Love Will Thaw a Frozen Heart
I saw both Frozen and the Snow Queen (the recent Russian one). As I watched them, I couldn't help notice some parallels between the two (aside from the fact they are based on the same story). As usual, the gears in my head began to turn and I came up with this story.
This story takes place after the story of Frozen and will pick up during the middle of Snow Queen's story. I won't spoil too much beyond that though. I'll let the story speak for itself.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Frozen or The Snow Queen, I am merely exploring a possible story.
With that said, let's begin!
The Face
Winter was almost over.
It had been several months after Queen Elsa of Arendelle's powers were revealed. Although a few still feared her command over snow and ice, she had managed to win back the respect and trust of many of the citizens. No longer did she feel like she had to hide or live in terror.
She was finally free.
Free to rule Arendelle with justice and compassion. Free to use and practice her powers. And free to rebuild the bond with her sister, Anna.
Now, with the snow of the season of winter thawing and spring on the way, everyone was gathering at the palace for the annual Spring Equinox Feast. While this holiday was usually conducted in the center of town, the Queen allowed the feast to be taken in the palace this year.
Once everyone had gathered in the Great Hall and was seated at the tables, the Crier walked to the head table and lifted his voice.
"Announcing, Queen Elsa of Arendelle!"
The crowds erupted in thunderous applause as Elsa gracefully walked from the side to the chair in the center of the table and faced the crowd. Although the cold didn't affect her, the Queen still wore the traditional winter robes of the monarchy: which was the same dress as the one she wore at her coronation, only without the gloves.
"Princess Anna of Arendelle!" the Crier continued.
Elsa's sister, Anna, quickly walked from the side and took her place next to the Queen, receiving applause from the people as well. She was wearing a light green dress with bright blue long sleeves and light brown boats. Her strawberry blonde hair was braided up in a bun with a thin red ribbon attached.
The Crier continued to announce the names of those in the Royal Court one by one as they gathered to their places at the Head Table. Once the members were at their seats, all but Elsa sat down.
The Queen cleared her throat and then spoke:
"Citizens of Arendelle, first, I want to thank you for coming to this celebration. This past winter, while it had its blizzards, was also full of warmth and rejoicing. However, like with all the seasons, it is time for the snow and ice to pass on until next year. Now we welcome the warm embrace of spring. Out of frost comes new life once again. Let us now celebrate the coming this new season."
"Do the magic, Queen Elsa!" a little girl happily shouted. "Please do the magic!"
The mother of the child quickly tried to hush her, but the outburst caused many of the other children present soon began pleading and cheering for Elsa to use her magic.
The Queen simply smiled.
"Alright, but just a light flurry."
Elsa then delicately cupped her hands together and created a small snowball that glowed icy blue. She then threw it up to the ceiling in the center of the room. The snowball burst into little snowflakes and a flurry began to shower down on the people. The children's laughter echoed through the Great Hall as they tried to reach for the snowflakes and catch them with their tongues.
"Now, now," Elsa gently chided, "let's remember to be polite."
"Yes, Queen Elsa!" the children seemed to all say in unison.
Even the adults couldn't help but smile at how their Queen handled the wild children.
"With that," Elsa raised her hands, "let the feast begin!"
Immediately, the doors opened and a line of servants entered, each carrying a plate of food. The aroma of cooked vegetables and meats began to fill the room, making everyone even hungrier.
"That was a great speech, Sis." Anna said as her sister sat down. "You really have gotten better with your public speaking skills. Not to mention how you handled those children."
"Thank you." Elsa nodded as the servants placed a plate of food in front of her and Anna. "By the way, I don't think I've seen Kristoff yet. Do you know where he is?"
"Oh, he and Olaf said they would be late." the Princess explained. "They had to make a delivery that's a little further away. Kristoff said they would get here as soon as they could."
"Ah."
The two sisters continued to converse as they ate the meal. Now that their bond had been restored, they talked about almost everything. This feeling of rebuilding the bond Elsa had lost with Anna was part of what enabled her to control her powers even more. It was as if a hole in her heart had been filled.
However, Elsa still didn't feel…complete.
She didn't mention this feeling to Anna, mostly because she didn't want to sound selfish. But also even she couldn't understand why she felt this way. She had her sister back, she was free to rule Arendelle, and she was free to be who she was.
"I have everything I've ever wanted and needed." the Queen often thought to herself. "So why do I feel this way?"
Suddenly, just as Elsa and Anna had gotten onto the topic of which kind of fruit they liked best, one of the serving men approached the Queen and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Your Majesty," he respectfully bowed, "Kristoff has returned. But he's also brought someone with him. He appears to be frozen."
"Wait, Kristoff?" Anna asked, worried.
"No," the man said, "the other person he has brought in."
Elsa worriedly glanced at her sister for a moment before turning back to the servant.
"Show me." She said.
Immediately, Elsa and Anna got up from their places and hastily followed the serving man out to the main entrance. They reached doors just in time to see Kristoff walking into the castle, supporting a man as best as he could.
"Kristoff!" Anna cried.
"Anna!"
"Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine, but this poor guy isn't."
The man was unmistakably covered in snow and was shivering violently. His face was deadly pale, his eyes where shut tightly, and small strains of white hair flipped out from under his hat.
Elsa quickly approached the man and took off his hat. She gasped in horror when she saw his hair was completely white.
"Kristoff, what happened?" she fearfully asked.
"I don't know." Kristoff replied. "Sven, Olaf and I were on our way back from making that delivery when we encountered him collapsed on the road. Since he looked like Anna when she was…"
The iceman paused for a moment, searching for an alternative way to tell the story without bringing up that incident with Anna.
"Anyway" he quickly said, "we took him back to Grandpabbie to see if he could help. He said that this man's heart was frozen."
"What?!" Elsa gasped.
"Grandpabbie also told us that you could help." Kristoff said.
Elsa bit her lip for a moment. She didn't know what she could do for this poor man, but she would be willing to give it a try.
"What do I have to do?"
"He said that since you know the secret to thaw enchanted snow, you could unfreeze his heart."
"Well, I've never done anything like that before." Elsa confessed nervously. "But I'll be willing to give it a try."
"You can do it, Elsa." Anna softly said.
The Queen took a deep breath and placed her hand over the man's chest. She closed her eyes tightly and focused on finding the frozen part of his heart. When she found it, she then forced herself focus on thawing it.
"Focus, Elsa." she said to herself, "Focus."
Both Anna and Kristoff began to smile as the man's hair began to turn back to brown and snow on his cloths started to melt away. Whatever Elsa as doing, it was working.
However, just as Elsa had begun to melt that last shred of ice in this man's heart, something unexpected happened.
"WHO DARES INTERFERE WITH MY POWER!" an angry voice suddenly cried in her ears.
For a brief moment in her mind, Elsa saw an image of what looked like a woman who seemed to be made of ice. Snow and ice whipped all around her in a fury of wind. Her cold glare became even colder as she again shouted to the Queen again.
"WHO ARE YOU?!"
Elsa's eye's snapped open and she jerked back. She tripped on her dress and fell to the floor.
"Elsa!" Everyone shouted.
Anna was immediately at her side, kneeling down and gently shaking her shoulder.
For a moment, Elsa didn't move. She breathed heavily and gripped her chest, trying to calm her own beating heart.
"Elsa!" Anna shook her, sounding scared. "Elsa, what's wrong?! Elsa, answer me!"
But Elsa didn't answer Anna. She couldn't answer her. All she could do was stare straight at the wall in utter terror.
It was defiantly magic that froze that man's heart. But that magic wasn't like Elsa's. It didn't have a feeling of beauty or joy like her power did. It was cold, very cold. It was icy cold and filled with anger, hatred, and fear.
It was so cold that for the first time, Elsa could feel the chill from it.
And that face.
That face wasn't human. And yet… there was something in those eyes. They looked…angry and sad at the same time.
Who was that?
