Chapter Six: Dinner For Two
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not Frozen, not Judge Dredd, or even Dredd because all I own is the plotline and most of the dialogue. I'm not making any money off of this so if you sue me…well…joke's on you!
Author's Update: First of all I want to say that my story has over FIVE HUNDRED VIEWS! That's a big deal to me so please allow me this instance to celebrate how awesome you all are in reading and following along with my Fanfic. Furthermore, I do wish to apologize for the extensive gap between the last chapter and this one as I've had quite a few "things" pop up in my life recently, which required my immediate and unbroken attention. That being said, I hope that nobody is disappointed with the latest installment that you are about to read. After sleepless nights debating with myself, I decided to continue with the format I used in the last chapter in the hopes that nobody would be left out in regards to which side you wished to see continued, but do not get comfortable to this as I'm returning to the original single-track chapter style. Now that we have that out of the way, I thank you all for your kind reviews and well…on with the story!
Carefully rotating his eyes about the room, Kristoff mentally noted each doorway's secure status as two members of the Royal Guard stood at attention though ever ready to give their lives for the Royal Family should the situation call for such drastic sacrifice. Taking their presence into consideration, the young Street Judge silently calculated the odds in which a repeat assault on the MegaPalace would take place as well as the likelihood of any member occupying the room defecting. With a heavy grunt, Kristoff determined that while the statistical probability of another attack was low and infiltration higher that he could successfully take each and every guard down if the situation grew out of control. A sudden jerk of his left elbow shattered the Street Judge's intense focus as he turned to find his mother staring expectantly all the while giving subtly head motions indicating he should redirect his attentions elsewhere. Nodding in acquiescence, Kristoff returned his gaze to the ornate dining table occupying the center of the dinning hall to see his adoptive father, dressed in similar fashion to himself, as well as the King and Queen of Arendelle. All three individuals expressed nearly identical smiles of pride and recognition for the honorable Street Judge and his adoptive mother.
"Judge Bjorgman, I must admit I was quite surprised when my dear wife informed me of your decision to join us for dinner this evening. Nevertheless, it's quite an honor and pleasure to host such an esteemed Judge of your caliber." The King proclaimed with a sense of personal pride as he watched the pair make their way to the table. Gerda sensed her son would respond in a 'most undignified manner' and promptly threw her elbow into the taller man's back before either of the pair took their seats yet remaining completely innocent in the eyes of those in attendance as they could not see her actions. With a heavy sigh, the Street Judge darted his gaze briefly toward his mother before respectfully returning to the King's query.
"It was...would have…been rude of me to decline your gracious invitation, Your Majesty." The Street Judge spoke carefully to quell the irate behavior of his adoptive mother, albeit successfully as she petted his hand several times with a broad smile and profuse nods as if to non-verbally brag about her son. Sitting directly across from the suddenly chipper woman, her husband Kai watched the interaction with a knowing grin and chuckled in thought as he predicted this night to be far more interesting than anyone would have expected. Casting an apologetic glance toward his son, the Chief Justice shrugged as he sipped the undoubtedly expensive alcohol contained within the crystal wine glass.
"Well, after the intense-" The King stopped short of finishing his statement as he felt the powerful and wickedly precise pressure of his wife's heel directed fully upon his left foot. Slowly shifting to meet his wife's gaze he found that while her face and smile expressed the visage of excitement and happiness, her eyes presented a slightly different story to which Adgar coughed roughly to imply he'd been held up by something caught in his throat as this entire display took place over the course of several seconds. The King bellowed several deeper coughs and sipped his glass modestly in hopes that his entire display proved adequate enough for everyone to believe before he continued.
"Sorry *cough* must've dehydrated myself earlier. As I was saying, after our well-rounded discussion, it appeared you weren't too, 'thrilled' shall we say, at the provisions." The King finished earnestly, daring not to invoke the wrath of his wife seeing as he knew how far she would take such matters and the extend to which his wife would thoroughly elucidate her grievances concerning his actions. Throughout the years, Adgar learned that the most important part of ruling a MegaKingdom was to make sure you didn't piss off your reigning Queen in the process. Finding his wife's eyes retuning to their bubbly gleam, Adgar exhaled patiently as Kai chortled at the display of his best friend only to receive a brief scowl in response. Redirecting his attention from both his wife and Kai, Adgar noticed that Judge Bjorgman had begun to speak before being interrupted by his adoptive mother sitting to the boy's left.
"Speaking of provisions, where is Princess Elsa at the moment? After all, it's not like her highness to arrive late when we have guests joining us?" The adoptive mother queried as she extended look of confusion and worry toward her long time friend and Queen. Having watched the young woman grow from the tiniest of toddlers to the beautiful young woman set to inherent the throne, Gerda never once recalled an instance where Elsa was late for any occasion so long as she retained complete control of the means by which she would arrive. Normally, the adoptive mother wouldn't have concerned herself too deeply with the Princess's tardiness but in light of recent events the woman couldn't help but allow a sense of intense dread to slowly overcome her usually rational mind. Intensifying her gaze, Gerda sought placation from her life-long friend to which the Queen met with compassion and understanding in giving a reassuring nod before commencing to speak.
"Oh you know Elsa, she's probably still trying to get dressed in hopes of making a better first impression for our honored guest." Idun replied nonchalantly though this façade gave way to a scheming grin as she quickly winked toward Gerda who nodded in response, leaving two of the men in the room utterly confused while Kai caught on rather quickly and shook his head at the machinations of his wife and his reigning Queen. As Adgar learned years later, Kai fortunately understood a long time ago that it was completely futile to stand in the way of either woman currently present in the dining hall. The Chief Justice merely breathed a casual sigh and met his adoptive son's gaze, finding the young man slightly irate and more or less baffled by the conversation between Gerda and Idun.
Kristoff noticed he'd gained his father's attention all the while issuing a nonverbal plea in hopes the former could provide any means of escape from this decidedly unpleasant predicament. Though the Chief felt bad for his adoptive son, he swiftly jerked his head in the negative with swift motion so as not to betray the action's intent to their fellow occupants. The Street Judge sighed dejectedly and gave a swift affirmative nod toward his father signaling his understanding of the predicament both men currently faced as well as acknowledging the only exit from this scenario came in the form of remaining at the table through to the very end. Offering up an apologetic shrug once more, Kai returned his focus to the current conversation at hand in hopes of bringing forth a newer and lighter topic for conversation. Unfortunately for all parties involved, this would not prove to be the case as the Queen launched into a brand new discussion before he could utter a single syllable.
"So Judge Bjorgman? How long have you been serving The Grand Hall of Justice?" Idun asked innocently enough as her husband suddenly displayed keen interest in hearing whereas Kai suddenly found the need to closely inspect the place mats upon the table in hopes of escaping the intense gaze of his not-so-happy wife. Sensing the tension building in the room, Adgar waved over a member of the kitchen staff and whispered something to the effect of an order to bring out a light appetizer to satisfy their stomachs as they awaited the arrival of their eldest daughter who'd yet to be seen. Kristoff hadn't observed the rising tension between his adoptive parents as he met the Queen's curious gaze with a determined stare of his eyes before providing a clear and concise response.
"As of roughly two days ago, I've been serving The Grand Hall of Justice for ten years." Kristoff declared with indifference, though a subtle hint of pride could be found in the young man's inflection as he truly loved his work in upholding the law and proving order to a chaos-ridden Queen glanced over to her best friend who glared daggers at her husband sitting across the table, utterly confused at the cowering demeanor of the Chief Justice. Had it not been for her husband's intrigue into this particular discussion she would have simply left it at that, but Idun carried on with the full intent to learn more about this handsome young Street Judge.
"So that would make you twenty-eight years old? Or would it be twenty-nine?" The Queen asked the rigid Street Judge, completely undeterred by the staff that began serving a traditional Norwegian favorite, grovbrød. Being the bread of choice for the region of Norway for centuries, it wasn't uncommon that people ranging from utter destitution to the highest in all of the land to partake in its consumption. Politely breaking off a smaller piece to ingest, Kristoff thoroughly enjoyed the appetizer as his regular meals consisted of carefully modified meal packets designed to provide the optimal nourishment for an active Street Judge and nothing more. However, the young man chewed slowly and swallowed carefully before continuing to speak, as his mother's table manner lessons still remained deeply drilled within his brain.
"Actually, neither of those approximations are accurate, Your Majesty. In all actuality, I'm only twenty-five years of age." The young blond spoke casually as he broke off yet another piece of grovbrød and heartily consumed the exquisite whole-wheat delight with the manner of a regal gentleman. Too enraptured with the overwhelming sensation of such amazing food, Kristoff remained oblivious to the reactions of the four other members of the table. The King displayed a look of profound confusion as he turned to Kai for clarification all the while Gerda released a somber sigh as the intense ire polluted her normally reserved and accepting gaze. The Queen on the other hand bounced between expressions of unfathomable sorrow at the implicated starting age this young man reached when he began his duties as an officer of the law and overwhelming overprotective rage at the idea that someone let a boy delve into the crime ridden streets of the MegaKingdom within a time of great rebellion.
"There has to be a mistake of some sort, being a Street Judge myself I know that nobody can actively serve the Hall of Justice in the capacity of a Judge until he or she has reached the age of consent…being eighteen years. If what you are saying is true, then you would've been-"
"Fifteen years old." Idun interrupted her husband as the stark realization sunk deeper and deeper within her heart and soul. The very thought of a fifteen year old boy out and about the dangerous streets of the MegaKingdom caused tears to form in the Queen's eyes. Suddenly, every single little expression filled with anger and sorrow Gerda displayed throughout the conversation made sense, her friend knew it was only a matter of time before the subject had been broached and fervently expressed her immediate and prior disapproval to the action itself. Reaching out for her best friend's hand, Idun squeezed reassuringly to further cement the fact that in the end her adoptive son made it through alive and well.
"Kai, how was Bjorgman admitted into the Grand Hall of Justice for active street duty if he was only fifteen?" Adgar inquired with a level tone as he methodically sliced into his share of grovbrød with a steady hand, unwavering in the face of such emotional turmoil flooding the room. The Chief Justice gulped nervously as he darted his eyes from person to person to find that his only support in Kristoff who displayed utter indifference at the issue put forth with a sliver of irration toward the perceived implication of ability stemming from his young age at the time. Running both hands through his receding hairline, Kai mustered up all the courage within his being and prepared himself for a potentially horrific scenario to unfold.
"The Ice Initiative was in full effect during that time if you recall, Your Majesties, and my…erm…our adoptive son not only met every standard required but overcame and excelled far beyond any projected result for a person of his age when the Justice Department Officials examined him. From that point, the council of five interviewed and enrolled our son into the experimental accelerated curriculum…a curriculum that only one other candidate passed with the same level as Judge Bjorgman." Kai spoke carefully, never once hiding his pride for the talent and success of his son in upholding the law and dispensing justice. Adgar paled in dark recognition of what Kai had referred to and remained completely silent while his wife and Gerda launched into heated debate with the Chief Justice who quickly to the defensive.
Kristoffs bewilderment concerning the identity of this mysterious fellow Street Judge who allegedly undertook the same rigorous and unforgiving curriculum as himself dissipated just as instantly as it arose in the wake of his adoptive mother's accusations directed specifically at Kai along with the Queen's aggravation that a man of such intellect and experience would know better than to send out a little boy. Curiously enough, Kristoff noticed that the reigning King of Arendelle remained ghostly pale and utterly silent from the moment Kai had finished his initial response. Once more, Kristoff desired to inquire further into this matter but ultimately the drive vanished as the ladies' arguments hit closer and closer to home despite their best intentions. With each second passing in heated argument, the Street Judge's patience wore thinner and thinner until finally he reached his breaking point and decided to interject in defense of his father as well as his own prowess. After moments of rapid fire thought, the blond Street Judge hammered a clenched fist down upon the table causing fine china and silverware to rustle with the vibrating motions of the table. All eyes fell upon the annoyed office of the law, watching in stunned fear as the broad shouldered man craned his neck in a vain attempt to ease the mounting ire deep within his core.
"For…For the record…I was found on the street when I was very small and while I didn't belong there, I must have survived. Chief Kai spoke nothing but the truth when he said I passed every test and exceeded expectations. When I completed the academic curriculum three years before most candidates' acceptance, my instructors held no desire for me to remain within the safe walls of the Academy…they…they said I could potentially become the perfect Street Judge and the best this MegaKingdom would ever produce. Every single challenge put before me, I overcame…every test posed, I passed beyond predicted results and remained at the top of my class. By the end of my pre-street tour, I set records in every major section of study and training and none have been broken to my knowledge. My father found me on the street, he raised me in the law, and he ensured that I would never see active duty until I was ready and well…at fifteen years old…I was ready and my first assignment was to report to the Helsinki District where I arrested and or executed six hundred and twenty-six felons for multiple crimes…some of which required automatic capital punishment. My first assignment dropped me in the deep end or at least so I thought…after ten years I've determined it's all a deep end and we take a risk just by stepping out side, wearing this uniform, upholding the law. If people like me aren't putting their lives on the line every day, then lawlessness and chaos would dominate the MegaKingdom…or whatever would exist in its place. So…mom…Your Majesties…please, do not blame my father…I cannot judge his actions nor do I have any desire to do so…because of him and you mom…I'm the most capable, dedicated, and honorable Street Judge currently serving the The Grand Hall of Justice…I'm grateful, and that's all."
Gerda sat flabbergasted in the face of her son's powerful proclamation in defense of her husband. Truly she'd never known that her baby Kristoff felt so strongly in how they raised him, how they loved him, how they took care of him when seemingly nobody else would. At first, Gerda wished to cry in happiness and hug her 'baby boy' in a prideful and emotional embrace, yet she hesitated as a darker pervasive reality consumed her mind. With a heavy heart, the surrogate mother turned to face her husband who wore a similar expression of pride and an overwhelming sense of dreadful guilt. Reaching across the table, the couple held each other's hands with a reassuring squeeze to which Kristoff perceived as an apology for their vitriolic outbursts that enveloped the room moments beforehand. The King swallowed dryly and tilted his head slightly while mentally trying to comprehend the words of his best friend of thirty years. As Adgar attempted to question the Chief Justice's statement, his wife timidly began to speak once more.
"Mister…Mister Bjorgman…you said you were out on the street when you were but a small child, correct?" Kristoff nodded respectfully as the shivering Queen unintentionally nodded herself in personally accepting this fact before continuing. "Do your remember your parents, or know who your re…biological family is or what happened?" Idun chose each word carefully in hopes of maintaining the newly acquired peace and stability within the dining room. The King directed his full attention to Kai at this point, leveling a powerful stare only to have it returned with equal measure while Gerda remained silent in her seat. The adoptive mother overcome with anguish and debilitating dread at what held the potential to become the worst night of their lives.
Kristoff started to respond but stopped abruptly, once again bringing all eyes back upon his thoughtful form. From the moment the Street Judge began to build a coherent memory, Kristoff found such questions increasingly prevalent within his mind and his dreams. Gerda could attest to the fact that he'd spend multiple nights sobbing within his mothers embrace, wracked with fear and sorrow resulting from his inability to remember who his real family was and or what became of the family Bjorgman. The weeping subsided after the first year with his newly found adoptive family much to his relief, but the nightmares never truly faded away. Due to his unwillingness in discerning what these dreams potentially represent, Kristoff vaguely made out blurred images depicting scenes reminiscent from the science fiction film genre prevalent in the old world. Chocking the horrifying displays up to nothing more than mere nightmares, the Street Judge more often than not elected to spend his rest periods within the experimental sleep chambers within the Grand Hall of Justice. Despite the fact that the machine effectively recreated the precise amount of stage three sleep which the human body requires, it could never fully prevent the nightmares from resurfacing to say nothing about determining his origins as well as the history of his families perceived demise.
"Honestly Your Majesty…I…I don't recall much, if anything, before Chief Kai found me wandering the street. Almost as if there was… nothing…before…" The Street Judge trailed off with a glazed look about his eyes, ultimately falling silent before the emotionally tumultuous party. Idun thoughtfully nodded, analyzing and interpreting this newly revealed detail in determination as to how it would solve the mystery of the Street Judge's past. A tentative silence began to descend upon the occupants of the room before the soft voice of a curious King broke the reverie.
"Kai…tell me something, and be honest. Where…where did you say you found Judge Bjorgman?" His best friend and he engaged in a similar conversation roughly twenty-five years ago, though at that time the King found himself overencumbered with paperwork and administrative duty to appropriately divert his full attention to the five-year Chief Justice. The King himself pondered his own question while awaiting a response from his friend, blaming himself for what he now could see as a massive oversight as well as a potentially destructive revelation should such confidential information reach the uniformed ears of the media and the population at large.
"Inspecting the Alta District, I happened upon this young blond boy in the streets." The Chief Justice curtly responded with a hushed tone so as not to disturb either lady's deep thought. Adgar nodded with raised eyebrows and a painfully nervous expression as he subtly shifted in his seat and leaned in closer to ask his best friend another question pertaining to the other Judge as his deepest fears had been both confirmed and assuaged to a certain extent
"Who was the other Judge? The other who passed the test? Where?" Adgar's barely audible whisper reached Kai's ears and stirred a profound sorrow within his soul. With a broken sigh, the Chief Justice darted his eyes from the King to his son and back in assurance he was not listening nor paying attention. Kai began to speak but no words escaped his lips, with a dry swallow the Chief Justice commenced his revelation of what could arguably constitute his greatest failing.
"Judge Frost…Honningsvåg Maximum Security…Life…" Kai curtly replied with the barest semblance of an audible whisper, yet the information proved adequately conveyed through the shifting expressions seen in the face of King Adgar. The reigning monarch of Arendelle couldn't begin to process this new information, let alone the implications of such a monumental secret. The foundation of the Monarchy itself could collapse under the weight of such damaging knowledge, yet the King breathed a hearty sigh of relief as the uneasy notion that his daughter's kidnappers hadn't displayed any indication that they possessed such information in addition to the established security and containment of the other judge.
A deafening silence engulfed the vast Hall, not a single soul dared disturbed the uncomfortable saturnine atmosphere presently hovering over each and every single person presently seated. Not once for a duration of time would any one servant approach the king, not once did the Queen raise her voice in glee, not once did Gerda commence a routine bragging marathon regarding her son's exploits, not once did Kai resume his and the King's discussion pertaining to the affairs of the Justice Department, not once did Kristoff vocalize any thought or emotion, truly this entire dinner had fallen into a comatose state. Luckily, the morose fog polluting the room dispersed with the startling sound of the Dinning Hall Door being thrust open resulting in each seated member to rise in respect. Kristoff had been the last to fully turn toward the door and upon finally centering his focus, he found his vision consumed with unimaginable beauty, purity, and innocence.
"PRESENTING HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, PRINCESS ELSA OF ARENDELLE!" The Royal Guardsmen declared heartily as the woman in question cringed lightly as his shout temporarily deafened her left ear. The Princess quietly thanked the member the Royal Guard as he bowed and returned the sentiment before retreating from the threshold, closing the monumental wooden doors as he vacated the room. Elsa gracefully spun around to face her family and guests with a polite smile and a delightfully apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry I'm late I…I…I…." The Snow Princess's words tangled profusely within her throat as her gaze fell upon the tall, broad, and handsome blonde man who stood at full attention. Blinking rapidly the eldest daughter took a polite step forward to further inspect this stranger dressed in similar fashion to her 'Uncle' Kai. The mysterious man wore a black double-breasted jacket, which clasped closed at the left shoulder, held in place by a golden replication of the very same symbol adorning the Hall of Justice. In similar fashion, the lapels adorning this broad man's shoulders boasted golden epaulettes signifying a service rank which could be further supported by the several medals adorning his right breast. The cuffs of the jacket displayed two Golden Eagles of Justice with stripes running a compete circle through each in signifying this man, like Kai, worked at the Hall of Justice. He wore a high collared shirt beneath the jacket and matching black trousers held in place by a black leather belt with a golden buckle. A single solid gold stripe ran the entire length of either pant leg drawing any wandering eye either upward to observe this man's broad chest, or lower to experience the sight of their own reflection as cast by the highly polished leather boots. Here was a man of dominance, power, and order…this man could be none other than the very same Judge Bjorgman she'd met hour's earlier.
Elsa took a moment to discern why it'd taken such a relatively long period of time to recognize this man as being the same from before when she realized the absence of the obfuscation caused by the Kevlar helmet. Seizing this opportunity to memorize every nanometer of his face as she'd not known whether she'd receive another opportunity, the Snow Princess found herself blushing at the thoughts instigated by her careful analysis of this young man's facial features. To say he was handsome would prove to be an enormous understatement, if anything the young woman surmised he would be the object of most women's affection had he not chosen such a solitary dedication to the law. Complete with a chiseled jaw line, the man possessed seemingly tame blond hair cut shorter on the sides and left to grow longer on the top toward the front, but Elsa knew that just like the man standing before her this hair displayed a veil of control but deep within resided the essence of wild, untamed, primal instinct. Dropping her eyes from his light blond locks of hair, Elsa unintentionally matched the Street Judge's enraptured gaze, her soft blue irises matching his light brown irises in an unbreakable connection allowing each to explore one another if but for a brief moment.
Kristoff couldn't begin to form even the barest semblance of a sentence as every single thought in his brain quickly disintegrated and reformed to created a network of single-track strands of thought all pertaining to the unbelievably beautiful Princess standing quietly in front of the threshold. Allowing his honed detective skills to dominate his higher reasoning, the Street Judge began to record every single detail pertaining to the enchanting woman gracing him with her very presence. Princess Elsa best fit the description of a beautifully slender young woman, with skin as white the snow itself with exception to the rosy coloration found in her cheeks though it did not detract from her porcelain features but instead accentuated them further and served to hide the barest semblance of freckles dotting her upper cheeks. The Snow Princess's bewitchingly blue-eyes found themselves further buttressed by a perfect shade of purple eye shadow matching the darker purple lipstick adorning her perfect lips. Inevitably the young Street Judge found his attention drawn to focus upon her gorgeous long platinum blonde hair, which had been styled in a left-side braid woven with snowflake incrustations with wisps of her bangs slicked back on the top of her head. The Greek Goddess of old, Aphrodite, would weep in Kristoff's opinion as Princess Elsa illustrated the very definition of beauty and perfection.
Taking in her attire, the blonde Street Judge gasped as he put two and two together and found that both the snowflake decorum and her entire ensemble had been made entirely of ice. The Snow Princess created a crystal-blue, off-the-shoulder flawless dress that fit her tight and lithe form with pure perfection. Complete with a right knee-high slit, crystallized bodice as well as translucent powder blue sleeves, Princess Elsa personified the essence of ice flawlessly. Dropping his gaze downward, the stunned Street Judge noticed the young Princess elected to create and wear kitten heels entirely from the machinations of her mind as well as her unimaginable prowess over the creation and control of ice. To add icing to this proverbial cake, Kristoff noticed the Princess attached a long, transparent cape of sheer ice complete with large decorative snowflakes that sweeps the floor all clasped to the back of her comfortably tight bodice.
The pair of blondes continued to stare into one another's eyes with unbreakable concentration as the remaining occupants of the Hall found warm smiles forming upon their faces at the sight of what would surely prove to be true love, but that could take quite a bit of time and the potential of dinner growing cold in conjunction with a grumbling stomach influenced Queen Idun to interrupt this nonverbal connection with a sincere clearing of her throat. Both blonde's visibly shook their heads and proceeded in blushing as the realization of how they'd been staring at the other suddenly dawned upon the both of them much to the amusement of the Queen and Gerda and to the dismay of the King who took this awkward silence as being the unfortunate result of either dislike for one anther and or disinterest in one another, to which Kai scoffed at the expression of the King further leaving the reigning monarch utterly confused.
"I…Sorry…about that, though I must say…you should keep your helmet off more often." Elsa quipped quietly from the start and finished with confidence as she regained her composure and legendary wit. Kristoff nearly began to flounder had he not regained his full mental faculties in the nick of time and returned his jaw from the agape position to that of a light scowl before responding.
"Somehow, I think criminals on the Street might enjoy that prospect slightly more than you, Your Highness." The Street Judge's reply came swiftly and with a faux-deadpanned tone much to Elsa's surprise, as she hadn't expected him to reply with such tact while capitalizing on an inadvertent revelation. While the Street Judge walked the Snow Princess to her seat, a sudden thought popped into her head and her eyes grew wide with discovery before narrowing to match a suggestive smirk as she sat delicately across the very object of her attention and chose to wait until the man in question returned to his assigned seat before replying.
"Be that as it may, at least with your helmet off I can finally look you in the eye as you try to ogle me. Pity though, I don't even know your first name and you're already trying to sweep me off of my feet." The Snow Princess proclaimed with a playful tone as her mother and Gerda both chuckled at the display between the pair of young adults. Adgar remained a helpless spectator in this newly opened dialogue between his daughter and the Street Judge, though he'd once again misconstrued their verbal exchange and decidedly ordered for their dinner to be served as soon as humanly possible while the two blonde's conversed.
"Pardon me Your Highness, but I've not-"
"Oh goodness where are my manners…or his for that matter. His name is Kristoff, your Highness." The surrogate mother interrupted the Street Judge as he began to object to the Snow Princess's insinuation that he'd been casually admiring her in a manner less than professional. However, that particular objecting died the moment his mother revealed his given first name. The Street Judge virtually never disclosed this fact with anyone and he'd chosen this path to ensure nobody attempted to form close emotional attachments with him while performing his duties on the streets. Friendship, in Kristoff's experience, possessed the tendency to result in severe mishaps and unenviable demise in the line of duty.
"Kristoff, what an intriguing name. Tell me how did someone with such a handsome name and a strong build wind up in the services of the Justice Department?" Elsa inquired with a triumphant smirk as the Street Judge seated directly across failed to hide the embarrassed flush spreading across his cheeks. The Chief Justice arched an eyebrow at this information and met his wife's conspiratorial gaze with a look of profound curiosity to which his wife conveyed the strongest nonverbal 'hush' he'd ever experienced. Queen Idun further committed this latest revelation to memory and continued to watch her daughter quiz the frazzled Street Judge with deft acuity.
"Actually it was my adoptive parents who introduced me to the law, Your Highness-"
"Please, you're a guest within these walls and I would very much like it if you would simply address me by my name, Elsa." The Snow Princess interjected, catching the Street Judge off guard once more. Swallowing with a sense of social anxiety, Kristoff accepted the beautiful woman's request with a respectful nod before regaining his thoughts and continuing the response.
"Very well Y…Elsa…a..as I was saying, growing up with my adoptive parents I found that not a single profession could hold such honor and importance as serving as an officer of law."
"I see, I see…and how much experience do you really have as a Street Judge?"
"Ten years, exemplary service record, top of my class, all of which can be found in the Hall's personnel files but you already knew this, didn't you?" He quipped back to determine the purpose of this line of questioning.
"Honesty, integrity, and humble in all regards…you're quite intriguing Kristoff, I don't think I've ever met a man of your caliber." The Snow Princess mused, tracing a slender finger along the rim of her crystal wine glass as she held the Street Judge's stare with her own confident gaze.
"Milady, I don't believe there's anyone of my Kristoff's caliber within the entire MegaKingdom. The only downside is that not a single woman has managed to catch his eye." Gerda expounded as she beamed at her only child with pride and maternal reverence, fixing a stray strand of hair absent-mindedly while her son groaned in response to the later aspect of her statement. The Queen inauspiciously clapped her hands beneath the table with boundless excitement as her husband looked to the Chief Justice for guidance. Kai smiled at his best friend's distress and clasped his shoulder, giving a reassuring jostle to assuage the fears of the reigning monarch.
"Oh is that so? Not a single woman whatsoever Kristoff?" Elsa asked with a devious undertone masked with sickening sweet innocence, much to the chagrin of the Street Judge in question.
"I…er…that is to say…"
"Oh come now Kristoff, surely there has be someone who's attracted your attention? Perhaps we know this fine young lady?" The Snow Princess continued cunningly as she enjoyed seeing this decidedly dominant man squirm before the inquisition of his family and monarchy. Though the platinum blonde held no ill will toward this Street Judge, she knew that he was hiding something and the young princess was unsure as to whether she would ever get the chance to question him on such a personal level in the near future. The response to her query deviated far from the expected jumbled sentences.
"You know Elsa, you're quite presumptuous with your implications considering you've not taken your eyes off me for a single moment since you entered the room. I feel obligated to ask if there's anything I should be made aware of involving your personal life...should it possess the potential for conflict along the duration of our mission?" Kai turned his face from the group in a vain attempt to stifle a hearty laugh, as he expected nothing less from his adoptive son. The older women in the room both sat stunned with mouths agape and eyebrows scaling the expanse of their foreheads as neither predicted the usually silent Street Judge to responds with such explicative tenacity. Much like her father, Elsa floundered in the wake of the young man's witty retort as clearly evidenced by the rapid opening and closing of her mouth coinciding with a flustered blush that slowly traversed the expanse of both cheeks.
"Kristoff…I…well I can only say that it's relief to see you've gotten over yourself and finally come to terms with our partnership for the time being. After all, we wouldn't want our finest Street Judge failing due to his own pig-headedness!" The eldest daughter shot back in an attempt to regain supremacy over the bemused Judge.
"Don't mistake my acquiescence for acceptance, it's not by choice that I've agreed to your accompaniment for the duration of the mission. In fact, if it were up to me then you wouldn't even have a word in edgewise." Kristoff responded nonchalantly as noticed several kitchen staff enter the room all in single file and lining the entryway leading into the royal kitchens.
"If it weren't for me, YOU wouldn't even know where to start looking for my sister!" The Princess slammed her clenched fist down upon the table recapturing the Street Judge's wandering attention.
"Possible…but doubtful. In fact, your severe lack of both adequate combat training and experience coupled with your attitude I would say you hold the potential of becoming quite a hindrance." The agitated Judge unwaveringly proclaimed.
"Lack of…Hindrance…I'll have you know mister big shot that I...I…" The Snow Princess halted her defensive rant as Kristoff's words slowly hit their mark deep within the recesses of her mind. The man, though somewhat arrogant, spoke the truth when he illustrated a few of the handicaps she displayed in this situation. Falling back upon the cushion of the dinner chair, Elsa consumed herself in thoughts of failure, embarrassment, and worst of all guilt. Every single opportunity for a screw up carried with it the potential for her sister's demise. Any loss of control, any instance of hesitation, any of it, these mistakes could all cost the MegaKingdom its youngest royal and her family their youngest daughter.
Slowly shifting his gaze from the blonde street judge to his daughter and visa versa, King Adgar stroked his chin in heavy thought for several moments as he contemplated the appropriate solution to this somber predicament which Judge Bjorgman ineloquently put forth into each and every one of their minds. Idun held her husband's hand in a vice grip as mental images depicting horrible scenarios in which one or both of her baby girls were being hurt flooded the emotionally unstable monarch's mind. Sensing the turmoil and tension about the room, Adgar devoted intense though which proved beneficial as moments later an obvious solution presented itself.
"Kristoff…you are the best Street Judge that the Hall of Justice can offer, correct? Therefore, I would be logical to assume that you would be the most suitable instructor for a modified 'crash-course' as it were for my eldest daughter's preparation for this dangerous mission. Elsa, would you have any problem's with this arrangement?" the King faced his daughter with genuine curiosity only to receive a timid expression as fears of total failure inundated the young woman's thoughts. After a few moments, the Snow Princess faced Kristoff with fierce determination and nodded in agreement. Arching his eyebrow, the Street Judge merely grunted with a curt nod in acceptance of the King's suggestion.
"Splendid, I believe you intended on beginning the mission at zero-nine-thirty tomorrow morning as per Kai's instruction…hmmm…perhaps you both can start training around oh-five-thirty, that way you'll have plenty of time to give a comprehensive lesson to better prepare my eldest for what's to come." The King sighed happily as the head kitchen aid announced dinner was to be served at once. In a matter of moments, multiple members of the kitchen staff flooded the room with ornately decorated service trays and, in quick succession of one another, gently placed the covered dishes precisely at the center of the table.
The aroma Pinnekjøtt flooded the dinning hall as three individual servants lifted the polished silver lids from their respective trays. The racks of lamb and mutton had been meticulously cured and thoroughly washed by the attending servant, the wracks were sent off to the che where every individual rib would be sliced separately and smoked in order to preserve flavor as well as prevent micro-bacterial formation in keeping with Viking tradition despite the presence of modern appliances. Additionally, the servants had set down smaller bowls filled with creamy puréed swede also known as mashed rutabaga to the layman. However, should a dinner guest announce his or her displeasure at the taste of the swede then he or she would have an alternative choice of mashed potato as well as the option for thick sausages instead of mutton.
To complete this festive meal, each seated member of the table found their glasses filled with a traditional Scandinavian flavored spirit known as Akvavit, derived from the Latin aqua vita or 'water of life. Distilled from potatoes or grain, the spirit finds its unique qualities in the form of multiple added spices for a conglomeration of exquisite flavor. Kristoff thought it curious that this particular meal and beverage had been served, seeing as the meal would typically find consumption around a festive holiday and the spirit normally poured in celebration of a wedding or festival. The Street Judge decided to let the issue drop and simply enjoy the delectable meal spread about the table as such opportunities to experience well prepared food were few and far between.
Dinner proceeded in rather normal fashion when compared to the unpleasant confrontations riddling the humble beginnings of the entire affair. The din of the Hall increased as the evening wore on and one by one each member of the table began conversing in happier spirits with one another, except for Kristoff who remained content to finish his meal in utter silence. Occasionally he would glance up from his plate to catch Elsa's wandering eye redirect to another focal point, obviously a precaution in the even he'd catch her staring, yet he refrained from expounding any sentiment whatsoever. The Snow Princess eventually returned her gaze from the randomly selected section of wall and rest her blue eyes upon the broad-shouldered Judge with an expression that conveyed feelings of joy and pity in that she was happy an agreement had been reached but ultimately worried she'd never form at the very least a working relationship with the Street Judge as his behavior fed the perception that she'd effectively rendered any chance for amiability null and void. Unbeknownst to the awkward pair of blondes, two sets of feminine eyes carefully observed their ever move with glee.
"I think they're off to a great start." Gerda whispered as she leaned in to speak with her life-long friend.
"There's no question, the way the two of them act…it's like watching Adgar and I from another person's eyes." The Queen agreed in hushed tones.
"Perhaps, this mission will pull them together and give us everything we want in one fell swoop!"
"If only we'd be so lucky Gerda, I just hope wherever my baby girl is…that…she's…that she's not being harmed." Idun muttered with tears forming in her eyes. Quickly wiping them away, she felt the reassuring grasp of her best friends hand…no…the grasp of a fellow mother, reassuring her that she will see her baby girl alive in well.
End Part One:
Author's Lament: Due to this website's inability to process anything above the arbitrary limit of 10,400 words I am forced to sever this chapter at the middle or run the risk of cutting off the very end of Hans and Anna's dinner which the latter half contains some of the best aspects of that chapter and therefore I am not willing to make that sacrifice.
If anyone knows a solution to this problem, please let me know via review or Private Message that way if there is a quick fix I can implement it instantly and rejoin these two chapters. In the mean time, enjoy part one ladies and gentleman!