March 19th, 1844
Four months before Coronation Day
"You what?" Elsa spat, sitting up in her chair and slamming her open palms onto the desk in front of her.
"It's already in the works, Elsa. I know that you don't particularly enjoy the company of others," the balding man paused, assessing the girl's reaction. She didn't protest, so he continued, "but I think it is necessary. You and Anna have not exactly been social butterflies, especially in the last year." He added the last few words tactfully.
Elsa knew he was right. She and Anna had never been good at meeting people and presenting themselves as proper royalty to the people of Arendelle, but ever since their parents were lost at sea just over a year ago, both girls had barely even seen the light of day, much less made time for social interaction.
The future queen felt like she had a good reason for that, but she was aware that to an outsider her constant avoidance of social situations and self-inflicted isolation must seem more than a little strange, especially for a future monarch.
Still, the idea of inviting all of the nobles from the city and even royalty from distant kingdoms to the castle for a formal banquet seemed like a massive chore to the young queen and the anxiety that came with it was unbearable. Elsa fiddled with her gloves.
"What about Anna? She's only seventeen and has hardly ever been around boys, much less noblemen and princes, and – "
"Anna is a perfectly smart and capable young woman, I'm sure that she will be fine."
The regal fellow speaking to Elsa from across the desk was Abram, an aging, gentle man that had been the King's former adviser and old friend. He had taken over most of the acting royal duties since the King's tragic death until his daughter came of age, an arrangement that had been made many years ago in preparation for the unlikely event that the King was ever killed. Unfortunately, it had turned out to be a necessary foresight.
Abram had always been like an uncle to the pair of princesses, having watched them grow up since the day they were born, and Elsa knew that deep down he had their best interests in mind as the acting ruler. With that reassuring thought, she sighed and sat back down.
"Will I have to dance?" she muttered.
The man smiled at her sudden change in attitude. "Elsa, you're twenty years old and soon to be the ruler of an entire kingdom. You don't have to do anything you don't want to." When she looked up inquisitively, he added, "But you must at least attend the banquet, of course. I have to put my foot down somewhere." Her face fell again as she accepted her fate.
"Look, I know that you would prefer to remain outside of the spotlight," said Abram. "But the people of Arendelle need to at least get to know yousomewhat before you become their queen. I've heard rumors that some of the noblemen think you're just some looney shut-in. They need to know that you are capable of ruling the kingdom." Abram saw her expression change to an obvious look of insecurity. "And I strongly believe that you are. They just need to get to know you like I do. And Anna, too. I'm sure that they will agree with me when they see what lovely young ladies you are."
"Okay…" Elsa conceded, standing up and turning to leave her father's former office."But if any princes offer me their hand in marriage, I swear I'll have your head on a pike when I'm queen."
The rare joking remark from the blonde brought a warm smile to Abram's face. Just before Elsa was about to exit the room, he spoke up. "Elsa... this will be a social event, my dear. God forbid you may even have a little bit of fun?" He put a strange emphasis on the last word, as if questioning if the girl even knew its meaning.
Elsa just gave the man a shy smile and closed the door, trying to remember the last time she experienced anything close to fun.
News about the banquet spread throughout the city like wildfire. Finally, the mystery that shrouded the future monarch would come to light. Princess Elsa was going to make a public appearance.
Of course, only the nobles would be able to meet her, but even that was enough to stir excitement in all the people of Arendelle, common-folk and noblemen alike. After the King and Queen's death nearly two years ago, gossip regarding the future queen became a hot topic in every inn and pub in the city. Elsa was known as nothing more than the shut-in blonde daughter of King Agdar, a mysterious shade of the former king. She was a ghost, a fairytale, a creature of legend.
Rumors began to spread through hushed whispers and drunken conversations as speculation ran rampant.
I heard she's some kind of deformed beast. You know, with more arms than fingers...
My friend told me the princess has some kind of disease. Just one touch and you'll be sick as a dog for weeks...
Rumor has it, the King and Queen had a son. Princess Elsa killed him as an infant, the murderous witch...
Most came to believe that there was something wrong with the girl. What other reason could there be for hiding the princess and locking the gates? Only a few chose to believe in a more pragmatic viewpoint. Perhaps the girl was just shy and reserved. Perhaps the former King believed she would be a better ruler if removed from public perception and opinion. Either way, there was one thing that the whole city agreed upon - Princess Elsa's treatment of her future subjects had been cold to say the least.
If only they knew the half of it.
Elsa stared at her reflection in the mirror as she fixed her hair into a tight bun. A nervous pair of icy blue eyes stared back at her.
Okay. Just control yourself. You can do this. Most of the attention will be on Anna anyway.
The banquet was less than two hours away and Elsa couldn't remember the last time she had been so anxious to get something over with. This would mark the first formal event in which she would be the centerpiece and just the thought of being surrounded by high-nosed noblemen judging her every movement, kissing her hand, trying to impress her, win her over – it all made Elsa want to hurl. She felt a knot in her stomach as she pulled on her blue silk gloves, completing her outfit.
The only thing that put Elsa's mind at ease was the fact that Anna would be by her side, although the redhead was surely not feeling the same reservations as her sister. Elsa recalled how excited Anna had been when she heard about the banquet - she had nearly caused Kai to drop an entire tray of dishes with a deafening squeal and sprinted off to choose a gown to wear, dragging a bewildered Gerda along with her. Elsa figured she could simply hide behind the veil of enthusiasm that her sister would provide at the banquet and fade into the background, allowing the redhead to soak up the attention she so dreaded.
However, there was no avoiding interaction with the nobles and Abram's words held true.
Just as long as I don't have to dance…
A knock at Elsa's door interrupted her thoughts. She expected to hear an eager Anna on the other side, but instead it was Gerda who called through.
"Your Majesty, if I may have a moment?"
"What is it, Gerda?"
"It's your sister, Majesty…"
"Anna? Is she alright?"
"You'd best see for yourself." Elsa quickly exited and followed the hallway down to Anna's room, the maid in tow.
When she reached Anna's door, she heard a loud sneeze from the other side. Before Elsa had a chance to knock, there was another sneeze, then another. The blonde waited for her sister's fit to end before making her presence known.
"Anna? Are you feeling alright?" she asked, putting her face close to the door.
"Yup! Never better! Jus' getting ready for da – achoo! sniff - Banquet!" Anna replied.
"Her Majesty awoke with a fever this morning and I've been bringing her tea and tissues all day," said Gerda. "Nothing more than a common cold, I expect, no need for concern. However the princess needs her rest. I'm afraid she is in no condition to attend the banquet tonight, although the stubborn girl will never admit it."
Elsa sighed and cursed the universe for its terrible timing. No matter how much she dreaded facing the banquet without Anna, she wasn't willing to risk her sister's health over it, even though she knew that it would break the younger girl's heart.
"Anna, I'm coming in…" she said and opened the door, revealing the almost comical sight of her sister halfway into fixing her mess of hair, red locks jutting out in every direction. She looked horrible. Her face was pale, her nose was red and chaffed, and she looked as if she only got a couple hours of sleep. Despite all of that, she was still dressed in her extravagant green dress that she had chosen to wear to the banquet and was fixing her hair with a vigor that let Elsa know she had absolutely no intention of staying in bed for the rest of the evening.
"H-Hi Elza. You ready for da banquet?" she asked through a stuffed nose, attempting to act as if nothing was wrong.
"Yes, but you certainly are not. You're ill, Anna, you need to rest. I know you were looking forward to this banquet but I'm afraid that you'll have to miss it."
"No, I-I'm fine, I promise!" Anna protested before letting out another sneeze and beginning a coughing fit that made Elsa step back slightly to avoid the spray of germs.
"No, you're not. I'm afraid you're just going to have to stay in bed. You won't enjoy yourself anyway if you can't even make it through a sentence without coughing up a lung," Elsa said and walked her sister over to the bed. She was pleased to see that the redhead did not resist, although the look on her face was the epitome of disappointment.
"Thiz iz so unfair…" Anna lamented, lying back on the bed in defeat.
"There will be other banquets, Anna, I promise," Elsa said, unsure of the truth behind even her own words. Her sister appeared to mirror that doubt, although she didn't say it.
"Mhm… Just have some fun for me okay?" She sighed and pulled the covers over herself, clearly so exhausted that she didn't mind falling asleep in her full dress. She closed her eyes and began to doze off before Elsa could even respond. The blonde couldn't help but smile as she closed the curtains of Anna's window, extinguished the lights, and quietly excused herself from the room to let her sister rest.
Fun. Right. That seems to be the expectation for me tonight. I suppose I'll just have to try.