Chapter 14
"I'm so screwed," Elsa groaned, under her breath. She placed her palm over her face. She wanted nothing more than to just dig a hole and bury herself in it, but thankfully, Anna was there to be her rock – Elsa loved Anna for always being the strong one.
"Elsa," Anna said, hugging Elsa's arm as if to ground her down to Earth. She looked at Elsa with a determination in her eyes, but Elsa caught a slight waver in her steady gaze. "It will be okay," was all Anna said.
Olaf hadn't noticed the obvious distress permeating from the sisters. The dopey snowman instead waddled to a corner to ready himself for a good night's rest. He sighed happily before sitting down and cried out, "G'night, Elsanna!" He waved one of his stick arms at them before instantaneously nodding off.
Elsa and Anna tore their gaze away from each other to stare quizzically in Olaf's direction. Elsa blushed and so did Anna, but they had more pressing matters to attend to other than being embarrassed by Olaf's new nickname for them.
Elsa sighed and went to take a look out the window. Anna followed close beside her, never letting her arm go.
"Do you see them?" Anna said, as she looked down at the snowy landscape below them.
The white expanse of snow would have made it easy to spot anybody within their sights, but Elsa couldn't see any sign of Lady Alexandra or Hans, that scumbag. I should have just offed him when I had the chance.
"No, nothing," Elsa mumbled, her eyes burning from lack of sleep and fatigue. She turned her attention back to Olaf who was now muttering in his sleep.
"I love the summertime, yes I do," Olaf sang, as he dozed. "The summer sand, the perfect tan with my two favorite sisters who need no misters. Summertime fun in the sun. Elsanna's warm hugs leave a great big smile on my mug," he finished.
"Oh, Olaf," Anna sighed, and smiled at the childish snowman as he continued to dream and murmur a strange musical number.
Elsa's body stiffened as she thought of the ways Olaf might be envisioning herself and Anna in his dreams.
"He's so cutely innocent, I almost forgive him for interrupting us twice whenever we've come so close to bonding with each other," Anna commented, and continued to look fondly at Olaf slumber.
Elsa was still too worried about Lady Alexandra and Hans to swoon over Olaf's cuteness. She walked to the door to check the hallways for any guards close by. The castle was eerily quiet – Elsa had noticed when they had made their way to Anna's room, but her damn denial always had been her downfall. I should have known something was off/. Well, more off than usual.
"Elsa?" Anna called out to Elsa and touched her shoulder. "What is it?"
"It's too quiet." Elsa said, narrowing her eyes at the dark and silent hallway. "I'm just going to check around. You stay here, Anna. Okay?" Elsa commanded.
Elsa had a feeling Anna would protest, and she did. "No, Elsa. I'll come with you."
Elsa gritted her teeth as she tried to control the bossy side she rarely showed Anna. "Anna, stay here – it's safer."
Anna pouted. "It's safer? With Olaf?"
Well, she has a point, Elsa thought, but she refused to put Anna in harm's way.
"Anna, stay here. Please, for me?" Elsa tried to recreate Anna's infamous puppy-dog stare, but Elsa was still too much of a novice to the technique for it be very effective.
"Nice try," Anna said, and pinched Elsa's cheeks. Elsa grimaced and rubbed her sore cheek. "But you didn't puff out your cheeks enough," Anna suggested, and squished Elsa's cheeks with her hands. "Just a tip for next time," Anna added, and winked.
"Alright," Elsa sighed in defeat while rubbing her abused cheeks. "Come on then, but stay close."
Anna triumphantly smiled and quickly kissed Elsa on the lips. "Not a problem at all."
Elsa cleared her throat and reached out to grab Anna's hand to lead the way.
"Such a fearless leader," Anna giggled, and gratefully took Elsa's hand.
Not even close. More like an awkward coward, Elsa self-loathingly thought. The truth was she was very afraid. If anything were to happen to Anna because of her, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
The two walked hand-in-hand down the hall with Elsa in front for the first time. I'll protect you Anna, no matter what. Elsa squeezed her sister's hand, and Anna fiercely returned the reassurance.
They made it to the end of the hall to the door leading into the castle's entryway. Elsa held her breath and pushed the double-doors opened, but only emptiness greeted them. Only the sound of the whistling wind outside could be heard. Where are the guards?
"Nothing," Anna sighed a breath of relief. "Do you think the two left the premises?"
Elsa shook her head. "There's no way – not after they've found out about my secret. What worries me; is there are no sign of our guards."
"The guards must be goofing off somewhere again as usual," Anna said, while looking around the room.
Elsa's mind raced with possible solutions and all the stress was starting to get to her. Her vision blurred and her knees felt wobbly from exhaustion.
She stumbled slightly, but Elsa did her best to steady herself back on her feet. She hoped Anna wouldn't notice her fatigue, but Anna had been observing her all along.
Anna, as always, was right there to hold her steady. "Hey," Anna said, softly. "You don't look so well, Elsa." Anna had her arms wrapped securely around Elsa's waist as she examined her over with eyes full of concern.
"I-I'm fine," Elsa lied, badly, holding her head because her ears were ringing.
"Elsa," Anna sternly said her name. "You need to rest. Come on, I'll take you back to the room."
"B-but what about—"
"It's fine. So what if they decide to tell everyone about your magic. We can handle an angry mob after we get a good night's sleep." Anna said.
Elsa rolled her eyes. "Now I know where Olaf got his childish personality from."
Anna playfully pinched Elsa's cheek again. "You can be so sassy sometimes," Anna said. "I like it," she added.
"Not the time, Anna," Elsa curtly replied.
"Ooh, there's that sass, again!" Anna teasingly quivered and acted like Elsa's own personal fan-girl.
Elsa only shook her head and tried to hide a smile as Anna gently pulled one of Elsa's arms over her shoulder. She let Elsa lean on her as they walked back to Anna's room.
Elsa sighed. "I'm not going to get any rest knowing that Hans and Lady Alexandra are out there, waiting to reveal my secret."
"It's okay," Anna positively said. "We'll figure something out. We always do."
"We won't be able to figure something out in time if I'm too busy running away from pitchfork, torch-wielding citizens," Elsa pointed out.
"Nobody is going to harm you, Elsa. Not on my watch," Anna assured, and continued to hold onto Elsa. "Besides," Anna smiled. "Who knows if everyone will even care if you have magical ice powers? They might think you're just mega-cool," Anna chuckled, and looked at Elsa.
"I really doubt that, Anna," Elsa mumbled.
"So cute when you're serious," Anna said, and rubbed the top of Elsa's head as if she was a puppy.
"A-Anna," Elsa said, and pulled away from Anna's petting. "This really is serious. We could risk losing the Kingdom."
"We won't," Anna simply said.
Elsa was astounded at how confident Anna sounded.
"How are you so positive all the time?" Elsa couldn't help but ask.
Anna smiled at Elsa's question. "Because I know everything will be okay as long as you're with me."
Elsa's eyes widened as Anna looked back at her warmly. Elsa didn't know what to say.
"Thank you," Elsa whispered, and then cringed at how lame she sounded.
Anna giggled. "You're welcome, Elsa."
Elsa's cheeks flushed as the two continued to walk back to Anna's room in comfortable silence. Anna held onto Elsa the whole way until they reached the bed. Gently, Anna laid Elsa down before she got into bed beside her. Elsa felt Anna's fingers slide on her upper waist and she trembled from the alluring touch.
"Comfortable?" Anna cutely asked, after tucking Elsa in.
Elsa only nodded her head like a shy child. Anna smiled and snuggled up beside her, pulling the covers on top of them. "Don't worry," Anna said, in a hushed whisper. "I'll keep watch. You just rest, okay?"
Elsa shook her head in disagreement. "No, Anna. I can't let you stay awake alone."
Elsa attempted to get up off the bed, but Anna's hand pressed down on her chest to push her back down gently. "No, Elsa, you really need to get some rest. You look exhausted. I'll be right here. If anything happens, I'll be sure to wake you. Rest." Anna pressed her lips to Elsa's forehead and murmured, "I love you, Elsa. Get some sleep now."
"I love you too, Anna," whispered and Anna smiled widely. Elsa still wasn't happy with Anna's suggestion, and she tried to keep her mind sharp and alert, but her body's desperate need for sleep caused her eyes to slowly close shut. As her eyelids drooped down she could see through her sleepy haze, Anna looking lovingly at her, smiling.
As Elsa slept, she dreamt of Anna. Anna was sitting before her across a large table. They were so far apart and all Elsa could feel was a sense of hopelessness as the table only extended the distance between them. Anna was smiling at her with tears in her eyes, and the space between them only increased at a faster rate. Elsa reached a hand out, but her legs couldn't move. Anna's smiling face was fading right before her eyes and all she could do was watch as her one true love slowly disappeared. She desperately reached out again and only grabbed at air. Elsa woke up with a strangled gasp and her arm was extended up at the ceiling above her. She was covered in a cold sweat – her bangs were damped from her clammy forehead. She was breathing heavily and she instinctively turned to her side. Anna was gone. "Anna?" Elsa called out. No, her mind refuted at the empty bedside before her.
"Anna?" Elsa called out, and no answer again.
"Anna!" She yelled out. Where had Anna gone? Elsa immediately thought the worse and ran her hands worriedly through her messy hair. Had Lady Alexandra and Hans captured her? No, no this isn't happening. Elsa panicked and the room shook as ice covered the walls. Elsa breathed out and a strangled sob caught in her throat. A few ice spikes jutted from the floor and walls. Control yourself, Elsa tried to calm herself, but the thought of Anna in the hands of those two psychopaths only made matters worse. The whole foundation of the room trembled like an earthquake as Elsa helplessly screamed out, "Anna!"