Great Scott! FOR ALL THE FANS OUT THERE HAPPY BACK TO THE FUTURE DAY! I actually wanted to upload on the October 21st as a celebration but at the end I didn't had the chance. I'm not very convinced with this chapter and how it turned out but I hope you enjoy it. As always, your reviews and opinions are always very welcomed.
Frozen and Disney Characters belong to Disney Company.
Chapter 14. Falling
If it were a normal Tuesday in Rosendalle, he would be taking out his horse for a ride, then after a hot bath he would pick some random book from the library and read until his brother would request his presence for some royal matter.
But today was not a normal day, and he was not in Rosendalle either. The kingdom of Arendelle it was where he was at the moment. Why him if he was second and soon third in line to the throne? Because Franz asked him of course. In his own words, Franz had said that too much paper work were still to be done. But Derek knew better, Franz's might be saying the truth about the paperwork but there was another reason forcing Franz avoiding the trip to Arendelle. Sailing. His brother hated all kinds of boats.
Derek's mind started showing an old memory. The whole family had went into a picnic near the pond to celebrate Franz's birthday. As a gift Derek's father had decided to teach Franz fishing. All seemed perfectly well when both papa and Franz had entered the small boat. But less than five minutes had passed when the boy threw up all his birthday cake all over the boat and his father's boots. And that was when his brother decided land was where he preferred to be.
A simple smile formed in the young Prince's features at the memory when he was taken back to reality with the slight scent of chocolate and something cooking. Maybe it was roast beef? Not that he despised the food from home but certainly the cooks from Arendelle's palace knew how to please a man's stomach. He took a glance at the window wondering what might be served for dinner tonight.
"Then it's settled, Andalasia will send a set of fine fabrics by the end of March to the Kingdom of Dunbroch in exchange of one shipment of the newest model of bagpipes." Read out loud Prince Robert of Andalasia. "Is there anything any of the attendants would like to add?" The young man made a pause as he waited for anyone to speak. No one did. "Very well. Then we shall pass to the next issue of today's meeting."
The middle aged Prince grabbed a parchment and checked in the list the latest point for today's meeting. Being the one with mayor studies in Law he was proposed by almost everyone to serve as the moderator for today's meeting. And in Derek's opinion he was doing it wonderfully….wonderfully TIRESOME; he was an "all by the book" man.
Derek who was sitting right next to "Prince Boring" gave a glimpse with the corner of his eye at the man's little notebook. Derek wanted to see how many points to check were still missing in today's schedule.
Bloody hell! He rolled his eyes. At least twenty points were still missing in the list.
Derek cursed one more time in his mind as he looked at the hour in his silver watch; it was almost four in the afternoon and the only thing he had eaten was a carrot Anna's boyfriend had given him when they bumped into each other in the hallway. In other words he was starving.
Derek felt no envy at all for his older brother to be the heir to the throne. Food and a good sleep were better than any crown or an endlessly boring meetings, that's for sure.
This is taking forever. I should have brought a book or something.
"So, what's next in the schedule?" asked the King of the Southern Isles.
Prince Robert left his quill on the ink container and read out loud so that everyone could hear.
"Next issue to attend is, the mineral request from the lands of Corona and Enchancia. The land of Corona offers payment in coins for a full year contract of replenishment of fine glass. The land of Enchancia also offering payment in coins asks for a frigate full with iron. Now, following the protocol 626 that stablishes that when nations share similarities in their request for traits the right to speech shall belong the oldest member of the Order of the Realms. If by any circumstances they would have the same antiquity then…"
Derek rolled his eyes as Prince Robert kept talking and talking.
Hey, down here! Feed me human!
Derek ignored the demand of his own stomach and decided to look around the enormous rectangle table. He was far from being a pefect diplomat but he knew enough to keep calm for a long meeting. But today's meeting was a perfect challenge for royals.
They had been in the same room for at least four hours now. The only time they were allowed to leave was every hour for a 10 minutes break. Not to mention that at least twenty people were attending today's meeting. Probably it was thanks to the impeccable work of the castle's staff in assisting every guest that no war had been declared yet.
There was also another thing that had kept the many guest's temperament at ease. To Derek's surprise and possibly to everyone else, the meeting rooms –even after long hours-would never turn into hot saunas. Somehow the rooms always kept an almost unnatural coolness. Could this be just a good job of architecture and design of the castle or maybe it was just the doing of a certain platinum blonde?
Without realizing it, his eyes stopped in the middle of the table right in front of him, where someone was taking notes at an impossible speed. The possible causer of the temperature regulations in the room and this year's host didn't seem to be affected by the lack of food nor sleep that certainly Derek was victim of. Even more, her face showed no sign of discomfort at all.
How could she not look bored or tired at all?
He had not spoken to her ever since yesterday's lunch at the gardens. After lunch they both had assisted different meetings. Then at night she was literally dragged from her study to dinner by Anna. Once there the ones who talked the most had been Anna and Olaf. Soon it became late and everyone retired to bed.
Derek saw as she took a pause of writing and she turned her head a little. Her eyes now fixed in the window, were lost at some point in the outside of the castle. Maybe…maybe she is human after all. Maybe she is also bored to death and maybe she is also daydreaming with some roast beef sandwiches.
Sandwiches! YUM! Grunted his stomach.
In order to distract his hunger once again he decided to pay attention once more to Prince's Robert monologue.
"…so Your Majesty of Corona King Alexander if you may establish the terms of your request."
"Thank you Your Highness." Said King Alexander. "Well, as His Highness Prince Robert just explained in extreme detail, we are seeking for a high quality supplier of glass. We are offering one thousand golden coins per order."
"What is the usage you are planning to give to the glass?" asked Prince Eric who was sitting two sits to the left from Queen Elsa.
King Alexander who was sitting next to Derek's father smiled and spoke. "We are planning to renovate all the lanterns in Corona and we need the glass for the candle's containers."
"I see. I'll tell you what. We have plenty of sand and big forges with ultimate technology. I can provide you the glass on one condition."
"Sounds interesting. What is it?"
"That we become your only supplier."
"And how can you guarantee the quality and purity of glass?"
"Trust me Your Majesty, people do not call our shores a gift of Triton himself for nothing. Believe me, you will not find a grain of sand as pure as ours."
The bearded man though for a minute or so and then he smiled. "Then Your Highness, I think we have a deal."
"Sounds like it."
….
After all the protocol of contracts, signatures and regulations over shipments Prince Eric and King Alexander finally closed their deal by shaking their hands.
"Now, in the same matter of minerals shipment, Master Cedric, Ambassador of Enchancia you may know present your request to the Council."
"Why thank you. Just one teeny tiny thing. My name is pronounced Cedric not Cedric." Corrected the skinny man. Derek wondered if the man was aware that he was wearing a purple night gown to a formal meeting.
"My apologies sir. Please do continue with your point of procedure." Said Prince Robert.
The skinny man, by the name of Cedric or Cedric, whatever his name was cleared his throat twice and then spoke.
"I was sent here in the search of a good bargain with some of your Kingdoms. The Kingdom of Enchancia might be small in territory but is big in the arts of alchemy and gizmo's inventions. So…"
"Gin?" asked the old Queen who was sitting next to the window.
"Blimey Voilet! He said gizmo not gin." Corrected her the King of Rosendelle, once again giving a damn about protocol and swearing and talking to a Queen by her birth name. But no one seemed to care. After so many years everyone were probably already used to King Frederik's unique diplomatic vocabulary.
"Pardon me dearies. But then a gizmo…what would that be then Master Cedric?" asked Queen Violet.
"It's… it's Cedric. And a gizmo is the popular name we give for mechanical inventions in Enchancia. So in order to build more we need more iron. So, if any of the attendants is interested, his Majesty King Roland II offers not only the proper payment for the cargo but also a set of our newest inventions as token."
"Are there any offers to Enchancia's iron request?" asked Prince Robert. "Yes Lord Wagen?"
Prince Derek turned to look at the man who had raised his black cane with a green gem in the top. It was obvious the man used the cane more for fashion than for need. The ridiculously smiling man was sitting at the other side of the rectangle table. It might be just the second time Derek had seen him, but there was no need to guess what kind of man he was.
The first time he saw Lord Wagen, it had been yesterday at the Lunch Party. He was probably in his early thirties, which made it even sicker the fact that he was openly flirting with three teenage ladies. He had blond hair and wore a dark green suit with jewels in all his skinny large fingers. But it wasn't his pale face that added the almost vampire look to him, it was his creepy smile and grey eyes.
"I'm afraid I cannot help the poor land of Enchancia in their quest. After all, my father the Earl of Dull has nothing but wheat to sell. But I do know of someone who might resolve your problems in Enchancia."
"Really?" asked Master Cedric. "Who could that be?"
"Why, our dear host and ruler of this very wealthy land. The Ice Queen herself."
In less than a second every pair of eyes were fixed on Elsa, who hadn't speak ever since the arrangement between Arendelle and Genovia was done about a half an hour ago.
"Your Majesty, pardon my daring but could Arendelle be interested in selling iron for Enchancia?" asked the man called Cedric or Cedric, whatever.
Elsa who had been taking notes again stopped writing and rested her quill beside her. She raised her head and turned her head in direction of the ambassador of Enchancia.
"Master Cedric… pardon me did I pronounce your name correctly?" she started calmly.
"Why yes Your Majesty. You are the very first to name it right." Said the skinny man as he looked pleased with hearing his name well pronounced.
"I'm glad." The Queen said while gently smiling. "Now, believe me when I tell you this sir. If Arendelle could afford such request, I would personally arrange a meeting with his Majesty King Roland II to discuss the terms of the trade. But, I'm afraid we do not count with such resources to sustain Enchancia's needs."
"Oh, I understand Your Majesty. Still, in behalf of his Majesty King Roland II, Enchancia thanks you for your …"
"Pftssss….HA HUMBUG!"
"Watch your language!" Warned King Alexander of Corona.
"Intolérable!" Demanded the representative of France.
"King Alexander, Lord Bonnefoy please return to your sits." Intervened Prince Robert. "Let's avoid raising our voices. Lord of Dull, what you did was no proper way to speak in a formal meeting, or any kind of meeting. Please, do act as it's properly demanded."
"My apologies my lords. Although, it does not surprise me that the recent crowned Queen would keep those mines of precious minerals and gems in secrecy. It wouldn't be the first time that Arendelle hides something powerful from the rest of the world. Am I right?"
Derek felt his jaw and whole body tense. The man didn't really say it but everyone in the room had understood the meaning behind those words. But the moment he tried to stand up a firm grip in his arm stopped the Prince.
His father could stand and shout whatever he wanted but he couldn't?
"Easy cub." Muttered his father. "Let the lady manage this."
Derek gave his father a resentful look but stayed in his place as asked. Although he couldn't relax his posture. He stopped looking at "Lord creepy face" and turned his eyes towards the blond sitting right in front of him.
…..
Elsa could feel all her muscles tense at once but she didn't show it. With a quick look at the ceiling she searched for any sign of ice or snow. None. At least years and years of concealing and not feeling could come quite handy when situations such as these presented.
He is talking about my powers. What else would Arendelle be hiding but me?
Then what she feared came true as she noticed her ink pot turning into solid ice. This had been her first incident ever since the Coronation. But at least this time no one seemed to have noticed yet.
Come on Elsa breathe. You can control it. Come on! Think of something nice.
Soon several images of warm memories covered her mind: her sister Anna playing fetch with Kristoff in the gardens; Olaf riding Sven with a bunch of children running behind them; Marshmallow giving her a hug; papa teaching her to play chess; her mother singing a lullaby to a three year old Anna and herself to sleep.
Oh, papa if only you were here. You always knew what to say.
"Lord Wagen, I believe you had not been well informed. Arendelle is not the industry of minerals as his lordship claims." She said calmly.
"Forgive me Your Majesty, but a little birdie told me that in the Valley of the Living Mud one can find the most precious gems no man has ever seen before."
Is he referring to the troll's home?
"Even rocks with magical powers." The man continued "At first I was untrusty of these rumors, but there are signs that sustain those myths."
"Such as?" wondered Elsa starting to feel unpleasant with the man's creepy smile.
"Well," the man laughed, "We could begin with the snow doll that you have as pet."
"Snow doll?" she asked.
"Yeah the one you call Oleg. It is not a gizmo invention from Enchancia, isn't it? And still can talk and move. "Even Her Majesty herself is far from normal. We are now all aware of Arendelle being home of witchcraft and uhm…supernatural beings. So the myth about precious stones could be real as well."
Elsa closed both of her fists as she fought with all her will to retain the incredibly cold ice in her hands. The man was talking about Olaf and herself. She didn't care what people would say or think about her. But an innocent soul such as Olaf. She would not permit that. IT WAS HER OLAF!
Feeling the ice forming in her hands she looked up to the entrance seeking Kai's secret advice but instead she locked eyes with a pair of deep dark blue.
The Prince's face looked anything but happy. Looking at the Queen directly he gave her a supporting nod with his head but his serious gaze remained.
His stare was so deep that she broke the eye contact in an instant. But the electrifying sensation than ran through her veins remained.
Feeling his eyes still fixed on her and guessing everyone else's was also looking at her, she pretended to check her own notes as her mind worked in a good response for Lord Wagen.
She could start by correcting him and explaining him that the correct name of the place is Valley of the Living Rock not Mud. But then she would be affirming the place was actually real.
Elsa blinked and thought for another option. She could accept the place did exist but explain how her Ancestor King Eirik the First had declared that that part of the forest was to never be harmed, and how until this day Arendellians still considered the Valley a sacred and magical place. But if she said that, apart from saying the Valley was indeed real she would be also accepting it was magical. No. It that was out of the question too.
And then came her third option. She could freeze the man in that instant with just one wave of her hand and…
BAMPFFF!
Everyone's eyes turned to the source of the loud sound. Even Elsa had raised her eyes confused. For a moment she put aside the image from her mind of Lord Wagen turned into a human sized popsicle.
Were her eyes playing her games now? Wasn't Prince Derek of Rosendelle been sitting right in front of her for at least four hours? How could he vanish all of a sudden?
Where did he go?
But soon all her questions were answered when she stood up to see further the table. He hadn't disappear at all. He was right there, lying in the floor over what remained of his chair.
Somehow he and his chair had fallen backwards and ended up with all his body twisted and the chair turned into pieces.
Now every eye was focused in Derek, who was miserably trying to stand up. But every time he would try, he would fall again and again. People started mumbling and even some laughter among some royals told Elsa she had to do something about it. The Prince winced and was trying very hard to hide it but Elsa knew he was in real pain.
Soon without thinking her feet started moving on their own, yet she was quite far from him. Conjuring an ice bridge to cross the table or even breaking the table in two may had crossed her mind but after what the Lord of Dull had said she couldn't risk losing control right at the moment.
"Your Highness here let me help you" said Prince Robert as he offered his hand to Derek but before Derek could grab his hand, Prince Robert lost his balance too and fell over Derek making him grunt in pain.
Not only Elsa but many others came to the aid now. But when she was almost there two flashes of red and green came out of nowhere and the Salvatore twins arrived quickly at the spot to the help the Princes. One of them, Ezio she thought, winked at her as he pulled Prince Derek up.
"Tha...thank…thank you gentlemen." Said Prince Robert as he arranged his glasses.
"Thanks." Said shortly Derek. Elsa could tell he was now feeling totally embarrassed if not even upset by making fun of himself.
"Uhm," Lord Wagen cleared his throat. "I don't want to sound rude but shouldn't we continue with the meeting? Her Majesty as I was saying before…"
"Forgive me Lord Wagen," interrupted him Elsa in a cold tone not wanting to deal with the man right now. She moved her head to look at the man. He stopped talking abruptly.
"As you can see two of my guests are clearly in no state to continue the meeting. As this year's host, and also being Arendelle one of the founders of the Council of the Realms, I see myself forced to use my authority to suspend the meeting until tomorrow. And I believe the majority will agree with me that a chance to recover ourselves is very welcomed."
The room was filled suddenly with more murmurs as many agreed with the Queen. Elsa thanked that at least the majority was supporting the idea.
"Yes, your Majesty but…"
"If…" Elsa paused taking a deep breath "If her lordship has some other affairs to deal with the Kingdom of Arendelle, he will have to follow the correspondent protocol. Which means his lordship will need to request a proper audience with the Crown Representative of Arendelle or the Royal Council itself. And I must warn you Lord of Dull, my schedule is pretty tight and already full. If his lordship is lucky I might have some space in my agenda in the upcoming years."
With her last statement the murmurs in the room increased even more but at this point Elsa did not care that much. She had two injured royals to attend to.
Elsa then turned to face the Prince of Andalasia. "Your Highnes, in order to keep on schedule and for respect for the other attendants, especially Master Cedric I ask you to resume with the meeting at first hour tomorrow. But for now a request you and His Highness Prince Derek must see a physician."
….
"Uhm..I..I…Er…" the man, also known as Prince Robert the Boring was out of words. His face was a shade of pink and his mouth was wide open. Every eye was set on Elsa and now the murmurs had turned into talking.
Ezio or was it Nico-Derek could not tell the difference- gave Prince Robert a soft kick in the foot. "Ouch! I mean thanks…wait...I mean…Yes! Let's continue in one hour, I mean tomorrow at first hour. Everyone is dismissed…."
The sound of footsteps was now what echoed in the big room. Still the Prince could see how many glances were on Lord Dull while he left, on Elsa and even himself. Although the most glances were on her.
Derek gave a quick glance at Lord "Moron" of Dull before the man left and could not hide his smile. The once pale creepy man, had the face all red. Oh Mr. Creepy face was angry. And even better Elsa had completely erased that smile from his vampire face.
Still, one punch in that face would have shut him up more quickly. The Prince thought.
To see that man's frustrated gaze was worth the embarrassment he made when slipping and falling and breaking a chair. Still he didn't understood how did everything happened.
He remembered Dracula insulting Olaf by calling him a snow doll and then insulting Elsa by calling her abnormal and that's when he finally got rid of his father's grip and stood up. But he was not counting on his own clumsiness and the next he saw was his blue jacket covering his face.
Elsa's going to kill me for breaking that chair. I bet it belonged to a great, great, great, great, grandfather or something…
….
"I'm telling you it was nothing…" the young Prince said for the hundred time.
"But you need to rest." She insisted again.
The young man who was leaning against the wall just rolled his eyes as he amused himself watching the two royals arguing.
"And you need to take your medicine Derek" she said as she showed him a brown flask.
"Medicine? The doctor did not mention any medicine. He said I could leave." The Prince claimed.
"Now say AHHH!" She said as she showed a big spoon full of a yellowish liquid.
That precise moment the big wooden door opened letting another young woman enter into the infirmary. She stopped on her tracks the moment her eyes found her sister and Prince Derek sparring with a spoon and a pillow.
Her blue eyes turned to the man who was next to her. Kristoff turned his head to look at her. She was giving him a questioning look.
"Before you ask, the doctor said he is fine."
She relaxed her face in an instant.
"Where is Prince Robert?" she asked.
"You mean the other one? He already left. He got a call from nature." Kristoff explained.
Noticing her confused look the young man explained himself.
"Well, he uhm.." The mountain man started. "He uhm.. you know when you gotta go, you gotta go." Seeing the girl in front of him had still no clue he sighed "He asked me where the men's bathroom was."
"Ooh, I see." She said as realization hit her.
"Are you okay?" Kristoff asked her. Now that he took a better look at her, he notice she looked a bit paler than usual. If that was even possible.
"I…I'm just tired that's all." She said quietly. "I just came to check that everyone was well."
She turned her face once more at the bed in front of them. Kristoff followed her gaze as well.
Kristoff knew something was troubling her but he didn't pushed it.
"Elsa!" exclaimed the Prince from a corner of the room as he finally noticed the Queen sudden arrival. He was sitting in a bed holding a big pillow as shield.
"Could you tell your sister that I am fin…ahgfjjgh!"
"There!" Anna said triumphantly as she took her chance and successfully inserted the spoon full of medicine into the Prince's mouth.
"GAHHGHGH!" He yelled. "WATER! I need….WAT…"
The Prince grabbed the jar of water and drank from it directly. Then he started to cough uncontrollably. "What…" he coughed... "What was that thing!?"
"Elsa! Uhm... hi there…Didn't hear you coming." said innocently Anna to her older sister. "Okay…before you say that a Princess shouldn't jump into a patient's bed –especially if he is a Prince- and maybe force him to take some Reindeer Tonic you must know that I did it for the greater good."
"Greater Good? Anna how can…Wait what? Did you say Reindeer Tonic?!" asked the Prince who looked like he was about to be sick.
"Relax It's not made of real Reindeer. I asked. Twice." Said Anna to the Prince. "Oaken says it can cure almost any ache. Still you should take the day off tomorrow, just in case."
After he finished all the water from the jar the Prince tried miserably to fix his spiky hair and grabbed his navy blue jacket from the hanger. Then he stood from the bed looking ready to leave. But he couldn't, for the Queen had stood right in front of him blocking his way out.
"Elsa?"
"I'm sorry Derek but Anna is right. Maybe you should skip tomorrow's meeting."
"You too? I am perfectly fine." The Prince insisted. "A little help mate?"
The mountain man approached the bed and stood near Anna.
"I'm gonna be on the Prince's side." Kristoff started.
"Please call me Derek."
"Right, sorry I forgot. If Derek says he's fine, then he's fine." Kristoff said.
"Thanks mate."
"But he hit his head and back Kristoff." Anna said. "And he even broke one of the chairs."
"Ow, you broke something? Sorry pal, if the head butler learns about it you are so dead. You should listen to Elsa then. She can persuade Kai to forgive you."
The Prince looked defeated.
"It might have been my fault to slip but the chair just happened to be there." He said a bit annoyed.
"Yeah, try saying that to the Master of Keys and Rules of the Castle." Joked Kristoff.
"And Time Lord too." Added Anna joking as well.
"Look I appreciate everyone's concerns but I am fine. But I pretend to attend tomorrow's meeting." The Prince said. He might had said "everyone's concerns" but he was just looking at Elsa only.
"Derek you should…"she started.
"I'll be there." He interrupted her abruptly giving her a serious look.
Kristoff was surprised when Elsa didn't argued back at the Prince. As they would normally in their typical quarrel. Instead she literally face palmed herself and sighed.
A facepalm? That's new. He thought.
"Fine…you win." She said as she gave her back to the Prince. "Why is it always difficult dealing with you?"
It was then that a knock in the door made Kristoff jump. As he the nearest to the door he immediately walked to open it.
"Your Majesty?" said a soft male voice from the other side.
""Speaking of the devil." Kristoff muttered at the others before he opened the door.
Kristoff pulled the door knob and only half body of the main butler came in.
"Your Majesty, your Highness," he saluted the sisters "Your Highness," he said again to the Prince "Mister Bjorgman." The man finally said to Kristoff. The blond man awkwardly smiled at the man, still not used to the formal etiquette.
"What is it Kai?" Elsa asked him, approaching the man.
"I just came to inform you that everything that you asked for is done."
Elsa smiled politely.
"Thank you Kai, you are dismissed."
After giving a bow, the man left.
Then after one minute passed another knock came.
"We know it's you Kai, why don't you just come in?" said Anna as she now jumped to the door and opened it before Kristoff would. As she predicted, it was the head butler.
"Forgive me your Highness but since you and Mr. Bjorgman are also here I should tell you that words from a maid came to me. And it is said that a Prince claimed to have witnessed to what appeared to be a reindeer and a snowman inside the men's bathroom from the West wing. Apparently, the snowman was trying to teach the animal how to properly use the accommodations the moment the Prince opened the door."
"Oops!" Said Anna to Kristoff. "I mean... really? How strange."
"Anna, Kristoff care to explain why…" said Elsa's voice, sounding not very amused.
"Sorry sis, Kristoff and I need to catch a reindeer and a snowman and maybe wipe a Prince. I mean bribe, no wait…." The Princess looked at Kristoff for help.
"Uhm, goodbye?" After he said that he was once again surprised by his girlfriend strength as she pulled him out of the room and ran across the hallway at an incredible speed.
….
They hadn't spoken since they started their walk to their respective bedrooms. Elsa was still mad at him for being so stubborn. He needed rest after that fall. Even more, she couldn't understand his posture if those meetings bored him so much. Probably he was just doing it to annoy her. She couldn't avoid to glance at him from the corner of her eye. He no longer looked in pain, but a slight cut in his ear made Elsa felt angry with herself. That cut reminded her how far she was from full control of her powers.
They finally reached the last step.
"Well, see you at dinner Your Majesty." He said breaking the silence. After making a little bow at her and as she slightly nodding at him, they both resumed their ways to their respective chambers. Hers was the first in the hallway; his was the last one.
"See you later then, Captain." She answered.
Elsa arrived first to her room but didn't open it. She turned around as the Prince was about to reach his door knob.
She bit her lip.
"Are you sure you are alright?" she said quietly. Her voice echoed in the hallway.
Derek turned around and half smiled at her. "Positive."
She felt her body relax and turned to open her door. She was about to enter when his voice stopped her.
"Besides," he said.
She turned her head to her left. Even from that distance Elsa could hear him quite clear.
"I still haven't had the chance to introduce my fist to Smiling Dracula." Derek said in a joking tone. She felt herself smiling as well.
"At least there is something we can finally agree with." She finally said as she entered her room, guessing he probably didn't hear her.
"Aye!" he yelled back.
…..
"…Shall we continue?" asked Prince Robert once again in his boring mode cleared his throat.
"Oh, please do dearie. I plan to return to Genovia this same year. I am not getting younger you know?" pleaded the old Queen.
"Then we shall continue. Anyone would like to add anything else?" Nobody answered. "Right, then the kingdoms that would like to…Yes Master Salvatore?"
"Forgive me Your Highness but about the recess..." said the red brother.
"What about it?" asked Prince Robert.
"It's already started." Said the green brother.
"Oh, you are right. Very well, everyone is dismissed for ten minutes."
Derek rolled his eyes as everyone left the room in an instant at quick pace. He preferred to enjoy the solitude of the room for once and decided to stay in the room. He looked around to see who had remained as well in the room. Lord Dracula's place was empty. Pity, he could have used this time to punch the man.
Prince Eric and King Alexander had remained as well, and were chatting about glass or something. Far away the guy named Cedric or Cedric was reading a book and next to him a fat man was sleeping in his chair. And of course as always the Queen of Arendelle was also there, taking notes and deep in her own thoughts.
The only moment she would stop writing was when her quill would need more ink. Soon she stopped writing and rested her quill next to her notebook.
She raised her head and he saw as two pair of ice blue were watching at him questionably.
Derek blinked. She had caught him staring. And he had caught himself staring too. So she had caught him, catching himself staring. Wait what?
Elsa raised one of her eyebrows at him. How did she do that anyway?
The Prince cleared his throat and was about to say something but nothing came to his mind. Maybe talk about the weather? Worst idea ever.
He was about to say something when a loud snore made everyone turn to the sleepy man at the corner of the large rectangle table. Derek was glad by the distraction but soon as he looked at her again she also looked at him as well.
"Uhm, I see you got a new ink pot Your Majesty" Derek's spoke the first thing that came to his mind.
Ink? Really? Good job brain.
"You noticed?" She asked surprised taking her ink pot in her right hand.
"Well, yes. It is not surprising after how much you write." He spoke more relaxed now. "May I ask what is it that you write? It looks like you are writing the Bible or something."
"It's not the Bible Your Highness," she laughed as she looked at her notebook "actually…" she said but was interrupted as the loud bang of the doors opened letting the other meeting attendants enter. She shrugged as everyone took their seats.
Oh well.
"….Now we shall pass to the wood shipments…." Said Prince Boring's voice.
Oh great, now is our turn.
"Brace yourself cub. Here come the offers." Came a warning from his father and King while giving him a quick slap in his back followed by the pain. Maybe he should have listened to Princess Anna during breakfast and taken another sip from that hideous Reindeer Tonic.