Elsa woke up to the bright light streaming through her window, filling the room. She gracefully stretched her arms out above her head, and lightly got out of bed.
After getting dressed in a dark blue dress and putting her hair up, in her mother's signature hairstyle, she headed out of the room, brushing her hand along Anna's bed as she passed by. A flash of orange caught her eye, and she paused, reaching out for the object with a shaky hand.
On the edge of Anna's bed, there lay two dolls that were made to look like her and Anna. The one resembling Anna had caught her eye, the bright orange yarn that made up her hair contrasting with Anna's pink blankets.
Elsa smoothed the doll's hair behind her ear, the same way Anna would when she was caught in a troubling situation, and couldn't figure a way out. The memory elicited a sad smile from Elsa, and she gently placed the doll down, next to the one that resembled her.
With a last glance at the dolls, she walked out of the room.
Once she was in the hallway, she headed straight for the castle's west wing. She opened the drapes of the first windows that she saw, letting the light fill the once abandoned hallway.
She continued to open all of the drapes in hallway of the west wing. When she reached the last set, she also opened the window, and breathed in the fresh air.
"For the first time in forever. . ." she murmured into the light breeze of the summer morning.
She walked to her parents' bedroom, and paused for a moment at the door.
"Mama, Papa, I love you."
When she reached the portrait room, she thrust open the large double doors, just as Anna would have done.
She quickly brushed the dust off of the portraits and busts with her hand, then stood silently in one place, breathing in the fresh air that was flowing into the room. The room already felt less stifled, less lonely than it had before.
Elsa walked over to the family portrait.
"Today, is a big day. I love you all, I miss you so much. Papa, I've finally come to believe what you said, with the help of a friend. I just wish I had realized it sooner. I love you."
Elsa lightly kissed her hand, then pressed it to the corner of the portrait.
After a moment of silence, she quietly left the room and headed for the dining hall.
"Princess Elsa! Is. . . everything okay?"
Kai curiously eyed Elsa as she entered the dining hall. He noticed that her eyes had a vivacity that had been lost for years.
"I'm fine, Kai. Today is the day," she replied with a smile.
"Day? For what, your highness?"
"Today is the day. The gates will be open, and the townspeople will learn the truth. I will not hide behind these walls anymore," Elsa confidently announced.
Kai paused for a moment to take in the news, then gave her a gentle smile. "Your father would have been proud."
Elsa walked forward and embraced him, catching him by surprise. When she pulled away, she gave him a kind smile, one that he had seen before, but on a different face.
"You look so much like your mother," Kai said gently.
Elsa's face turned a rosy pink, embarrassed by the sudden compliment.
"Thank you Kai, for everything. You became the father figure in my life after. . . the incident. I owe you so much."
"You owe me nothing, it is the duty of a servant of the royal family to serve them. That is all that I have done, no more."
Elsa was about to protest, when Kai simply shook his head and escorted her to her seat at the table.
After breakfast, Elsa stood up and walked out onto one of the castle balconies that overlooked Arendelle.
"Kai?" Elsa gently called.
"Yes, princess?"
"Tell the guards to open up. . . the gates!"
That's all for today!
Next chapter will be on either Monday or Tuesday. :)
Thanks for visiting, until next time!
