Jack squinted up at the sun. It was far too bright for the morning. "Why is the sun always out?"
Erika glanced over, she'd already run through her morning stretches and was practicing parries. "The sun isn't always out. It goes down for most of the night."
"You're a southern boy, right? Not familiar with our foreign northern weather?" Sanderson lounged against a wooden sword, as he inspected Jack. "I'd guess the Southern Isles." At Jack's non-committal shrug, Sanderson nodded, "best to keep that to yourself; the kingdom isn't too fond of the Southern Isles right now."
Jack stood up, enough stretches for now. "Why is that?" He grabbed a practice sword, decided it was far too large, frowned then put it back. He knelt to inspect the pile.
"You really don't know?" Erika had stopped practicing and was looking confused.
When Jack shook his head, Sanderson whistled. "You really are new."
"Why? What happened with the Southern Isles?"
"At Elsa's coronation last year, something happened." Erika sounded sad. "We don't know what set her off, but the queen ended up fleeing into the mountains. She froze the whole kingdom, even the fjord. She lived on the North Mountain; some say she created a new kingdom up there, complete with hundreds of subjects just like Olaf."
Sanderson snorted, "It was no kingdom. She was creating an army."
"Either way Prince Hans of the Southern Isles brought her back and locked her in jail. He tried to kill her, but Anna stopped him." Erika looked wistful. "The next month was incredible. The queen created an ice rink and anyone could come in and skate. She was always walking among the people with this incredible dress. But then- well" Erika shifted, she didn't want to continue.
"The queen froze half our crops."
"No she didn't." Erika glared at Sanderson, "there was an early winter that year. It took a lot of farmers by surprise and they blamed the queen." Erika shook her head. "She retreated inside her castle. The ice rink vanished and when she finally came out she was wearing gloves again. But she didn't do it; she would never freeze the kingdom!"
"I don't know, that kind of power can be hard to control." How many accidental winters had Jack set off in the first hundred years? "She already lost control once; I wouldn't be surprised if she froze the kingdom again."
"What is this?" Sticks voice sent shivers up Jack's spine and he wheeled around. Stick's face was beat red and his fists were quivering. Jack had never seen him express any emotion before, much less this sort of anger. Stick practically spit out his words, "This sort of insubordination borders on treason."
The blood sunk to his toes. He couldn't get sent away. Bunny would never let him forget it if he was accused of trying to usurp the person he was supposed to be helping. "Sir, you don't understand. I didn't mean anything. It's completely understandable that someone with that much power would freeze the kingdom. I swear I didn't mean to say anything treasonous."
The throbbing vein in Stick's forehead had gone down slightly, but the red color remained. "Whatever your intent, you're words had echoes of treason. That type of language is not permitted, especially from a palace guard. After training this afternoon come to my office. We will discuss you punishment." Stick walked away
Sanderson burst into laughter, "trying to challenge my record newbie?"
"He has a while to go," Erika joked, before returning to her exercises.
…
Elsa stared outside, the sun still hung plump in the sky, giving little indication that around the village little kids were being whisked into their bed. Elsa didn't mind; she loved the sun. It scared away shadows.
Anna's subtlety had run out and she drummed her fingers on the table. Beside her Kristoff was far less interested in the details of the wedding.
Elsa turned and tapped the four papers that sat in front of her. Anna was almost out of her chair, trying to sneak a glance at the images Elsa had selected for her wedding. Though Elsa really hadn't made many hard choices, most of what Anna had selected was either far too expensive or required materials that would take far too long to get. Anna had already waited for happiness far too long.
"Fine, I'll beg!" Anna's patience had run out and she clasped her hands in front of her. "Pleeeeeeeeeease tell me what you picked!"
"It took that" Elsa waved at Anna, "into consideration. I made sure that the wedding can occur in less than two months. I'm planning to send the invitations sometime in the next week." Elsa smiled at Anna. "What would you like to see first: the dress, the cake, the set up or the flowers?"
"Not the dress." Anna shook her head. "Kristoff can't see the dress."
"How about the cake?" Kristoff interjected, "That's my favorite part." He glanced at Anna, "well, almost my favorite part."
Elsa tried to pretend she was disgusted by their mushy behavior.
"It's chocolate, of course." Elsa slid the picture over the table. She'd a basic three tiered chocolate cake. It would have been plain, was it not for the chocolate detailing that decorated the pastry. The swirls and minute details reminded her of frost, once she'd made that connection no other cake would do. No matter how much pain her powers caused her, frost was still the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen, and Anna deserved all the beauty in the world.
Elsa coughed, noticing that both Anna and Kristoff were waiting for her to continue. "I was thinking we'd have one cake for the main table, so you two would still have a cake to cut. The rest of the cake plate would be covered with chocolate dipped strawberries." Anna squealed in delight. Strawberries were hard to get out of season in Arendelle. "The guests sitting at the other tables would each get a miniature cake. The cake itself wouldn't be detailed, but instead would have a piece of detailing on the side, along with a chocolate strawberry. Is that okay with you?"
"It's perfect." Anna chewed on her nails. "Are you sure the cooks will be fine with this? It's a lot of cooking."
"They've agreed to it. The rest of the meal will be simpler. Is it okay if we leave the rest of the meal up to the cooks?"
"Of course I only care about the chocolate." Kristoff looked offended, but Anna soothed him with a smile. "What about the flowers?"
"I was wondering about a spring arrangement? There are quite a few shops in the city which have already offered their services. I prefer one proposal, which was very similar to one of your drawings." Elsa slid the next sheet of paper across the table. "The arrangement will have purple, pink and some red flowers. Since it's so bright I took your suggestion, the table clothes and other hanging will be white, with clusters of flowers holding them up."
Anna smiled happily. She stroked her drawing. "This was always my favorite. Mother and father used almost this exact same combination."
Elsa slid the next piece of paper across the table. "The set-up was simple. You only had two for this one and I'm sorry, but I just don't believe having dinner in boats would be that practical." Anna laughed. "There'll be one head table with lots of little circle tables each seating about eight people. Luckily your guest list wasn't that big so we can fit in the banquet hall. I did have to expand the list, you forgot quite a few important people."
Anna waved her hand. "They're all people with ruffly clothes and stuffily manners." She tried to assume an intelligent, political expression. "I didn't forget them I left them off, I believe Arendelle needs to trim its allies."
"Why in the world wouldn't you invite Stephan, from Killian? He's absolutely wonderful."
Anna's mask slipped for a second, but she pasted it right back on. "I didn't want to inconvenience him. It's such a long journey."
Elsa snorted. "The kingdom is almost our neighbor. It shouldn't take him more than a week, if that."
"You know how the weather is this time of year."
"Yes, mild and pleasant."
"I would like to see the dress now."
Elsa smiled and handed her the last paper, making sure Kristoff wouldn't see it.
Anna's eyes widened. "Is this?"
Elsa nodded.
"But how?" She covered her mouth. "I thought it was ruined. Bertrom said that if we still had it, the moths would have destroyed it."
"I'm having it fixed." Elsa smiled gently. "Mother would want you to have it." She tried not to put emphasis on the "you."
"Where is it?"
"In the sewing room, Mara should be working on it right now."
"I have to go see it." Anna pushed away almost tripping over the ends of her skirt. She rushed out of the room, the paper still clutched to her chest.
Kristoff peered at Elsa and raised an eyebrow.
"It was our mother's wedding dress." Elsa explained. "After she was… lost at sea it was put in a storeroom. No one bothered to check up on it."
Kristoff nodded, staring out the window.
"Are you okay?" Elsa peered at his face. He was impassive, as always. Why was Anna in love with him again?
Kristoff shrugged. "I'm not that interested in the planning. The dress, the flowers, the cake, it doesn't matter to me. I'm only looking for one thing."
"And that is?"
"Money, the crown." When Elsa failed to respond to his pathetic joke, he whistled. "Tough crowd. I was joking. I just want Anna, trust me." Elsa did. Well, she tried.
She smiled and stood up. Sorry to leave, but I have to get back to work."
He nodded and stood up as well. "See ya' around." At her raised eyebrow he added, "Your majesty."
She watched him stroll out of the banquet hall. He was a good person. Somehow in the last year Elsa had never had an extended conversation with him. But Anna had known him for over a year, and despite previous events, Anna was a good judge of character.
She'll need to be when she's queen.
Elsa stopped walking. There's no guarantee Anna would ever have to be queen.
Please, did you really think they'd let you be queen forever. You're a danger to everyone.
Elsa shook her head. She wasn't a danger she had her power under control.
Keep telling yourself.
Elsa kept walking
The temptation of a safe, warm queen, it's going to be too much for someone, and they will kill you.
No one was going to try to kill her. She was a good queen and she ruled her kingdom fairly. Elsa rounded the corner.
Don't worry, I'll take care of Anna when you're dea-
Elsa felt her feet go out from under her and her back cracked against the stones.
"Shit! Uhh- I mean…Are you okay your majesty?"
Elsa sat up and glared at the guard leaning over her, "never better. I love cracking my head on the floor."
The guard looked shocked, "you made a joke."
"Yes, I have that ability."
He laughed and shook his head, his brown hair flopping across his forehead. "This job might be easier than I thought."
Elsa stood up, inspecting the back of her dress, only to find the entire thing covered in wax. The dress was ruined. "What job?"
He paused, "uhh…waxing the floor. You've done most of it for me."
She tried not to smile, instead maintaining a polite expression.
He searched for a smile and found none, "that was a joke."
"So I gathered." Elsa squinted at the guard. "Why are you waxing the floor?"
"I sort of," the guard winced "have detention."
She wasn't shocked; he seemed like he'd get quite a few detentions. Did that mean he had to do chores for the next few evenings? She needed someone to help write the invitations. "How long do you have detention?"
He groaned, "For the next month."
The entire month, that was impressive. He must have done something really bad. "Can you write?"
The guard looked confused, but he nodded.
"Tell Baard that I have a chore for you. Come to the library tomorrow."
He looked confused, but nodded again.
She started to leave, but then turned back, "you should have something up to prevent people from walking this way."
"You're right someone could fall." He smirked at her, "that would be really embarrassing."
She ignored him, instead picking up her skirts and left the way she had come. She would not risk the waxy floor again.