Chapter 1
"You can't be serious!" Kristoff hollered. "The South Beach?!"
"But it has the best view in all Arendelle." Anna replied.
Kristoff shook his head. "Anna, its winter. And the snow is 4 feet deep. Do you have any idea how much work it'll be to clear a space big enough for all the guests?"
"Kristoff, We're only getting married once." Anna returned. "And I want it to be the most memorable thing we ever do. Isn't that worth a little extra effort?"
Elsa and Gerda stood outside Anna's bedroom door listening to Anna and Kristoff planning their wedding, and trying very hard not to break out laughing. This particular topic had been going on for quite some time, and much of the palaces population could hear every word. Some had even questioned if the two should even be married. Seemed like whatever detail one wanted, the other wanted something completely different. All agreed however that Anna and Kristoff were both equally stubborn.
"Perhaps, your majesty," Gerda commented, "Now may be a good time to present them with your offer. Before they injure each other"
"I think you're right." Elsa giggled, knocking on the door. From the other side the verbal onslaught suddenly ceased, followed by Anna responding. "Come in."
Gerda opened the door and walked in, ducking to one side to give the queen a clear path to enter. Then Elsa followed. "Good evening Anna. Kristoff. Still planning?"
"Trying to." Anna replied. "We can't seem to agree on were to have the ceremony."
Elsa sat on the bed. "Maybe I can help. What did you have in mind?"
"Well, I think we should have it outside on the south beach. It's such a beautiful place with lots of room." Anna explained.
"And it's buried under 4 feet of snow." Kristoff added. "I think we should have it in the palace gardens, where we had our first official date."
Elsa commented. "But most of the plants in the garden are dead for the season."
Kristoff thought a moment, as Anna smirked at him.
The Elsa continued. "And the south beach would be a poor choice as well."
"What? Why?" Anna asked.
"The sea ice has pushed up the beach, almost to the tree line." She replied. "There's no feasible way to clear it for an event this big."
Anna's shoulders slumped in defeat. Kristoff didn't waste the opportunity to redeem his pride, returning Anna's earlier smirk. But Elsa couldn't let this war go on.
"I have been thinking about your dilemma, and I think I know the perfect place for both the ceremony and the reception, since the royal chapel is clearly not an option."
"How'd you know that?" Kristoff asked, clearly confused. Gerda was quick to provide an answer. "I'm afraid the two of you were so loud in your discussions that the whole palace could hear."
"The whole palace?" Anna asked, her face turning a bright red.
Elsa giggled, "Maybe not the whole palace. There may be a few people in the blacksmith shop that missed it." Anna and Kristoff both groaned and hid their faces.
Elsa smiled. "Don't worry. You aren't the first couple to have disagreements over wedding plans. It will all be worth it in the end. And as I said, I think I can help if you'll let me."
Anna's smile returned. "I'd like that very much."
"As would I." Kristoff added.
Gerda chuckled, "Finally! Something they agree on!" Elsa giggled, but Anna and Kristoff only shot dirty looks at her.
Then Kristoff asked, "So what did you have in mind, your majesty?"
"Well," Elsa began, "There are many good locations for a wedding in Arendelle. But yours is not a common wedding. And common locations will simply not do. You need a place that not only will you never forget, but no-one else will either. And there's only one place I know of that fits that description."
Elsa stood, facing the couple. "I would consider it a personal honor if you would consider having your marriage ceremony and reception…."
Elsa paused, noting the look of anticipation on the young couples faces, then continued.
"….at my ice palace on the North Mountain."
Anna's face lit up like a firework. Struggling to say anything, she instead threw her arms around her sister. Kristoff even stammered for a moment, then said,
"Are you sure, your majesty? The ice palace is known to be your private home away from home. No-one dares go near it."
"That could be," Anna replied as she released her sister, "because of the 40 foot tall snowman that guards it."
Elsa giggled. "Don't worry about Marshmallow. He obeys my orders." Then, turning to Kristoff, added, "And unless we are performing royal business, you can just call me Elsa. We are family now. Aren't we?"
Kristoff looked to Anna, then back to Elsa, and smiled. "Yes we are, Elsa."
Anna couldn't contain her happiness any longer, and wrapped her arms around both her sister and her fiancé, pulling them into a family hug. Neither one objected.
Gerda wiped a tear from her eye, then commented. "This is so beautiful."
As the hug group separated, Anna giggled.
"Something funny, dear?" Kristoff asked.
Anna answered, "It just occurred to me how much bigger our family just became." She turned to Elsa. "Once we're married, the Trolls will be your relatives as well."
"WHAT?!" Elsa said, her eyes big as dinner plates.
Several hours later, Elsa, Anna and Kristoff were down on the pier, taking in the cool winter air. They had just spent most of the day planning a wedding and, with Elsa's help, had actually decided on everything before dinner ended. Now was the time to relax and let the coordinators take care of setting it all up. All Elsa needed to do was tell Marshmallow of the plans, so he didn't attack anyone. But there was no hurry. It would take a few weeks to get the invites out anyway.
"Wow." Anna stated. "I still can't believe we're actually getting married. That it's really gonna happen. Can you believe it, honey?"
"The way we were at each other's throats this morning, I admit I started to wonder." Kristoff replied. "Elsa, we owe you a lot for your help."
"You would have done fine without me." Elsa smiled
Anna asked, "You seem pretty sure of that."
"Your love for each other is obvious." She replied. "Just because you don't agree all the time doesn't mean you're not right for each other. Besides, if it had been that serious a fight Kristoff, you'd know it."
Kristoff gave Elsa a puzzled look. "I sense some family advice coming."
"Just remember one thing." Elsa added. "Fights with my sister can get rather…heated"
Seeing he was still puzzled, Anna produced a small flame in her hand. Then he understood.
"There is one thing that still bothers me." Anna stated, looking to Elsa.
"What's that?" she replied.
"Everyone attending will have someone special." Anna replied. "Do you have a date for the wedding?"
Elsa stepped back, surprised by her sister's question.
"She has a point, Elsa." Kristoff added. "It just wouldn't be right for you to be standing alone at your sister's wedding. Surely you must have someone in mind."
Elsa had been hit with a tough question, and her mind raced. She had never given any thought to finding a date for herself. And since she was Queen, no man would have the courage to ask her. But then again, she never really needed a love interest. She had an entire kingdom of people she cared for. More importantly, she had Anna. What more did she need?
But now Anna's attention would be drawn to another. And rightfully so. But where would that leave her? Would she be as alone as she was when she first made the ice palace? After everything she'd been through in the last year, that's the last thing she wanted. But she couldn't tell Anna that. This was her time. Hers and Kristoffs. And she didn't want to ruin it for them. She would have to go back to how she was before her coronation. Conceal, Don't Feel. At least, for now.
"You don't worry about me. " She finally answered happily. "This is your time. Yours and your future husbands. Enjoy it."
Kristoff accepted Elsa's reply. But Anna didn't like what she heard. She couldn't explain why, just a bad feeling. But she knew her sister was right. She was about to marry Kristoff. And he was the one she should focus on.
That night, all was dark in the palace. Everyone was sleeping peacefully. Everyone, that is, except Anna. She sat on her balcony, gazing up at the stars, worries for her sister filling her thoughts. Did Elsa feel that she was abandoning her by getting married? Was she doing so? Kristoff would become the center of her life, after all. But that didn't mean Elsa would be pushed out of her life. Or did it? Now she wasn't sure.
As she continued looking up at the stars, her gaze caught sight of a shooting star tearing across the sky, leaving a bright light trail behind it. Instantly she closed her eyes, crossed her fingers and said, "I wish…..for someone special for my sister to love."