Author's Note: A huge merci/dankeschön to our translation assistants, a-kiirii-on-board, darkdraconis, and pascaldragon. Thank you so much!

La Guerre de l'Art - Un Portrait de Deux Lesbiennes Amoureuses

[The War of Art - A Portrait of Two Lesbians in Love]

CHAPTER 5

The Art of Matrimony

It was a bright, sunny afternoon when Hans finally proposed.

Nearly two more weeks had passed, and nothing else transpired other than Elsa finally penning the sonnet that would bring Anna to a tearful puddle, and encourage her to accept his ring. Even though once he recited it, she threw her arms around him and told him how beautiful it was… as she locked eyes with Elsa in the corner of the garden. That had become their lives; stolen moments, mild flirtations that were swiftly quashed. Heartbreak and sorrow, but that only made the brief flashes of adoration that much sweeter.

A time or two, Anna had pushed for them to go further, to throw caution to the wind and explore each other, but Elsa was able to talk sense into her each time. She was not so foolish; only that her good sense had to fight against her truly deep and abiding desires. It both made Elsa unbelievably happy, and dreadfully miserable.

A few nights afterward, Elsa lay in the bath, mulling over her fate. She had done everything she could to drive Anna from her mind; to relinquish her into Hans's arms once and for all. That would be truly best for both of them, wouldn't it? Of course, she was a coward, and head over heels for her beloved. All she could do was what she was doing. No matter how much it pained both of them.

"Oh, Anna," she sighed, picturing the redhead vividly as she ran a wet hand down her face, head lolling backward. All she wanted to do was sink down below the surface and forget about her perfect form, her bright smile and easy laugh…

Her hips jerked suddenly, and Elsa stiffened, gaze snapping down to see that her hand had followed the course of her thoughts on its own. Cheeks aflame at her lack of control, she quickly took her fingers away from where it had brushed against the sensitive bud peeking out from beneath the hood. Water splashed with the motion, and she froze, head turning towards the door as she listened intently for any sign of life on the other side. She was being paranoid, she knew—there would be very little chance of another person bursting in through the door and accusing her of...of…

Though this would not be the first time Elsa could be found guilty of "plaisir solitaire", as some called it, but she typically did her best not to indulge—and certainly not while picturing the face of someone about to be married! That was merely in bad form, and she would not permit it within her own mind. Abominable, the lows to which one could sink when overcome by lust.

Unfortunately, two days prior…

Elsa had walked in on Anna dressing for the day. Since their feelings began to shift, they had both been more polite about sharing the space, trying not to further provoke feelings they were still untangling. But in this case, Anna was already nearly bare, and seemed to have rediscovered her mischievous streak. She continued changing her clothing as if Elsa were merely a servant there to help her, or to clean while she did so. Ignoring the wandering eyes that took in her svelte waist, her smooth, lightly dotted back, her trim ankles… the other areas she did not dare think on for longer than was necessary.

Until now. With the water so warm and soothing, and her hand so willing to disobey its master, she seemed to be having more trouble forgetting about the soft, round derrière that invited her so much to reach out with itchy fingers and… she wasn't sure. Pinch it? Caress it? Stroke further down until she found…

"Hnn…!" Elsa's eyes slammed shut as she jerked her hand away once more, splashing the water violently.

No, no...I have to be strong. I have to resist, I have to—

The smooth curve of Anna's back flashed through her mind's eye, tracing a path up to her freckled shoulders and the coquettish smirk that seemed to always have its place on her lips these days.

"Hnn...ah!" The tub's edge dug into her upper shoulders as she threw her head back in a barely-stifled cry. Her hand had found its way to the wet patch between her legs again, fingers circling around the hardening pearl there. The water churned with her movements, and she dug her heels into the bottom of the tub to anchor herself. Her other hand grasped tightly at the edge for additional support as each swipe at her sensitive bud sent shockwaves of pleasure through her writhing frame.

This was too much. In no time at all, she would be moaning into the rafters—no, she was already moaning. She just hadn't noticed before that moment. Every last turn and plane of Anna's delicious form filled her mind's eye, pleaded with it to continue feasting on the sight, to breathe upon the coals that brought her lust to a boil. As unwise as that idea was…

"Anna!" she panted as quietly as she could force herself, one leg lifting so that her heel draped over the edge of the tub, allowing her easier access. Another way to brace herself up, bear down against the torrent of pleasure that her damnable hand was bringing her. "Oh merde—meine schöne Anna!" Her native tongue slipped as much as she wanted to slip it inside of her beloved's mouth, to drink deeply of what it had to offer her…

And that's when there were six knocks in quick succession upon the door. Nearly startled into the end that she had been steadily working towards, she squelched her moans as quickly and completely as she could, even stilling all movements.

"Elsa?" A pause. "I… thought you might like to know—it's snowing outside!"

Both of her eyes squeezed shut as she took a few deep breaths through her nostrils. What an abysmal time for a weather report! "Go away, Anna," she whispered softly. "Go… away…"

"What? I can't hear you, what's—oh, this is silly. I'm coming in!"

Elsa stiffened, goose pimples springing up all over her body as it dawned on her that she hadn't thought to lock the door before taking her bath!

That wasn't the worst of it, though. She could have dealt with Anna walking in on her taking a simple bath since the redhead had, after all, already seen her in her full naked glory. No, her naked state was hardly cause for concern…

The fact that her appendage was still prominently placed between her legs when Anna burst into the room on the other hand...

"Now… what were you saying?" she asked reasonably as she shut the door behind her, moving to the side of the tub and waiting for an answer. One that never came. "What's wrong? You look as if you've seen a ghost!"

"Anna…" Elsa sighed. "It is very rude to interrupt someone's bath without asking permission!"

Chuckling, she sat down on the bench that was typically used by servants to assist in bathing their masters, folding her hands on her lap. "Well, I'm already in here—and you didn't tell me not to come in, now, did you?"

"Perhaps not." When nothing else was said for a few seconds, she blinked up at Anna's smiling features and demanded, "What?!"

"You look… awfully flushed today, at this moment when you're in the bath. Do we need to get you out of there? You know how sitting too long in hot water can give a person the vapours."

Gritting her teeth and trying to ignore the mounting frustration, she rebutted, "And being too near you gives me the vapours, as well! So what good is having you here going to do me?!"

"Maybe none. Maybe a lot…" Anna's hand laid upon Elsa's shoulder. "Or maybe… I can just stay here and keep you company while you deal with whatever 'vapours' have descended upon you."

A rush of heat engulfed Elsa's face at the implication behind Anna's thinly veiled words, the heat spreading like wildfire to her groin, setting her body freshly ablaze with need. There was no mistaking what the younger woman was suggesting!

Mon dieu! This is crazy! Elsa couldn't possibly accept such a temptingly sweet and oh so generous offer…

Or… could she? She gnawed on her lower lip, seriously toying with the idea. The longer she contemplated it, the more appealing it sounded to her. If she agreed with it, they wouldn't necessarily be doing anything wrong, not if Anna was just… there as support of sorts.

When she noticed how reticent to decide the bathing woman was, Anna covered her mouth with her hand and giggled. "You're shy; I forgot, I'm sorry. How about…" Bending quickly, she nipped up the dress Elsa had been wearing before her bath.

"Qu'est-ce que tu fais?!" Elsa demanded when she saw her draping it over the tub. "You're going to get it wet!"

"I'm preserving your modesty, my sweet." More and more, she called her that lately… and Elsa wished she could say she hated it, that she minded at all. Instead of craving the words. Now that Anna had finished, it was not quite touching the water, and all that remained visible was Elsa's head and shoulders, the very tops of her breasts, and the lone foot poking over the lip of the tub that she had failed to withdraw when Anna came in.

Only in hindsight did she realise how damning that position was, and how easily Anna must have figured out what she was doing because she was too dense to correct it before she came in.

"So if I… finish my bath…" The innuendo she laid upon those words was so heavy that she cringed from them, and even Anna looked away slightly as her cheeks filled with rouge. "You'll only sit there, keeping me company?"

Anna inclined her head with a small nod. "A little… moral support is nice to help move things along, wouldn't you say? It would be discourteous of me to not stay and ensure the rest of your bath is satisfactory." She paused and added with an assured grin, "On the off chance you might swoon from the intense warmth… of the bath water, of course, and sink below the surface, I'll be here to catch you. We can discuss art in the meantime to keep you busy."

As she continued speaking, her words took on a husky purr. "Like how deftly your slender, smooth hands can apply steady strokes across the canvas you're working on so flawlessly..."

And merde, her hand was already doing just that, now that the dress hid her ministrations from view.

She let out a shudder that sent her fingers diving between her legs for more than a shudder. Elsa shut her eyes, her head leaning against the edge of the tub. She was in ecstasy… and Anna had her palm caressing her cheek, quickly tilting her head up to face her.

There was this look in her eyes that Elsa couldn't make out, but oh, that smile… it was wicked.

She tensed, breath hitching into gasps. Dieu, she had never felt like this before—so submissive and so… vulnerable. Elsa squeezed her legs together. The throbbing between them still wouldn't stop and it was calling for a release.

"Anna…" she mouthed, blue eyes sweeping to the girl's lips, craving for a taste.

"It's okay," Anna whispered and somehow it was soothing. The girl's fingers were slow and teasing as they trailed down Elsa's arm, slipping under the water and along the arm. And Elsa was in her very own paradise.

Her legs spread further. "Oh please…"

"Shhh… I'll be here." Elsa trembled at the words that flowed so gently into her ear.

Slowly, with Anna's hand caressing her, encouraging, her fingers began to work. "Mgnn…" She bit her lip, head thrown back immediately. Anna said nothing. Gasps hurried out of her lips and her fingers teased her thrusting her hips upward with every little rub of her sensitive nub. Elsa ached for more.

But God, the eyes that darkened to near black and dilated stared right at her. The grin was gone and the look of lust and desire left Elsa gushing.

"Tu es à moi…" Anna whispered, and Elsa wasn't going to hold back anymore. She grabbed the dress and tore it away from the tub, revealing herself bare.

Anna widened her eyes, but her lips stayed shut, ears perking up at the long strings of moans surrounding damp air. Her face flushed, but she couldn't figure out if it was from Elsa's doing or the hot water. She didn't dare to find out.

"Elsa…"

"L-Look… ahhh… a-at what you do to me…"

And she did. Her hooded gaze met Elsa's, and the girl withdrew her hand from the water, using it to caress her face. "I know I said I would only sit here, to keep you company, but given the current state of the...canvas…" Anna murmured, drawing her face closer as Elsa's fingers slipped past her bud, dipping at last into the source of the delicious ache in her loins.

Dignity and most of her restraint had been thrown out of the window by now. So Elsa didn't think much of it when Anna's lips pressed against hers.

"Mmm…" Elsa moaned, leaning in towards her lips. She wrapped her free hand around around her neck, her other fingers slowly slipping inside of her. She began thrusting slowly and her fingers curled.

"M-Mon dieu…" she whimpered, her head pressed against Anna's. Merde! She wanted Anna in there… wanted her clothes to be ridden from her body… wanted her lips to be caressing her whole. Worshiping. God, she wanted this badly. It was hot already, and getting hotter as Anna ran her fingers through her golden hair.

She grabbed the back of Anna's neck, twirling her fiery red hair around her fingers. "Annnaaaaaa…" she whined, back arched with ecstasy and—

"Arrêt."

Elsa stopped immediately and all of her desire for release was washed away from a single word. She fell back, her breathing ragged. She looked at up at her friend, confused. "A-Anna…?"

"I want you… to tell me something." Even Anna was breathing hard now, despite having done so little herself. "Tell me of your feelings."

"Anna, I ca—"

"Please?" she pleaded softly, with a true need in her voice. "Just… state them honesty. Tell me everything while you… relax in the bath."

The woman rolled and groaned in the tub, teeth gritted as she managed to say, "You can't be s-serious! We both know what I'm doing, is it really so important that we discuss this now?!"

"Can there be another time when you'll actually be honest about how you feel?" Her lips drifted down and brushed over Elsa's very lightly. "It's all I want, to hear you say one time…"

No matter how hard Elsa tried to resist, it was futile; this woman had her heart wrapped around her pinky finger, and she was not above tugging at it to make her mentor unravel. What on earth would transpire if she were to refuse? Would Anna simply get up and leave? Or throw the door open and call for the maid, someone to witness Elsa's indiscretion? Surely not; Anna was not that petty or cruel. However…

The pleading seemed to say that it was very important to her. To both of them, if Elsa were amenable. And she was so very close to orgasming that it was thrumming in her veins by this point.

Gritting her teeth further, she forced her fingers to slow down in their thrusting, enough for her to focus. Well...focus as best as she could in this situation. "Je t'adore," Elsa hissed, voice huskier than intended given her current state. "I cannot pinpoint exactly when, but certainly for longer than our foppish employer has lusted after you."

"You're lusting after me right now, though," Anna murmured, their noses brushing and her voice teasing.

"The difference between us...is that he desires you for your body," the blonde ground out, almost as a snarl, "But you...you are so much more than a pretty face; than womanly curves and supple breasts." A groan fell from her lips as her end drew nearer and nearer.

"Go on, my sweet," the girl whispered, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

"Though… you do have those things," Elsa added with a breathy laugh, arching her back briefly before her positioning in the bath made it impossible for her to maintain such a feat.

The words had done enough. Anna nodded, leaving one more kiss on the end of Elsa's nose before she pulled back… and unbuttoned the front of her dress. When the blonde's breath caught, she stopped, but it was just enough to expose a glimpse of soft, pale cleavage. No more, no less. Then she leaned in again and left her lips to linger on Elsa's forehead.

All she could do was stare directly down into the new view afforded her hungry eyes as her hand began to speed up again, dragging her entire body rocketing toward the climax again. Such a small thing set her off so effortlessly… how would she cope with anything further than that now? Even if she had seen Anna partially nude before, things had changed so much now that their feelings were out in the open.

Even if her hand diving in and out of her semi-exposed sex was out in the open. Murky though her bathwater may have been from the presence of lye, it was not nearly murky enough; vague shapes were open for viewing, and Anna was certainly drinking in the sight on a regular basis.

"Isn't there anything more you want to say?" Anna goaded once pulling back, still leaned close as she licked her lips and panted as if she were the one whose hand was carrying out such misdeeds.

Anna leaned into her ear, hot breath making her red and squirming. "I want to hear you say more…" she whispered.

Elsa's body shifted and she was in bliss. Her eyes shut, mouth widening, cheeks flushing into a deep crimson as her end was near. Anna's hand traveled upwards to her neck. "M-Merde… Anna…" Elsa sighed, her voice hoarse as her body tensed and tightened. She began working her fingers faster between her wet folds and she was desperate to reach through a rippling orgasm.

I don't even care if I scream anymore.

Her blue eyes, wet from tears, shifted to Anna's. Teal eyes met hers, and it showed no hint of what she was thinking, other than 'I want to hear how much you love me'. Elsa's mind worked furiously for words to say.

"A-Anna…"

"Say it…"

Just like that, her back arched in the air, and her screams were as silent as their night. Her hips thrust up, letting murky water splash over the tub. The servants had a lot more cleaning up to do after this. Anna held her tight in her arms, words soothingly slipping into her ear.

"I'm here… Shh, I'm here…"

"I-I love you…"

To her credit, Anna only tensed for a second or two once those words settled comfortably in her mind. Then she was hugging Elsa again, kissing her cheek softly. "You're alright. I… I love you, too. I'm so happy!"

"How can you be happy? If you're to… to marry Hans, when we feel this way about each other? It's abominable!"

"It's business. I'll still see you, I… we're part of each other's lives forever now." She drew back, capturing Elsa's lips hard for a moment before pulling back to smile gleefully down at her. "Oh, this is so exciting! I want to shout it from the rooftops!"

Grunting, Elsa blushed and looked off to one side. "Fairly certain that would be a bad plan at this point." But she couldn't help but offer a harsh chuckle when she realised something.

"What? What is it?"

"Now I'm beginning to suspect you plan these conversations for when I'm naked. Here we are, again."

From the corner of her eye, she saw Anna wink at her, an impish smile curving onto her lips. "Perhaps, perhaps not. I, for one, would not mind doing this again."

Elsa's cheeks flushed further in embarrassment. Mon dieu, the audacity of what they had just done! Had her desires truly driven her so far as to reduce her to little more than...than… Dieu, I can't even say it. This was a terrible error in judgement. The urge to cover her face with her hands was strong, but Anna's fingers on her cheek, turning her gaze back to the girl, was stronger.

"As crude of a manner you think it might've been...I'm still so happy you said it," Anna whispered, and the genuinely overjoyed smile on her face was almost painful to look at. "Je t'adore, Elsa."

Elsa sighed and took her hand off between her thighs. "No, I… Anna, this is a sin."

"A sin that only you and I know of—no, it's not even a sin. Loving someone is not a sin, Elsa." She grinned and somehow her words were calming and convincing. Elsa was just stubborn. She leaned back from her palm, eyes facing the water. Elsa felt dirty for doing such a thing… felt even dirtier thinking about Anna becoming married soon. This shouldn't be happening, yet… it was. And she was enjoying it.

"Loving someone while they are someone else's fiancée is," Elsa sighed, shutting her eyes. And Anna herself knew that she was right.

"I didn't say this was ideal, my sweet Elsa; obviously it isn't. But do you really want to give up on me only because figuring this out is difficult?" She waited patiently while Elsa mulled it over, finally prompting her, "Well?"

"No, no, of course not. No matter how bad of an idea this may be, it's… still better than losing you."

Her nod was patient, as if their roles were reversed; Anna, the master, and Elsa, the apprentice. "There's the Elsa Maurer I know and cherish." Then she sat up a little straighter and smiled. "Now, do you want me to scrub your back? Non embrouilles, I promise!"

"Oh, alright," Elsa half-laughed, almost grateful for the change in subject. She began to ease forward as her protégée scooted around behind her. "And, Anna?"

"Oui?"

"You do understand… none of my hesitance has anything to do with how much I care for you, right?"

Anna laughed as she lathered up her hands with the soap and began to slide them up and down Elsa's smooth, toned back. "Bien sûr. What do you take me for, a fool?"

It seemed that Elsa was the greater fool. Or at the very least, she was a fool for believing she could sit through the wedding ceremony and numb her aching heart as she watched Anna press her lips to Hans.

Unfortunately, the heart was not meant to be numbed, for Elsa's had nearly cracked in two at the display, however chaste.

The chapel was an exquisite sight, flowers and wreaths everywhere. The many friends and family Hans had managed to gather in attendance were dressed in their absolute finest. Elsa was, of course, the maid of honour—the dubious honour of having to stand right next to the horrible abomination of a ceremony as it transpired. Of course, it wasn't the scenery or the people involved that made it so horrible.

It was the knowledge of how much time she and Anna had spent finding stolen moments to sneak around corners and join their lips, pull at each other's hair. They made sure to never go beyond certain boundaries—Elsa would not have it, despite Anna's many and varied complaints—and enjoyed themselves well enough without breaking their vow. As long as she was Hans's wife, they could not grow any more intimate than they had in the bath when Anna first observed Elsa being indiscreet.

Of course, that was not to say they couldn't grow as intimate as in the bath. Which they did. Often. Enthusiastically.

The celebration afterwards back at the Neuvillette estate was a grandiose, overstated affair. The large hall was decorated with large bouquets of flowers—presented in the most ostentatious of arrangements—several on each of the tables arranged along the perimeter of the room, and ensconced upon the walls. The gauche décor continued out the side doors of the hall into the vast sprawling gardens, where many smaller tables were set up.

Wine and spirits flowed freely as the guests toasted the newlywed couple. Elsa could only stand there, biting her tongue—cursing her misfortune at having to bear witness to this day. Especially when Hans repeatedly attempted to progress their affections beyond a mere chaste peck on the lips when he thought nobody else was watching—but Elsa was ever vigilant, wary of the groom's more lecherous proclivities.

She could only pray that Anna would be able to ward off his advances, though there would be no guarantee for the…

Elsa's hand tightened on her glass, threatening to snap its thin neck in half.

...The wedding night.

Even the mere thought of it nearly sent bile crawling up her throat, churning at her stomach violently until the world spun. To think that Hans would be able to gaze upon Anna in her full splendor, to touch and taste and lay claim to what was legally his… This time, Elsa set her glass down on the nearest available surface, excusing herself to the random guests that had taken places near her and had attempted some good-natured conversation earlier. About art, about the two newlyweds…

She needed to get away. For even in the open air of the gardens, it still felt stifling...as if the very weight of the world were attempting to crush her.

No one was lingering by the fountain. Too far removed from the festivities themselves, and nothing of interest there other than the fountain itself, which was always present. She sat herself there and allowed a moment of depressuring from the day; the worst had happened, and she survived. They would all live to enjoy another day, despite being miserable during.

Unsure of how long had passed between when she departed and when she felt the tap on her shoulder, she whipped around to see Anna standing beside her, resplendent in a bridal gown that was so flawless, so suiting to her blushing face that all Elsa could do was gaze up at her.

"I saved you some cake," she whispered softly, producing the plate that was behind her back. "Of course, it's not chocolatl, but… it's not bad."

"Thank you," she breathed with a soft, appreciative smile as she took it, holding it in her lap. "I don't have much appetite, but I'll try it in a moment."

Anna sat down next to her on the lip of the fountain, fully aware of their proximity. Should anyone happen past them, they would simply look like two good friends sharing an intimate conversation—no questioning of just how intimate. "I'm… glad we had our wedding."

"You had to stop doing that," Elsa snorted.

"Doing what?" Anna asked in a faux-innocent voice.

"Glancing over your shoulder every time you had to say an 'I do' or anything similar. People were beginning to mutter in the pews."

But the redhead would not be deterred. "I was glancing at the one I was really reciting my vows to, and you know it. La jolie femme who actually captured my heart."

"Anna, ma chérie d'amour," Elsa whispered, her chest tightening with emotion at the newly wedded bride's confession. She briefly dropped her gaze to the cake sitting in her lap and prodded at the dessert with the fork, making no attempt to eat from it just yet. Quietly she admitted, "Moi aussi…"

During the painful exchanging of vows, while Hans was speaking his lines to Anna, Elsa had tuned him out the best she could and said her own personal vows meant for Anna under her breath, her sight never wavering off of the younger woman as she did so.

Resting the fork back on the plate beside the cake, she glared distastefully at the ring now adorning the redhead's finger, signifying the completion of her engagement with Hans.

How she wished it had been placed there by her own hands...

"Quelle?" Anna asked, glancing down at her ring. "Oh… this silly old thing. Hans wanted to buy me the most expensive ring in the jewellery shop, but I saw this and knew it had to be this one. Immediately."

"It's very beautiful," Elsa told her honestly, though the smile she used while telling her was forced. "Suits you."

With a wistful sigh, Anna's hand raised to graze against Elsa's cheek… and lingered, the sizable sapphire glinting right next to Elsa's identically-blue eye. "Oui… it's the perfect shade." Before Elsa could do anything but gasp in understanding, Anna shocked her yet more by flitting in to brush their lips together as briefly as possible. "Oh, how I wish the kiss on my wedding day could be longer…"

"How I wish you hadn't done that at all!" Elsa hissed, glancing around with fearful eyes. "One person catching us being so indiscreet could mean our doom!"

"I think you're overreacting just a little," Anna snorted. "Our 'doom'? Ma femme douce naïve, you are so concerned about me all the time… how could I not be in love with you?"

As guilty and fearful as she was, those words made Elsa's breath catch and the heart in her chest squeeze with a terrible fondness. "And how could I not be concerned? I would see no one destroy such beauty as your truest self, in soul or body." She allowed her hand to cup Anna's cheek, but despite the want tingling in Elsa's lips, did not draw her close enough to kiss again.

One, brief and chaste, would have to do for the night of their wedding. Their consummation would have to exist in the dancing light of their eyes as they gazed upon one another in the gardens, their wedding song the burble of the fountain beside them. The sky, awake and glimmering with stars sprinkled across the firmament, the only witness to their illicit ceremony.

"Elsa…"

She opened her eyes to again look into the teal pair opposite her, but was instead greeted by rings of deep ocean blue surrounding very large pools of black. Glancing downwards, she saw her protégée's lips quivered with anticipation.

Her own voice trembled in reply, "A-Anna… we-we cannot… pas ici. Pas maintenant."

The sparkle in those ocean blue rings faded. "Je… Je connais."

Elsa felt as though her heart had begun to crack with the undercurrent of pain in Anna's voice.

"It's not forever," Elsa tried to reassure her. "And… you will want for nothing in Hans's home. That is what I would want for you, even if it were me providing. A beautiful château, servants, fine dresses from the best clothiers in all of France… anything your heart desires!" Her head dropped to her chest. "But he is your prince, and I am a pauper. So this is how it must be."

A long moment of silence passed, broken only by the burbling of the fountain behind them. "I would rather live in the gutter with you than in a castle without you, and you know that."

"I do. But I reject that life for you; it is beneath what you deserve."

"You reject you? How noble." But when Elsa didn't perk up, she laughed. "Don't worry; as you said, it's not forever. And we won't be apart; I'll see you every day, if possible!"

"Will you?" A sly smile tugged at her lips. "People will begin to talk if we keep each other company every single day."

"Let them. I will be married and in good standing, and we're… best friends who lived with each other previously. There's no reason for them to talk, and if they do, then they are the ones who look foolish."

"Besides, you shall have your own château… we will not have to meet at the same place each day."

"Perhaps not." Elsa glanced around surreptitiously. "However, this is your wedding night," she began as she cringed internally, "and I cannot keep you away from your groom for much longer else people will talk."

Anna sighed deeply. "I… suppose you are correct." She whispered, "Before I go, you must know this: I shall not lay with him." As Anna felt the hint of tears well up in the corner of her eyes, she hastily retreated to a secluded area of the grounds—desperate for Elsa to not see her cry that day, not over this.

Elsa remained by the fountain a few moments longer, letting the sound of the water drown out her thoughts. Or at least that had been her intent, until she was interrupted.

"Elsa, might I have a word?" The gruff voice startled her.

"Oh… Hans—if you would forgive my inattention, s'il-vous-plaît. Yes, of course."

"Let us speak in my gallery, then."

Having no valid reason to object, she did as she was bade and followed Hans inside, to gaze upon all of the many paintings he had there. A goodly third of them were hers, one or two Anna's. The rest were from the masters all over the continent: Bellegambe, Fouquet, both Clouets, Quesnel. Not all of them particularly tickled Elsa's fancy, either objectively or as a practitioner of the art, but most of them commanded respect.

"I'll try to be brief," Hans said as he gazed up at his prizes. His acquisitions. Elsa couldn't help but think of Anna as the newest piece in his collection, and it turned her stomach. "My duty is calling."

"Duty?" Her eyes widened, and she felt her pulse quicken. "Italy…"

"Yes. I… well, my wealth and status have bought me some time, but not enough." He gestured carelessly. "A month from now, I'll be heading to Guise to assist in readying the troops, unless I can bribe someone else."

Nodding her understanding, Elsa leaned against a marble statue as she tried to bring her thoughts under command. That would leave a lot more time for her and Anna to… be friendly with each other. However, all she said was, "I see. Je suis désolé, that is most unfortunate."

"Oui. It certainly is. I won't have much time to enjoy my new bride." He smirked.

Elsa maintained a straight face, just barely, as her stomach twisted into knots. Sensing that she did need to respond, however, she uttered, "Indeed."

"That leaves one other item for us to address, actually," Hans began tersely. "Now that Roxanna is my bride, I do believe it is time we settled up on our accord, non?"

She nodded slightly, "Yes. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be my own woman."

"Bien. I have acquired a nearby property—not vingt arpent distant, for you. The estate has modest furnishings, but it is yours. If you'll sign for acquisition of the title, I shall have un serviteur take you in the coach tomorrow after lunch."

He walked over to the door, rapping it lightly twice in quick succession. The door opened slightly, and Kai entered carrying a leather pouch and inkwell.

"Over there, if you would."

"Bien sûr, Monsieur." He placed the objects down on a small table along the wall.

Crossing to the document, she raised an eyebrow at him as she reached for the quill. "You expect me to accept this property, sight unseen?"

"I expect you to take me as a man of my word, and of good taste. You know I would settle for nothing but the best—even for someone other than myself."

"I know no such thing." However, she also had no reason to doubt him; if it turned out to be a complete hovel, she would tell Anna, and Anna would never let him hear the end of it. Blind though he might be to the true nature of their relationship, he was at least observant enough to note they were close.

Almost wistfully, Elsa reached out and signed away any right she had to truly protest that he had married the woman she loved. The deal was done. Her heart yearned to snatch the parchment away as Kai took it out of sight, but she did not. She simply… allowed it to happen.

Anna, out on the grounds, had decided to take a walk around to clear her head and let her eyes dry themselves.

After several minutes doing so, she returned to the soirée, walking past the fountain as she made her way to get a glass of wine. Her heart fell when she did not see the familiar platinum tresses by the fountain. Perhaps she has retired for the evening…

She had just picked up a glass of wine, and begun to turn around when she knocked her arm into something—someone.

"Hans… There you are…"

"Sorry, I had some brief business to attend to," he replied, again with that sickeningly velvety voice. "Would you grace me with the honor of a dance?"

She furtively glanced around the room. Unable to locate the one she sought, she resigned herself to the act. "It would be heureux de." She took a deep drink of her wine, before setting it down on the table.

Hans proceeded to pull her out to the middle of the room, then clapped his hands together once, loudly, to quiet the room.

Kai, once the room had quieted—the only remaining sound that of quietly played string instruments—walked to the center and announced, "Now, we shall have the first dance of Mr. and Mrs. Hans de Neuvillette. Please make space."

The guests quickly fell to the sides of the room, all eyes now focused on the newlyweds.

Hans took Anna's right hand with his left, placing his right upon her waist, and they began the basse danse.

"Your mind seems elsewhere," he commented as they swayed, fully in the eyes of the onlooking crowd. "Something troubles you, ma chérie?"

Forcing herself to relinquish her moodiness, Anna looked up into his eyes and saw he really was wholly focused on her. Perhaps his love was not as earnest and genuine as Elsa's, and more akin to someone who had a favourite pony in the stables, but he did adore her on some level. Deciding that at least for this one day, the day of their wedding, she could grant him her attention was the least she could do to counterbalance her and Elsa's masterful deception.

"Not a thing," she told him, technically honest. "Everything I need is here in this château, on these grounds… every last thing."

Though he grinned in response to her grin, satisfied, she felt a pinprick of guilt as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. Hans might not have been the incredible example of a person that Elsa was, but as far as nobility went… there were more horrible sorts.

"Say… My beautiful, what would you like to do after this?" Hans lifted her chin up with gentle fingers. Anna almost felt guilty for having an affaire de coeur, looking at eyes that was gazing down at her fondly, matching the grin that seemed to be filled with love. But that look had given her a hint of what he wanted to do.

Anna grinned as they twirled around the dance floor, paying no attention to anyone else.

"Well, tell me, what were you talking about with Elsa?"

Hans' smile faltered that left the silence between them heavy and cold. Anna's heart shook and finally, fell down to the bottom pit of her stomach. "I…" Hans' smile didn't seem convincing. "I'd like to speak about it to you… when we retire."

"Retire…?"

It was a surprise that Hans' face was flushed crimson and only then, Anna felt her gloved hands getting sweaty.

"There… is no easy way to say this, my dear."

"Please, speak." But Anna instantly knew.

"Let us lay together tonight, mon chere epouse."

Though her stomach was curdling, she managed to force a smile and raise a finger to twitch back and forth. "Ah, ah, ah, I already told you why I do not wish to do that. However, if you like, we could find… other ways to enjoy each other."

It was a small sacrifice. Yes, she would much rather be doing things with Elsa… anything at all, even just sitting quietly in a crowded room. But Hans would expect certain things of their marriage, and she was obligated to fulfil those needs. She just wasn't obligated to fulfil all of them in every way he requested.

"But I wish to become one with my bride!" he sighed, still keeping his voice quiet so they would not be overheard as they danced again, maintaining a facade for the guests. "Surely you will not be with child from a single night!"

"My husband doubts his virility?" she tittered, hoping flattery would help her case. "However… as I said, I'm not opposed to exploring each other to a point. Just…" Her sigh was heavier, and she allowed her very real sorrow to creep into the words she was saying. "I don't wish to conceive a child from a man who may be drafted to the front in Italy. Already, I dread losing you, but… to lose you and be forced to endure raising le enfant alone? Please, I cannot bear it!"

"Alright, alright," he shushed her, soothing her hair with his hand. "You make a fair point; some nobility have no worry about leaving children to be raised by the nannies and servants. We will not be of their ilk."

"I should hope not," Anna teased, managing a smile his way and inwardly sighing in relief at his agreement. "I'm certain any child of ours would much rather have his handsome father around to speak of with the other children. Oh, the tales they would regale them with!"

Perhaps the flattery may have been edging on thick, but judging by the broad grin that claimed Hans' face, that didn't seem to be the case.

"Perhaps when dear France tires of Italy and of war, we may try, yes?" he said, his hand drifting down to cup her cheek. "When she has no more need for cadets such as I."

"We may," she acquiesced. Thinking in the back of her mind that, if they made it out the other side of this war and he still desired to have children with her, she could attempt to figure out a way around that when it was a more pressing matter. For now, she had delayed him and his intentions for her body. That was paramount.

Elsa, having safely stored her copy of the accord in a private, secure location in her chambers, returned to the hall.

From the edge of the room, she watched Anna dance. Even though she was dancing with another, she was grateful for the look of peace upon her face. But after a few moments she saw Hans lean in closer, and give her a kiss on the cheek. After that, while Anna's face had alighted with a grin, Elsa could see the tension present in her jaw and brow even from this distance.

What is he saying to her?

Then she watched as his face flushed with crimson, and she knew exactly what he was saying to her Anna. It caused her heart to jump into her throat, her stomach churned violently, and she saw red—deep, fiery, bloody red. She fought against her panache—the very essence of her being—to keep her feet rooted in place. To not storm into the center of the room and cause a disturbance, so malevolent was her fury in that moment.

Instead she gritted her teeth together roughly inside her closed mouth—relegated to stand by the wayside as she watched the tension so blatantly present to her, yet everybody else seemed completely oblivious to it, deepened upon the face of son véritable amour, son âme soeur.

After a few minutes Anna's gaze met Elsa's, and both untensed slightly—though Elsa remained heedful, still concerned about the message of 'We'll talk later' conveyed by Anna's eyes.

The dance ended, and Anna curtsied for Hans as he bowed low at the waist. One of his cousins came to take her place for the following dance, but when his brother offered the same, she politely declined; her gestures made it clear she was pretending exhaustion. Then she made her way over to the punch table.

Elsa followed. She picked at the escargot as Anna helped herself to refreshment, sighing in relief at the bracing drink. Then the bride moved closer.

"This corset is awful," she murmured to her mentor.

"You look beautiful." The nervous woman picked up a shell and slurped the contents, almost more to seem as if she had business there than even to consume the food, which she did not taste. "When out on the floor, especially; everyone was watching."

"You were watching, my sweet. Were you jealous?"

"Powerfully so." The admission took Anna off guard, and she turned to blink at her. "I wanted to snatch you away from him and have you all to myself."

Rouge tinted Anna's cheeks, and she glanced around to make sure no one was listening; of course, Elsa had already done so, but one could never be too sure. "If there would be no repercussions… I'd ask you to kiss me right here and now."

"And I would. But for now… we wait." Clearing her throat, she asked a question she really didn't want to ask. "So… will you lay with him tonight?"

Anna replied with a sharp edge in her voice, "No. I told you by the fountain that I would not." Her voice softened at the pained look on Elsa's face. "I'm sorry, I—"

"No. Anna, I am sorry. I trust you, implicitly. And… I never should have asked you that. I know you would not break your word, I just…" Her eyes darkened, while her lips drew taut. "I saw him from across the room, and I just knew what he was talking to you about. I could feel the tension in your face from halfway across the room." The corner of her eyes glistened with the faintest hint of wetness.

"He did ask me to. I have delayed the issue, at least until he returns from Guise. Though I may have to do certain things still…" Her voice trailed off wiltingly, as a slight scowl twisted her lip.

Elsa's rage re-lit, jealousy tearing through her being like a wildfire. "He… you…"

"I…" Anna looked down at her feet. "Much as the mere thought of any contact with him disgusts me, I shall try to limit the contact to be about him—on him."

"Chers cieux… ma doux, ma amour… What… what have I gotten you into?"

"When I am with him, I'll be thinking of you," Anna promised her, though she did not sound joyful about that. More like a woman hanging onto one good memory to keep from succumbing to dread. Then she finished her drink and asked, "Care to dance?"

Rare though it was, Elsa laughed. "I would. Not that we should; it will raise questions."

"Let them talk. I wish to dance with my love on my wedding day, as is the custom, I believe?"

"Not when your love is someone other than le jeune marié." But Anna was still blinking at her, waiting. Rolling her eyes, Elsa offered her hand, knowing that Anna would persist until she did. And Anna took it.

Slowly, they led each other out onto the dance floor, and Elsa timed a loud and bemused laugh merely for the gathered crowd. Something to keep them believing this was nothing but a couple of friends who were toying with convention on a lark.

Then she was lost in Anna's arms as they twirled around the floor. Eyes meeting eyes, hearts beating in unison with their steps. She really did look radiant, and Elsa would keep that memory etched into her skin for the rest of her days.

Our contributors: The Wandering Quill, forkanna/Jessica-X, CanITellUSmthin, iamrottingunman/iamrottingbitch, Cyrianu, nopantsparade/Issandri