Elsa was glad her snow had covered the pathway, because every step she took, she left a frost layer beneath her, at least that way it was not so noticeable. Regina's car pulled over with difficulty shoving the snow aside, Elsa knew she needed her winter to end, she also knew she would need some serious thoughts of love to do so.
Elsa came inside the car being received by Henry's greetings and a white box with food.
"So, you enjoyed your walk?" asked Emma looking back.
"It was pleasant" she nodded
"So, as you might see, the snow is getting a little out of hand" said lightly Regina.
"I've noticed" she picked on her lower lip "I will withdraw it" she said solemnly.
"We know you mean no harm, just please do it fast"
"I-I can't melt it properly right now, but I might be able to slow down the flurry"
"Do what you must"
"Is the people suffering?" she asked concerned
"They seen worst magic than this" mocked Emma receiving a glare from the driver in return.
"They will be fine" reassured Henry "We have heaters and electricity and many other stuff to keep people warm"
"Has…there been any riots?"
"This town can take some winter, is not like they could throw you to jail just for altering a bit the weather" teased Regina taking a turn.
"Curious, it was enough reason for my people to throw me to a cell back home" said Elsa at mid voice more to herself than to them, just distantly looking thru the window.
"So have you been thru this before…?" asked Emma warily.
Elsa then had a reality check and turned her attention back to the conversation "Pardon?"
"Have you…frozen another land before?" she asked again "Like, your own land?"
Elsa smiled sadly looking at her hands deciding no to lie for this once "I'm not known like the Snow Queen for nothing" she tried to chuckled but the remorse took away the strength of her voice. "Curious thing what emotions can do when you add magic to them" she gazed to the sky " 'Fear will be your enemy' they told me and they were right" she bitted on the tip of the glove" 'Beware the frozen heart' and so many other prophecies that…came to be true" she sniffled a little "I didn't meant to harm anyone and when I was about to slay…then I realized I had become the monster everyone feared I was. I did deserved to die for my actions, I thought I had killed my sister and that was treason, the fair judgment would had been death"
"But…" Henry cut in softly noticing how Elsa fought back the tears "You didn't killed your sister"
"No" came a weak reply "But I froze her heart and even if it was just for mere seconds… I held her in my arms as a lifeless statue. Her heart stopped beating and she exhaled her last breath; that was real. After, she dawned because her love for me was stronger than the ice I stroke in her heart, but… I did lose her, if only just for seconds" her lips quivered as she tried to stay composed "Can you stop, please?" she pleaded urgently as Regina went to a side.
"What's wrong?"
"I just need some air" she opened her door fast running to an empty street just to fall to her knees and cry and sob and let everything out. Her fists clutched and her face almost buried in snow as she hugged herself tightly allowing all the tears to shred and fall to the white coat. She had suffered, she knew pain, she had lost everything in the world before even realizing she had it: The love of her parents, the joy of her childhood, the blissful company of her sister. Now, she had lost it all over again, she couldn't bear knowing that, it was too much to put up with.
The snow around her started to get agitated as she submerged herself in her own snow storm. After a few minutes, she heard footsteps approaching, but she wasn't ready to be confronted, she couldn't face them looking like this, like a forgotten lost child. She was a queen, she was a grown up, she was…broken.
"Here" she spied thru the corner of her eye seeing a tissue. She followed the hand to find Henry kneeled next to her.
"Thank you" she took it clearing her eyes breathing unevenly.
"I lost my dad recently… and I thought nothing would make sense without him again, because I had barely found him, but…good people helped me through" he smiled "Do you have someone to help you through?"
Elsa made a fine line with her lips and shook her head.
"Then we will help you through" he tentatively wrapped an arm around her and found himself embracing the former Snow Queen, but to his surprise, she wasn't as cold as he imagined.
After a couple of minutes, Henry let go and stood up helping her to her feet. The young women looked at the boy and realized she had much more in common with him that with the adults. She was forced to grow up at a faster pace that she wished, she never really got time to be a kid after the accident, a part of her wished she was more like Henry. Easily amused by fairy tales and full of hope; he had just the things she lacked.
"Thank you, Henry" she said sincerely with her lips still trembling a little. She hadn't embraced anyone in so long, and for years, the only person to ever offer so, was her sister. Having him around, was like having the spirit of her sister, always so positive, always so fearless.
