Anaea paced nervously in front of the dining room doors waiting to be announced by Kai. Kai eventually opened the doors and announced her arrival to the Princess and Queen of Arendelle. Anaea did her best to appear in control and graceful, when in actuality her heart was racing and she had to concentrate on not tripping over her own feet.
She was seated on Elsa's right, directly opposite Princess Anna. Anna shot a large grin her way before she introduced herself to the Albionium Captain.
"So, Captain, you have to tell me what's it like in the Army as a woman?" Anna asked as the starter was served.
"To be honest Your Highness, not much different as that of a man in my case. I have proven myself worthy of my rank to my peers and superiors. Occasionally there will be remarks that is guaranteed, but not often anymore."
Anna began her new line of questioning, asking Anaea where she had served, what battles she had fought in, what adventures she had partaken in during her service to the crown. Anaea did her best to answer the Princess whilst keeping her answers appropriate for royalty to listen to. The more gruesome details she kept to herself and she tried to placate the Princess with the wonders she had witnessed rather than the horrors.
Elsa added a few words every now and then during Anna's questioning, curious as to the Captain and her life.
"So, Captain, you got yourself a beau back home?" Anaea almost choked on her wine at Anna's question.
"I do not Your Highness, I regret to inform you that my romantic life is not nearly as exciting as my military one."
Anna hummed in thought at the Captain's response, a devilish smile on her face, "really, no handsome Albionium man waiting for you at home?"
"No, Your Highness, definitely not."
"What about a woman?"
Anaea's eyes widened at that question, whilst it was no secret that she preferred the company of the female sex she did not expect the princess to know that bit of information.
"Oh, no Your Highness, I have not found any woman I would live to spend my life with as yet."
Elsa suspected a change in topic was needed and continued the questioning on the Captain's service. She was secretly very pleased that Anna had asked however, as now she had confirmation that the Captain was a lady's woman, and even though she thought that there was little chance of anything occurring between the two of them, especially considering how interesting the Captain's life was in comparison to her own, that bit of information comforted her somewhat.
After dinner had finished and they moved onto finishing the wine left over Anna sensed now would be an opportune time to leave the two women alone. She excused herself from the table, saying that she was tired after the day's events and wished to retire to bed early. Anaea and Elsa watched the princess go until they returned their gazes to each other, smiling nervously.
"More wine Your Majesty?" Anaea indicated to the almost empty glass, holding the remaining bottle in her hand.
"Please, and when in private I would like it if you called me Elsa rather than Your Majesty."
"If that is what Your Majesty wishes…" Elsa raised her eyebrow at the Captain at the use of her title, "I mean of course, Elsa"
Elsa smiled at the Captain, taking a sip of her wine, "I suppose if you get to call me Elsa, there must be something else I could call you other than Captain Forest."
Elsa already knew the Captain's name she had said it aloud enough today, practicing the way it sounded on her tongue, however, she did not want the Captain to know she had spent almost all day thinking of the other woman and inquiring about her.
"Of course, my friends usually call me Forest."
"I was hoping more of a first name," Elsa said with an amused smile.
Anaea was sure her face resembled a tomato at that moment, of course the Queen meant a first name, she wasn't speaking to a fellow officer this time.
"Oh, sorry Your Maj… Elsa. You may call me Anaea if you wish."
"Anaea, it's a pleasure to properly be introduced."
Anaea chuckled slightly, "yes likewise."
The two women looked into each other's eyes longer than what would be considered proper before Anaea broke the contact.
"So, Elsa, are you not courting at the current moment?"
Elsa shook her head and looked down in frustration.
"I apologise if I spoke out of turn, I meant to offense."
"Oh no it's not that," Elsa took a deep breath and rubbed her temples in thought. "My advisors have been throwing Prince after Prince at me since my coronation and haven't quite got the idea yet that I'm not interested in any man they try to send my way." Elsa did not know what compelled her to divulge this information to the Captain, they had barely known each other, but for some unexplained reason she felt comfortable with the other woman, she trusted her.
"I see, and your council do not know that you are not interested in being with a man?" Anaea wasn't sure if this was the Queen admitting that like herself, she was attracted to women, or she was just admitting she didn't like the men she was faced with for other reasons.
"I don't think it has ever crossed their minds that I would prefer to be with a woman instead." There, she had said it, she had finally admitted what she had always known to another human being. It made it all the more real, having someone else who knew, and she did not know what compelled her to tell Anaea, but she was sure the other woman wouldn't betray her trust and let her secret out.
Anaea herself felt ecstatic at the knowledge that the Queen was indeed like her. She knew there was no way the attraction could be requited, Elsa was far too good for her, but the information made butterflies come to her stomach, and a sense of happy relief flooded her.
"Perhaps one day you will tell them and give them all such a shock that they never broach the subject of marriage again."
The Queen chuckled at Anaea's comment, "we could only hope, if I hear them tell me how lovely such a Prince is from whatever land and how handsome our children would be I may vomit."
"That is one thing I at least do not have to worry about, no one is extremely concerned about my marital status or my bedroom habits."
The conversation between the two women flowed easily from then on, and not before long they had finished their wine, both refused to acknowledge it in case it brought their evening to an end. The clock in the hall chimed 11 o'clock and Elsa looked down at the table disappointed.
"I suppose you had better get back to the barracks, it is late after all and I am aware you have to rise quite early in the morning for drills."
Anaea nodded sadly at the Queen, "unfortunately you are correct, there is no rest for the wicked, even if we technically don't start for another two days."
Elsa found herself in a state of panic, she had to let Anaea go but she didn't want to be out of her company, "would you care to join us again tomorrow night? Tonight was very enjoyable and I find your company pleasurable."
Anaea blushed at the compliment, again wondering if the Queen was indeed flirting with her or just attempting to be nice, "it would be my pleasure Elsa, so long as I am not outstaying my welcome, I too find your company pleasurable," she quickly made up her mind that she would test the waters with the Queen to see if she was right about the flirting, "and it is not often that one receives an invitation to dine with such a beautiful lady."
Elsa blushed at Anaea's comment, a small smile gracing her features, "why thank you Captain, it is not every day that a woman as beautiful as yourself dines with us either."
They shared a meaningful look between each other, it was confirmed that they were indeed both flirting with each other, Anaea was unsure as to what this meant for her or what she should do about it, and Elsa was unsure as to how she was best to react to the knowledge that her attraction to the Captain was apparently not one sided.
"I do regretfully have to leave now, if I stay any longer I must confess I would find it far too difficult to leave at all."
Elsa nodded her head sadly, she too didn't want Anaea to leave but she knew the other woman was right.
"Until tomorrow then."
"Until tomorrow," Anaea looked slightly unsure until she apparently made up her mind, bowed, and placed a gentle kiss on the Queen's hand. With one last smile to the other woman she turned on her heal and began her walk back.