Chapter 2
Elsa awoke from her curtains being drawn open by her handmaid Gerda, Elsa who was still tired from last night's festivities; she could barely keep her blue eyes open even with the sun glaring at them. The loyal handmaiden who has been with her family before since she and her sister were born; Gerda waltzed up to Elsa's over sized kings bed, throwing off her cream silk sheets. Elsa curled up from the surprise of her sheets coming off her body.
"My lady it is almost noon, it is time to wake." Gerda said kindly.
Elsa lifted her body up, stretching her arms out, yawning softly; rubbing her eyes awake. She smiled at her handmaiden, nodded to her dismissing Gerda. The handmaiden leaving the room shutting the door behind her. Elsa placed her feet on the smooth and glossy wooden floor, standing; she removed her nightgown strolling over to her woven hamper and placed her nightgown in, she then removed her undergarments. She turned to her bed where her clothes were laid out on the side of her bed, placing on her clean pair of undergarments, over her underwear was her crystal blue off the shoulder ice dress with her transparent floor-sweeping cape. Elsa did her platinum blonde hair into a french braid and letting it drape over her left shoulder.
Elsa entered the dining area seeing her sister Anna and her boyfriend Kristoff who was eating his breakfast that was loaded with sausages, eggs, and potatoes. Anna saw her sister and smiled, excited to ask for who was she dancing with last night. Elsa sat at the end of the long wooden table near her sister and Kristoff, Anna's eyes kept going back and forth from her plate of food to Elsa; Anna was tapping her fingers on her lap, every time her gaze hit her sister; her fingers were tapping more rapidly, debating whether to ask her sister or not.
"What's that sound?" Elsa questioned hearing the sound of Anna's fingers.
"Nothing."
"I swear I can hear something."
Anna couldn't hold in the question anymore.
"So who were you dancing with last night?" Anna blurted out the question so fast, Elsa could barely understand what she said.
"Anna, slow down. Didn't really get what you just said." Elsa took her champagne glass filled with orange juice, pulp free.
"Right, right…" Anna cleared her throat and took deep inhales of air, then exhaled. "The man you were dancing with, who was he?"
"He said his name is Nathaniel: but people call him Nate or Nathan."
"Okay, so I've got another question. Where's he from?" Anna wanting to know more about the mystery man.
"He didn't really give me a straight answer, all he said was far away."
"Far away?" Anna questioned that answer, raising one of her eyebrows.
"Nathan seems a little, reserved, don't you think?" Kristoff asked.
"Kristoff he may have a reason to be reserved." Anna told her boyfriend.
"Well," He turned to the queen "Elsa if he makes you happy, then-"
"He's a keeper." Anna finished the sentence.
"Thank you two for that advice."
A servant in his late 40's with red hair rimmed around his skull connecting to thick sideburns.
"Your majesty, a young man is here to see you."
"Thank you, Kai, send him in."
"Right away your majesty." Kai bowed, turning around to exit through the double wooden door of the dining room.
"Wow, look who's" Anna was about to say, strong and confident, then snow began to fall ever so lightly in the area; covering the food with ice cold powder, Anna sighed. "Nevermind, obviously nervous."
"Well, of course, she's nervous, it is her first date." Kristoff reminded her girlfriend.
"I wasn't nervous when we went on our first date."
"Yeah, but." Kristoff didn't get to finish.
"Will you two stop talking like I'm not here." Elsa snapped at them.
"Sorry." They both said in unison.
Down by the front entrance of the castle, young Nathan at the age of twenty-five was looking around the main floor; seeing fantastic painting scattered throughout the main hall decorating the place. Nate rubbed his hand back through his thick black hair, turning back to the stairway; he jumped back in fright seeing Kai right in front of him.
"Wow, scared me their buddy." He tapped the middle aged man on his shoulder.
"Sorry, about that master Nathaniel."
"It's Nate or Nathan, don't really like to be called Nathaniel."
"Of course master Nathan." He bowed in apology, he turned and before Nate could speak. "This way." Kai walked past the stairs, Nate followed behind.
"Please, no master or sir. Just Nate or Nathan."
"Of course sir." Kai said before stopping in front of the large double wooden door.
"You know, will work on that," He said, he took a deep inhale and exhaled slowly, Nate looked over to Kai. "How do I look?"
Kai examined what Nathan was wearing, a brown leather vest, a white shirt with a small collar and deep neckline that secures by a string, a black-leather double belt with a sword frog hanger, very light brown pants with a drawstring waist, button fly and cord ankle ties. Leather boots with a folded over top.
"Do you carry a sword?" Kai questioned his belt with a frog, but nothing in it.
"No, no I don't."
"Well," Kai tired up the revealed neckline "there you look good." Nate did a kind smile, even though he felt like he was going choke from the neckline closed.
"Thank you." Nathan bowed his head in thanks, Nathan opened the door, walking inside. He saw a blonde mountain man, a young princess with a strawberry blonde consisting a white streak in her hair, and the woman he danced with, the queen. "Good morning." Nathan bowed to them.
"Good morning sir Nathan." Elsa did a gracious curtsy to him.
"Please, no formalities?"
"Not even Prince?" Anna questioned, Nate cleared his throat in securing the string of his neckline.
"I am not a prince."
"Really, then how did you get in?" Kristoff questioned.
"Your majesty, you should think about hiring new guards. Three were asleep."
"I thought I told you, that you could call me Elsa." Elsa gave him a warm smile and he gave one back.
"You're right, forgive me. Elsa." He bowed his head.
"I forgive you." Elsa and Nate just stared into each others eyes.
Anna and Kristoff looked at each other just listening to them speak, both feeling awkward. Anna cleared her throat, she observed both; but they just kept staring at each other. Anna then looked to her boyfriend.
"We should go." Anna said to him.
"Yeah." Kristoff agreed with her, they both stood from their chairs.
"Well, will let you two get back to your date." Anna smirked, this, however, snapped them out of their hypnotic gaze at each other.
"What?" Elsa gripped her sister's arm afraid of being alone and not knowing what to do. "Anna?"
"Elsa don't worry you'll be fine." Anna faced her.
"But what am I supposed to do, if he tries to kiss me?"
"Elsa follow your heart." Anna placed her hand on her sister's cheek, giving her comforting smile to calm her nerves. "And if he tries to force a kiss, you can always freeze him."
Elsa snicker and nodded thanking her for her sister's help, Anna walked away from Elsa's sight; before Anna completely left the room.
"Take good care of her!" Anna shouted causing Elsa's face to turn the shade of deep red.
"I will, on my honor." Nathan bowed to the princess as she exited the room. Nathan and Elsa were finally alone together, Nathan looked towards the queen; Nathan walked over to her, every time she heard his footsteps inching their way over to her. Her heartbeat went faster and faster as he got he got closer. "So, Elsa, what would you like to do?"
"Ohm, we could take a stroll around my palace gardens."
"Sounds nice. But could you lead the way considering-"
"That you wouldn't know where it is. Follow me.
Elsa lead him through an assortment of hallways throughout the castle, stopping at a lone wooden door. They both reached for the handle, they both gasped as their hands touched
"Sorry." Nathan blushed "Go ahead." Stuttering at last words he said.
Elsa opened the door, revealing a small staircase that leads to another wooden door; Nate reached for this door and pushed open the door. To reveal a gray some walkway and a huge snow covered garden, they both walked side by side.
"So what do you like to do, your interest?"
"Well, I've been hidden in my room for a while and all I've really done is play chess, read, and try to control my powers."
"I've never really played chess, I do read, and don't really have any powers to try to control."
"What do you read?
"Mystery, adventure, and embarrassing to say romance."
"I like those types of genres too. What's your favorite romance?"
"Let me see, it's not from a book. My father always told this story about a young knight and the princess."
"Could you please tell me a bit about it."
"Well. A young knight protected the royal family, one day the princess kept glancing at the knight; the knight looked over and once their eyes met, they knew it love at first sight. The princess then began passing notes to the young knight, as he did the same. Then a day came when they decided to meet, after dinner in the gardens; that night in the gardens, where the moon and the stars shined the dark sky. The young knight waited there when he heard his name called from the one person he was expecting, he looked to where the voice came from; he saw this beautiful creature standing there. He smiled warmly at her, he reached out to her." Nathan stopped walking and stared at Elsa, reaching his hand out towards her.
"Did she take his hand?"
"No. She reached out but stopped, pulling her hand back to herself; afraid of what might happen next. For you, you see she was a virgin in every way. She glanced at the young knight's eyes and felt safe, so she took his hand." Elsa smiled taking his hand, her eyes never leaving his. "He drawed her in," Elsa stepped closer to him, "he placed his hand against her cheek." Nate did the same with his other hand. "His heart racing as was hers. He leaned his face in close, and she closed the remaining gap between them, into a passionate kiss, for the world it only lasted a minute, but to the two lovers it lasted a lifetime." Nate removed his palm from her face, their eyes never parted."
"Is that it?" Elsa spoke softly.
"That is all I can remember of it. He told me it so long ago."
Elsa realized her hand was still in his, their hold was loose, she tightened her hand in his feeling the warmth of his hand. Nathan smiled feeling her hand grip his, he intertwined his fingers between hers; he bowed his head, and they continued their walk hand in hand. Elsa glanced to the side and saw a frozen over pond, she pulled him over; she stepped on the ice sheet and before Nate was on, he let go of her hand. Elsa glanced over to him staring at the ice with frightened eyes.
"What's the matter?" Elsa spoke softly.
"Well, I'm just a little afraid of ice over water; because when I was young I fell through the ice and almost drowned." Nate said quickly to her, Elsa took hold of his hand.
"Well, I promise that you will not fall in as long as I'm here."Elsa said to him, Nathan smirked stepping on the ice; getting close to her.
"I don't doubt it, but I just wish I knew how to ice skate."
"Then will you do me the honor of letting me teach you?" Elsa asked Nate nodded in approval, with one twist of Elsa's wrist blades of made of ice appeared underneath his boots. She pulled him along both gliding on the ice going in circular motions, to get let him get the feel of it.
"Okay, I think I got it."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
"Okay."
She let go of his hands and slid to the side of him, observing him as he was balancing on the ice and from what she could he was doing well at the beginning. Nathan lost his balance falling forward, face first into the snow covered ground. He lifted his head to see the white powder frosting his hair and eyebrows; he spat out some melted snow. Elsa giggled, skating over to him crouching down; he turned his body around facing Elsa. His face all red from the cold snow, his green eyes meet her blue ones, he leaned his head back and laughed with her.
"I guess didn't get it."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm alright."
"Do you need any help getting back up?" Elsa got in front of him holding out her hand.
"No, I think I'm good." He slowly stood up, trying to balance his skates, he shifted his weight to right leg; falling backward's out, of instinct his hand grabbed Elsa's, falling to the ground.
"I think you slipped." She stared deep into his eyes, her cheeks began to glow red.
"Wow."
"What?"
"You have very beautiful blue eyes." His voice was soft.
"Thank you. Your eyes are pretty too." Elsa couldn't believe she just said that facepalming herself in her mind, Nathan chuckled.
"Thank you."
Elsa's heart skyrocketed from being exceedingly close to his body, Elsa began to be nervous, unable to decide whether to kiss him or not. Elsa then realized something his body was cold and his skin was mixed of pale and redness.
"Are you okay?" Elsa was concerned about his appearance.
"Yeah, why?"
"Your skin," Elsa brushed her hand on his freezing cheek. "your skin is freezing and you're very pale."
"Well, I am cold, but it doesn't really bother me."
"I should get you warmed up." Elsa got off of him, so he could stand.
Before Nathan could speak Elsa took his hand, thawed his skates and lead him back into the castle. She opened a door leading him inside, sitting him down on a chaise lounge; placing on a nearby quilt on around his went to the fireplace and grabbed a book of matches, taking one and struck it on the emery. Dropping the matchstick into a pile of ready wood in the fireplace, letting the flame take over the wood logs. Soon a fire erupted inside, letting the flame only being the light in the poorly lit room.
"You feeling warm?" Elsa sat near him, he snickered.
"Yeah, I'm feeling good, but what about you?" He asked worriedly.
"Oh, the cold doesn't bother me."
"That's cool." Nathan said Elsa raised her hand above her mouth to cover her laugh; Nate raised a brow at her, then realized what he said. "No, pun intended, if it's in poor taste."
"No, I thought it was actually funny." She kept on laughing.
"You know," He placed his hand on top of her's, Elsa ceased her laughing when she felt his hand on her's. Elsa looked over to him seeing a smirk on his face. "You really do have a nice laugh." His voice was smooth, his eyes gazed into hers; his mouth went dry. "May I?" Elsa nodded, he leaned in close; their lips almost brushing together when.
"Elsa, I need you!" Anna opened the door abruptly, squealing with excitement; she saw Nate was at a fair distance away from Elsa, he was scratching his head. Elsa's cheeks blistered crimson. "Uh, did I interrupt something?"
"No." They both at the same time, Elsa stood from chaise lounge and composed herself, Nate stood up as well folding the quilt and placing it back on the chaise.
"Well, I have to go and feed my horse." He lied, having no horses or anything to feed. "Thank you for your hospitality, Elsa, princess Anna; have a good day." He left the two sisters alone together.
Elsa raised an eyebrow annoyed at her little sister for ruining a moment; Anna noticed the raised brow on her sister's face.
"What?" Anna was clueless.
"Nothing. So what is it that you need?"
"Kristoff asked me to marry him, and I said yes. Also, I was hoping that I could get your blessing?"
"Oh my! Of course, you have my blessing." Elsa hugged her sister, undoubtedly happy for her but disappointed she didn't have her chance on her first kiss.
