Trollfully Wedded
Arendelle was slowly warming in the embrace of spring. Snowdrops and crocuses were blooming and the last wintery traces were melting away. It was a matter of weeks until Anna's wedding and the Princess was hitting levels of excitement usually reserved for small children in sweet shops.
Today however, the Princess was not to be found fussing over her dress or flower choices. Today Anna was quiet, too quiet.
"Anna, I can see you behind the couch." Elsa said evenly, not looking up from her paperwork on her desk. There was an over-amplified sigh and a coppery head popped up and Anna flopped to the couch in an ungainly manner.
"How did you know?" Anna huffed, focusing a grumpy look at her sister who was still working.
"You are not very quiet? The sunlight through the window makes your hair gleam and you fidget more than Kristoff when he is nervous." Elsa replied, her pen dancing across the paper as she wrote.
Anna made a rude noise. "I'll get you yet." She lapsed into silence again, observing Elsa at work and trying her best to patiently wait for her to finish her task. After the fifth overblown sigh Elsa stopped writing and looked up.
"Yes Anna?" She was trying her best to look cross but there was a twinkle of amusement in her voice.
"What's with the ring?" Anna said, pointing to Elsa's right hand. "I mean you never wore much jewellery before and you still don't wear much now but for weeks and weeks you always have that ring on which is unusual and I noticed." She babbled, pointing at the silver band that glinted in the light. "So yeah... What's with the ring?"
"Oh…" Elsa knew her ears were reddening as she started to consider her reply and she absently smoothed the ring in question. "It's from Freya." Anna's wide eyed grin was expected, as were the incoherent noises that Anna used around baby animals, baby humans and happy news.
"Ooooo Elsa! That is so sweet! You've been wearing it all the time for ages, when did she give it to you? Why didn't you tell me right away!?" Anna's babble was in full force until a cold hand pressed over her mouth. "Mmph!"
"She gave it to me on the anniversary. I wasn't exactly sure how to tell you, I didn't want to steal your thunder… We're sort of treating it as, well, as a marriage. It is about as close as we can get." Elsa knew she was grinning stupidly by the time she had finished speaking.
"Oh my goodness you are both soooo cute!" Anna gabbled and grabbed her sister into a hug, when she finished she grabbed the ringed hand and lifted it up to examine the silver band closely. "Wow, this is pretty, like it is all frosted up." Anna released the hand. "I'm still cross you didn't let me know sooner, or let me be a witness or whatever."
"It was spur of the moment Anna... We wanted to make good memories on the Sea Tower." Elsa laid her head on that of her sister.
"But why does it mean marriage when you did it all alone? I mean, together... alone... Without me or someone..."
"Anna, I can't marry Freya the same way you can marry Kristoff and her giving me a ring was the nearest gesture we could have to any of that." Elsa worked to keep any crackle of sadness from her tone.
A thought occurred to Anna then, but she kept it quiet, there were things to check. "Well, I'm going to go and congratulate and scold my new sister." Anna kissed her sister's temple and marched off with a jaunty step. Elsa shook her head with a smile and returned to her paperwork.
Spring arrived and the wedding day went off without a hitch. Elsa gave her sister away and Sven acted as best man. Olaf was a "Flower Snowman". When Anna and Kristoff said "I do" Elsa couldn't help a few tears.
Much later that evening there was another ceremony for the couple to take part in.
The sled was heaped with flowers and embroidered silks, the reindeer that towed it was groomed to perfection and the metal of his harness gleamed. Rosemail was embroidered across the leather straps and he worse the Arendelle crocus with pride, trotting along tugging the sled and its passengers.
"We're married!" Anna shouted for the hundredth time that day, flinging her arms into the air. She had said it shortly after the ceremony that morning and now it was fading to night through the forest.
"Yes we are." Kristoff said, he couldn't wipe the grin from his face. "Mrs Anna."
"Mr Kristoff." Anna replied, stealing another kiss from her husband and internally shouting with glee to even be able to think husband.
"One last stop and it will be just us for a whole fortnight." Kristoff said to his wife, watching her eyes spark with anticipation. "The others should get here soon."
As if on cue, the sound of trotting hooves echoed along the path and a pair of horses slowed to walk alongside. "Hi Kristoff, Anna and Sven." Olaf waved from behind Elsa, balanced on the horse saddle.
"Not getting a head start on the wedding night then?" A smiling Freya teased from her horse. A snowball landed in her hair. "Hey!"
"Behave," Elsa said with a grin of her own, dismissing the magic from around her fingers. "Hello Anna, Kristoff." She drew closer to peer down. "Properly behaved and comporting yourselves with dignity, there's a first time for everything!"
"Hey, we were married today, that must be a get-out of teasing for a day at least!" Anna groused but was back to grinning like a loon again when Kristoff dropped an arm over her shoulders.
"We already gave gifts to you." Freya said, pointing to the harness she had commissioned for Sven and the small pile of wrapped presents in the foot-well of the sled. "Not teasing you wasn't in the gift-list."
"I have a lot of teasing to catch up on." Elsa added, throwing back one of Anna's playful phrases. They were both given raspberries in reply.
"I won't tease though. I just came for the warm hugs and the trolls!" Olaf had a merry and oblivious manner.
"Girls, we're nearly there, can you tone it down a bit? I get enough loudness from my family." Kristoff mock groaned as forest became the rocky valley and steam vented from the ground. Closer to the home of the trolls Elsa and Freya dismounted, helping Olaf down too. Kristoff halted the sled and carried Anna out and over to the clearing his family lived in.
"Come on Sven, loverboy is busy right now." Freya chuckled and freed the reindeer from the harness to greet his family too, he scooped Olaf up and hurried ahead, leaving Elsa and Freya to walk together.
"So, my little sister is married." Elsa said, testing the words still. "Married. She has a husband."
"Yep, that is how it works love." Freya clinched an arm around a slim waist; there was no one to disapprove out here in the troll valley. "We saw them say the vows, you walked her down and gave her away, a reindeer and a snowman brought the rings. Just like in all the stories."
"Lawfully wedded, they still have to be trollfully wedded." Elsa reminded with a hint of laughter in her voice. "Or so Kristoff and Anna have been insisting."
"Trollfully, right." Freya rolled her eyes, she had been regaled with tales of everything that had transpired during the winter, including a rundown of all the songs that had been sung. It at least explained why Elsa sometimes called her a fixer-upper.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The troll holding a large book spoke with a smile and Anna kissed Kristoff passionately, the trolls cheered and danced around with Olaf an enthusiastic addition to their party. Elsa made it snow, a brief shower of perfectly formed flakes.
There was dancing and singing and promises shared, stories were told and food passed around. It was a lovely party and as the moon took station high in the sky and Anna was sleeping against Kristoff and Elsa and Freya could only sit and clap along a little, Grand Pabbie sent everyone home. "Come visit soon." He told them all as Kristoff carried his wife to their sled and Freya helped get the reindeer hitched up.
"We will Grand Pabbie." Kristoff called. He settled Anna in gently and she stirred.
"We're going now?"
"Yes, up to the cabin." Kristoff sat next to her and after farewells to Elsa and Freya he set Sven off on a path into the mountain.
Freya helped Elsa mount her horse and hefted Olaf up. "Well, that was an experience."
"Yes, I thought the, ah, capes? Were intriguing." Elsa yawned, the early start to her day and the late end were taking their toll. Leaning against her, Olaf was already asleep, tuckered out from a day of excitement.
"Yes, fetchingly green." Freya sat astride her horse and took a line from Elsa's mount. "Let's get home now though, I am far too tired." The journey back was silent and Freya ended up carrying a sleeping Elsa and Olaf to bed.
It was on their return to Arendelle that Anna shared her idea with Grand Pabbie. Kristoff had stopped off at the valley to visit and after the customary fuss had been made over his wife she had sought the wise troll. "Hello Grand Pabbie."
"Anna my dear, greetings." The elder troll smiled and took her hand, guiding her to a seat. "I believe you have something you wish to discuss?"
"Yeah... Just a something, for the uh, wedding guy too." Anna told her plan to Grand Pabbie and the Keeper of the Book.
"There is nothing against it in our traditions but we might have to alter some parts to account for two women." Grand Pabbie pointed out a line or two in the book.
"So you can do it?" Anna smiled from ear to ear.
"Of course, we should treasure love in all its forms and celebrate it too." The old troll smiled back and had a hug as reward from the princess. "Though we will need to have them present for the ceremony." Grand Pabbie looked to the princess.
"We'll bring them on Elsa's birthday." Anna said. "Kristoff!" She shouted.
"Yes dear?" He finished talking with the other trolls and joined his wife.
"We need to convince Elsa and Freya to come here on Elsa's birthday." Anna said, "So think of something with me so we can."
"Alright." Kristoff said "We'll have to get the reason sorted out between us so that you'll remember it." He chuckled, "Or you might give the game away!" Anna could punch hard but he just laughed it off and at her expression.
The return journey was all about plotting, even if there were months to wait, Anna wanted to be prepared and everything buttoned up before the date.
In the end it wasn't hard to get Elsa and Freya to visit the trolls, though Anna had to compromise and take them so they would arrive at midnight and the official start of Elsa's birthday. She had planned and schemed for months and at exactly the time to leave everyone was on Kristoff's sled and Sven pulled them away.
"Happy birthday love." Freya said to Elsa and pressed a kiss to her lips.
"Mmm, it is now isn't it?" She snuggled against her partner and yawned, they had managed about an hour's sleep but little more.
"Come on sleepy head. You have to be awake for the party." Anna said, boundless ball of energy that she was. She was sat in the front with Kristoff, trying to keep the plan quiet.
When the trees began to thin out and the ground switched to dirt and gravel instead of moss and leaf-litter Kristoff slowed Sven and stopped. "We've arrived."
"Right." Freya clambered off and yawned, she tugged Elsa off the sled. "Okay gorgeous, party time."
"Want to sleep..." Elsa stumbled and buried her head in Freya's shoulder. "Comfy."
"Come on!" Anna said, pushing both women towards the clearing. Sven and Kristoff were already ahead of them.
When they reached the perimeter of the troll's home every last one burst into song. Rocky shapes rolled around them and grabbed at the women, tugging them away.
In moments Freya stood at the edge of a clearing that had become familiar to her over their visits draped in glowing crystals and a mossy cape. A crown of grass was sat on her head, tangling in her tight black curls. She was speechless, looking over at Elsa who was similarly adorned. The mossy cape was frosted from her powers, intentional or not the delicate pattern shimmered in the moonlight, her hair sparkled, she had let it down in a pale cascade down her back. The crafted ice dress Elsa wore was a special effort when she had realised Anna's intentions for this visit. Freya gazed across the clearing.
Their eyes met.
Elsa looked over the milling trolls, past her sister who was giggling at the rigmarole and Kristoff who was grinning like a loon. She had eyes only for Freya, the woman was wearing the same mix of crystals and plant matter, though Elsa knew she had frosted hers through sheer nervous power leak. Her partner looked captivating. Maybe it was because she knew she would soon be married to her in a ceremony as old as the land, maybe it was because in this moment they were the only ones in their world, maybe it was the green of the moss setting Freya's eyes ablaze.
Their eyes met.
Elsa mouthed a "hi" and waved a little and Freya smiled over, feeling tears escape into the crinkles around her eyes. A sparkle at the edge of Elsa's eyes indicated she was crying too.
"I'm just so happy." Freya said quietly, knowing Elsa would understand. She nodded in reply.
Suddenly the trolls began to sing and stone hands led the two women to a pit adorned with crystals and an arch of greenery and flowers. They were pushed together and a troll was talking.
"I do." Freya said when prompted.
"I do." Elsa said when the troll officiating looked to her.
In the crowd Anna was crying and smiling and waving her hands, too overwhelmed to know what to do.
"I pronounce you wife and wife. You may kiss the brides." The troll said, smiling and presenting them to the gathering. Elsa grabbed Freya and pulled her head closer, pushing the kiss hard to her lips.
She hadn't expected this; Anna hadn't even dropped a hint. Elsa didn't care, by the laws as ancient as the earth they walked upon she and Freya were linked together.
"I love you." Freya whispered when they separated for air.
"I love you." Elsa repeated. "My wife." She flushed, pink gathering in her cheeks. She clasped her ringed hand to Freya's shoulder, the snowflake mark frost-burned into the skin at that point.
"My darling wife." Freya pulled Elsa close and they embraced, so thoroughly happy.
The birthday celebrations that day paled in comparison.