Elsa kept her face stoic as she walked down the length of the table. None of the Council appeared overly anxious, which hopefully meant that none of them had heard the news. Breathing an inward sigh of relief, the Queen made her way to the end of the table and sat down, gesturing for her advisors to do the same.
It had been two hours since the incident in the dining room. The monarch had been utterly shocked at Anna's mistake, but it hadn't taken long for her brain to spring into action. What was done was done, and bemoaning her attendant's error wouldn't solve anything. After quietly ordering Anna to be silent, Elsa had turned and addressed the two servants.
"I understand that what you just witnessed likely surprised you. But under no uncertain terms, as your Queen I command you to keep this discovery to yourselves," she had said, fixing them with a firm glare. "I assure you that I understand that this situation is no fault of yours; you will face no consequences as long as you keep silent. But if not, you will be unemployed before the sun has set. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," they said in unison, clearly doing their best to recover from their shock.
Even still, the damage had been done. The Queen was relatively confident that the news of their relationship would remain contained for a bit longer. But despite the fear she had instilled in the two servants, both knew that any punishment they faced would not exceed the loss of their jobs. Cultivating a benevolent reputation had its advantages, but in this case, it was proving a liability.
It was likely that the information would spread. Perhaps not today, or tomorrow, or even for the rest of the week. But eventually, one of the servants would be unable to contain themselves and reveal what they had just seen to a trusted confidant. The process would repeat itself until the knowledge spread like wildfire among the staff, and eventually even the nobility would hear of it.
Her gambit was over. She'd wanted to wait a while longer, maybe a month or two, but that plan had gone to hell. The revelation of her relationship would doubtlessly cause a hostile reaction from some, but her position would be even more undermined if the nobles definitively learned of it from someone other than herself. It would make Elsa look weak, unable to conceal her secrets and powerless to stop the rumors. No, she could not afford to give the appearance of her hand being forced.
She had to tell the Council. And she had to do it alone.
"Let me come with you!" Anna had protested.
Elsa shook her head. "No, Anna. Some of them are going to be vicious, and if they insult you while you're present, it's going to cloud my judgment. I need to keep a clear head, and the only way I can do that is if you're waiting upstairs."
"I can handle myself!"
"I know. But so can I. If they slander you to your face, I might lose control. I'll be fine; I've been dealing with these clowns for years. Just go wait in your room and I'll come find you when it's over. I love you Anna, but this is an order."
Scowling, the redhead placed an angry kiss on Elsa's lips before making her way towards the stairs.
The Queen sighed. Deep down, she knew that her words had not been entirely truthful. She was afraid that potential vitriol towards Anna could cause her to lose control. But perhaps an even larger danger was the redhead herself lashing out. Compared to Elsa, Anna was just as defensive and far more rash. The Queen wasn't certain whether the Council's loyalty to their monarch would outweigh their prejudices, but Elsa knew there was every chance that she herself would receive some harsh criticism. Having a fiery, super-strong redhead beside her when that happened was perhaps not the smartest idea.
The monarch surveyed the room. All of the Council was in attendance, including Lord Liddel, who had temporarily assumed his deceased daughter's position as representative of his house while he and his wife decided which of their remaining children was best suited to take on the seat permanently. All of them probably believed that this was merely one of their typical scheduled weekly meetings, though some were likely wondering where the Queen's personal attendant had gone off to.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to address the two questions that are almost certainly on all of your minds. As of yet, we have not discovered anything leading to those behind the attempts on my life, unless one of you has something you've neglected to report…?" As her advisors continued to look upon her in silence, she continued, "I have also not yet received a reply from my uncle, King Marcus of Corona, and can only assume that the situation on the Southern Continent is still developing."
She sighed, taking in a deep breath. This was it, the moment Elsa had been both dreading and anticipating for months. Her Council and her people would finally learn that they would never have a King in her lifetime. She and Anna would be denounced by several minority religions. Elsa was confident there would be nothing approaching a revolt, but she was certain there would be a sizable backlash amongst both the populace and the aristocracy.
And yet, it would be a relief. Finally, they could stop concealing who they were and what they meant to each other. No longer would they have to worry about remaining strictly professional in public, carefully and slowly feeding the spread of the rumors around them.
For better or worse, it was time.
"Before I address any concerns you might have, there is a small matter I would like to clear up," she began. Instantly, several faces displayed a brief flash of curiosity before returning to their normal composed expressions. "I have recently become aware of rumors circulating in the Castle that concern myself and my personal attendant. Many have come to suspect that we are involved in a romantic relationship, and therefore that my affections lie with women rather than men. And I would like to take this opportunity to assure you… that the rumors are true."
The room went deathly silent. And for the first time in five years, the aristocratic mask of every single Council member failed simultaneously. The emotions displayed ranged from shock, to horror, to satisfaction (from Evangeline), but save for the spymaster there was not a single person in the room who wasn't astonished.
A strangled cough from Lady Katherine was the first sound to break the silence. "Your Majesty-" the noblewoman finally managed. "You mean to tell us that you have chosen a… a commoner as your consort?"
Lord Arald cleared his throat. He was a portly, balding man, but despite being nearly sixty, he had never come across as one of her more conservative advisors. "Katherine, while I admit that I am… surprised, I believe that our monarch is entitled to choose whomever she wishes as her partner. And for her part, Miss Anna has proven herself as…"
The table radiated with a loud thump as Lord Liddel banged his fist against the wood. " Entitled. No woman is entitled to lie with another of her sex. It is an abomination… an insult to the gods! If you persist with this choice, Your Majesty, Arendelle will be both heirless and cursed!"
"Your gods are not our gods," Lord Vance cut in. "And while I myself harbor reservations about Her Majesty's decision, our reasoning should not come from your church's outdated doctrines."
Liddel opened his mouth to argue, but Kale beat him to it. "Forget the gods. Your Majesty, think of the opportunities you are throwing away! There are wealthy and powerful men across the world who would be eager to accept your hand. There are a thousand individuals out there who offer more benefits than young Miss Anna. As you are well aware, she holds no titles, lands, influence, wealth or status! Her abilities in combat are indeed useful, but those are already at your disposal!"
"But I-"
"Your Majesty, please consider the-"
"The gods will-"
Elsa breathed deeply. "Enough!" she shouted, the rare instance of the monarch raising her voice shocking all into silence. " I am the Queen of Arendelle. And I am the only person who will decide who is and who is not worthy to be my consort. I will not tolerate homophobia, and anyone on this Council who expresses that opinion shall be suspended immediately. Do I make myself clear?" the monarch demanded, glaring at Liddel. The lord met her gaze defiantly but did not say a word.
"Arendelle already has an heir," she continued, now focusing her gaze on Kale. "My relatives in Corona ensure that my line is secure. For five years I have ruled this country alone, and I have kept it peaceful and prosperous. I do not want a King. I do not need a King. You suggest that I prostitute myself, and that is an insult I will not forget easily. Perhaps there are some men who could offer me a slight gain in wealth or influence, but I would trade that away a thousand times in exchange for having someone I trust at my side."
Her head swiveled to face Katherine. "Yes, in terms of blood, Anna is indeed a commoner. And though I am well aware that the notion of your monarch being attached to a peasant horrifies several of you, I do not give a damn, " she hissed, the unprecedented profanity causing more than one Council member to gasp. "In a matter of months, she has proven herself worthy a dozen times over. Perhaps I do not have evidence of Anna's past save her own words, but I believe that throwing herself in front of an arrow meant for me is enough to prove her loyalty. My decision is final, and I suggest that you all make peace with it."
The Council stared at her. Elsa had always demonstrated her resolve to her advisers, but never had she exhibited such blatant anger. Still, if that was what was needed to remind them of who was in charge, so be it.
"Now, if we could…"
" No! " Liddel cried. "In the name of the gods, I cannot accept this. You are indeed our Queen, but even an earthly monarch has lords who she must answer to. If you do not repent and rectify your mistake, Arendelle will burn for your sins. The gods…"
Elsa's finger twitched. Instantly, a thin layer of ice appeared on the nobleman's lips, sealing them shut. He stood up violently, but the only sound that escaped from his mouth was a low groan.
"You were warned," the Queen hissed. "As of this moment, the House of Liddel has lost its seat on my Council. You are free to pray to your gods and believe whatever ridiculous notions you wish, but you will do so out of my sight. Kindly remove yourself from my Palace; you are no longer welcome. In a year's time, your family will be considered for reinstatement following either your announcement of a public apology or your removal from the position of Head of your house, but you yourself are forever banished from this Council." With another flick of her finger, the ice vanished.
"You ungrateful bitch!" he immediately bellowed." As one, the entire Council stared at him in horror. "How dare you use your magic to attack a nobleman?! And how dare you banish me?! My family has been on this Council for generations; we have served both you and your parents with honor. And now you presume to-"
Another twitch of her finger shut him up. "As you appear to have once again forgotten, I am your Queen, and from the lowest peasant to the highest noble I am at complete liberty to punish all- however I wish. You may consider yourself fortunate to have not been turned into a frozen statue. I respect this Council," she swept a lightly approving gaze around the rest of the room. "In return for the opportunity to have my ear, you put your knowledge and experience at my disposal, and I value advice and well-intentioned criticism. But I will not tolerate such flagrant disrespect. Never forget that one's position at this table is a privilege, not a right. I hold no resentment for the rest of your family, but your House is now suspended indefinitely." It pained her to do this, knowing how well Vlora had served over the years, but Elsa had to demonstrate her authority. Perhaps if the man in front of her stepped down or was disowned, she would reconsider. But not before.
Liddel stared at her with pure rage, but apparently, even he would not dare to express that anger physically. Perhaps because she was his monarch, or perhaps because she could kill him in an instant.
She twirled her wrist slightly; two ice-soldiers materialized out of thin air. "My creations will escort you out of this Castle. Keep your head down and stay out of my way, and I will be merciful and not punish you further. But if you dare to undermine my reign, if you so much as attempt to sabotage a trade agreement, I will have you banished from this kingdom. And if your family willingly joins you in this endeavor, your Manor in the city below will be confiscated by the Crown, and they will accompany you into exile."
As the nobleman was escorted out of the meeting room, the remainder of her advisors gazed at the Queen in astonishment. She could see it in their eyes, the surprise that she had actually evicted a family from their ranks. In some pupils, Elsa could even perceive fear.
Good.
"Your Majesty," Lord Arald began as the doors closed behind Liddel. "I wish to make it clear that I fully support your decision. But this incident does raise a troubling implication. I would not dream of suggesting that you rescind your choice in consort, but it is almost certain that a minority in Arendelle, small but vocal, will share Liddel's opinions. We must be prepared."
Elsa nodded at the balding man, knowing he meant no offense. "I agree. But I fear there is little we can do. Churches will express their anger, and if they do so peacefully, I will permit it. Already, some denounce me because of my magic. Of the half a million people in this city, perhaps fifteen hundred despise me due to their religions. I suspect that many of those who will hate me for my choice in partner already fall among that number. In the end, despite the devotion they profess, they will value their livelihoods of their beliefs. Few would join a pointless rebellion against me when they know it would accomplish nothing but their own destruction. Maybe a thousand will leave the country, and if that is their decision, I will bid them good riddance."
"I would still recommend placing the city guard on heightened alert for the next week," Evangeline suggested. "Have them keep an eye on the churches known to rail against homosexuality. If they protest peacefully, leave them untouched. But if they partake in violence, demonstrate that their actions will not be tolerated."
The Queen nodded. "Tomorrow, I will call a meeting of the city guard captains and have the situation explained to them."
"When do you plan to announce your… decision?" Vance questioned.
Elsa gave him a slight shrug. "Why announce it at all? Anna and I are simply courting, there has been no discussion of marriage. A royal proclamation need not be made at this stage. Regardless, the servants shall be made aware shortly, and after that, I suspect it shall take less than a day for the news to spread throughout the city. Within a month the entire kingdom will no doubt be informed." And I'm sure I can count on the lot of you to ensure the entire aristocracy is made aware of my choice.
Vance nodded, and with that, the meeting finally turned to less stressful and divisive matters. Such as the low but worrying possibility of war on the Southern Continent.
\
Anna continued to lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling in frustration. Her three gifts, still wrapped, sat beside her bed, but the redhead simply did not have the heart to open them.
She was all too aware that this situation was entirely her fault. And although Elsa had tried to assure her that it was not a huge deal, Anna knew that her actions were now creating difficulties for the Queen. It would have been far preferable to wait until the people of Arendelle had more time to come to terms with their monarch's proclivities, or even until the conspirators had been discovered and rooted out. At a time when both of their lives were still certainly at risk, the last thing they needed was a distraction.
But Elsa had tried to do yet another nice thing for her, and Anna had repaid the Queen's gesture by exposing their secret. True, the net effect of her actions on Elsa's life was still positive, but it didn't change the fact that Anna had just made a costly and easily avoidable mistake.
Creak. Anna bolted upright as the door opened, admitting the monarch of Arendelle.
"Elsa! Are you alright? Were they mad, well of course at least some of them were, but how many? What did they say? Gods, I'm so sorry for all of this…"
"It's fine, Anna," the Queen interrupted.
The redhead frowned. "Fine? Really?" she questioned. "So none of them were upset?"
Elsa shook her head. "No, several of them were. Lord Liddel apparently goes to the same church as your would-be parents; he was by far the angriest. When he refused to put his opinions aside, I suspended him and his family from the Council indefinitely. The rest of my advisors dropped the subject after that. I won't lie to you, many of them still disapprove, but not to the extent that they will challenge me."
Anna's eyes widened. "You actually kicked someone off the Council?! Just to be with me?"
"Yes, I-" the Queen broke off as Anna leapt off the bed and took her into an embrace. Even though it shouldn't have surprised her by this point, Anna couldn't help but be touched by the monarch's actions. Plus, the idea of Elsa flaunting her authority and asserting her will over the most powerful men and women in Arendelle was… kinda hot.
For the next few minutes, Anna grilled the Queen for details, and the monarch dutifully complied. As much as she had hated it, the redhead soon realized that it was fortunate that she herself had not attended the meeting. If she had, the Castle might very well now be anticipating its second honor duel of the season.
"So, what do we do now?" Anna asked once Elsa had finished her recounting of the event.
The Queen gave her a soft smile. "We stop hiding. I would have liked to wait, but what is done is done. Now, at least, we don't have to conceal our relationship in public. Before the night is up, the entire Castle will know you are my consort; there is no point in continuing to pretend otherwise," she paused, her tone growing darker. "I have to warn you, Anna. I'm sure you have gotten a taste of this already, but now it will become far more apparent. Nearly everyone will be treating you differently. Some of it you may welcome; many will be sure to be respectful towards you. But much of it will be aggravating. You will experience both scorn and jealousy, especially from the nobles. Most will not confront you openly thanks to your connection to me, but they will find ways to make their anger known."
The redhead nodded. "It's nothing I'm not used to. I'm more worried about how this is going to affect you ."
Elsa sighed. "If the people of Arendelle can accept that their monarch has ice magic, then they can accept that she chooses to love a commoner woman. Some will be angry, of course, and over the next month they will make their anger known, but eventually, most will quiet down. And life will go on."
The personal attendant glanced down at her gifts. "Should I open these now?" Anna asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Elsa grinned, clearly happy to change the subject. "Of course. This one first."
Anna eagerly ripped the paper off of the box Elsa handed to her. Taking off the lid, she came face to face with a large red-brown belt. On each side of it were five slanted sheathes built into the leather; each contained a small knife with a silver hilt.
"Finest throwing knives available," the Queen said proudly as Anna examined one of the daggers. "It should give you an edge if we're ever attacked again. Here! This one goes with it."
Wordlessly, Anna accepted the second box, this one thinner and longer than the previous one. She tore off the packaging, revealing…
"Elsa, what… what is this?" Anna breathed.
Beneath her was a hand-and-a-half longsword; it was similar to her current weapon, but something seemed… off about it. The blade was a beautiful but unnatural shade of light blue. And as Anna's hand instinctively reached out to touch it, the redhead discovered that it was emitting a chill so profound that it was painful to touch.
The hilt and cross-guard were made of natural metal, but that did not make them any less remarkable. Though clearly not made of true gold, the steel that composed them was the same golden color as the crocus flower that served as Arendelle's symbol. Even more impressively, the guard was shaped after the three-tipped flower; with the main prong running up alongside the first few inches of the blade and the two others each branching out to a side, modeled to offer more than adequate protection for her hands.
"As the best warrior in Arendelle, I thought you deserved the best weapon. The sword you now carry is passable, but it's nothing compared to this. I had the hilt and guard forged by the most experienced blacksmith in the city and made out of the highest quality steel that could be purchased. The blade itself…"
"It's ice," Anna breathed. "But how did you…?"
"My creations never melt if I do not wish them to. It took me a few hours, but I managed to mold it into the perfect shape and make it harder than steel. It's sharp enough to cut through almost anything, and thanks to its temperature, even the slightest wound it inflicts on an assailant will be crippling. I couldn't make it cold enough to freeze steel, not without giving your hands frostbite, but it's still an advantage," Elsa explained.
"No kidding." At a nod from the Queen, Anna took the hilt into her hands and lifted the weapon out of the box. Taking a few steps back, she made a few experimental swings. Anna had never had a problem with her previous sword's weight and balance, but this weapon was different. Even with her still-increasing strength, she could tell that this weapon was considerably lighter. It's balance was pitch-perfect.
Unable to resist, the redhead directed her last swing at the stone wall. True to Elsa's word, the ice didn't crack in the slightest.
"Elsa, this is amazing. I've never seen… how much did this cost? The blade was free, obviously, but the steel in this hilt… and it couldn't have been easy to fuse the ice and metal together," Anna noted.
The Queen smiled. "It wasn't cheap, but the Royal family's personal vault is still standing. Not that I wouldn't have emptied it if it meant increasing your protection… mmph!" She stopped as Anna leapt forward, holding her new blade safely out to the side, and brought the monarch in for a kiss.
Secretly, the redhead was a bit saddened by the gifts she had received. It was not Elsa's fault, these were undoubtedly the most useful things the Queen could have given her. But they were a reminder that she was a warrior now, a trained killer. Although Anna would have traded her innocence a thousand times in exchange for her new life, it was still a bit jarring for her first birthday presents to be instruments of death… and to know that she would probably need them one day.
"You haven't even seen your last present yet," Elsa murmured once Anna pulled back.
The redhead frowned. "This doesn't seem fair. I didn't even get you anything for your birthday, and you're just spoiling me rotten. Not that I don't appreciate it, because I do. A lot! I just wish…"
"Anna, you threw yourself in front of an arrow for me," the Queen said dryly. "I think that was a wonderful early birthday present. Besides, you've never even had a birthday before, so consider this nineteen years' worth of gifts. Now come on, open the last one." Grinning, Elsa reached down and plucked the final box, by far the smallest of the three, and handed it to her attendant.
Excitedly, Anna ripped off the wrapping paper and opened the box.
Her jaw dropped. "No, Elsa…" she started, staring down at the contents. "It's too much…"
The monarch smirked. "Anna, you nearly gave your life for me, twice, and you only have one of those. So I think you're more than justified in letting your super-rich girlfriend spend some of her money on you when she still has plenty more."
It was the most exquisite piece of jewelry that Anna had ever seen. The small cushioned box in her hands contained a necklace. Its white gold chain looked stunning on its own, but what really caught her eye was the pendant, a six-pointed snowflake roughly an inch in diameter. It was made entirely of diamond that was colored almost the exact same shade of blue as Elsa's eyes.
The Queen flashed her a smile before picking it up. Wordlessly, Anna turned around and lowered her head, allowing the monarch to clasp the piece of jewelry around her neck. Walking forward, she took a moment to admire herself in the mirror before turning to face her Queen.
Anna could only manage three words. "I love you," she whispered.
"And I you, dearest Anna. Now, I would very much like to retire to my chambers after such a stressful day… and I was hoping my consort would consider joining me," the Queen replied. Elsa's face burned a deep red, but she continued. "We don't need to hide this from the servants any longer; we might as well confirm it for them. Besides… I like holding you in my arms."
You are such a dork, Anna thought affectionately. You face down your Council without flinching, but when you ask me to sleep with you, even when you know I'll say yes… you're almost as awkward as I am.
"I suppose I'll consider it, given that it is a request from my Queen," Anna replied with a smirk.
Even though I'll barely be able to keep my hands to myself. Gods, this won't be easy.
\
"You asked for us?" Rapunzel said as she walked into her father's study with Eugene at her side.
The King nodded. And clearly, they weren't the only ones he'd sent for. Sitting at his right was Lenore, Rapunzel's mother and Corona's Queen. In another chair facing their parents was her brother Thomas, his pitch-black hair glinting in the sunlight.
"This doesn't look good," Eugene muttered.
The Princess couldn't help but agree. Her parents, normally so optimistic and cheerful, each sported a serious and saddened expression. When Thomas turned back in his chair to greet them, Rapunzel could tell that he was both sullen and deep in thought.
Her father sighed. "We've received reports that Albion is mobilizing its armies. I had truly believed it wouldn't come to this, but it seems that King Xander is going to try and seize the disputed territory by force. If events are allowed to proceed, Lucrania will almost certainly assemble its own armies… war will be upon us."
Rapunzel's heart plummeted. If a conflict truly broke out, millions could perish. Her people would scrape by, but the economy of Corona would potentially be crippled by an extended war.
"We have to do something!" she exclaimed. "Surely we can work out a settlement. We have to."
The King nodded. "We are. I have already sent out messengers both to King Xander and King David. In two weeks' time, Corona will be hosting a peace conference. Tonight, I will be dispatching a letter to Queen Elsa asking her to attend. Perhaps with our combined diplomatic and economic weight, Arendelle and Corona can help in establishing an agreement suitable for both parties."
Thomas frowned. "Albion, at least, already seems set on war. What makes you think both of them will agree to even come to the table?"
"There remain significant elements in both countries vehemently devoted to peace," Marcus explained. "Neither Xander nor David can well afford an outcropping of rage amongst their people. If for nothing else but to save face, they will attend our conference. I have informed each group of messengers to ensure that news of our invitations reaches enough ears for the knowledge to spread amongst the people. Before they go to war, both Kings will need to demonstrate that it was the final alternative; they cannot afford for it to be known that they ignored our offer."
Rapunzel wordlessly reached for her husband's hand. "I hope you're right, father," she said as Eugene squeezed her fingers firmly. For if he was wrong, if Arendelle and Corona could not broker a settlement… the consequences were unthinkable.