Chapter Twenty-Two
Dinner was an exhausting affair. Princess Anna, at Kai's suggestion, had her meal in the main dining hall. She was careful to smile and speak easily with anyone that addressed her. In such a fashion could she display her confidence that, while all was not well, nothing was dire. Her own nervously twisting stomach tried to upset that demeanor, but Anna brought her stubborn determination into play. The only time she nearly lost her battle of internal wills was when the staff brought forth a fine meat dish baked in the manner of a large shepherd's pie. Its passing similarity to the simpler meat pastries made her guts do a lazy roll, but the shame that caused the nausea had ebbed to the point she only felt a mild discomfort.
After dinner was successfully navigated, Princess Anna headed to her room. She bypassed Elsa's door with little more than an unconscious trailing of her fingers over the paneling. Bed was warm and welcoming, and the pillow unimaginably kind to her aching head.
Day nine came entirely too early for Anna's tastes.
At first, the knocking on her door wound its way into her dreams. Waking from them involved a very muzzy untangling of sound, source, and sensation.
"Princess Anna?" Her dreaming mind issued the voice from the mouth of a great white bear-wolf creature that was drumming its massive claws on the castle dinner table.
"Mmmphrgle," was her inelegant response. Within the dream, she nobly demanded the beast state its intentions. His. Or was it a her?
"Princess Anna, Royal Steward Kai wishes to speak with you, as soon as you are able."
"Ugggle." Don't be silly, she addressed the creature in her dream. You cannot possibly be Kai. You have too much hair on your head!
"Princess Anna, I implore you, please do not make me fetch the snowman."
"Mmmlaf?" The monster shifted, becoming the giant snowman Marshmallow, then shrank and became the diminutive Olaf. With joy, Anna leaped forward in her dream and scooped Olaf into a spinning hug. Is Elsa with you? Her dream voice rang across a snowy landscape. Kristoff? Sven? Is my family whole again?
"Oh, you really are going to make me… I don't..."
So strange to hear such a worried tone from Olaf! She hastened to reassure him that all was well, that really Elsa had just bumped her head. That kind of thing happened when they were playing in the armory. One really should watch out for knight falls.
"Who's going to make you do what, now? You really shouldn't let anyone make you do anything you don't want to do!" Olaf's cheerfully concerned voice rang against stone.
"Gah!" yelped the page at Princess Anna's door. "How do you do that?" he exclaimed.
In Anna's dream, her small armful of snowman became a staggering armful of snowbear. Said bear was having a very odd conversation with itself.
"Do what?" Olaf asked. "Walk? Well to be honest I just kind of roll along! One stump swung along in front of the other!"
It was very funny to watch a snowbear waddle in the dream.
"No! I… I mean appear like… you sneak up on… ah, I mean, you travel so quietly… sir… Olaf..." The page was struggling desperately to regain his professional tone.
"Oh, that's easy! I'm a super snowy and now sugary ninja!"
Dreaming Anna tried to lick the snowbear-wolf's fur. It really was sweet, like spun sugar.
"You're… a… forgive me, sir… did you say… sugary?"
"Yep! Word to the wise, be careful climbing some of the bags in the kitchen. They're really not all that tightly sewn shut."
The sweet snowbeast was now trying to hop along in an upright position, a bag over its legs. Even deep in the dream, Anna thought that was a bit odd. A bit much, really.
"I… will take that into consideration… sir."
"You do that, my good man! Oh! Do you think Anna's awake yet?"
"I… have been trying… sir..."
"Oh, she's a heavy sleeper! You gotta be kinda forceful about it. Like this: Anna! Hey Anna! Time to wake up!"
"Sir, that is the Princess!" Shock suffused every syllable the poor page spoke.
"Oh, right, right! Hey, Princess Anna! Time to wake up!"
The snowmonster of her dream groaned in pain as Anna shoved her way past it, fighting through the thick murk of sleep to achieve the fragile light of wakefulness. As clarity shattered against her, she slurred, "M'up! M'up!" even as she pulled a pillow over her head.
"Oh, I think I can hear her! Hey, Anna… excuse me, Princess Anna! You gonna come out soon? It's a lovely morning! The baker even gave me some muffins to bring to you! Oh, you, do you want some muffins?"
"I," stammered the page, "uh, I, ah, uhm, can't eat while on the job. Sir."
"Really? That's a shame. Well maybe we can save same of these for later! When does your shift end?"
"I, er, sir, I truly do need to wake the Princess. Royal Steward Kai needs to speak with her… as soon as possible..."
"Oh, well why didn't you say so? Hey Anna! Princess Anna!" A sharp rapping sounded at Anna's bedroom door. "Kai needs to see you! You awake yet? Anna?"
"Mmnot! Am. Am waking up!" Anna sat up, the pillow falling to one side. She reached up to brush hair from her face, staring a moment in confusion when her fingers tangled in the sleep-made knots.
"There you go! She should be out momentarily! Oh, Anna? How about I just meet you at breakfast? Will that be okay?"
Knuckling slumber-blurred vision from her eyes, Anna called back, "Yes, s'fine."
"Great, chat with you later! And here you go, my good man, have a muffin for after your shift!"
"Thank you… sir..." After a few quiet moments, the page muttered, "Shift? Does it imply I wear women's undergarments?"
A ridiculous image of a white bear wearing a woman's shift paraded through Anna's mind. It was so startling absurd that it woke her completely up. A brief conversation through the door clarified what the beleaguered page had been trying to achieve. Wondering at the urgency, Anna fought down the nervous swishing of her stomach and dressed quickly. She still eschewed the services of any handmaiden, although it was increasingly more for those rare moments of privacy rather than being proud of her own independence.
Hurrying to the private dining hall, she found the Royal Treasurer, Kai and Olaf waiting her.
"Did something happen?" both Kai and she asked at the same time.
Olaf blinked, shook his head, and muttered, "Wow, stereo!"
Kai and Anna glanced at the snowman, then at each other. Kai gestured to Anna and said, "You first, Your Highness."
Anna cleared her throat as she took a seat. "It's just you sent the page with such urgency…," she stated.
Kai's brows furrowed in puzzlement. "I did not," he said, frowning. "I asked him to be on hand so that he could pass on my request for us to meet as soon as conveniently possible." He nodded his head to the Royal Treasurer. "We thought it might be wise to confer over possible trade implications, given recent revelations."
Gripping the edge of the table, Princess Anna swallowed and asked, "Has the staff found something, then?"
Kai blinked, then murmured, "Ah. No, nothing yet. I really don't expect anything for a few days. Just consternation over your… cheerful dismissal, shall we say?" The Royal Steward chuckled, not even attempting to hide his satisfaction. "Not that I have any reproach. That was as satisfying to watch as any of the Queen's, ah, frostier encouragements."
The Royal Treasurer smiled hesitantly and added, "I wish I could have witnessed it."
"Oh, if I could have just witnessed it, that would have been great!" Anna grumbled as one of the kitchen staff slid a plate of eggs before her. She eyed the contents dubiously, but her stomach seemed to be settling. With no significant protest from her gut, she picked up a fork and began to tentatively eat.
The two men took that as a sign to begin their repast as well. Olaf tugged a plate of freshly baked bread to himself and inhaled deeply. The breath came out as a sad exhale. "I'll be glad when Elsa comes back," he commented.
Anna, her mouth full of food, could only nod in unhappy agreement.
Kai swallowed his bite and waved a fork in the air. "Of course, once the Queen returns, we'll also have to address whatever she has found out about the storms and monsters." It was his turn to sigh as he contemplated his plate. "Not to mention getting the Queen up to speed as to whatever we find out is going on with the delegations, and possibly some of our own advisers."
A grimace contorted Anna's face as her bite went down under protest. "So strange," she half-choked, then pounded her chest lightly. Waving off the men's and snowman's concern, she continued, "It's just so strange to think that I know more about what's going on in the castle than she does. Even if it's not very much."
"Too soon to expect much," the Royal Treasurer unexpectedly spoke up. When faces turned to him in surprise, he gave a weak smile and shrug. "When dealing in currency and trade, one learns to not expect immediate answers."
"Very true," Kai conceded. "All the more reason to go over what we do know… now, since you mentioned trade, I've been wondering…."
The talk quickly become an analytical history lesson of the various countries' inter-dependency in trade. The two men discussed possible motives that could be reflected or inspired by commerce, as well as known political maneuverings. Princess Anna did her best to be attentive, but without the idea of individuals to focus on, it was difficult for her to keep a clear picture. Olaf simply appeared increasingly both worried and bored.
Once breakfast was concluded, Princess Anna found herself rushed into various meetings. The local Reeve had some scheduling concerns with villagers that he needed to address with her. An incident with a groom accidentally injuring a horse required the Marshall to report directly to her before he carried out any action, since the horse was royal property. The Marshall also wanted to speak with her about possibly training Sitron, Han's former steed, to Arendelle cavalry commands. This would also require Anna to schedule some time in the saddle for herself. A gentle reminder from Kai about Arendelle Royalty being expected to fight alongside their soldiers drove home the fact this was no idle consideration.
All the while, various court advisers would somehow manage to stumble across the Princess. They casually shadowed her, then brought up whatever item of concern dominated their attention whenever she paused to breathe. Not even Kai's sharp, subtle skills could discourage the worst of them from constantly attending her. A handful seemed to express honest concern over Elsa's welfare and Anna's own state of mind. More of them were fixated upon their own particular specialties. A tiny scattering expressed undue concern about trade with specific countries. Those very few, Princess Anna immediately set castle staff to attend with particular attention.
Lunch was a very quick affair, over almost as soon as it had begun. Anna paused long enough to give Olaf a great, warm hug before she had to dart off to her next meeting.
It was very nearly dinner time when a messenger came for Princess Anna. She was deep in argument with a guild master and his related court adviser. The Royal Treasurer's recent lessons were well-rooted in her mind, much to her surprise, and readily pointed out the flaws in many of the things the guild master was requesting.
As she was about to explain this for the umpteenth time, a messenger entered the room and gave a polite cough. He had to give it a little louder when at first no one noticed him. The third time managed to turn Princess Ana's head. At her slightly distracted nod, he dared to approach. Leaning forward, he whispered something in the Princess's ear.
Her eyes grew wide. "Now? Right now?"
The messenger nodded.
Princess Anna leaped out of her seat. "Olaf! Elsa's back!" She started to run for the door, only to come to a staggering halt. She spun about on one foot to look at the men still in their seats. "Don't worry, I'll be back! Or if not, you know where dinner will be held! My sister's home!" With that she spun about on one foot again and darted for the door.
"Wait, wait for me!" Olaf called as he waddled as quickly as he could after her. Anna apparently did not hear him, but he was too happy to mind. "Elsa's back!" he cheerfully echoed to anyone that would listen.
Out in the courtyard, four weary travelers were greeted by an assortment of grooms. The Marshall himself came running as soon as he realized one of them was the Queen. He was bowing and offering to take her horse when a ringing cry was heard from the top of the castle stairs.
"Elsa!"
A green, gold, and black blur topped in vibrant red sped down the steps. Elsa barely had time to brace herself for her incoming sister. A happy "oomph!" could be heard along with the bodily thud as contact was made. The Marshall had to make a lunge for Snofonn's reins as the horse reared, startled. There was another sudden shuffle in the background as Captain Beorne stepped between the two sisters and a growling Feilan. He shook his head in silent warning at the guide, who looked from him to them first in irritation, then in growing puzzlement. She tilted her head as she watched the sisters, confusion running rife across her face.
Oblivious to the background disturbances, Anna was busy hugging Elsa as tightly as humanly possible. She only let up enough to give her sister a sibling's kiss to each cheek before immediately resuming the crushing hug. Elsa was busy trying to smile, breathe, hug her back, and break free all at the same time. She finally had to settle for frantically patting Anna's back. Distracted, Anna took a step back so she could look at Elsa's face. Before Elsa could say a word, however, Anna practically launched herself at Elsa's head.
"Where did you get hit?" she asked, fingers rapidly prodding through Elsa's frosted locks. "Are you okay? Was there bleeding? Do you need rest? Your bed is all ready for you. You can go straight to bed if you want. Unless you're hungry, of course. You'll probably want dinner first! Oh! I could go ask Cook to make your favorite-"
"Anna!" Elsa interrupted with a breathless and slightly pained laugh. "Anna, Anna, Anna… wait!" Still laughing, she reached up to grab her sister's searching hands. One hand successfully made contact with Anna's wrist, but a wince prevented the second hand from achieving its goal.
"Oh! You're still hurt!" Anna exclaimed. "Did I hurt you? Where does it hurt? Should we get the Royal Surgeon? We can get him here right away! I'll just-"
"Anna, Anna," Elsa protested. With a little more care, she managed to capture Anna's other wrist. Pulling her sister's hands together between them, Elsa laughed softly once more. "I'm okay. Well, I mean relatively okay. My head still hurts a little, and my arm still hurts a bit where I was bitten-"
"Bitten! You didn't say anything about being bitten!" Anna yelped. She immediately began peering at Elsa's arms, as though she would see the wound through the blue leathers. "Where were you bitten? Has the wound been dressed? How bad is it?"
"It's fine, it's fine," Elsa assured her. "Captain Beorne has been tending to it regularly, and it is healing well. It just still aches a little, especially when pressure is put to it." She eyed her sister in gentle, loving reproof. At least for the moment, all the troubling questions that the storms, snowbeasts, and Feilan had stirred within her faded away. For the moment, all that existed was the love she held for her sister, and for the country that the castle they stood within represented. Anna and Arendelle was all she needed for this moment to be wonderful. "It's good to see you again," she said, her voice warm with affection.
Anna abruptly went still, staring into her sister's eyes. "You returned," she said. With those two words, the fear she had not wanted to admit to for these past nine days was suddenly released. Tears of relief flooded her eyes, and she lunged forward and wrapped Elsa in a great big hug.
"Ouch!" Elsa exclaimed, but when Anna attempted a guilty leap backwards, she tugged her sister back to her for another hug. She favored her wounded arm, alerting Anna to where the pain was centered. As Anna carefully hugged her back, Elsa murmured, "I kept my promise."
The sisters held each other for long moments, grateful for the warmth and breath that chased away the memory of a pair of headstones. There was no sound but for a horse's snort and the ring of horseshoes on cobbled stone. Someone coughed very lightly.
Suddenly a voice spoke up. "So, do I get a turn at hugs?" The sisters stepped away from each other, although hands remained resting on arms. As one, they looked down to Olaf. The snowman waved shyly. "I really didn't want to interrupt, but I really missed Elsa, too, so I was just wondering..."
With a shared laugh, Elsa and Anna both knelt and wrapped the snowman into a very warm and happy hug. He squealed happily, hugging them as best he could with his twig arms.
Feilan stared at all this, consternation twisting her features. "They sure do like hugging," she commented.
"A bit," Captain Beorne replied in a dry tone as he handed Krokus's reins to a stableboy.
"Oh, just wait," Kristoff chuckled.
"Wait," Feilan muttered as if echoing Kristoff, but her eyes narrowed sharply as she stared at Olaf. "Is that a..."
"Oh! A new person!" Olaf exclaimed, nimbly ducking the sisters' hug and ambling his way towards Feilan.
The diminutive mountaineer stared, frog-eyed, as the snowman approached. "It's a… a..."
Stopping about a foot away from Feilan, Olaf spread his twig arms wide. "Hi! I'm Olaf! I like warm hugs!"
Feilan began making a high-pitched whistling sound. Kristoff and Captain Beorne both moved behind her to prevent what appeared to be an imminent panicked retreat.
"...but somehow I don't think you do. Hey, are you okay? You look a bit upset. And you're making a weird noise. Kind of like a tea kettle. Hey, is that your way of asking for tea?" He looked over to Elsa and Anna. "Do you think she's like some peppermint tea? I hear that's really good for settling an upset stomach. I wouldn't know, since I don't have a-"
"Yes, Olaf," Elsa interrupted, her lips twisted between a smile for the snowman and concern for Feilan. "I think some peppermint tea would be lovely. Think you could run on to the kitchen and get Cook to set a kettle out for some?"
As she spoke, Anna hooked her arm through Elsa's good arm. Teal eyes studied the whistling guide curiously. She glanced from Elsa to Kristoff to Captain Beorne, then visibly bit her lower lip to keep from asking questions.
Olaf nodded vigorously in answer to Elsa. "Oh yes definitely! But first..." He darted over to give hugs to Kristoff, Sven, and a rather bemused Captain Beorne, saying, "A hug for you, and for you, and yes even for you!" He started to turn to Feilan, blinked as she was still making that weird high-pitched note, and added, "But not for you. Maybe later, if you decide you like hugs! Now, for that peppermint tea!" With that he rapidly ambled his way back into the castle.
Most eyes turned to follow him, then slowly shifted back to the whistling guide. Elsa took a hesitant step forward, starting to reach out with her free but wounded arm. A sudden twinge of pain, as well as Anna's weight on her good arm, halted her step. In a worried tone, she began to ask, "Feilan…?"
The whistle abruptly snapped into words. "A snowman! That was a talking snowman! No one said anything about a talking snowman! Why is there a talking snowman?"
"Olaf's a family friend," Anna said, her tone wavering between concerned explanation and protective reproach.
Elsa tugged gently on her sister's arm, then waved towards the slightly hysterical guide. "Feilan guided us back after the snowstorm and the… the attacks."
That snapped Anna's attention back to Elsa. "Attacks? There was more than one? Was that when the bite occurred? Just what all happened out there?"
The Queen sighed wearily. "There is much to tell. Do you have a few moments free before dinner? I would really like to be able to sit down with you and tell you… all that happened."
"All?" Feilan snapped, the high pitch abruptly gone from her voice. Brown eyes darted suspiciously to Anna in an openly skeptical evaluation.
Elsa regarded the guide solemnly. "Yes, all. Anna is my sister. She is also Princess of Arendelle, and regent in my stead. I want her to know, and she needs to know. Everything."
"Know what?" Anna broke in. She tightened her arm about Elsa's protectively, eyeing Feilan just as the guide was eyeing her. "What is it I need to know?"
In the background, Kristoff and Sven leaned against each other, eyes darting between the increasingly antagonistic women. Captain Beorne just kept a steady watch on Feilan. At a nod from the Marshall, the grooms began leading away Krokus and Snofonn. They nearly tip-toed to escape whatever tension was being generated among the Royal class. Even the horses moved quietly, almost stealthily.
Shoulders heaved in a weary sigh as Elsa patted Anna's hand on her arm. "I'll explain. But first… we're all exhausted. I don't doubt that you and I will have to at least make a brief appearance to the court before we can retire to our rooms and dinner?" she asked of Anna.
Reluctantly Anna nodded. "Things have been… well… in a bit of an uproar. There's things I need to talk with you about, as well, but…"
Elsa sighed again. "But first, Royal duty calls." She turned her attention to Feilan. "I'll have Gerda assign you a room, of course."
"A room?" Feilan protested. She gestured to Kristoff and Sven, who had begun sidling towards the stables. "I thought I'd stay in a barn? Or stable? You mean I actually have to stay in… in that?" She swung her hand towards the towering stone walls of the castle.
"Of course," Elsa spoke sternly. "You saved us, and you are a guest of Arendelle."
Anna perked up. "Wait, you saved them?" She let go of Elsa's arm and made to bound towards the small mountaineer, but halted herself when she saw Feilan take a nervous step back. Confused, she forced herself to a calmer stance. "Of course you're welcome in the castle! And you there," she said, suddenly swinging her attention to Kristoff, "don't think you're getting out of staying there, too! At the very least, you'll be having dinner with us!"
Kristoff and Sven froze in their tracks. The reindeer made a show of casually rolling his eyes and whistling, as though he had not a care in the world. When he realized he wasn't the one addressed, he gave a happy snort and continued on to the stables.
Meanwhile Kristoff fussed over the sleeves of his leathers, dusting them off and adjusting them. "Well I would hope you would invite me in for dinner! Unless of course you've managed to get into too many engagements, and just don't have time for me anymore." A slightly wicked grin gave lie to the aggrieved tone he was attempting.
"Too many…!" Anna sputtered indignantly, then had to give her own grin when Kristoff burst out laughing. Elsa laughed softly and pulled her arm from Anna's. Anna glanced briefly at Elsa, and after a silent exchange, happily bounded to Kristoff. "C'mere, you!" she commanded, arms reaching up to the taller man. He laughed as well and swept her into a loving hug.
"I was wondering when you'd remember I existed," he teased.
Leaning back enough to look into his face, Anna earnestly began, "I had to… Elsa… was so worried…!"
"Hush," Kristoff murmured, pulling Anna close. "I know." He hugged her tightly a few moments, then leaned back with a grin. "So… no new engagements, right?"
"Ah, you!" Anna half-growled, laughing and punching his shoulder hard enough to make him grunt through his grin.
Feilan continued to stare at all the exuberance. She turned a wary eye to Captain Beorne. "You're not going to start hugging, too, are you?" she asked.
Captain Beorne snorted through his mustache, but otherwise remained still and dignified. "Not hardly," he said, although his gaze drifted briefly to Elsa. Noting the tired smile of the Queen as she gazed at Anna and Kristoff, he cleared his throat loud enough to garner everyone's attention. With a solemn bow, he addressed his Queen. "Your Highness, if you'll pardon me. I need to report to my men, and inform Sergeant Jostein about what happened." Smiles ebbed away with his reluctant next words. "We will have to give notices to the families of the missing men."
Queen Elsa straightened her shoulders and gave a small, regal nod. "Of course. If you are able, however, I would ask that you join us for dinner. I intend to have it in the private Royal dining hall." Pausing, she turned to Anna. "Unless there is something that would require dinner in the main hall?"
Princess Anna hesitated, then shook her head. "No, no, we should be fine eating there." She tugged Kristoff's sleeve. "All of us. Which means you need to bathe. And dress nice."
"Oh come on," Kristoff protested. "It's not like it'll be a formal dinner!"
She snorted. "Oh come on yourself! I know we'll probably have to send Sven in after you to get you out of the hot bath!"
"Well, okay, the part about a hot bath is nice enough," Kristoff conceded. "But still..."
Captain Beorne gave an amused cough. "Well, if you all will pardon me, I will be off." He paused to give Elsa a slight bow, the gesture oddly formal after their days on the trail. "Unless something unforeseen comes up, I should be able to attend dinner. I thank you for the invitation."
Elsa gave the Captain a warm smile. "You've done much for us this trip. The very least I can do is have you join us."
Anna's gaze flicked rapidly between Elsa and Beorne, then to Kristoff when the mountaineer gave a warning tug on her arm. He shook his head a little, but had no way to answer the confusion on Anna's face.
Captain Beorne bowed again, a little deeper this time, then immediately headed for the soldiers' barracks.
Elsa briefly rubbed her eyes, then turned her attention to Feilan. "Now, for you… let us go find Gerda. She'll be able to help you with the bath and clothes."
"Bath?" Feilan squeaked. She eyed the stone walls, then looked frantically from Elsa to Kristoff to Anna, then back to Elsa. "Clothes?" Hands nervously plucked at the sleeves of her leathers. "What's wrong with what I've got on?"
"That's what I asked oof!" Kristoff grunted as Anna's elbow lightly landed on his stomach. He gave her a playful push back. The two ended up sticking their tongues at each other, then laughed and hugged again.
"Crazy," muttered Feilan. "That's it. I've come to a crazy place."
Elsa smiled. "Perhaps, but if so I think it's a good kind of crazy. Come along, Feilan. Let us go inside." Without another word or glance, the Queen walked towards her castle.
Anna and Kristoff followed suite, at first arm-in-arm, but then Kristoff gave Anna a gentle shove towards Elsa. He smiled as he watched her hastily skip ahead to catch up with Elsa.
Feilan hesitated, glaring at their backs. "Come along?" she snarled to herself. "I'm not a dog." She started to take a step backward, but Elsa chose that moment to look over her shoulder. Caught by that true-blue gaze, Feilan hunched her shoulders and stepped forward instead. "'m gonna regret this," she growled even as she moved to follow the sisters and mountaineer inside.
The large stone walls of the castle swung shut behind them. What few staff and villagers that heard of the Queen's return and gathered in the courtyard slowly dispersed.
A few fat, fluffy snowflakes began to slowly fall, the sibilant whisper of their passage too soft to be marked by any but the most attentive ears.