Notes: As of now, I forsee no pairing with Elsa involved (but I also started writing this fic yesterday at midnight, so a lot is up to change). There might be KrisAnna in the future, but it will not be the central focus of the story. I plan to put nothing of overtly sexual nature into the fic. If I do, I will put in a warning before that chapter. There will be mentions and depictions of child abuse. The story will loosely follow the canon.

Enjoy the ride.

Chapter 1

Contrite

Between bites of peas and brussels sprouts (eww), Anna would sneak peeks across the table, hoping that a gaze would finally meet her own. Of course, each time would be to no avail. Elsa would be looking down at her own plate, half-heartedly pushing around whatever was in front of her. In fact, the few times Anna saw Elsa looking at something else, Elsa would be looking to the head of the table. Her glances were always short and nervous, as if Elsa was afraid of looking at her own father.

Anna didn't understand why Elsa wouldn't giggle with her at the dinner table anymore, why she would no longer point out something funny about a servant's pants or the cross-eyed gaze of the mounted moose head over the fireplace. In fact, Anna didn't understand why dinner was the only time she would see Elsa at all. No longer would Elsa and Anna ask to be excused at the same time, and run off laughing into Elsa's room to play with dolls or to read stories. Now, Elsa would stand up after eating barely half of her dinner, ask to be excused in a low voice, and quietly but quickly shut herself in her bedroom. It was a sudden change in routine, one that had lasted for a week, and then a month, and then an entire year! Anna hoped that this wouldn't last forever and ever. Just a few days ago, when Anna had said, "Happy birthday!" to her sister as she left the dining hall, Elsa hadn't even looked back, mumbling a "Thanks." that could be barely heard.

Tonight, Anna noticed another change in the routine. Elsa had seemed even tenser than usual, and her request to be excused even quieter. And after she had left, Mother and Father did not continue their awkward table-chat. They fell into a cold silence made no warmer by the crackling of the fireplace. Anna almost was able to resist the urge to break the tension, but she couldn't help herself.

"Why is Elsa so weird today? Or weirder than normal, I guess."

Mother shot Father a sharp look, the kind she gave her daughters when they had done something really bad. Father did not acknowledge the glare, but looked at Anna instead. In a kind voice he said, "Don't you worry about it, Anna. Why don't you go to your room and ask Gerda to read you a story?"

Anna wanted to protest, saying that Gerda had read her stories after dinner for a whole year, and that she wanted Elsa to read her stories instead! But even though she was young, she could notice the slight quiver in Father's tone. Anna obediently stood up and left the dining hall. But before she went through the door, she looked back, and saw her father exit in the opposite direction, towards Elsa's room.

"Elsa, please let your father in."

There was no reply. Adgar sighed. This time, he injected more sternness into his voice.

"Young lady, open your door. I have to talk with you. Now."

He heard the click of the lock opening, but the door remained shut. Adgar opened the door, trying to ignore how cold the doorknob felt to the touch.

Elsa was sitting on her bed, a book opened on her lap. From here, Adgar could tell that one of the pages was blank, and that the other had only a few, large words printed in the center. Elsa looked neither at the book, nor at him, rather opting to stare at the fascinating pattern of the thick carpet.

Adgar sat down next to her, and wrapped his arm around Elsa's shoulders. He felt her little body stiffen at his touch, but Elsa's eyes remained glued on the floor.

"Elsa, you know your mother and I love you very much."

She said nothing.

"I understand why you were so…"

Adgar strained for the word.

"...Uncomfortable at dinner today. You might think that I hate you, or that I don't love you anymore. But you must understand that this is all for your sake. For your sake and Anna's. You must understand."

He could feel Elsa squirm a bit under his arm.

"We must try everything, Elsa. The faster we can win over your...condition, the faster we can return to the way things used to be. You must understand."

He stood up from the bed, and instead kneeled in front of Elsa. She found that she could no longer escape looking at him by just looking down, so she turned her head to the side. He reached out, almost clasping her hand, but his arms decided they would be better off awkwardly hanging off to the side.

Sometimes, it is easier to address an army of thousands than your own daughter.

"Sometimes, Elsa, we have to go through things we don't like. Sometimes, it hurts." He rubbed his hand in circles on his chest. "It hurts for me as well, Elsa, it hurts so much. It hurts your mother as well."

It already hurt Anna. Adgar quickly shook off the thought.

"But I believe it will make you stronger. It's all part of growing up, you see. I'm afraid that you have it harder than other children. But I know that you are also stronger than most other children, you're my strong little girl. I know that we will make it through this together, as a family."

Elsa had finally returned his gaze. Adgar could still see the betrayal in his daughter's eyes, but it was not as damning as before. He made himself hold her by the hand, not pulling away this time. He felt Elsa resist, for a moment, but then she surrendered, and her hand fell limp.

"I'm so sorry that I had… that you have to go through this. But see, you're getting better already! I really think you're getting better. Oh Elsa, please remember that I'll always love you."

The king pulled Elsa into a tight embrace. He immediately regretted it though, as he felt the girl wince at the contact. Adgar let go, stood up, and fell back, not knowing what to do or what to say.

"I'm so...I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry. Let me call Gerda, I'm sure she's in Anna's room…" He hurriedly exited. This time, he was the one not able to take his eyes off the carpet.

The door shut.

As soon as Elsa could no longer hear his footsteps, she locked the door. The anxiety within her unfurled like a sharp spring lodged in the cavity of her chest, and a rush of frost overcame the entire room. It had taken all the willpower she could accrue in the ten years of her being to stop the ice from unleashing itself when her father was here, and letting it go brought a dizzying, guilty relief. Her body fell limp on the bed, and she started to cry into her pillow, something she hadn't done since the night when everything had…

The memory did nothing but make her cry harder, but eventually, the exertion of the entire day won over, and she fell into a dreamless sleep. She would not stir when Gerda walked in a few minutes later. Deep into the night, she would not stir when Anna knocked at her door and asked why her big sister was crying.

I'm relatively new to this fandom, and while reading the works of others, I found that no one had depicted what I wanted to see: a non-ridiculous fic where Elsa's parents had been even more aggressive in their attempt to suppress her powers. I didn't want completely evil parents or sheer pain and gore for the sake of it. I wanted to expand upon the relationships within a loving family, bonding slowly twisted into bondage. Hopefully, I will be able to achieve these goals, and hopefully, you'll be able to enjoy what I put to paper.

Thanks for reading.