Chapter 7

Love at first sight

Summary: A chivalrous admiral and a teenage princess, both redhead and freckled, both overlooked spares and youngest, fall in love on the docks. Surely they're a perfect match. As they forget the past, their newfound love will last.

Some moment before the party begins…

Anna was pacing around her adored hall as she smiled at her 'friends' after fastening her strawberry-blonde hair. As she went to the portrait room some moments ago, Anna noticed the staff didn't open the windows. She was glad they didn't, for it was getting colder outside at each minute to pass. However, according to her knowledge, people used to these wintry times, so the cold won't bother them… except her.

Anna had loved winter since childhood. So all the time, the sisters will leave their room and go to the courtyard despite their parents' concerns. In there, they build snowmen, making snow angels, leaving countless tiny footprints around, and basically do anything they found entertaining. After they finish, they'll sit with each other while grinning at what they left behind until their nanny tells them it's time to warm themselves with hot cocoa and delightful cookies.

After Elsa and her parents shut out everyone, she can't see the idea of being outside amongst snowflakes thrilling like before…

Anna stopped as her smile turned bittersweet. She misses those times; she could turn them back. Maybe Elsa doesn't want to play, but that's fine. Her sister grows up, and she suspects all traces of childishness had left. Right now, the goal is to resolve their relationship and every barrier among it.

Anna let out a long sigh. She might be an optimist, but she ought to admit this would be challenging.

The second-in-line princess resumed her walk for a while until she stops at one portrait on the striped blue-green wall. It was a dark-haired, handsome gentleman dressed in a black suit, bowing before a woman of nobility to kiss her hand. Whenever her family ignores her and the remaining staff being busy — sometimes with teary eyes — Anna would go there with no one.

It was strange to see a nine-year-old girl interact with the portraits. Then, of course, she could agree with the staff and her deceased parents, but she grew accustomed shortly; they're the only 'friends' who are ready to listen to her, who let her speak her mind, who grants her the company she longed for, at any moment, especially Joan.

Long story short, the staff loved Princess Anna for having such a giving and peppy personality, unlike the rest of the low-spirited royal family. But her impulsiveness occasionally becomes unbearable, directly where the majority grow to dislike her as time passes. It also brought her a lot of trouble, but the second-in-line princess didn't care.

Alas, the portraits aren't real human beings, which is what she longed for.

Whenever Anna comes across these portraits that illustrate romantic stuff, sometimes she would visualize herself as a forlorn princess standing there, behind the closed gates and gaps, waiting for the one to rescue her from this melancholy confinement. Then suddenly, behind the window, she saw him. A beautiful stranger, tall and fair, her prince charming, riding his steed — with a smile that swoons any lady amid sunlight — to save her from this gloomy, hopeless place the villain had doomed her to live in…

Okay… this 'villain' part honestly came out of nowhere. Was it a reference to someone she knew?

Wait, what was she thinking? Her sister may be cold and apathetic and want nothing to do with her, but she is not a villain… Right?

It didn't convince the younger sister — Because Elsa, if given a chance, might as well close the kingdom and isolates everyone again, just like her parents. Anna didn't want to think of her sister as a villain, but it feels right.

The guards had opened the gates at Elsa's order since Kai had woken her. Yet Anna hasn't gone out. True, she's more than excited to be out, but she's also very nervous. Who knows that being locked up in darkness for over a decade can even affect the brightest star. Anna wasn't sure where to begin or if she should have a companion, like a guard, for instance. The idea is delightful, though she prefers to spend some moments alone for now.

She gets out of the portrait room and walks through the halls after a noiseless argument with herself, aiming to go to the town.

Anna stopped before the spiral staircase, and her eyebrows rose once she heard foreign voices downstairs.

Interesting…

Curious, Anna sits sideways on the railing, places her petite hand behind her for balance, and slides down with ease. Her legs dangled as she giggled while sliding down, cutting through the air until her verdant low-heels touch the wooden-striped floor as she stands.

After brushing non-existent dust off her skirt, she scurried through the long corridor filled with pictures of plant life until she stopped before the tall doors. She turned the handle and enters the hall.

Anna couldn't believe her eyes. People had filled the whole hall. They look just like when she first saw them after sleeping. But, of course, they're here waiting for Elsa's arrival. Most were chatting with champagne or wine in their hands; some observed the hall, awed by its design and size, taking notes in their minds.

Anna saw three noblewomen looking at her. One gives her a smile. The other two, however, were whispering, presumably trying to figure out who she is. Maybe they thought she was Elsa. Or a mere noblewoman.

Anna smiles back, but the ladies left. And her smile fell.

No one wants to waste time or taking a peek at the spare. Even when Elsa isn't here yet, her attention is still something they'll hunt for. She furrowed her eyebrows. What is so special about Elsa?

Anna didn't want to ponder what people thought, so she leaned to the door and hug her arms as she forced herself to look around the hall. They still didn't notice her; she saw from the corner of her eyes. She didn't care, or she thinks so.

Anna observed the decorations in the great hall, and she felt a flare of pride. There are tables and chairs around the room, with each table have glass cups, blank dishes, forks, spoons, napkins, and flower pots of various types atop them. Colorful triangle flags hang down the borders on each side. Each pillar had equally colorful balloons twisted around it.

The balloon was something new. A few years ago, a British professor had invented the balloon in London for some kind of experiment, and it got famous quickly since before her existence, probably when Elsa was a two-year-old toddler.

Anna thought she could invite him to the party to thank him, but according to what she has heard, the guy is always busy with his research and finds social activities uninteresting. Plus, he lives in London, so he couldn't attend. Anna had to contact Blavenia — a kingdom that remained their ally and trade partner during the hard times — to import balloons to Arendelle. Blavenia was the only kingdom besides Arendelle that received balloons because of its closeness with London.

Anna couldn't ask for Elsa's permission to do this. So instead, she had to seek Kai, who has encouraged her to communicate. Something Elsa would likely refuse.

The decorations in the ballroom are simply the tip of the iceberg. And after a moment of standing, Anna found herself bored.

Now, where was she supposed to go?

Anna bolted off the door and cleared her throat as she hummed somewhat nervously. She then directs herself towards the opened entry, guarded by two guards, who stare at the guests with furrowed eyebrows. Anna sneaked through the crowd as her heart raced, trying not to bump into someone or trip on her adorned, lime pleated skirt.

The guards bowed to her, and she nodded with a smile before stepping out.

Snow falls from the clouded sky. Cool breezes filled the air. Plumes of dark smoke coming out of the chimneys of various wooden buildings from meters away. Snowed houses and shops were lit. People are chatting happily around; couples enjoyed their lovely time; children were having fun with their families and friends.

The winter solstice of this year was pleasant.

This… This is life.

She favored citizen life over royalty. Although she'd like to experience it, being a princess sometimes has its perks.

Thanks to her fluffy capelet, she only felt the warmth that radiates from her body. Plus, the fur was too soft for her liking, but she cherished it, not complaining at all.

The fjord was full of ships. So many… Like the guests, there were many distinct styles of the ships to learn about…

A brownish mass had slammed her face, getting the wind out of her, and she falls back with a squeal before she lands on something, a boat. But then, all she saw was the bluish, clouded sky above her. Then, Anna feels the boat underneath her being pushed back from her fall, and she screams as the boat tilts off the dock. Uh oh… She is heading overboard!

Something stopped the boat as it immediately stopped tilting and goes back to its place, and Anna got bumped by it again.

"Hey!" She was preparing to give whoever had slammed her a piece of her mind, but all the anger she felt melted away as her eyes widened.

Standing before her was a dun-colored, muscular brownish horse with creamy black and off-white mane, gazing at her with its chocolate-brown eyes. Its front right hoof was on the boat. Honestly, this was the most beautiful horse she ever saw.

But that's not what catches her interest.

Sitting on the horse was perhaps the most handsome man she met, who held the reins to stop his horse while gaping at her. He seems a royal foreigner, guessing from his bright princely attire and his regal stance…

"I'm so sorry!" The regal guy cut her trail of thoughts. "Are you hurt?"

It was just a question, a mere question, but inside, Anna was screaming. He might accidentally hit her with his horse, yet she forgave him. It was pretty nice for him to apologize, though.

"Hey…" she said, more gently this time, and smiles. "I-ya… No." She shook her head at herself, "I'm okay." So why was her face heating?

"Are you sure?" He said with a raised trimmed eyebrow as he hops down his horse with ease and steps into the boat towards her. He was so tall.

"Yeah, I mean…." She chuckled. "I just wasn't looking where I was going. But I'm great, actually."

"Oh, thank goodness." He grinned, showing his perfect twinkled teeth while offering his left gloved hand as his emerald eyes met hers, and she looked deep in them. Her heart pounded as tingling shockwaves ran down her body from his stare. But in a good way, of course.

Anna didn't need any help to get up, but she literally couldn't do anything this time.

So she accepts his hand by lifting her right hand and place it atop his. Her own hand was so petite, contrary to his. He helps her to stand on her feet.

Both stare deep into each other's eyes. Everything around them blurred, except the two…

"Oh!" Their eye contact only lasts a few seconds as the chiseled-chin man broke it first, and Anna returns to the current world. Her eyebrows raised as he bowed before her.

"Prince Hans Westergard of the Southern Isles." He said, introducing himself.

So his name is Hans, a regal prince from the southern isles, a kingdom she never heard of before.

Why she overlooked that detail?

"Princess Anna of Arendelle." As for etiquette, she curtsied back while smiling.

"Princess? My lady!" Hans said, shocked. But before Anna stops him, he quickly dropped to his knee and bows his head. His fiery auburn hair remained the same.

Anna just stared at him after he dropped before her, puzzled…

The horse's eyes widened as he 'bows' by curling his hoof up and accidentally out of the boat.

The boat tipped underneath the two royals, and Hans yelped as he tumbled on top of Anna.

Anna held herself from cursing due to how the situation she found herself in was getting more awkward and that uncomfortable heat spreading over her body.

She was never that close to somebody, excluding her parents, let alone a strange man. She wishes the wind would take her away.

"Hi… again." She said to the prince laid atop her, who gulped with wide eyes before attempting to back his face away.

The horse noticed its 'mistake' and slams its hoof back into the boat to stabilize it. Both the royals scream in sync as they tumble the other way, and Anna is now on top of Hans.

"Oh, boy…" Hans said as his freckled cheeks flushed, whether from the chilliness of winter or the current situation he is in.

"Ha!" Anna backed away from him. "This is awkward…" Hans gets up and smiles, but Anna thought she hurt him by what she said. "No! you aren't awkward, but just because we're…." Yep, she's blabbering right now. "W-well, I'm awkward." Hans holds her hand, but he didn't expect her to say this.

"You're gorgeous." Did Anna, the second-in-line princess of Arendelle… just say that?

"Wait, what?"

Hans laughed to ease her nerves as he quickly gets to his feet and helps Anna again.

"I'd like to formally apologize for hitting the Princess of Arendelle with my horse," Hans said, but hesitates as he glances around him for a moment before he returned to her. "and for every moment after…."

"No-no-no. It's fine." Anna said as she stepped forward with a smile. Of course, it wasn't his fault, yet she found his apology rather flattering. "I'm not that princess. I mean…" she unawarely moved closer to Hans' horse. "If you'd hit my sister Elsa, that would be — yeash!" She pretends to shudder as she made a dramatic motion at the last word. But seriously, what will happen if Elsa was in her place?

Anna scoffed.

"Because, you know…." She halted in front of Hans' horse, and both stare at each other before Anna pats its snout. The horse neighed in a way akin to laughter.

"But, lucky you," Anna turned to him, "It's — it's just me."

"Just you…?" Hans said with a raised eyebrow and smiles, clearly amused by a beautiful princess who thinks so little of herself. Anna smiled back as she clasped her hands.

All the princess could see was the prince before her, and she willed herself to absorb his features. He has a pretty good stature. He has light dust of freckles across his pointy nose, much like hers. Anna could tell he suffered with them, to which she relates. His bright green eyes, so bright she could dream of spring. His long, trimmed ginger sideburns remind her of delicious mutton chops. His thick auburn, fiery hair pulled in a small ponytail, with one strand or two out of his rounded forehead, awaits her to touch it. She could assume the color even though there isn't much sunlight…

Prince Hans Westergard…?

There was someone with a similar name on the party's list of invited guests: Admiral Westergard, the most powerful Full Admiral in Scandinavia, famous for saving kingdoms from pirates with his navy fleets. She had heard about him and his stories.

But if they're the same person…

The ringing sound of the bell, along with a howl from some breeze, had finally cut her thoughts.

"… The bells. The party.." Anna's eyes widened, realizing she was gazing at him for a long time. He has some kind of magical effect on her, doesn't he?

"Sorry! But I-Um… I'll have to go, better now." Anna told him with a stutter while taking steps back. She nearly jumped when she hit the post chain fencing behind her. She wished she could spend more time with him, but she really had to go.

She flipped away from the fence and hurried off. But she stopped, turned back to Hans, and give him a brief wave.

"Bye!"

She picked her skirt and rushes off.

As Anna moved fast towards the opened castle, a realization came to her. Finally, for the first time in her life, she made a friend! Or maybe more than just a friend…

As her parents told her, Patience is the key to get something desired.

At the same time, a smiling Hans waved back as she rushes off, and his horse 'waved' too by — once again — taking its hoof off the boat. Hans' eyes widened, and his blood turns cold as he feels the boat shaking underneath him.

"Oh, no."

The boat falls, with Hans in it. It lands upside down in the water. Hans cried before the water splashed all over him and engulfed him. He closed his eyes as he pushes himself up and raises the boat up off of him. He coughs water while gasping for air, but the cold took over him as his uniform was now wet.

As a southern prince, winter is his least favorite season.

NOTE: Hi readers, long time no see! This chapter is smaller than usual. I mean, every time I want to put the entire party in one chapter, I end up diving it into parts, and that's good as I don't want to stress myself. Anyway, if you'd like to see my art, you can follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my new YouTube channel: M_Ihsan Art.

Please forgive me for the slow updates.