CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Burial At Sea

It was a sunny late afternoon. The sky was the brightest of blues, and the only cloud present was an occasional lazy passerby. Bluebirds crooned as they playfully chased each other through the air, stopping only to pick up crumbs of bread thrown by a child. Honey bees hummed nearby, contentedly working in a patch of planted crocuses.

A gentle breeze caused the blossoms to fall from their tree to the brick road, turning it from a warm grey to a vibrant pink, one of her sister's favorite colors. Across the street was an artist painting to his heart's content, with his liquid colors and brushes scattered off to the side in organized chaos. Little cruise boats were floating down the Seine River, just barely ducking under one of its many bridges. In the distance was a young Eiffel Tower, stealing attention from the sun peeking over the adorable houses.

Elsa basked in the shade of an umbrella of the restaurant she was visiting, listening to a relaxing jazzy tune from the record player. On the tiny table, she had a chocolate croissant and her first glass of red wine, both of which she had yet to touch. She was just so satisfied, because for the first time in forever she was able to just sit and breathe in fresh air and take in the picturesque sights. Which reminded her, Anna had yet to catch up with her. If she didn't hurry, she was going to finish the croissant and the whole bottle of wine before she even got there.

"Mademoiselle?"

"Oui?" Elsa turned her head to the woman asking for her attention. She was face to face with… herself. It was a beautiful charcoal picture of her portrait, which somehow reflected how serene she felt. Elsa had never been good at drawing organic things, so it always took her breath away when she saw when someone could.

"Quel est votre nom?" asked the artist. She looked up at the woman holding the portrait. She was dressed in a long yellow dress, with a blue tie, and white boots with black on the soles, toes, and heels. She had beautiful teal eyes (though not as dazzling as Anna's) and brown hair tied into a bun.

The woman was starting to blush, waiting for Elsa's answer.

"Oh! Elsa," she replied, flustered at being caught off guard.

The artist nodded, smiling, and put the charcoal pencil to the fabric held in her gloved hands. Once finished, she turned the portrait on a proper side, and handed it to her. She had added her name to the piece.

"Pour vous, Elsa."

"Oh, non!" she protested, even if she was very flattered. She felt herself blushing from the attention of a pretty woman and the kind gesture. The artist did ask Elsa first if she could draw her, which she didn't mind. She'd had portraits done before. But never one as a gift. It was so beautiful, she simply couldn't accept it.

"Je ne pouvais pas! Je ne peux pas accepter—"

"Si'l vous plaît." She pleaded gently, and with a slight bow, handed Elsa the canvas. "J'insiste."

"Oh," she breathed, smiling. She took it by the frame, and held it delicately in her fingers. She took quick notice of the signature. "Merci, Madame Porter."

She gazed at the portrait for a few moments. Jane Porter was a very talented artist. She would have to ask her if she could draw her sister for her. Though she was certain that as soon as she saw Anna, she would have no need to ask.

Where had her sister gone off to, anyway?

Elsa stood from her chair, setting her portrait in her place. She turned to Jane, who had begun gazing intently at a muscular street performer, and let her know that she would be returning shortly, for she had to find her sister.

It may have been a lazy day for the girls, but Elsa had been hoping she would be able to spend most of it with Anna, instead of waiting for her like some stood-up date. She started her down the street - while Anna could be quite the wanderer, Elsa doubted she'd have gotten too far. Down the way, there were more artists who'd set up their easels outside of the shops selling flowers, fruits, and cheeses. She saw one of the artists she knew, and greeted her as she went.

"Guten Tag, Frau Fitzherbert." Elsa was one of the few women in town who was multilingual. When a shopkeeper had had difficulty understanding Rapunzel's attempts at French, Elsa had translated for her and they'd been fast friends ever since. Along with Anna, the three of them had become something of a famous trio in the voisinage.

"Guten Tag, Elsa," she replied, sighing at her mostly-white canvas, followed by a complaint that there was nothing good to paint. Elsa smiled at her uninspired friend apologetically and continued on her search, passing women in fancy dresses whispering about handsome painters from beneath their parasols.

At the center of the shops was a band of gypsies of all ages, minding themselves to their musical instruments and earning coin from the passersby. She saw an adorable prancing goat and tossed a coin in the hat laid out for tips. A flash of purple caught Elsa's eye, and when she looked up, she was met with the gaze of stunning emerald eyes. The woman had beautiful brown skin, wild black hair, pillowy red lips, swaying her hips...Elsa shook her head. She was getting distracted - and if the quirk to that rosy mouth was any indication, her interest was much to the woman's amusement. Trying to keep her blush under control, Elsa tossed another couple coins into the hat and continued on her way, heaving a sigh of relief when the woman was out of range of Elsa's temptation.

Even more frequent than the flirting women were the people already coupled up. So many men and women had linked arms and were admiring the majesty of their own city, loving every minute in it, together with the ones they loved. If only Elsa could be so lucky. She sighed, shaking her head with a smile.

Her beloved was probably down by the river. If she was, Elsa could bet that she'd fallen in, and that was why she was late. She descended the stairs that led down to the bank, where there were more shops, one man selling pet birds.

"L'Oiseau ou la cage? Pourquoi pas les deux?" he pitched with a tip of his hat.

Sadly for him, she would be buying neither the bird nor the cage. Nonetheless, she gave him an apathetic smile, and pressed on.

When she turned the corner, she saw a bright red balloon. That must have been Anna. Elsa smiled to herself and walked over to the balloon, but it wasn't Anna on the other end of the string.

"Sally?" Elsa gasped.

A chubby little white puppy barked at her and ran around her ankles, taking with it the balloon that was tied around its belly.

"Come back!"

Scooping up the Great Pyrenees pup, Elsa looked ahead to see Anna calling. The young woman was running towards her, smiling and out of breath.

"Elsa!" she sighed happily. "You found Sally for me." The puppy barked again and wriggled, trying to be held by Anna. Anna removed the balloon string from the dog and handed it to her sister.

"For you!"

The older woman took it and gave her a fervent kiss on the lips, which the dog tried breaking up with her squirming. "Thank you." she said, linking her arm with Anna's free one, and holding on to the balloon with the other. She led her back to the restaurant. All through the stroll, the couples from before gawked at them enviously.

"So this is why you kept me waiting?" Elsa asked, gesturing to the balloon in her grip.

"I was going to get you flowers, but I thought a balloon was much more fun. I tied it around Sally so she could hold it for me. But then when I tried to pay the guy for it, she took off running!"

Elsa laughed. She would often find herself competing with Sally for Anna's affection, but she loved the dog very much. "Well, I'm glad I found you. Seeing all the happy couples around, I was getting lonely."

Anna blushed. "Aww...my Elsie-poo missed me," she said, and flirtatiously rubbed against Elsa's side.

Elsa shook her head. "Please, never call me that again."

"Elsa-cakes?"

"No."

The two women returned to the restaurant, where Jane had kept watch over their belongings. The balloon was tied safely around Sally's waist to make the small dog easier to spot should she decide to run off again. Elsa pulled up a chair for her sister and gave her a peck on the cheek before sitting in her own seat again. Sally was contently laying next to Anna's chair, ready to take a nap after all the excitement, her balloon swaying gently above her.

Elsa showed off the portrait the artist drew of her - Anna, naturally impressed, requested a sketch of her own. Elsa translated to Jane, who readily agreed. The younger sister was stiff and nervous at first ("What if I move and mess everything up?"), but soon relaxed after taking a big bite from the chocolate croissant Elsa had bought earlier ("It's not a photo, dear, Jane knows what she's doing.").

The evening passed as they shared pastry and wine, the level in the bottle matching the sun's descent. Even after months of being reunited, Elsa was still prone to marvel at their newfound freedom. Anna had come to her life hand-in-hand with grave peril, yet now they were looking at perfect blue skies, to a world that left them peacefully basking in the joy of each other's company.

Now, with the whole world open to them, it was perfectly clear that their lives were inextricably entwined, bound first by fate and kept untarnished by love.

"Elsa?"

Elsa turned to Anna, lips curled in a smile. "Yes?"

"I love you."

And, illuminated by the setting sun, the two shared a kiss.

The End