Chapter 1: Abdication

Queen Elsa of Arendelle strode through the hallways of her palace nervously. She could not believe she was doing this. But she had to remain resolute in her decision. The Snow Queen could not appear weak.

After the Great Freeze and Thaw, Elsa's Council had been putting pressure on her to take a suitor for a husband and marry. Give birth to a baby. The heir of Arendelle, the future of the kingdom, must be assured, they had said. Elsa respected their reasoning. Most girls in Arendelle married young, and she herself was already 21. Her baby sister, Anna, was 18 and in a romantic relationship with the young Ice Master, Kristoff. Though born a commoner, Elsa did not see anything wrong with the courtship. Love was love, and at least there had been no proposal yet. Anna was wisely taking her time being wooed this time, and from what Elsa had seen, Kristoff was a good man.

In a way, Anna and Kristoff had been what influenced her decision. In watching them, Elsa had come to discover that if she ever was so fortunate enough to marry, she wanted it to be for love. Not for political advantage or to unite two kingdoms. Not even for the sole purpose of producing an heir. If there was to be sex, then it had to come from a place of love and deep intimacy.

For a long time, because of her powers, Elsa had felt that no man could love her. Fall in love with her. But after seeing the saving power of Anna's love, she felt that maybe she could open her heart up to a man. But the duties of Queen seemed to take less priority to opening one's heart to anyone.

That is what swayed Elsa's final decision.

She now entered the Treaty Room regally, and her Council rose in respect. Elsa dipped her head deferentially, silently ordering them to be seated again. She took her place at the head of the table.

"Well, Your Majesty?" asked the Secretary of State. "What decision have you reached? Either you must agree to court a husband, or abdicate the throne."

Elsa resisted scowling at how the choices were weighed. Of all the misogynistic laws to ever be brought into existence! She was dismayed that the law had never been abolished or amended, during her father's reign. If she had known the policy had existed, she would have worked to abolish it herself. But that would have required the agreement of Arendelle's Parliament, and she didn't have the votes there to change the law. Arendelle was a constitutional monarchy, though the royal family and its leaders were determined by succession, blood and divine right.

Given all this, Elsa felt her hands were tied. Either agree to a future she didn't want, or sacrifice her royal power. She sighed heavily. "Then I am no longer the Queen of Arendelle," she pronounced. Heavy gasps went up from her advisers, a few seemed close to bursting into tears... but not for the reasons Elsa had hoped. It almost compelled her to give a satisfied smirk. Anna would make a fine Queen, even though most of her Council ws terrified at the prospect. And if the Princess was set on marrying a lowly backwoodsman, that would give Arendelle... King Consort Kristoff! It was enough to make some in Arendelle's elite retch.

Elsa stood from her place. "I will draft and submit my letter of resignation immediately. I wish for my sister to be coronated as soon as possible." And she swept from the room, leaving Arendelle's future - and her own - uncertain.

A stunned Anna was coronated as Queen the following day, while Elsa looked on both solemnly and proudly.

"Why are you doing this?" she had whispered through tears. Elsa had willed herself to show no emotion.

"Because I want what you have," and she had cast her eyes to Kristoff in respect. From the silent look Anna gave her, Elsa could tell she understood.

"At least live here in the palace with us!" Anna pleaded. "Where will you go?"

Kai, the Chief of Staff who looked like he was ready to lose all compunction and burst into tears himself, timidly stepped forward. "Your High - Majesty, I'm afraid that is not possible. Arendelle has not had a living former monarch in over 200 years, but the law clearly states that in such a case, the former King or Queen must depart from the palace. He or she is responsible for finding her own food and lodging."

"Anna, I shall manage," Elsa reassured, forcing a weak smile. "Besides... the cold never bothered me anyway." She flicked her hands for emphasis; the snow and ice at her command would help her in her travels and endeavors, she knew.

Now clad in her ice-blue dress, Elsa was allowed to keep her horse. Kissing Anna goodbye, and even bestowing a peck on Kristoff's cheek, Elsa clicked the reins and galloped into the mountains. She reached her Ice Palace a couple of hours before dark.

It was certainly a tempting place to live out the rest of her days, but Elsa had tried the path of isolation once before, and found it lacking. Living as a hermit would not do. As it was, she saw no reason to have the palace still standing anymore.

Marshmallow, her giant abominable snowman who had been guarding the place since the Great Thaw, came out to greet her. Elsa lifted up a hand.

"Marshmallow!" she called. "I set you free!"

The thawing began, and Marshmallow rose into the air. It took a bit before Elsa noticed... the snow was disappearing! Instead of his body being formed by snow, the white powder was replaced by human flesh. The spiky icicles littering his body melted away, some of them transforming into clean nails on fingers and toes. So it was that Marshmallow was transformed into a human. Elsa stood back, watching intently as Marshmallow floated back to Earth.

The Ice Palace was gone now, having also been melted. The human Marshmallow rose to his feet and turned to face his Queen and Creator. Elsa smiled gently at him. "Go in peace," she murmured.

The human Marshmallow approached. Striding up to Elsa, he tilted her head back and pushed her lips up against his. Elsa closed her eyes, accepting his kiss, as a flurry of snowflakes surrounded them. Marshmallow kissed Elsa goodbye until the last as the flakes faded his body away on the wind, transporting him to another time and place unknown.

Elsa touched a finger to her very kissed mouth. Then, wiping a tear from her eye, though her smile was satisfied, she turned and made her way back down the mountain.