Frozen Creed : Requiem
Chapter 9
August 20
1773
Later than night Anna found herself in her sanctuary drinking as she mulled over the conversation she had with Elsa about her secret girlfriend.
"My sister has a girlfriend" Anna thought and had to take a drink to swallow the bile that rose in her throat.
"Why does that make me so angry?" Anna thought, putting down her glass and closing her eyes to try to think through her emotions.
"Is it because thru ought our childhood Elsa had someone to talk to, to confide in outside our family while I was forced to be locked away from everyone but mother, father and the staff?" Anna asked herself and felt that that was close, but not on the mark.
"Or is it that she has someone besides me who she loves" Anna realized and with a sickening jolt realized that was it as she took another drink.
"God, what's wrong with me? Am I really that selfish?" She asked herself.
Elsa sat at her desk and tried to focus on her work, but she couldn't, not after her confession to Anna about Elizabeth. During the separation Elizabeth had been her rock, someone to talk too, someone to keep her sane, but she also understood it from Anna's side. Her sister had been shut in and cut off from almost everyone except for her parents. She wasn't allowed the option for even one friend. Anna had every right to be angry, Elsa had expected her to explode, to yell and scream, or to at least cry and demand an explanation. She hadn't expected Anna to go silent and listen to Elsa explain, then to get up ask to be alone and walk out, leaving Elsa feeling guilty. Her head shot up when she heard the familiar knock and was up like a shot almost ripping the door open.
"Hey" Anna said smiling.
"I'm sorry" Elsa said causing her sister to blink.
"For what?" Anna asked.
"For being allowed to have a friend to write and talk too while you didn't" Elsa said causing Anna to blink.
"I…didn't really think about it like that" Anna said.
"I want to apologize too" Anna said.
"For what?" Elsa asked.
"For feeling angry and jealous. It was selfish of me" Anna said.
"Of course it's not. You have every right to be angry" Elsa said putting a hand on Anna's cheek.
"I think we should invite her for a visit, and finally meet" Anna said taking Elsa's hand in hers.
"Are you sure?" Elsa asked.
"Positive, you deserve to be happy" Anna said.
"I am happy, with you" Elsa thought her emotions swirling but Anna's warmth kept her powers from swirling along with them. However the fact that Anna wanted to meet Elizabeth also made Elsa happy as Elsa wanted to meet her lifelong friend in person as well.
"Okay" Elsa said. So the invitation was sent out, but it would be weeks until they got a response, and weeks more before Elizabeth would arrive.
"We should make it a celebration, the arrival of your first real potential suitor" Anna suggested.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? Elizabeth is a woman" Elsa said.
"Which is why we need to make it public. The last thing we need is to be seen keeping more secrets, no offense" Anna said pushing down the feeling of hypocrisy her words inspired.
"None taken. I'll have to think about it" Elsa said.
"We've got time" Anna said.
"Actually I wanted your advice on something" Elsa said.
"Sure if you think I can help" Anna said.
"The riot got me thinking. With my powers along with being above the law, I can understand how the commoners would feel nervous, even threatened, especially after" Elsa said the temperature dropping.
"Hey, stop torturing yourself. It's done, and you've done everything in your power to fix it" Anna said taking her hands.
"Not everything" Elsa said nervously.
"What would you think about me abdicating?" Els said looking her in the eye, and Anna felt her stomach drop into the floor and through it.
"Anna?" Elsa asked. She had seen her little sister go white as a sheet at her suggestion and felt her hands being to tremble and despite everything Elsa burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Anna demanded her terror turning to anger as she blushed.
"You. You've done some of the craziest, stupidest, bravest things. You've died and come back to life, and the one thing that terrifies you is becoming queen?" Elsa asked continuing to laugh.
"It doesn't terrify you?" Anna asked pulling her hands out of her sisters and standing up beginning to pace.
"I can't be queen. I'm impatient, reckless, irresponsible. I don't know anything about governing, or politics. If I'm queen I'll give the kingdom two weeks before it goes up in flames" Anna said beginning to truly panic.
"Anna, stop" Elsa said getting up and putting her hands on her shoulders.
"Just breath" Elsa said, and Anna took a deep breath.
"You are just as capable of ruling this kingdom as I am. You are capable of doing anything" Elsa said.
"But I'm just the spare. Father never trained me like he trained you" Anna said.
"Then I'll train and advise you. Just because I'm no longer queen doesn't mean I won't do everything I can to help you" Elsa said.
"You're really serious about this?" Anna asked.
"I, love this kingdom, and I love being it's queen, but with what happened with the freeze, with Elizabeth coming, I think it's best for everyone if I step aside." Elsa said.
"But not forever right?" Anna asked.
"What do you mean?" Elsa asked.
"You don't have to abdicate forever. Step aside, let everything cool down, no pun intended, get to know Elizabeth, and maybe in a year, two at the most, you can take your power back" Anna reasoned, a plan forming in her mind.
"Wow, you really don't want to be queen" Elsa joked.
"Like I said when I covered for you when you were sick, I'm glad I'm your right hand" Anna said.
"Well now I can see what it's like to be yours" Elsa said.
"Alright, I'll do it, but for no more than two years then we discuss you taking back the crown" Anna said.
"Deal" Elsa said.
"Alright, but before that I want to talk to you about something I've been thinking about" Anna asked.
"Of course" Elsa said and Anna took a deep breath.
"I want talk to you about establishing a constitutional monarchy" Anna said and Elsa blinked.
"After the riot, with the revolution in the British colonies, I think it's the best step for us. I mean we're a small nation, but we still have a decent population we govern, and I think giving them a stronger voice could help smooth over any future grievances" Anna explained.
"And you said you couldn't govern" Elsa said impressed.
"It's just an idea" Anna said blushing.
"It's a good idea. Forming a parliament would not only reassure the people, but take some of the stress off the monarch" Elsa said.
"It's a win win. A parliament would make sure I couldn't screw anything up too badly and when you take back the crown no one will worry too much" Anna said feeling relief sweep through her.
"So until Elizabeth responds to you and before she comes we'll get parliament up and running" Anna said. The first step in forming a parliament was informing the council. Anna expected objections from almost all the councilors. What she didn't expect was an almost jubilant agreement.
"This council has wanted a parliamentary system for years your highness, but your father was rather…traditional" General Rollo said.
"He firmly believed in the power of the monarchy and it's divine right to rule" Minister Rolf added.
"So how long would it take to put a Parliament into place?" Elsa asked.
"Three months no more" Rolf said.
"that soon?" Anna asked.
"We have a building set aside, and we have representatives for our own house of lords and house of commons" The Political minister Graf said.
"With all due respect to your father Queen Elsa, but the instituting of a parliament was the biggest point of contention between us. We have had it ready to put into place for years, but your father always vetoed it and threatened military action of we dared to put it into place on our own" Graf explained and Anna suppressed a flash of anger as Elsa adopted a disappointed look.
"Excellent, I am glad that you are all excepting of this" She said.
"There is one more issue I wish to address" Elsa said and told the council of her plan to abdicate. This time the room did explode in objections.
"Your highness, why would you think such a thing?" Rolf asked.
"You were just getting the hang of ruling" Graf added.
"Gentlemen please" Elsa said firmly and they quieted.
"The kingdom is in a delicate state right now. The lower classes are still angry at me for the curse that killed many of them, and I have a woman who is very dear to me coming from over the sea to visit. For everyone, I think it is best if I remove myself from public life and stay out of sight for a time" She explained.
"With all due respect your highness, but I think you abdicating would cause the exact opposite" general Rollo said.
"How do you mean?" Elsa asked.
"Queen Elsa, you are only focusing on a small part of the kingdom's population, a very small part of the angry poor. The rest of the kingdom loves you dearly, the majority of the middle class, the upper class and the nobles hold you in high regard. If you abdicate for the reasons you state, you could very well inflame the tensions between the poor and the rest of the population" Rollo explained.
"You also forget that we are also a fairly liberal country. I do not think that there will be any outrage over you having a close female friend, particularly if she is a noble" Prime Minister Ragnar added to nods of agreement.
"Your majesty if you're preferences really do run in that direction, perhaps it would not be too forward to ask princess Anna when she can be expected to produce an heir?" Ragnar asked.
"I think that is too forward prime minister" Elsa said as the temperature dropped ten degrees.
"I am currently seeing someone, but after what happened last time I am taking it slow" Anna said putting a hand on Elsa's arm.
"A pity Hans took such a turn. He did so much for the kingdom during the freeze." Ragnar said shaking his head.
"Anyway, I can assure you that even if Elsa never produces an heir, I will, just don't push it" Anna said sweetly.
"Of course your highness, my apologies" Ragnar said.
"I can't believe them. They say their so progressive, accepting the fact that I'm gay, then they turn around and treat you like a brood mare" Elsa raged back in her office as ice ran up the walls.
"You don't have to get so angry" Anna said sitting in the chair next to her desk.
"I get it. Their worried. They want the next generation." Anna said as Elsa stopped and took a deep breath, the ice vanishing.
"And they're not wrong. If nothing else we should think about who in the family we should pass the throne too just in case Kristoff and I don't have a kid" Anna said scratching her cheek.
"You're right. There must be an orderly succession" Elsa said sitting down.
"What about Rapunzel?" Anna asked.
"Our cousin from Corona?" Elsa asked.
"yeah, she was at the coronation" Anna said.
"We should invite her for a visit and get to know her" Anna said.
"that sounds like a great idea" Elsa agreed.