Three days pass. Anna's ankle still fails her at times, but it doesn't interfere too much as Rapunzel and her go running about the kingdom some more. Nothing more exciting happens until the second guest arrives for Rapunzel's birthday ball, but there is something quite important that happens...
Anna was sitting up at the highest precipice that the girls could climb. The setting sun was igniting Anna's fiery hair even more and she basked in the last wisps of warmth that it flickered as the warm summer breeze fluttered around in her lit hair.
"Hey! Here you go." Rapunzel called out from behind Anna, an apple in her hand. Anna turned back to see Rapunzel balancing on the narrow stone wall, high atop the castle, that they were daring to sit on. Anna took the apple but then set it down beside her to take Rapunzel's hand to help steady her some before she sat down. There wasn't one trace of fear in their eyes. They acted as if they did this everyday.
"Thank you Anna." Rapunzel panted. After sitting down she went to pull out her own apple from the little satchel she wore so she could carry them up for them. Anna picks up her apple as well and takes a giant chomp out of it.
Rapunzel looked over to her and smiles, then followed her lead and she took a giant bite herself. Rapunzel looked off to the sunset and then looked at how it blanketed her entire kingdom. They got high enough above to see it all. She surveyed the land and villages with a twinkling glint in her eye.
"It's so beautiful up here Rapunzel. I'm going to hate to leave." Anna sighed and took her frustrations out on her apple with another chomp.
"I think Arendelle is just as beautiful! I didn't get to see them, but I've heard that most of your towns and villages are all full of multi colored houses that make the streets look like rainbows!"
"Yeah, that's pretty cute and all, but this!" Anna spread her arms out wide, almost knocking Rapunzel down, but Rapunzel ducked her head, almost automatically, in all honesty she had gotten used to Anna always accidentally knocking her down. "This is so small, and so quaint! Ours? Well, you can't see it."
"What do you mean?" Rapunzel asked with a full mouth of mushy apple.
"Well, there's the castle, then a kind of moat thing around it, then there's the bridge leading to it. It's isolated from the kingdom! Your castle is right in the middle of it all. We've got to cross a bridge to get to our people. Then there's forests and mountains that they hide in, you just can't see them from the castle. It's kind of lonely looking. If you saw it you'd understand." Anna said, giving up explaining herself.
"I know what you're saying. The bridge separating the castle was kind of off putting-"
"Goodness! I keep forgetting you were there! For the coronation." Anna exclaimed when she realized what Rapunzel said before, about the colorful buildings.
"Yeah, isn't that the reason you're sister doesn't like me?"
Anna snapped her head towards Rapunzel's downcast face. "What?! What on God's green Earth do you mean my sister doesn't like you?!"
"I just thought, I mean ever since you two got here... She doesn't seem to... Well I guess be enjoying herself for one, and she doesn't want to hang out with us a whole lot. I've probably spent a total of ten hours with her for the three days you two have been here."
"Well I'm here to testify right here right now! My sister does not not like you. That's just Elsa! She doesn't like to go running around all day. She's used to working all the time! She's got a whole kingdom to run by herself! She's not used to not doing anything. And then what all with what happened on our way here I don't blame her. I know I tire her out alone, I can only imagine the relief she felt when we were called for tea with your mother the first day we came here."
"The two of them seem to have gotten close." Rapunzel sighed. She wasn't mad about that, she just wished that Elsa wanted to become close with her as well.
"That's good, now Elsa can stop worrying!"
"Worry? Worry about what?"
"That your parents hate her. You know... For freezing you and Eugene..."
Neither of the girls knew what to say exactly. They looked away from each other and gazed upon the crepuscular light behind the clouds as the sun began to bade farewell for the day. The breeze chilled as the sun's warmth dwindled and cooled the girls boiling cheeks.
Anna cleared her throat after a few stressful moments. "I think it's safe to assume that she was wrong though. What with your parent's warm welcome and them taking such a loving interest in us. In fact, I can't remember the last time Elsa looked so at peace before..." Anna faded off and just a second to regather her point and then continued.
"One thing is for sure though Rapunzel, Elsa doesn't dislike you, she's afraid that you don't like her. She hasn't spoken to me about it much, but I think she's getting over that. Talk with her tomorrow at the party. You'll see. Pull her aside and talk to her about it. She'll probably appreciate the distraction form the festivities." Anna giggled. Rapunzel had her hand out to take Anna's apple core and Anna gave it to her and Rapunzel put it away along with her own into her satchel.
"Did you really invite like everyone?"
"Well, I couldn't be rude and not! I don't want to spark a war, so I figured if I invite one dignitary I have to invite them all. It'd be different if I wasn't married already, but..."
"Hildegarde would enact war if she wasn't invited wouldn't she..."
"I really hate Flornes. I have never in my life wanted to harm anyone, but I think for her and her ruthless father I'd make an exception." A dark reverberating chill echoed in Rapunzel's words that sent a shiver down Anna's back. Rapunzel looked at Anna shiver and she felt her happy warmth take her over again. "Are you cold?" She asked with a gentle voice now.
"Ah... Yeah! Yeah a little." Anna lied. After being reunited with her sister she began to get pretty used to the cold. It hardly bothered her anymore. "A shame the sun didn't stay out very long for us, what with the hard climb it took to get up here." Anna remarked as the last twinkles of the sunlight danced on the horizon under the billowing clouds.
"Yeah, but, I guess we should be going inside for dinner. I'm sure they've sent someone for us already."
"Yeah, alright. After you." Anna agreed and helped Rapunzel onto her feet. Then they descended the wall, scaling down it to the cobble stones below where the made a hasty retreat into the castle.
I know this is like really short, but I just needed this moment to itself. I think it will help lead into what I'm doing next. I can assure that the next chapter will be anything but short. Thank you guys, for all your support. :3