Rifiuto: Non Mirena
Late September, 1857
Halsten Castle,
Southern Isles
"Where have you been?" The queen looked up from inspecting Liesel's hands, and gently pushed the five-year-old towards her chair, before settling three-year-old Netta into her own chair. Camilla, two months shy of turning thirteen, stood in the doorway, dress wrinkled and stockings ripped, a smudge of dirt on her cheek, and leaves in her hair. "Your mother and I called you half an hour ago; dinner's ready, and it's getting cold."
"I'm sorry, Papa. Please, forgive me."
Hans crossed his arms over his chest, a look of annoyance flashing in his emerald eyes. He studied his daughter, taking in the leaves in her hair and the dirt on her cheek. "We've told you repeatedly, Camilla Helene, dinner's promptly at six, and it's nearly seven now. Not only have you kept the kitchen waiting, but you've kept everyone else waiting as well."
"Forgive me."
Emerald eyes took in the rumpled state of her dress and the rips in her stockings, and he sighed, as Elsa joined him. "Oh, Camilla, løper rundt i skitten."
"Klatring af træer." Her husband replied, nodding to the rip in their daughter's stockings. "Hun er mere en jordnymfe end dig, min kære," He leaned towards his wife, lips brushing her ear. "undtagen uden magi." His wife groaned softly in annoyance, blue eyes skimming her daughter's appearance. Milla narrowed her eyes briefly.
"Ikke snakk om meg som om jeg ikke er her. Vær så vennlig." Her parents turned back to her, not at all surprised. "Jeg forstår alt, hvad du siger, far." She swallowed, as her mother's gaze darkened briefly. "Forgive me."
The couple shared a glance, an entire conversation passing between them in a few heartbeats. "Hun er din datter." Her husband grunted softly under his breath, pressing a chaste kiss to her mouth before moving to help push Leisel's chair in.
"Nej, din datter." Elsa turned back to her oldest, a frown of disapproval tugging at her lips as her eyebrows knit together. She crossed her arms firmly over her chest, waiting for an explanation. "Well?"
"Forgive me." Elsa's gaze narrowed. "Please?"
"What were you doing that was so much more important than dinner? We've held dinner for you, despite calling you at six, and giving you half an hour to join us. Your brothers and sisters were all on time for dinner, what was so important you felt it right to make us all wait?"
"I-" Milla swallowed, tears pricking at her eyes. She knew why Mama and Papa were upset; dinner was always at six, and it was always imperative they be on time and ready to eat. Despite Halsten and Jannicke being their havens away from court, even when they weren't surrounded by their courts, when they weren't sitting upon their thrones or working out treaties, they were still the king and queen- just because they returned the crowns to the pillows and wore simple clothing and relaxed the rules that so rigidly held their courts together when they were at Jannicke or Halsten, didn't mean their orders were ignored. Especially by their children. They were the king and queen, and even in their small households, their word was law. Though not overly strict in the rearing of their brood, the two secretly married monarchs lived simply.
Milla and her siblings had learned young how to make their own beds, how to dress themselves and do their own hair, how to even wash laundry and cook and clean. Our fortunes could turn in an instant, you must know the basics of living to be able to survive in the harshest of times, for when they come, they will come in quickly, and if we are not prepared, it will make that struggle to survive even harder. If simplicity is good enough for our people, it's good enough for us, as Papa was fond of saying. Though none of the children knew of the slaughter, of the coup and bloodshed that had put their father on the throne years before any were even a flutter in their mother's belly, they knew that the Isles were built on blood and war, just as Arendelle was. Hans and Elsa made sure that their children valued the simple things, that knowledge was more important than money, that loyalty and love of their people were what kept them in the people's good graces.
"Forgive me."
"Answer me, first, and then perhaps we will forgive you."
Milla looked behind her, before turning back to her mother. "I... I was-"
"Sorry, I'm late, I- oh." The king and queen turned as Anna slid to a stop beside Milla; she looked to be in the same shape as Milla, dirt on her cheeks and leaves in her hair. Elsa sighed, glancing between the pair with a shake of her head.
"Of course. Why am I not surprised?" She turned to take her seat, as Hans looked up, taking in his sister-in-law and daughter with a simple glance between the two.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesties, we were just..."
"Climbing trees?" Annes asked, as his parents turned to him; the boy quieted, glancing at his sister as his aunt nodded.
"Very well, go get changed, both of you." Hans turned to the maid as Anna hurried to do as told. "Please, tell the kitchen to hold dinner until the princesses join us."
"Yes, Majesty."
Milla stepped closer as the maid left and her father turned. "Forgive me."
"Go get changed."
She swallowed, trying hard not to cry. Milla hated when her parents were upset with her; she was very much her parents' daughter, silently desperate for praise and adulation from the two most important people in her life, and when they were cross with her, she felt as though she'd failed them both. "Forgive me. Please."
Hans sighed, meeting her gaze. After a moment, he reached up, gently brushing at the smudge on her cheek. "Do not do so again. When your Mama and I call you for dinner, you come in for dinner, understood?" The girl nodded. "You're nearly thirteen, Camilla. You're the Crown Princess of Arendelle and-" He stopped, glancing at his wife. "and you cannot go gallivanting about like an unbroken stallion whenever you wish, there are protocols you must follow. You represent both your mother and I, you-" are the rightful heir, born of a forbidden union, to two thrones, "you must act it. Now go get changed."
"Yes, Papa."
Once she was gone, he turned back to the rest of the family with a sigh. When finally Anna and Milla returned, they hurried to their seats, waiting as the king and queen sat. As soon as everyone was settled, Hans signalled for dinner to be served. They ate in silence for several minutes, the children waiting for their parents to start the conversation, as they always did. While it wasn't custom, it was just normal for their parents to break the ice at the dinner table.
"Victoria's requested we come to England for Christmas."
"Mm... wait, I thought she requested a while back-"
"She did; I wrote her and Albert and informed them that we have duties here during the season-"
"Can we not spend some time with Auntie Victoria and Uncle Albert during Jul, Papa?" Milla asked softly, glancing at her father, who chewed slowly, gathering his thoughts. "Auntie Victoria and Uncle Albert came to spend Jul with us that year. Isn't it right we return the favor?" Her parents shared glances.
"Victoria knows we have duties here, Camilla." Her mother replied, brushing the bite of her fish onto her fork.
"But Mama-"
"We cannot go running off to England at the beck and call of Victoria whenever she wishes us to come, Camilla." Her mother cut in, harshly. "Papa and I have our own lands to rule and govern. We are neither Victoria's puppets nor her playthings, waiting to be of use to her."
"But... she invited us for Christmas." Milla whispered, glancing at her father. Hans sighed, recognizing look in his daughter's gaze. He swallowed his bite and set his cutlery down, turning to his wife as she wiped her mouth.
"Perhaps... we can take a bit of time to visit Victoria and Albert in England for Christmas." His wife narrowed her gaze.
"We cannot leave our countries for the whims of another royal, Johannes."
The table lapsed into silence, before quiet conversation slowly filtered up over time, before Hans spoke up. "You are far too stubborn, my beautiful Arendellian queen."
"And you are far too conniving, manipulative and calculating, husband." The king studied her silently over his glass, as silence fell about the dinner table.
"If it takes calculating and manipulation to keep my throne and you in my arms, it's well worth it, then." He set his glass gently back on the table. "Victoria wished for us to spend Christmas with them, not start a war on her behalf. Besides, we will be there to attend Vicky's wedding in January-"
The younger children shared glances, as Milla glanced between her parents. Her mother ignored her father's comment, bringing her fork to her lips. The Crown Princess glanced at her brother. "Can they not just talk? Must they always throw comments, like guns fire bullets?"
"Milla, shh!"
"Oh, Annes, it's true-"
"Camilla." The girl straightened, turning to her parents. "Your mother and I know we're not the best at communicating, but we do try. It's not the easiest when you have six rambunctious children to raise and two separate empires to rule over. It does not mean we don't try our best, with what we are given."
"But-"
"As for the visit to England, I think we should go." The children instantly brightened at the prospect of visiting their beloved aunt and uncle. He met his wife's gaze across the table and she sighed in exasperation. "It will do us good to get away from Arendelle and the Isles for a bit, and a holiday in England is what we need. Besides, Victoria and Albert have been wanting us to return for Christmas for a while. I say we go."
"And what do you suggest we tell our councils, my dear Southern Isles king?" Elsa asked, setting her napkin aside. He glanced at Anna, before each of the children, and sat back, mirroring her posture, though she folded her arms over her chest as he folded his hands in front of him. Unlike the rules of the court, that stated as soon as the monarchs finished eating, everyone else did as well, the rest of family continued eating, even as the maids cleared their parents' plates.
"Shall I bring coffee, Majesty?" The maid asked, and Elsa glanced at her husband. A quick conversation seemed to pass between the two ruling monarchs, before Elsa shook her head.
"No, we'll take it in the library, thank you."
"Yes, Majesty."
"What we usually tell them, Eliza. That Victoria requested us both so that we may go over and strengthen our trade agreements with her." He lifted his glass. "They will be none the wiser, because we will do what we always do, and play the parts we are given."
"I am tired of playing this part. I am sick of the lies we must tell our councils just to keep our family together, and I am tired of sitting upon that throne alone." She pushed her chair back and stood as the rest of the maids removed Anna's and the children's empty plates. She turned and strode from the dining room; Hans quickly hurried after her as Anna scooped Netta into her arms at the girl's insistence and they all followed the pair.
"Wait." The princess grabbed Vanja's hand, falling silent. A moment passed, before she looked up, seeing the frost begin to coat the ceiling. "Gods alive, here we go."
"Why do they keep fighting, Auntie Anna?" Vanja asked, as they continued toward the library. The older princess sighed, shifting her hold on Netta.
"Your parents are under a lot of stress, Anja. They are forced to be apart, something I know your Mama and Papa would rather not have happen. Ruling separate countries does not make it any easier."
"Then why don't they combine?" The others turned to the boy, who blew the auburn curls he'd inherited from his father out of his mother's blue eyes.
"Combine?" Milla asked, as Annes tugged on her hand.
"The Isles and Arendelle, Millie." He replied, as Anja nodded eagerly, Sof's small hand slipping into his as Leisel grabbed onto her other hand. It wasn't uncommon to see the four oldest children running about the castles, often holding hands so as not to lose each other or get left behind. There was a reason why the king called his four oldest 'dancing partners'- seeing as the queen had managed to birth two boys and two girls alternatively in the first ten years of their marriage. "Then Mama and Papa wouldn't have to be apart, and they wouldn't fight as much."
"It's not that simple, Annes." Anna whispered, as they entered the library. They found the king and queen on opposite sides of the room; Hans stood facing the windows, watching the seas crash on the shore below the castle, and Elsa had vanished among the shelves, the soft whisper of her skirts accompanying the crackle of the fire.
"- not that simple, Eliza."
"Nothing is ever simple when it comes to us, Hans. We have put ourselves into perhaps the most complicated position two monarchs have ever found themselves in, and we only further complicated matters by marrying and deciding to birth children." The king sighed, turning as the maid softly shut the door behind her, carrying a tray which she set upon the nearest table.
"Thank you, Imogen."
"Majesty. Your Highnesses." Hans quickly poured cups of chocolate for Anna and the children, before fixing two cups of coffee.
"Yes, well, we cannot go back and change things now, so we must make do with the cards we have been handed. It does no good dwelling on a past we cannot change, and frankly, if you wish me to be honest, Eliza, I would not change it anyway, given the chance. I have discovered more happiness in these last sixteen years with you in my life than I believe I ever would with any other woman. Come drink, before your coffee goes cold."
"... you cannot honestly tell me you would do this all again, given the choice." He looked up as she appeared between the shelves, a hand on either shelf, the darkness making her look even more like an angel cast to earth, as her hair tumbled from the hairstyle it had been placed in. "To... to go about in this... cursed half-life of a marriage, living out our years forever separated by the Southern Sea, never to spend more than a fortnight in my bed, never to spend countless hours watching our children grow into adulthood, living until old and grey, sitting upon a throne that I will never share with you because I rule Arendelle-"
"Yes, Eliza, yes. An infinite, eternal number of times yes. I will rejoice and treasure the visits we have had and will still have, I will wipe away tears and answer questions and relish my time in your arms and with our children while I can, and with mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come. I will gladly accept them, no matter how many more years we spend apart out of necessity."
"Shakespeare." Elsa scoffed gently, raising an eyebrow. "Well, you speak an infinite deal of nothing, husband." She moved from the shelves, crossing the room to accept the cup he held out.
"Nothing. It was not nothing that won your heart, Eliza." She met his gaze; Anna glanced between her sister and brother-in-law; something about this argument seemed different. Yes, there was ice, but it was almost as if they'd spent their energy arguing on their way too the library, as opposed to once behind the closed door. There were no temper tantrums, no screaming and no yelling, just hot and cold energy that seemed to fluctuate uncomfortably within the room.
"No, they are violent delights, Hans. And if you wish to quote Shakespeare to find relevancy for our marriage, then violent delights have violent ends, and in their triumph die," She turned to go back to the shelves, soon disappearing within them. Milla looked up from her game of chess with Annes, who glanced at their father. A moment passed, before he followed her into the shelves, his footsteps chasing after her as the whisper of her skirts hurried on ahead.
"Like fire and powder, my Eliza." Within the shelves, he finally caught up with her, walking her back as he grabbed her around the waist. Her back hit the bookshelf, and she looked up at him. "And if you remember, as they kiss, consume." His mouth found hers, and they soon fell silent, only the chatter of the children and crackle of the fire could be heard, while rain distantly pelted the windows, begging entry.
At one point, Anna had decided to take the children to the kitchens for cookies and some more hot chocolate, and as they'd left, Milla agreed to let her parents know they'd be in the kitchens. As the others waited outside the library, the girl made her way into the shelves of the library. She paused, listening for the rustle of her mother's skirts or the thud of her father's boots, but heard nothing of the sort. As she rounded the corner, however, she soon realized why she'd heard nothing from her parents-
There, tucked within the darkest shadows of the library, stood the king and queen, but they weren't arguing, weren't even talking. Instead, Mama was pushed up against the shelves, her back against the hard spines of the books; Papa blocked her exit, one arm tight around her waist, as he lifted her lightly off her feet. Her arms were around his neck, one hand stroking lazily through his auburn curls, as the other grasped hard at the material of the shirt upon his back. Though she could see an arm around Mama's waist, there was no sight of the other, and unbeknownst to the girl, the king had slid a hand down his wife's thigh, hiking up the multitude of skirts. He slid a hand beneath the silky-ice material and up the milky whiteness of her thigh, pulling her closer. The girl watched silently with wide blue eyes as the hand not caressing Papa's hair slowly released his shirt and slid down his back, caressing the curve of his backside with a squeeze. Papa jumped lightly, the hand caressing her thigh beneath her dress pulling her closer, as one around Mama's waist moved down to soon follow its companion beneath the volumes of her skirts, soon finding her other thigh.
That's why they aren't fighting. But... but what is Papa doing-
"Millie?" She jumped at the soft whisper, spinning to find Annes behind her. "What are you doing? Did you let Mama and Papa-" But before he could finish, she grabbed his hand.
"Mama said it was fine." She tugged, yanking him from the library shelves. They quickly hurried through the library, and out to where their aunt and siblings waited.
"But-"
"Come on, Nesi." She pulled him towards the door, glancing back as it shut, but her parents hadn't come out to join them. Most likely, they hadn't even heard them leave. "Mama and Papa will join us later."
As the door shut and they followed Anna to the kitchen, back among the shelves of the library, Hans scooped Elsa up, until her thighs were wrapped around his waist. Neither had even been aware they'd been watched.