Knows your game

Coming out of the throne hall, Elle walked absentmindedly into her room to prepare. She put on black pants and a blue black hand- knitted cardigan. She wore brown boots that matched her hair which she held in a ponytail. She was checking herself in the mirror when she heard a knock on her door.

"Milady, I bring you a message from the Queen." said the person on the other side.

" Come in" she invited.

The door opened to reveal a maid who curtsied to her. With her head low, she relayed.

" Milady, the Queen asked me to inform you that time is running out. "

She grabbed her cloak from the bed.

" I'm done . What about the Prince and Niel?" she walked to the door with her hand on the knob to open it.

" M..Milady, a..about that." the maid stammered.

With her hand still on the knob, she turned to the maid who was now two steps behind her.

" Lord Niel is ready but His Highness isn't "

Raising her brows, she inquired " And why is that?"

" The Queen has instructed that he should be dressed exclusively by you"

" What?!!" her eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

" Why?" she asked when she finally found her voice. I already prepared everything he'll need. A...and what about his dressers?"

" I have no idea, Milady "

Taking a deep breath, she dismissed the maid.

Glancing at herself once again, she strolled out of the room.

Meanwhile, in the west wing of the castle.

A loud " what?!" hollered from the main chamber.

" Where's my mother? "

" I..in h..er chambers " the maid was shaking like a leaf. Hearing that, he just dashed out of the room and banging the door behind him, oblivious to the fact that he was wearing a robe over slacks with bathroom slippers and dripping wet hair. Taking quick angry steps, he went over to his mother's quarters.

Reaching there, he tried to enter only to be stopped by the guards.

" Apologies, Your Highness, but we've been instructed not to let anybody in "

" what do you me..."

Agnes appeared by the door.

"Good day, Your Highness." she greeted with a bow "

Not caring to reply, he countered,

" Where's my mother?"

" She's taking a nap, Your Highness " she answered curtly.

" At this time? " he raised his brows and crossed his hands across his chest. Agnes knew that gesture was to inform her that he didn't buy her excuse.

" She's unwell " she answered. She kept her answers short and simple to avoid slip ups because the Prince was one clever and sly boy who liked using a person's words against them.

" I see " He turned to leave. Agnes heaved a relieved sigh only for the Prince to turn abruptly, hitching Agnes' breathe in her throat.

" Tell her I know what she's doing and that I'll not let it slip" with that he left a suffocating Agnes and headed towards his chamber.

Finally releasing her caught up breathe, Agnes made a u-turn into the Queen's chamber only to be frightened by the Queen who suddenly popped out from behind the velvet drape , a few miles from the door. Her hand flew to her chest as she stifled a scream.

" gods above. My Queen, you're going to give me heart disease if you keep doing this to me" Agnes lamented while trying to catch her breathe.

Queen Elsa just strolled to sit on the fluffy couch in in the room which was the receiving room cum office. She served herself some tea as her assistant strolled to her back. She sipped her tea and replaced the cup on its saucer on the table. Then she rested her head on the headrest as Agnes started massaging her shoulders.

" So what did he say" she questioned with her eyes closed.

" That he knows your game. Permit me to ask, my queen. "

" Fire away, Agnes" she didn't even bother opening her eyes.

" Won't the prince's affection be tested in Foreverland?" Because it seems

Agnes knew that as much as the Queen seemed to be childishly playful and carefree, she was worried sick about her son. But then who wouldn't be? Who would just allow their son into the lion's den and not worry about them? Even she was extremely worried about her daughter. Because its not everyday your daughter goes on a mission to God knows where, when her age mates were being schooled etiquette and home management affairs.

If it were up to her alone, she would rather lock her up than allow her follow the Prince. She didn't know why even after the assurance from the Queen, she couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling from her heart. Maybe it was her motherly instincts flaring or her paranoia. But either way, she knew she was letting the only person she had in this world into something very dangerous, so she be damned if she didn't feel paranoid or scared.

Suddenly, she missed her husband. With how protective he was of them ,she knew he would never allow Elle to do this even if the Keeper of foreverland told him so, let alone the Queen. Thoughts of his protectiveness brought back memories of her pregnant days. He had taken a year leave for the both of them despite the protests of the King about the absence of his right hand man for a whole year. That year had proven to be the best year of her life. His paranoia was over the top. He didn't even let her do as much as bathing herself. Though it was sometimes annoying, she'd be deceiving herself if she said she didn't enjoy all that pampering.

one of such days was when she was seven months pregnant, he had gone to the stream to fetch water and she was craving an omelette. She had gone to the kitchen to make some but before she could even break the egg, he was right behind her, fuming because according to him, breaking an egg while pregnant disfigures the baby's head.

These memories gave a painful squeeze to her heart and the void in it seemed to widen even more that she didn't even realise when a tear slipped from her eyes onto the Queen's face.