Five year old Andrew scooted over to his brother's room. He felt a bit miffed about the fact that he had gotten a room of his own. Not because he was jealous, but because different rooms meant that he and his brother couldn't sleep together anymore. Sleeping By Yourself was boring!

His heart full of enthusiam, he rapped on the door excitedly

Do you wanna tell a story!

He sang cheerfully.

The ones you think of are so cool!

Haven't told me any for a while!

(Eli hadn't done anything with him for a while!)

They always make me smile

(Whenever Eli told a story, his eyes always seemed to light up from the inside and he was able to create such vivid pictures with his words. Had Andrew been silly, he would have said that they seemed to happen before his very eyes. Eli was that good of a storyteller!)

Dragons, castles, knights and duels!

I really couldn't care less

what it's about

As long as it's told by you!

Andrew felt like a total Sissy admitting this, but he was desperate to play with his big brother. And like his mother always told him, When you really love somebody, you'll put them before your pride.

Do you wanna tell a story

It can be one you've told already

Eli hated having to make up stories on the spot. Andrew didn't mind hearing one already. Eli always told each story like he was telling it for the first time unlike Andrew's nanny. Each times she retold a story, her voice got flatter and more deadpan each time.

But Andrew's optimism was deflated when Eli called back irritably, "Go away Andrew"

Andrew sighed.

Oh, poo

Eli didn't hear a single word Andrew had sang. He was too overwhelmed with the horror of what he had witnessed. As he had touched the wall of his bedroom, it had gotten completely covered in char-stains! WHY was this happening to him? Why couldn't this stupid curse just go away? Why did nothing work? With excruciating agony, he waited until nightfall hit. Each hour that passed felt like an icicle was being driven into his heart. Finally, the room filled with black, and Andrew was heard shutting himself into his room. As the seconds mounted into minutes, Eli gradually felt his little brother's snoring. he waited until Andrew was so drenched in sleep, nothing would wake him up.

He crept downstairs quietly to the dining room where his parents were still eating dinner.

"Mommy? Daddy?" He whimpered softly. He narrated the past events.

His parents stared at him thoughtfully for a moment,

"Go back to bed, Eli" Said the queen firmly.

"We'll sort this out in the morning"

The next day. Eli felt his mother gently nudge hm awake. The night had just died and the dawn had just been born.

"What is it, Mama?" He muttered.

The queen presented him with a small parcel. He hesitantly opened it up. Inside was a small pair of burnt sienna gloves covered in strange, runic symbols. He stifled a groan. Gloves didn't work on his powers! She knew that!

"Put them on.." Urged his mother confidently.

"Gloves don't stop it. They just get burned away" protested Eli sadly.

"Just try these" His mother insisted.

Sighing in order to mask his annoyance, Eli slipped the gloves on their hands. They didn't feel like any material he had ever felt before. They felt leathery and rubbery, yet rough to the tough. That was the best way that he could describe the texture.

He waited for the heat to burn through the material (whatever it was) But to his surprise, they didn't. They stayed perfectly intact.

"Gifts from the trolls" His mother whispered.

"They're magic. Fire doesn't work on them"

Eli felt his heart leap. Could it be? Finally?

Holding his gloved hand, the Queen brought it to her heart.

"Conceal it" She said firmly but kindly.

"Don't feel it" added Eli, excitedly

"Don't let them know" they repeated in unison

Four Years Later

Andrew bounded up to his brother's door, his heart rejuvenated with optimism.

Do you wanna tell a story?

Or read one to me from a book?

I deserve some company from you

I've been forced to talk to

The butler and the cook!

Both of them were the dullest people that he had ever met. Andrew was the one who had to keep the conversation going, they always replied with irritable, one-word answers whenever he asked them questions, and they made it very clear that they didn't want him bugging them!

It get's a little boring.

Sitting in my room.

and playing all by myself!

Andrew sighed and walked away. Eli was not coming out and there was absolutely no point in begging at the door. Why oh why, did Eli shut him out? What did he do?

"It's getting stronger!" Eli sobbed.

His parents stared in exasperation.

"What?"

"It's getting stronger!" He wailed, his voice nearing a shriek.

"Calm down, Eli. Being upset only makes it worse" said the Queen, quickly, her voice shaking. She tried to put her arm around him, but the twelve year old broke away at her touch.

"Don't touch me!" He cried sharply

"I-I-I don't want to hurt you!"

He could no longer form words through his tears and broke down. The king and queen were at a loss for words.

Six Years Later

Andrew raced downstairs, excitedly. He didn't want to miss his parent's departure. As he passed Eli's room, every molecule of his body urged him to knock on the door-but he didn't. He knew better than that now. Anyways, he didn't have time to spend an eternity waiting for his brother to open up. His parents were going off on a long voyage!

He bolted downstairs into his parent's arms. He felt his mother affectionately ruffle his hair and his belly filled with butterflies.

"See you in two weeks" He grinned.

He bolted back up the stairs. He wanted to look at the sea from his window, and watch the ship that would carry his parents drift off.

The moment Andrew shut the door, Eli scuttled down and forced himself to halt at the stair's foot. He wanted to hug his parents more than anything in the world. But he couldn't. It was too risky. A bow would have to do.

"Do you really have to go?" He muttered with downcast eyes.

His mother caressed his chin, and tilted it up to her eye level. It seemed just yesterday that she had to scoop her little boy up to do so.

She gave him a knowing smile.

"You'll be fine, Eli"

Andrew felt like he was falling into a million pieces. He stared into the endless crowd of mourners. People of every status, from Lords to peasants had come. All were looking incredibly sad and forlorn. The king and the queen had been good, kind rulers. Now that they were dead, the land of Arendelle would be governed by the Council until Eli came of age.

"Damn it, where are you Eli!" Thought Andrew angrily, fighting back tears.

"I need you! You couldn't come out of your stupid room for Mom and Dad's own funeral? How the hell did you think I could do this alone? What in the hell gave you that idea? Well maybe you didn't know. Maybe you didn't have any idea considering the fact that you shut yourself up when you were eight and shut out the whole world! I'd be surprised if you even knew my name!"

At this point, Andrew felt searing tears pierce through his eyes and it took every ounce of his will to keep from crying.

He had to put on a brave face for the mourners. Somebody had told him (he wasn't paying attention to who it was, due to his shock and sadness) that however bad he felt, the citizens of Arendelle could only feel a thousand times worse.

"How can they feel worse than I do?" Thought Andrew angrily.

"They lost a king and queen. I lost a mom and dad!"

After what seemed like a thousand years the funeral was brought to a slow close. But Andrew was forced to see off every single mourner.

Finally...finally he got to return to the castle. The first thing he did was march up to Eli's room. He wanted to screamand yell and bang down the door with an axe. He wanted to bellow and rage and demand Eli to open up...to hold his hand...to tell him everything was going to be okay...

But Andrew couldn't bring himself to even knock. He felt his knees give up and he felt his back slide down the door.

"Eli..." He said softly after an eternity of trying to pick up his voice.

"Please..."

Open up.

I know you're in there.

Why oh why had Eli shut him out? Was it something he had done? Had they gotten in an argument. If they had, then Andrew couldn't even remember what it was about. If he loved his brother...he had to forfeit his pride. It was totally worth it.

If we had a fight I'll let you win

The door remained shut.

They say have courage-but I don't know how

I need you now

Please let me in

Andrew struggled, trying to keep his voice steady. He thought that he'd heard the faintest movement from inside the room. Clinging to it like a lifeline of courage, and replaying it in his mind over and over again he continued singing.

I don't know, what I did to you

That made you shut me out

But I'm sorry, I really am!

Andrew felt his voice crackle. And he knew he had nanoseconds to wrap it up before he broke down.

"Do you wanna tell a story?" He whispered softly. He wanted to kick himself . Why did he say that? That was so immature and lame! But he had no idea what else to say. The five year old in him was pushing it's way out and Andrew was to weak to stop it.

He broke down, his body wracking with silent sobs, his face buried in his knees.

He never knew that Eli was sitting in the same position, on the other side of the door, amid all the smouldering ruins of his room.