/Hello there everyone. Posting this old fanfic up again. Once again this story was a collaboration with someone I knew off of Deviantart.
The Snow Queen of Arendelle, Queen Elsa sat upon her throne, fingers practically clawing at the arm rests. Today was the day...the day she finally listened to the appeal of the Duke of..Weaseltown, was it? Elsa didn't remember or care, but she certainly remembered him. The slimy man called her a monster and driven her out of her own kingdom. It had been Anna that convinced her to listen to the Duke's appeal, but Elsa was certain that she'd remain unconvinced. The beautiful blonde Queen held in a groan as a servant announced his presence. "Your Majesty, the Duke of Weaseltown.."
The short man's temper proved even shorter than he himself was. He glared at the royal attendant. Clearly this insulting man was doing this to openly mock him in front of the queen and hinder him. Well, the Duke was having none of that this time. Today, he would be a true man of authority just as his title implied. "Weselton! It's Weselton, you fool! Can't you ever get my country's name right?!" Panting after his rant, the Duke then turned to the queen herself. Straightening up before approaching the queen sitting on her throne, he gave a quick bow of his head. He needed especially to impress her now, given their recent history. "Your Majesty..."
"Duke," Elsa regarded the Duke with a curt, though polite nod. She figured it was more than he deserved. As she looked the Duke over she was reminded of what a wretched little man he had been, scaring her out of her wits while calling her a monster and calling for her head. Elsa doubted he would change, but Anna had convinced her to at least give him a chance. "You have an appeal for me, Duke. I'll hear it now if you please." Elsa forced a small smile to made from her delicate lips.
He took a breath, many thoughts rushing through his mind from this beautiful woman. Oh, how she infuriated him for making him feel this way even now when she probably despised him and he knew it. Well, what had happened then wasn't his fault! But he couldn't phrase it like that of course, no more than he could call her by her charming name when he was her inferior. "Your majesty, please reconsider this ban on Weselton. It is most inconsiderate to toss away a longtime foreign ally like trash." He involuntarily clenched his fist and hoped she wouldn't notice. "You're a new Queen and need all the diplomatic relations you can get, do you not?"
Elsa gave nothing away as she listened to the Duke's plea with the best poker face Arendelle had probably ever seen. Of course, the Duke wasn't wrong and Weselton had always been Arendelle's biggest partner in trade during her father's reign, but she couldn't forgive a treasonous enemy so easily, especially one who wouldn't even apologize for his wrongdoing. 'Reformed indeed, Anna,' Elsa thought to herself. The man was still the ruthless, greedy little man he was when he chased Elsa out of Arendelle and she definitely held a grudge over it. Elsa started to pick apart the Duke's request, piece by piece, with a strong, yet calm and measured voice. "An ally that had displayed behavior that could be considered acts of treason to the Crown. As I see it, you were let off lightly." Elsa studied the Duke's mannerisms with interest. He really seemed to believe in his garbage. "I am a new queen, but I don't need to have diplomatic relations with 'allies' who would so quickly turn against Arendelle."
The Duke let out an irritated sigh. She had to bring it up so soon, didn't she? What a low blow when he was at least trying to be civilized. So much for tact. "Excuse me but there was no other choice," he spoke through gritted teeth. "You would've done the same if you were in my place. It was a matter of life and death for the rest of us normal people." He took a step forward. "And when I last checked, weren't you the one formally charged with treason? Besides, you shouldn't judge an entire country on the actions of one man," he proclaimed, putting a hand on his chest.
Elsa twitched in annoyance, but otherwise didn't let her displeasure with the Duke show beyond her words. Had the man just stated that Hans, of all people, had the authority to charge her with anything? It was enough to make her fingertips cold. She had to suppress the urge to freeze the little weasel and to mention Hans at all. He wasn't worth mentioning. "I'm glad you mentioned not judging Weselton based solely on your representation of if. I'd be more than willing to re-open trade with Weasel- Ahem, pardon me...with Weselton, if you were not to benefit from any trade agreement made and in fact I'd prefer it if you resigned from your position, altogether."
At her request for him to abandon his position, the Duke silently looked down for moment before letting out a humorless chuckle. "Tell me then, your majesty. Why do you think I'm here if not by my own choice?" In a symbolic flourish, he removed his glasses and looked directly into the queen's eyes. His next words were soft but serious. "I didn't have to return to Arendelle. It could've been any other ambassador but I myself chose to return. Why do you think that is other than that I really wish to make amends with you?" He sighed again and pinched the bridge of his nose. "So must you keep making this difficult for both of us?"
Elsa was momentarily taken aback by the Duke's seemingly sincere words. It really didn't make sense for the Duke to return to Arendelle unless he personally, wanted to make amends with her. Any other ambassador would have a better chance at re-opening trade with Arendelle than this Duke and yet apparently Weselton had enough faith in him to send him back here. It all confused Elsa and she tried not to let it show on her face, though her beautiful face did show a wrinkle or two that hinted that she might be showing might be showing an emotion for once. She sighed softly before speaking. "If you wish to make amends, then I'd like to hear an apology. After that...we can discuss this matter further.." Elsa wanted to judge this man for herself, not where the entire court was his audience. "...in private."
The Duke regarded the queen's reaction closely with bated breath. From what little could be observed, she did indeed seem to take note of he said which was certainly a step up from any other time before. However, it was soon the Duke's turn to be shocked by what he heard next. Did the queen just request a private audience...with him? He fought against the pleased blush that rose upon his cheeks, trying to appear neutral. Clearing his throat, the Duke shakily put his glasses back on his crooked nose. "I-I'll apologize if you apologize too, your Majesty You were rude to me as well and misjudged my intentions."
At this, the Duke blinked his eyes rapidly. So that's how it was. She was going to play hard to get until he bared himself to her first. Never mind that this would go against his natural pride but if they were to proceed...the Duke clicked his teeth in further irritation. Maybe later, he could convince her that she was the one more in the wrong. "Fine. I'm..." the Duke visibly cringed through the unfamiliar taste of his next words, "I...apologize..for all I've done...your Majesty." Never again, he thought soon after. Such words were only meant for the weak. He felt strongly tempted to rub his mouth clean from...apologizing but resisted the urge.
A smile graced Elsa's regal lips. Whether it was a smug, self-satisfied smile or a genuine, happy smile was anyone's guess. Either way, the next part would pain her as much as the Duke, seemed to have been: accepting his apology. Elsa regarded the Duke with a nod. "I accept your apology, Duke and I would request that we have the rest of this conversation in private." Elsa stood from her throne, but before she could do anything else, she caught sight of Anna who had been watching the entire meeting. She seemed happy that things seemed to be going 'well'. She waved to her frantically from across the throne room and Elsa could do nothing but let her queenly demeanor slip to giggle silently at her silly sister, one hand covering her mouth, politely.
The Duke nodded back, mildly relieved that the apology was enough to appease the Queen. He took a step back when she stood up from her throne, adopting a proper, stiff pose to regain some dignity. He then saw the queen lift a hand to her lips and immediately assumed that she was laughing at him. Soon though, he noticed that the queen wasn't looking at him at all and turned his head slightly to see her younger sister Anna waving in the back as cheery as ever. The corners of the Duke's mouth quirked up a little as he recalled how sweet Anna was when they had last met. But to the matter at hand. He was going to have time alone with the queen at long last, with Elsa. Nothing else was of more importance to him.
Elsa's eyes widened a little while looking at Anna, as if to say 'you know I'm working'. Eventually she waved back at her sister, but gave her a mock-stern look. She turned her head to look back down at the Duke. He was no doubt eager to meet with the Queen privately and Elsa was eager to get this entire matter over with. She smiled politely at the Duke. "Apologies for the interruption. We can adjourn to the private meeting room now if you'd like, Duke. This meeting is formally called to a close." Elsa slowly stepped down off the dais and assumed the Duke would have a servant lead him to the meeting room, or he might be so eager that he'd try to follow her personally. Elsa wasn't sure she wanted to find out, she realized with her first true frown of the day.
The Duke looked up at the queen and quickly nodded. "Of course, your majesty. I'm ready to adjourn this meeting with you to the meeting room as soon as possible." He glanced about the throne room until he found a servant present. "You there," he commanded the servant sternly, "lead me to where the meeting room is." As the servant complied, the Duke looked back at Elsa briefly, feeling rather disheartened at her frown but didn't let it show.