Chapter 2
The kingdom of Arendelle could feel the excitement in the air with the youngest daughter of the royal family's wedding soon approaching. Elsa had spent the last week dealing with politics and decorations, discussions on trade and the colors of the wedding. Elsa wanted her sisters day to be special, but as the queen could not derive from her duties of upholding the politics of Arrendelle. She had, had only two weeks to plan this event for her sister, and was now only a couple days away from the actual event. Just when she had thought all of her political duties had been cleared for the week, her thoughts were interrupted by soft knock on the door to the study.
"Your majesty I am sorry to intrude on you once more," one of her political advisor said softly as he stood in the doorway. "There is a representative arriving from the Eastern Kingdom to start the discussions of opening up more trade paths between the two kingdoms."
Elsa sighed, "Is there anyone else who can speak with this representative?" She scratched her forehead. "I would really love to focus more attention on wedding of my sister that is but in a mere three days!"
"I apologize you majesty, but their kingdoms King has requested that you personally deal with this matter." With the fear of his queen turning him into an ice statue he continued quickly, "this is a big opportunity for Arrendelle to have the Kingdom to the East as a trading partner."
Elsa let her shoulders slump only for a moment until she regained her royal poise. "It seems that I am left with no other choice, when will they be arriving?"
"They plan to dock in our ports by this afternoon," the advisor informed.
"Then we do not have much time do we? Please ask the maids to clean the dinning hall, as I am expecting this guest to be joining us for dinner, and ask the chef to prepare a traditional Arendelle meal."
"Ma'm," the advisor answered and bowed in confirmation to her request, taking his leave from the study.
Elsa rubbed her temples and took a slow breath as another knock came from the study room's door. "Yes?" She said in an irritated tone, expecting to see another advisor, but was surprised to see her sister and snowman friend Olaf. "Oh sorry," she sat down on the couch next to her with a heavy sigh of relief.
"Elsa why are breathing so heavily," Anna asked with a bit of concern.
"I'm just a little under the weather is all," Elsa replied closing her head.
"Is it indigestion, cause that could be a real problem." Olaf added what he considered helpful advice.
Anna smiled at her absent minded friend, "Olaf I think Kristoff was looking for you."
"Really because I wasn't looking for him," Olaf giggled and took that as a notice to vacate the room.
Anna turned to her sister after Olaf shut the door behind him. "Elsa, what is really bothering you?"
"It is just a little stressful this week Anna," Elsa looked at her younger sister with a small smile, and patted on the couch, motioning Anna to come sit next her. Anna did as requested.
"Is it the wedding?" she asked in a worried tone.
"Not at all, that is something that I take pleasure in. It is the amount of time that I have available to do it in is the problem. We have another guest joining us for dinner," Elsa sat up and felt Anna take her hand.
"Please do not worry too much about the wedding, as you have done too much already." Anna smiled. "Another guest you say? Well hopefully he won't cause too much stress for you."
"I hope so as well," Elsa replied.
"Sir, we will be docking at the port of Arendelle soon." Reported a lower class military officer.
Henrik rose from his desk and nodded in reply. "Thank you, please inform Officer Jon to get ready to dock."
"Sir," the officer saluted in reply.
Henrik stood in front of the mirror, noticing his un-kept reflection staring back at him. He sighed and then pulled out his razor, until he was interrupted by a knock on at his cabin door. "Enter," Henrik called out.
Officer Jon, and good friend to Henrik, entered into his quarters. "What's up handsome?" Noticing the razor in Henrik's hand. "Planning for a clean cut look? You must really want to impress her." He gave a grin and sat down in the nearest chair.
Henrik sighed and placed the razor down on the side table. "I do not care what she will think of me, but I am representing my kingdom so it is best I look the part."
"That doesn't sound like the adventurer I have known for the past 12 years." Jon laughed a little, "Looks to me like the domestic life will suit you well."
Henrik clenched his fists, "Do not be ridiculous, I am only doing this so that I do not have to hear from my father for awhile." He sighed, "And you know damn well that we will be leaving as soon as possible after Arrendelle to look for new forms of medication from the West."
"Yes, but what if you do find that you actually fancy this Ice Queen, they say that she is very beautiful." Jon joked.
"There was nothing beautiful about that magic wielding witch." Henrik scoffed at the idea of falling in love with someone who was tainted in the world of magic.
"Now, now that is no way to talk about your future bride." Jon giggled.
Henrik slammed his fist onto the table. "We will be docking soon, make sure you have your men ready to leave the ship," he ordered with a small growl in his tone. Jon took this as a signal that he had gone too far with his friend, and saw himself from the room. Henrik sighed and returned to the mirror, "This is for my father." He tried to reassure himself as he began shaving off his manly stubble.
Later that evening Elsa was making her way towards the dinning hall, and found her sister waiting by the door, which was more like her snooping around the cracks of the door. "Anna?" Elsa asked in a questioning tone.
"Oh Elsa! I was wondering when you would get here!" Anna smiled widely. "Have you heard about what the maids have been saying about our guest?"
Elsa raised an eyebrow in reply to her younger sister.
"They say he is at least over six feet tall, and very handsome, manly is more of the word that they all used." Anna giggled.
"And why does this mean that you have to be snooping around your own castle?" Elsa asked, "What would Kristoff have to say about you swooning over our handsome guest?" She smirked as Anna's face went to a flushed color.
"Oh my goodness, here I am getting married and now I am swooning over some tall dark and mysterious male…" Anna trailed off, and was stopped by the laughter of her sister. "Well then maybe you should marry this guy?" Anna joked, while her sister's laughter came to a halt.
"Let's be serious here Anna, this is for business only." She scowled at her younger sibling, "so please do not give him any wrong ideas. I have not even seen what the man looks like. Plus you cannot marry a man solely off of looks alone."
Anna rolled her eyes as her, and pulled her sister toward the slightly opened door to give her a peek at what she was missing. Elsa sighed but went along with her sister's excitement and peered through the door to find a tall, and masculine man walking about the room. He seemed to be admiring the paintings along the wall, and was captivating to look at as well. Elsa took in a slow breath as she went over his features and watched as the beautiful male made his way around the room.
"So?" Anna interrupted her older sister's gawking.
"Well um," Elsa cleared her throat. "He is a very attractive man, but he is here for business only, and that is how I will treat him."
"Oh you are such an Ice Queen," the younger sister snorted.
Elsa was about to react to her sister's remark, until the door to the dinning hall opened.
"Oh! Queen Elsa, I was just coming to find you, it is time for the dinner ma'm. The guest has already arrived." The maid who had open the door stated with a smile.
"Yes, I am aware of that…" Elsa said softly under breath, looking over the shoulder of the maid.
"Please," the maid bowed and motioned for the two sisters to enter into the dinning hall. "Miss Anna, will sir Kristoff be joining us this evening?"
"No I am afraid not, he isn't one to sit around boring conversation that I am sure is going to take place this evening." Anna winked at the maid with a playful smile. The maid smiled back and bowed, exiting the room.
Elsa peered at the male who had already taken his seat, and questioned why he had not stood yet.
"Good Evening," Elsa curtsied towards the male who sat across from her, Anna followed and did the same, taking her seat.
"Yes good evening to you as well your majesty, please sit." The tall man smirked.
Elsa could feel a small spark of anger inside of her, as it was proper to stand before any lady, including the queen for that matter, so that she may take her seat. She gave a forced smile towards the arrogant man and took her seat. "It is good to finally meet the representative from the Eastern Kingdom, as the maids have been in a bit of an uproar since your arrival."
The tall man let out a small haughty laugh, "Can you blame them?" He grinned at her.
Elsa's brow began to furrow, but tried her best to keep her composure. "I guess not, when many of the maids are elderly and have a hard time seeing things for what they really are." She smirked back.
The tall man then let his grin fade, and he cleared his throat. "I am Henrik your majesty, and I can assure you that my stay will not be long, if we may come to a fair agreement on the trade between our kingdoms."
"Yes, it would be best to make this a short visit Sir Henrik, as my younger sister Anna is to be married soon." Elsa said with the straightest expression she could manage.
Anna sat in silence and in awe, because the air in the room had suddenly become very tense.