Release

Of all the things Elsa expects to see when she enters the sisters' shared bedroom for the night, the first is not her little sister sitting by the window, her head tucked in her crossed arms. The queen laughs behind her hand, even if right now, she doesn't have to project the image of a perfect, poised ruler.

"Anna, that hardly looks like a good place to sleep," her affectionate voice breaks the silence. "Come on, let's get you in bed."

Elsa isn't sure why, but the fact that Anna hasn't answered her is slightly unnerving. The princess isn't making her normal snoring sounds that could wake the soundest sleeper. Most of all, it looks as though she's shivering.

"Hey, are you cold?"

Still no response. The only other thing Elsa can think of is that the princess is purposely ignoring her. She paces closer.

"Come on. Don't ignore me. I know you're awake."

Silence.

"Do I need to tickle you?" Elsa tries a different tack, grinning like an imp. "You know I will."

That would have had Anna's head shoot up in an instant. Instead, the princess remains unmoved, other than the subtle quivering of her shoulders. When Elsa listens carefully, she can almost hear soft, gasping sounds, like air caught in one's throat.

"Anna? You okay?" Elsa is mere inches from her sister, and the princess has yet to acknowledge Elsa's presence. The queen lays a cool hand on one of Anna's arms.

"Is somethi-"

To her credit, Elsa holds back a gasp. When Anna slowly lifts her head, the queen is immediately struck with horror to find the redhead's cheeks are flushed and wet. Anna's eyes are almost sparkling despite the pinkish-red tinge. When they meet Elsa's wide open, worried blue eyes, they shut, and Anna's head falls back into her arms.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Elsa coos softly, kneeling beside her sister, cupping one hand over her knee. "Why are you crying?"

The queen flinches at her own question; she always hated it when her mother or father would ask that. She supposes she just didn't have any other idea of what to say, since it's so rare for Anna to be reduced to tears. She's usually the one who breaks down and needs reassurance, and even that hasn't happened in a while.

"Anna?" she tries again, her thumb lightly stroking Anna's knee. "Sweetheart?"

She lifts her head a fraction, and there's a sharp pain in Elsa's chest as she watches the tears slide down her sunny sister's face. What could possibly have happened to make her this distraught? The queen hates to admit it, but she feels more than a pang of fear when the ordinarily chatty princess has nothing to say but more quiet sobs.

Elsa stands up, taking one step backward. Her hand lingers on Anna's shoulder for a few moments before she forces herself to break off.

"Come here," Elsa's command is softer than the words suggest. She opens her arms as an invitation.

For a moment, Anna looks dumbfounded. She swipes her fist under her eyes.

"It's okay," her voice offers the safety of a warm blanket, and Anna can't help but seek it out. The princess stands up. With both sisters at full height, Elsa wraps her arms around Anna's shoulders, and pulls her into a loose, gentle hug.

"I gotcha."

When Anna's arms pull Elsa closer, the queen knows she did the right thing. She can feel Anna's fists clench the back of her dress, and the princess tucks her head into Elsa's shoulder. Even as Anna continues to sob softly, Elsa relaxes, reaching up to twirl her fingers through her sister's hair.

"I'm here," Elsa promises, inspiring more intense cries from the redhead in her arms. She lays a downy-soft kiss to the top of Anna's head with a tender 'shh'. "Do you want to lie down?"

Amid the sniffles and sobs, Anna nods. Elsa takes her by the hand and leads her to the queen size bed. Anna crawls up, and Elsa barely has time to get settled before the princess' head is in the queen's lap. One sure hand braces Anna's back, the other brushes away wet, salty trails on her cheek.

"You're okay," Elsa's voice seems to float as she tends to Anna. She surprises herself with how soft she sounds. What's even more surprising is that she doesn't have to tell herself that it's safe to hold her little sister close; she knows it is.

It isn't long before Anna's cries die down to intermittent sniffling. A part of Elsa wants to know what triggered this, but she has confidence that Anna will tell her when she feels ready. The princess curls herself closer so her entire upper body rests on Elsa's lap. There's a serenity in her flushed features that causes Elsa to smile, knowing that for once, she could be the reason for that calm.

"Sleep, my darling, safe and sound, you're in my arms, and all is found," Elsa changes some of the words to their lullaby to better suit the situation. She drags her little finger down Anna's nose in one fluid motion. The redhead manages a tiny smile.

Minutes later, Elsa hears a predictable pattern of fluttered inhalation and exhalation. She remembers too vividly how many nights she cried herself to sleep, but watching it happen to her little sister is a gut punch she isn't prepared for.

"I'm sorry," the queen gives a doleful sigh, smoothing out the taut creases on her sister's brow.

Elsa has a feeling Anna needed this release more than even she knew. It's Anna that always tells her it's okay to cry when things just hurt too much, and there's no other way to cope. Granted, the princess has the advantage of not starting a small blizzard when she's upset, but Elsa's working on that.

There was no question; love truly does thaw. That same love is what allows Elsa to brush her fingers along Anna's cheek as she sleeps.

"I'll be right here."


Closing notes: I think this may be the first prompt where Anna doesn't actually talk. I think there are times when Anna is alone that everything just kind of catches up to her, but she's too proud to seek out reassurance if she can't pin down what's bothering her.