Good day to all of my faithful readers. Sorry for the wait, I was busy in other stuff. Anyway, hope you like it so far and thanks for passing by.
AN: Thanks to NrDr for your constant and interesting reviews. And congrats in noticing that Queen Violet was mentioned before in chapter 4 in the book "Genovia's Manual of the Good Manners by Violet Mia Renaldi". Also for those who haven't realized it yet. She is just a parody reference to The Princess Diary Movie.
Sorry for my references to other fandoms, I can't help it. Also feel free to write reviews they encourage me to upload.
Disclaimer: Frozen and other Disney characters belongs to Disney Co.
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Chapter 18. A royal pain
The big wooden door opened slowly letting a young woman, in a blue dress, enter the Music Room.
"Good afternoon Derek. I see you are already here."
"You know what they say. Punctuality is the politeness of Princes." he said. "Although, Her Majesty might not be familiar with the term."
The blond gave him a quick menacing look as she walked towards him.
"A Queen is never late." she said calmly as she closed the door behind her with her magic. "Everyone is simply early."
"Using the Queen card so soon?" he asked smirking.
She stopped next to the black piano.
"I think I know how to play my own cards thank you."
"Still, you do realize arriving half an hour late is so unlike you." He added.
Elsa looked down as she massaged her right temple.
"Forgive me. I just came out of a meeting with my Council and … Never mind."
"Extra work?" he asked.
"Just the usual." Elsa answered not wanting to give more explanations. She looked around the room noticing something. "Um, where is Olaf?"
"Our professeur de danse you mean?" he asked in a funny way "Oh, about ten minutes ago he spotted through the window his new friend of the week. So, obviously our little friend couldn't resist to go meet him and say hi. But, no worries, Olaf promised he would be back very soon."
"I see. Well, that doesn't surprise me. Olaf is always making new friends."
"Indeed. He is the friendliest snowman I've ever met. Although he is the only one I've ever met."
"You should meet the others." The Queen muttered to herself.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?"
Elsa smiled. "Nothing. I was thinking out loud."
"Anyway, what style are we dancing?" he asked.
"A waltz." She said.
"Oh, I see." Derek answered shortly as he looked down.
It had been slight the change in his tone of voice but it was enough for Elsa to confirm her suspicions were right. He was not happy with this whole dancing idea.
"That reminds me," the Queen said turning her head to the Prince. "I believe you haven't told me yet." She said.
"Tell you what?" he looked at her.
She raised both of her eyebrows while giving him a serious look.
"What?!" he laughed nervously.
"Tell me." She insisted once more.
"I don't understand what are saying."
Elsa raised her left hand and out of nowhere a big snowball formed in midair.
She made the snowball spin and levitate in her hand.
"Fine, fine!" he said. "You win. I lost a bet to your sister. Okay? She tricked me, and to make the story short I had to volunteer to be your partner at the Ball."
"Just like that?" she asked vanishing the snowball with a swirl.
He nodded.
At least ten seconds passed without any noise, except from the birds chirping outside.
Elsa sat in the piano seat.
"Wait, no ice ball in the nose this time?" the Prince asked protecting his face with his arm.
"Not this time." She answered. Then she let out a bitter laugh.
"Ookay, now you are acting weird Elsa."
"It's just I find this kind of funny." She explained.
"Funny in what way?" The Prince asked.
"You see," she started to explain. "Some weeks ago, Anna told me it was my duty as a member of the royal family to open the Ball. I told her that with her participating it was more than enough because I am not fond of dancing." she sighed. "To be honest, I am not very fond to any social event whatsoever."
"So how come we ended like this?" Derek insisted.
Elsa caressed the piano keys producing some notes in the process.
"You know how Anna never gives up." She looked at him to see him nod. "She kept insisting and, at the end we came into an agreement."
"What was it about?" he asked resting part of his waist in the piano tail.
"If Anna ever found a possible candidate I would have to meet him. And if I ever approved of him, we would open the Ball together and..."
"Become Anna's victims." He interrupted her.
Elsa ignored his last comment.
At least he understood the situation now.
"Wait," Derek's eyes turned at her "Did you say IF you ever approve of him?"
Oh no. Elsa pressed her hands in frustration. Derek wasn't supposed to know this. She had to say something before he started making more questions.
"I..."
"I heard a maid telling another maid, if Elsa never approved a candidate then she wouldn't have to dance." Olaf's voice came from below them. "But since she chose Derek everyone in the Castle is very excited!"
Great, now I'm among the staff gossip and…How long has Olaf been here?!
"Is that so?" The Prince looked at the snowman. "How interesting."
Derek's face was unreadable but his eyes told Elsa otherwise. She recognized that look. She had seen it in him every time he was upset or starving. Or maybe both.
Congratulations Elsa. You just told him you could have avoided all this nonsense.
"I understand." The Prince said calmly.
"You do?" asked Olaf.
Even Elsa turned her head to look at Derek. He was staring at ceiling deep in thought. It was kind of odd. By now, she was already expecting him to show his anger.
"Um, Dere…"
"Perfect." He said quietly. "Just. Perfect." the Prince spoke in an irritating tone of voice.
He turned his eyes at hers. His face looked calm but his eyes did not.
Derek's dark blue eyes were shining dangerously and his left eye was winking hysterically.
Aaand there it is.
"Elsa, just answer me this question. Just one. I beg you. What were you thinking when you accepted so easily?" he said more seriously approaching her. "Don't tell me you agreed to this nonsense just because you weren't listening."
Elsa stood up immediately after hearing the last thing Derek said. He could turn quite scary when he gets angry, but for some reason it had never had an effect on Elsa.
"I just couldn't bear saying no to Anna." She answered.
"Ahh, aren't you the perfect sister?" The Prince said sarcastically in a calmer tone. "I understand you could never say no to Anna. But I know you. There must be something else."
"What do you mean?" Elsa hid her hands under the piano between her legs. Maybe she was making the room feel colder and Derek must have noticed.
Elsa took a deep breath trying to keep herself at ease.
"Ever played poker?" he asked suddenly.
"What?" she was taken by surprise. "What does poker has to do with everything?"
"Just answer the question Elsa." He said fully calm now.
Elsa sighed, but still answered his strange question. "I know some card games, but no, I never learned to play poker."
"I see. I always carry a deck with me." He said more friendly now. "I'll have to teach you later."
"Derek, I still don't follow you."
"Playing poker and some other card games can develop the ability to read people's gestures and manners." He explained as if he was giving a lecture.
"You mean you can understand what people are thinking by just looking at them?" The Queen asked, finally starting to understand his point.
"Aye, I can." he said smirking. "And even though you are extremely good in showing that regal façade most of the time, you, like everyone else have a weakness."
"A weakness?" she asked turning immediately to look at her hands.
Could he be referring at how her powers portrayed her emotions?
"Not your hands silly." Derek said smiling. "Although hand's gestures also can be readable your weakness comes from your eyes."
Elsa was took by surprise. That was an answer she was not expecting.
"My, my eyes?"
"Yes. Your eyes are very expressive. You see, when we were at those horrible meetings I started to wonder, how did you manage to stay so concealed and regal all the time?" He started to explain.
"Um," The Queen said. "Practice, I suppose."
"Then you must have been under practice for years to be that good."
"Some." She answered shortly. Thirteen years to be exact.
"It took me a while, but after all those long meetings I finally ended noticing how you could express the way you feel with a single look." Derek said triumphantly. "For example, when you are concentrated in something your eyes turn sharp. When you are bored you stare at the window quite a lot. When you are upset about something your eyes kind of look fiery and when you are enjoying yourself they turn big and shine."
He can know all that, just by looking at my eyes?
"I must say that is quite impressive." Elsa said crossing her arms. "Still, I won't say I feel comfortable that people might read my emotions through my eyes."
"That's why I'll teach you to play poker properly. It might come handy in politics and also we will be able to play another game besides from chess."
Elsa smiled this time. "I see. So that was the real reason. You were tired of all those loses at chess. And now you want to try to beat me with a game I am not familiar with."
"You think me capable of such thing?" he asked jokingly.
"Yes I do." She answered.
"That hurts Elsa." He pressed his chest pretending to be hit.
"Oh don't be so dramatic. Stop pretending."
Honestly, he can be so immature sometimes.
"Talking about pretentions." He started. "Don't try to fool me again. You still haven't told me the whole truth. Why did you accept to open the Winter Ball?"
Elsa rolled her eyes and gave him a "Not this again" kind of look.
"I told you, I could never say no to Anna. Would you stop asking, please?"
"I'll stop if you answer me one last question." Derek said smirking.
Elsa nodded at him.
"By any chance, when Anna asked you about your participation at the ball, did you think she was talking about the Secret Santa game?"
Elsa hesitated, but she knew very well if she didn't give him an answer Derek would never stop questioning her.
She nodded again.
The Prince smiled triumphantly.
"Happy now?" The Queen asked.
"Yes. Just promise you'll try to stop bringing work to the table. Since it was the main cause of our present dramatic situation."
Elsa pressed her teeth in frustration.
Derek approached at her.
"What is it? Are you angry at me again?"
"Why don't you ask my eyes then?" She muttered while giving him a menacing look.
"Eyes cannot talk." He joked. "But since you ask. They tell me I'm right, but you are too proud to accept it."
"You can be so irritating."
"And you are so stubborn."
"Immature."
"Bossy."
"Pig's magnet."
"Chocolate maniac."
"Um, guys?" Olaf, who was standing between them, raised his head with his little arms.
The two royals stopped their quarrel and looked down.
They had completely forgotten that Olaf was still with them in the room.
"Maybe we should start with the lessons now." he said giving them a soft smile.
"Oh, well." Derek sighed. "Teach us all you know little fella."
Elsa turned at her dancing partner with surprised eyes.
The Prince took of his jacket and sword, keeping only his black vest and white shirt to protect himself from the cold weather. He stretched his arms and legs. Then he cracked his neck and fingers.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"What does it look like? I'm stretching." He replied.
"We are doing the waltz not running a marathon you know."
"I know. But if we are going to be stuck in the same ship at least we should try to keep it afloat."
"I never thought you would take this so seriously." The Queen added.
"I wouldn't, but something has been bothering me since yesterday." He said standing in straight position.
"What is it?" she asked noticing his change of tone of voice to a more serious one.
"I received a note from dear Queen of Drama." He explained.
"Oh, so you already know Queen Violet is staying for a few more days. Yes, I also received a note from her."
Derek made a face mixed with resignation and anger.
"Well let's ignore my bad luck for the moment. In her note she mentions about some rumors that had been spreading like fire at the Royal Hotel."
"What rumors?"
"That you, the Queen of Arendelle and a certain nobody Prince –that'd be me- are opening the Winter Ball with Princess Anna and a commoner."
"Oh no." Elsa frowned.
"I know." Derek said. "Kristoff has a title for Odin's sake! How do they dare?"
"This is serious Derek." Elsa said. "Yes Kristoff has a title so there won't be any trouble with him. What worries me is that now you and I are expected to participate as well. If we don't, we'll bring a bad reputation to our nations."
"That's what I thought too. I hate all this protocol nonsense. Now we cannot retreat. Not even Kristoff." The Prince said.
Elsa understood perfectly how he felt, since she was feeling the same.
"Now, not only we must try to dance, we must exceed all the critics' expectations." She said understanding why he was willing to try his best. "Did Queen Violet say anything else in her note?"
"She was only asking if the rumors were true and if that certain nobody Prince happened to be me."
"I hope you haven't sent a reply yet."
"I might be absent minded but not stupid. Of course I didn't send a reply. I had to talk to you first. But we must decide together what will be my reply to her. And soon."
"Yes, we must."
"And we should also take on account that after my reply, the Queen of Drama won't keep the information to herself. You know how she loves to be the centre of attention."
"I believe you are right. Queen Violet will only encourage the gossip with more valuable information." Elsa agreed.
"So, what do we do?"
Elsa thought for a moment.
"Just tell her that the Opening Ball will be opened by members of the royal family and some close friends. Nothing more. Let her imagine the rest."
"Sounds good enough to me. I'll send a note to her with Kai later." Derek said nodding. "But why would she write to me?"
"You really can be very absent minded." Elsa tried not to giggle while explaining. "Queen Violet wasn't worried if Anna was dancing to a commoner with a questionable title."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I might be wrong but maybe she was already planning to take Mr. Nobody Prince as her escort that night." Elsa said failing miserably to hide her amusement.
"Thanks Elsa, now I'll have a nightmare for sure tonight." Derek said sarcastically. "Was it much to ask for some food and a good hiding spot in the castle for that night?" he asked looking at the ceiling.
"I won't deny that sounds tempting. Since the Council of Realms has ended I was hoping for just a few introductions with some dignitaries and then spend the rest of the night watching Anna having fun."
The Prince let out a bitter laugh.
"What?" The Queen asked.
"Nothing," he said giving a half smile. "It's just we are so unfortunate, that it's indeed funny."
Elsa wanted to tell him he was acting childish again, but instead she found herself smiling too.
"I guess you are right." She accepted. "We must look so miserable."
They both laughed.
"Say," said Derek scratching the back of his head. "You don't think…um…"
He sounded hesitant.
"What is it?"
"Promise you won't get mad at me for thinking this."
She sighed. "I promise. Now tell me."
"Well, It's just a silly thought but, could Anna be the one who spread the news?" he asked. "So that none of us would retreat. I mean who else could be benefited by this?"
Elsa opened her eyes wide.
"So is that a yes or a no?"
"I don't think so." She said. "I know so."
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After half an hour of learning the basics of proper posture and position of the arms, the real practice began.
The moment Olaf's the words saying "Now you try it!" the Queen realized she had forgotten an important factor in dancing. It was actually the real reason she had always stood away from dancing.
Derek must have sensed the change in temperature because of his worried look
"Elsa, what's wrong?" he finally asked.
"Nothing." She lied.
The truth was, Elsa was angry with herself. How could she ever forget that dancing involved actual human touch with the person?
"Don't tell me." He said breaking the awkward silence. "Did you forgot all the instructions already? Would you like to take notes Your Majesty?"
Elsa knew Derek was just messing with her, but she would never allow him to question her memory capabilities.
"I did not." she said in an upset tone. "For your information I've read dozens of books about the history of waltz. So, as you can guess, I am familiar with the mechanics. What about you?"
Elsa stopped surprised by her own reaction. As quick as her fear had appeared, it had been replaced with her urge to argue back. Amazing how annoying Derek could be to make her change from fear to anger in a bit.
"Well, since you ask." He said proudly while walking towards hear. "When I was a student at the Naval Academy, part of the program included a class named Proper etiquette, courtship and dance."
"You can't be serious." She rested her one hand in her waist. "That name's so ridiculous you must have made it up."
"You think I would joke about that." he said crossing his arms. "It was my worst subject."
"Now I believe you. I bet you failed the Proper etiquette part." she imagined.
"Ha, ha." He laughed sarcastically. "I can be a gentleman even in my sleep."
"Or maybe only when you are asleep." She muttered.
"I heard that." he muttered back.
"So if you didn't fail proper etiquette, then you must have failed dance then?" She asked.
"Almost failed it." Derek said making emphasis in the word almost. "I had to get extra marks by joining the Music Band."
"At least we are not in the dark in music I guess." She admitted. "Although, I don't know how helpful that can be."
"Don't worry. We have the best snowman teacher there is!" He assured her. Then he offered his left hand to her.
She raised her hand but hesitated once more to reach his.
"And," he said in a softer tone than usual. "I'm still recovering from a trauma with that bloody pig, so I solemnly swear I won't bite."
His joke was so lame and simple that she couldn't help but smile and feel more confident.
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Elsa stretched her arm in a slow movement. Her hand hovered just a bit over his.
Derek took her hand gently but his arm kept shaking. This surprised Elsa. She never expected he would be as nervous as her.
She looked down and saw how small her hand was compared to his. His grip was strong yet gentle. His skin felt not as rough as Kristoff but still showed some traces of arduous training. Although Derek fitted more the image of a loner and rebel Prince with a serious case of superiority, this was the first she had seen Derek's shy side.
The Queen realized this was the first time she was holding hands with another person apart from Anna or Kristoff. But before she could say anything, her whole spine froze the moment she felt the Derek's other hand touching slightly her back and waist.
She was face to face with him. Well face to chin actually. She knew he was tall, but now standing so near to him the difference of heights was more noticeable.
Trying to focus her eyes in something, she quickly found herself admiring the beautiful rosemaling details carved in his clothes and wolf insignia.
"Um, this more awkward that I imagined." he muttered a bit nervous.
At least she wasn't the only one feeling that way. Elsa raised her face to look at him. She met his dark blue eyes but as soon as she did, another thing called her attention.
Elsa recognized the thin dark red scar in his ear. The scar he'd got because she lost control of her powers that day on the meeting. It might be just a scratch but it still meant she was far from full control of her magic.
And then memories of losing her powers at the Coronation filled her mind, making all her body tense. The image of a frozen Anna in the fjord saving her. The feeling of guilt and despair.
Elsa didn't need to look down to know ice was starting to form beneath them.
Thousands of questions were starting to fill her mind.
What if I lose control on the Ball? What if I lose control now? What if I hurt somebody? What will Anna think about me? What if…?
"OW!" she yelled in pain.
"That hurt!" she said hopping in one foot. She was now massaging her foot. "What was that?!"
Derek had stood on her left foot. And worst of all, his face was showing a slight smile. He was not regretting what he did at all.
"Oops, my bad." He apologized innocently. "I didn't mean it."
"You did it on purpose."
"Oh, come on Elsa, we should be practicing."
"Just forget it." She said upset.
He smirked. She rolled her eyes.
The Queen stood on both her feet once more and composed herself. Derek had definitely done that on purpose. As much as he had brought her back to reality (by stepping on her) she refused to accept the way he did it.
He definitely failed proper etiquette, for sure!
"So, shall we?" He offered her his hand once again.
She hesitated again.
The room was evidently colder than before and only a fool wouldn't notice the floor was covered in a thin layer of ice.
"One step at a time." he said in a calm tone to her.
He was such a bad actor pretending the ice layer had always been there. Maybe he was a real fool after all.
"Did you know?" Derek made a pause. "Rome wasn't built in one day. So we can also start by the beginning."
"The beginning?" she asked not understanding a thing.
Derek nodded. He rested one hand over his abdomen. His other hand rested behind his back doing a full curtsy.
"A dance Your Majesty?" he asked in a teasing tone but still offering his hand in a polite manner.
He could be so childish sometimes. But maybe this was a game she could play.
She curtsied and took his hand afterwards. The temperature of the room became warmer. Although the floor kept ice frozen. Elsa took an inner note to apologize to Kai later for possible wood damage to the Dancing Floor.
The Prince's posture was very straight which made him seem even taller than before. Yet, it also helped her to maintain her own posture straight.
After he positioned his hand in her back, she raised her free arm and rested it slowly in Derek's right shoulder.
"You did it." Olaf said approaching them. "You finally managed the posture."
"But that took us about half an hour." She said not sharing the snowman's excitement. "And it was just the beginning."
"Well, if it helps, it took for Anna and Kristoff a whole day to achieve it." Olaf said smiling.
Elsa smiled back. "It actually does help. Thanks."
"Yeah, at least we don't have two left foots as Mister Carrot Lover. I practiced a bit in the Academy, so if you follow my lead we'll manage." He said convinced.
Elsa raised one eyebrow. "I also studied the waltz remember."
"Maybe, but you cannot compare that to real experience. Unless Her Majesty is willing to prove otherwise of course."
"Is that a challenge Your Highness?"
"Your words not mine, but I accept the challenge if you do."
"You'll regret this you know?"
"You mean that I'll regret winning? Let me think. Um." He made a pause. "Nope. Let's see if theory can defeat experience."
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"One, two, three. One, two, three. Come, on guys, try to imagine the music."
From afar she could hear Olaf's voice marking the rhythm.
"And…one, two, three, one, two, three..."
For the last hour they had been doing circles all around the Music Room.
"Elsa try to separate your legs more, it will help you move better." Olaf suggested.
"Sorry. Like this?" She straighten her posture and made a long step to catch her partner's steps.
"Yes. And Derek lower your arm a bit more." Spoke Olaf again, "That's better! Good."
"Thanks little fella." Derek said to the snowman then he lowered his face towards her.
"Tired yet?" he asked.
"You wish." she answered quickly. "You?"
"I feel as Anna in a chocolate shop. Full of energy."
"Liar." She said returning the smile.
He laughed. "So, how goes the count?" he said looking up in thinking. "Ah yes. Eleven versus ten times. I think I'm winning."
He smirked.
"You're cheating." She said annoyed.
"Cheater? Me?" he said as they made a turn to avoid hitting the nearby piano.
They managed to pass the piano freely. But they weren't so lucky with the harp. Elsa's dress got stuck with it causing them to lose balance and make the instrument to fall. After all, a frozen floor was not really helping.
"Yes. Cheater." She answered arranging her dress while he returned the harp to its place.
"I stepped on you eleven times and I admit it. But," The Queen made a pause while once again taking his hand to resume their practicing.
"But?" he guided her to the centre of the dance floor.
"You also stepped on me eleven times. Not ten as you say." She looked at him. "So we are even."
Derek laughed. "Even? I am sorry Elsa but you are the wrong here. That last time, still counts as one."
"You stepped on both of my feet. That must count as two times not one." she said trying hard to follow his lead.
"I am not the cheater here, you …OW!" He said. "Hey!"
"Oops sorry. I think I slipped." The blond apologized with a single smile.
"Don't oops me. You did that on purpose."
"No I didn't." she said. "But at least we are even now."
"I disagree." he muttered angrily. He made a quick turn stepping on her left foot in the process.
"Ow!" Elsa yelled in pain. "You definitely did that on purpose."
"Now we are even." He said.
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"So, how was the first dancing lesson?" asked Kristoff after a while.
They were having dinner. And it didn't pass unnoticed by the ice harvester the way both Elsa and Derek were sending each other cold glances.
"I'd rather not talk about it." Answered the Queen while she took another sip from her wine.
"Haw 'bout u Derk?" asked the Princess whose mouth was full of food.
"My feet hurt so badly I'm tempted to try that reindeer tonic again." The Prince said in a joke. Or was he really joking? Kristoff couldn't tell.
"Oh, come on cub, it couldn't be that painful." Said King Fredrik trying to encourage the other two.
"Oh but it was father." Derek added. "Fifty nine times painful."
"Fifty what?" Kristoff and Anna asked at the same time.
"Speak for yourself for me it was sixty times painful." Elsa said calmly.
"Don't you mean fifty nine Elsa?" Derek muttered to the Queen sending her another cold glance.
"No, Derek." She returned the cold stare. "I am pretty sure it was sixty times."
"Fifty nine!"
"Sixty!"
"Say, big guy, any idea what are those two talking about?" Derek's father whispered Kristoff.
"No idea sir. I mean Your Majesty. Sir." He whispered back. "Maybe it's another competition of theirs."
"Yeah seems like it." The old man nodded. "I'm glad they ended being good friends like Agdy and myself. Oh, and please call me Freddie."
"Yes Your Majes…um, Freddie, Sir."
The King laughed and returned to his meal.
Kristoff looked at the corner of the table where Elsa and Derek were still deep in argument about some random numbers. To the blond man, more like friends they reminded him of some cranky trolls fighting for had the biggest mushroom.
Kristoff felt a kick in his leg. He raised his head to meet eyes with his girlfriend. She had a shine in his blue greenish eyes. Maybe Anna was happy because her sister was finally socially interacting with another human. The way Anna cared for other's people's happiness was one of the reasons he had fallen for her.
She blinked. Which meant she wanted to say something in signs. Probably her message said: "I'm so proud my sister is little by little opening to everyone." or something like that.
She blinked again. And again. And now she was blinking uncontrollably at him. It was clear he hadn't got her full message yet.
"What is it?" he whispered at her.
"I'm asking you if you're gonna finish your dessert?" she whispered blinking.
"Um, no." he whispered back. Okay maybe he was bad at sign language.
"Good!" she beamed happily.
No one seemed to care when Anna reached her arm to the other side of the table and grabbed Kristoff's entire plate with half chocolate cake.
She blinked twice and mouthed at him a simple thank you and started devouring the cake.
Oh, Anna you can be very oblivious when there's chocolate in the way. He moved his head smiling.
"I told you Elsa, experience is better than theory."
It seemed the Queen and the Prince had changed topics to argue again. Really people can be so noisy at dinner. Definitely reindeers are better company.
"If only you'd listen to me once and read my notes, we could understand the timing of each step." The blond Queen demanded.
"I understand the timing." He muttered. "You are the one who's going too slowly."
"I am not slow. I am counting."
"You are not supposed to count."
"Olaf does." She defended herself.
"But it's only temporary. How many times have you seen people counting while dancing?"
"They probably are counting in silence."
"Don't be ridiculous. We only need to be guided by the music changes."
"I agree but it'll be easier if we memorize the order of the steps first."
"Ugh, fine. I'll study your notes." The Prince said. "Give them to me."
"I still need to add something more." Elsa explained more calm now. "Meet me in the library in an hour and I'll explain them to you."
Kristoff rolled his eyes and felt a déjà vu.
More and more this castle reminds me of home with the trolls.
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The next day the dancing classes consisted -just as Elsa had predicted- in learning the box formed with the feet. For a while Anna and Kristoff joined them to serve as models and show them how it was supposed to be done.
But after her sister and the ice harvester left them, there hadn't been any progress.
To see that even a man as big as Kristoff could look gracefully doing the waltz it only encouraged Elsa even more that learning the order of steps was number one priority to succeed.
But in order to do so, she would have to convince her stubborn partner.
"I'm telling you Elsa, even if we memorize every single step of the waltz we'll still fail if you keep counting out loud. It's too much distracting." Derek said at their fifteen minute break.
"Not as much distracting as your constant commands. I know where my right and left are thank you."
"I'll stop telling you where your right is, if you stop counting aloud." said Derek sitting in the floor.
"Deal." Accepted the Queen conjuring a seat of ice to sit on.
"Olaf why do we keep bumping into each other?" asked the Prince to the snowman.
"Um, I was wondering the same." Answered the snowman. "Maybe because you are doing the turns too fast."
"True." Admitted Elsa. "No matter how many times I try it. I cannot keep up with you Derek. You are going slower than yesterday, yet the problem persists."
"Then what do you suggest?" he asked looking at her.
Elsa thought for a moment.
"Stand up." She said.
"Why? I'm resting."
"Let's try again but in slow motion."
"Oh, that's interesting." He said standing up. "Let's try it."
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They followed step by step. And as they predicted the moment the first turn came their bodies bumped into each other and they both fell to the floor. At least the ice was gone since yesterday.
The Prince was the first to stand up and with the help of Olaf they aided the Queen to stand on her feet.
"This is starting to be more and more frustrating." complained Elsa arranging her simple green dress.
"Same here. I…wait…I think I just realized something." Derek said while a slight shining in his eyes.
"What did you realized?"
"You are not wearing the usual ice dress." He pointed out with his finger at her.
"Oh," she said looking at her dress. "Well, yesterday that I wore it I thought it was not very practical to practice with it."
"But what happened to your high heels also made of ice?"
"What do you mean?"
"I just remembered something I learnt in the Academy. Height matters when picking a dancing partner. And I am taller than you, so you ought to compensate the heights." The Prince explained.
"Compensate heights?" she asked changing her voice to more upset tone. "Are you implying I am small?"
"Your words not mine." He smiled mischievously.
Derek was tall. But not that much to Elsa. Her head reached the level of his nose.
He is not that tall.
"You know Elsa, maybe wearing higher shoes might help keep your balance while dancing." Intervened Olaf.
"See. Even Olaf approves it." Derek was now fully smiling.
Elsa gave her partner a warning stare. She thought for a moment and with a wave of her hand her black leather shoes were covered in frost. Followed by another swirl of her hand, the frost vanished revealing a pair of high heels completely made of ice.
Elsa had added her personal touch by adding snowflakes patterns to the front and back part of the shoes.
The Prince whistled.
"Nice shoes Your Majesty. You should wear them more often." He joked. "That way you wouldn't be that small."
"Nice pants Your Highness." She teased back. "You should wear them more often as well."
"That was low." The Prince face turned a shade of red but he didn't answered back. Yet, his dark blue eyes showed he was fighting to keep his calm.
"No one calls me small."
"Is that a threat Miss Dazeem?"
"Try me Derry."
"Don't. Call. Me. That!" he blurted out.
"A lady never starts a fight, but she knows well how to end it. You should know that."
"And your say I'm impossible. Let's call it a truce. I didn't mean to offend you. I was only pointing out the difference in our heights."
Elsa sighed. "You call that, a proper apology?"
"I call it a sentence. It's composed by a series of words arranged together in order."
She rolled her eyes.
Olaf whose head was turning from one royal to another finally managed to call their attention.
"Guys, guys. I'm sorry but the recess has ended about a while ago." the snowman said. "Should we go back to dancing?"
They looked down.
"Sorry fella."
"I'm sorry too Olaf. Please continue with the lesson." Requested the Queen.
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"Let's admit it. We are a lost cause!" Derek said. He dropped his deck of cards to the carpet in frustration.
They had been practicing for three days by now and even though they compensation in heights had been solved they were far from regular acceptable.
"I presume you are talking about waltzing. Because my Full House just overpowered your Flush of spades." She said as she took her wining prize. They were using chocolates and cookies as bet instead of money.
Both of them were sitting in the carpet next to the fireplace. After studying Elsa's notes about waltz, Derek had decided to teach her some card games. And now they were playing poker.
"Of course I'm talking about waltzing." Derek said as he took the cards and started to shuffle them for another game.
"I guess, we really are a mess aren't we?" The Queen said in a gloomier tone.
As he sorted the cards in front of them Derek took a quick glance at the Queen. She looked quite sad.
"Elsa? Is something bothering you?" he asked by her.
"Nothing really." She said while taking recollecting her cards.
"If it's nothing then, why are you so spaced out that you are actually holding all your cards the other way round?" He asked smirking.
Elsa jumped startled, but failed miserably to hide her frustration because she ended up dropping all her cards in the floor.
Derek couldn't help but laugh a little at her clumsiness.
"Oh, give me a break would you?" she muttered.
"I would if you'd tell me what's troubling you?" he said crossing his arms.
"Fine." She said forgetting about the cards spread in the floor. "I know it might sound childish, but I'm worried about all the guests laughing at us at the Ball. And, and… I'm also worried I might… I might…"
The moment her voice started cracking she turned around and avoided to look at him.
Derek saw once again Elsa's constant reflex with her hands. Whenever she would look tense, anxious or insecure her hands would join together near her chest. He was starting to hate that gesture of her.
There was no need for her to finish her sentence, Derek understood perfectly what was troubling her. He was no oblivious to the events of the Great Freeze of Arendelle. Although according was most of the time the Queen seemed scary and bossy and sometimes stubborn; this was the first time she looked so fragile in front of him.
Nice job, Derek. You had to ask!
"Elsa," he said. "Forgive, I shouldn't have force you to remember that ... that day."
"It's not your fault Derek. Anna is always telling me to leave that all behind, but I am not as strong as she is." She said in a calmer tone yet she kept her face away of his gaze.
"You are wrong." Derek said louder than he expected; making her to look at him. "If you call yourself weak then I'll start calling myself Lord Potatoe of Potatoeland".
"Derek I'm not in the mood for jokes right now." she said returning her gaze at the fireplace.
Without even thinking it Derek grabbed her arm and pulled her a little bit rude.
She tried to pull away immediately but he held his grip.
"Elsa." Derek he said trying to sound gentle. "You could be many things but never weak."
The blond Queen stopped pulling and turned to look at him.
Her blue eyes were looking at him with surprise. Then little by little he released his grip from her arm.
After he removed his hand from her arm completely, Elsa backed up a little increasing the gap between them.
Derek thought he might have crossed the line. He had acted without thinking and she was probably angry now.
But the moment he was about to apologize to her, Elsa spoke first.
"I still believe you are mistaken in the weak matter. And also I think that this whole dancing will end in disaster. But," She said in gentle tone. "I'd never imagined that your constant insistence to annoy me could overpower my own worries. So,"
Elsa made a pause and smiled sweetly at him. "So thank you for getting on my nerves."
It felt weird. Was that a compliment or an insult? He didn't dare to ask her.
And even weirder, Derek suddenly felt a whole in his stomach followed by static in the back of his neck and ears. He tried to return the smile but ended making a funny face which made her laugh at him.
Her laughter and sudden change of mood he found himself standing up impulse.
Oh, what the heck!
Moved by a mysterious force the Prince found his voice and spoke with energy.
"Come on!" He said determined.
Followed by the same impulse of that invisible force he offered Elsa his right hand.
"Um, Derek? What are you doing?" she said hesitant.
"I have no the slightest idea." He admitted to her "Let's do it. Right here. Right now." He said quickly before his courage would fade.
"In the library?!" She asked surprised. "At this hour?!"
"Is it forbidden?" He said using his joking tone. "Because if it is, then that would make it more exciting."
"Are you serious? What if Kai enters and sees us? I might be the Queen but he is in charge of the care of this castle. If he finds out that what the library had been used for he'll lose it. You've met him, if he could he would marry the rule book."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic Elsa, it's almost midnight. Everyone must be asleep by now."
"Derek I am serious. Although your idea is not so bad I…"
"Aha! You think my idea is great."
"I didn't say it was great."
"Too late. You already agreed to them. And I am bloody serious too."
The Prince lowered his body to offer her his hand more insistently.
Elsa sighed.
"Fine, you win."
He smiled triumphantly.
She might have looked hesitant the moment she took his hand but her eyes were shining afterwards. Her eyes shone in different shades of blue due to the reflection of the flames.
"A dance Your Majesty?" he lowered his head in curtesy.
"It would be my pleasure Your Highness." She curtsied.
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They have been practicing for at least an hour by now. Under Elsa's request they would take turns to count the time; until it almost felt natural to dance at the tackt time of the waltz.
Elsa lost her balance and hit her front head with his chin.
Derek grunted in pain.
"Sorry." She apologized to him. "I must have used the wrong foot again."
"No, it was my mistake for pulling you too fast."
The sound of the clock announcing midnight made Derek realize how late it was. They stopped moving. They smiled shyly slightly at each other and then separated.
"I think we can call it a night." The blonde said as she joined her hands together.
"My feet think the same." He admitted. "You look pretty tired Elsa, you should go to sleep." And he yawned.
"Look who's talking." The young Queen also yawned. "You should as well go to bed Derek. I better hide the evidence from Kai."
Elsa started picking some chocolates and cookies from the ground.
"Here, let me help you." He said helping setting the cards on inside the box and putting it in the table.
After ten minutes the library was tidy as ever.
Elsa was adding some snow to the fireplace to extinguish the flames, when another yawn of her told the Prince they had remained too much time awaken.
"We better retire to our chambers it must be pretty late." He suggested as he lit a candle.
"Agreed."
He closed the door behind him when he saw her starting walking.
"Um, Elsa?"
"Yes?" she stopping.
"Aren't the bedrooms the other way?"
"Are they?" she asked surprised.
"Yes they are."
"I must be so tired I lost my North." She excused.
That was odd, Elsa would never accept she had bad orientation and even more this was her home after all. But Derek was so tired he didn't push on the matter.
"Come on, Your Majesty I'll escort you so you don't find yourself in the dungeons."
"Um, okay." She muttered.
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They had arrived Elsa's front door.
"Well good night." The Queen said grabbing the doorknob.
The moment she pushed her door Derek -pushed by that strange impulse of before- spoke again.
"Elsa? Tomorrow. Same time? Same place?" he asked as he passed one of his hands through his hair.
She held the door and turned to look at him.
"Sorry, that came out of the blue." Derek said starting to walk to his bedroom. "Good night."
What had he been thinking? After all it took to convince her a few hours ago, she would never agree to risk to be caught by the Head Butler another night.
"Thought you would never ask," she responded. "Partner in crime." She added in a whisper.
A sensation of déjà vu filled the air. Elsa's eyes had been lit for a slight second.
It might have been an effect of the moonlight or the lack of sleep, but just for a second Derek didn't saw the famous Snow Queen. Instead, he saw that stubborn little girl that wanted to hide in the same stop as him. But as soon as it happened it vanished.
The Prince blinked twice and the image of the young girl was replaced by the young adult version of the same girl.
"Good night then, Partner. Mission Kai Must Never Know is on." He said giving her a thumbs up, as he would do when they were children.
They shared a knowing look, followed by a bitter sweet smile from both.
They returned to their respective chambers in silence, not daring to break the nostalgic yet somehow pleasant atmosphere.