A/N: Here is where the story starts to deviate a little more from the movie, but I hope everyone likes the changes. Thank you so much for reading, and please let me know what you think.
Chapter 8 – Something Good
By the time the family finished up their dinner, night had fallen, and Anna-Maria put the children to bed with contentment and joy. She had missed them so much, and it was wonderful to be back with them. When they were all tucked in, Anna-Maria went back to her former room, and much to her surprise and delight, all of her things were still there. She took off the dress she had brought with her from the abbey and hung it up. She grazed her fingers over the rest, and they came to land on the ice-blue dress that Elsa had been so fond of. It wasn't like Anna-Maria to be purposefully tempting or seductive, but she wanted to win the Captain back. If wearing the dress would help, then Anna-Maria was willing to use whatever tools she had in her arsenal. Anna-Maria dressed quickly, leaving her room and going down the stairs. After a short walk through the hall, she exited out of the house onto the moonlit terrace, unaware that the Captain was on the balcony above watching her.
Elsa's eyes followed Anna's beautiful form as the governess descended the steps and went to look out over the river. Elsa's heart pleaded with her to forgive and forget and to join Anna out on the terrace. From her statement earlier, it was clear Anna regretted leaving, and she wanted to stay, so Elsa's heart was willing to put everything in the past. Her mind, however, was not so easily persuaded, so Elsa stayed where she was and continued to watch.
"There you are!" a voice from behind her called, and Elsa turned to see Kristoff joining her on the balcony. She smiled at him briefly before turning back to look out over the terrace, and Kristoff followed her gaze to see the gorgeous, penitent woman on the terrace below them. Fraulein Anna walked away from the river, and Elsa's eyes followed her, causing Kristoff to smirk. So Elsa was still deeply in love, he mused, and he was happy and relieved to see it. Now, he just had to get Elsa down to the terrace so she and Fraulein Anna could wend their way towards reconciliation. "I really must speak to Cook about the Weiner schnitzel," he said, avoiding the topic of Fraulein Anna altogether. "It is simply too delicious for my figure."
Elsa glanced away from Anna to look at him, chuckling softly. "Quit trying to distract me, Kristoff," she ordered with affectionate gruffness. "We both know you can eat a small cow and not gain a gram."
Kristoff laughed at that. "True, I am very fortunate that way, and yes, I was trying to distract you," he admitted. "I was only trying to get your mind off of things. But I am more than willing to talk about anyone or anything."
Elsa sighed and looked back over the lip of the balcony. "I still love her, and I still want to ask her to marry me," she confessed without preamble. "It's no use trying to deny it or claim otherwise."
"Then what is stopping you?" Kristoff asked. "From what she told us before, it's your choice to make. She wants to stay forever, but she knows she hurt you, so she's leaving it up to you."
"I know what she said, but I don't want to be hurt again," Elsa stated. "With the exception of you, my children and Nana, everyone else I've ever deeply loved has left me. I couldn't bear it if she left me again."
"Fair enough," Kristoff allowed. "But she will leave you again if you don't at least talk to her. I'm not saying that you need to fall to your knees and propose, but talk to her. See why she left. See if the problem can or already has been overcome." Elsa sighed, and Kristoff took her hands. "You are miserable, Elsa," he said matter-of-factly, ignoring Elsa's glare. "Even though she hurt you, she still offers the chance at happiness. Please try to take that chance."
Elsa glared at him some more before her gaze softened. "All right," she said at last. "I will go talk to her and see why she left. I will see if she really wants to stay." Elsa looked down from the balcony once more, thinking about the advice that Olaf had given her earlier. She was still being passive, she realized. Olaf had advised her to give Anna a reason to choose her over the Maker, and it was excellent advice. Yet here she was, still passively hoping that Anna had already chosen her. If she really wanted Anna to stay, Elsa was going to have to show her why she should stay. She needed to be proactive, not passive. "Be her Georg," Elsa whispered to herself, finding her confidence at last.
"What was that?" Kristoff questioned, unable to hear.
"I don't need to know why she left," Elsa said loudly and decisively. "Now that's she's back, I don't want to let her go again. If I want to protect myself by making sure she doesn't hurt me again, then I need to convince her to stay. I am finished with allowing circumstances to dictate my life."
"Excellent," Kristoff said proudly. "I knew my Captain was in there somewhere." Elsa smiled at him, and he smiled back. "Now my dear, I am going to go back into the house. Somewhere out there is a young lady who will never be a nun, and vows of chastity no longer apply. It could get very awkward," he teased with a saucy wink. Elsa blushed and swatted him on the arm. "Good night, Elsa," he said, giving her a hug. "Go find your happiness, my friend." Elsa squeezed him tightly and then let him go. She turned back towards the terrace to see where Anna was, and when Elsa had spotted the red hair, she smiled and left the balcony.
AAAAAAA
Anna-Maria wandered around the estate grounds debating about what she wanted to do. She needed to talk to Elsa, but she also knew that she had done something really stupid, and Elsa probably didn't want to talk to her. She sighed and looked at the gazebo she had wandered up to. After another sigh, she sat down on the stone bench at its entrance, looking down at the ground. A movement to her right startled her, and Anna-Maria looked up to see Elsa there. "Hello," Elsa said softly, "I thought I might find you here."
Anna-Maria jumped up from the bench, smoothing down her dress awkwardly. "Was, was there something you wanted?" she asked hesitantly.
"You" was the first reply that sprang to Elsa's mind, but she bit her tongue and considered her reply more carefully. "I just wanted to talk," Elsa answered. "Please sit down," she requested, indicating the bench that Anna had risen from. Anna timidly sat down and Elsa joined her. "I was wondering two things," Elsa said, trying her best to keep her voice even and conversational. "Why did you run away to the abbey, and what was it that made you come back?" she asked, her barely-quavering voice betraying her anxiety about Anna's answer.
Anna-Maria looked into those intent blue eyes, and she wondered how she could have ever been foolish enough to leave this extraordinary woman. Dropping her gaze, Anna-Maria started to nervously play with her hands as she answered. "I left because I was frightened by how much I loved you, and I was crushed by the guilt I had for abandoning the Maker," she confessed. "When you came to my room and kissed me, I was so happy that I completely forgot who I was and who I had always thought myself to be. And, even when I went to say my evening prayers and I came back to myself, my heart still wanted you. It wanted to be your lover and your wife, to be a mother to the children. That caused the crushing guilt, and I knew I had to get away if I wanted to salvage anything of the life I had planned for myself."
Elsa took a deep breath, letting the joy and relief wash through her. Olaf had been right; Anna hadn't run away because she loved the Maker more. She had run away because she had loved Elsa more and it had frightened her. "Why did you come back?" Elsa asked, gently reminding Anna of her second question.
"Because the Reverend Mother showed me how foolish I was being," Anna-Maria replied honestly. "She wisely made the point that I wouldn't be much of a servant to the Maker because of how much I loved you. She also convinced me that I didn't have to give up my love or faith in the Maker to marry you."
"She's right, you know," Elsa said, causing Anna to look up for the first time. "I would never ask you to choose between loving me and your faith. It's true that the Maker and I haven't been on the best of terms since Georg died, but I know how much your faith means to you, Anna. I also can't promise that I will become more religious, but I'll always respect your faith and love for the Maker."
Anna-Maria smiled. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "Your understanding means a lot."
"You don't have to thank me," Elsa said, capturing Anna's undivided attention with the seriousness of her tone. "If I truly love you, and I do, then I have to love that part of you as well. It's something I freely give, although I would give you everything else in the world if I could."
"There's only one other thing that I want," Anna-Maria replied, drawing closer. "I would like you to forgive me for leaving and hurting you."
"I've already done that," Elsa answered with a smile, her lips drawing closer to Anna.
"Oh," Anna-Maria stated, her breath hitching as Elsa grew near. "Um, perhaps a reconciliation kiss, then?" she invited with a slight blush.
Elsa chuckled. "You need to think bigger, my love," she said in amusement before she honored Anna's request and captured Anna's lips with her own.
Both women sighed into the kiss, and without thought, Anna-Maria looped her arms around Elsa's neck to bring her closer just as Elsa's arms wrapped around Anna's waist to do the same. Their bodies merged together as the kiss deepened, and it quickly became less chaste than the one in Anna-Maria's bedroom. Anna-Maria parted her lips in invitation, and Elsa took the opportunity, allowing her mouth to explore Anna's mouth as Anna explored Elsa's own, the both of them reveling in the taste of each other.
After a few moments, Anna-Maria could feel desire and passion threatening to take over, and the close press of Elsa's body indicated that she was feeling it too. Anna-Maria gently pulled back to break the kiss; although she wanted Elsa more than anything, she wanted to wait until they were properly married. Well, that, and until they were undressed in a comfortable bed, Anna-Maria mused to herself with her typical candor. "Elsa, we should slow down," she said breathlessly, as she gently pushed Elsa away.
Elsa felt the gentle push and heard Anna-Maria's words. It took a second to filter through, but when it did, Elsa pulled back sharply, letting her hands fall. "I'm so sorry, Anna," she apologized immediately. "I didn't mean to push you." She slipped out of Anna's grasp and rose from the bench, taking refuge in the nearby gazebo.
Anna-Maria looked at her in concern before rising from the bench and following her. Elsa turned to look at her, but her expression was almost fearful. Anna-Maria smiled reassuringly and went to her, putting her arms back around her Captain. "You have nothing to apologize for, Elsa," Anna-Maria assured her. "I was just as willing a participant as you. I just wanted to stop us before we crossed a line that I want to cross after we are married." She glanced around. "And maybe want to cross in a nice bed and not in the gazebo," she joked, vocalizing her thoughts from before.
Elsa looked at Anna-Maria in mild shock. Considering Anna-Maria's former occupation, the waiting until marriage request was completely expected. The slightly improper teasing was not, and it gave Elsa pause, at least until her face broke out into a smile and she started chuckling. "I love that you always speak your mind," she said affectionately, drawing her Anna back into her embrace.
"And I love that you love me for it," Anna-Maria replied with a smile, snuggling in to the embrace. "Not many people do."
"I love a lot of things," Elsa mused. "Like when you sit on pine cones and lie brazenly about it."
Anna-Maria blushed. "I was trying to protect the children," she muttered embarrassedly.
"Exactly," Elsa agreed. "I love how much you love them. I also love that you were never intimidated by my title or my cold attitude. Very few people can get past those things, but you didn't seem to care."
"I didn't care about the title or the attitude, no, but I cared," Anna-Maria disagreed. "I cared that there was this beautiful, remarkable woman who was hiding herself away, even from her children. I really wanted to find a way to set her free. And I did," Anna-Maria said proudly, reaching up to stroke Elsa's cheek. Elsa smiled and leaned into the touch. "But then I caused my own downfall, because she was even more beautiful and remarkable than I had anticipated, and I fell in love with her," Anna-Maria concluded, her expressive eyes fixed on Elsa.
"Downfall?" Elsa teased. "I am your downfall?"
"That was a poor choice of word," Anna-Maria admitted with another blush. "No, not downfall. You are more like my…North Mountain," she decided. "From a distance, you are cold and intimidating, but up close, you are warm and beautiful. Like my mountain, you are strong and proud, but more importantly, you are my refuge. The North Mountain has always been my home, but if you'll have me, I want to make you my home forever."
Elsa couldn't help the stray tears that slipped down her cheeks at Anna's unexpectedly beautiful words. "I will be your home, if you will be my heart," she offered tenderly, gently lifting Anna's chin to look her in the eye. Anna-Maria's face lit up, and tears sprang to her eyes as she nodded yes. Elsa kissed her lips and then her forehead, drawing her into a tight embrace. They stood like that for a while, but Elsa had one more question to ask. "Anna, is there anyone I should go to in order to ask for your hand in marriage?" she asked, kissing Anna's forehead once more.
"No," Anna-Maria replied. "But maybe we should ask…"
"…the children?" Elsa finished with a smile, causing them both to chuckle.
AAAAAAAAA
In spite of Anna's answer that there was no one to ask for permission to marry her, Elsa knew that propriety and tradition dictated that there was one person that she had to ask, and another whose permission would be welcome. So, the morning after their garden walk, Elsa showered, put up her hair in its formal braid, and dressed herself in her Arendellian naval uniform. It wasn't her full formal-dress uniform, with its bowtie, epaulets and sword, but it was her sharpest service-dress one, black and double-breasted with gold buttons and braids crossing her chest. The four gold braids on her cuffs indicated her rank, and she straightened them to make her uniform perfect. Her polished boots were next, and Elsa completed her uniform by placing her black cover with its purple and green ribbon and gold crocus on over her hair and braid.
Elsa slipped out of the house before most in the household awoke, wanting her errand to be a surprise. She told Frau Schmidt that she would be missing breakfast, and, noting the uniform, the older housekeeper gave her employer a knowing smirk. Elsa swore her to secrecy before grabbing the car out of the garage and taking off for Arendelle, leaving the top up so that neither her uniform nor her hair were mussed. She debated whom she should call on first, but after glancing at the time, she realized that only one of the people she intended to meet with was probably awake. So, her first stop became Nordfell Abbey.
The sister who answered the gate seemed surprised to see a finely dressed naval officer at the convent that early, but she let Elsa in, asking her to wait while she retrieved one of the senior nuns. The first one she found was the Mistress of Postulants, Sister Marguerite, and after the sister spotted Elsa, her lips quirked up into a gentle smile. "Welcome to our abbey, Captain," she said politely, hiding her mirth at the likely reason for this visit. "I am Sister Marguerite, Mistress of the Postulants. How may we help you this blessed day?"
"I have come to see the Reverend Mother, if she is available," Elsa answered, with a polite incline of her head.
"For what purpose?" Sister Marguerite asked. "I will need to tell the Reverend Mother when I announce you." It wasn't a lie; Sister Marguerite did need that information, but she was also extremely eager to confirm her hypothesis.
"I wish to speak with her regarding one of your postulates, the one that has been employed at my estate," Elsa answered. "There have been developments, and I need her guidance."
"You are here to ask permission to take her away from us," Sister Marguerite said succinctly with a knowing smile. Elsa's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and she nodded. Sister Marguerite's smile deepened, and she laid a caring hand on Elsa's arm. "I love Anna-Maria with all my heart," she said honestly, "but she was never meant to be one of us. She will do far more good in this world by being your wife."
Elsa smiled. "Thank you, Sister," she said.
Sister Marguerite smiled back and knocked at the Reverend Mother's office door. A call told her to enter, so she did, and when she came back out, she opened the door for Elsa. "She will see you now," the nun said. Elsa nodded and entered, and Sister Marguerite closed the door behind her.
"Well, this was quicker than I anticipated," Mother Gerda said with amusement, indicating that Elsa should sit. "We sent Anna-Maria back to you only yesterday."
"Our estrangement was short-lived, and now I ask your blessing for our marriage," Elsa replied evenly, taking off her cover and tucking it under her arm in respect as she sat down.
"Short-lived indeed," Mother Gerda said with a smirk. "But in regards to the blessing, you have to know I wouldn't have sent Anna-Maria back if I didn't approve of her love for you. Why did you still come?"
"Because you are the closest thing to a parent that she has, Reverend Mother," Elsa answered respectfully. "And though my relationship with the Maker is not the best, I am still taking Anna away from serving our shared Deity. I thought it best to ask for your blessing in person."
"I see," Mother Gerda said, impressed by Elsa's show of respect. "Well, if that is the case, I give you my blessing as Anna-Maria's surrogate mother, and I also give you my blessing as a servant of the Maker," Mother Gerda declared with a happy smile. She rose from her desk and came to stand before Elsa, putting her right hand on the top of Elsa's head. "All love is holy in Her Sight, and I know that your love for each other is deep. May the Maker bless you, and make your marriage happy and fruitful," she intoned, lifting her hand to trace the Maker's symbol at the conclusion of the blessing.
Elsa looked up. "Thank you, Reverend Mother," she said sincerely, rising and putting her cover back on.
"You are more than welcome, my child," Mother Gerda said warmly, as she opened the door. Elsa gave her a respectful bow and then left the office. Within seconds, Sister Marguerite was by her side, and Elsa was escorted to the gates. After a shared goodbye with the sister, Elsa retrieved her car and went to her next destination, the Royal Palace of Arendelle.
Elsa pulled up to the vehicle entrance, and as soon as he saw her, the guard waved her in. She parked on the gravel and entered through the gardens, easily finding her way until she came to the receiving room. The guard at the door looked bored, and Elsa surmised that he hadn't had much to do this morning. "Is Her Majesty in?" Elsa inquired politely.
The man snapped to attention and looked her over, noting the impeccable uniform. He was a relatively new hire, however, and was not yet familiar with all of the Queen's extended family. "Yes, she is, Captain," he responded with politeness, using her military title instead of her royal one and tipping Elsa off to the fact he did not know who she was. "Whom may I announce is calling?" he asked, ready to escort her out if she was not worth Her Majesty's time.
"Her Ladyship, the Baroness Schrader, Captain of Her Majesty's Navy and youngest granddaughter to the Queen," Elsa responded with authority in her voice. She rarely used all of her titles, but seeing the man go pale with fear was more than worth the breath it took to say them. Elsa hid her amused smirk as the man suddenly could not open the door fast enough.
As the door opened, the Queen looked up to see her youngest granddaughter stroll authoritatively into the room. Her guard followed her into the room, and it was clear to see he was shaking. The Queen rolled her eyes; Elsa must have put the fear of the throne into him as she liked to do with newer staff. He opened his mouth to announce Elsa, but the Queen forestalled him. "I know who she is, Johan," she told him. "Please return to your post." The guard nodded gratefully and scampered from the room. The Queen turned her attention to her granddaughter. "So why have you graced me with your presence, Captain?" she asked.
"I have come regarding two matters, Your Majesty," Elsa said formally, taking off her cover. "The first is my petition for reinstatement into Your Majesty's navy."
The Queen frowned; she had hoped this impromptu visit by Elsa was to ask the Queen's permission to marry, not to further that ridiculous petition to run away from her heartbreak. "I am afraid to inform you that your petition has been summarily dismissed and will not be considered further," the Queen said, frosty authority dripping from every word. "It is true that there is a dearth of qualified officers, but the Throne has decided Arendelle is better served having you as a civilian."
Elsa could feel the frost from where she stood, and she was sincerely glad that she was not here about advancing her petition. Nana had never been this cold with her, and it was clear how her grandmother felt about her rejoining the Navy. "That is excellent news, Your Majesty," Elsa said, surprising her grandmother. "I was hoping to ask your assistance in withdrawing it, but now I see that it is not necessary."
"And why were you interested in withdrawing it?" the Queen asked, hopeful that Elsa was here for the reason she wanted her granddaughter to be.
"Because I have found that the Navy is no longer where my heart lies," Elsa replied truthfully, "and that brings me to my second matter. I have asked for a beautiful woman's hand in marriage, Your Majesty, and she has said yes. I humbly request your permission and blessing to marry her."
The smile on Elsa's face was radiant, and the Queen smiled back. "It's about time," she huffed before getting up from her chair. "Come here," she ordered, opening her arms to Elsa. Elsa came to them willingly, and her grandmother hugged her with vigor. "Congratulations, my dear," the Queen gushed as she let Elsa go.
In a playful mood, Elsa decided to tease. "You have not technically given me permission yet, Nana," she reminded her grandmother lightheartedly.
"Well, perhaps I do not wish to give it," the Queen jested. "What of her family name? Is she nobility? Will she increase the splendor and majesty of the Arendellian throne?"
"She comes from a long line of farmers with no noble blood," Elsa said honestly, her smile turning wry. "But, she is the most kind and loving person I have ever met, and she will only be an asset to our family."
"I know she will be, my dear; I know it, and my permission is granted," her grandmother assured Elsa cheerfully with another hug. "And it's about time we got some new blood in our stodgy old line. When should I expect my newest great-grandchild?"she asked, causing Elsa to freeze in alarm.
"Great-grandchild, Nana?" Elsa sputtered incredulously.
"Of course. We only have blondes and brunettes in the family," the Queen explained. "I should like to have a redhead. A girl if possible."
"I already have seven children, Nana, and we are both women," Elsa pointed out.
"So another will only add to the joy," the Queen said blithely. "And as far as both being women, there are ways around that. Just come and see me when you and your wife decide it is time for another." Elsa looked at her grandmother with a raised eyebrow, but the Queen merely smiled serenely. "Now my dear, you must go home and tell Fraulein Anna to pack," she ordered.
"Wait…what?" Elsa questioned. "She only just returned to my house."
"Now that you are engaged, it would be improper for her to live there," the Queen tutted. "She will live here until the wedding."
"But Nana," Elsa started to protest.
"None of your whining," the Queen admonished. "My carriage will come to fetch her this afternoon."
Elsa sighed. "Of course, Your Majesty," she acquiesced with a bow before flashing her grandmother one more smile and exiting the room. She gave a curt nod to the guard, chuckling to herself a bit when he paled, and made her way back to her car. A short drive later, she was back at home, only to find herself confronted with seven accusing faces as soon as she walked in the door.
"Why did you leave so early?" Brigitta asked accusingly. "And why are you all dressed up in your uniform?"
"I needed to see your Great-Grandmother, and I needed to be properly dressed," Elsa replied truthfully.
"What were you seeing GeeGee about?" Liesel questioned further.
"Our future," Elsa replied concisely, and her children glared at her, thinking her visit to their great-grandmother was about rejoining the Navy.
At just that moment, Anna-Maria came into the room. "Children!" she exclaimed. "There you are. Why did you all leave the breakfast table so abruptly? You know you should ask per…" Anna-Maria trailed off as she caught sight of her uniformed fantasy brought to life. Uniformed Elsa was even more stunning in real life than she had been in the photo, and Anna-Maria was struck instantly mute.
Elsa smirked, appreciative of her uniform's power over her future bride. She wanted so much to kiss Anna, but it wouldn't have been proper in front of the children. "Let's go out to the terrace," she suggested to everyone. "All of us need to have a talk about what is about to happen." She gestured with her hands, herding the children towards the back. With all of them in front of her, Elsa took the chance and gave Anna a quick kiss on the lips, rousing her from her stupor.
Anna-Maria kissed Elsa back lightly before breaking out into a wry grin. "You really have to warn me when you are going to wear that," she said in mild embarrassment.
"Duly noted," Elsa replied affectionately as they followed the children out on the terrace.
The children sat on the benches, still looking at their mother with suspicion. Anna-Maria went to join them, but Elsa caught her by the hand to keep the redhead by her side. Anna-Maria smiled and intertwined their fingers, and Elsa smiled back at her, causing the children's looks to go from suspicious to confused but hopeful. "Children," Elsa began, "I visited your Great-Grandmother this morning for two reasons. The first was to withdraw my petition to rejoin the Navy. Liesel was right; it was not what was best for this family, and I am sorry I made such a selfish decision."
The children sent glances around to each other, and all of them gave small sighs of relief. "We forgive you, Mother," Marta said instantly, and all of her siblings nodded in agreement.
"Thank you," Elsa said, smiling at them all.
"What was the second reason, Mother?" Louisa asked cautiously.
"To ask her permission to remarry," Elsa said simply, and the children's mouths dropped open in happy shock and anticipation. "Last night, I asked Fraulein Anna to marry me, and she said yes. If it is all right with all of you, she would like to join our family," she concluded, bringing up Anna's hand to her lips and kissing it softly.
The cacophony of happy squeals was deafening, and Elsa and Anna found themselves surrounded by seven ecstatic children giving them hugs and kisses. They hugged and kissed back until Elsa quieted them down, needing to tell them one more thing. "There is a small bit of bad news," she said, getting everyone's attention quickly. "Since Fraulein Anna and I are to be married, the Queen has decided that she and I need to be apart before our wedding. It's an old tradition, and one that we have to follow. Fraulein Anna will be leaving us and living at the palace until the wedding," she explained. Eight faces fell, so Elsa worked quickly to cheer everyone up. "But, the Palace is not far away, and everyone is still on their holidays, so we will go every day to see her. And we will get to visit GeeGee at the same time," she offered. Her children's faces brightened, and Elsa smiled at them. "All right, you lot," she declared. "Find your Uncle Kristoff, Uncle Olaf, Frau Schmidt and Kai and tell them the good news. I have to talk with Fraulein Anna alone for a bit." Her children gave her one last hug and ran off for the house.
"Must I leave?" Anna-Maria asked disappointedly after they went into the house.
Elsa put her arms around her fiancée and drew her in. "It's only for a short time, my love," she promised. "Nana was most insistent. But, I will make sure we can be married as fast as we can be."
"When do I have to leave?" Anna-Maria questioned, distracting herself by playing with the buttons on Elsa's uniform.
"Her carriage will arrive this afternoon," Elsa replied.
"Then I guess I had better go pack," Anna-Maria said resignedly. She went to step away, but then caught another glance of Elsa in her uniform. She stepped back up and kissed Elsa deeply. The kiss lasted far longer than propriety would deem proper before Anna-Maria drew away reluctantly. "Maybe Her Majesty has a point," she said irreverently. Elsa chuckled, and Anna gave her another quick kiss before she left to go into the house to pack.
Just as she promised, the Queen's carriage came for Anna-Maria in the afternoon, and she was ready for it. She said a reluctant goodbye to everyone and climbed in as the coachman loaded her two small pieces of luggage. Everyone waved as the coach pulled away, and everyone consoled themselves that the separation would be brief.
AAAAAAAA
The Queen looked up from her desk when the door opened. Johan came in and he stood at attention. "You have another visitor, Your Majesty," he said.
Thinking it was Fraulein Anna, the Queen didn't even bother to ask for a name. "Please show her in," the Queen requested. Looking surprised, Johan did as she asked, but when her visitor entered, it was the Queen's turn to be surprised. Instead of the vivacious redhead who was to marry her granddaughter, it was the Reverend Mother for the abbey at Nordfell. "Please return to your post, Johan," the Queen ordered, and the guard bowed. After he had left, the Queen continued to study her guest, until at last she spoke. "It is good to see you again, sister," she said with a small smirk.
"As it is good to see you, Your Majesty," Mother Gerda responded with a bow.
The Queen sighed. "Really, Gerda?" she asked incredulously. "After all this time, you address me by my title?"
"You started it, Bulda," Mother Gerda responded with her own smirk. "You called me 'sister'," she pointed out.
"If I were addressing you by your title, I would have called you 'Mother'. But I didn't. I called you 'sister', because you are my sister, you nitwit," Bulda said affectionately irritable. "Come here," she ordered gruffly, getting up from her chair and offering her twin sister a hug. Her sister, younger by mere minutes, came over without hesitation, and the two sisters embraced for the first time in forever. The hug was heartfelt and strong, washing away years of separation and vastly different lives.
When it was finished, Queen Bulda offered Mother Gerda a chair. "What are you here for?" she asked as they sat down. "Based on your note, I have my suspicions, but I had no idea you would come in person."
"I have come to name my heir," Gerda said, confirming her sister's hypothesis. "And when that is done, I wish to abdicate so she may inherit my estate at once."
"And is your heir who I think it is?" Bulda asked.
"Well, she is redheaded, headstrong and soon to marry my grandniece, who of course, is also your granddaughter," Gerda replied.
"A simple yes would have sufficed," Bulda grumbled, and Gerda smirked. "Don't look so smug," Bulda chastised. "It makes me suspicious that you planned all this from the start."
Gerda laughed. "No, you are the planner in the family, Bulda, not me," she reminded her sister. "And it was you who wrote to me asking if I could spare some help for Elsa."
"I was thinking you would send one of your older disciplinarians, Gerda," Bulda retorted. "Not the young, free-spirited postulant who happened to be one of the loveliest women at the abbey."
"Yes, I know," Gerda admitted with chuckle. "But, I did think that Anna-Maria needed to go back out in the world to explore. I had no idea the entire household would fall in love with her."
"Perhaps," Bulda allowed. "But I'm still suspicious."
Gerda laughed outright at that. "Well, has it turned out so bad?" she challenged good-naturedly.
"No, of course not," Bulda answered. "Fraulein Anna is a wonderful girl, and she is perfect for Elsa."
"She is," Gerda agreed. "Which is why I want to start them out on even footing."
"By giving Anna your title, your land and your inheritance money," Bulda stated, and Gerda nodded. "You do realize that by making her Duchess of Nordfell, she will control all of the abbey's lands?" Bulda asked, just because she had to.
"Of course," Gerda answered promptly. "But there is no one I would trust the abbey's lands with more, especially since Elsa will be there to help Anna-Maria navigate the treacherous waters of the nobility."
"Speaking of which, when all of the legalities go through and it is official, Duchess Anna will outrank Baroness Elsa," Bulda mused.
"From what I've seen it won't matter," Gerda said. "It was clear when Elsa came to me to ask for Anna-Maria's hand that she is completely devoted to her. The title will mean little."
"Elsa came to you?" Bulda questioned, surprised.
"Yes, this morning," Gerda confirmed.
"She is supposed to come to me first," Bulda harrumphed.
"The sky was barely awake, Bulda, so you would not have been," Gerda responded. "Elsa knows this, so she just decided to come to me first. Quit being petty."
"Queens are not petty," Bulda retorted, but Gerda just rolled her eyes.
A knock sounded at the door, and the sisters looked towards it. "Come, Johan," the Queen called.
"The carriage with your guest is here, Your Majesty," he said.
"Very well, send her up to me when she is settled," the Queen ordered. Johan saluted and left.
"And that is my cue to exit," Gerda said, rising.
Bulda rose with her and gave her sister one last hug. "It was very good to see you, Gerda," she said sincerely. "Please don't stay away so long."
"I won't," Gerda promised before she took her leave.
Queen Bulda smiled after her and returned to her paperwork, keeping herself busy until the newest member of her family arrived.
AAAAAAA
True to her word, Elsa, with the help of Kristoff, Olaf, her grandmother and the considerable fortunes they had between them, arranged for a lavish wedding in near-record time. Elsa and the children called on Anna every day, and within a week, the cathedral was obtained, flowers and dresses ordered, invitations sent, and the wedding jewelry picked out with an expediency and efficiency that rivaled that of a military operation. The next week was spent bestowing and arranging Anna-Maria's new title and inheritance, and with her new status and the reality that she was no longer in the service of the Maker, the former postulant, with a small pang of emotion, dropped the "Maria" from her name to become simply Anna once again. The kiss on her cheek from Elsa soothed the brief pain, though, and the hugs of the children made it disappear entirely.
Within days, the nobility of Arendelle and beyond started to RSVP, and the guest list grew to a capacity to fill the cathedral. The reception was to be at the palace, and all of the servants were busily scurrying about to make preparations. Gifts and wedding items started to arrive, and the whole family descended into organized chaos, working hard to make sure everything was perfect. Everything went mostly smoothly, so that when the wedding day dawned, everything was in place.
AAAAAAAAA
With wedding bells clanging around them, the sisters of Nordfell Abbey circled around Anna like hummingbirds, making sure that her beautiful white dress was perfectly arranged, and the crown of flowers that held her veil was seated perfectly on her head. They straightened out her gossamer train and helped her down the stairs, where Anna knelt before Mother Gerda to receive her blessing. Much as she had done with Elsa, Mother Gerda placed her hand on Anna's head, wishing her happiness in her married life.
Rising, Anna exited the small room and walked through Nordfell Abbey with the sisters trailing behind her. Church bells gave way to the cathedral pipe organ when Anna reached the gate separating the abbey from the cathedral. The Reverend Mother opened the gate for her, and Anna smiled at her. After receiving her wedding bouquet from her maid of honor Liesel, Anna sniffed its pleasant fragrance before turning back to the gate. The sisters all smiled at her fondly, and Anna smiled back, trying to convey all of the love and gratitude she felt for them. She held their gaze until the music changed, and only after the flower girls Gretl and Marta and her attendant Liesel had gone did Anna turn forward and begin her walk down the aisle.
At the end of the aisle, Elsa waited, resplendent in her full formal dress uniform. The uniform was black, with tails and a double row of shining gold buttons. Because it was her formal uniform, she wore a purple and green sash draped diagonally across her chest, pristine white gloves and instead of a high collar, an elegant bowtie emblazoned with the family crocus tied around her neck. On her shoulders she had epaulets of gold braids, on her chest her many medals for bravery, and at her side hung her ceremonial sword. She was a gorgeous sight to behold, and as Anna neared the altar and saw her bride, her steps nearly faltered at her beauty.
For her own part, Elsa was glad she was already at the altar with Kristoff at her side as best man. The sight of Anna in her flowing white dress was making her weak in the knees, and Elsa knew she could barely stand, let alone walk. Her eyes drank in the sight of her bride, and Elsa gave a silent prayer of thanks to the Maker, her first in many, many years, that such a wonderful woman was becoming her wife. As Anna climbed the steps to the altar, Elsa smiled radiantly and held out her gloved hand. Anna smiled back, her look of joy just as bright, and together, they walked further up the altar to the priestess. They, along with Kristoff and Liesel, knelt before the priestess, and with the sisters of the abbey looking on in pride, the priestess blessed their union in the eyes of the Maker and the esteemed assembled company.
The reception was a grand affair, and hundreds of people milled around the palace ballroom and its elegant dining halls. The brides were introduced with much fanfare, and Her Grace, Duchess Anna Schrader, the Duchess Regnant of Nordfell was escorted to the dais by her wife, Her Ladyship, Baroness Elsa Schrader, the Duchess Consort of Nordfell and Captain of her Majesty's Navy. There had been much talk about what their titles and surnames were going to be, but after much discussion between them and with the children, it was decided that Elsa would revert to her royal name of Schrader, and Anna, now that she was a royal herself, would take the same name. The children would remain Von Trapp to honor their father.
Food, chocolate and alcohol flowed, and the night slipped away. After saying good night, the children were put to bed by the palace servants, except for Liesel, who Anna convinced Elsa was old enough to stay. A few more hours passed, but finally, the brides, eager to start their honeymoon, bade everyone good night. The Queen's own carriage, the same one that had paraded them through Arendelle to the cheers of the crowd as they went from the cathedral to the palace, stood waiting, and the brides got in. The driver took them to the Queen's Royal Summerhaus, where they would spend a night before starting on their honeymoon proper. After she helped Anna out of the carriage, Elsa left her briefly to open the door before coming back to her side. Unexpectedly, Elsa swept Anna up into a bridal carry, causing her new bride to squeal with surprise. "You stinker; warn me next time," Anna chastised with a laugh.
"I make no promises," Elsa replied with a smirk before kissing Anna and carefully bringing her over the threshold. The driver watched as the door shut, and she smiled to herself as she clicked to the horses to get them going. The moon shone peacefully over the city as she drove back to the palace, and it seemed as though the whole country was content. Little did most know that within two weeks, the peace would be shattered, and everyone's lives would change forever.