the first time in forever

[twicefrozen]

Anna has had a whirlwind few weeks. The gates have been opened, there's been a coronation and a surprise engagement (sort of) and Elsa had created eternal winter and blanketed all of Arendelle in snow. There's been betrayal, romance, and a snow monster. And, of course, everything has worked out all right.

Elsa says they'll keep the gates open now permanently and her powers, so beautiful and so dangerous, seem to be in control. She can make it icy in the courtyard in summer so they can go skating and she can keep Olaf alive and well but nobody seems to be in danger. Most importantly - Elsa seems happy. It's been so long since she's seen her sister happy that Anna has almost forgotten how it feels and what it looks like but it's nice. For the first time in forever, Anna is truly content with the world and happy to be in it.

She's running through the castle like usual, flipping open the doors and all the windows to let in the warm summer sun. Elsa is...somewhere and Anna is determined she's going to get her out and about today. She's going to get Elsa to genuinely enjoy being around other people if it kills her.

She opens up a door she doesn't recognize and sees...well, that's not normal. There's a party! There's a bunch of hedges and it's chilly so maybe that means Elsa is out and about; she does tend to affect the temperature when she's around.

"Elsa? Are you giving a party and leaving me out? I'm your sister, you know you're supposed to tell me if there's any parties. I love parties! Elsa? Ellllsaaaaaaaaa..."

Comments

[silverandcold]

"Quite a few." Some had been far more pleasant than others, like the one to feudal Japan and its quiet, snowy mountains.

"I like many of them but then there was a door where I ended up having to ice skate in front of thousands of strangers. I thought I might faint!"

[twicefrozen]

"I'm sure you were awesome," Anna says. Elsa has always been a better skater than she is but she guesses Elsa has a little bit of an advantage, considering she can make the ice. Still, Elsa is graceful and fluid in a way that Anna is never going to be and if someone is skating in front of people, she thinks it ought to be Elsa.

"Better than I would be, anyway."

[silverandcold]

"I had a friend who came through the same door," she says, glad one more for Legolas' continued presence in the hotel. "He kept me from losing my head. Maybe I'll show you after--"

She doesn't get to finish her sentence as two big cups of hot chocolate are set in front of them and Elsa pulls her gloves on to prolong the heat.

[twicefrozen]

Anna has always loved hot chocolate and the kind here in the hotel is thick and rich just the way she used to get it back in Arendelle.

"A friend? Well obviously I need to meet all of your friends."

[silverandcold]

Elsa relaxes a little at that, smiling when she sees that she made the exact right choice of drinks for them. Even better is that chocolate is much more readily available here, rather than a special luxury.

"His name is Legolas. He's..." Elsa tries not to sigh at the thought of him. "He's been a wonderful friend."

[twicefrozen]

"But is he just a friend?" Anna knows she can be nosy but it comes from loving her sister and wanting the best for her.

"What's he like?"

[silverandcold]

"Anna!" she hisses, sounding more like a scandalized teenager than the Queen of Arendelle. "I don't know! It's not like he's come courting, but he's been very kind and taught me a lot."

[twicefrozen]

"Well, if he is courting, he's got to go through me," she says firmly. It's pretty laughable, considering her own track record with men who are courting but she feels protective of her sister and now she understands Elsa's hesitation about Hans.

"How long have you known him?"

[silverandcold]

"I really don't think...I mean, I've known him almost the whole time I've been here and he's never mentioned..." She stares into her cocoa rather than at her sister. Here for one hour and she's already flustered Elsa.

[twicefrozen]

"Uh huh. Well, maybe he doesn't have to mention it for it to be a thing." Anna's knowledge of courting is admittedly very limited - books and Hans. Hans doesn't count.

"Anyway. I'm going to have to meet him."

[silverandcold]

Elsa shakes her head, trying to smile but she's never been good at faking emotions, only repressing them. "I'm pretty sure the whole point of courting is that you announce your intentions."

And he'd made no such declaration.

[twicefrozen]

"Maybe he's secretly in love with you and doesn't want to disappoint you," Anna says, gesturing expansively with her fork. "I mean, you're a queen and what is he? Some nobody? I'd be nervous too."

Not that Anna thinks Elsa cares about that. "I don't know, do you want him to court you?"

[silverandcold]

"You're such a romantic," Elsa says, relieved when a plate of waffles gets set down between them.

[twicefrozen]

"You didn't answer my question," Anna points out around a big bite of waffle. "Do you want him to court you or not?"

[silverandcold]

Elsa takes a good long time in covering her waffle with butter and powdered sugar and then a thin drizzle of syrup, stalling.

"I suppose...I would like that."

[twicefrozen]

"So you need to send out the right signals," Anna says knowingly. She has no idea what those signals would be for Elsa but she wants happiness for her.

"You know, provided I like the guy."

[silverandcold]

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Elsa says. "Even if he is a prince."

[twicefrozen]

"Oh? See, it's even better! You can actually marry this guy and everything," Anna says brightly. This is her new mission, she thinks, and if Elsa can't handle it herself, Anna is definitely there to help.

[silverandcold]

"Anna!" she says again, cheeks a deep red. When did this become about marriage. Besides which, the fact that she's (ostensibly) human and he isn't...

Well, there's no stopping Anna now. Even she knows that.

[twicefrozen]

"What? I'm just looking out for my sister," Anna says. She just wants to see Elsa happy and she definitely wants to see her with this Legolas if this is someone who makes her happy. She thinks he might, considering she's never seen Elsa this animated about anyone before.

[silverandcold]

"Meddling," she corrects, though it's gentle. She wants to laugh with her sister, just to smile and be at ease--but she also knows Anna likes to stick her pert little nose in everything.

[twicefrozen]

"Well, beneficial meddling," Anna says stubbornly. She drains the last of her cocoa and wiggles the mug a little.

"I don't guess we can get more of this, can we? It's good."

[silverandcold]

It's still meddling, but there's no stopping her.

At least the breakfast foods can keep her distracted for now. "All you have to do is order more. The breakfasts are all free."

[twicefrozen]

"Oh, right, you totally said that!" Anna orders more hot chocolate and a whole tray of pastries, pleased when the waiter brings them almost instantly.

"See? Now that's some service."

[silverandcold]

"Careful Anna," she teases. "If you eat it all right now, they'll have to roll you to your room and I'm not icing up the hallways to make it easier for you."