1/7/25: Started
3/24/25: Completed
3/25/25: minor correction
4/5/25: Addresses Vivian's crime
NONE
Chapter Summery: Honeymaren and Anna enjoy some time on horseback, and has a surprise meeting with Juleka.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Frozen, Tangled or any other Disney characters or locations that appear or are mentioned in this work of fiction, Disney does.
NOTE: a couple reviewers pointed out a detail I had overlooked given the information revealed in this part, addressing Vivian's crime, since she also attacked Anna. So, to fix this oversight, I have included additional content that addresses it, two small scenes, the second much shorter than the first. nothing else of the chapter has changed, so if your just interested in the additional scenes, for the first scene, ctrl+v: 'I have a question', for the second, ctrl+v: 'I'd like to talk to you about'
- Two days later, September 25th, Saturday -
With two more days of living in the castle, Honeymaren was able to more comfortably adjust to the more relaxed life and the conveniences granted to her. Being able to freely leave the castle and visit the town on her own was an activity she enjoyed; there was one particular activity she enjoyed the most, however, visiting the stables and taking care of the horses with their caretaker, who very much enjoyed Honeymaren's eager assistance. Emory, meanwhile, quite comfortable with castle life, opted to become an unofficial servant, mostly joining Elly and helping her with tasks around the castle, who enjoyed the company and an extra set of helping hands.
Happy with their chosen 'jobs', the pair were content with their current living arrangement and the time passed uneventfully towards the coming party.
- Castle Courtyard, Stables, 1:27 P.M. -
"Heh, it's only been a couple of days, but he's already taken a liking to you." commented Anna as she and Honeymaren stood in front of their horses, while Honeymaren chuckled a little as her chosen horse affectionately rubbed his head against her, before she returned it with a stroking of his head and rubbing his neck.
"Yeah, of all the horses, Egil here seemed to immediately like me." replied Honeymaren. "Which I don't mind at all, you big beautiful beast!" she added affectionately to the horse, who whinnied a little in apparent delight, while Anna simply smiled, before looking at her horse.
"Alright, Kjekk, up for a little trip into the forest?"
Seeming to understand her, Kjekk lifted and raised his head, and stepped with his right front foot twice.
"Awesome." replied Anna, as she walked to Kjekk's left, though saw Honeymaren get into a same position and lift her foot into the stirrup. "Hey, need a little help getting up?" asked Anna.
"No, I got it." answered Honeymaren as she held the saddle, secured her left foot in the stirrup and, in one smooth motion, lifted and swung her right leg over to successfully mount the horse. "Heh, big guy is just taller than I'm used to, but I'm good."
"Well, that's good." replied Anna, before mounting her horse. "So, wanna quick refresher on controlling the horse, or do you remember?"
"A refresher wouldn't hurt." answered Honeymaren as she took the reins in her hands. "I'm familiar with using my legs. But these rope- I mean reins-are new to me. So, to steer him, I gently pull the rein out in one direction, while placing the other one against his neck." she added, as she lightly pulled the right rein and smiled when the horse calmly turned around to face the opposite direction, before repeating it with the left rein and returning to her initial position. "Well, that was easy."
"Nice, you're a natural." commented Anna, prompting a small chuckle from Honeymaren. "Well, let's get going." added Anna as she directed her horse towards the open gates, with Honeymaren following to her left.
"I know horses are bigger than reindeer..." stated Honeymaren as the two traveled over the bridge. "But having this higher view is still a surprise."
"Hmm, now that you've brought it up, I've never really ridden a reindeer." commented Anna. "There were one or two brief moments during Elsa's magical winter with Kristoff, but that wasn't a relaxing stroll, so I couldn't appreciate the difference."
"Well, maybe I could invite you to ride a reindeer next time you visit." commented Honeymaren with a smile.
"I'd be up for that."
Once the two entered the town, and greeted those they passed, Anna quickly noticed Honeymaren looked nervous, or uncomfortable.
"Is something wrong?" asked Anna. "You look nervous when you weren't before."
"I-I am." answered Honeymaren with a nervous smile. "Being so high up, it just feels like I'm drawing everyone's eyes to me."
"Ah, yeah, I get that." replied Anna with a chuckle. "I felt the same way when I made my first trip into town on horseback. At least you're not alone though."
"True. We can share in the attention." commented Honeymaren with a smile. "I'm just a little out of my comfort zone. It's still a nice experience though, and I don't have to worry about antlers in front of me."
"Oh yeah, that's something you have to watch out for riding a reindeer, right?"
"Heh, yeah, you learn real quick not to lean too far forward on a reindeer." answered Honeymaren with a chuckle. "One quick turn of their heads and you get a good, hard wack in the head."
"Ouch."
"Yeah, that's definitely an 'ouch'. One that you quickly learn to avoid repeating."
"I'm sure it does." replied Anna.
The two continued through town, greeting those they passed until they reached and passed the town entrance into the forest.
"So, aside from making friends with the horses..." started Anna. "Have you had a better time settling in?"
"Yeah." answered Honeymaren. "I'm not the type to stay inside, like Emory can. I'm much more comfortable being out here riding a horse and admiring the sights, sounds and smells of nature."
"Well, that's good to hear. I prefer outside too."
"Though I really like the heated baths you have." added Honeymaren with delight. "I had a nice warm soak in the tub last night that felt amazing! If anything other than Emory could tempt me to stay here, that would be it."
"Hehe, guess we should switch to cold water baths then, huh?" teased Anna, prompting a chuckle from Honeymaren. "I'm curious though, is there anything you don't like, living here?" she added, which earned her a hesitant glance from Honeymaren. "I won't be mad."
"Well..." started Honeymaren nervously. "It's how everyone is sectioned off in the castle. Everyone has their own rooms is great, but leaving the room you don't see many people. For example, since you've been to our village and entered our homes, once you leave, you're immediately greeted with seeing a bunch of people about."
"Ohh, yeah, I see what you mean." replied Anna, before Honeymaren chuckled and commented...
"Maybe I'm just thinking of it the wrong way, though. I see the castle as an indoor village and when I leave my room, which I see as my 'home', I expect to see a bunch of people, but I don't."
"Yeah, activity within the castle is pretty calm right now." replied Anna. "Especially on the upper floors, it's where the bedrooms are, after all. So, if the castle is a village, the equivalent to walking out of your home and seeing a bunch of people would be the main hall. When we have parties in the castle, the main hall and ballroom can be full of people, eating, talking and dancing.
"Yeah, I do see more people about on the lower floor." stated Honeymaren. "I'm just used to being around people."
"Oh? But you were nervous walking through town a few minutes ago." teased Anna.
"Heh, I like being around people, but not the center of attention." replied Honeymaren with a smirk. "Two very different things." she added, prompting a chuckle from Anna.
"Anyway, how are things going with you and Emory?"
"Good. I haven't told her about Kyle's intention to apologize yet."
"O-Oh, no. Heh, that's not what I meant." stated Anna. "I meant as a couple, how are things between you?" she added, which prompted Honeymaren to look at her with a smirk.
"We're doing fine. What about you and Elsa?"
"What about us?"
"You shouldn't ask a question you're unwilling to answer yourself, yanno." stated Honeymaren.
"I never said I was unwilling." replied Anna with a smile.
"Oh really? Then I have a couple questions I'd like to ask."
"Alright, let's trade. You can go first."
"What's it like being in a relationship with your sister? Do you ever feel weird about kissing, or the other stuff?"
"I never actually felt weird about it." asked Anna.
"Really? Nothing at all?"
"Well, maybe a hint of something, but it wasn't enough to make me second guess it." answered Anna. "My lack of weirdness about the whole thing is likely because of our separation when we were young. I didn't have that separation of sister and girlfriend in my head that 'normal' people have. I'm happy not being normal, though. Elsa and I love each other, we just take it a step further in how we show it to each other. We've already had the talk of if one of us 'comes to our senses' though, we'd break up as a couple, but not as sisters. So far, we're all good."
"Heh, well, that's nice. You don't have any doubts, at least."
"Not about our relationship, nope." replied Anna happily. "There is the heir issue, though."
"Heir?"
"Continuing the family line." stated Anna. "Two girls can't make a baby after all. So, unless we get another brother or sister, we'll be going the magic route."
"Wow, that's something you're thinking about?" asked Honeymaren.
"Of course, we can't let the family line end with us selfishly pursuing an incestuous relationship."
"So how would magic let you have a baby?" asked Honeymaren.
"We asked Pabbie about it- an elder Rock Troll we're friends with; he gave us two options. One is making one of us part guy below the waist."
"Ohh, that's a thing?" asked Honeymaren with a smile.
"Apparently. Elsa wasn't too fond of that idea though. The second one... I think it involved an egg of some kind, I don't quite remember."
"Hehe, an egg? Like a chicken?"
"Heh, maybe, I don't remember."
"So, which of you would have the baby?" asked Honeymaren.
"I wouldn't mind. But the thought of Elsa with a big baby belly is so cute!" answered Anna delightfully, prompting a chuckle from Honeymaren. "What about you? I know you and Emory are still new, but if you had the option, would you have a kid?"
"Hmm, I figured out pretty quick that I like girls, so I accepted the fact that I'd never have a baby, but if the option was there and Emory was for it, absolutely."
"Maybe you could ask her about it." suggested Anna with a smile, which earned her a chuckle from Honeymaren.
"That's not a question you ask this soon in a relationship."
"Heh, yeah, I guess not."
"But, knowing that magic can solve the issue, it's definitely something I'll think about." stated Honeymaren. "Anyway, back on the topic of you and Elsa; What's the weirdest thing you two have done?"
"Hmm, weirdest..." replied Anna, thinking briefly before a memory came to her and chuckled. "I won't go into detail, but there was an incident that involved pee and Elsa got the worst of it."
"Hehe, I'd say that's gross, not weird." giggled Honeymaren.
"Well, I wouldn't consider anything else we've done as weird. We just enjoyed learning about what each other likes."
"Well, what's the most surprising thing you've learned about Elsa that she likes?" asked Honeymaren.
"Hmm, I don't know if I should reveal that."
"It's just the two of us. Come on, I won't tell anyone. How about I go first, as long as you keep what I say to yourself."
"Hmm... alright. You first."
"OK." replied Honeymaren with a big smile. "Emory has a little quirk that I just love! She's super sensitive to affectionate touching, so much so that she can 'pop' from it."
"Seriously!?" gasped Anna with a smile. "She can co- uh, pop, just from touching?"
"Affectionate touching, but yep." answered Honeymaren. "She says it's likely because she's gone so long without it and she'll go back to normal eventually, but I love it, and I'm going to enjoy it for as long as I can."
"What about kissing?"
"Kissing alone? I dunno, I'm always touching her when we kiss. So I don't know if just kissing her will do it. Certainly something to try. Now, what about you and Elsa?"
"Well..." started Anna with a blush rising on her cheeks. "I was surprised how much Elsa loves it in the other hole."
"The other... ohhh!" replied Honeymaren, before gasping in understanding and smiling. "I know some people into that. Not me though, that's a strictly exit-only place."
"Yeah, not a favorite of mine either. Elsa keeps herself extra clean there, though." replied Anna, prompting Honeymaren to raise an eye at the comment, before asking...
"Do you... lick it?"
The question prompted Anna's face to turn bright red and quickly answer...
"N-No! Of course not! That's gross! No matter how clean she is!"
The quick reply prompted Honeymaren to giggle.
"Seriously! I don't lick her butt!" added Anna.
"I didn't say anything."
"Ugh, let's change the subject."
"Alright, I probably should've asked this sooner, but, is there any particular place we're headed, or is it just a walk, then heading back?"
"I didn't have a particular place in mind." answered Anna. "Just figured you'd enjoy a quiet trip into the forest on horseback, seeing the sights."
"Well, I'm definitely enjoying this." replied Honeymaren, before looking to her left and seeing through the trees, the fyord and castle in the distance. "Could we walk closer along the water? Looks like a nice view."
"Sure." answered Anna, before directing her horse off the path towards the shore, with Honeymaren following. "The horses can get some water too while we're there."
The two took only about two minutes before emerging from the trees to reach the shallow shore, giving an impressive view of the fyord and castle.
"Wow..." gasped Honeymaren with a smile, while the two horses walked up to the water and lowered their heads to drink.
"Yeah, quite a sight, huh?" asked Anna. "Especially when the sun makes the water shimmer."
"Yeah. Do you ever go swimming here?"
"I have, not a lot though." answered Anna. "When I practice my magic, I often come here to the shore."
"I see. As long as you're facing the water, you don't risk burning anything or anyone."
"Exactly. It's the perfect spot. Heh, I figured out so many things here. Wonder what else I'll find out I can do."
"What's the most memorable thing you've learned?" asked Honeymaren.
"Most memorable? Hmm, there's so many to choose from."
"Well, 'a' memorable thing?" corrected Honeymaren with a smile.
"An easy one would be learning to make a portal. It just opens up so many options and saves so much time. I can visit you and the others so easily and bring them here with the same ease."
"Heh, I'm also happy we can visit so easily."
"And a few days from now, all my other relatives will visit for the first time." stated Anna happily. "We could show them around together."
"Well, I could share what my experience here has been like."
"Exactly." replied Anna, before looking at her horse, who was idly looking around, and Honeymaren's who was drinking more water. "So, wanna start heading back or keep going for a little while longer?"
"If you don't have anything to do, I wouldn't mind sticking around a bit more."
"Fine with me."
The two then continued their trip, following the shore until it ended and returning to the road. It was around five minutes in that the two heard a voice call to Anna, prompting them to stop their horses and look up to the trees to their right.
"Hey Anna."
The familiar voice quickly brought a smile to Anna's face as she looked in the direction of her friend's voice.
"Juleka?"
The name prompted a gasp from Honeymaren, who asked...
"The fairy!?"
"Yep." answered Anna. "Like I said, we sometimes meet each other when I'm in the forest. Luckily, you're with me."
"Well, it's a good thing I decided to spend a little more time out here!" replied Honeymaren happily, before Juleka asked...
"So whose your friend?"
"She's my cousin, Honeymaren." answered Anna. "Remember when I told you I met family I didn't know I had? She's one of them and she'll be staying with us for a few days." she added, before Honeymaren eagerly added...
"I'd really love to meet you face to face! I won't hurt you."
"Hmm... Anna, is she one of the good humans?" asked Juleka.
"Yeah, she is." answered Anna. "You can trust her."
"Alright then..." replied Juleka, before Honeymaren's eyes widened in delight when she saw the small winged figure of Juleka fly down from the trees and hover between them, to Honeymaren's blushing awe as the nude fairy, adorned in only a bow and a quiver of arrows, greeted her with a wave of the hand and a "Hi, I'm Juleka."
"Y-You're naked- I-I mean, hi!" replied Honeymaren, prompting a chuckle from Juleka. "Heh, you're so small..."
"And cute?" asked Juleka with a smile.
"Hehe, yeah, and cute." added Honeymaren. "Would it be OK if I held you in my hands, or would that be disrespectful in some way?"
"It's not disrespectful at all, as long as you ask." answered Juleka, before Honeymaren offered her cupped hand towards Juleka, who flew on to and sat in Honeymaren's hands, with her back facing her, though briefly looking back with a smile and commenting, "I'm sure you'd like to check out my wings too, huh?"
"I won't say no to the offer." replied Honeymaren as she lifted Juleka up to get a closer look at her wings, and briefly gasped when Juleka extended her wings, while Anna only smiled at the meeting. "You're so light in my hands too." added Honeymaren, prompting a small chuckle from Juleka before she looked at Anna and commented...
"By the way, Anna, I'm not alone this time. There's someone with me whose still hiding in the trees and she'd like to meet you."
"Really? Who is it?"
"Amelia." answered Juleka.
"Amelia..." repeated Anna, briefly averting her gaze in thought, before gasping. "Her!? Really? She actually wants to meet me? Why?"
"Well, I happened to run into her and after some talking, she admitted that she'd like to apologize for what she did."
"Seriously!?" gasped Anna, before smiling and looking up towards the trees where Juleka flew from. "What are you waiting for, Amelia?"
There was a moment of silence before a nervous voice answered...
"I wasn't expecting to do this so soon."
Juleka then called back...
"At least it's not both sisters at the same time; who you'll still need to apologize to."
"Yeah, but now there's another human."
"Ugh, just come say your apology and you can leave." stated Juleka, as she left Honeymaren's hand and flew up into the trees, before Honeymaren and Anna both chuckled lightly when they heard Amelia complain...
"Hey, you don't have to pull me, I can go on my own!"
"Then come on." urged Juleka.
"OK! OK! Just don't force me. Geez, it hasn't even been an hour and you're making me act on what I said."
"The opportunity is here, no sense putting it off."
The two then heard a groan from Amelia, before she emerged from the trees, also nude, but carrying no weapons, although she looked very nervous and wouldn't make eye contact with Anna despite being eye-level with her and about two feet from her. Juleka soon joined her at Amelia's left and urged her with a...
"Well?"
"Don't rush me!" snapped Amelia. "This is embarrassing enough without your 'encouragement'."
"Fine, fine." sighed Juleka, before returning to Honeymaren, who eagerly lifted her hands again to hold Juleka, who silently took the offer and watched Amelia work up the courage; following a deep breath and exhale, Amelia lifted her nervous gaze towards Anna...
"I... would like to apologize for my actions and behavior against you and your sister the day we first met." stated Amelia. "I let my emotions get the better of me and lashed out against you and your sister; who were innocent in the issue I have with Juleka and is a violation of the rules I'm supposed to follow." she added, before briefly averting her gaze nervously. "I-I know I don't deserve it, but I hope you can find some way to forgive me, and if you can't, I ask any revenge you seek is on me, not my village." she finished, while Anna smiled throughout the apology and answered...
"I accept your apology and forgive you."
"R-Really?" asked Amelia, wide-eyed. "That quickly?"
"Yeah. I'm willing to accept and forgive genuine apologies." answered Anna. "Which yours seemed to be."
"It is!" quickly added Amelia with a smile. "I'm so, so sorry for what I did! I tend to really hold a grudge against people who've wronged me and, since you helped Juleka, you and your sister got caught in my anger. After a while, I realized what I had done and worried that you'd find some way to find my home for revenge."
"We wouldn't do that." stated Anna, which seemed to lift a weight from the fairy's shoulders with a relieved sigh.
"Really!?"
"Yeah. We're not that kind of human." answered Anna.
"Told you." stated Juleka, which prompted a little smile from Amelia as she glanced at Juleka, before Anna added...
"It was sad and disappointing you wanted nothing to do with us when you left. Since you've apologized though, would you like to be friends?"
"Friends? After what I did?" asked Amelia.
"Yeah. You've apologized, I accepted and forgave you; we're neutral now. "I'm willing to accept you as a friend."
"Me too!" declared Honeymaren. "If Anna's willing to be your friend, I'd like to be too."
"... Human friends..." muttered Amelia nervously as she lowered her gaze, before Juleka left Honeymaren's hands to join Amelia and draped an arm across her shoulders.
"Go on and accept. What do you have to lose?"
Amelia frowned and pulled Juleka's arm from around her.
"How about we just start with I'm on good terms with you?" suggested Amelia.
"Good enough for me." answered Anna.
"Same here." added Honeymaren, which prompted a smile from Amelia.
"Awesome!" declared Juleka, "Now we can tell Julian and Fia what happened, and your punishment won't be as severe." she added, prompting a groan from Amelia as she turned to face Juleka and asked nervously...
"Can we not? The human forgave me. We don't have to go through all that."
Anna, however, interrupted...
"By the way, encase you've forgotten, my name is Anna."
"Oh, heh, sorry about that, Anna." stated Amelia, before Juleka commented...
"You know the rules; heck, I might even get some punishment for holding off on reporting you."
"Ugh, I know..." groaned Amelia. "It's all been worked out, though."
"Well, that's even more reason to let them know." stated Juleka. "It lets them know that there are friendly and forgiving humans around."
"But what if they don't believe you?" countered Amelia. "And I get banished or something when I'm perfectly fine right now?"
"They wouldn't immediately dismiss it." replied Juleka, before she glanced at Anna and her left brow raised in interest. "But we could improve your odds of a lesser punishment." stated Juleka, before speaking to Anna. "Anna, sorry to ask this while you're out with your relative, but do you have about fifteen or twenty minutes to spare?"
"I do; why?"
"Would you be willing to tell Julian or Fia you're on good terms with Amelia, and wont try to find Stream in revenge?" asked Juleka, prompting a delighted gasp from Anna.
"I get to meet fairy royalty!? Sure!" happily answered Anna, before gasping and looking at Honeymaren. "Is that OK with you? I know we were enjoying quiet walk."
"I'm completely fine with it!" answered Honeymaren delightfully. "I'd love to meet more fairies."
"Awesome!" declared Juleka. "Oh, Honeymaren, don't ask to hold them when you meet them, they would likely consider it very rude."
"OK, thanks for telling me." replied Honeymaren. "Gotta be serious when we meet." she added, before Anna commented...
"I have a question. Going by the short back and forth you two had, crimes are required to be reported, right?"
"Serious ones..." answered Juleka. "Like attacking a human, yeah."
"Does that apply to the people in your village? Like Vivian. Or is there a separation there?" asked Anna, prompting a wide-eye look of surprise from Juleka.
"Oh... heh, right."
Following this, Amelia eyed Juleka suspiciously and asked...
"Did Vivian do something and you're holding out for her and just throwing me to the wolves?"
"Ugh, it's just slipped my mind, ok?" replied Juleka. "Yes, Vivian also attacked Anna and no, I haven't let Julian and Fia know, but I will. It's not right for me to report you and not Vivian, I know that." she added, before she looked at Anna and added, "Since my village is associated with Stream, I'm required to report serious crimes that occur, but I'm in charge of the punishment, which I've already handled. It just slipped my mind to report it."
"Alright." replied Anna, before Amelia commented to Juleka...
"I'll be sure to remind you if you 'conveniently' forget."
"I'm sure you will." stated Juleka. "But I won't."
"Anyway..." commented Anna, looking at Honeymaren. "We should probably head back and return the horses. I can make a portal back here."
"Alright." replied Honeymaren, before Juleka asked...
"Do you remember the spot you and your sister were when we shrunk you?"
"Yeah, why?" asked Anna.
"Wait there and we'll come to you." answered Juleka.
"Alright." replied Anna as she, along with Honeymaren, turned her horse around, although, Honeymaren's horse neighed briefly, prompting Juleka to comment as she flew in front of the horse.
"Wait, he wants me to ask you something." after a couple neighs and nickers, which prompted a repeat from Anna's horse, Juleka smiles and comments, "Alright." before returning to head level with Anna and adds, "Since your returning home, they'd like to race back."
"Oh..." replied Anna. "Uh, this is Honeymaren's first time riding a horse though. I don't know if she can handle a full gallop back."
"A gallop is like a sprint, right?" asked Honeymaren. "I'm familiar with it on a reindeer, but I'm sure a horse is faster than a reindeer."
"Well, how about a canter?" asked Anna, reaching forward and stroking her horse's neck. "It's a step below galloping and if Honeymaren can handle that, we can go to a gallop."
Both horses neighed with a nod of their heads, prompting a chuckle from Juleka as she commented...
"Don't think I need to translate that."
"Can you speak to all animals?" asked Honeymaren.
"Yep." answered Juleka.
"Then would you mind asking my horse, if there was any particular reason he took a liking to me?" asked Honeymaren, before Egil neighs briefly and Juleka answered...
"He said you have a friendly and inviting energy."
"Oh, heh, well, thanks for that, Egil." replied Honeymaren with a smile as she stroked his neck, prompting a happy neigh, before Juleka commented as she returned to Amelia's side...
"By the way, I know you have your own ways of understanding your horses, but if you're curious, the horses can understand you when you talk to them, but you can't understand them."
"I figured as much." commented Anna. "Though it would be pretty neat if we could talk like me and you can."
"Yeah." added Juleka. "But it's impressive that, despite the verbal communication barrier, you seem to communicate just fine."
"Yep, verbal communication isn't the only form of communication." stated Anna. "Well, we'll see you two in about fifteen minutes- Oh, before we go, just so I'm prepared, does the king and queen wear clothes?" asked Anna, prompting a chuckle from Juleka.
"Yeah, they wear clothes."
"Alright. See ya in a little while." replied Anna, giving a wave of the hand, joined by Honeymaren and returned by Juleka and Amelia, before Anna and Honeymaren departed with a trot by the horses.
- Castle Courtyard, 2:27 P.M. -
"Well, that was fun." commented Honeymaren as she and Anna dismounted from their horses.
"You really are a natural at riding." stated Anna, as the two guided the horses into the stables. "You picked up the tips I told you really quick."
"Well, I have ridden reindeer for awhile." replied Honeymaren with a smile. "It may have been my first time riding a horse, but it wasn't my first time riding."
"True." commented Anna, before she and Honeymaren took the time to remove the saddle and bridle from their horses. "Oh, before we head back out, I'm gonna go find Elsa and see if she's free to join us, so Amelia can apologize to her too and meet the fairy king and Queen."
"Alright, I'll stick around here and wait for you."
"OK, be back in a bit." replied Anna as she departed.
Heading to Elsa's room as the first option to find her, Anna didn't need to reach it as opening the door to the hall where Elsa's room was located, she spotted her and Iduna walking down the hall, away from her."
"Hey, Elsa." called Anna as she quickly walked towards the pair, who turned to face her. "Would you be able to spare ten or fifteen minutes?"
"Sure, why?" asked Elsa.
"Well..." replied Anna with a smile. "While Honeymaren and I were having a horseback ride in the forest, we met Juleka and Amelia was with her. You remember her right? She's the fairy that tried attacking us and Izzy's mom protected us."
"Yeah, I remember her." answered Elsa.
"Well, turns out, she had a change of heart and wanted to apologize. I accepted and forgave her." replied Anna, prompting a wide-eyed look of surprise from Elsa.
"Really?"
"Yeah. So Juleka wanted to tell the fairy king and queen about the whole thing and I figured you should join me, so Amelia apologizes to you too, and for you to meet the king and queen too."
"Oh..." replied Elsa with surprise, as well as Iduna. "But why would we be meeting them if Juleka's just reporting what Amelia did?"
"Oh, right, well, as friends of Juleka and her village, we can show the king and queen we're friendly humans and reassure them that we have no intention of seeking revenge for what Amelia did, like trying to find their village and attack it."
"Heh, well that's a definite no." chuckled Elsa.
"Right!? And we get to meet fairy royalty!" added Anna happily, before Iduna commented...
"Fairy royalty, huh? Well, this is an important moment for you two, building a potential bridge between two different kingdoms." the comment prompted a chuckle from the sisters, before Iduna added, "Go on, don't keep the king and queen waiting. Tell me how it went when you get back, and about the attack Anna mentioned."
"Alright." replied Elsa.
"Honeymaren's waiting near the stables." stated Anna. "We'll take a portal to meet them."
- 2:46 P.M., near Juleka's village -
"Oh, by the way, Elsa." commented Anna, as the trio walked through the portal into the forest again. "Juleka said the king and queen wear clothes, so that a distraction avoided."
"Yeah, it is." answered Elsa with a smile.
The three waited for about five minutes, before they heard Juleka call to them.
"Hey, we're back." She announced, as she, Amelia and three other fairies emerged from the forest in front of them.
Two of the three new fairies, a male and female, were clearly guards of some kind, given their attire, which looked almost modern with a quick glance, but with closer examination would reveal that besides the normal leaf clothing, they wore light armor that covered their chest and outer thighs that were made from an insect shells.
The two guards were also armed; the male held a spear while the female had a bow and arrow.
Following slightly behind the two guards was another male fairy. His clothing, which was a sleeveless vest and pants, didn't give off a royal air to him, but given the accompanying protection, it was clear he was someone important, though was unarmed. Interestingly, the assumed King was the only fairy the sisters had seen that looked older than the other fairies. He was still youthful, but was clearly older in appearance in comparison to the others.
"You brought your sister." added Juleka, with some surprise, while Amelia averted her gaze when Elsa looked at her.
"Yeah..." replied Anna. "I figured since Amelia wanted to apologize, may as well see if Elsa was free. Plus, she can't miss meeting the king!"
While Juleka chuckled at the comment, the assumed King smiled, before Juleka commented...
"Well then, allow me to officially introduce..." stated Juleka as she directed her right hand towards the king. "Julian, leader of Stream."
"Hello, sir." greeted Elsa and Anna together as they curtsied, while Honeymaren also repeated the greeting, slightly delayed, before the two introduced themselves...
"I'm Elsa, Queen of Arendelle; it's a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Anna, her sister.
"And I'm Honeymaren. I'm their cousin and just tagging along because I'd like to meet more fairies."
Following the introductions, the King moved from slightly behind the guards to just in front of them, giving a slight bow of his head, before he spoke, with a smile.
"Hello, Elsa, Anna and Honeymaren. I'm Julian, Leader of Stream. It's a pleasure to meet you as well. Juleka has told me about the humans she's managed to befriend. I hope you don't mind my two guests accompanying me."
"Not at all." replied Elsa. "It's completely understandable." she added, before Anna asked...
"Will the Queen be joining us?"
"No." answered Julian. "Because of the potential risks, it's just me."
"Oh, I see." replied Anna. "Well, maybe next time if this goes well."
"Maybe." confirmed Julian, before his smile faded as a more serious look came to his face. "Let's get to why we're here, though." he stated, while Amelia looked very nervous, looking away and wringing her hands. "Juleka has informed me that Amelia assaulted the two of you, but you are willing to forgive her?"
"Yes." answered the sisters.
"That is a surprise to hear." replied Julian. "But before I continue, Amelia, it seems you owe another apology?"
"Yes, sir." replied Amelia nervously as she flew ahead, within about two feet of Elsa's face, before taking a breath and commenting, "I apologize for my actions and behavior against you and your sister the day we first met. I let my emotions get the better of me and lashed out against you and your sister, who were innocent in the personal issues I was having, and is a violation of the rules I'm supposed to follow. If you're able, I hope you can find some way to forgive me, and if you can't, I ask that any revenge you seek is on me, not my village."
"I accept your apology and forgive you." replied Elsa, with a smile. "I have no intention of attacking you or your village."
"Same here!" added Anna, followed by Amelia breathing a sigh of relief, and returning to Juleka's side.
"I greatly appreciate your willingness to forgive Amelia." stated Julian, "As Amelia mentioned, it is a violation of our rules to attack a human unprovoked." before he looked sternly at Amelia, who looked away in shame. "We are very lucky the humans she attacked are forgiving. Now, before I decide your punishment, Amelia, I would like you to recount the actions you took the day you assaulted these two."
Following this comment, Amelia groaned, but didn't complain as she looked down and commented...
"When I spotted them, they were with another person, a demon, who will be important later. I decided to pretend that I was Vivian to lure the two of them away. I didn't know they had already met Vivian though, and Elsa called me out on my lie and, instead of coming clean, I attempted to attack Elsa, but the demon that was with them..." explained Amelia, before pausing and closing her eyes and the sisters felt a little bad that Amelia had to remember her death. "The demon killed me." revealed Amelia, prompting a wide-eyed look on not just Julian's face but the guards and Honeymaren. "Anna though, revived me. She was still willing to have a conversation with me after trying to attack her sister, but I didn't want to, so I left."
Julian then looked at the sisters and asked...
"Is what Amelia said true? She attempted to deceive you and, when it failed, tried attacking you, only to be killed by the person with you, before Anna revived her, tried to talk to her, before she left?"
"Yes." answered the sisters.
"And your forgiveness still stands?" asked Julian.
"Yeah." answered the sisters, before Anna added. "Amelia seems genuinely sorry, and I'd like to be her friend."
"Really?" Asked Julian with surprise. "You're willing to be friends with her after what she did?"
"Yeah, but Amelia said for now she'll just be on good terms with us, which is fine by me."
"Hmm..." hummed Julian, before looking to Amelia. "Amelia, how willing are you to be friends with her?" she asked, prompting a groan from Amelia.
"Friends with a human just seems weird." answered Amelia. "It's why I said I'm ok being on good terms with them."
"Weird, but not against the idea?" asked Julian.
"I guess." sighed Amelia.
"Well, I have a proposal, Juleka..." stated Julian.
"Yes, sir?" asked Juleka.
"Would you be willing to take in Amelia for a couple of months?"
"Sure." answered Juleka, before Amelia complained...
"Wait, so I'm being banished after all!?"
"Not permanently." clarified Julian. "And only because the human's you attacked has forgiven you. You know the severity of the crime you've committed and the punishment you could've faced." he added, prompting Amelia to look away. "Since the fairies in Juleka's village are more accepting of humans, and already in good standing with them, staying with them for a while might change your opinion."
"Wait, so your saying I have to consider them my friends before I'm allowed back!?" asked Amelia.
"Of course not." replied Julian. "But it wouldn't hurt if you did." he added, before Juleka also added...
"It would also give us the chance to clear the air between us."
The remark only prompted a frown from Amelia as she eyed Juleka and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well, it's decided then." stated Julian. "For the time being, your new home will be Naiviv. You'll be allowed to spend the remaining day in Stream and let others know of your temporary relocation tomorrow."
"Alright..." muttered Amelia, clearly unhappy with the decision, but said nothing to challenge it, before Julian looked to the sisters and commented...
"Well then, I thank you both for having the kindness to forgive Amelia."
"You're welcome, Sir." replied Elsa, before Anna added...
"Yeah, it was just one bad experience and Amelia realized her mistake. It can be hard to admit you're wrong sometimes. Maybe this incident could lead us all to becoming friends in the end."
"Heh, that would be nice." chuckled Julian. "I'm not opposed to us being friends, but there are lots of potential risks involved. Juleka has mentioned you two have actually visited her village. That is not something I'm willing to entertain at the moment, despite how nice you're presenting yourselves."
"Understandable." replied Elsa. "Juleka mentioned your home is much bigger, so the potential risks are much bigger."
"Thank you for understanding." replied Julian. "My wife and I occasionally visit Juleka, so it's possible we may meet again and come to understand each other more."
"We'd like that." stated Anna. "And maybe you could visit our home in the future."
"Heh, well, that would be a delight." replied Julian. "Anyway, I should return; I don't want to take up too much more of your time with this unplanned meeting."
"Alright, it was nice meeting you." stated Anna, followed by Elsa and Honeymaren giving their goodbyes, Julian then turned to Juleka and commented...
"I'll stop by Naivav before returning home. I have a couple of things I'd like to talk to you about."
"Alright." replied Juleka, before she felt Amelia jab her in the side, prompting a light chuckle from her before she added, "I have something I'd like to talk to you about as well. I won't be long behind."
"Alright." stated Julian, before he gave a final farewell wave to the three, who returned the gesture as the King, with his guards, departed into the forest, before Juleka looked at Amelia with a smirk and commented...
"I wasn't going to forget."
"Just making sure." stated Amelia, before Honeymaren commented happily...
"Well, that was nice."
"Yeah!" added Anna happily. "Too bad we didn't get to meet the Queen though, but it makes sense." she continued, before Amelia flew up towards the sisters and did a little bow.
"Thank you for forgiving me in front of Julian. Again, I'm so sorry for the way I treated you two." stated Amelia, prompting a chuckle from the sisters, before Elsa replied...
"We already forgave you, you don't need to apologize again."
This brought a smile to Amelia's face, before Anna commented...
"Anyway, it's great to see you and Juleka be so friendly."
However, the comment prompts a scoff from Amelia as she crossed her arms with a frown.
"Friendly? We're not friends, I just tolerate her."
"Heh, well, you are pretty chummy with the person you tried to murder." commented Anna, which Amelia said nothing in reply, but looked regretful. "What exactly did Juleka do for you to want to kill her?" asked Anna, which prompted a groan from Amelia, before she answered...
"At the time, I was under the impression that she had seduced my girlfriend."
"But she didn't?" asked Anna.
"Nope." stated Juleka, flying up to Amelia and draping her arm across her shoulders, which prompted a groan from Amelia. "She came to me. I tried telling that to Amelia, but she wouldn't believe me." she added, before Amelia pulled her arm from around her and spoke to her in aggravation.
"Can you blame me? It's known to everyone you can't keep your legs closed; and you just LET it happen!"
"Yeah, I admit I was wrong there." replied Juleka. "Not just to you, but to Vivian too. I could've stopped her but I didn't. To be fair, I didn't know you two were a thing. How many times do you want me to say I'm sorry?" she added, prompting Amelia to sigh heavily, and turn away from Juleka.
"Ugh, forget it. It's that unfaithful bitches fault anyway. It's one thing to be easy, it's another to actively seek out other people to fuck when you have a girlfriend."
Although Anna had asked for the reason, the brief back and forth between Amelia and Juleka made her slightly uncomfortable, before Honeymaren asked...
"So, you tried killing her. Have you apologized for that?"
"Yeah, I did." answered Amelia, "Once my cheater, now ex-girlfriend admitted what she did." she added, before her frown softened as she looked down. "It was after I attacked the sisters, she found out about Juleka's illness and recovery, then I felt horrible, plus the whole dying thing... it really made me think about some stuff, like why was murder the first thing I turn to?" she explained, before sighing, and turning to face Juleka. "It's gonna take me a while to let go of what happened, but I don't want to hate you; especially since you didn't know she was my girlfriend. I'm sorry for trying to kill you."
"Apology accepted and forgiven!" replied Juleka, as she offered her hand, which Amelia rolled her eyes at with a smile and took Juleka's hand and shook in agreement, prompting smiles from Anna, Elsa and Honeymaren.
"Anyway..." commented Amelia. "I'm gonna go back home and gather some stuff to take with me before I move into your place." she added, before giving a wave goodbye to the others.
"It was nice meeting you on better terms." stated Anna.
"Same here." added Elsa.
"I'm just happy I got to meet you!" finished Honeymaren, which prompted a chuckle from Amelia, before she departed into the forest.
"Well, I should be leaving too." stated Juleka. "Thanks for taking the time to meet Julian and doing what you did."
"You're welcome." replied the sisters.
"See ya next time." stated Juleka as she waved goodbye as she departed into the forest. However, just before the trio turned to leave as well, Juleka quickly returned. "Oh, I nearly forgot! There was something I wanted to talk to Anna about. It'll be really quick, I promise."
"Alright." replied Anna. "What is it?"
"I talked it over with the others and I decided to agree to your previous offer of giving us a bird house; Just one, and small." answered Juleka.
"Ohh, really!?" asked Anna delightfully.
"Yeah. So next time you decide to visit, you can bring a bird house." answered Juleka.
"I can bring you one now!" suggested Anna eagerly.
"Heh, thanks, but that's ok." replied Juleka. "I've taken up enough of your time. Just bring one the next time you come visit."
"Or, if we happen to meet each other again?" asked Anna.
"Sure, which ever comes first." answered Juleka. "And remember, nothing fancy, just a simple, basic bird house."
"Alright." replied Anna, before Juleka gave another farewell wave of the hand as she departed.
"Well, that was fun." commented Honeymaren happily. "I would've been happy just meeting a single fairy, but I got to meet multiple."
"We got to meet the king too, lucky us." added Anna.
To be continued...