#elsingrid

I'm going to tell her, said Ingrid to herself as she puttered around in Elsa's outer rooms, re-straightening her papers for the day, picking things up and setting them back down. She will come out of her bedroom, and I will talk to her and make her stop loving me. And she can be happy with Anna. Today. This morning. I will tell her. Ingrid straightened her shoulders.

Elsa came out of her bedroom, yawning and stretching, her silk nightdress following the contours of her body as closely as Ingrid's eyes did. “Good morning, Ingrid. I missed you in bed,” she said, smiling. Ingrid made a staccato curtsey, and Elsa kissed her forehead before sitting at the vanity and waiting to have her hair brushed and braided. “If you want to sleep in some morning with me, I wouldn't mind.” She smiled again, making eye contact with Ingrid's reflection in the mirror.

Ingrid paused. “I…” She resumed brushing. “I hope you're well this morning.”

“I'm fine, thanks. Tired, but fine.”

“You could go back to bed, if you like. I can arrange – ”

“Not that kind of tired,” Elsa said with a sigh. “Things have been, um, intense lately. Thank god you're here for me. You're a comfort.”

Ingrid dipped her head. “Thank you.” I have to tell her –

“I don't need sleep. What I need is…calm. Relaxation.” Ingrid's hand paused on her shoulder, and Elsa placed hers on top.  

I will tell her. Ingrid felt the gentleness of Elsa's hand on hers. But not right now. “Did you have anything in mind?”

Elsa's hand left Ingrid's as she waved vaguely. “Go someplace peaceful. Outside. Mmm, maybe a picnic?” Holding her head still as Ingrid braided and arranged her hair, Elsa met her eyes in the mirror again. “Ingrid, how soon could you arrange a picnic?”

“Oh dear. Not for a while.” She wrapped Elsa's braid around her head and tucked the end in place. “Not until, oh, one o'clock.”

Elsa turned to face her. “Today?”

Ingrid stared out the window, running through the notes in her head. “If your meeting with the councillors stays on schedule, and no one gets the Councillor Of The Exchequer excited – ” they shared a wry smile “ – then we can move the visiting dignitaries from the afternoon reception to dinner. I'm sure they'd be flattered. If you don't mind, of course.”

“That'd be perfect.”

As Ingrid dressed Elsa for the day, she added, “I'm afraid Anna won't be joining you for breakfast. She got in very late last night.”

Elsa put her hand on Ingrid's arm. “She found Kristoff? How is she doing?”

“I couldn't say. She was too sleepy to talk.” It was Ingrid's turn to put her hand on Elsa's. “I'm sure she's fine. She's strong. And I'm sure she'll be awake in time for your picnic.”

Elsa smiled gratefully.

Be strong, Anna said to herself as she rubbed her eyes and poured herself another cup of tea. She waited in her outer room for Elsa to fetch her for a surprise picnic. Okay, I'm definitely telling her. The minute she gets here. She's gonna want to comfort me over the Kristoff thing but I had that coming. So I just have to tell her I need to be on my own, and she can get back with Ingrid and everything'll be fine.

Eventually.

There was a tapping at the door. “Is that you Ingrid? Come in.” Anna stood to meet Ingrid, but Elsa came through the door first.

“Oh, Anna, are you all right? How are you doing?” She gripped Anna by the arms.

“I'm fine, really.”

“And Kristoff?”

“Pretty good, all things considered.”

“And the two of you?”

“He, um, he's staying up on the mountain for now. He's not angry – he wants to stay friends, just friends for now, and I think he means it – but he needs to be by himself for a while. And about that…”

“Are you all right for going on a picnic? Ingrid talked to you about it?”

“Of course.” Anna saw a trace of something in Elsa's eyes, the same desperate joy she had on that birthday with the sneezing and the cough syrup and the snowgies. “It's okay, Elsa. Really, everything's okay.”

Elsa dropped her arms. Anxiety had crept up on her as she waited to get through the morning. “I just wanted – ”

“ – to make it a perfect day?”

They chuckled, and some of the tension drained away. “I wanted a chance to get outside and relax. Blue sky, green grass. A chance to breathe for a minute. I need it. I think we both need it.” She nodded at Ingrid, standing dutifully behind her. “We all do.”

“So, a picnic. Awesome. Where to?” said Anna.

Elsa shrugged. “I don't know. I was thinking the city park, although it'd be nice to have a little more privacy.”

“I know the perfect spot. There's a clearing in the woods a half-mile past the main road. I don't think anyone goes there. I loved it last time I was there.”

Elsa gazed gratefully into Anna's eyes. “Well, if you love it, I'm sure it must be – ”

“ – perfect!” they said in unison, and laughed.

“Jinx!” said Anna, and they linked pinkies.

Ingrid held the door as Elsa took Anna's arm and they left the room. “Are you sure you're all right?” asked Elsa.

“Of course I am,” said Anna. “I'm with you.” She walked happily along, Ingrid on Elsa's other side, when she suddenly remembered. Damn! I didn't say… Well, she's right. She needs this. I'm not going to spoil it for her. Or for Ingrid. Or for me. We all need a break. Later we can straighten things out.

Maybe I'll ask Ingrid to remind me. She stuffed down the sarcastic thought and kept a smile on her face.

Elsa and Ingrid followed Anna through the woods. Elsa wore a light blue summer dress and transformed her shoes from heels to flats to walk through the spongy layer of leaves and pine needles underfoot. Ingrid, her white apron flashing as it appeared and disappeared behind the basket she was carrying, was beside and a little behind her. Breathing a bit heavily from the exertion, Ingrid said, “Well, we did make good time getting here.”

“We certainly did.” Elsa tucked some stray hairs back behind her ear. “Why did I let Anna drive the carriage again?”

“I couldn't say, but I think because she knew where we were going. And because it made her happy.” Ingrid shifted her grip on the basket. “It may also be possible, if you'll forgive my speculating, that you like going fast?”

Elsa chuckled. “What gave me away?”

“I think the whooping.”

The woods lightened as they reached the edge of the trees. “Well, I found it,” said Anna.

Found it? wondered Elsa.

“But it's…not quite the way I remember.” Anna's green summer dress matched the yellow-green of the wild grass that had grown chest-high in the clearing. “It may have been a little while since I was here last. But hey, no problem.” Anna held her arms up and forced her way through the grass, tramping down a narrow corridor for a couple of yards. “ 'Hay', get it?” With a grunt she pushed forwards again until Elsa stopped her.

“It's all right, Anna,” she said. “We'll…” She looked around the overgrown field, searching for an idea.

“I have an idea,” said Ingrid, “but it, um, would require some help.”

“I'm up for it,” said Anna.

Ingrid scuffed her toe in the half-decayed leaves. “Not that kind of help.” She looked up at Elsa. “If I were to get a long branch, and it had a blade…” Her voice lowered. “…of ice…” She swallowed. “I could scythe a path for us. I used to do that on the farm, a little. If, that is, you would…?”

“It's a good idea, but I think I have a better one. If you'd both stand behind me…” Elsa faced the field as Anna and Ingrid looked over her shoulder. “Farther back, please.” They backed up. Elsa looked over her shoulder. “A little farther. Just to be safe.” They backed a few more yards away.

Elsa sat on her heels, looked thoughtful, then chopped her hand sideways, near the ground. A sizzling ripple of light shot forward across the clearing, illuminating the grass from below. She stood and waved her hand. A chill breeze flattened the wild grass, toppling it flat.

Elsa exhaled as Anna and Ingrid came forward. Anna picked up a stalk of grass and examined how it had been frozen through near the base, where it had snapped cleanly. “If you ever need a second career, you can fall back on farming.” She chewed on the grass stem. “Best be harvesting the north forty, ma'am. S'pose it'll take 'bout a minute and a half.”

Elsa chewed on a grass stalk, too. “Looks like a good crop of winter wheat this year, I s'pose.”

Ingrid put her hands on her hips. “Du, don't just stand there like a couple of fenceposts, get that there hay there spread for drying! Day's half gone and we have to get this dry b'fore we bale it! If the goat gets sick from eating rotted hay again it's not me who'll clean it up, I tell you that for sure, there.”

Elsa and Anna stared at her.

Ingrid's hands left her hips to fold together behind her back. “I…thought…we were talking like farmers? Like…papa?”

“Oh, I'm so sorry,” said Elsa. “We didn't mean anything by it. Anna and I were just–”

“Did he really talk like that?” said Anna. “And did the goat really–”

“Ingrid, I apologize. We meant no disrespect. And…” She glared meaningfully at Anna. “…I think any stories about dyspeptic goats can wait until after lunch. Well after lunch.”

“Oh, no offence taken,” said Ingrid. “My sisters used to pretend to be princesses, so I think it's only fair.” She leaned towards Anna and quietly added, “Also, yes to both questions.”

They walked across the meadow, Elsa's breeze blowing a path clear for them as they enjoyed the sun and the smell of fresh-mown grass.

They paused in a flat spot in the middle of the field, Elsa saying, “This looks like as good a spot as any.” The other two nodded their agreement.

Ingrid set down the basket gently. “I can spread a blanket on the grass,” she said quietly to Elsa, “unless you'd prefer to, um, produce a table and chairs…?”

“On the grass will be fine, Ingrid. Unless you'd prefer?” Ingrid shook her head. “It's hardly a picnic otherwise, is it?”

Ingrid nodded and laid out the picnic. Anna had already started gathering wildflowers, and Elsa went to join her. Ingrid glanced at them as she worked, watching Elsa gently lay her hand on Anna's arm, then Anna suddenly giving Elsa a one-armed hug, her other arm too full of flowers. They touched foreheads, laughing and smiling as they shared endearments too private for Ingrid to catch. She smiled as she worked.

Ingrid stood as the Queen and Princess returned to their picnic site. “We brought the centrepiece,” said Anna, presenting the multicoloured bundle of flowers she and Elsa had gathered. “I…may have overdone it a little.”

“Oh no, not at all,” said Ingrid, scanning the food laid out on the blanket and calculating how to rearrange it.

As she moved jars and bowls around, Elsa said, “Let me help you with that.” She conjured a basket-weave vase of clear ice and arranged the flowers in it, setting it up in the middle of the “table”.

Elsa and Anna sat down. Anna looked up at their dutiful servant. “Well, don't just stand there like a fencepost, Ingrid,” she said, grinning. “Sit down and dig in.” Elsa nodded her assent, and Ingrid took a place on the blanket.

“The flowers are very pretty,” said Ingrid, as she caught Elsa looking at them with a soft frown.

Elsa grabbed the vase and put it behind her on the open grass. “Not as pretty as you two. There. Now I can see you properly.” She smiled a Mona Lisa smile as she watched the two young women get flustered, Anna grinning as she pretended to object, Ingrid looking down shyly then raising her eyes. Then Anna caught Ingrid's eye and gave her a look that said, Check out the smooth-talking romantic over there, nodding at Elsa. Ingrid replied with a tiny nod of recognition. Elsa's hand covered her smile.

They began with the fruit course. The royal sisters loaded their plates with cut pieces of fresh fruit. Ingrid looked over the selection, speared a slice of apple with her fork, and transferred it to her plate.

“Please, Ingrid. Help yourself,” said Elsa.

“Yeah, don't be shy,” added Anna, through a mouthful of grapes. “Well, don't be as shy.'' She turned to Elsa. “She is Ingrid, after all.” She turned back to smile at Ingrid, to let her know she was just teasing.

Ingrid took a bite of the apple slice and chewed thoughtfully. “Oh, I get it,” she said, mostly to herself.

“Oh?” said Elsa, raising an eyebrow.

“I'm sorry, it's nothing,” said Ingrid.

“Well you can't just leave it at that, Ingrid. Get what?” said Anna.