All rights go to Disney, and credit goes to RohnHazard for beta-reading and editing.
Chapter 16
Why Don't You Stay?
Helge's Journal Observations, Passage No. 5:
A sizable number of people, both inside and outside of the magical community, utterly revere Elsa with either great fear and/or awe. Some even go as far as considering her to be a living deity.
A deity. Laughable.
Still, it's somewhat understandable if you look past the absurdity: People of Elsa's caliber are few and far between. It's no surprise that quite a few have decided to imagine fanciful back-stories and theories while elevating her to a position far beyond themselves, in no small part thanks what happened three weeks ago.
These people, human or otherwise, have deliberately ignored the subject of their admiration; focusing on "what" she is in place for "who". They focus only on Elsa's power and influence, believing themselves to be insignificant in comparison. They don't see her as someone who walks among them, but as a goddess that no one can hold a candle to.
Again. Laughable.
In truth, Elsa is just a human. Absolutely nothing else. One doesn't even have to strip away her powers to do so; she is a plain, ordinary person through and through. So, how come Elsa gets to be the one woman - one queen - gifted with the ability to command Winter itself when no one else in the world could?
Well, that's like asking why one person grows up tall, why another grows up short, or why someone has a different eye color, hair, and skin tone. Asking why Elsa could do what her peers cannot is like wondering why one is more empathetic, why one can be a natural leader. It's like asking why someone can sing, while another can't carry a tune in a bucket, why one can easily breeze through life without trouble, while another would have to scrape every ounce of resources at their disposal just to get by each and every day.
The point is, Queen Elsa is many things, but she does not deserve the veneration. The praises imply that she cannot be emulated because she's so "special", when in fact anyone has the potential to do so. If they worked hard enough to break limitations and make up for what they lack, people can even surpass the Snow Queen. The qualities that make her up: good, bad, or simply present, are mere parts of the wide spectrum that unites humans under the same species, while still forming fantastically unique individuals. Scratch that, these traits are what makes all sentient beings unique in general. People like Elsa aren't gifted, they're just... people. "Unique", like everyone else. Everyone belongs in the same spectrum, so everyone has the same potential. All in all, Elsa is just who she is: A Human. Nothing more. What she can do can be equaled - even outdone - with effort.
But... let's not forget that, like everyone who exists or had existed, Elsa is nothing less.
From its very beginning, Arendelle had always been a kingdom for merchants. Not only did the province possess several routes that fan outwards for miles, it was located at the mouth of a fjord, with harbors that led to the rest of Europe by sea. Naturally, the kingdom was a hotbed for incoming trading vessels and exotic goods from all over the world.
To make a long story short, Arendelle was in perpetual motion. The streets were full of patrons and sellers alike, a sort of electricity crackling in the air as they clamored for each other's attention. Even the grey clouds blotting out the typically bright summer did little to disrupt the people's energy. Sure, the dearth of sunlight cast an unnaturally cold spell over the land, but there was no room for complaining; there was business to be done.
Of course, today's productivity was dented by a wave of gossip and intrigue: Her Majesty, Queen Elsa of Arendelle, had caused quite a stir within the community because of her first Royal Visit yesterday, and the talking hasn't quite lost momentum. Some were still recalling the events of the Queen's infamous breakdown at a restaurant to their peers, along with her subsequent recovery afterwards. All in all, it was something interesting to talk about.
Meanwhile, two burly men with a sizable height difference between them stood inside the Farmer's Market. They too were chatting it up, although they discussed some rather… different events. As they compared between brightly colored apples for size and quality, one could hear snippets of their conversation if they stood close enough:
"...Aye, the Western Path had been blocked off last night. Damndest thing that could happen to my business." The larger of the two scratched the back of his neck. "Trees were ripped straight from their roots and tossed everywhere. Had to circumvent the horses just to get through. There was barely any time left for harvesting."
"Really? I thought that pathway wasn't affected by landslides, since they were so far away from the hills."
"This was no landslide. You see, some of the wooden bark had claw marks all over. They could have been caused by a sizable bear, but I don't remember such creatures ever deciding to uproot trees for sport."
"Do you think… it… was responsible?"
"Three weeks ago, I would have laughed you out of town for suggesting such, but... Aye."
The shorter of the two nodded slowly in contemplation. "Mm… can't do much about it. I'll get some men to help clear the-... the... Say, what on Earth is she doing?"
The two men craned their necks simultaneously, their focus gravitating towards a single subject: a woman smack dab in the middle of a choked river of commuters. As the only one who tried to resist the flow like a river rock, she wasn't hard to spot; the lady clung onto her cerulean cape like a security blanket, her bonnet revealing unusually dark bangs.
The lady turned her head left and right in confusion, as if debating on where she needed to go. She sidestepped a little from side to side with a slight swish of her cape, as she attempted to catch the attention of many a random passersby. Unfortunately, she would almost always fail miserably; the woman would raise a hand tentatively like a nervous student, only to withdraw it should someone actually face her. Sometimes, she would cup her mouth to try raising her voice, only to quickly give up and hang her head low in defeat. She was too timid to stop any of the hustling and bustling commuters in their tracks, and only attracted the attention of the two men in the first place because they stood a fair distance from the energetic chaos, giving them a view of the situation.
The shorter man thought that something had to be done. He glanced at his partner, motioning his chin towards the crowds. He had hoped the big guy would make a move first, but his companion didn't even budge from his spot. The shorter man sighed, and thrust his purchased bushel of apples at him in annoyance. He ignored the sniggers coming from his friend, before marching forward to dive into the commute, one hand raised high. "Hey, Miss!" he called out. "Miss!"
When the cloaked lady either didn't respond or ignored him, the man raised his gruff voice just a little louder. "Miss! The one in the blue outfit!"
This time, the lady jolted to a rigid stop, as if an electrical current ran through her. The man even believed for a moment that he was hallucinating the whole time, no doubt from spoiled apples, and was only trying to catch the attention of a painted statue. That was, until the woman stiffly turned her head to face him.
The short man nearly came to a stop himself; the lady's eyes were a startling shade of bright blue, throwing her black pupils in incredible relief. Only a scant few natives of the kingdom sported such a shade of glacial ice. Together with her dark hair, he was convinced that he was facing a rather intimidating foreigner.
"Y-yes?" she asked nervously, her voice barely audible in the din of the crowded street.
"Uh..." The man was still in state of shock, and was dangerously close to grasping at straws. "...I was just wondering what you were doing. You look lost."
The lady widened her eyes in alarm, and gripped onto her cloak tighter than before. "No, I'm not lost at all. Thank you for your concern, though!"
"...Do you at least need some help?"
"Actually, I..." The woman hesitated. "No, please don't worry about me! I can handle this on my own."
"...Alright then. Carry on." With only a small wave of farewell to the peculiar woman, the shorter man trudged back to the market stand in light confusion, where his friend waited for him with crossed arms and disappointed eyes. The shorter man's eye twitched involuntarily out of irritation. "Look, it wasn't as if anyone else was going to help out-"
"-Wait!"
For the second time in a row together, both men whipped their heads out of the Farmer's Market. Both their lips parted slightly through their beards, alarmed to see a pale hand standing out of the masses. The rest of her body popped out in full view as she wrung herself free, her blue cloak and bonnet somewhat askew. "W-Wait!" she called out, panting and bending over on her knees in exhaustion.
Both men flicked their eyes to each other, before rushing to give her a lift. "Do you need something this time?" the shorter man asked.
What happened afterwards was one of the more surreal moments experienced by either men: When the lady gently displaced their hands with her astoundingly cold touch, she lifted herself into a tall and straight posture, one that would need practiced discipline to perform. She dusted her cape and dress clean, which revealed surprisingly fine patterns upon closer inspection, before folding her hands over each other. Even the faint little freckles she owned did little to cut down on her intimidation factor. Accompanied with her brilliant eyes, the lady emanated authority hardly found in common folk. These simple adjustments completely changed the woman's image, which was now a far cry from the previously disorganized mess. "I've decided to take up your offer of assistance." she stated, a mask of neutrality slipping over her face.
The shorter man stared blankly. Who on Earth talks like that?
"I would like to ask if-" the woman swallowed, still sounding a bit frail and wavering, "I would like to ask if you had seen any strange happenings outside of Arendelle."
The larger man twitched with a start. This did not go unnoticed by the woman in the cerulean cloak, who now focused her startlingly blue eyes onto him. "I suppose you have something to say, sir?"
"Uh..." The larger man gestured towards his partner. "Ah, I was just telling my friend here that the Western Passage was blocked off by upturned land." His voice wavered out of slight embarrassment, but continued under the woman's gaze. "I believe that it wasn't natural, but a culprit who was responsible for such a deed."
The woman's eyes widened, and she brought a hand up to rub her chin in thought. "Something was stirring trouble..." she muttered disjointedly. "Several miles west of the kingdom... something physical..."
The larger man shrugged. "Hey, It might just be the Snow Creature coming down from the North Mountain. I don't know if he had been causing trouble before, but there have been stories of him occasionally throwing trees down slopes."
To both men's surprise, the woman's face twisted into a frown, cracking her facade a little, although she never addressed exactly what she was so concerned about. But eventually, she gave the two men a small smile, and curtsied with a dip of her head in gratitude. "Thank you for your time, gentlemen. I wish you two a good day." She grasped onto the hem of her cape, turned on her heels with a dramatic swish of the blue fabric, and briskly walked out of the market without another word.
The two friends were left flabbergasted, especially the shorter man in particular. He found himself raising his voice out once, against his better judgment to just stay silent. "Miss!"
The woman slowed to a halt, and turned sideways to reveal that her faint freckles vanished to flushed cheeks; she was shivering now, but whether or not it was out of the cold or embarrassment was unclear.
Can I at least get a name?" he shouted.
"...My name is Elizabeth. It was a pleasure meeting you."
Hiding Elsa's identity was not supposed to be a challenge. The entire point of the plan was to serve as an aid, a way to surpass the Queen's fear of attention by allowing her to enter the town unnoticed. Afterwards, she was supposed to revert to her original appearance and seek information as she please alongside with Anna and Kristoff. Once everything was carried out, they were to return to the Palace before nightfall, or else the opportunity to stop the Spøkelse short could be lost.
That was the intended course of action, but things were already beginning to go off the rails by the very first step. Even choosing a disguise became a point of contention between the troll and the Queen. Elsa wanted to dress in extreme contrasts, hoping the selection of clothes would be as far removed from her true identity as possible. She even suggested borrowing a pair of trousers and pass off as a man, much to Helge's bewilderment; the troll believe such actions were considered complete waste of time and effort. The lack of secrecy concerning the makeover was also not helping:Passing servants, Kai included, occasionally popped in to give their own, often absurd, advice.
In the end, the two schemers finally came to a compromise. Following Helge's advice, Elsa picked the name "Elizabeth" from one of her books as an alias, and dressed in a spare casual outfit given to her by a generous servant. Consisting of a dark cyan vest and frill-less dress with white floral trimmings, it was a far cry from the sparkling ice gowns that made the Snow Queen so recognizable. In addition, Elsa donned a deep blue traveling cloak that fell just below her knees, latched on with a simple brooch. Technically, it wasn't necessary for the one person who wouldn't be bothered by the chill outside, but the Queen felt much more secure with something falling from her shoulders. To cement her illusion, Elsa dyed her hair black using a solution mixed with charcoal, before having it tied back in a bun and veiled with a simple bonnet. Strands of silvery hair still shone quite clearly in her bangs, but passing workers complimented her new looks well enough. Besides, the disguise was never intended to be foolproof or long-lasting. Nothing was really done to change Elsa's face, her hair could revert back to platinum-blonde with some rubbing, and the alias "Elizabeth" was chosen simply because it would have been easier to memorize.
After nearly an hour of cutting remarks, light debate, and wisps of wintry air thrown around in frustration, the woman who walked out of the Palace Gates late in the morning was no longer Queen Elsa of Arendelle, but a pale-skinned, raven-haired lady named "Elizabeth."
Elizabeth took the first step that placed her firmly inside the town, and looked around with awe at the crowd of gathering patrons and townsfolk. She listened to gossip about mundane subjects never relating to royalty, hearing a woman praising the pleasantly cool day. She then glanced at a group of children dancing to music played by a band nearby, their nimble little feet tracing circles along the pavement. She could nearly taste the scents of food wafting through the air, and loved the sea breeze caressing her gently on the cheeks.
Elizabeth was positively magical. For once in the Queen's entire life, from birth all the way up to the present, absolutely no one paid her any attention. No one was there to gawk at her, or to whisper curiously behind her back, or judge her with those pressing gazes that made her twitch and itch uncontrollably. For once, she can walk down a street all by herself, and no one would turn their heads around and loudly wonder what on Earth she was doing there. For once, she can run, she can observe other people, she can stand in the middle of a horde in peace, and not a single person would pay her any mind. Elsa was so gleeful upon this revelation, it required her long experience at self-restraint to not dance all the way to Arendelle's harbor.
Suddenly, Elsa's mind came to an abrupt halt; she had passed that one major hurdle, the fear of attention that was preventing her from leaving the castle in the first place. She slowly turned her head to look behind her; the Palace seemed so distant now, with common folk coming and going without a single glance at the monarch standing among them. In their minds, she was just another person like them, perhaps a little odd-looking, but overall nobody to concern themselves over.
In other words, Elsa was anonymous.
This was the moment the Queen was supposed to interview people, asking for what was going on both outside and within Arendelle's borders. This was the moment when she must turn back into the Snow Queen, and deduce the best course to protecting the kingdom from the incoming Spøkelse.
Elsa grasped onto the clip that kept her cerulean cape in place, her hand shivering uncontrollably. She looked left at the townsfolk, and then to the right, imagining the same people all focusing their eyes on her like countless pairs of burning stars, until she had to physically brace herself against their stares in fear of being swept away.
And then... the shivering stopped. Queen Elsa's body relaxed, and she turned around to walk deeper into the town with a swish of her cape.
She will still do her best to protect the people of Arendelle, but she wasn't going to cast her magic anytime soon.
For once, Elizabeth has tasted anonymity, and she wasn't going to give it up just yet.
Elsa collapsed in a heap onto a bench that looked out into the harbor. The sun was still high, valiantly trying to shine through the veil of grey clouds stretching from one end of the horizon to the next, but its faint circular outline is only visible with enough squinting and imagination. There was still plenty of time before nightfall, but the day wasn't getting any younger.
This is completely useless, Elsa thought to herself. Why did I even bother going out? Anna and Kristoff made the plan sound so simple, and yet…
Elsa sighed. When she was visibly a Queen, she hardly ever considered the finer points of initiating conversations and interviews; most people came to her with their requests instead. She possessed little complaint about this arrangement, and normal circumstances would never place Elsa outside of this comfort zone.
But now... now that Elsa was pretending to be an ordinary girl for once, she found herself thrust into new territory, a world where one has to work hard and obnoxiously just to have a stranger notice them, much less carry an actual interrogation. It wasn't as if Elizabeth served as a magic feather either; Elsa still felt chills come up her spine in the presence of an audience. She dreaded the inevitable moments whenever people make eye contact with her, accident or not, and she could barely bring herself to tap a pedestrian by the shoulder at her boldest.
Even more frustrating, the Arendelle Market Square was proving to be a rather fruitless location; hardly any of the few people Elsa managed to contact had seen anything strange or questionable. Besides that one tidbit about some disturbance located west of Arendelle from the two gentlemen at the Market, she made no breakthroughs whatsoever. A sizable number even mentioned that they've never left the kingdom before, despite openly expressing their desire to explore.
Well, that makes more than the two of us... Elsa thought dryly, as she gazed at the grey waters shimmering beyond the horizon. If only I could fly and explore the land for myself, then none of this would have been necessary.
Is... is it necessary for me to be here in the first place? I mean, what about Kristoff and Anna? I wonder how those two are doing... Elsa huffed short breath out of slight amusement. Surely, those two would be having a much easier time with this than I am. Kristoff had years of experience in the ice harvesting business; no doubt he would feel right at home with this task. I don't even need to think about how Anna would approach people.
You could just change back to who you are, you know. Become the Snow Queen, everyone will flock and answer your demands like normal.
Something crackled softly beneath her fingertips. The disguised Queen looked down to see spiderweb-like formations of frost crawling outwards onto the wood. She pursed her lips, using her thumb to wipe away the ice with a bit of mental effort.
You know I can't do that. I'm still nothing but a coward.
Elsa leaned back against the bench in disappointment, watching the mass of grey clouds swirling high above as she listened to the rhythmic slapping and splashes of the harbor, which intermingled with the squawks of soaring seagulls.
But then, something barely audible, and yet quite harsh, burst into the caws and the splashes, a series of grunts and wheezes that seemed to be approaching closer with every passing second. Elsa's ears perked at the strange noise, and she turned her head around just in time to view a person closing the door to a building that had seen better days. The shelves out front that should have products on display were depressingly empty, and the wood was in clear need of a new coat of paint. If it weren't for the sign, Elsa could have never guessed the place was supposed to be a flower shop.
A Florist?... Well, it's not as if I'm overloaded with too much information already.
Elsa stood up from the bench and stretched, having made the decision to ask just one more person before calling it quits. Her expectations were low from the beginning, but it wouldn't hurt to ask for more information where she can hopefully get it. Her borrowed shoes hit the pavement in a brisk pace as she stepped in front the flower shop, before grasping the door handle, and gently pushing it open without a sound.
Inside the store, Elsa bore witness to a miserable sight; while she had never entered a flower shop before, she would expect one to be stocked full of vibrant colors and beautiful orchids, complete with a cornucopia of rich scents and sweet fragrances. Instead, the interior of the store was just as miserably empty as the outside, with a faint but unmistakably musty smell hanging in the air. True, there were a few bouquets and beautifully-painted ceramic pots, but they only accentuated the loneliness of the place with their scarcity.
Nevertheless, The disguised Queen bent over to observe one of the bouquets displayed on a rack. She was surprised when the plethora of colors and scents took her breath away; the arranged flowers were absolutely stunning, looking more like handcrafted works of art and affection than mere cultivation. These orchids could have been pulled directly out of romantic paintings and infused with the finest perfumes, although Elsa knew that these were the genuine article.
"Hello again."
Elsa's cheeks flushed, and she snapped straight upwards in a mixture of alarm and embarrassment. Flicking her head from side to side, she eventually realized no one was actually inside the room with her. Rather, her blue eyes fell upon a partially opened wooden door standing behind the shop counter, no doubt leading into the storage. The soft voice that greeted herself, apparently forgetting to close the door tightly, continued to slip through the open space. "Here's the topsoil I got for you guys, straight from the foot of the North Mountain!"
The North Mountain. Elsa's lips curled upwards into a smile. Maybe coming here was not such a bad idea after all.
"It's been a little..." the voice sighed, accompanied with the sound of heavy shuffling. "It's been difficult, lately. I think I can still manage for now, but I don't know for how much longer." There was a slight pause. "...Yes, I know it's about time that I replace everything, but what's the point?"
Elsa stood from the where she knelt, and lightly walked up to the counter. She craned her neck, peeking inside the partially opened door until she was able to have a good view. Indeed, the door lead into a storeroom of sorts, and a rather large one at that. There was little difference in appearance between it and the main shop, with wooden shelves and pots stacked into columns and rows. Unfortunately, the lack of apparent colors and life persisted.
However, that wasn't what caught the Queen's eye; standing in the middle of the storage was the owner of the voice, a waifish brunette whose back was turned against the door in front of her presumed audience. Her hair was clumsily tied back with tangled strands of hair jutting out of her bun, and her dress made her appear more underfed than anything else. Paradoxically, the girl also swung around a heavy-looking sack the same size as her with ease, scattering debris on the floor that might have been dirt.
Judging by the way the girl spoke, Elsa had expected another person to be in the same storeroom. Then again, the fact that no one seemed to talk back should have tipped her off. The brunette bent over to lift another bag of dirt, finally revealing just who she could have been speaking to…
Elsa blinked. The person the petite girl was talking to the entire time was... a row of flowers. This act was so reminiscent of another girl, one who had also developed a penchant for talking to inanimate objects in her youth, Elsa couldn't help but gasp.
The florist abruptly snapped her head up, and she whipped her head out of the doorway. Her brown eyes met with Elsa's blue, their gazes locking with each other in astonishment. Seconds ticked by in uncomfortable silence; the Queen watched in fascination as the brunette's eyes widened in horror, looking more and more like a cornered animal terrified beyond belief. As a matter of fact, the girl was obviously torn between either rushing to shut the door, or to pretend as if nothing had happened.
Something clicked inside the girl's head, and she slowly exited the storeroom with trembling feet. "W-welcome." she stammered, her legs quaking weakly. Her face was a complete shade of cherry red, bashful for having someone discover her little habit. "Please excuse me... J-just forget the last five minutes! I-I'm not weird, really!"
A smile spread wide on Elsa's face, which clashed poorly against the sympathy she now felt for the poor girl. For some reason, this only made the florist shiver. "I have a sister who speaks to paintings on walls, and a friend who sings to his pet. I don't have any right to call you strange."
The girl's shoulders released its tension, and she patted her chest in relief. Taking a breath to fully compose herself, she walked up to the counter and tried to smile back, with admittedly mixed results. "Are you-... Are you here to buy something?"
It suddenly occurred to the Queen that speaking to a person one-on-one was much easier than selecting someone from a crowd. For once, Elsa's voice came out strong as she answered back, saying: "I'm sorry, but no. I'm here because I overheard you saying you came from the North Mountain. Would you care if I asked you some questions?"
"Um..." the girl squeaked. "Okay."
The Queen sighed out of relief, now that this conversation was going so smoothly. "When you were there, have you seen anything strange?" The Queen paused for a second in thought, her mind flashing back to the first and only lead she had learned since she left the castle. "Have you heard about anything coming from the Western Passage as well?"
The florist bit her lip, and she glanced sideways while fidgeting with her hands. "No... I hadn't seen anything since I came down. I'm sorry, but I don't think I will be much help to you."
That... that's it?
The florist's last words unfortunately had quite the effect on Elsa; her heart deflated like a balloon with all of its air petering out, and she slunk away with slumped shoulders in defeat. As she put her hand on the brass handle, she cast a last look at the brunette before leaving. Elsa made a double-take, resisting the urge to rub her eyes in disbelief. For in the briefest of seconds, Elsa imagined she was gawking at the image of a platinum-blonde woman standing all by herself in the dilapidated store, her dark eyebrows dipped in sorrow. She immediately came to the conclusion that someone had placed a mirror as a practical joke, but then remembered she was supposed to be in disguise.
Blinking rapidly, the mirror image of Elsa flickered back into the brunette's normal, unaffected face. Even so, what the girl wore was still more than familiar: After all, how many years had Elsa seen that very same expression in the mirror?
That... was pretty bizarre. You should leave quickly, before any more of this imagery pop up uninvited.
Elsa was more than willing to agree, her mind already forming plans to confront Arendelle's Downtown this time, where the majority of the kingdom's businesses and services set up shop. Hopefully, that location would come with better results than the Marketplace.
So, it was to her great wonder when her feet opted to remain frozen within the flower shop's boundaries instead, like glue stuck to the soles of her borrowed shoes. She tried budging, but her efforts were to no avail.
What are you doing, Elsa? You have more info to ask from others, and she clearly has nothing of value.
Elsa ignored her internal voice with a shake of her head, and instead turned around with a flow of her cerulean cape, retracing her steps until she was finally back to square one; She couldn't leave, and she was coming to a comprehension on why. Resting her hands on the counter-top, she watched as the florist now tucked her chin in, breaking out into a cold sweat as her face turned scarlet.
"What's your name? Elsa asked, in a hopefully amicable tone.
The girl licked her dried lips. "It's... it's Ingrid." she replied. A-and your name is...?"
"It's Els-" Elsa coughed. Remember, this name was supposed to be easier to keep in your head, dummy. "It's Elizabeth. My name is Elizabeth."
The girl raised her eyebrows in amazement, her expression already beginning to brighten. "I think 'Elizabeth' is a very pretty name... You know, you speak really well for someone who came from another country!"
It was Elsa's turn to raise her eyebrows. After all, that was a strange conclusion to draw upon, to say the least. Then again, Elizabeth was obviously an English name; no doubt, Ingrid had picked up on that nuance. Therefore, after a split-second of deliberation, she finally dipped her chin in confirmation.
Ingrid the Florist nodded back. "So... why did you come back, Elizabeth?"
"I just think that you're in need of some cheering up." Elsa's memories briefly flashed to all the events in the last 24 hours; the embarrassments, the conversations, the friendships, and the lessons learned that now carried her all the way here. "Would you like to have a little chat?"
Ingrid stared at Elsa in shock. "Wh-what?"
"I've recently learned that the best way to sort out your own feelings is to have a discussion about it with someone." Elsa tilted her head to a side for a moment, adding, "Preferably, with a friend who can understand you very well."
The florist began picking at her fingernails, as she averted her eyes away from this welcoming "foreigner", this lady cloaked in blue who just decided to pay attention to this girl who now runs an almost derelict shop. " You want to... to be my friend?" she whispered. "Is it... is it okay for me to say yes? I mean, you look like you have to go somewhere, Elizabeth..."
Elizabeth chuckled a little dryly. "I don't think I'll make too much a difference whether or not I head outside anyway. The least I can do is serve as a better listener than your flowers."
As a person who has had her fair share of neurotic episodes, Elsa understood that her newly-made friend needed a comfortable place to relax and warm up to others. So she suggested that they sit together on the bench outside of the flower shop. After all, it provided a fantastic view of the fjord, even with a sky as cloudy and gray as today. The air was fresh, and the faint clamor coming from the Market provided some decent white noise. Overall, it would've been more comfortable there than back inside the tiny and desolate flower shop. Just sitting there and watching the harbor, with the ships ringing their bells as they come and go, it was lovely indeed.
The caped lady stared out at the ebb and flow of the ocean waves, reminiscing the flowers grown at the garden back home, where she occasionally took promenades at night. They were beautiful and exotic of course, having been selected from all over the world by professional botanists, and yet they appeared wooden, fake, or just plain dried in comparison to the few orchids available in that little store.
"Say..." Elsa began, sitting up on her side of the bench.
"Yes, Elizabeth?"
"How come the flowers you sell are so incredible?"
Ingrid stared coyly at her new friend. "Huh?"
"I've seen some really impressive blossoms from where I live, and yet the stuff you have back at your shop there is incredible!" Elsa smiled at the girl sitting beside her, who was now tucking her chin in and mumbling something in gratitude. "You know, I'd really like to know how you do it. Is there a special farm, or...?"
Ingrid lifted her head a little to gaze at Elsa with earnest eyes. "Can you... can you keep a secret?"
"Of course, Ingrid."
The florist took a breath, and was just about to open her mouth. But immediately, she snapped it shut before a sound could escape from her throat. She averted her gaze elsewhere, picking away at her fingernails with increasing frequency. "No, nonono..." she murmured. "It's too stupid to say."
Elsa playfully elbowed Ingrid in the arm, a gesture she'd been using around people like Kristoff lately as a display of affection. "Come on, tell me!" she prodded
"Okay, okay!" The petite florist closed her eyes and sucked in a breath, cringing in tepid anticipation before even uttering a word. "It's..." she began with a squeak. "I... Iseethemasmyfriends!" With a pained expression, Ingrid braced herself away from Elizabeth as she peeked with one eye open, patiently awaiting for her to begin taunting and jeering.
The disguised Queen stared blankly at the florist, and then sighed in a mixture of sympathy and exasperation as the realization struck her. Elizabeth rested a cool hand on Ingrid's shoulder, a sign of assurance and trust to regain the brunette's confidence. "I've already said that I have no right to laugh at you. In fact, I think it's wonderful that you can find companionship in your flowers."
"Well..." The brunette lightly brushed the cloaked lady's hand aside to tilt her head up, gazing absentmindedly at the gray clouds swimming overhead. "These flowers," she said hesitantly, "they were my life's work. I breed them, grow them, arrange them, trim them all by myself. The flowerpots were also of my own handiwork.
"It was what I was good at. It was what I am only capable of doing." She turned to face Elsa, her eyes brighter than usual. "As a kid, making friends with other people wasn't easy... Plants, however, were much easier to deal with. They didn't care that I'm shy or quiet or... odd, they didn't judge me for who I am. They just behaved like flowers. They needed me, and didn't ask too much in return. Until recently, I even got paid for sprucing them up to something people could want!"
Ingrid blinked rapidly, and buried her face in her hands out of shame for this tirade. "Elizabeth, I... thank you for listening. I didn't think you would continue to stick around after... after see just how stupid I am." she said, emphasizing that word with a feeble waggle of her fingers.
Elsa didn't say anything, mostly because she was thinking hard on what could give this young lady such a crippling lack of self-worth... and how that would lead to a habit so eerily similar to her sister's friendship with portraits, or Kristoff's familial bonds with nonhumans and reindeer. As someone wanted to understand her family more, this similarity intrigued her beyond all else. After all, they were hardly birds of a feather; Anna was a bundle of bright energy and optimism even during her lonelier years, Kristoff was coarse but very level-headed, and this young lady looked frail enough to be easily crushed by a stiff breeze, in spite of her previous display of physical strength. Besides an evident lack of companionship, there was nothing that could link them together so easily.
On second thought... Perhaps it was because of their loneliness that made them share this particular trait. People like them would sometimes impose friendships onto substitutes to compensate, not that Elsa saw it as something to be mocked; she actually admired that kind of imagination, because it meant others like Anna could sidestep around their solitude while maintaining a good heart and a bright smile. How was the Queen supposed to compare to that, when she had spent thirteen years doing nothing in comparison?
In the middle of Elsa's internal reasoning, she felt a gentle and warm weight pressing softly against her side, sending a light tingle up her spine. Out of curiosity, she decided to glance to the source, recognizing that Ingrid was now leaning against her with her eyes closed, her face red as a cherry.
"Are you alright, Ingrid? You look a little sick..."
Ingrid eyes snapped open, and she was left sputtering in Elsa's presence. "No, no, It's nothing serious! I just..." she mumbled, squirming a little in place, "I just think this bench is a little small for us. I-I kinda forgot to tell you that, sorry."
Elsa blinked. She didn't have too much room on her side of the seat herself. For a moment, she considered asking Ingrid for whether she should find a different spot, if Ingrid was left so uncomfortable. She couldn't bring herself to raise the subject, though; the feeling of having someone lean on her for support just felt downright nostalgic. Now, why would that be?
Ah, right... this is what Anna used to do when the two were younger, when the little pigtailed Princess still looked up to Elsa like the ever-dependable big sister she was supposed to be. In all actuality, Anna still leans against her sister at times ever since their reunion whenever they spend time together, with others like Kristoff or Olaf occasionally joining in at their own whims. Elsa loved these signs of affection, almost craved for these signs that she was no longer alone in the world, but she couldn't help but believe that her former status had atrophied after thirteen years of neglect.
Elsa's mouth spread into a wide smile at this girl who leaned against her, excited by a sudden insight; Ingrid clearly looked up to her as Elizabeth, just as much as how Anna used to when they were children. It didn't matter that this girl in question was a complete stranger just a few minutes before, she appreciated finally feeling like a someone who can provide support after missing out on being a big sister for so long.
"Elizabeth?" asked Ingrid, looking from where she rested.
"Yes?"
"Um... When you asked me earlier if I had heard anything strange... I was kind of lying." Ingrid looked away, her expression almost fearful, "Please, don't be mad!"
Elsa's heart skipped a beat; she wasn't angry at all, she was ecstatic. This glimmer of hope reignited the embers within her, already kicking her brain back into overdrive in preparation for her initial plans to explore Arendelle. "Tell me more, Ingrid!" she blurted out.
Ingrid stared wide-eyed at the excited Queen, her mouth slightly agape in alarm. "I-I-I never saw anything myself! It's just- at least, I've heard a lot of people who I recognized from my deliveries talking this morning. They discussed plenty about the western borders, so I'm sure you'll find something! I just need to head back inside and pull up their names and addresses."
Elsa could hardly contain her excitement; she was a hair's width away from leaping off her seat and squeezing Ingrid dry in gratitude. But then... despite her elation, something tugged at the back of Elsa's mind, throwing her into a halt. She snuck a glance behind her, remembering just how run-down and barren the little shop was. Why would a person like Ingrid, who apparently lived by herself and probably knew a thing or two on running a flower business, let her store look so desolate?
"Ingrid... when was the last time you've restocked your shop?"
The florist wilted like a dried flower, and she locked her fingers together to prevent them from crawling all over each other. "...Almost three weeks ago. I had to throw my flowers away." she answered softly, staring despondently out at the graying horizon.
Elsa's jaw dropped in complete shock. "But why? How could you do something like that?"
The florist turned back to Elsa, her eyes shimmering as if she was on the verge of tears. "I couldn't do anything to save them, ever since that horrid midsummer blizzard cast upon the land three weeks ago..."
Oh... Elsa gulped in what was hopefully discreet silence, and shifted her view to her hands and open palms. Fearful of having Ingrid discover her ice magic, The Snow Queen had suspected that spouts of wind and snow would decide to present themselves at the worst opportunity. So, when nothing of that sort manifested, Elsa felt and subsequently resisted the urge to clasp her hands in relief.
On the other hand, the florist took no notice about Elizabeth's movements, instead continuing her story with hurt eyes. "It grew so cold... My flowers didn't stand a chance. All of my stock was exposed to the freezing air, dying of frost damage before I could do anything to salvage them. Those flowers-" she pointed back at the shop, "-it was too early for them to be harvested at the time. They were so young and small, the snow actually served to protect them from the worse of the cold. You know, l-like a blanket!" Ingrid made a raspy sound with her throat that evidently was intended to be a chuckle, but gave up halfway through to rub at her eyes instead. "S-so I decided, 'hey, now's a good time to call it quits!' you know? 'You've always wanted to sell flowers, you got to do so, might as well just go back home...'" She made yet another poor imitation of a laugh, making a face that wasn't quite a smile. "At least, I don't have to worry about money troubles and stress and pushy customers and all that other stuff anymore, at least I got to live my dream for a little while... That has to account for something, right? I should be happy!"
"...But you aren't happy, are you?" Elsa mentioned quietly.
Ingrid looked away.
Elsa's right eye twitched. Was this truly... was this truly how far the extent of my actions went?
Hey, keep it together. This is just one screw-up that you can fix right here, right now.
"...I'm so sorry..." Elizabeth said.
For everything. Elsa added.
She wasn't too sure just how much of it was condolences for her losses, or a part of the Snow Queen trying to take responsibility for her actions. She'd very much prefer if it was more of the latter, but she didn't want to reveal herself to Ingrid. How would the poor girl accept this sort of information? How was Elsa supposed to do that without blowing her cover?
And then, something clicked within Elsa's head; the answer came quickly and easily, almost insultingly so. Nevertheless, Elsa stood up from her bench to face the despondent florist, resting her cool hands on the florist's shoulders. "Ingrid, I know it's been tough for you recently. Honestly, quitting really is the easiest option to take." Elsa squeezed once, just to catch the brunette's attention. "That doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. I can personally tell you right here that giving up without a fight will only leave you with pain and regret."
The florist turned her head away from the woman in front of her. "And what makes you such an expert?"
Elsa exhaled through her nose in slight irritation. "Ingrid, look at me."
The girl slowly returned to facing the disguised Queen.
"When I was a girl, I didn't exactly have the best of childhoods." Elsa paused in consideration. "In retrospect, it wasn't that I didn't have a great childhood, but I wouldn't allow myself to." She swallowed hard, steeling herself for the next few words she was about to say. "...I hurt my family in a terrible accident. Because of that, I gave my life up entirely, not even trying once in years to search for love and happiness. One time, I even ran away from home!"
Ingrid gasped, and she covered her mouth in horror.
"I mindlessly threw away my future by pushing my family away, believing I couldn't hurt them any more than I already had... Of course, I've never been any more mistaken."
"B-but, you seem so gentle, and smart and kind and really pretty, and-"
"-Keep listening, Ingrid, I want you to keep this at heart." Within Elsa's memories, she recalled what happened three weeks ago, shortly after bolting through Arendelle's Woods and scaling up the North Mountain out of fear and desperation. "Until recently, I have done nothing but forfeit myself carelessly, not even realizing that the last person I could hope to see again, my sister, was still looking out for me the whole time. She too suffered from the midsummer blizzard, just like you. But, unlike me, she never even considered giving up and forgetting, even as I continued to reject and hurt her. Unlike me, she was able to keep living without regrets, and even succeeded in convincing me to stay and feel joy again, after so much pain and heartbreak.
"My sister never surrendered, even as life and people like me kept on pushing her down. She's been teaching me the same thing for the past three weeks... and now we couldn't be any happier! I... couldn't be any happier." Elsa waved a hand at the little shop behind Ingrid, with its racks and wooden shelves just waiting to sink under the weight of soil and blooms, with flowers patiently waiting for their owner to return to tending them, with its potential to become the most beautiful and gorgeous location in Arendelle. "You shouldn't surrender either, Ingrid. You love your job, right? Your flowers are your friends, right? I just know that you've got talent. If you can't convince yourself to get back on your feet, then know that someone is still there to support you!"
Ingrid stared at Elsa, completely wide-eyed and motionless. Her chin began wobbling and quaking, followed closely by her shoulders. A small whining noise emerged from within her, and her brown eyes began to quiver. She shut them as she choked, barely holding it together from Elsa's words. She wiped her nose with her sleeve, and promptly broke into tears.
"T-th-thank you so much for believing in me, Elizabeth!" she blubbered in-between sobs, covering her face with her hands. "E-excuse me, I don't want to embarrass you by crying here."
Elsa smiled sympathetically, somewhat regretful that she made someone cry. Spreading her arms out wide, she told Ingrid, "I think what you need is a decent hug for once- oof!"
Almost immediately, the girl tackled Elsa with surprising force, knocking the wind out of the disguised Queen. Ingrid's lithe arms wrapped around like a tight vise, almost relishing having someone between them. The girl was clearly starved of affection, and was all too happy to finally accept it. Elsa quickly returned the gesture herself, but not before reminding herself on how to breathe again.
"Elizabeth, you're so cold! Do you need to borrow something warm?"
Elsa's stomach dropped to the floor, and she coughed to give herself some time to think. "It's fine, Ingrid." Patting the florist on the back, she changed the subject by asking, "When you're ready, would you go back inside and give me those names you mentioned earlier?"
Ingrid's arms squeezed even tighter for a moment, but they finally relinquished their hold with some reluctance. The florist took a step back, her cheeks flushed a bright shade of lavender, and she beamed brightly for the first time in what seemed to be a while. "I'll be back, Elizabeth, you just wait outside!"
"I already am," Elsa responded cheerfully. "Make it quick." She watched happily as the florist hurried back to her shop, the hem of her dress flying wildly in haste. The disguised Queen never thought the outcome would end this well with Ingrid, but now she was glad to have taken the opportunity and make a friend out of it.
For some reason, a heavy weight loaded itself within Elsa's heart, leaving the disguised Queen very confused; what could possibly be the matter?
You know, you can be rather cruel at times…
Elsa frowned. Wait, what?
You never told her your true identity. What she had just befriended wasn't you, but a mere mask that had worn its welcome for too long already. She doesn't even know that her so-called "friend" was responsible for nearly ruining her.
Elsa fumed, but she couldn't do anything about it; as much as she detested her second thoughts, the cynical byproducts of always living in fear for thirteen years, they had reason to back themselves up; indeed. from a certain point of view, she was wrong for pretending to be someone else. She never told the florist her identity, couldn't trust her enough to do so. The question is, what does that make Ingrid to her?
This only left a bitter taste in Elsa's mouth. Something has to be done, not matter how minor. Hesitantly, she reached for the wood of the bench, but almost immediately pulled back after telling herself the idea was absolutely moronic. She had to shake her head rapidly, brushing her mind free of her doubts, before grasping the bench with a force of will.
"I'm back!"
Elsa pulled her hand back and whipped her head to face the incoming florist. As a result, she was surprised to see that Ingrid returned without a list of names and records on hand. Rather, she carried a massive bouquet made of beautiful roses on each hand. The one on her left was richly colored with swollen bells as richly yellow as cream custard, while the other one was painted in a vivid shade of exotic lavender.
"Elizabeth!" Ingrid called out once more. "I know this sounds a little crazy, but I'm thinking about starting from scratch! These are some of the last remaining bouquets I have in stock, and I want to say thanks by giving them to you, so they can be appreciated as they should be!"
Elsa blinked in surprise, somewhat unsure of what to do; these flowers were absolutely stunning without a doubt, and likely costs a small fortune given Ingrid's expertise. However, the bouquets were also quite large, and she didn't know if she could even walk around town with them on hand, much less performing the task discreetly. "Ingrid, they're amazing..." Elizabeth addressed, "but, I don't think I can accept them right now."
"Oh..." Ingrid's head tilted downwards, looking incredibly crestfallen. But, the florist's emotion returned back to chipper again within short notice. "Well, why don't you just come back later? They really are in need of a new home, you know."
Elsa rubbed her chin. "Hm... you know what, I guess I can take just one bouquet with me." She raised a finger, letting it drift in the air while she deliberated on her choice. In the end, the answer presented itself clearly. "...I think the yellow roses are especially beautiful. I'll take them."
To Elsa's puzzlement, Ingrid lowered the flowers she held in what might be disappointment.
"Are... are you sure? You don't want to take both of them with you?"
Elsa hesitated. "While I truly love the lavender ones, I feel that they ought to go to... someone else. I'd like to think that the yellow ones need me more."
Ingrid didn't seem to respond, so for a moment Elsa believed she had offended the florist too far for trying to imitate her habit. However, Ingrid finally smiled warmly, and stepped forward to present the yellow bouquet to Elizabeth. They were surprisingly less cumbersome than the disguised Queen expected, and they smelled absolutely wonderful.
"Hold on..." Ingrid said, lifting a finger. She fidgeted with something small within her fingers, and carefully tied a red silk ribbon around the stems of the bouquet. Elsa peeked from the side, seeing that the florist had attached a folded card normally used to write the names of their givers and recipients. Elsa's fingers flipped it open, revealing a list of different names and street addresses instead. In gratitude, Elsa used her free hand to embrace the brunette in a one-arm hug.
"We're-...we're still friends, right?" Ingrid asked shyly, after Elsa released her hold.
"Of course!"
"Well then... I sure hope we can see each other soon!" Ingrid exclaimed, waving farewell.
Elsa paused in thought, but quickly replied with a reassuring smile: "Me too, but don't be afraid to meet more people! I'm sure you can eventually others who will also become friends, just as you have met me!" With a flip of her blue traveling cloak, Elizabeth dove into the moving public crowds towards the center of town, reading off the card that contained her list of leads.
Ingrid continued to wave farewell, long after Elsa had already disappeared back into the sea of commuters. "Farewell... Elizabeth." She turned to face back to her shop, seeing it filled to the brim with vibrant flowers and pottery, figments of her imagination, waiting to be fulfilled. All that was needed now is just to take first step into recovering what she had lost. Resting a hand on the bench, her mind spun with the hopes and dreams reinvigorated by a beautiful lady cloaked in blue.
"...Hm?" The point where her hand had touched was bitingly cold, sparking her curiosity. Bending down for a closer look, her eyes followed alien grooves and edges just short of invisible due to the poor lighting of the sky. They interlocked into patterns, forming minuscule whorls and webbing that spread outwards to form what seemed to be an elaborate flower insignia the size of her fist.
"Is this... frost?"
Alright, let me just "zips" "rustle" put on this flame-retardant suit...
Again, feel free to ask me any questions you have about the story, the characters, etc. It's really fun answering them.
See you guys soon, fans of Frozen.