AN: Hey, guys! GUESS WHAT? Double update! Soo check out chapter two before you read this one! :D Kay? Kay!
"You could be happy, you know."
Anna giggled at that, plucking another flower to finish the flower crown resting in her lap. "Happier than I already am?" she asked, throwing a cheeky grin at the blonde sitting on a stone bench nearby. Blue eyes twinkled, crinkling at the corners as those lips twitched into a smile.
"You don't seem happy."
Those words seemed so at odds with the smile on the blonde's face, and Anna's grin faltered, her grip tightening slightly on the flower crown in her hands. "Elsa...?"
The garden they were in quickly grew darker as clouds covered the previously sunny sky. Rain began to fall, pelting harshly against Anna's skin as she hastily stood up, bangs already plastering to her forehead. Lightning flashed above and thunder rolled as a fierce wind picked up around them, causing the redhead's skirts to ripple around her legs.
And through it all, Elsa kept smiling, sitting there on that bench with her hands folded in her lap as if it were still a calm, sunny day.
"Elsa, what's going on?" Anna demanded, glaring at the queen while attempting to shield her face from the onslaught of rain and...ice? Snow? Sleet? The flower crown was ripped out of her hands by the gale, and she immediately turned her head to see it flying away into the eye of the storm descending upon them. She turned back to face the queen, braids nearly hitting her face from the wind, and the redhead almost screamed at the sight that awaited her.
For Elsa wasn't sitting on the bench anymore. Instead, her kidnapper from before sat there—shoulders slumped, red holes decorating his body and clothes like roses, mouth parted with blood streaming down the sides, and eyes that were dead dead dead dead dead—
"You should be happy," the corpse before her spoke, bloody mouth curling into a grin. "I'll find you again. The Ice Queen can't be around forever, and I'll find you."
He lurched to his feet, and Anna screamed, stumbling back to put more distance between her and her dead kidnapper. She tripped in her haste, and landed on her rear.
And suddenly, the man was right there; the blood from his mouth dripping onto her boots. She could see her terrified face reflected in his lifeless eyes.
"I'll find you."
The words didn't come from the corpse crouched over her, but instead echoed from seemingly every direction—sounding like a multitude of voices speaking at once.
"I'll find you I'll find you I'll find you I'll—"
Anna's eyes flew open, and she shot upright in her bed, a hand immediately darting to her chest. Her heart beat frantically beneath her palm, and the pounding in her ears was so loud, so strong, she could barely hear herself gasping for air.
Instinctively, she reached out with her free hand for something to comfort herself, as she always did after a nightmare in her old home. Upon feeling nothing but cold sheets, her stomach sank and she felt the urge to be sick as the memories of last night came back to her. She had walked into the room she was supposed to share with Elsa...only to find her wife absent. She went to bed alone, expecting for Elsa to maybe join her later…
One look on her new wife's side of the bed told her that wasn't the case.
Anna curled into a ball, hugging her legs to her chest and quivering as tears started spilling down her cheeks. If she was back home, she would've gotten out of bed to find comfort from her family but she wasn't...She was alone in a large, unfamiliar castle and the only one she could potentially turn to probably wanted nothing to do with her at this point. She whimpered softly and bit her lip to stifle the sounds.
The sound of the door being opened suddenly reached Anna's ears and she stiffened in panic, the words from her dream echoing ominously "I'll find you". However the gentle shifting of a dress and the sweet chime of the ice decorating the bodice indicated who it was in the room with her.
It's just Elsa...
The queen didn't seem to notice that Anna was awake, for the redhead heard her mutter something under her breath, followed by a heavy sigh. There was more swishing of fabric as the blonde moved further into the room. Anna chanced raising her head a little, peeking slightly over her shoulder to see Elsa open the closet of their room. The blonde was still garbed in her wedding dress from the night before, albeit severely rumpled, but it still looked just as beautiful.
Her cheeks began to redden as she watched Elsa reach her hands behind her back to undo the laces, and it wasn't long before the queen's bare back was exposed before her eyes. The heat on her face grew at the sight of that creamy expanse, and only grew further as the dress was unceremoniously dropped to the floor, leaving Elsa only in her undergarments. Anna tried not to inhale sharply at the sudden sight of the corset and the queen's shapely buttocks, confined in a pair of sheer pantalettes that left little to the imagination.
She shouldn't be looking. She really shouldn't be looking without permission.
But I'm...I'm her wife now, aren't I? I should be allowed to look, right? Anna reasoned to herself, the heat on her face nearly growing unbearable when the queen bent down to pick up her dress from the floor. Elsa moved to hang it up in their closet, and she found herself captivated by the gentle sway of the blonde's hips with every step.
At least her nightmare was little more than a distant memory when faced with how scandalously clad the supposed Ice Queen was right now…
Elsa lazily flourished a hand, weaving trails of frost in the air, and the heat in Anna's face began to ebb at the sudden sight of the queen's magic. Her first encounter with it had been when that man tried to kidnap her, so it was...a curious thing to see something so destructive used for something so...beautiful.
Or maybe it's the other way around, she couldn't help but think as the blonde began creating a dress made of ice with her magic, leaving her shoulders bare, but covering her arms in sheer material. The ice trailed down, concealing the corset in a glittering bodice that caught the faint rays of light from the dawn seeping through their curtains, and covering the rest of her bottom half in flowing ice.
Anna half expected the queen to add a train of ice to complete the look, but judging by the way those shoulders drooped, Elsa must be too tired to add any more. She watched as the blonde turned away from the closet, revealing a slit in her dress that reached mid-thigh and exposed a pale leg. Her hair was free of the bun it had been in earlier, captured in a braid that hung over her left shoulder. The queen's bangs framed her exhausted-looking face, and Anna felt a twinge of guilt at the sight.
She had never been in charge of the kingdom—that had been her parents' job, not hers. And her older sister Merida had been bred as heir for years, not...not Anna.
How was she supposed to know what that was like? The weight of an entire kingdom on your shoulders? Alone?
Anna licked her dry lips to wet them, calling out softly, "Elsa…?"
The queen turned around, seemingly astounded to see her wife awake so early in the morning. She probably had the impression that Anna would be waking up in the afternoon, and, well...that wouldn't be too far from the truth. Usually. Sometimes.
"Anna?"
Anna grinned weakly, the nightmare still leaving her with a bad taste. "Hi," she mouthed, before clearing her throat, "Um…you look good."
The queen blinked and seemed to notice where Anna's eyes were as the ogled her body—Anna felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment at having been caught while Elsa's turned the slightest bit pink as well.
"Ah…I…sleep like this." Elsa looked adorably flustered having Anna's eyes roaming over her body like she was actually touching her in places that she couldn't begin to imagine. Anna nodded and giggled weakly.
"Yeah, that's…it's pretty."
Sexy. Erotic.
The silence was deafening and neither of them knew how to begin. An apology? Casual talk? How about a good morning?
The memory of the morning came rushing back, and Anna's eyes blurred with tears—fearful tears, and she held her arms together because it was the only thing she could do to feel warm. The only contact she'd have, if Elsa didn't want to hold her. She sniffled, slowly turning her back to the surprised, worried queen, who she glimpsed standing stupidly in place. A whimper of fear escaped from Anna's lips, and even covering her mouth or biting her finger wouldn't stop the tears from falling; her heart pounding; her suppressed cries echoing through the room.
Not even a moment later, she felt the bed sink beside her, and fingers began tentatively running through her red—as messy as it was—hair.
"Is something wrong?"
Elsa's voice was soothing, and soft like a feather. Anna found herself relaxing into her touch, a hand slowly running up and down her back reassuringly. Though she couldn't answer the blonde's question, she was able to nod.
Sighing, Elsa laid down completely on her side, arms carefully draped around Anna to hesitantly hug the poor girl. "I'm sorry for last night," she whispered against her back.
Anna shook her head, lifting the blanket up to wipe her tears. "I-It's not that…I…I had a…" The redhead shifted around to face her wife, but couldn't bring herself to look her directly in the eye. Not after what happened in her dream. She felt Elsa tighten her embrace slightly.
"Anna...speak up, please? I'll do what I can to comfort you."
"I-I had a nightmare. A-And he was going to…f-find me…k-kill me and I—" Anna didn't get to say the rest as she was being hugged even tighter than before, Elsa's chin resting on top of hers.
"It's okay," she heard her whisper, "I'm here, Anna."
Anna looped her arms around Elsa's waist, pressing her wet face against the crook of her neck. God, did Elsa smell wonderful. Mint, perhaps. Pine and winter.
"Anna, it's okay...I'll be here, so...so cry as much as you want."
Anna did just that, pressing closer to the queen. She was scared…scared of the unfamiliar land she had been forced to come to, of the unfamiliar woman she had been forced to marry, and of her almost-kidnapping by an unfamiliar man. She was too stressed and having to wake up after a nightmare...Crying and wheezing was the last thing she needed to experience. But it didn't seem as bad as before, because...because Elsa was there, hugging her like how her mother would after a bad dream.
"Anna."
Elsa pulled away for a second, gently taking Anna's wrist and holding it against her cold cheek, forcing her to finally look up. "I'm very much real right now, see?" The queen grinned, and it was possibly the most wonderful grin Anna had seen from her so far—the widest grin Elsa had given. "I'm here. You're not dreaming anymore."
She stared up at blonde, fingers hesitant to caress the cool skin beneath them, but eventually gave in. Her thumb brushed against freckles so light, she had never noticed them before. "Y-You're here?"
Elsa nodded, her grin shifting to a small smile that seemed more fitting for her. "I'm here."
Anna's hand that wasn't on the blonde's face was suddenly cradled between Elsa's, the gloved digits brushing lightly over her knuckle. "Come with me for a moment," Elsa murmured, giving the hand a gentle tug as she stood. A look of confusion graced Anna's face, her brow furrowed, before she stood on shaking legs as well.
The smile never left Elsa's face as she turned and started walking, Anna following along like a puppy. "Where are we going?"
"I know just the cure for nightmares. My mother used to make it for me," Elsa answered. "Trust me, you'll enjoy it."
It didn't take long for the two women to end up in the kitchen. It was dark and empty, sending a small chill down Anna's spine before Elsa detached herself from the redhead to light a few of the candles and start rustling through drawers and cupboards to gather ingredients and dishes for her surprise.
"Where are the servants?" Anna decided to ask in lieu of anything else as she sat down on a nearby wooden bench, watching the queen at work. It was...strange. Seeing royalty performing something servants would usually do. That's not to say that Anna hadn't done it before—she had, actually!—but Elsa had seemed very similar to her mother when it came to being queen and the duties and expectations that came with it.
"Still sleeping, most likely," Elsa answered as she began placing the ingredients and dishes on the wooden table in the center of the kitchen. "The sun is just barely peeking over the horizon, and I gave those not tasked with looking after our guests the day off after how...busy, last night was." She paused, aiming a frown at the door they had entered from. "Although...I wouldn't be surprised if Kai and Gerda are awake at this time."
"Kai...the housecarl, right? Who's Gerda?" Anna asked, trying to sift through her memory to see if she had met such a servant before.
"Gerda used to be my nanny when I was a child." Elsa responded, pouring a generous amount of milk into a bowl before placing it onto the fire. She then scooped out a few cups of a ground, brown powder and added it into the milk before stirring the mixture. Anna watched curiously from her seat. "She's also the head servant here. I trust no one better with the upkeep of the castle or to keep the other servants in line." She lifted a small spoonful to her lips and took a sip before shaking her head and dumping another cup of the powder in.
"Oh." Anna played with a wayward strand of her hair as she watched the older woman work. "Why don't you ask her to do this then?"
"Because I'm the only one who knows how to make it the way mother did." Elsa's lips twitch into a sad smile. "Gerda comes close, but she makes it too watery and the other servants can't get it down at all most of the time."
"What even is it?" Anna sniffed the air and perked up at the familiar, sweet scent. "Is that chocolate?"
"Yes, it is. The finest hot chocolate in Arendelle your taste buds will ever have the pleasure of tasting," Elsa said proudly. Thoroughly stirring the bowl's contents a few more times, she tested it once more to make sure it came out right before humming satisfactorily. "Perfect."
Anna couldn't help it.
She giggled at the look of utter satisfaction on the queen's face—the way her features had softened, eyes closing briefly, lips twitching into the most genuine smile she'd seen since arriving in Arendelle. Even more than the one back in their room not long ago.
"That good?" she found herself teasing, managing a smile of her own as those eyes opened to stare pointedly in her direction.
"Of course," Elsa huffed, almost looking offended that it would be anything but, and Anna felt her smile growing slightly.
Now this...was a woman she wouldn't mind being married to.
She blinked, surprised with herself at the thought.
Her surprise turned into another giggle as a mug was suddenly thrust into her hand. The Queen had a slight hint of a blush on her pale cheeks and her eyes were unable to meet Anna's. "Here. This should help," she said softly, almost sounding sheepish. It was actually kind of endearing seeing Elsa like this.
She took the mug with a soft thanks and took a small sip, almost moaning as the smooth, creamy hot chocolate made her taste buds tingle at the exquisite taste. "Oh my—" she breathed, teal eyes gleaming. "This is the best thing I've ever tasted!" She took another, much larger gulp and shivered in delight.
"I'm glad you like it so much," she heard Elsa say, and Anna didn't need to see past her mug to know that the blonde had a smile on her face again. A moment later, she felt a presence by her side as the queen came over to sit next to her...maintaining some distance, of course.
"Look, I...I'm sorry about earlier, when I got snot all over you," she said, lowering her mug and wincing at how much of a mess she had been back then. "I just..."
"Tell me about your dream?" Elsa prompted softly, and Anna snapped her mouth shut at the unexpectedness of that question. Or rather...at how concerned and curious the blonde sounded. There was no hint of judgment or condescension in her voice—only…
Understanding.
Elsa...must get nightmares too. Anna brought her mug back up to her lips, taking another sip to give her strength. I...shouldn't be surprised. With her powers, and how she killed that man—
A bloody grin flashed through her mind, and she shivered again, though for a different reason than before.
"If you don't want to—" she heard Elsa begin to say, but Anna shook her head, cutting her off.
"We need to start talking, right?" the redhead said, hoping her voice didn't sound too shaky, "That's what my mother always says now, after my older sister accidentally turned her into a bear once. And especially since we're married, and all, that's...that's what people do, right?"
"It would be infinitely preferable to slapping, yes," the blonde mused, and Anna turned her head to glower her way. A faint smirk greeted her, though Elsa's eyes betrayed her own desire to see this marriage—to see them—work. "You'll have to tell me that bear story some other time."
Anna blinked, momentarily taken aback by the comment. "O-Oh. Yes, yes...of course. Sorry, I just…" She swallowed past the lump threatening to form in her throat. "I just...don't know where to start."
The Queen's eyes drifted away from Anna, and the redhead noticed a sense of vulnerability in her posture for a moment.
"Sometimes starting at all is an accomplishment of its own," Elsa responded quietly as if her own nightmares seemed to be dancing across her vision.
The redhead stared, maybe for too long, that she was seeing the soft side of Elsa. Scary, she thought. After seeing her powers—dangerous, powerful, yet beautiful—she never thought the Queen with the power of Ice and Snow, would be looking so distantly and… maybe, nostalgically?
"You… had nightmares?"
Elsa nodded. "Often times it was just flashbacks. But yes, nightmares. There's not much now as opposed to my teenage years. But, this is about you, not me." She stared, sternly and caring. "Tell me about them."
Anna didn't want to. She didn't want to make it seem like it was Elsa's fault and she absolutely never thought it was her fault. She looked down to her chest, avoiding worried eyes. But because Elsa was so open to her right now, welcoming Anna in her arms and her touches, she wanted to tell her everything. Anna quite liked it—this side of Elsa who was at least, a little open, a little intimate.
The older one listened and waited patiently when Anna cried, took a long, deep breath, and even having her touch and stare as much as she wanted.
"I'm sorry that I—" Anna frowned, knowing exactly what she was going to say. So she mocked her in her mind. 'Oh, I'm sorry that I yelled!', 'I'm sorry that I was being a meanie!', 'I'm sorry for teasing you about the slaps!' Blah, blah, blah. Anna didn't want to hear it.
"It's not your fault, Elsa."
"I know," Elsa grinned slightly. "But it's my fault that… I left you alone. I shouldn't have; I should've been there for you. It was our wedding night, of course."
Wedding night.
Our wedding night. Not yours, or mine, but ours. Somehow, that little confirmation that Anna wasn't alone made her burden a little lighter, a little easier to bear. She was her wife. After a few more calming breaths, she began to share what happened, taking care not to make it sound like she was blaming Elsa. Which she didn't. Even if she did manage to slap her multiple times.
"We were sitting together in a meadow, and everything was fine. Well, more than fine, it was like everything was...perfect."
Elsa hastily wrestled down a quirked eyebrow that had arisen automatically at Anna's description, but the redhead had already seen it. She had been so concerned with the ominous terror that her nightmares had left that she had forgotten all about how pleasantly it started, and with whom. Anna cleared her throat, determined to continue smoothly even though she could feel the warmth in her cheeks.
"The weather was really great, and there were flowers!" she blurted out. So much for smooth.
"And I was making this flower crown for—"
For you.
"—for...for my mother! Yeah, my...my mother," Anna said, praying she didn't sound as nervous as she felt under that inquisitive gaze. "She did that for us all the time when Merida and I were younger. It's not as heavy as a real crown but it looks just as pretty and…"
And you said I didn't seem happy.
"The weather suddenly changed," she continued, shivering at the memory and bringing her mug closer to her, seeking the drink's comforting warmth. "The sun vanished and there was a storm. My flower crown got ripped away and it was so windy and hailing...I looked back to where you were sitting, but you weren't there."
Not even the warmth of her mug could fight back the chill that crept down her spine at the image of her kidnapper's bloody grin and lifeless eyes.
"Instead...that man from yesterday was there, and he was...he was still bleeding everywhere."
"Anna—"
"No, let me continue…" Anna gulped, body shivering out of fear. "A-And he was… you disappeared and he was in your spot… repeating the same words over and over again. 'I'll find you, I'll find you, I'll find you, I'll find—"
The weeping girl immediately stopped, feeling Elsa's embrace against her body. The warmth spread out like angelic wings, shushing Anna to her full silence and coziness. The mug of hot chocolate was warm on her palms, but what was even warmer… what felt even better than a few gulps of hot liquid flowing down her throat and giving her this feeling, was Elsa's arms around her. Her scent was light, and her breathing was soft. Anna loved it.
"You don't have to continue," the blonde whispered. "I get it… you're scared… terrified, but I'll protect you. See?" She pulled away slowly and lifted her hand. Fingers gracefully danced in circles in the air and little flakes of snow twirled around her fingertips. It was magical.
"Elsa…" She stared, eyes following the trails of sparkles flowing towards her delicately. One landed on the tip of her nose, immediately melting to a droplet of water.
"I'll protect you," Elsa grinned. "With this dangerous—"
"Beautiful."
"—condition. I can take out hundreds of people if you want me to."
"But you wouldn't?" Anna's eyes still followed the lively flows of whiteness. They were going around the kitchen. Ah, like they were actual children, perhaps.
"I wouldn't."
There was a pregnant pause and then Elsa's lips formed into a thin line before she continued carefully, watching her magical flurries floating in the air, "I wouldn't… do it without reason, I should say."
Anna let a tentative smile graced her face. "I believe you." She said softly, only the faintest bit surprised by her own words and the fact that she actually did believe Elsa. She rested a gentle hand on Elsa's arm and leaned back against her, fluttering her eyes closed and just letting herself relax against the blonde.
"Careful," she heard the blonde gently admonish, "You wouldn't want to spill the rest of your hot chocolate now, would you?"
This was...nice. This easy talking between them. Well…'easier', probably, Anna thought as she took another sip from her mug, nearly finishing it, but wanting to savor it for as long as she could.
They slipped into a comfortable silence after that, broken only by Anna's quiet sips and the faint hints of birdsong coming from one of the kitchen's windows. The sky was still mostly dark outside, but she could see the dawn growing stronger. Mother probably wouldn't believe me if I told her I can be awake this early, she couldn't help but muse, her thoughts drifting to the brown-haired woman in question and the rest of her family.
Anna's lips curled downwards into a sad frown as she lowered her mug to her lap, her mother's tight smile flashing through her mind and her father's reluctant voice ringing in her ears.
"Hey...Elsa—"
She was interrupted by the feeling of a head coming to rest heavily against her shoulder. A slight turn of her own head confirmed that the queen had apparently dozed off, and now her blonde hair tickled at Anna's cheek. If she listened closely, she could hear Elsa's soft, steady breathing.
I wonder...did she even sleep at all last night…?
Anna's frown deepened, and she set her mug down on the edge of the bench, reaching her newly-freed hand towards Elsa's face.
She gasped and jolted in place when an eight-legged critter descended from the ceiling and dangled inches away from Elsa's peacefully slumbering face, the very tips of its many legs barely tickling her skin.
Reflexively, Anna raised her hand to slap the offending creature away, but she realized doing so would likely result in her striking Elsa… again. Wanting to avoid that issue, she instead blew hard against the invisible thread holding the spider in place. The wind effect caused the spider to lazily drift safely away from Elsa's face, which allowed Anna to swat it across the room without harming a hair on her wife.
Crisis averted, Anna allowed herself to relax and just enjoy the feeling of another warm body cuddled so close to her side, sliding her arm around Elsa's back and resting her cheek against Elsa's head.
She didn't move when she heard someone approaching the kitchen, content with remaining right where she was for the time being.
A chuckle reached her ears, followed by a, "Well...it certainly looks as if you've tired out our poor queen."
Anna nearly jumped at that, turning her head to the doorway and spotting a rather plump woman standing there, smiling kindly at them both.
"You two must have had a very productive night after you retired from the party to have the queen in such an exhausted state," the woman said, winking suggestively.
"What?" Anna's face warmed considerably when the servant's meaning became clear to her, the blush spreading throughout her entire face and reddening her ears. "But I-I, I mean we-we—That's not—" she stammered stupidly.
The woman waved her hand to calm the princess. "There's no need to deny it or go into explicit detail, Your Highness. Just knowing you two are getting along so well after everything is enough to know for me."
She walked further into the kitchen, grabbing an apron from one of the many hanging on hooks nearby and tying it around her. The servant began humming under her breath before pausing in her steps, turning back to look at the bewildered redhead. "Oh, heavens...I forgot to introduce myself, didn't I?" She smiled warmly, eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm Gerda. A pleasure to formally meet you, dear."
Elsa's...nanny, right? Anna mentally shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Oh! No, no...the pleasure's all mine!" She said hastily before biting at her bottom lip—one of her nervous habits. "And we didn't—That is to say, we didn't...actually do anything last night."
The nanny blinked and waved it off. "Oh, I'm sure you didn't, you retired so soon so I assumed you two were in a rush to get down to—"
"No! Not that!" She suddenly felt Elsa squirming on top of her, face rubbing against her neck. Her face was getting redder, from the oblivious nanny and the woman who was moaning towards waking. Anna didn't want to wake her up. Maybe she wanted Elsa to embrace her more, or maybe… she didn't want to hear them talk about something that the both of them didn't do.
Anna took a deep breath, a hand caressing Elsa's back. "W-We didn't… well, I guess I should say, consummate."
"Oh?" Gerda was surprised. "So you didn't, I'm glad."
"G-Glad?"
Gerda leaned herself against the edge of the table, smiling fondly at the princess. "Elsa… well, I guess I should say, Her Majesty, is a nervous girl. She has brought other girls in before, but she told me before. Having you here, makes her nervous. A good nervous, I mean. She's happy."
Anna internally frowned for a moment. The prospect of other girls before her seemed to conjure up quite a green feeling in her...
But then again...that was to be expected, right?
She was the Queen, after all. She could get anything she wanted, whenever she wanted it. She could have someone… even if she had a wife. Anna looked down to the sleeping girl. "Do you think she would… you know, be with someone that's not me, if I'm not fitting for her?"
Gerda made an unpleasant moan. "Your Highness, Elsa might seem like that type of girl, but she's faithful."
"Really?"
"She wouldn't be sleeping on you, if she really doesn't like you."
"She didn't sleep with me yesterday. She was doing things… all night and she's only here now."
"Well, maybe she just wanted to give you space. Did you two argue?"
Anna remained quiet. It wasn't just one argument. It was two, three… however many times they argued and every time, someone had to get slapped in the face. This was their own personal matter, but this was Gerda. Elsa's nanny. A guardian. Her guidance. Maybe she could be Anna's as well. She looked up to the middle aged woman.
"Just… do you think, it's right to be called a pawn… and say it's for a reason and not mean it?"
Gerda blinked. "Did Elsa call you that?"
"Well, I kinda eavesdropped…" Anna chuckled nervously, her hands wrapped around Elsa's thin waist. She held her tightly, scooting her up against her if the Queen was slipping off. "You know, when Elsa was having a meeting of some sort…"
"Hm… I'm sure she has a reason behind it. Are you worried that Elsa is really going to use you?"
"Well I… I don't know her enough to trust her just yet."
"Well then, I guess, you should start trying to get to know her. I've taken care of Elsa ever since she was this small." She held a hand to her hip. "Her whole world fell apart when she figured out she had this beautiful power in her… that she couldn't control."
"This power...has she ever used it to hurt anyone before?" Anna asked cautiously in case the older woman found offense to the question. Gerda simply raised an eyebrow.
"Only in self defence." She responded calmly. "Of course, there were times where it ran out of control as she was growing and caused a few slips and falls but those stopped all together once she managed to gain more control. I can assure you, your Highness, that Elsa would never use them to harm you or to scare you into something you don't wish to do."
Learning these little details about her wife from someone who raised her since she was young was interesting and gave Anna a bit more perspective into Elsa's life. She wondered about the queen's time as a child, and how hard it must have been for her during the years she was unable to keep control of her powers. Did she have anyone to turn to for comfort in her time of distress besides Gerda or her parents?
The thought of Elsa being so young and possibly having had nobody to turn to caused Anna to feel like her heart was being ripped apart. Looking down at her, so quiet and peaceful while wrapped in her arms caused Anna to hug the blonde tighter into her own body as a small frown grew on her face.
Seeing this, Gerda smiled softly and said, "I'm glad she has found somebody like you… so gentle and caring. Please, be good to her. She has had to grow up so fast after the passing of her parents, made all the more difficult by trying to get her powers under control at the same time."
"I-I will…" Anna began, "she… our start was… less than pleasant, for both of us." Her face shifted quickly to one of fierce determination. "She deserves to be happy, and... I need to make amends for my actions yesterday."
"I'm sure you'll be able to. Do you want to wake her up?" Gerda chuckled. "She seems heavy."
"O-Oh! Um, no, actually… she's really light," Anna blushed, nudging her lap up and hands wrapped around the sleeping beauty's waists to situate the girl on herself securely. "I think I can carry her."
Gerda nodded, looking down to the ground with her eyebrows crossed. Anna could sense it-the worrisome in her expression, the care she had for Elsa. "She's light, because she doesn't eat properly, Your Highness." Anna blinked. Ah, she recalled that Elsa hadn't eaten anything, except a few sips of wine-which was hardly anything that would satisfy her hunger. But it was expected… or Anna had the impression that the girl was so pale and skinny was the lack of protein and nutrition. But she also knew, as well, Elsa's first priority was her kingdom. She couldn't be bothered with anybody or anything.
The redhead stared at the Queen, her hair tickling her freckled cheek. "I'll... make sure she eats," Anna whispered, and she wasn't sure of Gerda could hear her. It was more… well, as if she was directly talking to Elsa.
"Take good care of her, Your Highness."
"I will."
Anna pursed her lips in thought, her wife's weight so light as to register little more than a comforting warmth as she carried her to their bedroom. Gerda lead their way through the castle, seeing as how the redhead had yet to familiarize herself with the intricate passageways. The soft glow from the lantern was the only light that illuminated the halls, the trio's footsteps the only sounds were just a few hours earlier it had been bursting with song and dance.
Everyone else had already gone to bed, to sleep off the wine and festivities. Everyone but Elsa, thought Anna guiltily. It was just a silly dream, one that she could've dealt with on her own with a nice cup of tea and some biscuits. In the early morning. That was hours away. She'd probably spend that time crying her eyes out. Huddled under blankets and too terrified to move closer to the fireplace until the sun broke through. Really, it wasn't that big a fuss.
The redhead sighed as she admitted to herself that Elsa had been most timely with her support. She wasn't quite sure how they viewed dreams here, but back in Dunbroch, she had been taught to respect their meaning, even if it wasn't understood.
If so...then what did it mean?
Anna bit at her lip in thought as she walked.
She knew the world had magic, considering her wife had displayed her own ice powers in front of her the day before. Could this dream be a portent of some darker form of magic, or perhaps just a warning that the Southern Isles and/or Weselton would continue to come after her to get to Elsa?
She just didn't know… But, she decided that once she had a chance to talk through some of the more glaring issues with her new bride, she would talk to her about this as well.
Upon arriving at their chambers, Gerda opened the door for Anna so she could more easily get Elsa into the room. Anna gently laid Elsa down in the bed and brought the covers up over her. She then bid Gerda a quick goodnight then made her own way back into the bed as Gerda quietly shut the door behind her on her way out.
Still feeling slightly unsettled after the nightmare, Anna slid over and wrapped her left arm around the waist of the other woman from behind, nestled her face into the other's back and quickly fell into a deep, peaceful slumber.
Elsa woke, feeling as refreshed and rested as she hadn't before. She was tempted to catch a few more minutes of sleep until she realized she couldn't quite feel her left side. Well, no, more like she couldn't move it freely. The blonde glanced down, a bushy mass of red hair inches from her face. Elsa blinked. Then blinked again.
She tilted her head down, stiffening in silent shock about two seconds later because her wife let out an almighty snore that also managed to showcase her magnificent molars.
The queen was stuck. She had to go prepare for her meeting with Stoick, but if she were to move now the redhead would probably wake up and the ensuing bumbling conversation that would undoubtedly pursue was something that Elsa wanted to avoid until they were ready.
You mean never, snarked her more honest side. Which was true, Elsa knew she could give as much as she got in strategic meetings or political debates, but when it came to personal matters, she would just as likely run as ignore the situation altogether until it devolved into the sort of debacle that she could foist off onto her less fortunate subordinates. But she couldn't do that to her wife. Who was still snoring rather loudly against her shoulder. Perhaps if she were to gently…
Come on, Elsa...you can do this, she coached herself, using her free hand to hesitantly reach up and…
The hand paused.
No, I...I can't.
She swallowed past the dryness in her throat, and…tapped lightly on Anna's nose instead of gently shaking her shoulder.
The slumbering redhead in her arms mumbled something, and Elsa's heart thudded loudly in her chest when her wife shifted a little in response.
Teal eyes slowly cracked open, but it was the scent of jasmine that made itself known, the source so close and warm.
Elsa froze, unable to do anything that didn't involve outright chucking her wife out of bed when the redhead burrowed even deeper into her side, mumbling quiet half-thoughts like, "too early" or "five more minutes" or "you're so warm".
The last one had the blonde subconsciously holding Anna tighter.
When was—when was the last time someone referred to any aspect of her being as warm? Always, people, even her parents, feared the harsh cold of her powers, and yes, Anna's acceptance of her magic could be a mask, but something as sure as the sun rising in the east told Elsa that the redhead truly did not think her a monster.
Elsa ran her fingers around Anna's back, unaware of the refreshing grin she had on her face. She'd never smiled so much in one day. Maybe this was one of the beautiful magic, marriage was doing to her. And even though Elsa hadn't began to feel her heart beating rapidly, as to falling deeply in love with Anna, well… This could be a start.
Anna snored, drools dripping down her gaping chin. Her mumbles were getting more distinct and clear. "Chocolate… Is awful." The redhead grimaced and so did Elsa, frowning at that statement.
"Chocolate is not awful," Elsa huffed, puffing her cheeks to a pout.
"Chocolate is not…" Anna repeated, the last word becoming silent and she mouthed it. She giggled like a little kid who'd just came to a wonderland full of sweets. "Elsa is not awful…"
The queen was confused, raising an eyebrow. She was tempted to wake Anna up now, but… She was curious. "Elsa is wonderful… Even if she doesn't believe that… She's wonderful… And nobody can say otherwise…"
Elsa had never been complimented like this before. She was surprised, scared, even, because she knew for a fact that she was the opposite of wonderful. She was dangerous, boring, nothing that Anna was. Well, Elsa had been complimented many times, but they were never genuine. They weren't meaningful. But so was Anna's sleep talking! Just… Her words gave her some reassurance… Something that she could feel so proud about because someone knew what kind of person she was. Many just saw her as a queen. A witch. A monster. An introvert who could hardly make a conversation without the awkwardness looming over them.
But Anna. This girl only saw her as a person.
Elsa reached her hand up once more, and managed to properly give her wife's shoulder a gentle shake, teal eyes slowly opening in response to her touch. Anna smacked her lips a few times, and the queen fought the urge to brush a strand of her red hair that was caught in the corner of her mouth.
"Mm...Els...a? 's too...too early…" her wife mumbled, eyelids drooping even as she pulled back a little to throw a groggy frown her way.
Elsa found herself smiling at how grumpy the girl seemed to be in the mornings-a thought she couldn't help but file away for later. "Anna, I have a meeting to get to," she said gently, more than a little surprised at the hint of teasing in her own voice. "I would appreciate it if you let me go."
"Dun...Dun wanna…" Anna sleepily protested, trying to glare, though it mostly looked like she was attempting to see something on her nose with the way her face scrunched up before relaxing back. "I tol'...I tol' ya...b'fore...Y'dun need tah...tah apolog...apologize...tah those oafs…"
Quite frankly, it was adorable, and Elsa couldn't help the chuckle that fell from her lips. "Anna, I'm going anyway."
Shifting her body, Elsa gently moved Anna's arm off her side and moved to sit up in order to get out of the bed. "You're free to sleep in if you would like, Anna. After my meeting, I have some work to attend to in my study, then we can have lunch together."
"Alr.. alrigh'," the redhead sleepily murmured, her arm curling in against her chest around the blanket.
Elsa proceeded to gather her clothes for the day - a pale blue mid-calf length gown, with a matching jacket, and dressed behind the changing screen. She then quietly made her way out the door towards her study, where she was to meet Chief Stoick.
Upon entering her study, she sat down at her desk and gathered the treaties for the pending wartime partnership with Berk. While she was doing so, there was a knock on the door.
"Your Majesty," Kai began from the other side.
"Come in, Kai."
He then opened the door, and continued, "Chief Stoick is running a few minutes late this morning. He seems to have had quite the evening last night…"
"I'm sure he did. Everything here seems to be in order, but could you please have some coffee and breakfast brought up for us?" the Queen asked, careful not to chuckle at the comment.
"Certainly, I shall have that sent up immediately." Kai replied, before excusing himself.
Elsa couldn't help but feel relieved that Stoick was going to be late. It gave her more time to prepare herself for what she was going to say to the giant of a man. Would he be angry when he walked through those doors? Would he remember what Anna said and call off the agreement due to the insult? She shuddered at the thought. Though she ultimately forgave Anna for the brash words from the night before, she still worried about the outcome now that Stoick was sober and alert.
She fiddled with the papers in her hands, trying hard to banish the worrisome thoughts away. She would deal with the consequence if it came down to it but it wouldn't do her any good to linger longer than necessary. She sighed heavily and lifted her head high, straightening out her posture and putting on her mask as a knock sounded on her study door.
Before Elsa could even call for him to enter, the door swung open with a loud bang, causing her to jump a little in her seat. Chief Stoick stood in the doorway, garbed in the metal and furs she was more used to seeing him in. His cheeks weren't ruddy from drink like last night, at the least, though the broad grin on his face certainly took her aback.
"Queen Elsa of Arendelle!" he all but bellowed, swaggering into the room with his steps falling heavily on the floor.
"Yes, that is me," she blurted out unthinkingly, fighting valiantly to keep a blush from rising to her cheeks at such an obvious statement. The viking leader settled into the chair before her, and she resisted the urge to wince at the brief shriek from the wood sliding harshly against the floor.
"I see that wife of yers is already workin' on ya," Stoick chortled, shoulders drooping a little as he relaxed into the chair that suddenly seemed much too small for him. "I like her. Reminds me of my own Valka with that feistiness of hers."
Elsa blinked.
"So...you aren't mad about last night?"
"Mad? Why would I be?" Stoick smiled at the shell shocked blonde. "It's been a long time since I've been challenged like that. I was about to turn ye down again, Your Majesty, before that little vixen of yers piped up. She certainly knows how to grab attention anyway."
Elsa's lips twitched into a smile upon hearing that and the worry that had gripped her chest eased. He wasn't angry, was even impressed with Anna...the relief Elsa felt was enormous.
"So, about those papers ye wanted me to sign?"
"Just like that?" Her heartbeat felt far, far too loud in her ears.
"Just like that," Stoick affirmed, his smile growing. "By Odin, if I could capture that look on yer face, it would be the highlight of my visit."
A part of her noted that the informality Chief Stoick was paying her right now would've normally been met with stern words and a chilly room as she settled into her familiar role of intimidator, but now…
"A word of advice, from one leader to another," Stoick suddenly spoke up. Elsa was surprised to hear the unexpectedly grave tone the large man suddenly used. She nodded as a means to tell him to continue and the Viking cleared his throat.
"Relax."
Elsa frowned at the word and gave Stoick a firm look, which he chuckled at. "That's exactly what I mean. Before that wife of yers showed up, you would call me in here and try to intimidate me to sign those papers. Ye wanted an alliance, yet ye refused to negotiate with me in a way that was respectful to my people. As such, I responded in kind." Stoick straightened up to his full height, glaring down firmly at Queen and making her wince. "Ye need to learn to respect that some customs are not like yers and that ye can't rely on that gift to scare everyone into agreeing with ye."
"Aye, I 'eard about what happened in Corona. Twas nay pleasant, from what I've been told," he continued, while Elsa's eyes briefly flared in remembrance of the incident.
Upon being requested to approach the thrones by the King and Queen of Corona, Elsa complied and began, "Your Majesties, I require your assistance in the efforts to fight this war in order to protect the people of Arendelle, my people."
The King, after a brief moment of deliberation, replied, "I understand your concern for your people, Queen Elsa, however I do not know what aid we can provide. We are not a warfaring people, and much of our economy relies on trade rather than production of goods."
Elsa pleaded earnestly, "Please, Your Majesty, I need all of the assistance I can in this matter. Both the Southern Isles and Weselton are already preparing for war. My people, my kingdom, and I NEED your help." Frost slowly crept along the inside of her gloves, spreading from her fingertips towards her wrists.
Maintaining a tenuous smile, the King responded, "I'm sorry, but we are unable to provide any help to you at this time. But please...enjoy your stay in Corona."
Without warning, Elsa sent a blast of her magic towards the feet of the royal couple seated across from her, freezing them to the floor. "I must insist, Corona will join this alliance." The temperature in the room dropped suddenly. "You may not have the military strength of the Southern Isles, or even that of Weselton, but we need every last bit of help we can, including ensuring reliable trade to replenish and maintain our stores as we wage this lengthy war." Her brow was furrowed, with a sharp edge to her eyes and mouth quite contrary to their appearance when she had initially approached the older monarchs.
The royal couple's eyebrows rose. "You dare to threaten us?" The king spoke. It was a threat, not much of a question. Elsa's expression was blank, colder than the sparks of flurry that was sent to the king and the queen's way.
She crossed her arms, lowering her head. "My apologies, your majesties." She didn't mean it. "But you must realize… You won't be up to… To the game if you continue denying my offer."
"It's not even an offer!" The king slammed the side of his fist on his armrest. The fury of red, hot anger made Elsa look at them with a challenging tilt of her head. She'd never had someone scream at her before and rarely, anyone with such a supposedly smart brain would deny her. Elsa was reasonable and she'd have to use force to get what's good for anybody.
The man sigh out a frustrating breath. "It's not an offer. A threat… A command—"
"You don't realize how weak my army would be—how much of a disaster it would be for both of our kingdoms if we don't join forces."
"I want no part of this."
"Oh, but you do, your highness. If I lose, we will have nothing left for our people. And they will come for you too. We care about our people very much and if I have to… Threaten to get what I need for my people… Then so be it."
She raised her hand, blue strings of snow flowing around her fingers. It was getting brighter, stronger as it was charging to its strongest point. Where she stood, it was frozen and frosted with layers of ice. It was spreading slowly, ice crackling through the floor around her and little steam from its dangerously frigid layer rose like green grasses through the first day of spring. Her blue eyes glowed with anger and her magic, snowflakes surrounding her pupils and frozen in their place as if inside out of her was made out of nothing but ice and snow.
"So be it." She breathed. A threat.
The guards standing at edges of the throne room rushed forward to protect their monarchs, but an almost lazy wave of Elsa's hand froze their feet to the floor as well. She walked forward, heels clicking loudly with the force of her steps and spreading more frost beneath them. A guard fired his crossbow, the bolt whizzing through the air...only to halt half a meter from the queen, who had raised a wall of ice to intercept the attack.
"You'll have to do better than that," she said coldly, pausing in her steps to look at the frightened guard, who was frantically reloading his crossbow. She flicked her wrist, and the ice shifted violently, expelling the bolt back towards its owner.
"Queen Elsa!" she heard the King of Corona shout, a measure of desperation in his voice as the guard cried out in pain from the bolt buried in his shoulder. "Enough of this!"
The blonde turned her head towards the other royal just as he tried to stand up from his throne, nearly falling to his knees as he lost his balance from the ice still trapping his feet to the floor.
Elsa didn't care, her fingers aimed at the king. She had no pity. No sympathy. Just… nothing.
The guards surrounded her, yelling for her to stop immediately, but they knew… in their little, tiny hearts, that Elsa couldn't care less of what they were saying. With those crossbows? Elsa didn't even have to look to see who was shooting. The guards, however, wouldn't shoot because they knew, number 1: if they did, the king would be lost. Number 2: Elsa could block them and they didn't have to waste all those bolts.
"You can't do this!" the king shouted.
She tilted her head. "Oh believe me, I can." Suddenly, fractals of ice shot out of the ground right below each guard's throat, the tip almost puncturing through their skin. Layers of cold frost spread out throughout their flaming skin, droplets of blood dripping down the thin icicles.
Many guards fainted and those who were still standing, remained paranoid, staring at the reflection of their pathetic selves from the frozen magic. Elsa perked up a little grin. Quite evil, perhaps. But the king… oh, the king. He was speechless. Too scared to even speak up. But...
"I'LL DO IT!"
Elsa blinked.
"I'll do it…" he breathed, tears streaming down his face. "You want an ally… I get it. I'll do it, just please don't hurt my people."
With that, Elsa lowered her hand and her glowing eyes softened to its original blue. With a snap of her fingers, the frosts dimmed and temperature was back to normal. Except… the guards were on the ground, weeping and almost immediately, fainting from the shock.
She grinned. "I'm glad we can both agree on that." Turning to the entrance, heels echoed through the ground as she walked. "I'll be enjoying Corona, thank you."
Snapping out of the memory, Elsa trembled slightly as her lips tightened into a grimace and frost starting to crawl along her fingers. The young queen was willing to do whatever it would take to protect her kingdom, but that didn't mean she liked doing some of the things she had already done, or was yet to do.
Stoick, upon seeing the reaction he had incited abruptly halted the previous topic. "There, there, lass. I meant no harm." Softening his usually gruff tone and dropping his arms to his sides, he continued, "I know what it's like tryin' to protect those ye love, and those yer responsible for. Ye gotta make the hard choices sometimes, worse ye gotta live with the consequences of yer actions."
Elsa slowly took a deep breath, willing herself to calm, and the frost receded from her hands. "I-I… " she began, but was unable to continue.
"'ere, let me sign these papers and get outta yer 'air." Stoick held his hand out to take the treaties to be signed, which she handed over. He proceeded to sign them, and returned them to Elsa who also signed them, and handed back the chief's copy.
Elsa, grateful that this was done, said to the man with a small smile starting to alight her face, "Thank you, Chief Stoick. Your support means a lot to both Arendelle, and to me. Please, enjoy your stay."
"If 't weren't now with ye, 't would've been another day on our own. I'd much rather take the fight to them on our terms." With a wide grin, he exited the study and left Elsa to her work.
But however much the queen wanted to focus on her work, she couldn't help but marvel at how easily she had secured the support of one of the most powerful warrior nations in existence. And she didn't have to lift a single finger in terms of her powers.
Even now, she could feel her ice magic thrumming under her fingertips, eager to be expelled wherever she desired to enforce her will upon others, but what could she do when she was given control, willingly? Elsa remembered the expression on the Coronan king's face, so defined and readily identifiable as fear, and she felt powerful then. On the viking's face though, were etched laugh lines and jaunty humour, and while he signed the contract far more easily than his more peaceful counterpart, the blonde felt…incomplete. She was not unhappy, but unsure, and that in itself was not an emotion she was used to.
The meeting was short and it relieved—no, comforted her that Chief Stoick was so understanding. She smiled, head held high as she walked back to her—their room.
She stared at the door, hand wrapped around the doorknob. They'd been comfortable for the most part this morning. Even Anna was comfortable enough to have to show her soft side, weeping and getting snot all over the blonde. The Queen was glad Anna could even be open to her, despite only knowing her for a day and a half.
Elsa frowned. Now what?
Now… she could wake Anna up. Now, she could go back to her study room and work on leftover documents and treaties that couldn't bother to be left empty. Now, she could go to the dining room to fix herself a breakfast-perhaps a small bowl of oatmeal, but that was plenty for Elsa. Or… she could just go in, and get a few more minutes of sleep. In bed with Anna, listening to her mumble, letting her drool on her as much as she wanted, and letting her drape her legs or arms around her.
She liked the warmth.
Smiling to herself at the thought, Elsa took a deep breath and opened the door.
Participants in this chapter: The Wandering Quill, iamrotting, Nojamhere, Cyrianu, Wolfypuppy7, Winterssummerallthefunner, CanITellUSmThin,