Inspired by a post I made joking about how Elsa invites Cassandra to attend a ball just so the latter can beat back all the guys hitting on the queen.
There were several things about attending balls that Elsa did not like. For one, she generally disliked big parties. She had never been the socialite that Anna was born to be; thankfully, Anna was always eager to jump in and talk whenever Elsa became overwhelmed. Another aspect of these events that bothered Elsa was the constant expectation that she maintain her royal facade. She had moments where she wanted to genuinely enjoy herself, but ever aware of her duties as queen, she had to keep her own desires in check. Something she was very good at doing, regrettably.
And then there was the flirtation. All the men, whether nobility or dignitary or even commoner. Though Elsa had been on the receiving end of a few flirtatious attempts from women, she was far more often the target of men's affections.
She hated it.
Not because she was asexual. Not because she had only recently realized that she was somewhat sapphic - though she still considered herself largely uninterested in romance. Not even because she had met someone who she considered to be a girlfriend. She hated the flirtatious advances because the mere notion of all those men expressing interest in her made her uncomfortable. Mostly, she felt like a glittery object on display whenever the men seemed fixated on her. As if they treated her like a prize to be won. Even the ones who acted honorably did little to reassure her jittery nerves.
So when the next ball drew near, Elsa decided to shake things up a bit.
She walked down the hall to Cassandra's office one morning. Ever since she was hired as the queen's bodyguard, Cassandra had become very close to her boss. She didn't like being seen as having a romantic relationship with Elsa, but she couldn't deny that she loved being in her company. And Elsa knew it. Which is why she felt comfortable with what she was about to ask.
"Cass?" she asked as she entered the room.
Cassandra, standing by her desk, looked up from the maps she was reviewing. "Yeah?"
"I want you to join me at the ball tonight."
"Um, okay," Cassandra replied simply, not sure what to make of this.
Elsa knew she needed to explain. "There will be a lot of men present…"
Cassandra stared.
"…probably flirting with me…"
Cassandra raised an eyebrow.
"…and you have my permission to keep them off me by any means necessary." Elsa waited nervously for a response.
As it dawned on Cassandra what was being requested of her, the look on her face morphed from confusion to wicked delight, complete with the biggest grin Elsa had seen since her new bodyguard - her girlfriend - had started working in Arendelle.
That evening, Elsa took up her usual position on the dais alongside Anna, with Cassandra standing off to the side. Elsa couldn't help but glance over and smile a little at the sight of the black-haired woman standing tall in her uniform. She was born to be a soldier, Elsa mused before turning back to the guests.
They began the usual custom of making introductions to the royals, bowing and curtsying to Elsa and Anna. After the first few dignitaries, the suitors came. Anna muttered something about how there seemed to be a lot more this time; Elsa felt a sinking feeling in her stomach when she realized she was right. One by one, the men came up and made their introductions to Elsa. Some appeared to ignore Anna's presence entirely, much to her - and Elsa's - annoyance.
"Your Majesty, you look exquisite this evening," remarked one.
"Queen Elsa, it is an honor to be in your presence," another claimed as he bowed very low.
"I have heard rumors of your beauty, but I see they hardly do you justice," said one who capped it off by taking her hand and kissing it. If he had been properly paying attention, he would have noticed the chill emanating from Elsa's skin and the even colder look crossing her face. All the while, Cassandra watched from the side, her face going from bored to annoyed to disgusted to scowling.
Elsa was now wishing she could just leave. Anna tried to jump in and defuse things, but to little avail as the suitors clearly had their sights set on her sister. Then one man approached who had all the swagger of a smooth-talking ladies-man. With great flourish, he introduced himself, proclaimed much too loudly how gorgeous the queen was, kissed her hand not once but three times, and would not let it go while he waxed on about all the things he could offer her.
Someone growling cut him off.
The man turned his head in a slightly curious yet annoyed fashion. Elsa whipped her head around, almost forgetting who was standing to her left. Anna, who had leaned forward to see around Elsa, felt like she was looking at an angry lion. Cassandra had moved to within a few feet of them, her face now contorted in undeniable rage.
"Back off," she growled dangerously.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" the man asked. Stupidly, in Elsa's opinion. Very stupidly, in Anna's.
"Her bodyguard," Cassandra shot back. "The queen is not interested. Unless you want to know what it's like to be a block of ice, leave her alone."
He did not take the hint. "Forgive me, but I am speaking to Queen Elsa, and if it is the Queen's wishes she would certainly-"
"It is my wish," Elsa cut in, jerking her hand away and brushing it quickly on the back of her dress. "She does speak for me, as she is my personal security detail. Go and enjoy the party."
Visibly affronted, the man moved on. A few others had been standing nearby watching the drama unfold. One cautiously stepped forward.
"What do you think you're doing?" Cassandra asked with thinly veiled hostility.
"Uh, I-I wish…" the young man stuttered, "t-to speak with Her M-Majesty…"
"I think not," Cassandra interjected, arms folded across her chest as she moved to stand directly between the man and Elsa. Her protective instincts had kicked into high gear as she suddenly took her mandate very seriously.
Elsa suddenly felt a wave of gratitude for Cassandra stepping in. She also felt slightly embarrassed for not having found the strength to cut off all those suitors before. But now, her confidence was coming back.
"Anna, I think it's time we start mingling. Don't you agree?"
"Oh yeah, absolutely," Anna chirped. "Can't believe I'm still standing up here. Not that I don't like it, 'cause you're here and that's great. But let's go." She managed to stop rambling and started dragging a now giggling Elsa into the crowd.
For the remainder of the night, Elsa moved around the ballroom speaking with various people. Sometimes Anna was by her side, and sometimes the younger one would dash off for whatever reason. The one thing that remained constant was Cassandra's presence. She lingered just a few feet away, always standing somewhat to the side and behind the queen unless ushered forward by Elsa. She watched everyone warily, and on a few occasions she fiddled with the handle of the sword slung over her back when a man would start to get too chummy. A lot of the men got the message, however, and kept their distance from the queen. And Elsa noticed.
Before the party ended, Elsa opted for something truly crazy. She returned to the dais and called for everyone's attention.
"I am well aware that many of you have come here seeking to court me," she began in a serious tone. "And I think it is only fair that you be given that chance."
A murmur ran throughout the audience. Anna looked at Elsa, eyebrows raised. Cassandra stared dumbfounded, mouth slightly open.
"On one condition," Elsa continued, now smirking in a rather impish manner - one that made Anna smile. Oh, she's gonna have fun with this.
"Defeat my bodyguard, and you earn a date. Lose, and you will respectfully leave me alone from this moment forward."
Several of the men stepped forward eagerly, itching for a chance to prove their manliness. A few reached for their swords.
Elsa raised her hand in an admonishing manner. "No weapons," she interjected, the smirk still present, "only fists."
Now Cassandra was smirking. Wickedly. She cracked her knuckles.
One young lad strode forward, thinking this would be a piece of cake. He immediately regretted his decision as soon as the full force of Cassandra's fist collided with his jaw, leaving him sprawled on the ground.
"Okay then," she said in earnest, "who's next?"
Twenty-three knockouts later, Cassandra strode confidently through the now deserted main entrance with Elsa and Anna both laughing by her side.
"And I thought I had a mean right hook!" Anna exclaimed, leaning against Elsa due to her being weak from laughing so hard.
"Oh, you do, my dear sister," Elsa chuckled, squeezing her shoulder and tapping a finger on her nose playfully. "But that is why I hired her." She pointed a thumb in Cassandra's direction.
"Eh, I thought it was because you liked the view," Cassandra let slip, before blushing at what she just said.
Anna and Elsa stopped in their tracks, taking in what they heard.
"I thought that was the reason you stayed," Elsa said quietly, a light blush rising in her cheeks.
An awkward silence fell between them. Until…
"I knew it!" exclaimed Anna, making the other two women jump. "You are into each other! I knew it!"
"Was it that obvious?" Elsa asked once she regained her senses.
"Oh, my big, beautiful dork of a sister," Anna replied teasingly, wrapping her arms around her waist, "you can't hide that from me. I know love when I see it. And it's all over your face. And Cassandra's."
She looked over to Cassandra, who was glancing off to the side, clearly trying to avoid eye contact. Anna reached out and took her hand.
"You're the best thing to happen to Elsa in a long time," Anna whispered with conviction.
Cassandra was touched by this raw emotion, but she knew it wasn't entirely true. "I'm sure you mean more to her."
"Yes, but for different reasons," Elsa jumped in. She placed a hand on Cassandra's shoulder and looked deep into those hazel eyes. "Anna is my everything, but she was not born to fight." She paused before adding quietly, "You were. My brave, beautiful, badass protector and girlfriend."
The smiles on Elsa and Anna's faces were soon matched by Cassandra's. The soldier couldn't remember feeling so warm and fuzzy since she had arrived in Arendelle. Working for a queen this beautiful, being her girlfriend, and punching guys on her behalf? Cassandra mused. I guess I could get used to this.
