Hello dearies. Yes, I know I am late and you will find this chapter particularly short since it is a transitional episode. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to comment and review.
AN1: So since we have a tie about whether or not write puns or not. I will just add fewer. How is that?
AN2: As always, reviews and follows feed this fanfic.
Disclaimer: Frozen and other Disney characters belongs to Disney Co. Sugar belongs to Maroon Five as well.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Chapter 22. Party Rock
It was morning and the sight of Arendelle's castle came to her view. All Anna wanted was to reach to the kitchens and grab whatever Jill was cooking. She was not hungry but starving.
She was craving something with substance and non-healthy. After haven eaten only but rotten carrots during the whole trip, she kept nothing but resent and hate for the vegetable. Besides, she could swear her skin was turning a shade of orange, which worried her even more. At least she was not growing a pair of rabbit ears.
Is that how Kristoff got those big ears himself? She wondered.
Her stomach made a growl for the hundred time this morning, demanding food like a caged animal.
"Ugh …" The Princess pleaded with a grunt.
"I know, I know." The ice harvester said knowing too well the state of famish she was. "What about this? I leave Sven in the stables and you can go directly to grab a bite." He offered as they stopped in front of the main gates.
"Are you sure?" She bit her lip feeling guilty. Anna did not want to leave him with the entire luggage.
"Go on! We can handle." He said as Sven also nodded in agreement as if the reindeer could understand his master's words.
"But…?"
"I have work to do anyway. Your sister won't be pleased if I deliver another lame report anyway."
"That was one time," she said quickly "besides she told me the other day your reports were pretty good." Anna said proudly.
"Really?" he asked with a small smile forming in his lips. His eyes were full of hope.
"Don't tell her I told you." The Princess whispered. "It was supposed to be a secret."
"You are the worst at keeping secrets. But don't worry I won't tell her. Moreover, I feel like I want to work even harder." He said calmly.
"I knew I was right falling for you." She smiled at him. "Wait," she paused realizing something. "You don't think Elsa might have known I would fail at keeping the secret so that…"
"When you would tell me, I would feel the need to improve in my work?" He finished the sentence. "Nah, that doesn't sound like the strategist bossy Queen of your sister at all." He said sarcastically.
"She wouldn't, would she?" she wondered again. "Nah…or would she?...nah."
Kristoff shrugged innocently.
"Anyway," he said in a less teasing tone. "I still need to work on that report and you should go find your sister and report yourself to her.," he said as he helped Olaf down the sleigh.
"Thanks Kristoff, goodbye Kristoff. Goodbye Sven." Said the little snowman. "I'm gonna say hi to everyone."
After the animated bundle of joy left, the Princess felt as if being pushed by the reindeer towards the tall blond in front of her.
It was not odd to be that close to him. They were already used to the closeness ever since they had become a couple. Still, she could not stop from blushing and give him a shy smile as a response for his questioning eyes.
Pleased with the answer, Kristoff returned the smile as he leaned forward. Anna grabbed his coat so that she could shorten the distance. They were mere inches from each other and she could hear her own heartbeat drumming in her chest. It was then that a loud growl coming from the Princess stomach made them both stop and open their eyes.
Anna flushed even harder while Kristoff only rolled his eyes knowingly.
"I'll see you later." He patted her head tenderly. "Go and eat something already."
She nodded still a bit flustered and started heading to the castle when a quick thought crossed her mind. Anna turned around quickly and made a graceful jump giving Kristoff a chaste kiss in the cheek.
"See you later." She said running fast to the castle entrance.
"Say hi to Elsa and Derek when you spot them." She heard him yell from behind. His hand still holding his cheek.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"Thanks a lot Jill. I AM starving."
"For you Princess, anything dear. I am deeply sorry I cannot serve you until the deliveryman from the market arrives today. After all this guests I'm afraid we are almost out of stock." Said the old lady. "But I thought you went to a birthday party sweetie. At least you most have got some cake didn't ya?"
"No worries Jill I can wait a little longer," the Princess said trying to ignore the loud rumble in her tummy. "And at the party, well, they did served food, uhm…sort of."
"So why didn't you eat a thing lassie?" asked the wrinkled cook.
"Let's just say Kristoff's family has a terrible taste in food." Explained the Princess.
Or any kind of food.
"Oh but at least you had fun nah?"
Anna nodded. "Oh yes we did. They might not cook at all, but they sure know how to party. I just wish Elsa had come too. She needs to chill more. And I mean chill, chill, not as in chill of cold. Oh God, did I just sound like Derek would?"
The old cook laughed behind the stove.
"What is so funny?"
"Oh, don't mind me dear." Said the woman but her smile told Anna the old cook it was certainly not nothing. "Besides, I don't think you can see it yet."
"See what?" Anna insisted.
"Oh nothing," The cook sighed. "But as for Her Majesty, you shouldn't worry too much about her. Even with my bad sight, I can see she's learning to chill well enough."
"Huh?" The Princess admitted.
"Don't worry; they are even blinder than me and you together."
"Blinder? Jill I think I don't follow you."
"Oh dear, where would the fun be if I told you." The old cook laughed again.
"Heh?" Anna was sure Jill had inhaled too much cleaning chemicals for sure. The old woman spoke pure nonsense to her.
"Now if you excuse me," The cook said pushing the Princess aside "I need to check the oven and prepare some mashed potatoes."
Forgetting about the cook's speech, and urged by her empty stomach the Princess took the opportunity to grab the first thing from the food basket next to her, while the cook kept focused in adding milk to the mashed potatoes mixture.
"Now this is real food." She told herself as she took another bite from her loaf of bread. It was hard and dry as a rock. Probably the bread was meant to be food for Ser Bacon (her protégée pig) but she did not care. It was still ten thousands better than troll food.
While she munched her stone bread, the memory of the trolls and their traditional celebration filled her mind. The memory of the birthday party as fresh as if it were yesterday, which it was. She giggled to herself. Duh.
A troll birthday party was nothing Anna had ever experienced before. Music was so loud she was surprised the trolls could yell even louder. Everyone would, sing, eat, dance, jump, eat again, yell, roll followed by loud chatting and yes, more eating.
"Rock and roll!" the band would yell and then roll downhill.
The food looked a little bit too weird to Anna so she did not touch it. They were offering a buffet of variety of dishes: dirt pie (which seemed to be everyone's top dish), worms spaghetti for the kids, crunchy insects covered in honey and even a low fat grass salad.
The Trolling Stones band was playing a popular favourite.
"Your fungi
Yes, please
Won't you roll and put it down on me?
I'm right here, 'cause I need
Little mud, a little humidity
Yeah, you stone me good loving
Make it all bright
Need a little sweet mess in my life
Your fungi
Yes, please
Won't you come and roll it down on me?"
"Uff, I need a break," said Anna as she went to a corner of the land where Kristoff was munching another carrot. Sven had stayed at the dance floor; it seemed the song that was recently playing was also a favourite for him.
"Did any one stepped on you?" Asked Kristoff offering her a carrot as well.
Anna denied with her head not really craving a vegetable right now. If only there was chocolate. Hell, that smelly dish fish Elsa liked seemed even tastier now than the entire buffet menu.
"Not really. I think you are the only one that likes to step on my feet." She teased him.
"Ha, ha so funny."
"Princeth, Princeth" called a cute voice from below. "Where is blond Anna?" asked a little girl troll that was pulling her Anna's dress.
Anna took a sit in a rock and put the girl troll in her lap.
"You mean Elsa? Oh, she couldn't come."
"Yep, she is busy doing her Queen job." Explained Olaf's head from one corner. The rest of his body was dancing yet.
"Poor blond Anna." Said the little girl. "Did you leave her toys to play with?"
Anna laughed at the cute pout the troll girl was making.
"Well," she said. "If her books could be called her toys, then yes. You could say she has a whole toy store to play with."
"Wow!" said all the troll kids and Olaf's head.
"And she can play chess now with Derek." Added Kristoff as he removed of another troll kid from his legs. "She tried to teach me once. She was not pleased when I said I found it absurd that a horse could only move in L by jumping above midair other pieces."
"At least he puts up a fight in their competitions. He hates losing as much as her." Said Anna. "I just hope they are behaving and not going again at whether coffee should be added sugar or not? Honestly! Who cares? It tastes horrible both ways."
"I know. I remember last time I came to deliver her some ice taxes at her study." explained Kristoff jokingly. "I found them both there having a serious conversation about words and grammar. They were so deep in their chat that they both were startled when I made myself noticeable."
"Words and grammar?" She asked not understanding.
"As you heard me. They were wondering why a cookie was named cookie? If cookies are baked and not cooked. But wait, then they came with another question, why was bacon named bacon? If bacon was supposed to be cooked and not baked?"
"Are you serious that's they were talking about?" The Princess asked as a picture of her older sister figured in her mind, reading an old grammar book and doing annotations about everything related to the words cookie and bacon. The more she thought of it the more real the image in her mind appeared.
Yeah, Elsa was capable of that. Once a thought came to her mind, nothing would stop her in order to achieve her goal.
Kristoff smirked. "You should have seen them; as soon as Elsa and I checked all the taxes they returned to the last point of their conversation."
Anna giggled.
"I don't even know what's more ridiculous. That they were treating the topic so seriously or that they had actually asked my opinion in the matter. Who cares if it is cooked and not baked? Bacon is bacon."
"Don't let the pig in the Royal stables hear you though." Added Anna with more giggling.
"Oohhh, do I smell a good gossip baking? I hope it is tasty and full of juicy details. " said a female voice behind Anna.
Taken by surprise he Princess turned her head only to meet Bulda's grinning face. The female troll was carrying a tray with wooden cups containing a strange bright purple liquid that smelled sweet and inviting.
"Anna dear, so nice to see ya! With all this attendants it's hard to spot you." said Kristoff's adoptive mother. "Here have a drink."
The girl wondered how difficult could it be to notice the only human woman in the whole party, whom happens to stand out with the difference in height?
O well, she put aside her thoughts. And seeing that Kristoff had actually grabbed one of his mother's drinks decided to give it a try herself.
"Mmm, yum. What is this?" she asked to the woman troll. To her surprise, it tasted so human like. Not like it was made of humans, she corrected her thoughts. She meant that it tasted like food edible for humans.
"It tastes like strawberries and something else." The Princess finally said.
"That something else is a gem's powder mixture. We call it herbal punch. It does wonders with the hair and mushrooms. You see this skin?" Bulda showed Anna her face and hands. "So smooth as a pebble stone and clean as diamond? It is all thanks to this. And part of the reason this beauty," she said pointing herself "has been Miss Valley of the Rock three times consecutively."
Kristoff took a sit next to Anna and drank from his cup.
"So where's pa?" he said trying to change the topic. Anna only laughed seeing him embarrassed.
"You mean Cliff? That piece of boulder I have of a husband. Last time I saw him he was filling himself with mushroom pie like there's no tomorrow. Forget about 'im." Bulda took a sit in a log in front of Anna. "Now, tell me, what were you saying about the Queen and a certain someone?"
"Ma!" Said Kristoff in a warning tone. "I know that tone and that face. Leave it now."
But Bulda was already grinning while other troll women had approached them.
"Leave what?" She said. "We are only chatting here."
"Yeah right." He said crossing his arms.
Anna saw as her boyfriend rolled his eyes.
"So Derek was it?" asked Bulda.
"Ma, no." Kristoff insisted.
"Ma, yes!" said Bulda grinning again.
"We didn't ask you!" yelled an older troll female as she waved her wooden cane hitting Kristoff with it.
"OW! Why did you hit me?" he claimed in pain.
"We asked the Princess." Answered another voice.
Anna turned and saw even more eyes were focusing on her. She laughed nervously.
"What about him?"
"Who is he? We think we've never heard of him before." Said one.
"Yeah, we are just wondering." Said another.
"Uhm, he's an old childhood friend. He and his father are staying with us at the castle."
"Ooohhh and what else?"
"Ma, that's enough." Interrupted Kristoff again "Ow, ow, ow! Grandma stop hitting me!"
"Then talk."
"Fine, fine. Just remove that cane from my face."
After she did, Kristoff sighed.
"But just one question. OW! Okay, okay. Just three questions. Is that better?"
"How sweet of you Kristoff." said the old woman troll.
"Yeah, yeah." He said rubbing his head. "You are lucky I have a strong skull."
"Now, about this young man."
"How did you know he was young?" asked Anna.
"Girl, we trolls just know these things."
"Ma," Kristoff insisted. "OW!" Sorry."
"Shush son. You are not a woman so you would never understand these things."
"Yeah, you wouldn't understand." Added Olaf.
"How would you know Olaf? You are a snowman." Said Kristoff.
Anna giggled seeing Kristoff so flustered with the female population of his family.
"So, about the questions?" Insisted Bulda once again.
"Just ask already." Sighed Kristoff in defeat.
And that triggered it.
"Does he likes fungus?" asked the old one.
"What about his teeth are they strong?" said another.
"Can he sing? I bet he sings."
"Is he real?"
"Does he smell funny as Kristoff?"
"Hey I said only three questions. And for the last time, I don't smell funny. I took a bath today Anna, I swear." Her boyfriend said as he looked at her.
The Princess laughed at it and held his hand in a supporting act.
"I bet he isn't as good looking as Kristoff no one is that lucky." Added Bulda.
Anna started to giggle when she saw Kristoff's ears turning pink.
"Ma!"
"Alright, alright. We get it. We are just curious about your sister's new friend. Right girls?" said Bulda.
"Yeah. Just curious." Said one of the other female trolls as they all nodded.
"And we want to know if he likes fungus." said the old one.
Anna wondered how sane their intentions could be. She still remembered the first time she met the trolls they wanted to wed her to Kristoff. At her last thought, the Princess blushed.
"Remember just three questions." insisted the blond.
"Yeah alright. So tell us, dear. Where does he come from?" asked Bulda.
"As I said we met him when we were children. His father the King of Rosendelle was best friends with mine."
"So he's a Prince." Said one.
"Prince Charming!" cried the old one.
Anna laughed at the thought of Derek being charming.
"Well actually, he doesn't like to be called Prince at all. I have heard Elsa call him Captain once or twice. I think he is a sailor of his father's ship."
"So we could say that this ship sails itself eh?" suggested Bulda to the other female trolls. They all giggled.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Kristoff.
"Oh just troll things son."
"Whatever, next question ma."
"Mhmmm, what is his relationship with the Queen?"
"With Elsa?"
"They're friends ma." Interrupted Kristoff. "Next question."
"Kristoff don't be that harsh to them."
"Trust me Anna. I have lived with them enough to know, the less they know the better. OW!"
"Let the girl talk you dumb sack of carrots!" Said the old troll woman after she hit one again the ice harvester. "Now, missy please tell us what's really bothering us all. The real important question here is…" the old lady made pause of suspense "Does he like fungus or not?"
"What?" Anna was confused but answered anyway. "No I don't think so."
"Good," the old woman smiled showing even more wrinkles. "Then he has my blessing."
"I'm afraid I don't understand." Anna tried to say but the old lady seemed too pleased with her answer that Anna didn't pushed it fearing Kristoff might get another hit.
"That's it no more questions." Kristoff said standing up.
"Not so fast my boy. Your answer doesn't count." Bulda turned again to the Princess. "Well dear?" she said giving a pleading look at the Princess.
Anna thought for a moment and after taking another sip from her cup answered. "It's like Kristoff said. They share a friendly rivalry." She laughed. "Both are stubborn as mules most of the times and if they could, they would live 24/7 inside a library. They are order and grammar freaks. And I could only convinced them both to open next ball dance with deceiving them with tricks."
"Shame." Muttered Kristoff under his breath but loud enough for Anna to hear him. The Princess gave him a guilty but proud smile.
"Ooohh, sounds like they are quite alike." Mentioned Bulda.
"Nope. They are mostly opposites." Said Olaf who had remained mostly quiet for entire conversation. "I'm the one teaching them to dance the waltz. If their butts are not on the floor by all those falls, they are mostly arguing about whose blame it was for the fall. They are even worse than Kristoff."
"Hey!" the ice harvester claimed.
"Do not question the words from master my young pupil." Olaf said in a wise tone, "I still sense a disturbance in your rhythm. Much to learn, you still have."
"Yeah, listen to Olaf. You sack of 'tatoes!" said the old lady troll again. "What do you know 'bout dancing?"
"What would you know?" asked her Kristoff raising his eyebrows.
"I still can shake more than you and I'm rock," answered the old troll defensively as she shook her rocky hips in a sensual way.
"I didn't need to see that." said Anna opening her eyes wide in disbelief. Were troll parties like this all the time? She could only feel sorry for poor social impaired Kristoff. No wonder he had trust issues.
"Oh don't mind Granny. She still thinks she is in her middy hundreds." Said Bulda pushing the old woman troll away from the kids view.
Kristoff rolled his eyes.
"Now, where were we?" Said Bulda returning to her seat.
"I was telling you I was the dancing teacher." Said Olaf's head finally being over his body by a male troll. "Ahh, that's better."
"Oh right, I remember now." Bulda clapped happily. "And what else can you tell us about it?"
The snowman put a stick hand over his chin deep in thought. "Mhmmm….well there is something."
"Yes?"
"Mhmmm …" kept saying Olaf. "They had improved so much in a short time. Even if they had less time to practice than Anna and Kristoff. They're mistakes are now fully gone and it makes me suspect that maybe they…"
"Yes?"
"Maybe they have the best dancing teacher ever." The snowman said in serious thought. Olaf giggled not noticing the hundreds of face palms of the trolls that were clearly expecting another answer. "Wait that's me. I am their teacher. Of course, I am the best. I managed to teach even Kristoff and his two left feet."
"Or you could say they practice on their own." Said another troll voice.
"Oh, can you imagine?"
"The two of them, alone in the dance floor. Falling together. With their rears all cold and stiff from all those falls and yet still trying." Bulda said to the other trolls.
The female troll population sighed dreamily. Their eyes looking at the stars, lost in their silly thoughts.
Ooohh this is too good." Said a troll girl probably a teenager. "You were right Bulda this is the good stuff."
"I told you, something hot was cooking over here." Bulda said the girl as she nodded moving their heads to one side to another in a sassy way.
"Hey but what happens when…" asked another one in a whisper to the ear of one troll. The second troll passing the message also in secret to Bulda who nodded at the message.
"Ma, please." Kristoff said noticing the growing giggling and clearly not amused.
"So," kept Bulda, ignoring her adoptive son. She turned her eyes towards the Princess again. "You don't have to answer me this if you find it too personal sweetie. But the girls and I were wondering one thing."
Anna nodded wondering what could they be wondering if they had to ask permission first.
"Has the Queen ever lost control of her powers arguing with this Captain Charming?" asked Bulda calmly but Anna could sense the nervousness in her voice. The question was indeed too personal. "Of course we ask because we worry for the Queen well-being." Added quickly Kristoff's mom.
The Princess felt the pressure of all the eyes laid on her. She took her time to remember all those times she had witnessed the other young royal's typical encounters.
None. She realized surprised. The more she tried to remember the more clear it was. She seeked for Kristoff's eyes. When she met them, they were telling her the same. He had also realized the same as her.
"Err…" Anna cleared her throat. "No. Elsa hasn't lost her powers a single time she's been with Derek."
There was even more giggling coming from the troll crowd.
"I could only wonder why?" Said the teenage troll between giggles.
Why indeed? Anna asked herself in her mind.
Again, her mind worked hard by replaying all those times Derek would probably cause her sister finally lose it and cause a heavy snowstorm. But there was none. In fact, all those times Elsa had shown even more control over her magic producing snowballs at will and throwing them at Derek's face just to shut his mouth. Not in a million years could Anna imagine her sister, would use her magic powers to finish an argument with someone.
If it were someone else, maybe the story would be very different. Elsa would never dare to do something like that at all. Maybe it was because that someone was Derek that it actually made it work. He did not seemed to mind at all. In fact, he would rather end up their silly argument with a stupid joke only to gain rolling eyes from the Ice Queen. Then they would change topic quickly as if it nothing happened while the room would stay always warm.
"Well, it will sound odd but, I guess it fits them. It is so them, you know. It's almost like…" Anna made another pause. "Like…"
"Yeees?" asked the troll voices. Their staring white eyes blinking.
"Like they would enjoy it." Anna finally said it as she realized it too for the first time. "Oh, my God!" She brought both hands to her cheeks as a new thought blurred her mind. "What if I have masochist for a sister?!"
"Wait what?" Kristoff asked frowning. It was clear he was not thinking the same as her.
"Oh, dear. Nothing of the sort." Bulda laughed.
"It, it isn't?" Anna wondered.
"Of course not." The troll woman said. "It's simpler than that."
"I agree Elsa is not a masochist. They might be bipolar though. They can be talking happily about their favourites novelists for a moment and a second later, they want to strangle each other. It is how they are. They are just fixer uppers as you and me." Mentioned Kristoff as he drank from his beverage.
Anna noticed as some of the teenage trolls giggled even more and Bulda smiled widely.
"Ohohoho…"
"What's so funny ma?"
"Oh notthin' son. Just that a Mother's knows best."
Anna wondered what did Bulda meant by that. But as she was about to ask the voice of Cliff (Kristoff's adoptive father) echoed the valley. He was calling everyone to the centre of the dance floor announcing "CAKE TIME".
Soon, the troll's interest in gossip became overruled by their number one priority: food.
It made everyone shout and run in excitement. At the thought of cake, and urged by hunger the Princess forgot about her question to Bulda and joined everyone to sing a Happy Birthday song to Grand Pabbie.
The cake the trolls had made had a dirt like kind of flavour. Anna almost puked when she tasted it. Nothing was wrong about the herbal punch but now she understood why Kristoff had stopped at Oaken's for food supplies. The reason was simple. Troll food was only edible for trolls.
"Are you alright?" asked her Kristoff as he offered her some water from his canteen.
"Ugh... yeah...I'm better now." she said as she cleared her mouth with her sleeve.
"I told you the cake was no chocolate flavour."
"But it looked like it."
"Here eat this."
"What is this?" she asked as she took what looked like seeds from his gloved hand.
"Some medicinal seeds. These will take the flavour of dirt away."
As soon as she started chewing, the disgusting taste changed to a honey one.
"Thanks Kristoff. That actually helped."
"Anna, Kristoff. How are you doing?" asked the voice of an old troll below them.
"Grand Pabbie so nice to see you finally! Happy one hundred and eleventh birthday!" she said as she held the troll's hand in a loving way.
"Here Grand Pabbie. This gift is from us and from Olaf and Sven." Said Kristoff as he gave the old troll a box wrapped with a red ribbon.
"Also Elsa sends you this." Said Anna handing him a simple blue box wrapped in a ribbon of a lighter tone of blue.
"Oh you shouldn't have." He said as he opened the first gift.
Inside the box, there was a collection of Arendelle's best chocolates.
"Alas! Chocolates. I might not be very fond of human food but these are the exception to the rule." The old troll said as he put two into his mouth.
"Glad you like them." Anna said beaming.
"Wait to see Elsa's gift. I want one myself." Said Kristoff to her.
"What did she bought him?" Said Anna as she turned to look at the troll who was now opening the Queen's present.
Inside the box was a little note and the troll read it in silence. Grand Pabbie smiled tenderly and kept the note in one of his pouches.
Anna wondered what did Elsa wrote in the note. But she guessed it was private.
"So what did you get?" She asked as she leaned over to have a better look.
Kristoff also approached to see inside the little box but soon Grand Pabbie took out the content of it.
At first it looked no more than a piece of crystal, similar to those the trolls wore around their necks, but in closer look Anna noticed the crystal was actually made of Elsa's ice.
As soon as Grand Pabbie hanged it to its neck, the crystal started to glow slightly.
In Anna's opinion, Elsa's crystal was the shiniest and prettiest of all the ones the old troll had.
Kristoff whistled and said, "Do you think I can ask Elsa to make me one of those?"
"I don't know. Maybe. Although you don't seem like a necklace guy to me." she joked.
"Oh but this is not just a necklace Princess. This crystal is special. Although, I do not believe your sister is fully aware of it. I bet she only made it as an ornate present. She doesn't even know she gave me apart from a nice necklace, an extension of her powers."
"What do you mean?" wondered Anna.
"Why don't you see it by yourself?" Said the old troll as he held the crystal over the Princess' neck.
Suddenly Anna's sickness for the dirt cake disappeared completely.
She felt lighter and cold. But not a bad cold. Instead, she felt as a fresh breeze covering her whole, making her feel light and yet with a sensation of power she never felt before. How could she feel so much energy and still calm at the same time?
"Wow!" she muttered.
"What wow?" asked her Kristoff.
Anna took off the necklace and put it on his.
"Ohh...that kind of wow. Yeah, wow!" Said the young man as he gave the necklace back at Grand Pabbie.
"I never knew Elsa's magic could do that." admitted Anna.
"Magic can be as powerful as the holder's soul can be. Strong and powerful like a storm, but beautiful and gentle as a snowflake." Recited Grand Pabbie as he arranged the necklace in his chest.
By the image of her sister in her mind, the young Princess came back to present. Wondering how Elsa could be, and seeing that she could wait a little longer for a bite she started to walk to the Queen's study where she would be probably working already.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"Elsa… pstss…Elsa."
"Five more minutes…"
"Eeeelsaaaa…are you still asleep?"
"Mhmmm no…" she muttered as she pressed her face to her pillow wishing all sound and noise would leave her alone. She did not want to leave her bed. It was so cozy and warm. Elsa breathed into her pillow letting the scent of cinnamon and fresh parchment fill her lungs. The fragrance soothing her back to slumber.
"Then why are your eyes still closed?" said that voice again. It was louder this time.
Something was poking her cheek. And her arm and her cheek again.
Fine. I am awake.
The blonde opened one of her eyes slowly. She did not want to wake up. It was so comfortable there. In addition, she had not had such a good rest in…well she could not remember since when.
When she opened an eyelid, she recognized a familiar pair of big black eyes.
"Olaf?" she yawned. "What are you doing in my bedroom?" Her body still refused to leave her bed.
"Your bedroom?" the snowman chuckled. "But Elsa, this is not your bedroom."
Oh great. I fell asleep again in my desk. Again.
"We're in the library!"
"What? I've never…." She yawned again "I've never fell asleep in the library before."
"I know. Weird huh?"
"A bit, yeah." Said Elsa feeling her eyes heavy and considering going back to sleep.
"Oh, great look who's also awake! Good morning Derek!"
"WAIT WHAT?!"
Elsa was fully awake now. Tiredness so long gone.
She tried to get up but when she did, her head bumped into something hard. The pain in her forehead was instant.
"Ow!" she and someone else yelled at the same time.
"That hurt!" Derek's voice said as he rubbed his chin.
"Forget about that!" she said as she also rubbed her forehead. "We need to leave."
"What do you mean? And what are you doing in my bedroooo…oh." He said as he realized they were in the library. "Oooooohhhh….What are we doing here? …Wait… yesterday...We must have fell asleep last night."
"Oh really? I'd never imagined that." she replied sarcastically looking up at him. "No wonder you were a great asset for Detective Anna and sidekick Olaf. Wait if Olaf's here…"
"So are Anna and Kristoff." He finished the sentence. His voice trembled.
Elsa paled and so did Derek.
"We need to … before someone… you know." He mumbled.
"You go first." She said trying to set her mind in order.
"Uhmm…sure…but…" he avoided looking at her at the eyes.
"What?"
He looked down and she followed his gaze. Soon her pale face matched the same shade of dark pink as his.
No wonder she thought that her pillow felt warmer and bigger than usual. She had not been sleeping over a pillow at all.
Please tell me this is just a dream?!
She felt her face warm. All she wanted was the Earth to swallow her whole. This is not what a respectable lady, not to mention a Queen, is supposed to do.
They were in still in sitting positions as last night. But that wasn't all. Somehow, during the night, in their sleep they had found a more comfortable position. Derek's body was resting on the armchair of the sofa with his feet still resting in the floor. As for herself well, her feet were also resting at the floor at least. However, her upper body was literally resting on top of him. Her right hand over his chest while one of Derek's hand was literally hugging her back and waist.
Realizing he was holding her, the Prince removed his hand quickly causing a shiver all over her body. He mumbled a shy apology letting his eyes focus on the distant wall. She could only nod as she had lost the ability to speak.
Slowly she lifted her head willing to lift herself from him. But as soon as she tried it she realized she had pressed her hands over his chest to do so. She stopped with embarrassment. How would she lift herself if she had to press over him to do it?
"Sorry." she apologized in an inaudible tone. She did not dare to move now. How was it even possible that no ice was forming over his vest right now?
"It's okay." He mumbled. Derek had heard her. She tried to mutter another apology but could not for her throat felt as dry as a desert.
"Uhm, maybe I can help." He added.
Before she could know what he meant, Elsa felt as both of his strong arms grabbed her arms gently.
His grip hardened in her arms as he lifted himself up a bit. But since she was still not moving it only made them to close the gap between them. Then he stopped moving. He was not pushing her away, but instead dared to look down to meet her eyes. With only one look, she could read under those deep blue eyes, he would wait for her to be ready.
He was not going to push away nor would he push her with his hands until she was ready. Wait… was that a pun? For real?! She studied his face. Derek's glance was serious, but she was able to read under him. He smirked slightly when he saw she had gotten his silent joke. Only him.
Being her normal self she would have rolled her eyes at him and being the one to push him away. Yet, she was not in her total control her body and much less her mind. So, she did what she had never done before. She smiled accepting his joke.
It was a big mistake. Elsa would learn that later.
For as soon as Derek saw her smile, his smirk grew even wider and his eyes shone with pride. He had finally made her laugh- well smile- at one of his jokes. Most people would call it ridiculous but for them had a great meaning. It meant he had finally beaten her over her own pride.
She wanted to be angry with him but could not.
Damn that smirk. Her inner voice said which Elsa ignored completely.
And damn those eyes. Losing to her inner voice this time Elsa dared to look at his eyes again.
A bigger mistake.
Her inner voice be damned.
Even with the incredibly uncomfortable situation she was in, once she locked eyes with him again she knew she was the one damned.
His stare was so deep. It reminded her of other times like that time at the meeting when he supported her in silence; or when he marveled with her magic and their hands touched. But deep, deep down she knew it felt more like last night; the two of them standing on a bridge under the star night with only the trees as witnesses.
There had been a common thing all those times. And she knew what it was now. It was that spark. She could see it clearly now, like little blue sapphire flames that could melt even her cold ones.
Her hand torn slightly his shirt while trying to push herself up. She felt him tense at her touch and her Derek gulp. It was then her turn to tense when in response his hands strength the grip on her arms, sending another shiver to her and making her feel her whole body dumb.
"So are you gonna stay like that forever or what?"
Hearing the snowman's voice made Elsa and Derek jump like maniacs and lose their balance in the process. They ended in the carpet floor with a deaf sound while Olaf only giggled at the scene.
"Do you need a hand? Or should I say a stick?" the snowman offered the Prince one of his wooden hand.
Both royals stood up with the help of the snowman.
"Err…we, we need to go." Derek whispered as he tried to arrange his clothes and hair.
"We do." She said as she hid the alcohol and cotton from last night.
They both arranged the books and things that they had bought the day before. Their movements were clumsy and clearly none of them dared to meet the other's eyes.
"I'll take my stuff to my room now," he said as he picked the bag and put on his vest and jacket. "And if you don't mind I'll take the tunnel this time. You and Olaf here can come up with a story about looking for a book or something. I, I promise I will not end up in front of Queen Violet or anyone else."
"Good idea. Now go." She said as she made a quick swirl with her hand conjuring a simple ice dress and shoes over her clothes. "Make sure you change clothes too Derek. Derek?"
The Queen turned around to see why the Prince had not answered only to find him staring at her like a statue with his mouth fully open.
He was staring at her head to toe. Then, it hit her like an avalanche. She felt her stomach shrink.
I just did not change clothes in front of him.
Oh but you totally did. Answered her inner voice. You have seen him half-dressed so you could say now you are even.
Both royals shook their heads at the same time. She trying to ignore that teasing voice in her mind. He probably for different reasons.
The Prince coughed and approached Olaf.
"Buddy, can I ask you a favor?" Said Derek as he knelt in front of the snowman. He was good at pretending he was okay. It all thanks to his own tutoring over reading people's gestures that Elsa could tell he was a mess inside. Still taken by surprise by her transformation.
She realized Derek was the first one to see it fully from scratch. Not even Anna. She had only seen Elsa add details to an already made ice dress. But he had witnessed what, until today had been a private thing for her.
"Yeah why?" Olaf answered.
"Can you keep a secret?" The Prince asked.
"Yeah why?"
"Because we trust you buddy. And no one must know that you found us here."
"Ohhhhhhh…." Olaf said forming a big O with its mouth. "But why?" he asked in a suspicious tone.
Elsa knelt beside Derek to look at the little snowman in the eyes.
"It's hard to explain but some people might…uhm… misunderstand it for something else." she said.
"Like what?" Olaf asked.
Elsa bit her lip not daring to speak.
Derek sighed. "It's complicated mate. It might be considered wrong okay?"
"What's wrong about being found asleep togeth...? Wait hold on a sec." the snowman stopped "Don't tell me that you two…?"
The room had turned at least two degrees under. Elsa was as white as snow while Derek was messing with his collar uncontrollably next to her.
The Prince pulled the collar of his shirt letting it lose a bit.
It felt like an eternity the snowman kept staring at them with his eyes almost closing as if he were in serious thought.
None of the royals dared to say a thing. Both of them sharing the same thoughts. Was the snowman really figuring out? Olaf? The most honest, innocent and dense being to ever exist?!
"Okay! I won't tell." The little snowman finally said beaming happily.
Both the Queen and Prince let out the breath they were holding in relief.
"But on one condition." Added Olaf pointing a wooden finger at Derek's nose.
"Name it mate." Derek dared to say.
Both royals still wondering if the little guy made of snow really understood what people might say or not.
"Next time you have a sleepover party you'll have to invite me as well." Olaf warned them in a serious tone.
Elsa and Derek could not hide their sight of relief followed by the sound of both of their laughs.
"Of course we will." She finally spoke. Feeling as the library gradually started to warm again.
"You have my word buddy." Said Derek as they shook hand and wooden stick. His face more relaxed than seconds before.
A knock in the door startled the three of them at once.
"Your Majesty?" it was Kai. "Are you there?"
Elsa gulped and decided it was better to answer before Kai opened the door.
"Y…Yes? What is it Kai?"
"Oh, what a relief Your Majesty, I've been looking for you everywhere. I wanted to remind you about your meeting with the Council today."
The sound of the door opening made Elsa yell in a higher tone that considered normal.
"Wait!"
"Your …Your Majesty? Is everything alright?"
"Ehm….Yes thank you Kai. But …I think I forgot my green notebook at my desk. Could you bring it to me please?"
"But Your Majesty today you don't need…"the door was almost open.
"Please! Kai." She insisted trying not to sound rude. "I need it for today's meeting."
"Of course Your Majesty, I'll bring it to you immediately."
"Thank you."
They waited for the butler's footsteps to be gone.
"Good job." Whispered the Prince.
"Thanks." She said turning to him. "Now go, before someone else gets here."
He gave her a shy half smile and turned around to leave. However, as soon as he was about to, he stopped.
Then to Elsa's surprise, he turned and walked slowly towards her.
"Uhm...Derek? What are you doing?" she whispered.
"Something I should have done since yesterday."
"What do you…?"
But she was left speechless with her mouth still half open when Derek dropped his bag in the little table and reached her face with both hands. He still kept his eyes focused on anything but her eyes. His movements were quick, but for Elsa it was almost in slow motion. She could feel his fingers brush her hair briefly, until she felt something been taken off her face.
As soon as it started, it was finished.
"Done." Derek said as he removed from her face her fake ice glasses. "Here."
Elsa took the ice glasses still quiet. She looked up at him. However, the Prince was already turning around and grabbing his bag with his souvenirs and Secret Santa gift inside. Soon he was back at the secret door but once again, he stopped at the secret door.
"Uhm, Elsa?"
"Yes, Derek?" she finally met eyes with him.
"Same time same place tonight? You know…Uhm …We still have plenty of paperwork to check tonight."
Elsa found herself smiling at his nervousness.
"I cannot push you away from my desk even if I try, can I?" she said surprising them both by her own teasing and use of his joke.
He smiled.
She smiled back.
He finally sent a wink at her and waved a quick goodbye.
She waved back with her hand feeling like a fool when she realized he was already gone while her hand remained pending.
Soon with a deaf bang, the door opened behind her, letting enter a cherry blond girl with flying ponytails and a beaming smile.
"Elsa! There you are!" she said as he gave her older sister a big bear hug. "And Olaf's here too. What were you doing here?"
"We were planning a sleep over party." Said rapidly Olaf.
"Oh, okay. I guess?" the Princess said giving the snowman and her older sister a confused look.
"Anna it's so great to see you." Elsa said quickly. "How was the party?" she asked wishing her sister would forget about what Olaf said.
"Oh, it was great and you'll never guess what Grand Pabbie said about your gift it was…wait… what are you wearing? And …Is that blood?!" She was pointing at her hands.
Elsa raised her hands to look at them. They had red spots of unmistakably colour blood.
I completely forgot!
The Queen laughed nervously. Even when he was not here, Derek would still find a way to bring her trouble.
"This? No. It is ink. Yes ink. I was working yesterday when I dropped a bit and when I cleaned the mess some ink must have kept in my hands."
"Why would you use red ink?" Anna asked. "I've never seen you write with red ink."
"Yeah why?" Intervened Olaf.
"Err…I was out of black ink. Yes."
"Ookay, I guess." Anna said. It was clear she was not fully convinced yet.
But it was not necessary to change topic since another voice called everyone else's attention.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Master Olaf." Said the head butler's deep voice. "I don't want to interrupt your chatting, but Her Majesty needs to attend to her Council Meeting which is to start quite soon."
"Oh, the meeting right. Thank you Kai," said truly thankful the Queen. "At what time does it start?"
"That's the thing Your Majesty, it has already started about fifteen minutes ago."
"WHAT?!" Elsa yelled.
Oh great. Now I am late. Damn that Prince and his damn smile.
She turned to her sister.
"Anna I'm so sorry but…"
"Easy Elsa, breathe. I understand. We will talk later. Now go before that Circus you have of a Council start another arm wrestling competition."
Elsa squished her sister's hand and ran as fast as she could.
"Uhm, your Majesty what about your green notebook?" said the butler's voice from behind.
"Thank you but I won't need it anymore. Just leave it in my desk." Said Elsa as she left.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
After the Queen left Anna finally spoke.
"Okay that was weird. Even for our family standards."
"Yeah why?"
I don't know Olaf. I wish papa and mama were here. They would know what to do. I am worried about her. I think she is not having enough rest."
"In that I agree Your Majesty." Said the butler. "Not to mention that bad influence of a certain someone." He mumbled to himself.
"I'm sorry what were you saying Kai?" asked Anna. "I didn't get the last part you said."
"Don't mind me Your Highness." He quickly said. "I was just thinking out loud."
"Oh, okay." Anna said thinking. "Kai, can I ask you to put an eye on her. Just in case."
The butler vowed at the Princess.
"No need to ask, Your Highness." Said Kai as tenderly as he could. "I am always checking on both of you. It is my job after all."
Before Anna could thank him, he started to walk in direction of the West Wing where the Council Meeting was been held.
He passed his handkerchief one more time through his head. There was no need to worry the Princess more, but the Queen was definitely acting a bit out of normal. And not only for the green notebook which Kai could tell it had been only a mere excuse. He had raised her after all.
Is that Prince and his rebel ways. He thought. He is charming her into a rebel too.
He wondered if he should report about the Queen and Prince's rendez-vous to the Princess. Not every day, the Queen leaves the castle just because, well that time she froze the entire country does not count-he told himself.
After doing some inquiry with the staff and the stable's man, Kai had found that she and the Prince had went horse riding. Nothing wrong in that of course. However, that was not what was bothering him. It was the state in which the young royals had returned last night that did.
They missed dinner, which was usual for their workaholic Queen to do, and probably for the Prince who would always "borrow" and apple or two from the kitchen. But a Queen to arrive running to the gates, breathless was not a typical a scene in the castle. And that time, when a freezing to death Princess Anna was brought by a breathless ice harvester does not count either.
Moreover, something would not stop bothering his always-working mind. He did not remember seeing the Queen nor the Prince return to their respective chambers last night. And he was plenty sure they had went to the library after meeting him.
Kai shook his head furiously. The Queen was clearly wearing different clothes and the rebel royal was not there. What was wrong with him? To even dare thinking in that way about his little girl and that man whom at least seemed gentleman enough to respect her.
Trying to put aside all that nonsense bothering his mind. He was a busy man with no time for irrelevant thoughts. The Queen and the Princess needed him fully and that is what he was going to do.
One last thought clouded his mind as he reached the bottom of the main stairs. He was at the same spot where he met the Queen and Prince yesterday. The memory played in his mind once again. But this time something else called his attention. It were not the clothes or the lack of manners coming from the Prince of Rosendelle. It was something else. At first, the butler had confused that glow in her eyes as a reflection of the chandelier lights. But now that he think of it more carefully, it might had been something else. Like a growing flame he had never seen in her eyes before.
Maybe that bad influence is not all bad if it has that effect on her. The butler smiled as he entered the kitchen.
But he would soon regret that thought as soon as he would enter the kitchen. For, in front of him, he would catch Prince Derek and Princess Anna making two towers of sandwiches filled with possibly enough food to feed an army.
"It was Olaf's idea!" both royals yelled as soon as they saw the frown of the head butler. And before Kai could scold them, they both grabbed their sandwiches and escaped through the staff entrance in a wink.
The butler sighed as he sat in a chair as he admired the mess the royals had left. "And they ask me why I don't retire. Ha!"
The middle age hand laughed as he inserted his finger inside the mustard flask. But as soon as he licked his finger the staff room opened once more with Jill, the cook, entering.
"Well, well," she said giving him a smug smile. "If it isn't Mr. I don't eat with my hands because it's disgustin' ".
"It wasn't me." He defended himself.
"You're lucky I'm a bit blind ya know. I'll only say I didn't saw yer messy mess lad." She smirked again as she started cleaning the mess in her kitchen. "You know, If you wanted a sandwich you could've just asked then."
"Oh, just let it go Jill." He rolled his eyes as he took another dip from the mustard flask.
The old cook laughed at him even louder.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
So that's it. What do you think, I know this chapter was short but as I said it's transitional to what's coming in the next chapters (yes, there will be a more serious plot coming soon).
Let me know in the comments what you expect to happen.
Also I apologize for the fluff part. I find it quite hard to write. But after a nice review about it I am trying to comply that request.