Elsa wasn't sure how she felt. One the one hand, her parents were dead. On the other, they practically disowned her, and subjected to her to a dungeon, and torture. Walking through the castle, she noticed something particularly disturbing about all the family paintings. The family portraits that hung above the main staircase had been replaced. Iduna on one side. Agnarr on the other, Each having a hand on Anna's shoulders. Before, they each had a hand on each of the sisters.
When Elsa saw this, she had been heartbroken. "How could they…?"
"I'm so sorry…" Anna offers.
"They just…erased me. They got rid of me, then made sure I never existed."
"Elsa, it wasn't like that."
"Oh? Then what was it like, Anna?" Elsa's voice rises. "While you've been here living the life I should've had, I was locked up! And treated me like some kind of criminal!" She balls her hands into fists so tightly, her fingernails dig into her skin. "Now, you're going to try to tell me it wasn't like that?!" Ice forms over the frame of the towering painting. It starts to warp, and crack. "Understand this, dear sister…," Her voice drips with poison. "That is our parents' legacy. A legacy of fear, and ignorance! It ends at my coronation. Is that understood?" Not waiting for an answer, she wheels on Gerda. "Any painting that doesn't have me in it has to be taken down, and burned! Is that clear?"
"Yes, your majesty." Gerda whispers.
The royal family painting is now completely ruined, and hanging by a thread. Completely unsalvageable. The painting itself ripped almost to shreds by sharp streaks of ice. After Elsa stomps away, leaving a trail of ice footsteps behind her, the painting comes down, collapsing in a messy tangle of canvas and rich mahogany. The two women just look at each other, wearing worried expressions.
"ANNA?!" Elsa calls from across the room.
"Coming!" Anna timidly responds. With a final look, she leaves Gerda and the staff to clean up. Anna quickly crosses the room as Elsa continues to stride away.
"When is the coronation ceremony?" Elsa asks.
"As soon as you feel up to it, really."
Elsa stops, rounding on Anna. "Your majesty." She snaps.
"Excuse me?"
"From now on, just like everyone else, you will address me as 'Your Majesty'."
Anna is taken aback by this. "But…I'm your sister. Not one of your subjects."
"Be that as it may, I am still your queen, and you will address me as such. Is that clear?"
Anna knew better than to argue. "Of course…y-your majesty." That felt weird. Anna hoped she would get used to it.
"As far as my coronation goes, I leave that to you. Invite every head of state you can. Every king, every queen, prince, and regent. Fill the hall with my people! Understood?" She pauses before a small portrait of their parents when they were younger. Their mother dressed all in white. A wedding portrait. Enraged, Elsa rips the picture off the wall, encasing it in ice. Concentrating on it, she shatters the frame, tossing the whole thing to the floor. "Clean that up!" She orders a random staff member, who just happened to be walking by.
"Right away, your majesty!" He replies.
"What you're asking might be a little difficult." Anna had been a little reluctant to bring it up. "Um, your majesty."
"What? Why?"
"Maybe you should discuss that with the council."
Elsa rolls her eyes in disgust. "The council…fine. Arrange it."
Arrayed around a large, round table, a dozen of Arendelle's best and brightest look ill at ease. Secretly, Anna warned them of Elsa's temperament. "Your father, King Agnarr, let things fall apart." Kai, head of the council, lectures. "The economy was in shambles, and alliances fell apart."
"What happened?" Elsa asks. It doesn't escape her notice that the members of the council exchange furtive looks.
"Well, to be frank, your majesty…" Kai shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "The king had been consumed in his work"
"I don't understand."
"To be frank, your majesty, and pardon me for saying so, your father was consumed with trying to find a cure for your condition."
Elsa slams her fist on the table, leaving an icy patch. "I don't have a condition!"
"My apologies, your majesty. I didn't mean to imply-"
"Let me tell you something. My powers are a gift, not a curse! I won't be ashamed of them! Is that clear?"
"Perfectly clear, your majesty." Kai whispers.
So, the meeting goes on. It became painfully clear to Elsa that if it wasn't for the brave actions of the council, with help from Iduna, that the kingdom would've fallen apart completely. It became quite clear to Elsa that she had a difficult task ahead of her in repairing the damage that had been done. "Very well." She says. "After my coronation, we begin. Is there anything else?" No other orders of business are put forward. "Anna is going to handle coordinating everything regarding the ceremony. Work with her to make sure everything is ready. Dismissed."
Before anyone can get up, Elsa retreats to her new bedroom. Upon arriving at home, she went to see her old room. It had been completely emptied, and sealed off. There was nothing left of her childhood. Everything good about it, just gone. She set up in one of the guest bedrooms, refusing the one her parents used until she could decide what to do with it. Sitting heavily on the bed, she stares at her own reflection in the mirror.
Why her mother thought she was ready to be queen, Elsa had no idea. If anything, Anna would've made a better queen, even with no experience or qualifications. Anna had a good soul. Maybe that's what Arendelle needed now.
It didn't matter. Elsa didn't have a choice. Given the rigid structure of the Rite of Succession, and her mother's last wish, it was only going to go one way. At first she had been excited to become the sole ruler of Arendelle. Now? Not so much.
Even standing up there, in front of everyone, Elsa couldn't let one how much her doubts plagued her. Listening to the bishop intonate a prayer and beseeching the Almighty for a blessing hadn't helped. The idea of her rule brought about by divine right, wasn't comforting.
Now, the main hall was packed with guests that were expecting her to lead Arendelle back to greatness. She had been practicing her speech for a while. Draft after draft. Endless revisions. She had practiced it in front of a mirror until she had it memorized. Even with Anna's encouragement, Elsa still wasn't completely comfortable giving it.
"I know that my father left our beloved kingdom in shambles." She recited. "I promise you, here and now, that, together, we will make Arendelle strong again." The patrons clap politely. Elsa wasn't sure they were convinced. Barely 20 years old, they were convinced that this child wasn't ready for such power and responsibilities. Elsa agreed with that assessment. "And now, I would ask that my dear sister, Anna, join me up here." Elsa had gone off script here, surprising Anna. Even so, Anna climbed the stairs, standing proudly beside Elsa. "I formally present to you Princess Anna of Arendelle. She is to be my consort. If anything should happen to me, she will rule Arendelle in my place." More polite applause.
"And now, please, enjoy the food and refreshments." With that, Elsa moves to join the crowd, but is stopped by Anna.
"Consort, your majesty?" Anna asks.
"Of course. You're my sister. There's no one I love, or trust, more. Now, our subjects await."
Anna had been too stunned to move. She certainly hadn't been expecting to be named consort. Even if the role is largely ceremonial, it said a lot. Anna felt so excited, as she made small talk with the visiting royalty, and dignitaries; all offering well-wishes and congratulations. Anna hoped that this would bring them closer together.
