Chapter 28
~ Garden of Fears ~
Anna smiled looking up at Elsa, the two girls were standing in the Garden. Although everything was mostly dead this time of year spring was coming and tiny bits of green peeked through the frost on the ground. "You know Erynn likes you Elsa." Anna nudged her softly, "He wants to get to know you better, you're supposed to be married and you have barely spoken."
The Queen turned to her younger sister. Smiling slightly she knew Anna was right, but she had her reasons for avoiding the Prince. "You know I'm nervous, I'm not exactly social... I just don't mix well with people." Elsa shrugged.
Anna gave her a disappointed glance, and spoke in a quiet tone almost a whisper. "Is that because you like being alone? Or is it because you're afraid of your magic?" The Princess questioned. Elsa stared at her for quite a long time without speaking. She looked quite melancholy, her face seemed especially pale today. "Elsa?" Anna questioned for a second time.
"Anna, I don't want to get close to anyone, everyone I've gotten close to I've lost." Elsa breathed out sadly. "Our parents, I nearly lost you... Twice, and Prince Erynn as nice as he seems." Elsa paused to draw a deep breath. "I don't want to have to lose him too." The Queen looked sadly down at the ground and shook her head ever so slightly. "I fear being alone, more than anything. It reminds me of when father locked me away. Insisted I should learn to conceal my powers before I could come out again... He kept me from you and I was all alone." Elsa was crying softly in front of her sister. Anna embraced her tightly and listened to her speak. "Anna, I can't have that feeling again. I don't want to lose anyone, not if I don't have too."
"Oh Elsa, you're not going to lose me, or Erynn or anyone else you meet. If you let the fear of losing people get to you, you're never going to meet new people, make new friends... " Anna said in a sing song type voice. Attempting to cheer up her sister.
"Good morning Princess Anna, Queen Elsa." The Prince came walking out of the castle doors and strolling into the frozen gardens. "You both look lovely." he stated gazing upon the two girls, after a moment he noticed Elsa trying to conceal her tears. "My Queen, is there something troubling you?" Erynn inquired walking closer to the distressed Queen.
"No, No I'm perfectly fine, Thank you Erynn." Elsa dried her tears and looked over to him. He seemed incredibly concerned for her. "I'm just worried." She confessed after a couple moments of silence. "About being alone, through the years it's been a great fear of mine. To not have someone by my side, for those I love to be taken from me."
"You won't be alone Elsa, you have your sister and now you have me." He gazed into her eyes and smiled. "I will never hurt you or leave you. Elsa, I want to be here with you forever."
Elsa looked away. "Erynn you're awfully sweet but, I think it's going to take longer for me to settle into a relationship. I'm, under a lot of stress. I'm confused and nervous about everything that needs to be done."
"Of course." the Prince nodded looking disappointed. As Elsa pulled away from him and left. Now he stood by Anna watching as the Queen returned to her castle. The large doors leading inside opened for her soon she disappeared entirely.
"She will come around." Anna spoke "Elsa is dealing with some personal issues right now. She's got quite in inner conflict going on. I've spoken with her on numerous occasions but I think what she really needs is time to rest and think these things through."
"Anna?" Erynn questioned. "Do you think she feels for me as I do for her?"
"Elsa's always been afraid to let people into her life, but you're the first person outside myself she's really taken an interest into speaking to. I mean shes even told you her fear of being alone... Usually she doesn't like to speak about it."
"I like her Anna, at first I wasn't sure about this arranged marriage but, your sister. She's different, she's not full of herself or cruel."
"I know." Anna replied. "But her fears keep her from so many things her magic keeps her from so many things. Elsa is so afraid she's going to hurt someone, I believe she's starting to come to terms with her powers."
Prince Erynn sighed deeply. "We have a meeting today, to discuss the plans for finding the people who attacked you and your sister. Something must be done before we move further with anything else. The attackers have been the reason trade has been restricted with Arendelle as soon as we get the problem solved we can start gathering resources. I'm afraid what I've brought may only last a few months."
"You know that's going to stress my sister out even more." Anna told him.
"I know but the faster we get the problem solved the more relived Elsa will be I hate to see her in such pain. It's terrible one person should not have to deal with this much. I'm impressed she has done so well with the kingdom."
"she worked a lot before the attacks I rarely got to spend time with her she was so busy, then she got sick and I took over. I never saw her much, I wanted to be there for her... She was dying Erynn."
"Royal life isn't how you'd expected it to be?"
"No, that's just the thing, it's exactly how I expected it to be... I know how Elsa feels right now, and I wish I could help her."
"You said Elsa is strong Anna, she's going to be just fine."
Anna bit her lip and thought a moment she was so consumed with thoughts of how her sister was doing. "She has so many meetings now, preparations, precautions... It's stressing her out. I haven't seen her eat in such a long time, she hides herself away in her study and I don't think it's doing her any good."
The Prince sighed. "I have rarely seen her since I arrived. We've barely spoken, but I'm hoping once we get the attacks under control and find out who is behind them, she might settle down a little. I know what you mean, I can tell your sister isn't comfortable."
Anna smiled. "You're very kind Erynn, I was not sure what to expect when they sent someone here. Elsa was sure it would be terrible... She's never had any interest in sharing a life with someone."
"She did it for you." Erynn sighed softly looking forwards. "She was concerned about you, Arendelle was running so low on resources and you had only just returned from being imprisoned."
"Who told you that?" Anna asked. "Elsa never told me that, she always said she did it because she had too, she was scared of what would happen if she had not agreed."
The Prince shook his head. "She told me, she said that she would do anything for you. Elsa feels terrible about what happened to you and she is really trying to keep you safe."
"How do you know all this?" Anna demanded.
"We met for a while to discuss things. Priorities, plans, anything involving the alliance between our kingdoms."
"She told you a lot, she must feel comfortable around you. Either that or she doesn't really know who to turn to." The Princess sighed walking towards the castle with the Prince at her side. "I'm surprised she trusts you Erynn with what happened last year. Your brother left me to die and tried to kill my sister."
Erynn gave Anna a sympathetic look and the two stopped walking. "Not everyone is going to hurt you Anna, I will fight with you and Elsa. I am not like my brother, everything will be alright. My men have been searching for the people who attacked you and they aren't going to stop until they do." He assured the Princess.
"What about Elsa, you're supposed to be married to her. Thats why the king and Queen agreed to send help. When is that happening." Anna inquired.
"Whenever she wants, It seems to me she's the type that takes a while to get to know people. You've told me she was alone most her life... It's terrible what happened to her really I'm not surprised she's afraid of being alone but at the same time afraid of what others think of her."
Hans stood at the top of the North Mountain looking down at Arendelle. "Elsa and Anna are now accompanied by my brother. They will be stronger now. We must drive the sisters out of the castle" He looked over to the deep voiced man, they called him Archer. He had been the one to find the Princess in the forest, the right hand man of Hans' army trying to invade Arendelle.
Archer stood still beside the former prince. "The Queen and Princess are useless without one another. We already tried killing one, it would've worked to if that annoying Princess never found her."
"The only reason Elsa would ever give up is if we threatened Anna, yes. We already have that much, the only thing we need now is a way to separate them. We are going to have to capture the princess again, but this time we do not make the foolish mistake of waiting so long. Elsa either agrees right away or Anna dies." Hans walked away from the edge of the mountain and returned to the group that was gathered a few feet away. He began taking a large breath.
"The Princess must be captured, we must threaten Queen Elsa in order to take the Kingdom as ours, we must find a way in so that we can carry out our plans."
A blonde man stood and walked towards him. "There are many ways of getting what we want it depends if you are willing to lose men over the cause. It's foolish to wait for the Queen to give a formal address to the kingdom. I say we take the castle by storm, force our way in. With any luck we can force the sisters out and be ready to capture them when they try and leave."
Hans pondered the thought for a moment. "Perfect, we carry out the plan in three days that should give us enough time to prepare weapons and exactly pinpoint the locations we want to attack from." he began walking around the camp that was set up. Giving orders before ducking into a large tent with a maps sitting on a table. One of the entire kingdom another of the castle.
He looked around at the select few men who stood close to him. "By this time in three days. Arendelle is ours."
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