Chapter 21 - See you later, Anna, Kristoff ...Elsa
Iduna wasn't a woman who panicked, yet standing here looking down at her daughter gasping for air with short and shallow breaths she couldn't help but be overcome with dread.
"I'm taking her to the hospital," Agnarr said firmly as he moved to pick their fragile daughter up from the couch.
"We can't," Iduna replied with equal force. Agnarr paused, not missing the power behind those words.
"She will die-"
"And if they find out what she can do that will be a death sentence upon itself!" She snapped at her husband.
Iduna held one hand to her head as she tried to think. It was impossible beneath the haze of panic. She needed to calm herself. She needed to gain some control over this mess before it was too late. What was taking Gerda so long?
She moved to Elsa's side to examine her again, leaving her husband to begin pacing. Her hand traced Elsa's slick forehead. She was both sweating and shivering, and if Iduna hadn't taken her temperature herself she would never have believed just how low Elsa's core body temperature was. She was responding as if she had a high fever but in reality it was closer to hypothermia. It wasn't something that could be explained by her years of medical experience. Just like Elsa's 'magic', this condition defied all understanding.
"I can drive you," Henry offered from the far side of the room. Iduna looked up sharply, almost forgetting about their visitors. Almost being the key word. If her husband's business partner and son weren't here Elsa wouldn't have been pushed into using her powers. She wouldn't have caused a blizzard in the drawing room. Ice wouldn't have crawled up the walls, a foot of snow wouldn't have settled on the floor. It had been the first time Elsa had done such a thing, and it was no coincidence they were here. It was their fault.
...It was easier to blame them than herself.
"She will not be going to a hospital," Iduna repeated with even more ferocity.
The silence that fell upon the room was deafening. As Iduna returned to her medicine bag she didn't notice the young boy approach her daughter. She didn't see him take her hand, nor the curious look in his eye as he examined her sleeping face.
"She's frozen. She needs more blankets-"
"Don't touch her-" Iduna shrieked and the boy jumped back in fright. She regretted it the moment she had snapped, but she wouldn't apologise. "Please, just leave. This is a personal matter."
She caught Agnarr's eye and she almost begged him to support her in this. How he couldn't understand how severe this was astounded her. It took her a good few moments of reflection to realise he must have understood. He was no doubt as lost as she was. How could they keep their little girl safe and protected when they themselves had no idea how her power even worked? A few frozen tears as a toddler were nothing compared to the storm she unleashed just that afternoon. Her power was growing, that much was certain. And now they had to convince Henry Westergard and his 7 year old son to keep it a secret.
Iduna exhaled exasperated. It was a complicated mess which would haunt them, she was sure of it.
"She is right," Agnarr said after a moment. "We thank you for your generosity but we will handle this. I'll be in touch," he turned to his old friend. Henry gave him a nod.
"As you wish. I'm just at the end of the phone if you need assistance," he replied courteously, glancing at Iduna as he did. She looked away and back to Elsa, sure in the knowledge she wouldn't be further involving him or anyone else in this. Too many were involved already.
Agnarr showed Henry from the room, leaving Iduna to sit beside her daughter. You're breathing is so shallow. Your temperature is so low, lower than normal... How do I help you? Iduna was so lost in thought she didn't even hear the door close, nor the footsteps that followed.
"I took the liberty of examining the drawing room on my way through. You weren't exaggerating, she is getting stronger," Gerda bent down beside Iduna, making her jump. Iduna wanted to chastise her for her stealth but she was overcome with relief at the sight of her. If anyone could save Elsa it was her.
"Thank god you're here. Tell me you can save her. You must save her." Iduna paused for breath and looked Gerda straight in the eye. She was smirking. She never smirked. Iduna's jaw clenched. "I know. I'm getting emotional. Irrational," she stated the obvious in exasperation as she ran a hand through her brown hair.
"It's a refreshing change. I was certain your heart was frozen," there was mild amusement in her only friend's voice. It was momentary however as Gerda pulled close to Elsa to examine her.
Iduna stood back while Gerda confirmed everything that Iduna had already checked. As she waited impatiently she held onto hope that Gerda would know best. Aside from her husband and Kai, she was the only other person she could rely on, and certainly the only doctor she'd ever trust with Elsa.
Agnarr re-entered the room and took his place beside his wife, wrapping an arm around her. She relaxed into him, grateful to him for seeing the Westergards out. She was not one for displays of affection but she took his hand and threaded her fingers in his. The air hung heavy between them, the tension of Elsa's fate silently ripping them apart. She knew he'd blame her if Elsa got worse, or god forbid, didn't make it. Hell, she'd blame herself. She had been so sure earlier. Now Gerda was here she could reflect on just how rash she had been. If Gerda couldn't do anything had she wasted precious time? Could they really lose their daughter?
"I bought the fluids," Gerda turned away from Elsa to face Iduna and Agnarr. "I think taking some samples and putting up an IV drip will be the best thing to begin. I'll start her on some general antibiotics too, just to be safe. Once I have the results we can see what we can do from there. It looks likely to be overexertion from whatever she did in your drawing room..." she hesitated. "I think you were right about the hospital. They'd be guessing as much as we are. Rest assured, I'll do everything I can to save her," she promised.
It was Agnarr who squeezed Iduna's hand. She caught the desperate hope in his eyes.
She's strong. She'll make it through. Her promise was silent.
Iduna wasn't a woman who panicked, yet standing here looking down at her daughter gasping for air with short and shallow breaths she couldn't help but be overcome with dread.
Da ja vu. Elsa was just as she was 15 years ago, except this time she was unconsciously freezing the whole room. Ice lined the floor and walls and it was growing; crawling up the room like some sort of parasite. Her power had grown considerably. No longer did a small snowstorm knock her out and seemingly almost kill her. If Anna was to be believed, and Iduna was sure she was, Elsa had unleashed something far stronger and darker in that car park. Wielding the ice like a weapon had done this.
Aside from the last time Iduna saw her daughter like this, Elsa had never been ill; quite a feat for a woman of her age. Even common colds and the like she had managed to evade. It had taken Iduna several years to really notice just how well Elsa seemed to be, how she always was. It took even longer after that to begin to wonder if perhaps it had something to do with her mysterious icy powers. But she had always looked back on the day where Elsa almost died and feared it could happen again. It was just one of the many reasons why using these powers in the first place was such a risk.
"Is she going to be ok?" Anna asked out of clear and obvious concern. Iduna knew the girl was sincere. She was as worried as the rest of them but she just wished the redhead would stop talking. "I can't stand this waiting. She's getting weaker and colder! I'm taking her to a hospital. I can't lose her, not again. I've only just got her-"
"Please Anna, I can't think when you're talking!" Iduna snapped. She regretted it the moment she did but Anna didn't shrink back. To Iduna's surprise the usually timid girl stood her ground.
"What can I do to save her? Please tell me!"
"We can't do anything," the admission hurt Iduna more than Anna ever could have known. "We'll wait for Gerda ...And then we will hold onto hope."
5 hours earlier
Anna cradled Elsa in her lap as Kristoff accelerated out of the underground car park. Her fingers twirled curls through her blonde hair in a brief moment of respite.
Elsa had done the impossible: used her power to break them out. It was never in the plan, but Anna was relieved Elsa had saved them. They now had a chance not only to get away but possibly at a future. She held fast to that fleeting image.
Kristoff smashed through the barrier and the car skidded onto the road. He jumped every red light.
"Kristoff you're going to get us killed!" Anna, sharply snapping out of her daydreams chastised him in fear of their lives. If Hans didn't catch up to them then they'd surely perish in a car accident at the rate he was going.
"I'm getting Olaf to the hospital," his response came out as a grunt.
"You can't do that," Olaf told him with a quiet seriousness. "Elsa sealed the wound. They'd ask questions."
"That isn't worth dying for." Kristoff threw the car around another corner.
"She sealed it? With ice?" Anna asked in disbelief as she leaned across Elsa's unconscious form to examine Olaf's wound. She tentatively placed her hand to the frozen seal. Ice fractals glinted with scarlet as she traced her finger over the ice. It would have been beautiful if she hadn't been so aware of how tragic the situation was.
This was the first time she was able to fully appreciate both the beauty and horror in Elsa's power. Just now in the car park she hadn't seen what Elsa had done in the darkness. Even at those times in the past where the air had gotten cold and the storms started it had always felt... natural? No that wasn't the word. But it felt possible. This seemed completely impossible. And yet Anna was gazing down at it all the same.
"Olaf you realise when this thaws..." Anna's voice trailed off.
"I know enough about the molecular state of water and cells to know I'm going to bleed a lot." He caught her eye and Anna could see his fear. She knew that while the cold was good for constricting blood vessels, and the ice likely acted as a plug, cells were mostly made out of water. They'd expand when they froze which would rip those fragile membranes to pieces. He wasn't just going to bleed, there was every chance he was going to be gushing with blood. Surely Elsa wouldn't have done this unless she truly believed there was nothing else she could do to keep the boy alive long enough to reach a hospital.
Anna scrunched her eyes shut as she struggled to think.
Kristoff didn't give her the time she needed. "Even more reason for him to be at a hospital. Elsa is barely conscious. If whatever power she's using fails we won't be able to save him."
Anna took a deep breath and nodded. Kristoff had already thought of this, of course. She was finally catching up to him.
"Elsa would do anything to save you. We'll drop you to the hospital, we'll take Elsa home and then we'll come back for you," Anna told Olaf seriously.
"It's out of the way. Hans will no doubt be able to do something crazy like make the police block the road out of town before you make it," he tried to argue but there was no conviction in it.
"If that ice melts there is every chance you'll die," Anna's tone took a stronger turn but her face lightened as she looked over Olaf's resigned face.
"Just keep Elsa safe. Don't worry about me. I'll get back to you guys. Please don't let Hans trick you into some sort of trap," he was pleading with her.
Anna wished she could promise him that but she wouldn't lie. There was every chance Hans and Weselton would get to Olaf at the hospital first and any attempt they made to blackmail Elsa would surely succeed. The words went unspoken but Anna knew it as much as the boys did.
"I'll protect Elsa," she stuck to what she could say. It seemed to be enough for Olaf because he said no more.
Kristoff pulled up in an ambulance bay right outside the entrance to accident and emergency, ignoring all signage specifically saying it was forbidden. Any threat of a fine was eclipsed by their fear of their friend's fate.
Olaf adjusted himself slowly so he could carefully lean down closer to Elsa's face.
"Be good," his voice was barely a whisper as he kissed her cheek.
"Let me take you in-"
"No. Don't." Olaf forced a warm smile. He brushed his black fringes from his eyes and Anna's heart sunk at the finality in his eyes.
This isn't the end. She wanted nothing more than to be beside him through this ordeal but he was right. Elsa had been their mission. Risking her being caught by Hans and Weselton would make his sacrifice have been for nothing and breaking her out a second time would be even more impossible.
"When this is all over and we're all together and free we're going to build that snowman." Anna swore through unshed tears. "We'll invite Marshmallow and even Kristoff and Sven will be there."
Olaf's smile reached his eyes this time.
"I'll hold you to that. See you later, Anna, Kristoff ...Elsa." His eyes lingered on her face for a moment before exiting the car. He stumbled towards the entrance and as Kristoff violently reversed the car Anna caught a glimpse of a trail of blood running down Olaf's side.
...And she couldn't help but fear this would be the last time she saw the young man.
Elsa faded in and out of consciousness. She was numbly aware of the vibrations. The stop and starting motions. The hum of a car engine. She was still travelling. But where was she travelling to? Elsa didn't have the power to focus on that question. Soft words and a flash of red hair reassured her that everything was ok. She relaxed into the body beside her. Anna was here, keeping her safe. I don't deserve you. I don't deserve any of you... A pause. Memories flooded back of the car park, what she had done. The ice. Hans. The gunshot. Olaf-Olaf-
Before Anna had time to register it Elsa's eye snapped open. She flew forward, almost landing in the front seat of the car.
"Elsa!" Anna had to pull her back in an impressive bear hug to restrain her.
"Olaf," Elsa breathed and silence descended upon the car. Kristoff kept going at a steady speed along the motorway, leaving Anna to face Elsa alone.
Now calmer, Elsa pulled back and turned to face her. Even in the dim light from the streetlamps Anna could see there was still so much darkness in those blue eyes.
"We took him to the local hospital-"
"And where are we?" Elsa snapped, gesturing to the car. Anna took a moment to stop herself from biting back in retaliation. Any relief from having Elsa back was evaporating under the fear of Olaf's fate. Her nerves were as frayed as Elsa's. Perhaps even more so as she'd been stewing on it since leaving him behind. She had replayed the night again and again trying to work out what went wrong and how they could have prevented it.
You were unconscious. We had no idea if you'd wake up. We did our best. Anna clenched her fists in her lap.
"We are taking you home. Not your apartment home. Your mansion home," Kristoff spoke for Anna.
A short silence descended over them again.
"You are what?"
Elsa felt her blood run cold, colder than normal. How could they possibly believe showing up at her parent's house was smart? She hadn't seen her mother in four years and her father had only just passed away. She hadn't even responded to her mother's calls and emails. She had no right to walk back in now and expect all the love and protection she had long denied.
Her head was in her hands, pulse racing. I can't face her. Olaf... Olaf this is my fault.
"It's the only place Hans and Weselton can't touch you-"
"I can't go back there. Turn the car around. I need to be at the hospital for Olaf." Anything to escape going home. Anything to see her friend again and know he was safe.
The car was cold now but Elsa barely realised. "I don't care about the danger-"
"Elsa Arendelle you are going back home and you will make up with your mother!" Anna's stern voice shocked Elsa into silence. "You are not running away from this any longer!" Now Anna had started talking she couldn't stop herself. "Me, Olaf and Kristoff risked everything to break you out of that place! You will not throw that away! You're going back home where you will be safe and we'll come up with a plan to find Olaf afterwards." Anna softened towards the end of her rant as she seemed to realise just how mad she had gotten. She dialled her tone right back and Elsa saw the regret in her face. The ramblings of apologies would come as soon as Anna found her voice again.
Elsa let out a sigh in acceptance. It hurt but she needed to hear it. And hearing it from Anna reminded her it was true.
She looked down in shame. They had just saved her life and here she was demanding they take her where ever she damn well pleased. I am so selfish.
"Oh gods, I was really out of line. I am so sorry-"
"No," Elsa pressed her finger to Anna's soft lips to silence her. "You were right, as always."
"...Can I have that in writing?" Anna smirked.
I'd give you anything. She wasn't able to get the words out. She wearily looked Anna over, taking in every small detail. Now she had nothing else left to focus on other than facing her mother and facing Anna, Elsa felt the familiar weight of fear and regret crashing down upon her. That black hole threatened to swallow her whole. I can't believe you came for me. Elsa leaned forward and took the Anna's hand in her own. Their fingers entwined. The warmth of her skin sent a thrill through her body.
"...Why did you do it? Why did you come for me?" She asked in barely a whisper.
"How could I not?" Anna let out a sigh. "I don't know how I can explain it in a way you'll understand because it doesn't exactly make sense. I can't just hate you. I'm angry you didn't tell me. I'm furious with your parents for keeping me in the dark. Actually I'm pretty annoyed all round that everyone seemed to know except me. I just wish you'd-" Anna paused. "Elsa-"
Elsa's eyes rolled back. Her head limply fell forward, smacking Anna in the face.
Anna held her head back to help ease her bleeding nose. Elsa was unconscious on her lap again.
"What did you do to her?" Kristoff called back.
"I have no idea. One minute I was talking, the next she passed out," Anna murmured. There was a long pause. "Why do you always assume I've done something?"
"Because it's always you," Kristoff said easily as he cranked the heating right up to max. "We're an hour away now. Get some rest, Feisty-Pants," he caught her eye in the rear view mirror as he spoke. She nodded wearily, her hand playing with Elsa's hair again.
Anna tilted her head slowly down to check over Elsa. She was flushed yet ice cold to the touch.
Hold on until we're home, Elsa.
They skidded down the long drive of the manor leaving tyre marks across the pristine paving stones. Anna would have been gloating and teasing Kristoff as his jaw dragged along behind them had she not been cradling Elsa in her arms so tightly. Her condition hadn't improved, and by all standards it had grown worse. It had become so bad during the journey Anna had called Iduna for advice, not that the woman had been much help aside from demanding Elsa return home immediately. Anna had considered stopping off at a hospital on the way but Elsa's magic complicated things. In particular the thick layer of frost that had spread from her and what now coated the inside of the car. It was a wonder Kristoff could still drive. The demister was working overtime to keep the front windscreen clear.
Now at entrance to the house Kai and Iduna were racing down the steps to greet them.
Anna was only half way out of the car and they were upon her. Iduna's hand was pressed against Elsa's forehead, her usual stony mask crumbling beneath worry and concern.
"Get her to her room," she ordered Kai. Anna and Kristoff had to run to keep up with them, abandoning the car out the front.
"Kristoff, there is a guest room two doors on the right. Rest up there. Don't worry, I'll shout you if anything goes down," Anna told him sincerely, making the assumption that her foster parents hadn't changed the rooms.
He nodded in understanding, giving her a fistbump. "If you need me get me up, no matter what," he assured her.
Anna thanked him silently, not just for getting them here but for everything before. I'll find you something better than a years supply of doughnuts. She promised. She had all the time in the world to decide what that'd be though. Right now Elsa needed her. She was inside Elsa's bedroom and by her friend's side before she had time to think.
"Is she going to be ok? I can't stand this waiting," Anna was shaking from pent up anxiety. While sitting cramped in the car all she could think of was getting here. Now she was here she didn't know what to do with herself.
Even after just a few minutes frost had settled across the room. It was eerie just how fast it moved. Anna had to step over into a covered patch in fear it'd somehow crawl up her legs if she met the edge.
She watched Iduna in deep contemplation. The silence was driving Anna mad.
"She's getting weaker and colder! I'm taking her to a hospital. I can't lose her, not again. I've only just got her-"
"Please Anna, I can't think when you're talking!" Iduna snapped.
Anna didn't back down. She wouldn't. She couldn't.
"What can I do to save her? Please tell me!"
A brief pause.
"We can't do anything. We'll wait for Gerda ...And then we will hold onto hope."
That's it? Anna gritted her teeth. Every moment that passed Elsa grew colder. Iduna was supposed to be able to save Elsa. That was the whole point in coming here. Should we have gone to the hospital?
"I need to make some calls. Stay with her. Gerda will be here soon," Iduna paused, looking Anna over with that familiar disapproving look. "Put a coat on. It's only going to get colder."
Iduna only relaxed her guard the moment she was alone. Standing in her empty office she could finally let out the cry of emotion she had been holding back. It escaped her throat in a low, strangled sound and was gone. There were no tears, as much as she needed to cry. She hadn't cried in years. Today would be no different.
Deep inside she had known the only way she'd see her daughter again was like this; broken and abused.
"Agnarr, we allowed this," she spoke to the photographs around the room. "And now you've left me to fix this alone." The bitterness oozed from her words. She slammed the photo frame of her husband down on the desk. Her eyes caught another photo. The single photograph of the three of them at a time where they were all happy. Agnarr remembered how to talk to his daughter, Iduna remembered how to smile and Elsa held so much love in her bright eyes. How had they all become so cold?
She knew they should have done more to bring Elsa home sooner... but she never would have listened. Agnarr had insisted they should give her space.
We'd only push her further away. The thoughts haunted her. She had spent years arguing constantly with her husband. It was true Agnarr had been responsible for the decisions that caused Elsa to make her greatest mistakes. If it had been down to her she never would have allowed their daughter to attend a normal school. Or spend a week camping. Or let her stay away from home for four years.
But she never would have lived either.
The girl who had left wasn't the woman who had returned. It would be a challenge to come to terms with it but logic told her she had to. She could understand logic. Emotions of the heart however were more difficult to unpick. She wasn't used to feeling so much.
There was one particular emotion that was fighting its way out of her at this very moment. She knew it was a terrible idea, possibly the worst idea. Despite this Iduna had dialled the number into her office telephone before she even had time to think it through.
"Put me through to Otto," she demanded before the voice on the other end could even so much as say hello.
"I'm afraid Mr Weselton is busy-"
"Tell him it is Mrs Arendelle. He is expecting me."
The PA put Iduna on hold for what felt like a lifetime. Iduna was sure the weasel was trying to work out how he'd get out of this one. Perhaps he thought with Elsa gone this could all be easily swept under the carpet. He wouldn't be getting away so easily.
"...Iduna," the voice on the other end of the line was unmistakable. Christ, it had been years. She closed her eyes, fleeting memories dragging her back to the past. He sounded the same as he did 21 years ago.
"Mrs Arendelle to you," Iduna said curtly, restraining all of her anger and resentment. She wanted nothing more than to explode; to unleash all of that chaos upon him but she held back. That wasn't what she needed from this conversation. She had just two goals. Her first: "You are going to give me everything."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you are-"
"Cut the bullshit. Every single piece of data you took on my daughter. You will give it to me and you'll delete your copies. Unless you want to lose your contract with Arendelle Corporation," the threat wasn't an idle one and Weselton knew it. As for her second goal... "Count yourself lucky it wasn't me who organised that rescue because if it was I wouldn't have left you alive." Iduna was sure she could hear him squirming. She didn't stop. "And know if you pull a stunt like this again I will be involved." That seemed to be enough.
"...If I agree you'll take this no further?" He asked tentatively.
Right where I want him. In truth Iduna would have liked nothing more than to have retaliated. Just seeing the state Elsa was in had fired her up something fierce but she needed to keep a level head. Going to war with him would be counterproductive and would risk Elsa's secret being revealed.
"That's the agreement. But know if you cross me-"
"Yes, yes, you've made the threat abundantly clear," he was almost hissing down the phone. "I'll send you everything."
Iduna switched her computer on while giving him the details he'd need. A physical handover of the data would be the safest route for the bulk of the research but she'd need a list of the medication they'd given Elsa before Gerda could attempt to treat her.
She had her doubts about him keeping up his end of the bargain by deleting his copies, but at least this way she could keep him where she could see him.
Better the devil you know.
Anna had sat at Elsa's bedside for hours without a break. She had wrapped herself in all three of Elsa's luxury dressing gowns and wore as many pairs of socks as she could raid from Elsa's wardrobes. Anna had never felt such physical coldness. Even skiing at the North Mountain felt warmer than here.
Elsa's frost formed a thick layer over the entire room, including Anna. She had only left to visit the bathroom once but she had seen the ice extend down the halls. Elsa had plunged most of the house into a bitter cold. Anna imagined her power to be like a tap that had a leak. She could turn it off as tightly as she could but it still dripped out.
"Constantly causing me trouble," Anna murmured as she looked over Elsa's unconscious form. It was unbelievable to think that just that just yesterday they were breaking her out, and no more than a few weeks before that Anna was at university completely oblivious to everything.
I've been blind for so long. It wasn't regret that plagued her though. Despite it all she was happy to be here, happy to know the truth. She would be a whole lot happier though if Elsa would wake up. Gerda had been in and out regularly, taking readings and making sure Elsa was stable. It didn't seem to be waking her up any faster.
Anna sat rigid as Iduna entered.
"How are you?" Iduna asked as she crossed the room. Each step crunched from the frost.
"She's the same as before. No change."
"I know how Elsa is. I was asking how you were," Iduna interrupted as she took a seat beside Anna.
Anna blinked in surprise. What? She's actually asking about me? It took her a good minute to get her brain back in gear to even reply.
"Oh, wow, me-me-I'm doing ok. I mean, as ok as someone can be given all of the shi-crap that's going down," she stumbled over her words, eyes never leaving Elsa. She bit her tongue from saying any more. A part of her wanted to demand answers from Iduna. Not just for being left in the dark about her parents but about Elsa too. She had known everything and she could have avoided all of this heartache. But the rational part of her mind told her to hold back. No doubt she was doing what she believed was right. Anna couldn't work out if she'd had made the same choices in her position.
"You're awfully quiet considering you're 'ok'," Iduna commented idly.
Anna tensed. Could she read her mind?
"I just wanted to say thank you." Anna turned to face her in surprise at the admission. "You knew what Elsa had done, what she is, and yet you still stupidly broke into that lab and brought her home. I underestimated you."
For a moment Anna felt a glimmer of pride at Iduna's praise. It may not even have been praise, but Anna was going to grab it with both hands.
"Do not misunderstand, I'm still furious you did it without informing me," Iduna paused and Anna held her breath. "But I'm glad it was you. Elsa needs you."
"You should have involved me sooner," Anna said quietly, finger subconsciously stoking Elsa's hand. "I'd have protected her."
"You must understand why that would have been a bad idea. We couldn't have expected you to forgive her."
"You should have trusted me. You were right, she does need me. She needed me four years ago... just like I needed her," Anna squeezed Elsa's hand tight. The emotion was raw. Anna didn't even know how raw it was until it came out. So much could have been avoided. Both of them had been lost alone in the darkness for so long. So much pain could have been wiped away.
"I didn't see it soon enough," Iduna admitted.
"You didn't see what?"
"That you loved her as much as she does you. It was selfish of me, I know, but I resented you for pushing my child away. It wasn't your fault, but I blamed you all the same."
Anna didn't release her grip on Elsa's ice cold hand. She could appreciate Iduna's viewpoint, even if she didn't agree with it. Iduna wanted the best for Elsa but like all children, she had other ideas for what was best.
"Why did you ask me to bring her home?" Anna asked after a long silence. "If you knew how I felt, how she felt. If you hated me why did you promote that?"
"Blaming you and hating you are not the same thing," Iduna corrected her almost immediately. "I never hated you. I just... didn't trust you. It was Agnarr who suggested I phone you. I was desperate and still in denial. It took until after that ridiculous tape leaked of you two to really understand..." Iduna made a face and Anna shrunk back in shame. "...I was furious at first. I immediately assumed it was down to you. How could my Elsa do something like that? Then Agnarr reminded me that Elsa wasn't a child anymore. She hadn't been for a long time."
"It was my fault," Anna said too quickly. She had almost forgotten about the tape but now Iduna had mentioned it she couldn't allow Elsa to take the blame. Elsa was the one with the reputation. She was the one with everything to lose. Anna was a nobody. She had no one to disappoint, nothing to lose. Except for Elsa.
"It takes two," Iduna sighed. "To be honest despite my initial fury it faded quickly. People have done worse at these parties."
"Elsa will be relieved to hear that. She had a total meltdown over it. Between that and the news of her father she was in a bad place... and then Hans hit her with all that stuff about me," Anna groaned. Just saying it aloud reminded her of how bad it all was, all in such close succession. No wonder she was in such a dark place.
Iduna nodded in silent acknowledgement. It was refreshing to sit beside her in the quiet without secrets or closed doors.
"Anna."
"Hm?" She looked round to Iduna curiously.
"Get some sleep. I'll watch her." When Anna went to argue Iduna continued. "I'll get you if anything changes."
Anna was reluctant to leave Elsa but the thought of rest made her already heavy eyelids grow even more tired. She glanced at the window as the early morning sunlight began to stream through. Dawn had broken already. She wouldn't last here all day, especially with how cold it was in here.
"I'll lay down for a few hours," she gave in. As she got up she paused by Elsa's bedside. She bent down and leaned in close, not caring that Iduna was watching. She had confessed to knowing about them. It wasn't like it was some terrible secret that they needed to hide; nothing compared to the secret of Elsa's magic anyway.
Anna planted a warm kiss on Elsa's lips.
"Keep fighting. I'll still be here waiting when you wake up."
A/N: Sorry this one took me longer than usual to get out. It's been my longest and most challenging chapter to write. I hope the switching POVs aren't too jarring. I'm also reaching the point where I'm running out of drafts. Writing has been a bit slow for me this month too due to family and work commitments but I am still working on future chapters. I have a sporadic life, so I'll have sporadic updates.