh, what am I going to do with you" Kristoff said rolling his eyes.

"I haven't the foggiest idea but lets go" I said wrapping my arm around his shoulders.

We walked to the nearest pub for a drink when we walked into the place, it has slightly crowded with people that are drunk or on their way to being drunk. I looked around for a table to sit down when something catches my eye… more like someone. I nudge Kristoff and he looks at me questioningly before I motion towards a table off to the side. The shape-shifter looks to see Marshall nursing a mug of beer with a distant look on his face. We walked over to the captain of the guard before pulling up a seat but he doesn't look up from his cup.

"You know when I took this job as captain of the guard, it was a huge honor because I thought it was my skill and dedication to protect the royal family and the good people of this kingdom. I was cocky at the time and thought that I was invincible, that nothing could touch me but I was so wrong. On my first mission, I lost so many men that day because if I wasn't so full of myself and think that I could do everything on my own. I lost my best friend that day and I'm still haunted by that day but in a way, it's made me stronger" Marshall said looking up at me.

"I'm sorry for your loss but is there a point to your story?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"There is. It is that anything can happen so you have to appreciate the people around because you'll never know what will happen tomorrow. Be happy to spend a day with your loved ones for as long as possible and that's all that I'm trying to say" Marshall said leaning back into his chair.

"You don't have to tell me twice" I said with a nod.

I know better than anyone what Marshall has been through because I lived it and he's right. I looked at Kristoff out the corner of my eye and I couldn't stop the small smile that forms on my face because he has been with me for along time now. I'm thankful for every day that the shape-shifter stays by my side because he could decide one day that he's had enough of this life and want to stay settle down somewhere to start a family of his own. I would rather Kristoff settle down somewhere than get killed on a mission later down the road because he deserves to have a good life. Marshall pulls me out of my thoughts before offering to pay for the next round and there's no way that I'm gonna turn down free beer. It wasn't long before one of the chambermaids comes to our table with the drinks and I watch her walk away out the corner of my eye. I turn to my beer and I take a sip out of it before looking up to see the captain of the guard look at me with a raised eyebrow.

"What?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"You're not as discreet as you think that you are" Marshall said sipping on his beer.

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"Come on Anna, I saw how you looked at that chambermaid but no judgment on my part" Marshall said shrugging.

"I can appreciate the female body. There's nothing wrong with that" I said frowning.

"I never said that there was. I don't have any problems with you liking women. To each their own, I say" Marshall said raising his beer into the air.

"To each their own" I said clinging our beers together.

I downed my beer before leaning back against my chair as Kristoff and Marshall converse with each other about something but I wasn't paying attention. I never hid the fact that I like women but when Marshall said that he wasn't judging me on it is a new experience for me because someone usually has a problem with it. I never liked men in the kind of way because of my anatomy as well as woman more gentle and feminine and they draw me into them that I just can't help myself. I have been judged on wanting to be with women but it doesn't stop me because I know that I'm not going to see any of them once leave the next morning. I'm not proud of that part of myself but it's better than giving them false hope that something is going to come from it cause it's not. I decided to skip on the next round of beer because I didn't feel to up drinking myself into a stupor so I left the shape-shifter and the captain of the guard to have at it. I walked on the street in no particular direction, allowing my feet to carry me anywhere and before I knew it, I'm standing in the royal gardens. I don't know how I got here or why I'm here but something about this place puts me at ease for some reason.

"Anna!"

I'm forced to do a face-plant into the snow with something on my back before pushing myself up on my hands and knees as I rub my sore nose. I looked to see that it's Olaf with sheepish look on his face as I glare at him. Of course, it would be this kid that runs into me. Why is it always me? Doesn't he have someone else to bug?

"Sorry Anna, I couldn't stop myself" Olaf said sheepishly smiling.

"Right don't you have friends that you would rather be with than me?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"… I don't have any friends" Olaf said in a small voice.

How small the kid looks in that instant tucks at my heart strings. I know the feeling of not having friends to play or talk to for the longest of time before Kristoff came along. I see some of myself in him and I don't want him turning out like me when he gets older. I place my hand on the top of his head as Olaf looks up at me for a moment and I ruffle his hair a little bit.

"Don't worry kid, you have friends. You have Kristoff and Sven and they're your friends" I said with a half smile.

"Are you… are you my friend?" Olaf asked doe-eyed

. "Um uh y-yeah sure we're f-friends" I said smiling nervously.

"Yay" Olaf said grinning.

What the hell did I just agreed to?


Elsa's POV

I look up at the grandfather clock in my study to see that it is a little past eight and Olaf should be ready for bed. I push all of the paperwork that I did not get finished yet off to the side to be finished later on tonight before standing up from my desk. I stretched my sore muscles from sitting at my desk for so long before walking out of my study towards my son's room to read him a bedtime story like I always do around this time. I am a little late because I lost track of time but I always make time for Olaf by at least reading him a story before he goes to sleep, I just hope that he is not too upset with me. I reached the door of his room to see that it is slightly cracked and I peek into his room to see that the young prince is indeed in there along with someone. Anna is leaning against the headboard of the bed with my son snuggled up against her side, looking up at her with a twinkle in his eye. She is telling him a story about one of her adventurea with Kristoff and changing her voice during certain parts, causing the young prince to laugh. The mercenary waves her arms around animatedly making Olaf to look up at her amazement and I could not help but smile.

It is obvious that my son looks up to Anna and likes being around her. Even though the mercenary seems rather cold and distant, she has a soft spot for the young prince as well. I listen to the story a little while longer before the silence falls into to the room and I peeks inside to see Anna sliding off to the bed carefully. She pulls the covers over Olaf before moving around the bed to blow the candles out and quietly moving out of the room, closing the door behind her. The mercenary turns around to see standing in front of her and jumps back a little while reaching for the sword that is not strapped to her hip.

"Your Majesty, it's just you" Anna said sighing in relief.

"I am sorry that I scared you but I was just coming to read Olaf a bed story. It seems that you have taken care of that" I said raising an eyebrow.

"Well I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundaries but I was just on my way back to my room when Olaf saw walking outside of his room. He begged me to read him a story and when I told him no, he pouted causing me to relent" Anna said bowing slightly.

"It is quite alright, Anna. No harm done and I'm sure that he enjoy it" I said placing my hand on her shoulder.

Anna looks up at me with an apprehensive look on her face and I smile at her reassuringly that she has not done anything wrong. It seems to relax her a little but she still look tense like I am ready to have her punished again.

"Well good night Anna" I said smiling once more.

"Wait Your Majesty" Anna calls out.

"Yes Anna?" I

"Allow me to walk you to your company. It's rather dark and I would feel better knowing that you made it safely to your room" Anna said rubbing the back of her neck.

I raise an eyebrow as I stare at her for a moment but smiling a little. It seems that her intentions are pure and there is no ulterior motive that I can detect in her words so I motioned for her to follow me. The mercenary follows me through a corridor before turning left but she does not say another word to me. I stop before turning to face her as Anna looks at me with a confused look on her face then I noticed that she is still wearing the star bracelet that Olaf had given her. The mercenary is a complete enigma to me and I could not help but want to unravel her to see what is behind the cold exterior that she has up.

"Anna, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, ask away" Anna said with a nod.

"Why did you become a mercenary?" I asked curious.

"Because I have a certain of set of skills and being a mercenary just happened to line up with that" Anna said shrugging her shoulders.

"You do know that this line of work is mostly male dominated and there are going to be others that look down at you because you are a woman" I replied raising an eyebrow.

"Others are going to look down at me because I'm a woman regardless of what I do. I'm stronger than most women, just ask Kristoff" Anna said smirking a little.

"I guess that you are corrected about that" I said giggling.

I could not help but think that there is more to the story to that but that it is for another time. We continued walking towards my room until I stopped in front of my door and I turned to face Anna with a smile on my face. I thanked her for walking me to my room and the mercenary bows slightly before turning to walk down the corridor that we just came from as I walked into my room. I close the door behind as I slip out of my dress and into one of my many nightgowns before stepping under the covers of bed. I know that I have powers over ice and snow but the bed feels a lot colder now that Jack is no longer here to hold me during the night and wish that he was here right now. He was never afraid of my power or me hurting him unintentionally with them and loved me whole-heartedly. Jack made me feel like I could do anything and that I could fly with nothing stopping me. Back then, I truly believed that I could do anything but now I am not too sure because I am trying to juggle being a good mother to my son as well as a good rule to my kingdom and it is quite to find a balance. I close my eyes to get some rest for tomorrow is going to be a long day of signing paperwork. Sadly it does not feel like I got any sleep last night when Gerda knocks on my door and I look at the clock to see that it is a little past seven in the morning. I get up from the bed before covering my body with a robe and opening the door for Gerda to enter the room with a smile on her face.

"Good morning Queen Elsa" Gerda said happily.

"Good Morning Gerda and I have told you many times that you do not have to call me Queen Elsa when we are alone" I said smiling.

"Sorry Elsa, old habits die hard even though I have known you since you were tiny babe" Gerda said patting my cheek fondly.

I have always consider Gerda like a second mother because she have always made sure that I have been taken care of and she was the one that delivered Olaf when he was born. The older woman has been there when my parents and Jack died and was there to comfort me both times. I owe so much to this woman and there is no way that I could repay her for all that she has done for me and my family. She pushes me into the bathroom where there's a warm bath that has been prepared beforehand. The servant leaves the room for me to get clean on my own and I drop the robe on the floor as I step into the warm water. I sigh contently as the water surrounds my body as I lean against the back of the tub. I look up at the ceiling as my thoughts wonder when a certain mercenary comes up. What was her past like? How did she become a mercenary? How get she acquired her skills as a swordswoman? She did look very breath-taking and rugged during her fight with Marshall. Is there someone back home waiting for her? Why is this woman taking up space in my mind? Why do I want to know more about this woman that I barely know? I do not understand any of this.

I climb out of the tub and pulling the clog as the water runs down the drain. I dry myself off before putting my clothes on and braiding my hair into a single braid as I walk out of the bathroom. I walk into the dining room where Olaf is talking animatedly with Kristoff who is discreetly feeding his wolf under the table bits and pieces of his food. Anna is eating quietly before locking eyes with me for a moment as I take my seat at the head of the table. "Hi Mommy" Olaf said with his mouth full of harsh brown.

"Olaf, swallow before talking. No one needs to see what's all up in your mouth" Anna lightly reprimands.

"Ain't the kettle calling the pot black" Kristoff said smirking.

"Shut up" Anna said glaring at him.

"What?" Olaf asked confused.

"Nothing" Anna said shaking her head.

"Hello Olaf" I said smiling at him.

"Mommy, can I go out with Anna and Kristoff into town. Pleas, pretty please" Olaf begged.

"I do not see why not as long as it is alright with them" I said turning my attention to the duo.

"I don't mind" Kristoff said smiling.

"It makes me no difference" Anna said shrugging her shoulder.

"Yay! Come on Sven" Olaf said running out of the room.

Kristoff chuckles a little as Sven follows my son out of the room obediently.

"I'm starting to think my own familiar likes Olaf better than me" Kristoff said shaking his head.

"When your own familiar likes a kid better than you, that should tell you something" Anna said wriggling one eyebrow.

"Jerk" Kristoff said lightly punching Anna on the arm.

"Oh my arm, I think that it's broken. I call partner abuse. Can I have him arrested for that?" Anna asked pointing an accusing finger with her other arm.

"I do not think that there is such a thing as partner abuse but I think that you are thinking of spousal abuse, Anna" I said giggling slightly.

"Spousal abuse? Ewww, I don't want him like that. He smells of wet dog" Anna said scrunching up her nose.

"Like you smell anything better" Kristoff deadpans.

"A lot better than you, dog breath" Anna said sticking her tongue out.

"So you two… are not together?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

The duo look at each other then back at me as they shake their heads at me. It is hard to imagine these two not being together because they seem very close to each other so I just assumed that they were together. I cannot explain why the fact they are not together makes me feel relieved? Happy? Why should I be happy that Kristoff and Anna are not together. I shake my head of those thoughts before turning to the mercenaries.

"I don't see him that way" Anna replies.

"She's not my type and besides Anna is into-mmph!" Anna cuts Kristoff off by covering his mouth with her hand as her cheek turns a light pink.

She laughs nervously before telling me to ignore Kristoff before stuffing food into her mouth. The blonde mercenary stares his partner with a confused look on his face before turning back his own food. What was Kristoff about to say? Why Anna stop him? Was it something she did not want me to know? I raised an eyebrow at her but the mercenary does not meet my gaze so I open my mouth to say something when Kai walks in.

"Your Majesty, the council is waiting for you in the council room"

"Okay, thank you Kai. Have fun in town you two and please be mindful of Olaf. He is easily distracted and tends to wonder off on his own" I said with a polite smile.

"You can count on us, Your Majesty" Kristoff sad saluting me.

"Yeah" Anna said with a nod.

"I am trusting you two"


~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off

End of Ch 5