Chapter Two
Anna hated wearing the hooded cloak. Its itchy fabric covering her pigtails and Miss Céline sympathized with her.
Anna was rarely allowed to come out of the cottage and when she did, the hooded cloak was always on her.
It had been Mr. Henri's idea as punishment for her escaping. Three months ago, Miss Céline desperately wanted to take off with Anna and bring her back to the castle so she did.
They had almost succeeded until Anna had tripped and scraped her knee. Miss Céline kissing it better had Anna realize that the woman was nicer when Mr. Henri wasn't around.
She was slowly coming to accept that as the chestnut blonde haired woman knelt down to her level and took off the hood.
"Aren't you excited about the harvest festival?" Miss Céline asked, stroking her hair. "I had to convince Henri to let you go for a few hours so you can have a bit of normalcy despite everything."
Anna nodded, her shoulders slumping. "I don't like the hood but I don't want Mr. Henri mad at me." She brightened as a thought came to her. "Elsa's gonna be there! She loves painting pumpkins with the other kids!"
Miss Céline smiled sadly at Anna's naivety. She and Mr. Henri had convinced her that they were her mama and papa weeks before but Anna couldn't see her husband as a papa when she was terrified of him.
Yet Elsa was always there. At first it was brushed off as an imaginary friend but as Anna talked about her more and more, the woman was convinced that Elsa was someone Anna truly adored and didn't want to forget.
"Of course she will," Miss Céline mummerd. "Now put your hood back on. Your papa could be out here any minute now."
"Yes Mama," Anna muttered.
If there was one thing she liked about the itchy hooded cloak it would be how it easily hid bruises.
Mr. Henri gave her bruises on a daily basis. Even when she did nothing wrong, he always found an excuse to yell and hit her.
Luckily for Anna, the plump light brown haired man was in a favorable mood that day which she hoped would stay that way after the harvest festival's conclusion as Miss Céline took her by the hand and away they went.
…
Anna would've been old enough to join her in the festivities, no longer having to be at Iduna's hip while the other children had fun.
Elsa wiped away her tears, smiling as she carried her pumpkin inside a tent made for her and her special guest.
Every year, since she turned three, it was a tradition that she, being crown princess, would pick someone to be her friend for the day.
Usually village children, they would have fun together painting pumpkins and having conversations with each other. He or she would thank Elsa for her time and she would beam, knowing that she made his or her day a little brighter.
Anna never liked the separation very much, fussing that Elsa was her friend and nobody else's much to the dismay of their parents.
Elsa giggled at the memory, straightening her dress as she could hear Kai announcing her name.
"Little snowflake, how are you feeling today?" Gedra asked, putting down the other pumpin that would be painted on by Elsa's special guest.
"I still miss Anna," Elsa admitted. "But I know she would want me to have fun and not feel remorseful for what happened to her. As Papa says, what happened wasn't my fault and I'm starting to believe him."
"I'm glad to hear it. Now come on. Every child's waiting for you out there!"
Elsa followed Gerda out of the tent and on stage with her parents. Next to Agnarr was her blue throne with Anna's green one right next to her.
It was eerie seeing the throne where an impatient and wiggling Anna had once sat in but Elsa held her head up and waved to the children.
The children waved back except for the figure in the hooded cloak. The freckles looked familiar but the baby blue eyes seemed to have lost their spark, being filled with trauma instead.
Elsa's heart broke for the child in the hooded cloak as she stood up and clasped her hands together.
"It's a pleasure for all of you to be here today but I made my decision. I, Princess Elsa of Arendelle, would like the one in the hooded cloak to come forward and be my friend for the day," Elsa smiled. "As for everyone else, please enjoy the festivities in honor of my sister, the still missing Princess Anna of Arendelle for she wouldn't want us sad on this day. This festival always made her happy and we shall continue to be happy while praying for her safe return."
Getting an approving nod from Agnarr and a bittersweet smile from Iduna, she sat back down.
Little did Elsa know that she would be reunited with Anna for the first time in forever but only for a little while.
…
Elsa wanted to be her friend! Anna couldn't believe it as she made her way up towards the stage.
Iduna patted her hood while Agnarr shook her hand before her big sister smiled brightly at her.
"What's your name?" Elsa asked.
Anna desperately wanted to shout "Silly Elsa! You know who I am!" and take down her hood so her pigtails would show but she knew doing that would only make Mr. Henri furious as she bit her lip.
She never lied before.
"Annie," Anna answered. "Annie Joan Arc."
There was no harm in a little white lie right?
Elsa nodded softly, taking her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Annie. We're gonna have a wonderful time together, just you and me."
Up or down together
Princess crown together
Always be together you and me
Anna didn't know why the song she and Elsa made up began playing in her head but it made her feel the happiest she'd been in three months.
…
"Annie, how old are you? What are your parents like?"
It was an insignificant question but simple as Elsa noticed how quietly Annie ate her food and kicked her legs before swallowing.
"I'm five," Annie answered. "Mama's a nice lady but Mr. Henri, I mean Papa, doesn't like me very much."
Elsa frowned. No wonder Annie looked so downcast when shaking her father's hand.
Dripping her paintbrush, she began to paint her pumpkin and gave Annie a soft smile.
"Any hobbies? From the way you ran in here, it seems like you have boundless energy!" Elsa giggled.
"I like dancing and coloring and running around the cottage," Annie smiled. "Sometimes I play with Elsa but I hadn't seen her in a long time so I can't remember what she looks like."
"Oh? Is she an imaginary friend?"
"That's what Mama says but Elsa looked almost like you. Except she was happier and smiled all the time."
Elsa patted Annie's hand, seeing her frown. "I'm honored that your friend has my name and I'm sure you'll find her again." Letting go of her hand, she gave Annie a paint brush. "Here. Once we're done, we'll go join the festivities while they dry."
Annie beamed, sticking out her tongue as she painted, causing Elsa to giggle.
Anna used to do that too.
Was Annie really Anna in disguise?
No. Elsa couldn't get her hopes up. Annie was much quieter than Anna and spoke very little unless spoken too.
Annie was just a normal villager and nothing more.
Elsa convinced herself that Annie was only a village girl which made it easier for her to play and dance with Annie during the festivities.
Out of breath hours later, the girls went back inside the tent as Annie put her hands on her knees and looked up at Elsa.
"What's this secret you wanted to talk about in private?" The younger girl asked.
"I hope you don't freak out when I tell you but I have ice powers," Elsa whispered. "Want me to show you? On the condition that you can't tell anyone outside this tent."
Annie nodded excitedly as Elsa giggled and rolled her hands together, making a snowball before throwing it up into the air.
Annie shierked, giggling and running around the tent as her hood bounced around before it fell off, revealing her pigtails as Elsa gasped in shock.
"Anna?"
…
"Anna?"
Anna stopped giggling, hearing Elsa call her name.
"Elise?" She asked quietly.
Was her big sister upset with her for being gone for so long? Facing her, she was relieved to see a smile on her sister's face.
"Anna!" Elsa cried, running over to her and giving her a warm hug. "I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you too but Mama and Papa can't know how I'm here."
"Why not? I could get them and then we'll—"
"No!" Anna screamed. "Mr. Herni will be furious!" She hugged herself closely. "He'll hurt me like he always does."
"Is that why you were hesitant to shake Papa's hand when you were on stage?" Elsa asked. When Anna nodded, she hugged her close. "It's okay Sunshine. I won't give you back to him."
Anna sniffed, rubbing her nose on her sleeve "So if I don't want him to hurt me again, Mama and Papa have to know I'm here?"
Elsa nodded, taking her by the hand but as they stepped out of the tent, Anna froze seeing Herni in front of them.
He gave Elsa a bow of respect before roughly grabbing Anna by the arm and pulling her towards him.
"Let her go!" Elsa yelled.
"I'm sorry your highness but I'm afraid that Annie is tried from all her fun today and needs to go home and rest," Herni explained.
That was a lie and Anna knew it. He never cared for her at all. He only wanted to go home so he and Miss Céline wouldn't get caught because of her hood being down.
She could see her sister look conflicted, desperately wanting to use her powers on him before remembering that magic had to stay secret in public.
"Help! Help! This man's got Anna!" Elsa cried.
Anna could hear citizens surrounding them before Herni took off with her and beckoned Miss Céline to come with them as tears filled her eyes.
"What were you thinking?! What did you tell the princess?" Herni yelled once they were far from anyone's view. When Anna shook her head, he slapped her. "Liar! You told her something! What were you going to do huh? Tell your old mama and papa about me after telling the princess?!"
"Y-Yes," Anna sniffed.
She didn't know what her punishment would be that night but knew that she wouldn't be allowed to leave the cottage ever again due to the ruckus she made at the harvest festival.
Elsa had to be feeling as devastated as she was as Anna was eventually given to Miss Céline and fell asleep in her loving embrace.