Elsa had finished unpacking her things which further helped her to calm down, although Amelia did a superb job too. But, now Elsa felt at home. That nothing was going to harm her anymore. And she was just finishing brushing her hair when the door behind her crashed open. All her tranquility gone in an instant.
She leapt from her seat in fright and turned to see Anna leaning on to Rapunzel for support.
"What on Earth have you been doing?" Elsa demanded firmly, but not too much. Concern and worry for her sister overtook her and she practically ran to her.
"Whoops! Wrong room!" Anna laughed and tried to get both her and Rapunzel turned around so they could leave and go next door.
"Oh, no, no, no, no, I don't think so. You get over here." Elsa demanded, but only went up to take up Anna's other arm and led them over to the giant bed spread out in the middle, against the back wall.
"It's nothing Elsa really!" Anna tried to insist but the hissing and grunting that occupied the space between her words said otherwise.
"Now, not another word Anna. Come on lay down. Oh Rapunzel could you grab some of the pillows so we can elevate her foot.
"Of course!" Rapunzel zealously threw herself to the task as Elsa handled putting Anna into the bed. Rapunzel felt so guilty she was sure that Anna secretly hated her too, like she felt Elsa did.
"Here you are." She held out the pillows for Elsa to take.
"Thank you." Elsa noticed the look of regret and guilt that hung onto Rapunzel's frame and she gently took the pillows from her instead of impatiently ripping them away.
"What else can I do?" Rapunzel asked as Elsa busied herself with folding them in half to add more height and stuffing pillows under her knee so it wouldn't strain it to stay up and cause more pain.
"Elsa! Stop fussing. I'm fine! You act like I've never twisted my ankle before!" Anna protested to the five star treatment.
"Rapunzel, you could get some bagged ice, that would be wonderful." Elsa directed Rapunzel so she would feel useful and hopefully less responsible.
"Alright! I'll be right back!" Rapunzel exclaimed and then ran out of the room to fetch some ice.
Elsa looked back at Anna after watching Rapunzel leave and just gave her slight glare of disapproval.
"You do remember you can make ice right?" Anna asked in confusion, but then Elsa's glare turned more intense, half of it full of fear. She remembered that ELsa remembered she could make ice alright.
"Your hair looks nice." Anna said with a sheepish grin and she saw Elsa's glare break and then her sister sighed.
"Just tell me this wasn't like the pig pie incident."
"No! It was more of a chameleon cupcake incident..." Anna's voice grew smaller and softer with each words and she shrunk down into the extravagant, plushy pillows and blankets.
"Oh Anna... What am I going to do with you." Elsa just plopped herself down next to her sister.
"Love me unconditionally forever."
"Besides that."
"I don't want you to do anything else but that knucklehead."
"Oh! Coming from the queen of knuckleheads, I'm truly honored to receive the title!" Elsa said messing up Anna's hair even more than it already was. They just ended up laughing for a moment, and Elsa calmed down first and looked on as Anna stayed gleeful admist the pain she was in.
"So why does Rapunzel look like she's in pain too?" Elsa asked, still noting the immense guilt Rapunzel carried on her.
"Oh she thinks this is all her fault." Anna explained with a long sigh and a wave of her hands.
"I feel like this is going to be a while."
"What? It's not like you have anywhere to go!"
"No, but we do have dinner to attend to and then we've been invited back to Amelia's chambers afterwards."
"For some more "politics, reports, and such"?" Anna mocked Elsa's earlier regal voice and Elsa lightly pushed Anna's deeper into her pillows with mock anger.
"No. It turns out her and our mother were good friends and she'd like to tell us some stories about when they were younger. I thought you'd like to hear about momma's crazy side."
"I'd love to!" Anna sprang up with excitement, and Elsa smiled at her enthusiasm,but then Anna crossed her arms and fell back down with a soft thud. "If she had one."
"Amelia seems to be quite confident that she did. But, for now, let's just focus on your story. What happened."
"Well... It all started when I found her.-"
"Yes, I figured that."
"Hush! I'm trying to tell my story here! Anyways when I found her..."
"Anna!" Rapunzel squealed at the sight of her new friend running towards her from the castle doors.
"Hey Rapunzel!"
"I didn't think you'd come! I thought you'd at least come over to the ledge to see if it was even me first! Where's Elsa?"
"She's still with your mother. They let me go to talk about some boring stuff. They're a match made in heaven those two." Anna took up Rapunzel's arm in her own when she reached her and she set them off to an unknown location; her mind completely side tracked.
"Well, a queen's work is never done. Now I feel bad for pulling you away." Rapunzel admitted sounding crestfallen at her folly.
"Don't be! I don't want to sit around and listen about reports! This is a vacation of sorts. I just wish Elsa would realize that."
"Well, it's important that she stays on top of it so she isn't buried in it. You do know how to file reports don't you?"
"Well, yeah... I'm a princess."
"And you know how to arrange meetings with dignitaries? How to properly discuss issues within your kingdoms?"
"That's easy! Write them a letter!"
"What if they don't want to come?"
"Then you make them want to come."
"Yeah, but how?"
"Well, you... Hrmm, you uh... youuuu you uhm."
"See, you don't know either. That's why I feel bad."
"How would you make dignitaries come then?" Anna inquired with a shrunken voice. She wasn't mad at Rapunzel's statements she was concerned, and humbled.
"I was hoping you knew." Rapunzel looked to her with glistening eyes of pure emerald and Anna couldn't take it anymore.
"Well, I'll tell you what. The exact moment I find out I will let you know. Even if I have to cross all the oceans and seas of the world myself to reach you." Anna took hold of Rapunzel's hand and gave it an assuring squeeze. "Now, let's focus on something a bit more cheery! What say you?"
"Well, I called for you because I still haven't been able to find Pascal. Some people thought they saw him back at the Snuggly Duckling."
"Then what are we waiting for! Let's go!" And off the two girls ran to the Snuggly Duckling; Rapunzel's response lost to the wind.
"Anna, you're going the wrong way!" Rapunzel roared in a laughing fit and pulled Anna with her to the right to cut down an alley way, just missing being ran over by a trolley driver with a fresh batch of flowers on board to be delivered.
"Are you alright?!" Rapunzel asked as Anna roared out with laughter. The trolley had just brushed against her dress, anymore close and it would have taken her down, but the excitement only encouraged Anna. She didn't believe in obstacles. There's always a way around or out of things to her.
"Peachy! What are you slowing down for! Go go go!" Anna commanded and then she went to leap forwards ahead of Rapunzel and then lead them again, leading them down pathway after pathway.
The wind danced in their hair. Their legs worked like machines, powerful, fleshy machines; always stretching out, down, back, up, and out again. Their dresses were swishing violently against the cobblestones and their would catch their feet sometimes, managing to trip them up a little every once and a while, but they never faltered enough to slow down or fall. They managed to steer clear of all other trolleys and all the hustle and bustle of workers and life that they were sprinting by. Their laughter rang in the air like the tolling bell letting it be known another hour has passed. Everyone tried their best to stay out of the girls way and let them have their fun. Passing children would join them until their mother's scolded them to get their "rear ends back over here!" or until they couldn't keep up with the princesses anymore.
"Go left!" Rapunzel ordered with a laboring breath, but she was having too much fun just running around to slow down and breathe for a moment. The girls went left and Anna thought she recognized the area enough and decided to head due North, so she didn't heed Rapunzel's second direction to go to the right.
To Anna's good fortune she kept going North because she spotted Pascal riding along on a commoner's shoulder. The little bugger was demonstrating his camouflage skills to each flower the boy held up to the lizard.
"Rapunzel! Rapunzel, I found him!" Anna hollered back with joy, but she was maxed out and couldn't go any more fast, and she was starting to feel very tired.
Then to Anna's dismay Pascal looked up at the sound of Rapunzel's name and saw Anna racing towards him and the boy he was riding with, and he scurried down from the boy to begin his escape of capture in his favorite game of chase. Unlike hide and seek, he almost always won at chase.
Rapunzel finally stopped when she heard Anna and saw she wasn't right behind her.
"Anna?" Rapunzel panted wildly and she spun around looking for her and she saw the red hair and green dress of her target flash in an instant before vanishing behind buildings that were part of another alley way. She knew where that alley way led to and she hurried to catch back up to Anna, fearing what could happen.
"Anna! Wait!" Rapunzel called out as she gained sight of her again. Then Rapunzel could already see the future of two possibilities; either Anna stops before running over the tables lined up along the street, perpendicular to the end of the alley way or Anna runs over the patrons and jumps over the table to pursue Pascal.
I'll give a moment to decide what you think happens.
"Anna, no!"
Anna waited until the last second, confident that the opening between a man and a woman in her way was wide enough and would stay open long enough, and then she coiled down and sprung out in a massive leap to clear the cupcake assorted table.
Time almost stood at a stand still. Rapunzel stopped just short of the couple Anna vaulted between, her hand lifting to her mouth as if to hold back the giant gasp that tore out of her lungs. Anna beamed at clearing the table and had her target in sight, her hands outreached to catch the little devil, as soon as she touched the ground she knew he'd be in her hands. Pascal slowly froze still as he saw it first, and Anna slowly turned her head to see it too. A carriage tumbling down the road.
Time began to speed it again.
Rapunzel made to jump the table, but she was a moment too late. Anna changed directive and tried to land faster as to not land as far out and in the carriages way. There was no way it would be able to stop in time. But! The driver saw what could happen and managed to steer his horse to the left to avoid Anna by a perfect smidge.
Pascal hopped onto the passing carriage in a moment of instinct to avoid getting ran over and he looked back to see Anna sprawled out over the cobblestones and Rapunzel at her side trying to access the damage done. His little heart sank with guilt when he realized Anna wasn't laughing, but was crying softly as she clutched at her left ankle.
The carriage suddenly stopped and Pascal almost flew off. The driver came rushing over to see how he could help instead of scold when he noticed just whom was assisting the poor girl.
"Your majesty! I do humbly apologize! I tried my best to avoid you young lady."
"Anna? Are you alright?" Rapunzel whispered, squeezing Anna close to her. Anna lifted her face up to look at the grieved princess, and everyone started to excitedly whisper that it was the visiting princess of Arendelle who was hurt.
The driver looked around, pulling off his feathered hat, listening to them discuss both Anna and her older sister Elsa, or better known to them as the "Ice Queen". His knees began to buckle and he found himself down on his face, bowing and pleading.
"Your majesty! I pray you. Please forgive me. I meant no harm!"
"No, no, no, no. Don't apologize! It was my fault! Please, get up, stand up sir. Rapunzel can you help me up?"
Rapunzel immediately went to help Anna up and the man bowing only raised his head up. His face expressed pure disbelief at what he heard.
"Please stand up sir. You'll ruin you're nice clothes." Anna begged as she leaned onto Rapunzel trying not to do so with her whole weight, but when tried to put a little pressure on her smarting ankle she about fell down like a bag of bricks. Rapunzel clasped her arms around Anna and pulled her back up all the way and wrapped Anna's right arm behind her neck so that she wouldn't fall again.
The man scuttled up and looked around again at all the judging faces, and then looked to the princesses, but then cast his gaze down to the road, not feeling worthy at all to look upon their faces.
"I'm okay, I assure you." Anna outright lied, but dang it she was so good at it sometimes. The man looked up to her again. "I've twisted my ankle doing worse things than jumping in front of carriages I promise." She lied again, but it was working.
"M-May I of-f-ffer you two a ride to th-the infirmary?" The man stuttered out in a cautious tone, wringing his hat in his sweaty hands.
"I think we'll be alright to head back to the castle." Anna insisted. Then she caught sight of something peculiarly blue on a wheel of the carriage and she squinted to see it dart away when she looked closer.
"Call for Pascal." Anna murmured from the side of her mouth to Rapunzel.
Rapunzel gave her a questioning glance but Anna was reaching her arm out for the driver to take and help her to the carriage.
"Pascal?" Rapunzel called out gently and she saw a little flash of blue reappear slightly on the wheel.
"Pascal, come on out. It's okay. We're going home." The driver had Anna and was half way done getting her into the carriage when Pascal skittered across the cobblestones to his princess. She held out her hand and he jumped on and climbed all the way up to her shoulder. "Are you alright buddy?" She whispered to him but he wouldn't look at her and tried to hide out of her sight. She sighed and let go of the matter and stepped out in the middle of the road.
"People of Corona, please continue on with your business. I am very, very sorry for the interruption. We just got a little carried away, Please forgive us. Have a wonderful day." Rapunzel felt proud after her little appeal, especially when they all nodded and laughed at what had happened. No one was angry and she was so grateful. She turned around to close the distance to the carriage and went to take the driver's assistance to get in when she felt a tug on her dress.
She turned her head back to see a little girl presenting two cupcakes and a little boy beside her presenting a single one for the driver.
"Thank you very much." Rapunzel smiled warmly at the little girl and looked up to see who she thought was her parents and they smiled and gave her a little wave. Rapunzel looked back to the beaming little girl and accepted the cupcakes and then went to get in the carriage.
"And that's what happened." Anna finished. Rapunzel had returned with the ice a while ago, and was requested to stay by both Elsa and Anna.
"You are a magnet to trouble, do you know that?" Elsa stated and grabbed at Anna's hand.
"Hey, I got a free cupcake out of it, so I think I did okay for today. Especially with what all happened earlier."
"I'm just so sorry I took you away. If I would have just been patient you would never had gotten hurt." Rapunzel explained, trying to teach herself a lesson.
"But then we wouldn't have had so much fun! Did you forget the cupcakes! They were delicious! I'd compare them to Peter's chocolate!" Anna exclaimed, trying to make Rapunzel understand that she wasn't mad or blaming her for what happened.
Quite suddenly though, a boiling mess of a blush attacked Elsa's fair cheeks at the mention of the baker from back home, and all in attendance noticed it. Even the queen mother as she entered the room.
"Girls! Oh, I'm so glad to see you're okay!" Amelia came in with a look of utter relief to see both her daughter and Anna in one piece and smiling at her.
She walked over to the right side of the bed where her daughter was sitting and bent down to kiss Rapunzel's cheek.
"Mother? How did you-"
"News travels very fast when princesses are involved my dear. Did you get hurt?" Amelia asked Rapunzel as she scanned her up and down seeing nothing the matter.
"No, I'm fine. Only Anna got hurt."
"And you missed the whole story, and I don't think I could tell it again with such gusto." Anna joked with dramatic gestures.
The elder queen chuckled softly. "I've heard it all already my dear. You are quite attracted to danger and thrills aren't you."
"That's what Elsa said! I just can't help it!"
"I know Anna." Elsa assured with a warm smile. "And, I wouldn't have you any other way."
"And the same to you sis." Anna smiled back then she remembered something from earlier. Rapunzel's doubts that she was a good, qualified princess. "But, did you hear how Rapunzel smoothed everything over with the people? It was quite impressive." Anna directed towards Amelia."
"No, that I did not." Amelia looked down at her daughter, who was the one blushing now.
"They weren't even rough in the first place. I just thought it right to still ask for their pardon." Rapunzel explained sheepishly.
"Don't be embarrassed Rups! You were amazing!" Anna insisted with much enthusiasm. Amelia rubbed circles on Rapunzel's back in hopes of expressing that she was too proud for words. Rapunzel got the message.
"Where is Pascal anyway?" Elsa inquired, seeing that he wasn't with Rapunzel after everything they went through.
"Eugene found us at the gates and took him to give him a stern talking to." Rapunzel explained with a little more pep in her voice.
"Will you be well enough to join us for dinner, or shall we bring dinner to you?" Amelia asked very seriously of Anna.
"Oh, now that's completely unnecessary. If there's food I will run to it even if my legs are broken!"
"I think it could be refreshing though, to have a change of venue." Amelia rubbed at her chin and mulled over the idea.
"Really, you don't have to though." Anna tried to reason that she was fully capable to go to dinner, presumably, in the great hall, which she passed by twice now.
"It is your castle though. You do as you wish." Elsa stated, hinting towards their earlier conversations. Amelia finally looked to Elsa, and the story of her arrival replayed in her head. She gasped a little at the thought of what she endured, and how warm and and bright her eyes were now anyway.
"It's settled then." Amelia croaked out absentmindedly. She cleared her throat and shook her head a tad to clear her mind. "We shall dine here. I'll make the preparations. Rapunzel, will you make sure to let your father and your husband know?"
"Yes, of course mother!" Rapunzel answered. "I'll get right to after I speak to them for a minute longer."
"Tonight will surely be a night to never be forgotten then!" Amelia gave a little clap with gleeful anticipation. "I hope you're alright with that." She asked of the sisters.
"I never get to eat in my room at home, so yes! I'm all for it!" Anna laughed wholeheartedly, which in turned cause all in attendance to laugh as well. Anna's happiness was one of the most contagious things any of them had ever experienced.
"I'll leave you three to yourselves then." Amelia said, looking around to each of them treasuring the moment of them all being together. She felt touched and overwhelmed with joy. Pinpricks itched at the tip of her nose and she hurried out of the room before her happy tears could expose her. The girls just thought she was excited to set their dinner-in-bed plans in motion.
"I'm still s-" Rapunzel started before Anna angrily interrupted.
"Don't you dare apologize again Rapunzel! I swear to... Well everything! I will smothered you with these pillows! Stop worrying about me! This happens all the time." Anna hollered.
"It really does." Elsa confirmed plainly. "But, I hope you two did learn a lesson today." Anna gave her a scowl and Rapunzel looked to her with the utmost respect, wanting nothing more than her approval. "No more chasing after chameleons. Let the poor thing just find you. If you love them and they love you they will always find you." Elsa quoted and Rapunzel felt a wave of warmth and wisdom wash over her and she found she could sit a little more straight with confidence. Rapunzel noticed that Elsa hadn't slouched at all the whole time.
"Ain't that the truth!" Anna asserted crudely and went to scoot herself up so she could hug her sister before Elsa could scold her. But then a Anna let out a giant hiss from moving her swollen ankle the wrong way.
"You stay there and I'll hug you." Elsa demanded and fulfilled Anna's wish and moved closer to her to envelope her in her arms.
They held each other and Anna didn't feel right. "Rups, what are you doing? Get over here and join the festivities!" Anna ordered lightheartedly and flung out an open arm and Rapunzel hesitated at first but then Elsa opened an arm for her too and so she joined them without pause.