Chapter 4
Elsa listened to the fading echoes of Anna's heels clicking softly down the hall. She got up from her bed to do… something.
Get dressed, and go down there, you moron. But her legs refused to budge - cowardice would not allow her to do what she desired.
"I want to be with you, Anna, but I can't," Elsa sighed, as her limbs shook with frustration. She sat back down onto her mattress with a soft thud, and covered her gloved hands over her face.
Minutes and then hours passed - it was nearly ten o' clock - the party would be over in about two hours. Time was running out for Elsa to make up her mind as she continued to struggle with a decision.
What do I do? Elsa frantically thought. As she wallowed in her own misery, a familiar giggle came floating up towards the opening leading to her balcony - the sound had come from their garden. Curiosity got the best of Elsa when she realized she should have recognized the infectious giggle anywhere.
Opening the doors to her balcony, Elsa peeked below the guardrail and saw a flash of Anna's red hair come into view. She quickly pulled her head back, until she heard a man's voice. She took another look.
"Oh, Hans," Anna giggled once more. "You are so funny!"
Elsa turned her gaze to the man standing beside Anna and glowered at the perpetrator. Who the hell is that? And what's he doing with Anna?
Hans, the man now in full control of Anna's attention, smiled dashingly and said, "Yes, they really did, for two whole years!"
Anna laughed at whatever stupid punch line the Hans guy was feeding her, as they continued to stroll along the garden hand-in-hand… Flirting, Elsa seethed.
Elsa's blood boiled and ironically, her room immediately became covered in a layer of ice and snow. Who does this idiot think he is trying to reel in my baby sister!
Elsa decided she had seen enough after witnessing Anna and Hans giggle like an immature high school couple over an inane discussion about sandwiches.
She stood in the center of her dark room, her fists clenched and shook in a jealous rage. Without even realizing it, Elsa had mustered up a mini snowstorm - a reflection of her inner turmoil. The wind, seemingly coming out of nowhere, whipped past her long hair, but she paid no mind to its bitter chill.
Of course she wasn't going to wait for you all night, fool, Elsa told herself. She is human, which means she has limits. You can't blame her for wanting to have a little fun, instead of waiting on an emotionally constipated sister who probably would have never showed up.
"Not true," Elsa mumbled, combating her own thoughts. "I would have went down there… eventually."
Elsa looked towards her balcony and wondered what the two lovebirds could be talking about now. It hurt Elsa to think about how some stranger elicited more happiness from Anna than she ever did.
While still contemplating, Elsa heard another round of jovial laughter reach her ears, and the wind raged even harder around her, thankfully blocking off any further sounds which she would rather not hear.
Go and fight for her. "Right," Elsa determinedly said, but then, she grew doubtful. "What if she's happier without me being a large, annoying scab on her life?"
Should she just let Anna move on from her self-deprecating cycle she had sucked her poor sister in?
Hell no. She wasn't going let some random guy swoop in so easily and steal whatever little progress she was finally making with Anna after so many years.
Elsa frantically searched through her wardrobe for something proper to wear, but all she had in her closet was a pair of black pants and matching jacket from her tomboy phase - something she kept hidden from her mother and father whenever they made her wear nothing but frilly dresses. It would have to do, since it appeared someone had snuck in and taken all her dresses for cleaning without permission. What she had on was certainly not appropriate for public wear, so she swiftly donned on the outfit.
When Elsa quickly checked herself in the mirror, she thought she looked at least presentable. Sure, she wasn't in one of her gorgeous gowns, but it's not like she was planning on staying at the ball very long - just long enough to get Anna away from that sleezeball.
She thought it would be best to hide her identity so no one would recognize (pester her) so Elsa searched through her drawers for the mask she had bought a couple of weeks ago for the occasion. When Elsa placed the mask securely over her face, she thought she looked quite masculine once it covered her girly features.
She stared another moment at herself in the mirror and hoped no one would realize who she really was. "Well, here goes nothing," Elsa sighed, and walked over to the door to exit her room.
Anna was dancing with Hans when Elsa hesitantly made her way inside the ballroom. She was still wearing her mask and so was everyone else - she couldn't tell who anyone was, save for Anna, of course. Elsa had tied her hair back into a ponytail instead of her trademark side braid. The front part of her hairstyle still had the same waves of her hair slicked back in a messy fashion. The oversized jacket she wore, felt awkward and uncomfortable on her. Just go to Anna, and get her away from that Hans guy," Elsa devised in her head. She wanted to get in and out without any interference.
With each step Elsa took, anxiety started to bear down heavy on her chest. She had no clue what possessed her to do something so irrational, and wondered if anyone would even be foolish enough to believe she was anyone else but the Queen of Arendelle.
Back out now while you still have a chance. Her conscience warned her. You're just going to make a fool out of yourself.
But without even thinking, she walked right into the crowd. A few people stared at her, but didn't say anything. Elsa felt her hands shake harder with each step she took into the crowd - rows of eyes behind gaudy masks bore down at her as she forced herself to move deeper into the throngs of people.
"Who is that young man?" She heard one woman whisper in the crowd.
Man? Hey, that's an insult! Elsa's mind realized once she processed what she had heard.
But no one said anything else, although, one considerably attractive girl suddenly came bounding up to Elsa - an inviting smile beaming on her face.
Oh no.
"Hello," the girl confidently said, blocking Elsa from advancing any further towards Anna.
Elsa was stiff with fear. "M-me?" Elsa said, her voice cracking so terribly, it unintentionally lowered an octave.
It appeared, the girl hadn't noticed Elsa was really a woman.
The blonde girl flirtatiously smiled. "Yeah, you, silly," She giggled, covering her mouth with a dainty hand as she fluttered her eyelashes at Elsa - like something out of one of those ridiculous cartoons.
"Are you new around here? I've never seen you before," the girl asked, swaying her body to and fro - looking absolutely smitten.
"N-no, I've lived here all my life," Elsa quickly replied in her newly disguised voice, trying to sidestep away, but the nameless blonde girl would not let her go.
"Really? Can I take off your mask to be completely sure?" The girl had already outstretched a hand to nab at Elsa's blue mask, but Elsa quickly moved out of her reach.
"S-stop! Please, don't," Elsa protested, but the girl had a predatory look in her eyes.
"Come on, don't be shy," the girl chuckled flirtatiously, while chasing Elsa in a small circle. The crowd was now watching the two play cat and mouse in the middle of the ballroom. "I'm sure you are even more handsome without that hunk of plastic over your face," the blonde assured, still trying in vain to catch up to Elsa.
"I-it's not plastic. It's made out of shiny fabric," Elsa blurted. She had no idea why she even said such a thing - it seemed, male or female, Elsa was as awkward as ever.
"Cute and shy, I see," the girl giggled mischievously. "It seems I've found a catch. Now, if only I can actually catch you."
The two ran like children playing tag until a familiar voice stopped the two's antics.
"Hey, what's going on?" Anna yelled out, coming over with Hans close by her side.
Elsa gasped as Anna's eyes were directed straight at her. Her heart felt like it stopped beating for a whole second, and she willed her body not to lose control.
"We're just playing, Princess Anna," the girl coyly said, and grabbed Elsa's arm as if they already were an official couple.
Anna observed Elsa's stiff body and the girl cuddling against her arm. "It doesn't look like the gentleman really wants to play with you as much," Anna pointed out, trying to hide a chuckle.
What? It's me, Elsa. Can't you tell, Anna? Elsa thought, but was afraid to say this out loud - fearful of the crowd overhearing.
The girl huffed and opened her mouth to say something, but then she remembered she was talking to royalty. Instead, the blonde girl stayed silent and resorted to stare daggers in Anna's direction - the only thing she could do without getting jailed.
"And you are?" Anna directed the question at Elsa.
Oh my god, she doesn't recognize her own sister! Elsa's pulse quickened and she felt herself slipping out of control again, but she forced her mind to imagine she was anyone else but herself. Might as well go all out, now that she was already in too deep.
"My name is… Eric, my princess," Elsa humbly said in her newly smooth, low voice, and courteously bowed with one arm behind her back.
When Elsa straightened herself, she caught a slight blush on Anna's cheek. Hans sneered at Elsa, while jealously eyeing the mysterious guest.
"Oh, Eric, huh?" The ditzy girl said, still clinging onto Elsa's arm - Elsa had almost forgotten she was there because she and Anna still had their eyes locked - lost in their own world.
"Nice to meet you, Eric," Anna replied, with a slight bow of her head. Hans tugged on Anna's arm.
"Come on, Anna, let's go back and dance."
But Anna wasn't listening - she was still staring intensely at Elsa.
Elsa retained her composure and continued to play her part well. She smirked at Anna and relished the feeling of finally being the one with the power to make her sister blush easily for once.
Anna turned to Hans and said, "Could you be a dear and fetch me a glass of water?" Anna looked up at Hans with her large, puppy-dog eyes which Elsa had been used to seeing many times before when Anna wanted to get her way.
Hans looked hesitant at first, but the power of Anna's puppy-dog eyes could not be disputed. He gave Elsa a long withering stare before turning away from the group.
Anna didn't hesitate to approach Elsa and the girl still stuck to her side like a leech. "I'd like to speak to Eric alone," Anna stated.
The girl glared at Anna, but knew this was one battle she could not win. She huffed and stomped away without another word, to Elsa's relief.
It was just her and Anna. Finally, I can tell her I'm not just some stranger. But before Elsa could open her mouth to speak, Anna had already moved in very close to her. Elsa's throat became dry and her words of confession lodged in her throat.
Anna stopped when she was only a couple of inches away from Elsa. Elsa gulped and tried her hardest to hydrate her parched throat, but Anna suddenly leaned in so close, Elsa was able to catch the smell of sweet chocolate on her breath. For a brief moment, Elsa thought Anna was about to kiss her, but Anna unexpectedly turned her head sideways towards her ear.
Anna's breath tickled hotly against Elsa's ear when she whispered, "Meet me in the garden in ten minutes," was all she said. Anna turned away - not seeing the tense expression on Elsa's face - and disappeared into the thick crowd.