Elsanna Week, Day 3: Classic Romantic Movie

She didn’t come for her. Tears welled in her eyes and she groped for the small hidden dagger in her jewelry box. She stared at it before pulling the sheath off. As the tip pointed to her bosom, she closed her eyes and prayed that she would join her beloved soon.

“There’s a shortage of freckled breasts in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours.”

Her eyes flicked open, wide with surprise and she turned towards the source of that sweet voice. She flung the dagger away as she rushed to that slim figure on the bed. "Oh, Elsely!“

Fierce kisses covered her beloved’s bruised face. Hansperdinck lied. Her Elsely was alive.

"Gently,” murmured Elsely.

Instead, she renewed her kisses with more fervor, wrapping her arms around her neck and lifting Elsely slightly.

“Gent…ly…” said Elsely, with a pleading note in her voice.

“Why won’t you hold me, my Elsely?”

“I… have no strength…”

Butteranna released her hold and Elsely plopped back down on the pillow with a grunt. Her beloved smiled at her sheepishly.

Meanwhile, swords clashed in the courtyard below. Olafigo staggered against the wall as he parried the six-fingered Duke’s attack. With every movement, pain lanced from his wound, and he gritted his teeth.

“I should’ve killed you back then, brat,” jeered the six-fingered Duke Weselgen. "Did you really think that you can beat me with such twig like arms? But don’t worry. You’ll be joining your father soon.“

The memory of the Duke laughing over his father’s death stiffened his resolve. "My name is Olafigo Montoya. You melted my father. Prepare to die. My name is Olafigo Montoya. You melted my father. Prepare to die.”

The chanting seemed to numb the pain from his wound. He advanced on the Duke, slashing with more vigor. "My name is Olafigo Montoya. You melted my father. Prepare to die. My name is Olafigo Montoya. You melted my father. Prepare to die. My name…“

"Stop saying that!” yelled the Duke as he backed away.

Olafigo switched to his left hand and they fought across the courtyard. The Duke awkwardly parried against the unusual stance. Olafigo feinted, causing the Duke to lose his guard. He chanced the opening and thrust into his opponent’s shoulder.

The Duke fell to his knees and Olafigo disarmed him.

A six fingered hand rose in surrender. "Please stop! I give up! Let me go and I’ll give you anything!“

"Anything?”

“Anything.”

“I want money…”

“Yes!”

“Power…”

“Yes!”

“Cake…”

“Cake?” The Duke looked at him quizzically before quickly agreeing, “Yes! Anything else?”

“I want my father, Marshalo Montoya, you son of a bitch!” Olafigo thrust home and the Duke’s eyes rolled up in agony. With a negligent push with his boot on the Duke’s chest, his blade came free and he cleaned it with the Duke’s cloak. The man didn’t need it anymore.

Meanwhile, Butteranna cradled Elsely’s head against her trembling bosom. "What happened to you?“

"I was tortured in the Pit of Despair. I was mostly dead, but that doctor, Mad Oaken, gave me this miracle pill of his own invention and saved me. The man who broke me out of the Pit, Olafigo, rescued me in exchange for a way to get into the castle. And so, here I am.”

“Oh, Elsely, will you ever forgive me?” cried Butteranna with despair in her voice.

“For what?”

“I’m married to Prince Hansperdinck.”

“Did you say ‘I do’?”

“No…”

“Then you’re not married.”

Elsely’s reassuring smile melted the despair in her heart and she hugged her tightly. "Oh, Elsely!“

"Gently please…”

“A minor technicality,” came a gloating voice from the door. "A mistake that I’ll correct as soon as I make sure to send you back to death’s door.“

Butteranna stood between him and Elsely. "You promised to let her go!”

He unsheathed his sword. "Let’s settle this to the death.“

"No, to the pain.”

“What?”

“I’ll explain and use small words so that you’ll understand, you troll-faced buffoon. To the pain means the first thing you lose will be your feet and then your hands at the wrists. Next, I’ll slice off your nose to make it easier for you to eat your boogers.”

“Save the insults and stand up.”

“I’m not finished. You’ll lose your left eye and then your right…

Hansperdinck stepped forward. "Let me guess… my ears next. How awfully predictable.”

“Wrong! You keep your ears, so that every shriek of anyone who sees your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every child that runs away, weeping at your approach and every woman who cries out, "Heavens above, what is that thing?” will echo in your handsome ears. That is what “to the pain” means. It means I leave you wallowing in angst forever.

The prince raised his sword menacingly. "Enough! You’re bluffing! I let the Duke play with you in his Pit. I bet you can’t even stand.“

"You’re right. Maybe I don’t have the strength to stand.”

Butteranna took a step towards the prince, but a cool hand stopped her. She looked back to see Elsely’s reassuring blue eyes. She squeezed her beloved’s hand.

“Or maybe, I do.” Still holding her hand, Elsely slowly got up from bed. With a slight nod, she let go of Butteranna’s hand to draw her sword. Her icy blue eyes fix on the prince like a hunter on her prey and her voice was strong with the weight of challenge. "Drop. Your. Sword.“

The prince’s sword trembled and he let go.

"Sit over there,” commanded Elsely.

Hansperdinck obeyed, looking like a frightened child.

“Tie him up tight.”

Butteranna found some rope under the bed. While she tied the prince, she wondered why there was rope under the bed. She shuddered as she thought of a possible horrible fate in these bridal chambers.

A man with twig like arms and carrot long nose staggered into the room. "Found you… Where’s Krissik?“

"I thought he was with you. Butteranna, this is Olafigo. Olafigo, this is Butteranna.”

The man bowed awkwardly. “Pleased to meet you.”

When she finished tying up the prince, Olafigo slumped against the wall. She noticed the blood on his shoulder and moved towards him, but he waved to Elsely.

“Not me. Help her.”

“Why?”

“Because she has no strength.”

At that moment, Elsely plopped back on the bed.

“Elsely!”

Hansperdinck crowed in triumph and struggled against the rope. "I knew it! You were bluffing.“

The man touched the intricately carved handle of his sword. "Want me to do him in?”

“No thanks. I want him to live knowing what a coward he is,” replied Elsely with derision.



A large man entered the room.

“Krissik! Where have you been?" Olafigo reached out and clasped his large hand.

Krissik helped him up. "Here and there. I got lost, but I heard your voice, and came over. We better get out before more guards come.”

“Let’s do that.”

“But before we go…” Butteranna walked over to Hansperdinck and punched him in the face. He toppled over unconscious along with the chair.

Elsely smiled proudly. “That’s my girl!”



With Krissik supporting Elsely and Olafigo, they made their way to the stables and found 4 reindeer with saddles. Krissik helped Elsely get on and then mounted the largest reindeer.

He patted its great head. "This is Sven. He’s my new friend.“

Olafigo inclined his head. "Nice to meet you Sven.” He turned his attention to Elsely. "Where to, captain?“

"The back gates.”

They rode out of the castle and into a new beginning. Elsely guided her reindeer next to Butteranna and offered her hand. Butteranna smiled widely and took that familiar caloused hand in hers. Together, they rode off into the sunset. Once safely away from the prince’s lands, they stood on a cliff, their bodies framed by a full moon. Since the invention of the kiss, legends and fairytales spoke of kisses that were the most passionate, the most pure. Their kiss left them all behind.

THE END

“Again please!” cried the twins in chorus.

Queen Anna of Arendelle closed the book. "You promised to sleep after I read this story.“

"But you were ” said crown princess Lana.

“ almost at the end,” continued her twin sister Elaine.

“I’ll read it again tomorrow. Besides, it’s your bedtime.” She tucked them in and kissed their foreheads. "Sweet dreams.“

The slightly open door swung on its hinges to admit her wife. Queen Elsa went to their daughters and kissed their foreheads as well. "Good night, Lana, Elaine.”

“Good night, Mama… Good night Momma…” said the twins sleepily.



Anna doused the lamps and left the room with her wife. As she closed the door behind her, she asked, "How long were you standing there?”

“When you changed it from 'perfect breasts’ to 'freckled breasts’. I’m beginning to worry about your creative embellishments. What if they talk about your modified stories with the other royal children? It won’t be the same as the book.”

She slipped her hands around her wife’s left forearm. "But they like it! I bet you’re just jealous. How about I tell you a story?“

"Will it have freckled breasts in it?” A daring glint rose from those icy blue eyes.

“As you wish,” replied Anna with a wink.

Together, they walked quickly to the Queens’ Bedchamber.