CHAPTER 27: New Year's Solitude
Lula, Eva and Fern were up that morning, ready to head to a nearby tavern where they have breakfast every morning. Lula and Fern were exceptionally happy they met Elsa and Anna. Being friends with royalty. Who would have thought? However, Eva succumbed to a growing insecurity the more she thought of their experience. It was TOO perfect. Fern noticed Eva's troubled face and nudged Lula and gestured with her head over at Eva. Lula came up behind her and hugged her friend. "What's wrong, Eva?"
"I was…just thinking about Elsa. What we just experienced. It feels too good to be true," Eva confessed. The smiles faded from Lula and Fern's faces. They knew all too well what Eva was feeling after what that prince did in the last kingdom they lived in. After too many betrayals, Eva found it difficult to trust people. Especially royalty. Elsa was very kind to them, so she let her guard down, but that just added to her growing paranoia and fear. "Why did Elsa befriend us…out of everyone in Arendelle? Why us?"
"We were new," Fern replied.
"Yeah, don't overthink it, Eva," Lula encouraged.
"She befriended us right after we mentioned it at that guy's restraint. You don't find that extremely coincidental?" Eva asked.
Lula and Fern looked at one another, starting to agree with Eva.
Lula shook her head and decided to change the subject, "Let's go you two. I'm starving."
"Queen Elsa? Queen Elsa?!"
The Queen of Arendelle tore her blue eyes from the two birds flying together outside her office into the beautiful sunset. "Y-Yes, Kai?"
The Palace Steward looked down at the young Queen with concern. "Are you all right? You have been wandering off in your own world a lot lately."
"I'm fine, just tired, I guess," Elsa rose from her desk and walked over to the window. "You were saying?"
"We were discussing the New Year's Eve party. All the preparations have been," Kai reported.
"That's good. Thank you, Kai, for the report. You are dismissed," Elsa smiled.
Kai gave a formal bow before leaving the office and closing the door behind him. He glanced back at the door with worry before continuing his duties. Anna bumped into him, "Oh, sorry about that Kai. I wasn't- Are you okay, Kai?"
Kai replied, "It's your sister. She's been acting a bit strange lately. She's been off in her own world during meetings and important visits. Some of the other staff personnel have mentioned this as well. She says she's just tired but I think there's more to it, Princess Anna. Maybe she'll say something to you."
Anna felt worried now, but smiled, "Thank you for telling me, Kai. I'll talk to her. Don't worry. I'm sure she's fine."
Kai smiled, feeling better from the young Princess's optimism, before leaving. Anna's face became worried as she quickened her pace to Elsa's office and began to panic inside when she saw Elsa wasn't at her desk like she usually was. The door to the balcony was opened and she went to see Elsa watching a bird in the sky. "Elsa?"
Elsa turned to Anna and smiled, holding out her hands to invite her little sister closer. Anna smiled and took Elsa's hands before Elsa turned back to the birds. "Don't you think it's beautiful, Anna?"
Anna looked at Elsa with concern over the random question, but looked up at the bird, "I guess it's a beautiful bird."
"No. Not that, Anna. It's not caged. It's free to explore the sky…as God intended," Elsa answered with a smile as she watched the bird with complete focus. Her eyes looked almost envious.
"Okay, I think someone needs a day off from work. I'll go inform Kai. The day off and the party tonight will be just the thing to help you unwind," Anna said stepping away to find Kai. She looked back at Elsa and was alarmed when she stepped up on the edge of the balcony so she could get closer to the bird as it flew nearby. Elsa smiled and reached out. "Take me with you, please."
Elsa began to lose her balance and Anna rushed to grab her, but was too late, "ELSA!"
Anna looked down at the ground beneath the balcony to see Kristoff caught her in his arms. She sighed with relief. "Don't leave. I'll be right down."
"Okay, Anna," Kristoff replied, looking up and watching Anna disappear from his sight. He looked at Elsa who he still carried in his arms. "Strange weather we're having today, huh Elsa? It's raining Queens," he smiled. Elsa laughed at his joke before Kristoff finally placed her on her feet.
"Thank you, Kristoff," Elsa smiled.
Kristoff smiled back and asked, "May I ask why you were on the balcony?"
Olaf and Sven were with him. "Oh, Elsa and I watch birds. She points out birds we find and she tells me what kind it is," Olaf shared, explaining his new hobby of bird watching.
"Well, you probably shouldn't be on the balcony's edge like that," Kristoff advised before finishing in Sven's voice, "He's right, Elsa. You could get hurt."
Reality came to Elsa, her smile faded and she looked up at the balcony. "I climbed on the balcony's edge?"
Anna burst out of the palace door and rushed to Elsa like a worried mother. "Elsa, are you okay?!"
"I'm fine, Anna," Elsa smiled as Anna held her face and checked her hands.
"Really?" Anna asked again to make sure, not feeling one hundred percent convinced.
"I'm fine. I promise," Elsa smiled and gave Anna a hug.
Although relieved, Anna was very angry and pulled away. "No, you're not. Something has been going on with you. Kai and the others say you aren't always here. That you seem distracted."
"They're just exaggerating things. I promise, Anna. I'm fine," tried to convince Anna and tried to hug her to calm her, but Anna pulled away again.
"Something is up, Elsa. I was right there. You climbed on the edge of the balcony and tried to follow the bird," Anna pointed out, "Didn't she, Kristoff?"
Kristoff sat down, knowing this debate wasn't going to end soon. "Leave me out of this. I just came out of the stables when you were screaming and caught Elsa. That's it."
"Well, that's what happened! Why would you do that, Elsa?! You should know better! It was stupid and reckless of you!" Anna yelled. Elsa's expression changed and Anna knew she had crossed a line and tried to take it back, but Elsa was already leaving the courtyard. Anna tried to go after her, but Kristoff stopped her, "Just give her some space for now."
At a tavern, the three women enjoyed their usual breakfast: eggs and toasts. They were enjoying themselves until Eva overheard a few men talking at the bar behind them and silently nudged the other two so she could hear.
"Did you hear? One of the kings from the Southern Isles befriended some of his subjects while disguising himself as a civilian. When they started mean mouthing the king, not realizing it was really him, he had them flogged and executed."
"Man! That's terrifying!"
The three women were suddenly gripped with tremendous fear, Eva worst of all. They paid for their meals and casually left the tavern to return home since it was their day off.
Anna and Kristoff were out walking after the incident with Elsa. "How could I yell at my own sister like that?!"
"She knows you meant it out of love. Just give her space for now," Kristoff assured her.
Anna pulled away and turned to him, "Does she? Did you see her face after I yelled at her? I hurt my sister, Kristoff! She's the only family I have left."
Kristoff pulled her close and hugged her. "It's okay. Just apologize and explain. She'll understand. Okay?"
Anna took a deep breath and nodded. She noticed Lula, Eva and Fern in the distance. "Hey. It's Lula, Eva and Fern! Come, I'll introduce you to them."
"I'm afraid I can't. I got to get to work. Why don't you invite them to the party tonight as a peace offering to Elsa?" Kristoff replied.
Anna's face lit up before working her way through the crowd to her friends. Kristoff watched her disappear into the crowd before turning and heading back to the stables to head to work. He stopped and glanced into the window of the ring shop. Certain rings were on display. He suddenly felt very nervous as he thought of Anna and looked in the direction she left.
"Hey! Lula! Eva! Fern!" someone yelled. Lula, Eva, and Fern turned to see it was Princess Anna rushing to them. Anna finally came to them, "How are you? Isn't-?" Her smile faded when she saw the looks of terror on their faces. "What's…going on?"
The three slowly backed away from her and walked away. Anna tried to catch up, but the crowd was too busy. She managed to get to their house and knocked. There was no answer.
Lula, Eva and Fern all sat in their living room. All they could do was remain silent and motionless as they processed what they overheard at the tavern and what Eva asked beforehand. Anna knocked again. She taught them her secret knock so that they would know it was her.
"Lula? Eva? Fern? Is something wrong?" Anna asked outside. Her words prodded at Lula's and Fern's hearts, but it caused Eva's spirit to rise in anger. She stormed over to the door, quickly pursued by Lula and Fern who held her back to avoid incurring the royals's wrath. Anna stepped back when Eva quickly opened the door and yelled, "If you think you and Elsa can fool us with your fake friendship, think again! I won't let you hurt Lula and Fern!"
Anna was speechless as Eva screamed at her with hurt tears in her eyes. Lula and Fern were holding her back. Finally, the door closed. Anna was speechless as she finally began to walk away. She turned back when Lula came out and called for her, "Princess Anna, wait, please. I have to know. Why did you and Elsa befriend us?"
"What? I'm confused. Please explain," Anna requested. Lula brought her back into their home and explained everything. How a prince really hurt Eva by betraying her. What they overheard at a nearby tavern. Eva tensed when Anna just came to her and hugged her. "I'm so sorry, Eva. You never should have gone through that. I know that pain all too well. Prince Hans of the Southern Isles was the first man I ever met who showed any interest in me. He proposed to me, but all he wanted was the throne. I promise, Eva. Elsa and I would NEVER do that to you."
Eva slowly began to break down in Anna's arms and began to weep, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Princess Anna."
"Shh. It's okay. I understand," Anna whispered. The other two smiled and joined the hug too
Elsa walked on through the town. People waved but she was so focused on Anna's angry words. She never saw Anna that upset or even their parents when they were little. The sound of Anna yelling kept replaying in Elsa's mind, making her anxiously wrap herself in her arms and quicken her pace. She headed for the Ice Palace to be alone for a while. When she entered, Marshmallow stood before her and knelt to look down at her. Elsa smiled and rubbed the snow monster's face, "Hi. Love your tiara."
The Ice Monster smiled from her compliment. The Snoggies were running around like usual, always causing chaos when awake. It was the reason why Elsa had Kristoff and Olaf bring them here to be contained.
She sat against the wall with her knees against her body and her arms wrapped around them. The anxiety was building. She couldn't help but wonder about her life, recalling what her friends shared during her first visit with Anna in their house. Lula, Eva and Fern were travelers. Staying long enough in a location to learn about a place and its culture before moving away. They would do whatever jobs they could find to pay for their home and they looked out for one another…like family. That lifestyle greatly intrigued Elsa, but it made her anxious even more. They were free to be whoever they wanted and go wherever they wanted. Elsa was jealous of that freedom and felt a pull to it, but she resisted. "I'm the Queen of Arendelle. How can I possibly leave my home or be anything else?"
The memory of her parents weighed heavily on her heart and mind, causing tears to escape her eyes and run down her cheeks. "Why did you leave us? Why did you have to leave when I needed you the most? I don't know what to do anymore." She waited as if expecting someone to answer by the Ice Palace was empty and silent. She laid down and curled up on the floor before drifting to sleep.
"Elsa. Ellssaa," a gentle, maternal voice spoke to Elsa. "You have to wake up, my little snow."
Elsa woke up and her eyes widened. She looked up to see her mother. She quickly rushed into her mother's loving arms. When she finally pulled away, Elsa was little again. "What's going on? How are you here?"
"You called me here. I'll always be your mother. Death will never take that away from us," Iduna said, affectionately touching Elsa's nose with her's. "I know when you're upset. What's wrong?"
Elsa teared up. "I did something stupid and it made Anna angry."
"What else? There's something else bothering you," Iduna dug deeper.
"I feel…trapped. I love Arendelle, but-" Elsa explained, but stopped herself. Confessing this felt wrong to her. She's the Queen.
Iduna lifted Elsa's chin and smiled understandingly. "Be patient, my little snow. The answers you seek will come, but for now…return home. Arendelle needs you. Anna…needs you. Promise me you'll protect her, Elsa."
Elsa nodded and smiled.
Iduna drew close and kissed Elsa on the forehead gently and Elsa woke up, feeling strange. Better as if she just woke up from the best dream, but couldn't recall any of it. The door to her Ice Palace opened and there stood Anna. Elsa stood. Anna looked guilty and couldn't look Elsa in the eyes, "Elsa, I'm sor-"
Before she could finish her apology, Elsa rushed her and hugged her little sister, which shocked Anna at first. "I'm sorry I made you worry about me," Elsa whispered in her ear. Anna smiled and hugged her back before pulling away.
"Come on, Elsa. Everyone's waiting," Anna said, guiding Elsa by the hands to the door.
Elsa was confused, but then remembered, "The party! We'll be late!"
Anna smiled before they went outside. Elsa lit up when she saw Kristoff waiting in the sleigh with Olaf and Sven. The trip back to the palace was quick and pleasant. Due to limited space, Anna sat on Kristoff's lap and Olaf sat on Elsa's lap while Kristoff steered Sven. Kristoff smiled nervously as Anna got close and smiled at his current behavior. "Anna, stop. I'm trying to drive," he whispered with frustration.
Anna giggled in his ear, "Stop what? This?" She began to kiss his ear which made Kristoff melt. "Elsa- Elsa, make her stop please."
Elsa smiled at them, "Anna. Leave the poor troll boy alone."
Anna looked at her, "What? I'm not doing anything. I'm just showing my boyfriend some affection. Is that such a bad thing?"
"Just stop moving. Sit still. You're making me-" he stopped himself, turning red from embarrassment.
Elsa and Anna were a bit confused. Anna asked, "Making you what?" She noticed how red his face was. His jaw tightened like he was angry. She moved in his lap to look him in the eye, "Are you angry, Kristoff? I'm sorry if I said or did something wrong? Whatever it was I'm sorry."
Kristoff couldn't help but take in Anna's teal eyes. Her worried expression and how close she was to him right now just made…his situation worse. Elsa was giggling to herself. Elsa may not have ever been romantically involved with a man, but she knew enough and it was adorable that Anna wasn't noticing what she was doing to Kristoff. So she enjoyed the moment by keeping her mouth shut.
Olaf was completely lost. "Okay. I'm completely lost. What's going on."
"I'll explain when you're older," Elsa promised.
"How old?" Olaf asked.
"Older than Anna, since she's still clueless. Anna, he's not angry just…stop moving," Elsa promised. Anna still felt guilty and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Tch," Kristoff smiled. He removed one hand from the reins and held her back, making her smile again.
Suddenly remembering something, Anna shared, "I invited Lula, Eva and Fern."
Elsa was excited to here this. Everyone together felt perfect.
"Which reminds me, you two still have yet to introduce me. I'm starting to think you two are trying to replace me," Kristoff said.
"Aw, my poor Reindeer Man," Anna teased with a sad face. Elsa reached over and gave his cheek a gentle pinch, emulating Anna's teasing.
Kristoff laughed, "Shut up."
Every family in Arendelle was celebrating the coming of the new year. Anna and Elsa had a special party planned inside their home. The palace staff was invited to attend. The people cheered as they entered the palace.
"I think I'll have some punch," Olaf giggled, immediately heading for the bowl on a nearby table. Anna and Elsa immediately went to their friends. Lula, Eva and Fern lit up when they saw the royal sisters.
"So, where's this handsome Ice Master you two have been talking about?" Lula asked.
"Kristoff, over here," Anna called and Kristoff worked his way from the table of snacks and through the crowd.
The three British women were mesmerized by the large, blonde man that approached.
Eva let slip as he neared, "Oh, my g-"
Lula grabbed her hand, "Easy Eva."
"This is my boyfriend, Kristoff. These are Lula, Eva and Fern," Anna introduced.
"Hi," Kristoff greeted nervously.
"Hi," Eva replied.
Elsa gave Eva a suspicious look when she noticed how Eva was staring at Kristoff. So she intervened. "Anna. Kristoff. I believe Kai needed to see you about something." She gestured to Anna with her eyes and Anna casually guided Kristoff away, unsure why Elsa wanted to be alone with them.
The evening was filled with music, singing, dancing and fun. Elsa gave a speech to everyone over her first year on the throne. Anticipation filled the palace as they awaited the clock to ring loudly at midnight.
"What's everyone's resolution?" Olaf asked, "I want to know all the knowledge in the world."
Elsa thought to herself, "To do even better as Queen of Arendelle."
"Then my goal is to help you with yours in any way I can," Anna smiled, taking Elsa's hand, earning a loving smile from her sister.
Kristoff smiled at Anna. He knew exactly what he wanted. He looked down at Anna's hand and held it, weaving his fingers in between her's. Anna turned to smile at him, "What about you, Kristoff?"
"You'll find out soon enough," he smiled.
Anna looked at him with confusion before their attention was drawn to outside where Arendelle's clocktower rang loudly.
"Happy New Year, everyone!" Anna yelled and everyone yelled it back.
Elsa turned away from everyone and looked outside, listening as the clock tower rang. I can be better for Arendelle. I will be better. Our kingdom will stand for the good of the many and I promise all that Arendelle's flag will always fly.
(A/N: That's it for Year One of Frozen Tales. Year Two is in the process of being prepared, which I am excited to share when the time is right. If anyone has plot ideas they would like to see included in this story moving forward, please do not hesitate to share in your reviews for this chapter. It's always great to hear great ideas from others. I will be taking a break from Frozen Tales to complete other stories and further setup Frozen Tales. Thanks for your support by reading my story. It means a lot.)