Chapter 2
As Karl walked up to the open gate leading to the courtyard of the castle at Arundel, he noted a familiar figure standing alongside the guard who stood watch. He was not as tall as Karl but of burly build and with a head full of sandy blonde hair and the simple son of a farmer didn't know if he should shake the man's hand or put him on his back. He had returned to the castle as he had promised, on the first day of the full moon. He had an appointment to meet with the queen to discuss the future and then to witness the full moon as it hung over the harbor. As Karl drew closer he kept his expression neutral.
"Good morning, Karl," Kristoff greeted his friend.
"Kristoff."
"I was asked to escort you to the Queen. She directed that you not be kept waiting."
"Her Majesty is most kind," Karl replied as he paced alongside the smaller man.
"Yes, she is. She decided not to hang me by my heels from the tallest mast in the harbor for my part in all of this."
"Perhaps she thought that would be letting you off too easy," Karl replied flatly.
"Look, Karl, I'm sorry. But Anna pressed me for names and she can be very persuasive."
"Then I'd have to say you're in for a difficult life if you can let your intended persuade you into doing that which you find objectionable," Karl said looking over at Kristoff.
"To be honest it didn't take much persuading. It was obvious that Elsa was in a bad spot and we both want her to be happy."
Karl simply nodded. In a moment more they were standing before the door leading into the audience chamber.
"Here's where I leave you. Perhaps I'll see you later," Kristoff offered.
"Perhaps," Karl said, noncommittally.
It didn't take long for the door to swing open and the same guard as last time to wave him forward. Despite the familiarity of the event, he was every bit as nervous as the last time. As he walked, his attention was wholly fixated on the figure seated upon the ornate wooden throne. She was just as stunning as before. The hair in the same braid, the gown cut along similar lines but of a different shade of blue than last time. He thought the silver accents were also different. He smiled then as he realized the silver thread outlined a design that strongly suggested frost on flowers.
He came to a stop adjacent to the privy secretary, Anders. They exchanged a brief moment of eye contact. Karl felt the man still didn't care much for him.
"Well, good sir, a smile so soon upon our meeting," Elsa said with a small smile of her own.
"It would be hard not to smile in your presence, Your Majesty, knowing this time that my life is not in jeopardy."
Elsa actually laughed this time, a silvery sound that echoed with the notes of ice falling from warming branches.
"Your travels were uneventful?"
"Once it began, Your Majesty. My father was full of advice and it took some time to get underway."
Karl was sure that the Queen was making small talk and he felt sure she was as nervous as he was, which to him was an absurd idea. After a moment she straightened in her chair and then rose. She extended her hand and Karl answered with the offered arm. She hooked his forearm with hers and said,
"Anders, if you'll excuse me. Karl, if you would accompany me."
"Gladly, Your Majesty."
Elsa led Karl to a small sitting room off the corridor that led from the audience chamber. As they approached the doorway she addressed the guards.
"You will all remain out here. If you hear me call you can come in and remove the large ice cube that you'll find. Karl, if you would join me," she said as she entered the room.
She led him to two chairs that were the furthest from the open doorway. She seated herself and gestured for Karl to do the same.
"It was the best I could get Anders to agree to. I wouldn't allow anyone in the room as we talked, but he didn't want a closed door in the way. The man is something of a tyrant. But I believe he would march into fire for me, so I can't complain. So, to the matter at hand. First, may I express my deep appreciation for your coming today?"
"I made a promise, Your Majesty. I always keep my promises."
"I fully expected as much. May I ask if you have given consideration to my request?" she asked.
"I have thought of little else these last weeks. I cannot remember such a time when I've had to force myself to concentrate on my tasks."
"I see. And did you come to any conclusions?"
"Several, Your Majesty. The first is that for all the world, I cannot imagine a way that I could ever prove worthy of the honor that you are offering. Secondly, it occurred to me that it is not my opinion that matters here but yours. If you see something there, then I must bow to your judgment that it is there. Lastly, I can think of reasons why I should agree to this, and many more why I shouldn't. But, there is one simple truth that makes all the rest of no moment."
Elsa's emotions were running wild as Karl spoke in his deep, careful voice. Her hands were clasped in her lap, her back was rigid and he eyes were focused intently on Karl's face, that serious, handsome face.
"And what would that be, Karl?"
"That I have been completely in love with you from the moment you laid your hand on my forearm that first day and having thought about it long and hard, I cannot bear the idea of living the rest of my life without you."
Elsa was working very hard to swallow her heart. Her vision was blurring through the tears but she could focus on Karl to see that he was struggling with what to do next. Her strongest impulse was to leap from the chair into his arms but she didn't think he was ready for that, not that she had that much experience with such things.
"Your Majesty, Elsa, I'm not sure what to do now. Do we simply agree to what was the hope of your sister and Kristoff or do I propose to you or you to me?"
"My dear Karl, would you do me a great indulgence and ask for my hand?" she asked, her voice a bit shaky and her lower lip aquiver.
Without a word, Karl reached into a pocket of his shirt and pulled out a simple gold ring. He slid off the chair to one knee and took hold of Elsa's hands in his much larger ones.
"Elsa, whether our coming together is the result of a clever conspiracy, the influence of a lucky star, or simple luck itself, it no longer matters. I would simply ask that you do me the greatest honor by consenting to be my wife."
"The honor is entirely mine, Karl dearest, and I do consent for you bring into my life a magic more wonderful than I've ever known."
"Then please accept this as a token of my love and admiration. I found this years ago as a child. I believed it was part of a great lost hoard of Viking gold. I gave it to my mother and she treasured it until her final days. She gave it back to me to give to that special someone that would complete my life. So, now, I give it to you."
Elsa took the ring and after a couple of tries found that it fit the middle finger of her left hand. It was slightly battered with a few nicks but it appeared to be true gold. For the rest of her life, she was never seen without it. It was at this point that she flung herself forward to wrap her arms around his neck and to feel his strong arms wrap around her back. She cried but they were tears of joy and she whispered small words in her beloved's ear, to be known only to them. After some long minutes, she whispered something more and then they pulled apart, Elsa dabbing at her tears while he watched her every movement.
She smiled and laughed a little as she said,
"Now it is my turn not to know what to do next. Should I call in my sister to make some announcement, or should we sit and discuss our plans?"
Karl stood and offered his queen his hand and when she took it he led her a few steps to a small settee. With a gesture he seated her and then sat down beside her. He wrapped her in one long arm around her shoulders and she melted into him. In that deep quiet voice, he said,
"They others can wait, this is our time. What plans would you make?"
He heard her sigh and felt her body shift against him, as if she was trying to snuggle into a large pillow. After a moment she rolled her head on his arm so she could look into his face.
"We make, my darling. From now on it is no longer I, but we, and not the royal 'we' either. Are you in a hurry to make this happen?"
"Not really. While there are certain aspects of our marriage I might wish to hurry along," he said, squeezing her a little tighter for emphasis, to which she wriggled a bit at his side, "I think it would be better if we didn't move too quickly. Some might find it unseemly and I think there are many who would need to get used to the idea of my being around."
"I agree with you, dearest," she replied, taking hold of the free hand that rested in lap. "I too would love to hasten some things but there is much to do if we are to do this right. And I wish very much to do it right, after what happened at the coronation."
"Then that's what we will do. Um, Elsa, I have to ask you a question since I know so little of these things. You aren't planning on making me a king or something, are you?"
She squeezed his hands and laughed at the tone in his voice, sounding much like he did when they first discussed the possibility of them marrying.
"No, my dear man, I couldn't even if I wanted to. The law stipulates that as the direct descendent of the late king, I hold the right to rule. The best I could do for you is have you invested as a prince, sometimes called prince consort. Should anything happen to me the throne would pass to our child, or if none existed, to Anna."
"Well, that's good news," Karl said with relief.
"Don't sound so happy, I think you'd likely make a very fine king."
"I'm only interested in making a very fine husband, and eventually a father. That and having something useful to do."
Elsa looked up into the serious face of this most amazing man that fate had decided to drop into her life. What a waste it would have been for him to stay on a farm somewhere. Then a thought occurred to her. She liked the idea, very much.
"Karl, darling, I don't know if you've realized it yet, but you still haven't kissed me," she said, one eyebrow arched.
"I believe you're right, Elsa, love," Karl replied before bringing his head down to meet her upturned face.
It would be some time until Elsa reluctantly pried herself away from her gentle giant and moved to the door to send someone in search of the Princess. It took all of ten minutes for the younger sister to hurry into the room. When she saw the two on the settee wrapped up in each other and the hint of dull gold on Elsa's finger, she let out a whoop and began to dance around the room.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes. I knew it would happen, I just knew it," she cried and then flung herself at her sister.
Karl was knocked aside, if not by much, and very gallantly inched away to allow the two sisters time to hug and cry in celebration. When the two finally settled down, Elsa said,
"Perhaps you'd finally like to meet your future brother-in-law?"
"I would indeed," Anna replied impishly.
Ever the courteous gentleman, Karl stood and Anna couldn't help but be impressed. He was every bit as imposing as Elsa had said. And as handsome. She held out her hand and said,
"I'm very pleased to finally make your acquaintance, sir."
The impish grin was on full display and Karl thought perhaps it was time to make a statement of sorts. He bypassed her hand, wrapped her in his arms and pulled her completely off her feet. Anna let out a startled yelp, then laughed as she put her arms around his broad, solid shoulders and hugged him back. After a moment, he relented and put her back down on her feet.
"Oh, my," Anna said, "I'm certainly glad he seems to be taking it all so well."
"Perhaps, but I believe you have something to say to Karl?" Elsa prodded.
"Well, yes, I do," Anna said, and then looked up into those piercing blue eyes. "Having given this situation some thought and despite how it seems to be turning out, my behavior was unacceptable. I'm aware that you were put under a great deal of strain and it caused no small embarrassment for my sister. I'm very sorry and humbly ask your forgiveness."
"Thank you, Your Highness, and I accept your apology," Karl replied, then he leaned down and spoke in barely more than a rumble, "but should you think to play such a game in the future, I will put you over my knee and give you the spanking you deserve."
As he stood up straight he could see the wide eyed stare and the very red cheeks. Elsa was looking on, obviously enjoying her sister's discomfort.
"Now that would be a sight to see," the Queen added.
"But I'm a Princess, you wouldn't lay hands on me like that, would you?"
"That is true, Your Highness, you are a Princess and I am a commoner. But sometime soon we will be family and then…" he said with a bit of a shrug of those broad shoulders.
Elsa had to hide her mouth behind a hand and Anna squinted at Karl as he calmly regarded her.
"Ha ha ha, well, yes, I guess the joke is on me. So, now, have you discussed any plans?" Anna asked.
Karl took his place next to Elsa on the settee and Anna took one of the chairs.
"We were just getting to that when we got a little sidetracked," Elsa said, her pale cheeks a bit rosy.
"I love getting sidetracked," Anna teased. "So, what do you have in mind? Something sooner or later?"
"Later, but not too much later. I don't think we'd want people to have to travel when the weather turns bad," Elsa said.
"You could wait until spring," Anna suggested.
"I most certainly am not waiting that long. What do you say, darling, the last day of summer? That would be two months."
Karl nodded.
"That sounds right. You'll need to send out the invitations right away. And it will give me some time to get used to the whole idea."
"Excuse me?" Elsa asked with some heat, "you need to get used to the idea of being married to me?"
"To you, Elsa, no, to you, the Queen, yes. I know nothing of the ways of court, how to act, who is who, and all that. That will take some time."
Elsa smiled slightly and then did something decidedly unroyal. She stood up and promptly planted herself on her intended's lap. She draped her arms around his neck and looking him in the eye said,
"Since the first time I saw you, you have displayed more courtly manners than many who have spent their whole lives at it. But yes, there are those who you will need to get to know and become accustomed to, or perhaps, they'll need to get used to you. Alright then, the wedding will be on the last day of summer. Which means it will have to be announced. Anna, dear, would you have one of the guards summon Anders, please?"
Anna smiled and bounced out of the chair, hurried to the door and spoke to someone and then came back and got herself seated. It was as if she was anticipating a show. Karl looked at Elsa and said,
"Um, don't you think you should move back onto the couch, or something?"
"No, not at all. I intend to do this sort of thing quite a bit, so you and everyone else will just have to get used to it. And that includes Anders."
Karl shrugged a bit and took the hint, so he brought his arm up around her back with his hand resting on his knees, resting lightly against her hip. He felt her snuggle down a bit. They all watched as Anders hurried into the room, then slowed appreciably, his face registering his resignation.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Anders, I have decided to accept Karl's most gracious proposal of marriage. The wedding will take place on the last full day of summer. Please have the announcement for the public drawn up and sent out, and we'll need to send out the invitations to the various neighboring lands at once. The same list as the coronation, with two obvious exceptions."
"Yes, Your Majesty. If I may suggest, you might want to keep the Southern Isles on the list. Hans was only one of thirteen," he left it hanging.
"Perhaps you're right, Anders. Very well, but we'll keep a close eye on whoever is sent."
"And if I may, Your Majesty, may I be the first to offer congratulations."
"You may, Anders, and thank you," Elsa replied, somehow looking dignified while perched on Karl's lap.
Anders bowed and left the room. Anna looked around and said, a bit too brightly,
"Well, that didn't seem to go so badly."
Elsa made a bit of a rude noise. The she planted big kiss on Karl's cheek.
"They wanted me to get married, so I'm getting married. Just because I went and found the perfect man…"
"Ahem," Anna interjected.
"With help," Elsa continued, "doesn't mean they can get all surly about it."
"Should we tell the council of ministers?" Anna asked.
"They'll find out soon enough. Give them a day to get used to the idea and then I'll convene a meeting and they can all meet you at once, my fine fellow," she concluded before snuggling into his shoulder.
Having spent so much of her life away from others and then finding this amazing man, she intended to be in contact with him as much as was humanly possible. She sighed deeply when she felt his arm tighten around her.
"Um, Elsa, this raises something I've been thinking about. Just how many sets of toes have I stepped on?" Karl asked.
"Hmm, well, one or two from inside the kingdom, I guess," she said.
"Let me guess," Anna said, her nose wrinkled in disgust, "that pocked face scare crow from out by the eastern marshes and the more muscle than brains oaf from down by the southern edge of the coast."
"Well done," Elsa replied.
Anna coughed a bit when Karl looked at her when she made the 'more muscles than brains' crack. She looked back at him and said,
"Yes, I know, Karl, my soon to be brother, you are a mightily muscled fellow yourself. But this lumbering lump thinks the way to get through a low doorway is to use his head to move the keystone instead of ducking."
Karl had to laugh. Then he got serious and asked,
"What about from the other lands?"
"Well, a few more there," Elsa went on. "I mean out of the twelve remaining brothers from the Southern Isles, six are married so that would mean the other six there, maybe as many more scattered about. Why the concern? It's not like the old days when they'd send longboats up the fjord to press a claim. Although I dare say you'd probably handle yourself quite well if they did."
"I'm working from a great deal of ignorance here, Elsa. I'm not sure what to expect. I mean, I don't want someone pulling a sword and challenging me to duel over you."
"Oh, I don't think they do that sort of thing anymore, my darling," Elsa said, and then she got an odd look on her face and she did a very unusual thing.
In a very girlish gesture she sat more upright and began to play with a button on his shirt. Then she looked him squarely in the face and said,
"Would you fight over me?"
"Absolutely, although I'd prefer to just use these," he said, holding up his large hands, folded into very menacing looking fists.
Elsa took hold of one of those fists in her hands and kissed the back of it lightly. Anna watched this all wistfully and said,
"What do you say I go see about dinner? Just the four of us, Kristoff is supposed to be here by sunset."
"Hmm, oh yes, thank you, sweetie," Elsa said as she traded unblinking gazes with Karl.
"Alright then, I'll take care of that. You two look like you have a lot to talk about, so to speak."
And with that Anna stood up and left the room, looking back only once as she was about to pass through the doorway. As for Elsa and Karl, they did have a lot to talk about, but oddly, neither actually spoke for some time. When Anna came to collect them Elsa was still cuddled up on Karl's lap, her head resting on his shoulder and they were talking quietly. When Elsa looked up at the sound of her sister's voice, her face wore a slightly perturbed expression, but it passed quickly and she allowed Karl to help her slip off his lap with some dignity.
After he rose from the settee, he offered his arm and she snaked hers around his and they slowly walked to join Anna. Much to her embarrassment, Karl offered his free arm to the princess and with a stifled giggle she accepted and he escorted the royal sisters to the private dining room. When they entered, Kristoff was standing by a window, looking out over part of the city. When he turned and saw the two young women bracketing Karl, he smirked and said,
"What? You weren't satisfied with the Queen, you're going to take my Princess away from me?"
Whatever Karl was prepared to say in reply was lost when Anna looked at her love and said,
"It's called manners, Kristoff, something you could do with more of. I think Karl's parents did a better job with him than those trolls did with you. Maybe you need to spend some time in his company, maybe it'll rub off on you."
When she saw the hurt look on the smaller man's face she released her hold on Karl and hurried around the table to take hold of him. When she saw that the expression on his face had turned into an impudent smile, she stepped back and swatted him heavily on the arm. Karl merely shook his head with a small smile and led his queen to her place at the head of the table and then pulled out her chair and waited until she was settled in before taking his own place on her left side. Anna sat to Elsa's right with Kristoff to her right.
As the server's began their tasks, Kristoff looked across at Karl and asked,
"If you don't mind my asking, Karl, have you given any thought to what you might be doing now? I mean, I don't imagine there would be many opportunities for you to make use of your animal husbandry skills."
"I don't know," Karl said, "I mean I did think about it but I couldn't come up with anything. After all, what do I know about what goes on inside the Queen's castle."
He made to reach for his tankard of ale but held up as Elsa reached over and touched the brim for a moment until the telltale bit of frost appeared. He bypassed the tankard and grasped her hand fondly.
"Actually, darling, I have given this some thought and I have something that I'd like you to do for me."
"Anything."
"From almost the start of his reign, my father kept a list of projects that he wanted to get done. Roads and bridges that need rebuilding, or new ones to be built, piers in the harbor, that sort of thing. Some were completed, others started, new projects added. It all sort of got side tracked after mother and father died. I'd like you to pick up from where father left it."
"It would be my honor, Elsa."
"Is it just me or is anyone else having a hard time remembering that these two basically just met?" Kristoff asked.
"Excuse me," Anna said, "but is it just me or did you forget that you wanted to kiss me after just a couple of days of our meeting? Your troll family may be love experts but you, my dear man, have a way to go."
"Well, actually, I wanted to do it sooner than when we did, but that was the first opportunity when one of us wasn't in danger of dying."
Anna looked at her sister and said,
"Well, that's better, but I still say he needs work."
Elsa laughed and than said,
"Alright, now, let's talk about wedding plans. And then when we're done, we can talk about yours," she said, looking at Anna and Kristoff.
Anna giggled but Kristoff looked like he had just had a block of ice land on his foot. The dining room rang to the sound of Karl's laughter.