Elsa had ordered everyone except for Anna out of her room. With a wave of her hand, the jagged ice that had surrounded the walls had vanished, and Elsa had control over her own power once again. She and Anna spent several minutes in silence, and for that time, Elsa simply stared at her hands.
How? Was her only thought.
Why?
Why did her power, which had been under control for months now, suddenly begin to disobey her? Even when she didn't have control over it thirteen years ago, she still knew the power was hers. She still knew that she could control it eventually, but now it seemed, to her, that it had a mind of its own.
The queen gulped and slowly looked up at her sister, her hands clutching the satin fabric of the sheets. Anna's turquoise eyes conveyed concern beyond anything she'd ever seen, but looking closer, it wasn't concern in her eyes.
It was sadness.
And even though that was all Elsa could see, she knew deep down there would be fear.
There would always be fear.
"It was snowing through the entire castle." The redhead made her way over to her sister, sitting down next to her and brushing a few strands of Elsa's hair out of her eyes. "What happened?"
Elsa hung her head, unable to look at her sister after what she'd done. It was outbursts like the one she'd just had that caused disasters. It caused trouble. It caused fear. She had seen the look in Anna's eyes. The distress that lurked inside a girl who was trying to be optimistic just for her. Elsa couldn't admit that she didn't know. She couldn't admit that she didn't have control. She couldn't admit that there was a chance that she would hurt Anna again.
Warm fingers hooked underneath Elsa's chin, and her face was lifted upwards and turned towards Anna who gazed at her lovingly. "It's alright." Anna pulled Elsa towards her, sending the queen's eyes wider than they'd ever been. Anna was embracing her, stroking her hair gently. Comforting her. Protecting her. Even when Elsa could have been a danger to her, she wasn't afraid. "I..." Elsa started, biting her lip.
She wrapped her arms around Anna's waist, listening to her heartbeat as she'd done only a few hours ago.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Elsa couldn't help but let out another relieved sigh, and she then shook her head. "I don't know."
There was silence. And then there was Anna's warm and soothing voice. "You don't know anything?"
Elsa shook her head and pulled away, gazing into her sister's eyes, and then at her hair. Anna always had a propensity to have major bed hair. Strands were tousled every which way, and the fact that her sister hadn't noticed made it that much better. A smile flashed across the queen's lips for less than a second before a pensive look adorned her face. "I was sleeping, Anna." She stood up, wrapping her arms around herself as she made her way over to the window. The blue light of the moon still shining down on her.
She placed a hand on the glass, leaning her forehead against it. "I don't know what happened it just-"
My brother.
Ice came seeping out of Elsa's hand, spreading itself across the window in the same jagged form as before. Elsa went pale and took more than a few steps back, dread filling her as she gazed at the ice on the wall. Anna came from behind her, putting both of her hands firmly on Elsa's arms. "Just calm down." She soothed, circling around to face Elsa head on.
Elsa opened her mouth to speak but said nothing as she wrapped her arms around herself, careful not to have her fingers anywhere near Anna's arms. The redhead caught on and shook her head as she took one of Elsa's hands in her own. "You won't hurt me. I'm not afraid." She grinned, bringing Elsa to sit back on the bed. "Just talk to me."
Elsa nodded and took a deep breath. "I've been-" The queen shook her head again. "It's silly. It's probably nothing. It will be better in the morning."
"Absolutely not." Anna scowled, looking Elsa in the eyes. "If something's bothering you, Elsa, you have to tell me." She pleaded. "I can't help you if I don't know what's going on."
Elsa focused her gaze on the window. At the ice on the wall, and then back to Anna. "I've been hearing... a voice."
Anna raised a brow. "A voice?" The redhead blinked, visibly trying to comprehend what her sister had just said, but urged Elsa to continue on speaking.
"It keeps saying 'brother'." Elsa sighed. "I don't know what it means, but when it speaks to me I..." The queen's eyes shifted to the window.
"When it speaks to you, you lose control.." Anna finished her sentence, and Elsa nodded, and Anna leaned closer to her, hugging her sister again. "Don't worry about it." The reassurance in Anna's voice was enough for Elsa to stop worrying for a full second. "Whatever it is, we'll get through it together."
Anna's hands enveloped Elsa's, and the two smiled at each other for a solid minute before Elsa pulled Anna into another tight embrace. "Thank you.." She whispered. "Thank you for everything."
Anna giggled but hugged her sister just as tightly. "I didn't do anything." She shrugged. "I just want to be there for you."
The princess broke the embrace, taking a moment to look at her sister. "Now get some rest." Her lips curled into a smile. "Don't you have a meeting tomorrow for the ball?"
Elsa nodded as Anna began to step away from the bed. She didn't want to scare Anna. She didn't want to scare her subjects or her staff. If she let her powers remain unchecked, there would be consequences. Consequences that Elsa couldn't risk. "Anna, wait."
The redhead turned around, as she already had one foot out the door. "What's up?" A red brow raised as she looked at Elsa.
The queen's eyes darted to a desk across the room, and then her eyes shifted back to Anna. "Can you... can you hand me what's in that drawer?"
Anna looked skeptically at her sister but nodded as she strode across the room. The redhead hummed as she opened the drawer, but when she opened it, she turned her head back to Elsa, her eyes wide with shock and concern. "Elsa, I don't think you need to-"
"Please," Elsa interrupted, breaking her sister's gaze to look down at her hands that gripped the sheets. Frost had once again begun seeping from her fingertips, and it began crawling up her skin. "Just to be safe."
Anna bit her lip, her turquoise eyes looking sad in the darkness. She reluctantly reached into the drawer, pulling out a pair of turquoise gloves. She walked slowly back over to the bed, handing the gloves to Elsa. "Are you sure?" She asked. "I mean are you sure that you need them. Not 'are you sure that you want them?' because you obviously wanted them. You wouldn't have asked for them if you didn't but I..."
Elsa had put the gloves on in the middle of Anna's rambling, already feeling safer, and more confident with them on. She reached for her sister's hand with her gloved one and looked into Anna's eyes. There it was again. That sadness. That fear. "It's alright." The queen smiled softly. "I'll be better in the morning. I promise."
"Well, it's already morning, silly." The princess laughed softly, hoping to lighten the mood just a bit, and Elsa's slight smile told her she'd accomplished her goal. Even if her sister was still worried, at least Anna could lift her spirits moment by moment until they solved the problem at hand. "Just get some rest," Anna whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Their gazes lingered on each other for more than a moment before Anna exited Elsa's room, blowing a kiss to the queen before she closed the door behind her. Elsa flopped backward, her head cushioned by the pillow underneath her, and she lifted up her hands, eyeing them. She waited. She waited for something. Anything. A voice. The voice.
Brother.
Elsa's heart rate skyrocketed. She was waiting. Waiting for the storm. The chill in the air. The jagged ice.
There was nothing.
Brother.
Once again, there was nothing.
Elsa sighed in relief. There was no jagged ice. There was no chill in the air. The gloves were helping, as they had long ago. She hated remembering that time. The time when she had to live in fear of herself. It seemed those times weren't over, but she'd found a temporary solution. Knowing there was nothing to be afraid of, the queen finally closed her eyes and slept peacefully through the night.
/
Elsa had woken up a few hours later. The amount of sleep she'd gotten was enough to get her through the meeting concerning the masquerade ball. It was the only thing she had scheduled for the day, but it was bound to be long, full of disagreements and compromises, and discussions pertaining to the most minor of details she could possibly think of.
The type of silverware. What decorations. How each table and chair should be placed in the ballroom. What kind of food they would have. She was already dreading most of it, but she was intrigued about the guest list more than anything.
It was a ball open for all, but the queen had invited some guests personally. Her thoughts wandered to the man she'd met at the inn. Corin. A smile spread onto her face as she reflected on Anna's reaction to the cloak. She secretly shared her sister's desire of having one just like it someday, although, preferably in blue.
The queen had her platinum blonde hair tied back into her signature braid, and her dress, cyan and made of icy crystals that glittered in the sunlight.
The only accessory she wore was the gloves.
Turquoise, soft, comforting. The ice hadn't returned all night, and if it had, she didn't hear a single thing about it. She assumed the best case scenario, something Anna would have done. That thought was her only comfort as she headed towards a large pair of white double doors, the red velvet carpet outlining her path. From the outside, she could already hear bickering, and she shook her head as she placed her hand on the handle.
Brother.
Elsa's eyes widened as the voice sounded again. Her gaze shifted sharply to her hands. Frost had begun to cover the gloves themselves. The queen took a deep breath, thinking of her father, her mother, of Anna. When she opened her eyes again, the ice had receded. She was once again in control.
Everything would be fine.
The queen took one more breath as she walked into the room. There was one large round table, all of the seats occupied except for one, and contrary to her expectance of silence, there was bickering.
No.
Yelling.
"All I want to know is who invited them!" One of her advisors shouted.
"Why should you care?!" Another hissed. "You're just as bad as that brat from the Southern Isles!"
"I beg your pardon?!"
"I think it is rather brave of her." Another retorted.
"It's not brave, it's stupid! Why would she invite people from a kingdom who tried to-"
All heads turned towards Elsa as she stood by the door, and instantly, silence filled the air. The diplomats and advisors all in unison bowed their heads as Elsa walked to her seat at the table. They only raised their head when the queen took her seat, and the others followed suit, not saying a word until one brave man broke the silence.
"Good morning, your Majesty." A man with curly chestnut hair and stubbles that outlined a beard addressed her. He was dressed in a green suit adorned with whorls of gold. His pants were the same color and design while his knee-high boots were black. He wore multiple medals on his chest, signifying his contribution to the kingdom. Elsa smiled as she gazed into his caramel colored eyes. He seemed to be the most welcoming of the bunch in the queen's eyes.
"Good morning, Arthur." The queen responded sweetly, the man giving her a charming smile in return.
"Good morning, Your Highness." A woman dressed in a myriad of purples greeted her. Her hair chocolate hair rested over one shoulder and was curled softly at the bottom, while her bright silver eyes were a stark contrast to her dark tones, so different they seemed out of place. Although her eyes looked warm, they demanded attention and respect. Her tanned skin was flawless and smooth. Although she was older than Elsa, she looked about the same age as the queen herself. "Where would you like to start?"
Elsa glanced around the table, her eyes eventually meeting the woman's again. "I think we should start with the guest list."
"I think that's a wonderful idea." A sharp voice filled the room. The same voice that had berated her moments ago.
Elsa's head shifted to a man, his suit and pants were red and lined with golden swirls, he too wore knee-high black boots. He was a slender man, lanky and fragile-looking with skin so pale he looked as if he hadn't seen the sun in days. His eyes were a welcoming emerald green, but the look in them was anything but warm. "With all due respect, what exactly are you thinking, your Highness?" Elsa glanced around the table, glares coming from almost everyone, their eyes all focused on the man speaking, but the queen herself showed no reaction as the man held up a paper covered with names. "I thought you were staying away from the Southern Isles."
Elsa's head hung so she could see the papers in front of her, the guest list right on top. Her gaze then shifted back to the man, and she straightened her back and clasped her gloved hands together. "I don't see the problem, Damien." The queen met his gaze without fear. "There are only two names from there on this list."
"That may be true, your Highness, but one of them is a prince." His brow furrowed, everyone in the room recalling the same event at the same time. "And the other is someone that I, and all of your advisors, have never even heard of." Damien retorted.
"I personally think it's smart." The woman dressed in purple nodded at Elsa. "The Southern Isles is a trade kingdom, and because of the Terminal Accords being broken, they're scared." The woman's silver eyes looked into Elsa's icy blue ones, nothing but confidence in them, while Elsa couldn't give her the same look. "They know what can happen if it ever happens again."
Elsa hated the reasoning behind the woman's words, but she couldn't deny that they were true. Elsa could shut down their trade. She could freeze the ocean and leave them helpless, she could leave their people hungry for years on end. She could cast the same eternal winter she'd cast over Arendelle. Their crop would be gone.
With a wave of her hand, they would have nothing.
She would never exploit her powers in that way, but it could be done if she pleased, and that was what scared the Southern Isles, and the possibility that she could lose control scared her even more.
"There is nothing wrong with giving them a second chance." The woman continued, "Furthermore, they are a trade kingdom just as we are, and they are in league with Northern Isles who has one of the strongest militaries this era has ever seen." She continued. "It is a smart, political move made with the hopes of establishing connections."
"You seem to forget about Arendelle, Cornelia." Damien interrupted, scowling at the woman.
"He's correct." Arthur frowned as his gaze shifted to Elsa. "What of the people, my queen? What will they say?"
"That is precisely what I was getting to." Damien chimed in. "You cannot expect the people to be on board with them coming here. I think Hans was bad enough that you would learn your lesson."
Elsa shook her head. "Jehan is not Hans,"
"Then what is he?" Damien spat, frustration becoming apparent in his tone.
"He is another prince from the Southern Isles, and the invitations have already been sent out," Elsa replied calmly. "There is nothing we can do about it now."
"That may be true, but he is another prince who could very well do the same thing Hans did to you and your sister. I'm just worried that you will regret your decisions to invite either one of them."
The queen's fingers curled inward as Damien spoke, but she stared unwaveringly at her advisor. She couldn't deny that Hans's betrayal had put her on edge. She was untrusting of almost everyone. Everyone except for Anna.
She wondered if, at their core, the princes were all the same. Power hungry and greedy, but at the same time, it wasn't fair. Her father had always told her to be fair, and she wouldn't dishonor his memory. "You cannot judge people you haven't met."
The green-eyed man rolled his eyes. "I can if that someone's brother tried to murder me." He retorted. "How you can even consider bringing one of them into your kingdom after what they'd done is beyond me. I-"
"Enough." Cornelia's voice ran through the room as she cut Damien off, glaring at the man with eyes filled with contempt. "I have served on this council for many years, but never have I seen anyone as disrespectful as you."
Damien crossed his arms. "Forgive me if I'm only concerned about our well-being. As we all should be."
Elsa saw Damien's eyes shift to her gloved hands which she kept on the table. Unafraid. "What is that supposed to mean?" Cornelia snarled.
Damien's brow furrowed as he looked to the queen, scoffing as he began to speak. "I can't be the only one here who is concerned about... what she can do." Elsa bit her lip. "That stunt she pulled last night had everyone in the castle freezing. Who's to say we won't have a repeat of what happened months ago."
"Now you've crossed the line, Damien," Arthur interjected, rising from his seat and leering at his colleague. His voice rose in volume as well. "She probably still has nightmares about that time. How can you mock the trauma she's gone through?"
"That doesn't excuse the fact that she was the one who'd caused it in the first place!" Damien rose from his chair, locking eyes with Arthur. The two now locked in a confrontation Elsa could only watch. "She lost control, and put all of Arendelle at risk because she couldn't keep it together!"
"Enough..." The queen muttered, closing her eyes and gripping her hands tightly. She could feel the power inside her. It fought against her every defense. It tried to take down every wall right in the middle of her entire council. Elsa needed to breathe. She needed some time to collect herself, but the screaming and arguing continued, and the power inside her only fought harder to be released.
"How you got appointed onto this council is beyond me!" Arthur growled. "I don't know what Agnarr was thinking."
Damien scoffed. "I earned my way onto this council. Unlike you." The general smirked. "Just because you're the captain of the guard, doesn't mean you belong in politics."
Elsa rubbed her temple, clenching her jaw. Looking down at her hands, frost had already covered her gloves and had begun seeping onto the table. It was minimal, but she knew it could grow exponentially at any second, and she could have sworn she felt the air get colder.
Her breathing became heavy as fear set it. She couldn't lose control. Not here. Not now. "Enough." the queen said louder through gritted teeth.
What she heard in response was more arguing.
"At least I help people." Arthur sneered, taking a step closer to Damien. "You just tear them down."
"You help people?" Damien bursted into laughter. "Tell that to your daughter. Oh... I forgot... she's dead."
Arthur grabbed a fistful of Damien's shirt, pulling the diplomat closer as anger flared in his eyes. He towered over the diplomat, his fist raised and teeth bared. Damien simply looked up at him with a smirk, and the other members of the council stood up form their seats. Cornelia's eyes went wide as she watched Arthur lay his anger bare for everyone to see, and the captain's fist threatened to connect with Damien's face.
Elsa felt the power inside of her about to explode. A few more seconds and she was sure she wouldn't be able to contain it anymore. The word she yelled next was addressed to Arthur and Damien, but also to the voice inside of her.
"ENOUGH!"
All heads turned to Elsa who was glaring at the two of them. Everyone else sat down but Arthur and Damien who remained standing. Arthur quickly released Damien from his grasp and bowed his head low. "I'm sorry, your Majesty." Guilt was prominent in his voice. And shame. So much shame and disappointment. "I'm deeply, deeply sorry."
Damien rolled his eyes, which went wide when he met Elsa's gaze. The queen's eyes had grown angry. Her brow furrowed in fury as she looked at him. The man's green eyes shifted to her frost-covered gloves and the same frost that had begun to creep across the table in a jagged, monstrous way. "Your... your Majesty, I-"
"Quiet." Elsa hissed, her gaze never leaving Damien's as she rose from her chair.
The diplomat and the general slowly sank back into their seats. "I'm going to excuse myself." The queen looked around the room, making sure all of her advisor's eyes were on her, and that no one would object to her leaving. "Say whatever you need to say to each other." She made sure that her presence filled the room. That her frustration with them was ever present, and that it was clear who was in charge. Who was in control. "And when I come back, I expect all arguments and disputes to be settled so we can continue this meeting in peace." Her eyes scanned every one of her advisors, her final glance lingering on Damien. "Is that understood?"
Every person in the room nodded. "Yes, your Majesty." They all said in unison.
"And Damien," The queen added, turning and pushing the door open. "After this ball, your duties on my council will be suspended."
Elsa then exited the room, taking a breath as the doors closed behind her. She leaned against the wooden doors, wrapping her arms around herself. She had never seen Damien so angry. She'd never seen Arthur lose control the way he had. Although the captain's anger was warranted, Damien's, simply, was not. She couldn't let his behavior go without consequence. That would show weakness, and it wouldn't be fair.
"That insolent child!"
Elsa's eyes widened as Damien's voice resonated through the door.
"She is not a child," Cornelia argued. "she is your queen! And she was perfectly reasonable if you ask me."
"Well, I wasn't asking you." Damien shot back.
"Do you have no empathy?" Elsa heard Arthur growl.
Elsa could feel Damien roll his eyes. "I have no empathy for inadequacy." He spat. "She is incompetent. Inviting those who tried to murder you to a party? Have you ever heard anything so absurd?!"
"Yes, I have," Cornelia replied calmly. "You being on this council."
Elsa had drowned out the arguing, losing herself as she brought her hands in front of her. She took a breath as she placed her fingers on the fabric of the gloves. She slowly pulled them off, finger by finger, and when her hands were finally revealed, frost covered every inch of her hand. Her eyes went wide, and she scrambled to get the other gloves off. She wasn't sure if the screaming was the arguing of her council or the pounding of her heart.
The other hand looked exactly the same when the glove came off. Frost seeping from her fingertips, and it slowly crawled down her arm.
Brother.
Ice shot from Elsa's hand, causing her to jump. Her eyes follow the ice in astonishment as the blast crashed into the ceiling of the castle. Jagged icebergs came sinking down as if they were about to rain down at Elsa.
I want to see my brother.
More power shot from Elsa's hands and began seeping from Elsa's feet and covering the floor in ice. The queen breathed quickly, trying desperately to get her powers under control. Each time she waved her hand with good intentions, jagged ice escaped. In a matter of moments, almost the entire hallway was covered in ice and snow, and the doors to the meeting room were blue and cold. Elsa could do nothing but stare as snow started to fall.
"Your Majesty?" Cornelia's voice reached her from inside the council room, and Elsa gasped. She couldn't let them come out to this. She wouldn't let herself prove Damien right. She wouldn't deny that it had always been a concern. That what Damien implied about her losing control hadn't crossed her mind every moment of every day, but she didn't expect it to be this bad or this frightening.
"Elsa!" The queen's head turned sharply down the hall, and Anna was sprinting towards her, worry the only emotion in the redhead's eyes.
"N-no." Elsa whispered. "Anna, stay away!" She yelled to her sister. "Just stay away from me!"
"Your Highness!" Arthur's voice yelled. The doors to the council room began to shake. They were trying to get out. No. No, they couldn't see her this way.
Brother.
Elsa fell to her knees as snow began to swirl, and the wind picked up. The hallway quickly turned white, and the snow began to surround Elsa. Each breath and heartbeat became faster, and then the voice sounded again.
Let me out!
Elsa noticed a blue outline around her hands, and then, around her entire body. Pain coursed through her like a river bursting through a dam. Her head began to throb, and for once, she felt cold. Every second that passed by, the pain increased, and the storm intensified, and the colder Elsa became. She could have sworn that Anna was calling her name, but she heard nothing over the screaming of her body. And the voice.
I will see my brother!
In front of her, ice began to build into a solid structure, and the queen cried out in pain, loud enough for all to hear, and her eyes went wide when warm arms came around her. "It's alright."
The queen didn't respond, her body incapable of responding. The pain was still present, her heart sending sharp pains through her with every beat, but Anna simply held her tighter, whispering into the queen's ear. "I'm not going to leave you alone." Anna's voice reached her loud and clear through the howling of the storm. "I'm here." The redhead clutched the fabric of the queen's sleeves as she spoke again. "I'm here."
Elsa wrapped her arms around Anna tighter than ever before, burying her face in the crook of her sister's neck, and breath by breath, she began to calm, and the storm began to subside.
No!
Elsa shut her eyes tighter as the voice sounded again.
I must see him! I have to see my brother!
The howling wind began to quiet, and Elsa could feel her power returning to her, and eventually, there was silence.
"Elsa?" The queen slowly pulled away, her eyes immediately meeting Anna's. The redhead was smiling as her arms firmly gripped Elsa's shoulders. "I told you everything would be alright, didn't I?"
Elsa grinned as she looked around, there was no ice to be seen. Not on the walls. Not on the ceiling. The structure that had been building in front of her was gone as well. The storm was over. She was in control again.
Anna's hand moved upwards to Elsa's cheek, and that was when Elsa felt the water falling from her eyes. Anna wiped away her tears and pulled Elsa back to her for another embrace, and Elsa took a deep breath. "Thank you." She whispered in a broken voice. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Your Majesty!"
Elsa broke away from her sister, turning her head to see her advisors push open the doors. Arthur was the first to emerge, rushing to Elsa's side and placing a comforting hand on her back. "Are you alright, your Majesty? Should I go get help?"
Then came Cornelia, then Damien, and the rest of her council filed outward into the hallway. Cornelia slowly walked towards Elsa, kneeling down beside her as Arthur and Anna already had. Damien stood with his fists clenched, his eyes a storm of fury. "What did I tell all of you?" He snarled. "Did I not say that she was dangerous?!" Elsa hung her head in shame. "This monster could destroy us all!"
Elsa didn't know what was stopping her from putting Damien in his place. She had done it back in the council room, but now all she could do was remain silent. She wanted to blame it on her inexperience, but she knew that was far from the truth. She was afraid. Afraid of snapping. Afraid of losing control like she had moments ago.
Anna stood, storming up to Damien. Elsa had never seen so much anger in Anna. Her turquoise eyes should have been red with rage. "My sister is not a monster." She growled. "You're just jealous."
Damien scoffed in the princess's face. "Believe me, princess." He spat her title as if it meant nothing. "I could never be jealous of a witch."
Elsa could feel the power inside of her begging to be let loose at Damien's comment. It pounded against her angrily, as if the power itself had something to say.
"She isn't a witch or a monster." Anna hissed, taking another step towards Damien.
"Then what is she?" The diplomat inquired. "Enlighten me, I'd love to know."
"She's my sister!"
"She's a freak of nature!"
"I will not stand for this!" Cornelia stood from her kneeling position beside Elsa and straightened her posture, glaring at Damien. "As the queen's right hand, I hereby terminate your stay here at the palace and on her Majesty's council. You will leave this instant!"
Damien's smirk had faded, and the only emotion on his face was astonishment. And then that astonishment turned to anger. "What?!" He shrieked. "This is an outrage! I have been an instrumental part of this council for years!"
"On the contrary, you haven't." The woman hissed, taking a step forward, her towering over the diplomat as Arthur had moments ago. "You have been nothing but disrespectful and berating to her Majesty, and how dare you mock Arthur for the death of his child." The woman's silver eyes showed an anger that Elsa nor Anna had ever seen before.
"I have never seen such insolence in my life, and I'm sure her Majesty would agree that you are not at all fit for your position." Elsa marveled in awe at the woman's firm tone. The way she addressed the problem without fear of consequence. How she handled herself with composure. She was everything Elsa strived to be. Strong. Beautiful. Cornelia acted like the queen Elsa could never be. Not for a very long time. "You will leave at once." She repeated.
Damien opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out, and he clenched his fist and stormed down the hall, purposefully bumping into Cornelia's shoulder as he made his way out of the group's sight. Cornelia looked to Elsa who was smiling at her, and the woman returned a grin before looking around to the other council members. "You are all dismissed." She announced. "We will continue this meeting at a different hour."
The other advisors and diplomats began their descent down the hall, and Cornelia went and kneeled back beside Elsa, taking the queen's hands in her own. "Are you alright?" She asked with concern. Her voice was sweet and soothing. Like a mother's. Cornelia looked like her mother, although there were minor differences in appearance, their personality was overall the same. Elsa couldn't help but look up to her.
The queen nodded. "I am. Thank you."
Anna bit her lip as she tapped Cornelia's shoulder. "Miss Cornelia, that was..." the redhead beamed. "Thank you." Was all she could say as she hugged the woman tightly.
Arthur chuckled and helped Elsa to her feet. "Cornelia was on your father's council." The captain told them. "She was the youngest advisor in Arendelle's history. At eighteen she'd already secured a place, and by twenty-one, she was his and your mother's right hand."
Cornelia shook her head. "Oh, stop it." She giggled. "I heard you were the youngest captain of the guard."
Arthur shrugged. "Well, I had a little inspiration."
The two glanced at each other for a few moments, only for Anna to break the silence. "Alright, you two!" She said, shoving the two of them down the hall. "Go canoodle somewhere else!"
Arthur and Cornelia laughed before making their way down the hall, talking as they'd known each other forever. Elsa smiled at the couple, and then her eyes shifted to Anna who had already taken Elsa's hand. "Come on."
Elsa blinked. "What?"
Anna giggled. "I said 'come on', you stinker." The redhead rolled her eyes. "We're going out."
"Out? Anna I can't go out, I have a ball to plan! I can't just leave the castle."
Anna shook her head as she began dragging Elsa down the hall. "That's exactly why you need to go out, Elsa. After what just happened, you need to have some fun." The redhead giggled. "And who knows more about fun than me?" The redhead let a mischievous grin creep up her lips, and there was a gleam in her eyes Elsa only saw when Anna had an idea. Whether that idea was a good one or not, she would have to wait and see. "We're going out for breakfast."
Elsa rolled her eyes. "Anna, no. We went out yesterday! And I can't. I have paperwork, and I have planning to do. I have to refill the place on my council. I-."
The redhead shook her head. "Yesterday was business, Elsa. We didn't even do anything. We'll go to Hannah's place. I want to see if that man with the cloak is still there and if he can make me one, and Kristoff and Sven can meet us there too! It'll be one big family outing. What do you say?"
Elsa grinned and began walking beside her sister. Anna wanted to go and see a man whose face they hadn't seen. It was typical of her sister, and the queen's eyes glittered. "I'd say that sounds like fun."
/
Hans's eyes fluttered open, and lightheadedness flooded his entire body. A throbbing sensation coursed through his head as his blood began to pump too fast. He felt light, but more importantly, he felt well rested. Light pierced his sensitive eyes, the former prince taking a few minutes to draw accustomed to the brightness before he heard Ravian's energetic voice. "Rise. And. Shine!"
Hans sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes, his senses still limited and impaired by grogginess. "How long was I out?"
"A full day." the spirit replied. "Twenty-four hours."
Hans brought his hands away from his eyes which widened when he saw Ravian. Shirtless. The spirit, although not human, looked better than almost everyone he'd ever seen. His abdomen was defined, with six separate sections all even and toned. The spirit laughed softly and placed his hands on his hips. "Do you like what you see?"
Hans rolled his eyes and looked back out the window. He just wanted his sight anywhere but on Ravian. "You can think that if you'd like." Hans heard Ravian's chuckle and forced himself to look back at the spirit, but only looking into Ravian's eyes. "Where did you go?"
He watched Ravian for any kind of reaction, but the spirit only gave him a shrug. "I already told you. It was none of your business."
"Right." Hans sighed as he looked away. "And can you put a shirt on? It's bad enough that you already don't wear shoes all the time I'm surprised your feet haven't rotted by now." Ravian laughed a hearty laugh and nodded. With a snap of his fingers, a plain red tunic adorned his upper body, and Hans could finally look his way again. "Why don't you ever wear shoes?" Hans asked curiously, looking down at the spirit's bare feet, then back to Ravian who was looking at his toes. His lips had curved downward into a frown. Hans had never seen the spirit sad before.
"No reason," Ravian replied his lips curving into a slight frown.
Hans scoffed and stood up, stretching his legs. "That is the biggest lie I've ever heard."
Ravian rolled his eyes. "Well, I don't think you're one to talk about lying."
Hans bared his teeth at the spirit. He couldn't defend what he'd done. It was impossible. He'd tried to murder for power. He'd tried to deceive for a throne. He'd almost taken innocent lives, but this man he barely knew was able to beat him at every turn. Everything Hans did, he was there, and he was one step ahead almost every time. He took advantage of every weakness.
He was just like Jehan, and Hans couldn't stand it.
He didn't need another Jehan in his life. One was already enough to make him miserable. With a yell of rage, Hans held his hand out towards Ravian, expecting flame and destruction all around them.
There was nothing.
Ravian then bursted into laughter, doubling over as he spoke, his words barely audible over his cackling. "How adorable." He mused. "You think you can use my power? You really are idiotic, aren't you?"
Hans looked at his hand in frustration, and then at Ravian, disdain in his emerald eyes. "Why won't it work, monster?" He snarled. "Tell me." Ravian's laughter ceased sharply, and his brows furrowed and his mouth set into a thin line as he took steps towards Hans, the former prince instantly regretted his word choice, as Ravian now peered down at him with all the power in the world and anger that made Hans's heart pound in his chest, and Hans could do nothing but stare in fear.
"My power is only yours when I am inside of you." The spirit stated calmly. "For you to have my power the way you are now, you would have to reverse the tethering process. We aren't tethered, so that couldn't happen, and you're so stupid you would never be able to figure out how to do something like that in the first place." Ravian never broke Hans's gaze as he said his next words. "If you want a monster, Hans, I can give you one."
Hans shook his head as his fingers curled into a fist, and the former prince looked down in defeat. "I'm sorry." Every second of the apology was excruciating. He was a prince. He shouldn't need to apologize, but he couldn't deny that he'd been cruel.
Ravian stepped away from Hans, allowing him a bit of breathing room, and the spirit smiled as if nothing had happened. "They're serving breakfast in the lobby, and I don't know about you, but I'm hungry."
Hans sighed. "Anything so I don't have to talk to you." He muttered, walking over to the one closet their small room had.
He opened the wooden doors but found nothing, but cobwebs and dust, and he bit his lip as he looked down at the clothes he was wearing. They were regal and tidy. They wouldn't fit among the common people. Hans scolded himself as he turned to Ravian "Could you..." He stopped, trailing off as he hung his head.
Ravian looked at the former prince, raising a brow. "Could I what? You can't just leave the sentence there."
Hans shook his head. He needed something else. Something that would make him look like he belonged in Arendelle. Something that didn't make him look like the murdering prince he was known to be in the very kingdom they resided in. "Can you give me something to wear?"
Ravian's lips looped into a soft smile. "Why didn't you say so?"
Hans heard the familiar snap, and his suit transformed into a loose white tunic that looked too big for him but fit perfectly to his surprise. His pants were now beige and fitted to his form, and his white and regal boots turned to black leather that went to his knees. "You look stunning, dear." Ravian chuckled. "Now, there's only one thing left to do."
The spirit walked over to Hans and aggressively ruffled Hans's hair. "You can't be all groomed when you go down there. I can put some dirt on your face if you'd like."
Hans quickly went to tame his hair and glared at Ravian. "Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you."
The spirit laughed at Hans's snarl, and the two made their way into the lobby. Most of the tables were filled, and Hans sighed. "I guess we came too late."
Ravian shook his head and pushed Hans forward further into the crowded lobby. "There's a table right there, idiot."
Hans rolled his eyes as he began to walk. Noises came from every direction. The waiters and waitresses were rushing to get orders. The kitchen was battling to get food out on time. Patrons were conversing about who knew what, and as he looked around, he couldn't believe how perfectly he blended in. Almost every person was wearing the same outfit as Hans, and the former prince turned to Ravian who simply smiled at him. "I went to do some exploring." The spirit shrugged as a grin made its way onto his lips. "Also known as saving your sorry butt."
Hans felt his lips curl into a smile, as he sat down at the table for two, Ravian sitting across from him. The spirit sat back in his chair, his arms crossed as he looked at Hans. "I have something for you." Hans raised a brow and leaned closer as Ravian reached into one of his pant pockets. "This came for you later in the day while you were sleeping, I figured I'd take a look."
Ravian held out a hand for Hans, and in between his fingers was a piece of parchment paper folded multiple times and sealed with scarlet wax. Hans's brow raised higher as he took the paper carefully from Ravian, and Hans brought it towards him for a closer look. The first thing he noticed was the symbol etched into the wax. The crocus.
The crocus of Arendelle.
"I bet you it's your ball invitation." Hans looked up to see the spirit smirking at him.
Hans looked back down to the paper, secretly hoping Ravian was wrong, but in his mind, he knew he was dead on the nose. Hans slipped his finger under the wax which released from the paper easily. The folds came undone, revealing a page that was covered in handwriting that looked like calligraphy.
Dear Corin,
Arendelle is honored to invite you to the castle's annual summer ball. The event will take place on the eighth of July. Please come wearing formal attire and a mask. We look forward to enjoying your company.
Queen Elsa of Arendelle
Hans refolded the paper, looking up to see the spirit grinning at him. "I was right, wasn't I?"
Hans shook his head. "Egotistical maniac." He muttered.
Ravian laughed, but his voice wasn't the only one Hans heard.
"Good morning." Hans and Ravian both looked in the direction of the voice, and standing there was the woman that had checked Hans into the inn. She placed two glasses of water in front of both men and spoke again. "Can I get you both something to drink?"
Hans looked at Ravian who pushed his water towards Hans, not wanting anything to do with it at all. Hans simply looked back at the woman, shaking his head. "No thank you, miss Hannah."
The woman's eyes went slightly wide, surprised at his knowledge of her name, but she nodded. "How about something to eat then?" She grinned. "We're serving pancakes today as a special."
Hans and Ravian both looked at each other.
And they both smiled.
"One order." They both said in unison.
"And add some chocolate in mine?" Ravian added.
The woman nodded and rushed right off to the kitchen, and Hans looked at Ravian with a raised brow. "You're a chocolate person?"
The spirit shrugged. "I can have a bit of a sweet tooth sometimes." He chuckled. "I'm around your bitter attitude all day. I think I'm entitled to it."
Hans rolled and the former prince leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "So, can you tell me?" He asked. "Why you don't wear shoes?"
"We're still on that, huh?" Ravian subconsciously looked down at his feet and sighed as he looked out the window, his eyes looking towards Arendelle's castle. "Because she didn't."
Both of Hans's brows raised. "Who is she?" He asked, urging Ravian to continue.
The spirit's eyes looked solemn as he turned his face back to Hans, and he opened his mouth to speak.
CRASH!
"Hey! Come back here!"
Hans recognized Hannah's voice, and his head turned sharply towards the middle of the lobby, and a black figure rushed out the door, sprinting as fast as it could down the streets of the town. His eyes shifted to Hannah who was screaming, and on the verge of tears. Whatever had been taken from her, she was devastated. He felt a pang in his heart, knowing that he had only heard and felt sadness like that once.
With them.
With Elsa hearing of Anna's death, and the redhead herself as she protected her sister with her last breaths. Things were different now. He had power. He could stop that thief.
He had to stop that thief.
"Go." Hans turned his head to Ravian who jutted his head in the direction of the thief.
Hans was out of his seat in moments. Every person's head turned to watch as he sprinted out of the inn's lobby and onto the streets. Adrenaline filled him as his eyes scanned the area frantically. Where in the world could the thief have gone? He saw Ravian from the window pointing, and Hans nodded as he took off in hurry. He had gotten slow due to his lack of exercise, but he was still moving fast enough to catch up to the thief who he was finally able to pinpoint with his eyes. Hans smirked as he held his hand out, waiting to see the flames shoot from his hands and knocked the thief off balance.
There was nothing.
Hans cursed under his breath. Ravian hadn't gone with him. Why?
He barely saw the black-clad figure took a sharp turn, and Hans picked up the pace, following the thief's trail as best he could. He ran through alleyways and under viaducts, trying his best to avoid all the people in the market. which made it even harder to see the thief. The traffic was so bad, eventually, he had to stop running. He cursed as his head turned every which way, his heart pounding in his chest. He turned his head once more, only to see a streak of black across his vision.
"Stop!"
His yelling caused everyone to turn their heads, and the crowd parted like the red sea for Hans as he ran, his heart echoing the speed his feet hit the ground. Each step brought him closer to the thief who made another sharp turn around a large house. Hans smirked as he took the other direction, circling around quickly to the other side.
BOOM!
The two collided, sending both men tumbling to the ground. Hans ignored the pain and stood up, holding down the thief who was writhing in pain underneath the weight of Hans's body. "Get. Off. Me!" The thief yelled, kicking and struggling against Hans's grasp. The former prince put more pressure on the thief, making it harder for him to escape.
"Not until you give back what you stole." Hans hissed in return, leaning closer to the man. "Now give it back. Whatever it was!"
The thief suddenly laughed, smirking as he grabbed a handful of the fabric of Hans's tunic, pulling him down to whisper in his ear. "I didn't know that the murdering prince had an honorable side."
The thief released Hans's tunic, but the former prince was stunned. Ravian had made him blend in perfectly. How did this thief know who he was?
Who was this thief?
Hans turned his head and saw a crowd of spectators gathering around him. He heard one clap, and then a round of applause and cheers filled the entire town. He couldn't' help but smile. This was what he'd wanted all along. Recognition. Power. Glory. He chuckled to himself and closed his eyes, reveling in a moment of glory that he wished would last forever.
"What's going on?"
Hans's eyes opened and went wide. The voice was too familiar for comfort. He barely turned his head, and out of the corner of his eyes, he saw red hair. The more he shifted his gaze, he saw two braids and a woman with turquoise eyes looking at him curiously. Next to her was a man large with muscle. His hair was dirty blonde and his eyes were a chocolate brown. He wore a blue tunic lined with green with sleeves that went a little past his elbows, and a black vest on top, and a red patterned sash around his waist. His pants were long and black, and his shoes were black and pointed.
And then there was a woman in a turquoise dress. It glittered in the sunlight, and fit her figure too perfectly. Her icy eyes stared into his. At first, there was curiosity.
Then shock.
Then anger.
"Stop him!" Elsa's voice rang through the air, firm and authoritative.
And Hans ran, leaving the thief to whatever fate awaited him. The former prince didn't care. He just needed to escape town. He needed to escape Elsa.
Breathing became harder by the second. It seemed like no matter how hard he begged for rest, Hans couldn't catch a break. He ran for the forest, hoping that the trees would cover his movements. He dared not to look back to see if anyone was pursuing him, all he focused on was the forest in front of him, and keeping his legs quick and sure. After minutes of sprinting, Hans's feet had finally found dirt and grass, and the trees finally concealed him as he rushed through the vines and tall grass. His heart pumped faster in all the time he'd been in Arendelle.
After torturous minutes, he looked back, relief rushing through him when Elsa's shimmering cyan dress was nowhere to be found. Her icy gaze had been engraved in the back of his mind. The former prince eventually slowed, and after examing the area around him once more, he leaned against a tree, sinking and sitting in the dirt as he took more than a moment to catch his breath. His feet felt heavy, and his heart continued to pound rapidly in his chest, trying to replenish all the energy he'd lost over months of maltreatment.
He hit the ground multiple times with his hands, screaming in frustration. He had been careless. He hadn't thought any of it through, and yet he'd still gone and tried to help. Ravian was right. He was stupid.
Hans eventually stood, his body pleading for a few more minutes, but he knew that if he complied, he wouldn't move for days. He wiped the dirt and dust off of his trousers and tunic, turning towards the direction he would continue on. He had to keep running. He wasn't safe until he was out of Arendelle.
"Just breathe, Hans." He whispered to himself as he took one deep breath. "It's fine. She's gone. You'll be-"
A gust of wind shot through the air, hitting Hans like a cannonball. He was flung against a tree, his head colliding with the trunk which sent dizziness and pain all throughout his body. His hands and feet suddenly felt cold. His head turned to see his wrists held against the tree with ice, and his feet were attached to the ground by the same glittering substance.
He couldn't move.
The crunching of leaves sounded, and Hans hesitantly looked up, and there she was with her hand outstretched, and her gaze burned with such rage it could stop a blizzard in seconds.
Elsa walked slowly, tauntingly towards him, and only stopped when they were inches apart. "How dare you." Her voice was a strained hiss as a sharp point of ice grew out of the ground, its frozen tip only inches away from Hans's neck. The former prince gulped as his heart beat faster, glad for the ice to keep him cool in his moment of fear and terror.
Elsa's eyes pierced Hans's emerald orbs, and the former prince couldn't look away from the beautifully terrifying woman. "How dare you come back here after what you've done."
A/N: Just a bit of a forewarning: I'm going away soon. I'm leaving on the 8th and I'm not coming back until the 21st or 22nd. I'm going to Orlando Florida for this music intensive program, but I'll have a chapter up next week it just might come a little earlier than it normally does because I have things I need to do before I leave for this program. Anyway, after next week, don't expect an update until I come back. Tell me what you liked or didn't like in a review, and I'll see you guys when I get back.