The piece of paper lies on the corner of the nightstand by her bed, ominously reminding her of this day and the business that she needs to attend to. Her bed lies on the other side of her spacious room, but with the weight the message carries, it always feels like the paper is within her hands and her eyes are still deciphering every word written on it. Part of her feels like she should never have broken the seal and opened the rolled-up paper, but as the Queen of Arendelle, there will always be things she has to do despite her feelings against it. This particular task is one of those things and what's even more encumbering about it is that it involves her dealing with the aftermath of a certain event not too long ago. Elsa truly wishes that she never has to delve into the past again, but that's just the child in her imploring for miracles to happen. But the Kingdom of Arendelle needs their Queen and a child wishing for a miracle will just not do.
"Queen Elsa," the warmth of Gerda's voice, along with the feeling of her burgundy cloak draping over her shoulders breaks Elsa out of her reverie, "are you alright?"
The answer should be simple enough since life in Arendelle is no longer about ostracizing herself from society. The gates are no longer closed and her rapport with her people is now filled with mirth and trust. Not to mention the biggest testament of her life's improvement is her relationship with her sister. The fact that she and Anna are close again is something that Elsa will cherish. Elsa would do anything to protect Anna, which is probably one of the main incentives she has for dealing with this issue that was presented to her less than a week ago.
"I am, Gerda," Elsa responds while staring at her reflection in the mirror. She manages a smile as her brooch secures her cloak to her body. "Thank you for asking."
"Your Majesty if I may—" Elsa is more than able to decipher the look of concern etched on Gerda's face through the mirror. She doesn't wait for the sentence to be finished before speaking up.
"Gerda, please, you may at any time," proper etiquette isn't important to Elsa when she is talking to people that are close to her. "You know that your words are always welcome."
It is an unspoken fact that Gerda, along with Kai, has raised both Anna and Elsa after the tragedy of their parents' death, which is why Elsa finds it peculiar that Gerda would speak to her like she was another person and not as the woman that raised her.
"Very well. Elsa, if you don't want to attend, you don't have to," Gerda states with a humble but stern tone. "You have other means to extend your presence."
"Send Kai or another representative is what you are insinuating, right?"
"You don't owe the Southern Isles anything, Elsa. Quite literally, it's the other way around."
There were a myriad of things Elsa wants to say in regards to Gerda's words but a knock on the door quickly interrupts Elsa's thought process. Her head immediately turns towards the said door and not too long after, a voice accompanies the knock.
"Elsa?"
The smile on Elsa's face broadens and Gerda is more than aware that this moment is more than needed. Nodding her head, Gerda walks towards the door and opens it to reveal none other than Anna waiting on the other side.
"Oh! I'm.. I'm sorry! Did I… I'm sorry! Can I come in?"
As always, Anna carries the exuberance in any mood that she is in. Nervous as she may be, her mind seems to still want to move faster than her words can form. Anna might be carefree and sometimes naïve, but she does have the uncanny ability to brighten things up. With a flagrant smile still etched in Gerda's face, she bows her head at Anna.
"No need for apologies, Princess, I was just on my way out," Gerda turns to Elsa just to give her salutation. "Whenever you are ready, your Majesty. Your ship awaits."
With those words, Elsa and Anna are alone behind the closed door of Elsa's room. In a normal circumstance positive talks and Anna's joyful personality would be bombarding the room right now, but alas the ambiance is somber and definitely not the norm. Turning back to the mirror and observing herself, Elsa takes note that her outfit resembles her coronation dress, especially with its darker color scheme, though it is missing the vibrant teal glove that she used to wear with just about every outfit back then. Not that she has the intention of wearing those again. There's no longer any need to conceal her powers; all of that is in the past. Though as she found out a week ago, some things in the past are hard to bury and some things are harder to control than her powers.
"Do you have to go?"
Anna's voice is laced with disdain as much as her expression is. Strange, some odd years ago Elsa asked the same question to her parents and she too had that same concerned facial expression; the outcome, of course, was a tragic event that forever changed the lives of both sisters. The loss of the King and Queen affected all of Arendelle but who would feel the most strife other than the daughters they left behind? Stuck in her thoughts about the past, Elsa slightly flinches as Anna's hand touched her shoulder. Anna's question still remains unanswered and the Princess is adamant at making sure that Elsa replies.
"Elsa, do you really have to-"
"Anna, you and I have discussed this already," Elsa's response is immediate and her tone of voice isn't by any means scolding but it is fortified with sternness, "I have to do this. I have to bury this past."
"It's my past too."
"I know, but they asked for the Queen of Arendelle personally. It would behoove of us to remember that there are political matters attached to what Hans' did in our kingdom."
"His brother asked for the Queen," Anna's voice starts to ascend to an almost shouting tone, "but they forgot that they're also risking my Sister's safety!"
To Elsa, no other love is more valuable than the one that Anna has and continues to give her. Anna's perseverance didn't die and for that, Elsa owes Anna a lot. It's been some time since the events of the 'eternal winter' fiasco and the two have so much to retrace and so much to rebuild in regards to their relationship. The damage the years of solitude brought upon them still reverberates within Elsa and so rebuilding is the only thing she has in mind and that means putting certain issues to rest. Complying with the summoning to speak on behalf of Arendelle in regards to Hans' crimes is part of the act of resolving the said issues. If her words seal Hans' fate, it means that Anna is that much closer to safety. She has to do this—Elsa has to travel to the Southern Isles; it's as much of an issue for her as a Queen as it is for Anna's well being. With the thought of their sisterhood in her mind, Elsa faces Anna with a warm smile and grabs her sister's hands and holds them gently. Anna immediately reciprocates the gesture and the warmth of her skin overshadows the freezing hands of Elsa's.
"I'll be back," Elsa's grip reaffirms when she said those words. "I owe it to you and to everyone else in Arendelle to come back."
It wasn't so much the words that Elsa managed to say, but the way she said it and the gesture of their hands together that evokes a faint smile from Anna. It may not be the zealous reaction that would be expected from the Princess of Arendelle, but for the first time in the last few days, Elsa was at least able to get some kind of positive reaction out of her. Something that Elsa is in dire need of seeing is Anna's jovial personality rather than the almost too sullen persona that she has been giving off.
"I know you will!" the optimist side of Anna is also something that Elsa welcomes wholeheartedly. "Besides, Kristoff and I have a lot of plans with ice delivering and everything else so being stuck in Arendelle as its temporary monarch isn't as fun, so you better hurry back!"
Haste would be the only thing in Elsa's mind in regard to this business, but she knows it won't be the case. Still, Elsa can't help but giggle at Anna's pouting face, which is, of course, part of her sister's charm. Despite Anna still, the less adequate one to rule Arendelle, Elsa knows that the kingdom would be in good hands with Gerda and Kai guiding her; after all, they were a big factor in teaching Elsa how to properly attend to the duties of a queen. With that thought, Elsa forms a crown made out of ice, complete with the intricate patterns of her liking and a deep blue colored ice in the middle to properly announce her royalty. Taking it with both her hands as soon as it reaches the tangible form, Elsa places it on her head, neatly acting as décor on her hair and complimenting the snowflakes on her long braid. During the process of creating her jewelry, Anna watched avidly, still not entirely used to Elsa's ability to make such constructs on the whim. However, a different expression dawns on Anna's face as Elsa puts the said crown on.
"What?" Elsa asks as she notices the peculiar look on her sister's face.
"You could have picked different clothes, you know. Or your usual one."
The 'usual' that Anna speaks of is none other than Elsa's elegant blue dress that is created from her imagination. It's more or less another one of her creations, as the dress is made of enchanted threads that are woven through the replication of ice and snow. Anna uses the image of Elsa in her dress as a symbol of the rolling 'change' in their relationship. To see her back in a constricting and professional outfit doesn't exactly have the same effect, but more or less a reminder of the times before. Elsa knows this, thus why she keeps on smiling as she leads Anna towards the door by her hand.
"I'll be out of these clothes soon enough," Elsa may be reassuring Anna, but for some reason, she herself needs to hear these words from her own mouth, "in the meantime, just try not to get Arendelle in too much trouble, okay?"
"Oh, of course, I won't," Elsa's reassurance seemed to have done her magic for now since Anna's demeanor is back to the upbeat attitude that she is known for. "And if I do, you'll be back soon enough to fix things!"
With a bounce to her step, Anna skips ahead and exits the room. Elsa shakes her head at Anna's response before letting herself feel the happiness from the idea of leaving her beloved sister on a more positive image. With luck, the summoning will go quicker than Elsa predicts and she'll be back in Arendelle in no time. Things have indeed gotten better and perhaps they will keep going in that direction for her family. Though as soon as those thoughts crossed her mind, a strange sensation pervades from her chest and it causes a very cold tingling up her spine. With eyes wide of shock, Elsa follows the feeling behind her and finds herself staring at the mirror. For a moment it seems like a normal reflection of her, but with a single blink, something changes and the face staring back at her is an insidious version of her. The eyes are glowing with a deeper tint of blue and her grin insinuates far more sinister than Elsa can even muster. As if the distorted reflection isn't enough, the image moves and its hand reaches towards Elsa, as if the reflection itself has life on its own. Appalled and confused, Elsa stumbles backward and prepares to freeze back if needed, but she finds herself hitting the wall behind her causing her to flinch away thinking it was something else. Realizing that there's no threat behind her, Elsa reverts her attention back towards the mirror expecting to see the altered reflection, but alas nothing but an image of herself with a very shaken and defensive stance. For a few moments, Elsa stands there with her hands extended on both sides ready to conjure up anything that would help her situation. Her breathing echoes as she stares at her reflection, as the adrenaline is still strong. Lost in translation and truly unable to come up with a reasonable cause for such an apparition to appear on her own image, Elsa starts to lower hands but still ready in case such a strange occurrence appears again.
"Elsa!" Anna's voice pierces Elsa's ears, calming her nerves somewhat. "Come on! The sooner you leave the sooner you'll get back!"
"Y-yeah!" Elsa replies, trying to sound as calm as she can. "Of course! I'll be right there!"
Fixing herself so that she won't have such a paranoid stance, Elsa gives one more glance at her mirror to find nothing amiss. Sighing, she dismisses it as some kind of trick her mind is playing with her due to the stress of the situation she is about to find herself in. What else could it be but that? While she may not know Hans' older brothers, she doesn't exactly have the best first impression of them due to their kin's mishap. Taking a deep breath and straightening her cloak, Elsa follows Anna and closes the door behind her letting the long hallway of her castle greet her with the full conviction of not giving the strange occurrence anymore thought.
"Just let it go," Elsa mutters under her breath as a final statement in regards to everything encumbering her. After it is all said and done, the burden of the paper that lies on her nightstand will no longer weigh her down.
To Be Continued.