Chapter 5: The Rescue Part 2

A distressed Elsa paced her room, back and forth. She felt caged, truly trapped for the first time in her long isolation. What was she going to do? She couldn't go to her father, he was the one that had sent Anna away in the first place! And how could he do that, didn't he love her? Didn't he care for her wellbeing? Biting on her gloves, she glanced outside. Almost as soon as the caravan had left, snow had started to fall. It arrived from the west, sweeping over the water and bringing harsh, gusting winds with it. Conditions were getting worse by the minute, soon the castle would be drowned in a violent blizzard. Elsa could feel her awareness of Anna moving in the storm, swirling and spinning like a tiny leaf, but always moving a little farther and farther away.

Then it stopped. Elsa bolted to the window and peered out. Yes, Anna was definitely not moving south anymore. But Elsa couldn't even see beyond the castle walls in the darkness that the fierce blizzard had created. An overwhelming fear for her sister's safety gripped Elsa, and she could think of nothing else. Something snapped within her, and before she knew it her gloves were on the floor and she was climbing out of her window. The sill immediately froze, although with the snow that had been blowing through already, it was hardly noticeable. Elsa thought for a second and reached out to the air around her. Within seconds, a ladder-like formation of ice had started to grow down and out from her perch. It shook wildly in the wind even after attaching itself to the ground, but Elsa paid no heed to her own safety and scrambled down as fast as she could.

A good thing too, because only seconds after her feet were on the ground, the ice ladder tore away from the wall and crashed to the ground. It shattered into a thousand pieces, and Elsa quickly turned away from the flying debris, hiding behind her cloak. However, one chunk still scrapped across her cheek, leaving a long, shallow cut that barely had time to bleed before freezing shut. Unfazed, Elsa got up and ran to the gate. There were no guards still outside to stop her, but the heavy crossbar was far too much for her to handle.

"NO!" She cried helplessly while pounding her fists against the immovable oaken paneling. "I need to get to Anna!" Suddenly with a loud crash and a sharp splintering sound, something slammed into the wood right beside her. It was a giant icicle, buried point first halfway into the supposedly solid barrier. Stepping back, she considered the bizarre sight. And then, with a furrow of concentration, she created another icicle, consciously this time. It floated just above her hand, seemingly suspended in the air. The wind picked up, whipping her hair all around as it bore down on the gates. With a shout, Elsa pulled back and made a throwing motion with her hand. The icicle leapt into the wind and crunched into the old oak right next to the first.

"Sorry father, you're going to need to buy a new door!" she cried as the icicles started forming faster and faster. Each missile penetrated the wood a little more, splitting it and tearing it apart. Finally a particularly large one flew right through the lacerated paneling, opening a hole big enough for a small girl. Elsa squirmed through and tried to orient herself. She had never been outside the walls in this direction, but in the storm she couldn't find any of the landmarks that she normally saw from her room. Without any other options, she decided to just aim in the direction of Anna's mental nudge and walk.

There wasn't a soul to be seen still outside in the middle of one of the worst blizzards in recent memory except for the tiny ten year old girl. Anna still seemed to be miles away, but Elsa just focused on putting one foot in front of the next, one step at a time. It wasn't the cold that slowed her down, really, it was the wind. It swirled and gusted in every direction, pushing her forward in one moment and pulling her back the next. Along with the several inches of snow that was quickly accumulating around her feet, she wasn't able to move any faster than a deliberate walk. Frustrated with her pace and frantic to reach her destination, Elsa conjured up a pair of snow shoes made of ice and a long, thin icicle to use as a walking stick. Encouraged by her ingenuity, she hurried on as fast as she could.

It was impossible to say how long it took Elsa to reach Anna. She was trotting as quickly as the wind allowed, but her awareness of Anna seemed to be fading no matter how far she went. In fact, was it even as strong now as it had been when she started? Did that mean she was actually headed in the wrong direction? Elsa was almost ready to break down in despair when a large shadow emerged from of the darkness in front of her. It was the carriage! I made it! Oh Anna, please be alive! Elsa thought desperately. But what happened to everyone else?

The coach was turned back towards the town, a last ditch effort to return to shelter after getting caught out in the storm. The horses that had been pulling it were dead, covered in ice and unable to free themselves from their harnesses even in their last moments. On her approach, Elsa tripped over a huge lump of snow. Glancing behind her, she realized that she had tripped over one of the men accompanying the doctor, his face frozen and blue in death. Screaming, Elsa backed away from the body and into another lump. Suddenly she was aware of several more bumps in the snow, horseless riders that had tried until their last breath to reach safety after their mounts had spooked and run away in terror.

Elsa puked onto the snow at the sight of so much death, unable to stop the instinctive reaction. Breathing heavily but still determined, she pulled herself up and stepped carefully the rest of the way to the coach. The doctor was lying next to the door, his icy fingers clawing at the handle that he hadn't managed to open before freezing. Elsa swallowed nervously and reached out to push his arm aside. It snapped off at the elbow and she spun away, nearly throwing up again. After a moment, she reached for the latch and got inside the cabin at last.

The interior was warmer than outside, but not by much. At least it was protected from the wind. Immediately Elsa spotted Anna's body and rushed to her sister's side. Anna was not in good shape. Her lips were blue and skin was cold to the touch. She's not breathing. Elsa realized. Oh nonononono please say I'm not too late. ANNA! She threw herself onto Anna and cried, hugging her close. Please don't be dead Anna, don't be dead. Not you too. Abruptly Elsa remembered that familiar nudge. I can still feel her! It's faint, but she's alive! Quickly, I have to make her breathe. Think Elsa, think!

Out of desperation she leaned in close to Anna's face and brought their lips together. She exhaled into her sister's open mouth and then slowly inhaled. At first nothing happened, but then Elsa felt an odd flutter inside herself. And she felt her awareness of Anna grow a tiny bit. Emboldened, she bent back down and continued, even going so far as to squeeze Anna's nose shut while passing on as much of her own breathing as she could. She was clumsy and nervous, but little by little she felt Anna getting stronger, although oddly it seemed like she was fading from Elsa's thoughts at the same time.

Finally, miraculously, Anna jerked and gasped on her own, inhaling a deep breath of precious air. Her eyes fluttered and opened for a moment, then shut again. But she kept breathing. "OH ANNA!" Elsa wept with joy, "You're alive! You're back! Oh gods Anna I thought I had lost you forever. I love you so much, so so much! Can you hear me? Anna?" But she didn't answer. Elsa noticed that Anna's breathing had become rapid and shallow, and she was shivering now. "No! Don't you do this now, not after everything we've been through! Hang in there, Anna, I'll bring you home!"

With some effort, Elsa managed to pull Anna out of the carriage. Her sister had kept growing to an extent during her enchantment, but luckily for Elsa the six year old was still small for her age. Even so Anna was almost more than she could carry, and there was no way she had the strength to bring her all the way back to the castle. After some thought, she fashioned a small ice sled and tore off a long strip of her cloak, then froze the ends into the sled to make a handle. She wrapped the rest of her cloak around Anna and rolled her sister onto the makeshift sledge and pulled her legs in close. After remaking the ice shoes and securing the strap around her chest, Elsa set off back up the road.

If getting to the carriage had taken a long time, getting back took at least twice as long. Elsa was pulling extra weight and didn't have the advantage of a mental compass to guide her. The wind was still blowing and snow was still coming down in torrents, but luckily the storm had eased up slightly since her desperate journey had begun. She was able to see far enough ahead of her to recognize the trees on either side of the road and stay between them. All the same, Elsa was starting to panic when the first lights of the town poked through the darkness. She had checked on Anna as much as she could on the way back, and she still seemed to be breathing, but her condition was getting worse. She was barely shivering now, and Elsa knew that she didn't have long to get her inside and warm. Worst of all, Elsa's sense of Anna had faded completely when Anna had first woken up and didn't seem to be coming back.

But the friendly light gave Elsa a fresh burst of energy, and for a moment her nightmare scenarios were forgotten. "We did it Anna! Look, it's a house! Come on, come on!" She stepped up the speed and hurried to the precious beacon of habitation and hope. At last she lurched to a halt and raised her small fist to bang on the door with the last of her strength. "Open up! Please, I beg you, open the door!" she cried. For a moment, there was no response. Then the sound of a few hurried footsteps were heard and a motherly-looking woman opened the door.

"Oh gods have mercy it was someone knocking! You poor thing, how in the world did you get stuck outside in this storm? And without even a coat? Get inside right now you must be chilled to the bone!"

But Elsa just moved to the side by a step. "No, not me. It's my sister." She gestured behind her to the makeshift sled and the goodwife's hands went up in shock again. Acting swiftly she scooped up Anna and carried her into the cottage. In a moment of clarity, Elsa pushed the ice sledge around the corner and behind a pile of firewood where it wouldn't be seen. Then she stumbled through the door and collapsed wearily right on the floor.

Not a moment later a strong pair of arms picked Elsa up and deposited her on a bench by the fire. "Annnd there you go. It's important to get warm while awake if you can, little miss." The speaker was a well-muscled young man, dressed in warm furs and smiling down at Elsa through a thick beard. "Don't you worry about the other one, my mother's taking care of her over there right now. You need to worry about yourself, your skin is freezing cold right now!" He frowned at the last, because Elsa was wearing nothing but a torn dress and long boots. Her skin was like ice, but she wasn't shivering or covered in goosebumps, and she didn't have anything that looked frostbitten.

Elsa was absolutely exhausted but her eyes flew open when her rescuer trailed off. "Oh, no I'm fine, really! Really. Um, I know this sounds crazy, but it's very important. Can you go to the castle and tell the guards that the princesses are here? I would go myself, but" she stifled a huge yawn, "I don't think I could take another step right now without" another yawn, "falling over. Oh, um, there should be a ring in the cloak that my sister was wrapped in, if you don't believe me."

"Back outside again?! No way am I letting you back out in that cold. Go lie down on my bed over there, and we'll take care of everything." Elsa nodded and the moment her head touched the pillow she was out. The man made sure she was staying put and walked over to his mother. "Did you hear what she said, mother? The princesses! No one has seen a hair of Anna for three years, and I don't think anyone has ever met Elsa in person. She must have gone snow-crazy. Especially with what she's wearing! I'm surprised she's still alive, really."

But his mother pursed her lips and looked thoughtful. "It's definitely crazy, but look at what this one is wearing underneath these cloaks. That's real silk, and while the other one has run her dress to rags, I'll be damned if it wasn't more than what me 'n you can afford before it got ruined. Plus they look about the right age for what she says. Let's check that pocket." But when she reached into the cloak beside Anna her expression changed. Wordlessly she drew out a perfect silver ring with a ruby set in the top. Carefully engraved on each side of the stone were the king's personal seal and the realm's coat of arms. Mother and son both stared at each other in amazement. "I think you'd better get your heavy coat, son."

When Elsa awoke in the early morning she was in her own bed. For a moment she was confused and disoriented. Was it all a bad dream? But then the servant by the door noticed her awake and scurried away with a start. She looked around and saw the window sill coated in ice and cracked where it had torn away from the wall as her ladder fell. I guess they brought me back here while I was still asleep. I hope that nice man and woman get a reward. Where's Anna? Oh no no no, I still can't feel her. What happened to her? Please be ok Anna, please be ok. Elsa sprinted to the dresser to find a change of clothes, but she had only just barely put them on when a guardsman entered the room.

"Come with me." Was all he said. Elsa obediently followed him, but her mind was racing. Where are we going? This isn't the way to Anna's room, it's the main throne room. What does father want with me now? The guard didn't offer any hints, but his silence only increased Elsa's puzzlement. It was only a short walk from the exit of the west wing to the throne room, and before she could speculate any more, he was knocking on the door and announcing her name.

"You may enter, Elsa." Her father said in a grave voice. He wasn't on his throne, but rather standing alone in the middle of the room. His expression was pained and he looked incredibly tired. However, he was holding the royal scepter and gestured for Elsa to kneel in front of him. After she had done so, all he said was "Elsa, what have you done?" She started to speak but he interrupted.

"Enough! Oh gods what have I done to deserve such a fate. How could you Elsa? I thought we had cured you, or at least contained it. But you've betrayed my trust once again. What has Anna ever done to you?"

"I don't understand, father." Elsa had no idea how to respond to this sudden ambush.

"So you still claim ignorance? Well let me spell it out. Anna is in a coma, again. She went into shock from the extreme cold yesterday. Ten men are dead, as well as one of my trusted doctors. I had finally found a cure for Anna's condition, and the moment she's sent away to begin treatment in the South, an extreme blizzard appears out of a clear sky, you break your promise and escape your rooms, then go after my daughter and murder eleven people along the way. And that's not even getting into the destruction of the keep wall and castle gate."

"No! No that's not how it was! That's insane. I would never hu-" Her voice was pained as she pleaded with her father to understand. How could he think that she would willingly endanger Anna? The storm was her fault? There's no way! Tears stung her eyes when he interrupted again.

"Never hurt who? The sister that you've put on the edge of death twice now? You have a casual disregard for the value of human life, Elsa, and I don't know what to do with you. That storm almost killed a lot more people, but luckily the townspeople were able to get inside before the worst of it struck. There was supposed to be no more snow yesterday until you started playing god with the weather. It was your fault. And it's also your fault that your sister is once again half frozen and unconscious. If she is still under that damnable spell of yours when she wakes this time, I promise you that your blood will not save you from my fury anymore, witch."

Elsa flinched as if struck. Witch? Her own father thought she was a witch? What could have possessed him to act like this? Didn't she bring Anna back by herself from certain death? If she had been out in that storm for one more min- The storm. His words sunk in. No snow. There wasn't supposed to be any snow. She must have been the one to bring in that storm, without meaning to. And all those men had died… because of her? Anna was freezing to death, and Elsa was the one with ice magic that she couldn't control. Gods, he was right. He was always right. She couldn't control herself and she probably never would. No one was safe around her, not even Anna. She was a menace. She was a… a witch. With tears flowing down her cheeks she replied in a quavering voice, "Yes, father. I understand. Please give me another chance. From now on I'll listen to everything you have to say. I won't leave my rooms again. I'll learn how to be a good girl, I promise! I can do it: Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know."

"Your majesty!" interrupted a frantic guard as he burst into the room. "She's awake!"