Preview of Chapter 22 at the end
A NIGHT OF DEJA VU
The sun was still above the horizon when Viktor walked up the ramp to USS Eagle and boarded his ship. Typical of most sailors, some of his men where in the town occupying the taverns and brothels while others were onboard and maintaining the ship as part of their rotating duty shift. Unlike almost all of the vessels in the harbour, his crew were not military, and discipline fell far short of what many maritimers would find acceptable. Still, as soon as some of his men noticed his arrival, his second officer greeted him with a worried look on his face.
"Where the hell have you been Vic?! Not only have we've been ordered to remain put, but some of our boys who've been in town have heard that the marines aboard Constitution have been receiving extra munitions from the Castle." he blurted out. "They also say that rumours have it that we're going to be detained?"
"Don't be ridiculous! We haven't done anything? Why would they do that?" the Captain yelled back.
His subordinate cringed but ventured on, "Our rendezvous, remember? Someone noticed we were gone when we delivered your dispatch. Rumour has it that political guy who's at the Castle has been asking some questions about you, us and ...our ship!"
"Well... don't worry about it. That witch's party is tonight, so I don't think anything is going to happen since she's expecting me to accompany our first-mate to the Ball. So it's like I've got immunity from anything that old Senator might have in mind." he said smugly. "I also hold something far greater that will shield me from anything that Snow Witch or that bastard Senator might try to do!" he kept to himself. "Also, how did the job go that we talked about? Were our men able to do what they needed to do under the cover of darkness?"
"Yes, but it won't stay dry if you take too long. Seawater will probably seep in and ruin it if we don't use it within a week." he argued back.
"If all goes well, we might not have to use it! But it's a good insurance policy to have just in case. Make sure that all the men are back on board by the end of tomorrow! And make sure everyone is armed!" Viktor ordered.
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"Isolde, is our mistress in her chambers? Dinner will be served in less than an hour and I can't find her!" Sigrid sounded anxious. She fiddled with her apron. Small slender hands gripping and rolling the fabric hanging down the front.
"I haven't seen her recently, but I am on my way to Princess Anna's bedchamber right now to fetch her new ballroom gown. Perhaps she might be there, so you should join me and make haste of your search?" her friend said, casually tossing her single long blonde braid in a fashion that reminded Sigrid of the Queen.
"Wisdom becomes you poppet! Perhaps you might make some man a fine wife one day? Alas, we may never know since your eyes are focused on but one man!" she teased. However, her wordplay with Isolde was partially ringed with truth. The man she suspected her best-friend had fallen for had his eyes and heart open for the Princess of the House. But unlike the Ice Master, she knew about Anna's true love. And the last she heard, Princess Anna had not yet told him the truth.
"Oh, fie on you! He is far too brutish and brash! And his eyes are fixed on my lady since he met her!" Isolde answered back, far too quickly.
"So we are talking about young Ice Master Bjorgman?", Sigrid half-smiled back, also recalling what ill-fated destiny directed Kristoff to find Princess Anna in that snow-storm two months scarce.
Her eyes met Isolde and the pained look her friend gave her said the whole story. She was in love with him, but was impotent to act knowing full well that her Princess was the ONLY person who could release the Ice Master from his unrequited love for Anna. Release him to love another...?
They walked in silence after that shared look, but Isolde took her friend's hand as they climbed the spiral staircase. Sigrid barely had time to notice the single tear that rolled down her friend's cheek before Isolde quickly brushed it away.
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"Eugene, stop it! We can't do that now, and certainly not here in the middle of the gardens!" Rapunzel said to her own true love. "We have to get ready for the Ball tonight and dinner will be served in less than hour."
"But precious, I haven't had any time alone with you for days!" he whined, his hands were pawing his wife's curvaceous figure.
She looked at him straight in the eye, "You exaggerate." was her even reply.
"Okay. But it's been hours!" he responded nonplussed. He had his arms around her slim form as they slowly made their rounds back to the castle. "And as much as I like hanging around Kristoff, he just doesn't 'do it for me' like you do!" he said with a grin.
Still in his arms, she turned around and wrapped both her arms around his neck. "He better not!" she said wickedly as she brought her lips up to his. She could feel his enlarging member against her stomach and her earlier conversation with Anna and Elsa came to mind. As their lips met, her mouth began to form into a grin at the thought and a small squeaky laugh came out.
"What is it?" Flynn said to his wife while they were still kissing, both of them had their eyes closed and didn't see or hear Lord Ovesen approach. Before Rapunzel could reply to her husband, a loud throat clearing sound was heard behind them.
"Pardon my intrusion Your Highness, My Lord!" Tiroff Ovesen quickly nodded to the both of them. A ship arrived from Corona just a few hours ago, and their Captain instructed us to deliver this to you as soon as possible. Another letter was also sent to Her Majesty as well."
Perplexed and a little embarrassed to still be clinging to her husband, Rapunzel released her hold and reached out for the sealed envelope. "Thank You, Lord Ovesen. Do you know if Elsa has already read her message from Corona?"
"I'm sorry Princess Rapunzel, but I wasn't the one to deliver that message to her. Sigrid was on her way to see the Queen, so I instructed her to deliver it while I searched for you."
"Thank You, Tiroff. That will be all." she glanced at her husband as Lord Ovesen bowed and excused himself.
Opening the dispatch, she quickly scanned the message that her father wrote to her and deemed important enough that he would send it by direct courier to Arendelle rather than using the Mail Packet Ships.
The letter was a long one and it took Rapunzel several minutes to digest it as Flynn stood protectively by and patiently waited for his wife to finish reading before asking about it's content.
A soft gasp from Rapunzel made him shift his stance as she quickly raised her blonde head and stared at him.
"What is it? What news from home?" he asked, a little nervous. His usually carefree attitude replaced by an unusual seriousness.
Rapunzel paused for a heartbeat before answering. "Daddy sent a warship to deliver this message. He seems to think that this letter was important enough and might need some added security." she said as Flynn raised an eyebrow.
She continued, "Corona and the other members of the Hanseatic League received a formal proclamation a few days ago at the annual assembly being held by one of our neighbours. The proclamation was crafted by their Duke and stated that all ties and trade treaties were to be broken, effective immediately. Weselton has left the Hanseatic League!"
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Dinner was an uneventful affair, but Elsa decided to only have her family at the table, with the exception of Kristoff, so as not to give the impression to her guests that she had pre-chosen a suitor so early into the evening. She also wanted to discuss the letter she received with Rapunzel, hence her cousin sitting next to her, with Anna on the other side.
"This was certainly unexpected, don't you think so Elsa?" Rapunzel said in a low but conversational voice as they were eating.
Elsa turned slightly and swallowed her food before replying, "It's... unfortunate, but not unexpected. I thought this would happen, cutting trade and treaty with some of his neighbours who were friendly to Arendelle, but I didn't expect the Duke to leave the League entirely. Weselton ALWAYS sought financial and material gain above all else, so this would leave them at a disadvantage! Unless..."
Not bothering to finish swallowing her food, Anna piped in. "Unless what, Elsa?"
"Not so loud, Anna. There might be others who would find this news interesting." she said. She looked around the table and said to her family as a whole, "Unless Wesleton has already secured a new alliance, perhaps with the Southern Isles or with even Denmark and her allies."
"My father is also worried. He wants me to come home after you get married. Mother and him wanted to come, but now he feels he needs to stay at home. It may mean nothing. Weselton after all is but one nation, but just in case." Rapunzel said.
"Perhaps..." Elsa said, the weight of the next few days on her shoulders.
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Much like last time Arendelle held a Grand Ball, Elsa stood in front of her throne and greeted any Noble or Royal who wished to get introduced and give thanks to her. Unlike last time, Elsa had already met most of the single male suitors and politely declined any overture of a dance unless it was one of the men who she had earlier spent some 'quality time' earlier in the day.
From across the dance floor of the Ball Room, Elsa spied the self-proclaimed lover, Count Guillermo Deldares, as he eyed her up. With a show of flair and panache, he walked directly to her.
She rolled her eyes slightly but smiled as their eyes met and was prepared to endure the upcoming dance with the Boorish Noble.
Her ice-dress glowed with such brilliance that the servants actually had to reduce the number of torches and lanterns immediately around the throne as not to blind the guests. The reality of her clothes were this time she didn't make her dress herself. Anna had successfully argued the fact that anyone dancing with her would freeze if they touched her! Elsa remembered the proud grin her sister gave her while crossing her arms and daring Elsa to disprove her logic.
"You're absolutely correct Anna, I cannot make a new ice-dress for tonight's Ball!" she replied. Anna was beaming with arrogant pride. Her glee was immediately replaced with shock when Elsa replied, "So, I guess I'll have to wear YOUR ice-dress tonight!"
Anna's dress was a tad short, but still looked perfect on her. If anything, she might be drawing more admiration than her usual dress because it was originally designed for her sister. More specifically, Elsa was at least one or more bra cup size larger than Anna and the swells of her cleavage bulged out, much to the delight of the male suitors. This was NOT what Anna had originally had in mind, and she showed her displeasure by trying to ignore the men that gravitated around her sister.
"Don't be upset with Elsa, Anna. You know that this was planned all along." Rapunzel came up and consoled her cousin. She looked magnificent in her ballroom gown that flattered her figure. Her dress matched the colours of her nation: yellow and purple, while Anna's was green and purple.
"I know Punzel, but when I said NO ice-dresses, I didn't think she would wear mine! And it looks sooo much better on her too!" Anna replied.
Count Deldares was almost through the crowd, when John Samuels appeared beside Elsa wearing his formal dress blue uniform with tails. The medals and ribbons on his uniform looked impressive and certainly fit in with the rest of the dignitaries in the ball room.
"Wow, I keep forgetting how good looking that man is!" Rapunzel gasped. Then she spotted Viktor Carlyle approaching the couple and her smile disappeared.
"She's doing a good job of being cordial to that awful man, but I can tell that her smile is going to crack if she has to keep it up much longer!" supplied Anna. Looking around, she also noticed that Count Deldares had a frown on his face when he saw Elsa and John Samuels together. Slightly put off, he was searching the room for another dance partner. His eyes alighted on herself and she quickly averted her gaze. Too late, a large smile appeared on his face as he gazed at her figure up and down, undressing her with his eyes. Then, with a swagger all of his own, he made straight for her.
"Omigod, Punzel! Mister Icky is walking straight towards me! Do something!" Anna whispered to her cousin. Rapunzel acted faster than Anna thought possible. She quickly stepped in front of the dashing yet egotistical noble and said, "Hello, you must be that charming Count Guillermo that my cousin was talking about this afternoon?" offering her hand.
Taken off guard he stopped, "Eh? Oh, but of course, Count Guillermo Deldares of the Kingdom of Mariposa!" he bowed and took Rapunzel's offered hand to his lips. His eyes following the curve of her waist and breasts as he brought his eyes level to hers.
Rapunzel smiled back but was uncomfortable under his gaze. When he brought up his eyes and looked at her he said, "Your cousin? I am most honoured to meet you...?" Deldares asked still holding her hand.
"Rapunzel, of the Kingdom of Corona. And this is also my cousin, Princess Anna of Arendelle." Rapunzel guided his hand to her cousin hiding behind her. Deldares's eyes lit up and he immediately took both of Anna's hands into his own.
Anna's mouth dropped as she stared at him and then looked directly back at Rapunzel, speechless! With a crooked grin, Rapunzel left her cousin in the 'slimey' hands of her nemesis.
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It was already past midnight and Elsa was already past exhausted after numerous dances and polite conversations. As she was talking to the Marquis of Tuscany, the image of Anna dancing with Count Guillermo Deldares shocked her. John Samuels had just made his presence and she was about to take his arm and have him escort her to the outside balcony at the time and had lost track of Anna's presence. At first, the thought of Anna dancing with her arch-rival was amusing. Anna had a serious face while nothing but a huge smile was on the Count's. Elsa could see Guillermo's busy hands low on Anna's back, his fingers almost stroking her butt cheeks. The thought made her face colour but then her sister caught her eye and a small smirk appeared on her face. Elsa noticed her tilting her head forward and whispering to Guillermo. She heard his bellicose laughter and her eyes widened when he lowered his other hand further and squeezed Anna's butt cheek!
"What on earth is Anna playing at?" a small frown appeared on her face. Was her sister trying to make her jealous? And with the self-proclaimed Romeo, of all people! Lord knows that she had trouble keeping the Count's hands from exploring her own body, but Anna didn't even seem to be resisting his advances!
"Are you alright, My Queen?" John Samuels lowered his head and whispered as he escorted her.
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing! I'm just tired and after everything that's happened today it's probably just catching up with me." she said absentmindedly.
"I suspect so. Events will move quickly after tonight." he was nodding his head as they slowly made their way through the crowd.
Neither of them noticed the slick icy trail Elsa left as they were walking nor the number of guests slipping and falling behind them!
Anna meanwhile was becoming flustered at the Count's progress down her back. She only mentioned that the flattering dress her sister was wearing was her creation. The Count obviously found that amusing and complimented her on her taste and skill at designing. Anna's own new dress tonight was more revealing than her last one, the front cut far lower and revealed the swell of her bosom. The Count smiled as they danced, his eyes mostly lowered down as he admired her not quite twenty-year old breasts. When his hand began squeezing her cheeks, she let out a small squeak, but kept on dancing.
"Now, how do I get out if this?" she thought. Count Slimey is getting far too familiar!" She searched the dance floor. Her eyes alighted on Senator Tallmadge standing in the crowd, a casual smile on his face as he surveyed the people.
"Forgive me Count, but I believe I see my 'Uncle' in the crowd and I would like to spend some time with him... ooh!" she gasped as his hand briefly invaded the crack between her buttocks! "Perhaps we can do this again!" she broke their embrace and dashed towards the American. "NOT!" she thought.
She practically dashed from him and slipped from the ice on the floor. "Whoops!" Anna cried as she almost crashed into Nathaniel Tallmadge. "Hello Senator Tallmadge!" she said in English. He automatically caught her from knocking them over and his surprised expression changed into a warm smile as he recognized Molly's, no... correction, Elsa's headstrong sister colliding into him. He quickly assumed the pose of dancing and carried her motion into a dance spin as she was stuttering her apologies.
"Nice catch! Kinda like a 'trust thing' !" she blurted as they continued their dance. Anna's eyes were looking at the floor and following the trail of melting ice and stumbling guests. "What on earth is that?" her eyes followed the trail to the balcony doors. But her sister and John Samuels were nowhere to be seen. Smiling and turning to Tallmadge, Anna let her saviour guide her around the dance floor.
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After spending a good deal of time with John Samuels and ensuring that many of the other potential suitors had witnessed them together, Elsa felt that concluding the evening with her at his arms would be the coup de grâce.
She was too tired to even address the ballroom guests but Kai was able to make her intentions clear.
The sounds of the Royal Trumpet opened his words. "Thank You for attending this evening's ball my Lords and Ladies! The Queen would like to offer her gratitude at making our Festival a successful affair as she retires for the evening. Tomorrow, the House of Arendelle will make it known if it has chosen one of you, our dear friends, to join us in an alliance sealed with Holy Matrimony! Until tomorrow, we wish you a good night!" Kai ended his proclamation.
Everyone stood and bowed after Kai was finished and Elsa took the centre stage. As she smiled and left with Anna and her family, they all burst out clapping, anxious for tomorrow's news.
Senator Tallmadge assumed tonight would be a busy one for the Queen as she held court with so many vying nobles, but he wished he would be able to catch a few moments of her time. Still he managed to spend some time, albeit a confusing and awkward time, with Princess Anna, but not her sister.
No matter, tonight was her night. He could wait until tomorrow.
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AUTHOR NOTES:
1) fie - interjection: Used to express mild disgust, disapprobation, annoyance, etc. Also used to express the humorous pretense of being shocked. Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English fi Middle French Latin; compare Old Norse fȳ, Latin phy
2) The word nemesis describes a rival who just somehow seems able to get the best of you. It can be someone you compete against, someone whose skills are nearly identical to yours and yet, your nemesis always seems to finish ahead of you, get a higher grade, and generally make you feel flustered.Nemesis can also refer to something that always causes you problems, like public speaking, the nemesis of those who get tongue-tied when nervous.
3) The Hanseatic League (also known as the Hanse or Hansa; Low German:Hanse, Dudesche Hanse) was a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and their market towns that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe. It stretched from the Baltic to the North Sea and inland during the Late Middle Ages and early modern period. It was dissolved in 1862. Corona is a member of this League. And so is Weselton.
4) coup de grâce - noun, plural coups de grâce [kooduh grahs]. French: 1) a death blow, especially one delivered mercifully to end suffering. 2) any finishing or decisive stroke.
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Preview of Chapter 22
THE MORNING AFTER
"NO! I will not rush into this debacle just because of your say-so! We already have enough issues with England, and now you say we may also have to confront the Americans?! France will not jeopardize our colonies overseas while subduing Arendelle on a mission of folly!" the diplomat said to the assembled council.
A motion from the Russian diplomat also concurred his opinion on the matter. "Too little is known about Queen Elsa. Perhaps if we invited her to participate in the upcoming council of Lords, we might be able to discern her state of mind?"
"If we don't act soon, it may already be too late! But enough of these speculatory musings. I am certain Queen Elsa will be voluntarily leaving her protected domain. All we have to do is wait." their host announced.
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Waking up seemed harder this morning but finally she would announce her future husband to her people and perhaps end the attention regarding any potential male mate. Ending the desire to control or own her power by others was another story, but...
"Mmmh, morning Elsa..." she heard next to her. The red mane of hair began to shuffle and stir. A sun-tanned slender arm speckled with freckles rose and clumsily pawed the pillow next to her where Elsa's head was just resting.
Elsa crossed her arms and regarded her sister with sleepy eyes. Sitting in bed, her paler arms rested over her creamy white breasts, in stark contrast to Anna, whose nude form was sprawled on the bed, half her body exposed from under the sheets. Only Anna's arms, shoulders and face were tanned. Lying on her back, Anna's exposed breasts were as white as Elsa's.
Ignoring her sister's attempts to find and touch her, she recalled the night before retiring.
"You could have at least resisted his groping and pawing!" Elsa said in disbelief when they arrived in the privacy of their bedchamber.
"I can't believe that we're still talking about Count Slimey!?" Anna was irritated at being accused of a situation that she found herself in only because of Rapunzel's quirky sense of humour. "And besides, he only grabbed my butt once!"
"Twice or Thrice!" Elsa exclaimed. "Perhaps you might remember that when you go to sleep tonight."
"What?! You mean we don't get any sexy-time tonight?" she asked dumbfounded.
She watched in disbelief as Elsa put on a modest sleeping gown and hopped up into bed for the first time in forever NOT NUDE!