A/N: This is a sequel to "REFROZEN BY FEAR" and my second work on FANFICTION. Some references in this first chapter will make no sense without reading that story first.
Any suggestions or anything constructive you can think of would be appreciated as a review. The more useful reviews I get, the more motivation I have to write. :) I have a full outline ready to be typed out, but I am willing to entertain adding any suggestions you can give (as long as it doesn't affect general plot).
While typing this out, I am also working on the outline for my third attempt at writing. It's tentatively called "Refrozen Redemption". Yes, each title starting with "Refrozen" is deliberate.
As always, Frozen belongs to Disney and I have no claim to belong in the credits. That means "FROZEN DOESN'T BELONG TO ME". ;) On with our story!
Anna stepped from the chocolate shop as she placed her most recent purchase in her bag. Her long green dress and trade mark twin braids of hair were caught in the breeze. Casually, she flipped the copper tresses behind her shoulder. Placing one tender morsel on her tongue, she looks around and contemplates her next stop.
'Well, I've pretty well covered this area of town. Where to next? Walk through the main plaza again, explore more of the dock area (which Elsa REALLY doesn't like me doing), or maybe climb a tree and relax?' Looking up at the castle, her home for her almost twenty years of life, she takes a deep breath and frowns. 'I'm not ready to go back there yet. Guess I'll go see Hazel before heading back.'
Anna walked slowly in the late afternoon sun, greeting the residents of Arendelle as she passed. The warm smiles of the villagers always lifted her mood, at least on the surface. As Anna walked, she thought back to the previous summer. As if Elsa's disastrous coronation wasn't bad enough, the assassination attempt on her sister and Elsa's subsequent uncontrolled outbursts of magic still weighed heavily on her mind. After Elsa's powers went out of control, it had taken all Anna's strength, and then some, to fix things. If it wasn't for Kai, she would have given up and likely lost her life, her sister's life and Arendelle's freedom.
Meeting Hazel as a result of Elsa's power outage was a blessing, but it was a mixed blessing. As a living ice statue made in Elsa's image, she had saved her life and became a trusted, loyal friend. Anna would even call her a guardian angel. Unfortunately, Hazel had lost her brief time among the living during the battle with Marshmallow. She could still recall Hazel as she thanked Anna for believing in her. The image of her icy eyes frosting over for the last time was forever burned in her memory. Even after almost a year, she still had the occasional nightmare where Hazel would ask why she let her die. She never told Elsa about these anymore because it just made them both feel guilty and cause awkward silences.
Elsa had shown great love of her family when she placed a memorial for Hazel. It stood next to the larger monoliths for their parents. The stone had dubbed her Princess Hazel. Since she came from Elsa and shared part of her memories, she could technically be called Anna's younger sister. Elsa had run with this idea when she adopted Hazel into the family and placed the tombstone. This gave Anna a way to grieve for Hazel's loss other than crying in her room. Anna visited Hazel at least twice a week since then without fail. Other than opening the door after thirteen years, this was the best thing Elsa could have done for Anna. She was always at peace after unburdening her soul to her little sister.
Entering the cemetery, Anna took the right hand path to the memorial. In the same incident that had killed Hazel, a guard had also been taken out. Her anger with Marshmallow had extended farther than intended and cost a brave soldier his life. She still regretted her actions and did her best to make it up to his widow and young children. Elsa had knighted him posthumously, so the crown could look after his immediate family until his children were older. The crown always looked after those who had shown extreme loyalty, and this was not going to be the exception. Anna had become such a part of the widow's life that her children had started calling her 'Auntie Anna'. That had mortified the widow, until she realized that Anna genuinely felt honored by the title.
Upon approaching the tombstone, Anna reaches into her bag to retrieve a fresh bouquet of mixed flowers. With extreme care, she places them in front of the marker. As she stands, she takes the wilted bunch from her last visit and places them into her bag. As usual, she would dispose of them later.
"Hi Hazel, glad to see you again. Hope the gardeners have been tending your area to your satisfaction. I may have some trouble visiting soon. Elsa has been paranoid about rumors of unrest. I told her it was just false rumor if there is nothing to back it up, but she won't let it go. I'm concerned she may get worked up enough to close the gates. If that happens, at least you'll know why I don't come out. I'll still come out whenever I can, regardless."
"I hate to say it, but I'm still uncomfortable walking around the castle after the events last summer. I'm often jumping at shadows, and startle easily. I even thought I was being followed around the castle for a while. I'm sure you remember that from a previous visit. I rambled on about that for a long time before I calmed down enough to go back to the castle. I'm getting better, but my shaken nerves are gone by no means."
"Fear is still a problem for me, obviously, but not just by jumping at shadows. People think I'm thinking more about my choices before I make them, and I guess they are right for the wrong reasons. They think it is just deciding on a better choice before running off. Actually, it's fear of somebody getting hurt by the choices I make. Sounds stupid, but I even delay when I'm choosing what chocolate to buy. Dumb, right? I wish you could tell me how to get past that fear. You seemed to when you stood up for me that time. Since you can't, I'm left with figuring it out myself. At this rate, I'll die of old age first. I may be stuck this way for the rest of my life."
"On a lighter note, I'm almost completely done exploring Arendelle. Since there doesn't seem to be much new to see lately, I've taken to volunteering myself around the town. Kids seem to get a kick out of telling a princess what to do, and have her actually do it! Yes, I get a kick out of their reaction too. While nobody will actually let me cook since I burned a pot of water (taking out a good portion of a kitchen in the process), at least they will still let me do other things. You'd laugh if you saw me sweeping a hall, since the pit I call a bedroom is legendary. Because I stay out of the castle so much, it doesn't get properly cleaned. The chambermaids won't even go in except to change bed sheets! They said something about having to beat my dirty clothes into submission before they could be picked up. I think they exaggerated."
"Well, I guess I've put it off as long as I can for today. I need to get back to the castle before it gets too dark. Too bad it gets dark so early because of all the nearby mountains. I'll come back soon, I promise. Take care, Hazel!"
As Anna turns, she sees two guards approaching. While she didn't recognize their faces, their livery clearly identified them as from the castle. 'Elsa is so overprotective! I swear I'm going to have to talk to that girl. Maybe she'll listen if I bring a hammer with me, as a prop of course.' As they walked up, she heard one of them call.
"Princess, you shouldn't be out here! It's not safe to be alone!" Immediately, the other guard started to survey the area for trouble.
"Nonsense! What could possibly happen with Arendelle's finest around to protect the peace?"
"All clear," reported the second guard, returning from his survey.
With a nod, the first guard walks right up to Anna. "Princess, we must insist you come back with us. We are under orders to escort you back."
"Very well, then. I still say Elsa is overreacting to rumors," replied Anna.
Anna turns to walk back to the castle following the first guard, the second guard following at the back. Suddenly, a cloth bag coated on the inside with vile smelling goo is pulled over her head. As she opens her mouth to call out, a fist hammers into her cheek through the bag. By the time Anna is able to recover from the blow, her head is spinning due to the heady odor of the sack. Spots begin to appear in front of her eyes, and she staggers before falling to the ground. The last thing she hears is the first guard talking as though from far away.
"Too bad Elsa didn't send us. What the hell took you so long to get the bag over her head anyway?"
After that, darkness reigns.