Chapter 7

Stifling a yawn, Aaron worked his left shoulder as he strode into the throne room. Though the wound had long since healed it could still be very stiff, especially on mornings like this when there was fog overhead and the air was cold. Not to mention that he just couldn't lift as much with that arm as he used to. But at least I didn't lose the arm or worse, he thought, looking around the room. Besides, I did get a pretty wicked scar out of it.

While he stood there massaging some life back into his tired muscles the room around him was abuzz with commotion. The day they'd been awaiting was nearly upon them and the delegates from the other kingdoms were finally arriving so there was no longer time to prepare. Everything had to be ready if Arendelle didn't want to find itself as the laughingstock of the region. Not that Aaron much cared what their neighbors thought of them, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to have the castle looking its best for their arrival. And to say that it was looking pristine seemed like an understatement. Every wall chad been thoroughly cleaned, the floor scrubbed and the doors freshly lacquered.

All the inhabitants of the room were also looking their best, wearing the nicest clothes they owned, which only made sense. After all, the queen was about to welcome all the parties from across Arendelle and the surrounding kingdoms and no one wanted to look out of place. Speaking of the queen, he spied her standing atop the raised dais at the far end of the room. Behind her sat the throne of Arendelle, from which she could look out over the room.

Elsa was looking as radient as she always did but she hadn't noticed his arrival just yet. Instead she seemed to busy discussing something with a nearby nobleman to look around. Anna, on the other hand, was watching the activity around her excitedly and spied him the moment he walked in. Her face became even more happy as she waved enthusiastically, to which he gave his own smaller wave, fighting back a grin. Always so happy, that one. However, he also noticed that Kristoff wasn't present. Where could he be at a time like this? However, he wasn't looking for the sisters. Instead he scanned the room until he spied the man he wanted to speak with.

Standing in the center of the room, Kai was barking out orders to anyone who would listen while directing the maelstrom of activity around him. Though somewhat harried he still looked to be in relatively high spirits as Aaron walked up beside him.

"Good morning, Lord Kai," he offered, looking around the room once more.

Kai was too busy to pay him much heed, directing a group of lesser nobles into one of the alcoves, before replying, "Lord Aaron. I was beginning to wonder if you would show up."

Suppressing a smirk, Aaron nodded. "My apologies. I'm afraid I overslept this morning."

"Apparently."

After patiently waiting for him to finish giving some orders to the herald standing by the door Aaron continued. "So, is everything ready? It had better be. After all, the wedding is tomorrow," he quipped. There was no way that Kai would allow for anything out of place but it was still amusing to see how testy he could be if someone questioned his ability to run the castle.

That got a reaction as Kai actually looked at him for the first time since he'd arrived and tersely replied, "As ready as it will ever be. I trust the royal guard has been properly prepared?"

This time he allowed himself to smile openly. "Of course." That smile quickly faded, though, as he thought back on the weeks leading up to today. "Now that you mention it, though, it wasn't easy. There was a supply of new uniforms that didn't arrive until three days after they were supposed to and don't even get me started on Stein-"

"Pardon me, Lord Aaron," Kai interjected, cutting him off. He had a small frown on as he returned his attention to the room around them. "While I do enjoy our chats as you can see I'm a bit busy at the moment. If you could just take your place that would be a great help."

Biting back a laugh, Aaron gave him a nod. "My apologies. I'll leave you to your work." An embarrassed grin crawled across his face as he asked the question that had brought him over here in the first place. "Where is my place again?"

Despite the fact that he must have told Aaron a half dozen times already Kai didn't skip a beat as he turned to the left hand of the throne and said, "At the foot of the dais. We want you out in front where everyone can see you." With that he turned back to Aaron and added, "Now, look sharp. The suitors will be here any minute."

"Ah, right. How could I forget? I swear, sometimes this memory of mine…" Aaron replied, tapering off with a chuckle. He's told me so many times and I always forget somehow. I really should have written it down at some point. After all, Kai will only tell me… so many… times…

His thoughts slowly faded as one of Kai's words slowly made its way to the forefront of his mind. "Wait. What did you say?"

Giving a weary sigh, Kai shook his head. "At the front of the dais, Aaron."

"No, not that." He fell silent for a moment as the solitary word continued to confound him. Though he was all but certain as to what it meant he just had to ask. "Suitors? For who?"

"Why, Queen Elsa of course. Who else?"

Though the room was still filled with commotion those words seemed to ring in his ears for what felt like an age as his brain vainly tried to come to terms with this new development. Suitors… are coming to Arendelle… to court Elsa? My Elsa? No matter what way he came at it he still couldn't wrap his head around it. He'd always known that this was a possibility. After all, Elsa was a very beautiful woman in charge of a kingdom who, at least in the eyes of the world, had no romantic attachments to anyone. It only made sense that princes would come and try to win her hand in the hopes of marrying onto the throne.

But… he'd always assumed that he would be given some sort of prior notice before they arrived. That someone would tell him that others were coming to try and take his beloved away from him. And yet, no one had. People had to have known about this for weeks in advance, maybe even months, but no one had seen fit to inform him. Not Kai, not Kristoff, not Anna. Not even Elsa… And now, here they were on his doorstep. Coming for the one thing he treasured above all else.

Trying to pull his fracturing mind back together, Aaron gave his head a shake and looked back at Kai, who nearly had everyone in place. "Why wasn't I told about this?" he asked, his voice gruff.

With a shrug Kai glanced over at him. "Because you didn't need to know."

A plume of outrage erupted within him as he fought to keep his temper in check. Didn't need to- I love her! "Of course I did!" Already he could feel heat trickling through him, though he was able to keep the brunt of the flood at bay.

Apparently not noticing the hostile change in his demeanor, Kai gave him a matter-of-fact look. "Does it affect your ability to defend the realm?"

"Well, no. But-"

"Then you didn't need to know," he replied, cutting Aaron off again. Before he could continue Kai added, "Now, move it. They'll be here any minute," and, with that, started walking towards the door.

Just like that, he was left alone with his thoughts. Twin storms of rage and anguish were beginning to billow within him as he fought to find the calm center in his mind. Not that it did much good. He was struggling to form a congruent thought, much less remain calm. Through it all he could still feel his fire fighting to be unleashed as he slowly looked towards the throne.

Elsa had taken her place upon the throne and was saying something to Anna, who was seated by her right hand. She apparently still hadn't noticed him and for all intents and purposes looked as calm as can be, which only served to feed his roiling temper. How can she be so content? Aaron thought as he slowly made his way towards the dais, his jaw clamped and his fists clenched. Doesn't she know what going to happen? That these men intend to come between us? Of course, the answer was clear. Unlike him, she'd had time to come to terms with this. To prepare herself. However, that did nothing to solve the one question that was soaring above all the others.

Why didn't she tell me?

No matter how hard he thought or how he came at it Aaron couldn't answer it. There was just no possible reason that she could have for not telling him, to give him some warning of what was coming. Unfortunately, his confusion only built his anger as his sorrow only gave way to more rage. Why? Unless… But, just when it felt like his mounting wrath might get the better of him, then Elsa looked at him.

Turning away from Anna and back towards the room, she noticed him and their eyes met. And then… she smiled. It was only for a second before her face nullified once more and she gave him a stately nod but in that second he felt his anger come to a halt. It was such a tender smile, filled with hope and… well, love, and it had come so instinctually, as though it was second nature for her to smile when she saw him. As though it was in her nature to love him.

Just like that, without saying a word, she'd mollified his fears as his rage slowly began to seep back into the well from which it had sprung up from. She has her reasons, he thought as he strode onto the lower step of the dais, allowing his clenched muscles to relax. She has to. There's no way she wouldn't have left me in the dark if she didn't. And we can discuss them later. For now, calm down.

Feeling a smile make its way onto his face, he gave Elsa a bow and said, "Greetings, my queen. I trust you slept well?"

Returning the smile with a smaller one of her own, she shrugged. "Good morning, Lord Aaron. Reasonably well, though not as well as I would have liked."

"Why not?" he asked, frowning. She seemed fairly comfortable last night.

In turn her smile only grew as she quietly replied, "It's hard to explain but it just felt like there was… something missing."

Whatever concern he might have felt for her instantly vanished as his smile returned, only now it was more roguish than benign. "Oh really? I'm sorry to hear that. Please, do not hesitate to let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

"I will, thank you." With that she returned her attention to the rest of the room, but not before giving him another smile and… did she just wink at him? If she did it was so quick that no one else possibly could have noticed but it was enough to give his heart a leap as he gave Anna a similar bow.

"Princess. You're looking as lovely as ever," he said, straitening up to see that she was giving him an amiable smile. "But, if I may, where is your fiancé? Shouldn't he be here to greet your guests?"

Shaking her head, she replied, "Unfortunently he can't. He's still feeling a bit under the weather so we decided it might be better if he rested. After all, I want him feeling his best tomorrow."

"Very prudent, your highness," said Aaron, nodding. "Can't have the groom feeling ill on the day of his wedding."

Anna offered a quiet thanks before they both followed Elsa's gaze out to the middle of the room to see Kai walking towards them. He halted before the dais to bow as Elsa asked, "Is everything set, Lord Kai?"

"Yes, your majesty. We are prepared to proceed at your command," he answered, stepping off to one side and gesturing towards the door.

"Very well." Elsa's eyes fell on the herald. "Then let us begin"

Giving a deep bow, the man opened a scroll he was holing which no doubt held all the names and titles of the attendees as Aaron drew in a steadying breath. Though he was prepared to forgive Elsa he still was eager to meet all the men who intended to woe her. Just make it through this, he thought as the doors swung open. Just make it through this and then you and Elsa can talk. Away from prying ears.