Gerda held Anna's hand as she led the child into the room. Princess Celina of Lienz sat in the middle of the floor, beating two wooden soldiers together. Each blow leaving a fresh dent in the painted wood. She had inflicted more damage on the soldiers in an evening of play then Anna had in the two years since her father had given them to her. On the floor beside the girl lay the two princess dolls. The dolls lay atop an amassed pile of Anna's toys, and a few belongings, Gerda was certain, the child had removed from parts of the castle she should not have been.
As they entered the child sat up, an evil grin playing on her lips. "Oh, did the baby have to get her nanny to protect her?"
Gerda ignored the remark, forcing a pleasant smile. "Princess Celina, please give Princess Anna her dolls back." The emphasis on Anna's title was lost on the girl.
"No." The child went back to destroying the wooden soldiers.
After years of caring for Elsa and Anna, Gerda was taken aback by the child's rude behavior. While her girls could be rambunctious, they were never rude. They always treated everyone politely, even the staff. It was times like this when Gerda was thankful for the Royal family, having seen what tyrants others could be.
"You're not even playing with them." Anna took a step forward, but Gerda held her back.
"Yes, I am. The knights are fighting over them, to see which one they get to marry."
"Marry? Eww," Anna's freckled face wrinkled in disguise. "Why would they want to do that?"
Had the circumstances been different Gerda would have laughed at her little princess. But she was not amused anymore. The arrogant child was testing her patience. This was Anna's home, how dare she treat her this way. "Your Highness," Gerda had to struggle to keep her tone civil. "You have the soldiers, surely Princess Anna can play with the dolls?" As she spoke Gerda released Anna's hand and moved pass the child to the toy pile. She reached down to pick up the dolls. As her fingers closed over them, one of the wooden soldiers struck the back of her hand. The sharp crack of wood against bare knuckles echoed in the room.
Gerda yelped in pain, jerking her bruised hand to her chest. She glared at the little brat, smiling up at her. For just a moment she considered dropping the child over her knee and seeing if she were still smiling with a tanned hide. But the child was a crowned princess and she but a servant. All she could do was glare at the little she devil.
"Gerda!" Anna ran to her wrapping her arms around the woman's legs. "Are you okay?"
Touched by the concern and fear in the child's voice, Gerda temporarily forgot the little hellun sitting before her. Distracted she didn't notice the air grow cooler in the room.
"It's alright, Princess. I'm fine." She stroked Anna's hair with her good hand.
"Cry to your, nanny, baby. Boo hoo." The child mocked.
Teal blue eyes narrowed as little hands clenched into tight fists. "You can't be mean to Gerda."
"I'm a princess," scoffed the girl. "She is a servant. I can treat her anyway I please. It's not like anyone cares what happens to her." Celina drew back her arm with one of the soldiers in hand. "I can hit her again if I want, and you can't stop me, little spare."
"No."
Before Gerda could stop her Anna charged the older girl. Her little body slamming into Celina hard enough to knock them both to the floor. Anna was a whirlwind of fists, feet and pigtails. Though she landed several good blows, the other girl was nearly twice her size. She caught Anna with a slap to the cheek, knocking the smaller girl to the ground.
Celina was atop her before she could recover. Penned to the ground, she was helpless to fight back. She was struck by a hard blow to the face, as Celina drew back for another. A hand grabbed Celina's shoulder, yanking her from the princess. She landed on her backside with a soft thud.
Gerda only thought had been to protect Anna. Perhaps, she had shoved a little harder than necessary, but in the heat of the moment she had panicked. She lifted Anna to her feet, checking her for injures. "Are you alright, sweetheart?"
Tears stained the child's cheeks. A red whelp marked where she had been struck. Anna nodded, not looking at her. "I'm okay."
Satisfied there was no serious damage, Gerda allowed herself a relieved sigh. "Princess Anna, what would your mother say? You, a princess, brawling like some street tough."
"I'm sorry, Gerda."
She cupped the child's cheek. "Yes, well, there was no real harm done. Let's get…"
"You!"
All eyes turned to Celina. She stood with her fists clenched at her sides, her face blood red as she glared at them.
Gerda gathered Anna into her arms and stood taking a step away from the enraged child.
"You insolent cow!" Spit flew from the girl's lips as she snarled at Gerda. In a quick motion she bent and snatched up one of the wooden soldiers. "How dare you touch me!" She drew back an arm and hurled the toy with all her might.
Gerda turned, shielding Anna from the wooden missile. There was a dull thump as it struck the handmaiden's back. She grunted at the impact, not doubting there would be a painful bruise later to mark it.
"I'm going to tell my father what you did! You'll rot in prison for this!" Celina stomped her slippered foot as she wailed at the pair.
"No!" Anna cried, struggling to leap from Gerda's arms.
Gerda held her tighter.
The older girl's blue eyes sparkled with glee at the realization, she had struck a nerve with Anna. "He'll have you sent away. So far away you'll never return."
"No!" Anna wailed, tightening her grip on Gerda. "You can't take Gerda away! I won't let you!"
"Anna." Gerda tried in vain to catch the girl's attention. "Hush now, it's alright. Don't listen to her." She cradled the back of the child's head, holding her close.
With her face buried against Gerda's neck, Anna clung to the woman, as if her life depended on it. "Don't leave me, Gerda." Her breath came in hiccuped sobs. "Please, don't leave me."
"Hush, child. Don't fret so." She held Anna closer, placing a kiss to the side of her head.
No one noticed frost forming at the window edges.
Anna whimpered into Gerda's shoulder as the servant hurried from the room. Celina hurled taunts and threats at them till she heard Gerda's hurried footsteps fade in the distance.
Neither Gerda nor her young charge noticed the blue eyes peeking out from behind the grandfather clock, watching them disappear down the hallway.