Chapter 7: Reflections:

Elsa exits the Palace into the gardens, arms folded and breathing deeply. She is very much in a place she does not want to be and can feel the control of her powers being tested by the bit of fear she is feeling for her kingdom.

"Gee, three weeks ago." She mutters to herself, "I was waking Anna up for her birthday, everything was so fine, except of course for that cold, but I was so happy."

She continues walking and whether by design or coincidence she finds herself at her parents' memorial. Suddenly she feels a wave of emotion sweep upon her as she remembers how much she loved her parents, how much she misses them, but most of all, the guilt and regret she feels for not attending the memorial and sitting scared in her room not wanting to reveal her powers.

She also remembers Anna knocking at her door trying to reach out to her, and also asking for help for her sorrow at their parents' death.

She starts to talk to the memorial, her voice trembling and almost in tears.

"Momma, Papa, how I wish I had you here to help me. I have so much responsibility to so many people, to be honest I am frightened, and yet look," she says with a little smile now, "no ice, no snow, I have control, I have control. I just hope I can save our home with my powers."

She pauses then continues

"I hope I've become the good girl you wanted me to be, I let them in, I let them know and Papa, Momma they aren't frightened of me, they have accepted me and even love me, especially Olaf, who I wish you could see."

She pauses again, catching her breath and also gaining strength in her resolve.

"Momma, Papa, you should see the control I have now, I can create the snow and make it go away, I can direct it in any direction I want and I will be able to bring on another summer winter if that's what I have to do to save Arendelle."

She continues to grow in strength and resolve, almost as if she can feel her mother and father there encouraging and supporting her.

"Just give me the courage I need to lead Arendelle, that's all I ask and I promise I will make you proud! I love you Momma and Papa and miss you so much."

Elsa then uses her powers to create a life size sculpture of her parents between the two memorial stones and places a flurry above it to make sure it never melts. She inscribes the statue with 'In Our Hearts Forever'

Elsa continues to walk through the gardens and small woods around the palace. She plays with her powers a bit, freezing the tips of plants and then thawing them, creating a snowball, and throwing it playfully at a tree.

She's smiling to herself as she thinks, enjoying her moment of peace before the coming council meeting, suddenly, she notices someone sitting on one of the benches in the garden. It was Tuomas, who was amusing himself by feeding some bread to the sparrows.

Tuomas also notices her and smiles.

"Queen Elsa, your gardens are beautiful, hope you don't mind me enjoying a bit of peace before the council meeting."

"I was doing the same thing, I'm glad you find our gardens beautiful." She replies with a smile.

"If you would like to sit down there is plenty of room on the bench."

"Thank you, but don't tell Anna, she's mad because she thinks I was flirting with you before."

"Well, actually you were, I know flirting when I see it."

"No I wasn't "Elsa responds feeling a little embarrassed "I'm sorry," she continues "I hope I didn't make you feel uncomfortable, I'm afraid I don't have much experience in that sort of thing as I lived a very sheltered life due to my powers."

"Don't be embarrassed, in fact, I'm very flattered because I don't know if anyone has told you, but you are a very beautiful young women."

Elsa blushes, "Thank you for the compliment, but again I am sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."

"No not at all, but I must tell you I am married."

Elsa, suddenly looking a little disappointed:

"Oh, now I am embarrassed."

"No need to be, I understand the pressures of being a leader, not to mention your special talent, as you said, you haven't had much time for romance."

Elsa, again looking a little sad, "Your right, I haven't much time for much of a relationship, even with my sister, which, I must admit I am a little envious of her relationship with Kristoff."

"Plus, I can fully understand your sister's reaction to you flirting with me after what my brother did."

"Oh Yes, there's that, I'm afraid that has made me very suspicious of anyone trying to start a relationship with me. How do I know if they really love me, or just want to use me to get to the crown?"

"That is sad, and makes me more annoyed with my little brother especially when he wasn't even supposed to be going to your coronation in the first place."

"What?"

"Yes, originally my father and I were coming, but we had to cancel, my father had some urgent diplomatic issues to sort out, and as for me, my wife became ill."

"So how, did Hans get permission to come?"

"Well being the youngest, he basically begged us to come so that he could get some important diplomatic experience, trust me, we had no idea that he planned to do what he did."

"I can't understand how anyone could do what he did."

"You and me both, we were never bought up with the idea of marrying into power, but to marry for love, most of my older brothers have married women from our kingdom, the only thing that made them special, is that my brothers fell in love with them and them with my brothers, no links to royalty, or even wealthy families."

"That's how it should be." She pauses." Hmm, I suppose we should get back to the castle, Tuomas, I Imagine the council meeting should be starting soon, thank you for the talk."

"The pleasure was mine; I hope we can be good friends?"

"Me too."

They both get up from the bench and begin their way back to Arendelle Castle. The conversation continued, and the bond of friendship between them grew with it.