Winter's Echo
Chapter Ten - Show Me Your World
Honeymaren woke to a quiet, rhythmic knocking on the door. Brown eyes shot open in a slight panic, the unfamiliar feel of the incredibly soft bed making her question where she was for a split second while a comfortable weight pressed against her pleasantly reminded her. Honeymaren lifted her head slightly off the pillow and smiled down at the beautiful queen in her arms. The Northuldran must have reached for her in the middle of the night and spooned herself protectively around her. One arm served as the spirit's pillow and guard, pulling her close while the other was draped protectively over the sleeping figure. Honeymaren was not the only cuddle culprit, however, as Elsa had her own arm atop the noaide's, interlacing their fingers and holding the brunette's hand close to her heart, quite happy in the close embrace.
Honeymaren had only a moment to revel in the feeling as the quiet knock sounded once more. Even to her quite observant senses, the knock was gentle enough that it was clear it was not meant to rouse them but rather to politely alert to a presence should they be indecent. A few seconds later, the door opened quietly and Anna herself peeked in the room, a bright smile lighting up her face as she took in the position of the two women. Honeymaren gave her a slightly sheepish, but mostly sleepy smile - the Northuldra felt no shame in affection or closeness of any kind. It was so called 'polite society' that put backwards and often harmful restrictions on showing love or needing closeness.
Anna quietly approached the pair and knelt next to the bed in front of Elsa, taking in the sleeping features of her beloved sister. "I've never seen her so relaxed," she whispered, careful not to wake her as she reached out to tenderly brush a lock of hair from the slumbering woman's face. Honeymaren smiled at Anna, slowly untangling herself from the winter spirit. "She always sleeps much more soundly when she knows there's someone else in the room," she replied, carefully replacing herself with a pillow and pulling the blanket more snugly over the queen to hold in the warmth before standing and stretching her arms over her head. "I think by someone, you really meant you," Anna retorted playfully, though she gave Honeymaren a pointed look that told her she was well aware of their situation.
As Honeymaren was about to reply, Elsa stirred slightly, seeming to sense the woman's absence, but did not wake. Anna stood and nodded her head to the balcony, opening the door quietly and gesturing for Honeymaren to join her to give her sister some peace. Honeymaren's eyes went wide as she walked out onto the balcony, the beauty of Arendelle and the fjord She sat on bathed in the warm colors of the sunset. "Wow," she breathed as Anna quietly shut the door behind them, though she left it slightly ajar so they could hear Elsa if she awoke before joining Honeymaren at the railing. She smiled admiringly at the view she would never grow tired of. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked with a contented sigh. Honeymaren nodded, taking in the majestic sight.
After a few moments of companionable silence, Anna couldn't hold her questions in any longer - though she was getting more and more practice as Queen, she didn't have the kind of patience. "Have you told her yet?" she asked, not taking her eyes off the view. Honeymaren peeked at the redhead from the corner of her eye. "Told her what?" she questioned back innocently, though a tiny smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. Anna turned to face Honeymaren and the Northuldran was a bit surprised to find the normally bubbly redhead quite meaningful and serious. "Have you told my sister that you are in love with her?" Honeymaren regarded Anna for a long moment, sorting through the emotions she saw flitting through uncharacteristically sobering teal pools.
Finally, she turned her face away to gaze at the landscape again. "No," she answered simply, making no attempt to deny the redhead's near accusation. "Why? She very obviously has feelings for you," Anna pressed. Honeymaren gave a small, sad smile, shaking her head slightly. "It's not so simple as that, Anna," she replied. She bit her lip, searching for the words to explain to the blunt young woman her predicament. "Anna," she began slowly. "Loving Elsa...it's...it's like loving the stars themselves. She is far beyond me and needs to decide for herself how she does or doesn't feel, then how she does or doesn't want to feel." Anna pressed her lips together in thought. She understood the Northuldran's logic, but she didn't like it. "Maybe you telling her how you feel will help her in discovering that," she suggested. Honeymaren chuckled slightly and nodded her head at the beautiful sky. "One cannot expect the sunset to admire them back."
"What about the sunset?" came Elsa's sleepy voice as she came through the balcony door, covering a small yawn with her hand as she joined them. Honeymaren turned her head to the side to grin at her. "That you're missing it, sleeping beauty." Elsa glared at her and gave her a small shove for her insolence. "What did I say about behaving?" she grumbled with no real malice in her voice. Honeymaren just shrugged nonchalantly in reply. "I forget trivial things like that." Anna just watched the relaxed, playful exchange between the two and bit back a small, sad sigh. She would not betray Honeymaren's candid confessions by telling her sister how the woman felt, but she gave the Northuldran a look that clearly stated they would continue the conversation later.
"Let's get ready, Elsa! Honeymaren, I'll take you to your room now if you're ready," she offered with a smile. Honeymaren nodded and gave Elsa a smile as she headed to the door. Elsa gave her a small wave. "I'll meet you two downstairs," she said as she walked over to her wardrobe, Anna closing the door behind her as she left. She turned and gestured for Honeymaren to follow her to the room next door, opening the door and walking in, holding her arm out in invitation. Honeymaren smiles gratefully and walked into her new home for the next few days, surprised to find it outfitted in similar luxury to Elsa's bedroom.
Honeymaren raised an eyebrow and looked at Anna. "This is a guest room? Really?" The red headed monarch chuckled and nodded. "Yes. I hope you will be comfortable here. Elsa is right next door if you need anything," she said, walking over to the wardrobe in the corner of the room and opening it for Honeymaren to see. "Traditionally, we dress in blues and whites for the Winter Solstice. I wasn't sure what you would prefer, so there are a variety of dresses and tunics and breeches in here. Feel free to choose whatever you would like, they should all fit alright." Honeymaren blinked in surprise and walked over to the wardrobe, fingering the soft, high quality fabric. She hadn't thought about dress codes at all - she really was in a different world, she realized.
"Wait," she thought aloud suddenly. "How do you know it will fit me?" Anna folded her arms and gave her a pointed smile. "Elsa was able to give a pretty accurate sizing description," she replied coyly before throwing her hands up in a mock defensive way. "But it's not like she pays that close of attention to you, noooo." Honeymaren just laughed at the queen's antics. "I'm sensing some sarcasm, Your Majesty. That's not very regal behavior, you know," she teased. Anna shrugged and smiled playfully. "Well, technically you're not a citizen of Arendelle so I don't have to be regal around you," she said with a wink before heading to the door. "Do you remember how to get back down to the entrance?" Honeymaren nodded with a grateful smile. "Alrighty then. I'll leave you to it. Elsa and I will meet you there in an hour." Anna gave a small wave before exiting the room.
Honeymaren took a deep breath and sighed, shaking her head at the pure awkwardness of the whole situation before sorting through the wardrobe. She was definitely not going to be wearing a dress, which thankfully narrowed it down a bit. "Blues and silvers," she muttered under her breath thoughtfully before her eyes landed on a royal blue tunic with dark silver trim and filigree. On the front, the crocus of Arendelle was displayed proudly across the chest in well-crafter silver felt. What decided it for Honeymaren, however, was what was on the back. Spreading the width of the garment squarely between the shoulders was none other than Elsa's signature snowflake, woven with such intricate detail it seemed as though it would be cold to the touch. Honeymaren smiled and picked out a pair of white breeches, a warm white, long sleeved undershirt, and a thick leather belt, changing quickly. While she still had her deep-seated uncertainties about the people of Arendelle, she would proudly wear Elsa's symbol anywhere.
Honeymaren stepped over to the large vanity against the wall, fixing the tunic before affixing her whale-bone dagger to the belt and cinching it snugly around her waist. She spied the brush laying on the vanity and pondered briefly before also releasing her braid and beginning the task of brushing out her long, thick mane of hair. It took her the better part of a half hour, but when she was done she grinned at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair hung in thick, silky waves down her back and across her shoulder, the tips reaching all the way down to her lower back. The blue and silver of the tunic highlighted her olive skin and lightened her already light brown eyes even more, giving them a slightly golden hue while the belt managed to accentuate her quite feminine curves rather fetchingly in the traditionally male garment.
She ran her fingers through her hair one last time before heading out of her room and closing the door behind her and heading down the hall to the stairs. She paused briefly in front of Elsa's room, wondering if she should offer to escort her downstairs. Just as she raised her hand to knock, a heavenly sound reached her ears. Elsa was singing softly to herself in the most enchanting voice Honeymaren had ever heard. The sound wasn't moving, so the Northuldran immediately pictured the image of the blonde sitting at the vanity and lovingly running a brush through a silky curtain of white gold, the thought making her heart beat hard in her chest. Honeymaren leaned against the doorframe and closed her eyes, a dreamy smile on her face as she listened to her secret love. Elsa was a siren and Honeymaren her helplessly willing victim, completely and utterly under her spell.
"You should wear this one, Elsa," came Anna's voice inside the room, jarring Honeymaren out of her thoughts. She blushed, not realizing both women were in the room and pushed herself off of the doorframe, not wanting to eavesdrop on the siblings. "Honeymaren won't know what to do with herself when she sees you in this," Anna's voice continued, and the Northuldran paused upon hearing her name. "And I will be greatly insulted if you try to tell me that you don't care if she likes it, so don't even try." Honeymaren snickered quietly to herself at the feisty redhead - Anna really was a handful. "I don't know, Anna..." came Elsa's low, uncertain voice. Honeymaren could see the blonde queen wringing her hands in her lap in her mind's eye. She heard footsteps cross the room to where Elsa's voice had sounded from as Anna walked over to her sister. "Elsa, she's going to think you're beautiful no matter what you wear. Let's pick something that makes you feel the way she sees you." Honeymaren found herself nodding enthusiastically. Anna may be a bit unconventional and straightforward, but the woman was sharper than her dagger and wise beyond her years. Content that Elsa was in good hands and unwilling to spy on the siblings, Honeymaren continued on her way to wait for the two monarchs at the bottom of the stairs.
Honeymaren paced leisurely around the extravagant foyer, hands clasped behind her back as she took in the several suits of armor, portraits, and tapestries decorating the large room. A portrait of the siblings, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven caught her eye and she studied it with a smile. She couldn't help but feel that, despite the beauty of the smile on Elsa's face in the piece of art, it seemed...off. Not disingenuous or forced in any way, but...practiced. Either way, she was quite glad she knew what a real, spontaneous smile from the beautiful winter spirit looked like.
"Well, you clean up nice, don't you?" Honeymaren blinked and turned to find Lieutenant Mattias behind her, a large smile on his face as he looked her up and down. The tall, dark-skinned man was dressed to impress, wearing a smart looking uniform in a blue color similar to her tunic, the sigil of Arendelle displayed proudly on his chest and marking him a soldier of the Crown. A white fur cape draped over one shoulder completed his dashing, regal look. "You look good, kid," he complimented, extending his forearm to her. Honeymaren grinned and walked over to him, clasping his forearm in greeting as he did likewise. "You don't clean up too bad yourself, old man," she teased. "I've actually missed your smug face causing trouble in the forest, Lieutenant." Matthias laughed heartily. "That's General now, brat," he said good naturedly.
Before she could open her mouth to give a snarky response, she heard Anna clear her throat from the top of the stairs. "General, who is-" she began to ask before Honeymaren turned to face her with a charming smile. Anna's eyes went wide as she took in Honeymaren's new look. "Wow...Honeymaren, you look fantastic! I had no idea your hair was so long!" The new queen was dressed in a light blue skirt and a matching jacket lined with white fur with silver gems sewn in all across the fabric, the crest of Arendelle sewn into the wrists and along the pleats of the skirt. Sprigs of evergreen adorned her fiery tresses, which had been coiffed into an elegant updo. The whole look was bright and cheery and Honeymaren was unable to help but think that the it suited the young queen. "You look beautiful, Anna," she complimented. "Kristoff is going to have his hands full beating suitors off of you left and right," she joked playfully. "That's what I'm here for," Mattias chimed in with his deep laugh. "If Her Majesty, Queen Elsa doesn't freeze them solid first, that is."
"Who am I freezing, General?"
Anna turned and smiled lovingly as her sister appeared next to her at the top of the stairs and Honeymaren felt her heart stop along with time itself. Elsa was dressed much more formally than her sister in a floor length gown. While Anna had chosen a light blue, Elsa's looked like the midnight sky. The dark blue, velvety material hugged her curves like a second skin, the sparkle of the sewn in gems giving her an ethereal, angelic aura. Draped around her shoulders was a flowy, silken cape the same dark color as her gown with a hood lined with thick, white fur that made the deep scarlet blossoming across her pale face at the Northuldran's blatant approving stare all the more fetching. Her long blonde hair was tamed into a thick braid draped across her left shoulder, wispy bangs and fly-away strands of hair bushed back, the soft, white-gold tresses accentuating her high cheek bones and faint freckles. Several icy snowflakes that sparkled like diamonds dotted her braid along with a sprig of holly pinned in her hair brought everything together in a sweetly festive way.
Elsa smiled bashfully and lowered her gaze as she descended the stairs with her now smugly grinning sister, her cape flowing behind her and flashing a frosted pattern of snowflakes that sparkled in the light. Mattias reached out and closed Honeymaren's open hanging mouth, chucking to himself. The Northuldran didn't even seem to register the touch, her eyes never leaving the wintery spirit as she slowly descended the stairs, the picture of elegance and grace. As she neared the bottom, Mattias bumped her encouragingly with his broad frame, causing Honeymaren to stumble forward slightly. It brought her out of her trance just enough to move with him to meet the beautiful sisters at the bottom of the stairs. Mattias quickly offered his arm and whisked the younger royal away at Anna's look of behest to give her sister and Honeymaren a moment of privacy. Honeymaren silently held out her hand as Elsa descended the last two steps, smiling gratefully as she took it.
Elsa reached out with her free hand to gently finger one of Honeymaren's long, loose waves of hair. "You look...stunning, Maren," she said quietly, taking in the Northuldran's new look with an appreciative gaze. Honeymaren simply stared at her with an expression that made Elsa's heart beat faster by the second, a nervous energy coursing through her. "I don't think you've ever been this quiet before," she tried to joke, though her nervousness dropped her voice to almost a whisper. "Why won't you say anything..." Honeymaren stepped closer to Elsa and slowly reached out to the winter spirit to brush the back of her warm fingers against her cheek. "Because the words that could come remotely close to explaining how impossibly beautiful you are don't yet exist, Elsa," she whispered back. "But I swear, I could stare at you every second of every hour until the day they are dreamed into existence...and still be as breathless as I am now."
Honeymaren turned her hand to cup the blushing queen's cheek, gently caressing it with her thumb as she stared searchingly into twin chips of ice. Elsa held her breath as Honeymaren leaned forward ever so slowly, her eyes fluttering closed as she felt the noaide's breath mingling with hers. Warm, full, and impossibly soft lips brushed ever so lightly against hers. A small, quiet gasp escaped her at the sensation, the anticipation driving her mad. Suddenly, the sound of Mattias and Anna laughing outside in the courtyard reached their ears and the two women pulled apart quickly, roughly yanked from their dreamlike state. Honeymaren looked toward the door, then immediately back to Elsa, her eyes searching the blonde's once more. She saw nervousness there, but not fear. She saw relief, not for a situation being avoided but because it almost happened. Most importantly, Honeymaren saw regret, not for time spent but for a moment stolen. She sighed with the weight of the possibilities, but smiled at Elsa warmly, her eyes promising her that their moment would come one day.
"Come, Your Majesty," she said, offering her arm gallantly. "Show me your world."