Chapter 21

Elsa longed for that beautiful rush of cold to surge through her; she craved to feel the snow flowing from her fingertips. But, as much as she wished and dreamed of her powers, she knew well that they would not return, that was until she made her choice.

Her powers or her daughter? Hans was making her choose between the two things she loved and cared most for in the world… Each both by rights belonged to her but in Hans Westerguard's eyes, Elsa knew well she belonged to him and he could do as he liked with her…. He could even poison her as he had done.

Flashbacks and memories came into her mind suddenly and she shook her head repulsed by Hans's cruel and twisted actions, she'd accepted his poisoned drink, she'd allowed him to steal her daughter from her, she'd suffered as he struck her but still Elsa had allowed herself to go through such pain. Why? She asked herself….. Why?

Rage and desolation flooded inside of her as more memories came, history repeating itself…. The kidnap, The pain, Icicle being born, Kristoff's death, Anna being forced to leave her and marry one of Hans' older malevolent brothers! Oh god! Elsa couldn't take anymore of the torture, her heart was thudding like a marching drum but still images, words and flashbacks invaded her mind again and again as if on a loop.

It was driving her insane! Hans was finally driving her to madness. Elsa's mind was running wild and she felt her blood boiling and a great knot tying in her stomach…. What was happening to her?

She inhaled deeply trying hard to catch her breath and calm herself. "I want Icicle… Icicle!" Images of her little baby girl came into her mind and tears began to well in her blue icy eyes, it had been so long since she had held her in her arms and kissed her.

"My lady, King Hans demands your presence in the Great Hall." She recognized that sweet voice in an instant and she turned rapidly with her heart thudding. "Gerda! W-Where is my baby? Where's Icicle! I command you to tell me this instant!" Elsa knew how desperate she must have sounded but she didn't care, she was desperate.

Gerda shrugged her shoulders with tears slipping down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, your grace! I-I can't tell you! King Hans forbids me to speak of the Princess to you, if I do I will be executed!" Elsa felt a stab of pity as she watched Gerda fall to her knees at her feet. "Please, please! Tell me, Gerda… I just need to know where she is! H-have you been feeding her? Is she alright? Please!" Gerda swallowed hard and stared up at her queen with terror in her teary eyes.

"Y-Your daughter needs you, Queen Elsa… H-Hans, h-he…"

"What were you going to say about me, peasant?" Oh god! Elsa's heart skipped a beat and her body suddenly became paralyzed in fear…. Not Gerda!

Hans leaned against the chamber door frame with his eyes burning like the fires of hell. "H-Hans, p-please!" Fear swept through Elsa as she witnessed that familiar darkness in his eyes. What would he do? Gerda fell to her knees weeping helplessly in her sorrow.

Elsa clutched her hand in her terror and desperation… Please! Please don't let him harm her! For my sake, for the sake of Arendelle! Elsa's thoughts were running wild, her hands trembled but she refused to allow her fear show, she would no longer give Hans that sickening satisfaction.

"Hans, please! Gerda was only saying that-"Hans cut her off rapidly, his lips twisting into a devilish smirk. "Do you think me foolish, Elsa?" She shook her head abruptly, she wouldn't defy him! She couldn't… He'd taken her powers, her daughter! She was weak, powerless and vulnerable against him… But, something came into her mind.

"I-I want to make my choice! I want to choose…." Her whole life rested on this decision, Hans and Elsa both knew that. His burning eyes flickered to Elsa and he stepped closer towards her, cracking his knuckles as he approached. "I'm listening, snowdrop… Our daughter or your powers?" Her heart was pounding and knots tied in her stomach.

Elsa swallowed hard and smiled weakly reaching to place her hands upon his shoulders, she leaned in closer to his lips and pressed hers against his. God, she prayed that her plan would work…. Her life depended on it and so did Icicle's and Anna's!

"I want you... Hans Westerguard!"

Would her plan work?...

Anna felt the fresh open air hit her lungs and she felt a great sense of victory as she stared out across the Southern Isles Sea... Arendelle was calling her, the water and salty air seemed to quietly whisper her name and the great ships that were leaving the port were guiding her back towards her true domain. She knew they were looking for her... Louis Westerguard and the rest of the Southern Isles Royal Family!

A sudden rush of loathing pulsed through her veins and she focused on the distance, the beautiful setting sun glistening down upon the surface of the water. Anna felt the small bottle within her cloak pocket and pulled it out carefully reading the label once again... Elsa's Antidote! I'm coming, Elsa! A single tear slipped down her cheek as she repeated that promise in her mind. Elsa... She was all that mattered now.

"There she is!" A shiver shot down Anna's spine and her blood boiled in her fear. No! They couldn't get her! They couldn't possibly have found her! She had to save Elsa... "There's that little Arendelle Princess! Wait until our Prince Louis finds out I've caught you!... I'll be greatly rewarded! Oh little Princess, you should see how enraged my Prince has been! Everyone's been searching for you, Princess Anna!... Now, I've found you!"

Anna stumbled backwards and raised her fists threateningly. She tried hard to mask her terror but she couldn't. "Come now little Princess!" The royal guard edged closer towards her, glaring fiercely with his cold and narrow eyes. "Don't bother to fight me... I really don't want to harm your pretty little royal face, I'm sure our Prince Louis Westerguard wouldn't like that!"

He skimmed a finger along her cheek and Anna spat straight in his face, sickened by his repulsive action. "Get off me!" Anna didn't remove her eyes from him... Look your enemy in the eye! Fight for your life but never cry! Her father's words repeated in her mind and she stepped closer towards the guard threateningly. "I don't want to make your face even uglier... N-Now, you either fight me or-"

He sniggered darkly at Anna's courageous words and lifted her carelessly into his strong and hulking arms. "Or... I just take you!" Anna screamed and cried vehemently and struggled to break free, kicking, punching and hollering repeatedly. Anna cried out and saw that all of the villagers eyes were upon her as she was carried off down the many grim and narrow streets of the Southern Isles' kingdom... But know one said nor did anything to help her.

"Help me please!" Anna's screaming was useless, they all knew that. "P-Please!" Tears slipped down her cheeks and she fought with all of the little strength she had left inside of her. Then again those names appeared...

Hans Westerguard

Louis Westerguard

All the rest of the Southern Isles brother's

The King and Queen of the Southern Isles

They were all the people that she'd kill... They were the people that she would have her retribution on. She heard the guard's heavy breaths and his hold of her tightened. "When my sister Queen Elsa of Arendelle hears of this! You'll be an icicle!" The guard cleared his throat loudly and he swallowed hard at her hateful words.

"Oh really? Well, the latest news I've heard from Arendelle is that our great Prince Hans Westerguard has murderer your little commoner Kristoff... Did you know that, Princess?" Vomit rose inside of her but she fought to keep it down, digesting his malevolent words. It wasn't true! Oh God! He was lying! He had to be lying didn't her? Kristoff- Was he dead? Anna didn't think her tears would ever stop falling.

"K-Kristoff!" Images of him came into her mind, with the sunlight glistening in his glorious chocolate brown eyes and his warm kisses making her stomach erupt with beautiful birds and butterflies. "I'll always love you, Anna." Her precious memory dissolved and her reality abruptly took it's place... The oak doors of the great and empty Southern Isles hall opened.

"Princess Anna of Arendelle: The fiancee of Prince Louis Westerguard of the Southern Isles!" Oh god! Her stomach lurched as her name was hollered out. What would they do to her? She dreaded to think, to envisage her surely inevitable fate of chastisement.

"Anna!" Louis stepped closer towards from the other end of the hall as she was thrown to the ground harshly. "Ah!" Her body cried out in pain from the force. "My Anna... My defiant and disobedient Anna has returned from her escape! Captured and broken you now lie at my feet..."

Anna didn't want to look at him! She couldn't bring herself to stare into those dark and burning eyes. She was just his prisoner like Elsa was Hans'... Two Arendelle sisters slaves of two Southern Isles brothers.

"I hate you! He's killed Kristoff do you know that? Your stupid younger brother has murdered him! You and Hans can both rot in hell for all I care!" Louis smirked darkly down at her staring into her tearful topaz eyes. "Well, it doesn't matter that your stupid peasant is dead now does it? You're mine! My Fiancee! My Princess! My slave! My Anna!..."

She shook her head promptly, disgusted by his ghastly words. "I'll never be yours!"

A sudden agony struck her cheek and she cried out piteously, clutching her flaming and stinging cheek. "I can take no more of your insolence, Anna! I don't have to take this... I'm only marrying you because of Hans, he promised that I'd be Arendelle's Prince and Regent with you as my wife!" His gaze intensified suddenly... "Why don't we pay my younger brother Hans and your pathetic cold sister a little visit?"

Hans! and Elsa!... Her Retribution was edging nearer... Hans, his death was coming closer... Retribution! Retribution!

- Inky ivory