Foreword: As I work on expanding the Ice and Wind saga, I am bringing you key moments from Nik and Elsa's life. Here, we are going to witness their wedding, and the rushed preparations leading up to it. We all know Elsa has spent her life in isolation, so it's expected that she will be nervous. But Nik has been in front of his people for years without revealing his powers, interacting with them and leading them. He should be calm and collected, right? Let's take a look.

That night, the castle in Arendelle was a flurry of silent activity. Heavy curtains were drawn, even in the chapel, to keep noise and light to a minimum. No one outside could know until the next afternoon what was taking place inside.

For inside that castle, a young King that their enemies thought dead or captured by their armies was very much alive, and had just proposed to the young Queen of Arendelle. She had accepted, and a ceremony was to be performed that night, as yet one more surprise for their enemies.

"Kristoff, go wake the priest, and have him prepare a ceremony," Elsa commanded her brother in law. "He is to be in the chapel before eleven. Anna, I need you to have Kai and Gerda rouse some of the staff. We need witnesses to make it official." Kristoff ran to find the priest, and Anna hurried out to the hall, relaying her sister's message.

Elsa then turned to Nik. "There are some things I know I do want in a wedding, however," she told him, taking his hands and looking into his bluish-green eyes. "And this armor will not do. I'll have some staff look through the chests in the cellars-" she began.

"Not necessary," Nik interrupted her gently. He held out his arm, changing the fabric of his shirt cuff to a dark grey from the off white that it was. "I'm sure I can manage something, my love." He glanced at his brother, and frowned. "But as for my brother..." He trailed off.

Johan shook his head. "I am Captain of your Guard, Nik. I will stand as your Best Man, but I would be out of place in anything but this," he said as he indicated his armor.

Nik looked to Elsa, hoping she would have an opinion. She glanced Johan over, then frowned. "I suppose if some staff polished it quickly. It isn't BAD looking, but it IS dirty." She looked back up to Nik. "He can wear it if it is clean. As for a ring for you, I have a family heirloom that might work. How do you feel about diamonds in your ring?"

He smiled warmly at her. "So long as it is you placing it on my finger, Elsa, what my ring looks like is a small thing. But I would be honored to wear this ring," he told her.

Just then, Anna returned, a couple ladies of the staff in tow. "I thought we might need some help, Elsa," she explained. When she saw Nik and Johan still in the room, she stomped her foot and pointed to the door. "OUT!" she shouted at the two men. "You can't see her before the wedding! It's bad luck! There are some male staff for you in the hall. Now out, out, OUT!"

Nik looked at Elsa, who shrugged, not knowing what to say. He leaned in and kissed her again, then he and Johan left the room. Anna slammed the door behind them, then turned to her sister. "Now, you need a dress. Something meant for a Queen, and that will take his breath away. And let's get you cleaned up. Tear stains and droopy eyes just won't do."

Nik and Johan were escorted to a suite of rooms down the next hall, where the two servants helped them out of their armor, then began working on cleaning Johan's. There were two baths in separate rooms already drawn, so they each could clean up from their hard ride from Stonewell. When each had finished, they also found supplies to shave. Nik did so quickly, then dressed in the clothes he had been wearing, that somehow had managed to stay fairly clean.

Stepping into the shared room, he found Johan helping to finish clean his armor. "She will tell you no if you aren't dressed better than that, my brother," Johan chided. Nik shot him a glance of mock anger in return.

Nik moved to the mirror, and thought hard. It had been a while since he had used his magic to create a completely new set of clothes, and he was glad he'd still remembered how in front of Elsa. 'That would have been embarrassing if I'd failed,' he thought to himself. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he had an idea. Calling his magic, he changed his boots first; they became a shiny pair of black boots. Looking down at them, he inspected his work quickly. Satisfied, he turned to the rest of his clothes. He settled on a light gray shirt, storm gray pants, and a matching jacket. He retrieved his King's badge from the dresser in the room, and tried to pin it on himself; he found that his hands had started to shake a bit.

The entire room jumped when the thunder rolled from right outside the window. When raindrops began to fall around the room, Johan moved quickly to his brother. "Hey, let me assist you, Nik," he said as he took the badge and pinned it to his brother's jacket. Stepping back, he smiled. "You should make your own clothing more often, my brother. This looks better than anything you have at home."

Nik smiled weakly, then looked at himself in the mirror. He was satisfied with his attire, and Johan had the ring he had proposed to Elsa with; he would be putting it on her finger again when they met at the altar soon. 'This is happening,' he thought to himself. 'I'm getting married.'

The tap on his shoulder made him jump, and it was then that he realized a light rain was starting again in the room. "Nik, can we please turn off the water?" Johan asked him. "I know you're a bundle of nerves, but it's alright. She already said yes." When Nik looked him in the eye, he saw the uneasiness, almost fear in them. "What's wrong, Nik?"

Nik hesitated for a moment before he answered. "I've...never been intimate. With any woman, Johan. Partly by choice, but mostly by necessity. I never wanted a bastard child, and because I couldn't risk having someone find out about...well, you know," he told his brother. "None of them would have understood, and it could have put all of our lives at risk."

"Nik," Johan said slowly, "are you saying you, ah, don't know what you're doing?" When Nik shook his head, he asked another question. "Do you at least have SOME idea about what is supposed to happen? You know it involves what is in your pants, right?" he laughed as he verbally jabbed his brother.

That got a real glare from Nik. "I'm not an idiot. I can read, Johan. And I have emotions, desires. I've read some books," he began. "But, well, beyond some kissing, I've never actually DONE anything." The look on his face was one of embarrassment. He never thought he'd be admitting this to either of his brothers.

Johan considered for a moment before he replied. "Well, the first thing I will tell you is calm down. I doubt she has been with anyone, so she will be nervous too, given her years of isolation. Take it slow with her. My lady friend and I have not...finished things, but we have done...well, more than you, it would seem. You've read the books, but make sure you listen to her. Tell her how you feel, listen to her as you touch her. She will let you know, somehow, what she likes and doesn't. Above all, make sure she knows you want her. A woman who feels desired will be less hesitant, and in your case, less likely to freeze you."

Nik chuckled at the last statement. "Somehow, I'm not worried about the freezing. I just want her to remember it, and to make sure she enjoys it."

"Then, my King," Johan replied, "you are well on your way to doing so. Determination to see her happy will go a long way." He clapped his brother on the back then, and moved over to the staff, who had just finished with his armor. "Now, I need to get myself dressed. Oh, and Nik," he added, "try not to make it storm when you are with her. Well, not thunderstorm, anyway." That earned him another glare. He smiled in return.

Once Johan had strapped his armor back on and strapped his sword into place, the two brothers and the servants with them walked down to the chapel, to await the bride.

Meanwhile, Anna had sent a servant to collect a couple of her dresses. While they were gone, she focused on trying to get Elsa ready. Anna rebraided her hair, making sure every lock was in its place, then pulled it into a bun. She then turned to makeup, and as she was digging through supplies, Elsa touched her shoulder. "Hold on, Anna. Let me try something."

With that, Elsa called on her magic, and her face brightened. The tear stains vanished, and the shadows around her eyes all but disappeared. She smiled for Anna, who returned it and shook her head. "Cheater," was the only reply Elsa got.

"Now, for your dress. You need something regal, stunning, something that is going to draw him in," Anna commented as Elsa leaned on the vanity. "Something he will love to see on you, but can't wait to get off you."

The vanity was suddenly encased in ice. Elsa removed her hands, which were now visibly shaking, leaving her hand prints in the ice. "Oops," she whispered. When she turned to Anna, she saw the surprised expression and smiled weakly. "That was an accident."

"Elsa," Anna began to pry, "what's wrong? And don't tell me nothing, you just FROZE the vanity!" She marched around her sister and grabbed her cheeks, forcing their eyes to meet. "Elsa, talk to me. He's not going to run from you; he will be at the altar waiting for you. So what is it?"

Elsa turned and looked down. "What...what if that happens later?" She asked, pointing to the vanity, her voice shaking. "I don't want to hurt him, and I don't want to disappoint him."

Anna was confused for a moment, and almost said so, until it hit her. "Oh, right. THAT." She reached out and put her arms around her sister. "You'll be okay, Elsa. He won't be disappointed."

She turned to Anna. "How can you be so sure? Anna, I've never even KISSED a man before him. I don't have a clue what to do. Oh sure, I've read a couple books, but didn't you ever notice they usually came up missing? Do you know how many I froze and had to throw out?"

Anna couldn't help it. She started to laugh. She laughed so hard she fell into a chair. "THAT'S where those went?" she asked, still chuckling. When Elsa nodded, she continued. "Here I thought someone was taking them from our library and forgetting about them. I didn't know you ruined them!"

Elsa tried to remain stoic. "Anna, stop it! This isn't funny!" she exclaimed, though her sister's laugh had her laughing as well by the time she finished her sentence. When they finally calmed down, they just stared at one another, enjoying another sisterly bonding moment.

Anna was the first to speak. "Okay, I should have thought this through and said something sooner," she began. "The first thing you need to do," she warned, "is calm down. He loves you, Elsa. I'll bet he does everything in his power to take things slowly with you. He knows you have only recently emerged from isolation; he will be expecting you to be nervous. Or at least he'd better be, or I'll beat him.

"Second, let him know what feels good to you. You're both going to be clumsy; he doesn't look like the type of man to play around much. I'll bet he's still a virgin. He probably has no more experience than you," Anna guessed. "I mean, he's a King and nobody knows about his powers, he's had to have kept them hidden somehow."

"I guess you're right," Elsa replied. "But I still don't want to disappoint him." She stood in front of the mirror, trying to get an image of what she would want in a wedding dress.

"You won't, Elsa," Anna said as she moved by her sister, looking at her in the mirror. "Now, what shall we do for your dress?"

Elsa turned back to the mirror, thinking hard. Finally, she had an idea. Starting with train and bottom of the skirt, she turned it to sheer chiffon, and slowly turned it to silver as it neared her waist. The bodice she turned white, and it shimmered beautifully, meeting the skirt in long peaks. She left her shoulders bare, but created sheer sleeves that were open to her elbows, then became almost solid by her wrists. She still had something to keep hidden.

Anna moved around her, smiling and nodding. When she looked closely at the bodice, she gasped. "Oh, Elsa, ice crystals! What a wonderful idea!"

Elsa smiled. "Thank you. But I'm not done yet." Looking through the sheer hem of her dress, she lifted up on her toes, and with a quick bit of magic, she created herself a light blue pair of heels. She studied herself for a minute, then turned to her sister. "There. What do you think?"

Anna smiled, tears in her eyes. "You look absolutely gorgeous, Elsa. He won't be able to get his eyes off you." Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she opened a box on the vanity. "Oh! We almost forgot! You need this!" She turned, and carefully placed the snowflake crown in her hair. "There. Now you are ready!"

Elsa stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself in the dress she had crafted. "Oh Elsa!" Anna gushed. "It's gorgeous! It will take everyone's breath away!" She skipped around Elsa, then bounded off. "Oops! Now I have to get ready! I'll just be a minute!"

She smiled as she watched Anna run off to pick a dress. Then Elsa looked back at herself in the mirror. She did like the dress. A lot. She hoped Nik liked it too. 'Well, we will find out in just a little while, won't we?' she thought to herself. She deeply hoped he did.

Anna appeared beside her in the mirror, fully dressed. "Are you ready? Oops, didn't mean to startle you," she apologized when she noticed Elsa had jumped. "Shall we get going? You've both waited your whole lives, you shouldn't keep each other waiting."

Elsa smiled at her sister. "No. No, I shouldn't keep him waiting," she answered. With that, the two of them left the room and headed for the chapel, for the man Elsa loved.

Nik stood on the dais in the chapel, the priest to his right, Johan in his shining armor to his left and down one step. Looking out over the crowd, he saw the smiles on their faces. His men were excited to be present to watch their King take a bride; her staff were elated that their Queen had finally found a man to call King.

He was used to music at weddings. There wouldn't be any tonight; they had to keep noise to a minimum. There also would be no celebration. There just wasn't time. Oh, he loved Elsa dearly, and WANTED a celebration. Maybe they could have one when everything was calmed again. Hopefully...

His thoughts were interrupted when Anna bounded around the corner. She was halfway down the aisle before she remembered to slow down; when she did, she stumbled and almost fell. The entire assembly giggled, and Anna smiled. 'Apparently, that's not unusual,' Nik thought to himself with a smirk.

When Anna had reached her position on the dais, the priest indicated that they should all rise. Nik looked down the aisle, and saw Elsa standing at the other end. The sight of her made his breath catch. He simply stared at her; he had never seen such a beautiful sight.

He didn't realize he was holding his breath until Johan told him. "Breathe, Nik. Breathe," his brother whispered. Once he took a breath, Nik felt himself smile. He knew it was a big, childish smile; he could see her return it as she came closer.

When she reached the dais, he could wait no longer; he stepped down and took her hand, smiling at her. Hand in hand, they ascended the dais together, and stood before the priest. When he looked back to the priest, he noticed that the man's focus was on their hands; he reluctantly let go of hers, remembering that the time would come for that.

The priest looked out to the assembly and began the ceremony. Neither Nik nor Elsa truly paid attention to the beginning of it; it was something about coming together to unite two souls and two Kingdoms. Something else about if anyone objected to speak now or forever hold their piece. 'Anyone who objects will be removed from the Kingdom,' Elsa thought to herself.

"Please face one another," the priest instructed them. They both did so eagerly; neither wanted to see anyone else. Beginning with Nik, the priest asked, "King Nikolaus, do you swear yourself to Elsa, to love her and to protect her, to hold her and honor her, through sickness and health, so long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Nik said without hesitation, still smiling, nearly lost in her icy blue eyes.

The priest then turned to Elsa. "Queen Elsa, do you swear yourself to Nikolaus, to love him and stand beside him, to hold him and honor him, through sickness and health, so long as you both shall live?"

"I do," she replied, feeling her excitement swell as she looked deeply into his bluish-green eyes, the golden flecks swirling slowly.

"King Nikolaus, do you have a ring for your Queen?" the priest inquired.

Never looking away from Elsa, Nik extended his hand; he felt Johan place the ring in his palm. Glancing down, Nik slowly slid the ring onto her finger, trying not to fumble it. "With this ring, Elsa, I take you for my wife, my partner, my Queen," he stated, smiling down into her eyes.

"And you, Queen Elsa, do you have a ring for your King?" the priest continued, keeping the ceremony moving.

Elsa never looked away from Nik, and Anna put the ring in her hand. It was a simple gold band, with six diamonds inset, equally spaced around it. She too glanced down, fumbling slightly. She looked back up into his eyes and smiled. "With this ring, Nikolaus, I take you for my husband, my partner, my King."

The priest raised his hands, saying, "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may..."

Neither of them heard the rest. Nik pulled Elsa into his arms, kissing her passionately to the cheers of the assembly. She, in turn, wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him as she returned the kiss.

When they finally broke apart and turned to the crowd, they saw them all standing, cheering and clapping. Hand in hand, they descended the dais and strode slowly from the chapel. There was one other part to the wedding, a part that only they would participate in. They both smiled, neither wanting the other to see their nervousness.

Hmmm. Well, this is interesting. It turns out they are BOTH a bit insecure. Next chapter, we will see how those insecurities translate into their intimate lives. Look for that update soon!