Chapter 7: A Gentleman

"Your Majesty!" gasped Katie as she saw Elsa stride up to the entrance of the dining hall, "Where have you been?"

Then, Katie noticed the curled, messy hair, and the soaked dress, and she merely ogled at her.

"Yeah, Snowflake, why don't you tell her where you've been? Now that would be interesting." said an annoying voice near her ear, and Elsa had to bite her lip to stop herself from answering him. Katie would definitely think she'd gone mad if she started talking to imaginary people- or, more accurately, people she couldn't see.

"I'm very sorry, Katie." she said to the girl. "I didn't see the time pass by."

Indeed, that was one way to put it. The afternoon had passed in a blur, a whirlwind of snow and wind, and she still couldn't believe it had been real. At least she knew know that the strange boy didn't want her dead, or he'd have tried to kill her by now.

But that didn't explain what he was doing here, why he had chosen to enter her life now… what was he doing here? What did he want?

And though her instincts screamed at her to be careful; she'd known the guy for a day, and let him out of a cage for less than that; her thoughts flitted to that one moment, a perfect silent moment when she'd been alone with him high in the sky. It had been such an experience… and if he'd wanted to hurt her, he would have just let go of her, wouldn't he? But though she had been completely and utterly at his mercy at that moment, she hadn't been afraid.

The foolishness of that thought struck her.

When he'd landed back in her bedroom, she'd taken a look at the clock and gasped. She'd already missed dinner with the royals of the Southern Isles yesterday, had pretended to be sick (when the true reason of her absence was that she'd been convinced that she'd been about to be murdered by a person no one could see but her), and now she was a half hour late.

Passing Katie, she slammed the doors of the dining room open, and she strode confidently to the end of the table.

Jack Frost still following her.

"Geez, they look like a nice lot." he muttered, and Elsa bit her lip.

"I'm so sorry for being late," she said to the King, and she let them take in her appearance, so far from her usual distinguished attire. She hadn't paused to look at herself in the mirror, wanting only to be at the dining room as fast as possible.

She realized now that this had been a bad idea, as the King whistled.

"Well, Queen Elsa, it looks like you've been quite busy," he said in a condescending tone.

"Quite," she simply said as she took her seat, Jack Frost standing near her, leaning forward on his staff which he held with both his hands.

"You're distracting me," she muttered in his direction.

"What was that Snowflake, I didn't hear you… maybe if you spoke a little louder…" he said, and she could hear the laugh in his voice.

"This isn't funny Jack! I can't afford to make a bad impression on these people!" she whispered forcefully.

"What did you say, your Majesty?" asked the King. She cursed under her breath.

"Nothing, King Ronald," she said pleasantly, as she focused on her food. She'd just realized she was starving.

"Before your late arrival, your Majesty, my sons and I were talking about the princess," said the King.

"Oh, really?" she asked, pretending to be only mildly interested, though she paid more attention to what the King was saying. And maybe she imagined it, but she felt as if Jack had stood a little straighter at the mention of her sister.

"Is it true that the princess is… how can I put this? Gallivanting around the world with a peasant?" the King asked, the hint of a sneer in his voice.

"I didn't know you were one to listen to gossip, your Majesty," she said, spitting out the title like an insult in sudden defensiveness. "For your information, my sister is seeing the world for the first time of her life with her betrothed, who is not a peasant, but an ice-man."

"Though it would make no difference if he was a peasant," muttered Jack.

"Though it would make no difference if he was a peasant," repeated sharply Elsa. Jack's following chuckle made her heart flutter.

"It wouldn't?" asked Queen Eleanor, but her tone was only curious, without a hint of judgement in her voice. The princes looked at her as if they were astonished she'd dared speak.

"No," said Elsa, more softly as she looked at the Queen, "It wouldn't. My sister can wed who she pleases. You'll forgive me for reminding you, but my sister was betrothed to a Prince once, who tried to kill us both. So, yes, your Majesty," she continued, but this time addressing the King directly, "I do prefer the peasant as my future brother-in-law than your son, and I do prefer the princess- what was the word you used- gallivanting, than killed by Prince Hans."

"You go, girl." said Jack in a proud voice, and she couldn't help but smile for half a second.

"Forgive me, your Majesty," said the King, putting down his glass, "I didn't mean to insult your sister or yourself."

He looked as though that had been exactly what he'd been trying to do, but Elsa didn't comment.

"Your counsellors told us that they'd made you aware of our negotiations to proceed with a marriage alliance to unite our two kingdoms." the King continued, and Elsa's heart sank. So he did know that she'd been kept in the dark then. No wonder he thought he could push her around… how she must seem weak.

"They did, yes," she confirmed.

"Did you choose which of my sons you will wed yet?" asked the King.

"Well, no, I've only learned of it yesterday, how do you want me to choose a husband in a day?" she snapped. She knew she was supposed to be polite, but she was getting tired of this charade.

"Elsa, if I may-"

"Queen Elsa."

A flash of fury crossed the King's face.

"Queen Elsa. I have been kind enough to overlook how you treated the Prince-"

"I'm so sorry to have kicked him out of my home after he tried to take my kingdom," she muttered, rolling her eyes, so exasperated she couldn't even summon outrage at the King's words.

"-and my sons have been kind enough to agree to marry you despite your… condition-"

"Is he talking about your powers?!" she heard Jack say in outrage, and she realised how glad she was that he was next to her. Though she barely knew him… at least she wasn't alone.

"-but now I expect you to cooperate."

"You do, do you?" Jack snarled his voice filled with outrage for Elsa. "You arrogant, royal, butt-headed-"

"I will give the matter some thought," Elsa interrupted him.

"You're kidding," Jack gaped, standing now directly in her eye-vision so that it was impossible for her to ignore him, "Why are you bowing down to the prick?"

"Good, your Majesty." said the King, and as if those words were a cue, the twelve princes, the King and his wife stood up as one.

"We ate while you weren't there," sneered the King, "so forgive us if we take leave." And without waiting for her approval, they left the room.

"That is so disrespectful, you little piece of shit-"

"Leave me," said Elsa to the servants standing around the table and they left, leaving her alone with Jack. She stood up and looked directly at Jack, as he turned to look at her as well.

"Why are you here, Jack?" she whispered.

…

"What do you mean?" Jack asked, confused. Is that what she wants to talk about now, when that scumbag just pressured her-

"I mean," she breathed impatiently, "Why are you here? In Arendelle? You appear out of nowhere, you have powers like mine, and you're still here though there's nothing in it for you. Why are you here?"

"I guess-" he started stammering, his eyes widening, "I mean- maybe I want to stay. No one has been able to see me for a very long time, and you- you have amazing powers. I just want to know you, I guess. I want to see more. I'm curious about you, Elsa. I want to get to know you."

"You want to get to know me?" she asked, and whatever she'd been expecting to hear, he could see it hadn't been that. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yeah. Is that so unbelievable?"

"A little," she said quietly.

"Why?" he asked slowly, daring to take a step closer.

"I just- I'm not used to it."

"Oh come on, Snowflake. Don't tell me you're not used to getting attention with those looks," he grinned, and Elsa barked out a laugh. She was even more beautiful when she smiled… if that was possible.

"Believe it or not, the ice powers are kind of a deal breaker for most men," she chuckled.

"Not for me," he whispered, and watched as her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. He swallowed back a grin. She was blushing.

"But aren't you scared?"

"Scared? You should be the one afraid of me." he said in a teasing voice. She rolled her eyes.

"Aren't you arrogant?" she said, twitching an eyebrow, and he chuckled.

"I'm not scared of you," he said in a more serious, quiet tone. She reached for his hand, and squeezed it. He was so surprised, that he didn't pull back.

Not that he would have pulled back if he hadn't been surprised.

"Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me."

"You're not a monster, Elsa. This is not a- a sickness… it's a miracle. It is to me, anyway."

She dropped his hand, and buried her own face in her hands.

"I just don't know what to do. I feel like I'm trying so hard to do the right thing, to be a good queen- and everyone's just working against me, marrying me off, as if I wasn't capable enough-"

"We'll figure out something."

"We?" she asked, smiling, lifting her head from her hands to look at him. This time, it was him that blushed.

"Well, yeah, if you'd- I mean if I could- if you don't mind I stick around-"

"Because it's your duty," she said, giggling a little.

"Exactly!" he said relieved at the escape she'd offered him, "I'm doing my duty as a Guardian."

"Only your duty?"

"Of course, milady!", he said, bending into a deep, dramatic bow, "I am a gentleman, after all."

She burst out laughing, and his face split into an ear-splitting grin.

"So," he coughed. "I'll come back tomorrow then?"

"I'd like that," she said softly, her head tilting a little to the side as she looked at him. He kicked his staff on his shoulder, dropped into another bow and smiled at her answering chuckle. His feet left the ground as he pulled open the window.

"Jack?" she called back.

He turned around.

"See you tomorrow." she said, her eyes twinkling in the candlelight.

"See you tomorrow, Snowflake," he smiled, before disappearing in the night.

…

Elsa walked back to her room in a dreamy state, despite the conversation with the king of the southern isles, her mind fluttering back and forth between the dining room she'd just left, and that afternoon.

Though she hadn't said anything to Jack, she had been more than impressed at his performance in the clearing. She'd been… amazed. He'd controlled the winds so perfectly, the snow obeying his every command- she'd felt the magic moving around her, shimmering into every breath of air she'd taken. And then- they'd been above the clouds-

And when the King had tried to bully her- Jack's pride at her retorts and his outrage for her… maybe, just maybe, she'd found a friend. A friend that wasn't her sister, a friend that she felt could understand her on a whole new level…

A friend.

But another voice in the back of her mind kept screaming at her to be careful, to not let her guard down… and of course she was still wary. She'd been through too much to just give away her trust in a day.

But there was just something about him that she couldn't quite explain, a loneliness and hurt haunting his eyes that she knew all too well.

"Your Majesty?" called someone from behind her, and she turned to see Katie running towards her.

"Yes, Katie?" she said to the blond-haired servant running to her.

"I have two letters for you." Katie said, handing her one large yellow envelope, that looked like it had been to hell and back, and another much smaller and completely white.

"Thank you, Katie," Elsa murmured quickly as she took the two letters from her, and pushed open the door of her room with her back as she started to open the first letter.

Hi Elsa! I wrote to you like, yesterday, but I miss you so I wrote another letter!

Kristoff and I heard a rumour that you had Southern Isles guests at the palace. How is that possible? Anyway, we're coming home as soon as we can, though I don't know how much time it'll take to come back.

We're departing from Africa tomorrow evening, and heading straight back to Arendelle.

Can't wait to see you! Love ya,

Anna

She beamed as she read the words. It was so like Anna to come rushing back to her side for a rumour, but she was glad she was doing it. Letters from Africa usually arrived in a two and a half weep gap, which meant that Anna was already on her way. She gasped a squeal at the realisation.

Anna's coming back.

Her spirits couldn't've been higher; but they quickly plummeted again when she tore open the second letter, and this one came from much closer to home…

It was from Archimedes.

Queen Elsa,

Following your conversation with the King this evening (may I add that he reported that you were very rude, and that your attitude is not one of a Queen), and to help you make the choice that will determine who your future husband will be, the rest of the counsellors and I have decided that for now on, and for twelve days, you will spend a morning with each prince.

I bid you a very good night,

Counsellor Archimedes.

She fell with a grown on her bed. Marvellous. Now she would be putting up with those arrogant, misogynistic pigs for twelve mornings.

Perfect.

Her mind turned towards the alliance again.

She had to learn more about this threat of war- she had to learn more about what was happening in the Southern Isles; she couldn't marry one of them, because that would be as good as handing her kingdom over; she couldn't say no, because war was something that she had been taught to avoid at all costs.

What she needed, she decided, was a spy.