The wedding ball was in full swing and music filled the ballroom. Anna and Kristoff had shared their first dance, but not long after that, one of the visiting dignitaries had cut in, leading to Anna dancing with a series of wedding guests while Kristoff was enlisted to dance with the wives of diplomats who were too engrossed in their own conversations to dance themselves.
Even though Elsa had spent much of the evening declining more invitations to dance than she could count, she was still managing to enjoy herself. The conversations were better than at her coronation, perhaps due to the more relaxed atmosphere at the wedding ball. Or, maybe, it was simply that Elsa was more comfortable and less anxious now that her powers were common knowledge and she didn't have to bear the crippling fear that her secret would be revealed. She didn't have any dark secrets to keep hidden anymore. She also wasn't the center of attention this time, which suited her just fine. She had even managed to keep the five visiting princes at bay for a while, though she knew that couldn't last forever. Indeed, while Prince Kiran was dancing with Anna, Elsa found herself stuck with the other four.
"I must say, Queen Elsa, this is truly a marvelous ball," said Prince Edward.
"Aye, 'tis a grand celebration," Prince Hamish agreed. "Reminds me o' another wedding I went to in a far-off land..."
"Oh, no," groaned Prince Lloyd. "Not the Chinese wedding story again."
"What's wrong with the Chinese wedding story?" Hamish asked. "'Tis a great story."
"Yes, it is a fantastic story," Lloyd replied. "It gets better every time you tell it. But I was there for the Chinese wedding, and I know that most of your story never happened."
"It all happened!" Hamish protested. "You jus' didna' see it!"
"What happened at the Chinese wedding?" Elsa asked, genuinely curious.
"Indeed, did you encounter a dragon there as well?" Edward asked. No one else was quite sure if Edward was mocking Hamish or was seriously asking.
"I'll tell you what happened, your majesty," Lloyd said. "There was a wonderful wedding with a colorful parade, beautiful flowers, and spectacular fireworks." Lloyd turned and glared at Hamish. "And that's it."
"Ah, that sounds like a royal wedding back home," Prince Amir said, "with a parade throughout the city with exotic animals, music, dancers, ending up in the beautiful gardens of the palace, furnished for the ceremony with the finest silk. An Agrabah wedding would be truly fit for a queen."
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" Lloyd asked accusingly.
"Aye," Hamish added, "do you think you'll win the queen's hand just by promisin' a fancy wedding?
"Wait, what?" Elsa said, surprised by the turn the conversation had taken.
"Please, not one of you are worthy of the hand of the queen," Edward said.
"Oh, but I suppose you think you are, then?" Hamish replied.
"Of course!" Edward said. "What queen wouldn't want to marry me, especially when the alternatives include a garish brute who can't even speak properly?"
"I didna' come 'ere to be insulted!" Hamish said angrily. He turned to Elsa. "Queen Elsa, would you care to dance?"
Elsa found herself seriously considering the offer, if only as a means to escape the awkward situation that was developing. If only she knew how to dance.
"That's very kind, but I don't dance," Elsa said.
"Well, in that case..." said Hamish as Kiran and Anna just happened to twirl by on the dance floor. Hamish quickly bumped Kiran away and took his place. "Mind if I cut in, Laddie?" Hamish said, after the fact.
"Oh, hi," said a surprised Anna.
"Come along, Lassie," Hamish said. "Let me show you how we dance in Dunbroch."
Prince Kiran was left momentarily stunned as he watched Hamish and Anna dance away. Then he noticed Elsa was nearby.
"Ah, Queen Elsa!" Kiran said. "This is a fabulous party. I do love this music. I don't know how you resist the urge to dance."
"I don't dance," Elsa said.
"Are you telling me this music doesn't fill your heart and stir your soul?" Kiran asked.
"Oh, it's not that I don't appreciate music," Elsa replied. "I do play the piano."
"But of course!" Kiran said. "I knew you had to have a musical side. I could tell. I am very musical myself. Perhaps I could play something with the band."
"Well, I suppose that would be up to them," Elsa said.
"And later, perhaps we can play something together," Kiran added.
"Oh," Elsa said, unsure of how to reply. "I've never played with anyone else."
"There is always a first time," Kiran said.
"Oh, could you be any more transparent?" Lloyd interrupted.
"I beg your pardon?" Kiran said.
"Your blatant attempt to woo the queen is as shameless as it is futile," Lloyd said. "She is clearly uninterested."
"Yes, I agree," Amir added. "It is in very poor taste."
"As if you're any better," Lloyd said to Amir, "with your talk of a wedding fit for a queen. You can't merely try to impress her. Queen Elsa deserves someone who truly appreciates her."
For a moment, Elsa felt gratitude toward Prince Lloyd for defending her. Even though she was perfectly capable of rejecting the advances of the princes herself, he had saved her the trouble. But before she could actually thank him, the mood was quickly broken.
"Someone like me!" Edward abruptly announced.
"I wasn't talking about you!" Lloyd grumbled.
"Why not?" Edward asked.
Elsa rolled her eyes in annoyance as the four princes started arguing among themselves. She looked around the room and spotted a couple of familiar faces, giving her a reason to excuse herself. She started to say something to the princes, but they were already too involved in their argument to notice, so she simply walked away.
"Rapunzel! Eugene!" Elsa called out, waving to the young Coronan couple she had met at her coronation.
"Queen Elsa!" Rapunzel replied, excitedly bounding, and pulling Eugene behind her. "It's so nice to see you again."
"It's good to see you too," Elsa said. "I wanted to thank you in person for writing to me. I really do appreciate your letters. Your advice has been very helpful."
"Oh, you're very welcome," Rapunzel said. "I'm glad I could help, and I enjoy hearing from you too."
"I'm sorry I haven't answered your last letter yet," Elsa said. "I've been very busy helping Anna plan her wedding."
"It's okay. I understand." Rapunzel said. "It took Eugene and I a long time to plan our wedding."
"It felt like years," Eugene said, prompting Rapunzel to elbow him.
"Eugene..." Rapunzel said, giving him an annoyed glance.
"Sorry," Eugene said insincerely. "I meant to say that the time just seemed to fly by."
"It really was a wonderful ceremony." Rapunzel said to Elsa. "Anna and Kristoff look so happy."
"Thank you," Elsa said, "and I'm so glad to two of you were able to come."
"Oh, it's nothing." Rapunzel said. "We love coming to Arendelle. It's so beautiful here."
"I'm glad you're enjoying your visit," Elsa said.
"We really are," Rapunzel said. "But you know, you should definitely come to Corona for a visit sometime. It's actually not that long of a voyage. You could come and stay for a few days and be back in Arendelle within two weeks."
"Two weeks..." Elsa muttered. The words echoed in her mind. They were supposed to be back in two weeks... They said they'd be back in two weeks... It was only two weeks... Just two weeks...
Eugene noticed Elsa's distressed expression and nudged Rapunzel.
"What?" Rapunzel asked him, then she noticed Elsa's expression as well. She was confused for a moment until she realized what she had said. "Oh, no! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay," Elsa said, trying to fight back the tears that were starting to well up in her eyes. "I just... excuse me."
Elsa rushed towards the nearest exit, brushing past guests who would have liked a moment of her time. She didn't want to spoil the wedding celebration. She had to get away and compose herself.
Anna was still dancing with Prince Hamish when she caught a glimpse of Elsa fleeing across the ballroom. She immediately abandoned her dance partner and chased after her sister.
Elsa found herself in the portrait-lined corridor outside the ballroom. It was dark outside the windows, leaving the hallway dimly lit. She staggered down the corridor until she came to the foot of the grand staircase. She looked up at the wall opposite the staircase. The portrait of her mother and father was hanging there. It hadn't always been in that prominent location; it must have been moved there after...
Suddenly Elsa realized... this was the last place she saw them. This was the spot where she said goodbye, not knowing it would be for the last time. Elsa collapsed on the bottom step of the staircase and began to sob.
Anna came through the door at the far end of the hallway and saw Elsa crying on the stairs.
"Elsa?" Anna called out as she started walking down the corridor. She didn't get a response. She tried again as she approached the staircase. "Elsa? What's wrong?"
Elsa looked up at Anna with makeup-stained tears rolling down her cheeks. She glanced up at the portrait then back at her sister.
"They should be here, Anna," Elsa said forlornly.
"Oh, Elsa," Anna said, instantly understanding. She sat down on the step next to Elsa and put her arm around her sister, who buried her face in her hands and continued to weep. Anna sadly looked up at the portrait as a tear rolled down her own cheek. "I miss them too."