Chapter 16
Running. She was running, free. Free! Flying on top of the snow. So fast. The trolls would never catch her. She knew they were chasing her, but they couldn't keep up, until she stumbled. She sank in the snow. Harder to move, sinking deeper. Harder to push forward. The snow was so heavy, and so hard to run in.
Anna looked over and said, "It's all your fault, you know. You should have known better. The trolls are much stronger than you are and much, much faster."
Kristoff appeared on the other side of her, "And so much smarter. Trolls win every time."
But Elsa kept fighting to go forward. She could hear the rumble of the rocks behind her. How did they get so close? Ahead of her she saw the gates, if she could just get outside of the gates she could jump in the water, and she would be fine … rocks couldn't swim right? But the gates were closed. She spun around. Where did all these people come from? It looked like all of Arendelle. She felt an odd breeze. She looked down in terror, already knowing what she would see. Why was she out in the town without clothes, completely naked? No one had seen her yet, but if she made a noise they would all look …
Olaf! No, no, no, no … "Hi! Elsa!" Olaf pointed and everyone turned ….
"No …." Elsa grunted again.
The trolls were pulling on her. They were shaking her. Why didn't they leave her alone?
"You're alright, love. It's just a dream."
Elsa cracked one eye open. Something was right in front of her … fuzzy … swirling … the shape swam into a coherent form … not a rock, thank heavens ... Carolina, maybe.
"Gentle. Try and sit up easy."
Elsa tried to move. She was stuck. Still stuck in the snow … help.
"You're wound up in the sheet. Hold on a minute. Let me get it out from under you."
Tentatively moving her feet and then her arms, she rolled over and tried to sit. Why was the world spinning, and what was this foul taste in her mouth? What had happened? "Water," she croaked.
"Here you go," the blob that looked like Carolina came over and placed a goblet on her lips. "Sit up just a little more. Don't drink too much though until we see how your stomach feels."
Elsa nodded and regretted it instantly. Pain wracked her head, and the room spun again. What had happened? Had she succumbed to some horrible disease? Was she dying?" She slurped a gulp of water. Oh, that was better. Thirsty, she was so thirsty. She grabbed the goblet and chugged the water down until Carolina stopped her.
"Give it a minute," Carolina pulled the glass from her fingers and put it back on the nightstand. "How do you feel?"
"Arendelle?" Elsa groaned. "Arendelle safe?"
"Yes. Your kingdom is safe. Right where you left it. Safe as houses."
"Good ….Tired." Elsa said, closed her eyes and nodded off again.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Elsa cracked one eye open, and the light nearly blinded her. Slowly she opened the other eye. What was going on? What was this foul taste in her mouth? She moved her left arm under her and levered herself up onto it. Why was the world spinning? What had happened?
The bed bounced as Carolina sat down next to her, and Elsa almost fell over as her world jerked and spun. Her stomach gave an ominous growl.
"Feeling any better?"
"Better?" Elsa went to shake her head and stopped at the first shake. "Better than what? Dead? I feel awful. What happened? Why do I feel like this?" she whined as she collapsed back down into the bed.
"Just give it a minute," Carolina said, stretching out next to Elsa. Elsa couldn't even manage the energy to complain about boots in the bed. "It will come back to you."
"So it isn't the plague?" Elsa asked with a bit of hopefulness coloring her voice. The canopy of her bed began to spin in the opposite direction of the walls.
Carolina shook her head. "No, not the plague. Tell me what you remember about last night?"
"Last night …" Elsa squinted with the effort of wracking her addled brain. "Oh yes, court. Kristoff and Anna's engagement." She smiled as she continued, remembering how happy everyone had been with that announcement, and how wonderful Carolina had been. "You swore your oath. You were magnificent, and so cute with the sword. Then … then … it's a blank."
"Give it a minute." Carolina snuggled up to her, adding, "and I was not cute."
Elsa tried following the evening to its obvious conclusion. This was not the first time she had presided over an occasion, although this one had been particularly momentous. "Reception … toasts … happy ice harvesters … Oh … OH!" Elsa cringed, and then pulled the sheet up over her head, both covering up a deep blush of embarrassment and hoping to find a place to hide for the rest of her life. "I'm never coming out. Tell Anna I died. She's the Queen, now. Kristoff will make a fine Prince Consort."
Carolina stroked the sheet covered lump of Elsa. "It wasn't that bad."
One bloodshot crystal blue eye peeped out from under the covers. "Really? How bad was it? Did I do anything … anything … inappropriate?"
"As tempting as it is to tell you otherwise … no. You were the most amazingly put together drunk person I have ever seen. You even gave me a little lecture on your willpower and self control … you know, just before you tried to ravish me but just passed out."
"Oh, sorry." Elsa's head emerged. Then she uncovered and slowly sat up.
"It was really pretty amusing. I only had to carry you the last little bit."
"Ooooooh." The queen reached over the side of the bed and grabbed her robe.
"It's OK, no one saw us."
"No," Elsa eased her feet onto the floor. "That's not the problem. Excuse me. In a hurry." Then she dashed into the bathroom.
Carolina got up to follow her. "Are you ill?" She heard a muttered, "no," and then … well, she had made her drink almost two pitchers of water. Volume in, volume out. "Elsa? I'm sorry, but staying hydrated is really important ….
She was interrupted by a loud scream. Carolina immediately threw her weight against the door. Elsa might have fallen, or blacked out. She sounded terrified. The door flew open, and Carolina rushed inside to find Elsa against the far wall, a pattern of frost and icicles over her head, a layer of ice covering the wash basin and commode. "Green?" she whimpered.
"Ah yes," Carolina breathed a sigh of relief. That was all it was. "That's not unusual."
Elsa wasn't convinced. "And you're sure it's not the plague? Or some other fatal disease?"
"Positively sure. I recognize these symptoms. Troll juice."
"Um … is everything?" she asked.
"Yes, pretty much green for the next 24 hours." Carolina went to hold her.
"No …. please. I mean I'm … I need to feel … cleaner, please?" Elsa begged.
After quietly shutting the door Carolina waited just outside it. She heard the sound of ice breaking, then water splashing … then tooth brushing …. then more water splashing. Finally Elsa came out, still red-eyed, still squinting against the light, her bangs wet and plastered to her face, the rest of her hair some damp combination of the bun she had worn last night and Medusa's snakes, trying her best to look dignified. A small snow flurry followed her.
"Evil trolls," she muttered carrying herself past Carolina to only droop onto the bed. "Kristoff and those ice harvesters are consorting with the evil kind of troll. Only an evil troll would create something like that to … to corrupt an innocent person."
"Evil trolls with their evil troll juice that they forced down your throat?""
"I was coerced!" Elsa squinted and ducked her head in pain at her own voice. "Ow … no shouting."
Fitz couldn't decide if she should laugh or comfort Elsa, but laughing would set a bad precedent. "I think I'll go get some of Gerda's cure, if you would like."
"Yes. Yes, please." Elsa whispered. "That would be good. And please … avoid Anna? Please."
"Absolutely," Carolina promised.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Goooooood Mooooorning, Your Majesty!" Anna sang as she charged through the door, bounding to the window where she pulled open the curtains with a grand sweep. "It's a beautiful day!"
Elsa yelped as the light burned her eyes, buried her head in her hands and groped for the bed covers to hide under them again. "Anna!" she yelled, and then immediately regretted it. "I have dangerous ice powers. Don't provoke me."
"Tut, tut, Your Majesty. It's time you were awake. You have a schedule to keep."
Elsa was about to answer that she was the Queen, she set the schedule, when the door banged open again. She moaned instead.
"There you are you royal runt!" Fitz ran into the room, sliding on the slick floor in pursuit of Anna. "I told you to go take care of Kristoff."
"Kristoff is being 'taken care of' by his ice harvester buddies who haven't had the nerve to show their faces here yet. So I thought I'd help my beloved sister greet the day."
"Your sister isn't feeling well!" Fitz exclaimed trying to pull Anna from the room.
Anna countered, imitating Elsa at her most self-righteous. "And what did she expect after last night? I guess there will be two sponsors of the Arendelle Temperance League."
"That's enough of that!" Fitz had promised to keep Anna away, and by god she would, if she had to beat her senseless to do it. Of course tackling her meant noise, and pulling her to the door meant more noise as they struggled. And with each bang and bump and crash, Elsa groaned and sunk lower into her mattress. Until ….
"Hi, Elsa!" Olaf trotted into the room and pointed at her. A sickening memory crawled through Elsa's aching head. She clutched at her robe; it was still on. She was inside and not completely naked. This wasn't a bad dream, but she couldn't decide if it was something worse.
"You look like you need a warm hug!" Olaf's voice rang out cheerfully. It was worse.
"Noooooooo," Elsa whimpered, grabbing her pillow and pulling it on top of the covers on top of her head.
A fourth voice entered the room, pitched loudly enough to pierce the bedding and find Elsa's ears. "Your Majesty. I do want to remind you that you have a council meeting at 1 o'clock this afternoon. It is nearly 10 now. When would you like your briefing?"
Elsa heard Kai. She even understood he was asking a question of her. But when she emerged from under her pillow to answer it all she could manage was a pathetic cry of, "please … please."
When Gerda marched into the room, making it an audience of five, Elsa thought she was going to cry. She felt sick. Her head hurt. Everyone was yelling. It wasn't fair.
"Everyone," Gerda managed to sound firm even though she kept her voice low. "You must leave. Now."
"But she … she … I mean when I was …."
"She was perfectly nice to you Anna, now out!"
"I am just trying to …."
"Lady Fitzwilliam, you too. I can take care of her without your bellowing and stomping and banging."
"Gerda, I do need to know ..."
"Kai, when Her Majesty is ready for you she will let you know. If she decides to keep her council waiting then they will wait … quietly … patiently …
"But you know …."
"Without complaint."
Kai grumbled but fell silent.
Then Gerda pointed at the door, and almost everyone left in a single file. Carolina tried to hang back, but she got a look that send her scurrying out at the end. Olaf waved to her rather smugly as she left under protest. He still hadn't gotten his warm hug, and besides while she might be different … he was important.
Fitz had to duck when three medium sized snow mounds flew past her in the hall way and then reassembled into the snowman. His stick arms followed; his carrot nose being the last thing that Gerda tossed out the door.
The room now silent and dimly lit, the Queen still hiding under her bed covers, Gerda brought in a tray with a teapot and a single cup on it.
"Now, my lamb," she said gently as she set the tray down near the bed. "I've brought something for you that should make you feel better."
"Oh Gerda," Elsa sobbed, emerging from her hiding spot. "Thank you, thank you … my head hurts. It's horrible." A whiff of the strong mint smell of the tea hit her nose. "I feel …. I feel …." The queen jumped to her feet and clapped her hand over her mouth.
Gerda watched her run into the bathroom, following sedately behind to hold her hair if that proved necessary. This was not unexpected, and if Elsa was sick now, it was much more likely she would be be able to drink the tea and keep it down anyway.
"There, there, my girl," Gerda said, when she was finally able to extract Elsa from the bathroom. She let her hang onto her waist and then lean up against her once they were back seated on the bed. "This will fix you up." The housekeeper poured a cup from the tea pot and then added a good shot of something from a small bottle she had in her apron. She helped get the cup into Elsa's shaking hands, but once that was done she let the queen drink at her own pace.
"Everyone has a bad morning now and again," she soothed, rubbing circles on the queen's back. Elsa sighed in relief, both from the warm hands on her back and from the warm tea that was gently settling her stomach. Even her headache started to lift. Elsa finished the tea and then rested her head against Gerda's ample bosum as the housekeeper ran her fingers through her hair as she used to when Elsa was a little girl.
"But if you ever do this again … and by this I mean drink that foul rot gut Kristoff drinks … I will laugh and call you a fool."
"You are right, as always," Elsa sighed. "I promise I won't do it again."
"See that you don't," Gerda said firmly.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
By the time Elsa had read the appropriate briefs, shortened the agenda to two items, had lunch, and felt ready to face her council it was nearly two. But Gerda stayed with her, reassuring her that they would wait, she was the Queen after all, and if she didn't make it a habit they would probably even wait without too much complaint.
Elsa still felt remiss, and she smiled apologetically as she entered the chamber where the meeting was held, waving the assembled councilors back to their seats almost as soon as they stood. She hoped what ever injury she had done to her brain wasn't permanent, for she felt like she was floating high up in the air near the ceiling. It took more effort than she would have admitted to simply walk in a straight line to her chair and sit down without sighing or stumbling. But she managed it, and she was almost proud … almost because really she should plan these things out a little better – it seemed prudent that drunken debauchery be separated from royal business by at least one full day. Why hadn't her father taught her important things like that?
As she took her seat at the head of the table she looked across at her council in its newest composition. After the – well you had to call it a fiasco – with Prince Reinhardt, Master Sandvik had come to offer his resignation. She was going to refuse him. Her father had insisted it was good to have voices of opposition on the council, and surely there was no one who fit that bill more than Sandvik. He was also one of her father's appointees, as all of the council had been, which meant her father had valued the man and his ideas. It was still hard for her to move beyond her father's advice and intentions. She knew that the King should have guided her education for many more years before she assumed the throne, and until now she had taken that to mean she should stick as closely as possible to what she imagined his wishes would be.
On top of that, it was almost tradition for a council member to offer a resignation after something particularly onerous happened. It was equally tradition that the Crown would refuse the resignation, so that the monarch might seem charitable and open minded, and the blame would still be firmly placed somewhere other than the Crown. So Sandvik had been surprised, open mouthed and stunned silence surprised, when she answered with, "If you think that's best, I believe I should agree. Arendelle thanks you for your lengthy service, and I shall personally miss your wisdom."
One of the other members had then resigned in protest, a protest that was again 'regretfully' accepted by the Crown. With that the exodus ended, and Elsa noticed a new found respect taking hold amongst all her advisers.
Elsa had appointed Lady Magnusdottir in Sandvik's place. She had impressed Elsa with her wit and wisdom at the ill-fated dinner party for Prince Reinhardt, and careful inquiries had revealed her to be a well respected person amongst her peers. As a bonus, she looked nothing like the late King Adgar.
Elsa had considered long and hard who to name to the other seat. Carolina egged her on to appoint some Brandy person, apparently a serving woman from a local tavern. Elsa had decided that wasn't the best idea … culture shock would be a problem for both the council and the woman … and something twitched in the back of her head when Carolina said the name. Anyone that closely related to both taverns and Carolina carried an aura about them, and while Elsa was completely willing to take on the blame for this herself, she would not deny a jealous streak as far as Carolina went, she didn't see the reason to subject herself to this particular concern so quickly.
In the end her solution was an election. The first kingdom wide election in Arendelle's history. Further she had decided that it was the Council who would draft the proposals dealing with Arendelle's foray into democracy. The Crown retained veto power, and Elsa had very firm ideas about universal enfranchisement and suffrage that would have to be agreed to, but in the end she also wanted to make good on her promise to begin divesting the Crown of its power as an absolute monarchy.
The charge that the Council work out how best to conduct this election was her first order of business. After this was concluded, and she made it clear that while these chambers and all the resources of the castle were at the Council's disposal while they wrestled with this item, she wasn't … at least not today, then she moved on to agenda item number two. It was simply listed as "announcement," a heading so vague that Ragge had to be reassured twice by Kai that there was nothing more to put under it.
"So, in light of the recent visit of Prince Reinhardt …" Elsa began. Immediately the council members began to apologize, the din reaching a proportion that regrettably reminded her of the invasion of her bedroom earlier in the day.
"Please, please," she said, and Ragge banged on the table until they were all quiet again. Thank heavens for willow bark. "It wasn't entirely your fault. The Council was only doing what it saw as its duty in insuring a smooth transition of power in Arendelle when I eventually pass from this mortal coil."
Everyone seemed relieved to agree with that. And Elsa really didn't think any of them, even Sandvik, had been motivated by bad intentions. "But now, with the announcement of Princess Anna's engagement and in light of her status as my heir presumptive I think it's safe to believe that a line of succession will be ensured. In fact, both Master Bjorgman and the Princess seem agreeable to a very lengthy line of heirs."
There was a moment of shocked silence, but then a chuckle ran through the council. The Queen telling a ribald joke was almost as inconceivable as democracy.
"But Your Majesty, surely you would prefer an heir of your own body?" That was Baron Rike, who Elsa suspected might be a little concerned that any heir of Anna's body would also inherit her personality.
"No, actually I would not. And …." Elsa took a deep breath and reminded herself that a queen was supposed to be brave, even when they hadn't been drinking troll juice. "And in any case it is highly unlikely."
They all spoke at once. "Unlikely?" "Are you unwell, Your Majesty?" "If it's your powers?" "There are many fine doctors on the continent familiar with this problem." "Is there anything we can do?"
Elsa waited until the hubbub subsided. She reminded herself that these people really were worried not just about her but also Arendelle. It was only an unfortunate coincidence that the intersection of these two worries always seemed to involve her private life. "I am not unwell, but thank you for your concern. And I must confess that I have not been completely forthcoming with this Council."
To a man … and woman … the Council members leaned back in surprise.
"I … well, I have been seeing someone. Informally up until recently, but I think it is time that you … in your capacity as representatives of the people of Arendelle … and because I understand how my personal life does have some bearing on the Kingdom … even though I am a private person, very private, which is I think understandable given how I was raised … be introduced to … my … my …"
By now everyone was staring, not in an unfriendly manner, but rather because they were a little confused by Elsa's verbal barrage.
"My … um, suitor." Elsa looked over to where Kai was standing near the double doors that led into the hall, and she nodded at him.
"Commander Fitzwilliam," he announced. Fitz had received her commission papers now that the little matter of her loyalties had been taken care of. Once it had been clear she would be inducted she had uniforms tailored, and she was in one now. The dark blue jacket and gray trousers were more conservative than the gold braid and white breeches of Avalon's uniform, but then Arendelle was - at least as far as dress – a more conservative place. Elsa thought that she still looked stunning if presently a little nervous.
Fitz, hat firmly held in both hands, walked into the room, glancing from right to left. She hadn't been told why she was being summoned, which explained the deer startled by the hounds look on her face as she found herself face to face with the Royal Council.
"Your Majesty," she said giving a short bow. "You asked for me?"
Elsa beckoned her forward. "This is Commander Fitzwilliam, a recent addition to our Navy where I am sure she will serve with distinction. Some of you may have met her previously -" from the corner of her eye, Elsa could see Rike trying to piece together exactly where he had seen her – " many of you remember her from just last night, but I thought it a good idea that all of you meet her now. I would like to avoid any future misunderstandings … about whom I am seeing."
Fitz and the Council stared at each other in silence for the longest minute in Elsa's life. She knew this was a lot to ask of them, of all of them, but she had to start somewhere and beating around the bush seemed like an inauspicious beginning to any relationship let alone one that was supposed to be "until death" did them part. And in the end she had to know if all of the members of the Council could accept this because if they couldn't then she would need to start lining up replacements as soon as possible. And there was one other thing.
"I have a request of all of you." Everyone turned again to face Elsa. "Commander Fitzwilliam and I are not engaging in this relationship frivolously, but I am going to ask each of you to please not speak of it to anyone." This brought more confusion to the room. While some could see why the Queen might be reluctant to have her paramour's identity known, it didn't match her insistence that they know, or that she was calling it a relationship. Finally, speaking almost everyone's mind, Baron Rike asked, "Is there a reason?"
"Would it matter if there weren't?" Elsa gave him a sideways glance. "But as a matter of fact there is. The preparations for my sister's wedding will begin immediately, and I would like for the attention of the Kingdom to be focused on her at least until she is married. If this," she gestured to Carolina and then back to herself, "becomes public knowledge it might eclipse that happy occasion. Even I am not so sheltered as to think that my choice of suitor isn't somewhat novel."
"Somewhat?" Master Iversen coughed, and then blushed when everyone else in the room stared at him.
Elsa shrugged. "Do I have your agreement?"
"Of course, Your Majesty. The Council appreciates that you entrusted us with your confidence." Again it was Rike. She suddenly found herself hoping he continued to take a leadership role in the council. He wasn't shy about confronting her, but he appeared to value a good relationship with her.
"And I in turn appreciate your willingness to accommodate me in this." Elsa was pleasantly surprised how little resistance there was to her suggestion. She almost wondered why she had anticipated trouble at all. The Queen turned to Carolina. "Commander, so this is Arendelle's Royal Council, my advisers and the people who will be invaluable to Arendelle's future. I'd like you to take a moment to meet them, if you have it."
"I am here at Your Majesty's pleasure," Fitzwilliam answered smoothly.
"I am sure you are," Lady Magnusdottir observed dryly. And so the ice was broken. Rike continued forward extending his hand. "Congratulations Commander. You are a lucky man … er woman, indeed."The rest of the council followed his lead and began clapping Fitz on the back and shaking her hand.
.
.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
.
The room was lit with one lamp and the light of the moon streaming through the window. Fitz blew out the lamp, and turned back to take one last look at Elsa still sleeping. Fitz could watch Elsa sleep for a good long while. She even had once or twice, when she was up first and had nothing else she needed to be doing. Elsa looked peaceful and incredibly young when she was asleep, snuggled into the bed, blankets askew. It made Fitz's heart warm, part ardent lover, part mother bear, when she looked at her beloved breathing softly. She almost hated to wake her up.
Almost.
"Good morning, beautiful." Fitz leaned down and kissed Elsa into a semblance of wakefulness. She brushed the hair from her eyes, freeing a renegade lock from her mouth.
"What time is it?" Elsa slowly blinked, and yawned. The room was pitch dark, which wasn't unheard of in winter in Arendelle, but still she had expected some small bit of dawn on the horizon before she had to get up.
"Early. Earlier than you need to be awake, but I wanted to say good morning before I started down to my ship."
Elsa nodded, making little smacking sounds as she tucked herself deeper into the mattress, taking Carolina completely at her word … whatever that word was. "Guh mornen," she muttered. Then she rolled over and pulled the sheet firmly over her head.
Fitz rolled her eyes and started to the door. They would have plenty of mornings to practice tender goodbyes. That was perhaps her biggest regret about her occupation, one was always saying goodbye.
"Wait, what?" Elsa's voice stopped her. She sounded slightly more awake now.
"I must report to my ship this morning," Fitz repeated coming back to the side of the bed.
"So soon?" She sat up and glanced toward the window and then back at Carolina.
"You've had me exclusively for months, now your Navy needs me. A good monarch learns to share."
Elsa's sigh was mixed equally with yawn and pout. "Don't wanna share." Then, when she saw she wasn't getting anywhere with that line of reasoning. "Kiss me at least."
"That I will gladly do." Fitz took carefully removed her coat and laid it over a chair, then she lowered herself on to the bed next to Elsa, very carefully lest she rumple her pants. The kiss was sweet but still hard to end. Kissing, snuggling and just sleeping beside someone were all things Fitz had previously had limited use for, but now she had no idea how she would live without them. Leaving Elsa's side this morning to ship off was hard that in itself a completely novel feeling.
"How long will you be gone for?" Elsa asked, concerned that she was about to be thrust unprepared into a lengthy separation.
"For the next couple of days I'll be back in at night," Carolina answered. She was already familiar with the routine that Arendelle Navy followed. "I expect we'll ship out in three days, and I'll spend the night before on the ship."
Elsa's face fell again."Why? Stay here with me."
It was tempting, but Fitz knew if she were aboard she would be sure not to miss their debarkation, and the bells would wake her. "We will leave early. And I will not be left behind, it won't do well for my reputation or my career."
"Stay here. I'll have Kai wake you up early."
"It's very early. Hardly sounds fair to Kai."
"I'm the Queen. He loves me. All is fair in love … and reigning. I don't want you away a minute more than necessary."
"Very well." Fitz was fighting a losing battle, and she knew it. "We can discuss it this evening. Now I really have to go, late on the first day isn't a great impression either."
"Kiss me again."
"Elsa ..."
Elsa gave her grimace of over drawn disapproval. "I may not remember all of the evening, but I remember your oath. You swore obedience. I heard it."
"I didn't think that it meant ..."
"Obedience," the Queen repeated firmly.
Fitz leaned down and kissed her, wondering how often her oath was going to be brought up when they were alone. With what she had come to know of Elsa, it might not be an infrequent line of defense.
"See not so hard. I'll break you in yet," Elsa said.
"Break me in?" Oh, this could be dangerous.
"Go ahead, don't dawdle, it doesn't make a good impression to be late on the first day." Elsa made a little shooing motion toward the door before she rolled over and burrowed back into the bedclothes.
Fitz left, and as she quietly closed the door behind her she was struck by how very much in love she was, how comfortable, how happy. Truly this was home.
~fin~
A/N:Thanks as always to grrgeek72, who put up with me for these 16 loooong chapters. Not only did she beta like a champ but choice bits ... a lot of poor Naismith telling Elsa about the bar fight, the retelling of the bar fight ... were written by her. I also can't spell worth shit, funny because I teach grammar ... but then they aren't exactly the same thing. Thank you as well to peeps who review. I love reviews. They are the balm to my troubled soul, the sugar in my tea, the heroine to my addicted ... well you get the idea. There is more ... HEA will continue as I get ideas. And I'm not done with long form either. Stay tuned. And I hear there might be Frozen 2. Yay!