Merida had thought that her mother might have appreciated that she'd found herself a perfect match that she liked but that was not the case. Her mother had dragged her away from the ballroom to a vacant hall by her ear, like she was some sort of child.

"Merida, how could you?"

"I like her."

"But asking her to marry you?"

"I wanted fer her to know my intentions."

"She is a woman!"

"Mum! She's everything you want in a suitor-"

"Merida, you do know that these Arendellese are quite religious don't you? You were supposed to have learnt about their culture! Were you paying any attention?"

As a matter of fact, Merida hadn't. She elected to instead plan out her next romp through the forest. But Merida didn't have to explain that to Elinor.

"She is queen-"

"Of a nation that could easily overcome DunBroch militarily"

"All the more the reason to form an alliance! And weren't you the one to say that there is no firmer way to settle an alliance than marriage!"

"This is different." Elinor sputtered. "Ye could start a war!"

"You are not to pursue this Merida!" Elinor demanded.

At this Merida crossed her arms and looked away. There was no reasoning with her mum sometimes.

Anna couldn't believe her luck. Bumping into Hans' horse and almost dying by falling from a great height in a rowboat was the best thing that had happened to her in her entire life! She loved being with him. He was so different from Elsa and the servants, with him she could feel free to do whatever she wanted and act as crazy as she wanted. Elsa always hated her romping around but Hans wanted to romp around with her. And he was perfect. He was handsome and well-mannered but still so fun! He made her feel special. He caught her after she tripped. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Today was the best day ever!

She wanted to tell Elsa straight away about Hans. After all, Elsa could hardly put her down for wanting to be happy after keeping her cooped up, all alone in that castle, with only a couple of servants who were too busy to spend time with her. And Elsa. But Elsa didn't count because she wouldn't ever spend time with Anna. They used to be inseparable but suddenly Elsa withdrew when they were children. Anna guessed that that was when she'd started to have that thing about dirt. She hated how Elsa hadn't left her room for weeks after their parents died. She'd thought that certainly they'd come together again after that but it was not to be. The king and queen of Arendelle's death only pushed Elsa further into her seclusion. Elsa didn't even attend their funeral.

She supposed that her parents would have ended the closed gates policy earlier. But Elsa, she'd closed herself off completely after their parents died. Foreign dignitaries and Arendelle's trade partners were no longer invited to the castle. Contact with the outside world had ceased. Letters came and letters were written, but no one entered the castle and no one left it. Anna supposed everyone grieved differently but thought that Elsa was a bit extreme. It hardly helped Arendelle to have its castle cut off from the rest of the world.

But nothing could ruin today! Today was fantastic and she was in love. And getting married! Well not today, they had to take a couple of days planning and getting everything together but still everything was moving so fast and it was too much to be true.

But it was true! And that was what made it so wonderful! She wanted today to last forever.

Elsa hadn't really had time to recover from the foreign woman's shocking proposal when she was dragged off by Queen Elinor. Soon after she was approached by some emissaries looking to negotiate taxation on imports. Elsa was welcomed the distraction. Their discussion of the tariffs placed on imported wool, whilst very demanding of concentration was not emotionally stimulating. She hadn't known how to react to the strange woman's request but here she was in her element, having been trained since birth to l

Anna supposed that Elsa could hardly say no to her proposal. The Southern Isles had been trying to negotiate an alliance with Arendelle for years. Although it was a bit fast, Elsa could hardly complain because she was the one insisting that the gates remain closed. And how could Anna expect find someone special if she never got to see anyone. She was so lucky to have found Hans today. She didn't know if the castle would ever be open to the public again.

As Anna waded through the crowded ballroom, she stepped on some toes. But she had great news and wanted to share it with her sister with haste.

"Elsa!"

The queen excused herself from the conversation about Arendelle's taxation policies.

Anna had tried to seem as formal as possible but it was a bit difficult. She was so excited. "I mean Queen" It sounded awkward to call her sister that. "It's me again."

"May I present Prince Hans of the Southern Isles" Anna announced in her royal voice.

Elsa, having experience with men of the Southern Isles understood that he had ample reason to squirm his way into a friendship or a courtship with her sister.

"Your majesty" Hans interjected.

"We would like" Anna and Hans both said at once. Anna stopped and smiled. Their mental synchronization was off the charts.

"Uh, Your blessing" Hans continued.

"Of" They giggled.

"Our marriage" Anna couldn't help but to chime in as Hans finally told Elsa.

"Marriage?" Anna's freckled arms were wrapped around Hans. Elsa was in a fog. For the second time today.

"Yes" Anna peeped out excitedly.

"I'm confused." Surely Anna hadn't meant this seriously. People don't just marry people they've never met before. She thought back to the scot's conviction with which she said her words.

"We haven't worked out all the details ourselves. We'll need a few days to plan the wedding"

This was all moving too fast. Anna was getting married to a redheaded man that she just met.

"Of course we'll have soup, roast, and iced cream." And she was planning out what to eat at their wedding.

"Can you move here?"

Elsa couldn't believe Anna hadn't consulted her about this.

"Absolutely!" Hans enthused.

"Here?" Things were moving far too fast. Elsa hadn't even agreed to the marriage. "Anna-"

"Oh, and we can invite all your brothers!"

Was Anna even aware how many princes the Southern Isles had? This was too much. Elsa had to intervene.

"Wait. Slow down. No one's brothers are staying here. No one's getting married."

Anna couldn't believe it.

"May I talk to you please? Alone?" Elsa was panicking. There were too many people for an argument.

Anna stepped next to Hans. He deserved an explanation too. "Whatever you have to say you can say to both of us."

"You can't marry a man you just met." Elsa said flatly. 'Or a woman either' some small voice in the recesses of her mind intoned.

"You can if it's true love." How could Elsa, after everything, not support her happiness?

"What would you know about true love?" Elsa intoned quietly hoping Anna would take the cue.

"More than you, all you know is how to shut people out." Anna did not take the cue.

Elsa was hurt. She shut Anna out for her own good. She didn't want to see her get hurt. It was the hardest thing she'd done and she'd done it out of love. Old wounds festered sore. Elsa pushed the feelings down.

"You asked for my blessing, my answer is no. Now excuse me." Elsa needed to be alone, to calm herself.

"Your majesty," Hans spoke as Elsa walked away "if I may ease your—"

"No, you may not and I think you should go." She didn't want any more proposals, any more chaos.

There were too many people. She needed her privacy. "The party is over, close the gates."

Post Script.

ieatwaffles, I have read trade negotiations. I loved it to bits!

anon, kapuis, that nice guest, Chestnut, Makakova, all the nice people, Thank you kindly. You guys are too nice.

that guest who is against gay people, you don't have to read the fic if you don't want to you know. Also your comment made my day. Thank you for being my first ever piece of hate mail.