Parched

It was evening and Olaf waddled on his thick block feet down the spiral staircase of Anna and Elsa's castle, almost slipping with every drop in height. He slalomed, albeit uncoordinatedly, through the servants carrying food dishes from the kitchen to the dining room. Servants tutted and sighed every time he almost made them drop a dish, all the while he repeatedly chirped "sorry! Pardon me! Coming through!"

Olaf arrived at the doors to the dining room and was just in time for the last servant who set down a dish to leave the room, thereby giving him a glance inside as the door swung closed. He spotted Anna and Elsa's mysterious guests sat at the table with them. "Sorry, Olaf, I need you not to frighten our dinner guests senseless tonight by saying hello to them. Or at least, give it a day before scaring them witless, okay?" Elsa had asked of him with a smile and a wink earlier in the evening. Olaf had not got what the problem might be with their guests meeting him but since Elsa had stopped him melting into a puddle after The Great Thaw he figured he would pay heed to her request. Olaf turned to walk away and slammed right into a servant carrying a jug of water. "Sorry!"

In the dining room, they all heard the thud of the servant and the jug hitting the floor, followed by Olaf's apologetic cry. The dark-haired guests looked up and towards the door with frowns. Anna and Elsa exchanged glances. Both breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Olaf's chirpy voice grow distant and eventually inaudible.

Elsa sat at the head of the table, Anna sat on her right, and the guests sat on Elsa's left. It was a large dining table able to sit up to forty people. Esse and Demer had removed their armour and wore clothes more fitting of royalty: white high-collared shirts, persimmon-orange cravats, black velvet vests, decorated black jackets, pantaloons and leather riding boots. Rose-inspired designs decorated their formal clothing as had their armour and were embroidered using various shades of orange and red thread, contrasting the floral designs of green, blue, yellow and pink on Elsa and Anna's dresses.

"Which kingdom are you from again?" Anna asked after a spoonful.

"Far south of here..." Demer answered.

"Much warmer than here..." Esse added, mock shivering.

"Far more people than here. A place called Cabral." Demer finished.

"I've not heard of it." Anna admitted.

Esse laughed, surprised. "Oh really? You must not get out of your kingdom walls much."

It hadn't been meant as a jibe yet Elsa and Anna both felt the comment prod at their memories of being kept behind closed doors for most of their lives. Anna frowned and was about to retaliate but was stopped by Elsa placing a hand on hers.

When dinner came to a close Demer and Esse stood and did their signature bow with a fist over their hearts. They wished to return to their crew mates to see how they were doing and thanked the sisters for their hospitality. They turned and made for the door. Shortly after the doors swung shut behind them Elsa and Anna heard a male shriek of surprise followed by a scream from what sounded like Olaf. The sisters ran through the doors. Demer had drawn his sword and swung it at Olaf's head, Olaf in turn had thrown his head high into the air and in the nick of time too. Demer made to swing a second time. Elsa threw up an arm as fast as lightning. Demer's arm froze, literally. Demer tried to pull his arm out of the thick column of ice that had risen from the floor.

"Oh, Elsa! Thank you!" Olaf ran around Demer's legs and hugged Elsa tightly.

"Olaf, what did I say about staying out of sight?"

Olaf downcast his eyes apologetically. "But we always have dinner together."

"A little help here?" Demer asked, still struggling with his arm.

While Elsa thawed the ice column around Demer's arm Esse crouched down beside Olaf, eyes wide and mouth agape in disbelief.

"Are you...?" she began asking Olaf. "Is he..." she now looked at Anna and Elsa "...a living thing?"

"Yeah, why?" Olaf answered.

Demer, arm free and sword now sheathed, came to stand beside Esse. "Impossible..."

"That's strong magic you have indeed, Queen Elsa." Esse said, eyes still wide. "Well... we'll be taking our leave now. Thank you again for dinner."

While the brother and sister walked away the looks that had been on their faces were suspended in Anna's mind. They had looked anxious. Anna bit her lip and tried not to assume the worst; that they might now fear Elsa and might call on their soldiers and crew from overseas to attack them. Elsa chatted with the snowman, oblivious.

The gates to the castle, now forever open, were adorned by house servants welcoming guests to the castle. Citizens of Arendelle through to dignitaries from other lands sauntered into the grounds chatting, laughing and smiling. The habour was crowded with tall ships and activity buzzed on its jetties.

In the castle Elsa and Anna fussed in their walk-in wardrobe. Elsa waved her arms and enhanced their dresses with her magic. They both turned to the mirror on the adjacent wall.

"You look perfect." Elsa said to Anna.

"You look more perfect," Anna replied.

Three thuds on the room's door caught their attention. "Ladies, it's me, Kristoff."

Anna gasped with excitement, skipped to the door and pulled it open. Kristoff appeared looking the smartest they had ever seen him. His hair was slick and neat, he wore polished boots and a suit of Nordic formal wear. He looked handsome. Anna kissed Kristoff on the lips, took one of his hands and they started walking towards the ballroom. Elsa followed them. For a split-second Kristoff noticed sparkling lights dancing around his body. No sooner had he noticed them they had gone. He cocked an eyebrow and then turned his head to look at Elsa as they continued to walk, Anna leading the way. Elsa caught his eye and gave him a quick wink. Thanks to her magic his outfit now looked flawless. Kristoff scratched the back of his head nervously and gave Elsa a knowing, thankful smile.

They entered the ball room. Their steward announced each of them in turn as they entered: Princess Anna and Ice Master Kristoff, followed by Queen Elsa. The room turned to face them respectfully as they entered. Elsa was soon overcome with important people from foreign lands wanting to make her acquaintance, Anna and Kristoff headed to the nearest tray of canapes. Anna scanned the room with bright eyes. So many people, so little time, she thought to herself and breathed a sigh of gratitude that she and Elsa had promised never to close their castle gates ever again.

Behind Anna a tall dark man cleared his throat and offered his hand. It was Demer. Anna turned to face him, a little startled by the noise. "May I give you a dance?" He asked.

Kristoff squared up to him and puffed his chest. "Anna already has a dancing partner, thank you."

Anna placed her hands on Kristoff's arms and chuckled. "What's with you Kristoff? Prince Demer is just being polite." Demer was looking with bemusement at Kristoff. Indeed, he wasn't trying to take his girl. Kristoff puffed again but folded his arms and stepped out of the way. "Sorry, go right on ahead. But the next dance is with me, you hear." Anna punched him softly on the arm before heading with Demer to the dance floor.

Meanwhile, Olaf waddled about outside enjoying the crowds of people. They all marvelled at him. The guards had been asked by Elsa to keep an eye out for his safety just in case of another Demer-like incident.

As Demer and Anna danced she peeked occasionally over to Elsa, then to Kristoff, then back to Elsa. Kristoff was busying himself eating food. Elsa on the other hand was starting to come up against handsome, esteemed young men trying to court her. It happened every ball. Despite all that had happened three years ago and Elsa opening up as a person, the words of Hans's still rung true: "no one was getting anywhere with her." Anna smiled to herself as Elsa graciously ducked and weaved their polite verbal advances with smiles and her catchphrase: "I don't dance."

When the song ended Anna bolted for Elsa. She turned to Elsa's newest acquaintance "Sorry to interrupt. You don't mind if I take my sister for a dance, do you?" They dared not say no. Anna took Elsa's glove-free hands in her own and began to pull her towards the dancefloor.

"Whoa. Wait. I don't dance remember."

"Oh, come on?" Anna rolled her eyes. "Besides, I'm saving you from drowning in handsome young men."

"No, Anna." Elsa said indignantly but with a smile.

"For me. Please?" Anna gave Elsa her most earnest look.

Elsa couldn't take it and folded. "All right but just this onc-" Anna jerked Elsa on to the dance floor cutting off the end of her sentence.

Kristoff watched this unfold on one side of the room. At first he felt irritated Anna had forgotten her next dance was to be with him, but the feelings melted away partly because he was used to Anna's scattyness and also partly because he knew how much she adored her sister and he wanted them to enjoy their moment.

Elsa felt unpractised at first but with Anna's bottomless enthusiasm she eventually relaxed into the sway of the dance. "See, dancing isn't so bad," Anna teased.

On the other side of the room Prince Demer and Princess Esse soaked in the atmosphere. Esse had changed into a beautiful gown of her kingdom's colours. Demer wore his smartest duck tail jacket. The ball was a tame affair compared to the royal parties in their home country but they liked how quaint it was. "So, I know we set sail originally to put a chase on our enemies, but how would finding you a wife do as a bonus?" Esse asked her brother. He gave her a look as if to ask, "what's up your sleeve now?" Esse made a deliberate glance towards Elsa and Anna in the centre of the room. Demer followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow.

When the song came to an end Anna turned to find Kristoff standing by her side, arm offered. She took it and apologised for forgetting her promise to dance with him next with a peck on the cheek. Elsa on the other hand had turned to find herself flanked by Demer. He offered an arm. Elsa looked at it awkwardly. "Thank you for the offer, but I really don't dance."

"That wasn't dancing just then?" He retorted teasingly.

"Sorry." Elsa walked away leaving him stranded in the middle of the dance floor.

Demer wasn't used to women turning him down flat. He straightened his posture and then felt a hand on his back. It was Esse. She was laughing. "Can't win them all, huh? Really didn't think you'd get shot down so bad, brother, honest. Those sisters are near opposites." He shrugged and offered to dance with her instead. She accepted gladly.

Kristoff and Anna turned many heads as they danced yet Kristoff's eyes were focused solely on Anna. Anna's were absorbed by him looking at her. They turned and danced into another couple. They apologised simultaneously then looked sheepishly at each other before continuing.

"Anna, I- there's something I've been wanting to ask." Kirstoff said.

"Yes..." Anna raised her eyebrows.

"Well, I'm not really sure how to say it..."

"Yes..." Anna's cheeks grew pinker.

"We've been together for some time and I'm hardly a guy you just met, right? And so if I was to ask a certain something… Elsa wouldn't start another eternal winter…" Kristoff mumbled.

"Oh, Kristoff just say whatever it is you're trying to say!"

Kristoff cleared his throat and sunk to one knee. "Anna, will you marry me?" From inside his jacket he pulled out a betrothal necklace and offered it to her.

She gasped aloud and everyone's heads turned. "Yes!" She squealed.

The room exploded into applause. Standing near her throne Elsa clapped too, her cheeks rosy with happiness.

In a corner of the castle grounds Sven was dozing in a royal barn especially built from him. He was stirred by ruffling noises nearby. His ears pricked up. More rustling. He got up onto his hooves and popped his head over the stable door. The party was a dozen or so metres away. He looked with want at the lights, noises and people, wishing he could be part of it too. More rustling: much louder this time. Sven's eyes shot to the bushes lining the grounds. He spotted three figures moving through the bushes. They had hoods of dark material covering their faces. He began to kick his stable door and grunt. The figures noticed his fuss and moved quicker.

Olaf had socialised himself to the edge of the party and was now not far from Sven. His non-existent snow ears picked up on Sven's fuss and he bounded over on his big snow feet.

"Sven, why are you acting so crazy?" Olaf asked.

Sven's eyes were wide and his nostrils flared. He tossed his head in the direction of the cloaked figures.

"You got a crick in your neck, Sven?"

Sven rolled his eyes and tried again, tossing his head towards the bushes lining the castle walls.

While Olaf continued to try and fail to understand Sven's gestures two of the cloaked figures snuck into a bush behind Olaf undetected. In a split second, a large sack was thrown over Olaf. A figure rushed forward and shoved a bottle of a strong sedative under Sven's nostrils before he could neigh for help. Sven dropped to the ground, unconscious. Olaf tumbled and cried out in the sack but it was so thick it muffled the noise. There were three mysterious figures. Two nodded to the third; they tied shut Olaf's sack and escaped with him into the night whilst the third individual began to make their way towards the ball.

In the ballroom, Elsa felt overwhelmed with talking to so many people combined with the excitement of Kristoff and Anna's engagement. She excused herself and headed into a quiet corridor to get a break. To her right was a small room with naval maps on its walls and a table. It had beautiful views over the fjord. She headed inside. Unknown to her she was being tailed. Elsa situated herself close to a window and looked out at the scenery. She heard a creak from the door's hinges. She turned. Her rear hand tensed, ready to shoot ice should she need to. Standing across the room, hands raised and palms facing forward in surrender was Esse. "Oh, it's you." Elsa said. "Why did you follow me in here?" Elsa dissipated the ice spell she had had brewing in her hand.

"I wanted to talk to you alone."

"What about?"

The candles illuminating the room flickered.

"Your powers."

Elsa went from feeling perplexed to uneasy. Esse stood rigid and her tone as she spoke was uncharacteristically flat. "What do you want to know?" Elsa asked.

All the candles in the room suddenly extinguished. Moonlight offered some illumination. Hairs on the back of Elsa's neck stood on end. Esse was motionless in the shadows of the room.

An orange glow grew by Esse's left thigh. Elsa spotted a lick of a flame. Esse struck the air with her left arm. Fire flew from it towards Elsa. Elsa parried with a bundle of snow that evaporated on impact with the flames. Esse's left arm remained mid-air. Elsa's right hand hovered mid-air also. Their eyes locked.

Esse made to strike again. Elsa flicked her wrist upwards, encasing Esse's arm in a pillar of ice. Esse struck it with her other hand and it thawed immediately in a burst of flames. Elsa tried to encase Esse's whole body, but again it was thawed. Esse threw a belt of fire at Elsa. Elsa swung her left arm in a semi-circle to create an ice shield and it took the blast for her. Elsa countered by launching a sharp ice crystal at Esse's head but Esse parried it with an intense blast of fire. It splintered the icicle into millions of droplets. The droplets fell to the floor and wetted the room's rug.

Esse smiled and lowered her offensive arm. Elsa didn't dare follow suit.

"What do you want?" Elsa demanded.

Esse threw her hands up in surrender sensing Elsa's anger. "Steady, Elsa. Ever since arriving I've been wondering whether I should reveal my powers to you. I guess I wanted to play a bit first... Test you out. I've never met someone like me before." Esse smiled again.

"You ask for refuge in my kingdom and then attack me in my own home!"

"Oh... well, it sounds awful when you put it like that. I guess I didn't really think this through thoroughly," Esse said while scratching the back of her head. "But listen, we can help each other, Elsa. I can help you refine control over your powers. I've been practicing with my magic since I was practically born and, I hope you won't mind me saying, but I've noticed your skills could do with some fine tuning. Plus, you've done astonishing things with your powers that I've never even thought to try! Like creating living beings, like that snowman! There's so much we could learn from each other." Esse offered a fire-free hand to Elsa. "You help me; I'll help you?"

Elsa considered the offer presented. Esse could have been more tactful in her approach, but the idea of refining control of her powers was certainly attractive. Despite everything, she still feared what she was capable of. Maybe the fire princess could teach her something. Elsa lowered her offensive arm and after a pause, took Esse's hand.

"Your hand is very cool." Esse remarked, relieved her offer had been taken.

"And your hand is hotter than a summer's day," Elsa retorted.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean much coming from a Scandinavian."

Outside, the last of the mysterious figures scoped the party dwellers. They had seen into the ball room by peeking through windows and surveyed the grounds from bushes, unnoticed by the guards. Satisfied that they had seen all they needed to see, they scurried away, disappearing into the night.