Forever At Your Side ch. 6


I am not entirely certain why the council requested my presence but from what Kai has relayed to me, it is quite important and it could not wait much longer. I followed him into the council room to see everyone has been assembled and all their eyes are settled on me as I stand before them. The council has been around since my father's reign as King and now serving me during me reign as Queen. I have been taking their opinions into account before making an drastic decisions concerning Arendelle but I cannot see what they need to bring my attention since the kingdom is in a prosperous time. A councilmen by the name of Matthew Collins stands up and clears his throat before speaking.

"Queen Elsa, the council has been speaking amongst ourselves and we have come to a decision"

I do not like the sounds of this. Matthew and a few of the council members never quite got used to having a Queen ruling over Arendelle because every ruler has been a male ruler before me. They have this to my father's attention several times in the past but left me alone when I married Jack and we were ruling the kingdom together but that it been four years since he has passed away. All of the responsibility of ruling Arendelle has fallen completely on me and they were not happy about that. They have thought that I would mess up somehow and prove that I am not fit to rule my kingdom.

"Oh and what decision is that?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"We have and we think that it is best that you should marry once again. We know that it's been four years since the passing of King Jack, god rest his soul but you have more than enough time to grief over his death. You need help of a strong man to help you rule over Arendelle" Matthew said crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh really? You all feel that way?" I asked looking at every council member.

The council avoids my gaze but I can tell that Matthew must have told them something to convinced them of this 'revelation' but then a hand shot up. I look at the hand to see that it belongs to the newest council member Lee who comes from small village in Northern China. Lee is a nice enough guy with shaggy black hair that looks like the wind gently brush through it, expressive brown eyes with a mischievous glint, pale skin, and standing at 5'3. He is only few years older than me at 28 but I can relate more to him than some of the other council members who are well into their late forties and early fifties. I know that Lee is on my side than anyone else in this room.

"Actually Matthew doesn't speak for me and honestly I think that you are doing a fine job on your own. You don't need a man at your side to do what you're already doing" Lee said twirling a ringlet on his finger.

"The Queen is 26 years old and needs a man by her side to rule this kingdom" Matthew said slamming his hands down on the table.

"Queen Victoria of England ruled her kingdom without the help of a man and it's doing quite well for itself" Lee said off-handedly "So your point is invalid now"

"That is one kingdom and we are not following in their example" Matthew said glaring at Lee.

"Why not? Elsa is doing fine on her own so I don't see why you're hung up on marrying her off to one of our neighboring kingdoms princes" Lee said unimpressed.

"Because a woman can't rule a kingdom by herself effectively" Matthew replies crossing his arms.

"Okay you two, I have heard enough out of the both of you. Lets take it to a vote. All for those who want me to remarry raise your hands"

Most of the council member hands went up excluding Lee, a few members and Kai. I sigh knowing full well that the council will not let be and I will have to go through marrying once again to another prince. I do not wish to marry again because it would like I would be trying to replace Jack and his memory and I do not want to do that also there is a possibility that Olaf will not like the idea of me remarrying.

"I guess that it has been decided. How do you propose that we go about this?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"W-Well your Majesty, I suggest that we invited the eligible princes from the neighboring kingdom to Arendelle to participate in a tournament of sorts to skill to show off their worth" Councilmen James answers.

"Why don't we open it to all of the eligible swordsmen in the kingdom as well" Lee said mockingly.

"I like it. Sounds great and the people can watch the display" Matthew said rubbing his chin appreciatively.

Lee looks at me with a sheepishly apologetic look on his face and I shake my head at him because he is not helping with this right now. I know that I am going have to go through this nonsense and there is no telling who I might end up marrying at the end of this tournament. I shudder at the thought of marrying a muscled head jerk that thinks more with his second head than the one on top of his shoulder.

"We shall send the letters to the other kingdom as well as set up posters on every corner of Arendelle" Matthew said clapping his hands together.

"Okay, I leave the letters up to you Kai. Is there anything else that you need to bring to my attention?" I asked facing the council.

They shake their heads so I dismiss them and they filed out one by one, leaving myself, Kai and Lee in the room. The councilmen walks towards me with an sympathetic look on his face before placing his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I wish that there was more that I could do to make this better for you" Lee said sighing.

"It is quite alright. At least you stood up for me and that is more than I could ask for but I just wish that I did not have to go through with this ridiculous tournament idea" I said shaking my head.

"Maybe it will turn out better than you think it will" Lee said trying to sound hopeful.

"Or it might turn out to be a bigger disaster" I said rubbing my temple.

"I'm sure that there's a bright side to all of this but just keep your head, My Queen" Lee said smiling reassuringly.

"I shall Lee but I just do not know about any of this"

"Don't worry, it will work it out as long as you believe it will" Lee said leaving me to my thoughts.

I hope that Lee is right about everything working itself out. My thoughts slowly drifted to the thought of the mercenary and what would she think of me once she hears about the tournament. Will she think less of me for going through with something as ridiculous as rewarding the winner with my hand in marriage. I think less of myself for going through this nonsense but I do not know how to get myself out of this situation. Would she participate in the tournament? Why would she? Anna is not into women and I do not see women in that light even though I do find Anna oddly alluring. There is just something about her that draws me to her but I cannot pout my finger on the reason why. What is the matter with me? I should not be thinking about the mercenary in that way because well we are both women and there is no way that council would let us be together even if she won the tournament. Why am I worried for? It is not like Anna is going to enter the tournament.


I sneezed for the fourth time in the last two minutes. I don't understand why I'm sneezing so much because I know that I'm not getting sick because I have a ridiculous strong immune system.

"Wow you're sneezing a lot. Maybe you're getting sick" Kristoff said concerned. "I'm not getting sick" I said shaking my head.

"Or someone is talking about you" Olaf chimed in.

"Tsk yeah right. That's just a myth" I said rolling my eyes.

I don't know why I agreed to let Olaf come with us into town for because all we're doing is looking for work because me and Kristoff are currently broke. We had gave away all the money we had to Derek's wife and we need to get some serious money before leaving this town as soon as possible. People were giving us odd looks as we walked down the street as Sven carries the young prince on his back with me and the shape-shifter not too far behind. No one is really bothering us at the moment so that's good for now before walking into the local pub since that's where the jobs are listed. I look on the board to see all the jobs that were listed with the price that was offer and I looked at all them to see which ones would pay the most before something else caught my eye. It's a poster of a tournament asking for all of the local swordsmen to complete in for the ultimate prize: the asking rights for the hand of the Queen. W-What? Is she for real? She's looking for a husband through a simple tournament. I never figured Elsa to do something so crazy for love. Why did she think that this was a good idea? couldn't Elsa think of another way to look for a husband? Does Olaf know about this? Did she even ask him how he would feel about having his mother get remarried? This is crazy and stupid. Kristoff looks at the poster too before frowning then looking down at Olaf with a confused look. He bends down next to the young prince before placing his hand on his shoulder.

"Olaf, did you know about all of this?" Kristoff asked curious.

"No, I didn't. Mommy's getting remarried by a tournament. I don't want another Daddy" Olaf said shaking his head.

"I don't know what to tell you Kiddo but looks like you don't have much a choice" I said scratching my head.

"Not helping Anna" Kristoff said frowning.

"I'm just saying" I said shrugging my shoulders.

I feel my cloak being tugged on and I looked down to see Olaf standing next to me with his hands on my cloak and tears in his eyes. I don't know this sad and heartbroken look on his kids is making me feel… something but I restrain myself taking him in my arms and telling him that everything is gonna be alright because I can't. I can't tell Olaf that it's gonna be alright because I don't know if it is. I bend down in front of him and the young prince wraps his arms around my neck, burying his face into my shoulder.

"Please… please Anna, I don't want another daddy"

"Olaf I don't. I don't know what you want me to do because it's not like I can talk her out of doing this tournament thing" I said feeling useless.

"Please… please help me" Olaf said whimpering.

"Don't worry Olaf, we're gonna help you" Kristoff said smiling.

"You are?" Olaf asked wiping his tears.

"How do you figure that we do that?" I asked raising an skeptical eyebrow.

"Easy, you're joining the tournament" Kristoff said writing my name on the sign up sheet.

WHAT THE HELL?!

"Yeah then you can marry my Mommy and live with us in the castle" Olaf said excitedly.

Before I could say or process anything, everything went black and someone yelling my name or calling for a doctor. I groaned as I open my eyes but quickly closed when the light coming in from the window seeps in through a nearby window and my head is throbbing like hell. I open my eyes a second time and adjust to the light to realize that I'm in what looks like an infirmary causing me frown slightly. Why am I in an infirmary? What the hell happened to me? I let out a loud 'oomph' when a small body forces the air out of my body as it pressed all its weight down on me. I looked to see a pair of worried blue eyes staring back at me to realize that it's Olaf and I raise an eyebrow at him then everything that happened came back to me. I looked around the room for Kristoff so I can reintroduce him to my fist fro the bullshit that he caused but he's nowhere to be seen. I open my mouth to ask the prince when my partner is but he effective shuts me up by throwing himself at me as he buries his face into my chest. What's the hell is wrong with him? Did something happen while I was passed out? Did someone upset him or something? If they did then they're gonna get acquainted with the tip of my sword? What the hell? Where did that come from? Least no one heard that. This kid will ever let me hear the end of it.

"He was quite worried about you"

I looked up to see the Queen standing in the door of the infirmary with a concerned look on her face. I couldn't stop the blush appearing on my cheek as I nervously rubs the back of my neck. Awww great, now she knows about me fainting and thinks that I'm some kind of weakling that passes out all the time. Great, just great. Wait… why do I care what she thinks of me? Oh right because I'm fighting in the tournament for the asking rights for her hand in marriage, that's why.

"I thought that you died" Olaf said looking at me with unshed tears.

"What the he- heck?" I said quickly catching myself.

"I'm not that weak and I'm not gonna die from hitting my head on the floor"

"Yay, that means that you can still compe-"

I covered his mouth and he's still talks around it but it comes out as a muffled mess that no one can understand. Elsa walks into the room as she stares at me with a raised eyebrow that is very sexy and I quickly duck my eyes under her gaze. With every step she takes, my breath hitches as she towers over me as her hand reaches past my shoulder and is placed on the back of my head. Her hands are cold but it feels really good against the sore spot there as her fingertips glazed against my scalp.

"There's a slight bump here. I may not be a doctor but I suggest that you take it easy and place some ice on it so the swelling will go out"

"N-No that's okay. I had worse scrapes than this. Can't think of any right now" I said laughing nervously.

"Anna from what I have heard, you hit your head pretty hard and I do not want you injuring yourself further by being stubborn. You are to rest" Elsa said sternly.

"Is that a order?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"No, it is… more of a request but it can be if you continue to so stubborn" Elsa replies crossing her arms.

We stare at each other for awhile, locked in a contest of wills, to see who would back down before I lost my concentration when I feel my sleeve being tugged on. I looked down to see Olaf looking up at me with this innocent look on his face and his lower lip protruding in an adorable pout and I feel myself losing this fight.

"Fine, just stop looking at me like that" I said looking away annoyed.

Elsa smiles proudly at her son's tactics before kissing the top of the young prince's head. That so unfair. It's two against one with one being insanely hot and the other beyond adorable beyond compare. Why does the universe hate me? Now I have to stay in this city longer than I anticipated and take part in a tournament that I don't want to be in. If I win then I have to ask Elsa for her hand in marriage… wait a minute, there's no where in the rules that she has to agree to it especially if she finds out my… appendage. That's if I win. I stand up from the bed, effectively getting Olaf of me as I walk to the door when I feel a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see that it's Elsa frowning at me. I gulped loudly as she takes my hand and pulls me back to the bed, forcing onto it. If the kid was in the room then this would be an ideal situation and I could have… Anna, will you stop?! She's not gonna have her way with you even if the kid wasn't in the room. Fuck! This sucks like hell.

"Anna, I am ordering you not to leave this bed until you are well fine enough and Olaf will keep you company while reporting to back to me if you do" Elsa said regally. "Seriously?"

"Quite. Do you think you can handle this responsibility that I am bestowing on you, Olaf?" Elsa asked raising an eyebrow.

"I won't let you down, Mommy" Olaf said saluting her.

"What makes you think that I won't just take him with me?" I asked rolling my eyes mockingly.

"Then I give him the right to scream his head off and fight back" Elsa said smirking.

Such a damn tease. That smirk is doing something to me. Why does she have to be so beautiful and sexy? It's only making me want her more and I cant do anything about it. I pouted in defeat before falling further back into the bed as the clicking of heels get closer to the door. The door opens and closes, leaving me and Olaf in the infirmary as I stare blankly at the ceiling when the consistent poking of my forehead start to annoy me. I turned my attention to the young prince that's annoying me and he has this irritating knowing smile like he knows something that I don't annoying me even further.

"What do you want, kid?" I asked annoyed.

"You like my Mommy" Olaf said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I don't know what you think that you know but I don't like your Mommy. I barely know her" I said rolling my eyes.

"But I can the way that you look at her. It's like you want to eat in her"

Oh dear Odin, what the hell?! I can't believe that this kid noticed that I was sexualizing his mom in front of him. Can this day get anymore embarrassing? I groan loudly as the door opens and I look up to see Kristoff poking his head through the crack with a sheepish smile on his face. I glare at him as I quickly jump off of the bed and rush to the door in blindly speed as I grab the shape-shifter by the collar of his shirt. I pull him roughly through the door, making him fall hard on the floor before closing the door behind us as my head turns slowly as I stare murderously at my partner. Kristoff gulps loudly from the floor as he hold his hands up in defense as he stammers his apology with every step I take towards him.

"Olaf, I'm gonna need you to cover your ears and close your eyes until I tell you otherwise. I don't think that your Mommy will want you being exposed to any excessive violence" I said cracking my knuckles.

"Okay" Olaf said doing as he's told.

"W-Wait Anna, l-let's t-t-talk this" Kristoff said scurrying away into a nearby corner.

"Okay but I'm gonna let my fists do all the talking for me. Now hold still" I said cocking my arm back.

"Anna this could be good for you" Kristoff said holding his arms over his head. "How do you figure?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"You always said that you want to fight some of the best swordsmen in the land as well as others from other countries to test your skills. This could be your chance to do so"

"That is true but if I do win this then I would have to ask the Queen for her hand in marriage. Marriage, man! I'm not ready for marriage! I'm not even marriage material" I said frowning.

"Is anyone actually marriage material"

"Kris, you know what I'm talking about. I'm a mercenary. I kill people and supernatural beings for a killing plus if you haven't notice I'm a bit of a womanizer" I said flailing my arms for emphasis.

"That's because you have met the right woman yet" Kristoff counters.

"I did, Kristoff once but I lost her and it was all my fault. I cant… I can't allow myself to feel anything for anyone like I did with her just to have them taken from me in front of me" I said clenching my fists.

I knocked on Evangeline's front door when I noticed that her door opened by itself and this cold and eerily feeling was coming out of it in waves. I placed my hand on the hilt of my sword, readied to strike if need be as I walked into the house and saw that everything was scattered along the floor. Plates and glasses broken in the kitchen, books and paper scattered along the floor and I assumed that someone had tried to rob the place but what made my blood run was when I saw the blacksmith sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, unmoving. I rolled him onto his back to see that his eyes had rolled into the back of his head, scars along his arms like he had tried to fight off what was attacking him and two small puncture wounds on the side of his neck. I knew that the blacksmith never liked me but he didn't deserve this or to have gone out like this. I instantly knew that this wasn't a robbery but an attack. An vampire attack.

Evangeline!

I ran up the stairs to my lover's room and I knew where it was because I have snuck inside the house multiple times so I knew where I needed to go. I kicked in the door to see the life draining out of the woman that I loved as the vampire snuck his fangs into her neck. I felt my blood boiled over as I pulled out my sword as I lunged at the unholy demon to send him back to hell where he belonged but he blocked my attack. The vampire smirks at me before he jumped out of the window, shattering the glass in the process as he disappeared into the darkness of the night. I dropped to my knees in front of my dead lover's lifeless body, pulling it in close as the hot tears fell from my eyes. I never felt more of failure than I did at that moment and it must have been hours before I pulled myself away from her. I vowed in that moment that I would never love again or allowed myself to feel anything and also to track down her killer. The vampire that smelt of rose petals.

"Anna, I know that you loved her but she wouldn't want you to close yourself to finding love again" Kristoff said sympathetically.

"You don't know that, Kristoff" I said shaking my head.

"I might have known her as well as you did but she was my friend and she managed get you to open to the possibility of love"

"For me, love died that day along with Evangeline as well as big chunk of my heart. The fire's dead anyway" I said sighing.

"It's always another day" Kristoff said placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Can I take my hands off my ears?" Olaf asked looking at us questioningly.

"Yeah Buddy" I said removing his hands.

"You… you called me buddy" Olaf said shocked.

"No I didn't" I said frowning.

"You did, Anna" Kristoff said smirking.

"You called me buddy and that means that we're friends" Olaf said bouncing up and down.

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Calm your ovaries, will ya" I said rolling my eyes.

"No! You like me and you just admit it! Mommy guess what!?" Olaf said running out of the room.

"I think that he might be wearing you down, Feisty Pants" Kristoff said chuckling.

"Maybe, just maybe" I said shrugging.


~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off

End of ch 6