The Storm

So, yeah… these characters are so totally not mine. Disney owns them, lock, stock and barrel. I am merely playing in their snowbank.

The Storm

7

Gerda came up and greeted Anna when she entered the Palace. "Welcome back your Highness. And who is this?"

With a smile at the Head Housekeeper, Anna said, "This is Ingrid. She is one of the children Queen Elsa went out and rescued yesterday. Her parents are here with the others. Has she returned?"

"No your Highness, I haven't seen her. Just knowing you are both back, I will make sure that fitting dinner is prepared and when her Majesty returns we will have some hot chocolate waiting for her. I will make sure this one gets to where she belongs." Gerda smiled and curtsied before leading Ingrid off. The girl shyly waved good bye to the Princess.

Anna was concerned. Elsa had left the Mayor's Hall before them and since the weather did not faze her besides her needing to deal with the wind itself, she should have gotten here already. Where could she be? Was she still outside? Anna bundled up again, took a deep breath to prepare herself to face the chill again, and walked back out to the courtyard. It was somewhat protected from the wind but if she were Elsa where would she want to go to be away from people and not be spotted by her sister returning? Looking at the various exits from the courtyard she realized that it was least likely for there to be anyone in the garden right now.

Walking that way, Anna began to notice it was getting colder the closer she moved towards it. That made her frown. Was Elsa upset, like really upset? Lately her sister had gotten far better control over her powers so to see and feel something like this was… well it was a bit disconcerting. Reaching the door, she noticed that this side was covered lightly in frost. She tried to open the door but it resisted her, the mechanism sticking slightly. Throwing her shoulder into it, she shoved into the door with all her might.

Elsa stopped her frantic pacing as Anna tumbled through the garden door with a shriek. Eyes wide, she called out worriedly, "Anna!"

Hustling over there, Elsa helped her sister to her feet and checked to make sure she was okay. Anna was red faced and shivering, her teeth chattering a little when she said, "H-hi E-e-elsa. I m-m-m-issed you!"

Given that Anna was not one to usually shiver, Elsa glanced around and noticed the state of the garden, panicking slightly. Had she really lost that much control? Anna reached up with one mittened hand and rested it on Elsa's face. "I-It's o-okay love. W-we're tog-gether."

Elsa smiled gently, calming down, and felt her power shift, the cold beginning to lift from this area, removing all of her damage and even some of the storms effects from the garden around them. Anna made her feel so loved, so safe, so accepted, so many things she had been missing for so many years. She really had no idea what she would do without her sister. It was only her calming presence and constant love that really kept her fear and depression and panic away. Last night she had been driven by a purpose and a need but she didn't have that luxury now. With Olaf there she had been able to hold the worst of it at bay. But she had been emotionally frayed by the time she had gotten back and Anna being overly demonstrative and putting them both at risk had been too much for her to handle right then.

With a sigh as the temperature dropped yet again, Anna said patiently, "Now will you please talk to me Elsa. I was so worried about you, afraid you might have been eaten by wolves, and then when I finally see you, you close down and shut me out. And then I come out here finding you freezing the garden which lets me know just how wound up you are. What's wrong Elsa? Please talk to me. We can get through this together."

Nodding her head, Elsa took her sister's hand and led them inside as she knew that Anna would need the warmth even if she didn't, especially after that extra freeze. Some of the staff noticed them when they came in and took their cloaks and boots from them. By the time that was done Gerda had gotten there and had taken one look at the two of them and tutted in that way of hers. "Right, the both of you off to your rooms. I will bring up some food and hot chocolate for the both of you."

Elsa chuckled and said under her breath so only Anna could hear, "I thought I was the one in charge here."

The two giggled as they made their way upstairs to the rooms they shared. They each helped the other undress and get into dry clothes, making sure to put warm house shoes on as well. Given this emergency they wanted to be ready to head out if needed at a moment's notice. Nestled by the fire, they were slightly startled when there was a knock at the door and Gerda came in, pushing a tray laden with food, much of it steaming. She closed the door behind her.

Anna blushed slightly, Gerda had said for them to head to their rooms but she only stayed here and had not slept in her own room in months. "Well you two, come and get some food, especially you Your Majesty. I have plenty of warm and filling things here. I know you don't get cold like others do but the warm doesn't hurt now does it."

Elsa stood and nervously walked to the table, unsure of what Gerda was up to. They had both known this woman for their whole lives and so were sure she had something to say, as delivering food was generally not her job. "Thank you Gerda."

"Certainly Your Majesty."

Anna took a seat and reached for her mug of hot chocolate, so needing the rich comfort that it would bring. Her hand paused as Gerda said, "Begging your pardon Your Majesties?"

Anna and Elsa turned to look at her expectantly. Elsa prodded her on, "Yes Gerda?"

The Head Housekeeper blushed, obviously a bit discomforted by what was going through her mind and said, "I have had to quell a couple of rumors about the two of you."

Elsa merely raised an eyebrow in question. This did not bode well.

"They were talking about how you two… well, how close you are."

Elsa closed her eyes and sighed. So this was it. The secret was going to come out like it had been bound to do. She opened her eyes and then said, "You can speak plainly Gerda, you shan't offend us."

"I have noticed that you two, well that you are sharing a room like you used to and unlike then a bed. I try not to make any presumptions as to what that means but some of the other girls are not as circumspect. Your care and protection is why I am here and it has always been my most important task." The Head Housekeeper was wringing her hands a bit.

Anna was bright red, hiding behind her mug, her mind practically shut down. Elsa cut her eyes over to her but saw there would be no assistance from there and said, "Gerda, I have never lied to you. As you have guessed we are indeed together in that way. Will that be a problem?"

"I am not sure why you have done this but I am not one to question you. If this is what makes you happy then that's the way it is. I don't understand it but that's okay. The problem arises in terms of succession and the like, but I figure that is also your issue to deal with." Gerda's cheeks colored as she spoke, finding it difficult to meet their eyes.

Elsa sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. That was indeed an issue she had not taken into account. The needs of the country would need to be balanced in this as well. "I see. Thank you, Gerda, for stepping up to deal with this delicate issue. I am sorry we have placed you in this position."

"No bother Your Majesty." She curtsied to them. "I am always here to help."

Anna chimed in brightly, her color back to normal. "Don't worry Gerda, I'm sure that we will be able to figure out something to deal with this issue."

Gerda nodded her head and then left, with Elsa staring at her sister. Anna looked at her and said, "What?"

"We'll find a solution?" Elsa was just a touch incredulous.

"Sure. That way we won't have to worry about this anymore." Anna shrugged as if the whole matter were no big deal.

"And how do you propose to do this?" asked Elsa, really curious as to how Anna wanted to fix this whole mess.

With a smile, her sister said, "We could always ask the Love Experts?"

"The Trolls are far off and this is an issue in our face," countered Elsa.

"Then we'll do it ourselves," stated Anna, quite sure of herself.

"How?!" demanded Elsa.

"I don't know!" screamed Anna.

Elsa sighed, dropping her head to the table. "Oh Anna, what are we going to do?"