Author's Note:
Well, I want to write more. Unfortunately, writing fanfiction in addition to my personal writing projects is quite the ordeal. Thankfully, practicing with pre-existing characters is a worthy warm-up. I end up with a collection of short stories spattered here and there, but people seem to still enjoy reading them. I hope, by making them available here, even more people will enjoy them. Ideally, they will be released every other week or so, but since they are disconnected, it will depend on my schedule and inspiration. Most of them are quick and easy reads, but I hope you find them good as well.
To start it off, I have a rather sad tale. Though, you can be the judge. The piece is a modern AU based loosely off of the "Thaw" universe created by my best friend, Jo (hotcuppahjo-art on tumblr). Her artwork is also featured as the cover. I wrote this piece as a Mother's Day tribute, which is quite complicated for the Jelsa ship, but I think it turned out well enough. There will be more "cute" to come, I promise.
Here's to mothers everywhere, even the ones who made mistakes.
Reviews are welcome, if you so desire.
The leather of the armrests dried into ice as she ran her fingers over it, and she jerked her hand back. Her fingertips pulsed with the power, the emotion. And her restraint was failing. The ebb and flow of her powers took over like this sometimes. Love was only a partial solution; there were still times when the love was so great that it morphed into grief. The interior of the car was icing over, despite the futile attempts of the air conditioner to reheat it. Frost splintered across the window panes.
He put his hand over hers. He didn't say anything. Usually,he said something, but she knew herself there wasn't anything to say. Five years had passed, two of which she had spent dedicated to her company. Still, the tears were a whispered reminder away. Visiting this place always made it worse, because she hadn't attended the service.
"I have to go," she said, more for her sake than his. He nodded.
He ducked out of the car and came around to the driver's side to open the door for her. It took her a few moments to unfreeze her hands from the steering wheel. She'd likely make Jack drive home. She wasn't sure she'd be stable enough after this.
Every footstep crackled as the dry grass froze. She picked her way along the path that maneuvered through the graves, scattered with green mossed stones. Thousands of past footfalls, heavy with grief, had shaped the path into a hard, unforgiving surface. Elsa didn't want to look up – she knew she'd see them right away – but Jack's arm supported her and kept her standing. So, with a deep breath, she looked up.
Two figures, distorted by multiple layers of clothing, stood before two great stone monuments. A large golden dog sat next to them, looking as forlorn as the couple. Elsa never bundled up in this kind of cold, but Anna and Kristoff hadn't the same tolerance. Jack cleared his throat to announce their arrival.
Anna looked up and flew toward Elsa with a gasp. "You came!" she exclaimed as her arms enveloped her sister. Remnants of tears still sparkled at the corner of her eyes.
Elsa cautiously returned the hug. There would always be the part of her that wanted to avoid the cemetery – the part afraid of what might happen. But instead of giving in, she just patted her sister's back and said, "Yeah. Of course I came."
Anna clung longer than Elsa wanted her to. She wanted the support of her sister, but the idea that she needed it made the tears burn into her eyes more quickly.
"They'd be so happy you came," Anna whispered as she finally pulled away. "They'd be so proud."
Elsa pressed her lips together, her eyes growing wide. Instinct yelled at her to conceal, not to feel, but two years of freedom convinced her otherwise. She let the feelings roll over her. Snow began to fall from the sky. No one reacted fearfully. The weather may have been a product of her roiling emotions, but she had complete control now. And snow was not uncommon this time of year.
She stood as close to Jack as physics allowed. Anna moved back to Kristoff's side, and his muscular arm wrapped around her shoulders. For a while they all stood there in silence. Shadows slowly swelled around them as the sun began to set behind the towering monuments of Idun and Agdar. It felt right to visit family with family. Though she hadn't yet accepted Jack's proposal, he was family in her heart. Anna and Kristoff tried to make her feel welcome at their condo, but now that they were expecting, they were focused on preparing for a family. Elsa wouldn't have it any other way.
After a while, Anna walked toward Idun's gravestones and rested her gloved hand on the icy surface. A moment of silence. Then, "I'm making dinner tonight. Would you and Jack like to come share?"
Elsa shook her head, a strand of silver falling loose from the tight bun, done up as Idun had taught her. "Could you give me a minute alone with them? Please?"
Anna smiled and reached for Elsa's free hand. With a brief, reassuring squeeze, she knew Anna understood. Then the couple was gone, down the path, an oblivious Sven trotting merrily behind.
She turned so that she could see Jack's encouraging eyes. Slowly, she released his hand and spread her palm over his chest. He nodded. "I'll go start the car."
Her tight lips turned up slightly – only slightly – as he walked away.
When she was alone, the emotions choked her. She tugged at the edges of her light blue scarf, but the pressure in her throat would not let go.
"Mama, Papa," she whispered. It hurt to say goodbye to them, finally, this personally. They had always been there for her. Rumors on Arendelle's lower floors believed that her parents had been at fault for the regression of the young heiress.
Elsa knew better.
When she had been most afraid of herself, they hadn't been. They had lovingly encouraged her, all the while hoping that she would learn the secrets to controlling the magic and emerge from her room, head held high. She hadn't even let them near her when she'd needed them most. Maybe they hadn't made the best choices about her upbringing, but they'd believed in her. And they'd loved her. She wished she had focused on that sooner. She wished she'd learned that her own terror had only fueled the blazing blizzard.
"You were there for me even when you didn't know how to be," she said. A tear froze on her cheek as it tried to escape. With a flourish of her hand, she knocked the drop of ice away. "But I can't make the same mistakes we did back then. I can't hide. I'll do my best to lead Arendelle to success, without the fear I once had. I will make you proud."
With the tip of her finger, she traced an outline of frost on the stone beneath her mother's name. Her father's was more difficult to get through, and her hand shook with the effort. A deep breath helped her steady her hand enough to finish the design.
When she was done, she smiled. She left the cemetery with renewed confidence and she drew the falling snow closer to her, where it swirled powerfully. Behind her, the frosty crocus designs were already beginning to fade, but they had already made her point to her parents. She had control now. And she would never lose it again
