"Elsa?" Anna whispered as she knelt beside her sister's sleeping form - When she got no response, she tried again; only a little louder.
"Elsa?" Still nothing.
"Elsa!" Her sister swatted away the invisible breath that tickled her face, but she still hadn't opened her eyes.
Anna stood up; folded her arms and frowned at the woman in bed. "She's a frustratingly heavy sleeper." She mumbled, and then proceeded to use her candle to look around Elsa's bedroom.
This was only the second time she'd been in here for well over a decade. It was somewhat bare. There was a dresser with candlesticks, and perfume on top and a drab looking wardrobe; she tiptoed over to the portrait of their parents on the wall, and held the candle up. "I love you, and I miss you." She whispered sadly. "But, why did you let her hide? If she'd have just been allowed to control her power, things would've been so different. Look how it all ended." Anna lowered the candle and bent her head. "But at least I have her back now." She sighed and slowly wandered over to the door. The flickering light caught a pattern in the wall that she hadn't noticed the night before; and she leaned in closer. "What in the –" Faded lines emanated from a spot in the middle of the door.
"I wanted to come play."
Anna jumped and spun around at her sister's voice; almost sending the candle flying. "What?" She asked inching nearer to her sister.
"I wanted to come out and play with you." Elsa said as she sat up. "But the thought of hurting you again, just made me…" She held out her hand, and a few shards of ice exploded near the window. "I'd sit there on the floor, waiting to hear your footsteps. Even though I couldn't risk being around you, it still made my day when you knocked."
"But… But you didn't even acknowledge me, Elsa!" Anna's voice cracked.
"I'm sorry." Her sister put her face in her hands, and small flakes of snow began to fall.
Anna hurriedly placed the candlestick on the bedside table, and climbed on the bed. "Elsa! I didn't mean to upset you. Please!" She wrapped her arms awkwardly around her sister.
"It's going to take so much for you to trust me again, isn't it?" Elsa asked, leaning into the embrace. "Not that I'm not willing to work hard to regain it. I just need to know that you at least think there's a chance you can trust me again. To forgive me."
"Don't be silly. Of course I will. I do now! I understand why you did it, and there's nothing to forgive."
The snowflakes stopped, and Elsa pulled away; just enough to look her sister in the eye. "Yes there is. But I appreciate you saying otherwise."
"We'll be like we were before." Anna reassured. "But better!"
"Better is good." Her sister nodded. "I can't wait to hear everything I missed." Elsa said with a smile as she manoeuvred herself down the bed; pulling the blanket up so that Anna could lay with her, face to face.
"Hey, guess what?" The Princess asked, as she wriggled to get comfortable. "I can read now!"
Elsa laughed; covering her mouth. "I should hope so."
"Did Mama and Papa tell you I broke my leg?" She asked changing the subject abruptly. There really was a lot to catch up on.
"What?" Elsa's eyes widened. "No! How?"
"Well, it's a funny story."
"Funny ha-ha, or funny peculiar?"
"Um, that depends." Anna shrugged and gave her sister a wide grin. "So, there I was one day, sliding up and down the ballroom with rags tied to my feet-"
"So funny ha-ha then." Elsa smirked knowingly.
"I can tell you right now, I was not laughing! I probably shouldn't have tried dancing with a suit of armour, it gets you into all sorts of trouble."
"I can imagine."
"Have you ever broken anything?" Anna only meant in relation to bones, but the brief moment of cold in the room, and the flash of sadness across her sister's face - made her realize that Elsa felt guilty.
"Apart from the hearts of the people I love?"
"Don't say that Els; Mine's practically mended." The frown on her sister's face made her think she should've said that it had mended entirely. It would've been a lie, but only a white one.
Elsa moved forward so that their foreheads touched. "That's something I'll keep working on then. I can't have you without a mended heart."
Anna cupped her sister's face and brushed a kiss against the corner of her mouth. "I'll look forward to it." She whispered.
There were several moments of silence. And Anna thought maybe Elsa didn't want to talk anymore, but then the older woman asked, "Did Kristoff like his sled?"
"Oh, yes. He was very happy." Anna nodded. "He was a little dubious of the whole Ice Master and Deliverer thing though. But, at the same time, didn't turn down the position."
"He seems like a good man." Elsa said without much enthusiasm.
"He is." Anna agreed. She wondered if she should mention the kiss she and Kristoff had shared. However, something made her decide to keep it to herself for now. "Everyone seemed to have fun earlier. You know, when you did your magic thing. I had fun. I think I need to practice my skating though."
"We've got plenty of time." Elsa said softly. "And I don't mind holding you until you're ready to do it on your own."
"That might take a very long time." Anna quirked a brow. "It might take forever!"
She felt a rush of warmth when her sister looked straight into her eyes, and smiled. "Then I'll never let you go."
A nervous giggle escape her lips. "Okay then."
"Oh, what did you need?" Her sister asked.
"I'm sorry?"
"Were you cold again? Was that why you came in here?"
"Yes." Anna lied.
"Okay." Elsa replied; her eyelids closing slowly.
Anna wondered if she really believed it. Or if her sister just didn't mind. Either way, she was where she wanted to be. "Els?"
"Mm hmm?"
"Could we have chocolate cake tomorrow?"
Elsa snorted a laugh
"That wasn't very Queen-like."
"Shut up, and go to sleep."
"Yes, your highness."
Anna watched as Elsa fell asleep, and she smiled. Things were going back to the way they were. But much, much better.
