Disclaimer! I do not own Frozen/Disney.
Hi! It's been a while. I apologize for the late update. I was and still re-organizing my notes and my mind got the other novels I was reading and this story mixed up, so yeah back to the notes. I am glad that you guys like the previous chapters, things are getting quite intense as we go on but I'll make sure to add a dash of fluff here and there.
Thank you to those who still follow this story! I am forever grateful!
Enjoy!
North-Eastern Territory.
The royal camp was set up after in a forest surrounded by large withering trees, with sparse reddish leaves. Meters away from the forest there was a stream from the direction of the mountains. There wasn't any village nor a manor house in sight for them to rest at night. For days the royal retinue camped in the wilderness since this part of Arendelle was secluded and treacherous to any village to flourish, because many wild animals lived in the area.
The sleeping arrangement remained the same for both the Queen and the Duchess however the former was always out at night and come back when the latter fell asleep. It was a grueling journey for the everyone, especially to the nobles who we're accustomed to soft and fluffy bed not narrow cots and bedrolls on the ground.
Elsa was standing on an elevated ground, quite enjoying watching some delicate noblemen who had no military experience and had to adapt outside the comforts of their home. Most of Elsa's life was spent outside the castle walls, laying on a ground with nothing but bedroll whenever she was away to fulfill her duties as one of the loyal commanders ordered by her uncle. Sure she had a royal status but she didn't want to be treated differently by her peers. A once Captain turned into General, and now Queen, didn't change her way of treating her comrades-in-arms. They were one unit, if there's difficulty in the ranks then she would carry that difficulty in equal measure.
Her unwavering trust to her elite knights was firm. She trust them to protect her and to protect the person she had grown to love.
"Your Majesty." Elsa turned to her side and smiled at Marshall.
"Marshall, the men settled in nicely?"
"Nicely as they could be." he chuckled.
The sunset gave highlight to the trees' reddish leaves brought by the season. They were beautiful.
"Winter is upon us." Marshall gave her a worrying look.
"It is. I'll be fine. I haven't had that in recent years, well not intense as before anyway. I think I can handle this one too."
"Are you sure?"
Elsa's eyes were on Anna. "Yes I am sure, however precautions should be made just in case now that I'm here."
"Of course. I'll spread to word to those who knew and . . ." Marshall faltered.
"What is it?"
"I think it would be wise to make preparations in Vinter Castle instead of Arendelle Castle." Marshall said Elsa immediately realized what Marshall meant. Choosing Vinter Castle was much better because she could trust that no one would say a word about what might happen unlike in Arendelle castle where they could use this very thing to question her capabilities to rule.
"Let's go with that." Elsa affirmed.
"By the way. I received this from the castle." Marshall took something on his pocket and showed her a lilac envelope with an elegant script of her name on it.
"Let's see what's her request this time." Elsa chuckled and opened the letter. "Oh she wrote it in Arendellian."
As she read the letter, smile was plastered on her lips.
My Dearest Heart,
I'll aboard my ship in a few days, I am looking forward on traveling to your homeland for the first time since we met. I have a lot of things to tell you but I rather tell them in person, and I wouldn't want to ran out of stories to tell once I arrive there. However I'll tell you this bit, I was supposed to travel with Princess Elena and her retinue but to due to her busy schedule, I went ahead and left. The Princess is kind and compassionate but ruthless to those betrays her. I've never seen anyone as kind and ruthless as she, well apart from you of course. And also one of her confidants, the Countess of Argo, was very kind to me. She advice me on a lot of thing regarding Arendelle, she made sure to pack thick winter coat and cloak for me. It made me remember how Her Majesty fussed over me when I spent my first winter in Corona and how I got sick because I refused to wear it. I still remember when you took care of me and nursed be back to health that year. The fur lined coat you gave to me is still intact, since I made sure to keep my siblings and cousins away from it.
Anyway, I am at sea the moment you read this. I hope that the winds will blow strong to make the journey faster so we can see each other again after a long time.
Your Flower,
-I
P.S. Can I have a room with the view of the garden?
"Inform our cousin to arrange one of the largest room with the view of the garden." Elsa ordered with a soft smile as she gingerly touched the pressed pink camellia flower inside the envelope.
"Of course, Princesa's request shall be done flawlessly. Also if I didn't know her fascination with garden I might think she's crazy since gardens are known to be buried in snow during winter." Marshall chuckled.
"If that's the case then make sure the gardeners choose to plant shrubs that could survive in the cold. Winter roses perhaps? And have the topiaries groomed." Elsa said while folding the letter and put it in the inner pocket of her coat.
"It shall be done. I wouldn't hear the end of it if she witness a messy garden." Both Marshall and Elsa laughed at his remark since it happened years ago when the said princess talked their ears out when they ruined a part of the Queen's garden because of their recklessness, at the manor by the sea. The very garden she had spent weeks to decorate with the permission of Queen Arianna.
Elsa regarded him with warmth in her eyes. "Thank you for reminding me how carefree we were back then despite our circumstances." she reached out and ruffled his neatly combed hair.
"Hey! Not the hair again!" Marshall complained but did nothing to avoid Elsa's hand.
Elsa chuckled. "You can always fix it." she patted Marshall's shoulder. "Thank you."
"For what?" Marshall asked.
"Everything you've done for me." Elsa looked at the scene below her, looking straight at Anna's form. "And for protecting the ones who are dear to me. Apart from myself, you're the person I trust the most because I know you won't fail me." she smiled at the stone faced Marshall, who gave a slight smile.
"Thank you. It's an honor to be trusted by you, Your Majesty." he bowed solemnly while both of his fist tightned, digging his nails on his palms. "I'll serve you until my last breath."
"I shall not forget it." Elsa pondered for a moment and said something that shocked Marshall. "I am considering making you a Count or a Marquis, I can't decided between the two."
Marshall's eyes widened. "Y-Your Majesty! That's too much for me!"
"That's hardly enough for you if you consider all the things you've done for me."
"But Your Majesty I-"
"Elsa! I mean Your Majesty." Anna approached them with a smile however her smile faltered when she saw Marshall's cold stare.
"I shall take my leave." Marshall bowed, however he just gave a slight nod to Anna.
Elsa watched him go before turning her attention to Anna, no wanting to remark Marshall's attitude towards her Duchess.
"What brought you here?" Elsa asked.
"Nothing. I just want to be by your side." Anna smiled once again, her words made Elsa's face tinted with pink.
"Right." Elsa felt so warm inside after hearing those words. "We'll reach the side of the North Mountain in days ahead and it will be cold. Have you brought any winter clothes with you?"
"I believe Wendy packed some for us. She couldn't stop fussing about how cold it would be." Anna chuckled.
"Arendelle winter is harsh." Elsa murmured.
Elsa's eyes then caught Lady Giselle's form walking towards a person, Captain Hofferson. She watched them exchange words and Lady Giselle had passed a folded coat towards him. The Lady of Andalasia shyly tucked her hair behind her ear while Captain Hofferson gave her a charming smile. Elsa's lips curled upwards.
"Would you like to walk around for a bit?" Elsa asked then presented her arm.
"That would be lovely." Anna grinned and happily wrapped her arm around Elsa's and proceeded to walked towards the direction of the stream.
"What's your favorite flower?" Elsa asked abruptly.
"What? Ah sunflowers."
"Sunflowers. . . loyalty and adoration." Elsa said and looked at Anna with warmth in her eyes. "It suits you."
"You're so knowledgable with flowers and their meaning." Anna praised. "Is that a skill needed for a Queen?" she teased.
Elsa chuckled. "It's a skill a Queen needs for wooing her beloved." she leaned in and kissed Anna's cheek. The Duchess' cheeks went red, making Elsa laughed.
"I wanted to fluster you but it backfired." Anna huffed.
"Clearly. Well what can I say, I am the best in this field." Elsa whispered in Anna's ear then placing a gentle kiss on the shell of her ear before winking.
Anna's face couldn't get any redder. Elsa laughed once more.
"Stop laughing at me!" Anna protested and smacked Elsa's arm.
"Alright, alright." Elsa said with an amuse smile.
"You're so mean." Anna glared at her.
"Oh dear, what can I do to appease Her Grace?"
"Teach me." Anna said in embarrassment.
"Teach you what, Your Grace?"
"Flowers and their meaning."
Elsa smiled and nodded. "If that's what you wish. I'll have Olaf give you my book of flowers."
"Thank you." Anna said. "Oh what's your favorite flower?"
"Purple heather." Elsa answered with a faint smile on her face.
Arendelle
Queen Arianna lost count how many days her husband continued to giver her cold shoulders and it's getting to her nerves. Her daughter tried to reconcile them but the King's condition of throwing out her ward was out of the question, she wouldn't do it, she couldn't abandon her especially when her life was in danger.
The Queen was deep in thought as she consider the contents of the letter she received.
Dearest Arianne,
First I need to apologize for not replying sooner. I was pre-occupied with my granddaughter's seventh birthday preparation. The little darling insisted I should prepare it. And I've been well, thank you, I hope you're well. It's been a while since we last exchanged correspondence, my husband and I would like to offer our congratulations after your family's success on conquering Arendelle. We heard a great deal about your niece, whom they call an illegitimate heiress, which confused me.
You once told me that she's your late sister-in-law and an Arendellian Duke's child of royal descent, but there are stories of how she usurped the throne by force and now it is circulating within different kingdoms. Also the story of the force marriage of the previous king's granddaughter. The opinions of our neighbors was split into two. One faction was satisfied with the union since your niece has better claim than anyone and there are others who had seen the union abominable and unnatural.
Anyway, about your inquiry of the woman named Marina. After I made an inquiry from our old household servants who were working with her at that time , I was told she was a fallen noble and came here as a servant in our castle more than two decades ago. As I write this I just remembered she was the servant who begged me to keep her in service despite her condition, she was pregnant. I took pity on her kept her in service until she had to rest because of her condition, and since she hadn't had anywhere to go, I let her stay in the castle. Her husband left her and she didn't have any means to survive, let alone raise a child. But then after woke up from a fever after giving birth to my youngest, I hadn't seen her since.
Queen Arianna suddenly remember the time when she came to her friend's castle in haste. She saw how sickly her friend was and feared that she might die. And she also clearly remember going to the nursery and checked on the little princess. The little one has red hair as her mother and blue eyes like her father, a perfect combination of the couple. As she watched the little babe while her nanny dress her up, she noticed a birthmark on her shoulder and remarked on it, gaining a smile from the nanny.
I was told you came to visit but went back home in haste because your child was ill. We weren't able to speak until after the funeral of my little one. I wish I didn't suffer a fever so I could spend those days having my youngest in my arms until she's gone forever, but alas she was already gone the day I woke up.
Some of the words were smudged, and Queen Arianna knew why.
Writing this letter had brought me great melancholy and regret. I wanted to make you a godmother for my little one since most of my children's godparents were from my husband's side of the family. I wished she lived long enough to get to know you and your daughter.
I wish you well and your entire family, I hope we see each other again soon.
Your Dearest Friend,
-Athena
Athena's child died within days after Queen Arianna went back home and at the same time the servant Marina gave birth and disappeared before her dearest friend woke up. Queen Arianna was there at the funeral, the child was buried so her suspicion was entirely impossible. But there's still something bothering her.
"She looks so much like Athena." Queen Arianna mumbled.
A sudden opening of the door startled her.
"Your Majesty! Forgive my sudden intrusion." the man dressed in Coronan livery knelt in front of her.
"What is it?"
"Your Majesty's ward, Lady Ariel is in danger!"
"What?!" Queen Arianna rose from her seat and asked. "What do you mean?!"
"His Majesty had her dragged into the dungeons."
"Oh gods." she gasped and ran out of the room.
Moments ago.
King Frederic's mood was foul since morning after a particular visit from one of his men. He wanted to trash everything in his sight but he wasn't in his territory to do as he pleased. His rage was so intense that the servant avoided him as if he was some raging inferno as he walked down the halls. The moment he reached his destination, he abandoned all of his kingly manners and entered the double door without knocking.
"Father!" a startled screamed reached his ears. Rapunzel was rummaging through her things as if looking for something. "What's the matter?" Rapunzel asked.
King Frederic observed his daughter's room, parchment of letters were all over the place. "Looking for these?" he scoffed tossed a stack of letters in front of her.
Rapunzel's heart started to beat like crazy, as she stared at the exact letters she as looking for.
"How could you betray me like this?" King Frederic's tone was cold, steady and dangerous. "How could my own family consorting with an Eldr. The very family who killed my sister." her father didn't shout but it was better if he did, because his calm demeanor was much worse than him lashing out.
Rapunzel couldn't articulate and fear had nailed her on the spot she was standing on.
"My own daughter hid this from me, is this how you repay your father?"
"I-I can e-explain father-"
"Ha! Explain? Explain why you hid that woman's true identity?" King Frederic held the grip of his sword. "Explain why my own child and wife hid it from me?" he drew the sword from it sheath.
Rapunzel's fear spiked up when her father was going on his way out.
"Father!" Rapunzel ran after him and hugged him from behind, pulling him back to the room. "VLADIMIR! HELP ME!" she ordered but that put her personal guard in a difficult position. Vladimir received a stern gaze from the King, that made him back down and bow his head in submission.
"What is happening?!" a man's familiar voice reached her ears.
Rapunzel looked up to see Eugene in front of them. She panicked.
"You. Ha! I'll execute you here too. You are a traitor." her father raised his sword and Eugene pulled out his sword to block it but Rapunzel was quick on her feet and drew two daggers from her sleeves and blocked her father's attack.
"What are you doing?!" King Frederic shouted and quickly put away his sword. "Why are you defending him?!" he demanded.
Rapunzel defiantly looked at her father. "I am not. I am merely doing what my cousin asked me to do. Captain Ryder was one of the reasons why we managed to win the siege of the north, I was asked by my cousin to look after them before leaving this kingdom in my hands." she looked at both men before turning to her father once more. "I know I was in the wrong to hide that woman's identity but what good it would cause if you knew who she truly was? Killing her would jeopardized my cousin's plans for the Eldr bastards. You know very well she wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible. I also told you what's currently happening here at the moment."
Series of muffled heavy footsteps could be heard from either side of the hallway.
"Please Father, stop." Rapunzel lowered her weapons.
"Your Majesty! Your Highness." General Maximus bowed and with him were his men. "You summoned me, Your Majesty?"
"Yes and take my wife's ward in prison." King Frederic said before turning to Eugene with a glare. "And this traitor."
"Father! You cannot do this!" Rapunzel protested.
"Do it!"
Few guards went to seized the Queen's ward while the others stayed to seized Eugene as well.
"Father please! Release him! We need him!" Rapunzel pleaded. "Please we cannot have any more problems here."
King Frederic gritted his teeth in anger.
"Release him."
The guards obeyed and released Eugene.
"Tell your mother I want to talk to her." King Frederic left the scene without waiting for her reply.
"No need." Queen Arianna entered the scene with a defiant look in her eyes.
"Follow me." King Frederic said to his wife, leaving the others.
Vladimir then knelt in front of Rapunzel asking for forgiveness, since he wasn't able to do her bidding.
Rapunzel gritted her teeth and swore to end the person who dared to steal from her.
Later that night in North-Eastern Forest.
Anna just finished her dinner alone in their tent, Elsa called away by Marshall and hadn't came back since, she looked at the Elsa's coat draped on the chair across her and the bowl full of cold stew. She sighed. She had hoped she could spend more time with Elsa since the latter was staying up all night outside and rise up in the morning before she could. She doesn't know what was keeping Elsa out every night since they departed from her family estate.
Another sigh escaped her lips before she rose from her seat and took Elsa's coat to fold it. She walked towards the writing desk to place it there when a sudden flutter sound reach her ears. She turned but saw nothing until she noticed a lilac evenlope on the carpeted forest floor, she picked it up only for the letter and a pressed pink flower slipped out of the envelope.
"A letter?" Anna mumbled and picked up the letter and saw the first few words written without meaning to.
"My dearest heart. . ." Anna mumbled with a frown on her face. She doesn't know why she felt so suffocated with those three words.
"Your Grace."
Anna quickly turned and put the letter behind her.
"Olaf! You startled me." Anna laughed away her nervousness and tried to calm her thundering heart.
"Apologies." Olaf sheepishly smiled at her. "I was told you wanted to learn about flowers, good thing I bought it with me." Olaf presented regular size but thick book. "Here you go."
"Thank you." Anna held out her free hand to take the book.
"Just a word of caution. Be careful with that."
"Oh?"
"That's one of Elsa's treasured possessions." Olaf gestured to the slightly worn book. "She almost beat the life out of me when I dropped it on the dirt." he laughed.
"Don't worry I'll be careful."
"I'm sure you would, and I am also sure Elsa won't do anything to you if you accidentally damage it." Olaf winked at her.
"That's reassuring." Anna chuckled.
"Of course, because she loves you." Olaf grinned at her.
Anna blushed at those words. Alleviating the suffocating feeling she felt earlier.
"Oh she also wanted to say that she won't be able to come back here early, some things came up so, have a good night." Olaf bowed and left without hearing her response.
Anna looked at the black leather cover of the book. It has a six pointed orchid design on its center. She cracked the book open at a random page and she saw a beautifully drawn flower and was painted with watercolors and below it were its name, uses and meaning.
"Your Grace?" Wendy's voice from the outside was heard.
"Yes?"
"I had prepared your nightdress."
"One moment." Anna closed the book then proceeded to put the letter back where it should be as if it was undisturbed in the first place. "Come in."
Wendy had helped her get ready for bed and then she asked something to be brought in.
"Wendy, can you bring me the box where I put the flowers I received before?"
"Of course, Your Grace."
Few moments later Wendy brought in the box. After thanking her, Anna dismissed Wendy for the night. Anna opened the box and took out the flowers from it before placing them on her cot.
Purple hyacinth, ranunculus, pink rose.
Anna sat down next to the flowers and crack open the book. She came upon the page of roses. There were different colors of roses listed on the book such as red, white, pink, yellow, purple and orange.
Pink Roses, they generally means gratitude and admiration. They have different meaning depending on how dark the shade or how light they are. Dark shades of pink roses means appreciation and gratitude while light pink roses means admiration or sympathy.
When it comes to the language of love, pink roses symbolizes innocent romantic love, beautiful and pureness of emotion. Meanwhile a pink rosebud symbolize beauty, innocence, youth, and young love.
Healthy shades of red bloomed on her cheeks, the words she read made her heart flutter. The memory of that day when she received the pink roses for the first time came rushing back to her, the morning after her investiture. It made her think that might be the time Elsa wanted to express how her like turned into love. The night before that morning she received the ranunculus flower that Elsa herself had explained its meaning.
"Then all that's left is the purple hyacinth."
Anna perused the book for the purple hyacinth. She read about the meaning of the different colors of hyacinth flowers. She was curious why Elsa constantly gave her purple hyacinths prior receiving the ranunculus flower.
Hyacinths, they symbolizes peace, commitment, power, beauty and pride. Different colors also symbolizes different meanings.
Anna skipped the other colors of hyacinths and looked for the purple one and what she read pulled a heart string.
Purple Hyacinths, they symbolize deep sorrow and asking for forgiveness.
A shuddering breath escaped Anna's lips as she recalled Elsa's words on that night in the tent they shared at the start of the progress.
"I do not expect you to forgive me but please let me apologize for the horrible things I did."
The presence of the purple hyacinths since that night was Elsa's way of asking for forgiveness even if she doesn't expect for her to be forgiven.
"Oh Elsa."
"Miss me already?"
Anna looked up saw Elsa smiling at her.
"If I say yes, will you sleep next to me tonight?" Anna closed the book and smiled to her beloved Queen.
"The cot is only for one person, I don't know why the Randall chose this." Elsa pointed out. "I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable in your sleep." she looked at the pressed flowers and gingerly touched them. "You kept them?"
"Of course." Anna put them back in the box securely and put them away with the book so she could focus her attention to her beloved Queen.
Elsa only smiled before sitting next to her.
"Don't tell me you were sleeping on that chair since we departed from the Duchy."
"I had a bedroll this time, it's not like I can sleep in this small cot with you-oof!" Elsa found herself on her back with Anna straddling her stomach. "What's gotten into you?"
"I've been sleeping on my own for days and it's cold, don't you at least feel sorry for me?" Anna leaned down and pouted.
"I'll have Wendy fetch more thick blankets for you." Elsa said.
These words made Anna grumpy and leaned back and crossed her arms.
"Is that how you respond to your wife, who miss you at nights?"
Elsa slowly sat up and slid Anna down to her lap.
"I am sorry Kjæreste." Elsa kissed Anna's jawline. "I've been busy."
"Busy with what?" Anna was not relenting and kept her arms crossed.
"Hunting." Elsa kissed her ear.
"At night?" Anna resisted Elsa's seduction to appease her.
"Yes since they active at night. Forgive me my darling?"
Anna could help but to melt on Elsa's words, she skillfully unbuttoned Elsa's waistcoat before removing it. She then turned her attention to Elsa's cravat, which she swiftly removed as well.
"Only if you sleep with me tonight." Anna whispered.
"Can you be more specific of what you want?" Elsa lied down taking Anna with her while her hands were firmly on Anna's waist. "Your actions are confusing me."
Anna belatedly realized how bold her words had been, making her blush furiously.
"S-Sorry! I mean sleep like sleeping. Only sleeping." Anna said in panic.
"Alright." Elsa chuckled and gave Anna a soft kiss to calm her down. "You are so adorable my dearest heart."
My Dearest Heart
Those words reminded Anna of the letter she found earlier. Who could be addressing Elsa in such manner as if. . . as if she was that sender's lover. The unpleasant suffocating feeling once again surged within her.
"Darling, are you okay?" Elsa caressed her cheek ever so gently.
"Huh? Oh yes I am okay." Anna kissed Elsa's palm before laying her head on Elsa's chest.
"There has been a change of plan regarding this progress." Elsa said.
"What change?"
"Instead of going to Westerlands, I decided to postpone our visit there until things are settled."
"What do you mean?" Anna reached out to take Elsa's hand in hers.
"We'll be staying in Vinter Caster and tour the Duchy before going back to Arendelle Castle and instead of going to Westerland, we'll prepare for our wedding much earlier than planned."
"Not that I am complaining, may I know the reason why?"
A sigh escape from Elsa's lips, making Anna sat up.
"What happened?" her tone was laced with worry.
Elsa was silent for while as if listening to her surroundings before snuffing out the candle next to their cot.
"May I touch you?" Elsa whispered.
"What?" Anna's body went ablaze at the sudden question. Her Queen leaned closer to her ear and whispered the following words.
"Just making sure no one would listen to our conversation."
Anna went silent and listened at the surroundings, and there it was, a faint rustling sound outside, most probably behind the shrubs by their tent. Anger and irritation rose in Anna's head.
"How dare they?!" she whispered angrily.
"I know. They are too bold to do this kind of thing. Eavesdropping on a Queen and her wife is disgusting and offensive." Elsa stated in whisper.
Anna's anger was replaced by mischief. "You want to chase them away in embarrassment."
"You're quick." Elsa's words made Anna giggle, and she made sure to giggle loudly for their intruders to hear. "But if it's making you uncomfortable, you can decline."
"Not one bit." Anna leaned down and softly kissed Elsa's lips.
"Mmh."
Both of them had their eyes closed and their soft kiss quickly escalated into a passionate one, before hands started to roam around each other's bodies. Anna bracketed Elsa's waist with her knees before lowering herself down against Elsa's lower region.
"Ngh!" Elsa groaned and her eyes widened at Anna's action. She placed her hands firmly on Anna's waist to lift her up and switch their position. She couldn't let Anna be on top if she wanted to prevent them from consummating their marriage in a tent in the middle of nowhere. Elsa knew she had to take control, knowing she could barely resist Anna.
They broke the kiss and panted.
Rustling and series of footfalls were heard moving far away from their tent.
Elsa's head was turned to the direction where the intruders had retreated.
"Gone?"
"Gone." Elsa affirmed.
Anna pulled Elsa down towards her. "They should know better." she giggled as if her arousal didn't bother her.
"Yeah." Elsa chuckled but soon both of them went silent and the tension between them was thick. "I should check if they truly went away." she was about to get up when Anna pulled her closer by wrapping her arms around Elsa's neck.
"Stay please. I am not kidding when I said I missed you. I may have been playful earlier but I truly missed you these past few nights." Anna said with sadness in her voice, then again the unpleasant feeling because of that letter surfaced. "I know we're together during the day but mostly we couldn't talk about what we truly want to talk about. I know have to wary of the people around us regarding our relationship and how it should be seen outside, but at nights, this is the only time we can be honest to our feelings without being taking advantage of by those who would use our relationship against us."
Elsa who listened and switched their position once more with Anna on top to make her feel comfortable as possible in a small cot. "I'm sorry you feel that way, it's my fault." she kissed Anna's forehead.
"I am sorry, I'm needy."
"Don't be. I should've paid attention." Elsa stroke Anna's soft locks. "I've been pre-occupied by the current developments in the capital."
"Why, what happened?"
"The letters I received from Rapunzel are quite concerning, things aren't going smoothly as I wanted." Elsa sighed. "Do you remember the men I beheaded when you arrived in Arendelle Castle and meeting me for the first time?"
"Yes, what about them?" how could Anna forget the blood oozing from their bodies on the courtyard that day as she watched from the window.
"Their respective families who managed to flee and hide, particularly their sons, returned seeking retribution. And because of them the people are angry at me and the entire royal family." another sigh escaped from Elsa's lips. "Apparently, they used the provision that I made for our hungry and poor citizens of not paying taxes for a certain amount of time so they could pick themselves up and stand up on their own feet. At first they extorted money from the citizen dressed as a royal guard and it continued."
"They should be arrested." Anna said.
"Yes, and be dealt with by execution, I had let Rapunzel handled this ragtag of rebels, however it seemed they were involved with some nobles who secretly oppose me so Rapunzel and I had to thread this carefully. She told me in her letters that she wanted to root out the people bankrolling these families of traitors that's why they aren't arrested yet. And she can't just arbitrarily execute Arendellians nobles as she's a foreign royal, all she could do was arrest them until and I arrive to take control of the situation."
"Then we should go back at once." Anna said in haste.
"No. They will hide once more. That's why we are not going to Westerland until this is settled. As I said earlier, we'll go to Vinter Castle under the guise of a tour in the Duchy and I'll handle things from there."
"Is that what you told them? The nobles here I mean."
"Yes. They were rather pleased when I mentioned our wedding."
"I bet they were." Anna said.
"And I need you to stay in there until I return, I'll leave Eric to be your protector." Elsa said in a soft tone. "The castle is now fully fortified and well guarded. You'll be safe there."
Anna couldn't help but to feel sorry because of the heavy burden Elsa carried on her back the moment she ascended the throne. Elsa had to make sure her kingdom was safe from any rebellion, invasion, and civil war, in order to do that she had to ride out there defend it with her life.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'll always come back to you." Elsa's words brought tears to Anna's eyes.
"Make sure you do." Anna's voice was cracked.
"Always." Elsa held Anna tight. "I love you."
"I love you too." Anna responded and snuggled on the crook of Elsa's neck, slowly falling asleep. While Elsa lie awake thinking what she should do next.
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