19. Royal Lunch
"Wow, I just blew my cover, didn't I?" Anna mused.
"You were doing so well. That's why I asked you if you were going in," Stefanie chided with a grin.
"I couldn't figure out why you asked. But to be fair, my cover usually gets blown within the first thirty steps. I'm not used to having to maintain it for so long," Anna rationalized.
"Princess Anna?!" the Scurrs and Mandelbaums again said in unison. The womenfolk, including young Beatrice, curtsied and Adam gave his best bow.
"Please don't do that," Anna said politely. "Only if it's some formal occasion at the castle, and sometimes not even then."
"Many apologies, Your Highness, for not recognizing you," Debora said contritely.
Anna laughed. "It's not as though I'm walking around wearing a tiara and have a footman holding the train of my cloak. I don't expect visitors to know me on sight, and I don't stand out visually like Elsa - I mean, Queen Elsa."
"Well, thank you for taking the time to show us around, Your Highness," Irene said sincerely.
Anna laughed some more. "Since it's kinda my job to be a good hostess in general, and Stefanie is one of our official tour guides, it's no trouble at all."
"So who wants a sandwich?" Dagmar asked brightly.
"We have our local open-faced variety and the closed type," Arvid said, pointing to the menu above the counter. "And of course we can also make combinations that aren't listed."
"I want the 'Princess Anna'!" Adam said gleefully once he saw the name.
Irene quickly scanned the description. "No," she said emphatically. "You are going to the state dinner tonight, even if it is just the children's room, and this sandwich is too much food for you, anyway. It has four layers!"
"You're going to the dinner tonight?" Anna asked.
"Oh, uh, yes," said Irene. "I guess I just blew our cover, too. My husband is a doctor who was just hired to work in your clinics and teach. I am Irene Scurr, and my husband's name is John. And these are Adam and Beatrice."
"And my husband will be teaching physics and engineering, as well as studying the Queen's magic," Debora explained. "We are the Mandelbaums: Eliasz, Debora, and Zlata."
"That's wonderful!" Anna declared. "I'll have somebody normal to talk with tonight. I mean, not that the other people attending aren't normal, but that there will be somebody to talk with about normal stuff. Not that the other people can't talk about normal stuff, but when you get a whole room full of scientists and priests and diplomats and then throw in my sister on top of that, the conversations can get really weird in a hurry."
Debora had to chuckle. "Sounds like fun."
"Oh, it is. At least afterward, even if I didn't understand most of it," Anna agreed. "Although sometimes the discussion gets a little too heated. Fortunately, the Queen is pretty good at cooling things off."
"She's been waiting three weeks to use that joke again," Stefanie informed them.
"Timing is everything," Anna quipped.
"I would like to try the 'Queen Elsa,' " Zlata said quietly. The aroma of the fresh breads reminded her just how hungry she was.
"An excellent traditional selection, young lady," approved Arvid.
The rest of the newcomers to Arendelle read the ingredients: sliced smoked salmon on the local rye bread, topped with Dagmar's special dill sauce and sautéed asparagus spears.
"That sounds very good," Debora had to admit.
"The Queen probably really did eat something like that for lunch," Anna said with a smirk. "She's not the most adventurous diner in the world."
"I want the 'Olaf,' " Beatrice bubbled.
"That's an ice cream sandwich, dear," said Irene patiently. "Dessert is not lunch."
"We make a very nice grilled sandwich using Jarlsberg cheese on your choice of bread," Dagmar advised. "Combining that with a side of 'Sven's Slaw' has proven very popular with children."
Irene saw that "Sven's Slaw" was shredded carrots and apples with a honey and apple cider vinegar dressing.
"Done," Irene said gratefully. "Three of them, please, on rye."
"And we'll take two 'Queen Elsas', please," Debora said.
Dagmar and Arvid snapped into action and in short order handed over some very attractive sandwiches. The Scurrs and the Mandelbaums sat down at the tables and tucked in. Anna and Stefanie sat down with them.
"So you have already found a job at such a young age?" Zlata haltingly asked Stefanie in between cutting bites from her sandwich.
"Yes, but it's just temporary while I go to the university," Stefanie said modestly. "I'm really not sure what I want to do yet, but it is a rare opportunity to be able to study so many different things."
"And even rarer for women. Arendelle is very enlightened to allow women into higher education," Debora complimented. "That's one of the reasons my husband took the offer, so that Zlata could study the sciences, get a real degree, and maybe find work here instead of having to learn in secret and then never be able to use her knowledge. Queen Elsa is brave and farsighted."
"Queen Elsa is all about people using their brains," Stefanie said, getting in a subtle jab at Anna. Stefanie very much sided with Elsa about Anna's need for further studies; Anna pretended to ignore her.
"Well, my sister said it would be really strange for her to found a school but then forbid women to attend," Anna told them.
"That has not stopped others, Your Highness," Debora said wistfully.
The families finished their meals and returned the plates and silverware to the counter as Dagmar totaled the bills. "Please charge it to my account, Dagmar," said Anna.
"Oh, no, please, Your Highness! You don't need to," Irene insisted. "You'll be feeding us tonight. And we have our own money."
"Consider it a perk that goes with your husbands' jobs," Anna said sincerely.
"No, please, you don't understand, Your Highness. Mrs. Mandelbaum and I really do have our own money. I am a midwife, and she gives private music, dance, and art lessons," Irene explained as she and Debora handed over some coins to Dagmar. "We both intend to work while we're in Arendelle, too."
"Ooh, sign me up right away!" Anna exclaimed before she realized how it could be interpreted. "I mean, for Mrs. Mandelbaum's lessons. I don't need a midwife, because ... you know. But whenever I do, I'll be sure to call for you."
Irene and Debora shared a smile. They hadn't had many encounters with royalty, but they could tell that Princess Anna was far from the norm.
"It will be a great honor to have the Princess of Arendelle as a student, but I still need to find the right building or at least the right room and a piano," Debora said.
"Oh, just come to the castle," Anna said nonchalantly. "We have a ball room and a few pianos."
"Uh, Princess Anna, you may want to check with the Queen first," Stefanie cautioned.
"Elsa would never say that I can't take music or dancing lessons. The gates are open now. And we have more than enough space," Anna contended.
"Well, yes, Your Highness, but sometimes the Queen uses the rooms you're talking about," Stefanie reminded her.
"No big deal. We'll work around her," Anna said with certainty.
"I still must find something for students who don't have your resources, but for the time being, thank you for the offer, Your Highness," Debora said.
"Speaking of the castle, let's get you to the courtyard," Anna said as she stood up. The others followed suit. "We'll be seeing you, Dagmar, Arvid."
The restaurateurs waved at them as they left the building. "Come again any time, Princess!" Dagmar said.
Anna began pointing out certain landmarks and businesses of note to her new friends. "And coming up ahead is the flower market."
"Looks like Olaf is holding court," Stefanie said fondly. And indeed, even if the hovering snow flurry didn't give his location away, the cluster of laughing people would have.
The Scurr children's eyes grew wide in anticipation. "Mama, can we meet Olaf? Please?" Beatrice entreated.
"Only if Princess Anna says we can," Irene said, not really sure about the protocol involved.
"Of course they can meet Olaf," Anna said with a laugh and lead the group forward.
"What does a snowman put on his kjøttkaker?" Olaf was saying to two men, one of which was wearing a black robe-like garment and a black hat.
"What are kjøttkaker?" asked the other man, who was balding.
"They're like meatballs, except they are more flat. Thick meat patties, if you will," said Charlotte, a woman who worked at the flower market and who was well-acquainted with Anna and Olaf.
"Thank you. All right, Olaf, what does a snowman put on his kjøttkaker?" asked the balding man.
"Chilly sauce!" said Olaf with a giggle.
The crowd giggled along or groaned playfully, while the two foreign men looked at each other, speechless.
"Did you make up that joke by yourself, Olaf?" asked the man in the black robe.
"Um, I think so, Father Papadopoulos," Olaf pondered. "But we all pun like snowbody's business, so I could have heard something like it before. Oh, hi there, Anna and Stefanie!"
"Hello again, Princess Anna and Miss Rask!" said Charlotte, and the rest of the Arendellians around Olaf also acknowledged their Princess and her friend with informal waves or nods. The two foreign men, however, bowed deeply to Anna.
"Princess Anna, it's an honor to meet you," said the balding man.
"Greetings, Your Highness," said the man in the black robe.
"They're here to study Elsa's magic," Olaf disclosed. "That one is Mr. Homberg, and that one is Father Papadopoulos. They're very nice."
"Welcome to Arendelle," Anna said, trying to muster her sense of decorum. This type of thing came much more naturally to the Queen; and in many ways, being the subject of scientific curiosity and religious debates was far more disturbing for Anna than it was for Elsa. "I hope your stay has been pleasant and interesting so far."
"Very much so, Your Highness," said Homberg "As a naturalist, I find myself intrigued not only by the Queen's magic, but by Arendelle in general. The setting here is breathtaking."
"Yes, Princess," Papadopoulos concurred. "The views are lovely; the people are friendly; the magic is amazing."
"And these people are...?" prompted Olaf, gesturing to the rest of the group who had arrived with Anna.
"Oh, yes! These are Debora and Zlata Mandelbaum; and Irene, Beatrice, and Adam Scurr," Anna said, quietly proud that she had remembered everyone's name correctly.
"I take it you are related to Professor Mandelbaum and Dr. Scurr," deduced Papadopoulos. "We met them this morning at our table discussion with the Queen."
"We all survived just fine, if you were wondering," Homberg said dryly.
"Yes, they are our husbands, and I'm pleased to meet you," said Debora.
"Likewise," said Irene.
Throughout all of this Beatrice and Adam were transfixed by Olaf. A living, walking, talking snowman!
"Can we give you a hug?" asked Adam more than a little bashfully.
"Absolutely!" chortled Olaf, and toddled forward with his stick arms outstretched. The youngsters joined him in an embrace that lasted several moments, as everybody present looked on with tender expressions. When they broke apart, the children shook the snow from Olaf's flurry off their shoulders and hair.
"Olaf, would you melt without your flurry?" asked Homberg. "Queen Elsa is able to make ice that doesn't melt."
"At the beginning, I needed my flurry if it was above freezing, but then Elsa fixed that once she figured out how," Olaf replied.
"Why do you still have your flurry, then?" questioned Homberg.
"Because I like it and wanted to keep it," Olaf said simply. "And Sven likes it, too."
"Would that be Sven the reindeer?" enquired Homberg.
"Yes," answered Olaf.
"So Arendelle also has a reindeer that can communicate," noted Homberg, casting a glance at Papadopoulos.
"Truly, this is a land of wonders," the priest said.
"Sven doesn't use words," Anna clarified. "But he can usually get his message across with facial expressions, body language, and miming. Kristoff - I mean Ice Master Bjorgman is the best at interpreting what Sven means, but pretty much everybody can do it if you can accept that an animal is trying to tell you something."
"Oh, I can more than accept that concept, Your Highness," said Homberg. "I have written a book on my observations of animal intelligence, and will soon have enough material to write a second. Princess Anna, would it be possible for me to meet Sven?"
"We're taking the Scurrs and the Mandelbaums to see the courtyard anyway, so I don't see why not," Anna said. "We'll try to get Ice Master Bjorgman's permission first, though. He said he was going back to the stables, so he should be easy to find."
"Goodbye, everybody," Olaf said to the crowd at the flower market. They all waved affectionately at him as he walked off with Anna, Stefanie, and the expanding group of foreigners. "Let's go find Sven and Kristoff!"
Anna and Stefanie turned on to the causeway that connected the castle to the rest of the waterfront. "I must say, Your Highness, that your forebears certainly did have an eye for dramatic locations," said Homberg as he took in the view.
Anna had to laugh. "Yeah, it's not such a bad spot. But for a really dramatic location, you need to see the Ice Palace."
They reached the front gates, and the guards bowed slightly to Anna as she lead her charges into the courtyard. The ice sculptures glinted in the sun, and Beatrice rushed up to the nearest one.
"Is this the Ice Palace, Princess Anna?" Beatrice asked.
"Yes, that's a replica," Anna said. "Oh, she made this one with the doors open. If you look inside the main doors, you can see the fountain and the stairs; and if you look inside the balcony doors, you can see the chandelier."
They all crowded around, taking turns doing as Anna suggested. "And yes, she got all the fine details just right," Stefanie told them. "In a way, what Queen Elsa can do on the small scale is even more impressive than what she does on a grand scale."
"This is amazing," whispered Papadopoulos. "How many stories does the real one have?"
"Just two," Stefanie answered.
"All this structure for only two stories?" Papadopoulos asked incredulously.
"If you get to know my sister better, you'll understand," Anna said softly, with perhaps a touch of sadness. The priest nodded and decided to let the matter rest for now.
"Who is that with Sven?" asked Adam, looking at the next sculpture. It showed the reindeer towing a sled with a muscular man in the driver's seat and a load of ice blocks in the rear.
"That's Kristoff," Anna said warmly. "Speaking of which, the stables are over here, if anybody besides Mr. Homberg wants to come."
"Oh, can we, mama?" asked Beatrice. "We can come back to these on the way out."
"Certainly, if Princess Anna thinks it's all right," Irene said.
"Sven loves children. Kristoff - I mean Ice Master Bjorgman does too, once you look past his gruff exterior," Anna confided, leading them forward.
As they drew near, Irene saw her husband and the historian, Miss Duffin, that they had met on the voyage to Arendelle talking with a man who could only be the Ice Master.
"Kristoff!" Anna called to get her boyfriend's attention. "Can these people meet Sven?"
"Fancy meeting you here, Dr. Scurr," Irene said playfully.
Before John could reply, Olaf pushed through the crowd and introduced himself, as was his wont. "Hi, I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs!"
Scurr and Duffin could only gape at the snowman. Of course, they had read about him and had witnessed a brief demonstration of the Snow Queen's magic earlier in the day, but none of it quite prepared them for Olaf, live and in person.
"You really exist!" Duffin managed to say when she got her heartbeat somewhat under control.
"And he really does like warm hugs," Adam added.
"Well, in that case," said Scurr, feeling a bit giddy and very curious, "I guess a warm hug is in order." He knelt and wrapped his arms around Olaf - and felt something he could not describe. On one hand, it was definitely snow, and he had the idea that he could push the carrot nose all the way through Olaf's head, but at the same time, there was an unreal firmness to the snowman, a physical cohesion that defied everything he knew about nature. He laughed in nervous astonishment. "Ice that's not cold; snow that's loose but holds together."
"There, there," said Olaf as he did his best to get his stick arms around the adult's trunk; hugging children was so much easier. "You'll get used to it. Even Princess Anna kicked my head off the first time we met."
"Well, you did kinda pop up unexpectedly, and we were all a little edgy because of the whole Eternal Winter thing," Anna said with mock defensiveness.
Duffin and Scurr snapped to attention, eyes widening. "Princess Anna?!" they chorused. Duffin curtsied, and Scurr bowed.
"I swear, I'm gonna make you wear a tiara with your name on it," grumbled Stefanie. "I know you enjoy passing yourself off as a regular Arendelle citizen for as long as you can, but then it's even worse once the people find out."
"The hero of the Eternal Winter," Duffin breathed in awe.
"Not really," said Anna modestly. "I just did one thing right after doing almost everything else wrong."
"You turned to ice and then came back," Scurr said hoarsely.
"Yeah, there's a nice article about my take on my, uh, 'experience' in the university library. So please read that first before you ask any questions," Anna said with surprising brusqueness. She could tell happy anecdotes over and over, but really did not like repeating that particular painful story. Fortunately, the document in the library usually answered everybody's questions, and the researchers more or less left that topic alone when they talked with her.
"So who wanted to see Sven?" asked Kristoff, trying to steer the conversation away from a subject that he knew would make Anna and himself uncomfortable.
"I did," said the Prussian. "I'm Homberg, by the way. I'm a naturalist. I understand that your reindeer is skilled at nonverbal communication."
"Well, sometimes it's hard to tell what he's trying to say," Kristoff said, uncertain about the man's intentions. He really didn't want to speak "for" Sven in front of a bunch of people, especially academic types, that he had just met.
"Oh, Kristoff," Anna sighed. "If you couldn't tell that Sven was miming that Olaf was in trouble, you're clueless. Mr. Homberg is interested in animal intelligence."
"All right, then. He's in his stall," said Kristoff, somewhat warily. He wasn't sure he wanted a bunch of people, especially academic types, that he had just met judging Sven's intelligence. He led them to Sven's door. "Hey, buddy, you want to come out? You have visitors."
Sven immediately broke out of his doze and pricked up his ears. He rose to his feet and walked out to see who it was. Upon inspecting the assembly, he gave a questioning look to Kristoff. "I don't know who everybody is. They just got here," Kristoff explained. "These two are Dr. John Scurr and Miss Carol Duffin, and that fellow over there is Mr. Homberg."
Sven then turned to Olaf, Anna, and Stefanie with the same inquisitive expression. "Ah, this is Father Papadopoulos. These two are Debora and Zlata Mandelbaum. And those three are Irene, Adam, and Beatrice Scurr," Anna filled in the blanks for him.
Sven nodded very politely to all of them and discreetly sniffed to see if any of them had brought carrots. They hadn't, although three of them had eaten carrots very recently.
"Clear signs of intelligence," said Homberg, much impressed.
Sven puffed out his chest and cocked his head at Homberg, as if to acknowledge the man's discernment. Kristoff unconsciously lifted his chin proudly. Anna, Adam, and Beatrice could barely stifle their laughter.
"Sven is the most intelligent real animal in Arendelle. Even more intelligent than most humans," came a wisp of a voice from the stall next to Sven's. Sleipnir came forward and stuck his head out of his stable door.
"Kyrie eleison!" exclaimed Papadopoulos as everybody except Olaf and Sven jumped back at Sleipnir's sudden appearance and commentary.
