Wow, it's been a whole month since my last story, but honestly, I just haven't had the time, energy, motivation, or even inspiration to write. I got a few pages typed out and then I hit a standstill and didn't know where to go after that. But eventually, I figured it out and was able to finish. Anyway, here's a brand-new story for you guys! For this one, I decided to take a break from the adult Anna and Elsa and go back in time to when they were little, starting the day Anna is born. This was originally gonna be a one-shot, but it's been a while since my last multi-chap, so that's what it's gonna be. This was loosely inspired by the outtake "We Know Better", so you may see some of the lyrics here and there. You may have noticed that I went back to using chapter titles, like with my first story. Anyway, hope you enjoy, and please review! DISCLAIMER: I do not own Frozen or any of its characters.
Chapter 1: Big Sister Elsa
Elsa was excited. She had been waiting for this day forever, and now it was finally happening. Today was a very important and special day. Today was the day she would finally be a big sister. She couldn't wait to play with her new brother or sister, to teach him or her things, show him or her the world. Ever since the day when her parents gave her the news, Elsa had had to try her very hardest to not tell the secret to anyone outside the family, at least until her parents made the "official" announcement.
Elsa hoped with all her might that she would get a baby sister. They would do so much together – play with dolls, play tag or hide-and-seek, ride bikes, or, most importantly of all, build snowmen, whether outside in the natural snow or inside with Elsa's magic snow. She had just discovered she had snow and ice powers and was itching to fully test them out. Actually, her parents had been the ones to discover them, as she was too little to remember not having them. They told her that she had been born with them, but they hadn't fully shown until she was about a year old. They had woken up one morning to find her making tiny snowflakes in her cradle. Truthfully, what they saw worried them a little, and ever since that day, they had kept a close watch on her to make sure she didn't lose control and accidentally hurt someone.
But her parents weren't around to watch her now. Her mother was in their room having the new baby and her father was keeping himself busy looking over important papers. And there were hardly any servants around. Gerda and a few others were helping her mother and Kai...well, she didn't really know where Kai was. He was probably down in the kitchens keeping the other servants busy and out of the way.
So, for the first time ever (at least, since she could remember), Elsa was left to her own devices. As no one was around to scold or even watch her, she decided to release some of her pent-up excitement by making small flurries and dancing in the sparkling snow they left behind.
She was too busy giggling and twirling that she didn't realize she was being watched until she heard a loud, stern voice behind her, cracking like a whip through the almost-deserted hallway.
"Elsa!"
She was so startled she shot jagged spikes of ice out of her hands at the floor. She turned around to see who had spoken and immediately felt her heart plummet to her stomach. King Agdar of Arendelle, her father, was walking swiftly towards her, the look on his face matching the tone of voice he had just used. He stopped in front of her and crossed his arms.
Elsa craned her neck to look up at the towering figure above her. "Hi Papa," she said, smiling innocently at him.
"Elsa, what have your mother and I told you about using your powers when we aren't around to watch you?" he asked in that same stern voice.
"I was just playing, Papa," Elsa said timidly.
"Answer the question," he said.
Elsa hung her head, looking at the floor. Her face burned in shame despite the constant coolness of her skin. "To not to," she replied quietly before looking back up at her father. "I'm sorry, Papa. I'm just too excited."
The king sighed, dropping his arms and kneeling down so he was on eye level with his daughter. "I know you are," he said, seeming to understand what she was talking about. He laid one of his large hands on her small shoulder. "We all are. But you must be careful. If anyone outside the castle found out about your powers…...well, it wouldn't be good."
"Why not, Papa?" Elsa asked, looking at him curiously.
"Because," the king began slowly, working out how best to phrase his next sentence so his three-year-old daughter would understand. "Because people might get scared."
"Why would they get scared, Papa?" Elsa asked.
"Because they've never seen powers like yours before," he answered. Or any powers at all, he added to himself.
"Oh," said Elsa quietly, casting her eyes down again. "I don't want them to be scared, Papa."
"I know you don't," her father said, smiling at her reassuringly. "Just promise me you'll remember that for next time, all right?"
"Okay," said Elsa.
"Now come here," he said, opening his arms. Elsa smiled and ran into them, hugging him tightly.
"Is my new brother or sister here yet?" she asked excitedly, breaking apart from the hug.
Her father laughed. "No, not yet," he answered.
Elsa sighed dramatically. "How much longer?" she asked, almost whining. "I've been waiting all day."
The king chuckled again. It had really been only a couple hours since his wife had gone into labor, but to a child Elsa's age, it would seem like an eternity. So, instead, he said, "Soon. Tell you what: why don't you come and wait with me?"
"Really?" Elsa asked, a grin splitting her face.
"I think I can afford to take a few hours off work," the king replied, smiling at her. He stood up, held out his hand, and Elsa took it. They set off down the hall, Elsa positively bouncing alongside him.
In a few minutes, they came to the long hallway that led to the royal family's private quarters. There was a cushioned bench near the king and queen's room and the king sat down on it, pulling Elsa into his lap.
"Now," he said, settling her on his knee. "Before your baby brother or sister comes, there are a few things that I need to tell you. And listen very carefully, because they're important."
Elsa nodded, looking up at her father expectantly.
"Okay," the king sighed. "First, I know you'll want to play with your new brother or sister right away, but he or she won't be able to play back with you, at least not yet."
"Why not, Papa?" Elsa interrupted.
"Because babies, especially new babies, are very small and delicate," her father replied. "If you want to play with him or her, you have to be very careful."
"Will it break if I play too rough?" Elsa asked in a voice of childlike innocence.
"No," her father said, smiling. "But you might make him or her sad."
"Oh," said Elsa quietly. "I don't wanna make the new baby sad."
"I know you don't," her father said. "That's why you must be careful. Second, Mama is going to need a lot of help with the new baby."
"What can I do?" Elsa asked, looking up at him.
"Well, for starters, you will have to be quiet whenever the baby's sleeping," the king replied. "Mama, too, may need some sleep, so you'll need to be extra quiet then."
"Why will Mama need to sleep?" Elsa asked curiously.
"Because taking care of a new baby is a lot of work," her father answered. "She might need a nap once in a while."
"Grown-ups take naps?" Elsa asked, a look of surprise evident on her face.
"Sometimes," her father said, chuckling. "Now third, and probably most important, you have to be a big sister to your new sibling."
"Aren't I already a big sister?" Elsa asked.
"Well, yes, but there's more to it than just that," the king answered.
"There is?" Elsa asked, surprise apparent in her voice again.
"Absolutely," her father said, nodding. "Your new brother or sister will look up to you, so you have to set a good example."
"How do I do that?" Elsa asked, frowning in puzzlement.
"Well, by showing what a big girl you are, and teaching him or her the right things to do," her father answered.
Elsa suddenly thought of something. "Can I show the new baby my special powers?" she asked.
The king hesitated, afraid that this would come up. He didn't want to deny his children the happiness that came from Elsa's powers, but he didn't want anyone to get hurt. "Not just yet," he said. "Maybe when the baby's older, you can."
"Why?" Elsa asked.
"Because you might hurt the baby," her father answered.
"But I'll be very careful," Elsa protested.
"I know you will," the king said. "But for now, just keep it to yourself, all right?"
"Okay," said Elsa, looking back down at the floor. She was quiet for a moment, her brow furrowed, as if she was thinking hard about something. Then, she said quietly, "That's a lot to 'member."
The king chuckled. "Yes, it is a lot to remember," he said. "But I know you can do it. You know why?"
"Why?" Elsa asked, perking up again.
"Because you're my big girl," her father said, smiling. Elsa smiled, too, and hugged him tight, and he hugged back.
Father and daughter were so locked in their embrace that they didn't hear the click of the door opening across the hall, or the shuffling footsteps of someone approaching them. They only broke apart when the person cleared her throat. They looked up to see that Gerda had come through the door leading to the king and queen's private chambers. The king immediately stood up when he saw her.
"How – how is she?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"She's doing well," Gerda answered.
"And – and the baby?" he asked, his voice almost shaking.
"Also doing well," Gerda replied, a smile starting to form on her lips. "Congratulations, Your Majesty, you have another beautiful, healthy baby girl."
The king sighed in relief and smiled. "May I see them?" he asked.
Gerda nodded. "The queen has decided that she is ready for visitors," she said. "But if you don't mind, she has asked for Elsa first."
"Of course," said the king, and he beckoned Elsa forward. She came, but a little hesitantly. "Go on," he encouraged. "Go meet your new baby sister."
"What about you, Papa?" Elsa asked, looking up at him.
"I'll be there in a minute," he answered. "This time is just for you, your mother, and your new sister."
"Okay," Elsa said, and she took Gerda's hand and entered the bedroom. Her mother, Queen Idun, was sitting in the bed, propped up on several pillows, holding a bundle of blankets in her arms. Her dark brown hair, usually coiled in a tight knot at the base of her neck, hung in a loose braid over her shoulder. Damp tendrils of hair clung to her temples and her face shone from sweat. But Elsa always thought her mother was pretty.
The queen looked up and smiled when she saw her oldest daughter. "Elsa, dear, come meet your new baby sister," she said.
Elsa shuffled over to the bed and climbed up carefully next to her mother. She peeked at the bundle of blankets in her mother's arms. Her baby sister looked just like her, with freckles and bright blue eyes that were currently closed in sleep. But unlike Elsa, she had a tuft of strawberry-blonde hair about the same shade as her father's.
"What's her name?" Elsa asked, looking up at her mother.
"We haven't thought of one yet," her mother answered. "We were hoping that you would be able to help us pick one."
"I get to pick the name?" Elsa asked, surprised.
"Absolutely," her mother answered, smiling at her.
"I never picked a name before," Elsa said quietly.
"Well, I'm sure whatever name you pick will be beautiful," the queen said, still smiling. "So, what shall it be?"
Elsa frowned and thought hard for a minute. Then she said, "Anna. I like Anna."
The queen considered for a moment, and then smiled and said, "I like it, too. Anna it is."
Elsa smiled back, very pleased with herself for having picked a good name for her baby sister.
"Now, why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself to her?" her mother asked.
"Okay," said Elsa. She reached out a hand and gently stroked her baby sister's cheek. "It's nice to meet you, Anna," she said. "I'm Elsa, your big sister. I will love you and play with you every day, even when I'm queen. You don't hafta be scared of anything, 'cause I'll always be right here for you. I love you." And she leaned forward and gently kissed baby Anna on her cheek.
"That was very nice, my darling," the queen said, smiling again. "I'm sure you and your sister will become the best of friends. Now, why don't you go bring your father in?"
Elsa slid off the bed and ran back out into the hallway, where her father was conversing quietly with Gerda. Too impatient and excited to wait for them to notice her, she started tugging on her father's hand.
"Come on, come on, come on!" she said, pulling him into the room. "Come meet Anna!"
"Anna?" the king questioned, smiling down at her.
"My new baby sister that I named!" Elsa answered, pulling him to the side of the bed.
The king leaned down and kissed his wife before looking at his newborn daughter. "So, what's this I hear about Elsa naming her new baby sister?" he asked, smiling.
"Well, I thought it would make her feel special if she got to choose the name," the queen answered, smiling back. "Look; it seems to have helped her bond." She cast her eyes down and then back up, sending him a silent message to look.
Elsa was again talking to Anna, but her voice was so quiet, they couldn't quite make out what she was saying. The king and queen shared a tender look and a smile.
"Yes, it would seem so," he said quietly.
From that day forward, the king and queen vowed to keep their daughters together no matter what.
Okay, so here's my plan for this story. As you know, chapter 1 takes place the day Anna is born. Chapter 2 will skip six months to when Elsa's 3 1/2 and Anna's six months, and chapter 3 will skip another six months to when Elsa's 4 and Anna's 1. Each chapter after that will skip a whole year up until Elsa's 8 and Anna's 5. I don't know how long this story will be, but it'll probably be several chapters. I probably won't include the accident, 'cause I want this story to be a happy one. I hope you'll bear with me as I work through it. :)
Again, hope you enjoyed! Another chapter coming soon!