"I don't mean to offend you Kristoff."
"You didn't offend me.."
"Oh good."
"You offended poor Sven, how could you not want him there?"
She fiddled with her palms. "Because..." She began. "He...is...such a...great...reindeer... I don't think our potentially new trading partners deserve to meet him...yet..."
He chopped on a carrot and then handed it to Sven. "You don't have to...lie, Elsa. I get it."
"Get what, Kristoff?" Kristoff said to himself in his reindeer voice. Though the Quen stared at the pair and gritted her teeth.
"Right, it's only for a few hours ...besides it's very important for Arendelle. Our future." Elsa explained and strolled over to the window in her study. Looking at the citizens of her kingdom. The gates had been open for nearly a year. After she discontinued trading with Weaselton, she figured she could deal without another partnership. Though not too long ago she had received a letter from another kingdom wanting to propose a deal. Seeing as her kingdom and theirs could benefit greatly. To which, she could at least hear what this other kingdom could offer.
"Even though if an agreement isn't struck, it doesn't hurt to hear them out. " she sat down at her desk, her late father's old desk the one where she used to peek and see what business he did before her mother would pull her away and she had to study. Her ungloved hands slide on the ageing wooden desk and she cracked a smile. Years ago, she had been afraid to too anything with her bare hands but now, thanks to her sister, Elsa is able to control them. Not hiding them from her people.
"Well is that what you wanted to speak to me about?" Kristoff asked to break the silence between them.
"Yes...oh wait..." She pursed her red color lips. "Tell Anna to show up on time. She has to be there as well." Elsa had nothing but maturity in her voice. Kristoff nodded and he and Sven left her study.
Now alone Elsa breathe in and then out. Her ice dress glittering in the sunlight that lit the room. She closed her eyes. Relaxing for the first time in a long time, the new Queen beginning her reign. She knew it was a lot of work and knew how much time it would take to do it. The laws, the few crimes that happens so often, taxes and so on and so forth. A Queen's duty was not and is not glamorous. "Alright." She sat up and began straightening her paperwork and books. She had received a letter from the other kingdom, an Hispanic kingdom that is rich in their history and praised by others in the past but as of lately the kingdom had reached out to others. None were very open to accept a partnership with them but Elsa didn't want to turn down another just because they were down on their luck.
Her gown flowed effortlessly as she walked out her study, they should be here soon. She then walked proudly down the halls of her castle. The guards and servants bowing and saying 'hello' or asking how she was. Elsa felt so blessed to have such caring servants that at this point neither she nor Anna saw them as servants but family.
"Hiii Elsa!"
"Olaf, how are you?" Elsa asked her dear friend.
"Perfect, now that it's spring, can't wait for summer again." Olaf said with nothing but pure innocence and happiness. Elsa smiled. "And yourself?"
"Nervous but excited." Elsa said as they walked down the stairs now. Olaf's snow leaving small trails of water. "It'll be a great opportunity... I hope."
"You'll be fine. So when are we meeting them?"
"We?" Elsa stopped art he front doors, which cause the guards to stop in their place with the doors cracked open. "Listen, until I get a feel for these people. I don't want them knowing. So the only 'we' is Anna and myself."
"I thought you were done hiding your powers." Olaf spoke sadly.
"I am! But I don't want another weasel-ton incident. Okay?" Elsa kneeled down and place her hand on Olaf's head. The little snowman looked up and nodded happily. "Good, I will see you later Olaf." Elsa stood up and fixed her gown. The guards then fully opened the door and the Queen walked out. The horns going off as the ship arrived at the docks.
Elsa quickly made her way there. The guards keeping an eye on there Queen as she went through town. It took a few minutes before she stood there looking at fjord. The ship sailing in, its country and kingdom's flag mounted high on the post. The country colors of red and yellow. The kingdom colors white and gold.
"This is it." Elsa mumbled she glanced around and noticed a very not there Anna. She frowned and began to worry. "Come on Anna...I can't do this alone." Within minutes the ship was docked and the ramp lowered. The knights were the first to come out. Six on each side standing in front of one another. Elsa walked a little closer. They all had swords on their sides and armor shined to perfection. Their family's crest engraved on center of each Knight.
"Attention!" Shouted a voice from the ship. Elsa's body shook slightly in surprise. Her blue eyes glanced at the ship and down came a tall knight. His armor different from the others. More slender and not as bulky. His hands behind his back. His eyes inspected the others. Then he glanced at Elsa. When he stood a few inches in front of her. He gave the Queen of Arendelle a small bow. The man taller than her. Maybe even a little taller than Kristoff.
"Queen Elsa of Arendelle." He spoke. His voice not too deep but had a sense of command. "I am Captain of Her Majesty's Knights. On behalf of the King Enrique of Eyvicca, his daughter Princess Mia, has come to talk terms." He then stood aside and introduced the princess. Out came a spunky young woman with curled black hair and brown eyes. Light olive skin tone and a soft pink dress with the sleeves off the shoulder and ruffles on the hems. She stood near Elsa and the Captain, she being shorter than them. "Princess Mia, Queen Elsa."
"Hola! Nice to meet a new partner of Eyvicca!" She spoke with a thick accent but not as thick as the captain.
"Hi, it is nice to meet you Princess Mia. My sister would be here...but...she's... Late...I do-"
"Wait! Wait, wait. wait!" Shouted a girl running towards them. So fast she nearly fell if it weren't for Mia's knight catching her. More or so like the girl running into him.
"Sorry! I'm here! I'm Anna." She said as she fixed her hair and gown. She looked at her sister who gave a serious look but then shook her head. Anna then looked at the other princess who began a giggle fit. Then lastly the Knight who caught her. "Sorry."
"It's quite alright." He said and just like Elsa, Anna noticed the softness in his voice.
Elsa clasped her hands together. "Well shall we go inside."
"Si. Si." Mia nodded and she followed as Elsa and Anna led the way.
As the reached the front door, Anna looked at the their guest. "Is he suppose to follow us?"
Mia blinked in confusion. Then looked behind her. "Oh! Well as captain, no, but as my personal body guard yes." She giggled.
"Oh..." Anna blinked and stared at the slender man who kept a seemingly stone face.
Elsa didn't mind and could understand. Mia is a guest in a foreign land had it been vice versa, she too would have a personal guard as well. "Anyway, let's discuss business." Elsa said.
"I agree, that's why we are here." Mia grinned.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
After an hour long talk, Mia stormed out the conference room. "Really you expect that from me?!" She yelled. "What kind of idiot do you take me for?!" The young woman shouted and stormed off. Going where? She didn't know and didn't care, she already agreed to stay here for three weeks and she had to. Her father was very strict on that.
Anna and Elsa came out and were confused. "I thought it was a great proposal Elsa..."
"You were asleep during half of it, Anna." Elsa tried not to sound too frustrated but she couldn't see why Mia disagreed. Anna went to go check on Mia, while Elsa stood there baffled.
"Excuse me..." Said a voice.
Elsa turned around, picking up her plans from the floor. "Yes?"
It was the Knight from early. He had not joined them in the conference room. He kneels down and helped her picked up the papers. "It was not cause they were bad...they were good but Princess Mia is new to negotiations. Sometimes...you gotta sweeten up to her first...then dumb it down." He giggled. And so did Elsa after a second.
"I'm new to this as well...we already lost one."
"I heard. Most of the kingdoms talk about it."
Elsa clenched the papers in her hands and stood up. "What do you hear?" Her voice near a whisper.
"Oh...things like secrets and such." Elsa felt like her heart stopped. "But a lot of them dislike that place anyway, I guess it is not called weasel town for nothing." He stood up and handed Elsa the rest of the papers. "Did I say something wrong?" He looked at her and waved his hands in her face.
"o-h...nothing. Thank you...I can't give up on this, I have to try again." Elsa spoke mostly to herself and walked away. The knight just standing there and shaking his head.
For two days Elsa made attempts to get the princess to understand explain the plans to her and how it benefited them. The trades each kingdom has to offer. But no luck, the girl just puffed her cheeks and scurried off somewhere. And each time Elsa would want to freeze that brat in her place and slap her silly. But no, she couldn't. So she calmed herself and planned for a different approach.
One day she was sitting in the garden and thinking of good strategies.
"Puppies."
"What?" Elsa looked up from her notes. Again the knight stood in front of her. In the sunlight, she noticed his dark brownish red hair and soft tan skin tone. She watched as he sat down.
"She likes puppies. I myself love cats but she loves puppies maybe... You soften her up?"
"I am not going to play games."
"It's no game...its cheating." He laughed. He had a cute laugh.
Elsa puffed her cheeks. "I am a queen not a child." She sat there quiet. "Maybe you can speak with her...um...?"
"Spirit." Elsa blinked. "My name is Spirit." The knight looked at the sunny sky. "If you want, I can help you. If she leaves without your kingdom's partnership the King will be upset. Why do you think we are here for nearly a month?" Elsa shrugged. "He know his daughter is stubborn and hard headed, that's why."
Elsa sat there silently, the knight laid back and watched the clouds. She noticed his hair pulled back and whimsically strands fluttered in the wind, in the sunlight they looked like a bronze red. The Queen thought about it. Would it be the Queen thing to do? Or should she send them back? She then thought of what would Anna do. Or even Kristoff or Olaf. Maybe she needed to set aside her own self and think. Had she been sent somewhere in someone else's place, she'd want to know that they would think of her. Make her feel welcome.
Has she not made Mia feel that way? She had her maids tend to her and foods inspired by her culture but she she truly made her feel welcome?
"Spirit?" Elsa said after what seems years of silence. He looked at her. "Princess Mia, does she not feel at all comfortable?"
He blinked at the strange question. "The Princess feels this more of something her father would do and not how she would do it. Mia is a very carefree lady and sometimes while it is important for work she enjoys relaxation and thinks it's important. You are catering her as if she was home, she is used to that life. Maybe show her less of Eyvicca and more of Arendelle?"
Elsa thought about this, then placed a finger on her chin. Maybe she had been so focused on making a good and normal impression of her kingdom. She hid away the quirkiness and fun of it. "Alright." She said out of nowhere and began to rip up her notes. Spirit glanced at her. Watching the blonde queen ditched her plans.
The woman stood up and breathed. She can do this. Elsa looked down at Spirit. "Thank you... Spirit." The knight smiled. "That's a very...unique name."
He chuckled. "That's a very unique way of saying strange Queen Elsa."
"If it helps, I will have to find a way to thank you." Elsa turned to leave but then stopped and glanced at the Knight who continued to lay in the grass. A smirked appeared on her face and she left.
Clenching her hands together she stood outside her guest's room. "Come on...you can do this." Elsa encouraged herself. The door opened. Mia looked surprised. Her crown on her head center in her curls.
"Oh...another...idea?"
"Yes. Look...I know I can be a little...serious..."
"Uptight?"
Elsa gritted her teeth. "Sure. But I'm doing a whole new approach. Today, we are going into town."
Mia blinked. "Que?"
Elsa nodded and then waved them over. Anna, Kristoff, and Sven. Elsa decided to save Olaf for last. The best part, in her opinion.
"Are you ready for the best festival in the world?!" Anna said with loads of excitement that Kristoff quietly step away from her.
Mia smiled. She glowed and nodded. "Yes!" She jumped up and down and then went to the reindeer, "I have never seen such animal. Oh my..." She petted Sven who enjoyed the attention.
Elsa watched. She smiled. This is working. "Well what are we waiting for?" Elsa asked with joy.