Chapter 29 (Conclusion Part 2)

Elsa stood nervously in front of a room filled with seated people. Despite the large number of people around her, she felt alone. Elsa scanned the sea of faces staring up at her in awe and felt like running away from everyone's eyes. But when she turned to her side, Anna was standing close by and smiling proudly. A familiar warmth chased away her anxiety and Elsa remained in her spot.

Captain Arthur stood before her with tired eyes from days of mourning the loss of his son, Christian. Elsa found it difficult to look in his eyes as he spoke.

"Queen Elsa, the people of Arendelle owe you a great debt. You saved numerous lives the night our Kingdom was attacked from a threat. And… let us not forget the ones we lost…" Captain Arthur paused, and swallowed the threat of tears wanting to burst forth.

Elsa watched the hardened Captain of the Guard turn into a fragile man as he raised a clenched fist to his mouth. Why am I being honored? Elsa thought, genuinely confused at the commotion over her. I couldn't have done any of this without everyone's help – Anna, Kristoff, the Royal Guard… Christian.

Elsa caught Captain Arthur's eye as he continued to struggle with a terrible inner turmoil and she whispered, "I'm… so sorry, Captain Arthur." The words were only a small fraction of what she truly wanted to tell him.

Captain Arthur gave her a weak crooked smile, but Elsa could still see the immense pain reflected in eyes identical to Christian's.

"You did what you had to do, my Queen. There is no need to apologize," Captain Arthur softly said, his voice cracking. He then coughed as he readjusted his stance and addressed the crowd again. "The people of Arendelle are proud to bestow upon you the sword of the late King, your father, as a symbol of the respect the Royal Guard and the citizens of Arendelle have for their heroine, their Queen." Captain Arthur retrieved the sheathed sword hanging behind him and knelt down to raise the sword as an offering.

Elsa's eyes widened at the object glistening in Captain Arthur's hands. She hadn't seen the sword in years and thought it had been lost along with her father. The sword, had always rattled against her father's hip as he walked about the castle making him look like a hero you'd only read about in fairytales. He was never without the weapon for it represented his skill as a swordsman, the respect the Royal Guard had for him, and it symbolized his power as the figurehead as the King of Arendelle. She admired her father from afar and she would envy him for his strength – she had always hoped she would one day grow up to be like him.

Elsa stared at the sword presented to her laying atop Captain Arthur's upturned palms, his head was bowed in a gesture of utmost respect.

Elsa felt she didn't deserve to hold her father's prized sword, but as she turned to her left, Anna's beaming face gave her the will to accept the precious gift. Tears sparkled in Anna's eyes as she mouthed, "You deserve it, Elsa."

Elsa turned back around and paused. She reached out a shaky hand, no longer gloved, and grasped the golden hilt of the sword, it was heavier than it looked and cold, but eventually warmed under Elsa's touch.

She lifted it up gingerly and stared sadly at the large ruby on the hilt as the stone glittered under the sunlight. It was beautiful. The room exploded in applause as Elsa remained speechless and lost in memories of her father and mother. She missed them terribly.

Elsa was brought out of her stupor from a squeeze on her shoulder. She turned to see Anna with tears streaking down her cheeks.

"I'm so proud of you, Elsa," Anna said, her voice hushed.

Elsa looked at Anna's red hair and saw their father's image faintly reflected through Anna's presence. Elsa moved in to hug Anna and buried her face in the younger girl's shoulder. The room burst into even louder applause as they embraced. Everyone in the room took the moment to acknowledge all they had lost, but also, all they had gained.

The sun shone down gently on Elsa and warmed her skin as she sat on the bench in their garden. She stared silently at the newly commissioned statue beside her parents'. The soft eyes of the statue were precisely polished to depict the gentleness once in Christian's eyes. He was posed in a soldier's stance, poised and resolute. A massive amount of flowers from countless visitors littered the base of Christian's statue. An etched plaque gleamed at the bottom of the marble stone. 'In honor of Christian who made the ultimate sacrifice for the Kingdom of Arendelle. May he rest in the Heavens with the Angels for he was truly one on earth.'

Elsa read the words as a warm breeze swept by her and she knew spring was right around the corner. Elsa looked at the eerie likeness of the statue and she felt a heavy burden press upon her heart. "I hope you can forgive me." She looked up towards the sky as the clouds rolled lazily across the sun. Elsa closed her eyes with her face still upturned as she hoped Christian could hear her.

"I'm sure he does."

Elsa turned around to see Anna step out from behind the large hedge, wearing a flowery dress which matched the theme of spring – it made her look delicate and breathtakingly beautiful.

"Anna…" Elsa started to get up, but Anna placed a hand atop Elsa's shoulder to stop her.

Anna smiled and sat beside Elsa on the bench. "I was looking all over for you."

Elsa looked down and her eyes fell upon her father's sword now firmly attached to the belt strapped around her waist. The sword pressed against her with its weight and Elsa smiled sadly.

"Do you really think they are in a better place?" Elsa said, and stared at the statues of Christian and their parents.

Anna looked at Elsa's sad expression and then at the statues. They stayed silent and observed the figures of the people no longer with them.

"What do you think, Elsa?" Anna said, genuinely wanting to know Elsa's answer.

Elsa remembered her dream of Christian and paused to come up with a response. As she mused, she stared at the sad, but kind eyes of Christian's statue and then at the familiar eyes of her parents. Elsa was flooded with fond and precious memories of the three people she would never ever forget as long as she lived.

"I think they are truly alive," Elsa whispered, and looked at Anna's soft smile.

Elsa shifted closer towards Anna and kissed her warm cheek. Anna sighed happily and giggled at the brush of Elsa's lips against her skin.

"I think so too," Anna replied, and pressed her forehead against Elsa's.

They reveled in one another's presence for a long moment as another warm breeze encircled their bodies.

Elsa was happy. Truly happy. A feeling she hadn't felt in so long. "I love you, Anna," Elsa softly said as their lips barely touched. She felt Anna's lips upturn into a smile.

"Elsa, I love you too. I really do," Anna reciprocated, her warm breath tickled Elsa's bottom lip.

"Oh, just kiss already!"

Elsa and Anna simultaneously snapped out of their little world to see Olaf standing before them with his little flurry cloud snowing continuously over his head. Marshmallow and Sergei were also peeking over the tall maze with similar clouds hanging over their heads. Their clouds were much larger than Olaf's and Sergei's cloud oddly thundered at times.

"Go on! Kiss! That's how all fairytales end!" Olaf urged, along with affirmative grunts from Marshmallow.

"Excuse me while I go throw up an avalanche," Sergei growled, and turned away to dry heave.

Elsa raised an eyebrow at her strange creations as Anna giggled at Sergei still dry heaving with Marshmallow trying to stop him.

Anna wiped away a tear from laughing too much as Elsa continued to stare blissfully at Anna's beauty.

Anna stopped and felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of Elsa smiling happily at her.

"Well, my Princess. Shall we end this fairytale the correct way?" Elsa said, and smirked shyly.

Anna smiled back and brought her face close to Elsa's. "I'm so happy you're with me," Anna simply stated, and placed her hand on Elsa's.

"I will always be with you," Elsa swore, as she clasped tightly on Anna's hand. Elsa bridged the gap between them and pressed her lips to Anna's to kiss her firmly and lovingly.

"Marshmallow! Sergei! Stop fighting! Look! They're kissing!" They heard Olaf cheer.

"So what? I'll be impressed when they scissor in front of me," Sergei's gruff voice interrupted Olaf's jolly one.

Elsa and Anna lips broke contact when they both burst into a fit of laughter.

The end.