The Ice Behind Bars

Chapter XXIII: Order From A Big Sister

Anna and Elsa were walking closely next to each other out of the alley with a smile spread on their faces when Anna was suddenly tackled by Rapunzel.

"WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!? You got us all worried!... BOTH OF YOU!" Rapunzel said angrily as she pinned Anna to the ground. And when Anna started to laugh, Rapunzel turned redder from anger.

"There you are!" Flynn called out from behind them. Elsa turned to see that there were the three familiar faces of Flynn, Aiden and Kristoff rushing towards them, followed by some villagers. She took a step back to stand behind Rapunzel and Anna's tackled form just for safety.

"Where the hell were you guys!?" Kristoff called when he approached.

"We looked everywhere for you!" Aiden said.

"Can you remove this blonde cow off of me so I can explain!?" Anna said, laughing at the look on their faces.

Rapunzel sent her a death glare before she stood off of Anna and helped her up. "Now… Explain!" Rapunzel demanded as she crossed her arms and the others did the same.

Anna went to stand next to Elsa, "I was having some bad moments cause I had a fight with my mum and I needed some time alone… And Elsa here was the one who made me feel so much better." Anna said as she wrapped an arm around Elsa's shoulder and they smiled both at each other.

Rapunzel's face softened, "Oh thank goodness you're both okay. That's what matters." She said and approached them.

Since Elsa and Anna were out of the dim alley and into the afternoon relaxing sunlight, Elsa's pupils shrunk in size at the light, revealing even much more of the unnatural cyan color and made some of the villagers more fearful of her abnormality and some amazed at her beauty.

"Then why was she about to freeze the fort!?" One of the villagers called out and sent loud shouts of agreement from the other villagers.

When she heard them talking and shouting angrily about her, Elsa feared the worst but a squeeze from Anna's hand reassured her and made her relax again.

"Woah, woah! This wasn't Elsa's fault! I-If you wanna blame someone, it's me… I was the one who made Elsa do this, a-and she didn't even mean it." Anna defended and puffed her chest at the angry villagers.

"What are you talking about?" Another villager asked.

Kristoff, Aiden, Flynn and Rapunzel gave Anna a confused look.

Anna laughed nervously and played with her braids, "Well… You see? I kind of… lunged myself at Elsa and hugged her." She said shyly before she winced and waited for their reaction.

The thieves and Kristoff stared dumbfounded and silent at her.

"Uh… What?" Flynn finally said.

Anna groaned, "Agggghh! Look! The main story is: I hugged Elsa. She accidently turned the fort cold. We became friends. We both are happy. Fort all warm again. End of the story. And now you guys are really creepy by staring at us like that."

Elsa couldn't help but smile widely when Anna said Friends and none knew how that made Aiden melt on the inside... Poor Aiden.

Aiden couldn't help but to remove his own frown and replaced it with a smile. He felt his heart race and- Okay, this is seriously has to stop! He thought to himself and blushed lightly. Wait, what?! What am I even talking about!? He shook his head to relieve himself from his strange thoughts; thoughts he never experienced before.

Anna sighed, "She was just surprised and shocked, that's all. And- Agh! Look!... Everything is fine now. That's what matters, okidoki?" She asked, then quickly, "And you have nothing to fear from Elsa. Now move along, everyone." She started shooing them away with her hands, "Go back to your chores and duties and… other stuff."

The villagers and other guild members kept their eyes on Elsa as they slowly walked away and went back to their business. Some had relieved smiles and most had frowns and glares.

When the group were alone, Rapunzel approached Anna and Elsa and smiled at them, "I'm glad you two are okay." She said warmly and gave Anna a hug.

"You should thank Elsa for that." Anna said and made Elsa blush.

Rapunzel broke from the hug and turned to Elsa, "Guys! Guess who saved the day?" She called out happily as her eyes were kept on Elsa.

Elsa's eyes widened when Rapunzel turned the men's attention towards her and she couldn't help but tense.

The men approached and Elsa silently gasped.

Anna quickly rushed to reassure her, motioning for the men to stop their track. She placed a hand on the extremely anxious Elsa's shoulder and gave her a squeeze, "Elsa?" Anna's voice came out soft. Elsa's eyes slowly yet hesitantly left the men and turned to Anna's. "Do… Do you trust me, Elsa?" She asked and felt a bit worried for the answer.

The men stopped and waited for Anna's cue.

Elsa only stared at Anna blankly. Can I? She thought. She never hurt me, she saved me from the dungeons and she gave me food to eat… Even when I spat at her, She never hurt me! She helped me when I needed her help and she always makes me happy and- She stopped her thoughts and her eyes lifted to stare right into Anna's and the corner of her lips twitched up to create a jubilant, warmhearted smile, "You're my friend."

Anna let out an ecstatic, lighthearted laugh while Rapunzel and the others watched amazed. "And friends trust each other, right Elsa?" Anna asked as she gave Elsa an elated, lip-parted smile.

Elsa nodded excitedly and at that, everyone felt a warm tug to their happy hearts and couldn't help but join the smiles and laughters of the two sisters.

"So if you do trust me," Anna said with a smirk, "Then I can assure you that you can trust them." She said, pointing at the men.

Elsa's smile fell and she gave Anna a nervous and unsure look. "You should get to know them, Elsa. They are really nice buffoons and-" Anna looked at the men, up and down, "Even though they are huge, their brains are tiny and their hearts are warm." Anna said reassuringly, but Elsa gave Anna a 'Please don't make me do this' look.

"It's alright, Elsa." Kristoff finally spoke with a goofy smile, "We really won't hurt you." He said and received a fond and proud smile from Anna.

Way to go, Kristoff. Anna thought as she felt her heart race the more she kept her eyes on the blonde man.

"You can trust them, Elsa." Rapunzel started and approached her boyfriend, "Do you know why I'm in love with Flynno?... Because he is really nice and sweet and would never hurt a fly." She said and made Flynn blush before she gave him a peck on the cheek.

"I know you're scared, Elsa." Anna started, "We all understand. And we don't want you to feel uncomfortable or forced or anything! But when you get to know them and trust them, I'm pretty sure all of you will make good friends. Just like me with them!... Just like me with you." She said excitedly.

Elsa was overjoyed that she made a friend but she just couldn't help but to still feel nervous and couldn't relax.

Anna sighed and smiled sadly at Elsa, "Don't worry. There is still time for all this. Well… At least you're good with Punzie right?!" Anna said happily, pointing at Rapunzel.

Rapunzel's eyes widened a bit as she stared at Elsa nervously and with a silly smile.

Elsa's eyes slowly turned to look at Rapunzel and the green-eyed woman held her breath, waiting for Elsa's answer. Elsa wasn't sure what she should have felt towards Rapunzel. The woman never hurt her too anyway. She helped her up few times without pain. She many times tried to sooth her but of course it never worked like Anna's comforting, but at least she always tried. They ate together on the same table and not the floor like she used to back in the dungeons. She also laughed when Elsa spat at Anna instead of hitting her or scolding her aggressively. She stayed with her to calm her when she was being tended to her wounds and bandage-change. She had no reason to be afraid of Rapunzel, right?

Elsa then decided to give Rapunzel a tiny smile.

Rapunzel's gasped as her face turned into the most joyous manner. "YES!" She jumped at Flynn in a hug and blew out the air from his lungs, he felt his eyes would have popped out. "I'm on Elsa's list now, baby!" Rapunzel felt as if she just accomplished the best and biggest achievement of her life by having Elsa smile at her and not being scared of her. Strangely it was mostly what Rapunzel wanted. Why was it that important to her? She had no idea. But who wouldn't want to be friends with Elsa?

Anna laughed at Rapunzel's reaction. Well that was unexpected. She thought jokingly.

Elsa on the other hand gave Anna a shy and unsure smile, feeling shy about Rapunzel's reaction.

"You are just lucky because you're not big and intimidating!" Flynn teased and made Rapunzel laugh and she smooched him on the lips.

That was really awkward and strange for Elsa. Why were they so happy to have her? She just still couldn't understand why. The Coocoos- as they are now called by Elsa- kept really confusing her more and more. Wasn't she supposed to be hated? She was a monster after all. Then why were they happy?

Coocoos… Elsa thought. Maybe they were happy because they were just crazy? Or were they really happy because they were with her? That, was yet to stay a mystery to her.

"See, Elsa?" Anna said, "We are all happy to have you here." She walked towards the men and linked her left arm with Aiden's and her right with Kristoff's while Rapunzel and Flynn linked theirs. "We are all one family. And we all care for you. And want you to be one of our family." They all smiled at her, "And I hope that someday you would trust them all." She shook the two men with her arms to show whom she was talking about.

Elsa was now living a dream. She felt as if she wanted to cry of joy. This was too much! Too much happiness! Why were they so good to her?! They were officially inviting her to become one member of their crazy family and Elsa of course always dreamed of such a thing. Family… Family!? Poor Elsa always dreamt of many things she long lost. Did she even remember what family was? Or did her cruel father forced her to say and remember that she would never have a family? She would never forget how he used to tell her that if anyone found her on the streets, they would either take advantage of her and kill her and would never accept her as a family member.

He used to tell her: No one would invite a freak to their family… People are scared of freaks and murderers. That's why we lock them away. That's why you are locked away from all the innocent. Never forget that, do you hear me? Never forget that!

But Elsa was getting utterly confused since everything was happening in this fort and with these Coocoos was the opposite of what her father used to tell and force her to recite. As for the men, Elsa was pretty sure that she would never trust them. If her own father hurt her, what would stop other men from doing so too?

"Well!" Anna rubbed her hands eagerly, "I'm feeling hungry! And I think Louis is going to prepare dinner soon so… Who wants to eaaatt?" Anna sing-songed.

Everyone shouted a 'Yeah!' happily- except for Elsa of course- and started walking towards the sanctuary.

"I'm starving! I feel like I could eat a whole reindeer." Aiden said as he patted his well-built abs.

Kristoff gasped, "No reindeers! Reindeers are friendly and have feelings! No one is allowed to eat them!"

"Oh forgive that big oaf here, Kristoff. He forgot that you have a special thing towards reindeers." Flynn teased and received a frown from Kristoff.

Awww! He's so sweet and kind!... And cuttttttee! Anna thought as she saw how Kristoff was a kind animal lover and was devoted to his reindeer friend.

"Come on, you three." Rapunzel said with a giggle and motioned for the others to follow.

Anna turned to Elsa and gestured with her head towards the sanctuary with a smile. Elsa smiled back and moved to walk right next to Anna happily but her eyes accidently… or for a reason, wandered towards the infirmary and she suddenly stopped in her tracks. A flash of memory took over her mind of how she took a glance inside Leanna's room before Rapunzel closed the door and how she saw Leanna's true sad and broken face.

Anna walked a few step forward more before she noticed that Elsa stopped. She turned with a confused face, "What's wrong?" She asked and made the other four turn to look at both sisters.

Elsa thought for a moment and felt this pull… This stinking pull again, pushing her towards the infirmary. She got a fight with her mum, because of me… They are sad with each other because of me. Elsa bit her lip then suddenly lifted her eyes and stared blankly at Anna before she pointed at the infirmary.

"What?" Anna asked, even more confused, but Elsa kept staring at her blankly and Anna would have sworn she saw a bit of determination but-… Determination for what? Everyone followed Elsa's finger and their eyes landed on the infirmary. Anna's eyes widened and she turned to look at Elsa, surprised. Does she want me to make it up with my mum?! She thought, astonished. "Do you mean I should talk to my mum? Hah, no way! I'm not talking to her." Anna said childishly with a frown yet Elsa kept the blank face… That blank face! It had no smile or a frown yet it held so many words that of course Anna understood.

Elsa gestured and pointed determinably at the infirmary again. She didn't know how she dared demand something from Anna. She swore she was opening the gates of hell with her own hands and that Anna might punch her right in the face, yet here she was, recommending Anna to work it up with her mother, in which she didn't know she was hers too.

The others watched as the two sisters stood there, staring at each other, Anna with a frown and Elsa with her special blank face, and both had a silent conversation that only sisters could do. After a moment, with Elsa's finger still raised, Anna finally sighed in defeat, "Okay, okay. I get what you want… 'Go get your butt there and speak to your mum.' I get it, Elsa." Anna said, then her face turned to a pleading one, "But do I really have toooo?" She whined childishly and Elsa finally smiled and nodded.

Anna frowned at her, "Fine." She said before she started to walk towards the infirmary with slumped shoulders. Geesh! That blank face of hers!... She gave me the shivers! Anna thought, then, "I swear, Elsa, it's like you're my big sister and- Ah! That god damn headache again!" Anna shouted then mumbled nasty curses to herself right before she disappeared behind the infirmary' main door.

Rapunzel and the other two thieves exchanged worried looks. I don't like these headaches. Rapunzel thought in concern.

Elsa winced at hearing Anna say Sister and she felt a whole wave of shame wash all over her. The bit of pride she just felt seconds ago since she just recommended to Anna that she should bend her relationship with her mum-in which Anna agreed even if she stubbornly was forced to-had vanished and was outstood by the guilt of murder. Luckily…

"Elsa!" A little girl's voice called out from behind.

Everyone turned to see Zoey, the little blue-eyed and light brown haired girl was rushing towards them and she was… Holding a pot of a blue flower?

Zoey ran unsteadily and happily towards Elsa, trying her best to hold the pot still. "Elsa! Elsa! El- Oof!" She suddenly slipped and she fell to the ground unharmed. Luckily, the pot landed safely on the ground. Zoey laughed innocently at her own clumsiness and made Rapunzel roll her eyes in amusement at the girl's silly antics. Zoey stood and without even dusting her dress and picked up the pot again and continued her track towards Elsa. "Elsa Elsa Elsa Elsa! Look look look!" Zoey said as she practically shoved the pot into Elsa's hands.

Elsa held and stared, unsure, at the pot in her hands that held a beautiful, sky blue kind of a flower, before she gave Zoey a confused look.

Zoey smiled shyly, "You were sad, Elsa! I knew that because it was so cold! And I quickly ran to Bulda since I know you love flowers and they made you happy. Bulda said you love blue flowers! So she gave me this!" She said excitedly as she pointed at the flower in Elsa's hands. "Bulda said that it's called The Blue Hydra- uh… Hydra- ula- iguana or something."

Rapunzel laughed aloud, "You mean The Blue Hydrangea?" She corrected and tried to stiffen her laugh and smiled proudly and fondly at the little girl.

"Yeah! That's what I said!" she then turned to Elsa, lowered her head to hide the blush and fidgeted with her fingers, "Do… Do you like it, Elsa? Are you happy now?" She asked and smiled shyly.

Elsa looked down at the flower in her hands. She just received her second gift! She was of course happy. The flower was really all blue and beautiful, just how she loved it. She felt a spark in her heart that grew the fond towards the girl that reminded her so much of her sweet little sister. She smiled warmly and knelt to meet Zoey's eye level. "Thank you, Zoey. I love it a lot." Elsa spoke with a voice that made the other four's jaw drop. Her voice was so gentle, soft and flawless. It wasn't quivering or cracking at all.

Zoey held her breath, placed both hands on her mouth as her cheeks were bulged due to the air she was keeping inside and suddenly turned red and let out a loud squeal of delight that pierced Elsa and the other's ears and Elsa had to close her eyes and the pot would have slipped from her hands because of the sudden loud, ear-killer, high-pitched squeak that the little girl have tried to suppress.

The others had to wince and close their ears. When Rapunzel opened her eyes, they widened largely when she noticed how Zoey was about to lunge herself at Elsa in a hug. She quickly shoved Aiden towards the girl, "Get her!" She whispered. Aiden quickly grabbed the girl that was inches away from Elsa's waist, and picked her up on his shoulder. "That's enough, you little rascal." He teased with a smirk.

"Put me down, Eedoo! I wanna hug!" She said as she struggled angrily from the man underneath her. A kick from her foot got Aiden square in the nose.

"OW!" He screamed but kept her on his shoulder with one hand and the other grabbed his noise to ease the pain, "W-Why do you and Anna keep targeting my nose?!" His voice was more like a squeak.

"Ouh! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Eedoo! Did it hurt?" Zoey said as she tried to look at Eedoo's nose in concern.

Aiden removed his hand off his nose, "Ah… I think my nose is fine. Now, could you please stop calling me Eedoo? It was only between us, remember?" He said and blushed from embarrassment.

"Oops! I forgot about that, Eedoo." Zoey accidently said again.

"Stop calling me that!" Aiden said as he turned even redder from awkwardness.

"Okayokayokay! Sorry!" She said and made a zipping gesture to her mouth and threw away an invisible key.

Rapunzel and the other two men… even Elsa couldn't help but giggle at the pair of clowns.

The two clowns only then did they remembered that they were being watched. Zoey joined the laugh and wrapped her arms around Aiden's muscled neck and squeezed it in a hug while Aiden's awkwardness was lost when he heard Elsa's angelic giggle. He felt his heart race yet… Still didn't know why. He was probably just hungry. His thoughts were shook when he heard a woman's voice.

"Zoey!... Zoey! Come here, sweety! It's time for dinner!" Mary, Zoey's mother, called.

"Awwwwww!" Zoey whined and made her body limp on Aiden's shoulder, making her weight slouch more on him.

Aiden smiled in amusement and placed the little girl down.

Zoey quickly ran to hug Rapunzel, Flynn and even Kristoff goodbye then turned to Elsa. She already knew that she wasn't allowed to hug Elsa but still didn't know why. So instead, she smiled at her and waved goodbye as she ran towards her mother who was staring cautiously at Elsa. "Bye, Elsa!" Zoey shouted as she ran.

Elsa quickly lifted her hand and waved happily back. "Bye…" She whispered.

None of them… Not even Elsa, knew that if Zoey have hugged Elsa at that moment, Elsa's arms would have automatically wrapped around the little girl that reminded her so much of her little redheaded sister she once had.

Brandon sat next to Aphrodite in silence. She already told him about what happened between her and Elsa, and how it ended up making things worse between her and Anna. Brandon's arms were still wrapped around the thin figure of the queen as he tried to sooth her to calm down. And after a while she finally did.

"Aphrodite?... I'm sure Anna was just confused that's all. Just give her time. When she'll feel better she'll talk to you again, so don't worry." Brandon said as he patted her back.

"I really hope so, Brandon. I really hope so with all my heart but-" She suddenly stopped and closed her eyes and suppressed her new tears, "Elsa is afraid of me now…" She opened her eyes and lifted her head to stare at Brandon with pleading eyes, "I won't see her again, won't I?" She asked with voice that showed how much she was feeling regretful. "She's afraid of me, Brandon… My own daughter is afraid of me."

Brandon did not answer. He felt guilty for a reason he only knew and didn't say a word. "You should look on the bright side. Elsa and Anna are together now, right?" He said with a happy voice to lighten the mood, "You told me yourself that Elsa was out from her episode because Anna was there and helped her through it. Don't you see? Even when they both don't know it, they are already sisters in blood and bond!" He said with a wide smile. "And I think you forgot about something important." He said with a smirk.

Aphrodite sighed, "And what is that?" She rested her chin on her hands while her elbows rested on her knee.

His smirk grew and he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, "You saved Elsa's life."

Aphrodite's eyes widened, "What?" She quickly turned at him with a ridiculous smile, "Oh I saved her life so many times, didn't I?" She said with sarcasm spilling from her mouth like waterfalls.

Brandon still had his smirk, "Don't tell me you didn't realize that you saved her life?" He said with one raised eyebrows and Aphrodite's face turned confused and she stared at him skeptically, still not understanding what he was saying. Brandon continued, "You think that any healer would have simply come near her and be able to heal her without being impaled by ice? None of them had the skills like you. You stayed strong in front of everyone and stood straight even when you were seeing your daughter in such condition. What I wanna say is… That you stayed strong for Elsa so you could help her and save her. Now here is the results: She's alive and well. All this trauma is not caused by you, Aphrodite. The one to blame is your husband."

"He's not my husband!" She snapped at him with eyes full with anger. When he leaned back in surprise, Aphrodite's face relax, "I'm sorry… It's just…" She sighed, "He caused us so much harm. He was the reason our lives are miserable!" She said angrily.

"And you also saved someone else, too." Brandon reminded and wanted to change the bad subject that would hurt Aphrodite emotionally again. The king wasn't someone to discuss about.

Aphrodite shook her head, "You definitely lost your mind." Aphrodite deadpanned.

"Probably." Brandon joked, "But I know two things: You saved Anna's life from her father and you saved Elsa's 5 days ago." He said with a warm smile and continued when Aphrodite didn't argue and kept staring at him, "So it means… That when both needed you, and when you were ABLE to, you didn't waste any moment before saving and helping them and-…" He placed a hand on her shoulder, "Robin would have been very proud of you."

Aphrodite couldn't help but smile at him, even if it was a weak smile. Brandon felt light-hearted at finally seeing the poor mother smile.

"Thank you, Brandon." Aphrodite said with the gentlest voice Brandon ever heard.

Brandon's face lit up, "Ah, don't thank me, Aphrodite. I just did what I really should have done and… Just be sure that I'll always be here to help you." Brandon replied with a wide smile.

Aphrodite shook her head, "I'm not talking about that." She suddenly said and made Brandon confused. "What I mean is… Thank you for helping me save, Anna back then… E-Even if we couldn't do the same for-"

"N-No no! D-Don't thank me for that!" Brandon suddenly said with more like a shout and Aphrodite's eyes widened. "I-I mean… we were a t-team right? And we did what we could do… And mostly it was you who saved her." He said nervously and started walking towards the exit. "I'm glad you're okay now, Aphrodite. And don't worry… someday, you'll get your daughters back. I'm sure." He said with a grin.

Aphrodite wasn't sure why Brandon's behavior suddenly changed but she didn't dwell about the idea. Brandon opened the door to leave and was met with Anna, whom had her hand raised in a fist so she could have knocked on the door.