Disclaimer: I don't own the story of Frozen or any of its original characters, including but not limited to Anna, Elsa, The King, Olaf, Sven, Gerda and Kristoff.
AN: Sorry it's been almost a week since I posted but I have been very busy with everything going on in life lately. This story takes place farther in the future than the last couple of chapters. Just as a point of reference let's say in this chapter Anna is 22 and Elsa is 26 and they are over two years married.
From my newly acquired position on the floor, I can see Anna shaking with rage still. Her body is convulsing in small spasms throughout her entire muscular system. Everything from her hands to her delicate eyelids is shaking very rapidly. Never in the three years that I have known her have I ever seen her angry before. Anger is not her favorite emotion; most of the time she will choose sadness or spitefulness over anger when someone upsets her. Usually when I upset her, I receive the spiteful Anna. However, most of the time I do not upset Anna by shouting at her, most of the time it is because I am too busy to spend as much time with her as I would like to.
Today is different though; today I was, for the first time since knowing her, genuinely angry with Anna. However, seeing things from the new perspective of the floor, I am considerably less upset than I was before. Thinking back on it though, since this is such an excellent time for reflection having been knocked to the ground, I am not sure what I thought would be different when I came to confront Anna. I am certain I did not think she would just agree with me and start apologizing, but I definitely did not expect her to punch me so hard I fell backwards.
My half-minute of recovery time spent on the floor has been incredibly reflective and mind clearing. I am still upset with Anna, for the same original reason, not for punching me straight in the nose. Good shot though. Moreover, all my anger towards her has dissipated and instead I am just a little ticked off and my nose is throbbing. I reach up and touch my face, no blood that is a relief.
To my immediate left I find a dresser. I place my hand on the top of it and slowly hoist myself off of the floor. The force of being knocked over by my petite wife has freaked out my body. I can feel the adrenaline rushing through me as I first steady myself and then find a seat in the chair located next to the wardrobe. Anna's rage is transforming into more of a sad upset emotion as I move into my new position of choice. She is hell-bent on keeping that look of intense anger in her eyes, but I can see the true tears leaking out slowly.
"Why don't you sit down? Hmm? My nose would much prefer it we talked about this like calm adults instead." She straightens her stance as she thinks about it. Eventually though, she decides I am right and she settles on the chair next to the window.
"I'm sorry for punching you." She mumbles towards the window, her strawberry hair is pulled back in a tight bun today. No braids in sight, she has not worn braids in her hair since we were married. I miss the braids, they were sweet. I notice that the usual powders and colors that adorn her face have been washed away. I am assuming from crying in here alone, waiting for my wrath all afternoon. The clothes she is wearing almost seem sad too, as though they were a precursor to how this day would turn out. The gown seems lovely enough at first, it is well made and the pattern is pretty, but the blue looks gray against her skin and becomes even duller when compared to her hair. Blue is usually my favorite color on her, however tonight it is not what I would have chosen.
"No need to apologize pet, I'm sorry that I came in here to speak to you so full of rage." She nods her acceptance and shifts her gaze from the outside towards me. Her teal eyes could pierce my soul on any day, but today they render me completely stunned. They are beautifully sad; I can tell she is very upset with herself for hitting me and still very upset with me for yelling, but upset with herself again for the reason this whole debacle was caused.
This was not the first time my lovely wife has cheated on me since our marriage. However, it is the first time that she ever openly denied it to me and forced me to find out from overhearing a conversation of whispers. It is the first time I have ever truly felt threatened in the security of my relationship. I am well aware that our relationship is incredibly unorthodox and I also understand that makes it difficult for the both of us.
"Why are you so angry with me?" She asks, interrupting my thought process. Her voice is strong and loud again. She has a valid question; her relationships outside of ours have never bothered me before this one.
"Well, to be clear I am not angry any longer. Simply upset. And I think it is because this time, it feels different. You didn't want me to know about this man, and you lied to me when I asked you about it. Even though, I doubt I've ever given you reason to think you needed to hide things like this from me. It feels different because I know you spend hours together talking and laughing, and I don't want to be replaced."
I pause for a moment, looking for some inclination of her desire to add something to the currently one sided conversation. When I receive none, I continue, "The other ones felt different from the relationship we had and that was why they didn't bother me. You wanted something you weren't getting from me and I was fine to let you seek it elsewhere. But Anna, let me be frank, I can't seek these things from other people. Oh don't give me that look it's not because you're any more promiscuous, it's because if I were to seek others I would have to tell them a secret about myself that only five people have ever known about me."
She shifts uncomfortably in her chair for a moment, she knows my point is valid but she isn't sure what to make of it. "Anna, I chose to trust you with this because I think you are a trustworthy person. I was right so far, you've never let me down. But Anna, don't leave me in the dust here. Don't replace me with some foreign fool because then I won't have anyone."
My cards having been laid upon the table, as it were, I finish speaking. She stands suddenly and starts to play at her hair, attempting to free it from the tight bonds it's been locked in all day. Once she pulls it down to its natural position she turns around; her back to me now she pulls her hair to the front of her. I know what this means, for usually she does it to her handmaiden.
I pull myself out of my chair and walk over to her. I place my hands on the back of her dress. The fabric is hooked together in an intricate pattern of hooks and ties to keep it on her form all day. I begin to undo them dutifully as her begins to speak again.
"Elsa," a shiver runs through me then, she is the only one to call me by my true name even in private, "I'm not trying to replace you with him at all; you're much too special to me. It's just that sometimes I forget how much I matter to you and I go out looking for someone I can matter to. Even if it is only for one night. Most of the time though, I can't find the feeling I'm searching for. The feeling of belonging, of mattering, of being needed. And with him, I feel that way at least for a while. Of course I know he's only interested in the potential kingdoms he could rule by marrying me and getting you out of the picture. But in the moment, it feels nice." After she has finished speaking, I slide the blue-gray dress over her head.
It's my turn to speak once again and she continues to undress herself, "Don't you think you could feel that way with me? Anna, you are more special than anyone else in this world to me and I want you to feel that way." I myself have begun pulling off my boots and tunic, it is late and I am hoping that she will let me stay in here tonight. "I love you and I'm truly sorry for my angry words earlier." I cup her face in my hands and kiss her nose softly.
That is not the kiss she was expecting nor is it the one she wants, she takes me by the back of the neck and kisses me roughly on the mouth. She gets so passionate sometimes, it takes me by surprise. She pulls off her shoes and slip dress, she is now only wearing her underwear and soon she has me in mine.
We are still standing where we started but I make no move towards the bed yet, I run my fingers through her strawberry hair. Her hands find something else to connect with and her mouth is on top of mine again as she continues undressing me.