Chapter 76 - Kristoff at the Royal Navy base
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Rating: M over all
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Eriksen and Kristoff talked for more than an hour as they looked around the fortress inside. Kristoff was also taken to the very top of the roof, where he had a good view of the whole area. Kristoff had never been to the naval base before and was quite impressed by everything here. Eriksen promised to take him round the small peninsula later and show him everything, including the shipyard. However, there was one exception, as Eriksen said, because Kristoff was not allowed to enter the prison camp. But that didn't bother him, as he wasn't interested in seeing Arendelle's criminals.
A little later, they returned downstairs and into the admiral's large office. Kristoff couldn't help but take a look around. The walls were piled high with books on nautical science, shipbuilding and reports on other countries and kingdoms. Many pictures about the sea, ships and foreign islands hung on the walls and, of course, certificates of the admiral’s achievements, including a captain's licence. All bearing the seal of the royal house of Arendelle and even signed by King Agnarr, as Kristoff noted.
“So, what is the reason for your presence on the base?” asked Eriksen, watching him from his armchair.
Kristoff sat down opposite him in another chair and rambled on a little. He talked about the queen's plan to form a new royal council and that the Baron of Snoob had tipped him off to include the naval base in his search.
“I don't know if you can help me there, Admiral Eriksen. But it seems to me that matters concerning the Royal Navy should be represented on the council. After all, two ships are currently on their way to allied kingdoms on behalf of the queen to help us out of the supply crisis and ask for support there.”
“Yes, I am of course aware of this assignment and have known the two captains personally for many years. They are good men and ideally suited for such an important mission,” replied Eriksen, “However, we hardly have any potential candidates for the royal council here at the naval base. Most of the sailors work as specialists in the shipyard, are in captain's training or other important positions for our fleet, or are simply ship's crews. The rest are guards or are busy with the prison camp and of course those who are only responsible for supplies and everything that goes with it, so they don't have much nautical experience.” He paused for a moment and thought.
“Our base is actually set up like a small town where everyone does normal jobs. We have blacksmiths, rope and sail makers, bakers, butchers, the laundry, various craftsmen and of course everything else that goes with nautical and ship supplies. The only people I can think of for the council are our veterans, who are now retired and have gained a lot of experience in their lives. I will of course think carefully about your request and talk to them. However, not everyone is likely to be interested and want to change their lives so drastically. Quite apart from the fact that the families here or over there also live in Snoob, especially the children who can only attend school there. That affects most of us here on the peninsula, by the way.”
“I can understand that very well,” said Kristoff. “It was just an idea and not binding. The queen selects the most suitable men and women from all the candidates from across the kingdom after they have personally auditioned.”
Eriksen nodded. “Very well, may I offer you some refreshments before we go to the shipyard?”
“No, thank you, admiral. But I have another request and Her Majesty doesn't know anything about it yet. It is to be a surprise for her and it would be my personal decision to take care of it. It's also a somewhat sensitive issue for a reason.”
“Well, that depends on whether I can help you. What is it about?”
“I wanted to ask if I could get passage on a ship to Weselton.”
The Admiral raised his eyebrows and placed his index fingers against each other in front of his mouth with a thoughtful expression, tapped them against his lips a few times and mumbled a quiet “Hmm…”.
“Weselton … I assume it's about the same problem, the supply of food and animal feed in the capital, right?” Kristoff nodded. “Well, Weselton isn't too big an island and they import more than they have to offer. Except wool and sheep, as far as I know, and fine cloth, which they sell at a premium. I once had the dubious pleasure of meeting the Duke there many years ago. Do you know him?”
Kristoff cradled his head. "I met him once years ago, at one of Arendelle's sled races where he cheated. Other than that, not in person, no, but I know the stories about him and why trade with this kingdom was stopped a few years ago … because of that Duke. He must have been quite out of line back then and also had a very …”
“… greedy and unfriendly behaviour? Yes, that suits this little chap. However, his nephew Lord Rupert Wolfgang is much more sociable and even quite helpful, the complete opposite of the old Duke. However, his behaviour takes some getting used to, not to say annoying. It seems to run in the family.” Eriksen laughed softly. “But still, if you're going to get in touch with anyone there, you'd better do it with him.”
“That's interesting, I didn't know that. Thank you very much for this valuable information!” said Kristoff in surprise. “But, the passage … can you help me with that? However, Sven, my reindeer, and my carriage would also have to be on board, if possible, as I plan to disembark directly in Arendelles harbour on the return journey.”
“Normally, we don't offer ship journeys for strangers, no matter how much they would be prepared to pay, but that doesn't apply to you, Your Highness, of course. I think I already have the right ship in mind for you and also for your luggage, so to speak,” he smiled.
~~~
After Mattias knocked on Halima's front door and she opened it for him, she fell into his arms with tears of joy in her eyes. It was still broad daylight in Arendelle, but next they both disappeared into the bedroom, tore off their clothes and made love, tenderly and intimately, as if it were the first time for both of them. They were able to take their time, as Elin was still at the castle and had her usual lessons with Olaf. Halima wasn't due to pick her up again until the afternoon and had been working in her room in the meantime. Until her beloved Destin suddenly appeared at the door.
A little later, she prepared lunch for them both. Nothing special and consisting mainly of leftovers that were still in the kitchen and the icebox on the floor and, of course, a few fresh ingredients from the garden. But that didn't matter to either of them, because they were finally together again and had a lot to talk about. But Mattias avoided going into detail about some of the things he had seen and experienced, as he didn't want to frighten Halima.
“I'm so glad that nothing happened to you, Destin, and that you didn't suffer any more serious injuries. There's no bandage and not even a scratch to be seen.”
“I was very lucky, to be honest. A lot of men have had a very different experience. We've had so many losses, Halima, but I'd rather not talk about it right now.” He sighed and grabbed her hand on the table.
“I saw the grief in the city and also saw the many wounded in the new hospital. I wanted to help in some way. The queen even gave a moving speech at the memorial service. But I can't and don't want to imagine it all and I was most afraid for you all the time, darling. Thank you for this beautiful but really sad letter, by the way.”
“You cried a lot, didn't you?” She nodded and put her other hand over his. “I was afraid of that, but I was also afraid to tell you everything in person.”
“It's all over now and you've come back to us safe and sound.”
“Let's just stop talking about it, Halima, and think about the good things instead. You said that you carried on upstairs in Elin's room. I'd like to take a look at that.”
“I'd love to, Destin. Let's go upstairs now. I also got her something to paint and hung up some pictures. I hope she likes it. I just finished it earlier and we could pick her up together later and then go out for dinner for the three of us, what do you say?”
“Sounds good. She's never been to dinner with us before, so it could be a bit of an adventure for her.”
“Oh yes, you're right, Destin,” she replied as she slowly climbed the stairs and he followed.
The room was now tidy and very clean, the windows had also been cleaned and it no longer smelled as stale as before. There was no more dust in the air and a fresh, cool breeze blew in through the open windows. Elin's bed now even had a canopy over it and her doll, which Mattias had got for her, was lying directly on her pillow.
A few picture books were piled up on a small round table with a low chair in front of it, as well as colouring materials next to a small easel that Halima had used herself many years ago. She had only had to replace the paint because the old pots had dried up long ago. Halima had hung the pictures she had painted and some photographs on a few more hooks on the sloping roof walls. All in all, the room now radiated warmth and cosiness.
“I'm impressed, dear, you've done everything really beautifully. Elin will be thrilled, I'm sure of it.”
“You know, Destin, I've been thinking about her a lot. Since she's been with us and Olaf has been teaching her to read and write in the castle, and she's even been allowed to meet the queen in person, she's changed a lot. She is no longer as shy as she used to be in the orphanage. Quite the opposite. She has opened up a lot and doesn't even seem to think about her bad past anymore.”
“Have you ever heard her cry at night? You don't forget memories like that so quickly and who knows, maybe she dreams about it at night and just doesn't want to show us or doesn't dare to talk about it.”
“Maybe, but I haven't heard anything like that yet, not even in the castle. Maybe she's banished it all to her innermost depths, who can say. But I think she's ready and …”
“… can go to school and get to know lots of strange children around her?”
“Yes, Destin, that's right. You took the words right out of my mouth. She is friendly to everyone she meets without fear, is curious and eager to learn. She wants to learn, Destin, and she's good at it. Elin has a really good grasp of things and understands many things more quickly than other children her age. I think interacting with children she doesn't know is the next important step for her, because she still needs to learn that too, and she's also getting to know the other children's games, which is also very important.”
“Yes, you're certainly right, dear. I just hope the other kids won't tease her too much.”
“It'll be fine, Destin. Besides, we can't look after her all day and Elin can't be in and out of the royal castle all the time. You'll be busy at the council and with other things during the day and I need to get back to work at Hudson's Hearth. She'll be studying at school and won't be able to be with a magical snowman all the time. Instead, she'll make new friends of her age and play and learn with them.”
“Then let's go to the orphanage first thing in the morning and sign the contract with Liv for the adoption. And tonight, after dinner, we'll ask Elin very carefully what she thinks about the idea of officially going to a school.”
“But first, and before we pick up Elin, I have something to show you that I'm sure will make you happy. Do you remember a few days ago when I was looking through all the old pictures up here in the corner? I found a very old one and you asked me what surprised me so much.” Mattias nodded.
“What is it?”
“Follow me.”
Halima walked down the stairs with Mattias right behind her and bent down under the slope beneath the steps. She then pulled out a large framed picture and held it out for Mattias to see, smiling. He widened his eyes in sudden recognition and took the frame from her hands.
“Let's go outside in the garden, it's brighter there than here and the colours on the oil painting will shine much brighter.”
Halima was right, because as they stood outside in the afternoon sun, the painting suddenly seemed much more vivid to Mattias. It showed him in his new uniform as a newly appointed lieutenant with the great task of looking after the king's young son, the future King Agnarr. Next to him stood a young Halima, slim, with long brown hair and, in his eyes, simply beautiful. He himself had short black curly hair and no beard at all. He radiated strength and confidence in the picture, with one hand on Halima's shoulder, while they both smiled proudly and happily at the viewer.
“Oh, Halima, that you still have this old picture of the two of us is a real treasure! Thank you so much. Look how young we were back then and the look on your face … I have no words … you were the most beautiful girl in all of Arendelle for me back then … and you still are …”
He gave her a kiss on the lips and she hugged him as they both looked at the painting together.
Mattias couldn't take his eyes off the picture and as he ran his finger over the painted face of his beloved, a tear of joy rolled down his cheek. Halima noticed immediately and cuddled up close to him so that they could reminisce together about a time when they were still freshly in love and making big plans.
~~~
Master Fabian was still pondering as he unlocked the front door of his fencing school and flat. The first thing he did was make himself a herbal tea in the kitchen and sit down at the large table in the fencing room, whose windows afforded a good view of the harbour and the castle. It had been a terrible few days and he had almost been too late to defend Anna, the queen, when Thord attacked her. It had been very close. He reviewed it all again when he could finally sit in peace and sip his steaming cup of tea.
He had not even had one day to rest from the stress of the previous days when now the Queen was sending him to Corona, of all places. A kingdom to which he never intended to return; he mused.
It was, of course, a beautiful land and kingdom, after all, he had grown up and spent his childhood there. He later learnt to master the art of fencing and even went travelling at a young age to perfect his skills. He had also heard about another brotherhood and wanted to know more about it.
He was or had to be a member of the one from Corona, of course, as everyone who wanted to become a fencing master did, but the two brotherhoods had always been in rivalry, as he soon realised. There were always competitions to prove that one followed the better doctrine and ultimately this also led to unauthorised duels between a few hotheads. He had always stayed out of it and strictly followed the code. But when his father was unintentionally involved in one of these duels one day, he couldn't help but stand by his side.
His father had always been his great role model and since Fabian's mother had died of a serious illness, his father was all the family he had left. He was ultimately the one who taught him how to use a sword, dagger and battle staff in the years that followed. He taught him to be able to defend himself and stand on his own two feet, to believe in himself and to always adhere to the code of the aspiring fencing masters once he had joined the brotherhood. And one day his father brought Fabian in and he actually passed all the exams with flying colours. His father was very proud of him and it was a dream come true for Fabian. He was officially made a fencing master.
Until the day his father faced three good fencers from the other brotherhood at dusk to avenge one of his friends who had been stabbed in a duel that day. Fabian had to watch everything from a distance because his father had forbidden him to interfere, so he rushed to his father's aid because his life was in danger. But he was only moments too late and a sword had pierced his father's heart.
Fabian was beside himself with grief and anger as he knelt next to him and clutched him with tears in his eyes. Then Fabian forgot all his resolutions and the code, jumped up, drew his sword and attacked himself just as the other three were about to make their escape.
It was a fierce fight, in which he immediately killed one of them and seriously wounded the one who killed his father. However, the remaining man inflicted a deep cut on Fabian's leg so that he could no longer walk properly and made off with the wounded man.
In the end, the brotherhood in Corona realised everything and expelled Fabian from the community, even threatening him with imprisonment. Fabian therefore drew a line, took all the family's savings and the best weapons, booked himself a ship passage with a destination far away from Corona and finally landed in Arendelle. That was decades ago now and the fencing master sighed before draining his cup and heading upstairs to pack for the journey.
The ARN Voyager would set sail from the naval base in the early hours of the next morning and dock in Corona a few days later. So he didn't have too much time left to get there on one of the small sailing ships in the harbour.
He was already standing at the stairs when there was a knock at the front door. Who could it be, Fabian asked himself and opened the door. Standing in front of him was one of the soldiers who had been with the troop that had killed Karrál's sub-leader.
“Master Fabian, hello, I apologise for turning up unexpectedly and disturbing you,” he began, a nervous, almost hurried expression on his face as he looked behind him and around. Almost as if he was checking that no one had followed him.
Fabian didn't miss this and interpreted it correctly, as he would soon realise. So he quickly invited him in.
“Come in, soldier. I don't have much time, though, because I'm currently preparing for my journey.”
Once the door was closed, the man got straight to the point. “I … er … I mean, there's something I can't deal with, something that happened in the forest in the north and that's been on my mind ever since. I'm afraid that someone even followed me up here because of it, because on the Crocus I stayed apart from those people, especially one of them, and maybe even behaved suspiciously.”
“Come to the table in the fencing room and tell me about it. I can guess what it's all about and you needn't be afraid.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Shortly afterwards, the soldier told the whole story as he had experienced it. Fabian quickly realised that he had credibly not taken part in the actions and had even been threatened not to tell a soul when it was all over. The soldier fumbled around and visibly struggled to name the person responsible.
“You know that this man committed a war crime and must be held accountable for it, and maybe others who had no problem helping him. No single person could commit such an offence. You must tell me the names, it's your duty, soldier!
It took a while, but finally he came clean and named two more names in addition to the main culprit.
“Am I now also being charged because I stood by and didn't do anything about it? I mean, I stood up to it as best I could, but there were five of us in the unit. I was very scared and could only watch what they were doing. Only one of us stood a little apart like me and when we looked at each other in shock … it was cruel …”
“I'll keep you out of it as much as I can, but you'll have to make a statement because you're the only witness who had the courage to tell me the truth. But don't be afraid.”
The soldier breathed a sigh of relief and sighed so loudly that you could literally hear the stone fall from his heart that had been weighing him down so heavily. Fabian put a hand on his shoulder to reassure him.
“I'll inform General Mattias. He'll organise everything else while I'm out of the country. Do you have somewhere to hide until the trial?”
“Yes, I have.”
Fabian then learnt the location and would pass this information on to Mattias with all the other details before boarding. He dismissed the soldier, looked after him for a few more moments and finally picked up where he had left off a good hour ago.
~~~
Anna was working on drafts for this year's town competitions when there was a brief knock and Elsa entered.
“You're back so quickly,” she greeted her sister.
“Quickly? Have you looked at the clock? It's almost three.”
“Really now? Time has flown by.”
Elsa stood behind her and looked over her shoulder. “What are you doing right now? Looks like a lot of fun.”
“That's what it is. I'm working on the new competitions for the end of the year, before Christmas.”
“We've been through this before,” Elsa said, tapping the paper that said 'ice carving'.
“It's obvious that you're the first to notice, isn't it? There will be stricter rules this time and people with ice magic won't be allowed to take part or help others.” She looked up at Elsa and grinned mischievously.
“You just don't want to let me win again, sis. But that's all right, as long as our citizens and the children have fun.”
“How did it go up on the cliff?”
“I think Yelana's a bit disappointed.”
“What, why is that?”
“Because she can't accompany the master builders back to camp on a big ship, only on one of the little one-masted sailboats.” Elsa grinned.
Both sisters laughed out loud.
“Well, who would have thought that a Northuldra, and their old leader on top of that, would take so much pleasure in travelling by ship.”
“That's true. Besides, she hasn't got a bit seasick yet and that's saying something. What are your plans for today, sis? Are there any important documents waiting for you?”
Anna shook her head, “Nope, just writing the letter for Mari, then I've got the rest of the day.”
“And that rarely happens when you're Queen of all Arendelle, believe me.”
“I know, Elsa, I realised that this afternoon and my head was spinning afterwards because I had to hurry so much. The text for the Sunday paper only went to the printers shortly after we returned. I finished it while you were away with Yelana. So the paper should have been out everywhere about three hours ago and that's really late this time. So I've told the printers to make it a late edition.”
“A late edition? Interesting choice of words and I've never heard of such a thing. But it's very aptly worded and who knows, you might even have made history as the first queen to invent a late edition for a newspaper.”
Anna had to laugh. “Thank you, Elsa, it just came to me.”
“So you could apply our conversation's ideas from a few days ago just in time, that's good. I hope the citizens also use our ideas and go out into nature, fishing or hunting.”
“I hope so too. I almost didn't think about it either, with all the events since then. But everything is fine now and I hope Kristoff and Kai in Snoob are too. I wonder what my darling is up to at the moment,” mused Anna, looking through the open window into the grey cloudy sky.
~~~
Eriksen had not promised too much, the shipyard was impressive and much larger than he had imagined. At the moment there was the bare hull of a two-masted brigantine or schooner brig, as the commander explained. Dozens of carpenters and sailors were working on it and Kristoff watched them with interest for a while. After all, it wasn't something you saw every day.
“This type of ship is particularly well suited to rough seas and can sail higher into the wind than a normal brig thanks to its design. Incidentally, this is exactly the type of ship you'll be sailing to Weselton in. Come on, I'll show you,” said Eriksen, making an inviting gesture towards the southern harbour bay, where many masts could already be seen swaying in the gentle swell from a distance.
It was a beautiful ship, Kristoff thought, when he saw it in its finished and seaworthy condition. It wasn't too big, but there was enough space in the hold, as the commander confirmed when he asked.
“The Draba can set sail tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, it's a bit late to prepare everything for today. If you wish, you can take a hot bath this evening and I assume you will dine with me later, Your Highness?”
“It would be a great pleasure, Admiral Eriksen, thank you very much for the impressive tour today and all the amenities. I'm already looking forward to travelling on the Draba tomorrow. Doesn't the name come from this little rock flower?”
“Well recognised, Your Highness, you know your botany?”
“Not exactly, but I … used to travel a lot in the mountains above the snow line, these flowers like the cold there and bare rocky crags.”
~~~
Fabian met Mattias just as he was about to enter the castle with Halima.
“Hello, Lady Halima,” he greeted her first with a skilful bow and she returned the gallant greeting with a smile.
“General Mattias, a word, please,” he then said with a serious expression on his face.
“Hello, Fabian. Is it important? We were just about to pick up Elin and take her to a restaurant for dinner later.”
“Yes, unfortunately it is and I only have a little time because I'm on my way to Corona and have to catch the sailor to the naval base later.”
“Oh, that's right. Halima, why don't you go upstairs to Elin, I'll be right behind you.”
Mattias grabbed Fabian by the shoulder and pulled him aside a little. “So, what's up, my friend?”
Fabian told him in abbreviated form what he had learnt from the soldier and Matthias' face brightened noticeably.
“That's very good news and exactly what we were hoping for, that one of the soldiers would give in and come clean after all, without any lengthy questioning or threats. Can you make a note of the most important things in the guardroom?”
“Already done, I wrote it down at home.” Fabian pulled out a small sealed envelope and handed it to the general.
“Thank you, Fabian. I'll take care of it first thing in the morning. But for now, let me wish you a safe and successful journey. Please take good care of yourself in Corona and don't make any unnecessary detours.”
“I will, Destin. I promise.”
They sealed it with a handshake and a short but strong hug before Fabian turned and headed for the harbour. He had already put his luggage on the boat, so he didn't have to worry about anything else.
~~~
When the mounted messenger was on his way to Vesterland to deliver Anna's letter to Princess Mari, the sisters went to the dining hall to eat their evening meal. Olaf was also there and although he never had to eat, he really enjoyed the company of the sisters and always enjoyed listening to their conversations. However, they weren't very talkative tonight and Olaf had the impression that something was on Elsa's mind.
“So, Olaf? What have you been up to today?” asked Anna.
“Read books with little Elin.” Now the snowman was in his element, forgetting his thoughts from a moment ago and talking about Elin's learning successes and how much fun they both always had. “But Halima and Mattias picked her up a while ago because they wanted to take her to a restaurant and told me they had a little surprise for her too. I wonder what that could be. Maybe more books? Or …”
As Olaf continued to rattle on, the sisters looked at each other knowingly, as they already suspected what it must be about.
“…I love restaurants, can we go there sometime? What is that actually?”
“Oh, Olaf,” said Anna, “you say that so often, even though you don't even know what you love. When you love something, you really like it because you already know it well and you like it so much. You can only eat something in a restaurant, just like here, only with strangers at different tables. Besides, you don't have to eat anything, Olaf.”
“People or families go to a tavern or restaurant together because they want to treat themselves to something special, or because they like to be served in a particularly nice way,” Elsa added.
“Or lovers who want to spend a particularly nice evening together, Olaf.”
“As they say, Anna, the way to the heart is through the stomach.”
They both laughed, but Olaf didn't understand what they were talking about. He didn't recognise a joke either, so he could only look at them both questioningly.
When the sisters saw his face, they laughed even harder, but Olaf didn't like it at all, because this time he had clearly realised that he was the reason.
When Anna was able to catch her breath, she apologised to him. “I'm sorry, Olaf, but seeing the look on your face was just so funny. I didn't mean any offence, honestly.”
“It's all right, Anna.”
“I guess there are few things you don't love, Olaf, are there?” said Elsa, still with a smile on her face.
“There is one thing I don't like and certainly don't love,” he replied, making a sad face.
“And what would that be,” Anna asked in a serious tone and looked at her sister, who was now looking at Olaf just as seriously.
“If you both had to go to war again.”
Any hint of laughter died away and the sisters nodded as they both put their hands on his shoulders.
“We never want that again, Olaf,” Elsa said quietly.
~~~
It was already quite dark when the three of them walked along the mountain road with Elin in the middle and headed towards the building with the brightly lit windows. The little girl was already very excited and held Halima's and Mattias' warm hands tightly in hers. She had never been invited anywhere just for dinner, where probably only the very posh people ate, she imagined. She wondered if her new parents were rich and a very brief thought of her dark past flashed through her mind as she felt a sense of loneliness, poverty and hunger before quickly brushing it aside. Today was going to be a special day, without images from the past in her head that occasionally popped up in her dreams at night. Elin nodded resolutely. She now had a whole new life and felt happy.
”They should actually put lanterns up here,” said Mattias, “if the moon isn't shining, you can hardly see the way.”
“Why don't you tell the queen, you have a special connection to her,” replied Halima. “I'm sure she'll listen to your suggestion. On the other hand, maybe we could have just taken a lantern with us.”
But shortly afterwards they reached the front door of the restaurant and Mattias briefly let go of Elin's hand to hold it open for them. Snatches of conversation and quiet laughter emanated from inside and a cosy warmth spread around their faces as they entered. However, just before they did, Mattias noticed some extinguished lanterns next to the door and had to agree with his fiancée.
The innkeeper immediately approached them and greeted his regulars with a smile.
“General Mattias, Lady Halima … nice to welcome you back to my place and I see that this time you have a young companion … hello, little one. Same table as usual, General, and a glass of our best red wine for you both?”
“Gladly, Reik, and a glass of juice for our little Elin, please.”
“Very well.”
The innkeeper invited them to their usual table and picked up the menu from the counter as they passed.
“Unfortunately, we've had to shorten our menu a little because we're also affected by the supply problem,” he said as he handed them both the menu. “So may I suggest fish of various kinds, lobster or a game ragout with freshly picked mushrooms?”
“We're still thinking about it, Reik, please bring us the drinks first,” Mattias replied and turned to Elin, who had just taken a seat next to Halima, looked around curiously and then ran her fingers along the large tablecloth on the round table.
“Are you hungry or not so hungry, Elin?” he asked.
Elin looked up at him and shrugged her shoulders, “I don't know…”
“I already know what we're going to do. Halima, have you chosen yet?”
“The ragout sounds good, I'll have that today.”
“Then I'll have fish today … trout, if available … let's see,” he said as he skimmed the menu, “and an empty plate for Elin. She can have a taste of both of us then, all right, little one?”
Elin nodded hesitantly and looked curiously over at the few other guests.
“Good idea, my darling, I would have suggested that too,” said Halima, putting the menu aside and smiling at Elin.
The landlord brought the drinks and they placed their order. Elin watched and listened carefully, even when the host dished up shortly afterwards and her new parents took a cloth from the table, skilfully unfolded it and placed it over their legs before reaching for the cutlery. Elin followed suit and when Mattias asked what she wanted to try first, she pointed to Halima's plate of game stew, which smelled tempting.
“I like that one.”
Halima slid some of her plate over to Elin's and placed it in front of her.
However, it was a little difficult for the little girl to eat due to the low seating height and when she pushed a forkful into her mouth, some of the sauce dripped down. Elin noticed it immediately and now realised the purpose of the cloth over her legs. She smiled at Mattias, who didn't hesitate for long, stood up with a grin and took one of the higher stools in front of the counter for Elin. Now everything was perfect and the little girl tucked into one delicious piece of meat after another.
Halima and Mattias exchanged mischievous glances.
“I can see you really like it,” he said, “but you'd better take your time with it, Elin. You have to savour this delicious dish.”
Elin nodded vigorously and took a sip from her glass before continuing to eat, but now chewing a little more slowly and to Mattia's satisfaction a little longer.
When they had all finished, he topped up his and Halima's wine and ordered a second glass of juice for the girl.
“Elin,” Halima began, looking at her questioningly, “we were thinking about something today and wondering what you'd think.” She glanced over at Mattias, who immediately understood and continued for her.
“We think it's time you learnt not only reading and writing from Olaf, but also many other exciting things.”
Elin was now curious and asked, “Other exciting things? What do you mean?”
“Well, what the other children your age learn at school. From a real teacher, you know?”
“In a school? What's that? But I don't want to go back to a home like that or something, the other children at the orphanage always looked at me so strangely and teased me. I don't like that.”
“No, no, Elin,” Halima intervened again, “don't worry, a school is something completely different and the teacher keeps an eye on all the children at all times so that they don't do anything like that. The children there are also very different to those at the orphanage and always go home to their parents after lessons in the afternoon. Just like you do when you come home to us. But you can also play with them if you like, that's also something you haven't done before and it's great fun.”
Elin looked at both of them doubtfully and didn't know what to say.
“I'll make you a suggestion, Elin, we'll all go to the school down by the harbour tomorrow and you can have a look around and get to know the teacher at the same time. All right?” said Mattias and signalled to the landlord, who immediately came to him.
“We'd like to pay the bill, please.” Then Mattias turned to Elin again and grinned, “Besides, we have a surprise for you tonight.”
“A surprise?”
“Yes, my dear. I've finished decorating your room today and I hope you like it,” Halima explained and Elin's eyes lit up. “Let's go home and you can think about what we've said in peace, shall we?”
Elin nodded and after Mattias had pressed a few coins into the innkeeper's hand, they left the restaurant.
~~~
The next morning brought a pleasant surprise for the castle residents when two long covered wagons with a high superstructure drove over the bridge and then came to a rumbling halt on the cobblestones of the castle courtyard. Captain Einar immediately rushed over because of the noise and met the two coachmen, who introduced themselves to him as Snoob's inhabitants and brought supplies for the castle and the capital on behalf of His Highness Kristoff Bjorgmann.
Einar lifted the tarpaulins of both carriages and peered curiously underneath, while the coachmen stood by his side to explain. The first wagon was piled high with sacks of flour, barrels and baskets full of vegetables and all sorts of other food supplies. On the second wagon was mainly cattle feed and many bales of hay. The captain thanked them and immediately summoned some guardsmen, who were not only to look after the two guests and the draught horses, but were also entrusted with distributing the load.
It wasn't actually much and would hardly be enough for everyone, but it was a good start and the bakers in the town would be particularly pleased to receive so much flour. Einar sent for Olina, the cook, to make a selection for the castle kitchen and also sent for Lars and his assistant so that they could get enough fresh straw into the stables. For the captain, catering for the royal castle was the most important thing and he was very pleased with how quickly everything was done as he stood there watching everyone.
It wasn't long before the queen, with her sister at her side, walked down the steps in front of the castle and looked around, partly in joy and partly in amazement.
“Captain Einar, didn't Kristoff come with them? I don't see him or Sven anywhere.”
“As far as I can tell, His Highness only ordered this delivery in Snoob and the coachmen drove everything that was in the collection centre here. They didn't mention anything else, not even a message from him.”
Anna drew her eyebrows together and looked at Elsa.
“I understand that Kai didn't come with them, after all we gave him a holiday with his relatives, but Kristoff should have done his job with this amount of supplies. Is he on holiday in Snoob now too or what is he up to?”
Elsa shrugged her shoulders, “Maybe he's helping Kai with the candidates for the new council, but to be honest, I have no idea what else it could be.”
“Hmm,” Anna said with a brooding face, “so if he doesn't turn up in two days at the latest, I'll send a messenger, believe me.”
“Since you're talking about messengers … look who's coming, Anna!”
She wheeled round, hoping to see Kristoff with Sven after all, but instead Princess Mari of Vesterland was riding into the castle courtyard accompanied by her bodyguard.
Mari spotted them both at the same moment, signalled her guards to dismount and rode right up to the sisters. She then swung skilfully out of the saddle and said, “Hello, my dears!” beaming with joy.
The three of them hugged each other warmly one after the other and Mari immediately began to talk as they all went inside. Mari walked in the middle, her arms casually draped over the sisters' shoulders and in a good mood.
“I see that you have already received a delivery of food, which makes me happy for you. They are still collecting for it everywhere in my kingdom and the wagons should arrive here the day after tomorrow at the latest. I received your letter yesterday, Anna. I'm really sorry about what happened to you outside our castle and you can be sure that the two guards have been severely reprimanded for it. Such behaviour is simply inexcusable! Dad wasn't even at home at the time because he always visits Mum's grave with me that day and I was taking care of your supply problem afterwards.”
“I was thinking something like that, Mari,” said Elsa sympathetically and Anna added, “but I was still pretty angry. To be honest, nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”
“Can you stay here for a few days, Mari? We were both planning to go mushroom picking together again after a long time and it would be nice if you could join us,” Elsa asked, stopping in front of the wide staircase to the first floor, “We could have a relaxed chat about so many things.”
“I'd love to! I haven't done that for so long and I'm sure it would be a lot of fun with you two. But I'd have to ride back on Wednesday at the latest.”
“That's great, I'm really looking forward to it,” said Anna. “Come on, let's go upstairs for a cup of tea and if you're hungry, I'll get Olina to prepare a little something for us.”
“Tea sounds good, but I'm not very hungry yet. The main thing is that the three of us have a cosy time together.”
~~~
Meanwhile, south of Snoob …
Kristoff had had a good night's sleep and thanked Eriksen once again as he got into his wagon and let Sven trot off in the direction of the landing stage. Once there, he recognised a ship with a new name painted on the hull. He read 'ARN Voyager' and was willing to bet that this had been Anna's idea, at least that's how he imagined it.
The Draba was anchored right next to it and as he was about to go on board with Sven while his car was being hoisted over the railing, someone called out to him.
He turned around and recognised Master Fabian, who was standing in the bow of the Voyager and waving down.
“Master Fabian, what are you doing here on the naval base?” Kristoff called up.
“I was just about to ask you the same question, Your Highness. I'm travelling on behalf of the queen and am about to set sail for Corona. And you?” Fabian called out.
“Erm, well … I want to surprise Anna and have decided to sail to Weselton on my own because of the same problem you're travelling for, I suppose.”
“Indeed I am, only in the opposite direction.” Fabian laughed.
“It's quite a long way to Corona, isn't it?”
“Yes, that's true and I reckon it will take me three to four days, depending on the wind.”
“It's only just under two days for me, as Admiral Eriksen told me. Were you also in the fortress overnight?”
“No, I arrived last night on a small sailing boat from Arendelle and then lay down in a hammock right here below deck.”
“I see … well then, have a good trip and good luck in Corona.”
“I wish you the same, Your Highness. We could both do with a bit of luck.”
Kristoff nodded and waved goodbye before boarding the Draba and introducing himself to the captain.
Half an hour later, both ships set sail.
~~~
---
Remark: I hope you have enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a comment if you liked the story, I would be pleased to read your opinions, even criticisms. If you want to be tagged as soon I publish the next chapter please let me know, except you are already tagged :-)
Tagging: @true--north @annaofthenorthernlights @dronning-formynder05
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First chapter of my Frozen II rewrite. I’ll leave links to AO3 : https://archiveofourown.org/works/52396078/chapters/132547186
And Fanfiction: https://m.fanfiction.net/s/14309034/1/A-Retelling-of-Frozen-II
I’ll post the story here too for anyone wanting to read on Tumblr:
Prologue:
As the snow-covered forest enveloped her, a young girl sprinted desperately with tears streaming down her face. Her voice echoed through the trees as she called out for her mother, seeking refuge from the unknown dangers that lurked around her. Adorned in a cloak bearing Arendelle's noble coat of arms, she pressed on.
Suddenly, her frantic footsteps came to a halt as distant shouts reached her ears. Fear gripped her heart, and she quickly sought cover behind a towering tree. Peering through the branches, her eyes widened with trepidation as she caught sight of fluttering Arendelle flags in the distance.
Amidst the wintry landscape, soldiers raced past her, their hands gripping swords and crossbows tightly. Among them, she spotted a pair locked in a tender embrace. "My love, it's becoming too perilous. Please, return to the safety of our camp." he implored, concern etched on his face.
With determination shining in her eyes, the woman responded, her voice filled with unwavering resolve. "Oh, come now, Mattias. What soldier doesn't fight for the home she loves?" Her words carried a fierce determination as she defied the dangers that lay ahead, sprinting off into the unknown.
In a panic, the girl's desperate whispers of "mother" filled the air as she turned to retreat. But her movement halted abruptly as her wide eyes locked onto a towering figure draped in a cloak of animal hides, adorned in furs from head to toe. With a finger pressed to his lips, he urged her to silence, his presence both mysterious and intriguing.
Together, they turned their attention towards the rustling sound in the trees, their hearts pounding in anticipation. And there, emerging from the shadows, came an army of Arendellian soldiers, marching steadily towards them. The girl's gaze flickered back to the man, only to find him vanished into thin air, leaving her bewildered and alone.
Suddenly, a firm grip seized her arm, yanking her back to reality. "What are you doing out here? You must return to camp!" Urgency laced the Arendellian soldier's words as he narrowly dodged an arrow that embedded itself into a nearby tree. Without hesitation, he disappeared into the chaos of the battle, swallowed by the fog and smoke.
The girl found herself once again alone, her heart racing as she sprinted and slid down a small hill. As she caught her breath, she glanced up and caught a glimpse of something soaring through the trees. Before she could get a clear look, the sound of voices reached her ears, causing her to instinctively seek cover.
"Stay low, my son," a commanding voice urged.
"Yes, father," came the obedient reply.
"Your majesty—" began the soldier, but his words were abruptly interrupted by the sudden appearance of a massive elk leaping out of the bushes. The majestic creature narrowly missed them as it bounded up a towering rock, its form transforming into that of a man adorned in an elk's skin.
"There you are." His eyes were fixed on the mysterious figure in the elk skin. With a sense of urgency, he turned to the solider at his side, and commanded, "Mattias, get the boy out of here."
"But, Your Majesty, my orders are to never leave your side." the soldier protested, his loyalty evident.
"I want my son to be safe." the king declared resolutely before dashing off.
"No!" cried the prince, his anguish echoing through the air.
"Come, Prince Agnarr, please." the soldier pleaded, swiftly scooping up the young prince. Without looking back, they fled in the opposite direction, the prince's anguished cries lingering in the air.
As the girl's eyes widened in disbelief, she witnessed the king charging forward, his sword held high, ready to strike at the mysterious figure. The clash of their blades filled the air as they traded blows, their movements swift and precise. Each strike reverberated with the intensity of their conflict.
But then, in a stunning turn of events, the king and the figure were sent hurtling off the very edge of the cliff. It was as if fate had intervened, guiding their battle towards this precipice of danger. The girl's heart raced as she watched them disappear into the abyss below.
Suddenly, an incredible surge of power erupted from the depths of the forest. It was a force so immense that it seemed to shake the very ground beneath her feet. Like an unstoppable avalanche, everything and everyone around her was pushed back by this overwhelming energy. Trees swayed, rocks tumbled, and the air crackled with an electrifying intensity.
Amidst the chaos, the girl's eyes caught sight of a boy, desperately clinging to a ledge. Time seemed to slow down as panic gripped her heart. Without a second thought, she sprinted towards him, her feet pounding against the earth. With every ounce of strength she possessed, she reached out and grasped his hands just in the nick of time.
Their eyes met, a mixture of relief and gratitude reflected in their gazes. "Thank you," the boy uttered, his voice filled with sincerity. But as the girl looked back at him, her expression shifted, panic etched across her features as she realised who she had saved.
As the ground trembled beneath their feet, the world around them seemed to crumble. The very earth beneath the king and the mysterious figure gave way, swallowing them into its depths. A blinding burst of light pierced through the darkness, illuminating the chaos that ensued.
A fierce wind roared to life, swirling around them with the force of a tornado. The boy and the girl found themselves at the mercy of this tempest, their bodies being pulled towards the tumultuous vortex. Fear gripped their hearts as they fought against the powerful currents.
But just as all hope seemed lost, a strong hand reached out and grabbed them. "Mattias!" the boy exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. The trio held on tightly to one another as Mattias, with unwavering determination, maneuvered through the collapsing trees and crumbling ground. "Don't let go!" he urged them, his voice filled with resolve.
With every step, Mattias skillfully navigated the treacherous terrain, ensuring their safety. Finally, they reached the safety of the camp, where a moving wagon awaited them. Mattias gently placed the boy and the girl inside, assuring them that everything would be alright.
But the girl's anguish could not be contained. "No, mother!" she cried out, her voice filled with sorrow. Mattias turned back, concern etched on his face, and whispered, "Your Majesty." Without hesitation, he darted back into the forest, disappearing into the darkness.
As the girl was carried further away from the forest, her sobs echoed through the air. The weight of her loss hung heavy upon her heart, her grief overwhelming.
Thirty-three years later
Queen Elsa stood in front of the grand doors of the council chamber, her heart pounding in her chest. Anxiety washed over her like a tidal wave, threatening to consume her.
Her hands trembled, the icy chill of fear coursing through her veins. Each breath came in short, shallow gasps. as if the weight of the world rested upon her shoulders. The responsibilities of being Queen, the expectations of her people, and the impending meeting with the council who still to this day didn’t trust her all felt suffocating, closing in on her like a tight embrace.
Doubts and insecurities flooded her mind, relentless waves crashing against the shores of her confidence. The doubts whispered, questioning her every decision, making her second-guess her own abilities. In those moments, she wondered if she was truly worthy of the crown she wore.
Just as Elsa was about to succumb to the rising panic, Kai, her trusted advisor, approached with genuine concern etched on his face. "Your Majesty, are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.
Elsa forced a weak smile, trying to hide her distress. "I'm fine, Kai," she replied, her voice betraying her true feelings. "I just... I need a moment."
Kai hesitated for a moment, torn between respecting her space and wanting to help. "Should I send for Princess Anna?" he asked, concern evident in his eyes. He knew that Anna was always there for Elsa, ready to offer support and comfort.
Elsa shook her head, frustration and exhaustion evident in her eyes. "No, Kai. She deserves to enjoy the festivities outside, it's all she's been talking about for the past week. I can handle this.”
Deep down, Elsa longed for Anna's comforting presence, but she didn't want to rely on her sister for every moment of weakness. Her sister had a life outside of Elsa and she had to respect that.
Taking a deep breath, Elsa closed her eyes and focused on grounding herself. She thought of Anna and what she might say. "You've got this, Elsa." she whispered to herself, channeling her sister's unwavering support. Slowly, the panic began to subside, replaced by a resolute determination. Elsa straightened her posture and pushed open the council chamber doors.
_ _ _
Anna and Olaf sat on a checkered blanket, surrounded by the picturesque beauty of the meadow. Anna flipped through the pages of the advanced book, her brow furrowed in confusion more and more as she flipped through the pages. She glanced at Olaf, who was trying his best to understand the complex concepts.
"Olaf, this book is ridiculously difficult!" Anna exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice. "I can barely make sense of it myself. Why did Elsa have to pick this one for you?"
Olaf tilted his head, a puzzled expression on his face. "Well, Elsa said it would be good for our intellectual growth, but I think she overestimated us.“ he said innocently.
“Our? Pfft, that stinker, she did this on purpose.” Anna chuckled, playfully tossing the book behind her without a care for where it landed. She ignored the audible splash. “I’ll get her back later and you’re right, Olaf. Maybe we should stick to something a little less... snow-phisticated next time," she teased, playfully nudging him with her elbow.
Anna’s eyes lit up with excitement as he remembered something. "Oh, speaking of snow, Olaf, how’s the new permafrost?”
“Oh it’s great! It’s like living the dream Anna.” he replied, rolling onto his back to bask in the warm sun. Anna followed suit, lying down beside him. “How I wish this could last forever.” she hummed in agreement.
Suddenly, Olaf sprang up, catching a falling leaf. “And yet change mocks us with her beauty.”
“Whats that?” Anna asked, curious.
“Forget it. Maturity is making me poetic.” he said, releasing the leaf. “Tell me you’re older and thus all knowing, do you ever worry about the notion of that nothing is permanent ?”
That caught Anna off guard. “Uh, well no.”
“Really?” Anna nodded, a smile gracing her face. “Oh I can’t wait till I’m ancient like you so I don’t have to worry about important things.”
Anna chuckled, “That’s not what I mean. I, I don’t worry because I have you and Elsa and Kristoff and Sven and the gates are opened and…I’m not alone anymore.” She laid back down, gazing up at the sky, “Now that, that will never change no matter what.” She turned her head to Olaf, smiling, and he returned the smile in kind.
_ _ _
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the stables, Kristoff paced back and forth, rehearsing his proposal to Sven, who was playing the role of Anna. He wanted to make sure every word was perfect.
"Anna you’re the most extraordinary person I’ve ever known." Kristoff began, his voice filled with sincerity. “I love you with all I am.” Kristoff took a deep breath, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. “Will you marry me?” Sven, doing his best Anna impression, placed a hoof over his heart tor feign shock and nodded enthusiastically as he pretended to wipe away tears.
"Thanks buddy.” He chuckled as he stood back up but his smile quickly diminished. “I love Anna, I really do. It’s just, sometimes, I can't help but doubt myself. I'm not a prince or a nobleman. I don't have fancy titles or riches to offer. I'm just a simple ice harvester."
Sven gently placed a hoof on Kristoff's shoulder and gave him a ‘you’re kidding me look’. "Kristoff, don't you see? You are so much more than titles and wealth. You have a heart of gold, and your love for Anna is what truly matters. You don't need to be a prince to be worthy of her love."
Kristoff's doubts began to fade as he listened to Sven's words of encouragement. "I know buddy or else Elsa definitely wouldn’t have given me her blessing.” He gave Sven a scratch behind his ear.
Suddenly the sound of the festival bell rang through the air, signaling the start of the town's festivities, Kristoff carefully placed the ring back in his pocket. "C'mon, Sven. Let's go find Anna and Olaf. Tonight, I ask her to be mine forever."
As Kristoff stepped out into the bustling town square, Anna couldn't contain her excitement and practically tackled him with a bear hug. "Kristoff! You're just on time! I've been counting down the days until the festival!"
Kristoff laughed, wrapping his arms around Anna in a warm embrace. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Feistypants. You know how much I love seeing you happy."
They strolled hand in hand through the festival, marveling at the colorful decorations and the lively music that filled the air. Anna couldn't help but notice Elsa's absence at the start of the festivities. "Hey, you didn’t see Elsa on your way here, did you? She's usually here early to make sure everything is perfect. I hope she's okay."
Kristoff looked around, scanning the crowd for any sign of Elsa. "Hmm, not sure where she could be. But knowing Elsa, she's probably tied up with some last-minute meeting. She'll show up soon, I'm sure."
Just as Anna voiced her concern, Olaf, got caught up in the excitement and was whisked away by a group of giggling kids. "Oh no, Olaf! He's off on another adventure," Anna exclaimed, watching as Olaf was pulled away, his laughter echoing through the crowd.
Kristoff shrugged, “Was only a matter of time.”
“C’mon let’s go get him. She pulled Kristoff’s arm, “Elsa will kill me if he gets destroyed again.”
"Nah, she won't kill you. Maybe just ban you from chocolate for a month," he smirked, crossing his arms and refusing to budge, despite Anna's efforts to pull him.
“Which is basically death! Now c’mon!” Anna insisted.
He let himself be dragged by Anna, laughing away.
_ _ _
“Another thing Your Majesty, when do you plan to marry and produce a heir? You’ve been reining for three years now and we are no step closer to Arendelle strengthening connections and we are in desperate need of supplies for the Winter.”
“As it stands Lord Falsen, Princess Anna is my heir and shall be for the foreseeable future with the throne being passed to her own children. Yes, the Blight was unforeseen but we have rationed enough to see us through Winter.”
“Barely enough.” He mumbled. Elsa chose to ignore it.
Another councilman chimed in “That’s another thing Your Majesty, why do you continue to let the Princess court that peasant? He has absolutely nothing to offer to the thro-“
“His name is Kristoff Bjorgman, and I will not tolerate such disrespect towards him.” Elsa interrupted sharply.“ Need I remind you that Mr. Bjorgman is responsible for saving Arendelle from an eternal winter three years ago, his love for Princess Anna is genuine and true and I believe that is greater than any Prince Consort could bring to the throne.” The council fell silent, and Elsa considered it a small victory.
“Now Gentlemen, is there much more to discuss?” She said cooly.
Another councilman spoke up, "Yes Your Majesty, there are still those among the citizens who harbor doubts and fears of your rule. They believe that the recent Blight was caused by your powers."
Elsa's hands trembled as she struggled to maintain her composure. Doubts once again flooded her mind.
"I... I understand their concerns,” Elsa stammered, her voice quivering. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “But…" her voice trailed off, truly at a loss of what to say.
The council members exchanged glances, their lack of confidence in Elsa becoming increasingly evident. The room fell into a heavy silence, further fueling Elsa's anxiety.
Councilman Falsen, known for his sharp tongue, seized the opportunity to make a cutting remark. "Arendelle has suffered greatly under your rule. First an eternal Winter, then a Blight which both severely damaged our supplies, it’s shocking we didn’t have more casualties. Who knows what you'll put Arendelle through next? Maybe it's time for someone more capable to take charge."
Elsa's heart sank as his words hit home. The doubts she had been suppressing surged to the surface, fueled by the councilman's harsh criticism. Her hands trembled, and she could feel the familiar tightening in her chest. Panic once again threatened to consume her.
Unable to bear the weight of their words, Elsa abruptly stood up, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and vulnerability. "This meeting is over. You’re all dismissed.” Her words hung in the air as she hastily left the meeting room, the sound of her hurried footsteps echoing in the silence.
In the solitude of her chambers, Elsa fought back tears, her mind swirling with self-doubt. The council's words had struck a nerve, reinforcing her deepest fears of inadequacy. As she stood there, the frost began to form on her trembling hands, a visible manifestation of her inner turmoil. In a moment of desperation, she dug her nails into her palms, puncturing her skin and causing crescent moon shaped cuts to form. The pain was a harsh reminder of the consequences of her powers, but it also served as a temporary distraction from the emotional pain she was feeling.
Elsa glanced at her hands, worried that Anna would see the marks, evidence of her struggle, of how she still wasn’t coping. She wished she could shield her sister from the darkness that sometimes consumed her, but she knew that she couldn't always control it. Taking deep breaths, she tried to calm herself, to regain control of her emotions before facing Anna.
“Don’t screw this up, this is an important day for her.”
With a practiced smile on her face, Elsa made her way out of the room, her hands still tingling from the cold.
_ _ _
"Oh, you're not getting away with that, Kristoff!" Anna giggled, playfully retaliating with a mischievous grin as he nudged her arm. The crowd cheered as their competitive spirits ignited a friendly rivalry.
Amidst the excitement, Anna spotted Elsa making her way through the crowd. "Elsa's here!" she exclaimed with relief. "I was starting to worry. Let's go.”
They made their way towards Elsa, weaving through the crowd, until they finally reached her. Elsa greeted them with a small smile. "I'm sorry I'm late. I got held up with a meeting." she explained.
Anna embraced her sister, feeling grateful for her presence. "Was Falsen giving you a hard time again?”
“No, no, just some trade discussions took longer to sort out than anticipated, don’t worry.” Elsa said hastily. Anna gave Elsa a suspicious look, sensing something more. But before she could ask, Elsa swiftly changed the subject. "So, have you been enjoying yourselves?"
"Yes! Everything looks amazing. We've been having so much fun!" Olaf exclaimed, his joy infectious.
Elsa's warm smile grew as she looked down at the snowman. "I'm glad."
The five of them spent the rest of the evening enjoying the festivities, dancing, and savoring the delicious treats the festival had to offer. They created memories that would last a lifetime, cherishing the joy and love that filled their hearts.
As the festival came to a close, Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff & Sven returned to the castle for their weekly family game night.
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