Author's Note: Here's the next update. There's another one, and I'm going to see about getting it up within the next couple hours. Thanks for your patience.
UPDATE: Chapter 13, in its originality, is gone. I decided it needed to be revised more, so I've deleted it for the time being. Sorry about that.
It was a matter of time, of course, before Anna got her due. Corners of the castle made Elsa apprehensive, as though her sister could jump from one at any time and take her. It would have been a reprieve from the miles of paperwork and neverending schedules to meet with other people. But throughout the week Anna had been quite elusive. Any sight of her was followed by a quick disappearance, leaving Elsa with the breath of a word caught in her lips. At night Elsa could swear she heard bizarre moaning noises from the walls between their rooms, and it made her wonder if she was being stacked up on purpose.
One morning she woke to an uproar from the streets below. Outside the window a party was taking place, the kingdom square strung up in ribbons and streamers. Even the decorations lining the poles on their own bridge had been cleaned for the event. Not a snowflake was on the ground, and that was a good thing—it would have been an ironic way to celebrate the first day of spring.
Elsa made herself up carefully, making sure every part of her hair was in place. She dusted a smudge on the top of her royal purple dress. After setting the shoulder straight she opened her bedroom door. Anna blazed right by, not missing a step down the vivid red hallway.
"There's a party outside!" she squealed, grabbing herself to calm down for a moment. "There's a party outside! Eeeeeee!" She ran back over and yanked Elsa down the stairs.
"Okay, Anna, calm down," said Elsa once they'd reached the bottom. Unconsciously she smoothed out some of the tangles in her sister's hair. Anna's hands were tapping at the knuckles. Elsa pulled a leaf from her hair—how Anna had gotten a leaf there so early in the morning was a mystery—and Anna squealed again, hugging Elsa tightly before speeding out the door.
Elsa went out with more grace. Beyond the twin set of running fountains the kingdom was alive, gathered on the square for raucous and joyful celebration.
Elsa progressed slowly down the bridge connecting them to the castle, the sight of so many people filling her with quiet wonder. She stepped closer, apprehensive. It was certainly a crowded celebration, people filling every space on the square.
They turned to see her. "The Queen!" someone yelled, and trumpets blared in her direction—not that there wasn't a lot of noise already—to mark her arrival. Elsa smiled and made her way through the crowd, returning every call and gesture. In the past it would have unnerved her to get so much attention; now, she soaked in the love from her kingdom.
She found Anna rushing about, radiant from the activity. Elsa watched from a distance, marveling at the way her sister came to life in the presence of others. In the moment she spoke quickly to a man behind a fruit stand, Elsa saw the light in her eyes, and flustered at her own happiness of watching someone she cared about in such passion.
After a moment she turned away to speak to a subject. Even after so many months of their acceptance, Elsa remained stunned by the fact that the people of Arendelle viewed her with awe. The conversation ended with a gift in her hand and a farewell wave. The box was square and flat, laced in a beautiful gold ribbon. It was at that moment she realized all her work was worthwhile. She turned away and stood in the background, taking it all in.
Her sister twirled by. She fell into Elsa's arms. "Thanks. I just danced with the craziest man. I think he was trying to see how far he could throw me!" After a moment of catching her breath she stood up straight. "I love parties!"
"I guessed," said Elsa.
Something fuzzy bumped into her. She turned around and saw a reindeer.
"Sven!" Anna threw her arms around him. He returned the gesture, nuzzling into her.
"I wondered when we were going to run into you."
"Kristoff!" Anna moved one arm to hug him, drawing them all together. When they pulled back, another woman was standing beside Kristoff. Anna turned to Elsa. "Elsa, this is Gwen. I'm sure you'll love each other." After a moment of analysis, Elsa curtsied slowly. Gwen had smooth skin, a bit darker than most in Arendelle. Green eyes set upon Elsa with curiosity and caution. Her brown hair was tightened in a bun, though once set loose would fall neatly to her shoulders, curling in at the tips. A yellow dress brought out her features, accentuating the fitness of her body and demureness of her nature. That's quite a change, Elsa thought, looking at Kristoff. Except Anna's just as thin. She smiled at this silent muse, nodding to Gwen once more.
They all spent time together, enjoying each other's company. Kristoff left Sven outside the tavern and within the next hour was carrying Anna the same direction, the princess collapsed over his shoulder.
"No, I totally can show him about the cheese on the trees!" she said drunkenly, clawing the air to try escaping Kristoff's grasp.
"You showed him you needed fresh air," said Kristoff.
"But I almost wonnnnn the argument!"
"You passed out in your sister's soup."
"Kristoff, noooooo, I can still punch him!"
"Okay, there you go." Kristoff put Anna on the kingdom square, spinning her around so she couldn't find the tavern. Anna pitched over, landing on Sven.
Elsa and Gwen were hurrying over. "Thanks, Kristoff," said Elsa. She was still holding the present from her subject. "That was close."
"Yeah, I think she was really going to start playing darts there," said Gwen.
They meandered about the celebration, letting Anna walk it off. Along the way they were joined by Olaf the snowman, who giggled to himself under his personal cloud. Once Anna was sober she breathed in relief. "Whew! Oh man, I don't think I've ever had so much wine." A devious thought struck her and she teetered, aim right for Elsa's collarbone. "Oops," she said, not sorry at all. "Mmm. You feel warm."
"You're literally the only person who would ever think that," said Kristoff.
In fear and annoyance Elsa set Anna upright, making her eyes open in surprise. "Elsa, what—?"
Elsa put the present in her hands. "I'll see you later," she said, turning away.
She made sure Anna had seen her smile. The perplexed expression she got in return was priceless. Like she could let herself be played so easily. The days were ticking down until they'd be forced to resist each other for half a month. Anna hadn't been around, and not by accident—Elsa was sure of that. The tension was driving her crazy. And if Anna was all of a sudden going to feign being drunk to get with Elsa in public, she might as well be played right back.
A nasty thrill rose inside Elsa as she walked toward some subjects. She hadn't quite felt this combination of guilt and wickedness in some time. She began speaking with the subjects, keeping an eye on her friends. The two groups were too far away to hear each other, which only made things better on Elsa's part.
With a sly sideward glance, she bowed low and began to dance with a man.
Well, maybe it wasn't officially dancing. They weren't touching. But it was just the two of them in a world of their own as others stood cheering them on. Once they were done Elsa moved on to dance with another, and another…it became irrelevant with whom; young or old, male or female, she found she rather liked the attention. For one brief moment she detached from the rush to look at her friends.
They were all staring. Olaf leaned over in wonder, mouth open in a huge smile. Kristoff was more surprised, an eyebrow rising as his lips moved. Gwen had crossed her arms with narrowed eyes, humored and confused by the stories she'd heard about her queen compared to what she was seeing now. They were all amusing, but as Elsa's gaze set upon Anna the redhead's face dropped further, and her posture said the most of all.
She is so DEAD!
Elsa turned furtively back to the crowd.
