Chapter 8
"I can't believe it! My boy really does have a pair in his scrotum!" Eli cheered.
"Ah shut up, its not even a date!" Marcus said.
"Listen, she asked you to dinner, just the two of you!" Eli said. "Can you pinch me, I think I really did get killed the other day."
"I'll whack you in the gut if it helps." Marcus said making a fist. "Damn what do I talk about?"
"Alright heres what I have learned thus far. One, woman love compliments! Don't push it though or you'll look a like a pervert. Two, women love men with hygiene, so make sure you wash out that rotten egg smell." Eli said.
"Hey!" Marcus said.
"Three, woman love confident men. Just don't be a wuss and you'll do great!" Eli said.
"Oh what would I ever do without you?" Marcus said rolling his eyes.
"You can't be serious your majesty!" Duke Sigurd said.
"I am Duke." Elsa replied.
"But but you're a Queen! He's just a soldier and it he isn't even a soldier in our army!" Sigurd said.
"He saved my life and my sisters life and put his life on the line to defend our country." Elsa snapped. "Why can't I show appreciation?"
"Because your highness, it just isn't right!" Sigurd said. "Don't get me wrong, he is a wonderful young man, General Grant spoke highly of him but he isn't royalty!"
"I don't care." Elsa said. "We are not getting married, I am simply inviting him to dinner as a token of my appreciation!"
"Even if that is the case he is still a boy! He's only seventeen!" Sigurd yelled. "Rumors will start!"
"I'll have you know Duke that while we were in hidden in our safe room Marcus was out there fighting a battle that wasn't his for us! If that isn't a quality of a man than I don't know what it is! I will discuss no more of this subject." Elsa yelled.
"Very well your highness." Sigurd said as he exited the room. Elsa could not see what the big deal was, wasn't she allowed to be seen with who she wanted? Elsa stopped thinking about, she didn't want anything spoiling this night. Elsa was stuck on what she should wear. She could either wear a simple commoner dress and a hood to avoid being noticed as queen or simply show up in an elegant gown. Elsa decided with the former as she wanted to enjoy the evening and didn't want people coming up to her. Plus, she wanted Marcus to see her for who she was, not just a queen. Elsa pulled out a simple green dress with overall strappings. Underneath was a white long sleeve corset. The dress went down to her ankles and she put on simple black shoes. That left the issue of her hair, no matter how she dressed the people of Arendelle knew her face. Elsa decided to wear it down with no braids at all and just let it loose. She made her hair so that it covered on of her eyes. She avoided putting on any kind of make up. When she was done she did not look regal at all but a simple commoner. She found it funny how normally tried to look their best in front of a man they liked yet she was doing the opposite. She strode out of her room for Anna to see.
"Wow you look... amazing!" Anna said. "You look cute with your hair down like that."
"Really? It's kind of annoying the way it gets in the eyes." Elsa said. "Would you recognize me if you saw me on the street?"
"Hmmm." Anna said examining her sister. "It's just the hair, oh I know!" Anna said as she ran into her room. Elsa heard the sound of drawers slamming and opening and rustling of clothes as they hit the ground. "Here it is!" She heard Anna call as she came back out with a sun hat and placed it on Elsa's head. Elsa looked in the mirror, the hat was green in color so it matched her dress. It also had a cloth hanging down the back and sides that tied up into a knot in the back thus completely covering her hair.
"There we go! No one will know its you unless you freeze something!" Anna said.
"Do you think he will like it?" Elsa asked nervously.
"Of course he will! And if not then he isn't worth your time anyway." Anna said. Elsa smiled and made her way out the door.
"Good luck!" Anna called as Elsa exited the castle and entered the courtyard. The disguise worked as she walked past her guards and none said a word to her. It was six thirty when Elsa saw a familiar man riding on a stallion up to the castle. He immediately caught her eye, his usually dirty skin and hair now neatly cleaned and groomed. His blonde hair was pulled pack into a pony tail. His clothes clung tightly to his broad shoulders and barrel chest. His teeth free of any grime or spots. His uniform washed and pressed. He looked so majestic being on top a horse. Elsa felt under dressed but was so focused on Marcus she didn't care.
"Excuse me ma'am do you have the time?" Marcus asked her. Elsa giggled at him for not being able to see through her disguise.
"Its me Marcus." Elsa whispered.
"What? Why are you all hidden and stuff?" He asked.
"I don't want to be crowded tonight, just call me Analise." Elsa said referring to the name she gave her favorite doll when she was a child.
"Very well Analise." Marcus said. "Do you need help mounting this horse?"
"I may, this dress isn't very flexible." Elsa said. Marcus grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her up. Elsa felt electricity shoot through her as he placed his hands on her. Oh it felt so good. After she was on the horse he jumped up and grabbed the reins.
"Lets go boy." Marcus said as the horse began to move forward slowly.
"Where did you get the horse?" Elsa asked.
"General Johanssen lent him to me as an apology for the fight today." Marcus said. "So where do you wanna go?"
"I know a place. Keep going forward till you come to a corner than turn left." Elsa said.
"You got it." Marcus said as he guided the horse forward. He thought back to what Eli said about what women like, he got the hygiene down, now he just needed confidence and compliments.
"That is a very nice dress." Marcus said causing Elsa to blush.
"Thank you, you look very handsome." Elsa said back. So this is what it felt like to be normal. No royal duties, no magical powers, no crazy sister waking you up at five in the morning. She could get use to this.
"Is this is? Marcus asked. "B-B-Beegorn-Bejorn- I give up!"
"Bjorngolf." Elsa said giggling. "Yes it is."
"Looks decent." Marcus said dismounting the horse. He held out his hand for Elsa, Elsa grabbed a hold of his hand as he helped her down. Again his touch sending shivers up her spine. Marcus brought the horse to a pole and tied him there. Marcus and Elsa walked into the tavern where the smell of cod and venison made Marcus' mouth water. They found an empty table and walked over. Marcus pulled out Elsa's chair for her before taking his own seat.
"So, what do you recommend?" Marcus asked.
"The baked cod is very good, its my favorite." Elsa said.
"Baked cod, sounds delicious." Marcus said as a woman came up to them.
"What can I get you today?" She asked.
"Baked cod ma'am." Elsa said.
"Me too." Marcus said.
"Alright, it'll be out in a bit." The woman said walking away.
"What it like Marcus?" Elsa asked.
"What?" Marcus replied.
"America, I've heard so much about it but I've never actually been there." Elsa said.
"Depends on where you live." Marcus said. "I grew up on a farm in Illinios, the plains are absolutely beautiful until tornadoes come in of course"
"I've always wanted to travel there, I heard the appalachian mountains are beautiful in the fall." Elsa said.
"They are, I trekked through their once on the way to a battle." Marcus said. "You got quite a view here though with the mountains and the ocean."
"Oh I love the ocean, its so beautiful." Elsa said.
"Me too, it reminds me of your eyes." Marcus said.
"Oh thank you!" Elsa said blushing. Marcus smiled, he got her to blush! The two exchanged small talk and questions about each other for the next fifteen minutes resulting in laughter and smiles.
"Okay my turn for a question." Marcus asked. "Um, favorite food?"
"Chocolate." Elsa said. "Favorite queen?"
"Hmmm, I'd have to go with Queen of England for that one." Marcus said laughing. Elsa playfully smacked his hand.
"Your cod." The woman who took their order said coming out with two plates of steaming cod and vegetables. Marcus and Elsa both put napkins on the laps before eating. Marcus than took his silverware and prepared to divine in before he heard Elsa call his name.
"Marcus." Elsa said holding her hands together for prayer.
"Oh right! I forgot!" Marcus said making the sign of the cross and thanking God for his meal. After he prayed he took his silverware and took a chunk of fish and bit into it. His eyes widened at the amazing taste.
"Oh that is good." Marcus said making Elsa laugh. Elsa couldn't stop smiling, after so many years of isolation and now she had someone to talk to, to laugh with, to love. Wait what was that last one? Its only been a few days for heaven's sake! How could she love him already? Sure she had Anna and Olaf but this was much different. The two finished their meal and Marcus went to go pay.
"The lady already got it." The man at the bar said.
"You little devil." Marcus said putting his coin sac away. Elsa looked away and pretended to be innocent. The two walked out of the tavern and hopped back onto the horse.
"Its only seven fifteen." Marcus said. "Do you want me to take you back?"
"Could we spend a little more time together?" Elsa asked.
"Of course." Marcus said as he guided the horse forward. Elsa wrapped her arms around Marcus' stomach and rested her head on his shoulder. Marcus stiffened immediately. He could feel Elsa's heart beating on his back. It felt so nice to have her this close. The two rode up a cliff where the sun was beginning to set. Marcus helped Elsa off the horse and the two sat together watching the sun disappear over the horizon. This time though Marcus held onto Elsa's hand the whole time. Elsa felt her heart beat faster and faster as the two sat in silence together. Elsa finally worked up the courage to ask him what she had meaning to.
"Marcus?" Elsa asked softly.
"Yes?" He replied.
"Do you, do you like me?" Elsa asked. Marcus felt his heart stop. He didn't want a repeat of the other night so he answered truthfully this time.
"Yes, I do like you. When I am with you I feel happy." Marcus said turning to look at her. He was caught off guard when she threw herself on him and pushed her lips against his. Marcus kept his eyes open in shock at first but then closed them as he return her kiss. The two felt frozen in time in the magical moment. When they finally parted Marcus had a goofy smile on his face.
"Well, that was nice." Marcus said. "Was that your first kiss?"
"Yes." Elsa said.
"Mine too and it was a damn good one." Marcus said. Elsa leaned in to kiss him again. She felt her urges starting to kick in and she began to kiss more aggressively. Her tongue and lips spreading her saliva all over his lips and underneath his nose. She pulled his face as close as she could as she practically ate his face off.
"Elsa." She heard a muffled voice call. "Elsa." She was so in the moment she didn't even acknowledge the voice.
"ELSA!" He yelled. This got Elsa's attention as she got off of him.
"Is something wrong?" Elsa said worried.
"Yeah, I couldn't breathe." Marcus said wiping her saliva off his face. Elsa flushed red at her primal behavior.
"I'm sorry, I just lost control." She said.
"So did I, I just happened to run out of air first." Marcus chuckled. Elsa smiled as she wrapped her arms around him and lay a more gentle kiss on his lips this time. Elsa ran her fingers on his solid arms and chest. She fantasized about seeing his with his shirt off. She rested her head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. For once in her life, Elsa felt safe and secure.
"I think its time we got you back." Marcus said.
"Five more minutes?" Elsa asked.
"Its past your bedtime young lady." Marcus said laughing as he helped her up onto the horse before mounting himself. The horse entered town again and Marcus dropped Elsa off a block away from her castle so she wouldn't be seen.
"Good night." Marcus said kissing her on the cheek.
"Good night." She said as Marcus rode off. Elsa felt like she could fly as she practically danced all the way to the castle. She pulled off her hat and put her hair back in a braid as she approached the guards who escorted her back inside. Elsa floated to her bed and held onto her pillow as if it was Marcus. She had sweet dreams that night