Sorry about the wait you guys! I'm afraid things got a little hectic for me, pair that with a bit of writer's block, and a distraction of a new project, and there's your answer! Anyway, here's chapter 12. I hope you guys like it, and just as a head's up, I'm going back to school soon so my updating may be a wee but more unpredictable. I promise though, I will never give up on a story or leave one incomplete. Thanks everyone!
Elsa
I wish that I could say that every day I spent with Serephina after that day in the meadow was filled with the same excitement and romance. But truth is, I can't. The next few days that she spent with us, well we usually spent apart. Constantly I was kept occupied by the stupidest of political affairs. Unimportant trade details and contracts were argued with me, perhaps with no arguments fiercer than the ones between myself and the Noblesse de Robe. His stay had been extended due to damage affecting his ship, and I couldn't wait for the day that Antoine set sail.
The fact that once I had found the man charming was beyond me by now. Antoine was egotistical, arrogant, and ignorant. Occasionally, he still tried his advances on me, but now it was all too easy to turn him down. The only problem was the less I wanted to see him, the more it felt like he forced me too.
"Antoine, it is very late, and my mind is not wavering," I finally blurted after one especially long discussion about tariffs. My hand massaged my temple. All I wanted at this point was crawl into bed and fall asleep with Serephina.
"This discussion has barely been touched! I've hardly seen you in the past week. I thought we were getting somewhere," he paced, speaking quickly in his heavily accented voice. I knew he was implying more than just price negotiations. Intentionally, I had been avoiding him. There was no more lingering interest for me in him. Unfortunately, his feelings were quite on the contrary.
I stood from my seat, smoothing out my gown, ready to get out of it. "Good night, Antoine."
When I began for the door however, he stepped out in front of me. I took a single step back, my eyes narrowed and hands in relaxed fists. His brow furrowed, his gaze was accusing and unsettling. "Queen Elsa, I came here to do business and to make proposals that hopefully will be beneficial to both our kingdoms. Now, I am worried that another guest in your home is distracting you from hearing me and doing what is best for our governments."
"Monsieur Salois, I have listened to all of your proposals and thought long on them. I always consider what is best for my people and do not need you to tell me how to take care of my kingdom. Mine is strong and wealthy. The people live well here, and I take great pride in that. My answer is no to your propositions. If you come up any others, please share them with me, but do not take me as irresponsible." I looked at him with matching intensity.
His breath passed through his smooth lips in a puff of visible white. He saw it too, and his eyes widened, realizing the warning I was sending him. "My sincerest apologies." Quietly, Antoine stepped to the side. The exit was made clear to me, but that didn't lessen my temper. I may be above fighting when there was a more diplomatic approach, but if this man continued to test me, well guilt would not consumed me if I lost control.
Briskly, I swept past, not offering another good night. My hands shook at my sides as I rushed through the hallways. Servants who I passed asked with concern if I needed anything. My answer was always the same, "No… no thank you, and please leave me be for the night."
My sister and Kristoff had clearly already retired for the night, and I was grateful for that. I didn't think I could answer a single question from them. I lifted up my skirt and ran up the first staircase I came across. Locking myself into my room was sounding better and better. By the time I reached the hallway, tears were rolling down my face. Considerably warmer than myself, they nearly burned the way down. I threw open my door and slammed it back into place behind me.
"Elsa? Are you alright?" I hadn't noticed, but the voice had come from Serephina who was seated on the open sill of one of the grand windows in my room. Fresh night air breezed in shifting my hair and her loose shirt. The moonlight silhouetted her appearance as she swung her leg that had been dangling outside back into the room. The wide smile across her face immediately dimmed to a troubled frown.
She stood up and rushed towards me, but I was still too angry. When her elegant hands reached for mine, I stepped back. Serephina's reaction was as if I'd struck her. "Where were you this afternoon? I went looking for you all through the castle, I asked all of my servants, I even sought out Anna and Kristoff, but you weren't here! Where did you go? Why weren't you here?"
"For the past few days you've dealing with your kingdom nonstop. I was feeling a little stir crazy so I went out for a hike. I haven't been kept penned up like this in a long time. I needed air. I'm sorry I didn't wait around till you were ready for me," she replied back, not yelling like I was but with an expression that killed. Serephina looked in pain from having this talk, especially since she really had no idea what was causing it.
That's when the real sobs began. Not just my hands anymore, my whole body was wracked with the tears. I began to slur apologies before chaotic gasps for air just as Serephina swooped me into her arms. Strong appendages encircled my frame as my face met the side of her neck. Arms clinging desperately around her rib cage, hers softly caressed the length of my spine and entangled themselves into my hair. Her voice gently whispered words of understanding and encouragement as all of my stress built up within me.
"Take deep breaths Elsa, don't make yourself sick," her lips grazed my ear while she spoke. Like the feeling of watching a hearth alive with flame, her presence warmed me. I began to relax into the smoky, woodsy sent of her clothing and skin. My sobs quieted into just sniffles and tears. "There, easy my queen."
"You deserve better than me. Someone who just shows up at the end of the day just throw her frustrations at you." I grumbled into her shoulder, thoroughly angered at myself for displacing my temper onto someone who was only there to make me happy.
Serephina pushed us apart to gaze down at me. Her expression was stern, "Silence that noise. You've had one night where the pressure has caught up to you. If you think I can't take something like this, then you underestimate me, my queen. You're all I can see myself wanting."
Serephina
I meant everything I said, but her own self doubt scared me. To think about anyone that I felt this strongly for even remotely suggesting a parting between us just because she felt the need to protect me or put myself before her was not at all what I wanted. I was the one who would look out for her and make sure I wouldn't be the one to cause her pain. It didn't work the other way around. Her crying had come to a near stop, only the wet trails really remained.
"Hey," I whispered, raising her chin and bringing a new grin to my face, "There's no getting rid of me anymore. You had your chance, and that ship has literally sailed. You are trapped with me now, my queen."
Elsa let loose a half laugh, short and controlled, but not empty. When she tried to look down again, I pushed her chin back up with a single finger. I nodded my head slightly, and she received the message. Her head tilted backwards as my lips came down to meet hers. Hands weighed down on my collarbones as my own curled over her cheeks. My thumb stroked away the remaining tears as what began as a light peck deepened. Our faces turned to different angles as my tongue danced with hers. Casually, I pulled back again, ending back with another peck.
Looking back at the young queen, her appearance held this new sultry quality to it. I tried my best to keep an easy grin as she looked up to me, longing in her eyes. I wouldn't keep her like this for much longer. My mind explored the near future of bringing her to bed and making her really feel happy and content. Those moments are what I lived for. "Don't ever suggest again that I deserve anything other than you, because you are what I want, and what I will fight for."
The rest of the night fell into an affection filled blur. My hands pulled the shoulders of her dress down till it all fell to the floor. She undid my vest, and with little help from me, undressed my body the rest of the way. Together, we fell once more into one another's touch and taste. Our bodies intertwined perfectly once more. Where one of us began and the other ended seemed to be obscured from either of us. All I knew in that moment was how it felt to have her in my grasp, to know without a doubt that she was mine.
Eventually, we ended with myself curled along her back, as close together as possibly. My forehead was pressed to the back of her shoulders as my knees connected to her calves. I held her close around her waist. One of her hands twisted with mine. The other was barely visible under those white blonde curls. "Don't… don't leave until I'm asleep, okay?"
"I will stay as long as I possibly can," I murmured into her soft skin, sealing the promise with a kiss. Under her own blankets, I listened to her breathing slow and even. Her heart rate steadied into a constant, relaxed pace. All too soon she was asleep in my arms, exhaustion overwhelming her will. I could have remained in that spot for eternity, our naked flesh connecting in perfect bliss, but I couldn't risk it any longer.
With a final kiss to her shoulder, I separated us the rest of the way. Leisurely, I left the bed. Hastily, I tugged on my trousers and shirt before strolling back to her sleeping form. My dark hand swept at the hairs lingering on her brow, taking the liberty to kiss her lips tenderly. "Sweet dreams, my love."
Easily I snuck out the door and crept over to mine. I turned the knob and coaxed it shut behind me, dreading the idea of cold, empty sheets. In my elation of the still lingering feeling of Elsa's touch, I made a crucial error. I did not notice the figure lurking at the end of the hall, trying to hide but still should have been obvious to me. As my eyelids drifted shut, I was oblivious to what I had just revealed.