A/N: Finally! Freedom! Midterm season is over and my school is on its spring break.
*New Note: Also, if anybody leaves criticism, I prefer that it be constructive. I would really appreciate that you guys do not only point out flaws like grammatical errors and not give me examples of such errors because then I don't have the chance to fix these errors and such comments can be very disheartening when an author wants to improve their writing and they feel like their readers are keeping in the dark. I encourage constructive criticism as long as you guys elaborate on certain concerns you have with a particular chapter.
Elsa and Anna arrived just outside the dining hall ten minutes before seven. Elsa gently pulled away from Anna's hand and turned toward her.
"Anna."
"Yes, Elsa?"
"Before we enter the dining hall, I think we need to lay down some ground rules."
"What is it?"
"First, do not lunge at Princess Karen. She's still our guest and we need to treat her with respect."
Anna crossed her arms with a slight pout on her face. "Fine."
"Second, let me handle the talking when I bring the subject of how you and Karen don't agree on certain things."
"Fine."
"Third, behave yourself. Even if your frustration towards Karen is justified, do not act upon it."
"Fine."
"Finally," Elsa paused before placing her right hand on Anna's shoulder. She locked eyes with her sister. Anna dropped her guard and allowed her arms to go limp at her sides. Her mouth was slightly agape. After a little while she closed her mouth and gulped. "Yes, Elsa?"
"Finally, try to enjoy yourself. You do not need to act like a martyr like you did back in the tea parlor."
"But I-"
"Ssh…Let me finish."
Anna gave her sister an apologetic nod.
"No matter how I may feel about you at the time being or how busy I may be with my duties as Queen of Arendelle, know that I will always love you and I'll always put you as my top priority. You will always come first, so don't forget that."
Absolutely stunned, Anna simply and silently nodded to her sister.
Elsa cracked a smile. "Good. I'm glad we have an understanding."
The platinum blonde beauty removed her hand from her sister's shoulder and offered it for the younger girl to reclaim it.
"Shall we conquer this obstacle together?"
Anna nodded once again. Elsa smiled and reached her hand out to grab Anna's, but Anna had a different idea. She propelled herself toward Elsa and enveloped her sister in a warm hug. Elsa was frozen in shock. Anna buried her face into her sister's right shoulder and rubbed her sister's shoulder blades in gentle strokes. Elsa carefully shifted her head away from her sister's head resting her chin on the redhead's shoulder.
"Anna?"
No vocal answer. The only response she got was the feeling of warm arms wrapping tighter around her slender figure. Elsa wasn't sure what Anna wanted to convey in the hug since she was confident they had patched things up between them. While hesitant, Elsa lifted her arms up and wrapped them around her sister's body not wanting to give off the wrong message.
Before long, Anna removed herself from Elsa's body and kept her sister at arm's length with her hands placed on her shoulders and a smile shined on her face. Elsa gave her a questioning look.
"Anna, is there something you want to tell me?"
Anna's smile turned into a lopsided one. She just shook her head. Elsa looked into her sister's eyes trying to figure out what her intention was through the hug. Then she saw it. Her features softened and a smile that equaled Anna's made itself known on Elsa's face. She knew. She understood. Anna conveyed every emotion and memory in the hug. She most importantly conveyed the feeling of sorrow, forgiveness, relief, and happiness not just for their latest misunderstanding, but also for the time they lost of the course of thirteen merciless years separating them as sisters. Elsa reached out with her hand and heart and gently stroked Anna's left cheek. Just for a brief moment though. Then she dropped her hand at her side. Anna dropped her hands from her sister's shoulders and grabbed the hand that stroked her cheek.
"Let's face this together."
Elsa allowed a small a laugh to escape her lips. "I would hope so."
Anna smiled. That was all she needed to hear her sister say to find new confidence in herself and in her relationship with her sister. She gave her sister's hand a small squeeze before returning her gaze at the double doors in front of them. Elsa looked at the doors for a short moment before moving forward and guiding her and Anna through the doors to make it to the dining hall.
Once inside, the pair of royal sisters were greeted with the sight of their five guests. They were waiting patiently for them. On the right side from the head of the table stood Kristoff and Princess Kirsten and on the opposite side stood King Frederick, Queen Isabella, and Princess Karen. All of them stood either behind or beside the chairs they would sit down in. The head of the table was reserved for Elsa while the chair on its immediate right was reserved for Anna.
As they walk closer to their guests, Elsa subtly slips her hand out of Anna's and stands beside her chair to wait for Anna to join the group at the table. In a ceremonious fashion, Elsa silently surveys the group before delicately pulling out her chair and sitting down giving everyone else the go-ahead to join her at the table seated. Anna quickly joins her sister at her side and the others are not too far behind her. Once everyone is seated, an awkward silence fills the room before Elsa takes the opportunity to ease the situation.
"So, how did you all spend the rest of your day?"
Kristoff, who was seated next to Anna, looked on his right to face Kirsten. Then he glanced back at Elsa.
"Princess Kirsten and I went and saw the portraits in the gallery."
Anna perked up at the mention of one her favorite rooms to visit in the castle.
"Oh, really? What paintings did you guys look at?"
Kirsten cleared her throat before looking at Anna.
"We saw most of them, Princess Anna, but Kristoff and I lingered a little longer observing your favorite paintings."
"Oh?"
"Yes. I could see why they would be your favorite, especially Joan. She's quite the character."
"Yes, she is."
Elsa stole a glance in the direction of the king and queen and their youngest daughter.
"What did you two do after tea, King Frederick and Queen Isabella?"
King Frederick and Queen Isabella looked…uncharacteristically bashful. Elsa could tell that they must feel uncomfortable about the whole ordeal that transpired in the tea parlor. Elsa thought it was best to let the royal couple go and focused her attention on Karen.
"Princes Karen, did you do anything between tea time and now?"
"I took time to reflect my life and rested a bit in my room. Kirsten and I have exchanged a few words promising to spend time together either before or after dinner."
"Have you spent time with your sister yet?"
"No."
Karen dropped her head down and stared at her hands folded in her lap. Elsa saw this and could sense the young princess' discomfort and unease. She also could tell that the air was thick with tension and wanted to dispel as much as possible of it.
"Anyone hungry?"
No eager vocalizations of such a suggestion. Elsa looked around and only saw nods of the head or shrugs of the shoulders except for one person: Anna.
"I think it would do us some good to eat something!"
Elsa turned her attention to her sister's enthusiastic reaction taking in the glimmer of her eyes and smile. Elsa could feel Anna's warmth and energy rub off her infecting her with the feeling of happiness.
"Already then. Maybe things will lighten up once we have something inside us. Perhaps the mere sight of food and drink will prompt people to become more sociable."
Elsa gestured for the servants to bring out the food and drink.
For the majority of the meal, silence permeated from the thick air. Every once and a while either Elsa or Anna would initiate a conversation and would be reciprocated for a short time before the second party ran out of words to say and the conversation would be left to wither and die. During secret moments, miniature groups would form and have conversations with each other: King Frederick and Queen Isabella would have talk to each other with their eyes, Kristoff and Kirsten would whisper to each other or Anna would occasionally tap at Elsa's shoulder and whisper a significant observation or suggest a prompt for dinner discussion and vice versa. Those moments were the exception to the silence. By desert, though, things changed.
Anna scooped a piece of decadent chocolate cake onto her fork and slipped into her mouth as delicately as she could. Watching her sister eat made Anna wonder how she make it seem that each bite of food that she consumed with grace and vigor could seem like it floated on soft angel wings in her sister's mouth. Anna hardly found it fair how graceful Elsa could be in everything she did. She understood that her sister had born heir to the throne and thus was brought up in way so she prepared to act as sole ruler of the kingdom, but even still Anna found it mesmerizing how Elsa cared herself like she went above and beyond that was expected of her from their parents. Wanting to be more like her sister, Anna tried to imitate Elsa as she watched her swallow her piece of chocolate cake. Anna tried to copy her sister's actions, but the piece of chewed chocolate cake went down the way. An inward cough escaped Anna's lips. She reached for her glass of water, but saw there hardly enough to sooth the pain and help dislodge the chocolate cake stuck in her windpipe. With one hand pressed on her clavicle, Anna tried her best not to choke while breathing.
"Could someone please pass me some water?"
Everyone's eyes were on Anna.
"Anna, what happened?"
Anna meekly looked at Elsa.
"Part of my chocolate cake went down the wrong way."
Elsa looked frantically for a water pitcher and found only one and it was located in the middle of the group on the table. Elsa could care less if the protocol was for servants to serve them at the table for anything they needed, she was determined to get her sister some water. Just before she could make a move to rise from her chair to retrieve the water pitcher, a voice broke her concentration and she stayed put.
"Maybe I could be of assistance."
Both Anna and Elsa whipped their heads in the direction of Princess Karen. She gulped as she could feel everyone's eyes on her, especially Elsa and Anna's eyes. Anna was about to protest, but Elsa silently stopped her by placing a hand on her shoulder. Karen took a deep breath and focused on the water inside the pitcher that was too far for most people to reach. She concentrated deeply on the water and in the next moment she lifted her hand and a significant amount of water lifted with it. She steadied her hold on the water and willed it across the table and into Anna's glass.
Anna gasped. She was in shock. Was Karen attempting to offer an olive branch? She couldn't decipher her motives for the time being. She recognized that she and Karen had to talk, but she hadn't built up the nerve to do so. She had planned to have a word with Karen later, but for now she would accept the water that Karen willed into her glass as she desperately needed it. Carefully removing her hand from her chest, Anna reached over and grasped the glass in front of her and lifted it to her lips. She took three generous gulps of water before she could feel the chocolate cake dislodge and slid down her throat relieving the pain. Karen's voice shook with uncertainty.
"Are you all right now, Princess Anna?"
Anna had to admit that Karen had relieved the pain in her throat, but that didn't excuse her from her previous actions. She resolved that she most certain talk to her before her family returned to Denmark. For the time being, though, she would pardon Karen and thank her because she owed her that much.
"Yes. Thank you for asking, Princess Karen. I feel much better thanks to you willing the water into my glass. I appreciate the gesture."
"You're welcome, Princess Anna. I hope we can come to terms about the day's previous events. Perhaps after dinner?"
"Perhaps. We'll see."
Elsa looked back and forth between Anna and Karen. She could see the fire and suspicion in her sister's eyes and the confusion in Karen's. She decided to prevent Anna from doing anything rash.
"Well, I am impressed with your use of you powers, Princess Karen."
Karen looked over at Elsa.
"Thank you, Queen Elsa. It's all thanks to your tutelage that I was able to control my powers."
Elsa playfully nudged Anna in the shoulder to play along. "Don't you think Princess Karen has done well, Anna?"
"Yes, Elsa."
Elsa inwardly smiled. She knew that Anna still had unresolved issues with Princess Karen, but at least she was on her best behavior for the sake of getting through the evening with little to no altercations.
"Maybe the four of can take an evening walk afterwards."
Karen looked at Elsa straight in the eye. "The four of us?"
"Yes. Anna, myself, you, and your sister, Princess Kirsten. I believe it would do us good if we were around each other all at once. Of course, after you and Princes Kirsten find some time to spend with each other. If you're still interested, Princess Karen, your sister and you can find Anna and myself and we'll adjourn to the garden for an evening walk."
"That sounds lovely."
Karen turns to face her sister from across the table. "What do you think, Kirsten?"
"I don't see the harm in doing so."
Then Karen felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to face her mother on her right.
"I think it will do you young ladies some good. Maybe you will put this all behind you and move past any misunderstandings that passed by you."
"I suppose so, mother."
"So, are we at an agreement?"
All three young women locked their focus on the platinum blonde beauty.
"Yes", Karen and Kirsten chorused.
Elsa looked over at Anna with hope in her eyes. Anna looked between Kirsten and Karen and then back at Elsa. She took a moment to deliberate the possible outcomes of such a decision. She gave Elsa an affirmative nod of the head.
"It's fine with me."
"Perfect. Princess Karen and Princess Kirsten, Anna and I hope you two will talk with each other sometime after dinner before joining us in the garden."
Kirsten smiled at Elsa. "Of course, Queen Elsa."
A comfortable silence fell over the group and they finished their dessert without another event. Afterwards, the places were cleared and napkins were placed on the table. King Frederick smiled gratefully at Elsa.
"Thank you for a wonderful meal, Queen Elsa."
"Oh, it's nothing. Just a basic meal of salmon, salad, and steamed vegetables."
"Nonetheless, it was delightful. The chocolate cake was to die for."
"Thank you. Will you and Queen Isabella be off to bed soon, King Frederick? Or do you have other plans?"
"Actually, we were going to go to bed as soon as we leave. I hope by tomorrow morning, we can pick up where we left off and finalize trade agreements."
"I hope so, too."
King Frederick smiled at Elsa again and took his leave with Queen Isabella in tow. Once the Danish king and queen were out of sight, Karen stared at her sister.
"Kirsten?"
Kirsten looked up to meet her sister's gaze.
"Yes, Karen?"
"Could we talk somewhere in private?"
"I guess so."
"Please, I want to talk to you alone."
Not knowing what else to do, Kirsten decided to humor her sister.
"All right then."
Karen stood and turned toward Elsa.
"Thank you for the meal and your hospitality, Queen Elsa."
Elsa gave Karen a small nod. "You're welcome."
With that, Karen made her way out of the dining hall. Kirsten also quickly thanked Elsa for the meal and followed her sister out of the dining hall. The moment both sisters were, only Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff were left. They all looked at each other not knowing what else to do. Kristoff was the first to break the silence.
"So….that was an interesting meal."
Both Elsa and Anna couldn't think of anything to say at the moment. Kristoff continued the conversation, albeit one-sided.
"What happens now?"
Anna shrugged her shoulders at Kristoff. "We don't know, Kristoff. Elsa sort of gave Kirsten and Karen an option to come talk with us in the garden, but until then we don't know what to do."
Kristoff looked over at Elsa. "Elsa, do you have any ideas? If not, would it be alright if I talked with Anna until your meeting in the garden?"
Elsa opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came from it. Rather, she closed her mouth as soon as she heard Anna's voice.
"I'm sorry, Kristoff, but I don't think you and I will be able to talk much tonight. Elsa and I have some issues to go through and we need to really make amends with Kirsten and Karen."
Kristoff's voice dropped. "Oh."
Anna felt bad for Kristoff. She realized at that moment that she and Kristoff haven't had any actual time alone together ever since Kristoff came by earlier that day in the castle. She would have liked to spend some time with him, but it was more important that she and Elsa find a way to patch things up between them and Kirsten and Karen. It was a matter they could not ignore especially when it played a strong influence on the trade agreement. The only thing Anna could think of to console her boyfriend was to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Kristoff. I hope you understand I have to do this with Elsa. I promise that once things have settled down that you and I can set a day to spend time with each other. It's just that we can't do that right now. But we certainly will be able to do so some time in the near future. So, are we okay?"
Kristoff looked into Anna's eyes and only saw sincere honesty and love. He gave her a weak smile while placing his hand over hers.
"Yeah. We're okay."
Both Anna and Elsa were so relieved to hear Kristoff's words that they simultaneously cracked radiant smiles. However, Kristoff only noticed Anna's smile. Yet he did not realize that her smile possibly looked more radiant because Elsa's bright smile added to her smile being a mirror image of it.
Anna slipped her hand from Kristoff's shoulder and folded it in her other hand on her lap. Without knowing what Elsa was thinking at the time, Anna happened to say same thing for the both of them.
"I'm so glad to hear that, Kristoff."
Kristoff's weak smile grew stronger. "Thanks, Anna."
The next action Anna executed separated herself from Elsa. She leaned in and gave Kristoff a sweet peck on the cheek.
"Wonderful. When we I see again?"
"Well, I think I'm going to head to bed and then tomorrow morning I'll be gone. I have to return to work. How about three days from tomorrow, you and I can have a picnic?"
"That would be lovely, Kristoff."
"Alright. I'll see you then, Anna."
Kristoff stood up from his seat and directed his gaze on both sisters.
"Good night and good luck with the trade agreement, ladies."
As if in perfect mental synchronization, Anna and Elsa nodded and said, "Goodnight, Kristoff."
Kristoff had a goofy look on his face. He was glad things had turned out for Elsa and Anna. He took a moment to stand in front of Anna, bent down and kissed her on the forehead. Then, he stood up, and walked up to Elsa. He looked down at her and smiled before setting a friendly hand on her shoulder.
"Any maybe we should make an appointment to see each other someday soon too, Elsa. We don't see each other very often and I would like to get closer to you."
"I would like that very much. Maybe you can consult with Anna when you see her. She knows my schedule almost as well as I know my schedule."
"Okay. Well, take care."
"You too, Kristoff. Be careful while handling ice."
Kristoff rolled his eyes as he took his hand off Elsa's shoulder. He couldn't help but feel like she was his doting older sister despite not being very close to each other. He was an ice harvester and knew how to handle ice, but she understood how cold, sharp, and dangerous it could because of her powers, so he allowed her to show him concern. He would let her to show that she cared just as much as he allowed Anna to tell him to be careful. Even when he didn't need to be reminded, it felt nice when people care about him especially when they were the Queen and Princess of Arendelle themselves. The idea itself made him feel extra special. He appreciated it when people in general cared for him, but when he had been blessed to in the company of genuine, caring royals he really felt lucky to be with them.
"I will, Elsa. I'm going to go now."
But as Kristoff was about to turn away, he fell into shock when he felt Elsa's cool hand on his arm.
"Could you at least stay to have breakfast with us before you leave?"
Kristoff furrowed his eyebrows. He wished he didn't have to do what he was going to Elsa.
"I'm sorry, Elsa, but I must recline your offer. I have to be up early and return to work. But I promise I'll get a proper breakfast before returning to work. But maybe some other time I'll be able join you and Anna for breakfast as long you will still have me."
"You're always welcome here, Kristoff."
"Thank you."
Elsa playfully slapped Kristoff on the arm before folding her hands in her lap.
"Now, go and rest up."
Kristoff had let out a hearty laugh. "Yes, mom."
Elsa feigned offense. "I'm not your mom."
Anna's laughter was lighthearted. "I know! But you were the same with me earlier. Kristoff, don't take her seriously. Elsa may act like she's, but she's a maternal figure."
Elsa crossed her arms in defiance. "I rather be seen as a doting sister than as a maternal figure."
"You're a mom, Elsa."
"I think you are, too."
"Kristoff, Anna, I would rather than you two didn't treat me like your mother."
Anna reached over and patted Elsa on her arm. "Don't worry about it, Elsa. Kristoff and I see you more as a sister than a mother. We're just teasing you, but sometimes you come off motherly. But there's nothing wrong with that. You act motherly in the best of ways."
Elsa rolled her eyes and uncrossed her arms before giving her sister her undivided attention.
"Fine. Maybe we should stop talking about this so Kristoff may leave and rest for the night."
"That sounds good to me. Again, good night ladies and thank for dinner."
With that, Kristoff waved goodbye to Elsa and Anna as he made his way out of the dining hall. After staring at the recently closed double-doors, Anna and Elsa turned toward each other.
"Should take our leave as well?"
"Yes, Anna. I'm sure that Kirsten and Karen would have enough time talking. Maybe they'll want ti talk to us in the garden soon."
"Regardless if they're ready or not, I just want to leave and stretch out my legs."
"You do have a point, Anna. All right, let's leave."
Both sisters rise from their seats and push them in. They turn around and link arms as they leave the dining hall. Once outside of the room, Anna and Elsa turn to their right and aimlessly walk around until they hear voices talking. They backtrack to where the voices are coming from and find a window that overlooks the garden where the voices are strongest.
"Is that Kirsten and Karen?"
"Possibly. Let's take a look."
Elsa and Anna get closer to the window and peer through it. They spot Karen and Kirsten talking to each other a few yards away on green grass. Everything seems fine until they become more animated in their conversation especially Karen. Fearing that they have been witnessing something they shouldn't see, Elsa and nervously duck down just in time when Karen and Kirsten happen to look in the general direction of the window. After a discernable amount of time has passed, Elsa and Anna stood back up and spotted Karen and Kirsten talking like normal again. Anna flicks her eyes in direction of Elsa's.
"What do you think they're talking about?"
"I don't know. Why are you asking me?"
"I thought that with your ice and snow powers you would be blessed with other abilities like super human hearing."
"That's a silly thought, Anna."
"Pft. Anything's possible when it comes to you."
Without looking at her sister, Elsa squinted her eyes. "Same goes for you, dear sister."
"Elsa…! Are you even listening to me?"
Elsa whipped her head toward Anna and pressed a finger to her lips. "Sush!"
"But-"
Elsa moved her finger from her lips to Anna's. "We probably should leave and wait a little longer before joining them in the garden. By the time we arrive maybe they'll be ready to talk with us."
Anna pushed away from the window and crossed her arms grumbling to herself. Elsa felt that she had to do something to bring her sister out of her own world and wipe away the sulk that threatened to take-over her face. Anna was rocking on her heels deep in thought. Elsa took a step closer to Anna and tripped her. Anna stumbled forward by half an inch and blinked until she took in her surroundings and realizing what happened. Finding herself, Anna glared at Elsa.
"What was that for?"
"Oops. Did I do that?"
Anna opened her mouth and held up a finger ready to reprimand Elsa for her behavior. Yet she never got the chance.
"Come on, let's go."
Anna had shut her mouth and dropped her poised hand. She mumbled under breath taking a few steps behind Elsa while watching her walk toward an entryway that led to the garden. Anna stewed in her frustration and then a mischievous smirk laid down on her fair skin. Elsa hadn't gone far not wanting to leave Anna too far behind. Anna crept up on her and tripped her in kind. Elsa lost her footing. She found her balance and glanced at Anna over her shoulder.
"Anna? Did you do that?"
"Oops. Did I do that?"
Elsa rolled her eyes and went on her way. "I'll let that go."
Anna lets an indignant scoff with a hint of playfulness evident in her tone. "You better. That'd make us even."
"Of course, Anna."
Anna quickened her pace to walk at her sister's side. For a slight moment there was complete silence between the sisters before Anna softly nudged Elsa in the arm.
"So, why did you trip me?"
"I had to do something to bring you back to reality and it looked like you were going to brood over something. I don't want you to brood over anything. That's my job to take on that burden as the older sibling."
"You don't have to take on that responsibility all by yourself. I'll take some of the weight off your shoulders and heart. Let me help you when you need help."
"That's all fine and good and Anna but sometimes I must take on certain burdens or responsibilities by myself and one of those responsibilities I have is to look after you and you're effected by the world. If you don't need to feel certain things then I'll do anything and everything I can even if it means distracting by being playful towards you."
"Fine. But that still doesn't explain why you had to trip me."
"It's more fun that way."
An amused snort emitted from Anna.
Elsa smiled at her sister's reaction. "See? I can be fun when I want to be, too."
"I never doubted that you could be fun. I knew what you did when you had the Duke of Weselton dance with me. You tricked him. A person who was a stick in the mud probably wouldn't be playful and clever to do something like that."
"Well, does it matter then? You didn't get hurt and I brought you back to reality."
Anna couldn't keep the smile at bay bubbling up inside her and let it break away. She lightly pushed Elsa on the arm. Elsa laughed as she found her footing again.
When the two sisters arrived to the nearest entry way to the garden, they stood still in front of the glass doors. Each of them looked at the other.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
Elsa and Anna opened each door at the same time. Then they had stepped out into the garden. The stars were beginning to show themselves in the young night time.
To Be Continued…