A waste of time.
That's how Ryu would describe the domestic drudgery she had been subjected to as a maid. Cleaning things that had already been cleaned, polishing the polished, dusting the dusted. Her mouth remained shut, reminding herself that Elsa's life was at stake and her presence in the castle would be a non negotiable.
The hardest part of her endeavours was the fatigue from being up so late into the day. Her eyelids were heavy- her blinks longer than usual. The surface of her eyes burned as the air touched them.
Every now and then a sigh or yawn would escape at a moment's weakness when a task would require them to stay still for a period of time longer than ten minutes. Luckily Kelsey found it amusing than a lack of enthusiasm she'd have to report to Gerda and Ryu had to admit it- she was really good at burnishing. Her large pink and violet eyes, that Kelsey cross examined every chance she got, had an adept ability at detecting small details of dirt upon surfaces. She still wasn't allowed to lick curiosities they came across.
The most curious part of the castle had to have been its inhabitants, humans had proven to be the most diverse species that Ryu had ever known. The dragon found herself marveling at what was important to them, for example the principles of dinner etiquette. This spoon had to be placed in this position; this knife was meant for this food but not that one. Use this herb as a garnish but it was not meant to be eaten. It was almost overwhelming the marvel that Ryu had for the whole ordeal. Almost...
Servants acted as soldiers walking, not running, but still completing duties with total proficiency and speed.
Spending time in different countries had not prepared her for this spectacle. The event being held was not the pinnacle of sophistication Ryu had ever seen, that title would have to be given to the party hosted in the palace of Versailles celebrating the birthday of Louis Philippe I Ryu had snuck into by the roof.
How wrong she had been that humans valued the excessive and baroque manner. While subjects of the castle seemed to uphold the quintessential it wasn't completely to the point of being labeled ridiculous. She still found herself adrift amongst the organized chaos.
Arendelle's castle had the unique ability to capture familiarity in say, the warm atmosphere, with a splash of a reminding one of the nobility that resided here.
She tucked a curly rogue strand beneath her bonnet once she caught a glimpse of herself in the reflection of a dinner plater that rested among the other meals on the brown, polished table.
It was incredibly warm in this room despite the large windows overlooking the fjord due to the hot platters. Luckily she didn't swelter easily already used to her high internal temperature.
Meats cooked and seasoned to near perfection, potatoes roasted or mashed, vegetables baked and boiled filled the air with their succulent smells.
But what really drew her in towards the table was the fish dishes' siren call to her nostrils so captivating she hadn't heard the begrudging rebukes that were casted her way by the staff as she wandered into their paths blindsided.
She rested her chin on the table looking up at the intricate silver crocus shaped cloche covering the seafood, she had only ever tasted fish cooked by her own flame. All she'd have to do is lift it slightly, stick a finger in and tast-
"Ay! You've done your job now shoo!" Gasping she jumped away from the table. A whine wanted to be released but she refrained. The man had somehow balanced a large brass pot bigger than his head on one upturned palm. His auburn mustache twitched in annoyance but like the rest of the staff in the castle was surprisingly tolerant.
"You're getting in the way of the rest of dinner attendants, please move."
Sighing and slumping her shoulders Ryu trudged away from the table allowing him to bathe the foods with a brownish broth.
She looked back into the bustling room that was without argument the best smelling room in the entire castle, maybe even the whole kingdom.
"I assure you Lord Thomas my sister is not looking for marriage at the moment." Reactively Ryu wanted to hide under one of the hallway tables or behind the drapes having heard Anna's voice nearing towards the dinning room entrance but then it occurred to her. She was incognito.
"I understand the trauma that deposed Prince Westgarde may have put you through."
"No you don't I'm sure."
Anna and Kristoff had no reason to suspect her of anything. Hiding away and possibly being caught would arise suspicion though. Her best camouflage would be in plain sight. But what was she supposed to do, ignore them, say hello, curtsey?
Her training did not prepare her for what would happen if she encountered a royal without serving them, a huge oversight on Kelsey's behalf, and they only drew closer.
Calming her breathing down, Ryu followed the old protocol she was taught in her homeland.
"I mean no disrespect but this is something you must discuss with her and only her, she'll be joining us shortly but that is not appropriate dinner conver-" Ryu's eyes scrunched closed as they passed her no doubt noticing her low bow. They paused for a moment then slow steps continued.
"Discuss this with her instead of coming to me to garner favor-" When she heard the dinning room doors open then close muting Anna's voice she sprung to her feet and quickly walked from the hall hoping she didn't bump into any more high profiles for the rest of the night...
The free time now gifted to her, Ryu decided, to use in investigation of the assassin that was lurking in the castle somewhere. The very idea lowered her heart into her stomach. Where was Elsa? She sniffed the air of every room she entered sometimes receiving befuddled stares from those occupying them.
When a room lay empty she searched it for any sign or clue that would help her in identifying the threat.
A large empty room in particular was full of artwork depicting different scenes on the walls. They were beautiful, watercolors, and oils. The room required less searching than the others lacking anything useful besides the occasional sofa and table which had only empty drawers.
Frustration was starting to take root, as room after room reaped no results. How was she supposed to save Elsa by catching the assassin, while remaining anonymous in a place such as this? He could have been hiding in any room, nook or cranny.
Ryu stopped. *But why would he? His target was in fact Elsa, who was, if Ryu tracked the time correctly would be eating in the dinning room with her family right about now.
The next best place to hold an ambush or trap would be...
Sprinting assuredly abandoned all regulation within the halls but was not even on the bottom of Ryu's priority list until she hit a body which easily tumbled backward. With momentum being so abruptly halted Ryu toppled overhead and landed on her back.
"Cherry what in the world do you think your doing thundering around the halls busting into rooms like this!" Kelsey helped her up, and by help meaning holding her hand as Ryu propelled to her feet, energy surging through her smaller frame.
"Kesey ehhh I uh..." Her body whipped about searching for seemingly nothing. The older maid neared how one would to a rabid dog or spooked horse, Ryu knew why. Her eyes had bags beneath them and were sunken in, bloodshot- that only looked more bizarre with the wild spinning her pupils did trying to detect anything around that could ground her from spiraling.
It felt like a million thoughts were all bouncing to and fro within her skull that made picking one monumentally difficult. "Uh Erusa, Lady Elsa- Elsa's room!"
She might as well have asked for the royal crown with how Kelsey's face reacted to her demand. "Why?"
"I..." Come on think! That's all I've been doing nonstop today. "I was sent to uh retrieve something for her."
"Were you now?" Her arms crossed as she leaned on one leg, not the stance of a believer.
Ryu set her jaw. "Yesu."
"By who?" Say someone believable.
"The queen." Damn it!
Kelsey rubbed her forehead. To disobey the queen or even be in the way of that had to have had grave consequences. Detrimental enough that the maid huffed lowering her arms. "Come on then I'll accompany you."
They weren't walking fast enough, not as fast as Ryu would have liked but it was gratitude to Kelsey for giving her the benefit of a doubt to a lie that kept her quiet.
They arrived at two white double doors marked by angular floral and snow designs and shapes. What if Kelsey wanted to come in too? She couldn't do a proper search with her looming around.
Without thinking the solution manifested physically.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Kelsey cried after Ryu who ran slowly down the hall. "Bu-but the queen!" Kelsey gave chase as intended. This would surely get her in trouble with Gerda but she'd worry about that later.
She led the woman all the way to the gardens before doubling back at a faster speed Kelsey wouldn't have been able to keep up with.
Her breathing escalated as she stopped looking behind and forward to ensure the off chance that the woman had trailed her from the gardens.
The part of her that felt guilty was strangled out by the urgency of the situation. Kelsey was a nice woman and she'd be fine, she was abandoned in the castle gardens not the middle of the woods. Ryu would have to quick though before she returned.
Entering the room an inordinate amount of what was definitely Elsa's scent lay siege to Ryu's senses. Small wisps lingered from under the door but nothing like this. Raspberry, chocolate, the crispness of the cold, some night blooming Jasmine, and natural body aromas that were unique to only Elsa's person drenched the air. It couldn't have been this intoxicating to someone without a heightened sense of smell, unfortunately Ryu's nose was very sensitive.
It was like being near her in the woods except now she was everywhere, soaking into Ryu's pores. Sniffing too hard caused a sneeze to wheeze out, no detection of any other foreigner in the room allowed the dragon to relax slightly. She ran her hand along the soft bed and purple duvet. She didn't know why, but from the littered books upon the white nightstand and the light purple canopy drapes tied back around the deep brown headrest, to the soft glow of the lantern next to the books, it all the more reminded Ryu that Elsa was more than just a spirit or snow sorceress or even more than just Ryu's friend. Those identities made her not only want to protect Elsa, but the depth of who she was made the dragon realize she needed to as well.
Giving one last push downward on the mattress, Ryu withdrew her hand not wanting to intrude too much in the private space. she stepped onto the large purple circular carpet toward the white fireplace taking shape as an outward square corner that was wrapped in Selbu patterned snowflakes, blue, white and purple.
A singular painting drew her eyes up, hung above the fireplace. It was of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf. Smiling faces and familia love. The corner of Ryu's mouth quirked towards her cheek upward.
Families seemed like such a commonplace for almost everyone. She knew what one looked like, they could be big or small. They could looked alike or completely different.
She tried not to be jaundiced toward Elsa, she deserved to have a loving family more than anyone Ryu ever knew. She wondered, though what it would have been like to have one. A silly thing to wonder she always thought. The whole point of her life had been she was the last dragon so it wasn't and couldn't ever be possible for her to be apart of a family.
Sighing her head dropped down to the empty fireplace.
Now Elsa was completely certain something suspicious was amidst with the new maid. The girl must have the reassurance that Elsa was supposed to be in the dinning room with her family and guests, but she had discussed with Anna that due to Georg and Thomas- she would arrive twenty minutes before the meal ended to lessen her time among both of them. Anna was to remain 'uncertain' to the reason of her absence.
So she had plenty of spare time to remain concealed by the shadows- sitting in her favorite cushioned chair by the same wall the doors were opened to. The second she heard her them open she flicked her fingers riding the glowing snowflake from existence wanting to see who didn't even have the courtesy of knocking that wasn't her sister or Olaf.
She remained silently scoffing at the maid sniffing around her room... And feeling her bed. She made no move to steal anything...yet and only seemed interested in her family portrait. Elsa couldn't see her face, only sagged shoulders and a ducked head. The way she now carried herself was melancholy. The spirit decided she'd give the girl three strikes before she would intervene.
She turned on her heels and dropped to her knees checking beneath Elsa's bed. Strike one.
She was so distracted with having not found what she was seeking that she remained obtuse that her every move was being recorded. She opened the closet peering in. Strike two. At least she didn't rifle through it.
A window was opened, Next Cherry checked all directions possible, and then crawled out of it shimming to the side.
Elsa's eyes harden now incredibly alarmed gave her final strike.
Recreating a light giving shard above her head she resumed reading her book waiting for Cherry's return.
When she jumped back in from the window Elsa could hear her half taken step freezing in place. She hadn't bothered to look up from the book rested upon her crossed leg.
It was when the girl spoke that she offered visible attention flicking her eyes up at her. She had bowed not curtsied. "Hello." The accent was heavy yet could not be placed. Her words sounded casual, as if her job wasn't on the line right now, as if she didn't have alot to lose and it all depended on Elsa.
Elsa bookmarked her page deliberately slow placing it on her side table, then her hands delicately folded in her lap. "Hello, since I am more familiar with my room than you, why don't you tell me what it is you're looking for so that I could aid you." Though on surface level her tone and words were polite, she could see the maid wince at the true intentions behind them.
"I apologize for duh being in here Lady Elsa but... I do not think I require any assituh-assiten..." Shortly Elsa felt pity towards her struggle but reminded herself that this maid was snooping in her room and any embarrassment or trepidation for lacking eloquence was deserved.
She snapped up in spine breaking speed. "help! I did not find it, so I will leave."
Elsa stood at a normal pace, going to the door at the same time as Cherry providing a nonthreatening blockade. The nerve of her thinking she could leave without answering Elsa's- non direct- but still obvious question.
Finally she had gotten full view of the maid's eyes, and she had been correct. They had more than one color of the pale blue, pink, and violet where mixed in as well. Elsa could have sworn she had seen them before but knew that she had never met anyone with different colored eyes to this degree. She had seen a duke who had one blue and one green before but never different colors in one iris.
She must have leaned too closely, for the girl had backed away casting her stare to the floor, her fingers rubbed themselves at her sides. Back to the matter at hand.
"What were you searching for?" The room chilled along with her authoritarian tone causing a shudder in Cherry's shoulders. She didn't answer immediately no doubt conjuring up a lie, Elsa would let her- having the unnatural ability to detect whenever someone was lying to her.
"I was looking for someone." She stopped breathing for a moment, either this girl was a very skilled liar well versed in the art of deception or she had indeed been looking for someone.
"Who?" It came out more sharp than intended. The fact that Cherry didn't like this question, displeasure evident in her face confirmed the results of the last question to be the latter. When she had begun to speak more truths did the temperature of the room decrease unintentionally until Cherry's words were visible in the smoke that left her mouth.
"I do not know eh their name."
"And this person they could have been hidden under my bed or in the closet."
"Yesu." Elsa stopped a feeling of endearment she had felt once before from developing as the maid nervously pricked at a loose strand in her skirt.
"Do you know what they look like?"
She shook head. She believed her but Elsa's plan to appear incredulous as possible had served her well in the past, and she was confident that it would serve just as beneficial now.
"You don't know what they look like, or what their name is, this friend of your-"
"They are not my friend." The quick, sharp, darkness she spoke in and lour drew Elsa's brow to her hairline. Cherry seemed to remember after a pause the company she kept. It was frightening how quickly her features went from menacing scowl to a now tranquil expression and said more respectfully in bow. "Lady Elsa."
"What would they be doing in my room?" Recovering from the momentary fear, Elsa went away from the door ensured that the girl would not run- not that she'd get far to begin with.
"What exactly they would be doing that I am unsure of."
"How do you know of this person? What's their allegiance?"
"I overhearduh someone speaking of them, of their allegiance I do not know."
Elsa now watching the sky took an audible breath. She was dancing around her words now, Anna had done it all the time. Telling the truth but still lying in admission. She had tried it before but the guilt from it was too much to bare. A conclusion was made, a shiver inducing, dreadful conclusion, that- if correct than Elsa knew exactly who Cherry was looking for and if not she'd abandon the train of thought chastise the girl and send her on her way.
She faced her. When asked Gerda had informed her about the trainee- that she had not been employed as a maid before. That may have been true but Elsa could tell, that there was some mentally drilled in discipline from the very specific way she held herself and stood- it was too deliberate- too precise. What the nature of said discipline was had yet to be determined. She had first noticed it at tea that afternoon but wrote it off as hyper vigilance searching for answers in meaninglessness.
It wasn't so pointless now that she could study her without the caution of upsetting her stride in work.
She wasn't from Arendelle, her features were telling of that. She was young but how young Elsa couldn't gouge, and it irritated her further that she couldn't identify her accent, it had to have been from a country which never visited Arendelle before, which only lengthen the list of contenders instead shorten it by that criteria. Elsa filed away the questions for a later time.
"This person... you're looking for..." She didn't want the answer to confirm her suspicions. "Do they wish to harm me?" There was shock in Cherry's eyes that was there for a second then vanished, her lips pressed into a hard line. She began steeling her resolve, as if armoring herself to any outside stimuli.
Elsa had every right to demand an answer after awaiting for one as long as she did- buu that would only escalate things and raise the dramatics higher and higher. And this young woman, despite her invasion in Elsa's privacy, did not deserve that.
"Please..." Elsa had not recognized her own soft voice which unbeknownst to her shattered Cherry's defenses like a feather breaking through a wall of stone, unexpected and not in the procedure of how this interaction was expected to go.
As her arms wrapped around herself, Ryu gulped then made the largest mistake she had made since entering the room and looked up. Elsa looked so vulnerable with how her arms wrapped around her torso, just as she did that night when Ryu flew away to the beach.
Her breath hitched. Could she tell Elsa of the threat without ruining the political summit and revealing her identity? She had already gotten a good look at her and despite the sign of recognition triggering on multiple occurrences- in the way her brows would knit together and head tilted slightly whenever she studied her, Elsa had no reason to suspect Ryu's identity. For Ryu now it mattered more than just upsetting her, she needed Elsa to not worry about the dragon being so deep in Arendelle's capital and just focus on her own safety instead of Ryu's, she needed Elsa to not fuss over her alerting the staff and castle residents. that was the Noble side of her reasoning, the selfish side was a deep pit Ryu had no desire to look into.
What would happen if she let just this one secret come to light would the other easily follow? Could she trust Elsa to not trip over herself trying to navigate the attempt that would be taken on her life? Maybe it would prove to be more advantageous with keeping her safe if she was aware of the danger in first place.
Ryu's fist shook as she stammered, attempting and most likely failing to keep emotion from her voice.
"He wants to kill you- I overheard the plot last nighttu, I could not know who had said it. They are gone now. I came... In your room to find them and stop them. I did not want to mess up the summit or lose my job."
Elsa's face softened despite the morbid information she had just received. "May I?"
Ryu nodded not knowing what the question was for until she jumped when cool fingers ran down from her shoulders to her hands gripping them upwards. The same firm and gentle grip she remembered and missed. She looked up into Elsa's sad smile.
"Thank you. You were right about keeping your discretion, Arendelle is trying to form and maintain fragile relationships currently but keeping this from me won't help- it only blindsides me." Ryu nodded understanding exactly what she meant.
A thumb rubbed along the back of her hand before pulling away. "It was very brave of you to come here to my room alone knowing there might be danger." Ryu could only hope Elsa wasn't subtly accusing her of being in league with the assassin, but her voice held no ulterior motives.
"It was the right thing to do." Ryu said with a fierce conviction.
"I wouldn't want to put you in any danger but you're the closest person who has some semblance of what's going on, perhaps with your assistance I can finally put an end to this." Her brows furrowed, did Elsa have a sneaking inclination that her life was already in danger?
"We'll need a plan," Elsa paced about the room clutching her chin with her long slender fingers, Ryu's head merely followed her. She hadn't really thought of a plan outside of find the assassin- catch the assassin- save Elsa. Those steps seemed to make sense to her.
"I'll confide in some trusted confidants, I'll need more information from you tomorrow, but for now I'd like your involvement to remain a secret for your own protection and mine." Ryu barley suppressed the contradictory glint in her eyes, Elsa raised a hand quieting any protest that might have arisen.
"As I said prior I'll still need your help but remember discretion. Right now our best advantage is ignorance. Or at least the ignorance we're supposed to have." Ryu despite her disguise hadn't exactly been as discreet as Elsa accredited her for, running and barging into rooms haphazardly. She scratched the back of head, face heating up. Maybe it was serendipitous Elsa had caught her tonight.
"We can reconvene in the morning when I have brain stormed some ideas on how to handle this." Was this a dismal? It sounded like one.
"Lady Elsa," a bow then words were spoken with a hot flamed desire to protect the spirit that started out at first as a hearth and now burned like a forest fire. "I hav-" the growl born of intense emotion that tried to ripple from her chest was covered in a cough. "I have some concerns regarding your safety."
If Elsa was touched by the gesture she hid it well behind a calm smile. "I understand but now that I am aware of the threat I am quite capable of protecting myself." That wasn't exactly the answer she had been hoping to hear but what other answer would have sufficed anyway, if anyone was able to protect themselves in the kingdom it would have been Elsa. The night in the enchanted forest when she had nearly been shot took image in Ryu's mind steadily ascending panic taking her heart in a vice like grip, it beat faster as if trying to escape the hold. She'd stay near tonight, Elsa wouldn't question it with the truce they had now settled together.
"If you'll excuse me eh Lady Elsa." Bowing Ryu turned to leave, face grim.
"Wait please?" She blinks back over the shoulder, noticing how the moon from the window almost made Elsa's blonde hair- draped at her shoulders- appear silver in its beams. Her long dress seemed like the deep pools of the lake they had swam in, wrapped around her body- moving along with her whenever she took a step. It wasn't made of ice as par her usual clothing, but instead was a satin deep navy blue, contrastingly complimenting to her pale skin. At her knees the front split in an upside down v, within the material had changed from satin silk to a thicker velvet, darker almost black in appearance. The lighter colored sleeves which hung off her shoulders were sheer and glittered whenever they caught the light. Attached to the right one was a short silk half cape, the top black and the underside blue, clasped to her by a golden pin shaped as a crescent moon.
Ryu had learned a great deal about the woman that night- two of the many was- like all of the less fancy wardrobe she wore in the forest; Elsa no matter the location enjoyed having her clothes incorporate sparkles and capes.
"Yesu?"
"If I may ask, where are you from Miss Cherry?" Stepping closer Ryu held up a placating hand, grin lopsided when she closed her eyes.
"Please you do not have to say Miss, just Cherry. And I... Came from..." She clenched her teeth behind her lips, Would it be too much? Would Elsa figure it out? The woman was proven to be very intelligent, and had great deduction capabilities. She could give her only a little but still not enough, that should do it.
Her arm swung around- in flourish- as if the room was one giant map that represented the world. "I have traveled all over the world, Lady Elsa." The way Elsa's eyes dilated and body leaned forward made Ryu curse herself.
"All over?" She asked as if not believing that it were possible. Ryu nodded and turned to leave again but Elsa's voice impeded her once more.
"What brings you here to Arendelle?" She chuckled probably at the absurdity of the notion but Ryu could see the thousands of thoughts quickly flashing in her bright blue eyes. She wished she knew what she was thinking, anxiety started pounding in her chest at the woman's silence when she realized it was her turn to speak.
"Just looking somewhere to settle downnuh."
"Really?" She nodded not liking how excited Elsa was visibly becoming she tried and failed to hide it, but her eagerness was something Ryu had witnessed before.
"Yesu." Please don't be noisy, please don't be curious. Ryu felt like hypocrite with her silent plea as she had just been caught snooping through Elsa's room, good intentions did not justify wrong being done.
The girl appeared more anxious about being asked of her time before Arendelle than when she was caught at the window.
Be it from pain or something more nefarious Elsa mercifully decided she had caused her enough near heart attacks for one night. She turned back towards the window. "Tell me about yourself Cherry?" Relinquishing some of the power she had in the conversation while also gaining some insight to who she was spelled as a win for both of them as far as Elsa was concerned. Now instead of asking specifics she'd let the girl chose what she wanted to reveal.
If she was involved with the Elsa's attacker then it would come to light soon enough but for now better to let her think of herself as an ally than to antagonize her and she reveal to him that they had been discovered.
"I umm... I like foodeh." Elsa coughed away a chuckle, the girl's phonetics were... interesting to say the least. While some foreigners she encountered lacked the ability to complete a word, Cherry added extra syllables and noises to hers. It made Elsa wish she was a studied linguist.
"I love umm stars." That itched in her mind, it wasn't so unique, many enjoyed the stars- some more than Elsa herself. She had only met two aspiring astronomers in her life, Ingrid, the little girl who had requested an ice sextant two years ago, and...
And there it was again. The congenital, obsessive perception that scratched at the surface but was trapped under an ice sheet drowning Elsa's discernment. Georg Scherer's ice sheet was thick and contemptible, as he stood on the ice and laughed down in mockery at Elsa's lack of mental prowess which was outpaced by his own. Cherry's was thin, as if one small answer would connect all the synapses that she disconnected with her uncanny and esoteric nature which frustrated Elsa even more.
The girl wasn't mocking her, but Elsa felt that if she were it would be justified somehow.
"What did you say? I'm sorry I was lost in thought..." Elsa asked, the girl joined her at the window and had been talking beneath Elsa's scrutiny, a palpable warmth resonated off her body as if her chest contained a furnace, it was almost distracting. She looked as if she were to run at the mere snap of twig. Elsa cursed her recklessness with the situation. If she was get answers fr Cherry she'd have to tread carefully and not spook her.
"It is okay, I was just saying nothing." She didn't sound dejected, or insulted as she continued taking in the stars. In Elsa's periphery Cherry's fingers drummed against their neighbors and body rocked- a noticable behavior throughout their conversation, in some way or manner Cherry was always moving, constantly fidgeting. Elsa wasn't sure if it was a nervous tick, or what.
"No please, tell me." When she didn't reply right away Elsa's irritation began its metamorphosis to self degradation.
Of all the times my listening skills had to become subpar it was no-
"I was just saying- no, that the Serpens is my favorite constellation..." Elsa peripheral glance turned to a full stare. It was ignored in favor of the stars.
"It has more than fifteen stars in it eh. Unukalhai is the neck and Theta Serpentis is the tip of tail." She really did love the stars. Elsa's identified those very stars, Unukalhai shining the the brightest in the entire constellation.
"I have a collection of favorite constellations," It was Elsa's turn to be watched. She'd return the courtesy of not drawing attention to Cherry's regard of her. "Boötes, Libra, and Ursa Minor."
"Why?"
Elsa's face was overcome with fondness unaware that every micro expression and twitch was being studied as closely as they were.
"Those show up around and on my sister's birthday." The silence that enveloped them was comfortable, the troubles of the night lulled away to obscurity that would be handled tomorrow.
"Here's a difficult question, what is the most outrageous story as told by the stars to you?" Ryu tapped the side of her temple with her index as her lips folded inward. Elsa observed her contemplation and the detonation of its end when her eyes lit up.
"Ahh eh!" Her choosing had been exclaimed as if it was a personal victory. "Gemini- mhm, Zeusu seduced the Spartan Queen Leda ah. As a swan nuh." She shook her head, eyes closed, opening them they found Elsa's shining with mischief, as she wagged a finger as one would to a misbehaving child. "I hope they didn't make kids while he was still a swan." Elsa's lips grew lopsided, engrossed at the maid's enlivening enthusiasm.
"You say now." She prompted, she seemed tempted to touch the spirit with how close her fingers drew but refrained. Elsa had prepped for the question to be fired back at her since Cherry seemed the curious type.
"Well when Zeus transformed himself into the white bull with golden horns, Taurus, when he fell in love with the Phoenician Princess Europa and kidnapped her to Crete." Her regaling was approved by Cherry who folded her arms, her elbow rested in the opposite arm's palm while the one raised towards her face tapping her chin with her index coyly.
"Shame no, both our answers just had to have 'bestialituh' eh?." Elsa didn't require a translator to know what word she had attempted to say, when Cherry joined her in laughter Elsa's calmed so as to hear Cherry's chortle closely.
It was light as her voice and followed no uniform pattern but that wasn't why she had muffled her own behind her hand to listen. Her words broken and mispronounced did not conceal the zeal and animated harmonic notes- as if she was singing every other sentence. Elsa wasn't certain if it was the cadence of her accent or her voice itself, and frankly didn't care- She enjoyed listening to her.
Settled Cherry tilted her head to Elsa. "Do you think they uh-"
"I don't know if they had...relations while he was a bull," a heat overtook her cheeks and ears, Cherry seemed immune to such talk. Probably cause she has a fever. "I'm sure there are many translations that differ from one another." Elsa had only known the woman for a day and she had already learned the Spirit's secret penchant at finding darker and unwonted subjects had the potential for humor and even played upon it.
"I should be attending dinner right about now." The girl seemed more reluctant to leave than before, Elsa took this as progress. She hadn't had many wins that day and would take them wherever the opportunity presented itself.
"I do not envy you deh... Well except for the fish." Her eyes widened as if she had made a grave error and quickly added. "And other foods, it all smelt so good!"
Elsa hummed, majority of the food she did not partake, though Anna always went the extra mile to give her lots of non meat options whenever she joined them for dinner. If she was being entirely honest with herself- she would rather have stayed here in her room with Cherry than have to face Lord Thomas or even worse Georg Scherer.
Cherry seemed sharp enough, she had shown some knowledge in not just Astronomy but Grecian mythology, and had allegedly traveled the world. It made Elsa grow intrigued of what other subjects she knew about or studied, what other topics they could discuss and pontificate toget-
"Goodnight Erusa."
What did she call me?
Elsa spun round to Cherry half way through the door. "I said goodnight Lady Elsa." Her reply made Elsa realize she had spoken her thought aloud, snickering once she shut the door behind her. When alone Elsa rubbed her face paying heed to not redden it despite the urge to add pressure.
If she was to make it through this dinner she'd have to erase all traces of Cherry and what she revealed to her from her mind. Paranoid that Scherer would see somehow right into her memories at their conversation.
Anna dominated most of the dinner conversation to help Elsa, keeping the attention of the majority on herself speaking of nothing and yet everything at the same time. Despite her efforts Elsa still felt his eyes on her. That wasn't the issue though, Elsa was used to being studied like an exhibit- despite how rude and obnoxious it was- during state dinners. The problem was that he wasn't staring at her. He kept his eyes upon the queen with a lazy indifference.
Was he doing this on purpose? Elsa shook her head. No, now she was being obsessive and paranoid. After having not eaten all day Elsa's stomach twisted not with hunger but anxiety.
Even without any effort Georg Scherer had been dictating her emotions. She hated it! A hand upon her knee jerked Elsa back to the present, Honeymaren was concerned and kept her hand upon Elsa's knee who took the invitation to place her hand atop it- enjoying the reassurance. The room had gotten cooler, just a few digits from allowing everyone to see their breaths.
"Excellent display Lady Elsa," Thomas clapped loudly, Scherer was less inclined to praise. "It was quite tepid in here, if I do say so myself. Cooling on demand what a dream!" His voice chirped as he raised a glass in Elsa's direction speaking in a reverence that made her uncomfortable.
"To Lady Elsa of Arendelle, and her remarkably unfathomable power!" The fellow dinner goers joined in hesitantly to the toast. Elsa nodded to him, tipping her water glass. The cold liquid allowed her focus to center on it and Honeymaren's hand.
She kept it there through the entire dinner thankfully. It was a simple task, all that was required of her in that moment was to drink water and account the physicality of her friends grip.
Her thoughts became superficial, counting the grooves of Honeymaren's hand, or how many palmar flexion creases she had on each finger.
Instead of slowing dinner as her previous pondering had done the menial actions of guessing to herself which picture Honeymaren had traced on her palm sped it up. Some were absurd, others made her chuckle quietly.
And soon dinner was dismissed. Elsa rose first, slinking towards Kristoff, her hand was gripping Honeymaren's who allowed the distressed woman to pull her along. She made certain he was alone before approaching.
"Kristoff meet me in my room in thirty minutes," she says hushed. "Tell Yelana to come and don't bring Anna."
Kristoff blinked rapidly at being bombarded so quickly while he was just simply minding his own. "Are we finally planning that coup I told you about?"
Despite the gravity of the subject Elsa found herself giggling. "Most definitely." Honeymaren oohed rubbing her hands together in a playful devious nature. The man nodded, turned and was ambushed by the Lord Thomas who looked dejected that Elsa would not be lingering.
Elsa linked her arm to Honeymaren, her eyes flitted about as if they were children sneaking a sweet from the kitchen, just replace the mischief with a rampant urgency. "Have a conversation with me." Honeymaren nearly stopped walking but the hold her arm was twisted in prevented that.
"Isn't that what we're doing right now?" Elsa shakes her head, denying the true fact.
"No make it seem important." Now she was completely thrown for a loop.
"I- I don't know how to do that," Honeymaren stammers. "What you want me to yell at you or something?" Now it's her looking about, for an answer that isn't in the servants clearing away the table or Anna slowly running her hand down to Kristoff's lower back inviting herself into his conversation with Lord Thomas.
"No, no just-" hands plant themselves upon Elsa's shoulders. She had been so anxious since the Lords arrived in Arendelle.
"It's Georg Scherer." It would have been a guess had it been an actual question and not a statement.
Elsa nodded defeated. Her friend knew that face all too well. She had seen it many times. Elsa felt weak, vulnerable... Scared, and for some reason was guilty about her state of being.
"Hey," Honeymaren watches her shift, her smile broadens. Her tone was proud, cause she was. She was very proud of Elsa who instead of withdrawing into herself, ironing out her emotion to solve whatever problem that was at hand, had asked for help.In a quirky sort of way.
"Come on," her head nudged towards the hallway. "I'll walk you to your room, and then you can debrief me before Kristoff gets there." They walked in their previous position. When Honeymaren brought up Ryu Elsa began engaging more in the conversation.
She missed the forest, She missed her cottage, she missed Ryu. Elsa didn't have to hide behind masks or double entendres with the dragon who accepted her like her family had, just as she was and gave nothing but her own entirety in return. Elsa wondered if the dragon- if she was to see her now- would be able to recognize this opaque alter of herself she put on during state visits.
They had come across Scherer in the halls which sadly meant a sudden topic change to nothing in particular or that was what Elsa had gathered, she hadn't really been paying attention instead channeling energies into a mock engrossment in what Honeymaren was saying. Honeymaren hadn't wasn't paying attention either, it could have been complete nonsense.
They greeted each other politely to the man who loved to hear himself speak. Before they knew if he would even open his mouth to say more Honeymaren tugged at Elsa.
"Come on we have to hurry if I'm to show you before it gets too late!" They both hoped he'd let them go without interference before they had to come up with what Honeymaren was supposed to show Elsa. He had.
Elsa let out the held in breath shooting a very grateful smile to Honeymaren who was glaring after Georg Scherer.
Her thoughts were clear, practically plastered upon her forehead. The idea that he hadn't pursued similar to before meant- He was cornering me.
Relinquishing her hold on Honeymaren to open the door she gestured for her to enter first. For safety's sake Elsa looked to the left then right down the hallway before proceeding to enter.
Despite her prodding for information Elsa doesn't look up from her notes when she answers, scribbling down some after thoughts.
"It'll be easier to say it all at once when Yelana and Kristoff gets here, and safer." That silenced her for the duration allowing Elsa to sort out her notes, the pages containing what she would mention marked against her private thoughts, observations and plans.
A knock, made her snap the book shut, tucking it under her arm as she opens the door inviting them in. Yelana doesn't take a seat upon her bed as Kristoff and Honeymaren did.
The creak of the floorboards telegraphed when everyone was settled.
Still facing the doors she had just closed, she sorted how to announce the conspiracy that had arisen almost overnight.
"There's going to be an assassination attempt towards me in the castle." Her lips pressed into a line at the end of the unintentionally fast admission.
Yelana's face remained unmoving, Honeymaren's fists clenched. The most emotive of the three was Kristoff with his fingers gripping the upper bridge of his nose painfully.
When he spoke each syllable was prolonged by expectancy and placid anger.
"Of course there is."
