Chapter 4: Friend or Foe?

Darkness washed over Queen Elsa. For a moment, she fell blindly into the emptiness beneath her. But then something snapped her back into the waking world. Her body jerked, her freefall interrupted. She returned to a vague sort of consciousness. Opening her eyes, all she could she was a grayish-white blur, with wisps of hazy movement swirling around her. As she tried to make sense of what she was seeing, she dimly realized that she was hanging upside down, something keeping a firm hold on one of her ankles. The faintest hint of panic came into her mind, but was quickly lost in the fog. Her whole body ached. She shuddered as she struggled to draw breath. Whatever was holding on to her leg started to slowly draw her upwards. As her body was lifted up, Elsa fell back into unconsciousness.

Sub-Zero rose from the ledge, pulling the queen's limp form up from where she had fallen and gently lifting her into his arms. He carried her from the ledge and softly laid her rest in the center of the room. The warrior kneeled over his fallen opponent and set about examining her wounds. Anna half-ran, half-flew over the ice, kneeling beside her sister and taking her head in her arms.

"Elsa!" The princess desperately searched the queen's face for any sign of movement, any sign of life. Sub-Zero tore a hole in Elsa's dress, and began probing the patch of yellow and blue skin beneath her ribs with his fingers. "Hey! What are you doing? What have you done?!" Sub-Zero was silent, and she could only glare at him with a mixture of fury and apprehension as he finished his work. Seemingly satisfied, he left the queen in her sister's arms and rose to his feet. Anna looked up at him, growling through gritted teeth. But she relaxed slightly when she saw Sub-Zero's eyes. Icy though they were, they somehow seemed to be softened in this moment.

"Your sister has been knocked unconscious. Her wounds are fairly serious, but do not appear to be life threatening. However, I would entreat you to seek medical attention as soon as possible." That was all he said. He turned from the princess and started walking towards the ledge. Kristoff was now at Anna's side.

"C'mon Anna," he said, bending down to lift the queen into his arms. "We've got to get back to the castle." The girl nodded in agreement. As they turned to leave, she glanced back to where Sub-Zero had been standing, but no one was there. He had disappeared back into the wintery winds.

The two hurried down the stairs with as much haste and as much care as possible. Kristoff's view of where he was stepping was compromised by the precious cargo he carried, forcing Anna to lead the way. Finally they made it outside where their mounts were waiting. Kristoff went to load Elsa onto Sven, but Anna interrupted.

"Kristoff, wait. I-let her ride with me."

"Are you sure you can handle both her and the reins?"

"It's fine. I can take care of her." The look in her eyes. In that moment, Anna had a thousand-yard stare. Kristoff didn't know where that look landed, but it shot right through him, past the mountains behind him and into the frozen wastes beyond. Kristoff knew better than to challenge her further. Anna mounted her horse, and Kristoff raised the fallen queen up onto her lap. Anna wrapped her arms around her, took hold of the reins, and started riding down the mountain.

Elsa grimaced and clutched at her core as they galloped home. Anna tried to guide the horse down the gentlest path possible, but to little avail. Tears started to form in Anna's eyes.

"You're okay Elsa. I've got you. I'm so sorry. I should never have let you go in there alone. I shouldn't have left you…" The tears were now coming in force, streaming down her cheeks, the winds whipping them away in little flurries. "I saw you fall from the ledge, and I thought…" she had to pause to choke down a sob. "But-but you're okay, you're gonna be okay. We'll get you to a doctor and, and he'll fix this. We'll-"

"Anna…" The queen's voice was weak, barely more than a whimper. She could muster no more than that, but managed to cling to her sister just a little tighter, pressing her head into the younger girl's shoulder. Please Anna…don't do that to…yourself…

Anna squeezed her sister, and lowered her head until their cheeks were touching. But Elsa…it's all my fault. Anna felt a chill upon her cheek, much colder than the winds. A frail, shaky hand was trying to wipe the tears from her face.

"You were lucky, your majesty."

"Funny," Elsa grunted, wincing in pain as the doctor went about his work, the first light of morning streaming through the window of her bedchamber. "I don't feel lucky."

"Well you do have a bruised solar plexus, among other things, so I imagine not. However, it could have been much, much worse. If you had been struck any harder than you were, or if the blow had landed just an inch or two above where it did, or a few inches down and to either side, you may well have been beyond my aid." The doctor helped Elsa cover herself with her nightgown. "So all things considered, I'd say you were lucky. But be that as it may, you won't be in any condition to move around for several days. I'll be in to check on you at midday, and Kai and Gerda know where to find me if you need anything before then. In the meantime, I advise you to get some rest."

"Doctor…everything I've told you tonight…"

"You needn't worry, your highness; I have been in the service of the royal family since before you were born. Nothing that was said here tonight will ever leave this room. Be it about you injuries, or the events that caused them."

"Thank you, Doctor." The man nodded politely, and opened the door to leave. "Wait. Would you get Anna and Kristoff for me?"

"Certainly, your highness," the doctor said, motioning to the couple waiting outside the door. He left them to speak with the queen in privacy.

"How are you doing Elsa?" Anna couldn't conceal the worry and the guilt in her voice as she knelt by her sister's bedside.

"I'm fine," Elsa took her sister's hand, trying to reassure her. "Just a lot of bruising on my ribs and stomach. The Doctor says I'll be good as new in a few days." Though Anna was obviously relieved, Elsa saw her face drop just slightly. "Thanks for coming back for me. Both of you." She glanced at Kristoff, and stifled a chuckle as she caught him blushing and rolling back his shoulders to stand straighter.

"Elsa, you know I'd never-"

"I know Anna," Elsa said, putting her arms around her sister's neck and hugging her as best as she could from the bed. "I know." Finally, Elsa let Anna go, and the younger girl rose to her feet.

"I'll let you get some rest," Anna said, eyes full of warmth.

"Before you go Anna, I think I left my book on the desk in the library, would you go get it for me?"

"Sure." Anna left the room, with Kristoff turning to follow.

"Kristoff, wait. I need to ask you for something."

"What, me?" Kristoff couldn't recall the queen ever personally addressing him before, so he was surprised to hear her do so now. "I mean, sure. Yeah. What can I do for you, your highness?"

"Well for starters, you can start calling me Elsa," she said with a faint smile, which quickly faded into a more serious expression. "And second, I want you to stay here for a few days. As long as Sub-Zero is out there, I'm not taking any chances. And if anything happens…I know I can trust you to get Anna somewhere safe." Kristoff was humbled by Elsa's sudden earnestness with him. He gave the queen an awkward nod of understanding.

The castle gates were locked once again. The queen rued the fact that she had been forced to go back on the promise she had made her sister little more than a month ago. Around town, rumors swirled. Some said that an attempt had been made on the lives of the queen and princess. Others spoke of strangers seen lurking on the outskirts of town. All spoke of a sinister chill in the air.