I have not forgotten about this little future-line. Of course, the sequel smashes this out of any sort of canon match-up. But I like my little family I have made. So I am going to post some more.
Ticking clocks were louder in the silence of the palace at night. It added a certain solitude to the usually busy and vibrant spaces, so filled with family for many years now.
At times like this, Katja would wonder how her mother managed to live like she did for so long. 'When she was my age, she had been away from Aunty Anna for eight years...' The thought that Elsa had probably walked this way, most likely at an hour like this was not a cheerful one.
The clocks marked the first hour of the day, but Katja was too awake to sleep and was stealing to the library to find a new book to read. Her mother at sixteen would have been up at this hour because she was too fearful to chance others being around.
Passing the last family rooms, Katja took the stairs to the working floor and the royal library. "Mama has us all now." Katja smiled as she walked. There was a family here for Elsa, family that the Snow Queen let in. She was a part of it. Though, given that she should really be in bed right now, Katja hoped that her mother was not currently awake.
Slipping into the library, Katja was surprised to spot a light, a candle on a side-table next to a high backed chair. Hoping that whoever it was would not mind some company, she knocked the door. "Hello?"
"Kat." A figure left the chair and Katja could feel a blush warming her face. Matteus was in the library.
At the ball a few days ago they had danced with each other and the family. Neither of them had selected any "match" to dance with them, something the ball had technically been arranged for. Her friend was so gentlemanly and courtly the whole time.
Her new friend, Nancy of Andalasia, had even said that Matteus was focused on her and ignoring all the other girls. Girls who were actual princesses and nobles.
The past few days had been filled with giddy feelings and a nervousness that made her avoid her friend. It was honestly what had kept her awake this night.
"Matty." Katja whispered, very aware that she had not spent time with him since their dancing. Nothing more than family meals and schooling. "Sorry to disturb you."
"You haven't." Matteus closed some of the distance between them. "I was checking the star charts, there is a meteor shower tonight."
"Really?" Katja took a step closer herself. "I would like to see that." She hoped that her avoiding him hadn't hurt his feelings. Stargazing and watching the lights had been something they used to do when they were much younger, to see a shower was a good way to spend time together again.
"I know just the right tower to use." Matteus was beside her now and he took her hand. It was the first time since they had danced, again it felt so very different to the past. "Come on, it will be starting soon."
Matteus led her through the castle, his hand holding hers felt reassuring and warm. Katja didn't mind that she was following, she trusted him easily and gripped his hand with her own. "This is one that happens every year." He was explaining the meteor shower, astronomy was one of his favourite subjects and he had learned everything he could from the Trolls and was working out how that matched what humans had recorded.
"I think I remember Mama letting me stay up to watch it once." Katja offered. That had been on an official trip a few years ago, she had travelled with her parents while Anna had looked after the Arendelle. "It must look quite different to how it did in Eldora."
"Probably." Matteus grinned, "Different latitudes and all that. So you were listening." He pulled at her hand, a teasing tug that took her off balance a moment. Katja scowled.
"Of course I was." Katja checked her shoulder against his arm, he was too tall for her to match like when they were children. "Are we nearly at the tower?"
"Yes, through this door." Matteus stopped at a wooden panel on the wall and let go of her hand, he pressed at the edges of the panel. It looked just like all the others that covered the walls of this part of the palace, but unlike the others, this one moved inwards.
"No fair! I thought we were going to find all the secret doors together!" Katja groused, she was getting less nervous now that she was close to Matteus again.
"I wanted to keep a few as a surprise." Matteus replied, sliding the panel aside to reveal a dark doorway. Shafts of moonlight lit much of the space within and the staircase beyond, so he hadn't felt the need to bring a lantern. "Surprises make things more fun."
"I suppose they do." Katja allowed, looking around at the room hidden behind the panel. It wasn't exciting, there were a few rifles on the wall and crossbows racked up beside them. "A cache?"
"That was how I knew to look for it. Grandfather had hideaways stocked up in the palace and castle. He wrote them in his journals." Matteus looked and checked that there were two guns and three crossbows. "He was worried for Aunt Elsa. He wanted places that they could hide and keep her safe."
"I'm glad they were never needed." Katja drew a little closer. One day Matteus would be king and he would have to make decisions like his Grandfather. Would she be there to help him? Could she help him?
The fingers of his hand tangled with hers. "I am too." He smiled warmly. "Now we need to get to the top room." Matteus pointed to the staircase, the moonlight giving enough light to see by. "The balcony there is perfect."
It was rather early for Elsa to be awake, but she'd had an enthusiastic lecture on the meteor shower that was happening from her heir. Matteus had taken to astronomy and would merrily talk any ear off that accidentally started him on the subject.
Now she was sat on a chair in the balcony of Freya's room, next to her partner as they waited for the spectacle. "So is this like the one we saw before?" Freya hid a yawn behind her hand. She had a light blanket around her shoulders and was looking to the sky.
"Yes, it is. It should be beautiful to see." Elsa was looking up towards the tower Matty had said he was hoping to use. He had told her about his plan to watch the shower, old enough that he could have some small rebellions to bed-times and curfews. "Oh."
"Oh?" Freya repeated, turning to Elsa.
"Nothing bad darling." She shifted and pointed to the balcony of the tower in view. Two familiar figures were there. "How sweet. Our little girl has worked up her courage." Elsa had noticed the blushes of her daughter, how she was sort of avoiding Matteus after their ball and his monopoly of her company.
Freya chuckled. "They aren't so little now, are they?" Matteus and Katja would not notice them watching. Freya hoped so at least, she didn't want to interrupt them. She had warned the boy after all.
"Here it is." Matteus opened the door out onto the balcony. It wasn't a space for a leisurely time, it was more a watch-point that was no longer used in these times of peace. He had brought up some blankets before, for sky-watching from the vantage point. He had others hidden away in a few towers and turrets around the castle, some nights could be a little cold.
"This is a great view." Katja looked up into an ocean of stars, soon it would look like some were falling across the sky. Matteus had let go of her hand a moment, but was soon draping something over her shoulders. She looked at the blanket and the other one he had over an arm. "Thank you."
"I thought it might be a little chilly still." He didn't comment that she was in stockings and a nightgown, or that he had on his pyjama set and a dressing gown. It was late, this was sneaking around time, secret time.
Katja hummed an agreement and held out a hand to him, she had enjoyed the feel of his hand over hers. Matteus smiled and tweaked the blanket around her better, taking her hand in his. "Will it be starting soon?"
"Yes, not too long now." Matteus tried to focus on the sky. Not on Katja holding his hand, or how pretty she looked in the moonlight, or how soft her lips looked...
A star streaked across the sky, followed by another and another.
"Oh! Look at them!" Katja cheered, following the points of light through the night sky. "So beautiful."
"I see that." Matteus whispered, glad his voice kept level. He was watching the star-fall, just as he had planned. But it was framed by Katja, her smile and her enthusiasm. How pretty, how beautiful she looked.
She looked to him, eyes shining.
Katja hadn't expected such a look of awe from Matteus. Not one directed at her.
Stars sparkled, their falling friends streaked in the sky. But right now Katja was too distracted by Matteus. He was looking at her with the same emotion in his eyes that Kristoff had for Anna and Anna for Kristoff, or her mothers had for each other.
There was scant distance between them, Katja was unsure about whether she should close the gap.
"Kat." Matteus whispered, right before he kissed her. He carried on holding her hand, pressing their lips together and hoping for the best.
When Matteus drew back Katja just smiled wide. "My turn." She giggled and kissed his lips. It was quite a nice feeling; tingly from her toes to her ears. Finished, she leaned back and smiled some more. "We will have to do that again some time."
"Yes." Matteus mumbled, he was blushing now. It made a change to the last few days where it had been Katja blushing whenever she was around him.
"Actually." Katja smirked and popped up to kiss him again, keeping her fingers tangled with his. "Now I know I can, I rather like to."
Mattues didn't have any words.
"I think I know how Anna felt, that evening she saw us." Elsa whispered. They were certainly too far away for the children to hear them, but she wanted the pair to believe no one had seen them. Embarrassing them was not on her agenda.
"Proud fit to burst? Very happy? Absolutely wishing you could tell them you know and approve, but not wanting to scare them or make them uncomfortable?" Freya whispered back, she had Elsa on her lap and pressed a soft kiss to her temple.
"Yes, all of that." Elsa smiled. Her family was full of love and she knew that Matteus and Katja would carry on that love; beyond her time and further still.
A reminder for all, Kat is adopted into the family and has kept her own name. It looks though, that generations of the Royal family have not cared for nobility when making a match. More to come I assure you.