Chapter 34

What? A second chapter already? Yep. This is my small gift to you. Merry Xmas and Happy whatever you celebrate this season J

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My Instagram is Starflame007 and my deviant art account is Starflame7

Disclaimer: Frozen and other Disney characters belong to Disney Co. This is merely a fanfiction and a bunch of fandom references and puns.

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Chapter 34. A tale of ribbons, letters and stuff

The sound of the bells tower marking one in the morning woke Anna from her thoughts and back to the present. She had been walking around the castle in silence as she remebered their recent visit to the trolls.

She looked around to recognize where she had ended this time. Too distracted with her thoughts and also knowing the castle by heart she never got lost. But still she could end up at some place strange as her imagination would call most of her attention and cause her pay less attention to her surroundings.

She had arrived to one of the exits to the gardens and not feeling sleepy she decided to go outside. Maybe a walk under the stars would clear her mind.

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Anna walked under the stars replaying everything again and again. Elsa being the current topic of her thoughts. And of course the thing that was going on between the Snow Queen and the Rebel Prince.

It was all crazy. Was there really something going on or was Anna victim of her imagination and trolls influence?

"Maybe both." Anna answered to herself.

She kept walking until she reached the shore. The water sounds eased her mind and she sighed in relief. Maybe she had been overthinking things or even imagining them. After all, she hadn't had a good rest in a while and all the things that had happened could be playing with her creative mind.

She took a deep breath and let the salted breeze fill her lungs. That did the trick.

Anna welcomed this new calmn with a relaxed smile.

Yep. It was all in her head. There was no thing going on. Just the trolls ideas affecting her lack of sleep. Right?

"Right." She told herself feeling more relaxed.

Anna turned around ready to go back to bed with a new air of confidence, when she heard a weird sound.

BLOP

BLOP BLOP BLOP

SPLASH!

She turned around and followed the weird sound. It sounded like something falling into water.

And then she heard voices. It was quite late. Could it be some guards making their normal rounds?

Curiosity did her best on her and Anna fell for it.

Driven by her nature to discover things, Anna walked again following the shore path through the bushes until she reached the back part of the castle. At first she didn't see anything until her eyes noticed some movement.

Anna focused her eyes to see better and then with the help of the northern lights luminity she recognized two figures sitting in the shore. There was no need to guess who they were.

Elsa and Derek were sitting by the shore in their pijamas. They were throwing stones and making ducks at the sea.

Derek must have mentioned something funny because Elsa laughed at his comment.

Aaaaand that was enough to make Anna find a dark spot in the back of the bushes. Of course she wanted to grab both on by their ears and ground them for a month for not taking care of their injuries and resting in their beds. But she wouldn't do that. Because, this was the perfect opportunity to investigate the thing. If Kristoff were here he would probably tell Anna she shouldn't spy on them. But this wasn't spying. It was research and validation of information. Detective Anna mood.

Also, Kristoff wasn't here either to stop her.

Anna moved to a closer position until she was able to listen to their chatting.

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"I swear I did." Derek said as Elsa kept laughing at what he had said.

"You did not?" she insisted.

"I did." He repeated.

"You wore a braid like mine once?" she asked. "That can't be true."

"But it is." he scratched his chin. "I must have been ten by that time. I also wanted to be a pirate like mum was. So I went to the library and read everything about them. That's where I read that Captain Blackbeard used to make his hair in braids. To look menacing."

"You wanted to look menacing?" Elsa asked.

"Aye." he answered.

"By wearing a braid?"

"Aye."

"For real?"

"I told you, you wouldn't believe me." he laughed.

"You must admit it sounds unlikely to happen." She said between giggles.

"Then why are you lauging if you find it so difficult to imagine it huh?" He asked.

"I said it was unlikely to happen, not imposible to imagine it." she said letting out another giggle. "I've seen you soaked wet, with a torn shirt, with glasses, with a cow costume and most recently an onesie. Oh and let's not forget that time you weren't wearing your…uhm pants. A braid might be unlikely, but this is you after all."

Wait what? Anna had to clear her ears and open her eyes wide. Did Elsa just said ants? The waves crashing in the rocks at that exact moment had made it diffcult to hear. But how come Derek ended with ants? She must have hear wrongly. Oh, well.

"Well its all true. Remeber that I told you about my aunt and his toad like kisses? And her harpies of friends."

Elsa nodded. "You mean the one that gave you the nickname Derry?" she said with a slight tease in her voice.

"That's the one." Derek shivered. "That same old hag."

"Derek!" Elsa replied. "She is still your aunt. And you are still a Prince not a pirate."

"Fine." he said shrugging. "That same sweet old aunt of mine." he said sarcastically. "Does that sound better to you Your Majesty?"

"Quite better Your Highness." she replied with the same teasing tone as his.

Anna couldn't hide her giggling. She had to admit it. Whatever this thing was, it was entertaining to watch.

"Anyway, I wanted to look menacing as you said. To my aunt and her bunch of friends." Derek explained. So, I made myself a tiny braid. Just to look more intimidating. Like my father does with that scar on his face. That, in my inocent naive ten your old mind sounded logical of course. To face the gang of experts in hugs and kisses with no respect or knowledge of the personal space."

"In that, I can relate. I do appreciate the respect for personal space." Elsa admitted.

Anna almost snorted. That Elsa appreciated the respect for personal space was a very diplomat way to say it was all that her sister has taken into consideration in the past and even present time.

"See?" he insisted. "Now add to that picture that you have to face a bunch of middle aged women and grannies, that have incredible force and lots and lots of makeup that will cover your face to no end and will crush you until you faint due to the lack of air."

"Fine. I get it." Elsa laughed in defeat. "Although I can tell you braids do not cause much of an impact, less a menacing look. And I speak for experience."

"Haha, so funny and modest." The Prince glared at the Queen with a mild frown. "Don't deny it Elsa, you know your braid brings a n-ice flare to your whole ensemble. When it comes to cause an impact, you and your beautiful hair certainly can do magic."

Anna couldn't see with the darkness and cursed silently. She would have given all her chocolate to be able to see Elsa's reaction to that comment. But the fact that Elsa didn't reply all of a sudden after that, at least confirmed it had definitely made her lose her composture. That and the fact that she had been caught off guard while when she was throwing a rock. The rock froze in that instant and as soon as it hit the water it caused a big loud splash.

The Prince didn't seem to notice the effect of his smooth talking. He must have guessed it was Elsa's magic just acting erratic again. But Anna knew better, and probably Elsa did as well. That, had nothing to do with evil forces.

The Princess was lossing it. She wanted... No. Neded to see more closely. So Anna dared to move a bit closer to the bushes to get a better view. And as it was effect of magic, the clouds suddenly cleared. Then the green light of the northern lights turned the whole scenery into greens and blues that made shine Elsa's icy night robes. Good. Now it was a clear view.

Anna looked up at the sky and thanked her parents. Imagining it had been them somehow. Thank you Mama Papa I solemnly swear I only spy on Elsa for her own good. And oh this is too good. Wait, are you too spying on her?

The mere thought her parents being above watching them, filled Anna with joy. Even if it was not true. It was a nice feeling.

It took another minute or so, for Elsa to regain her self and speak.

"Err...So?" she cleared her throat. She asked as she looked at him and stoped throwing rocks at the sea.

"So what?" Derek asked as he kept throwing rocks at the sea.

"Did it work?" Elsa asked finding her voice once more. "Your plan to keep away your sweet aunt and her friends from giving you hugs and kisses?"

"Well," the Prince threw another rock and then turned to face the Queen. "As soon as my auntie and her coven of witches saw my tiny braid they screamed in delight. They were thrilled Elsa. They loved it."

Elsa began to giggle. "I would do too, to be honest."

"Oh of course you would." The Prince laughed as he looked at her briefly. "My hair has memory of your icy antlers and being turned into ice cream."

Elsa granted him with a guilty half smile.

"So what happened next?" She asked trying her best to keep herself neutral. Anna could tell she was loosing it. And who wouldn't? The Princess could imagine a younger Derek not older than she remebered, making an appearece with a tiny braid in his side. Feeling all too menacing. Oh poor, poor baby.

"I ran. I ran like mad." he explained, "But those tenclale arms caught me."

Elsa was fully giggling now.

"And then?" she asked.

"I don't now how they managed to do it with me fighting to get released but that heard of royals managed to give me the whole transformation."

"The whole transformation to what?"

"Promise you won't tell?" He asked suspiciously.

"Promise." she replied.

"Not even to a waiter in a tavern Elsa." He warned. "Not even for chocolate or cake."

"How about a pinkie promise?" Elsa offered her finger with a questioning look. "Would that work for you?"

Pinkie promise? Now that's something she never imagined her sister would ever do. Was she even familiar with it? It involved hands after all. It seemed Elsa was still unfamiliar with the sacred yet childish type of promise by her confused look.

Derek just smiled.

"Fine." and he crossed his finger with her. They smiled as they made the funny promise.

"So, what happened then?" Elsa asked intrigued.

"Well," he sighed. "They all grabbed my hair and made tiny braids like I was their doll or something." he began. "Then if that wasn't riddiculous enough they added ribbons to each of the braid."

"Please no." Elsa was trying her best not laugh.

Anna had to bit her lip a to avoid laughing and herself.

"To this day, I still can't figure out where did they get all those ribbons. They were of every colour you coud imagine and uggly."

"Oh, dear." Elsa smiled freely now. "I get now why you shiver everytime I call you Derry. That must have been traumatic."

"It guess it was." He shrugged with a smirk. "Ugh, you know what was the worst of it?"

"What?"

"They got creative at even spread perfume and pinned flowers to my hair."

"You are making this up...Flowers?... I ..I can't..." and Elsa lost it. She was now laughing.

"It's all true." he admitted joining with a laugh. "And you can't tell a soul."

"Promise". Elsa grabbed her stomach and tried to control her laughter. "I still can believe how these things happen to you."

Elsa's laugher must have been contagious because Derek was now smiling and joining in her laugher. "I did looked ridiculous. Like a nightmare version of a Christmas tree."

"How did your family reacted when they saw you?" Elsa asked, as she recovered herself.

"Ha! You would think my folks would have defended me. But the moment they saw me they enjoyed the view. My father lost it and laughed to no end. My mother just awwed at me. Lea was a toddler but still remembers playing with the ribbons of my hair. And Franz..." Derek smiled at the memory. "Franz couldn't stop laughing. Franz, the very serious Franz. Franz who could compete against you for who is the most serious one. He laughed so hard that he almost peed himself. And I say almost, because he ran to the neariest bathroom. That made me loose it too and join in the laugher at the end. I still bother him about that, but yet he still bothers me about my hair becuase of that time too."

"Franz is your older brother right?" Elsa guessed as she finally recovered herself from the laughter.

"Yes." he nodded. " Can you believe that, to this day, he still manages to give me a ridiculous ribbon every once in a while." Derek said. "To mock me."

"That's nice." Elsa said with a fond smile.

"That your brother makes fun of you constantly?" Derek asked her with a questioning look. "Thanks for the sympathy Elsa."

"Actually," Elsa said with a more tender tone. "I was thinking that maybe it was your brother's own way to remind you of that day. When everyone had a great laugh."

"To my expense." He added.

"Well, yes." She smiled. "But, didn't you say he also made you laugh?"

"Well..."

"At his own expense this time?"

"Yes ..but..." Derek "I'm confused."

And for Anna it sounded even more confusing. Why would Elsa say that mocking his own brother was a nice gesture. Anna could only guess Elsa knew better about Derek's past and somehow everything was related.

"To me, that day sounds like everyone was ...well...happy." Elsa said with a tender smile. "Derek, has it occured to you that your brother just wants to see you smile and laugh like you used to? Even if to do so, you have to remeber the day he almost did something embarrasing to him?"

"I..I... It never came to my mind." He admitted as he looked at her.

Elsa looked at the sea avoiding his eyes. "I don't know your brother, but I can undestand him. He cares for you as much as I care for Anna. He must be a really nice person."

"He, uhm, he actually is." He was looking at Elsa as she had said something really important and new to him. "He'll make a great king one day."

"And he'll need you. And your sister of course." Elsa said turning to look at Derek once again.

"Now I feel the sudden urgency to write him a letter and thank him for all those uggly ribbons I've been getting all those years." Derek admitted.

They shared a laugh until they became quiet again. They stayed like that for a few seconds until Elsa broke silence again.

"IBy the way, speaking of to your bother. Please give him my kind regards." Elsa added. "In your letter I mean. I haven't had the opportunity to thank him and of course your father, for the medical supplies they added to the wooden cargo that they shipped to Arendelle. Of course I will reply as a Monarch but since you are writing to him, might as well let him know in advance my gratitude."

"Err.."he faked a laugh, "What…what are you talking about?" Derek faked a cough.

"Please Derek" she turned at him. "You think I wouldn't know?"

"Know what?" the Prince scratched his neck. "Oh it's getting late. Maybe we should both go back and get some rest."

"Derek" Elsa replied calmly. "I …"

The Prince faked a yawn. "Aye. It is bed time. Come on Your Majesty. If you don't want to get mad at us for breaking the rules we should get back to bed."

"Are you really playing that card Your Highness?" Elsa raised an eyebrow at him.

"That depends." He replied. "Is it working?"

Elsa just replied with a smirk. "What do you think?"

Derek sighed. "It was worth the try I guess." He shrugged with a guilty smile.

"But…how did you…know?"he asked. "It was your butler wasn't he? The chubby one?"

"Don't call him that. His name is Kai." Elsa replied shortly. "And yes. He made me sign some paperwork after dinner, and among those papers, there was a report of an update in the next Rosendelle's shipment schedule. So, I asked him about it. And he told me."

"I told him not to say a word." The Prince said. "Traitor."

"Excuse me, he is loyal to Arendelle and a dear friend to the family. And...I trust him." Elsa she laughed this time. "And moreover, you think Kai wouldn't let me know you sent a letter right after the fire to your brother? And tell me you you asked for the medical cargo."

"Ugh, fine, fine. You caught me." The Prince admitted. "But I don't regret it!"

"Derek..."

"And I don't care what your morals say Elsa," He kept saying.

"Derek…"

"…this time you'll let me help and..."

"Derek!" Elsa insisted. "I will accept the cargo." She simply said.

"Wait what? You will?" he blinked surprised.

She sighed and looked at the sea.

"I might be too proud for my own good, but I know my place as a Queen. And this will actually be very beneficial to rebuild the city." She said as her eyes changed to look at the stars.

"That's great." Derek smiled this time. "I was not going to tell you until the ship arrived. But now that you know I feel soooo relieved. Like a lot. We could open a bottle of wine and celebrate. Not every day the Queen of Arendelle admits she is too proud for her own good."

That's true. Anna agreed with the Prince.

"Hey, don't push it. I still, would have preferred that you had told me." Elsa said shortly. But she didn't sound mad as her mouth was forming a shy mile.

"But that would have spoiled the surprise." He teased.

Elsa just rolled her eyes, while that shy smile kept growing in n her face.

"I knew you would say that." She said trying to sound serious.

Anna giggled. Her sister looking flustered was so fun to watch.

Derek simply laughed at that.

In that moment the bell from the clock tower made its time anouncement.

"Blimey, two in the morning." The Prince exclaimed.

"Is it that late?" the Queen asked. "Oh dear."

Elsa looked pensive.

" We could stay and watch the sunrise again if you want to." The Prince suggested. "If you don't feel like going to bed yet."

Elsa took a deep breath.

"As much as that idea is tempting, If we want to recover we do need some rest." Elsa admitted. "Its just that… Never mind ".

"Dont worry." Derek said with a calm voice. "If your magic starts doing weird stuff while you sleep, I'll be just two rooms afar. And the bath tub is only three rooms from your room. And if the bathtub doesn't work, I'll even give you some reindeer tonic. That tastes so horrible that it will make you wake up immediately. We"ve got this."

Elsa laughed.

"Thank you." She smiled. "That certainly makes me feel better."

He smiled. "Shall we?"

She nodded.

The Prince got up and she handed him his cane. Then he offered his hand and she took it. Derek pulled gently and Elsa stood up.

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Anna followed them as quiet and far as she could until they reached the upper floor and then Elsa's room. They hadn't talked since they started walking back to the castle but broke their silence to say their respective good night's to each other.

Elsa opened her door quietly. Then her hand stopped pushing the handle. She looked hesitant. Then she turned to look at him.

"I just remembered something." Can you wait here for a minute or two?" she whispered.

"Uhm, sure." He nodded clearly confused.

Elsa bit her lip and entered her room.

The Princess wished she could get closer but she didn't want to get caught so she stayed hidden in the dark behind some curtains.

Anna could hear some noise coming from Elsa's room. It sounded like drawers being opened and closed. Could Elsa be looking for something?

Derek seemed as confused as Anna was but he stayed there obidiently.

Then the door opened fully letting Elsa appear once again. She was breathing a bit rapidly as if she had made a quick run around her own room. Anna noticed her sister was holding what seemed to be two envelopes in her hand.

"Here." Elsa handed him the envelopes to Derek.

The Prince took the envelopes and looked at them curious.

He seemed clueless until he seemed to recognize one of them.

"Wait…" he looked at Elsa with surprise. "Where did you get this letter?"

"It's the letter you wrote to me when we were children." Elsa explained. "Maybe you don't remember. But I had kept it all these years."

"What?!" he said forgetting he was meant to whisper.

"Derek shhh, you'll wake everyone." Elsa giggled.

He smiled guilty. "Sorry."

"But," he insisted with a whisper." I don't understand."

"What?"

"I never sent the letter."

Ohhhhh, the plot thickens! Anna had to admit it. Maybe she couldn't understand fully what was happening but since when Elsa had secret letters in her room? And if Derek didn't send his letter who did?

"Wait what?" It was Elsa's turn to be surprised. "You didn't send it?"

"No I didn't." he admitted. "I can't believe you had had all these years. I thought I lost it."

"Then I'm confused." The Queen said. "If you didn't send it who …?"

"My brother, possibly." Derek said convinced. "He was the only one that knew I had written you a letter, because he caught me writing it. I didn't send it at the end so he must have taken it and send it to bother me."

"Wait…" she said suddenly. "Why didn't you want to send it? If I'm being honest, I… I was glad to get a letter from you."

He smiled.

"Then it worked I guess. As I soon as I heard your home had closed its gates I thought you could get a pen pal. If you remember that's what I wrote to you."

"I do remember." She nodded with a small smile.

"But then I remembered our promise," he explained. "And a crazy though came to my mind. What if I distracted you or put you on risk by sending a letter. After all, I wasn't very sure at that time what it meant that Arendelle had crossed it's gates. I thought you were trapped or something. So at the end in order to keep safe that promise and in a way you …" he hesitated.

"You kept your distance. To protect me." Elsa guessed. "Oh Derek I had no idea."

She said with a tender voice.

Awww. Even if Anna had no clue what they were talking about shr had to admit that had been so sweet still, What were they talking about? Anna wondered.

"Well, sort of." He simply said. "So I decided to keep it hidden in my drawer. My brother must have seen me hid it and send it when I wasn't looking. I thought I lost it."

"Now I feel even worse." Elsa admitted. "To give you my reply so late."

"Forget it Elsa, it's in the past and …wait….,"he looked at her seriously" Did you just say you sent a reply?"

"Yes, but not really. Because I never sent it." Elsa said with a tender tone. "I did reply."

"Why didn't you send it then?"

She hesitated. "I though it was no fair that I would write to you, living so far, and yet speak so few to my sister who lived with me."

Awww. Anna though. Thank you sis. But Elsa are you crazy? Of course you should have send the letter!

Anna couldn't believe these two. They could overthinking too much for their own good.

"Don't worry," He spoke as she couldn't find her words. "I get it."

She thanked him with a nod.

Elsa cleared her throat and spoke again more calm now.

"Anyway, that second envelope." Elsa said pointing at the other one Derek was holding. "Is actually my reply to your letter."

"You did wrote back." He exclaimed with a sudden excitement in his voice. He looked at the letter as a child looked at his new toy.

"Derek your voice." Elsa whispered again as she tried to hide her smile for the funny reaction of the Prince. What used to be a sad face had turned into a full smile in her face.

"Oh, sorry again." He whispered. "You wrote back?"

"As I already told you. Yes I did." She replied smiling. "But as I also said, I never send it."

He smiled widely. "I can't believe you wrote back."

"Are you even listening to me?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "I didn't send it. Which is why I am giving it to you now. I think you deserve a reply after all. Even if so late."

"I am listening." He kept smiling. "I also had no intentions to send it. In a way we both did the same. And yet you wrote back."

"I still don't get what's so funny?"

"Because we were actually pen pals, at least for a moment." He said. " Both of us wrote a letter we didn't want to send and yet, thanks to you, tonight, we will end up receiving the other's letter anyway. That's what I see this all entertaining. You have to admit that the irony of it is kind of funny."

"Oh, I see." Elsa smiled. "If you put it that way. It is kind of funny."

"I still can't believe it. You did wrote back."

"Yes Derek. I did." She admitted. She was smiling now by his goofy reaction.

"What made you change your mind?" He asked then. "To give me the letter?"

Elsa bit her lip and hugged herself.

"Well," she sighed. "Ever since you arrived I've been thinking if I should give it to you or not. After all, you never mentioned it and I thought maybe you had forgotten about it, or maybe you could be resentful about me no writing back."

"I see." He nodded. "All points are valid arguments. But how could I be resentful as I didn't know you had my letter anyway?" Be teased her.

"I know that now." She smiled.

"Still, I want you to have it anyway." Elsa insisted.

"Thanks. So, can I read it?" he asked immediately.

"Don't be silly. Of course you can. Why would I give you something you cannot read?"

"Well," the Prince gave her a knowing look. "It wouldn't be the first time. Better to be sure."

Elsa sighed with defeat. "Fine. In this matter I should have been more specific. Yes. You can read it."

"N-ice. Can I write back?"

"And why would you write back if we are literally two rooms apart?" She asked with amusement.

"I mean, not now, but…." He said scratching his head. "Maybe when I go back to Rosendelle… we could write to each other, uhm, to talk about, well…stuff?" he shrugged.

"Oh, I see." The Queen was surprised. "Uhm, sure, why not?" Elsa said trying to sound calm. "We can do that...we.. we can talk about… stuff."

"Its a deal then."

"Yes. A deal."

There was a long pause as they didn't say anything.

"So"/"So," both of them said and stopped. They shared a small laugh.

"Ladies first." Derek motioned at her to speak first.

"I was going to say it's getting late." Elsa added.

"Right." Derek said nodding. "We should go to bed. Good night then." He replied as he produced a mid bow, holding his weight on his cane.

"Good night." Elsa said nodding her head in small curtsy.

Then Derek walked slowly to his room as Elsa watched him walk as she stood by her door. The Prince opened his door, but before he entered he turned around to address at the Queen.

"See you letter." Derek waved at her with the letters in his hand.

Elsa just rolled her eyes but did waved back at him.

"Just go to sleep already." She said with half amusement in her voice.

He granted a smirk and winked at her. "As if…" he responded. "I have a letter to read." He winked at her and then closed his door.

Anna watched her sister just stayed there looking at the hallway for a minute or two. She seemed tired yet somehow less tense than she had been earlier that day. Finally, Elsa let out a deep sigh and entered her room as well.

That had left poor Princess Anna alone in the darkness of the hallway and with a lot of information to process. She finally tiptoed towards her own room. Then she closed her foor and let herself fall on her bed.

Anna grabbed quickly one of her pillows and buried her face with it. Then she took a deep breath and squealed with excitement until she was out of breath.

Then, feeling more calm and tired she jumped to her bed and smiled at the northern lights through the window.

"How will I ever sleep after that?!" Anna asked at her parents.

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And that is the end of this chapter. Hope you liked it J

Again happy holidays to everyone and a happy new year.