Chapter 2
Elsa looked sadly at the suffering royal gardens, located in the palace courtyard. The Day of the Great Snow, as it was becoming known, killed many of the plants, and those that did not die were suffering from shock. Her mother's prized peonies were one such group. The buds that were reaching to the blue sky were like black beads and the leaves wrinkled and dull. And It was not only the palace gardens that she had affected but many of the crops as well.
As Elsa continued to cross the courtyard toward the stables she grimaced as the musty smell of horsehair, hay, and muck assaulted her senses. Elsa touched her nose with her forefinger, capping it with a thin layer of ice that pinched her nostrils together. When passing any servants, she tried as nonchalantly as possible to shield her nose as she acknowledged them with a nod of her head.
When Elsa entered the stable complex she heard her sister's bubbly laugh. But when she saw her she stopped short and ducked back behind the recently rounded corner.
Kristoff and Anna were in the stable aisle grooming Sven; although they seemed to be doing more playing, as one tried to intrude in the other's workspace with their brush.
"Excuse me, trying to work here," Anna said, nudging Kristoff out of the way.
"Um, was here first." Kristoff nudged her back.
"'Um', no you weren't."
"Hello? My reindeer."
"You know, Kristoff, your hair's looking untidy, too, maybe I'll give it a good brush while I'm at it." Anna threatened Kristoff's blond thatch with the curry comb, which was full of Sven's oily sheddings.
"No! Agh! Don't you dare, carrot top!"
"'Carrot top?!'"
Elsa stifled a giggle. Anna had always been sensitive about her rust-colored locks.
"You heard me, red. And I'm going to give that your hair a styling you won't soon forget!"
"It's not red! It's strawberry blonde!"
Kristoff picked up the dandy brush from the floor and Anna took off with a squeal.
Elsa rolled her eyes in dry amusement as she watched the couple chase each other around.
"Aw, come on, Anna! Don't you want to look pretty?"
Kristoff ducked inside an empty stall and when Anna realized he had stopped chasing her, she whirled around and began to search for him.
"I'm pretty enough," she said as she slowly walked down the aisle.
When she passed Kristoff's stall he lunged out and pulled her in. He had only intended to hold her close, but unfortunately her momentum caused him to lose his footing, sending them both into a pile of hay, with Kristoff landing on top of her.
Kristoff quickly pushed himself up. "You okay?"
"Unscathed."
Kristoff leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. "You know, I never knew I had a thing for freckles until I met you." Those same freckles seemed to disappear as the flush in her face deepened; tendrils of red hair had come loose from her braids and her large green eyes were luminous in the soft yellow light that filtered through the stable.
"You are beautiful," Kristoff murmured. The tenderness in his voice warmed Anna from head to toe. Her eyes fluttered shut and Kristoff lowered his head for another kiss.
Elsa, meanwhile, had seen where they had gone and the silence that followed had made her nervous. She trusted Kristoff, but he was still a man and Anna was an inexperienced young woman in the throes of love. Elsa had approached the stall door and was about to let out a timely "ahem" when Olaf showed up.
"What'cha lookin' at?"
Kristoff launched himself away from Anna so forcefully that he bumped his head against the wall of the stall.
"Your majesty— I was — um —" "Oh hi, Elsa, we were just—" They both stammered simultaneously.
Elsa raised her hand. "Enough, enough. You really don't need to explain to me, I just—"
"What's that on your nose?" Anna asked as she help Kristoff to his feet.
Elsa blinked at her for a moment then slowly raised her hand to touch her nose.
"Oh!" She had forgotten all about her improvised clothespin. With a sheepish grin she dissolved it. The smell of the stable hit her afresh with a blow that was almost a physical force. All royal dignity was thrown aside as she reeled back, gagged and covered her the lower half of her face with both hands. "How can you stand that smell?!"
Anna sniffed then shrugged her shoulders. "I'm used to it, I guess. Kristoff smells like this all the time."
"I do not!" The young man exclaimed before dipping his head toward his shoulder to take a whiff. "Do I . . . ?"
"It's earthy" Anna slipped an arm around his waist and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "I like earthy."
Fertilized earthy . . .
Elsa thought to herself and suppressed a grin. She smiled again as she watched them together. Warmth seemed to emanate from Anna and Kristoff like the glow of a live coal, and the sudden remembrance of why she was there in the first place caused Elsa to shiver.
"Anna, could I talk to you for a minute?"
Anna drew away from Kristoff and approached her sister with a look of concern.
"What's up?"
"In private."
"Do you need Sven, Olaf and me to leave?" Kristoff asked.
"No, that won't be necessary," Elsa assured him, "we'll go." Elsa linked her arm with Anna's and led her away.
"I'll meet you later then," Kristoff called after her.
"Yep!"
"Seven o'clock outside my place. Skip dessert tonight."
Anna stopped and spun around. "Oooh, with an invitation like that, how can I refuse?"
Elsa tugged her arm and Kristoff caught the Queen giving him a quick glance. The brief flash of her pale eyes seemed sad, and it set a dozen red flags off in his brain.
Olaf looked from the Queen to Kristoff, then back again.
"Want me to eavesdrop?"
"Yes—no! No, Olaf . . . it's none of my business . . . I'm sure it's nothing serious . . . it's probably just some girl talk . . . yeah . . . girl talk . . ." Kristoff forced a smile.
"I've never talked to a girl— a least, not a 'snow-girl', anyway. Do you think the Queen would make a snow-girl for me? Or would it be a snow-woman?"
"I don't know, Olaf, you'll just have to ask . . ."
"What if the snow-girl she made didn't like me? I mean, just because the Queen makes her for me doesn't guarantee anything . . ." Olaf looked down at his snowy tummy. "Maybe if I shave off a few pounds . . ." Olaf picked up a dandy brush and began to file down his midsection.
Kristoff picked up the curry comb and resumed grooming Sven. He looked over his reindeer's back at the retreating figures of the sisters, and despite his earlier attempt at reasoning, his uneasiness intensified.
. . . . . . . . .
Anna made her way to the settee informal parlor. It was the same settee that she had laid in, dying, while she waited for the kiss that never came from the man she never really knew.
Elsa closed the door then leaned against it. She took a moment to study her sister who seemed to be lost in thought.
"Anna . . ."
"Hm?"
"Has Kristoff spoken to you of marriage yet?"
Anna almost missed the setee.
"Wow. Um . . . no . . . not—not exactly."
"Not at all?"
"No."
Elsa sat down on the edge of an ottoman that belonged to the wing-backed chair, facing Anna.
"I mean," Anna continued, "I'm not in any hurry—at least, not this time." Anna began to absently stroke her braid, the one with the streak of white threaded through it. It was a nervous gesture Elsa recognized.
"I understand."
"Not that I think Kristoff is secretly evil or anything."
"No, of course not! I don't, either. He's a fine young man." "A fine young man"? When did she start sounding like their mother?
Elsa reached out and covered the hand that fidgeted with braid and gave it a squeeze. "If not for him, you would not be here, I would not be here. He brought us back together. But . . ."
Elsa captured both her sister's hands.
Please give him up! For my sake! Please save me!
Elsa swallowed down her panic and managed to calmly ask. "Do you love him? Enough to spend the rest of your life with him?"
Anna opened her mouth to answer but then closed it. She looked away and her gaze became unfocused as she seriously thought.
"Or is it just infatuation, perhaps born out of gratitude?"
Anna looked up sharply. "No. At least— I don't think so. How can you tell the difference?"
"I don't know," Elsa said, suddenly feeling very young and sheepish. "I've never been in love." And I probably never will be. That's fine by me . . .
Elsa returned her hands to her lap and stared at the crystalline light reflected in her icy gown.
"What I do know, Elsa, is that I like him very much."
Elsa nodded. "That's all I needed to know." She reached out and patted her sister's hands.
"Is that all you wanted to talk about?" Anna asked, tilting her head.
"That's all."
"There's nothing else?"
Elsa rose. "Nothing."
"Then why do I have the feeling you're not completely sharing with me?"
"I don't know. Maybe the incident with Hans has made you more suspicious," Elsa said irritably.
Anna's frown deepened.
"I'm sorry, Anna. I'm just a little tired. Don't worry. If there's something really serious going on, I'll tell you about it."
"Okay . . ." Anna did not move from the settee, but continued to look at her sister, the crease between her eyebrows remaining.
Elsa opened the door. Anna rose and followed her out. "Do you know what Cook's preparing for supper?"
Elsa was relieved by the sudden safe change in subject. "Well, today is Fredag . . ."
Anna wrinkled her nose. "Oh, yeah, Fredag is Southern Isle dish day."
"Was. I had Cook throw that recipe book out."
"Good. But, I hope we're not having a cabbage dish in place of it. Cook's on a strange cabbage-kick. Yesterday it was cabbage soup, the day before it was halupki and the day before that was some other cabbage thing. I don't know how much longer I can stand it." Anna clutched her stomach and winced. "Makes me so gassy . . ."
"Good to know," Elsa said taking a dramatically large step away from her sister. Anna covered her face with her hands and groaned.
"It's not funny . . ."
Elsa chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'll speak to Cook about it."
The palace's portion of cabbage had already been harvested and stored in the spring house before the Day of the Great Snow. In fact, the extra cold conditions had increased its storage-life. Elsa knew that once the cabbage was used up, Cook would be moving on to the root vegetables.
"Beets . . ." Elsa whispered with a shudder.
"Hm?"
"Nothing. I'll see you at dinner?"
Anna rubbed her stomach again and gave her a grim smile. "Depends on what it is . . ."
Elsa waved Anna off with a laugh, and started down the hall towards her chambers.
Once inside her bedroom Elsa lowered herself onto the edge of her bed, her legs felt a little shaky. She inhaled deeply then let it out slowly, feeling her pounding heart ease up.
She could not believe what fear had almost driven her to do, to ask. She felt like she had had a moment of madness, and now that the moment had passed she looked back on it with shame. She couldn't believe she had almost tried to save herself by suggesting Anna take her place in the royal obligations of marriage.
Elsa had thought that with the revelation of her powers and Anna's safety secured, her biggest fears had been laid to rest; she would never be that anxious person again. Elsa gripped her skirt until her knuckles turned white.
Her father had trained her himself along with hundreds of tutors, preparing her for the duties of a queen, to deal with the issues she was now facing; and not only dealing with issues as they came but having enough discernment to see them developing on the horizon and planning accordingly. But because of inexperience and powers, the problems that naturally came with running a kingdom had come suddenly and all at once.
Trade, agriculture, marriage . . .
Elsa curled up in bed and hugged herself. It felt as if the world was spinning too fast and she was struggling to her find her footing. Warm tears trickled down her cheeks and froze into little ice pellets once they left her face.
"Pappa . . . I don't know what to do . . ."
A snapping, crinkling sound came to Elsa's ears and she knew her window was frosting over.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anna had watched forlornly as her sister disappeared around the corner. Elsa claimed that there was nothing more to discuss, but Anna was almost one hundred percent sure that was a lie. Something was really bothering Elsa and she was keeping it to herself. Why wasn't she sharing? Royal prerogative?"
Please don't shut me out again . . .
"Your Highness?"
Anna spun around to see Statsminister Sjurd bowing to her.
"Hi, Lord Sjurd," Anna let out a shaky laugh. "I didn't see you standing there."
Lord Sjurd looked at her gravely. "So, Her Highness has told you."
Anna narrowed her eyes at him. "Told me what?"
Sjurd froze and a gloved hand to his lips. "Oh, dear! I assumed on seeing you coming out of the study together . . ."
Anna slowly shook her head, keeping her eyes fixed on the Statsminister.
"Well . . . never mind then!" Lord Sjurd tried to walk away but Anna easily overtook him and blocked his path.
"' Told—me—what?" She repeated archly, trying to make herself look as regally intimidating as possible.
Lord Sjurd sputtered. "I really shouldn't say . . . if the Queen didn't tell you . . . I'm really not at liberty . . . "
"It's not fair keeping me in the dark like this. How am I to be of use to Arendelle if no one tells me what's going on around here?"
"Do you remember what happened at the first cabinet meeting, which the Queen so graciously invited you to?" Lord Sjurd raised a pair of bushy censorious eyebrows at her.
Anna bit her lip and looked away. "I fell asleep . . ."
"And snored," Sjurd added and tried again to leave, but Elsa continued to block him.
"Aw, come on! It was right after her Coronation ceremony; it had been a crazy morning!"
The Statsminister tried once more to walk away but Anna threw her arms out.
"Please, 'Surry' . . ." Anna pleaded, using her and Elsa's childhood name for him.
Sjurd's shoulders slumped in defeat and he looked very grim. "Very well, your highness. Come with me."
Lord Sjurd ushered Anna back into the formal parlor and the Princess had a sense of foreboding. Whatever Lord Sjurd was about to tell her, it was sure to be bad. Anna was really beginning to dislike the formal parlor.
With her mind full of Elsa and untold troubles she did not notice the little snowman who slid through the gap of the closing door and rolled to hide behind the high-backed chair.
. . . . . . . . . . .
When Kristoff came to live in Arendelle he felt uncomfortable with the idea of living in the large palace. Who was he but an orphaned ice harvester? When he tried to express his doubt to Anna she immediately interrupted, dismissing his concerns. She would not hear of him being a "mere" anything, he was good enough to live in the palace. But Kristoff could not shake the feeling that the citizens were judging him for getting above himself.
The couple were able to reach a compromise, letting Kristoff live in palace's gatehouse, although still quite grand, Kristoff found quite cozy.
That was where he stood now, outside of it, leaning against his sled with his arms folded. He turned his eyes from the twilight sky to the large clock ensconced in the gate's archway.
Fifteen minutes to eight.
"I wonder what's holding her up, Sven?" The reindeer moved up to Kristoff from behind and laid his head on his shoulder. He patted his animal's jaw.
"I hope she's alright," Kristoff said for Sven.
"Me too, buddy."
After another minute passed Kristoff pushed off the side of sled and began to pace.
"Five more minutes, Sven, then I'm going to go look for her."
Five minutes later Kristoff was halfway across the courtyard when he spotted a white shape coming toward him in the dark.
"Kristoff, Kristoff, Kristoff!"
"Olaf?"
In his haste the little snowman tripped over his own feet and his momentum caused him to roll. By the time he reached Kristoff he had become a giant snowball with eyes.
Despite his alarm Kristoff laughed.
"How can you chortle at a time like this?"
Kristoff immediately sobered and, kneeling down, he began to help Olaf put himself back to rights. "What's happened? Is it Anna?"
"It's both Elsa and Anna . . ." Olaf then proceeded to explain to Kristoff exactly what he heard from the Statsminister, about the economic crises and the resolution that an advantageous marriage alliance was Arendelle's only hope of survival.
" . . . so, it's either Queen Elsa or Anna that has to have an arranged marriage, but since Anna's already taken it will really have to be the Queen . . . "
Kristoff dropped Olaf's carrot nose and began to run towards the palace, but then he slowed to a stop after only a few feet.
What do I do?
Kristoff shifted his weight and dragged his hand down his face. As he did so he caught sight of the bracelet Anna had fashioned for him by braiding strips of soft leather together. An unexpected lump began to form at the back of his throat.
"Kristoff!"
He looked up to see Anna running across the courtyard toward him. When she reached him she doubled over, panting to catch her breath.
"I'm so . . . so, sorry . . . I completely forgot about—"
Kristof chuckled and forced himself to act casual. "It's okay. Just don't pass out on me."
Anna straightened and gave him a crooked smile, but as she looked at him the smile faded. "Torn" was clearly written all over her face.
"I'm so sorry," she repeated, but Kristoff felt she was not apologizing for being late. "Can we— can we do it another time?"
"Of course," Kristoff answered gently, his eyes intent on her face. Anna awkwardly shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She then took one step towards him.
Before Kristoff could stop himself, he reached out to her. Anna hesitated a moment, then moved closer. He touched the side of her face and caressed her cheek with his thumb. She closed her eyes and leaned into his callused palm. The eyes that looked at him when again opened them were sad.
Her look confirmed his fears.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said softly with a nod.
Anna gave him a small smile and let out the breath she had been holding.
"See you tomorrow." She slowly turned away and walked toward the palace. When she reached the door she looked back at him over her shoulder. Kristoff gave her what he hoped was a reassuring grin and waved. That seemed to have a heartening effect on Anna, for what started out as a weak smile became more natural. She stepped inside the palace and was gone.
The moment the door closed Kristoff looked as he had when he handed a dying Anna over to the palace staff to be cared for and the doors were closed in his face, forever shutting him out from her life.
Kristoff reached into the drawstring bag he kept tied to his belt and pulled out a small, velveteen box. He opened it and watched its contents sparkle in the moonlight. With a pained expression, he closed his eyes and snapped the lid shut.
. . . . . . .
Elsa woke exhausted. She had hardly slept a wink last night. Her brain had refused to slow down. Each time she began to drift she heard the voices of her ministers bouncing around in her head, repeating their arguments and concerns.
Elsa sat up and stretched. Her eyes were so dry they made a clicking noise each time she blinked. She was so tired that when she tried to slip on her robe she missed the right sleeve a few times before finally getting her arm through it. She wandered over to the washstand and sent a silent thank you to Gerda who faithfully filled the pitcher with warm water every morning. She felt a little more awake after splashing her face. She began to draw back the curtains.
Normally the opening of the curtains was a task left to the chambermaid, all the years she had hidden her magic, Elsa did without a chambermaid. Even though she had Gerda now, drawing back the curtains was the single morning ritual she insisted on continuing to do herself; the first look at the early morning sunshine had a way of lifting her spirit, and it did so again today. She was even feeling optimistic. She would figure out another solution to Arendelle's problems, aside from getting married.
Elsa was feeling so good now she began to hum a little as she moved from her bedroom to the adjoining receiving room, and then to her study, smiling as the sunlight poured in. She reached for the curtain of the last window, which was situated behind her desk, but as she did so a block of white color caught the corner of her eye. She turned back around and saw an envelope sitting square in the middle of her desk.
"That wasn't there last night . . ." she murmured, a little disturbed by the idea that someone had come into her royal suite during the night. It was a good thing she kept the door to her bedroom locked. To be on the safe side, she unlocked the drawer with the false bottom and from the secret space she removed the box that held her State Papers. She looked through them. When she was satisfied everything was and order and nothing amiss, she turned her attention to the envelope.
Queen Elsa was inscribed on the front in familiar-looking, plain handwriting. She formed a thin dagger out of ice and, cutting through the flap, pulled out the letter.
"Your Majesty," the letter began. "Thank you for making me feel so welcome . . ." a sense of dread chased away the remnants of her good mood. Her eyes ran down to the bottom of the letter: "I am writing this letter to inform you of my resignation as Official Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer."
Elsa stopped reading and ran from the room. She ignored the surprised stares of the palace staff as she hastily formed her ice dress over her robe and nightgown as she walked.
She stopped at Anna's door and, yanking it open, dashed into the sitting room. On finding it empty she moved on to her sister's bedroom. She was not there.
Elsa turned from the room and made for the courtyard, bound for the gatehouse. She slowed her walk when she saw Anna standing in the gatehouse doorway, her back to her. She bit her lip.
"Anna?"
Anna turned and looked at her, confusion, concern and barely concealed panic was written all over her face. She seemed to know what happened without being told.
"I-I can't seem to find Kristoff . . . his sled's gone. Do you think he went for an early morning ice run without telling me? That's unlike him."
"Anna . . ."
"Where is he?" Anna repeated, moving towards her sister, wringing her hands and looking to Elsa so much like the rejected little girl she once was. The pain in her eyes was almost more than Elsa could bear.
"What's that?" Anna noticed the letter still clutched in Elsa's hands. She wordlessly handed it to her. As she anxiously read it, Elsa came and put an arm around Anna's hunched shoulders.
When Anna finished reading the short letter, she let it slip from her fingers. "I don't understand . . ."
With a choking sob Anna sank to the cobblestones. "Why did he not say anything to me? I don't understand!" Anna gripped the skirt of her dress so tightly, he fingers turned white. She did not know such clichés were possible, but she really did feel like someone had punched a hole in her chest and ripped out her heart, like a part of her was missing.
The mere idea of having to go through life without Kristoff was excruciatingly unbearable. She bent over double and cried into her skirt.
Oh, Kristoff I do love you . . . please come back . . .
"I think . . . it may be my fault . . ."
Anna raised her tear-streaked face to her sister. "Do—hic—you—hic—mean it had to—hic— do with the alliance proposals—hic?"
"How did you know—?"
"'Surry' told me."
"What?"
"I kind of—hic—bullied him into it,"
"Anna, you had no right—"
"I'm—hic—your sister, and I am a Princess of Arendelle, I had every—hic—right to know! The welfare of my kingdom is my concern, too! Why didn't you—hic—tell me?! I thought we were close—hic—My mistake."
Elsa knelt down and gripped Anna's hunched shoulders. "No, Anna, don't say that. You're right, I should have told you. I—I didn't want to burden you."
"Burden me! Burden me, please! We're sisters, Elsa, we're supposed to bear each other's burdens!"
"I was just afraid that if you knew about the marriage alliance proposal you would feel torn."
Anna could not refute that because that was exactly what had happened.
"Don't worry about me," Elsa said giving her sister's shoulders a squeeze. "You and I, we'll work on a solution together."
Anna looked up at her sister, a little bit of hope making an appearance on her face. She wiped her nose on her sleeve. "Then I'll forgive you this time . . ." She turned to look at the gatehouse again. "But, do you think we can hold off on any major decisions for a little while?"
Elsa raised her eyebrows in question.
"I've got me a man to find . . ." Anna's tears had dried and her face was a mask of grim determination.
"Of course."
. . . . . . .
Across the sea Prince Nikolaus Elva of the Southern Isles was staring at the elaborately inlaid mahogany doors of his father's study. He felt his palms sweating inside his gloves and wished he could rip them off. He looked down at his Hessian boots with dismay as he realized that they were dirty with garden soil. Of all days to look so untidy . . .
He could not remember the last time he had been summoned to an audience with the King. He even had trouble remembering the last time he had spoken to him. It could not have been above ten times these past two months.
The doors Nikolaus had been waiting behind for three minutes suddenly creaked open, startling him.
"His Majesty will see you now," announced Alaric, his father's manservant, and a faithful member of the royal household staff for sixty years.
Nikolaus squinted as his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the room. The King was sitting in his favorite wing-backed chair in front of the fire with a blanket draped over his legs. He did not look up at his eleventh son as he approached, but he did gesture to the other wing-backed chair, sitting opposite.
Mother's chair . . .
Nikolaus slowly sat down. Once he settled he looked at his father. Face drawn and pale, the king looked a score older than his actual fifty years.
"Word has come to me of the incident in Arendelle, involving your brother."
Nikolaus' dark eyebrows shot up. That his father had shown interested in something outside of his chambers surprised him.
"I do not believe all this nonsense about the young queen of Arendelle having . . . what was it? . . . the power to manipulate water?"
"Ice."
"Ice, same thing."
"Neither do I, sire. I believe it to be the product of the ravings of a bitter young man."
A look of pain crossed the king's face. "Hans . . . I still can't believe it. The apple of his mother's eye . . ." The king's eyes began to well up with tears. Nikolaus hastily dug into the cuff of his coat for a handkerchief and handed it to him.
"I'm so thankful his mother is not here to witness his disgrace."
If mother had been here, it wouldn't have happened . . .
"It has also been brought to my attention by Alaric—" the king nodded to the manservant who in turn bowed, "that you have been sending letters of formal apology to Arendelle on my behalf."
Nikolaus flushed and a twinge of fear jolted through him. He knew he should not have done it, but he felt responsible for his brother's actions and was sure his father would not get involved. He had not been involved in anything that went on in the kingdom.
Not since . . .
"It was a gross presumption on my part, Your Majesty, I—"
"Presumed upon my ignorance and inaction."
Nikolaus bowed his head "Forgive me."
"Has there been any reply?"
The prince slightly thrown off by the lack of punishment took a moment to answer.
"No, sir."
The king sighed. "If it's the last thing I do on this earth, I'm going to make something right. Since you are so eager to be diplomatic, I'm commissioning you with the task of traveling to Arendelle and personally offering our apologies to the Queen."
"Me?"
The king leaned forward in his chair to fix Nikolaus with an intense stare.
"You're the only one I trust, Klaus."