A/N: Thanks to everyone who's followed/favorited and/or is reading but not reviewing:)

Olivia O'Neil-You're welcome:) I'm glad you liked Netta.:) As far as Elsa's leg is concerned, to be fair she is being a bit touchy about it, but I figure that's believable, especially when people like her father are treating her differently because of it. Agdar will talk to Elsa soon.:)

Elsa Tomago-I don't know why that was so funny, but it is.:P I can't see Elsa saying she didn't care and basically 'tough luck', but it sure is funny.:) No, she probably shouldn't ask Agdar that.:P If/when Nikoleta's parents act up again, I promise Elsa will actually punish them. Right now she's trying to give them a chance to shape up without being forced to do so.

moohamquest-I'm not sure if you've read my previous stories (thank you if you have:)), but Agdar has actually gotten a lot better, even though he's still...not a good father. Thanks for the feedback about Elsa's general reaction towards her bad leg. I've been worried about portraying a permanent/semipermanent injury like that because I want it to be realistic (yes, Elsa is trying to heal herself with her magic and regular therapy, but still) and I don't want to offend anyone. At this point Elsa's pretty much okay with it; she doesn't like it, but as she says at one point in this chapter 'it's more of a minor inconvenience than anything else'. I'm so glad you like my story.:)

raven678-No, Elsa shouldn't have gone in that house alone, but she wanted to show her father she could do something on her own.:/

orang biasa-Thank you:) I'm glad you like my series.:) Is there anything specific that you either really hate or really love? Just curious.:P 1) Because back when I started writing Frozen fanfic, I thought it was the greatest idea ever to have Elsa and Anna go to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, which neither exists in their world nor is anywhere nearby. So I made it so Arendelle was on the Canadian side of Lake Erie and it's present day even though Arendelle doesn't have modern technology. *sigh* That was the way it started.:P BUT...since then I have a detailed backstory for why they don't have the technology, where Elsa's powers came from, and other things like that. So it was originally from a kind of stupid idea, but now I love it because I know my story-verse is unique and still satisfies movie canon. *yay* :) 2) I'm not sure what exactly the question is...if it's why does Elsa feel emotional so easily, it's because she's still not good at dealing with her emotions (although she's better) and they go all over the place if she doesn't completely hide them. She'll probably never really be good at handling emotions, and that's okay.:) 3) Hans and Espen are, um, cleaning the castle, lol.:P They'll show up again soon. It's just they aren't as important to the plot and so they aren't showing up much.:) Also, I love long reviews and your English is fine.:)

On to the story!:) {SPECIAL NOTE: I am SO sorry this chapter is so late.:/ I have a lot of stuff to do for school and I've been having some personal problems I'd rather not talk about. Anyways I'm sorry.:( }

"Good grief, please stop fussing. It's just a bruise," Elsa said again. She gave Nikoleta a smile as she put her hand back over her eye, purposely trying to cool the bruised area as much as she could. "You and Eliot should be okay now. I gave your parents a warning, and if something bad does happen again, you can contact me anytime with those crystals and I'll come right away."

Both Nikoleta and Anna traded glances. "Queen Elsa, I don't want you risking your safety for me or my brother…you…you ended up with a nasty shiner today because of us," Nikoleta said slowly.

"And Elsa, why didn't you defend yourself?" Anna demanded. "Why'd you let someone hit you like that?!"

"I was trying to be diplomatic, Anna! Throwing ice to defend myself defeats the purpose, wouldn't you say?" Elsa sighed. And it happened too fast for me to do anything anyway… She knew her father would probably have plenty to say later since he had said absolutely nothing on the way home, other than that she shouldn't have risked her safety like that. Besides, her eye hurt and she felt like she was getting a headache. She wanted to lie down for a few minutes, but then if she did that, then everyone would just fuss all the more. Come on, Elsa, it's nothing. Just ignore it.

"You guys, a shiner isn't going to kill Elsa," Kiara said matter-of-factly. "So she did-sorry, Elsa-something stupid. She's human. Humans make mistakes and do stupid things. Even smart people."

"Come on, everyone out. Shoo," Gerda said the second she came into Elsa's room. "Come back later." She waited until Kiara, Nikoleta and Anna were gone and then went straight to Elsa and sat down next to her. "Miss Elsa, you don't have to try and act strong around me. I won't fuss all over you, I promise. Not that I can really do much for it, but may I please take a look?"

Elsa slowly moved her hand away from her eye and didn't say anything for a moment. Papa probably sent Gerda up here. Nobody can do anything for a shiner on me; I'm stuck with it 'til it goes away on its own. "Gerda, if I lay down, d'you promise not to start worrying and fussing and whatever else?" she asked ruefully.

Gerda chuckled and gently gave Elsa a hug. "Yes, I promise. Just let me check that nasty bruise first and make sure that's all it is, please, Miss Elsa." She quickly decided Elsa was fine; she was just going to be sore and not be able to open her eye very well for a little while. "I'd say continue putting something cold on it, because it can't hurt anyways. Tomorrow we can put something warm on it so it can start healing faster." Gerda paused before adding, "Miss Elsa, how exactly did that happen?"

"I…I was just talking to Niko's dad and he hit me across the face out of nowhere. Then he started apologizing all over himself. Gerda, it wasn't because I didn't want to defend myself; it really wasn't. Papa thinks it is, but…" Elsa sighed, trying to explain what had happened. "It happened so fast, and…I mean, I was scared, but I didn't freeze up. At least not when that man hit me. I froze up when Niko's parents were fighting because I didn't know what to do. But not when I was talking to them; I just-"

"Miss Elsa, I believe you," Gerda assured her. She frowned when she saw a single tear trickle down Elsa's cheek that she instantly wiped away. "What's wrong? Did your father say something to you?"

Elsa slowly nodded but didn't say anything, even though she knew Gerda wouldn't tell anyone or treat her differently for it. Elsa, stop it. What is wrong with you?

"What did he say, Miss Elsa?" Gerda asked patiently. "I can't help if you don't tell me." I'll bet that man just told Elsa something stupid this time. Something that wasn't meant to hurt her but hurt anyway.

"It's nothing…just me being stupid again," Elsa said softly.

"You are not stupid. Every time you say that, that means there is something wrong." Gerda paused for before continuing, "Miss Elsa, you shouldn't call yourself stupid, ever. It's not true and you're just hurting yourself. You have several people right here in the castle that care about you very much. Not to mention you are still our queen."

"I should...should abdicate f-for Anna," Elsa whispered, instinctively curling up on her side. She hugged the two dolls Anna had given her for her birthday last summer tightly.

Gerda hesitated before simply scooping Elsa up and just holding her close. "Miss Elsa, please just let me know if you don't want to be held," she said quietly.

Elsa just hid her face in Gerda's shoulder and didn't reply. I'm twenty-one years old. I'm not a little girl anymore. Why does Gerda holding me make me feel better? After a minute, she finally just said, "Gerda, please fix me."

Gerda sighed. "You do not need fixing, Miss Elsa, and you should not abdicate, either. You know your sister doesn't want to be queen anyway; and quite frankly, while I'm sure she would do fine if need be, I don't think she would do as well a job as you do. Even if she's not so-called 'damaged' inside. Also, besides that, I…worry what might happen to you if you abdicated in favor of your father." She paused and helped Elsa stand up. "Miss Elsa, I know you still feel sad and hurt inside sometimes, but-"

"All the time," Elsa mumbled, mostly to herself. "Just less sometimes. It's useless to try to fix that."

"It doesn't matter, Miss Elsa, it doesn't. Please believe me. Please." Gerda frowned, not liking that Elsa didn't even seem to be listening. She knew Elsa probably just felt like Gerda was the only person she could visibly break down in front of without being treated differently somehow, but Gerda hated seeing Elsa like this. What am I supposed to do for her? I don't care if she's 'different' on the outside, but I definitely care if she's feeling so horrible inside. I thought she was starting to get better… What happened? She's acting like she's just…given up on helping herself. "Miss Elsa, listen to me. It's almost like you aren't even trying to get better. You cannot give up, Elsa Ingrid Nicoletta Grieg."

Elsa's pale face seemed to crumple at that. She knew deep inside that Gerda was right, but she had been trying for so long. Every time she had genuinely started feeling better, something else would knock her back. Over and over. Logically, why should she keep trying if the same thing would just happen again? Nothing she did would ever make her father not think there was something wrong with her. She wished she had managed to save Jade; that girl had probably been hurting inside just as much as she did, only she had turned into a villainous creep instead of a…broken little girl. Elsa, you are not broken. You didn't feel broken at the ice palace. Admit it. You actually felt happy and confident when you went there with your family a short time ago. Elsa's expression suddenly brightened. Surely there was a way to be somewhere in between. Those two extremes meant everything in the middle was possible, right? Maybe Jade didn't die for no reason. She can make me see that that's the opposite extreme that I don't want, and that I can actually do something. After all, Elsa genuinely thought that Jade had come up with a well-thought-out plan…it had just been horribly cruel, and that meant she could just do the opposite. I'll come up with a much better plan. One better thought out and one that will help people instead of hurt them.

Gerda smiled in relief, glad that Elsa didn't seem quite so upset anymore. "Miss Elsa, I think you have some things you need to talk about. I'm here for you whenever you're ready, and you needn't worry about me telling anyone. Why don't you just lie down and put some more ice on that eye, and I'll just go fix you and the others some dinner and let you rest awhile? Does that sound all right?"

Elsa smiled a bit and just nodded. "Okay."


DOWNSTAIRS…

"Agdar, what are you talking about?! I thought the whole point of you going to those children's house with Elsa was to make sure she was safe, and now you tell me you brought her home with a black eye?" Idun was downright angry. "What did you do to her that she tried to go take care of everything herself? Because when you left, Elsa seemed perfectly fine with having you there with her!"

"Why do you instantly blame me for everything? I didn't do a thing to that girl!" Agdar insisted. "She just got all upset for no reason at all…"

"So now she's just 'that girl'? That girl is your daughter, and her name is Elsa! I may not know Elsa as well as Gerda and Anna do, but I do know she doesn't get upset for no reason. Something probably hurt her. Did you tell her something hurtful?" Idun asked in a slightly less angry tone. I haven't even seen Elsa since she and Agdar got back…maybe I should just go see her.

Agdar hesitated, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "Maybe, but definitely not on purpose. She asked if I still thought she was…defective; I told her no; and then she just tried to give me a hug right there in public. Of course I made her stop, but I told her she could have a hug when we arrived home instead. This woman that Elsa evidently knows overheard us and then she and Elsa were talking for a minute. Elsa ended up explaining what was wrong with her leg, and after the woman left, I told Elsa she shouldn't have explained herself like she did." He paused before continuing, "Idun, I don't care what anyone says; that is not good for Elsa's public image. I tried to explain to her why, that she shouldn't let everyone know about that, and she just got upset. Of course having her like that is embarrassing, and-"

"My little girl is not embarrassing!" Idun shouted. "It sounds like she told ONE person, not everyone; and besides, she probably just wanted to tell the truth about it. Do you really think no one knows that Elsa's partly…crippled? Agdar, she literally can't walk normally. I know I hate seeing Elsa like that just as much as you do, but Elsa can't help what happened to her. She's still just our daughter Elsa, messed up leg included. Besides, which do you think looks worse, Elsa willingly explaining the obvious truth or blatantly lying about it? Don't you think that just calls unneeded attention to it?"

"Rumors spread fast about the royal family, and you know it," Agdar said flatly. But I suppose Idun has a point. "I just don't want Elsa to be labeled different any more than she already is, or have anyone else take advantage of her like that Jade character did. I just want her to be normal."

"Well, she's not," Idun replied. "I still can't believe you didn't protect Elsa from getting hurt…I'm going to go see her and make sure she's ok."

"Why don't you leave her alone? Elsa's probably resting…at least she's supposed to be. And," Agdar's voice softened as he added, "Idun, I know we're lucky to even still have Elsa here with us, but she's just…I don't know. She was injured in the first place because we didn't manage to rescue her and Anna last year. What if Gerda can't help Elsa heal her leg? What if she always has to wear that awful brace?"

Idun sighed. "Agdar, for a week or so we all thought Elsa was never going to be able to walk again at all. Maybe we should focus on the positive? That at least she can walk in the first place, even if she's a little slow and awkward because of her limp." She paused before adding, "Please don't make Elsa feel bad or self-conscious just for that. Both of us have hurt her far too much already. If someone mistreats her or labels her, let's make sure it's not us. Elsa deserves for her family to love and take care of her without any bad prejudices."

"Do you really think Elsa looks all right as far as her image with the public goes when she's in that condition?" Agdar asked, sincerely wanting an answer.

"It doesn't matter. Elsa can't help what's wrong with her physically," Idun said firmly. "I do know that if we were ordinary citizens of Arendelle, I'd rather Queen Elsa told us the truth up front. Also, Agdar, I don't know about you, but the first thing I notice about Elsa's appearance-at least when she's happy-is that bright lopsided smile of hers. If she's doing her 'queenly neutral expression', she honestly looks serious and regal, even a bit imposing. Never anything about her leg. I mean, of course anyone can tell she limps and can't walk right, but that is not anywhere near the first thing people are going to notice about her. I think we're just overly sensitive to it because, admit it, it hurts us and makes us feel guilty seeing Elsa like that."

Agdar said nothing for a minute, knowing Idun was at least partially right and not wanting to admit it. "I'll talk to Elsa later."

"Just whatever you do, please don't hurt her. I'm going to go check on her now."


Elsa heard a light knock on her door and just said come in, assuming it was Gerda. The second she realized it was her mother instead, she quickly undid her braid and let her hair fall over her shiner. "Hi, Mama," she said a bit too brightly. Please don't fuss. I hate it when you do that.

Idun frowned and just gently brushed Elsa's hair away from her face before Elsa could protest. She had already known Elsa was hurt, but it still upset her to see Elsa with her eye nearly swollen shut. I will not fuss over her; I know she hates that… "Elsa, sweetie, don't be embarrassed. It's not your fault, and I already knew about it," Idun said softly. "You're still my beautiful little girl, marks and all." That Agdar should have protected her better. At least Elsa isn't seriously hurt again. That's the only good thing.

"I…I'm sorry," was all Elsa said in a very small voice.

"What on earth for?!" Idun hugged Elsa close and just began stroking her hair gently, remembering that little Elsa had liked that. She was angry but not surprised when Elsa just said she was sorry because she couldn't fix what her parents thought was wrong with her. "Elsa, I love you just like you are. Please don't beat yourself up like this anymore. I'm sorry I never really defended you when you were little. I'm sorry we didn't manage to find you and Anna before you ever got hurt in the first place. And Elsa? Elsa, please listen to me." Idun paused before adding, "I know what your father told you. He's wrong, sweetie."

"Mama, you think I'm messed up because of my leg, too. Please don't try to deny it just to make me feel better," Elsa whispered. I know Mama is just trying to help, but…

"No, I just think your leg is messed up. Not you personally." Idun helped Elsa to her feet and gave her a reassuring smile. "Elsa, you having to wear that brace on your leg does not make me love you any less. I promise. Even though I do hate seeing you like that. And for the record, it doesn't make me think any less of you, either. If anything, it makes me think higher of you because you never complain about it or make excuses or the like." She paused before adding, "And your powers were always there…you were born with them, Elsa. Your father and I had no right or reason to treat you the way we did. And you are not embarrassing."

Elsa didn't smile back; her expression remained neutral. "Papa thinks I am. He told me so," she said quietly.

"Elsa, no. I really don't think that's what he meant, sweetie. He's going to explain to you what he really meant later." Idun hugged Elsa tightly as she added, "I do hope you and Gerda are able to heal it, but I'll try my best not to treat you differently because of it, all right? I'm always worried you need help and you just don't say anything."

Elsa gave her mother a tiny smile and just shrugged. "Mama, it's not anywhere near as horrible as I know you think it is," she said truthfully. "I'm mostly used to it now and it's more of a…a…a minor inconvenience than anything else. The…the only actually awful thing is when I still feel a bit scared sometimes of losing my brace and being trapped somewhere again. But that's because of something bad that happened after the fact, not just because my leg doesn't work properly." That's the truth. I'm much, much better about that than I used to be, but I still get nervous sometimes. "I'm going to go find Anna."

A/N: Next chapter coming soon!:) I KNOW there won't be as long of a wait for the next chapter because it's almost finished.:P