Early 1800's
Jack
I felt it. I'd had my abilities for a good many years now, enough to know when something was different. For some reason, the Moon only knows, I had a power over cold, and ice and snow. I enjoyed the frost the most. Its rebellious way of never quite doing what I expected, was frustrating, yet thrilling. I had learned to work it well. Well enough to know the difference between my working, and another's. That's what drew me – that another worked the elements. Perhaps, just perhaps, they would know why we had the talent.
I searched the world – it did not take long. The wind travels swiftly. I found myself in the kingdom of Arendelle. Snow bound in the middle of Summer. Ah! I found the palace in uproar, and people scurrying around like ants. They did not interest me, for my wind had found what I sought. From the palace I could feel it drawing through me. It was very odd, feeling another draw the power I thought of as my own. I chased my wind, high into the hills, then up to the great peaks of the mountains. Then I saw it. An ice palace. It was beautiful. Delicate. And girly. I felt my stomach wobble slightly; I had never ever considered that the other ice wielder might be a girl.
I hesitated. I had no idea what to do. I floated up to the balcony looking for a way to sneak in. I was about to land when the doors opened. I just hung there in mid air. There she stood. The most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I forgot what I wanted to say. I forgot everything. She was welcome to the ice and snow. I did not feel myself land, but I must have as I know I was standing when she looked at me. Those eyes. The way she had sculpted her dress out of ice. She felt the cold as little as I did. She was prettier than the palace she had built. Then she turned away. Had she seen me? No. I knew she had not. I was smitten, but she would never know I existed. I let the wind take me, and drifted.
I cannot be sad for long. For one it is dull. I knew how to distract myself. I found people. We played, and chased. I drifted on. It was in this semi-distracted state that I found the trolls. People cannot see me. Trolls can. These were rock trolls: clannish, wise and kindly. They gave me hot soup to eat – it was cold by the second spoonful. They gave me advice – my destiny would find me, not I, it. I knew something of creatures that could see me. Their advice was not for people, and it was not for me. It would work for them. I knew that I would have to find my own destiny, or make it. I left the frozen soup beside where I had sat. I did not have the heart to ask about the girl. Some things would just hurt too much.
Elsa
I became queen. I had been dreading it. The ceremony, which I expected to fail, went smoothly. Just when I thought it was going to be well, I panicked and froze the kingdom. I fled to protect them. For a moment, I stood alone. In the quiet atop the mountain. I had my own place, alone. Safe from others. I never felt the cold. I never had. I stood in the brisk breeze that blew up suddenly from the valley below and marvelled. It was as if the snow and ice had taken on the form of a person. But before I could make them out, I turned away. No people. I could have no people around me. People would only get hurt because of me.
I was not queen of my mountain peak for long. They found me. My persistent sister among them. I panicked when they tried to reclaim me, or capture or kill me. There were many attackers. My sister was the fiercest. Again, I hurt her the worst. She never knows how to hold back. I have been trying so hard to protect her. Yet she invades all my attempts. Why had I been born with this talent, and she without?
Though I learned now, how to control it. And she taught it to me. Who would have considered love to be the key? It warmed my heart and melted hers. I am queen of this kingdom, yet she is the one whose child will inherit the throne. I am well regarded by my subjects, but I have not lost my wariness of people. I cannot allow any so close. My sister manages admirably, and it warms my heart to see her make calf eyes at her beau. At least she has taken that burden from me.
Mid 1800's
Jack
I visited the palace every ten years. Each time, Elsa is calm, and just as beautiful. I went to ask the trolls about it. They are love experts they tell me. I cannot see Elsa as anything else other than the beauty she is because I am in love. I know I am not in love; it makes your brains stupid. I've been about, I know what it does. But what else could explain the fact that she looks just the same every time I visit? I have several people I visit; it helps me keep track of the years. All the others are in their fifties. Elsa still looks young. I wonder if those trolls put some glamour over my eyes.
To distract myself I tried to get into Father Christmas's stronghold. The Yeti's are scary. You do not want an angry Yeti after you. Certainly not if he happens to have several snow globes with him. The wind and I only just escaped. They don't freeze. I keep forgetting that they are made for ice and snow. Needless to say, I never got into the stronghold. Spied in at a few windows, though. Now I really want to get in.
The next time I went to visit, Elsa was not there. Her sister was regent and her nephew was king. I went to find the trolls. I was not in any mood to drift around to find out what had happened to her by happenchance. They were their exuberant selves, singing and obtuse. They were worse than the people who cannot see me. They saw me and did not seem to understand it was important they tell me about Elsa. For love experts they sure know nothing of love. They told me another thing that was useless: that I would find comfort in the service of others. I who cannot be seen by others. I was furious and frustrated. Which is what I should have expected going to trolls for advice.
Elsa
I knew the stories from old. Of the enchantresses who lived alone, and conjured their magic to help the world. I now knew why they lived alone. My sister is only a few years younger than I. It took fifty years, but it was becoming apparent that I had not aged as much as she. It hurt when she accused me of using magic to keep myself young. It frustrated me that I knew so little of how to use the magic. Over the years, I had collected stories of magic, and how mostly it was inherited. But sometimes it just manifested without a source. I had a purpose, yet no one could tell me what it was. All the stories spoke of dark and terrifying outcomes.
I consulted my sisters family-in-law. It was peculiar that I could now claim kinship with rock trolls. They were kindly, bemusing and told me something peculiar. The festive heart of winter would one day claim my heart. I took their advice seriously, as I always did. I helped with the winter festivals, and used my magic for the good of the people. The towns folk grew fond of me, even if they did not welcome me as warmly as they did my sister and her family. But years passed. And the more I used magic, the less time seemed to touch me. It was when I realised my sister's hair was white with age, that I knew time was not going to touch me. I had to leave before there were mutterings against the throne. We were a prosperous nation, and I would not have a coup-de-etat remove my family. I gracefully abdicated, claiming health as my reason. I went to stay with the trolls for a while.