"You told me she was dead! You lied to me!" Elsa screeched, tears burning down her cheeks, eyes stinging. Her parents stood and watched her scream, stoic in their harsh and scolding glares.
"Elsa, we told you never to go near her room-"
"Anna! Her name is Anna! Why won't you ever say her name? She's your daughter!"
"It's okay, Elsa." Anna walked into the room, looking around the throne room desperately, not having been there for years. "I'm… I was going to the bathroom, and I heard my name…" she trailed off, shrugging. Elsa went to hug her, but paused. Her dress was burnt, eyes black and blue. Skin on her left leg was mutated in a burn scar. This couldn't be Anna. This wasn't the little sister she'd missed for so long.
"Anna, I think it'd be best if you went to the potty and back to your room. We'll bring you dinner soon. Don't let the servants see you." The Queen of Arendelle nodded, knuckles white, looking between her daughters.
"Yes, Mama."
Anna turned and left, and, with angry tears on her rosy cheeks, Elsa didn't try to stop her.
xXxXxXxXx
"Anna?" Elsa asked timidly, knocking gently, "I got you some chocolates and krumkake. Your favorites, remember?"
The air remained still and silent.
"...Anna, we can go skating… make marshmallow sandwiches? I used to love toasting marshmallows with you. You can make the lights, if you want! We… we can go outside, or… just… talk." The young princess sighed, sliding to the ground. "Anna, I miss you."
The choked sob that her words were met with was the only response she'd gotten in three weeks.
xXxXxXxXx
"Anna, you have to learn to control this."
"Daddy, I… I don't know how! I'm scared!" She reached for a hug, but he backed away.
"Use these. Conceal it, Anna. You need to learn to stop. Learn, don't… don't burn."
Anna pulled the gloves over her hands, tilting her head. "...okay, Daddy."
xXxXxXxXx
"C-come back soon, okay?" the young woman said softly, red hair messy and braided back.
"Gerda is going to bring your meals and check on you while we're away. Do not leave the room, understand?"
"Yes, father." Anna sighed, resigned, watching them leave without a hug or a simple 'goodbye'.
Down the hall, Elsa hugged them tight and let them leave without a word.
xXxXxXxXx
The funeral was short.
Elsa stood between her parents' grave markers, though their bodies lost at sea. A sick, twisted part of her was happy they were gone. Maybe Anna would be able to leave her room. Maybe she'd be allowed outside. Maybe they could talk.
That was not the case.
"Anna?" Elsa knocked, dressed in her mourning attire. "Please, I know you're in there. Please answer me. I can't… do this… on my own. You can't, either. I'm here for you, Anna. I'm still your big sister, and no one is holding you back, anymore. You can come out."
Anna wept openly on the other side of the door, flames enveloping the barren room.
Elsa cried with her.
xXxXxXxXx
The swing outside her room was her favorite thing about her limited space. She could look over the kingdom without being seen, look out at the fjord. Sometimes she'd catch glimpses of Elsa, being taught to ride horses or studying on the grass.
Or, sometimes, it was just nice to feel the wind in her hair.
Anna frowned. Looking at the ships coming in, her nerves frayed and a shiver ran up her spine. She was to come out of her room tonight, to go to the ballroom and join the party. Not as the princess, of course. Gerda and Kai had the plan etched in stone in her mind. She was Annabelle of the Eastern Isles. Very new kingdom, just starting out. She's a friend of a friend of a friend of one of the princes' mothers.
It would be okay tonight. They wouldn't let anything happen to her.
Her hair was up, green dress comfortable and (hopefully) flame resistant. Every burn scar was covered by makeup or material, and for the first time in forever, she felt beautiful.
xXxXxXxXx
The gates opened, and she nearly peed.
Elsa was staring at her; she could feel her eyes on her back. But, she couldn't face her. Not yet. Not now.
She took a careful step, staring at all the people bursting into the castle. Her palms began to heat, but she keep her hands in fists. Even with the gloves, her power was still an issue.
Her steps awkward, face pained and confused, she made her way around the kingdom, a stranger to the beautiful land she'd lived in all her life.
Right when she thought she had the hang of things, her body was thrust backwards.
"I'm- I'm so sorry, m'lady!" the redheaded stranger apologized profusely, hopping off his horse to offer her his hand. She took it carefully, terrified of burning him. However, her hand stayed a (hopefully) normal temperature and the boy- no, man?- didn't flinch, or pull his hand back in pain. He simply looked at her, eyes kind and smile warm. She bite her lip, an action which shook the man out of his stupor. "Excuse me for not introducing myself! I am Prince Hans, of the Southern Isles. And you?"
Anna's throat closed. "Anna..na… Annabelle of the… Eastern Isles!"
"Eastern Is-?"
"Underdeveloped kingdom. Waaaaaaaay off the map. But, it exists!"
Hans smiled softly at her, and she was positive, in that moment, that this was what love must feel like.