Chapter 53-The Promise By Seasons
It was a week after all the Southern Isle men had left were the citizens of Arendelle ready to make their return trip home. With Lukas, Lipso, and Grill's permission, they allowed the sister to continue using their three vessels to aid in the citizens' return trip; once the majority was home the ships were returned to the Princes.
The reconstruction to Arendelle's capital was faster than anyone had expected. Both the nobles and citizens helped out in any way they could. The only real issue that was hindering Arendelle's progress for recovery was getting the money: trading had resumed but most of the profit has gone to paying off the fees the war had left for the kingdom.
There was still the money needed to pay for Corona's war support: food, the additional armory, and including their aid with the temporary refuging of the Arendelle citizens; then there are the blacksmiths to pay and the soldiers, both alive and dead, for the families whom have lost their men in the war will have to be compensated, meanwhile for the men whom survived, some of them have families to feed and some of had lost their home…
The sisters and the council couldn't find any good solution to the piling depths that has accumulated: what were left in their treasury were already carefully being use for reconstructions and slowly paying the fees, and they can't possibly tax the citizens, if they themselves don't have the money, how could they expect their people to. Resuming the mining of led had always been their second options when the ice trade weren't enough, and with the freshly dug tunnels left by the dark minion Beings certainly made things easier. However, there were too few laborers available to hail out any big load for trading, and with the mines opening again the men must be pay for their wages in which there would be no copper any time soon.
XxXxXx
Two weeks there was a noticeable change in the air…One morning as the sun has risen to greet the clouds, warm breezes after breezes continues to blow over the land. The children were the very first ones to notice; they kept looking at the sky as if expecting something but know not what. Then it happened. All the children started laughing, jumping and clapping and pointed to the sky, the adults all looked up but saw nothing, other than the bright sun and a few patches of clouds. When they asked the children why they were so merry, many of the children could only repeat 'She's here! She's here!'
The lands just suddenly seem so different. There were several days with inconsistent rains and sunny warm days, causing many people to be perplex with the fluctuation of the weather. However, in some sort of effect of the weather, many of the animals had appeared to multiply in numbers, the rivers and lakes, the whole ocean was stocked with fat fishes allowing many of the fishermen to bring back big hails; plenty of plants have grown in unusual lushes, including the vegetables and food crops of the farmers. And yet the strangest thing was that most of the farmers hadn't had time to reap their farms due to the sudden war, and many had thought the crops they neglected had gone bad. But low and behold, their crops remained viable, and the seeds they'd soiled for next year were still alive and were growing, fast, it even became possible to harvest them all within a few days. Though slightly unsettled by the alien growth of the plants, the people were all just happy that the crops were still alive, and they knew where their gratitude should go to, for just this one time. Once harvested, many of the farmers were able to save plenty of the seeds for themselves for another planting, while bringing the rest into market as well as trading outside the Kingdom.
This sudden last burst of life had lasted for only a few weeks, before signs of the earth starting to rest began to show; all life just coming to a still. Afterward, there was another noticeable change over the land that came just as quick as the first, and the children once more rejoiced with the same level of enthusiasm and behavior, repeating, "Red's here, Red's here!' The sun was shining more intensely, lighting every surface with a shimmer unprotected by the shadows; the grasses and flowers were still abundant, but they seem to have stop growing, now easily resting lazily while taking their time maturing, with cottons from dandelions floating all over the terrain—tumbling through valleys and fields to where ever the wind blows them. The temperature was slowly growing higher and higher, hot enough to make anyone sweat a chilling moist upon their necks as they walk up a simple hill. Within two weeks later, a stream of heavy demands for ice was flowing in from traders, and for several days many of the ice harvesters were kept busy and were falling behind on demands: not enough available men to do the labor despite the lakes in the high mountains are freezing fast and freshly every night. To speed up and aid in the harvesting, Elsa created several chunks of ice as needed for trade every time the harvesters falls behind. Moving the merchandises was smooth sailing for weeks, with the winds picking up the ships' masks strongly and taking the traders to their destinations fasts.
The sudden burst of heat lasted a month and a few weeks longer then the sprang of life, but ended just as quick, though this time with a settle decline in warmth and a clear sign of the leaves in the trees changing colors, and the grass and many other plants starting to wilt. But by that time reconstruction are nearly finish, and because of the couple of recant eruption of trades Arendelle had, the profit was now enough to pull the Kingdom up from debt but not completely; though Arendelle was now stable to take its time to pay the rest.
XxXxXx
The weather was still warm as the leaves start to tumble from their tree branches, and the sun still lingers in the sky stretching the day long and heating into the night…Anna's birthday was coming up, and a month in advance Elsa had thought about throwing her sister a surprise party, and now with the kingdom's finance stable she can focus her mind on doing it. The party was going to be simple, with friends and all the citizens were invited as well, hosted within the castle walls. She sent an invination to Rapunzel and Eugene weeks before, and even invited the Princes of the Southern Isle. Elsa planned a fun little game where Anna would have to follow a brightly long string where it will lead her to several presents throughout the capital, and once her sister reaches the end of the string, there would be a great horn in which the two could blow into, to signal the starting of Anna's party.
On the day of Anna's birthday, Lipso and Grill arrived early in the morning; the other brothers had kindly decline due to their busy schedule but promise to come to Arendelle for a proper introduction when the next opportunity arise. Lukas was beyond contact, moving too many times for the brothers to keep track or have a strong address for contact. Rapunzel and Eugene had also come early, and the group had secretly made their way to the castle's courtyard as instructed by Elsa. When the cousins met again, Elsa couldn't help but look directly at Rapunzel's stomach, it had grown some since Elsa last saw her; now it was a size of a round watermelon lifetable in one hand. For the next set of instruction, Elsa asked the group to wait patiently in the courtyard and help Kristoff watch over the arrangements along with the ice cream cake, in which Olaf had already had a nipple from…The party ended up being the most memorable birthday any of them had ever been to, due to the most peculiar event that occurred.
As the group was guarding the courtyard, strange little animated snowmen with rounded heads and legs started showing up. There were only two at first, hopping their way in while Kristoff was taking a nap against Sven along with Olaf, and the others were paying cards on one of the nearby table. The little snowmen hoped over the sleeping group, waking them up; Prince Grill spotted the little creatures when he looked up from his cards, pointing them out to the others. The little creatures had hopped onto one of the punch tables and Kristoff missed them; his hands hitting the punch bowl instead and completely tipping the bowl over flinging the refreshment onto himself.
"Oh look Sven," Olaf had said. "Kristof took another shower for Anna's party."
It took a few minutes before the group finally caught them; to Olaf's delight, he now had two brand new littles brothers. Soon after though, more, and more, and more of them began to show. It had seemed like no matter how many the group manages to catch, there was no end to the little ones and they were wrecking the courtyard of its decorations. With Rapunzel's pregnancy, all she could do was guard over the ones that have already been caught; occasionally she was forced to use one of the long party ribbon strips that had been accidently torn off, to whip around the wondering strays and pull them back. As for the men, they chased the little snowmen in all direction trying to carrel them over to Rapunzel. At one point, Kristoff was forced to grab the empty punch bowel and catch the little creatures as they launch themselves at Anna's birthday cake.
This little chaos continued on into the late afternoon. The men ended up playing keep away with the small snowmen, each desperately taking drastic turn running away from the creatures while cake in arm. There have been a few close call with the dessert, through either nearly dropping the thing or the little ones coming to take a bite out of it. Each time though, a large gust of wind would seem to blow at the cake just enough and at the right angle for the men to get a hold of it again, or other objects such as chairs are knocked over randomly blocking the snowmen's way, or already fallen decorative would animatedly move on its own distracting or tangling the little snow balls. It somehow got to a situation where Kristoff had the cake in his arms, and was standing—rocking and swaying on a mountain of those snowmen. Sven was climbing up to reach his friend, and the citizens have already started gathering in the courtyard for the party. When the gate opened with Princess Anna and Queen Elsa, everyone froze, even all the little snowmen. But they instantly reposition themselves properly, and then all at once shouted, "Surprise!"
Anna was very much surprised, and so was a very much sick Elsa. It was no mystery to where the little snowmen came from, but it was the reason why everyone was questioning. But once they saw the Queen sneezing, they understood.
Both Anna and Elsa didn't stay for long, Elsa for obvious reasons, but Anna wanted to tend to her sister's sickness, she couldn't bring herself to enjoy her birthday if her sister is sick. Rapunzel had pulled the two aside and offered Elsa her power to heal her, but Elsa declined, saying it would bring unwanted attention if she were to make a miraculous recover from her cold. Elsa also convinced Anna to return to the party after seeing her to bed, saying it wouldn't be right for the birthday girl to miss her own birthday, and she shouldn't let their friends' effort in guarding the courtyard go to waste.
XxXxXx
When Anna left, Elsa nearly fell instantly asleep. She wanted to stay awake and listen a while longer. Even from within her room, she could hear faint music playing, and the muffled laughs of people enjoying themselves. She didn't feel alone; it was unfortunate that she caught a cold and couldn't join the festivity, but she knew there was always next year, and the year after, and the year after that; there was still some time. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
As she slept, she also dreamt. Elsa dreamt she was outside in the autumn afternoon. The sun was already down low coloring her surrounding in leisure bliss. She was sitting underneath a tree that acted as shade against the bright sun, meanwhile, something else acted as her comforter as she was leaning against the tree. The thing then wrapped its arms around her, one approve her chest, and the other around her waist. She looked down and saw that she was still clothed in her summer dress, in which she created to celebrate her sister's birthday, even the pink snowflake she'd placed on the side of her hair was there; Elsa could feel it attached to her locks.
The arms that were wrapped round her were clothed with long white sleeves, and they felt like they are made from cotton. And now that her own arms are free from the thin silk of her usual blue dress, she could feel from the very back of her shoulder, there was another piece of clothing: a thick brown poncho that was also coming around to wrap her in an embrace. Aside from the hands, Elsa felt another touch of warm skin against the surface of her own, and then, someone's head resting on her shoulder. First she felt a nose lightly tracing between the gap of her neck and shoulder; and then a pair of lips lightly kissing her. Elsa wanted to turn and see his face, but he held her in place, and used his own head to block hers from moving. In doing so his brown hair ended up brushing the side of her cheek. Soft it was, just as she had remembered it. Once he was done kissing her, he buried his face into her flesh and held her closer. And though Elsa couldn't turn her head to look at him, she moved her hands to touch instead: she rested one on the arm wrapped above her chest, and the other, Elsa held it against the side of his face. Together, they relaxed even more, and Elsa slept a dream within a dream
…That was the only night she ever had such a dream or ever dreamed of him again.
XxXxXx
When autumn officially came the season lasted for its normal amount of months. This time, not one of the children behaved previously as they did for the last two seasons. Perhaps it was because the change was much natural, in time forcing the children to patiently watch for changes instead of expecting the changes. Occasionally though, a child or a group of children would seem to notice something: they would look to the sky smilingly, and sometime would wave to the air like greeting a friend, or even snap their heads up suddenly to an invisible sound. The air slowly grew colder as the day became shorter, with night stretching its twilight as early in the afternoon as possible. There are days when morning would bring in a light shawl of mist masking the air in dampness but freshness; while other days, the mist would rolled down from the mountains in the afternoon, and drift gracefully over the waters at port and out into the open ocean.
Quiet and peaceful days strolled on by with serenity. Most of the Arendelle people took more time this season to walk through nature, picking barriers and mushrooms, or just trying to enjoy what greens and colors that remains be for the season change to all white, not that they weren't looking forward to what's to come. After everything that had happen, they can't help but have a whole new perspective on nature, and the workings of it…or the works and beauty provided by the magic of other things…
XxXxXx
In just overnight the Kingdome of Arendelle was blanketed in winter land; the snow came in soft the first day, after a few more nights, the powder became perfectly supple to pact together crunching in subtlety with a small amount of weight. During the day many of the children would rise early to increase their amount of time playing in the snow: from sledding, to snowball fights, to building igloos and snowmen. Noticeably, there was one new game that's been invented and it was becoming popular, but who invented the game the adults don't know. When they ask any of the children who thought of the idea, they would all reply with guilty looks, saying they were made to promise not to tell who.
The game requires the children to use a bucket of soap water, and they have to craft their own ring shape frame using whatever material they can get along with a handle for them to hold it at. The goal was not only trying to blow bubbles out of their frame, but to have their bubbles freeze in midair because of the cold temperature. It was quickly learned that the smaller the frames, the better it is for the soap to be blown into bubbles, and the quicker they'll freeze. Eventually the older children started challenging themselves and each other, competing to create the largest ice bubbles they could without it breaking or poping; meanwhile many of the other children started getting creative. One ice bubble after another, some would try staking their ice bubbles to form large size shapes, or even fingers—a new version of the snowmen. Some of the kids have even figured out how to stick the ice bubbles onto objects and began drawing pictures on buildings and decorating. It didn't stop there, going even further with the decorative; the children dyed the soap waters before blowing them into bubbles to freeze.
XxXxXx
The ice bubble game continued on and on into the middle of the season. But no matter how much the children played in the snow, each morning, the snow would look fresh and twinkling like newly fallen snow. And because of the dyed ice bubbles, when hundreds of them are left broken in paper thin shards on the ground, it almost looks like a pile of beautifully arranged colored glass, or flower petals perhaps…Elsa just loves to look at them. She herself have gotten into the enjoyment of creating ice bubbles, except she required none of the soap water and just use her own magic for the creation. Elsa tends to create the ice bubbles when alone, while occasionally makes them through the original fashion of soap with Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf. But as the ice trade have slowed down during this season, as usual Anna and Kristoff spends most of their time together; this season they wanted to try spending a small vacation out in the mountain in a rented cabin, owned and generously discounted by Oaken from Wandering Oaken's Trading Post, with a sauna special included of course.
Elsa was invited along for the vacation as well, but she decline, feeling like taking a trip up to her ice palace instead. There was still the issue of what to do with those mini snowmen she'd accidently created; she just couldn't bring herself to dissolve them. This trip would allow her to check up on the little guys, and Marshmallow as well, Elsa's been feeling bad for suddenly leaving the little ones under his care.
Both sisters left on the same day and parted from each other once they reached the fork in the road, one turning towards Oaken's shop, and the other up further deep into the mountains. Commander Gorm had also accompanied them for escorting reasons, particularly his Queen, fearing she may encounter wolves along the way. However he didn't put up much of a fight against her when she said no. After all the fighting that had happen, he knew that a few wolves wouldn't be a challenge to his queen's powers. After one last rejection of his offer, Gorm left to return to the capital.
XxXxXx
Elsa was riding a snow horse of her magic's creation; the sun was still high in the sky, and she knew she was going to make it to her palace before night fall, possibly even before the late afternoon if she kept going without stopping. However, Elsa wanted to visit the place where Anna had described to her the day she went into the mountain to look for her. Elsa nearly missed the signs; the willow trees were hard to spot among the many pine trees, but then she heard the faint sounds of wind chimes and curiously followed. The sounds led her to the willow trees, and they were exactly how her sister described them: the thin branches were stripped completely of their leaves with only frozen dews hanging from them. A gentle breeze blew the branches together, once more creating the chime sounds that led her here. Elsa dismounted her horse, and thawed the beast, wanting to explore on foot and completely alone. She following deeper through the willow trees until eventual she reached a small clearing. Opening first before her was a frozen pond, with a small stream leading into its water source, three levels of frozen waterfalls. Elsa walked around the pond to be closer to fall; she wanted a better look at it.
Elsa was already awed at the beauty of the willows, and now she was amazed with the reflection of the frozen waterfall, it wasn't like anything she was expecting. The frozen water was thick, but it was spread out almost evenly without making the surface look bulky, giving its icicles a smooth reflection of a blue shade jewel. Elsa wanted to see if she could get a clearer reflection from the ice, and so moved even closer. To no surprise, Elsa saw her own blurred reflection…and another one a few feet behind her. Quickly spinning around she found no one, her heart beating fast and hard as a drum for a few seconds as she look around. Elsa then heard the chiming of the dews and thought nothing of them, until they were chimed suddenly without a single brush of wind. Elsa snapped her head in the direction of the sound and saw the deeper willows, their branches had been touched. She slowly moved away from the falls but kept her back facing it as she round the pond, keeping her eyes in the last direction of the chimes.
"Hello?" she called. "Is there someone there?" No one answered. "Hello?" Elsa calls again. This time she heard the chimes behind her in the distance, Elsa turn but saw no one. Elsa heard the chimes once more and spun to her left, but this time she accidently stepped onto the edge of the frozen pond and slip. Elsa felt her left leg sliding under her, the rest of her weight was going to drag her down. From behind though, a sudden gust of wind blew against her back pushing Elsa forward, falling away from the hard ice and stumbling onto the snow instead. Her heart beats even faster, but then calms down almost immediately as she forced herself to take slow large breaths.
The chime came from her left again, and this time they were a lot closer. Elsa only turned her head. When she did, she was met with a single snowflake to the nose, surprising her to make a small gasping sound.
Elsa sat there in shock for a moment. "…Jack…? Jack is that you?" She heard the chimes once again and got up. "Jack…? Jaaack…? Please Jack, don't play this game with me…I thought you were dead...I saw you died that very day, how can you be…Jaaaack…?!" The chiming; Elsa followed it to one of the willow trees and circled it, however, there was still nothing. She just wanted it to end. Was it just her wishful thinking or was Jack really there chiming the dews? Was it by his command for the wind to push her to safety, or just pure luck?
Just when Elsa was ready to leave, the wind came again, swirling around and isolating her alone with a single willow tree by creating a mildly wall of fast swirling snow. Afraid, Elsa backed herself against the tree, and was forced to shield her eyes lightly with a hand. Through the swirling snow, Elsa could faintly make out a figure on the other side: it was definitely a male figure, with a slim but firm build, and he had with him what seems to be a staff. "Jack?!" Elsa called, but the figure didn't respond in anyway. "Jaaack!" She called again. No answer, the figure just stood there watching her for a little longer, before Elsa finally sees him bending down for a second before standing back up again. He watch her a minute longer, and then started leaving. "Jack wait!" Elsa was afraid, but she forced herself to run forward.
Easier than she though, Elsa broke through the swirling storm, and upon escaping the storm disbanded. Elsa looked all around but he was gone…Elsa felt her heart tightening painfully inside. She looked around again, slower this time, and spotted something shining at the sport where he was just standing. Elsa picked up the item…It was a thin silver ring…with a cresset moon in the center, and a tiny shape snowflake resting on the moon's bottom tip. Both the cresset moon and snowflake were made from crystal clear ice as their rim, while the inside was patterned in frosts.
Elsa suddenly heard the snow crunching behind her, but before she could react, a pair of arms made of snow wrapped themselves around her. Elsa wasn't frightened, but she struggled as hard as she could to break free of the hold, however, the arms held firm. Elsa was dragged back towards the willow as she continued to struggle, even when their backs were against the tree and they ended up sagging down to the ground. "Jack no." Elsa protested, "Please don't do this, don't do this…I want to be strong to the end, please let me go Jack." A bit of her strength faded. "What do you want from me Jack? Say something…You haven't shown yourself in months—and now…" Elsa struggle on and on until there was no strength left in her. "…Let me see you then Jack. If you are going to do this to me, then let me see you, even if it's just a snow image of you."
The snow didn't give way, the arms kept holding on until Elsa finally calmed down. "I thought you wanted more than anything, was for me to move on," she said quietly. "I thought you wanted me to be strong…Jack…I thought you were dead. And that dream was just a dream…It was really you back then right…?"
The dews above Elsa chimed lightly, followed by a slight brush from the wind dancing a swirl of snow before her. Elsa sighed, and lifted up the silver ring between her fingers and asked, "Why are you giving me this ring?" The snow figure didn't say anything; it made no sign of answering. Giving up, Elsa leaned her head to the side in disappointment. "What do you want from me Jack?" she repeated even quieter.
Before her very eyes, a small patch of snow surface was turning into ice, and on top of the ice, letters were forming out of frosts.
"Do you want to see me again?"
Tears were wielding up in Elsa's eyes. "Of course I do Jack."
The written words disappeared and new ones appeared. "Is that your honest feeling?"
"Jack, I don't only want to see you," Elsa extended her hand and gently touched the written letters, "I want to be with you again."
For a while the letters didn't change; Elsa didn't know if Jack had left or not; his snow image hasn't been moving either, it was now as still as a statue, causing Elsa to wonder whether or not she should try to break free again.
After another moment had passed Elsa noticed how softer the snow image was becoming, until it started crumbling into pieces creating a small pile of snow around Elsa. "Jack?" she called weakly, afraid he had really left.
The letters finally started changing again. "…Forever?"
"And ever more."
"…Keep that ring with you at all times from now on then…"
XxXxXx
It was the strangest thing, though Anna knew what the answer was right away. Ever since she and Kristoff came back from their little trip to the cabin, Anna would always find her sister Elsa wearing a ring around her right index finger. Anna had confronted her on whether or not she had gotten it from Jack, to which her sister did confessed to, but Elsa never told her why Jack had given her the ring despite her persistence for answers. As weeks went on, Anna eventually left the subject be, reasoning it was a re-gift for the snow dew Elsa made for him, but then again, Anna has her own thoughts on what it could mean…
XxXxXx
Months went by and before Anna knew it, Rapunzel and Eugene's baby was born. It was late in the spring, just around the time when summer was making its way to color the land in a fresh perspective of scenery when Rapunzel's went into labor. The delivery was difficult; she didn't fell ill like her mother had when the queen was pregnant, but the baby was coming out feet first, and during the last moment of delivery, Rapunzel was having a hard time pushing the baby out due to exhaustion and the pain of the contractions; the doctors were even afraid that either the mother's or baby's life would be lost. However, after two hard hours, Lucinda was born.
Anna and Elsa weren't able to visit their cousin often due to their responsibilities in Arendelle. Meanwhile, Eugene and Rapunzel couldn't make long travels due to their baby, at least not until she was old enough to make long travels.
But when Anna and Elsa met Lucinda for the first time, they saw right away she was just as energetic as her mother, possessing a certain glow that wrapped warmly around her. Lucinda had light brown eyes and has a perfectly shape nose, curtesy of her mother. She was born with only a few thin light strands of hair, the couple had to wait for five months before they were sure of their girl's hair color. It was a charming chestnut brown. Oddly the baby seems to also process a habit of lightly puffing up her lips randomly at Eugene, a habit that started four months after her birth. It was the weirdest expression the sisters have ever seen on a baby, but Eugene didn't seem to mind, he finds it rather amusing. And Sven, after meeting Lucinda, started mimicking the same expression much to Kristoff's annoyance. It was only after a few more months did the girls discovered that Eugene was teaching Lucinda to make that expression. He calls it the smolder two: baby version. Rapunzel didn't let the lessons continue though. But the baby never did forget how to make that expression.
XxXxXx
Another year passed, and another, and another, and another. The seasons continue to come and go, passing and changing without too many irregularities: too many rains in one summer than usual; winter came slightly late this time; autumn have seemed to come early and so on. Talks of Spirits and Beings became less and less of a conversation, dissipating into more of tales that mothers, fathers, and grandparents would tell to the new generations, and what the older children would tell to scare or show off to newbies: of seeing mythical characters, that folklore people are real…even the Boogie Man.
Other than what was written in the Arendelle's official history book, the only other proof of the mystical magic war that occurred in Arendelle, was the changing decorative on the capital's clock tower. Every year, the declarations in the clock tower would be change respectively in-accordance to the current season. As for the Golden Armors and weaponry, they were stored delicately away so that if Pitch ever comes back, Arendelle would have them to use. But with each passing year and new children of Arendelle came to life, those armors and weapons become nothing more than rumors to the new children.
…Anna and Kristoff came to have two kids. A son name Kristofer, and a daughter name Alina. They were three years apart. Kristofer resembled strongly to his father, while Alina to her mother: they both loved to be out doors, particularly to help their father harvest ice.
Kristofer is much bashful than his sister—though he doesn't shy away from socializing when the time calls for him to mingle. Alina on the other hand is full of energy, but tends to try to avoid socializing only during formal events, often times finds these social gatherings more constricting than fun and enjoyable. Kristoff understood his daughter in the same way: for even after so long he still wasn't quite accustomed to socializing with nobles, and he believes he never will be. Anna doesn't blame her daughter either. Anna sees Alina just having too much energy that the girl can't seem to find the right outlet for it during a quiet event.
XxXxXx
…As for Elsa…As far as Anna could tell, her sister continues to live happily along with her and Kristoff. The last that was ever mentioned of Jack Frost between them was when Anna asked her where she got the ring. But after that, they never spoke of him again, or any of the other spirits for the matter. Every now and then, they would even come to forget that Rapunzel was a Being to be…Elsa, Anna had notice…have even come to date a few men she'd met at formal events.
There have been high hopes from the Arendelle council that their Queen would finally take a husband. In total, Elsa has dated seven men, each relationship respectively long: a year or so, with the longest being with the seventh men for three years. However, in the end she never did choose any out of the seven she dated. Anna had watched her sister closely as she dated each of the men, and Anna could see that her sister has have affections towards each of the men in honest during the span of their relationship; the seventh of the men was the closest that ever came close to love. When Anna asked what went wrong with the last one, Elsa laughed with a bit of heart ache, and said, "His feelings changed."
…But Anna has always wondered though, if there was actually something more to it then the men's feelings changing toward her sister. After all…Elsa never did once took off the ring…
XxXxXx
XxXxXx
Anna was feeling her age, just as her sister had felt hers…Anna has to wonder, if her parents have live out their full life, would they be feeling their age just the way Anna was feeling? Would they be passing the crown like Elsa did…like how she is going to?
Even though Anna hasn't have the crown for long, ten years by this point, she knew that there was no point for her to keep ruling nor did she feel like she can carry the whole kingdom against the fasting changing world of trades anymore. The time has finally come to pass on the crown, and she and Kristoff couldn't be more proud to.
Anna was busily planning for Kristofer's coronation; it was only a month away. Kristoff helped as much as he could by taking over the task of guest invitation. With Kristofer taking over as king of Arendelle, Kristoff was nevertheless happy to hand over his title as Arendelle's Official Ice Master and Deliverer over to Alina. Over the years Arendelle had builed up more and more of its shipment of ice with foreign countries, now reaching as far as the other side of the world call Asia. Between the siblings, Alina has have a greater hand in helping her mother improve their kingdom's ice trade, meanwhile Kristofer has developed a knack for handling the political and social aspect of things. When the two siblings work together, things always seems to run well and just the way they like it. Both Anna and Kristoff couldn't be any prouder of their kids, and they knew that the kingdom was going to be alright in the siblings' hands.
…As days progress towards the coronation day, Kristoff, Kristofer, and Alina persistence grew also, pressing Anna to go visit her family's graves. When the coronation was just a day away, Anna eventually gave way to their constant poking and went. All three of them promised Anna that they'll meet up with her later, feeling she would appreciate some time alone.
It was some time pass breakfast when Anna went to the graves, taking a small carriage and a footman with her. Anna brought with her three bouquets of purple crocuses, blue lilies, and pink rose buds to lay at each of the graves. But for her sister's bouquet, she brought something a little more special. It was a small piece of clear glass that was formed to shape like a rose, with intricate details: such as the leaves possess thin lines that would exists on real leaves, and on some of the petals, were tiny dew drops draping lightly on the surface.
Anna gently placed the glass rose against the center of her sister's grave before laying out the bouquet…She was glad that her sister was laid with their parents. The Arendelle Council thought it would be a good idea to bury their queen near her Ica Palace, so that the building could act as a monument for their queen as well as a reminder in history of their queen's power. But Anna had argue against it, refusing to have her sister be bury in isolation. The Council couldn't protest against such an argument, particularly once the Ice Palace vanished over a span of a night…There was no sound of it collapsing. But from the capital at night, people could see twinkling of snows—so clear like stars despite the miles and miles of distance drifting up from the mountains and into the sky, instead of down…
There had been earlier, and more notable signs that signaled her sister's life was coming to an end, even if Anna didn't want to see it. The Ice Palace was the last that remained standing…On their last visit to the palace, no one could find the little snow minions, nor could they find Marshmallow. It was as though they just up and vanish. Even Elsa couldn't find them.
Two weeks following, Olaf was exhibiting strange behaviors. His enthusiasm and energy was incredibly low, and the surface of his body felt incredibly solid…and moist…Anna found him in the middle of the ballroom with all the curtains drawn one summer morning…Just a regular snowman with a small pool of water under him. The second Anna saw Olaf in that state she rushed to her sister's room. But before Anna could even knock, the knob turned and the door creaked faintly as it opened. A cool breeze left the room and touched Anna's bare cheeks. She hesitantly entered. "Elsa?" she had called faintly. Anna could see that her sister was soundly in bed; no window was open, no window could be open in her room, not with how it was built. Perhaps it was through the chimney was her thought, where the breeze had entered. Anna approached the bed; the curtains weren't drawn, thus the early morning shine was gracing the bed. Elsa's hands were folded, resting peacefully below her chest. Anna was watching the covers around that arear. There was no rise or fall in the blanket…
XxXxXx
…There was a warm breeze blowing as Anna stood looking at her sister's grave, but Anna couldn't help but feel that the air was slightly cold, and just yesterday she thought the air was too hot. She shivered as another breeze blew, and chuckled lightly to herself, understanding once again how being old has made her body more sensible, or is it more un-agreeable with the weather?
"Not going to lie" Anna said. "Being old isn't fun, but I guess it's not all that bad. The world seems to move just a little slow, wouldn't you agree…? It's kind of coincident, Kristopher's coronation is tomorrow, while it's just three weeks away from the day you were crowned. Kristoff invited the usual nobles, and of course our friends from the Southern Isle—and this time I'm sure they won't be bringing any trouble—haha. In Grill's reply letter, he said that all his brothers will be coming, but I don't know if that means Lukas would be showing up as well. He's been gone for so long, the last we saw of him was on Lucinda's coronation wasn't it…? I wonder…did you ever manage to meet Rapunzel again—though how could you? I mean she died three years before you, and was probably already a full pledge Being and Spirit by the time you passed—but that would make her alive in a sense, but still, maybe—was there any chance…? Never mind, forget what I just said…Eugene is coming along with Lucinda, and he's doing much better now; he was experiencing lots of aches and pains in his lower back and legs but most of it seems to be gone now …being old really doesn't suit him…His nose defiantly looks bad now, no mistake."
There were sounds of horses neighing in the distance, more than the number of horses that has pulled her carriage. Her family must be coming. "Hey Elsa, I know I asked you this a few times before and I'm still waiting for an answer but, what ever happen to that ring Jack gave you? You never took it off before, so where is it now…? I also tried looking for that dew drop neckless you made for Jack. You often kept it by your music box but it just vanished the same day when you…"
Anna could hear her children calling out to her. Anna turned around and gave a short smile at her family before turning back. "Elsa…I'm really happy with my life, I really am…I was always afraid to ask you this, and I should've asked soon but…were you really ever happy Elsa?"
Anna's family was already close as they made their way to Elsa's grave. Once they were standing beside Anna, a strong gust of wind blew, unfortunately blowing off some of the flower petals from the bouquets her family had brought with them. Anna had grown accustom to wrapping her hair into a bun everyday instead of just for formal events, but a few strands had come loose from the wind.
As she was brushing some of the strands away from her face, something small like an insect was coming close to her. Anna try to wave it away but then she stopped. Anna just couldn't believe her eyes. "A snowflake?" she said softly. And instantly the snow touched her on the noise and melted away. She gasped.
"Sorry, what did you say?" asked Kristoff, while rearranging his flowers.
"Did you see that?"
"See what Mama?" asked Alina.
"None of you saw it?"
"Saw what?" Kristofer asked.
Anna was about to answer but then stopped herself. "…No. Sorry, it was nothing; only a petal."
"Just a petal Mama?" Kristofer repeated with concern.
"Yes, just a petal."
The wind blew again, and this time, Anna could feel its warmth, particularly at the tip of her noise.