Over the next several days, Elsa managed to keep out of sight from most of those in the castle. A few servants were a bit frightened by the 'ghost' that seemed to appear and disappear at every corner, but some reassuring words from Anna calmed them down. Elsa washed the dye out of her hair, and Anna let her borrow one of her dresses, so now the older girl really looked the the princess she was meant to be.
Iduna wasn't allowed out of bed until the beginning of the week after Elsa's arrival, but finally, the doctor gave his consent for the queen to move about just four days before her birthday. Naturally, she wanted to see Elise, but Anna quickly demurred her by saying how shy Elise was and that the girl needed more time to cope with her surroundings. Iduna graciously complied.
On the same day that Iduna was released from bed-rest, a Coronian ship arrived in the docks, carrying King Agnarr and some guests. When Anna caught word of the visitors' arrival, she left Elsa in the charge of Gerda and rushed off with Kristoff toward the docks.
"Dad!" Anna exclaimed when her father had made his way down the gangplank. She hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad you're back, Dad, I missed you!"
Agnarr laughed and hugged his daughter back. "Me, too, Sunshine."
Anna then gasped in delight when she caught sight of the people behind the king. "Uncle Frederic! Aunt Arianna! Rapunzel and Eugene! So great to see you!" She hugged her aunt, uncle, and cousins as well.
Eugene stretched out his arms and sighed. "Man, I love being in Arendelle in the winter. The cold air that sends an unpleasant chill through your bones, the ice that freezes my smolder-"
"Eugene!" Rapunzel scolded her husband, elbowing him for his sarcastic tone.
Anna shrugged. "It's alright. Honestly, if it weren't for the snow, I think I'd hate winter, too. After all, I'm a fan of everything snow-related, but when it comes to plain icy chill, I am so out of here."
"You should come to Corona then," Eugene responded. "It's not as cold there. Well, except for that one time two years ago when that crazy blizzard nearly destroyed everything, but that's in the past, so who cares, right?" Anna and Rapunzel both raised their eyebrows at the man, and Eugene just coughed awkwardly before turning to speak with Kristoff.
"So, how's the ice business going?" Eugene asked.
"It's great, I guess," Kristoff replied nonchalantly. I got a day off today since it's Saturday. But let me tell you about this funny story that happened with this one guy last week who accidentally fell in the lake…"
"Anyway," Anna said, turning to Rapunzel, her voice lowering in volume and her expression turning serious, "when you and your parents get situated, I have something very important to discuss with you, alright?"
Rapunzel nodded. "Sure! Anything for my cousin." The girls' tone then turned cheerful again, and they chatted together all the way back to the castle.
0o0o0o0o
A few hours later, after Rapunzel, her parents, and Eugene had made themselves at home, Anna gathered them, along with Kristoff and Elsa, into her bedroom. Anna had filled Kristoff in on her discovery, which was why he was allowed in on the meeting. Iduna and Agnarr were busy discussing the details of the king's trip in their own room, so there was no risk of them finding out the secret too early.
"Alright, Anna, why have you gathered us in here?" King Frederic asked.
"I'll start with introductions," Anna began. "Elsa, this is my uncle Frederic, my aunt Arianna, my cousin Rapunzel, her husband Eugene, and well, you already know Kristoff. Everyone, this is Elsa."
"Wait, Rapunzel?" Elsa repeated thoughtfully. "Isn't that the cousin you told me about who-"
"-was kidnapped by a mean ol' lady, to quote my own words," Anna finished. "They found her three years ago, in a tower of all things!"
Elsa chuckled. "You're the one who imagined that's where she was, remember?"
"Oh yeah. Ha! That's ironic."
Eugene huffed and crossed his arms. "You make it sound as if it was the simplest thing in the world, and let me be the first to tell you, it was not! Especially considering everything that followed. Seriously, we've had enough adventure to last a lifetime!"
Rapunzel raised an eyebrow. "Eugene, focus please. We can tell them about our adventures later, okay?" Eugene nodded and stayed silent.
"Well everyone, I have a surprise," Anna announced proudly, standing up with a smile on her face. She then motioned to Elsa. "Corona found its lost princess three years ago, and now Arendelle-specifically me since I'm the one who fainted in the blizzard and got rescued by Elsa in the first place-has found theirs! Meet my long-lost sister, Crown Princess Elsa of Arendelle!" Anna playfully bowed, causing Elsa to giggle.
Frederic, Arianna, Rapunzel, and Eugene stared at the two girls in shock for a moment, but then massive grins spread across all of their faces. "Really? Oh, this is wonderful!" Arianna exclaimed.
"I believe it," Frederick commented, "after all, you are almost an exact copy of Iduna."
Rapunzel jumped up and ran over to Elsa, wrapping her in a tight hug. "Wow, I have another cousin! Best day ever!"
"So, how'd your rescue go down?" Eugene asked. "Did Anna have to climb a tower or die to save your life?"
Anna rolled her eyes. "Uh, no. I went unconscious in a blizzard after being chased by wolves, but I sure didn't die. Also, Elsa might explain everything to you, but she definitely wasn't in a tower."
"I lived in a cabin surrounded by a rock wall and hidden away from the world until I escaped at fourteen," Elsa explained bluntly. "I've lived on the North Mountain ever since."
"Do you have magical, glowing, healing hair, too?" Eugene asked with his arms crossed. "Because if you do, after all I've seen, I frankly wouldn't be surprised."
"Um, no, I don't think so," Elsa replied slowly with a weirded out expression. "Wait, did you say-?"
"-Magical glowing hair?" Rapunzel finished. "Yes, that's what he said. I used to have seventy feet of hair that could heal, but then I lost it after it got cut. And then got it back. Then lost it again because it got cut. Long story. Anyway, the gist of it is that I used to have magic and now I don't. The end."
"Okay, then," Elsa responded slowly, a bit confused. She knew she'd have to get the whole story later.
"Come on, Elsa, show them what you can do!" Anna prodded excitedly.
Elsa hesitated, a bit unsure. This cousin of hers said she used to have magic, but Elsa still wasn't entirely keen on trusting others, even though she had seen over the past several days that her father had been wrong, as everyone she met was very kind. "Alright," she finally consented. She waved her arms, creating a gently snowfall in the room.
"Now I know beyond a doubt that you are my niece," Frederic said, watching the snow in awe. "I remember you putting on displays of your magic for us when you were three." Elsa smiled in response as her aunt, uncle, and cousin walked up to her and hugged her tightly, with Anna joining in a moment later. Elsa felt so warm in their embrace, and she wondered what it would be like when she could hug her parents.
"We're so glad you're finally home, Elsa," Arianna said.
Eugene had stood back beside Kristoff to give the family some personal space, but he then took that moment to speak. "You know, this reunion is great and all," the prince commented as he shivered, "but is all this snow really necessary?"
Rapunzel giggled a bit and walked over to her husband before playing ruffling his hair. "Sorry, Elsa, but Eugene kind of has a thing about snow."
Eugene rolled his eyes and pushed away Rapunzel's hand. "Please don't do that, Blondie, you're messing up my hair." His wife only giggled and rolled her eyes. "Anyway, no offense to my wife's new-found cousin, but snow really isn't my cup of tea."
"You should try ice then," Kristoff spoke up. "It's amazing."
"Sorry, but no," Eugene responded with a huff. "I really don't care for the cold. Although, sometimes I'm not sure which is worse; cold as in the weather, or cold as in a person's personality, just like a certain someone we know." He had an annoyed expression at his last words, but a teasing twinkle was in his eyes.
"Who is that?" Elsa asked curiously.
"My best friend Cassandra," Rapunzel responded. "Maybe you'll get to meet her sometime."
Just then, a knock sounded on Anna's door. "Anna, are you in there?" Iduna's voice called. "I thought I heard voices."
Anna motioned for everyone to be quiet. "Uh, yeah, Mom, it's me. What do you need?"
"First, will you please care to explain why there is a cold draft coming from your room?" Iduna asked. "Did you leave your window open again?"
"Uh," Anna stammered. She shot Elsa a look, telling her to do away with the snow, and then ran over to her window before opening it then closing it again. "Sorry, Mom," she called quickly, "it's closed now." Elsa took the hint and vanished the snow with a wave of her hand, and Eugene looked at her with an extremely grateful expression.
"Thank you, dear," Iduna answered. "Anna, supper is in a few minutes, are you coming?"
"Um, yeah, Mom," Anna replied. "I'll be down in a few minutes."
"Alright," Iduna responded before everyone heard the sound of her footsteps fading away down the hallway.
"So, how are we going to tell your parents?" Arianna asked after a moment.
"I have a plan," Anna began excitedly, "but we're going to have to wait until morning to execute it, so Elsa will have to stay away from our parents for a few more hours."
Elsa nodded. "Alright, I'll do that."
"Good," Anna replied. "Now, here's what I was thinking…"