A/N: Here's another look at how far behind I am: I literally finished writing this chapter, and then immediately came to post it. What can I say? I'm only human! But hopefully, since we are rapidly approaching the climax of the story, I can whip out the next couple chapters fast! Hopefully! I'm making no promises! But anyway, let's not get ahead of ourselves... so to speak. Right now, I give you a lovely chapter with lots of Jolsa fluff! (I love that ship name! It's so fun to say!) :-D

Disclaimer: Do you think they would really trust me with the rights to Frozen? I wouldn't!

A week later, Johan, Kristoff, and Isak were waiting in the hallway outside the ballroom for the girls so they could escort them in. Kristoff and Isak were standing, making quiet conversation. Johan sat on the step, nervously bouncing his knee up and down.

"Why are you so antsy?" Isak said, noticing how tense he was.

Johan shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "I'm just nervous, I guess."

Isak laughed as he sat down next to him and put his arm around his shoulder. "Don't worry," he said. "Every guy had felt that way at one time or another. You should have seen me the first time I escorted Leah to a ball. I was sweating, and pacing back and forth; your father said he thought I was going to wear a hole in the carpet."

Johan chuckled. "I can't even figure out what I'm nervous about," he said.

"I can," Kristoff said. "You're nervous about what kind of impression you'll make. On Elsa, and on everyone else in the room! Believe me, when I first went to a ball with Anna, I was absolutely beside myself. I was worried I'd screw something up and Anna would be upset with me. And I had to worry about what all those people would be saying about a commoner dancing with the princess! Believe me, my friend, you have it easier than I did!"

Johan smiled. Just then, the three girls came in the room together. Isak stood up to meet Leah, who wore a dark red ball gown with medium-length sleeves. Her hair was down and hung by her shoulders elegantly.

Kristoff smiled at Anna, who smiled back. She wore a light green dress with short sleeves and a white trim. She wore her hair in a braided bun very similar to the one she wore at her sister's coronation.

"Do you like the dress?" Anna said. "Leah picked it out for me."

The older princess smiled at the dress. "It's one of Julie's favorites," she said. Anna could see in her eyes how she silently refused to speak of Julie in the past tense.

"It looks beautiful!" Kristoff said, letting Anna take his arm.

Johan, however, had not been able to stop staring at Elsa. She wore a beautiful dark blue dress with long, lacy sleeves that hung off her shoulders. The faint etchings of snowflakes on the draping skirts sparkled when the light hit them, and the dark blue cape that trailed behind her added a queenly feel to the outfit. Her hair hung in elegant curls by her shoulders, and she smiled at her prince as he stood there in awe.

"What do you think?" she said, blushing under his gaze.

Johan took a moment to find the right words. "You look... absolutely beautiful," he said, unable to think of any stronger words.

"Are you guys coming?" Anna called back to them. They were all being announced as they came in, as the king had considered Elsa and her family to be royal guests.

Johan smiled at the queen as he held out his arm. "Shall we?"

She smiled back as she took his arm, and they could hear Leah and Isak being announced as they entered the ballroom.

"Presenting, Her Royal Highness, Princess Leah of Landvik, and her Prince Consort Isak of Landvik."

The guests clapped. Anna looked at Kristoff as he nervously waited for their cue to enter.

"Don't worry. You'll be fine," Anna said as she straightened his jacket. He smiled at her as they began to walk in.

"Her Highness, Princess Anna of Arendelle, with her escort for the night, Sir Kristoff of Arendelle."

There was more clapping as Johan and Elsa glanced at each other. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to see his father, who smiled at them encouragingly. They quickly returned the smile, before making their entrance to the ballroom.

"His Royal Highness, Prince Johan of Landvik, escorting Her Majesty, Queen Elsa of Arendelle."

The crowd clapped for them as they walked in. In fact, they clapped with a little more enthusiasm than they had for the others. Elsa assumed this was either because Johan was the crown prince or that the rumors about them had spread beyond the castle. She sincerely hoped it was the former.

As they joined the line with the others, the herald trumpets blared to announce the entrance of the king.

"His Royal Majesty, King Magnus of Landvik."

The crowd bowed as the king took his place in front of his throne.

"Thank you all for coming," he said. "Let the ball begin!"

The crowd clapped and the music began to play. The younger royals began to walk toward the dance floor, but the king stopped them.

"Hold on a minute, you six," he said. "I want you all to stay in the ballroom during the ball. No going to a different part of the castle, no going outside. You'll all stay in here until the ball is over."

"Aw, come on, Father. What if we want to escape the crowd for a little while?" Johan protested.

"No, you'll stay right here," the king instructed. "It's the only way to make sure you all are safe."

Johan rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

The three couples made their way to the floor just as a waltz began to play. Johan took Elsa's hand in his and put his other hand on her waist. Elsa swallowed nervously as she put her other hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry," Johan laughed. "Just follow my lead. If I can do it, you can do it."

Elsa smiled, recalling that he had said those same words to her at the wedding reception. She stepped lightly as she mirrored his movements, gliding swiftly across the dance floor. She lost herself in his beautiful brown eyes as he led her through the movements. She savored the feeling of being in his arms and dancing on a cloud. She had never felt so free.

After a few songs, they left the dance floor to get some drinks and then tried to find a quiet corner to just talk. But wherever they seemed to go, a crowd would tend to follow. There were young women who wanted to get just one dance with the prince, all of which he politely declined. There were people who wanted to know if the rumors about Elsa's powers were true. She would make some snowflakes dance around in her hand for them, but when they tried to ask more about what happened that summer, she would say that she didn't want to talk about it. And more than anything else, there were people who wanted to know if the rumors about the two of them were true. They were reluctant to reveal much, and certain rumors, like the one that they slept in the same bed, they lied and said weren't true. Certain ones were completely wrong though, like the one that they were engaged.

"I can't believe how much rumors get twisted when they pass from person to person," Johan said when they finally found themselves at a table with a moment alone.

"Yeah," Elsa agreed. "I can't believe people actually believe them! I'm pretty sure that you and I haven't been together long enough to get engaged."

"Yeah, not quite," Johan said, chuckling.

Elsa sighed. "I wish we could get away from all of these people, though," she said. "If only we could go outside for a walk or something. Just to be alone for a little while."

"I know, but we can't," Johan reminded her. "My father gave us strict orders to stay here, remember?"

"Yes, but... I'm not quite feeling all that well," she said, dramatically touching the back of her hand to her forehead.

Johan didn't catch her sarcasm. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern.

"Honestly, Johan, darling, it's too hot in here and I feel like I may swoon," she continued. "If I could only get some... fresh air I would feel so much better."

The prince smirked as he caught on to the act and played along. "Well, of course, my lady," he said, standing up, and then pretending to help her stand as she stood on her own. "If it is fresh air you want, then I will certainly oblige!"

They made their way to a door out of sight of the king where a young guard stood at his post. As they pretended to casually walk toward the door without noticing him, he stopped them.

"No one is allowed in any other part of the castle until the ball is over," he said. "The king's orders."

"But I need fresh air," Elsa said. "Or I feel that I may swoon. Surely you wouldn't want me to swoon, would you?"

The young guard blushed as she batted her eyes at him. "Of-of course not, ma'am," he stuttered, "but the king strictly ordered-"

"Well I'm your crown prince, and I strictly order that you let us out so we can take a few minutes in the garden for Queen Elsa to catch her breath!" Johan scolded.

The guard hesitated. "But... the king said-"

"I already took it up with the king," Johan lied, "and he said that we could go out for a few minutes."

The guard opened his mouth to give a counterargument, but when he could think of none, he simply ended up staring at them for a moment.

Elsa, who had been panting and fanning herself with her hand, let out a dramatic sigh and let her eyes roll into her head as she dramatically fell into Johan's arms.

"Elsa!" Johan cried as he lifted her into his arms bridal style. "Now would you please let us out?" he said to the guard.

The guard nodded in panic a quickly opened the door.

"Thank you very much," Johan said as he walked past him, carrying Elsa in his arms. "We will only be a few minutes, so please let us back in when we return."

The guard nodded, and Johan started walking down the hallway. He waited for the door to close, and then muttered, "Idiot."

Elsa smiled at him as he put her down onto her feet. "Well that worked better than I thought it would," she admitted.

"Yeah, me too," Johan said. "That wasn't good acting at all!"

Elsa smirked and raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you saying I'm a bad actress?"

Johan looked at her, startled. "What? No!"

"I think you are!" she challenged.

"No, of course not, Elsa! I would never-"

He stopped as he noticed she was laughing.

"Relax," she said. "I'm just teasing. Besides, it's true anyway."

"No it's not!" he said.

"Yes it is!" she replied.

They both stopped as they heard footsteps coming from around the corner. Johan hurriedly pulled Elsa into a space between two columns that was covered by a curtain. They held their breaths as the footsteps walked past, got softer and disappeared.

They looked at each other and quietly laughed in relief.

"It was probably a guard," Elsa said.

"Yeah," he agreed. Then he noticed how close together they were in the tight space. He smiled at her, a hint of mischief sparkling in his eye. "Alone at last!"

She raised an eyebrow at him, smirking. "What's that smile for?"

"This," he said as he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she melted into the kiss, and she shivered as his fingers trailed down her spine. She let him explore her mouth with his tongue as she dug her fingers into his hair. They only broke away to catch their breath for a moment before he started to plant kisses on her face, neck, and down to her exposed collarbone. She moaned as she pulled him back up to kiss her lips again.

Then they heard voices.

"Any sign of trouble?"

"No, sir. All is normal."

"Very good."

Elsa and Johan let the voices pass before they looked at each other and quietly laughed.

"We should get out of here," Johan suggested.

"Yeah," Elsa agreed. "Let's go."

They quietly stepped out from behind the curtain and walked down the hallway. They were careful to not be seen by any guards, except for the one they had to convince to let them in the garden. Once they were out there, they sat on the bench by the fountain and gazed up at the clear night sky. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes. Then, Elsa broke the silence.

"Johan?"

"Hmm?"

"Assuming everything eventually calms down, what do you think lies in the future for us?"

Johan looked at her, surprised. "What brought this up?"

"I don't know," Elsa admitted. "It just happened to cross my mind."

The prince sighed. "To tell you the truth, I don't know," he said. "I mean... we both know the potential reason this might not work?"

Elsa nodded. "I wish we didn't have that complication."

"Yeah," Johan agreed. "Details."

Elsa chuckled. "I know," she said. "It's so annoying, everything that's expected of both of us."

"Unfortunately, there's only so much we can do about it," he said.

They sat in silence for a moment before she spoke up again. "Is marriage something you see as being a possibility for the future?"

Johan sighed. "I really don't know," he said. "I mean, I want to think that it is, but with everything that's been going on..."

He stared at the ground in front of him as he trailed off. Elsa put her hand on his shoulder.

"I wouldn't want you to give up everything you've worked for, for me," she said.

He looked up at her. "But I would do that for you. I love you."

She smiled sadly. "Well, I just don't want you to think you have to," she said.

Johan sighed. "Well, I don't want to decide on anything yet," he said. "It's still too soon."

"Then you don't have to," she replied. "I'm not going to push anything on you."

He smiled at her. "Thanks," he said. Then he sighed. "We should probably go back inside."

"Alright," Elsa said, standing.

They walked down the path in silence. Nothing made a sound except for the waves crashing on the shore. Then, there was a rustling in the bushes on their left that separated the garden from the forest.

Elsa turned her head to look. "What was that?" she whispered.

"I don't know," Johan replied.

Elsa walked over to the bush where the rustling was coming from, and she pushed apart the branches to get a better look. There on the ground was a little boy, no more than eight-years-old, trying to get his pant leg off of the branch it had gotten caught on. He gasped when he saw her, and his eyes went wide with fear.

"What are you doing out here?" Elsa said softly. The boy didn't respond, too scared-to-death to do anything. "Are you lost? Are you trying to find your family somewhere?"

She tried to move closer to him, and he tried to move away, but his pant leg was still caught on the bush.

"It's alright," Elsa said. "We're not going to hurt you."

Johan, who had been watching over Elsa's shoulder, took a good look at the boy. "Wait a minute," he muttered.

The boy tried to yank his leg free, while simultaneously trying to reach for something at his waist. He pulled from his belt a dagger, which he held out in front of him as if to look threatening.

Elsa's eyes went wide, and she slowly backed away from the boy without taking her eyes off of him. Johan put his arm in front of her as it dawned on them who they were dealing with.

This boy was a Jacobsen.

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Read on, write on, dream on. -bandgeek63