Chapter Four

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Next morning Elsa awoke with the first rays of sunlight. She got up and smiled at the redhead sleeping by her side, then put on a silk robe and ran back to her own room. It was usually she who spent the night with Anna, because she rose very early and could sneak around without being noticed. Anna was too heavy a sleeper, and they couldn't risk servants coming into Elsa's room to clean and arrange, and find Anna naked sleeping in Elsa's bed.

Once she was dressed for the day Elsa returned to Anna's room to pick up the clothes that were scattered all over the floor. She folded them neatly in two piles, her clothes and Anna's, and took her own so as not to leave any trace of her stay. Before leaving, she went to the bed and placed a kiss on Anna's forehead. The girl slept like a log, but even in sleep she smiled when she felt her touch. Elsa went downstairs for a light breakfast and then left. She walked north, almost to the North Mountain, and set herself for the morning's work.

Ever since the Great Thaw Elsa had decided to truly learn how to master her talent. After a lifetime of being terrified of losing control, she was determined to never be afraid of herself again. That is why every day she made sure she practiced how to manage her power, how to bend it to her will, and how to be certain that it would never betray her again. And she was glad she was doing this; the confidence she had gained from her daily sessions had allowed her to take the extra step with Anna. She had panicked at the idea of hurting her sister during intimacy, but the reassurance of knowing she could stay focused allowed her to please Anna like she deserved.

No one but Anna knew exactly where she went, or what she did when she left. The exact measure of her powers was something she wanted to keep as discreet as possible, just in case. She had dealt with enough treason for the moment.

Elsa began by warming up with a couple of snow figures and icicles. When she felt ready she breathed, and threw her arms forward. A blast of ice burst from her fingertips, settling like a small iceberg. She shook her arms again, and the iceberg was gone. Then she waved her hands and a whirlwind began to form. Her hand moved faster. Grow, grow, she commanded. The miniature tornado spun faster, and became enormous. It created a gust of freezing wind, and particles of ice fragmented, creating a blizzard. Elsa could barely see through her storm, but knew it was staying within the perimeter she had marked at the beginning. She could feel it now, feel her storm as if it was her own body. She moved her hand, and the whirl moved along: she made it descend, spin around her, zigzag through the trees, and split in half. Then, with a flick of her wrist, it was all gone. Elsa was panting with the effort, but she smiled. The first time, she had fainted.

After taking a minute to recover, she set out to work on the details of her talent. She created the rough shape of a tree –trunk, a few branches. Then, very carefully, she began designing the leaves and flowers, tiny petals of ice sprinkled with snowy dew. Thousands of leaves came out of her fingers, one by one, in delicate and unique patterns, until the tree was huge and luxurious. If the first exercise was about energy, this was all about focus and control. Elsa allowed herself a congratulatory smirk. Perhaps she would leave this one; it was too pretty.

At that moment she heard noises behind her. Footsteps, closer and closer. Elsa prepared for an attack. Instead, she saw familiar red hair, its owner beaming as she approached.

"Hey, Elsie!"

"Anna!" Elsa gasped. "Anna, what are you doing here? I could have hurt you."

"You could never hurt me." Anna's grin didn't falter for a moment.

"I have already hurt you before, more than once," said Elsa softly. Her eyes went from the white streak in Anna's hair that would never vanish, to the spot on her chest where a snowflake was permanently etched on her skin. "Please, Anna, be careful. You know I come all the way here so that I don't harm anyone by accident. And you come! You, of all people!"

Anna took Elsa's hands and kissed them. "Because I love you. And I trust you. Elsa, don't you see how strong you are? How capable you are of producing wonderful, extraordinary things at will? Elsa, you are amazing." Anna tucked a loose strand of hair behind Elsa's ear. She pecked her on the lips. "I know you're trying, and you're doing great. That is gorgeous." Anna gestured at the tree.

"No, you are gorgeous." Elsa kissed her lovingly on the mouth.

Anna smiled. "Ready to go home, Your Majesty?"

"Yes. Why did you come here, anyway?"

"Because I'm hungry and I didn't want to have lunch without you."

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Back in the palace, Jørgen had gathered all the courage he had and presented himself to visit Elsa. The warm reception he got from Counsellors and staff told him he would find the exact opposite in their Queen. He didn't have to wait long for her; soon they heard the front gates open, soft steps that could only be female, and Elsa appeared in the company of her sister. It would have been quite a normal thing, if the Queen hadn't been perched on Princess Anna's back. She looked like a beautiful golden monkey, with her arms and legs around her sister. The girls saw the men waiting for them and Jørgen could swear he heard them sigh, just as the Counsellors had groaned in exasperation when they had arrived. Elsa climbed off Anna's back, plucked a piece of grass from her dress, and stared at her audience as if nothing had happened.

"Gentlemen." She bowed to her Council, who returned the gesture, and then she addressed her visitor. "Prince Jørgen, I didn't know you were coming."

"Good morning, Your Majesty. I do apologize for coming so unexpectedly. I'm sure you will understand my reasons. I'm here to deliver your birthday presents."

She raised an eyebrow. "Servants and messengers do that. In fact, most of them already came yesterday, and they have delivered everything."

"Well, my gift is different, and I shall have no servant lay a hand upon it. Come with me, Your Majesty, and you will see it for yourself."

Elsa exchanged a look with Anna, unsure of what to do. The action didn't go unnoticed by him. Everyone had told him how close the girls were, and he knew that if he wanted to gain Elsa's favour he should first gain her sister's.

"You must be Princess Anna."

"Oh, yes," said Elsa. "I don't think you know each other. This is my sister Anna. Anna, this is Crown Prince Jørgen."

"Enchanted, Your Highness," he kissed her hand.

So he's an heir, too. Another heir, and I'm still the spare. Anna had hated Jørgen from the moment she first saw him, the night before. She hated him with her whole heart and soul. Seeing him there was like a kick in the guts, and it confirmed her worst fears: he was after her Elsa. When Elsa introduced them, Anna put together the best show of sophisticated grace and self-control she had ever produced. Apparently she failed, because Jørgen began to laugh.

"Blue eyes and scowls run in the family, I see." The small pout and mistrusting eyes were identical in both girls.

"Princess Anna also acts as the Queen's Right Hand and assists in all of Arendelle's affairs," a Counsellor offered, trying to give the royal duo some of the dignity they were so determined to ignore.

"Left Hand, actually," said Elsa, and flexed her fingers. "I'm left-handed. Therefore, Anna is my Left Hand." Against her will, Anna giggled.

"Well, Princess, you are surely doing an extraordinary job. All I've heard during my stay have been good things about how this kingdom is run."

Already trying to win me over, the bastard, Anna thought. "Thank you, sir. But it's Elsa who makes Arendelle so great."

Elsa rolled her eyes, secretly flattered. Then she became Queen again. "So, Prince Jørgen, what are your gifts?"

"Come with me." He gestured outside. Another challenge, just like their dance.

Elsa pursed her lips, still unconvinced, but her curiosity won. She took Anna's hand and began to walk. Immediately Gerda, who had tended to Anna since the Princess was a toddler, intervened.

"Your Grace, um, perhaps you would like to come and sort out the gifts? Your sister has received quite an amount of them this year and some might interest you." Gerda was appealing to the tendency the Queen and Princess had developed of claiming each other's stuff as their own.

Elsa and Anna looked at each other. It was obvious that they were being separated so that Elsa could be alone with Jørgen. The Queen considered the situation for a moment. She didn't want so much privacy with him, but insisting on keeping Anna by her side might be suspicious. She couldn't risk that.

"Go, Anna," she finally said. "There's something on my night table I need a little help with." Let her find that box of chocolates and be a little happy for a while. She gave Anna's hand a little squeeze for reassurance, and followed Jørgen to the garden.

Anna did her best to conceal her anger and accepted defeat with class and poise. She turned to a guard. "Follow them," she commanded. She wouldn't leave her sister completely alone with an unknown man.

Meanwhile, Jørgen led Elsa to her stables. She immediately noticed there was a stranger in them.

"Here it is," Jørgen told her. "This is for you."

Elsa stood before the most beautiful horse she had ever seen. Completely white, strong, with a gorgeous silvery mane that fell longer than the others'. The horse was very powerful, no doubt, but it had gentle eyes. It was a magnificent creature indeed.

Elsa couldn't help a gasp of admiration. "Gods," she murmured. "He's a beauty!"

"She's a girl, actually. A fine mare for a fine Queen." Jørgen stroked the mare. "I told you we had horses in my kingdom."

Elsa touched the horse's face. "This is too much. I cannot accept her."

"Please do. No one else could be better for her than you. She could be your friend. You seem to be in desperate need of a friend."

"Do not presume to know what I need, sir. You haven't even known me for a full day."

Annoyance flashed in Elsa's eyes, and Jørgen sought a way to calm her. He returned her attention to the mare. "Would you like to try her?"

For the first time, Elsa looked unsure. "I… I would love to, but… I'm afraid I'm not a very good rider," she admitted. "I never had much chance to practice outside. I'm getting better at it now, but I wouldn't want to hurt her. My sister, though, is very good. She can gallop, and jump fences and bushes. But I…"

"Don't be afraid, she's very noble," Jørgen reassured her. "Allow me to help you."

Elsa hesitated, but the desire to ride her new horse was too big. They took her outside, and Elsa marvelled at how she gleamed under the sunlight. Jørgen offered his hand to help Elsa up. She took it. Once again there was that weird sensation in both of them, the textures of their hands were so new and peculiar. He couldn't get enough of the creamy softness of Elsa's hands, while she was trying to decide whether she found the roughness of his unpleasant or not. Plus, their size and strength intimidated her a little…

When she was on the horse, it was obvious they were made for each other. Elsa adjusted well, and when the mare began trotting, both flowed effortlessly. Jørgen gave her a few pointers, but it was proved that her practice had paid off.

After a short tour around the stables Elsa descended. They guided the mare back, and Elsa brushed her, following Jørgen's tips. She was forced to admit that he knew more about pure-blood horses than anyone else in her palace,.

Jørgen watched Elsa, fascinated. Her movements were soft and graceful, but touched by the authority of a Queen. She was one of the strongest women he had ever met, but he was sure there was a side of her that could melt. He could tell by the tenderness with which she worked with the mare, and the affection she had for her sister. He remembered how she treated her people, too. Why, then, this need to cover it all up with such a show of coldness and pride?

"Why didn't you ever attend any parties?" he asked her. "You would have been the star. Where were you?"

"Locked up in my room." She didn't look at him as she answered.

"All the time?"

"Thirteen years."

"Thirteen years? All alone? Why?"

"I… That does not concern you, Your Grace." A shadow crossed Elsa's face. She put the brush back and wrapped her arms around her torso. There was a strange kind of hurt in her that made him regret every word he'd spoken.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

"Doesn't matter. We should probably go back."

"Elsa, please-"

"It doesn't matter. Let's not talk about it anymore. And do not call me Elsa, sir." She paused, and then her voice was kinder. "Thank you very much for the horse. It is the best gift I have ever received."

Elsa made her way back to the palace, with Jørgen following behind. The girl became more fascinating by the second. Who are you really, Elsa? What are you hiding? What made you like this? What are you so afraid of?

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"Very well, Your Majesty, have you made up your mind?"

"Yes. I'll have none of them."

This time the Council couldn't help the groans as Elsa rejected all suitors in one stroke.

"Your Majesty, you must decide. We have followed your instructions and criteria. The suitors that were presented all comply with every specification you made. We beg you, do not make this process unnecessarily difficult."

"You are the ones complicating everything with your insistence. I need time. This is a very important decision for me."

"Ma'am, please, there is no time. The political future of Arendelle rests in this union."

"All the more reason to think it through with utmost care."

"By the gods, this isn't care, this is a whim! The kingdom cannot depend on the tantrums of a girl!"

Silence fell. Elsa placed a hand on Anna's shoulder, for she was already getting on her feet with a rather dangerous look. It was Elsa who stood up instead, and began walking slowly around the table. With every step, a thin layer of frost began spreading over every surface.

"May I remind you, gentlemen," she began, "that I spent thirteen years imprisoned because of direct advice from some of you. I would also like to point out, for perhaps you didn't notice, that I was eight years old at the time said imprisonment began, and that from that moment on I had no contact with the exterior at all. Thirteen years, milords, crucial years in any person's development. But I had no tutors, no advisors, not even my own sister." Elsa had completed the walk around, and now stopped to place a kiss on Anna's head. Then she started walking again. "Now I wonder, how can a girl mature properly without any guidance whatsoever? I had my parents for a while, and then even they were gone. I was the loneliest child. How was I supposed to grow up adequately to meet the selflessness that is now expected of me? Oh, I understand, the choosing of my husband is none of my business. It is I who night after night will be ridden like an animal by the man, and it is I who will bear him children, but I should have no saying about who I will give my life, kingdom, and body to. I'm supposed to shut up and take it!" Her shout echoed like a whip. "Well, I'm very sorry, but I refuse to be used like a puppet again. I won't stand by it. I deeply regret that this displeases you, but what can you expect from someone who was locked away from the world since she was eight? There can't be much left… except the tantrums of a girl. And unfortunately for you, milords, that girl is your Queen."

Without further word, Elsa reached for Anna's hand and they left. Elsa headed out, to the gardens, and by her fast steps and the trembling of her hand Anna knew what was coming. She found a group of bushes and quickly took Elsa behind them. They arrived just in time.

"Elsa, come on, stay with me. Elsa, please." Anna's pleas were tinted with urgency.

But Elsa was shaking from head to toe now, and had pressed her hand to the sides of her head. Her breath came out in shallow gasps. Anna stroked Elsa's hair, and tried to shake her lightly to make her react.

"Elsa, you were great in there, you hear me? Wonderful, perfect! You left them speechless. You looked so beautiful and powerful and regal. Elsa, please, you have to focus."

Elsa kept mumbling and trembling, apparently unaware of Anna's words. "They don't care about me… nobody cares… nobody…"

"I do. Elsa, you know I care. I love you more than anything, more than my own life. You mean the world to me. I care about you. I love you."

Finally, after endless minutes, Elsa's breath settled. For the first time, she looked at Anna, and hugged her as tightly as she could.

"I'm sorry. It keeps happening. I've tried, you know that. I'm sorry."

"I know, Elsie. No one works harder than you. I will always be right here by your side."

"Even if I don't deserve it?"

"Especially because you think you don't deserve it." Anna kissed Elsa, a loving, deep long kiss. When she sensed that Elsa was getting a bit too recovered, she stopped. "Now, how about we go see Crystal, and you show me your progress?"

Anna and Elsa kept themselves entertained with Crystal, the mare that had been Jørgen's gift, until Elsa felt strong enough to return. Looking at the Queen, no one would have guessed. And no one did.

Next morning, Elsa was fully healed and working in her office as usual. Her party had left a ton of paperwork to deal with in the name of public relations. Elsa was given the full list of presents she had received that year, so that she could write thank-you notes with actual knowledge about who had sent what. It was tedious work, but she insisted on it, knowing that people would like to know they were taken into account and remembered personally. She read about each present: what it was, which kingdom had sent it, who were the monarchs of that land. Already there was a mark on those gifts Anna had claimed for herself. Elsa read the list to make sure everything was correct and, quite frankly, to find out about some of them.

As she scanned the parchment something caught her attention. The name of Jørgen's kingdom was there (though his own wasn't; it was his father's instead), but the gifts were different. There were sacks of coffee, the kingdom's specialty, as well as a dress and jewellery. Crystal wasn't enlisted. She checked for additional notes about her on the paper, but there were none.

This wasn't a gift from kingdom to kingdom, Elsa realized. This was a gift from him to me. Why? What does he want?

She didn't have much time to wonder. There was a knock on her door.

"You have a visitor, ma'am," a servant announced.

Oh, not now, I want to be done by noon and this is already taking forever. "Really? Who?"

"Crown Prince Jørgen, ma'am."

What should she do? She needed to work, but it would look extremely impolite to refuse to see him. There were a few things she needed to clear out with him, yet she felt unsure about how she should approach the matter. Jørgen was very different from the men she was used to dealing with, and she still hadn't figured out exactly how to act around him. He made her rather uncomfortable. But sooner or later she would have to face him, better to get it over with as soon as possible.

"Let him in," she ordered. And may the gods help me.