The Invisible (Jelsa)

Chapter XI

It was difficult for a ritual wedding, unlike Anna's. Even though the times of the old gods were in passing, with such a royal family, it was expected some of the more joyous traditions were to be upheld. Odin forbid they take out the extensive parties that last at least three days, Elsa recalled with a chuckle. But that couldn't happen for her. Her marriage would be secret. She hadn't wanted him to get her a ring, but the carpet store owner had become fast friends with Jack, and insisted.

She realized Jack's utter joy at being able to have a best friend, and 24-year-old Gavner Eklund became the best man friend any one could ever have. Days became more normal, as Jack would announce him and Gaver were doing this or doing that. Elsa didn't mind, she was finding her own friends among those that acknowledged Jack. In particular, the girl who had been doing the betting and was the representative from a place where it was always summer became a loyal companion. Beryl Holmstrom was a girl who was like Anna, but a little less romantic.

This constant friendship with Beryl put a pressure on her sisterhood with Anna. In desperation, one day, she attempted to tell Anna about Jack. Her sister just looked at her with worry in her eyes.

"Oh, Elsa." She said sorrowfully, backing up, "I fear this is just a wild imagination, come late. You never had much of a childhood, and now your mind has made him up." She said.

"Anna, he's real. Ask Frey or Beryl." She stood up, reaching for her.

"Oh, you're new best friend. I see." She said stiffly, "I think I'll believe what I want."

"That's the thing, Anna. You don't believe. You don't believe in Jack Frost, so you don't see him!" Elsa threw up her hands angrily. It had been months since she'd lost control of her ice, because Jack had so carefully taught her not to. Her sister still flinched a bit, as if she expected the room to turn to winter.

"Of course not! That was stories from dad, but you don't seen to see a difference between stories and reality, Elsa. But then again, I wouldn't expect anything different. Not with powers so unreal that even I didn't believe in it. It must be difficult for you to imagine living a normal, non-magical life, right?" Her sister's words hurt. Never before had Anna shown any animosity toward her sister's powers, but it sounded like what she said was shielded in the years that she hadn't known.

"We're a Queen and a Princess, Anna." Elsa's voice became frosty, "Our lives are anything but normal."

"I will be a princess, but I have a normal husband and a normal family started. If you really believe him to real, then an heir should be coming soon, and I'll be no longer in line." She sniffed.

"Olaf's been living with you for ages. That's not a normal part of a family." Elsa frowned.

"He and Sven get along great together." Anna said, and began backing away, "I'm going to forget you tried to tell me about an imaginary man who you're getting married to. I think I need some sleep. Yes, sleep. Goodnight, Elsa." She left with a slam to the door, and Elsa sighed. She curled up in her bed, and Jack arrived home within a couple hours. She always left the window open so that he could get inside, and his clothes were dusted with frost.

"Baby, what's the matter?" He asked, shucking his clothes down to his underwear, "Elsa, what's wrong?"

"Anna still doesn't believe." She whispered, "We had a fight."

He rubbed her back sympathetically, and sighed, "At least you have a sibling. I wish I did." He murmured.

"If my parents had been more common, maybe I'd have other siblings to go to." Elsa whispered, rolling over.

"Common?"

"My father was an only child, and he only had the two of us. It's unusual for such small families, especially for royalty.

Even though Hans was a royal pain, his family of 13 was much more expected. I don't think I'd want only two children. Because when things like this happens, then both are alone."

"Big family, then." Jack gave her a wink, "Mhhm."

"You're okay with a big family?" She asked him, turning to face him.

"Whatever you wish, my queen." He said, leaning down and nuzzling her nose.