Whoa, hey there. Been a while. Uhm, so here's another chapter. *slowly slides chapter 14 towards you*
Erm, we're really seeing the beginnings of the overall plot here. Yep.
More Elsanna fluff for you too.
*slinks back into the darkness, a faint voice calling*
Another chapter sooner this time around...
Mending An Icy Break
- Chapter 14 -
It was half past nine when the letter arrived in Lüztunel, a letter which bared the wax pressed seal of the kingdom of Arendelle.
The sentry stood at full attention as the letter carrier handed off the fateful message, and when the old sentry's eyes took in the sight of a crocus, encased between two growing vines, set in deep maroon substance, he knew this was the letter Queen Edith had been awaiting.
With a curt bow of his head, the sentry hurriedly took his leave. He entered through the west wing of the stone castle, where his heavy boots and buckles could be heard clanking as he strode over polished marble floors. In a matter of minutes following the letter's arrival, the sentry was passing it through the doors to the royal chambers.
Queen Edith, along with her Royal Advisor, Conner–a man whom she'd employed some thirty years ago–sat in the queen's tea room. The monarch, though aged and greying, had done so with poise, dignity and beauty. Her hair, which had once flowed well past her shoulders, a deep russet, had long since bleached and become thin and white. Now tightly bound back in a bun, her face was completely visible; her eyes a deep shade of blue, which had darkened considerably over years of hardship, stress and turmoil, encased by thinning black lashes; her skin, pale and near ivory, was weathered and wrinkled, with signs of wisdom and experience painted across her elderly features.
She was seated in a large, high back chair, which was wooden and carved decoratively with plump cushions baring the colours of Lüztunel–red and yellow. Across from her, with a small table between them, sat Conner; a man very much her junior, easily fifteen years younger than the ruling monarch herself, his hair had only just begun the early stages of greying. The evidence of thick ebony strands still visible, which complimented the man's sharp features–a square jaw, pronounced nose, and piercing emerald eyes–and made him quite handsome, despite his withdrawn demeanour.
"Your Majesty," One of the guardsmen spoke through the wooden door, "your letter has arrived from Arendelle."
Edith set her tea cup down onto a small plate with the faintest clink. "Do bring it here then," She called.
The doors opened slowly, and the sentry entered, bowing deeply before extending his hand wordlessly and offering the letter to his queen. "Here you are, Your Majesty, word from Arendelle." Conner, without instruction, took the letter from the sentry.
"You may take your leave," He spoke, voice low and smooth, as he dismissed the man before them.
"Yes, sir," The sentry gave another deep bow and turned, leaving the room as the doors closed behind him. Diligently, Conner made quick work with the letter opener, freeing the message within. At first glance, it appeared disconcerting short. 'Perhaps Queen Elsa is not one for lengthy letters,' the advisor thought to himself as his eyes began to scan the delicately written words.
Queen Edith sat patiently, her gaze flickering between the massive open bay windows and the backside of the letter in Conner's hands. Her brow quirked when she noticed the not too subtle way the man's fingers tightened against the page, or the way his brow knit and his eyes narrowed.
"Well then, Conner," The queen squawked, "out with it. Has Arendelle accepted our proposal?" Conner hesitated, never a good sign.
"No, Your Majesty," His voice was grim, "it seems that Queen Elsa has rejected our proposal, and Princess Anna will not be accepting your son's hand in marriage."
There was a silence that overtook them; Conner kept his eyes on the paper, and Queen Edith turned to stare out the window. "Rejected," The elderly woman spoke suddenly, glowering. "Does the letter give reason why? Was a proposal from another kingdom accepted in our place?" Conner cleared his throat.
"No, Your Majesty, it does not say such a thing."
"Then there is no reason for the rejection," She clarified. "Does Arendelle need convincing? Do you think we should show their kingdom why they should have accepted our proposal?" Conner set the letter down on the table, standing and bowing his head.
"I will make arrangements, Your Majesty." The queen hummed.
"Yes, do that."
"C'mon, Elsa," Anna tugged at her sister's hand, using their entwined fingers to her advantage as she practically dragged the queen down the grand staircase. "C'mon, c'mon!"
"Not so loud, Anna," Elsa laughed, using her free hand to lift her dress enough so as to not step on the icy fabric. "You're shouting."
"I'm excited!" Anna chirruped, bouncing down the last ten steps, releasing Elsa's hand to whirl around. A wide grin was plastered over the redhead's face, and her eyes were alight with unbridled enthusiasm. "Let's have a quick snack before we go to the garden."
"Alright," The blonde took the last few steps gracefully, releasing her dress as she stepped to ground level, folding her hands together in front of her body. "What would you like to eat?" Anna hummed thoughtfully.
"We could eat some chocolates, or cake." She suggested, adjusting the cape of her winter dress, before fixing the hat atop her head.
"Neither of those things are food, at least not for a meal; they're desserts."
"Let's have dessert then," Anna beamed, "dessert is more fun." Elsa couldn't help but smile.
"I suppose it's alright," She relented, "so long as you eat a proper dinner."
"Have dinner with me and you'll know for sure I do." Anna proposed while swaying on her heels with her hands clasped behind her back. The blonde queen hummed as she walked past her younger sister, heading towards the kitchens.
"I'm not sure if I want to subject myself to your table etiquette again," Elsa teased over her shoulder, hiding her cheeky smirk. The redhead puffed her cheeks indignantly, following after the blonde until they were side by side, walking at the same pace.
"I'm sure you'll be fine," The redheaded princess insisted, turning her head to watch her sister's stoic expression, "besides, I know you'll do it anyway."
Elsa turned her head slightly. "Will I?"
"Yes." Anna affirmed.
"And why is that?"
"Because you love me," Anna countered, and Elsa could feel the corners of her lips twitch, begging to grow into a smile.
"It seems you've got me there, dear sister," Elsa crooned, walking through the open doorways leading into the central kitchen. One of the hand maidens was collecting dried plates to put away when she noticed the presence of the queen and princess. Setting her armful of dishes down, she scurried over and dipped into a low crusty before rising up.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness," She bowed to each sister respectively, "is there anything I could do for you? The chefs are on their break, and it is only I and two other assistants that are managing the kitchens at the moment."
"Princess Anna and I were hoping to get something quickly so that we could head out to the gardens for the afternoon," Elsa spoke, her voice was even and practiced.
"Ah, of course!" The maiden bounced, looking around contemplatively.
"We were actually looking for something sweet," Anna intervened, eyes bright and focused, "maybe some chocolates or pastries?" The maiden took pause as she thought.
"I believe we have some freshly baked krumkake, but it's still quite hot–"
"That'll be perfect," Anna chirped, "could we get some packed up with chocolates?"
With a small nod, the maiden replied a quick "Of course, Your Highness," and then moved around the counter. Heading towards the ovens to retrieve the krumkake, collected a woven basket, and wrap up the still steaming desserts. Once wrapped up tenderly, they were placed inside the basket, along with a box of assorted chocolates, and were handed back to the princess.
"Thank you," the ginger princess smiled gratefully, looping her arm through the handle of the basket, keeping it at her side. The maiden once again curtsied as Elsa and Anna took their leave.
"You make it look so easy," Elsa commented as the girls walked towards the eastern exit, the direction to the entrance of the gardens.
"Make what look easy?" Anna blinked, turning her attention away from peaking inside the basket.
"Talking, socializing," The blonde queen clarified, "you make it seem so easy."
"Well, it is," The redhead replied, "you just, you know, open your mouth and speak." Elsa giggled, raising her hands to her lips.
"I realize that," She assured, "it just seems to come so naturally to you."
"I like to talk." Anna reasoned as they exited through the massive corridor entrance, stepping outside into the wintery wonderland around them. As soon as they stepped from the warmth of the castle behind them, into the chill of the cold in front, Anna could see her breath misting out from her lips.
"I'd noticed," Elsa gave a lopsided smile, "it's rather cute." Anna turned to her sister, her cheeks warming slightly against the cold. She found her eyes falling on Elsa's lips, for entirely innocent reasons, as she noticed then that Elsa's breath wasn't showing in the brisk cold around them. Quickly, she turned her head away, not wanting to stare.
"Thank you," She murmured shyly, tucking a strand back under her hat, around her ear.
"You are welcome," Elsa smiled, walking through the large gateway leading into the Royal Gardens.
The normally vibrant, colourful and foliage filled gardens were currently blanketed under a thick layer of snow. Much to most of the castle staff's chagrin; prior to the reopening of the gates, the gardens had been likewise closed, and over years of neglect, were in a state of much needed repair and attention.
Once the gates to Arendelle Castle had reopened, however, the garden was one of the first sections to receive a complete reconstruction. It had, initially, been brought about by Anna's suggestion. The bright, colourful, decorative nature of the garden she–and, of course, Elsa–remembered from their childhoods had made the desire to see it back in its former glory all the more wished for by the princess.
When winter later rolled around three months following the Great Thaw, the queen had noticed that many of her staff, and her beloved younger sister, seemed sullen and disheartened by the departure of their beloved flowers and plants. So, in order to raise spirits, the blonde turned their flower garden into an ice one.
It began with a few small, yet highly detailed, ice sculptures. The few soon became several, and after a week the garden was booming with nearly a hundred ice sculptures, ranging from small and mundane, to grand and awe-inspiring. Mind you, in their own way, all were quite impressive. At least Arendelle's official Ice Master and Deliverer seemed to think so. Although Elsa needed to push from her mind the way he cried upon visiting Arendelle's newly founded 'Ice Gardens'.
"Let's go over here," Anna called, stepping through the fresh layer of snow, her boots crunching the fluffy powder beneath her feet. Elsa followed, her steps near silent, as she appeared to gracefully glide over the snow like some sort of angelic spirit of winter–at least that was how Anna would describe it, if anyone asked.
"Where would you like to sit?" The blonde eyed her younger sibling, watching as Anna cast her gaze all around, looking for a clear place.
"I'm not sure," Anna murmured, "all the sitting areas are covered in snow," Elsa walked up to her sister's side, "and even if we brushed the snow off it'd still be wet–" the blonde smiled, raising her hand, and, with a wave of it, caused the snow on a nearby bench to slide off, leaving the seat completely clear. "–Oh, right," Anna giggled, turning to face Elsa, "snow and ice powers."
"Mhmm," Elsa hummed, moving to the stone bench, and tucking her cape in carefully as she sat. Her impossibly blue eyes rose up, meeting hesitant aquamire, and she smiled sweetly. "Come sit," She spoke softly; her words were far from a command, and her tone seemed so different from the one she had used earlier with the handmaiden, or any time she spoke authoritatively with another, for that matter.
Anna's eyes caught the movement of her sister's right hand in her peripherals, which was lightly patting the space beside her on the stone seat. "Oh, uhm, right," The redhead quickly scurried over and took her seat next to Elsa, lifting the basket up and setting it down on her lap. "Here, let's eat. Are you hungry? I mean, I assume you are…"
Elsa giggled again, her hand once more at her lips. "Yes, I am," She smiled fondly, her eyes on nothing but Anna. The redhead took notice, and nearly shrank under the intensity of the gaze, though part of her also enjoyed holding the queen's attention as she so wholly appeared to do.
"What do you want first?" Anna inquired softly, partially mesmerized by Elsa's icy blue orbs.
"Hmm, whichever you'd like to have first," Elsa answered without skipping a beat, and never once breaking eye contact with her younger sibling.
"Okay," Anna was fidgeting, but still somehow managed to tug the box of chocolates out, popping the tin open. "Do you like certain chocolates more than others?"
"I'm not picky," The blonde queen replied.
She was far too accommodating, it made Anna nervous.
What if she picked the wrong chocolate? What if Elsa doesn't like hazelnuts, or almonds!? What if– "Anna?" Elsa blinked quizzically, watching the inner turmoil her younger sister was facing, which flashed beneath the deep teal of her wide eyes.
"Yes?" Anna squeaked, shooting upright into a stiff seated position. "I mean, y-yes?" Elsa quirked a brow at the peculiar behaviour.
"Are you alright?" Anna breathed.
"Yes, just…nervous?" Elsa's confidence wavered a bit.
"Nervous? Why?" She asked softly. Anna turned her head at the sudden drop in volume and quickly raised her hands to cup Elsa's cheeks.
"N-NO! Not because of you–well, yeah, kind of…but not for the reason you might be thinking!" Elsa's brow knit in confusion, though her cheeks tinted slightly in her sister's warm grasp. Why were her palms so hot?
"Maybe explain?" Elsa ventured, eyes flickering.
"I, well," Anna gnawed at her lower lip for a moment, "I'm just…I don't want to be a screw up. I mean, I don't want to screw up. I want to make sure I do everything right." Elsa freed herself from her sister's grip and straightened her back.
"What do you think you're going to do wrong?"
"Ugh, I don't know," Anna threw her arms up in frustration, "maybe something small, like pick the wrong dessert for you, or give you a chocolate you don't like." The blonde queen blinked for a moment, her eyes widening somewhat in realization.
Anna was worried she'd do something wrong, worried that she'd damage their newly founded relationship. "I just," The redhead murmured lowly, "I can't lose you again. I know it's silly to think it'd happen over something like chocolate, but chocolate is serious buis–"
Elsa silenced those words, and those vile thoughts, by pressing her lips to her sister's. Anna was stunned, at first, but quickly melted into the kiss. It was warm, but also cold, which seemed to mix surprisingly well. Anna's hands gripped at the basket, practically strangling the woven container.
Elsa, on the other hand, raised one hand and tentatively touched it to Anna's freckled cheek, stroking the swell of it with her fingers as though it were some delicate flower, fragile to the touch. Her touch.
When the kiss finally broke, Anna was still left completely stunned, and fairly certain her brain had stopped functioning altogether.
"I don't want you to worry about things like that," Elsa turned, resting her head on Anna's shoulder, while hooking her arms around Anna's own. "Please, just, be yourself."
Once her brain kicked back into gear, the redhead replied. "That's what you want?" Elsa smiled.
"It's all I've ever wanted."