Hola! TariaNalu here! Sorry if this chapter took a bit long to post. I'm kinda working on making my chapters longer, so there'll be a bit of a time gap between new chapters. But hey, longer chapters = more reading material, so it's not all bad, right?
Anyway, don't forget to write a review! Since I'm new to the FanFiction community, your feedback means a lot to me. That's all, bye!
The frigid room was silent. Peaceful. Nothing but the sound of my own breathing. The sun was barely beginning to rise over the horizon, adding a faint, pink tint to the navy-blue sky. I took a deep breath and allowed a small grin to make its way onto my face. It was times like these - when I could be completely and totally alone, with no one to disturb me - that I felt some small semblance of serenity. Perhaps I should try living on my own for a while, I thought, taking in the calm atmosphere.
And then came company. "Princess Elsa?" Knock knock knock. "Princess Elsa, it's me, Kai."
Ah, the wake-up call. I wasn't sure why I kept that order effective. I liked my beauty rest. And today, of all days, I would have preferred to stay in bed, and perhaps even hide under the covers. But as it was, I was already awake, standing stiffly in front of the window, watching the sleepy town of Arendelle wake up as the sun peeked from the horizon. I had actually gotten up three hours earlier; I was unable to sleep out of apprehension for what the future had in store. And today, I knew I would have to face a challenge greater than anything else I had ever faced in my life.
Kai knocked again. "Princess Elsa? It's time to get up. Today's the big day, your Highness! The day of your coronation!"
I scowled; Kai didn't need to remind me what was in store for me today. I had already been fearing this day for years. Ever since my parents died three years ago, I knew that the day I turn twenty-one would be the day I would be crowned as Arendelle's queen. And I knew that when that day comes, I would have to open up the castle gates, come out of hiding, and mingle with a whole host of people, from politicians to citizens. Don't get me wrong, I had no doubts about my abilities as a queen; Mama taught me quite well. But the real problem lay in my powers. For the first time in forever, the royal gates of Arendelle would be open to the public. I would be surrounded by thousands of people, and I had to conceal my powers from every single one of them.
"Gerda and the others are waiting for you in the washroom," said Kai, "They're going to help you prepare for the big day ahead of you. We better get going, the citizens are already gathering up at the gates!"
"Right," I responded through the door, "Tell Gerda I'll be right over. Oh, and if my sister isn't awake in an hour, would you mind waking her up? You know how she can sleep through anything."
"Of course, your Highness," Kai replied before walking back down the hallway, perhaps to prepare the festivities for the upcoming celebration.
I slowly opened my bedroom door and peeked into the hallway before making my way to the washroom. As soon as I entered, I was greeted by a team of female servants, who started clapping politely at the sight of their soon-to-be queen. Gerda walked forward and put both her hands on my shoulders.
"Ah, at last!" she said, "Little Princess Elsa is going to be Arendelle's queen! My, look at you. You've certainly grown. You're so beautiful...if only your parents could see you now." She paused for a while, then continued, "Now, let's get you all fixed up, shall we?" I could tell, from the looks on the servants' faces, that they were excited to have the castle gates open once again. I didn't blame them, but I silently wished they would have acted a little...calmer.
"Let's get started!" one of the younger servants squealed as she ripped my nightgown off me (and when I say ripped, I do say so quite literally) and nearly shoved me into a wooden tub of steaming water, mixed with sweet-smelling perfumes. I was just beginning to enjoy my morning bath when I was suddenly assaulted on all sides by a flurry of brushes and cleansing sponges. The servants hummed a cheerful song as they nearly skinned me alive with their pumice stones, poured a bucket of water onto my hair, and pulled me out of the tub, wrapping a towel around my body. Before I could say anything, someone (probably the same servant from before) yanked the towel from my body. Two other servants swiftly took a corset and wrapped it around my torso, tightening it as far as it would possibly go. I could feel the air being squeezed out of me as the servants wrapped the cursed thing tighter around my body.
Gerda entered the room. Next to her, she had something, around a person's height, hidden under an elegant wrapping. Suddenly, everyone's attention was on Gerda. I took the opportunity to secretly loosen my corset just the slightest bit.
"Princess Elsa," Gerda announced, "may I present to you...your coronation dress!" She pulled away the wrapping and revealed a tailor's dummy, wearing one of the most beautiful dresses I had ever seen. I put my hand to my mouth in surprise, staring at the dress in astonishment. It was a beautiful, teal dress with long, black sleeves and gorgeous bronze lacings. Elegant, swirling patterns adorned the bodice and skirt. The dress gave off an aura of beauty, power, and majesty, all rolled up into one.
"That's...for me?" I asked in disbelief. I couldn't believe something so lovely was meant to be mine.
"Of course!" Gerda replied, "We had this made just for you. It was fashioned after your mother's old dress. Do you like it?"
I put a hand to my chest, touched that the servants would go through so much trouble to make me look my best. "It's...it's so beautiful," I replied, "Thank you so much, Gerda."
"Oh, it's no problem at all, your Highness," she replied, "but you can stop your staring now. It'll look a thousand times better when you're wearing it." And with that, the servants continued with their excited chatter. They carefully took the dress off the tailor's dummy and put it on me without hesitation. Before I could look at myself in the mirror, I was promptly set down on a wooden stool. The servants brushed, twisted, and pulled my hair this way and that, applying makeup to my face at the same time. I have to admit, I may have gotten a little caught up in the excitement as well. It had been thirteen years since I had spoken to anyone. It felt nice, if not a little awkward, to take part in social interaction once again.
As soon as the servants were done with my hair and makeup, they stood back and beckoned me to see how I looked. I got up and walked to the mirror. As soon as I saw my reflection, I couldn't help but gasp. The woman in the mirror, the one staring back at me, was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. My platinum blonde hair was fixed up in an elegant twisted updo, not unlike the one that my mother used to have. I looked tall, poised, and regal - not at all like the scared young woman who had spent her life hiding in her room. The servants excitedly monitored my reaction as I simply stared at the mirror, awestruck. "Th-thank you," I stammered, "I...I look beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it, your Highness!" replied Gerda, "Now, before we finish, there's just one last thing." With that, she produced a large, magenta-colored cape that immediately took up half the room's floorspace. It exuded power and dignity, the kind of beauty and authority that could only fit a true queen. Was I really supposed to wear it? I felt like I didn't deserve to put it on. Nonetheless, Gerda fastened the brooch around my neck without a second thought. "There we go," she said, "now you can call yourself a true queen of Arendelle."
I looked behind me and stared in awe at the magenta cape - a symbol of my power. It cascaded gracefully down my back and trailed three feet behind me. "Thank you, Gerda. This is so nice."
"You're welcome, your Highness," Gerda responded with a smile.
I dismissed the servants, allowing them to make further preparations for the upcoming festivities. But Gerda lingered behind, the excitement slowly leaving her face as the room emptied out. As soon as she and I were alone, she leaned forward and whispered in a serious tone, "Your Highness. I understand you may be a bit nervous today, due to your...secret. Your father entrusted us servants with this secret, and we have sworn to keep it hidden. It was our solemn promise to him. And to respect that promise, I had these made for you." She presented a small, black case and opened the lid. What I saw inside snapped me back to reality.
It was a pair of long, teal gloves, made to match my dress. More importantly, they were made to help me conceal my powers.
Immediately, the positive energy in me died away. I remembered why I had dreaded this day for years. I was going to be surrounded - touched, even - by thousands of people, all of them potential witnesses to my darkest secret. The only thing separating me from the wrath of an angry mob was this pair of gloves in front of me. Despite my attempts to appear calm, I must have looked absolutely terrified at that moment, because Gerda reached out to put a hand on my shoulder (though I drew away before she could). She sighed, put the gloves in my hands, whispered "Good luck" to me, and walked out of the room, leaving me alone and, once again, scared of what the future had in store.
I spent some time in the library, mentally preparing myself for the day.
Get a hold of yourself, I thought as I sat restlessly on the couch, It'll only be for one day. One day. Then it'll all be over. I tried to take comfort in the thought. For a while, I thought my fears had been put down. But then another question came up: What would I do after I become queen? Would I continue hiding in my room, living the rest of my life in isolation? Or would my newfound duties force me to surround myself with people? I shuddered; both prospects were equally terrifying.
Outside the library door, I could hear Anna singing to herself as she ran excitedly down the halls, making no attempt to hide her eagerness. Honestly, I didn't blame her; for the first time in thirteen whole years, the castle gates would finally be opened. After spending her entire childhood without a friend in the world, Anna was finally getting the opportunity she deserved: a chance to talk with people from all over the world. Today was a much-needed break from a life of loneliness and despair. I only wished my spirits were as high as hers. But as it was, I had other things to worry about.
To distract myself from my troubles, I got up and walked to the window. I could see the lively town of Arendelle preparing its festivities; colorful banners hung from rooftops, while a maypole was erected in the town square. Citizens of all ages, dressed in their most formal attire, walked down the streets, chatting excitedly. Further out, I could see several ships pull into the harbor, proudly displaying flags from many different nations: Weselton, the Eastern and Southern Isles, Corona, Lancaster, Cordoba, Versaille, and a few more from the far Eastern nations. The streets were full of high spirits and lively chatter as everyone, denizens and foreigners alike, gathered at the castle gates. They were all just waiting for me to let them in.
I took a deep breath and tried to replay my parents' instructions to myself. "Be the good girl you always have to be," I said to myself out loud, remembering what Mama had told me eleven years ago. Then, remembering Papa, "Conceal, don't feel."
Eventually, the bright lights and the massive crowd gathered at the castle gates became too stressful for me to watch. I turned from the window and noticed the giant painting that hung on the opposite wall. It depicted my dear father, standing tall and regal - a true king. In his right hand, he held the royal scepter, while the sovereign's orb rested in his left. I had learned all about the coronation rite from Mama; I knew that I would have to bear these two objects during the ceremony, just like my ancestors did before me. But the only problem was, unlike them, I had icy magic that froze everything I touched. If I were to hold the orb and scepter with my bare hands, they would immediately freeze over, and my secret would be revealed.
It's a good thing I have these gloves, I thought, But just in case...
I took off my gloves and laid them on a table in front of me, noticing a candlestick and jewelry box nearby. I might as well practice now, while no one is watching. With my bare hands, I carefully picked up the two objects, imagining them to be the royal orb and scepter. After taking a deep breath, I slowly turned around and envisioned a crowd of hundreds watching me. Almost immediately, I felt the familiar, cold feeling build in my heart, then travel up my arms and into my hands. Reluctantly, I looked down and noticed that the jewelry box and candlestick were rapidly being consumed by ice. Gasping, I quickly set them on the table, frustrated with myself, but at the same time, scared. As I wrung my hands, I silently prayed that the events that had just transpired wouldn't repeat themselves during the actual ceremony. How would I be able to hide my secret from all those people, when I couldn't even hold the symbols of power? I started to despair that I would be able to make it through the day.
Get a hold of yourself, I thought, Remember, getting upset will only make it worse. Conceal, don't feel. I took a deep breath as I nervously picked my gloves back up from the table. "It's only for today," I had to remind myself out loud. But even so, could I really make it through the day without letting my powers loose? The ever-building anxiety was giving me a headache. The uncertainty of the whole situation was causing me unwanted stress. It was agony to wait; pulling my gloves back on, I decided it was time. I drew the library doors open and stepped into the hallway, where a crowd of servants was waiting for me.
"Tell the guards to open up the gates!" I ordered.
The servants looked at each other with eager smiles on their faces before rushing to the gates, chattering excitedly. As I walked by myself down the silent hallways, I could hear the deep groan of the castle's gates being opened. At last, after thirteen years, the kingdom of Arendelle was finally opening its gates to the public. Through the castle walls, I was able to hear the crowd's muffled cheering as hundreds of citizens flooded into the courtyard, all of them waiting for me. As I slowly approached the balcony, the sound gradually grew louder. I stood in front of the doorway, taking some time to calm my nerves. I put my shaking hands on the doorknobs and took a deep breath, remembering the advice Mama had given me all those years ago. Be the good girl you always have to be.
And then, before I had time to form any regrets, I threw the double doors open. Immediately, sunlight flooded into the dark room, and the muffled sound of the crowd's cheering turned into full-scale applause. For full second, I froze in place as the cold feeling in my chest rapidly escalated. After managing to push it down, I nervously stepped onto the balcony, momentarily shielding my eyes from the intense sunlight that shone on my face. I bit my lip as I eyed the large crowd spread out before me. "It's the queen!" I heard one man yell. Immediately, everyone's eyes fell upon me. I gulped. What was I supposed to do? Conceal, don't feel...don't let them know. Despite the churning feeling in my stomach, I forced a weak smile and feebly waved to the crowd, causing the applause to grow even louder.
As my eyes scanned over the vast ocean of people laid out below me, I noticed a lone figure running out of the castle gates. I immediately recognized her. There was only one person in the world who would think of leaving the castle at this time. I watched, smiling, as my sister ran into the village square, taking in the sights and sounds of the outside world. Even from up in the balcony, I could tell that she looked absolutely beautiful. Her strawberry red hair was fixed in an elegant updo, and she was wearing a lovely green ball dress. Then, I frowned as I remembered my current situation. I took a deep breath and renewed the smile on my face.
It's time to put on a show, I thought as I waved to the vast crowd below me.
The church was filled with the gentle sound of choral music. It did nothing to soothe my nerves, however.
Behind my impassive facade, I desperately fought a grueling battle against the icy feeling in my chest. As I walked down the aisle, I tried focusing instead on the world around me. In front of me, the bishop led the coronation procession, followed immediately by a group of knights. And then there was me, doing everything I could to keep myself together. Behind me, Anna followed closely, holding up my cape so it wouldn't drag on the wooden floor. I looked to the side and scanned over the church's pews, filled to maximum capacity by citizens and dignitaries.
As I stepped onto the ornately decorated altar, I felt everyone's eyes on me. To distract myself, I tried running through the ceremony's schedule in my head. For the most part, I would only have to stand here and look pretty while the bishop conducts the ceremony. When the time comes, I would have to take the royal oath, which Mama had made me memorize forward and backward (and thank goodness for that - in my current state, I probably would have forgotten the words), then take up the symbols of power - the crown, the sovereign's orb, and the royal scepter - as the bishop appoints me as Queen of Arendelle. Simple enough, I told myself, that is, as long as I don't freeze anything...
The bishop and I stood on the altar as the choral music drew to a close. Then, the bishop cleared his throat and loudly announced, "My dear brothers and sisters, we are here today to celebrate the coronation of our beloved queen, Elsa of Arendelle..."
As the ceremony carried on, I found myself zoning out. I was focusing instead on concealing my powers. The icy feeling in my chest wasn't subsiding, no matter how hard I tried to push it down. As I grew more anxious, my abilities came closer to reaching the surface. And the closer my magic got to externalizing itself, the more nervous I became. It was a hopeless cycle that I was barely managing to keep in check. But how long would I be able to keep it up? As everyone's eyes were fixated on me, I could feel my control slowly slipping away...
I was abruptly snapped to attention when the bishop looked at me expectedly, eyeing me as if I were supposed to do something. I realized that I was supposed to recite the royal oath. Focus, I thought, silently berating myself for getting distracted, don't let it show. I quickly dug through my brain for the oath that Mama had taught me all those years ago; it had been three years since I had last rehearsed it. Then, after taking a deep breath, I raised my right hand and began, "I, Elsa of Arendelle, hereby solemnly swear, in sickness and in health, to govern the people and territories of Arendelle..."
As soon as I finished the oath, the bishop presented the royal crown - an intricately designed golden tiara adorned with a single, blue gem. I bowed down and closed my eyes as the bishop slipped the crown onto my head. Opening my eyes, I straightened up; at last, I was a true queen of Arendelle. Yet, the crown felt cold and unfamiliar on my head. It was almost as if I was never meant to wear it.
After placing the crown on my head, the bishop presented the sovereign's orb and royal scepter, resting atop a green velvet pillow. I took a deep breath. This is it, I thought, the last step. I'm almost finished. I reached for the royal objects, but the bishop cleared his throat, interrupting me.
"Your Majesty," he whispered, subtly pointing his eyes towards my hands, "the gloves."
For a full second, I froze in place, remembering why I had dreaded this moment in particular. If there was one time for me to mess up and accidentally reveal my powers to everyone, it would be now. I remembered what had happened in the library, when I tried to pick up the candlestick and jewelry box with my bare hands. As I reluctantly slipped my gloves off, I silently prayed that what happened in the library wouldn't happen again here in the cathedral.
I nervously placed both my gloves on the pillow. The feeling of the warm air flowing over my bare hands felt strange and unpleasant; it made me feel naked and vulnerable. I stared at the symbols of power, hesitant to pick them up. Could I really do it? Could I really make it to the end of the ceremony without revealing my powers? I felt like running out at that moment, like escaping would somehow solve all my problems. But I could practically feel everyone's eyes trained on me, counting on me. I decided to take the risk. Conceal, don't feel. I sucked in a breath and reached for the orb and scepter. I could see my own pale hands shaking as I unsteadily picked up the symbols of power. Then I turned around to face the crowd, just like in the library. Only this time, the people watching me were very much real; if I were to mess up this time, a crowd of hundreds would be present to see it. I held my breath as the congregation stood up to acknowledge my coronation. The bishop started reciting the official declaration in Old Norse. This was the most important part of the ceremony - when the bishop was to call upon the power of Heaven itself to appoint me as queen of an entire nation. But to be honest, I didn't pay attention to anything he was saying. I was focusing all my attention and energy on suppressing my powers. But despite my efforts, I felt the familiar cold sensation build up in my chest and travel down my arms, concentrating itself in my hands. My stomach lurched as I unwillingly looked down at the symbols of power.
Ice was slowly forming on the orb and scepter, threatening to consume them from the bottom up.
My heart nearly skipped a beat. Time seemed to stand still. No, I thought, please, no! Not now! I drew in a sharp breath as the bishop continued speaking. With every passing second, the ice was getting closer to consuming the symbols of power, and revealing my secret. I stared straight ahead, scared to see the reaction of the crowd. Finally, after what seemed like hours, I couldn't take it anymore. Not caring whether or not the bishop was finished speaking, I hastily turned around and set the royal objects back down onto the pillow, swiftly pulling my gloves back on.
"...Queen Elsa of Arendelle!" the bishop announced, finishing his official declaration.
"Queen Elsa of Arendelle!" the congregation repeated, cheering and clapping. With an imperceptible sigh of relief, I realized that no one had seen the ice forming on the orb and scepter. I was even more relieved to find out that the coronation ceremony was over. A small grin made its way onto my lips as I turned to face the cheering crowd.
I did it! I was able to make it through the ceremony without revealing my secret - though I certainly came close. I allowed myself to relax a little; at last, it was over. Yet, even amongst the praise and adulation of the crowd, there was one troubling thought that lingered in my mind. It was a thought that had actually formed long ago, during my years of isolation. It had remained in the background of my thoughts for many years, but at that moment, it manifested itself more clearly than ever.
I'm not meant to rule.