Elsa and Anna sat stiff as a board. Elsa gazed back at them blankly while internally she was very close to shutting down. Oh no this isn't good. We can't tell them. They seem nice, but this could change that. I'm a monster on top of the fact that Anna and I are blatantly disobeying rules. What do we do… what do we do?

Anna was nervous and did not expect their relatives to just jump right into it. She also wanted to try and approach them without Elsa first so that she didn't have to dredge up hard memories unnecessarily for her. With Elsa going ridged beside her helped reinforce that line of thinking for her, but here they were. This was the new plan now. She was just going to keep an eye on Elsa and make sure she doesn't start to spiral and retreat on her. She could do this.

"Where would you like us to start? Any questions you have in particular? That might make it easier to start this conversation."

Friedrick nodded and looked over to Primrose. He was afraid that he would scare them if he did all of the questioning. If his assumptions were right then the girls were going to be naturally more weary of him then they would be of Primrose.

She seemed to understand what he wanted and completely understood and agreed with him. They needed to approach this gently and with caution. They didn't want to spook the poor girls anymore then they obviously already were.

"Girls…"

Both Elsa and Anna flicked their eyes over and focused on Primrose.

"I… We don't want you to feel pressured to say anything you don't want to. Please understand there is no pressure at all. None, understand? Anything you tell us is in full confidence. We will not say. Anything to anyone unless you give us permission. We are only asking because we care about the both of you."

Primrose paused here as she saw Elsa's brows furrowed together. She leaned forward and tried to keep everything about her mannerisms gentle and open.

"I mean it Elsa, we may not know either of you very well and this may be the first time we have actually physically met, but I know you girls. I have seen in this short time who you both are. I want to keep you safe. I want to see you both happy, and I can see that is not the reality you are both living in right now. So I am going to start this with a simple question, okay?"

Primrose paused and waited for the girls to give her any indication to allow her to continue. Both of the girls nodded. Primrose glanced at Friedrick and reached her hand out. He immediately grabbed her hand and started rubbing circles on the back of it giving her his silent support. She gave him a soft smile before turning her full attention back to the girls. She took a deep breath before she finally allowed her question to leave her lips.

"Why is Elsa supposed to stay separate from you Anna?"

Elsa felt tears swim in her eyes and she started to pull away from Anna as she whispered, "To keep her safe from me." Tears streamed down her face and her voice cracked as it wavered, "I hurt her… I didn't mean to. It was an accident. I didn't listen and she got hurt."

Elsa stared down at her glove covered hands before she pulled them close to her chest as she kept trying to increase her distance from Anna.

This answer was not at all what Primrose and Friedrick were expecting. It left them baffled and utterly confused. They couldn't believe that Elsa of all people would hurt Anna, accidental or not. The way Elsa moved and acted around Anna you would think that Anna was precious like artisan glass.

Anna quickly whipped her head forward Elsa the moment she heard those lies leave her lips again along with her pulling away.

"Elsie"

Anna went to grab her hand, but Elsa let a small whine escape from the back of her throat as she jerked herself away. Anna's eyes hardened and Primrose and Friedrek could have sworn that it looked like a blaze had been lit in her eyes.

"Elsie, look at me. You did NOT hurt me. I am right here. It was not your fault, if it was anyone it was probably me, but honestly it doesn't matter. You want to know why? We were kids, little kids. It was the equivalent of us tripping and scraping our knees. It was nothing! You were 8. You weren't a danger then and you sure as not now."

Primrose and Friedrick's eyebrows shot into their hairline. This mess at least goes back to when they were that young?

Elsa still was not meeting Anna's gaze, and now she started trembling.

"I'm a mo- mon..monster… monster… I'm bad… hurt Anna…"

Anna leapt off the couch and her knees crashed onto the floor as she landed and slid down in front of Elsa. Primrose's hands went flying to her mouth as she bit back a sob as her heart ripped in two seeing and hearing all of this before her. Friedrick was crumpled forward, hiding his face in his hands. Anna rested her hands on either side of Elsa's legs on the couch. She knew better than to touch Elsa when she was like this, but she wanted Elsa to know she was right there if she wanted her.

"Elsie, you are NONE of those things. You are so very good. You are kind and giving. You pay attention to details, you're annoyingly always polite, you always know what to say or do to handle me. Let's be honest now… That's a talent that I'm sure everyone one in the castle is thankful for. We all know I'm a lot… I am slightly difficult and more than willing to admit it."

This caused Elsa to give a small chuckle.

"You're not difficult… just full of energy."

A bright smile radiated from Anna's face as she heard her sister's soft voice. It meant that she was not too far gone. She was still right here and reachable.

"Sure we can go with that, but I'm pretty sure you're the only one who thinks that."

Elsa gave a small shake of her head before she leaned forward and leaned her head against the top of Anna's head.

"I don't deserve you."

Anna melted against Elsa's legs. Her knee is so boney. Not comfortable, but no complaints. She is allowing touch so nope, no complaints from me.

"No you do. Just as much as I deserve to have you in my life you goof. I'll convince you someday. You know it will happen since it is an Anna promise."

This brought a small smile to Elsa's face. Only Anna could break through to her like this.

"Elsie…"

"Hummmm?"

"My knees are not agreeing with the floor… Can I move up onto the couch without you fussing again?"

"Elsa leaned back and nudged Anna with her foot while her nose scrunched up a bit. Anna, not expecting the nudge from Elsa, ended up falling onto her back and staring up at Elsa's slightly smug face with shock written all over her face.

"You… You…"

"No words?"

"Elsssieee you pushed me. That wasn't nice!"

Elsa laughingly answered, "It was from my point of view. You should have seen your face."

Anna blew at the bangs that were in her face before she bounded up and tackled Elsa as she landed on the couch.

"OOOFFF… Sunshine, you're crushing me."

Anna was perched and sitting on top of the crumpled body of Elsa. Anna balanced on top with a cheeky grin plastered on her face. She made eye contact for the first time since it all started with her Aunt and Uncle and gave them a quick wink.

Fredrick and Primrose starring on lovingly as they watched the two girls interact with one another. While it was more than obvious that these girls had a lot of things to work through it was more than apparent that their problems were not with each other. If anything the other helped them out when their hurts became too much. It was like watching two halves operating and becoming whole. They were almost as different as night and day, fire and ice, but they complement one another for the better.

"Say you're sorry."

"OOfff Anna…"

"Say. You're. Sorryyyyyy"

Anna bounced a bit laughing at Elsa's vocal displeasure.

"Anna please… you're kinda heavy"

"HEYYY! I resent that!"

Primrose and Friedrick chuckled at the girl's antics.

"Just say you're sorry and then I'll move my big butt and stop crushing you."

Elsa then had a very devious idea. While she was nervous to do it especially around company, she knew she could get away with this with it going unnoticed. Elsa then closed her eyes and concentrated before she changed her mind and talked herself out of doing this. All of a sudden Anna bolted up off of her with a small squeal.

Anna whipped around and stared at Elsa, mouth hung open.

Elsa casually sat up and gave a small grin at Anna.

"Sunshine if you don't close your mouth you'll catch flies."

"YOU CHEATED! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT! YOU CHEATER!"

Elsa laughed and shrugged, "Prove it."

Anna huffed before she shook her head and gave a small giggle before she dive bombed back onto the couch before she flopped down across Elsa's lap.

"You're a stinker, you know that?"

Elsa chuckled, "Yeah I know."

Elsa's gloved hand lifted up and went to brush Anna's bangs out of her eyes, but it hesitated in the air for a moment. Elsa don't be silly, you know it is safe. You won't hurt her.

Anna seeing that Elsa was having an inner conflict over using her hands to touch her decided to show her she trusted her. Anna reached up and grabbed Elsa's hand and dragged it down and held it in her own. Elsa gave Anna a soft smile in thanks.

Anna turned her head back to Friedrick and Primrose as she played with Elsa's fingers absentmindedly in her own hands.

"Sorry… Any other questions?"

Fredrick chuckled, "You really are a little spitfire aren't you?"

Anna giggled, "Guilty as charged, but seriously what else do you guys wish to know."

Primrose gave a gentle smile and nodded.

"So you both were separated due to an accident that happened when you were little?"

"Yes ma'am. I didn't even know why we were separated. I kinda still don't have any memory of what happened. You'd have to ask Elsa, but well she doesn't like to talk about it. She still feels really guilty. I honestly just learned why we were separated from Elsa on her birthday. It was also the first time I saw her in years. We snuck and talked through her door sometimes, but they really went out of their way to keep us separated. Gerda found a way to sneak me into Elsa's room and we have been sneaking around to see one another and talk ever since."

Primrose nodded.

Friedrick's low voice cracked and asked, "How long?"

Anna paused and looked up at Elsa.

"9 years. I was locked in my room and not allowed out or to see or talk to Anna for 9 years now. She was 5 and I was 8. She hasn't seen me since the door closed and locked me in until my 17th birthday. I have watched her grow up through glimpses out my window and hearing the mayhem she has caused in the castle."

"Dear God. They locked up a child."

"I don't want to ask because I'm afraid to know the answer…"

"Prim, I'm sure we already know what it is going to be."

Fredrick had his face in his hands as he tried to breath through his anguish for these girls and swallow down this burning rage he had at the injustice of this all.

"I know… I know, but I just… Girls, have they physically harmed either one of you?"

"No, I've just been yelled at and watched things being thrown across the room in general anger."

"Well… I mean…"

Anna rubbed circles on the back of Elsa's gloved hand.

"Elsie it's okay you can tell them. I think we can trust them."

Anna's eyes then bore into Friedrick and Primrose, challenging them to prove her wrong, like a promise of never ending pain if they hurt and broke their trust. They both nodded their heads.

"Girls we promise, right Friedrick?"

He nodded his head quickly and allowed Anna to search his soul with her stare.

"We promise you can trust us. I promise the both of you this. While there is still breath in my body you both have my protection. I will keep you safe, consequences be damned. We will figure out the dumb political details later. I will not fail you girls like I have failed your mother. I should have kicked your father out of my country the moment he showed up all those years ago. The only thing that I can rationalize is that if I had done that then you two wouldn't exist. I will keep you both safe, understand?"

The girls nodded and Anna squeezed Elsa's hand as Elsa gave a small deep breath.

"Yes. I have been. I was told it was in the name of discipline and to correct my mistakes. No one feels bad when they hurt or chain up a monster."

Both Friedrick and Primrose were shocked at the almost detracted way that Elsa was able to admit to being abused. What further shocked them was Anna's reaction. She punched Elsa in the arm.

"OUCH!"

"You're not the monster!"

"I KNOW THAT! I was just repeating what I was told, okay? I wasn't talking about myself lowly again I swear! Geez Anna… you didn't need to hit me that hard…"

Anna blushed, "Sorry…"

Elsa shook her head at Anna.

"Next time just don't punch me okay?"

"Yeah my bad…"

Friedrick's voice pulled them both back to the conversation at hand.

"Elsa, I hate to ask. You do not have to answer, but please understand that it will make it easier for Us to help you if we know all of it. What has Agnarr done to hurt you?"

"I… I don't mind telling you. I know you should know, but not while Anna is here."

Elsa looked down at Anna, "Sunshine, can you go find Gerda and hang with her for a little while? Just 30 minutes at the most okay?"

Anna's eyes bore into Elsa's as she slowly sat up and faced her sister.

"No."

"Anna…"

"No. I will not leave. Stop trying to protect me! I already know he has hurt you! The how doesn't change anything for me either way I already hate him for causing you any amount of pain. All of this self-loathing and doubt that fills you to the brim. So no. I am not leaving. I am staying right here by your side. Together, you and me, remember?"

Elsa nodded, "Okay. I hear you. I just hate that I'm allowing you to know and see all of the darkness that is in this world. I'm supposed to protect you from that."

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault, it's his."

"Your sister is right Elsa. Agnarr started this."

Elsa looked at Primrose as she processed what she said.

"I don't know where to start."

"Just tell us what you can or want to. We just need a good sense of what this man seems fine with doing to you in what he claims is 'punishment'."

Elsa nodded and looked at her hand still clapped in Anna's.

"It started with just back handed slaps across the face and being pushed around the room. Usually it seemed to just happen out of fits of anger. Not planned or thought out. Purely reactionary. I could never really predict what it would be that would set him off, but I found that it decreased if I stayed quiet and kept my head down. Unfortunately, I just couldn't… I couldn't learn what… what he wanted fast enough he started to do things as punishment and as he called it inventive. Every time I messed up he would find a new and worse way to hurt me. It started with things like his belt to a wooden stick like a staff or ruler. Once it was a chair. I guess after a while that was too repetitive or I guess not doing its job effectively enough he decided to bring in a hammer. He hit my hands with that. Once after he smashed and hit my hands first with the belt slamming the hammer on one of my fingers breaking it I think he decided to drag me down to the dungeon. He said it was pointless. That I was obviously either too dumb or unmotivated to learn. So he wanted to show me what he had prepared for me. I have a special cell down in the dungeon. He threw me in down there and locked my hands into these shackles. They were small and cramped, but loose enough that they left blisters on my hands. I was left down there I think for 3 days the first time. I have been sent down there 3 times total so far. Each time I think I was left down there longer than the last time. I hate it down there. It is worse then being locked up in my room. I can't hear what is happening in the rest of the castle like I can in my room. I don't get to see anyone. No Gerda, Kai, or Anna way into the distance from the window. It is nothing but four walls making one small room with nothing in it."

Tears rolled down Elsa's face as she talked. Anna curled into Elsa's side with her eyes slammed shut as tears streamed down her face. Every once and a while a shiver racked her body. Fredrick and Primrose sat in shocked silence.

"I'm going to kill him."

Elsa's head whipped around to stare at Anna's stony face. Tear tracks still stained Anna's cheeks, but it was her eyes that scared Elsa. They were burning with rage. Her eyes looked as if they could melt iron.

Elsa leaned forward and her hands went up and cradled Anna's face.

"Sunshine, you cannot. I'm okay now. I'm right here."

"He hurt you."

"Anna, look at me."

Anna's eyes locked onto Elsa's, but they had a glazed quality to them. Elsa was worried that if she didn't calm Anna down then she was going to do something impulsive that she might regret later.

"There are those pretty blues. Hey Sunshine. You can see me right?"

Elsa waited for Anna to nod before she continued, "You feel my hands touching you?"

In response to this Anna's hands drifted up and latched on to Elsa's forearms in a death grasp.

"There you go. That's right. I'm right here. I am safe and here with you. Focus on that okay?"

Anna nodded, her eyes squeezed shut as a few more stray tears slipped down her face. Elsa whipped them away tenderly. Anna leaned forward and Elsa met her half way, leaning their heads together. Anna nuzzled closer for a moment before her raspy tear stained voice croaked out, "I'm just so angry this happened. You were being hurt and I had no idea. You were all alone. Not anymore. NOT again."

Elsa scooped Anna up as if she was still that tiny five year old and cradled her close to her chest. Anna latched herself around Elsa. One arm around her neck while the other fidgeted with the collar of her dress. Her nose soon found its way into Elsa's neck. Elsa sat there soothing Anna. Once it seemed that Anna was situated, one of her hands lifted and went to play with the hair on the back of Anna's head that had gotten loose from her braids. Elsa was slightly startled when Friedrick's voice rang out.

"She's not wrong. I want to kill that man too, but like you I know there is no sense in that right now. It would cause us more issues than answers right now. Is she okay?"

Elsa nodded, "Yes, she'll bounce back quickly. This is why I didn't want her to hear all of this. She has always gotten more upset on my behalf. Anna wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she loves you she becomes your biggest defender. I count myself lucky to fall on that list, but it also worries me for her. I don't want her to react impulsively in my defense and then regret her actions later. She comes first. Anna always comes first. It's why I agreed to be locked away in my room all this time. I thought it would be better and safer for Anna. I've learned my lesson. Anna gets her say if she is involved. Sometimes she sees things that the rest of us miss."

A very muffled, "No I don't. It's just common sense not to lock you up."

Elsa gave a breathy chuckle while Friedrick and Primrose smiled and laughed as well at Anna's blunt honesty.

"Elsie… Can you take off your gloves please? You don't need them now."

Elsa paused her hand that was playing with Anna's hair. She has been around Anna without her gloves on before, but she was around new people. She was nervous and as much as she hated the gloves they did also give her a sense of security when she was wound up like this.

Elsa gave a small huff, "Sunshine I don't think so. Not right now okay?"

Instead Anna leaned back a bit and grabbed hold of one of Elsa's hands and slipped the glove off of it. Elsa Immediately tensed and snapped her hand back giving Anna a glare. Does she always have to charge into everything head first? I told her no!

"Anna give it back."

"No. You don't need it. It's okay. See?"

Anna then grabbed Elsa's now exposed hand and cradled it within her own. She brought it up and gave a soft kiss to the palm of Elsa's hand.

Elsa still glared at Anna but gave a resigned slump of her shoulders. Anna has seemed to have won this one.

"I thought I told you no."

"And I'm telling you you don't need them. Trust me."

Elsa gave a small groan as she saw Anna give her puppy eyes, "You are not fighting fair."

Anna shrugged, "But I'm right and you know it. I just know how to soften you up to accept it."

Anna flashed her a grin, and Elsa just shook her head in exasperation. Both of their attention was called back to their Aunt and Uncle.

"Girls, why are gloves an issue here?"

"Elsa, why were you even wearing them inside to begin with if you are always in your room?"

Elsa stared wide eyed at her Aunt and Uncle. This was not something she wanted to get into or admit to them at all. Now they were going to hate her too. She knew this wasn't going to last long at all. It was too good to last. Oh this was it. The moment everything fell apart again. She just had to make sure they didn't get angry with Anna. She would have to take all of the blame. Maybe she could somehow get out of telling them the truth. What was a plausible reason to be wearing gloves? Oh what was she going to do? Why did Anna have to draw attention to them?

"Elsie?"

Elsa's eyes snapped down and looked at Anna curled up in her lap.

"Just tell them. It is going to be okay. I'm right here."

Elsa felt trapped. She trusted Anna. She really did, but this was something that Anna couldn't control. Something she could predict. Her gaze switched over to her Aunt and Uncle. Would they now hate her? Was it really safe to tell them her biggest shame?