Here Comes The Sun
Chapter 10
By: The Duchess of Arendelle
Anna was silent. To say she was shocked would be the understatement of the century. As the seconds crept by she let what Elsa said sink in. She became angry. No, belligerent. Anna frowned hard and spoke.
"Wait, what? They did, what? Tricked us into holding a ball so they could choose a husband for you? This is unacceptable! Who do they think they are? Call off the ball now!" Anna raved flailing her arms around as she paced in front of Elsa's desk. Elsa sat in her large chair, messaging her temples. She had now regained full control over her emotions. She sighed as she looked at Anna.
"They know they are my advisers. They are trying to secure Arendelle's future. And calling off the ball is not that simple. Since Arendelle is so far from most kingdoms, half the countries we've sent the invitations to are already on their way to make it in time for the ball. I can't just tell them to go home." Elsa told a distressed and fuming Anna.
"And why not? It's simple. Get word to their ships and tell them to turn their asses back around." Anna said stubbornly with a sniff. Elsa shook her head.
"Anna, don't be ridiculous. Do you know how many enemies we would make? To snub a royal like that would mean certain trouble for us. Especially with trade." Elsa had stopped rubbing her temples and was now staring directly at Anna. Anna groaned in response to Elsa's answer.
"So that's it? We just roll over and let this happen? You go to the ball and get married to some big strong Prince Charming with the brightest smile, biggest army and deepest pockets?" Anna stopped pacing and walked right up to Elsa. She dropped to her knees right in front of the ice queen's chair. She grabbed Elsa around the waist and let out a mournful sob.
"I just got you, and now I'm going to lose you all over again." Anna cried into Elsa's waist. Elsa stroked Anna's hair and it was now her turn to comfort. She lifted Anna's chin to meet her gaze.
"Anna look at me. You are never loosing me. My heart belongs to you and only you. I swear it on my life and our parent's grave, I will find a way to keep us together. The love I have for you transcends beyond any sadness or fear I have ever felt. Your love alone gives me complete control over my powers. So I vow to you Anna. I vow to you my heart, body and soul, we will find a way. True love always wins." Anna sobs grew heavier for a different reason. She was touched and honored to be in the presence of let alone have the love of this magnificent woman before her. Elsa was now crying too and they rested their foreheads against each other as they gently wiped the tears from the other's face.
"We'll find a way together."
***FROZEN***
3 days later
Anna sat in the royal gardens under a weeping willow with her three best friends. The beautiful blue lake before them looked enticing, especially on this hot day. But they were not here for fun and games. Ever since Anna told two very angry and upset blondes, Kristoff and Rapunzel, of the decent they faced and the problem at hand, they had decided to hold super-secret resistance meetings. It sounded cool but so far it only consisted of them eating sandwiches by the lake and Anna thinking of different ways to hurt or poison any prince that dared to even speak to Elsa at the upcoming affair.
"Okay, I'm just spit balling here but… shark tanks." Anna said. The two blondes stared at her confused. Olaf just continued playing in the flowers.
"What?" Kristoff asked.
"Shark tanks. Any prince that tries to go up to Elsa will fall into a trap door. That trap door will open into another trap door. And that trap door will lead into a shark infested tank." Anna explained, angrily taking a bite out of her sandwich. Kristoff and Rapunzel looked at each other then at the redhead.
"Anna be serious. Where are you going to get shark tanks from anyway?" Kristoff asked her. Rapunzel shook her head in agreement. Anna scoffed.
"Excuse me sir, but I am the Princess of Arendelle. If I want a damn shark tank I could get a damn shark tank." She exclaimed around a mouthful of sandwich.
"Look you guys, we have to get real. Anna we need a serious plan that can get serious results. The ball is in less than two weeks." Rapunzel said as she got off the ground, brushing off her pretty pink dress.
"Listen up men!" Rapunzel said in a mock military voice. "If we want to save you're and Elsa's relationship we need to put into play operation… umm… ELSANNA! Operation ELSANNA must be played out and executed with perfect proficiency." Rapunzel told them, pacing back and forth in front of the three grounded figures. Olaf had finally joined them and was now listening gleefully.
"Oh boy! I can't wait for operation ELSANNA! What is operation ELSANNA?" He asked happily.
"That, I do not know yet. But the title is really good right?" Anna and Olaf readily agreed, nodding their heads excitedly. Kristoff looked at the three and shook his head. This isn't going to work. 'Somebody's gotta tell them.' He thought to his self.
Meanwhile
At that moment Elsa sat in her study thinking the same thing as her sister. Elsa needed a plan. She promised Anna and she'd be damned if she broke that promise. She sighed as she ran through another scenario in her head only for her to immediately disregard it.
A knock sounded at the door. She wondered who it could be. Her study was different from her office. It was much smaller and much more intimate. It was located in an isolated crevice by the castle's library.
"Come in." she said, command in her voice.
Kai poked his head through the door. "May I come in your majesty?"
"Obviously. Isn't that what I just said?" Ouch. Elsa was being colder than one of her ice blasts to the heart. She was very upset with the man for deceiving her. Him of all people. She had trusted Kai and his betrayal hurt her more than she would let on. Kai flinched at the coldness and lack of emotion in his queen's voice.
"Well your majesty I wanted to speak with you… about the ball. Listen Elsa-" Elsa cut him off with a stern glare.
"That's Queen Elsa." She hated doing that but Kai had really messed up. Kai bowed his head.
"Yes, of course. Please forgive my insolence my queen." He then looked back up at her, he could tell she was angry with him.
"Well, my queen, as I was saying, I wanted to speak to you about the ball…" Once again Elsa cut him off.
"What's there to say Kai? You tricked me into agreeing to a ball that is forcing me into a marriage to whomever the council sees fit. You betrayed me Kai, and you've hurt me. How could you? And how dare you venture to speak to me about it?" Elsa was getting angrier by the second. Kai felt the room get considerably colder. Elsa, seeing his shivering form and their breath puff out in the cold room, calmed herself.
"That's just it your majesty! I was tricked as well! One of the council members, Sir Edmond, told me the town's people were begging for another ball. He said he was flooded with letters from nobles asking when the queen was going to host another one. He told me nothing of this stipulation. I swear it your majesty. I would have come to you sooner, but I wanted to give you a few days to cool off. You have to believe me you majesty." Kai pleaded. It made since. Deep down, Elsa knew Kai would never do anything as sneaky and underhanded as that. And Elsa had never trust that Sir Edmond. He was new and it always felt like he was watching her. Lurking around the castle. Always up to something. Kai was now looking at the floor again, head held low. Elsa rose from her seat and walked over to him.
"I believe you Kai. I'm sorry, I should have known you would never have done something so sneaky and underhanded." She place her hand on his shoulder and gave a small smile. He looked back up and into his queen's face and smiled back.
"Thank you your majesty. I don't know what the purpose of this whole deception is about, but I don't think it has anything to do with securing Arendelle's future." Elsa nodded along to what Kai was saying.
"I think you're right. I mean, it did seem rather out of the blue. And why trick me? Why not ask me about it first?"
"I have reason to believe Sir Edmond may have malicious intent. But I have no proof. I will do some snooping into his past. In the mean time we must carry on with the preparations for the ball." Kai nodded once to himself then bowed to the queen. He turned on his heels to leave the room when he heard Elsa's voice call his name.
"Kai, wait." Elsa said softly.
"What is it my queen?" Elsa's eyes were slightly watered.
"I do not wish to be married. To any man. Ever." A tear escaped her eye and Kai walked back over to gently wipe it away.
"I know my queen." He smiled softy at her and gave Elsa a knowing look. Elsa gasped and her eyes widened as she blushed. He knew about her and Anna.
"How longed have you known?" she asked in a shaky voice. Kai chuckled heartily.
"Gerda and I have known long enough." He said with a wink. Elsa's bush deepened. Great Gerda knows too? Does the entire castle know? As if reading her thoughts Kai smiled at her and reassured. "Don't worry, no one else knows you like Gerda and I do. And you know your secrets are safe with us." And with that said he gave the queen a long, warm hug, which she gratefully returned, and bowed once more before excusing himself.
Elsa went back to her seat feeling strangely lighter. Yes the ball was still happening. Yes, she might have to get married to a total stranger. And yes her sister/girlfriend? was very upset with the situation, upset enough to plot murders apparently. But just knowing that she still had someone outside of Anna and her friends that she could trust and depend on, made her happy. She was just beginning to relax when her study's door busted open and a panting Anna ran in and flopped into her lap. Elsa playfully rolled her eyes and waited for Anna to catch her breath.
"Okay hear me out. Shark tanks!"
AN: Okay so, the ball is coming up after the next chapter or maybe two, depending on how much I write per chapter. Some real drama and action coming up soon. But probably more fluff first. Hope you enjoyed, review and throw some ideas in the story pot if you like. I like the idea tibetan mastiff left saying Anna should dress up like a man to trick the trickster. I'll definitely think about it. And I want to say thank you to all you guys that are following, favoriting, and reviewing this story! Thanks!