"And chassé, step, step, jeté, step, jeté!" The instructor called out, watching her sole student trying her best to keep up with the fast paced choreography. Elise was smiling all the while, so that put the instructor at ease, knowing that she wasn't pushing her too hard.
"Keep your feet pointed and your back leg straight. One last run before we end." She said, and Elise nodded her head, panting as she ran back to the corner and went into position.
When she heard the instructor repeat the steps, she followed obediently, but when she went up on a fairly high petit jete, she had forgotten to bend her knees and her left foot absorbed all of the impact, damaging it quite badly.
She tried to hide the injury by setting back into a plié, much to the instructor's delight. No one noticed.
"Very good, little miss. I shall see you again later this week." She grinned at her little student, and Elise smiled up at her, trying not to grimace. Her foot was throbbing, her weight always on her right leg.
Elise walked normally towards a smiling Elsa who was seated on a love seat, trying her best not to scream in pain.
"You danced beautifully," Elsa complimented graciously, kissing Elise's cheek as she gathered her in her arms. "Did you say thank you to Madame Sonya?"
Elise shook her head. She turned her torso, making sure not to take any steps and hollered out, "Thank you, Madame!"
"You are welcome." The instructor grinned, nodding her head at the child and curtsying at Elsa before leaving the room, her dance bag in hand. Elise turned her attention back to Elsa.
"Would you like to go back to your quarters?" Elsa asked, already releasing her hair from the tight bun and combing it with her fingers.
"Food?" Elise asked. She wasn't hungry, but she knew that Elsa would insist on changing her clothes before anything else, and she really didn't want to worry her mother with her ankle.
"Alright. Off to the kitchen, then." Elsa said, standing up from her seat and holding Elise's hand. When Elsa took a step forward, Elise didn't budge. Elsa looked at her daughter curiously, confused at her odd behavior.
Elise, thinking quick, put her arms up, a silent request to be carried. Elsa's eyes softened before complying, hoisting her up in her arms and settling her on her hip.
"You're quite clingy today. You never ask me to carry you," Elsa mused, but was secretly happy. Being four and a three fourths, Elise told Elsa that she was already a big girl and that she didn't need to be carried around. Elsa respected her wishes, but still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that her daughter was growing up.
"I'm tired," Elise supplied, resting her head on Elsa's shoulder for good measure. The pressure off of her left foot felt great, but she was still apprehensive about Elsa knowing.
"Is that so?" Elsa asked in a calming voice. Elise nodded her head against her shoulder. "How about I bring you to your quarters first so you can rest. I'll ask one of the servants to bring you some food. What would you like?"
"Fruits and cream," she replied, her tone exhausted. She was having an internal battle. If there was anything Elise didn't like, it's when her mother would worry about her. She doesn't like how she frowns.
"Alright." Elsa said, turning around and walking towards Elise's quarters. When Elsa set her down on her bed, she noticed that her daughter had been quite silent since her class. She was usually a chatterbox, even when she was tired.
"Do you want to change on your own? I'll just inform Gerda to bring your food up." Elsa said, knowing that she would never give up an opportunity to feel like a big girl, despite her overwhelming need to baby her. Elise nodded her head, waiting for Elsa was walk out of the door before changing.
She removed her leotard first before carefully removing her tutu, shoes and tights, holding back tears when she moved her injured ankle slightly. She surveyed the damage, grimacing at the angry mix of purple, black and blue, and how extremely swollen it was. She was surprised that Elsa never noticed it.
Taking a leap of faith, she stepped down from her bed, clad only in her underwear. She hobbled towards her dresser, taking a pair of bloomers and a nightgown, making sure that it was long enough to cover her ankles. She sat down on the floor, wiggling the bloomers up her legs without moving her left foot. Before she could put on the dress, she heard a voice from the door.
"Do you need some help?" Anna asked, smiling at her niece. Before Elise could respond, she walked over towards her, taking the night gown and quickly dressing her. Anna was about to stand up when she noticed Elise's left foot.
"What happened here?" Anna asked, trying to keep the panic from her voice. Elise kept silent. "Have you told Elsa about this?"
At the mention of Her mother's name, she burst into tears. "Don't tell her! I don't want mama to worry." She wailed, looking at Anna pleadingly. Anna didn't pay attention; she was too busy looking for writing materials and writing a note to Elsa, leaving it on Elise's bed before turning her attention back to her niece.
"Elise, she's going to worry even more if you don't get that checked." Anna said, scooping Elise in her arms, despite her protests. "We're going to the palace infirmary, alright? Whether you like it or not."
"No, aunt Anna, please, no," Elise whimpered, but her pleads fell on deaf ears when she felt Anna rushing out of her quarters, her bouncing in her arms.
Meanwhile, Elsa could not find Gerda anywhere, so she had ventured to the kitchen herself, asking the chef to prepare the dessert. One of the servants told her that she could go back to little miss and he would bring the food up to her, and Elsa agreed, smiling graciously.
Elsa walked back towards her daughter's room, panting slightly due to the long, winding staircase that she had to endure. When Elsa opened the door, Elise was no where to be found. Her dance wear was scattered on her bed, a piece of parchment being weighed down by her little ballet shoes.
Elsa's heart began to race, her ice already encasing the walls. She picked up the note, sighing in relief that her daughter wasn't kidnapped, but was worried nonetheless.
Elsa, we're at the infirmary. Come quick.
-Anna
Elsa dropped the note and practically ran towards the infirmary, her mind wondering what had happened to either Elise or Anna. Once she got there, she busted the door open, scanning the room and gasping when she saw her daughter lying down on a bed, her left foot elevated, and Anna applying an ice pack over it.
What happened here?" Elsa asked hastily, surveying her daughter's condition up close. She saw that her foot was bent at a strange angle, half of her ankle terribly swollen and was peppered by blue and purple bruises.
"Elise wants to tell you something." Anna said from her place by Elise's foot, urging her niece to go on. Elise shook her head, clamping her mouth shut.
"Elisabeth," Elsa said sternly, using her full name. At her mother's tone and usage, Elise knew that she had to confess.
"I hurt my foot in ballet. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, mama," Elise admitted shamefully, a few tears escaping her eyes. "I didn't want you to worry."
Elsa's sternness dissipated and was replaced by concern. "Oh, Elise," Elsa sighed, kissing her daughter's forehead. "Next time, please, don't hide anything from me."
"Are you mad, mama?" Elise squeaked, sniffling. Elsa wiped her tears away.
"I'm not mad, just disappointed. You know that I never hide anything from you, and it makes me sad that you think that this should be hidden from me." Elsa admonished lightly, and Elise nodded her head. The doctor came back from behind the curtain, holding bandages and metal clips.
"Oh, your majesty," The doctor said, surprised, going into a deep bow before standing up. "Little miss seems to have sprained her ankle, if that much is not yet obvious. I've had Princess Anna apply ice to her ankle, and I'll be wrapping it so as to aid with the healing." He informed her, holding up the roll of bandages.
Anna stepped away, making Elise slightly whimper at the loss of coldness. Elsa sat down next to Elise on the bed, holding her little body in her arms. When the doctor touched the pad of her foot, she held her breath.
"It hurts, mama," Elise whimpered, and all Elsa could do was hold her tighter, wanting so much to take her daughter's pain away.
"It's going to be alright, little love. I've got you. Mama's got you," Elsa whispered, helping Elise breath deeply. Anna sat opposite to her sister, wedging her niece in the middle. Elise was holding three of Anna's fingers, squeezing them tightly.
The doctor wrapped Elise's ankle expertly, pausing every once in a while to allow his patient to feel as comfortable as possible. Once he got to wrapping her ankle, Elise screamed loudly at his touch into Elsa's stomach, sobbing and thrashing in Elsa's arms.
"I don't want, I don't want," Elise screeched, sobbing heavily, staining Elsa's dress with mucus and saliva. "It hurts! Make it stop, mama! Make it stop!"
"Shh, calm down now, baby. Mama's got you, shh," Elsa soothed, rocking her slightly. Anna pitched in, rubbing the back of her hand, whispering encouraging words to her.
"Try singing to her. Mama always did that. That usually calmed me down when I was little." Anna suggested quietly. The doctor paused, waiting patiently, but also took this time to observe how the queen was with her daughter.
"I've never sang to her before; I don't know any songs," Elsa said. Sure, she would hum little ditties to Elise, but never actually sang to her. Elise's cries subsided a bit, and the doctor took this time to wrap it once over her ankle, making her scream again.
"Remember that lullaby mama used to sing that we loved? Baby Mine?" Anna said, remembering her mother's soothing voice as she sang that. Elsa thought about it and smiled a bit when the memory flashed back to her, nodding before looking down at her wailing daughter.
"Concentrate on mama's voice, okay, little love? Focus on mama," Elsa told her daughter, wiping her tears. Elise nodded, squeezing Anna's fingers. With a nervous breath, Elsa started.
"Baby mine, don't you cry," Elsa sang softly, holding Elise tight. "Baby mine, dry your eyes."
Elise was entranced by her mother's voice, her cries gradually quieting down exponentially. She had always loved Elsa's voice, but it was her first time to listen to her sing. The doctor carried on by doing the second wrap, making Elise only wince this time.
"Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine," Elsa continued her song, smiling a bit. She never took her eyes off of her little girl; she needed as much comfort as she could get.
Elsa had only finished the song halfway when the doctor had already finished bandaging her ankle properly. He left the infirmary, wanting to give them a private moment.
"Look, baby," Elsa said, pointing at her now wrapped up foot. "Mama's so proud of you."
"That's my brave girl!" Anna cheered, kissing Elise's cheek soundly, eliciting a small giggle.
"Do you want to go back to your quarters? I believe a bowl of fruits and cream is waiting for you." Elsa asked, brushing the hair away from her face. Elise smiled a bit a nodded, wrapping her arms around Elsa's neck, burying her face in her chest.
Elsa then looked at her sister, who was just staring at the duo. "Would you like to come with us?" She asked with a smile, and Anna nodded, returning the grin.
Elsa picked Elise up from the bed, cradling her in her arms as if she were a baby, and she and Anna walked back to Elise's quarters.
"Elsa?" Anna called her sister's attention as they walked up the steps.
"Yes?"
"I know I've said this before, but I really don't give you as much credit as you deserve," Anna said, following her sister as she turned right towards the hallway where Elise's room was.
Elsa gave her a small smile, wanting to escape the unwanted praise. Anna opened Elise's door and allowed her sister to enter first. She laid Elise down on her bed, and Anna took the liberty to stack pillows up for Elise's foot.
"Just rest, alright, little love?" Elsa said, rubbing random patterns on her stomach. "I love you."
"Love you, mama." Elise said drowsily, yawning before fluttering her eyes shut. Elsa took the bowl of fruits and cream that was on the bedside and ate a spoonful. Anna raised an eyebrow at her sister, but when Elsa offered her a spoon, she didn't decline.
"I thought this was for Elise?" Anna reminded, but her actions said otherwise when she fed herself another spoonful.
"She's asleep. I'll have another one ready when she wakes up." Elsa grinned, even letting out a small chuckle. Anna giggled as well, and they were both chatting quietly about random things as they finished the bowl.
"I miss this," Anna smiled, wiping off some residue from her lips with her sleeve. "Us bonding, I mean. Because you're usually off being a queen or being with Elise and when you're free I'm usually off with Kristoff or watching over Elise while you're working. I love Elise and all, but sometimes I just miss being with you."
Elsa was slightly taken aback by her words, but then realized that she was right. "Me too. But you know you could always ask."
"Yeah, but I know that you would want to spend every free moment you have with your daughter, and I don't exactly have the heart to take that away from you." Anna confessed, and Elsa all but pulled her sister into her embrace, and Anna hugged back tightly.
"I never knew you felt that way," Elsa said, sighing. "I'm sorry. I promise to make it up to you from now on."
"It's alright." Anna said, smiling a bit. "Can I tell you something?"
"Yes, of course."
Anna closed her eyes, breathing deeply. "You know, every single time I try to think of mama, I think of you. And mama doesn't have a lot of portraits here, so whenever I try to picture her face, I see you."
"Anna, I-,"
"Please don't think of it as weird. It's just that, even though she is not biologically yours, you have become the best example of a mother that I have ever seen." Anna smiled at her sister, wiping away Elsa's tears that she didn't even notice were falling. "If I were at least half of a mother you are to Elise, then I know I'll be doing an amazing job."
"Thank you," Elsa whispered, grinning at her sister widely. She pulled her in for another hug. "Thank you so much."
Anna only smiled. She deserved to hear that, after all.
Long chapter to compensate for the long absence.
This chapter requested by another Anon. I hope I did your idea some justice. Also, I hope you guys caught a reference I threw in there. Tell me where it's from when you find it!
Please do tell me what you think. Wishing you all the best!