Author Note:
Hello, again! As you can see, I have a new story for you, this one taking off where "The Love of a Monster" ended. And, because of that, I once again have to warn you about potential emotional provocation. This one does get a little depressing, as you will probably realize by the end of this chapter. Just a little warning.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and thank you for reading.
Spring transitioned into summer in Arendelle. Princess Elsa turned eighteen during that time. It was a quiet ceremony, as they always had been in the past, although there was something different – and better – about this particular milestone: this time, she could see Anna. Merely being able to see her sister gave her hope that maybe this year of her life would not be spent in total misery, and that was the greatest gift she received.
The sisters saw more of each other since Elsa opened up after that night in the spring. Granted, it was not as much as anyone really wanted, but it was something. Elsa was still, for the most part, secluded in her room. But now, Anna seemed to understand that she needed her privacy and did not bother her at her door anymore. They saw each other at the meals Elsa felt comfortable going to. Anna was much more subdued during these encounters, mainly out of fear that if she acted too much like her crazy self, it would scare her timid older sister off.
Elsa no longer felt the need to run and hide whenever she heard her sibling coming in the halls. Whenever they did meet, they would briefly talk to each other, neither one bothered by the quickness of their visits – just grateful for being able to be in the other's company after ten years of separation.
The King and Queen would often witness these encounters, or hear about them from the butler, Kai, or the maid, Gerda. While they were happy that their daughters were talking again, they were both worried and saddened as well. Worried, because despite her best efforts, Elsa was still having difficulty with containing her powers, which seemed to be growing ever stronger each day. And saddened, because even though they were speaking again, Elsa and Anna seemed like strangers to each other. After so many years spent apart, they could not relate anymore, thus their conversations usually only consisted of topics about the weather, lessons or outfit choices.
They were worried about their eldest for other reasons, as well. Though she never fell as far as she did that one night, there were times when she would lock herself in her room for hours with no good explanation why, and it was those times that had her parents terrified. She seemed to be getting better, but that made any mishap that much worse. They trusted her word that it would not happen again, but they were painfully aware of the emotional damage she had suffered, and that she might end up powerless again if the pain ever gets bad enough.
When fall descended upon the kingdom, the King and Queen of Arendelle received an invitation from another kingdom across the sea. Normally, they would politely decline the request as they had done for years, now. But this particular invitation was special: it was from Corona, the land to the south where Adgar's sister had been married to the King. It was also where the princess of the kingdom had been stolen as a baby, and lost for eighteen years. Adgar and Idun had actually just heard word recently that their niece had returned after a rather interesting adventure. Now, that same princess was getting married to the man who rescued her. Adgar knew he could not miss this…he owed it to his sister.
They approached Elsa about it first. She was hesitant about both of them leaving for a few weeks, as she had never been that alone before. They suggested that she go with them, as it would be a good opportunity to meet people she would eventually have to deal with as Queen. She immediately shot the idea down, citing her own reasons regarding the bad idea of traveling in a small, confined space with fifty other people in potentially frightening circumstances.
Anna was also surprisingly hard to convince. She, too, was worried about both of them leaving. When asked if she wanted to go with them, she replied, "Is Elsa going?"
Her parents looked at each other. "No, Sweetheart," Idun explained gently, "Elsa has chosen to stay here to continue her studies."
"Then I'm staying, too," Anna stated firmly.
"You can come if you want, Anna…" Adgar began slowly.
"No! I…I mean, no, thank you," Anna answered quickly, while shuffling nervously back and forth, "But… I don't want Elsa to be alone. I'll keep her company."
Adgar smiled warmly. "Alright, we understand," he told her softly.
As the days drew closer to their departure, they noticed that Elsa was becoming more and more distant yet again. What they did not realize was that their eldest daughter was beginning to experience darker and more traumatizing nightmares as the nights passed. But unlike her usual terror-filled dreams, which were always related to her most scarring childhood memory, these visions were more distorted and vague…and as a result, they were putting her more on edge, thus her powers were more sporadic.
Then the vagueness was dropped completely.
Elsa could not see where she was, at first. All she knew was that it was dark and cold… Wait, she could feel the cold? She never could before…
Suddenly, lightning shattered the darkness and thunder immediately followed. She was made painfully aware of where she was: she was on a ship. The wind howled, the rain was driving, and the surf was brutally cold. The waves tossed the ship back and forth as if it were merely a toy for the gods. The crew of the ship scrambled to tie up the sails and secure the loose cargo, all the while dodging the waves that climbed over the side to snatch away unsuspecting victims.
"Your majesties! Please, return to the cabins!"
That voice made her spin around to see her mother and father out on the deck, helping in whatever way they could.
"Sorry, Captain," her father responded, "But we're not hiding when people need our help! They sea knows no difference between royalty and commoner, so if we want a chance of survival, our positions do not matter!"
Elsa felt pride for her brave father and mother rise in her chest, until she realized that those words applied to her, too. She noticed a man about to be swept overboard, just feet away from her, so she tore off her gloves and aimed her hands at the wave. She called for a massive gust of wind to come and push the wave back…but nothing happened. "What?" she exclaimed, seconds before the wave came and claimed the man, "No!"
She looked down at her hands and tried in vain to conjure anything, but for the first time, the ice did not come. Perhaps during the only moment she wanted her powers since she was little, they had abandoned her. This would explain why she felt cold…
"Incoming! Everyone brace yourselves!"
She pulled her eyes off of her trembling hands to look up at a literal wall of water. The massive swell extended twenty feet over the tip of the tallest mast, and fifty on either side. Lightning illuminated it for a brief second, turning it a sickly, otherworldly green-blue before it was once again black as night.
"Adgar!" Idun cried, as she raced into her husband's arms.
"It's ok," he said as he stared up into the abyss, "I've got you."
"I…I love you," she stammered.
Elsa shook her head violently. "No," she muttered, her voice growing louder until it was a scream, "No, no! Mama! Papa!"
She furiously searched her body, trying desperately to summon any sort of magic that might be able to save them. But her powers refused to listen, and remained unresponsive as tons of freezing water crashed down upon the ship.
Wood splintered. Ropes snapped. The ship was torn to pieces. The force of the water crushed everything and everyone it touched. If that was not enough to kill, the bitter cold finished the job.
