"Love is an open doooooor" the two partners sang. As they separated, the two were gasping, considering the energetic and fast-paced dance they'd prompted themselves into. It had come up all of a sudden, and it was in fact quite a nice break for Anna.
Then again. Today had been one great break for Anna, after a week of planning.
She'd sung and danced for the first time in, excuse her for her phrasing, forever. She wasn't sure what had befallen her, but perhaps Kai and Gerda had a point about sleep-deprivation.
Singing, of course, wasn't really that uncommon. It was quite a usual matter for the people to break into different songs all of a sudden, to explain how they felt. It made somewhat of an awkward experience when you had to explain afterwards that you had no idea where that singing had come from, but it was overall an entertaining quirk that Arendelle had. If the reports were true, Corona had that too. And apparently, so did the Isles.
"can I say something crazy?" the royal prince in the regal white dress said, as he took a knee. "Will you marry me?"
They were on a cliff and a waterfall. A beautiful view, one that Anna had long since took a liking to. The sound of the water falling down gave her a soothing feeling, and the absolutely gorgeous view of the Fjords, not to mention the domain she was to rule, gave her hope. It was Anna's special place, to use her mother's word for it, and somewhere she would skip to rest in every once in a while.
Tonight… was not such a day.
"Oh good" she replied, suddenly serious. The Royal partner was probably expecting her to say yes. Or to be surprised. But he definitely did not expect what came next: "you'll do."
The romantic atmosphere the two had shared throughout the party –nay throughout the day- suddenly disappeared. The Man, who had had a gleam in his eyes until then (whether or not this gleam was benevolent Anna did not yet know. Frankly, she did not care), had his eyes widened, sweating as his clenched face cleared with the haze of uncertainty falling.
He rose slowly, for the first time in forever his face showing his thoughts as though his eyes were an open door. "Anna?"
"Like I said, you'll do. Now come on, we need to tell my sister we're getting married."
"Anna?" He asked again, forgetting etiquette in its entirety, "What are you talking about?"
"Oh" Anna tilted her head, as she took a step back. There was a calculating look on her face, though her eyes still shone in amusement. An amusement Hans would sure learn to fear. "Did you really think I'd fallen for you? That I'd say yes to a marriage proposal… this quickly?" she laughed, covering her mouth like the lady she had been trained to be, "My dearest admiral Westergard. You are handsome, a charming man by all rights, but you're not that good. Were you thinking that I'd fall for you?" she chuckled, "hand over my kingdom to you for love? And then –I am merely assuming, of course. Far as I know you are a perfect gentleman and an admirable veteran- have a grave accident befall me?" she shook her head, "No. but you have proven yourself satisfactory to what I aim for. So please, come along. We need to inform my sister of our marriage."
"But- I do not understand, your majesty!" Hans replied. Anna rolled her eyes, "Oh for Odin's sake. Follow me, will you? I'll explain everything later."
"Did you know?" Hans asked Anna after the shock was over. The Queen had, in her anger, fled north, and while the guards were attempting to pacify the partiers, Anna had taken her mantle and was trying to do damage control. Hans, the only non-peasant in the entire place who wasn't panicking or scheming (ok, only not panicking) had taken the natural spot of the second behind her. Anna was leaning on the table, not speaking as her shoulders moved.
"Did I know that Elsa would be pissed?" She said slowly, "Yes. Yes, I did"
"No- I mean"
Anna raised a hand, still shaking, "Did I know she had dominion over deadly frost? yes. The question you should be asking is 'were you planning on this to happen?'"
She stopped.
Hans looked at her.
And then, she saw her in a new light when she replied. It was just as that gleam of amusement. Behind this perfect lady and naïve young virgin was hidden the heart of a monster. A player after his own heart.
"of course I did." She replied, and suddenly turned, her eyes still amused if her face not showing a sign of it. "Why else would I play the part of a naïve little idiot in her big day?"
"you were pretending" he sighed, "of course you were."
"Yes. I'm not as much of an idiot as I look" she replied. "I'm afraid now we're in trouble though. I didn't fully appreciate what she would do." She chuckled, "I thought she'd make a scene, shout at me, return to her room. All I wanted was to show the Council of Advisors she wasn't fit to be queen." She shook her head, "didn't expect her to cause an international crisis this early in her term. Good thing this whole thing was a farce."
"What? A-"
"Oops. Shouldn't have said that." She shook her head again, "I suppose I will have to do something about her. Prepare a search party. Send out scouts to all directions, we can find her." She murmured, "Heaven knows a crying woman in blue, sliding on ice she herself is creating isn't that hard to notice."
She turned. "Hans, you're welcome to remain in the castle for tonight. We will have to deal with this mess tomorrow, I'm afraid."
And then, Hans left for one of the guest chambers. Unbeknownst to him, Anna would be looking at him as he left, with a strange gleam in her eyes.
It took her hours afterwards, still reading breaking reports from Elsa's mess, when she heard someone knock on her- Her Father's- chamber door.
"Who is it?" she replied without raising her head, "I'm a busy woman."
"Pardon my intrusions, Majesty" A regal voice called. One she knew not to be regal in any way, shape, or form. It was Kai, her father's servant and after a time messenger (and, unbeknownst to most, personal confidante), "But it is late. The moon is almost above us. I do so believe some rest will not hurt you."
"Ah-thank you Kai" Anna chuckled, "This whole week's been night after night with no sleep. I'm scared I'd sleep for an entire day –Hel, maybe even more- if I hit the hay."
Kai, who had given the same services to Anna he had given to her father, was one of the select few who had the privilege of seeing Anna talk informally. A privilege he did not abuse in the slightest, "I give you my word that you will be awaken as early as you want"
"early?" she snorted, "have you met me? Nah. If I sleep, I'll wake up after all this is over. Think it was just a dream, with Elsa still in her-" she sighed, "Why did I not command her out of that room, Kai? Do you have any-"
"Far be it from your humble servant to impose, but It was nothing too unexpected, in the situation you had found yourself in."
"But-" she sighed, "Yes. I guess not answering my knock after I literally bawled my eyes out in front of her door would do that to any person. But why not after? It's been, what, three years? I still could have done something else-"
"could, as Corona is so fond of saying, never bore fruit, Majesty" Kai said. The old man had always been somewhat of an enthusiast on these things. "What matters is what you do."
She chuckled. "I believe I must sleep on this. You're right. It's not like that much can happen overnight."
The first thing that she thought, waking up, was 'Curse me for challenging Loki with my claims'.
It was snowing.
In the middle of Sólmánuður.
Anna barely repressed the small part of her that wanted to knock on Elsa's door, and walked to the Main Hall, towards her father's throne, and shouted as she walked, "damage report! I need my fucking damage report!"
When the courtiers- or well, the council of advisors- had gotten over the rather crude welcome, one by one, all them rose shakily, responding.
"My birds tell me all of Arendelle is in this snow, not just the city proper"
"The Wesleton Fleets have mobilized in our southern waters, but haven't come any further."
"The Duke of Weselton is calling for The Princess' head."
"there's a shortage of firewood and clothes in the city."
"The Church is open for everyone who needs a roof."
"The Lake has frozen over."
"I lost my gold ring last night."
She raised a hand as she took a seat on the throne, "enough" she sighed, wearily. "Do we know what's caused the snow?"
"Our only suspect, so far, is The Princess, your grace."
"Either that or some idiot freed Fenrir."
"of course." She replied. Then looked at them. "how much snow is on the ground anyway?"
"it's more than what we've seen in the most horrible winter, when Your Sister herself was being born, majesty."
"So, we have a knee-deep –possibly even waist deep- snow. In the middle of Sólmánuður" she sighed, "fine. You are dismissed. Go back to your jobs, and keep keeping Arendelle safe."
As everyone left, Hans was still remaining. "And what will you do now, your grace?"
"Well, now I realize that I was, in fact, as much of an idiot as everyone else thought I was." She replied, "single-handedly threw Arendelle in Fimbulwinter. All I can hope is that the Wesletoniean fleet isn't here to fight. And that nobody else will join them. We aren't ready.
"The Duke is still a guest here, majesty." Hans replied, "the Fleet wouldn't dare attack where their very ruler would be harmed. And as for others, I can give you my word the Isles will not join any military operation against Arendelle."
"and what of Corona?"
"Corona-" Hans coughed, "is in a trouble similar to yours. Somewhat worse, if I am to trust my fellow sailors there. Strange spikes –magical, unbreakable spikes to boot- are appearing all over the place. They've ruined most of Old Corona."
"We're gonna need to help them too-" she sighed, "the pact, as well as familial matters, will make us do so." She shook her head, "I have more important things to discuss."
"Such as?"
"This storm. Elsa's caused it, and nobody can shut it down except for her. I need to find her."
"But who will rule Arendelle while you are gone? You are the only claimant to the crown right now"
She looked at the man. "Are you volunteering, Admiral Westergard?"
She would test him. He didn't have as much executive power as he'd hope –oh no, she had made sure of that before even suggesting- and he wouldn't have much to work with, but if Hans Westergard was proven to be a better ruler than he was a seducer, Anna would reward him. She would reward him most generously.
But for now, she had a long journey ahead of her. She had to find Elsa. She had to bring her back. She had to make sure nobody would screw over Arendelle while she was gone.
And most important, she had to talk with those trolls.
She did so believe another talk with those pests was long overdue.
A.N: we finally meet a few more characters.
As explained earlier, An Open Door is not chronologically written. I add different pieces from different times as I see fit. I'll put up a chronology guide as soon as we have more than 8 or 9 chapters. so probably never.
Anyway, More Norse stuff in the story. to explain, Sólmánuður appears to be a time along 13 June to 12 July, basically the middle of Summer. Note that while Arendelle has kept its norse tradition, most of the world hasn't. that will become more relevant as the story continues.
Kudos to everyone who, not surprisingly, finds the reference. well, more of a cameo.
until next time,
Davoid Signing Out