A/N: Please forgive me for leaving you lovely readers hanging for so long. I intended to update fairly quickly, but college and life blah, blah, blah got in the way. But enough about me, let's get on with the show.
Chapter 6
Nooooo! Elsa wailed helplessly in her mind as the look of utter shock flashed across Anna's face.
Everything appeared to be moving in slow-motion, like out of one of those cheesy Michael Bay movies. Anna's jaw slowly dropped, and she covered her mouth with her hand - completely in shock.
Elsa's mind had shut down - her brain short-circuiting like a can of soda spilling onto a keyboard. Unable to think straight anymore, Elsa desperately grasped for her mask hanging limply from Anna's hand, but the younger girl refused to let her get a hold of it - pulling the garment away as soon as Elsa thought she could successfully nab it.
Anna's face wore an expression of total confusion as she continued to dodge Elsa's snatching attempts.
"J-just… give it here," Elsa lamely whimpered, swiping her hand towards the mask repeatedly. Yeah, like putting the mask back on now will solve everything.
Elsa could not come up with a reason as to why the only course of action running through her mind was to pathetically reach out for the mask, as if she was some child desperately wanting her toy back. She felt so naked and vulnerable without the sanctuary the disguise provided.
Elsa's face was growing hot from embarrassment again, but her fingers were doing the exact opposite - making her skin prickle with an indescribable sharpness. The feeling only grew worse as a tingling sensation formed around her chest, slowly developing an icy layer round her wrist, down towards the very tip of her fingertips.
It seemed, pretending to be somebody else, anybody else, but herself was the only way for Elsa to have any semblance of control over her power. She was no longer the suave Eric - no, she was Elsa - clumsy and awkward Elsa.
After the umpteenth time attempting to take her mask back, Elsa's fight-or-flight instinct kicked in and she chose flight, purely out of habit. She turned her heels to run, but before she could even take a complete step, a strong grip on her wrist pulled her back like a backwards slingshot.
"No!" Anna's defiant voice rang out, and Elsa's heart stopped. "You don't get to run anymore! I'm sick of it!"
Elsa clenched her jaw in dread when she knew she couldn't just run away from her problems anymore. But, Elsa was finding it so very difficult to turn back around and face Anna - too embarrassed and awfully ashamed at everything she said and did. If only she had the power to disappear instead - oh, how she needed such an ability right now. The ice around Elsa's hands thickened after another layer formed atop the first one - her self-restraint waning with each passing moment with Anna as herself.
Ann's hand was still wrapped firmly around Elsa's wrist - refusing to let her go despite the ice around Elsa's hand being unbearably cold. Anna's hand trembled and Elsa's concern made her look back. Elsa flinched when she spotted the tears welling up in Anna's eyes as they looked at her, pleading for her to stay, for once.
"Anna…" Elsa, gasped, feeling a great guilt plop like dead-weight upon her heart. Now look what you've done, her mind scolded her.
Elsa turned her body back around - deciding this time, she would not run and leave Anna behind, alone and confused again. No, she would not repeat the same mistake again.
"Anna, please, just… I can explain," Elsa professed, as she started to reach out a hand to offer Anna a comforting touch, but she realized she was unable to offer such a simple gesture. Her gloved hands were still completely covered in ice.
Anna's body shook from the struggle of holding back her tears. Her eyes were shut tight and she now had her arms wrapped around her body - finding any way to comfort herself. Seeing Anna look deeply hurt because of her own doing, made Elsa want to dig a hole and bury herself in it.
Elsa couldn't just let her sister remain alone too long in such a state of sadness. Pulling off her gloves, and throwing them to the ground, Elsa's fingers were finally freed from their familiar prison. She could feel the cool air ripple past her skin and reawaken the dulled nerves in her pale digits.
I can now truly feel Anna's warm skin for the first time without those pesky gloves. But do I dare? Taking off her gloves, meant Anna was more at risk to her power, but Elsa decided she would do anything to be able to feel her sister's skin again.
Doing her absolute best to maintain control over herself, Elsa hesitantly reached out her hands to cup Anna's face - it had been so long since she'd felt Anna's skin - so alive and warm. She feels so soft,Elsa thought incredulously. She wanted to hold Anna forever as if she was a fragile treasure.
Anna opened her eyes as soon as she felt Elsa's hands touch her face, and a few tears fell from her lashes. The green hue beautifully coloring Anna's irises, were vibrantly enhanced behind her fresh wall of tears. She was looking at Elsa in awe.
Elsa gulped nervously from the sight, both from guilt and from a desire which was most inappropriate at the time. You have no right to think of her in such a lewd manner - especially, not after what you just put her through. In fact, you shouldn't even be touching her right now, you creep.
Elsa dropped her hands from Anna's cheeks - her self-doubt clouding any pure intentions. Why couldn't she ever just be platonic with Anna?
When she lost contact with Anna's skin, Elsa believed she caught a slight look of disappointment momentarily flash across Anna's face, but she chocked it off to just being hopefully delusional.
Elsa looked down to the ground and whispered sincerely, "I'm sorry, Anna. I truly am. I never meant for this charade to go so far," Elsa paused, when she heard Anna's breath hitch in her throat. "I understand completely, if you hate me."
A long pause, and Elsa thought her relationship with Anna had now officially passed the border of irreparable damage. It is for the best, Elsa decided. Hate me, Anna. Hate me, so you can finally move on with your life without me always bringing you down. But Elsa thought wrong again.
"I don't hate you, Elsa," Anna confessed, softly, and Elsa lifted her eyes to meet Anna's - startled at Anna's capacity to forgive.
Anna wiped a tear drifting down the side of her cheekbone and said, "I could never hate you, Elsa, no matter what kind of ridiculous things you may do or how irrational you can be." She gave Elsa a small smile of approval, and Elsa's heart was alleviated from what felt like a million pounds worth of grief.
She doesn't hate me, Elsa realized. What a saint. What an angel. I'd have hated me for doing something so stupid. Elsa should have known better - Anna was always so stubborn.
"Anna, I, I never meant to break your trust. Please, believe me when I say, going through with all this was never my intention," Elsa said, earnestly, while taking Anna's hands into hers - doing her best to keep her own hands from shaking. "I just wanted to see you, but then that girl mistook me for a guy and-"
Anna placed two fingers upon Elsa's lips and smiled gently. "It's okay. I understand," Anna whispered.
Anna let another small smile tug at the edge of her lips with her eyes downcast, but Elsa could tell, there still existed a hint of melancholy in her expression no matter how hard she tried to conceal it.
"I know you never mean to hurt me. You could never hurt me," was all Anna said, and she looked down at the Chrysanthemum she still held in her hand, looking thoughtful.
Elsa's face turned a stark shade of red as she was reminded of the romantic gesture. What did Anna think of the gift now? Did she think it was just a sisterly display of affection? Or something more?
Anna looked up at Elsa and continued to gaze in wondrous silence at the older girl - her lips tightening as she contemplated upon a far away thought.
Elsa clenched her jaw anxiously as Anna's intense stare bore into her - trying to see past the enigmatic wall Elsa had maintained for so long. The silence between them lasted only a few seconds, but in a short amount of time, the atmosphere shifted; thickened.
Elsa fidgeted uncomfortably in place, trying to pull her mind towards any other thought than wanting to kiss Anna right then and there.
"I guess, in a way, my wish did come true." Anna whispered, breaking the silence. "I did get to meet a stranger, tall and fair tonight," she finished, with a wide smile. Anna was looking up at Elsa lovingly as her tears dried and faded from the night breeze sweeping by.
Elsa gulped. Control yourself! Don't let your crazy ice powers hurt her again!
Elsa smiled embarrassedly as she uncomfortably rubbed at the back of her neck. She did not know what to say to next. Be smooth, Elsa controlled herself. Say something cool like, 'I'm no stranger, baby,' or, 'Any other wishes you'd like me to fulfill?' Elsa shook her head. No, don't be a weirdo, just say…
"I'm really not that tall," she spouted out, and grimaced at what she had just said out loud. Elsa mentally face-palmed herself. No! No, you did it again! You are such a dork! Can't you do anything right?
But Anna just smiled, even giggling lightly - putting the tip of her fingertips over her mouth. "Oh, Elsa," Anna sighed, and shook her head.
Elsa really wished she had the power to disappear now.
"You're tall enough," Anna stated, and unexpectedly wrapped her arms around Elsa's shoulders. "See?" Anna got on her tiptoes. "You're taller than me, and that's enough," Anna lightly chuckled, her warm breath cascading over Elsa's cold skin.
"Just promise me, you won't hide from me again," Anna said, more seriously.
Elsa looked down at the top of Anna's head laying against her chest - her soft tresses brushing and tickling her flesh, causing her body to tremble from want.
"You never have to hide - I like you just the way you are, Elsa," Anna stated. She turned her head up to where their lips were only inches apart. Anna smiled. "Although, the night is still young," she said, her eyes glinting mischievously under the moonlight.
Oh dear, lord, Elsa's mind repeated countless times.
"Will you dance with me, Eric?" Anna teased.
Elsa's blushed turned an even darker shade - she was surprised her nose didn't start bleeding. She knew she owed Anna anything she could offer her for being so forgiving. She also felt terrible for imparting false hopes in Anna, believing she had met her true love when it was just her older sister disguised as a man. She owed her at least one lousy dance.
"Of course, princess," Elsa played along, and smiled sweetly at the younger girl.
Anna smiled happily upon hearing the term of endearment - a light blush creeping across her cheeks.
Elsa offered her hand (glove-free) to Anna. She knew, she would not lose control of her power this time - this was purely a moment where only innocent love existed without the overtone of lust.
Anna didn't hesitate to reach out and Elsa enjoyed the smooth, soft skin of Anna's hand atop of hers as their fingers laced perfectly together.
They smiled at each other in silent good-humor. Elsa led Anna to the wide, open space in front of the statue of their parents, and attempted to twirl Anna the same way she saw many dancers do for their partners back at the ball. Anna completed only half a spin, and she couldn't keep a straight face for long.
Anna giggled, and joked, "Oh, Eric, what a skilled dancer you are!"
Elsa smiled and was compelled to pull Anna close to her in order to hold the smaller girl firmly in her arms. Anna's giggle subsided, and the atmosphere around them grew heavy, and both would not allow themselves to admit why.
Anna forced her eyes to meet Elsa's and they both looked at each other with only a few inches between their lips - waiting, for one or the other to say what it was which was still left unspoken.
"Ahem," a feigned cough came from behind the hedges to the garden's entryway.
They both looked toward the intruder, tearing their eyes away from each other. It was Hans.
"Mind if I ask what is going on here?" He coyly asked.