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

Olivia O'Neil-Not exactly, but he'll be showing up again, and I will be sure to include a scene of Anikka and Eliot playing together next time.:) Elsa's diary will be coming up in the chapter after this one, and I'm glad you like the pool idea.:) Agreed...they do.:/

raven678-I just thought there's no way Elsa wouldn't be self-conscious, at least sometimes, even though her leg doesn't really bother her much...she has to wear a fairly obvious brace on her leg and she can't walk without limping. She just got upset because she remembers how easily and quickly she could get around the secret passages before and now she can't...and thinking about those old painful memories doesn't help either. Don't worry; everything's not going to stay like it is! Agdar mostly got irritated with Anna because she was about to suggest skinny dipping and she half-lied about what she did when they were little...and Agdar still doesn't want to take responsibility for hurting Elsa, even though he knows he should.

Elsa Tomago-Anna also knows that Elsa would be very upset if she found out someone besides Anna read that diary.:/ Elsa needs to teach Anna the secret passages' layout, actually...Anna is plenty old enough to know; she's older than Elsa was when she memorized them. Right now those passages don't hold very good memories for Elsa; she's a bit proud that she has them easily memorized, but mostly it just makes her sad to remember doing things like sitting on the other side of the wall because she couldn't be any closer to Anna.:/ Agdar still doesn't want to verbally take responsibility for what he did to Elsa, even though he knows deep inside it was not Elsa's fault.

On to the story!

The second Elsa was in her room, she just quietly scooted under her bed, just like she had when she was little. Although she barely fit under there at all now and the space was very cramped, she just lay still, holding her hands clasped together close against her chest. She found herself starting to pick and scratch at the partially healed marks on her arm and abruptly jerked her hand away, letting out a quiet yelp when she bumped her elbow on the bedframe overhead. The next thing she knew, two frightened faces were peeking under the bed at her.

"It just Elsa," Anikka informed Eliot.

"Well…she 'ooks…sad," Eliot responded.

Anikka hopped up and ran over to Gerda, who was half-asleep in the chair in the corner. "Gerda, Elsa need help. Elsa under th' bed hiding," she announced, shaking Gerda's arm.

Elsa's cheeks turned red. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to find her hiding like that, especially Gerda. Elsa hadn't retreated under her bed in years; she simply didn't fit under there very well anymore. Why did I come under here? I didn't need to do that. Elsa felt two familiar hands reach for her and simply drag her out, and she didn't make any protest.

Gerda shooed the two young children out and then looked back at Elsa, who was now just sitting quietly on her bed, her shoulders drooped forward as she just stared at the floor. I don't want to disrespect her, but…I'll just take care of this until she finally orders me otherwise. Elsa needs to make some actual orders, and I'll make her practice on me. That will be good for her. Gerda shut the door and then went straight back to Elsa. "Miss Elsa, if you're going to act like a child, then you are going to be treated like one. It's time for your therapy for today." She reached for Elsa's foot to start unfastening her brace.

Elsa instantly scowled and quickly took it off herself. Gerda, I don't know what you're doing, but please stop. I don't like it. I want a hug. I don't want to mess with my stupid leg right now.

Elsa, you are being childish. You literally hid under the bed. Why did you do that?

"Now go put on some more suitable clothes, like the outfits you and your sister had for dance lessons when you were little," Gerda told her, knowing full well Elsa didn't own such a thing.

"I don't have one." And you are and were terrible at dancing, Elsa, a gleeful negative voice informed her.

"Make one with your magic, then," Gerda said firmly. "I'll leave and stay in the bathroom for one minute so you can change and make a new outfit."

Elsa frowned, unsure what she was supposed to make exactly. With exactly one minute to figure it out, she quickly decided to just let her magic figure that part out.

When Gerda came back the promised one minute later, she actually smiled when she saw Elsa. "I didn't say to make a bathing suit like that…thing you went swimming in last summer, except with a skirt, but that will do," she said in a not-quite-stern voice that didn't match the motherly smile she gave Elsa. Gerda quite honestly thought Elsa looked like a little fairy.

Elsa made a face, feeling self-conscious. "Well, this was not what I wanted. My magic did it," she muttered. In Elsa's mind, she looked mostly okay, but she hated her legs showing. At least she wouldn't have any long skirts or flowy capes to get in the way with whatever Gerda intended to have her work on for her leg. Elsa just blinked in surprise when she heard what Gerda said next.

"Come here without using your magic and look at yourself in the mirror," Gerda repeated.

"I can't walk." Elsa stayed put where she was, still staring at the floor, balling her hands into icy fists in annoyance. Suddenly she wanted to just break something. What was wrong with her? At least she wasn't crying. That was good, wasn't it?

"You can't walk over here, no, but I didn't tell you or expect you to do that. Now come here, Miss Elsa," Gerda replied. She forced back a smile when she saw Elsa start making a face. Elsa was starting to look rather irritated, but she still didn't move or order Gerda to stop telling her what to do. Elsa, please. I'm just trying to help you. You can't give up. I don't what you heard or what you're thinking, but I want you to know you're not broken for any reason, inside or out.

"I am not crawling across my room in front of you, Gerda," Elsa said now. "It's embarrassing."

"Then don't. I'm sure you can think of something, Miss Elsa." Gerda waited a few seconds; then just sat down in the chair in the corner. "I will be right here for you when you're ready." Gerda dearly wanted to just give the girl a reassuring hug, but she was determined to force Elsa to do things by herself without anyone or anything-like her magic-helping her and also simply take control of the situation and act like the queen she was. Already she could tell Elsa was thinking about what she should do. She could see yellow-tinged "angry" ice forming under Elsa's feet, far less beneath her bad one, but it was there nonetheless.

Elsa finally just sighed and pulled herself to her feet, steadying herself with one hand on the bedpost and being careful not to put the least bit of weight on her bad leg. The trouble is I can't pick up that foot well enough to get it out of the way. Otherwise I could just hop over to the mirror… Still clutching the bedpost, she tentatively tried to put a bit of weight on her bad leg, but it immediately collapsed under her. Then she tried to just pick up that foot so she could try her original idea. To her surprise, it worked. Just barely, but it did work. Now feeling a bit more confident, Elsa let go of the bedpost and made her way over to the mirror. Just before reaching it, her left foot awkwardly brushed the carpet sideways and she lost her balance. Well, I almost made it.

"Get up, Miss Elsa," Gerda said instantly. "Don't touch anything except the floor. No magic yet. Use your balance instead."

After several failed tries, Elsa just stayed crumpled on the carpet, her blue eyes beginning to fill with frustrated tears. Gerda, I'm trying, but I can't. I don't know why, but I can't.

"Miss Elsa, I know you can do it," Gerda said in a gentler tone. "Try one more time, and this time picture yourself succeeding, not-"

"Gerda, stop!" Elsa exploded finally. Angry tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared at Gerda. "Just stop! Stop telling me I can do things when I can't! Stop ordering me around! Picturing myself succeeding is easy for you to say-you're not the one with the weak leg that made it so she couldn't get away from…something awful. And stop treating me like a little kid. I'm s'posed to be the queen. You can't do that! Leave me alone!"

"Are you ordering me to do that, Miss Elsa?" Gerda asked quietly. She looked Elsa right in the eyes without waiting for a reply as she added, "Look at what you're doing now, Elsa Ingrid Nicoletta Grieg. You just stood up without even realizing it."

The icy spikes forming around Elsa almost immediately receded. "I'm sorry, Gerda. I didn't mean to…to act like that," she apologized. "I don't want you to leave, but I wouldn't blame you if you did." I really did stand up by myself without using my magic from sitting on the floor. Elsa felt herself wobbling, and this time she felt familiar hands just hug her tightly.

"Don't worry, Miss Elsa, I'm not leaving," Gerda assured Elsa, just holding her by the hands to steady her. "I just wanted you to realize two things. That you are not completely helpless without someone or something like your brace or your magic helping you, even if that leg never gets better. And that you can-and should!-use your authority sometimes." She paused before continuing, "Also, I promise you right now I will never, ever expect you to do something I know you can't do. I will not ask you to do something unless I know you can do it. And, Miss Elsa, I wasn't there in that cave when Jade hurt you and made Anna do so. I don't know exactly what happened, although I have a good idea. I don't want to minimize what happened to you, but-"

"I...it…it wasn't Jade so much…Gerda, what if…what if…" Elsa tried her best to take a deep breath and just calm down, her breathing feeling all shaky and wobbly. I can't talk right now. What is wrong with me? She could feel herself trembling all over, and she vaguely wondered why Gerda was still holding her hands. Surely she was too cold to touch right now. Elsa, stop it. You're acting ridiculous. Stop it and calm down. This is not a good reason to freak out.

Yes it is…

No, you're just being stupid, Elsa. STOP IT.

I can't. I don't know how. Make it stop…please…just…I hate this and I wish I'd quit thinking like this and I feel horrible and why is the room spinning and… "I…I feellikeI'mgoingtothrowup," she blurted suddenly.

"Just hold on, Miss Elsa," Gerda said calmly. She quickly wrapped a blanket around Elsa so she wasn't so cold to hold and then just laid her on the bed. "Slow breaths, Miss Elsa, slow breaths." Gerda ran into the bathroom and grabbed the bucket from under the sink and came right back. She simply sat next to Elsa and helped her sit up. "The bucket is right here if you need it. You are safe, Miss Elsa. Safe at home with people that love and care about you."

Elsa didn't verbally respond, but she didn't resist when Gerda hugged her. Hugs felt nice. They made her feel safer. What if you hurt Gerda? You don't maintain control when you freak out.

As if reading Elsa's mind, Gerda said, "You are not going to hurt me, Miss Elsa. Yes, you are a little cold to hold; yes, you are making snowflakes. But there's a blanket around you and snowflakes are harmless." Gerda could tell Elsa was starting to calm down a bit now; she wasn't hyperventilating so much, even though she was still cold and shaky all over.

Elsa didn't feel downright sick anymore, but her chest hurt, her head was spinning, and she could still feel herself shaking. She could see snowflakes floating around her, and she wished this would just stop. "I…h-hate having…these attacks," she whispered. "It…feels…horrible." Elsa flinched when she heard a knock on her door. That's Papa. I know it is.

Without a word, Gerda went straight to the door, looked out, and just said, "Queen Elsa is indisposed at the moment, Mr. Grieg," and shut the door again, this time locking it behind her. Then she went back to Elsa. "Miss Elsa, you don't get those attacks for no reason. Something triggered it and you know exactly what it is, too. Can you perhaps try to tell me the 'what if' was that made you so upset? If not, that's all right. Say it when you're ready."

"What if…what if…" Elsa scrunched her eyes shut and shook her head, annoyed with herself for being unable to verbally say what she wanted to say. Elsa, just spit it out. "I…I'm…what if…what if Anna d-didn't want m-me…around…anymore? What if she wants t-to…get r-rid of m-me? I…I know it wasn't…really…Anna, but…I also know it w-was rooted in truth, a-and…" I hate this. Why am I stuttering? I thought I got over that. And now I feel exhausted…

"Miss Elsa, why on earth would she want to do such a thing? Just think about it. Do you really think your little sister would do something that cruel?" Gerda asked gently.

Elsa shook her head. "But…but that doesn't mean Anna wouldn't ever want to," she said softly. "I know I want to get rid of me sometimes. I'm messed up and I cause trouble. I tried to do something special with Anna earlier and I couldn't. I just…I don't know." I'm just tired of this. Tired of trying to fix, well, me. Anna is only human. She has to get tired of me sometimes…

"If you were in your sister's place, would you want to get rid of your big sister because she has emotional issues and a weak leg along with her magic?" Gerda asked matter-of-factly. "Keep in mind this girl is also a bit mischievous and is your best friend."

A tiny smile flitted across Elsa's face at that. "No. If I was being completely honest with myself, I might get tired of trying to take care of her, though. But I'd love her all the same. And…and Gerda, Anna doesn't need me for a best friend. She makes friends with everyone."

"It doesn't matter, Miss Elsa. I've had that sister of yours tell me many times that you are her best friend. She loves you very much and you know it. I can understand if you're still scared from what happened, but it's not rational," Gerda said firmly. "Now let's try to take care of that leg properly, if that's all right. We'll just do less today since I know you're probably tired now."

"Okay."

"Elsa, are you all right today?" Anna asked the next morning after Nikoleta and Eliot had left. "You seem…tired. Like really, really tired. Did you stay up late last night?"

Elsa gave her little sister a sideways glance. "Not exactly," she said vaguely. "Come on, Anikka, let's go see how we can make that pool," Elsa said, changing the subject. She, Anna, Kiara, and Anikka were all heading out to the back gardens so Elsa could create the pool.

"C'n I have a piggyback ride?" Anikka asked hopefully.

"I can try." Elsa let the little girl climb on her back, but she was more than certain she wouldn't be able to carry Anikka like that for very long. Sure enough, just as they reached the edge of the castle gardens, Elsa slipped when she tripped on the edge of one of the stepping stones. "Don't touch me," she said flatly. "Anikka, are you all right?"

Anikka nodded and just stood awkwardly, unsure whether she should try to help Elsa or not. Something was wrong. The older girl almost seemed…angry about something.

Kiara and Anna traded glances as Elsa easily plopped herself back on her feet using her magic to do so. "Elsa, are you all right?" Anna asked quietly. "It looks like you scraped up your knee and palm pretty bad."

"I don't care. I'm fine." Quite honestly, the scrapes stung quite a bit, but Elsa ignored it. Scrapes weren't going to prevent her from doing anything. She sighed and scanned the gardens, looking for the perfect area to make the pool. There. Next to those half-dead trees. It won't matter if I damage their roots.

"Mom's gonna be upset if she finds out you didn't get yourself taken care of. And Gerda would prob'ly say those need to-"

"Anna, I said I was fine!" Elsa impulsively threw an ice blast straight up into the air as hard as she could just to prove her point. When seconds passed and no ice or snow came back down, Elsa's blue eyes went wide. What did I just do? A large ice blast like that doesn't just disappear. Where did it go?

Kiara raised one eyebrow skeptically. "Hey, Elsa, what'd you do, send it to the moon?" she teased, only half-joking.

Elsa tilted her face toward the sky and closed her eyes, trying to sense where the blast of magic had gone, but she couldn't feel anything. Maybe it had made such a huge parabolic path that it had landed somewhere out of the country. Or…she blinked in surprise when it abruptly began raining. Elsa's cheeks turned pink in embarrassment as she glanced at the other three girls. "I think I know what happened," she said finally. "I…made it rain. It's too warm for ice and snow naturally, and I…I shot that blast so high and I wasn't purposely trying to direct or control it…"

"So the snow or ice or whatever turned to water and you made it rain," Anna finished, giggling. "This rain is awfully cold water…I wonder how far it spread?"

Elsa wanted to sink into the ground and just disappear when she realized just what exactly she had done. It was raining. Around the castle. Only around the castle. This is what I get for doing stupid things on impulse because I felt angry and upset. She wanted to just make the rain stop immediately, but she didn't know how to do that since it wasn't just her magic that had caused it…it was her magic combined with natural input. "Do…do you want to just try the pool idea later?" Elsa asked.

"I don't care. We're all already wearing swimming clothes and we're going to get wet anyway if we go swimming," Kiara said, shrugging. "I say go ahead."

Elsa nodded and carefully walked around the area in a rectangle, marking the perimeter of the potential pool with a path of ice. "Do you think that's big enough?" she called to the others. She eyed the path she had made, gauging how big it was. About fifteen feet by twenty-five feet, I'd say…I think that's plenty large enough.

Anna ran over to Elsa and just said quietly, "I think you and Gerda already made your leg a bit better. You made part of your little path with your bad one…not actually half of it like you'd do before, but some all the same. I was watching." When Elsa just stared at her and didn't reply, Anna added, "That was supposed to be a compliment, Elsa."

"If this gives you some context, I've been able to make an ice footprint path for as long as I can remember. That would make me about three, and I'm sure I did it before then too." The annoyed edge disappeared from Elsa's voice as she added softly, "It feels downright strange when I try to channel my magic through that leg. It's not…instinctively easy anymore. It's like it does still flow through that part of me and…gets stuck. Or it's weaker or something, I don't know." And that probably makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

"But Elsa, isn't the fact that you can still feel your magic inside it good? I mean, I understand that it doesn't feel 'right' to you, but still."

Elsa just shrugged and went back to concentrating on just how she wanted to make their pool so it would be safe and permanent. She couldn't do anything about her leg right this second, but she knew she could make the pool. She would just do that. If I make it in-ground, it'll both look better and will be more secure…I just need to remove all the dirt and grass in the sectioned-off area, line the hole with impenetrable unbreakable ice, and then freeze water from the fjord so I can transport it and then turn it back to liquid again. "Wait…no, then the water will be filthy. We have gone swimming in the fjord, but I would rather have clean water…" Elsa smiled as she looked up at the sky. I'll 'make it rain' again, and this time it will be only above the pool.

Anna clapped her hands in delight as she watched Elsa close her eyes and stomp her good foot, making ice slice down into the earth around the perimeter of the pool area. Elsa carefully swiped one hand straight in front of her, palm up, knowing she was forming the 'floor' of the pool. Then she bit her lip as she repeated the same sequence of motions, this time adding a second motion with her other hand, freezing over the surface of the grass. "Okay, Anna, Kiara, Anikka, you need to back up against the trees," she announced firmly. "If I mess up, I don't want to drop this on you." Elsa knew she had managed to separate the entire section of dirt and grass and encase the whole thing in ice, but she was a bit worried her plan wouldn't work. That amount of earth would be very heavy, and while Elsa knew her magic would 'pick up' things she wouldn't be able to move, let alone lift, otherwise, she hadn't attempted this particular maneuver before. If she did drop it, she would probably quite literally crush herself underneath it if she didn't protect herself quickly enough.

Elsa smiled proudly as the entire rectangular 'cube' of earth lifted right out under her magic's direction. Keeping herself carefully focused on what she was doing, she managed to direct the whole thing over her head. She planned to toss it in the fjord, but that was a little ways away and she was worried she wouldn't be able to throw it that far. Stay calm, Elsa. You're doing fine. Now the hard part… Elsa tried her best to ignore the other girls' cheering as she slowly shifted the control to one hand. I have to move quickly. I can already feel my arm getting tired… Although her magic was supporting most of the weight, she could still feel that she was "carrying" something heavy, as if it were simply a heavy box she could barely pick up. In one smooth motion, she directed herself onto the lower part of the castle roof with her free hand and managed to throw the whole thing out over into the fjord not half a second before her braced leg slid out from under her and made her fall. Snow. Need snow to land in, she thought just in time.

Elsa lay flat on her back in the soft powdery pile of snow she'd landed in breathing hard, quite honestly feeling rather pleased with herself for succeeding. I did it. I really did it. Not perfectly, but I did do it.

A/N: Yes, Elsa is working on making a pool.:) At the moment, she and the others have an empty pool fifteen feet wide, twenty-five feet long, and four to six feet in depth. Elsa just needs to figure out how to get clean water into it now.:P

I hope Elsa's construction details make sense...basically she lifted all the dirt and the like out in one go because she had it covered in ice. I wanted to show that Elsa's magic is already stronger than it was right after the Great Thaw simply because she's been using it. To be fair, what Elsa just did was difficult for her and she wouldn't be able to hold something that large with her magic for any length of time.

Next chapter coming soon:)