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Chapter Text

This was not a good day.

Not only did Maren wake up way too late for today’s events, so did Elsa.  And the queen in a bad mood meant everyone would be blaming Maren, mounting the growth of her own bad mood in the process.  To be fair, Elsa was just as much to blame as she was. She didn’t ask Elsa to wear that purple nightdress.  She didn’t ask Elsa to take it off, either.  She didn’t mention that to Elsa, though.

And she couldn’t exactly call Elsa out on it to clear her own name.  They were engaged, but it was still frowned upon to share a bed until matrimony.  They were already versed in the art of sneaking around, so they just tightened their own rules a bit, but still managed to spend every night delicately entangled in one another while most of the staff remained none the wiser.

Anna was the only one that caught them.  Once.

Okay, twice, but Anna had a terrible habit of not knocking lately and wasn’t making it any easier to forget because she was still making jokes about it almost every day.  Really good jokes, too, and Maren earned an angry glance from Elsa every time she found herself trying to hold back a laugh. Those were the good days.

Not today.  Maren was curled on her side, having rolled a few feet out on the list.  She hadn’t expected to have the wind knocked out of her. She hadn’t expected to go flying off her horse.  She thought she was ready for this. She was prepared.  

She was supposed to be sending her adversary to the ground with the strike of her lance.  Instead, she was one on the ground, her helmet laying a fair distance away from her, every breath beginning to burn more with each passing second.

This is stupid, Maren thought as she struggled to catch her breath.  Everything around her was coated in a heavy blur as she tried to focus her eyes, and she tried to blink it away.  I knew there was a good reason I hated jousting.

Elsa’s amused voice guided her out of the fog, “Impressive.  Maybe you could have landed harder if you tried,” a soft, porcelain hand extended out in a silent offer.

Maren took it, smiling.  “Good thing I wasn’t trying,” she grunted as she was finally upright.  Or mostly upright, but Maren was trying to focus on the positive. There was also Elsa, here, holding her hand, brushing her thumb softly over her own.  It was hard to be mad when she had this.

“I gathered by how embarrassed you are,” Elsa giggled behind her own free hand, “Are you hurt?”

Maren turned to stretch, and her eyes took in the view of a horde of spectators eagerly watching their exchange.  “I’ll be fine when my dignity heals. They’re all watching us, though.”

Elsa shrugged, seemingly unbothered, her eyes searching over Maren for something.

“Come on, you need to lie down.  And then I’ll send for a doctor to look at you,” Elsa eased Maren’s arm around her shoulder to help her walk, whispering, “And now we’ve given them a show.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Maren had to suppress a snort.  She looked as the crowd was torn between smiling at the sentiment of the queen’s gesture, or shocked that she was capable of it at all.

“We can always make it more interesting,” Elsa caught Maren’s eye and arched a brow, smirking.

Maren, already feeling herself heat up but her body protesting all movement, “Whatever it is you’re thinking, don’t you dare.”

“Okay, okay, let’s get you to bed.”

Maren sighed.  Maybe it wasn’t such a bad day after all.

“You’re still going to have to see a doctor,” Elsa continued.

Still a bad day.

Maren huffed, and, finally arriving in Elsa’s room, away from prying eyes, Elsa turned to her with the softest trace of tears pooling in her eyes.

“I thought you were really hurt…” Elsa trailed off, her eyes darting as if sorting through a checklist of memories and feelings she wasn’t used to experiencing.

“Elsa, I’m okay, really.  I’ll be honest. I may have a broken rib or two, but it’s nothing that won’t heal.  I’ll have to stick to lighter duties and, as much as I hate to say it, stay off Bandit for a while.”

As Elsa guided Maren carefully to the bed, she dropped down to sit in a mystifying haze of lavender and Elsa, and began fighting with her armor, a sharp jolt of pain erupting in her chest every time she tried to get a piece off.  Elsa’s skilled hands took over, and soon Maren was almost completely undressed.

Elsa bit her lip, considering Maren carefully for a moment before speaking.  “I can take him out for rides. I know how much you hate strangers riding him.  I’d be happy to do it.”

“He’d love that.”

Maren knew it was true, and Elsa was a very intuitive rider.  Bandit himself even seemed to grow rather fond of her. He liked Anna too, but there was a certain favor he saved for Maren and Elsa alone.  Elsa’s horse, an almost pure-white horse, except for a black star-shaped pattern directly below its mane, was just as impressive as Maren’s, even if Anna had been the one to name him “Olaf.”

Since their engagement, they had both tried to spend as much time riding as possible, and almost always together if they could help it, nearly always resulting in a competition of sorts.  Surprisingly, Maren found herself losing to Elsa’s challenges more often than she cared to admit.

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“Elsa, do we really need to do this?” Maren whined, stomping away from Bandit.

“We don’t.  But it’ll be fun.  And when was the last time we were able to have fun, just the two of us?” 

“Do you really want me to answer that?”  Maren caught Elsa’s eye with a suggestive smirk, and Elsa just rolled her eyes in response .  Then, Elsa pinned her with a look that said there was more than just the fun of a race to look forward to if she agreed.

Maren threw her hands up, laughing, “Okay, okay.  You’ve convinced me. Let’s do it,” Maren crossed her arms, eyes locked with Elsa’s.

Maren watched as Elsa carefully unmounted her horse and wondered how she managed to make it look so graceful.  She had been riding horses all her life, and it struck her that she was nowhere near as elegant despite her experience.

Elsa sauntered slowly toward Maren.  She was already holding her breath when Elsa placed a soft and lingering kiss on her lips, just before rushing over to hop on top of Bandit as if she was born for it.  Maren stood still, momentarily dumbstruck.

Laughing, Elsa called out, “What are you waiting for?”

Shaking herself out of her stupor, Maren walked to Olaf.  A brilliant stallion without question, but Maren hadn’t been on any horse but her own for years.

Sitting atop the saddle, Olaf grunted and sidestepped slightly, but Maren pulled softly on the reins and hummed to him, and soon he settled and tipped his nose to the ground, awaiting instruction.

Maren glanced up and caught Elsa’s eyes shining brightly as Bandit trotted slowly toward her.

Elsa grinned before she leaned over and kissed Maren until she was sure this would become a race to an entirely different finish.

But as she suddenly pulled away, Elsa winked and called out over her shoulder, “Last one to the waterfall loses.”

Maren watched, lips still tingling, as Elsa took off at a furious pace.

“That wasn’t fair!  You can’t just fluster me into losing!”  Maren called after her, but her entire body was flooding with a childlike happiness, rendering her incapable of even pretending to sound angry.

She laughed instead, appreciating that Olaf seemed to be a playful and curious horse.  He seemed to go directly toward anything he had to jump over, and trotted through the streams as though he was absolutely delighted by the water splashing at his hooves.

Elsa would never admit it, but her horse was as carefree and fun as she was when her public wasn’t watching.  It was also in this fun-loving nature that Maren knew she was going to lose, and she was suddenly thankful they hadn’t bet anything on it.

Sure enough, she made it to the waterfall long after Elsa had taken her shoes off to put her feet in the water.

“Took you long enough.”

Maren rolled her eyes and shrugged, “You don’t play fair.”

Elsa smiled and patted the ground next to her, “Stop sulking and join me.”

“I don’t sulk,” Maren jumped down from Olaf and walked to where Elsa sat by the edge of the water.

“Stop moping, then,” Elsa laughed, which prompted a huff from Maren as she kicked off her boots and began to roll up her trousers.

Elsa scooted closer and rested her head on Maren’s shoulder as soon as she made it to the ground.

“We need to set a date.”

Maren snorted, “Why?  So we can postpone it again?”

It was true.  They had set a date twice in the last two months and each time an event was planned that somehow fell on the exact date they had aimed for.  At first, Maren had been wary, thinking it was Elsa that kept putting things in their way, but after the second time, Maren had seen Elsa transforming quickly into rage personified, yelling obscenities into the hallway as the staff was scurrying to finish their rounds.  It was amusing to her, but she was sure the staff had feared for their lives at that moment.

“It’s not funny anymore,” Elsa said, every inch of her expression failing to hide the amusement as she spoke.

Maren slipped her hand into Elsa’s as she chuckled, “Okay.  Do you have a date in mind?”

“We can get married on Christmas.  Underneath the snow.”

It was, admittedly, the perfect idea.  More so for Elsa, but Maren didn’t mind the cold that much.  She also couldn’t say no to such a romantic idea, either. She had been noticing lately that Elsa was transforming into a hopeless sap before her very eyes.  They were able to love each other freely, and openly, and it seemed to create an entirely new Elsa.

Maren gave Elsa a lopsided grin and squeezed her hand, “Christmas it is.”

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An unrelenting, stabbing pain woke Maren out of her sleep, a light layer of sweat glistening on her forehead as she shot upright, yelping immediately after because that only made the pain worse.

Elsa was beside her in an instant, and the memories of the doctor telling her she was lucky she hadn’t broken any of her ribs came flooding in at the sight of the concerned eyes shining before her.

“Ouch,”  Maren groaned, making no attempt to hide how horrible she felt.

Instead of waiting for an invitation, Elsa crawled into the bed with her, careful to not cause the bed to bounce.

“You have a terrible habit of passing out for long periods of time, “ Elsa tucked a stray strand of hair behind Maren’s ear, “You slept the whole day yesterday.”

Maren’s eyes went wide, “You mean it’s time for breakfast again?”

Elsa laughed, “And the best part is, no one will think twice if you stay here while you heal.  And no one is brave enough to confront me about it if they did.”

Maren grinned, “Does this mean I should stay frail and needy for as long as I can?”

“I wouldn’t overdo it.  But take your time. I enjoy taking care of you for once.”  Elsa inched closer until she was almost completely pressed against Maren’s side.  “I’m going to arrange for breakfast in bed today.”

“Really?” Maren gasped.  She had tried to convince Elsa to do this on many occasions, only to be shot down each time.  Perhaps she was overeager in her suggestions to hide in the closet or under the bed when it arrived, or maybe Elsa had been right when she stated plainly how it would be hard to explain the idea of two breakfasts for herself alone.  But she certainly wasn’t about to argue the new perk.

“I’ll be right back,” Elsa left a brief peck on Maren’s cheek before she strode out of the room.

Maren lifted her shirt to reveal a large bandage over her ribs.  She sucked in a breath and shifted it and eyed the deep purple bruise.  She remembered the doctor telling her she should stay away from any physical activity for a while.  That was not something Maren was looking forward to, but Elsa had heard it, too, and that meant she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

“Ouch, that looks like it hurts.”

Maren dropped her shirt, “Anna!  What are you doing here?”

Anna sank down on the bed, making no attempt to be delicate, and Maren was wincing, gritting her teeth as the bed bounced violently.

“I saw you go down yesterday,” Anna chuckled before she clasped a hand over her mouth, “Sorry, I mean… it was a little funny, though.  You know, for a knight, you’re really bad at jousting.”

“Yeah, yeah, get your laughs out now before Elsa comes back,” Maren adjusted herself so she could sit up properly, her head leaned against the headboard as she looked back at Anna and softened, “Thanks for coming to check on me.”

Anna shrugged, “What else are best friends for?”

Elsa had tried her best to pretend to be annoyed at the closeness Maren and Anna had formed during the time she had agreed to marry someone else.  Maren, however, could tell by the small curve at the corners of Elsa’s mouth whenever she watched them that she more than approved.

“Everyone is talking about how the queen was so quick to your side,” Anna shook her head, “The sight of her running to you seems to have made the whole kingdom go soft.”

“Oh no, you mean they don’t think Elsa’s heartless anymore?”

Elsa came in with two trays of food and a confused look on her face, “Who thinks I’m heartless?”

Anna looked to Maren, and they both burst out laughing.  Maren regretted it immediately, hissing as her entire body seemed to catch fire at the motion.  Elsa merely raised an eyebrow as she sat the trays on a table close to the bed.

Maren took a break from her antics with Anna to admire the breakfast that Elsa had specifically curated for her.  They caught each other in a silent transaction of gratitude before Elsa lowered one of the trays on her lap, “Don’t let Anna steal anything off that.”

“Hey!”

Elsa chuckled, “It’s true and you know it.”

“I don’t have to stay here and take this, you know,” Anna folded her arms together and let out a defiant huff.

Maren shook her head, “Don’t you have to head off to the stables now, Anna?”

Anna’s cheeks flushed cherry red as she stumbled back, “No!”

“Is there a reason I have no idea what’s going on?” Elsa perked up.

Maren was acutely aware that Elsa had no idea that Anna had been spending her afternoons in the company of the new stable boy.  Maren liked him, and he was great with the horses. He was awkward and clumsy, but whenever she caught him looking over at Anna, he wore a lopsided, dopey grin that she always returned.  Maren knew Elsa would approve.

“I’m going to go now!” Anna squeaked as she nearly took flight on her way out of the door.

Raising her eyebrows, Elsa stared at Maren, “What was that about?”

“Anna’s been keeping the new stable boy company these days.” Maren offered.

“Kristoff?  The one that talks for the horses?” Elsa snorted, “Why did you tell me sooner?  He seems nice.”

Maren smiled, “I was waiting for the right moment to embarrass Anna for once.”

Elsa slapped Maren’s arm playfully, “That’s my job!”

“I think after all the ‘are you having Honey for dinner again?’ jokes, I deserved a shot.”

Scrunching her face in either disgust or embarrassment,, Elsa nodded, “You’re right.  You get infinite free passes for that. So how long has Anna been smitten?”

“They met at our engagement dinner,” Maren remembered seeing them talk several times throughout the night, at one point even sharing an uncoordinated dance.

“You mean the dinner that turned into a party?” Elsa corrected.

Maren chuckled, despite the protest from her ribs.  That night had gone out of control quickly, as most of the attendants misunderstood that the dinner was, in fact, not a prelude to drinks and music.  It was also the first time Elsa and Maren were together as a couple in public.

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The nerves rattling in Maren’s chest were overwhelming.  She looked over herself in the mirror. Elsa really did her a favor by fixing her up with a tailored suit.  She wore a white shirt with a deep purple jacket with a black trim and matching toggles at the front. As she began to fasten the jacket closed, she stared at her sword.  Elsa insisted that she leave it behind tonight. As much as Maren didn’t feel right about it, she agreed simply for Elsa’s benefit. She was a knight. She was supposed to always be prepared for anything.  And she was also the queen’s betrothed, and as such, under the protection of the Royal Guard, in which she was in charge. It was all becoming very confusing lately.

She did have one thing that she never left behind, and she smiled as she admired the silver band on her left hand.  It was the same ring Elsa had presented her with years ago, and she now wore it again without fail, but this time on the proper finger instead of around her neck.  She had insisted to Elsa that she didn’t want a new ring, and so they had it resized to fit. She liked the simplicity of it.

When she stepped out of her room, the whole castle was buzzing, much to Maren’s confusion.  It was only a dinner party, why all the fuss?

She continued to the dining hall, still nervous but calmed slightly by the fact that she would have Elsa to guide her through the night..

When she finally saw Elsa, her heart stopped for the briefest moment, and Maren’s thoughts began to drift to places she knew were more than inappropriate for the situation.  Elsa wore a sky-blue dress, adorned with intricate patterns of snowflakes and crystals at the shoulders and waist, but while the collar rose to her neck, the chest area dipped significantly, giving Maren plenty of access to stare.  And her eyes, true to form, betrayed her constantly throughout the night.

Maren could see Elsa watching her out of the corner of her eye, a smug grin clear as day on her lips, but Maren’s attention was split, also busy watching Anna talk animatedly with the young blonde man seated next to her.  Maren immediately recognized him as the new stable hand, Kristoff. Maren remembered seeing his parents around a couple years ago before they were struck with a terrible flu, eventually succumbing to their illness and leaving the poor boy to fend for himself.  Lucky for him, he was charming, handsome, and hardworking. All of which Anna seemed to notice, and Maren had to shake her head at the way she twirled a finger in her red hair, and placed a hand over Kristoff’s, and giggled loudly whenever he appeared to make a joke.

A short couple of hours later, after the food had been devoured and conversation had begun to lull, many of the guests grew restless and had begun to ask about the rest of the entertainment, much to both Elsa and Maren’s confusion.

Eventually, after getting directions from Elsa, one of the dukes wandered off to the wine cellar and returned with a plethora of spirits in his hands and jacket pockets soon after.

That was when things got interesting.

Anna had a couple drinks with Maren, while Elsa entertained the Duke of Weselton and took it upon herself to pour a glass when a bottle was passed to her.  Maren and Anna rolled with laughter as they watched Elsa hand the glass to the Duke before she tipped the bottle to her lips and took several large gulps. Staring in silent bewilderment, the Duke took a sip from his glass before excusing himself.  Elsa looked over to Maren and winked.

Anna wiggled her eyebrows, “I think the Queen summons your presence.”

“Or maybe she wants company in case the insufferable Duke comes back,” Maren countered, but Anna just shot her a knowing smirk.

“Oh, come off it.  You two just use any excuse to stay close to each other.  You still can’t keep your hands off each other.”

Maren let out a shocked gasp, but instead of arguing, she decided to go for a more entertaining approach.

“When you and Kristoff are at that stage, don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

Flushing from her face to her ears, Anna crossed her arms and pursed her lips, mumbling almost incoherently, “I just met him.”

“And I spent two minutes alone with your sister before I knew she was the one for me,” Maren grinned, “I saw some serious flirting over there.”

“It was just a conversation.”

“Mmhmm.”

It didn’t take long before several guests formed a band in the throne room, taking many of the drinks with them, and soon even Elsa, Anna, and Maren went to join them.

“Look at that.  Give them a few bottles and they make themselves completely at home,” Elsa frowned, but Maren was quick to nudge her in the shoulder.

“This is our engagement party.  We should be celebrating with them.  It’s for us, after all,” Maren held out a hand as she motioned to the dance floor.

Elsa hesitated, even though Maren danced with her often at night under the starlit sky, most nights moving only to the rhythm of their own heartbeats.  Sometimes, Elsa would hum in her ear because she knew how it made Maren weak at the knees. If the dress was anything to go by, Elsa must have decided she was in the mood to hum.

When she eventually took the offered hand, she pulled Maren closer than she normally would in present company, before letting Maren lead her slowly and smoothly through a soft, seductively elegant melody.  Elsa pressed even closer and began to hum softly in Maren’s ear.

“For someone who didn’t want to be public about us, you certainly have changed your tune,” Maren quipped, and Elsa pulled away to look at her.

“I’ve decided that as long as there are no lynch mobs or angry protests, we’re in the clear.  And so far, no one seems to care,” Elsa lifted her chin to gesture over Maren’s shoulder.

She was right, of course.  No one was paying much attention.  There were a few glances, but they all looked on – if Maren was seeing correctly – almost hopefully.  It was odd, to say the least, but it seemed the kingdom was either extremely open-minded, or loved their queen enough to appreciate her happiness over tradition.

Either way, Maren wasn’t going to waste her energy trying to figure it out.  She was here, with Elsa, and had every permission to enjoy herself. It soon became clear that Elsa seemed to have the very same idea.

“Since no one’s paying attention, I can do this.  And also because I’ve been dying to do it ever since I saw you in that jacket,” Elsa moved forward before Maren could register what was happening.

Then, suddenly, the familiar warmth was creeping up her spine and spreading throughout her body.

She kissed Elsa back with a certain fervor that was eagerly reciprocated.  They had long stopped dancing, instead the only non-moving pair on the floor, except for their heads and hands.   Whether it was the thrill of kissing each other in front of so many people after spending so much time hiding, or if it was just the way they always seemed to get lost in each other, Maren was slowly losing her ability to think.  Elsa quickly as well, it seemed, lost all self-control and soon slid her hands down far enough to make Maren’s heartbeat stutter and her breath hitch. Maren returned the gesture by sliding her tongue over Elsa’s bottom lip and biting softly, pulling a little bit, and one of Elsa’s hands shot up to tug a fistful of dark hair.

When Maren had to bite back a moan she broke away, staring back into pupils she knew were blown as wide as hers.  “That’s probably why we shouldn’t do that in front of people.”

Elsa looked around, but no one even glanced over.

“As long as we stop there.”

“As long as we continue later,” Maren tightened her grip on Elsa’s waist.

Elsa let her eyes roam over Maren for a moment, “As if I’d let you take that suit off yourself tonight.”

The rest of the night they spent dancing, sometimes playfully, and others they moved so gracefully about the floor that some would stop for a moment to admire them.

It was during a time of silly, playful dancing that Anna caught Maren’s attention again.  She was off in the distance, but close enough to see clearly. Maren wasn’t surprised in the least to see Anna dancing awkwardly with Kristoff, her concentration clear as she bit her bottom lip and seemed to try and lead him through the dance.  While Kristoff held his shoulders high, a show of confidence at dancing with the princess, no doubt, it was evident he was completely at Anna’s mercy as he nearly crossed his eyes, tongue captured between his teeth, and he studied her feet in a genuine effort to keep up. 

Maren was close to laughing when Elsa nipped delicately at her neck, “We should leave this party...”

How could she ever have declined?

“I’ll leave first.  You follow in ten minutes.  That should give you time to say all of your royal goodbyes.”

Maren purred as Elsa kissed her softly, “I’ll see you in ten minutes.  And remember: I’m taking that off you.” Elsa ran her finger over the front of Maren’s jacket.

“Looking forward to it.  And if you stride in naked, that’s fine with me too,” Maren winked as an airy giggle escaped her lips, and disappeared before Elsa could say anything else.

Maren was pleasantly surprised when Elsa had, indeed, greeted her that night, sans dress, and eyes so full of hunger she knew sleep would be the last of their priorities.

She couldn’t complain, though.  She doubted that there would ever be a time she turned Elsa down.

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Two weeks had passed since Maren's humiliating jousting loss and winter had begun its relentless toil against mankind.  Maren was still recovering from her injuries but was well enough that her days of bedrest were soon coming to an end. As much as they both wanted to keep on as they were, the truth was they had to put a stop to it eventually.

“I should go back to my room tomorrow,” Maren hated herself for saying it but continued on, “before anyone begins to talk.”

Elsa bit her lip, staring at Maren’s reflection in the mirror as she brushed her hair, “You really think anyone would say anything to us?  Or to me?” Elsa sighed, “We’ve been together since we were seventeen. We might as well be married already. I don’t get what the big scandal is.  Why is it,” she turned to face Maren and pointed the brush at her as she spoke, “Kings have been celebrated for their extramarital affairs.   But a Queen such as I, cannot share my bed with anyone until I marry them, lest I become a whore.”   Elsa rolled her shoulders as she drawled out the last word.  Maren knew she hated that word.

Maren knew better than to laugh, instead offering some advice, “You know your public image is everything.  If you risk that, you risk the people turning on you. And you’re a brilliant queen. There’s no reason we can’t go back to clandestine meetings and sneaking around after dark until the wedding.  It’s not too far off now, after all.”

“Sometimes you have a terrible habit of being far more responsible than myself,” Elsa pressed a soft kiss to Maren’s cheek before she returned to the mirror, eyes focused and almost angry, as she pulled her hair up into her signature braid, “I’m already counting the days until you don’t have to sneak out every morning anymore,” she paused, “Really, I just can’t wait until you’re officially my wife.”

Maren raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure you want to be stuck with me for the rest of your life?”

Elsa smiled at her through the mirror, “I’m far better off stuck with you than without.”

With a grin, Maren bent down and kissed the back of Elsa’s neck.  “I love you, too.”

She shuffled towards the dresser she knew Elsa tucked away some shirts for her for such an occasion.  It was sweet that Elsa had been so thoughtful, and Maren would never say no to a fresh change of clothes.  Elsa had recently made sure that Maren was only getting the finest garments sent to her. Gone were the days of the low-laced men’s shirts.  Now, she had her own selection of perfectly fitted dress shirts, tunics, jackets, trousers, and pajamas. That also wasn’t counting the upgrades to her armor and saddle.  To say Elsa had spared no expense for her was an understatement. Maren chose to view it as a sign of faith and affection rather than charity, and she really couldn’t deny that she looked incredible in all of it, and the different fabrics she never knew existed felt like clouds encasing her body.

After Elsa ensured the coast was clear, Maren slipped out to go about her day.  Frowning, she realized she wouldn’t be able to ride Bandit yet. Ever since she was given the clear for moderate activity, every possible thing came up to prevent her from doing so.  She attended training four times a week now, not counting her recent absence, and classes on royal etiquette the remaining three. The classes were Elsa’s idea, but as much as Maren hated it, she knew she needed to buckle down before the wedding so she didn’t commit a heinous and unforgivable faux paus during their wedding or after.  So far, she had table manners, handshakes, and dancing perfected. She had yet to gain any momentum in fashion, public speaking, or just about anything else that was thrown at her. She wasn’t sure how Elsa managed the constant scrutiny. How a smile could somehow be the wrong smile for the occasion, or a wave could be an insult if you’re too happy about it, or how emotions in general are strongly discouraged under any circumstances.

It made a lot of sense that Elsa was so outspoken and honest when they were alone.  Elsa had been preparing for this lifestyle since before Iduna had introduced them all those years ago, and the reality made Maren’s heart hurt.  All her life, Elsa had been told to hide her emotions. To conceal everything about herself.

As soon as Maren’s class was over, she rushed to find Elsa, and was disappointed to find that she was currently engaged in a tense negotiation over trade routes.

It had been a while since she had some time for herself, and what to do with it wasn’t hard to decide.

She faced a humiliating loss in jousting, rendering her almost immobile for weeks, but her wedding was coming up, and soon.  The new winter air swirled around her, accentuating the visible puffs forming on every exhale. Spring seemed so long ago now, but a part of Maren that was absolutely giddy about the idea of marrying Elsa welcomed the redness spreading across her nose and the chill on her lips.  It only meant she was one day closer to living one of her wildest dreams.

Swinging the door open carelessly, Maren took in the old, familiar sights and scents of the tavern as they assaulted her senses,  She couldn’t remember the last time she had come here, but a drink with rowdy strangers sounded like a pleasant break from the royal madness that had consumed her life lately.

She could hear a few excited shouts of her name, many patrons knowing her from days long past.  She smiled, flattered that they called her name out in reverence rather than necessity.

Reaching the bar, she motioned for a drink.  “Wine, please.”

The man raised an eyebrow at her, “Yer tastes changed, that’s fer sure.”

Maren cocked her head, “I’ll have you know, Marcus, I still enjoy a good ale.  I’m celebrating myself tonight, you see.”

Sliding the freshly poured glass to her, “It’s on the house, darlin’.  We missed ya ‘round here.” He paused to flash a toothy grin. His messy, thinning brown hair somehow making him look younger than he was, he shared a similar quality that Maren found in Kristoff.  Clumsy, but charming in an odd sort of way. She remembered his wedding. The poor man was so nervous he could barely stand during the ceremony, but his wife was the picture of grace, and gave him her shoulder to lean on whenever he faltered too much.  He was a lucky man, Maren decided. And she was an equally lucky woman, as Elsa would no doubt do the same if she had to.

“Ale, please,” a man sat down next to her, which was odd, as there were half a dozen empty seats around her.

Maybe it was that Marcus was there in front of her, so it was the logical seat to quicker service?  Convenience. Yes. Maren was content to go with that even if her gut was pulling itself apart.

The stranger wore a mask of sorts, covering the lower half of his face, but his dark, short hair, ivory skin, and hazy golden brown eyes were perfectly clear under the dim light between their drinks.

“You’re the one that tamed the queen, right?”  He muttered, and Maren had to strain to hear him.

She wished she hadn’t.

“Excuse me?”  She narrowed her eyes at him, and he seemed to be smiling under the mask.

“Someone had to do it, is all I’m saying.  Thank you for your sacrifice.”

As soon as Marcus slipped him his mug and a coin was placed on the counter, he stood and stomped to a booth in the farthest corner, sitting with his back facing them.

As she shook away the questions forming from such a peculiar encounter, Maren brought her own glass to her lips, pleasantly surprised to find that Marcus knew his wine.  She spent some time sipping slowly, enjoying every tip of the glass as she was regaled with tales of Marcus’ first born son.

As the night wore on and more customers appeared, the pleasant conversation was replaced with the dull hum of an excited and intoxicated crowd.  Maren was hesitant to leave, however, as the mysterious patron was still sitting in the far booth, but he had company this time.

Trying to watch him was proving to be a challenge, however, as the crowd grew thicker and soon, she could make nothing out over a sea of bobbing heads.

“Ser Honeymaren!”

Maren turned immediately, the formal title throwing her off her spying mission.

“Yes?”

She was met with a sympathetic smile from Marcus, “I know ya were jus’ tryin’ to enjoy yer night an’ all, but that man there, jus’ now, I hear he saw a young lad an' woman out in th’ fores’, all by ‘emselves in th’ cold.”

An unexpected shiver ran through her, and she peered through the heads to see that the stranger was no longer at the booth.  A long scan over the rest of the room proved him to be lost now. Maren stomped her foot, annoyed that she allowed herself to lose sight of him in the first place.  “If you see him again, do whatever you have to do to keep him in one place.”

Nodding in understanding, Marcus grinned, “It’d be an honor fer ya, and th’ Queen.”

“Thank you.  Now, I need you to get a message to the queen.  Go to the castle and tell the guards you need an immediate audience with the queen.  Give them this,” Maren ripped the pin from her shoulder that identified her as head of the Royal Guard, “they’ll listen.  And then tell her what you told me, and that I went to go and find those two poor souls.”

Not waiting for confirmation, Maren slipped out the tavern and ran to the stables.  Sensing the urgency, Bandit was still the entire time she worked to fix the saddle on him, and she was finished in record time.  Packing a saddlebag with water and affixing blankets to each side, Maren set off into the night, glad that tonight was one night she was allowed her sword.

----------------

Several hours had to have passed by now, because Maren’s ribs were throbbing , and even Bandit was growing restless weaving between the trees under a distressingly darkening moonlight.

Maren was able to find tracks.  Two sets of footprints, bound directly into the thickest part of the forest.  They were either heading there on purpose or were completely lost, and Maren was willing to bet on lost at this point because the tracks weren’t always direct.  Sometimes they turned around for a yard or two, before turning around and heading back into the trees.

The shadows cast by the trees overhead only added to the chill already rolling over Maren’s shoulders, and she cursed herself for not waiting for a companion before going straight into a dark, isolated forest.

A flash of movement had her reaching for the hilt of her sword.  After she canned over the area, she called out. “Hello? I’m not here to harm you.  I’m here as a knight of the queen and offer you safety and provisions while you rest.”

In the distance, Maren could make out a pair of whispered voices.  She tried, but couldn’t make out anything distinguishable. Suddenly, there was silence, and she sighed as she hoped she wouldn’t have to force them out of hiding.  Someone always got hurt when she had to do that.

Miraculously, a head poked out from behind a bulky tree, “Do you mean that?  You want to help us?”

“Yes.  Why? Did the guy that came across you earlier give you a hard time?” Maren asked.  Maybe they remembered something about the stranger.

“We haven’t come across anyone out here.”

Tilting her head in confusion, Maren decided to probe more on it later.

“Well, I am a knight of the Queen’s Royal Guard.  I’m sworn to serve with honor. And there is no honor in killing you if you’re already dying of exposure,” Maren snorted, then composed herself again, “Show yourselves, and I will take you to the castle for any amenities you require.”

She narrowed her eyes as she tried to focus, and the branches of the tree brustled until a young man stepped out.  Maren studied him carefully, first searching for any signs of a weapon, but his hands were empty and there was nothing strapped to his waist.  His face was smeared in dirt and what could possibly have been his own blood, and his clothes were nothing but old, tattered rags. No longer sensing any threat from the stranger, she began moving forward, taking her time looking him over from head to toe, her ears tingling curiously as she grinned at the way his hair fell around his face in perfect frame, his lips quirking up in an awkward grin despite the circumstance, and his eyes twinkled just enough that it seemed like they did that all the time.  It all reminded her of -

“Ryder?” She gasped.

“Wh-What did you call me?” He stumbled forward, scrunching his face together, trying to get a better look at her.

“Is it you?  Is it really you?”  Maren’s eyes were already wet with tears.  Deep down, she knew her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her.  She had always assumed her brother died with the rest of her family in the fires that desecrated her village, but here he was, standing and breathing flesh and bone right in front of her.

His eyes widened suddenly, “Honeymaren?”

Maren didn’t wait any longer, hoisting herself down from Bandit with a speed and finesse she could have learned only from Elsa.

When he almost fell back from the force of Maren running into him, she couldn’t even find it in herself to apologize.  Standing here, hugging him tightly, she realized just how much she missed her brother after all this time.

A small cough sounded, and this time it was Ryder’s turn to make sure Maren didn’t fall over.

“Iduna?”

A woman stepped forward, very much lacking in style but not regality.  She stood silent, eyes fixed perfectly still on Maren, and her shoulders squared back the same way Elsa would carry them during a formal encounter.

It had to be her.

Maren stepped forward slowly, “You don’t remember me?”

“Why would I remember you?” the woman answered meekly.

Uh oh.

“You introduced me to your daughter, Elsa.  We’re uh... still very close friends today.”

The woman looked to Ryder, seeking an explanation.  The only answer he had was a shrug as he looked to Maren.  “You know her?”

“I did once, yes.  You were-” Maren stopped herself.  Now probably wasn’t the best time to delve into the past.  “I’ll explain everything later. Let’s just get to the castle.”

Cursing herself for not taking an extra horse, Maren let Ryder and Iduna sit atop Bandit as she walked beside them.  She cringed, knowing it would be a long walk if she didn’t attempt to run soon.

At least if her pain returned she’d be able to share Elsa’s bed again.

Elsa.  Her mind drifted to the last day she had spent with Elsa and Iduna before the attack, hoping desperately the former queen’s apparent amnesia was only temporary.

---------------

After the rousing success of accompanying Elsa to the Mayday festival, Queen Iduna had insisted Maren move into the castle, as Elsa needed a friend and she wanted to make sure someone would always be looking out for the future queen.  King Agnarr, while pleasant enough, didn’t make much of an effort to get to know Maren, but he never made her feel unwelcome, either. The immediate acceptance into the royal family was bewildering, but at Elsa’s reassurance Maren was able to take it in stride, settling in quickly.

Tonight was just one of many that she found herself in Elsa’s room  after her work was complete in the stables. They were whispering softly, arms held tightly around each other on the bed when a soft knock sounded at the door.

Springing apart immediately, they fixed their grins to look anything but guilty before Iduna stepped into the room.

“I thought I’d find you both in here.  I was wondering if you would join me for dessert,” she said, making little effort to hide the knowing smirk at the edge of her lips.

“Mom, it’s just after lunch,” Elsa pointed out.

Iduna blinked, “You would turn down dessert because it’s too early?  My dear, have I taught you nothing?” A light laugh escaped her lips before she turned to Maren.  “It’s not too early for you, is it?”

“Not at all,” Maren cast her eyes to Elsa, a smug smile gracing her lips.

“I didn’t say-I was just-” she rolled her eyes, “Let’s go.”

It was a short walk to the dining room, and Iduna motioned them to a small table off to the side.  It was already set for them, an assortment of tarts, wines, and bread decorating the center. There was a certain symmetry to it that made Maren wonder how the staff always managed to make everything look like a carefully planned work of art.

“I didn’t think three of us sitting at a twenty-foot table made much sense,” Iduna smiled as Maren pulled a chair out for her before doing the same for Elsa.

“Thank you,” Elsa grinned as she sat, a small blush creeping over her face as Maren intentionally let her hand graze lightly at Elsa’s back as she released the chair.

The moment did not go unnoticed.  “I must say, I did have some misgivings about leaving you two alone together,” Iduna pointed between them, “but you’re quite… gentlemanly.” 

Elsa and Maren froze, looking anywhere but at each other.

Iduna’s eyes fixed on Maren, and she continued, “Elsa will be turning nineteen in two days' time, and that means the suitors will come, and many in number at first.  I have no doubt Elsa will leave them running, their tails tucked tightly between their legs. But I want to know that you’re prepared for the things that will be said after she begins to turn them down.  Eventually, the link between you two will be discovered.” She paused, her eyebrows furrowed in thought. “What you two decide to do about that is up to you. You’ll have my support either way, but remember that any choice you make will have its own consequences.   If you do share your love with the people... For as many that will cheer you, there are those that will be jealous of what you have and try to destroy it. You cannot let them.”

Maren considered the words carefully.  She should have known, really. Queen Iduna was known for her intuition, so of course she must have figured out that Maren and Elsa were never going to be “just” friends from the minute she introduced them.

But the warning in her blessing gave Maren pause.  Sure, she knew it wasn’t going to be easy, being with Elsa.  Especially after she became queen, whenever that would be. Maren hoped she had as much time as possible before that happened.

A hand slipping into hers brought Maren back to the table, her uneaten tart still centered perfectly on the plate, yet somehow her wine glass had been emptied.

Elsa squeezed her hand, “I think whatever comes, we’re going to be just fine.”

Iduna nodded, “Good.  Maybe if a wedding ever happens I can make your dress.  Maren?”

“Hmm?” Maren tilted her head.  Next time she wouldn’t drink the wine so fast.

“Would you like me to make you a dress?”

“Ah… um,” Maren looked down at herself.  Trousers, a collared shirt, boots…

Elsa watched Maren, laughing, “She’s more of a suit and trousers type of lady, mother.”

“That can be arranged, too.”

---------------

She was exhausted from the walk, and the sun had already been up for at least half an hour.  Her ribs protested violently against the quake of every heartbeat, and she was sure if she sat down even for a second she would pass out for a day or two.

The gasps of awe from Ryder and Iduna as they saw the castle in the short distance did little to assuage her anxiety.  If Elsa had stayed up to wait for her, which she more than likely had if her message had been delivered, Maren would have no time to warn her what she had discovered.

As they entered the castle gates, a few guards eyed them suspiciously, and she called them over to pledge their discretion.  She couldn’t risk the kingdom finding out about the former queen’s discovery just yet.

Ryder studied the interaction, “You were serious about that knight stuff?  You’re really in charge of them?”

“Yes,” she groaned as she helped Iduna down from Bandit.  Her ribs were not going to gorgive her for this. “This way.”

The castle doors opened, and a pink blur shot forward and engulfed her.

“What were you thinking?” Elsa wasted no time chiding her.  She pushed Maren back, fingers gripped firmly on her shoulders, “Do you have any idea-”

Maren followed Elsa’s eyes to the curious pair of Ryder, and then-

“Mother?”  It was a whisper, but Maren heard it.  Elsa’s eyes glossed over as tears threatened to fall.

Tugging gently on Elsa’s arm, Maren led her down the hall, and hopefully far enough away to not be overheard.

“I found them in the forest.  The only thing I know right now, is that Ryder, my brother, is alive, and was somehow with your mother when I found them.  But Elsa, I have to tell you…” Maren took Elsa’s hand and stroked her thumb softly over her palm. “She doesn’t remember anything about who she was.  She didn’t recognize me, and didn’t remember you when I asked.”

Elsa shook her head, “She was a queen, how could she forget that?  And your brother was with her? Maren, none of this makes sense.”

“I haven’t asked them much yet.  I wanted to get them here safely first.  We should find out what they know, but right now I think we all need food, a bath, and some rest.”

“I’ll take care of it.  Get them a bath and meet me in the dining hall,” Elsa grabbed onto Maren’s wrist before she could walk away and whispered, “Thank you, Maren.  For bringing her back to me.” Elsa placed a soft kiss on Maren’s lips, then glanced down at her mother one last time before turning to make arrangements for their new guests.

“I didn’t know queens were that friendly.  Think I can get a kiss, too?” Ryder smirked, and Maren felt no remorse when she punched him in the shoulder.  Hard.

“Say that in front of her.  I dare you,” she challenged.  And just like that, it was almost like old times again.

They stared at each other for a while, sizing up an appropriate response, but Iduna coughed behind them.

“Was that the daughter you mentioned?  My daughter?”

Maren turned to face her fully.  “Yes.”

“And she is the queen?”

“Yes.”

“That means I was the queen before her.”

“Yes,” Maren could see the strong, brave face, trying desperately to put the pieces together.  But she also spent years around Elsa and could see behind the facade. Iduna was terrified. Maren really couldn’t blame her.  They were all strangers as far she was concerned. Offering a show of trust, Maren removed the belt that held her sword at her side and set it inside a nearby closet.

They continued down the hall, entering a wing of empty bedrooms.

“What happened to me?” Iduna asked, a bit more relaxed now that her escort was unarmed.

“I think it’s only right we wait for Elsa to talk about everything,” Maren stopped, motioning for Iduna to enter the room.  “Do you remember how the bath works around here?”

“I have a vague idea, yes.”

Maren nodded, “Good.  You’ll find clothes in the drawer over there.  The guard at the end of the hall will take you to the dining room when you’re done.”

After helping Ryder set up his bath, she hurried to her room.

She frowned.  Her dresser was empty.

Scanning the rest of the room, she noticed a note at the foot of her bed.

“I took the liberty of drawing a warm bath for you in my room.  I also stole your clothes and moved them to my room. -E”

-----------------

Maren managed to make it to the dining room first, despite having taken a few extra minutes to enjoy Elsa’s oversized tub.  She was glad for it, because she knew Elsa was overwhelmed already without having to be alone with her mother that couldn’t remember her.

Confirming her fears, Elsa put her arms around Maren in a tight embrace, “How am I going to tell Anna?”

“She’ll be fine.  I promise. We can tell her together, if you think that’ll make it easier,” Maren offered.

“Let’s just get through this,” Elsa pulled away when the sound of footsteps came closer.

In an effort to be patient and respectful, Elsa was waiting until after everyone had finished eating before asking any heavy questions.  While she looked calm and resolute, Maren could feel the tension that radiated off her from across the table.

Finally, right when Maren thought Elsa was about to explode, Ryder started talking.

“It’s so strange.  The night of the fire, I looked back for one second and you were gone.  The next thing I know, I’m waking up in a cold basement. I didn’t even remember being taken there.”

Elsa’s eyes moved expectantly to Iduna, but she didn’t ask for an answer.  She just clasped her hands together on her lap and waited.

“I don’t remember anything before waking up in the basement with Ryder.”

Ryder turned to face his sister, “How long have I been gone?”

Maren frowned, counting in her mind, “Ten years.”

“I don’t understand.  Why would he let us go after all that time?” Ryder threw his hands in the air.

Elsa stood up, crossing her arms over her waist, “I’m afraid it has less to do with you than it does with us.”

Maren lifted an eyebrow, silently asking her to elaborate.

“I can’t make sense of all of it.  There’s too many unanswered questions.  But the timing is a little convenient. We just announced the wedding date a few days ago.  This could very well be an attempt to stir up some trouble for us.”

“Wait, wait, wait!  You two are getting married?” Ryder slammed his hands down on the table.

Elsa turned to him, “That’s the plan.”

“Is that allowed for a queen?” Iduna asked.

“Lucky for me, my parents changed the marriage laws.  All citizens of the kingdom are allowed to marry just about anyone they wish,” Elsa supplied, careful not to mix her emotions in her tones.

Maren knew the Iduna they both remembered would have congratulated them and wept with joy instead of questioning how appropriate their marriage was.

Looking slowly between them, Iduna replied softly, “I see.  So I approved of this arrangement?”

Maren cleared her throat when she saw how close Elsa was to tears, and decided to speak instead, “You gave us your blessing the last time I saw you.  It was quite something. I think it took the both of us by surprise.”

Elsa nodded.

“I’m sorry for the assumption.  I don’t remember that. But I see myself in portraits all over this place.  It’s so strange… I do apologize, but I’m tired and I would like to rest now,” Iduna’s eyes didn’t betray her.  They were growing darker by the minute, a hollow kind of shadow passing over them on occasion.

Elsa moved to stand between Ryder and her mother.  “Yes. I imagine you both must be very tired. The guards will show you back to your rooms.  You are free to make yourself at home here. Anything you want you can simply ask from the guards and they will be sure you have all you need.  You can find me in the same manner.” The sovereign mask had slipped on again, Maren could tell instantly. Elsa was trying to protect herself in case her mother didn’t remember her.

She couldn’t blame her.  She couldn’t imagine the state she’d be in if Ryder didn’t remember her.  As much as they may have bickered in their formative years, they grew close as teenagers.  He was her twin, after all. The bond between them was indescribable. And here was Elsa, knowing all too well her mother didn’t really know who she was.  Maren’s heart hurt so much for her, but she couldn’t console her. Not here, not now, at least.

After Iduna and Ryder had left the room, Elsa looked at Maren with burning eyes, “You’re coming with me to my room.  I don’t care who sees. I’d rather be with you while you sleep than be alone right now.”

Maren smiled, glad that Elsa was seeking her comfort instead of shutting her out.  “If you’d rather talk, I can sleep later.”

“Nonsense.  You need to sleep after being up all night.  And I’m sure your ribs don’t feel very well right now,” Elsa’s tone was close to her authoritative, queenly voice, and Maren knew better than to argue.  She was right, anyway. Maren’s ribs were still throbbing, and she was closer to falling into a coma with every passing minute if she didn’t make it to a bed soon.

-----------------

When night came, the weight pressing in on Maren’s chest had only grown more prominent.  There was a sinking feeling that came with the past day’s events that haunted her sleep. She dreamt of shadows in the daytime and complete darkness in the night.

Elsa, however, seemed to take a different approach, and was wisping about the room in an airy fashion.

Just as Maren blinked her eyes open, Elsa began to hum.  It was a pleasant sight to wake to, but Maren couldn’t help wondering if Elsa was getting her hopes up far too soon about her mother’s return.  If Iduna failed to regain her memories, the hope would make the blow far more devastating.

And there was still Anna to tell.

“Hmm?” Elsa stopped humming and turned.  It seemed Maren had thought out loud.

“When are you planning to talk to Anna?” Maren asked, squinting through her sleepy eyes.

Elsa sat at the edge of the bed and played with her hands, “I was hoping to tell her when you woke up, actually.  I wanted to take you up on your offer to do it together.”

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Maren nodded, “Of course.  Should you send for her now?”

Elsa bit her lip and nodded, “Probably better to just get this over with, right?”

Overcome with an urge to stretch, Maren groaned as she was faced with the reality of just how sore she was after riding, and then walking, for hours.  She groaned loudly and clutched at her side.

Elsa chuckled, “That’s what you get for running off all by yourself.”

“What?  I get no sympathy after all my heroic deeds?” Maren whined.

“You were heroic, sure.  But also stupid. I suppose I knew that when I fell in love with you, though,” Elsa leaned over, claiming momentary ownership over Maren’s lips.

When they broke apart, Elsa squared her shoulders and resigned herself to the inevitable.  “I’ll summon Anna now.”

Throwing the covers off, Maren stood next to Elsa and grabbed her arm, “She’s going to be okay, you know.  She’s tough, just like you.”

“I hope so.”