So this Chapter and the next were the two that I had originally written for this story before scrapping them, but Then I went back and read over them and realized they seemed to flow a little more for me I hope you enjoy them.
the song(s)used in this chapter:
Shine-Frome Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses (Yes I used that song, I love it and it fit)
and as a friendly reminder:
-lyrics will always be in Italics.
-If the lyrics DO NOT have quotations or brackets around them characters are using the song to listen to.
-If the Lyrics have regular quotations " " then a character is singing the the song
-If the lyrics have regular brackets [ ] the characters can hear the music but it is also being used as background music
-If the lyrics have BOLD Brackets [ ] then the song is being used ONLY as Background/Montage Music (meaning the characters CAN NOT hear it
-If the lyrics have BOLD Brackets and quotations then the song is being sung by a character as well as being used as Background/Montage music
if my explanation doesn't make sense well i hope you understand when you get to that part of the story when the lyrics start. if not im sorry i suck at explanations (/.\)
as Always everyone
Read,Review,Enjoy \(^.^)/
Chapter 7: The Wolf And The Queen
"Must we continue to be with out a ruler on the throne?" Lord Lucien urged, "We have a perfectly abled member of the royal line here. Would it not be best to have her ascend if her sister no longer wishes to rule?"
"There is not enough evidence to know that Queen Elsa does not wish to fulfill her duty." Lord Gunther argued softly but just as strongly. "The only inicident that could bring that to question is the incident on the night of her coronation. Since returning after then the Queen has shown only love and devotion to both her people and her land."
"Is it not convenient that as more and more suitors come for her hand this happens? And we are to believe she is 'taken'? I'll not have someone so whimsical sit on the throne!"
"Sit down Lucian, your words border on treason." Prince Nicolas commanded with all the power of a royal.
Anna sat in her sisters chair looking at all the faces, they had all been arguing of a repetitive subject that was brought up more and more as the days went on. The only difference now…is with the coming of the cold season a few of the council had changed their stance and now supported the Lord Lucien to her ascending to the throne, whats worse none have been able to locate Olaf but Marek has assured her he will be found. She hoped Kristoff returned soon it would be helpful to have her future husband by her side, at least then she'd have one more person on her side.
Elsa found herself riding with Lyra while El was up ahead with some of the others making sure the way through the pass stay clear. Several days had gone by since their kiss in the tent and Elsa could not stop thinking about it. Often she found herself in dilemma because well 1) she is the Queen of Arendelle who was taken for ransom 2) one of the very people who had kidnapped her is the afforthmentioned persons she had given her first kiss to 3) something like this could never work? Could it?...the list seemed to grow every time she argued with herself. And yet…when thinking back on it…theres no possible way something that had felt so right…could be so wrong?
"Thinking about your she-wolf huh.." Came Lyra's tease. Elsa only huffed knowing it useless to argue after all she should have known Walter would tell Lyra who then gossiped to Ajmal who let it slip to Bear. The biggest surprise for all of them however is that the big guy hadn't just about told the rest of the men. (She learned he's just as big a gossip as Ajmal and Lyra.)
"With winter coming early…looks like you'll be stuck with us for the cold season. Plenty of time to get to know her better."
The younger blonde could feel the mischief in those words and shook her head with a light chuckle. They had been riding non stop through the mountain pass hoping to reach the other end before the heavier snow came. From what she learned it would be hell for anyone who got stuck in the pass.
"We all know what you and Walter get up to, no matter the season." Elsa replied cooly, though the mirth was heard if Lyra's laugh was anything to go by.
"I've been meaning to ask…was that your first kiss?"
Elsa felt herself blush but she nodded in answer anyway knowing that sooner or later Lyra would have asked and it was best to get it over with sooner rather then later. "Did you like it?"
"Lyra please…I would rather we speak of such things privately or not at all."
"Oh come on…we are friends aren't we?" Lyra teased. "I only want to make sure El didn't turn you off of ever wanting to find someone."
Not answering right away Elsa looked up ahead catching sight of both Ajmal and El who was wearing a warm looking cloak. Their eyes met only briefly and the Queen felt herself smile. "It…it was perfect..she…didn't…even though I thought I would mess it up."
"So it was your first then.."
"It was."
"I'm happy for you." Lyra replied after a moment of silence, her voice was gentle now, no trace of teasing or playfullness as it had been moments before. "I think you both deserve a bit of happiness."
Smiling to herself Elsa stay quiet instead enjoying the light snow around them. By mid-day everyone was relieved to find the end of the winding mountain road. The light chatter and murmers grew into talk as excitement spread from reaching the end of the pass. The travellers that had joined their party were the most talkative. They travelled on until the sky began to grow dark and so tents were pitched as quickly as the fires were made. The chill of winter fresh in the night air, promising freezing nights yet to come.
Fidgeting with her hat Elsa groaned from being unable to have taken it off all day. "Your Majesty is everything alright?"
Nearly jumping, the young Monarch shushed her guard quickly. "Someone could hear." She chastised, "Use the name everyone else has been using."
"It's unbecoming of your status." Holden replied stubbornly. "Must we stay with them? They allow us to walk freely now with very little guard it wouldn't be hard to run away now…we could join the travelers and find a way back to Arendelle."
"That's only if you can make it back through the pass with snow as deep as a man is tall." Came an irate voice. Both turned to find El glaring Holden down, "Boy, you're needed else where." She jerked her head in the direction he was 'needed'.
"None but my Queen c-" we was grabbed roughly by the back of the neck and pushed. "Right now she isn't the Queen." When he didn't back down Elsa stepped in. "Holden please, just do what she says." He gave a questioning look but conceded with a defeated nod, turning and walking away.
"I can see why he was top of his class…he has a strong heart."
"He is strong in his beliefs…he only does what he thinks is best when protecting me."
El nodded in agreement, "It will help in the path he has chosen…but he needs to learn when to concede."
"If I didn't know any better I'd think you have a bit of a soft spot for him." Elsa teased. El grinned holding out her arm glad when the platinum blonde took it with out hesitation. "I'd say its only wishful thinking…walk with me?"
The two strolled through the camp in a comfortable silence, nodding the others in greeting not stopping for long as they both seemed to want to spend a moment with each other. The kiss had been weighing heavily on their minds and neither had a moment since then to really speak about it.
Coming to the edge of the camp El was the first to break the silence, "It's a beautiful night." Her voice was quiet but gentle.
"Most groan at the thought of the cold season." Elsa hummed both in reply and at the warmth she felt exuding from the one beside her.
"On the contrary its my favorite season…I enjoy the cold more then I do the heat. My mother use to say it because of my hot blood." She paused realizing what she said and cleared her throat looking away from the look she was receiving. "Not in the sense of what you're thinking…not that it isn't unnatural…because it is a natural thing…I um…the phrase is defined differently where I am from."
Elsa with brow quirked in amused curiousity teased, "Are you always so…articulate?"
Humming as he wandered toward the pull, Olaf giggled when seeing the hawk he was sure was following him squawk high above him, circling about watching him. The path he's taken so far isn't one he's known, and he wondered if Elsa or Anna knew it was there. After all it was a great place to place hide and seek when the got back, who ever would have guessed of the hidden road not far off from the castle at the edge of the meadow leading into the forest with a great view of the town.
Marshmellow had wanted to come but then decided it was best to stay at the ice castle just in case his 'mommy' came by again. Besides someone had to watch their little brothers and sisters. As he continued on his pass the Olaf realized this was the farthest from home he had ever gone, (not including his quest for tradition during Christmas or Yule or or the one holiday that had a lot of names.) he paused momentarily wondering where he was going or how he even made it this far…but the thought easily transitioned to the thought of finding Elsa again and continued to hum.
Elsa found her heart fluttering more and more getting to hear the sound of laughter coming from the mercenary she walked with. They walked past the tree line not but moments ago, what they wished to talk about was something neither of them seemed to want interruptions. Though Elsa knew that they were dancing around the subject…Ironic that I can dance with my words and not my feet… she snorted at the thought. When she saw that El had paused to stare, that smile she wore turning cheshire in nature the Queen of Arendelle felt herself flush completely at ever making such a sound out loud and in the company of someone who wasn't Anna. Her hands flew to cover her mouth and nose, and she turned away from El who chuckled.
"I-"
"Don't apologize for just being…Elsa." At that the monarch turned back around slowly to find El watching her. The looking in her pericing gaze was curious and bright, they nearly glowed even with such little light from the moon coming through the canopy of the trees.
"That's…the second time…you've called me by name." Elsa whispered quietly as if her words would break the sudden enchantment she felt fall around them.
"If it makes you uncomfortable…I won't call you by your name." El responded just as quietly feeling the magick that sparked in the very air of them being here. Shaking her head Elsa nibbled her bottom lip nervously before finally speaking her thoughts…the thoughts that were weighing her mind down so recently. "I-It doesn't…Quite the opposite actually…I just…I gave you my first kiss…allow you to call me by name and yet…I don't even know yours."
"How are you sure El isn't my name?" Though El had answered in seriousness Elsa could see the mirth twinkling in those colored eyes. She gave a look to the mercenary but couldn't help the smile that crossed her own lips when the other woman gave a small laugh. She hadn't realized that through out the conversation they had come to stand face to face again.
"El is…short for…" El began giving a dramatic pause. "It's short for Angelique." Elsa could feel her body heat up from the closeness of the mercenary. Her eyes never broke the gaze she held and could see there was more that…El-Angelique wasn't telling her. Lifting a brow in silent question she was relieved as well as giddy when getting another laugh and swoon worthy smile. "It's the name Bear called me because he couldn't say mine correctly."
"if you do not wish to tell me…I understand. I've…well I've read that some believe to know one's name is to hold power over them…if that is your belief-"
"It astounds me how much of the world you know and yet…this is the farthest you've gone from home." Angelique interrupted a grin on her lips growing into a smile at the pretty rose color that frosted Elsa's pale cheeks. Swallowing the nervousness she lifted a hand and used her thumb and finger to help lift and turn Elsa's face to face her again. "I only tease…though your knowledge…its…I find is attractive to me." She swallowed the sudden dryness in her throat being this close once more with the Queen. Staring into the ice blue pools she could happily drown in if she so chose to. "Anrek'Eli…That is my name." she whispered softly.
The way Angelique said it…well it fit the distinct accent that she had when she spoke whether or not she was conscious of it Elsa thought. The language was one she had never heard before there was a sharp flow to it. "Anrek'Eli." She repeated breathless at the proximity of their faces. She was more then a little surprised at how well she spoke it for never having done so before.
Before either could say or do anything else a giggle broke their trance and they turned to find something Elsa thought she'd never see. As she was speaking and lost in the conversation with Anrek'Eli (Angelique) the forest around them had come alive much like the camp not far off. She saw as faeries…forest nymphs and other creatures of the forest watching them curiously. With a gasp she made to leave only to feel Angelique take her hand. "Stay."
Turning slowly to face the other woman she found the mercenary smiling brightly, "Elsa…will you take one more trade?"
"I-I've no more in return."
"I give this one freely…" El pulled her closer bringing her other hand to rest on the Queen's waist. "Dance with me?"
"I…can't…I don't know how." Elsa argued her eyes darting around to the curious creatures watching. She could hear the camp fill with laughter and a bit of music from the Travelers starting up. While traveling with them it was not an uncommon sight. She had watched of course laughing with the others and clapping to the rhythms set by the drums and lute. She had been asked to dance many times but always declined…and now in the seclusion of the forest away from the eyes of their traveling party she was being asked to once more. Though she knew they were not alone it felt much so with the way El was staring at her.
"I'll teach you…only if you say yes."
~8~
Lyra gave a thank you kiss to Ajmal on the cheek as he went off to dance some more. She clapped along yelping then scolding Walter when he came up from behind and spun her around. When she was back on her feet she kissed the man deeply before pulling back. "Where's our brooding wolf hmm?"
"Saw her go off with the Queen." He nodded toward the trees. They turned when hearing everyone cheer when seeing the forest come alive. The little light bugs flew about and they could see the shifting figures moving about just inside the treeline. "Well I'll be damned…never thought they'd be out for winter." He laughed playfully swatting a small winged fairy.
Lyra patted his chest, "Best to leave them an offering. It is their home we're disturbing." With that she turned to fill a platter with the meal she had helped make for the night, several mugs of the honeyed mead they had gotten from the travelers and a few baked goods as well. With the balanced the skill of a tavern maid Lyra walked past the trees to leave their offering, she smiled when hearing the giggling and laughter of the fae creatures that made this wood their home. Allowing them to guide her to where they wanted her to set the platter.
"Is useless…I can't."
Pausing at the familiar voice, Lyra heard a laugh followed by the familiar voice of El, "It's ok." Following the direction she heard their voices come from she stopped when seeing the familiar figures of Elsa and El, the latter leading them in a little dance, one in which the former was moving awkwardly and stopped when she stepped on El's foot. Deciding to set down everything in her arms and quietly and quickly as possible Lyra stepped back and away but still able to watch from the shadows. She watched as Elsa turned away looking as if she was ready to run back to camp but was stopped by El who pulled her back and spoke to her quietly. They both spoke to each other hushed and a little more intimately then when everyone else was around and Lyra found she didn't mind whatever they were speaking of was to be between them…she would tease the Queen about it later anyway.
They seemed to stare into each other's eyes forever until a smile slowly found Elsa's lips. The platinum blonde nodded and so Lyra watched curious to see…
~8~
"It's no use." Elsa argued in frustration. This was ridiculous…she just couldn't do this "Elsa…" pausng her thoughts she looked back up to El. "Try not to think of it."
"I can't dance El."
"When you use you'r magic…do you think of what you're doing?"
The Monarch tilted her head a bit in question, "No…only on my intent really but not by much…when I use my powers it…its just this natural feeling that ripples through me." She saw El smile and quietly reply, "Dance as if you were using your magick. Let the rhythm flow through you as if it were the power you hold bursting free. Don't think just feel…and let go."
With pause Elsa could only stare at El, at the use of such words. The phrase maybe a word or two off from her own but the comcept of them the same. Knowing that the other woman was correct in this Elsa was hesitant to do so. Could she really allow herself to do it? After all it seemed so much bigger a choice then to just dance…as if the weight of something bigger awaited her answer and all she had to do was try again or decline.
Blue eyes locked with mystic ones, and the Queen can see the hope and comfort in those eyes as if they themselves were willing her to at least try.
[There's a place you can go
Where your heart is free
There's a rhythm that's right for your soul
Take a breath, find the courage
And make the leap
Cause your feet always know where to go]
With a deep breath Elsa took a step, surprised that El was letting her lead. With out breaking the gaze they held she took another step and another. Letting her feet take them where they may.
[And you dance and you dance in an endless flow
In the grace of a perfect design
Stepping out of the dark and into the glow
And the whole world will see when you shine
You can shine (shine)
Shine (Shine)]
A smile slowly creeped along her lips as they moved. Elsa could see the pride in Angelique's eyes as they continued to move about.
El gave a smile of her own, pulling the Queen closer but still allowed her to lead. Watching her with the dim light of the fire but natural light of the moon and forest The Queen of Arendelle looked like a goddess come to dance with her and it made Anrek'Eli's heart quicken at the thought that Elsa had even allowed the thought of a dance.
[There's a beauty already inside of you
There's a difference that only you'll make
Every place that you spin Brings you somewhere new
Finding hope in every step that you take]
"You can take the lead.." Elsa said quietly, noting the surprise in those piercing orbs.
"You trust me to lead you?"
"I've trusted you with a kiss…I'd say that's more then I've let most have. Teach me to dance Anrek'Eli." El almost faltered in their dance…almost. With a slight bow of the head she heeded the command. "As you wish…My Queen." Moving a little faster in step the pair dance beneath the night of the winter.
[And you dance and you dance in an endless flow
In the grace of a perfect design
Stepping out of the dark and into the glow
And the whole world will see when you shine
You can shine shine
Shine(Shine)]
Elsa laughed giddy to find El challenging her comfort zone especially since this was her first dance…in a long time. She was twirled and spun but always caught and connected with strong but gentle hands. They moved about the small clearing weaving and twirling by underbrush and the creatures scurrying about. They could hear the giggles and cheers of the fae folk that called this wood their home.
Elsa could feel her magick exuding from her very skin as she moved about. El smiling and laughing as they continued. With skill and grace the Mercenary led the Queen through a dance as a light fall of snow softly fell around them.
[Suddenly sparkling bright
Bathe in a magical light
you will Sisters are there by your side
Love will be your guide]
Something deep inside pulsed within herself and Elsa was a little scared that she might let loose something she couldn't take back. "Don't be afraid of it."Angelique whispered.
"The last time I tried to dance…I was a child…I nearly froze my father's arms…I-"
"Don't think…just feel" In a bold move El took one of Elsa's hands bring it to rest above her heart. The Monarch gasped ready to pull away but her hand was held firmly in place. "If you wanted to truly hurt me…you would have so already."
[And we dance and we dance in an endless flow
In the grace of a perfect design]
She could feel herself tremble with the fear, of being so close to someone like this. She could feel the heart beat beneath and wondered at the strong but fast rhythm it emenated. Looking up she found El's gaze never once had looked away from her. When their gazes again locked Elsa felt the hand at her waist slide around to the other side and a strong arm pulled her impossibly closer to the other woman and was lifted.
[Stepping out of the dark and into the glow
The whole world will see when we shine
We will shine (shine)
Shine (shine)]
Lifting the Queen El spun them, earning a surprised gasped followed by a full smile and a deep bellied laugh from the normally reserved woman. All she could see in this moment was the smiling and happy blonde in her arms. She wished this moment never ended…or at least…hopeful to have more with her.
[(And we dance and we dance in an endless flow)]
Lyra kept from making a sound, though as she watched she sent a prayer to any Deity that would listen. She prayed for all of them of course but also that the two who danced before her would have what they sought…and that whatever they felt blossomed and bloomed to last. With a final glance she turned and walked back to camp wanting to spend a bit of time with her own lover… Giggling when the fae dropped a curtain of magic to keep the pair from any more prying eyes.
[Stepping out of the dark and into the glow
(Stepping out of the dark and into the glow)
We will shine (We can shine)]
When she felt her feet touch the ground again Elsa felt El use the hand that held hers to twirl her while the mercenary circled her. Soon she was caught, back pressed to the other woman's front. Giggling a bit dizzied Elsa relished the slow movements they were now taking. She blinked when seeing that it was snowing lightly about them. Turning her head she came face to face with El.
"May I kiss you?…Elsa."
[(And we dance and we dance in an endless flow)
Stepping out of the dark and into the glow
(Stepping out of the dark and into the glow)
We will shine (We can shine)
(And we dance and we dance in an endless flow)]
Elsa didn't answer with words, instead leaning in kissing the other woman. This time she was a little more confident about it all thoughts about how this shouldn't be happening gone. Instead she allowed herself this bliss…she would deal with things as they come…for now though this moment was hers…theirs.
Love It? Hate it? Let me know what you think.