Elsa was huddled in the corner of her room, putting as much distance between herself and the door at which Anna had just come knocking as was possible. Her knees were brought up to her chest and her arms were wrapped tightly around them. Her hands, though gloved, were clenched tightly in an attempt to stop the frost which was spreading across the floor and up the walls, with her as the epicentre.
"Conceal, don't feel. Conceal, don't feel," she whispered to herself over and over again, rocking back and forth just to give her something to think about other than the mantra which had long since lost its meaning.
It had always had some effect on her when her father said it, but now he was gone. He had left her alone, him and her mother, and now she had no one who knew the truth about her monstrous powers. No one who could even begin to comprehend the isolation she felt in her every waking moment.
Suddenly, she felt someone's presence in the room. She raised her head from where it had been buried in her arms and gasped. Before her stood a tall, slender woman draped in elegant orange silks. Chestnut brown hair fell down her back in perfectly formed ringlets. Her face was kind, and her pale blue eyes conveyed a deep sadness and understanding that Elsa could not fathom.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?" Elsa asked, startled by the woman's sudden appearance.
"My name is Frigga-" she was cut off as she took a step towards Elsa.
"No! Stay back!" Elsa cried. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't, my dear. My name is Frigga, wife of Odin, Allfather of the gods and ruler of Asgard, realm of the immortals."
Elsa's eyes widened, a look of disbelief and suspicion flashing behind the fear. "Why on Earth would I believe such a thing?"
Frigga held out her hand, palm up, and a series of images appeared, hovering like the lights that sometimes appeared over Arendelle in the night. It was on one of those nights that Anna had demanded they build a snowman, and Elsa had almost killed her with a stray blast of ice to the head. Elsa shuddered.
The images that Frigga summoned were a series of moments from Elsa's past, right from the day she was born to the present day. Elsa watched the projections in awe, her jaw hanging slightly open. Frigga closed her hand as the images ceased. "Do you believe me now?"
Elsa scrambled to her feet and curtsied low. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I did not know."
"It's quite all right, my dear."
"If I may, Your Majesty, why are you here?" Elsa enquired nervously.
Frigga considered the girl carefully, deciding how much she should tell her. She saw no reason to frighten the child further by informing her of her husband's intentions to banish her should her powers become too unruly. "We have been watching over you on Asgard since the day you were born."
"Me, Your Majesty? But, why?" Elsa said, taken aback.
"Isn't it obvious? Your abilities, my child. They are a gift, and one that must be protected. Elsa, you have in you the potential for great virtue. There is beauty in your powers, if you learn to control them. But, if you let your emotions get the better of you in this way, your powers pose a great threat to those around you." Frigga paused, letting her words sink in. Elsa was staring down at her hands. The Asgardian moved over to the bed and sat down, motioning for Elsa to join her.
"I fear I cannot control them," Elsa said quietly.
"Ah, but your fear is the problem, Elsa. It will consume you and be your downfall. You must learn to live in coexistence with your powers. This constant battle for dominance is not good for you. You must learn to become one with the storm inside of you."
"But how? If I let go I put everyone at risk."
"Your only other option is to carry on the way you are now. And clearly," Frigga said, motioning to the room around them, "that method is not proving very effective."
Elsa sighed. "I was improving. I was learning to control it before... Before-" she had to stop to choke back a sob rising in her throat. The frost in the room thickened slightly and Frigga leant across to take Elsa's hand between her own. She did not fear Elsa; she knew that even the girl's considerable powers would have no effect on the Queen of Asgard. Nevertheless, Elsa flinched away and would not let Frigga touch her. She did not trust herself.
Frigga sighed. "I understand that you are lonely, Elsa." She paused. After this there would be no changing her mind. "That's why I brought someone with me. I think you'll get along."
Elsa looked up, her curiosity piqued. "Who?" she was, of course, wary. She still didn't trust herself not to hurt anyone who came near, but at the same time, she was lonelier than she could say and the thought of any kind of interaction made her heart leap.
Frigga saw all of this in her face and smiled. "Loki. You can come in now."
Loki, who had been standing outside the door on his mother's orders (though admittedly eavesdropping) pushed open the door and entered. His eyes widened at the sight before him. The room was completely covered with ice, and a light snow was falling, despite the fact that it was spring time outside. His eyes fell upon his mother who was sitting on the edge of the bed, and then upon the girl – Elsa, he believed his mother had called her.
He had never been much of a romantic, preferring to stay in his chambers reading and practicing magic. He had always left the womanising to his brother. But even he could not fail to recognise Elsa's beauty. A pair of wide, ice blue eyes set into a heart-shaped face of flawlessly pale skin twinkled enchantingly. Her platinum blonde hair was pulled back from her face in a neat bun which exposed the full extent of her long, slender neck. The dress that she wore was not the most flattering, being mourning attire, but he could tell that her figure was equally exquisite. She looked around eighteen, just a few years younger than himself; he was a young Asgardian. Loki was quite taken aback and stood, slack-jawed, waiting for his mother to break the tension.
After an interminably long pause, she did. "Elsa, this is my son, Prince Loki of Asgard."
Elsa stood and curtsied as she had done for Frigga. Loki, still staring, took a moment to react, but bowed in return, something he rarely did so willingly, and something he had certainly never expected to do for a mortal of all things.
Frigga looked between them. "Loki, I presume you were listening in, and so no further introductions are necessary. I think I shall leave the two of you for a while. There is much for you to discuss." And with that she left, closing the door behind her.
The first few minutes were awkward. Neither of them knew why Frigga had left them alone, nor what she meant when she said they had much to discuss. As far as they knew, they had nothing in common with one another.
Loki cleared his throat nervously. "So... you did all of this?" He gestured to the walls and floor.
Elsa smiled shyly. "Yes. But I didn't mean to," she added hastily.
"Amazing," he breathed, coming further into the room and turning slowly, drinking in the beauty of what Elsa's powers had created.
Elsa gaped at him. "Amazing? No one's ever said that about me. I'm a monster, and this," – he paused, making the same action he had – "this is my curse."
Loki turned to face her. The sadness in her eyes astounded him. He had always been fascinated with conjuring and trickery, but Elsa's powers were unlike any magic he had encountered. It was beauty. Pure, crystalline beauty. That Elsa should fear it and be ashamed of it was incomprehensible to him.
"I find that difficult to believe. Why don't you tell me your story, and then perhaps I will tell you mine."
"There's really not that much to say. I've hardly left this room in a decade."
Loki was thoroughly intrigued by this girl. "I'd still like to hear," he pressed.
Elsa smiled slightly, and Loki was confused at the way his heart fluttered when her features lit up. "All right. Why don't you sit down?"
They sat on her bed and Loki listened intently as Elsa recounted her story from as far back as she could remember, omitting no details. She couldn't have said why, but on that day she bared her soul to this young man. Perhaps it was because she had been starved of human company for so many years, and this was an opportunity to vent feelings she had long kept hidden. But really, there was something in his emerald green eyes that she recognised. Elsa, with her unusually perceptive mind, saw in Loki the glance of solitude. Granted, it was a different kind of solitude to what she was used to, but it was solitude all the same.
She was comforted by the way he watched her, head tilted thoughtfully to the side as he soaked up her words. He was different to everyone else. He wasn't afraid of her; he was fascinated by her. He even asked for a demonstration of her abilities. Elsa took some coaxing. The last time she had used her powers on purpose she had almost killed her little sister.
"I don't want to hurt you," she said, folding her delicate hands against her chest.
Loki smiled at her. "You won't," he said gently, reaching out to take her hands.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know things. Just like I know that you can control this. I'm exceedingly intelligent, you see," he replied with false haughtiness. When he saw that his attempt to lighten the mood had had little effect on her, he added, "And because I trust you."
Elsa was mesmerised. She stopped pulling away and just watched, completely still, as he took her wrists in his hands and removed her gloves. She flexed her fingers, watching how they moved. It had been a long time since she had seen her hands.
Loki smiled encouragingly. "Go on. Show me."
Elsa took a deep breath and held out her hand, palm up. A perfectly formed snowflake appeared and hovered for a moment before shooting up towards the ceiling. It exploded in an ice blue flurry and snow began to fall.
Loki laughed gleefully. "This is incredible," he said as snow began to settle in his jet black hair. Elsa smiled widely and began to move her hands in intricate patterns, sending ice crystals swirling through the air. She manipulated them into images: Arendelle castle; a ship on rough seas; her sister Anna running through the halls as a child; and finally, Loki himself. Slowly, she let the snow drop.
Loki turned to her. "All right. I'm not one to break a deal. My turn."
For the next hour Elsa listened as Loki told her of his life on Asgard. Just as she had been honest with him, he told her everything, even that which he would not dare tell his mother. He told Elsa how growing up he had always felt as though he didn't belong. It was clear to him that no matter what he did his father favoured Thor. He did not wish to be above his brother, only equal. Loki just wanted his father to see that, while he was different to Thor, not feeling anywhere near as at home on the battlefield, he had his own gifts that made him worthy of his birth rights.
Loki was surprised at how willing he was to open up to Elsa, and found himself enjoying the feeling of lightness it gave him. However soon he grew tired of talking about himself; he knew they didn't have forever and he hadn't learnt nearly enough about her.
So they discussed their powers. Elsa continued forming snow flurries and forming objects and even small structures out of ice. Loki, in turn, showed her many of the spells he had mastered. He made green flames dance across his fingertips and conjured apparitions. He showed her how he could create doubles of himself and pass through solid objects, all the while revelling in the delighted expression on her face.
It was strange, but he felt closer to Elsa after knowing her for only two hours than he had felt to his own brother in his entire life. It was as though they shared some deep, unspoken understanding of one another. Neither of them could explain it, but the beauty of it was that they didn't have to.
Eventually Frigga returned. The pair were so deep in conversation that they did not notice her arrival. She cleared her throat gently. The Asgardian looked between them and smiled. "Did I not tell you that you could control your powers?"
Elsa's brow furrowed. "Your Majesty?"
"My dear, look around you. When I arrived this room was frostier than a Jotunheim winter. Now look. The ice has receded." Frigga laughed at Elsa's startled expression. "And you didn't even notice."
"It would appear that I was right. Unsurprising, really," Loki interjected laughingly, grinning at Elsa. She returned the smile, her heart jumping at the mischievous flash of teeth.
She stood and curtsied. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am indebted to you."
"No. Thank you, Elsa," Frigga replied crossing the distance between them and lifting her chin so that she could look her in the eyes. "You have given me hope in more ways than you can possibly know." She placed a gentle kiss on Elsa's forehead before turning to leave again. "I will let you two say goodbye."
Loki and Elsa watched the door close behind her. As it clicked shut they looked at one another. Elsa was the first to speak this time. "Will you be back?"
"I don't know," he replied. "I hope so, though. I really do."
Elsa nodded, casting her eyes to the ground. She didn't want him to leave, which was odd. By now she was so used to pushing people away, but the thought of seeing the door close behind Loki of Asgard made her unbearably sad.
"Well, just in case, here's something to remember me by," she said. She waved her hands and a small object the size and shape of a pebble formed. She pressed it into his hands. Loki ran his fingers over it. It was cool and smooth, obviously made of ice. It was clear as glacial water, but through it ran spiralling threads of blue and white hues suspiciously similar to her hair and eye colour. It was delicate, and beautiful, and complex, just like Elsa. Loki clutched it tightly.
He waved his own hands and a small emerald flame appeared, the same colour exactly as his bright eyes. "For you. Just in case," he said, voice lowered. Then, when she hesitated, "Don't worry, it won't burn you."
She reached out and took it between her hands, eyes wide with fascination. It flickered softly, emitting a warmth that worked its way through her, all the way to her heart, which she had thought would remain like ice forever. "It's beautiful," she said, unable to convey how deeply his gift touched her. "Thank you, Loki."
He smiled down at her, still struggling to understand why her ice blue eyes made him feel so warm inside. He lifted his hand to her face and brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. She blushed warmly but made no attempt to move away. He brought his face closer to hers and whispered, "Until next time, my ice queen," before pressing his lips gently to hers.
Then he pulled away and slipped silently out of the door, leaving Elsa alone again, but less lonely than she had felt in years.
She touched her lips softly, and smiled, her eyes filled with hope. Hope that she would one day be able to master her gifts – for in their short time together Loki had taught her that her powers were indeed a gift – and become Arendelle's queen without fear of harming her people.
She stayed up for hours just staring at the flame and thinking of the man who had created it for her. Though the flame was a great comfort, it was unnecessary. Elsa knew that she would never forget Loki Odinson.