A/N: It's finally here, this chapter took me awhile to figure out. I hope you like it. There is reference to an event in the tv series "Tangled". As always I do not own any characters in Frozen or Tangled, they are property of their creators and Disney. Reviews are always welcome and appreciated. Hope you all are well and safe.
Chapter 6
It was a light knock on her office door that drew Elsa from the marriage law revision she was reviewing. "Come in." Elsa called out as she placed the papers down in front of her. It was early evening and Elsa hadn't expected any visitors, the hour before dinner at 6 was often the only time Elsa had time to herself.
Rapunzel's head emerged between the door and door jam. "Good evening, I hope I'm not intruding" she remarked as she slipped in closing the door gently behind her. Elsa gestured to the chair in front of her desk. "Not at all, I was just making some last minute changes to a revision of one of our marriage laws."
"If you don't mind my asking, what revision?" Rapunzel said demurely, which was odd coming from her cousin.
"Not at all," Elsa smiled reassuringly, Rapunzel had once admitted to Elsa that she felt behind the eight ball with her training to be queen. She'd spent most of her life alone in a tower, now she was free and the last thing she wanted was to be stuck in the castle all day learning statecraft. Her father had at first felt the same, but about a year or so ago he had started insisting Rapunzel join him in meetings; these meetings were a revelation on how much she needed to learn. "Our current law allows for marriage at the age of 14 with parental consent and 16 without consent. I've proposed we adjust those minimal age requirements to 16 with parental consent and 18 without. I truly believe that a child, but as you know more often young girls, are not emotionally ready for the commitment of marriage at such young ages, especially 14, a young woman is barely physically ready at that age."
Rapunzel nodded her head, her short brown locks swaying back and forth. "I conquer. The thought of a 14 year old being betrothed and married to a man potentially twice her age or more makes me sick." She paused a moment and bit her lip before continuing, "did your council give you trouble with the proposed changes?"
Elsa leaned back her lips going tight, "Some, especially the older members; luckily I had my Minister of Agriculture, Karoline and Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Frederick, on my side. They were able to talk to the other members after the meeting so by the time we revisited the conversation I had enough of a head way that I was able to gain nearly all of their approval. Technically I don't need it, but it's been extremely rare in our history for an Arendellian Monarch to institute an unilateral law."
Rapunzel leaned back, "Would you have passed the law if you hadn't been able to change their minds?"
Elsa mimicked her cousin's position, leaning back, her arms going across her chest, she thought for a moment, it was a difficult question to answer. "I think I wouldn't have, at least this time; though I would have revisited the topic again in a year or so."
"Why?" was the simple question.
"Because I truly believe the law needs to be changed, that it is for the betterment of all Arendellian's not just the young men and women it may affect. There are many laws that allow children to do things I don't approve of, and this revision will provide a precedent for all the revisions I make in the future."
Rapunzel nodded, "So that is why you would not have made the revision yourself, because you have more planned and if you alienated your council now, you may never get them to your side on any other law addressing age of consent or capability."
Elsa smiled at her cousin, Rapunzel was so smart and a quick learner, she had no doubts her cousin would make a wonderful queen one day. "Exactly, I'm not only a young female monarch, I am still in the infancy of my reign, the decisions I make now, the way I address issues that come up, the way I interact with my council, will color the rest of my reign and dictate what I can and can't do in the future."
The two sat a moment before Rapunzel took out a piece of paper, "speaking of the future, I just received this response from my father, it is addressed to you so I haven't opened it."
Elas tore the envelope open with her letter opener before pulling out the missive, her eyes scanned every word, her heart warming with each word. King Friedrick was truly a caring and empathetic ruler.
"Well?" Elsa rolled her eyes, Rapunzel and Anna truly were twins separated at birth, neither could wait at all.
"He's agreed to the Naval games, the Coronian Navy will be setting out in a week's time. He has also unofficially pledged his support to us."
"That's great news, I knew he would help. Anything else?"
Elsa smiled, " Oh just what I assume is the normal Uncle being over protective of his niece, he seemed it imperative to remind me that I don't have to marry if I don't want too; but if I decide too, he request his time honored duty to sit down with my fiance for a one on one discussion."
Rapunzel burst into laughter, "Oh no, you should have seen the state of Eugene after his one on one discussion with father, you may not want to take him up on that offer." This caused Elsa to join in on the laughter, she could only imagine Eugene's pale face as he dragged himself away from his conversation with the King of Coronia.
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Kristoff was convinced that he would never get used to his new life. Years spent alone with Sven and then the trolls did not prepare him for his current predicament. Last night his extremely pregnant wife came barreling into their bedchamber talking a mile a minute, all he could gather was that he and Eugene were supposed to take someone on a hunt. He had eventually calmed her enough so he could actually decipher her instructions. So now here he was in the Royal forest behind the castle and up the cliff taking two princes, a viscount, and a third prince in tow on a hunt; there was no way in his craziest dream did he ever see this as being his life.
Eugene meandered up next to him on his chestnut horse and smirked, "I know that look, it's the how the hell did I end up here look, I am quite familiar with making it myself." Kristoff held back a laugh, he thanked the Lord every time Eugene was around that his cousin-in-law was actually normal; that similar to Kristoff he grew up an orphan and a commoner, of course Eugene had found out he was a long last prince a few years back, but that hadn't changed the former thief. Kristoff doubted that his new brother-in-law to be would be anywhere as low key and down to life as Eugene, and Elsa's current quest to find a husband was proving Kristoff right.
"I feel like I have this look at least three times a day, it's so surreal, of course then I see Anna and…."
"It all goes away because you know that she is where you were always meant to belong."
Of course he would get it, "Yeah."
Then rode in companionable silence for a while, their hands on their rifles before Eugene spoke again but this time in a quieter voice; "So which one are we actually scouting out, again?"
Clearly Anna had spoken to Rapunzel who informed her husband. Kristoff looked ahead at the three noble's; they rode about ten meters in front of Kristoff and Eugene. They were a rather impressive sight on their powerful horses, back's straight, rifles in hand, hunting uniforms crisp and stiff. Another wave a disbelief cascaded over Kristoff before he responded, "Prince Pieter seems to be the only one to have at least caught Elsa's attention."
"Hmmm." Eugene responded while nodding his head, "he along with the Viscount, have been the most reserved from what I have observed."
"Yet Prince Pieter has at least initiated a conversation with Elsa, whereas the Viscount has stayed back. Elsa thinks he's completely disinterested in her"
"Why's he here then, and the Finnish Prince?"
Kristoff shrugged his shoulders, "Something about not wanting it to look too obvious that Elsa is curious about the Vakrettan. These two, I guess seem the most logical for Elsa to maybe be interested in, and in addition not encourage the wrong suitors, like the Swedish Prince."
Eugene rolled his eyes, "I hate politics." He observed the nobles and then smirked, "How about I take those two one way and you go on with the Royal Highness."
"Sounds good to me." Kristoff said as he kicked his horse into a canter, he would have preferred to bring Sven, but he wouldn't have been able to keep up with the other horses if they had to chase their target.
The three nobles looked over at Kristoff as he drew near, he could see in Prince Garreth's a slight disdain, while Viscount William as Elsa had said looked disinterested, the Prince from Vakretta; however, had a subtle warmth to his eyes, Kristoff saw no judgment in them, and Kristoff had gotten good at reading nobles and aristocrats by the way they looked at him. This was an encouraging sign.
"We've not seen much in a while, so we decided it was best to split up, flush out more game." Kristoff started.
"I'll take you Prince Garreth and you Viscount William that way about 50 yards while Prince Kristoff continues on this line with Prince Pieter." Eugene finished.
"Likely a good idea," said William flatly and turned his horse in the direction Eugene pointed.
"Brilliant, let's make it a contest, whomever bags the first deer, wins." Prince Garreth exclaimed enthusiastically as he spurred his horse on to catch up to the Viscount. Eugene couldn't resist apparently and saluted Kristoff before he followed behind the other two men.
Kristoff turned back to Prince Pieter, the Prince smiled at him, "Shall we?" Kristoff nodded and the two headed off. They didn't speak at first, Kristoff wasn't good at starting conversations with people he didn't know well, let alone a foriegn prince. Instead he enjoyed the nature around him. The Royal Forest was part of the Arenfjord family's personal estate rather than the "Crowns", personally Kristoff didn't understand the difference between what the Arenfjord family owned and what the "Crown" owned, and he honestly didn't care, unless something happened to Elsa before she had children none of it would be his or Anna's. The forest spread from the shore of the cliff behind the castle to the North up the cliff and across the plateau for about 50 square miles. It was an old forest filled pines, elm, and aspen trees. The forest was filled with various game from moose, elk, reindeer, fox, and lynx. Kristoff always felt at home in the woods and despite his reconnaissance mission jumped at a chance to spend the afternoon outdoors.
"This forest is incredible." came the Prince's voice to Kristoff's ears. "The colors of the changing leaves are so bright and vivid." Kristoff smiled, feeling pride fill his chest. "This is my favorite time of year." Kristoff commented, "Anna's is Spring, she loves how everything comes back to life after the long winter, but I enjoy the crisp air and colorful foliage of Autumn."
"I'd have to concur with you, it's beautiful. I also like how it is a demonstration of nature's resilience, the trees and animals all preparing for a long difficult winter. There is strength and resourcefulness in it."
Kristoff laughed to which Prince Pieter looked at him affront, "I'm sorry, it's just you sounded so much like Elsa, though she says those things about winter."
"So Her Majesty's favorite season is winter?" he questioned.
"It's a bit on the nose, but it is true, though ironically summer is her second favorite season." Kristoff admitted. Kristoff was surprised by the ease at which he was able to speak with this man.
"Somehow that seems right, I mean Olaf does love summer." Prince Pieter remarked as the two headed towards the Northeast. "Do you hunt here often?"
Kristoff shook his head, "No, I'm actually not really a hunter, well for sport I mean, I spent nearly all my life, up until I began courting Anna, hunting to survive, I never really saw the appeal in hunting for sport, seems like a waste."
A rustling to their right caused them both to look but it was merely a squirrel. "I can understand that, I grew up hunting with my father, but I never enjoyed it the same, though I do enjoy fishing."
"Ice fishing is my favorite." Kristoff offered to the man.
"I've never been, perhaps you could show me one day." Prince Pieter requested. Kristoff was about to say of course but held back, it wasn't his call if this man would be around long enough to go ice fishing with.
"Perhaps, if the opportunity presents itself." he said rather diplomatically, his new life was clearly rubbing off on him at least a little.
They rode quietly for a while longer before Prince Pieter broke the silence again. "May I admit something to you, in confidence?"
There was a pregnant pause, what could Kristoff say, he couldn't possibly keep such a promise of keeping confidence if what was revealed to him directly impacted Elsa.
"I understand your hesitance, I am not a naive man, I know that you and His Highness proposed this trip as a way to get to know me and they other suitors, but what I wish to speak about, I promise to you, that should her Majesty and I continue to become more acquainted I will reveal to her myself." The man's eyes and face showed nothing but honesty in his words.
"Alright, I am here to listen if you would like me too." The two slowed their horses to barely a walk. Kristoff could see the man swallow as he seemed to gather himself to speak. It was rare that Kristoff came across a man taller than he but the Prince had him by a few inches at least, it was odd for Kristoff to have to look up at another.
"My position in my family is rather different than the rest of the suitors here. Some are first sons who will inherit, many are younger sons of the monarch but they have been given land or earned estates in their military careers, this is not so for I. Vakretta is similar to Arendelle in inheritance laws, my two elder sisters sit before me in not only inheritance of our family estate and titles but in line for the Vakretta throne. My grandfather was betrothed to my grandmother before his father gave him a title or lands in Norway, so he never did, so I won't inherit either. I've never had the stomach for warfare and my father did not force me to join, so I have no military rank. As 8th in line to the Vakrettan throne and 5th in line for the Norwiegn throne I am a very minor Prince with no true inheritance coming his way."
Kristoff involuntarily shuttered, this story was sounding too much like another prince's story. He didn't know where this young royal was going but he didn't like it, he'd have to tell Elsa to cut this man off, there was no way they could have another Hans in their midst.
The prince was very unroyally rubbing the back of his head and looking around before continuing; "We live in modern times, it's the 19th century, and I knew I needed to make my own way in this world, though I do receive a stipend from my family, I wanted to make my own money, be able to support my family myself." He paused again and looked at Kristoff in his eyes, "When I was eighteen I told my father I wanted to go to University, to get a degree, he agreed after much debate, when I was twenty one I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I was working at a practice in London when I received a letter from my father informing me that my duty was to my family and that I was to come here and present myself as a suitor to Arendelle's young maiden queen."
Kristoff was shocked by what he was being told, he had not been expecting the man across from him, a prince who despite his claims, was in line for two European thrones, was working as a doctor in London. Had dedicated his entire adult life to learning a very difficult field of study.
"You don't want to be here." Kristoff said flatly.
"No, not at first, but I will admit, this place is warming up to me. The Queen is…" he paused seeming to decide how best to say his next words, "different, refreshingly so."
Kristoff held in a snort, that was one way to put Elsa, "I see. Though I don't know why you are telling me all of this."
Prince Pieter rubbed the back of his neck again, an nervous tick perhaps, "Honestly, I'm not sure why either, but I felt as though I had to tell someone, I don't want to hide who I am, to portray myself as someone I am not, but it is my duty to my family to do as they ask, and do my best. I will not hide my lack of assets nor my profession from the Queen, but it is not something I will willingly bring up to her unless we are moving...forward." He stopped his horse. "You are a man like myself, who dedicated his life to a profession, honed your craft, if anyone can understand the feeling of losing that because life took you in another path it would be you, so perhaps that is why I shared with you, because in this way we are kindred spirits."
Kristoff empathized with the man before him, it had been difficult to give up his ice harvesting when he asked Anna to marry him, he often missed being in the mountains so much it ached, but Anna was worth the sacrifice, the life he lived now may never have been something he had seen for himself or even wanted for himself, but it was his life now and he wouldn't give it up for anything. Prince Pieter; however, was forced, even if it ended up being in the short term, his passion, and Kristoff felt for him.
"Thank you for trusting me and I will allow you to tell the Queen your story yourself." Kristoff was sincere in his words, he would tell Elsa what he thought of this man, but he would not provide her with details, at least about this.
"Thank you." Prince Pieter kicked his horse forward and the two continued their hunt in a comfortable companionship.
