The Girl With A Frozen Touch

Chapter Seven: The Letter

By: The Firebending Frog

Disclaimer:

I do not own Frozen, it belongs to Disney and Disney animation studios.

I think I'm just focusing on this right now, I am working on another project but that has to have a minimum of 10,000 words per chapter through my own strategy. Enjoy.

I don't usually have nightmares but I guess last night's ventures caused my mind to play unpleasant visions, The most unpleasant of all was that room in the dungeon, I guess I felt the foreboding place wasn't scary enough so my brain decided to imagine me trapped in it.

I was sitting there with my feet hanging from a cold metal bench while ice crept along the floor, It was like it was reaching for me with it's cold tendrils. I felt a growing amount of fear as I edged away only to see Ice begin to form where my hand touched. I leapt to my feet and landed with a small thud on the floor, the ice followed. I lifted my leg, or at least tried to, my feet were suddenly stuck to the floor. Wasn't that just convenient?

I struggled as the room grew colder and colder and the ice cut off the window and door. t was like being encased in a snowball, until the walls started moving closer. I struggled harder as the cold feeling crept up my legs, they couldn't move, as if they had become solid ice.

"HELP!" I screamed.

My waist was covered, the walls were closer.

"SOMEBODY!"

My hands broke out in Snowflake patterns and froze solid.

"ANYBODY!"

The ice reached my neck the walls began to crush me, I was going to die!

I sat up with a gasp, my hair a mess and my brow warm. I curled the blankets closer, I felt like I was ice cold when I knew it was really just my mind. Oddly enough the cold feeling didn't bother me or make me uncomfortable, it was the thought of freezing that scared me so much. I sat there huddled for a little bit and assumed I hadn't screamed at all because my Mother wasn't there. Shivering I climbed from my bed and opened the curtains to find a beautiful Sunny Day, A fishing Vessel had just pulled into port and people scurried to it like ants.

I let the warmth of the sun melt the cold feeling from my body and with one final shudder I stopped moving so rickety. The wind rustled through the trees in the distance, I could see a faint trace of yellow among some of the trees, but it wouldn't be weeks until the fjord was absolutely gorgeous with vibrant colours and then Winter would set in.

Winter, For me that meant warm fireplaces, beautiful outdoor activities, and most importantly my birthday, oh yes my birthday signalled when I'd be a year older, I'd have more royal duties, I'd have more time to play since my bedtime would be changed, It would also apparently mean Anna would stop crying so much but I didn't care about that, I only cared that I would be older. In the meantime however I may as well enjoy the sun and the last of the Summer heat which I'd finally gotten used to by the time it retreated away for about eight months of the year. It would be glorious once it returned but now I had to deal with the slightly colder nights and soon enough I wouldn't be able to keep my window open at night.

Being a child I forgot about the nightmare almost instantly and dashed out of my room at full speed nearly knocking over a servant as I went.

"Sorry!" I called back as I flew down the stairs and skidded across the hardwood floor of the dining room with my socks scaring a cook in the process, I'm not sure if it was my sudden appearance or the fact that I was basically teleporting due to his bad vision.

"You're up early." My father commented from his chair.

"YEP!" I replied happily, "I had a bad dream and then I saw yellow leaves and then-"

"yes honey." My father smiled in amusement, "Excited for Winter are we?"

"Of course! Who wouldn't be?" I asked.

"Farmers." Daddy replied.

"Yeah but I'm not a farmer so I can be happy." I grinned leaping into my Mother's empty chair.

"Elsa go sit in your chair." Daddy smiled looking up at me.

"But my chair is boring!" I exclaimed dropping my arms in exasperation.

"It looks exactly the same, now hurry." he ordered to which I obeyed.

"How come some trees turn red and some turn yellow?" I asked looking up at him with my big blue eyes.

"If I knew the answer I'd tell you." He smiled.

"How come birds follow migratory patterns but we don't?" I asked.

"I don't even know where you learned that." Daddy replied.

"Where do mountains come from?" I asked just to bother him.

"Elsa I do not know everything." he replied.

"But the library does!" I exclaimed as a plate of food was put in front of me, "I heard a diplomat talking about Pirates, how come we don't own any?"

"Because they smell bad, now stop asking questions so daddy can concentrate." He replied and I noticed his plate was surrounded by letters and a map.

"That's a lot of letters." I commented while he read one over and ignored me.

"Morning Agdar." My mother greeted as she came in through the entrance to the kitchen my father just grunted to show he'd heard her, "Morning Elsa."

"Morning mommy!" I exclaimed imitating her tone which earned me a light flick in the ear, "Ow!"

"it's not nice to mock people Elsa." She instructed.

"Lily did that." I commented.

"Are you Lily or Elsa?" She asked giving me an unimpressed look.

"Elsa." I replied before falling silent.

"Idun, Weselton has announced that trade embargos have ended with several eastern states, we should expect a lot of ships stopping by in the next three days." My father explained as I slumped in my chair and let the words flow in and out of my ears, Trade embargos didn't sound fun so I looked around and my gaze fell on Anna. She was just staring at me with a dopey look of curiosity, probably fascinated by my hair like most toddlers.

I made sure to eat my food in front of her barring my teeth whenever my mouth was empty in silent mockery.

"Elsa stop eating like an animal." my mother ordered.

"I will." I grumbled slumping in my chair looking annoyed. Anna may have my mother on her side but I had teeth and all she had was pink gums like an old person.

My parents spent the rest of breakfast passing Anna around every few minutes like she was a ball while I silently stuffed egg in my mouth while watching whichever parent held her with a careful eye. Of course my father would either play with Anna by using his hands, my question is why she found them so distracting, or read his letters. My mother would be feeding her what looked like disgusting slop the farmers would feed pigs with or she'd be feeding herself. Their behavior was strange.

When my mother was walking past me carrying Anna back to her chair she noticed I'd taken to flinging bits of leftover egg at the salt shaker and I guess in her mind I was demanding a giant ball of crying to my lap but she plopped Anna down on my lap scaring me and making me hold the heavy thing.

"what is she doing?" I demanded as Anna reached for my face and pinched my nose.

"She likes you." My mother replied.

"Yeah she's trying to cut my breathing off more like it." I grumbled removing her hand only to have the other one yank on my hair.

"I told you doing your hair up had advantages." My mother stated.

I didn't want to say she was right, but she was.

"No!' I exclaimed as she reached for my hair again.

She just stared at me with her big blue eyes.

"I think she's angry." I stated quietly.

"If it bothers you that much." My mother replied plucking Anna off my lap with a roll of her eyes.

"Are you mad about it?" I asked worried she'd play the guilt card.

"No, it's funny to watch you be confused by her." My mother replied.

"She yanked on my hair." I replied, "That's why I'm upset."

"She's two months old Elsa." My mother replied, "She doesn't know hair is a sensitive issue with you yet."

"it's not my fault anyone around my age comments on it." I grumbled as Anna tried to reach for my hair and realizing she couldn't let out a very loud and thought puncturing scream, "What did I do? Why is she screaming? WHAT?!"

"Elsa calm down it's not your fault." My mother explained over Anna's crying and screaming.

I pushed my chair back and my head disappeared under the top of the table due to my height and I ran over to my father and hid behind his chair.

Anna seemed confused by my absence and let out another bawl as my mother comforted her and made shushing sounds.

"Is it okay if I go?" I asked my father quietly.

"Hmm? Oh yes Elsa, but this isn't to become a habit." He replied, "I don't want you thinking you can leave before everyone's done at dinner tonight."

"I won't I replied creeping out of the mess hall quickly as Anna calmed down from her temper tantrum and started trying to reach for my mother's hair but was unable to since it was done up.

I spent most of the morning outside in the garden where I followed gardeners around without them noticing, I'm pretty sure they noticed but they didn't draw any attention to it as if pretending I was invisible for the game, but they did get boring so I decided to go inside and wander around the castle, the banquet hall was empty except for the various vases, busts, and the occasional picture, almost every single one here showed members of the Arendelle lineage. The one with me and my parents had been moved elsewhere and replaced with a more current version featuring my sister and me with my longer hair. It was next to one of my parents, that one hadn't changed for a while, it had been put up just before I was born apparently and unlike the one of me and my sister with them it didn't change.

I eventually wandered into the hall near the dining room, this one was filled with past rulers of Arendelle, all the way from my grandfather to people with strange names and thick noses, something that wasn't present in the last five pictures. My father's picture was about halfway through the hallway and he stood in the exact same pose as every other king and ruler, with his hands behind his back and his body facing to the right. Maybe my picture would be up there one day, there was only one woman in the hall and she was so far back down the line that I couldn't even pronounce her name, it was like some sort of elongated version of mine with far too many vowels, my mother told me when they were choosing names the first place they'd look was in the family heritage. Anna's name was my grandmother's and mine was some hook nosed lady with pitch black hair. The resemblance was uncanny. I couldn't complain though, my name was Elsa not the complicated mess of letters hers was.

As I wandered down the hall I couldn't help but wonder if my picture would ever wind up here, what kind of dress would I wear? What years would be printed under it? Would I even have a heir? All these questions and more were shelved into my brain when my Mother came walking down the hallway.

Without Anna.

It had been two painfully long months but my mother was absent of her cling on and I was in her line of vision.

"Hi mummy." I greeted.

She paused, "Since when was it Mummy?"

There was a playfulness in her voice that I had missed for so long, Without Anna she seemed less stressed, maybe they'd finally realized I was the superior sibling.

"So where's Anna?" I asked which seemed to catch her off guard.

"I thought you didn't like her." she replied.

"I don't, she's a hair pulling crybaby." I answered.

"Elsa she is a baby." My mother replied as if I didn't already know that.

"I knew that." I replied, "But you look so weird without her under your arm."

"Anna's getting to that age where I can take breaks." She replied, "I did the same thing with you."

"So what are you going to do?" I asked rocking back and forth on my heels.

"I was planning on practicing my singing." She replied.

"Oh yeah." I smiled remembering how she'd always sing to me when I was younger, she was great at it and I hadn't heard much of the melodies lately, "Can I come with you?"

"only if you're quiet." She replied with a smile.

I jumped up and down in glee for a good ten seconds before regaining control and following her down the hall, we passed my father still reading over letters in his study and servants who were sweeping the floor but instead of stopping to ask them about random stuff I just let my mother lead the way to a lifeless room with the instruments the bands would use during events. I hadn't been in here before.

"Whoa!" I commented as I looked around, "It's like a secret music room."

I approached the tuba and noticed al the details engraved in it that I had failed to notice after the countless times it had been played. The Violin had detailed and ornate flowers painted on it, even the wind instruments had tiny symbols of Arendelle on them, this castle was full of secrets, some fun and others the dungeon.

"How come I've never come in here before?" I asked looking around in awe.

"because you tend to touch everything." my mother prodded and I drew my hand away from the string instruments slowly.

"Right..." I trailed before walking over to a bench and sitting on it while tapping my feet together.

"Now Elsa." My mother started bring a stool to a stop in front of me and sitting on it all ladylike, "What is the difference between talking and singing?"

I paused, why was she asking me this, I came here to listen to her sing and throw comments out until she sent me away not to learn about it.

"Talking is slow singing." I guessed.

My mother laughed, "No Elsa, one of the things your father found charming about me was my singing voice, you sing with emotion, When you're nervous, when you're scared, When you're happy. You follow."

"I can't see words so no." I replied making my mother sigh.

"A proper lady should be able to sing." She replied.

"I'm not a lady, I'm Elsa." I replied stubbornly.

"Uh-huh, and what else are you?" She asked.

"A girl." I replied.

"And?"

"A princess." I finished.

"Those three things mean lady." She replied with a curt nod as if beckoning me to stand up and sing an entire play by myself.

I just stared at her blankly.

"I thought I came here to hear you sing." I stated.

"Elsa, I never sing alone." She replied, that was true, I was almost always in the room, she'd sometimes sing me to sleep too. But I'd also heard her hum tunes when alone to keep her mind busy, I never did see her reading as much as my father did so she must have had something to occupy her time.

"But I don't want to learn." I replied.

"Soon that's all you'll be doing, we'll have tutors and teachers, professors and scientists that will all teach you things that only a girl of royalty would be able to learn, so be happy that you have the chance for a minor education." She explained as I listened intently, "Now listen closely."

I spent hours learning different tones and sounds to make with my voice, of course I was annoyed at first and tried the annoyed route but I wasn't allowed to leave so I figured I could at least pretend I was enjoying it. We eventually got to words but it was hard to remember what came after the other so my mother left me alone and came back with a book filled with poems and explained the rhyme scheme to me, and how sometimes formulating and changing the words was a good thing. so we ended up singing some poem about the moon which made the words flow more smoothly, to be perfectly honest it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. After a few hours my mother had to return to Anna and I was left alone in that room filled with instruments, I made a mental note to learn how to play them all by the time I was ruler. But for now I closed the poem book and smiled.

My mother had paid attention to me for the first time in what seemed like forever.

And I loved it.

"Elsa!"

"Yes Daddy." I replied from my spot on the floor in my room, I'd been playing with my dolls and pretending they were our family.

"Can you come here for a moment." He replied and I sighed and walked out into the hall. This was probably one of those moments where he'd be going off to town and I just wouldn't be seeing him for a few hours, I'd say goodbye and then he'd come home in time for dinner.

"What do you need?" I asked as I approached him, he was standing in the hall with his sword on his hip, something I didn't get to see very often. Next to him was what I'd call an overnight bag, it looked stuffed but it also looked like it'd easily be carried judging by it I'd say maybe three days worth of clothes at the most. My mother was rapidly straightening his clothes while Anna stared at me without blinking, it was both unnerving and relieving to see her again.

"Elsa, I'm going on a trip." he stated quickly.

"Cool, can I come?" I asked.

"No." he replied which made me droop in disappointment, "I'm needed up north, i'll be gone seven or eight days at the most."

"Then why is your bag so small?" I asked.

"Have you tried trudging through the north mountain pass with eight days worth of clothes on your back?" He asked.

"you can just travel by horse." I replied.

"No, it's far too dangerous once we reach the pass, they might cause a racket." He replied quickly, "So I won't be seeing you for a while."

"Do you have to go?" I asked looking him in the eye to see if I could trust him, Images of men buried alive in snow and ice tumbling down hills filled my brain before I blinked them away and stared at him a bit longer.

"You'll be fine Elsa." He replied, "Now give me a hug."

I hugged him and I felt worried that I wouldn't see him for a while. But deep down something told me I wouldn't have that feeling for a while.

My father left after an hour had passed, the last I saw of him was his sweating figure wearing clothes far too bulky and heated for a hot summer day but I assumed he would rather be warm now than cold later. He had spent the last bit of his time in Arendelle talking to my mother urgently while I sat outside the room eavesdropping. From what I'd heard someone over the mountains was in need of diplomatic skills and my father had been his first pick. I made a mental note to learn how to be good at that when I was in charge, it seemed as though my father had endless skills at times but I doubted I would ever be as good as him, It wasn't like I was unable to speak in front of crowds. No I seemed gifted with that ability, it was the fact I would forget how to use a knife on occasion that worried me.

My mother seemed devoid of emotion, I could tell she didn't want him to go but she knew as well as I did that when my father wanted to do something there was no stopping him. None at all. She led me inside holding me hand like I'd magically be sucked out the door and stick to my dad like a flower seed. The way she was so quiet made the halls seem eerie and forbidding, it didn't help that Anna just stared at me silently with the only indication of her being alive being the gentle rise and fall of her chest. I wanted to talk but every noise we made shattered the silence so I kept my mouth shut. She led us to the parlor and sat me down on a chair outside it and placed Anna on my lap before entering and going to the desk on the far side.

I should have paid more attention to Anna because before I knew it she'd grabbed my braid and yanked it as hard as she could, unfortunately that braid was attached to my head so it hurt. A lot.

"Cut that out Anna." I ordered trying to pry her miniature hands from my hair but she giggled and yanked harder.

As I wrestled with Anna's hand my mother came out from the parlor clasping a letter in her hand, it was sealed and had her handwriting on the front. Her fingers covered some of the letters but all I could read was Ale Mac. And before I could ask my mother grabbed Anna and she let go of my hair much to my relief before she continued down the hall in complete silence, I stood and followed quickening my pace so I wouldn't fall behind.

"Why are you so quiet?" I asked smashing the silence like the icy ballroom had smashed my courage.

"Just deep in thought." She replied still staring straight ahead, "Your father is away so i'll be sending summons to a lord."

"But aren't you in charge?" I asked.

"No, I am not qualified if something big comes up." She replied, "As much as I hate doing this I must send summons to a lord."

"Well if you're not qualified then why don't I take charge?" I asked.

"Because lord Alendmac is the nearest lord, I grew up with a merchant for a father not a decision maker, I simply saw him set sail and come home, I never had any interest in trade, my sister however is basically the one in charge where she lives." She explained, "And you're too young."

"I guess." I sighed, "But who is this Lord Alendmac?"

"You'll see tomorrow, just remember to not get emotionally attached to him." My mother explained, "Got that Elsa?"

'Yeah." I sighed lowering my head and looking out the window as we passed it, the sun was beginning to lower in the sky, it looked like my bedtime wasn't far off, soon I'd be able to tell it was bedtime by when the sun set, we had long summer days and short winter days. I loved being able to stay up past dark in the Winter days so I wasn't one to complain about the cold.

"I think it's bedtime." My mother stated as Anna began cooing in her arm and playing with her fingers, "Go get changed and i'll be up in a few minutes to say goodnight."

I nodded and walked around the corner but paused when I heard my mother start speaking.

"I need to hold my tongue." She stated and I turned around and saw her talking to Anna.

Why was she talking to Anna, Anna couldn't even form words let alone understand them.

"I know baby, he is annoying and i'll be frustrated but it's only for a week, we can deal with that can't we?" She asked Anna.

Anna just giggled and grabbed for her hair.

"I'll last, even if I am frustrated, conceal it, don't feel it. Don't let him know." She muttered before hugging Anna.

My mother seemed worried about this Lord Alendmac, but really how bad could one person be?

I wish I'd been a bit more suspicious.

Here's another chapter and I have to say that the plot near the end was a last minute decision to introduce another character that will appear a few times. Most of this is just building future chapters up, It's going to be fun. Also I've noticed that I've written the Arendelle royal Family in unstereotypical ways, of course I've had Lily and her family but they weren't that bad, now let's see how I fare at making a character unlikable but you still respect his position due to his skill.

ADVENTURE HO!