A sisterly lunch

A/N: This chapter will be much shorter than the last one and involve more in the way of fluff and bonding, but I hope you enjoy it too.

Happy reading!

Arendelle's Castle: The Royal Dining Hall

The soft glow of the high noon sun penetrated the artistic, stained-glass windows, casting long and prismatic rays of light across the grand table adorned with fine silverware and steaming dishes of freshly prepared food. For the first time in years, the two royal sisters sat together for a quiet, private lunch to make up for lost time.

Elsa approached the table and thanked Alva, a pretty blonde woman in her mid-30s who had served on her staff loyally since the gates were closed 13 years earlier, as she helped her push her chair softly while she seated herself. The uncrowned queen then adjusted her napkin with delicate fingers, her heart lighter than it had been in ages. Across from her, Anna beamed, her warmth radiating like the sun as Alva filled Elsa’s plate with a generous helping of roasted vegetables and bread.

"Would that be all, your Grace?" Her favored servant asked.

"Yes, thank you, Alva," Elsa replied with a smile. "I would like to spend some time alone with my sister before the more coronation business demands my attention, though, so could you make sure we aren't interrupted unless it is for something urgent? I believe we have all the delicious food and drink we need anyway."

Alva seemed pleased by her wishes as she looked between the two of them. "Of course, your Majesty. I will make sure of it," she said, responding with a wide smile and a twinkle in her eye. "Although, Oskar did inform me that he prepared a small chocolate tart to try out a new recipe as practice for the deserts he intends to delight our guests with in the coronation feast, so, if Princess Anna is interested, I could bring it in later on."

Elsa chuckled when she noticed Anna's lips curl into a mouth-watering grin in response to that, so she nodded immediately. "Well, I wouldn't dare to keep such delight from my sister, so, sure, you can bring it in later. Thanks for the suggestion, Alva, and be sure to thank our good chef for going above and beyond."

"You're most welcomed, my queen." She replied with a smile and a bow. "I hope you enjoy your meal and the company."

And with that, her loyal servant walked through the nearby door that led to the kitchens and closed it behind her, leaving Elsa alone with her sister and still relaxed for once.

Anna sighed in contentment at the thought of delicious chocolate, but then she shook her head as if to clear it and refocused on her older sister.

“Okay, so,” Anna began, leaning forward with curious wide eyes as they resumed their conversation, “tell me more. How does it feel to finally get through a regency meeting without wanting to bolt out of the room?”

Elsa chuckled softly, the sound carrying a tinge of disbelief. “Strange. But good,” she admitted, her fingers tracing the edge of her wine glass. “I still can’t believe how…calm I felt today. No sudden spikes of fear, no need to hold back. It was as if something inside me just…settled. And I am so grateful for it all that I almost cried in joy when the meeting was over.”

Anna tilted her head, her eyes deep with empathy. Then she paused, as if gathering her thoughts for a long moment. “Do you think it has something to do with, you know, what happened earlier?”

Elsa’s gaze softened. “It must. Whatever happened this morning—it’s like an enormous weight I didn’t even realize I was carrying was lifted.” She hesitated for a moment, her hands clasping together above her plate. “Anna, I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed…this. Sitting with you, talking like this. They may seem like simple pleasures, but they mean so much to me now. It’s been far too long.”

Anna reached across the table, placing a hand over Elsa’s. “Hey, it’s not too late to make up for lost time. We’ve got plenty of dinners, breakfasts, and midnight chocolate snacks to catch up on.” She grinned, her teasing tone lightening the mood.

Elsa smiled, her thumb brushing over Anna’s knuckles. “You always know how to make things feel better,” she murmured.

“Well, that’s what sisters are for!” Anna declared, grabbing a piece of bread and dramatically tearing into it.

The two shared a laugh, the sound echoing warmly through the vast hall. Elsa let herself lean into the moment, allowing the simple joy of her sister’s presence to soothe the lingering remnants of doubt in her heart.

After a moment, Elsa’s tone grew thoughtful. “I was worried about the coronation,” she confessed. “Afraid I’d lose control in front of everyone, that they’d see what I’ve kept hidden for so long. But today…after the meeting, I’m starting to think I can really handle it.”

Anna’s face lit up with an encouraging smile. “Of course you can! You’re Elsa—graceful, poised, queenly Elsa. I’ve always known you had it in you. And now, you’ve got this amazing control over your powers to back you up.”

Elsa chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You have so much faith in me, Anna. More than I’ve ever had in myself.”

Anna leaned back in her chair, folding her arms with a triumphant grin. “Well, it’s about time you started listening to me, don’t you think?”

Elsa laughed, a genuine, warm sound that made Anna’s chest swell with pride. “I suppose I should,” Elsa agreed, her tone lighter now.

As they continued their meal, the bond between them felt renewed, as if the years of distance were slowly being bridged by shared laughter and quiet moments of understanding.

"So, out of curiosity," Anna said a moment later before sipping some wine. "In between royal duties, are there any hobbies you developed over the years? I used to talk to the walls and portraits a lot, but then I thought of enhancing that passtime with actual theater, so I ended up devouring all of the plays we had in the castle's library."

Elsa blinked rapidly at that. "Really?" She asked, feeling intrigued. "Every one of them?"

Anna chuckled while scratching the back of her head. “Well, yes. There was even one year where I read nothing but works of Shakespeare from cover to cover. I can probably quote Romeo and Juliet from heart by now, among other masterpieces of his.”

"Huh," Elsa muttered. "That's impressive. I have read some of his famous works, of course, but not all of them, and certainly not often enough to memorize them from cover to cover. I am afraid my royal duties did not allow me as much time and calm as I would have liked to pursue such pastimes often. Still, I am sad to hear I was also responsible for so much boredom in your life, though," she added in distress.

"Elsa, I already told you that you don’t have to be sorry for that anymore," Anna told her, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "Now that I know the truth, I understand why you did what you did. So, please, try not to worry about it anymore, and let's just focus on making up for lost time.

In response to her words by the comforting candlelight of the occasion, Elsa felt a sense of peace she hadn’t known in years. Looking across the table at Anna, her heart filled with solemn gratitude at how much she had missed the simple pleasure of having a pleasant meal with her loving sister.

“Thank you, Anna, for never giving up on me,” Elsa replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Anna reached out, clasping Elsa’s hand once more as she smiled. “I could never give up on you, Elsa. Never.”

The uncrowned queen sighed in contentment and decided this day was truly a blessed day for her that would be seared into her memory. Still, there was one more thing she wanted to do, now that she was opening herself to more possibilities than before. She sipped a bit more wine before smiling back at her sister.

"After we are done with desert, would you like to accompany me back to the sauna?" She asked. "I got interrupted by that sudden itch from the towel, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have."

Anna raised an eyebrow. "Really? I thought the heat bothered you for the most part due to your ice powers."

Elsa chuckled. "Not quite. I am just less used to it because the freezing cold doesn't really bother me. But before that allergic reaction to the threads of the towel or something, I was actually really enjoying the feelings of relaxation on my muscles. And I don't know, but after such a fortunate and productive day, I feel like celebrating, if that makes sense."

Anna bit her bottom lip for some reason. "Alergic reaction. Right," she said slowly.

Elsa frowned slightly at that, but then Anna shook her head as if to clear it and then smiled. "Of course we can go," She said, her tone cheerful. "Might as well build up more relaxation, given the long, hectic days ahead."

Elsa grinned. "Good point. Thanks for understanding."

As if on cue, Alva chose that moment to enter the room with a truly exquisite-looking chocolate tart, making Anna lick her lips instinctively. That made her sigh happily, delighted to be with her sister again.