A/N: Thanks to everyone who's followed/favorited and/or is reading but not reviewing:)
Thanks to CieloFede for beta-ing:)
johnpatgillespie-That's in this chapter!:) 'Kay, thanks. I'm sorry to you and everyone else whose stories I'm reading.:P THEY WILL BE UP EVENTUALLY.:)
Protoestrella1-Yeah.:/ Thank you.:) I think both of them need each other, actually.:) Exactly! Both Elsa and Anna have something the other doesn't. I agree!:)
Fatten Saad-Well, read on and find out!:) Of course Elsa and Anna will get away...with a bit of trouble. They'll ALWAYS get a happy ending. (BTW, that doesn't mean this is the chapter. Not by a long shot.;))
dmcreif-Yep. Yes, of course they get a happy ending eventually.:) I agree-Hans picked some pretty incompetent thugs to do his dirty work.:P
BellaCullen931-I think Elsa and Anna would play and act silly together sometimes...I mean, neither of them, especially Elsa, had anyone to play with when they were younger.:/ Lol, I just thought Elsa might like animals but be a bit uncomfortable around them. Hence the scene with Sven.:)
Krypie-Yay, thanks!:) That's 'cause it is a prequel! (Although 'Adventures of Elsa & Anna' is supposed to be between this story and 'Mind Games'.) But yes, definitely a prequel!:) (Or sequel to Secret Passages...:P)
On to the story!:)
Elsa ran though the secret passages heading straight for the forest. After a bit of thought, she had decided not to tell her co-rescuers about the passages. Secret passages weren't secret anymore if she started telling people about them. Elsa's parents had told her to never, ever tell anyone about the passages; that only the royal family was supposed to know about them, and just…yeah. She couldn't tell anyone about them. It wasn't her prerogative to do so, was it? Anyways, she would meet everyone in the little clearing with the creek. Elsa, stay calm. Or at least as calm as possible. It's okay to be scared; I just can't freeze up. I have to find Anna.
Elsa slid the secret entrance out into the forest up, closed it, and stepped outside. Now she needed to find Anna. Elsa's heart was pounding, and she left frosty footprints behind with each step, but she did not completely lose control. Okay, I can deal with accidental frosty footprints. Just…don't completely freak out, Elsa. Please. I have to find Anna. Silent as a cat, she tiptoed toward the clearing. Nothing. Elsa's sharp eyes scanned her surroundings, searching for anything out of place. In the wet ground by the creek, she spotted several large footprints. Those definitely are not Anna's…where is Anna?! And where are those men? They had to have been here recently… Elsa ran over to a tree when she noticed a piece of rope on the ground. Could Anna have been tied up and escaped? Why else would there be rope here? Elsa whipped around when she heard noises behind her. "Stay back!" she ordered. "Don't touch me!"
"Shush up, Elsa," Anna whispered. "Wait, too late!" She yanked a very puzzled and surprised Elsa into her hiding place behind and halfway under a large bush, but just as Anna suspected, it was too late. They'd been spotted.
Elsa clung to her little sister, not wanting to let go. Anna's alive. I'm not too late! Now I just have to get the both of us out of here. I wish my little rescue team would get here soon…
"Where'd they go?" Elsa heard an angry voice call. "I just saw both of them! We're not going to be paid if this doesn't work!"
Elsa gasped, and Anna clapped her hand over her sister's mouth. Elsa scrunched her eyes shut, knowing exactly why Anna had done that. If I make a mistake now, we're toast. No ice, Elsa. Don't make the temperature drop, either. Conceal, don't feel. You have Anna with you. She's safe. Well, not exactly safe, but she isn't dead. Elsa could feel her breathing becoming shallow and rapid, and she clutched her sister's hand, willing Anna to understand that she needed help. Now. Calm down, Elsa! Calm down calm down calm down…
Anna didn't dare say a word, but she gently stroked Elsa's hair, hoping that would be enough to calm Elsa down. Please don't get one of those freakout things, Elsa. Please. We can't afford for that to happen right now. If Elsa freezes up, we're doomed. I can't even just pick her up and run or something.
Elsa couldn't keep silent tears from running down her cheeks, but to her credit, she managed to keep from completely losing it. My stomach hurts. That hurricane is going to be here in a few hours. She was scared; she felt like she was going to throw up; and she knew the temperature around her was dropping. If she had to choose between letting the temperature drop or having a panic attack, she would pick letting the temperature drop. At least that didn't render her completely helpless. The only good thing was that her baby sister wasn't dead and didn't seem to be seriously hurt. Elsa noticed Anna's swollen ankle and hesitantly laid one hand on it to cool away any pain her sister had. Anna didn't tell me she was hurt…not that she had a chance to…
Elsa screamed when something or someone yanked her out of her and Anna's hiding place. I'm supposed to cool myself down so I'm too cold to touch if someone grabs me, she remembered. Instantly Elsa went deathly cold all over, but the someone still didn't release her. What did I do wrong?! Elsa thought frantically.
"I'm smarter this time. That little trick won't work again. Winter clothes and gloves take care of that," a gloating voice said.
Elsa didn't know what to do to free herself, but if the man was going to hang onto her, he couldn't get Anna. That was a good thing. Elsa didn't see any other people nearby; perhaps Anna had escaped and whoever the other cohorts were had split up to look for her? She wasn't sure. The trees! Anna can't run with that ankle, but she might be able to get up in a tree. How can I tell her that? Wait a minute… "Hlaupa baðmr!" Elsa shouted, hoping with all her heart that Anna remembered at least a small portion of the language lessons the two of them had had when they were younger. Nobody speaks Old Norse anymore. Please, please understand, Anna! Climb a tree. Please! And if these men are simply being paid to get rid of Anna and me, they most likely weren't educated in that subject…right?
Elsa winced when her captor twisted her arms painfully behind her back, but she refused to cry out or beg for him to let go of her. Not this time. I am not giving him that satisfaction. I can deal with physical pain as long as he doesn't start attacking me verbally, I think. She didn't want Anna attempting to come after her, not with that ankle. Elsa's stomach still hurt and she felt like she was going to be sick. Why hadn't the rest of her rescue team arrived yet? Then again, it would take a long time to get over those rocks in the fjord…maybe it had been stupid for her to go through the secret passages instead. Yes, that had been definitely stupid. Elsa, you can't free yourself by just struggling or wiggling away. You can't use your powers, either, not with your hands pinned behind you at that angle. What would Anna do then? Elsa stood stock still, hoping the man would tire of holding onto her and release at least one of her hands. Then she could freeze his feet in place and run.
"What secret code did you just shout out at your sister?" the man demanded.
Good, he didn't know what it meant! Elsa could feel herself beginning to shake in fear, but she still answered with a simple, "I won't tell you." Stay in control, Elsa. Calm down calm down calm down. This is the same creep that I shot an icicle at before. He's as scared of me as I am of him. Elsa involuntarily cried out when her shoulder was wrenched too far in the wrong direction, but then one very important thought flew through her mind-my hand is free now for whatever reason!-and her hand shot out and froze the man's feet in place. At least he couldn't carry her off anywhere now, even if he still had her by one arm. Elsa suddenly found herself sitting on the ground after her captor backhanded her across the face, and she immediately scooted out of reach before nursing the bruise already forming under her eye. Well, if I have to pay for freedom with a black eye and a sore shoulder, that's not too shabby, if I do say so myself.
"That'll happen again and again until you reveal what your secret code is," the man told her.
Elsa scrambled to her feet and looked the man right in the face. He's as scared of me as I am of him, she told herself. And he's lost the upper hand, too. "I don't think so. You let go of m-me, whether you intended to or n-not." She made the ice holding him in place spread over a wider section of ground, making it impossible for the man to dig himself free. There. One down, two to go.
"You're stuttering again. I don't understand why your sister bothers with you. Nobody wants an abnormal freak like you for a sister, let alone queen."
Elsa flinched as tears began trickling down her cheeks. Without Anna with her, Elsa felt small and lonely, unable to rebuff verbal attacks like that. Elsa, think of Anna. Go find your rescue team and Anna and capture the other two creeps. She made no reply and just turned her back and ran towards the rocks jutting out over the fjord. I have to find everyone else. As quickly as possible. Elsa ran headlong into a low-hanging branch she could have sworn wasn't there before and fell flat on her back, more out of surprise than anything else.
Anna shimmied her way down out of the tree in horror. She had purposely been holding that branch down in the hopes that one of the 'stupid cuckoo-heads' would run into it, but it had hit Elsa instead. Elsa, please be all right. I didn't mean for that to happen. Anna slid one arm under her sister's head and shoulders and gently touched Elsa's swollen eye with her other hand. That stupid creep hit her! And now I knocked her over because of that branch trick… "Elsa, please wake up…please! I know you trapped one of the creeps, but…"
Elsa winced and blinked dazedly up at Anna. Anna's supposed to be up in a tree, not here with me! "I fell," she found herself saying. "Wait, I can't lie here; I have to get us out of here!" My eye hurts; my head hurts; my shoulder hurts; and I feel sick. Elsa, you get to rest later. Not now. Elsa tried to sit up, but Anna held her down.
"Elsa, just lie still for a minute," Anna said quietly. "Your face is all swollen already; you can hardly open that eye. That's got to hurt. Let yourself rest for a mi-" Anna suddenly screamed and threw herself over her sister when she saw someone pointing a gun right down at them. "Don't you lay a finger on her!" she shouted vehemently.
Elsa didn't say anything, but she instantly shot ice at the weapon, freezing it over and knocking it out of the man's hand. I have to get up! I don't trust myself to freeze anyone's feet in place while I'm on the ground. "Tree," Elsa whispered in Anna's ear, hoping she understood. "You have to. Misleading."
Anna stared at Elsa for a moment, but then she understood. Me leaving Elsa will make them think I've abandoned her. Elsa thinks that might keep them from trying to capture me again…I think. She was just about to leave when she felt a strong grip on her shoulder and then heard a grunt and some angry shouts.
"Leave the queen and the princess alone!" Kristoff shouted.
Elsa smiled in relief. The rest of her rescue team had arrived. Finally. She stumbled to her feet, still feeling slightly dazed, although that nasty sensation had mostly disappeared. Letting Anna lean on her a bit, Elsa quickly froze one man's feet in place. Only one left. Elsa turned to see Kristoff disarming the last usurper…or rather, mercenary, if she wanted to be technical. These people cared nothing for her or even her country; of that she was positive. They were just being paid to do a job.
Gerda immediately ran over to the two girls. "Are you two all right?" she asked in concern.
Elsa nodded. "We aren't dead, so I'd say we're fine," she replied, giving Gerda a lopsided smile.
"We'll have to take care of you and Miss Anna the second we're safe back at home," Gerda said firmly. "You're both hurt…"
Kristoff marched the mercenary he had captured right in front of Elsa and Anna. "Now you explain exactly why you hurt the sovereign monarch and the princess and apologize," he ordered. "My reindeer will kick you senseless if you don't."
Anna couldn't help thinking that that man so deserved to get kicked by Sven anyway, whether he apologized or not. Elsa just stared in surprise. Kristoff actually cared what happened to Anna…and her? He'd already done what she had asked by capturing the man; she hadn't told him to make the man apologize. "Apologies are worth nothing if they are n-not genuine, but I would l-love to hear an explanation," Elsa said to the man.
"The sovereign queen is s-s-st-stuttering again," the man said.
Elsa dropped her gaze to the ground in embarrassment, knowing quite well that man was making fun of the way she spoke. Okay, Elsa, just try again. You can talk properly. Just slow down and pause if you have to. "I would love to…hear an explanation," she repeated firmly. "I know you are a mercenary. Tell the rest…of your explanation, please. Wait, Kristoff, don't slug him!"
Kristoff looked slightly disappointed at Elsa's words. "Speak, then. Queen Elsa is being lenient to you for whatever reason."
"Prince Hans of the Southern Isles brought us to Arendelle with him before the whole Great Thaw thing. He planted us in the castle staff. There were only six of us total," the man blurted out honestly. "That's the truth, I swear. We genuinely don't care whether you're on the throne or not. That isn't our problem. We just wanted to get paid for a big job. You happened to be in the way, so…" The man shrugged.
To everyone's surprise, Elsa just smiled. "Thank you for…telling me, sir." It's nice to know they're genuinely indifferent to me…I'd rather someone treat me badly because they're after money than because they genuinely hate me.
"But you really need to quit stuttering and having those weird episodes. You make a crummy queen in that condition."
Elsa stifled a rueful and un-queenly giggle. I'm getting better though. I didn't completely lose it at all this morning. I needed help, and I was scared, but I didn't freeze up or completely freak out. "I believe that makes a…whole group of us with…that opinion," she said flatly.
"Does not!" Anna exclaimed. "My sister is the perfect queen! Shut up and quit picking on her."
Elsa could smell rain coming and feel the air pressure dropping. And wait…it was exactly seventy-six degrees outside?! I need to get everyone inside. I'll put all the mercenaries in the dungeon until the hurricane is over. That's fair. She quickly formed a simple staircase up and over the castle wall with one hand because her other shoulder was still sore and she didn't want to aggravate it. "Kristoff, please take this mercenary t-to the castle dungeon. Kai, will you take…that one, please?" she asked, gesturing toward the second mercenary nearby.
"Someone needs to carry you and your sister," Gerda said to Elsa.
"They can ride Sven," Kristoff suggested.
Elsa gripped Anna's hand tightly. I don't want to ride Sven. What if I hurt him? "I can walk," she said a bit too quickly.
"Elsa, there's still one more mercenary guy farther back in the forest," Anna told her sister. "You froze that one in place, too, remember? And I don't want you walking all the way back to the castle. You got hit in the head with a tree branch, and…yeah. No way."
Elsa yelped in surprise as Kai first lifted her and then Anna onto Sven's back. "Miss Elsa, you aren't going to hurt the reindeer. He likes cold anyway. He's used to it," Kai said quietly. "You know reindeer live in the tundra and subarctic in the wild."
Elsa hesitantly touched Sven's soft fur. He's warm! And I'm not hurting him. "Anna, I…I pet him!" she said proudly. I pet him! I pet a reindeer!
Sven seemed to sense Elsa's tentative movements and stood still making quiet snuffling noises.
Anna, who was sitting on Sven's back right behind Elsa, just gave her sister a hug. "I knew you could do it," she whispered so only Elsa could hear. She frowned when she felt Elsa flinch as she touched her shoulder. Is Elsa hurt there, too? 'Cause I know she's not particularly scared now… Figuring Elsa probably wouldn't talk about it if Anna asked her right now, Anna just made sure not to touch that shoulder in the first place anymore. Knowing Elsa, she's probably already embarrassed enough about her face. I don't care if Elsa doesn't intend to beat up those stupid creeps or not-they hurt her! She didn't do anything to deserve that.
Elsa was still happily running her sensitive fingertips through Sven's soft fur. She loved the warm sensation, something she hadn't experienced since she was little and she and Anna had found a stray cat that they hadn't been allowed to keep. "Anna, his fur is so soft," she said quietly.
Anna gave Elsa's hand a squeeze. "Let's go home," Anna whispered. Then in a louder voice, "Let's go! My sister has made a shortcut to get back to the castle, so let's take it."
A short while later, their little entourage arrived back to the castle. Elsa was confused when Anna insisted they go upstairs instead of down into the cellar since the hurricane would be arriving rather soon. "There's something special for you down there and I don't want you to see it yet," Anna explained. "And my ankle hurts and I don't want you climbing upstairs by yourself."
Elsa protested when Kai scooped her up and started carrying her upstairs. "Kai, I'm fine! And at least get Anna first-she h-hurt her ankle. I'm okay, really." Well, mostly okay anyways…
"Miss Elsa, I'm sure Mr. Bjorgman will bring your sister right along. You've been favoring your left shoulder since we met up with you and Miss Anna in the forest; and you need to get your face looked at," Kai told Elsa. "As a loyal servant to the queen, it's my job to see that you are taken care of properly."
Elsa gave up and let her eyes close. It wasn't that she didn't trust Kai; she just hated feeling helpless, especially when she was sure she could go upstairs by herself. I'm safe back at home; it's okay. I know I'm not seriously hurt; I can deal with nasty bruises and a sore shoulder. I'm fine.
Elsa was almost asleep by the time they got to her room. She had been wide awake since before five in the morning, and now she felt exhausted. Elsa blinked one blue eye open as Kai gently laid her down on her bed. "Can Anna…come in…here, too?" she asked. Elsa needn't have even asked; she could hear Anna's voice calling that she wanted to be put in the same room with her sister. Thank you, Anna, she thought tiredly.
Anna promptly threw her arm around Elsa the second she was set down next to her. My big sister is safe. She's hurt, but she's safe. "You guys, go get the doctor. I want Elsa to get taken care of super quick!" she ordered in her best "princess" voice. "Besides, we have to move quick afore that hurricane Elsa predicted gets here."
Elsa suddenly tensed up all over. "Gerda can take…care of me," she said to Anna. "Don't want anyone else t-touching me…"
"Miss Elsa, I can't take care of your shoulder," Gerda told her. "You have to let a professional look at it, not me."
Elsa scooted closer to Anna, as if her little sister would prevent any strangers from touching her. You're being childish, Elsa. The doctor isn't going to hurt you, and you're not going to freeze him.
Anna frowned at her sister. Now that the two of them weren't in danger anymore, Elsa was clinging to her and seemed more like a scared and injured little girl than the grown-up Snow Queen that had managed to mostly hold it together through the whole morning. Well, at least Elsa managed to hold herself together under pressure anyways. She feels safe now, so she's not forcing herself to be strong at the moment. That's what it is. "Elsa, I'll take care of you as best as I know how," she said softly. "You did amazing earlier, but it's all right to not be strong all the time. I know it is."
Elsa let her eyes drift shut. It was hard for her to keep her right eye open anyway because it was all swollen and painful, and she felt tired besides. So she just curled up next to Anna, feeling perfectly safe even if she wasn't very comfortable. I'm safe with Anna. She won't let anyone hurt me if she can help it, and I won't let anyone hurt her if I can help it, either. Elsa sighed contentedly and fell asleep.
Elsa woke up a few minutes later to Anna gently shaking her. "Anna…?" she asked in confusion. She reached up to touch whatever wet and slightly cool (to her) thing was on her face. Oh. If I wasn't immune to cold, a cold cloth with ice would probably be helpful for a black eye. "I'm immune to cold…I don't think that's going t-to help," Elsa said ruefully.
"Well, the doctor said to do it anyway since it couldn't hurt you, even if it didn't really help any," Anna informed her sister. "You gotta sit up so the doctor can look at your shoulder, 'kay? I'll help you."
Elsa reluctantly pushed herself to a sitting position, keeping one hand clasped nervously with Anna's. She flinched away when the doctor reached out to touch her shoulder. I hate this. I don't want someone I don't even know touching me. I can barely remember him from when I was really little.
"Elsa, stop it," Anna scolded. "He's not gonna hurt you; I promise. Look at my ankle, see?" She wiggled her bare toes as she pointed at her bandaged ankle. "Well, ok, it hurt some, but it feels lots better now. And I know you won't freeze him, either."
Elsa didn't reply, but she didn't move this time, even if she stayed stiff as a rock all over. She wordlessly obeyed when the doctor asked her to bend and straighten her arm. Elsa could do that easily, but she couldn't move her shoulder very much without it hurting like crazy. "It hurts too much," she admitted finally. "I can't." Maybe I'm just a wimp or something. I hope that's what it is. Elsa kept a tight hold on Anna's hand with her other hand as the doctor finished checking her shoulder.
"You've just wrenched it, or sprained it, Queen Elsa. Just rest and don't try to overdo anything with that arm for about a week or so," the doctor said.
Anna giggled. "Telling Elsa not to overdo it for a week is like telling her not to eat any chocolate for a week," she said cheerfully. Now that she knew her big sister wasn't seriously hurt, she was back to her old teasing and happy self.
Elsa sprayed snowflakes all over her sister. "You make me sound like a l-little kid," she complained good-naturedly.
"Says the girl who just sprayed snowflakes all over her little sister just to be funny," Anna said gleefully.
Elsa smiled and lay back down, closing her eyes sleepily again. If I'm like a little girl sometimes, so be it. Anna still loves and cares about me anyway, so I don't care.
"If she starts trying to do too much with her arm too soon, make sure she wears this sling. It may be more comfortable for her to keep it on anyway, but she shouldn't-"
"I can still hear you!" Elsa interrupted, both slightly annoyed and slightly amused that her sister and the doctor were talking about her as if she were already asleep.
Anna laughed and gave Elsa a hug. Elsa is so funny. I don't even think she really meant to be that time. "All righty, I got it. Keep Elsa resting as much as possible; make sure she wears her sling but not all the time. And she's gonna be all better in about a week. Thanks. Gerda, is Elsa's surprise ready? I wanna show her the second we go downstairs!" Anna said quickly, flitting from one topic to another in typical bouncy fashion.
"Yes, but let's not go down to the cellar until your sister says we should. Knowing you, you'll quickly tire of the cellar long before the hurricane is over," Gerda said.
"Three o'clock," Elsa murmured sleepily.
A/N: Next chapter coming soon!:)