Lars had been trying to keep a low profile without actually looking like he was keeping a low profile, biding his time as he waited to make his move. He had spent the evening keeping an eye on Queen Elsa as much as possible without attracting attention to himself. Timing was important, and he had to pick just the right moment. At least, that was what he kept telling himself. The prospect of approaching the queen unannounced was turning out to be more nerve-wracking than Lars had expected. He was actually quite nervous. He wasn't simply making excuses for his lack of action, though; he did have to choose his moment carefully. If anyone intercepted him and found out who he was and where he was from before he got to the queen, he was certain he wouldn't be allowed anywhere near her.
When he saw Queen Elsa abruptly flee the ballroom, followed by the bride, Lars began to silently panic. He had no idea what had happened; the queen had simply been engaged in conversation, and Lars had been too far away to hear anything that was said over the music and revelry of the wedding ball. Lars didn't know what he would do if she didn't return. His plan was suddenly falling apart and there was nothing he could do about it but wait and hope she came back.
Eventually, Princess Anna returned to the ballroom alone, and her new husband excused himself from his current dance partner and rushed over to her. Lars tried to casually make his way close enough to them to listen in on their conversation without drawing attention to himself.
"What happened?" Kristoff asked. "Is Elsa okay?"
"Elsa will be all right," Anna replied. "She'll be back in a minute."
"That's a relief," Kristoff said.
"Yeah," Anna said, "but I was thinking that maybe we shouldn't leave right away."
"Wait, are you saying you don't want to go on our honeymoon?" Kristoff asked.
"No, I do," Anna said. "I'm just a little worried about Elsa."
"But my family is expecting us," Kristoff said.
"I know, but I think Elsa needs me right now," Anna said. "We can go in a few days."
"You don't have to do that, Anna," Elsa said. She had returned to the ball and joined Anna and Kristoff without either of them noticing. She had fixed her makeup, leaving no sign that she had just been crying.
"Elsa!" Anna said in surprise. She hadn't expected Elsa to be back so soon.
"It's your honeymoon," Elsa continued. "You should go. I want you to go and have a good time."
"And you're sure you'll be okay by yourself?" Anna asked.
"I'll be fine," Elsa said. "I know you mean well, but you don't have to worry about me."
"See," Kristoff said to Anna. "She says she'll be fine."
"Now, this is your wedding ball," Elsa said, pushing Anna and Kristoff toward the dance floor. "Get out there and dance."
As Anna and Kristoff took to the dance floor, Kai approached Elsa from where he had been watching to keep the wedding guests from interrupting.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Queen Elsa?" Kai asked.
"Could you please get me a cup of hot chocolate?" Elsa said after a second of thought.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Kai said.
Lars had visibly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Queen Elsa had returned to the ball, and as Kai walked away leaving the queen momentarily alone and unguarded, Lars felt his heart begin to race. He finally saw his opportunity. He took a deep breath and walked straight up to the queen.
"Queen Elsa," Lars said with a bow, "allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sir Lars Magnusson. I have been looking forward to meeting you."
"Oh, thank you," Elsa said, caught off guard. She was not used to total strangers approaching her unannounced, and she wasn't quite sure how to react. There was something familiar about the stranger, as if she had seen him before, though at the moment she couldn't remember where.
"And where did you say you were from, Sir Lars?" Elsa asked.
This was the moment Lars dreaded. He knew things could go badly once he answered the question. He briefly considered a lie, but he knew the truth would come out eventually, and it wouldn't do him any good to be caught in a lie later on. Lars took a deep breath before answering the question with the truth.
"I am from Weselton, Your Majesty," Lars said. He would have sworn that the temperature in the room suddenly dropped ten degrees as he saw a look of terror cross the queen's face.
"Weselton?" Elsa said in shock, then quickly regained her composure. "How did you get here?" she asked in a low, angry tone. "No ships sail between Weselton and Arendelle."
"Not directly, no," Lars said. "It was a long voyage."
"Now I remember you," Elsa said, finally placing him. "I saw you in the crowd out in the courtyard. How did you get in here?"
"I'm not going to give away all of my secrets," Lars said. "At least not yet."
"What are you doing here?" Elsa asked.
"I have come simply to request an audience with Your Majesty," Lars said. "at your convenience, of course."
"An audience?" Elsa said incredulously. "At my convenience? What makes you think I would find it convenient to grant you an audience at all? The Duke of Weselton has sent representatives before."
"Yes, I know," Lars said, "and you had them all sent away without even meeting them. None of them made it as far as I have. I'm doing well just to be talking to you. I think that boldness should count for something."
"You only made it this far by sneaking into my home uninvited during my sister's wedding," Elsa said. "I should have you removed, or maybe arrested."
"You could do that," Lars said. "but at this point I would have no reason to go quietly. Are you really willing to cause a scene at your sister's wedding ball, especially when I pose no threat and have asked for so little?"
Elsa was annoyed to realize that Lars was right. She couldn't disrupt the wedding ball, not after the breakdown she'd just had. Anna would never go on her honeymoon if she knew this interloper from Weselton was in Arendelle, and Elsa had worried Anna enough already. She would have to humor Lars long enough to get him to leave quietly.
"Why do you want an audience?" Elsa asked suspiciously. "You're going to ask for something else, aren't you?"
"Of course," Lars said. "But I think this is hardly the time to discuss it. If you want to know why I'm here, I will be happy to tell you, if you simply grant me an audience."
As much as Elsa hated the idea of giving the trespasser exactly what he asked for, she knew she had to find out what he was really after. Agreeing to meet with him wouldn't really be that much of an imposition if it helped her find out why he was here, but she couldn't let him think she was giving in.
"Fine," Elsa said. "If you are still in Arendelle after all of the wedding guests have left, I will... consider... granting you an audience."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lars said.
"Now if you don't mind," Elsa said, "since you weren't invited to the wedding, I would like you to please leave. I can have my guards show you out."
"That won't be necessary. I know the way," Lars said. He bowed farewell. "I look forward to seeing you again, Queen Elsa."
As Elsa watched Lars leave the ballroom, Kai returned with a teacup of hot chocolate on a saucer, which he handed to Elsa.
"Thank you, Kai," Elsa said without looking away from Lars.
"Who is that?" Kai asked, following Elsa's gaze.
"An uninvited guest," Elsa replied. "Make sure he finds his way out."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Kai said.
As she watched Kai follow Lars out of the ballroom, Elsa considered the intruder from Weselton. He certainly had some nerve coming into the palace uninvited, but he also seemed quite clever. She would have to be careful not to underestimate him.