When Anna re-entered the bedchamber, she had washed herself and dressed. Her hair was fixed in two braids that fell past her shoulders. Elsa smiled, nodding in approval.
"You look lovely," said Elsa, standing from her seat on the bed and walking toward Anna.
"Thank you," replied Anna, twirling her braid with a finger. She was blushing. Elsa put a hand on her sister's shoulder. Anna responded by embracing her sister. She stood there, not letting go, "You don't know how hard it's been without you," spoke Anna. Sadness swept across her face, "Kristoff may as well have been with you for the past two weeks, he's been gone so much." Elsa took a step back, letting go of Anna.
"He hasn't been around at all?" Elsa asked. Her voice was uneasy, but Anna didn't notice.
"He's here in the mornings and nights," shrugged Anna. She no longer looked sad, more confused than anything, "but you know that. He's harvesting the ice for our wedding." Elsa looked confused as well.
"He's been going out every day?" asked Elsa. This time Anna recognized what Elsa meant.
"Is it not supposed to take that long?" spoke Anna, her voice sullen. No, it's not. Elsa could see tears beginning to build up behind her sister's eyes. She was awaiting the Queen's answer.
"Oh, of course," Elsa lied. Remember to smile. "It is. I'm just surprised Kristoff actually has the patience to do it all himself. He can be a bit...lazy." Elsa tried her best to smile. Anna's expression returned to one of glee, and she hugged her sister a second time.
"You're wrong though," Anna said, smiling. "Kristoff is the most dedicated, hardworking, compassionate, and-" Elsa interrupted her sister, placing a finger over Anna's lips. Sincere. She was going to say sincere.
"I get it," Elsa told her sister, grinning. Anna giggled. "So then what were you just crying about?" the Queen asked, worried she might re-initiate the waterworks.
"While you've been gone, I've been making something for Kristoff. I even spent all of last night working to finish it, just so-"
"A wedding gift?" asked Elsa, smiling at her sister. "Those are supposed to wait until the wedding."
"Well it's not for the wedding," responded Anna, in a mocking tone of authority. Her face lit up. "Can I show you?" She was staring at her sister. Elsa nodded.
It was all Anna could do to hold back her excitement as she raced down the halls, pulling her sister along by the hand. Elsa, however, was focusing on something else. Where has Kristoff been going every day? She didn't like the answer that entered her mind.
"We're here," Anna said, bouncing in front of the door. She held it open for her sister. "Ladies first," she giggled, covering her mouth with a hand. Elsa chuckled as well, walking through the door.
The room the Queen entered was the size of the ballroom, and it was completely void of furniture or decoration. All except for the farthest wall from where Elsa stood. The wall was completely covered in paint, hosting the most exquisite and well-crafted works of art she had ever seen. The colors, the fine detail, it was all so perfect. The massive painting depicted a wedding.
"It's so beautiful," gasped Elsa, walking toward Anna's creation, "you did this?" Anna nodded with a proud smile, the proudest Elsa had ever seen. The scene included Kristoff and Anna on the left, feeding one another cake. They were surrounded by all types of dancers and musicians, partying around the bride and groom. Elsa was surprised to see that the couple was not the focus of the work. It was the Queen, standing on a floor of ice in the center of the painting. She had captured every detail, from the perfection with which the hair had been painted to the dedication it must have taken to achieve the glittering effect of her dress. None of this, however, was what Elsa noticed most. It was the hands, creating a swirl of icy magic around the air.
"It's a pre-wedding gift for Kristoff. It's how I imagine the wedding will be," said Anna, excitedly running up to her sister. Elsa fell to her knees.
"No," spoke the Queen, "it won't." She wasn't thinking of the dancers, or even the married couple feeding one another cake. She was still focusing on the hands. Anna bent down to comfort her sister.
"But-"
"No," spoke Elsa. Her sister was talking of the Queen's two-week absence, whose purpose had been to help Elsa regain her powers. She had been seeking the wizards of Yaren, revered for their knowledge of magic, in hopes they might be able to help Elsa regain her powers. They had not been able to help. Instead, the men had given Anna's sister worse news, "I haven't just lost my power's," Elsa choked, beginning to cry. She didn't bother to find an easy way to say it, "I'm dying."
As Elsa lay there, crying on the floor of an almost empty room, Anna's face remained calm. She was thinking. After a few moments, Anna broke the silence.
"Elsa," spoke Anna, lifting her head from the Queen's back, "did they tell you why?"
"No," said a sniffling Elsa, sitting up. Her hair was a mess, "they couldn't tell me anything." She returned to crying.
"Come with me," said Anna, cheerfully pulling her sister to her feet. Elsa found it strange that Anna wasn't upset.
"Why?" she asked, not moving. Anna grabbed her sister by the arm and began tugging her toward the door.
"Because I know where the trolls are," smiled Anna. Elsa was confused.
"But how?" The trolls had disappeared right after the Great Thaw, much to Kristoff's disappointment. Had she been able, Elsa would have gone to them in the first place. "No one has seen the trolls in-"
"I saw them yesterday," Anna said, smiling, "I was going to tell Kristoff this morning, but," a look of sadness appeared on her face.
"So where have the trolls been?" said Elsa quickly, meaning to interrupt Anna's thoughts. Her sister looked back at her, smiling once more.
"You'll see."