Sanders Sides Frozen Au
Chapter Four
Remus bolted outside of the palace as soon as the gates were opened. He saw people flooding in, all wearing a face of joy which perfectly matched his.
He couldn't actually believe it was happening! New, different people coming into the palace. The noise of everyone talking seemed much better than the lonely quiet he was used to.
People smiled and waved at him as he ran past.
Remus wasn't paying attention to where he was going, and had accidentally bumped into someone. “Oh- I'm so sorry!”
The man in question scoffed and crossed his arms. “Watch it- oop-” He seemed to realize who he was talking to. “Uh.”
Another man with glasses walked up to Remus and bowed lowly. “Apologies, your Majesty.”
“Oh- no no, it was my fault!” Remus said with an awkward laugh as the man bowed. “I'm so sorry!”
The first man raised an eyebrow. “Uh. It's fine. You're the future King, right?”
Remus cleared his throat and shook his head. “Oh- no, that's my brother, Roman. I'm just Remus.”
“Just Remus?” The glasses man asked with a frown.
“Yeah… I'm just happy the gates are open,” Remus said, almost forcing a smile.
The glasses man nodded. “How come they've not been opened in years?”
Remus shrugged. “I wish I knew the answer to that question myself.”
“Hm. Well… Interesting, I suppose.”
“Whatever. Can we go inside? My legs are broken and I need to sit,” The sassy man huffed.
“Your legs are not broken.”
“You don't know anything.”
Remus snickered and watched at they began to walk off. “What's your name?” He asked the man with glasses.
The man looked back and smiled. “Logan. Nice to meet you, your highness!”
And then they were gone.
The guards filled the walls of the Throne Room, along with the thousands of people sitting down inside. They were all whispering and chattering to each other until the Archbishop walked onto the platform in front of the crowd.
“All rise.”
Remus walked into the room, as calmly but energized as he could. He stopped off to the side and stood straight. He glanced over and saw Logan giving a slight smile from the crowd, and he couldn't help but smile as well seeing someone familiar to him.
And then the room went silent as Roman entered the room.
Remus went stiff as he couldn't help but glance at his brother, dressed in a formal white and golden uniform with a dashing red sash across his shoulder.
Roman did his best to ignore every single person in that room, as he couldn't afford breaking his concentration. His hands trembled as he kept them at his sides.
“It is with great honor and pride to announce this-”
Ten seconds, and then it's over. Ten seconds that you can easily slip up in.
Roman hesitantly removed his gloves and handed them to Remus, who held them with care. He stared at the Orb and Sceptre for a long moment, almost forgetting where he was and what he was about to do.
When the Archbishop cleared his throat, Roman snapped out of it and shakily took the objects into his hands. He held his breath and stared above the crowd's heads. He didn't even hear what the Archbishop was saying.
The crown was gently placed onto his head.
The pressure in his hands was building up slowly. He glanced down and could see the slightest bit of frost begin to form around the objects, thankfully not enough for the crowd to see. It was becoming painful from how much he was straining to keep the magic from shooting out.
“-King Roman of Arendelle!”
Roman let out a sigh of relief and quickly put the objects down, putting his gloves back on at a lightning speed. He closed his eyes for a second, realizing he had done it. Opening his eyes, he saw the crowd smile and applaud their new King.
For once in so long, he smiled.
The ceremony afterwards in the Ballroom quickly filled up with people, all dressed in suits and ball gowns.
Remus walked in and was immediately hit with the delicious smell of food. He looked around and awkwardly stood in the middle of the crowd, wanting to speak with people but not knowing how exactly to have a normal conversation with somebody.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Roman gracefully walk into the room, standing off to the side. Remus debated going over there. What if he doesn't want to talk to me? I mean he never does anyway… You know what? I'm gonna be brave and try.
Remus confidently walked over, but his confidence went away as soon as Roman made eye contact with him.
Roman smiled and met Remus half way. “Hi.”
Remus fought the urge to let his eyes widen, never expecting Roman to speak first. “Uh- oh, hi!”
“You look amazing. Green looks nice on you.”
Remus grinned at the compliment. He couldn't believe he was finally getting to have a conversation with him! This is the best day ever! “Oh- well, thanks! You look awesome too!!”
Roman laughed softly. “Thanks.” He looked out at the crowd. “So this is what a party is like, huh?”
Remus nodded enthusiastically. “I guess so! It's so nice to see so many happy faces.”
Roman's smile widened slightly. “It really is.”
Remus turned back and looked at Roman. “I missed this so much. It's just like old times, yeah?”
“I've really missed this too,” Roman said softly. “I…forgot how nice it is to talk to someone.”
Remus's smile softened. “It can be like this all the time, you know. We can leave the gates open, maybe? And we could go out and have fun like when we were kids?”
Roman's smile faded, and he looked away to hide the terror in his eyes. “We can't.”
Remus's smile also faded, and he frowned. “Why not? Surely we-”
Roman cut him off, more firmly as he wrapped his arms around himself. “We just…Can't.”
Remus flinched slightly at the tone, seeing Roman turn away from him a little. He opened his mouth to argue, but he closed it. His shoulders slumped. “I'll…talk to you..later.”
As Remus walked away, Roman looked up, the guilt cutting through him like a knife. He breathed through his nose and walked into the crowd.
Remus went out into the courtyard, sitting at a nearby bench. He hung his head and sat in silence.
Why did Roman have to be like this with him? Was it something he said? Or did? Maybe he did something wrong when they were little and Roman was still upset with him for it? That's all he could think of.
No wonder he hates me…
“Are you alright, your Highness?”
The sudden voice caught him off guard and took him out of his own head. Remus looked up and saw a man dressed very fancy in colors of yellow and black, looking at him a bit concerned.
“Oh, yeah…I'm…fine.”
The man sat next to Remus. “I don't mean to pry, but I have a feeling you aren't actually fine. I am Prince Janus of the Southern Isles.”
Remus smiled softly. “Prince Remus of Arendelle. And…okay, yeah, I'm not really fine…”
“Well, I'm here to help if you want to talk about it,” Janus said with a soft smile.
Remus sighed, looking out to the garden. “I'm just tired of being ignored by the people I care most about. I…I'm tired of constantly being shut out by my brother. If he's upset with me, I wish he'd just tell me!”
Janus frowned and nodded in understanding. “Perhaps him becoming King is getting to his head. Maybe he thinks he's better than you…”
Remus's eyes widened. “Do you really think that???”
Janus shrugged. “I mean, I'm not a mind reader, but I just know how some brothers can be.”
Remus glared at the ground. “I can't believe that… I know him too well- well I thought I knew him…”
Janus gently patted Remus's back. “But either way, he's still your brother.”
Remus nodded and smiled up at Janus. “Yeah… You're right.”
Janus looked into Remus's eyes with a soft grin. “You know…you have beautiful eyes.”
Remus's eyes widened, a blush spreading across his face. “I do???”
“You really do. You're truly a work of art.”
Remus shyly grinned and looked away. “You're really pretty too.”
There was a twinkle in Janus's eyes. “How about we go back inside and…share a dance?”
Remus's breath caught in his throat as he stood up with Janus. “I'd really like that.”
~*~