✔𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐈𝐈: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈

Chapter 61: To Drink and To Mourn

Queen Elsa shuts her eyes to free the pain stricken tears once she steered her gaze to her husband, clad in his black uniform, tears brimming, feet scorching the soil beneath them, nerves racking and body on both knees. He whispered sweet nothings to the gravestone right in front of him, his lips quivering and left weakened to stop blurting out the words he dared to say back then... The words he was supposed to say back then.

The heavens mourned with him, raining down upon them. Two heavily armed Northern Guards pulled out an umbrella over the ice queen and the two, sleeping infants in her arms. Chandler and Auriana ignored the heavy downpour without a care in the world, sleeping soundly.

The white rose the fire king clutched in his hands had sagged and wilted, its petals drained and running wet, droopy and dripping.

She didn't even get to meet her grandchildren.
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"Aiden, that better be your last sip or I'm calling your wife."

"Why the hell do you care..."

"Because you happen to be a damn king of a country and you have to stay sober because HELENA wouldn't want this!"

".... Shut up.."

"What the-Aiden, do you even SEE what you are doing right now?! She raised you better than this. Aren't you tired of doing this kind of crap? Everybody watched you do this crying mess like a damn ritual for so many years! Can't you just stay strong for once?"

"...."

"That was your last chance. Your big, fat, last chance," Magoo growled, storming off from the room filled with the scent of different kinds of expensive brandy. He angrily slammed the door close behind him, muttering curses under heavy huffs and grumbles.

Five bottles are left empty at the other side of the desk, while the others are prepared to go through the fire king's throat. Aiden's long sleeve polo shirt is mussed up and its collar unbuttoned sloppily. His white gloves are stained with a tiny puddle of red wine, his eyes consisting a watery gaze towards the painting that hung in front of his slouched form.

His sobs and breathy gasps mingled like smoke in the air, his nails digging through the cloth of his hanker chief.

But for a second, he silenced himself as he stared intently at the portrait.

The portrait of the woman he called mother.

A soft knock against the oak broke him out of his trance.

"Come in."

"Lover?"

A body crashed onto his own like a bolt of lightning, a pair of lips kissing his shoulder comfortingly, her soothing voice shushing his pained gasps and her pools of deep blue staring into his own green depths.

Can't you just stay strong for once?

Damn that when an angel is urging him to let out his screams of agony and his concealed whines.

"Can you stand?"

"... Yeah."

"Come on, lean up on me. Does anything hurt?"

That stupid pang in my chest that won't go away.

"N-no."

"Let's get you cleaned and into comfortable clothes. Wrap your arm around me, don't worry, I can take you to our room."

Magoo was just here a minute ago, forcing me to get out of this place. Stubborn self said no, but when this woman commands it, why am I brought down to my knees like a weak puppy?

He slowly lifted his arm from the armrest, wrapping it around her neck. Elsa smiled in satisfaction before striding forward, locking the door behind them right after their exit.

A maid was passing by the halls, bowing to the two of them formally. Elsa politely ordered for her to fetch some warm water and a cloth, then continued their little trip to their bedroom.

They finally reached their bedroom, Elsa sighing in relief. She helped Aiden lie down on the bed, helping him change into more comfortable clothes right after getting a pair of his striped pajamas and his cotton soft sleeveless shirts.

The maid gladly delivered the small bucket of warm water and cloth, earning a very grateful thank you from the ice queen.

As he rested himself on the bedframe, he couldn't help but look at the two cribs at the other side of the room, two bundles of joy gurgling and making gibberish noises.

He returned his attention to his wife, who gracefully sat on the stool, the cloth in hand. She gently dipped it down the warm water, then squeezing it right after to create dampness. She brushed his hair up, bringing the damp cloth to his forehead. After finishing it, she pressed it against his cheeks.

She nods in satisfaction, then took the items away. She returned to his side with a glass of water, bringing it to his lips. Aiden blankly did it on his own, drinking the cold water down his dry throat. Elsa observed him with that well maintained smile once again, then pressed a long, lingering kiss to the side of his face, before lying down next to him.

"Snowflake..."

"Shh... You've mourned enough."

"No, I'm not gonna bawl and be a crybaby. I just want to thank you."

"You've thanked me many times. Even more ways than one."

"... Thank you, for fixing me up. For fixing a crappy king."

"Aw, love, you're not crappy. You're the greatest king in all of Europe."

"Says who?"

"Says me. But that doesn't matter. Because you're the king of something else, beyond Arendelle, beyond every single thing the light touches." Elsa smiled.

"Tell me, my dear wife, what is it you're speaking of?"

Elsa giggled, tapping his nose, "You'll find out sooner or later. I'm just glad you're being strong through this... But I don't want to see you wrap your fingers around a single brandy. I'm going to ensure that by talking with master Jorg to ban you from the wine cellar."

"But why do you get to drink Akva-"

"I am not drinking any kind of liquor again. If it makes you feel any better, I'll ban myself from my own collection too."

"Hm, that does make me feel better," He laughed, "You are quite the entertainment when you're tipsy."

Elsa rolled her eyes good naturedly and snuggled closer, "I'll take that ball to serve as a caution for another pour. But I really just want to make sure you're okay throughout all this. It's not... Easy. It's completely understandable why you're so delicate through this. You took an oath, Aiden. When you were no older than eight. I know how hard it is to push away the fact that," She sighs, "That all your efforts to protect her is wasted by a single sickness."

"... You're right about that."

"But Aiden, please. If you will decide between crying and talking to me, I encourage you to take the latter. Because Aiden," Elsa squeezed his hand, "I'm your wife. It's not just my duty-I want you to be happy. We all deserve to be happy. Even if we have to go through thawing a kingdom and through an abusive father."
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".... You amaze me, you know? For quite some time now." Aiden grinned, "I'd never think of a word more meaningful to tell you how much I love you. I can't figure out something more than a kiss to show how much I cherish every spec of you."

Elsa chuckled, brushing his hair, "There's only one way to do what you wish to, my king."

"Mh, what is it?"

"Just exist. That means more than enough for me."