Princess Elsa
by AJ Marks
Part 12
Elsa looked down at her phone once more at the text from Lynn, so simple yet had so many things which could go wrong.
Have you told them?
Ever since she had gone to see Lynn one thing which came up would be she would tell her parents about her. That way perhaps her father wouldn’t try pushing every prince on her at every meeting.
However, she worried about their reactions, not that Lynn was a girl, but that Lynn wasn’t a prince, or princess. Anna had been supportive, as well as Kristoff, both of who told her to just go ahead after informing them of what happened, including the fight. It scared Elsa how much the fight had affected her, a rush of emotion she never felt before.
Kristoff mentioned it was because Elsa cared deeply for Lynn. But Elsa barely knew Lynn, or so she told herself. Kristoff said it really only takes a day to love someone, but a lifetime to understand them. He seemed to know what to say until Anna mentioned he knew what it was like to be in Lynn’s shoes.
Anna had then mentioned how nervous she was when telling their parents about Kristoff. And that the first thing they had done was investigate Kristoff. Elsa didn’t want her parents frightening off Lynn, it seemed like their relationship was only beginning.
“Procrastinating?” Anna’s voice said.
Elsa turned to see Anna making her way down the hallway.
“Um no, just, I don’t know,” Elsa said.
To her surprise Anna opened the door, and then steered Elsa into the room to face their parents.
“Mom, dad, Elsa has something she wants to tell you,” Anna said, then closed the door leaving them alone and Elsa opened mouth while mentally cursing her younger sister.
Elsa stood unsure how to even start this conversation as her mother steered her to the bed, sitting her down and sat down next to her. Elsa fidgeted with her hands trying to form the words as her mother covered her hands.
“Whatever you have to say, I’m sure your mind is making our reaction worse than what it is,” her mother said.
“Well, I, um, you see, there is someone I like,” Elsa said blurting it out a bit.
“That’s wonderful, who is the lucky prince,” her father said.
“Ah, you see, that’s, well,” Elsa fumbled seeing her father look so hopeful and turned to her mother, who seemed to be waiting for more, as if she understood even more.
“It’s not a prince, is it,” her mother said shocking Elsa.
“Her name is Lynn,” Elsa said now looking at the carpet not wanting to see her father’s disappointment. “She’s a college student, graduating at the end of the month, gets good grades, is funny, sweet, pretty, actually beautiful, and I like her.”
With that she looked up at her father who didn’t say anything and over to her mother who was smiling.
“What? When?” her father managed to say.
“During the vacation I took for a week, she was on the floor we were on, won a contest,” Elsa said. “And we’ve been texting each other for a while, and I went to see her the morning after the independence day ball.”
“You snuck out?” her father said.
“And you didn’t, and Anna, seems like a common thread with your family,” her mother said causing him to stop any further statement.
“Yeah, doesn’t mean its right,” he said.
“And your father wasn’t pleased either when you snuck out to see me, if you had stopped would you have married me?” she said to him. “Besides, I knew where she was.”
With that Elsa looked back at her mother.
“A mother knows these things,” she said to her.
She looked over at her father who still seemed to be in shock over what he heard. Elsa figured he didn’t expect to hear that she discovered a person on her own.
“Well, we’ll have to investigate her and her family,” he finally stated.
“Her parents died a few years ago, she has an uncle who she says doesn’t seem to like her,” Elsa said. “He’s helping her until she graduates and earns her inheritance.”
“I see,” her father finally said. “Still, we want to be thorough or the media will pick upon it.”
“Right now they’re too engrossed with putting me with Ranald,” Elsa replied rolling her eyes. “He’s a pig.”
“We could have invited princesses instead,” her father stated.
“I think we should allow her to find out if Lynn is the one for her,” her mother said, her voice light but something about it seemed hard.
“Ah, well, I suppose so,” her father finally said. “Anything else we should know?”
“Well, I’ve been staying away because she wants to concentrate on her studies, her last class and graduate. And the distance between us makes it difficult,” Elsa finally said. “But we do talk often.”
“Communication is important,” her mother said.
“What is she graduating in?” her father asked.
“History, with a specialization in museum operations,” Elsa said.
“Different,” her father replied. “Well, I’ll wait to see what turns up, and anything she can tell us.”
“Don’t be too much on her just yet, we’ve been silent because she wants to concentrate on her studies, she had a good grade point average,” Elsa said.
“Well, we’ll do a preliminary investigation,” he said.
“Okay,” Elsa said, standing as her mother gave her hug.
“I’m glad you found someone you like,” she said to her.
“Thanks mom,” Elsa said, feeling relieved at how well the talk had gone. She felt her father wasn’t impressed yet, and he really wanted her to meet up with a prince or princess, but her mother didn’t seem to mind at all.
Making her way out of the room she ran right into Anna standing in the hallway.
“I guess it went well, no yelling,” she said.
“Yeah, it did,” Elsa said. “Though, I think father was disappointed.”
“Well, he’s looking for political things,” Anna said. “Did the same with me, mom had to remind him that she wasn’t from any royalty.”
Elsa nodded, knowing it for the truth.
“So, you were worrying about nothing,” Anna said. “Come on, their making some new chocolate treats in the kitchen.”
Elsa allowed herself to be led off by her sister knowing she’d have to test Lynn and let her know what happened.
*****
Lynn fiddled with her phone, staring at the text she received only a few minutes ago.
Told my parents. Mom was cool with it, dad, well, he wants to know more about you. Otherwise, went well.
She tapped a finger on the table knowing this next part would be the toughest they had since their fight. She avoided talking about it, simply due to the fact it was a secret. However, she knew she wouldn’t have much of a choice.
Picking up her phone she finally dialed a number she knew, but never used for anything more than an emergency after her parents had been killed. She waited a few rings before someone answered, a female voice.
“Hello, Trezety’s Enterprises, how may I help you?” she said pleasantly.
“I need to speak with Ben Trezety, its important, its his niece, Lynn” Lynn said.
“He doesn’t speak with people,” the woman replied.
“Just let him know I’m calling,” Lynn said, frustrated with the woman already.
“Fine, hold please,” she said as the line went to the usual, boring, waiting music. It wasn’t long before another voice answered.
“Lynn?” a male voice said.
“Uncle Ben?” Lynn asked, not really sure this was him.
“Yes, what’s so important you’re calling me?” he asked, a bit of impatience in his voice and Lynn wanted to get this conversation over with
“Do you recall an e-mail from me not long ago?” she asked, now having to bring up the real problem.
“Yes, you mentioned something about a problem with you lover, Kris, she was a gold digger” he told her making her wonder how he knew. “This wouldn’t have to do with someone else?”
“Um, actually, yes,” Lynn finally managed to say.
“I see, I’m afraid I‘m complicating your love life then,” he finally said.
“Yeah, well mom said you’d do that,” Lynn said, surprised to hear him laugh.
“Well, dating the princess will do that as well,” Ben said. “I assume because you’re calling me about this, its not a simple friendship.”
“Well, no, we do want it to be more, or at least try,” Lynn said.
“The, I suggest you tell her about me,” he said to her. “Honestly is the best policy, even in my business. Either way, I don’t care. My obligation to you ends when you graduate.”
With that he hung up leaving Lynn staring at her phone in shock. Her mother said he could be an ass, but she really had no dealing with him other than a few of his acquaintances who scared her. He seemed short in e-mails as well, as if he had something else to do, yet, he seemed to know what she was doing already, and about her and Elsa. Was he watching her? That thought seemed a bit frightening to her. Her mother had never said any kind words about him and Lynn was starting to see why.
Knowing she really couldn’t hide this for long, she hoped Elsa would actually pick up the phone as she dialed the number. She waited, nervously, as the phone rang feeling torn between hoping no one would pick up and someone would answer. To her relief and disappointment someone answered.
“Hey,” a cheerful, yet slightly muffled voice she recognized as Elsa answered.
“Um, I didn’t call you at a bad time?” Lynn asked.
“Wait,” followed by a pause and Elsa came back on. “Sorry about that, was eating.”
“Oh, I didn’t want to disturb you, I can call back,” Lynn said, her stomach doing flip flops over what she needed to discuss.
“No, just in the kitchen with my sister stealing,” a pause, “sorry, trying, some new chocolate pastries. At least according to my sister.”
“Ooh, sounds good,” Lynn said suddenly wishing she was there before refocusing on her call.
“It is good,” Elsa said.
“I got your text about your parents,” Lynn said, feeling strange not calling them the king and queen.
“Ah, yeah, mom was supportive, dad, well, now that I think about it, he just wants the best for me,” Elsa said. “So, what’s up that you had to call me?”
“Yeah, you see, its about my uncle,” Lynn finally said unsure about how to actually tell her this bit of information. She decided to tell her everything.
*****
Elsa fiddled with the pastry after listening to Lynn talk of her uncle. She knew it could be a problem if word got out. But, it seemed strange, and there had been no contact between the two until her parents had been killed.
“Everything all right?” Anna asked. “You two aren’t fighting again?”
“What? No, not what you’re thinking,” Elsa said to her. “But there is a problem which neither of us can control.”
“What could be that big of a problem?” Anna asked.
“I think, I should tell dad this one instead,” Elsa said, jumping up from the chair and out of the kitchen.
She was nervous now about telling her father about this information, he might force the relationship off. She hoped not. Making her way back into her parent’s room she noticed they were still there.
“Elsa, something wrong?” her mother asked.
Elsa fiddled with her hands trying to figure out a way to tell them.
“You and Lynn didn’t have a fight?” her father said.
“No, been there done that, don’t want to do that again,” she said seeing a look of surprise on his face.
“Well, that’s good, but you’re very nervous, go on ahead and tell me what it is and get it over with,” he said to her.
“All right, it about her uncle,” Elsa said.
“What about her uncle?” her father asked.
“Well, you see he’s Ben Trezety.”
End part 12