I did say before I'd start looking at the twins more in the story, and many of you have been asking for stories about them. I hope you enjoy.
"Aunty Elsa!" Erian burst into her room, his voice ringing with urgency. She was up in an instance.
"Erian? Wh-" She felt the unmistakable chill in the air the air and her question died on her lips. She tossed the covers aside practically flying from her bed.
"Snowdrop stay here," She said.
"But…"
"No buts Erian, stay here," She said sternly. She placed him on her bed and gave him a quick kiss. "I'll make sure she's fine, I promise. But you need to stay here for your safety."
"But-"
"Erian," Her voice rang with an authority she almost never used with him, "Don't make me lock you in here,"
Erian gulped and nodded. Elsa was gone with the swish of her night gown. She ran down the hallway, the air becoming colder. As she turned on the hallway for her nieces' rooms the difference in temperature became drastic and frost was creeping over the walls. There were already a few members of the staff around.
"Get back," The tone of her voice didn't leave room to question whether or not the words were an order or not. They did hang back but still remained within ear shot, in case they were needed. At a doorway Kristoff and Olaf was trying to force it open.
"Kari?" She asked.
"Anna got her out of her room already, but I can't get to Ari," Kristoff voice screamed of desperation.
Elsa gestured and the boys moved out of the way. She placed her hands on the doorway. She could feel the chill in the wood and she knew the hinges and lock were frozen. It was more out of instinct, than her powers, she knew this (or maybe it was from experience).
"Ari, sweetheart can you hear me?" She called. She could hear the faint swirl of air from behind the door, but nothing else. She tried to melt the ice she could see, but her worry for Ari prevented her from making much progress. At least she wasn't making it worst.
"That might be enough for me," Kristoff said noticing to the withdrawal of the ice (however small) from the door. He threw his weight into it and managed to jar it open. He and Elsa pushed together, forcing it open enough for Elsa to get inside. Kristoff kept pushing, with Olaf helping, trying to clear away enough of the snow to open the door fully.
"It's more tonight," Olaf said. Cold drafts were coming from the room and the frost clung to Kristoff's clothes.
"Whoa, it's cold," Kristoff snapped around at the sound of his son's voice.
"Erian, we told you stay away," He said sternly.
"But I want to help Ari,"
"I know you do, but you shouldn't be here, go to our room. Mommy is there,"
"Is Ari…"
"You can't help right now. Leave it to us,"
"But…"
"Olaf, get him out of here,"
The snowman took Erian by his hand but the boy easily pulled away, taking Olaf's arms with him.
"That didn't work," Olaf's elbows flexed without any results as his hands were still gripping Erian's sleeves.
"Erian," Kristoff took him up himself walking to his and Anna's room, "We know you want to help, but the best way for you to help us at times like this is by staying out of the way."
"Why?"
"It complicated…Ari's in a delicate state at times like this, and we don't want anything to happen,"
"Happen like what?"
"Anything bad,"
"But,"
"Erian, now it's the time," Kristoff arrived at his room and opened the door. Anna was struggling with a temperamental Karianna. The five year old was standing on the bed so she could look her mother in the eye as she spoke.
"I don't want to stay here," She stamped her foot, which because of the soft material of the mattress only resulted in her losing her balance.
"Well you're going too," Anna braced her daughter before she toppled over the side of bed. She looked up at Kristoff, "Did you get Ari's door open?"
He nodded, "Elsa's with her,"
"I'm going," She said.
"Me too," Kari and Erian said at the same time.
"No you're not," Their parents said together. "Go," Kristoff said to Anna, "I'm keep them here,"
"Thank you," She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and left the room.
Elsa could see Arisol shaking on the bed. In the room it was snowing heavily. Ari was tossing in her bed, the sheets in a tangle around, frost in a thick layer around her. Elsa hurried to the bed shaking the small girl awake.
"Ari, Ari, wake up,"
She awoke with a start, her eyes taking in the room. Tears sprung to her eyes and Elsa took her in her arms.
"Shhh," She rocked her gently, "It alright my snowflake. It's alright,"
"I-I-I'm s-ss-so,"
"Shhh," Elsa cut her off gently; "You don't have to be sorry, it's not your fault. It's okay, just let it go,"
Ari was trembling in her arms, and she knew it wasn't from the cold.
"It's okay Ari, I'm right here. I'm going anywhere. I'm right here."
It took some time but Ari's sobs died down to quiet sniffles. The snow stopped falling, but hung in the air catching the moonlight drifting into the room.
"Arisol?" Elsa looked around when she heard Anna's voice. She nodded, indicated it was safe to come, but Elsa knew that didn't matter to her sister. Anna wouldn't let a simple force of nature stop her from being with her children (magically created or otherwise). Elsa handed Ari over and Anna kissed her forehead, hugging her tightly.
"The nightmares again?" Anna asked in a soft voice. Ari nodded against her mother's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Ari whispered.
"For what?" Anna asked.
"The room…my snow,"
"Oh, my love, no. You never have to be sorry for your powers,"
"But I made all this happen."
"What are you talking about?" Anna said gently, "I see something beautiful," She looked at the snowflakes hanging in the air, "Don't you think it's beautiful?"
"A little," Ari sniffed. Anna dried her eyes.
"Are you feeling better?" Ari nodded, but her face didn't show it. She looked at her aunt.
"Aunty Elsa, I didn't want it happen,"
"Snowflake, it's okay. I used to make it snow when I had nightmares. I still do sometimes,"
"But my lessons…"
"Ari, you have amazing control over your powers, more than I ever did as I child." Elsa brushed the girl's hair back, "But it's okay if you slip, because we will always, always be there to help you. Do you understand?" Ari nodded again, her eyes a bit brighter. "Do you want to clear out the snow? I don't think even you want to sleep with the room so cold,"
"Okay," Ari raised her hands and the snow rose in glowing blue streams towards the centre of the room, forming a snowflake in the air. Elsa could have helped, but there need. Ari took care it by herself.
"That's my girl," Elsa smiled at her.
"Ready to get back to bed?" Anna asked.
"No," Ari gripped Anna's night shirt and halo of frost appeared. Ari yelped and let go, crawling away.
"Arisol, it's okay," Elsa stopped her, taking hold of her hands, "Relax. Getting scared only makes it worst. Thinking about the things you love,"
Ari shut her eyes in concentration and gradually the frost receded
"I don't want to go to sleep," the girl admitted after a short silence, "What if the nightmare comes back?"
"We'll stay here," Anna said, "Is that okay?"
Ari nodded. When Elsa and Anna pulled back the covers however the girl shook her head.
"No, I'm not sleeping,"
"Ari, sweetheart if you have to sleep,"
"When I sleep I have nightmares. So I don't wanna,"
"But you also have dreams. Don't you want to have sweet dreams?"
"I don't want to have nightmares again,"
"So are you going to stay awake forever,"
"No," She shook her head, "Only till I grow up,"
"Until you grow up?" Elsa asked.
"When you stop having nightmares,"
Anna and Elsa both smiled sadly. "Sorry to tell you snowflake, but adults have nightmares too,"
"Really?" She asked. The elder princess and queen nodded.
"Do you?"
"Oh yes," Anna said.
"About what?"
The sister's looked at each other. They both knew majority of their nightmares still revolved around a certain day.
"It's not important," Anna said, "But you have to go to sleep Ari. If you don't sleep you could get sick,"
Ari still held adamant about not sleeping.
"Okay," Elsa said, "You don't have to sleep tonight,"
"What?" Anna looked at her. Elsa winked at her.
"If you want to stay up that's okay, but at least get under the covers," Elsa held up the blanket.
Air thought about it, and then crawled between her mother and aunt.
"If we're going to stay up we should do something," Elsa looked at Anna, "What do suggest?"
Ari turned to looked at her mother and with her gaze in that direction Elsa mouthed 'lullaby'. Anna's eyes went wide with understanding.
"How about we sing a song?" Anna said.
"That sounds like good idea, what do you think Ari?"
"Okay, but what song?"
"Well I love Vi Har El Tulle," Elsa said.
"Oh, I want to sing that too," Her sister said. Ari nodded in agreement.
The sisters smiled and started to sing together. Arisol didn't stand a chance. She'd fallen asleep before they finished the melody twice. Anna drew Ari closer, wrapping a hand protectively around her.
"She's getting stronger," Elsa said softly.
"We knew that would happen," Anna met her sister's eyes. She read the question lingering in their depths. "We made a promise to each other, that it would different with Ari. And it is. She can already disperse her snow and even though she has trouble controlling it sometimes she isn't scared of her powers. And I'll be damned before she has to be scared of her powers,"
A small flickered on Elsa's lips, "You're right, it is different,"
"You're teaching her so much about her powers. You're doing a great job with her Elsa,"
"I pale in comparison to you,"
"That's true," Anna said proudly. Elsa chuckled, hitting her playfully.
"We should get some sleep too," Elsa said. At the mention of sleep Anna yawned.
"I can't argue with that," She buried herself deeper into the sheets café not to wake Ari.
"I love you," Elsa said.
"I love you more,"
"I doubt that,"
Nardragon~ until the next page.