Forever At Your Side ch. 7


I am standing my study, signing paperwork and looking over trade agreements that needed my attention but it was very hard to concentrate when my mind keeps drifting to the mercenary. I do not understand why am I thinking about her so much or why am I so concerned about her well being when I know absolutely nothing about her. I know that Olaf seems to be quite taken with her for one reason or another and I have not seen him this attached to someone since… His father. Jack and Olaf were as thick as thieves and they did everything together no matter how busy or tired Jack was with helping me rule over kingdom. He always made time for our son even when he got sick, he wanted the young prince to know that his Daddy loved and make sure that he was cared for. Odin, I miss Jack. I wish that he was here with me just to hold me, kiss me, to tell me that everything is going to be alright. I wish miss how safe and warm I felt when Jack would take me in his arms and place the softest of kisses on my temple while running his fingers through my hair. I miss his infectious laugh and how much he loved to play planks on unsuspecting servants before running away with a childish and mischievous glint in his eyes.

At times I always found them rather annoying but now I have a fondness for them and I would give anything just to have those times back. I stand up from my desk as I walk over towards the portrait of Jack and I at our wedding, looking lovingly into each other's eyes. Is it wrong that I might feel something for Anna? Is it too soon to be feeling anything for anyone? Would Jack approve of me looking for another husband or even another spouse? Would it be too soon? What if Olaf does not like who ask me to marry them? It has been almost four years since he has passed on but I do not if that is long enough? I do not even know what I am feeling for the mercenary but I know that it is something. Oh dear Odin, what should I do? Jack, please give a sign. Anything! Please I am begging you here. Oh Odin, I am talking to a portrait of my decreased husband. May I have been pushing myself a little too hard. I hear someone knocking on my door and I sigh as I tell them to enter as the door opens to reveal Olaf poking his head through the cracked door.

"Hi Mommy" Olaf said smiling.

"Hello Olaf, I thought that I gave you orders to watch Anna" I said raising an eyebrow.

"You did and that's why she's standing outside of the study right now" Olaf said grinning.

"Then why is she still standing outside?"

"Because you didn't give me permission to enter" Anna answers.

"I guess that I did not but you do now so please… enter" I reply.

Anna walks through the door then bows to me as she looks at the portrait behind me before titling her head to the side, curiously. Oddly I found it adorable but I shake my head to rid it of those kinds of thoughts as I turn my attention to son who's looking up at me with a smile on his face.

"Did you need something, Sweetie?" I inquire.

"I just wanted to see you and I wanted to ask if you were going to read me a bedtime story since you didn't read me one last night" Olaf pouts.

I feel horrible for missing story time last time because I know that Olaf enjoys it when I read to him and I know it too since it's one of the few times that I get to spend with him. I will have to do a lot better than what I have been going to spend more time with my son because he is very important to me.

"Yes I will be reading you a story tonight" I said smiling.

"I have a better idea. Why don't you and Anna read me a bedtime stories cause I like how you both read to me even Anna doesn't read from a book. I think she makes stuff up to entertain me" Olaf said in a faux whisper.

"Hey! I'm right here and I didn't make up that I beat up a dwarf with one hand tied behind my back" Anna said frowning.

I looked at Anna with an raised eyebrow for a moment and she returns my gaze then her cheeks turn light pink as she looks away, embarrassed. I cover my laughter with my hand but it does very little to contain it as the mercenary blushes further and if I am not mistaken, she might be pouting.

"Yeah right, even I wouldn't believe that" Olaf said rolling his eyes.

"Are you calling me a lair?" Anna asked glaring at him.

"I'm not calling you a truther" Olaf said glaring back at Anna.

"Olaf enough" I said reprimanding him.

"But Mommy" Olaf said looking up at me.

"Do you want a time out?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"No" Olaf said hanging his head.

"Ha!" Anna mocks.

"Anna, I do not want to do this but I will give you a timeout as well" I replied.

Anna effective closes her mouth as she bites her lower lip to bite off a retort of some kind but it is good thing does not say anything because I do not want to have to put in a timeout like a child. Olaf snickers a little as the mercenary sticks her tongue out at him which causes the young prince to do the same. I giggle at their childish antics as my son grabs Anna by the hand, leading her out of the room to who knows where as I look up at the portrait of Jack sadly. What do I do? I should go through with this tournament or not. What do you think, Jack?


Anna's POV

Why is this kid dragging all over the place especially into Elsa's study? Why did he bring me in there? It was so weird and awkward, not that Elsa's awkward, I'm awkward… she's gorgeous. Wait what? What the hell is wrong with me? This is getting weird and I don't know what's on with me because I've never been this weird around someone other than…. Evangeline. No. No. No. No! No, this can't be happening. I can't have feelings with Elsa. I can't go through this. I just can't. Not again. I have to get out of this tournament or I'm going to be so screwed. Olaf leads me into his bedroom changing into his sleepwear as he talks about me winning the tournament so that I would become his other Mommy and I hate to crush him like this but it has to be done. Once the young prince finished changing, I bend down in front of him with my hands on his shoulders as he looks at me with those big blue doe eyes of his.

"What's wrong, Anna?" Olaf asked confused.

"Olaf, I don't… I can't. I don't think it's a good idea for me to compete in the tournament. I'm no good for you or your mommy, I can't protect you like you two deserve" I sigh.

"What? What do you mean? Don't you like my Mommy? Don't you like me?" Olaf asked as his bottom lip starts to quiver.

"Of course I like you, Olaf and your Mom. You're good people but I'm not good or strong enough to be around you. I'm not a good person or a good role model for you to look up to" I said shaking my head.

"But you are good person. You're like my Daddy but a woman and you like to push me away and you're really strong. You and Mommy are good together, I just know it" Olaf said reassuringly.

I don't know why I feel comfort by those words or why he's so confident that I can do this but I guess that if this kid believes that I can do this than maybe…. Just maybe I can. I pulled Olaf into my chest and hold him tightly as possible because it's been that long of a time that I given or received a hug from someone but it feels… nice. I carry the young prince to his bed and tugged him as I crawled in next to him as he get comfortable as I tell him an exaggerated tale about one of the adventures that Kristoff and I have had. I leave out some of the more gory details and me sleeping with another chambermaid as well as the female mercenary that we were working with. Holy Odin, was she smoking and the thing that she would do her mouth? Hold your horses Anna, you're in the middle of telling story to an six year old. You need to focus!

"Anna?"

"Yeah, Buddy" I said giving him my full attention.

"Have you ever been in love?" Olaf asked curious.

I chuckle sadly a little as I ruffle his hair because I knew that he would ask me that eventually.

"Yeah, I have been in love before. Her name was Evangeline and she was the most beautiful woman that I have ever meet" I said smiling fondly at her memory.

"What was she like?" Olaf asked looking up at me with wrapped attention.

"Sorry but that's another story for another time. It's late and way past your bedtime" I replied tucking him in.

"Awww but I'm not tired" Olaf said yawning.

"Yeah, yeah sure you aren't. Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the spites bite" I said chuckling.

Olaf snuggles into his pillow, falling asleep instantly as I blow out the candle before making my way out of the room to find Elsa standing outside. How long has she been there?

"Anna?"

"Y-Yes" I said nervously.

"Good luck in the tournament. I expect you to do your best" Elsa said walking past me without another word.

Awww hell, why is this happening? What am I going to do? No one's POV "You both know what you must do"


Two young men stand in front of an older man with jet black hair with an stoic expression on his face, looking at a map of Arendelle and a much smaller island to the south of it before slowly to his son and his friend from another country who he knows that they have an rather 'intimate' relationship but none of that matter as long as it doesn't get in the way of their mission as the older man reminds them that they have to stay focused and do what must be done. They have been overshadowed by the much larger kingdom for much too long and it's time to take what is owed to them nodding as there's no longer a king to stand in his way this time as the older man looks at a map of Arendelle with greed in his eyes and treachery in his vein.

"Arendelle, you will be mine" he said evilly.


~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off.

End of ch. 7