Title: Permafrost
By: garlic
Disclaimer: Frozen and affiliated property of Disney.
Summary: As Elsa turns eighteen, she travels to Corona with the King and Queen, leaving Anna behind in Arendelle. They don't return.
AN: Alright, I don't know how long this will be, but probably not too long considering my short attention span and complete inability to write cohesive, multi-chaptered plots. And again, slow writer/updater alert. Apologies. And TWs: Elsanna/Icest.
"Why can't I go too?"
Agdar and Idunn paused at their youngest daughter's plaintive tone. The Queen stepped forward, cupping warm hands around Anna's puffed cheeks. "Oh honey, Elsa has come of age, and it is time for her to start making appearances in the other kingdoms." She pressed a chiding thumb to Anna's lips. "So don't pout, you will get your turn in a few years."
Anna sighed, but smoothed away her frown as requested. "I know, I know." The young girl threw her arms around her parents, hugging them to her tight. She drew in a deep breath, taking in the comforting smell of ink and papers and lilacs that always seemed cling to her father and mother. "I'll just miss you, is all."
The redhead peeked over her parent's shoulders, eying the slim blonde waiting timidly at the door. Anna couldn't really describe the mix of emotions she felt as she gazed at her elder sister - envy, awe, anger...love. After years of yearning to even catch a glimpse of her, worrying and pleading and yelling and crying, here Elsa was, lovely and regal and fully grown (a woman!) - only to leave again. With one last squeeze Anna detached from the hug, approaching her sister with tentative steps. She could feel her heart start a fast staccato beat, only to freeze painfully in her chest as Elsa's beautiful blue eyes widened and she actually flinched back, recoiling from her. Anna halted where she stood, hands clenched at her side, fresh heartbreak cracking her composure. She hates me. She fought to keep her lips from trembling, tears from falling. She felt Agdar's hand settle upon her shoulder, solid and warm - but not the touch she wanted. Not the person she had wanted to comfort her for over ten years. A decade. Elsa was practically a stranger, so how was it possible she longed so hard for her, hurt so much at her rejection?
"Goodbye Elsa, have a good trip," she whispered, barely able to choke out the words. Her throat constricted, dry and tight, and before her tears could spill over her cheeks turned and fled the room.
"Anna!" Idunn's soft cry fell to deaf ears, and not even her husband's steady presence could soothe the ache she felt at her youngest' clear distress.
"She'll be all right. In a few days she'll probably be glad to have the run of the place, driving Kai and Gerda up the walls with her antics."
The King's offering fell flat, the oppressive air remaining as dreary and stifling as ever. Elsa tore her gaze from the door Anna had fled out of.
"Are you sure I should go?" The young woman wrung her hands, bottom lip worried red and raw. "What if I lose control?" Again, her traitorous mind whispered.
Agdar smiled kindly, turning his attention back to his eldest daughter. "Don't worry Elsa, you'll do fine. We practiced for this. Remember?"
A blond head bowed, but dutifully recited her mantra. "Conceal it, don't feel it."
Agdar reached out a hand, lightly tilting Elsa's chin so their eyes could meet. "I'm very proud of you, Elsa. Now, let's go."
With that the King straightened, holding his arm aloft for the Queen to take. Idunn gracefully draped her arm in his, giving a reassuring smile and passing an affectionate hand over light blond bangs. Unease gnawed at her conscience, not for the first time questioning whether she and Agdar had made the correct decision in separating the sisters. But she put on a brave face for her daughter. "Just a short trip, and then we'll be home again."
Silently the trio turned, somberly heading out of the castle to the docks. Elsa craned her head for one last glance back where Anna had run, guilt and sorrow twisting deep and harsh in her gut. She cradled her arms protectively to her chest, gloved hands gripping hard to the lapels of her jacket. She hates me.
"Princess Anna?"
Anna looked up from her studies, grateful for the reprieve. "Thank goodness. This balancing treasuries stuff is so boring!" Anna made a face and stuck her tongue out at her tutor's disgruntled humph.
"Your Highness, a word in private, if I may." At Kai's nod the tutor stood, leaving the study swiftly. The door creaked ominously as it slid shut, and Anna looked fearfully at the Head Butler's grave visage.
"What is it, Kai? Why do you look like that?" Trepidation built rapidly at his continued silence. Anna laughed nervously, hands skittering across the papers and pens strewn about the desk, shaking slightly as she brought them to smooth her hair and fiddle with her skirt.
"Princess, please, take a seat." Kai gently braced a hand to the girl's forearm, leading her to a small settee to the side of the room. Teal eyes wide Anna followed, perching uneasily on the cushioned edge.
"Kai, what is it? You're really starting to worry me." Anna fought back the rising tide of panic she could feel surging up from her sternum. Unknowingly she gripped at the butler's hand in a bruising hold. Dark solemn eyes peered sadly back at her.
"Word has just arrived from Corona. I'm afraid-they say your family's ship never made it to port."
Anna's breath stuttered in her lungs. The world stilled, blurring around the edges, color bleeding from her vision. Kai's lips moved, but all she heard was a growing, senseless buzz echoing in her ears. Distantly she felt her body start to hyperventilate, breaths coming short and fast, overlapping each other in sharp, high pitched gasps. Kai towered above her, alarm writ across his face, head turning to call for help.
Mother...Father...Elsa...
Shudders wracked painfully through her body, her lungs heaving in protest. Her eyes burned and her stomach roiled, the sharp acidic tang of bile biting at the back of her throat.
No...no...nonononononono-
And then, mercifully, blackness.
She could feel their wretched gazes scorching against her back, hear their piteous whispers float mockingly to her ear. She wanted to scream, and shout, and rail against them, against those simpering condolences and weak platitudes. She wanted to rage and strike out against the sky, the sea, the cold stone monoliths erected over empty graves.
The words of mourning filtered through the chilled air, the sky dark and thunderous. Anna stared straight forward, eyes dry and unseeing. With every minute she could feel the cold seep into her flesh and to her bones, transforming her burning anger into icy quiet.
She turned her back on the gravestones, three dark massive shadows erected like dominoes.
The royal family of Arendelle, survived by one lone daughter.
"Baldur! Come look!" A young curly haired girl waved her arms excitedly, motioning for her friend.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" Baldur scrambled up the rocks, huffing as he reached to top. "What's so important? You know we're not supposed to be out this far. The elders will scold us."
Kari rolled her eyes and grabbed the boy's hand. "I know, but you haveta see!" She pointed a pudgy finger to the small rocky cove below them. "I was exploring in there-"
"Kari!"
"-and I found something amazing!" Her voice dropped to a secretive hush. "It's Skadi!"
Baldur's jaw flapped. "Skadi?! You must've hit your head or something. Skadi's just some stupid myth old geezers like Kjell rant about to the chickens." Not for the first time Baldur wished he wasn't born way on the outskirts of the kingdom, barely able to even consider themselves part of Arendelle.
Kari beamed. "Not anymore!" With a giggle, the girl skid down the slope leading to the entrance of the cove, dark curls bouncing haphazardly about.
"Hey! Wait up!" With a grumble Baldur quickly followed his friend as she disappeared into the mouth of the cave. "Kari!" He called, jogging in. "Where are y-whoa!"
"Shhh!" Kari hissed at him, popping out from the shadows to drag him to the side. "Don't shout! This way!"
Baldur nodded hesitantly, suddenly unsure. The air was cold in the cove - no, downright freezing. He could feel goosebumps rise under the thick layer of his clothes, breath puffing white as it left his lips. Shivers trickled through his body, and an unearthly blue glow suffused the air, casting eerie shadows across the rocks and lending a sickly pale tint to the walls. A few steps more around a low rise of stalagmites and Baldur felt his breath whoosh out of his body. Beside him Kari hopped in place gleefully.
"See?" She whispered, delighted.
Baldur stared, spellbound. Before his disbelieving eyes a woman floated, suspended in a thick, towering translucent shard of ice. Fair and delicate, white-gold hair tossed riotously about her head as if in the midst of a storm and curled protectively in on herself, knees cradled to her chest. Her eyes were closed, brow furrowed in an expression of perpetual sorrow.
She was beautiful - a sleeping goddess caught in time, held fast in ice and frost.