Psalm 72:14

Ten Years Ago


Over the next few years, the rift between Elsa and Anna became an impassable barrier of silence. Fearing that lack of interaction with any other children may harm their daughters, Agnar and Idunn had decided to enroll their children into a private school so that they may receive a more proper socialization.

Elsa and Anna - aged fifteen and thirteen now respectively - gradually learned to accept the fact that they were no longer close, and even justified their disconnection in some way as a part of growing up. Though Anna had struggled to accept that fact for a long time, she never again tried to engage Elsa as she had in the hallway that day in June, and toiled in silence over their severed relationship. Elsa had done the same and over time, the two fell into a semi-comfortable state of mutually unacknowledged silence. Though they both pined terribly for their lost bond, the two never admitted it to each other and struggled enough in admitting it to themselves.

At school, Anna had an easy time making new friends. Her rambunctious, but well-meaning demeanor was endearing to many, and she soon found herself with a steady group of friends whose company she enjoyed and they hers. Those who did not enjoy Anna's company however, made that fact clear enough and saw fit to give her a rough time. It was never a large setback for Anna though, as she quickly learned to stand up for herself. One incident in particular involved a local bully by the name of Gaston, who had cornered Anna on the playground. Gaston was about a year older than her, and him and his clique of knuckleheaded buffoons generally life miserable for anyone they happened upon. Out of self-defense, Anna had picked up a nearby stick and demonstrated her fencing capability, trifling as it may have been, to ward off her foe who she gave a bloody nose. He never bothered her after that.

As for Elsa, she remained largely closed off and reclusive, though not for lack of trying. It was simply the case that Elsa had no real experience in interacting with anyone else her age but her sister, and without Anna as a steady companion in her life anymore, she had felt generally clueless about social interaction. Most thought that she was quiet, and a bit sad perhaps, if they had given her much thought at all. For the most part, Elsa passed through her years at school largely unnoticed.

Except for the one occasion in which Gaston targeted Elsa, thinking her to be easier prey but not knowing that she and Anna were sisters. On that day, the incident had occurred in the cafeteria.

... ... ...

Elsa was holding her tray, searching for a place to sit where she may eat unbothered by other students. In the corner of her eye, she spotted Anna's signature red hair, now styled into two pigtails, at a table surrounded by three of her friends. She felt a longing then, but quickly pushed that feeling down as she had become accustomed to. She turned away, her eyes still locked onto Anna's red hair and as she did, she stumbled into Gaston, spilling most of her spaghetti and juice onto him.

Gaston rounded on Elsa immediately, eyes flaring with sudden rage. "Hey! Watch where you're goi- oh, it's you," he spat the last word with utter disdain.

Elsa flushed immediately, and began to stammer an apology. "I'm sorry! I di- I didn't see where I wa- where I was go-."

"Oh, so you can actually talk! I can see why you're so quiet though. You sound like you were raised in a barn," Gaston chuckled, amused at his own insult.

Around them, most students had been transfixed into silence by what was happening before them and remained silent, though Elsa could still feel their eyes on her. Her shoulders hitched up anxiously and she cast her eyes down towards the floor.

"Look at this mess you've made!" Gaston took a step towards her as he stretched out the fabric of his shirt for Elsa to see. "This shirt was new! Now you're gonna pay."

"I didn't mean to! I was just-," Elsa stammered as she backed away nervously.

Despite their self-defense training from Kai, the first and most important lesson he had imprinted upon Elsa and Anna was to avoid a fight whenever possible. The second was that if they had no other choice but to fight, then they should hit hard and hit fast until their opponent was unable to present any further harm, then run.

Gaston continued advancing upon Elsa, while she glanced around and hoped that a teacher would intervene. At the moment, the only adults were the lunch staff, who were at the opposite end of the cafeteria in the kitchen and were too far away to take any notice. In that moment she had taken her eyes off of Gaston, he reached out and grabbed her roughly by her braid then pulled on it harshly.

"Let me go!" Elsa cried out in pain. Since she avoided confrontations as much as possible, her mind drew a blank and she reflexively grabbed Gaston's wrist and turned it sharply over.

It was a move that Kai had taught her and it worked effectively in forcing him to release his grip.

"Ah!" Gaston eyes widened in shock and confusion, before narrowing in anger. "You bitch!"

With his other hand, he balled it into a fist and began to draw it back before a recognizable voice halted him.

"Hey, asshole!" Anna yelled. "Leave her alone!"

As Gaston turned back to respond to the interruption, Anna crossed the gap between them while simultaneously winding back the tray she was holding with both hands. In one motion, she whipped her improvised weapon across Gaston's face, bloodying his nose again and snapping the plastic in half. In lieu of a stick, Anna seemed to be just as capable with a plastic cafeteria tray. Gaston fell to the floor, crying in pain and clutching his nose. As he opened his mouth to hurl another insult, Anna descended upon him with her fists, raining down blow after blow into his smug face, blackening his eye and splitting his lip.

A sudden string of shouting voices broke out, and two teachers appeared to pull Anna away and stop her from beating Gaston to a pulp. Elsa stood with her mouth agape in stunned silence, and as Anna was dragged away to the headmaster's office she turned and locked eyes with Elsa. A small bashful smile crossed her lips, and as quickly as it appeared, it vanished when she was pulled out of the cafeteria.

... ... ...

"You did what!?" Idunn yelled at Anna.

Agnar stifled a chuckle. He was trying to put on a stern face, but was failing, and his expression betrayed one of amusement and pride. They were standing in the kitchen, discussing what had occurred following a phone call from the headmaster when Elsa and Anna returned from school that evening.

"I only hit him because he was gonna hit Elsa!" Anna shot back and crossed her arms.

Agnar and Idunn then glanced over to Elsa, who was sitting quietly at the dinner table and trying to appear as small as possible.

"Is this true Elsa?" Agnar asked gently. "Was he going to hit you?"

Elsa was fiddling with her sleeves and she locked eyes with Anna for a brief moment before nodding glumly.

Agnar clapped his hands. "Well then, this is a good thing you've done Anna!" he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I don't care what that headmaster says, you might be in trouble at school, but you aren't in trouble with us. Defending your sister was a good thing you did."

Idunn nodded her agreement a little more stiffly. "I don't like bullies any more than you do Anna, but please try not to make a habit of getting into fist fights."

Anna released a breath in relief and smiled brightly before turning to glance at Elsa, who was intently studying the wood of the kitchen table.

... ... ...

That night, as Anna prepared for bed, she heard a timid knock at her door. She strode over and cracked her door. Elsa stood there, and when Anna instinctively swung the door wider the pale moonlight from her window shone directly onto Elsa's features.

Anna realized she was staring when Elsa shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

"Anna, I- I just, I wanted to-" Elsa started, then drifted off.

"Uh huh?" Anna smiled gently and leaned against the door frame.

"I... I came to say, thank you. For what you did. It was...very brave," Elsa finished, and returned a tender and shy smile.

"Oh! That. Well, it was nothing really, I mean I just heard the commotion and I looked over and I saw that douchebag Gaston was giving you a hard time. I mean, it wouldn't be the first time he's given anyone trouble though, I mean he tried it with me but I-"

"What?" Elsa cut off Anna.

"Um...uh, yeah. He was pushing me around once and just being a dick in general, so I kinda sorta maybe busted his nose up with a stick I found. Kai's lessons really come in handy, you know! But that's... that's not the point. The point that I'm making... or... that I'm trying to make? I saw him and I saw you, and I wasn't about to let him hurt you. It's just... I know you would have done the same for me right?" Anna chuckled nervously as she finished. She had always rambled when she was in an uncomfortable situation, and though she had gained a better handle on it over the years, she would never truly grow out of her nervous tic.

Elsa flinched slightly at her sister's last remark and again internally when she realized she hadn't been aware of Anna's previous encounter with Gaston.

You're supposed to watch over her, Elsa recalled her father's words in her mind.

Anna fixed her with a worried look when Elsa pulled away slightly and looked off to the side pensively.

"Hey. Is everything okay?" Anna asked gently.

"I'm fine," Elsa swallowed a lump in her throat. "Really. I just... didn't know you had to do that before."

"Oh, that. Well it was no big deal really, I was fine afterwards, he knew better then to bother me after that. I kinda have to admit, it felt good wiping that smug look off his face. I guess he didn't know we were sisters, huh? I don't think he'll want to mess with you again, but if he does just let me know and I'll…" Anna slapped her fist against her other palm for emphasis.

While the thought of Anna being so protective filled Elsa with warmth, it also filled her with cold unease borne from a deep seated sense of unworthiness.

I don't deserve you, Elsa thought.

"I will, thank you. Well, um... goodnight Anna," Elsa said, as she turned to head back to her room.

"Oh, uh, okay. Goodnight, Elsa. Love you." Anna said casually, almost instinctively as she stretched and yawned.

Elsa froze mid-step in the hallway and half turned back towards Anna, meeting her gaze from the corners of her eyes. From Anna's position, she could see that Elsa's eyes were now shimmering, as if she were holding back tears.

'I… love you too, Anna," Elsa whispered, then set off at a quickened pace to her room.

Anna stared after her for a moment, feeling content and forlorn all at the same time. As she closed her door she sighed and smiled to herself.

It was the most words they had exchanged since the fall.