A/N: Hey y'all! So I'm sorry bout my slow updates lately, but school and ROTC have been kicking ma booty. Like seriously, everyone decided to just dump everything on me these last few weeks. :P So I'll probably be updating roughly once a week instead of every few days now. Though I won't say that quick updates won't happen. I'm glad you guys have decided to stick it out with me! Thanks for all the love!
Views update: 5950! Whoooo we is awesome sauce on a stick!
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Chapter 10
I'm freaking out
Where am I now
Upside down, and I can't stop it now
You can't stop me now
-"Alice"
Avril Lavigne
The first time I wake, I feel like I'm floating.
I open my eyes slightly, and notice I'm tucked up against someone's chest, but I'm too delirious to figure out who.
All I know, is they are definitely male. The chest is too solid to be a woman's.
I note that I'm incredibly comfortable in their arms.
Still groggy, I try to figure out what's going on.
The man is running. I can hear him panting, feel each strike of his feet on the ground.
I see flashes of blues and whites as he runs through, what I think, is snow.
I look up, and see a familiar shag of straw blond hair.
"K-Kristoff?" I mutter, not sure if it's really my friend.
He looks down at me, and smiles real big, relief clear in his eyes.
"Hey feisty pants," he says affectionately.
I'm thrown off by the tone in his voice.
It's not like Kristoff doesn't care for me or anything, but he's never talked to me like that before.
It was almost…lovingly?
I try to puzzle it out, but my head hurts too much, and the rocking movement caused by Kristoff's steps is actually quite soothing.
I feel myself slowly fading back out of consciousness, mumbling something as I tighten my grip on my friend's shirt.
As I'm lulled to sleep, I hear a soft voice coming from somewhere to Kristoff's right.
"Hang on, Anna," they say, panting. "Just hang on."
I'm out before I can process that the voice belonged to Elsa.
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The next time I wake, it's incredibly slow.
I try several times to open my eyes, but I just feel to lethargic.
Eventually I give up and just lay there.
I can feel the warmth of sun on my face, and hear the sounds of bird's singing.
Am I outside?
No, the surface I'm on is too soft to be the ground.
Like seriously, this is probably the softest thing I've ever been on.
It makes it harder to get up.
I mentally sigh, and resign myself to falling back to sleep, when I hear the voices.
I can't quite make out what's being said, but I can tell that there is more than one person talking. And it sounds like they're having an argument.
Suddenly, I hear a door slam open, and the voices are almost right next to me.
I do my best not to flinch as I listen to them.
"You can't keep disappearing and reappearing like this Your Majesty! It's not safe!" says one voice. It sounds like a woman.
"I think I know what I can and cannot do, Gerda. I am the Queen after all," replies the second voice—also a woman—venomously.
"All the more reason for me to be concerned! I'm just worried about your wellbeing, Your Majesty. You keep going on these so call 'quests," I swear I can hear Gerda —where have I heard that name before? —putting up air quotes, "and you always return less than whole! This time you show up with a strange wound, toting, who you claim to be is, the missing Princess!"
"I don't claim anything. It is her, Gerda," snaps the Queen and, though I can't quite put my finger on who, I know I've heard her voice before. I puzzle over it, still too groggy to come up with an answer.
"Your Majesty, I know how much you want it to be, but it's not her. You know it's not possible," replies Gerda, in a tired voice. It almost sounds like they've had this conversation before. "Whoever this is, she is not the Princess."
"I've spent time with her Gerda. It's her. I swear it," replies the Queen.
"It can't be. You know it can't," says Gerda.
"Then how do you explain the fact that she looks exactly like her?" the Queen nearly yells.
"Magic can do strange things. And you more than anyone should know that looks can be deceiving."
Magic?
What do they mean by magic?
Everyone knows there's no such thing.
Must be a code-word for something.
"Please, my Queen, just let it go—" starts Gerda when the Queen cuts her off.
"No. I won't. It is her. It's my Anna," I feel my heart quicken at the sound of my name, "I know it is. And there's nothing you can say that will convince me otherwise."
If I wasn't awake before, I am now. Hearing my name being said with such care and possession sent adrenaline running through my veins.
Who the hell is this woman? And how the hell does she know my name?
It's quiet for a few moments, and I can almost taste the tension in the room. Gerda speaks again, in a softer tone.
"Your Majesty, I know how much it would mean to you if she was alive—"
"Gerda, don't—" starts the Queen.
"Because it would mean that he is still alive," finishes Gerda, so soft I almost don't hear it.
I hear the second person inhale sharply.
"The King is gone, Elsa," says Gerda, still talking softly, and I nearly gasp.
Elsa?
It can't be.
…
Oh my God it is.
I knew I recognized that voice!
I want to open my eyes, but I hold off as Gerda continues.
"I hate seeing you like this. You don't eat; you hardly sleep. You're wasting away. Please just let him go," she says.
"…I…I can't Gerda. He's alive. I know he is," replies Elsa, just as soft.
I swear you can hear my heart breaking.
I hear Gerda sigh.
"Why don't you get some breakfast Your Majesty," she says, obviously trying to end the argument. "You've been here all night."
"But what if she wakes up? I don't want her to think I just left her here," replies Elsa weakly.
"Then I'll send someone to fetch you. You need to eat, Your Majesty. I promise, Princess Anna will understand."
"Can't you just bring it in here?" says Elsa, sounding for all the world like an indignant child.
I can practically hear Gerda's eye-roll.
It's quiet for a second, before Elsa sighs. "Fine."
I hear her walk away, and the sound of a door opening, and closing, followed by Gerda sighing heavily.
"You can open your eyes now, Miss. I know you're awake."
I stop breathing.
Crap. Busted.
I slowly open one eye, only to see, who I assume to be, Gerda looking down at me with her hands on her hips.
Now I know where I heard her name before.
It's Elsa's maid, the one from her office.
And the way she's looking at me reminds me of how my mother used to when she caught me stealing sweets.
"H-how did you know I was awake?" I say, smiling weakly as I try to sit up.
She raises an eyebrow. "I have my ways."
I sit uncomfortably under her gaze for a few moments.
"Who are you?" she suddenly asks, still glaring at me.
"U-uh, A-Anna?" I say, slightly flustered.
"You can drop the act, Miss. The Queen is no longer within earshot," says Gerda, and I huff indignantly.
"I'm not acting. I'm Anna," I snap, crossing my arms and meeting her glare with one of my own.
"Impossible," she says, waving her hand dismissively, "Princess Anna died almost six months ago. Went down with her ship, along with the King."
My eyes widen, but I keep my composure.
Sort of.
"W-well I-I never said I was Princess Anna," I respond, softening my gaze a bit.
"Then perhaps you would like to explain to me why Queen Elsa seems to think you are?" says Gerda, stepping closer. "Because if anyone knows the Princess, it's her. And I do have to say, the resemblance is uncanny."
Suddenly, she grabs my chin, turning my face left and right to examine me.
"Amazing," she says, "You even got her freckles right."
I pull my face from her hand. "Hey!"
She steps back again.
"Look," I say, moving to get out of the enormous four poster bed I'm in, "I don't know where I am, or what's going on, but I don't like being interrogated for no reason!"
I jab my finger at her to enforce my point.
Her eyes narrow, but before she can say anything else, the door swings open, and Elsa herself walks in.
"Gerda, I forgot to ask, but can you draw me a ba—" she freezes when she sees me and Gerda facing off.
I look at her, my anger melting away the second I see her face.
"Anna?" she says quietly.
I wave weakly. "H-hey Els."
Gerda moves out of the way just in time for Elsa to sweep me up into a bone crushing hug.
I flinch, expecting my ribs to protest, but nothing happens.
I file this discovery away for a later time.
"You're awake!" she says, somehow squeezing me even tighter.
"Ugh…Elsa…can't…breathe…" I gasp.
"Sorry, sorry," she says, pulling back slightly, a huge smile plastered on his face. "I'm just glad you're okay."
"Good to see you too Els," I chuckle, a blush coating my face when I notice, not only how beautiful Elsa looks in her ice-blue dress, but that I'm in a very, very thin night gown.
I tuck an invisible strand of hair behind my ear, and start doing what I do best. Talk.
"W-what's going on, Elsa? Where are we? One second we're chased into a closet by Hans, and then there was that key, and…and a door with blue light…w-which turned black…and then, boom, we're in this…place. And what the hell is Kristoff doing here? How do you even know him? Or…was that just a dream. I guess it could've been. But it just seemed so real, and—" Elsa puts a finger to my lips to silence my rambling, a smirk on her lips.
I blush again, and stop talking.
While I was word vomiting, Gerda had narrowed her eyes in suspicion while I was word vomiting and now they were wide with shock.
"It can't be," she whispers to herself.
"Can't be what?" I ask, over hearing her comment.
She shakes her head.
"Nothing," she says, "It' just…what's your favorite color?"
"I thought I just said—" I say, but she cuts me off.
"Just answer the question," she snaps, ignoring Elsa's glare.
I narrow my eyes. "Green."
She nods, "Favorite food?"
"Chocolate" I say, "Why?"
She answers my question with another question.
"How old are you?"
"Gerda is this really necessary?" snaps Elsa, but I hold up my hand and answer.
"Twenty-four."
"And when's your birthday?"
"June nineteenth."
Something flashes through Gerda's eyes.
"What's the last thing your mother said to you before she died?"
Caught off-guard, I blanch at the mention of my mother.
How did she know my mother?
"W-why?" I ask, defensively.
"You don't have to answer that, Anna," says Elsa, before fixing the maid with an ice-cold glare. "Gerda, I think it's time you left."
She does nothing. She just stands there, waiting for me to answer.
"Gerda!" barks Elsa, taking a step towards the woman. She stops when I put a hand on her forearm.
"I-t's okay Els," I say, trying to offer her a reassuring smile.
I face Gerda, and take a deep breath.
"She…she told me 'Jeg vil alltid være med deg, lille venn.'" I say, speaking past the sudden lump in my throat.
I hate when people bring up my mother.
It just opens wounds that have never really closed in the first place.
Gerda's eyes soften, and she suddenly pulls me into a tight hug, causing me to yelp in surprise.
"Oh Anna, it is you!" she says, as I awkwardly hug her back.
Now I'm really confused.
One minute she's interrogating me, the next she's holding me?
What the heck is going on?
"Forgive me if I seemed…rude before, Your Highness, but Her Majesty was devastated when you d— when you were lost. I had to be sure it was really you," she says, still hugging me.
"U-um, i-it's okay," I say, still trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
"Do you believe me now?" asks Elsa angrily.
Gerda bows her head, still smiling. "Yes, Your Majesty. Forgive me, but I had to be sure. You were right. It is her. I knew the moment she recited her mother's last words. Only myself, the Princess, and her dearly departed mother—bless her soul—would know them."
I inhale sharply.
Okay, now I'm freaked out.
There hadn't been anyone else in the room with us when my mom had died.
Who is this chick!?
Elsa notices my shock at Gerda's words, but says nothing. Instead she turns to the maid, and, surprisingly, she smiles at her.
"You are forgiven, Gerda. I know you were just looking out for me. As always. "
Gerda bows her head again.
Huh. I guess Elsa doesn't hold grudges?
"But try anything like that again, and I'll have your head."
Whoop, there it is.
The maid just smiles, like she's been threatened like this before.
"Now," says Elsa, turning back to me, "if you don't mind, I would like to speak with Anna alone for a while. We have a lot to talk about."
"As you wish, Your Majesty. I'll have some breakfast brought to you," replies Gerda, walking towards the door. She takes one last glance at us, before exiting the room.
And with that, Elsa and I are alone.
"Well, that was…different," I say, and Elsa starts laughing. I join her and soon we are gasping for air.
After a few minutes, we finally gain some composure.
"Y-you never answered my questions, though," I say, still chuckling.
Suddenly, Elsa stops laughing, and a worried look appears on her face.
I stop as well, and look at her with concern. "What is it, Elsa?"
She shakes her head, and gives me a small, sad smile.
"Nothing…well, something," she says, sitting on the bed, and motioning for me to join her.
"I…I know I owe you some answers, Anna," she starts, looking down at her hands, "but I'm afraid you won't believe me."
I put my hands on top of hers, and smile reassuringly. "Try me."
Elsa closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. She then looks up at me, seeming to have decided something.
"Well," she says, "I'll start with your first question. We are in the Kingdom of Arendelle."
I look at her is disbelief.
Not because of where we are, but because of the name.
Kingdom of Arendelle?
Just how fucking rich is this chick!?
"You own a Kingdom!?" I screech in shock.
Elsa chuckles. "Not…exactly."
"What do you mean?" I ask, still reeling.
"That's…well, I'm…kind of the…Queen…here," she says sheepishly.
My jaw drops to the floor.
"You're a billionaire…and a Queen!?"
Elsa flinches from the pitch of my voice, but I'm too stunned to feel embarrassed.
"Um…yes?"
Is she asking me, or telling me?
…
Wait a minute.
Kingdom?
How the hell did we end up in a Kingdom?
The last thing I remember was being in a closet with those weird blue and black lights.
We weren't anywhere near a Kingdom. And I think I would've noticed if one just popped up right next to New York.
"Elsa…" I say slowly, "how did we get here?"
Elsa begins to fidget uncomfortably.
"W-well, do you remember that key? The one in the blue box?" she asks.
I nod my head in confusion. "What about it?"
"It, uh, it kind of…opened a portal…" she says, not meeting my gaze.
"A…portal…" I repeat.
"Yes…a portal to a parallel reality where I'm Queen Elsa of Arendelle, and you're—"
"Princess Anna," I finish for her.
"Y-yeah," says Elsa.
It's quiet for a moment before I stand up.
"Anna?" says Elsa, uncertainly.
"I don't believe it," I say pinching the bridge of my nose, "I've been crushing on a freaking lunatic."
"Hey," says Elsa defensively. "I am not crazy. It's the truth!"
"Oh yeah, right, like I'm supposed to believe that I'm in some other dimension—"
"Reality," she interjects.
"Reality, where you're a queen, and I'm a princess! Are you gonna tell me that magic is real now? 'Cause that would just complete the freaking picture, wouldn't it?!" I finish, throwing my hands up.
Elsa looks at me pointedly, before bringing her hand eyelevel, palm up.
I look at it, my eyes widening in both shock and…well, fear.
As I watch, snow starts to swirl around her palm, clumping together until it forms the most perfect snowflake I have ever seen.
"Oh. My. God."
"They don't call me the Queen of Snow and Ice for nothing," Elsa half smirks, eyeing her creation. She looks up at me, and concern floods her features.
I'm just standing there, gaping at her.
"Anna?" she says, slowly standing.
Like I'm some sort of frightened deer. Maybe I am.
I don't say anything. I'm too busy trying to come to terms with what I just saw.
Magic is real.
Magic is real!
And...and Elsa can use magic.
She's a…witch? No…a sorcerer?
Holy shit, Elsa's a sorcerer!
I start having a mini breakdown.
"Oh my God!" I whisper, "Magic is real. W-which means…which means you're n-not crazy. O-or maybe I'm crazy. But you can do magic! And this place is real! A-and you're the Queen and I'm the…I'm the Princess!?"
Elsa nods, but I'm not really paying any attention to her.
"If you're the Queen, and I'm the…Princess, does that make us…Oh my God, that makes us sisters!"
I start hyperventilating again.
"I've been dating my sister. I have a crush on my sister! I'm sick. This is sick! Why did she have to be my sister!?"
I suddenly feel cool hands on my shoulders.
"Anna!" Elsa snaps her fingers in front of my face, and I flinch, unaware she had gotten so close. "Anna, you need to calm down! You're going to have another panic attack!"
She's right. I need to calm down.
I focus on controlling my breathing.
In and out.
In and out.
After a few moments, I am breathing normally again.
Then I realize just how close Elsa is.
I can't help it. I blanch.
I don't mean to. But I'm a little freaked out.
I mean, I just saw her make snow, with her bare hands!
I immediately feel guilty when I see the hurt in her eyes.
She says nothing about it though. She just clasps her hands in front of her and takes a step back.
"You can relax, Anna," she says, still looking somewhat hurt. "We're not sisters."
"We're…not?" I ask, relief flooding my senses.
"No."
"Then…then how am I a Princess? I, mean, that's really the only explanation, right?"
"Well," she says slowly, "'Princess' isn't your full title. We only call you that, because the whole thing really is a mouthful."
I narrow my eyes. "What do you mean 'not my full title'?"
Elsa looks up at me, and smirks. "Your title is Princess Consort of Arendelle."
…
"Princess…Consort?"
Elsa nods, still smirking at me.
"As in…as in I'm your wife!?" I screech. "Oh my God. Oh my God! I'm your freaking wife!"
Elsa laughs at me. Not the soft giggle she usually does.
No. She freaking laughs.
"I don't know if this is worse than when I thought I was you sister!" I say, pacing back and forth in total freak-out mode.
"Hey!" says Elsa indignantly, no longer laughing.
But I ignore her.
"What's next? A talking snowman!?"
Suddenly, as if on cue, the doors swing wide open.
And would you look at that.
"Hi! I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs!" shouts the stubby little snowman who runs into the room, followed by what appears to be a personal flurry.
That's it.
That's all my simple little mind can take.
I faint.
…
I'm only out for a few moments, but I'm sure it was enough to freak Elsa out.
I open my eyes, only to find us on the floor, me in her arms.
She must have caught me.
This time I don't flinch away.
I look around, and, to my relief, I don't see the snowman—Olaf, I think his name was—anywhere in the room.
Then I remember that Elsa is supposed to be my wife, and I don't think I've ever blushed so hard in my life.
"Are you okay?" she ask me, probably due to my sudden red complexion.
"Y-yeah," I say, standing up unsteadily, "I-I'm fine."
She eyes me warily, but says nothing as she stands as well.
She guides me over to the bed, still looking concerned, and sits next to me.
"I'm sorry about Olaf," she says, half smiling, "I told him to wait, but he just gets so excited sometimes. He really missed his best friend."
"Best friend?" I ask, "As in…me?"
Elsa nods, her smile widening. "Yes…well, the other you. Princess Anna you."
It's silent for a few moments, while I continue to try to process all the information that was just thrown at me.
I let out a deep sigh.
"Elsa," I say, "I need you to tell me what's going on, because I'm going to be honest with you, I'm freaking out here. I need you to explain, like, everything. From the beginning. How does this place exist? Why are we here? Why am I here? And Kristoff and Gerda, how are they here? And what does this have to do with Hans? Why don't my ribs, or wrist for that matter, hurt anymore? And your shoulder—it seems fine, and…and I'm just…please? Tell me?"
Elsa's quiet for a moment.
"Will you believe me this time?" she ask, somewhat teasingly.
I give her my best '1000 percent done' look and she chuckles.
"All right. I'll tell you."
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A/N: So, yes, Elsa has her powers. And next chapter, a looooooot of shit is going to be explained. Not all of it. But quite a bit. Hope you're ready!
And now, responses!
Kazzozels: Haha, thanks! And like I said before, my updates will be a little more spread out, but I'll do my best!
Nettlebane: Hehehe touché. :)
Blueaoineechan: Aww don't cry! Though I'm glad you felt it was good enough to receive such a reaction! :)
Thanks for the love guys! See y'all next time!
