Part Two

Elsa couldn't help but notice that Anna was not being her usual self today. A typical Anna would always walk with a spring in her step, perpetually bubbly, vibrant, and as fiery as the color of her hair. Even the glummest and most cynical of souls could not defend themselves from her; the very energy the lady emitted was infectious, spreading throughout an entire room like an inverted sickness. She just had that much love and happiness stored within her, of which the redhead was very willing to share.

So, when Elsa saw Anna shuffle through the hallways in a slump, her expression shaded and downcast, the Snow Queen immediately understood that her sister was all out of love for even herself.

"Anna!" Elsa called, lifting up the hem of her ice dress as she made her way to her sister. "Is something the matter?" Coming to a stop before the redhead, the Queen flashed Anna a hopeful smile.

Privately, the gesture was actually an attempt to ignore the fact that Anna's dispirited mood seemed to have drained even the color of the girl's bright green dress.

The redhead blinked blearily at the Queen, before the revelation of to whom she was speaking to struck her like lightning. Her blue eyes snapped wide open in shock, and she straightened her back hurriedly, brushing a lock of red hair past her ear. "Oh, Elsa!" she greeted, forcing a smile on her face. "Um, is something the matter- ah no!" She waved a hand as if to swipe at an invisible fly, her face flushing from embarrassment until every one of her freckles disappeared. "Everything's is fine! Totally fine!"

Elsa crossed her arms and pulled her lips to a side, not at all fooled by the girl's weak attempt to present herself as happy and healthy. "You're beginning to worry me, Anna, and if you hadn't forgotten, we've already agreed a while ago to never hold anything back from each other."

Anna floundered beneath her elder sister's piercing gaze, but grasped onto a sudden bout of inspiration that may just help her escape this predicament. "I do know! I really, really do..." the Princess protested, an edge of her lips quirking upwards in mischief, "...and I'll prove it!"

The redhead pounced forward, tackling Elsa into a big hug. Anna knew Elsa reveled in these moments; Her older sister couldn't produce her own body heat because of her powers, rendering her perpetually chilly to the touch. Naturally, the Snow Queen found pleasure in any sources of heat, and developed a list of favorite stuff, besides making ice sculptures and snowmen, that gravitated towards warmth, such as hot tea, freshly baked pastries, chocolate fondue, and the shining sun.

Of course, the very top of that list would have to be warm hugs, particularly those given by Anna. Thirteen years of isolating herself had starved Elsa of love and affection, leaving her particularly susceptible to warm embraces, especially from her expanded family. The members even held a contest judged by the Snow Queen to rate who could give the best hugs; Kristoff, Sven, and even Olaf proved to be surprisingly tough competition, but Anna won after much debate.

The blonde buried herself into Anna's shoulder, melting and shivering in bliss from being able to touch her sister so freely. Then, she wrapped her own arms around her sister to hug her back in turn.

Anna considered herself clever for thinking up this quick distraction, because her sister had stopped pressuring for a confession, and settled for sighing contently in the redhead's arms, her chest expanding slowly with every breath.

Unfortunately, this little moment of self-praise was short-lived: Much to the young lady's disappointment, the Queen of Arendelle was not fooled by this surprise gift. "I know you are still holding something back, little sister." she muttered quietly.

"No, I am not..." Anna drawled, mentally cursing herself for celebrating too early. She squeezed her sister harder, eliciting a gasp from the pale woman. Elsa furrowed her dark brows in concentration, and retaliated with equal strength. The counterattack only triggered Anna into a counterattack, gripping her sister even more tightly than before. The warm hug quickly devolved into a crushing match between the two ladies, as they struggled to wring each other out without falling over to the floor.

After several tense seconds, the duel ended with the Snow Queen gasping for breath, while Anna pumped her fist upwards in victory. The sisters looked at each other in the eye, and covered their mouths as they giggled at the absurdity of the situation.

From the opposite end of the hallway, a distant grandfather clock chimed brightly, cheerfully reminding everyone within the Palace that the time was now 3'o clock.

Elsa sucked in a breath of astonishment. "Oh no, I completely forgot about today's work!" With a swish of her frost-woven cape, she turned around to smile reassuringly at her baby sister. "I have not forgotten anything Anna. When you are ready to talk, I'll be waiting in my study."

Anna waved cheerfully at Elsa, watching as the powerful enchantress turned around a corner, and vanished out of sight.

Elsa may be aware that her baby sister was truly upset for some reason, but what the Queen didn't realize was that she only worsened Anna's funk; the redhead made a complete mood-swing, becoming even more mired in sadness than before. The younger sibling bit her bottom lip to fight back a sob, and brought a hand up to her eyes to frantically wipe away tears that now poured freely.