ANNA'S ICE DRESS
"I better be at the pier when Viktor arrives, okay honey?" Flynn asked his sick wife.
Actually Rapunzel was really suffering from a hangover. She was bent double over the porcelain toilet and retching occasionally. Flynn was actually wondering where she put her food since her waist was so tiny he could almost circle it with both hands.
"Ohhh, what did I do to deserve this?" Rapunzel moaned. "Wait, I'll come with you, Eugene...ohhh...barf!"
"Uh no, I don't think so my precious dove!" Flynn grimaced at what his wife just did.
The very fact that she was throwing up was enough for Flynn to ask Anna if he could take her spot at the receiving end of the reception line.
It was decided that Anna and Elsa were to be absent for the first day of arrivals and present themselves only at an informal dinner that evening with the arrivals of the first day's guests. The following days would bring more wayward stragglers from Kingdoms further away.
It upset Rapunzel that she would not be able to assist her extended family when they needed her the most, but she really was not cut out for alcohol. It impressed her that Anna who had at least as much as she did only suffered from a minor headache.
Still, her wilder half did rise to the occasion when she needed him. Much as Kristoff had for Anna. She felt sorry that Kristoff would not be able to complete himself with Anna, but Rapunzel knew that Elsa's and Anna's love for each other matched hers with Flynn.
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Much like last time, Elsa stood outside the balcony of her bedroom and anxiously watched the precession of nobility arrive. The number of guests coming across the bridge from the pier towards the open gates was less crowded than before, but unlike last time, the event was not occuring over one particular day or evening.
Elsa suspected that some arrivals were still in their ships, deciding to make a later appearance for one reason or another. No matter, she would have Kai arrange for a proclamation to be made, both written and verbal, that the official ball would occur in three days to ensure all would have an opportunity to attend.
The festival of course would start immediately, with events outside and within the courtyard and fireworks slated for tonight. The mayor already had the town musical band performing on the raised stage in the courtyard, surrounded with jesters, clowns and street performers.
"Time for another show, I suppose?" Elsa gripped the railing of the balcony. This time no frost appeared under her palms or on the wood railing.
"What was that, Elsa?" Anna was was towelling herself off from a bath and the towel was covering up her mane of red-gold hair.
"Did I say that out loud?" Elsa thought. "Nothing, my love. We'll make an appearance to welcome the guests and hold an audience at six-thirty and then mingle before we have dinner in the main dining room, okay?"
Anna was sitting herself in front of Elsa's vanity table as her handmaiden began addressing her hair. "Sure, but I better check up on Punzel beforehand and see if she needs some help. She looked like she was hit by a carriage this morning, but Flynn told me she was much better later on when he went to the pier to see his friends."
"Oh, did they arrive today?" this time frost did appear on the railing. Elsa quickly dismissed it with a wave of her hand.
"Yeah, on the O.S.S. VULTURE... or something like that?" Anna waved her hand in the air at her lack of recollection.
Elsa sat down nearby at another station and proceeded to scrutinize her face in the mirror as her handmaiden also attended preparing her hair. As the handmaiden removed Elsa's silk robe, Anna took a quick peek at her sister who apparently was nude underneath. Anna quickly realized earlier that Elsa's modesty seemed to waver between extreme or non-existent, depending on her mood or comfort level.
Sometimes, she wouldn't have ever considered being naked with Anna in a non-romantic setting. Other times she would almost seem immodest or perhaps indifferent since it was her handmaiden, who she knew all her life, or Anna, who she planned to spend the rest of her life.
Either way, Anna smiled quietly to herself as she took sideways glances and admired the perfect figure and pale white skin her sister was displaying. Trying not to to be obvious, Anna inadvertently cupped her smaller chest and compared herself to Elsa as she regarded her sister's larger breasts. "C'mon girls, you gotta catch up!" she urged her bosom. "Oh well, Elsa has a three year head start, I'm still a teenager after all."
"I see you peeking Anna, what are you up to?" Elsa smiled while also looking sideways at her sister, unable to turn her head since her hair was being brushed by her handmaiden, Sigrid.
"Nothing." Anna said craftily smiling. By now, Isolde had finished brushing Anna's hair and was plaiting the ponytails which she was going to wrap into a bun. "Are you going to wear another ice dress tonight?"
"Well you said no ice-dresses, but I assumed you meant for the ball. So the answer is: yes." Elsa replied, this time her handmaiden was creating the single strand Elsa preferred.
"Can you make me one?" she asked out of the blue. Both handmaidens heads popped up in surprise as they looked at each other at Anna's question.
Elsa blinked twice herself, then her eyes popped open too. "Wait, what?"
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"You wanted to see me, Viktor?" his first mate asked as they were preparing their baggage to be off-loaded.
Viktor regarded the young man. A little older than Flynn, his muscular frame, square jaw and youth made him an anomaly amongst his crew. Most were like himself, men just past their physical prime but well suited to leading a crew in affairs that remained on or just on the other side of the law.
John Samuels was not his birth name, but like Flynn, he too took up a more flattering name that better suited United States' naming conventions. His background was also perfect for the plan that Viktor had in mind. And it didn't hurt that John really didn't need to change his name too much from it's original version that brought his family to America from his native Norway as Johan Samuelson.
"So it begins, doesn't it? Like we discussed, we'll try and stay low for the next day or two." Viktor remarked. "The devil is that we now have to contend with some government official who happens to be aboard that big bastard over there!" He was pointing at the Constitution. "As soon as Flynn gets here, we'll get the ball rolling. I'm going to make sure that we're absent tonight from any social gathering these Arendellians plan to have so that we can scout the place out. Make sure the men know what to do, I only want the most reliable ones for this job!"
"You worry too much, boss." Samuels drawled. Having been Viktor's lieutenant for the last five years running their 'empire' states-side in Louisiana and hailing from the untamed woods of Alabama, John Samuels had a southern accent in his speech. "The men I picked are all loyal and know what to do."
"They better be, this is going to be my nest-egg so I don't want any screwups!" Viktor exclaimed. "Well here comes our host and benefactor now! Just look at that shiny uniform! Stay quiet and let me do the talking!"
With his hands on his hips and a frown on his face, Viktor Carlyle waited at the top of the gang plank as Flynn made his way up. "I told you the next time I see you Flynn, I'd KILL YOU!" he snarled. He quickly changed his facial expression to a grin and held out his hand.
Not expecting the kind of greeting he would get from Viktor, Flynn made sure to arm himself with a sword and dagger when he made ready for the meeting. He was just raising his hand to shake the hand of his old mentor and beginning to smile when Viktor's response registered. His hand quickly dropped to his sword and was prepared to unsheathe it when he saw the grin. "Whew! It was even-odds deciding which way this was going to turn out!" He thought to himself.
For his part, Viktor saw the lightning quick reactions Flynn demonstrated at his original grim countenance, and decided that it would have been fool-hardy to test the boy this early in the game. It also could have proven fatal if he under-estimated the new noble. "Well, he did learn from the best!" he congratulated himself.
"Look at you, Baron! Forgive me if I do not shit in my pants, but I do know you when you were a little snot-running, penny-stealing thug!" he exclaimed jokingly.
"I see you still don't bathe, Viktor! How are you? And who is this strapping fellow?" Flynn said after shaking the hand of his old friend.
Viktor responded, "This, Flynn my boy, is John Samuels Carlyle, my son!"
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"Bullshit!" Rapunzel said to no one in particular.
"Ggrrummpphh!" Anna smothered a gasp at Rapunzel's curse. "I didn't say it wouldn't be cold but I think I can handle it." she proceeded to walk with grace as a model would down a runway.
The three young royals were now gathered in Elsa's room as they readied for the preliminary reception in about an hours time.
Elsa knew this was a bad idea right from the start, but she also saw that Anna was really trying hard to emulate her in front of their guests. She was still shaking her head at the idea,remembering what happened right after Anna asked her question...
"You can't be serious, Anna! You would freeze your... yourself from the cold! And I don't mean just a minor case of frostbite!" Elsa was shocked at the notion.
"Well why not, Elsa? It can't be that cold? I don't see Sigrid trembling from being near you!"
Elsa was still dumbfounded by her sister's request. "She's not touching it with her skin. Here, you try and see what it's like." Elsa offered to Anna. "The last time you hugged me while I was wearing my dress, you were wearing a winter outfit." Now she was blushing a little at that innocent time before they became lovers.
"Wait, wait, I want to see if Punzels okay, and I want her to see this! This is going to be so much fun!" Anna leaped up and bolted to her old room half naked.
Elsa regarded her sister's eagerness as she went through the door and into the hallway practically undressed. "Anna really doesn't have any modesty when it come to showing her perfect body to anyone? I'm going to have to show her some decorum for both our sakes." Elsa considered.
"Shall I continue your Majesty, or should I wait until Princess Anna returns?" her handmaiden asked.
"Please continue, Sigrid. I'm sure that Anna will only be a moment." Elsa sat back down.
It was more than a moment when Anna came back with their cousin in tow. Rapunzel looked almost normal with the exception of a slight paleness from her normal complexion. Her evening dress was royal purple in colour accented with bright yellow edging. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Her voice however did not match the radiance of her appearance.
"Anna, my head still feels funny and I don't think I should be running about. I am not drinking any wine tonight, that's for sure!" Rapunzel looked a little under the weather.
"I see you are recovering from your previous evenings gluttony." Elsa smirked a little.
Rapunzel stuck out her tongue at her older cousin in answer but her worn out look betrayed her. "I don't know where you get your energy from Anna? How do you do it?"
"Oh Punzel, you just have to try out new things! Like this for instance." she came up behind Elsa's sitting form and placed her hands on her sister's back. She could feel the coolness of the material but pretended not to notice it. Elsa lifted her chin and looked up and behind at her sister. Smiling, she studied her sisters upside down face as her palms slowly started succumbing to the cold. Anna was trying to hold it in but after a minute she had to let go. "Ohh, cold, cold, cold, cold."
"See Anna, this just won't work." Elsa turned around and placed her arms around Anna's waist. "I think it's cute that you want to try my clothes, but you simply can't stand the cold. My powers make me immune to the cold."
Slightly perturbed by her sister's comment, Anna replied, "And my powers allow me to put up with your sass!". Moving her hands to Elsa's shoulders, Anna placed her palms on the diaphanous material of Elsa's cape. She could barely feel any cold here. "Hmm, how come it's not cold here?" she asked her sister.
"Well, the material there is very thin and delicate. But I can't make you a dress out of that! You would be walking around almost naked!" Elsa grinned, not realizing that Rapunzel and both handmaidens were also grinning.
"Hmm, we'll have to come back to that one later..." Anna said with a wolfish grin of her own, "When we're alone!"
Elsa quickly glanced at Sigrid and Isolde, but neither girl seemed shocked or repulsed. She relaxed a bit. Both handmaidens were only a little older than herself, and they both grew up in the castle with them since they were children, having served Anna and Elsa, even as both sisters were separated from each other.
"Okay Elsa, I've been dying to find out what you wear underneath that dress. Are you wearing undergarments? Can you show me please?" Anna was starting to get aroused. Strangely enough, Rapunzel too was starting to look eager.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Elsa stood up and sashayed a little while twirling her cloak around herself, a teasing voice coming from her mouth.
Both of her relations propped up at the seductive tone Elsa was using. She was definitely in her element now and the pheromones she was releasing was intoxicating.
As Elsa was displaying her charms, Anna cornered her against the vanity table and said with a grin, "Put up, or shut up..sis!"
Smiling seductively, Elsa backed up against the table and leaned her bottom against the edge while bending down and clutching the hem of her dress with both hands. While keeping her eyes glued to Anna's, she slowly raised the dress up to her waist, pulling the dress apart down the slit in the centre.
Anna bit her lip as first Elsa's shapley calves were revealed, then her smooth thighs and finally her pelvis was exposed.
Elsa was enjoying this too, as she definitely had everybody's attention. Her modesty certainly went out the window, but right now she didn't care!
Anna gasped as she saw the sparkling panties that made up her sisters undergarment. A small white patch of material that was practically see-through barely covered Elsa's hairless lips. The tiny triangle was held by three straps which appeared to look like pearls but were tiny balls of ice. Two straps went up the front and enclircled her waist. Anna assumed the other strap went up her buttocks between her cheeks and was tied together in the back.
Anna could barely contain herself as Elsa leaned back a little while still holding open her dress and seductively posed. A soft whistle brought Anna back, but it was Rapunzel that was making the sound. "My God, Elsa that is so sexy." Rapunzel said.
Anna could only nod, unable to take her eyes off her sister. "Are... are you...also wearing a bra... like that?" Anna gulped, not knowing if she could stand the answer.
"Yes, but I don't think we have the time for that now!" Elsa said as she lowered the hem of her dress and stood up straighter. She didn't know what possesed her to do what she just did. It made her feel sexy, but it was a little out of character. She wondered if her magic and Rapunzels's were combining with unusual effects since Rapunzels's reactions were unusual for her too.
"Anna, Anna, snap out if it!" Rapunzel snapped her fingers in front of her cousin's unfocused eyes.
"Huh? Oh, sorry...sorry." Anna blinked. "Wow, that was sooo... hot!" she thought. "So, will you make me one now? I know I can take it!"
"Bullshit!" Rapunzel said to no one in particular.
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"What do you think the girls are doing?" Kristoff sidled over to Flynn and quietly whispered to him (sotto voce). "They were supposed to be here ten minutes ago?"
"Why are you whispering, everybody around us is talking, so it's not like we're in church?" Flynn answered back in his normal voice.
Kristoff looked around, "Yeah, I guess you're right." he resumed his normal voice. "Anyways, aren't they going to make a presentation first?"
At that instant, a horn blew announcing the imminent presence of the Queen. The castle herald at the side door made the announcement.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Madame's et Monsieur's, Senoras y Senors, Damen und Herren. Queen Elsa of Arendelle and Princess Rapunzel of Corona."
"Wait, what?" Kristoff thought as the gathered crowd began bowing at the entrance of the royals and then began clapping. "Where's Anna?" He looked at Flynn who also looked confused but gave an exaggerated shrug.
Rapunzel stood a little behind as Elsa graciously looked at the crowd and regarded the assembled royalty and nobility in the Throne room. She was in her element, and the light from the many torch braziers and candelabras reflected off her ice gown like millions of diamonds. Her new crown was slightly larger than her Coronation crown. It was a complete circlet made from magic ice that wouldn't melt. One that she made upon coming back to Arendelle. This was her crown.
In a loud and firm voice she began. "Thank You friends for coming here on such short notice. Some of you dear friends were here only a scant month ago! We hope the weather turns out better!" she said with unexpected amusement.
Rapunzel, Flynn and Kristoff all smiled at Elsa's levity. The room became louder at the mild chuckling and murmuring at Elsa's comment. The returning guests found the Queen this time around to be much more relaxed and open as she continued with her speech. No wonder, now that the burden she held secret no longer applied.
Unbeknownst to most of them, Elsa had a new secret of course, but this time she was certain she could overcome it with her Grand Plan. Especially with the love of her sister and the help of her cousin and friends.
The crowd was clapping loudly now as Elsa finished. She was preparing to mingle with her cousin but was slightly annoyed at someone's absence. "What's taking Anna so bloody long?" she wondered as she banished a slight frown that was forming.
The trumpet was heard again as the herald announced, "Her Royal Highness, Princess Anna of Arendelle!"
The crowds once again stopped and bowed as the side door opened and Anna came hurriedly through, much like last time.
This time though, the light caught on Anna's gown very much like it did Elsa's just moments earlier. Anna's movements were a little awkward since the heels of her new shoes were much higher than she was used to. The cape she wore was also something unfamiliar. But probably the most awkward part of her ensemble was the dress she was wearing. The material was softly rustling as it clinked and shimmered with her movements. Silence fell in the throne room as all eyes focused on Arendelle's Heiress Presumptive.
Elsa's own eyes were wide open and, like almost everyone in the room, her jaw dropped too at the spectacular sight centred on the throne dias.
Confident she had everyone's attention, Anna lifted the front of her clothes and gently curtsied while softly smiling. The motion caused movement which made a slight tinkling noise in the folds of the ice dress she wore.
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AUTHOR NOTES
1) The earliest documentation of fireworks dates back to 7th century China, where they were invented. The fireworks were used to accompany many festivities. It is a part of the culture of China and had its origin there; eventually it spread to other cultures and societies.
2) Sotto Voce in Italian (from Latin) means to say or talk in a lower voice. Such as when Kristoff speaks for Sven.
3) An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person entitled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced (in legal terms, is "subject to divestiture") by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question.
4) This chapter is mostly fluff since the plot was getting a little heavy and needed to deflate a little. The main characters are in place though so things will start moving quickly enough. Since this story has so many variables, I tried keeping the number of minor characters small by NOT giving them personal names. Many stories I've read had names for almost everyone, but I feel that if a character is merely there to advance the plot and never show up again, there's no point to putting a name on him or her. It merely serves to confuse the reader. I did give Anna and Elsa's handmaiden's names because they do a LOT for them and deserve to be properly identified.
5) Norwegian: "Vel, dette kommer til å bli hardt. Han er nydelig!" means in English: "Well, this is going to be hard. He's gorgeous!"
6) Norwegian: "Det vil bli vanskeligere for meg, jeg forsikrer deg." means in English: "It will be harder for me, I assure you."
Thanks for sticking around. Please give me some input for Arendelle's Navy if you are so inclined!
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Preview of Chapter 14
YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL-ER
"Welcome to Arendelle, John Samuels Carlyle! My sister and I have never hosted anyone from America before. I hope you enjoy yourself here."
"The pleasure is all mine, your Majesty!" his reply had enough southern drawl that Elsa actually had to frown slightly as if not quite catching all his words.
John Samuels noticed her confused look and quickly switched the inflection in his voice to a yankee pitch and re-iterated himself.
He added, "Forgive me Majesty, sometimes I forget myself in the presence of such beauty. Being away from duty has caused my speech to revert back to childhood patterns."
"None is necessary, Mister Carlyle." Elsa was impressed how smoothly his voice changed to the more recognizable northern accent.
"Also, please call me John Samuels or John, your Majesty."
"Only if you call me Elsa as well John Samuels?" Under her breath she whispered to herself, "Vel, dette kommer til å bli hardt. Han er nydelig!"
"Det vil bli vanskeligere for meg, jeg forsikrer deg." He replied back. "What is the word I'm looking for...beautiful-ler?"
Elsa blinked and blushed at being overheard. "You speak my language?"
"It is the least I could do; since you spoke mine first," John Samuels answered back.
Taking his hand and pulling him away so the nearby guests could see, Elsa guided him towards the centre table where Rapunzel, Flynn and the others waited. John Samuels held out his arm and she took it as they slowly walked to her family while all the guests cast glances at the Queen and the young man in the foreign naval uniform.