Chapter 4: Heart of Ice
Arose I from a dream, warm as a cloudless summer's day, cool as its summer breeze.
And in this summer we did play in never-ending ice, with never-ending glee.
Frost hangs upon the pines. Gold sunrays glance off their needles and gleam a dazzling white.
The mountain air softly whistles between a sky azure and wintry paradise.
The branches bow, demure, as icedrops on them suspended glisten, silent and pure.
By the Queen of Snow engendered, they incline now their crowns to hers, lone and obscure.
Ahead the summit towers, shining in heavenly glow, soaring as a prow
Above this silent sea of snow. Winter is dangerous, and beautiful and proud.
And through this marvellous, comatose domain they are come, wondering wanderers.
In awe their breaths stop for each one of the amazing feats of the cold queen's powers.
Then through the wordless leaves, they hear a faintly singing voice, delighted and carefree.
Is that she, the door to her joy? Anna runs for the source. She hears it more clearly:
A bit of you, a bit of me,
A spin and spring! With noble grace;
A bit of you, a bit of me,
Three on the dance floor, dance for days…
Anna pauses: How odd! In the recesses of my mind co-resonates this song.
But why do I now fail to find the words and melody when I scour my mind more?
A part of you, a part of me,
Four hands to gird a snowy waist;
A part of you, a part of me,
Two hearts stored in one snowy place…
She runs on through the trees. Louder the voice grows as she nears; then loudly, merrily:
My heart with you, your heart with me,
By your side, I'll forever stay!
Then there is nothing more to hear. She halts in a white glade, where snow mounds lie in peace.
But something sighs in great contentment and comfort behind. She spins, her soul elate!—
A snowman stands before her eyes, three mounds of walking snow, and greets her: oh, good day—
In terror she bellows and kicks the snowman's head away; and the two mounds below
Run circles, perceiving no ways. She retreats, screaming, as Kristoff and Sven approach.
Then that voice, that she had chased into this eerie clearing, returns with mirthful tact:
Hello! I need help with something: my hip and feet are lost; could you put my head back?
Anna is still in shock, but it so merrily entreats, she feels she has it wronged.
She stills her breath and now retrieves the torso stumbling blind, and sets the head on top.
Thanks very much! it cries. Did Elsa send you, by the way? The snowman sees their eyes,
In half-belief held wide agape, and cannot help but laugh. What's wrong with you, you guys?
Where have I seen him last? No snowmen since my early youth, so far back in my past…
My past! Elsa! He knows her too! 'Heart with me'…but of course! —but could you be?
Olaf?
The walking snow does pause. Curiously at Anna he stares, but at her head he stops.
Her startled throes have loosed her hair: there dangles in plain sight her red braid, white-adorned.
Anna? Oh! You're alright! And so tall now, and prettier, too! What a lovely surprise!
How many years have I dreamt through? And Mama, and Papa, how've they been all this time?
She says with eyes downcast, Do you not know? Three years ago, they took their last voyage.
Into the south ventured their boat, and we have heard no more since when they did depart.
Olaf again does pause. Then his head, too, bows, with old grief: Somehow, I knew, before
You said that – yet still disbelieved that what you said is true, but that thought's surely wrong.
This sadness isn't new – but how? I just woke yesterday, how is it that I knew?
Enough, Anna abruptly says, Please, let's not talk of this; say, did Elsa make you?
-Oh yes, indeed she did. She came here and created me, two nights ago, I think.
Oh, she was so happy and free: throwing her ice around, and leaping, and singing!
She ran off up the mountain, though I would have liked to play, as we did in the grounds
Of the castle; but she was hasty, and ran off too fast, with high and happy sound.
-How good! that she, at last, is free and joyous as she was – as we were, in times past.
But I must bring her home, because I must bring back summer. Will you help with this task?
He gasps at the offer. Summer! Oh the sun! Oh the heat! His eyes fill with wonder.
I'd love to feel the summer breeze; and the sun burning hot; and the shining weather—
Let me guess: you have not, says Kristoff from behind a smirk, experienced heat before?
Nope! Never! Olaf gladly chirps, but, oh! I don't know why; I long to feel that warmth!
To watch honeybees fly, and dandelion seeds disperse; to swim in warmer tides,
And see how life bursts from the earth; let me see summer once, and I could gladly die!
-Funny; when summer comes— but Anna silences Kristoff: Of course! 'Twill be so fun:
From dawn to dusk we'll party on, in warmth from near and far, under the summer sun.
YES! Let's just hope Elsa doesn't by accident, again, strike you, opines Olaf.
-Wait, what? Strike me? -Yes, in the head! That's why it's good to see that you came out unharmed.
She stands in disbelief, but why does this feel familiar? She strokes her hair's white streak;
She knows, yet cannot remember. But is that why she hides? For guilt at striking me?
Anna looks at the white, pristine, majestic frozen world, and chuckles at the sight.
An accident, when we were girls; but there are no mistakes here, where is shown her might.
The branches do not break, though ice weighs down their barbs and leaves; the ice, perfectly shaped,
Glistens as does a silver weave through the cloth of the woods' green pillars and grey shades.
Come. Ahead Anna looks, with thoughtful and resilient gaze. She has now understood
Her sister's cold and loving ways. Olaf leads, and they go, past troubles to make good.
-Hold on. You need a nose! -A NOSE! Ah, now I am complete! With this nose, I am grown;
Look how majestically between my eyes and lip it rests. Forth! For Summer; and home!
A floating stairway stretches from this lower snow-soaked peak to the opposing ledge.
Steps broad and thick, with handrails sleek, all wrought of ornate ice, by magic firmly set.
Six pillars pierce the sky; six walls of blue, purple, and gold, by post-afternoon light.
Two levels to the palace cold; a frosty balcony high on the front-door side.
Six spears shaped like oak leaves upon the front doors wide and great: a grand snowflake motif.
Six steps up to the glacial gate: no door-handle to hold, no bell to bid entry.
Anna halts by the cold, forbidding gate, so familiar, and recalls days of old.
Will she be refused again here? She steels herself once more. Only one way to know.
Three times she strikes the doors. And the ices move on the third, as never have before.
She opened them! Well, that's a first. She turns to ask the rest not to enter the hall.
Of course Kristoff protests: Look at this ice!—Ice is my life! -Yes, I know, but please, let
My sister and me spend some time alone; 'tas been too long since I was Elsa's guest.
Olaf too, comes along, but Anna begs him wait also, just a minute, no more.
With a deep breath, forward she goes, to meet her distant dear within her hailstone hall.
The world becomes unclear, from behind the translucent walls in regal blue veneered.
Her reflections stand in them all, wondering at the scene – when Elsa now appears.
Her light blue ice dress gleams, self-radiant in the indoor dim; her braid, now let down, leans
On her bare shoulder – far from prim, as she was days before; as she had so long been.
From the mezzanine floor, she smiles, and a wave of light blue paints the walls and décor.
Her founts and stairways shift their hue – enchanted by her joy, they brighten more and more.
-Anna? How great thy toil to have come up this wintry fell! -Oh, no! 'Twas my own choice
To come see you; and you look well! So beautiful, this place, and you, your— dress! and poise!—
Tears roll down Anna face: Forgive me, I just…I know now your burden, and self-blame.
But all's fine! I'm fine, and just— wow, I…can't control myself; 'tis lovely. I'm…amazed.
Your magic, that you've held so long suppressed is beautiful, more than in the world dwells.
Lighter turns the ice Elsa rules, then mirken with slight doubt: Why art thou come? Do tell.
Anna calms herself down: I spited you, before I knew why you yourself impound.
For that I beg pardon of you; and beg you to return with me. Let's go home now.
-What is there to pardon? But let me not return with thee, for here, my cold burden
Is burdensome no more: I'm free! to embrace my magic, where no one shall be hurt.
-While we're on that topic— But something yelps through the tall gates: …and sixty! Coming in!
By your side, I'll forever stay! In bursts a warm snow heart, boist'rously ecstatic.
-Hold on, art thou…Olaf? -Yes!...you made me, don't you recall? -But how came it to pass
That thou didst come to life at all? and that forgotten tune…what more know'st thou, I ask?
I'd always been with you, says Olaf, awake, and hearing, just that I couldn't move.
The last thing I recall seeing was you striking Anna; then till now, I've slept through.
Elsa halts in alarm, reliving those fearful moments when her hands wrought such harm.
Again aware of her nocence, she retreats, terrified, and upward fast departs.
Elsa, wait! Anna flies up the stairs after her sister: I know, but it's alright!
'Twas nothing but an accident; besides, I have been healed. You need no longer hide!
I know how you must feel, for the first time in forever; I see your fear so real,
For the first time in forever. But let me with you stand, amidst the ice you wield.
For from your ungloved hands, so beauteous was the ice and snow that through the mountains ran.
You can control it, this I know; fear no more, hide no more. Come home, to our homeland.
Moved, the fleeing queen stops. Can she achieve that long-held dream to break her inner storm?
Has she the means now to defeat the monster in her ice? …But what if she is wrong?
Wistfulness moists her eyes. Forgive me; though I yearn for home, the risk is far too high.
Let me stay free, although alone, where never again may I endanger thy life.
Well…Anna hesitates, there is ill news that you must know—but do not panic, pray!
The land is drowned in frost and snow, since when from your crowning you hastily escaped.
… …What?
Her hands are trembling. For all this then, she is to blame: this death, this suffering.
Control? Control?! No, she is slave to the eldritch monster in her hands residing.
Her walls crack and sunder. From serene blue they fade to grey. The whole castle shudders.
Around her a fierce storm gyrates. The ice slashes like knives. The wind roars like thunder.
Elsa! Calm down, 'ts alright! Anna trudges through the blizzard, a painful step a time.
Elsa! We'll solve this, together! She touches Elsa arm; Elsa recoils in fright:
No! Stay away, Anna! She flinches sharply back to save her sister from more harm.
The walls flash crimson. In her haste, her magic is released. Ice pierces Anna's heart.
Anna drops to her knees. Her chest seizes, by cold shock clasped, and she can barely breathe.
The pain passes within a gasp. A pain felt once before somehow, she does perceive.
-x-
The study room's hearth roars. A weary figure sits behind the desk heavy and broad.
Slumped in the chair, he rubs his eyes as dying sunlight gleams upon the frozen fjords.
A crackling, so it seems, of thunder, far into the north; but no clouds does he see.
Teal-grey lights redden as though wroth; then silence; then crackling, of roasting logs and peat.
The western sky-half dim then starts to glow: a curtain of aurorae descending
Bleeds red and yellow high upon the frozen fractured fell of ice and snow and wind.
-x-
Anna hears Kristoff yell, as though out from a muffling fog. To her feet she is helped,
But she feels light, and so Kristoff firmly holds her steady. She is pale, and unwell.
Elsa too, is shaky. What has come over her sister? Her heart grows more heavy:
She has again afflicted her. But where? She draws her hands to her chest warily.
Who art thou? Wait, it matters not, you both are not safe here. I curse this curse I have!—
Why do I hurt those I hold dear? Quickly, fly from this place. This storm I can't withstand!
Dumbly he backs away – still holding Anna, unstable – fear plastered on his face.
The castle fractures and trembles – ere it falls, they should leave; when his grip she escapes:
Elsa, come with us, please; I know if we work together, this storm we can relieve!
-How?! What might hast thou?! What power?! In anguish Elsa screams,
What hast thou to stop me?!
Anna forces her feet to hold her upright on the ice: None, except my belief
That we are stronger, you and I, when you and I are two. Without you, I'll not leave.
-Anna! Be not a fool! My monster has now been unleashed, whom I struggle to rule!
Before it breaks me, swiftly flee! Her face contorts in pain. I cannot lose thee too.
She feels a freezing wave surge up her shiv'ring fingertips. Her panic gives her haste:
Her arms sweep down and release it onto the castle floor, and there the ice takes shape:
A giant chest upon two snowy legs thick as tree stumps; two arms heavy and strong.
The giant snowman stern and gruff grabs Kristoff and Anna, and casts them out the door.
-x-
Come in, calls out Prince Hans, as three sharp raps ring on the door, whereto he looks askance.
In comes a chattering Herzog. He wrings the thick duvet that his whole frame enscarfs.
Herzog! Do rest, I pray. This winter brings us labour much, as you have seen today.
And the morrow should still be such; still, I shall labour on, in Princess Anna's name.
I cannot sleep, for night shall be too cold,
But thou need'st rest, young prince, who lately worketh
To cloak and warm the people young and old,
Against the foe that northward hence still lurketh.
And thou hast opened up the grain silos,
And thyself brought the grain from house to house,
And this thy work do all the people know,
Unlike the queen spoken of not aloud.
Come, now, my dear Herzog, speak not so ill of the fair queen – she has been through a lot.
Let us focus on how to feed the folk that here reside, until the days turn hot.
Young prince, thou art so kind to sorceries,
But if thou lived when I did, thou might'st not.
An old friend fell to its fell mysteries,
A friend to whose study thou hast been brought.
We cannot wait for summer to return –
The fields will perish ere a few more days.
This witch we must hunt down and surely burn
Else famine is to come. We cannot wait.
With all respect due, I will not be party to bloodshed before one has been tried.
And we can wait; the fair princess will have Her Majesty set all these problems right.
But thou hast seen the omens in the sky?
A cloudless storm did rage over the fells
And bled the heavens red and yellow light.
I would not doubt the sign these omens spell.
If magic is real, then are omens too;
Power over the weather hath the queen;
With ease should she a cloudless storm construe;
And taint the heavens with blood and gangrene.
The prince thinks for a beat. Perhaps the princess is troubled – 'twould be good, then, to seek
Her in the forbidding mountains. With any willing troops tomorrow I shall leave.
Hans stands to leave the room, but the Herzog suddenly seizes his arm as he moves.
The Herzog leans in close to speak: in a confidant voice, he whispers to the youth:
Yekaterina was Sophia born
In Pommern, little south across this sea;
Yet her the Russian jewels would adorn,
And hail 'the Great', as she greatened the east.
She learnt the language through pneumonia,
And was rechristened at the Eastern font.
Her efforts won her the love of Russia,
And soon the throne, her foolish husband from.
Young prince, thou hold'st the people's fickle hearts:
Thou art in the young princess' confidence;
Benevolent and generous thou art,
While this throne has too long been reticent.
One do they fear; one knoweth not her way.
A crown is near, if thou know'st how to play.
-x-
Don't feel. Has she that choice? Control it. But she will not win. Her magic fiercely roils
Just underneath her buzzing skin. The monster deep inside all consumes, all destroys.
But if she end her life? …But will the storm then dissipate? Or will it still survive;
And without her to hold the reins, where till shall the snow spread? Where till shall the winds cry?
It is decided, then. Better to fight th' invincible than to barter with Death.
The ember walls of her castle cannot contain the fear bursting out from her chest.
-x-
The prince is in grim cheer. The sun has set, leaving the dark in the chill gales to freeze.
Realpolitiker you are…But I have not come here, another's throne to seize.
MMXX SkyInk