Moving forward to stand at her mother’s side, Elsa felt a small weight of her anxiety lift from her. If nothing else, knowing she wasn’t the only royal to feel this way eased her. “I’d always figured there’d a lot of people, but I guess I didn’t realize what that was actually like.”
At the mention of her sister, she couldn’t help but giggle, a gloved hand moving to cover her lips. “Glances mostly. We were together for a while, but after I passed the pleasure of a dance with the duke of Weselton to her, I imagine she’s a little cross.” Elsa admitted unable to keep the smile from her face. “So, did Anna get her enthusiasm from father?”
Glancing at her daughter out of the corner of her eye, Idun took in the sight of her. The sound of her laughter had been something she had missed, and her own smile deepened in response. She knew why Elsa was unfamiliar with such things–when really, they should have been a normal event of her childhood.
“Oh, you didn’t?” she replied, glancing back at the lights of the inside. “He’s stepped on my feet more times than I can count over the years, you’re lucky he let you be. Normally he insists quite strongly. I can see why Anna would be cross.” She gave the final question a think. “I wouldn’t say he was as enthused as you sister, but he was better at hiding displeasure with such things than I."
❅ The tense knot within her gut loosened at seeing who exactly she’d run into. “I’m sorry mother. I hadn’t expected anyone else to be out here.” She replied, flashing a small, sheepish smile.
“It seems so. Balls aren’t quite how I’d imagined they would be.” Or were they? The ball was close enough to how she’d imagined. Large, and beautiful with music and chatter everywhere. It was just that she’d imagined she’d be…happier, perhaps.
“Well, that makes two of us, doesn’t it?” Idun replied with a smile, hoping to calm her daughter further. The night air was cool against her shoulders, making the fan hanging around her wrist useless.
At Elsa’s words, her smile became understanding. “It’s all right not to enjoy such things, love,” she murmured gently. “Balls get a bit much even for me. Too many people. Your sister seems to have enough enthusiasm for both of us, though. Have you seen her this evening?”
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❅ Elsa was just going to step out for a moment. Just long enough to get some fresh air, and so long as she was quiet, no one would notice her missing, right? She hadn’t taken three steps out of the room when she ran into someone else. “I…Not one for crowds either?”
If there was anything Idun couldn’t stand, it was being around a crowd for too long. Having stepped out for a bit of fresh air, she had hoped no one would catch her out there. Yet, she was not so lucky.
“Elsa,” she said softly, a hand over her heart. “You gave me a fright, love. No–no, crowds have never really been my thing. I take it you’re the same?”