For My Kingdom
A Frozen Fan Fiction
Chapter Three:
A Problem
The wedding party was being held under a huge, white canopy just outside the main hall of the castle. Two guards stood outside the entrance flaps allowing only those with engraved invitations inside, though not many people had not received an invitation. Just inside the tent, thirteen large tables were set around it in a U-shape where people sat and mingled and ate. In the center of them all was a dance floor where couples would go up and party to the music of a small, upbeat orchestra located at the front of the tent just to the side of the entrance.
At the curve of the U sat Kristoff and Anna. Elsa and the snowman Olaf (with his personal flurry ever-present) sat to Anna's left while Cliff and his wife Burda sat to Kristoff's right. Every adult from the troll clan sat in the six tables to the side of Kristoff while the dignitaries and citizens of Arendelle (in no particular order) sat to the side of Anna.
The party had been going for hours. The only ones left on the dance floor at this point were trolls, Olaf, and Sven the reindeer. All of the trolls adored Olaf, taking every chance they could to dance with him. Sven, on the other hand, was doing just fine on his own. Being the largest creature on the floor, it was a miracle no one was trampled.
A long train of servants entered the tent with glasses of champagne just as the last song was coming to an end. Once every attendee had received their glass, Elsa stood, picking hers up and gently tapping it with the prongs of her fork. With the three small tings, the room hushed and everyone turned to look at the queen. Elsa smiled and greeted, "Welcome, everyone. Today we are celebrating the marriage of my sister, Princess Anna, and a dear friend, Kristoff Bjorgman."
A smattering of polite applause came from the attendees and musicians.
"And," Elsa continued, "now, after several hours of revelry, I think it is time to start the speeches to the bride and groom with a toast." She turned to Anna and Kristoff and held up the champagne glass. "Anna, my sister. I can't even begin to describe the warmth that has filled me over the course of the past fortnight while planning your wedding. For thirteen years of our lives, I was... absent. I cannot tell you how sorry I am. I should have been there for you then, and I know I may never fully recompense for those lost years, but seeing you now, married to this wonderful young man, makes me happy beyond measure and lifts some of the guilt I've been drowning in since the first time I refused to help you build a snowman." Though her voice remained calm and collected, a few stray tears streaked down Elsa's cheeks. Blinking away any unshed tears that might have attempted escape, Elsa looked to Kristoff. "Kristoff, Kristoff, Kristoff..." Elsa chuckled, followed suit by the courteous laughter of the audience. "Of all the people, princes, lords, and dignitaries included, that could have married my sister, you are the one that I am proudest of all to be able to call my brother. Though no one could possibly be worthy of my sister, you definitely come closer than any other man I've ever met." Kristoff smiled and winked at Elsa, who grinned in return. "Thank you, Kristoff, for making my sister happy."
Turning to the center of the room and facing the guests, Elsa lifted her glass toward them, pronouncing proudly, "To the bride and groom!"
"To the bride and groom!" everyone else repeated, standing, in a loud chorus and everyone drank from their champagne glass.
Elsa took a polite gulp of her champagne and moved to sit back down when breathing began to come with great difficulty. The glass of champagne froze in her hand, the liquid turning from clear to an ominous black. Seeing this, the queen lost her grip and the glass fell, shattering against the cobblestone.
"Elsa?" Anna stood and wrapped her arms around her sister. Elsa began to cough violently, flecks of blood landing before her on the white tablecloth. "Elsa!" Anna shrieked.
Suddenly everyone in the tent began to panic. "Somebody get a doctor!"
"The queen has been poisoned!"
"Quick! Somebody help her!"
Elsa was bent over the table, her hands gripping it tightly and ice began to spread from her fingertips across the table.
"Lay her on the ground," Kristoff said as Grand Pabbie emerged from the side.
"Elsa... Elsa, it'll be okay... Oh god..."
As Anna began to lay the writhing woman down, she suddenly went limp. "No, no! Elsa!"
Kristoff took over Elsa from Anna, who had begun to tremble uncontrollably, and laid her on the cobblestone, Grand Pabbie stood above her, resting a heavy hand on her forehead. Anna knelt by him, staring down at Elsa with tears in her eyes. Flecks of blood stained the front of the yellow gown.
With a grimace of concentration, Grand Pabbie seemed to pull mightily at something invisible hanging over Elsa. With one final tug, what looked like a black cloud seemed to escape from Elsa's lungs. The troll chief removed a glass vial from a pocket and deposited the black cloud into it, stoppering it with a piece of cork.
He turned to Anna and Kristoff, who were both holding onto each other tightly, Anna with her face buried into her husband's chest. "The queen will live," he said. Anna looked at Grand Pabbie. "She must rest. I removed all remnants of the poison, but it was no ordinary toxin. There was dark magic within that I do not recognize. She will need rest immediately if she is to return to her duties as soon as possible." He looked down at the queen and brushed a strand of her blonde hair from her face. "Princess Anna, I think it'd be best if you were to put up all the guests in rooms in the castle. We must find out who did this. I'm afraid the party is over."