Chapter Four

The sun began to rise high above the horizon, shining its bright light through Elsa's open window. The morning air was crisp, and the smell of spring hung in the air. A few rays of light fell upon Elsa's sleeping face, drenching her in a golden light. The rays pierced through her eyelids, waking her from sleep. Her blue eyes flashed open. She rose from her bed with a stretch. Her tired eyes swept across the room. Something seemed to be missing…

"Jack?" she called out. No answer. A sense of dread ran through her body. "Jack?!"

"Hey now, don't go calling too loud or somebody might hear. We don't want rumours about the queen of Arendelle going crazy, do we?" She turned to find Jack leaning against the wall by the window.

"Where were you?" she ordered.

"Take it easy, my queen. Don't you trust me?" She kept staring at him. "Ouch. Fine, you don't have to trust me. But I told you I wouldn't leave, and I didn't. I was just scoping out the village. I haven't been here for quite some time. Things have changed." She held her gaze for a few more seconds, then dropped it and sighed.

"So what are the plans for today, my lady?"

"Stop calling me that. Just because I'm queen doesn't mean you have to give me that title. My name is Elsa, just as its always been." Before Jack could reply, a knock sounded on the door.

"Elsa, who are you talking to?" It was Anna.  

"Nobody… I'll be out in a minute!" Elsa yelled. She eyed Jack nervously.

"We'll talk later," she whispered. "Now get out! I have to change!" Jack sighed and flew out the window. Elsa hurriedly threw off her nightgown and pulled her blue dress over her head. She opened her door to find Anna standing there in her green dress with her hair in braids. Anna pushed passed Elsa, barging into the room. She observed the room with skepticism.

"Who were you talking to? I know you were talking to someone," Anna accused.

"Anna, I told you I wasn't speaking to anyone. I just woke up!" Anna shrugged.

"Whatever you say, queen Elsa." Elsa let out an exasperated sigh. She'd wish people would stop using proper titles to address her.

Just then Jack flew back in through the window. Elsa looked from Anna to Elsa with panic.

"She can't see me, remember?" Elsa nodded once. She would have to get used to being the only one who could see Jack.

"What are you looking at? Honestly, Elsa!" Anna followed her gaze to where Jack stood, but, as Jack was invisible to most eyes, she didn’t see anything. Elsa quickly averted her eyes from Jack.

"No one. Now lets go. I have some things to do." Elsa left the room with Anna on her heels. Jack flew next to her.

"So what are the plans for today?" Jack asked. Elsa ignored him. She couldn’t answer with Anna right there. A rich smell wafted down the hallway. Elsa paused.

“Is that… Chocolate?”

Anna smiled. “It is chocolate! Come one!” Anna began pulling Elsa down the hallway,

forcing Jack to fly faster to keep up.  

“Anna, hold on! You going to bruise my wrists if you keep pulling me everywhere! You can’t eat chocolate for breakfast.”

“Yes you can!” Jack and Anna said at the same time. Elsa glared at them both.

“Please, Elsa! You love chocolate!” Elsa rolled her eyes.

“Fine. Chocolate for breakfast.” Anna squealed happily. “But we’re not going to make it an everyday thing. Only this once.” So the three of them headed into the banquet hall where chocolate truffles, pancakes and chocolate syrup, and little chocolates sat waiting for them. They gorged themselves with chocolate all morning. Eventually, Elsa had to dismiss herself. She got up from the table to join a few of of her advisors in the map room. Jack followed her, and they left Anna alone to finish stuffing her mouth with chocolate.

Jack stood and talked to Elsa (it was only a one-sided conversation, for Elsa couldn’t answer him in front of other people) until Jack eventually got bored and went to the corner of the room, where he observed Elsa while perched on his staff. Elsa talked with her advisors about the daily things in the village, the crops being planted since it was spring, the finances, and a bunch of things Jack just zoned out. The topics almost put him to sleep - that is, if he could sleep - but he enjoyed watching Elsa. Her dedication to Arendelle, the way she interacted with other, the poise she held herself with, the determined look in her eyes. This older Elsa would take some getting used to.

The door creaked open and Anna came prancing in. “Let’s go sledding, Elsa!”

“Anna, I’m in the middle of something.” Anna gave her a pleading look. “Enough, Anna.”

“Come on, please?” Anna pleaded.

“Yeah, Elsa. Lets get outside. I’m ready for some fun, not diplomatic discussions,” Jack piped in.

“It’s okay, my lady. You can go,” one of the advisors said. Elsa thanked him, and her and Anna left out the door.