Frozen does not belong to me. This is pure fanfiction.
Dear readers. I must apologize for not uploading earlier but my job is taking much of my time. But, since today is 21 of june, Anna's Birthday I wanted to celebrate by adding a new chapter.
Talking about birthdays let me tell you something really curious that happened to me last year. The thing is, I was given an Elsa doll the 21st of December 2014, which also happens to be the official date of Elsa's birthday. Cool right! Pun intended.
BTW certain Disney Characters may make a cameo in this fic. Why? I don't know really.
Chapter 11. The perks of being a royal
November had passed in a flash for Anna and December had arrived with lots of work to do. It was all due to the upcoming Winter Festival. Elsa had asked for help in the decorations for the castle and also for the ones in the town. According to Kai the quality of the Festival had to be extraordinary since Arendelle was hosting once again the Council of the Realms and as Elsa would put it, they needed to show the kingdom's stability and richness trough the Festival itself.
"They will be judging every single detail" Elsa was explaining her sister. "There are still many countries who are reluctant for a girl like me to be ruling."
"Wait what? What do you mean by a girl like you?" Anna asked while she looked at some fabrics. The sisters had been spending the whole day in town checking the progress of preparations for the Festival and Council.
"I mean, a girl who has lived most of her life secluded in her own room. A girl who lost control of her powers and put her whole kingdom and only sister at risk. And let's not forget that I am also a woman and some dignitaries still consider us incapable of ruling or any job apart from being a housewife." Elsa explained while she looked at the stands for the Festival through the window.
"Elsa, I don't think they see you as a vulnerable Queen. You are powerful in mind and well you literally have powers." Anna said while pointing at the owner of the shop Madam Silk the colour for the Christmas ribbons an elegant and bright gold.
"Papa told me once that power comes with a great responsibility." Elsa sighed. "I'd prefer not to be feared. Fear can put them against not only me but Arendelle. I'd rather avoid a conflict of any sort with our guests."
"Gueez, you can sound so Queenly-like when you speak that way." Said Anna as they left Madam Silk's Haute Couture Shop.
The blonde raised one of her eyebrows "It happens I am the Queen, and it's my job to care about my people."
"Well, Your Majesty it also happens people also care a lot about you. So if you gave it a rest once in a while, you could enjoy the festivities truly." Anna exclaimed handing her a flower that the Princess had grabbed from the grass they were passing by.
Elsa took the purple tiny flower and smelled it scent. The fresh aroma calmed her a bit. Anna was right, she should be enjoying the moment. Besides she had always dreamt of attending the Fair once again. For the same reason, she had secretly arranged the Council of the Realms Week to be held one week before the Winter Festival. That way, she would be able to attend to the Winter Fair. By that time her royal duties would be few and she would be able to spend Christmas season without many preoccupations. It would be their first Christmas together since the accident.
...
Later that night, Elsa Anna and Kristoff were having dinner when the Queen spoke. "So, I received a letter from our dear cousin this morning."
Anna's eyes looked excited "Really? Did Rapunzel and Eugene accepted our invitation?"
Elsa sipped her tea and denied with her head. "They are more than flattered, but they already had arranged plans for Christmas. Our uncle, King Alexander will be attending to the Council of the Realms, but he will return shortly to Corona after that."
"Oh pity." Said Anna "Still, we'll see Uncle Alex. I'm telling Kai to prepare a room for him."
"Oh, I was looking forward to see Eugene again." Sated Kristoff "So I'd had someone who speaks my language."
"You mean he understands reindeer?" Elsa joked.
...
Anna almost choked with her food by her sister's joke.
"Haha, so funny Elsa." Said Kristoff. "You know what I mean. In all this royal stuff he's the only down to Earth folk I can talk to."
"Down to Earth and all, you'll still have to dress elegant for the Opening Ball though." Said Anna.
Kristoff grunted making a funny face.
"That reminds me!" Anna blurted out "You'll both need dancing lessons." The Princess commented.
It was the turn of the ice lovers to be surprised. Kristoff's face turned white and Elsa had frozen the tea cup she was holding in an instant.
"What!?" the both asked in shock.
"It is required for the royals - that'd be Elsa and I - to open the ball." She was enjoying the look of agony in their eyes. "You are the Queen so it is your job to make a good impression to our guests as you were telling me earlier. As for you Kristoff, I only have two feet and I would like to keep them both."
"But..." he tried to argue.
"Foot size does matter when your partner steps on you every single time." Anna replied giving him a knowing look.
The young man sighed. "Fine. If that makes you happy, I'll do it." He accepted.
Anna beamed and gave him a quick kiss in the cheek. His angry face turning to a smiling one in an instant. Kristoff to her hand gently. She felt her cheeks turn red.
She would have stayed that way lost in his amber eyes if it weren't for the slight, almost unnoticeable noise of footsteps.
Anna turned immeadiately to the source of the sound and forgot about Kristoff's amber eyes at once.
"Elsa! Where do you think you are going?!"
Her sister, the Queen who was already at the front door stopped abruptly.
"Uhm… I still got some paperwork to finish and I didn't want to interrupt you both."
"Don't be ridiculous. Come back and finish your dinner first." The Princess said."
...
After returning to her place at the table and resuming to her dinner Elsa was more than glad that at least Anna had forgotten about the dancing lessons.
Her sister was now chatting about how the Christmas decorations were almost done. When suddenly she started to talk about the Winter Ball decorations.
"Oh and we will need the colours to match Elsa's dress, since she is going to be the main attraction."
"What do you mean by main attraction?" Wondered Kristoff.
"Duh, she is the Ice Queen and she will be opening the Winter Ball as well. It would only be logical that the coulours of the ornaments would match hers. Which reminds me Elsa, we still need to find you a matching partner for you."
Partner? Elsa smiled nervously as she pretended she didn't hear what her sister said. "You know what, I better finish those reports for tomorrow. If you excuse me I'll…"
"But what about the dancing lessons Elsa?" Interrupted Kristoff. "Don't tell me you were planning leaving before we discussed about them?"
Elsa turned to give him a menacing look. He was smiling mischievously. She had failed miserably in escaping the dining room before her sister remembered about opening the Winter Ball. Now she didn't have a choice.
"I was not. I just need to finish some paperwork." At least she was telling the truth. At least three piles of paperwork were waiting for her in the study.
"But Elsa, what about the opening dance?" asked Anna.
"You and Kristoff are more than enough to open it Anna."
"Don't be ridiculous Elsa. It's you everyone want to see. It would be your chance to demonstrate everyone you are incredible."
"I don't see how opening a Ball would ever demonstrate how incredible I am, which I'm not."
"First of all, you are incredible. Secondly opening the Ball would not only be well seen by the other dignitaries but also would allow you to have some actual fun."
"Then you better start looking for someone that would not care stepping into one of the Ice Queen's foot and being hit by a giant snowball." Kristoff joked.
"Kristoff!" Anna scolded him.
"Sorry, Bad joke. My apologies Elsa."
"You don't' have to. Kristoff's got a point Anna."
"I do?"
"He does?"
Elsa nodded sadly.
"Elsa?"
Elsa wished she were in a meeting dealing with another problem of taxes than being questioned by her sister. Suddenly a crazy idea came to Elsa's mind. "You know what. I'll do it. If you happen to find anyone crazy enough to open the Ball with an Ice Freak like me then I'll take the lessons and I'll open the ball. But…" Elsa made a pause and looked as serious as an Ice Queen could be.
...
Anna gulped. Elsa could be really scary if she dared. "But?"
"The Opening Ball starts in almost two weeks by now. And due to the Council meeting week I won't have much time of practice available. If you don't find a proper partner within this week starting tonight you'll have to open the Ball by yourself."
Anna thought for a second. "Deal. Besides how hard can it be to find someone in a week?"
Sensing the cold air emanating from his girlfriend's sister Kristoff decided to change the subject.
"So, eh when is your Uncle arriving to Arendelle?" he asked
The Queen semblance had returned to her normal self and responded.
"Our Uncle is arriving the night before the Council of the Realms starts."
"And when does the Council meeting starts?" asked Kristoff.
Elsa took a sip from her tea finding out it was still frozen. She unfroze it but was not so pleased with the cold drink. She left the cup in the table.
"The Council of the Realms starts on Monday and as I mentioned before it will end on Friday." The Queen explained.
"And the Winter Ball will be on Friday of the next week, which means the Winter Fair will be set the whole weekend." Anna interrupted.
"Indeed." Said Elsa as she poured more tea in another cup.
"That means Uncle Alex will be here in three days. I better find Kai after dinner then, to ask him to prepare a room for him. Oh, I forgot… Elsa, he can stay with us right?" The Princess asked her sister.
Elsa sipped her tea. "Of course he is staying in the Castle. He is family after all."
"Whoa, whoa." Said Kristoff, "I'm kind of lost here. I though all the attendants to the Council of the Whatever It Was, were staying here."
Elsa rolled her eyes. "Since the gates were closed to the public for the reason you already know, papa commanded the construction of the biggest and most luxurious Inn in Arendelle. Though most of the time it hosts wealthy tourists, the Rosemaiden Inn is actually destined for Ambassadors, Monarchs and every invited by the Crown."
"Still, Uncle Alex is family. And family must stay together." Insisted the Princess. "I better find Kai after dinner. You know how he is about preparing with anticipation and…"
In that moment two servants and the Chief Butler entered the dining Hall to retire the plates.
"Speaking of the devil." Motioned Kristoff.
Anna smiled, "Kai! So good to see you."
"Glad to see you too Your Highness. Is there anything I can be helpful with?" The man responded sensing the Princess' urge to say something.
"Yes. You see, were are having a guest staying in the Castle for the next week and we wondering if you could…"
"Get some a room ready for its use? I presume, Your Highness?" he guessed.
"Yes! That exactly what I was going to say. How did you..."
"Guessed?" he finished Anna's sentence. "Well her Majesty had already asked me to prepare a room for a guest. In fact that room is already at disposal, for I recall the arrival of our guest is the day after tomorrow."
"Wait what?" Anna said looking at her sister.
"Kai, apart from the room I requested earlier, we will need another room for the King of Corona." Elsa explained the man.
"Of course Your Majesty. If you excuse me." He bowed and retired himself towards the kitchen.
"Elsa what does it mean another person is coming to the castle." Her sister asked "You would only receive family. That would mean someone you consider family is staying with us. But our only close relatives are in Corona and you just told us only Uncle Alex is coming. Then," Anna's face paled and her eyes opened wide. "Don't tell me… Is it someone that will be part of the family? Did, did the Royal Council finally convinced you to accept an arranged marriage? But, but... what about true love?! You can't let them do it. Papa would never …." Anna was hyperventilating.
"ANNA!" Elsa yelled "You are imagining things again. None of the sort." Marriage!? Where does she get these crazy ideas?! Kristoff's family for sure, the self-proclaimed love experts.
"Here." Kristoff handed his girlfriend a glass of water. Why don't you listen to what Elsa has to say? Okay?" The Princess nodded calmly and took a sip to her glass.
"Thank you Kristoff." Elsa started. "Sorry Anna, with all the arrangements for the meeting and all I completely forgot to tell you. King Frederik used to be one of papa's bests friends since they were teens. He's the one who sent the wood cargo about a month ago. And you may not remember but we met him many years ago. He also stayed in the castle that time. To send him an invitation to stay with us, was the least I could do to show our gratitude to the man. Besides uncle Alexander also happens to be his childhood friend." Elsa explained.
...
Anna frowned as some old images of a tall man with a moustache came to her mind; she kind remembered him as a funny man. Suddenly another image came to her mind.
"He came with his son didn't he?" the Princess asked.
Elsa nodded. "Indeed. He was the one to come into your aid when you hurt your leg one day."
"Oh, right!" said Anna excited. "He was such a book worm, just like you." Anna smirked at her sister. "I remember now. You two used to yell at each other all the time; always competing on who was the best in everything?"
Kristoff intervened "Wait what? Elsa? The Elsa we all know? She used fight over something so childish? I'd give everything I have only to see her all flustered." He was laughing now.
Elsa just gave him a deathly look.
Kristoff gulped. "Oops. Sorry. …And the King's son, is he coming too?"
"I don't believe so. In his letter, King Frederik never mentions any companion." Elsa said.
"What was the Prince name? Was it Dean or was it Dudley? Disney, yes I think it was Disney." Anna said putting a finger in her mouth.
"His name is Derek. And most of the times he was very annoying." huffed Elsa "….and weird."
"I thought you were friends?" her sister said.
"We shared a weird friendship" The Queen said "at one moment we would be fine wandering around the castle looking for ghosts. But almost suddenly we wouldn't stand each other. We were more rivals than friends." Or partners in crime….
"It's a pity he's not coming."
Maybe.
Elsa nodded to her sister as she poured more tea in another cup. For a brief seconds he took a glance at her silver watch over the table, but soon she was distracted by a happy snowman entering the dining room. Olaf came fast towards them holding a bunch of flowers, and leaving mud everywhere. While a pale Gerda almost fainted when seeing the mess of dirt the little guy had left all around the Castle.