Elsa

Elsa sat on her throne, awaiting the Prince's arrival. Two of her personal guard flanked her chair, Vulck and Berse, both good, honest men, who had served her father since before Elsa was even born. The throne room was an enormous chamber, with ornate double doors nearly 500 years old and a stained glass window depicting Valhalla behind the throne, which sat opposite the doors. The throne itself was a massive chair of solid gold, with ornate carvings covering every inch of the legs, back, and sides. Each carving told a story. Her favorite, the tale of the mighty god Thor, spread out under her right arm, while his mischievous brother Loki took the left arm. Their father, Odin, reigned over above her head.

In addition to the exploits of the gods, each king and queen of Arendelle had their own story carved on the throne. She found herself gazing at her father's story on the front left leg, a tiny carving that was much too small, the sign of a King gone before his time. Dad. Give me strength. There was a knock at the door.

"Prince Heins. Please come in." Elsa stood up as Prince Heins and his servant, Karl, entered her chambers. "I would like to apologize ag-"

"If you are going to apologize for your sister, there is truly no need. No harm came to me or mine, and no harm came to her. That husband of hers though… remind me not to get on his bad side." Heins stopped short of the throne, Karl at his side.

You have no idea. You should be thankful you're still in one piece. "I will be sure to do that," said Elsa through a warm smile. "I just wanted to be sure you know that none of us bear you personally any ill will."

"Understood and appreciated, Your Majesty. If I may say, it is a relief to hear you say that. I spent the whole trip here imagining different, ice-related punishments you had concocted for me."

Caught off guard, Elsa laughed for a moment before regaining her composure. "You never know, I haven't totally ruled them out…" Oh god, what am I doing. You're the Queen. Pull your head out of the clouds, stop flirting, and be the Queen. She straightened up and adopted a stern expression. "I'm sorry, Prince Heins. This is not a vacation. Your prince attempted regicide. I apologize for my misconduct if we can agree to remain professional until our business has concluded."

Humbled, Heins ducked his head. "You are correct, Your Majesty. My sincerest apologies."

"It is quite alright. It has been a rather strange day all around."

"That it has." They were both still hesitant to discuss the real reason for Heins' visit. Elsa steeled herself and began. "Prince Heins, five years ago, your brother, Prince Hans, attempted-"

"Apologies, Your Majesty," Karl spoke up. "Prince Heins, have you forgotten that we come bearing gifts?"

Annoyed at being interrupted, but just intrigued enough to let it go, Elsa leaned forward. "Yes?"

With an annoyed glance at Karl, Heins reached into his pocket and produced a small box. "...May I?" he asked, gesturing forward. Elsa nodded at her two guards, who stepped aside to allow Heins to approach the throne. As he stepped away from Karl, Elsa was sure that Heins seemed almost wary of the shorter man. Must be my imagination. As Heins knelt down and opened the box, Elsa couldn't help but gasp. Inside, sitting on pure velvet was the most extraordinary necklace Elsa had ever seen. Dear god… that's beautiful.

The necklace was made from 45 small, white diamonds, while the pendant itself was an immense blue diamond, surrounded by 16 more white diamonds. It was the single most valuable thing Elsa had ever seen, and it was being offered to her. She tried to thank Heins three times, before giving up and bowing her head. Heins seemed to take this as an invitation. He rose, removing the necklace from the box and sliding the box back into his pocket. His eyes were questioning. Elsa nodded and drew her hair up. Heins reached around her and fastened the clasp. He stepped back to admire the effect.

"If I may say, Your Majesty, it looks absolutely stunning on you, but perhaps it is not a good idea to wear it now after all." Elsa looked questioningly at Heins, but before she could ask what he meant, Karl began to speak.

"It is far too late for that, Prince Heins. The pendant has already been activated." Karl was sneering. Before Elsa could do much more than open her mouth in surprise, raised his right arm, pushing back the sleeve to reveal a strange contraption attached to his wrist. With his other hand, he pulled a lever, and two circular blades came flying out at her guards. Vulck was struck in the heart and fell instantly, but Berse was struck in the throat. As he staggered back, throwing a hand to his throat, eyes filled with fear and confusion, Elsa felt a cold fury rising within her. Prince Heins had come here under the guise of apology and regret for the actions of her brother, then had betrayed her. Two of her personal guard, her friends, were dead or dying at her feet, struck down by a coward's attack. Vulck had just had his third child, a beautiful baby girl who would never know her father, and Berse was the one who comforted her as a child after the accident with Anna.

She shouldn't have been so surprised. She understood now how Hans so easily ensnared Anna. But Heins was no different. He and Karl. She would kill them both for this. She drew upon her powers, and… nothing. She couldn't reach the ice. She could feel it, there in the corner of her mind, where it always was, but she couldn't break through.

"What… what have you done?", she asked.

"It's good, isn't it? Just a little something I cooked up and imbued in that pendant you're wearing. It's rather remarkable, it's perfectly harmless- when it's warm. But when the temperature drops enough, it's activated. The first thing it does is suppress your ability to reach the magic within you. The second thing it does… well, you'll find out."

Elsa's vision was beginning to blur and she was growing weary. "Heins… how could you?", she asked weakly. "I- I thought-"

"Elsa, you have to believe me, I wanted nothing to do with this. They have my brother!" His eyes were pleading, desperate.

"What are y- you talking about? Who… who has your broth…"

"That's quite enough." Karl's voice cut through the air like a whip. "If you want to see him alive again, you'll keep that pretty little mouth shut, my dear Prince. Go collect our host. My master has a great many plans for her. I will go and invite her precious sister to join us-"

"NO!" The word tore from Elsa's throat and she rose up. She burst through the barrier in her mind and felt herself flood with the icy magic. Snow was swirling in the throne room, and ice was forming in her hands. Wisps of blue energy shot from her eyes. Karl and Heins both shrank back from her fury, and for one, fleeting instant, Elsa had full control. But it wasn't enough. Before she could unleash the magic growing within her, she felt it fading back away, to wherever this strange drug had locked it. She was so tired. Her head began to droop. She had to focus. She had to keep Anna safe from these monsters. But she was so tired. Before she fell fully unconscious, she only had one thought: Anna… run.