Chapter 40 Jingle Pun the Way
Leave your comments as they fuel this story. And you better brace yourself for the puns. This chapter is dedicated to all the musicians and music lovers out there.
The illustrations of this story can be found in Deviant Art and in AO3. Go check them out and share your comments. I will upload the illustrations from time to time.
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 40. Jingle Pun the Way
"Elsa!"
Several knocks coming from the other side of the door ended her rest abruptly. "Elsa, wake up!"
"Wha...?" the blonde royal yawned. "What is it?"
The Queen raised her body slowly. As few by few she woke herself up completely. She had took a quick shower earlier and dressed herself. But as it had been still quite early, she had put her eyes to rest just for a five minute nap.
Elsa looked at her silver watch to consult the hour. It had been two hours since then.
Oh well. She didn't had meetings today after all.
Elsa held the doorknob and pulled.
"Good morning Ol…oof." She was interrupted with a big hug from a happy snowman.
"Merry Christmas Elsa!" the little one said happily.
Elsa smiled as she returned the hug.
"Merry Christmas to you too Olaf." she replied with a tired voice.
"Did you sleep well? You look a bit tired." he asked as he noticed her yawning and probably the bags under her eyes.
Elsa nodded. She wouldn't admit she actually had a hard time trying to rest. How could she? After all that had happened last night.
"Did you have another nightmare?"
"No."
"More paperwork?"
"Not this time." She answered with a soft smile. "I just got lost in the track of time and went to bed late. That's all."
"Why?" he looked at her with a curious face.
"Well…" Elsa bit her lip. A flash of memories from a improvised dance, then being chased by a crazy mob of tiny snowgies came to her mind. Then the mistletoe thing at the bridge. Then taking the snowgies back to the castle and give them their ice swing and slide. Then Marshmallow breaking Derek's cane by accident as he used it as tooth pick. Then Elsa and Derek bothering each other while internally both didn't want to address the mistletoe subject.
"I was, thinking about stuff." She simplu replied.
"Stuff?"
"Stuff."
"Is stuff good?"
"Uh,…" she wondered not really sure how to answer that.
An image popped in her mind. It had happened on that same bridge. No matter what, her mind would always come back to that moment.
She had been literally caught off guard when her back was lowered almost ninety degrees and then that … that … that everything but Charming Prince had gotten the most craziest idea ever to trick the little snowmen. A trick so bold and so dangerously convincing, she almost felt into it too.
And then, in a quick move, he had leaned towards her so close, and so fast she had only enough time to grab into his coat jacket in instinct.
Then he did it. No extra warnings for her poor mind and heart. And she had frozen completely. Metaphorically and literally speaking, as her powers had betrayed her right in the act.
It was on the cheek for Saint Nick's sake!
She reassured herself for the one hundred time.
Then why did she felt so upset then?
Well… you know why. Her inner voice bothered again.
Elsa gulped remebering last night. What she almost did. Right at the last second before he changed direction. Just for a brief moment. She almost leaned forward. Which meant they almost… for Heavens sake … they almost …
"So is it good?"
The Queen snapped out of her own thoughts. Realizing the carpet below had been covered with a light frost forming the shape of a flower.
Great. Not again.
Elsa moved her left hand trying to look casually as possible. Making the frosty flower vanish along her bothering thoughts.
"I'm sorry what?" she asked trying to concentrate on what Olaf was saying.
"The stuff."
"The stuff?"
"Yeah. Is the stuff good? Or is it bad?"
"Oh." She then remembered what were they originally talking about. "It's…" she looked around to confirm the flower was gone. "It's complicated."
"And to be complicated is a bad thing or is it a good thing?" Olaf asked then. He really reminded her of Anna when she was a kid sometimes.
His question however carried a deep meaning.
She wondered.
"To be honest Olaf," she answered truly. "I have no idea."
"Ohh." He said. "Is it bad that you have no idea?'"
Elsa opened her eyes a bit surprised by the sudden question.
"I hope not." She answered truly.
"Why?"
Next time you lend him a book pick a children's book like Cinderella not the ABC Fundamentals of Phylosophy. Elsa's inner voice scolded her.
"I don't know." She tried to answer.
"Do you want to know?"
"I …" she hesitated. The icy flower was gone as she looked down again to confirm it.
Did she want to know? She wondered about Olaf's question.
Could her magic acting erratically be only due to evil forces or could there be another reason too?
Elsa sighed as she felt her mind trapped again in a maze of questions. She ought to be thinking about Arendelle's reconstruction and her family's safety. Not thinking about … well, stuff.
"Oh look a butterfly." Olaf suddenly yelled happily as he hopped towards the nearest window and pointed at something in the corner.
Elsa thanked the almighty that Olaf's interrogation had ended thanks to the same curious mind of the snowman and a butterfly.
"Olaf..." it was then when Elsa realized the snowman had stains of mud in his back. "Where did you get all that mud?"
"Oh, this?" his head turned back completely and he looked as his back and butt. "I sat on a puddle. We gave Sven and Ser Bacon the pig, their bath. Remeber the bet you made last night?"
"The bet? Oh, right. That bet!" the Queen suddendly remebered her bet with the Rebel Prince, owner of most of her misfortunes and partly guilty for her lack of sleep. The man who had been provoking her last night to even dare to call her Juliet.
You did call him Romeo first after all.
Not now. Elsa shook her head. Ignoring her thoughts. She was not going to fall into an internal fight again with herself.
"... and now it's time for breakfast. Which is why I came to get you." Olaf continued speaking.
Elsa blinked as she realized that Olaf had been pulling her hand through the corridors. He was talking about Christmas and shampoo speacially made for reindeer. They had even reached the stairs already.
For how long had she been distracted to not even realize she was walking automatically, and being pulled through the castle?
Elsa nooded as Olaf kept explaining with high detail how to remove dirt from the hooves of a reindeer.
"... and we had to brush his nose as well. Did you know reindeers have hairy noses."
"Oh, that's uh, nice? I suppose."
"And did you know that reindeers have four stomaches?"
"Really? I did not know."
"Yeah they do." he continued as he pulled her towards the main entrance. "They chew their food first and keep it in the first stomach."
"Oh.."
"Then, it passes to the second stomach to be processed."
"I … see."
"And then they burp the food to their mouth again, to chew it one more time. And guess what happens next?"
"What?" she asked politely already imagining the next part.
'They swallow again."
"That's uhm, …" She tried to contain herself. "Quite informative."
Disgusting you mean. Her inner voice corrected her.
"Right? It's so bizzare." Olaf said as they reached the stables. "And then everything goes to the third stomach where water is absorbed. The water has its own cycle, did you know? That means we could end drinking the same water someday. And since I am made of snow, and snow is frozen water then …"
Please no. She thought.
"..that means I could be made of that water."
Esla felt her stomach rumble and she almost felt sick. But she mantained her soft smile as the little snowman kept talking excited.
"And just until then, the food is sent to the fourth stomach where it will be broken into tiny pieces."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Can you imagine? All of that then reaches the intestines where the rest needs to come out again."
Oh no.
"The reindeer then needs to find the nearest tree, and what was once food and water will come out as …"
"Elsa, Olaf!" Someone called their names interrupting Olaf's biology class.
The Queen felt relieved as the snowman didn't finish the last sentence.
"Kristoff hi!" Olaf said as he jumped to greet the ice harvester.
"Hi buddy. Hi Elsa, whoah, are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine." She lied.
"You sure?" he insisted. "You look a bit pale. Even green. Can I get you some water?"
"Please no." She said quickly. "No water for now."
"Ookay?" Kristoff asked confused.
"I'm, fine. It's nothing. Olaf was just telling me that you gave Sven and the pig their bath and that reindeers have four stomaches."
"I see now." Kristoff said with a knowing smile. "You became the newest victim. Welcome to the club. We will never forget the part where water could pass Sven's stomach then yours in a beautiful and endless water cycle."
Elsa tried hard not to imagine that in her mind. Maybe she would skip breakfast today.
"Did he reach the last part?" Kristoff asked with a simpathethic look.
She nodded. "He almost did. Thanks to you, he never had to explain the details of food disposal."
Kristoff laughed.
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just I never imagined the Queen of Arendelle would use the term food disposal when referring to..."
"Pooping?" Olaf asked suddenly. "I've been trying to teach Sven to use the dunny but we hadn't had lots of success. Potty training is hard for reindeers."
Elsa couldn't hide her face of disgust this time making Kristoff laugh even harder.
"Wait till I tell Derek how he lost to see the face you just made."
"Ugh, please don't." she pleaded. "He would never end bothering me with disgusting facts for his entertainment."
"Tell him what?" Anna had arrived to the stables.
"Nothing." Elsa said quickly.
"How reindeers go to the potty." Olaf said.
"Oh not again." the Princess said.
"Again?" Elsa raised one eyebrow confused.
"I guess we can tell you now that the Council of the Realms is over." Anna just shrugged. "Remeber that time Kai found a Prince lost in the hallways."
"I think I do. What about it?"
"He was the one you and Derek secretly call Prince Boring." Anna said smiling.
"It … it was just one time. And it was just a confusion of my part." She quickly said feeling embarrassed.
"Yeah sure sis. Anyway, Olaf was trying to teach potty training to Sven right the moment the Prince decided to use the accommodations."
"Please tell me this is a joke." Elsa asked the blond man.
"Sorry Elsa, but it's true."
"Great. Now I'll have to apologize to Prince Robert for everything."
"Everything?" Asked Kristoff.
"Yes. He might not seem it at first but he happens to be an important factor at the Council of the Realms deals. Andalasia might be a small nation, yet it is very rich and has plenty of trades with every realm. To cross Andalasia would mean cause a threat to peace it self."
"And Olaf tried to teach potty training to the heir of that throne?" Kristoff laughed.
"Actually, he is not the heir." Anna explained this time.
"He is not?"
"No. The Salvatore brothers told me. He belongs to a second branch of the royal family. Still his family is a big deal among royals. They have plenty of influence as they manage the Public Relationships of their nation. So Prince Robert even if boring, is actually one of the most powerful men among royals. And he happens to be single. But Elsa already knows this. Don't you sis?"
"Anna don't."
"Hold on. Did I miss something?" Kristoff asked confused.
"Oh didn't I tell you? It seems Prince Robert had asked Elsa for a dance at the ball and then he waited to congratulate her on her birthday privately. I was really surprised."
"You were surprised that he did it?" Kristoff asked.
"Yes. But also because Elsa wasn't surprised."
"He was just being polite." Elsa answered tired.
What did I do to be interrogated so much today? She asked the Heavens silently.
In Christmas morning nontheless. Her inner voice added.
Now that Anna knew about Prince Robert interest on her, her sister would never cease the teasing. She had read too much romance novels for her own good.
"Besides," Elsa added. "he wasn't the only one. There were plenty of men that the Council tried to introduce me during the ball. And Prince Bor...I mean Robert, he just happened to be among that group."
"Oh I see. That makes more sense." The young man said.
"Oh you mean Bobby?" Olaf suddenly said. "He always asks about Elsa. I think he wants to be your friend."
"Great." The Queen said as she rolled her eyes.
"I think you got yourself a fan Elsa." Kristoff smiled.
"Please not you too." Elsa said. "It's mere politics. And, can we change the subject please."
"Yes of course dear sister." Anna said in a teasing tone. "For now." Anna smiled and grabbed Olaf's hand stick. "Let's get going shall we? I'm starving".
Anna pushed the door and let Olaf enter.
Then as Elsa was about to push the door for herself Kristoff reached it first making her stop.
"You know," he spoke suddenly in a low tone. "I got surrounded by a bunch of girls at the ball too. It was so weird and I didn't know what to do honestly."
"What? Why didn't you tell me before? As Queen I should have intervened." Elsa apologized. "I'm sorry Kristoff I was so nervous about giving a good impression as host that it never occurred me it could happen to you too."
"Relax. Anna came to the rescue." He added. "And oh boy, was she mad." He said with a soft smile as he seemed to remember that moment. "And before you ask, or worry, she didn't cause that much of a scene."
"A scene? What do you mean?"
"Well, let's just say Anna, when jealous, has the opposite effect of her puppy eyes. But she was the better person and we left before any war was declared."
"Knowing Anna that must had taken lots of self control. I guess I should be proud of her." Elsa held her head and stomach. Yes she was proud of her sister. Yet, she couldn't stop thinking in the what would have happened if Anna had acted more like a certain Prince she knew.
It was déjà vu once again. The story of Anna defending Kristoff, had a slight similarity to another one the Queen had experienced that same night. Both royals probably giving a damn about protocol and public relationships in order to rescue a pair of socially impaired blondes who prefered ice over people.
She felt a mix of emotions coming from her stomach, as she found herself comparing their story to hers and a certain Rebel Prince.
Elsa had to recognize that Anna and Derek were too pure and honest to be considered royalty. Or perhaps, it was that trait in them, that made them so unique. Yet, sometimes that uniqueness could also mean they came with no filter for what they will think or do.
"Anyway, about those fans you've got or those girls that are after me. All we can do is to ingore them. Or when mistletoe is involved maybe even run or hide." Kristoff said suddenly.
"Couldn't agree more on that last one." She said remembering the ridiculous group of people that followed her and Derek last night during their promenade.
They laughed.
"And," Kristoff said as he opened the door to enter the other side. "Just a piece of advise my mom always says, even for fixer uppers like us."
"What is it?"
"She says, love cannot be forced." He said. "So, you shouldn't worry much about those people the Council forced you to meet."
"Your mom seems wise."
"Yeah, even if she can be very pushy sometimes."
Elsa smiled.
"But you know," he shrugged. "Mom also says, that when is really true love, no matter what, it can never be avoided."
Elsa opened her eyes surprised by her friend's words.
"I'm still learning to understand that one though." Kristoff's then smiled tenderly at her with a sympathetic look. "Hope you understand it better than I do."
She smiled politely not sure how to respond to that one.
Then Kristoff proceeded to leave towards the dinning hall where breakfast was going to be served. Elsa followed behind not far from him. Her body once again moving automatically while her mind was lost again thinking about stuff.
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"Olaf, please, please tell me that's mud on you and not…"
"It's mud." Olaf said as he smelled it to confirm it.
"Ew." Derek said as he began to serve the omelette he had prepared.
"Ew indeed." Elsa agreed as she produced magic to remove the mud from Olaf and completely clean him. With another swirl she opened a window and threw the mud outside.
"There. All clean." Anna said happily.
"And handsome too." Elsa said adding his typical ice bowtie.
"E gg-celent." The Prince said as he ended serving. "Now that everyone has their hands and sticks clean, allow me to say, bonne appetite."
"Bon what?" Kristoff asked.
"You may dig in mate."
"Oh, great. Thanks."
Everyone began eating and chatting except for Elsa whose stomach still felt sensitive after learning the wondeful world of reindeer's digestive system.
"Here."
Elsa felt something be placed next to her side.
It had been Derek. He had placed a cup of tea for her.
The Queen took it with both hands as she recognized it was the same tacky cup he had given her for Christmas present.
Elsa drank the contents. The tea had a bit of honey instead of sugar.
Her stomach welcomed the hot beverage with no argument.
"Thanks." She said.
"Are you okay Your Majesty?" he asked. "You haven't even touched your food. I can ask the cook to make you something else. He is a close friend you know."
He seemed a bit worried behind his normal tease. Elsa knew he wanted to confirm if she felt well. By asking as casual as possible.
"I'm better now, thanks to the tea. I've just learnt about reindeers digestive system and my hunger decided to take a holiday."
"Well well, a new victim n'est pas?" he laughed.
"Wait you too?"
"Aye."
"Then why are you eating then?"
"Social pressure I guess? Plus, I don't want to hurt the chef's feelings." He said now with a playful smirk. "He made such an effort to cook even if he had to give a bath to a reindeer and a pig with the worst dragon breath to ever exist."
"Oh poor chef. Maybe I should try a bite after all." She replied feeling better thanks to the tea. She took her fork and ate a small piece.
"Mmm." She exaggerated her reaction. Although it did taste great good enough. "My best regards to the chef."
"Really?"
"I mean. It's just a regular omelette but I can sense there's dedication on this dish. What did you put it in? Salt and pepper Your Highness?"
"How clever Your Majesty. But also there is a secret ingredient." He said as he grabbed a piece of his own food.
"And what would that be, Captain?"
"Is it love?"
Anna suddenly asked causing Derek to cough on his food and Elsa to swallow a whole piece without even chewing.
"Just kidding. I can tell it's olive oil." The Princess said with her mouth filled with food. "This is so good by the way Derek."
"Thank…cof cof…" the Prince tried to say between coughs. "Thank you Princess. It is olive oil."
"Oh, so it was olive oil after all." Elsa said trying to look as casual as possible and unaffected by the sudden joke. "How exotic I suppose." She then raised her tea cup for another sip.
Her lips however never met the hot liquid, but instead, a solid tea frozen as stone.
Again?
Her face had remained still but her magic, once again had decided to slip a bit.
She could easily stand up and prepare more tea on the kitchen below. But that would bring some questions from Anna. And she would need to tell her it was about her magic. Just like it happened yesterday at the tree. Last night she had came up with the excuse of being tired, which in part she was. But two magic accidents in a row, could be enough to alarm her sister.
So, nope. No hot tea for now.
Ugh. Great. Just great.
Still, she managed to unfroze it under the table. So that no one would notice. It didn't taste bad cold of course. The honey and herbs mix as a cold beverage, actually could be a great option for hot days, but Elsa's stomach still craved for something warm to ease her stomach.
Did it had to be cold powers? Why not summer breeze powers? Her inner self wondered. Or why not, flower scent magic? Or chocolate? That would be a great power.
"Mind if we change?" All of a sudden she noticed how Derek had moved his own cup and left it on her side. As he whispered he has swapped his cup with hers.
She could see the hot vapor come from his former cup.
She looked at him surprised.
He winked at her as he tasted the cold tea.
"Mmm, tea-rrific." He said as he drank more. "This would work perfect for summers."
Why? How did you notice? You shouldn't have. She tried to say in her silent glance at him. But instead she said, "We are in winter you know."
"I blame your letter. It made me want to try the ice tea made by the Snow Queen herself." He simply answered more relaxed now. "Let's consider it a Christmas present shall we?"
"You can't be serious." She said feeling less embarrassed than before as he was back on his teasing. He had noticed the frozen tea but decided to address it by not addressing it directly.
" Be-leaf me. This is…" he sipped again. "Ahh, tea-licious." He said causing a double grunt by the Queen.
"Honestly where do you get all the bad puns?" she asked half upset, half amused. Although really bad, he would always come up with jokes so fast. How did his brain work? Did he had a brain section working only on jokes or what?
"One of my unnecessary talents." He explained. "Besides, after you tricked me to give that pig a bath I had to thank my bes-tea in some way."
"You mean torture me with bad jokes?"
"Just the best jokes for Her Majesty as she is r oyal-tea."
'Oh lord have mercy of my soul." She rested her fronthead on her hand. Not even caring to rest her elbows on the table. Since Kai wasn't there to see it.
"Ah such brew-tiful day for cheering and tea-sing."
Elsa had to stop eating for that one.
"Really?"
"Punny Christmas to you too."
"Would you stop already?"
" Snow thanks." He replied.
Elsa smirked this time.
"With pleasure." She produced a small bundle of snow levitating over his head. Then he let it drop over him.
"Hey!" Derek exclaimed.
"You did asked for snow." She said daringly. Two could play this game.
Then she felt as snow was threw back at her and hit her face.
"There you go." The Prince said now beaming. "B eau-tea-ful."
"Oh no you didn't Derry." Elsa prepared her hand to produce more snow.
"It takes two to tango, Miss Dazeem." Derek grabbed a spoon as weapon.
"Children. Children. Behave. Christmas presents are just for the good kids you know?" Anna said this time causing Kristoff to laugh.
"Oh right. We've got presents!" The snowman cheered as he popped out of his seat and grabbed Elsa's hand. "Come on Elsa, Derek. You can play with snow later."
The Prince left the spoon on the table, while Elsa made the bright magic disappear from her hand. Then with a swirl she removed the snow over Derek and hers.
"Alright mate." The Prince raised his hands in signal of surrender. "Truce Elsa?"
He had chosen to call her by her name in signal of peace.
"Only if you promise no more puns. Derek." She replied using also his given name.
"How long?"
"Six hours."
"Ha. Much I can do is one hour."
"Then let's agree to three hours."
"I get to make one last pun and I'll make it two hours. Plus, when we attend the concert later, you can use me as shield if that General wants to talk you about military fabrics."
Now that was tempting. Elsa thought. They had to attend the Christmas concert to raise funds for the hospital reconstruction. And the General and Lady Violet had a duet together. As weird as it sounded.
As much as she liked fashion herself, she wasn't ready to face another sermon about fabrics for proper military wearing. Derek knew that. And he knew she would do anything to escape those long sermons.
She had no choice but to accept. Besides, one last pun couldn't be that bad. Right?
"Fine." She stood up from her seat. "One last pun, but it cannot be about tea."
"Can it be about Christmas?"
"It can."
" Tree-mendous!" He smirked.
The Queen sighed while the others grunted at the bad joke.
"I regret everything already."
"No Christmas refunds."
This was going to be a long, long Christmas day. Elsa knew for sure.
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/A few hours later…./
"Hey pal."
"What is it mate?"
"Shhh."
"Who's Carol? And why all the songs are about her?"
"There's no Carol mate. That's how the songs are called."
"I still don't get it."
"Shhh."
"Olaf." An amused female voice spoke this time.
"Shhh."
"The concert hasn't even started yet." Anna said trying to hide her laughter at the snowman's excitement and commitment to shush the Prince and ice harvester. "We are still allowed to speak until then."
"Really?"
"Aha."
"Oh. Okay."
"Oh Elsa, there you are." Anna said as she spotted her sister arriving to their seats. "What took you so long?"
"I went to talk to the hospital manager and the Finance Minister. We just exchanged some ideas about the new hospital."
"Did you tell them your idea?" Prince Derek asked the Queen as she took a seat between the Prince and Anna.
"I did actually." She answered to him.
"And?"
"You were right. They liked it."
"Told you."
"What idea?" Kristoff asked.
"To add emergency stairs outside the hospital." Elsa answered. "After we got trapped I realized how useful it would have been to have one."
"That's a great idea Elsa."
'Thank you Anna."
Suddenly the theater became all dark.
"What was that? I can't see. I can't see."
"Don't worry Olaf. It's just the lights being turned off. It means the concert is about to begin."
"Ooh."
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The curtain raised and lights focused on the scenery.
As everyone clapped as the director saluted and the choir made a simple bow, the Queen could sense as the Prince leaned slightly toward her side.
"What is it?" she whispered back.
" Cello there."
Elsa rolled her eyes.
"Let me guess. You've been dying to say it until the band appeared?"
"Bass-ically yes. But there's more on my Liszt." He replied.
"Is this also part of your revenge for bathing that pig Your Highness?"
"Pretty sharp Your Majesty."
"You'll get us in trouble." She said leaning to his side to be able to talk in a lower tone. Fearing someone might notice their whispering.
"You mean get us in treble?"
"Oh my God. That was really bad."
Elsa thanked the choir was singing too loud to hide their conversation.
"What? You can't deny without music and jokes life would be flat? Get it?"
"So you can read music?'" she ignored his other joke.
"At school, piano was my forte. How about you?"
Elsa bit her lip.
"Piano as well. I learnt the basics of course. But," she looked at her hands. "I … well, because of my magic. I didn't practice as much as I'd love to. It's not that fun with gloves."
"Oh sheet." He suddenly said. "I… I'm sorry."
Elsa covered her mouth trying to hide the snort she almost produced. Who would have thought his sudden reaction would make her lost her serious face, more than his other jokes.
"I didn't mean to… well…" he was babbling nonsense.
Even in the dark he looked cute when he got nervous. But she didn't want him to feel guilty for something he said.
"Derek. It's okay." She whispered this time turning to look at him.
He looked at her. "Really?"
She nodded.
He didn't seem that convinced. So, Elsa pressed her lips.
"I can't believe I'm doing this." She said as she sighed.
"Doing what?"
"Just give it a rest will you?" she said. "No need to feel down."
"Wait did you just… made a music pun?" His eyes had a sudden bright as the band ended playing and people began to clap.
"You can consider it a Christmas miracle. So, don't get used to it." Elsa clapped as she looked at the front pretending she had been paying attention.
"Finally the Punny Christmas spirit got into you." His tone was more cheerful now. He was also clapping, but not even bothering to look at the stage anymore.
"You know what, forget I even said that." She said trying to ignore his smirk.
The clapping ceased as the next number began.
"Awww. I'm fluttered." He joked again.
"I'm already regretting it."
" Note taken." Another music reference. Even worst that the previous one.
Elsa turned ready to say something but then the whole theater was filled with a loud scream.
She and Derek and almost everyone turned their heads towards the scenery.
It hadn't been a scream. It had been none other than lady Eleanor singing in a really high tone. Then she recognized the other member of her Council, Captain Jorgen. He had joined in the song too. His voice was lower in contrast, more baritone. Yet strong and deep.
"Sing, sweet, nightingale."
"Sing sweet, nightingale."
"HIGH ABOVE."
They seemed to be competing in the stage. More than a duet, it looked more like a contest of who could overpower the stage better.
"Sing, sweet, nightingale."
"Holly tunes." Derek exclaimed as he leaned back surprised. "Are they supposed to be singing or yelling for help?"
This time the Prince had forgotten to whisper, so his words had been enough for Anna and Kristoff to hear and snicker. Even some of the people rounding them were failing to hide their snickering.
Elsa hit his arm slightly with her own, to call his attention. She gave him a stern look. "Really?"
"Oops, sorry." He shrugged again whispering.
"Sing sweet, nightingale."
"But you have to admit they sound more like chickens fighting than sweet nightingales." He replied as he returned the friendly push. Hitting her arm with his.
But once again, his words had been loud enough for at least two rows to hear, causing everyone to lose their serous faces and do their best to supress their laughter.
Elsa just pressed her hands on her face as she felt heat cover her chest and face completely. Her embarrassment could only be hidden by the snickering audience who couldn't agree more with the anonymous comment that came from one still unidentified seat.
"HIGH ABOVE."
"Please don't turn me into a popsicle." He pleaded, as he noticed royals and commoners equally trying it's best to hide their laughter. While the singers had no clue what was happening among the attendants.
"You are very lucky it's so dark no one could see who said it." She mumbled so that only him could hear. "And that everyone seems to agree with you."
"And do you agree?"
He shrugged with a guilty smile as his eyebrows moved up and down looking for her benevolent nature to forgive him. As I'd that would work.
"Sing, sweet, nightingale."
More snickers, and even Anna's giggles still sounding among the crowd, didn't help to keep her frown. So she simply sighed. He smiled.
"You agree don't you?" he had got her. "Did I spot a smile Haydn just now?"
Damn that talent of him to read faces. And how did he came up to use Haydn instead of hiding?
"Just be quiet already. Before they notice the joke came from our seats." She said turning her face towards the stage, away from that smile. Away from those sparkling eyes. And away of … more trouble.
"Fine. I'll become a silent night. Get it?" He said as accepting. "Let us enjoy this music slaughter then."
"Highly appreciated." She dared to look at him just to be polite. Not because she wanted to look at him again.
"Sing sweet, nightingale."
"They should have asked you to do it though." He suddenly said.
"Now, that is a joke." she said almost amused this time. At least it wasn't a pun.
"I wasn't joking."
"Huh?" She frowned confused.
"Please Elsa. Don't tell me you haven't realized it yet." He said almost in a silent laugh. "I've heard you hum when we do paperwork, remember?"
"So?" she asked half confused, half embarrassed that he had once again said she hummed when focused on her work.
"Even I can tell you have an amazing singing voice. If these people ever heard you, they'd realized what I did a while ago." He said as it were the most obvious thing.
"Realize what?" she asked feeling a bit embarrassed from his sudden compliment.
"That you have more than one power of course." He said with a soft smile. "Perhaps you need to discover it by yourself first."
The Queen could tell Derek wasn't joking. He really meant it.
"Oh." It was the only sound that she managed to say.
"HIGH ABOVE."
"Ugh, even chickens sound better than this." He said. Then the Rebel Prince simply shrugged and returned his face to look at the stage.
Elsa nodded silently still processing his other last words.
Derek thought she had an amazing singing voice. Even more, he even consider it a power itself. Whatever that could mean.
What did it mean?
Did he just call her voice to be magical itself?
She looked down as she covered her face with one hand at the upcoming realization. What was he thinking to say that all of a sudden?
She opened her hand slightly to inspect between her fingers for any trace of wild magic.
Nothing to be seen. She felt relieved.
Still that wasn't fair! Her mind almost yelled. He can't joke around and almost get us into trouble. Then dare to say that, then act like it's nothing!
Did he even know what could a simple comment like that could mean to someone like her?
Once again, heat covered her face as Elsa's stomach felt to be jumping inside. But the reason of her blushing had nothing to do with almost getting caught whispering. And her stomach jumping had nothing to do with reindeer's digestive system for sure.
That infamous Rebel Prince really meant trouble. In so many ways.
Elsa decided she shouldn't put much overthink about it. Perhaps he simply think she had a nice voice. Anything would sound better than what was on stage right now after all.
So, following her own advise, she decided to pay attention to the duet singing. Or better say, murdering that por song.
"Sing sweet, nightingale."
"Sing sweet, nightingale."
You have to admit it though. Her inner voice added. Even chickens sound better than this.
"HIIIIIIIIIIGH ABOVE."
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Aaannnd that's it. Hope you liked this one. It was fun to write. Yet hard to come up with the puns. Bad jokes for the sake of this story and for your entertainment and cringe.
Merry Christmas to all.
Anyone recognized the song? If not you should go back and watch Cinderella. It was a small honour to that scene. In the Enchanted movie Idina Menzel plays a character whose name is "Nancy Tremaine". And Tremaine is the name of the Evil Step Mother and the step sisters. So, this song deserved its own cameo. Plus who isn't fan of the step sisters? They are icon. Especially Anastasia.
Next chapter cooking up. More drama and more awkwardness. Or not?