Note:
Wow – Just kidding! My habit of making very long chapters just means I can dissect them and upload them faster. As such, I will be uploading the next few chapters now, just to get a head start on the story's progression. Sixteen may be up before July at this rate, but as usual, no promises.
PS: If you follow me on both AO3 and Fanfic - I was trying to post on here yesterday, but Fanfic's server was being mean to me.
Disclaimer:
Frozen is not something I own (I wish though).
Chapter Fourteen: Hiding Places
It has officially been two weeks since Princess Tina woke up from her coma. She was currently sitting in the infirmary at Arendelle castle, being examined by Dr. Halvorson for [hopefully] the last time. To her knowledge, she believed that the check-up was going relatively well. The doctor had asked her to pace the room so he could observe her as she walked. He wrote some things down in a ledger but he looked too neutral for her to feel concerned or elated about her progress. Dr. Halvorson was now using some sort of rubber-tipped device to tap her knee and her ankle, just to test the injured leg's reflexes. Again, the doctor wrote some things down in a ledger without another word. She hoped that she would be cleared – not because she was itching to go to Vennesvurg, but because she would prefer to stress less about one thing in her life.
Especially right now.
Tina shuddered at the thought. It had been two and a half days since her evening with Elsa and they had not been...on the best of terms. She and the blonde would see one another at meals but exchange the bare minimum of words. Tina had tried to talk to her after their kiss, but the blonde had rushed the brunette back to her guest room with promises of speaking in the morning.
That had obviously never happened.
Princess Tina knew that most of this issue had to have been her fault. While some of it could be placed on the older woman, she knew that if she hadn't thrown herself out there as much as she did, Elsa probably wouldn't have kissed her. Well – perhaps she would have anyway, but that didn't matter now. If Tina was going to be medically cleared to travel, she needed to talk to the ice wielder and make amends. It wasn't as if Tina regretted the kiss – oh no – the guilt was that it happened while both of them knew that nothing could ever be done about it.
"Well," Dr. Halvorson said with a wide smile, "I think that your ankle has healed up quite nicely, Princess." he walked over to his doctor's bag and began tidying up his tools while addressing the queen. "She should keep up with the minimal activity for at least another week. After that, she should be as good as new."
Anna reached out and gave the man a hug. "Thank you so much for your services, Dr. Halvorson." he was about to reply with his standard response, but Anna stopped him before he could. "I know it is your job, but that doesn't remove the immense amount of gratitude that the royal houses of Arendelle, Botarskal and Vennesvurg all have for your work."
The doctor laughed and shrugged in defeat. "Alright, alright – I'll accept the praises from the royal houses of three kingdoms if Your Majesty insists."
"Oh, I do insist." Anna told him, "And along with the billing for your work, I will send your family a very nice gift. I know your wife enjoys those cheeses from France that I got for her, last Christmas." the doctor laughed and shook his head and decided against denying the queen again.
"Very well, Your Majesty." Halvorson then turned to face the Princess one last time. "I meant what I said about keeping your physical activities to a minimum, Your Highness." he warned, "Just for one week more, I swear it. After seven more days, you should be as good as new again."
The brunette smiled gratefully at the doctor and held up one of her hands, as if swearing herself into something. "I promise I will refrain from any strenuous physical activity for the next seven days."
The doctor said some more parting words before finally taking his leave. Once he was gone, it was just Honeymaren, Anna, Ingrid and Tina left in the room. Tina began to gather herself, to leave the infirmary, when she noticed that Anna and Honeymaren wore suspicious looks on their faces. Tina knew that the last time the four of them were in a room together, both women clocked into her feelings for Elsa. Alas, Tina took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.
"I feel as though you both have a question for me." Tina said, turning to face the other three women in the room. The Princess then watched as Ingrid went to the door and locked it. Tina just shook her head. "What did they bribe you with this time, Ingrid?"
The handmaiden just looked at Tina with soft eyes. "Nothing this time – just worried about you, Tee."
"We all are," started Honeymaren, "we've noticed that you have been much quieter during the last few days."
"You and a particular sister of mine." Anna noted, causing the younger royal to swallow the lump in her throat. The redhead approached the brunette and offered her a sincere look. "Did something happen, when you and Elsa went out to the poetry reading?"
"W-What?" Tina asked, pretending to be shocked, "What e-e-ever would make you ask s-such a question?! I-I-I had a wonderful time – Elsa had a wonderful time! Wonderful times for everyone, that night!" she continued to laugh nervously while the other women in the room remained unconvinced by her performance.
"Your response is not helping, Tee." Ingrid deadpanned, looking at her fingernails nonchalantly. "Either tell us the truth, or I will call Arnie in here to give you the third degree." Tina sighed – she couldn't lie around Arnold.
"Fine..." Tina said, sitting back down on the bed. She decided to tell them some half truths as opposed to the whole truth – while they were all very accepting of her liking another woman, she was unsure about how Elsa would feel about them knowing that the blonde kissed her first. "...We did have a wonderful time...and...let's just say that Elsa had made it very clear that her and I were on the...well...on the same page." Tina brushed some of her hair to the side, nervously. "Feelings wise, that is."
"Excuse me?! Elsa?!" Anna asked, incredulously. "My sister? Elsa? The woman who – quite literally – runs from feelings?" Tina winced at each of Anna's syllables as the queen raised her voice.
"Yep," Tina answered, sheepishly, "t-that's the one..."
"Elsa told you she mirrored your feelings?" Honeymaren interrogated, keeping her eyes locked on the Princess' reactions.
Tina swallowed again. "Not in so many words," the brunette sort of admitted, "but yes – s-she made herself quite clear." Tina then explained that she feared Elsa sort of regretted telling her about her feelings and had been distancing herself from her since that night. At least that portion of the princess' storytelling was true.
"Huh," Honeymaren said, after hearing the brunette's explanation for her uncharacteristic behaviour, "that's definitely unexpected."
"Yeah..." Anna said with heavy suspicion, "...very unexpected." While Anna mostly believed Tina's explanation, she still had an inkling that Tina was not telling her everything. One thing that the queen new for sure, however, was that she needed to consult two more people about this.
Oh well, Anna thought to herself, at least I know who to question next...
...
"H-Hey, Hey, Hey!" Kristoff said, as he was backed into a wall in the royal stables, "Watch where you point that thing!" Anna's investigation had led her to her husband, who was cleaning Sven's 'room' in the stables. At this point in time, Kristoff was being held hostage by the Nattura siblings as ordered by his wife. Honeymaren was grasping onto his shoulder while Ryder was holding a pitchfork up to Kristoff's chest and accidentally poked him a little too hard.
"Sorry!" Ryder said, with a nervous laugh, "Heh. I'm not used to holding this thing, I guess."
"Answer us now," Honeymaren threatened, "so we can leave you alone!" the woman held onto the ice harvester a little tighter than earlier.
"Ow!" Kristoff said, reacting to Honeymaren's tightening grip, "I-I already told you! I c-c-can't tell you! Ow!" the ice harvester narrowed his eyes at Ryder.
"Sorry –!" Ryder apologized quickly, "I know I stepped too close there. My bad." the reindeer herder backed a way a bit and lowered the pitchfork while aiming it away from Kristoff. Honeymaren groaned and rolled her eyes at her brother's clumsiness. All while this was going on, Anna stood at the front of the stables with her arms crossed over her chest. She was getting more and more impatient with her husband and was determined to get the truth out of him.
"Come on Kristoff," Anna said, "I just want to know what you told Elsa and what she told you!"
"Anna, I want to, but I can't go against Elsa's wishes!" he explained for the umpteenth time, "Please just let me go! I promise I'll put the kids to bed for the rest of the year!"
The redheaded queen just shook her head. She would have loved to take the deal, but Elsa's well-being was infinitely more important right now. "No can do, babe. Just tell me what you told Elsa, and you don't even have to tell me what she said."
Kristoff thought about it for a second. He technically never promised the ice wielder that he would keep what he said in confidence...but on the other hand, the advice he gave her would most certainly give away their entire conversation. "Why must you do this to me?!" Kristoff pleaded with his wife, "Why can't you just leave me and your sister's conversation alone?!"
"Because she hasn't spoken to anyone for more than three seconds since she went out with Tina, and I want more information on what went down that day!" Anna told him, nearly exasperated.
Kristoff sighed. He decided that he would tell her what he told Elsa and nothing more. "Fine – I'll tell you what I told Elsa and the rest you have to figure out for yourself." Anna then nodded and signalled for the Nattura siblings to release her husband. Honeymaren removed her hand from Kristoff's shoulder while Ryder accidentally whacked Kristoff in the ribs with the duller end of the pitchfork.
"Sorry!"
"I-It's f-f-fine..." the ice harvester said, doubling over in a mix of pain and shock. Once Kristoff regained his composure, he went to sit on a nearby hay bale and took a calming breath. He hoped that Elsa would forgive him and that he wouldn't piss off his wife anymore than he already had. "Okay, here it is." he prefaced, "I cannot tell you exactly what she told me, but I can – technically – tell you what I told to her. She asked for some advice and I told her that she should just 'go for it'."
"Go for it?" Ryder asked, mildly confused, "About what?"
At this point, Anna and Honeymaren gasped. The queen didn't necessarily believe Tina fully, earlier, but after hearing the advice that her husband had given her sister, she figured that the princess was being one hundred percent truthful.
"I-I don't believe it..." Honeymaren began, still in shock, "I can't believe Elsa actually confessed her feelings to her..."
"Oh – amazing!" Kristoff said excitedly. However, his excitement was cut short when both Anna and Honeymaren slapped him on both of his shoulders. "Ow! Hey! What was that for?!"
"It's not amazing!" Anna informed him, louder than she originally intended, "She just made things super complicated for Princess Tina!"
Kristoff was immensely confused. "How does Elsa telling Ingrid about her feelings for her complicate things for Tina?"
"What?!" Ryder asked, being privy to all of this information for the very first time.
"Nooo!" Honeymaren cried, pulling at her braid stress-fully.
"Kristoff –!" Anna began to clarify, "Elsa doesn't have a crush on Ingrid – she has a crush on Tina!"
"WHAT?!" Ryder questioned again, losing his balance and falling onto another hay bale. Ignoring Ryder's reactions, the other three adults just stared at one another. The blonde man was about to retort when he thought back to what made him think that Elsa was talking about Ingrid. He analyzed the entire conversation and ended up remembering the single phrase that led him to believe what he believed:
...she has to go to Sweden...
"Oh." Kristoff said out loud. He realized that his surety about Ingrid was – in fact – not a surety at all. He blushed, feeling very embarrassed all of a sudden. He began to scratch the back of his neck, bashfully, and gave his wife an apologetic smile. "I-uh-I guess I should have...um...asked more clarifying questions..."
Honeymaren and Anna just shook their heads.
"Men..." the queen sighed, putting her face in her hands.
"Men." Honeymaren agreed, exasperatedly.
...
That night, after dinner, Elsa was tasked with putting the children to bed. Or rather, Nolan and Stella begged her to tuck them in. After all, who was Elsa to refuse such a request from the prince and princess of Arendelle? After tucking Nolan into bed, Elsa carefully held onto her niece as they walked down the hall towards the little princess' bedroom. Once they made it to the princess' room, Elsa set the little girl on her feet and went to close the door behind them. Unexpectedly, Stella walked up to her aunt and tugged at the edge of her snowy dress.
"I'm just closing the door, sweetie." Elsa stated. After turning to face the princess, Elsa frowned. The little blonde girl looked distraught and her eyes were watery. Elsa immediately scooped the little girl into her arms and walked her over to the bed. "Oh, hun – are you okay?" Elsa asked, as she laid the princess down on her bed, "Would you like me to get your mother? Or your father?" the little girl just shook her head. "Do you want Gerda to bring you some warm milk?"
Again, the princess just shook her head. "No thank you, auntie..." Stella said quietly, "...I think I'm just sad."
"Oh," Elsa said, laying down next to her niece, "well it's quite okay to feel sad sometimes." the older blonde said, trying to validate the little girl's experiences. "Everyone feels sad every now and then and it's completely normal. May I ask why you're sad?"
The tiny princess just looked at her with the most sorrowful brown eyes Elsa had ever seen. "Mommy said that Princess Tina, and her friends, have to leave soon," Stella sobbed, "I-I don't want them to leave...I like having them here."
"Oh dear..." Elsa said, also feeling a tugging feeling at the thought of Tina leaving so soon, "...that is a sad thought."
"You're mommy's big sister, right?" Stella suddenly asked with a hopeful expression. The former queen just nodded, not at all sure of where this conversation was going to go. "Then can you tell her to order them to stay?"
"Uh –!" Elsa had no idea what the correct response should be.
"Pretty please?!" Stella begged, "I promise to eat all of my vegetables for the rest of my life!"
"Baby girl, I would love to do that," Elsa said softly, as she tugged the little girl close, "but I can't. While I am a big sister, your mother is the queen – she can make her own decisions."
"But-But you're older –!" Stella reasoned, "Shouldn't you be in charge?"
Elsa was struggling. She didn't know how to explain hierarchical succession and all the rules associated with 'stepping down' with a three-year-old. However, she knew that Stella would just keep bothering her about this and decided to divulge into the easier portion. "W-W-Well, you see – it's a little more complicated than that, sweetie." Elsa began to explain, "I needed to be in the enchanted forest – protecting the magic that's there. Your mother needed to be queen, because she doesn't have magic. So – technically – she is the queen and is in charge of stuff here." Stella sighed, accepting defeat and slumping into her pillows.
"I don't want them to go." the tiny princess pouted. "I want them to stay and play forever."
"I know, Stells," Elsa told her niece, "but...Tina has to leave a-and become the Queen of Vennesvurg." the older blonde said as she tried to mask her own discontentment from the princess while she spoke, "You do want Tina to become a queen, right?"
Stella thought about it for a little. "Like mommy is?"
"Exactly."
"Hmm..." Stella pondered, carefully, "...if she becomes a queen, does that mean she can visit me more?!" the princess asked excitedly. While Elsa knew the answer would be a resounding 'no'(because all consorts to the king or queen of any kingdom had significant duties to uphold), she figured there would be no harm in a tiny little fib to get her niece to sleep faster.
"M-Maybe?" Elsa said as truthfully as she could. The good news was that Stella was too excited about the possibility of seeing Tina sometime – in the near future – to really care about Elsa's current expressions. The little girl began jumping up and down on her bed – absolutely elated that there was some good coming out of this situation after all. Elsa just wished that she could indulge in the same bright side mentality that the little girl was.
...
After Stella's immense boost of energy (that Elsa didn't think would last as long as it did), the ice wielder finally got the little princess down for bed. After tucking her in for bed, Elsa managed to slink away and sneak back to her room. She walked down the hallways of Arendelle castle, just marvelling at the decor that she had grown to memorize, over all the years she had spent here. While she loved being in the forest, Arendelle was her first home. It was where she grew up and where all of her loved ones lived. As she stood just outside of her childhood bedroom, the blonde yawned and shook her head. As much as she would love to walk aimlessly around the halls, like she normally did when restless, she had to admit that she was tired. After the events of the last few days, all Elsa wanted to do was sleep.
Ever since she...hung out with Tina, a few days prior, things have not been the same. Elsa was well aware of what she and Tina had done, on the eve of the poetry reading. It was most certainly the blonde woman's fault. While she could stand around and blame Tina for looking at her like that, and for saying all the right things, Elsa knew better. She didn't have to adhere to Kristoff's advice – she didn't have to do anything. All she had to do was not kiss Tina. As usual, Elsa's subconscious did not agree with what she should have done. Instead, her mind was preoccupied with just how beautiful and caring the other woman was.
No, Elsa chastised herself, no more thinking like that! No more thoughts about Tina being perfect.
Ugh – not perfect! Not perfect! Damn you, brain!
Elsa took a deep breath to calm herself. This had been her internal monologue for the last two and a half days. She had been trying to steel herself and will herself not to lose anymore control over the situation. She eventually convinced herself that if she acted as if it wasn't a big deal, then the situation would plateau and it would eventually not be a big deal.
Yeah – that's totally how that works.
Sighing, Elsa twisted the doorknob to her room and let herself in. She debated taking a nice warm bath to calm her nerves about –!
"Good evening, sister dearest."
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Elsa screeched as she shot an ice blast at the ground in front of her. She whirled around to see Anna, laying down on her bed. The redhead looked un-phased as she watched her older sister try to calm herself down. Placing a hand over her racing heart, Elsa's other hand reached for the wall to steady herself. "A-Anna!" the blonde huffed out, "A-Are Y-Y-You trying to k-kill me?!"
"No," the redhead said honestly, "but let's see what you end up telling me tonight." narrowing her eyes at the blonde, Anna sat up on the bed and beckoned her sister forward. "Come Elsa – sit here with me." Anna patted the spot on the bed, beside her, and waited patiently for the blonde to join her. Elsa was notably hesitant, but she inched her way over to the bed to meet her sister. After she sat down on the edge of the bed, next to Anna, Elsa waited patiently for the redhead to say something.
"So..." Anna began in a very low and menacing tone, "...care to tell me what happened to have you so skittish, the last few days?"
"Skittish?" the blonde asked, "W-What do you mean?"
"Come on, Elsa," Anna groaned, "don't lie to me. You're acting strange and it's been going on since the day after you hung out with Tina."
Elsa scratched the back of her neck and avoided all possible eye contact with her sister. "Anna – I'm really tired and I just want to get to sleep –!"
"You can sleep after you tell me what's going on." Anna promised. She then scooted down the bed to be closer to her older sister. "Elsa – please. You promised me – so many freaking times – that we wouldn't have any more secrets between us!" the redhead then pointed an accusatory finger right into the older woman's chest repeatedly. "You. Promised. Me. No. More. Secrets!" every word was emphasized with a poke and Elsa winched each time. "I don't like finding stuff out after you've already backed yourself into a mental corner because then you start acting weird and closing yourself off!"
"I-I know – I'm sorry." the blonde apologized. She knew that she should have told Anna everything from the very beginning. "I should have come to you with my issue before. I-I'm sorry I closed myself off from you again – I promise I didn't mean for it to happen." Elsa then swatted Anna's hand away from poking her and pulled her younger sister in for a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Anna. I really am."
As frustrated as the queen was with her older sister, she knew that she couldn't stay mad. Anna just returned the hug and held her sister close. "Please just talk to me more from now on, okay?" Anna pulled back from the hug to look into her sister's eyes, "I don't care how busy I am. Just talk to me and I'll make time."
"Okay." the blonde sighed. She and Anna just continued to hold one another in silence, before the redhead eventually spoke up.
"So..." Anna began slowly, "...can you tell me what happened?" Elsa tried to get her feelings under control but she knew that Anna would be able to see through any lie she could throw her way. Elsa's shoulders sagged and she figured that she would just have to come clean.
"Promise you won't freak out?" the ice wielder questioned.
Anna nodded dutifully. "I promise."
"Okay." Elsa straightened her posture and let out a deep exhale. "I like T-Tina." she admitted, closing her eyes. When Anna didn't say anything, Elsa took another deep breath and said, "A-And I kissed her that night – after the poetry reading."
"YOU WH –!" Anna stopped her freak-out, remembering her promise. The queen's eye twitched as she spoke through gritted teeth. "I-I m-mean...ohhh...is-is that it? Is t-t-that all?" the redhead began to sit on her hands and rock back and forth, trying not to overreact – and failing at it.
Elsa rolled her eyes. "I know you promised not to freak out, but watching you try to contain it feels worse somehow."
After a deep breath, Anna used her exhale to scream at her sister. "ELSA!" she cried, "ELSA HOW – WHY – ELSA! She has to get married!"
"I know." the blonde said.
"Y-You're both girls!"
The ice wielder rolled her eyes. "I know."
The queen was still shaking her head, in complete shock. She thought that Elsa just admitted feelings for Tina – she didn't know that her older sister flat out kissed the other girl! "Elsa – there was – you can't – there was no way anything could have happened between the both of you!"
"I KNOW, ANNA!" Elsa exclaimed, too loudly. Suddenly overcome with sadness at the thought, Elsa visibly shrunk and sank down onto the bed. "I know...I know I made a mistake."
Anna simply observed her sister's current state. The blonde looked restless and absolutely distraught. The redhead didn't think that she'd ever find Elsa in this sort of situation, but here she was – in this kind of situation. Naturally, Anna didn't think that Elsa would fall for a woman – let alone an engaged to be married woman – but there's nothing that anyone can do. Anna knew that in a perfect world, Tina and Elsa could try and discover what they felt for one another in time, but this couldn't be possible in their current circumstances. Anna just sighed and laid down next to her sister.
"I'm not cross that you like a girl, you know that right?" Anna said, running her hand through Elsa's hair. "I'm more angry at the fact that you've gone and made things infinitely more complicated when there's nothing we can do about her arranged marriage." the queen admitted. She ignored Elsa's pained expression in favour of continuing her spiel. "You're the older one out of the two of you, Elsa – you needed to be responsible."
"I know." Elsa cried, covering her face with her hands, "I-I wasn't thinking properly."
"It's okay." Anna said, "If I've learned anything from love, it's that even when it's not supposed to happen, it's all encompassing." she halted her hand's ministrations and began to poke Elsa's shoulder. "You should have come to me for advice. Even after only two boyfriends, I'm pretty much considered a love expert."
At this, Elsa sat up and looked at her sister. "Who called you a love expert?"
"Me – right now." Anna stated with a sly smile. "I am a love expert." the queen then poked Elsa in the chest again. "And this love expert wants you to do the right thing and talk to Tina properly before she leaves. I know you'll be sore about losing a romance with her, but you'll be even more sore if you lose her has a friend."
Elsa sighed. "You're right, Anna. Thank you." she then pulled her younger sister into a tight embrace.
"Also, the next time you find a girl to crush on, please come to me before you talk to Kristoff." Anna insisted. She noticed Elsa's bewildered expression and laughed a little. "Yeah, he caved – but only because I forced it out of him." Anna then laughed again. Before the ice wielder could ask, Anna decided to share the funniest part of this whole ordeal. "He thought you had a crush on Ingrid." Elsa was flabbergasted for a second but then she remembered that this was completely in character for her brother in law. The blonde just shook her head.
"He really should have asked more clarifying questions."