One day, I'm going to write a story about Elsa's confused sexuality. One that will end in ambiguity. Not today, not tomorrow, probably not in this linear timeline, but I will at some point, somewhere. It just sounds like a fun idea that will probably annoy a few people.

In all seriousness, I'm not big on romance or smut. I find Canon pairings of any kind to be tolerable at most, and it just goes downhill from there. For instance, my feelings regarding Elsanna is... complex, to say the least. Needless to say though, I have no love for that ship.

All rights go to Disney, and absolutely no one else. I cannot forgive Disney Channel, however.

Chapter 4

To Move Onward

For years, Elsa learned not to tap her foot out of impatience or anxiety. It was rude, painfully honest, and quite noisy, especially during the years of isolation and closed doors in the once barren palace. Such a sound echoed from one end of the castle to the next, bouncing off the walls, the suits of armor, and the furniture.

Predictably, the rapid tapping of feet used to be an indicator of Anna's presence.

Instead, Elsa chewed on her smoked salmon long after it was a messy and dry pulp, not swallowing at all. Her stomach growled, but she didn't have any appetite whatsoever. Elsa could feel it, an invisible, a near-tangible tension pressing itself against her back. It gave her shivers and goosebumps down her spine, although she could never feel the cold. She had chosen to sit in a corner, faced away from the rest of the chattering restaurant patrons, so she would have an easier time pretending they didn't exist.

It is unbecoming of a queen to be afraid of your own people.

But how can she not? From the moment she stepped inside the building, the burly and armed Captain of the Guard by her side, a hush drew over the crowd as if somebody just died. The silence was broken by the scraping of chairs, and all of the adults hastily stood up to bow to her. Only the children, who had little idea what was going on, stayed in their seats.

Elsa closed her eyes, desperately trying to focus on her meal. She wasn't used to eating in such a public and crowded place. The clangs of silverware against plates, the incessant chatter, the shouting of chefs, and the squeals of angry little kids grated against her ears. For years, she was accustomed to having her meals sent by Gerda in her bedroom, where she ate in complete, and sometimes miserable, silence. For the past few weeks, she was merely relearning what it was like to sit at the dinner table again, with company. Sure, Kristoff, Olaf, and Anna were present, making such a scene with all of the hoots, the food-inhaling, the throwing, and whatnot. They could replace any chaos in a restaurant all by their lonesome, but that was just them. Elsa felt comfortable and loved there, with everything around that troubled her nonexistent. They were family.

And now there were none to help her ignore the flashes of curious eyes.

"More water, Your Majesty?" A waiter, dressed in uniform and apron, held up a tin pitcher. If Kristoff were here, he'd say that the waiter's chin is sharp enough to split blocks of ice.

Elsa opened her lips to reply, but remembered her mouth was still full of fish. She swallowed, and coughed a little, her faint freckles rendered invisible by her warm cheeks. "Yes, please." She raised her empty glass hesitantly.

"Are you feeling alright, Milady?"

Elsa gave the waiter an inquiring glance, and saw that her hand was in violent tremors, shaking her glass unconsciously. She placed the cup down, perhaps a bit too forcefully, and took a few deep breathes to regain her composure. Cool steam came forth from her dark lips, in spite of the restaurant's heat and the summer air.

A voice inside her head scolded her, sounding familiar in pitch and tone. You're the Queen of Ice and Snow! Cool, frosty, all that stuff! More than that, you are the Queen of Arendelle! You should be socializing!

But how?

Elsa thought about her sister, who was supposed to be with her, chatting up a storm as if no one else existed. As a young woman good with people, Anna could strike a conversation with anyone, or at least rope them in helplessly. Elsa was completely jealous of her sister's talents. Anna could make friends easily. What would she have done in this situation?

Think like Anna...

"Excuse me," Elsa called out. The words costed almost all of her aplomb. "Sir?"

Oh no, that was a complete mistake...

The waiter, who was prepared to return to his station, widened his eyes. "I-I'm sorry, are y-you referring to me?" He evidently never thought the Queen would pay attention to a lowly subject like him, unless if he fouled up her lunch horribly. There was fear and anticipation marring his thin face.

"Um..." The words lodged themselves in Elsa's throat; she was just as afraid herself. The entire world was now conspiring against her, for the restaurant hushed itself, the scraping of forks against plates silenced. Elsa's eyes darted back and forth like a cornered animal. She could feel the attention all focused between her and the poor waiter. With little association to Elsa's powers, the atmosphere became frostier. Her back began itching something fierce. A few mutters slithered among the crowd, no doubt of disapproval for the Queen.

Think like Anna... Anna, without a care in the world...

"B-beautiful weather we're having today..."

That's how Anna would have said, right?

The young waiter blinked, and looked out a window before replying. "Yes, yes it is..." Then, he walked away, quickly as he could without making it seem rude. He will have time to cheer for catching the beautiful Queen's attention later, but he's currently just plain terrified. The restaurant's sound levels slowly resumed back to its original state.

Elsa's cheeks were positively burning now. She didn't know whether to pat herself in the back for progress, or slap her forehead in embarrassment. She decided the latter will suffice. The resultant sting did little to help the headache that was coming around. She sighed, and rubbed her temples with two fingers.

Can't this day get any longer?

The Guard stationed outside of the restaurant stood resolute, but not at all stiff. With dark hair, strong shoulders, towering height, massive arms, and a very well-groomed mustache, he caught the attention of many a random passersby, mostly women. He was a soldier for years, with the accolades and the scars to prove it.

He was also one of the men who assisted in the Siege of the North Mountain Summit under Hans' leadership.

In any other circumstance, he would have done his best to make sure no one gets through to the Queen. Not a single hair on her platinum blonde hair would have been touched by anyone. Instead, he stood outside the door, only looking for strange sights; he was painfully aware of the strength and power of the Snow Queen, and would only require to serve as her eyes.

He thought about the recent turn of events. His Queen had taken to dressing in snow gowns, reminiscent of the one she wore when she was discovered and captured during the Siege. They varied in both style and levels of conservation, but each one sparkled and shined like the sun against the sea.

Still, despite the flashier getup that suggested confidence, Elsa was still the same timid, quiet girl who would prefer to lock herself away from the rest of the world, rather than open up and risk hurting anyone, including herself.

Captain of the Royal Guard, Arvid of Arendelle, at your service. I will be your escort for the day.

Thank you, Arvid.

Your Majesty...?

Just... call me Elsa. I appreciate all of the hard work you have done, protecting this castle and my family for years past.

A shot of pain and remorse stabbed his heart, an icicle of self-criticism and doubt. He was almost responsible for his Queen's unjustified execution, had Anna not sacrificed herself out of True Love. It was something he could never have achieved, and it ached within him. Ever since he was old enough to fight, Arvid wanted nothing but to protect his wife and country. Yet, he utterly failed on that day, and nearly exterminated the royal family out of dumb blindness. While Queen Elsa have not taken offense to his sin, Arvid saw the Eternal Winter as the greatest shame of his long career.

Which is why, when he saw a pair of bright blue eyes peeking over a barrel of apples in the distance, he merely shook his head and gestured at his own eyes, rather than come over and shake the suspicious person until her insides rattled. The sapphire eyes widened in understanding, and disappeared. He glanced behind him into the restaurant window, seeing the increasingly distraught Queen.

Princess Anna, I hope you know what you're doing.

"Coffee Cake, Your Majesty."

"Oh, thank you very kindly." Elsa forced a smile at the waiter.

Thank you very kindly, indeed, Elsa thought bitterly. This restaurant debacle was taking too long. Just hide for another hour, and you can go back home!

But you haven't "connected" with a single townsfolk! Think!

Think like Anna!

Elsa took a deep breath, turned towards to the eating patrons, and tapped a lone woman sitting nearby. The woman possessed crow's feet, but boasted a hefty build, with a broad face and broad shoulders, that screamed of strength and resolution. While chewing on her lutefisk, she gave Elsa a stare that was neither maleficent nor friendly.

Elsa nearly forgot what she was about to say. She glanced at her cake. Food. Food. Right.

"This restaurant sure serves some impressive cuisine, doesn't it?"

The woman stared back at her with piercing, intelligent eyes, silent and indecipherable.

"Um... I suppose you haven't eaten dessert yet? I think it's even more delicious than what they cook at the palace." Elsa kicked herself mentally. The cake laid in plain sight, untouched.

The woman continuing staring. Then, she pointed a thick, gnarled finger. Elsa followed the woman's direction, and realized her cup was starting to frost over. She snapped her hand back. Her heart was beating rapidly, drumming itself against her ears.

"I know you are trying your hardest."

Elsa blinked. The woman had finally talked back.

"I understand what you are trying to do, but I don't completely approve of you just yet."

Elsa merely nodded at this admission, her face neutral.

"I've never been one for monarchs and anything that deals outside of my home and labor. I've worked in a crop farm for years. Look at this hand." She raised one for Elsa to see, which was thick, scarred, caked with years of dirt, and knobby in many places. "The sun has turned my skin rough and dry, the hard work bowed my back, and my hands are almost always sore from pulling vegetables. If it weren't for my husband, I would have never found love anywhere." Her eyes hardened. "The Eternal Winter you brought on us had not just trapped people in the kingdom with snow. It has also destroyed the crops that farmers like me spent months sowing and tending.

"Your policies later have helped in the aftermath," the woman admitted. "But, I have lived through three generations of rulers," Her voice wasn't malicious, but they carried contempt. "And King Akthar's rule never started this poorly."

Akthar. Her father.

You will never be as good your parents.

Ice shot out of the glass, spilling downwards and onto the table in jagged patterns. Everyone in the restaurant screamed in surprise.

"Please, everyone just stay calm! I can fix it!" Elsa reached for the glass. It exploded into a crystallized star, its many sides shining brightly like multicolored fire, its wicked points fanning out in all directions.

Elsa saw the fearful looks. There was no longer any light shining through the window, no walls that bordered the rooms. There was only the tightly packed crowds and the starry sky, the air becoming thin from everyone gasping at the same time, and the eyes staring at her, contrasting against the darkness like cold flames. Elsa hands twitched harder.

"Your Majesty," Arvid said. Elsa snapped her attention to him. His mustached face did not belong in the memory, and her world was pulled back to the present. "Would you like me to take you back home?"

"Yes! I mean, n-no! Please, just... just wait!" Arvid looked at her, inquisitive. "I-I need time alone. Please, don't follow me."

Arvid looked uncertain, and his dark eyes darted elsewhere. Finally, he said, "As per your orders, Your Highness."

Elsa stood up from her chair on shaky knees, nearly collapsing to the floor. She refused Arvid's offer for help. Then, she bolted out of the restaurant, her cape billowing everywhere. The air Elsa disturbed was tinged with white flakes.

Arvid sadly watched her as she vanished, and shot a nasty look at the farmer woman. She looked slightly troubled by what she has done, but stuck her chin out at him.

"The Queen has a lot ahead of her before she deserves my respect."

Elsa ran down the town leading a trail of frost, ignoring the gazes and questions of pedestrians. She slowed to a stop at the harbor, overlooking the whole fjord. The wind from the sea blew strongly, blowing her plait and cape off to a side. Breathing heavily, she placed her hands on her knees to rest, and looked down at the water. There were debris, leaves and sea foam that floated and splashed against the wooden poles in waves, before drifting out into the open water, beyond the kingdom.

Elsa briefly contemplated following them, freeing from all of her troubles and responsibilities forever. The possibility seemed tempting, even delicious. Just let all of her worries, her anxieties, her thoughts melt and wash away in the great beyond...

The waves settled for a brief moment, revealing a mostly undisturbed reflection of Elsa. Her icy blue eyes stared back at her pitifully.

But what about Anna?

Do you see how beautiful you are?

You are not a coward.

If she ran away, Arendelle would be plunged into even greater danger and chaos. She wouldn't want to lump that on anyone, most especially on Anna and her new family.

If she ran now, she would never have had time to say goodbye.

Little chunks of spiky ice burst and crystallized in the water below. Elsa touched her face lightly, and realized it was wet with tears. Another teardrop fell down her chin. Upon contact with the sea water, it spawned another frozen star.

Elsa sat back, curled into a ball, exhausted, and a little scared. She wrapped her cape around her like a translucent, silver security blanket, feeling the caress of the sea breeze stroking her hair. Like that of a kindly and understanding matron, the wind comforted her with its gentle touch.

"Excuse me?"

Elsa glanced to her left side, not lifting her head. From the corner of her eyes, she could see a young man and woman. The man was a bit on the scrawny side, and the lady besides him was clearly pregnant. They both smiled at her, slightly perplexed.

The man introduced himself with a faint, Swedish accent. "My name is Bernt, and this is Alexandra. I didn't think one of your station would be hanging around in here." His voice changed to a curious tone. "Is something the matter?"

Elsa wiped her face, and picked her head up. They looked at each with surprise, fear, and giddiness. "It's the Queen!" They hastily bowed. "Your Majesty!"

"Please," Elsa responded, wincing at the word. ""I'm no Queen. I don't deserve to be. Anna would have made a far improved candidate over me."

"What?" Alexandra asked. "Why?"

"I threw so many troubles at you from the very moment I was crowned. But then, I-I got scared, and ran away. I thought I did everyone a favor, by leaving from their sight. But then, I set an Eternal Winter on all of you!" Elsa hiccuped. "People are still angry, and they have every right to be! I almost ran away again! If there was ever a Queen that was lousy, it would be me!"

The couple looked at each other. "Your Majesty," the man began.

"Please, no..."

"Qu-... uh, Elsa." Bernt amended. "I personally think you are very brave. You came back, after all."

"Stop that. I've done nothing but run away. For the past thirteen years, that was all that I have ever done, especially from my own sister."

He scratched his head. "Maybe you did get scared. But that's perfectly normal."

"You think?"

Alexandra answered, "Everyone makes bad choices when they are scared." She tilted her head, pensive. "For years, people have said that you are very cold. You couldn't care less about anyone, which is why the palace doors remained closed even after the K-... yeah." She knelt down so they were wet-eye-to-eye. "But I can see that you are nothing but a sweet, kind girl who's lucky to be younger than me. You ran away because you thought that was how you could help. You believed it was the best option." She shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe it was."

Elsa thought to herself. If she stayed on that fateful day, Elsa would have continued to stay locked behind the bedroom door. Anna would still have to live life without anyone besides servants, no friends, no loved ones, no sister. The only thing that would change would be Elsa's title. In a way, the mother-to-be was right. Still...

"B-but... I can't just keep my distance anymore, could I."

"No. I prefer the open gates, thank you very much." Bernt said affirmatively. "So... why did you run away that time?"

""It's... It's because I didn't want anyone to get hurt... To get Anna hurt..."

"Right. You love your sister and country so much, you'd never want to see them despair."

"But that just makes me weak, an awful person..."

"Please," Alexandra interrupted, stern. "You're the Queen of Arendelle, one who can make an ice rink form at the drop of a hat. If I have ever known a person any more powerful, I have never met them... besides my husband of course."

"Aw, thank you, sweet."

"And you aren't an awful person, Queen Elsa. You ran away out of love. If it truly was a bad decision," she leaned forward. "Learn from it. Pick yourself up and rise again."

Don't run. Move forward.

The woman offered her hand to the Queen.

"Won't I trouble your baby?"

She barked out a laugh. "Please, I need the exercise."

Elsa hesitantly took her hand, and was lifted to her feet with surprising ease. She patted herself down, feeling the expectant gazes of the young couple.

"So while we're on the subject of my pregnancy," Alexandra said, facing Elsa. She was even shorter than the monarch. "Would you, as my Queen, bless my baby?"

Elsa's mind didn't comprehend the last few words. What she heard was a garbled mess, as if she was a young toddler hearing people speak and hold conversations, without understanding the meaning behind the phrases. "E-excuse me?"

"Would you like," the pregnant woman enunciated, "to bless my baby?"

Elsa gasped in shock. "You're child." She looked at the bump. "I-I couldn't..."

"Don't deny her..." Bernt warned, but the woman caught up to Elsa first.

"No! You will not refuse! You are the Queen. If there's anyone who should bless my baby, it should be you!" She grabbed Elsa by the collar with both her hands. Her face was set and resolute. Despite Alexandra's small build, Elsa felt her high heels lift slightly from the ground. She briefly thought she could see a shadow of Anna's spirit and energy within the woman.

"Stop it!" Bernt protested. "You'll get arrested!" He was promptly ignored by his wife.

"B-but couldn't you find a priest? I still don't think I-I'm good enough," Elsa stammered.

"Are you joking?" Alexandra let go of Elsa softly and carefully. Her voice became tender. "I want the best for my kid, and my decision says you are the greatest choice."

Elsa looked down at her hands. Little snowflakes puffed out, and drifted away in the wind. She looked back at them. They gave her half-pleading looks. They trusted her with their child, their unborn baby.

"Okay..." Elsa sighed. She cannot just back out from their request, not anymore. She stuck her hand out tentatively, her gaze pointed away from the couple. Her fingers were a few inches away from the woman's stomach. She scrunched up her eyes, trying hard not to imagine herself freezing the mother. Her face paled in response to the resulting image, a statue of a smiling, pregnant Alexandra, making her lose what color she had left in her skin.

Elsa heard a sigh of exasperation, footsteps on the wood, and the woman covered the rest of the distance. Elsa's hand felt the warm fabric, a round shape, and-

The feeling was electric underneath Elsa's palm. She nearly pulled her hand back out of reflex. She could touch it. A little jolt in the woman's stomach.

The baby had kicked.

Alexandra smiled. "See? I can feel it too; the baby kicked for you! It is a very good judge of character, you know. If you were not good enough, it wouldn't have wanted to meet you that badly."

Elsa just stood like that forever, feeling for the baby's little kicks, and listening to the squawking of seagulls, the slapping of waves against boats. Bernt pulled at his collar nervously. Alexandra cleared her throat. Right. Elsa's eyes widened. She was supposed to bless the baby.

Until her coronation, Elsa had not attended church for years, and she quite frankly didn't worry about such topics until this very moment. She looked at Bernt a little desperately, silently asking him for advice. The man just shrugged, and said, "Anything will do for us."

After much thought, she found the answer within herself. "Excuse me..." Elsa said quietly. "I have never blessed anything before, but... here I go." She took a deep breath, the mother's stomach warm under her pale hand. She placed all of her focus on where her palm rested, until nothing else mattered.

"M-May you always be happy. May you never be shut out from others, may you never fear just because you're different..." She was feeling faint. Don't forget to breathe, silly.

Elsa's voice grew stronger. "You will have such a life ahead of you when you are born. There is despair, there is loneliness, fear, anger, stress, frustration, and there is pain. When you are in the world, you may feel that life is just so, so difficult, it seems hardly worth the trouble."

She thought of her extended family; Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven, all smiling happily and gamboling as they pelted each other with snowballs. "But you cannot just run away and escape from life. There is hope, happiness, and love. Not just the kind of love where you like someone, but True Love. When you are growing up, when you are learning how to live, always understand that you are never alone, wherever you are. In a home, in a city, out at sea, or even as far above in the mountains, there is someone who wants to be with you. That's the special thing about True Love; it's what makes life catch back up with you."

She thought of her mother and father, giving her assuring smiles before they left on a trip to another kingdom. "Your own parents will be there for you when they can, for every step of the way, because they love you. They love you enough to ask the Queen of Arendelle for her blessing. And when they can't..." Elsa swallowed. "You will realize that there are so many, many others who love you just as much, others who will always be happy to help you with any trouble." She was beginning to forget that she was supposed to speak to the pregnant mother, instead talking to herself.

"You will never shun yourself away from others, even if you or they are different, because you shouldn't. You should always strive to make yourself a better person for everyone, because you should.

"You will never lead the life I had, with a painful childhood filled with loneliness and regret. You will live happily for your entire life, surrounded by the people who truly love you, as I am living now."

Elsa's vision was incredibly blurry. She couldn't hold it in anymore; she needed someone like Anna. Elsa spread her arms open. Past her tears, the couple glanced at each other in shock. That? From the Queen?

She embraced both of them tightly before they finished processing the situation. They were mildly started, but decided to wrap their arms around her as well.

"Wow... Y-You're colder than we thought."

Elsa herself only felt the gentle heat of the two young people in her arms. After a minute, they slowly unwrapped themselves from each other.

Wiping away her tears, Elsa sniffed, smiling. "Thank you. You two made me feel a lot better about myself." Both father and mother-to-be swelled with pride. "Now, if you would excuse me, I have a mistake to fix."

They watched her as she walked back into town. Now that that she had been consoled, they could have sworn that they saw a little bounce in the Queen's high heels that clicked against the road pavement rhythmically. Bernt elbowed the pregnant Alexandra.

"You sure the baby's as good of a judge of character as you say?"

"Of course!"

"What about the time she kicked for your mother?"

"That was a month ago, the child didn't know anything back then!"

"Heeee!"

"Quiet, will you? If you keep squeaking like that, Elsa will hear you!"

"Sorry, sorry! It's just, I was so worried that Elsa will get hurt by others, that she would never want to leave the palace again." Anna's face scrunched up comically in fury. "But oh... That dastardly woman! I don't care that she's old, I'm going to feed her with her teeth the next time I see her..."

"That's... just a bit over the top, you know. And I'm pretty sure she can snap even me like a twig."

Anna made another mood swing, chipper once more. "She does remind one of old Oaken, doesn't she? HOO-hoo!" She imitated the finger-twiddling. "But now Elsa made some friends, everything is working out all right!" She spread her arms out to express her joy, and accidentally slapped poor Kristoff in the nose. "Oh, sorry, sorry! Is it bleeding?"

"Nah," Kristoff said, as he rubbed his nose. "I've suffered worse damage by squirrels..." Anna pouted at him. "I'm serious! Nasty, stupid, little twitchy things, hoarding all of the nuts; nothing that small is supposed to leave scars both physically and mentally..." He caught himself mid-ramble, and sighed. Anna grinned victoriously at him, happy to learn something new about him again.

"L-let's just get back on topic. I'm proud of Elsa too, you know that? Remember that it took me a week to greet anyone in a way that doesn't involve negotiations with ice? At least I had Sven by my side for all these years. And I still offer to shake hands with Elsa sometimes!"

"She shook hands anyway."

"That's not the point! The thing is, I'm glad Elsa is coming along very quickly."

"...You really care for her that much?"

"Hey, give yourself some credit. She's your sister. If anything happens to her, I'm going to have to answer to you."

"And you love her ice sculptures."

"And her sculptures are gorgeous." Kristoff stopped before he began to shed a tear thinking about her ice palace, and cleared his throat. "Still, since you're my girlfriend and all, Elsa might as well be my sister."

Anna's voice became teasing, but slightly insecure. "I suppose it's nice to have a sibling that's human?"

"Yeah. But..." Kristoff kissed her on the forehead. "It's not as nice as someone who I can share my life with."

"Aw..." Anna could have snuggled herself against Kristoff's hard chest, but her eyes focused onto the bluish-white figure walking briskly downtown. "Wait, we're getting distracted. Elsa went that way!"

"Are you alright, Milady?" Arvid asked. Marketplace shoppers were giving curious glances at the Queen. She could still feel them, their attention, an invisible force, pressing against her skin.

There is no reason to fear.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Captain Arvid."

"Are you sure you want to go back inside?"

"Of course, Captain." Elsa's lips tugged at the corners. "I have a cake to finish."

The man blinked at her, as if she sprouted a new head. Then, his mustache quivered, and moved with his mouth to form a warm smile. "Of course, Your Majesty." He sidestepped to open the restaurant door for her.

When she stepped into the restaurant, everyone inside immediately silenced themselves. Even the children hushed the second time around." They were unsure, and their focus made her near-white hair stand on their ends.

Don't run.

"At ease, everyone. Do not let me bother your appetites." She saw the corner where she tried to hide in during lunch. Ice had spread out from the spiky lump of ice that was once her drink. The cake was, of course, left untouched. Elsa had the sneaking suspicion the restaurant workers had little idea what to do with their new pocket winter wonderland.

"Queen Elsa." A woman appeared before Elsa. Unlike the other restaurant worker, she was very well-dressed. "I-I am the owner of this property." She bowed hastily. "I hope one of my staff did little to offend you. If you say he had, I will have him removed from my restaurant immediately."

A man with the familiar razor chin at the edge of Elsa's perspective stiffened.

Elsa smiled. "None at all. It is my fault that I damaged your establishment. I would like to take a seat there to make amends."

"W-well of course. Would you like any additional orders?"

"Of course, I'm starving!"

In many ways, it was as if she never left. She still felt nervous. She is still painfully aware of all the faces and eyes that watched her with unease and awe. And, while the farmer woman had already left, she knew there were still people present who disapprove of her.

Running away is understandable, but it's not a permanent solution. She cared too much for the state of the kingdom. She loved her family and people too much. She would have to fix her mistakes at some point.

She surveyed the frost, wondering how she could make it up to the waiter. Perhaps a miniature ice castle for the young man. With all the time she tried to make up for with Anna, she ironically had little time to herself. Now, she had some new architectural ideas that she always wanted to test...

With new drive, she dug into her coffee cake. The faint ringing of the town bells signaled the new hour.

I can afford to stay in this town for longer...

A clang of a chime, pure and silver in tone, rang throughout the shadowed woods, initially as quiet as a distant bird song. The sweet little sound slowly grew louder as it bounced off of tree trunks, through whispering leaves, and over aged rock, until it became a deep, roaring fortissimo at the edge of the forest. Grand Pabbie, holding the staff out in front of him, winced.

The last ward... It's been shattered.

A mist, nearly as thick as flood waters, rushed between the thick trees and out of the haunted forest. The Grey Fog of Ravendall, famous for having travelers lost and swallowing innocents, sowing chaos and confusion everywhere. It splashed against Pabbie, like a lone rock standing against the constant onslaught of a raging river.

Pabbie merely fanned away at it, annoyed. One, slight benefit of being inhuman meant that he saw the Fog for what it was: a simple attack. Pabbie's psyche was left untouched.

He placed all of his resolves and hopes within the next words he spoke. "Reveal yourself demon!" He slammed the end of the staff to the ground. Golden light splashed from the contact, spreading amber rings outward that illuminated the mist. "You, who have denied yourself rest, and have lashed out against all who have come across you, stealing their lives and locking them away in the darkness that was your soul, COME FORTH!"

At first, nothing seemed to have happened. Pabbie's eyes darted back and forth, his large ears twitching to listen for any abnormal sounds.

Then, the Fog of Ravendall stopped moving. It hung in the air like a still portrait, silent, sullen, and unnatural. Even the trees stopped with their rustling. The Troll King tightened his grip on his staff, gathering even more will and resolution within the fixed crystals.

He could hear the sound of something breathing.

I... don't know how to bless a baby. I'm sorry if I botched it awfully. I'm not a religious guy, so I just wrote a little something based on shonen manga that I've read, and the occasional random little speeches Mom would give with the least amount of tact. Thank you for being who you are, you crazy woman.

By the way, am I handling the angst well enough? I don't want to have a situation where Elsa just kind of stops being... Elsa. Do you get the picture, or no? Why don't you post a review about your opinion? I will appreciate whatever you say, and try to follow. Just keep those reviews, favs, and follows coming.

Seriously, I am worried. If I take all of this too over-the-top, then everything Elsa goes through will just become unsympathetic wangsting. Eugh.

See you guys soon, fans of Frozen.