~Chapter 5~

Anna

Transitions are never easy and it seems like my family had gone through a slew of them in the past few months alone. I still don't know what Marcus had done to stop Elsa's corruption, but whatever it was worked. Though at a high cost. I feel like it's been deja vu with Elsa's fear consuming her with her powers and Marcus is in a sort of magically induced coma. Everything was complicated and I tried to act as normal around my sister as I could, but it seems like everytime I try to reconnect with her, I just push her further away. I had composed a letter to my cousin in Corona asking for assistance with all the building plans, which she answered with sending able-bodied builders on the next available ship out to us. Gale, the wind spirit, always was an effective deliverer of any letters I had to send out. With that extra assistance along with General Mattias and Marcus's father Pieter, building the kingdom up got much quicker. With Arendelle's new location, we didn't have docks right off the fjord anymore, so any travelers by ship had to take horses or carriages to get to us. Hidden on the opposite side of the north mountain to the south. It was my first major act as queen and I hoped people supported me. Change is hard at times especially knowing all that we lost and left behind after the Great Flood, but this was a necessary next step.

Elsa craved her time alone. I know I was a bit much for her sometimes, but I think that was just her fear. Though I began to notice my sister would stop accidentally freezing things once she shut herself in our makeshift library. Unknown to me until recently, our palace staff Gerda and Kai snuck back into Arendelle before the dam broke and managed to get some things left behind in our palace. Some of those items being treasured books from my father's library. More often than not, if I couldn't find my sister, she had frozen shut the doors to the library. Sometimes her powers came in handy leaving a trail of ice that I could follow. Elsa avoided everyone just cause she was so terrified and I know that's why she felt like the library was a safe haven of sorts for her. One evening before dinner, I visited Marcus and talk with him about the day. Even though he couldn't talk back, I imagined that he could hear me at least. This day in particular, I found Rebekka sitting with him before I got there. I heard her weeping quietly as I reached for the handle to Marcus's room. As I entered, Rebekka tried to put on a brave face wiping her cheeks smiling at me warmly. I approached patting her shoulder.

"His color looks good today." She muttered.

"It does." I agreed.

Her smiled faded as she gave my hand a gentle squeeze before leaving me alone in the room. I sat there for a moment in silence just watching my brother in law breath in and out slowly. It's like he was only sleeping. Then I opened my mouth and began regailing Marcus about the day. My fears about being Arendelle's queen in my sister's stead. I already had made several tough decisions in such a short time, but were they the right ones. Once buildings and construction around the new Arendelle were complete, people began inquiring about a coronation. I couldn't even think about that now. I also was happily engaged to the love of my life, but moving forward on any plans outside of Arendelle was not my main priority. Gale sent a letter to the Northuldra tribe yesterday inviting our grandmother Elise to dinner tonight. She didn't know about Elsa or where Arendelle had finally settled, so it seemed right to have her come. I know she'd want to know how to help, not that she could, really.

After visiting with Marcus, I parked myself outside the library door waiting for my sister to emerge as I knew she would soon. In the meantime, Olaf found me and kept me company as we played a rousing game of tic tac toe. We each won once before my ears perked up hearing Kristoff call out to me. He peeked his head around the corner and joined us.

"Hey Olaf, it smells like beef stew is almost ready in the kitchen. Maybe you can go help, huh?" Kristoff mentioned.

Olaf clapped excitedly.

"Ooh, I love soup! Be right back!" Olaf said, dashing off quickly.

Kristoff and I were alone sitting in the hallway and I gently nudged him in the shoulder as he sat down next to me taking my hand in his.

"Was that necessary?" I smirked.

"Excuse me for wanting some alone time with my fiancee the queen." He replied, dryly.

I locked my eyes with his frowning leaning my head against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled, feeling embarrassed knowing he was right.

Kristoff put his arm around me pulling me close. I could feel his breath on my cheek.

"Anna, you have nothing to apologize for. It's not you, it's the job." He murmured.

"At the time, it just made sense to take it on. Elsa isn't fit to be queen, especially until she relearns to control her powers…"

"You don't have to justify your decision to me, Anna. I trust your judgement."

"Thank you."

"So I was talking to Sven about some wedding details and with winter coming, maybe we might want a spring ceremony. Maybe summer? Though I gotta say, I don't know if I can wait that long." He smirked.

My heart fell, aching that I didn't share his excitement in this moment.

"Kristoff, we can't get married until my sister comes back." I mumbled.

"What are you talking about? She's here with us."

"I mean, her memories. I don't want to get married with a stranger on my arm walking me down that aisle to give me away to you. I know Elsa will snap out of it and remember everything with a little help from her family. I'm sorry, I know that's upsetting, but…"

Kristoff gently silenced me by bringing his hand to my cheek before pressing his lips firmly to mine. Once we parted, he smiled wide.

"Anna, I'd gladly wait a hundred years for you to be my wife and it would be worth it."

I leaned toward him breathing in his scent as I pressed my lips to his again. As we parted again, he began laughing lightly.

"Though hopefully it won't take that long for your sister to remember. When I make my vow til death do us part, I hope I'll get to make it before I'm, ya know, dead."

I immediately burst out laughing hugging him tight. Kristoff always knew what to say to cheer me up. Moments later, the ice on the door began to crack as Elsa yanked the door open. If Marcus was awake, he could melt that ice in seconds. My sister glanced at Kristoff and I curiously.

"What's with all the giggling out here? It's distracting." She complained.

"Nothing." I shrugged, "You ready for dinner?"

"I'd rather eat in my room."

"Not tonight, our grandmother is coming tonight. She wants to catch up."

"Anna, you never mentioned that." Elsa grumbled, crossing her arms as she came out joining us in the hallway.

"I did now. Surprise." I smirked.

My sister glared at me and the last thing I wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable, but I wondered if being more family might help Elsa. Perhaps the Northuldra people had a secret to unlocking lost memories. It was a long shot, but one worth trying. I was desperate to have my sister back.

We all sat down to dinner as Elise hugged us all. She tried with Elsa, but she refused. I had given our grandmother a heads up in the letter when I invited her to dinner explaining in brief what had happened with Elsa. My sister sat and ate in silence looking very annerved at the head of the table. I sat at her right with Elise beside me wanting to be within ear shot. I got Kristoff talking about the progress of new Arendelle's construction and got everyone's attention. Though I needed a solid distraction to talk to Elise.

"I'm so glad you're here." I smiled at her once I finished eating.

"Me as well, dear. I've missed you though I understand why you haven't reached out much." Elise muttered glancing at Elsa.

"It's frightening. I feel like I've lost my sister...again. I know the Northuldra have a close bond with nature and my sister is the fifth spirit, so nature is in her DNA. Is there anything that you can think of that might help Elsa?"

"I regret to say that I don't." Elise replied looking downcast.

"Would Ahtohallan help? We haven't been there since the day we stopped her from destroying it…"

"Destroying it?" Elise said nervously, "You didn't mention that in your letter of invitation."

I chewed my lip pinching the bridge of my nose.

"It's a long story, but a man from Marcus's family did something to her...he corrupted her and she was set on destroying the light within Ahtohallan."

"I don't like the sound of that."

"It's fine. Marcus and I stopped her, but apparently at a high cost." I said, my voice trailing off, "I don't know what to do, grandmother. I'm a queen now and every decision I make bears a heavy weight."

"Oh my dear, you put such pressure on yourself. You've helped rebuild Arendelle and got it back on its feet. All the while you're helping your sister to remember and tending to your people's needs so judiciously. You're a fine queen in my eyes."

I held back the tears as I hugged my grandmother thanking her for her kind words. I needed to hear them. As Elise held me close, she suggested I might return to Ahtohallan with Elsa. It was a logical next step now that she wasn't bent on destroying the place. Kristoff reached across the table grabbing my hand looking at me nervously.

"I'm okay." I mouthed to him.

As everyone finished dinner, I stood up excitedly.

"So who wants dessert?" I asked everyone.

Olaf was the first one to shoot his arm in the air wanting a hot fudge sundae. Everyone laughed at his cheery, excited attitude...everyone except Elsa. I offered a game of charades to close out the evening, but Elise wanted to call it a night. As she left, she hugged me again telling her to keep her posted on things. I promised her I would.