It's snowing the morning of Rafe and Elsa's wedding. Spring is unrecognisable.
The people of Arendelle aren't sure whether to celebrate their monarch's big day or prepare to be plunged into a second eternal winter.
She's managed to keep her powers relatively under control, considering the circumstances.
Repressing her memories of you is the only way. Dwelling on them causes too much distress.
Scanning her reflection, Elsa stifles a sob.
"You look beautiful, ma'am," says Gerda, neatening the hem of the queen's wedding gown. "You always do."
Elsa turns from the mirror in disgust at the Arroganian design and creates a veil of ice.
Rafe will be furious at her for wearing something so contrasting with his flag's colours.
Good.
"Your Majesty, I don't think you should be going out your way to provoke him. He scares me, ma'am."
Unconcerned for herself, Elsa gives a small shrug. All she cares about now is protecting Anna and the kingdom.
Rafe has proven how far he's willing to go to make her his bride, that no one is safe.
The best thing Elsa can do is simply comply.
A little rebellious behaviour shouldn't hurt, though.
She thanks the handmaid for all her help, for the exemplary service she's provided these past twenty-one years.
Gerda responds by throwing her arms around the queen and sobbing. "For-Forgive me, ma'am," she sputters. "It's just I'll miss you terribly."
Elsa gratefully returns the embrace. Only her sister hugs her like this. "I'll miss you, too, Gerda."
"I'll miss you more, Queen Elsa."
The dressing room doors burst open and in runs Anna, hair disarrayed and in her undergarments.
"What about me?" she cries, rushing towards her sister with flushed cheeks and an undignified expression.
Gerda moves aside quickly.
Elsa puts up her hands as if she's expecting to be attacked. "Anna, wait! Please, don't-"
The princess pounces on the queen and they fall into a pile of cushions.
"Don't go!" begs Anna, bawling uncontrollably. "Don't marry him!"
Elsa clamps an icy hand over her sister's mouth. "Shh! Anna, have you lost your mind? If Rafe hears you talking like this he'll-"
Anna shakes off Elsa's hand and stares at her with tearful, angry blue eyes. "He'll what - throw me off a cliff?"
Elsa momentarily loses control and freezes the cushions, pushing Anna off in time to avoid hurting her.
Anna lands on her behind and gazes up at Elsa.
The queen weeps into her hands as she fights to reign in her magic.
The princess swallows. "Elsa, I'm-I'm sorry."
"Come, ma'am," says Gerda, leading Anna away. "Let's get you dressed."
Meanwhile, down by the shore, two children are having a pretend sword fight.
"En garde," says the girl, brandishing a stick she found in the sand.
"Die!" replies the boy, swinging at her with his own.
They battle it out for a few minutes, chasing each other along the snow-covered beach...
Until they discover something unusual.
"Hey, what's that?" asks the girl, gesturing towards a washed-up figure not too far away.
"No fair!" the boy exclaims. "Quit trying to distract me!"
"I'm serious!"
He stops swinging at her and looks to where she's pointing. "Whoa! Think it's a shark?"
She elbows him in the ribs. "Don't be stupid. It's a person!"
"Cool! A dead body!"
She rolls her eyes. "You're so weird."
Driven by curiosity, they approach the unmoving figure together.
It's you.
The children argue over whether you're alive or not.
"We should get a grown up," the girl says.
"In a minute," says the boy, poking your head with his stick.
"Stop that!" the girl tells him. "Have some respect for the dead."
A moan escapes your lips.
They gasp.
The boy drops his stick and hides behind the girl.
Freezing and aching everywhere, you prise open your eyes, coughing up sand.
The girl smacks you on the back to help clear your airways. "Are you okay?" she asks.
Once you can breathe, you nod. "Th-Thanks," you manage to utter.
"No problem."
You scan your surroundings, your heart sinking at the sight of snow.
"Elsa," you think aloud, your voice hoarse. "The wedding."
The children glance at each other.
"Yeah," the boy says. "The queen went all ice crazy again."
"I-I've got to stop it. I-" You wince as you take a step forwards on your injured leg.
The girl and boy go to each of your sides, allowing you to lean on them.
"You shouldn't try to walk," the girl says. "You're hurt bad."
"Doesn't matter," you say, shaking your head.
So far, you've almost drowned, been bitten, crushed, burnt and thrown from a deadly height. You aren't afraid of anything.
"I have to get to the chapel."
Later, outside the very chapel you mentioned, people have flocked from all over Arendelle purely to catch a glimpse of Queen Elsa on her wedding day.
First to arrive are Anna and Kristoff.
The ice harvester tugs at his uncomfortably tight collar as he and his girlfriend exit their carriage.
The princess nearly trips on her dress, but is caught and steadied by her boyfriend just in time.
Smiling for show, they proceed through the waving, cheering crowds and enter the chapel where Elsa and Rafe are to be wed.
"Can't wait for this thing to be over," Kristoff grumbles to Anna. "No more Rafe."
"Yeah," she responds glumly. "No more Elsa either."
He hadn't thought of that. "Sorry, Anna."
She sighs, squeezing his hand. "Don't be. It's Rafe who should be sorry."
"Agreed," says a familiar voice, which doesn't belong to either of them.
"Wait," says Anna, recognising it. "What?"
That voice is yours.
Disguised as a choir singer, you're limping towards them, the boy and girl from the beach assisting you.
Kristoff and Anna beam with joyous relief as they embrace you simultaneously.
"You look awful," Kristoff remarks.
"Wow. Thanks a lot."
"We thought you were dead," Anna sobs into your shoulder.
"So did I," you say, giving her back a soothing rub. "But I'm not. I'm here now."
The children are wide eyed with awe at being so close up to Princess Anna.
"She's so pretty," the girl whispers to the boy excitedly.
"Sure is," he says, blushing. "Too bad she's already taken."
"Guys," you say to both of them. "These are my friends - Anna and Kristoff."
The boy is so nervous he can't even make eye contact.
The girl clasps her hands together and smiles. "You mean you're friends with the princess?"
Reinvigorated by the knowledge of your survival and hopeful she can still save her sister, Anna crouches down to be at the children's level.
"Hi," she says in a friendly tone. "You two are my heroes. You know that?"
The girl can't believe she's having an actual, real live conversation with a member of the royal family. "We are?"
Silent, the boy continues to stare at the chapel floor, his hands behind his back in a formal stance.
Anna nods. "You are." She also has an idea. "But how would you like to help Queen Elsa? She's in danger, you see. And we could use a couple of brave kids such as yourselves."
Grinning at being called 'brave' and 'heroes', the girl and boy nod in unison.
"We're in!"
Hours have passed and everybody is in place.
Rafe is stood at the altar, dashing as expected. His best man - a general in the Arroganian army - beside him.
As maid of honour, Anna walks down the aisle alone.
Kristoff is sat in the pews, glaring at the king the entire time. He can't deny himself a few glances at his stunning girlfriend, though.
The ring bearer and flower girl - Rafe's niece and nephew - follow next.
And then the conductor signals the choir to start the bride's entrance song.
Olaf holding her hand as he'll be the one to 'give her away', Elsa swallows as she scans the many faces watching her.
Cold feet would be an understatement. Her feet have been ice from the moment Rafe proposed.
But it's too late now.
Don't let them in.
Don't let them see.
Be the good girl you always have to be.
Conceal.
Don't feel.
Put on a show.
Make one wrong move and everyone will know.
Numb, Elsa proceeds down the aisle.
But it's only for today.
You're in the choir singing.
I've only got today!
She's unaware of your presence.
It's agony to wait.
You don't dare avert your gaze.
So let me get this straight!
She and Olaf are at the altar.
Today I sail away to meet my fate!
Her fate!
For the first time in forever.
Don't let them in.
Don't let them see.
I'm doing what I need to do!
Be the good girl you always have to be.
A chance to change my lonely world.
Conceal.
A chance to save my love!
Conceal, don't feel.
Don't let them know.
I know it all ends tomorrow, so it has to be today!
'Cause for the first time in forever...
For the first time in forever...
Nothing's in my way!
The choir finishes the song and the bishop commences with the ceremony.
You wait in your pew for the signal from Anna.
"What on Earth are you wearing?" Rafe snarls in Elsa's ear. "That 'ice veil' is ridiculous. You resemble a widow more than a bride."
She ignores him, smiling to herself. This is how she'd hoped he would react.
Anna sneezes. Loudly.
That's the signal!
Kristoff stands up. "Oh, my heart!" he yells, clutching his chest. "I cannot bear to watch any longer. Queen Elsa, my love, please do not marry this man! Let us board my sled and elope as we planned."
Confused, the whole chapel is staring at him.
Elsa's eyes widen. What does Kristoff think he's doing?
"Elope?" Rafe shouts. "What's the meaning of this?"
"My dear Rafe!" Anna exclaims. "They have betrayed us! Humiliated us!" She throws her arm over her face dramatically. "Woe is me!"
"What?" Elsa shakes her head, mortified. "No, Anna, I swear, Kristoff and I have never-"
A crazed look in his eyes, Rafe's hands are on Elsa's shoulders. "Tell me it's not true!"
"R-Rafe, I-You're hurting me!"
His grip tightens. "Tell me!"
"I said that hurts!" she protests, freezing his palms. "Let go!"
He yelps in pain and recoils. "Why you-How dare you!" He whacks her across the face, the impact sending her to the ground.
Multiple dignitaries attending the wedding rise from their seats, disgusted by this act.
"Elsa!" You're down there quicker than a snow leopard. "Elsa!"
The plan was to trick Rafe into thinking Elsa had been unfaithful, for him to show his true colours to the visiting nations' dignitaries by shouting at and threatening her.
He wasn't supposed to turn violent. No harm was meant to come to Elsa.
When the shaken queen sees your face, she believes she's hallucinating.
"Elsa, it's me," you say. "I'm alive. I'm here to rescue you."
Still unconvinced, she reaches out to touch your cheek, narrowing her eyes as she discerns your features.
"Elsa?"
She smiles. "It is you!"
You smile back.
She kisses you, terrified of waking up to discover she's only dreaming.
Shocked that you survived, Rafe is realising the severity of his mistake. "What have I done?" he thinks aloud as he notices the dignitaries whispering about him and shaking their heads.
Anna, Kristoff and Olaf all glare at him.
"No," he mutters, burying his face in his hands. "No."
You and Elsa join your friends.
"It's over, Rafe," you say.
Elsa nods in agreement. "Leave," she orders him, understandably bitter. "Get out my kingdom and never return."
The king is silent as his best man/army general attempts to lead him away.
He gets an idea.
Unable to cope with the shame, Rafe grabs the hilt of the general's sword and unsheathes it, charging towards Elsa.
If he can't have her, no one will.