For this 'Summertime Love' special, Frozen friends, my talented big sister of an artist extraordinaire, Setsuna, was inspired to illustrate a beautiful scene for the ending of this romantic chapter! At the close of this chapter, I'm going to put up the breathtaking Hans & Elsa portrait so you can view the full, beautifully created, picture-perfect scene to get the ambiance of the Helsa tableau just as I envisioned! Enjoy!
We do not own 'Frozen' or any of its characters.
"Frozen Again: 'Love Never Ends"
Act IX
'Summer of Love Special'
Chapter 30
"Now's Our Chance"
Travel back across the ocean, beneath the frozen waves…
Prince Marzel, Cuco, Daria and Ocho look on in horror as their visitor from above had been accidentally thrust into a danger that might cost him his life, due to their foolishness. But in this matter of seconds of life and death, there was nothing any of them could think to do about it.
Fortunately for Hans, there was someone who could.
Coming down from out of nowhere, a watery steed gallops at full speed towards the vulnerable Danish Prince who was about to be dashed upon the rocks below.
Experienced horseman Prince Hans does not fumble the chance here as he grabs hold of the accommodating enchanted water creature's reins and it intuitively propels himself onto its translucent hydro-equine shaped back.
In the flash of a few moments, the magnificent water spirit had broken Hans away from the bonds of the magic milagu seaweed. Nokk then had rapidly raced through the ocean waves with its gorgeous bare-chested rider seated bareback underwater upon its mighty form.
With faith in his incredible heroine, Hans holds his regulated breath until man and this mystic horse had ice magically climbed the low tide terrace of the foreshore's surf and swash zones to emerge from the waters to the beach scarp above.
There, standing on the frozen berm crests, trembling with this enchanted, wondrous power the 5th Spirit had unleashed just for him, the Ice Queen who had orchestrated this all was gallantly gathered up in one smooth move upon the watery steed by her grateful, handsome Prince.
"Oh, my love. I wouldn't be alive but for you." Hans sheds his breathlessness to kiss his Elsa's tearful fears away, carrying her to the shore in his strong arms as the stately mystic ice horse she had summoned dissipates back to its oceanic home beneath them.
"And here I thought my scepter stuff was impressive. That was nothing short of phenomenal, Queen Elsa." Queen Elena says, sharing a girlish sigh with Princess Valentina from where the pair was squeezing one another's hands in fright for their European friends.
"That's one word for it, Ponytail." Floating above the beach on his Magic Carpet friend, a crooked smirking Flynn gives a teasing tug to the Queen of Avalor's dark, long curled waves of hair. Eugene's trademark simper was accompanied by a sigh of relief at the no longer dangerous scene for his always center of attention Lillebror carrying his lady to the beach.
"Well, I think it's oh so romantic." Valentina whispers back in her hoarse voice as she and Elena look upon the Prince of the Southern Isles and his Queen of Arendelle with utter starstruck respect for the incredible heroism and romance displayed before them by both the man and the woman in love.
"You said it, Valentina. Beyond compare, romance and beauty everywhere. Love is the way to start off your most perfect day!" Lyrical Elena sings with a spur of the moment musical rhyme and a pair of amazed eyes as her yawning husband Gabriel had just come over the beach dunes to collect her after his afternoon siesta.
"What's with the frozen water horse? And the Flying Carpet on the beach, for that matter." As he was still chewing on a breakfast burrito, Gabe asks with an unimpressed thumb back at the now disappeared magic steed. He long ago had become well accustomed to strange sights and sounds hanging around the beautiful Queen of Avalor whom he had been lucky enough to be happily married to what seemed like yesterday to him still.
"Don't ask. She might start singing again and try to get us men involved. I don't sing solos without my songstress gal. Even for weddings." Eugene comments to a weirded out Gabe from above on his circling Carpet. "Speaking of which… I almost forgot! I have a special handmade – and believe me the hands part of the 'handmade' are still aching – present for you, Princess, from the people of your so-very-pleasantly memorable, adoring little town of - ahem - Gercavado." With a decidedly unpleasant taste in his formerly incarcerated mouth, Eugene addresses Valentina, who looks up at the Prussian visitor with a strange expression.
"Whoa! Who's that weirdo now?!" Captain of the Avalor guard, Gabriel Nunes, grabs his trusty sword with one hand and runs a stupefied hand through his spiky dark hair in the other with a startled jump back at the unsettling display of Flynn Rider lounging across the flying Carpet directly above their heads.
"Weirdo? I'll have you well know, young lad with the regrettable coif, that my son is the acclaimed hero and Crown Prince of the Dark Kingdom, unrecognized regal heir to Denmark, former criminal turned Prince Consort of Prussia, as well as the father of the future twin female rulers of his martially acquisitioned nation of Corona." King Edmund pipes in his own paternal pride of name titles of his one and only child from where he was precariously perched on Carpet's rear side.
The action-packed older man had ropes at the ready to perform lasso detail or even perform a fearless midair dive into the sea in order to aid Horace's erstwhile adopted little brother.
The Bohemian King even seemed a bit disappointed neither was called for.
"Thanks for the in depth write-up, aged father of mine. Ergh. Can't a humble thief go anywhere without his shady reputation preceding him, even on this side of the pond? Yeesh. But maybe you could give such a remarkable personage a little personal space on this open air vehicle? So, what's with your unfashionable hairdo, pal? I mean, what's that? A new hair gel I never heard of? Looks and smells like baby food. Yuck, Who's the real weirdo, eh, Pops?" Eugene grumbles to a chuckling over his shoulder King Edmund as the younger Bohemian directs Carpet to speed off up to his shared rooms with Hans to fetch said wreath.
"Indeed, Horace! You have an impeccable sense of smell!" Edmund responds jovially in his frank, open way as he gives 'Horace' a fatherly crushing squeeze of the shoulders.
Ouch, Gonna need some extra muscle ointment now, too, And maybe convince my hirsute Dad to freshen up a bit for the upcoming wedding with some breath mints and a good comb to his unkempt morning beard. Guess I didn't inherit my hygienic habits from him! Ha! I might grab a few of my defoliating skin creams while I'm there. Lord knows I need it after baking all those hours yesterday in full sun.
"Those guys are flying a supposedly inanimate rug? Even wilder than riding a Jacquin! At least they're real creatures." Gabe comments in awe at Eugene and Edmund's transport of a Magic Flying Carpet.
"'When in Paraiso', right? Just roll with it, Cariño (my sweetie). Here, let me get that out of your hair. I guess it looks like little Estey didn't want to be a good boy and eat his breakfast for Daddy today? Where is our little angel anyway?" Dabbing some seawater onto a handkerchief to clean him up, Elena sympathizes with her sweet husband. Her Captain of the guard mate was a responsible dad who had bags under the bags under his eyes from being waked up early by the latest addition to their ever-growing familia who had an aversion to the puréed fruity snacks his Mama brought for her finicky baby to eat.
"I left him with your friend Princess Sofia and her gaggle of girl friends all cooing over trying to get him to eat something. I told you our boy doesn't like that slop, Elena. Real men need some meat and potatoes for a proper breakfast to grow up big and strong, like me." With a confident beat to his manly chest, Gabe good-naturedly converses with his wife as he splashes some seawater onto his yawning face to wake up.
"You're probably right, mi amado esposo (my beloved husband). Boys want what they want. That's why they need mothers and wives to keep them healthy on the straight and narrow before they get themselves sick and into mischief. I better go warn Valentina of what she's in store for. On second thought, I'd probably better after the ceremony." Elena plants a kiss on her flabbergasted hubby's wet forehead before she trots off for where the two were kneeling at the shoreline.
"I doubt either of those two will ever be ready for kids." Prince Consort Gabriel murmurs under his breath at the almost comical thought of self absorbed Alonso or Valentina delving into the pleasures and pitfalls of parenthood.
"You don't have to be ready, Gabe. You just have to have love to spare." Cuddling his face with a warm nose to nose kiss, Elena says in her optimistically wise way that had a starry eyed Gabe falling for her vivacious positivity all over again.
"Come on, Valentina! I peeked in to see that Alonso's been primping in the mirror already for hours! We better start getting you ready for the most important moment of your life. You wanna be beautiful enough to match him!" Elena glances over her shoulder to see where the strangely quiet Princess of Paraiso was standing there just watching the breathtaking scene between Elsa and her Prince Hans.
The Queen of Avalor decides to take extra special care of the slightly off kilter, jittery bride, as she corrals Valentina away, her back towards Paço Palace, with a smiling Gabe trailing behind.
"Are you all right?! What happened down there?!" Marisa hurries over in her land legs to where Hans had proudly carried his Elsa to the shore and they were now arm in arm, strolling the beach towards the palace.
"…Nothing." Prudent Prince Hans says after a long pause. "It was just an accident of my error, due to a small misunderstanding on the boundaries of the race." The magnanimous Prince of Denmark glances over to where a contrite-faced Prince Marzel, along with a lip-biting Captain Daria of the Guard of Coronado, had swum to the shore.
"Well… It looks like you're the one who got to shore first, anyway, right? So that means you won the swimrun, Prince Hans. Fair and square. I'm sorry for acting like such a shark's tooth before." As he walks from the sea onto the land with stumbling legs, Prince Marzel apologizes for his cheating trick that almost resulted in Hans' death, and admits defeat with grace.
"Apologizing and capitulating your defeat? That's a start out of your usual pigheaded weakness. Maybe that legendary Water Spirit had some strange effect." Captain Daria bluntly brings the argument that had their relationship on the beach rocks to the forefront from where the direct merwoman was sculling water at the shoreline.
But somehow, here in the bright sunshine in the light of day after such a dramatic experience, the foolhardy Prince of the Sirenas was ready for a little humility. Especially towards the redheaded woman who he secretly adored.
"I think there're a lot of people I care for that I owe an apology, when we get back to Coronado." Marzel looks meaningfully back to Daria in the water behind them, who uncustomarily blushes a smile. She was floating beside a sorrowful looking Ocho who was waving his many repentant tentacles at Hans and serene Cuco, who was smiling, cool with it all.
Hans was glad that there was some beneficial result to the unnecessary anxiety and danger he and Elsa had already faced this early morning.
"And a sunset wager to pay off." Meeting the Danish Prince's viridescent green eyes as an equal now, Marzel speaks enigmatically to Hans over Elsa and Marisa's puzzled heads.
"Ahem… I believe there's a wedding that we are scheduled to attend, my magnificent Queen." Clearing his throat from the unsavory idea that he had placed a bet using his pure beauty of a lover, Hans offers his arm and leads Elsa towards the now bustling Palace.
"Yes, my handsome Prince. I am more than ready." Elsa feels her soul calmed in her fiancé's loving eyes and warm hand in hers as they two walk along the fragrant beachfront. After a few steps, Hans gives a chuckle and a grin, causing Elsa's curiosity to be piqued.
"What? What's so funny?" Elsa inquires looking directly into his eyes.
"Oh, nothing…" But Hans couldn't keep a straight face, making Elsa pout and elbow his side.
"Tell me!" The platinum blonde demands of her man's inexorably amused grin.
"No, it's nothing!" He refrains from divulging any further information to the lady who controlled all the forces of nature including those running rampant in him too.
"If you don't spill, I might accidentally spill some cold ice water down your back!" Elsa holds her hands up threateningly with raised brows and coy turn of phrase.
"Okay, okay! I surrender!" Hans laughs in defeat, holding both palms up to his beauty. "I was just remembering…you know, Elsa, back there, in the water, I could've sworn you were actually a mermaid! The most beautiful mermaid ever imagined by man! Icy blue fins and diamond like ice all over your body! Pearlescent opals were your shells and you were shimmering brighter than the sun, swimming around and around me, your eyes and fingers beckoning me, touching my—" Here Hans stops, blushing deeply at his childish fantasies, extremely embarrassed of what he had imagined and not sure Elsa would appreciate such risqué fancies.
Elsa, was, indeed, blushing as well with Hans description of how he had seen her…yet, also very pleased that he DID think such things about her. She couldn't help but smile shyly, looking down to the sand, hoping he didn't notice her red face.
"My darling, I…I'm sorry I'm embarrassing you! I am truly ashamed of myself for confusing you with my first boyhood dream's 'Havfrue' (mermaid) —"
But Elsa cuts his sentence off, putting her finger to Hans' lips.
"I…I'm happy you think so much of me. But I'm hardly as special as all that…" Elsa averts her gaze from his piercing look.
"You are MORE than special—you are all I've ever dreamed of and all I will ever dream of. You are my everything." Hans stops, turning her to face him as he hugs her tenderly. "You are the light of my eyes, min kaereste." He says seriously, gazing into her blue, now teary, orbs with his own ardent ones, hoping to convey all the pent-up emotion he felt for her through the windows to his soul.
"Hans—I love you! You know I do…and always will feel this complete with you. You're the only man I could ever love—because God made you for me, and I for you." Elsa, touched beyond measure by his heartfelt words and look, wraps her hands first on his cheeks, stroking him close. Then she slides her arms down to Hans' tight waist, hugging him even tighter, leaning her ear to his chest, listening to the beating of his heart, that she knew beat for her alone.
"So that's why I must tell you right now that I wish to—" In her raptures against Hans' chest, Elsa begins to broach the imminent subject of their own wedding ceremony that had been pressing on her mind this entire trip.
"Cough cough! If you're done playing mermaid, Sweetie, I've got a special delivery for you from your pretty lil' sis here somewhere!" Though to every else's ears the seagull was merely squalling inharmoniously, Elsa could interpret his language through the link Spirit Wind Whisperer Kristoff set up for her between them. "Ergh...where'd she put it? Umm…yup! Here it be!" Forgetful Scuttle rummages around his 'mailbag' tucked beneath his feathers, until it dawns on him where to look before he produces the scrunched up, but still readable, letter from where it had been wrapped tight in a waterproof metal cylinder around the dizzy bird's neck.
Why didn't you simply send our message via Gale this time, Anna?
Elsa, already happily warm from inside, finds her smile warmed even more by the bright sunshine that spoke so much of her little sister Anna's caring across the miles. Between that sisterly boost and Hans' impressive show today, the 5th Element in her had successfully ignored the silent shift of the other elementals' evolution alongside her parents on the other side of the world.
With the white and gray seagull named Scuttle wide-awake and flapping his wings to soar alongside them totally engrossing her focus, crookedly smirking, Elsa finally found the chance to claim the missive.
With a grateful nod to Scuttle, she smiles to Hans for opening the canister and straightening out the wrinkled paper for her as they walked.
Her Spirit of Harmony seeking peace amidst the tumultuous upheaval she was yet blissfully unaware of found it in her Anna's extended heart that crossed all distances. So Elsa silently reads the letter from home which the seagull and his Avian Brigade Carrier Delivery Express service spelled all the way across the Atlantic to personally deliver to the vacationing Queen.
'Dear Elsa. I hope you're having as much fun at that wedding as you can squeeze in on your amazing trip to the other side of the world!
When I say 'fun' – that Hans had better be behaving himself! But I trust you to know what's the next right thing, big sister!
I mostly want to tell you that you should be having the time of your life in Paraiso and not to waste a second in worry about me! I'm feeling a lot better now in my 'second trimester'. Those are the doctor's fancy words for my bulgy, wobbly, fat tummy getting bigger every day!
Otherwise, I'm really doing just fine. I've been learning as much as I can from Mama about taking care of little babies so I'll be prepared for when the time comes to be a Mommy myself. I've written to cousin Rapunzel about how she's doing. and asking for her advice as a new mama too, She just wrote back that she'll be coming with the twins for a month-long visit, so I can get some hands-on baby experience in the spring, when Eugene gets back to bring Rapunzel and our nieces to Arendelle.
Have you seen him in Paraiso yet? I think Raps misses cousin Eugene terribly from reading between the lines of her letter. Guess she's still sweet on him, even after all their years of marriage.
Like I will be with my Kristly even after we've been wed for like eighty more years.
My big cuddly bear's really such a sweetie, planting cherry and plum trees and putting up a garden for me I can see from my window while he's doing all the household chores, too. He's pitching in to do all the cooking and cleaning too now, you know? I feel so guilty just laying here! I know I'm getting spoiled by everyone of my friends from town coming to visit our little cottage and helping with some special preparation stuff here. They're always asking about how you are, 'Queen Elsa'! They really miss you, Sis! I really love the people in our home, Elsa!
My Kristoff's acting like a real mature, grown up guy, so I know he'll be the most excellent father to our little fella when he comes in around April, according to Mama and Bulda's rough calculations.
Did I tell you that we are going to have a little boy? Well we are! I definitely can hear that the baby's a 'him' from 'extemporaneous psychic feedback of Kristoff's Wind Whisperer ability'. Huh? That's what Granpabbie said anyway!
Me? I'm sure it's a boy because of the way he kicks! And because I want a boy so bad, so he can be big and tall and strong and sweet with dimples, just like my Kristly.
And as for Papa…You don't have to worry so much about how he'll act about a spring wedding. I've been working on him to mellow out a little. It seems he'll do anything I want now that I'm pregnant! He's even pal-ing around with Kristoff, helping do some chores around my little cottage!
It's kind of crazy to say but… I think he kind of likes Hans, now. I mean, he talks about 'My Vise Admiral' like, all the time! I guess it helps how Mama and I have been doing our best to work Hans' good points into every conversation we have a chance to. Don't tell Red, or he'll get a big head. Hey, that rhymes! ^_^
So, to wrap things up, I don't know if I ever said that I love you sooo much! I just want you to feel free to know that now's your chance to shine! Please don't worry another minute like I know you have been about your duty and if you belong in Arendelle or the North Mountain or the Enchanted Forest or Ahtohallan—
I've been sitting here in bed thinking about it long and hard for a while now, Elsa. I understand that you're a part of all those magical places, my brilliant, amazing 5th Spirit of Harmony Winter Ice Queen Elsa. But you and I – our connection as true true sisters is what makes up that genuine Harmony.
But please always remember that your HOME is where your heart lives, where people you love, love you right back and can share in that love to grow in everyday. That's where you truly belong, Elsa. Here with us, your friends and family. After my crazy nine month-long stint as Queen, with you sorting out your new powers in the Enchanted Forest, I came to see that we were no good apart. You and I were always supposed to be together, as family, helping each other with the tough decisions to make them not so tough, ruling Arendelle with smiles, side by side, like a REAL family is meant to. I've realized now after all our adventures and heartaches and triumphs how my heart has its true home in yours, just as yours does in mine. I can feel that so much, and know after all we've been through, that together we are unstoppable, Sis.
I know I've often been a ditz in my zest for life, but I hope I've grown up some lately to finally be glad for this chance to say that I believe with everything in me that our hearts should never be divided again, Elsa.
Because you will always belong right here with me. It's just the next right thing to do.
You have my blessing to start your own happy family and build a true home and normal life as the Lord intended here right beside mine, big sister, because I believe in you!
Even if that means adding that Hans Westergaard to our family tree. Ugh. I can't believe I wrote that!
I have the feeling by the time you get back to Arendelle from that crazy Valentine's Day wedding there in South America, you'll be ready to walk down the aisle yourself with that good-looking jerk, Elsa.
Don't worry about all the preparations, many as they may be. we've got that covered! Before she and Papa left to go up north for a spur of the moment 'second honeymoon tour', Mama and I were already busily planning away for that first day of Spring I know you have intended in your heart to tie the knot with your dreamy Prince.
No worries, the townspeople of Arendelle got your back are all busily keeping things humming smooth in the kingdom for your big day.
I love you, big sister! And I hope God blesses you with this much joy and happiness as I've found in my bestest marriage already. Don't let this once in a lifetime chance to spread your wings and enjoy freedom in that romantic foreign land pass you by, you lucky Elsa!
Love from Mattias, Halima, Papa and Mama and Kristoff, not to mention your full of heart and of stomach little sister, Anna (Plus baby Josef! He's already told his daddy what his name should be! Don't you love my decisive little guy to bits already?!)
P.S. Please tell Scuttle that I love him forever for shipping these BFBSF notes back-and-forth between us over the distance these past couple months during your voyage to pick up the slack while Gale was MIA. Your fun letters have really kept me going in spirit, Best Friend Big Sister Forever!
P.P.S. Give Hans a whack for me. I'm sure he deserves it.
What do you mean 'Gale missing in action'? Isn't she in the Forest?
In the depths of her elemental spirit, Elsa had been cleverly sheltered by the other Spirits as to their adventures in Ahtohallan with King Agnarr and Queen Iduna, to give her weary heart that imperative rest needed to rejuvenate on this vacation. Gale, Jordskjevelvet and Bruni had left normally silent and enigmatically aloof Nokk in charge of keeping discreet watch over their fellow Spirit of Harmony on her voyage while they attended to the monumental transformation going on in the Enchanted lands back home.
For each of the elementals understood Elsa's need and Anna's desire for her sister to have freedom to travel beyond Ahtohallan's restricted limits and liberty to enjoy love and living for once in her cloistered life, as a spirited young woman ought.
After all the selfless sisters had done to right the inharmonious imbalance in the world, now was their chance to choose to live freely. And with their parents now taking their chance to make a great sacrifice borne of pure love for their daughters and their people, it was the least the four elements of nature could do to spare Elsa's over-weighted mind of the upheaval, for the present.
"So what does dear Princess Anna have to say, may I ask? Any relevant news of home to relate? It appears to be an extensive missive." Hans asks pleasantly as he watches Elsa's expression vacillate between amused, blushing, and quizzical as she read her sister's letter.
"Oh! Ahem! Of course." She coughs lightly, all ancillary thoughts of any elemental mystery melting away in the warmth of the Danish man before her with his gorgeous eyes and thrilling physique. "It's mostly concerning her health…and that she hopes we have a great time here at the wedding …" Elsa's shy eyes guiltily scan the paper that had so many references to him and their own impending wedding that everyone had the precise schedule of save for the groom, she was ashamed to admit. But bashful Elsa Bernadotte, powerful Ice Queen and magical Spirit of Harmony or not, still had a tough time finding the right words sometimes.
"… And…to say that Kristoff has planted her some plum and cherry trees, along with a garden in the backyard at their cottage …with Papa's help." She finishes with a smile up at her handsome man from the letter. With wandering, slightly guilty eyes, Elsa was having a hard time focusing on anything but her Hans' manly bare chest, wet with little reddish fuzz and glistening in the sunlight.
But as Anna instructed, she shouldn't let another opportunity to 'spread her wings and enjoy life pass her by'.
"Hmm, you know, darling, I can easily see YOU as the most gorgeous mer-man ever imagined. With sparkling fins as green as your beautiful eyes and a strong chest to match your peerless arms…Mmmmmm…" Uncharacteristically, Elsa murmurs her approval as she caressed Hans' bare upper arm, pulling him even closer to her as they walked along, gazing at his impeccable pecs. Of course, this causes Hans to turn an even deeper shade of red, even to his ears this time, as he turns his head with an adoring look on his handsome, shy face.
"…Ehh, uhh…Elsa…" Also inconsistent with his usual silver tongue, Hans finds himself at a loss for words, speechless at Elsa's actions…and thoughts.
"His eyes are up there, young lady." As Carpet flies back over their heads on the beach after dropping King Edmund off at the palace's barbershop facility to spruce up for Valentina and Alonso's wedding, a gesturing Flynn Rider couldn't help but tease the platinum blonde's obvious entrancement to hungrily inspect her man's in-shape physique close up in the light of day.
"You had better hurry that little lady over to the Palace to get her changed for breakfast after you're done mystifying her here, Lillebror. I'll give you fair warning that after I change into some of your finer suitwear so I can be fit to make my illustrious entrance as proper Corona Royal representative and I get my Pops here cleaned up and fit to serve, ahem, after that, we'll discreetly not be returning to your room anytime soon." Eugene suggestively offers his portion of the shared room vacancy with a wolfish grin down at the fair beauty on Hans' arm. "By the way, watch out for the mess of bells and whistles I woke up to a noisy tangle in that bed, Lillebror, though maybe you could think up some better uses for them now with different company there while you still got some time. Anyways! Thanks for that overwhelming vote of trust and confidence in my cure." The stubbly thief gives Hans a sideways puckered-lip look for the inverse burglar alarm that slammed him earlier as he looks a wet Elsa up and down.
"After serving as taxi-carpet driver to these poor wayward merpeople, I'll see you two lovebirds later at the wedding, hopefully wearing something more appropriate in that humongous cathedral. I'll sneak my quietly unobtrusive, friendly Magic Carpet in, but — not in any reference to my less than sleek escort, ole Edmund, at all – I wonder if the loud and gawky seagull will be invited. I heard ugly birds are bad luck at weddings. So you'd better ditch him. Hmph." Eugene's words were laced with innuendo and jabs at the expense of his passengers and his not-so-shocked audience walking below as he sticks his departing tongue out at an insulted Scuttle.
SQUAWK!
"We'll see you there shortly, Storbror, once we are properly attired." Hans responds, rolling his eyes that were truly pleased to see his dearest brother in good health, though his crass older cousin was infuriatingly embarrassing.
Then, as prescribed, but accomplished in a more gentlemanly, platonic way, Prince Hans leads Elsa to her room in the Brazilian Palace with the express purpose that he to return swiftly to his for they both to change for breakfast with King Pedro and the other auspicious guests.
Bowing to his Norwegian beauty as he closed her bedroom door after one more enthusiastic morning kiss, flushed beet red as his mildly hairy bare chest exposed uncomfortably in the auspicious upstairs palace hall, Prince Hans of the Southern Isles still could not erase the smile on his face.
He was beyond pleased that he and his Queen Elsa of Arendelle would again meet as a matched pair before the world's stage. The young couple would stand before this church altar in their propitious roles as first groomsmen Best Man and Maid of Honor for Crown Princess Valentina of Paraiso and Crown Prince Alonso of Córdoba's promised to be incredible Royal wedding.
Dare I be so bold as to dream that the next time we walk down a chapel aisle that the ceremony will be in our honor, min hviddue?
The scene within and without Paço Imperial Palace and its Cathedral Church just along the Imperial Square was nothing less than extraordinary.
The list of guests attending this important wedding extravaganza in Paraiso was both replete and impressive. The pews of the cathedral begin to fill with jam-packed dignitaries and rulers from across the globe who had been invited to partake in this monumental matrimonial joining of two major South American kingdom nations.
Everybody who was anybody was sure to attend, to show respect and keep up appearances with their royal peers.
From back to front, to the right of the center aisle on the groom's side where King Juan Ramón of Córdoba sat in the front center seat: Prince Didrik and Princess Antonia of Amalienborg in the Southern Isles, for she was Alonso's direct only cousin, Councilor Kai and Lady Gerda, frosty tails and iced bow tie wearing Olaf and well-dressed Eliana squeezed in between the Arendelle housekeeper and former nanny Duchess Johanne, who was finely attired, primly seated beside her husband Chancellor Duke Esteban of Avalor; behind them, Prince Consort Gabriel was secretly glad to be in the pew directly adjacent the Ice Queen's snow creatures because the oddly animated talking snowballs kept his noisy new baby Estey fascinated during the long service.
Olaf and Eliana follow Gabe's glance up to give a thumbs up/branchy wave to the choir apse where musical Queen Elena was peering over the ledge to check on her babe. The generous ruler of Peru had invited Princess Marisa and her brother, Prince Marzel of the underwater kingdom of Coronado, to sing the psalmist chorus with her and play their instruments for Valentina's wedding request.
King Roland and Queen Miranda of Enchancia were near the front section of the bustling church, with Princesses Sofia and Amber, escorted by Prince Hugo of Kiev and Prince Desmond of Burgundy. Amber's twin brother Prince James sat in the middle of Princess Cleo of Corinthia and her best friend Princess Hildegard, who was accompanied by her father King Kendrick of Freezenburg. He sat in the front aisle beside Queen Tessa and Princess Kari of Songhai, who were next to King Philip and Queen Everly of Isleworth with their only daughter Princess Charlotte; Emperor Quon and Empress Lin Lin of Wei Ling were respectfully silent beside Alonso's pleasantly smiling dad, King Juan Ramon.
On the bride's side of the Imperial Chapel aisle rear, behind Valentina's close cousin Princess Lujza and husband Prince Peiter of Marseilisborg in the Southern Isles was a string of bachelor Princes and Dukes and Viceroys representing each of their nations which wished to show respect for the Royal occasion to their highly valued Brazilian and Argentinean trading partners: the ever-chipper Duke of Weselton; sullen Prince Otto of Athena; conceited Prince Vittorio Emanuelle of Sardinia; stylish Prince Achille of Naples; intellectual Henri d'Orléans, Prince Ferdinand's younger brother; curious Viceroy Lucien of Bogotá and Granada; lofty Prince Roderick of Barrea, self-described Lady Joy and her father Lord Gilbert, the Duke of Ramblingham; generous Prince Zandar from Tangu and his betrothed, blind Princess Cassandra of Stanislaw, shifty Lord Lieutenant Gearoid, Earl of Kildare with his sister Queen Anya and Princess Zoey of Eireann who were escorted by kindly Prince Khalid of Khaldoun.
With faithful servant Manuel wearing funeral-like black gloomily in the rear, the left side front was filled by the most important members of crown royalty, chosen particularly to sit beside father of the bride Dom Pedro of Paraiso. Comedic King Habbib and Queen Faraz of Tangu; stiff King Marcus and Queen Cecily of Zumaria with their vivacious daughter, Princess Vivian;, King Toshi of Satu, along with plump King Joaquim of Ecuador; with his wife Queen Abigail and daughter Princess Chloe stuffy King Charles of Drottningham, a relation by marriage, had begrudgingly saved a seat beside him for King Edmund at his niece Queen Elsa's request.
Queen Iduna's adopted brother Charles was relieved that Edmund was also placed next to jovial King Raja of Agrabah. For the bachelor monarchs held seats of honor beside where King Pedro would reside during the ceremony after walking his only child down the aisle.
There were people from all parts of the globe, in all shapes and sizes and colors, religions and races dotting the Praça XV Square's scenic walkway between the Brazilian Royal Palace and the Cathedral Chapel where the wedding of its Crown Princess to another crown head of a nearby South American Royal house was to take place.
"Horace, my boy! Thank God you didn't miss the ceremony and disgrace your representative nation of Corona! Did the young bride yet see the bougainvillea floral arrangement that landed you in much trouble?! I am pleased you still look so exemplary after that fiasco." King Edmund, as per usual, gauchely announces his son's arrival in the chapel for all to turn their eyes upon Eugene.
"Thanks for the awkward intro, Dad. But I do look amazing in this fine suit my talented seamstress bride bedecked me with, if I do say so myself." The vanity of the Prince of Bohemia overrode his shame to be s called out in this regal setting as Eugene proudly straightens his well-trimmed purple jacket of embroidered satin finery that his wife had personally packed and stitched to show off her man's sleek form before he left.
"Woo-whee. Take a gander at all the nice, shiny wares in this particularly elaborate holy house of worship! All that gold and silver and jeweled relics and refinery… A virtual thief's banquet…" Eugene instead murmurs under his breath as he entered the Paço Royal Chapel, suppressing his urge to whistle as he winked at his Dad who had tactlessly stood up and waved when the boy he was so proud of had entered the chapel.
As for Eugene, he was glossy bug-eyed at the ostentatious church's golden décor that shone off every hand-carved rafter and nave as he slides into an empty seat in the rear right hand pew.
The former larcenous criminal - who had a history with filching innumerable holy royal relics - cases the massive chapel. The Cathedral was glistening from its bejeweled chalices, to the gold gilt Rococco woodwork carvings on every wall and column, to the famed sculptures and Renaissance paintings on the altarpiece to the ceiling.
Practically every corner of the impressive Paço Royal Imperial Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel of the Ancient See (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo da antiga Sé) was an 18th century work of art in the Rococco style. The gold-gilt, gleaming Carmelite Cathedral interior rivaled its high towered Baroque stone exterior and was as breathtaking as it was renowned for its ornate architecture.
"Ughh…The centerpiece of bougainvillea flowers up there on that altar sure looks high-quality…and highly familiar. Ouch." Suddenly knowing that accusing eyes were upon him, guilty Eugene instead refers to his yet aching pierced fingertips and thorn injured hands. He still grimaced every time he caught sight of the pink, magenta and fuchsia spray of Valentina's favorite flora decorating nearly every section of the well groomed path leading into this Paraiso summer paradise.
"Old Dom Pedro looked like he was ready to blow a kingly headgasket when I introduced myself and delivered this slaved over wreath to the Princess' irate looking Pops. Remind me to never get so uptight when it's either of my girls' turn to walk down the aisle." Eugene murmurs to Prince Didrik as he found himself in the pew seat behind the dapper Dane.
"I must admit that I am delighted to not be in King Pedro's illustrious shoes with that renowned scamp about to marry one of my daughters. Though it would've been a close shave if my Antoinetta had any say in it. Her fondness for her one and only cousin apparently runs in my children's veins." The sixth–in-line Prince of Denmark refers his gaze over to his quintet of young coming of age daughters.
They were collectively sighing over their heartthrob cousin, Prince Alonso's loss, from where they were seated on the other end of the pew with their mother looking on at the narrowly missed catch of the Crown royal heir to the Argentine throne.
The discreet, older and way more experienced in matters of deception – particularly involving women – rogue Prince of the Southern Isles had some knowledge of Hans' clandestine trip to collect Eugene Fitzherbert from his self-induced dilemma.
While finding this all quite amusing, Prince Didrik wouldn't dream of ever divulging another gentleman's secret indiscretions.
"Ditto, my debonair-moustached Cuz. I wouldn't let either of my twin angels near the likes of a jerk resembling that Prince Too-charming when they come of age. But our bighearted Lillebror seems to have taken to him for some reason." Whispering as he leans forward in the crowded chapel, Eugene responds in kind to the similarly debonair man. The thief felt some strange affinity towards this charismatic cad and bounder more than all the others of Hans' dozen big brothers.
"Yes, my righteous Lillebror has a pious penchant for lost causes. I suppose that's why he's so amicable with associating with we two ne'er-do wells." In a self-deprecating nutshell, Prince Didrik summarizes in a gesture that encompasses both himself and Eugene as they both eye the fashionable white and gold traje de luces 'suit of lights' wearing bridegroom and his naval uniformed stylish best man's arrival from the side of the Paço Royal Imperial Chapel.
"Speak for yourself, pal. I'm going to be more of a mostly-do-well kind of guy, now that I have a real family to look after back home in Corona." Eugene contradicts Didrik's unethical conclusions about the reformed criminal's penitent behavior.
"Good luck there, my friend." The skeptical Danish Prince smirks at Eugene's well-meaning principles, then sits back in his church pew seat while the decked out in his finest robes Catholic priest steps up to the altar to pronounce the opening prayer of the Wedding Ceremony.
"O God, Who in creating the human race willed that man and wife should be one;
Join, we pray, Princess Valentina of Paraiso and Prince Alonso of Córdoba in a bond of inseparable love between these your servants who are to be united in the covenant of Marriage. So that, as You make their love fruitful, they may become witnesses to charity itself, by Your grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." The Archbishop, in gold embroidered vestments proper to this special liturgy, solemnly prays his introductory opening wedding day blessing.
He had previously greeted each of the wedding party before officiating the sacrament of Matrimony on this special wedding day. That included the two Royal King fathers, as well as the bridegroom and best man who were seated near the front altar, while the bride and her maid of honor were patiently waiting, as customary, in the sanctuary behind the door where they could not be yet seen, though they could hear the blessings and the readings of the Word.
"Amen."
The entire assembly had stood up to listen, rudely chattering Eugene and Didrik notwithstanding.
Scrambling to his feet, Prince Didrik awards his reprimanding-eyed wife with a conciliatory nod that reminded the tall, dapper don that he – a changed, chastised, happily married man – was to be on his best behavior here on vacation with his whole family in Brazil.
As a close relation of the bride, Princess Lujza had offered to read from the Old Testament Genesis chapter concerning the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. It was a beautiful example of one of the first wedding betrothals conducted in the Bible.
Recalling their own wedding here in this very Cathedral some fifteen plus years ago, Prince Peiter shares a smile with his plump, rosy-cheeked bride of many years, Lujza, as the Psalm is then sung by Queen Elena of Avalor, by special request of the bride:
"The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 33:12)!"
Following the melodic Psalm, Queen Elena's soaring timbre is unexpectedly joined by her sister as she is pleasantly startled to find Princess Isabel standing directly behind her.
Princess Isabel of Avalor had come as a surprise for her sister and lent her voice as well to the gospel acclamation song.
All grown up and officially engaged to her forgetful scientist, the younger Princess of Avalor had not been home in a while, ever since the big argument about the propriety of her running off with her much older college professor. But in this holy songful moment, all seemed to be forgiven between the close siblings who shared a love that nothing could ever tear apart.
Isa's warbly voice was nowhere near as polished and competent as Elena's, but she made up in being zealous for the message of peace shared as the pair of sisters sing just as they did when Isabel was a little girl longing for some precious 'sister time' together.
"'Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God, Almighty
Early in the morning, our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, Holy, Holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God, Almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, sky and sea
Holy, Holy, Holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
Holy, we cry Holy
Holy, we cry Holy
Holy, we cry Holy
Holy, we cry Holy!'"
Princess Marisa's sweet, harmonious voice chimes in, and the hymn beautifully rings throughout the Chapel with the beneficent lyrics as Isabel and Elena embrace, holding hands tight as they sing together in perfect harmony.
Prince Marzel leans on the apse beside his lyrical twin sister, playing his lyre in accompaniment for them at this extraordinary human ceremony in this place of worship. Here Marzel's oft angry heart felt a strange tranquility in the harmony, full so many different people he had met, where no one of any country, race – nor species – was turned away.
From below, Elena's husband Gabe looks on proudly, while keeping a close eye on Elena's cousin Esteban and his kindly new wife who had volunteered to cradle their baby boy namesake of her Chancellor husband.
""May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord. Amen.'" The audience responds to the mermaid enhanced musical responsorial Psalm and hymn.
That was followed by the priest's fitting wedding Gospel and well told homily about Jesus turning water into wine as his first public miracle in attendance of a wedding in Cana with his mother.
"The Gospel of the Lord."
"Praise be to you, Lord Jesus Christ." The whole assembly rises to sing the Gospel acclamation, becoming more and more enthusiastic that their adored Princess's holy matrimony was finally about to take place.
'A marriage ceremony is to be not only joyful, but also to symbolize the outward, public expression of the proclaimed gift of Love which God has given to His people—the glorious chance to be joined as one body for a shared lifetime through this earthly vale.'
"Alleluia." It was a beautiful Mass ceremony thus far, with not just the Royal visitors, but the people of Paraiso were permitted to stand in the courtyard and listen with as many fitting inside the Chapel as possible in a standing room only, holiday-like atmosphere.
The other visiting Danish Royal representative, Prince Peiter, proudly watches his three daughters, joined by his brother Didrik's quintet of adolescent girls, serve as their cousin Valentina's flower girls and bridesmaids.
Two by two in the stately Processional, well-dressed young boys escort the prettily arrayed flower girls from the rear up to the front of the altar area. They scatter pink petals of the bride's favorite bougainvillea flowers along the center Chapel aisle for the younger bridesmaids to lightly tread upon with their elected noble family teenage boy escorts.
Just then, the music of Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' that had been played by the orchestra from the apse above solemnly in the background as the hundreds of Royal invited guests had filed in, flares to its crescendo.
Next, the haunting melody of 'Ave Maria' begins to ring throughout the entire church as Elsa, a vision of beauty in her gorgeous, sparkling with ice crystals on every pink rosette embroidered on her off the shoulder pale lavender Maid of Honor gown, peeks in through the Chapel door.
Prince Hans was waiting stoically patient at perfectly coiffed Alonso's surprisingly calm side as the two men took their place by the altar step as had been rehearsed. The Prince of the Southern Isles could not have been more enchanted to see his breathtaking counterpart enter the wedding ceremony aisle, like he always had fantasized.
But, unfortunately for the introverted young woman, he was not the only breathless man in the room who believed that the beautiful Ice Queen in her lavender rosette gathered, form-fitting gown stole the oxygen right from the air even before she fully entered the church.
At first shy to have every eye in the large wedding audience upon her, glancing back and forth nervously, Elsa would have been frozen in place had her plaintive eyes not found refuge in another's.
Intuitive Hans had noted Elsa's momentary deer in the headlights, anxious look and had furrowed his eyes. Concerned, he clears his golden throat in just such a way that she would hear him above the lovely strains of the 'Ave Maria', and her beseeching eyes were drawn to focus in his confident ones.
Trying to communicate something silently to her stalwart fiancé, Elsa oddly clutches at her throat, opening her mouth as if nothing would come out. The rest of the assembly turns to notice her strange hesitancy in walking into the Chapel that was prepared for the much-anticipated bride's entrance.
The gratuitous attention caused Elsa's eyes to dart back and forth, smiling nervously at the pair of bewildered South American Kings, as well to the gathered respected clergy of Archbishop, priests and nuns attending the marriage altar.
As 'Ave Maria' enters its second chorus, the crowd of onlookers begins to lightly titter in curious wonder of what was holding back the entrance of the star of today's event, namely the bride.
After all, they had all been in this very embarrassing spot before, a little more than a year ago at the last grand wedding in Paraiso they attended, when the bride did not appear at her own extensively planned and orchestrated wedding ceremony.
Automatically, all eyes travel to where the former runaway victim groom was unaffectedly standing in his correct placement for the holy nuptials to take place this second time.
While everyone else was beginning to freak out – the two fatherly Kings exchanging a glance with each other across the room in nothing short of utter confusion at their topsy-turvy children – Prince Alonso continues to stare confidently forward.
It was as if the Argentinean Prince was absolutely certain that any second Princess Valentina would fling open the door in her flamboyant, larger-than-life, joie-de-vivre (joy of living) style.
Perhaps, that calm, self-assured faith paid off, for, as Elsa nervously stood at the doorway to stall for time it seemed, right in time with the choir above restarting the 'Ave Maria' chorus at King Pedro's tepid command, the Chapel door again swings open.
To everyone's collected relief, Crown Princess Valentina of Paraiso steps in her gold high-heeled slippers, out to where her pensive father had been anxiously waiting to collect her.
"It is still not too late, my child." With a glance at the insufferable Argentine Crown Prince waiting at the altar, King Pedro whispers as he plants a fatherly kiss on his only child's trembling cheek.
"You're absolutely right, Papai. It's not too late. Now's our chance." Proudly motioning her tiara crowned head towards Alonso, Valentina ever-so-softly whispers as she laces her arm into her father's. Then she wanly smiles and motions to urge her dad forward down the long aisle to where her dream Prince was standing on the other end waiting for her.
Just a little bit more.
Beneath a crystallized sparkling veil set on a multi-bejeweled golden crown, Valentina was looking absolutely stunning in her beautiful, full skirted voluminous, many tiered, satin brocade, pure white wedding gown. It was trimmed with so many lacy pink flowers in cool, glittering, aurora borealis-hued radiance, that the shimmering, bronze skinned Princess of Brazil was a showstopper to behold.
And a heart-stopper, too.
"Wow…"
From where he was standing beside him, Hans was sure that he heard Alonso let out that pent-up breath the young South American had been unconsciously holding for the past few tense minutes.
The Argentine Prince was looking a little peaked himself as he yanked at his fancy gold trimmed collar in eye closed gladness before he opened them again to drink in his beautiful bride to be.
"I knew my Valentine wouldn't let me down again." Alonso's murmur was so low that Hans almost was unable to make out his raspy voice utterance that the relieved Córdoban Prince himself probably didn't realize he said aloud.
Delightfully shining in her relief as well, Maid of Honor, Queen Elsa resumes her ever-so-slow trek towards the front altar as she sashays down the center aisle in her tight, self-modified bridesmaid dress with graceful aplomb.
When Elsa demurely arrives and takes her place opposite the best man in front of the pink bougainvillea flower wreath decorated, gold gilt front altar, Hans cocks his smirking head at her enigmatic expression.
He seemed to sense that the Ice Queen was softly emitting a constant soft cloud of frosted air behind her, directed at the Brazilian Princess bride's glittering veil full of dazzling ice sparkles.
But the attentive and astute Prince of the Southern Isles was the only one in this dazzling spectacle of feminine beauty to pay attention to that minute little detail, as everyone else settles down from the initial excitement.
In a wedding gown adorned with delicately ice woven-in-place real pink blossoms atop the picturesque embroidered floral trim, Valentina finally gets the chance to walk the aisle on her father, King Pedro's stoic arm.
After meeting Alonso's quizzical, yet surprisingly understanding brown eyes as the two kneel at the ornate golden altar rail side by side, Valentina sends a plaintive smile desperately over her shoulder to Elsa as the anxious to start Archbishop begins to recite the already ten minutes late ceremony.
"Dearly beloved, this man and this woman are about to enter into a union which is most sacred and most serious. It is most sacred, because holy matrimony has been established by God Himself. Most serious, because it will bind you together for life in a relationship so close and so intimate, it will profoundly influence your whole future. That future, with its hopes and disappointments, its successes and failures, its pleasures and pains, its joys and sorrows, is hidden from your eyes. You know that these elements are mingled in every life, and are to be expected in your own. And so not knowing what is before you, may this marriage be strengthened by the Lord with His sacred seal." The holy man wearing his gold embossed, tall ornate hat had no idea how his soberingly imperative, somewhat portentous words were disturbing to Valentina's already edgy soul.
He continues on nonetheless, even as Elsa was becoming aware that her cool aura which seemed to stabilize Valentina's tense throat was no longer equal to the bride's growing anxiety that apparently exacerbated the problem.
"Marriage is a beautiful tribute to your undoubted faith in each other, recognizing the full import, you are nevertheless, so willing and ready to pronounce vows. And because these words involve such solemn obligations, it is most fitting that you rest the security of your wedded life upon the great principle of self-sacrifice. Christ abundantly blesses the love that binds man and woman since the beginning through this special Sacrament. He enriches and strengthens those he has already consecrated by Holy Baptism, that your love may be enriched with His blessing, in so, you may have strength to be faithful to each other and assume all the responsibilities of married life. And you begin your married life by the voluntary and complete surrender of your individual lives in the interest of that deeper and wider life which you are to have in common. Henceforth, from this day forward, you belong entirely to each other; you will be one in mind, one in heart, and one in affections. Whatever sacrifices you may hereafter be required to make to preserve this common life, always make them generously. Sacrifice is usually difficult and irksome without a heart full of charity. Only love can make it easy; and perfect love can make it a joy. We are willing to give in proportion as we love, but we must give more than we receive. And when love is perfect the sacrifice is complete. 'God so loved the world that He gave His Only begotten Son': and the Son so loved us that He gave Himself for our salvation. No greater blessing can come to your married life than pure conjugal love, loyal and true to the end. May, then, this love with which you join your hands and hearts today, never fail, but grow deeper and stronger as the years go on. If true love and the unselfish spirit of perfect sacrifice guides your every action, you can expect the greatest measure of earthly happiness that may be allotted to man in this life. The rest is in the hands of God. He will pledge you the life-long support of His graces in the Holy Sacrament which you are now going to receive."
After the Archbishop wraps up his solemn, long winded, traditional Catholic wedding ceremony speech with his weighty teachings, Valentina's panicky, nervous condition eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head.
She had heard her saintly mother's tenets of charity and selfless love described in the Bishop's ceremonial speech, and that small little bit of doubt in herself resurged as Valentina glances around nervously.
But the aged Archbishop did not seem to perceive the wide-eyed bride's trembling particularly, for most young women were emotional at this pivotal moment in their lives.
So moving forward, he first addresses the unaffected bridegroom.
"Do you, Alonso Ricardo Roderigo Ramón, Prince of Córdoba, take Valentina Veronica Montenez Tores, Princess of Paraiso,to be your wife? Do you promise to have and to hold her, for better and for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honor her all the days of your life?"
With a profound intake of air, Alonso looks deep into Valentina's tremulous eyes and gives her a saucy wink before he replies the most vital two words of his heretofore liberated life:
"I do." Then he adds sexily under his breath in Valentina's ear, much to the Archbishop's stuffy dismay and the Princess' titillated gasp: "Your Dream Prince' will have and hold you tonight, my Valentine."
More amused than aghast, most of the chuckling collective audience gives a sigh of relief now that half the deed was done.
Next, rolling his eyes to the Heavens, the Bishop turns to the blushing bride.
"Valentina Veronica Montenez Tores, Princess of Paraiso, do you take Alonso Roderigo Ramón, Prince of Córdoba, to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him for better and for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and to honor him all the days of your life?" The older man of God, believing this lovely daughter of the kingdom to be the less troublesome partner in accepting the ultimate commitment, as ladies generally tended.
But he was unpleasantly surprised this time to have to look up from his text when no reply comes for several eternally long seconds.
Never as sure of anything in her life as she was in this moment that she loved Alonso, Valentina opens her mouth, prepared to respond in the affirmative when her usually strong, opinionated, declarative voice fails her.
The mute girl looks frightened, from Alonso's shocked face, to her father's disturbed one, to the appalled priest and Archbishop and astounded nuns, frantically she panics, glancing over to where the guests were no longer smiling but exchanging glances back and forth of repulsed confusion.
The once showy, bossy, self-assured Princess Valentina searches desperately around for help when her constricted throat, in some last minute insecure panic, refused to let a single sound further be uttered.
But then, after a long hard glance at the engraving of the Blessed Mother Mary at the gold-gilt carved altar piece beneath the bowery of bougainvillea pink flowers that she adored, because Valentina remembered her mother did as well, she meets Elsa's calm and supportive eyes.
That's when Elsa, at her decisive Prince's prompting nod, quick splashes an invisible, startling cold frost down Valentina's worked up spine and back up to her throat where her voice box securely kicks into gear –
"I DO!" Valentina's high soprano squeals the affirmative as she rushes to Alonso's arms for comfort, support, and most of all, shared body heat.
The Argentine Prince does not disappoint his new bride as he wraps his arms around a shivering Valentinaand embraces her tightly in a sweet warming gesture, full of the generous love and charitable understanding spoken of in their marital vows.
"I would class that as a definite 'yes', Padre. Can we hurry up and get through the rest of this so I can bring my new wife outside to the sunny beach? I think she could use a little of that fresh air the Lord gave us." Confident, just as pushy and confident Prince Alonso takes charge of the otherwise shocking situation with definite good humor and indulgence for his uptight new bride.
"Oh, ergh…Yes. May we have the rings?" The stunned elderly Archbishop, having had to sit down on a bench near the altar, delegates the remaining part of the ceremony to his junior priest.
As was the custom in Catholic Brazil, Alonso and Valentina last night had removed from their right third fingers the golden wedding bands they'd exchanged a year ago, and renewed again recently, that signified their betrothal. The two had entrusted these significant pure gold bands to Best Man Hans and Maid of Honor Elsa the previous evening.
Prince Hans and Queen Elsa exchange yearning smiles as they simultaneously produce the rings with such eagerness, their own long digits brush one another as the priest invokes a blessing over the gold bands.
The priest then passes the precious wedding bands to the Archbishop who returns to the marriage altar to bless the couple.
Joining Alonso and Valentina's hands together, he instructs: "Repeat after me: 'With this ring, I thee wed, as a sign of my love and faithfulness in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
The Archbishop blesses their union and then hands the bride's ring to Alonso to place on the Valentina's finger.
'With this ring, I thee wed, as a sign of my love and faithfulness in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Prince Alonso speaks the inspiring words with all sincerity to Valentina. He bows his head in appreciation for the Faith that his goodly father had tried to instill in his spoiled little boy since he was very young.
King Juan Ramon smiles in the front row proudly to watch his son gently slip the bond of forever marriage on his wife's finger.
Then, the Archbishop hands the groom's ring to a no longer trembling Valentina to place on Alonso's finger in return.
"With this ring, I thee wed, as a sign of my love and faithfulness in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." It didn't take as much magical soothing ice effort, for the reason of becalmed nerves after the storm, for a reflective Valentina to respond. Albeit it was in an extremely soft, tender tremolo as she meaningfully presses the gold band onto her Prince Alonso's now left hand finger as she searched his brown eyes.
And yes, like Elsa said, she sees herself reflected there with that overwhelming, liberating, unfathomable love she earnestly longed for and would strive to deserve, even if it took the selfish girl years.
Thank you, God, for sending me a godly sister in this ice angel, who showed me the truth about myself, just when I needed her most.
After the Communion, the Wedding Mass concludes with the Archbishop's nuptial blessings after a final prayer from the priest.
'May the grace of love and peace abide in this, our beloved daughter, and let her always follow the example of those holy women whose praises are sung in the Scriptures. May her husband entrust his heart to her, so that, acknowledging her as his equal and his joint heir to the life of grace, he may show her due honor and cherish her always with the love that Christ has for his Church.'
He then tells the congregation of wedding guests, "Go in peace with Christ," to which they respond, "Thanks be to God."
Just before the Recessional departure was to begin, on her new husband's arm, Princess Valentina pauses at the side of the altar beneath the gold-gilt carvings of the holy Virgin Mother Mary, devout in prayer.
"Dear Holy Mother, grant me a charitable heart to make me strive to be that better person." Valentina whispers a special prayer before she places her prized wedding bouquet spray of bougainvillea flowers on the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary while musicians play "Ave Maria in her honor.
This ritual had been passed down from many generations of Portuguese brides, extended here in the new colony of Brazil, and Valentina felt it had a special meaning to the little girl who lost her mother when she was so very young, and always dreamed she would be watching over her on her wedding day.
"You are already the best of the best, Valentine. My perfect bride." Overhearing her quiet prayer, Alonso whispers on Valentina's cheek which was wet with tears of joy that her wished for 'happy ever after' was actually coming true.
"It's been quite a merry chase. I guess it took me a while to realize what was right in front of me, but…when were you sure you loved me?" The Córdoban Prince ponders to his bride as the married pair is ushered from the chapel in waves of adulation and cheers from the crowd outside.
"I always have loved you since the first moment we met, even when I thought you didn't love me. I was just too proud to say it." The tears spring to the Princess of Paraiso's eyes when she realizes that this is what her mother meant about the secret to true love: 'loving without expecting to be loved in return'.
"Ha! Beat that, Westergaard." Ever the show-off in embarrassing sentimental moment, Alonso tosses one last dare over his shoulder to his former rival, now his best man. He had a feeling the clever Dane was eavesdropping, so he might as well.
The saucy Córdoban Prince knew affianced Hans and Elsa were marching to the Recessional together just two steps right behind the bride and groom, in more ways than one, and he couldn't contain the childish rubbing-it-in challenge.
"I intend to…soon." The Vise Admiral of the Sjoforsvaret retorts as the sleek redheaded Prince suavely escorts his breathtaking lavender Queen out into the bright sunlight towards the Paço Imperial where the wedding reception, open to all in the kingdom, was about to take place.
The entire city of Paraiso in celebration…
The Valentine's Day Wedding's fantastic fun and flowers reception was filled with dynamic dance and song to the boisterous lively music this side of the Equator brought. Brass bands, flower presentations and so many types of bem casados – traditional 'thank you' sweet treats given to bring good luck to the new couple – were passed out as traditional wedding cake souvenirs to commemorate the happy day.
Even Manuel had come to grips with his new situation, finding solace and some genuine gaiety in playing the trumpet with his mariachi band for the lively new married couple.
After all, what could be more joyous an event than the city's beloved Princessa finally getting married, after a longsuffering romance to the young and handsome neighboring Crown Prince, with whom she'd share not only her love and home, but someday share their merged kingdoms as well?
Shining side by side as they danced the afternoon away with their guests, Crown Prince Alonso's Córdoba would be forever linked to Crown Princess Valentina's Paraiso, as today they united their two countries as one, in love and peace.
With much singing and dancing, sparring and laughing, came a passionate love that matched both temperament and vanity of the new husband and wife perfectly.
This vivacious, flamboyant, colorful South American young couple would spend each and every exciting Valentine's Day forevermore together.
It was well into the summertime late sunset evening before Prince Hans was able to sneak his Queen Elsa from the energetic, vivacious wedding reception that Paraiso was known for to claim his prized win of the athletic swimrun this early morning.
"Hans! Where are we going?! I thought you said we were just going out for one last look at the sunset to get a breath of fresh air? Hee hee hee!" After being danced off her feet all afternoon at the enjoyable wedding of her friends, Elsa was beyond thrilled to be furtively stolen away by that same accomplished dance partner onto Valentina's private beach.
"Perhaps I have made a certain special arrangement, min hviddue, for a certain special time, with a certain special young lady." Hans Westergaard knew how to charm his way into any woman's heart, as he twirls the Ice Queen onto the same beautiful shoreline beach the pair had strolled this morning.
Hans was feeling his oats after the romantic ceremony and jubilee-like atmosphere wedding reception. Though manifold guests had been vying for her attentions, the Prince of the Southern Isles aggressively monopolized Queen Elsa of Arendelle's much sought after dance card, despite dogged chaperone Minister Kai's skulking intimidation techniques in the background all the while.
And she liked her beau that way just fine.
"Please have a seat while we wait, my beautiful, honorable ice maiden." With a tease as to her recent maid of honor role, seemingly liberated from care Prince Hans twirls Elsa onto the sunsetting beach until her legs were weak enough for him to land her in a plop on the sands.
"What are you doing, my Prince?" Inquisitive Elsa giggles and coos when Hans takes off his white gloves and lays them at her feet before he fluidly kneels and removes her shoes, with a tender caress of her elegant bare feet resting on the sands.
"Just a little preparation pampering for our appointed rendezvous, min kæreste." Hans responds enigmatically as he alights beside her to remove his own tall black leather boots after a glance over the dune facing the still noisily festive Paço Palace. Then he starts taking off his own jacket to reveal he wore nothing underneath but his gorgeous, lightly hirsute bare chest again.
"Won't Kai come looking for us?" Elsa guiltily asks, her pale face a-blush as her imagination as to what her man had in mind goes wild. She glances shyly to watch her fiancé's lean body spread back lazily against the warm beach sands beside her after Hans had folded his removed clothing and stretched across her to place them into a neat pile on the higher rocky dune above them.
"Not where we're going." With rising tension palpable between them, a mysteriously pleased Hans smugly intones as his body imperceptibly moves closer to Elsa's when he sits up, taking in the sunset over Guanabara Bay.
"This section of the sea is undoubtedly breathtaking…Your water spirit friend must be commended…" The Danish Prince whispers huskily in her face, Elsa certain that there was the scent of liquor faintly upon his warm breath. Which was to be expected after her handsome Prince had unavoidably imbibed so many royal toasts at that raucous Rio de Janeiro style after-wedding party.
Then Hans' bare fingers shocked Elsa further by tracing her silky pale shoulder line where her lavender off the shoulder frock met her delicate skin. "The sun is setting. Don't you think it's about time for you to change into something less…formal, my Queen?" Hans' velvet voice smoothly croons as he looks upon her expectantly.
And now that she had her man right where she wanted him Elsa swallows hard, not knowing exactly where this was going. Her heart pumps in her chest uncontrollably as she loses herself in Vise Admiral Westergaard's come hither gaze and persuasive finger strokes.
"…Hans? It's our last evening here, and now that we have this chance to be alone… I feel so guilty for not saying anything earlier, causing you such anxiety. I'm sorry for not having had the courage thus far, but… there's something I have been meaning to share with you." Starting out timidly in staggered, apologetic phrases, Elsa was trembling as she decides this could be her last chance before they were to set out on the trip back to Arendelle to speak all that was in her heart.
But her fiancé was no longer paying attention to her words, as Elsa follows his intent gaze upon the evening tide that was rolling out with the waves.
"Hold that thought, my love." Smiling with curious eyes unable to discern what she was trying to impart, the Danish Prince places a shushing finger upon Elsa's chilled lips. Hans' green eyes motion to something extraordinary coming in rather than going out with the ebb tide of the sea waters.
"Hans? Is that…?" Leaping to her feet, Elsa was extremely surprised to see the emerging head, then big body and tail of the aquamarine teal, gigantic seahorse friend of Prince Marzel and Princess Marisa, who she and Hans had met earlier in their morning foray under the sea.
"Your ride, Señorita, to our romántico rendezvous on our final night here in this most escénico part of the world." Putting on a bit of a Spanish accent and flair he had picked up, along with some exotic wording during their stay here south of the equator, Prince Hans performs an over exaggerated, gentlemanly bow before his wide eyed lady.
"May I escort your ladyship on a breathtaking tour of this private, warm and stunningly gorgeous oceanic view which only your beauty exceeds?" Prince Hans excelled in laying on the charm as he extends his long fingered hand out to where Elsa was standing with her mouth agape at the edge of the waters.
"One where only you and I are invited?" Elsa responds in a similarly flirtatious mood shift her lover instilled to once again becalm her on this spectacular sunset evening.
"Just you and I, and the innumerable stars about to steal a glance of their sparkles at the beauty of you from their secret hiding place above." The youngest Prince of Denmark waxed poetic, as his vibrant red hair catches flaxen fire in the brilliant sunset that they two alone were enveloped within.
"Oh, Hans." She blushes, shaking her head with a pleased smile. "Let's count each one together on this Valentine's night." Inspired by the romance of the day in the wedding ceremony and Hans' romantic poetry, Elsa smiles coyly. Emboldened, she daringly, unashamedly transforms before Hans' hungry eyes into a flattering bathing suit, just as the artistically talented Ice Queen had conjured earlier.
But this time it was even more attractive a dazzling design of Elsa's own style with this lavender off the shoulder, hip hugging bridesmaid gown that afforded a more advantageous starting point, artistically speaking. Mainly because it was more to the Queen of Arendelle's sleek, tight-fitting, non-striped style to start out, that suited each one of Elsa's curves to a glistening tee.
"Speaking of stars… I believe I'm about to catch one." Hans romantically infers as he playfully scoops up his lithe, long, bare-legged, slender Queen. Beyond flattered and enticed to let go of her normal introverted fears, Elsa was laughing as Hans carries her across the kicked up sands of the beach scarp.
"Hans! Hehehee!" His strong, wiry arms easily bring her laughing to where the large friendly seahorse was quietly waiting and admiring the sweetly romantic scene of the young pair near the shore line.
"After our adventures had taken us to see numerable sights on land already, I've been conversing with Prince Marzel on some suitable romantic locations under the sea as well, and made some, shall we say, arrangements to tour some of the finest tonight. And he assured me we would be provided with the proper…uh…equipment, whether we choose to enjoy the ocean's splendor on this gorgeous night, topside…or down." As Hans speaks, his thirsty eyes took pleasure in exploring her exposed angles as he lifted his scandalously dressed Queen Elsa onto the calm seahorse's cool back.
Then he wraps the magic milagu glowing seaweed – that the Prince of Coronado's friend, Captain Daria, had cleverly fashioned to also serve as reins on the seahorse named Cuco –around Elsa's tempting torso, unavoidably making skin contact.
Which was not difficult whatsoever in Elsa's quite fetching and rather unconventionally risqué cut, ice diamond studded halter top bathing suit as the seaweed reins also secure her on the seahorse's back.
"Wouldn't want you to ever slip away from me, Iskolde Havfrue." With a quixotic reference to Elsa as his mythological 'Ice Mermaid', the Vise Admiral of the Sjoforsvaret certainly knew how to tie a sailor's knot with the mystic kelp around his irreplaceable cargo as Hans slides his hands full of suppressed longing along Elsa's lissome waist.
Cooing inside as her linguistic skills interpret her young man's new nickname for her, Elsa enjoys how her romantic man had taken great trouble to give her an unforgettable final night here in tropical Paraiso.
She admires how his splashed wet, titian red hair caught fire in the last rays of the sun as Prince Hans mounts the magic underwater half equine/half fish creature as if he was an experienced seahorse rider all his life.
"Hold on tight to me, my stunning beauty." As he deftly coils the seaweed milagu reins around his wrists, Hans turns his handsome face to speak to the stylish young woman clinging to his back.
"Always." Elsa whispers as she mentally begins to conjure the ice magic necessary for her to do the same and fulfill her lover's secret desire.
Slowly the Hippocampus seahorse glides out to the ocean with the ebbing tide where the sunset was playing colorful tricks on the wave crests, while the Winter Queen of the Ice too was playing conjurer this unforgettable twilight.
"Nokk has taken me through many far-flung waves up in Ahtohallan. But I never realized being so distant from land on the ocean with someone right at my side would be so peaceful, so much more rewarding. That's because you seem to be able to make anything possible, even out here, my handsome Prince." Previously conquering her fear of the deep ocean that had taken so much from her before by way of the wild Water Spirit elemental, Elsa takes a deep breath of the salty sea air to tell her that she was truly awake and not dreaming of what her clever boy was imparting.
Squeezing his chest tight as she furtively plies her newest cryokinetic feat to make her admirable Vise Admiral's dreams authentic this night, Elsa presses her cool cheek to Hans' sturdy back as the seahorse travels them far out the ocean beyond Guanabara Bay.
"Maybe everything is, min kæreste. If you dare to dream it can be, perhaps it will." As they begin to drift across the tranquil expanse, Hans speaks in that philosophical, eloquent tone of voice which Elsa adored hearing. She inwardly giggles while surreptitiously transforming her already scant bathing suit to something far more daring.
And the best part was that her gallant prince wasn't even aware of her silent transformation.
At least not yet.
"How do you always know what I need to hear, when I don't even know it yet?" Elsa sighs a contented sigh in Hans' ear as her arms cling around his chest with tender caresses, though her legs sitting side-saddle upon the seahorse were up to something else entirely.
"For the reason that I love you more than anything in the world. More than my own life. Don't you know, Elsa? You own my heart, and not just because you have given it back to me." The repentant Danish Prince had been seriously contemplating that principled juxtaposition in his change of attitude from when he had valued his own rise to power and gaining position in this life for an existence of higher import.
Because in being granted through God's mercy the ability to have and to hold the love of purehearted Elsa of Arendelle, eclipsing all other needs and desires, he failed to notice the cool spray of ice crystal magic happening behind his back.
The Queen of the Ice's azure blue eyes quiver and she begins to tremble with the realization that she held in her icy grip the true heart of this beautiful man who had done so much for her and her family.
And as yet she gave him nothing in return but anxious unsettled waiting as reward.
How can I deserve such a love when I haven't had the courage to stand up and fight for his happiness, too? She shivers in her guilt and long pent-up anxiety, supplemented by this thrilling anticipation now too, if she could live up to expectations.
But shy Elsa almost couldn't bear to look into her Hans' kind understanding eyes that were about to turn to her in the bright glare of the last rays of the sun setting in the West they were facing.
No, I will be brave enough to give this first dream to you, my darling.
Cuco the seahorse seemed to sense Queen Elsa's determined thoughts, as the ray-finned Syngnathiformes takes the initiative to dive below the blinding sun's heat waves.
Awash in the coolness of the waters, the magic milagu seaweed gave Elsa and Hans the ability to breathe normally underwater the same as they were above.
Seizing this once in a lifetime opportunity here in the Pacific blue ocean, Elsa lets her imagination soar for a few ephemeral moments spent wishing to please her Danish Prince with every ounce of her heart, body and soul.
Her mind clears once again in the liberating deep blue waters that had become akin to her ice magic since she had embraced her 5th Spirit powers and let Nokk train her to let her fear go and replace it with an incredibly freeing drive for self-determination.
Focusing her willpower just like when she boldly tamed another stallion, Elsa forcefully uses her persuasive ice to spin Hans' stunned, firm ab body around on the seahorse's kelp woven saddle to be face to face with her gorgeous hero.
"Ah,ah,ahh. La,la,la…Your Iskolde Havfrue has come for you at last, Sailor boy." Elsa boldly sings in a sultry tone in Prince Hans' startled ear as she plants a siren's icy kiss along his jawline before she swims off the seahorse to display her icy tail's sensuous maneuverability, while still keeping the milagu cord snaked around her arm.
"Elsa?! That sparkling diamonte scale tail – those glistening pearls in your gorgeous hair– the (gulp) opalescent seashells? Have you truly become that breathtaking mermaid of my daydreams? Or have you always been her?" Mesmerized by not only her sweet song of the sea, awestruck Hans breathes underwater in awe of his magnificent lady - ergh- mermaid who seemed to draw the colorful, mystically swirling energies of earth, fire, wind and water into her being to make this imaginative metamorphosis possible.
Thank you, Spirits. The elements of nature are mine…
Under the entrancing blue waves that emboldened the once reticent Ice Queen to be free to fully be immersed in his love as Hans' fantasized 'Iskolde Havfrue', she didn't feel any restrictions anymore. Elsa was literally glowing from every glistening platinum strand of her braid down to her iridescently shimmering, translucent tailfin that she was flirtatiously showing off just for her Hans Westergaard.
Sparkling eyes melt into radiant eyes as mermaid Elsa snatches her captivated man from the pleasant seahorse's saddle with an inviting kiss while wrapping the magic glowing seaweed around his sinewy arm, too.
"Why don't you join my underwater masquerade to find out, my handsome…mer-prince? Heeheehee." The giggling Queen of Arendelle entices the Prince of the Southern Isles with the appealing idea to be as free as the fishes to roam around the ocean beside his ice diamond scaled, petite opal shell only bikini wearing Ice Mermaid Queen, if just for one magical Valentine's night.
"A tail for me as well instead of these limbs? What an intriguing suggestion, my siren of the sea! Yes, please! Beguile your Rødhårede Havmanden (redhead merman) into your magical Frozen world, Iskolde Havfrue (icy mermaid). I assure you, you'll find nothing down there to disappoint." The cocksure Dane tests his female's nerve with a brazen comment concerning his stellar anatomy that her form-fitting cryokinetics would have to become intimately familiar with to accomplish such a fishtale feat.
"Excellent." She breathes in complete, unmitigated approval of his valiant complicity. "This may prove a little uncomfortably cold…at first… my darling…" Her girlishly tentative eyes at first diverted from Hans' sleek, clinging wet fabric coated lower body until the curious artist in her, one thrilled eye closed, sized him up, so to speak.
With a quirked raised platinum brow at her brash Hans, Elsa swallows hard at the blatant phrasing she was sure her satisfied foxy sailor was daring her with.
But she promised herself that she would not back down from any challenge he set before her henceforth. So, Elsa the Mermaid Queen rubs her talented hands together and prepares to blast him with a pointed, targeted finger of ice magic.
"Do your worst, my Icy Mermaid. The cold never bothered me any~WAYee!" In the midst of his dared bravado, the handsome prince lets out an uncharacteristic squeal as he is unexpectedly caught by his treasured Ice Queen's unforgiving cold jewels biting his tender –-
WHOOSHHHZZTTT!
In a whooshing whir of skilled frozen enchantment, the Ice Mermaid Queen envelops her rapidly shivering bare-chested fiancé's physical form beneath his tight abdomen in a cryo-cloud of frosted ocean waters. Soon, his grey tight pants legs were thoroughly coated in a chilly, elongated mass of silvery green scales that matched the green of his eyes to form a merman's more muscular tail.
"Are you alright? I'm so sorry!" Never wishing to hurt anyone with her ice gifts –particularly not her lover – Elsa loses a tad of her bluster with an apology, biting her lip.
"No! Don't apologize, min kaere. Never apologize to me. It's, umm…good practice." Ashamed of his pathetic exhibit whenhe was sure he heard equine whinnies mocking him in the waters nearby, Prince Hans good-naturedly tries to laugh off the surefire near frostbite his…iced…jewels had probably endured for this exploit.
But one look at his breathtaking Elsa's beyond pleased face surveying her masterwork of ice, the redheaded 'merman's' enviable physique was worth every hypothermic tendon and gland.
"In all my wildest dreams, I never imagined this setting for our first Valentine's night together, min kaereste. Let's find out if I'm as light on my fins as I am on my feet, my love. Shall we dance?" After a disbelieving glance and chuckle down at his green hued ice 'scales' in the vicinity of his Southern Isles, the ever-daptable Prince of it extends his hand to his fiancée with a gentle smile, even as a school of curious little fishes hurry past them.
"I'd love to." Together, Elsa and Hans dance in their whimsical sparkling in ice mermaid and merman forms. They were having the time of their young lives in this enjoyable game of love the two were playing in this stunning backdrop of the ocean as their dance floor.
The elegant pair was soon tail to tail waltzing to the music the creatures of the sea provided when the watery residents spied the fascinating young lovers in their compelling underwater ballet.
After several enjoyable waltzes that explored vast parts of the Pacific blue where blowfish and octopi, starfish and manta rays participated in making merry, Hans rewards Elsa's boldly theatrical ice magic maneuver for his benefit as well as her own obviously gratified one with a marvelously passionate kiss in gratitude.
The hot kiss in the cold briny deep lasts so long and intense that the satisfied platinum blonde 'mermaid' ends up with her icy 'tailfin' lazily draped around her handsome hero's slender tailfin frame.
The two were entwined in one another quite intimately as Hans swims them upwards towards the gleaming moonlight dancing on the waters by now while he unwound the milagu quite tactually from their pressed together sparkling bodies clinging wet to each other.
Soon, the tired but smiling pleased beyond words, icy blue siren was comfortably coiled upon her Danish Mer-Prince's lap as both exhausted, yet exhilarated dancers remount their patiently waiting seahorse, Cuco under Hans' deft muscular ability, mermaid tails and all.
"I'll do anything…be anything you want me to be from now on, my darling Hans." Tired after a long, long yet completely rewarding day, Elsa, desperate to please, loved every minute of their evening's romantic mermaid masquerade dress-up. She luxuriously nuzzles her nose into Hans' titian sideburns Elsa adored as he in his merman tail holds her to his bare chest snugly.
"This has been an enticing treat, min hviddue. But I love you just the way you are—my brilliant of mind, serene of soul and pure of heart, human Queen Elsa of Arendelle." Hans indulgently allows his hands to stroke down her shapely icy silvery blue scales luxuriantly until his fascinated fingers tickle her pearlescent mermaid fins that swish at his command. Just as the dreamer sailor boy always imagined he might do to the mermaid he would one day meet and fall in love with.
"Oh, Hans. I love you so much. You recognize me as a real woman, not just the Queen of Norway or of the North Winter or the 5th Spirit of Harmony whom I have the duty to be. You've taught this lonely girl so many things about life, about forgiveness, about love, that I feel finally ready to move forward and embrace everything the Lord has put in store for us. What I'm about to say next should only make you happy, my darling one, as I always will strive for, from now on." Emboldened by her dramatic role her prince willingly conformed to—and so dashingly well— Elsa declares her love.
She was finally unafraid to express her true feelings that she had kept bottled up and concealed, to be locked away for so many long, empty years of her youth and again in Ahtohallan. There, single and isolated from the world she knew, ice maiden Elsa had resigned herself to be assigned to live forever alone to maintain the elements of nature for the peace of Arendelle and the sister in it she loved.
Now I can clearly see that I wasn't born to be alone! I was born to be in harmony with nature, and myself…and you, Hans! You truly are the one I've been waiting for all of my life to make it complete!
"Will you marry me?" The words suddenly spill from her lips as Elsa looks up deeply into Hans' at first confused, then highly amused eyes.
"Haven't we already sung this song, my Mermaid Queen? Though the harmony and melody may have been previously transposed, if memory serves me right." The young ship's Kommander could not help but chuckle at his already fiancée's abrupt impetuosity as he symbolically lifts her engagement ring finger to his lips and kisses it with all the fire of passion within as the liberating breezes without and the swaying waters flow beneath the content surface of the earth.
"Yes, my darling älskare Raevstorre, we have. And it's a beautiful, breathtaking song, but… What I mean to say is – will you marry me, now, immediately?" Elsa's heart was in her throat as she stumbles over the words that her mind had practiced over and over for the past weeks but never had the chance to get out, with shipboard chaperones, Cousin Eugene in trouble, and all that was going on with Valentina and Alonso's uproarious wedding.
"I suppose it would be still advantageous, if you return to us to our human forms as not to cause pandemonium, and we hurry back this moment with the Cathedral all still comprehensively outfitted with the flowers, musicians, royal guests and all. King Pedro and the Archbishop may agree if I sweet talk them, and we can be wed this night! Now's our perfect chance!" Caught up in his Elsa's quick spoken fervor, a deliriously grinning Prince Hans puts on his lofty voice as his swift mind goes into action with a quick solution to his impatient lover's desire for the marriage he had hoped and prayed for with inhuman patience.
"No, Hans! I… simply meant…will you marry me as soon as we return to Arendelle." A panicking Elsa's loud contradiction was followed by more soft strained, shamefaced explanation of her timing when she suddenly sees that her intelligent fellow was merely putting on an act - something that Hans Westergaard was an excellent theatrical expert in portraying - to tease his tense Queen's stressed anxieties away.
"…Hans, you're teasing me." She finaaly comes to the realization with a crooked simper on her lovely features.
"Of course I am! I love you more than enough to know you would never wish to take such an important step without your dearest Anna at your side, nor hold a wedding ceremony devoid of the presence of your beloved family and home nation of your people who mean so much to you. Not to mention your dear sister Anna." As he expertly flaps his own green scaled 'merman' ice tail about, Prince Hans' eyes were laughing at the young icy pale blue 'mermaid' so skittish and trembling like a fresh caught fish in his embrace.
"And, before I leave you wondering one second more, my darling, the answer is now and forever – Yes, I will be your bride…groom." In his recently employed, high pitched effeminate tone at the closing title description, Hans bestills Elsa's embarrassment with a tender kiss. The soft-lipped yet increasingly passionate osculation sealed their once again reapplied commitment for the third time in their young lives.
"But seriously, Elsa, you must know by now that I will wait for you nothing short of forever. However old and grey the scales of my frozen tailfin become."
"Oh, Hans! You are a magnificent, extraordinary tease! Thank you for that humor, as well as your infinite love and patience. You know me better than I know myself." On the verge of tears, Elsa sighs at how all her pent-up fretfulness turned out, in relief now of the true, heartfelt understanding she saw in clear Hans Westergaard's viridescent eyes.
"Yes, I do, don't I? What a good boy I am. And though I am fully prepared to patiently wait for whenever you deem yourself ready for me, I was starting to wonder if I indeed would have to play that fairytale Black Knight Prince waiting a hundred years for his Sleeping Beauty fair to awaken before his old decrepit bones could carry her over the marital threshold." Hans uses humor again to diffuse Elsa's shame and guilt as Cuco instinctively knew the romantic couple was ready to return to the surface again within their shared laughter under the moonlight.
"I promise you, my gorgeous and vital Prince, you and I will be husband-and-wife on the first day of Spring, when the Lord God has promised everything beautiful and lovely will burst forth with life and love afresh. As you said, now's our chance anew to start our wondrous life together, min kjære. I'm ready to take it." Elsa murmurs.
And in a brilliant display of her ice magic she shedded her cryo-created mermaid 'tail' in melty trade for her elegantly long, pale legs once again. Then with one last longing look up and down his gorgeous form to burn into her memory, the Ice Queen defrosts her winsome 'merman' back to his normal, stunning long-legged stature.
The 5th Spirit of Harmony's magical Ice Queen mermaid spell may have been over this special Valentine's night. But she was sure of herself, of her love, of her life, at last, in the warmth of his strong embrace.
Queen Elsa was tranquilly cradled in her Prince Hans' arms after he had situated her to be seated like the adored Queen she was upon the throne of his proud lap while they floated along the scenic ocean route now above the waves.
"Then tomorrow I will order my ship to sail with wings upon its masts, with a prayer for fair winds to bring us home in time for that fortuitous Spring day you have promised me, my beloved Ice Mermaid." Prince Hans begins to sing to his wondrous Queen Elsa in the dusky twilight where the warm sea breeze was just right for an evening of romance.
"But for now, my beautiful Elsa of Arendelle, my eternal Iskolde Havfrue, for all you have given me to dream of til then, 'Happy Valentine's Day, with all my heart." Melodic Hans removes from his reinstituted trousers' pocket a silky red rose – damp, yet petals unbroken - that he places at the crest of Elsa's long, thick blonde braid he had been playing with.
The stars come out to twinkle a blessing upon the lovers as the sweetly kissing, tenderly caressing, gently fondling in the tempting moonlight, gorgeous pair ride the quiet seahorse back to Paraiso's warm shores.
Here in the truthfully dubbed 'Marvelous City', wedded bliss and mermaid dreams appeared to be alight under the emerging stars. It was in the very sweet smelling air and all of nature too that was aglow on both sides of the hemisphere on God's earth with magic and pledges on this Valentine's Day that marked the promise and romance of forever true love.
As promised, friends, here's the picture so you can partake in the mermaid inspired romantic scene I envisioned as I wrote this romance part, as illustrated by my beloved sister Setsuna! Please take a look and enjoy! I know I did when I saw our stunning pair under the sea in full mermaid wonder! ^_^
You can check it out on: www dot deviantart dot com/setsunakou/art/Frozen-Again-Hans-x-Elsa-Mermaid-Love-Helsa-819390957
Thanks for joining this romantic adventure! Please review of what you thought of the picture and its accompanying tale of a mermaid's tail! heehee – Haruka
mi amado esposo - my beloved husband in Spanish
Gaucho – (derogatory) Argentine cowboy
'Boa Noite' good evening in Portuguese
Min ædle – my love in Danish
min kæreste - my darling in Danish
Min kjære - my dearest one in Norwegian
Min älskare – my darling in Norwegian
Raevstorre – great fox in Danish
Iskolde Havfrue – Icy Mermaid in Danish
Rødhårede Havmanden - Redhead Merman in Danish
Happy 4th of July, Minna-sama!
Greetings, my dear Frozen Again friends! I hope you are enjoying our three-part "Summer of Love Special"!
I know it was a long one, but I felt it would be worth going through the beautiful full Catholic wedding ceremony in Paraiso, full of guests ranging from 'Elena' to 'Sofia', 'Frozen' and 'Tangled', with all the ins and outs, surprises and anxieties and searching for true love on this 'Summer of Love' special.
Did you enjoy a delirious Hans' fantasized Elsa as a desirable mermaid scene? And her masquerading he too as a gorgeous merman in response?! Can't you just see tour gorgeous pair swimming around in merpeople tails and fins?
That was a special request from Setsuna to include this gorgeously romantic Mermaids of the deep, watery dream sequence for our daydreaming attractive bare-chested sailor boy Dane as he and his Ice Queen have been plunged in a breathtaking water dance beneath the waves.
It was certainly a liberating, eye-opening, under the sea flight of the imagination oceanic panorama to script! ^o^
So, at that romantic sunset ocean ride Hans secretly planned, Elsa finally got the chance to tell her man about her own wedding day intentions! Wasn't their oceanic proposal scene (3rd time's the charm :) a fittingly romantic finish to this Valentine's special?
Now that our Ice Queen has informed her ever-patient fiancé of their impending Spring date, I'm sure the Captain Kommander of the HmNos Gler won't spare the steam to get back to Arendelle so he can finally claim his bride!
So, please stay tuned for 'Frozen Again: Love Never Ends' next arc as the madly in love couple rush home for a wedding of the century!
Can't wait to see how Elsa's gonna break the impatient news to her Papa! He may have some news for her too! I have a feeling King Agnarr may have had a change of his icy overprotective heart concerning 'my Vise Admiral' after his own revelation / life-changing transformation with Queen Iduna as Guardians of Harmony up in Ahtohallan in Elsa's place. We'll see what ice and fireworks happen when our Arendelle monarchs meet up again with their own new plans for the future in the Enchanted Forest! Good thing Mama and Anna have already setting the arrangements into play back home cause methinks the long-awaited Helsa wedding is soon in the works!
Now's their chance at last!
God bless you all on this Independence Day as we all celebrate this Summer of Love!
Please please review! I'd love to hear from you to give us all much needed smiles, my friends! ^_^ Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers for my Daddy as we try to help him best as we can in our prayers for the Lord's healing.
Love, Haruka
'Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!" Hymn written by Bishop Reginald Heber 1820
"Now's Our Chance" – from 'Elena of Avalor'
Elena: Lend me your hand
Help with this plight
Together we can rise up and fight
To show that you've changed
You gotta be tough
Cause words just aren't enough
Now's your chance
Now's your chance
Your chance to proove
You want peace
And make amends
For past deeds
And then they'll see
Your spirit's true
They'll want it to
It's all up to you
Now's your chance
Marisa: Here I will stand
Right by your side
Our dream of peace will be the guide
Elena: We'll show the whole world
From near and far
Who you really are
Marisa: Who we really are
Elena: Now's our chance
Marisa: Now's our chance
Elena: Now's our chance
Marisa: Now's our chance
Elena: Our chance to prove
you want peace
Marisa: And make amends
For past deeds
Elena: And they will see
Marisa: They will see
Our spirit's true
Both: It's me and you
It's up to us two
Now's our chance
Elena: Now's our chance
Marisa: Now's our chance
Both: Now's our chance
