"One of the orbs was stolen?!" Elsa could feel a headache working its way into her head. At least sitting behind her enormous ornate desk granted her at least a feint illusion of security. "I… I need to organize an investigation in this castle of every single person working here, a searching team, goodness, I might even go and look for it myself, increase vigilance…"
"You don't need to worry about that." King Will stated. He sat across from Elsa and besides a confused Anna. "It is basically useless and who would buy a cracked piece of glass? Don't tire your poor soldiers for such a mundane task."
"Useless?! If it breaks-"
"Wait, what is this orb thing? Can someone at least explain?" Elsa was about to explain, but Will stopped her and explained everything about the orbs himself. Anna listened with fascination to every word he spoke.
"…Wow." Was all she could mutter. "…I don't really know what to say. But, if they were stolen… Does that mean we'll have eternal winter again? Or summer?" Will chuckled, but the statement didn't have much effect on the troubled Elsa. "If it's eternal winter, couldn't Elsa just banish it?"
"No, young princess. Arendelle would become a dry and poor land." Elsa gasped and a fear overtook Anna's features. "Each orb has a specific task even if they look somewhat identical. Ironically, the more damaged of the two orbs was stolen. How ridiculous… Also, it is not as simple as just 'banishing' it, though right now is not really the appropriate time to go in depth about this, as much as I'd like to satiate your curiosity, Anna." The king said apologetically, glancing at Elsa's exasperated expression. "However, you two are doing an amazing work. With the progress Elsa has despite her lack of training, I can say your kingdom will be alright for the time being." Elsa rubbed her temples, sighing deeply. Anna placed a comforting hand on her back.
"B-but… what if I don't make it?" Frost began to form around the room. "I don't even know how I am supposed to do that!"
"I thought it had to be the two of us?" Anna muttered, which made Elsa stare at her blankly. Anna had taken this as a glare. "Sorry."
"The princess is right. This is something the two of you must deal with together." Will chuckled. "Anna, support Elsa to the best of your ability and everything will be alright. Queen Elsa, please open the third drawer to your left and search for a blue portfolio with the drawing of a ribbon in gold ink. There you will find useful material only suited for your eyes… or so I was told. And with that I meant Anna's as well."
"Me?" Anna felt a hand being placed on her cheek; Elsa smiled at her and nodded.
"We will figure this out together like you said. Being a queen doesn't mean I am better than you, only older and that is not a good thing that I know of." The sisters giggled and for a fleeting moment, their eyes met…
King Will Windsor saw a spark.
"Alright." The king clasped his hands together. The girls flinched and turned their attention to Will. "Please, do not worry about this any further. I would like to deal with this investigation myself as I believe it was my fault for recklessly revealing the location."
"King Will, you are visiting our kingdom. Any problems concerning it are mine to deal with."
"Nonsense! If I find adventure, I welcome it!" There was a juvenile twinkle in the king's eyes. "Now, have a pleasant evening, ladies." He bowed.
Since when has she been this beautiful?
Even if Anna's focus should be in the earth globe she was trying her best to paint, she couldn't help but sneak little glances at Elsa. How marvelous she looked as she read those very old documents she got from some bookshelf there in the library. Those glasses actually suited her, they made her look different. A good different, of course. It made her look twice as smart as she normally looks, because she is even smarter than that.
The princess felt very guilty for thinking about such nonsense at a time like that. She had learned that all her life there had been two items keeping the four seasons going in Arendelle and now apparently she, along with Elsa, had to perform that duty.
"Goodness… Anna, come here." Elsa said, her studious blue eyes never leaving the document. Anna quickly walked to Elsa's side and looked at the paper over her shoulder. She saw a drawing of two small girls. "Our ancestors… They also had powers like us."
"W-wait! If they did then what about mom and dad? They were normal, right?"
"No… It seems like the knowledge got lost over the generations, or rather, neglected." Elsa sighed and finally looked at Anna in the eye. "It seems I wasn't the only one who rejected their sibling…"
"Elsa…" Anna wrapped a comforting arm over her shoulder. Elsa smiled and went back to the papers with a serious expression. It was becoming easier for the queen to control her powers… Or rather, her emotions.
"The gifts were too much of a burden for them, so they hid them. They neglected the fact that this could doom the entire kingdom and put their own happiness before it. As a result… our ancestors had to do something." She gasped, covering her mouth with a hand. "…The orbs… they are not just enchanted, they contain their souls…"
"So that means they have been doing this for… centuries?" Anna took Elsa's silence as a positive answer. "…Poor grandmas…"
"They must be desperate for rest…" Elsa lowered her head, lamenting their fate. She rolled the parchment that was the document and released a sigh.
"Hey…" Anna tried to look at Elsa in the eyes. "We're in this together right? We'll learn to use our amazing powers in no time! …I think."
"Yes… Thank you." The queen acted on pure impulse and pressed her lips against Anna's cheek for less than a second. When she retreated she was met with a blinding light and a frozen room.
"Wow." Anna said, surveying her surroundings. "…Th-the books. Elsa, the books!"
"The… books?"
"Unfreeze the library!"
"Right!" With a flick, the layer of ice disappeared. Elsa sighed and removed her glasses, which also had frost in the lenses. At least the parchment was safe... "I-I'm sorry. I'll go check if everything is in order- Anna?" Elsa found herself in the warmest hug she had ever had; she had to squint her eyes to protect them from Anna's light. Slowly, the brightness began to get dimmer and dimmer. The oblivious princess broke the hug, took the parchment and glasses from Elsa and returned the kiss.
"I'll go get the other documents." Anna said, giving the items back to the flushed Elsa.
"So, we have… made a lot of discoveries here and all…" Anna began. They were now sitting next to each other reading the documents. "But… why is 'maintaining the harmony of the four seasons' so essential? I mean, I thought these things happened by themselves…"
"I don't know, Anna. I'll have to stay here a little more to figure it out." Elsa said in a tone that slightly worried Anna; it was cold and distant.
"We've been here for a while, Elsa and there's still a lot to read." Anna put a hand on Elsa's. "I've had to bring you snacks and all and dinner is soon. Why don't we do this tomo-"
"We're leaving tomorrow, Anna. Remember?" Elsa leaned back in her seat. "That reminds me, I have to leave things in order…"
"O-okay. Point taken. Why don't you leave this to me and you go do your queenly duties?" Anna smiled brightly. As if saying no to her wasn't hard enough.
"Anna, you have to pack your things too."
"Well, I keep getting up earlier and earlier every morning because of my… 'powers.' So, I'll just do it in the morning!" Elsa cupped Anna's cheek with one hand.
"…Alright. You win. I'll ready everything for our departure." Elsa smiled one more time before standing up, but before she left Anna hugged her from behind.
"Anna? Is something the matter?" Elsa asked as she sliced her meat. "You have been really quiet."
"I got nothing from the documents…" Anna muttered with a disappointed expression. "I'm no use for that kind of stuff."
"You know, father always told me; 'You tried hard…"
"…But not hard enough.'" Anna finished and the sisters smiled at each other. "I used to think that was insulting…"
"Because you thought he called you mediocre?" Anna nodded, wide eyed. Elsa chuckled. "I thought the same too, honestly."
"Right… you being the older… and being trained to be a queen…" A solemn atmosphere invaded the room.
"I think we both keep forgetting we had the same parents." Elsa breaks the silence.
"…We were raised so separately…" The princess' gaze dropped on her plate.
"But equally." Their eyes met again…
Just then, King Will entered the dinning room. He saw a spark. It wouldn't be long before it became a fire.
"Now you are completing each other's sentences? Get a room." The two looked at him, startled and red faced. A servant in the background coughed. "Or so I would say if it had been that mountain man Kristoff and you, Princess Anna." He winked. The servant was about to rush off to the kitchen to get food. "Oh! No, don't worry about me, kind sir. I am not staying for long."
"King Will Windsor…" Elsa said sternly. "Those kinds of comments can raise a lot of speculation."
"I know, I know, mom." Retorted Will with a wide grin. The pair raised an eyebrow at his behavior. "I may not have found the orb, but I got some leads." Elsa still didn't know if he was this happy because of the information he had, or because he was enjoying himself. "I just wanted to let you know. Now, please continue enjoying your dinner, ladies. I shall retire for the night." King Will left as fast as he came.
"What… was… that?" Asked Anna. She was unable to look at Elsa in the eye and occupied herself eating and drinking furiously.
"He's… like that. Yes."
"Don't you think he's being just a little too secretive? I mean, you of all people should know what these… 'leads' are." Elsa sighed tiredly in response.
"…I don't know anymore, Anna." The rest of the diner was carried out in silence.