Hello! To those who are loyal to this story thanks for stopping by. This chapter took me quite a while to write it. Sorry it it's kind of boring, I just wanted to represent how stressing a job can be. (We've all been there)
I apologize for any grammar mistake. It's 3 am and my brain likes to play tricks on me.
AN: As always I appreciate the reviews of NrDr and to all those who favorited this story I give you a Pi thank you's.
Disclaimer: Frozen and other Disney characters belong to Disney Co.
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Chapter 19. Let's get down to business
Fine day Sunday. According to the Priest, best day of the week. Sunday was one of the few days Elsa could wake up a little bit late and enjoy a peaceful breakfast. Oh, but today was no Sunday.
So as expected a long schedule awaited to the still half-asleep Queen.
Elsa knew she had to get up sooner or later but her body was refusing to leave the comfortable bed. She felt so tired that her eyes were refusing to open yet. Only by the sound of the merchants from the docks outside, the Queen could tell it was sometime between six or seven in the morning.
Please let it be six in the morning. Please. She pleaded to the almighty, wishing she could at least get some more minutes of sleep.
In that precise moment the bells of the clock tower started to mark the hour of the day. Was it Elsa's imagination or the sound of the bells were louder than usual?
She decided to not care much about something so trivial and better pay attention to the hour itself.
One by one the bell's started making echo in her bedroom. Elsa with her still closed eyes started counting them.
One…Two…
When the bells reached the sixth hour, the Queen half smiled wishing for the bells to end. But to her disappointment a seventh bell echoed.
Seven already? Oh well, I guess I'll have to get up.
But before she could think anything else, an eight bell echoed in the bedroom provoking in her an instant shock of adrenaline and scaring away her doubts to wake up.
Elsa opened her eyes abruptly and jumped out of bed in an instant but she couldn't see a thing.
"What's going on?!" she asked out loud.
She noticed her room was all dark. That was odd. If it were eight in the morning her room would be filled with sunlight already.
Elsa turned around to face her window. Someone had entered her room and left her curtains closed. She didn't need to wonder who could have been. The only person with Elsa's room key was a certain cherry blonde.
"Anna, not again." The Queen muttered.
Elsa started to walk to the window in order to open the curtains. But almost immediately her feet hit something hard. Elsa lost her balance and fell backwards to her bed. The sound the object produced made her wince in pain.
She didn't know what could be worse by now? That she had a headache (possibly caused by her lack of sleep).That she was possibly late for her first meeting; or that Anna had again closed her curtains in an attempt to "force/let" her sleep.
There's no time for overthinking, remember the meeting!
"The meeting, right. I can't be late." Elsa repeated to herself.
The blond pointed her hand to the curtains and opened them in a quick move, almost regretting her decision a second later.
MY EYES! What were you thinking?! Headache remember? Her inner voice yelled in agony.
The sun rays felt like miniature flashing swords picking her eyes and temples. Covered her face with one of her hands.
Ow...My head.
Told you!
Elsa decided to ignore her inner voice of reason for the time.
With another swirl of her hand the curtains closed leaving just a small gap long enough to let some light enter the room.
It was an instant relief for her head and eyesight as the sun rays were blocked.
As much as she wished to stay in her bed all day, she had responsibilities to attend to. One does not simply stop being the Queen for a day. She had two meetings to attend that day; some shipment cargos to approve and so much more.
The blonde looked herself at the mirror. She looked very un-lady like. Her hair was messy and she was still wearing the same dress she wore the day before. And her eyes looked red and felt heavy.
Last night she had been so tired when she arrived to her bedroom that she didn't even conjured a sleeping gown. As soon as she had thrown herself to the mattress, she had fell under Morfeus enchantment immediately.
She needed a shower, like urgently.
"Maybe, if I skip breakfast I can arrive on time to the first meeting." The Queen thought for a moment.
Enough planning and more execution! Interrupted her thoughts her inner voice.
"Right, I need to hurry."
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Conjuring ice dresses in flash of a second could be very handy when you are in a hurry but still need to look presentable in front of aristocrats and town's people.
Elsa ended doing her hair in her usual braid and decided it was time to leave for the meeting. She was almost leaving her bedroom when she noticed she wasn't taking with her the documents needed for today's meetings.
Elsa didn't panic this time since she knew exactly where the documents were. She turned around and saw the long pile of papers resting on her nightstand table. She had been working on the final touches all night.
She walked to the nightstand table to get her paperwork. But the moment she took it she noticed another piece of paper that she didn't recognize to be hers. It seemed to be a kind of letter. She found it particularly funny, that the paper had a slight scent of chocolate and perfume. Elsa took it and recognized Anna's handwriting. She smiled as she began to read:
Dear Elsa,
Forgive me for leaving the curtains closed again. But after all this crazy Council week you definitely needed an hour or two of sleep. NO BUTS ELSA! I gave orders to the staff to not disturb you unless it's REALLY urgent. By the time you read this we'll be already on our way to the party. Kristoff says we'll stay there one or two days depending on the weather, so don't worry if we arrive until the day after tomorrow.
"What?!" Elsa asked. "Party? Where?"
The Queen didn't recall Anna mention she was going to a party. Wondering if the rest of the letter would explain something about Anna's whereabouts she continued to read.
By the way, you shouldn't worry for the present you got for Grand Pabbie. Kristoff remembered to pack it the night before with the other's presents. And since Olaf is also coming with us to the mountains, you'll have a substitute teacher for the dancing lessons. I already told Derek but I should also tell you too. Please, at least while I am gone, you two should try to behave. (And yes you two do act like spoiled children!). I won't be there to stop any silly contest that will end in a quarrel.
Oh, and while you were sleeping today, we made the Secret Santa sorting. I took the liberty of choosing in your behalf. Don't worry I didn't read it. I left the piece of parchment also near this letter.
Please take care.
Love,
Anna
P.S. I left you some toast and your favourite tea. (I would've left some chocolates but Gerda says we are out of stock again). Since all your tables are filled with paperwork and books I had to leave it in the floor. So be careful to not step on it.
Elsa looked at the floor. At least the metallic object she hit earlier was no longer a mystery. It had been a tray with the food Anna had left her. Or what was left of it. Elsa had step on the plate of bread, so in consequence crumbs and slices of bread remained now spread everywhere in the carpet.
Elsa half smiled at her sister's gentle gesture. Pity that the breakfast was ruined.
But then she fully smiled when she noticed that some loafs of bread had remained inside the tray were still eatable. And by some miracle the tea pot and cup were still intact.
The tea was cold though, but she drank it anyway to help her headache fade. Elsa gave some bites to the bread while she reread Anna's letter.
While she did, she couldn't believe she had been so distracted in her monarch's duties that she had completely forgot about Grand Pabbie's one hundred and eleventh birthday. Now with something in her stomach and fully awake she could remember about the birthday party with the trolls.
According to Kristoff the 111th birthday was a big deal among trolls. She had been invited as to the party of course; but she wasn't able to cancel any of her meetings for the day.
At least Kristoff had been kind enough to help her chose a gift to the patriarch of trolls and even kinder to also remember about it and deliver it for her. She didn't had a clue about what a troll could like as a present. Hopefully with the help of the human that was raised by them her gift could show how grateful she was to the trolls for all the help they had given to the royal family.
Speaking of presents. I wonder, to whom am I giving a gift this Christmas?
It wasn't hard to find the other piece of paper that Anna had left her. It was pretty small and folded had been folded several times.
Elsa opened it and read the name. Her eyes opened in surprise.
"What?!"
If finding a present for a troll had been hard this was level insane.
"Where will I find a present for …?"
But the sound of a knock at her door made her stop.
"Er, yes?" She said.
"Uhm, Your Majesty. I'm so sorry to disturb you. The Princess asked me to …"
Elsa rolled her eyes.
"You would never bother me Kai. Tell me what it is."
"Why thank you, Your Majesty I'm flattered." Said the butler's voice from the other side. "I came to remind you about your first meeting for today."
"Thank you Kai, I am aware of it."
"Of course you are, my Queen but… are you aware that the meeting has already started?"
"WHAT?!" she opened her door at once forgetting all about the proper tone of voice for a Queen. "How long Kai?!"
"About five minutes ago."
Maybe five minutes were completely exaggerated to be considered late. But considering that the Royal Council's meetings were on the other side of the castle that meant another ten minutes walking or five running to the West Wing.
"Kai, I need you to keep them busy. I'm on my way." Elsa grabbed her things and started walking in a fast pace.
"Already did Your Majesty. I send a footman with tea and pastries."
"That won't hold them for long."
"I'm afraid not." Answered the butler.
"I just hope they haven't started making airplane papers with their paperwork again. It was a nightmare when I had read them later." Elsa said remembering that other time.
"Not to mention that all the staff had to work over hours to recover them from the castle grounds."
I better hurry!
Elsa put aside the manners in walking as a lady should and began trotting, not caring about the staff's surprised look of their Queen and head butler running along the corridors.
Maybe Anna's idea is not that bad at all. Said her inner voice. Let's reconsider using the bicycle to travel around the castle.
Note taken. She answered herself.
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"But Your Majesty, you still haven't heard about the difference between a training shirt and a casual one and how important it is for…."
"Captain." said Elsa trying to hold her temper. "As much as I would like to hear about the proper wardrobe for a training field, I really, really need to get to my next appointment so…"
"I understand Your Majesty, but will you reconsider my request for the next meeting at least?"
"How about we postpone this until the next meeting." Elsa answered already regretting what she said. But for the moment, all that mattered now was getting to her next destination as soon as possible.
"Jorgen! Not this shirt nonsense again! Leave the poor girl alone!" said a woman's voice behind them.
The Queen of Arendelle and Captain Jorgen stopped walking in the middle of the hallway to turn and see the woman that had yelled. The woman was now walking towards them.
She had an exotic beauty and grace. The woman's hair was red as her lips, and the tight emerald dress she wore could cause many gasps from women and looks from men. In simple words the woman loved to be the center of attention.
But the woman was no stranger to the Queen or the Captain so they were already used to her flashy attitude and looks.
The woman happened to be also a member of the Royal Council and worked as the Minister of Foreign Affairs since Queen Elsa's administration. The woman by the name Lady Eleanor Verden also known as the Gossip Girl – namesake she got for having ears everywhere around the world- approached them in a graceful walk.
But behind that grace Elsa could sense the mood of Lady Eleanor was the opposite of graceful.
"It's always the same with you Jorgen! You are always boarding the Queen at the end of our meetings. Can't you see no one could care less if a solider wears a casual shirt instead of a training one! BOTH SHIRTS LOOK THE SAME JORGEN! We have better things to worry about you know?" Said the woman.
"THE SAME?! They are NOT the same Eleanor! That's why it's so important that we discuss this matter." Captain Jorgen raised his voice too.
"Ever since I've known you, you've always been as stubborn as mule. The Queen doesn't need to deal with that too."
"But the joke is on you Eleanor. The Queen has already accepted to listen to my request the next meeting."
"Your Majesty, my dear. Please," Said Lady Eleanor changing her tone of voice to a sweeter and pleading one. "Don't let this gorilla man with the brain of a baboon bother you. I'll stop him, you may continue with your duties."
"It's not a bother." Elsa lied immediately.
Of course Elsa didn't have the heart to tell the man that he should re-order his priorities in the Military necessities. Instead of worrying about fabrics for a shirt, they all should be worrying more in in improving the conditions and benefits for the naval marines. There had been less and less recruits that if they didn't changed something not far in the future there wouldn't be enough men to secure the cargo of their naval fleet.
"You see," interrupted her thoughts the voice of the Capitan. "Her Majesty finds no bother in my requests. She has manners and decency. Not like a certain woman I know."
"Oh, stop it. It's exactly because she has class and has a good heart that she lets you be!"
"Arendelle is so lucky she is our Queen and not someone like you!" the Captain said angrily.
"Someone like me?!"
"You heard me!" the man said. "For someone who has ears everywhere, it's a pity that you are incapable to listen!"
Lady Eleanor gasped. "How dare you!" Then she raised her voice even more. "Well, for someone who keeps talking about fabrics, it's quite disappointing that he lacks of good taste in clothes!"
"What's wrong with the military uniform of Arendelle?"
"Lots of things Jorgen! For starters, whoever thought that an enormous green hat looked well on a man, deserves to go to jail for committing such crime against fashion!"
Elsa kept looking from one Minister to another. Seeing this was possibly not going anywhere she decided she might try to escape before they would ask the Queen to take sides.
"I'll be going now. You two keep, whatever you are doing." The Queen said starting to walk quickly, not daring to look back in case they would go after her.
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The blond took a seat at her throne as one footman offered her a glass of water in a tray which was unusual but she appreciated anyway.
"Thank you Petyr." She said to the young man. "Please leave the jar. Something tells me this is going to take a while."
The footman, gave a gentle vow to her and left the jar of water on the small table of ice had conjured by the Queen. When the footman left she made a sign to Kai to approach to her.
"Kai, I know you too well that you must have counted them. How many are there this time?"
The head butler hesitated as he arranged his collar.
"Well, they are quite a lot Your Majesty."
"Kai?"
The butler sighed.
"I counted at least fifty today."
"I see." Said Elsa taking another sip from her water. "I wasn't expecting less. Last week I couldn't attend to the villagers requests so today the twice of people was the least to be expected."
"Not to mention that Her Highness the Princess normally is here to help you with the requests. At this rate …"
"I'll be fine Kai. Don't underestimate me."
"I would never do that Your Majesty. It's just that the Princess said that…"
"I know what my sister said, but this is my job Kai. So if you would be so kind and let the first one enter."
"Yes Your Majesty." The butler said vowing.
"And thanks for the water Kai." She said as she cooled a bit her glass with her magic.
"There's no need to thank me." He said turning around giving her a gentle smile. "The others' might not recognize it, but you wince the same way the former Queen Idun used to when she had a headache. Now if you excuse me Your Majesty there's a door I need to open."
Elsa was left speech less as the head butler walked towards the other side of the Main Hall. She let the nostalgic yet bitter sweet memory of her mother fill her thoughts. In a way what Kai had said, had made her feel more connected to her mother in a way. Even if it had to be about something as insignificant as the face they both made when having a headache.
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"Thank you, thank you Your Majesty." Said the old lady with a tender smile adding more wrinkles to her face.
"It is my pleasure." Said Elsa smiling gently to the old lady. "And please, come and visit me anytime to tell me how it went with your new flower shop."
"Of course I will Your Majesty. Of course I will."
As soon as the lady left, Kai approached Elsa with a new jar of water and some cookies.
Elsa grabbed a cookie and tried to not devour it in front of her butler and guards.
"Thank you Kai. Tell me, how many are missing." She asked the man.
"I believe we are missing less than five people Your Majesty."
"That sounds promising." She said mostly to herself than to him. "Let the next one enter then."
"As you wish." He said and went to let the next villager enter.
Elsa grabbed another cookie and ate it fast before the man arrived in front of her throne.
"Oh, Queen Elsa, I am blinded by your extreme beauty. I have come to you for an important matter." Said the man kneeling in front of her. "Only you can aid this poor merchant."
"Er, no need for such formalities Mister?"
"Selleri, ma' name's Georg Selleri."
"Mister Selleri, you can stand or if you prefer I can ask for a chair so you can stay sitting."
The man cleaned the sweat from his face with his hat.
"You are so kind Your Majesty. So extremely generous. That's why I came to you."
"I'm listening." The Queen said, feeling a bit embarrassed by the unnecessary and almost ridiculous praise.
"Well you see, not many days ago, I was visited by a young man I've never seen around in town. I was not so sure about the stranger, I was sure he wanted to rob me or threaten me. I thought for a moment to scream for help to the patrolling guards. He seemed to be interested in the monster of Arendelle. And by the way, that creature had eaten all my corn and left my cart of cabbages damaged."
By the mention of the monster of Anrendelle, Elsa thought about Ser Bacon the pig that lived in the Royal stables. In consequence she couldn't help but remember the incident at the fountain and also another embarrassing moment at Derek's door.
She shook her head and tried to focus on the man in front of her.
"I understand." She said. "So then what happened?"
"Oh right, you see, I was about to tell the stranger to leave me alone and mind his own business or I would call the guards. I didn't like the lad, his eyes were telling me he was up to no good."
"Really?" Elsa pressed her teeth trying to keep herself calm and not standing up to find Derek and ask him "politely" to try avoiding scaring the villagers.
"Yep, but then the Princess and that friend of hers, you know, the talking snowman popped out of nowhere. They seemed to be with the strange lad so I desisted in calling the guards. I ended trustin' the Princess and told them all everythin' 'bout the monster. After they finished their questions, the Princess told me everything would be okay and they left."
Elsa waited for the merchant to keep talking but he stayed there in front of her pressing his hat once or twice as if waiting for something.
"Uhm, Mister Selleri, you'll have to forgive me but I can't see the purpose of your request yet." She said.
"She said everything would be okay. The Princess said it."
Elsa raised one of her eyebrows not fully understanding.
"Are you worried that this monster might come back again? Is that what you are asking?"
"No Your Majesty. News travel fast when you work in a market. A friend of a friend that is cousin of a midget barber I know, heard that the monster is gone for good. They say the creature left Arendelle flying to the horizon. So at least I can no worry more about my cabbages. Did you know the creature had a strength of a hundred men?"
"Actually," Elsa said trying sound serious and not to laugh. "The mysterious creature wasn't a ghost nor a monster. It was a pig. And I doubt it had the strength of a hundred men the animal did put up a fight but," she made a pause remembering the state Derek ended after his fight with the pig, " at the end the animal was captured and is now kept safety in the castle grounds. "
"Oh," The man looked surprised and once again cleared some sweat from his face. "Well, you know how news can be distorted from ear to ear. Anyway, learning that I sure feel safer Your Majesty."
"I am glad then."
"But, but that ain't the reason I today."
"It isn't?"
"No Your Majesty. I came to ask about my new cart of cabbages."
The Queen blinked several times. Was this a joke? But the serious face of the man told her he wasn't.
"I'm sorry Mister Sellery, but you'll have to be more specific."
"As I said before, the Princess said everything would be okay. And my cabbage cart is not okay so… So uhm, you know…"
"I know what?" she asked trying understand.
"I came to ask you when my new cart of cabbages will be delivered to me. The old one is damaged and, you know to have a bad image it's bad for business."
Elsa wondered if the headache was causing her hallucinations now. Was the man really asking if not demanding for a new cart of cabbages just because the Princess had said everything would be okay?
Anna is gone for some days and everything is chaos.
Cabbage chaos! Added her inner voice.
"If, if you want, I come here to take it." Said the man with a little tremble in his voice. "That way you won't have to deliver it to me. Win-win right? Right?"
Elsa forced a smiled.
How considerate. Said her inner voice in a sarcastic tone.
This man was certainly trying to get a good bargain using what Anna told him in his favour. The Queen remembered what Derek had told her. Learning to read people's gestures and gesticulations could give her a hint of what they might be thinking.
Elsa studied him. The man was sweating even though they were in a cold room in the middle of winter. And there was the over exaggerated vow and flatter in his behavior that told her he was acting. Not to mention the slight threat he made. The man had said the stranger was some kind of weirdo that almost made him summon some guards. Derek might be a weirdo but he would never seek trouble with a merchant. Well, at least not on purpose.
I wonder what the merchant would do if he discovered the weirdo was royalty.
Elsa thought for a moment. Should she use her menacing tone and let the man very clear that he shouldn't use the Princess to get what he wanted. Or pretend she had no idea about his charade and play his little game. She wondered what the Council would say on the matter. If only …
"The Council."
"I'm sorry what?"
Elsa bit her lip. She had said that out loud. She looked at the man again, who was still stretching his hat to almost torn it. He was nervous. Maybe he was regretting his plan by now.
"Forgive me Mister Selleri." She said regaining her regal pose. "I have to be honest with you. To build a new cart of wood for your cabbages might take some time. You see, this kind of decisions have to be made by all the members of the Royal Council."
"The…the Royal Co..co…"
"Council, yes. You know, the people that help me rule this land. Never heard of them?"
"Uhm…er…"
The cabbage man pulled his collar and cleared the sweat of his face with his hat.
"No? Well at least you must have heard about Captain Jorgen. He is in charge of the Royal Guard, military and naval academy and…what was it? Oh I remember now, he is also in charge of the administration of prisons."
The man gulped the same time his hat was torn in two pieces.
Of course for Elsa her councilors were nothing but a bunch of eccentric people that spent most of their time eating, sleeping, gossiping or fighting. But for the town's people the Royal Council was a big deal. All of its members had certain reputations that caused them to be respected or even feared. The Royal Council of Arendelle was definitely something a cabbage man would try to avoid at any cost.
Elsa smiled feeling a little guilty for playing with the man in such a cruel way. But she had to admit that part of her was enjoying it. No one uses her sister to play a face and lives to tell it.
"Mister Selleri?"
"…"
The man was left speechless.
"Mister Selleri are you feeling fine? You seem a little pale. Can I offer you a chair or some water?"
"Nnnn…No need Your Majesty."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"If you say so Mister Selleri. But please, let me know if you need to …"
"I'm fine Your Majesty. A..about my cart of cabbages I…I…"
"Oh, don't worry about that, I promise I'll present your case to my next meeting with the Council. I must warn you of course, this might take some time if it ever gets approved."
"Ah." The man said possibly not knowing what else to say.
"Yes, I'm afraid we are already used plenty of our wood reserves for the construction of sleighs. We are using those sleighs for a special exhibition the ice harvesters are preparing for the Winter Festival. You are invited of course."
"Thank you Your Majesty. But on better thought, maybe you shouldn't make me a new cart of cabbages at all."
Elsa raised both her eyebrows pretending to be surprised.
"How come? I thought this was an important matter to you Mister Selleri."
"It is. I mean, it was. Yes. I was…er…I didn't know you use the wood reserves for the Winter Fair. I can't let you and the, the…the Council to waste such precious wood on a simple cart. The truth is my cart only got a few scratches, nothing that a good hammer and some nails can't fix. Really. No need to tell the Council. Really."
"Oh, I'm so touched Mister Selleri. Let me tell you, not every day one can meet such an honorable and considerate man as yourself." Elsa stood and approached the man and smiled at him "I hope we meet again soon in better conditions."
The merchant smiled back at her looking less nervous and more relaxed. Maybe not getting arrested was a better bargain than a cabbage cart.
"Kai, would you be so kind to accompany our dear friend Mister Selleri to the exit. And offer him some water also. And while you leave, tell the guards to let the next one enter."
"It would be my pleasure Your Majesty. Come now Mister Selleri, I hope you don't mind we use a shortcut, my legs are not as strong as they were anymore."
"Of, of course I don't. Please lead the way."
Elsa rolled her eyes. As the butler didn't even try to hide his anger towards the cabbage man. She tried to hide the smirk forming in her face. This might be the first time she had dealt with a liar by turning his game into him. This was something only Derek would approve of doing. Elsa promised herself to try to avoid his bad influence affect her too much in the future.
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Elsa received the next petitioners. This time, two men entered. One was very thin and tall while the other was shorter and fat. Still both shared the some similarities hinting the might be related in some way. They vowed before her as they took of their hats.
"Good evening gentlemen. Tell me what brings you here today?"
"We'll like to be short on this Your Majesty. We have a business to run. And time's money." Said the tall man.
"Jack, please. Remember we are in front of the Queen." Said the fat one.
"Sorry Gus. I'm sorry." He apologized to Elsa.
"There's nothing to apologize for. I understand how demanding a job can be." She said it truly.
"Aha, I knew the Queen would understand the importance of work. I told ya Gus. She'll probably say I'm right!"
"You can't say that yet."
"Gentlemen, please I'm not following you." She interrupted them.
"Sorry again." Said the thin one. "You see Your Majesty, we are the owners of The Gus & Jack Laundry's Services business, the biggest in town. We even make some jobs for the castle."
"I am aware of it." Elsa said remembering reading the name of the shop in some of the factures Gerda had given to her.
"Great so you know who we are. That'll make it even easier to explain." Said the skinny brother.
"Explain what?" she asked.
"You see," the fat one said. "When my brother Jack and I were out of town for a few days we left in charge our employee Mr. Adam Silk. When we were away we received a letter from him. In his letter he explained us a peculiar event that happened in the laundry."
"Peculiar?! Peculiar you say. Gus, it was a disaster. Your Majesty, the lad wrote to us that a ghost had vandalized the shop. Can you believe it?! A ghost? I Last time I heard, ghosts can't grab things. And then I am supposed to believe his ghost…" the man named Jack made a sign of quotes with his hands, "had left blood on the blankets that belonged to no one but the Captain of the Royal Guard himself! Can you imagine?! That man is insane about the proper care of fabrics."
I can tell.
Elsa couldn't believe it. This was the second case of request that involved again that pig. She only wished the men wouldn't come up with a lie like the cabbage man and petition for a new laundry.
"So, what can I do for you gentlemen?"
"Uhm, you see there was something else in the letter of our employee." Said the fat brother in a calmer tone. "He explained to us how he managed to clean and remove the stains from the sheets but…"
"But the fabric was ruined!" said angrily the skinny brother. "The lad used too much chlorine. He is SO FIRED!"
"But Jack he was just trying to help."
"Help or not he's not the one that will have to deal with the Captain!"
"Uhm, excuse me for interrupting but, I believe I still haven't heard your request."
Both brothers stopped arguing and turned to look at her.
"Didn't the Princess told you?" said the fat one.
"I knew it! He was lying at that part!"
Elsa wondered if this was to end the same as the cabbage cart case. But the fat brother didn't seemed to be lying about Anna. So she decided to pretend she knew about it.
"Forgive me, my memory sometimes plays tricks on me. You know how work can get fully on you mind right. And my sister tells me plenty of things. Would you be so kind to refresh my memory?" She said trying to sound as casual as ever.
The thin brother smiled. "Not to worry Your Majesty, from hard workers to another we do understand when our minds start to play tricks on us a bit."
"So about the thing the Princess said?" she tried to insist.
"In his letter, Mr. Silk told us after the ghost ruined the sheets the Princess came to visit the laundry. She wasn't alone according to the letter, she came with a young man and Olaf the snowman." Explained Gus the fat brother.
"And then?" Elsa asked. At least the story seemed true to this point.
"According to the letter, the Princess promised our employee that you would convince Captain Jorgen to forgive our fault in damaging his sheets." Explained Gus.
Elsa nodded. That sounded something like Anna would totally say to try to help someone in need.
"And…"added Jack the thin brother. "ALSO, in the letter it said. If we, the bosses, EVER, dared to fire the lad we would have to face the Crown itself. You see now why we came to you, Your Majesty? We know how busy you are, we are also busy. We workers understand each other. But to believe that a ghost damaged the sheets and then to receive a threat from the Crown if we dare to fire the lad?! I think he is just a liar and we should fire him for that! Don't ya think?"
"Jack calm down. Forgive him Your Majesty, as you can see we come for your advice. Should we fire the lad or not?"
"Well actually," she said and then explained them how her sister went to investigate about the ghost.
After Elsa finished explaining them everything was caused by a pig the brothers faces relaxed.
"Fine, I won't fire the lad because a pig ruined the sheets."
Elsa sighed in relief.
"I'll fire him for telling us that we couldn't fire him because the Crown forbid it. He is still a liar."
Oh, no.
"Jack please."
"Nah, ah. He is so fired."
The Queen tried to ignore the constant pumping in her temples and better concentrate in something very serious. Elsa knew too well Anna, to know she was capable to make such a threat without thinking in the consequences.
First we close the doors for thirteen years, then I freeze the entire country and now the Crown threatens innocent people. No wonder some realms are facing Revolutions in the South.
"Look Your Majesty," said Gus the fat one. "I've met the Princess myself once. She was so nice to me that time. I didn't have enough change at that time and I was starving. She approached to me and gave me her sandwich. I could tell she was hungry but she gave it to me anyway."
"That sounds like something my sister would do." Elsa admitted.
"So? What's that supposed to mean?"
Elsa had to agree silently with the skinny brother. She couldn't tell the fat brother's point.
"What I want to say, is that the Princess would do anything to help someone. I don't know if she used the threat or not, but if she did I can assure you she just said it to make the boy feel better. And I don't care, he is our employee and I am not firing him for trying to solve things. He tried his best Jack. It is our fault for not training him enough."
"Ugh, fine!" said the other brother. "I won't fire him. But he'll have to stay extra hours until he learns how to use chloride the proper way. Thank you Your Majesty, you've been of great help."
"Yes thank you so much."
"Er, your welcome?"
The Queen felt kind of useless this time. She hadn't done anything to solve the problem this time. It had been the other brother. And yet they were still thanking her.
Come on Elsa, there's has to be something you can help with.
She thought for a moment and then remembered something.
"I'll speak with the Captain." She said already preparing herself for another lecture in the importance to differentiate training shirts from causal shirts.
"You would do that for us?" asked the skinny brother.
"We workers need to help each other right?" she said smiling. "I cannot promise you anything but I give you my word that I'll try my best to reason with him."
"It is more than enough for us that you'll speak with the scary man. You are so kind Queen Elsa." Said Gus happily.
"Your Majesty if you ever need anything…Anything! Clothes, fabrics, a special service, a discount, you name it! We'll gladly be at your service." Said Jack giving her a vow. "Our place is right in front of the Public Library if you ever need anything."
"Next time I go to town, I'll stop to say hi then." The Queen smiled gently at them as one of the guards conducted them to the exit.
"Your Majesty?"
Elsa turned. "Kai, I didn't know you were back already. Did our cabbage friend found the exit?"
"He did Your Majesty, but not after I introduced him to some of the dungeon guards. They were returning from their lunch hour the exact moment our friend was leaving." The butler said proudly.
"Are you sure it was a coincidence?" Elsa asked not fully believing him.
"Your Majesty may I remind you there is still one person waiting to see you."
The ginger man poured more water in Elsa's empty glass.
"Fine." She said too tired to argue with him. "Let him in if you would be so kind."
"Right on Your Majesty."
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The last visitor for today surpassed Elsa's expectations of weird cases. As if the stars had said so, the man that came to ask something from the Queen was also related with the mysterious ghost of Arendelle. But this time, it was not about a cart of cabbages destroyed or vandalism in a laundry establishment. This was about the pig itself.
"Mister Butch I am still not understanding," said Elsa noticing how her headache was now increasing. She pressed her temple and with a little frost tried to calm the pain.
"As you wish Yer Majesty." He said in a funny accent. "As I was saying, the pig is mine. I was going to sell it but then my eldest son told me he had already sold it and even showed me the money."
"I see, but he didn't sell it." The Queen was starting to understand why Derek called the pig "That bloody pig" all the time. She was starting to resent the poor animal herself.
"He didn't. Instead he gave me his own savings and let the animal free. And then the Princess appeared at my butchery willing to give it back, but then she changed her mind. Just like that! And then Princess Anna told me she would keep the pig until I let my younger son keep 'im as a pet. I'm a butcher Yer Majesty. Can you imagine what the other butchers will say if they heer I keep a pig as a pet?!"
"I can imagine the irony in it Mister Butch." Admitted Elsa. "And I presume you want the animal back to sell it?"
"I want what's mine back. YES. That little devil belongs to me! I come for what's rightful to me."
Elsa closed her eyes slightly. The man's loud tone of voice was not helping with her headache. She thought for a moment. In a way, Anna never had the right to decide the destiny of the pig. Even if she was royalty. Not even a Queen had that kind of right. Maybe an Emperor but not according to Arendelle Law.
But on the other hand. Who could blame a small boy to be friends with a pig? She thought about Kristoff and Sven, and their weird friendship. Anna must have thought something similar. And Elsa would not admit it to the man, but she definitely didn't have the heart to send the animal back to the butcher's hands.
I must try to keep the animal alive.
She thought once more about the story the butcher had just told her. She didn't find anything of use to help the pig to stay with the boy. And the headache was reaching the level of Zeus giving birth to Athena so she only wanted to end this quickly.
"Mister Butch, I understand the reason you are upset but I cannot allow you to take the animal with you. At least not today."
"What? Why?!"
"The Princess gave a promise to your younger son that the pig would be safe in the Castle grounds. So that makes the Crown directly responsible for the animal's sake in the future. You must understand, if something ever happens to the pig the Crown would be breaking its word of honour to one of its citizens."
"But Mark's only a child."
"Child or not child, he is still a citizen of Arendelle Mister Butcher. And so it happens, I, as her Queen I am obliged to answer the boy's request."
"But what about my petition?"
"The needs of a children will always come first by the Arendelle Law" said Elsa using her authoritative tone. "And let me remind you parents should also apply the Law and put their children first."
"Of course." The butcher said lowering his voice for once. "So I cannot take what's mine because my son, who is a child and the pig are protected by the Law?"
"You said it yourself Mister Butch"
"But then the Law is kind of unfair, no offense."
"Mister Butch, the Law is not made to let everyone live as they plead, but to let everyone live in society."
"But a society needs a butcher, and the butcher needs the animal to provide the food."
"Indeed but," Elsa made a pause as she approached the man to face him. "The main element of a society is their people. And we must hear the voice of that people in order to keep existing. Your son has a voice and he deserves to be listened."
"But he's just a boy, he doesn't understand the value of money yet."
"It's because he is just a child that the result of all this will have an impact in his life." Elsa sighed. "And right now, my priority is to protect that child."
"Well, if you put it like that then, yeah you have a point. But I'll be the laughing stock if I let the boy have a pig for a pet."
Elsa forced herself for not rolling her eyes in front of the man.
This is going nowhere.
"That is why," she insisted "I'll analyze this case with the proper care, and then I'll summon you to give you my final decision."
"So I won't 'ave an answer yet?"
"I'm afraid not Mister Butch. This is a delicate case. I'll delicately study all the variables and those who might be affected with my decision."
"Yeah whatever. Alright Yer Majesty. I guess it is better that you give it a deep thought than giving a quick answer. I'll come later to see what's to be done."
"Thank you for your cooperation Mister Butch. I promise I'll come to a decision before this week ends."
"Thank's Yer Majesty. I hope you don't forget that I spent money for that pig. So it is mine by right."
"I am aware." She said as the man started to leave.
Elsa sighed as the last petitioner of the day left. She was exhausted, with a terrible headache and starving and wishing to the day to end.
"Your Majesty," interrupted her Kai's voice. "Dinner will be served in a few hours. I just came to remind you that your appointment in the Music Hall is to begin shortly."
Oh great, just what I needed.
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Derek arrived to the Music Hall entrance and was about to open the door when he caught a glimpse of the silhouette of a blond woman.
The turned around recognizing his dancing partner.
"Good evening." He said smirking.
"Evening." She said with lack of enthusiasm.
He gave a quick look at her. She looked more stressed than usual.
"Rough day huh?" he said while he held the door to let her enter.
She rolled her eyes. "You can't imagine."
"I could, if you'd tell me." He said resting his back in the side of the big piano.
"Believe me, you really don't want to hear it." She said as she also rested her back next to him.
"Try me." He insisted, "We have some time before our instructor arrives, and I am bored.
It was true. The Prince had been doing nothing productive all day and he hated to be bored. He tried to read a little in the library but after a while he wanted to do something more physical. He wondered if he could borrow a horse from the stables but knowing that Elsa would get mad about it he preferred to desist. Then there was the Secret Santa present, but he decided he would go to town tomorrow and buy something for the event.
"Unless you want to start practicing already?"
"Not yet. But if you are bored this will not help you at all."
"Oh, come one. What's there to lose?"
The young Queen laughed which made him look at her puzzled.
"What?" he asked.
"It's just, that you want to kill your boredom by listening something even more boring." she explained.
"Oh, so you won't tell me about your day?"
Elsa shrugged. Not giving him an answer.
"I dare you to bore me even more then." He said looking at her.
She sighed. "Fine, remember that day with the pig and all?"
"If I remember. Elsa, I still have the taste of pork ear in my mouth." he said truthfully.
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Derek couldn't stop laughing.
"Your butler did what?!" he asked holding his stomach.
"Kai introduced the cabbage man to some of the dungeons guards." Elsa said also laughing as well.
"Oh, he is now my ultimate hero." Admitted Derek finally talking normally.
"Oh don't exaggerate." She said.
"I don't. That was brilliant. And you, Your Majesty deserve a medal for turning his game against the cabbage man. After he called me a thief and threaten me to call the guards that's the least he and his cabbages deserved. And that butcher really, to care more about what his pals might say instead of what his son wants. What are you going to do with that bloody pig by the way?"
"I don't know yet." She said turning her face from him and staring at the ceiling as if she were waiting for answer to appear printed in the ceiling.
"Derek," she said after a while.
"Uhm?"
"What do you think I should do?"
The Prince was surprised. This was the first time that Elsa had asked him for advice in the matter of ruling.
"I don't think I'm the right person you should be asking this. You know how everything turns bad when I'm around." He admitted.
"What?" Elsa turned to look at him kind of worried.
Had he let the sadness in his voice too noticeable? He punished himself for being so lost in the moment let his guard down.
"I mean, you know, I make people lose their temper all the time and soon enough they don't want to be near me and much less trust me." He said quickly hoping she would let it go. He forced a smile.
Elsa didn't smile back which meant she didn't buy his lie. And her eyes looked worried with a mixture of disappointment.
"You do get on my nerves most of the times," The Queen said in a mutter. "Even to the level where I want to hit your perfect teeth with a snowball."
The Prince felt like a pinch in his stomach. Sometimes Elsa could be so cold.
"But," Elsa looked at the floor.
He turned at her.
"That doesn't mean that I don't trust you." She said.
Derek felt another pinch in his stomach but didn't know what to say after that. And Elsa didn't spoke too. So, they remained there in an uncomfortable silence that was interrupted until the big wooden doors of the Music opened once more letting their substitute teacher enter.
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"Ohohohohohooo! Even a handsome man like you, needs to count the steps dearie. Remember to count." The old woman told him as he tripped for the third time during practice.
Derek bit his tongue to stop his mouth blurting out any claim to the old Queen. Instead he apologized shortly.
"My apologies Queen Violet."
"Ohohohohohohooo! Such a Prince Charming. I am so glad I had lunch with your father today." The old lady said as Derek made both of them turn. "Good turn dearie."
"Thank you Your Majesty." He said.
By the mention of his father he turned his eyes to the other pair that was practicing the waltz in the room. His father and Elsa.
He wasn't surprised when his father turned out to be their substitute teacher. He remembered how his parents used to dance almost every piece at balls. And that didn't changed even after his mother passed away. Derek's sister became the official dancing partner of their father ever since that.
He could deal with his father as a teacher, since he was his apprentice at the see for so many years. But not even in his craziest nightmares could he ever imagine that his father would invite the Queen of Drama too. And much less that the old lady would suggest that the King should practice with Elsa and that she would be teaching her Prince Charming.
Thanks a lot papa!
The King of Rosendelle as if sensing his son's non spoken message caught Derek's glance and winked at him.
Derek turned around immediately to upset to wink back. And almost immediately lost his balance.
"Watch your step dearie." The old Queen warned him. "You are still not counting."
Really what's wrong with Queens and counting their steps?
By remembering the other person obsessed in counting steps he raised again his head looking for her. He wondered how she was dealing with King Frederik. By own experience he knew how passionate his father could be sometimes.
He spotted them by the window. King Frederik was guiding the Queen of Arendelle in a slower rhythm than in waltz is expected. He remembered how many times Elsa had argued that he was going too fast at the turns. Maybe he was, and that may also be the reason Elsa and he would find themselves in the floor so many times.
Wanting to hear what his father might be teaching, he started to guide Queen Violet to the center of the room. Not close enough to make it evident that he wanted to be near them; and not far enough to be able to hear them.
When they reached the center of the room Elsa was almost tripping with her dress. Luckily King Frederik caught her by the arm.
"Thank you King Frederik." Said the Queen of Arendelle. "I counted wrong again."
"Counting? Queen Elsa, counting is not your problem. Never in my life have I met someone that would know the geometry of the waltz. Believe me dear, if only you let yourself move more freely you'd be an excellent dancer."
I told you Elsa, not everything is about counting steps. Derek smiled triumphal.
"You know what your real problem is sweetie?" King Frederik asked her.
"That I'm too slow? Or small?"
Especially slow.
"Slow? Small? What kind of fool told you that?!" the King started laughing.
"Erm," Elsa hesitated as she turned to look at the place Prince Derek and Queen Violet were dancing.
In order to avoid been caught staring Derek made a turn so quickly that made the old Queen to lose her balance and fall into in to his arms.
"Ohohohohooo, we are not meant to be that close when waltzing dearie. People might get the wrong idea you know."
"Of course Queen Violet, I apologize. I…I wasn't counting…" he lied.
"Ah, you see. It wasn't too hard to admit it" the Old Queen said smiling at him. "You can't depend only in your good looks and agility. You need to learn the order of steps."
Derek was about to answer back when he heard Elsa speak.
"But isn't memorizing the steps helpful?" she asked the King.
"Alas, of course it is. But you know, what is also important?" said Derek's Father.
The young Queen denied with her head.
"To feel it."
"Feel it?" she asked looking puzzled.
Feel it? Not even Derek understood what his father meant.
"Yes, music is an expression of emotions. Dancing to a certain music wakes certain emotions. Try to show what you feel at the moment through dancing. "
"I don't know I can, truly." Said Elsa.
"Of course you can. To feel is something as natural as breathing. Come one let's try it one more time."
Elsa didn't answered but gave a simple not to the man.
"Dearie my eyes are here." Said Queen Violet's voice. The old lady took with both hands the Prince's face and pulled it down in a fast move.
"Ow!" he said as one of her enormous rings scratched his left cheek in the process.
"Forgive me." Derek apologized automatically, still thinking about what his father had said. Elsa looked as lost at him in terms of "feeling it". But he had to give some credit to her for still trying.
And yet here he was not willing to do such a simple thing. If Elsa could accept good criticism like if it were nothing then he wouldn't be left behind.
Oh, what the heck!
The young Prince nodded and leaving aside his pride began to count in his mind.
One, two, three…one, two, three…
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It was late at night, and almost every light was turned off except for the ones in the library. The silhouettes of a young woman and young man moving to phantom music reflected in the walls of stone. Being tutored by King Frederik and Queen Violet had caused a big improve in their skills, but being the perfectionist they were, Elsa and Derek decided to keep with their practice after dinner.
"So, a party of trolls?" the voice of the Prince made her raise her head and look at him. "A birthday party of…trolls?"
He was looking at her questionably.
She understood in an instant what he was referring to.
"I guess I forgot to tell you. Kristoff's family is actually a community of rock trolls that live in the mountains."
"Yeah you kind of forgot that little information. No big deal, I knew Kristoff reminded of a troll, what a fool of me for not noticing before!"
"Don't be silly" She said trying to give him a serious look at him. "He and Sven were adopted by them when Kristoff was just a little boy."
They made a turn and smiled briefly at each other as none of them lost their step this time.
"But trolls?" Derek raised one of his eyebrows as if asking telling her "Are you freaking kidding me?!"
His expression was so funny that she couldn't help laughing a bit. He was telling her in silence.
"This a joke right?" he said letting her adjust her hand on his shoulder.
"It is not a joke." She said as they moved slowly to the center of the library. "I've met them myself when I was little. Though the circumstances at that time were not as pleasant as a troll party."
"What happened?" he asked.
Elsa felt like a whole in her chest. It didn't matter how many times she tried it, as soon as she would remember the first time she lost control of her powers the image of her little sister falling unconscious to the floor would haunt her mind. As in a chain reaction different images would pop in her mind: the fear in her parent's eyes as Grand Pabbie showed them a vision of an angry mob attacking a future Elsa, the sound of Anna's unmistakable knock at her door.
"Elsa? Hey Elsa!"
By the mention of her name the blonde snapped out.
"Elsa are you all right?"
"Sorry I used the wrong foot. Should we start over?"
"Forget about that! You paled a bit and it's started snowing."
"Wait what?!"
Elsa looked around. As Derek had pointed out snowflakes were falling all over the library.
"Oh no, the books will get wet!" She muttered to herself as she closed her eyes and concentrated.
"I'll cover them." Derek said in an instant putting his jacket over the pile nearest to them.
"No need." She told him.
As he turned to look at her, Elsa raised both her hands and the snow concentrated in a single snowflake that ended levitating over her right hand.
"Sorry. I must be tired." She said as she looked at the little snowflake in her hand. Wondering how a single snowflake could turn into a storm just by a sudden change of mood.
She decided she was too tired to be philosophical and decided to dissolve the snowflake. But the voice of Derek made her stop.
"Wait." He had said. "Don't make it disappear it yet."
"Why?" she asked. "She looked up at him."
"This is the first time I've seen your magic so close. I mean, Olaf counts but it doesn't count at the same time. And all those times you've hit me with a snowball hadn't left me time to appreciate so closely."
"It's just ice." She said not fully understanding his interest.
"No its not." He responded. "This is something else."
"What is it then?"
The Prince didn't answered her and just kept looking at the hovering snowflake in her hand.
"If you remove your hand will it stay hovering in the air?" he asked.
"Maybe." She said not really caring about it.
"Come on. Try it." He said smirking. "What can you lose?"
Elsa looked at him. Normally Derek would make a bad joke by now. But this time, he was acting as if he wanted to distract Elsa from something. Or better said, he wanted Elsa to forget what had caused the snow to fall in the first place.
Oh, well.
And Elsa moved her hand slowly letting the snowflake to hover in the nothingness.
"Wow, may I?" he asked her.
She didn't know what he meant to do but she nodded at him letting him.
Derek touched the snowflake with his fingertips. He seemed absorbed by it.
"Strange," he said smiling. "I imagined to feel a lot of cold but it also makes me feel…"
"What?" she asked now feeling more curious.
"Well, why don't you try it?" he encouraged her.
It was a silly. So many times she had conjured a snowflake, most of the time involuntarily. But this might the first time she also felt the urge to touch it. Maybe Derek's curiosity was contagious. Or he was good at convincing. Whatever his talent was Elsa touched slightly the snowflake feeling the familiar cold in her fingertips.
"It's cold." She said feeling a bit disappointed. The Prince was only playing with her.
"Cool don't you think?" He said letting out a laugh. "No pun intended."
His silly comment made her also to laugh and lose concentration in keeping the snowflake cold.
The snowflake melted quickly leaving no space between their hands and making their fingertips touch and making their hands intertwine together. The opposite of cold was what she felt. It was a kind of warm Elsa had never felt before.
So many times had she held his hand during practice that the action shouldn't have caused her to feel uneasy. And yet, this time something felt different.
Finding herself trapped in those weird silences again, Elsa became aware of her surroundings. She could hear the wood cracking in the fireplace behind her. She could sense the scent of old books and ink. All of those familiar to her. So many hours she had spent her life inside the favourite place in the castle. And yet, something felt different, yet she couldn't put a name to it. She then noticed the slight scent of cinnamon in the air. Elsa was not very fond of cinnamon, but the scent mixed with all her surroundings fitted itself perfectly.
The sound of the grandfather's clock bell marking midnight made them both recover their senses.
Elsa removed her hand from his immediately and stepped back. She crossed her arms and looked at the floor.
Derek also stepped back and started brushing his already messy dark hair. His gaze was lost at the nearest window.
It had like been trapped in a kind of trance. She didn't know for how long they had stayed in that position. Probably it had been only seconds but it had felt like so much more.
The air felt suddenly dense and Elsa suddenly didn't felt like staying in that room anymore.
He must have been feeling the same as he was avoiding to look at her.
"It's getting late." Derek said faking a yawn. "Maybe we should call it a night."
"Agreed." She said also avoiding his gaze.
The Queen shot a bunch of snow into the fireplace and both of them hurried rapidly into the hall.
They turned at the same time, giving the back to each other.
"Er, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Goodnight." He muttered.
"Yes. See you tomorrow. Goodnight." She whispered.
And they walked in opposite ways.
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It was late at night when Prince Derek left his bedroom. He had been trying to sleep for about an hour or so without success. The room felt as it was suffocating him.
He didn't know what was wrong with him. He was tired for sure, but at the same time he felt anxious for something. That's why he hated getting bored. He ended with anxiety that wouldn't let him sleep later.
He was on his way to the library to grab a book to read but the room reminded him immediately of a certain blond.
Still not fully understanding what had just happened in the library before when their hands touched, and preferring to forget about it, the Prince gave a full turn and changed his destination.
As he kept walking he found himself stopping in front of a door. He looked at it for a moment, and couldn't help finding amusing the details of blue snowflakes painted in the door. There was no doubt who could be the owner of that room. Even looking at it in the dark.
Derek looked at the edge of door and saw only dark inside. It didn't surprise him, seeing how late it was. He tiptoed until he reached the stairs fearing he would wake the Queen and so her rage. And then he descended in the dark to the first floor. He wondered if he went to the kitchen, he could find something to bite.
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He was about to return to his chambers after he had a bite of bread and cheese when the sound of movement not far from the kitchen drove his attention. His military training kicked in as his hand went to his waist looking for his celestial bronze sword. Which wasn't there of course.
"Bloody luck." He cursed as he realized he was in his blue pajamas and gray socks.
So much for an armor.
Another noise was made. This time clearer. It came from the living room or maybe the study.
The young man decided he had to improvise. As he walked through the hallway different shadows made by the castle decorations and furniture made him stop several times. But seeing that none of the shadows moved he decided to concentrate better on the source of the sound.
Derek reached the end of the hallway, where the study was. The tall wooden doors had a gothic style in the dark that made him wonder if the architect had done that on purpose to scare visitors to the monarch. He looked at the edges of the room and saw light. A small shadow blocked the light for a second confirming him whoever had made that noise was on the other side.
He was about to enter when he remembered he was unarmed.
Derek looked around and went to the nearest room. It was a small room with a big round table with a map drawn in it. Big and smaller ships were situated all around the table map. he kept inspecting the room for something more useful for a weapon than a model ship.
Ships? Too small. A map? Too useless. A cushion? Too soft. A telescope? Out of the question, probably Elsa would kill me if I break that. A quill? Oh, come on!
He heard more noises. He had to act quickly.
"Oh, please be the hardest cushion to ever exist." He whispered as he took the little cushion. But as soon as he squeeze it he felt how soft it was. "I hope this burglar is allergic to cotton then."
There were more sounds coming from the study. He could tell the burglar was looking for something among the books and shelves. He smiled. If the intruder was looking among the books that meant he wasn't facing the door and this gave Derek the element of surprise as an advantage. He moved quickly until he reached the front doors of the study.
It's now or never.
He kicked the door and as soon as he spotted a silhouette near the window and the bookshelf.
"Freeze! Don't move!" he yelled.
Trusting in his good aim he threw the cushion with all his energy.
The cotton projectile hit in the face at the intruder who was carrying some books to fall backwards causing all the books fall on its body too.
Not trusting fully on the possibility that the intruder might be allergically to cotton, Derek stayed on guarding position. If the burglar tried anything like escape or attack he would be ready to fight back.
But the intruder remained in the floor.
"Wow, I must have hit him pretty hard." The Prince said quite surprised.
He came close to the desk to have a better look to the stranger.
But as soon as he reached the other side, he was instantly hit by a giant snowball in his face.
"OW! My nooze!" he yelled as both his hands went to his nose. The pain was instantaneous and the snow that had entered his nostrils was so cold that it started to itch.
"It serves you right!" Said a pretty familiar and quite upset female voice. "May I ask what's wrong with you this time?!"
He opened his eyes and met a very, very scary Elsa. He didn't know what to say to her so he pretended to clean the snow from his pajamas.
"Derek."
He didn't answer.
"Fine, you asked for it." She said crossing her arms. "Derry."
The impact of hearing that name was instantaneous. He was five years old again, and his fat ugly aunt calling him Derry was grabbing his cheeks and hugging him to death. And he, as a little boy hiding under the tables and behind the curtains. Escaping from those disgusting kisses from all those toad like women friends of her aunt.
He squirmed by his childhood trauma.
"Don't. EVER. Call me that!" he said not fully recovered yet. "Don't start a fight you cannot win Adele Dazeem." He warned her bitterly.
"You are in no position to threaten me. You just attacked me with a cushion. And even worse you dared to order the Snow Queen to freeze. FREEZE! For God's sake."
"Oooh. I see, freeze." He realized his mistake of chose of words. "You have to admit…" but he stopped by the look she was giving him.
"Sorry about that. I didn't mean it in that way. Honestly." He said trying to sound serious. "But seriously. What are you doing here?"
"Me? What are you doing here?" she answered turning her head a little.
"I asked you first." He insisted.
"I asked you second." Said the blonde as she rested her hands on her hips. One of her eyebrows risen.
Derek knew he had screwed it. Again. And this time it was really bad.
"I, eh… I thought someone was in your study." He explained. "A burglar."
"A burglar?" she repeated sarcastically. "Just tell me, by any chance. Just the slightest idea that I might be working in my own study didn't occur you?"
"Er…Now that you mention it, it makes a lot of sense."
Elsa just looked at him. She didn't look angry anymore just tired. "Honestly, what am I going to do with you?"
"I'm sorry really. You could throw at me a second snowball if you like, just make sure to make it less dense please the next time." The Prince said offering a small smile as a sign of truce.
She smiled briefly at him accepting his truce and walked to her desk.
The Queen took a sit in her chair. "You are lucky I'm too tired to pursue you all over the castle." She said trying to hide her yawning. "Please close the door when you leave."
Her yawn also made him yawn.
That's all? A yawn?! He asked himself. No second snowball? No punishment? Nothing?! Elsa what's wrong?!
He saw as she took her quill and started doing some calculations. She stayed there in her desk pretending as if nothing had happened.
He gave a quick read on her paperwork. Elsa was checking some inventory and purchase orders. He was familiar with those calculations and he knew from experience those could take hours to finish.
"Elsa?" he said approaching to her desk.
"Mhmm?" she mumbled.
"What are you doing?" he said as he took a sit on the side of her desk in order to have a better look of what she was doing. She gave him a look of disapproval when she realized he was sitting on her desk.
"What do you think I'm doing?" she said as she submerged her quill in the inkpot.
"It seems you are working."
"You don't say?" she laughed sarcastically. "Derek, if you are not leaving at least be of some use. Could you pass me that green book on the floor? Not that one, the one next to your left foot. Yes that book. I was looking for it and when I found it the next I realized your ultimate weapon hit me right in the nose."
"Good thing I picked the cushion and not the telescope." He muttered.
"The what?"
"Nothing. I'm just telling nonsense." He added quickly realizing his mistake.
"Now that's new." Elsa said turning to look at him.
"What?"
"Not every day you admit you are telling nonsense." She explained. "Maybe I hit you too hard with the snow. Sorry about that. It's just, you took me by surprise too."
The young royal passed her the book.
"I deserved it." He said. "Now, where do I put the book?" he asked noticing all the papers spread at her desk.
"You can leave it over that pile thank you." She pointed at a big pile at the corner. "I'll grab it in a moment."
"You're wel…" The Prince stopped as he looked around her study.
He had been there many times but it was the first he noticed the amount of paperwork and books and scrolls. Derek turned again to look at her.
And he noticed she was still wearing her characteristic ice dress. Not a night gown.
"Elsa?"
"Mhmmm?"
"Have you been working all night?"
The blonde didn't answered as she kept writing numbers.
"Elsa?"
Her arm stretched trying to grab the green book he got for her "Accounting Equivalences from A to Z by Frollo Ratcliffe" and pretended not to be hearing him.
He cleared his throat. Still not response from her.
You asked for it. He thought.
The Prince took the book from her hands quite easily.
"Hey." She yelled. "Give it back."
"Not until you answer to me." Derek said raising the book higher with one hand and with his other held the blonde's head. "Have you been working late at night Your Majesty? Yes or no?"
Elsa must have been too tired to fight because she lessened up quickly and spoke.
"Yes." She answered. "Now give me back my book."
"Why?" he insisted.
She hesitated but answered as Derek raised the book even higher from her reach.
"Fine" she said. "Since the Council of the Realms took most of my time I got some paperwork unattended. So, the answer is yes. I've been here all night. Now, can I have my book back?"
"Not just yet." Said the Prince. "Have you been staying here late more than one night?" Thought he was almost certain what her answer would be.
The Queen didn't answered and bit her lip in a kind of cute way.
"How long have you been staying so late?" he asked.
"Derek, I really need to get back to work."
"How long, Elsa?" he insisted.
The Queen sighed.
"Three weeks by now." She admitted.
Derek felt guilty instantly. Why hadn't he noticed her getting tired day after day?
"Just that?" he asked fearing her answer.
"And before that a full month." She whispered.
The Prince stoop up looking at her.
"You've been sleeping almost nothing for almost two months?!"
"Shhhh! You're gonna wake the staff."
"Forget about everyone else for a moment, and care more about yourself!" He said not caring if someone would hear him.
"I am perfectly fine!" She said raising her voice. "Just give me back the book."
"I'm not giving the bloody book until I say so." He said not caring it the staff were hearing them. "This is not life Elsa."
"I am a Queen of a whole country."
"So?" he asked her. "Did you forget you are human too?"
"Oh, don't be ridiculous."
"So, now I'm the one being ridiculous?" He laughed. "I haven't been here less than a month and I've been noticing it day after day! And I…"
I didn't do anything. He realized.
He had noticed it ever since he began to study her gestures. By the way she acted she could have pursued a career in Drama Theater, always acting so perfectly. But many times he had noticed her complaints about a headache, or the tiredness in her eyes. Not to mention once he overheard Olaf telling Elsa to try to sleep in her bed for once. And not to mention the insistence of Anna to the staff to not disturb the Queen.
He had seen all those signs and had done absolutely nothing.
And now he even more guilty for insisting they should practice all nights at the library.
Derek wanted to kick himself in the …
"So, are you giving me the book back or not?" she asked.
Derek was brought to reality as he heard the Queen's voice.
He thought for a moment and an idea came up to his mind.
"I'll give it back." he made a pause. "On one condition."
"What is it that you want? That I let you win in chess some time? A book? That I should convince Queen Voilet to stop touching your messy hair?" she asked.
Derek stopped for a moment. That last offer about his hair was actually tempting but he resisted.
"Ah-ah." He denied her with his right finger. "You'll have to accept to my condition first."
She sighed. "This is unfair you know."
"Maybe, but you need the book don't you?"
"Alright, you win. I'm already regretting this but I'll accept your terms and conditions." She crossed her arms and looked at him "Happy now?"
"Quite so, Your Majesty." he said happily.
He gave her the book back.
"Thank you Your Highness. Now, what is that condition that I've just accepted?"
"It's very simple actually. You have to let me help you with your work."
"What?! Of course not. You are a guest here. And this paperwork is my responsibility you can't…"
Derek raised his hand in a commanding manner.
She stopped talking immediately.
"Three things Elsa." he said as he showed her three fingers. "First, I wasn't finished. Where are your manners?" he joked.
The Queen rolled her eyes but remained silent.
"Second." He said showing two of his fingers. "You've just accepted the terms and conditions so no going back young lady."
The blonde didn't look so happy but still held her temper when she spoke.
"And third?" she asked.
"And third. Last but not least" he said "You'll let me help you in your paperwork from now on."
"You are aware I will make you pay for this right?" she asked.
"Aye. But I'm also aware you are only human." He smiled.
Le handed him the book which she took from him. She didn't say anything but the slightest movement of her lips forming the simplest of smiles was enough for him.
"Now." He said as he pulled a chair over the desk "What can I help you with?"
She thought for a moment and handed him a big red book.
"You can help me doing some accounts of the ice stock."
"I'm on it." He said grabbing a quill and parchment.
"Derek?" Elsa said in a more gentle tone.
"What is it?"
"Thank you." Her face looking less stressed and her eyes were showing again the Elsa he preferred.
"Don't even mention it." He said feeling motivated. "Remember you can always ac-count on me." He winked at her.
She looked at him raising an eyebrow.
"Seriously?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Pun intended." He smirked.
And in a fraction of a second the second snowball hit his nose. But he guessed she couldn't that mad, when the snow felt as light as powder and it hadn't been that cold.
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AN: Read the title the again…..
Then read this from right to left: "SNAH EHT TAEFED OT"
Forgive me, I couldn't help it xD