Well, at least this story managed to get somebody's attention and don't get me wrong, I'm bloody grateful for this; thank you so much for your support, you don't know how much I really appreciate it :) Oh, and to clarify some things, Anna in this story is going to be a little bit OOC but don't worry, she'll find her true self up in the mountains soon enough. Please review, if you would.
Blisters on my hands and I feel the fall...
-Hikikomori; Zola Jesus
"Elsa, please, come out, I-I…I need you," Anna pleaded, resting her head against the wood. Elsa could not hide away from her forever. She had to come out some time.
"Elsie? I'm scared, please." Her voice broke on the last word as she slid down the cool wood, the barrier separating her from the only living family she's got. And from what? Anna thought miserably. What was keeping them apart?
As good as Elsa was at pretending Anna wasn't there, she was never a silent mourner. She could hear her sister's breath hitching, her muffled sobs, as if she were stuffing them, keeping them in with the sleeve of her dress.
The sound cracked deep sorrow in her heart, making the tears burn hot down her face, filling her throat with breathless gasps of pain. Raw, cutting pain.
She wrapped the sleeve of her funeral dress around her mouth to choke in her sobs and watched as her tears stained the fabric the darkest color she had ever seen in her life.
~~O~~O~~
It was accident; it wasn't her fault she found herself in the castle courtyard, dreaming of a different life, a life where there were no more closed doors, no more hidden secrets and no more people that she couldn't speak too.
It wasn't her fault that she had caught herself staring wistfully at the mountains again, wishing that she could be there, that she could compact her pain, throw it to the ground and watch as it flew over this cold kingdom. But it was what it was: only wishful thinking.
Wait, was it?
Anna glanced at the empty courtyard, at the dim castle's lights. She watched as a light flurry of snow distorted the image, making the edges of stone and mortar appear hazy as if she were in a dream. And in a way, she did feel as if she was in a dream. A horrible dream where she was forced to spend every day talking to herself, talking to the paintings and statues, inventing impossible scenarios and imagining what it would be like to have a real sister.
Elsa, for all she cared, could've been frozen solid in her lonesome room. Anna realized that for the first time, she didn't care. She didn't care if she hadn't seen Elsa for nearly ten years; she didn't care to entertain the thought of staying here anymore.
She wanted to leave.
Arendelle would be safe, she reasoned. Besides, Elsa would be the next in line and that would put Anna out of trouble's way. The kingdom would be in safe hands, the people would be happy and most of all, she would be free. And besides, no one would even notice if she were gone.
Yes, this is starting to sound amazing, she thought. I just wished I'd thought of it sooner.
The next part was harder. When should she sneak away? Which horse would she take?
She glanced up at the sky and immediately knew. The Winter Solstice. The last day of autumn. The last day of fleeting warmth. It was fitting.
It was perfect.