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The Yule Bell rang, and Mattias stood watching as everyone dispersed. This wasn’t the way he remembered it thirty-five years before, but that was a long time.
“General,” the new Queen said, gently touching his arm. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”
“You have dinner planned?” he asked.
“Of course!” she replied, “But if you have plans, that’s fine, too.”
“I hadn’t discussed anything with anyone yet,” he said, glancing around.
“Here she is!” Olaf said, pulling Halima over.
“Hello, Destin,” she said. “I was going to invite you, but Olaf tells me I should join everyone here for dinner.”
“What do you usually do?” Mattias asked.
“A lot of people come eat at Hudson’s Hearth, but I have a cook and a barmaid taking care of things there, so I’m happy to accept the invitation here with you.”
“This is all new to me,” Mattias admitted.
“We should go in, then!” Olaf suggested.
Queen Anna led them inside as the doors opened, and the entry hall of the castle was decorated in every corner, with tables full of food and desserts on both sides.
“This is fantastic!” Mattias exclaimed, then lowering his voice to Halima. “But why is nobody else here?”
“The Yule Bell didn’t happen for thirteen years,” she said quietly. “So things were a bit different after they brought back the tradition.”
“Oh,” Mattias replied.
They were led into the library, where a smaller table was set up with chairs and dinner, and the queen’s future consort was setting up the fire.
“I’m happy you could all join us!” Elsa said, standing at the table.
“It’s a pleasure, as always,” Mattias said.