Definitely read Freeing the Witch first, just in case last chapter didn't make that clear. This is more of a fill in the blanks group of stories, or a glimpse in my head canons for this universe.

Tears of Ice

They were dead. They were dead.

The man that brought her meals everyday told her that they were dead. He said it casually, as if he was discussing the weather or Anna's newest stunt, not the death of the king and queen, not the death of her parents.

"No, your highness, I don't believe your parents will make it here for Anna's birthday. I believe their ship was found in shambles right off the coast, no survivors they say. Would you like one piece of toast or two today?"

For a second Elsa wanted to cry and scream in rage, in outrage.

Mother. Father.

They told Elsa that they would never leave her. They promised that all of this would just be temporary. That she would get control of this. This curse. They promised her they'd be here for her! That eventually she could leave her room and have a normal life.

They lied. They lied to her.

And now they were dead.

Once she was alone, free of prying eyes, Elsa slumped to her knees, staring at the tray in front of her. The cook had made her favorite, as if her famous tomatoe stew could fight off the grief the fear that crept up in her heart. Elsa looked up.

Snow hung in the air, and the walls, once warm and vibrant, were blue with ice. It made Elsa flinch. It was more proof of why she hadn't left her home in years.

She let out a cry of anguish.

What was she to do now? Elsa was all alone.

But that's not new. She reminded herself. Ever since I almost killed…

She shuddered at the memory. I've been all alone.

It was that thought, that realization that gave her the strength; it gave her the will, to pull herself to her feet again, whipped away her tears.

She smiled; rumor had it that when your heart completely froze over, your tears would be nothing more than ice.

They came to her that next day, a slew of advisers, they told her of the new responsibilities she, Elsa, the future Queen, would have. She'd have to meet with other rulers, other kingdoms, she'd have to deal with trade and conflicts and the nobles. They each took an awkward seat at her little table, a table she used to have tea parties with her friends, with Anna.

But it was the only option, she refused to leave her room. This room had been enchanted so her powers would be unable to escape its confines. This room kept her kingdom safe from her grief.

Elsa sat away from them, sitting on the bed, looking out the window, the window besides the vines that snaked up the palace, listening as they spoke, but staring out at the calm ocean, the very ocean that had taken her parents and cursed her to this fate. She would be Queen. That window had been her salvation since it was decided that she was to hide.

"Elsa?" Came a sudden knock on her bedroom door. It opened to reveal long red hair, dark blue eyes now puffy and red from crying. "Is it true? Are they really gone?"

She was staring at the face of Anna, oh sweet Anna. She hadn't seen her since she was small, only seven years old. Now Elsa was nearly 25 and Anna was about 20.

Elsa stood, but said nothing, what could she say? Sorry? I'm an ice power wielding monster? I shut you out because last time I let someone in, they hurt me? And the time before that I hurt them?

She said nothing.

Anna went towards her, an embrace. Elsa quickly realized, her sister was trying to hug her. She wanted to, more than anything; Elsa wanted to touch her, to hold her, to promise to never shut her out again.

But then she saw it, deep in her subconscious.

Taunting words, her fear and anger flaring. She reached out her hand.

"Elsa no!" They shouted.

She saw a gasp, children fleeing, a figure on the ground, shivering from the cold.

One thought in her mind as her parents appeared, as they were taken to the rock trolls.

I'm a monster.

Elsa wrapped her arms around herself and averted her eyes, shaking her head. Elsa would hurt her, she'd kill her. Anna deserved better, she didn't deserve a monster for a sister. Elsa couldn't see the hurt on her face, instead she just heard Anna pace slowly out of the room, heard her wail in agony.

"I don't know what I did, but I don't deserve this! Stop shutting me out! We're the only ones we have left!" And then Anna bolted out of the corridor.

The nobles, who had grown silent, barely looked at her. She didn't look at them, she just asked them to continue. No one dared to mention the exchange between the two orphaned sisters, nor the cold tears dripping down Elsa's eyes.

Cold, but not frozen.

Her birthday was supposed to be coronation. She was to turn 28. It was a time honored tradition that when the eldest daughter turned 28 years of age, she would be Queen. She knew it all by heart, they would open the palace, let the kingdom in, it would be full of life and love.

Life and love that Elsa hadn't felt in a long time.

And then afterwards, they'd shut the gates again, and the kingdom would be safe again.

You may be safe in here, but you're not happy.

She held a coin in her palm, given to her by the only person who had ever climbed over her ice walls, who always made her dream of the days when there were no walls, when there was just Elsa.

"Elsa my love, I'll come back to you before you become Queen, I'll stand by your side, you never lose control when I'm around." He had said cheekily. "I'll come back and ask your father for his blessing. I want to marry you my beautiful Ice Princess."

She had believed him. That night when they laid in her bed, tangled up in each other. Not a single snowflake danced in the air, when she hadn't thought about suppressing her powers since he appeared bright eyed and smiling.

"Promise me?" She had asked.

He slipped the coin in her hand. "This is all that I have left of my family, I want you to have it, keep it safe, I'll take it back when I can put a ring on your finger."

She believed him.

But that belief had died with her parents, when he had not come as he promised, when he never came back to her. Today he was supposed to be here, help her keep control, keep both her secret and her kingdom safe!

Even though he had broken his promise, Elsa still kept the coin, rubbed it's simple grooves whenever she felt scared or lonely, it helped her forget for a moment that he wasn't coming back, it helped her imagine the feeling of seeing him climb through her window, a smile on his face, an apology on his lips.

She just held that coin and let the fear drift away.

It was a miracle when nothing went wrong, when the second her pale hands touched her crown, touched her thrown and scepter, nothing went wrong. A part of her blamed her constant practice and control.

Another part blamed the coin in her pocket.

"Elsa! Elsa!" Anna shouted in the midst of the ball. It was the first time she had spoken to Elsa since their parents' death, almost a year ago. She was pulling a red haired man behind her, both smiling like mad, looking in each other's eyes. "This is Hans. We're going to get married!"

Her controlled smile had faltered in utter surprise. "Married?" She exclaimed.

"I love you Elsa. You are the one for me. I promise you, you my love, have ruined all others for me." He snickered into her ear, warm hand pressed against her cold cheek.

She smiled happily at the thought.

Elsa wanted nothing more than to forget him, the man who had broken her heart, he who dared to melt it just to crush it. But she just couldn't help seeing this 'Hans' character as him. People just couldn't help hurting each other.

"How-How long has this been going on?" She eventually forces out, leading them away from the partygoers. Elsa wills herself to keep control, that this man was Anna's love, not hers. Anna knew this man, knew that he wouldn't leave, knew that he was a good-

"A couple hours, but Elsa! I know it! This is true love!" She squeals in delight, spinning around. Anna was just as joyful now as she used to be.

"A…couple hours?"

"I knew you were it within five minutes of meeting you." He had admitted under the light of the fire. Her private fireplace was usually off as the cold never really bothered her, but he…he was different. He needed it right now. "I knew that I loved you."

She was tucked under his arm, smiling at him. She felt safe and in control. He helped her keep control.

"I love you." She said right back. "I never thought I'd ever be able to say that. I thought I'd be stuck in this room forever, I thought I'd never find someone to love." He shook his head.

"One day. I promise you, one day you'll be free."

Anna nodded excitedly. "I promise my Queen, I'll take excellent care of your sister, we should have the wedding in my kingdom, but we'll be back her during all the holidays, you're welcome to visit of course-"

Elsa shook her head. No. This was not happening, some noble was taking her away, taking away her sister, promising to come back.

Why was everyone so content with leaving her, making promises they couldn't keep?

But worse, the thing that scared the new queen even more was the worry that she was right. Elsa knew that this man, knew his type. Hans was exactly like him. He had fooled Anna, just like she had been fooled, he would take her away, break her heart, make her cold and guarded, just like her.

Then Anna would come back and she would be just like her.

Elsa maybe a monster, but she'd fight to the death to make sure Anna was safe and nothing like her.

"No." She said boldly. "I forbid it."

Anna recoiled sharply. "Excuse me? Forbid it? Do I look 12?" She exclaimed, but Elsa just turned away, feeling control slipping, feeling fear and agony settle in. She reached for the coin in her pocket, holding it like a lifeline. "Elsa!" Anna shouted chasing after her, grabbing her wrist. "You can't run away like that! Like you always do!"

Anna was furious, it made Elsa rub the coin even more, trying to remember the good days, days by the river eating sandwiches, days in her room playing cards to pass the time, days they made promises for when she got under control, she had to get it under control.

"Elsa!" Anna shouted, running after her, Hans at her heel. "Just because you never loved anything or anyone doesn't mean I have to!" She cried sharply, making Elsa lose her concentration, her sister caught up to her grabbing her wrist, it threw her glove and coin from her hand. She gasped out in fright, sending a wave of ice in her wake.

"Control. Control. I got to keep it under control." She chanted, seeing the fear on Anna's face. Her eyes searched the empty hall way for her coin. She needed it, needed him, where was he? He promised he'd be here. He was supposed to be here! She saw it, glittering in the light, she fell on her knees, crawling towards it, but a heavy boot fell seconds before she could get to it.

"What are you demon?" Hans hissed, he was holding a terrified Anna close to his chest, a sword towards her throat.

"I-I I'm sorry. It was an accident. I'm-" She stuttered, getting to her feet.

"I'm so sorry." She wailed, ice hanging in the air. "You don't remember, but you shouldn't be here, it's not safe." But Elsa couldn't bear to let him go.

"Its ok, I'm here. I know what happened, it's alright. Everything is alright now." He said softly, rubbing his hand against her back, warm circles.

"They're scared of me." She wailed.

"I'm not scared of you, never have been, never will be."

Anna parted from Hans, approaching her slowly. "Elsa…what are you?" She asked in a whisper.

"Cursed. I'm cursed." She admitted in a near sob. "I can't control it; I'm so scared of hurting you Anna. I'm scared of you getting hurt, just please let's get out of here and talk and-"

Anna shook her head, grabbing Hans's hand. "He's my true love, maybe we should all talk and find a way to get you help." She reasoned.

Elsa didn't want him there, didn't want him near her, she just wanted her coin. It made thing better, easier, helped her forget that he wasn't coming back.

"Yes, we can come up with a plan." He reasoned. "A way to help you deal with this problem, first we can get Anna on the throne, get this pressure off you-" She looked up, brows furrowing.

She didn't want to advocate the thrown, it was her parents' legacy, it was her right. Even in her room, it was accepted that the thrown would be hers.

"Yes, yes, then we can ask the rock trolls to do something, bind it or take it or something-

She recoiled in alarm, the curse was her inability to control it, not the powers itself. She just needed to control it, like when she was younger, back then it was so easy.

He never wanted me to get rid of it. She remembered. He just wanted me to accept it. It's a part of me.

"It makes so much sense why you kept away from me for so long Elsa! Why didn't you tell me? I would have understood, I get it now!"

She didn't Anna didn't understand. All this time, Elsa felt guilty for shutting her out, but now, now she felt-

"If you want to go back in your room again, its ok, I can take care of the people, I can get things moving, Hans and I, we're your family, I-"

She felt blind rage. Rage at another person trying to make decisions for her, first the Gods for giving her these powers she couldn't control, then to him for not being here when she needed him, now at Anna for not understanding.

"No." She responded flatly, coldly. "I don't need your help." She snapped, a strange ice in her voice. "This is my kingdom and my powers." She demanded.

"But Elsa-" She shook her head, eyes glaring at Hans.

"Shouldn't it be the people's choice, no one is going to want a monster ruling them." He shot back.

"But Hans-" Anna tried again.

"And who's going to tell them, you?" She surged forward, ripping the other glove from her hand. She was just so angry, all this time in her room, going stir crazy, shutting people out refusing-

"Run away with me Elsa, please. You know how much I hate it here without you, run away with me and we can be happy, our parents can't stop us."

Elsa shook her head.

"This room is enchanted, my powers can't escape it, out there, I- I might do something…"

-to follow her heart when she had the chance, it was all for this. For her kingdom, for Arendelle. She wasn't going to let this man take it from her. Elsa knew a coup when she saw it. He was nothing like him. He just left, he would never use her.

Elsa wondered what would happen if she just blasted him with magic, let it all out in a wave.

"Yes." He dared. "You'll have to kill me to keep me quiet."

Oh I'll kill you for much less. A quiet voice whispered in her ear, I'll kill you to keep Anna safe!

"No Elsa!" Shouted a voice, rushing in between, but it was too late. Elsa's magic had left her hand, striking Anna in the chest.

She bit back a gasp as her sister crumbled into Hans's arms.

"Anna!"

Elsa ran from the castle, ran as far as she possibly could go. She had just attacked her sister, a fit of rage and terror mixed together, she couldn't go back, couldn't ever go back. She was a monster, she almost killed her sister.

She stopped hours later, as her legs felt like lead and her breathing was ragged from both misery and exhaustion. Elsa looked down, seeing the coin in her hand, her hand had gripped it so tightly, the initials were marked on her hand BWJ.

"Why aren't you here?" She pleaded at it, the symbol of her love, of a promise shattered.. "You promised." She sobbed.

"Mortals make promises they can't keep to people like us." Said a voice.

Elsa looked up.

"My name's Ingrid. I can help you. I can help you control it." She told her. "You just have to come with me."

Elsa lifted her hand to her cheek, feeling the tears on her face.

They were solid ice.

"Ok."

Ok, I did kind of worry if this sounded more like a Frozen fan fic rather than a OUAT one, but there is a little more to it to the original story that I felt the need to add. During 4a, I loved how they didn't talk about the movie, at all. It was a sort of, accept it as fact and move on type deal. I decided that since I changed Elsa, had to change Frozen a fraction.

I mean, all villains need tragic backstories after all.

I did including some obvious OUAT incorporated, along with something I hinted at during Freeing the Witch. Its sort of important, a bit spoiler if you squint and definitely when/if you look back at it in hindsight. Let me know if you have any idea what I'm talking about, I'd love to hear opinions, speculations, etc. It warms my heart.

Pun intended.

On other news, I either post this a week after the last or after I get to a predetermined point of the sequel's plot. I have 5 planned out, only the 3rd one is incomplete at the moment.

I'm so excited to finish this thing (the sequel). Its at 64k at the moment, the first time I finished writing freeing the witch, it was at about 50k, ended up, including author's notes etc, at around 66k. So this one is going to be way longer. I hope it comes out alright...

Guest reviews:

andria: Glad you liked it! Hopefully you like this one just as much.

Don't forget to review!

~Luna