Two. The Formulation

"Well, we haven't worked out all the details ourselves. We'll need a few days to plan the ceremony. Of course, we'll have soup, roast, and ice cream and then…"

—Frozen, Anna

"Elsa, where are my shoes?"

"On your feet."

"Oh, gosh, of course. I just put them on. My head must be in the clouds. Do you think my hair looks fine this way?"

"If you want Kristoff to think you are a lion in the jungle with a huge mane, then yes."

"Elsa, you are not helping! Can you please put down your book and help for one second? I know you're still getting used to not living as a hermit, but my wedding is one month away and we must prepare. I can't believe it's almost here! I can't believe Kristoff said yes when I asked him to marry me. Do you think it's weird that I asked him to marry me? I mean, usually it's the guy who proposes, right?"

Elsa, queen of Arendelle, watched her younger sister pace the floor of her room, her reddish-brown hair in a puff and her dress slightly wrinkled. How did she mess up her hair that much? Anna was talented; Elsa admitted that. Though, whether she was ready to be a bride, Elsa wasn't so certain. Anna was dreadfully young and, though she and Kristoff made the cutest couple ever, Elsa still worried if her younger sister could handle marriage. She was so idealistic.

In the middle of Anna's rant, a servant entered the room and bowed before his queen and princess. "Your majesty."

Elsa turned from her sister and nodded to the servant. "Yes?"

"Some of the guests are arriving."

"What guests?"

"The guests of the princess's wedding. They say they plan to stay until the wedding."

Anna stopped moving and asked, "What? The wedding isn't for a month. Why would they be arriving so early?"

The messenger smiled. "Apparently, they would like to help with the wedding."

Elsa felt uncomfortable. She didn't like strangers in her castle. It was enough to deal with the wedding planners, caterers, and florists. She did not need to deal with more strangers. It chilled her, and it took a lot to make her feel cold.

Anna, on the other hand, jumped up and down. "Oh my gosh, this is so exciting. Having nobles actually stay in the castle. Elsa, we should plan events. We could set up a skating rink and have picnics. We could have hunting parties…minus killing animals, of course. We could do so many things!"

"Anna." Elsa's voice felt raspy. She cleared her throat, trying to find words. Her heart was pumping. She was so used to hiding away. It took getting used to even having diplomats come for a couple days. Why did they have to come a month early?

Anna continued, unperturbed, "Oh, I should go tell Kristoff. No, wait! I need to brush my hair. Are there any girls our age? I hope there are."

When Anna paused to stare at the servant expectantly, he looked taken aback. He probably wasn't used to Anna pausing for a moment to get answers to any of her ridiculous questions. Elsa felt sorry for him usually. However, this time she waited expectantly, starring over at him blinking her eyes.

"Y—yes, your highness, I believe there are a few."

"A few? There must not be many guests then."

"There are several dozen, I should say."

Elsa felt horrified. "Several dozen!"

Anne ignored her sister's comment and continued, "So, if they're not girls our age, who are they? Please don't tell me they are all old people."

The servant shook his head. "No, in fact, most of them are young princes and kings from around the world."

"Kings? Princes? What are they doing here?" Anna voiced what Elsa was about to ask.

Shifting uncomfortably, the man glanced cautiously over at Elsa. "Well—that is, they say they are here for the wedding. I—I don't like listening to rumors."

"What rumors?" Elsa asked coldly. She did not like to have anything kept from her.

He trembled slightly at her menacing voice and immediately she felt repentant. She knew her people still hadn't completely accepted the fact that someone with such power as hers could ever be completely good. And she hated the fear that she still elicited from some of her subjects. That was when she envied Anna most: Anna had an amazing ability to make people feel comfortable around her, whereas Elsa seemed to prompt an opposite reaction. Sometimes—no, most times—she still wished she was normal like her sister.

Luckily, Anna broke into the uncomfortable silence. "Ohhhh! Rumors!"

"I do not know if it is proper to say, your majesty," the servant finally offered, his face getting oddly red. However, despite his reservations, he answered his queen. "Some rumors are going around the castle that these men have come to seek your hand in marriage."

Elsa mouth opened in awe. "My hand?'

The servant nodded.

Anna, on the other hand, didn't seem so shocked. "Really? Oh, Elsa, isn't this great? I can get married and you can find your prince charming."

"I thought Hans had convinced you that you don't have a prince charming?"

"No, he just convinced me that there's no love at first sight. After all, Kristoff is my true prince charming, even though he does smell. But he promises to start taking bathes once a week. But where was I? Oh, right, your prince charming. You mustn't give up. After all, I got incredibly lucky. You'll—"

"Please stop, Anna!" Elsa clenched her fists as she felt the coldness grow in her. But she had learned control it and could stop her power from raging when she felt frightened. "I do not wish to marry. Have the parties you like, but I will have nothing to do with it. I just want to rule in peace. Is that just too much to ask?"

Elsa could endure no more and burst her way out of the room, taking deep breaths. Sometimes, even now, she needed to get away.

She stopped in the hall and leaned against the wall, trying to remember to breathe.

"Elsa?"

Elsa turned as Anna placed a hand on her arm.

"I'm sorry, Elsa. I didn't mean…that is to say, I didn't think you would get upset. I just want you to be as happy as I am."

"I don't think I can be, Anna. I am cursed with a melancholy disposition. I envy you for your endless cheerfulness."

Anna shook Elsa's arm. "Stop being depressed. I won't try to match you with any of the princes. Just don't shut yourself away again. I promise, we'll be so busy that a month will fly by. And you won't have to do anything."

Elsa glanced down at the radiant face of her younger sister. Without Anna, she didn't know what would have happened to Arendelle. Her hand reached up and stroked Anna's cheek. "Don't talk nonsense. This is your wedding. The last thing you need is to have to do all the work. Besides, working will give me an excuse to not have to deal with any visitors. So, just relax and enjoy yourself. You like socializing more than I, and I will do all the planning."

Anne jumped up and down, and started talking about all her plans for parties and balls. Elsa listened kindly, but she still felt a curl in her stomach. She tried to push the fear back, but she knew it would always be there. She just didn't want to deal with men trying to marry her.