The night of coronation. The grand hall is jammed packed with all kinds of dignitaries. Kings, queens, princes, princesses, and ambassadors. Food and drink flow freely as does the conversation. Anna carefully scoops up a glass of champagne as a tray floats by.

She watches as Elsa works the room, charming the other families of royalty. Shaking their hands, bowing respectfully, laughing at their jokes. Elsa turned out to be quite charming, and that side of her personality really shined. Anna had secretly been nervous. She wasn't sure how Elsa would do in a crowd like this, where every word, every gesture would be dissected and judged.

As far as the goes, Anna could tell that Elsa was handling it wonderfully.

Leading up to this night, Anna had thrown herself into her work; making sure every detail was right. From the guest list all the way down to what dishes to use, and the menu. She made herself indispensable, so Elsa wouldn't have anything to worry about, except for her speech.

One thing kept bothering Anna, however. As she moved through the room, practically unseen, she noticed something that Elsa didn't. The finger pointing. The whispers. The gossip. The snarky remarks. Even from those that were Arendelle's sworn allies.

"This is Anendelle's new queen?"

"She's just a child."

"She's not ready for this."

"So much for King Agnarr's legacy…"

Anna had been floored. She tried keeping her composure as she snacked on hors d'oeuvres. No matter which way she turned, there was nothing but whispered jabs and criticisms.

"Anna?" Elsa caught up to her. "Are you OK?"

Anna had been heart broken. Even after the evening ended, the guests had seen themselves out, and the clean up began, Anna had retreated to her bedroom. She laid on her bed, trying to hold back the tears. She said nothing to Elsa.

In the early morning light, a bell tinkles lightly as a slight, young woman strolls into the bakery. An older man behind the counter looks up with a smile. "Good morning! What can I get for you?"

The girl makes a show of going over the display case. She pulls her shawl a little more closely around her. "Yes, may I have a sweet roll?" She eyes the delicious looking cinnamon roll.

"An excellent choice! I just made them this morning." The baker takes the roll out of the case, gently wrapping it in paper. The girl hands over a small handful of coins. "Can I ask you something?" She says.

"Sure. What's on your mind?"

"What do you think of Queen Elsa?"

The baker recoils at this. "Why um, why do you ask?" He seems nervous.

"My family just arrived from the Southern Isles. We hoped to make the coronation, but we were too late. I was hoping you could tell me what you think."

"Well, just between us, right?" The girl nods in agreement. "They say she's too young, and I'm inclined to agree. She doesn't have the knowledge or the know-how to be queen. And then there's the rumors…"

"What rumors?"

"They say she's a witch. That she has the powers to control the weather, or something. Killed a guard, they say. Froze him solid. You listen to me: you get back on that boat, and sail back home. Arendelle's days are numbered." The baker goes back to work, kneading a fresh batch of dough.

"Thank you." The girl mutters, as she pockets the roll, and heads outside.

All the people she stops and talks to, all variations on a theme. Too young. Too inexperienced. A weather witch. Arendelle is now cursed. The girl made her way to the castle. Entering, she passes her shawl to a waiting staff member. "Here…" Anna passes over the sweet roll. "You can have this. I'm not hungry."

"Thank you, your highness." The staffer bows deeply.

Anna knew that Elsa had an appointment with the council. Anna also knew that she was late. Rather than barging in, Anna waited just outside. And she didn't have to wait long. The council members filed out, talking amongst themselves. Anna cautiously entered, finding Elsa sitting at the long table, looking annoyed. "You're late." Elsa snaps.

"I'm so sorry. I was out, and-"

"I don't want excuses, Anna. You were supposed to be here, and you knew that."

"It won't happen again."

"It better not, consort."

"As I was saying, I was out and about talking to the people."

Elsa gets up, and goes to the window. A thin layer of frost appears on the glass. "I already know what you're about to say. The people don't like me. They even fear me."

"How did you know?"

"I heard the way they talked about me at my coronation. Their smiles say one thing. Their words are another. Typical politicians. It sickens me." With a small wave of her hand, the frost clears. Elsa crosses her arms over her chest.

"What should we do?"

"All of my enemies, and even our allies, are looking for the slightest hint of weakness. Everyone is somehow expecting me to live up to our parents' legacy." Elsa shakes her head. "They're all wrong. What they should be expecting is for me to forge my own legacy. And it starts right here. Right now."

Elsa confidently strides out to the great hall. "Our parents thought I was cursed. They feared me." With a gesture, the gold chandelier overhead turns into ice, morphing into an intricate icy fractal. "They tried to teach me that my powers were something to be feared; something to be locked away." With a mighty stomp, a hand-carved snowflake appears on the floor, covering its entire width. "That's why our father let our kingdom fall apart: he was so consumed in trying to cure me!" Elsa's voice rises. The grand staircase becomes solid ice, with beautiful, graceful handrails. "He tried everything: sorcery, witchcraft, exorcisms, even violence!" The solid stone walls become sheets of deep blue ice. "That is our parents' legacy, Anna. The council told me everything. It would shock you."

Anna had heard some of this before. Growing up, she had even suspected something dark that her parents were keeping from her. Even then, she thought she was being paranoid. Anna stumbles when the ground starts to rumble. It sounds like a mountain erupting out of the ground, growing over the castle. Anna had no idea just how deeply Elsa had been mistreated. Seeing Elsa's scars had given her an idea, but what she was describing could only be torture. It rocked her to the core.

"A new age is dawning in Arendelle, Anna. And if the people will not love me…" Elsa's dress transforms before Anna' very eyes. The fabric becomes a cobalt crystalline ice form-fitting dress. "Then they will fear me. It will be their choice. We have a lot of work to do."