The sisters slept most of the morning. Anna was still exhausted from traveling all night to find Elsa, and Elsa's body needed to recover from the trauma she had undergone. Anna insisted that Elsa sit up and stay awake long enough to eat some more bread around mid-morning, but she soon fell peacefully asleep again in Anna's arms. Anna eventually got tired of being still and ended up pacing back and forth across the barn floor. She needed to be moving, but she didn't want Elsa to be out of her sight. Unfortunately, she was too far away to notice the uneasy frown that developed on Elsa's face in Anna's absence as she slept and the way her body twitched restlessly now and then.
Kristoff returned shortly after midday with a smile on his face. Anna stopped her pacing and turned to him expectantly.
"Good news," he reported, "the people are not completely accepting of Hans' rule. Some are suspecting foul play of one sort or another." But then his face fell.
"Unfortunately, some unsavory rumors are spreading about your fate. I heard at least one person say that, um…" he lowered his voice so Elsa couldn't hear him if she was awake. "That the queen killed you. Public opinion of her is uneasy at best." Anna almost growled. Her hands were fisted at her sides.
"They know nothing!" she spat.
"No," Kristoff agreed, trying to calm the irate redhead, "they don't. Which is why you have to go tell them. You and Elsa. A city councilman owes me a big favor, so I asked him to gather as many people as he can in the northeast district square. In two hours' time, you'll address the people there. Show them you're alive, that kind of thing. With any luck, they will rally behind you and help you get rid of Hans. You can use the orders we found as evidence of his deception." He handed the bloody paper Olaf had found on the mercenary to Anna, who stowed it in her dress.
"How will we get into the city?" she asked. "Did you see any more patrols?"
"A few," he replied grimly. "So I borrowed a covered wagon. Elsa is in no shape to walk all the way into the city, but Sven said he would pull the wagon. We must leave soon if we are to get there in time for the gathering."
"I can't believe you set all that up, Kristoff. Thank you," Anna said, suddenly amazed at the mountain man's innovation.
"You don't sell ice in the city without learning how to pull a few strings," he said with a grin, before heading for the door. "The stories I could tell…"
Anna let him go and turned to Elsa. The queen was awake and struggling to sit up. Anna wasn't sure how much Elsa heard until she saw her get to her knees, wince, and try to stand. Anna rushed to support her.
"I take it you heard the news," Anna suggested, gently pulling her sister to her feet.
"Most of it. We're headed to Arendelle in a covered wagon?" Anna was relieved to see that Elsa's eyes were brighter and she seemed a bit stronger and not in as much pain.
"Yep. We're going to address the people. We'll show them that we're alive, and that Arendelle belongs to us and not that sleazy princeling." Elsa chuckled at Anna's degrading reference to Hans and walked with the princess's help out into the daylight. While Elsa waited outside by the wagon, Anna retrieved their few belongings from the barn along with a large armful of hay to sit on. Kristoff brought some as well, and they had soon produced a comfortable seat for the sisters. Anna helped Elsa climb in and closed the canvas back of the wagon behind them. They heard Kristoff call to Sven from in front, and then they were moving.
Anna insisted that Elsa lie down to conserve her energy. She could see that Elsa was becoming anxious about something, so she sat down beside her and asked her what was wrong.
"We'll go before the people," Elsa began nervously. "The last time I went before our people, I almost killed them."
"It was an accident, Elsa," Anna insisted, "and nobody got hurt. You haven't hurt anyone – only those who intended to harm us."
"But what if-"
"No, Elsa. You can't think like that."
"I can't control it!" Anna paused at her sister's exclamation, unsure as to whether Elsa was talking about her powers or her thought patterns.
"It's okay," she said soothingly. "It'll be better now because I'm with you. I'll help you figure this out. Will you trust me?"
"You don't know how to stop this, to stop me," Elsa insisted and to her alarm the wagon was beginning to carry a sharp chill. Anna noticed as well and without thinking she climbed halfway on top of Elsa and held her close.
"Shh…" she murmured. "Listen to me. It's going to be all right. I love you." At those last words, the cold lessened noticeably, leaving Anna smiling as she held on to her sister. Elsa breathed hard in amazement.
"Wha-"
"I love you," Anna repeated forcefully, squeezing Elsa tightly. As Elsa finally gave in to her sister's embrace, the chill vanished entirely. Anna's joyful laughter almost made the queen smile again.
"Don't you see?" Anna grinned, pulling away a bit to shake Elsa's shoulders in excitement. "When you're afraid, it gets away from you. But when you feel safe, when you know I love you, it's easy to manage. Isn't it?"
"But… but what about when those men… attacked us? I was afraid then, and I could control it," Elsa stuttered.
"What were you more afraid of? Me getting hurt or yourself getting hurt?"
"You, of course," Elsa replied immediately. "I love you."
"There! That's got to be it! Love!" Anna was nearly shouting. "If your powers are prompted by fear, you can't control them. But love… love is the answer! If you use your powers out of love instead, they act according to your command!" The younger girl was beaming, but Elsa still wasn't convinced.
"There… there was once that it didn't work like that, Anna. I… I know you don't remember, but I owe you an explanation. For everything. I… might as well tell you now." Elsa reluctantly and haltingly explained the childhood adventure in which she slipped and struck Anna with her powers. She finally clarified for Anna the very moment in which their world had changed.
"That's why you don't remember. That's why I was kept away from you. That's why I could never build a snowman with you even though I really wanted to. I promise I did, Anna. Always. Every single time you asked. I never meant it when I told you to go away! I had to say that to keep you safe from me. I always loved you. I always wanted you near. Hearing your voice now and then was all that ever kept me from… from…" The older girl broke off in tears for a moment. Anna was speechless.
"You must hate me," Elsa whispered, drawing away. "Why would you love me? Now that you know what I did to you." Anna was crying too, but she shook her head emphatically.
"I could never hate you! It was an accident!" she gasped through her tears. "Elsa… I'm… I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed and buried herself in Elsa's arms. "All those years… you must have been so scared! And all alone! You didn't mean to hit me! If I hadn't been jumping… oh Elsa it's all my f-"
"No! Anna, don't you dare say that," Elsa's voice was suddenly strong and fierce as she held tightly to Anna. "It was absolutely not your fault. And," her voice softened significantly, "m-maybe it wasn't mine, either. Maybe it really was just a terrible, terrible accident." Anna nodded wordlessly against Elsa's shoulder and shifted her head to listen to Elsa's heartbeat. Her tears kept flowing at the thought of her sister not sitting behind the door hating her or ignoring her as she had thought, but missing her terribly. Burned into her mind's eye was the mental image of a scared, lonely little girl stuck in a frozen room, pressed against the door just for a chance to hear her voice. Guilt swamped the young woman as she thought of the years she didn't even speak to Elsa.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Anna repeated over and over in a tortured whisper as she clung to her sister.
"Shh, shh, it's okay," Elsa insisted, rubbing Anna's back. "It's okay now. You didn't know. Anna, you didn't know. It's all right. We're here now. I've… I've got you." Elsa's tears multiplied as she repeated the words she'd spoken over an unconscious child thirteen years previously. Only now they could make a difference.
As Elsa stroked her fingers through Anna's hair, she suddenly gasped.
"Anna!" the girl sat up at Elsa's exclamation.
"What? What is it?" she asked, alarmed.
"Y-your hair! The spot… where I struck you… it… it's not white any more."
"Really?" Anna asked, slightly disappointed.
"Yes," Elsa responded in wonder, touching Anna's changed hair tentatively as if afraid it might not be true.
"Oh. I kind of liked it," Anna almost grumbled. "I knew it was the same color as yours. I liked that I always had a little bit of you with me." Elsa's face fell at her sister's comment. She was at a loss for words. But Anna quickly brightened and leaned against Elsa again.
"But now I have all of you with me, and I like this much better." The older girl finally smiled and reclaimed Anna in her embrace. Anna was quiet as she rested in Elsa's arms. Her childhood finally made sense, but it was a lot for her to take in. So many things had changed.
"Are you okay?" Elsa finally asked.
"I… I guess so," Anna replied shakily, pulling away to look at her sister. "It's… It's just such a shock."
"I know," Elsa smiled wanly. "I should have told you long ago, but I was so afraid that you would hate me. I still probably could have picked a better time to tell you. But now you know."
"Now I know," Anna repeated. "I could never hate you, Elsa. And I promise I'll never leave you. I'll never let anyone keep me away from you ever again." Elsa gave a teary smile and responded by holding Anna tightly in her arms.
"Not even you," Anna added firmly. Elsa didn't have the heart to argue even if she wanted to. She just settled on enjoying the closeness she had with Anna as they lay together on the hay in the gently rocking wagon. The thought that nothing would make it end brought immense peace to the queen's fragile heart.
Elsa was almost asleep with Anna in her arms when Kristoff knocked on the wagon frame.
"I see a patrol ahead," he called through the canvas. "Cover up and hide in case they search the wagon." Anna sprang into action, leaping up from Elsa's embrace and digging a hole in the hay near the front of the wagon. She helped Elsa crawl into it and covered her with the blanket. Elsa lay flat on her stomach so she could breathe and kept a space clear for Anna while the princess piled hay on top of and all around their hiding place. She slid in beside Elsa and pulled some hay with her to conceal her entrance, and not a moment too soon. The wagon lurched to a stop and they heard muffled voices outside.
"I'm just an ice merchant," they heard Kristoff declare. "I'm headed to town to trade this wagon for a new sled." Anna and Elsa shared an amused glance – Kristoff didn't even have to lie, technically.
"We're looking for two fugitives from the law - a couple of women in stolen formal garb. Seen any on your travels?"
"No sir, nobody fitting that description." There was a pause.
"I don't believe him. Check the wagon," the man commanded.
"You don't have to believe me," Kristoff commented casually, "but you're free to check it. Got nothing in there but some hay for my reindeer." The women did their best to keep from shaking in fear as they heard the fabric on the back of the wagon tear open. A tense silence passed, and then the voices resumed.
"Yeah boss, there's nothing there."
"Very well. Sorry to trouble you, lad."
"It's all right. Happy hunting," Kristoff replied as the wagon rumbled on. The women could hear the cloth back of the wagon flapping in the wind, so they didn't dare move in case the patrol was watching them depart. Anna reached for Elsa's hand and held it tightly as they rode in much less comfort on the hard wooden slats. Elsa bit her lip to keep from crying out as her injured side shot pain through her body with every jolt. When Kristoff called the all-clear, Anna slithered out and closed the back of the wagon, then unearthed her sister.
"Get secure," Kristoff warned. "We'll have to hurry to get to the square on time now. I hope you're ready to talk to the people." He gave them a few moments to settle in before he urged Sven onward. The bumping increased, but Anna and Elsa were once again comfortably ensconced in the hay and didn't mind it. Anna could feel a chill spreading and reassured her sister with a warm hug.
"Don't be afraid," Anna said. "Just tell them what happened and how they don't need to be afraid of you. You'll be a good queen – I know you will. You were taught how to give a speech, right?"
"I was. I just… have never spoken in public before."
"That's okay! I haven't either. I'll be right there with you, I promise."
By mid afternoon the wagon rumbled into the city square and stopped. A large crowd had already gathered and the people were starting to wonder why they had been summoned.
"Thanks for orchestrating all of this, Ivar," the sisters heard Kristoff murmur to a man at the front of the wagon. Another voice replied.
"My debt is repaid. Now Kristoff, tell me what this is all about. Why did you request an assembly of all things?"
"You'll see soon enough," Kristoff said cryptically, and walked to the back of the wagon. When he opened it slightly, he found Elsa and Anna standing, brushing the hay off of one another.
"The people are here," he informed them. "Sven got us close to the Shouting Wall."
"Shouting Wall? What's that?" Anna asked, smoothing Elsa's hair and adjusting her sister's dress to hide the tear in the front.
"It's where people shout from," he deadpanned, but then he grinned. "That's not inaccurate, though. It's where people stand to speak to the crowd. The buildings around here magnify your voice from on top of the wall so people all over the square can hear you clearly. If you wish to address the people, this is the best place to do it."
"Thank you, Kristoff," Elsa said, drawing herself to her full height with a wince and trying to appear prepared and confident, though she was inwardly terrified. Anna squeezed her hand tightly and followed her sister out of the wagon.
The people's chatter died down as they watched two women in roughed-up, bloodied formal dresses ascend the stairs of the Shouting Wall. Muffled sentence fragments lanced through the air around them.
"Is that the Queen?"
"…thought she died…"
"They're both alive?"
"But Hans said…"
"…can you believe…"
Elsa's fingers chilled as she took in the whispered utterances, but Anna squeezed her hand and whispered an "I love you" into her ear as they finally stood on top of the wall. Her hand warmed in response. Elsa stood stock-still and scanned the mass of people, most of whom were staring back at her expectantly.
"Say something to them," Anna whispered excitedly. "You can do it! I'm right here." Elsa swallowed hard and stepped forward. Anna placed a hand on her shoulder to encourage her.
"People of Arendelle," Elsa began shakily. "I… I would first like to apologize for the freeze. I never intended for it to happen and I accept full responsibility for any damages it caused. I also apologize for sequestering myself for all those years. It… it is only due to your princess that this pattern has changed. She saved my life. I humbly ask that you… accept the things about me that are so different. Please do not fear the strange power that I wield." She let a few snowflakes dance and fall from her hand. Some people gasped, but she dropped her hand and continued. "I do not intend to use this ability for harm, but rather for the benefit of all. I wish to rule in the interests of the people, as my late parents did, with grace and compassion. Thank you for your attention." She fell silent and after a tense moment she turned to Anna.
"I don't know what else to say," she whispered fearfully to her sister, but supportive murmurs began to issue forth from the crowd. The people were starting to smile and a few began to clap. The applause rose and Elsa looked about in amazement.
"This is your queen!" Anna exclaimed in elation. She gestured grandly with one hand as she stepped forward and put an arm around Elsa. "She sacrificed everything for us, even her life! It is a miracle that she still lives. She protected me - protected us for years, selflessly! Now she has come into her own. Would you let this islander prince, this usurper, send out men to strike us down? To murder the royal family and declare himself king over Arendelle? Yes, this is what has happened! It is all true!" She shouted as she pulled the mercenary's bloodied command sheet from her dress and waved it aloft. "But we are not so easily defeated!" She crushed it in her hand and threw it to the ground.
"Citizens, should you be made subject to the Southern Isles, or are you meant to be free? People of Arendelle, I implore you. Rise up with us! Rise up with the queen who saved you and let us take back our home together!"
A mighty roar arose from the people in response to Anna's stirring speech while Elsa gaped at her in astonishment. How did she learn to speak like that? Anna turned to her sister and grinned radiantly.
"See? They love you!" she gushed in a whisper, and Elsa finally smiled.
A man in fine clothes pushed through the energized crowd and picked up the stained orders Anna had thrown down. His eyes widened as he examined the paper and he approached the wall where the sisters stood. He bowed low before them.
"My queen," he began. "I pledge my life to you and to your reign, and hereby vow to make good on the promise I made to your father the late king to uphold his family line. I will do all in my power to restore you to your rightful throne and support your role as our leader, so mote it be." His oath made, the man rose and looked up at Elsa.
"Your Majesty, I am Councilman Ivar Hofstad, the city steward of Arendelle. I served under your father in the past. You and I have corresponded through letters for years, but this is the first time we have met face to face. I am very glad to finally make your acquaintance. It would be my utmost honor to organize a campaign to oust this pretender and set things right. Will you allow me the privilege of leading this effort?" Feeling strong and secure with her sister's arm still wrapped tightly around her, Elsa smiled and responded confidently.
"Sir Hofstad, you have been a loyal friend to my family for years. I have not forgotten your correspondence and your dedication to Arendelle. I am most thankful for your support, and I gladly accept your gracious offer to lead a response. Please do as you see fit in this endeavor, and may we enjoy many more years of fruitful cooperation in the future." The man beamed and bowed again before turning to the crowd. He was soon barking orders. As a well-known leader of the people, the crowd listened to him and obeyed his commands. He and ten large men soon approached the queen.
"Your Majesty, these men are members of the city militia and are loyal to the crown." The men bowed and intoned pledges of fealty to Elsa. "They will serve as your personal guard force through this process. Messengers have been sent ahead to tell the rest of the city that you yet live and that you remain our queen. I suspect that when the professional guard regiment in the castle learns of the prince's deception, they will immediately join our cause. However, if Hans sends another party to threaten your life these men will protect you."
"Thank you again, Sir Hofstad," Elsa said gratefully. "This would not be possible without you. You will certainly be rewarded upon stabilization of the country." The man smiled and shook his head.
"Our continued freedom is the only reward I require," he replied, nodding to Princess Anna and bowing again to them both before walking away to oversee the rest of the teams.
Finally out of the spotlight, Elsa sagged with exhaustion and leaned heavily on Anna. The guards were immediately concerned and moved forward but Elsa's panicked glance had Anna shooing them away as she helped her sister down from the wall. Anna led her to a bench and they sat down.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, um…" a guard nervously began, unsure as to how to address the royalty before him, "Queen Elsa, are you all right? Is there anything we can do?" Elsa merely blinked vacant eyes and leaned closer to Anna, who suddenly realized how quickly her sister was shutting down.
"Your queen was badly injured in the process of thawing Arendelle and protecting us from the assassins," she grimly informed the concerned man and pulled Elsa closer. "Please find us a safe place where she can recover." He nodded quickly, bowed, and almost stumbled over his own feet as he rushed to the nearby residences to inquire for the queen.
"Anna…" Elsa moaned, letting her head fall onto her sister's shoulder.
"Elsa! Are you all right? What's wrong?" The princess was starting to panic, to say nothing of the remaining guards who were all fidgeting helplessly at the sight of their queen's suffering.
"Don't feel good," she murmured. "Tired and… dizzy... Anna…"
"Don't worry, I've got you. You're gonna be okay," Anna whispered, wrapping her arms around her sister. Elsa collapsed wearily into Anna's embrace and closed her eyes. Anna glanced up and took notice of the guards and their distress.
"Shield us, please," Anna requested of them, so they stood in a semicircle with their backs to the sisters, protecting them from passing eyes. Anna rubbed her sister's back and murmured to her,
"Hold on, Elsa."
Shortly, the guard returned panting with news that a trustworthy family had opened their home to them and that they were welcome immediately. Anna helped Elsa to her feet and pulled her sister's arm over her shoulder so that she could support the weak queen. The guards drew close intending to help Elsa walk, but Anna clutched her sister close and scowled.
"No!" she shouted fiercely. At their shocked and contrite expressions, she spoke again but quieter. "I mean, I'm sorry. I'm not mad at you. Just… just escort us, please. I'll help her." So they did. The house wasn't far, thankfully, as Elsa was fading fast. The guards' ad hoc formation enclosed them as they walked, protecting them from curious eyes. The woman whose house they entered quickly welcomed them in and led them to a windowless interior room. Seeing that it was secure, Anna carefully laid her barely-conscious sister down on a bed and looked her over. Elsa's eyelids were fluttering as she struggled to stay awake and she moved her hand sluggishly toward Anna. She took Elsa's hand in hers and smiled gently.
"You were great out there, you know? I'm very proud of you," she said. A slight smile lifted Elsa's features in response.
"You get some rest, all right? I'll take care of you now. You're safe; I'm right here," Anna soothed her sister, holding her hand and caressing her face until Elsa was asleep.
Anna soon met with the homeowner in the hallway.
"Your Highness," the woman greeted as she curtsied.
"Thank you for welcoming us into your home," Anna exclaimed in relief. "She really needed… we… just, thank you."
"Of course," the woman smiled, put at ease by Anna's disjointed yet fervent gratitude. "If there is anything you need, please let us know. Your location is being kept secret – only your guards know where you and the queen are. One of their number has left to inform the steward." Concern filtered over the woman's gentle face. "Is Her Majesty all right? Need I send for a doctor?"
"No," Anna replied, "not yet. She mostly needs to rest. We can have a doctor see her when she's safely in the castle again."
Anna soon returned to Elsa's side. The queen was fast asleep, lying in the same position in which Anna had left her. Anna took off her sister's shoes and covered her with a blanket she found at the foot of the bed. Not content to simply sit at her side, Anna climbed onto the bed and curled up beside Elsa, hoping that her warmth would help Elsa recover.
Anna opened her eyes at the sound of a soft knock on the door. She had dozed off with her face buried in Elsa's shoulder. The groggy princess smoothed her hair down and carefully got out of the bed without waking her sister.
She stepped out into the hallway and left the door cracked so that she could still hear Elsa if she were to cry out. There stood Councilman Hofstad who bowed before meeting Anna's eyes with a triumphant smile on his face.
"Your Highness, I bring good news," he said quietly, mindful that his queen might be asleep. "I presented to the guard commander the hit order you brought back from the assassination attempt. Upon verifying its authenticity, the royal guards immediately arrested Hans. They also arrested the Duke of Weselton, who they found looking through private trade documents in the queen's study. They are both currently detained in the dungeons. Our forces have been dispatched to neutralize the other mercenary groups and it is now safe to return to the castle." Anna bounced with joy and excitement and thanked the councilman profusely.
"What of the queen?" he asked worriedly. "I was told she collapsed shortly after I left. Is she unwell?"
"Um…" Anna paused. "I think she'll be okay. She needs… a lot of rest. We almost lost her up there. Multiple times. I'm still not entirely sure how she's alive right now." The councilman nodded grimly in response.
"She has been improving, though," Anna added encouragingly. "When she is safely in the castle again, I will request a physician." Ivar nodded understandingly.
"I will send for a carriage so that you can be taken there immediately," he said and bowed again.
After bidding him goodbye, Anna returned to her sister. The room was dark with the door closed and only a few candles to illuminate the space. Anna stood beside the bed and watched the form within. Elsa seemed eerily still in the flickering light and a sudden fear swept over Anna. She leaned on the side of the bed and bent over Elsa's body to press an ear to her sister's chest. A steady heartbeat soothed the girl and she relaxed. She was startled when a hand threaded gentle fingers through her hair. She jerked in surprise and looked up to find Elsa's heavy-lidded eyes blinking at her.
"Anna…" Elsa's voice was as soft as the embrace she sleepily closed over her sister.
"Hey," she replied, snuggling into Elsa's arms. She pulled her feet off of the ground and into the bed, pressing her body warmly against her sister's.
"I have some good news for you," Anna began. "We can go home now."
"Home?" Elsa murmured, scarcely believing her ears.
"Yeah, Elsa. We're going to go home." Anna felt Elsa's breath hitch under her ear and she looked up in concern. Elsa was lying still but tears were streaming from the corners of her eyes.
"Elsa! What's wrong?" Anna exclaimed, but Elsa merely shook her head side to side and continued to cry. Not knowing what else to do, Anna climbed to the top of the bed and cradled Elsa's head in her arms, whispering soft words to her sister. Instead of calming down, Elsa seemed to only get more distraught. Anna felt so helpless that she began to cry as well.
"Elsa," she murmured despairingly through her tears. "What's happening to you?" Elsa was trembling and didn't respond. She seemed intently focused on her inner emotional pain and Anna wasn't sure how to bring her out of it.
"I'm so worried about you," she whispered tremulously, her lips in Elsa's hair. She pressed a frightened kiss to her sister's head. "Please come back to me, Elsa. Please?" Gradually Elsa's torment seemed to ease. Her trembling lessened and she wasn't crying as hard. She returned to her senses a little upon recognizing her sister's scent and hearing her worried voice. Elsa was still wrapped up tight in Anna's arms, cradled against her chest, when she forced out a whisper.
"Anna?" The princess gasped when she heard Elsa's voice, but the queen continued. "I'm… I'm o-okay," she stuttered. "I j-just… felt a lot. All of a… s-sudden. B-because I can f-finally…" she bit back another whimper, "finally be home… with you."
"Oh Elsa…" Anna whispered, holding her sister tightly as her own tears choked her voice.
"It's so… so different," Elsa continued. "I didn't… I never thought… that it could ever be like that again." Tears threatened to overcome the queen, but Anna was quick to catch her attention before she descended back into the pain.
"Shh, it's all right," Anna soothed. "Don't… don't cry. Listen to me, Elsa. It'll be all right. In fact, it will be great! I'm really glad that I'll get to be home with you."
"Me too," Elsa whispered, finally relaxing into Anna's arms as the younger woman swabbed tears from both of their faces.
"When we get there, we'll get some more help for you. You can get lots of rest and then you'll feel better. And I won't ever leave your side. We'll eat chocolate all the time, and no matter what happens it will be wonderful because we'll be together, Elsa! We'll be home together." Her joy was contagious and soon they were both smiling. A knock sounded at the door, interrupting them.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, a carriage awaits," a voice called from outside. Anna shifted her legs back to the ground and helped Elsa sit up.
"Let's go home," she said with a smile and pulled Elsa to her feet. The queen took shaky steps, but she was able to walk with Anna supporting her. Elsa thanked the homeowner and the guards as they passed, and they stepped out of the door to find a carriage waiting as promised. Once they were inside, Elsa leaned comfortably against Anna's shoulder. Anna rested her head against Elsa's and smiled at her closeness as the carriage gently rumbled through the streets, carrying them home.
By the time the carriage arrived in the now-open castle courtyard, Elsa had fallen asleep. Anna thought of simply carrying her inside, but she didn't think Elsa would want people to see her like that. With great reluctance, she gently shook her sister awake.
"Hmm?" Elsa hummed and opened her eyes wearily.
"We're here," Anna murmured. "Come on. Just a little bit farther." She pulled Elsa out of their transport and helped her walk slowly to the castle doors. Elsa smiled when the doors opened to reveal Kai and Gerda. The elderly woman looked like she wanted to sweep the girls into her arms, while Kai grinned like a proud father at the sight of the royal sisters walking in together. The old couple bowed respectfully and ushered the women inside, where they did their level best to keep from bombarding the queen and princess with questions.
"Oh my, whatever has happened to you?" Gerda fretted over Elsa's bloodied and torn clothing. "Are you all right, dear?"
"I… I uh…" Elsa stuttered, glancing anxiously at Anna to rescue her.
"I'll explain later," the redhead said. "Elsa is… not feeling well. Please send for a doctor. I'll take her to the library." Kai nodded immediately and rushed off. Gerda hovered around them anxiously as Anna led her sister slowly down the hall.
"Will you bring us some water, Gerda? Please?" Anna asked over her shoulder as she supported Elsa's laborious steps. They finally arrived in the room and Anna laid Elsa down on the couch. Elsa's head reeled at the motion and she groaned. Anna's hand on her shoulder anchored her to her senses as her vision slowly cleared again. Anna was kneeling at her side, gazing at her with worry and compassion and stroking her shoulder with a restless thumb as they waited for help to arrive.
Doctor Lybeck had served the royal family for years. He was kept busy with Anna's scrapes and bruises through her lonely childhood and he knew her well, but he had not seen Elsa since she was very young. Kai showed him into the library where he was surprised by the sight of a grown Elsa being tended to by the familiar redheaded princess.
"Your Majesty," he bowed respectfully, "Princess Anna," he smiled a little at the girl, but his face dropped when he noticed her serious expression. Anna barely let him set down his bag before rapidly regaling him with their story. She had to hold Elsa's hand to keep from crying through the harder parts of their tale. She explained Elsa's miraculous healing, her scar and the pain she still suffered from it, her attacks of weakness, the fighting, the magic use, and everything she could think of. She told him every theory and every explanation she had come up with.
"May I examine the injury?" He asked, kneeling beside Anna. The girl looked to her older sister. Elsa simply nodded and let Anna move her dress. Lybeck did his best to keep from cringing at the sight of so much blood smeared on his patient's skin and soaked into her clothes. He lightly brushed a finger over the ridge and Elsa flinched.
"Painful to the touch," he muttered to himself, before pressing lightly on the area around it. Elsa was holding her breath in increasing discomfort, not at all calmed by Anna's attempts to distract her. With no warning, Lybeck pushed hard on the scar with his thumb, causing Elsa to scream in pain and writhe away from the pressure.
"Hey! Stop that! You're hurting her!" Anna exclaimed, her protective nature overcoming her knowledge that a trusted person was just trying to help her sister. She shoved the doctor away and instinctively shielded Elsa with her body. Elsa stifled her cries of pain with her now-freezing hands and curled up in a ball on the couch. When the man got up from the ground and held up his hands as a sign of peace, Anna turned her full attention to her sister. She held Elsa's head close to her chest as tears and ragged breaths escaped Elsa's shuddering body.
"I am sorry," the physician said apologetically. "I meant her no harm. It was necessary."
"Don't ever do that again!" Anna shouted, glaring distrustfully at him.
"Of course not, Your Highness," he replied respectfully. "Fortunately, I believe I am done examining the queen."
"It's all right, Elsa. He won't hurt you any more. Shh, it's okay." Her soft whispers eased Elsa's fear and pain. She opened scared, bleary eyes with an expression of such helplessness and confusion that it broke Anna's heart.
"What could doing that to her possibly tell you?" Anna snapped at Lybeck. She was huddled over Elsa, continuing to soothe her sister despite the harsh tone she directed toward the doctor.
"I had to press to feel how deep the damage goes. It seems as though the injury healed from the inside out," he explained, remorseful for the pain he had caused. "It is important to know how much healing has taken place in order to see if anything can be done to treat it." Anna nodded at this, slightly mollified.
"Her heart appears to be fully restored, as well as the deep area around it," he continued, "but everything is still very fragile and inflamed. This scar is fairly superficial; I am not sure that the area between her ribs has completely mended yet. That is why I had to press - to look for the extent of the damage." He sighed, wishing his first interaction in years with Elsa hadn't involved causing her such agony.
"Fortunately, the worst damage seems relatively shallow," he said in relief. "Clearly the area is still quite painful, but everything underneath seems to be more or less intact. The scarring would likely worsen if it were somehow reopened, but it seems to be healing quite well."
"What about her episodes of weakness and dizziness?" Anna asked more civilly. "Is that from this injury, too?"
"The fatigue you described is perhaps due to the injury as well as the stress of what you both went through to make it back alive. I agree with your theory, Princess Anna, that using her powers so soon after such a traumatic event sapped her strength. Perhaps this effect will fade as she recovers." He then addressed Elsa.
"As far as your healing, there is not much I can do to speed it. You need a lot of bed rest and good food after such an ordeal. That will help the most. I believe the tenderness will dissipate soon as you heal and rest. I recommend cleaning the scar thoroughly tonight and keeping it lightly covered with cloth."
"I'm sorry I don't have anything more to offer," the physician concluded regretfully. "I have never heard of such a strange occurrence before. There is no doubt as to the magical nature of your remarkable revival," he said to Elsa, "but there is very little I know of magic."
"T-thank you, Doctor Lybeck," Elsa stuttered from Anna's arms.
"At your service," he replied. "I am so sorry that I have caused you such pain, Queen Elsa. If you have need of me, please send for me and I will come right away." He bowed and left the library. Elsa, meanwhile, had closed her eyes and was breathing shallowly.
"Elsa?" Anna asked in concern, leaning back to see her sister's furrowed brow.
"Hurts," the older girl gasped miserably through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Anna murmured mournfully. "If I'd known he was going to… oh Elsa, shh, it's okay. Breathe, just breathe." Anna held her sister and rubbed her back. After some time Elsa began to relax; the pain was finally ebbing away.