Elsa stood at the throne, gulping nervously. Sure, she and her sister by her side, but she was still afraid. The memories had been erased from Anna's memories, and none of the kingdom's citizens knew, save the servants who had heeled get them to the trolls in the woods when they were younger.
"I can't do this.." she mumbled nervously as she eyed the golden scepter and urn that she was to hold for a few seconds. Even for those few seconds, her powers might emerge, creating utter chaos.
"Your Majesty," the servant said in a hushed whisper, jutting his chin at her hands, "the gloves."
"Oh, right," Elsa muttered, eyeing the crowd that waited expectantly, a sea of smiles that seemed somewhat mocking of her fear. Anna stood proudly next to her, all smiles as she set her gaze on her sister, silently clapping for her. She had to do this. She didn't wan to disappoint Anna anymore after all those years. Gulping, she hesitantly peeled off the gloves, one finger at a time until the pale slender fingers were exposed. Quickly, she nodded to the servant and he handed her the props, reciting the coronation oath. As soon as her hands touched the gold she let out a sharp gasp- ice had begun to decorate the tools in thin coils, fanning out on the shiny surfaces, making her skin cold to the touch.
As soon as the clapping had ensued, elsa hurriedly shoved the items at the servant, snatching her gloves and pulling them on, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in.
"You did great, Elsa- i-I mean, your Majesty.." Anna smiled bashfully, bowing to her sister, the new Queen. Elsa let her icy blue eyes scan the crowd, her eyes falling on a strange man.
He was standing in the back, his skin a deathly pale color, almost gray, in fact. Squinting, she saw that his entire body was shrouded with what seemed like a black mist, menacing and ugly. His hair was spiked at awkward angles, and even though it was a bit of a distance she saw his eyes were a shocking gold, the black pupils dilated under the lights.
"Anna, go… go dance…." she suggested, ushering her sister towards the crowd as she walked down the center aisle of the room, ignoring those who wished her congratulations. The strange being in black had his eyes locked on her, head tall and proud. He made her somewhat… scared, if that was the right word for it. Like he knew every emotion, every fear. Does he know about what i did to Anna, she thought as she neared him, what i do?
Turning her head, she spotted her sister chatting happily with a strapping young lad- a prince of some sort, she guessed. Elsa gave her a hesitant smile and a small wave as Anna noticed her staring, giving her a happy thumbs up and an exaggerated flail of her arm. She let herself catch a glimpse of the white strand amongst the red coils of her hair before turning back to stare at the frightening man.
But he was gone, having left a cold draft in his wake, leaving elsa to ponder where he might have gone in the blink of an eye. Feeling an uncomfortable draft, Elsa tried her best to focus her attention on the party, those who had come to congratulate her. Immediately, her eyes trailed the guests for any sign of her sitter, but she was nowhere to be seen. Where did she go?! Elsa thought in a sudden unnecessary panic. Her eyes flitting in every direction like a radar, Elsa pushed through the crowd. Out of the corner of her eyes, she thought she saw the taunting glare of the strange man again.
"Anna?" she called, trying her best to see over the crowds, "Anna?" Elsa jumped as there was a sudden tap on her shoulder. She spun on her heel to come face to face with Anna, who was clutching the arm of the man she was talking with earlier.
"Elsa!" she said excitedly, "I- well, we- want to tell you something!" Elsa sighed in relief as Anna cuddled closer to the man, blurting out, "we wish for you to bless our marriage!" Elsa's eyes went wide with shock.
"Excuse me?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"Hans and I are engaged, Elsa!" Anna squealed, "and we want your blessing!" There were a few moments o silence between the three before Elsa began to shake her head, much to Anna's dismay.
"I can't," elsa said firmly, clasping her hands in front of her.
"But Elsa-"
"Anna you just met this man," Elsa interrupted, "I won't allow it."
"But it's true love!" Anna called to Elsa as she turned to walk away, stopping with a sudden halt. The strange man was back again, a mischievous grin on his face, baring a sharpened tooth in a row of pearls.
"Anna. I said no-"
"Is something wrong with love, Elsa?" Anna cut in.
"It isn't that, I- Anna, just drop it-"
"No!" Anna protested, gathering the attention of the party goers, "why are you always shutting gem out? Everyone out?!" Elsa clenched her fist, feeling the coldness prickle through her veins.
"Anna!" Elsa exclaimed, turning on her sister, "just drop it!" With a sudden wave of her hand she sent a wall of icicles at the crowd, ending with sharpened tips that glistened in the light. To every it looked beautiful, but dangerous. Just like me, Elsa thought, fear taking over as she scanned everyone's faces. Of course, the most noticeable faces were her sisters and the dark man's, the golden eyes boring deep into her, dissecting her every emotion.
"Witch!" came a sudden shout- from the Duke of Weselton no doubt, but she wasn't sure- "someone seize her! She's dangerous!" Suddenly she found herself being chased by thousands, shouts of anger and fear replacing those of congratulations that she and been receiving moments ago. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a look at the stranger who just smiled, disappearing in a shadow, backness curling along the floor. Gasping, she ran to the courtyard, backing away front eh crowd.
"Elsa?" Anna said, sounding hurt and confused, "Elsa, why….?" Elsa shook her head. Anna couldn't know. The memories had been erased. But now she was exposed for sure, there was no taking it back.
"Anna, I don't mean to hurt anyone-" Elsa began to say with fresh tears, but she was cut off by the Duke, who cried out, "she needs to be reprimanded! Get her now!" With a cry, elsa pushed past people in order to get away from the two guards that flanked the duke, her skin getting cold as she found herself getting farther away from the castle, ice and snow trailing behind dyer, exposing her path. At the bank of a river, elsa halted to a stop, flailing her arms to keep herself from falling into the harsh waters. Glancing back, she aw the guards catching up to her…. as well as the stranger, the same smile on his face, almost sneering. He jutted his chin in her direction at the icy waters as if suggesting she should jump in. Turning away, she placed a foot hopefully against the water, and to her belief it hardened under her foot. As soon as the guards had caught up with her, she jumped, leaving them at the snowy, muddy bank, snow flurries dancing on the wind as she ran across the water, slick ice aiding her on her journey to safety.
"Poor little thing…" she heard a voice on the breeze, chilling her to the bone. Stopping a foot away from the shore, Elsa looked around, eyes blurry with tears.
"Who was that?!" Elsa shouted into the night, her voice echoing. There was a dark chuckle.
"Just me," said the voice, and Elsa jumped back as the man from the coronation suddenly materialized, created by the darkness that shrouded her. If she didn't have he powers, she would have for sure fallen into the cold water, possibly freeze to death. Without hesitation, Elsa put on a full sprint, nearly tripping over the hem of her gown as she ran, her heels sliding on the ice as she took each step. As soon as she made it to the bank of the river she began her ascent up the slope of the land, looking back with each step. The man had stayed on the lake, his tall form receding as she ran up the hill pulling her feet numbly through blankets of snow. As soon as she knew he was gone she stopped, panting for breath.
The wind whistled through the air, pulling at her snow whet hair. Carefully, she untucked the braid from the bun she had it in, letting hair fall into her eyes. Pushing it back, she mumbled to herself, "Let it go, Elsa…" As she said this, wisps of cod air flew from her fingers, creating icy snowflakes dance in front of her. Smiling, she forgot all about the man, letting her powers free, blasting ice every which way. Before she knew it, her coronation gown had became one of icy cerulean blue, a cape beaded so much that it looked like freshly fallen frost. Looking down she saw the shoes on her feet were now made of ice, delicately patterned with small crystals. Her grin getting wider, elsa charged further up the hill, waving her arms about as walls of ice erupted from the ground, surrounding her to form a castle made of ice and snow, a staircase glistening as it erupted from the door, which was slick and cold to the touch.
"Beautiful work," she heard a voice say- the man's voice, Elsa realized, freezing in her spot. She soon found herself face to face with him, his gold eyes teasing. Defensively, she held out a hand, sending a blast that threw him backward, throughout the doors and headfirst into the snow outside. The slam echoing in her ears, she sent blasts on either side of her, creating a barrier for herself. Outside she heard a roar- it couldn't have been the man, surely! rushing to a nearby window, she peered outside to find she had created a giant snow monster, complete with a jagged looking set of icicle teeth and claws on its hands. The man was cowering away, sinking into the snow as he did so. Elsa smirked, retreating into her fortress. There was no way anyone could get to her now. Nor can I hurt anyone anymore, she thought somewhat forlornly, remembering the pained look on her sister's face.