After breakfast, Elsa and Adam had a council meeting, Anna had to go to a town meeting as royal representative, and, as it was the off season for ice harvesters, I got saddled with the kids. Don't get me wrong, I love the girls, but they can be a handful sometimes.
Both girls strongly resemble their mothers, both physically and characteristically. Alice is always hyperactive and optimistic. She loves meeting new people and seeing new things. She inherited her mother's bright eyes and vibrant red hair. The only difference is that she's got my nose, my sense of humor, and sense of caution.
Ella is a pretty even mix of both her parents. While she definitely inherited her mother's platinum blonde hair, and her power, her brown eyes and adventurous spirit come from her father. Ella isn't afraid of anything at all, and, thanks to our teaching, can control her ability flawlessly. She also loves geometry and problem solving. She is easily the smartest eight year old I know.
The girls and I were playing football, or "soccer" as the Americans called it, outside when a carrier pigeon landed on Alice's shoulder.
"Look Daddy! A Birdy landed on me!" She squealed excitedly. Both girls had a huge interest in and love for wildlife. Ella noticed the note on his foot and carefully removed it.
"It's for Aunt Anna!" She unfolded it and read it aloud. "'Meet me at the harbour inn at six. We will plan our next move there. With love, ...'" she paused. I looked over her shoulder to see that it wasn't signed. All there was at the bottom of the page was some X's and O's that couldn't have possibly been a name. "I wonder what this means."
"I don't know, but I don't like it." I said, taking the note. "Do you think Elsa is finished with her meeting yet?"
"Probably not. Mom said it would be a few hours, and it's only been forty-five minutes."
"Why do you have a bad feeling, Daddy?" Alice asked, shooing the pigeon away. He hopped on to the grass and settled in.
"I'm not sure, sweetheart. Maybe it has something to do with your mother's strange behavior this morning." I shrugged. "I'll talk to Elsa about it as soon as she's finished."
"Finished with what?" Elsa startled the three of us.
"Mom! I thought your meeting would go longer," Ella said. Elsa shrugged her shoulders.
"I thought so too. Apparently they only wanted to go over the agenda for the day with me, then talk with your father the rest of the time."
"Odd," I thought aloud. "That isn't normally how it works."
"Strange things have been going on around here. Anna is less enthusiastic then normal, the staff seems on edge, even Adam seems like he's hiding something." Elsa shook her head. "Actually, Anna's been like that ever since..."
"Ever since Nathan passed." I finished. I hung my head. Elsa tentatively squeezed my shoulder to try to comfort me.
Nathan had been Anna and my first child, born a year after our wedding. He was a sweet little baby, full of energy and curiosity. He always lit up the castle with his big grin and bright spark in his blue eyes. Unfortunately, when he was two, he died.
Anna and I had gone out for a date night and left him with Adam, Elsa, and the newborn Ella. Apparently during dinner he had a severe allergic reaction to something in his food. Nobody was sure what it was, but it caused his skin to break out and his throat to swell to the point where he couldn't breathe. Elsa and Adam called the royal physician immediately, and did everything they could do to help, but the little boy couldn't handle it.
When we came home, Elsa met us with the news. It absolutely crushed us both, Anna worse then me. She started crying and yelling and screaming at her older sister out of anger, blaming her and Adam for not being responsible enough and letting our son die. For at least a week after the funeral, she refused to speak to the queen or her husband at all. I ended up spending a lot of time with my sister in law trying to help her fix things with Anna. It took two years before Anna would speak kindly to Elsa again, and another year after that before she wanted to have another baby. Even after the fact, she was never truly the same again.
"I'm sorry I brought it up," Elsa said. I shrugged, patting the hand still resting on my shoulder.
"It wasn't your fault. Allergies can affect anyone." I shook my head to clear my thoughts, remembering the note. "This note came by carrier pigeon. It says it's for Anna, but the message has me worried."
"Girls, why don't you two check on the ducks while we talk?" The girls nodded and ran in that direction. I handed Elsa the note. "I see why you would be concerned. Ask her about it when she gets home. If she seems like she's trying to hide something, get me afterwards and we'll discuss further actions."
"Okay. What time will she be back?"
"Two or three in the evening."
"Alright then. Thanks."
"No problem." The girls came back over.
"Auntie Anna is back. She wants to know if she got any messages.
"Wait, what?" Elsa raised an eyebrow. "What time is it?"
"Noon. I finished early." Anna approached from the garden. "Any messages?"
"Just a carrier pigeon." Elsa gave her the note. Anna read it and a familiar smile crossed her lips. The smile of a woman in love. I began to feel nervous.
"What does it say?" Elsa asked. Anna sighed happily.
"A note from Matthew. He's one of my best friends." I shot Elsa a skeptical glance. She met my gaze and shrugged, obviously worried and confused. "I saw him today at the benefit. He's a visiting ambassador from France. He's so handsome and brave and cunning and oh he's just perfect."
"You do know your husband is right here, right? Your five year old daughter is literally a couple feet away." Elsa quipped before I could react. Anna scowled at us.
"Whatever. I'm leaving at six. Don't wait up and do not follow me." With that, she left, leaving the two of us dumbfounded as we watched her sashay into the castle.