Free to Feel

Hey everyone; another story to share! Not sure if this will get much love, if any really. But please share your thoughts and love.

P.S; yes, I have deleted my old unfinished stories, I'm sorry but I just have no interest in them anymore. I want to start fresh and clear again, it's been a long time since I have felt motivated and ready to wright again. I hope you give this story a chance. I'll be updating every Sunday!

Chapter 1 Melting the Fear

Elsa felt pain in her heart at the thought of her sister forgetting about her magic, she knows how much Anna loves seeing her magic. "Please, there has to be another way" The little girl's lips tremble as she fights back unwanted tears.

"Elsa, things will be better this way" Her father reminds her, but it can't be. Didn't the troll just tell her that fear will be her enemy. How can keeping her locked away, away from her sister, away from her kingdom, be what's best for her?

"Stop!" A voice causes the royal family to jump in surprise. Even the trolls where taken aback by the young child stepping out from the bushes and the darkness. "How can you be so cruel?" The child marches right up to the royal family and looks dead straight in the eyes of the king. She has her little hands placed on her hips, waiting impatiently for his answer.

The king blinks, stunned by the stranger's sudden appearance. "Pardon me?" He frowns.

The child huffs and shakes her head, causing the midnight blue (almost black) and shoulder length, to move with her. Her sharp green eyes continue to gaze into his own, un-phased by the fact she is speaking with a king, while she is just but an orphan girl who happened to be on the hunt for food when she heard commotion going on about and came to investigate. "Locking her up from all to see? Didn't this troll just say that fear would be her undoing? You're only going to cause her to fear her powers even more" The child actually rolls her eyes. "Look, I don't know much about family, but aren't you supposed to be there for each other, no matter what? Make your children feel proud of who they are, not ashamed?" She narrows her eyes at the father, who quickly becomes defensive.

"What else would you have us do then girl? We love Elsa, no matter what. But she nearly just killed her own sister!" He howls and Elsa whimpers as she hides herself behind her mother, fighting back tears.

The child sighs, she looks over the obviously frighten girl and steps closer. "Hi" She holds out her hand, showing off a big smile. "My name is Esmeray, but you can call me Esme for short. I know you're scared now, but you shouldn't be"

Elsa frowns at the strange girl as she gazes at the small hand, unsure if she should shake the offered hand, instead she clings to her mother's leg. Esme sighs. "I don't know what magic you have, but you should feel proud, not scared"

Elsa shakes her head. "You heard papa. I nearly killed my own sister because of this magic. I wish I was born normal, I don't want to be different. I just want to be able to play with my sister"

Esme looks over at the father. "I think you should just let the sisters keep playing"

King Agnarr is beside himself. "Did you not just hear what I said? If we don't get Elsa under control, the next time she might actually kill Anna" This causes Elsa to gasp and choke back on a tear. She can't lose Anna.

Esme shakes her head. "Locking her away will only cause her more fear as time goes on. Take it from someone who knows a thing or two about loneliness, it'll eat you alive from the inside. Have the sisters keep playing, I think I can be of some help for Elsa. I'm…." Esme sighs, she can't remember the last time she's shared this secrete about herself. "I have magic too"

Elsa's eyes widen, and she suddenly becomes very interested in the strange girl, gone is her fear as she is now overcome with curiosity. "You have magic?"

"What kind of magic, dear?" The queen finally speaks, curiosity also swimming inside her.

Esme shakes her head. "You first" She points to the princess. "Use your magic now; I promise, you won't lose control"

Elsa frowns. "I, I shouldn't. Anna almost…."

"But she didn't. I don't think you would truly hurt your sister. I promise, you won't lose control, I just need to see what it is you can do, just a little magic is fine"

Elsa looks over to her parents for confirmation. They glance at each other, then back at the girl, uncertain of where she was going with this. Finally, the king sighs. "Go ahead Elsa, only for a moment" The king warns gently.

Elsa nods, she holds up her hands just inches away from each other and forms a snowflake for the girl. She then shoots her arms up towards the sky and a burst of snow falls-down on the royal family, trolls, and the orphan girl from the small snowflake. Esme's eyes widen in awe, a gleeful smile stretching to her cheeks. "Wow, that's amazing!" Esme spreads her arms out. Despite herself, a small smile, barely noticeable, graces Elsa's lips. She loved Esme's reaction to her magic, it was just like Anna's. Then sadness fills her once again at the thought of never sharing her magic with her sister again, never seeing the joy light up in her eyes as they played together.

"Alright, now share us your magic?" The king orders.

Esme grins. "I already did" She nods over towards Elsa. "I call it Meta-empath" She explains.

"Meta-what?" the queens responds.

She looks over to the mother. "Meta-empath ma'am. Basically, I can control emotions of those around me, cause them to feel fear, love, anger, calmness, etc. It takes a lot of energy though to try and control more than one person's emotions, so you don't need to worry. Right now, I'm just focusing on Elsa and keeping her calm" Esme explains, she gives Elsa a gentle smile.

Elsa gives a wary gaze. "So, what I am feeling right now aren't even my own emotions? How can I learn to control my magic if you're the one controlling me?"

Esme shakes her head. "I'm only working as a guide really. The emotions you feel are your own, and eventually you wouldn't need my help. You just need a guide to prove that you can control your fear and emotions. Call me a barrier if you wish" Esme shrugs her shoulders. "I'm just guarding you from the fear that can become overwhelming to someone who has so much of it. Once you have a more controlling of that fear inside you on your own, you won't need my guidance anymore. I know it's kind of hard to explain, I'm still learning about it as I grow too. Didn't really have anyone to teach me about it"

"Esme, is it?"

Esme looks over to Pabbie the troll and nods, though she gives him a wary glance. Something about these trolls' troubled her, she feels a mistrusting nature about them.

"Where you born or cursed with this magic?"

"Born, and I take kindly that you not try and erase it from my head; thanks" she replies bitterly.

"I only did what was necessary to save the young princess Anna" He responds calmly.

"And we thank you" The king remarks. "But, maybe this girl is right. Maybe I am thinking too brashly" He sighs tiredly.

Esme offers a small smile. "King or not; in the end, you're just a worried father. And it's not like there is a guide out there on how to raise a magical child"

The queen smiles. "How old are you dear, you seem so wise for someone so young"

"I'm 12 ma'am"

"Four years older than me" Elsa points out, though she is surprised by the age. The girl before her doesn't look like an average size 12-year-old. She was just around two inches taller than Elsa, she looked to be almost malnourished. Her clothes were clearly over used as the dark pants were torn and dirty, her traveling black boots had some holes and tears in them, and her dark brown tunic also had some tears, the only real protection she had left was her dark green (almost black) cloak. Her hood currently down, hanging behind her hair.

Esme nods. "I just turned twelve recently, actually"

"Where are your parents?" The king questions carefully as he kneels to her level. Hoping he sounded more approachable than moments ago when he had allowed his anger and frustration to be taken out on such a small girl.

The child shakes her head and looks down at the ground. "I'm an orphan, have been since I was about six" she explains.

Sadness overwhelms queen Iduna, she could not imagine either of her daughters being left alone in the world to fend for themselves. "Have you been alone ever since?"

Esme sighs as she looks up at the royal family, seeing how the mother cuddles her sleeping child closer to her almost makes Esme feel envious of the girl and how her protective arm comforts the clinging Elsa at her leg once more. She is careful though, she doesn't allow her jealous feelings to grow more than a spark; only tragedy strikes when she loses control of her feelings. "It is better I am alone ma'am" She replies politely and softly. "Before; I wasn't always in control of my magic. Emotions of those around would grow and things could become chaotic when people have no control of their emotions"

"But, you're in control of your magic now. Do you think you could help Elsa with hers?"

"Your majesty, do you think this be wise?" Pabbie questions. "What if she increases Elsa's fear?"

"I'll be honest, there are sometimes when I feel my emotions aren't in check. That's when I like to isolate myself. But majority of the time, I have gotten better, after years of practice. I don't like being in crowded areas though, too many emotions to feel can be overbearing" She explains in great-detail. Elsa is fascinated that there is someone out there like her, maybe with different magic, but finally someone else who understands what it's like to not be in control of their own actions. She wants to know more about this mysterious girl.

Finding some courage, she steps closer to her father and Esme. "Can you help me control my magic? I don't want to be scared of it and I want to be allowed to keep playing with my sister. She loves my magic so much, I want her to be proud of a strong big sister, not someone who is scared to even be near her" Elsa gazes at Esme with pleading blue eyes.

"Two magical children in the kingdom could be dangerous" Pabbie tries to warn the king. "I foresee that Esme's powers could be the cause of war, should emotions of the people around her form into chaos"

Esme glares at the troll as he hits a sore spot with her and practically barks at Pabbie. "I have more control over my powers than you think, troll. I would not allow myself to be the cause of war and destruction, I would leave long before should I feel my control slipping, isolation has always helped me regain my control even during my worst days"

"The child is fine, Pabbie. But the kingdom of Arendelle thanks you for your concern and my wife and I think you for saving our Anna. But I don't want my daughter to allow the fear to be her undoing as you say it could. I think accepting her magic and having someone like Esme near her would be Elsa's best interest"

Elsa's eyes widen, a gleam of hope fills her eyes. "Do you mean it papa? I can still share my magic with Anna?"

He nods and smiles. "I am sorry to think that locking you away would be best; I allowed fear to overcome me. If Esme agrees to help, I think you will still be safe with Anna" The king looks over at Esme once again. "So; Esme. What do you say, will you come live in the castle with me and my family and train Elsa to control her magic? Our family would be in your dept"

Esme's eyes go wide as saucers. He couldn't be serious, to live in a castle! "But, I'm just an orphan" she quickly shakes her head, suddenly taken aback. Elsa can't help but finally truly smile at the girl's surprised reaction. "I…." She is at a loss for words.

"We would be honored to have you live with us Esme; especially if you can help Elsa with her magic. We honestly don't know what else to do, we just want Elsa to be happy" The mother replies.

"Umm, are you sure. I'm just an orphan, I really don't belong in a castle" Esme looks down in shame, sure she would like to help Elsa, but to live with this royal family in a castle! She isn't worthy. Not after everything she has caused in her past, if they knew the truth, they would want her far from their daughter, even if she does have more control over her abilities now, it doesn't change the past.

She is surprised when she feels a cool hand grab her own and looks up to see gentle calm stunning blue eyes. "I think you belong with me, at my side. I can't learn to control this magic on my own, please say you'll come with us?" The princess looks at her with hopeful eyes, gone is the scared girl and Esme isn't even using her abilities at the moment.

Esme blinks, she was getting lost in those eyes and needed to remind herself that the princess was waiting for her to answer. "Alright; if you want me too, I'll come. But just remember…" She looks over to the king and queen. "I can't do crowds, not for more than an hour at most, and that's on a good day. If I feel myself losing control, lock me up in a room if you must. I will always be honest if I feel my control slipping, so no matter what, please lock me away for at least twenty-four hours if I tell you to"

Elsa frowns as she hears the slight bit of fear and concern in the older girl's voice, the king wears a matching frown as his daughter. "If that is what you wish, we will agree to those terms, no matter what" He nods and holds his hand out to make the honored shake of a promise that is not to be broken. While missing Elsa's cool touch, she finds comfort in the strong hand that she shakes in agreement with the king.

Once the seriousness passes; Esme can't help but smirk as she pulls her hand away. "So, being a big castle in all. Does this mean I get my own room?"

To Be Continued!