Winter's Echo
Chapter Forty-Five – Happily Ever After (Part One)
Elsa wrung her hands nervously in front of her, biting her lip as she stared at her reflection in the mirrors before her while Gerda fussed over her dress, fixing this and adjusting that. "By the Gods, I cannot believe I have been blessed to live long enough to see my little girl be married," she prattled as she went about her fretting. "And for you to turn out so beautifully! The epitome of grace and elegance! You're every bit your mother and father's daughter, may they rest in peace," she continued tearfully as she stepped back, folding her hands together and pressing her cheek against them. "Oh, they would be so proud of you and the woman you have become, Your Majesty."
Elsa tried to smile at the woman who had been like a second mother to her, but her nerves made it difficult to do anything other than focus on breathing and not bolting from the room. She looked back at her reflection, crystalline blue pools scanning her appearance in a critical, yet almost distant way. The queen's hair was coiffed into a simple low updo, her silky white-gold locks gathered elegantly into a wispy bun at the nape of her neck or in delicately crisscrossing braids at the back of her head, a trail of winter breaths and fern leaves running from one temple to the bun. Her tiara was nestled comfortably in her bangs, shining brightly amongst the sparkling snowflakes that looked like diamonds dotting her carefully feathered locks. Wispy tendrils of blonde curls and long teardrop diamond earrings framed her soft face, the only jewelry the queen wore besides a simple but beautiful diamond snowflake pendant on a short silver chain.
Analytical eyes scanned her dress nervously, perfect white teeth worrying her bottom lip – would Honeymaren like it? The soft-white, lacy fabric fell enticingly off of her smooth, pale shoulders, leaving them exquisitely bare. Full length, see-through sleeves of delicate fabric hugged her arms like a second skin, tapering off halfway down her hands and held in place by small loops on her middle fingers. The top of the dress left her attractively prominent collarbone uncovered and began just above her breasts to show the barest hint of cleavage – enough to be feminine and alluring, yet not outside the range of modesty. The lacy bodice of her dress was a stunning artistic framework of gorgeously crafted winter breaths intermingled with painstakingly detailed snowflakes that fanned out breezily throughout the floor-length gown, as though Gale herself had blown them about the garment. The queen blushed slightly when she caught a side view of herself – the back of her dress was little more than a barely-there, see-through expanse of the same thin fabric of her sleeves that ran all the way down to her full hips, exposing the small dimples at the base of her spine. The rest of the dress flowed beautifully around her in soft, airy waves, as though she were a siren emerging from the foamy whitecaps of the sea. Seemingly pulled straight from one of the fairytales she and Anna read as children, the wide ballgown style dress and train were gathered beautifully at her feet and would surely trail endlessly behind her as she walked down the aisle. When Elsa had marveled how the castle seamstresses could have possibly crafted such a piece of artwork in so little time, Anna had bashfully admitted that she had set them to work on it long ago.
"So, I have one last surprise for you, Elsa," Anna said nervously, fiddling with a long-empty chocolate wrapper. "I…I really hope you like it…" she trailed off in a murmur. Elsa blinked, setting aside her mug of hot chocolate and offering her little sister a reassuring smile. "Anna, if it's from you of course I am going to love it," she said encouragingly. Anna smiled a little and stood from the bed, taking Elsa's hand and pulling her up with her, leading her to the dressing room. "Well, that's the thing…it's not just from me, Els," she said cryptically, her hand resting nervously on the doorknob. Elsa's brow furrowed in confusion, crystalline eyes flicking somewhat apprehensively between the nervous redhead and the door. "Who else is it from?" she asked carefully.
"Mother."
Elsa's eyes went wide with surprise and confusion, searching her sister's unreadable teal pools. Anna took a deep breath and opened the door to the dressing room, revealing the most beautiful wedding dress Elsa had ever seen on a mannequin in the middle of the room, the lengthy train pooled elegantly around it. The winter spirit suddenly found it impossible to breathe as she took in the gorgeous gown as though Anna's deep breath prior to opening the door had come straight from her own lungs. "A-Anna," she choked out, leaning heavily against the doorframe to support her abruptly unreliable balance. "Is…is it…?"
"Mother's," Anna affirmed quietly, taking Elsa's hand in her own once more and pulling her into the room and up to the beautiful dress so she could take a closer look. Elsa slowly, hesitantly reached out to touch the delicate lace, as though it might shatter beneath her fingertips. She lightly traced the incredibly detailed lacework, her brow furrowing in slight confusion when she realized the abundance of her signature snowflake in the design as well as her favorite flower, winter breaths, and realized it had been altered to suit her own personality and style. "How…?" she murmured in disbelief, her eyes flicking over to her sister who had remained uncommonly silent. "How is this possible? This…this kind of detail must have taken months. We only agreed to be married in your stead a week ago," she mused aloud.
"Well…I may have had them working on it for a while," Anna began slowly, reaching out to smooth an imaginary wrinkle from the gown. "I had intended to have it altered for myself, but it just…didn't feel quite right," she admitted. "I know now from what you've told me of the memories Ahtohallan showed you that I was like Mama when she was younger, but…this gown belonged to the Mama we knew," she said with a small, wistful smile. "Elegant, delicate, graceful…everything you turned out to be," she finished lovingly, warm teal eyes turning to meet stunned crystalline pools. "I turned out to be more rambunctious like Papa, so I'm awesome in a more obvious way," she added with a laugh, shaking her head fondly and dismissing the immediate argument she knew was on her sister's lips. "But whenever I would look at this dress, all I could think about was that you were the only one who would do it justice." She grinned, teal eyes flicking to softening blue playfully. "And I knew you would have need of it from the first day you brought Honeymaren here for the Winter Solstice," she added proudly, her grin widening when a bright blush filled her sister's pale cheeks.
"Anna…I don't know what to say," Elsa said quietly, her eyes going back to the dress that appeared to be straight from a fairytale, imagining her mother wearing it as she walked down the aisle to where her father was waiting, handsomely dressed in his royal regalia. "Say you'll wear it tomorrow," Anna answered simply, an encouraging smile on her lips. "I know you were planning on making an ice dress due to the short notice, and…" Anna trailed off for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "And I know you said you had talked yourself out of fantasizing about having a beautiful wedding because you thought you could never have one," she added quietly before a renewed spark of hope lit in her eyes, her smile returning. "So, let this be at least one tradition the sisters of Arendelle follow." Teal eyes softened, her smile taking on the sad air only an old, deep pain could bring. "Papa...Papa would have been so proud to give you away to Honeymaren, Elsa." The blonde winced slightly and closed her eyes tightly against the instant tears that welled in them at that sentiment, opening them slowly when Anna continued speaking quietly. "And while he may not be here to do it…I would consider it my greatest honor if you would allow me to walk you down the aisle." Anna reached out to lovingly tuck a stray lock of hair behind her sister's ear, her other hand gently brushing away the tears that slowly began trekking down pale cheeks. "And now, with this dress, Mama can too."
Elsa sniffled and immediately wrapped her arms around Anna, pulling her close as holding her as tightly as she could, burying her face into bouncy red tresses. It took the blonde queen several moments to compose herself, using all of her will power to prevent herself from dissolving into emotional sobs before she was finally able to whisper in her sister's ear.
"I'd love that."
She wrung her hands more tightly, the pale appendages red from the abuse in some places or nearly white as the blood was squeezed from others. 'Why am I so nervous?' she wondered in bewilderment, unable to find a single flaw anywhere in her appearance. It's not as though she had never been paraded in front of a large or influential crowd before – 'conceal don't feel' had served her well in that regard as queen. It certainly wasn't that she didn't want to be married. Though she had told Anna, Honeymaren, and even herself that she had given up on the fantasy of falling in love and being someone's bride long, long ago, she had realized soon after she accepted her feelings for the charming noaide that her lofty dream had not disappeared altogether, but had simply remained quietly dormant, content to grow in the shadows of the queen's mind.
Still…she couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. As though she were missing something or making a grave mistake. But what?
"You look just like your mother."
Elsa blinked and looked up to meet the soft brown eyes of her head of staff, blushing slightly under their warm, loving gaze. A small, genuine smile tugged at the queen's nervous features. "Really…?" she asked in a quiet, almost hopeful voice as she turned to look at her reflection once more, searching for the traits that had elicited such a statement. "Oh, yes. You are a lot like her, you know," Gerda said with a loving smile as she walked up to the queen, reaching up to lightly adjust one of the flowers in her hair. "The picture of beauty and grace, elegant and charming to a fault. You have your Father's regal bearing, commanding presence, and sharp, cunning mind, but you have your mother's gentle heart and quiet soul," she said wistfully, gazing at Elsa's reflection in the mirror, the corner of her mouth twitching in amusement. "Though, if I may be so bold, you do look much like your father when you are brooding, Your Majesty," she teased. "What is it that's troubling you?"
Elsa blushed slightly, her gaze dropping to her hands as she sighed softly. "I honestly don't know, Gerda," she admitted quietly. "I just feel like I'm missing something…something very important." The old head of staff hummed thoughtfully, putting her hand to her chin and mulling it over when a rhythmic knock sounded at the door, causing the older woman to smile. "It appears reinforcements have arrived," she said with a wink before moving to the door to allow Anna entry.
"Hey, Gerda! Kai said Honeymaren is all set and is wondering— WOW…" Elsa blinked when her sister stopped mid-sentence, looking up to catch Anna's eyes in the mirror and smiling shyly at her stunned expression. The spirit of winter slowly turned to face her beloved sister as Anna's hand went to her open mouth while she continued to stare at the blonde in utter awe. "Elsa…" she breathed. "You're…you're absolutely breathtaking," she whispered with growing excitement, barely containing a squeal as she reached out to take Elsa's hands in her own. The elder queen blushed and smiled bashfully, lowering her gaze nervously. "Thank you," she whispered back, afraid to say more as she felt her emotions beginning to build already.
"We were just trying to solve a small mystery," Gerda commented with a warm smile, drawing the sisters' attention to her. "Perhaps Your Majesty can help us solve it." Anna blinked for a moment before grinning and nodding. "Of course! Nothing gets past me. What's the mystery? Is it your chocolate? Because I totally didn't steal it. I think Olaf has figured out where your secret stash is, Els," she said with a sage nod. "And if it's not his fault, it's probably Sven's. Which then makes it Kristoff's fault." Anna blinked again as she followed her own train of thought, scowling after a moment. "Which would then make it my fault, by proxy. Damn!" she grumbled before narrowing her eyes at Gerda. "…You're good at this."
Gerda arched a bemused eyebrow at the redheaded queen, pinning her young charge with a flat look before speaking again. "Your sister is plagued by the nagging feeling that something is missing or that a mistake is being made somewhere," she supplied, looking at Anna pointedly. Anna's features softened as she looked back at her sister, realizing that her distress went beyond simple wedding day jitters. "Don't worry, Elsa," she said in a reassuring voice, craning her neck slightly to try to catch her eyes. "Everything is taken care of. The guests have been attended to, the church looks beautiful, as does the Great Hall, you look absolutely stunning – the only thing you need to worry about today is beating all the women off of your new wife," she added teasingly, smiling when crystalline pools flicked up attentively at the mention of the noaide. Anna grinned, a teasing glint in her eye. "She cleans up quite well, you know. I have to admit, had I known a woman could look that good in a suit, I may not have been so keen for male attention," she said with a wink. "Your Majesty!" came Gerda's scandalized admonishment, glaring at the redhead's innocent shrug.
Elsa gave a breathy laugh, shaking her head and lowering her gaze once more, playing nervously with the ends of her sleeves. "You're right, Anna," Elsa said in a quiet voice. "I'm just being foolish..." Anna frowned at the subdued response from her sister, glancing at Gerda questioningly who only gave her a helpless shrug. Anna bit her lip thoughtfully for a moment before a sly smirk tugged at her features as an idea struck her. "Well, we may as well get this party started! Let's go!" she said cheerfully, looping her arm through Elsa's and tugging her unceremoniously toward the door. "Wait, what?!" Elsa asked, unable to hide the growing panic in her voice from the sudden call to action. "B-but—" she tried but was interrupted with a dismissive wave from Anna's free hand as she continued to tug her toward the door. "Hey, the sooner we get this started the sooner you get to be married to the love of your life. Why wait?"
Elsa's breath began to come in slightly faster, nervous pants as her body and mind rebelled against what was happening. Finally, the sight of her sister's hand on the doorknob was the last straw before she pulled away from Anna's grip quickly, retreating back into the room. "Because I'm not ready!" she cried, her hands resuming their nervous fidgeting as she looked at her sister with wide, imploring eyes, looking almost to be on the verge of tears. "I'm…I'm not…ready…" she murmured pleadingly, trying to slow her rapid breathing as her gaze fell guiltily to the floor. A soft, gentle hand beneath her chin guided the nervous queen's gaze to Anna's warm, knowing smile. "What's missing, Els?" she asked again gently.
Elsa bit her lip when Anna took her fretting hands in her own, squeezing them encouragingly. "I…I need to tell her how I feel," she answered slowly, sighing in frustration as she struggled to find the words to explain how she felt, the sudden threat of action bringing her clouded desires into sharper focus. "When we are at the altar, it will be too late to say the things I want to say, and…and she deserves to know. I need her to know and it's too late to tell her. I needed to tell her…" she trailed off with a slight whimper, turning away from Anna and beginning to pace slightly. The redhead instantly recognized the telltale signs of her sister's anxious downward spiral and immediately engulfed the blonde in a tight hug, halting her pacing. She stood patiently, murmuring quiet reassurances to the nervous bride until she felt the spirit of winter begin to relax in her embrace, lace-clad arms slowly lifting to return the hug, pale fingers gripping at the fabric of the younger queen's dress. "Everything is going to be okay, Elsa, I promise. Do me a favor and wait here, alright? Try not to worry so much, Honeymaren knows how much you love her. It's going to be just fine," she said reassuringly, giving her another tight squeeze for good measure before pulling back slowly and flashing Elsa a bright smile. "I'll be right back," she promised before she walked out the door, laying a reassuring hand on Gerda's shoulder at the older woman's impressed look before closing the door behind her.
Honeymaren sighed softly as she stood on the balcony in Elsa's room, hands encased in pristine white gloves resting gently on the stone banister. She let the salty breeze soothe her nerves as she was finally left alone to her thoughts. The noaide carefully brushed back a loose lock of hair, taking extra care not to displace any others. Her hair was coiffed into a tight, clean updo very similar to how she had seen Elsa's at her coronation and how Anna wore hers when she had official business to attend to. It felt strange for the forest-dwelling Northuldran to have her neck to be so exposed after years of wearing her hair in a braid, despite having recently favored leaving it down for Elsa's benefit – she would never object to the beautiful winter goddess having an opportunity to run her fingers through it, she thought with a smile.
Kai had left moments ago after what seemed like hours of preparation seeing to every insignificant detail of her formal wedding attire, though the Northuldran had to admit she greatly liked her appearance. It made her feel like the knight in shining armor from the fairy tales, the prince Elsa had always deserved to come rescue her. The suit was well-made and impeccably tailored to her form, showcasing her undeniably feminine build and curves while adding handsome elements of masculinity that made it appear as though she were born to wear the uniform. The suit was mostly black with the exception of the thick, forest green trim down the front of the jacket and matching sash around her waist. Her jacket cuffs and epaulets were gold to match the braid of rope and medals pinned to the jacket, signifying her revered position as a Royal Knight of Arendelle as well as Elsa's personal bodyguard. Her buttons were gold as well, highly polished to shine just as brightly as her medals with a small crocus insignia inlaid into each button. The collar of the jacket was stiff and ended just below her chin, left open and tapering inward, lined with a soft, green silk so as not to be uncomfortable. A cape of the same forest green as her jacket was pinned to her shoulders, the sigil of Arendelle emblazoned on the back in spun gold. The sturdy, yet flowing fabric swept down to the ankles of her knee-high boots, also polished to such perfection that the Northuldran could swear she saw her reflection in them at one point.
Honeymaren reached to her side with one hand to rest it on the last piece that tied everything together, both aesthetically and emotionally, hanging easily at her hip from a thin leather strap around her waist. Her white-gloved hands gently fingered the golden pommel of the late King Agnarr's ceremonial sword – the same sword he had worn when he married Elsa's mother. It had been Anna's idea – a surprise addition for Elsa's benefit in the same way the winter queen wore her mother's wedding dress. In that same spirit, Honeymaren had also opted to tuck her own father's whalebone dagger into the sash on her other side, having personally polished the piece to a flawless shine. She smiled wistfully, her other hand reaching up to subtly place a hand over her heart, feeling the comforting presence of the totem there.
"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" Ryder asked softly as they were leaving the castle, reaching out to gently tug at her sleeve and allowing Kristoff and Mattias to get a few steps ahead. Neither man seemed to notice, wrapped up in a conversation between themselves as they led the way to where they would spend Honeymaren's so-called 'stag party'. Honeymaren raised a curious eyebrow at her brother's subdued tone, turning her full attention to him as they walked. "Always, little brother," she said encouragingly, holding her hands behind her back comfortably as they walked.
Ryder smiled warmly at her before reaching into his shirt and tugging on a simple twine necklace, pulling the stone pendant it was wrapped around out from beneath the fabric. He rubbed his thumb lovingly over their mother's totem for a moment before pulling it up and over his head and promptly draping it over Honeymaren's. The noaide blinked, her eyes wide with surprise. "Ryder, no," she said, immediately reaching for it to give it back before Ryder's large hand grasped hers to still it. "Ryder. This belongs to you, I couldn't possibly—" she began, but was interrupted by her brother's soft voice, a slightly sad tone in it. "I want you to wear it tomorrow," he said quietly, giving her a small, reassuring smile. "Make no mistake, you'd better give it back afterward," he teased, making a mock, threatening fist and grinning impishly before handsome features melted into warm, loving encouragement. "But I know it would make her happy to be as close to your heart as possible when you start your new life. After all, she never thought she'd be able to convince anyone to take you on. I bet Mother wouldn't even be surprised that it took a queen-turned-goddess to tame you," he said with a laugh, though she could hear the thick emotion her brother was trying to clamp down on in his voice.
Honeymaren smiled softly at him when he released her hand and cleared his throat, turning his attention forward once more. She reached down and held the stone in her hand, the warmth in its smooth surface from being near her beloved little brother's heart spreading a different kind of warmth in her own. The noaide ran her thumb lovingly across the elemental symbols etched into its surface, smiling softly as she remembered idly playing with it as a child while her mother sang to her the legends of their people. Their mother was wearing this necklace in nearly every memory she had of the kind woman, a gift passed down from parent to child for many generations in the Nattura line. When their parents had died, they had agreed their mother's totem belonged next to Ryder's gentle heart while their father's dagger belonged at the protective noaide's side.
She looked back up at her brother, his strong jaw set in hard determination to keep a handle on his gentle emotions and smiled. Rather than embrace him as she wanted and knowingly ruining his attempt at keeping up his masculine pretenses, she bumped him playfully with her shoulder and gave him a secret smile. "Thanks, brat," she murmured softly as she tucked the precious stone into her shirt, making a point of pressing it against her heart. He grinned impishly at her, though she could see the loving softness behind it. "You're welcome, jerk," he answered with a much rougher shoulder nudge before darting ahead, taking advantage of the precious head start, pointless though he knew it was, before the noaide caught up to him.
Because Honeymaren always caught him.
Honeymaren grinned a bit at the memory. Despite the touching and thoughtful sentiment of allowing her to wear their mother's necklace during the wedding, she had given Ryder the noogie of his life when she caught him. She would help her little brother not cry if it helped him feel like more of a man - but if his goal was to appear as alpha material before the two older men in their group, then he shouldn't have challenged her, she mused smugly to herself with a widening grin. Though, she had to admit that Ryder cut quite the dashing figure himself in a suit similar to her own, although far less refined and ornate. She chuckled as she imagined the look on Kari's face when she saw him in his 'official' attire – the poor young girl wouldn't know what hit her.
She was pulled from her amusing reverie when a very distinctive knock sounded from Elsa's bedroom door. Honeymaren blinked in surprise before her brow furrowed in confusion – why wasn't Anna with Elsa? She quickly strode to the door, her knee-high boots clicking quietly as she walked, and opened it to reveal none other than the redheaded queen. She blinked, her eyes wide as she took in Anna's new outfit, a flowing deep green dress with a stylish half-shoulder black bodice. Her hair was done up in a slightly more elegant version of her usual official updo, her tiara nestled snugly in the copper tresses. "Wow…Anna, you look...beautiful," she murmured sincerely, an adoring smile tugging at her lips. Anna blushed prettily at the compliment, grinning as her own teal pools unabashedly scanned Honeymaren up and down again. "And you look even more fantastic than you did before," she noted as she took in the complete ensemble. "Elsa is going to faint when she sees you. She told me about your abstinence tradition, and I must say that this," she said, gesturing up and down the Northuldran, "is not going to help her any. My poor sister simply is not prepared for it," she lamented playfully, grinning when Honeymaren rolled her eyes and chuckled.
"Speaking of not prepared…" Anna said slowly, trailing off slightly as she tried to think of a way to explain her sister's sudden bout of anxiety. "If you have everything you need, I need you to come with me. Elsa needs you," she said, deciding to be blunt. Honeymaren frowned in concern, twilight-flecked eyes turning serious and focused. "What's wrong? Is she alright?" she asked insistently. Anna blinked, unable to help the slight twinge of intimidation that ran up her spine at the sudden hard shift in the Northuldran. She smiled reassuringly and laid a calming hand on Honeymaren's shoulder, a mirthful twinkle in her eye. "Calm down, Sparky, she's perfectly fine. Her nerves are just getting to her and she wants to speak with you," she assured the protective knight, slipping her hand in her arm and leading her down the hall.
Honeymaren nodded slowly and took a deep, calming breath as she escorted Anna down the halls, doing her very best to keep their pace casual despite her desire to rush to Elsa's side. "You know how Elsa is," Anna continued, trying to soothe the now tense woman beside her. "Sometimes she has trouble untangling her thoughts and her emotions and she begins to drown in them. I think she just really wants to hear your voice," the redhead reasoned as they turned down a hall Honeymaren had never been down before. The noaide turned to look at Anna with a questioning look. "I thought Arendelle tradition forbade me from seeing her before the wedding?" she asked, a sly smirk tugging at her lips at the likelihood of Anna breaking centuries of tradition for her beloved sister's comfort.
"It does...and you won't," she answered cryptically with a sly smile of her own before they finally came to a stop in front of an ornately decorated door. "Wait, what? I thought you said we were going to see Elsa…?" she asked in confusion giving the redhead a vexed look. She was in no mood for games when her spirit of winter needed her, traditions be damned. "Wait here," Anna said quietly, a small grin on her lips as she guided Honeymaren to stand against the wall away from view of the door and tapped out her signature knock.
Both Elsa and Gerda looked at each other when they heard the rhythmic knocking on the door. At Elsa's nod of approval, Gerda left to answer the door and left the queen to continue to stare anxiously out of the window, watching as the royal guests piled into the church. Massive crowds of Arendelle's citizens gathered as well along a lengthy stretch of purple and green carpet that led from the Great Hall to the church with flower petals strewn about it, eager to catch a glimpse of their queen and soon-to-be princess consort. Elsa bit her lip as she fought an internal battle with herself. On one hand, she knew she could get through this day the way she had gotten through any other large, public event. On the other, she felt it would be a crime against her bride to practice 'conceal, don't feel' on their wedding day. What surprised the queen the most about it all, however, is that for the first time in forever…
She didn't want to conceal how she felt.
It was her wedding day. She was excited and overjoyed to be marrying Honeymaren, not to mention impossibly proud. Today was not only a joyous occasion, but a privilege – one that Elsa had denied herself to even dream of for fear of putting her precious little hope into something that would never come to pass. Now that her far-fetched, impossible dream had become a miracle of reality, the last thing she wanted to do was lock the pure elation of it all away in hiding for the sake of propriety alone. She realized after Anna had left that that was what had been missing - she desperately wanted to tell Honeymaren the truth in her heart, knowing she would be unable to during the rigid ceremony. As Queen, her marriage was an act of law - a binding contract that affected not just her country and her people, but the entire realm. There was little room for soft touches and sweet words in a royal wedding ceremony – it was a somber commitment where love too rarely played any part.
Elsa sighed softly in disappointment. She didn't want her marriage to Honeymaren to begin like that. Her noaide deserved better. Their love deserved better.
They deserved better.
"Your Majesty! What do you think you're doing?!" hissed Gerda quietly from across the room, drawing Elsa's surprised gaze to the normally stoic head of staff. "Problem solving," came Anna's simple, matter-of-fact answer before the redhead poked her head into the room searchingly, teal eyes shining as brightly as her grin when they alit on Elsa. "There you are!" she said more to herself than to Elsa before slipping around Gerda, who tried to stutter out in protest. Elsa blinked when Anna took her hand gently, a warm and loving smile on her lips as she tugged her toward the door. "Anna, what—" she began, but was interrupted when Anna grasped her by the shoulders and bodily moved her so her back was against the surface of the slightly ajar door. "Stay," she ordered with a pointed look before dashing out of the room again and out of sight, Elsa's bewildered gaze following her all the way.
She looked at Gerda in helpless askance as the older woman tilted her head curiously, watching Anna do something on the other side of the door in fascination before a light of understanding dawned in her eyes and an adoring smile tugged at her lips, a wistful sigh escaping them. Anna backed into the room, grinning smugly at whatever she had just done. "There. No rules broken," she said proudly, nodding in agreement with her own statement. Elsa sighed deeply, turning a bit to face Anna and addressing her in a weary tone. "Anna…"
"Elsa?"
Elsa's eyes went wide in surprise, the queen whipping around to face the door and the voice coming from the other side of it. "Maren…?" she asked in a meek, hopeful voice. "I'm here, Snowflake. Are you alright?" came the loving reply. Elsa gasped when she realized her fiancé was, in fact, behind the door and closed her eyes against the emotional tears that began to well. She felt as though a weight had been lifted from her soul as she heard the clear smile in her lover's voice, instantly seeing it on the noaide's beautiful face in her mind's eye. Anna looked on with a tender smile as Elsa covered her face with her hands as a surge of emotions swirled within her, relief and love racing to banish the fear and anxiety that had wound so tightly around her heart. "We'll give you two some time," Anna said softly, reaching into the folds of her dress to pull out a clean handkerchief and delicately dabbing away Elsa's tears before they could ruin her makeup before pressing it into her hand. "Anna…thank you…" she whispered in a voice hoarse with emotion, glassy crystalline eyes shining with love and gratitude for the wonder that was her sister. Anna simply smiled and reached out to embrace her tightly. "I love you, Els," she murmured into her ear before kissing her cheek and pulling away with a playfully stern look. "Now you behave and stay out of sight. You two have come too far now to trip at the finish line over something as dumb as bad luck," she warned, wagging a finger at them before she turned and walked out of the room, followed by a brightly smiling Gerda.
Elsa sniffled slightly and pressed her forehead against the door when they were alone, aching to be physically closer to her noaide. "Hi…" she murmured softly with a disbelieving laugh, her hand reaching out to touch the smooth surface of the door near her face. From the other side, Honeymaren grinned with her back facing the door where Anna had placed her to prevent her from catching a glimpse inside the room. "Hi," she answered back playfully. "Leave it to your sister to find a way around the rules. Now…would it be ironic to ask the goddess of ice and snow if she was getting cold feet?" she asked with a chuckle. Elsa laughed shakily, shaking her head 'no' against the door even though she knew Honeymaren couldn't see it. "I swear, I'm not," she assured her, an adoring smile lighting across her face. "Quite the opposite, actually," she explained. Honeymaren raised a curious eyebrow. "What's on your mind, Snowflake?"
Elsa took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "I…I have to tell you something," she said quietly. Honeymaren took a deep breath of her own after hearing the nervousness in her lover's voice. "I'm listening, baby," she said encouragingly. Elsa swallowed thickly, trying to loosen the emotional lump in her throat before speaking. "Maren…I have to tell you how deeply in love with you I am…and how precious you are to me. I have things I need to say to you…things you need to know before we are married. Things you deserve to know." Elsa sighed and closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against the wood. "Things you deserve to hear on your wedding day but won't because you are marrying me - marrying into high royalty where there is no place for the unconditional, indescribable love I feel for you," she said solemnly, an apologetic tone in her voice.
Honeymaren breathed out slowly, smile lovingly up at the ceiling. She could feel her heart thrumming wildly against her chest as she tried to bid the racing thing to calm. "I wish I could speak my own vows to you," Elsa began in a rush, trying to get the words out while her mouth and mind were cooperating. "I wish I could tell all the world how incredible you are, Maren. I wish they knew how lucky I am to be with someone who loves me harder on the days I cannot love myself. I wish I could tell you in front of the entire world how amazing it is that I can breathe deeply in your presence rather than hold my breath." The queen sniffled again, laughing slightly as memories of their love washed over her, and, for once, the words flowed easily from her lips. "You were beyond my wildest hopes, do you know that, my love? I couldn't in a million years have dreamed that I would find a love that inspired me to dance rather than walk on eggshells. And you do, Maren…Gods, you make me want to dance…"
Elsa bit her lip hard in an attempt to hold back the emotional tears that were forcing their way beyond her crumbling control, dabbing them away as quickly as she could with the handkerchief Anna had left her. "Maren, I think I fell in love with you the moment you sat with me next to that fire all those months ago," she admitted quietly with a bright smile, as though she were realizing it herself for the first time before laughing wetly. "The way you smiled at me…" she continued wistfully as she closed her eyes, remembering their first night together in the forest. "I think you knew…" The queen took a shaky breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "Maren, I vow to love you with my entire soul until the end of all days, not just my own. I know I'm difficult and I know I can be a mess, but I promise to do my best to be worthy of you and do everything I can to keep you happy."
Honeymaren pressed her gloved fingers to her eyes, trying to force back emotional tears as her goddess poured her heart out to her. She swallowed thickly, debating with herself before swiftly making a decision. Honeymaren quickly tugged off her left glove and carefully reached her bare hand around the door, loyally keeping her back to it. The noaide heard her lover's breath hitch when Elsa saw her hand, her heart singing in joy when she slipped her own pale one into hers, their matching rings sparkling as they caught the afternoon sunlight. "Elsa…" she breathed softly, unable to resist leaning over and bringing the hand to her lips. She peppered soft kisses on her knuckles, careful to avoid the lace that tapered off on the back of her hand.
"Elsa…the last thing you need to worry about is 'keeping' me," she began, murmuring against the cool, pale skin of her hand. "'Keeping' me implies it's possible for me to ever be anywhere other than at your side, which is simply inconceivable," she said with a small laugh as she entwined their fingers and squeezed her hand lovingly. "I promise you, Elsa, I will never stop loving you – and I don't just mean being in love with you. I promise I will never stop showing you how desperately I love you. I will never stop opening your door. I will never stop running my fingers through your hair to help you sleep or holding your hand for no other reason than just to touch you. I'll never stop watching you leave the room, nor will I ever stop losing my breath every time you turn to look back at me, because you're…" Honeymaren trailed off with a soft sigh, grasping for the words. "By the spirits, I can't find the words to explain it to you…but I can see you, Elsa. I see you everywhere in the world."
The noaide took a deep breath, closing her eyes and quieting her mind to allow her heart a chance to speak its deepest truth. Images came unbidden to the Northuldran's mind as she voiced her love in the way that she knew best…through nature. "Elsa…you're the lightning that makes me fill my chest with candles, conquering the night in all the darkest corners of my soul. You're the thunder clapping for the song in my heart that only you can hear. My goddess of winter…an icicle's tear watering a tulip on the first day of spring. You melt me alive, kissing me as deep as my roots can reach and helping me to grow into the best version of myself." Honeymaren sniffled softly, smiling up at the ceiling as rare tears trekked down her heart-shaped face. "Elsa, if I am your hopes and your dreams…then I want nothing more in this life than to be an eyelash fallen on your cheek – a thing collected by your fingers and held like a wish. I promise, whatever I do…I will always try my best to come true."
On the other side of the door, the queen had long ago given up trying to reign in her tears. She knew she would have to redo much of her makeup, though it was the furthest thing from her mind. Her lover's beautiful words swirled around her heart like a kaleidoscope of butterflies, lifting it from her chest and into her throat and cutting off her own voice in its attempt to soar. She hadn't realized she was shaking until Honeymaren squeezed her hand lovingly, making her laugh lightly for no reason other than the pure happiness that encompassed her. "Elsa," came her noaide's voice once more and the queen closed her eyes, hearing the thick emotion there as well. "I can hear Anna and Gerda coming back, but I want you to know something. I agree that you deserve to hear the deepest truth in my heart on our wedding day…but I want you to know why I never once worried about our vows," she said tenderly, her warm thumb lovingly caressing the queen's pale hand that had finally ceased its shaking. "I wasn't worried about them…because I know this will not be the only time I say these things to you. Elsa, you don't deserve to hear how deeply I love you only once in our lives. You deserve to hear my vows of love and devotion every single day. If anything, I make that my most solemn vow. Elsa of Arendelle, I vow that not a single day will come that you will ever wonder if you are anything less than the love of my life," she finished quietly. Elsa smiled tenderly and squeezed Honeymaren's hand as a deep, relaxing sigh of serenity escaped her. "Maren…I—"
"Alright, lovebirds, the time has come. Go on, shoo, shoo!" came Anna's voice playfully from the hall, eliciting a laugh from Honeymaren. Elsa felt her lover's lips press a final slow, tender kiss to her hand before squeezing it reassuringly and letting it go. "I will see you at the altar, my beautiful bride," she assured, the grin clear in her voice. "Alright, Casanova, get out of here. Scat!" Elsa giggled and walked to the vanity in the room, sitting down in front of it and sighing dreamily, a deep blush accompanying her bright smile as she replayed the last few moments in her mind. "And don't let Olaf touch that sword – I saw him eyeballing it earlier and he will impale himself. Or worse, someone not made of snow. Queen's orders!" Anna called down the hall as she entered the room and closed the door.
The young queen grinned at the sight of her sister – Elsa was positively glowing as she sat in a blissful daze at the vanity, the anxiety and nervousness that had nearly crippled her gone as though it had never existed. Anna chuckled and walked over to stand behind her, placing her hands lovingly on her shoulders as she smiled at her reflection. Elsa's hands instantly reached up to cover her younger sister's, her head falling to the side to rest gently against her forearm as she closed her eyes and soaked in the feeling of closeness of her beloved sibling. "Thank you, Anna," she whispered dreamily as she squeezed her hands. "I can't tell you how much that meant to me." Anna smiled brightly and leaned down to press a sweet kiss to perfectly coiffed white-gold locks. "You don't need to, Els. Now...are you ready to get married?" Impossibly bright pools of blue flicked up to meet her reflected gaze, her smile rivaling the radiance of the sun. "I can't wait," she said excitedly. Anna laughed and nodded before coming to stand next to her and pulling out different makeup tools. "Well, then, let's fix you up and finally get you your happily ever after."
Honeymaren took a slow, deep breath, careful to keep a calm and collected outward appearance in front of the gathered nobility. While Elsa had assured her that their personal opinions did not matter to her in the slightest, Honeymaren had learned well enough from conversations with the queen that their lack of personal weight did not equal a lack of political weight. The people gathered in that church were the most powerful people in the realm, capable of toppling governments and destroying thousands of lives on a whim if they so wished. The noaide had no doubts in the quality of her character, but she did doubt many, if not all, of the assembled nobility doubted her worthiness of the winter queen. If what the Duchess de Chagny had said about the multitudinous suitors seeking the Arendellian queen's hand was not an exaggeration, then Honeymaren knew Arendelle must have been more powerful and wealthy than she thought. What was more intimidating was that this fact was true even before the queen's immense power over the ice and snow was public knowledge, which means Arendelle's might was only that much more supreme. She tried not to think about the likelihood that many of the suitors Belle had mentioned were likely to also be present in the assembled guests, as well, though the thought brought both a smug half-smirk to her face as well as a new wave of possessive and protective feelings. Honeymaren closed her eyes briefly and took a slow, calming breath before opening them again, the twilight flecks in her eyes suddenly seeming more intense in color. She knew she had to tread carefully in the presence of the blueblood power that surrounded her, however, lest she spark a situation that called for Elsa to use her own.
Ryder stood similarly beside her, his hands clasped in front of him stoically as he, too, felt the heavy weight of the situation like a suffocating fur. Honeymaren smiled when she caught Kristoff and Mattias's reassuring faces in the first pew, Kristoff flashing a subtle thumbs up to them. The pair had escorted Ryder and herself through the massive crowd of citizens down by the purple and green carpet, Honeymaren unable to help but grin at the raucous cheers of overwhelming approval from the people of Arendelle along with shouts of congratulations and well-wishes, despite her best efforts to remain regally stoic. Ryder, on the other hand, had waved enthusiastically to the crowd, especially when he would recognize someone from the pub the night before until Kristoff cleared his throat, giving the animated young man an amused but pointed look. Kristoff knew well from experience how important it was to act a certain way in public and the repercussions for the royal family should they not conduct themselves accordingly, especially at an event as momentous as this.
That hadn't stopped Anna from allowing Olaf to be the "flower-boy" and having the comical, friendly snowman precede Honeymaren entering the church with a parade of jubilant flower and petal throwing. Nor did it stop him from basically throwing flowers excitedly around the rest of the church as well, including at the guests. While the assembled nobility seemed to have no love lost for the charming magical snowman, the bishop seemed less amused as he picked petals out of his ceremonial headdress before Kristoff promptly called the snowman over, whispering conspiratorially where his ear should be. "Hey, Olaf. I need you to help me with something. I need you to gather up all the flower petals you can find and…" Honeymaren raised her eyebrow as Kristoff lowered his voice beyond her hearing, causing her to subtly lean toward the pair. When Olaf dashed off with an elated giggle and a clear purpose, Honeymaren smirked and gave the mountain man a questioning look. "What did you tell him to do?" she asked as surreptitiously as possible. Kristoff simply grinned and shrugged nonchalantly before leaning back into the pew and crossing his arms.
The sounds of enthusiastic cheers from outside pulled the noaide from her amusing memory, a chorusing chant of 'Long live the Queen!' ringing out loud enough to be heard through the heavy wooden doors of the church. Honeymaren tensed and took another deep breath, for that sound could mean only one thing.
Her bride had arrived.
Elsa took a deep breath as she heard the cheers that greeted her sister when the younger queen stepped from the Great Hall, waving happily at the mass of citizens gathered to see them into the church. Gerda smiled at her as she made a few last-moment adjustments to her dress and her train, glancing up at her young charge with loving eyes. "You two are going to build such a wonderful life together, Elsa," she said quietly as she stood and gently brushed a lock of white-blonde hair back into place. Elsa smiled at her adoringly, the incredibly rare break in formality only adding to the emotion behind her old guardian's words. "Thank you, Gerda," she whispered with a smile of her own, looking up as she felt her sister's proud eyes on her, her hand held out in offering. "It's time, my child," Gerda whispered tearfully, lightly patting the queen's cheek and handing her an extravagant and beautifully arranged bouquet of crocuses and winter breaths. "Go on, now. Your happily ever after is waiting for you."
Elsa took another deep breath and nodded, straightening her posture proudly before reaching out to take Anna's hand and gracefully walking into the light to a collective cacophony of awed gasps and murmurs as the citizens of Arendelle got their first glance of their dazzling queen. Anna smiled lovingly and stepped away to give their people an unobstructed view of the darling of House Arendelle. She watched her sister in all her resplendent glory before their people for a moment before carefully tucking the blonde's hand into the crook of her elbow and beginning to walk her slowly down the long carpet. As they walked, a choir clad in ceremonial white robes with green and purple sashes emblazoned with the crest of Arendelle gathered behind them and began to sing the traditional processional hymns of a royal ceremony, angelic voices coming together to form one beautiful swell that sounded as though it were from the heavens themselves. As Elsa and Anna passed, the gathered citizens bowed their heads in respect, the women curtsying low to the ground and the men taking a knee in reverence to their queens.
After what seemed like an eternity and mere seconds at the same time to the blonde, they were finally at the large double doors of the church. Anna turned her head to give the guards the nod to open the door but paused, glancing down as she felt Elsa's hand grip her arm tighter, the queen trembling faintly. "Elsa?" she asked quietly, her brow furrowing with concern as she watched her sister take a calming breath, staring straight ahead at the doors. "Hey," Anna said gently, her other hand moving to cover Elsa's and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Are you ready?" she asked, the question bringing sparkling blue pools back to hers. Elsa's smile was contagious as she turned to look at her sister, her eyes shining with a love that was ready to conquer the world. "I was born ready," she answered teasingly, making the redhead grin. Anna turned and nodded to the guards, Elsa taking one last deep breath as they opened the doors to her future life.
Honeymaren's head snapped up at the sound of the church doors opening, her heart skipping painfully in her chest before stopping altogether. The Northuldran openly stared, spellbound by the vision of her goddess, and when their eyes finally met, the world simply...fell away. Suddenly, there was no fear or nerves or doubt, no expectations of perfection, no crowd of judgmental blue bloods to impress. There was only fire and ice, staring in wonder at each other across the last distance that would separate them for the rest of their lives, yet unable to fathom how it was possible for the other to exist. Subconsciously, she was aware of the eyes flicking from the angelic vision of splendor that was her bride and back to her, many of them focusing on her to see her reaction. Idly, she wondered how it was possible – how could one possibly tear their eyes away from the perfection that was her bride? She herself was only forced to blink when an odd popping sound and a flash of light barely registered in the back of her mind. She had no idea what it was, but, unsurprisingly, she couldn't bring herself to care.
Anna nudged Elsa forward gently to get the equally mesmerized queen to move, the winter spirit's arctic gaze never leaving her noaide's. Mirages of her life with Elsa began to flash through Honeymaren's mind with every step as she stared in wonder at the woman that had grown to be the center of her whole world. The tense, withdrawn spirit spending her first night in the forest away from the only life she'd ever known. The excited young queen excited to show off her home. The nervously eager woman finally allowing herself to believe in love as she closed her eyes in anticipation of her first kiss. The gentle soul turned fierce warrior to protect her people and the woman she loved. All of these moments rushed together in Honeymaren's mind as she watched heaven on earth float toward her.
Without another thought, Honeymaren found herself moving, drawn to her bride like a moth to a flame. If it was Ryder's or the bishop's, she didn't know, but a hand grasping a fistful of her forest green cape was all that prevented her from walking down the aisle to meet Elsa halfway. "Steady, Maren," came Ryder's quiet voice, the sound thick with emotion. "She's coming." It was sweet agony as she watched the spirit of winter glide toward her, a long, flowing train trailing behind her elegantly as she moved. The laws of time and physics themselves bent for the goddess of the winter, slowing to a crawl to preserve her stunning beauty and brilliance in that moment for all eternity. Somehow, Elsa simply became more and more exquisite the closer she came until finally, finally, finally her goddess was standing before her.
They stared at each other for a long moment drinking in the sight of one another before the bishop's voice rang out across the church. "Your Royal Majesty, Anna Árnadalr, first of Your name, Queen of Arendelle – do you consent and gladly give the hand of your sister, Her Royal Majesty, Elsa Árnadalr, first of her name, Queen of Arendelle to this woman, Lady Honeymaren Nattura, noaide of the Northuldra?" Anna smiled brightly at the dazed Northuldran and reached out to take one of Honeymaren's gloved hands in her own. "I consent and gladly give," she said proudly, placing Elsa's hand in Honeymaren's and encompassing them with both of hers, pressing them together briefly. "Take her to the altar, Honeymaren," she whispered to the fire maven to snap her out of her daze before gently taking Elsa's bouquet from her and stepping back to stand at her sister's side as her maid of honor while two attendants adjusted her dress and train, pooling it gracefully at her feet.
Honeymaren blinked dazedly as her lovestruck mind tried to drag rational thought back to the forefront once more, the task made all the more impossible when Elsa bit her lip to prevent her already dazzling smile from growing bigger with amusement at her entranced lover. Sideways glances told her that even the aloof, detached nobility were moved by the fire maven's reaction to her, many women surreptitiously dabbing their eyes with handkerchiefs. Eventually, feeling came back to Honeymaren's body and the noaide placed her free hand at the small of Elsa's back, guiding her up the two steps of the dais to stand before the bishop and the altar as he began to read prayers in a language she had never heard. Rather than drop Elsa's hand as she had been instructed to during a prior rehearsal, she instead reached out and claimed the other one as well. Perhaps she was greedy, or it was possible she had no self-control – all the noaide knew was that Elsa was the only creature in existence worth her attention in that moment and those beautiful, soft, pale hands capable of so much love and wonder were her only strings tying her to the miracle of what was happening. After an amount of time Honeymaren had no right to even begin guessing at, enchanted as she was, the bishop finally spoke to Elsa in a language the fire maven understood.
"Your Majesty, repeat after me," he said warmly as Elsa nodded at him before turning back to Honeymaren with crystalline pools that outshone all the stars in the sky as she spoke to the love of her life. "I, Elsa Árnadalr, take you, Honeymaren Nattura, to be my wedded wife. I come here freely and without reservation to give myself to you in the presence of these witnesses with a solemn promise to stay by your side. I will share my life with yours, build our kingdom together, support you through times of trouble, and rejoice with you in times of happiness. I promise to honor you as my lawful spouse and give you respect, obedience, and loyalty. This commitment is made in faith, lived in hope, and made new every day of our lives. This is my solemn vow."
At the bishop's command, Honeymaren subconsciously parroted her own script of bland and solemn words of duty and she understood now why it had been so important to the gentle-hearted queen to speak to her beforehand. As she gazed into Elsa's eyes, her heart spoke its own promises to her beloved bride through her own twilight-flecked depths, the colors of her fire burning brightly for her queen. You are the love of my life, Elsa. You are my reason – you were my reason then, you are my reason now, and you will be my reason every day. I promise everything I am and everything I will ever be to you. Wherever this extraordinary life leads us, I know that as long as you are there, that is where I am meant to be. I vow to love you fiercely in all of your forms, now and forever, to protect you, cherish you, care for you, and love you unconditionally – and in these duties, I will never fail.
"By the power vested in me by the Gods, and in the eyes of the law of the Realm, I declare thee wed. Lady Nattura, I bid you seal your union with a kiss to claim your bride and take that which is lawfully yours," the bishop declared in a loud, clear voice as he stepped back, gesturing to Elsa. Honeymaren slowly reached out with one gloved hand, brushing her fingers across Elsa's cheek delicately as the queen's eyes fluttered closed, her breath quickening at the touch. She ran a satin-covered thumb lovingly across the winter spirit's lips before cupping her cheek and leaning in close, her other hand slipping around the queen's waist to pull her against her. "I love you, Elsa," she whispered against her lips before claiming them decisively with her own, her heart soaring into the rafters as it sang in exaltation over the surprisingly thunderous applause in the church. Tears ran freely from Elsa's closed eyes, sighing in utter bliss as she pressed closer to her new wife, one hand grasping a fistful of the dress jacket at Honeymaren's hip and the other laying lovingly across her heart, her own fluttering in answer to the wildly racing cadence beneath her fingertips.
When they finally broke apart, the bright smile of pure happiness Elsa gave Honeymaren was more dazzling than the sun, yet crystalline pools of the clearest blue sparkled more brilliantly than the midnight sky. Unable to help herself, she wrapped both arms around her impossible queen and pulled her closer, kissing her once more with a nearly giddy grin of her own, much to the amusement and delight of the assembled royalty and nobility. Anna's quiet, yet playfully teasing voice attempted to valiantly drag the couple back to reality, even as she surreptitiously dabbed at her own watery teal eyes with a handkerchief. "Hey, lovebirds! Get moving! Everyone is waiting on you!" As they reluctantly broke apart, Honeymaren opened her mouth to make what was surely an improper suggestion before Elsa's quiet giggle distracted her. The Northuldran's ire was instantly tamed and replaced with a dopey grin when her new wife placed a chaste kiss on her cheek before turning to Anna to retrieve her bouquet. "You're screwed, dear sister," came Ryder's smug, chuckling voice as he patted Honeymaren's shoulder in a playfully comforting gesture. "You're whipped already." Honeymaren's grin only broadened when Elsa's smile was fixed on her once more, the queen slipping her hand into the crook of the fire maven's elbow as her attendants went about adjusting her dress and train so they could walk out and greet their people. "Yes, I am," she agreed proudly before leading her new bride down the aisle.
"What was that about?" Elsa asked quietly, peeking at Honeymaren from the corner of her eye with an amused smile on her face. The noaide smirked and rested her other hand atop the queen's as they walked. "He said that I'm whipped," she replied with a nonchalant shrug before winking at her bride. "I agreed wholeheartedly and without an ounce of regret." The blonde giggled quietly, leaning against her new wife as they paused before the double doors and waited for Anna and Ryder to fall into step behind them. "Well, by law I officially belong to you, so it's good to know I still have some influence," she teased playfully, eliciting a snicker from Anna behind them. Elsa looked back at Honeymaren when a gloved hand squeezed her own, turning to find twilight-flecked doe eyes gazing at her with a love that stole the breath from the queen's lungs. "Anyone who does not believe that law naturally applies both ways has had an incomplete experience with love," she replied, leaning over to place a soft kiss to the blonde's temple as the church doors opened wide, allowing Arendelle its first glance at their newlywed sovereigns.
Elsa smiled brightly at the jubilant cheers of her people as she and Honeymaren waved calmly at the massive crowd of citizens as they stepped out into the sun. Honeymaren grinned when many of them began throwing a mixture of flowers and petals in the air as they walked, Sven running about merrily with Olaf on his back and baskets upon baskets of the fragrant flora hanging on his antlers to pass around to the more than eager crowd. "Well, that answers how Kristoff kept Olaf busy," she said with a laugh as Elsa instinctively ducked her head toward Honeymaren's shoulder to avoid the flying foliage, a genuine smile lighting up her face all the while.
Finally, they reached the doors of the Great Hall and Honeymaren led Elsa up the few steps before turning around with her and waving to the citizens once again, laughing when she saw Mattias and her brother working the crowd behind them. "Long live Queen Elsa!" he cried, lifting his hand to his ear playfully as he waited for the chanted response. "Long live Princess Nattura!" Ryder cried next, a bright grin on his face when the crowd answered him just as enthusiastically. "Long live true love!" Anna yelled as she joined the newlyweds on the dais with Kristoff, earning the most rambunctious response yet coupled with thunderous applause. She grinned, flashing a taunting look to Honeymaren. "Well, go on then! Show your new people you love their Queen," she teased, gesturing to Elsa.
Honeymaren chuckled and rolled her eyes good-naturedly – she was not going to pressure Elsa into kissing her again so publicly. She had been surprised when Elsa had so vigorously returned the kiss she wasn't able to help but give when their engagement had been announced before the kingdom, as though the thousands of eyes of her people weren't trained on them. For that reason, it completely shocked her when it was Elsa who rose to the redhead's challenge and placed her free hand at the back of her noaide's neck to pull her in for a solid, mind-numbing kiss, creating an absolute explosion of whistles and hoots from Arendelle's citizens. The fire maven's eyes went wide with surprise for a brief second before closing blissfully, Honeymaren smiling into the kiss as she wrapped her arms around her new wife. When she finally pulled away, she drew her love into a close embrace, playfully lifting her from the ground and spinning her around. Elsa yelped in delight, wrapping her arms her noaide's neck and burying her face in her neck, blushing as the people continued to cheer for the happy couple.
By the time Honeymaren finally set her down, the queen was laughing breathlessly, a dazzling smile of the purest joy lighting up her features as bright crystalline eyes met hers. Unable to help herself, Honeymaren cupped Elsa's cheek lovingly and pressed a soft, tender kiss full of whispered promises to her lips, smiling when the spirit of winter melted against her. The adoring applause of the citizens that had once again begin to throw petals all around them brought them back to reality as they pulled away, Elsa laughing and hiding her brightly blushing face against her wife's shoulder while Honeymaren grinned, the arm around Elsa's waist pulling her adoringly closer while her other waved at the approving crowd. When Elsa pulled her face away to gaze at the crowd, a particularly emphatic wave from lower to the ground caught her eye.
Elsa smiled affectionately and leaned down to give her a special wave, catching Honeymaren's eye. The noaide smiled tenderly at her new wife and the little girl from the celebratory feast a week ago who had stolen a piece of the queen's heart before taking a knee and waving her over. Kaya gasped in delight, looking eagerly up at her mother and nearly shrieking in delight when she gave her a warm nod, releasing her hand to allow her to run excitedly over to the royal couple. Elsa laughed when Kaya ran straight for her wife, nearly leaping into the fire maven's arms who laughed and stood back up, hefting the small child into her arms so she could say hello to the queen.
Elsa's smile widened when Kaya waved at her once more, all the previous shyness she had the week before as she nearly burst with excitement. "Hi, Miss Elsa Majesty! Your dress is really pretty! I wanna wear one just like it when I get married so I can be pretty like you!" she said excitedly, eliciting a giggle from the queen at the adorable attempt to call her by her title. "Why, thank you, Kaya. I'm glad you like it," she said sweetly before an idea struck her. Without a second thought, Elsa reached into her extravagant bouquet and pulled out a winter breath, kissing the soft petals before playfully tapping it to Kaya's nose and handing it to her. "Can I tell you a secret that I learned today?" she asked in a quiet, conspiratorial tone, smiling adoringly when Kaya nodded eagerly. "Someday, little one, someone is going to come along who is going to take your heart on the most amazing adventures. When that day comes, it's not the dress that will make you feel beautiful – it's how the person you are marrying that day looks at you," she said softly, her eyes flicking up to meet her new wife's, doe-brown eyes with bright spots of color gazing intently at her. "Like you're the most beautiful thing they've ever seen. Like the entire world could fall away and it wouldn't matter…because you're all that they ever want to see for the rest of their lives," she finished quietly before meeting Kaya's enraptured gaze once more. "And that might sound scary, to love someone that much, and sometimes it is. But I want you to promise me that no matter how scary it is or how long you have to wait, you will never give up on finding that person," she said sagely, tapping Kaya playfully on the nose with her fingertip and eliciting a tiny giggle from her. "Because that person can make the very ground disappear from beneath your feet…and shows you what it feels like to fly. Can you promise me that, Kaya?" she asked with a warm smile, giggling quietly when the little redhead nodded emphatically. "I promise, Miss Majesty!" she agreed enthusiastically. "And I'm gonna make all my friends promise, too!" she added with a proud grin, pointing at a small group of half a dozen or so children near where she had been standing, watching their friend's interaction with the queen and her wife intently.
Elsa smiled warmly, though it fell slightly from her face when she saw the noble guests had begun to file out of the church, following the same path they had on their way to the Great Hall. Their royal duties would be upon them all too soon, she knew, but still…
Honeymaren's brow furrowed slightly at the suddenly pensive expression on her bride's angelic face as the guests of the realm began to form their own crowd, as though waiting for something. "Elsa?" she questioned gently, following the winter spirit's gaze and slightly surprised to see that it was the group of children, not the nobility that had her wife's attention. Rather than respond, Elsa instead turned to address Kaya with a secret smile. "Kaya…do you think your friends would like flowers too?" she asked in a conspiratorial tone, smiling brightly when the little girl's eyes lit with excitement and she nodded enthusiastically. Crystalline blue eyes lifted to meet curious twilight streaked does imploringly. "Do you mind spending a little more time out here?" she asked in a gentle, yet hopeful tone that had the noaide smiling adoringly as she felt her wife's intentions. "Of course not, my love."
With a bright smile, Elsa turned to address her people, lifting her free hand slightly to quiet their murmuring before speaking in a clear, confident voice. "Good people of Arendelle, I have a request to make of you," she called before taking a deep breath. "After my coronation nearly four years ago, the circumstances surrounding how my sister, Queen Anna, and I grew up came to light and became common knowledge among the people of Arendelle. As you all know, I spent nearly my entire life afraid of not just my powers, but of myself. Due to that fear…I never dreamed I would be standing before you as I am today," she confessed, her fingers tightening slightly on her bouquet as she gestured helplessly to herself. A sudden warmth on her forearm made her glance to the side and smile lovingly to see Honeymaren's hand resting there. Instinctively, she reached out to entwine her fingers lovingly with her new wife's, squeezing it gratefully before continuing.
"Sometimes, the harshness of the world makes it seem like something as soft as love could never survive, let alone see you through hard times. My wife has taught me many things during my time in the forest, but the most important thing she taught me was the thing I thought was the most impossible for me to learn, much less genuinely believe…that love truly is the most powerful force in the world. Like a flower in the smallest garden, love teaches us to always reach for the sun…and that even the smallest of candles in the darkest of corners will never fail to conquer the night." Elsa looked at Honeymaren then, smiling tenderly at her noaide's misty eyes before squeezing her hand and addressing the crowd once more.
"I know it is tradition for me to toss my bouquet so that the person that catches it may have luck in love as well, but I will not be doing that today." Elsa didn't skip a beat when there was an outbreak of surprised whispering through the crowd, her clear, authoritative voice easily piercing through the murmuring. "Instead, I ask that you, instead, let me ensure that not another child in Arendelle grows up believing love is something beyond their reach. Citizens, instead of throwing my bouquet, I ask that you allow your children to come forward so that I may give each of them a flower. Let this flower be a reminder to them that love can come from the unlikeliest of places, be it a palace or a forest. That all it takes is one special moment to change their lives forever, even if they feel it may never come. Most importantly, let it forever be a reminder…that every single one of them deserves to find true love!"
Elsa smiled brightly as her people responded to her request with thunderous applause, turning back to Kaya and playfully squeezing her foot. "Go on and get your friends, little one," she said in a playfully urgent voice, grinning as Kaya squirmed to get Honeymaren to set her down faster before racing across the courtyard to gather her friends. Honeymaren grinned proudly at her new wife as Anna came up and hugged Elsa close. "That was beautiful, Elsa. They're going to remember this forever. I think even the nobles are touched – though we may want to put some flowers out for them too, lest they become jealous of the children," she said with a giggle. Elsa laughed right along with her, lowering her voice so as not to be heard by any of them. "Actually, that's not a bad idea. I will be sure to craft ice flowers on the tables for them to take back to their countries – a testament to what Arendelle stands for," she said proudly before she felt an insistent tugging on her dress.
Elsa looked down and laughed to find Kaya back already with over a dozen children already in tow, many more weaving between the legs of the gathered citizens or dragging their parents to the front of the mass of people as the queen's message spread through the crowd. Honeymaren knelt on one knee, keeping the other firmly bent before looking up at her bride, patting her thigh invitingly and offering her hand. Elsa smiled adoringly and allowed Honeymaren to help her sit on her bent knee so she could be closer to the children. The Northuldran wrapped one arm around Elsa's waist to keep her steady and balanced while the other held her bouquet. One by one, Elsa picked a single flower from the extravagant and large bouquet, coating it with her ice to make it everlasting and bestowing one to each and every child that approached. When the queen ran out of real flowers, she began to make ice flowers in front of their very eyes – Honeymaren didn't think she'd ever grow tired to seeing the looks of absolute wonderment on their little faces.
Finally, when every child had a flower, Elsa and Honeymaren stood and addressed their endlessly happy citizens. "People of Arendelle, I thank you for sharing in this miraculous day with us. I thank you for the acceptance and the love you have shown Honeymaren and I. You are the pride and joy of Arendelle, and I couldn't be prouder to be your queen, nor to share my everlasting love for Arendelle with my new wife. Please, enjoy the festivities tonight!" With one last round of thunderous applause, Honeymaren placed a gentle hand on Elsa's back and led her inside, followed quickly by the surprisingly patient gentry.
"This way," Anna said with a smile as she led them past the dining hall where the other guests were about to file in. Elsa craned her neck slightly to get a better view of the dining hall before flicking her wrist artistically and grinning to herself. Honeymaren chuckled amusedly and shook her head in playful exasperation. "You put ice flowers at all the seats, didn't you," she stated rather than asked. Elsa simply smiled smugly, winking at her beloved. "Show off," Honeymaren said with a grin, the hand at the small of Elsa's back drifting to her waist and pulling her close to her as they walked. Suddenly the realization that they were walking away from where they were supposed to be finally pierced the fog of wedded bliss. "Wait, where are we going?" she asked, turning to look back at the dining hall before looking at Anna again.
Anna gave Honeymaren a mischievous smile as they came to the door of the room Elsa had been getting ready in, opening it for the blonde. "Take your last look, Sparky, Elsa's got to get changed." Honeymaren blinked, looking at Elsa questioningly. "Wait, what? Why?" Elsa giggled and leaned in to give her a soft, apologetic kiss. "Darling, I can't wear this to dinner. The train alone would cause chaos," she reasoned. The fire maven pouted slightly before standing back to admire Elsa in her full glory, a light blush and a bashful smile on the queen's face as a sudden shyness came over her that the noaide found unbelievably attractive. "You really are breathtaking, Elsa," she murmured tenderly. "I'm glad you approve," Elsa said with a smile as her gaze lowered shyly. Honeymaren grinned dopily at her before Anna's voice snapped her back to reality. "Alright, you, scat!" she said, playfully making a shooing motion with her hands.
"Wait, what?! Again?! B-But...! Awe, come on, Anna!" Honeymaren whined, resisting the urge to stomp her foot in protest. "When do I get to keep her?!" Anna laughed as she began to nudge a similarly reluctant Elsa into the changing room. She paused for a small moment, narrowing her eyes slightly. Honeymaren's eyes seemed exceptionally bright all of a sudden, the color in them more pronounced. She shook her head slightly to clear the stray thought, chalking it up to the light before answering her new sister-in-law smugly. "After the reception, she's all yours. Until then, she belongs to Arendelle's traditions and the aristocracy," she teased. Honeymaren glared at the redhead briefly, as though debating her options on refusing the monarch before she hmphed, marching to the other side of the hall and folding her arms across her chest as she pointedly leaned against the wall next to a suit of armor, muttering Northuldran curses under her breath all the while. "I don't care what you say, I am staying right here," she groused petulantly. "And this is the last time, Sugar Rush, mark my words," she warned playfully, though both Anna and Elsa could tell the warning had merit. It was clear from the way Honeymaren had consistently remained in physical contact with her new bride that the possessive switch inside the Northuldran had been switched to full power. Anna smirked as she ushered her sister into the changing room, winking playfully at the scowling fire spirit as a single certainty came to the forefront of her mind:
Her sister was surely in for a wild ride tonight.
AN:
O. M. GOODNESS.
Sorry, but this is gonna be a two-parter, friends. I can NOT be posting 30K word chapters up in here!
I'd like to say thank you to all of my readers for sticking with me during these more sparse updates. I'm trying to find a halfway point between doing this important part of the story justice and Charles Dicken's '8 pages to describe a chair' length, so let me know if I failed at that, please! (learning experience!)
I also have a few VERY important people to thank here.
~ First, my wife. Though she doesn't read Winter's Echo, she is a major source of inspiration to me. Many of the vows are the vows I spoke to her on our wedding, many of the emotions, thoughts, and frustrations depicted mine from that day as well.
~ Next, JLATS - a talented author quickly turned irreplaceable friend and confidante, allowing me to bounce ideas and concepts off of her and even helping me pick out our favorite couple's wedding attire!
~ Now, you MAY have noticed the ABSOLUTELY AMAZING new cover art for this story! If you haven't, GO! START NOTICING! leticiaelias_98 for Instagram and 44nottellingyou on here. Sorry, friend, I'm GONNA be begging you for more at some point. (Seriously guys, she even has their rings on! *squeeeeee*) P.S she totally gave me permission for you all to blame her for splitting this up into two parts. Just sayin'! Mwahahaha.
Finally, a challenge to you all with the biggest prize yet! There are lyrics of a song and words of a poet SOMEWHERE in this chapter! The first person to PM me with EITHER...
****Gets input on how Elsa and Maren spend time on their honeymoon.****
DUN DUN DUN!
Until next time, my friends!
-Volchise