Here Comes The Sun
Chapter 9
By: The Duchess of Arendelle
AN: Sorry for the wait!
"Imagine me dressed gown and all, fetchingly draped against the wall. I'll be the picture of sophisticated grace!" Anna ranted excitedly to an overjoyed Rapunzel. It was two days after the queen's announcement of the upcoming ball, and the town was abuzz with excitement. They were thrilled their queen listened to them and everyone was flitting around, preparing themselves. Anna and Rapunzel were currently in the redhead's room. The royal dress maker was taking the measurements of Anna, who was currently standing on a pedestal. She refused to stand still.
"Your highness, you must stand still." The dressmaker, Claudette, a French foreigner who moved to Arendelle to design dresses and gowns for the previous queen, huffed in exasperation. She actually wasn't as old as Kai and Gerda, she had gotten started in design at a young age. Claudette was around 19 when she came to work for the Queen, Elsa's and Anna's mother. She was now thirty two and was like a second sister to the snow queen and the princess.
"I'm sorry Claudette, but I'm just so excited! Ouch." Anna gushed and moved again, causing Claudette to 'accidentally' jab her with a pin.
"Your sister was never this difficult when it came to making the dresses. Why, I just see her the other day. And let me tell you cheri her dress, it is going to be amazing." Claudette spoke in her heavily accent voice. Anna had always thought it beautiful, the way Claudette spoke. Rapunzel excused herself for a moment, her measurements had already been taken and if she wanted to convince Eugene to accompany her and her parents, who were making the trip to see their now fully grown niece's, to the ball she needed to start on her letter now so it would get there in time.
Anna waved goodbye to Rapunzel much to Claudette's displeasure. Then she thought about Claudette's previous statement.
"Wait, Elsa's already been to see you about her gown?" Anna asked curiously. Claudette mentally faced palmed. She had forgotten. The queen wanted her to keep the dress a secret. Especially from Anna. Claudette had to think quickly.
"Ah, oui. She wanted to go ahead and get it over with. She is a very busy woman you know. Being queen and all." Something in the way Claudette was now speaking gave Anna pause. She raised an eyebrow at their reflections in front of the full length mirror, knowing Claudette could see it. Claudette's eyes now flinted nervously around the room. She was a terrible liar and she knew if Anna started asking too many questions she would surly cave. She looked at the grand clock and gave a nervous chuckle. "Oh my! Is that the time? I better be going. Don't worry, I have enough of the measurements to make you a stunning gown. Well I'm off! Au Revior Madame!
Before Anna could say anything, Claudette had already collected her supplies and was out the door. "Strange." Anna said to herself and shrugged. She climbed off the pedestal and put her lovely green dress back on. She then left her room, on her way to find Elsa since she was now free. She had finally convinced Elsa to fire Lady Branson. She told Elsa she was an adult now, she didn't need etiquette lessons, and that this was as good as it was going to get with her. A few kisses and batting of her lashes and Lady Branson was out the door. She smiled at the accomplishment. She now had Elsa wrapped around her finger. Anna giggled at the thought. Before heading to Elsa's office she first stopped by the kitchens.
A few of the servants were muddling about. They all smiled at her and bowed as she walked by. They were much more relaxed around Princess Anna then with the queen. Anna just gave off a welcoming aura. She smiled right back at them as she made her way over to one of the head cooks.
"Hello Miss Margaret, how are you today?" Anna asked sweetly. The old woman turned around and smiled at Anna. Margaret was at least 80 and had been there for as long as she could remember. She had long grey hair tied up in a tight bun. Wrinkles were all over her face and she stood with a hunch and a wooden cane. Many times had Anna and Elsa offered the woman a nice retirement in the castle, where she could live there in peace without having to worry about work at her age. Margaret always smiled kindly at them and turned them down saying, "I love what I do, and I intend to do it until I leave this earth."
"Hello dearie. I'm doing fine, how about yourself?" Margaret spoke to Anna with so much love and kindness. Anna's smile widened.
"I'm wonderful Miss Margaret! So… I was kinda wondering if maybe I could…" Anna was cut off by a smiling Margaret who was holding out an already prepare box of chocolates.
"..If you could have some of these?" she finished with a laugh. Anna blushed slightly then nodded her head furiously. "Yes ma'am, if you don't mind."
Margaret laughed once more before handing over the box to Anna. Anna took the box with a grateful smile. "Thank you so much Miss Margaret!" Anna grabbed her in a not to tight hug.
Margaret just smiled and hugged back. "You make sure to share those with Elsa okay?" she said. Anna smiled and nodded. "Of course, that's why I wanted them in the first place." Anna responded.
"Alighty then dearie, I have to finish this soup up. You take care now, and tell Elsa she needs to visit poor Miss Margaret more often." She said with a joking tone and a twinkle in her eye. Anna laughed and started heading out the door, she threw an "I will!" over her shoulder as she left the kitchens.
Finally making it to Elsa's office she didn't bother knocking on the door before she barged in. Big mistake. The room was filled with old men, Elsa's advisors. They looked to be in a heated debate with a furious looking Elsa. As the door slammed shut behind Anna, all eyes turned to her. At that moment Anna bore a striking resemblance of a deer startled in the forest. She coughed nervously.
"Um, I'm sorry. I just wanted to speak to Els- Queen Elsa." She corrected herself. "B-but I can come back later…" she was already reaching blindly behind herself for the door's handle. Elsa stood from her seat and spoke.
"No need Anna, these gentlemen were just leaving." She glared at them, daring any of them to say otherwise. The men all looked around at each other nervously before bowing and leaving the room. Kai, followed behind them and he cast a sorrowful look at Elsa before shutting the door. Anna went over to the door and locked it. She then made her way over to an exhausted looking Elsa who had reclaimed her seat.
"What's wrong Elsa?" Anna asked as she took a seat in the queen's lap. Elsa sighed heavily, she looked as if she had just ran a mile.
"Nothing for you to concern yourself with Anna." She responded wearily. Anna was going to ask more questions but thought better of it. Elsa would tell her when she was ready. So she went on to her original plan.
"Guess what I brought for you?" she said with a teasing tone. That got a small smile from Elsa. "What?" Elsa asked. Anna pulled out the box of chocolates she was hiding and Elsa's eyes widened. "Is that-"
"Chocolate? Yes." Anna cut her off. Elsa's smile now widened as she reached for the box. Anna pulled the box out of her reach.
"Uh, uh, uh. You didn't say please." Anna continued in her teasing voice. Elsa rolled her eyes and reached for the sweet treats again only for Anna to pull them farther away. "Anna stop fooling around, give me the chocolate."
"No way. First you have to pay the chocolate tax." Anna giggled.
"And what exactly, is the chocolate tax?" Elsa asked amused but trying to hide it. Anna's smile grew.
"One kiss." She replied simply, closing her eyes and puckering her lips. Elsa took the opportunity to grab the box of candy. Anna frowned as Elsa giggled and popped a piece of caramel chocolate in her mouth.
"No fair…" Anna said sadly, pouting her once puckered lips. Elsa smiled and kissed the frown from Anna's face. "That's more like it." Anna said smiling as she too took a chocolate from the box. She then grabbed Elsa's face and pulled her into a more passionate kiss. Lips pressed together until Anna decided to depend the kiss. She slowly ran her tongue across the bottom of Elsa's lip. Elsa gasped at the contact and Anna took the opportunity to stick her tongue in Elsa's mouth. She tasted like chocolate and winter. They kissed long and hard. Tongues danced as hands roamed and explored. Anna was always so pleasantly surprised when she kissed Elsa. Elsa's lips were always cold but extremely soft. It was liked kissing fresh snow. As for Elsa, she always thought Anna's body and tongue felt like burning ember and tasted fresh, like spring. The two kissed until the need for air became too strong. They broke apart for just a second before Elsa pulled them back into their kiss. The chocolates were all but forgotten. This was the first time Elsa had been so forward. She broke the kiss and began kissing a trail from the side of Anna's mouth to her jaw and making her way down to Anna's long slim neck. She sucked on a spot just above her collar bone and Anna moaned loudly, moving her head back further to give Elsa better access. She had never seen Elsa act like this before. She briefly wondered if this new attitude had anything to do with the meeting she had interrupted but all coherent thought went out the door when she felt Elsa move down to her chest. Elsa had begun to undo the ties on Anna's dress. This snapped Anna out of her pleasure filled stupor. As much as she wanted to continue, and she really really wanted Elsa to continue, she knew something was wrong. Elsa's kisses had become desperate and her hands fumbled terribly.
"Elsa. ELSA!" Anna had to grab Elsa's hands to get her to stop. Elsa looked up, eyes wide and slightly teary. Why hadn't Anna noticed before?
"Elsa, sweetie, what's wrong?" Anna asked concerned. Elsa stared at her, not speaking at first. Then she blinked and seemed to realize what she was doing. She slowly drew her hands away from Anna's and covered her face. "I- I. I'm sorry Anna. I didn't- I. I'm sorry." Tears were falling from her eyes. Anna instantly began to wipe them away.
"Shusshhh. It's okay Elsa. What is it? Tell me, you know I'll always be here for you." Anna reassured but this just seemed to make the tears fall faster and harder from Elsa's eyes. "That's the problem Anna. You might not be able to be here for me always." Elsa got out. Anna was confused.
"Don't speak like that Elsa, of course I'll always be here for you! Why would you say something like that?" What was Elsa talking about? "Th- the meeting, the one that you interrupted. Do you want to know what it was about?" Elsa asked, starting to regain her composure.
"What? Tell me please." What could make Elsa this upset?
"The ball. They tricked me. Us. Anna this isn't just any ball. They are holding this ball to choose a husband for me."
AN: DUN. DUN. DUUNNNN. So what do you think about this chapter? Good? Bad? Starting on chapter 10 tonight, encourage me to finish it soon!