He averted his eyes as he continued rubbing his neck. “I, ah..yes! No! Not with draperies, I mean..” Nicolai frantically racked his brain for the right word. “Shawl! Mantle? Wrap-around fabric..” He made a gesture of something wrapping around him.
He hoped he was off the hook, but he never knew with Anna. “And I totally wasn’t going to say dress. Because that would be awkward. And I am a man.” The king paused and his eyes widened slightly by what he said. “Not..not that I ever wore one, of course! I, they..chocolate? There’s some in the kitchen,” he pointed out, a hand gesturing towards said place down the hall.
Anna blinked once, twice. Huh, her father sure was acting strange this evening.
“Ah…Papa, are…you alright?”
She tilted her head to the side, talking a step closer to the man. Maybe he was nervous about the ceremony? Anna placed a small hand on his shoulder. “You seem kinda…nervous I guess? Is it about the event tonight?”
“That’s perfect!” Olaf cheered happily, walking dutifully about with his chest thrown out and head held high. MIrroring a show dog more than a king.
The snowman paused in step with his silly stance still in place, waving his hand when she bowed before her. “Thank you, my lady!” He said then returned the bow as gracefully as he could. “Ooh does this mean I could be Elsa’s king now? So all the old people don’t have to bug her anymore about getting married.”
Anna pressed a hand to her mouth to quiet her laughing. Typical, silly Olaf.
“I’m sure Elsa would love to have you as a king. Anything to get the ‘old people’ off her back.” She watched as he continued to prance about, an innocent question coming to mind.
“So, King Olaf, if you were ruler of Arendelle, what would your first act as ruler be, hm?”
He inclined his head as he chuckled. “Certainly. How could I ever forget about the chocolate?” It was a shame he had. When in doubt, eat all the chocolate.
His expression changed into a sheepish one and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Well..mostly. If they fit, they are. Some fabrics don’t make them all that comfortable, so I understand where you’re coming from,” the king replied. “I really understand. Except for how to get a dr- ah,” he coughed lightly, “drapery..thing..correct. I see your mother with them all the time, and I..well..”
Anna nodded. She wouldn’t mind getting a comfortable pair of pants tailored for her when he had the chance to order it for her. Who knows, it might be even more comfortable than the night gowns and casual dresses she was so used to.
“Yeah, I– wait, drapery? You’ve seen Mama with them?” Anna rose her eyebrows, tone questioning.
—- “You’re not funny, Anna.” Elsa giggled as an idea popper into her head. “If I am a stranger, I guess that means you don’t want my chocolate.”
"Chocolate?“
The word fell from the child’s lips with a small gasp.
"I do want some! I do! I mean, I’ve seen ya around here before, so that doesn’t count as being a stranger! Where’s the chocolate?” Wide-eyed, Anna hopped up and down in circles around her sister, eyes searching for the mentioned sweets.
The man pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t want to either. But I tell you what: after the ceremony, you are free to wear whatever of your choosing. Deal?”
“Even pants. If you’re into them. I mean, you’re obviously not in them now, but you could be. Your own! Not anyone else’s, of course. If..um, never mind.”
“Hm…throw in a full plate of chocolates and I think we have a deal, Papa.”
Anna’s uncomfortable frown twisted up into a small smile, laughing softly at her father’s suggestion to pants. She’s never really worn pants before. Maybe they where just as comfortable as night gowns?
“Huh…I’ve never worn pants before. –Are they comfortable?” Anna continued to subconsciously scratch at the itchy spots on her body cause by the dress.
“No, I’m usually the last to know if anything important is going on…”
“Really? Well, I guess you know now…”
Anna bit her lip and twiddled her thumbs, feeling uncomfortable in the awkward silence. Despite better judgement, which was just saying a quick “see you later” and walking away, her feet didn’t move.
“…I– I never knew the Southern Isles would be like this…it’s really nice here. Beautiful, really.”
Though it would be a lot better if this weren’t his kingdom, she thought to herself.
Olaf watched with interest as the princess’ fingers engaged in a flurry of movement, deftly intertwining stems of flowers together. His eyes widening with astonishment when they began to form a new shape— a crown of all things! It was pretty and must have taken sometime to learn thus greatly impressing the snowman.
“Wow, Anna!”
He bent forward to allow the crown to be bestowed upon him, reaching up to adjust it and grinning ecstatically.At her remark he tried to look dignified, puffing his chest out and lowering his eyebrows. What a ham he was.
“Do I really? Does this make me king of the flowers today?”
“Actually– I think it does!” Anna laughed, gaze set upon the wonderful scene upon her. “Olaf, King of the Flowers. Has a nice ring to it, if I do say so myself.”
Anna coughed and cleared her throat, slipping into a small act of looking regal and dignified herself. “Your Majesty,” she said in her most “sophisticated” tone, head lowering to perform a small bow.
