Follow up to "Battles"
Victory
Elsa is not surprised to see Anna hasn't retired to the reading room before bed, but she's disappointed, regardless. The last council meeting left a sour taste in the queen's mouth. She's used to the idea that there are those who don't respect her, and she's more than capable of defending herself. Anna's interjection only complicated the already fragile alliance the queen has with Lord Sevek.
As a sister, Elsa couldn't have been more touched by Anna sweeping in and raising her theoretical shield in her defense. As a queen, however, it served only to make her look weak, even if that's not what was intended.
The queen is about to climb into bed when she notices a figure standing on the balcony just outside the sister's shared bedroom. She would be more worried, had she not seen the familiar red hair in its usual twin braids. Anna is gazing up at the sky, dotted with stars and streaked with the brilliant northern lights.
As quietly as she can, Elsa opens the doors to the balcony and steps out. Anna's head turns at the sound.
"Hey," Elsa greets with an uncertain wave.
"Hey," Anna replies, lacking her normal vigor. "The sky's awake, so I was, uh...watching it. I'm not just, you know, out here for no reason or anything."
"You don't need to justify yourself," the queen soothes. "This is your home."
Elsa tries to smile, but it loses strength halfway through. The ensuing silence creates a bundle of nerves in her gut.
"I didn't see you in the reading room tonight."
"Yeah, I know," Anna plays with one of her braids. "I wasn't really up for it, I'm sorry-"
"No, don't apologize!" there's a frantic edge to Elsa's tone, earning a startled gasp from the princess. "I—I mean, after today, I wouldn't blame you. I was just...I was looking for you, but...yeah."
The sisters look away from each other, triggering a new round of discomforting silence. Anna steals a glance at the lights, then brings her gaze to the floor of the balcony. Elsa runs her fingers over her braid, trying to look any direction but Anna's.
"I'm sorry about today," there's an uncharacteristic melancholy in Anna's voice, like it doesn't belong there for any reason.
The queen cringes.
"It's okay, I know-"
"Let me finish," Anna interrupts softly, soft eyes trained on her sister's. "I shouldn't have spoken out like that, even if he was being a total jerk for no good reason."
Elsa can't help a tiny grin.
"It's just hard, you know? It's hard to not say something when you're being baited like that," the princess explains. "I'm not saying you can't take it, I just wish you didn't have to."
Anna's face falls with a heavy sigh. Elsa puts a hand on her heart, as though it hurt.
"And I'm sorry for that comment I made, about...you know, going back to the way it was. That was uncalled for."
The pleading glance in Elsa's eyes silently asks permission to interject. Anna makes no motion to stop her sister from being heard.
"I'm sorry too, Anna. I know you were only trying to help, and I really do appreciate what you said," Elsa extends one hand to Anna, though why she can't say. "It's just, there's a time and a place for it, and that wasn't either."
Anna nods in quiet understanding.
"And we're not going back to the way it was," Elsa adds. "I wouldn't do that to you. You are the most important person to me, Anna. I hope you know that."
If that was supposed to make Anna feel better, it wasn't really working, if her sudden, guilty frown was any indication.
"I'm sorry," Anna repeats with doleful eyes. "I was just scared."
"I know, honey," Elsa's voice takes on a reassuring lilt as she takes one of her sister's hands in both of her own. "But you don't have to be anymore."
Anna shakes her head, eyes shut.
"I hate this."
Elsa's breath lodges in her throat.
"W–what?"
"Uh, us fighting, I mean!" the princess sweeps in with a clarification at the sudden look of misty hurt in her sister's eyes. She looks down at their entwined hands with a warm smile. "This, I love. It's the fighting I don't. If I had just kept my mouth shut in the first place, this could have been avoided."
"Anna, I hate to tell you this, but we're gonna have fights."
The queen could have kicked herself at the defeated expression on Anna's face.
"It's normal, I promise," Elsa squeezes Anna's hand with what she hopes is an encouraging smile.
"But we never fought before," Anna fearfully objects to the idea that arguments were normal. "I mean, before your coronation."
"We were too young to find anything worthwhile to fight about," Elsa tilts her head, slowly running her thumbs over Anna's hand. "The only reason we fought at all today is because we care. It's better than fighting because we can't stand each other, don't you think?"
Anna shrugs with a stiff nod. Yes, she understands Elsa's point, but she doesn't like it. The queen lets go of Anna's hand, then lifts her chin.
"Anna, look at me," the queen's voice softens, taking on an airy quality. "We're still adjusting. We'll have arguments, like all sisters do, but love will thaw. Remember that, okay?"
Elsa has adopted 'love will thaw' in place of 'conceal, don't feel'. No matter how many times she says it, it never fails to draw a touched smile from Anna.
"Okay," Anna nods, lowering her head. Elsa takes the cue and meets her halfway, pressing their foreheads together.
"So, who's up for a late night chocolate raid?"
When they disengage, there's a flicker of disbelief in Anna's expression, but the impish smile on Elsa's face promises a night of mischief and sweets.
"Really?"
Elsa nods. Anna can't help a peal of laughter.
"Alright, you're on!"
Seeing the princess' smile and hearing that blessed laughter is the victory that makes all Elsa's battles worthwhile.
Closing notes: The way these two argue and make up is probably unrealistic and highly simplistic, I'll throw that out there right now. In an effort to keep things to approximately 1,000 words, some pacing will be sacrificed. Anna is afraid of arguments because she thinks that her sister will start shutting her out again, and Elsa is equally afraid because it means that things aren't perfect between them, and all she wants to do is be there for Anna, to make up for their lost time.
I hope y'all are staying safe during this uncertain time.
