Disclaimer: FROZEN and its affiliated characters are owned by DISNEY. I own nothing.
Within the Hollow Crown
Chapter 2
Footprints in the Closet
By: Soifon
With voiceless eloquence they come,
Bright phantoms of my childhood's home…
"Hans! Are you ready?"
"I'm almost ready, honey, hold on."
The newlyweds were preparing for an afternoon brunch. Stepping from the walk-in, a tall beauty of only 18 with strawberry blond hair done up in a bun moved to sit at her vanity. Looking at her reflection a moment, she smiled somewhat. Her face with a natural blush painting her cheeks, peppered with freckles stared back at her. Running her fingers across a silver highlight, she tucked the loose strands behind her ear before smiling wider as her husband appeared behind her.
"Anna, darling, you look magnificent," The dashing young Prince Hans Westerguard of the Southern Isles spoke as he placed his gloved hands on his Princess' shoulders, squeezing softly. She shrugged, rolling her turquoise eyes, laughing slightly.
"Oh, please! I look like I always do," She placed a hand atop his as he leaned down to kiss her cheek softly.
"Hurry now, your mother and Rapunzel are waiting. I'll be in the hall," He said, waving off, leaving the Princess alone with her thoughts. Her smiled soon faded once he left the room as she stared into her reflection once more.
Anna's eyes soon drew back to the mysterious silver strands. Her mother had said it was just a gene that she inherited, premature graying she had called it. It felt as if the more she thought about it, the more her head felt as if it were about to split. Sighing heavily and rubbing her sinuses, she stood, smoothing out her dark blue dress with black bodice.
Anna moved out onto the balcony overlooking the vast oceans of Corona. Taking in a breath and smiling, she turned to retreat back indoors to meet up with Hans in the hall. Leaving the room, looking up and down the hall, she didn't see him. Shrugging it off and figuring he was already with her mother and Rapunzel, she wandered down the halls.
"Good afternoon, Maverick!" Anna waved at the man she came across, who fondly smiled back at her.
"Same to you, Your Majesty!" The tall brunette nodded in her direction. Curious, she walked over to him and the three other servants that he had in tow.
"What are you guys up to?" Anna asked, trying to peek around the broad man's body as the group then walked in a room containing most of her old furniture from when she lived in Arendelle.
"Oh, just moving an old wardrobe from here. The Queen wanted us to put it up for sale down in the marketplace," He said as the men braced themselves to pick up the heavy piece at the far end of the dark room. Anna only half heard what Maverick had said, exploring the old space. She hadn't been in this room in years, seeing her old bed from her childhood and toys she used to play with.
Maverick saw the girl exploring, smiling, "Perhaps if you could see it would be more fascinating, Your Majesty."
And with that, Maverick pulled open the curtains of the high windows, the room suddenly bathed by the bright afternoon sunlight. Anna blinked at the intensity, grinning over at him before continuing her little expedition. Running her fingers over the dust covered artifacts; her eyes were drawn to what appeared to be a portrait covered by a sheet on the opposite side of the room. In fact, she saw several pieces of art protected from the elements.
"Hey, Maverick, I thought my mother hung up all the portraits?" Anna called over to him. She heard footsteps behind her, crossing her arms at the four or five rectangles leaning against the wall. Maverick made a noise, scratching his short scruffy hair.
"Odd, I remember quite distinctly that we hung all the pieces that the Queen pointed out," His blue eyes met with Anna's curious ones, turning to stare at them once more, rubbing her chin. A wolfish grin spread across her delicate features.
"Let's open 'em!"
"Where is she, Hans? She should have been down here a while ago," The Queen said, raising a slender brow at the young man who could only shrug.
"I guess she got caught up. Perhaps we should go and seek her out?" He suggested.
"I second that notion!" A spunky brunette voiced, smiling as bright as her emerald eyes, strolling to the kitchen. The Queen nodded in defeat, sighing as she stood up.
"We shall, come along now, Rapunzel, Hans."
The search did not take too long as the trio ended up heading towards a chorus of excited voices. Hans and Rapunzel entered the room in which the sounds emanated, the Queen not far behind. The trio saw a group huddled around the far back right of the room. Weaving her way through old despondent memorabilia and furniture, the Queen could swear she had heard—
"She's beautiful! I wonder who she is!"
The Queen then quickly made her way over to the sound of her daughter's voice, pushing her way through the thicket of men. Hans and Rapunzel were soon beside her. Anna's back was to the group and she was holding something in her hands. And she knew. She knew exactly what her daughter was holding. The Queen's heart sank as the day she dreaded in her darkest dreams has now finally come.
"…Anna."
"Mother! Who is this beautiful girl? I feel like I've seen her somewhere? Like some crazy deja-vu huh?"
The Queen stood, mouth dry and silent. Both Rapunzel and Hans looked at her, waiting for her to speak. But she did not. Anna glanced over her shoulder, and then turned to meet her mother's distraught expression. Placing the portrait down hastily, Anna rushed to her mother's side, holding her shoulders.
"Mother, what's the matter? What's wrong?"
But the Queen did not rouse from her dreamlike state. She stared into the painted crystal blue eyes of her eldest daughter, smiling. Smiling. The child's striking platinum blonde hair done in a single braid, hands clasped in front of her. She remembered that because she herself braided her hair for that day.
"But mother, sitting for a portrait sounds sooo boring! What if I have to go potty?"
"Oh, come now, Elsa dear. It will only be for a while. You'll be fine," The Queen carefully combed the soft strands of blonde locks as the girl sat happily in her lap, smiling.
"Elsa! Elsa! Let's go play!" A young Anna pushed her way through the doors to their bedroom, skipping right up to the pair as Elsa giggled.
"I can't yet! I'm getting my portrait done today, 'member? But mother said it won't be for long," The girl pouted at the strawberry blonde who mirrored the expression, clasping her elder's hands in hers. Anna leaned over to Elsa's ear, whispering.
"When you're done… Do you wanna build a snowman?" Leaning back, the sparkle in Elsa's eye could be seen in Anna's own as she nodded shyly. Anna hopped up and down, her hands still clasping the elder's own.
"Now, now, Anna! I'm trying to braid Elsa's hair. Go run and play with Gerda," The Queen said sternly, smiling down at her younger daughter. Anna frowned and then nodded.
"Okay, mother. See ya later, Elsa!"
And then the Queen's world began to fade to black. Her heart raced; sweat beading along her brow, breath coming in short gasps. The distant voice of her younger daughter was not enough to keep the Queen from fainting in her arms.
End chapter 2…
Notes:
Ok so, this story will contain incest as well as dark themes.
Already have the general direction I wanna go with this.
And I like where I'm going so far and I hope you guys are too.
Until next time,
Cheers!