This chapter is rated T for some rough language on Kristoff's part. Not cursing exactly but rather rough language.
Also, Happy New Year everybody!
An hour later, Elsa's sobs had quieted but she still had not uttered a single word. Her hand was still clamped onto Anna's and she had a distant look in her eyes.
"I think the snow is melting," Kristoff said.
Indeed, the snow was. Birds were singing. All around, summer was coming.
But Elsa worried Anna. She tried to speak to her, to get some kind of response but Elsa said nothing.
The dark haired princess said, "My queens, you have to go inside. There's such a thing as simple hunger and exhaustion and it can make you sick all over again."
"I'm no queen," Anna corrected her.
"Would you be if she asked you?" the princess said quietly.
"Right now, I'd be happy if she asked me anything," Anna said. "She seems to be frozen. A different kind of frozen."
Olaf was shrinking, had been shrinking slowly for a while. He was smiling but the look in his eyes was rather mournful. Just then, a small cloud appeared over his head, tiny snowflakes falling from it. His chubby body began to fill out again and his eyes brightened. "My own flurry!" he gasped. "Thank you, Elsa!"
Elsa still said nothing but her eyes smiled, so clearly pleased with herself that Anna felt her anxiousness dissolve. So Elsa was choosing not to talk but she was quite there.
"Let's go home!" Anna said. She took a few steps towards the castle, then glanced back at Elsa.
Elsa moved slowly. Her very feet seemed heavy and her arms were still trembling. It had to be exhaustion, the aftereffect of serious strain. Had bringing back summer been so difficult for her?
"Kristoff," Anna said. "Would you help my sister into the dining hall?"
Kristoff cleared his throat. "Someone else had better do it. I'd like to have a rather serious talk with Hans." He clenched his fist. "The bastard almost killed you."
"No need," Anna said. She marched over to the prince, told him what she thought of him and ended with a punch in the face. Then, she walked back, her right hand stinging from the blow. "Now, you can help my sister into the dining hall," she said calmly.
It was late evening.
They had eaten together, discussing their adventures. Marta,the housekeeper, had fussed over Anna, checking her temperature and bundling her up in a shawl. Elsa had still said nothing. Then Marta had arranged for Kristoff, Olaf and the princess Rapunzel to go to bed, while Eugene went back to the inn with some servants to get his and Rapunzel's things. They seemed such reasonable, experienced people when it came to running things. Anna would never trust Arendelle to an outside person again the way she had with Hans. But she had to admit that she and Elsa needed some help for a while and Rapunzel and Eugene seemed heaven-sent.
She had said goodnight to Kristoff tenderly but rather quickly. She wanted to be alone with Elsa. She felt that certainly Elsa would talk when they were alone. She was almost afraid of it.
They were now in a room with two twin beds and two candles burning.
Elsa had gone behind a screen to change into a sleeveless nightgown. It was warm and humid.
"You were wonderful," Anna said to her. "Summer has never come so beautifully before." She waited expectantly.
Elsa came out from behind the screen. "You were even more wonderful."
Anna breathed out heavily. "Well, then. Why didn't you speak before?"
"I spoke to Rapunzel briefly while you were saying good night to Kristoff," Elsa said. "I needed to apologize. I haven't been fair to her."
Anna frowned and said nothing. Elsa had apologized to Rapunzel. But she hadn't apologized to her sister whom she'd almost killed. Her tears had shown her horror and dismay but she hadn't apologized all the same. Anna wasn't bitter or angry... only...only it was odd. And it hurt.
Elsa looked at Anna and saw that she didn't understand. "I wanted to be alone with you when I spoke to you," she explained. "I didn't want everyone to listen in, so I didn't speak in front of them. I'm a rather...private person."
Anna nodded. She could understand that. Their parents had been very private people too.
"I ought to have thanked Kristoff, of course. But I'll give him a new sled and that will do."
"Can I give him the sled?" Anna asked. "I was the one who promised it to him."
Yes, of course. I suppose...I still have to thank him, sled, or no sled."
Anna grinned. "He will be so happy. I don't think think he quite expects me to keep my promise. He thinks that I'm an airhead, that I can't remember anything."
Elsa studied Anna carefully. She was cheerful, laughing, but there was something else there...a bit of longing.
"You really like him, don't you?"
Anna glanced at her, smiled and shook her head. "I think I'll keep my feelings to myself this time around."
Elsa winced. "You can tell me anything," she said.
Not in my experience, Anna thought. Some things perhaps but not anything. She only said, "There isn't much to tell yet." She began to brush her hair.
"It wasn't your attraction to Hans that I minded. It was your rush into marriage."
"I know, I know," Anna said impatiently. "And I've learned my lesson. Still, you can fall in love with someone quickly. It took Eugene and Rapunzel two days. Not much better than one."
Elsa shook her head. "Anybody would fall in love with Rapunzel instantly. Some people just...glow. It could never happen that way with me or you."
Anna dropped her hairbrush with a hard thwack. "I also like Rapunzel. But you can't keep on thinking that the girl is your superior in everything. If you'd only believe in yourself, Elsa, just a little bit...you'd worry so much less."
Elsa absorbed the truth of that. "I'll try," she said. "And if you'd just stop and think before rushing into things...I'd also worry so much less."
Anna swallowed a retort and laughed instead. "All right," she said. She caught Elsa staring at her oddly. "What?"
"Nothing," said Elsa. "I missed your laugh. Are you sure you're not ill anymore?"
Anna smiled. "I feel fine! And things are going to be different from now on. You will hear my laugh a lot."
Elsa turned away for a moment. Anna saw her wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I did tell you you were wonderful?" she asked.
"Yes,"said Anna. "You did."
She realized that that was as close as they would ever get to discussing that terrible blast of magic that had frozen her heart. Elsa would never speak of it. She wasn't strong enough to speak about the pain and guilt of it. And Anna realized that she could accept that. She had forgiven the act, now she would forgive the lack of an apology. She would read between the lines. Elsa loved her. Elsa wanted what was best for her. That and Anna's forgiveness were enough to build on.