"Leave it alone, you look fine." Nick said loudly as he slapped Emily's hand as it reached up to adjust the crown that sat on her hair. The princess was nervous, and when she was nervous she fiddled with things, the crown was just the nearest thing she could find. She wore a light grey shirt that went halfway down her arms. Its trim was a bright purple and she looked quite official in it. Her hair was tucked into the neat bun she wore when going out and she had on her usual dark blue pants. Elsa, Anna and there visitors, along with a handful of guards stood on the docks, watching as the boat approached. Nick reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Emily's shoulder, giving it a squeeze before dropping his hands to his sides. The boat came to a stop and the crew went to work securing it. Two figures emerged on deck, slowing waking onto the dock. Emily and Nick along with their crew dropped to one knee, bowing to the figures. The new people walked closer and Elsa saw they looked to be a couple in around there mid-fifties. They wore the same kind of clothes as Emily and Nick but much more elaborately decorated versions. Their hair was greying and they both had crows perched on their heads. The man approached Elsa, giving a small bow before extending his hand to the girl.
"Queen Elsa, I assume. A pleasure to meet you your highness. I am King Erik of Torandale and this is my wife Queen Susan of Torandale." The man said gesturing to his wife who gave a small curtsy. "Thank you for housing our crew for the past month or so. We hope we are not overstaying our welcome and ask if you will allow me and my family to stay in your home for a few days while we visit your kingdom. The crew member's that have been staying with you will now move to stay in the boats." He said with a look to the crew that just begged one of them to argue with his assumption.
"Of course, but we have more than enough room for all…" Elsa was cut off by a loud laugh from the king.
"Splendid, to the castle then." He exclaimed as he walked off the docks being led by his royal guard and the guards of Arendelle. Elsa stood in shock at the king's behavior, realizing that neither he nor his wife had acknowledged their daughter who was still kneeing in a bow. When he was a safe distance away and had turned the corner to the carriages that's waited for him, Elsa felt free to speak freely.
"Well that was…interesting." Elsa said.
"That's my father." Emily said as she stood before turning to address her crew. "Im sorry but you are going to have to be housed on the ships from the remainder of our trip. Feel free to roam the town."
"Well look at you acting all large and in charge!" A cheerful boy's voice boomed from the newly arrived ship. There stood a man with dark hair that was cut short, but not short enough to hide the fact that it sprang into tight curls. He wore a dark red shirt that showed off his muscular arms and tattoos. Elsa noted that he also had the tattoo of the Torandale army. He was as handsome as they come, with a chiselled jaw and bright eyes. He was smiling from ear to ear as he jumped down from the boat.
"Bradley!" Emily screeched as she ran towards the boy, throwing herself into his arms as he picked up the girl, spinning her around. Nick ran to the boy when he set Emily down and Nick pulled the boy into a back slapping hug.
"I have missed you two!" Bradley exclaimed as he ruffled Emily's hair. "And who is this?" He asked while eyeing the Arendelle royals.
"Bradley this is Queen Elsa and Princess Anna of Arendelle. Elsa, Anna, This is my brother Prince Bradley of Torandale." Emily explained as they walked towards the girls. Bradley gracefully bowed to one knee and kissed Elsa's hand, flashing the girls a charming smile, before moving to kiss Anna's hand as well.
"So you are the fine people who have been keeping my baby sister so far away from home." The prince joked as they started the walk back towards the carriages.
"I guess so. Emily has really been helping me learn about my powers and how to control them." Elsa said, still acting very formally towards the boy.
"Well don't mention that to our parents, she told them she was coming here to learn about foreign trade." Bradley laughed.
"Oh really? I thought your parents knew…"Anna began but was cut off by a look from her sister.
"You met our parents; they can be a little….overwhelming. We thought it best that we keep my true intentions a secret from them." Emily explained
"But don't worry, they do know about your powers so you won't have to try and hide them while they are here." Bradley promised as they walked.
The whole ride to the castle the smile never left Bradley's face; the queen thought he seemed like a very happy person. At on point on the ride, Bradley draped his arm around his sister's shoulders protectively and Elsa noticed that the underside of his arm looked like it had been badly burned at one point. The scar came from under his shirt and extended around his arm. Elsa looked to her sister to see if the younger girl had noticed the scar. They shared a look and both knew what the other was thinking.
Being the older brother of someone with fire powers must be tougher than it looks.
Dinner that night was a tense and awkward occasion. The King, Queen and Prince had settled into their rooms and now sat around the table eating in almost pure silence.
"So, Nickolas, what have you and your men been doing to occupy your time while my daughter has been studying?" The kings asked the boy who swallowed before looking at the man with his reply.
"Well sir, we have been playing a lot of football and strolling around town." Nick said in a tone Elsa had never heard his use before.
"And Emily, how have your studies been?" The king asked
"They have been very well sir, I believe I have almost learned everything there is to learn." Emily lied through her teeth at the man.
"Then you will be returning home with your mother and me in three days' time." The king assumed as he took another bite of his food.
"What?" Emily, Elsa, Nick and Anna all said at the same time, startled the king looked at them like they had all just admitted to running through the kingdom naked in their spare time.
"Well of course. What did you expect children? My daughter has been here far too long all ready for just a…study trip…" The kings said. Something in his voice told Elsa that the king knew that Emily was not here to read up on trade agreements.
"Emily and Nick are welcome here as long as they want to stay and Bradley as well." Anna piped in, staring at the king.
"Anna…" Emily warned. "Father, I will decide when I leave Arendelle. My work here is complete but that does not mean there is nothing to be gained by staying."
"Emily, we need you at home to…" her mother began but was cut off by Emily slamming her hands on the table and springing to her feet.
"To what mother? To lock me away and make sure I don't hurt anyone else. God only knows the shame that would befall you and father if you returned to Torandale without your precious princess to parade around the town." Emily yelled at her mother before turning to leave, storming out of the room. Nick pushed his chair back to follow her but was stopped when the king raised his hand.
"Nickolia, shouldn't you being getting back to your room…on the ship?" The king stated.
"The…the ship." Nick said.
"Nick had been staying here in the castle." Elsa clarified.
"Well maybe but I clearly stated that the crew was to stay on the ships from now on." The king said, without looking up from his food. Elsa started to argue but stopped when Nick shook his head.
"Yes sir." Nick said as he walked out of the room, towards the front door of the castle. The remaining royals sat in silence for a while but the king was the only one eating. Elsa found herself going over the things Emily had said to her father in her head. She couldn't help but wonder why she had said her parents had locked her away. From what she understood Emily had not been locked away as a child and from her story's she thought the Princess had had free rein around her kingdom. And she also wondered why the girl had said "Hurt anyone else."
"Bradley, how long will you be staying?" Anna asked hesitantly.
"Um well I guess until my parents go back home. But I would like to see Arendelle while I am here. My sister has said wonderful things in her letter. I would love to be shown around town tomorrow if you are not busy princess?
"No…I mean Yes, I would love to show you around." Anna stuttered.
"Well we must be turning in now my dear. Thank you queen Elsa for a…wonderful dinner." King Erik said as he grabbed his wife's hand and dragged her out the door.
"Yes it is getting late isn't it?" Said the prince after his parents left. "I must apologise for my parent's poor behaviour, they usually are not this bad. And my sister is still very young; I hope she didn't lose her temper like that much this trip."
"No actually, I have never seen her that upset before." Elsa admitted as they walked from the dining hall.
"She's great to have around, she has become like family to us." Anna said happily.
"Well that great to hear. I must retire now my ladies. Sleep well." Bradley said as he bowed to one knee, placing a kiss to Anna's hand, making her blush; and a nod to the queen, before leaving.
"Hmm, someone's got an admirer." Elsa joked with her sister who blushed and ran off to her room.
Elsa walked down the hall to her door, twisting the nob before she stepped inside. The moonlight shining through the window only partially illuminated the dark room. Elsa pushed through the darkness of the room over to the window. The creaking of floorboards behind her made the Queen whip around.
"Hello? Is someone there?" the queen called out through the darkness.