Thursday morning was the highly anticipated wedding of the summer, which everyone in town was looking forward to: that of Captain Olsen of the Castle Guard and Isabel, the ward of General Mattias and Halima. Captain Olsen had lived in Arendelle his entire life. His father had also served in the Castle Guard, and Isabel had lived in Arendelle since General Mattias and Halima had taken her in as a young child, so the newlyweds knew nearly everyone. Following the wedding, there was a large party taking up all of Hudson's Hearth and spilling out into most of the surrounding square. Captain Olsen had been given two weeks leave for his honeymoon, and the General had arranged for a vacation cottage on one of the nearby islands belonging to one of his old colleagues for the couple to stay at during their honeymoon.
People asked Inga about her supposed upcoming wedding, which everyone seemed to be certain about except for herself. She had to assure her father multiple times that she had no plans of getting married anytime soon, and there wasn't actually any reason for people to think she was getting married, and she promised him that she'd tell him right away if there were any plans of that sort. Her aunt had assured her mother of just as much, even if Inga had the feeling that both of them thought that she was protesting a bit too much. Inga was at a loss of how much she could protest, anyway, and she was starting to realize she would never have any privacy on the issue, no matter what she decided.
"Hey, Inga," Frederick called over to her, "why is everyone saying you're getting married?"
She glared. "Because, I guess, nothing interesting actually happened this summer, either here or in Corona."
"But…" he began, then she saw a spark of understanding. "Oh…"
"Exactly," she laughed bitterly.
"So, when do I get to be a source of gossip?" he smiled, sitting down next to her.
"If you're lucky, never," she replied, scruffing his hair as she sat down.
At the first light of dawn on Friday morning, the newlywed Captain and Mrs. Olsen sailed to the island where they would be spending their honeymoon. Inga wished them well, and then did her best to avoid the questions she knew that Kate and Edith would be asking her after talking some more with Elizabeth's sisters.
Inga walked toward the Castle gardens, hoping she would be alone. Her brothers were out somewhere with her father, and her mother was especially busy since she had cleared her Saturday schedule entirely. Inga had offered to help, but her mother insisted she should rest, since travel was tiring. She would try.
"Oh, there you are, Inga!" Elizabeth exclaimed in hushed tones, grabbing her arm.
"Elizabeth? Why aren't you with your sisters?" Inga asked, somewhat startled.
"I'm…" she took a moment to think. "Inga, I'm really sorry they started spreading all those rumors!"
"It's… I know it's not your fault," Inga sighed and sat down on the nearby bench.
"I know my sisters sometimes get a little bit too… I don't know." Elizabeth seemed to be holding back what she wanted to say, but sat down next to Inga.
"Don't worry about it," Inga insisted. "I don't think it would even bother me if my aunt didn't seem to think there's something to it."
"Well, I can't blame people for jumping to conclusions," Elizabeth confessed, then blushed. "I know, there's nothing to it. Really, believe me!"
"What do you mean?" Inga asked skeptically.
"Just… Oh, nevermind. Don't worry about it," Elizabeth smiled at her like she knew something.
Anton and Peder's birthday celebration ended up being an all day affair. They began the day early, riding out with Frederick for a swim at their favorite pond, which they liked to think was a secret. Inga had gone with them when they were younger, but it had been years since she went along. No one ever told her to stop, but they never really wore swimsuits when they were there, and at some point she had decided to stay back. She wasn't particularly envious today, since it was already getting chilly in the mornings, but if her brothers wanted to go for an icy swim with no sauna nearby, that was their business.
When they returned from their swim, they took a bit longer than planned getting changed, since, much to their surprise, it was considerably colder than they had anticipated. The picnic lunch to be held in the garden was on hold waiting for them. Nanny had suspected this might prove a problem, and she had given the younger children an early lunch, so they were now playing without being fussy.
Inga sat at the edge of the blanket on the grass, mindlessly pulling up clover from the lawn, and twisting blades of grass into complicated knots, occasionally looking at Baby Linne lying on her stomach in the center of the blanket, making cooing sounds, and occasionally trying to look up. Her mother was sitting on the other side of the blanket, leaning back on her father's chest, his arm around her, and she started to doze a bit. The baby started to fuss, and Inga picked her up. Her mother seemed to be completely asleep now, so Inga thought it might be a good chance to ask one of the questions on her mind.
"Papa," Inga began, looking over to make sure he was paying attention, "I was going to ask you-"
"We're almost ready!" Frederick shouted, running outside, startling everyone. "Aunt Elsa and Olaf are getting Peder and Anton, and I told Gerda to bring the lunch out."
"Oh!" Anna laughed, now awake. "What time is it?"
"Sorry," Frederick apologized, sitting down at her feet, "it's almost one. I know lunch was supposed to be an hour ago!"
"At this rate, we'll hardly have time to eat before dinner," Inga said with an exaggerated sigh.
Inga turned the baby around to face everyone when the twins came outside. She thought the picnic lunch fit them very nicely: Nothing went according to plan, and everyone was inconvenienced. But this was enjoyable. Everyone sat around in the garden without any obligations or real worries. Nanny brought the younger children over as the sandwiches were brought out, and everyone took turns holding the baby so they all could eat.
"You know," Inga said between bites, "we really should get another portrait taken."
"Didn't we just get one?" her father asked. "What about the Christening?"
"That was just the baby," Anna explained. "Well, us and the baby, but-"
"When did we sit for that painting?" he continued.
"That was seven years ago."
Kristoff stopped to think. "But I thought last year-"
"That was for our anniversary, and it was just you and me, and that was nearly two years ago."
"Which anniversary was that?" Kristoff winked at her.
"Two years ago-" Anna began, then glared with an unimpressed smirk when she felt Kristoff beginning to laugh.
"What-" Inga began in confusion, looking between her parents. "Oh, nevermind!"
"Let's just get the photographer here!" Peder suggested. "We're all here."
"I'll see if he's in!" Frederick jumped up and ran toward the market square.
"Well, I guess that's settled then," Anna laughed. "Are we all presentable?"
A half hour later, Frederick had brought along the photographer, his assistant, and a young man from town who was happy to take the absurdly generous amount of money Frederick had naively offered to help them carry all the equipment to the Castle garden.
With some last minute tidying of clothes and hair, everyone managed to assemble for a proper photograph. Inga wasn't sure how they kept the younger children under control, but they all managed to look at the camera and not run away at the same time.
When the photographer was satisfied that he would have some acceptable family portraits for them to select, it was almost time for games and music in the courtyard, followed by dinner. Inga found her brothers' plans a little exhausting, but she was happy for them. She wasn't sure what she would have done if she had accepted her mother's offer of a party.
"Your Excellency," Anna greeted the Maldonian ambassador.
"Your Majesty," he replied, "may I introduce His Highness, Prince Tarkan of Maldonia."
"Your Majesty," the Prince bowed. "I had been told… um… I suppose I should put this delicately? I had been told that your eldest daughter usually was present at meetings?"
"Your Highness, that is generally true, but she is currently attending a friend's wedding. You'll have to excuse her absence. Now, what would you like to discuss?"
"Ah," Prince Tarkan hummed, "Well, I suppose I can still bring this up. I understand that your daughter is… currently unattached?"
"That is true, as far as I know," Anna answered, somewhat perturbed. "I don't know how this is relevant to any discussions we might have."
"Well, I realize you would not force her hand," he explained, "but I had hoped, perhaps, to be introduced."
"Your Highness," she sighed, "my daughter is not in seclusion. If you wish to meet her during your visit, that is your business, as long as you respect her wishes."
"Very well, Your Majesty," the prince bowed subtly.
"Thank you for your understanding," she replied. "Now, shall we continue with other matters? I understand your Ambassador was suggesting we consider importing citrus?"
Elsa stood with Inga outside the Cathedral on Tuesday morning, waiting for the other guests. Elizabeth was with her mother and sisters getting dressed. Elizabeth had shown Inga the dress the day before, and of course it was beautiful and had the finest fabrics, and Inga did her best to look like she knew the difference of the details. Nanny had the little ones, but Sofia had insisted on coming to the wedding, which was fine with everyone because she could sit with Meibel. Marie got upset at being left out, so Kate had volunteered to keep an eye on her during the ceremony.
Lars and his brother had arrived early, Lars in his best suit, and the Lieutenant in his dress uniform. The Captain paced around, checking the time occasionally. Frederick arrived to tell them that Kristoff had managed to get Peder and Anton wearing suits, and they would all be out shortly.
The ceremony went beautifully, considering how little time there had been for planning. Hudson's Hearth was again reserved for a wedding reception, though this time, all the guests fit nicely into the dining room. By late afternoon, Lars and Elizabeth were in a carriage on their way to the cabin in the mountains.
"How was the wedding?" Anna asked as Inga joined her in the study.
"It was nice," Inga smiled. "It really was. You should have attended. Everyone else did."
"I suppose," she sighed. "But the Prince of Maldonia just arrived yesterday, and he and their Ambassador had already scheduled a meeting with me. Besides, you all actually know them, I don't. Plus, I would have been a distraction."
"Oh, and my aunt isn't a distraction?" Inga smirked. "But, really, Mama, I would have thought you'd want to catch up with Mrs. Nilsen, too."
"Mrs. Nilsen? What do you mean?"
"Margit Nilsen, Lars's mother?" Inga clarified. "I thought you knew her. Elsa did. They've spent a lot of time catching up since we arrived in Corona."
"Elsa knew her? Where did she know her from?"
"I assume she knew Mrs. Nilsen before they left Arendelle and moved to Corona," Inga explained. "Though she wouldn't really give me a straight answer. I'd assumed you knew her, too, what with his family's service to Arendelle and all that."
"Service… to Arendelle?" her mother looked confused.
"That's why they have the pension, isn't it?" Inga asked.
"Is it officially a Naval pension?"
"She didn't say what it was, but I guess it might be?" Inga contemplated. "I suppose maybe with his brother in the Navy… All I really know is what Lars already told me, that they arrived in Corona before he was born, but after his father had died."
"Wait, when was he born?" her mother asked.
"He's twenty," Inga replied, feeling frustrated. "That's why his mother needed to come here if they were getting married, since he won't be of age until April."
"April twenty-fifth…"
"Really?" Inga scoffed. "You remember his birthday? You remember the strangest things sometimes."
"Oh," Anna mumbled, looking distracted, then shook her head. "Inga, why don't you get started with this stack of letters. I just remembered something I was going to ask Kai."
"I could go find him," Inga offered.
"No, no, it's simpler if I do. You take care of the correspondence." Anna got up and left the study, closing the door behind her.
Inga gave an exasperated sigh, and worked through the stack of correspondence.
A while later, Kristoff walked into the study without knocking. "Inga? Have you seen your mother?"
Inga kept her eyes on the letter she was writing. "She had to ask Kai about something, Papa."
"I saw Kai a minute ago, and he hadn't seen her," he sighed, rubbing his neck.
Inga looked up. "That's odd."
"Well," her father said, "if you see her, tell her I've gone to change out of this suit."
"Fine," Inga groaned, returning to the correspondence. "If you see Frederick, can you tell him I'd like a little help here?"
Kristoff raised an eyebrow. "If I see him, I will."
"Elsa?" Anna knocked on the door and pushed it open slightly.
"Come in," her sister answered from inside. "What is it?"
Anna carefully shut the door behind her. "Who is Margit Nilsen?"
