un-Frozen
BenevolentDCC
Author's Note: This is my first entry of this genre. It is a bit taboo so if you aren't into that please move on. All characters herein are 18 years of age or older. I claim ownership only to the material herein and not to the story of Frozen.
I desperately want you to vote on this entry. I want your votes to be honest, but please, please, please vote. I would love to hear your comments about the story as well. It has been fun to write, but nothing is as fun as hearing from my readers. I hope you enjoy this tale.
Unseasonal Warmth
Winter had come to Arendelle. Well. . . the season had arrived, but every day it looked more and more like the snows would never fall. The fjords [pronounced: f-yords] were dangerously close to rising from their beds as runoff from the mountain snows raced to the valley. The people of Arendelle, though busy with preparation for the yuletide celebrations, knew that if the unnaturally warm weather continued floods would deliver the country to a watery grave.
Young men and women walked together through the town beneath the castle. Children played happily with toys and trinkets they had been given to keep them out of trouble and out from underfoot. The merry pre-festival atmosphere was charged with an undercurrent of anger, hurt, and feelings of abandonment. The adults looked to the castle for answers and though the doors were no longer closed, the lips within were.
Silken banners of icy blue and white decorated the streets and houses. The warm winds danced playfully through the decorations as if taunting the honorary winter colors. The people tried to keep their spirits high, but one resounding thought beat within their minds. The Queen could fix this problem, she had the power. Why wasn't she doing anything about the dangers they faced? Where was Queen Elsa in their time of need?
"Ohhhhhhhhhh!" Anna exclaimed nervously. "What are we going to do?"
"Anna, please." Elsa shushed. "I'm trying to focus."
"But Elsa, if winter doesn't arrive soon the fjords will flood the city."
"Anna, I know. I'm trying."
Elsa extended her hand and closed her eyes. She focused on the crisp crunch of snow as it was walked upon, the soft drift of snowflakes falling from the sky, the fog created as warm breath meets the frigid air. She exhaled feeling the flow of power travel her veins. "Come on. Come on." She whispered to herself. She tightened her muscles as hard as she could and filled her mind with iridescent crystalline structures. "And. . . NOW!" She shouted.
Anna drew in a sharp breath of excitement, then, a groan.
Elsa opened her eyes. "UGH!" Elsa released her frustration through clenched teeth. "I just don't get it. Before I froze things without wanting to do it. I almost cast our town into eternal winter. Now, I can't freeze anything."
Anna looked at her sister nervously.
"Anna, I don't know what to do. Modranicht [pronounced: moe-draw-nick-ed] is approaching. The winter solstice and we have no snow. The winter element is crucial to the yuletide celebration. Mother's Night . . . "
"I know." Anna took Elsa's hands in her own. "We will figure it out. I promise. I'm here with you."
"I know. I know. I'm . . . oh, Anna. I think I'm just stressed about my first yuletide celebration as the Queen. Especially with the. . . "
"Queen Elsa," the advisor, Franz cut in.
"Yes Franz?"
"We have several issues to attend to in the town."
Elsa blanched.
"Wha-wha-what I mean," Franz stammered, "is that there are several non-winter, er, um, not snow related. . .Not not snow but rather unrelated to snow or the season or the festival or cold." Franz dropped his gaze to the floor and stopped talking.
"Speak Franz, I understand."
"The townspeople have some economic concerns," Franz started anew.
"Economics! Kristoff!" Elsa turned to Anna, her eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears.
"Oooof." Anna exclaimed as Elsa wrapped her in a hug.
"I'm so sorry. I haven't even thought of how hard this must be for Kristoff. He lives off what he makes from his ice business."
"Elsa," Anna started.
"This is terrible,"
"Elsa," Anna prompted once more.
"What is he going to do for food?"
"Elsa," Anna said louder.
"And poor Sven. He must be so hungry."
Anna pulled Elsa close and kissed her on the cheek. "Elsa, stop worrying! Sven and Kristoff are fine. They are MY concern. You are stressing yourself out."
Elsa blushed lightly. "Of course. You're right. Of course you're right." Elsa took a deep breath. "Franz," she prompted.
"Yes, my Queen?"
"One thing at a time. Let's get this done." Elsa allowed Franz to lead her to the council chamber where each item could be addressed. Before she disappeared from the room, Elsa looked over her shoulder and smiled fondly at her sister.
Anna felt her heart skip a beat. She couldn't believe she had come that close to kissing her sister. Not just her sister, but the Queen. Jack would be furious if he found out. But there was no need to worry about him. No one knew how Anna felt about her sister, her secret was safe.
Since she was a child she had looked up to her sister. Elsa was always so graceful, so beautiful, so powerful. As they grew, Anna found it harder and harder to deny the feelings growing within her. She pushed them down, knew that it could never be, but in the farthest recesses of her mind she and Elsa faced the world together.
"Elsa, do you wanna be my girlfriend?" Anna sang, " 'Yes' is what I hope you say. My heart is hammering within, don't make me ask again, please don't turn away." The tune reminds her of a song she sang when she was a girl. "I know that we are sisters, and we shouldn't, but I want it more and more! Do you wanna be my girlfriend." Anna let her voice fall. "She will never be my girlfriend."
The song ended as Anna walked back to her room. She thought about many things as her petite feet carried her down the many-times-traveled track to her childhood room. She plopped down on the thick cushion of the bed and breathed in the scents of soap and starch that cleaned her bedclothes. She used her toes to kick her flats off before curling into a ball in the middle of the bed.
Kristoff entered the room, humming softly to himself. He stopped when he saw Anna. He crossed to her in two strides and wrapped his body around her. He had seen her like this before and he knew that it meant she faced an emotional torrent within herself.
"I'm always here for you, my love. No matter what. I want to help. Just tell me what you need." He whispered softly in her ear.
"Hold me?" Anna asked quietly.
"That's all I want to do." Kristoff responded. "Well, not ALL I want to do . . ." He snuggled closer to her, breathing in the scent of her body as she dealt with whatever was bothering her. He wished she would tell him, but he would never force her. Never.
Soon the sounds of soft snores and the warmth of fresh drool signaled Anna's sleep. Even though his arm fell asleep beneath her, he would not move until she woke. He lay beside her, watching her sleep, listening to her breathe. He savored every moment. Especially when her infectious smile would spread across her face as she slept. He loved everything about her.
Elsa helped her people in every way she could. She sat in the gilded chair until her butt fell asleep. She changed her position and sat until she needed to move again. Over and over. All day. Even though they were gracious, even though she did her best to help with the issues of her supplicants, she could see the question screaming in their eyes; why won't you help us?
"Breathe, breathe, breathe. You are doing all you can." Elsa told herself. She could feel her anxiety fading until a man stood before her.
"Queen Elsa." He spoke loud enough for everyone to hear him well. My name is Jan [pronounced: Yawn] and I have but a simple request."
Elsa met his gaze though her stomach felt as though it had dropped.
"Use your power and prevent this impending disaster."
Elsa could feel the blood drain from her face. Fear flooded through her.
"Please Elsa."
"Please, my Queen."
Cries rose up all around her.
"Elsa."
"Queen Elsa."
"Please, Elsa. Save us."
"Save Arendelle!"
The crowd was deafening with their cries and fears. It crashed upon Elsa like waves against the rocks of the shore.
Elsa held up her hand. Silence filled the hall.
"I have heard your concerns before you gave them voice. I promise you, I will do all in my power to save this city."
"What about your powers?" Jan asked.
"Yes."
"Yes!"
"The ice. You can make winter by yourself."
"You can save us."
"Save us!"
"Please!"
"Please, save us, Queen Elsa."
More waves crashing against the shore, tearing the rock away with every crash. She cringed as their voices echoed and roiled like a living beast in the large room.
She held her hand up once more.
"I promise you that we are working diligently to resolve the issue."
Jan opened his mouth to speak but Elsa held her hand up before he spoke.
"As of right now, my powers are inexplicably unavailable." She spoke slowly and made eye-contact with no one. "When they are within my control once more, I will not hesitate to use them. Arendelle is my home. You," She indicated to all gathered, "are my family."
"Thank you, my Queen." Jan bowed.
"Franz." Elsa addressed her advisor.
"Yes, Queen Elsa?"
"I am done for the night." Elsa informed him. "I will receive no further supplicants today."
Franz looked as if he might advise her differently, but he held his peace. "Yes, my Queen."
Elsa waved to the gathered crowd before she exited the receiving chamber.
She tried to take Anna's advice. Her first Modranicht as Queen and it was looking to be a total disaster. The pagan ritual called for the unity of three women. The Queen, the princess, and a deity. She didn't know what unity implied, but she felt that without her powers there would be little chance of connecting with the necessary deity. She wanted her powers back so that, if needed, she could protect Anna.
Anna. Sometimes just thinking her sister's name would bring a smile to Elsa's face. She kept the secret buried within her, but every kiss, every hug, every loving look shared between Anna and Kristoff filled Elsa with jealousy. Jack knew of Elsa's feelings toward her sister. Being a Guardian, he didn't waste time with judgement or jealousy over his love. Instead he had been very supportive of Elsa.
"Tell her." He had said. His naked body pressed against hers as they lay beneath their blankets.
"I can't just tell her, Jack." Elsa replied. "What if she says no? What if she hates me? What if she never wants to talk to me again?"
"Elsa," Jack smoothed her hair with his hand, "Your sister loves you with all her heart. She loves you more than anything else in the world. Hell, she almost gave her life just to save you. You two are bound to one another forever."
"I can't do that, Jack. I can't put that burden on her."
"You can't keep punishing yourself every time you turn around either. Christmas is coming up, tell her before then."
"Modranicht." Elsa corrected. "Pagans celebrate Mother's Night, not Christmas."
"Whatever." Jack replied. "Tell her before the festival."
"I'll try." Elsa replied.
"Do or do not, there is no try." Jack replied, moving his hand in a circle.
"What?"
"It's from a movie." Jack told her.
"Oh." Elsa replied. Elsa raised her hand and conjured up a large snowflake. She studied the intricate fractal pattern.
Jack had been called away on Guardian business and Elsa had been left to run the kingdom. That was the last time she could remember having control of her powers. The last time she could bend the world to her will.
"The snow melts down on the mountain tonight, floods threaten to drown the town. Voices cry out for many things, but I wish that you were around. Conceal don't feel, don't let her see, be the 'big sis' you always had to be, no way, no how, she'll never be with me. Let it go." Elsa sang her unrequited love song as she walked the empty halls of the castle.
"Let it go." Elsa repeated. "Just, let it go."
