Kjerstin knew this was not how it was supposed to go. She'd hoped she could break through her mother's mental barrier a little easier, but it became clear Elsa wasn't breaking easily. Kjerstin desperately looked to her aunt for help. Anna knew Elsa better than anyone, Conrad second to her. But Anna would be the only one to help calm her sister down, with all the times she had done it before, she couldn't imagine it would be that difficult.
"Elsa!" Anna called out in the swirling blizzard. Behind her, Robert, Soleil and little Kai hid behind an ice pillar, they couldn't handle the level of intensity as Kjerstin or Robert could, and Anna was barely hanging on. She remembered that chill running through her all those years ago. She pulled her old travel cloak tighter around her shoulders, a shiver running down her body. She carefully stepped forward, shielding her eyes from the sharp snow turned sleet.
"Elsa! I know you can hear me!" She called out again.
"Anna..." The retired queen perked up hearing her sisters voice echo through the blizzard, billowing through the great hall of the ice palace. The voice echoed, full of grief, pain...
"Elsa... I know you're in pain... I can hear it in your voice. I know Conrad being gone hurts more than anything. I know this was like losing me."
"It is NOT the same!" Elsa cried out. Anna bit her lip, mildly regretting the choice of words.
"You came back! Conrad can't!" The blizzard slowed, revealing Elsa's silhouette as she emerged to see her sister. As she stepped closer, her heels clicking on the icy floor, Anna was in disbelief to see the grief having warped her sisters features.
The warm, rosy cheeks were splotched red, and her blue eyes weren't crystal clear, instead red too from the tears. The snow still circled the sisters.
Kjerstin cautiously joined her aunt, nodding to her to allow Kjerstin to speak to her mother. She held out her hand, gesturing for her brother to come too.
"Mom." Jønis whispered, nervously holding out a hand. Elsa looked at her children.
"Why are you here?" Elsa repeated her question from before.
"We came to help you, mama..." Kjerstin replied softly, also repeating hers. Elsa's demeanor softened hearing her eldest call her mama this time, and Kjerstin noticed this.
"We know, mama... we know it hurts. It hurts us too that papa is gone. But we're still a family, we have to stay together..." Jønis said. Elsa sniffled, pursing her lips tightly. She could only see Conrad in her son. Her breath caught in her throat, flashes of Conrad darting through her mind. Glancing at Kjerstin, she saw herself.
She backed away, putting her hands to her face, tears beginning to fall. The memories of Conrad became too painful. He was gone, because of a jealous monster. And she'd nearly killed an innocent child due to her grief, just like she nearly killed her sister.
"Elsa?" Anna asked tentatively, feeling the tension grow stronger in the room as the wind picked up again.
Then, there was a spine-chilling wail, reverberating through the ice walls. Anna's blood ran cold, she'd never heard her sister make such a sound, behind her, she heard another cry, a child's cry.
Kai.
"Soleil!" Kjerstin exclaimed, "try to keep him warm. My mother's ice is starting to take hold of him!" Soleil nodded and took the boy in her arms, singing him a song as she began to raise her body temperature, Robert offering his cloak and helping her keep Kai warm. They had to wait to remove the ice shard for now. Keeping him as warm as possible was the best route.
"Mama!" Kjertin yelled through the wind. She didn't know what to expect, given how unpredictable her mother's powers could be when her emotions were on a high. But, so we're Kjerstin's. Ever since Kjerstin was a child, it was noted how Elsa and Kjertstin's powers tended to be in sync when one or both each other's emotions ran high. With her mother grieving, it was equally painful for the young queen to see her mother this way. She was desperate to help her mother. And soon, Kjerstin's own tears streamed down her cheeks, feeling her heart beginning to race. She felt the magic within her running on high.
Jonis realized how serious this was getting. He didn't know how to handle this, he'd never seen his mother and sister so upset before. He quickly rushed by his aunt's side, who was at a loss for words, but also silently hoping her niece would be able to console her sister.
Meanwhile, Robert and Soleil, while still comforting Kai, were in disbelief.
"Can't you do something? You're a fire wielder!" Soleil looked at Robert, baffled.
"Are you OUT of your MIND? Why on earth would I interfere? It would make it worse!"
Kjerstin was still struggling, as she was trying to level herself with her mother.
"Mom! Please listen to me!" She paused for a moment, "We all know papa dying has caused you pain! We've lost family to the elements…. My great grandfather, my grandparents… but… what matters is that we still have so much love to go around! Nothing can stop us from loving each other. Dad wouldn't want us to stop loving each other because he's gone."
"We're still family. You, me, Jonis, aunt Anna, uncle Kristoff… Robert, Soleil… Ryder, Honeymaren… We're all family! Loss has never stopped us from loving each other. And I know you still love us. You're my mother!"
"Please… don't let everything go… papa wouldn't… want you to…" Kjerstin fell to her knees, sobbing, she knew her father was gone, but, it had all come crashing down on her. She knew now, it was time to rise up again, and keep pushing forward. She knew her father wouldn't want her wallowing in her grief, he wanted her to be a great queen, and she made a promise to him that she would, no matter what came her way. She just hoped her mother understood that same idea.
Elsa.
Elsa.
Everyone looked up upon hearing the Snow Queen's voice called, including Elsa, who recognized that voice.
"Mother…" She whispered faintly. She craned her neck up from her spot in the center of the grand hall, on her knees, hands clutched against her heart.
A shudder ran through her. Not from the cold, though. No.
A mother's embrace. The snow finally settled and came to a stop, leaving a thick layer of snow on the ice. The group unshielded their eyes, watching as a shimmery purple apparition came into view. It reflected back like a thousand diamonds. Anna's jaw dropped upon recognizing the figure.
"Mother…" The figure revealed itself to be the late Iduna. Elsa and Anna gazed at their mother in disbelief.
"This cannot be real." Anna gaped.
Hello my dears. Iduna said. She kneeled down next to Elsa, bringing her in for a warm hug only a mother could make. Kjerstin stared, unable to say anything. Iduna looked at her granddaughter, holding out her hand, inviting her to join. She gently pulled her in, and the tension finally washed away. Elsa pulled her head up to look at her mother.
"Why… why did you come?"
I couldn't stand by and watch you allow yourself to be overcome with grief. Iduna cupped Elsa's cheek in her hand.
I know your heart hurts, I know losing him was more painful than you could fathom. But, I know you know he would not want that for you.
"I've lost too much… I don't- I don't know how to move on…" Iduna gestured to her daughter, grandson, Soleil and Robert, all of whom were watching.
You have them… you have your family. Your children. Your children are the perfect reflection of you and Conrad. They are your greatest gift. Do not lose faith in yourself and your love. They're stronger than you know.
Jonis ran forward to join them. Surprising his mother with a tight hug, which was tentatively returned. Jonis cried quietly into his mother's shoulder.
"Please mama… you're the only mother I have… I don't want to lose you either."
"And please don't blame yourself." Kjerstin jumped in, "papa dying has been hard on all of us, but it's so important that we grieve together as a family, because that is what a family does. Papa wouldn't want to see us like this, I know it. You all are my only family."
Remember all of those memories of you two together. Every moment you had together was precious, no matter how small it was. Your love made those moments matter.
From the snow and ice, memories were brought to life. Just like in Ahtohallen all those years ago, Elsa's breath hitched upon seeing when she and Conrad first met.
Another one of Elsa helping him ice skate for the first time. Horseback riding, welcoming a newborn Kjerstin into the world… Jonis being born…
Jonis opened his bag, revealing the box containing a gift his father gave to Elsa celebrating their first year of marriage together. Elsa had kept it hidden away after that for safekeeping, and Conrad knew where it was hidden.
A small decorative box, made of delicately carved silver, containing the tiniest porcelain figures of Elsa and Conrad on their wedding day laid in a bed of dark blue velvet. The lid shimmered with blue gemstones and white diamonds in the corner forming the Arendelle crocus.
However, Elsa had never removed the figures or the velvet bed from the box. There was something hidden underneath.
"Mama... Jønis and I found this when we were organizing papa's belongings. And we discovered there was something underneath the velvet." Elsa's eyes widened.
"See for yourself." Elsa removed the figures and the velvet, and tears flooded her eyes upon seeing the inscription carved into the bed of the box.
"My dearest Elsa, we have endured much since we first met, and I know there is much more to come.
You are my first and only love, never forget that. No matter what happens to me, remember that I will always be here for you.
Happy first anniversary, Elsa.
I love you."
Elsa blinked away a tear. Her heart sank into her stomach.
The reality became so much clearer as Elsa realized and accepted, her love was never coming back.
But this time, no tears came. She sat there, clutching the box, the figures resting on the snow next to her. Kjerstin and Jønis eyed each other; did it work?
"Mama..?" Kjerstin asked softly, placing a hand on Elsa's arm. She didn't pull back or flinch. She let her daughter touch her.
The Snow Queen lifted her head, a new kind of clarity in her eyes. The figure of Iduna was no longer there, only her children sat before her. She spied behind them, her sister, son in law, Soleil... and Kai were there, all of whom noticed Elsa's demeanor relaxed and calmer. And Kai-
Kai's icy skin had become soft and warm again. His white hair reverted back to the soft natural brown. And any traces of ice melted away. Robert carefully removed the ice shard, tossing it to the side, and it promptly vanished in a flurry of snowflakes. Soleil let him stand, making sure he was steady.
"He's alright!"
Kjerstin and Jønis helped their mother up, who had put the box back together, holding it protectively in her hands. Anna rushed up to her sister, pausing for a moment before pulling her into a tight hug.
"Oh Elsa... you had me so worried." Elsa sighed.
"I-... I am so sorry... to all of you. For causing such distress. I- I shouldn't-" Anna cut her off.
"You don't have to apologize Elsa. We understand. Loss hurts, and it's painful. But, I know, we all know, that we much move forward, and celebrate Conrad's life, instead of grieving him." Robert nodded in agreement, finally speaking up.
"He would've wanted that."
"Come back home with us, mama…" Kjerstin said, making eye contact with her mother, holding hers and Jonis's hands. Elsa gazed at her children, remembering them as children, their wide blue eyes full of wonder, and they never lost that wonder. She could never let them down for anything, Conrad wouldn't let her, that was for sure.
Elsa chuckled softly seeing Kjerstin and Jonis visibly relax at last, and she brought them in for a hug.
"My children… My greatest gifts. Let's go home."