Act 2 Scene 1
Three years had passed since the burial of King Agnarr and Queen Iduna. The kingdom of Arendelle mourned the loss of their leaders, but there was one silver lining to such a dreadful event. Anna and Elsa began to re-establish their relationship. Without their parents, Anna didn't want to be left alone and sought comfort in the last family she had. It was something that Elsa agreed on, as Anna was all she had left now. And ever since she started to spend time with Anna, Elsa felt… happier. They weren't as close as they were when they were children and before the incident, but they began to spend meals together, would read together, even play a few games and talk. There was still some distance in their relationship, but Anna knew that Elsa was trying and she enjoyed spending even one hour a day with Elsa.
The eldest still kept her powers a secret to Anna, as she did not believe she was ready to tell her sister. With her coronation that would commence upon her 21st birthday, she had a lot on her mind and didn't want to stress Anna out. Elsa was more concerned of hiding and holding back her powers, refusing to even use them. She no longer used that training chamber to control her powers, she merely kept the gloves on and tried not to physically come into contact with people if it was possible. The trauma of that night, and the fear of manipulators who would use her powers, kept holding Elsa back from fully appreciating her gift. So, she came to the conclusion that it was best to not acknowledge her abilities, and to keep them deep within herself. It was not easy, especially on the coldest of nights when the snow and ice within her was the strongest. Yet being close to Anna gave her a reason to keep it all bottled up. Even if it wasn't healthy, Elsa believed that it was the only way she could be close to her sister without hurting her. It was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
Before the sisters knew it, three years had come and gone in the blink of an eye. And as was the tradition of all royals in Arendelle, the next heir would be inaugurated to the throne on the day of their 21st birthday. And so, on the morning of December 21st the kingdom was bustling. The sky may have been gray and the snow was on the ground, but the harbor was pulling in many ships from across the way. The townsfolk were keeping warm despite the weather, with their cheerful demeanors. Many voyagers were heading off the ships and on the port, where the guards of the kingdom were welcoming them to their country. It was the first time in thirteen years that Arendelle was allowing visitors from outside the kingdom, all for today.
"Welcome to Arendelle! Watch your step please. The castle gates will be opening soon." One of the men who worked in the harbor gestured as he helped to guide the people from their ships towards the town. They would be within the square until the castle would be opened and allow everyone within the walls.
A mother and child were bickering as she was trying to get her son to keep his jacket suit on. "Why do I have to wear this?" He complained
"Because the queen has come of age! It's her coronation day!" The mother explained, as the townsfolk and the visitors were in the square, being given cups of hot chocolate and bowls of Fårikål (A type of mutton stew) to help keep them warm. It wasn't unbearably cold, as it was only the second snowfall of the year for the Kingdom, but there was quite a bit of the white powder. Still, the kingdom helped set up decorations all over their houses, buildings and even lampposts to showcase how special today was. Banners of Elsa's silhouette face hung from the lamps, white, purple and blue streamers, garland and other décor to symbolize the proud colors of Arendelle.
A certain blond man near a sleigh was packing up his equipment on the back. He wiped his forehead and sighed, just as a male reindeer next to him used his antlers to nudge him. "There we go, we should be ready to head out now." The man laughed, looking over at his companion with a smile. "Is someone ready to head up the mountain, Sven?" The reindeer neighed as he gestured towards the few carrots sticking out of the sack. The blond noticed where the eyes were going and smirked. "Give me a snack!" The man spoke in a higher tone, as if he was speaking for the animal. "Please?!" The reindeer smiled as he licked his lips, stomping his hooves to prove the man was correct. He laughed as he reached in and took out one carrot. "Alright, but only one. We need to save the rest for our pitstops." The reindeer immediately grabbed it and placed the whole carrot in his mouth, munching on it as the blond smiled while rolling his eyes.
A man and his wife rushed past the sleigh with the blond and his reindeer, smiles upon their faces. "I can't believe they're finally opening the gates!"
"And for a whole day!" The wife cheered with glee. "Faster Percy!" She grabbed his arm and rushed him towards the castle.
The crowd headed over the bridge where the castle gates were, still closed but the guards were on standby to open them once the soon-to-be queen gave her orders to begin the ceremony. Everyone put on their fancy outfits, and were as close to the gates as they were allowed. "Ah, mieh sore eyes can't wait to see the Queen and the Princess." One of the visitors claimed in an accent, as he spoke to one of his buddies. "I bet they're absolutely lovely!"
"I bet they are beautiful!" His friend agreed, walking over to where everyone was gathering. The men were excited to see the royals of the Kingdom, envisioning them in all of their grace and beauty.
Speaking of, the youngest princess was still lying asleep in her bed. Her auburn hair was as messy as hay, with a strand of it in her mouth as drool rolled down her other cheek. She snored softly, oblivious to the event of today. One of the servants knocked on the door. "Princess Anna." He spoke, making her stir from her hibernating state. "Princess Anna?!"
"Hmm… y-yeah?" She sat up, her eyes still closed as her body was against being woken up. She pushed the hair off her face as she now tasted the texture.
"Sorry to wake you-" The servant apologized.
"No, no, no, no. You didn't…" She trailed off, yawning as she placed her hand on her cheek. "I've been up for hours…" She tried to sound convincing, only to start falling asleep once more. She slowly felt her body leaning forward, only to wake back up after she nearly fell. "Who is it?!" She questioned.
"Still me, ma'am." The servant answered. "The gates will be opening soon, so I wanted to make sure you were ready."
Anna rubbed her face and stretched, attempting to wake up despite her body disliking the idea. "Of course…" She lied. "Ready for what?"
"Your… sister's coronation, ma'am?" He answered.
"My sisters… corn-no-ration…" She mispronounced the word. Her eyes finally began to open, looking around the room as her brain was trying to register today's ceremony. She gazed over to the corner of the room, where there was a dressing vanity and an outfit on a mannequin stand. A black sweetheart bodice with dark green off-the-shoulder straps and prints of rose, teal, blue and purple with greenish-gold trim. The pleated skirt was an olive drab with sashes consisting of: asparagus centers with pink, crimson, dark olive green, olive darb and blueprints on it between cream sides and dark green pleats. As her eyes landed upon the dress, the gears in her brain began to turn. Her turquoise orbs lit up as the realization hit her. With a gasp, she spoke. "It's coronation day!" She jumped out of bed, running to her dressing doors and changed behind the wooden curtains.
With her dress she also put on a black satin-lace necklace with a bronze pendant of Arendelle's symbol, both cream petticoat and frilly knee-length pantalettes, white stockings and a pair of black ballet shoes with dark pink lipstick. She quickly brushed her hair and styled it in a bun, with part of her strands in a braid to be used as a headband. A green comb-shaped barrette with a couple of satin ribbons green and chartreuse were attached to the back of her hair. She was just putting them in the bun as she rushed out the door and down the halls. She ran into a maid who was carrying a tray of desserts such as Pepperkake, Skolebrød and Troikakake. Anna grabbed hold of her arm with the tray and twirled her around. "It's coronation day!" She cried out, making the maid spin with her before the Princess ran down the halls. Thankfully she didn't spill anything, and basked in Anna's merriment.
The auburn royal rushed down the halls, searching for a specific room to spread the news. She passed by many of the guards and servants as she ran right to the very door that belonged to her only remaining family. She busted the barrier open, standing in the door frame as she shouted at the top of her lungs. "Elsa! It's your… coro…nation…" She trailed off, losing that ecstatic spark as she saw the room. Elsa was stationed at a vanity with two of the most loyalist servants. One of them was Gerda, a round female servant wearing her brown hair in a bun and had the outfit for all maids. A blouse coat and long skirt of the snowy white shade. The other next to her was a man with a more plump body who had on a coat and pants but with the same color. He had brown hair on the sides with his top bald, and a large nose. His name was Kai, and the brother of Gerda. The soon-to-be queen turned around in her chair as she gazed at her sibling.
"I am well aware that today is not only my birthday but my coronation day as well. Hence why I'm having Gerda and Kai help prepare me for the ceremony." Elsa stated nonchalantly as she looked over at her sibling.
Anna felt embarrassed as she removed her hands from the frames of the door, giggling with her smile. "Sorry…" It was clear she was excited for the event, even Elsa could see it. Kai and Gerda turned to the older sibling, wondering what she would do.
Elsa kept staring at Anna with her icy pupils, but a smile soon appeared on her lips. "Well, are you going to stand there or do you want to come in and help me with my preparation?" She offered. Upon hearing that, Anna's eyes lit up once again as she grinned. The princess walked into her sister's bedroom while closing the door. She walked over to the vanity, where Elsa was still in a robe as it seemed she was not yet dressed. Her hair was completed, with a French braided crown twist bun being held up with a blue ribbon.
"So… are you wearing that to your ceremony?" Anna asked, pointing at the white, fluffy robe.
Elsa sighed and rolled her eyes. "If only… Kai and Gerda have been bickering non-stop about what I should wear for my coronation." Elsa explained as she looked between the two servants.
"I requested that our future queen wear something in a more traditional sense." Kai explained as he adjusted his coat. "Given that she is the first Queen to rule in the last three generations, it's only appropriate she wears the official designs meant for the Arendelle female monarchy." He went over to the right side of the vanity, showing the sisters his outfit he picked for Elsa. It was a stunning ball gown of a blue color that fell gracefully to the floor like the crest of an ocean wave. A high collar framed the neckline with modest, drawing attention to the beautiful facial features. The sleeves were long and puffed at the shoulders and gave it a regal air. To balance the swaths of blue fabric, the gown was decorated with a white trim near the bottom of the sleeves and the skirt. The front of the dress at the chest and down the abdomen was detailed with a white snowflake design. Anna couldn't help but chuckle at how extra the details of the dress were.
Gerda stepped forward as she spoke up. "And I wanted our reserved soon-to-be queen to wear something that would be more comfortable, as this is her first time being presented to the people in over a decade." She went to the outfit she chose for Elsa to wear, and the sisters could see the contrast to it from what her brother chose. It was a teal dress with a sweetheart bodice that had bronze trim along with dark teal, maroon and purple rosemaling on the skirt and bodice. There was a black, long sleeved turtleneck blouse with red and teal crystal-shaped prints on it connected to a magenta cape. There were also dark brown flats with gold outlines and teal tights to go with the dress. It was much tamer than the other option, and had more color palettes but was a bit darker in tone.
Anna looked at the two dresses, impressed by their designs and tried to envision Elsa in either of them. The older Arendelle royal explained. "We have spent all morning trying to find a dress and managed to get two. But Gerda and Kai have different opinions on how to handle the matter."
"I still suggest we go traditional to honor this ceremony!" Kai declared.
"We should be thinking about her highness comfort given this is a big day for her and already has enough stress on her plate." Gerda argued.
"Traditional!"
"Comfortable!"
"Traditional!"
"Comfortable!" Anna and Elsa watched from the sides as the siblings were having a heated debate over which outfit would be worn. The siblings were the most lively out of all their servants over the years, but this was a whole other level the sisters have seen.
Elsa looked over at Anna, as she put her iceberg gloves onto her hands. "They have been going at this for the past hour." She told her sister.
The servant siblings looked up at Anna as they approached her. "Which outfit do you want your sister to be in, Princess Anna?" Kai asked
"Oh… uh…" Anna looked between the outfits to see which one suited Elsa the most. "A-Are you sure you want my opinion?"
"I'm neutral on the matter, so you get the final say." Elsa reassured her sister. Hearing that put a bit of pressure on Anna, as she didn't want to disappoint anyone. Then again, it wouldn't be her wearing the outfit, and if Elsa was indifferent anyways, it wouldn't matter. She did admit that either option were appropriate with their strengths and flaws. Gerda's outfit was simple and it would be easy for Elsa to move around in. But there were a bit too many colors that didn't complement Elsa. Kai's outfit, while more stiff than his sister's, did match up with Elsa's character in terms of its appearance and her color scheme. Elsa was always more fond of the blue and white shades, so it seemed to be the most acceptable. Plus the back collar would be funny to see on Elsa. "Well, I have to admit they both look desirable. But if I had to choose one… I would pick Kai's outfit." Anna pointed at the brother.
Kai smirked as he was satisfied with the answer. He looked over at his sister as he rubbed it into her face. "Well, it seems that I have won yet another challenge in regards to keeping the royal traditions of Arendelle alive."
Gerda didn't seem to be annoyed, in fact she mocked him back. "Well, after so many losses from me, it was about time you got a win. Little brother."
"Little? You're only older than me by ten minutes! The doctors even said so themselves." Kai declared as he adjusted his jacket.
Elsa and Anna couldn't help but watch their banter, reminding them of their younger years. The soon-to-be queen raised up her hand while sitting at her vanity. "Alright you two, I can finish getting ready myself. There is still a lot of preparation to be done, so I need you both to help the other servants." Elsa ordered.
"Understood." Gerda bowed.
"We will get that started right away." Kai reassured as he and his sister headed out of the room, leaving Elsa and Anna alone. The auburn haired royal sighed in unison with the snow-haired sibling.
Elsa was grateful that one small problem of today was resolved. She looked back over at her younger sibling. "I will thank you for settling that matter." She told Anna. "You saved me one headache I will be looking forward to today. Though out of curiosity, why did you choose that dress?"
"Well, the color suited you. You do like to talk about tradition all the time, so I figured it was the style you wanted to go with."
"And the high neck collar in the back had nothing to do with that choice?"
Anna held that mischievous grin as she chuckled. "I have no idea what you're talking about." She tried to sound innocent, but they both knew that was what won her over. At least Anna could have some fun with this coronation, and the ceremony hadn't even started yet. Elsa could only imagine what shenanigans Anna would get into once the gates would open up. Of course, she knew her sisters' personality, as compared to Elsa, Anna was more extreme. The younger sibling walked behind her sister and looked into the mirror as their reflections were shown in the glass. "So, any reason why you didn't just choose which dress to wear yourself?"
Elsa shrugged as she looked at the eyeshadows display to determine what to put on. "Honestly, I didn't care about that. The dress will only be worn for today and it's for this specific occasion. So I figured it was one thing I didn't want to stress about." She admitted, trying to find out what eyeshadow to wear.
Anna heard what her sister said, and it made her realize how terrified Elsa must be in this situation. It was a strange time for the both of them, but it was a lot of pressure for the elder sibling. She would be presented to all of the Kingdom and other visitors, being crowned queen after over a decade of being closed up and not seen by anyone outside the castle. Since Elsa was the introverted one of the two, she must be having a lot of anxiety. Anna's eyes softened but she still kept a smile of reassurance. "Are you nervous?"
"I can't be…" Elsa answered, though when she saw Anna's expression, she couldn't hide her true feelings. "It… is a bit stressful." She admitted, sighing as she looked at herself in the mirror. "I mean, I knew this day would be coming but… now that it's here I feel unprepared."
"Unprepared!? I'm sorry, which one of us was the cautious and mature one again?" Anna joked lightly. Elsa still appeared unconfident, so Anna wanted to spread that positivity to her sister. "Come on, you've begun your royal training since you were eight. You've had thirteen years, which was way more than what Dad got. He was 14 when he inherited the throne, and he only learned the basics from Grandpa before he became crowned. Then again, Dad had to become king so young because he was the only one who could rule, given that Grandpa and the royal advisor were gone. And at least Mom was there with him during his early reign, and she was 16. She managed to help him as she was skillful in inventions, politics and self-defense. She was the best Queen Arendelle had seen, Gerda and Kai always said. Not disrespecting Dad, he was just as good of a King, but even he knew that Mom helped him out. Especially when she was raising us, which was not easy considering what we were like as kids. Though at least you don't have to worry about any children or partners yourself. Since, well you don't have either and I doubt you are planning on having them anytime soon. And I may not be as intellectual when it comes to politics or law-abiding standards, but I'll do my best to support you in any long-term decisions you decide to make. There's also the other servants and royal advisors, so if you ever are doubtful about what to do for the Kingdom and the people, you can always ask for a second opinion…" Anna rambled while Elsa stared at her, pausing in any further preparation just to hear her sister as she went on with nonsense while she paced around the room.
The youngest sibling finally turned towards the soon-to-be-Queen, stopping in her movements. "Uh… I was talking too much, wasn't I?" Anna rubbed the back of her neck, being flustered as one of her annoying habits was over-sharing and talking a lot.
While many would have found it annoying, Elsa merely chuckled with a small smile and softened eyes. "You're alright. Actually, your rambling helped to calm my nerves and take my mind off the stress for a moment there." She reassured her. "If you knew how to actually articulate your sentences to get your point across, I might consider making you my official head of political affairs."
Anna raised a brow while a playful smile graced her lips. "And here I thought I was the one with the sense of humor." She retorted with her hands on her hips. Elsa mused once more, going back to her reflection in the mirror, seeing that she still had a lot to get ready for. At the foot of the mirror, where a tiny tiara sat against the wood and glass. It was a silver crown, to represent the snow that Arendelle was usually covered in. In the very center was a blue gem, with the snowflake symbol of the kingdom engraved in it. It appeared as more of a headband than an actual crown, but it was one that was worn by the Queen. Seeing it though, made Elsa be reminded of the previous owner. She reached for it with her gloved hands, gently touching it with her fingers as the memories of her mother danced in her mind. Anna noticed what her sister was doing, and knew exactly what she was thinking. She walked over and placed her hands on Elsa's shoulders, staring at the tiara. "They would be very proud… To see you taking the role as Queen."
Elsa set the object down, attempting to regain her composure but knew it would not fool Anna. "I wish it didn't have to be like this…" She admits.
"Yeah… if things were different than Dad and Mom would have just handed you the throne and title on this day, and just stepped out of the spotlight." Anna added.
Elsa looked over her shoulder to her sister, after she spoke. "That's not how monarchy works, Anna."
"You can always change it since you're in charge now…" Anna pointed out.
"Oh sure. And while I'm at it, I'll see if I can make national chocolate day an official holiday in Arendelle." Elsa mocked at first, as Anna was fond of the sweet. Though admittedly she didn't mind eating the dessert itself, which was a common trait the two sisters did share. Anna had often asked her father and mother to make a day where they could eat chocolate for an event, but they always told her no as that was too much even for an adult. And of course the closer it got to Elsa's coronation day, Anna had pestered her older sister into reconsidering that holiday. One thing about Anna was her persistence, once she set her mind to something she was adamant until she got her way. Especially when she had those pleading eyes with the wide orbs and child-like smile. When Elsa turned back to her sister, she had that exact expression written on her features. Despite how strong-willed Elsa tried to be, whenever Anna had such a face it was hard to reject it. Though Elsa did want to give gratitude to helping her with some of the preparations, the least she could do was humor her back. "I'll think about the holiday."
Anna giggled at the notion, at least she had a chance for her holiday now. "We can work out the details later. For now, this whole day is about you!" She reassured her sister. "So, whatever you need, tell me and I'll help." She promised, as the two stared at each other in the mirror.
"Just because it's my coronation, doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself." Elsa told Anna. "After all, you are clearly more excited about this event than I am."
"One of us has to be." Anna admitted. Her body had a glow to it as she took Elsa by the shoulders, and brought her out of her room. "Come on Elsa, this is an eventful day!" The auburn haired girl took her sister out to the hallways, as the servants were doing the rest of the tasks before the celebration would begin. Despite Elsa's protests, Anna managed to bring her sister who still wore her robe out in the open to see the festivities. The atmosphere got to Anna to the point she began to sing. "The windows are open, so's that door! I didn't know they did that anymore!" Anna pointed out, as the servants were opening everything in the castle to get what sunlight that was in the sky and the crispy air into the building. Around that time, many other helpers were carrying cutlery for the guests to eat off of. Anna danced around them carefully so they wouldn't trip and spill anything. "Did you know we owned eight thousand plates?!"
"You counted?" Elsa questioned, but didn't get a response. Instead Anna kept taking her around the castle as she kept singing.
"For years we've roamed these empty halls! Why have a ballroom with no balls? Finally they're opening up the gates!" Anna declared, pleased with the very idea while Elsa was more hesitant. "There'll be actual real live people!"
"Which will be very strange." Elsa admitted, singing along with her sister.
"But wow, am I so ready for this change!" Anna soared in vocal range as she brought Elsa to a balcony, overlooking the back of the Kingdom where they could see the port of ships coming in. Even the older royal had to admit, the view was breathtaking yet she stayed closer to the door while Anna was running around near the railing. "'Cause for the first time in forever, there'll be music, there'll be lights! For the first time in forever, we'll be dancing through the night! Not sure if I'm elated, or nervous. But I'm somewhere in that zone. 'Cause for the first time in forever, we won't be alone!" She turned back to her sister, with an enlightened smile. Anna was the most excited for today, mainly because of what it meant. Sure, the other servants were also pleased about the castle finally being opened to the public once more, but the princess was thrilled to finally be meeting their people and get a chance to make new friends. Elsa couldn't blame her, for while the eldest was content with living isolated and with few people, she knew Anna was overly friendly and kind.
Elsa mused as she saw how excited her sister was, and though she couldn't share in that enthusiasm, Anna had more than enough to make up for the both of them. The snow-haired royal managed to gain a smile of her own as she watched her sister. "Well, I still have to get ready." She noted as her eyes scanned her robe she was still in. "There's a lot to do, but the servants can handle the rest. So, why don't you go out and greet everyone?"
Hearing that request caught Anna's attention, as she beamed at her sister. "Really?!"
"A royal has to greet them into the castle, and it would give you an excuse to meet everyone." Elsa shrugged with a sly smile, knowing that would get Anna out of her hair long enough to finish dressing herself, and give Anna the chance to mingle with the public.
The younger sibling seemed eager as she bounced on her heels. "I won't let you down!" She rushed past Elsa, running back into the castle as her destination was towards the Gates.
"Good luck." Elsa smiled, as she wanted Anna to enjoy every minute of this day.
Anna ran through the corridors, as she was gleeful that there was only a little bit before the palace would be filled to the brim with all of the residents and visitors. She could hardly contain herself, as she saw the servants setting up tables with food and drinks. Among them was Gerda, who was placing a few of the desserts. The most noticeable one was a favorite of Anna's: Kokosboller which was just marshmallow covered in chocolate. As Gerda set the tray down, she noticed the auburn princess coming over out of the corner of her eye. "Everything is nearly all set, Princess Anna. I even made a few of your and Elsa's favorites" She reassured her.
Anna checked the assortments and was pleased with the display. As much as she wanted everyone to enjoy themselves, she hoped there would be enough treats for her left over to enjoy. "It looks great, Gerda. You and the others have really done well." She commented on them.
Gerda became brighter, as if the words from Anna alone warmed her features. "Well, out of us all, you are the most exhilarated to be meeting everyone." She noted. Anna could only giggle in agreement, which made Gerda raise a brow with a sly smile. "But I wonder… Do you think you will meet the one?" She teased.
"What one?" Anna questioned, as she didn't understand what she meant.
The servant lady decided to play along with her song, taking Anna by the hand and showcasing her what she meant. Gerda wrapped herself in one of the large, velvet blue curtains that clung to the window. She wore it to resemble a regal gown, while holding the tassel. "Tonight imagine you, gown and all. Fetchingly draped against the wall. The picture of sophisticated grace!" She howled with high vocals, causing Anna to chuckle at her exaggerated behavior, but she delighted in it. Gerda then brought Anna over to the table, where a statue of a male head rested on top of a pedestal next to some of the sweets. "You suddenly see him standing there. A beautiful stranger, tall and fair. You wanna stuff some chocolate in your face." She did just that, grabbing one piece at a time and filling her cheeks with the richness. Anna took one piece as well, admiring the flavor while listening to what the servant was telling her.
Anna took over as the idea became more appealing. "But then we'll laugh and talk all evening. A concept so bizarre. An idea I've longed for evermore!" She danced around in her outfit, taking Gerda by the hand and sharing in the idea. "For the first time in forever, there'll be magic, there'll be fun! For the first time in forever, my loneliness will be undone. I know it may seem foolish to dream about romance. But for the first time in forever… at least I've got a chance." Gerda nodded, as the concept seemed to have made Anna all the more animated just thinking of starting a romantic relationship with someone. Even though she still wanted to focus on Elsa and her kingdom… surely it wouldn't be selfish to think of her own well-being.
Speaking of, the eldest royal was back in her room. She had managed to get her dress on and finished her makeup of purple eye shadow and magenta lipstick. With her appearance all polished, her eyes wandered towards the window where she could see the residents and visitors ready to head into the castle. At that moment, her nerves began to get the better of her. All she could think about were the worst case scenarios on how this event could go wrong. If anyone learned about her powers, then she would put herself and Anna in danger. She moved closer to the window, taking in deep breaths as she tried to remember the things her father taught her. "Keep calm, stay alert. Show no fear. Know your limits, keep your head clear." She sang while taking deep breaths to ease herself.
Ice-blue eyes turned back towards the portrait in her room, of her parents and the girls when they were younger. Beneath it was a table that held a few objects such as a candle stick and a small jewelry box. She began to slowly take off her gloves, the ones her mom made for her long ago. It had been so long since her hands were able to be free, but they could not afford such luxury due to the uncontained power they held. "Just go out there…" She set the gloves on the table, while her delicate pale hands reached over and held onto the candlestick and spherical box. "Put on the show…" She urged herself, gripping the items tightly in her palms. The longer she held the objects, the more frost began to cover the surface of the items. Elsa had been neglecting her powers for so long, they were itching to be let out. "But make one wrong move and they will know." She advised herself, setting the now frozen things back on the table as they would thaw out eventually. She turned away from the furniture, looking down at her hands. They held a lot of abilities that she had denied for many years now. So far she had done a good job at keeping them at bay so they wouldn't interfere in hurting anyone else. If she could just get through the ceremony, then she would have nothing to worry about.
"But it's only for today…" Elsa reminded herself.
"It's only for today!" Anna sang as she was waving to Gerda so she could head towards the front entrance.
Elsa placed her gloves back onto her hands, determined and cautious as the time was upon them. "It's agony to wait!"
"It's agony to wait!" Anna claimed as she was looking at the servants, who were on standby waiting for the orders.
Knowing there was no use prolonging the event further, the future queen unlocked her door and came face to face with some of the knights. "Tell the guards to open up… the gates!" She finally declared. The knights passed on the message to the others, to the courtyard where Anna was bouncing on her heels, just as the two servants were opening up the doors.
"The gates!" Anna chimed, for once there was enough space, she ran out onto the bridge connecting the castle courtyard to the town. Many people were already lined up, and once they saw the princess, they were amazed. She was just as beautiful and cheerful as they had described. "For the first time in forever!" Anna sang out again, greeting everyone as they carried with them gifts, a large cake, and themselves. "I'm getting what I'm dreaming of!" She hopped onto the bridge, holding onto one of the lampposts and looking as the crowd flocked into the walls. "A chance to change my timid sister, a chance to find true love!" She skipped down the pathway, admiring the scenery. Despite it being chilly with the Winter, she did not feel cold as it was the usual weather this time of year. "It will all end by tomorrow, so it has to be today!" Anna cried out with her singing voice, prancing around the bridge and over to some of the docks where a market was. "'Cause for the first time in forever! For the first time in forever! Nothing's in my way!" Anna was confident as she walked along the sides of the dock, looking forward to this ceremony and the memories it would bring.
That was until a sudden force pushed her. Suddenly, Anna stumbled sideways with the person next to her. "Woo!" She gasped, as she and the one that pushed her fell over into a wooden boat. The weight and force of the two were enough that it tipped the vehicle over from the dock and landed into the water. Splashes of the liquid could be seen as many drops landed on both of them, causing them to have their outfits slightly damp, but not too drench. Anna spat out the chilly salt water as she looked at her outfit. She would have to change into something else, since it would take too long for it to dry in time for Elsa's ceremony. "Hey! Where do you think you were going, you…" Anna scolded the person who bumped into her and now shared the boat together.
"You…" Anna trailed off as the person looked at her. It was a man, who was well-built though in a moderate stature. He had fair skin and a light dusting of freckles across his nose, similar to Anna, but not as noticeable. He also had the same colored hair as Anna, with sideburns to match. His eyes were of an emerald green, as they had worry and embarrassment within them.
"I-I'm so sorry. A-Are you hurt?!" He asked, stuttering a bit as he was on his knees. Anna realized his clothes were just as wet as her dress. He had on many different colors in terms of suit: navy blue trousers, black boots, magenta cravat, blue shirt, indigo vest, black epaulets, gold aiguillette, and a light gray-and black blazer with patterns. Of course, everything was a darker shade since the water had been added to the fabrics.
Anna was lost at how handsome he was, that she forgot what he asked. "Uh… yeah, I mean… no, no I'm okay…" She gathered herself, trying to stand up on the boat.
"Are you sure?" He asked concern, doing the same so they could both be on their feet.
"Yeah, I just, wasn't looking where I was going and-"
"No, no! I pushed you! I mean, I was pushed and then I bumped into you and then… uh…" The man trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck. "I uh… I'm really sorry."
"No, it's fine, really. I was just eager to go outside the castle since it's my first time… in forever…" Anna explained as she was just as embarrassed. Should she really be telling all her problems to a stranger she just met?
"You're… from the castle?" The man asked, gaining interest.
"Yes. Princess Anna of Arendelle." She introduced herself.
Hearing this caused the man's face to pale. "Princess?!" He immediately knelt down in the boat, as he realized now who he had bumped into. "I'm so sorry, my lady! Please don't be upset, I swear it was an accident. I promise to reimburse you for your dress." He profusely apologized.
Anna held up her hands to try and reassure him. "I-it's fine! I'm not mad, really!" She promised him. "Besides, I'm not the only one who took a dive in the ocean." Her eyes pointed at his outfit which was still stained with water. "If anything, I am just as much at fault for not paying attention. So… how about we just call it even?" She suggested.
The man blinked a few times, as if he was surprised by her kindness. When he saw her offering a hand towards him, he was hesitant to take it. But, eventually his white gloves held onto her delicate palms and he was lifted back up to his feet. "T-Thank you… for not sentencing me to your dungeons…"
Anna couldn't help but snicker at his joke. "Haha… good one." He raised a brow, wondering why she found it amusing. Anna noticed his look, and wondered if he was actually serious. She tried to change the subject. "Uh… I never got your name."
"Oh! Of course, how rude of me." The man realized. "My name is-"
"Hans!" He was cut off from speaking as he and the princess looked back up at the wooden dock, where they saw two men who looked identical to each other. They both had golden brown hair and hazel eyes, one of them had their hair swept over to the left and the other had it combed over to the right. They had the same kind of outfit that the man had on, but their fabric was different colors with black boots and shirt, white trousers and vest followed by a red blazer. "What are you doing down there, little brother?" The one who spoke with the left sided hair mocked as he put on a smile.
"Only at Arendelle for an hour, and you already found someone to fool around with." The other bellowed.
Anna looked over at the man in the boat, before she looked up at the twins. "You three know each other?" She asked him.
"Princess Anna, these two are my older twin brothers. Rudi and Runo." He introduced them to her. "I am Hans… we are from the Southern Isles."
"Wait… princess?" The one with the left hair, Rudi, repeated.
Anna looked between the three and smiled before giving a curtsy. "It is nice to meet you three. Welcome to Arendelle." The twins reached down to bring Anna out of the boat, but Hans had to climb out on his own with no help.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, your highness." Runo smiled in a friendly manner, as he bowed to her. "I must say, you are just as gorgeous as the residents of this Kingdom have described."
"Oh… t-thank you." Anna smiled as she was bashful from the comment. "Of course, I probably would look better if I wasn't drenched." She laughed nervously.
"Did our little brother ruin your dress? We are terribly sorry, Princess Anna." Rudi apologized to her, while also eyeing Hans with a bit of a glare.
"Oh no! It was an accident! And I have so many dresses anyways. Actually this one seemed like it was getting too tight, so maybe I should give it away." Anna reassured as she chuckled. "Besides, I am just as much at fault for getting Hans outfit soaked as well." She looked over at the youngest brother, which caught Hans's attention as he lifted his head from his clothing over to the princess. He was stunned by how much she was defending him, as it was a rarity for him to be given such humility. "Please! Let me make it up to you three by escorting you back to the castle myself!" She offered.
"Oh… uh…" Hans was hesitant to respond to her kindness. His brothers, though, answered quickly.
"We would love that!" Runo smiled at her, as Rudi nodded in agreement. Anna was grateful as she walked with the three brothers, heading back towards the castle gates as the other guests and residents were in the courtyard, heading inside the walls of the building. Runo was right beside Anna, as they talked. "So, Princess Anna. Are you excited for your sister's coronation?"
"Oh yes! This is the first time in over a decade the castle will be filled! I'm going to enjoy the company of the townsfolk. Though my sister is more or less nervous for this ceremony."
"Well, it is her coronation after all." Runo mused. "There will be many eyes upon her during the initiation."
"Yeah, she's always been one to keep to herself. In fact, it was only recently that the two of us began to bond again, only after our parents died." Anna admitted. "But, any progress is still good progress! And as long as I have my sister, I don't care to worry about the details of the future."
Runo raised a brow at that remark, keeping those mental notes as he listened to Anna. Rudi on the other hand was with Hans, as the two were trailing behind the twin and Princess. While Runo distracted Anna with their conversation, Rudi decided to speak with Hans. "It seems your little mishap with Princess Anna has given us a short cut into the secrets of Arendelle." He whispered towards Hans. The youngest of the three brothers heard this, and while he winced he did not say anything. "And it's certainly clear that the soon-to-be queen of this kingdom has something she is hiding, which explains why they closed the gates to the Kingdom up until now."
Hans just kept his focus at the back of Anna and Runo, but mostly towards Anna. He already knew what his brother was planning, and he knew how he would be a pawn in their schemes. "Since you were the first one to meet her, we'll let you distract her. Keep an eye on her and entertain her, while me and Runo dig up the dirt on this place. Play our cards right, we can be the next rulers of this kingdom, and we'll be sure to give you a high position for our little brother." Rudi explained.
Hans stopped walking, but Rudi didn't notice as he came over towards the other side of Princess Anna. They were stopped by a guard of Arendelle, as Anna had to explain the situation. Hans watched them, sighing as he was aware of what he had to do, even though he didn't like the idea. Mainly because even if it succeeded, he knew for certain neither of the twins would allow him any titles, let alone a section of the kingdom. But if there was a chance, he had to seize it. "I suppose any royal position is better than being the 13th in line for the throne… Even if I will always be your younger, weaker brother." Hans spoke to himself, finally approaching them in time for Anna to see him.
"Oh! Here he is!" She quickly went over towards the youngest of the three princes, grabbing his hand and pulling him over to the guard. This caught Hans off balance, but when he got back to his feet and looked up at the towering watchman, his eyes dilated in fear. For a moment, he worried that this man, more muscular than him and his brothers, would have been ordered to do something terrible to him. It would not have been the first encounter he had, but it was different when said guard belonged to another kingdom. "I want you to escort Prince Hans of the Southern Isles to one of the changing rooms. Wash and dry off his clothes for him and make sure that he and his brothers get front row seats to the coronation ceremony." Princess Anna instructed.
The guard looked between Hans and Anna, as the Princess gave him the orders. Hans was still dumbfounded by Anna's generosity. "I can not guarantee the clothes will dry by the time of the ceremony, as there is only two hours left before it commences." He told the Princess.
"Oh dear…" Anna realized that such a task on a time restraint would be a lot to ask of the laundry servants. "Well, in that case. We'll just have to give some Arendelle threads. I'm sure we have something in your size. I can't promise it will be anything fancy though, but it should at least do until the party starts!" Anna suggested.
"Oh, that is too much Princess Anna-"
"Nonsense! I told you, I am just as much responsible for what happened to your clothing as it was what you did to my dress. I can get another outfit, but you should be tended to as much. What kind of Princess would I be if I didn't cater to the guests who have traveled all this way just for a ceremony of a single day?" Hans could only stare at Anna, as he couldn't wrap his head around this woman's personality. She had a habit of talking, he knew that. But she was also going out of her way to make him comfortable, when it should have been the other way around.
"We appreciate your generosity, Princess Anna." Runo thanked her. "And our little brother will take you up on that offer." He joked, holding onto Hans's shoulder with a slightly tight grip, as if he was pressuring him to do what the Princess told. Hans hid his discomfort before looking at Anna and nodded at her.
"Thank you… Princess Anna." Hans told her.
Anna bowed before them, her face radiated with her warmth. "I must go and check on my sister as well as redress myself. I do hope to see you at the party." She prayed she would see Hans again within the day, especially before the gates had to be closed again. Turning on her heels, she rushed through the courtyard and headed back towards the doors leading right inside the castle itself. There was still so much to do, but Anna was focused mainly on the ceremony and the after-math celebration. Unaware of what events would transpire before the rising of the sun.