Chapter 5. Introductions
Elsa
Elsa met Jack in their usual spot on the river bank around mid-afternoon. Jack smiled when he spotted her, and she blushed a little as she walked over to him.
"We have to go to the village. I have a sleigh there we can take instead of walking." Elsa said.
"Sounds good" Jack said.
They made their way to the village and Honeymaren greeted them.
"Jack, this is my friend Honeymaren. Honeymaren, this is Jack," Elsa introduced.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Honeymaren. Elsa has told me a lot about you!" Jack said.
"Elsa has told me many things about you as well Prince Jack," Honeymaren said with a small bow.
"Just call me Jack," Jack said.
"Ok, Jack. We have one of our reindeer ready to take you back to the castle. Have fun" Honeymaren said.
"We will. Thank you" Elsa replied.
She led Jack to the edge of the forest where four large rocks were set in an arc. The sleigh was waiting and the reindeer was already harnessed to it.
"Is it ok to bring a reindeer out of the woods?" Jack asked as they climbed in. He set his staff in the back before sitting down.
"Clover likes going to Arendelle. My sister's husband has a reindeer who I think is more like a brother than a pet" Elsa explained with a laugh.
"Oh, ok" Jack said, though Elsa could hear the slight confusion in his voice.
"Ok Clover, let's go to Arendelle" Elsa said.
Clover began walking the well-worn road to Arendelle and Elsa watched as Jack took in the view.
"It's so beautiful!" Jack commented.
"I know. Just wait till you see Arendelle, it's changed a lot since you last came" Elsa smiled.
"Why are you living in the forest? Why not stay at the castle with your family?" Jack asked after a moment of silence.
"The forest has become part of my family. I'm not sure exactly how to explain it yet" Elsa replied. She hoped Jack wouldn't press further. She wasn't ready to tell him about her powers.
"What did your parents say about you coming?" Elsa asked trying to redirect the conversation.
"They said it was fine as long as I was back by the beginning of next week." Jack explained.
"You will," Elsa assured him.
"They were teasing me a little because I was going with you, especially Aster" Jack said, laughing a little but also serious. The last time his parents found out about a girl he was hanging out with, they talked about it with him nonstop. To the point where Jack had to stay away from the castle for a week. He really hoped they wouldn't do that when he got back.
Elsa laughed.
"Anna has been wanting me to find someone for years now. I'm apologizing in advance for her behaviour when you come." Elsa told him.
It was nearing sundown when Clover's pace quickened noticeably.
"She's excited!" Elsa explained when Jack gave her a surprised look.
It didn't take much longer for them to get to the edge of the outer city and the castle was coming into view.
"WOW!" Jack gasped.
The city was bustling with people heading home for the evening. The street lights cast golden light onto the cobblestone roads. Banners and flags flapped in the gentle breeze which carried the scent of ocean water, flowers, and pine. Elsa watched out of the corner of her eye as Jack looked around the city in amazement.
Jack
The city inside the castle walls was even more breathtaking. People were waving and smiling to Elsa and each other. Jack spotted many whispering to one another and gesturing to him. He had a pretty good idea of what they were whispering about.
Two large double doors opened and Clover pulled the sleigh into the courtyard. The castle was beautiful. Topped with a teal-coloured roof the, beige walls, dark wood doors and large windows made the castle feel very warm and welcoming as opposed to the cold, stone-grey walls of North Haven's castle.
"Elsa!" A light brown-haired woman called.
"Anna!" Elsa called back. She jumped out of the sleigh and ran to give the woman a hug.
Jack climbed out of the sleigh and walked over.
"Anna, I would like you to meet Prince Jack of North Haven. Jack, my sister Queen Anna of Arendelle," Elsa introduced. Jack bowed and Anna curtsied.
"Lovely to meet you Prince Jack. Call me Anna," Anna smiled.
"It's lovely to meet you too Queen Anna, sorry, Anna. Call me Jack," Jack replied, smiling back.
"We met at the Fall festival 14 years ago," Elsa told Anna.
"Cool!" Anna said.
"I invited Jack to join us tonight for Charades" Elsa said.
"Wonderful! It's always nice to have someone join us, and maybe even melt my sister's frozen heart" Anna giggled.
"Anna!" Elsa scolded, turning bright red.
"Come on, Kristoff's waiting," Anna said, ignoring her sister and turning towards the castle.
Anna led them inside and to a comfortable sitting room with a cozy fire at one end, and a light brown, patterned couch. A dark purple carpet covered a section of the floor and the fire cast a warm glow into the lantern lit room. Small platters of food sat on a long, low table with a stack of plates at one end. A tall, muscular man was sitting on one of the couches feeding a reindeer. Jack had been surprised when Elsa had let Clover follow them into the castle. Elsa had explained that Clover and Sven, the other reindeer, were allowed in because they were almost like pets to Anna and her husband.
"Kristoff! Come meet Elsa's new boyfriend!" Anna called.
Jack was sure he blushed and he saw that Elsa had turned bright red.
"Anna! We are not dating! He is a friend!" Elsa scolded her sister again.
"Whatever you say sis!" Anna teased.
"I'm going to get you for that!" Elsa growled though her tone was playful. Jack watched as she reached for one of the pillows on the couches.
"Ok! Before you kill each other, let's at least play a round of Charades. Nice to meet you Prince Jack, I'm Kristoff, Anna's husband, and that's Sven. I'm guessing Elsa explained the reindeer." the man said gesturing to the reindeer. He offered his hand to Jack.
He had a strong grip and a kind smile. His blond hair was messy even though it looked like someone had tried to comb it, and his blue eyes were welcoming.
"Nice to meet you your majesty and yes, Elsa explained the reindeer." Jack said accepting the handshake.
"How about we don't use titles tonight. Keep it relaxed" Anna suggested.
"Sure" Jack said. Anna and Kristoff went over to the table and took a plate.
"If you are hungry you can grab a plate. We usually do a very informal dinner during Charades. Help yourself to whatever you want and if there is something you want that isn't there, just ask," Elsa said.
"Thank you," Jack said.
After everyone had taken the food they wanted, they sat down and Anna set a basket on the floor.
Jack had started on some rolled flatbread with cheese when Anna began her turn.
Anna started by taking a paper from the basket Sven was holding. She began acting, flapping her arms like wings.
"Goose!" Elsa laughed.
"I was thinking swan" Kristoff said.
"Kristoff is correct. I'm a graceful swan not a goose" Anna said sticking her tongue out at her sister. Jack chuckled at the obvious bond between the sisters.
"Jack's turn!" Kristoff said.
"Uh, ok" Jack said. He set his staff to the side and picked a piece of paper from the basket.
Jack thought for a moment before grabbing his staff again. Standing like he was watching something Jack planted his staff against the ground. Jack had had many years of practice to learn how to hide his powers so planting his staff against the floor didn't release any ice.
"Sheperd!" Anna guessed.
"Correct" Jack said.
"That was too easy!" Kristoff said.
"Well I don't know what I'm going to get when I take a paper!" Jack laughed.
"Elsa's turn!" Anna said.
Jack watched as Elsa took a paper from the basket. She read the paper and giggled.
"Elsa?" Anna asked.
"Sorry, I just remembered something" Elsa said.
Elsa tossed the paper on the floor with the other ones and started to act. She clawed her hands and growled, then acted angry.
"Bear?" Jack guessed.
"Lion?" Kristoff guessed when it looked like Elsa was trying to pounce on something.
She kicked her leg, still looking angry, and waver her hand like she was using a sword.
"Hans?" Anna guessed with a laugh.
Jack wasn't sure who that was but it seemed to be along the right line because Elsa indicated that the guess was close.
"Villain?" Jack guessed, not sure what else worked.
"Yes! That was hard! Kristoff's turn," Elsa said.
"Alright." Kristoff said setting a small pastry back down on his plate.
"I think we need to reassign who writes these!" Kristoff said with a laugh after he read his paper.
"I'm guessing that means it's not a good one." Jack said.
Kristoff tossed the paper down. He ran his hands through his hair and then through the air as if he was brushing long hair. He twirled and went back to brushing his pretend hair.
"Elsa!" Anna guessed with a laugh.
"Yep!" Kristoff said.
Anna fell back on the couch, laughing hard.
Elsa tried to hide a smile with a frown but Jack saw past it.
"That was probably one of the worst representations of me ever!" Elsa playfully scoffed.
"I think your twirl needs some work!" Jack laughed.
"I'm sure a perfect Prince like you could do better!" Kristoff playfully teased.
"Actually, I can," Jack said.
He stood up and did a graceful twirl.
"Fine, you are the more elegant one!" Kristoff laughed.
"I prefer the ice harvester!" Anna said.
"Well fine. I can take my elegant twirls somewhere else!" Jack laughed.
"Now, now we don't want to scare the guest away," Elsa scolded with a playful tone.
As everyone started to get tired from the long day, Anna and Elsa decided it was time to retire to their rooms for the night. Elsa had already told Anna that Jack was going to stay the night as it was a little far to be riding back to North Haven at this hour.
"The guest room is ready for you. Elsa can show you to it" Anna said to Jack.
Elsa stood up and Jack followed suit, grabbing his staff and resting it at his side.
"Thank you for letting me stay" Jack said.
"No worries" Kristoff smiled.
They bid each other goodnight and made their way to their rooms.
Elsa led Jack to one of the guest rooms and let him know where her room was if he needed anything. Jack thanked her again before saying good night. As he lay on his bed, he thought about Anna's comment when she had introduced him to Kristoff, and blushed. True, he found Elsa pretty but they were just friends, that didn't mean anything yet... Did it?