The Ice Behind Bars
Chapter XVI : Innocence – Part II
As they walked around the fort, Elsa kept smiling a little at the flower in her hands while Anna was talking something about taking Elsa to the waterfalls outside the fort on the east side of the forest.
When Elsa lifted her head to glance around where they were going, her eyes fell on something that smashed the most disgusted, shocked and confused look on her face.
Rapunzel was walking next to Elsa when she noticed Elsa's face and her eyes widened. "Elsa, what's wrong?" She asked in worry.
When the others heard Rapunzel's question, they quickly turned to look at Elsa in worry too.
Elsa only blinked as she stared at the most strange thing she ever saw. "Wh-… What are they doing?!" She asked in shock.
The others' confusion grew. They followed Elsa's line of view and their eyes shot wider than hers when they landed on a couple having their moment of passion and love.
Aiden and Anna tried to stiffen their laughs but failed miserably. Rapunzel and Flynn went speechless as they had no idea what to answer. Kristoff just covered his mouth and quickly stopped himself from laughing.
"U-Uhhh…" Rapunzel muttered awkwardly and exchanged worried looks with Flynn. "They, they… They are kissing Elsa." She said before she felt her face turn red.
"Why do they do that?" Elsa asked innocently, her eyes never left the couple.
Anna and Aiden's laugh only grew louder and Rapunzel felt more embarrassed. She felt as if Elsa was mocking her but when she saw how Elsa waited for an answer with confused and innocent eyes, she felt even more awkward. "Uhm, they just show their love, Elsa. They l-love each other so they d-do… That… so they can show how much they love each other." She said while she pointed at the couple with her chin.
"With their mouth?!" Elsa asked again as she stared at the couple while half her upper lip lifted in disgust. "Aren't there any other way?"
Rapunzel blushed at that question so hard she felt she would explode. Anna's tears ran down her cheeks uncontrollably as she laughed aloud. "T-Trust me… Elsa… T-There are…" Anna tried to speak while she clutched her stomach from the laughter pain. "So many other… W-ways to show your love!" She said and forced Aiden to lean on her shoulder as he laughed his guts out. "So many more… and more…and mo-" Anna was saying when Rapunzel's hand came to her mouth and stopped her midsentence.
"OKAYYYYY! I think that's enough!" Rapunzel said awkwardly and totally embarrassed. "I-I-uh… I just don't know, Elsa." Rapunzel lied.
Anna shoved Rapunzel's hand off her face and smirked at her evilly while she placed her hands on her hips, "Oh yeah!... Then why don't you tell Elsa how you and Flynn do it!" Anna teased.
Rapunzel gasped so loud that made Anna jump back in surprise and with a laugh. "You were spying on us!?" Rapunzel asked totally in shock and bemusement.
"It's what thieves do!" Anna reasoned with a laugh.
"ANNA!" Rapunzel yelled while her face turned redder than a tomato. "Seriously?!"
"Okay, okay!" Anna said while she raised her hands in defense and laughed even more. "Geesh, we were just looking for you when we saw you do… that!" Anna said while she pointed at the couples.
"WE?!" Rapunzel and Flynn asked in unison.
"Me and Aiden… and several others." Anna said while she clasped her hands behind her back, looked around and avoided Rapunzel and Flynn's face as if she had nothing to do with it.
"Oh my god! I'm… I'm gonna KILL YOU!" Rapunzel said before she ran towards Anna to strangle her, but Anna only ran away and laughed playfully in glee as Rapunzel chased her around in rage.
Elsa watched the girls in confusion while she tilted her head a bit as they ran around. Anna was laughing her eyes out and Rapunzel was sending her death glares. "Come here Anna! Don't you want… a big… warm… HUG!?" Rapunzel managed to ask with a smirk as she panted while she spread her arms wide for a hug.
"No I'm fine! I have Bulda to cover that for me!" Anna replied. While she ran, an idea crossed her mind and her smirk reached her ears. She quickly turned her track and ran as fast as she can towards the couple. "Move away! Crazy lady coming through!" She yelled playfully.
The couple gasped and parted their lips as they saw Anna ran between them followed by Rapunzel. "Sorry, guys!... But you're causing a scene here in front of the children!" Anna called while she smiled back apologetically at the couple.
Anna finally lost her breath and hid behind Kristoff, and placed him between her and Rapunzel so the raging blondy couldn't reach her.
Flynn and Aiden stood next to each other while they both laughed with each other at the girls. "Do you think I should stop her?" Flynn asked playfully while he chuckled.
Aiden scoffed before he shook his head in amusement at the girls' antics. "I think you do, if you love your girlfriend. Cause I have a feeling those couples are about to chase both of Anna and Rapunzel." He said while he pointed at the couples that were glaring at Anna and Rapunzel for breaking their beautiful moment.
Flynn and Aiden laughed with each other before Flynn quickly moved and picked Rapunzel up on his shoulder. "PUT ME DOWN, FLYNN! I have to teach her some manners!" Rapunzel yelled while she drummed her boyfriend's back.
"Alright blondy, just relax! She was just joking!" Flynn reasoned. I hope so.
"Yeahhh, Punzie! I was just joookiiinngg!" Anna teased from behind Kristoff's back.
Rapunzel huffed her hair away from her face in annoyance and defeat since Flynn wasn't going to put her down until she would relax. "Fine." She said grumpily.
"That's better." Flynn said before he settled her down and kissed her forehead.
Rapunzel's glare turned to a smile as she eyed her boyfriend fondly, before they all were surprised when Elsa's voice came out.
"I'm sorry." Elsa said ashamed. Her voice still was a bit throaty from past screams. She lowered her head and avoided Rapunzel's eyes.
Everyone just stopped laughing.
"What?" Rapunzel asked unsure on why Elsa was apologizing.
"If I didn't ask you, you wouldn't have went all… angry." Elsa explained while she hugged the rose pot closer to her chest.
"Oh, Elsa… No… No, no, no it wasn't your fault. We were just having fun, that's all." Rapunzel said while she moved towards Elsa and leaned down to look up at her face and realized that Elsa had a small sad pout on her face and her eyes were on the rose.
"Elsa, it's not your fault at all!" Anna said before she ran to stand right next to Elsa. "I was the one who pushed Rapunzel, not you. You just asked a question, it's not bad at all! In fact, it's great that you asked!" Anna said with a reassuring voice.
Elsa lifted her eyes from the rose and to Rapunzel's. Ashamed and apologetic cyan eyes met soothing green ones. "Don't worry, Elsa." Rapunzel said, "And-" She giggled a bit, "Let me hold that for you, cause you're getting dirt all over your dress." She said while she pointed on the pot that Elsa was hugging as if it was a teddy bear.
Elsa's eyes widened a bit and she looked down on her dress to see a dirt stain. "Oh…" She said with a low voice.
"It's okay, we'll change it later." Anna said while she giggled.
"Give it here. Don't worry it will be in safe hands. Plus, you won't be able to walk while holding both the pot and the stick." Rapunzel said while she held her hands up and motioned for Elsa to give her the rose pot.
Elsa hesitated a bit. She looked at the pot then at Rapunzel. "O-… Okay." She finally said with a tiny sigh before she lent her the pot.
Rapunzel took it gingerly with a smile, then turned at the others. "Okay, then. Move on everyone." She said with a happy voice.
While they continued their walk through town, Elsa was looking around at the activities that the people were doing. She saw children running and laughing in glee while holding wooden swords and playing fight. She turned her head the other way to see an old man was sitting at a wooden bench and surrounded by a great amount of birds. She wondered how he was able to do that. She supposed it's because of the tiny grains he was throwing to them.
A sudden sound of a wolf-whistle came from her right. Elsa made the mistake and turned her head slowly and saw four young men were looking at her with lustful grins. One of them made a wolf howl sound at her. Elsa turned at Anna and the others and she saw how they were totally ignoring them. Another one joined with the howl and Elsa couldn't help but feel utterly ashamed as the fear inside of her began to rise. They were mocking her. Calling for her as if she was some kind of an animal as they howled at her.
S-stop it… I'm… I'm not a wolf!... not a beast! She thought while her eyes formed tears. She did not quite understand that the howls and whistles were a disturbing, low-mannered way to show their interests in her. She quickly looked away. But I am… I am a beast! I am a monster!
Elsa turned to the thieves and saw that they weren't quite hearing the men. They were already locked in a conversation about where to take Elsa next. She turned her head again to the men, her eyes full with shame and worry. Then, when her eyes met one of the men's, she quickly gasped, lowered her head and clutched to the stick in fear as she started to hear what they were saying.
"Looks like she likes you, Fred. She's looking at you." One of the men said while he punched his friend on the back.
"Yeah! She's a beauty that one!" Fred replied while he licked his lips in anticipation.
"I think that's the wounded princess, Herk. The one they rumored about." Another said while he pointed at Elsa injuries.
"Who cares, Peter. Princess or not… I wonder how she's in bed." Herk said before the men erupted in laughter.
Elsa's shoulders lifted with every statement she was able to hear.
"White hair and a stick, though… Hah, she reminds me of grandma!" Peter mocked and sent another wave of annoying laughter to Elsa's ears.
"Be careful, my friend. They said she can freeze your cock off!" Fred reminded mockingly.
"Pshh! They just say that so they could protect her. They don't want anyone near her." The last man said.
"She's too skinny, though. Hey Roger! Ye think we can help her add some meat on these breasts?" Herk asked.
"I think I can manage that." The last man, Roger, replied. Before they all started howling again to grab Elsa's attention.
Anna heard Elsa's tiny whimper and she quickly turned back to look at Elsa. When she did, her eyes shot wide as she saw how Elsa's eyes were closed and she gripped the stick firmly while tears streamed down her face. "Elsa, what's wrong?!" She asked worried after she ran next to her side.
Elsa shook her head quickly. "N-Nothing." She said with a sob.
The others ran next to the sisters' side. "Elsa, are you okay?!" Rapunzel asked utterly worried. "Is there any pain?! Are you feeling well?!"
"Anna, I told you she needed to rest!" Aiden said, concern overwhelmed his face.
"Elsa, just tell us. We'll help you." Anna promised.
Elsa finally lifted her head a bit and wiped her tears. "It's just…" She rolled her lips inside her mouth in anxiety and turned her head slowly and nervously towards the men. "T-They are calling me… a beast." She said with a low, scared voice. And they are right.
Another howl and a wolf-whistle was heard and the thieves followed Elsa's gaze and when they saw the men, they all glared at them in annoyance and irritation, before Anna turned at Elsa again and realized the words that Elsa just said. "Oh! You think they are callin-… Oh, no no no!" Anna said before she giggled a bit. "Elsa… They are not calling you a beast!" She reassured. "You can say that it's just some kind of a stupid, crappy way of… well… Uhm, saying that you're beautiful." She looked at Elsa right in the eyes. "But here me out. You should ignore them whenever you hear these bastards. Cause if you don't, they'll keep it up." Anna instructed the princess who clearly did not know the 'Street safety rules'. She knew Elsa didn't quite understand half of what the men meant by all their disturbing words. She knew that Elsa thought that they were mocking her, not that they were actually hitting on her. She placed a soothing hand on Elsa's shoulder and forgot about Elsa's reaction who quickly tensed at the touch. Anna quickly withdrew her hand and smiled apologetically. "Sorry." She said.
"Hey, you fuckin bastards! If you're so desperate, how about you go fuck each other!?" Rapunzel suddenly yelled in both rage and sarcasm while she pointed at the men.
"Rapunzel!" Anna scolded while she held back her laugh.
Rapunzel only groaned in frustration and crossed her arms in irritation. She was angry at these buffoons that she just couldn't keep her mouth shut.
Aiden gripped Rapunzel's shoulder firmly and tried to hide his fuming mind with a smile. "Don't worry, Rapunzel. Just take Elsa somewhere else." He said before he turned to Flynn and Kristoff. "Me and the boys have some… business to take care of." He said with a thick voice, yet Rapunzel and the sisters didn't quite catch the angry tone in it, but both Kristoff and Flynn did, so they smirked and gave him an affirmation nod.
Rapunzel only nodded, "Okay." She said confused, before she turned to Elsa and Anna. "Come on, you two." She said before she helped Anna to walk the scared and ashamed Elsa away.
Aiden turned to his friends with the most serious face, before they all turned to the laughing young men.
"And as for you guys…" Flynn said and grabbed the men's attention, whom smiles and laughter quickly faded when they saw Flynn and the others hit theirs hand with their other knuckles threateningly.
Time to teach some wolves how to really howl. Aiden thought.
"Anna! Punzie!" A little girl's voice called happily.
The women turned right before a little girl with light brown short hair, fair skin and brown eyes, jumped at Anna and wrapped her in a hug.
Anna stumbled backwards with a laugh but managed to steady herself before she fell. "Zoey!" She exclaimed, surprised.
"Come play with me, Anna!" Zoey said while she squished her cheek harder on Anna's waist.
Anna laughed before she broke the hug and knelt so that her eyes met Zoey's height. "Maybe later, sweety." Anna said with a gentle voice. "We have guests."
"Aaawwhh!" Zoey whined, but only then did she notice Elsa, so her eyes shot wide. "Who's this?!" She asked happily, amazed at Elsa's hair and eyes. But just when the smile appeared, it faded when she saw the injuries and bandages. "Is she okay?!" She asked while she narrowed her brown curious eyes at Elsa's body.
"Zoey, this is Elsa. Our new friend!" Anna answered happily. "She'll be staying with us from now on."
And before Zoey could ask anything wrong that could hurt Elsa, Anna tapped the girl's shoulder and made her turn before she pulled her close and gently whispered in her ears. "Bad men were mean to her and she's a bit scared. So be nice, okay sweety?"
Zoey looked at Anna and mouthed 'Oh' before she turned to Elsa with a wide grin. "Hi Elsa! My name is Zoey! I'm Anna, Rapunzel, Aiden and Flynn's friend!" She said happily as she approached Elsa and counted the names on her fingers.
Anna and Rapunzel chuckled at the little girl's words. And they were impressed since Elsa didn't actually tense or backed away when Zoey was only standing three feet away from her. But they supposed since little Zoey didn't quite look intimidating, of course, cause her height reached Elsa's waist.
"You're pretty!... Oh! I'm 8 by the way. And you?" Zoey asked innocently.
Elsa's eyes grew a bit wide at the question and she bit her lip in nervousness, since she still didn't know how old she really was. "Uh…"
"She's my age." Rapunzel quickly said to help Elsa out. "About twenty-one."
Elsa's eyes shot wide and her jaw went slack. Twenty one!?... I'm twenty one!? Elsa thought shocked.
Zoey looked back up at Elsa who was clearly lost in her own thoughts, and she couldn't help but stare at how much Elsa's hair was bright and long, even with a braid. "I like your hair! It's so long and unique." She said happily while she twirled a lock of her own hair around her finger.
Elsa snapped out of her thoughts and blinked at the little girl in front of her in confusion.
Your hair is the sign of the coldness of your heart, Monster.
The king's words suddenly echoed in Elsa's mind and she lost focus on the girl in front of her as the king's regal, calm voice in her head sent a shiver down her spine.
"Mine is boring brown… Plus, your… Your eyes are really, really beautiful too." Zoey said shyly as she stared at the ground while she drew a circle in the dirt with her foot and hid her hands behind her back.
Look at your eyes! They are unnatural. Because these are the demon's eyes. Not a Human's.
Zoey stared at Elsa in confusion and she tilted her head to the side in wonder. "You don't talk much."
"Zoeyyy." Anna scolded with a whisper.
"Oh! Right. Sorry…" Zoey said as she winced awkwardly at her blunt statement. She turned back at Elsa and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Miss Elsa." She said while she lowered her head in shame and looked at Elsa with puppy eyes.
"Oh! That reminds me… By the way, Zoey. I have a surprise for youuuu." Anna said happily while she smirked at the little girl.
"Really?!" Zoey asked in excitement.
"Uh-huh! Guess what… Miss Elsa here is actually a princess." Anna informed.
Zoey gasped in joy and she quickly turned her head to Elsa. "You're a princess?!" Zoey asked fascinated while she pointed a finger at Elsa.
No. I'm not. Elsa thought, yet she felt the little girl's excitement and she didn't quite wanted to fade that away by saying this aloud.
"So you're like… Live in a castle with huge rooms and colorful gardens with birdies flying around? And you can have a lot of chocolate? And there are a lot of servants?! And-and you like… Have pretty dresses, you help people and everyone loves you?!" Zoey showered Elsa with questions and didn't quite notice Elsa's cringe at every question.
No. I live in a cage and I see blood, pain and chains… and I hurt people that is why everyone hates me. Elsa thought sorrowfully.
"What are you doing here then? Castles are much more fun than here!" Zoey said enthusiastically.
Elsa's face showed fear and she only shook her head in disagreement.
Zoey raised one eyebrow in confusion, "What? Aren't castles supposed to be fun?" Zoey asked while she shrugged her shoulders.
Before Zoey could push Elsa more, Anna placed a hand on the little girl's shoulder to make her stop. "Zoey…" Anna said with a whisper.
Luckily, Zoey saw how Anna was looking at her and she understood that Elsa didn't want to talk about castles for the moment... Or the past itself.
Zoey frowned in confusion. She didn't understand why Elsa was so… reserved. Since that's how her mind saw it at least.
Anna looked at Elsa who was staring at the ground in unease. Then, an idea came to her and her face lit up. She quickly turned to Zoey whom was still looking at Elsa quizzically. "What's your favorite season, Zoey?" Anna asked while she made sure Elsa could hear.
Rapunzel smiled at Anna since she realized what the redhead was trying to do.
Zoey's face turned happy and excited again. "Ouh! I know, I know!" Zoey said excitedly while she waved her hand in the air. "Winter!" She shouted happily with a tiny pounce.
Anna noticed how Elsa's eyes widened. She smiled since now she was sure Elsa was hearing, so she continued. "And why is it your favorite season?" She asked Zoey.
"Because there is snow! And we love the snow!" Zoey exclaimed happily.
Elsa's mind just rolled in utter bewilderment. "Snow?!" She asked as she looked at the little girl in confusion. "Why do you love the snow?!… Snow is dangerous! It's cold! A-And nobody likes the cold!" Elsa asked Zoey in disbelief while her eyebrows furrowed in worry.
"No, silly! Snow isn't dangerous. Snow is beautiful! It's really fun! You can make snowman, snow angels and the best thing, you can have snowball fights!... Summer is boring! Mud fights are annoying and you get dirt all over your clothes." Zoey replied while she waved her hands at her clothes.
"B-But… I don't understand! The cold snow is bad! It… It hurts people! It's a curse! W-Winter is the devil's work!" Elsa said again while she looked in fright at her gloved hands.
Zoey giggled a bit. "You're funny!... I like you."
Oh God, Elsa. Anna thought sadly at the anxious princess.
Elsa started shaking her head strongly. "No, no, no this is wrong! The cold is dangerous! It was always dangerous! It's unsafe a-and people die from the cold! How can… the cold be a good thing?!"
They don't understand how dangerous it is! Elsa little girl reminded her so much of her baby energetic sister, Anna. Just by looking at Zoey, she felt she could have hurt her by mistake just like the ballroom accident, so she took a step back and grasped firmly to the stick.
Zoey didn't understand why Elsa hated the winter that much. She just stared at her in uncertainty.
Anna and Rapunzel exchanged worried looks. They knew Elsa was afraid of her powers. They supposed that it's the least Elsa could do since she lived in the cellar all these years, and was trained horribly and harshly to conceal them. Anna knew she had one last chance to relief Elsa a bit from that fear of her powers. She turned her head to Zoey and smiled at her. "Zoey, why is the cold a good thing?" She said with a loud voice and made sure Elsa could hear again.
Zoey's face lit up radiantly and she clapped her hands since she knew what Anna was going to say.
Anna continued, "Because without the cold, there wouldn't be any...?!" Anna trailed off playfully and motioned for Zoey to continue their special mantra.
"Warm hugs!" Zoey said while she pounced at Anna and wrapped her in a hug.
"And do you know that Elsa here can make snow with magic?!" Anna asked teasingly while she hugged her little friend.
Zoey gasped excitedly, quickly broke from the hug and turned to Elsa. "Really?! That is sooo cool! Can… Can you show me?!" She asked with eyes full with awe.
Elsa quickly shook her head. "N-No… N-No I can't!" She said before she hid one hand behind her back while the other kept firm on the stick. "Please… Please, I can't!" Elsa insisted.
But Zoey was stubborn enough and did not notice Elsa's fear creeping out her whole body. She approached Elsa before Anna could catch her and grabbed Elsa's gloved hand, "But Why-"
Elsa quickly recoiled roughly, "NO! DON'T TOUCH ME!" Elsa yelled and whipped her hand away before she gripped the stick and turned her back to the little girl. Her shoulders lifted like always and her back hunched on the stick a bit. "P-Please… I… I just don't wanna h-hurt you." She whispered while tears streamed down her cheeks.
Zoey stared completely confused and worried. "I-I'm sorry! I was just… Did I do something wrong?!" Zoey asked when she turned at Anna and Rapunzel with pleading eyes.
Anna went to comfort Elsa while Rapunzel went to Zoey and knelt next to the scared girl, before she smiled at her soothingly. "No, sweet. Elsa is just… afraid. She thinks that the snow she makes is bad." She whispered in the girl's ear. It did kind of destroyed the sanctuary. But she didn't mean it. She was just afrai-… Wait!... Afraid? Ice? Bad? Rapunzel gasped aloud as the idea cleared in her mind.
Meantime, Anna was trying her best to calm Elsa down. "Elsa, please listen to me. You won't hurt anyone. Because… You. Are not. A monster." She said sternly in determination.
"A-Anna…" Elsa whispered her voice quivered at the name she was terrified to pronounce in years. She felt her heart ripped apart at the memory of her little joyful sister.
Anna's eyes widened since it's the first time Elsa called her or even said her name. But she wasn't sure if Elsa was even talking to her… or herself.
"I… just don't wanna h-hurt anyone, A-Anna. She-… She's so young!" Elsa whispered through her sobs. She reminds me of Anna! My sister!... My little baby sister that I hurt! She thought before she let out another sob.
Anna's face softened and her sympathetic smile reached her ears. Elsa really was talking to her. And for the first time, she really actually acknowledged someone by his name.
"You d-don't understand, Anna… Y-you don't understand what my curse did!" Elsa said her voice so full with regret, shame and sorrow.
If you could only tell us! If you could only allow that burden off your chest and tell someone! Anna thought sadly. I can't just ask her! I don't know what she'll do if I did!
I can't! I just can't! You'll kill me the moment you know! Elsa thought utterly frightened.
Anna bit her lip in nervousness and inhaled deeply and just when she was about to ask, Rapunzel's gasp was heard.
The two women turned to face the blondy and the little girl. Rapunzel quickly grabbed both Zoey and Anna's wrists and brought them close so she could whisper to them what she discovered.
Elsa only lowered her head and turned away while she clutched the stick with one hand and hugged herself with her other arm.
"Rapunzel, what's wrong?" Anna asked with a low and angry voice, since she had to leave Elsa a bit so she can hear what Rapunzel wanted to say so badly.
"Okay Anna, listen up. Do you remember what happened at the sanctuary when Elsa woke up?" Rapunzel asked with a whisper.
"Uhm… Yeah, no need to remind me." Anna asked a bit annoyed.
"And do you remember how terrified she was?" Rapunzel asked again.
"Rapunzel, are you taunting me here? Cause it's annoying! Of course I remember how terrified she was." Anna said irritated.
"No, no! Just listen to me! Didn't you see how every time she gets scared… Oh I don't know, but everything turn to ice!" Rapunzel informed.
"Why? What happened at the sanctuary?" Zoey asked.
"It's a long story, dear." Anna said while she smiled and stroked Zoey's hair, then turned to Rapunzel with a questioning look.
"Even when she's anxious!" Rapunzel continued. "Do you remember when Olly, Sally and the others ran to her?... And how the room temperature dropped like HUGE!... A-And don't make me remind you what we saw back at the cellar."
"I don't think I'm getting where you're going there Rapunzel! Just say it already!" Anna demanded.
"Well here's the thing. Since the ice only appears wildly ONLY when she is scared, then it means that Fear force the ice to loosen up badly or dangerously!" Rapunzel explained happily since she was proud of her analyses.
"So what you're saying is… That there is a way she could create the ice and snow safely?" Anna wondered.
"Well, yeah there should be! I mean come on, everything has both good and bad side. Danger and Beauty, right?" Rapunzel said.
"Rapunzel… If she doesn't know how… Than how are we going to know how to tame this power?" Anna asked a bit worried.
"Well, we can start by letting her forget about that nasty past, and build her trust." Rapunzel suggested.
Anna suddenly gasped, jumped at Rapunzel and grabbed her head with her hands before she kissed her forehead. "You're a genius! Since when you became that smart!?" Anna asked sarcastically.
Rapunzel puffed up her chest proudly and lifted her chin. "I've been working on it, lately."
"With smolder boy?" Anna teased with a smirk.
Rapunzel's smile quickly turned to a frown. "Don't start this." Rapunzel said with the most serious tone.
Anna laughed at her friend's face. And right before they could turn to Elsa, Zoey's voice came out. "Wait!"
Anna and Rapunzel looked at her quizzically. "What is it?" Anna asked.
"You said Elsa is afraid right?" Zoey asked innocently.
"Well, yeah." Rapunzel confirmed. "Isn't it obvious?"
"No it's not that! What I mean is… She needs to calm down, right? So how about we take Princess Elsa to… you know, our 'favorite spot'! I'm sure she'll be happy when she sees it. It is really calming anyway." Zoey recommended happily.
Anna and Rapunzel's face lit up. "Oh my god, how did I forget about that! This is perfect! It's the best thing for her, now!" Anna exclaimed.
"And right on time! Look!" Zoey said while she pointed at the blue sky that was starting to transform into a yellow-orange hue signaling the approach of dawn.
"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Anna asked happily.
They all turned to Elsa who was now staring at them in nervousness.
"Elsa, we need to show you something." Anna said with a gentle voice.
As the four girls started to walk out of town, Rapunzel looked around in wonder. "By the way… Where is Flynn and the others?"
Peter gasped for air when his soaked head was lifted off roughly from a barrel of water. "If you ever try to do anything to those three women you saw, you'll regret you were even born!" Flynn intimidated with the most serious and stern voice he could muster.
"No… No, no! I s-swear! I won't I won't!" Peter said quickly as he stared at Flynn in fear, his hair sticky on his face from the water he was shoved in.
"Good." Flynn said before he shoved the man to the ground.
Kristoff had Roger pinned to the wall as he held a dagger to his throat. "Do you like women with redheads?" He threaten with an intimidating and serious face.
"N-No…" Roger said while his voice quivered like a chiwawa in fear.
"NO?! So you're saying girls with strawberry blonde hair aren't beautiful!?" Kristoff asked and totally acted that he was in rage.
"WHAT!? N-No! I-I-I didn't mean it like that!... U-Uhm, Y-Yes of course they are b-beautiful!" Peter said while he gulped as he felt the dagger squeezed harder to his throat.
"So are you going to hit on Anna or any other girl again!?" Kristoff asked while he glared at the man.
"N-No! I swear!" Roger vowed while he held his hand in defeat.
"Good." Kristoff said before he let go of the man who quickly scurried and stumbled away.
Meanwhile…
"PLEAAAASE! LIFT ME UP! LIFT ME UP!" Fred shrieked in terror as his face was inches above a pot of flaming charcoal.
"I can't heaaaarrr youuuuu!" Aiden sing-songed while he held both Fred and Herk's faces above the inferno and a smirk splattered his face.
"W-W-WE WON'T DO IT AGAIN! WE FUCKIN SWEAR!" Herk cried as he felt his sweat overwhelmed his face from the heat and he felt dizzy when a drop of sweat dropped to the fire and erupted a hiss.
"So tell me again… Are you going to howl at the princess like assholes next time ya see her?" Aiden asked his voice suddenly turned utterly intimidating and terrifyingly stern and serious.
"NONONONONO!..." Both Herk and Fred shouted in unison, incredibly fast.
"JUST LIFT US UP ALREADY! PLEASE!" Herk begged.
"Good." He said before he released both men and they quickly rushed away as they stumbled and lost balance on each other ridiculously.
"You think they learned their lesson?" Flynn said while he and Kristoff walked to the side of Aiden and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Aiden smirked, "I think they did."
"Okay, Elsa." Anna said while she looked up ahead. "It's just right up this hill." She said before she looked at the sky who now already showed the colors of orange, blue and yellow and they all blended together and gave the sky a pink hue.
Zoey already beat them to the top of the hill. "Come on, Elsa!" She called excitedly as something behind her was illuminating the little girl's back and left her face shadowed. Yet it also left the huge hill's shadow and shade on them.
"And I think you need help again, Elsa, Okay?" Rapunzel reminded. "The hill is a bit rough, so please, Elsa. We are just gonna help you." She said making sure she said the word 'Please' in a clear and pleading voice.
Elsa was very nervous. She did not know where they were taking her, but they were already out of town and now climbing a hill? Just great. She bit her lip in unease as she thought Rapunzel's words through. She looked at Rapunzel and Anna with worried eyes, before she nodded slowly.
Anna and Rapunzel smiled widely before each of them took a side of Elsa. "Okay, ready?" Anna asked.
Elsa gulped nervously then nodded again as she watched their warm hands touched her cold elbows.
Just when their hands contacted Elsa's elbows, both Rapunzel and Anna felt Elsa tensed all over again. "Relax, Elsa. We're here for you. We're here to help you and… We will never. EVER. Hurt you." Anna assured with a gentle, soothing smile and a soft voice.
Elsa inhaled and exhaled slowly and tried to allow herself not to tense at their touch. "O-Okay." She breathed.
Anna and Rapunzel nodded to each other before they started helping Elsa walk up the hill carefully. Elsa winced at her movements since this time she had to use more muscles and her body ached and pained so hard that she started hyperventilating.
Half way up, they had to stop to give Elsa a break but after a moment, she nodded and reassured them that she was ready to continue.
Just before they could reach the top, Zoey lifted her hands and stopped them with her voice. "Wait, wait! Not now." She said before she turned to the light and lifted a finger at them to tell them to come on cue. "Okaayyy… Just a little bit moreee…" Zoey muttered.
Elsa looked quizzically at the girl but Anna and Rapunzel already knew what the girl wanted.
"Okay, now!" Zoey called and motioned for them to come quick.
When they finally reached the top of the hill. Elsa froze entirely. Her eyes were shot wide and her jaw just dropped as she stared at the elegant miracle in front of her that literally stole her breath.
There, right in front of her, the scene was incredibly unbelievable. Elsa's eyes just saw her first and real sunset since forever. It was far away but she was clearly able to see every detail. The sun was slowly going down the horizon. As it went down, the burning light of the sun got dull and it looked like a huge disc of orange and yellow. The sun's orange rays were mingling with the light blue color of the sky and it produced a vast contrast of different colors. It was like watching a screen slowly changing colors. The scene was truly beautiful. The dull light of the sun somehow illuminated everything in a way she had never seen before. Everything was almost still, and the effect of the light made the scene look like one in a painting… The miraculous painting of God's work. The waves of the sea also seemed to have changed their color to a dull mixture of yellow and orange. The water was sparkling like diamonds in the light. And the sun's reflection was splattered all over the waters. The sun was gradually going down. It was all just mesmerizing. The golden light was slowly swallowed up by the land around her while the last traces of light dipped over the hill and over casted the trees below the pleasant view in a solemn landscape of shadows. It seemed almost as if the day were at rest... Oddly peaceful and calm.
Elsa's skin now had an orange-yellow hue as the sun rays hit it. The others could clearly see the reflection of the sunset on Elsa's eyes. But they all smiled warmly and joyfully when they saw what was next.
Elsa's tears suddenly streamed down her cheeks as she stared at the most beautiful thing she ever saw. Her mouth opened in a huge, wide smile and revealed a perfect row of white teeth. Her hand slowly lifted as she tried to imagine herself catching the sun, and begged it not to sink deeper into the horizon. The light illuminating between her fingers as she held her hand up. She needed it. She needed the sun rays of hope to wrap her body into a warm embrace. She didn't know why she was crying. These are new types of tears. Tears of joy, tears of relief. Yet she welcomed them in complete appreciation.
What came next, astonished Anna's face and overwhelmed it with tears. She clutched the vest on her chest when she felt her heart raced in delight and she suddenly heard it. A beautiful angelic, lighthearted laughter of pure innocence and joy.
Elsa started laughing gleefully at the flawless scene in front of her. She couldn't help but wonder on how God was capable of creating something like this. She just couldn't and wouldn't get bored of it. Every pain, agony, misery, anxiety, guilt and fear… Her father and Mad, the cellar, the chains, the blood and every single idea that had been tormenting her for the past fifteen years such as bad memories and thoughts were vanished to oblivion, on that moment… Just gone, discharged from her body, absorbed by the sun. She felt nothing but wholesome, pure bliss.
Rapunzel came right next to Anna, who was already crying herself in joy, and wrapped her from the side in a hug, and that didn't stop Zoey from joining the hug. One more woman was left to complete the hug, but they wanted her to absorb every single bit of happiness from the sunset, so they decided not to interrupt her first peaceful and jubilant moment.
Was it real? This feeling of utter happiness and free of sorrow? Could it exist? She never felt something like it before. Could it be an illusion? A Hallucination? Was she that desperate that she found happiness in the simplest things? The feeling felt so foreign to her. She just kept laughing in glee and joy for a reason she did not know. She didn't wanted even to know. All what she wanted was to laugh. To laugh and feel the chilly breeze on her wet cheeks. The breeze that sent her bangs flying to the side, and revealed her teary, carefree and elated cyan eyes.
If only you could see this, Aphrodite. Rapunzel thought.
The other girls couldn't believe and understand how someone can find so much joy just by the view of the painting of the greatest artist. Don't get them wrong, the scene was astonishing. But they just couldn't stop staring at the joyful Elsa. They were just speechless.
Nature really is the only medicine. It's so beautiful, it makes you wanna cry. Anna thought as if she was talking to Elsa while she stared at her-not yet known to be- sister's joyful tears.
The sunset glistened upon the land, while the three girls stood hand in hand. One stood in disbelief, as she felt her first and utter relief. The beauty that it brought to them. The magic that it sang to them. The sunset shined upon the ground, with people stood, stared, astound. The colors soaked into them, while the art evoked heart in them. This sunset of life and love soared in the heavens like a dove. The sunset with an irreplaceable history filled them up with mystery. Flawless, winged and unconfined, and broke all chains from every mind.