Preview of Chapter 20 at the end
BEFORE THE GRAND BALL
"Quickly Sigrid, the Queen has arrived! And just in time too! Even though we're almost to the equinox, the sun still manages to aid our liege back home in its light!" Isolde announced pleased.
"Prepare a bath then, for the both of them. It will save time and our ladies have already accepted us into their confidence!" the senior handmaiden ordered.
"Yes, also Kai and Gerda have already begun admitting the guests into the Main Dining Hall. I do hope that all went well up there?" the younger girl asked, her long blonde locks twirling with her motions. She was filling water into the kettle for Sigrid. "Imagine riding the carriages on the Queen's road of ice? It sounds frightfully dangerous!"
Sigrid was tending the fire under the brass bathroom kettle in preparation of filling the sunken bathtub in the Queen's chamber. "Well my poppet, they have Kristoff, Lord Flynn and that handsome American rake to guide our ladies home!" She too had to adjust her long hair from getting wet, though her hair was far redder than Isolde's. It was ironic that the crown of hair adorning their heads matched the colour of the opposing sister that were their charges.
"Yes, Kristoff will make sure that they will be safe!" Isolde assured herself and her best friend. Sigrid kept her eyes to herself but a small smile still leaked from the corners of her mouth as she stoked the fire hotter.
######################
He felt out of character being guided to the large rectangular table at the centre of the vast dining hall. Even wearing a formal evening dress coat appeared underdressed compared to the nobles wearing their splendid dress uniforms and the women wearing gorgeous evening gowns. The large table was accented with a cloth of purple and green. The material was embroidered with gold edging and golden crocus patterns were sewn into the cloth. This was the Head Table for the Royal Monarchs of the house. And he was a their guest! He was also alone! It seemed he was the first to arrive.
Nathaniel Tallmadege had been in the presence of other Monarchs back in New York and Washington. He even had the honour of being present at a formal dinner when President Martin Van Buren had entertained King William of England at the White House. But this felt different. Those other occasions were strictly business. And though by definition this visit was a diplomatic overture by his Government, it felt more like a social event than an evening representing his District of New York.
Patiently he sat amid a sea of nobility...
######################
Much like her companions at the dock, HMAS Snow Queen was designed similarly to the British and French first-rate ships of the line. She had over one-hundred and four canon on three decks and was easily a match for any of the ships that shared her company here at her home port. She was the flagship and pride of Arendelle's Navy and Elsa made sure that all the cutters that rowed ashore from their mothership anchored in the harbour had to pass her to gain access to the pier.
Like all the ships docked and not merely anchored, her shorelines were secured and tethered. Large wooden disks were fastened on the ropes to prevent rats and other vermin from climbing them to board the ship. Similarly, the crew kept several tom-cats aboard to hunt for rats that could spread disease and contagion.
Though the men that manned the flagship needed only a skeleton crew, the daily maintenance still needed to be addressed.
"Check to shorelines, seaman. The lines attaching the forecastle and aftcastle seem to be detached!" the deck officer announced.
"Aye sir!" the subordinate responded. A quick inspection turned up unusual news. "Sir, both lines appear to have either been snapped or cut?" he yelled from down on the pier. The heavy ropes hung loosely from the ship and pier. "Only the midship lines are still tethered!"
"What the devil?! Check the other side and make sure the anchor lines are secure!", he commanded.
Another quick inspection proved that they too were cut. "Assemble a repair crew and repair the lines, seaman! I'll report it to the Captain, he's attending the Queen's festival."
"Aye sir!" the seaman scratched his head. "There's no way this could have been an accident!" he thought to himself.
#######################
Still not feeling herself, Elsa was shivering as she exited the carriage, and it wasn't from the cold. Both Anna and Rapunzel were with her in the front carriage as Kristoff guided them directly over the fjords into the courtyard. Elsa just wanted to get home after exposing an ugly side of herself to everyone at the Ice Castle. Though the others witnessed her anger and eventual restraint, little did they realize, save perhaps Anna, just how close she was to impaling Viktor Carlyle and ending his threat altogether!
Flynn, John Samuels and Viktor exited the other carriage, but Elsa had no intention of facing them right now. She went directly inside with Anna and Rapunzel in tow and headed directly to her bed chambers without uttering a word.
Sensing this was a situation that only Anna could relieve, Rapunzel stopped at the door and gently squeezed both of her cousins hands before returning to her room.
Sigrid and Isolde heard the entry into the bedroom from the Queen's bathroom, but sensed something was amiss. Both girls looked at each other and then edged to the open door without saying a word.
Elsa just stood in the centre of the room and hugged herself. Anna couldn't make out any words but she could hear her sister quietly humming with grief. When Anna approached her from behind, Elsa spun around quickly, startling Anna as she was raising her arms to wrap them around her true heart.
Elsa was faster and grabbed Anna around the waist. Both clung tightly to each other. Only the soft sobs from Elsa at first, then followed by Anna could be heard in the bedroom. Neither said a word. They just rocked slowly back and forth, their heads nestled in each others neck. After a fashion, the sobbing stopped.
After watching for several minutes at the bathroom door, Sigrid and Isolde slowly came out and walked up to the silent pair sharing their grief in the centre of the room. Both handmaidens stood behind their respective Royal charges and softly embraced them, four young women huddled in a protective group. Sigrid was the first to break the quiet moment and began unfastening the hooks of Elsa's dress. Isolde followed suit and began undressing Anna, as they both stood still clinging to each other. After the dresses, they removed their corsets and bloomers, until finally both sisters were naked, still holding each other with their clothes bunched on the floor. A slight cough from Sigrid and both sisters simultaneously stepped out of the discarded garments which their handmaidens removed.
Anna lifted her chin and gently began kissing her sister's lips. Elsa responded by lowering her hands and began slowly stroking Anna's back and buttocks.
"Oohhh, Elsa..." Anna whispered, as she too began using her hands, ghosting the sensitive skin on Elsa's back. Her other hand moved to the front and gently teased the skin on her sister's thigh and stomach.
"Mmmmhhh, Anna..." she whispered biting her lip at the sensations Anna's tender loving hands produced. Her sorrow and anxiety were washing away with the bliss they gave each other when making love.
As both Elsa and Anna were immersed with each other, Sigrid caught Isolde's eye and held up her finger to her lips, gesturing to her friend. Taking Isolde's hand, Sigrid let themselves out of the royal bedchamber.
Unable to resist her sister's teasing, Elsa took Anna's face with both hands and zeroed in on Anna's mouth. Her own lips opening as she closed the distance, her pink tongue peeking out as their lips made contact.
Their mouths closed around each other and Elsa probed the inside of her sister's mouth with more desperation. She gasped as her younger sister begins sucking on her tongue. Anna, now unable to use her hand on Elsa's front side, put her arms around Elsa's tiny waist and then lowered them to her older sister's firm, round butt cheeks, grasping each handful as Elsa emitted a soft moan into her mouth.
They knew they had precious little time until the evening meal and accompanying obligations, but for a little while, they ignored their duties. As they retired to the large bed in Elsa's room and found happiness once again, they both realized that only with each other's love, and a little help from their friends, would they be able to overcome men like Viktor Carlyle and his kind.
#######################
Finishing the last bit on his plate, Kristoff was about to wipe his mouth with his sleeve but at the last second, thought better of it and used the purple and green cloth napkin. Daintly, he wiped the corners of his mouth. Pleased with himself at remembering some etiquette, he glanced at his companion beside him with a sly grin.
Flynn was intently watching as soon as Kristoff was about to use his sleeve for a napkin, but the big grin on his face disappeared when it was evident that his buddy was not going to make another social faux pas. Snorting, he rolled his eyes at Kristoff's grin and then proceeded to hail a servant with the dessert cart.
It was already approaching nine and most of the guests had already dined and retired for the night or adjourned to the lounge rooms for cigars, cognac or wine. Senator Tallmadge had made polite conversation with a striking long haired blonde woman and her churlish husband throughout the meal. At first, he wondered how a man of such uncouth behaviour could be a Baron? Such were Flynn's street-like mannerisms and lewd jokes to his blonde male companion seated on his other side. It was Rapunzel who filled in the blanks plainly evident on the Senator's face.
"Don't mind my husband, Senator! He actually is really sweet, unless he's been drinking with his buddies, like Kristoff!" she elbowed Flynn.
"You were were saying that you're the Queen's cousin? And from the Mainland?" Senator Tallmadge asked curiously. "I know that many, if not most of Europe's Monarchs are related, but only now in your company do I get to see it first hand!"
Rapunzel waved her hand in dismissal at his comment. "Pphfft! Oh that's nothing Senator! I'm probably related to half the people here! Gotta keep it in the family!" she said with a sly smirk, having again been drinking too much of the wine this evening after the event at the North Mountain.
"Eeewww!" she heard Flynn commenting with a false sense of prudery. He immediately began grinning again. Obviously his wife's comment held no serious concern for him.
Even though her last comment was an inside joke that only she could appreciate, it was true that she was related, distant or near, to dozens of the nobles surrounding her. Just like Anna and Elsa were.
Waving at a younger royal in the next table, Rapunzel pointed him out to the senator. "You see that man? He's the Duke of Edinburgh. A second-uncle from Britain. His liege is the Queen of England. My English cousin Victoria, Nana Vicki's daughter. She's Elsa's and Anna's cousin too."
"I must say, when all the leaders of my Government meet at Capitol Hill, or we visit the President in the White House, I'm pretty sure none of us are related, even distantly. But of course, you were born into aristocracy." he responded.
Rapunzel was about to reply when the trumpet blew and a herald announced: "Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elsa. And her sister, her Royal Highness, Princess Anna!"
All the men still at their tables stood on ceremony as Elsa and Anna walked to the Head Table. She felt much better thanks to Anna's loving sisterly ministrations. But it wasn't just the physical part of their relationship that always made her feel better. Anna was slowly maturing into a sharp and insightful partner. "You are the only person in the world that matters to me, Elsa. If the situation were reversed, I might not have held back when Viktor claimed he would expose us! So don't feel bad about what you did or didn't do! I know you will do the right thing!" Anna told her as they left to join the others in the Dining Hall.
Holding her sister's hand they approached their table, Elsa dutifully smiled and nodded to those that caught her attention. The only person at their table she didn't recognize was an older gentleman wearing a black evening jacket. Thankfully Viktor Carlyle wasn't there, though John Samuels too was absent. A pity, he was proving to be an honourable man, so unlike his mentor.
Elsa took in everyone at their table before apologizing for being late. "I'm sorry for making you wait. Matters of state took longer than I expected and Anna and I briefly had a private meal in our quarters before coming down to enjoy your company for dessert."
She walked around until she came to the elder unknown guest and raised her right hand in greeting. Senator Tallmadge took it and gently raised it to his lips, uttering a salutation. "Bon Soir, Ma Reine. Je suis Nathaniel Tallmadge. Un visiteur des Etats Unis."
He was gazing into her eyes as he made his first impression to the Queen. Her blue eyes were exactly the same as he remembered from his past. The young face was kind and radiant, so full of promises and adventure but cut short by an untimely death. He was losing track of reality and memory! Curse his reflections upon seeing this visage before him! This was the Queen of Arendelle, not Molly Tallamdge. He was still holding her hand, though the Queen didn't pull back. Only a slight bemusement remained on her face as the seconds ticked on.
She said something, though his befuddled brain was slow to pick up her response. Her voice was different, but not so strange. She was speaking to him, but he didn't quite catch her words. He saw her mouth moving, but the sounds were not matching what he was hearing in his mind.
"Bon Soir, Monsieur Tallmadge. Bienvenue a Arendelle. Et je parle anglais, aussi." Elsa said.
Of course! She was speaking French! He greeted her in French so of course she would reply back in the same language. He didn't have his translator this time so he had to revert to a language normally expected at court. He could have used Latin, but it was such a stuffy and awkward language, that his brain switched to French which was much more lively and modern.
What did she just say? Did that come out in English? He was still holding her hand! Did she just say something? He must be acting like such a fool! He focused again...
Elsa also tried again. Her slender hand still held by the newcomer. A small grin slowly forming. "I said that I speak English, as well. Though if you prefer French, I can accommodate that too." He finally released her hand and bowed.
"You honour me with that courtesy, Your Majesty! I'm sorry if I appear...captivated. Your face is strikingly familiar and it brought back memories." he finally said in his native language.
"Good memories, I hope?" Elsa reflected, "Perhaps he sees an old sweetheart or lover? Maybe a family member?" she gazed intently at the older but wise eyes boring into her own.
"Yes, very good memories! An ill-fated end of a life cut far too soon, but one can only follow His Divine Providence." he answered.
"Ahh, family then!" Elsa concluded to herself. With a small smile, she continued, "This is my sister, Princess Anna."
Anna had been smiling herself throughout the whole discourse. Raising her hand, the American Senator repeated his greeting with her. She was dying to be introduced once she heard him speaking English!
He had barely finished his greeting with her only to be overwhelmed with her excited eagerness. "Hello Senator! I also can speak English! But of course you know that now since I'm speaking to you, right? I may not be as fluent as my sister, but I know English, French and Latin too! Again, not as good as my sister! But I can try it if you want! I hope you stay with English, cause I don't get to use it very much. Do I sound okay? Tell me if you don't understand what I'm saying, okay? I love chocolate!" She blurted.
Elsa pulled her away before Anna could make a fool of herself. This man may not be here for the usual reasons, but it wouldn't hurt to make a good impression with him or his Government. Hence the need to curtail her eager sister.
As Elsa passed her cousin, she bent her head down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Anna too came by and squeezed Rapunzel's hand. All three ladies shared a look that conveyed the message: "We're Okay again...for now."
Elsa asked for a glass of wine when a servant immediately appeared as she sat down. She declined any dessert but her sister was not having any of that!
"I'll have a slice of chocolate cake... No make that two slices! With Ice Cream, please!" she asked, not noticing her sister's look of incredulity.
The evening proceeded with causal conversation, with the exception of the Senator spending a good deal of time talking and asking questions about Arendelle, and not surprisingly herself.
"I'm not very informed about global events, My Lord...pardon me, Senator Tallmadge. I was only crowned two months ago, and prior to that, before our parents died, I was ...sequestered for most of my adolescent years. My sister probably knows more about the outside world than I do." Elsa explained to his friendly questions. Though little was he aware how difficult some of his polite but curious interrogatives were.
"Only about the latest fashions in London and Paris!" Anna piped in from across the table. She was just finishing her second slice and was contemplating another. Elsa rolled her eyes as she witnessed her sister eyeing the other desserts being paraded on the dessert carts. "Where does she put all that food?" she thought, remembering her earlier escapade with her sister. The thought of her hands stroking Anna's slender flat stomach and waist made her turn red. No doubt this kind older man must be wondering why?
"Senator, I'm running behind schedule tomorrow due to the events that transpired today. Please forgive me if I may not encounter you until the Grand Ball. But I would like to continue our conversation again, perhaps afterwards if you are so inclined?" Elsa was attempting to excuse herself from everyone.
"I am looking forward to meeting with you again, Molly...Maj, Majesty!" he stood taking her hand. Flummoxed, he raised her hand to his mouth, hoping she wouldn't see how red his cheeks became. "Good Night to you too, Princess." he directed to Anna.
"So he sees 'Molly', when he looks at me! I see much sadness too!" Elsa thought to herself with a sad smile. "I can only hope that mine and Anna's future fares better?"
######################
AUTHOR NOTES:
1) The word poppet is an older spelling of puppet, from the Middle English popet, meaning a small child or doll. In British English it continues to hold this meaning. Poppet is also a chiefly British term of endearment, especially for a young woman or girl.
2) The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with the seasons. In many cultures the solstices mark either the beginning or the midpoint of winter and summer. An equinox occurs twice a year, around 20 March and 22 September. The word itself has several related definitions. The oldest meaning is the day when daytime and night are of approximately equal duration.
3) Capitol Hill, aside from being a metonym for the United States Congress, is the largest historic residential neighborhood in Washington D.C
4) The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. It has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.
######################
Preview of Chapter 20
THE SHORT LIST
"So these are the finalists that the Royal Council recommend?" Anna asked in dismay, looking at the parchment Elsa passed to her.
"Yes." was the simple response her sister gave her. "Though it does make sense that I spend some time before the Grand Ball with the suitors who appeal to me the most. It wouldn't look like a surprise to the other suitors if I chose a man who I did share my company with. I actually will give those old stuff-shirts some credit for making this list! Though, when it actually came to choosing my future husband, it should be my eventual decision, regardless of what they think." The word husband felt strange to her, and she actually felt guilty saying it in front of Anna. Though Anna knew this was their plan all along.
To give Anna credit, she didn't bat an eye, when she said the word 'husband'. "I notice that John Samuels name isn't on this list. But I do see that icky Count Deldares is!" Anna exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes, well regardless, I will tell the council beforehand that I plan to spend some time with John Samuels. I'll also throw in a couple of other names that aren't on their list just to make an impression that I am not bound to their wishes. Even if they believe that they have Arendelle's best interest in mind." Elsa concluded.
"Anna, there's also something else I want to talk to you about." Elsa asked hesitantly. She was apprehensive and was not quite sure how to approach this subject. Her beloved came behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist.
"Yes, My Heart? What is it?" Anna asked, she buried her face in Elsa's neck, breathing in the familiar fragrance of the long platinum hair that cascaded around her face.
"Earlier we spoke about what is best for Arendelle?" Elsa said. She could feel Anna nodding her head in agreement. "You are my true love, and one day will be my... wife. How? I don't know the answer to that right now, but... if we are to carry on with the future for us and Arendelle, we need to talk about producing an... Heir!"