Seriously guys! Thanks for all the love! What's funny is everyone is concerned about the Crown Prince of the Southern Isles when I, in all honesty, completely forgot about him. Oh...spoiler alert, I guess?
Credits: Thanks go to hybrid-rain as always for being an inspirational canyon, promoting this like mad, and putting up with my witching hour displays of brilliance and sporadic-tiger for agreeing to be my proofreader and nitpicker, helping me write Olaf, and being unbelievably patient with me. Both are found on Tumblr.
Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen and its characters, plots, etc and I do not make or intend to make any profit from this.
Being the queen was much like any other occupation, Elsa had once mused. Most of the time it was a simple matter of trying her best as much as she possibly could under the circumstances. There were a few moments though where she actually relished her power and the responsibilities that accompanied it. And then there were times where she wished she could just leave her throne and crown and kingdom behind and run back to her palace on the North Mountain.
"No," she said for what she was certain was the thousandth time in this conversation. "I categorically refuse to accept that job."
"Your Majesty," stammered Director Fossen. "The lord has offered a substantial commission for his request."
"I don't care if Lord Gutherson's offering me all the riches in the Cave of Wonders. I am not going to make an ice sculpture of a woman, let alone one of me. Tell him he can ask for sculptures of anything else and I'll gladly consider them. Surely he should understand my refusal."
"Very well, Your Majesty," the Royal Director of Foreign Affairs said, scribbling a note, as Elsa silently fumed over the lord's absurd boldness. She had refused, or rather ignored, his hand in marriage and now he wanted a statue of her? Although the issue was less that the statue would be of her and more that it would be of a woman. Ice sculpting wasn't something Elsa expected to be of any interest to anyone, much less profitable for the kingdom. It was just something she did when she wanted to liberate her magic in a more creative fashion. But it was almost outrageous what lords and kings would pay for their likeliness to be preserved in everlasting ice. Most requests Elsa could do in minutes but there was only one time when her talents failed her, when she had to make a sculpture of a woman.
The subject didn't even look like Anna but when Elsa prepared to start her project, memories of that fateful day bombarded her and the image of her sister, frozen and lifeless, seared itself into her mind for the rest of the day. That night, Elsa placed her head against Anna's chest much to her sister's confusion. It was only through the soft steady rhythm of her heart beating was Elsa able to drift into sleep. That was the first and only time she tried to recreate a woman's likeness in ice.
"What else?" she said, slivers of her aggravation leaking through her voice.
"A proclamation from the Russian Empire. 'In order to secure and ensure order and stability among our people, and in light of recent suspected revolutionary activities in the Polish dominion, the Imperial Russian Army will be sending troops to assist the local garrison and law enforcement in containing the seditious threat that threatens the safety of the empire's loyal subjects.'"
"And what do the people of Poland have to say to that?" asked Elsa.
"Currently there are no voices speaking for them, Your Majesty," the Director replied. "But I understand they are quite discontent with the lack of representation they had once enjoyed and with the utter disregard the Russian authorities have shown towards their constitution."
Elsa sighed. As much as she wished to help them in their plight, there was very little she could do besides lower Russia in their trade priorities. Arendelle was both blessed and cursed by her insignificance. Her small kingdom and even smaller military meant hardly any of the larger empires concerned themselves with her but it also meant they would do little to assist her and her them.
"Would these actions have any repercussions on my kingdom or her people?"
"None that I could foresee. Russia has no reason to take hostile actions against us. However it may be prudent to order our trade ships to be cautious near that region. Where the Imperial Army goes, the Imperial Navy is not far behind."
"I'll send a message to our ships after the meeting," reassured Master Engelstad.
"Good," Elsa said. "Finally, Mistress Julia."
The spymaster stood up as Director Fossen took his seat.
"Your Majesty, my seeds tell me that two days ago, the Duke of Weselton has taken Hans in as a personal guest," she reported. "The exiled prince himself seems to have been spending his time sending letters. They have noted an increased bird activity around the Duke's mansion, both leaving and entering."
"Is there any chance of intercepting these messages?" Elsa asked.
"I can think of ways but they will require some time," Julia replied.
"If your seeds are close to him, as you say," Director Fossen said. "And if you are concerned about the man, can you simply have him removed?"
"No," Elsa resolutely replied before the spymaster could speak. "I will not kill a man simply for existing. While his activities are suspicious and I have no reason to believe he has forgotten or forgiven us, until we have proof of malicious activities, we should wait."
"I'll be sure to get that evidence, Your Majesty," said Julia, the gravity of her pledge somewhat ruined by her smirk.
"If there is nothing else, then this meeting has concluded," Elsa said, getting up from her chair. Her Council followed suit and she watched them as they bowed, or in Julia's case curtseyed, and made their way out. Curiously, when the door opened, she thought she saw a flash of red hair disappear behind the doorway. She waited until they had all departed before she followed them out and turned to find a sheepish Anna, her cheeks already flushed with red.
"Um…hi!" she said, in a cheery voice that was obviously hiding something under it.
"Anna," Elsa said in surprise. "Umm…what are you doing here?"
"Oh, I was waiting for you," she explained. She hesitated for a few seconds, playing with her gorgeous red braids with nervous hands. "Actually…can we talk? Please?"
"Of course, snowbug!" she said, relaxing her shoulders. But then she noticed Anna was still nervous.
"I mean, can we talk in your old room?"
Elsa nodded and added, "Okay." As the two sisters walked towards her room, Anna was looking anywhere except at Elsa and remained silent throughout the journey. Whatever she wanted to talk about, it clearly had her anxious. Elsa wanted to ask her what was wrong but she felt that Anna would tell her when and only when they arrived in her former bedroom.
Anna opened the door and waited for Elsa to enter first. The floor was covered in a good inch or two of snow that constantly drifted from the ceiling. In the middle of the room was an almost completed snow castle modelled after the palace they lived in. Elsa could have done it with a wave of her hand but she abstained from that, insisting that they built it together. With the eager assistance of Olaf, of course. All in all, it was a very beautiful room. It was one of two rooms Elsa forbade Julia from planting her seeds. So Elsa was left wondering just what had her so nervous and drove her to take such precautions against unwanted ears.
As soon as Elsa walked in, Anna followed, closed the door behind her with a click, and turned to face her. Her eyes drifted for a moment towards Elsa's right with Elsa resisting the urge to turn to follow her gaze. She pulled her shoulders closer and dipped her head down but raised her eyes just a bit. Her left hand cupped the fingers on her right as she asked, "Do you remember when you asked me what I knew about true love?"
Oh… Elsa thought as her heart sank. We never did talk about that night… She had said some awful things to her at that ball. She could say they were for Anna's good all she liked; that didn't change the fact that they had hurt her little sister terribly. "Anna, don't…." she began.
"Please…Elsa?" she interrupted, her hands still cupped but her palms were facing her. It sounded less like a command and more like a plea. Elsa closed her mouth and simply nodded.
"You asked me what I knew about true love," she repeated. "And you were right. I didn't know a lot about love. Ever since then, I did some reading about it and I did some thinking. And…and I think I have a better idea about love."
Elsa nodded again.
"I love you, Elsa. As your little sister, I will always love you. But…I think…" Again her eyes flickered away; she swallowed and continued, "I think I love you as something more as well. Every moment I spend with you, every night we sleep together, every meal we share, they have all brought the greatest happiness I've ever felt. There is a pull in you that brings me to you every day and being with you only makes it stronger. You're everything to me, Elsa. Everything. There is nothing from this world and from my life I want more than to spend the rest of my life as close to you as possible."
As soon as she finished, her eyes immediately went downward as if she was ashamed by her confession and she took a few small steps away. And Elsa just stood there, absorbing everything her sister said. While Anna always wore her heart on her sleeves, this was the first time she had seen it this exposed. And to be honest, Elsa felt relieved. After they opened the doors, whenever she looked at her sister, she always sensed that she saw her with something more than a sister's fondness. Almost like the passions of a lover. She knew the pull Anna was talking about because she felt it herself. That steady tugging in her heart, leading her to the bright warmth of her sister. But never, never in her most fantastical dreams, did she imagine Anna would feel the same. After all she placed her sister through hell in her childhood, condemned her to years of solitude. But despite all that, not only did she, against all expectations and all reason, remain devoted to her but her sister loved her the exact same way as she did.
"I...this is stupid, I know," stammered Anna. "I just wanted you to know how I felt. But it's okay if you don't, you know, feel the same way. And really, why would you? You're just so…"
"Anna," Elsa said, crossing the small distance between them. She gently lifted her sister's head with the tips of her fingers and saw the tears welling in her turquoise eyes. "I love you, too. As a sister and something else. I always have."
Anna gave a sob of joy and relief as she wrapped her arms around her sister who joyfully returned her embrace. Elsa pressed her face against Anna's shoulder, the scent of lilacs and orange blossoms smothering her nose. Then just as she lifted her head to look at Anna, she saw her face moving closer towards her, her eyes closed and lips quivering ever so slightly. And her mind panicked. Not at the idea of kissing Anna, but at the idea of kissing her. She instinctively pulled her head and twisted her shoulders just enough so that Anna gasped in surprise as her lips met only chilled air.
"…Elsa?" Anna asked tentatively. "Did I do something wrong? Oh...I-I didn't mean…I hope I wasn't too forward."
"No, Anna, it's okay," Elsa said. "It isn't you, trust me. It's just…I…I don't think I'm ready for kissing just yet."
In a rather high voice, she said, "Okay. I…I think I get that." She began brushing the right side of her hair. "Can I have another hug at least?"
Elsa smiled at her and said, "Of course you can, little snowbug." Opening her arms wide, she clutched her sister close to her chest and whispered in her ear, "You never have to ask for that."
"Oooh warm hugs!" a voice suddenly cried. "I want one!"
There was no mistaking that voice but still Elsa whirled around in surprise.
"Olaf?!" she nearly shouted. "Wha…what was he doing here?" Her eyes widened as they saw the little snowman burst from a seemingly innocuous pile of snow in the corner. "Did you hear…everything…?"
Olaf nodded eagerly. "It was so beautiful," he said. "And magical. Just like I thought!"
Elsa turned from Olaf to Anna who, for some reason, blushed behind her hands and narrowed her eyes at her.
"He really wanted to see," Anna explained sheepishly. "And…I couldn't exactly say no…"
Elsa looked back to Olaf who stared at her with those bright wide eyes that reminded her of Anna so much and sighed. "Of course…" she said with a soft smile as she pulled him into a hug. "Just…Olaf? Could you please not tell anyone what you saw or heard in here?"
"But why?" he asked, his smile dipping into a frown. "You two shouldn't hide your love for each other. Not when it's so wonderful!"
"Olaf," said Anna. "Do you remember when I said people think it's a little weird for sisters to love each other like Elsa and I do?"
The snowman tilted his head as he tried to recall that memory. "Yes…,' he said, drawing the word out. "I remember you said that. But why would they think it's weird?"
"Well, you see…" Anna began but she, too, struggled to find the words to say. Everyone would be fine with her and Kristoff. But why not her and Elsa?
Elsa noticed Anna faltering in her response and said, "They're afraid." She could see Olaf opening his mouth to ask "Why?" again so she swiftly continued, "Most people…have this one idea what love is and they think that anything different from that idea is…" Hundreds of words came rushing through her mind: immoral, blasphemous, abominable, wicked, twisted, corruptible…
"Bad," finished Anna.
"But you two are anything but bad!" exclaimed the snowman. Elsa rolled her eyes as her memory instantly brought a particular incident in their childhood.
Anna seemed to notice because she quickly said, "That's great of you to say that, Olaf. But until we get people to agree with you, we have to keep it a secret. Just for a little bit, okay?"
Olaf's frown deepened, a sight Elsa considered one of the most depressing. "It's just sad that no one can see how wonderful the love you two have is," he said in a dejected voice. "But if it will make people think bad things about you, then I won't tell a single person! I swear!"
Both Elsa and Anna released a sigh of relief.
"Only on one condition!" Olaf suddenly said, prompting the sisters to first look at him and then each other. They looked back at him, waiting at bated breath. "Group hug?" he requested, holding his arms wide open.
They smiled and the three embraced each other in a tangle of arms. Olaf chuckled contently as he felt the warmth of his two mothers who were compelled to join in with their own giggles.
I decided to devote the entirety of this chapter to Anna's confession. And I'm really sorry they don't actually kiss here! It's going to be quite a while before they start kissing. She's probably still a little self-conscious especially since Anna was the one who started first. Notice how she's always the one who initiates contact with her sister at the end of the movie. So I imagine that Anna suddenly diving in for a kiss surprising her. I can also imagine Elsa being incredibly scared of making ice sculptures of women.
So I know the timeline might be a little perplexing so here's to clear it up. The prologue occurs two weeks after the ending of Frozen. The first chapter and the first part of the second chapter all takes place two days after the prologue. The rest of chapter two takes place four days later. And as mentioned in the narrative, this chapter takes place another two days after chapter two.
There actually was a Polish revolt in the Russian Empire. Obviously this will be important but I'm not going to say how important... :)
Once again, I welcome any and all feedback you might have to offer.