Back on track and slowly trying to get things done, including this.
Elsa sat atop a tall tree, her crystal blue eyes set on the town below. Anna was down there in the castle, hopefully enjoying the festivities. She climbed down, falling into the snow below with grace. She returned to her own castle which seemed to feel more and more isolated the longer she knew Anna. She wished she could be with her all the time, show her face in town and walk the halls of Anna's home as an equal, human in all aspects, but only Anna ever saw her as more than a monster. She hiked up the snowy mountain she called home, a chilling wind beginning to brew from her tangled thoughts.
She squeezed her eyes shut and held herself like she would fall apart at any minute. Her unfounded fear of being discovered, of Anna's possible betrayal, still warred with her feelings. She liked Anna, that she couldn't ignore anymore, but it was still very possible that she would only ever be a threat. No, she had to trust someone, she had to have someone that she didn't have to be afraid of and who wasn't afraid of her. Anna was that person. She managed to calm the growing storm just in time to open her eyes and see two men on horses climbing up the mountain, heading straight for her. Although she doubted they could see her through the sudden blizzard she knew they would be on her soon.
She had to be the first to act, send them running scared like all the others who attempted to hunt her down in the past. It seemed they all remembered how vicious she was but neglected to realize that they all returned alive. She was trying, but as she knew, no one saw her as anything but a threat. She squared her shoulders and marched in their direction, a sneer in place. Before they even knew what hit them she made the snow come alive around them, binding them in the air helplessly while their horses backed away in fright. She approached them, eyes sharply trained on them, an uncaring tone added to her voice.
"Evening gentlemen. Why are you on my mountain?" she questioned them.
"We were sent here on behalf of Princess Anna," one of them answered in a wavering voice.
"By whom?" she responded.
"Admiral Westerguard," the other supplied.
"Oh, well, of course. Well, why didn't Admiral Westerguard come himself?" she demanded.
"He-he…" the first stuttered, unable to finish the sentence.
"He's busy gathering more men against me?" she guessed. The men glanced at each other, not knowing how to answer, but they were forced to talk when the snow holding them turned to constricting, spiky, ice. They cried out in pain.
"Yes!" the second screamed in panic. She laughed at them, a smirk curling her lips.
"What a coincidence," she stated, the sound of stomping feet drawing the men's attention to the five giant snowmen appearing out of the swirling wind.
"Never underestimate the power of snow and ice. Now leave, and don't come back! Tell the others that I will not hesitate to use all my power on them!" she commanded, dropping them. They scurried to jump on their horses and gallop away. Elsa made sure they were gone before dismissing the hastily created giants that were nothing more than puppets. They fell back into the snow, harmless. They were just for show and it worked. She quickly made her way up the mountain before anyone else tried to challenge her. She ended up spending the rest of the night awake, ready for any more attacks. She posted Marshmallow right outside, ready for any who dared to try anything. By the time the sun rose high in the sky, the rays shining down, she lost some of her guard. The weather mellowed with her tired state, however, she was alert again as soon as she heard the loud roar from her giant creation and shouts of battle from many men. Soon, they were bursting inside, aim set on her. Fear grew in the pit of her stomach, urging her to run instead of stand and fight. She took to the stairs. She came to the second floor where she had nowhere else to go. She was cornered.
"No, please," she begged, holding out her hands. The two men who had reached her first carried crossbows. The bigger of the two readied his, taking aim at her. It shot out, almost hitting its mark but her flinch and instinctual need to block threw up a wall of ice that stopped the arrow an inch from her face. She gasped at how close it had come. Her panicked gaze locked on the two men shuffling around her defenses.
"Stay, away!" She warned them, sending out frozen waves of ice to try and knock them back without really hurting them. They both dodged her attempts.
"Fire! Fire!" the smaller of the two screamed, splitting up to get another shot at her. She let loose two shots of ice at them each but missed both times. She focused and sent out another, sweeping the bigger one off his feet. In no time he was back up and circling her with the other just as intent on end her life. She was panting from fear and exertion by now, trying to keep them both in her line of sight. The smaller one took aim and she instantly sent him flying back to be pinned to the wall, long icicles barely missing him while another came close to stabbing him in the face. A slight shift from the bigger one had her eyes flicking to him. She turned to disarm him with a well-aimed blast of ice. He stumbled back from the force of the attack and then tried to run but she blocked him from going anywhere. She then created a wall of ice that began to push him back, tossing him through the door leading out to the balcony. Ice shattered around him and the wall kept coming, almost knocking him off the edge. Her fierce expression reflected her primal instinct to fight but inside she was dying of shame. What would Anna say if she saw her like this? At that moment a familiar face and two other men ran into the room. Their appearance caught her off guard, stopping her from attacking the men who had initially attacked her.
"Don't be the monster they fear you are," the man in front addressed her. It was then she knew who he was. She had only heard of Hans Westerguard from Anna so she knew of him, but this was the first time she saw him. His words struck her like a knife, forcing her to come to her senses. Her fear had clouded her judgment. She almost killed someone. In her struggle, the man pinned to the wall took aim once more.
"No, she's mine!" Hans growled under his breath. The man took the shot but Hans reached him in time, sending the arrow up and shattering the huge ice chandelier fixture above them. The whole thing came crashing down, narrowly missing Elsa who had to run with everything she had in order to get out of the way. She tripped and fell in her haste, sliding across the floor along with the icy pieces from the shattered work of art skidding past her. She pushed herself up, panting and disoriented, only to be knocked back down with a boot to her side. She cried out and fell to the floor.
"I suggest you stay down," Hans cautioned from above her. She glared up at him, her hands clenched and coated in frost.
"Elsa!" a familiar voice called to her. Both Elsa and Hans looked to see Anna arrive, flushed and out of breath.
"Damn, remove her!" he commanded the two men still standing. They rushed to restrain the princess who screamed and tried to fight them off.
"No! Elsa!" she yelled as she was dragged back out. Elsa reached out to her but Hans stomped on the outstretched hand. She hissed in pain and he smirked down at her. With Anna gone, a cold feeling settled over Elsa. Her eyes hardened then glowed an eerie blue. Her hand came alive with the same glowing light, frost shooting up Hans boot to his leg. If he hadn't backed off her hand in time his skin would have suffered from frostbite. Elsa pushed herself up, intent on hurting the man who dared to treat Anna in such a way. Never had she felt so protective, possessive, powerful, as she did now. She hurled ice at him but he was quick on his feet. He drew his sword, blocking more icy spears directed at him. They shattered under his sweeping blade, the fragments cutting his face as a result of the impact, but he continued to fight.
When he got too close to Elsa she had to go on the defensive, creating shields of ice and walls that he rapidly dispatched. His sword dismantled yet another quickly created wall, and then with a swift twist of the blade, he brought it back across to slash at her side. She screamed as the sharp blade cleanly cut through her flesh. She stumbled back but let loose a flurry of icicles, determined not to completely drop her guard. The projectiles missed for the most part but some tore at his uniform and skin, cutting him in various places but not as damaging as his single blow had been. No matter how angry she was, she just didn't have it in her to kill. She fell to her knees, her blood sapping her strength as it ran from her body. Her eyes squeezed shut and she grit her teeth, defeat weighing her down. She thought of Anna, her sunshine. Anna, her warmth. She would never see her again.
"Hans, stop!" Anna screamed desperately, making Elsa's eyes snap open and Hans to look back at her, his sword raised high to deal the finishing blow. The distraction was enough. Elsa knocked the blade from his hand and sent him flying in the opposite direction with two quick bursts of frost. He hit the floor hard, winding him. Anna ran over to kneel by Elsa who smiled painfully at her. Hans regained focus and opted to escape, but he wouldn't give up. He would be back. He ran for the exit, the two men so close to death only to be spared, trailed after him without looking back. Silence fell except for Elsa's harsh breaths. Anna held her face in her hands, trying to get her to stay conscious.
"Elsa, please, stay with me. Don't fall asleep. You need to hang on. Olaf and Sven went to get the king, my brother," she pleaded. Elsa flinched away from her touch when she heard that. The sudden movement tore at her injury and she gasped, her hand pressing to the wound.
"No, I don't want him here. He doesn't-he won't understand," she forced out.
"He will, please, just hold on," Anna replied, carefully lying her down so that her head rested on Anna's lap. By now Elsa's blood stained them both and colored the ice floor under them red. Her breathing was labored and her blue eyes were hazy. Anna's eyes were blurry from tears while one hand pressed to the gash and the other brushed away Elsa's hair and continued over her head in an attempt to keep her relaxed.
"Anna…let me die. I can't go on like this. Someone else will hunt me down eventually. I'm nothing but a monster. This way I'll be free from the curse," Elsa told her, tears in her eyes at the sight of Anna's pain filled gaze on her. She shook her head.
"No, Elsa, you're so much more than that. If they can't see that then that's their fault, not yours. You're an amazing person who deserves so much better than what you were given. I promise, when you get through this, I'll always be there for you," Anna stated, brushing her fingers over Elsa's cheek. Anna's tears met her skin, warm compared to her own. Things were getting foggy and it was hard to breath. Her eyes slid shut no matter how hard she tried to keep them open. Her breathing was now shallow.
"Elsa? Elsa! No, stay awake! Elsa!" Anna cried, shaking her. She was unresponsive, her body limp. She gathered the girl in her arms, feeling her normally cold body turn icy in her grip. She tucked her face close to Elsa's and sobbed, only pulling away when Kristoff showed up with his own group of guards to part them. She brokenly begged her brother to do all he could to save Elsa; the amount of fear, panic, determination, pain, and desperation he found in his sister's eyes unforgettable. It made up his mind. There was no regrets when he commanded his men to staunch the blood flow and quickly take her to the horses. He ordered them to get Elsa to a doctor as quickly as possible and he would follow with Anna when she was able to collect herself. They took off down the mountain, slightly apprehensive towards what they thought to be a savage Ice Demon, but they were given orders from their king.
She would live. Meanwhile, Kristoff sat with Anna, holding her until she stopped crying. When she was able to at least get up on her shaking feet, he carried her towards his horse and Sven. She took another moment then they mounted and headed home at a pace that was swift but not rushed. When they made it back Kristoff sent his men to find Hans who Anna had blamed for the attack. They needed to question him. The king was not happy with his rash decision. It bothered him more because it affected Anna just as much. Anna was free to wash up and then visit Elsa who they placed in a spare room right next to Anna's room. She entered the quiet room just as a maid, nurse, and doctor were heading out. She greeted them with a reserved nod and they returned it. It must have been odd for them, tending to the very creature that caused the curse on their land.
All were surprised at the appearance of the fragile looking girl but some still felt it could all be an illusion put in place to trick those foolish enough to trust it. No matter what they thought of it, they still did as they were ordered, hoping their actions didn't help save a creature that would sooner turn on them than befriend them. Anna walked over to sit on the edge of the bed where Elsa slept soundly. Her breathing was stable again now that she wasn't bleeding out. Anna carefully traced a finger over Elsa's fair features, admiring her beauty. Her eyes fell to the ice wielder's cheek. Anna began to lean in, wanting to thank Elsa for her friendship with a simple form of gratitude. When her lips were almost touching Elsa's cool skin, she turned her head way.
"Don't," Elsa's scratchy and worn voice warned her. Anna jerked back in shock, a blush coloring her cheeks.
"Why?" she asked, quickly getting over her shock. Elsa grimaced and her eyes opened slowly to focus on Anna.
"Just don't," Elsa stated with certainty. Anna shook her head and held her warm hand to Elsa's cold cheek instead.
"You're a good person Elsa and I almost lost you. I almost lost you and I didn't even get to tell you how much you mean to me," Anna whispered, her thumb rubbing soothing circles on Elsa's soft skin. She reveled in Anna's touch then turned away again.
"Anna, don't," she begged, her heart aching. The snowy wind outside picked up. It was too good to be true. No one could ever care for her so why did someone care for her now? It had to be a trick. She couldn't accept it.
"No Elsa, I told you not to shut me out. I…I really do care about you, and I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe, to show everyone that you aren't what they think you are. I'll protect you from them," Anna guaranteed. Elsa whimpered at the sincerity in her tone, closing her eyes against the tears welling up.
"No, you don't, you can't," she denied, the snow now sprinkling around them inside as the temperature in the room dropped. Still, Anna forged on.
"Yes, I do," she countered with certainty.
"Why?" Elsa questioned brokenly. She couldn't fathom why Anna felt so strongly for her. She felt the same way of course but it was easy to see why anyone would want to protect Anna.
"Why? Because you're beautiful, strong, smart, caring, funny, trustworthy, and purely you. You're yourself and just being you without any filters or pretending to be something you're not, well, it makes you beautifuller in my eyes. Well, not fuller, but more beautiful," Anna responded, stumbling over her words once again. Elsa smiled at her, affection in her eyes. The snow slowed to a stop inside the room but it still raged on outside.
"Anna…" Elsa mumbled, her resolve crumbling at the sight of Anna's intense gaze and approaching face. She cradled Elsa's face in her hands to hold her steady before her lips pressed to Elsa's forehead. She held it a second and then pulled away to see the effect it had on her. Elsa wore a content smile which slowly spread across her face.
"You won't regret this and neither will I, ok?" Anna mumbled, kissing Elsa on the cheek then snuggling up to her on the bed. Elsa nodded and didn't struggle when Anna threw an arm over her. They fell silent, and in a few minutes, Elsa was out again. Anna waited to make sure she was really asleep and then got up to head out of the room. She was sure of her feelings for Elsa but she had to make sure, for both of them. It was time to visit her dear friends, the love experts.