Disclaimer: I don't own the story of Frozen or any of its original characters, including but not limited to Anna, Elsa, The King, Olaf, Sven, Gerda and Kristoff.
AN: Hey guys, here's the fifth chapter. I hope you will read it and review it; I love receiving your feedback. Once again, still looking for an editor for this story. If you are interested then please send me a private message! Just a warning, this chapter is a little rough.
The sunlight reflects off the delicate braids of her strawberry blonde hair, dancing across the layers, creating many different colors. Her hair is all piled on her head today; I am not sure how that was accomplished since there is so much of it. A braid wraps around the front and is twisted into the bun held tight on the back of her scalp. Her teal colored eyes sparkle in the light as she speaks to me. I do not remember what we are talking about because the way the light shines against her beautiful eyes is all I can focus my attention on.
She keeps talking about whatever it is though, apparently needing no input from me. She makes me laugh when she gets like this. She is not so much talking because the subject is very important or even just because she likes the sound of her voice; the reason is much sweeter than that, she is talking because she gets excited. And I love that. Her hands move all over the place when she talks like this and her smile is easy and free.
She stops all of a sudden, aware that my attention is not as captivated on her words as she originally thought it was. She smirks with her lips closed, a mischievous smile. "I'm sorry, am I boring you?"
"In all honesty princess," I start in a very serious tone, "I could listen to your musical voice for hours." I smile at her after I have finished speaking, her face lights back up and that easy smile is upon her face once again.
Anna has been at court with us for 14 months now, the rest of her family having returned home to Corona almost a year ago. My father had asked me after they left how long I thought was an appropriate amount of time to wait until letting the marriage take place. I had responded that I was not sure but I would let him know when I was ready for it. This very morning, before she came to find me and request a stroll in the garden, and before the beauty of her being in the sunlight entrapped me, I told my father he ought to plan the ceremony.
He told me he needed three weeks. He was very generous in giving me that first week for any changes of mind that might occur. Nevertheless, watching her amidst the flowers and the sunlight, I knew I had told him correctly.
"Anna," She looks into my eyes intently, listening with all of her being, "I have an important question to ask you, and I know what you will answer if you answer in the name of duty. But duty is a terrible reason to get married, and I would rather hear the answer you would give me if we were both poor and kingdom-less. I am asking you as Eza, not just as the prince of Arendelle. Will you marry me?" Her smile widens but I can still see that hint of mischievousness in her eyes.
"And why do you want to marry me, oh poor and kingdom-less Eza?" She is teasing me and I know it, but I will play along and answer her question.
"Because, dear princess, you make me laugh until I cry, and you are sweet and kind and I would be honored to have you as my queen until our dying days." She smiles, and this time it is completely genuine. I can tell because a cherry red blush creeps its way onto her face from her neck.
"Yes, I think I shall marry you, for that was an excell-" but before she can finish responding with her sassy retort, I place my hands on her soft face and pull her mouth into mine. She is laughing now and ruins our first kiss. Such a little brat.
She pulls away still giggling, the blush fading from her freckled face. However, she soon pulls me back in for a second kiss and this one is ruined by no one's girlish laughter.
After she pulls away I smile and say, "My dear Anna, you'll have to excuse me now. I have an errand to run, but I will see you later." I stroke her cheek lightly as I stand up. I pull the wrinkles out of my tunic before I start walking. As I walk back inside, Gerda and a few serving girls are watching out of a window towards where we were seated in the garden. They do not realize that I have come back inside and it makes me giggle to myself. I walk up behind them and loudly clear my throat.
"Something interesting in the garden?"
They turn around with a start, when we all make eye contact we laugh with each other. The serving girls are very excited about the events which have taken place outside.
"What did she say?"
"Well darling, it's indeed tragic." Their eyes grow wide and their mouths slacken, "That you and I can no longer see each other, because she said yes." First they laugh at my joke and then they all congratulate me. "Alright ladies, go congratulate the bride, because I have somewhere to be." I smile at them and the two younger girls run into the garden to speak with Anna.
I nod at Gerda, and start walking through the castle. There is something I have to do before I can marry Anna and I am going to do it today.
When I get to the cave it is not even midday. Even though it is empty except for me, it feels inhabited. Kristoff must be spending a lot of time here. I have not been in months; I have been too busy entertaining a certain princess. I am not sure whether or not he will be coming back today at all; I certainly hope he will because I am not sure whether or not I will be able to steal another day away from the palace, what with the date set now.
I pull off my boots and roll up my trousers; I let my feet dangle in the water. I just have to wait for him now.
He does not disappoint, I am not there an hour and a half before he comes back to the cave.
"Elsa?" He says as he walks in loudly, his boots slapping the ground hard. "Is that really you?" He sets down the firewood he was carrying and takes another step towards me.
I pull myself out of the pool and stand up, "In the flesh." I take a little bow.
"Where have you been?" His voice seems almost desperate. "It's been five months since I last saw you here."
"I've had a lot of things going on Kristoff; it was much more difficult to get away. I can't imagine I'll be able to come very often if at all from now on."
He walks up to me and pulls me into a tight embrace; I hug him back because he really needs it. He runs his fingers through my hair. "Your hair, it's so short." He is right; I started cutting it much shorter about three months ago. It had a lot to do with the fact that doing my hair in the morning when it is long is very tedious.
"Kristoff, I'm really getting married." He pulls away from me, and lets out an incredibly exasperated sigh.
"This again? Elsa, you don't have to get married! We can leave, run away from all of this. From your father and your fiancé!" His voice is edging on desperate again.
"No we can't Kristoff. What sort of life would we lead, and where would we go? People know who I am; I would have to become a girl again in order to hide from the royals of every country we went to. I won't do that Kristoff, I will not hand my independence to you on a platter just so you can entertain a childish fantasy of the princess and the ice merchant running away together and living happily ever after."
"A childish fantasy? How long have you been stealing away here to see me? And how long have you, when you're here, lain with me as a man would lay with his wife? And you call my idea of being together a childish fantasy?"
"I never planned on being with you forever, Kristoff, how could I? I have a duty to my father and to my kingdom to play the role I was assigned after I was born. I know you see how my father sometimes torments me and sometimes I come here with you full of hate for him. Nevertheless, he is my father and that means something. He raised me this way to ensure the sanctity of his line, and that is something I can't ignore." He shakes his head at me, "If I leave, he will have no heir, and with no wife to speak of he cannot produce any new children. Then war will come for a chance at the throne. I have an obligation to my kingdom to prevent that if I can. I know it means nothing to you, but it is very important to me."
"So then become king first and tell everyone you're a woman second. What can they do once you're already in power? And then you'll be free to marry a man."
"They can kill me Kristoff; even if I tell everyone I'm a woman, being free to marry you is the very last thing that will happen. My claim will be illegitimate and I'll have to marry to keep my position, and I'll have to marry a prince or some other lord. Not you. There is no way this works out."
"I won't accept that!" His voice rises with anger, but underneath it is something more. It cracks through the surface of his words, fear. "I love you Elsa! And even if you can't marry me, I won't let you throw your life away for some girl you don't love. Just don't marry and name some other relative heir to the throne."
I instantly lose the frustration from my voice and it turns into seriousness, "I don't remember saying that I didn't love her."
And, as if on cue, we hear a shuffling noise from about five feet behind me behind a large rock. Kristoff is on edge as he approaches the rock, thinking it could be an animal trapped.
Suddenly, after seeing what was behind the rock, he turns back to me. His face has obtained a look of disgust. "What the fuck." It isn't a question. "What the fuck, Elsa. You brought this slut here? You brought this pampered bitch to our cave?"
I know what has happened today. Anna gets nervous when I go off by myself because of the ice magic. If I have a fit she doesn't want to leave me alone to pick up the pieces. It was something I appreciated until this moment, she followed me here. And she was right in doing so; if he had never shown up there is a good chance that is what would have happened.
"I didn't bring her here, but even if I had," I start as I make my way to her, "she's a person, not a thing for you curse at. If there was any chance of us reconciling this you have ruined it by how you have spoken." I help her to her feet and I can tell she is frightened by the situation. "It's going to be okay Anna. You're fine." She nods, but she is watching Kristoff very cautiously. I pull my boots back on and fix my trousers.
I take her by the waist and start to lead her out, so I can take her home.
"Yeah, take your little slut home with you Els. God knows how lost that little bitch could get in my forest." I stop walking.
When I turn around he is six inches away from my face. I can see the pain in his eyes and I know these words and these curses are results of that pain.
Only I do not care. She is going to be my partner for life, and that means that I will protect her honor as I hope she will protect mine. I look to her and I can see tears forming, she does not look back at Kristoff though. Her grip on my sleeve tightens and she is longing to leave this place.
I free myself of her for a moment, and I smirk at Kristoff. And then my fist connects with the side of his jaw.