Chapter 2. Old friends and new friends

The castle staff had outdone themselves. As Kai and Gerda had planned it, not a single spoon nor ornament were out of place. The guests were certainly enjoying the goods and wine. The kingdom of Arendelle was indeed a prosperous.

The Winter Festival started with a welcome speech from the King of Arendelle. King Agdar and Queen Idun opened the Ball dancing with a Waltz. Soon other couples joined them to the dance floor, and everything was…

"¡Boring!" said Anna playing with a spoon and throwing peas to a cup.

"Anna please." Said Elsa. But she's right this is so boring. Being children, even royals, meant they couldn't be in the Main Hall. A lady, and even more a Princess can only be presented into society until she reaches the age of marriage. According to what mama told her once Elsa asked.

For the being time, Elsa and her little sister were in the living room. Elsa was reading a book and Anna was playing with the food a servant has brought for them a few hours ago.

"Hey Elsa what do you say if we go to the kitchen and play hide and seek again. I promise I won't hide near the plates." Suggested her little sister.

"I don't know Anna maybe another day." Said Elsa lost in her novel. I wonder how Cinderella can dance with those crystal shoes.

"Hey you should do your magic here and we can all play." Said Anna reaching a cup from the coffee table.

Elsa turned to look at her sister. "Remember what papa said. No magic when people are here."

"¿But why? He and mama like to play sometimes with your snow." Pointed out the little girl while drinking the content of the cup.

Before Elsa could answer her, the door of the living room opened their parents. But they weren't coming alone. A very tall man was chatting with their father and behind them a young boy with a messy hair.

"Girls, I'd like you to meet someone. This is King Frederik Andersen from Rosendelle." Explained their father as he pointed at the other man. "We studied together as teenagers in the Naval Institute of Corona along with your uncle Alex. The three of us became the best of friends."

Elsa bowed and Anna, well Anna did an Annaish bow. "Frederik this are Elsa and Anna" explained their mother. "Elsa is the eldest by three years. She will turn eight soon on the twenty first of this month. Girls say hi."

"Nice to meet you" Said the sisters at the same time.

"Agdy, I must say…." Exclaimed the man who was wearing a wolf insignia along his medals.

Agdy?! Thought the blonde Princess. In all her life she no one has ever called her father in that way.

"You daughters are beautiful. You should be thankful Idun corresponded your love because they resemble your wife. You my friend, well you are nice but not attractive to the eye. Maybe to a banshee but not the human folk". Both men laughed. It was odd for Elsa to see her father act like so familiar in front of another King.

He is funny, Elsa giggled.

King Frederik at first look seemed a bit of scary. He was taller than her father, with big arms. His moustache and hair were thick and dark brown. His eyes were also brown and he had a scar in his left eyebrow that made Elsa wondered if he was actually a King or a pirate. And his wolf insignia made gave him a wild look. But if he was best's friends with his father then she would trust him.

"Well, ladies. As you father was saying I'm Frederik. I also have children but I only brought Derek with me." He said while pointing to the boy who had remained quiet the whole time. "You see my wife Astrid is taking care of our little Liana. And my oldest son, Franz wanted to stay. You see he cannot stand the sea. As soon as he sets a foot on a boat his face turns three shades of green."

"´¿So I guess Franz is not attending to the Naval Academy?" asked king Agdar.

"You're damn right, Agdy as always. Franz is more into politics. But here my boy, Derek he doesn't mind the sea". The man shook the quiet boy hair with affection. The boy looked embarrassed and tried miserably to arrange his dark brown hair. It seemed to Elsa he was really absorbed by his shoes by the moment, because his look was still in the floor.

As if reading the boy's embarrassment, the Queen intervened. "Elsa, Anna this is Prince Derek. He and his father are staying in the East tower as guests till the Council ends."

King Frederik spoke again "Idun I cannot accept your offer. Me and Derek, we can stay in our ship we …"

"Nonsense Frederik!" exclaimed the Queen. "You are like family to us. Besides you and Agdar will be very busy with all the wood trades. Your son can't stay in a cabin for so many weeks, without supervision. He is so young."

The Queen turned to her younger daughter again. "Anna you listen to your sister and be good friends with the Prince."

"Sure..hip…mam..hip…mmma….just…let me finishhhh….my juice….hip" Anna said in a sleepy weird tone.

Anna what on Earth?! Elsa gave a puzzled look to her baby sister. She was acting more weird than normal.

Queen Idun looked at her daughter who was having a hard time in keeping her balance. "Anna dear, what in heavens happened to you? Elsa do you know what happened to you sister?" asked her mom while she hold of Anna.

"I don't know mama." said Elsa "She was drinking from this" she said taking the cup.

"Let me see that Elsa" King Agdar asked. She gave his father the cup and he smelled it. "Nothing to worry dear. At least she is not sick. I'm afraid the juice Anna drank is the kind of fermented grape juice".

"Odin's beard! Are you saying your daughter is drunk?!" said the king of Rosendelle in almost in a whisper. "Oh this is too rich Agdy!" He exclaimed. The man was laughing again. But a sever look from Queen Idun made him stop. "Good lord. Agdy your wife's stare can be pretty scary".

"Gentlemen, I must excuse myself for I must take the Princess to her room. I'm afraid she is not feeling well. And darling," she said giving as Elsa and Anna called it "the look" to their father. "The next time you organize a Ball, please be sure to remind the servants to avoid giving alcoholic drinks to any of the children". She then turned to Elsa "Elsa, dear, can I ask you a favour?"

Elsa nodded at her mother.

"Could you please show our young guest where his chambers remain." the Queen said referring to the Prince.

Elsa turned to look briefly to the boy whose gaze now remained in Anna. The little Princess was deep in conversation with a painting. The boy was making a funny face too, he looked as he was frowning but at the same time a tiny smile was appearing in his face.

Elsa fought hard not to laugh at the Prince's face.

"Elsa?" called her mother.

"Yes." The older Princess snapped and turned to face her mother. "Yes mama. But which room is his?"

"The one nearest to the library. I bet you know which one that is." Said her mother.

"I do mama."

Queen Idun smiled tenderly at her daughter and then took Anna with her arms.

"Gentlemen, children. Good night." And she left.

The Queen left the room with a sleepy Anna in her arms. King Frederik spoke again. "I must say Agdy your wife is something."

King Agdar just smiled and kneeled in front of her other daughter. "Elsa, did you drank any of the wine by accident?" He looked worried.

Elsa guessed he was worried if the wine could make her lost control of her powers in front of many people. "No papa. Everything is fine"…. "And will be fine."

His father smiled. He understood she was referring to hiding her powers in front of Frederik and Derek. He felt sorry for his daughter, she had to manage hiding her magic until the Council finishes. As a sign of understanding her message he kissed her forehead. He knew Elsa was always careful about her powers and all. But he feared how people could react to her magic. But for now she is fine.

"Agdy what do you say we leave the children and we go and get some drinks for ourselves. I wish Alex would have come too but after what happened with her daughter he never leaves his castle. Come we shall drink in his name." grabbing Elsa's father by the arm and all of a sudden they left the room.

Elsa and the boy remained there seeing as theirs respective fathers left them. Elsa was starting to feel tired when a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"So, uhm …." Said the boy speaking for the first time. He was a bit taller than her and had the same brown dark hair as his father. But in difference of his father his eyes were dark blue. He had a wild appearance somehow. It must be hereditary. Elsa assumed it was due to his messy hair.

"Nice to meet you Princess." He talked again as he took a little bow.

The girl was surprised that the boy would behave more as a royal than his own father.

She took a bow too. She had never felt so awkward in her life. In front of adults she was used to act as a Princess and take bows and everything but in front of a Prince of her age, this was a first.

"Nice to meet you too." she said.

Again they remained silent. Music was playing again and people chatting could be heard from afar.

"So, Shall I show you your room then?" Elsa asked.

"Sure, I mean, yes please." The Prince said.

…..

They had passed the spiral stairways and none of them had spoken since they left the living room. When Elsa led the Prince to the East Tower he finally spoke.

"I know this is your party and all but let me tell you, this ball is as boring as my tutor. Don't you think?" said Derek while he looked around the hall.

She kept walking but her mind stopped.

Elsa could not explain what was happening to her. Part of her wanted to admit that the party was indeed boring. But the other part of her was feeling offended. Her mama and her papa had worked really hard for months preparing for the Council Meeting. Kai has never looked so anxious before. And Gerda had outdone herself in the decorations and food.

And even Elsa and Anna had worked very hard to avoid getting into trouble. Remembering what had happened today at the kitchen made Elsa feel guiltier now. Well at least they had tried to behave.

Also there was the thing about her powers. She had promised her parents she would try her best not to show them. She was really committed to her promises. And it was going to be probably even harder for Anna to play without magic.

"No." Elsa whispered.

"I, I'm sorry. Did you say something?" the Prince asked as he turned to look at her.

"I said no." she said more loudly. She could feel a heat covering her body.

"No, what?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"You asked me if I think that the party was boring. And I answered your question. No, I do not think so."

"Are you telling me you are actually having a good time?" he said as he approached at her.

"Yes" she lied.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"Alone?" he said in a more calm tone. If Elsa didn't knew better she would say he sounded worried.

"I see. No wonders why your sister was talking to a painting. This place is weird."

"What?" she said offended. "We…we are not…weird." As she hid her hands behind her back, fearing the ice would come out suddenly from her hands.

"So I guess this place is just boring then."

"We are not boring." Elsa was starting to get tired of this conversation.

"Prove it." He dared.

"Prove what?"

"That this place. That Arendelle is not boring."

Elsa blinked. "And what would be interesting for you?"

He thought for a moment putting his hand in his chin. Then he grinned.

"This castle looks old. Maybe you have great ghost stories you can share?"

Elsa was about to say "We have plenty of them." But she remained quiet. She actually didn't know if the castle was in fact enchanted. She was angry with herself for not knowing enough about her own country's history. She took an inner note to take "Arendelle's a History" from the library later.

"Well?" the Prince said.

"My home is not haunted by spirits." She admitted.

The Prince smirked at her.

"But…" she made a stop to see his reaction. His eyes opened and he looked very interested. "We do have secret passages and that kind of stuff".

"Really?! How exciti….." Derek exclaimed. He stopped and coughed. "Uhm, I mean, that sounds interesting."

Elsa smiled when she saw how hard he tried to hide his excitement.

"Yes. In fact, not even the servants or even papa know all of them." Elsa said proudly.

"Then how can you even know about them?" the Prince asked giving a questioning look. He didn't sound that he was teasing her now. He sounded really interested in the topic. "Do you have magic powers or something?"

Elsa paled. How could he know? Papa would never tell anyone.

"Hey… uhm Princess…"the voice of Derek brought her back from her thoughts. "Are you alright?"

"Sorry what did you say?" asked Elsa turning her head towards the Prince.

"I was asking how you learned about the secret passages of the castle." he said looking at her with a worried look. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Elsa spoke finally. "I'm sorry I was just thinking, of…something…"

"What were you thin…?"

"This is your room." She interrupted him. "It has its own washroom and, uhm, breakfast is served at nine. Don't be late or Kai won't be very happy." Explained Elsa as they arrived to the Prince's chambers.

"Who is Kai?" he asked.

"He is the head Butler and Master of the Keys. He likes punctuality, so…"

"I'll be there before nine then." He said as he opened his door and entered it.

He turned around to look at her. His hand was at his hair.

"So uhm, good night." He made a mid-bow.

Elsa held her dress and also bowed. "Good night."