Hi. On with the story! I've had plenty of great reviews, thanks everyone, and for the follows/favourites as well. Okay, I have one thing to say: Anna is NOT pranking being dead. I hope that clears things up. Oh and another thing to say, I don't own Frozen! Now read the story.
Kristoff pushed Sven so hard, so fast, that by the time they reached the troll's clearing, it was nearly too hard to stop. Elsa almost blasted herself off the sleigh when she frantically tried to apply too much friction. The sled skidded to a halt, gently bumping into the front row of boulders. Elsa squawked like a parrot when Anna's limp body nearly flopped out of the sleigh. Luckily, none of the trolls were hurt, although they were grumbling as they dusted ice and dust off their shoulders.
Springing out of the sleigh, Kristoff pounced on the sisters, making sure they were unharmed (except for the obvious exception of Anna being just a little bit dead). He moved to lift Anna but the Queen rushed to stop him, lifting her arms and levitating Anna by magic. Kristoff, a little miffed, turned and called for Pabbie. Slowly, far too slowly for Elsa's liking, there came the familiar rumbling sound and the boulders rolled into the centre of the clearing.
"Kristoff's home!" The cry spread like a rumour, then quietened again almost immediately when Elsa stepped forward with Anna. One of the baby trolls squeaked that Kristoff had brought two girls this time, and his mother fixed him with a glare.
Elša gently lowered Anna to the ground in front of Pabbie, who reached over to lay a tender hand on her forehead. He sprung back immediately, with a look of surprise and alarm widening his features.
"I hadn't expected that degree of..." Pabbie trailed off, glancing curiously at Anna and then his hands several times, finally turning to Elsa. "What exactly happened?" He enquired, kneeling heavily next to the princess.
Elsa sighed and rubbed at her eyes with ice-cold fingers. "... I'm not sure exactly. I got really scared and then really mad, and then I used the magic, but it was different."
"Different how?"
"Instead of ice or snow, it was just magic. It was everywhere, all throughout the room. The walls thinned, and the bookshelves turned to rubble, and I don't even want to know where the carpet's gone. I turned around and Anna was just lying there on the floor."
Elsa wiped at her eyes again, guilt gnawing her insides like a dog gnaws a bone. Kristoff patted her shoulder awkwardly.
"Hmmm," mused the old troll, prodding Anna's elbow, feeling her forehead, and rubbing his own chin thoughtfully. "I don't think this problem is as serious as it looks."
This ridiculous statement shocked a laugh out of Elsa. Kristoff looked at her curiously - she'd seemed mopy and preoccupied on the sleigh ride here, barely paying enough attention not to blast them off a cliff or into a boulder. Considering his Queen's face, Kristoff decided that she'd just been startled.
"Not as serious as it looks?" Elsa's voice rose in very un-queenly squeakiness. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I think she's just asleep." Pabbie was thoughtful, and concentrating fiercely.
Again with Elsa's startled laugh. "A...Asleep? But her heartbeat - the doctor said..."
"Yes," Pabbie reiterated, "asleep. Her heartbeat seems to have receded, although that's said to be normal for magicburn victims - I've never had a case, but my Serbian family... they have a lot of telekinetics and the occasional firebreather. Hectic up there, apparently."
Elsa exchanged a glance with Kristoff, the tension in her shoulders melting with relief as the ice around her feet dispersed. Anna was alive! She'd never felt so happy.
Well, no. That was wrong - she wasn't really happy at all. But there was so much relief, and such a complete and total lack of sadness compared to what there had been just minutes ago, Elsa was willing to take it.
Very willing.
"So what do we do?" Kristoff's voice broke into her thoughts. Everyone turned to face him, except the little troll who'd started digging a hole and burying his mother's toes in it; oblivious to what was happening.
"That's true - you've told us what the problem is; from what I can gather my sister has been burned by magic and drawn into a recessive sleep." Elsa raised an eyebrow and Pabbie nodded, confirming her facts and motioning for her to continue. "What I haven't heard is why she's asleep, and why it makes her heartbeat and breathing stop."
"Fade," Pabbie corrected. Elsa waved a hand, amending her error.
"Fade, then. We also haven't been told how we wake her from this sleep. Will she be all right?"
Pabbie leaned back from Anna and regarded Elsa, watching her for a moment. His knowing gaze made her fidget, uncomfortable under such scrutiny.
"Elsa, started Pabbie, "have you ever been to Serbia?"
Gerda smoothed her apron and checked her hair one last time. She was an older lady, and didn't much care for her appearance, but even Gerda knew she had to appear in her best - if plain - manner to address the citizens of the kingdom.
One of the guards yelled out for silence, and Gerda could feel the hush fall over the crowd as though it had a physical presence. On the balcony, a uniformed guard beckoned, and Gerda emerged from the doors of the palace to address the people.
Compassion, she told herself. Kindness. Understanding. You are a citizen just like them. Gerda took a breath and allowed her voice to ring out, carrying down to Elsa's subjects.
"People of Arendelle," she called, revelling in the sound of her voice's echo despite the circumstances. "I speak to you today on behalf of her Majesty Queen Elsa of Arendelle." A general applause broke out at Elsa's name, some people calling for the Queen to come and speak for herself. Gerda's smile faltered. "My name is Gerda, I serve her Majesty and the court. I speak to you on behalf of the Queen today because... a tragic accident occurred just after midday yesterday." Gerda glanced at the still-rising sun. It had been less than 24 hours since her life had changed forever. They had chosen this time for a reason, though.
"Princess Anna and Queen Elsa were conferring yesterday -" she'd had no better word for the exchange the sisters had shared - "when her Majesty, through no fault of her own, accidentally caused severe damage to the room they were in. The Princess was fatally injured in the calamity and so I ask of you all, to share with me a minute's absolute silence in remembrance of one of the brightest, bravest Princesses in this kingdom, or the next."
The crowd's murmuring and shocked whispers faded away as heads bowed and young children were shushed. Guards and soldiers stood to attention, swords drawn, saluting for the entire sixty seconds. Gerda wiped tears from her cheeks and tried not to sob.
A trumpet call aroused the people, and Gerda knew she had to speak again. her voice quivered with unshed tears, but she spoke from the heart right to Elsa's people. "I - I am sure you will all understand how her Majesty the Queen is feeling at the moment. The Princess Anna was the only remainder of her family; her beloved sister and best friend. I hope you can all understand that the Queen is in no fit state to speak to an assembly - as a matter of fact... Queen Elsa isn't here right now." Gerda nearly choked on a sob, accidentally letting that sentence hang in front of the people. Murmurings and rumours spread and then faded like ripples as Gerda raised her hands, voice now shaking and almost out of control.
"The Queen, official Ice Master Kristoff and a trusted companion Sven have taken Princess Anna to the North Mountains. She does not wish me to share with you the official reasoning behind this journey, and she has requested solitude in this journey. I myself will abide by her wishes, and I hope you all feel enough sympathy and empathy to the Queen so as to do the same-"
Gerda finally broke off in sobs, waving for a soldier to dismiss the assembly.
That could have gone better.