Rifiuto: Not Mirena

A/N: This is very much history wrapped within a fairy tale and coated in a dusting of alternate reality. - Licia

Tercentenary Year, 1838

70 Years Before,

Linnea Castle,

Country of Arendelle

The glittering jewels and fine silks danced and shimmered in the candlelight of the chandeliers overhead, as the ruling Monarchs of Arendelle sat watching their guests dance about the ballroom. The music swelled, and laughter reached their ears as their youngest daughter came dashing up the steps of the dais towards them. The beautiful silk of her court dress shifted and sang as she moved; the simple tiara winking in the candlelight. "Papa, she disappeared again!"

The king groaned softly, glancing at his wife, even as she took his hand to squeeze gently in reassurance. "And here I always believed it would be our Annaliese who would go disappearing during a ball."

"Come now, Agnarr, you know our Anna could never resist dancing." The queen smiled at her younger daughter, reaching out a hand to the girl, who took it eagerly, going to her mother's side. "It's always been our Lise who resisted dancing." She turned to the girl, reaching up to take her chin. "Where did that darling sister of yours vanish too now, Annalei?" The queen's voice was soft yet stern as she coaxed information from her child. The girl swallowed, glancing towards the dancers.

She had seen her sister vanish through the doors towards the balcony earlier, the diamonds adorning her hair winking as she had fled, as though pleading silently with her to keep her secret. She turned her gaze back to her mother. "The balcony, Mama."

Iduna turned her gaze to her husband. "The balcony. Now, that is not so bad, is it? It's better than her spending the entire night locked in the library-"

"- which is where she will most likely end up by night's end." Her husband grumbled; he loved his daughters, but his beloved oldest proved to be a bigger handful than her energetic younger sister. Temperamental and prone to speaking her mind- especially in this age when women should be seen and not heard unless spoken to- the oldest of the Arendelle daughters was proving to be difficult to pin down; she was at the age of betrothal, but had turned away every suitor brought forth, insisting that she would marry no man, and making the case that, as the Crown Princess, she still had many years before she would have to take the throne from her parents- something neither her father nor mother could dispute.

Their beloved Annaliese, though younger by two years, still had time before they needed to worry about finding a suitable match. Besides, it was more likely that she would end up marrying a prince of a distant land and becoming queen than ever feeling the crown of Arendelle rest upon her head. She would not face the strains of keeping her people safe and alive, as her sister would, nor would she ever bear the pressure of birthing an heir to the throne; yes, of the two, Annaliese's life was drastically freer than her sister's.

"Leave her, Agnarr. She has gotten so few moments to herself in this last weeks, she deserves some peace and quiet, even if only for a few precious moments." The queen gently pecked her youngest on the cheek. "Now go dance with your younger daughter, Agnarr; when Lise returns, I will make sure she takes at least one turn about the dance floor with you."

She chuckled as her husband grumbled softly but did as his wife ordered, leading her daughter down the steps of the dais into the center of the ballroom floor.

The breeze was warm against her skin, as she leaned against the balcony, gaze locked on the stars overhead. These last several weeks had been a whirlwind of endless tours, teas, bazaars, and grand, extravagant parties, such as the one taking place now. She got barely a moment to herself in the last weeks, surrounded constantly by people- other members of the royal court, visiting dignitaries from other, distant lands, those within the royal household who were at the royal family's every beck and call- all focused on celebrating the three hundredth anniversary of her family's rule.

She also knew the significance of her constantly being by her parents' side; as the Crown Princess, she was next in line to take the throne. It would be up to her to hold onto the traditions of the Arendellian court, to marry and produce an heir that would follow in her stead, and keep the line of Bekkerdahl alive after she herself was gone.

A moment passed, as she flexed her fingers, gaze turning down to watch the snowflake that appeared within her palm. It had been years since the people had been informed of her powers, and it had taken just as long for her to get control over them. Of course, there were those who feared her, who declared her a witch, a practitioner of dark magic, but the majority of her people accepted her as she was- for they had watched her grow, and she very much had the title of the People's Princess- even though the moniker much more fit the likes of her little sister than her, but the sentiment was there.

The Crown Princess had the hearts of her people; something she would need to keep hold of when she became queen, for if they turned on her-

It could be the end of the dynasty, the country could fall into chaos. She shivered, casting the thought aside. She was still too young to think about such horrid things as chaos and toppled dynasties. With a sigh, she banished the snowflake, turning her attention back to the stars overhead.

"Have you always been able to do that?"

A soft gasp escaped her, her head snapping to the side at the voice, only to find a pair of eyes watching her from the darkness of the shadows. She stumbled back, the silk of her gown whispering softly as she moved; she stumbled, her back hitting the edge of the balcony as she stepped back, the back of her heeled satin slipper colliding with the stone. "Who are you?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I... I didn't realize anyone else was out here." Her hand came up to rest against her heart as her breathing slowed; so lost in her own thoughts when she'd come out to the balcony, that she hadn't noticed that it was already occupied. A moment passed, before the owner of the second voice stepped out of the shadows into a light coming from the ballroom.

He was no older than her- perhaps a year at best, two at worst- with hair the color of the flames that danced in the fireplace within the library, and eyes that appeared to be cut from emeralds. In a white waistcoat with dark blue cravat at his throat and a pair of crisp black trousers and shoes, he cut quite the dashing figure in the light from the ballroom. She found herself drawn to his eyes again, unable to find her voice. A moment passed as he seemed to drink her in, before recognition dawned- at the same moment his gaze shot to the glittering tiara within her platinum curls. "Princess Elisabeth, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you right away." He bowed, hearing her soft exhale, it was tinted with a hint of sadness.

"Please, there's no need for that-"

"Johannes, of the Southern Isles, Prinsesse."

She felt herself smiling at his introduction, though she couldn't name why. He's dressed as though he were of royalty. And then something clicked in her head. The Southern Isles. The King and Queen have thirteen sons, and sent the three youngest as representatives- As the next in line for the throne, it was imperative that she know of the lands and kingdoms that surrounded Arendelle, for they were her neighbors- possible trade partners, and allies. "Oh!" She quickly gathered her skirt, dipping into a curtsy. "Forgive me for not realizing who you were, Prince Johannes. It has been such a long day that I forgot you had come with your brothers on behalf of your parents."

Their gazes locked as they both returned to standing, and after a moment, he smiled at her. "It's no worry, Prinsesse Elisabeth. As the thirteenth son of the Isles, I was not exactly expecting to be remembered or even acknowledged." His smile was warm, as she realized he was trying to put her worries at ease- and she returned it. Silence settled between them for a moment, before he asked, "Forgive me Prinsesse, but... why are you not inside enjoying the music and dancing?"

She had returned her attention to the stars overhead, and now her gaze snapped to his, sapphire eyes locking with his emerald ones. "I could ask you the same, Prince Johannes."