A/N: 19 reviews… 19 reviews and I'm almost at 100 followers. I can't even tell you peeps how excited you all are making me. And because you all decided to be so good to me, I did my best to work on this chapter and give you the quality you look for in my stories. I only hope you all enjoy what I have written. A lot of you seem to have put much faith in me and if eel as though it is my responsibility to give you what you want. So please, take your time and enjoy this extra special chapter. P.S. don't forget to leave me a nicely worded review when you finish. 19 is incredible, but let's see if chapter three can do even better!
Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen or any of its characters.
Snapping her eyelids open, Princess Anna's body lifted from the bed in an instant as a shuttering gasp flew past her lips. Her body was shaking, shivering in an unexplainable chill. With her arms she attempted to warm herself, hugged them close to her body. This did little for heat, however, as her very core seemed to have frozen.
Letting out a breath, her face contorted at the sight of a white cloud of chilled precipitation flying past her lips. Her head was murky, drifting in and out of recognizable cognition as she struggled to regain her senses. Everything around her seemed to spin.
The dream…
She remembered it, but it was too confusing to process. The new memories conflicted with old ones, mixing and changing in her head and giving her the sensation of a full grown horse trotting on her head. She had to grip her skull just to stop from crying out in pain. Stuck like this, the princess was helpless but to wait it out as her brain attempted to rid itself of the invading magic and restore what once was. Thankfully, after a few minutes Anna could feel the pain lessen to a dull ache.
With a shuttering breath, the strawberry blond released her skull and rested her hands in her lap where she stared at them in quiet contemplation. It was still jumbled, and she couldn't quite recall everything she had seen in her dream, but enough of it shone through for her to understand what had happened.
Her sister, the person that at one time she loved more than any other, had magic. It was to shocking too understand, too strange. And yet, at the same time, she couldn't help but want to slap herself for not seeing it sooner.
To Anna, Elsa had always been amazing. In everything she did, from schooling to just thinking up fun games for them to play as children, she was always incredible. It just seemed natural that she had magic. Like a missing piece to a long forgotten puzzle. Her personality, her beauty, her… everything. It's almost as if she's too amazing to be anything but magic.
As another frame rattling shiver racked her body, the princess looked up from her idle fingers and across the room her fire place. Immediately, she was on her feet and poking the coals with the hearth's iron rod in search of any live coals. It seemed this day was lucky indeed as it took only a moment to find the bed of cherry red heat resting under a layer of spent ash. With these, she wouldn't be forced to ask a member of the staff for their help.
Grabbing a log from her room's stock she was quick to add it to the stone grate and brought her body as close the growing flames as safety would allow. The warmth was soothing to her chilled flesh as a soft sigh flew past her lips. And shifting her position, the princess rested herself on the fireplaces stone ledge, using it as a seat.
Basking in the newfound source of comfort, Anna closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax in its heated embrace. In all truthfulness this was a new sensation for her. Usually the cold never bothered her at all. But when she had woken up, it was like every last scrap of her natural heat had been stolen in the dead of night.
Inching herself closer to the fire, Anna couldn't help but wonder if her dream could have affected her, even in the physical realm. In the final moments, the flashes of consciousness after her sister had accidentally hurt her would forever remain in her memory. The cold, the suffering paralysis, everything that had happened seemed so… real. Truthfully, she would have been surprised if it hadn't affected her in some way. But it was real, as impossible as it all might have seemed… she just knew it.
Gripping hands together, a strained looked flashed across her features. It was so horrible. The thoughts, the emotions of her younger self, they had all been present in their temporary fusion. It had been terrible. When she had heard of her memory's fate it felt as if an icicle had penetrated her heart, and whether it was her own feelings, or those of her past self, Anna couldn't help but bring her hands to her breast to cradle the still aching muscle.
With this new revelation, waves of thoughts and emotions came with it. The most of which was betrayal. Her parents… lied to her. Again and again, day after day they lied to her. She couldn't even fathom how many times she had asked them why Elsa had begun to hate her, and they never said anything. Only that she should give her sister her space, and to leave it alone.
Did they not even consider what they were doing to her? Did they not see how much pain she felt every time her sister shooed her away? Did they not understand how lonely she had been? If they had just told her, explained what had happened and why Elsa needed to be alone… the princess couldn't even fathom how much less she would have suffered. But even that wasn't the worst of it.
Recalling the final moments of her dream, Anna's body shivered for an entirely different reason. The sensation of the mysterious person's magic, seeping into her brain was still fresh in her mind. It was horrible, like the most sacred part of her soul had been intruded upon. A persons mind was their last sanctuary, a place where they should always feel safe. But her parents had ignored that completely. They had intruded in her memories and… taken the most treasured person in her life away from her.
She could still hear the sobbing voice of her younger self, crying out for help.
Well, whether she remembered the wish or not, it seems to have come true. She remembered what had been taken from her.
Opening her eyes only a crack, she looked listlessly across the room, a blank and empty expression her face. For the first time in the princess' life she felt… anger at her parents. In the years she had lived under them, from her very birth she had not once ever felt such a thing. Frustration, yes. Disappointment, occasionally. Sadness, of course. But anger? No, even with all the neglect and loneliness she had suffered, this was the first time she found herself unable to find a reason to explain her parents actions.
The princess didn't revel in the negative emotion, she didn't embrace it. In fact, she hated it, she hated everything about it. It was like a ball of darkness resting in the pit of her stomach and forcing the organ to churn uncomfortable. Parents were supposed to protect you; they were supposed to be the people you trust most in the entire world. But what are you supposed to do when they are the ones that betray you? Who do you turn to?
With a small shutter, Anna rose to her feet, hugging her arms close to her body. For the first time since they had left, the princess was happy for her parent's departure. She… didn't know what she would do if she had to face them.
With her body no linger trembling, she abandoned the warmth of the fire and allowed her legs to carry her across the room. She listened to crackle of the fire, hearing the wood break and burn under its heat, and let her mind dwell on it as she tried to allow her mind to go blank. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she fought, that peace seemed to elude her.
By whatever power that allowed it to happen, Anna was happy to have recovered her true memories. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel troubled. Now that she had them, what was she supposed to do with them? What was the point? Pinching her lips in a tight line, the princess knew immediately what she wanted. In her heart of hearts, it was the same wish she had had forever. Elsa.
Just the thought of her sister's name sent a wave of new found memories washing through her consciousness. For Anna, it was bittersweet. The recollection of her sister's magic left Anna with an undeniable sense of awe. She couldn't even speak of how good it felt to finally understand what had been held from her for so long. But at the same time, it forced her to remember all the time stolen they could have spent together. So much time, so many experiences, lost. Her first lost tooth, her first day of womanhood, birthdays, celebrations, even just spending time together for companionship, all of that and more had been stripped from them and would never be able to be replaced.
Feeling her heart skip for a moment, Anna's attention switched from the past and instead looked at the future. She was bitter about the time lost, this was true, but the chance of reconciliation sent of burst of hope through her soul. She couldn't make up for what they'd lost but she could enjoy the time they still had. The thought of that alone left a small smile curling at her lips. Maybe this was the dreams purpose. Maybe this is why she was shown the truth.
But as soon as the smile appeared, Anna face lost its glow as a worried and shy expression grew it its place.
She wanted to see her right then, she wanted to run out that door and demand her sister's attention. But she was scared. Just because she now knew what kept them separate, it didn't erase the years of isolation and animosity that had formed between them. She was different than the person she had been in that dream, Elsa was different. They weren't children anymore.
Besides, what if there are other reasons Elsa didn't want to talk to her? The princess couldn't help but feel responsible for what had happened. She had been stupid and reckless and that had been the reason she had gotten hurt. If she had just paid attention to what was going on around her, none of this would have happened.
Eyes going wide, Anna's expression morphed into one of pain. She couldn't stand the thought of her sister hating her. It actually hurt. Even now- no, especially now, Anna wanted her sister back, the consequents be damned. She wanted to experience the same kind of happiness her new memories showed her. She wanted Elsa to know that she understood. But more than anything… she just didn't want to alone anymore. If this was the opening she needed to mend the relationship between her and her sister than she sure as heck wasn't going to waste it.
Her sister could hate her, she could ignore her and shove her away a thousand times, she could curse her, yell at her, even hit her, if that's what she needed to do. She could do all of this, but it wouldn't matter. Because in the end Anna would always love her, no matter what. And after all, isn't that what sisters are for?
OoOoOoO
Sitting in her favorite chair, Elsa stared down at the book in her hands and gave a frustrated sigh. She must have read the same page a hundred times now, and yet, she couldn't recall even a single word. Her mind refused to focus, if even for a single moment. She couldn't stop thinking of her sister.
In the moments that followed Anna's departure the other night, Elsa had been lucky enough to be too busy to think over her sister for any length of time. The task of disposing of her frost had been much too urgent.
After throwing more wood on the fire and heating the room as much as she was able, she was forced to suffer in the overwhelming warmth as the ice dripped from the walls and ceiling. For Elsa, that kind of temperature was always uncomfortable. Excessive heat always affected her like that, but it was necessary if she didn't want the frost to remain as a reminder of her failure.
After all of the ice had disappeared, it was already late into the night and she had fallen into her bed in an exhausted heap. It wasn't until she was awake the next day that she was allowed to dwell on the thoughts of her sister.
Getting up in the morning Elsa had set out to begin her morning ritual, attending to hygienic needs and getting dressed. After that she enjoyed a quite breakfast by herself, eating whatever the nervous staff woman had brought her and ignoring the way she had refused to look her in the eye. She wasn't sure if the servants were aware of her powers, and she didn't ask. All she knew was that whenever they were forced to enter her room, it was rare they ever offered more than a peep for conversation. Regardless, she stopped trying years ago.
With her breakfast finished, Elsa's free time became open, allowing her mind to wander. Of course this led to thoughts of her sister.
She hated how she had lashed out, especially on her birthday. The sound of Anna's pained gasp still resonated in her mind. Such thoughts continued to stay with her, no matter what she did. It hung over head like the ach of a broken bone.
Throwing the book across the room, Elsa's frustrated sigh erupted from her lungs. She was tired of trying to read the stupid thing. She knew she wasn't going to make any progress, not today anyway.
Letting herself mope in her chair, she rested against its cushioned back and tried to relax her tense muscles. This proved to be a futile effort however as the sound of her sister approaching could be heard creeping outside her door.
Lifting her head from her chair, Elsa's frustration switched to confusion at Anna's presence. She knew it was her sister on the other side of the door, to her there was no question. Over the years her ears had become almost attuned to the sound of her sister's footsteps. They were quieter than most, barely making a sound. She was so light, like air. And she always, always hesitated just as she past her door. It's come to the point that Elsa could practically hear her coming from all the way down the hall. And as sad as it seems, the older sister couldn't deny the small jolt of happiness those moments gave her. It was as close to her sister as she could ever get, and she cherished the moments no matter how brief.
And so, as Elsa waited for her sister's foot steps to continue, her brow furled even further in confusion as Anna seemed to remain. With a sickening pit in her stomach, Elsa stared at the door in fear. It had been almost a year since her sister's last visit, and now she was coming two days in a row? It didn't make sense.
Walking towards the door, Elsa's hands were wringing each other in an anxious clasp. In her head, she begged her sister to move on. She didn't want to hurt her again. Last night had created enough pain for both of them. She didn't want to create even more. And yet as the sound of three gentle knocks rocked against her door, the princess felt her heart drop in her chest.
Oh how she wanted to just give into her desires and open the door. But her father and mother expressed themselves clearly that until her powers were under her control there was always the possibility of harming her sister. The memory of that night's accident was the only thing that gave her the strength to hold back. To do as her parents instructed.
Remaining quiet, Elsa's features winced as another round of knocking echoed off the wooden frame. In her palms, Elsa's fingers twitched with want as they seemed to itch for the solid metal of the knob. But all she could do was clamp down on them, keeping them at her sides and praying that her sister would leave.
"Elsa?" Anna's voice called through the wood. The sound of it alone made the older sister's heart twinge with pain. The only solace Elsa was able to take was that her sister's tone was free of their past night's sadness.
Walking closer to the door, the platinum blond haired woman pressed her hand against the door, feeling her sister's presence on the other side. Her features were the picture of remorse. Along her face, her brows were drawn up in worry as her eyes beseeched the door to will itself open. And even lower her magenta colored lips remained ever so parted, as if desperate to answer her sister's call.
As a nervous choking sound broke free from her throat, the princess pinched her lips together in a tight line of frustrated reluctance. With a single breath of courage, she opened her eyes to stare at the door, a pained expression clear on her face. "I told you yesterday Anna," she forced the words past her lips. "Go away." She tried to keep her tone firm but could feel her words waning in strength. "I don't want you here." A blatant lie, but it needed to be said.
On the other side of the door Anna winced at her sister's words but stood firm despite them. Her stance was ridged, feeling the weight of her anxiety as she attempted to face her only sister for the first time in her life. Regardless, she expected Elsa's hostility and knew that it would not be easy to work past her defenses. "Elsa?" the younger sister repeated herself. "Can… can I come in?"
Waiting in silence, her brow rose slightly the sound of a breathy sigh could be heard on the other side of the door.
"Anna," Elsa spoke. The younger princess winced at how… unsettled her sister's voice sounded. "Please, just… leave." Hesitating for a moment, the older sister's tone turned to steel as she spoke the final word. It was enough to make Anna flinch back in pain.
If not for her newly freed memories, the younger princess knew she would have fled at her sister's cold tone. Fortunately, the images of magic and happiness gave her the strength to remain where she stood, albeit slightly winded, but strong. With a moment to recollect her composure, the princess felt her features grow firm as she willed her tone to match.
"No." Two simple letters and yet the sound of them seemed to echo as it flew past both of the sisters ears. "I wan- need to talk to you. So… please open the door." Releasing her request into the open air, Anna's voiced softened to the quality of clouds. Like a whisper, it flew from her lips, dripping with the desperation she hoped her sister would convey. "Elsa," she spoke. "Please."
On the other side of the door Elsa's features were pinched in a tight grimace of frustration. Against the door her whole body rested as she listened to her sisters words. In her mind she wanted to just slam her skull against one of her walls. Anna sounded so... sad to her ears. She couldn't ignore it, no matter how much she tried.
Picturing her father and mother in her mind, the older princess closed her eyes and pressed the back of her head against the wooden door, breathing deep in frustration "Just…" the words seemed to stick in her throat. "Whatever you need to say, you can tell me from the other side of the door." Even this much was a cruel disobedience of her father's orders. Responding to her prodding would only inspire her to return and seek her out more. Yet despite knowing this, Elsa felt her will waver if only for a moment on this day. If her sister really did need her, Elsa wouldn't be able forgive herself if she turned her away.
Shaking her head, Anna remained obstinate as she stared at the door in front of her, feeling her emotions bubbling in her heart. "I can't just…" she exclaimed. "I need to see you." Her voice dropped as she made her request.
Letting out a breath of exasperation, Elsa stared up at the ceiling, her expression desperate for a reprieve. "I'm not letting you in," she spoke slowly. Each word enunciated with clarity and purpose. "Either tell me what you need to say… or leave."
For the next few moments both young girls remained completely silent. On Anna's end her determination sank to depression as she stared at the floor beneath her. In her eyes moisture collected along the surface of the organ, glimmering in the soft candle light of the hall way.
Opening her lips, her voice seemed to fail her as she struggled to find the words that would reach her sister. With each passing second she could feel the weight of the silence only increasing, leaving her with the strong sensation of utter suffocation as she suffered in her own mind. Finally, as a small tremor of emotion vibrated throughout her body, she seemed to slump under the weight of her own mind.
"Do… do you want to build a snowman…?"
Anna's words cracked with the sound of her unshed tears, whispered so quietly even her own ears struggle to understand them. And yet, as Elsa stood facing away from her on the other side of the door, her sister's words resonated to her ears as if carried by the very wind.
With her face skewed up in confusion, Elsa turned to the window and stared at the blatant lack of frost in silence. While the air had taken a chill in the past months, the older sister knew it would still be much time before actual snow fell upon their kingdom. Was her sister playing fun with her? She couldn't help but wonder. But no, the tone of her voice and sadness refused to let the snow witch to simply dismiss it as a joke.
On the other side of the door Anna was staring at the floor feeling her heart hammer in her chest. She didn't know why she had said what she had. It seemed to have just left her lips before she even knew they were open. It was stupid, and childish, and yet Anna couldn't help the feeling of satisfaction she felt from saying to those words to her sister after so long. It was the marker of their childhood, of a time of innocents. Before the pain, before the isolation. It was their memories, their mischief and their joy; all wrapped in a single set of words. It left her heavy heart feeling light and even curled the edges of her lips in a small, sad smile.
"Anna," her sister's voice called through the door, monotone and slow. "Don't be crazy. There won't be any snow for months. If you're not going to say anything important than…" she let the words hang on the air.
With a slow shuttering breath, Anna's eyes became unfocused as she withdrew into her mind, recalling all of the beautiful moments of fun she and her sister playing in. On the outside, her body was but a shell as her mind took over, completely dwarfing her personality and stealing her attention. With nothing but the smiling face of her sister in her mind, it was inevitable as Anna's cheeks spread into a warm and loving smile. And yet, to anyone else looking on they wouldn't be able to deny that sadness lurking underneath her fare features.
Letting out a small chuckle, she shook her head, smiling despite of herself. "That never stopped us before… did it…?" Tacking on the last part of her sentence, Anna tried to disguise the true fear she felt in her heart. No matter how true or right it seemed, the younger sister couldn't rule out the possibility that… it really was all just a dream. She hated that possibility and tried her best to ignore its existence. It meant nothing had changed. It meant her sister really did just stop liking her. It meant returning to her isolation… and so much more. That is why, as Elsa's silence began to rule the space surrounding them, Anna's eyes snapped open and stared at the door with utter desperation.
Inside her room Elsa could feel a cold sensation of dread coursing through her veins. Her ears repeated her sister's voice again and again. She… didn't know what to think.
In a flash she was away from the door, staring at it in utter terror. It was all she could to stop herself from crying out loud. Could her sister have really found out about her secret? Elsa couldn't imagine how, but…
Elsa's eyes were wide as she stared at the door knob. Reaching out, her hand crept at an achingly slow pace as she struggled to break her father's orders. And as the cool metal soaked through the material of her glove, she couldn't help but release a long breath of air. Her heart was pounding in her chest; all she could think of was her sister's words and what they could mean. And yet, as her lithe finger gripped and turned the metal ball, she couldn't deny the explosion of excitement to burst in her heart as the door opened to reveal her sister standing on the other side.
Seeing her sister's door open, Anna felt her heart stop in her chest. With wide eyes, she watched as her sister peeked through, hiding behind the door and keeping half of her face hidden from view. But in that cracked space, she stared at her sister and met her gaze, staring deep into the single wary eye ball and mustered up as much courage as her fluttering heart could manage. "Can I please come in?" she repeated herself pointedly. This time her sister answered, silently stepping back from the door and pulling the door open.
Walking inside, the strawberry blond haired girl couldn't help but take another moment and stare at the features of Elsa's bed room. She couldn't even think of how many times she had imaged what her sister's room looked like.
With a small ping of amusement, the younger sister was able to spot the rather large and full bookshelf taking over the majority of one of Elsa's four walls. The rest of the room was equally enthralling as she observed the unique colors and patterns her sister had chosen to decorate her personal space. Unfortunately, it seems she spent too long as the sound of her sister clearing her throat interrupted her inspection.
Spinning around Anna's face was dusted with speckles of pink as she realized what she had done. With a quick cough she struggled to regain her composure and looked to meet her sister's face.
Several paces away, Elsa stood facing her sister, a tight, impassive gaze on her face as her features refused to show even the slightest trace of emotion. Her stance was ridged, her posture perfect as she stood with her back arched and chest forward. In her lap her hands rested, loosely folded against each other and allowing the young woman to come off as comfortable and relaxed. And Anna couldn't stand the sight of it.
The way her sister stood, the way she carried herself, all of it was exactly how they had been taught to receive guests of the castle, the appropriate way. And this was how her sister had chosen to welcome her… like a stranger, like a common political figure with whom she was forced to perform for. Like… like a puppet. This wasn't how family was supposed to interact; this was not how she wanted to see her sister.
"Elsa-" speaking her sister's name, Anna forced her foot forward, placing herself closer to the young woman and reached with her hands as if to console her. Seeing this, a flash of panic seemed to appear on the older woman's face as she hurriedly compensated, stepping even further away.
"What did you mean?" Elsa spoke, cutting her sister off before she could continue. Like a whip her words were harsh and to the point. "What was your intention in those words?"
Like she'd been struck the younger sister took a step back, a pained expression on her face. Through her eyes she observed her sisters cool gaze and suddenly found herself unable to hold it. Instead the princess found her eyes flickering about the space around her sister, seemingly anywhere but where Elsa stood. This left her fidgeting and squirming as she struggled to find the right words.
"I- I just...," her shy voice managed to stutter out. Closing her eyes she felt herself shrink under her sister's gaze. This wasn't how she thought their reunion would be, not at all. "Um."
With quick, shy glances at her sister, the young princess found her mind irreparable scattered as she tried in vain to focus her thoughts. Her sister's presents was overpowering. As much as she wanted to remember her original purpose, she couldn't help herself as she stared at her older sibling trying to take in ever last bit of her appearance.
Opening her eyes she forced her eyes back on her sister, only to feel them grow on her face at what she saw. Once so frantic, Anna was able to see small traits that exposed her sister's true demeanor. Her hands, once seen as relaxed and calm were in reality rigidly intertwined within one another, twisting and folding themselves as Elsa struggled to keep them still. And her face, at one point the picture of royalty now revealed herself as washed with anxiety and what looked to be… fear. This gave the young girl a start as she realized her sister was just as anxious about the situation as she.
With this new information in mind, Anna felt her nerves calm, if only a small bit. Unfortunately, this did litter for her voice as it refused to appear.
In Elsa's mind, worry and fear ruled her every thought as she tried to read her stumbling sister.
Seeing her like this, the older sister couldn't help but recall back to their younger days. Anna had always been hyper, jumping from one activity to the next and never satisfied. Her mind was restless. She was like an insatiable ball of energy, never calm, never still. In truth she had admired her of those qualities at the time. For someone like her, so calm, so thoughtful, she couldn't help but feel envious for how Anna seemed to just jump forward without so much as a seconds hesitation. Though looking at her now, the pale skinned woman couldn't help but feel a flash of irritation as those same traits she had once so admired now left her wanting as her sister's frantic mind refused to collect itself.
With a shallow breathe she could feel her worry and anxiety taking over her control. Every second her sister stalled, her nerves only increased in anxiety. No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, her mind continued to race with all kinds of differently horrid and ugly scenarios. This served to only increase her panic.
At her fingertips the same tingle of energy appeared, answering her hearts call and jumping at the chance to be released. Prepared for this, Elsa was forced to close her eyes and focus on the sound of her father's voice, instructing her on how to strangle her emotions back under control.
In her head she pushed her emotions down, ignoring the familiar ach of her heart as she did so. Unfortunately, as if aware of how desperate she was for control, her powers seemed adamant on being difficult on this day. This left the poor girl grasping as the feeling of chill began to encroach from into the space of her gloves.
"Elsa?" the sound of her sister's voice awoke her from her trance.
Eyes napping open, Elsa felt her heart jump as her sister looked to have used her distraction to swallow the distance between them.
Forgetting her powers completely, the elder sister jumped as she attempted to escape her sister's proximity. Unfortunately, as the sensation of her bookshelf met her shoulder, she was quick to realize her escape was already cut off.
Anna's stared at her sisters actions and furled her brow in worry. Reaching out once again, she nearly jumped at the sight of her sister actually looking at her in fear. "Elsa," her voice repeated her sister's name. "Are you okay?" Asking her question the younger princes stared at her sister utterly lost as she tried to grasp the older woman's strange behavior. Hesitating momentarily, she worried that she had already done something to offend her only sibling.
Taking a breath to calm her racing heart, Elsa stared at her sister's enquiring face and flinch as her ice spiked at her fingertips. "Step back," she ordered to her sister. Her voice wavered ever so slightly under the strain of her control. It was like trying to grasp the very air with your bare hands. Always slipping between the cracks, always looking for an escape. A cool bead a sweat formed on her forehead.
Much the Elsa's chagrin, her sister did, in fact, not heed her words and instead forced her way even closer to her sister. "What's wrong?" she urged, a deep frown marring her features. "Are you… okay?" she asked bewildered. This prompted a deep scowl to spring on her sister's face.
"It isn't safe Anna," she urged her sister, begging her to understand. Just the mere though of harming her sister again left the poor girl grasping as her powers only increased in pressure. "Please… get away." Pleading with her sister, a lone tear spilled from the edge of her eye and clung to the soft texture of her pale cheek as it fell. Their first real reunion in ten years and she had to ruin it. It was beyond frustrating.
Poor Anna looked completely lost as she watched her sister in obvious struggle. She didn't know what to do. It had happened so fast, so sudden. One moment they had been standing, her talking in incomprehensible babble and Elsa in tense silence, and then as if without warning she had looked up to see her sister's form seized in a tight clench, as if struggling with some un-seeable force. The closer she tried to approach the worse her presence seemed to make her sisters condition. This left her staring at her sister in dumbfounded silence.
"I… I'm not afraid of you," she dared her voice to speak. In reality the thin girl looked terrified at that moment. Her large eyes stared at her sister, trembling. Her entire frame seemed to shake with her nerves. And yet, a certain, undeniable strength seemed to gleam underneath the surface of her frail body. A strength Elsa found foolish.
"Get out," she ordered her sister. "Leave. It was a mistake letting you come in. I'm sorry." Starring at her sister she hated the look of pain that appeared on her face. But expression lasted only a second. Instead, a rather impetus expression graced her freckled face.
"I'm not afraid of you," Anna repeated, a fierce look on her young features. "I- I want to help, that's all I've ever wanted! Just tell me what I need to do!"
Hearing her sisters words Elsa shook her head becoming more panicked by the second. "You don't understand," she insisted. "I'm dangerous. I can hurt you!" at this Anna felt her heart throb painfully.
"I don't believe you," she spoke in a soothing tone. "You'd never hurt me, I know that." Her faith in her sister was unrelenting and unfailing. She would bet her life any day of the week that her sister would never intentionally harm her. She loved her sister more than anything in her life. And part of loving someone was trust.
"You don't know anything," Elsa countered, staring at her sister coldly. And she meant it. Her sister had the blessing of ignorance. She had the gift of not knowing how hard it was for her, how scared she was. She had no idea how close she was to flash freezing the entire room.
"But I do!" Anna countered back. Breathing in a haggard breath, the young princess was close to tears as frustration claimed her. Everything seemed to be falling apart, nothing was going as planned. She wanted to talk with her sister, not scream at her. She wanted her sister to know how sorry she was for what she did, she wanted her to know she loved her and only wanted her forgiveness, and yet as much as she wanted this, the young woman found herself exactly where she always ended up with her sister, being pushed and closed away. But she didn't want that, she was tired of being shut out of Elsa's life. And if her sister insisted on keeping herself closed off and isolated, Anna decided it was up to her to tear down those walls.
With a trembling step forward, her body seemed to act without her accord. Which left both girls staring in amazement as Anna's small arms found themselves wrapped her sisters waist, pulling her body close to hers and holding it there in a tight grip that refused to be released. "I know," Anna whispered. "So please… stop trying to push me away." And with a final squeeze, the younger sister pressed herself against her sister, absorbing her uniquely tempered body heat.
For a moment, time seemed to stall in the small room of the castle. Neither moved, neither said a word. All they could was feel the sensation of each other's body pressed against the other.
In contrast to Anna's unrelenting grip, Elsa's hands hung loosely at her sides, limp in shock. Her entire body was ridged under her sister's touch, refusing to relax for even a moment. This… this was the loving hand she had craved for so long. With a trembling breath she felt her heart jump in her chest. In her sister's arms she could deny no longer how much she missed the touch of another human being, how much she missed being treated like one. It was like seeing the sun after a lifetime of living in darkness. Unable resist this sensation, Elsa's powers laid forgotten in the recesses of her mind as she dared her arms to rise and slip around her sister's tiny waist. Feeling this, Anna closed her eyes and encouraged the action by pulling her sister even harder against her.
Eyes open wide, Elsa's face was angled to the ceiling looking lost and full of surprise as if afraid to make a mistake on how to properly return the gesture. She was so unused to the warmth, to the kindness. It was like a long forgotten memory. Turning her eyes to her sister, she peered past her cheek and over her nose to see the strawberry blond strands of hair tickling at her lips. It was there that her eyes widen even further as she spotted the lack of coloration that laid proof of her sins. It was only through further inspection that the elder sister was able to verify her observation.
For a moment, Elsa simply stood in place, awkwardly holding her sister and feeling the burning heat emanate from her body. Allowing her mind to digest everything that had happened in such a short time. And with this, Elsa realized her fears to have finally come true.
"I know, so please… stop trying to push me away." Like a slap to the face Elsa repeated her sister's words in her head and found her arms pressure increasing.
"You remember," Elsa whispered, staring at her sister in fear. It was but a whisper, carried by a heady and shallow breath. And yet Anna understood perfectly as she tensed, straitening against her sister and backing out of her embrace just enough to look up into her eyes. She didn't say anything, but her silence was more than enough confirmation for the ender sibling. This brought a new wave of anxiety. "How," Elsa asked staring into Anna's eyes, her words recovering a bit more substance.
At this Anna found herself scrambling to think of a way to properly explain the process in which her memory was recovered. Unfortunately, even Anna found that tale to be impossible as she replayed the events in her mind. And so, with no other alternative, she was forced to break her sister's gaze and stare into floor beneath them. This encouraged a deep sigh to erupt from her sister's throat.
Breaking out of her Anna's hold, Elsa maneuvered past her sister and stepped to the middle of the room. Immediately she missed the contact of her sister, but comforted herself by hugging her arms against the space Anna had just been. It was a poor substitute.
"Then you know why you should leave," Elsa spoke while her back remained facing her sister. "Why I'm dangerous."
Staring after her sister, Anna shook her head and walked after her sister. But then, seeing the way her approach caused Elsa to tense, she resigned herself. "Elsa of course you're not dangerous. You're my sister," she spoke with conviction. Daring to take another step forward she stared at the back of her sister's head and felt her features soften. "Please… I'm sorry for what I did."
Whipping around Elsa's eyes were wide as she regarded her sister. "You're sorry?" she questioned incredulously. "What on earth do you have to apologize for?"
Hearing her sisters tone Anna gave a pathetic look and gazed upon Elsa pleadingly. "If it wasn't for me- for what did, none of this would have happened," she spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I was stupid an- and reckless. If I'd just stopped when you'd told me to, paid attention even just a little…" her words trailed off as she shook her head trying to hide the tears gathering in the corners of her eye lids.
"Anna…" Elsa spoke, staring at her sister and dumbfounded beyond response. In her heart of hearts, the snow queen was guilty to actually feel a spark of gratitude at hearing her younger sister's words. For so long, for so many nights she had actually had nightmares of her sister realizing the truth and blaming her for it. So to hear what her sister was saying, if even begrudgingly, it was a relief.
Realizing her train of thought Elsa shook those thoughts from her head and dared herself to walk towards her sister who refused to look at her. "Anna," she tried, only to earn no response. Reaching out, Elsa paused, staring at her hand in fear, as if her very touch was all it took to destroy. But a quick glance at her sister gave her the push she needed to get passed her personal barriers and place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I can't control my powers Anna," Elsa spoke, as revealing her most embarrassing secret. "That's why I'm here, wh- why I can't be around regular people. I need to get better at controlling it." Taking a deep breath, Elsa closed her eyes allowing herself a moment to collect herself. "I never meant to hurt you," the words left her in a whisper. "If I'd known at the time how much danger I was putting you in, how much was at stake, I would never have allowed it to happen. You were hurt because of my thoughtlessness, and I know it's not an excuse but I need you to understand that. You did nothing- are at fault for nothing. So please," her voice became pleading. "Please don't blame yourself."
As the sensation of her sister's hand enveloped her own Elsa dared her eyes open only to find her sisters blue orbs staring deeply into her own. With a shaken grip, Elsa gave the hand a small squeeze.
"I thought you hated me," Anna revealed looking guilty. "I thought…," she couldn't finish the thought. In her sisters arms it felt as though all the years of isolation hit her all at once. All the silence, the loneliness, the… hollow ach in her chest, everything she had been forced to suppress slammed into her all at once like a brick wall. This forced the girl into her sister, holding her and clinging to her as if her life depended on it.
Down her face, small, shallow tears feel in silence only to be soaked up by the fabric of her sister's gown. And while her body wasn't shaking with her sobs, Elsa could feel the sadness lurking, hidden by her shoulder. And in that moment, Elsa could truly sympathize with her sister. In that moment, she allowed the past to be forgotten.
Guiding her sister, Elsa pulled Anna along with her step by step until they reached her reading chair. It was here that Elsa held her sister, almost carrying her as she sat down allowing her little sister to occupy her lap. Once settled in, she rested against the chairs back and smiled sadly as she allowed her sister to vent her sadness into her neck.
In the next few moments, Elsa's mind drifted to the past, remembering all the times she had been there for her sister. Anna had never been much of a crier, even as a child. No matter the problem her sister was like a mule, obstinate to the point their parents were often left to worry about their youngest child. She always tried to be so strong… but Elsa knew it must have been hard for Anna to feel so lost and alone. So seeing her like she was, so small, so fragile it only made Elsa want to hold her closer until all the sadness went away.
And she did just that. The stronger Anna's sorrow became the tighter she would hold her, rubbing her back and whispering to her words of comfort. It actually impressed Elsa how easily it came to her to comfort her sister. For someone who had been neglected by human contact, the moment her sister had needed her it was like her body had taken over doing what needed to be done. And while a small part of her was still anxious over the concept, it was vastly overpowered by her love.
For more than half an hour Elsa held her sister, comforting her and wishing her sadness away. It was only when the sound of soft snores could be hurt rumbling from Anna's throat that she was shaken from her trance.
Jumping a bit, Elsa craned her neck to look at her sister and sighed as she spotted Anna's sleeping face completely at rest. Unsure what to do, the elder sister looked awkward for a moment as she gingerly tried rocking her sister awake. This did little to disturb the sleeping strawberry blond however as she simply smiled into Elsa's neck.
Giving a huff of exhaustion, the platinum blond looked up across the room at the door and bit her lip anxiously. If their parents knew how many of their rules she had broken on this day, she didn't even want to imagine what they would say to her. But, your parents aren't here, a voice in her head called out. At this, Elsa couldn't stop the small smile that appeared on her face as she took a moment to gaze down at her sleeping sister.
Quickly taking inventory of her powers, she was surprised to find the magical pressure to be little more than a vibration humming under the surface of her skin. This confused her, but also left her grateful. With her powers under control, and her parents out of the way, Elsa convinced herself that a single evening with her sister was long overdue. It felt good to hold her, to talk to her, better than she had felt in years. And with a swoop of her hand she brushed a stray strand of hair from Anna's face a sighed at the warmth.
When her sister awoke, she would send her on her way and things would return to normal. But right now, Elsa wanted to enjoy her time with her sister. She looked so tiered, like she hadn't slept in days. It was no wonder to the ice witch how she had fallen asleep so quickly.
She was still curious as to how her sister had broken the magic concealing her mind, but she figured that could wait for another time.
Setting back into the chair, Elsa felt her own eye lids begin to droop. Under the serine warmth of her sister's body it was impossible not to feel comfortable. But as her mind began to drift off, she looked at her sister and recalled her last words.
Closing her eyes, Elsa pressed her forehead against her beloved sister's hair and whispered to her gently. "I will never hate you Anna. Because I love you, more than anything else, I love you." Whether it be a trick of the light, or Elsa's imagination she could swear Anna smiled.
With nothing else, Elsa mind drifted away under the warm embrace of her sister feeling her love and giving her own in return.
A/N: one quick thing I would like to address is that I am sorry for any grammatical errors you might find. At the moment I only have myself to proof read and it can be easy to miss mistakes. I do plan to go back in the future and resubmit the chapters after fixing my mistakes, but until then I hope they aren't too difficult to deal with.
Also! I hope you enjoyed the interaction between Anna and Elsa, it is always a pleasure to write about these two beautiful woman, hehe. If you enjoyed it, let me know. If you didn't, let me know why. Just be so kind as to leave a review and let me know your thoughts.
Until next time, Sandstorm out!
Next time: Anna and Elsa spend more time together. Questions are answered. Answers are questioned and bonds are reinforced.