Chapter 10: Heart-to-Heart

"ELSA!"

The scream sounded like a faint echo at the back of Elsa's mind. She faintly recognized the voice, but it didn't break her concentration.

"ELSA, LET HER GO!"

Now the screaming was starting to break her concentration. Now Elsa recognized the voice. It was her little sister, Anna.

"ELSA, YOU'RE GOING TO KILL HER, STOP!"

The screaming finally broke her concentration and Elsa's mind snapped back to reality. She found herself in front of her twin...and with her hand around Elise's throat.

In the flash of a second, Elsa relaxed her grip and recoiled back in horror causing Elise to drop to the floor in a heap, coughing as she tried to regain her breath. Elsa was too horrified to speak or move. When Elise finally caught her breath, she angled her eyes upward and met Elsa's own. Elsa could see the fear being directed at her and it made her heart sink even deeper. Then, without warning, Elise bolted upright and ran down the hall, disappearing from view.

Elsa didn't move, instead she just stared down at her hands. "What have I done?" she whispered to herself, unaware of the tears flowing down her cheeks.

It was Anna's hand on her shoulder that finally pulled Elsa out of her daze. Elsa spun around to face her sister, and quickly noticed the black and blue ring that formed around her eye and the tears that fell down her face. Anna was looking back at her, not with anger or fear, but with anguish and despair. Before Elsa could think, Anna wrapped her arms around Elsa in a crushing embrace.

"You're not running away either," Anna commanded. Elsa wasn't even considering it, but she didn't say anything. "You almost killed her. Why?" Anna finally whispered.

"I thought you were in danger," Elsa answered at normal volume. "I-I didn't mean to hurt her, I swear."

Anna let out a guilty sob as she loosened her grip on Elsa, maybe finally convinced Elsa wasn't going to bolt, too. "I'm sorry."

Elsa was taken aback. "What? No, Anna, I messed up. I lost control and alm-"

"No, Elsa, this is my fault...again," Anna interrupted, pushing off of Elsa to face her, but not letting go. "I pushed her into hitting me. I've been so mean and rude to her. I caused all of this."

Elsa knew she was going to have to have this conversation eventually, so it might as well be now. "But why, Anna? What did she do to you to deserve that?"

"I was just...jealous. You spend all your time with Elise now and I thought I was going to lose you to her." Elsa considered Anna's explanation. It was a sound excuse, though very childish. Elsa had been spending much more time with Elise than Anna and Anna never had to deal with sharing Elsa with anyone outside of business before. "Sometimes you act head-over-heels for her, I've never seen you like that, Elsa. If she wasn't your sister, I'd say you were in love with her and it scared me."

Elsa's throat went dry. Am I that obvious? "You were scared because you thought I was in love with my twin?" she asked nervously. There were only two ways Anna would take that question; either as a confession of guilt or a really stupid question.

"Huh? No, I was scared you were going to forget about me." Thankfully, Anna seemed to take it as a really stupid question.

"Oh, Anna, I would never forget about you or stop loving you. Not for anyone."

"I know." Anna dropped her eyes to the ground. "I was stupid and now I...I ruined your whole relationship with Elise."

"No, I did. I shouldn't have lost control like that..."

Anna brought her hand up to Elsa's face and pushed a finger to her lips, silencing Elsa mid-sentence. "Elsa, just go to her. I promise, no, I swear I'll make this up to you both, but right now you need to go to her. Don't let her run away. Trust me on this, Elsa, you cannot let her slip away."

Elsa just nodded. Anna was right. She needed to go find Elise and make things right before it was too late, and with that, Elsa turned and ran down the empty hallway.

Elise had curled up between a tree and the castle walls as she sobbed into her hands. When Elsa had let go of her, she had every intention of running out the gates and all the way back to the North Pole like Anna had suggested. Elise had no reason to stay, she ruined everything with Elsa and yet, she couldn't make herself leave. So, here she was, hiding out in what appeared to be a concealed spot in the gardens. She could have simply gone back to her room after she had decided to not run back to the North Pole, but Elise was scared. Elise was scared of what Elsa would do to her when she found her. Would she kill Elise on the spot or banish her? Or maybe throw her back in that cell.

Lost in her thoughts, Elise hadn't noticed the person walk up to her until they had rested a hand on her shoulder. She tensed up and clenched her eyes tighter. She just hoped whatever came was quick.

Elise was unprepared for when the figure sat on the ground beside her and started stroking her hair and spoke soft and soothing words to her. Elise couldn't make out what they were saying over her own sobbing, but she recognized the voice and it only made her more confused. Elise opened her eyes and removed her hands to confirm her suspicion.

"Anna?" Elise wasn't sure if this was good news or bad news.

"Yes, I know I'm probably the last person you wanted to see, but I have something that I need to say before Elsa finds you." Elsa was looking for Elise after all, but Elise still wasn't sure if that was good or bad.

"Please, don't blame her for this, Elise," Anna continued. "Or yourself, this was my fault." The bruise around Anna's right eye said otherwise though. Anna had been crying, Elise could tell, and it didn't look like it was from the pain from the hit. "I don't really hate you." Elise was surprised by Anna's words. What happened after I left?

"Could've fooled me." Elise hadn't meant to say that out loud, but it was rather audacious for Anna to claim something like that after the past week.

"I know. I'm a big, selfish idiot. The truth is...I've been jealous of the attention Elsa gives you. I've always had Elsa to myself and even then most of the time I didn't have her. I know you won't understand, but I can't lose her again and I was afraid I was going to. She loves you so much, Elise."

"No, I think I understand. Elsa means the world to me, too." And now I've ruined it.

Anna smiled and started wiping the tears off of Elise's cheeks. "Listen, I'm really sorry for the things I've said and done to you. You didn't deserve any of it and I understand if you won't forgive me, but Lord knows I'll try to make up for it." Anna wrapped her arms around Elise in a hug.

Elise's crying had finally subsided as she considered what Anna had just told her. It made sense, the whole jealousy thing. Anna had even told her before that she would do anything to not lose Elsa. But could Elise really hold this against Anna? After all, Elise barely even attempted to play nice with Anna herself. Not to mention, Elsa spoke very highly of Anna, and Anna's actions, as misguided and irrational as they were, kind of proved how much she valued her relationship with Elsa.

Elise decided she'd think about everything later, but in the meantime she would start working with Anna rather than against her. So, as a sign of good will, Elise returned the hug that Anna was currently giving her. Elise could feel Anna relax when she did and so assumed that Anna was satisfied with just a return hug.

"So, you said Elsa was looking for me?"

"Yes. To make things right again." Anna still hadn't released Elise, but Elise didn't mind, she was actually enjoying it. Anna really was like a bundle of warmth, which surprised Elise as she expected her other sister to be colder than even Elsa despite not having ice powers.

"How did you find me first, if I may ask?"

Anna laughed. "It's because sometimes I know Elsa better than Elsa knows herself. She headed to the main gate first because she thought you ran away since that's what she would do in your situation and must've thought you'd do the same. But I know Elsa, she wouldn't run away from the castle anymore, even if she thinks she would."

"But that doesn't explain how you found me?"

Anna had to repress another giggle. "Elsa wouldn't run away from the castle and she wouldn't go to her room because she knows it's too obvious. It was just about looking elsewhere and you happen to be in one of our favorite childhood hiding spots."

"Oh, but I'm not Elsa though." Anna wasn't getting to the point fast enough and it only made Elise's curiosity grow. Thankfully, it was taking her mind off of other things.

"You could've fooled me." Anna took Elise's silence as a cue to continue. "You two are so similar and it absolutely disgusts me now that I had ever treated you wrongly. I might as well been treating Elsa like crap. You have your minor differences, but you're basically the same person. Now I realize that if Elsa lost you, I'd basically be losing her too because without each other, you two aren't complete. And I could never love Elsa but then hate you at the same time because it would mean I hated Elsa."

Alright that was confusing, but it kind of makes sense. Elsa and I are so similar, that Anna couldn't hate one and not the other.

"I love you both," Anna said, squeezing just a little bit more.

"Me too," said Elise. Elsa was right about Anna after all.

Anna finally ended their drawn out hug. "But I think I should give you two some space now." Elise noticed her eyes were directed at something behind Elise.

Elise turned around and found Elsa standing over them, smiling wide. Wordlessly, Anna got up and made her way back to the castle, it was Elise and Elsa's time now, she wouldn't intrude. It seemed like forever that the twins were simply looking at each other. Finally, a sob escaped Elsa and she dove forward onto Elise, knocking her sister onto her back. As Elsa lay on top of her, Elise could feel her crying softly. Elise wrapped her arms around Elsa and held onto her tightly, she could feel tears of her own coming back.

They stayed like that for a few minutes. Both tried apologizing and both claimed there was no reason for the other to apologize for, but it didn't stop either of them from continuing to say sorry to the other.

Their sobbing died down and Elsa lifted her head up to speak. "I think I need to take a break, a few days at the least. This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't so overworked."

"This wouldn't have happened if a lot of things were different, stop getting caught up in it," Elise tried to reason.

"No, I've been so worn out and now with this incident I don't think I can last any longer. I was thinking of taking a trip to my ice palace on the North Mountain. Just you and me for a few days; no work, no lessons, no distractions. W-would you like that?"

Elise would love that more than anything actually. And finally a chance to see Elsa's ice palace in person, too. "I would love to. When can we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning." That was sooner than Elise expected, not that she was complaining. "I can make arrangements tonight and we can be off until Monday. That's three whole days of just the two of us."

"Let's do it."

"Okay then." Elsa got up off Elise then pulled Elise up after her. "We're taking the rest of the day off too. I'll go make some arrangements for our leave and then we can have an early dinner. I want to leave early in the morning so we're going to have to go to bed early."

Elsa hooked her arm through Elise's and started leading her back into the castle. "So, who's going to watch the Kingdom while we're gone?"

Elsa smirked. "Leave that to me."

Chancellor Jakobsen and Admiral Hoffman sat uncomfortably on the opposite end of the table from Princess Anna and Queen Elsa. The two men hadn't heard what had happened, except that the Queen's top servants had ushered all personnel away from the library area where apparently some kind of commotion had been going on. The Royal family had to have been involved considering the Queen and Princess across from them had been very obviously crying earlier. And then there was Princess Anna's swollen black eye which was currently being covered by the Queen's frost-covered hand to help keep the swelling down.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice, gentlemen," Elsa began.

"Anything for you, your majesty," said Chancellor Jakobsen.

"I regret to inform you though, that I will be taking my leave starting tomorrow morning and it will last until Sunday night."

"But, your majesty, this is such short notice. There is much planning that needs to be done and don't forget the meet-"

"I know, but it has to be done," Elsa said cutting the Chancellor off. That was the final word and the Chancellor decided not to argue anymore. "I'm going up to the North Mountain and I'm bringing Princess Elise with me...alone."

"No guards or servants?"

"No." Elsa pressed on before either of them could object. "I already have Kai and Gerda preparing supplies and luggage for our trip. After this meeting I will inform the Americans of tomorrow's cancellation personally. They'll get over it."

"And will Princess Anna be joining you two?" Jakobsen asked.

"No, and that brings me to my next point." Elsa tried to remove her hand from Anna's face, but the Princess whimpered and pulled it back. "During my absence, Princess Anna will be in charge."

"No," both men interrupted in unison.

"Rude, I'm right here, you know," Anna muttered in response.

Elsa ignored all three of them. "Yes, she will. And I want you two to be her personal advisers. It's time Princess Anna learned some responsibility and I want you two to guide her along the way. I'd trust no one else with this position. Do I have your support?"

"Of course, your majesty, you always do." The Admiral nodded in agreement with the Chancellor's words.

"Thank you. Just give her the help she needs and keep an eye on things for me. Don't hesitate to intervene if needed, but this is supposed to be a learning experience for the Princess. However, I've already informed her that it would be wise of her to follow your guidance, isn't that right, Anna?"

"Yes, sister," Anna answered obediently.

Elsa stood up from the table, the Princess following to keep her hand attached to her face. "Oh, and please keep her away from the Americans. I've arranged for the three of you and Kai to meet after dinner to plan out your schedule for this weekend. That is all, you're dismissed."

Elsa and Anna turned to go and as they reached the door, Chancellor Jakobsen called out behind them. "Queen Elsa, it's good to see you spending time with Princess Elise. Admiral Hoffman and I both greatly appreciate what she's done and she's deserves nothing less than spending as much time with you as possible. Please go enjoy your weekend with her."

Elsa turned around again. "Thank you, both." And then she was gone. At least this time the Queen gave them a warning before running off to the North Mountain.

It was nighttime now and the halls were dark. Elsa was walking towards her old room where Elise now slept. They were set to leave in the morning, but Elsa had a sudden urge to see Elise that she couldn't explain. So, here she was, right outside the snowflake adorned door of her old room.

Elsa silently pushed the door open and entered the dark room. Oddly, the room was barren of any of Elise's ice decorations and appeared through the darkness to be filled with Elsa's own stuff. Elsa paid no mind to these odd details as she slowly moved closer to the bed. A single ray of moonlight shined through the window onto Elise, illuminating her sleeping body perfectly.

Out of the corner of Elsa's eye, she caught the glint of metal in the shadows on the other side of Elise's bed. Before Elsa could react, a dark figure moved into the moonlight, dagger in hand. Elsa couldn't identify the assailant as her eyes were too busy following the dagger.

Elsa never had a chance to scream or act. She was stuck in place as the figure bent over Elise bringing the dagger to her sleeping sister's throat.

Elise never had a chance to wake up. The figure sliced the dagger across her throat. At the same moment, Elsa finally found the strength to do something. Before the dagger even finished the cut, Elsa let out a terrified scream and shot a bolt of magic at the assailant. The assailant was thrown back into the shadows, the bloody dagger flying across the room.

It was too late. By the time Elsa reached Elise she was already gone, blood already covered the sheets and her nightgown. It was covering Elsa now as she cradled Elise's lifeless body, too stunned to scream or move.

After what felt like an eternity, Elsa lowered Elise's body back onto the bed as anger started to rise within. Elsa could hear wet coughing coming from the assailant in the shadows. Elsa got off the blood-soaked bed, her hands now glowing as icy magic danced from her fingertips in anger. Elsa moved into the shadows towards Elise's killer, her magic casting out the darkness with a blue hue. She moved closer and closer until the light finally shown on the assailants face.

"No," she said out loud.

Elsa's fury disappeared and was replaced with horror and despair. Anna was sitting up against the wall, her face was pale and she'd been coughing up blood. Tears had been falling from her eyes. Elsa's eyes traveled down Anna's body and found a large icicle sticking out of her torso.

"W-why, Anna?" Elsa managed to ask though her sobs. Outside, a blizzard was raging on and the castle shook as giant spikes of ice broke through its foundation. The room was already frozen over.

Anna opened her mouth to speak. "I-I d-didn't want t-to..." Her eyes started to close. "...to lose you." Anna's head dropped down.

And then Elsa woke up.

Elise was on a mission. She had to get to Elsa. She increased the wind behind her, propelling herself as fast as she could skate through the tube of ice towards the burning ship and her twin. As she skated, Elise had a feeling of déjà vu, but she couldn't remember what this reminded her of.

Breaking out of the cell had been easier than she thought and thankfully she already was fairly close to the water. Elise knew the guards would try to go after her for escaping, so she had to get to the ship unseen. The only way to do that was to go under the fjord. So, when Elise reached the water's edge, she created an underwater tunnel of ice that extended all the way across the water to the ship, created a pair of ice skates, and entered the tunnel. Elise knew from experience at the North Pole that creating a gust of wind behind her in such tight quarters would propel her faster and Elise needed to go as fast as possible.

Before she knew it, Elise reached the end of the tunnel. She could feel she was directly under Elsa, though how she had that feeling was unexplainable. Elise sealed the end of the tunnel and used a pillar of ice to launch her upwards. Her sealed ice capsule broke through the bottom of the ship and several decks before it stopped. Elise had reached her destination.

Elise made a doorway and was instantly hit by a wave of heat. The instant the wave of heat hit her, Elise felt like a fog was starting to cloud her mind. She stepped out and found Elsa in the middle of a circle of flames. She was conscious.

That's not right.

Elise remembered more now. Elsa was supposed to be unconscious. And everyone outside thought she was already dead. An old idea was starting to creep from the back of Elise's increasingly clouded mind.

Elsa's terror-stricken face brightened up when she saw Elise. "Elise, you've come to save me."

Elise was remembering more now, but her mind was becoming more clouded. Elsa had said Elise was the crown princess, the heir to the throne. The idea was tugging at her mind more and more and Elise was struggling to suppress it.

Your own kingdom in your grasp, Elise...

Elsa was trying to stand up. "Come on, Elise, you have to get us out of here."

Elise finally folded to the pressure. "Queen Elise broke out of her cell to save poor Elsa. She tried her best, but she failed to save the former Queen."

Elsa's face dropped. "What? Elise, what are you talking about?"

Elise grinned mischievously and shot Elsa back into the burning wall behind her. She screamed in pain, but Elise didn't stop as she covered Elsa's feet and hands with ice to restrain her to the wall. "Just to make sure you don't get out." Elise paused to think about it for a second. "On second thought," she impaled Elsa on a spike of ice causing her to cough up blood. "Now I'm sure you won't get out."

"Elise, please don't do this," Elsa pleaded as tears fell down her eyes.

Elise was now fully consumed by her fantasy. "Thanks for the kingdom, dear sister. I'll make sure to take care of Anna for you." Elise had no intention of killing the Princess. Just a lifetime of torture.

Elsa's eyes widened in fear. Apparently the only thing Elsa feared worse than slowly burning to death while impaled on an icicle was Anna being harmed. Good, let that be her last thoughts before she dies.

Elise turned around to go while Elsa screamed at her to leave Anna alone. Elise ignored her pleas.

Elise shot upright in bed. She was already crying and her body was covered in sweat as her mind struggled to understand the nightmare. She was equally disgusted at herself for ever having thoughts of killing Elsa to take over Arendelle as she was terrified at how close she came to losing Elsa before she even got a chance to get to know her. Elise couldn't have been more grateful for Anna stopping her on that first night.

Elise laid back down and tried to go back to sleep.

Neither twin would get a good night of sleep that night as they both tried to comprehend how close they each came to losing everything.

Morning came too soon with the sun just peaking over the horizon. A sled had been loaded up with supplies and was waiting for the Queen and her twin in the courtyard. However, there wasn't a horse or reindeer in sight.

"You won't get very far with that," Anna pointed out after finishing up her yawn. She had come out to see her older sisters off. She wanted to go back to bed but she figured since she was already awake she might as well stay awake considering her schedule for the day was due to start within the hour. She was already dressed for the part, she had chosen to wear a very similar dress to Elsa's coronation one. It was very non-Anna, but it made her look like a respectable monarch. Anna was not looking forward to her role as head of government during the Queen's absence, especially considering it was supposed to be the Chancellor's job. However, Anna was willing to accept her punishment for how she treated Elise.

"Right you are, Anna. I suppose we'll need something to pull us, don't you think Elise?" Elsa smiled at her twin mischievously.

Elise got the point, smiling mischievously too. They are so cute together. Too bad they both look like crap. Neither twin looked like they'd gotten much sleep.

"Whoa." Anna was struck with wonderment as Elise waved her hands and created two beautiful reindeer made entirely out of ice. More amazing than the fact that they were alive, was that they were perfect. No lumps, no unnatural lines, no jagged ice. Anna wasn't sure if Elsa could have pulled something like that off. Despite Anna and Olaf's persistence since her coronation, Elsa had refused to create anymore ice creatures. She wasn't comfortable doing it, especially after creating Marshmallow.

"It would have been easier if you made them," Elise said. "Then they would have already known where to go."

"I wish I could," Elsa mumbled under her breath. Anna could hear it because of her close proximity, but she doubted Elise had heard.

"What was that?"

"I said, it's okay, I'll make sure they know where to go," Elsa corrected herself, giving Elise a lopsided smile. "Besides, you're the nature twin."

Nature twin? Well, that makes sense if Elise is the "nature twin" and Elsa isn't, Elsa isn't very good at making natural things, not that I'll ever admit that to her. I wonder what twin that makes her. Maybe the geometry twin.

"Anna," Elsa's voice cut through Anna's thoughts.

"Huh?"

"I'm trying to say goodbye." The ice-reindeer were already hooked up to the sled and the twins were ready to board. Elsa was standing in front of Anna.

"Oh, goodbye, Elsa." Anna wrapped her arms around her sister. "Be safe and enjoy yourselves."

"We will. Take care of Arendelle for me."

"I will."

"And no goofing off."

"Yes, Elsa."

"And listen to Jakobsen's advice. He knows what he's doing."

"Yes, Elsa."

"And no chasing after me this time."

"Okay, Elsa, jeez. I get it, just go already." Anna gave Elsa a playful shove out of their hug.

"Don't be nervous, it'll only be three days and there'll be plenty of people to help you out." Elsa climbed into the sled. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too."

Anna now locked her eyes on her other older sister. She'd been standing next to the sled, waiting for Elsa to board first while fiddling with her hands. Their eyes met, but Elise didn't move. Anna decided to take the initiative and walked over to Elise and threw her arms around her.

"Goodbye, Elise."

Elise was surprised, but she quickly returned the hug. "Oh, goodbye to you too, Anna."

"When you get back, maybe we can...spend some time together, without fighting?" Two Elsa's really were better than one.

Elise smiled. "I'd love that." Elise climbed on to the sled and grabbed the reigns. Anna gave her older sisters one more wave as Elise ordered the sled forward. They both waved back, but Elsa turned around to continue as the sled turned to face its rear to Anna.

And then they were gone, away and beyond the castle gates. A single tear rolled down Anna's cheek as a feeling of emptiness took over her. It was only three days and she had Kristoff and Olaf to keep her company, but it felt like a scene out of her nightmares; Elsa gone for Anna to rule Arendelle without her. It was a horrible feeling that drove her to such madness over the past week that caused Anna's harsh treatment of Elise in the first place.

She didn't dwell on that feeling long, as she composed herself and turned to go inside with a smile now on her face. On the bright side, Elsa was actually coming back and Anna hadn't actually lost Elsa, but practically gained another Elsa with Elise. Elise could never replace Elsa, but they were so eerily similar, that they could have been the same person in Anna's eyes.

And it wasn't like Anna feared that they would be in danger. Elsa may have been timid with using her powers as weapon, but Elise sure wasn't.

What could possibly happen between the two of them?

A/N: Thanks to my two beta readers, like always.

If you're confused by Anna saying stuff like, "they're the same person", this chapter, it's because she's on to something. Elsa and Elise are not really twins. Elise and Elsa grew up in vastly different environments and if they were real identical twins, they'd be more different than they are in this fic because of the vast difference in environments. The best way to explain them is like this; one magic, two bodies. Elise and Elsa are one magical being split into two bodies that are meant to be together. It's also a yin and yang kind of thing too; asymmetrical (Elise) vs. symmetrical (Elsa), level-headedness (Elsa) vs. impulsiveness (Elise), good (Elsa) vs. "evil" (Elise), natural-oriented (Elise) vs. order-oriented ordered (Elsa) etc. And of course they share many other qualities and Anna was picking up on this.

But this is just a head canon thing and no one in the fic has any way of knowing this so for all intents and purposes they're twins. Anna was just pointing out that they're more than just twins. I have a whole headcanon figured out for their backstory too in which references will be included in this fic and I'll explain in the A/N throughout the updates only because the backstory explanation really has no place in this story otherwise.

If you prefer I don't explain it until the very very end because you want to try guessing, then let me know and I'll do that instead.

As for my two guest reviews:

Ro: "OMG please, Elsa don't kill Elise or put her in the dungeon, just kill Anna."

Ouch, why no love for Anna?

Seioh: You're kind of right, she was bitchy and I hope this explains why. And funny you mention that because I actually planned on "her time of the month" being one of the reasons, but decided not to try adding it in. But yeah, you can assume it's also Anna's "time of the month" even if it didn't make the chapter.

So this is the last chapter for a little bit. I'll be on vacation and will only have limited internet access. The next update could come as early as the next two to three weeks or as late as the end of August. It depends on how much I feel like writing while on vacation. Also since I can only get online only once in a while, it makes the editing process go by really slowly.

So if this is still the latest chapter and it's the end of July, don't think this fic is dead, it's not. It'll pick back up again in August and it has only just begun…