Chapter 8. When the time comes
It was late in the afternoon and Derek was trying to teach Anna to play chess. For the last days Gerda would bring Anna to the gardens to receive Sunlight and fresh air. They were sitting in the little coffee table near the roses and tulips.
Elsa was not with them. According to Queen Idun Elsa had caught a terrible cold and in order to avoid the spreading of the disease the eldest of the Princesses was now resting in one of the gest's rooms by the East Wing.
Today was Derek's last day in Arendelle. For the next day he and his father would be returning their land in the North. He wished he could spare another chess game with Elsa. Or maybe just talk to her a bit.
"Derek what was this piece for?" asked Anna.
"That's the Queen Anna. It's very important to learn how to use it. You see, the Queen protects everyone." The Prince explained
"I don't get it" the little girl said frowning.
"Well, the King is important and is able to move in any direction. But he can only move one step at a time. Instead the Queen, can move to any direction and as many coordinates you want." He explained.
"I see, so the Queen is the most powerful?" Anna asked holding the piece and inspecting her.
"Not exactly." Derek said. "The Queen is powerful but needs the help of the other pieces like the bishop or tower to protect the kingdom."
"And what about this one? It looks like a pony." Anna giggled.
Derek took the piece in his hand and caressed it. This was his favorite piece of the chess set. "This one is called Knight. It is used for…"
"It comes very handy if you want to create very complex and strategic moves that can lead to victory."
Derek turned around and saw his father and King Agdar behind him. It was Anna's father who had spoken.
"Papa! Derek is teaching me to play chaz!" Anna said.
The king smiled at his daughter "Is he?" And turned to Derek. "You like the Knight son?"
"Yes sir." Derek answered. "I like the way it can confuse the other player."
"Indeed. It's a pity though." King Agdar said while examining the piece himself.
"What's a pity sir?" Derek asked.
The King of Arendelle caressed his daughter head while she giggled. "It's a pity that such a rare piece has to be sacrificed sometimes in order to win."
"But you would win." The Prince objected.
The King smiled bitterly. "You see Derek. Chess can teach us how to be better Kings and Queens to our people. Each piece in the set can represent real people from a kingdom. Every single piece has a family that pray for their safety. My father once told me why the Queen and Knight could move different from the other pieces." He took a seat and put Anna in his legs. King Frederik sat in the chair next to his son.
"He told me, the Queen would go herself to lead the battle, inspire hope and most of all in order to protect her people; like a mother would do for her children. The Knight would accompany her as her sword and pillar. Both are able to move almost freely in the field so they can finish the war before more lives are put into risk." The king said in a serious tone. He then smiled to the boy with a puzzled face. "Don´t worry boy. You are still too young to worry about those things. What do you say if we play?"
Derek nodded and they began to play. Although his mind was somewhere else. He was struggling if he should see Elsa one more time.
...
As a part of Arendelle's government structure, the Sovereign Monarch counts with the Royal Council's advice for decisions. Members for the Royal Council shall normally be the highest authorities for their respective fields.
In general the Royal Council Members are:
Sovereign Monarch, head of state and highest authority of the Kingdom of Arendelle.
Minister of Church Affairs, represented by the Bishop, highest religious authority.
Minister of Defense commander of the Royal Guard and Naval Armada.
Minister of Finance, assessment and resources manager of the Crown.
Minister of Trade and Communication, coordinator of trade and transport operations.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, trades and international relationships coordinator.
Minister of Health Care and Services, Administrator of Health Care Assets.
Minister of Culture, Research and Higher Education, responsible of the Educational and cultural programs.
Minister of Labour, manager of the workforce and human resources.
Minister of Agriculture and Food, assessment of agricultural programs and distribution.
Although, a Royal Council is recommended to be incorporated by all nine Ministers, the Sovereign Monarch has the free will to decide which members to be his or hers royal councilors. By her or his Sovereign authority, the Monarch can add or dismiss any person to the Royal Council at any time. Animals and unanimated objects had been an exception to the rule, after his Majesty King Hodor sudden death (to read more about King Hodor see Chapter LI King Hodor, The Infamous King of Arendelle). During his short period of reign (1701-1703) the Royal Council members were a cow, three Northern cats, a log, his Majesty's blanket and one sock.
Furthermore, the Kingdom of Arendelle is also member and founder of the Royal Realms of the continent, which reunite every two years in the Council of the Realms. The original members and founders of the Royal Realms are the Kingdoms of Arendelle, Genovia, Corona and DunBroch. Being an important event dignitaries and ambassadors from all around the continent assist to the Council of the Realms to make essential trades and alliances for their kingdoms.
A sighed escaped from her lips as she dropped the book in the bed.
It was already past midnight. Elsa turned her head to stare at the ceiling in her "meantime" bedroom. She was not feeling ill not even tired. If she could describe how she felt at the moment in one word it would be: frustrated.
It's just bad luck. She thought. In all the possible days that I would generate a snowfall over my head it had to be today.
She could remember how she couldn't sleep last night wondering if should tell Derek the truth about her powers before he left. She now considered him to be trusted, even if he could be a bother most of the times but he still had saved Anna.
Ever since she woke up everything was meant to be wrong. She remembered being woken up by a her sister's joyful laughter. Even with her injury the little Princess had managed to leave her bed and start building an ice fort. She couldn't believe the Winter Wonderland that had created during the night inside their bedroom.
Good thing Anna had been sleeping with extra covers.
Her "recent" room was also covered in snow now. This kind of incidents had happened before, but they were not that frequent. So the Princess wondered…
Why? Of all the days of the year? Why today?
Three unmistakably knocks came from her door. Elsa got up from the bed and panicked. She knew who was on the other side of the door.
"Derek" she whispered.
"Psst, Elsa" it was his voice. "Hey are you awake? Can I come in?"
"You can't!" she yelled and regretting her mistake almost at the same instant. What was she thinking? One of the guards could hear her.
"Okay I get it, but do not try to wake the whole castle please."
"Sorry" She said approaching to the door.
"I'm sorry too. And I was only joking. I would never enter to a girl's room. Not even my little sister's." he said. She heard movement from the other side; she guessed he took a sit in the floor resting his back in the door. "Look I just …well … I wanted to… uhm… Are you hungry?"
She saw as a napkin was sled under the edge of her door. She bended to grab it. Inside of it there were two chocolates. Mint Chocolate bars. Her favourites.
She smiled.
She took a sit and also rested her back to the door.
"So how was your day?" she ventured to ask.
"I spent the day trying to teach Anna to play chess."
"Really? How was it?"
"It was fun. I even played with your father."
"I didn't see that coming." She said.
"He plays like the devil. I understand why you play the way you play." Derek laughed
She also laughed.
"Learnt from the best."
"You really are full of surprises. You don't have also magic powers do you?" Derek asked
There was no response.
"Elsa?" Derek asked "Did you fall asleep? Am I boring you?" the boy asked.
On the other side of the door Elsa's breathing had turned irregular. And a bit of frost started to form in the walls.
"Elsa are you okay?"
"Yes Derek. I'm…fine" the Princess answered trying to control herself.
What's wrong with me?
"Good to know." Derek said "So how was your day? How are you dealing with the cold?"
"What?!" she yelled but not so loud this time.
"I said. How are you feeling? Your mother told me you caught a terrible cold?"
"Ooohh…" Elsa let out the breath she didn't even know she was holding. She giggled a bit. Most people would never tell, but her mother had also a joking side.
"I slept most part of the day." She lied. The truth is she had spent the whole day staring at the ceiling and reading.
"Sleep is good. I hope you recover soon."
"Thanks." she admitted.
There was silence. They remained silent just enjoying the other's company.
The grandfather's clock alerted them it was one in the morning.
"I better go. We are leaving early and you need rest." Derek said.
Elsa heard how he stood up and so did she. He was leaving. If someone asked her how she felt about his leaving, her past self would probably say that she was actually feeling relieved. But now that it was actually happening she was not so sure.
Should I tell him? She made up her mind. And looked at her hands. They looked normal. Then she looked at her room. Most of the snow had melted since Derek arrival. She had made up her mind.
"Derek?" she said
"Yes?"
"Could … Could you wait a moment? Please?" She pleaded
"Why?"
"Please." She said louder
"Alright I'll wait." The Prince said from the other side of the door.
Elsa ran to the drawer in the room and grabbed a piece of parchment and filled her quill with ink.
"Elsa what's going on?"
"Hang on a second." she responded
"Okay."
Good thing the full moon and the candle provided enough light to see what she was writing.
Derek was starting to wonder if Elsa was playing a prank on him when he saw a tiny piece of parchment coming out from the little space between the door and the floor. He took it.
"Take this with you."
"Should I read it now or later?" he asked looking at it. In the front it was only written:
To Wolf
From Winter
"Why did you used our fake names?" He was confused.
"Duh, in case someone that is not you reads it". Elsa explained.
"I don't understand" he looked at her. "If you don't want people to know about it then why don't you tell me instead?"
"Because I shouldn't tell you." she said.
"Then don't tell me silly." Derek he said "I am giving it back."
"No wait! I want you to have it. Promise me you will keep it. It's up to you if you read it or not." Elsa said in a pleading tone.
"You are acting weirder than usual you know. But okay, I'll keep it." giving up. "It if makes you feel better. But…." He took out from his pocket his silver watch "When the time comes, I'll open it." He said as he bended it until just a little piece of paper remained; then he put the little parchment inside the watch.
It was Elsa's turn to be confused. "How can you tell when would be that time?"
"I can't." he simply said. "I just know. You weren't prepared to tell me whatever is written here." He grabbed his watch firmly. "And yet, you still trust me with it. I guess whenever the time comes I will read it. Maybe you can tell me in person someday."
"Maybe." The Princess said.
"Your secret is safe with me. It's so safe that I don't even know what it is" He laughed.
On the other side of the door Elsa smiled widely by his last statement. Okay, maybe she was going to miss him a little bit.
"I still don't understand. What if we never see each other again? I might never tell you in person about what is written in the paper." Elsa said.
Derek thought for a minute and then an idea came to his mind.
"Let's make a deal." The Prince said. "I promise I'll tell you what I wished for in the fountain when you tell me about your secret. That way we are forced to see each other again."
Elsa hesitated but it was not a bad idea either.
"Okay I promise." The voice of the Princess said from the other side of the door.
"Till we meet again Adele Dazeem" he bowed and began to leave.
A soft smile appeared in the girl's face. Then she spoke loud enough so he could hear her. "Until we meet again Derry!"