A/N: I hurt my back at work. Had to put a current story on hold and came up with at least six ideas for new one-shots. This is one of them.

Chapter Nex: My Queen of Arendelle

"CITIZENS OF ARENDELLE! IT! IS! TIME!"

The noise that erupted from the crowds of people down below reached such a deafening pitch that I feared my hearing would never return. The most heinous ringing settled into my eardrums as I tried my hardest to clap alongside everyone else. I was pretty glad that I couldn't be heard over all the towering adults cheering their throats out; they most likely would have looked at me like an insect, an insignificant little roach come to nibble on their wares.

And I couldn't blame the ones with that mindset. I learned early on that society was split into the blessed and the not-so blessed. I may have only turned nine but even I was smart enough to see which category I belonged to...

Up on the balcony of the castle that faced toward the main square stood this tall man with a curly mustache and quite the chest, perfect for bellowing. He was staring out at the throngs of citizens come to see who had won, his eyes sweeping over me many times, probably not even realizing I was there.

Which worked. I was fine with that. Life was great when I went by unnoticed; nobody to scoff at me, shove me around, try to bounce a bottle off my head... generally, when I was invisible, I was pretty happy. Normally, I wouldn't even be here, wandering about in the open like this, I'd be back at my little cardboard box—but even I wanted to take part in this event.

I didn't really know what a raffle was, I only knew that this little ticket I was hurriedly pulling out of my pocket, the man up there was about to read some numbers, and whoever had the ticket with matching numbers, they would win a day with Queen Elsa.

More than anything, that sounded like a dream come true. Queen Elsa was the most sincere, beautiful woman I had ever the pleasure to know existed. Granted, she didn't know me from a loaf of bread, but that was okay, she was a queen in charge of making sure all of Arendelle and its' citizens were safe and taken care of. She couldn't be trifled with the activities of a vagabond kid like me. In fact, I knew I wasn't going to win—my type of people never won anything, mostly because those above us made sure we didn't win anything, especially something this awesome, and I was fine with that.

It was unfair and whole bunch of other words I didn't know but felt sure existed, but there wasn't anything I could do about and I was already tired without the added burden of anger of resentment. I loved Arendelle, life here was pretty amazing, even when you had nothing. Because you still had something. You still had a great atmosphere, a wonderful view of the ocean, whatever people threw out, it was still edible in the best way, and to top it all off?

Queen Elsa. I didn't see her every day, sometimes I didn't see her for weeks on end, but when I did? When she came to her castle's balcony, much like she was scheduled to do in just a few minutes? Well... just... it always seemed like things were going to be fine, that my life would get better. Because she often said it would, that the lives of us Aredellians were special, that we were all destined for great things.

Those words I took to heart. They warmed me every night and gave me the strength to get up every morning.

I could be better. My life would turn around.

There was so much I wanted to do that I had a whole bunch of ideas jotted down on the inside of the box I slept in, just dozens of ideas I wanted to one day bring to Queen Elsa and have her look at, get her views—I really wanted her to praise me for trying to make Arendelle even better than it already was.

Maybe she would give me a pat on the head...

Shoot, I could dream, right?

Judging by the size of this crowd, I don't think there was a single person in the whole kingdom who hadn't purchased a raffle ticket. Except for me. And I felt really bad about it, mostly because all proceeds were promised to go toward the betterment of Arendelle infra-something—whatever it was, this really nice lady who makes bread told me that it basically meant this was an event to help everyone.

"And I'm going to help you," is what she said moments before she handed me a raffle. She told me she saw Queen Elsa enough—something that sounded absolutely blasphemous to me, that one could see enough of Queen Elsa—and that it was time for others less fortunate to meet the ones who govern the people.

So this ticket in my hand, with the numbers six-three-nine-one-seven embossed in this elegant, bold handwriting... it really meant nothing.

And why?

Because the contest was more than likely rigged. That's what the nice lady told me. While anyone could buy an entry raffle, the castle kept the other ends, which meant they would most assuredly see to it the winning half made its way into the greased hands of someone innocuous, so Queen Elsa wouldn't have to waste her time.

"There's virtually no way you're going to win," she had told me, and with the kindest smile, "but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go. It's a good excuse to see her if nothing else."

So, knowing there was no chance of winning really took the pressure off being here; it helped to curb any hope that might have lifted my spirits otherwise. I just wanted to see her—

"I GIVE YOU, THE RULER OF THE KINGDOM!" the man suddenly yelled out, and at once, all noise died, eyes lifted, everyone stopped breathing; the announcer man was indicating to a shadowed figure slowly approaching the balcony. "QUEEN ELSA OF ARRRRENDELLLLLLE!"

For the second time that day, I was deafened in the best way. I couldn't even hear my own self screaming, but my mouth was open, joining my voice to the tumultuous roar of my fellow Arendellians. We were clapping, shouting, tossing ribbons—I would have stomped my feet with them but my shoes were worn to the bone and stamping would have likely degraded them to useless, so I doubled up on everything else.

"Queen Elsa! Queen Elsa! Queen Elsa!"

A chant had risen to the forefront of the noise, disjointed at first, then finding a perfect harmony, every voice gathered, even mine, shouting out our exalted queen's name.

And then her porcelain hand lifted and silence fell in an instant.

I almost fainted with anticipation. Somehow I managed to keep myself together enough to see her, to watch as she took the announcer fellow's spot.

Tall, elegant, and regal, Queen Elsa stood there staring out at her subjects—including me—with the most loving, vibrant eyes I'd ever seen. Dressed in a set of Arendelle-made, premium robes that probably cost more than anyone here would ever make, her platinum blonde hair shone magnificently under the autumn sun, almost as pretty as her ocean-blue eyes, which seemed to exude the warmth she carried for all of us.

I knew I was smiling, probably looking like a right nutter, but I didn't care. Queen Elsa was my everything. After this sham of an event was over, I wanted to hear her words, her melodic voice, I wanted to know what wisdom she had that I could soak up. She knew things that I would never know, had experienced things I would never get the chance to, and that was fine, I didn't mind not one apple seed—I just wanted to hear how to get there, even knowing I never would.

I was a dreamer. And according to Queen Elsa about a month or two ago, there was nothing wrong with that. She had dreams, too, actually. None that she shared with commoners like me, of course, but she said she did and sometimes I liked to think about what the Queen of Arendelle could possibly dream of that she hadn't achieved yet.

"My fair citizens of Arendelle, I thank you," our Queen began gently, several shades softer than the announcer yet twice as powerful, twice as commanding. "I thank you for your support in this event. I..." When she hesitated, I knew it wasn't due to uncertainty; she looked a tad overwhelmed and my chest tightened. What was wrong? Could I help? "I was somewhat dubious when my colleagues suggested this event. Given the reward, I didn't think anyone would deign to spend the day with me. You all have such busy lives, families to tend to, businesses to run... I thought I was being selfish, taking your time, merely assuming my presence was something you would enjoy..."

My heart hurt, my stomach clenched. She thought... our Queen actually thought we wouldn't want to enjoy her company? I opened my mouth to proclaim otherwise but the moment I inhaled proper, Queen Elsa was talking again and I promptly shut my lips.

"But now I see different," she said, smiling down at all of us, and while many, if not all, returned the gesture, I stared harder, squinting up from my low, low position on the ground. There was something there... something in her eyes, behind the smile and warmth, and it was glinting pretty hard. A spike of sorrow stabbed me in the chest. I knew that look. "This event has drawn double what we previously anticipated it has and I cannot tell you all how much it warms my heart to know the depths of my people's love. And, well..." She shook her head with a soft giggle. "I think you all have listened to me prattle on enough—"

She could never talk enough for me.

"—so let's get on with the numbers. My sister, Anna"—and the younger sister happily bounced into view to similar tumultuous applause—"will be reading the winning ticket. Raffles out, my citizens, let us see who wins, yes?"

This was the part where I could have probably left. The contest was rigged anyway, there was no chance of anyone in this crowd winning, and maybe some knew that, maybe some didn't, but I knew, and the disappointment I'd been managing to keep at bay was beginning to settle heavy in the pits of my stomach. Like I said, I didn't mind, such miraculous things never happened to my kind, but still... that little sliver of never ending hope had been prematurely ripped to shreds in a way I felt unfair.

"SIX!"

When things were unfair is when the darkness came, and I didn't like the darkness. There were so many horrible voices that came with it, and none of those voices were at all nice.

"THREE!"

They told me things like I'll die in the streets, that no one will remember me as they sweep my body down the main lane and off the edge of the harbor, nothing but food for the ravenous fish at the bottom...

"NINE!"

More than anything, that's why I leaned so much on Queen Elsa's words. They gave me strength, gave me fortitude. The fact that I wasn't dead right now despite several nights without food or a chance was all thanks to her, because she was right. I think it was in one of her speeches half a year ago where she talked about providing all her citizens with a means to just be. If we could find no strength in each other, on our own, then take strength from her. She was there to make sure we saw another day, to ensure that life in Arendelle kept on as it should.

"ONE!"

The voices told me that her words weren't for me, that she was speaking to those who had a chance at living, which I didn't think was very nice or accurate. I... well, I might not be living the best life compared to most others but I was still alive, and... and Queen Elsa told us that as long as we continued to live and strive that we had a chance at a better life.

All it took was one moment, and everything could change.

But, the voices would drone and hiss, would that moment ever come for someone like me?

"AND THE LAST NUMBER ISSSSS..."

I glanced down at the ticket I'd been clutching in both hands.

"SEVEN!"

Wait...

What?

Without warning, feeling left my trembling legs and I fell to my knees on the unforgiving cobblestone road. The tears came without warning, hot and plentiful, leaving tracks down my cheeks. I brought my palms to my eyes, hunching over as my garbled cries were lost amongst the cheers from a crowd celebrating the winner.

It took them a couple seconds of looking around in confusion to realize that the winner... that it was me.

Suddenly, hands were grabbing me, a lot of hands gripping and yanking. A wave of panic seized me—I started to struggle, to protect my raffle ticket—but then someone yelled out, "It's this lad here! He's the winner! Queen Elsa, this one here's won!"

Easily, like I weighed little more than a feather, I was lifted off the cold ground and sat upon the shoulders of the tallest man in the crowd. The view was spectacular up here, I'd never been so high—and, oh, the noise... everyone was cheering and clapping, clapping for me.

And then the crowd quieted as the most beautiful, most prestigious figure in the entire kingdom approached the balcony's edge, placing a hand on the railing. Queen Elsa stared out, and when her eyes met mine, when she began to smile with that sincere warmth, I knew I had to look ghastly; the tears had yet to stop, I could feel my nose running—

"And what is your name, my dear?"

Good question. What was my name? There was so much happiness coursing through me that even if I could recall my own name, I couldn't speak it. Not that I wasn't trying. My lips were moving, I felt them, but the words wouldn't come, just more sobs.

My distress must have been apparent because several others around me reached up to either pat me on the back or give my leg a consoling rub.

"It's okay," was what I think I heard Queen Elsa say in endlessly patient tones before she lifted one of her regal hands and gave it a swirl.

Noises of awe filled the air as a shimmering staircase of ice formed right before our eyes, leading from the balcony down to the main center. I watched as a couple of people on her level tried to dissuade her but Queen Elsa only lifted her other hand and they fell back respectfully. The way she descended echoed her poise and grace with every lithe step... and she never broke eye contact with me, her smile never wavered...

When she touched down in the square, the people gave her a wide birth, many bowing as they stepped in reverse. The abnormally tall man on whose shoulders I sat reached up, plucked me from my perch, then lowered me down before sinking into a bow himself and backing away.

Which left me standing there by myself, beyond petrified and quivering like a leaf, staring up at the glowing symbol of perfection that was our queen.

"Ah, my little one," she began, and I started crying harder, dropping my chin to my chest out of respect while trying my best to blindly hand her the ticket. "No need to be frightened..."

I felt a silken finger tap just under my chin, utilizing the slightest bit of pressure to get me to look up again. Once I had, a gasp rippled throughout the citizens of Arendelle when Queen Elsa knelt down before me, a sheet of ice manifesting under her knee.

Before I could even begin to fret and tell her to stand, that I wasn't worth the dirt under her shoe, she reached out a hand and cupped my cheek, the heat radiating from her palm effectively stunning me into silence. "I can see life has been particularly hard for you," she whispered knowingly, glancing my bedraggled form up and down.

Somehow, someway, possibly spurred on by her touch, I found my voice. "N-nuh-not r-really," I started, more wobbly than a three-legged table, and I tried to smile. "Because you... y-you, uh... I would listen to your words, my Queen, and they w-would get me right." Her eyes widened with surprise and I nodded, blinking quickly, trying to see through my tears and concentrate, find the words I always wanted to say.

"I didn't, um... I love Arendelle, my Queen, and I—I love you, too. It's been pretty dark f-for me most days... months even, b-but whenever you'd talk to us, it wouldn't be so dark, 'cause you were my l-light, you made it not hurt so much and... and I... I just wanna say thank y—"

I didn't get the chance to finish my sentence when Queen Elsa abruptly pulled me into her, and in that moment, being hugged by her superseded my wildest fantasies. It was the most secure and safe I'd felt in all my life, and when she squeezed, I nestled into her soft embrace.

For the first time in a long while, I felt it... I felt like everything would be okay.

There would be no more voices, no more sinister doubts or thoughts of a better life beyond an early grave...

Everything would be fine.

"I thank you... for your unbelievably kind words, little one." When she pulled back, taking both my hands in hers, I looked into her eyes and felt a pang of grief... because her eyes were glistening and slightly red. There was so much emotion within her pupils that it was nothing short of a testament to her inner strength that she managed to keep her voice as clear as crystal. "And, if I can ask, what is your name?"

Nodding quite stupidly, I smiled, big and wide. "You can ask me anything, my queen! My name is—"

A/N: I was thinking of another chapter that followed Elsa before the raffle drawing, during it, and after. Mostly because while writing Ir realized there's a lot on her mind that didn't get showcased, and I didn't explain how the little guy won. It felt like excess noise so I cut a lot but if you're interested, lemme know.