A/N: Thanks to everyone who's followed/favorited and/or is reading but not reviewing!:)
Thanks to bananas-rule-2015 for beta-ing:)
QueenIcelandia-Wait and see:)
Dragonheart35-And I PMed you, so I won't make you reread the same thing here.:P:)
raven678-Thank you!:)
Mandy-Oh, I don't care. I still don't like Agdar much anyhow...:/ Elsa might've forgiven him, but I haven't.:P I agree; I think Elsa still likes to be able to do things on her own...she just wants to have Anna with her, too.:) Lol, I'm glad you like Drífa! It just seemed (to me) that Elsa would like animals...I mean, she isn't a social butterfly like Anna, and she never will be. (Why should she? That has nothing to do with whether Elsa is upset/happy/etc; it's just not her.:))
Elsa Tomago-Elsa's mostly okay...she's just remembering things from the past that still hurt if she thinks about it. Although yes, I agree-Elsa deserves a lot of hugs.:)
WarriorQueen 14-I also don't like Elsa paired with ANYONE anyway. It's not just HansxElsa I dislike.:P (I will say I hate Elsanna far more than Helsa, though...come on, they're SISTERS for goodness sakes...:/) Anyways, moving on.:) I got rid of Kiara's powers because it was either let Kiara keep them and leave Elsa like she was, or Kiara loses her powers and Elsa is partly healed. And I wanted Elsa to get better.:) Hmm, I just wrote Hans's spiel as 'take it or leave it; this is what happened'. I think Hans wasn't treated well in the past either, but he's had a much, much different reaction to that than Anna or Elsa have. Which (to me) is his own choice. I mean...Elsa didn't end up like that. She's not unaffected by everything, but she's still...herself. She hasn't turned into a bitter faux-charming creep.:P Anyways...my POV is that Elsa has a hard time trusting people anyway, and she's going to trust someone who tried to kill her and Anna? I just can't see that. Hans could genuinely turn nice and be trustworthy, but I still don't think Elsa would trust him. She can't. Anyways...that's just me.:)
On to the story!:)
"I think Elsa might be upset with me or something," Anna told Kiara a few days later. "She's always busy and she won't talk much." Anna had gotten mostly un-mad at Kiara now that her big sister was better. This was also because Kiara was much more agreeable now than she had been in the past; while Kiara was still quick on rejoinders and a bit sarcastic sometimes, Anna had to admit that she was fun to be around now. And Kiara had changed her mind about Anna, too; she formerly thought Anna was very annoying, and now thought she was fun to talk to and play games with. Kiara did not, however, like the older girls' dad one bit. She thought he was a creep. She hadn't decided about their mother yet.
Kiara frowned. "Maybe Elsa's leg is bothering her," she suggested.
"Nope. Elsa said it doesn't hurt her or anything, and while I know she hates admitting something's bothering her, she wouldn't outright lie about it," Anna replied. It could be making her tired though. That's possible.
"Well, I don't believe she's upset with you. Snow Queen Elsa willingly let herself be shocked instead of you," Kiara muttered. "She had no way of knowing she would even live or not. I didn't know one way or the other until she sat up…"
Anna's face brightened. "That's true! I'm going with Elsa's just busy."
There was a bit of silence for a moment, and then Kiara said, "I think my brother is starting to at least kinda feel sorry for what he did. It just seems stupid and unbelievable to me, because I swear he's NEVER felt sorry for something in his life before."
Anna scowled. "Kiara, Hans tried to kill her! I don't want him anywhere near my sister," she said firmly. "And he's tried to hurt her on the inside over and over! Don't you dare get any ideas. I promise you I will take Elsa and keep her right where I can see her every single minute if you try to get her to like him." And I know Elsa…she may not trust him, but she's forgiven him and that means it's possible she'll decide she wants to make friends with that creep…Elsa would probably just 'friend-zone' him, I'm sure.
"Sheesh, I was just commenting on something! No need to get all in a ruffle." Kiara laughed before adding, "I kinda think Snow Queen Elsa would never like like anyone enough to get involved with 'em anyway. She's pretty independent."
"True. Elsa told me she doesn't want any boyfriend because she doesn't want him meddling with government business," Anna told Kiara. "Which kinda makes sense, but I still think she's being silly."
"Silly and independent," Kiara put in.
Olaf and Rania came waddling into Anna's room, interrupting their conversation. "Elsa said we were supposed to give you guys hugs from her," Olaf announced.
"Elsa works too hard," Rania put in logically.
"'Cause she's busy with-" Olaf started.
Rania interrupted loudly, "BUSY WITH CHRISTMAS STUFF! Elsa is planning Christmas things to do since this is the first Christmas the royal family has had together since she was eight."
Anna and Kiara traded glances. Mystery solved.
Except Elsa was busy with Anna birthday stuff, not Christmas stuff. Elsa limped all the way over to the chocolate shop, the jewelry shop, and several other places. "Could you make a bracelet with sunbursts and snowflakes on alternating beads?" Elsa asked. "It's for Princess Anna's birthday."
"Certainly, Queen Elsa," the jeweler, Lise, told her. "If you would pardon the question, what happened to your leg? Please don't feel pressured to answer, though…"
Elsa didn't want to go into detail, so she just said, "I had an accident and I have to wear a brace now. No big deal," and gave the woman a friendly smile. "When will my sister's present be ready? Could it possibly be ready today? I'll pay you extra for your trouble."
"No later than three P.M., Queen Elsa," Lise assured her. "And no charge at all."
"You are not giving me a bracelet for free," Elsa said firmly. "I will be back at three, with your payment," she said with a smile.
Elsa went to the chocolate shop last. I hope Daisy is there. She's been so nice to me… Daisy was a little girl Elsa had met back in the summer who had a problem with stuttering. Daisy spoke better now, but she still stuttered quite a bit. Elsa still didn't understand why her own stuttering had disappeared entirely unless she was extremely upset or something and Daisy's hadn't. Daisy's parents ran the chocolate shop. Elsa smiled when she pushed the door open to the shop and saw Daisy behind the counter.
"How m-may I help you t-today?" Daisy asked. "And Queen Elsa, guess what?" Without waiting for an answer, Daisy continued, "My b-birthday's next m-month! I'm gonna b-be eight!"
"I'd like to buy some of your fancy chocolates, the ones with different molded shapes, for my sister's birthday," Elsa said. "And that's terrific, Daisy! Happy early birthday."
Daisy frowned as she watched Elsa's limping steps. "Did y-you hurt yourself s-somehow?" she asked. "'Cause you're l-limping." She pulled out a few chocolates and put them on the counter, choosing her own favorites, which were snowflakes, flowers, a bunny, and a Christmas tree.
Elsa decided she would purposely let Daisy see her brace; Daisy was just a little girl and she didn't make Elsa feel awkward and not know what to say. "I had an accident, so I have to wear a brace on my leg now, that's all," Elsa explained. I'm going to have to repeat that same sentence to everyone I talk to. Great. Not. She showed Daisy the brace fastened around her leg, and Daisy promptly made a face.
"Doesn't it h-hurt and f-feel uncomfortable?" Daisy asked as she gave Elsa a hug. "Feel-better hug," she announced. "And I think y-you should make y-your own brace out of i-ice," Daisy added.
Elsa picked her young friend up and hugged her tightly. "No, it doesn't hurt at all; and it feels fine…maybe just the slightest bit uncomfortable. But thank you for the hug," she said quietly. Thank you, Daisy. You made me happy when I lost control in public when I visited the school back in the summer. You helped me more than you know. And thank you for the idea…I've thought about it before, but I thought it was dumb. I think I'll try when I get home. It can't hurt. The worst that happens is that it doesn't work.
Daisy laughed in delight when Elsa tried to give her a piggyback ride and then promptly fell right on the floor. "No-no t-tickles!" Daisy squealed. She suddenly had the ingenious idea to just tickle Elsa back.
Seconds later, the Snow Queen just lay helpless on the floor giggling, trying in vain to get Daisy to stop tickling her. "Daisy, quit tickling! Stop…stop it!" Elsa begged, although she wasn't mad. "I'll make it snow!" she threatened.
This made Daisy tickle Elsa all the more, and she plopped down right on the older girl's tummy, securely pinning her to the floor. "I like snow! Make it s-snow! Do the m-magic!" Daisy demanded. "Snow, snow, snow, m-make it snow! I want snow! I want snow!" she chanted.
Daisy's horrified parents came down from upstairs to investigate all the noise and found their young daughter demanding that the queen make it snow. "Daisy, what on earth do you think you're doing?!" her mother asked.
Daisy scrambled to her feet, and Elsa grabbed the edge of the counter and pulled herself back to her feet that way. Elsa quickly jumped to Daisy's defense. "Ms. Marie" (that was Daisy's mother), "Daisy didn't do anything wrong. I just came to buy some chocolates for my sister's birthday. I'm sorry we made so much noise."
Marie knew Elsa had made special friends somehow with Daisy, but she still didn't approve of her not-quite-eight-year-old daughter pinning the queen on the floor and tickling her, or demanding that she make it snow. "Well, as long as Daisy's rowdy behavior doesn't offend you, Queen Elsa," she said after a moment. "We appreciate our queen being willing to play with our little girl as well as she removes threats from our country, like those Weselton soldiers not so long ago. And that hurricane back in the summer."
Elsa smiled at that. Thank you for not thinking bad of me for acting childish sometimes.
When Elsa arrived back home, she headed straight for her room with her arms full of Anna's birthday presents. Elsa dropped the presents on her bed and promptly iced her door shut to keep any curious little sister eyes out. Anna's birthday is going to be perfect! I hope she likes her presents… She smiled as she made an opaque container of ice, put all the presents in it, and shoved it under her bed. Now even if Anna did find her presents, she wouldn't be able to see them; although the surprise factor would be ruined. Anna better not try to start snooping.
Remembering Daisy's suggestion, Elsa plopped down on her bed and took her brace off; then carefully created a new one out of ice. Oddly enough, the ice seemed lighter to her, almost as if it weren't there at all. Elsa just felt a slightly cool sensation against her skin and a barely-there weight, not the annoying and a bit uncomfortable feeling of dragging her bad leg along with that clunky brace. My ice feels exiguous, she couldn't help thinking. Now let's see if this actually works. I hope it does. She slowly stood up, keeping one hand on the bedpost just in case the ice refused to support her since she was the one who had made it. But Elsa needn't have worried; her ice was more than enough to support her leg.
"It works!" Elsa whispered excitedly. In a flash, she let go of the bedpost and experimented walking around her room. While Elsa was quite sure she was still limping, she could walk faster and she felt far more solid on her feet. I should have done this before! Thanks, Daisy. I know I still can't run or anything else like that, but this is much, much better.
Elsa suddenly heard whimpering and then incessant scratching on her door. "Wait a second, Drífa!" Elsa called.
"Aroooo! Aroooo!" Drífa howled. Then dead silence.
Elsa sighed and went over to the door; she did not want to be attracting attention to the fact that she was shut in her room at the moment. "Drífa! Bad dog!" Elsa scolded when she saw that the little wolf had peed right there on the carpet in the hall.
Drífa looked up at Elsa rather guiltily, and then tried to jump up on her instead.
Elsa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Don't get mad, Elsa. Calm down. Drífa had done this multiple times before, but thankfully not on any carpets. I don't know how to clean up the carpet! Drífa, did you really have to do that? Elsa quickly picked up her skirt and her snowflake cape trailing behind her before limping off in search of Gerda as fast as she could. She heard a familiar voice calling her name and turned to see Kai pointing at the puddle on the carpet.
"Queen Elsa, I think it's high time you released your wolf back in the forest," Kai said firmly. "You did say you were going to let Drífa go free when her leg was better, and it is. She's made so many messes in the castle; I don't think you even know about most of them because she always does it those few minutes you aren't with her 24/7. Gerda and I have simply been cleaning them up, but Drífa isn't improving at becoming housetrained because she's a wild animal. She doesn't even let anyone touch her unless you're nearby."
Elsa frowned and tilted her head to one side, feeling puzzled. "Kai…why didn't anyone tell me Drífa messes all the time where she shouldn't?! I've seen her do it a few times, and I cleaned it up, but…all the time…why didn't anyone tell me?" she asked.
"We thought you deserved to have a pet, even if it was temporary one. You've always done whatever was best for everyone around you and not yourself, Miss Elsa," Kai told her. "It seems like life always gives our young queen a rough deal; and we just wanted you to have one silly thing you wanted." Kai gave her a reassuring smile; then added, "The only reason I'm telling you now is because I think one big reason Drífa messes so much is because she's restless indoors. She likes you, but that's the only reason she's willing to stay around. She belongs outside and free. She needs her freedom, just like you, Miss Elsa."
Elsa's smile was shaky as she sat down on the floor right where she was and hugged Drífa close. "I'll let her go right now," she said softly. The wolf licked her cheek and rested her head on Elsa's shoulder, staring warily at Kai. I'm glad I got to have Drífa around for awhile, even though it was just temporary. I didn't think any pet would want me close to it before...and Kai is right. Drífa needs her freedom, just like…me.
"Thank you for taking me to the forest where I found Drífa in the first place," Elsa told Kristoff a short while later. Elsa just stayed in the far back corner of the sled holding Drífa on her lap.
"You know you don't gotta sit all the way back there," Kristoff said. "Seems rude, like I won't let you sit in the good seats or something."
Elsa gave him a small smile but stayed where she was. "That's Anna's spot, not mine," she said firmly. I know Kristoff doesn't mean anything by saying that, but he's Anna's fiancée. I'll not get anywhere near him. It's just not right.
Kristoff shrugged and didn't press the issue, knowing Elsa's line of thought. He loved Anna and all her little quirks, her tendency to ramble, her freckles, her pigtail braids, her selflessness regarding her big sister, and everything else about her. And then there was Anna's big sister, who could be the intimidating presence of the Snow Queen one minute and a playful little girl the next. Kristoff thought of Elsa as a bossy but sweet big sister now that he had gotten to know her a little better. He didn't think it was improper for Elsa to sit up front in the sled, but then again, he was not used to royal etiquette. Somehow he was sure that the two Arendellian sisters were not your average royals, though. Anna had little to no regard for royal etiquette in public; she would work with all the ice harvesters if he let her. Elsa was exceedingly impeccable with her manners and she had a sense of regality and dignity about her; but she also participated in snowball fights with the children of Arendelle and she had a very obvious mischievous streak when she chose to use it. (Kristoff would never, ever tell Elsa that, though.) Also she loved animals, as was quite clear from the way she treated that wolf.
"I think I found Drífa right here," Elsa said now as she looked at the snowy trees. Despite the fact that it was just below freezing, Elsa felt perfectly comfortable in her ice-dress. The temperature actually felt welcoming to her. It did not make her feel cozy and sheltered, however; just the opposite. Elsa felt alive and invincible in the snow. This was her element. Evidently it was Drífa's element as well, for the wolf licked Elsa's cheek before running off into the forest.
Elsa struggled to climb down from the sled and landed face-first in the snow. Without missing a beat, she created her air currents and 'flew' after Drífa. "Drífa, I'll miss you," Elsa said softly, looking off in the direction Drífa had run.
Drífa turned back, her sharp ears picking up the sound of Elsa's voice. She came trotting back towards Elsa, who dropped herself to the ground and smiled at the wolf. Drífa tried to jump into Elsa's arms, but Elsa refused.
"You belong here," Elsa whispered. "Free. Keeping you confined in the castle is like me being isolated in my room. Drífa, go! Go and be free." Tears began trickling down Elsa's cheeks, but she backed away and refused to hold the little wolf again. Drífa, go. You don't belong with me or any other human. You belong out here in the wild.
Drífa sensed Elsa's feelings and just sat on her haunches in front of Elsa. I know you're upset, Drífa's gaze seemed to say.
Elsa couldn't stand it anymore. She turned away and started back toward the sled. Elsa felt something jump on the back of her legs and she was immediately sent sprawling, lying flat on her tummy there in the snow. Go away, Drífa. You don't need me. Stay here and be free. Elsa smiled a bit as Drífa licked her cheek, nudged her hand, and then barked once before running off into the trees without looking back.
Elsa pushed herself to a sitting position and wiped her eyes before gazing off where Drífa was running. She thought she could see the rest of Drífa's pack a ways off in the distance. Drífa won't have to be alone. Good. "Goodbye, Drífa," she whispered. This time the wolf didn't turn back, and Elsa knew Drífa was gone for good this time. I already miss Drífa. But I know I had to let her go. And she told me goodbye in her own way…thank you, Drífa. Elsa just stayed where she was in the snow, her face buried in her hands, her braced leg stretched in front of her. She didn't want to go home right now; she wanted Drífa to come back. Elsa, you did the right thing. She wouldn't have been happy being kept indoors, even in the big castle.
Elsa didn't even hear the voices behind her; didn't even register Kristoff shouting at her to turn around. She did, however, flinch when she felt a rough hand grab her by the arm and haul her to her feet, only to press a cloth over her mouth. Elsa snapped out of her upset self, remembering what weird cloths over her mouth meant before. This time Elsa knew what to do. Don't breathe, Elsa. Get yourself out of here, and don't breathe. Don't breathe until that cloth is far, far away from you. Elsa struggled to stay on her feet as her mind raced, trying to figure out what to do. Don't breathe. Don't breathe. Someone pinned your hands behind you, and there's a different someone with the cloth. You have seconds to get out of here.
Not knowing what else to do, Elsa took the risk of willing two ice columns into existence with her feet…well, just the right one since she didn't trust her left leg to do anything right. Elsa smiled a moment later. There were both of the attackers standing in shock with their hands trapped in Elsa's ice columns, and there was Elsa herself safe between them, her own hands free again. I did it! I was caught unawares, and I still did it. Elsa limped a couple feet away from the two men and just stared at them. "What did you try to knock me out for?" she asked flatly.
"She's got ice powers like the queen," one man slurred. "Looks like 'er, too."
"What's-his-name…got us loaded and sent us on a mission for that?" the other responded. "Wait…imagination nation in control. Not tol' to do nothin'."
Elsa frowned in confusion. "You two are intoxicated. I am the queen." She whipped around to face the opposite direction and found herself sitting on the ground, looking up at the man she assumed was the ringleader. Calm down, Elsa. You're so clumsy. Nobody laid a finger on you and you fell anyway. And keep the attention off Kristoff. They'll try to destroy his sled. And I don't know if there are more…
"Looks like you failed, but I got us a cute little…" the man's voice trailed off, feeling nervous under Elsa's intense gaze, and realizing just who this girl was.
"Cute little what?" Elsa spat out. I don't want to let them know I can 'fly' unless I have to. Keep him talking. She glared at the man and held out one hand, ready to defend herself with force if she needed to.
"Guys, this gal is the queen!" the man nearly squeaked. "You got the wrong girl!" Rather than attempt to attack her or try to drag her off someplace, which was the next move Elsa was expecting, the man bowed, grabbed Elsa's outstretched hand, and helped her to her feet. "So sorry, Queen Elsa! Sorry, sorry, sorry!" the man exclaimed.
You're still slightly out of it, just not as bad as the others… Elsa didn't know whether to start laughing at the utter absurdity of what had just happened or to be angry. These people are inebriated and completely crazy! "What on earth were you intending to do if I had been whoever you were looking for?" she asked firmly.
"Eh, playin' a joke on my cousin. She's blonde but way chubbier than you, Queen Elsa. Guess they mistook you for her since they're high," the man explained.
"You're so-called 'high' too. All of you go home and sober up," Elsa ordered. "Next time I won't be so lenient. Your friends physically assaulted me. What if I had had to resort to using violent force to get away and hurt you because I thought you were trying to kidnap me, when in reality you were joking around?" Elsa paused for a moment and scowled. "By the way, if I were your cousin, I would be exceedingly annoyed with you for playing a 'joke' on me like that. Knocking someone out is not funny. It makes the victim feel downright ill." I know from experience…
"Wouldn't be your fault if you hurt us then. It'd be ours…see ya later, Queen Elsa. My pals and I're sorry," the man said. "For real."
Elsa shook her head as the men stumbled off toward a small cabin she could just make out a ways in the distance. "Such idiocy," she muttered. Elsa turned and started limping back toward Kristoff, who was coming toward her himself.
"What on earth was that all about?" Kristoff asked. "I didn't interfere because it looked like you had everything under control, but what were those guys doing?! One minute they're making attack attempts and the next they're bowing!"
"Alcohol," Elsa said simply. I never want to get like that. Never, ever! It makes people act like crazy nincompoops.
Kristoff paused and awkwardly cleared his throat. "Qu-Elsa, you sure you want to walk all the way back to the sled? You…flew over here," he pointed out.
Elsa gave him a withering stare, but then smirked as an idea popped into her head. "I'll race you back to Arendelle castle, and I won't 'fly', either," she announced.
"All the way back to the castle?"
Elsa just nodded, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ready?" I am so ready for this! I'm being childish, but I don't care at the moment…
"Doesn't seem very fair, Q-Elsa…I'm not racing you back to Arendelle. Forget the time it would take to walk all the way back anyways; you're, uh…you have…um..."
Elsa suddenly felt a very Anna-ish urge to tease that he was just scared of racing a girl on foot who had a brace (made of ice) on her leg back to Arendelle, but she didn't. "I never said I was walking. I said I wouldn't 'fly'," she replied. "If I run into any sort of trouble, I promise I'll take off and 'fly' and that just means I've forfeited the race. Very simple. Okay?"
Kristoff shrugged. Well, as long as she's safe, I don't care. That sounds fair. "Suit yourself."
"On your marks…get set…go!"
Elsa laughed as Kristoff took off at top speed with Sven pulling the sled. "See you at the castle!" she called. Unperturbed by her own unimpressive start, Elsa quickly constructed an ice ramp that led up and over the treetops. She created a sled of her own, a small thing just big enough for her to sit on; and launched herself up the ramp. This is actually fun! Childish and immature, but fun. Elsa paused at the top, pictured a direct path back to the castle gates, and took off again.
Elsa laughed in delight as she kept up her rapid pace toward home. Ice appeared along the path as she needed it; never getting more than two or three feet ahead. If she lost her focus on the path, she and the little ice-sled would go flying headlong through the air and she would either have to catch herself by 'flying' and forfeit the race or go plummeting to the ground. I can do this! Elsa spotted Kristoff on the twisting mountain path below her…going very slowly toward the castle. "Caught up with you!" Elsa called.
Kristoff glanced up to see a very self-satisfied Elsa grinning at him from a good thirty feet in the air. Why, that little…And I'm here trying to go easy on her because I thought she was going to try to limp all the way home. Well, all she said was that she wasn't going to fly. And Elsa isn't. "You're on!" he yelled back. "Hyah, Sven! C'mon, let's go!"
Elsa laughed and took off again, picking up more and more speed. She smiled happily as she began adding little dips and twists in her path as she went. I love doing this. I'll have to take Anna up to my ice palace by doing this sometime…I can do that for her birthday! I know Anna would love doing this!
Kristoff saw what Elsa was doing and sighed. This was exactly what he meant when he thought of Elsa as having a very obvious mischievous streak. The girl went and offered something seemingly unfair to her and then proceeded to create ribbon-y ice paths that appeared in front of her at will, flying at an insane speed towards home. "You're a show-off, Queen Elsa!" he shouted.
"I know!" came Elsa's gleeful reply. "Shall I slow down for you to catch up? Oh wait, never mind…the Snow Queen always wins!" I'm acting like…like Anna. I feel completely on top of the world right now. I'm happy.
Soon they came flying through the marketplace (Elsa eyed her still-standing ice amusement park, wondering if she should run it again) and Elsa easily came to a stop in the castle courtyard, gracefully sliding down a sloping ice path to the ground. Kristoff raced through the gates a minute later, only to see that Elsa was already there trying to stand up without using her air currents to do so.
"Hey Elsa, what are you doing?" Anna called from the castle entrance steps. "That doesn't look like you're busy!" she teased good-naturedly.
Since the race was over, Elsa gave up trying to stand up without using her powers and just set herself back on her feet with one of her air currents before flicking a hand to dissolve her little ice sled and the ice path ribbon she'd used to get back. "Kristoff just took me to release Drífa back into the forest, that's all," Elsa replied as she headed over to her sister.
"Why didn't you ask me to come?" Anna asked.
Elsa tilted her head to one side in confusion. "I didn't think you'd want to. You didn't even like Drífa much. I'm sorry if I didn't ask you to come and you really did want to…Anna? Anna, are you mad?" she asked in a worried tone. Elsa had seen that look on her little sister's face before but not directed at her. What did I do wrong?! I didn't do anything! Unless…unless it's because Anna thinks I haven't been around her as much because I've been busy, and she just saw me racing home in an ice-sled…
"Why did you go with Kristoff?" Anna just stood with her arms crossed, glaring at a confused Elsa and an equally confused Kristoff and Sven. "You could have made your ice path thing and gone by yourself…Elsa, you've been sort of avoiding me for awhile. I don't think you've been getting Christmas stuff together like Rania said you were."
Elsa opened her mouth for a second and then clamped it shut again, not knowing what to say. Had she done something wrong? Elsa didn't think so…she had purposely sat in the far back of Kristoff's sled; he hadn't even helped her into the sled because she'd refused for goodness sakes. But Anna is right. I could have gone by myself…I just hadn't thought of doing the ice path with my powers before. I was just thinking that I couldn't 'fly' and hold Drífa at the same time. "Anna, I'm sorry, but-"
"You're sorry you were being all buddy-buddy with my fiancée?" Anna asked.
"Hey, hey, hey, calm down, Anna!" Kristoff exclaimed, realizing what Anna must be thinking. "Nothing happened. Elsa even purposely sat in the far back of my sled on the way to the forest."
"Then why were you racing together?! That's something me and you do! Not Elsa and you!" Anna exclaimed.
"That's not Kristoff's fault, Anna. It was my idea," Elsa said in a small voice. She visibly flinched under Anna's angry stare. "I'm sorry! I swear I didn't know it was a special thing you two did together. If I'd known, I wouldn't have suggested it!" I'm so stupid. I didn't know Anna liked doing that with Kristoff. I wouldn't have done it if I'd known…I didn't mean anything!
"Did you kiss him too?!"
Elsa shook her head hard and just started to go inside, trying to blink tears out of her eyes. Anna was never angry with her, and it made Elsa feel terrible, even though she knew she hadn't done anything wrong. Or maybe she had, since Anna wouldn't get mad at her if she hadn't done something wrong, right? What did I do?! I understand what Anna is thinking, but why won't she listen? Maybe I did do something wrong. Anna wouldn't be mad at me for nothing… Elsa limped toward the stairs; she would just retreat into her room and think. Maybe that would help.
Back outside, Kristoff tried to get Anna to calm down. "Calm down, fiestypants. Elsa did not kiss me and I didn't kiss her either. Why on earth would I even do that? Why would she do that?!"
"I AM calm! How about 'cause Elsa's prettier than me and she makes ice and you're an ice harvester?! That's why!" Anna retorted. "You're obsessed with ice and Elsa's the Snow Queen. That means you two prob'ly have some secret connection or something!"
"Anna, where did you get the idea that your sister is prettier than you are?" Kristoff asked calmly.
"My eyes, of course," Anna said, as if that were the stupidest question in the world. "Elsa looks dramatic and exotic. She's beautiful. She has all that thick platinum hair and those big, pretty, blue eyes. And…and…" she paused thinking of any other specific random thing about her sister's appearance that she thought was better than her own, "and Elsa has nice legs, even if one of 'em doesn't work right!"
Kristoff just stared at Anna. "Well, I like the way you look, not Elsa. I mean, she's ok, I suppose, but-"
"Then you think Elsa isn't pretty at all then?! Don't pick on her!" Anna interrupted, quick to defend Elsa even though she was mad at her. She could be mad at Elsa, but she would not have someone else pick on her.
"I didn't say that!"
"You must have kissed Elsa or something then. I bet Elsa doesn't know how to kiss anyone properly," Anna announced matter-of-factly. "That stinker."
"Anna, you are being completely crazy at the moment. You made your sister cry. I saw her when she went inside. Why don't you go talk to her?" Kristoff suggested. An angry Anna could not be reasoned with; he knew this quite well already.
"Maybe Elsa shouldn't have let you kiss her then."
"I DID NOT KISS ELSA!"
Agdar came out on the castle steps to investigate all the commotion. "Take the argument inside. You two are going to freeze out here," he said flatly. "By the way, I find it hard to believe Elsa would let anyone kiss her. Perhaps keep that in mind?" He went back inside intending to find Elsa and hear what she knew about that argument outside.
Elsa ran into her mother at the bottom of the staircase. "Sorry, Mama," she muttered. I just want to go upstairs, that's all…
Idun took one look at the way Elsa was standing with her head down and her arms wrapped around her middle hugging herself; and immediately knew something was wrong. "What's wrong, Elsa?" she asked quietly.
"Nothing. Go away, Mama," Elsa replied a bit shakily. "Just for now, though…please?" I am not going to start acting childish and crying for mommy just because Anna is mad at me. Aren't sisters supposed to get mad at each other sometimes? It's just…just…I don't know or understand what I did wrong!
"I'll not leave you alone again when you're upset, sweetie," Idun said firmly. Rather than listen to Elsa's request for her to 'go away, Mama', Idun picked her daughter up and simply carried her upstairs. I don't know why my little girl is upset, but I will not just abandon her. Never again.
Elsa was so surprised she didn't resist or put up a fuss. My mother picked me up…she's carrying me upstairs. And not because I can't get up there on my own, either. Just because she cares that I'm upset… She leaned her head against her mother's shoulder and smiled a tiny bit as she absentmindedly fingered her single braid draped over her shoulder.
"Elsa, quit that," Idun scolded a second later. "You did that once in a while when you were little, too. Don't nibble your braid. Silly girl."
Elsa's cheeks turned pink with embarrassment when she realized what she was doing. Elsa, you're stupid. Why on earth did you do that?! Reverting back to something that was babyish when you were six and seven. Good grief. She looked up at her mother in confusion as Idun carried her into her parents' room. "Why in here?" Elsa asked.
"I didn't think it was good for you to be in your own room if you felt upset, that's all." Idun gently set Elsa down in one of the big recliners next to the fireplace and then sat down herself across from her.
Elsa remembered these chairs clearly from when she was a little girl. She and Anna hadn't been allowed to sit in them unless someone was watching them because the chairs were expensive and neither Agdar nor Idun had wanted their two little girls playing with the chairs. Little Elsa had loved sitting with her baby sister curled up in one of the recliners and holding Anna while she took a nap. Even now, the big soft chair dwarfed Elsa's slender frame. "I loved these chairs when I was little," Elsa commented quietly. "I liked holding A-Anna while she took her naps…" Elsa's voice faltered at her sister's name. And now my baby sister is mad at me, and I don't think I even did anything wrong.
Idun frowned at the single but unmistakable stammer Elsa had made. "Elsa, what happened to or with your sister?" she asked.
Should I tell Mo…Mama what happened? I suppose it can't hurt…can it? Elsa fiddled with the skirt of her dress as she gave a quick explanation. "Anna thinks I kissed Kristoff because he took me where I found Drífa to let her go. I didn't think Anna even wanted to come, but…Mama, I swear I didn't get anywhere near Kristoff! I didn't even let him help me into or out of the sled." Elsa's blue eyes began welling with tears all over again as she remembered Anna's angry expression. Calm down, Elsa…calm down…
"And Anna is angry with you because of that?" Idun guessed. "Oh, sweetie, just wait until your sister has calmed down and then tell her what really happened. I am quite sure that you know angry Anna is impossible to reason with."
"But Anna thinks I haven't been spending as much time with her recently because I was with her fiancée, and I can't tell her what I've really been doing because it will ruin the surprise birthday party," Elsa replied softly. "If I were Anna, I'd be mad too!" What was Anna supposed to think? I can't blame her, really. Elsa jumped when she heard a knock on the door and struggled to her feet.
"Thought she might be here," Agdar said, ushering a very angry Kristoff and a very angry Anna inside. "You two need to chill out. I don't know what is going on, but I do know she" he pointed at Elsa, "did not kiss Kristoff. Discuss away."
"Miss hothead here thinks I've dumped her just because I took Elsa to let that silly wolf go!" Kristoff exclaimed. "Anna, why on earth would I dump you for Elsa anyway? She gets emotional over little tiny things; she can't walk right; she's the stinking queen for goodness sakes! Wait…what did I just say? I'm sorry, Elsa."
"Bug off about Elsa's emotions! And it's not her fault she can't walk right!" Anna retorted; then turned on her sister. "And you are a horrible sister 'cause you kissed him!"
"I did not kiss him or anything else of the sort!" Elsa exclaimed. "Why would I even want to do that?! Anna, please…please calm down. I swear I didn't get anywhere even close to your fiancée. I'm sorry I went somewhere and didn't invite you, but I didn't think you wanted to come."
Anna seemed to be mollified by this for a moment, but then scowled again. "Then why are you shutting me out again? You have not been busy with Christmas stuff; I just know it! It's like you're avoiding me. Didn't you do that for long enough?!" Despite her angry tone, tears began streaming down Anna's cheeks anyway. "I think I've spoiled you! You take me for granted now 'cause I'm right by your side all the time every time you get upset. Like right this second, everybody's taking poor little Elsa's side and nobody will even listen to me! It's not fair! The past wasn't fun for me, either! The abnormal queen and the useless spare. That's what we are."
Elsa's hands balled into fists at her sides; and she wasn't sure what she should say or do. Part of her wanted to curl up and go hide in a hole, but another part wanted to yell back that everyone should be taking her side in this instance because she hadn't done anything wrong. And yet…I think Anna has a point. She just said the most horrible things that have the slightest bit of truth to them. Elsa looked down at the floor as tears began trickling down her own cheeks. How must Anna have felt when Elsa refused to come out of her room for Anna's birthdays? She probably thought Elsa hated her. Memories ran through Elsa's mind; each one dredging up pictures of what had probably been going on outside her door. It wasn't fair to either one of us.
"I'm ugly and stupid and you're still just a scared little girl. I-"
"That's enough," Elsa said finally, her calm voice not matching the distressed expression on her face. "I said, that's enough." She struggled to stop crying and dissolve the snowflakes falling her around her to no avail. Embarrassing. You are just a scared little girl, Elsa. The person you thought would never tell you such a thing just told you so. And Anna just called herself ugly and stupid! Why?! What has gotten into her? She's not even just jumping all over my case; she's picking on herself. Elsa found herself hesitantly heading straight for Anna and tried to hug her, but Anna backed away.
"Go away, Elsa."
Something within Elsa cracked, and she collapsed to the floor, trying to hold back anguished sobs. You deserved that, Elsa, a sadistic voice inside her said. You said that to your baby sister for years. Déjà vu in reverse hurts, doesn't it? "Anna…Anna…I'm sorry…so sorry…"
Anna suddenly realized just what she had done. I…I hurt her. On purpose. Because I was mad. She dropped to her knees beside her sister and clutched the older girl close. Elsa didn't do anything wrong; I know she didn't. She must have some sort of good reason for being 'busy' and avoiding me recently. "Elsa…I'm sorry I got so mad," she whispered. Anna hugged Elsa tightly, not knowing what to say. I probably lost Elsa's trust…it's still hard for her to trust people and I took the idea that she would always have her sister there with her away from her.
Elsa felt confused now-wasn't Anna mad at her?-and she was still trembling a bit, but she slowly began to relax in her sister's arms. She started to curl into a ball; then realized the brace wouldn't let her and scowled as she pulled away from Anna, took it off, and pulled both knees to her chest and snuggled back up next to Anna. I'm safe. Anna just says a ton of nonsense when she's mad. I just have to find the tiny bit of truth in it and discuss it with her later. I can do that. A few months ago, Elsa might have descended into a panic attack or taken a long time to calm down; but now it was easier for Elsa to get out of her upset moods. She felt perfectly content now. "Thank you, Anna," she said softly.
Anna held her big sister tightly as she got to her feet, still holding Elsa. She glanced at her mother and to one of the big recliners and back again. Can I sit there with Elsa?
Idun immediately nodded, and Anna settled herself and Elsa in the squishy chair, keeping one arm tossed around Elsa's shoulders. That chair was big enough for the two girls to sit side by side easily without squashing each other. "You're not just a scared little girl," Anna said firmly.
"You aren't ugly and stupid, either," Elsa replied. She pointed at her bad leg, which was all weak, limp, and floppy without her brace, and gave her sister a lopsided smile. "That's ugly and stupid. I can say that 'cause it's mine."
Anna just shook her head. "Looks just like it did before you got hurt, you stinker! Really. If I didn't know what happened, I'd think it worked fine." Elsa shouldn't pick on herself. It's not like I have a lot of room to talk after what I said, but still. "And…did you seriously make a new brace out of ice?! That's cool-pun intended!"
Elsa gave her sister a lopsided smile. "Yes I did…it's more comfortable and I can walk a bit better," she explained. "Anna…why did you call yourself ugly and stupid?" Elsa asked quietly. "You say a lot of nonsense when you're angry, but it usually has a tiny bit of truth to it. Like I'm not 'just a scared little girl', but I am sometimes. You do spoil me, but I don't take you for granted. At least I hope I don't…anyways, things like that." And why did you call yourself a useless spare?! I'd never be able to take care of Arendelle properly without you.
Anna scowled. "Well, I don't exactly think I'm ugly and stupid, but I do think you're way prettier and smarter. That's why I thought Kristoff might've dumped me for you. And he's obsessed with ice, and you can create it for goodness sakes."
Elsa put her own arms around her little sister and gave her a comforting squeeze. How could Anna possibly think that?! Anna is pretty. I'm just...strange. Okay-looking, I suppose, but strange. I bet anyone would think there's something odd about me even if they had no idea I had ice powers. "At least you don't have weird platinum hair that makes you stick out wherever you go," she teased. "And I really, really don't think Kristoff randomly likes me because I can create ice. He's just obsessed with ice itself. I'd expect him to kiss my ice palace a hundred times over than me myself. And I bet he thinks I'm bossy and prissy."
"Bossy yes. Prissy no," Kristoff interjected. "Anna, I love you. Not Elsa. I mean, I care what happens to her, I like her as an older sister; but I don't love her the way I do you. All right?" Kristoff's cheeks were red in embarrassment at his outright admission of love for the princess.
"You don't wanna kiss Elsa?" Anna asked.
Elsa couldn't hold back her giggles. "Anna, I don't think he would want to kiss me anyway, even if he wasn't engaged to you. I don't know how to kiss anyone," she announced.
Ideas began flying through Anna's head; if her big sister had never been kissed, then she would have to fix that, wouldn't she? She could find some nice boy in Arendelle that would be just perfect for Elsa, couldn't she? "No one's ever kissed you, Elsa?" Anna asked.
"Sure, Drífa gave me lots of slobbery dog kisses. Mama gave me good-night kisses when I was little, too. Shall I go on?" Elsa's eyes sparkled with amusement; she knew quite well those kisses were not what Anna meant.
"Stinker! That's not what I meant, and you know it! I mean a boy," Anna clarified. Elsa is funny. Although she does have a point…that means the term 'first kiss' isn't exactly accurate. It should be 'first romantic kiss'.
Elsa just stared at her sister. "Anna, do you really think I would let some random boy kiss me? You know I wouldn't. And don't get any ideas! I don't want a date of any kind. If I ever do decide I like someone, I'll send him packing anyway because I won't have someone meddling with Arendelle's government, even if he is just a king consort. Just…no," she said firmly.
"And no, Anna, I don't and will not ever want to kiss Elsa," Kristoff assured her. "A brother probably wouldn't kiss his sister, at least not after they're, like, really little kids. And a sister is what Elsa seems like to me."
Anna hopped up and gave Kristoff a hug. "Sorry I got all crazy mad. Can I have a kiss? Pretty please?"
Elsa made a face but stayed put and resisted the urge to interfere. I still don't like the idea of anyone kissing my little sister. Or Anna being engaged, for that matter. But at least she's happy again. What a crazy misunderstanding.