A Mother's Worry

It is a cold night, and queen Onelia couldn't bring herself to sleep because of the unfinished discussion between herself and her husband, she is worried because of the thought of sending her son to the kingdom of Esop, although the thought frightens her so, but what frightens her more is Kristoff, she knows Kristoff wouldn't want Aps to go alone to Esop, and Kristoff would want to accompany him on the journey, she is confused about how to deny Kristoff request without hurting him, while she is awake in deep thought about the situation of things, the king on the other hand is sleeping off beside her like a baby, she decide it is best to wake him up and have a serious discussion, she taps her husband lightly on his shoulder to wake him up but he did not respond, she taps him a second time before he stirred and woke up groggily.

"What is wrong love? And why are you up?" the king asks with sleep still evident in his eyes.

The queen sighed with a troubled look in her eyes. "I am scared about sending Aps to Esop." the queen said with a worried face.

"I understand your worries love, but it is time you accept that those boys are no longer kids, and it is high time they start acting like adults." The king said shifting to a more comfortable sitting position on the bed. "My queen, we have to stop treating these boys as kids if we want them to be strong and able to rule this kingdom someday.

"I know love, but I just can't stop being worried for their safety, I'm still a mother." The queen said in a more assertive tone. "Moreover, you know Kristoff, he will want to accompany Aps on this trip and we cannot allow that for his safety."

"I know and I have been pondering over this myself, I know he can be head strong when he sets his mind on something." The king said rubbing his forehead with his right hand.

"So, what will you do about that?" the queen asks.

"Don't worry about that Onelia, I am tired right now, can you please let me get some sleep before I have to face my cabinets tomorrow." The king said with a note of finality in his voice as he laid back down to resume his sleep. "I will make my announcement in the throne room tomorrow, that way I won't have to deal with Kristoff nagging at me, which will settle the problem. Goodnight." 

The queen seeing as her husband went back to sleep sighed and laid back down herself.

...............…

It is a beautiful morning for prince Kristoff as he turned in his bed, yawning and stretching himself, he squinted his eyes to adjust to the early morning rays coming in through his window, he sits up in his bed, putting on his bedroom slippers, he stands up with a smile on his face, whistling as he walks towards the window, he loves looking out of his window every morning to take in the beautiful sight of the city, it is another busy morning as he sees people moving about to start their daily works, Kristoff heads towards the bathroom to take his morning bath, the servants already brought in warm bath water while he was still in bed, they already know when he wakes up and when he takes his baths every morning, Kristoff couldn't stop himself from whistling another tune as he takes off his cloths, one would wonder why Kristoff is so happy this day but one wouldn't have long to guess that the reason for his happiness is none other than Minerva, after he finished taking his bath he put on his bath robe and went to his room still whistling another tune yet again, as he steps into his room.

Meanwhile Aps is already in Kristoff room sitting on one of the chairs beside the table set in the center of his room, putting his feet on the table waiting for him to be done in the bathroom, Kristoff still oblivious to Aps already in his room waiting for him, walks into the room eyes closed whistling and clapping his hands, he was shocked when he heard another clap besides his coming from the room, he knows the servants knows better than to come into his room while he is taking his bath so he know the clap belongs to no servant but someone else, he went still like a statue with his two hands still clasped together, he tries squinting his left eye open to take a peek at who it is only to discover it was Aps, he is relieved to find out it's not his father but still couldn't stop from throwing his towel at him.

"What the hell is that for?" Prince Aps said in mock anger.

"You scared me man." Kristoff said spreading his hands to the side. 

 Prince Aps looks at his younger brother for a few seconds and couldn't stop himself from bursting into a hard laugh that he fell from his chair, Kristoff steps back placing his hands on his hips looking at his brother inquisitively. "What is funny to you?" he asked Aps.

"You man, what's gotten into you this morning that's got you dancing about the room like a baby given a candy?" prince Aps asked.

"None of your concern." Kristoff replied, walking towards his wardrobe to pick out a cloth to wear.

"Do you know I have been here for a while; I've been sitting here since you were in the bathroom, and I've been listening to you whistling and dancing inside the bathroom for a while?" Prince Aps said. "What if it was one of the servants who walked in on you and sees you dancing like that?"

"Well, there is no big deal in that, moreover that is impossible because I have given them my instruction not to enter my room when I am having my bath in the morning." Kristoff replied finally picking out a black overall robe that goes with a black trouser. He takes the cloth and walks toward his bed. "Moreover, why are you here in my room early in the morning?"

"Ouch, that hurts." Prince Aps said placing his palms on his chest to indicate he is hurt by his brother's statement.

"For real, why are you here? What is wrong?" Kristoff asks.