Chapter 7
Queen Elsa stood at the balcony of the castle looking out at the stars on the skyline. Elsa looked down at her hands, where she held a letter, that was written by her younger sister.
„Days and nights are passing faster. Yet I still wasn't able to see you again. Why are we separated from each other like that?" Commented Elsa leaning the letter closer to her chest.
Behind her the door got opened up, then it was revealed to be the dark-blonde girl Gerda, that had been searching for the queen.
„I knew you were here," Commented Gerda stepping out watching Elsa look back at the girl, then look down at the bridge, that led out of the castle.
„I needed to get some fresh air after all this," Mentioned Elsa. „I'm a little unfocused because of this one letter of Lord Oddbjörn,"
„You don't need to justify it. We all know you're worried about this situation. Today it's just the very first day of the encounter between all four kingdoms. Tomorrow or the other days you can take it easier and get to know them all,"
„Sure, I'm thinking about talking to them all at once, but I feel like they would just fight each other in a way. Hugo and Ulrich at least. Prince Rollan seemed most of the times quiet, He didn't respond back to any critics or comments towards him as the others did,"
„Yes, I did notice that. Perhaps he doesn't like it to argue with people or just seems pretty mature on that aspect,"
„You know I could consider talking with all the three princes, but separately," Suggested Elsa. „All four of us would be more opener with each other and perhaps more sincere. I don't buy Ulrich's story about having defeated the Snow King. That was General Arrog the Great," Mentioned the silver-blonde woman making Gerda nod.
„Yes, I remember that story," Commented Gerda. „If you want my opinion, I think speaking with each of the princes by yourself alone or away from the others would be the best option,"
„I think so too," Spoke Elsa. „I still don't believe, that I will fall in love with any of the boys there. At least not now,"
„Isn't it kind of hypocritical, that our….I mean parents of higher social classes do assume they have to help you look for a suitor to get to married to you at some point of your life?" Questioned Gerda. „How do they even know you would be happy in that life?"
„The other issue I don't even know, if my parents got married that way or if they really had gotten together because of actual love?" Questioned Elsa making Gerda shrug her shoulders.
„Does Kai or Gerda know anything about that?" Asked Gerda making Elsa shrug her shoulders.
„I haven't really asked that to be honest. I'll think about this. First I want to get to know these men," Commented Elsa, then she returned into the castle and closed the door behind them, then smiled at Gerda, which mirrored her facial expression afterward both shared a hug. „Thank you for coming to see me,"
„Don't mention it, that's what friends are for,"
„They couldn't have brought me a greater one," Commented Elsa making Gerda smile, then behind them the door got opened up and Prince Hugo showed up along with Prince Ulrich.
„Your….oh there you are!" Spoke Prince Ulrich.
„I beg your pardon, your majesty. We noticed your absence and were worried about your state, since we heard about your younger sister," Explained Prince Hugo making Elsa nod.
„Thank you, but everything is fine for now. I just needed to get some fresh air," Queen Elsa pointed out making the princes nod. „Where's the third prince?" Questioned the queen making the two look at each other and shrug their shoulders.
„He was out there with his father and that's the last time I saw him," Responded Hugo.
„Your majesty, you know we don't need to have him around. We've got a higher experience than he probably has. Take me for example, all my ancestors were good rulers of Zurich and I assure you I won't be an exception," Promised Prince Ulrich taking Queen Elsa's hand, making her frown and slap him with her other hand, shrieking him.
„Ops sorry, my hand slipped out" Elsa asserted making Ulrich chuckle a little abashed at her reaction.
„One minus for the royal Prince of Zurich," Commented Hugo with a smirk, making Ulrich frown. From behind entered Prince Rollan, which sighed in relief to see he had made it to find the Princes and approached them.
„I'm sorry, I was busy," Apologized the Spaniard watching Rollan bow down at Queen Elsa making Gerda chuckle as Elsa got bewildered at Rollan. Rollan shrieked, then kept his head down.
„I would like to formally apologize for not having used the right words, your majesty," Rollan said getting up watching Elsa smile at the Spaniard, which smiled relieved afterward Elsa looked at Gerda, which was looking at the raven-haired prince.
„If you three don't mind, I'd like to show you the rooms you will overnight for the rest of the days here," Suggested the queen making the princes nod, which followed the leader along with Gerda into the next hall, that had a couple of doors on each side, which led to the bedrooms. „The left door at the end is the bathroom and so is the one on the right side. I will put up a note later on, which one you will be using while the other one is for me or Gerda.
„None of you will feel alone in this level. Queen Elsa and I will be around, also Kai will be overnighting in this part as well," Told Gerda. „The very first room here on the left is free for you, Prince Ulrich," Mentioned Gerda. „Vice versa you will be Kai's neighbor,"
„The next one will be yours, Prince Hugo. Vice versa to our Gardner," Introduced Queen Elsa making the Belgian nod. „And Prince Rollan will be in that room there, vice versa is my younger sister's bedroom, which is currently occupied by my friend Gerda," Commented Elsa stopping in front of the door and looked at the princes looking at their doors, that were added to them. „My room is next to Gerda's and vice versa would be the ones from my parents, "
„I hope you can feel like back at home. It's been a long day and we all could need a good night of sleep," Stated Elsa making the princes nod. The princes made their way to their addressed bedrooms, then Elsa watched Gerda get to her bedroom and look back at Elsa.
„What do you think about tomorrow?" Questioned Gerda. „Are you going to do it on your own?"
„Maybe if you would tag along I would feel a little secure. I'm certain, that it would be better if I would do it on my own,"
„I know you can easily spot a red flag on anyone. At least I felt like you saw one on Prince Ulrich in a way,"
„I will take my time. If one of them is patient enough, that's a good start," Commented Elsa making Gerda nod. „Sweet dreams," Wished Elsa walking towards her room making Gerda smile, which opened the door to Anna's bedroom and looked at the other side to see all princes disappear into the bedroom and looked forward to her neighbor, which was the Spaniard exchanging the door key from the outside into the inside. He looked forward to see Gerda, which smiled at him. The raven-haired boy mirrored her facial expression, then closed the door followed by the girl to get into the bedroom.
Hans, Princess Anna and Donny had stopped on the outside of the forest on top of the hill, a few miles away from the ocean. The trio had parked their carriage next to the road and sat on the grass a few meters away from the road holding over an open fire a stick with small pieces of cut vegetables from Hans' farm. Hans hold out two sticks, while Anna held one only and Hans moved one of the sticks down at Donny, which sat between him and Anna looking at them grilling.
„There you go, little guy," Said Hans placing it in front of Donny, which placed his paws on the side of the stick, then sniffed the vegetables and took one bite from it.
„So….you have grown all these vegetables that are inside your cart?" Questioned the princess looking up at the brunette.
„Correct," Responded Hans. „The load I've got here is from last week. Should last a bag or two at the end of our trip,"
„Are these vegetables the only ones you have planted'
„Well, there are peas and bell peppers as well. Lettuce and cucumber as well. The basic needs for the villagers,"
„You've been harvesting them all to sell it to the villagers?" Questioned the princess making the man nod.
„This is how we farmers get throughout life. According to my father, most of his siblings were farmers as well and this was their living for many decades,"
„The business sure is very profitable for your family, right?" Asked Anna making Hans shrug his shoulders.
„Well it could be better, but as I'm now on my own I would say it's easier for me to go through the taxes,"
„Did your parents…..you know…..pass away?" Asked Anna taking out from the fire her stick, followed by the farmer.
„It's been a while. My parents had gotten sick in the past few years and I stood around their farm most of the time and back inside the house to take care of them. My visits in the village with our vegetables were rarer, so I lost plenty of clients and I need to recuperate them with the time. I have reduced a little of the plantation, but I may have to do more. It won't be easy to sell all the vegetables until the end of the year,"
„Did you return, when they left?" Questioned Anna making Hans nod.
„I had to get closer to the customers in a way. Not everyone would have the time to pass by the farm, so now that I'm not around my parents anymore I have to take this opportunity,"
„That was a good thing to do," Commented Anna taking a bite of the first vegetable from her stick.
„What about your parents?" Questioned Hans. „Were you very close with them?"
„I don't remember the amount of time we had spent together from memory. I do remember my mom mostly, she used in her free time play along with me and my older sister games. Comfort us, when we were down or had a fight,"
„She's your older sister, right?"
„Elsa? Yes, she is," Answered Anna. „She was on that time one of the closest friends I had until I got here," Explained the strawberry-blonde woman. „What about you? You've got any brothers?"
Hans snorted at the comment of the woman, then nodded.
„Woah more than I wished for," Commented Hans. „You can't imagine it,"
The princess giggled, then took another bite from the stick, followed by Hans and remembered something she wanted to tell as well.
„My mother also used to tell us stories before falling asleep and what made it so epic for me, was that she would also sing for us. Every time I heard her singing, it made me feel like everything was going to be okay,"
„I assume she was a quite good singer," Commented Hans making Anna nod.
„How long ago is it, that your parents passed away?" Asked the Arendellian watching Hans ponder about the years.
„4 or 5 years. Around this,"
„I was 14, when my parents were declared to have passed away on an shipwreck and the only person of my family, that remained was my sister Elsa," Commented Anna neutral. „We're both unable to understand how to move on from that point of our lives….Like, I already was a bit worried, that I wouldn't be seeing my parents for so long, but that this was the last time I would see them and, that this was the last time I would share a hug with them. This is what made the last straw,"
„It's insane how a specific event on one day can change our entire life," Commented Hans making Anna nod.
„Right," Commented Anna, then watched the farmer grab a plate he had next to the fire with a few more sticks on it and offered one to the princess. „Thank you," Both held a new one over it, then Anna looked down to see Donny had closed his eyes and smiled charmed about him.
„Per coincidence, you have nothing to cover for tonight?" Questioned the princess making Hans shake his head.
„I didn't really think about bringing one…..wait, you can use my cloak if you'd like," Suggested Hans. „The fire will stay for the rest of the night to keep us all warm. Figuring out which is the best way to sleep we'll figure out later," Pointed Hans out making Anna cackle.
„Lying or sitting here doesn't seem quite comfortable, to be honest,"
„It's not the worst overnight I have ever had, but it's also not the best one. It's tolerable," Confessed the farmer making Anna nod. „It will only be five days if we keep going at a good pace," Anna nodded, then stared back at the fire roasting her vegetable sticks along with Hans under the starline.
