It was coming up to census time in Arendelle, a process put in to place by Elsa's grandfather to be undertaken every five years. Story had it that a lord who looked to the crown had been slowly expanding his land into that of the smaller holders and the king had only discovered it by chance. By the end of the year he had created a system to inspect everything with a promise that the information would not be used to tax the populace.
The king had also stipulated that the sitting monarch had to personally survey at least one sector of the crown territory, to "learn their land". Today Elsa would be riding out for the first time. Both the first time looking at some of the land since her escape from the palace on her coronation and the first time really riding beyond the meadow overlooking the town.
She had selected an area of crown hunting land, a section of woodland and brush a half-day ride from the town. There was a lodge that had been well maintained by the game-keeper she would spend the night in and maybe a few more days. There was a lot of land to get familiar with; so she would need more than a day. The length of the stay was nothing to do with the fact that Freya would be her escort for the trip. No, not at all.
"Looking forward to riding a little longer?" Anna asked as she accompanied Elsa through the palace after their usual afternoon together. Today had been a story reading session in the library; Elsa had read The Lady of the Fountain to Anna in between odd tangents of conversation and snack taking.
"Yes, it should be nice to ride now that the horses are used to me." She then grinned, "In all honesty Freya looks fantastic in her element too, she loves horses and riding." Elsa smiled fondly; she was to have a few days alone with her partner in an isolated area.
"I hope you have fun." Anna teased. "You'll have to let me know what it is like; I might want an excursion sometime." They separated at her bedroom door and Elsa continued to her room.
"Hi, have fun?" Freya called over from the wardrobe; a canvas bag was sat on the bed waiting for items to be packed, a lighter luggage for horse riding.
"She enjoyed the story and managed to get in plenty of chatter and teasing to make up for the days we'll miss." Elsa went to inspect the current contents of the bag. Blouses mostly and some of the less regal bodices and tops. She was about to investigate a paper wrapped parcel when arms encircled her.
"Ah ah, that is a surprise for tomorrow." Freya tutted. "I have packed for the trip all the kinds of clothes we need for riding and being out in the countryside. As wonderful as you look in dresses and ice-gowns, we need to be practical."
"Good point." Elsa held the arms around her and smiled. "Have you packed too?"
"All prepared for tomorrow, I even got the supplies organised."
"How efficient."
They spent the time until supper talking, being close to each other and making half plans for the next few days. Freya was clearly looking forward to an extended hack into the countryside. After supper they retired to bed, had a good cuddle and fell asleep.
"Rise and shine!" Freya sing-songed to Elsa. As much as she wanted to watch her lover sleep, she also wanted to be out in the fresh early-morning air and feel the dew pulled up by a galloping horse. "Come on lover, breakfast time!"
"I'm awake." Elsa sat up. "You mentioned breakfast?"
"Yes, but then I have to go and get things ready, check the horses and get everything loaded up. I'll see you in the stable yard after." Freya had pulled on some day clothes to go and eat and Elsa, deciding it was too early to care, left in her company to dine in her nightdress. They parted with a "Your outfit is in the room!" from Freya.
Elsa bathed, combed and re-braided her hair and went to investigate her new outfit. The only thing in her dressing room was in a garment bag she took a look inside. "Freya…" She half groaned. Her partner had put out jodhpurs, blouse, riding jacket and boots. Highly sensible for the next few days riding, but not exactly in Elsa's comfort zone. "I wear slit skirts, I can wear this." She half mumbled, dressing in the outfit.
At least the colours were chosen well, the beige buckskin of the jodhpurs matched the brown knee-high riding boots with their delicate stitched in snowflake pattern and the riding jacket was Arendelle purple with the royal sygil of a crocus embroidered in a slightly lighter shade on the lapels and along the hems. Looking at herself in the mirror Elsa had to admit the outfit was practical and made her look very royal, possibly even beautiful; her pale skin given the slightest warmth by the purple and her ice blue eyes glowing from the contrast.
On her way to the stables a number of the aides were halted in their tracks. Gratifying and amusing for the Queen.
"Wow Elsa. You look amazing." Anna was at the doorway out to the stables, obviously waiting for her sister. Now her mouth was agape, as was Kristoff's.
"Yes, wow… I think I maybe need to find out where Freya got those made because Anna loves to ride and they'd make a great gift." The ice master trailed off when Elsa quirked a brow and a smirk.
"So you knew Freya planned this?"
"No, she did tell me she'd got some proper riding clothes for you, but she had her own made too." Anna admired the embroidery of the jacket and boots. "She's outside with the horses. Come on." Anna led her sister, Kristoff following and most certainly not wondering about what Anna would look like in a similar outfit.
"Einar, stand still." The sound of Freya's voice came from between two horses, tacked up and loaded with the supplies for the trip. From below them Elsa could see the black boots Freya wore to ride but she was blocked from view by the animals. Rounding the horses Elsa halted and felt a familiar heat virtually explode in her abdomen.
Freya had a new outfit too; she had expected that from Anna's comments. What she hadn't expected was for it to be quite so different to her usual choices. Freya always wore lightly tailored trous, only ever pairing leggings with her long guard coat. Today Freya was wearing jodhpurs too. Cream, tight, closely tailored jodhpurs that looked like she had been poured into them. Her Arendelle green riding jacket was not quite as tailed as Elsa's either, the bunched fabric at the back more a signpost for a worship-able rear than a cover. 'And to think I get to watch her ride horseback all morning…'
"Elsa, you're drooling." Anna's whisper in her ear was a surprise that shocked her out of her inspection. Checking her chin, she had indeed been drooling.
"It is entirely unfair of her to dress like that." Elsa snipped, embarrassed at her display and blushing. Kristoff made a strangled noise as Freya came into his line of sight.
"I need to go give carrot a Sven. I mean… Yeah." He dashed away.
"I need jodhpurs." Anna grinned. "Nice outfit Freya, you two make a cute pair." She winked; teasing the two in public was an amusing pastime, especially when they had a job to keep their eyes and hands off each other.
"That outfit does look good; I was worried you wouldn't like it." Freya said, looking Elsa up and down, slowly.
"I could say the same Ms Hanson." Elsa said, mustering her dignity despite the fact she wanted to tear Freya's clothes off and take her in the stableyard that instant. Freya smirked; Elsa only ever called her Ms Hanson when she was struggling to maintain composure.
"I have packed the horses and have the map Your Majesty." Freya clicked her heels neatly and stood straighter, if she played her cards right then by the time they reached the cabin the inspection would have to wait until much later.
"Very good. Help me mount." Elsa glared sideways at her sister who was struggling not to laugh and Freya who was acting entirely too innocently. 'Two can play at this game.' She thought, making sure her leg dragged against Freya as she settled in the saddle.
Her reward was a barely audible moan; Elsa smiled down innocently enough, with a spark of mischief only for Freya. "We should be away for four days at the latest Anna." Elsa looked down to her sister from the horse as Freya mounted.
"I will send out search parties if you take longer." Anna warned. "But have fun, I'll be fine." She waved them off and Sven brayed from his stall with a red faced Kristoff beside him as they rode past.
"Four whole days together." Freya commented, they passed through the archway to the main courtyard and she caught Elsa smiling softly. "Alright?"
"I was just remembering a moment." Elsa's smile remained, recalling the first awkward interactions with Freya and everything that came after. They left the castle to little fanfare, so often were the royals back and forth now. The crowds parted for the horses and dipped politely for their Queen and her escort. Elsa had to admit that they looked a good pair together in their riding gear astride their horses.
Einar was grey (Elsa never understood why horses couldn't be called white but Freya was adamant that her favoured horse was grey) and her mount, Gul, was black. She sometimes wondered if it had been arranged for the contrast, it certainly looked more impressive for the raven haired Freya to ride Einar and she with her platinum braid to ride Gul.
With her sword on at her hip and a crossbow slung easily on a strap at Einar's flank, everyone knew that Freya was the royal guard even the visitors to Arendelle. Elsa snuck a fond glance at her partner. Soon enough she wouldn't have to keep a facade up. The buildings ended near a wall and gateway, the forest beyond was cut through with the dirt road.
The guards at the town gate saluted. "Gentlemen." Elsa inclined her head. "We are to take part in the census at the North Hunting Ground, a four day trip."
"Yes Ma'am" The men saluted again and watched their monarch and her personal guard ride down the road.
Around a bend and over a slight hillock and Elsa decided that they were far enough away from prying eyes. Freya was a little ahead, not only was she a more accomplished rider she was also acting as point and of course keeping watch. "Gul," Elsa whispered, "Let's catch up to those two shall we? Come in close." She didn't know if the horse understood, despite what Anna and Freya would argue and clear evidence that Kristoff and Sven communicated all the time, but the black stallion was happily geed into a fair trot to catch his stablemate, falling into step well.
"Hello." Freya said, only to be cut off with a kiss, Elsa hoisting herself on the stirrups to reach in. Well trained, the horses remained in step and carefully following the path.
Humans were odd creatures, the stallions had decided, and from the pheromones they could tell that the Winter Lady-of-highest-regard was herded with The Healer Freya. Which was good, both horses had respect for the healer and to herd with the highest-regarded was only right. They left their riders to each other as they trotted along the road. Though, Einar nickered to warn about a low branch and the humans finally parted.
"Duck." Freya pushed Elsa down into her saddle and they passed under the tree, slightly disappointed to have had to untangled the cool fingers from her hair
"You are incorrigible you know." Elsa let Gul move into a little more space. "Dressing like that where I am not allowed to kiss you." A hand rested on her shoulder.
"Sorry, but top quality riding gear always looks this good. Aaand, I put myself under considerable distress because I never knew just how good you would look in those clothes." Freya smiled. "Do you like your outfit though?"
"It is far away from what I usually wear." Elsa admitted, "But it is much more comfortable to ride in so far and turned quite a few heads. The jacket is beautiful too. You chose well."
Freya smiled, "I can't take credit for that. Anna said she inherited her love of horses from your mother yes?"
"Yes, Mama taught her to ride; I used to watch them in the courtyard." Elsa's smile faltered at the memories but they didn't cloud her eyes at least.
"I went to the tailor to have the clothes made and he was quite excited to share the jacket he had designed for your mother. It only needed a little tailoring to fit you. The colour looks excellent."
Elsa felt the soft fabric. "This was mama's?"
"She never collected it. He said it had been completed just before the gates closed. They paid but never took it. He wanted you to have it now." Freya reached over and ran a hand down Elsa's arm.
"Thank you, and I had better thank him too." She looked at the embroidery. "Purple always was Mama's favourite colour."
"It looks great on you too. Purple, it looks nice." Freya returned her attention to the road ahead.
"You're jacket is very well suited to you." Elsa said looking at the golden crocus embroidered on the jacket between Freya' shoulder blades, watching it move with her shifting muscles. Her gaze fell downwards, past the neatly bunched coat tail. "Though I am enjoying the jodhpurs more." She grinned.
They took the rest of the ride in a mixture of easy silence and the chatter that living in the palace could stifle. There were still elements of the council and staff who would dislike a guard being so familiar with the Queen, leaving their conversations curtailed or hidden.
Eventually the wooded trail gave way to meadows high on the mountainside and a view of Arendelle and the fjord neither had seen. The sun was cresting on the way to midday and the sea gleamed between crisp mountain cliffs and over the town nestled at the foot. "It's beautiful." Elsa breathed; she had never seen her kingdom quite like this. The buildings looked like toys, colours picked out amongst the uniform black rooftops, contrasted only by the greenish blue of the castle roof and the gleaming of the snowflake atop the tallest spire.
"I'm glad you chose this section to look over." Freya whistled, "That is one spectacular view."
"I must get someone to paint it." Elsa could have stayed in place all afternoon, but Gul grew impatient and jinked. "Ah!" She slid a little in the saddle but regained balance without accidentally freezing anything.
"It looks like he wants to have a frolic." Freya teased; she dismounted and helped Elsa down. "Did you enjoy the longer ride?" Back on the ground Elsa braced herself for any discomfort or uneasy footing but was surprised to find she was fine.
"Yes, I did actually." Elsa tugged her jacket tails back into place and noticed that Freya's lapels were out of shape, she fussed at them a moment when tanned hands caught her fingers and pressed them to familiar lips.
"We are miles away from anyone," Freya kissed the pale fingertips, "We aren't expected back for four whole days." She kissed each knuckle and heard Elsa's breathy giggles, "We can do anything we want." She kissed the palms and smiled against them. "What do you want to do?" Elsa freed her hands and clasped them around Freya's face, pulling the taller woman down so they were face to face.
Elsa kissed her partner deeply, it was a familiar act in the time since they had discreetly become a couple but she always enjoyed it, always found some new sensation. The little sighs and moans that were breathed into her mouth told her that Freya appreciated it too. She began to hike Freya's jacket up and pull at the blouse beneath.
The flick from a horse tail disrupted that line of enquiry. "I think we'd better find the cabin." Freya's face was flushed. "Then we can take the tack off the horses and – explore."
"I can see it over there by the copse of trees." Elsa pointed over at the edge of a wooden building showing behind a trio of pine trees. She had freed her hands and smoothed the bunched up fabric of Freya's clothes. A sly idea crossed her mind, she lowered her hands and looked up with a smile. "Race you."
Elsa was running almost as soon as she said race, Freya blinked. "You cheat!" She worked up a quick pace and drew level with her partner just as they reached the porch.
"I won." Elsa gasped and giggled. Two puzzled horses joined their humans and nosed at Freya who was laughing and leaning against the porch column.
"You cheated but you won." Freya swatted at Elsa and caught Einar's muzzle nosing at her arm, "Okay buddy, I'll get the gear off." She unloaded the horses and took off the harnesses and saddles, placing them in the porch.
Taking a key she had been given at the palace, Elsa unlocked the door to the cabin, a slight musty smell escaped. She picked up a bundle of blankets and entered the cabin. The door opened into a living room with a fireplace as its focus, a small kitchen area that took advantage of the large hearth was through one door and a bedroom was through the other. "It looks like arrangements are natural." Freya said, carrying the other luggage into the cabin.
"Meaning?" Elsa looked over.
"There's a cute little shed over yonder." Freya jerked her head to point it out, dumping the bags and luggage.
"Superb." Elsa's thin smile and delivery was far from enthusiastic. "We're roughing it then."
"Roughing it?" Freya poked Elsa teasingly. "Darling, roughing it is sleeping in a hedge in the rain. An outdoor lavvie is healthy and good for the humours." A spark of ice nipped her prodding fingertip.
"I am a Queen." Elsa glared but a kiss on her nose turned her frown around.
"Your Highness, I do believe we were otherwise occupied before we decided to withdraw to this fine abode." Freya's breath gusted over Elsa's skin, making her sigh in pleasure.
"So we were..." Elsa slipped her hands into Freya's jacket again.
The door closed from an icy breeze, it didn't open until a lot later in the day.
Twilight was sprinkled across the hills when they finally paid attention to the world outside their bed. They lay wrapped around each other; Elsa had her arms around Freya idly tracing a finger along the warm skin, nesting her head under Freya's chin. "I don't want to get up at all."
"Don't then." Freya hummed, the cool fingertips felt wonderful against her back and moving wasn't high on her list of priorities. She dropped a hand to Elsa's midriff. "Let's just sleep... Ah, after I check the horses." Reluctantly she pulled away, cool hands grasped for longest possible contact.
"Don't dawdle." Elsa called after her partner, Freya had stepped from the room and was looking for their luggage and some simple clothes to put on. Her blouse and jacket were difficult to find and her jodhpurs had to be under the bed. Fortunately the limited light was enough to reveal the luggage and a loose pair of pantaloons and a tunic were easy to pull out and don.
Fortunately the horses were nearby, Freya called them over and hooked their ropes to the porch, there was plenty of play for them to reach a bale of hay that had certainly been left by the game-keeper and a few quick pumps filled the trough for them. "Behave." She told the pair and returned to the cabin.
"You've done your chores?" Elsa called upon hearing the door close. Freya wandered into the room holding an extra tunic.
"Yes, I also grabbed you this if you felt you needed it." She pitched the garment over and pulled off her trous. Joining Elsa on the bed again and dropping an arm over her. Elsa sighed happily and allowed herself to be pulled closer.
"Time to sleep I think then." She snuggled against her lover.
"Yes, maybe even late, or early if you like." Freya trailed a hand over soft skin and buried her nose in silky hair, enjoying the scent.
"We'll have to get some work done tomorrow." Elsa said softly, falling slowly into sleep.
Freya kissed her head in lieu of a reply.
They were asleep swiftly, in all it had been a good start to their break away from palace life.
Sorry about the long delays to all my stories! Life has been a little mood lowering and then I had my annual trip away. Hopefully I will be able to update everything soon!