For the sake of Valentine's, I have rewritten a story I abandoned a long time: a story including Elsa and her male love interest of my own design. Aside from that, there was a villain in that deleted story that I always liked and had to bring back at some point in my writing: a villain who is a very good foil to Elsa.
So this story is pimarily Romance yes, but there will be action and intrigue too. Hope you like it.
Please say what you think:)
"Good morning." a familiar voice said, and Elsa looked down.
"Olaf!" she exclaimed. "Huh, you came out of nowhere."
"Well, I wasn't very sure should I knock, or should I first say Elsa, or should I whistle, or should I say 'Hi'. So I said 'Good morning'." Elsa then chuckled and petted him on his head."
"So, when is the festival of the Crock?"
Elsa chuckled. "Olaf, it's Crocus, not Crock. And it's in eight days. Today, many lords and dukes and guests from other kingdoms will arrive to prepare for the festival. The great ceremony will be held here, in the castle."
"Right." Olaf said smiling. And then he asked. "And at that ceremony will happen what?"
Elsa rolled her eyes smiling. "Olaf. Remember what I told you." she crouched. "It's a surprise.
"Right. I knew that." he looked down.
Elsa couldn't but chuckle again. He is sweet, but not the brightest.
Then Olaf whistled and Elsa was smiling while he did that. He sounded like a summer bird. "Anna, are you awake?" she asked, no voice answering from behind the door. "Anna, wake up!" Nothing yet. "Anna?"
"Boo!" Elsa jumped in surprise and then turned around and saw Anna and Olaf laughing. Elsa, blushed, grinning at them. "Very funny, I'll die of laughter."
"Oh, come on Elsa. It is healthy to kid around!" Anna said, still smiling.
"Yeah, completely agree." Olaf added.
Elsa just rolled her eyes and continued down the stairs. "Whatever. Both come with me!" she said and the two obeyed her. They came to the courtyard and Kristoff and Sven and Kristoff was holding carrots in his hands.
"Alright, Sven. Now jump the highest as you can and you will get two." Then Sven jumped and was above the earth for even around two feet. "Good reindeer. Now, as I promised." ice harvester said, and gave two carrots to his reindeer friend. The two sisters and the snowman clapped.
"Wow!" Olaf exclaimed. "Now that is the highest jump I ever saw someone do above the ground."
"You should have seen him running from the wolves." Anna said and chuckled, remembering when Sven jumped running from the wolves. The four were laughing, but the queen ended the fun with devilish grin on her face.
"Alright, enough fun. We must prepare the city for the guests. We must clear the courtyard at first and clear every resting house in the city, so that guests could feel like at home. Off with all of you, now!"
Rushing, they all went to do their part, just like they had agreed.
"Now...where is the...ah yes. Gerda!"
The maid was sitting outside, standing up as soon as her queen came to her. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Call all the servants and maids. Kai as well." she cleaned her forehead. This summer was really hot. Too hot. "We need to prepare all things at the moment."
"Your Majesty?" a butler with a black crocus on his shoulder bowed before her. "Some lords have already come, waiting for an audience with you."
Good heavens! She didn't even dress properly.
"Tell them I am coming soon!"
Isaiah entered the courtyard of the castle together with his father, uncle Ehan and priest John. It was, at least on the outside, a very modest castle. When he was a child, Isaiah heard stories about kings of Arendelle: Erik the Conqueror, Magnus the Victorious, Agnarr the Wise and Harald the Tyrant and Halfdan the Mad and Arnold the Red. He thought they lived in some more...grandeur castle.
Yet, castle was modest, but still very beautiful and comfortable place. The courtyard had one big fountain right in the middle. As Isaiah was looking, he noticed an old man, around sixty years of age, who was wearing humble robes. Isaiah rightly guessed him to be Asmund, queen's personal priest.
"My lords." he said, bowing his head. "Queen is glad to hear tidings of your coming, lord Jeremiah. We are glad to accept you."
"The pleasure is mine as well, father Asmund." Jeremiah said.
"We should be careful here." whispered uncle Ehan while father and the priest were talking. "The Queen of Arendelle is said to be a great witch, with huge powers."
Isaiah waved away. "You do not trust everything out there."
However, the stories were true: entire Arendelle was frozen for almost a week.
"I don't?" Ehan grinned. "We'll see. But I'd rather beware than get unlucky."
The throneroom was a sight to behold. Simple, yet all built with such preciseness and attention. Most of the things were made of wood rather than stone or metal, but gathered in such a way that no one except the most skillful architect could have built it.
Leading them to the throneroom, Asmund stood beside the throne, looking like regal himself, more than a priest. At least until she entered.
She was...beautiful. She was tall (for a woman), but more importantly standing erect and reserved. She had a pale skin and flawless face. But what caught his attention the most where her hair and eyes. Her eyes were blue like ice and her hair was white as snow, put in a braid. She was wearing a modest, simple blue dress...but her face wasn't modest at all. Isaiah tried to look at her longest as he can, because she was really hard not to look at. This is the freak Snow Queen, Isaiah remembered people who told him queen is a monster, Whoever said that was drunk.
Isaiah's father stepped closer to the queen and so did she to him. They both bowed their heads to one another, Aramir first. Isaiah remembered how Idolite messengers knelt before his father when he made negotiations with them. But the Nordics, their people, never knelt. They knelt only to Ahanu Himself.
"Queen Elsa." Jeremiah said.
"Lord Jeremiah." the queen said. "I hope your journey went well."
"Yes, queen Elsa, trust me, we had a completely good journey. I went into wars, queen Elsa. Having a journey through the lands and fields was a relief for me."
"But there are no wars now." she said, smiling.
"No, queen Elsa, there are not." then he presented the three who were behind him.
"This is my court-priest, John." John bowed his head and said: "Your majesty."
"This is my younger brother Ehan."
"Your grace."
"And this is Isaiah, my son and heir." Isaiah stepped closer and bowed his head to queen Elsa.
"Your majesty." he said to her, barely taking a look off of her.
"I was waiting for you, lord Jeremiah. I have a special resting house reserved for you..."
"There is no need for that, queen Elsa, I already sent my servants to find a resting house where we will sleep. I don't want you to lose a house just because of me. Give the house you reserved for me to the others, when they come."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"I am." he answered.
"Very well then." she stepped down to his level. "I will have a walk with you lord Jeremiah, if you will."
"Of course, queen Elsa." and Isaiah watched as the two rulers went out to walk through the castle. Isaiah was left with his uncle, John and few guards, John was first to speak with Asmund.
"Brother Asmund! It has been a long time."
"Long time indeed, brother John. The last time we meet, you were still a young man, thirty years old."
"Two and thirty, exactly." John answered.
"We also have not seen each other for long, holy man." Ehan said. Non-priests always called priests holy men, unless they know them like friends.
"Ah yes, lord Ehan." Asmund said. "You my lord, were still even younger."
"And now, I am an old thing, ready for throwing away?!"
"No way, my lord!" John said. "You are absolutely not old too much. You are keeping pretty well if you ask me."
"I am joking, father." he smiled. "I am glad to be meeting you."
Isaiah, however, glanced somewhere else, noticing a shadow moving through the walls. He distanced himself from the others, following. Maybe a dog.
If only it were.
"Hello."
He looked behind and then jumped away.
"Let me introcude myself. I am Olaf, and I love warm hugs!"
The...thing stood in front of him...with actual eyes and mouth. And a voice.
"You...you are a snowman?"
"Aha."
"A talking snowman?"
"Wow!" he said, but genuinely. "You realized it so quickly! You're better than others! Give a hand!"
He offered his stick as if it were a true hand.
"Um..."
A slight chuckle, belonging to his uncle, could be heard. You did not say anything about this!
Reluctantly, he reached out for the snowman, watching not to hurt his...hand.
"I am...glad."
"Thanks Glad! I'm Olaf!"
Isaiah needed to laugh.
"Your father was an honorable man, queen Elsa." lord Jeremiah said to her. "And Arendelle is blessed to have you as its ruler."
Elsa and lord Jeremiah were now walking way outside of the castle, close to the entrance into the city itself. Elsa felt comfortable in the lord of Hathor' presence, it gave her good feeling. She was generally always more comfortable in presence of older adult men than those of her age.
"I hope I am, lord Jeremiah." she said with a smile. "I was only a girl when I became a queen. And I am...uh, I am a woman after all."
"It doesn't matter, trust me." lord Jeremiah said and placed hand on her shoulder. "Nor your age nor the fact that you are a woman. You are a better ruler than all the grown men I met in this last year of my life. Believe me, all of them are selfish people, thinking only about their own good and well-being."
"Lord Jeremiah, I totally understand how you felt with those kinds of people." she said. "I and my sister had to experience that on our own skin and we almost lost our lives, thanks to prince Hans Westergaard and Runar, Duke of Weselton."
"Weselton?" lord of Hathir raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was Weasel Town."
Then they both laughed. "Yes, many do. I stopped all tradings with Weselton after that. But..."
"You think to let him for the Crocus festical?" he read her mind. Elsa was caught by this. "If that is the case, then I would advise you not too. Queen Elsa, that man does not deserve forgiveness, even for the festival. You might allow an emissary of his to come, but if I was in your place, I wouldn't let him in. If he was able to deceive you in your household, he is able to do it even on the festival."
Elsa understood this advice. The fifty year old lord was much wiser than her and more experienced. "I just want to be peaceful with everyone for the sake of our God."
"Queen Elsa, I am sure He is pleased by your wish to serve Him. The fact that someone is stubborn and wicked not to do the same is not your fault. His blood is on his own hands, not yours. You are hands are clean of his crime."
"Your majesty!" Elsa heard a voice and Kai run towards them, bowing head to both of them. "Your majesty, more people have arrived."
Elsa then followed Kai, and lord Jeremiah followed her by steps. He brought them to the backside of the castle. There, around ten carks and fifty people were standing there. The carks were full of valuable bulk, like food, chests (full of treasure, probably) and rare animals. The travellers were dressed in elegant clothes, white, blue, yellow or green in color. The people carrying the bulk, on the other hand, were dressed in simple peasant clothes.
Elsa noticed that one of them started walking to her. "Your majesty." he bowed his head. He was an older man, in late fifties or early sixties, but still well-built for his age. His hair and mustache were ash-grey, and he wore a red clothing of a noble, or at the very least a rich man. "I am your servant, my queen. My name is Torrhen, of house Dalonar from Gaminar. I have come to beg you for help, your majesty."
His accent was very elegant, so Elsa liked it, though...
"I never heard of house Dalonar." Or Gaminar.
"Oh, we are a poor house, your majesty. Not from here, but from Avalor. I am the only surviving member of the house and you will probably never hear about us after me." his dark brown eyes were telling the truth, Elsa could say. "I have come to ask you to allow my entrusted servants and humble me to stay here in the city until we rest enough, your majesty."
"You are more than welcome." Elsa answered. "Of course, lord Torrhen. I am sure there will be a place for you and your companions in one of the resting houses."
"Your goodness is beyond measure, your majesty." he said and then walked to her a bit closer. "Your majesty, can I ask you for something more. Between us?"
"Of course." she said and he stood in front of her, leaning.
"I do not know if this will bother you, your majesty." he said quietly. Only she could hear him and maybe Grandan, her commander in chief. "But I want to know if I can I leave all my belongings here, in the royal castle. Yes, I know it is a rude and inappropriate request, but, your majesty, there is much treasure of my father and mother in those carks and I, as you probably noticed, have no soldiers or bodyguards to keep it. If this is a too big, request, then please at least give a few trusted soldiers to take care of my belonging in the resting houses? I am sorry for making you uncomfortable, but I really need to protect my belongings."
Elsa liked this honesty. He asked for a favor, but asked for forgiveness as well. Now, that is rare!
"Do not worry, lord Dalonar, I will see your belongings stay here in the royal castle."
Lord Dalonar grinned "Your mercy is beyond songs, your majesty. Thank you." he bowed his head again. "I owe you more than you can possibly imagine."
"It is my pleasure, lord Dalonar." she said. "Of course, I will need your seal and..."
"All of it is in here, your majesty." he said and took something out of his pocket. It was a scroll with a red seal on it. Elsa unsealed it and read it. Everything seemed right. It seemed legally satisfying. At the end, there was signature of queen Elena of Avalor (Elsa recognized it from before) and of lord Dalonar himself. Elsa nodded and closed the seal.
"Very well." she said. "My soldiers will have to check all your belongings, though."
"It goes without saying, your majesty." he said. Elsa looked at Grandan who already knew what to do.
"Boys! Let's do it!" he called his fellow soldiers and they gathered, investigating the entire bulk. Elsa and lord Dalonar were standing alone. Elsa heard Jarvo and Kai coming, however.
"Very well." Elsa said. "Jarvo will take you and your sevants and maids to the resting houses, my lord. I hope we will meet again. Please forgive us for small resources. And my soldiers if they seem a bit rude. They fought in a battle a few days ago."
"Nothing to forgive, my queen. Once again," he bowed his head. "thank you for your courtesy."
Elsa nodded and lord Dalonar left with his servants and maids, following Jarvo to the resting house. Elsa looked at the bulk and her soldiers checking it.
"Kai." she called him and he came at command immediately. "Have you ever heard of house Dalonar?"
"A small house in Avalor my cousin used to serve, your majesty. Before he died, God rest his soul." Kai said. "They are neither famous nor rich, but they are old."
"Was there a lord Torrhen in that house?" she asked him.
"I think there was." Kai answered. "And he would be around the same age as the fellow man here. And they do have trouble with heirs nowadays. Perhaps he is the last descendant of male line?"
"I guess so." Elsa said. "But why would he come here?"
"I am just guessing, but maybe he came to die here, your majesty?" Kai said. "He does look old. Maybe he wants to die on the ruins of the Holy City and rest here in peace. Many old people decide to spend their last days here, I guess some nobles decide that as well."
"Perhaps." she said. Grandan walked towards her. "Anything suspicious?"
"No, your majesty, everything is safe." Grandan answered. "Perfectly fine. There aren't even weapons, except a few old swords that are family relics, I suppose."
"Good." she said and turned to the soldiers. "Bring all this to the resting houses. It belongs to lord Torrhen Dalonar! He has my permission to stay in the city. Help him find the place for all this bulk." the soldiers obeyed her and started carrying. Elsa was left alone on the stairs with Kai and Grandan.
"Lord Torrhen seems like an honest man to me." Elsa said. "But he is a bit silent. Please find out everything you can about him."
"We will, your majesty." Kai and Grandan said at almost the same time.
"And, lord Jeremiah, if I may ask you to..."
"There is no need, queen Elsa." he said. "I am leaving right now."
She nodded and then he left.
"Anything else, we can do for you now?" Grandan asked.
"What you can do for me now?" she sighed. "Leave me alone. I just need some time alone."
Kirun leaned onto a chair, touching his mustache and holding the pipe.
"And so it worked." he smiled. "Did it not, Akal?"
"Exactly, boss." he answered, in his ever hoarse voice. He sat on the opposite chair. "You did it again, boss!"
"Wonderful work, I agree! I am a bit sorry about the old Torrhen, but..." he shrugged. "What can we do? Interest, is it not?"
He snapped his fingers and the pipe was lit.
Most of the next chapters are already written: they just need rework. So updates will be more or less quick.
Please say what you think in the comments. Thank you:)