A/N: Thanks to everyone who's following/reading but not reviewing!:)

princessdianaofparadiseisland-Lol, that's true, sis.:P You do know you can get sunburned even in the winter, right?;) Besides, even if it were crazy hot outside (which it wasn't supposed to be, just warm), Elsa got sunburned while she was sleeping, so she didn't even know. Plus, in my "headcanon", Elsa couldn't feel temperatures at all until after she learned how to control her powers, so...yeah, I guess that was confusing. Anyhow...:P

Thepopcornpup-Glad you're enjoying it!:) Lol:P

Lindstrom-Yeah, I didn't think either of them would outright lie to their parents, so...yeah.:P Hence dodging and skirting questions.;) I'm glad you liked the cliffhanger...I thought it came off kinda crummy, but that was where I thought the chapter should end, so...:/ :)

Sorry to burst your bubble-I'm glad you like it!:)

On to the story...:)

Back outside, Elsa jumped at the tap on her shoulder. "Don't touch me!" She turned to see a man about two heads taller than she was, and he was holding what? "That's my hat," she blurted in surprise. I knew something was goofy about that hat going missing…what does this person want? Elsa looked the stranger up and down. He wasn't a huge man, but he was still much bigger than Elsa herself. That look in his eyes told Elsa he was up to no good. Thoughts of kidnappers filled her mind as she edged around slowly so that she faced the creek and the stranger had his back to it. I wonder if I can talk my way out of this…But I'm so awful at making small talk! I can barely talk with Anna properly.

"What's a pretty rich young miss such as yourself doing out here alone in the forest?" the man asked, noticing Elsa's well-made dress. He reached for Elsa's arm, but Elsa dodged sideways. "When I found this hat, I knew there had to be someone like you roaming around here."

He doesn't know I'm the princess, Elsa realized. Don't let him know that. "Just taking a stroll," she said as she started to back away. This man is trouble. I have to get away from him before he hurts me or I hurt him.

"Not so quickly, miss. Get back here." The man dashed towards Elsa, and she blindly threw the handful of rocks in her hand at him in a last-ditch attempt to get him to leave her alone. "Rocks?! What did you do that for?" he said angrily, rubbing his arm and head where Elsa's rocks had hit him.

"Maybe because I just want to be left alone! Go bother someone else!" Elsa cried as the man came close, far too close. Elsa shoved the man away from her as hard as she could in a panic. He caught her right hand as he tumbled into the creek. Elsa jerked away and her glove slipped off.

Before either Elsa or the man could purposely do anything else, the creek froze with the man still sitting in it. Oh my goodness, how could I do that?! I just did that in front of a complete stranger! Mom and Dad are going to be so mad. Conceal, don't feel…conceal, don't feel… Elsa clutched her bare hand to her chest as she backed away. "I'm so sorry…" she whispered.

"You better be sorry, girl! What did you DO?!" The man was so surprised and cold that he didn't know what to think. He couldn't believe that Elsa had frozen the creek just like that. The man let out a shrill whistle, calling his cohort.

Someone grabbed Elsa from behind, and although she couldn't see who it was, she was quite sure it was an accomplice to the man in the now-frozen creek. "Let me go! I could hurt you!" Much more of this, and Elsa was sure the whole area would be under solid ice. Already she was losing the little control she had. Ice spread under Elsa's feet. She was scared and the missing glove didn't help.

"Really? I should think you'd be worried the other way around, little lady," the someone said. "How could a young girl such as yourself hurt me?"

"Just look at your friend in the creek!" Elsa shouted as rain began pouring down. "I did that!"

The someone looked and then loosened his hold on Elsa in shock.

Elsa took that moment to attempt to hightail it out of there. The someone caught the end of Elsa's braid and yanked her back. "You're a little freak. You shouldn't be allowed out anywhere. Seriously? Ice? In the summer?"

Elsa blinked back tears. I'm already not allowed out anywhere. I'm not even supposed to be out here. I guess this is why…I have to get away from here! Suddenly another idea popped into Elsa's frantic thoughts. If they thought she was a freak, maybe she could get them scared of her long enough for her to escape. "The little freak has ice powers, yes. LET. ME. GO!"

"Then why haven't you frozen us yet?" the someone smirked.

Elsa didn't know what to say to that. Because I can't control it, and I hate hurting people. She started trying to pull away again, but the someone refused to release her. "Stop pulling my hair!"

"You're the one pulling, not me."

"THEN LET ME GO!" Elsa's bare hand involuntarily sent icicles flying everywhere that narrowly missed hitting anyone. Stop it, Elsa. Get it together.

Elsa never thought she would be thinking it, but she was very relieved to see her father and a few guards enter the clearing. Remembering that these men didn't know she was the crown princess, she just shouted for help instead.

"Release the girl," the king ordered, hoping that they had not realized Elsa was the crown princess. Agdar glanced around the clearing with a disapproving look. She froze the creek…

"Why, King Agdar, this girl is a little monster. She froze my friend in the creek, see?"

"That isn't for you to judge. Release her."

The man released Elsa and she started running as fast as she could through the rain to the entrance to the secret passages. Dad didn't even deny it, Elsa thought miserably. It was one thing for her to accuse herself of those names, but when her father didn't attempt to deny it…

Agdar told the guards to take care of the two would-be kidnappers and went after Elsa. He caught up with her just as she was about to open the secret entrance. "You can't go back in that way. Those men will see the entrance."

"I don't think they can see me. Look how heavy it's raining," Elsa said. It was true; the rain was coming down in sheets and it was impossible to see farther than a couple feet.

"Point taken." Agdar opened the entrance and stepped inside, waiting for Elsa to follow.

Elsa almost would rather have stayed outside in the downpour whether it risked her freezing the rain or not. She reluctantly picked up her long-extinguished candle, stepped inside and then turned back to gaze outside.

The door to the secret entrance slid down, closing off Elsa's view.

"I don't suppose you have extra matches, do you?" Agdar asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Elsa said, resisting the urge to add I'm not stupid. She reached into her pocket with her bare hand and lit the candle. "Luckily they're still dry."

Agdar took the candle from Elsa and told her to follow him.

A few minutes and a few turns later, Elsa said, "This isn't the way back to my room. We should have turned the opposite direction two turns and one tunnel ago."

"We are going to the Great Hall."

I must be in even more trouble than I thought. What is going to happen? Elsa thought. A minute later and Elsa said, "This isn't the way to the Great Hall, either." It wasn't, but Elsa felt like an idiot for pointing it out. Why should she help with whatever was going to happen? She knew whatever it was couldn't be good. The longer they wandered around in the passages, the longer it would be before Elsa had to deal with whatever was going to happen. I'm probably going to be kept from talking to Anna, I'm sure. Wait…how did Dad know I was in trouble? Anna must have told him I was outside…

"If you're so smart, you take us to the Great Hall."

"Fine." Elsa took the candle and closed her eyes for a moment, picturing the map to the secret passages in her head. It was harder this time because this wasn't where she usually oriented herself in the passages. "This way." Elsa strode confidently up and down passages, down stairs, through a tunnel, down a chute, up a flight of stairs, and through a few more turns in the passages. I am not losing control this time, bare hand or not. No matter what happens, she promised herself. She was still shaken up from the whole thing that happened outside; she was mad and upset; and just…she wasn't sure what else. When exactly did Anna tell on me? "Here is the secret entrance to the Great Hall."

"You have a remarkable sense of direction, Elsa," Agdar said. She didn't get lost or make a wrong turn once. Although I shouldn't be surprised…Elsa has always had a good memory. He and Elsa stepped into the Great Hall.

"Why am I here?" Elsa asked. "I know I'm in trouble, but why don't I just go back to my room?"

"Your mother and I need to discuss this whole…escapade with you."

That wasn't a straight answer, Elsa thought. She clasped her hands behind her back out of her own sight.

"Starting with why were you outside after being specifically told not to?" Idun asked.

"Being outside makes me happy. It makes it easier to contain my powers, too," Elsa said. Stay calm. Be reasonable. Don't explode. "I even touched liquid water for an extended length of time without freezing it."

"You've been fine the last several years before you knew about the secret passages. You don't need to go outside to contain those powers of yours. Besides, you definitely were not in control outside earlier," Agdar said.

Elsa took a deep breath. Those people were trying to kidnap me for goodness sakes! I don't think anyone on the planet could be in complete control if they were in my place. "I have not been fine the last eight years. I need to stay away from people because I'm dangerous, but staying in that room all the time does not help. It makes everything worse than it already is." That's the worst understatement ever.

"We thought you were old enough to know about the secret passages and not abuse the privilege of knowing about it. I guess we were wrong." In all truth, though, neither Agdar nor Idun had ever thought, even in passing, that Elsa would actually use the passages to go outdoors. After all, Elsa did not even like allowing them in her room; so why would she risk going outside where a stranger might see her? Also, the passages' layout was extremely convoluted and twisted; it was very easy to get lost. But Elsa's parents weren't surprised for that reason. Elsa did like drawing complicated, detailed blueprints; and she also seemed to have an almost photographic memory. She'd read or see things once or twice and remember tiny details that most people would miss.

I have not 'abused the privilege'. I have told no one about them. I haven't done anything wrong. Elsa said nothing, but she clenched her gloved hand around her bare fist as she tried to maintain control.

"And another thing…the only reason we knew you were in danger at all was because Anna warned us. How did she know to be looking out that particular window at just the right time?"

I knew it! "When did Anna tell on me?" Elsa asked.

"About five minutes before I found you in that clearing. Why am I telling you this?"

Because I asked, maybe? Elsa frowned, but she was happy Anna hadn't ratted on her for no reason. Anna just told on me to keep me safe. Wait, how much did Anna see of what happened outside? Did she see me lose it and make all that ice? Freeze the creek? Elsa felt ice slipping out from her bare hand. Conceal, don't feel; conceal don't feel…

"How long has Anna known you've been going outside?"

Elsa gave her father a clear-cut answer. "Since the day you said I couldn't go out there anymore."

"So you've been talking to her."

"I have, yes." It isn't going to matter what I say. I may as well admit it now as anytime.

"You've been putting your sister in danger every time you have talked to her. Do you realize that?"

Elsa struggled to hold back tears. Have I, really? I mean, I didn't touch her and I always made sure not to get too close to her… Should I have just kept ignoring her? I don't know! I just don't know! "No comment," she said flatly. I do know one thing, though. If something happens that I can't ever talk to Anna again, I…I…I don't know what I'll do…

"No comment? Is that all you have to say? Do you even care? You're becoming a cold, heartless person."

Years of concealing her deepest emotions kept Elsa from bursting into sobs or screaming in anger, although she couldn't keep the ice from forming on the floor under her feet. Is that what you really think of me? Whatever else is wrong with me, being heartless is not one of them. I KNOW that. If that were really true, I wouldn't be…be…be hurting like this. You know what, Elsa? Let them think whatever they want. No one will ever know the real you. If they want to think you're as cold on the inside as your uncontrollable powers are on the outside, so be it. Why bother trying to explain what no one will understand? "Well, I am the 'freak with the uncontrollable ice powers'. Cold fits. May I please go upstairs now?"

"Not yet. Do you see now why you weren't supposed to go outside? Those men were dangerous. They were trying to kidnap you."

"I see why I can't go outside alone…" The thought of those men outside made Elsa shudder, but she couldn't stand losing her tiny bit of freedom either. "But what if a guard went out there with me? I'd make sure not to get too close."

"No, Elsa. That won't work. You just can't go outside."

Why, because you want to keep me in that room forever? It's not fair. It's just not. Elsa managed to keep her face void of expression, but she felt so conflicted on the inside she could hardly stand it. Just maintain composure a few minutes more, Elsa. If you have to, you can lose it later in your room. Not here.

"Do not talk to Anna anymore. I'll have to talk to Anna about this whole knocking thing, too. Also, I can see we're going to have to change the locks on the door."

Elsa stood ramrod straight, biting her lip. I will not lose control. I won't. Changing the locks on the door…so I'm unable to open the door to Anna even if I want to. So my room will be a literal prison, no matter how 'comfortable' it might be. "C-c-can I still go in the secret passages and not go outside?"

"Oh, very well. That can't harm anyone."

At least I still have that. Elsa tried to concentrate on that one small good thing.

Gerda came into the Great Hall just then, saying that Anna said something about Elsa being in trouble and what happened? One look told Gerda that Elsa had gotten out of the trouble outside but now she was in a different sort of trouble.

"Take Princess Elsa back to her room, Gerda," Agdar said.

Elsa gladly followed Gerda out of the Great Hall. The moment she knew they were out of her parents' earshot, she couldn't keep the tears in any longer. I should have known the last couple of days were too good to be true...too good to last.

"Princess, are you all right?" Gerda asked.

"No! I'm not! I've lost Anna yet again and…and…oh, I can't talk about it!" Elsa ran ahead and up the staircase, thinking all the while that this was probably the last time she would see the castle outside her room.

In the hallway upstairs, Anna stood outside Elsa's room waiting for Elsa. She was sure Elsa would have to be coming upstairs soon. Sure enough, a moment later Elsa came running down the hall.

Elsa wasn't looking where she was going and ran right into Anna, who grabbed her and held her tight. Elsa was too surprised to move, although her mind was screaming at her to get Anna away from her dangerous self.

Anna couldn't help but relish the moment. She was hugging Elsa for the first time in eight years. And although Elsa was standing there stiff as a board, she wasn't pulling away either. And Elsa's so cold! Why is she so cold? I know it's not nearly that cold outside, even though it's dumping like crazy.

Gerda came into the upstairs hall to a surprising sight. There was Elsa standing stiffly with her arms clamped to her sides, and Anna was hugging her tight. She didn't want to interrupt the two girls, so she stood back and said nothing.

"Elsa, I…I…love you," Anna whispered.

That was the last straw for Elsa. "Anna, I…I…it's not safe. I need to go in my room." She pulled away from Anna and ran inside her room and locked the door. Then she quietly said, "I love you too, Anna," from inside. Why? Why?! WHY?! I'm never going to see Anna again. I hate this! It isn't fair! Why can't I control it? Am I just stupid or something? Why can't I go outside with a guard or something as long as I stay away? Why can't that horrid door stay as it is? Why do I have to be physically locked in here now? And I'm not heartless; I'm not! Elsa felt a wave of anger wash over her. Suddenly, she just didn't care one bit that there was ice spreading all over the floor. On impulse, she took off her one remaining glove and threw it across the room into the corner. I'm never going to be able to control it, so why even try any more? She felt like breaking something, destroying something; something, anything, to vent her feelings out on. Elsa deliberately shot a razor-sharp icicle toward the window. It shattered into hundreds of shards of glass, letting the driving rain outside come in, but Elsa didn't care. What do you think of that, Mom and Dad? I shot an icicle on purpose. So there. A thick sheet of ice spread across one wall, and Elsa began hurling icicle after icicle at it. That's for locking me in here! Another icicle. That's for those creepy men outside that ruined everything in the first place! Another icicle. That's for me being a failure at controlling this! Another icicle. That's for not letting me even talk to Anna! Another icicle. That's for calling me heartless! Another icicle. That's for myself just being such a stupid dummy for ever hoping things were getting better after a few days of being so much happier! Elsa kept shooting icicles, one for every single thing that bothered her, sometimes shooting extra icicles for especially bad things. She went on and on for a long time until she started feeling dizzy and tired and it was actually difficult for her to shoot her icicles. Wait, it's difficult for me to shoot icicles…maybe, just maybe… Elsa was struck by the idea that maybe if she kept doing this long enough, maybe she could shoot all the ice right out of her. Then I could be around Anna and all this horrible madness would stop. Hoping her idea would work, Elsa began shooting icicles with newfound energy faster and faster. Come on, please, please let this work… The walls and floor seemed to warp and dip wildly around her, but Elsa kept going, stumbling as she tried to keep her footing.

Thirty long minutes later, Elsa collapsed to the floor when her legs gave out under her. It worked. I'll get to…see…Anna… she thought in a daze when she lifted her tired hand one last time and nothing happened before she blacked out.

Gerda came knocking on Elsa's door with her dinner. "It's Gerda, Princess Elsa. I have your dinner."

There was no answer.

Gerda knocked again, this time a bit harder. "Princess?" Gerda thought that maybe Elsa was too shaken to answer the door at the moment, so she set Elsa's dinner right outside the door and said, "I'll just leave your dinner out here so you can get it whenever you're ready."

A few minutes later, Anna tiptoed down the hall to Elsa's room. She'd been told in no uncertain terms not to 'bother Elsa' anymore, but she was determined to keep knocking no matter what. Anna noticed Elsa's dinner sitting untouched outside the door and stopped dead in her tracks. Why hasn't Elsa gotten her dinner? Gerda left that up here ten or so minutes ago, I know…what is going on? Anna took the risk of trying Elsa's door, but it was no use. The door was locked. I gotta go find Gerda. Something's wrong, I just know it! She took off down the hall and slid down the staircase banister. When she saw Gerda heading in the direction of the Great Hall, she said, "Gerda, something's the matter with Elsa! I was just outside her door, and she hasn't touched her dinner since you left it there…"

"Goodness, that's strange…Princess Anna, why don't you go back upstairs and not have anything to do with this? Unless I miss my guess, you wanted to talk to your sister and I know you were forbidden to do that. I don't want either you or her to get in more trouble. I'll tell your parents what's happening. How's that?"

"Can't you just find out what's the matter with Elsa yourself? Please?" Anna asked. "She usually lets you in her room…"

"Princess, I cannot barge into your sister's room without either her or your parents' permission. It isn't proper," Gerda told her.

"Oh, fine. Just…make sure Elsa knows I'm sorry I ratted on her, even if it was 'cause I was trying to keep her safe." With those words, Anna turned and ran back upstairs to her own room.

A/N: I would love feedback on Elsa's outburst in her room. Is it out of character to you? It seemed believable to me...EVERYONE has the potential to get really angry under the right conditions...opinions, please?

Next chapter coming soon.:)