"Do you remember when I and Elsa broke that statue, but you helped us hide the remains, uncle?"
"Yes, I do." uncle Asan said, smiling. "You two were six and four years old. If your parents found out, that would have been a great fun."
"Talking about statues, heh?" Flynn said. "I once stole a statue in Agrabah. It belonged to some...lord Toimar, I think it was his name. It was a pretty small statue of a horse. I easily ran from his castle. I climbed on a tree so that his guards might not see me, but, on the tree, I...well, I sneezed."
"And they heard you?" Anna said.
"Nope. I fell." laugh burst out of everyone's mouth. "Hell, I almost got executed for stealing that statue."
"Oh, did you?" the Asmund said. He didn't like to listen about thievery.
"Yes, I did." and Flynn stood up and assured him. "Since Rapunzel tied me when I tried to enter Gothel's house, I learned my lesson and I learned that thievery doesn't bring you any good. I give my word."
"How much do you honestly think is it worth it, master Fitzherbert?" the priest said, with folded hands.
"Hey." Flynn protested. "I might have been a thief, but I was an honorable thief. I never killed, I under no circumstances stole from the poor, I didn't cheat, I didn't..."
"Have adventures with multiple women?" Asmund said, raising his eyebrow.
Flynn came close to Asmund and whispered something to him, so that Rapunzel might not hear, but Elsa did.
"If it will matter to you, I never slept with any of them." Flynn said.
"Oh, that's good." Asmund said with a small smile. "But still...a thief is not very trustworthy."
"Don't worry, holy man." Flynn said with respect. "I left irresponsibility of youth behind. I am now a mature man, a dad even. I will be better, I promise."
Asmund leaned a bit closer to his face.
"I will open four eyes because of you." he said, and then turned, while others chuckled.
"She is coming soon." Elsa said.
"Sooner than you think." an old voice answered. Everyone turned and saw. It was an old woman, around seventy years old, standing beside the royal chariot. She had blue eyes like almost everyone from royal house in Arendelle. She was redheaded, but her hair was darker than that of others in royal house of Arendelle. She had signs of old age in her face, but she was still a beautiful woman. Five feet and nine inches tall, she was slim and fair skinned.
Arianna, Willow and Asan immediately ran to her...and kissed her hand. At that time, sun could still be seen, though little.
"Welcome home, mother." Arianna said to her. Rhaena smiled. "Thank you, my children."
She then walked to Elsa, and bowed her head.
"Your majesty." she said.
Elsa hugged her, holding her tightly. The old woman was surprised, but then smiled and quickly returned the hug.
"Thank you for coming." Elsa said to her.
"I would not miss family gatherings." she said. "I have not seen you in years." Then she touched Elsa's cheeks and smiled.
"Look how you have grown. You are a grown woman, now. Fit to rule."
"Thank you." However, she looked, and there was just the cab driver and no one else with the chariots.
"Grandmother, why did you come alone? Did something happen?" The smile disappeared from Rhaena's face.
"I...I didn't come alone, Elsa." and when she said that, sun was no longer seen.
Then, a man, appeared, whose head was covered with grey hood. He was wearing a grey cloak and riding an old, grey horse. He revealed his face. Old, around sixty years of age, and straight, longer grey hair. Arianna approached him slowly, being wary. "Sigurd, welcome, brother..."
He immediately turned to look at her with piercing look in his eyes. Everyone was upset by him. He had left red eye, like blood, and right black eye. On his right side of face he had few scars. He was pale skinned, just like Elsa. His face was old and spent. He was slim and six feet tall. Elsa read his face, as saying: Do not call me brother. He then went down from his horse, leading it by reins, approaching Elsa and bowing his head.
"Your majesty." he said.
"Welcome to Arendelle, uncle." Elsa tried to say it as politely as she could.
"Thank you. Though I would have preferred not to see it again." his old voice said.
The man then passed by Anna and their cousins. They all greeted him: "Uncle Sigurd." Then Sigurd approached Kristoff who just said nervously: "Lord Sigurd Frost." Everyone stared when he approached Asmund.
"You don't seem happy to see me, Asmund." he noticed.
He cleared his throat. "Lord Sigurd, this time of the year belongs to Lord Ahanu. And we should be good to everyone in that time, especially we priests. So yes, I am glad to see everyone here. Including you, my lord."
Sigurd nodded. "Let's suppose Maleficent, the evil queen, comes back from the dead and comes here. Would you be glad to see her too?"
"My lord, obviously, we are not gonna go that far..."
"Good." he interrupted him. "If we did, this kingdom would have fallen long ago." and he went on his way.
"Uncle, do you want for someone to bring you to the stable?" Elsa asked.
"No need, your majesty." he said without looking at her. "I know where the stable is."
After he left, there was still a silence among those gathered.
Flynn then approached Willow, Arianna, Asan and Elsa.
"That was Sigurd Blood-Eye, wasn't he?" he asked curiously. "The...illegitimate son of king Arnold?"
"Yes." Elsa answered.
"Oh." Flynn commented. "You know, no one ever explained it to me what's exactly his problem."
"Not even he knows, son." Arianna added.
Elsa then put her hand on her forehead. Well, looks like the happy day is over, she thought to herself.
"And...why exactly are you speaking with me?"
The snowman...shrugged, for the lack of a better term. "I just like people. Do you not like people?"
Isaiah sighed. "Of course, but I am stranger, am I not? You do not know me. In addition, would not the queen and the princess be worried where you are?"
"Oh, no, Kristoff and Sven are here. Hi, Sven!"
He waved, but Isaiah did not see anything.
"Where...are these people you are calling?"
"Can't you see them? There!" He pointed towards the market, only to see a blonde-haired man wave back at them. "Yeah, he is Elsa's official Ice Harvest Deliverer!"
"What? That is a...title?"
"She made it so."
"Why?"
"Oh, I think it's because he's friends with Anna."
"Oh." Isaiah needed no more explanation. A bit more than friends, probably...
Isaiah picked up the quiver, with Ethil placing the targets at different distances.
"Those are made of wood, right?"
"Yes." the bow was just the right size. Not too big, not too long, and perfectly curved.
"You know, my hands are also made of wood." Olaf said, showing them. "And my eyes."
"Really? I have not noticed. Hard to see."
"I know, right?!" Olaf said. "But I mean...why out of wood? Why not out of linen or stone? Stone? Nah, that would be ugly."
"More like impossible." Isaiah said, loosing the arrow and missing. He silently swore, but then shrugged. "Here we go again."
"How long have you been an archer?"
"I have been practicing since I was twelve." he let loose another one. It hit close to the targer, but again missed.
"I'd love to be an archer too. I could use my hands for something!" Olaf looked at his hands with great wonder. "Imagine!"
Isaiah had to give him a chuckle. Glancing at the targets, he noticed a mistake.
"Ethil?"
"Yes, my lord!"
"Move the third one a bit closer. No, no! Sorry, my mistake. It is close enough, it just leans too much on the ground instead. Just move it up a bit. Just a tad bit and...perfect! Keep it that way!"
When he let go of it, it immediately leaned back, but, worried and careful, he placed it back. Not taking his eyes off of it, he moved away.
"That! Thank you Ethil. Now..." he raised the bow, stretching it out.
"Oh! I can help you! Can I..."
"Olaf!" he said loudly, and then let it loose. Now, it hit the red target.
"That!" Isaiah said, smiling. "Thank you Ethil. Bring me water, please."
"Right, my lord!"
The servant ran as quick as a deer, going after it. Isaiah crouched down to Olaf's level. "Please, just be careful not to..."
"Not to what?" Olaf said, smiling obliviously. Sometimes it was funny, sometimes annoying. Sometimes a bit of both.
"When I am stretching the bow and arrow out," he said. "I cannot keep it long that way. Instead, I have to let it loose as soon as possible, or the string will snap. So please, ask me things after or before I am hitting, not while doing so."
"Wow!" Olaf, with his mouth agape. "Thank you. You're an adult, so all-knowing, I should always listen to you guys."
Isaiah chuckled again.
"What's the joke?" Olaf was excited to hear it.
Isaiah tilted his head, uncertain. "The joke?"
"You laughed. People laugh at jokes! At least that's what Kristoff told me."
"Wait, you were serious moments ago?"
"I don't know. What did I say?" he didn't take the smile of his face. At all.
"You said adults are all-knowing."
"Yeah. Why?" Olaf paused for so long and so still that he looked like a "real" snowman for a bit.
"Uh...nothing." Isaiah said. "Nothing." he petted him on the head. "You are a good lad."
"Lad?" Olaf asked. "What is a lad?"
"Nothing."
Ethil returned with a cup full of water. Isaiah drank it to the bottom, almost in a second. "You want some or..." he scratched his beard. "do you even drink water?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I mean, you are a snowman."
Olaf blinked.
"You are made of snow. And when you pour too much water over the snow..."
"What happens?" Olaf almost giggled like a child.
Isaiah stiffled his chuckle back, almost dropping the cup. "So you do drink water?"
"Yes, I love it!"
"Right." he smiled and took another cup, Ethil filling it with water. "Of course you do."
Olaf grabbed the cup and enjoyed the sight of water, uttering again: "Wow! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"Isaiah!"
Uncle Ehan ran to him, almost stumbling and giving Ethil an angry glare. "Have you not received the call?"
"My lord, I..."
"It's alright, Ethil." Isaiah placed a hand on his shoulder. "What is it uncle? Are you..."
"The monks." Ehan said, pulling him by the arm. "Your father wants to welcome them and requests your presence."
"Requests, not demands?"
Ehan gave a slight grin. "Nice, but you know that for your father the two are synonyms. Now, come with..."
"May I come too!"
Olaf interrupted, standing between the two. Uncle Ehan coughed and scratched his head. "Well, lord...I mean...Mr. Olaf? Will not the princess and the queen be worried?"
"Why would they be worried?" Olaf narrowed his eyes and then, in self-realization, gasped. "I have done something bad, right?"
"Uh...no! It's just..."
"Wouldn't they be worried that you are gone?" Isaiah tried to settle it. "You are going with complete strangers."
"I am not going with a stranger." Olaf shambled. "I am going with a friend. We are friends, right?"
"Well, you are to me, but..."
"Great!" he exclaimed and twirled towards the other way. "Then we are off to...I am sorry, where is that place called Monks?"
"Monks are people."
"Ah..." he said, stroking his snowy chin, as if thinking. "Let's go now!"
Ehan looked at him, then back at Isaiah who shrugged. Uncle waved away dismissively, frustrated. "If he slips over a branch, you are responsible."
"Dearly."
When they came to the small mount filled with soldiers and servants waiting, queen's priest Asmund present, Isaiah noticed his father standing proud above everyone.
"Isaiah? Great that you are here. I need your..."
He turned, only to stare at Olaf, who was still smiling obliviously. Jeremiah rolled his eyes and directed them at Isaiah.
"Prince Olaf demanded to come." Isaiah said, uttering that title without any thought.
"Really? Good then." Jeremiah then looked back at Olaf, bowing his head. That might have been serious or in a mocking way, but it still looked rather non-sensical. Just as Olaf was to ask something, they spotted a group of people in the distance.
They were all dressed in white robes, and their heads were covered by a hood and they had a cord placed on their heads. They also walked in sandals, even out of the deserts of southern Agrabah. They varied in size, some tall, some short. They also varied in age, as could be seen from color of their beards, some clear black, brown or blonde, and some grey or totally white as snow. Some of them had beard that just covered their face, while some of them had beards that spread long to the waist. They were celibates, sworn to never marry and have a family, to remain poor in hand and to be obedient to the world. They lived in places no one did, like forests, mountains, deserts and empty fields, where they built small houses and there one community would form to live in that place.
They always wore simple, white robes and walked in sandals and they let their beard grow and rarely shaved it. They abstained from milk, alcohol and meat, except sometimes fish. They ate the fruits of the earth, and bread and water were enough for their needs. They devoted their lives to prayer, fasting, helping one another, reading and reciting the sacred texts and keeping services and worshiping God on the small altars they made in their settlements.
One of them, who seemed like their elder. He was around one inch and a half shorter than Jeremiah and he had long, grey hair that went down to his chest. He was around eighty years old, but he still stood with upright back, strange for his age. He had dark blue eyes that seemed to change their shade from time to time. He bowed his head to them.
"My lords." he said. His voice was old and shaking. "I am Nahum and these are my brothers in God." he said presenting his companions. "We came to worship Him, if the blessed queen allows it."
"Of course. You and your brothers are always welcome here to worship God, especially on this holiday." father Asmund answered.
"Thank you, my father. The queen is very gracious. May God bless her."
"Nahum." Jeremiah spoke uup, smiling. "We have not seen each other in a long time."
The old man looked confused. "I...I am sorry, my lord, and you are?"
"No surprise, a long time has passed." he said. "Nahum, it is I, Jeremiah, your brother's son. Son of James."
"James? My brother?" the old man said. Then a look of realization hit his face. "Oh, yes. My brother. I...I am son of lord David of house Hathir, and...my brother was James, who...who became the lord when I refused the seat." he looked at his nephew.
"Forgive me, Jeremiah. I haven't seen you in decades. I...I forgot about all my house. I rarely thought about it, I spent my life serving God so I..."
"It is fine, uncle." he said and placed hand on his old uncle's shoulder.
"It was a long time since we saw each other, my lo..." Asmund tried to say, but the old man's face looked at him. "...brother Nahum." he said instead. The old man was three and ten years older than him, yet difference was obvious.
"Yes, I remember." he said. "You were still just a young man." then he coughed. Lord Ehan helped his uncle to take a breath. "Uh, I am alright." he said.
"So, he's your grandpa?" Olaf asked, still happy.
"No, Olaf. He's my father's uncle."
"What's an uncle?"
Really?
"Your brother's or your sister's brother."
"Oh, I get it!"
Isaiah chuckled and sat beside him. "You are...a unique creature, Olaf. Very unique. I am glad we met."
"Me too!"