Scene five - Exactly fifty five minutes and 23 seconds later.

Elsa

Kai stood to the side of the great double doors of the Throne Chamber. Elsa was seated on her throne, ice twisting and reflecting on the sides of the red carpet leading to the throne platform. Anna was seated at a smaller throne to Elsa's right, and Schneider stood to her left, acting as an observer. Outwardly calm, Elsa was fidgeting on the inside, nervous beyond measure. This was the first time she had entertained a ruler of another country in her own court, and it was almost as bad as her coronation day. She looked to Anna, who as, usual, wore her emotions on her face. Anna smiled reassuringly, now dressed for the occasion in a black and purple gown which somehow brought out her bright blue eyes, a shade darker than her sisters'. Elsa grinned back, grateful for her Anna's constant support. She looked to her left. Franz was sweating freely, and kept dabbing at himself with a silk handkerchief. The nobles had returned in time, and had pulled all the stops. There was enough lace, silk, and jewelry to feed the city of Arendelle for a month. Elsa cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and motioned for Kai to begin the ceremony. He puffed out his chest, and announced in his most heraldic voice, "I present His Majesty, High Warlord Donovan Ironhand of Arradia, Beacon of the South, Peacebringer and Steelforger, to the court of Queen Elsa of Arendelle, Light of the Northern Sea."

The great doors opened before the guardsmen could reach for the handles, and in strode the Warlord himself. He was flanked by two others, but Elsa's attention was fixed on the first figure. He strode down the aisle, completely confident in everything. He was dressed in all black, in a long coat reaching down to his knees, divided down the middle to see the black mail and plate beneath it. His hands were encased in huge black gauntlets of steel, with sharp points on the knuckles and golden chains wrapping around his wrists. She was no expert, but anyone could tell that was the work of a master armorer. Her eyes flicked up to his face and she almost broke serenity. A stray thought made itself known before she could silence it. He was very attractive, with lean muscles and the grace of a trained warrior. She shut the thought away frantically. At first glance he seemed barely out of his teenage years, with sharp features and pale skin. His face was set in hard lines, but still managed to look vaguely amused. He wore an iron crown on his head, and above his eyes was, again, the three diamonds in a triangle pointing down. At his hip, instead of a sword, was what looked like the hilt of a sword without a blade. Some kind of symbol, perhaps? The companion to her right made her do a double-take. It was a tall woman dressed head-to-toe in scandalously form-fitting leather armor with a pair of knives on her waist and a longbow on her back. Her olive-colored skin and straight black hair marked her as a Uru'stai from the far east, though Elsa had never actually seen one, she had read about them. A bodyguard? The third was a huge man with a great broadsword on his back, dressed in military garb. He has crew-cut black hair and thick sideburns, and she could sense his anxiety, though he hid it well. The three of them, led by Lord Donovan, advanced quickly down the aisle. The nobles were in shock, and obviously awed by the newcomers. Elsa, on the spot, determined not to show weakness in front of the minor nobility. The small party stopped a respectful distance away, and Donovan gave a small bow, from one equal to another. Mutterings sprang up, some angry-sounding. Elsa did not care, he was obviously a powerful ruler and she deserved no more or less. The two others knelt, but they did not lower their eyes as much as they probably should of, eyes constantly moving, observing. Elsa stood, and beckoned them to rise.

"Welcome to Arendelle. I trust your journey was pleasant?" She inquired. Donovan looked up at her and looked directly in her eyes and smiled. His eyes were the darkest blue she had ever seen. And beautiful… Her heart gave an involuntary flutter. She shoved down the rebellious thoughts again and revised her opinion. He was at least two years older than her, and considerably more experienced.

He said in a carrying voice, "It was, and we apologize for the unexpected visit. We scared the wits out of your Guardsmen, didn't we?" He smiled again, though the amusement didn't reach his eyes. They were still judging her. She allowed a smile to spread. He continued. "That was not our intention. We come with an important message, for whoever will listen. Will you hear our message?"

Elsa looked over to Anna, and saw that she was engaged in a staring contest with the Uru'stai girl. Elsa resisted the impulse to roll her eyes, and said coolly, "Of course. You have traveled all this way, to share a message? It would be rude of me to refuse." He looked at her and surprise flashed in his eyes. He regained composure and pulled out a small piece of paper. He cleared his throat and read. "As you know, the Kingdom of Darahdia has been destroyed after years of civil war and internal strife. From the ashes, the Kingdom of Arradia has arisen, and we desire other countries to acknowledge this, at certain benefit to themselves. Arradia hasn't sought anything outside our own borders for over 60 years, and now we are ready to emerge into the modern world, to reenter trade and begin diplomacy once more. All we ask of you, Your Majesty, is to formally accept Arradia as a new country, free of the corruption and warmongering that exemplified Darahdia. There is no price, and no disadvantages. The country of Arendelle will be considered an ally of the first level. Do you formally accept?" At this, he looked up from the paper and his eyes met her once again. She considered her options and found there weren't many. She could accept, refuse, or decline.

"I do have one question." She asked slowly. "Who else have you approached with this request?" He looked to the soldier on his right, then back at her. "You are the first, Your Majesty." That didn't change much, but now she could accept without offending other countries that had refused. She struggled to remember the exact wording of the acceptance ritual. To her knowledge, it had never been used in the history of Arendelle. Schneider knelt next to her and whispered quickly. "Your Majesty, please, give us some time to decide. Agreeing now would be reckless…" She held up a hand, silencing him. "Then I will be reckless." She said serenely. She needed allies. Arendelle needed allies.

"I, Queen Elsa of Arendelle, accept the state of Arradia as a new nation, free from the history of its forebears, to be remembered forever and ever, save indecent action on the part of Arradia against Arendelle."

A small smile lit up Donovan's face and the soldier heaved a great sigh of relief. She looked to the Uru'stai and found her still staring at Anna intently. Donovan gently poked her in the shoulder and the dark girl looked over at him in annoyance, and then realized what she'd done. Anna punched the air lightly in victory. Donovan rolled his eyes and looked back to Elsa.

"Thank you, Queen Elsa. You will always be remembered in our history." He stepped forward onto the first step and spoke again, quiet so that Elsa had to lean in to hear him. "I also desire to meet with you in a more… private setting to discuss trade options and small formalities."

Elsa nodded, suddenly realizing that she had an entire new country to trade with who was already indebted to her. "Yes, that would be mutually beneficial. How about dinner tonight at the seventh hour?"

"That would be perfect." He replied with a roguish smile. The Uru'stai girl looked up at Elsa, and she saw that she did have golden eyes, like in the stories. "Of course, wherever Donavon goes, I go,"she stated, voice soft but leaving no room for argument.

"That is fine." Elsa replied.

The dark girl nodded and turned to leave, and the general did as well. However, Donovan said formally, "Thank you for meeting with us. You have no idea what this means to my people." He tipped his crown, and turned to leave, before turning around again. "And one more thing. Are the rumors true? Can you really control the elements themselves?"

Elsa narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Yes."

He looked calm as ever, but there was a new light in his eyes. "Can you show me? I have a hard time believing something I haven't-" She raised a hand and a great ice crystal in the shape of a huge snowflake materialized above her throne. Looking up at it, she said coldly, "Do you believe now?" as she looked down. Her eyes widened. He had such an expression of pure wonder on his face, it made him look like a small child. He breathed, "Beautiful." He then looked back down at her, and she was suddenly unsure about what he was referring to.

Then he shook his head, and the hard light returned to his eyes. "Thank you for showing me your amazing gift. I will see you later." He gave another small bow, spun on his heel, military style, and strode back out the far door. Elsa released a breath she hadn't known she had been holding. The gentry began chattering, mingling and sharing thoughts about the meeting.

Anna glanced at her. "Are you all right?"

Elsa sat down slowly. "Yes. Yes, I'm perfectly fine."

Anna glanced back at Donovan's retreating figure and looked back at Elsa, and Elsa saw a familiar smile growing. She spoke before Anna could. "No, Anna, don't you dare. He is the ruler of another nation, and I just met him, for heaven's sake!"

Anna shrugged. "But he's cute."

Elsa rolled her eyes as she stood up to leave.

Anna didn't give up. She followed her out the side door, hurrying just ahead of her personal guard. "You gotta admit he's handsome! Just say it! You know he is." As they walked up the staircase, Anna continued to pester Elsa as they ascended the steps, but Elsa maintained a cold serenity, and Anna finally began to shush, but she still had that insufferable smile on her face! And most of all Elsa hated to admit it to herself. At last when they reached the royal hallway, Elsa stopped cold and gave Anna a small smile, and said resignedly. "Yes, he is."

Anna squealed, "I knew you did!" and giggled in that one way, and one laugh led to another, until their sides hurt.

Anna

Anna entered her room still clutching her sides and wiping tears out of her eyes. She knew Elsa had thought he was attractive! She could see it in Elsa's eyes, but she knew that Elsa had taken a big step in actually admitting it! She took off her formal jacket, relieved at the coolness of the air in her room, and walked over to her drawers for something better to wear for dinner. On her dresser there was a piece of paper. She narrowed her eyes in confusion as she picked it up. She unfolded it and written on it were the words, "Four secrets still hidden." Anna did not recognize the cramped, ragged handwriting. She looked around for any signs of intrusion, but could find none. She walked over to her window. Still bolted, and no obvious signs of a forced entry.