CHAPTER 16:

A WATCHFUL EYE AND A HELPING HAND

Wow, this was a big chapter. This is the first chapter that crosses that 3000 word mark but it didn't seem so long when I was writing it. Oh well, I just hope it's of good quality. I've received a few reviews since my last chapter and I'm glad to see that you guys are enjoying both my story and my writing. I'm glad I don't suck. :D
As always, leave reviews and happy reading!

{Elsa's POV}

It finally happened. There was no turning back now. Everything I once loved and cared for is now gone. I'm alone.

I was running up the mountain, I wasn't even sure where I was heading, I was simply moving as the adrenaline pumped through me, the fear and anxiety pushing me further. I held back the tears, they're not gonna help me. I was trudging through the snow, my cape flowing freely behind me until finally I slowed down and came to a complete stop. I slowly turned around and gazed at Arendelle which seemed so small from where I stood. I can't go back. Anna, I've left her and I can never have her back. It's for the best I suppose, she can finally live her life now... and so can I.

At that moment I felt a sense of freedom wash over me, I was no longer confined to that life anymore, I was free. I started my ascent up the mountain once more as I began to sing.

"A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I'm the Queen." I continued to sing as I took off the glove on my right hand and threw it away. I would no longer hold myself back, I will not cling to fear and doubt any longer. I am free to be me and I couldn't be happier. I unhooked my cape and it was sent flying away into the cool night sky.

I continued walking up as I sang and I came up to a chasm but that didn't stop me from moving forward. I shot a blast of ice and a stair case, albeit a rough one, formed in front me. I could feel the power surging through me. I placed my foot on the first step and the ice smoothed out forming a perfect piece of ice without any misshapes or rough edges. I started running up the stairs as I created every next step till I reached the other side. This could probably be used as a metaphor for controlling one's destiny.

I spun around and that's when I realized, I had been walking the same path as the one that Frederick had taken me on everyday. Coincidence. But it was even stranger to realize that I was in the place where we had been training for so long, the place which I now considered a second home, my sanctuary. Better place than any to live. I stomp my foot down and a giant snowflake begins forming and from it I started to create something I never thought I could. I was building myself a home. I raised the snowflake up creating the floor for my new home, I raised pillars, created the walls and even a chandelier. Don't really know what to do with that but I guess it works. I had finished and my own breath was taken away at the splendid site. The intricate patterns, the shape of the ice, everything was perfect. And it was all thanks to him. Frederick taught me all of this. He always told me all I needed was to believe in my own powers, I never thought I could but here I stand in a giant ice castle. But I can still do more.

"Let it go! Let it go.", I continued singing as I opened up my hair allowing my braided hair to fall down and rest on my shoulder. You CAN do this. I twirled my hand around and I was able to create an ice dress. The threads were in line, it was a seamless whole. I've done it. I moved towards the balcony where I stood empowered as I watched the sun rise. It was a new day and a new chapter in my life. No longer isolated, I am free.

{Frederick's POV}

I had teleported myself to the other side of the fjord. I had decided to walk after her instead of waiting for her at the decided destination. I had embedded the path into her mind, even if she didn't know, she was going where I wanted her to. Several minutes had passed and my eye caught sight of something floating towards me. A glove. I extend my arm and grab it. She's letting go. At that moment another object caught my attention: Elsa's cape. Was she stripping? I hope she has a change of clothes.

I continue to walk till I reach the chasm and I'm overjoyed to see what Elsa was able to do. She had created a flawless ice stair case that allowed her to cross the chasm without any problems. I decided to leave it as it is and simply teleported myself to the other side. I coughed.

I continued walking forward till I came upon a magnificent site. A giant ice castle stood at the side of the mountain. The rays of the rising sun shimmered on the beautiful ice structure and I could hear singing. Alright then. I place my foot on the stair case and start walking towards the doorway. I faze through it. I walk up another flight of stairs till I reach a room that had a balcony that overlooked the mountain side. Elsa was on it, she was in a new attire and singing with great confidence and zeal.

"Let the storm rage on, the cold never bothered me anyway." If all it took to gain control was to sing, I would've done a toe tapping number a long time ago.

Elsa walked back into the room, a grin plastered on her face. The fear and doubt was no longer there, she was free and she was enjoying it. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me. Her grin faded but not entirely. "I've been telling you to 'let it go' for years. You decide now to listen to what I have to say?", I say sardonically and this gets her to chuckle. But then her smile disappeared and she looked at me with a glint of rage and disappointment. "Where were you?!", she asked harshly. "Back there, I needed you, I was so afraid and I could've hurt someone..." "I had an headache. I was somewhere in the gardens trying to clear my head and by the time I got back, you were gone and the damage had been done.", I interjected and she seemed to have bought the lie. She sighs.

"Well, I guess it's alright. No one got hurt but I can never go back... but that's okay; I never would have made a good queen and this way, Anna can be happy. She can finally live her life and not be confined to those walls." I raise my eyebrow. The lies we tell ourselves; we just wanna feel good about our choices. I begin to examine the room we were currently in. It was flawless. The walls were coated in a thin layer of frost, there were intricate patterns on them and the pillars and there was a chandelier hanging by the ceiling. I never taught her how to make that, glad she has her own ideas. I look back at her and give her an approving nod. "Well done, this is impressive", I spoke with a bit of pride. Guess even I was capable of creating some sort of beauty. She responds with a warm and genuine smile. I now stared at her closely. She had created an enchantingly beautiful dress, I had never seen her like this before. She had a glow to her, this joy, it was radiating from her. She was quite beautiful.

"You should get some sleep, we still have some things left to do." She furrows her brows in confusion. "Still a few things you have to learn." Her mouth forms an 'O' and she nods in understanding. I turn around and make for the door when she speaks up,"Frederick" I turn around. "Thank you", she said with genuine gratitude and I felt a pang of pain in my heart. I nod my head and walk out.

It was now the next day and I was standing next to one of the trees. No one other than Elsa and I knew of her training ground so it would take them a bit of time in locating it, especially her sister. I look up and see Anna on her horse calling out for Elsa and conversing with the horse at the same time. The trees had bent down due to the weight of the snow on them. I simply hit one of them causing it to swing up and letting the snow fall. This startled the horse and Anna was unable to keep her balance and so she fell down. She called after her horse but it was long gone. She then began her aimless wandering.

On another part of the mountain, the blonde haired man with the reindeer was making his way back down into town having collected a large sum of ice. The path he was on was surrounded by trees with little to no room between them. It was the afternoon and if he were to keep at this pace then he would reach the town before sun down. We couldn't have that. I put my index and middle finger together and swept it across the air sending a powerful wind attack that was able to create a large horizontal cut in the tree. I continued to cut it until finally -SNAP. The tree had been cut and if fell down in the middle of the path, completely blocking it. A few minutes later the man showed up. He halted his reindeer and got out to examine it. He let out an exasperated breath, probably cursing the gods for his luck. He looked around and saw that the trees around the road were too narrowly spaced to allow the sleigh to pass through. He was gonna have to go back and take another route and so he did.

My assistance wasn't going to be needed for another few hours so I retreated back to Elsa's new home. I walked in casually. I was still awestruck by the sheer size of this castle. Even in the visions I had seen and so thoroughly studied was the castle this prepossessing. That was a frightening thought though. If the things I see are different than what they actually are, was my plan really as precise as I thought? I shake the thought away and move up the stair case. I reach the same room as before and inside was Elsa standing on her balcony staring out into the world. I clear my throat and she quickly spins around. She went through a range of emotions in only seconds: shock, fear, relief and joy. She stepped forward. "You're back. So what is it that you wanted to teach me? What's really left to teach?", she said jokingly as she gestured at the castle around her. "Just a few things but before that I wanted to ask you, do you really believe that you will be happy here?", I asked frankly and Elsa's eyes scan me, contemplating my question.

"What do you mean? I'm finally free, I don't have to live in fear anymore." I stare at her tentatively. "Freedom at the cost of isolation is not a life of exemption, Elsa, it's a prison. I would know.", I whisper the last part and from the way she looked at me, it was clear that she didn't hear it. "Elsa, you will need people. You can provide yourself with many things but you will always need someone." "I have you.", she cuts me off and I glare at her. "I once told you that I would leave as soon as I thought you no longer needed training. I will stay true to that and sadly, that time is approaching.", I said in a restrained manner. Elsa just stares at me frowning. I cough a few times. "Do I mean so little to you? I thought I was important to you but it's clear that you don't give a damn about me!", tears began to form in her eyes. "How can you be so heartless, so cold? I need you, why can't you see that?!" A storm had begun to swirl around inside the small room but it didn't bother me. "Elsa, I do care for you.", I said in a gentle manner and this made her look at me with wide eyes. The storm began to dissipate. "I care about you and that's why I can't stay with you. I am poison. I will only bring misery to you. There is only darkness for me but there can be hope for you. I'm sorry, Elsa for any heart ache I may have caused." I look over her shoulder and see that it was now past sunset and therefore my presence was needed elsewhere. I look at Elsa once more and give my farewell. "Elsa, I have to go but I promise that I will be back." She looked bewildered and it took her a few seconds to respond with a simple nod.

I stood outside a small store called 'Wandering Oaken's trading post... and Sauna.' Strange mix. I hear a noise behind me and, to no surprise, Anna was making her way to the shop. Her dressed had been frozen and she was staggering her way to the shop. She opened the door and went inside. I stayed out waiting for our other guest to arrive. And sure enough he arrived just in time. The blonde haired man got off his sleigh in a hurry and went inside. I walked toward the barn and leaned next to it. A few minutes later, a fairly tall man came out carrying the blonde man and tossing him out. They sneakily wandered over to the barn and broke in. Anna came out next wearing a new set of clothes and carrying multiple bags.

She was looking around when both of us heard singing from the barn. I groan. Singing is not as joyous to the soul as you may think. She goes in and negotiates the travel plans with the blonder haired man, Kristoff and only after a few minutes, we were off.

I was sitting at the back of the sleigh. I didn't pay much attention to what the two of them were bickering about but the topic of conversation seemed to be Anna's fiancee and boogers. I guess they go hand in hand. I hear the crackling of twigs and the sounds of footsteps behind but I didn't need to look back. Kristoff heard the sounds as well and turned around to see what it was. Trepidation overcame him as he ordered his reindeer to run faster. We were now being chased by wolves. I turned around and with the movement of my hand caused the snow from some of the trees to fall on top of some of the wolves. Too many would be a problem. One of the wolves lunged itself onto the sleigh and grabbed Kristoff by the shoulder pulling him down. He was now dragging behind the sleigh, holding onto a piece of rope as more wolves began to attack him. Anna lit a sleeping bag on fire and tossed it back almost hitting Kristoff. Kristoff climbed back onto the sleigh as they neared a large void. He tossed Anna onto the reindeer and cuts the reins so it wouldn't be held back by the sleigh. I had teleported myself to the other side. As soon as they were about to jump, I created a block of ice at the very edge of the cliff giving the reindeer the extra boost to make it across. I dissolved the ice as quickly as I made it.

Anna and the reindeer were fine but Kristoff was hanging on the edge of the chasm; his sleigh was at the bottom. Anna tied rope to a pick ax and threw it towards him. He grabbed onto it and Anna began to pull. She wasn't very strong so I gave her a helping hand. I pulled the rope and Kristoff was now in solid land. My presence was no longer needed here so I went to the place where it did.

I was somewhere in the North mountain. There, in front of me was a pond completely frozen over and on top of it was a skating, talking snowman. He was surprisingly graceful for a creature that had no legs, joints or any sort of skeleton. Her magic is so much powerful than she knows. He was giggling as he danced around on the frozen lake on which the moonlight gloriously shimmers on. If not for the snowman's annoying giggles, this would've been quite a tranquil moment for me. I pick up a bit of snow and roll it around to make a snowball. I toss it at the snowman and he falls down face first. He gets up shaking the excess snow off of him. He looks around. "Okay, who threw that?" I walk a few feet to the left and create another snowball and toss it at him. He wipes the snow off and looks in my direction. "Oh, I see, this is a game of hide and seek and I'm it.", he said innocently. Well, that's one way to look at it. I make another snowball and toss it in the opposite direction. The snowman's eyes perch up and he walks in that direction. "I'm gonna get you.", he said excitedly as he waddles towards the place the snowball made impact. Getting him to his desired place was easier than I thought.