The Ice Behind Bars
Chapter XXVIII: Sister's Empathy
After they dried themselves up and changed their clothes, with the three of the women this time in dresses, since Anna and Rapunzel didn't need the armor for now. As for the gloves, even when they were soaking wet, Elsa refused what so ever to remove them. They then had to call for a healer to the room for Elsa. It was a bit hard for them to change Elsa's soaked bandages since the woman wouldn't stay still at all with the new female healer. At the end, the healer got frustrated and left, so Anna had to be the one to change Elsa's bandages, and Elsa gladly accepted and then calmed down.
"What a bitch." Rapunzel muttered when the healer left since the woman didn't have any empathy for Elsa and didn't have patience for the frightened princess, and the quick peeks of fear from the woman towards Elsa didn't go unnoticed by Anna.
"Tell me about it." Anna whispered back while both were watching Elsa water the rose happily. Anna suddenly felt heartbroken but she kept her smile. She was heartbroken because she saw Elsa's eyes. Because no one in this stupid fort could see the way those eyes lit up and sparkled when Elsa smiled and felt happy. How can people be so ignorant? She thought angrily at them. She could feel the fire inside of Elsa that couldn't help but to shine bright, and she knew that everyone would never see her pure light no matter what Elsa did. Unfortunately, Elsa's first impression was accidently shown horribly, and now most of them feared her. If they could only see right through Elsa's weird yet gorgeous appearance and just feel Elsa's pure heart. Was she giving Elsa too much trust? Was Elsa really dangerous like everybody was saying? Look at that face! How could she ever be dangerous?! Anna thought confusingly. The people were scared for their lives and their children' as if Elsa was a huge monster, roaming free and ready to kill anyone. She then looked at Elsa's joyful eyes. I promise you, Elsa… I will never believe it. You can count on me. Anna vowed and suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder that brought her back from her thoughts. She turned her head to see Rapunzel with a worried face.
"Are you okay, Anna?" Rapunzel whispered with a voice now full with real concern.
Anna faked a smile and quickly nodded, "O-Of course! Why would you say that? I'm fine." She said and tried to widen her smile as much as she could.
Rapunzel look at Anna's face, "You're crying." She noted and it was only then did Anna felt her wet cheeks.
Anna's eyes widened and she quickly wiped away her tears, "I-I am? Hah… I d-didn't notice." Anna said nervously and turned her head to hide her tears. "I-I was just lost in thoughts, is all." When she was sure her tears were gone, she turned back to the worried Rapunzel, "I'm fine, really." She said with something close to a smile.
Hearing Anna's tone of voice, Rapunzel understood that the redhead didn't wanted to talk about it. Oh Anna…
Before Rapunzel could say anything, Anna quickly turned back to Elsa, "Elsa?" She called.
Elsa turned, smiled widely and pointed at the healthy rose, "Good?!" She asked happily. Elsa had already asked about Zoey's flower and Anna nervously had to say that the flower had died because of an insect pest, in which even though Elsa probably hadn't understood much, she had been heartbroken.
Anna chuckled a bit, "I think that's enough water." Anna informed as she saw how the pot was flooded with water, "You do love flowers, don't you?" She asked and Elsa quickly nodded excitedly.
Elsa's face suddenly fell and Anna cursed herself when she saw it. She knew that Elsa noticed her sadness. "Anna?" Elsa called in concern. She placed the water jug on the table and approached Anna.
Anna took a deep breath, "Hm?" Anna hummed back in reply as if nothing was bothering her but Elsa wasn't convinced at all.
Let's see how you're going to get away with this. Rapunzel thought to Anna and was grateful that Elsa noticed her sister's distress.
Elsa clearly saw that Anna was faking a smile and she furrowed her eyes brows in utter worry now. "What's wrong?" Elsa asked as she tilted her head a bit to the side to look into Anna's blue-grey eyes.
Anna avoided eye contact and shrugged, "Nothing!" She said with a fake happy voice, then looked up to stare at Elsa. They are cruel, Elsa… Why is everyone so cruel to you?! Look at you! You're concerned for me and you want to comfort me! What danger could ever come from you?! Her mind suddenly started to realize and remember things. How much did you suffer just to have this bit of happiness!? How much were you hurt and beaten when you were only a little girl?! Why were you born to a horrible father when you deserve the best people ever?! Anna thought and didn't sense that she was spilling heavy tears as she stared into those eyes that she could see the hurt and misery they were filled with.
Elsa silently gasped as her eyes widened on seeing Anna's tears. Her face couldn't go any more worried. The first thing she did was to make sure to look at her murderous hands to check if they somehow might have hurt Anna, but there was no sign of ice. She then turned her head to look at Rapunzel for answers, but Rapunzel shrugged with the same worried face as Elsa's. Elsa then turned back at Anna and could already see how Anna was staring right at her but as if she was looking beyond her, definitely lost in thoughts somewhere. Elsa couldn't take the sight in front of her. Anna was really silently crying! Elsa bit her lip, "A-Anna?!" She called again and her voice quivered in desperation.
Whatever you'll see don't let her feel different from the rest! Anna remembered Kai's bone-shilling words back in the dungeons: We heard her scream and plead! He was hitting her no doubt! Throwing her around! It looked like she was locked inside with a ferocious animal! Anna just couldn't even imagine the way Elsa was mistreated. She remembered how horribly Elsa's body looked like when they got her out of Hell. How scared she was when she had woken up the first time. How she didn't know any food other than Meat and Water. How the simplest things could make her happy. How she cried in joy at the sunset. How she couldn't smile any wider when Bulda gave her the rose. How her legs were awfully weakened to a point where she couldn't walk or stand at all on her own. How extremely terrified she was of people and especially Men and how she couldn't trust someone like a normal person. How she screamed at night because of the nightmares. How she trembled in her sleep. Anna couldn't hold on much longer. As her eyes hovered over Elsa's battered face and her heart thrummed faster, she placed a hand on her mouth and muffled a sob and still didn't notice Elsa's worried and shocked face. Oh my god, Elsa, look at you!? Why did he do all this to you?! She tried to imagine a six year old Elsa being beaten and that made things much worse, thus tears were now running non-stop. Then, she was suddenly brought back from her thought when she was enveloped with something. She could feel the cold, trembling, pressure on her entire body. She could feel the unstable stiffness. When she realized what was happening she wanted to cry even more. With shaking hands, she brought them up and hugged Elsa back and sobbed and spilled her tears in her sister's neck.
Elsa watched in shock as Anna still didn't somehow acknowledge her. Anna was looking at her with wide eyes and Elsa didn't know what was happening inside her unknowingly sister's head. She watched Anna's tears in disbelief and started to panic when she didn't know what to do. Why are you crying?! Stop crying! Please! "A-Anna?!" She called but Anna didn't respond. She only kept staring and spilling silent tears. Elsa started looking between Rapunzel and Anna as if she was asking for help from the blonde but it looked like that Rapunzel was concerned and confused just as she was. Elsa's heart thrummed faster in her chest. When Anna let out a sob and covered her mouth, Elsa had enough. Trembling, she quickly wrapped Anna in the stiffest hug ever made, making sure that her hands wouldn't touch Anna at all. What are you doing!? You are going to kill her! Move away! She'll die in your monstrous, murderous hands! Elsa winced, squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth when she felt Anna's arms wrap around her back. Murderer! Murderer! Murderer! She'll die! She'll die! She'll die! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? Elsa would have dug her nails in Anna's back but the more she was being tormented by her mind, the more she squeezed Anna tighter and refused to let go. Don't let go! She's crying! Don't let go!... But you're dangerous! You'll kill her! She'll freeze!... NO!
Rapunzel watched in both fear and amazement. She felt fear and worry when she noticed how Elsa was having a mental conflict with herself and how her hands were trembling terribly. Oh my god, Elsa!… You don't have to do this! She thought, both proud and sympathetic for the princess's kindness and selflessness on trying with all her might to cast away her fears just to comfort and hug Anna. Rapunzel placed a hand on her mouth and avoided a gasp as she watched awestruck and witnessed how Elsa wrapped her little sister in a comforting hug.
Elsa couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to let go and run back into Arendelle, lock herself up and never come out again. She can't hurt anyone if she was locked away. Everyone would be safe from her. Anna would be safe from her! Then suddenly, she heard it. "I'm sorry that he hurt you Elsa!" Anna muffled as she buried her face in the pale neck. Time seemed to stop as Elsa's eyes widened. She felt the wetness on her shoulder… Anna's tears, and the only thing she was hearing was Anna's sobs and the beating of her heart.
Elsa's flashback
Five year old Elsa huddled herself in the corner, behind a big vase and cried. Her right hand was on her red, scorching and stinging cheek where her father have hit her minutes ago. "Elsaaa!... Elsa, please come out!" She could already hear her mother's desperate cries but she didn't want to come out. She was too scared and traumatized. Her father have hit her when he entered the room to find her playing in the snow she created with Anna and now she was in pain. "I told you never to use your curse!" The king had yelled before he slapped her. It was on Anna's request that she used her magic. She just wanted to make her sister happy. She didn't know why her father hated her magic so much. Her mother always loved it. Then why not her father?
She squeezed herself more to the corner as she tried to rub the pain on her cheek away but to no avail. It hurts… She thought and cried more. "Elsa?" She suddenly heard her baby sister's whisper. She quickly turned her head to see Anna's concerned and sad face. "A-Anna?" Elsa said in surprise and quickly tried to wipe away her tears but the stinging kept coming and forced new tears to form. "H-How did you… F-Find me?"
"I… I followed you when you ran out of the room." Anna clarified and peeked from behind the large vase to make sure her father wasn't here. She then turned back to the crying Elsa and huddled herself next to her big sister, "Does… Does it hurt?" Three year old Anna asked, feeling guilty and ashamed.
Elsa wiped more tears and tried to hide her face as much as she could away from her sister. She didn't wanted her to see her crying like this. "N-No…" She said bravely and squeezed her hand tighter on her burning cheek and didn't dare use her powers to sooth the pain at all. She knew that Anna would feel guilty and she didn't want that. The pain was aggravating for Elsa's small and soft cheek. Her father's big hand was the size of her entire face, and it came crashing with her cheek mercilessly.
Anna bit her lip, "C-Can I see?" She asked in concern, wanting to check on her sister.
Elsa shook her head. She already knew that her cheek was bright red and she didn't want her sister to see her in such condition. "I-I'm okay, Anna." She said and quickly wiped the new tears.
Anna didn't listen. She slowly brought her tiny hands to remove her sister's cold hand off her cheek. Elsa knew it was inevitable and she knew that Anna wouldn't leave her alone before she did what she wanted. When Elsa allowed Anna to remove her hand, Anna gasped aloud and felt her tears form. Elsa's small cheek had a hideous bruise and a small split that had a tiny amount of blood escaping it. Anna lunged herself at her big sister and wrapped her hands around her and started crying, "Oh Elsa! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry I made you make the s-snow for me! I'm so sorry! I didn't know Papa would d-do that… to you!" She sobbed and buried her head in her sister's neck.
Elsa wrapped her arms around her sister and squeezed her tighter. "No, Anna… It's not your fault! Don't think like that!... I-I was the one who used Magic." Elsa felt Anna's tears soak her shoulder.
"But none of it w-would have happened if I didn't make you do it! A-And-… A-And your cheek would have been okay!" She let out a loud sorrowful and apologetic sob, "I'm sorry that he hurt you, Elsa! I'm-… I'm-" Anna couldn't take the guilt anymore. She buried her head in her sister's neck and sobbed.
Elsa squeezed Anna tighter, "Don't worry, Anna…" She said and tried to be strong and brave for her sister by trying to forget the pain. She was the big sister and her mother told her that a big sister should always comfort her younger siblings and that she should be strong for them.
"I'm scared, Elsa! What if he hurt you again?! What if he hurt you again and because of me?! What if he hurt me?!" Anna muffled and wailed even more.
Elsa turned determined and rested her well cheek on Anna's head. "I'm okay now… You're okay now. I promise I won't let you go."
Something new. That's what Elsa was feeling right now. Something she never felt before or forgot that she did. The feeling that someone really needed her. Needed her hug. Needed her comfort. Her sisterly instincts wanted to ease her little sister cries. To do their best to make sure that Anna was happy. To show her that there was someone there for her if no one wasn't. Elsa's trembling stopped and she felt… Calm. Determined. Her face made a smile and she squeezed Anna in a proper, warm hug, "I'm okay now. You're okay now. I'm promise I won't let you go." Elsa said with a gentle voice of a big sister that she barely ever used.
At this, Anna squeezed her tighter and buried her head in Elsa's neck and kept crying. She didn't know why she was so sorrowful but her subconscious knew that this was all a reaction because she knows of all those horrible things that happened to her-unknowingly-own sister. And the more Elsa was nice and sweet the more Anna felt horrible. Why do people fear you?! You're here with me! Trying to make me feel better! How could someone selfless be scared of!?
Elsa rested her cheek on Anna's head and rubbed Anna's back by using her well arm. She could never forget how she used to do that to her baby sister when she needed her. The hug was no longer just to comfort Anna, but it was a hug that she really wanted to give Anna. The two sisters were enjoying their embrace and forgot that there was a third presence in the room.
Rapunzel wanted to squeal in delight. The sight was so heartwarming and heartbreaking; heartwarming because she just saw Elsa act for the first time like a real big sister and the sisters were finally hugging each other, but heartbreaking because they both don't even know they're sisters.
Elsa's eyes slowly made it to Rapunzel as if she was asking her if she was doing okay by calming Anna down. Rapunzel smiled proudly back in confirmation and placed a hand on her heart to show her point, and Elsa smiled shyly back.
Elsa did not believe that she was actually hugging someone.
After a few minutes, Anna calmed down. The first thing that went in her mind was that Elsa was hugging her! She broke the hug and looked right into Elsa's soothing and warm eyes in shock. The eyes that lit up when their owner smiled. She couldn't believe her own eyes. Elsa was the one who hugged her. She didn't lunge herself at the princess like before. No; It. Was. Elsa. She didn't believe her ears either. I promise I'll never let you go. She remembered Elsa's comforting words. She wanted to say anything and break this awkward silence but she really had no words. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
"A beautiful, sweet flower." Elsa suddenly said with a wide fond smile, remembering what Anna told her when they were soaked with water.
The only thing Anna was able to do was to smile excitedly and feel her heart flutter. "A beautiful, sweet and pure flower." Anna repeated and added fondly.
Rapunzel wanted to cry now.
They both hugged each other again, this time without any first stiffness, winces or mind torments for Elsa, nor tears, cries and sobs for Anna. The hug was simply sublime. Anna was pretty surprise at Elsa's body temperature. She wasn't cold anymore. Surprisingly, she was warm. What would I ever do without you? Anna thought and literally felt her fond to Elsa grow with every single passing second, and so did her worry for Elsa safety. She didn't even want to imagine what would happen if someone hurt Elsa.
Elsa couldn't believe that she finally found someone she could trust. Someone who would always make her happy and whom she would always try to make happy. After all these years, she finally had to take care of someone. A person to protect her from any harm and keep her safe. Elsa had one last concern. While hugging the redhead, she furrowed her eyebrows and looked at her hands. Now she had a new fear. Fear that she might end Anna's life just like she did to her mother and sister. The only two people that loved her were killed by her own hands. Now, Anna here was dear to her and she was terrified of the idea of living without the redhead that reminded her of her sister and bore the same name. You're why I smile… Her face turned serious and determined. And it's been a while… She hugged Anna protectively tighter. What would I ever do without you?
A Song: Anna to Elsa
Keep Holding On - Avril Lavigne