"Born with the powers, or cursed?" The troll had asked her.
"Born." Her father had replied in her stead.
But for a long time, Elsa did not think there was a difference.
A year had passed since Anna had sacrificed herself for her, saved herself in the process and shown Elsa just how to control her powers. A year during which Elsa had ruled Arendell as queen - negotiating trade agreements, resolving disputes between citizens, reestablishing bonds with the scattered nobility, and, of course, practicing with her powers. Not once, in that entire year, had the gates been closed to the public. Not once, until today.
The Queen was sitting on her throne, as per tradition when being addressed by the Royal Guard. A man, dressed in the forest-green uniform, was kneeling at the foot of the steps. Elsa gestured for him to rise and approach her, which he scrambled to do.
"Major Daznick, do you mind explaining to me why the gates have been shut." Elsa ground out. It was not a request and her ire must have shown on her face because the soldier in front of her seemed to shrink before her eyes.
"Yes ma'am - Your Highness - Queen," the Captain of her castle guard fumbled for the right title. "T-the General ordered it, h-he believed you to be in danger. It was all part of the last letter he sent by bird." Elsa snapped her fingers and held out her palm in the universal sign of give-that to-me-now. Promptly, a parchment was thrust into her waiting hands. As she read over the sheet, her eyes widened and her hands clenched, wrinkling the paper.
"How long ago was this received?" Elsa whispered
"About twelve hours before we closed off the castle. We had to clear the grounds and go through all of the administrative hubbub, your highness."
"And I am just reading this now?" Oh, heads were going to roll for this mishap. Well, the would have if she had been that type of ruler. As it was, it was about to rain pink slips on the incompetent individuals that were still walking through her halls. "What other information has the General sent?" She asked, surely a message like this would've received some type of follow-up, some additional information that her military forces had not been able to include in an urgent send-off.
"Er, that is the thing Your Majesty… Nothing else has reached us. We have sent out scouts to check the status of the force that sent this notice, but if what they say is true than we cannot hold out to much hope of contact… or recovery… of the General and his men." Major Daznick spoke, his face downcast and his shoulders heavy. Elsa sat back in her chair, stunned. What could she say in this situation? If this report was accurate, Arendell had probably just lost a thousand young men in one fell swoop - nearly a third of its entire army - and might very well lose just as many from its outlying villages.
"Major Daznick, you and your men are dismissed. Defend our castle, but do not alert the townspeople just yet." With hurried bows, the Royal Guards left the room. Elsa turned to one of her attendees. "Archibald, find my sister quickly. Tell her to meet me in the family library." The old and balding man left just as quickly as the men, but with a much more dignified gait. Distracted and not just a bit dazed by the terrible news she had received, Elsa stood shakily from her chair and walked into her office, a small room located directly behind her throne. There was something she had to grab before meeting her sister.