152

Marie felt the warm mountain wind on her face and breathed in. A week had passed, and Elsa's shoulder had healed along with her scrapes. The former queen was saying her farewells to the Northuldra; it was time for them to return to the castle. Bruni hopped around Marie's feet and she leaned down. "Hey, there. I'm glad we all get along now," she said.

"Ready?" Elsa asked as she approached, her eyes fixed on the other woman. Marie nodded, trying to calm the familiar flutter in her chest. They had spent the last week on good terms, and Marie felt as though they had grown as close as best friends, but that did not stop her heart from racing every time Elsa laid eyes on her. Marie furrowed her eyebrows in frustration.

"U-um, wait!" The two women paused as Ryder ran to them. He scratched his head. "I, uh…Marie!" The brunette flinched. "Please save a dance for me at the wedding!"

"Oh." Marie blinked rapidly. "Of course."

Ryder threw his arms into the air. "Yes!" he hissed while walking away. "See? I told you!" he yelled at his sister.

Elsa cleared her throat, causing Marie to nearly jump out of her skin. "We should be going." They waved and began their journey back to Arendelle. Marie eyed the royal nervously.

"So…the wedding. You excited?" Marie ventured.

Elsa's shoulders fell slightly from being tense. "I am," she answered with a smile. "Kristoff is like a brother to me, and I know Anna will be happy." She fiddled with a piece of fabric on her light blue dress. "In your world, do people go to dances together?"

"Yeah. Sometimes they go with friends but finding a date to a dance is still a huge part of our culture." Marie's eyes grew wide. "N-not that I'm going with Ryder! Just for a dance! Uh…" She had been in serious relationships before, but now Marie was fumbling over her words like a child. Elsa watched her from the corner of her eye while they walked through the tall meadow grass. It was adorable when Marie got flustered.

"I think it would be wonderful for Arendelle and its guests to see the heroine responsible for fighting the darkness," Elsa suggested. "I know they will be happy to thank you in person."

The foreigner's cheeks grew red. "You help. A little," Marie jested.

A few hours later, the two women were barreling down a mountainside using their magic, having challenged each other to a race to Arendelle. Marie's dark powers were now harnessed, but not to the extent that Elsa's were. The newer mage lingered behind her just to view in complete wonder Elsa's mastery. One of her favorite moves was to use an ice ramp that looped in circles and twists to skate on. It was like watching her soar. Marie launched herself high into the air and dissipated her darkness, her body coming to a stop. Gravity caught her and began pulling her down. Marie dove through the air. I hope I get this right, she thought to herself.

Elsa observed her flight. She took in a breath before blasting ice from her palms. With magnificent force, she rocketed into the air towards Marie. The ice mage let her body fall and waited. Marie sprouted dark wings and reached out to Elsa, her eyes streaming from the air whipping past them. As soon as their hands met, they exchanged magic and covered each other in dark ice. A gasp flew out of Marie's mouth from the cold and Elsa grinned. Marie's wings caught an air current, and she pulled up, gripping Elsa close to her. They glided a few feet off the ground. Elsa's brilliant blue eyes grew wide. She clasped onto Marie, feeling the warmth of her body and tasting the freshness of the air. Marie faltered slightly, and Elsa instantly conjured a snow hill. They landed in it, Elsa being dropped while Marie rolled. The brunette groaned and shook her head. "I went too fast."

She was interrupted by Elsa's body slamming into hers. "You did it!" she exclaimed excitedly, spinning them. "That was amazing! The way you flew and fell towards the ground! And that catch was perfect!" Her sudden, childlike enthusiasm was infectious.

Marie gripped her hands. "I know, right?! I've always wanted to fly!" She stopped when she realized how close they were, but Elsa did not seem to mind. Marie gazed at their hands shyly. Was she imagining it, or did Elsa want to be closer to her, too? Her eyes flickered up to Elsa's freckled face and back down again, the blood boiling within her.

Elsa wrapped her arms around her. "I'm proud of you," she said softly. She squeezed Marie warmly.

No, Marie thought to herself, hugging her back. She's just happy for me, that's all. Plus…we're both women.

Elsa felt like burying her face within Marie's neck. She had embraced her to hide her own flushed face. That was close, Elsa thought. Her hands trembled. And now we're close…

This is going to be hard, they thought simultaneously, letting themselves sink into the other's presence, if only for a moment.

"You're back!" Marie smiled as Anna ran and embraced her older sister, nearly knocking her off her feet. The two sisters hugged on the town bridge. Around them, the snowgies bounced in greeting. The brunette tensed. She was not used to them yet. Anna's red hair blocked her vision as she hugged Marie. "So? How did it go? Tell me everything!" the queen exclaimed, pulling away.

Elsa exchanged glances with Marie. "It tried to take over the spirits but failed." She smiled. "We stopped them."

Anna's eyes grew wide as she observed the two. "It sounds like a lot happened," she muttered coyly. To the queen's surprise, it was Marie that grew flustered. She stormed off like a bristled cat, snowgies pouncing on her long limbs as she approached Kristoff, Sven and Olaf. Anna pinched her lips together but still grinned widely at her sister, who was staring after Marie with an expression Anna had never seen her have before. It was full of warmth, longing and fondness, but also had hints of tension and distance. She grabbed her older sibling by the arm. "We are definitely talking about this."

"The spirits?" Elsa asked grimly. Her sister nudged her in protest. "The Northuldra? The wedding?"

"Oh. Speaking of…" Anna stopped in front of Elsa, suddenly growing quiet.

Elsa's face fell. "No…"

"The reply came while you were gone! He's not coming to the wedding because of some scheduling conflicts, but he is coming before then to deal with the new trade policies."

A sigh escaped Elsa. The remainder of the group circled them. A tight knot twisted in the royal's chest when Marie's blue eyes rested on her. "When should we expect them?"

Anna and Kristoff looked at each other. "Are you hungry? I'm hungry! We should all go inside," Kristoff spewed.

"When?" demanded Elsa.

Anna braced herself. "Tomorrow." Ice blasted from Elsa's hands. The mage froze the bridge that connected the castle to the town in an instant. She unfroze it with a wave of her hands and began walking to the castle doors, her posture poised but tensed. Anna sighed heavily. "Well that went over well."

Marie scratched her head. "I'm confused."

Olaf reached up and grabbed the foreigner's hand. "Oh, it's a long story about one of the reasons why Elsa hasn't looked for her true love," he stated lightly, pulling Marie to the castle. "But maybe that's a good thing, given her sister's history."

A couple hours later, Marie set down her glass of scotch on the castle's lengthy, dark wooden dining table. Her head swirled slightly. "So let me get this straight. The duke of Westleton's SON is coming here tomorrow, and he wants to try and court Elsa?" Next to her, Elsa lay sprawled out in one of the chairs, the wine bottle in her hand nearly empty.

Anna crossed her arms. "That's right. He's been trying for years."

A frustrated chuckle came from Marie. "Someone procreated with the Duke of Westleton?!"

"That's what I said!" Kristoff exclaimed. Him and Marie clinked glasses.

"Anna!" Elsa sat up slowly. "You're queen now! Why didn't you tell him that I'm not interested?" Marie frowned. Her tone was almost childlike with frustration, and it worried Marie.

"I did, Elsa. Dominic doesn't listen!" Anna sighed and sat down. "Arendelle profits well from trading with Westleton, you know that. It would be in our kingdom's best interest to resume trading with them. That's the real reason he's coming. He'll just…" Her hands waved in the air as she searched for words. "…try and whoo you in the process. And fail. Again."

A giggle sounded from Olaf. "Royals seem to have so much trouble with love."

Marie found herself tensing to the point of extreme discomfort. She attempted to relax, but to no avail. "Doesn't this guy know you're not queen anymore?" she asked. Elsa and Anna stared at her in surprise. She grimaced. "What I mean is, Anna is Queen now. There isn't need for an heir on your part. Doesn't this guy know that?"

"Our neighbors are aware of Elsa passing the throne to me, yes." Anna assumed a more mature demeanor. "But they don't know the real reason why. We decided to keep the spirits and The Enchanted Forest a secret for now. But-"

She was interrupted by Elsa, who shoved her chair away as she stood. Her hands were placed firmly on the table as she stood still. Everyone grew silent. "It's my duty as the eldest to carry on our lineage. No longer being queen doesn't change the fact that I'm royal." Her footsteps echoed in the silent hall as Elsa pushed the doors open and left.

Anna gestured wildly to express her pure frustration. "Elsa, wait!" she yelled, giving chase.

The next morning, Marie had woken up to Anna shaking her, spewing something about the surprise she had wanted to show the foreigner before. Marie followed the queen out into the town, the morning sun warming the stone streets. Anna waved at passing citizens, her greenish-blue eyes turning to the woman behind her. "Sounds like you and my sister had a good trip."

Marie waved back to a family who recognized her. "Honestly, I was worried about it affecting the spirits, but they seemed to be okay." Her hands folded behind her back. "They sure put up a fight, though." She sighed. Marie had walked by Elsa's room the night before and had heard her and Anna talking in hushed tones. She squeezed her hands. "So, this Dominic guy…When's he coming?"

"Today." Anna kept her gaze forward. "We're almost there!" Marie looked ahead to see Kristoff, Sven and Olaf waiting for them in front of an old wooden building. The queen flicked her light green dress as she faced Marie, her eyes glistening with excitement. "Surprise!"

The gang watched Marie. She blinked. "Um…what is it?"

"A school!" Olaf exclaimed. Sven bayed.

Marie grunted. "What?"

"Our English and Writing teacher, Mrs. Helgeson, needs an assistant!" Anna bounced eagerly. "You'd be working with kids who need help learning how to write! And you could do arts and crafts!"

"Only if you want to," said Kristoff.

"Exactly," said Anna.

"And it's only part-time," said Kristoff.

"And you can stay in the loft above for free!" said Anna.

"And work with children," said Olaf.

"And put on plays!" said Anna.

"Only if you want to," said Kristoff.

"Which you should," said Olaf.

"So?" Anna pressed her palms together and asked. "What do you think? Want to become Arendelle's assistant teacher while you're here?"

They waited for Marie to respond. The brunette stood for a few moments. She took in a deep breath. Her hand pushed open the creaky front door. Dust flew into her nostrils as light shone in. A half dozen rows of wooden chairs and desks were aligned neatly toward a podium. A chalkboard hugged the entire wall perpendicular to the door as a flight of stairs hovered over a storage room in the back. Marie eyed the inside. "One condition. You guys have to help me clean up."

Anna was afraid of Marie's reaction. She knew that the woman had a difficult past, but also was not one who could be forced into anything she did not want to do. Her stubbornness often clashed with the queen's sister, but as Marie faced them, all of Anna's anxiety vanished. A soft expression overcame Marie's face, and she smiled warmly. Her eyes were no longer haunted with fear or calamity, rather they shone with a newfound sense of maturity. The redhead pushed up her sleeves. "Let's get started."

Marie wiped off her sweaty brow and huffed. Olaf rode Sven as the two swept up cobwebs around the classroom. Anna clapped two chalkboard erasers together, a white puff of dust clouding her upper body. A high-pitched sneeze followed. Kristoff shook his head fondly in response to Anna and nudged a sticky window. Marie ran her fingers along the wooden podium. Her, a teacher's assistant? Chemicals flooded her brain in response to her anxiety, and she had to clench her fist to steady herself. Ever since her arrival to Arendelle, she had gone without her medications. Although not dependent on them, her brain was still processing the lack of stability they provided. She shook her head. The darkness had taken advantage of that instability after Ahtohallan.

"Knock, knock!" The group looked towards the door to see a familiar redhead with a young child. An instant smile covered Marie's face.

"Meghan! Wendy!" They ran up to her and embraced. Marie squeezed them. "What are you doing here? Wait, don't tell me." She tapped Wendy on the nose. "You two knew about the surprise, didn't you?"

"All of us did!" Meghan went to the doorway and looked outside. To Marie's surprise, she waved her arm, her eyes locked on to someone, or something, in the distance. "They're here!" Little footsteps neared the schoolhouse before it became flooded with several children of all ages.

Anna coughed out white powder. "Meet some of your students," she said cheerfully.

The diversity of Arendelle amazed Marie, and the students were no different. Having come from a small town in northern Minnesota, Marie was not used to much racial and ethnic diversity, but Arendelle had opened their borders after Elsa took the throne. The brunette crossed her arms, but her facial expression was warm and gentle. "So, tell me; are there any secrets about this building that I should know?"

The hand of a grade schooler shot up right away. "There's a ghost that knocks over the chalk!"

Nervous whispers scattered across the small group. "Huh." Marie held up a hand. The children jumped when darkness swelled between her fingers. She grinned confidently. "I'm not too worried," she said. The darkness fizzled out. "Anything else?"

"We used to do summer plays before Mrs. Helgeson got sick," said a young teenage boy. Marie recognized him as a helper from one of the first days she had arrived. "There's a chest full of costumes behind the stairs."

"Really?" A glimmer ran across Marie's eyes. "Show me!" The children buzzed with excitement as they moved in a swarm towards the stairs.

Kristoff sauntered over to the doorway, his brown eyes gazing out into the fjord. His face fell. "Anna."

She rushed over, taking advantage of the mild chaos. "Great," she muttered. "We'll be by the docks," she called to Marie. "Our guests have arrived."

Marie nodded over the crowd of bubbling children. "Where's Elsa?"

Olaf and Sven headed for the door. "She's already out there," Olaf chimed. "She must really be excited to see her potential spouse." Marie nearly tripped over a child.

"I'll be back as soon as I can!" Anna reassured, backing out. "And ignore Olaf. He doesn't know what he's talking about." Before Marie could respond, the queen shot out of the doorway, her fiancé not far behind. An exasperated sigh escaped Marie.

"Let's crack this open," she said. With a slight kick, she pushed the wooden chest open, revealing old fashioned costumes and masks underneath. Some of the children audibly marveled at the sight. A silver tint caught Marie's eye. "Whoa!" Reaching a hand in, she grasped onto the iron piece and pulled. The clanking of the helmet filled the small space where everyone was crouched.

George, the young teenager, let out a whistle. "That's an old Arendellian soldier's helmet," he said quietly.

"Seriously?" Marie gawked at it. She rummaged through the chest and pulled out more iron pieces. "It's an entire set!" The armor was iron, slightly aged yet still strong. It was light and dusty. Marie's fingers wiped some of the dust off the chest plate, which looked as though it could fit a small man. The chain skirt rattled as she surveyed it. "How old do you think this is?"

"Maybe fifty years?" piped up a middle schooler.

She peered at the helmet. The eye slits were tinted with a smooth silver, and the bottom left room for the jaw to be exposed for additional armor or clothing. Two parallel designs ran up past the ears, giving it a quick yet durable aesthetic. "I've always wanted to wear a knight's suit!"

"Try it on!" Meghan nearly yelled. A chorus of agreement rose in pitch.

"All right, all right! Calm down!" Marie laughed. "I'm not sure it'll fit me." The mood began to die. "Okay, fine!"

Outside, Elsa gripped her hands in front of her, her dark peach dress blowing softly in the breeze. A few fishermen stopped to gawk at the docked ship. Her blue eyes wandered over to the schoolhouse, which was nestled near the coastline. Elsa had slept in after Anna and her had talked all night. Her sister waited near the docks to greet their kingdom's guests. "Arendelle has been hit hard because of the darkness," her sister had said to her. "Now that Dominic is Duke of Westleton, he's agreed to meet with the council about opening up trade. All he asked is if you would be here during his stay."

Elsa's shoulders tensed. It never works that way, she thought, watching as people began to depart the ship. A tall young man with wide shoulders and smooth brown hair made his way over to Anna. With a heavy sigh, Elsa started for them.

"I can assure you; Arendelle is well protected," she heard Anna say. "It's lovely-"

"Elsa." Dominic nudged Anna aside when his brown eyes landed on her older sister. He confidently reached for her hand and kissed it softly. "Beautiful as always."

She pulled away but smiled cordially. "Thank you. I'm glad you and your staff made it safely." A cheerful face popped out from behind him. "Hello, Daniel."

"Hi!" Daniel was around the same age as Anna while Dominic was in his late twenties. The olive-skinned optimist had been his guard as long as Elsa could remember. He flashed a brilliant white smile.

"I'm sure you're eager to rest after your long journey," Anna piped, jumping in between them. Dominic raised his chin but remained silent. As they conversed, Elsa found her thoughts wandering. Did Marie like her surprise? She glanced over at the school once more. A small group of children huddled around an adult in an old Arendellian soldier's armor. The armor was for a male, but it did not take Elsa long to recognize Marie's stance and defined jawline poking out from under the helm. A couple children caught her staring and pulled Marie over, their giggles sounding in the air. Elsa glanced quickly at the group behind her before trotting over.

"Hey! Erm, I mean…" Marie cleared her throat and stood straight. "Hello, Your Highness." Her voice lowered and she bowed, a cheeky grin covering the exposed part of her face.

Elsa giggled loudly and put a hand over her mouth to stifle herself. She curtsied back. "And what is your name, Good Sir?"

"My mother told me once that if I were born a boy, my name would be Ian." Marie waved a hand before bowing again. The children laughed.

"Sir Ian." Elsa curtsied once more, indulging in the children's joy. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Marie swept up Elsa's hand in her own and held it gently. "The pleasure is mine." Elsa could not help but gaze fondly at her. Although Dominic had just kissed the same hand, she had felt nothing. All Marie had to do was hold it, and it was enough to make Elsa's heart race. She relaxed her hand in Marie's.

I want to be alone with you, Elsa thought, looking in her eyes. More than I should.

Their hands broke apart as Marie reached for her helmet. "Oofda, it's hot in here."

"We're about to go up to the castle." Elsa flinched as a male voice spoke next to her. Dominic stepped up the stone street's incline, his hands rubbing together smoothly. His eyes glared at Marie and the group of children. "Friends of yours?" he asked. Marie gave a quick nod to Meghan, who ushered the children back to the schoolhouse without hesitation. She pulled back her lips in a frown. Elsa let out a startled grunt as a hand ran down her back. "You're looking rather red," Dominic said coolly, leaning in to speak in her ear. He peered at Marie while his lips neared Elsa's skin. "Famished?"

A knuckle cracked as Marie clenched her fists. She took a step forward and held out her hand to Elsa, who took it. The royal turned her head to face him but kept her body turned toward Marie. Elsa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as another breeze blew past them. "I thank you for your concern, but it is unwarranted and unnecessary," Elsa said. Marie bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.

"I see," Dominic stated. He put his hands behind his back and chuckled. "It will not happen again, Your Highness. I did not know you preferred the company of…feminine men."

Both women exchanged confused glances. Elsa let out a sudden exhale and smiled. "Oh, Sir Ian," she realized. "That-"

"WAS super nice of him to swing by and say hello to the children! Wasn't it, Sir Ian?" Anna sauntered up to them with a poignant smile that Elsa immediately saw through. She felt a pit drop in her stomach. The sisters glanced at each other, and Anna's eyebrow raised ever so slightly.

"It was." Marie widened her shoulders and nodded curtly. "I enjoy my time with them." Her and Anna smiled at each other, trying to avoid the sudden cold seeping from Elsa. We're screwed, Marie thought nervously.

"Have you two met?" Anna asked. She took a step back and gestured. "Dominic, this is Ian. He trained here in Arendelle to be a knight for a couple years before travelling to…America."

Behind them, Kristoff carried Olaf away from the small group as the snowman opened his mouth. Dominic shifted his weight. "You're slim for a knight," he said coolly.

Marie jutted out her jaw. "I'm not yet twenty," she replied smoothly, taking on a low tone.

"I see." The man crossed his arms and scoffed. His hand ran over his mouth and set on his chin. His demeanor was arrogant yet sophisticated and calm, something that both impressed Marie and disgusted her. "Tell me. I couldn't help but notice how comfortable you are with Her Majesty," he said. Elsa stiffened. "Are you lovers?"