What If…?
Anna knew about Elsa's powers
The next few weeks were a flurry of activity as the princesses' move to the Sommerhus approached. Several servants left ahead of time to clean the cabin and make it ready for Anna and Elsa's arrival. Kai, Gerda and Tutor Pederssen were secretly entrusted with knowledge of Elsa's ability and what the move out to the Sommerhus was for. And the girls packed.
Anna's cheeks flushed with excitement as she jammed more toys and things into her trunks. She and Elsa were going to live in the Sommerhus! It was the most magical, wonderful, favoritest place in the whole while world! She couldn't wait to play in the woods with Elsa, swing from their favorite tree in the whole wide world, play hide and seek and, best of all, play with Elsa's snow magic.
Maybe they could have a whole army of snowmen…
The door opened and Mama and Papa walked in. "Mama! Papa!" Anna cried, running to them and embracing them in a big hug. "Are you excited to go too! I can't wait to go have fun with Elsa and…"
It was then she caught the look on Mama and Papa's faces. They were stern and somber. Their "King and Queen" faces as Pederssen called it. A pit formed in Anna's stomach.
They weren't going to the Sommerhus? Was it because of the accident?
Elsa didn't mean to hit her. Anna made sure she told her sister that many times and still tried to get her to play with her but Elsa didn't seem to want to play as much anymore.
She spent most of her time to herself, quietly packing and not making as much snow and ice as she used to. Was it my fault? Anna wondered.
"What's wrong?" Anna asked, trying hard to not cry. Too late, a tear slipped loose.
Papa's face softened and he wiped her tears away. "Anna…nothing's wrong. But we need to talk."
"Is it about the accident?" Anna asked as they all sat down on the bed. "Because Elsa didn't mean to hit me, she was trying to make a bigger snow bump for me to jump on and…"
"No, it's not that." Mama said, wrapping her arm around Anna. Mama always gave the best hugs, Anna thought as she snuggled closer. They always made her feel better.
But not this time.
The pit in Anna's stomach got bigger. So big that she feared she was going to get sick.
"It's about Elsa." Papa said. "You remember the Troll Prophecy?"
Glad to do something to cheer Papa up, Anna cleared her throat and began in her most dramatic voice "Your future is bleak! Your kingdom will splinter! Your land will be cursed with unending winter…!"
Papa laughed, the "King face" slipping again. Anna's stomach pit went away but then returned as Mama hugged her closer.
"There are people out there who will see Elsa's powers and think she's the bad ruler the prophecy talks about. They might hurt her…" Mama said. Her voice cracked like the china vase Anna accidentally broke last week. She wiped at her face.
Anna snuggled closer to Mama, a new feeling rising in her. "Don't worry Mama and Papa! I won't let anything happen to Elsa! I'll kick them in the legs if they get too close to my sister!"
"That won't be necessary. But that's the reason you're going to the Sommerhus with your sister. So you both can have a safe place to play with her ice powers." Papa said.
"But Elsa hasn't been playing with me lately." Anna said, tears spilling down her cheeks for real. It felt so good to say it. "She wouldn't even build a snowman with me…"
"Oh sweetheart." Papa said, wrapping both Mama and Anna up in a hug. Anna snuggled deep, smelling Papa's cologne and Mama's perfume. Both smells made her feel safe. "Elsa is going to need you."
"Need me?" Anna asked.
"Yes. She's going to need you to be strong and brave and help her control her powers." Mama said. "Can you keep a smile on her face?"
The words were out before Anna could stop herself. "Yes."
But it didn't seem fair for some reason.
A/N: So here we are…the biggest missed opportunity I think could've been taken. What if Anna had to be strong and brave for Elsa? It would've added a tragic layer to Anna's sense of optimism and good cheer; she had to stay strong for her sister.
I'm not going to lie, this chapter was really hard to write because Anna and I are so different from each other.
So join me next Friday for a new What If: The Sisters Grew Up Together (Part 1).