A new chapter cometh. Still I have a plotted path to take, maybe a few more diversions to come.
As the last boat sailed out of sight from the fjord and the final carriage had been formally waved off Freya relaxed. All the strangers were out of Arendelle and on their way home and her girls were safe. Big events, any large gatherings with visitors from elsewhere always put her on edge, worried for the safety of Elsa and Katja, both emotional and physical. There had been far too many occasions when some visiting scion of an uppity little holding had been disparaging of Katja's heritage or some chinless lord who spoke of barren frigid places quiet pointedly near to Elsa.
It was apparently within the accepted etiquette for them to make such hurtful comments so long as they were veiled as they were. It wasn't accepted etiquette for Freya to give them a good thump, but Anna was still 'regretfully' known as a little clumsy with a particularly staining drink or pungent foodstuff and alas it looked like her daughter was of similar ilk. Freya was grateful for that small mercy but at the end of each day the guard training hall needed new practice dummies.
Her stance had apparently been noticeably tense as Elsa had looked over and smiled when she had relaxed. They were stood in the town square having seen off the last group of visitors, evidently a more obnoxious bunch as Elsa hadn't been anything but polite and formal. "Well, I am glad that is over." She said quietly so her words wouldn't travel.
"Until the next reason all you blue bloods come up with to assemble." Freya teased, in their many years together she had become a lot more relaxed with the station in life her lover had.
"Yes that is true. However, I do like to see you turned out in such formal clothes." Elsa turned to walk back into the castle, Freya falling into step behind still ready to protect Elsa from any threat.
"Hi!" Olaf came running over, he had been playing with the children of the town like most days and it was now time for the little ones to be inside. "Is everyone gone now?" Very few guests took to the talking snowman, the ones who did often became great friends of Arendelle but more often than not he would avoid the stuffy people to play with his little friends.
"We waved away the last group just now." Elsa said and gladly took the offered twig hand.
"That is good. Some of them were really nasty." Olaf had such a bright conversational tone and such a positive outlook it was strange to hear him say that.
"Yes, well good breeding does not beget good manners." Elsa smiled to her creation and conversation moved to evening plans. Freya was glad that the quieter palace would mean more time to indulge in family time.
After a quiet evening together the children were sent to bed and Anna retired with Kristoff for some "quality time" leaving Elsa and Freya alone in the drawing room.
"So, was the aim of this past few days achieved?" Freya asked. Elsa was leaning against her as they sat on a couch; she had Freya's hand in her lap and was lazily playing with it.
"Which aim?"" Elsa held onto the fingers, the sword calluses were different to the smithing calluses she had learned so long ago.
"I thought there was supposed to be a lot of matchmaking between all you royal types." Freya used her free hand to massage the back leaning against her.
"Well, I suppose there was a little." Elsa made a pleased sound at the feeling of a hand running up and down her spine. "Lissy has her sights set on someone and we might have a wedding in Corona to attend in the near future."
"Lissy is thirteen." Freya commented.
"It is the proper thing to get a good foundation laid." Elsa let her eyes close and smiled. "Katja seems to be set on someone too." It wasn't painful to say, in fact it made her feel so very happy that her little girl was most certainly in love. 'Would mama feel this for us?' she wondered idly.
"Kat?" The strange tone Freya had made Elsa open her eyes again and look up to the emerald above her. There was protectiveness in their depths, to keep her little girl safe.
"Katja seems to have some plans." Elsa said softly. "They danced as often as they could."
"Wait what?" Freya seemed to be making the connections. "Matty and Katja..."
"It is far too cute, but I have to speak with them both."Elsa closed her eyes again, the sensation from the gentle hand was very relaxing. "It isn't politically a poor choice either. Those who are not our friends will probably see it as a canny way for me to have complete control of the throne's future, as I and my selected tutors taught them both." She chuckled at the thought, the nations without a formal relationship with Arendelle had long ago learned that the Queen was not some foolish girl.
"Such cynicism." Freya laughed too, "I suppose out friends and allies will think it absolutely adorable and romantic?"
"Indeed. No to mention all the political matchmaking and intermarrying among the ruling class means a number of royal families are joining blood related first cousins anyway." Elsa smirked. "At the very least Katja is adopted and her title is Lady Katja of the North Mountain, not a Princess of Arendelle."
"Oh, you decided on the North Mountain for her?" Freya commented.
Elsa had been parcelling off older inherited territory names between members of her family, there had been some contraction in the family tree before her father and all the titles had defaulted to him, now that the family was expanding it had been partially a fun game to select something to formally append to the others, part a method of consolidating her succession and indicating how she valued her family. Kritsoff had been handed Of the Rocky Valley as a wedding gift. Freya herself was Of Arendelle, which had made Anna giggle because Elsa's formal title was Queen Elsa of Arendelle and making Freya officially Lady Freya of Arendelle was "almost practically a marriage!"
"The North Mountain has a very special place in my heart and it seemed right for Katja to have it, after I gave you such a fitting title. It won't be writ until her twenty-first birthday but it is hers." Elsa sat up. "You have yet to comment on this partnering though dear."
"As long as Katja is happy." Freya replied. "But she is sixteen and even out of the palace you're getting ahead of yourself a little I think." A yawn was her answer. "Now, I think it is time to retire to bed hmm?" The clocks read a late hour and for the past few days they had not been able to remove themselves to bed together, Elsa had been busy late into the night to complete her regular work while fulfilling her duties as hostess.
"That sounds wonderful." The sleepy drawl to her lover's voice and the earlier yawn told Freya that the lack of rest was catching up. They walked hand in hand from the drawing room to the staircase up to the family's bedroom floor. Elsa leaning into Freya as tired as she was, soon she was virtually asleep on her feet.
"H'up you come." Freya whispered, lifting Elsa into her arms in a bridal carry. Two slender arms wrapped around her neck and a blonde head settled into her shoulder.
"Thank you." Elsa mumbled. She hadn't been carried like this in a while. They reached the bedroom without being disturbed and Freya helped the sleepy woman change. Elsa was asleep before Freya joined her but still rolled into her once she was settled in bed.
The next morning palace life went on as normal, if Katja and Matteus were a little shy at the breakfast table, no one passed comment. Soon though it was time for the day's activities and the family separated for their tasks.
In the training hall Freya took a few swipes with a blunted blade, she was hoping for a chance to spar with someone. Practicing through a few forms, the sound of a door opening pulled her attention. In his training gear was Matteus. "Oh, hello Freya." He bowed politely, returned by Freya.
"I was just looking for someone to spar with, up to a match Matty?" Freya grinned and buckled on a practice armour. Maybe she would get a chance to find out a little about his feelings for Katja.
"Of course. I have to practice for a while." He made sure everything was correctly in place and took a starting stance.
"I hear you had a fight during the visit the other day." Freya easily matched each move the boy made, she had been taught by the same swords-master and had the advantage of experience.
"Yes." Matteus didn't see the point in lying. "Edward was a great help. That snot Roderick was bad mouthing Aunt Elsa and Katja." The squeak as he said Katja was telling a story of its own.
"I see. Good work young man." Freya swiftly moved and disarmed the young prince. "Match."
"That was a good one, can you teach it to me?" Matteus picked up his sword.
"I don't know. I think I have to keep a few tricks up my sleeve to keep any boy who wants my Katja on his toes." Freya grinned as Matteus paled as he realised what she meant.
"I, she, I..." He sputtered, a moment that was equal parts his mother and his father.
"Don't worry kid, as long as she likes you and you don't go hurting her everything is fine." Freya clapped him on the shoulder, he was getting taller she noticed. "I'm protective of my girls though. So remember I can get you flat on your royal backside in seconds."
"I would never intentionally hurt her." Matteus spoke earnestly, "I never thought she would, you know, like me like that." He scratched the back of his head, "But I think she does and it is just the most – immense – feeling I have ever had and just, anything, everything isn't as important or valuable as her." He was growing redder by the minute. "Do you know what I mean?"
"I know what you mean Matteus. I got my whole life burned down for that feeling, I got shot for that feeling." Freya led him to some chairs at the edge of the training hall and sat. "I think you're going to do okay if it is that feeling."
"You don't mind?" Matteus sounded relieved.
"Like I said, if Kat is happy then I am happy." She laughed, "Though don't go asking for blessings just yet." She winked.
"Just please don't tell anyone..." The look of glee on his "aunt's" face stopped him short.
"If they haven't figured it out already, your mother is going to be telling everyone she thinks needs to know. Elsa had you pegged at the party." Freya gave his arm a friendly chuck, "So, maybe not Lisbet or Kat, but probably everyone else."
The training session was ended so Matteus could attend his lesson. Freya decided to go and find Elsa, not a hard task as she was in her study as ever. "Hello dear." Elsa looked up at the opening of her door and greeted her partner. "What have you been up to? It must be better than this paperwork."
"A little spar and a little chat with young Matteus." Freya took her usual seat in the study, close enough to Elsa for them both to be happy but just distanced enough to be 'proper' come any visitor of a less understanding nature.
"A chat?" Elsa was looking at her papers but a raised eyebrow was indicative of the meaning. "You better not have traumatised my heir."
"Nothing of the sort dear heart." Freya said, "We had a lovely talk. If this all comes to pass then Katja will be fine."
Elsa looked up to smile to her partner. "I'm glad, but now who is getting ahead of herself hmm?"
"I would have a retaliation to that." Freya pulled a face, "But I have long learned that you always have the upper hand!"
Both women were quietly pleased that their little, or not so little really, girl was on her way to a happy future.
I thought the titling was something to play around with. Arendelle had to have a family-tree bottleneck, what with a female heir in Elsa. Even if the king had a cousin there could have been a battle for succession, which means there are lots of defunct titles tied to the crown. I've yet to see any canon surname/title for Elsa and Anna but as we have "Of Arendelle" announced to introduce them both it is both crafty and cheeky to have Freya named as a Lady Of Arendelle.