A/N: Again, really sorry for the delay. College schedule is taking some getting used to.
Anna and Elsa slowed as they reached the Queen's bedroom door, arm in arm. Anna wished more than anything right now that they still shared a bedroom like they had when they were kids. They had so much to talk about now, so much catching up to do. With the busyness of the day, they had found time only to share a few words with each other. Therefore, saying goodnight to her sister was the last thing Anna wanted to do.
"Well, I think it's time we both got caught up on some sleep," Elsa said, releasing her hold on Anna.
"Yeah, I guess so. Goodnight, Elsa. I love you." Saying the words still sounded strange to her after never saying them for so many years, but it didn't make them any less true.
Elsa smiled and held her arms open, silently asking for a hug like she had so many times today. It was understandable, as they had barely even seen each other for the majority of their lives, and Anna didn't mind in the least bit. She jumped into Elsa's arms, not even caring that her skin was icy cold to the touch.
"I love you too, Anna." It was the first time she had said it since...since as long as Anna could remember. She had imagined Elsa saying it so many times, but after several years she had given up hope of ever hearing the words.
Elsa pulled away, emitting a warm smile. "Goodnight."
Anna retreated to her room down the hall, changing into her nightgown quickly and then flopping down onto her bed with a sigh. Sleep weighed down on her heavily, but her mind wouldn't rest. So much had happened in just a few days, and it almost seemed like she was living in a different world. Instead of being surrounded by loneliness, she was now encompassed by love.
She reflected like this and thought for a very long time, until eventually there was a soft knock on her door. "Anna?"
Elsa? she wondered, sitting up. "Come in."
The Queen pushed the door open slowly, dressed in a nightgown with her hair flowing freely down her back. Her brow was furrowed in worry. "I didn't wake you, did I?"
"No. I couldn't sleep."
"Nor I." Elsa shut the door behind her with a muted click and crossed her arms, looking down like she used to. Anna knew now it had been because she was afraid of her powers. Was she scared of them now?
Anna pushed the blanket off of her and patted the spot next to her. Elsa smiled like it was what she had been hoping for and sat down toward the end of the bed, pulling her knees up to her chest.
There was a long moment of silence. What did you say to your sister who had shut you out for most of your life?
Anna spoke first. "Why?" Surprisingly, after having kept that one question pent up inside of her for so many years, it just came out as a gentle sigh.
Elsa looked up at her with fear and sadness in her eyes. She sighed, and then began with a small smile on her face. "You knew about my powers when we were little. I would make it snow in our room, or in the ballroom, and you loved it. We always had so much fun, and you always wanted me to use my magic." Her smile faltered and a chill came over the room. "There was one morning when we were playing in the ballroom before anyone else was up. You would jump up, and I would make mounds of snow to catch you, but you started going too fast and..." She pushed her hair behind her ear and looked down at her hands, her brow furrowing in concentration. The temperature warmed up a little, and Elsa continued. "I hit you with my magic on accident. A strand of your hair turned white, and you went unconscious."
Anna touched the spot where her single shock of white hair used to be. It had been a familiar sight for so many years, and it was strange for it to be gone.
"Mother and Father took us to some trolls, past the woods-"
"Were they rocks?" Anna exclaimed, leaning forward.
"Yes!" Her brow furrowed. "Do you remember?"
Anna smiled. "No, but they come in to my part of the story."
Elsa nodded and continued. "They replaced your memories of my magic so that you wouldn't remember; it was the only way to stop you from turning into ice like you did today." She sighed, still not meeting Anna's gaze. "They warned me that my powers would grow stronger, so I tried to conceal them from everyone...even you. I didn't want to hurt you again. I knew that if it had been worse, I couldn't have lived with myself. Father and I came up with a motto: 'conceal, don't feel.' It helped for a little while, but while I feared my powers I could never learn how to control them. All those years, I was so scared, so alone...I didn't want to hurt anyone ever again." Finally, she looked up, tears filling up in her eyes. "I wasn't shutting you out, Anna. I was locking myself in."
It was a stunning realization. While Elsa had really made the decision to isolate herself out of fear, she meant to do it out of love. If only she had told her...
"I know, I was wrong. I should have told you," Elsa continued, as if guessing her thoughts. "But I just couldn't live without you, Anna. If I were to hurt you..." She squeezed her eyes shut, a few tears spilling over. "Sometimes I wondered if I should
end everyone's misery- including my own. I was lucky to make it through some days."
Hearing about Elsa's dark thoughts and her years of isolation made Anna's heart throb painfully in her chest. To think that her sister had gone through all of this for her, to protect her. She reached out a hand and placed it on top of Elsa's.
"I've never told anyone that before." She sniffed and attempted a small smile. "I suppose I haven't told anyone anything."
"Well, if it helps...I haven't told anyone anything either. I've read all the books in the library and had no one to talk about them with!"
Elsa laughed shakily, wiping her tears away. "I know! Did you ever read the one about the dragon and the knight who befriended it?"
"Yes! And he fell in love with that princess..." Anna clasped her hands in front of her and sighed. "Love stories are my favorite."
Elsa straightened up, her tears long gone and her sadness all but a dream. She now wore a much more serious expression. "Speaking of love stories...the ice deliverer."
"Kristoff." She couldn't help but smile as she said his name, and the corners of Elsa's mouth twitched up in response, just a little bit.
"I think you should tell me your side of the story before I tell the rest of mine."
So Anna went on to explain what had happened, starting with the morning of the ball. Talking about Prince Hans was still painful; to think that she had been so willingly deceived! But it was soon forgotten as she got to the part where she met Kristoff, singing to Sven and acting completely opposite of the kind man she knew he was. She explained how he saved her more times than one and summarized their lengthy conversations as they had made their way up the mountain.
"Kristoff's mother died giving birth to him," said Anna, recalling what he had told her. "His father was an ice miner, and he was around until Kristoff was seven. One day he went out on his own to harvest some ice and never came back. The other miners watched over Kristoff and Sven, but then the trolls decided to take them in. They're like family to him. So after you...hit me with your magic, he took me to them. Then Grandpoppy told me that only an act of true love could thaw a frozen heart. Kristoff rushed me back to the castle to kiss Hans, and...well, you know the rest. I didn't realize until after Hans left me to die that Kristoff loved me, and I loved him.
And he's...wonderful, Elsa," she said, her grin spreading ever wider. "He looks tough and mean but he's really shy and sweet. And the way he talks to Sven..." She giggled. "And his eyes are so brown and soft..." After a long sigh, she realized that Elsa was laughing at her. "What?"
"You," she chuckled, composing herself so that just a smile was left. "I'll take care of a replacement sled. I should be able to have it ready before tomorrow night." Elsa looked to the side and drummed her fingers on her knee, as if thinking. "How does 'Official Ice Master and Deliverer' sound?" she wondered with a clever smirk.
"Elsa, would you?" Anna breathed.
"We can't have him delivering ice somewhere else when he needs to be here with you."
Anna turned the title over in her head. "Is that really a thing?"
"Of course it is." Elsa waved it off with a knowing smile.
"Thank you!" She threw her arms around her sister in a big hug, which she returned without hesitation.
"I want you to be happy, Anna," Elsa said as she drew away. "Kristoff sounds like a nice guy...but I'll still have to be around him a great deal before-"
"I know," said Anna quickly. "I know. But he told me that he wants to earn your trust, and he's ready to wait for it." With a laugh, she remembered what he had told her earlier. "He said, 'I love ice, but I don't want to turn into it.'"
"I suppose I'll have to earn some trust from him, too, and everyone else," Elsa sighed. "I don't want everyone to be afraid of me."
"I'm not afraid of you." Anna spoke gently and placed a hand on Elsa's shoulder. "I was never afraid of you."
Still, Elsa's frown remained. She shut her eyes as a shudder rocked her body and the room grew steadily colder. "I almost wish you would have been. Then I wouldn't have-"
"Elsa, stop. You didn't mean to hurt me, and I'm here now. Please, Elsa," she pleaded when she received no reaction. A thin sheet of ice now covered the bed and Anna's hand.
"Do you want to build a snowman?" Anna sang in a soft voice, shaking the ice from her hand and lightly squeezing Elsa's shoulder.
Her eyes opened, tearful once more. She smiled and sniffed, brushing the stray tears from her cheeks. "Of course I want to build a snowman," she sang back.
"Then come on!" Anna grabbed Elsa's hand and jumped off the bed, dragging her sister along behind her.