The Ice Behind Bars

Chapter XXXIII: Secrets

Aphrodite followed Flynn as fast as she could. Please be okay! Please be okay! She hoped while she ran. When they turned around a corner, she realized that they were headed to Elsa's room, and when she saw the large crowd at the bedroom door and the healers coming in and out, her stomach turned to knots and she knew that thing were really bad. When they arrived she gave everybody a confused and shocked look since every single person was covered in food.

Before she could rush in without thinking, Flynn held her from her arm. "What!?" She snapped at him, adrenaline rushing in her veins.

Flynn winced at her tone, but he understood that the poor woman was only scared for her daughter. "Hood." He said and pointed at her head.

Her eyes widened and she quickly put on the hood and smiled apologetically at Flynn. "Right… Sorry." She said and quickly started pushing everyone away so she could get inside.

Flynn was taking aback since she never… EVER smiled at him or even apologized. That's new… He thought while following her into the room. Looks like Elsa did give a change in this fort.

They entered the room to find Elsa laying on the bed in pain and Anna at her side, stroking the platinum hair so she could calm her. Healer stood in the room just staring at Elsa in worry and not doing anything. Anna lifted her head and her face turned utterly relieved when she saw her mother, "Mum!"

"Anna!... What happened!? And-" Aphrodite said as she approached the bed but stopped mid-sentence, "Seriously, why the hell are you all covered in food!?" She yelled while looking at Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel and the others, but before she could continue on them, she turned to the healers with an angry face, "And what is the meaning of this?! You should have helped Elsa already!" She snarled at them.

The healers cowered under her majestic voice, "L-Leanna… We couldn't! S-She wouldn't let anyone of us approach her!" One of the healers defended while pointing at Elsa.

Aphrodite's face turned worried again. She turned to Elsa and approach her slowly.

Elsa eyed her warily and felt very tensed while still clutching her pained shoulder.

"I-It's her shoulder!" Anna said nervously, "W-We… Were having… A… Food fight?" Anna said awkwardly as she winced and cowered, feeling utterly guilty and knew she was about to unleash her mother's wrath.

Aphrodite sat at the side of the bed and everyone were surprised since Elsa did look at her fearfully but she allowed her to approach and sit next to her easily.

Aphrodite saw Elsa's hand on her shoulder and she couldn't see anything of how bad the injury was. She turned her head, dumbfounded in silence at Anna. "Food fight." Aphrodite flatly said in disbelief.

Anna laughed awkwardly a bit, "Y-Yeah…" She groaned in frustration and threw her hands in the air in exasperation, "Look! We were just eating and all of a sudden I was covered in meat that Kristoff threw at me and-"

"So Kristoff started this!?" Aphrodite yelled angrily and Kristoff hid behind Rapunzel.

"NO! Nononono! It was me! I-I think it was just an accident! And yet…" She suddenly started waving her hands and started rambling really fast without even taking a breath, "I threw food at him and it ended up hitting Jack then Jack tried to throw food at me but it ended up hitting Maya and we all started a food fight, throwing food around and then Aiden threw a watermelon and Elsa tried to run away from me as I stuffed her face with broccoli and then I tried to follow her but I slipped on a fish and smashed into Rapunzel and some other people along the way and we all ended up on top of Elsa. PHEEEEW!" She inhaled loudly and shrunk in her seat under her mother's wide and shocked eyes.

Aphrodite's eye twitched as she stared with wide eyes and a mouth agape at her younger daughter. Everyone in the room gulped and started backing away, knowing that this wouldn't end up without facing her wrath.

Aphrodite took every fiber of her willpower not to explode from rage. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists, trying to calm herself down and counted to ten in her mind.

Anna gulped seeing her like that and Elsa watched her in confusion.

Aphrodite finally opened her eyes and glared at her daughter, "You." She pointed at Anna, "Are in a very big trouble, young lady." She said through gritted teeth, "You too!" She said, still looking at Anna but knew that the Rapunzel, Kristoff and the other thieves were tiptoeing their way out without her knowing. Yet clearly she noticed them. "You are all to go wash yourselves and wait for me outside without a word." She turned to the door way so she could look at the other guild members with the most intimidating face, "All of you!" She yelled pointing at them all.

Everyone outside ran randomly like panicking chickens, bumping into each other along the way, so they could oblige her command.

She turned to Elsa and her face softened, "It's alright. I just need to see it first." She told her with a gentle voice and a soft smile.

Elsa wasn't sure if she should have been scared or comforted but she slowly nodded.

Aphrodite's face turned stern again, "Everyone get out, right now." She told everyone in the room and they all quickly scurried off. "Leave your kit." She told the healers and they obligated.

Anna didn't want to leave Elsa, so she crossed her arms and sat stubbornly on her seat, "I'm staying here." She said with a childish angry pout.

Aphrodite glared at her and crossed her arms too, "Get out… and I'll will be talking to all of you after I'm finished with Elsa for all the food your reckless behaviors have wasted." She warned.

Anna's head-strong personality challenged her mother's stare with her own. After ten seconds of silence, Anna had it and her face turned afraid. "Okay, okay, okay!" She quickly got up to run away from her mother's intimidating face, "Elsa, my mum will help you, okay? Don't worry I'll be just outside." She reassured her and actually received a nod from Elsa that wasn't so hesitant.

After everyone was out, Anna gave the two a smile and closed the door behind her, leaving a mother and a daughter aware of each other's presence.

Aphrodite took a deep and shaky breath before she turned to Elsa. "It's okay... I uh... Just need to see if it's broken." She informed and moved to remove Elsa's hand off her shoulder with the most delicate touch.

Elsa watched her every move carefully.

Aphrodite removed Elsa's hand and slid the dress then winced at the sight. Elsa's shoulder had a purple-red color and was swollen. Pull yourself together… Don't break in front of her! Aphrodite encouraged herself since she wanted to gasp or cry or do anything to relieve her bottled up worried and sorrowful emotions for her daughter. "We need to remove your dirty dress now so I can get a better look." She informed and Elsa nodded again, not saying any word… or not daring to, since she clearly saw how everyone was afraid of the woman in front of her. But why? The woman didn't seem that intimidating at all. She was gentle and very calm to her, save for the past and first encounter.

Aphrodite then helped her remove her dirty and stained dress off, revealing the cuts, scars and bandages exposed for Aphrodite to be mocked with. Elsa almost had her entire body covered in bandages. Her torso was covered by bandages for her damaged back and the burned wound on her stomach, so did her right thigh and her left leg, and of course her left broken arm. Mocking was an understatement for Aphrodite. Those bandages were healing her daughter but were tormenting the queen.

"Can you move it?" Aphrodite asked.

Elsa tried to moved her shoulder a bit but she winced and quickly stopped.

"Too painful?" Aphrodite asked worriedly.

Elsa nodded in approval as she tried to forget the burning pain. Something she's been doing for fifteen years.

The mother took a deep breath before she leaned closer to Elsa and held her hands in front of her daughter's shoulder, "I need to sense if there's any broken bones… You might feel a bit of pain, alright dear?" She asked softly.

Elsa bit her lip worriedly and squeezed her hands shut before she hesitantly nodded.

Aphrodite placed her hands at the swollen shoulder to try and examine or feel if it was broken.

Elsa squeezed her eyes shut and tried to stifle a yelp, but failed.

"It's alright, it's alright!… You're a strong girl. You can do it. Just give me two more minutes." Aphrodite encouraged with a sympathetic and apologetic smile but Elsa was gritting her teeth hard.

Aphrodite removed her hands with a sympathetic look and turned to grab a rolled piece of cloth from her medical kit. "Here… I need you to bite on this. I need to squeeze a bit so I can determine where the fracture is." She held her hand up with the piece of cloth.

Elsa was burning worries inside her. More Pain? Why was the latter following her everywhere?! She stared at the piece of cloth in the woman's hand before she hesitantly took it and did as she was told, biting down on it.

Aphrodite needed her own piece of cloth to try and wipe away her tears before they even formed. Luckily, she had her sleeve. She placed her hands on Elsa's shoulder again, "Okay… Are you ready? I swear I'll try my best not to make it hurt much." She promised and Elsa quickly nodded in approval, wanting for all this to end already.

Aphrodite then had to squeeze her fingers on Elsa's swollen shoulder and Elsa entire body sweated and stiffened as she hunched forward, gripped the bed sheets hard and was grateful for the piece of cloth in her mouth since she was biting on it really hard, letting out muffled yelps and cries and squeezing her eyes shut. Oh God! oh God! oh God! Elsa prayed for it to end.

The Queen quickly moved her fingers around Elsa's shoulder, trying to determine the source of the swelling.

"Just... a little bit more." Aphrodite said and Elsa only whimpered loudly behind the piece of cloth.

After a moment, Aphrodite finally was done and she removed her hands and leaned back, feeling utterly relieved. "It's not broken." She stated with a relieved and happy breath, "It's just a contusion." She informed. But when she saw Elsa still panting, trying to take her breath again after this agonizing feeling and sweat rolling down on her forehead-before the queen could stop herself as if out of habit-Aphrodite leaned forward and brushed Elsa's hair off her face, "That's my good girl." She said fondly, caressing Elsa's side of her face and praising her daughter's courage for staying still. She then quickly moved to gently rub a remedy on the swollen shoulder before she started to wrap it with a bandage.

Elsa stopped panting when she heard the word My and actually felt a good tug to her heart… and she actually loved it? That's how her deceased mother used to call her. At the delicate, gentle and soothing touch on her face, she dazedly opened her eyes and slowly turned her head to look at the woman in surprise. Then with a shaking hand, removed the piece of cloth from her mouth.

Aphrodite was actually happy. She had a wide smile on her face as she silently bandaged Elsa, keeping her hooded head a bit low. She remembered when she bandaged Elsa's hand when she was nothing but a tiny little girl, and how she used to kiss her pain goodbye so she could make her feel better. But this time, a mother's kiss wouldn't be enough to get rid of such a pain.

All of these years, only memories had kept Elsa near her, and in silent moment, she'd imagine that her little Elsa was sitting next to her, watching her Mama work just like she always had. But she wasn't imagining now, her Elsa was really sitting next to her.

Elsa was staring at that hooded face for what seemed like forever. She's helping me. She thought to herself. Why? She could see how Leanna was smiling and she couldn't feel but warm-hearted at that. And there she was, without even knowing, smiling fondly and thankfully back.

Aphrodite finished with Elsa's shoulder and leaned back with a sigh of relief, "There. That's better." It took every fiber of willpower for her not kiss her daughter's shoulder like she used to when Elsa had hurt herself when she was little. She looked up and smiled directly at Elsa. God! If only she could hug her. The old bandages caught her eyes and they were either stained with food or dried blood. "Let me help you remove these, then you can go wash yourself up." She said looking at Elsa's stained body and dirty hair.

Elsa quickly snapped to attention and didn't realize that she was staring. "Oh!... Y-Yes, okay." She awkwardly said and Aphrodite had to stifle a giggle.

Elsa blushed hardly in embarrassment and wanted to bury her face in her hands.

The mother shook her head in amusement before she first helped her remove the bandages on her thigh and leg, and realized that the wounds were much better and no more need for new bandages. She then helped Elsa carefully sit on the bedside so that Aphrodite could sit behind her and remove the bandages around her torso. "Come on… Easy." Aphrodite said while helping her, being careful not to touch her injured shoulder.

Elsa sat up with a groan of pain and then relaxed. Aphrodite then handed her a blanket so she could cover herself up and sat behind her and began her work.

The awkward silence was killing both of the two. Aphrodite needed to say something… Anything at all! But she felt lost for words for the first time in her life. "U-Uhm…" She started awkwardly while busying herself by unwrapping the bandage off of Elsa's torso. "Forgive Anna's… Energetic behavior. Sometimes she doesn't think before she acts. And well… You saw what happened."

Elsa gulped and felt she had to reply. "I-It's okay." She said, "She's fine, really." She replied, not wanting Anna to have any trouble with her mother. She then smiled, remembering Anna's crazy and funny behavior.

Aphrodite smiled and nodded, "I'm happy that you two are getting along." She honestly confessed.

"She's…" Elsa trailed off with a smile, "She's really kind to me." She paused then, "It's been a while since I… Since someone treated me like that." She lowered her head sadly and sighed, remembering her dead family.

Aphrodite was holding herself as much as she could while slowly unwrapping the bandage. She wanted to know more about what her daughter was thinking. She remembered how many times Elsa had lost control of her powers in the fort. She furrowed her eyebrows in wonder, "And your powers? Didn't you use them to-"

"NO!" Elsa suddenly snapped with wide fearful eyes. Use them? Oh heck no! Her father would kill her. She shook her head quickly, "I shouldn't... I have to... C-Conceal, conceal… Don't freeze… Don't freeze!" She whispered to herself and was clearly lost in thoughts.

Conceal?! Aphrodite thought.

The room turned really cold and barely visible frost was forming on the bed. Elsa saw it though and gasped. "No, no, no… Concealconcealconceal! Don't feel… Don't feel…" Elsa squeezed her hands to her chest and closed her eyes, rocking herself lightly on the bed.

What…? Aphrodite was really shocked and she stopped unwrapping the bandage after hearing her daughter say 'Don't feel.'

"I can't!" Elsa shouted as she regained her focus again, "I-I'm not allowed to! It's a curse! It's d-dangerous! It hurt people! And it's the reason I was l-locked away a-a-and-"

"Hey, calm down! I was just asking." Aphrodite softly said with a worried and surprised face. It was quite a shock for her. Elsa just reacted as if the mere sound of the word 'Powers' could turn her fearful. Seeing and knowing that Elsa feared and hated her powers so much was definitely unexpected. When Elsa was little, she used to love her powers and secretly play with them with her little sister. She also used to be proud and excited to show her Mama how she could control them and create snowmen for her.

And after all those years, Elsa saw her powers as a fatal curse, and there was no doubt who's responsible for this. Aphrodite really wanted to choke her husband. Look what you've done to her… She thought angrily and started to realize things. No wonder why she's changed so much! She remembered how Elsa was once fearless and happy, and how she was now. You've let her fear her powers!? They were a part of her own soul! You've destroyed who she is!

"No one had ever found you?!" Aphrodite suddenly asked.

Elsa have calmed down a bit. She shook her head, "No…" She sighed, "The only person kind to me back there… Was Kai."

Aphrodite's eyes shot wide, "K-Kai is locked up!?" She asked shocked and sounded as if she knew the man, in which she did. "I-I mean… Who's Kai?" She asked awkwardly again and mentally facepalmed.

Luckily, Elsa didn't think about it. She was busy forgetting the stinging pain on her shoulder. She winced when she felt her shoulder sting, then relaxed again. "H-He was one of the royal servants. He… He was really good to me." She said and felt that she terribly missed him. I hope you're okay, Kai… Please be okay. "He didn't let me forget my name when… P-Papa said that I don't deserve one." She said sadly and sighed.

Aphrodite's hands froze for a second and she grimaced hardly on that. She then forced herself to continue. Don't break… Don't break…

Elsa felt really relaxed with this woman that she didn't realize she was having a normal conversation with her. "He also used to give me his food when it wasn't even my turn." She said as if the word Turn in eating food was casual.

Don't break… Aphrodite couldn't believe that there were turns for food when Elsa was back in the cellar. She looked at how much Elsa was skinny and she concluded that Jamie didn't even use to feed her properly and that made her shiver as she tried with all her might to get a hold of herself. Bastard… Bastard… Bastard! She cursed her husband over and over while keeping her mouth shut as much as she could. Although, she felt a whole wave of remorse and pride for Kai. He was there for her daughter when she wasn't. She suddenly bit her lip and had one question that would change everything right this second, "What… What about your mother?" She dared ask as she got back to unwrapping the bandage and her heart raced and raced and raced for a desperate answer.

At that Elsa's body tensed all over and Aphrodite did notice it. Elsa's eyes widened a bit and then her hands clenched tight. She shut her eyes and held back her tears. "I-I… I don't know. I-I can't talk about it." She quickly said, trying her best to avoid this question. Mama… Oh god… She felt tears starting to form. I'm so sorry!... Please forgive me! I never meant to hurt you! I swear! I swear I never meant to hurt you!

Aphrodite felt literally heartbroken on that. It was clear that her daughter didn't want to hear anything about her. She doesn't wanna talk about me… She hates me! How can I ever blame her!? She has every right to!Aphrodite sighed and some tears were already shed so she quickly wiped them away and didn't realize that Elsa was doing the same to herself, and none noticed the other's sorrowful look and the aching pain in their hearts.

"Do-…" Elsa suddenly started again with a quivering voice, "D-Do you think I'm a monster?" She just wanted to know if Leanna really did mean what she called her. She didn't know why this woman's opinion was so important but she just had to know.

Aphrodite looked up in surprise and stared at Elsa' back of her head, since Elsa still had her back to her mother. "No…" She whispered before she comprehended what Elsa really asked and her eyes widened, "No!" She said much louder, "N-No, no, no! God, no! Of course not! E-Elsa, I know what I said before but… I-I swear to you I didn't mean it to you! I was just angry at your…" She paused and sighed, "Father." My husband.

Elsa's head shot up in confusion, "Really?!" She asked, her eyes still looking forward.

"Yes, Yes!" Aphrodite said while removing the bandage and she finally had only one layer left to unwrap off of Elsa's back, "Of course I didn't mean it at you! I'm sorry I said it to you. It was wrong from me… A-And like I said, It was only meant for your fa-" She suddenly stopped when Elsa's back was revealed to her… up close.

Aphrodite's tears were streaming now. Her mouth was slightly open and her hand hovered above the arbitrary-scattered lines that flawed her daughter's back. While feeling utterly shocked, her slender and gentle finger brushed one of the longest and newest lines that still had its dark red and brownish color and was scarring Elsa's back from between her shoulders and all the way down to her lower back. What the hell did you do…? She thought to her husband in shock.

Elsa made a confused face when Leanna stopped mid-sentence. She felt Leanna's hand hovering over her back before it gently brushed it. Elsa hissed a bit in pain since the lashes still stung if touched.

Aphrodite quickly withdrew her hand and placed it at her mouth to squeeze it shut, avoiding a sob.

She knew it. Those lashes were going to leave hideous marks, but the worst thing was that they were in addition to the old ones. Don't break! Don't break! Don't break! But oh she did.

Aphrodite let out a sob of despair and quickly slapped her mouth. When Elsa's eyes widened and she turned to face the sudden sorrowful Leanna, Aphrodite quickly buried her face in her hands and cried, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me, Elsa! I know I'm stupid for what I did to you! I made the most awful mistake and then… L-Look what happened to you!" She would never forgive herself for abandoning Elsa.

Okay. Elsa was literally caught off guard by that. She was really confused but she also felt sad for her that it broke her heart. "L-Leanna?" She said while looking around urgently to try and find a way to calm the crying woman down.

"I know you hate me, Elsa! I know! But please believe me I had no choice!" Aphrodite wailed again and started shaking her head angrily at herself.

Hate you?! Elsa thought. She never knew that this woman felt so regretful for calling her a monster. Leanna was acting as if she did the biggest mistake of her life. "W-Wait...Uhm…" Elsa started and shook the woman from her shoulder awkwardly, "I-I forgive you." She said and tried to smile at the woman but it was all failing.

Aphrodite felt so woeful and much more guiltier since her daughter was so nice and kind yet oblivious to the real lie she was living. I love you so much that it hurts my soul, Elsa! You're even trying to forgive me! You do not deserve to live a lie!... But I can't! I can't! She started to cry uncontrollably now. Her wounded heart had so many pains that they seemed so real and since the day she has lost her little Elsa, there was just too much pain that time couldn't erase. That face… That sorrowful and pained face of her daughter had haunted her dreams, begging and pleading for help. And those eyes? God, those cyan eyes had crushed her soul every time she had woken up from her dreams. The day she received the news to Elsa's death was Hell itself. She had tried so hard to tell herself that her daughter was gone. Dead. That she was never going to see her again. But now, that was proved wrong.

And there was a lot of things that needed to be proved wrong.

Elsa was now more than shocked. Wasn't the stern Leanna supposed to be fearless and cold? She felt a lump in her throat. Wait, what?! Was she crying too?! Elsa brought a hand to her cheek and then looked at her gloved finger to see a tiny wet spot. Okay, that was really weird for her. Why was she feeling so sorrowful when this woman was? "P-Please don't cry…" Elsa tried to say again. "I uh… I-I…" She bit her lip hard and wanted to rip her hair out because of the nervousness and eagerness she was feeling at the same time.

"I'm so sorry." Aphrodite whispered slowly.

Elsa smiled weakly and leaned forward, wrapping her arms carefully around her unknowingly crying Mama and pulled her closer. Warm hugs always made people feel better, right? She had learned that the hard way when she used to hug and try to sooth herself in the cellar. "It's okay… I don't hate you. I forgive you."

Aphrodite let out the loudest sob and squeezed her long lost daughter to her chest, not wanting to ever let go, breathing in her baby's scent. Oh my god! How much I missed you! If only you knew the real me! If you knew that I was your mother, you would have despised me!

Elsa felt that she couldn't breathe since Leanna was squeezing the air out of her, yet she couldn't help but smile sympathetically and allow the poor woman to hug her. She was feeling a bit of pain from the hug but all of that was forgotten because of the wave of comfort and happiness she was suddenly feeling.

Aphrodite's sorrowful tears turned into the most joyful ones as she finally held her daughter in her arms properly. She's been craving for this moment since the day Elsa was left alone at the ambush. She had been praying, wishing and hoping for it to come. And finally, here she was… living it. My baby girl!... My baby girl!... My little snowflake! Aphrodite thought as she cried in happiness and caressed her daughter's head with a trembling hand whilst squeezing Elsa's cold body even tighter.

Elsa on the other hand had no idea she was hugging her actual mother. The person she presumed dead… or murdered from a long time ago. She felt as if she was totally safe and happy in this woman's embrace. It was as if the whole disgusting and cruel past shattered into a forgotten memory. Leanna's body was so warm comparing to hers and she was enjoying every single bit of it. She then smelled the scent she long forgotten and she couldn't help but to bury her face in Leanna's neck. But then… She found herself crying. Her subconscious was making her cry because she was finally reunited with her Mama. Because she missed that scent that she have forgotten that it was even her mother's. All those reactions were strange to her, but she welcomed them anyway. In that moment, while feeling Leanna's hand caressing her head, she felt all of that treacherous guilt go away. She finally just for this moment, felt innocent for the first time in fifteen years. All of that guilt. All of that shame was gone in her Mama's arms.

(Oh goodness. Aphrodite: My Immortal – Evanescence)

Aphrodite heard Elsa's muffled sobs and it was her daughter's turn to squeeze her tighter, "Shhhhh…" She shushed with a smile as she stroked her daughter's platinum head, "It's alright… You're safe now. No one will ever hurt you again." She said and knew that she had no right to add: I Promise. She knew her daughter never faced real Freedom. But then… Who said that she did? She needed to know what was going on in her daughter's mind. What was she feeling? What were her fears? Her worries? She wanted as hell to know why she was crying. Bottled up emotions, she presumed. But… Poor Aphrodite didn't know that Elsa was crying because-

I miss you so much, Mama! I miss you, so, so much! Why did she remember her Mama when she was only hugging this woman? Smelling this familiar scent had triggered so many emotions in Elsa. Even though she didn't understand any of them, she was feeling mixed up. Happy or Sad? Guilty or Innocent? Murderer or Pure-hearted? Her poor mind was lost. Her mind said she was a sad and guilty murderer. But her subconscious had other ideas. There was so much here that she couldn't understand. An angel was probably hugging her, draining her entire worries just like when she used to hug her Mama. Anna was one lucky girl to have a Mama like Leanna.

As they crushed each other with a hug and soaked each other with tears, Aphrodite kissed her daughter's injured shoulder gently, hoping that her pain would go away. Elsa on the other hand felt as if she was little again and that she was in her Mama's safe and comforting hands. But yet… It was only a feeling and not a fact to her. Both had so many words they needed to tell each other, but both of them were oblivious to specific things that they didn't dare say a word.

They just sat there, hugging each other, not wanting to ever let go. Keeping such a secret on her daughters was a miserable thing for her. Well… She wasn't alone. Everyone had secrets. Sometimes, keeping secrets can change multiple lives. A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept. All of them were scared. Scared of what would happen if their secret was revealed. Fear really was everyone's enemy. Mother and daughter had the same fear: Fear of being alone. But they didn't know one thing: Nothing makes us lonely as our secrets, and only the truth will set us free. There are two types of secrets: the kind you want to keep in, and the kind you don't dare to let out. But three things cannot long stay hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth. And as they once said…

We dance round in a ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows.