Chapter 13

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Anna opens her mouth...nothing comes out.

Kristoff places his hand on her shoulder and says, "Asger, Queen Elsa will be here tomorrow, she told me that she'd talk to you."

"People from City Hall and the Castle talk to us all the time, boy." One of Asger's friends states, "They do not listen to us, though."

"Princess, I need a plan that I can trust. And it needs someone I trust." Asger states before Anna can respond to that, "You will back the Queen, if you did not back your sister, I would be shocked. But I? I need more than just there is a plan."

"Elsa is trustworthy!" Anna states with determination.

"Last week?" Someone else in the room asks. "How can we trust someone who can do that?"

"Especially since everyone is calling it an accident. How many more will happen?" Another person asks.

"Remember the mess with the pig?" Someone else mentions. "The Castle servants cleaned that up. You did not help!."

"I was locked in my room!" Anna screams as she turns around. "I would have helped." She slumps as she looks around the room. Kristoff, his two friends, a few other people in the room seem to support her, or at least aren't frowning or looking mad.

"Sorcery," One of Asger's companions begins to speak, "How can we trust that, Princess?"

She spins around her mouth open to yell. But.

"Princess Anna," Asger says in a quiet calm tone, "Trust is earned. Queen Elsa's magic has the power of life and death over us, we respect that."

"But, we also fear it." Someone else in the room states, quietly. "We can live with being thrown in jail. We can even live with all the money Herlofson is stealing from us. We can leave if we need to. But."

"But, my sisters magic." Anna finishes for him, still looking at Asger. "What do you need, Asger? Whatever it is my sister will do it."

He smiles, "That young Princess is a very broad promise. Can you fill it?"

"Yes." Absolute determination shines through in her voice, expression and body language.

Asger nods. He looks around, waves his hands to calm the crowd. "Then we will see, Princess Anna. When the Queen comes by, we will see."

Anna spins around, "What can I do, people?"

"Make promises and keep them." Someone from the back of the room calls out. "Nobody at city hall or the castle gives a damn about us, prove that you do."

Anna's shoulders slump, "Everyone was happy last night at her Ice Rink, why?"

"They were people who think that they will benefit from a new Queen." Asger says, "Or maybe they just wanted to suck up to the Queen."

"Or her power." Another person says. "I show up, act nice, compliment her and maybe she'll use that magic to help me. People are going to do that."

"Yeah. A lot of people this morning had requests and comments like that." Anna says in a low voice. "I've got to think."

"Good." Asger states, "Do that and return tomorrow, Princess."

later at the Castle.

"How was lunch?" Queen Elsa asks. She has finished lunch and has moved back to the waiting room behind the throne. She is sitting at the desk, doing paperwork. Kai is preparing the Council Chamber. Gerda is supervising the clean up from lunch, and start of dinner. She is making sure that dinner is perfect.

"Interesting and strange." Anna replies as she closes the door. "It gave me a new appreciation for the food here." She looks around, "And for the cleanliness of the Castle."

"Ha! Food! After last week, I had a large lunch and I'm looking forward to a large dinner." Elsa replies. She frowns, "Cleanliness? Oh. Now that I think about it a tavern would be messy. Will there be any problems tomorrow? Should I have Gerda send some maids to clean up?"

The door opens a hair, silently. The hinges are well oiled, since this is a room, the King or Queen will use on a regular basis.

"Sending maids? They need help, I know that. But real problems? I don't know, Elsa. Since I don't know what you are planning how can I answer that question?"

Elsa opens her mouth, she closes it, then says, "Yes. You are correct." An impish smile, "Sorry. I was not thinking about that. Anyway?"

Anna shrugs. "Asger is the man to talk to. He is big man and is popular and in command there. At least, everyone I saw followed him. He, no they, want something."

A raised eyebrow.

"He did not tell me. They went on and on about trust." Elsa nods. "And your powers. There are some weird rumors going around. Which I heard from the two guards you latched onto my back." She waves her finger at Elsa, threateningly. "You did not tell me that you'd have guards following me. Two guards that I thought were Kristoff's friends followed me back to the castle."

"Anna." Elsa sighs and answers. "I am thinking about your reputation."

"Reputation?"

"Yes, if you are alone with a man."

Anna stomps her foot down, interrupting her. "Damn it, Elsa! Do not treat me like that!"

Elsa, startled at the violence of her response, reflexively asks. "Anna?"

"I thought that we had an open door policy and I could leave the castle as I wished, not caged like I have been." Anna states between her clenched teeth.

"You can." Elsa replies. "I just thought that having a couple of guards would be good idea."

Anna shakes her head, no. "No, Elsa. It is not."

"Why?"

Anna licks her lips, "Don't you trust me? That was Asger's complaint. He did not trust anyone from here or City Hall."

Elsa licks her lips as she considers her response. "Trust..." She looks down at the floor. "I trust you, Anna. What I am concerned about is other people."

"Other people?"

"What they will think if you are alone with a man."

Anna interrupts, again. "Elsa! Kristoff and I were alone for days, if anything happened it would have!"

Elsa stands up. "I know that, Anna. Other people do not, I am trying to protect you from them."

"Don't, Elsa. If they have their minds in the gutter, then that's their problem, not mine!" Anna states determinedly.

Elsa sighs, "Very well, no guards will be assigned to be with you."

Anna smiles, "Thank you, Elsa."

'Maids on the other hand.' Elsa thinks, 'Or 'off duty' guardsmen that just happen to be in the area, though. I just...want to protect Anna.'

Elsa waves a finger at Anna, "I am sure that Captain Marcus will object as well, Anna. While I will tell him about my decision, I am sure that he will try to change your mind, as well. I will not stop that."

Anna shrugs. "O... Fine. I will talk with him." She coughs into her hand. "Elsa?"

"What?"

"I never heard of the word OK, until Olaf said it. How do I know what it means, and why did I almost use it a second ago?"

authors note: OK is Boston slang from the late 1830's. An abbreviation of 'orl korrekt' a jokey misspelling of 'all correct'. It might be used in Boston in 1837, but Arendelle in Norway?

Elsa stills. "I do not know, Anna." She says in a small voice. "I have no idea about it myself. That is one of the questions that I need to ask Olaf. I just have not had the time to do so."

Anna wipes her forehead, "Good. I thought something was weird and was wondering if it was just me."

"Yes. Same here."

"Olaf? Elsa are you ready to talk about him? You did create him. That..."

"Yes. That. Creating life. Spontaneously. Intelligent life that knows things that I do not." Elsa shudders. "Only God can do that. What and where do my powers come from? Questions, many questions, Anna. And none that I have any answers to." She whispers as she shudders again.

Anna hugs her. "You're hoping that Pabbie has some answers." She moves a chair over and sits down beside Elsa, as they sit down.

"Yes." A pause. "Although, from what he told Father about my powers, I do not know. Hopefully, Father did not ask the right questions."

'Papa.' Elsa thinks. 'Why? I can think of questions that you should have asked. Did you know? Or were you afraid to know?'

"OK." Slips out of Anna's mouth. She smiles. "It seems so natural to say that."

"Perhaps." Elsa says, "But be prepared to explain that term."

"Want to make a bet that the magic that allows us to understand it will apply to whoever I say it to?" Anna asks.

Elsa opens her mouth, then closes it. "No. I do not think so, Anna. Until I know more about my magic...I will not place any limits on it."

'Once, I heard it, I knew it.' The maid listening thinks as she shudders. 'How did I know what 'OK' means when I never heard it before? Olaf... is frightening.'

"Anyways, what's on the schedule for this afternoon?" Anna asks.

"Reviewing some paperwork for me." Elsa states, "At least until I hear from Kai or Gerda about some emergency that has come up, or it is time for the Council Meeting. For you Anna? I could use some help on this."

Anna grimaces, "You know that I'm not all that great at homework."

Elsa smiles, "I have read your tutors reports since their death."

"Yeah."

Stillness as they both remember they parents.

"Their diaries?" Anna asks in a quiet voice.

Elsa shakes her head. "After some thought, I decided to wait on that until tomorrow. I do not want to start my first session with the Council after reading them. That will be emotional."

"Oh." Anna thinks, "I suppose that makes sense." She looks hard at her sister. "And the Council meeting? What are you going to want me to do?"

Elsa stills...

She slides an envelope from a stack of a dozen or so. Anna had assumed that they were letters that she'd written. "Hold this. Just slide it under your dress. At some point during the Council Meeting...I will probably ask for it."

Anna takes the letter. "What's in it?"

"Something that I can not make up my mind about." Elsa says in a whisper, then she stops.

"Elsa?"

Elsa shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "Anna have you considered what will happen during that meeting?"

Anna shrugs, "Not in detail. I assumed it would be a meeting full of introductions. Neither you and I know any of the Councilors. Oh, I've looked at them as the entered and left the Castle, so I'd recognize them. You?"

"The same."

"After that, not really. I assume that you have a speech prepared. I figured I'd say something like I support you and nod at whatever you say. Beyond that, though, nothing."

"Thank you for the support." Elsa says, reflexively, then states, "Unfortunately Anna, I think that the Council Meet will be...more strenuous than that."

Anna looks down at the envelope. "And this is in case it does?"

Elsa nods. She pats the stack of envelopes. "Like these are."

"Are you going to tell me?"

Elsa shakes her head. "I do not want to use them, Anna. And, if I do, it will help if you are honestly surprised at my action."

"That sounds...very serious, sister." Anna grabs Elsa's hand for comfort.

Elsa slumps, "Even before last week, Anna, I was not looking forward to this meeting. The letters, the communication, that I have had with most of the Councilors has been full of ifs, ands, and buts. All of them were very concerned about my youth and my isolation."

Snow forms throughout the room. "Now. Who knows what will happen." The snow vanishes.

Anna thinks, 'Yeah. I'm not jumping in joy about it myself. All those men and all of them will have something that they will want from Elsa. And if Asger is any indication, they will dismiss me. Do I want a boring meeting or a one full of yelling? I never would have thought that I'd be praying for boredom.' She smiles at herself.

"Anna?"

She snorts, "I just wished to be bored, today. Can you believe that?" She jokingly grins at her sister.

Elsa grins back. "Yes. That is a wish that I can day-dream about as well."

"I just do not think it will happen."

Next chapter the politics begin in earnest... Hopefully the twist I have planned will cause a reaction.

Thank you for reading

jeff