Try and Try Again
After several long moments, she succeeded in retracing the same physical disconnect she had experienced in her throne room five days earlier. The area of brightness which was the light of the receiving room beyond her closed eyelids inched away as though she had taken a step back. She allowed herself to drift backwards into the beyond. She watched as that area of light receded to a smaller and smaller circle in the distance. She could sense the fog encroaching.
Then it enveloped her, almost purposefully, in a strange deepening darkness.
All at once, the fog parted. Elsa stood on the pinnacle of a tall mountain, wearing a sparkling silver dress, surrounded by a grey landscape. The ground fell away sharply on all sides leaving only enough room for her to stand. The mountain itself was not snow capped, it was snow covered. Completely snow covered for as far down its steep slopes as she could see. In fact, as she cast her eye over the mountainous landscape, all the mountains were snow covered. The sky was overcast and grey. She could tell it was some hazy state of daytime, but she couldn't make out the sun through the dismal cloud cover. She shivered as a cold breeze ruffled her hair and billowed through her dress. It was cold. Extremely cold. She wrapped her arms around herself in surprise. This wasn't supposed to bother her. It hadn't bothered her since ... She unfolded her arms in alarmed remembrance and attempted to make something of snow or ice. She breathed a sigh of relief as a dinner-plate-sized snowflake formed easily. As she folded her arms against the cold once again, the snowflake popped and began to settle to the steep slope as powder. She watched it settle. Curious. The contrast to the color of the mountain was stark. She knelt carefully on her narrow platform to reach down and touch it. She recoiled in shock. It was not snow, it was ice! Soiled, sooty ice. Dingy grey ice. It was not the dim light that was making it look so bad. Scanning her surroundings again, the grey mountains were all engulfed in the same violated stuff. It made her cringe. This was not what snow and ice were supposed to be.
"Where is this place?" she said nervously. She wrapped her arms around herself again as the cold wind blew once more, carrying the powder away.
A light twittering voice replied:
"All's made new! What's past is past! T'is what's committed to the ice, will last!"
Elsa whirled, and staggered to maintain her precarious perch atop the mountain. She gave a sigh of relief, then looked up. A drab grey moth the size of the palm of her hand fluttered just out of reach.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"It's a secret! It's a secret!" it twittered. When it spoke, its color morphed into radiant patterns of red, green, and blue. Elsa's eyes grew wide with wonder. The colors swirled and rearranged into different patterns of stripes and spots. As soon as it stopped speaking, the display ended. A gloomy grey once again, it fluttered in its random circles. Had there been sunlight, it might have been a trick of the eye. But It had been the only point of color against the entire miserable grey background.
"Where is this place?"
The moth lit up with dancing color once again. "I need not tell! You know it well!" It took its bobbling flight low, down the side of the mountain beneath her, where it momentarily alighted on the point of something protruding through the ice. Elsa knelt in place and squinted to make it out in the dim light.
It was the top spire of her ice palace, barely visible poking above the surroundings. "WHAT?!" She gasped in horror and stood, bringing her hand to her mouth. She wheeled around again, taking in the landscape. The mountains were similar, but unfamiliar - as though a painting begun by one painter and finished by another.
"What's going on?" she asked, frightened.
The butterfly took it's course back up to her position and sparkled as it repeated, "all's made new! What's past is past! T'is what's committed to the ice, will last!"
Elsa had the brief mental image of Anna swatting the fool thing out of the air while yelling you're worse than the trolls! "What are you saying? What does that mean?!"
It fluttered around her in circles. "The powers of many, threshed o'er ages past - reserved for my shepherdess; bestowed at last!"
"What? What power? What are you talking about? Reserved for what?"
"The mandate of the faerie in the ice-weave dress!" it trilled and twinkled. "More than a queen! The Shepherdess!" Its flight was starting to take it further away.
"Wait!" Elsa cried. "Wait, please!" She glanced about. "Please, just ... Please! Tell me I'm not the one who did this?" She could feel her eyes welling with tears.
"Ten one-hundreds! Or a hundred tens! Ere the new begins and the cleansing ends!" Its voice was getting faint as it began to fade into the dismal grey distance. "All's made new! What's past is past! T'is what's committed to the ice, will last!"
"Come back!" Elsa shouted. She was trembling. "Don't leave me! Who are you? Please!"
A faint whisper, barely audible: "I am that I am! I am that I am!"
Elsa dropped to her knees. "Please," she wept, "Tell me I didn't do this ..." Her face fell into her hands as memories exploded like fireworks in her mind:
'You sort of set off an eternal winter - everywhere.'
'Don't be the monster they fear you are!"
'What have I done?'
'Princess Anna has not returned.'
'Just .. take care of my sister...'
'Your sister is dead - because of you!'
She was shaking, but it wasn't against the cold. "Tell me I didn't do this," she wailed. "Please!"
"Elsa?!"
"Please! No!" She was crying and shaking. "No!"
"Elsa! It's me, Anna! C'mon, snap out of it, sis!" More quietly: "Heinrick, I don't think she can even hear me."
She opened her eyes. "Anna!" she sighed in relief as she threw her arms around her surprised sister. "Oh, Anna..."
Anna wrapped her arms around her in a reassuring embrace. "Yeah, it's me. Are - are you okay? What was all that?"
For a full minute, all Elsa could do was squeeze, her eyes pinched shut. But she had to open them. Because she kept seeing that miserable sullied icy landscape.
Elsa pulled the stone from her head and reshaped the bandana into a vest. "Heinrick," she asked with a voice that still quivered, "could you get me a paper and pen?" He nodded and rose, returning a moment later from the secretary desk that stood against the wall. Elsa had released Anna by the time he returned. "I wasn't where I was last time," she began quietly. "I don't know why. I was on the North Mountain, but it looked strangely different - I can't place how. I didn't recognize it at first. Everything was frozen solid, maybe that's why - and the sky was so dim. I created a snowflake, and when it settled to the ground, I saw that the ice was a grey color - like there was mud mixed in." She met their eyes in turn. "I'm sure it sounds foolish, but it was horrid." She paused. "Then a moth appeared and began saying the strangest things." She had a good memory, but she wanted to record it word-for-word for her and others' consideration.
All's made new;
What's past is past.
T'is what's committed to the ice, will last.
The powers of many,
Threshed o'er ages past;
Reserved for my shepherdess;
Bestowed at last.
The mandate of the faerie in the ice-weave dress:
More than a queen;
The Shepherdess.
Ten one-hundreds or a hundred tens,
Ere the new begins and the cleansing ends.
Anna and Heinrick sat in rapt attention as she wrote. When she finished, she looked up plaintively.
"I don't like it already," said Heinrick.
"Me neither," Anna agreed.
"It's obviously talking about you," Heinrick continued.
Elsa nodded. "A mandate .." she said with mounting distress. "Ken spoke of a mandate." She slapped the pen down and put her hand to her head as she grimaced. "The last thing I need is a mandate."
"Yeah, but a mandate for what?" Anna asked the obvious question.
Heinrick asked the other obvious question: "and a mandate from whom?"
They sat in silent consideration.
"Everything was frozen," Elsa said. "Wretchedly horridly frozen. I can't believe I'd be expected to freeze everything. And certainly not like that."
"The powers of many threshed o'er ages past," Heinrick recited. "It suggests your battle with Ken, when all those trapped magic users shifted their power to you, was predetermined."
Elsa's hands balled into fists as her mind raced through the repulsive implications. It would mean the hunting, the trapping, even the "leaks" - all of it had been predetermined. She couldn't accept it. She didn't want to accept it. She looked up at Heinrick. She could see it in his hazel eyes, his grimly set jaw: he had figured it out too. "I won't accept that," she said through gritted teeth. She ground out the words: "I'll die first."
"Wait, what?" said Anna. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," she gave a nervous chuckle. "Let's not overreact here, everybody. We're talking about a moth in the fog! Yeesh!"
Elsa and Heinrick looked at her silently.
"We don't know enough," Heinrick concluded. He returned his concerned gaze to Elsa. "Please, Elsa," he said. There was a firmness to his voice. "I - we," he corrected, "we need you to not do anything hastily right now." They sat in silence as Elsa's mind churned. "Please," he repeated slowly.
She gave a curt nod. Looking at the lifeless snow-woman sitting before her, she sighed. "I'm afraid I'm done for now," she said. Glancing at both of them, she added, "I - I think I'd like to be alone for a while." She rose, folded her hands in front of her, and began to walk slowly towards the open window. She had only taken a couple of steps when she heard Heinrick's voice.
"Elsa?" When she turned, she saw that he was standing. He cupped her face in his hands and looked steadfastly into her eyes. "I have faith in you," he said. "Have faith in yourself."
She tried to smile as she held his gaze. She felt her tension ease a bit just with the distraction of being able to look into his eyes without feeling exposed or judged. She gave a slight nod.
He took a deep breath, turned, and followed Anna out the door.
Elsa picked up the paper on which she had written and walked slowly to the open window where she stared at the beautiful view: the lovely sky, the sparkling water, the colorful town rooftops - blessedly different from the depressing scene in her vision. She felt like scrunching up the paper and throwing it out the window.
Lotus was not in her field of view. Any insight for me, little one?
There are many held in captivity, Mother. Perhaps what you saw is where they are trapped? Perhaps the shepherdess' mandate is to lead them out?
She looked over the paper. She hoped so. But not all the pieces fit.
They had only planned to stay in Corona for one night, so the following morning, regardless of how she felt about it, it was time to try again. It was disconcerting to recognize that she had no control of where she ended up during these travels into - wherever it was. She was further disquieted by her uncle's words when she joined them for breakfast.
"I fear she will be exchanging one prison for another," he said. "Consider it, my love: the people of Arendelle are accustomed to 'Olaf,' and Elsa's other creations, but our people are not. The appearance will be that our daughter was taken and returned as - as - as something so foreign to their understanding. I fear some will even think Elsa has placed some kind of curse on her."
Arianna was adamant. "Then it is our duty to educate them," she insisted.
He shook his head. "It will be difficult, my love. It's a complicated and fantastical story. Not everyone will receive it."
"So is being held captive in a tower most of her life." Arianna was frustrated. "I want my daughter back! She has been a prisoner of one kind or another now nearly her whole life! We'll deal with what comes! If there are those who will not 'receive it,' then frankly they are not welcome in Corona!"
He sighed, and nodded in acquiescence. "She certainly has the temperament to handle the situation, doesn't she?"
Arianna and Eugene nodded.
Elsa sat listening, wishing she could be somewhere else. Wishing she could do better. Wishing this didn't all come down to her. Perhaps the day would come when she could do better, but right now she didn't know how. Would it have been better to wait? There was no way to know, and the bridge had already been crossed.
Again Elsa sat with Anna and Heinrick in Frederick's receiving room.
"How are you feeling about this?" Anna asked.
"Do you really have to ask?" Elsa replied with an unsteady voice.
"Mmmm - I was hoping maybe you were doing better than I imagined. Sorry."
Elsa closed her eyes.
I may be able to help you, mother.
Her eyes sprang open. Really?
"What?" Anna asked.
Please let me in.
"Heinrick, would you please open the window? Lotus thinks he might be able to help me."
Heinrick gestured to the stone that Elsa already had in place on the top of her head. "It would take me a while," he smirked.
"Oh. Yes. Anna?"
Anna was already rising as Elsa spoke. She walked to the window and worked it open. "Whoa!" she yelped as she ducked the large bird that streaked through the opening.
Lotus' wingspan was considerably wider than the window. He had timed his entry exactly so his wings were in their fully upright position as he passed through the relatively narrow opening. He performed his stalling wing beats and settled gently onto Elsa's extended arm, his breeze ruffling the edges of her hair and bandana.
"Could you be that nice to me, too, Lotus?" Anna grumbled as she returned.
Elsa smirked. She could sense Lotus' amusement. "Be nice, little one," she teased, "or Anna won't open any windows for you."
It's the glass that owes her thanks.
Elsa couldn't suppress her laugh at his bravado. She relayed his response and they all laughed together. Elsa appreciated the lightening of mood. Even if Lotus could do no more for her, he had already done something. Time to get down to business.
Elsa took a deep breath and placed her hand on the snow-woman's leg. Lotus stepped along her arm until he too was perched on the snow-woman. They both closed their eyes. After a few moments of concentration, the hemisphere of brightness inched away.
Are you here, Lotus?
There was no response. She was disappointed, but undeterred. She sank back into the beyond, appreciating how bright it was now compared to her initial journey through the void while in her throne room. The circle of brightness became more and more distant and she felt the looming fog stirring behind her. Gradually she began to feel the wisps of sound swirling about, like gentle breezes on a summer day.
Hello?
All of a sudden she was yanked to the left. The motion twisted her about and she lost sight of the point of light in the distance. No! She flailed in panic - at least, that's what she would be doing in the physical world, but here it was utterly ineffective.
It's me, Mother. Lotus' voice was just a passing whisper next to her ear. Don't worry. I've found her.
Elsa relaxed in relief and gratitude.
Through the ethereal wisps they dodged - Elsa couldn't say for how long. Then finally, she had the sense of having stopped.
Rapunzel?
Oh no! Queen Elsa! Why are you back? Did he catch you too?!
No! With the power you all gave me, I was able to overcome him!
Oh, that's good news ... good news ... There was a mood of defeat in her reply.
Rapunzel, I'm here to see if I can lead you out.
Out? Out where? I'm dead, my cousin. There's no 'out' for me to return to.
Your body was crushed, Rapunzel, but this part of you remains. I've created a new body for you, if you'll have it.
Crushed? A new body? How ... how is that possible?
It's a body like my snowman Olaf's. Only this one looks like you.
A snow-woman?
Yes.
Elsa could sense Rapunzel's mirth.
I love it! I can't wait to see it!
There are some things you need to know, Rapunzel. You really will be a woman made of snow. You won't need sleep, you won't need food, and you won't age even as you watch everyone else age around you. But your snow-woman's body will flurry away when my life is over. It will only last the duration of my life.
Then I guess I'll have to watch out for you, my cousin!
Elsa hadn't anticipated this response, but it was reasonable, and heart-warming. No, Rapunzel - I don't need any more bodyguards, thank you. I'm bringing you back to your family. But you need to think this through. No one in Corona has ever seen a snow-woman, least of all a snow-woman version of you. It will be difficult for them to accept.
She responded without hesitation. If Eugene and my parents can accept me, then the rest of them can go jump in the lake. It's depressingly lonely here, queen Elsa, even though I'm not alone. The others - most of them have given up talking because they've been here for so long. A few, the ones who haven't been here as long, had a little interest in my arrival for nostalgia's sake I think. It's been so depressing realizing that all I have to look forward to here is sinking further and further into meaninglessness. I'd rather be a snow-woman whether anyone accepts me or not! And if none of them will, then trust me - I know how to be happy alone!
That settled the matter. There was nothing left to discuss. OK then. Lotus, I'm counting on you to lead us out.
Again, the sense of motion. The wisps moved past them until finally they were left behind.
Are you still with me, Rapunzel?
Yes. Are you doing something? I can't tell.
I have an escort. Hopefully you'll meet him soon enough.
The disc of brightness was approaching.
Lotus, do you know how this is going to work?
It's going to require your power, Mother.
They hovered there, just a few inches away from the disc of brightness.
OK, Rapunzel, here's trying...
Elsa opened herself to her power, thought about what she wanted to do, and pushed.
What are you doi-?! Then she was gone.
Elsa opened her eyes and and sat motionless as she stared at the snow-woman. Lotus' blue eyes were open as well.
"Elsa?" Anna asked.
"Shhhh!" she snapped. She hadn't meant to be so harsh about it. She continued to stare steadfastly at the figure before her.
All at once, the snow-woman's white eyes - eyelids? - rolled open, revealing pupils of vivid blue. She stared back for a few seconds, blinked several times, and then she saw Anna.
"Anna?" she said.
"WHOOOOOOOO!" Lotus dodged out of the way and bolted for the window as Anna shrieked and threw herself onto Rapunzel, wrapping her in a laughing tearful embrace, nearly knocking the girl off the bench of ice.
Rapunzel hugged back laughing, but looking around the room. "Everything is so ... real," she remarked in wonderment.
Elsa smiled in delight, satisfaction, and relief.
"Queen Elsa?" she said. Elsa nodded. "You look ... different. It's a good different!" she added. She held up her arms and hands and looked them over. She chuckled. "I really am made of snow!?" She touched at her face. Then she sprang up and bolted from the room. "Eugene! Mama! Papa!"
Elsa shifted uneasily. This was the first threshold.
She felt a tap on her head.
"Can I have that back now?"
"Oh, yes, of course," she replied. When she turned to hand the reshaped vest back to Heinrick, she saw beyond his extended hand that he was beaming at her.
"You really are incredible," he said. She began to turn aside as she blushed, but he reached out and caught her cheek. His fingertips reached behind her neck and pulled her into a hug. She gasped in surprise. She leaned stiffly, both arms positioned defensively between them, poised to push away. After a second's consideration though, she chose to relax.
"Thank you," she said shyly. A warm smile spread across her face. The surprise hadn't interrupted her blush.
"Welllllllllllll, I guess I'll go see how things are going out there," said Anna with an eye-roll and a cheeky grin.
Elsa already had one eye closed. She gave her sister a smile as she left the receiving room. Then she closed the other one. "I'm tired," she realized.
"Elsa." It was Heinrick's voice.
"Mmmm?"
"You can sleep more on the ship, but we have to take our leave."
"Oh.. Was I asleep?"
"Yes."
Elsa rubbed at her eyes. "Mmm. I guess that wore me out."
"Either that or I have a numbing effect."
She smirked. "I'd like to talk to Rapunzel before I leave."
"They'd like to talk with you, too."
"Oh? Anything I need to be prepared for?"
"No; just good feelings." Heinrick rose first, extended his hand in invitation, and guided her to her feet.
"Thank you," she said as she stretched. They made their way to the door. Her brow furrowed slightly as they walked. "You should -" she hesitated. "Please don't take this wrong, but you should probably be careful pulling me in like that. Under the wrong circumstances I might have ... I might have hurt you."
Heinrick thought on it for a few seconds and then gave a nod. "Noted." After a few more steps, he added, "it was rather forward of me. The moment was just so breathtaking that I felt celebratory. I should have treated you with more respect; I'm sorry."
Elsa didn't sense that Heinrick was quite understanding. "I appreciate that very much - really, I do - but my point is that I could have hurt you." She looked at her extended palms as they walked. "I gave life to a heap of snow just now, I know, but at the same time I could kill with a thought." She looked up at him with pleading eyes. "I've hurt enough people to last a lifetime." She looked away as her voice dropped to nearly a whisper. "I don't want it to be you." When she met his eyes again, he was smiling, of all things, and his eyes had a twinkle in them.
"May I put a reassuring arm around you?"
She looked away with a blush as she folded her hands. "You may."
He put his hand on her far shoulder. "I have faith in you, Elsa. Say it with me."
"I know, I know -"
"Have faith in yourself," they said together.
Her face grew serious. "I still need you to have faith for both of us, I guess."
As celebrations go, they were obviously coming closer and closer to one already in progress. The animated voices were getting louder and louder. Heinrick withdrew his hand as they turned the corner and they entered the family dining room - the same one where they had had breakfast.
"Queen Elsa!" Rapunzel cheered, and closed the distance between them in a few bounding leaps. She threw her arms around her, engulfing her a big cold hug.
Elsa basked in her joy. Looking over Rapunzel's shoulder, she was pleased to see unreserved joyful expressions on everyone's faces, including her uncle Frederick's.
Rapunzel released her and twirled in a circle with her arms extended. "Second-best day ever!" she exclaimed. Then she stopped with a sheepish look. "Oh - I'm sorry queen Elsa - I didn't mean that how it sounded."
"Relax, Frosty," Eugene said as he embraced Rapunzel from behind. "I'm sure she knows what you mean."
Elsa knew in general, but not in particular.
"Oh, Eugene, look at your arms!" Rapunzel noticed.
"Don't worry; don't worry," he said in a light reassuring voice. "We'll get me some long sleeves, we'll get me some gloves -"
She grabbed him behind his neck and pulled him into a kiss. "What about your lips?" she giggled. Turning back to Elsa, she said, "I never thought I'd do that again. Thank you so much, queen Elsa."
"When are you going to stop calling her that?" Anna interrupted with a teasing smile.
Now she looked cornered. "Well - I mean - it's not everyday someone gives you a new body, right?" She looked over her snow-white arms as she said it. "The honorific just seems appropriate..."
"I know we've scarcely met," said Elsa, "but we are cousins. Just Elsa is fine."
"Well, okay then," she said with cheerful resolve. "Now, if you don't mind, I do have a couple questions."
"Certainly. Go ahead."
"Will I make all my clothes wet?"
Elsa hadn't thought of that. Rapunzel was still wearing the tan slip dress Elsa had made her, which looked fabulous, but which obviously wasn't appropriate for all occasions.
"I'm not really sure ..."
"Hey!" Anna chirped. "Why don't you two go up to her wardrobe and you can create her new versions of some things in there, just in case?"
"I can do that," Elsa said with a humble smile, "but we need to do it soon. We have a boat to catch."
Anna sprang from her chair. "C'mon then! Rapunzel, you can ask your other questions on the way!" She linked arms with both of them and led them briskly out the door. Elsa had to quicken her steps to keep from being dragged.
"Quee - um - Elsa, what happens when I want to take a bath? And can I go swimming?"
Elsa smiled. "Baths and swimming are fine; so are hot summer days. Just mind things. I don't really know how hot is too hot. Oh - and by the way, you don't need to hold your breath underwater."
Rapunzel stopped. "Oh, wow! That'll be neat!"
Elsa smiled. "You may even meet a horse down there."
"A what?"
They continued walking. "You can ask Ambrelle. There's a water spirit that manifests itself as a horse. Maybe she can introduce you."
Rapunzel's eyes grew wide. "Oh, that would be ... that would be ..." She looked down and continued quietly. "I lost Pascal when I opened the letter and was sucked into that black ball." She sniffed. "It would be nice to have a new friend."
"Pascal was her pet chameleon," Anna explained. To Rapunzel she asked, "he didn't come to Elsa's coronation with you, did he?"
"No."
Elsa took charge of the conversation as they resumed walking. "May I ask you about that? The letter? Can you tell me what happened?"
Rapunzel nodded. "I was opening my mail in my office. It was a simple letter, addressed only to 'Princess Rapunzel,' and I remember it was strangely heavy. It pulled me in as soon as I opened it. The black ball itself was like a little window, and once I fell through it, it's like I was falling towards this endless ocean of blackness. As I tumbled around, I saw other things falling through the little window behind me too: all the furniture, papers, tapestries, and such. Pascal latched onto me with his long tongue and we fell together. It's like we never stopped falling. But then things around me started to disappear. It's like they became too far away to see, or like I was getting more and more nearsighted or something. Eventually I noticed I couldn't even see my own feet anymore. Poor Pascal. He could see it too, and he was terrified. I tried to soothe him. But the distance I could see continued to shrink and shrink until I couldn't even see him anymore. In the end everything was just gone."
Elsa felt sick to her stomach. She had to keep going, though. "So you didn't feel anything?"
"No, nothing. You told me my body had been crushed, but I hadn't felt a thing. All I knew is that it was gone. Everything was gone. Then after a long time of being alone - I couldn't tell you how long - I began to hear whispers. It was freaky. I didn't understand any of them for a long time, until finally one spoke words I could understand. He said his name had been Miken. He said he used to be able to lift things many times his weight and no one could explain why. Then an old man with white hair came to the town where he lived and saw him showing off. A few days later, the man pulled him into the blackness."
Elsa had stopped walking. She couldn't go on. She dared not hear another word. She wondered how many stories there were, how many had been taken totally by surprise versus how many had had any fighting chance.
Rapunzel's eyes grew wide with wonder. "Do you think - do you think you could rescue him too?"
The shepherdess, went through her mind. "It would seem that I could," she stammered. Was this to be her mandate? 'How many?' she had asked. 'Like the stars,' had been the response. How long would it take to rescue them all? Would it have to be one by one? It boggled the mind. She cupped her elbow in her hand and used her free hand to rest her forehead.
"I'm sorry..." said Rapunzel. Then she turned to Anna. "Did I say something bad?"
"I ... dunno -"
"No, Rapunzel," said Elsa, "it's just that there are so many of them. I could spend the rest of my life at it."
"Oh. Wow."
She breathed deeply. "And I should. If I can, I should. I can't think of anything more important to do than to free captives who have been imprisoned for who knows how long? It's just that I have other important things to do too, and selfishly, there are even things I'd rather spend my time on." She sighed. "It's all so overwhelming." She wrapped her arms around herself and resumed walking.
Rapunzel nodded, then looked down at her snow white hands. "Thank you," she said, almost apologetically. "For doing it for me."
Elsa bit her lip as she was rebuked by her own self-serving hypocrisy. Her eyes welled with tears. She wanted to run away, lock herself in a room, call that stupid moth, and tell it to go find some other shepherdess. She was grateful for the change of venue when they arrived at Eugene and Rapunzel's room, and she led them to her wardrobe.
"Pick your favorites," Anna advised.
The three of them got to work. Rapunzel searched through her clothes. Occasionally she would hand something out to Anna, who would hold it up while Elsa fashioned its likeness. Anna smiled in wonder. "Wow, sis - your replacements look better than the originals!" They were more vibrant, with sheens of elegance where there had been only simple fabrics before. The whole process only took about ten minutes. Since it was so quick, they took a second pass, and then a third. The bed was heaped with clothing when they were done.
"These are magnificent," said Rapunzel as she held one up. "Thank you so much, Elsa!" She embraced her in a hug. "Mama's going to be jealous!" She picked one up: a classy burgundy dress with auburn trim. "Can you lace me in, Anna?" Once done, they stood together before the tall mirror. Rapunzel first turned admiring the dress from the side and the back approvingly, but then leaned in, examining her face. "It's going to be interesting experimenting with make-up," she observed with a nervous chuckle.
On their way back to the family dining room, Rapunzel ventured into the topic again. "You know, Elsa, they might not all want to come back. Some who spoke with me told of being social outcasts because of what they could do. One said she was at the trial of a witch when she was young, and upon the witch's death, she received magical abilities. She and her parents tried to hide it, but she was eventually discovered. Not wanting to suffer the same fate, she became a vagabond, until eventually the old man caught her with his black ball."
Elsa nodded.
As they reentered the dining room, Elsa put on her professional face. Even so, when her eyes met Heinrick's, she could see he'd picked up immediately on her change of mood.
"Wow, Frosty, you look great!" Eugene remarked enthusiastically.
Elsa sat next to Heinrick quietly as everyone admired Rapunzel's new outfit.
"Anything I can do?" he whispered discreetly.
"Find another shepherdess," she whispered back through gritted teeth.
Three carriages had been prepared for the ride back down to the dock, but they ended up packing into two: one for the men, one for the ladies. Elsa was mentally prepared for it to be boisterous and she has discreetly forewarned Ambrelle as well. It was like being in a bucket of live bait. Anna was excited to see everything, but Rapunzel was ecstatic. They pointed things out to her, but it was nearly impossible to see past them. For her part, Ambrelle looked quite uncomfortable. Elsa wondered how uncomfortable she had been riding in the men's carriage on the way in, and if she would have chosen to be there again at this point.
Frederick and Arianna had asked Rapunzel to stay out of sight - in the carriage, that is - until they could organize a proper reintroduction of her to the kingdom. So when they arrived at the dock, she began giving everyone hugs. "Bye, Anna - I never thought I'd see you again! Bye Ambrelle! It was nice to meet you. I'm sorry I can't meet your horse. Maybe next time?" Then she looked steadfastly at Elsa. "I can't cry, can I?"
"No. I'm sorry."
Rapunzel took her hands. "Well .. it's how I feel, you know?"
Elsa nodded.
"Thank you," Rapunzel continued earnestly. "Thank you so much." She looked down contemplatively. "There's ... there's no substitute for life. I knew that already, but I really know it now."
Rapunzel couldn't cry, but Elsa could, and she could feel her eyes misting over.
Rapunzel leaned across the carriage and wrapped her in a firm hug. "Come back soon and stay a while, huh?"
Elsa knew she couldn't promise. "You can come visit us too," she smiled.
Rapunzel sat back as the other three exited the carriage and the door was closed.
Anna took her hand as they stood waiting for the men to join them. "You really are amazing, sis," she said.
She looked down. They were kind words, but at the moment she would gladly pass all the amazingness to someone else. "Thank you," she said simply. Anna pulled her into a hug as the three men walked up.
"It's gonna be pretty interesting around here the next couple of weeks," Eugene said. "Are you sure you want to miss it?"
Elsa returned a wry smile. "I have an appointment to keep," she replied.
"Yeah," Anna chuckled, "it seems excitement just kind of follows you wherever you go!"
"Well maybe you can stop by on the way home."
Elsa gave a nod. The timing might end up being perfect, actually. And she had regretted not visiting earlier. "I'll see what I can do. Watch out for her, prince Eugene."
"You know I will." He gave a wink and a smoldering grin. "And thank you. Thank you for trying, and thank you for succeeding. I would never have imagined this situation would end this way."
"I'm glad it did. There was no way to be sure." She turned her attention back to Anna. "Don't get stuck here, Anna. I'm sure admiral Naismith is drumming his fingers as we speak -"
"I can totally picture it!"
"- And we shouldn't lean on the bishop too hard either."
"I promise, I promise," she rolled her eyes. Then she wrapped Elsa in another hug. "Have a good time. You're going to be all safe and all, this time, right? I don't have to worry?"
Elsa smiled warmly as she spoke next to Anna's ear. "You don't have to worry."
Elsa breathed deeply as she boarded the King Agnar with Ambrelle and Heinrick following behind her, but it wasn't quite the cleansing breath she was looking for. One of Ken's victims had been reclaimed from the darkness, but so many others remained. Where will I possibly find the time?
A/N: This officially (probably) ends the part that could be considered a "crossover." :) Although thinking about it more, since Disney put Rapunzel into the scene with the guests entering Arendelle castle, I have nothing to apologize for.
