✔𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐈𝐈: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈

Chapter 164: No Match Against Flames (EP. 05)

Finally. She's asleep.

Aiden hummed a self composed love song quietly as he held the sleeping form of his wife on top of his well sculpted figure; her head of platinum blonde tresses reaching the crook of his neck as he does this.

They both basked within the silvery, spectral streams of moonlight while the wind kept its howls to itself, and the stars glows feebly in a sea of luminous blue which is the night sky.

He cautiously reclined his back against the sliding door leading to their personal quarters, making sure that his wife remained asleep as she should be.

His heartbeats had lulled her to her current state, and he could not help but savor the feeling of how she would tighten her grip gently around his torso.

He relieved his midnight worries with running his fingertips through her hair, which was no longer fixed in an elaborate French braid but splayed free. Her husband's benign motions soothed her and deepened the depths of her unruffled slumber.

As feathery weighted tendrils part and reunite, the King of Arendelle began to indulge himself to the immeasurable ocean of his thoughts.

The fire wielder found himself a little guilty towards his sister-in-law. The inopportune duties of creating a distraction to entertain the dignitaries, and admittedly, to disguise the uproarious evidence of his anger are no easy tasks. He mentally noted to give the ecstatic woman a box of chocolates to repay her efforts.

Although, his thoughts were unable to remain untroubled once the maddening image of a particular piece of—Aiden, your words are unbecoming of composure. Fear began to sprout out from his paranoid trait, but to be completely honest, he wasn't being paranoid at all.

He is aware of the Prince of Draven's intentions towards Elsa, and his fears unpleasantly expanded the moment he received the grim reminder of Elgon being a fellow halfblood.

As if his worries could not yet get the better of him, he found another unfortunate detriment. Neither he, or anyone from the Arendellian Guard knows anything about Elgon's plans. It is not wrong to assume that he does, because undoubtedly there might be more to the Prince of Draven's keen intelligence.

One thing is for certain, if ever Elgon legitimately does have objectives, it's Elsa who he constructed them for.

He felt the Queen of Arendelle's body shift upright, and soon enough, his emerald green eyes found blue ones looking through consciously batting lashes. She groggily yawned and stretched a little.

Aiden flashed his awakened wife an apologetic smile, "Did I wake you?"

His question earned a disagreeing shake of her head. Elsa sat up and cupped her husband's face with a hand, coaxing him to be nearer so she could kiss his lips to ease his mind. He obeyed graciously and pulled her closer to his arms, the kiss growing more fervent each passion filled second it took.

Elsa pulled away for air, nuzzling her cheek next to her husband's as she interlocked their fingers, and the fire king thoroughly enjoyed her affection.

"You're worried," She sighs, "You're frowning right now."

"I-is it too obvious?" He questioned with a constrained smile, but to his wife, his provisional mask only brought out his distraught feeling more. Elsa chuckled and nodded, "It is. But I can't seem to grasp on what you're worried about."

"I'm worried about you," He finally revealed, "Also whatever that snake's motives are. I can sound childish for all I care, but... He wants to take you away from me."

And whenever you're not here, I'm scared.

Tears almost threatened to fall in a blink of an eye. And it just crushed Elsa's heart from pieces to fractures.

"Nobody can take me away from you," She smiled reassuringly as she gave his hand a squeeze. Her smile faltered the moment she saw his lips curl downwards into a saddened frown of doubt.

"A-and if he could?" He shakily quipped, sobs escaping his mouth while his tears went against his will. Elsa bit her lip and deprived her soulmate's cries with a press of her forehead on his.

"Hey, Aiden. Lift up."

"... W-wha... w-what...?"

"Smile. Smile for me."

Aiden swallowed a ragged breath and proceeded to do what his wife has wished. His lips quivered with a superior level of reluctance, but he carried out what his wife wanted.

Elsa giggled softly in approval and inched her face closer with a loving stare.

Aiden's worries disappeared for a brief moment.

"I am your Magic Shop."

"I am the place where you can unleash your hopes and doubts, and I'll be there to listen."

"I am where you can cry for as long as you want. I am your safe haven."

"I am made for loving you," She stifled a watery laugh, "I am forever your Magic Shop, and never forget..."

Aiden's curiosity broadened.

“You gave me the best of me, so I'll give you the best of you.”

And therefore, a new vow has been made.

Her hand found its way to where his heart is. Her smile is one of satisfaction as she felt the soothing pace of his heartbeat against her cold palm.

"Always keep me here," She tearfully whispered, and her voice cracked a little with the overwhelming tide of her emotions, "I'll stay here forever."

The fire king unashamedly tugged on the sleeve of her nightgown, "Don't you dare s-speak like that. You're scaring me more."

His cowardice just bruised his pride, but he had his plausible reasons for being so frightful of what may come. But what his wife said is nothing but the truth. One can never really tell what fate has in it for you.

He held on to her; tight as he could muster. He closed his eyes as his heart throbbed in unbearable fear.

The silence between them lasted long enough.

"Y-you're just a what-if, aren't you?" Elsa unleashed a choked sob.

Aiden caressed her hair and shook his head, "No, I'm not."

Elsa laughed bitterly, and as she did, more warm tears glided down the translucent slope of her cheeks. "Everything— everyone, is simply a what-if in this dream, huh?"

He grunted at her stubborness.

"I'm never a dream," The King of Arendelle smiles, "And also never a what-if."

"So show me, then. Prove to me that you're really not imaginary." Elsa retorted.

Aiden audaciously nodded, "l'll show you."

I'll show you. I'll show you forever.

To be continued
on the next chapter...

A/N: I apologize for the delay and the shortness of this chapter. I hope it wasn't terrible.

Here are some hidden meanings in a couple of scenes in Frozen III: The Queen and I.

(1) Have you ever noticed that Aiden doesn't wear his golden locket anymore? (If you have forgotten, Helena is the one who gave him that necklace to symbolize she's there wherever he goes because he's often stuck around Abaddon) It's because his mother is always around him now, and there's no need to wear that locket as a sign of closure anymore.

(2) In Chapter 119, as you can see, the flower younger Aiden gave younger Elsa is a blue daisy. Blue daisies signify purity and innocence, and at that time, both of them are still children and they possess those qualities.

Also, Elsa's Magic Shop related lines are inspired by BTS's song, well, “Magic Shop.” Please do listen to it! It may be Korean but language was never a barrier for music.