Chapter 4: Concealment
Nine-year old Elsa completes a written assignment at an end of a table that is standing half-way out of the door. On the other side and behind the wall, a pair of hands with craggy skin reaches for the sheets of paper and the person reviews Elsa's markings.
"Did you examine EVERY detail?" Ms. Wolff's astringent voice springs out.
"Yes. I did." Elsa appeasably responds.
The reason to why the Princess stays in her room is to prevent her magical ice powers from causing an outbreak. Other people, such as Ms. Wolff in this instance, must remain outside and away from Elsa's view when it comes to interacting with her for an extended period of time. The time right now for the eldest Princess is becoming trained in writing and editing letters. Elsa watches the papers turn face-down onto the table as Ms. Wolff revises her work. Every sheet that flips by those seemingly decrepit phalanges evokes a vexing anxiety to whether Elsa has done her work properly or missed an error.
In the usual grand state of obvious, when people elicit nervousness, the skin - on the back of their necks, under their arms or buttocks, or in most cases, the palms - educes a moist-salty-watery fluid. It is the human body's method of reminding itself to calm down. Then, it comes to this particular girl with an unusual complexity. Elsa cannot produce sweat. Due to her ice powers, mostly every liquid she comes into contact with ends up frozen solid. In order to keep a liquid to stay in its form, it needs to be very hot. If people like to drink cold water, Elsa can only drink it hot without freezing it entirely. As for sweating, she never had any moments when her body perspires. Curious thoughts, such as what is the temperature of her blood, urine, spit, and stomach acid, tend to reoccur every so often.
In fact, she actually discusses them with her roommate, whom she cannot meet just yet. The "Winter Spirit," named Jack Frost, only appears by her triangular window after dusk. Figured that he is a ghost, it is only reasonable why he does not show up during the day time. Elsa thought it would be impolite to ask him why he disappears when the sun is up. It would only be a harsh reminder that he is dead. So, the benevolent Princess merely waits and looks forward to communicating with him again.
Ms. Wolff is reviewing the last sheet. Elsa looks out of the large window in the hall. Her eyes set upon the brightly-lit sky, and her ears hear the younger sister's laughter outside. Anna is probably playing in the courtyard. Many months have passed since they last talked. It was when Elsa declined Anna's invitation to build a snowman.
"I must say, Princess Elsa, I know plenty of other little girls at your age who can do much better." Ms. Wolff chides Elsa's work.
"Huh…?"
"Look at this. You have corrected the grammatical mistakes and punctuation marks, but you have failed to see the inconsistency of what the person is writing about and ignored the context's meaning." Ms. Wolff decries, "Right here, in the second letter: The writer asks for lower tax rates and explains why. Then at the end, he requests to purchase more land to expand his crop sales. What did you do wrong?"
"…I…I don't know…" Elsa fidgets.
"You did not notice that this person is expecting to increase his profit and lower his payment to the landowner. Does that seem right to you?"
"…"
"Also, in the third letter, you are the writer for this one: You announce to the townspeople that if each person give fifteen speciedalers to you before the season of autumn begins, you will ensure that no snow will interfere with the harvest. Clearly, you MUST see your error?" Ms. Wolff puts the sheet down.
"I suppose it's there."
"No one can control the weather, Princess Elsa. If you manipulate the people into giving you their money for a false claim, that is fraud and theft! There is even a name for that; it's called embezzlement." Ms. Wolff informs, "Now you might be able to get away with a crime like this because of your royalty status, but continuous lies would only sustain treason. Do you understand?"
"…I can make it snow though…" Elsa mumbles.
"Excuse me…?" Ms. Wolff caught her nuance.
"…Nothing, Ms. Wolff."
The callous head housekeeper of a teacher stands up with a disapproving sigh, "Young lady, I do not distract myself the thought that you are an aberration to others. But with the given ignorance from what your parents are doing for you, you are surely providing a reason for me to do so."
"I'm not-."
"I admit that are at a young age to accept what is happening for you and your sister; however, I must remind that you are the cause for it."
"…!"
"Because of whatever you have done to Princess Anna, she narrowly suffered a terrible fate. If you had been staid with your unnatural trait, then she would not have that white strand of hair now." Ms. Wolff criticizes, "Am I wrong?"
Elsa holds stiff.
"Whatever it is that demands you to be insular, it is for you to not inflict any more harm. I intend to ensure that. So before you do anything for the townspeople, you best get rid of any incompetent behavior, or else those like your sister would not live a happy life."
"…"
"Do you understand now?"
"…Yes, I understand." Elsa lowers her head.
"Very well." Ms. Wolff gathers up the papers, feather quills, and ink bottles, "That will be all for today."
Kai, who was standing nearby, comes forward to remove the table from the room. Elsa gets off of her chair and allows him to take it too.
"Thank you, Princess Elsa." Kai said.
"Thank you too, K-."
He closes the door before Elsa finishes her line. A brusque stillness engulfs the empty cold air around the lone girl. Inside her chest, a heart plunges into a somber repudiation. Ropes that attach her to the world outside the room are being cut off. The Princess is beginning to feel herself floating backwards to a dark unyielding void. Sprinting to find some way to return to being sanguine, Elsa jumps on to her window seat and slaps her trembling hands onto the glass panel. Her quivering voice appeals for a moment of comfort.
"Jack Frost…?" Elsa calls, "Please be here."
No icy ferns appear on the window, no response.
"...Well, I'll be waiting..."
She hears Anna's laughter again, and looks outside. Elsa spots Anna in the courtyard. She is running around in circles for some reason, and seems to be having fun doing it. Their mother is also nearby, supervising over the youngest daughter. The father is nowhere. He is probably busy. Elsa contemplates what Ms. Wolff said while watching Anna's joyous merriness. The bad memory triggers in her head. She can see it clearly. The strawberry-blonde haired girl jumps up on columns of snow, Elsa trips on the ice under her feet, Anna leaps off and, out of mere reaction, Elsa unintentionally shoots ice magic at her sister's head. Anna was indeed almost killed by her. If only she had been more careful, or rather not have used her ice powers at all, they would still be close sisters. Elsa could be out there in the courtyard with her and running in circles too. Now, Anna has no idea why Elsa is kept inside and has no recollection of her having the ability to make ice and snow or that horrible memory.
As the thoughts cloud her mind, Elsa's hands suddenly create ice on the window. She gasps and jolts back. Witnessing in fear, Elsa knows her powers are slowly growing and soon cannot be contained easily. Her hands drop to her lap. Since no sweat can be formed, neither can a tear. Overwhelming sorrow is bottled inside deeply, and unmercifully consumes her. She glimpses at the ice once more, and discovers it to be expanding. It is due to what Elsa is feeling. Calming down can solve the problem. But, Elsa has dealt with this before. Instead, she incisively suppresses her emotions until all she feels is apathetic. The ice finally halts its formation.
The door abruptly opens.
Elsa quickly turns and sees a heartwarming face that immediately pulls her back from the empty void.
It is King Agdar, Elsa's father.
"Elsa…?" His deep, but tender, voice calls for her.
"Papa…" Elsa grins.
The King of Arendelle - uniformed with red-patterned facings, yellow epaulettes, and medal-decorated black royal coat – enters in a magnanimous manner. Neatly done hair with trimmed sideburns, a thin moustache, and a gallant posture; this is a fair noble image of a kingdom's bellwether. Glancing with green eyes at the ice on the window, he knew that something had happened with his beloved daughter. His feet walk his tall body over by Elsa. Without a need for caution, he gently puts his hand on her back.
"Are you okay?" He asks.
Elsa nods, "I'm okay."
"Ms. Wolff told me about your lesson. How did it go?"
"Not that great." Elsa shrugs, "I'm still bad at it, though."
"Don't be ashamed. In fact, when I was boy, I couldn't even write a decent sentence. But, with a little more practice every day, I made it through, haven't I?"
"Yeah…" Elsa sighs, "I don't know. Ms. Wolff said that she knew other girls who can do better than me."
"Did she?" King Agdar raises an eyebrow.
"Mm-hmm."
"I see…"
"…"
"Can those same girls do what you can? Like this?" King Agdar gestures to the ice on the window.
"…Isn't this a bad thing?"
"Of course it isn't. You just don't how to control it yet. It's like riding a horse. Getting on one is the hardest and most dangerous part. After a while, you begin to learn and improve. Then, when that horse runs with you on its back, and you feel that the face of the world is behind you…it becomes an extraordinary thing. And what you can do, Elsa, is the same, no matter how different."
"I…don't want to be so different, Papa." Elsa rubs her hands, "I feel like, being normal is better."
"How is that so?"
"Because…I hurt Anna." Elsa frowns, "If I was normal, then none of this would've happened."
"No, Elsa." He sits down alongside her, "What you are is a special girl. There is nothing bad or wrong about that. You see, what most people like Ms. Wolff don't tell you, is that you are just as much alike as them."
"Then, how am I…special?" Elsa shifts her legs down the seat.
"Well, it's not because you are born with magical powers." King Agdar wraps his arm around her, "It's just you."
"Just me…?"
"It's who you are. You are Elsa. You are the Princess of Arendelle. You have a mother and father who loves you. You have a sister who loves you. You will always belong in this family. No other girl in the world can be better than you at that."
"…"
"And special or not, you are the daughter of a King." King Agdar smiles, "And I am the most-luckiest King ever."
Emotional stabilized by her father's comforting venerable lecture, Elsa extends herself up on her knees to reach his sitting height. She opens her arms widely and wraps them around his neck. Positively knowing that she will not hurt him, he equally hugs her in return.
"I thought you said Alexander the Third was the most-luckiest?" Elsa questions.
King Agdar chuckles, "Ha, he didn't exactly have a daughter who he would give his whole world to."
Elsa lets him go and gives a cute beam, "Thank you, Papa."
"Oh, you might need to get rid of this." King Agdar looks back at the ice, "We don't want to hear Ms. Wolff's croaky old voice when she sees it."
Elsa giggles, "Okay."
She turns to the window. Exhaling at ease and tapping a finger on it, the ice dissipates into blue glints. Elsa stares at her hands. Her father notices her concern and develops an idea. He stands back up and looks out of Elsa's window. Anna is still playing in the courtyard and his Queen keeping an eye on her.
"Elsa, let us go to the library." King Agdar tells her.
"Huh…? The library…?" Elsa wonders why.
"I have something that might help you with your powers."
King Agdar walks to the door and peeks out in the hallway for anyone nearby. The coast is clear.
"Come along."
"But, Papa…! Is it safe?" Elsa gets off the chair.
King Agdar looks at his anxious daughter and offers his hand.
"You will be safe with me."
"…" Elsa takes her father's words earnestly.
She holds his hand and joins him as they start to go down the hallway.
"Don't worry, Elsa. It's going to be all right." King Agdar assures.
Elsa had sneaked out once before, but there is much more risk involved. It was as if she could be imprisoned if she is exposed outside of her room. That did not matter on the other hand. The King is escorting her himself. He observes Elsa occasionally looking back and forth for any witnessing eyes. If she keeps on being jittery, her powers might usurp her again. He has to help her relax somehow. Fatherly instincts do have their ways of taking action. The next thing that happens is purely from it.
"Come here, you!" King Agdar unexpectedly grabs her from the waist and swings her around.
"WHA-?! PAPA…!" Elsa is surprised.
He positions her over his shoulders and spiritedly sprints with his feet.
"Hang on!" He chortles.
"Papa, wait…!" Elsa clings to his head and slowly begins to laugh along.
The both of them travelled their way to the library door while enjoying their transitory fun together.
Inside the library,
"This was when you became King, right Papa?" Elsa analyzes the wide picture of her father holding the orb and scepter.
"Yes, sweetheart." King Agdar lights up the fireplace on the other side of the room, "It is called a coronation."
"Wow."
"Elsa, come over here for a moment."
"Coming." Elsa heads over to the burning fireplace and in front of him.
King Agdar opens a box nearby and removes a pair of small-sized white gloves. He kneels down before Elsa and takes her hands.
"The gloves will help." King Agdar puts on the first glove on Elsa's right hand.
"Really…?"
"They might. Since your powers show when you touch things, it is best to keep your hands hidden." He advises, "However, they might not last forever."
Elsa nods.
King Agdar slides the second glove on Elsa's left hand, "But, as long as you don't become upset and let it control you, you will be fine."
Elsa glances at the glove and widens her fingers.
He covers her hand with both of his.
"See?" King Agdar then reminds her to do what he told her last year, "Conceal it…"
"…don't feel it." Elsa recalls.
"Don't let it show." They both state.
"Just like what we talked about."
"Right."
He touches the top of her head, "Good."
A few hours pass and the sun is diving into the horizon.
The King and his daughter remained inside the library for the whole time. They are sitting on the floor in front of a bookshelf.
"…and Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden, was known to be a leader for a longer time than John Louis and Louis the Fourteenth of France." Elsa finishes reading a chapter in a book.
"Yes, he did." King Agdar strokes Elsa's braid to be over her left shoulder, "He became the Margrave when he was only ten."
"What's a Margrave?" Elsa leans back on his arm.
"It's like a King. Except in the Margraviate of Baden, their King is called a Margrave." King Agdar replies.
"Then why was he called the Grand Duke of Baden?"
"I believe in 1803, there was a place called the Electorate of Baden. Charles Frederick was its elector, but when the Holy Roman Empire broke apart, he made all the area, including the Margraviate of Baden, unite. So, he created a new land called the Grand Duchy of Baden, and got a new title: the Grand Duke of Baden." King Agdar explains.
"Oh…" Elsa bobs her head, "…I don't get it."
King Agdar amusedly laughs, "One day, you will. I didn't understand any of it either when I was your age."
"Okay then…how long was he Grand Duke for?"
"Let's see…he became Margrave in 1738…he died in 1811…That means he ruled for seventy-three years. Plus ten years, it means that he lived to be eighty-three years old."
"Whoa…" Elsa awes, "Are you going to be King for that long?"
"Ha ha, I really hope to LIVE that long." King Agdar chuckles, "What is important to me is that if you can replace me."
"…?"
"If…I, or your mother, do not make it to eighty-three, I need to know if you will take the orb and scepter." King Agdar points at the wide picture of him on the wall.
"Papa, I…" Elsa closes the book, "…I don't if I can. I don't even know if I can control my powers yet."
"…" King Agdar holds her close, "Let's not worry about it for now. You are still a young girl. Time will tell eventually."
"…yeah." Elsa sighs.
"Oh my…" King Agdar notices the clock hands, "Speaking of which, it's time for you to have your dinner, little lady."
"Aw, already…?" Elsa complains, "I want to read with you a bit more."
"Perhaps another day. Besides, you need to get back to your room before Ms. Wolff finds out."
"Oh, right…!" Elsa swiftly returns the book back in its place.
"Let's hurry." King Agdar stands and straightens his clothes.
At Elsa's room,
King Agdar managed to get Elsa back before anyone found out that she was missing. The two go inside and look out of Elsa's window. Anna is sitting down in the courtyard and reading a book with her mother and Ms. Wolff. Knocks beat against Elsa's door. Gerda's voice is heard.
"Princess Elsa, your supper is here."
The King decides to answer her instead. He goes to the door and opens it.
"Oh! Your Majesty!" Gerda is astonished to see him and bows, "What are you doing here? Is everything all right?"
"Yes, everything is all right. I am just spending time with my daughter. Her supper is prepared, correct?"
"Why, of course, Your Majesty." Gerda motions for Kai, the one pushing the food cart, to bring the tray in.
"I'll take that, Kai." King Agdar receives the tray with a covered soup bowl, a plate with slices of wheat bread and cheese, silverware, and napkins, "Thank you."
"Your Majesty, should you really be inside Princess Elsa's room?" Kai asks.
"Are you perfectly safe?" Gerda includes.
"Don't worry, you two. I'll be fine." King Agdar guarantees, "Please give Anna her supper as well. Tell my wife I will be with her shortly."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The two servants acknowledges.
King Agdar shuts the door and brings the tray over by the fireplace.
"Elsa, it's time to eat." He sets it down on the dinner table and continues standing.
The Princess goes to sit in her chair and studies what she's eating tonight. King Agdar removes the covering plate over the soup bowl to reveal a traditional Sodd soup that consists of mutton, potatoes, and carrots. And on the side, wheat bread and Gamalost cheese. She stares at the bread and, once again, will skip eating it. Elsa begins to take the silverware…before her father stops her.
"Hold on there. A Princess knows her proper etiquettes." King Agdar spreads out a napkin.
"Papa, please…" Elsa rolls her eyes.
"Come on now."
"(Sigh) Okay." Elsa sits back.
He lays out the napkin on her lap and checks to see if her seat is properly positioned.
"All done. Now, Gerda once told me that you don't like eating bread. Is that true?" He inquires.
"Yes." Elsa admits, "It gets frozen in my throat and I can't swallow it."
"I see." King Agdar picks up the slice of wheat bread, "Have you tried dipping it with the soup?"
"Huh?"
"Like this."
The King rips off the corner of the slice and takes the piece to be in the Sodd soup. The piece absorbs the hot liquid, making it a little soggy. He takes it out and lets the excess drip back into the bowl.
"Here we go." King Agdar holds his other hand underneath the piece, "Open wide."
"Aw, come on." Elsa is embarrassed, "Really, Papa…?"
"Yes, really." He shows his peculiar serious face, "Say, 'Aah'."
Elsa sighs once more and reluctantly follows the childish routine. Opening her mouth, she goes, "Aah…"
He puts the wet bread piece in her mouth, and Elsa starts chewing. It was already small and easy enough to swallow, so she does it. Astoundingly, it does not freeze into a jagged ice-rock. Elsa had no problem eating the bread piece.
"Well…?" King Agdar waits for her reply.
"I did it! It worked!" Elsa smirks.
"What did I tell you?" King Agdar proceeds to tear the rest of the bread into more little pieces and put them into the soup.
He wipes his hands with a spare napkin.
"I must go now, sweetheart." He states, "Be well-fed, okay?"
"Okay, Papa." Elsa picks up her spoon.
King Agdar gives her a kiss on the forehead, "Goodbye, Elsa."
As he walks to the door, Elsa watches and feels herself floating into the empty void again. She does not want to be left alone in the terrifying silence of her room. She does not want anyone going away from her. She does not want her father to leave. She holds herself quiet when he opens the door. The King is almost gone from her sight until Elsa impulsively blurts out,
"I love you, Papa!"
King Agdar looks at her through a crease. He cordially smiles and responds, "I love you too, my daughter."
With that, the door closes.
Elsa does not feel the stillness gripping her. No dark vacuum taking her breath. She gazes at her white gloves.
Not since for a long time, an ephemeral spark of warmth appears in her heart.
Unknown to what it means, it gives Elsa enough hope to find it again.
Refreshed and invigorated, Elsa carries on eating her supper of soup, bread, and cheese.
Night has finally arrived.
Elsa is sitting next to her triangular window.
Icy ferns plastered the glass, and words are written on it.
Jack Frost has returned and listened to Elsa's story about today.
Your dad sounds like a great guy.
"Of course he is. He's the King." Elsa said, "He loves Anna just as much."
And your mom?
"Mama's great, too. But, I think she likes Anna a little more."
Why do you think that?
"Maybe…it's because Anna is younger? She's the little sister every mother loves."
Yeah, I know all about that.
"…? Jack Frost, did you have a sister?" Elsa asks.
Yes, I did.
"Really…?"
I was a normal human when I was alive. I remember playing with her all the time. Until one day, we were playing on the ice.
Elsa situates herself to read his words more carefully.
The ice in the pond was beginning to break. She was on a weak spot, and I had to pull her out of there. When I did, I was on a weak spot too. I fell in and-
"…?"
I guess I died that day.
"Was your sister okay?"
I hope she was. Most likely so. I came back as a Spirit some time later. I couldn't find her after that.
"How come?"
Maybe they moved someplace else.
"But, you saved her, right? That counts a lot."
Yeah, thanks, Elsa. It just sucks that I died though.
"…Hey, Jack Frost…?"
I'm here.
"…Do you…disappear at daytime?"
What do you mean?
"I don't get to talk to you in the morning or during lunch. I just want to know if it's true."
Is what true?
"Do ghosts or Spirits like you vanish when the sun is up?"
I suppose some ghosts do. But not me.
"Not you…? Then where do you go?"
A pause takes place.
Jack Frost replies,
I go out to look for things.
"Looking for what kind of things?"
Other people I know of and a gemstone.
"A gemstone…?"
Don't worry about it. It takes a really long time to find it.
"Oh, okay. I'm glad you don't disappear." Elsa is relieved.
Hey, Elsa.
"Yes…?"
Do you want to see me?
"…! See you…?" Elsa's eyes widen.
I can be seen. You just need to do something first.
Elsa's excitement has her sitting fully upright.
"What do I need to do?" Her white gloves are glued to the window.
You need to believe in me, Elsa.
"Believe in you…?"
Yeah. If you believe in me, then you can see me.
"Okay…" Elsa is slightly bewildered by that requirement but gives it a try, "I believe in you."
Nothing happens.
You need to believe more.
"How…? I don't know what else to do."
Another pause of silence occurs.
Do you believe in your friends?
"…um…You're the only friend I have." Elsa confesses.
Then, believe in me as your friend.
"But, you ARE my friend."
I know. Deep down, though, you still see me a ghost. If you get over that, then you can see me.
"I…"
I believe in you, Elsa. Now believe in me.
"…All right." Elsa closes her eyes.
In her deepest swirling thoughts, she envisions herself in a world where everything was different. Back when Elsa did not hurt Anna, and she did not have that white strand of hair. Back when the family was still close and not apart. Back when it was all the same before the accident. Elsa is happy to see the amiable faces of her sister, mother, and father. She spins and a hand from a mist of snow extends for her. Elsa reaches for it and trusts it to be her first friend in the world.
"I…believe in Jack Frost."
Elsa reopens her eyes.
Her gloved hands on the window are behind a different pair of hands.
Outside of the window, a man is seen levitating in the air.
Elsa gasps as she gapes upon the mysterious figure.
A blue sweater…brown trousers…a staff with a G-shaped tip…pure white hair…and a pale-smooth-skin young face…
His charming bright smile brings one to Elsa's face.
Audible words utter,
"Can you see me?"
Elsa nods.
"I can see you."
A/N: That's Chapter 4! Tell me your thoughts/theories/opinions in your review!
I wanted to explore the "True Love" theme from Frozen in this story. If the true love from Anna is what helped Elsa gain full control over her powers, how come her parents' love didn't? In the movie, I saw Elsa to be closer to her father more than her mother. The way she looked at his picture in the library during the "For the First Time in Forever" sequence was like a dead giveaway for me. I pictured a resonating relationship that was similar to Kiara and Simba in The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride. The father/daughter aspect will be something that forms Elsa's responsibility as Queen later in this story.
My personal theme music for Elsa with her father is:
Ajeossi (English: The Man from Nowhere) OST-02- In Tae Shik's Memory; composed by Shim Hyun-jeong.
There will be more Jack Frost in the next chapter.
Check out the poll on my profile page and vote!
Thanks for reading! Please review!