Chosen

38

A week later Jack announced he would be hosting our families at the palace for the final announcement and a party to celebrate the prince's engagement. I was ecstatic to see my mother again. I also couldn't wait to meet Elsa and Merida's families. Elsa had told me so much about her little sister.

The castle was prepared for a huge party and our families were on their way. 

Then the day they all arrived came. I ran down the palace steps with my hair braided and a light purple gown flowing behind me. I got a glimpse of her poofy black hair almost immediately and sprinted into my mother's arms.

"My flower, oh how I missed you." She kissed the top of my head then pulled back to look at me. "You look fit to be a queen. I'm so proud." She beamed squeezing me. I hadn't told her about Flynn. I hadn't told anyone. Jack knew and Astrid but that was it. Thankfully.

"Thank you mother but I am not the queen." I blushed and stared at my toes. Before I could reply, three small ginger boys circled around I followed them with my eyes to see them jump onto Merida. She smiled widely and ruffled each of their hair before letting them fall to the ground. As I watched a very elegant woman walked over with a buff red headed man trailing behind her. 

"Mum! Dad!" Merida hugged her parents.

"Elsie!" My eyes shifted over to a girl with strawberry blond braids in her hair and a huge smile on her face.

"Anna!" I turned to see Elsa running towards her sister. They latched onto each other. Their bond immediately brought a smile to my face.

Elsa pulled away and stared at her sister, studying her face before pulling her into another hug.

"I missed you so much." Elsa mumbled into her sister's head. Elsa finally released her sister and looked behind her. As soon as she did the colour drained from her face and she looked as though she would puke or pass out. "What are you doing here?" Her tone was deep and dark. I had never heard Elsa so angry before.

"We're family Els. Now enough with the jokes, come give your old man a hug." I followed the voice to a man who had a vicious smile on his lips. Elsa made her way over and hesitantly hugged him. 

"Hi dad." She said with a smile but there was bitterness dripping from her tone of voice. Before I could say anything to her someone strolled into the room with a charming smile on his lips.

"Welcome everyone. First off, I would just say how lucky I am to get to meet the people who made these wonderful girls the way they are today." Our families clapped while Anna wrapped her arms around her sister. "Secondly, I will have guards escort you to your rooms right away so you can get settled. I have planned slots for lunch so I will be able to spend some time one on one with each Elite and their family members. The times are posted in your rooms so you won't be late."

Flynn came to escort my mother and I to her room. I tried not to look at him but I felt his hand graze mine a few times. 

When the time came for us to go to lunch we went down to the gardens. My mother kept talking me up to Jack. It was very awkward as Jack and I both knew we weren't getting married. My mother on the other hand, was counting on it. After lunch I went to the womens room where I found Elsa with her sister.

"Hi I'm Rapunzel." I stated as I walked over to the two girls.

"I know! You are so cool. Elsa has mentioned you so much in her letters. Thank you for helping my sister through everything. She is so lucky to have you! She has never really had any friends. Neither have I. I guess we aren't really friends, yet, but I am hoping that one day we will become best friends." She would have kept rambling if Elsa didn't interrupt her.

"It's nice to meet you Anna." I giggled. She squealed and sat back in her seat to compose herself. "Els can I talk to you in private?" Elsa nodded and moved away from her excitable sister.

"What?" Elsa questioned.

"Is everything okay between you and your father?" I asked. I noticed a flicker of something in her eyes before she smiled.

"Of course. He just doesn't like travelling." I knew she was lying but I decided to drop it and respect her privacy. I went back to my mother and caught her up on some of the things that had happened in the castle and she told me all about back home.

We talked for hours until it was time for me to go back to my room and get some rest.

"I love you Rapunzel.

"I love you more." I chirped.

"I love you most."