CHAPTER 4
The rest of the day had gone wonderfully. After sharing a rather exhausting afternoon together, Elsa and Anna ate dinner and retired to the library for the evening. There, they drank hot cocoa by the fire as they both read in comfortable silence. Elsa was pleased with what she considered a perfect day.
The following morning found Elsa once again in her study. The windows were coated with light snow, as the snowfall from the previous day continued through the night, increasing in intensity from a flurry to a proper snowstorm. Elsa admired the serene beauty of her country coated in snow before turning her attention back to her work.
She sipped the cup of tea she had prepared for her and began to sort through the papers on her desk, taking in how important each one was as she went. The desk was still a mess from Anna's interruption yesterday, but the outcome was so pleasant that Elsa didn't mind at all.
She sighed contentedly as she organized the papers. There were more tax propositions, building permits that needed to be approved, and trade agreements that needed reviewing, among other things. She noticed a requisition form from Kristoff; another sled. She let out an exasperated sigh. 'Again? That man goes through sleds like his reindeer goes through carrots.' Elsa made a mental note to have a chat with him later.
The Queen began to read, approve, sign and seal the paperwork. After several hours of doing so, the monotony of the process finally got to her and she let her mind wander. She thought back to the previous day's conversation with Anna, about the concerns that the citizens had over her powers.
Elsa wasn't lying when she said she was positive that people still feared her. Viggo had confirmed it on multiple occasions, informing her that not only were some of her citizens apprehensive about her abilities, but several members of her court as well, including some of her advisers and members of the Royal Guard.
"Nothing to be concerned about, for now." he had told her. She trusted the man's judgment; she knew that if there was a serious threat, he would end it before it started. The man was devastatingly efficient when it came to protecting the Royal Family.
Elsa turned her attention back to her work. She quickly burned through the stack of papers on her desk until her father's journal was uncovered. She grimaced, hesitant to pick it up, but Viggo's odd behavior during their meeting the day before spurred her on. She picked it up and opened to the heart of the book.
The volume opened to a page about a quarter of the way in, which was bookmarked with a sealed document. She recognized the wax seal immediately; it was the Royal Seal of Arendelle. Elsa wondered why her father would leave a Royal document in his personal journal. She brushed her concern off with a shrug and put the document aside. Elsa picked up the journal and began to read.
"November 15, 1826"
"Today was by far the most difficult day of my tenure as King. I fear I will not be able to fully explain the guilt that I feel in words, for it is stronger than anything I have ever felt before. As King Fredrik said, this was decided long ago, before my children were born, before even I was born. But that makes it no easier. Nor does it make me feel any better about it."
Elsa started to worry. The tone of her father's writing was gloomy and foreboding, but she continued reading.
"Anna. Sweet, innocent, Anna. Only four-years-old, and already her future has been determined for her. It seems unfair, but I do understand that this is the price of royalty. Our children, our most precious gift to this world, are used as nothing but pawns. It has been this way for centuries, but that does not make it right in my eyes. I can only hope that my children can find it in their hearts to forgive me some day, though I will understand if they do not."
Elsa frowned. Something had clearly made her father very upset. She read on.
"Elsa is the Crown Princess. She will take my place as ruler of Arendelle sometime in the future. I can already tell that she will be a wonderful Queen. She is growing so quickly, and even at the tender age of seven, she is more fit to rule than I was on the day of my coronation."
Elsa couldn't help but smile, though her father's self-deprecation still worried her. Even still, it was nice to know that he had such confidence in her.
"Her powers are worrisome, of course. We understand so little about them. Nothing in any of my books even comes close to explaining them. They grow stronger and more impressive as she gets older, and the things she can do with them are magnificent; beautiful even. While they seem to be harmless for now, her mother and I fear that they will possibly become dangerous."
Elsa's frown returned as she read her father's eerily-accurate prediction.
"Unfortunately you were right, Papa. I'm glad that you weren't around to see what happened at my coronation. You would have been so disappointed in me."
Elsa looked back to the page.
"Her powers will make finding a suitor for her difficult, to say the least. This may not be all so bad though. Elsa will most likely be able to choose whatever path she wants for her life, and I am eternally thankful for that. I know she will understand what I have done, maybe not now, maybe not in my lifetime, but she will someday."
"If I were to be honest, I am glad that it had to be Prince Mattias. He is a strong yet caring young boy, only two years Anna's senior. I know that he will treat her well. She will be in good hands."
Elsa grew confused. "Prince Mattias?" she muttered, pondering the possible reasons why her father had mentioned her old playmate. 'What does he have to do with anything? Maybe this is why Viggo gave me the journal.' thought Elsa.
"His older brother, Prince Aleksander, will be king of Ørnhavn one day, and so he escapes this fate as well. But I do trust Fredrik. He has been a friend as long as I can remember, and a very good friend at that. Despite my reservations about this whole ordeal, I am glad that it is one of his son's that Anna is betrothed to and not the son of some other random king or queen."
Shock and panic reached Elsa's face. "Betrothed? What is he talking about?" she questioned audibly.
Suddenly, it hit her like a crossbow bolt. Viggo's unease over the King and Prince's visit. The guilt and worry in her father's words.
"No..."
"Gods no..."
"Anything but that..."
Elsa grabbed the document that marked this page, frantically tearing at the wax seal. In her haste, she failed to notice the howling wind of the storm growing louder. She looked at the document and quickly read it, partly aloud.
"...King Agdar..."
"...Ørnhavn..."
"...legally binding..."
"...Princess Anna..."
"...henceforth betrothed..."
"...Prince Mattias..."
She dropped the document. Tears welled up in her eyes as the balcony doors burst open, letting in the fury of the now-raging storm. She turned back to her father's journal as she read the final paragraph.
"Luckily for my daughters, they will have many years of ignorant bliss together before Anna comes of age. I will tell them of the betrothal not a second before then. I will let Anna enjoy her youth and freedom as much as humanly possible. Again, hopefully she can forgive me someday, Gods willing."
Elsa dropped the journal as the snow began to build up in her study. Sharp icicles began forming from the walls. She couldn't believe it. Her father had given her sister, her true love, away to some Prince. She knew the boy, yes, many many years ago, before the accident. But that made it no better.
Her sadness turned to fury as she spun towards the portrait of her father on the wall. Spears of ice began ripping through the canvas. Elsa couldn't even begin to fathom the betrayal that she felt. She fell to her knees and screamed at the now tattered painting.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO US?!"
Her face fell into her hands and she began to sob.
"I just got her back, and now I'm supposed to give her away?!"
She suddenly became acutely aware of someone aggressively knocking at the door. A frantic voice could be heard from the other side over the howling of the wind and snow.
"Elsa! Are you okay? What's going on?!" It was Anna, her Anna.
Elsa heard the doorknob turn, but the ice had sealed it shut.
"Elsa! Let me in, please!" Anna pleaded.
Elsa's hands shot up to her face, a new wave of sadness washing over her as she heard her sister's voice.
A moment passed and suddenly the door burst open, the sounds of ice shattering cutting through the bellowing of the storm. Elsa's attention was drawn to the Royal Guard standing in the doorway, but he was quickly pushed aside as Anna forced her way passed him.
"Elsa!" she cried. "Elsa what's wrong?!"
Elsa tried to reply, but seeing her sister only caused her to become more upset. Not trusting her own voice, she simply grabbed Anna and began sobbing into her shoulder.
"Shh... It's alright. I'm here." Anna stroked Elsa's hair as she held her, whispering soothing words to the Queen the whole time. She turned her attention to the guard, still standing in the doorway, dumbstruck by the scene laid out before him.
"Leave us." Anna barked at him, an unusually authoritative tone to her voice. The guard quickly took his leave, hefting the door shut behind him.
Anna held her sister for what seemed like hours, letting her cry into her shoulder. The wind, snow, and ice began to recede after some time as Elsa finally began to calm down. Anna noticed the sobbing had stopped, replaced with intermittent sniffles.
Anna helped her sister up and walked her to a sofa by the fireplace. After laying the Queen down, the Princess stood and began to tidy up the mess that the wind had caused. After a few minutes, the sniffles became few and far between. Anna walked toward her sister to check on her.
Elsa looked up and whimpered. "Anna..."
Anna looked at her sister, concern evident in her eyes. She placed a hand on her sister's head. "I'm right here, Elsa. I always will be."
With that, Elsa's eyes began to close, exhaustion from her sadness and fury finally catching up with her. As she drifted off to sleep, she spoke, barely above a whisper.
"What are we gonna do?"
A/N
Woo boy, how bout that, huh? Does that make me evil? I don't wanna be evil.
I'll admit, I felt terrible writing this chapter. Ripping them apart after finally being reunited with each other after all that time?
I'm bad people.
Anyways, now we're getting to the thick of it. Or at least some of the thick of it. Or whatever. I'll upload the next chapter soon, I promoise!
Also, apologies for any typos in this author's note. I've had quite a bit to drink tonight. It's friday, gimme a break.
As always, questions/comments/concerns/weightloss tips are welcomed and encouraged. Don't be afraid to yell at me. I can take it!
Hugs and Kisses,
-Cosmic