GTG: Nothing too serious in this chapter. Hi! If you're new (or not) to this story!
When Anna hesitates, she is completely still.
This is always a peculiar (—and a bit eerie) behavior to Elsa because it appears that her sister is hardly breathing.
Anna is planted next to the wall, at the end of the corridor. Around the corner is one of the main doors that leads out the castle. She can't be nervous! Not now. She was very excited to wake Elsa up for this day (—actually that's a lie, she woke her for a meal, but she has been more excited than Elsa is to enter the world after so many years of being hidden—) this moment, and now you're hesitating! Elsa rolls her eyes but smiles. She walks over to her an stand by her side. Anna doesn't notice her. She counts to fifty before whispering, "It's agony to wait."
"EEP!"
Anna jumps. She places her hand over her fast-beating heart. "You scared me!"
"Please get down from there, Anna. You're leaving marks in the wall."
"What?" Anna realizes that she is looking down at her smirking sister. Then she realizes that she is about ten feet off the ground, nails dug aggressively into the walls. Oh yeah, that will definitely leave a spot. "How did I get up here?" she giggles. "Watch out!"
Elsa steps to the side as Anna returns to the floor, landing on her feet and stumbling a bit, but regained her posture. She brushes invisible dust off her dress and inspects the claw marks on the wall. "Ooh," she winces.
"Yeah…" Elsa whispers. "I wonder how I'm gonna explain that."
"A bat," says Anna. Elsa gives a skeptical look. "With sharp talons. Exactly five sharp talons. And I shooed it away with my awesome bravery."
"Sounds believable," smirks Elsa and Anna beams. "I'll talk to Gerda about this. Why aren't you outside yet? You were practically dying to leave the gates." It's eleven in the morning. Elsa got another five hours of sleep, awoken by Gerda at ten to prep her appearance.
Anna's face becomes solemn as she looks at the wall before her. "What if they don't like me? What if they see that I'm different?"
"You'll fit in fine," Elsa assures, but her little sister shakes her head softly.
"My skin is very pale. My teeth are sharp— what if they see that? And then, they would know. Oh hey! Look at that vampire! She's gonna suck out blood! protect your children! Ah!" They'll fear her and try to stake her heart. Then burn her. Just like the vampires in the stories.
"I don't think anyone will notice," says Elsa. Goodness, Anna can be dramatic when she's doubting herself.
"And why's that?"
"Well… they'll be too excited to see their upcoming queen who possesses magical ice powers." With this, she waves her hand and produces a small snowman. Anna 'oohs' and watch with delight as the snowman dances. "No one's not going to notice your teeth as you talk. You've already been fed so your fangs are shorter."
"OH! That's true!" Anna agrees, smiling.
"And I doubt anyone will question how pale your skin is." Elsa cancels the snowman. "Your green dress compliments it. You look very pretty, Anna."
Anna's cheeks slightly burn. "Thank you,"
"You're welcome. Just— just don't go swooning over the first handsome guy you meet."
The princess playfully pouts. "Well, there goes my plan of getting married today."
"Anna!"
"I'm joking, I'm only joking!" Anna defends, giggling. But she can't help to think what if she meets someone? Love at first sight? If it's one theme she learnt in stories, it's: you can't defeat fate. And besides, it would probably be for the best— to help her beat this— this… attraction she has for her sister. Anna's eyes graze down Elsa's body. The soon-to-be-queen isn't dressed for the important event. Elsa is in a simple gray dress. "You're not gonna wear that, are you?" Anna points.
"Of course not!" Elsa laughs, grabbing her sister's hand. She pulls her around the corner. That same feeling—- the anticipation spikes in Anna's heart again as she mindlessly follows the blonde. "I'll have a cape," Elsa says.
Okay— Anna snorts. "You have a slight obsession with capes."
"A funny way of putting that." Elsa laughs. "You're going to do great! Go out there and explore. But remember to arrive at the church at noon."
Anna nods. "Exactly noon."
"Actually, before noon."
"Before noon."
"Go when the bells ring."
"When the bells ring."
"And if you feel hot or lightheaded, don't be afraid of returning to your room." Elsa's voice goes lower to a hushed whisper. "There are emergency drinks in your cabinet."
"Ooh!" Yes! More blood!
"Now," Elsa encouragingly push Anna forward. "Tell the guards to open up the gates!"
Anna has heard of the phrase, "Mothers knows best." It's very true. When Anna was at the age of tireless curiosity. Her mother always knew all the answers to all question. Whenever Anna did good or overcome her biological instincts (that surely result in only bad events), her mother knew what to say to boost her confidence. Or when Anna is sad, her mother knew the right thing to say. So yes— mothers know best.
Could sisters know best too?
Because Elsa is totally right!
No one hasn't batted an eye at her or her very pale skin. No one even notices her as the princess! And there are so many people! All shapes, and sizes. Dressed so normal! They all chat excitedly (she can hear them talking about their new queen, who posses icy powers). She can see workers setting up decorations throughout the town. Children— oh they are so small! (she's seen children before but not this close)— run with so much energy as their mothers chase after them. She just wanna hug and place. The air is different! The sky is very blue— so many open spaces! Anna realizes that she is in a big world. Shsniffsff the air and smile. So many people, pumping with blood! Anna picks up the speed of her walking. She practically running. She's only got about an hour in her hands to explore.
A couple happy waved at her. Anna almost trips on her own two feet return the wave in an excited manner. Oh! She should go to the village square— where more people are busy and about. She can admire their normal lives. It beats being in the palace with one person to moon over—
A large force bumps into her. She stumbles and falls onto something wooden. She can feel— this is a boat, she realizes— she can feel the boat tipping over, but something aggressively stops it causing her body to slightly jumps. "Hey!" she shouts, feeling her anger rising quick (she should control or her teeth and nails will begin to grow).
"I'm so sorry— are you hurt?"
Anna's eyes snap to the rider, ready to say whatever terrible but funny insult that comes to her mind, "—Hey!—" but he's—
he very very handsome. Beyond handsome! And he's a royal. She lowers her voice to a gentle tone, "I— uh, no… no. I'm okay."
"Are you sure?" the man says concern. He has the reddest hair she has ever seen. It looks to be on fire. Red fire.
"Yeah, I just wasn't looking where I was going— but I'm okay." She isn't hurt or worse. Just surprise.
The man hops down from his pretty horse and steps into the boat. Wow, this guy is very bold. And tall. "I'm great actually!" Anna say. Please don't start rambling. Please, Anna, she tells herself mentally, biting her tongue.
"Oh, thank goodness!" He offers her a gloved hand. His eyes are locked to hers. She can get lost in those pools of vibrant green orbs. She slowly places her hand in his and he helps her up, never leaving his eyes.
He bows, "Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."
Ooh, so he's a prince! "Oh! Princess Anna of Arendelle." Anna says, curtseying.
The prince's eyes widen. "Princess… My lady." He immediately drops to his knees with his head bow. The horse bows also, his hoof curling up and out of the boat. Anna wants to laugh heartily at the trained, respectable horse but the boat tips. This cause Hans to tumble on top of Anna. He looks up in her eyes again, and she blushes. "Hi—again," she undertones, awkwardly.
The horse decides to slam his foot back on the boat, to stabilize it. The duo tumble the other way; Anna on top of him. "Oh boy," Hans says. And Anna's cheeks burns.
God if her mother saw her now, burn her on a stake.
"Is it hot?" she blurts. Because the temperature has suddenly risen. "Or is it just you?— I mean me. Am I hot? I should know, really, I don't know why I'm asking you this and here I am rumbling— rambling I mean…" Anna groans. "This is awkward… not that you're awkward but because we're— I'm awkward? You're gorgeous."
WHAT?! Did I really just say that?!
Luckily Prince Hans saves her from further by getting up and helping her up again. "I'd like to formally apologize hitting the Princess of Arendelle with my horse… and for every moment after."
"No. No— it's fine. I'm not that Princess." You'd be surprised to find that I'm a vampire princess. Anna mentally giggles. "I mean, if you'd hit my sister, Elsa, that would be— yeash!" Especially now that's she has the skills of an awesome swordsman. She can't the mental picture flashing of Elsa's sword drawing blood from the handsome man. Anna looks at the horse. "'Coz y'know… ice powers… Hello," she says to the horse before continuing to Hans. "So be lucky she isn't around."
Hans chuckles. "And so I am, that it's just you."
"Yeah," Anna says, smiling. He's definitely like the brave men in the stories she read. Tall, sophisticated, graceful, handsome— very handsome (and kinda stinky but the smell is faint. Could hardly smell it. Maybe because she's too focused on drinking his appearance). She hopes to see him again. Hear his smooth voice and the bells. Perhaps he can sing. He might have a nice— bells. "...the bells," Anna says, and the panic starts to rise. "Coronation! I- I— I better go. I gotta… I have to go." oh no! Elsa is going to freeze me! The bells hinting off that only ten minutes remaining before the ceremony to crown her sister.
Anna hears an 'uh-oh' from the handsome Hans and a big splash. She glances back and giggles when she finds the boat upturned and the prince not in sight. Shaking her head, she assumes that he'll be alright. She hurries to the church.
With his unique red hair, he stands out in the sea of seated people (but then again, he sits in the front row). Anna awkwardly waves at Prince Hans— oh his uniform is dry. Completely. He must've had a spare of the exact uniform in his suitcase. He catches her eye, waving back with a small smile. Although he's gorgeous, he did smell… unpleasant— as if he was hiding rotten fruits in his jacket. Perhaps he was. Or maybe he has stinky socks on. Whatever the case, she's glad that— unfortunately though!— Prince Hans fell in the water. He changed into (nice) smelling clothes.
Anna watches the bishop place the small crown on Elsa's head. When she lifts up, Anna blushes.
Elsa is beautiful.
Well— she's always been beautiful— but here, during this very important moment, Elsa is very, very beautiful. Anna wishes she could conjure up a more improved word than beautiful, but right now, that's the best word she got.
And Elsa is glaring at Anna. "Late," her sister mouths.
Anna shivers. She cast her down and bite her bottom lip. She fights off any desirable images from her lustful dreams. She bites the inside of her lip, knowing that she's drawing her dark blood (her blood is tasteless).
Elsa back is now facing Anna. She notes how rich the color of her sister's cape. She remembers as kids, Elsa would make cape using her sheet of thin ice and frost for the both of them. They would run around their shared room and play pretend. They shared a room up to the age 13. Elsa had to move out because Anna, somehow, nicked Elsa's skin, immediately drawing blood.
Anna almost lost control that day.
Thank the gods Kai was near to prevent the, uh, unfathomable. Their parents thought it would be best for the girls to have their own rooms. That was okay. More privacy.
People are chanting, "Queen of Arendelle!" This startles Anna out her thoughts. Automatically, she claps and cheers. "Whooooo! YES! Go, Elsa!" People die down their boring applause and stare at the princess. Is this improper for a princess? Anna continues— but awkwardly— to clap. She's going to stop, feeling completely embarrassed, but Hans jumps in, sharing the same tone as Anna. This boosts her confidence. And soon everyone follows.
Elsa looks back at Anna and smiles greatly. Anna wants to hug her, but she knows she would forget about her strength and squeeze the oxygen out of the woman.
The Queen face back to her people. She waves her hand and sends a bright pretty burst of snow amongst the crowd. Snow sprinkles on everyone's heads as they cheer more.