AN:Yay! Update! Okay, it took a while but that was because my internet got cut off that's mainly because we did not pay the bill on time. Anyway, thank you for the favourites and alert but I hope you guys drop more reviews, please oh please tell me what you think. If this is way too dramatic or so. Just so you know this is only the intro, I'm not even into the very main storyline. I'm just giving you guys the thriller and an idea on how Elsa and Anna's relationship will grow. Sisterly conflict first before anything else! But seriously, do review. I'll be happy to post more if you do so and longer than the others. Now, enjoy reading for now.
3
17th day of summer [Elsa]
Sometimes you have to keep a face for everyone, a face that will tell anyone who saw it that things are fine even if they are not. How long will I be able to keep this up when I know things that I'd hate will soon be shoved into my face?
She gazed out the framed door way. The outside looked small when it was framed by these gigantic pillars, she usually thought. Her ears listened to the surrounding; first it was quiet, relaxing that she soon realized she had closed her eyes. Then eventually a tinkling laugh would often meet her waiting senses. Her lips would curve up, showing that smile she usually just hides. It was a routine she does every time she passed by. With a long sigh, she turned and left.
The laugh that rang in the courtyard was not unfamiliar to those who passed by. The maids would often hide their giggles when they hear the young lady laugh. To them, Anna was a sight to see and a song to hear. The joy that Anna brings to their hearts would often make their day; usually seeing Anna happy was something they took pride in. They have seen Anna grow up; sure, they knew this child had a lonely life. Losing her parents and her sister when she was so young was a tough time. Often they would wonder if the child grew crazy when they heard her talking to paintings and to a door they knew will never open for her. In those times, the castle grew gloomy and all eyes took pity on this little princess. They would often sigh at her presence, not knowing how to react. But Anna, she did not feel any of this, she did not let the loneliness bother her and put up a smile for everyone. Sometimes, Anna would go to their quarters and play with them, sometimes telling stories of her future adventures when she stepped out the castle walls. They would often laugh at her enthusiasm, but they knew she was eagerly waiting for that time to come. In those times, they would tell Anna stories of the world outside their castle walls, how people interact and how they lived as common people. Anna took interest in them and intently listened to their stories. They love Anna for she was a kind and merry child. This sight, they all sighed in relief, was a dream come true.
A cold cough then startled the maids' attention. A shiver ran up their spine as they turned to meet the person who was responsible. Their feet soon evolved to frantic shuffles and dust as they returned to their post and duties.
Anna's dress flew in the wind. Her braids danced with the wind as she skipped along the cobble pathway. One left foot first, right foot next then another right before she twirled in place. Her slender hands extended for balance, sometimes flapping up and down as if she was a bird who flew on ground. She would laugh at her antics. She frequently does this in the mornings, if there was no rain or snow. Since it was summer, it was the perfect time to be alone and just walk around the castle grounds. So here she is now, skipping to a tune playing in her head. If the tune in her head was not enough, she would soon hum it out, then eventually put words into her melody and sing. Anna, when she makes a mistake in her song, would cringe in disgust and afterwards laugh it off and then continue from where she had left off. It was melodious, like angels were the ones singing, the people of the castle would often describe.
Anna skipped unknowingly to the fountain's rim, she did her pattern: left, right then right and twirl. But Anna is still Anna the klutz. When she is having a lot of fun, she would not mind her surrounding and accidentally—sooner or later— trip and fall.
Though, today, there was no falling involved, a hand quickly grabbed her by her waist before she could meet her watery doom. Anna opened her eyes finding her face inches from the water and a strand of auburn hair dangling over it.
"Anna, I can't keep this up!" groaned her captor, "You're heavy!"
Anna, who was still fascinated by the mere inches of her face and the water, did not listen to the warning. She continued to gaze at her reflection, making a funny face in between her silent musings. Her auburn hair flew when the wind passed by disrupting the water's peace. She felt irked that her hair was in her way so she blew at it. Oops... She sneezed.
The next thing the spectators heard was a thunderous splash of water and a freakishly sharp screech.
Anna groaned when she felt a solid thing hit her back. She felt for it for a few moments. Soft, drenched and squishy. Anna squeezed it a little more, the feeling was heavenly, it was soft yet firm, but then a picture of a greenish toad popped into her head, she cringed. I don't want to know what it is. She quickly retrieved her hand and grabbed onto the fountain's post. Water trickled down on her rosy face as she was just under the fountain's water trajectory. The water was cold—it was the first thing she had taken notice of. She tried to look up but the water did not permit her so. She was forced to close her eyes for the blast of water was strong to even open them. Before long she had a fit of cough when the flow of water eventually came too much. Anna had no choice but to move though she did not budge. Heavy. There was something heavy straining her movements.
"Heavy...You're heavy!" Anna coughed. She flailed her arms in a swift and frenzied motion. "Come on! Move!" she screamed in between coughs.
A groan was her only response. "My head" it said.
"Forget about your head, I'm drowning here" Anna coughed; her hands stopped its motion and eventually supported her body due to weight.
"Oh dear" The body quickly moved away, the next thing Anna heard was the ripple of water, then dripping. She turned and quickly scrambled from her position. She grabbed the fountain's rim and rested her hands, on top of them her head.
She let out a long breath "I thought I was going to die" exclaimed an exhausted Anna.
"Well, if you've been careful you wouldn't have to experience that" the sound of water echoed as it hit the stone floor. Anna opened her one eye and watched the blonde wring her clothes of water. Anna sighed. Of course it had to be Elsa. A few minutes made Anna remember the past miserable moments of embarrassment. A rush of blood went to her cheeks as she observes her hand, opening and then closing. That soft feeling... was Elsa's—. The thought echoed in her head. Her eyes widened in pure realization. Thoughts of what she may have touched flashed before her eyes. Again and again, it swirled in her, mockingly. That was Elsa. Elsa... I touched Elsa indecently! Anna swallowed; she continued to stare at her hand.
Elsa turned to her sister just as she wrung the last part of her now wrinkled clothes. "Anna, are you alright? You're acting weird" the Queen raised an inquiring brow. Anna did not respond but continued on contemplating. Elsa sighed; she sat beside her sister's head and leisurely combed Anna's auburn hair.
"If you're thinking about your indecent display earlier, I felt nothing" she said. Anna grunted.
Elsa knew her sister was battling waves of emotions now; Anna was easily embarrassed especially when she's there. So, as the older sister, she feigned ignorance.
Elsa hummed as she continued to comb her sister's damp hair. She watched her sister slump back further into one arm while her other hand clenched tightly hidden in the water. Elsa just ignored them and turned to look out the garden; her hands not stopping in its ministrations.
The sisters were soon shrouded by awkward silence. Only the dribbling sound of the water shooting out of the fountain and landing on the pond was heard. The breeze blew and both of them shivered.
Anna finally spoke. "Well that's just ironic"
Elsa chuckled yet she continued to gaze out her garden. "It was an accident"
"I know, but still, it's embarrassing" she shied away.
Elsa hummed "I'm your sister. You don't have to be embarrassed about things you did not intend to do, Anna. Especially, if it's just the two of us. But seriously, I don't know what you're talking about—that thing you've been sprouting from your mouth"
Anna opened and closed her mouth. She was thinking if she should answer her sister or should she just keep quiet about it. She kept her lips closed. Anna dropped her head over her arms again and groaned. I'm mumbling nonsense when in truth she didn't know about it.
She looked up at Elsa's face gleaming with water, attentively looking down at her. At first her thought ran about how angelic her sister's face was against the sun while the water sparkled on her skin. Silk smooth skin and pale like porcelain and freckles barely visible, unlike hers. A cute nose, dark eye shadows that framed her icy blue stare. They were enthralling—Anna had always found them so. She snapped out of her thoughts but not without a flush. She looked up again, and then in a small voice she asked "You're sure?"
Elsa watched Anna's face be veiled with light. The water was glistening on her skin while her blue eyes widened and teary as if pleading to her, it quickly melted Elsa's heart for it was so adorable.
Cute.
Elsa blushed quickly dismissing the thought and looked away as she nodded softly, "I am" who wouldn't agree to a face like that? But then again, everything was just so unexpected. And Anna, oh how very adorable that she thought of things like that. Soon after these thoughts ran on Elsa's head; a muffled giggle escaped her lips. Finding it was rather hard to control her laughter, she let it out and it echoed in their garden.
Anna slapped her forehead in sheer humiliation. It seems like Elsa found her humiliation, entertainment to her uneventful morning. Anna rolled her eyes. Oh just kill me now.
The bath was big. It was not something new to Anna or Elsa. Or so they thought.
The high ceiling mocked them—especially as it looked infinite with a trompe l'oeil of the heavens looking down upon them. A series of towering glass windows which looked out the greenish land beyond them were touching the ground, making every possible light pass through them. Gladly this was on the top floor or they might see the market from here, and the market them—Anna scoffed in her head. A thick fog clouded the pool where steaming hot water gushed out of marble vases held by perfectly carved granite women. Dozens of rose petals drifted in the water dynamically dancing in the rhythmic miniscule swells made by water like a ballet-orchestra in the late summer afternoon.
Elsa gripped her robes tighter as she gazed at the sight before them, gobsmacked.
"Are you sure this is the right bath?" Anna asked in the same flabbergasted expression her sister had. Elsa slowly turned her head to face Anna, she gulped.
"I don't know what to say, I'm perplexed as you are" she mumbled, barely loud enough for Anna to catch on. She cleared her throat when she became aware of Anna's stare. She quickly picked up her speech and continued.
"I've been using the bath on the other wing, so I don't know that this was even possible"
"I as well" both ladies let out a tensed chuckle.
"Do you want to even use this? Uh, with those petals swimming there?"
Elsa's eyes moved to meet her sister's. "I... I'd be a waste since, uh, they prepared this for us" she spoke with a tinge of nervousness dripping in her words.
"Um, yea, sure..." A moment of awkward silence was bestowed upon them. Anna squirmed in her position, from what Elsa had observed, she was obviously containing emotions—lots of it. But Anna is Anna she will eventually burst. As if on cue, Anna suddenly breathed out and squealed.
"My gods! I didn't even know that the big bath looked like this anymore! And it looks soooo—romantic with the petals and the aroma. Hey! Maybe it's more romantic at night" exclaimed the auburn headed princess. "We could star gaze and—" Elsa looked at her sharply. Anna hushed her excited squeals and instead played with her fingers.
"You know, since the castle kind of had been damaged by ice..." Anna added slowly—her gaze wavering.
Elsa nodded slowly. Now that her sister had mentioned it, truly it was rather cozy and well... romantic. And the fact that it was indeed her fault that some parts of the castle was still on repairs until this very day made her guilty of this sudden change of scenery. But she did not, even in her whole life, expect this. Yes, it was grand and it is a nice change—she had to admit. She could get over everything else, the walls, the ceiling and the statues, but what's with the petals and this romantic ambience? That was a whole different thing.
The Queen rubbed her forehead, still comprehending the situation. Thoughts like a 'how in the heavens was this possible?' or a 'who's responsible for this?' even maybe a 'who made this crazy idea?' and a 'Was this a joke?' invaded her mind. Is this a cruel joke? Elsa—without answers— found herself confused and embarrassed and there is but one option, to accept the mistake.
"It's my fault"
Anna gave her sister a perplexed look. Then a smirk spread across her lips, telling her sister that she had a mischievous thought. Realizing this, Elsa jumped; quickly facing her sister, also started flailing her arms while shaking her head "It's not what you think! I-... I-" she stammered.
"Oh, I didn't know you have a dream to bathe outside" Anna continued to smirk.
"I don't!" Her plead fell on deaf ears.
Anna laughed. "Just admit it, oh dear Queen Elsa, you have a guilty pleasure of having a bath out in the open" she snickered. "With these windows and that sky, oh wow, you really must have a great desire when it comes to public displays" she said, gesturing to the elongated windows and the ceiling.
The redness of Elsa's face had told Anna enough. Her smirk widened even more. Soon, she had clutched her stomach that ached in laughter. Humiliated, Elsa stomped her feet.
"No!" she yelled over her auburn headed sister's laughter. Anna stopped laughing though still held on to her stomach. She watched as Elsa continued her plea.
"I- I just told them that they have the liberty of re-designing—it" she mumbled. She took a look at the bath. It looked like it was taunting her. "And I asked Maria and Elena to prepare this for us, since they have suggested to use this one but I never knew they'd go this far" she huffed.
"Well, you decided right" Anna beamed. "This is absolutely gorgeous! Maria and Elena had done a very splendid job!"
"This is embarrassing!" protested Elsa as Anna grabbed her hand and drag her to the edge of the steaming hot water.
"What's embarrassing about this? This is so relaxing! I love it!"
"Y-you do?"
"Even if the roses seem cliché... Yes!" Elsa looked at her sister worriedly yet the princess just beamed. "Come on! What are we waiting for?" Anna snatched Elsa's clasped hands and hopped merrily in circles in place. Too excited to just stop and quietly remove their robes and jump into the water. Elsa struggled to release herself from Anna's grasp and twirling.
"Anna, you have to stop! I'm getting dizzy!"
"No! You have to enjoy this!" she told her, still jumping like she was dancing.
"But Anna! The ledge—" but it was too late. Anna tripped bringing her along the fall. The second splash occurred at that very moment.
Her sister's bell-like laughter greeted her as soon as her head broke through the water.
"Really, Anna, can't we have a regular bath? One where we do not fall unprepared?"
"But, isn't this more exciting and fun?" she simply replied. Elsa averted her gaze. Her sister held her chin and looked at her with worried blue eyes. "Don't you enjoy these?"
Elsa kept silent. Eyes casted downwards. The earlier events flashed before her eyes, their conversations and how awful she had been frequently contradicting Anna's advancement of fun for both of them. Sighing, she held Anna's hands in hers, gazing at her sister's eyes with her icy ones.
Truth be told, Elsa enjoyed it—especially the bath, though she has her reasons to suppress them and could not tell them to Anna. Elsa sucked in a deep breath.
"I do. I do enjoy it. I enjoy everything we do together—" her voice pleading. Not to Anna but to her own.
In general, Elsa enjoyed the company of her sister more than anything else. These ridiculous events just made them more memorable and it made her look forward for more of it. Elsa, treasures all of these to the smallest details. But how could she bring herself to have fun and grasp what Anna has been giving her if she knew she won't ever get more of this?
Thoughts of addiction to these things came into her mind. She can't have herself depress on petty things like these when it's gone. She had a kingdom to run that needed her in her fullest abilities and Anna— she can't have herself running after her when in reality Anna is bound to be with Kristoff, well sooner than later. She just can't bring herself to dwell on more things that reminded her of Anna, especially these memories. It pained her greatly. She knew this was her punishment for her mistakes to Anna. Every day and every night, she wondered if letting Anna go was something she just had to accept. Rumours about Anna's love parade added to her anxiety, making everything move too quickly to her disgust.
She loves Anna dearly as her sister, she wants Anna to be happy but what she wanted was Anna to be happy with her, though it's not possible because reality tells her Anna will be happy with Kristoff. She had accepted it, that the 'Yes' she had heard in the garden two days ago was a 'Yes' that decided this topic. Yet why was she still so angry when Kristoff is involved? Why doesn't she want her and Kristoff to be happily married? Why is it that she desperately wished Anna to just choose her instead of that blonde man and that she had said 'No' instead? Why? Why? Why? Even though she knew in her mind she accepted it. She continuously debates it among herself. All these 'whys' kept her awake all night. Was there something more to this unbearable sisterly love? Was this sister complexity they often describe to her? Or was this a feeling of something she did not know she was harbouring until now—what if she was in love with her sister?
She paused at her thoughts.
No! That's not possible. I'm not in love—
She just loves Anna dearly—that's right. And the love that thawed the ice three months ago was just sisterly love—not love as in lover's love. That'd be ridiculous. Insane! And Anna is the only family she had left and she'd soon be a member of another's, namely Kristoff. Eventually leaving her... that was her conclusion. She was just being paranoid. She's just afraid of being alone again though she wouldn't admit it.
But enough of that, eventually she will only come back to one thought and that is to avoid getting hurt further and her only option was to slowly move away, let Anna think that she's happy just as she is. Only a sister— only a Queen. She couldn't dwell on what ifs. She couldn't afford to be selfish this time.
"It's just that—"
Elsa turned and met Anna's eyes. She couldn't bear to look at what Anna's eyes were telling her. Worry, love and hurt. Elsa decided to just walk away and leave.
"Just what! — Elsa?" Anna sharply replied. She grabbed Elsa's hands strongly, making her sister look at her. "You're doing it again! You're running away!"
"I'm not running away Anna. It's just that I need to go to the courts now—"
"The courts! It's always the courts! You don't even have any time for me anymore! I understand that you are the Queen but you're neglecting your obligation to me, to your family"
"Anna, that's not it. I have a bigger obligation to our people. I can't spend all my day fooling around with you"
"You're the Queen, aren't you? Why can't you just tell them that you need to spend time with your family? Am I not important anymore?" she paused, a pleading look on her face. "Haven't you noticed I've been trying to get your attention, but all you do is stray from them and ignore me. It's like you don't even want to be near me anymore. I thought we've been passed that, it's like you're moving far away again..." she whispered. "If you have a problem, why don't you just tell me?"
Elsa just watched her sister; she gritted her teeth in irritation that Anna thought of it that way. Denial. "I'm not hiding! And I don't have a problem. My only problem is my people's problem and you pestering me about insignificant things. This is work Anna, important work. I need to finish them—this is not hiding or running away"
"Is it? It's the same thing you said before when you buried yourself in your studies, ignoring every advances I made. I'm not a fool Elsa to fall for it twice. I thought you knew that doing that doesn't change anything, it just hurts you... and me"
"What do you want me to do? Huh?" she sharply replied. "To just spend every waking moment together and just don't give a damn about the whole kingdom?"
Taken aback by Elsa's outburst, Anna took a step back though she did not let go of Elsa's wrist. "No..."
"Then what—Anna?" cold words left Elsa's lips.
Hesitation boiled in Anna's chest. She can't fall, now that she had Elsa's attention. She can't let the past repeat itself... she just have to keep fighting for it. For Elsa. For Us. "What's the problem Elsa? Why are you acting cold? Why are you keeping your distance from me? I thought we understood each other. That day three months ago—no more hiding, no more secrets—you told me that"
"That was three months ago Anna and a lot of things happened then! We're not the same as before. Sure, we reconciled but things are much more complicated than what we have hoped...I'm the Queen now—and my responsibilities are endless— I can't have delays and insignificant emotions playing with politics and ruling a kingdom. Things are different now." Elsa casted her eyes down, she watched the ripples and Anna's reflection.
"The only thing different is that you're throwing me aside and then concealing everything, your problems and your feelings, under that damn responsibility talk and that queenly façade. That stupid mask you wear everyday! Why can't you just confide and find comfort in me?"
"It wasn't my decision to be Queen, Anna and you know that. I have a lot of things to worry about and I can't have myself pouring out emotions and let my pitiful self cling to you every day, drowning myself on my petty feelings and what you do with your life—"
"Then I don't want you as a Queen! I'm your sister Elsa! Why can't you just act like it? I don't want you to act all queen-like on me. I want a sister, I want your love Elsa and all you're giving me is a cold shoulder when all I present to you is a shoulder you could confide in—" tears threatened Anna's eyes. Elsa saw these tears but refused to be swayed. She closed her eyes and said the very thing that she didn't want to say.
She snatched her arms away. "Well I don't want to be your sister! From this moment forth I am your Queen— Anna, and you shan't question my decisions further!"
Anna gasped; the tears that were waiting along her eyes soon fell as those words left her Queen's lips. Soon her sobs filled the room.
Elsa took one last look, turned around and left. As she closed the doors, Anna's sobs echoed from behind them she clenched her chest, her breath heavy from her pained heart as she tried to keep her tears at bay. She did it again, and now it was something final. She closed her eyes and ran.
Long and empty. This was the view that greeted Anna of Arendelle. She sat down at the side of the table, two chairs left of the head's chair.
The food presented before her were steaming and looked obviously delicious but Anna doesn't have the heart to even look at it or even dare to smell it. She didn't even feel hungry, not in the slightest. Yet as the maids watched her, she felt horrible to put perfectly prepared food to waste, so she slowly picked up the spoon then carefully dipped it in the vegetable soup resting on her plate. She stirred it and the steam let off. She watched as the steam danced away from its origin dispersing in the cold dining room.
She repeated this process for a few minutes. The maids however knew Anna well enough to know that there was something bothering the child. So, one brave enough spoke up.
"P-pardon me, your Highness. Are you not satisfied with the food?" she inquired.
Anna turned her head though her eyes did not meet the addressee. "Where's Elsa?" she said barely in a whisper.
"I-I'm sorry?"
"Is she not coming down for supper?"
The maid looked at her companion briefly. Understanding what Anna had meant she carefully chose her words for a few moments and replied. "Her Majesty wishes to not be disturbed for meal. She won't be coming down for supper, I'm afraid"
"Is that so" Anna bit her lip as sadness and irk seeped into her heart. She was irritated by how Elsa maneuvered everything perfectly just so she could avoid her. She wasn't done talking to Elsa in the bath earlier, oh no, she was just beginning but it seems like anger, hurt and agitation got ahead of them both that they could not even think before everything exploded in front of them.
She just wanted to know what Elsa was feeling or if Elsa was stressed about all the castle duties she had to do. She just wanted to help and by doing so she had now been sentenced to serve her as Queen without any second motion. She didn't want that. She never wanted that but it happened.
Anna inhaled sharply as the long gone tears she thought had stopped started to escape from her eyes. Elsa's cold hard gaze haunted her. Surely she had been fine by it, even liked it before when it graced her sister's face. But, with those words accompanying them she felt extremely horrible just remembering them. Her jaw tightened and her fist clenched as it became unbearable.
CRASH.
The maids, startled by the sudden outburst Anna had displayed, quickly moved to put a stop to it.
"Don't. Just— Leave me alone!" she screeched. The maids backed away from Anna who stood before the mess of broken plates and glasses, chair toppled. They nervously got up to their toes and fled the room.
Now, Elsa had been running a path on her rug when she thought Anna was peacefully eating dinner.
She had bit her nails and lips over and over to the point that her nails had chipped slightly and her lips bruised from over thinking about the events in the great bath. She knew her anger and cowardice had placed a bigger dent in their relationship but she continuously told herself it was for the best. She had felt a bit relaxed; less agitated but still worried that she gone overboard with her sudden outburst.
A series of loud bangs on her mahogany door brought her back from her musings and then a muffled voice that sounded urgent caught her attention. Her heart sped up as she walked closer to the door. She opened it and her lady-in-waiting was waiting before it. Her look was distressed and tired—obviously from running as fast as she could to deliver something urgent. Her fear suddenly came full when she noticed that the lady's face expressed more worry. With lips shaking, Elsa asked:
"What's the problem?"
"It's Princess Anna, your Majesty"
Elsa ran down the stairs as fast as her feet could carry her. When she came to a stop in front of the great double doors of her dining area, the only thing she had heard was sobbing—Anna was crying.
Her heart dropped at the sound of anguish coming from her sister's lips, she held the door with one of her palms as she rested her head over them to feel Anna over the door. Her other hands clasped the knob gently pushing it open. She took a small peak at first; afraid of a sight she might not want to see. Slowly she opened the door enough for her to slip through. Her heart completely fell as she saw Anna, sitting among shards of broken glass and china and biting her fist as an attempt to muffle her cries. Anna looked broken and she did this to her. Elsa felt tears on her cheeks, she cried at Anna's state.
She approached her slowly, careful not to make any more loud noise by stepping on the already crunching glass. She knelt before her sister and took her by the cheeks. Anna strayed her gaze from Elsa for a moment but immediately buried her head on her sister's chest.
"I'm sorry" she sobbed and repeated them. Elsa hushed her rubbing her back and then kissing her head saying: "It's alright" over and over again.
"I don't want what you said. Please. Take it back" she cried.
Elsa nodded, understanding what Anna had meant. She had gone overboard with her words and she felt disgusted by her lack of wisdom and compassion. Sure, Anna was truly stubborn at first but she was indeed still her sister, her family and she had purposely ignored her to the point that it drove Anna to the brink of desperation. Desperate for her attention.
"I take them back Anna, so please don't do this anymore..." she breathed to her sister's ear. "I'm sorry"
Anna nodded.
[TBC. REVIEW PLEASE]
