Disclaimer: The title of this chapter, as well as some verses in it, come from the song "Sacrifice", by Sir Elton John. The other verses in this chapter come from the songs "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" (Monty Python) and "Pretty Eyes" (The Cranberries).

chapter iii: it's two hearts living in two separate worlds

Anna almost choked on a chocolate biscuit when Elsa first asked her for singing lessons.

Thinking back, such request shouldn't have been surprising the past weeks. Music had become their way of talking about difficult topics since Elsa wasn't ready to speak about them otherwise. So, Anna had spent a big part of her classes — the only time she wasn't with Elsa — mulling over the songs that would express her questions more obviously. And she was sure her friend spent at least as much time trying to figure out which songs would answer those.

On her part, Anna couldn't help but think of the exercise as fun even if the outcome wasn't always pleasant. She also knew it was good for her friend ever since Mrs Frisk had confided to her that Elsa had started having full conversations — albeit not about her feelings or her parents — after they started doing it.

After a few days, Elsa started humming along whenever she wasn't too emotional to keep her voice steady. Anna figured had been wished to accompany her but wouldn't do it unless she could sing properly.

So, the request shouldn't have come as a surprise.

Still, it made her spill half her chocolate biscuit on Elsa when she choked in surprise.

~~/~~

Despite her excitement about their new project, however, Anna wondered why Elsa had asked her instead of hiring a teacher since, having never taught anyone before, she was heavily unprepared. "I just prefer if it's you," it was her friend's simple response and, although curious, Anna didn't inquire further.

Elsa suggested them to come up with a lesson plan together. Although they didn't have much time to research music didactics between Anna's classes and Elsa's doctor appointments, the information was easily found on the Internet. In a matter of a few days, they decided to make the classes twice a week so Elsa had time to practice and managed to organize their first eight classes.

On the day when they were supposed to start, however, Anna arrived to find Elsa completely buried under her sheets and refusing to come out. She approached step after step, trying to come up with a song to help her friend out of the cocoon.

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this will help things turn out for the best and
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the light side of life

It was a silly song about happiness but Anna had realised in the previous weeks that silliness brought made Elsa lighter, a bit happier. And this was a song they had sung together a few times before — one that had made the blonde smile and cry equally.

"Go away, Anna," Elsa said between sobs before Anna could finish the song.

Unsure if she should obey, Anna turned to look at Mrs Frisk. The elder lady offered her a nod toward her granddaughter's bed as an encouragement for her to keep trying, she had a renewed sadness in her eyes that indicated that something different had happened that day.

"Uh—" the girl cleared her throat and pulled a chair to sit beside Elsa's bed. If silliness hadn't worked, perhaps something more real, something closer to what Elsa might be feeling.

Pretty eyes, pretty eyes
Not a cloud in my day
Not a cloud in my way
Angel eyes, no disguise
No pretension is here
No pretension, no fear
Don't leave me calling
Don't leave me falling
Don't leave me calling
Don't leave me falling

Anna had to stop singing, though, since Elsa started sobbing. "Elsa, come out. Please?" She begged but the girl didn't seem to have listened. Well— she was crying quite loudly.

"This is pointless!" She mouthed to Mrs Frisk, who sighed and smiled sadly in response before pointing once again toward Elsa. Fine!

Shrugging at the woman's attitude, Anna touched her friend's shoulder over the sheets. Well, if neither silliness nor serious talking worked, perhaps something else— happy memories, perhaps.

"Hey, you remember when your dad took us to our first concert?" The memory triggered by her previous singing wasn't perfect since it involved Elsa's parents, or perhaps it was perfect because of that. Anna was completely out of her depth there, so she just went with it hoping for the best. "We could hardly believe it when he showed the tickets to see Elton John of all people. I mean, it wasn't the kind of music we would listen otherwise but the guy's a freaking legend; who wouldn't want to listen to him live, right? So, we went and he only sang his best songs! Even the one he composed for Lion King and the one for Princess Diana of England. But your favourite was that one— Sacrifice— because—"

While Anna was rambling, Elsa had stopped sobbing and poked her head out to watch her speak. Or perhaps she was just listening— ever since Mrs Frisk told Anna about Elsa's fluctuating eyesight, she was left to wonder how much Elsa could see on the days she was there.

"C— can you s— sing it to me?" Fighting her own tears, Elsa interrupted Anna's rambling.

"Oh— of course! Sure! Er—" Anna replied somewhat lost after the interruption but recovered quickly.

It's a human sign
When things go wrong
When the scent of her lingers
And temptation's strong
Into the boundary
Of each married man
Sweet deceit comes calling
And negativity lands
Cold cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better, baby
Just passing through
And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
It's two hearts living
In two separate worlds
But it's no sacrifice
No sacrifice
It's no sacrifice at all

Author's Note: Thank you all who read, commented, favourite, and followed this fic. Stay safe and happy, y'all.