Anna's First Christmas without Elsa

Anna's eyes grew wide as she glance around the Great Hall. There were at least six massive evergreens around the room, all decorated in silver and gold. There were boughs of holly and evergreen branches decorating the mantle of the great fireplace. Carefully carved crystal snowflakes dangled from the ceiling and looked like they were twinkling when the light of the fire hit them just right.

"Wow," Anna gasped. She tugged on her mother's hand, "Look Momma! It looks so magical. I love it!"

"It is beautiful," the Queen replied. She pulled Anna back into the hallway they had just come from and knelt down to her daughter's level. "Now, Anna, we have some very important visitors coming in for dinner tonight…"

"People?" Anna squealed, "Oh yay! There will be kids for me to play with, and I bet they will like the game Gerda got me for Christmas and…"

"No, Anna," the Queen laughed and smoothed Anna's hair back, "Just adults. But Papa wants to show off his beautiful little princess to the guests. So, you'll be eating dinner with us tonight. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

Anna scrunched her freckled nose, "Is Elsa coming? She's the real princess. Won't people rather see her than me?"

If the Queen hesitated, Anna didn't notice, "Oh, no, darling, Elsa will not be joining us. She… she's sick. She needs her rest."

"Oh," Anna replied, her little shoulders sinking, "That's too bad. I haven't seen her in a while, and I know she would like the game that Gerda got me. No one should be sick on Christmas Eve."

"I know, it's no fun to be sick," the Queen brushed back the white strand in Anna's hair.

"Elsa is sick a lot."

This time, Anna noticed the Queen's prolonged silence.

"Momma?"

"Oh, sorry dear," she replied quickly, "Ah, now, tell me, what are the little princess dinner rules?"

Anna quickly straightened her spine and recited, "A princess smiles at her guests and doesn't squirm when they are talking to her. A princess takes small bites and doesn't play with her food, or swing her legs under the table. And, after dinner, a princess doesn't ask her Papa to tell her stories about trolls."

"Very good!" The Queen stood and took Anna's hand, "Then it's time to go see Papa!"

Anna followed her mother out, but looked back up the stairs towards Elsa's room.

Elsa is sick too much.

Anna escaped the after dinner chit-chat. When no one was looking, she sprinted to the kitchen. No one was in there, all of the staff was in the Great Hall cleaning up after the meal.

Anna's eyes just poked over the top of one of the counter where she saw exactly what she was looking for- chocolate.

She grabbed the tray and hurried out the back door into one of the hidden staff hallways behind the kitchen. She popped a piece of chocolate in her mouth and bounced down the hall until she reached a small door that led her to a main hallway. She took a left and headed towards Elsa's room.

Anna stood in front of the snowflake-adorned doors and gave her signature knock.

"Elsa? I know you're in there, Momma said that you were sick. So I brought you some chocolate, and I hope it will cheer you up!" Anna paused, then asked, "May I come in?"

She listened intently to hear any indication of an invitation from Elsa, but there was silence on the other side of the door.

"Well that's okay, I know you're not well. I only ate one piece!" she paused, and then grabbed another piece of chocolate and dropped it into a pocket, "I only ate a piece or two, the rest is all for you! I hope you feel better, because Christmas will be here soon."

Anna sighed and put her hand on Elsa's door, as if she was trying to feel her sister through the sturdy wood. "Merry Christmas, Elsa."

She turned to make her way back down the staircase that would lead her to the Great Hall. The Queen stood at the bottom, her face full of relief.

"There you are, Anna! You can't just go and wander away from your guests like that!" The Queen met her daughter in the middle of the staircase and picked her up. Anna settled on her mother's hip.

"I'm sorry, Momma." Anna pointed towards Elsa's door, "I just thought Elsa might like some chocolate for Christmas. You know, for when she is feeling better."

The Queen looked at the tray of chocolate on the floor next to Elsa's door. A soft grin spread on her face, and she kissed Anna's forehead. "That was very thoughtful, darling. I am sure Elsa will appreciate it when she feels well again."

Anna smiled and wrapped her little arms around her mother's neck and rested her head on her shoulder.

"Merry Christmas, Momma."

"Merry Christmas, my darling Anna."