~Chapter 4~

Anna

I knew something was up. Elsa left so suddenly, but I hoped she would come and tell me what was up when she needed to. I didn't want to be a nagging little sister. Marcus didn't look like himself at dinner and even a bit dazed and distracted. I'd bet money that's what was bothering my sister because it was bothering me too. If something was up with Marcus, he'd tell us, I know it.

Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf helped to pick up the pieces of paper off the floor so Gerda or Kai wouldn't have unnecessary work on their hands. It was getting late and a few yawns hit me hard.

"Losing makes you tired, huh?" Kristoff teased twirling me into his arms.

"You wish," I replied sticking my tongue out playfully.

My competitive side was showing just a smidge.

"You think Marcus is okay?" I asked as we left the spare room changing the subject.

Kristoff hesitated an answer and I knew he was keeping something from me.

"After being with him all day, you think he'd know." Olaf interrupted.

"Kristoff…" I pressed wanting an answer.

"It's not for me to say, I made a promise…" Kristoff shrugged, "He's a king...and my friend. What does he have if not my trust?"

"Ugh, I get it…" I said putting my hands up flippantly.

"Do you?" Kristoff said raising a curious brow.

"Yes, who kept her lips sealed about Marcus and Elsa's feelings toward each other? Even in the years growing up in isolation, I knew how they felt, but neither of them knew. I did. Plus if Grand Pabbie wouldn't have hidden my memories, I know I could have kept Elsa's powers a secret if anyone would have asked me, but no, they asked Pabbie to hide that away."

"Don't be bitter, Anna." Kristoff smirked kissing my forehead, "You've made your point. We both can keep a secret. Geez, even when your tired you can put up a fight."

"What can I say, Kristoff?" I smiled grabbing his hand as we ventured down the hallway toward the stairs, "You bring it out of me."

Olaf and Sven made a break for the stairs walked ahead of us and nothing could have prepared me for what hit my ears next. Elsa screamed loudly sounding like she was in tremendous pain.

"Elsa?" I yelled.

Immediately we all bolted up the stairs and the ruckus was coming from the master bedroom. As we got up to the second floor, I saw Marcus running out from the bedroom heading for the second set of stairs at the other end of the hallway. He didn't even acknowledge us, but something was wrong. Something up here smelt like it was burning. I didn't even bother knocking and burst into the bedroom. Elsa was on the floor breathing heavily sucking in breaths through her mouth like she was in pain. Her back was to us and so I was curious as to what was wrong.

"Well, I don't see any blood or anything…" I said trying to keep my nerves calm. Stupid defense mechanism. "Are you okay?"

"Anna…" Elsa choked out.

I knelt down beside her as she finally faced me. She was covering her left hand and gritting her teeth clenching hard.

"Elsa, tell me what's wrong," I demanded.

My sister took a breath as she uncovered her left hand and we all looked shocked.

"What on earth?" I said carefully grabbing her arm avoiding any contact with her hand.

"Elsa, your hand looks like my branch did after I stuck it in fire." Olaf commented, "Can I offer you some of my snow to help the pain?"

"Thanks Olaf," Elsa smiled weakly, "But I'm fine."

"You're far from that…" I snapped.

"What happened?" Kristoff asked.

I carefully helped my sister onto her feet as we all fell quiet wanting to hear the answer to the question.

"We got into an argument...Marcus got upset. I did too. Our tempers flared, but Marcus released a power from his hand. I didn't even know he was capable of."

"Marcus burned you?" I asked incredulously, "Why? What? How?" I muttered.

"Trust me, I'm wondering the same." My sister nodded, "And judging by the look on his face afterward, he was mortified and it was most definitely unintentional. I'm not mad, I just want to understand what is going on with my husband…"

"Did you know?" I asked Kristoff.

He immediately shook his head.

"I don't think Marcus did either…" Elsa muttered, "He must be so scared, I know what that feels like. Anna..." my sister muttered, "I have to find him."

"Then let's go." I smiled determinedly.

"Hold on…" Kristoff replied, "Elsa, you need serious medical attention. I'm no doctor, but your hand is burned pretty severely. We should take you to your mother in law, she's good with tending to injuries."

"That's right. Rebekka can help." I nodded.

"No, I-I'm fine. I don't want Marcus to do anything reckless like taking off like a thief in the night." Elsa said nervously.

"Can you even use your hand, Elsa?" Kristoff asked.

"I can't even make a snowflake." Elsa shrugged.

I put my hand on my sister's shoulder.

"We're taking you to Rebekka." I said, "The sooner we tend to your hand, the sooner we can go find Marcus." I reasoned.

"Besides, I think I know where Marcus might go…" Kristoff added.

"Where?" Elsa asked.

"Kalde." Kristoff nodded.

It was late and we felt awful disturbing Rebekka at their home. Pieter was on his rounds scouting the perimeter with his men, so Rebekka was just heading to bed when we showed up. Rebekka was more than happy to help as she quickly got Elsa inside and I turned to Kristoff.

"Why don't you go hitch up the wagon? This won't take long. Elsa doesn't want a scene." I nodded.

"You got it." Kristoff agreed.

Sven snorted his acknowledgment and turned to leave, but Olaf hesitated.

"Why me too? I always get left out." He complained.

"Please, Olaf. You wanna help Elsa, don't you?"

"Of course, I do." He nodded eagerly, "You'll help her by helping Kristoff."

"Alright Anna, I can do it!"

Olaf finally joined Sven and Kristoff grabbed my hand.

"Just get Elsa's wound treated. I know she's concerned about Marcus, but we'll catch up."

"I'll do my best, but she's very upset. I don't think any distractions even her hand will stop her for long."

"Not long, but adrenaline is a powerful thing. I think she's in more pain than she's letting on."

"I was afraid of that...well, in any case, give us a half-hour. If I know Rebekka, she'll insist on rest. See you soon." I nodded.

Kristoff let go of my hand and ran after Sven and Olaf who walked on ahead.

When I joined my sister inside the house, Rebekka was already wearing some gloves to carefully apply some kind of ointment for burns on Elsa's left hand.

"How's the pain?" Rebekka asked.

"Whatever you gave me is helping." Elsa nodded.

"Unfortunately you might still feel some pain pierce through, but at least it's something." Rebekka nodded, "Are you going to tell me how this happened? Does Marcus know it happened?"

"Oh, he knows…" I replied dryly.

"It was an accident." Elsa said quickly, "I was messing around in the kitchen and grabbed a hot pan handle that I didn't realize was heated up and…"

"Elsa…" Rebekka interrupted, "I'm a mother and I can tell you're not telling me the truth. You don't get a second-degree burn from grabbing a pan..."

Elsa glanced at me and I shrugged leaving the decision up to her.

"You're my queen, but first and foremost, my daughter-in-law, please…" Rebekka pleaded.

"It was Marcus."

As Elsa explained to Rebekka what had happened, I just thought of the strange coincidence of two people whom I love very much having elemental powers. It was hard to admit, but I felt a little left out.

Rebekka didn't comment much after Elsa finished explaining. Either she was trying to process the news or maybe it wasn't new information at all.

"Did Marcus ever show signs of being like me, with powers I mean?" Elsa asked Rebekka.

"None at all, but Agnarr told us long ago that the kingdom of Kalde is a very mysterious place. I'm afraid Pieter and I were never informed of anything when Agnarr placed Marcus in our care. Though he had these alarming nightmares starting at the age of ten about hurting people. He would wake up screaming from these night terrors and would get little to no sleep afterward."

"He never shared that with me…" I shrugged.

Elsa shook her head trying to recall.

"Pieter and I are the only ones who knew he suffered from those night terrors, but I assure you, he never showed any sign of possessing elemental powers."

"That's a relief that he hasn't hidden that our entire lives." Elsa nodded.

"But why did these powers come to the surface now?" I questioned.

"I think Marcus is the only one who can answer that," Elsa muttered.

As Rebekka worked diligently on wrapping up Elsa's wounded hand with some sterile gauze, I looked out the windows seeing no signs of Kristoff. He was biding his time perfectly. I wanted to let my sister rest. I glanced back at Elsa who yawned several times and her eyes looked severely droopy. Not even a minute later, my sister fell against my shoulder completely asleep.

"What did you give her?" I asked Rebekka curiously.

"A pain-relieving medication with a side effect of drowsy inducing sleeping aid. I know she's worried, but I think my son would want her to rest."

"I agree...thank you. A few hours of sleep won't hurt her…" I said moving a loose strand of hair off my sister's forehead. I carefully got up letting my sister fully recline on the couch we were on.

"Anna, we have a spare bedroom just down the hall. The medication will wear off in a couple hours…"

"Thanks Rebekka, but I'll just lounge on the sofa. I wanna keep an eye on her." I nodded.

"As you wish, but please, get some rest yourself."

"I will." I nodded.

Rebekka excused herself heading to her room as I sat on the floor beside my sister looking at her bandaged hand. Though soon I moved to the couch as it was more comfortable. Kristoff knocked softly about thirty minutes later and I explained to him what was happening.

"I'm glad Elsa is resting. Sven and Olaf are already sleeping in the stables."

"You should get some sleep too." I urged.

"You first," Kristoff smirked.

"I will, I promise. Now, come back in a couple of hours. Elsa will be awake by then and desperate to leave."

"Okay," He nodded, "I'll be back before you know it." He smiled kissing me quickly before leaving. With our plan in motion, I grabbed a blanket folded across the top of the couch and settled down on the sofa. It didn't take long for sleep to hit me. When my eyes next opened, I sat up stretching my arms glancing out the window seeing it was still the middle of the night. As I got up to check on my sister, I noticed that she was gone. Fear immediately exploded in my mind as I opened the front door to find her, but was halted with Kristoff standing there waiting with Grand Pabbie. Just behind them was Reuben. I met him the first time Marcus and I passed through the ruined kingdom of Kalde months ago after everything with Elsa happened. What was he doing here?

"Your highness," Grand Pabbie bowed, "Please tell me where King Marcus and Queen Elsa are...it's of grave importance."