Chapter 6: Depart, Frozen Hearts
There was a hidden wood, behind a veil of purple fog. A spectral figure stood
Far ahead, through the trees and rocks. She chased and chased the sprite, but reach it never could.
There was no more daylight when from this strange dream she arose. Her window had turned white,
Pelted by galewind-driven snows. Onto her bed, despaired, she fell back at the sight.
For when she hence was fled, she thought only the mountains snowed; then Anna she had met
And of this disaster was told. But now to see the ruin she wrought, she could not bear.
She sat, hunched and brooding, holding her face between her hands, desperately soothing
The storm within her heart and lands. But it shall ever live, by her fearful rueing.
You dared send assassins?! And they fought, my orders despite! How justify you this?
For this attempted regicide the soldiery and law would have their lives forfeit!
The prince is very wroth, though perhaps himself knows not why. Calmly hears the Herzog,
With wily glint within his eyes. At the princeling's outburst, he questions, nonchalant:
They disobeyed me. What more need I say?
Heartless. You are heartless! Prince Hans' emotions conflagrate: I trusted you at first,
But this scandal shows me your ways. I shall not be your pawn. I will not slake your—
-Thirst?
The duke stands, and he walks around the prince collectedly. His voice is oddly strong.
Thirst. Thirst! Young prince, this thirst, thou hast it too.
Correct, perhaps we do have different ways;
But thou know'st that of our thirst I speak true.
He regards Hans detachedly. And then he turns away, and again slowly talks:
To slake that thirst one must prepare to fight.
But thou art soft! Not like the erewhile king
Who fought to free this land from foreign might.
But – well, different times call for different things.
Into the night he gazes. Hans sees him frown by lamplight that shudders on his face.
Where is the princess? She shall be the key
To this kingdom. If thou wilt have the throne
Thou need'st the princess, the princess only.
Old fox and young lone wolf lock eyes. Hans bows. The die is cast. Now has begun the game.
But one thing let me ask: why do you want me on the throne? The Herzog slyly grins:
And if I gave thee rule over thy home?
Ah, little prince, so brave and wise and kind,
But thirteenth; nothing; unseen and unheard,
Sent to this little dale – almost a slight
To this dynasty. Thou art the one spurned.
Thou knowest thine Isles' duchies in the south?
Of it the court at home must often speak.
But what of it? Soon it we shall devour,
But what is north might hail thee 'Majesty'.
Ignored. Discarded. Left alone. Perhaps this is his chance. What crowns more could be his?
Knocks on her door. Who is it?— when the handle moves. She shouts: No, wait! Do not come in!
A quiet voice says from without: 'Tis Hans, Your Majesty. This intrusion forgive,
But with you I must speak. Standing from shock, she sits again. Quivering visibly,
She tries a deep breath, quite in vain. Thou mayest come in now – but come in warily.
He enters. On his brows, a heavy weight appears to sit. He keeps a good distance
From Elsa – as she would have it. His head is slightly bowed in courteous deference.
With heavy countenance, he asks: know you, Your Majesty, where Princess Anna is?
She sought you after you did flee; did she find your palace, or have we all her missed?
Any calm breaks at this. She found me, but I pushed her out. How rueful that I did!
Why cam'st thou not home? Where art thou? Oh no. Be not it so – what of thee did I hit?
-My Queen, pray be composed – to find her there is yet a way. If you stop this winter –
Command the frost to go away, and we can swiftly go forth to find your sister.
This does not compose her. Do you not see? I can't. She says weakly as she shivers.
This monster I cannot contain. …I am unsafe. Please leave. I fear I soon shall burst.
He leaves her to her grief. He shudders in the clawing cold. It is time to turn in,
Before the night has turned too old. His mind must have relief, if this game will he win.
Mid-morn. A reindeer sprints, fast as the wind, into the dale. To the castle it brings
The weakened princess, faint and pale. She limps, held by valets. Then turns, to look at him.
Perhaps the past two days have made him forget who she is. Abashed, he turns away.
See here, the majestic stone bricks. The sturdy spires tall, the ornate gilded gates.
But far from these high walls, the stream-worn rocks and highland brush – these places to him call.
Beside the songs of brook and thrush, there is his roofless home, there is his unwalled hall.
Then he is left alone. For she has gone to meet her love, who shall dispel her cold.
Perhaps he has his suspicions – no, now she will be safe. The time has come to go.
But Sven seems strangely chafed. He moans towards the palace door, annoyance in his gaze
Which turns to Kristoff. Oh, come on! She's with her true love now— wait; where has Olaf strayed?
Prince Hans wakes to the sound of frantic knocking at his door: Your Highness! She is found!
He throws on a robe and runs for the castle's study room, where she has been set down.
There waits the haven-duke, and from other lands other guests – they all wait on her too;
On her, ghastly and out of breath. Her hands toward him reach – her love, her life's rescue.
And now their fingers meet, but hers are as ice to the touch. You are so cold! says he.
And her weakness moves his heart much; no plots enter his mind as she whispers: Kiss me.
And their lips intertwine. His breath brushes her icy cheek; his warm touch is divine.
His warmth has turned her spirit meek. In reverie afloat, she softly shuts her eyes.
It is but a few moments, but it seems eternity has passed; but then she notes
Her lingering numb and frailty. But an act of true love would save me, said the trolls…?
The room marks her concern. The trolls? What trolls? questions Prince Hans. -It was from them I learnt
That Elsa's ice has pierced my heart; true love, they said to me, is the sole medicine.
She is crushed. Hans, asks she, you love me not? with tear-stained eyes. Abruptly, he straightens.
What?— Yes, I do! I do not lie – but these trolls which you speak of did – the vile traitors!
And – yes, yes, your sister! Your life you trusted her; but it falls victim to her ice!
What kind of queen— what kind of sister! She is a monster – the evil queen must die!
-What? No— but the outcry in the room drowns her whispered plea. In concord, many cheer;
The dissenters shrink cautiously. With these words does he buy agreement with their fear.
The study is now cleared – the princess must rest; the servants will attend to her now.
But enter the Duke's saboteurs. She watches with gaze drear as the room's heat they douse.
And then they from without lock the door and leave her to freeze.
The Duke softly chuckles.
Well said, young prince; I'm proud, this throne is near.
Enough! Goad me not in my grief. Of nothing am I proud. But he sees the shackles
That his life manacled dissolve into the sands of time. A hero he shall be,
And proclaimed king by plebiscite, when magic has been quelled, and the murderer queen.
Indeed, for her he grieves – he has yet love, and compassion. But what is still stronger
Is his conflagrant ambition. It is her royalty he loves most, and not her.
Elsa hears the whispers. Outside her door the servants rush to tend to her sister.
She is relieved, but still has much consternation, for she is a growing danger.
The winds blow with mad speed. They howl and scream through the windows, flinging cold ice and sleet.
To her fear she has lost control. Has Anna recovered? Or is she drained and weak?
But then she remembers: true love can heal a frozen heart. The prince! He can cure her.
Then Elsa may now far depart, and bring away the storm, and reinstate summer.
Her walls are wracked with frost. A little more, and they shatter. Outside wails winter wroth.
A slide of ice she now conjures. She lands in the courtyard, and away hurries off.
The Queen I hereby charge with the murder of her sister, Anna, the Crown Princess.
For this crime, and this dread winter, I do, with heavy heart, sentence her now to death.
Slowly the two souls fare northeastward to the hidden vale. With a despondent air,
They leave behind the snow-drowned dale. Olaf they could not find, though they searched everywhere.
He wanders, occupied: her likeness is the only thing surfacing in his mind.
Her smile, joyous – unwavering; her unrelenting hope. A light in troubled times.
Then Sven bites on his cloak. He snaps out of his reverie: Hey! Stop, Sven! Now let go!
She's with her true love – let it be! But Sven grunts, more annoyed. He tugs, with firmer hold.
Perhaps it was a noise – a tremor in the atmosphere lost on the lovelorn boy.
But such did sense the kind reindeer. He insists on return, grave worry in his voice.
And then the heavens churn. A blast of wind and ice and snow across the heights does burn.
Elsa is fled; he knows not, though, nor cares – Anna's peril is all he does discern.
The study floor is chill – or perhaps that is her own skin. The fire of her will
Shall soon be as the hearth: extinct. She curls up, shivering. The air is deathly still.
Then there is a rattling – the door handle, and then the door. With what strength remaining
Toward the door Help me she calls and slumps back to the ground. She is near succumbing.
And the door opens now, a carrot picking the keyhole. Anna fades in and out:
Dimly she feels upon her shoulder a thin, gentle hand; and then a flame roars loud.
Awaking more, she stands, supported by the snowy mounds. Warmed at the hearth, she can
Discern better now sights and sounds. Olaf is by her side, fretting as her he scans.
Anna! Are you alright? What about your act of true love? -It failed. Kristoff was right.
In the end, it was not true love. -Well what do we do now? -I know not; thus I die.
-No! That I won't allow. I'm not leaving until we find your next true love somehow.
Any suggestions come to mind? -No; how would they? I know not what love is about.
-Oh, love! Well, I suppose…it's when you put others above yourself – oh! like, you know,
How Kristoff left, not to return – left your side forever, so you'd be purged of cold?
Or you know, your sister! She locked herself out of your life, so that she could never
Hurt you again using her ice. Bittersweetly she smiles. -Elsa. How I miss her.
I thought she'd be hostile – I thought she hated me, but no; her fear had her beguiled
To make a monster of her snow. I hope she learns; but I am glad we met a while.
She nods, and slips; the ice has further numbed her faculties. Olaf cries out in fright
But catches her. Olaf, leave me – you'll melt! But Olaf hugs her limp figure more tight:
I leave here for no one. Some people are worth melting for. Old tears now newly run.
-If Elsa too could share this warmth. -She does! 'cause she is here. In me. In you. In us.
A heart hidden for years. Beneath a snowy carapace, a warmth smothered by fear.
A warmth for chocolate and for play, for hugs and summertime, spent with her sister dear.
The fire nearly dies as wind blasts open the windows and strews the room with ice.
The crash of wood and sudden cold, summoned as Elsa flees, revives Anna's dazed mind.
Olaf moves with all speed. He runs to shutter out the gale – then from afar he sees
A rider riding for the hail. Through winter's frigid fangs, they come, intrepidly.
Kristoff and Sven are back! Seems he did not love you enough to forever disband.
She laughs. Olaf, come help me up. -But why— oh! I know why! Your truly love-done act!
Hans finds the icy slide spilling out from the broken wall. He grunts. Bring me my coat.
He saunters out, leaving the door ajar; so occupied with her death, and her throne.
They find the slide also – Anna and Olaf, as they through the castle slowly go.
It's faster than the front gate. -True. Down with no second thoughts, into the blinding cold.
Elsa is in here lost. She too cannot see through the veil of gale-whipped shredding frost.
She runs on straightly through the hail – straight without direction, trapped in her monstrous force.
Ships' bows and masts and sterns – she is upon the frozen fjord, now doubly more frozen:
Her frost has stricken plank and board; it gnaws on the rigging, it tears the wind-linens.
Hans too can see nothing but white and white and yet more white. In his ears shrilly ring
The roar of the tempestuous skies— wait! he sees a figure— in a dress glimmering.
The turncoat calls to her. Elsa! Thou canst not run from this! She hears him, and she turns:
This monster I cannot resist. Take care of my sister! I flee, with this burden!
-Thy sister? She returned weak and cold from thy castle's gates, for thou frozest her heart.
I tried to save her – but too late! Her skin was ice that burned, her hair was white so stark…
His spite is made to smart. The air grows colder with her dread. The winds in terror screech.
Know, Elsa – thy sister is dead! And know:
She is departed,
all
because
of
thee!
Elsa falls to her knees. And in her grief the storm stands still. It stings merely to breathe
The air her sorrow has forchilled. He comes forth as she grieves. His sabre he unsheathes.
In this sudden reprieve from icy wind and blinding shards, Kristoff and Sven she sees.
Anna smiles. Toward him she starts to move, but then she hears sharp steel behind her seethe.
There kneels her sister dear, the executioner behind, his sword raised to his ear.
Elsa! To think, to shout, no time. Her hand flies out to shield Elsa. No time to fear.
Nor time, indeed, to feel pain, or blood flowing down her hand: for what meets now the steel
Is ice. A frozen statue stands where once was light and life, brimming with warmth and zeal.
But this is magic ice – bred in the northern frozen cave. The sword breaks, the man flies
Backward, repulsed by a shockwave. A timber strikes his head. Unconscious, there he lies.
Unconscious, but not dead. Elsa clings to the frozen corpse, weeping, disconsolate.
She holds whom she would not before, fearing her skin might ice; now ice is skin instead.
She never said goodbye. The one whom she hoped she could save is now the one who dies.
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~ Ah-ah, ah-aah… ~
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~ Ah-aah, ah-ah-aah… ~
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…what is this golden light? It shines without heat; yet, somehow, I feel so warm inside.
A spectre floats before me now. Who are you? Have we met?
Of course, my dear sunlight!
Mother—? Mama?! Then…where…?
(giggle) my child, 'tis not yet time! Do not fret, do not fret!
Precariously close to the line – risky! but unafraid – 'tis of thy traits the best.
How long more do I wait?
Not long now. Ohhhh…come here my child, and thee let me embrace.
Oh! Just to hold thee for a while is gladness, through and through. I love thee, dear, always.
I love you. I miss you! I wish I could stay by your side!
But thou hast more to do.
We'll meet yet, on another tide. Now, thou must help Elsa, her sorcery to rule.
How do I help, Mama?
You know the answer well, my dear! It lies within your heart,
Which knows to love and knows to fear. Unguarded we start life.
Wherefore learn we to guard?
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She feels cold recede from her face. How warm…is this a dream? Slowly open her eyes.
And in joy Elsa screams! She squeezes Anna with delight, and sorrow, and relief.
Elsa's eyes seem to brightly shine. Anna…you sacrificed yourself…and all for…me?
Of course! Why wouldn't I? I love you, Elsa. Gasps Olaf: Oh my! You see, you guys?
True love will thaw a frozen heart! Back together again! The sisters reunite!
-Indeed so, Anna says, and Elsa, look! You're touching me; and no ice has surfaced!
Have no more fear. For I believe in you – so why won't you in yourself have more faith?
Your ice is beautiful, but deadly when you are threatened. In everything you do,
This guardian keeps you protected. 'Tis wondrous when you're glad, but when you fear, 'tis cruel.
So here! Take now my hand. Fear not! Do not fret, do not fret! Tell the ice to disband,
And let the fjord again be wet. Tell the ice to dissolve, and return Summer's land.
And away fade they all, the fears that she was hostage to; they fade in the new warmth
Of trust, and hope, and love, all true. Under that golden light, Elsa's heart-fortress falls.
And away fades the white, the monstrous guardian in her ice, who shall all her fears smite.
Hand in hand they watch as the skies welcome back the season of warm Day and short Night.
Hans did commit treason, but he did serve the crocus throne. He receives a pardon,
But still is sent in shackles home. Who knows if has been quelled his raging ambition?
The haven is expelled – the Duke, and future diplomats. Inciting to rebel
The folk, regicide: for these acts all relations hence cease. Old friendship shall not help.
Elsa presides as queen, but Anna knows the people's hearts and has their high esteem.
It is through her that the folk start to trust their Queen of Snow – though some remain wary.
Which Elsa clearly knows – sometimes she feels she is estranged by her folk, by her home.
But she strives hard to craft her state, beside her blithe sister. It seems two are enthroned.
And in the warm summer, the children with a snowman play – one who laughs and chatters,
And frolics with them night till day. Above him a cloud floats, his mobile refreezer.
And this day Anna goes with Kristoff to the city square. With gestures grandiose:
Behold now! I owe you a sled! -What? I can't accept this. -You must! For you are owed.
The princess commands it! Then softer, hesitant in tone, Well then, what do you think?
It's wonderful! I love it so, so much I could kiss you— wait…what? Wait a minute—
She tiptoes in her shoes and pecks Kristoff on his right cheek. He sputters an excuse
And ducks into a quiet street. His face is bathed in sweat; profuse red heat exudes.
Such is the crocus' strength. Its bloom breaks through the weight of snow, unto cold Winter's end.
Now back in Summer's sunny glow, the folk slowly rebuild, and pass the days content.
But croci too shall wilt; and soon the days shall become short, and the air shall be chilled.
Change comes to all, even unsought. Life in the dale is good, and Time flows on, unstilled.
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~ Ah-ah, ah-aah… ~
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~ Ah-aah, ah-ah-aah… ~
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MMXX SkyInk