THE SNOW QUEEN.

I heartily send you my greetings, and those of your uncle and cousin. I know that we cannot see each other as often as families who are not so high in rank, but know that I think of you daily, and your sweet sister. I beseech you to write and tell me how that you do. As for me and mine, we are all well and happy. Your cousin is nearing her sixth month gone with child, and increasingly restless, poor thing, as she cannot climb or ride in her state. She has enclosed for you a painting she has done of your Olaf, and asks that you send word of how you like it.

She asked me to inquire if you might accept the honor of standing godmother for her child when he or she comes --- If, in your role as Fifth Spirit, you are able or permitted to do so. If not, you needn't worry for offending us. We, of all people, understand too well how magic can complicate human affairs. Our only expectations are of your health and happiness. Regardless, we are eager to hear from you.

By the hand of your most affectionate and loving aunt,

Arianna

I must thank you for your sweet and kind letter, with the well-wishes therein that I have passed along and return to all of you as well. As always your letters bring my heart great peace. We speak often of our dear Cousin, and send our deepest hopes for her continued health and that of her babe. Anna and I both look forward most dearly to visiting once the time is right. The painting is most wonderful, and the subject himself has already decided it must have pride of place in the entrance hall, to which all of us have heartily agreed.

I would be most honoured to stand as godmother for dear Rapunzel’s child. Given the uniqueness of my own position, I have rather assumed that I may make my own decisions and thus I would overjoyed to be entrusted with such a position. Nothing could make me happier. Please pass along my deep gratitude for being asked?

Anna has requested I enquire as to whether our cousin has any particular colour she favours for the nursery? Kristoff has similarly asked how Eugene is managing?

Your ever affectionate niece,

There were so many secrets, so many things that could not be said. Iduna hated it all, squeezing Elsa's shoulder through the cape, Iduna caught Elsa's eyes in the mirror.

Glancing over her shoulder, she gave Iduna a small smile, trying to push away the nerves once again.

angst stater // accepting

@vinterhjerte asked: “Stay here, I’ll be right back. I promise I will be back.”

"NO, ELSA!!!"

Anna's voice was stern and commanding, her fist clenching tightly as she held back her true rage. "You promised me we would do this together! And I'm tired of you breaking your promises! You want to go? Then we are going together. And I swear if you try and pull out another ice boat trick, I swear I'll...I'll...."

The Queen looked at her surroundings, attempting to find something to to unleash her anger upon. Sadly, all the young woman could do was kick the snow below her feet.

As her temper subsided, her breathing leveling out, Anna gradually began to feel like herself once more. She didn't like being angry, it was something that was a rare sight to see, but one could only bottle up their frustrations for so long and Elsa seemed to be rather good at loosening the lid.

Her hands sprung from familiar shoulders, feet carrying her a step back at the force of Anna's anger. The words had fallen from her lips, distracted as she looked away, and now she wished she could take them back. Of course they would upset Anna, she had been blind not to see it. Her own excitement had come over her, but now it was swept away as surely as if Gale had been able to steal it from her chest.

"I'm not–I didn't..." Elsa paused, looking down at the ground with a growing annoyance at herself. Hands curled in and out of fists a few times as she tried to formulate what she actually wanted to say. Two years away from the crown, and she was still managing to mess things up this badly. "I have a surprise for you, and I realised I forgot something. I was about to go and get it. That was all. I'm sorry."

Her eyes remained focused on the forest floor, shame taking the place of the previous buoyancy, heavy in her stomach.

barnes is the only howling commando to give his life in service of his country.

She doesn’t approach, careful to keep enough distance between them for Elsa’s comfort.  But she yearns to embrace her niece, can almost feel her arms ACHE with the longing.  ❝ Elsa, kjære, I know how you feel.  Trust me, I know. ❞  When her own father passed, it felt as if her lungs had failed to work.  When her child was taken from her, it was like her heart had been ripped from her chest.  

And now, now, she has lost her brother, too  –  It seems impossible, as if the sea could lose salt.  But through it all, she had endured, and she could show her beloved nieces how to carry on.  She could offer Elsa whatever comfort and support she could.

Her voice broke on the last word and her eyes were screwed tightly shut. How many times had she let her mother or father try to placate her by insisting they knew how she felt? They didn't have a deadly secret raging just beneath their skin. They had never been forced to swallow down and lock away every emotion they felt. But they had said the words, and she knew better than to contradict them. It would only hurt them.

Father would have understood at least a little of her current pain. He knew what it was to lose a parent and be announced monarch in the same breath. But he had been normal. His fears when stood before their people had been reasonable. Would he be able to lead them? Could he make good decisions? Hers would be entirely more dire.

Her voice broke on the last word and her eyes were screwed tightly shut. How many times had she let her mother or father try to placate her by insisting they knew how she felt? They didn't have a deadly secret raging just beneath their skin. They had never been forced to swallow down and lock away every emotion they felt. But they had said the words, and she knew better than to contradict them. It would only hurt them.

Father would have understood at least a little of her current pain. He knew what it was to lose a parent and be announced monarch in the same breath. But he had been normal. His fears when stood before their people had been reasonable. Would he be able to lead them? Could he make good decisions? Hers would be entirely more dire.

in that sense, she is … unlike anna, who is upbeat, and is much less graceful, and yet- there is charm in her clumsiness that, while hans refuses to acknowledge, has made him smile plenty a-time. the older sister is clearly different: the antithesis of the redhead, truly. whereas anna brightens and warms, the future queen of arendelle is distant and cold. even more reasons to be wary of her, he believes - for does she not also resemble the heart of his home which is painstakingly barren, beyond his reach, and numbing ?

for does she not also, in a way, resemble him ? for her regality is clearly a mask for something — a show to put on so people can never see what’s underneath the professionalism and the cordiality. it’s upsetting, these plays at being friendly, that maybe this was why she itches in him an irritation he cannot rid, and how he ends up here, though what he could do ? his family was extended the invitation, and because a pair of his brothers had been too poor in state ( drinking, whoring - hans does not know, he does not care ) to take up the last-minute flight, they had barrelled the responsibility upon hans.

lovely, really. just what he wanted to do. ( he wanted to tear his eyes out. )

❛ no, unfortunately not. ❜ though hans smiles, a little unfortunately, dimpled and kindly and warm otherwise. warm, like how anna is — yes, he remembers the way she is. he can mimic them. he, too, can show genuine sincerity. an empathy at awkwardly dismissing his brothers’ absent; brows furrowing and everything. ❛ they wanted to, truly. two of them, but they’ve gotten this awful stomachache from shellfishes, i believe— ❜ hungover and high, more than likely, but who would truly know ?

❛ awful things. alas. —though, milady princess, i would say there isn’t a reason for you to be shocked by the guest list. you are to be coronated soon, yes ? certainly there’s nothing more honourable and grand than to have a future queen gracing one’s halls. how is that by the way, the preparation for your crowning ? ❜

"I hope they make a speedy recovery," she said, one of her index fingers tapping against the others. There were truly a thousand more places she would rather be than stood here making pleasantries amongst people she barely knew or cared for.

A flame of irritation ignited in her chest at the final sentence, if only to protect her from the grief the question had bloomed. Her coronation haunted her like a spirit, constant questions and requests and things to be done. A celebration she did not want, not only for the publicity, but also for the reason it was happening at all. It had been almost three years since she lost her parents, but that loss remained a knife in her chest, twisted each time she had to think about that awful party being thrown in her honour.

"Given Arendelle's size, I don't think my being here is as much an accolade as you make it out to be, but thank you all the same." How many people had even heard of her tiny kingdom, so isolated for so many years? Who really cared about the cold, stand-offish heir to the crown? Although his mention of the coronation had her wondering. Had Anna invited him? She'd not said as much, but then... Elsa had made it so they never said much to each other in the first place.

She knew the polite thing to do, even if it made her want to grind her teeth. Even just adding in another guest would upset the delicate balance struck by the finalised list. But she would do this. For Anna.

"I hope they make a speedy recovery," she said, one of her index fingers tapping against the others. There were truly a thousand more places she would rather be than stood here making pleasantries amongst people she barely knew or cared for.

A flame of irritation ignited in her chest at the final sentence, if only to protect her from the grief the question had bloomed. Her coronation haunted her like a spirit, constant questions and requests and things to be done. A celebration she did not want, not only for the publicity, but also for the reason it was happening at all. It had been almost three years since she lost her parents, but that loss remained a knife in her chest, twisted each time she had to think about that awful party being thrown in her honour.

"Given Arendelle's size, I don't think my being here is as much an accolade as you make it out to be, but thank you all the same." How many people had even heard of her tiny kingdom, so isolated for so many years? Who really cared about the cold, stand-offish heir to the crown? Although his mention of the coronation had her wondering. Had Anna invited him? She'd not said as much, but then... Elsa had made it so they never said much to each other in the first place.

She knew the polite thing to do, even if it made her want to grind her teeth. Even just adding in another guest would upset the delicate balance struck by the finalised list. But she would do this. For Anna.

Walking to a nearby side-table, she picked up a wrapped box. Within it held one of their mother's more ornate hair pins, dutifully repaired from several years neglect.