Chapter 3: Eldora

The first step they took, their feet sunk into sand. The next step they took, their feet sunk into sand. And then the next. Eldora had as much sand as Arendelle had snow during winter.

Elsa took her mate's hand and pulled Anna close to her side. "First time on sand, Lokalaat?"

"Pretty much. It's kind of like snow, except…hot." Anna looked down at her boots. Already, she could feel some grains of sand that had somehow already made its way in her footwear.

The two looked around to see the place was occupied with many fishermen. They were splashing water from the sea, onto their fish to keep them fresh, meanwhile, some are heading off to sell their catch of the day. It was no wonder they may need ice; it seemed to be rather difficult just to keep the fruits of the sea fresh for the day, with the sun high up.

"Do you see the castle?" Anna wondered, looking around. It looked like they were at the port, but there were no signs of anything else.

Elsa stepped forward, but the moment she did, somebody bumped into her, and landed on their behind. The blonde turned to see who collided with her, and noticed it was a young fisherman. He groaned, looking like he bumped into a wall, rather than another human being.

"I'm sorry. Are you alright?" Elsa asked, offering a hand.

The fisherman seemed surprised as he looked up to see Elsa. He accepted her hand and got to his feet. He dusted himself off and sighed. "Not at all, ma'am. I wasn't looking where I was going…"

He eyed the women and their pale complexion, and their light hair. He knew he didn't know anyone that looked like them. Foreigners, no doubt. The fisherman shook his head, realizing that he was staring. How rude of him.

"Sorry, again. Are you ladies visiting Eldora?" He asked politely, straightening his basket, making sure he did not lose any fish.

"We are." Elsa answered and she looked over at her mate.

"Hi there," Anna greeted, "I'm Princess Anna, of Arendelle. We're here on official royal business." She said as formally as she could manage. While still maintaining her usual friendliness.

The fisherman's eyes widened and he bowed. "My lady! I had no idea I was addressing royalty! I am called Kamal. You're looking for the castle then?"

"Yes! Uh…where is it?" Anna asked.

"Well, firstly you will need to purchase some supplies from the marketplace." He pointed towards a place not too far away from the beach, where the market stood. "It will help you cross the desert. Eventually you will come to the hills of Eldora, and from there you will be able to see the castle. And just go from there."

"Cross the desert? So the castle is far from the rest of this?" Elsa inquired. Back home, things looked different. Naturally. Aside from the fact that Arendelle had more greenery and tended to grow cold, especially in winter, Eldora was the opposite. There was hardly any signs of flora; and it was a wonder of what the fauna looked like.

"Well, you could say that. It takes a bit of traveling, but I'm certain you will both make it." Kamal reassured.

Anna nodded in understanding and waved farewell to the fisherman. "Thanks for the help, Kamal! We'll be on our way."

Elsa nodded in acknowledgement at Kamal before following close behind Anna. She had been observing the distance between the port and the marketplace. It was a short walk, but then there was the fact that the castle could not be seen from where they were. They would be walking through a sandy wilderness.

"I think we can easily reach the castle if we flew, Lokalaat." Elsa suggested.

Anna paused and looked at her in surprise. "Flew? But someone might see you! Besides, there isn't a cloud in the sky to hide behind."

Elsa looked up and snarled when the sunlight hit her eyes. She snorted and shook her head. It was true; she would be easily spotted, even if she took to the skies. Any higher and the sun would scorch them.

"We'll walk there, don't worry. Unless we find another way to get to the castle faster." Anna said, placing a hand on Elsa's arm.

The disguised dragon sighed in defeat, but she acquiesced. While it would be ideal to get to the castle of Eldora faster and avoid suffering a possible heatstroke in the desert, it was also for the best that Elsa's true form remained hidden. Just because Arendelle knew about her true nature that did not guarantee the whole world would accept it the same way. It was just as Kristoff had said, and he had a good point.

Both Anna and Elsa headed for Eldora's marketplace. The moment they got there, all of their senses were stimulated. Especially Elsa's.

The sounds of people chattering, the sights of the intricate rugs they wove, and smells of the spices that they sold… One of the most prominent spices seemed to be orange saffron and red paprika.

Despite the heat, the market was bustling, as vendors sold their wares of meat, fish, vegetables and fruits, even coffees and teas. There were even rugs with unique patterns that were not at all like the ones Arendelle made. They were beautiful.

"They look like a friendly bunch." Anna commented as she and Elsa continued to roam the market. Despite the swords at her hip, and back, nobody seem to regard her with hostility or tried to pick a fight just because she carried blades.

Elsa nodded and looked around. So far, she sensed these humans were decent beings. They went about life, selling wares, doing their work, just as the humans in Arendelle did.

"Where to begin?" Anna sighed. They needed to know where to find the castle, and perhaps even purchase rations for the journey?"

"That would be a start." Elsa agreed as she looked around. She sniffed the air, trying to catch the scent of anything that might be of use.

"Travellers from afar?" A nearby merchant asked. His stall was full of what looked like equipment for travel. One of them seemed to be a water flask made of leather, as well as some brown cloaks that matched the color of the sands.

Anna and Elsa approached. The blonde remained by her mate's side while Anna did most of the talking.

"We are; we're from Arendelle and we must meet with your queen," The princess explained.

"Ah! Then, perhaps I an assist! I sell to those who need to cross the desert; if you see anything you need, you just let me know. As for meeting the queen… The castle is still quite a ways away from here; especially on foot. I can provide you will flasks, water included." The merchant offered.

Elsa suddenly whirled around, her eyes briefly showing her true nature. Her pupils dilated into vertical slits slightly before they immediately returned to their human form. Something was in the air, but she could not quite place her finger on it.

"Is…your friend alright?" The merchant asked.

Anna looked over at Elsa, noticing how the blonde seemed to be acting rather…fidgety. Like a beast feeling a little cornered. The princess reached out and touched her companion's shoulder gently. Elsa looked at her then bumped her forehead to Anna's.

Sensing that Elsa was a little concerned about something, Anna nodded. "Don't worry, we're going."

She turned back to the merchant and paid for the supplies, consisting of two water flasks, filled with some refreshing water, and a sack of rations to bring along. Elsa still seemed a slightly agitated by something.

The merchant then retold the directions to Anna and the princess thanked him. He wished them luck on their journey to the castle, and the two women headed off.

"Are you alright, Elsa?" Anna took the blonde's hand in hers.

"Something smells off." Elsa growled, "It's not these humans, it's something…in the air."

Anna tensed slightly. "Something dangerous?"

"I don't know. Just…that we need to get a move on." Elsa tightened her grip on Anna's hand and began walking faster, bringing the princess along with her.

The moment they left the market, they saw how expansive the desert ahead of them was. It certain was surprising to Anna that the castle would be quite a journey from where the market was; in fact, she could hardly see any castle. It was much different from home.

Elsa gently bumped her head against Anna's and started off. Anna was unsure what was troubling her dragon; she assumed perhaps it was because they were in a new terrain that both of them were not used to.

It was not certain how long they had been walking, but by now, the marketplace was far behind them and could no longer be seen among the dunes.

Elsa still remained apprehensive, but at least she was no longer tensed. She kept her eye on Anna, making sure her mate did not fall to the heat. The princess would only smile reassuringly and remind her they had water, so Elsa could just focus on walking rather than stopping to cool Anna down.

"I just realized something," Anna said after a while of them walking, "We're going to have to make the same journey back again to tell the captain of whatever response we got from the Eldoran queen!"

Elsa paused and looked to her mate. "… Once we return, we're flying back." She growled in exasperation. It wasn't the fact that they had to walk back and forth—as a dragon, she had all the energy and stamina for long journeys on foot—but the fact that if they flew instead, it would be much faster.

Anna chuckled. "Alright, fine. But you're going to have to figure out a way to make sure you're not seen. Deal?"

The disguised dragon huffed. "Agreed."

The trip continued until Elsa stopped dead in her tracks. She was tense again, but before Anna could check on her, the blonde whirled around and her eyes widened.

"Anna, we need to move. Now!" Elsa said, taking her mate's hand and pulling her along.

The princess seemed puzzled, but when she looked over her shoulder to see what had Elsa so tense, she saw a dark cloud. But not the kind that would give way to rain or storms. Instead it looked like a cloud of dust, quickly moving in their direction.

"Sand storm…" Elsa snarled.

Now it made sense to Anna; the Azure Dragon had been apprehensive due to sensing the oncoming weather condition. The princess hoped that the people down at the marketplace and pier were safe and away from the onslaught of sand.

The two did their best to outrun the sandstorm that was quickly gaining on them. But nature was not something anybody could control or outwit.

Elsa growled and she pulled Anna to her chest, holding her. The moment the winds picked up and the sandstorm hit them, Anna felt the dragon's large paw around her, keeping her sheltered against the dragon's chest. Elsa's wings also flared out and wrapped itself around them in an effort to shield them both from the sandstorm.

Through narrowed eyes, the Azure Dragon noticed how difficult it must be for the humans to see. A thought came to her. Hopefully it would work without incident.

"Anna! I'm going to use the sandstorm as cover while I fly us to the castle!" She declared.

Anna's eyes widened and she looked up at her companion. "Are you sure? You can hardly see through all this sand!"

"I can manage." Elsa assured and held Anna to her chest a she expanded her wings to their full length and flapped.

The sandstorm was certainly strong enough to push someone every which way, but the Azure Dragon managed to stabilize herself in the air and flew forward. She would not be able to see through the sandstorm, but her other senses were on high alert. She was certain they were going in the right direction, and once the sandstorm settles, then she would have to land again. But at least they would have covered a lot of ground.

Anna was mostly shielded from the sands. Elsa held her in her large paws, kept her close to her chest. The princess flushed slightly at just how close she was to Elsa's chest; as if sensing the proximity, both hearts of dragon and princess began to beat even faster.

Elsa looked down at the princess in her paws, but quickly turned her attention back to flying towards the direction of Eldora's castle.

Eventually, the sandstorm began to settle, and the moment the winds stopped blowing, Elsa dove down and flapped her wings as she landed. She placed Anna back down on her feet and the dragon folded her wings back down.

Anna dusted herself off and jumped back as the now-human Elsa shook her entire body to shake the dust and sand off her clothing and hair. Anna gave her companion a look before dusting herself off again.

Once she was fully clear of sand, she felt Elsa's tongue give her a long lick, from her cheek to her temple. The blonde was cleaning her, an instinct and habit Elsa exhibited when it came to Anna. Usually it was in the aftermath of their lovemaking. But the dragon would still groom her if Anna found herself in a mess.

Anna laughed and ruffled her beloved's hair affectionately. "It's okay, Elsa. I'm alright."

Elsa frowned and licked her human mate once more before deciding Anna was clean from any sand. At least now, they might not have much farther to walk before they reach their destination, and that was what mattered the most.

Anna took hold of Elsa's shoulders and stood in front of the icy blonde. "All right, you. My turn." She then dusted off any remaining sand that stuck to Elsa's clothing and hair. Unable to help herself, the princess ran her hands along the sides of Elsa's head, slicking back the silvery-blonde hair.

Elsa remained still, allowing her mate to do want she wanted. The Azure Dragon had complete and utter trust in her human mate, knowing that every one of Anna's touches was not something to fear or flinch away from. She relished in feeling those small human hands on her, no matter what form she took.

"I wonder how much further we have to go…" Anna mused as she looked ahead. They had made it to the hills Kamal and the merchant had mentioned. All they had to do was keep forward until the castle was in sight.

Elsa did not seemed too bothered. "Flying behind the sandstorm got us farther than it would if we had been going on foot. We're probably close."

Anna nodded and agreement, but before they could make their next move, they heard the sound of stomping.

"What now?" Anna groaned as she turned towards the sound. The moment the princess turned the other way, she found herself looking right at a rather ill-tempered boar.

The beast snorted and pawed at the sand; it was definitely not happy to see intruders on its territory. The boar's tusk were rather large and sharp; it showed no hesitation in trying to intimidate both Anna and Elsa off its territory.

Anna kept her head down and backed off slowly. But Elsa just frowned at the annoying wild pig.

Again, the boar scrapped the ground with its hooves, warning them that it planned on charging and goring them with its tusks. It let out a loud squeal and Anna jumped back just as Elsa charged forward. Her eyes widened as she watched what was happening in front of her.

The blonde did not even bother wasting her abilities on the boar. She rushed at it and tackled it with her shoulder, sending the boar flying back a bit.

Disoriented, but not out, the angry boar rolled itself back upright and charged again. Elsa evaded easily and let out a snarl; the kind that would never come out of a human. Her eyes were showing her draconic nature, having dilated into slits. Despite her human form, Elsa still displayed the body language of a beast that was facing another in a fight.

The boar squealed and charged once more. Elsa held still and held her hands out. The boar crashed into her and Anna gasped.

Elsa caught the boar by its tusks and easily lifted it over her head, tossing it farther away from herself and Anna. She roared in a display of dominance, but the wild animal was stubborn and refused to give up its territory, clearly unaware of what kind of being it was up against.

When the boar charged one more time, Elsa jumped back and reached out to dig her nails into the boar's back while she bit down hard on the back its neck, her teeth have sharpened into fangs. The boar let out a startled and pained cry as it began to run around, trying to escape the grasp it suddenly found itself in.

"Elsa!" Anna called as she saw the blonde clinging onto the bucking boar's back, her fingernails and teeth were dug in deep and drawing a little blood.

Suddenly, the human was gone, and the boar was now in the jaws of an irritated Azure Dragon. It squealed and kept moving its legs in a futile attempt to struggle free. Elsa growled and shook her head back and forth, shaking up the wild swine before tossing it away again.

The boar landed with a thud and rolled along the sand. Its breathing became labored as it attempted to stand, but was unable to do so after the wounds and thrashing it received. The boar could only watch as the dragon stalked towards it, head held high.

The shock and panic in the animal only served to stress it out more and it quickly lost its strength. Its breathing grew even more labored until it could not breathe anymore and the life faded from its eyes. The last thing it would see was the large paw stomping itself on top of the boar's broken body.

Anna sighed as she watched while Elsa showed off her victory. The dragon slammed a paw on top of the dead boar. Within a blink, Anna could see Elsa's human form; the blonde's boot was pressing down on the carcass and she let out victorious roar. The sound of a beast coming from such a regal-looking woman would seem very odd, and even scary, to any outside observer.

The princess approached her companion to remind her they needed to get going, but paused when Elsa snarled and decided to bite a chunk out of the boar.

"Elsa!" Anna exclaimed and shook her head.

The disguised dragon licked her lips from the boar's blood and turned to her mate. "Sorry." She then went around the carcass and pushed it towards Anna as an offering.

"Oh, no. No, I'm good! You know, if you were hungry, you could have said so." Anna said, looking at the dead boar. She winced a bit but she was not as bothered by it as before. Having been out in the wilds, and with a dragon as a companion had desensitized her when it came to hunting game.

"It would be a waste if I didn't at least take a bite." Elsa said and the Azure Dragon tore at the dead boar again.

Anna shrugged. "Well let me know once you're done, alright?"

Letting the dragon have her meal, Anna walked a few paces forward. She could see a shape in the distance, and she grinned. It seemed that they were more than just close. Whatever she saw, it was most likely the castle. Unless…it was a mirage from the desert heat.

Suddenly, more stomping could be heard and the princess let out an exasperated cry. Elsa immediately stopped her feeding and was by her mate's side, ready to toss more feral animals away. This time, Anna drew out her steel sword.

A herd of boars ran in their direction and Elsa snarled, her body crouching down in preparation for a pounce. Beside her, Anna had her blade ready. Once the first boar reached them, Elsa smacked it away with her paw. The next one to near them, Anna swiped her blade at its hooves, sending it off balance and squealing the other way.

Before more could attack them, an arrow flew through the air and embedded itself into the sand. The boars squealed at the unexpected attack. Both Anna and Elsa blinked in surprise.

The sound of men yelling could be heard, and more arrows flew, startling the herd and sending them fleeing.

Once the herd was well out of sight, Anna turned to Elsa, only to see the dragon had returned to her human form. The blonde was looking towards the direction of the yelling and arrows that had scared off the boars.

"Travellers! Are you unharmed?" The man in the front called out to them, lifting his bow in the air. His companions followed close behind.

Based on how he was dressed, he seemed to be a solider of sorts, as the men with him wore the same sort of clothing. Their uniforms no doubt.

"Apologies for the boars. They tend to wander a little too close to civilization and we must drive them off before they hurt anyone. You are visiting from foreign lands?" The leader of the group asked.

Anna nodded. "We are. Actually, the reason we're is because we're from Arendelle. I'm Princess Anna of Arendelle, sent on the behalf of my father and mother, the king and queen. And this is my companion, Elsa. We're here about Eldora's request to become trade partners."

Elsa straightened, her posture proud as she stood beside her mate.

The men straightened as well, before bowing in unison. The leader then stood up first and pressed a fist to his chest. "Welcome, Princess of Arendelle. I am Omar, Captain of the Guard of Eldora."

Just then a younger man stepped forward to stand beside Omar. "I am Alvan. I am next in command to Captain Omar."

Anna greeted them both and Elsa nodded in acknowledgement. The soldiers then turned and escorted the pair to the town, where the castle waited.

"Make your way to the castle. I will meet you there to ensure your entrance," Omar said before he left with his men again. No doubt they still had boars to chase away from the kingdom before any one of them suddenly charged in.

Eldora's streets were dusty with more sand, the roofs of the houses were flat rather than pointed and each structure all seemed to be brown in color, almost matching the desert that surrounded the town.

"My, my… You two are clearly not from here. What brings you to our kingdom in the sands?" A gentle and elderly voice said.

Both Anna and Elsa turned to see an old woman looking at them as she weaved a lovely carpet with a loom.

"That looks lovely!" Anna complimented the nearly-completed carpet.

The elderly woman smiled. "Thank you. I am Farah; I make carpets. And who am I addressing?"

"I'm Anna."

"Elsa."

Farah giggled. "Lovely names. Would you, perhaps, like to try weaving with this loom?" The older woman then stood up and gently took Elsa's wrist, leading her to the chair and loom.

Elsa's eyes widened in surprise and she looked to Anna, who smiled and nodded in approval. The disguised dragon was quite tense, having no idea how to create carpets on such a contraptions. Or in general; unless she decided to conjure one made of ice.

Farah gestured for Elsa to sit down, and then guided the blonde's hand. Elsa observed carefully, her eyes followed the way the old woman's hands guided her in weaving the rest of the carpet.

Anna smiled at the scene; Elsa may have gotten comfortable with the people of Arendelle, but that did not mean it applied to other humans from other territories. So it was nice to see Elsa learning to interact with humans in general.

Once the carpet was completed, Elsa got up and Farah admired the work. "Wonderful! You did well, child."

"Thank you." Elsa said, bowing her head in thanks.

Farah then decided to teach Anna as well. Same as with Elsa, she guided the redhead to sit down and they started a new carpet. After a few moments, Farah leaned back to see the current progress of the new carpet.

"You girls certainly are fast learners. Not bad for your first times," Farah complimented with a kind smile.

"Only because you're good at teaching," Anna said, returning the smile.

Farah flushed slightly. "Ah, well, I suppose it comes with having grandchildren. I can hardly keep them still to teach them how to use this loom. But they're so curious and willing to learn."

Elsa moved closer to Anna and rested her chin on the princess's shoulder. Anna smiled and responded by lifting a hand and stroking her beloved's hair.

The old carpet maker chuckled. "It's nice to see actual love blossoming between young people. And here I was thinking the youth were being too reckless."

Her comment earned a blush from the princess, and a rather humbled look from Elsa. Of course, the old woman had no idea what kind of bond they had; it was a rather strange and unique one. One between a human and beast. Still, it was felt…nice to receive such a compliment.

Farah bid the two farewell and she returned to her weaving, while Anna and Elsa continued along their way to the castle.

Eventually, the pair came upon a massive wall, with two huge wooden gates in the center. The sight of it was rather impressive, and behind it would no doubt be the castle, and the queen they had been assigned to meet.

One of the guards stationed at the front of the gate, approached the two. "In need of assistance?"

Anna exhaled and put on her best regal expression. She had to make a good impression, after all. "I'm Princess Anna of Arendelle. I'm here on official business, and need to meet with your queen."

The guards looked at each other.

"Well, fortunately, the queen had just returned from a journey. Although we're unsure if she's currently in the mood to see to visitors at the moment, Your Highness." One of the guards said politely.

Before Anna could speak again, Omar appeared at her side. "That's quite alright, soldier. I'll see to it myself. Open the gates and let our guests in."

The two men saluted their captain and pushed to two huge gates open before standing aside, their posture straight and at attention at all times.

Omar smiled at Anna and Elsa. "Welcome to the castle of Eldora. Come, the queen awaits."

The two women followed Omar past the gates and into a stone plaza, and the center, was a fountain. Omar led the two visitors to the doors of the castle, and Anna was beginning to feel a bit nervous. She felt Elsa grip her hand with a reassuring squeeze and it helped relax her a bit.

Omar then stopped and the doors opened. More guards stepped out, in a formation. They then parted, forming two sides, and revealing a woman in the center. Their queen.

She stood tall and regal like any queen would. She had brown hair that was tied into a thick braid; she wore her crown on head, and around her forehead was a gold headband with a jewel at its center. Her dress was saffron-red, with gold trimmings and accents. Her eyes were the color of chocolate and she wore a welcoming smile on her face.

Omar bowed to her and the queen gestured for him to be at ease. "Welcome back, Omar. I trust the boars have not given you trouble?"

"Not at all, my queen. But I did find some visitors out in the desert. They have come from Arendelle to see you." Omar said with a humble bow of his head.

The queen of Eldora looked over to the newcomers. Both young women; one with hair that reminded her of embers of a flame and copper, eyes that were a lovely teal that reminded her of a gem. The other, with a mane of silver hair, and eyes as cold and blue as ice.

"Thank you for escorting them, Omar." The queen said.

Omar straightened and saluted. "Of course, Queen Marisol."

Marisol smiled at her captain before she gestured for Anna and Elsa to follow her. "Come, we have much to discuss."

Anna took a deep breath and followed Marisol. Elsa remained close behind them as Anna fell into step beside the Eldoran queen.

As they stepped inside the castle, Anna and Elsa could not help but be struck by the difference. It was grand like any castle would be, though it reminded Anna of a golden jewelled necklace. There were intricate designs on the carpets, walls, and pillars.

"I have heard rumors of Arendelle," Marisol said after a moment of rather comfortable silence. She stopped walking and turned to her guests. "I've been hearing stories of a queen with silver hair who resides in a kingdom on the water. What was it, you call it? Fjords?"

Elsa moved to stand directly beside Anna. "You're mistaken, and those rumors exaggerate. I'm no queen; Anna is princess of Arendelle, and her mother and father rule the kingdom."

Anna grinned a little sheepishly from Elsa's brutal honesty, and gave a small wave to Marisol. "Guilty."

Marisol chuckled. "So it would seem. Princess Anna, then? I am happy to have you and your escort visiting Eldora. I trust you've had a pleasant journey?"

Anna nodded. "We did. Well…for the most part. I mean, not that your kingdom is not wonderful! It is! Just very…sandy. Not that sand is a bad thing! I'm…not making a very good impression, am I?"

The queen of Eldora laughed heartily. "On the contrary! I find your honesty and sincerity rather refreshing, Princess Anna! It's not every day I meet someone as energetic."

Anna flushed slightly. "Well…thank you. Anyway, Elsa and I are here on behalf of my parents; to settle the trade between Arendelle and Eldora. Our ship is waiting at the harbour and is holding a shipment of ice for you."

Marisol's eyes brightened. "I thank you, Princess Anna. My people will surely appreciate it. And as promised, Eldora will be trading with your kingdom in spices and carpets."

"Just Anna is fine," The princess said.

"Anna then. And…Elsa, was it?" Marisol looked to the blonde, who had been rather quiet after clearing up the rumor about her being queen.

Elsa nodded her head in response to Marisol's question.

"She's a bit cautious of new people," Anna explained.

"Ah. I understand that, very well." Marisol smiled and continued on her way. Her two guests followed.

They entered the grand hall of Eldora's castle, and it was just as decorated and intricate as the rest of the castle. Guards stood by the pillars, at attention. They bowed their heads as their queen entered and walked by.

As they walked down the grand hall, Elsa froze in her tracks. She took a whiff and then whirled around, only to see nothing but the pillars and the guards stationed there.

Noticing the odd reaction, Anna stopped as well. "Elsa? Are you alright?"

"… I'm fine. I thought I saw something." Elsa said, brushing the concern aside.

Marisol approached her throne, which stood at the end of the hall. She then glanced back at Anna and Elsa. She noticed the blonde's rather tensed shoulders. "Is something the matter?"

Elsa looked over at Marisol, then back towards one of the pillars. There was nothing there, and yet she had felt an odd sensation and thought she had caught a scent of something. Perhaps she was only imagining things. Hopefully.

"I'm sorry. I must be feeling a little distracted at the moment," Elsa admitted.

"It's been a long journey for you both, I am sure. Please, rest yourselves. You may also request the servants if you need anything," Marisol offered.

That reminded Anna of something she heard only a little while ago. "One of your soldiers… He said you've also just returned from a journey of your own."

Marisol nodded. "I have. It was quite an adventure. But I still have duties to tend to; no need to worry, though. I still have some energy to spare." The Eldoran queen chuckled.

"In that case…" Anna smiled widely. "I'd actually like to know more about your kingdom!"

That made Marisol smile as well. "Well then, I could give you both the special tour."

It was clear that Queen Marisol was a good ruler; the people openly respected and loved her. Wherever she went, the citizens of Eldora greeted their monarch, and the children would run up to her, either to ask her about her latest adventure, or to present her with a little gift.

"I have a feeling forging a friendship with Eldora was a great idea," Anna commented to Elsa as they watched Marisol while she interacted with her people.

The disguised dragon nodded in agreement. She had been carefully watching and observing the queen and so far, she sensed sincerity from Marisol. It was a similar feeling she had when she was around Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf. Even around Queen Idun, and King Adgar. It should be a good sign.

After entertaining the children, Marisol turned back to her guests. "So, Omar tells me you two had a run-in with the local wildlife."

Anna rubbed the back of her head, a slightly embarrassed grin on her face. Elsa merely crossed her arms.

"He also tells me he saw you both attempting to fight off an entire herd, and managing for a good while. And Omar is not so easily impressed. Anna, you've had some extensive training with the sword, haven't you?" Marisol nodded over to the princess's two swords.

"Well, yes. Still improving, but I'm pretty good with a sword." Anna said.

The Eldoran queen nodded. "I train in combat in my spare time as well. Though I prefer the use of daggers; much faster and allowed for agile movement."

"Daggers? I never got to train with them as much as swords; only as a last resort for self-defense if I lose my blade." Anna admitted.

"Understandable; though daggers can be very efficient weapons in the right hands and with the proper training; they don't seem like much besides looking like fancy knives, but they allow for quick strikes that can catch a foe off-guard if one is quick enough." Marisol explained.

Elsa raised an eyebrow. It was such a curious topic to suddenly be discussing. She shook her head. No, she was just being overly-cautious again. She still sensed no intent from Marisol and Anna was clearly enjoying the topic of weaponry and training as well.

"So, where do you often train yourself? In the plaza?" Anna asked.

"I sometimes go out into the desert as well," Marisol admitted. "If I were more appropriately dressed, I'd give you a sample of my personal training routine."

The two royals shared a laugh and Elsa could not help but smile. Her mate always did have such an impact on people; she was warm and friendly, and inviting. She made friends quickly by just being herself and it somehow charms others, and got them to open up. Even one like Marisol, a woman just above Anna's current rank.

"Appropriate attire aside, I'd still like to see a bit of it." Anna said, referring to Marisol's aforementioned training routine in the desert.

The Eldoran queen thought on it. "Ah, why not. Perhaps we can exchange combat tips as well!" It was clear she was enjoying having another woman—and one of royal blood at that—enjoying a similar pastime as she did.

The three headed for the entrance of the kingdom and stepped back out into the desert. They remained close by and did not wander from the kingdom. Marisol led them to the top of a dune and Anna was in awe at how far the desert stretched, even from a higher viewpoint.

"Don't let all the sand fool you; the desert holds many secrets far beyond its landscape. You just need to look carefully, and be bold enough to venture out. But cautious as well; Eldora may be my kingdom, but nature is still a fickle mistress." Marisol cautioned.

"Like the sandstorm," Anna said.

Marisol nodded. "Exactly. It's a natural part of Eldora, really. Sandstorms happen, especially if the winds pick up. But everyone here is adapted to it. Just as I am certain your people have adapted to life in the snow."

"True. But we also have other seasons; spring and summer… And summers in Arendelle can get quite hot. Maybe not as hot as Eldora, but still hot." Anna said.

Marisol laughed. "Speaking of which, Anna, I'm quite curious about…" She pointed at the white streak Anna had in her hair. "That's a rather interesting choice; to paint one's hair like that."

"Oh!" Anna's eyes widened and her hand quickly went to her hair, over the streak. "Well, funny thing. It's…actually an odd story, you probably wouldn't believe it."

Elsa had tensed slightly when Marisol noticed the white streak and seemed intrigued by it. She was unsure how the princess was going to explain having such an odd bit of coloring in her mostly-reddish hair.

"Something personal?" Marisol asked.

Anna rubbed the back of her neck. "Something like that. It's nothing bad but…"

"I am curious about it. But if it's an uncomfortable topic, you don't need to feel like you have to tell me. I merely wished to know more about my new friend. Since I was hoping we could be more than just allies? Perhaps even true friends. Unless, I am overstepping my boundaries…?" Marisol trailed off.

"Oh! No, not at all! I'd like for us to be friends too!" Anna smiled.

Marisol seemed relieved by the response. "Of course, I also extend my friendship to Elsa as well." She held out a hand.

Elsa looked over at the Eldoran queen and stared at the offered hand. She looked at Anna who just smiled encouragingly. The disguised dragon looked at Marisol again before she took the queen's hand and shook it, accepting the friendship as well.

"Friends sounds nice," Elsa agreed.

Happy with end result, Marisol took a step forward. "Well then! I did promise you a special tour of Eldora! That includes certain places in the desert. But after my demonstrations, as the princess requested."

Anna laughed. "By all means!"

Before they could begin, there was a light rumbling. The sands beneath their feet seem to shift a bit, and the three attempted to keep their balance. Marisol looked puzzled, as did Anna. However, Elsa's eyes suddenly went wide. She leapt for Anna and pulled her out of the way.

"Anna! Move!" She brought her mate close to her just as a spray of sand exploded from behind Marisol.

The Eldoran queen gasped in surprise as she whirled around in time to see the spray of sand, and a very large, form rose from the dust cloud.

A loud roar pierced the air as the sand cleared, revealing a beast; it had sharp black claws, long black horns that curved up a bit and then pointed forward, a tail, large wings that spread out like sails, and scales the color of the sands.

Elsa growled and narrowed her eyes.

Anna gaped in disbelief. "Dragon!"

I had fun writing this. The reading materials of Frozen really helped a lot, and I'm glad I finally got to bring Marisol into the story. I hope you all enjoyed reading the chapter as much as I had fun writing it!

Until then…