A/N: Thanks to everyone who's followed/favorited and/or is reading but not reviewing:)
I APOLOGIZE IF I'VE ALREADY REPLIED TO THESE REVIEWS, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER. So...:P
raven678-I'm glad you liked it:) Yeah, Agdar should be nicer (a lot nicer) to Elsa.
BellaCullen931-Thank you! I think the girls NEED someone like Gerda...neither of them would have turned out as well as they did without her. Yes, Elsa still ended up badly hurt inside when she's 21 after all those years isolated from everyone, but I imagine she would have been a lot worse without Gerda.:/
Frozen Sisters-Elsa and Anna did deserve a much better childhood, I agree, but I'm sticking with what fits with canon.:)
Elsa Lovers Fans-Lol, Anna can be annoying-she's a younger sibling. But she does love Elsa.:)
CieloFede-Lol, I will say yes, you may punch King Agdar AND you will remain on Santa's nice And yes, I think hugging little Elsa and Anna is a very good idea.:)
Mandy-Thank you:) Well, stupid Agdar just plain isn't fair to little Elsa, period.:/ I think she needs lots of hugs.:) At least Anna and Gerda are willing to give that to her. Anna just wants to be like her big sister, and besides, what little kid wouldn't want magic?:) In 'Mind Games' and 'Changing Family Tides', Elsa has the authority. When Elsa is little, Agdar has the authority, so Idun doesn't feel she can really do anything. Also, 21-year-old Elsa is obviously hurt inside; pre-accident little Elsa is not. Idun can SEE what hurting Elsa did to her when she's older, but not when she's little.:/ Yeah, I kinda think little Elsa is more careful than Anna, but she's perfectly willing and excited to take calculated risks (ie., she wouldn't let Anna climb on the roof with her because Anna was too little, but she was happy to climb up there by herself) I just changed the title because I thought this one was better.:)
Elsa Tomago-Thank you!:) Well, Anna wanted to do exactly what Elsa was doing, and Elsa's solution didn't let her do that.:P Lol, I'm glad you liked Anna's questions.:) Thank you again:) Anna is still really little, so that was the best explanation for family she could think of...turns out it was the best explanation anyway.:) Elsa didn't need to do that, but she wanted to make Anna happy...silly girl.:) She needs a hug.:)
DodgersGirl-I'm glad you liked it!:) P.S. Awesome! I hope you had a great Christmas!:)
Elegant Lady of Sin-Thank you:) I'm glad you liked it!
On to the story!:) {Summary: While practicing a piano piece to play at a party, Elsa discovers Anna has a special ability of her own. Elsa just turned 8, Anna 4.}
"Papa, it's too hard," eight-year-old Elsa said finally. She hadn't dared to say that before, but she had grown frustrated with both herself and her father. "I'm having trouble reaching some of the notes and chords on time," she added, referring to the Mozart piano sonata she was working on. "And I can't memorize it in two and a half weeks!"
"No, Elsa, it is not too hard. Again," Agdar said firmly. "You've done it perfectly before, so you can do it now, too. And I don't want to hear a word about memorizing it-you already know quite a bit of each movement. The Allegretto third movement, please, Elsa."
Elsa sighed and counted out two full measures before beginning the movement. That's too fast, her internal 'metronome' told her. Instantly she slowed down, and she felt her father glaring at her. "I know there's no ritardando there," she said slightly peevishly. "I started too fast."
"Do you need the metronome?" Agdar asked.
"I hate that thing. No, thank you," Elsa replied, resisting the urge to start making faces. "Papa, may I please practice by myself? You could come back in a half hour and check to see what I've been working on," she offered. Elsa paused and bit her lip as she made her next request. "Couldn't Anna and I just play that little Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star piece she's working on at the Annual Crocus Festival and that's it?" Quite honestly, Elsa didn't mind performing in front of others. She didn't have to talk to them, just play a piano piece, curtsy, and that was it. (The first time she had played a piece for others, she had bowed, because that was what she thought musicians were supposed to do if they gave a performance, and her father had gotten angry at her, saying that wasn't what she was supposed to simply because she was the crown princess. The crown princess curtsied, period. She did not bow.) Maybe Papa will say yes…
"No, you have to play your sonata, Elsa. But you two can play the Twinkle variations together if you want to. That you do not have to do, though," Agdar told her. "And yes, you may practice by yourself. Only what you have to work on though," he added, knowing little Elsa loved to just choose random pieces to play or just improvise or just play with Anna. "Also, you two are playing at the party, not out at a booth in the festival. So don't get any ideas."
Elsa smiled a bit and nodded. "Okay." I still don't think I can do this. And I already knew we were supposed to play at the stupid party, not at a booth in the marketplace. I hope Papa lets us leave after we play…there's always lots of people and it's noisy and it makes me sleepy and uncomfortable. I'll have to make sure I bring a book…
The second Agdar had left the room, four-year-old Anna scrambled up on the piano bench beside Elsa. "Play," Anna demanded; then added, "Please. I shan't in-rupt."
"Interrupt," Elsa corrected, but she didn't make Anna move. Elsa began her piece again, still slightly too fast, but she decided not to stop and go back to the beginning since it wasn't too much faster than it was supposed to be. A few seconds into the piece, Elsa scowled when she heard Anna say something.
"You played E flat instead of E," Anna announced.
"How do you know?!" Elsa checked her music; sure enough, Anna had been correct. Why did Anna know I made a mistake?
When the same thing happened several more times, Elsa decided to test her little sister. "Anna, turn around. I wanna see if you're just randomly identifying notes," she announced. Anna obliged, and Elsa played middle C.
"C," was Anna's instant response.
Elsa chose a random key and played that one.
"G sharp."
She's right! How is Anna doing that? Elsa picked a note three octaves higher.
"G sharp again."
After trying several more notes, all of which Anna identified correctly, Elsa sighed in annoyance and frowned at her little sister. "How are you doing that, Anna?!" Elsa asked in frustration. "'Cause I know I sure can't!"
Anna shrugged. "I dunno. I just kinda hear them and know, that's all."
Elsa scowled and played the lowest note on the piano as loud as she could. "Tell me what that one is, then." This is not fair. Why does Anna get to have perfect pitch? That would make it way easier for me to find my own mistakes if I could do that, too…
Anna thought for a moment before saying, "B…or A sharp? A?" in a questioning tone. Anna's violin did not make notes nearly that low, so she wasn't sure. Her instrument's lowest note was the G below middle C.
Elsa bit her lip, half pleased that Anna wasn't sure what the note was and half puzzled as to why she didn't. After a bit of experimenting, she realized exactly what had happened. "You know every single note that's above your violin's lowest one. The lower the notes are-the further they are from that limit-the less certain you are," she explained. Although Elsa could tell Anna's ear was still almost impeccable below that G, Anna would occasionally make mistakes or, at the very least, be unsure of her guess. "That is still not fair," Elsa repeated a few minutes later, crossing her arms.
Anna grinned and began jumping up and down. "Is too, is too! You've got magic! You haven't got any room t' talk, Elsa!"
Elsa smiled mischievously and waved her arms. "Really? I think I have lots of room to talk," she teased. Elsa's smile abruptly disappeared when she realized something, and she looked down at her own pale hands clasped together in her lap. Papa won't think Anna's little special ability makes her 'messed up' or 'cursed' like he does me. Elsa thought she had a vague memory of a much younger version of herself-perhaps two or so-being shouted at by her daddy while she'd been standing in a corner with nowhere to go. She'd been playing with her magic, and he had ended up fussing at her and calling her names and grabbing her hand so tightly it had hurt her. 'You'll never be anything but a trouble-causing freak if you don't stop this!' Even now, Elsa thought that whole memory might have just been a bad dream.
Anna's excited bouncing ceased the second she noticed her big sister's mood change. Elsa looked like she had curled in on herself, and she looked like she was about to cry. "Elsa, please don' cry. I don' know why you're sad." The little girl yanked Elsa by the hands and pulled her over to the sofa; then just climbed up next to her and hugged her tightly. Anna hated seeing Elsa upset, especially since she didn't get that way very often.
"I think your perfect pitch is a better special ability than my magic," Elsa said after a moment. "You're still normal."
Anna didn't understand. "You tol' me ev'rybody was normal. Their own normal. An' I'd much, much rather've magic like you," she announced. Anna found her own self crying when she realized her big sister was crying and just clutching Anna close, like she didn't have anything else. I got to get Elsa help. Why's she so sad?
Elsa felt gentle hands pick up both her and Anna and then just hold her close and stroke her hair. It has to be Gerda. She's the only one who's really willing to hold me anymore. With that deduction, the little girl just hid her face in Gerda's warm shoulder. Gerda always made her feel safe and loved.
Gerda could easily tell Elsa already felt better; her little body wasn't emanating chills anymore and there were no snowflakes floating around her. She gently lifted Elsa's head and put her hand under the princess's chin. "It's all right, princess," Gerda said quietly. She nodded to Anna and added, "Princess Anna, run along to your room and play with your toys. I need to talk to your sister by herself."
"Is Elsa in trouble?" Anna asked.
"Certainly not," Gerda replied firmly. She waited until Anna had left the library and then turned her attention back to Elsa. "Princess Elsa, what made you so upset? And before you try it, don't say 'nothing'. You were clutching your sister like you were afraid you might lose her." Gerda paused for a moment and continued, "Originally I came in here because your father sent me to make sure you were practicing. He's going to be occupied the rest of the day, so don't worry about being 'caught' not doing what you were supposed to be doing."
"May…m-may I have another…hug?" the little girl asked shyly. Elsa, you were supposed to answer Gerda's question, not ask for a hug. "And Anna has perfect pitch. Papa won't think Anna's little special ability makes her messed up or cursed like he does me. Why does Papa think of me like that? It hurts, Gerda. And it's not fair. I like my magic-it's mine! It makes me…me." Elsa thought for a moment, trying to reason out in her own head just what had made her start crying like that. "What if Papa decides he doesn't want t' keep me anymore? Or takes Anna away? Or both?" Elsa's big blue eyes were filled with both sad and angry tears. I should not bother Gerda with this. I'm eight years old; I'm a big girl.
Gerda made Elsa stand up and just took her by the hands as she looked the child straight in the face. "Princess Elsa, I want you to remember something. You are not messed up. You are not cursed. No matter what your father or anyone else thinks, you're going to stand tall and be yourself. You are the crown princess. You'll be queen one day, and when that happens, everyone will accept you. Your father is just prejudiced against anything that's different from what is considered normal for the majority. It's not you, princess," she said firmly.
"How d'you know Arendelle will accept me? They might think I'm a freak, too," Elsa whispered. Elsa's face scrunched up in confusion as something else popped into her head. "Is it bad that I like my magic 'cause it makes me me?"
"No, princess, you should like your magic. It's just part of you," Gerda said quietly, giving Elsa's pale hands a comforting squeeze. "And I know Arendelle will accept you because you are smart and you will be a good queen. There will be a few dissenters, but most people will like you. I know they will." She pulled the little girl close and hugged her tightly. "And your father is not going to get rid of you, Princess Elsa. You know that. He can't, even if he wanted to. The public knows you exist and that you are eight years old. If he got rid of you, he would have an uprising on his hands and you know it. Also, princess, let's just say he tried to take your sister away from you. Do you really think she would stay away for any length of time?"
"No." Elsa smiled and reached to give Gerda a hug herself. "Thank you, Gerda." Gerda's right. Papa can't do that. I still wish he liked me better, but he can't get rid of me or really, truly take Anna away. "Will you listen to my sonata now, Gerda? Please?"
TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER…
Elsa could feel butterflies in her tummy as Agdar called her to play her piece at the party. With Gerda's help, the little girl had managed to finish memorizing it, but she was still slightly nervous. I can do this. I know I can. I've done it lots of times from memory. Elsa tugged at her dress in annoyance; she liked the way her blue party dress looked, but she thought it was very, very itchy and wanted to take it off. And she wanted her hair back in her usual single braid down her back. Idun had told Gerda to curl Elsa's hair and just keep it out of her face with ribbons; Elsa had happily accepted the ribbons, but she would not have anything to do with the hot curling iron. Gerda had finally just wet the little girl's hair and finger curled it instead, but Elsa's platinum hair was too thick for that to work very well. "Gerda, can I leave the party after I play?" Elsa whispered hopefully.
"Probably not, princess," Gerda said quietly. "Now go out there and play your piece. You can do it."
Elsa took a deep breath as she slowly walked over to the piano-she briefly wondered why there was a piano in the ballroom at all, but decided maybe her daddy had gotten another one. She dropped a curtsy and plopped down on the piano bench; then blushed, realizing she shouldn't have plopped down like that. I can do this. Gerda's right. I practiced it lots.
After Elsa's sonata, which ended up being mostly perfect with just a few mistakes, Anna happily ran over to Elsa with her little violin. "We get t' play T'inkle, T'inkle Little Star, Elsa!" Anna announced proudly, in what was supposed to be a whisper.
"Twinkle, you stinker," Elsa whispered. "D'you need to tune first?"
"Uh-uh. Papa did it for me." Anna glanced at Elsa as the two of them got ready to begin.
Elsa played the intro, waited for Anna to prompt her in for the next part, and then bit her lip when the four-year-old just began with no warning. Thinking quickly, she reacted almost instinctively and just joined in on the next beat instead of rushing to catch up. Anna's four. Of course she forgot to prompt.
All the rest of their duet went perfectly fine, and the two princesses smiled at their audience, dropped curtsies (Anna almost fell, but thankfully didn't), and then almost immediately disappeared. Well, Elsa disappeared. She ran and ducked behind a heavy curtain somewhat near the piano to read the book she had stashed there earlier. Elsa knew all her parents' guests would want to talk to her and Anna and tell them they had done a good job. But if she let one person do that, then they would all want to do that, and she would be stuck talking to tons of strangers for hours. That was not something the little girl wanted to deal with.
Anna, on the other hand, eagerly bounced on her toes and stayed right by the piano, not understanding why Elsa had run off. "Thank 'ou," she said politely, if slightly too loud and excited.
"I dunno where Elsa went."
"Want t' lemme guess a note? It's just gotta be higher than this one." Anna pointed out the low G on her violin.
"I c'n almost lick my elbow, but not quite!"
Elsa stifled a giggle from behind the curtain where she was hiding. Anna's going to cause a ruckus. She's so funny. She jumped when Gerda pushed the curtain aside and tugged her to her feet. "Gerda, no one was s'posed to find me! How did you know I was there anyways?"
Gerda gently smoothed the little girl's hair and just took her by the hand. "Because you disappeared immediately after you two finished playing. I knew you couldn't have gone far. Princess, you have to talk to all your adoring fans right now. Your parents sent me to find you. Run up there next to your sister and just say a few thank-you's. I don't think you'll have to say much else with Princess Anna chattering away like she's doing." She gave Elsa a reassuring smile and added, "You'll be fine. You know what to do."
"I know, but…but I don't like it. It makes me tired," Elsa said, unsure how to explain just what she meant.
"Then I will make sure you get to sleep late tomorrow, princess."
Elsa sighed and went back over to the piano.
Two hours later, Gerda finally 'rescued' the little princesses and took them back upstairs to their room. Elsa was only too happy to be allowed to leave the party, but Anna grew upset and almost started throwing a fit. Anna liked the party, and she wanted to stay until it was over. "Anna, why would you want to stay even longer?!" Elsa asked. "That was awful!" Elsa's head actually hurt a bit, and all she wanted was peace and quiet and to go to sleep.
Anna frowned at her big sister in puzzlement. "Elsa, you are crazy," she proclaimed with great certainty. "Parties are s'posed t' be fun!"
"Well, ones like that are most definitely not," Elsa replied firmly, rubbing a deliberately cold hand across her forehead. Anna is ridiculous. She could probably stay at that stupid party all day and all night and still think it's fun.
"Are too!"
"Are not."
"ARE TOO!"
Elsa put her hands over her ears at the noise. "Are not."
Anna finally noticed that Elsa was genuinely uncomfortable and decided to be quiet. She still thought Elsa was being crazy and wasted no time in informing her of such, but she did stay quiet. And when Gerda put both of them to bed, Anna promised she would not be loud all night. "I shan't keep you awake, Elsa," she promised.
Elsa smiled from across the room and just said a simple thank-you. She bit her lip and turned on her side when Gerda asked her if her head hurt. "Maybe," Elsa admitted after a minute. Why have I got a headache? Anna doesn't. All we did was go to a stupid take-forever party.
Gerda left and came right back with a cold wet cloth. "Now you make this as cold as possible without freezing it solid, princess," Gerda said quietly. "I know cold doesn't affect you, but it might help a little bit." She waited until the little girl was settled comfortably lying on her back before turning out the kerosene lamp. "You did a fine job at the party, Princess Elsa. Both performing your piece and talking to all the people afterward."
"Thank you, Gerda." Elsa paused for a moment before asking, "Why do I feel so tired after social-izing like that? Anna's younger, and she doesn't."
"Because socializing for hours isn't you, and that's ok. You just have to be able to do so since you're Arendelle's future queen," Gerda told her. "Just know that it exhausts you, and when you're a grown-up, plan to rest afterwards. Very simple. You did fine, and you will be fine, too."
Elsa reached to give Gerda a hug. "I love you, Gerda," she whispered. I wish you were my mommy. Elsa didn't dare say that aloud, but it was true all the same. Gerda always loved and took care of her and Anna, far beyond what her actual job required, Elsa was sure of it. "Thank you for…for taking care of me. You make me feel all warm and happy inside 'cause-"
"Shh, princess," Gerda interrupted, and simply scooped the child up and held her. "Don't you ever let someone make you feel second-rate or inferior. You are Crown Princess Elsa of Arendelle. You are a smart and beautiful girl. Don't forget that. You're unique, and that's a good thing." Gerda smiled when she realized little Elsa had already fallen asleep, and she gently tucked the princess back under the covers.
Elsa smiled in her sleep, dreaming of her grown-up self ruling Arendelle with Anna as her second-in-command.
A/N: If anyone is wondering, the Mozart sonata I'm envisioning Elsa working on is the No. 17 in B-flat major, K. 570. (my favorite movement is the 3rd one.:P) Yeah, she's probably a little (maybe a lot...) young, but whatever.:)
As for Elsa accompanying Anna's 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' variations, well...that IS realistic...my own little sister and I did that when we were their age in this story. It's just the first song in the Suzuki violin book 1. :P
And yes, little Elsa already doesn't care for socializing for hours. She just plain doesn't enjoy it.:)
TIMELINE SO FAR:
1)Off! Off! (Olaf) (November; Elsa 5, Anna not quite 2)
2) Christmas Wishes (December; Elsa 7, Anna just turned 4)
3)Rainy Day Games (February; Elsa 7, Anna 4)
4)Ice Cream Escapade (February; Elsa 7, Anna 4)
5)It's Not MY Fault! (July; Elsa 7 [she turns 8 at the end], Anna 4)
6)Perfect Pitch (August; Elsa 8, Anna still 4)
7)A Fairy and a Kraken (October; Elsa 8, Anna not yet 5)
8)To the North Mountain (March; Elsa 8, Anna 5)
9)Let's Go Tree Climbing (early April; Elsa 8, Anna 5)
This is MantaI-305Apollo'sChariot signing off for now, over and out!:)