Ah, but that all happened a year ago. So much has changed since then. People have come and gone, developments have arisen (both good and bad), and my little sister is growing up to be a strong, independent young lady. But more on that later.
Ever since my return, the kingdom of Arendelle has thrived. Our economy has boomed, and we have formed close ties with several of the world's most powerful nations. Apparently, every kingdom wants to be allied with a magical queen. Who knew? But, despite any sort of magical abilities I may have, I still have responsibilities as Arendelle's ruler. I still have a lot to learn about being queen, but I'm gradually getting the hang of it. As of now, Arendelle is slowly but steadily growing more and more powerful. In fact, it's managed to make its way into the "United Council," an alliance consisting of the seven most powerful nations in the midwestern world. Arendelle had to take the slot in the council previously reserved for Weselton. I don't think the Duke is too happy about that.
Speaking of whom, I haven't heard much from him lately. After his little crusade on my palace, I decided that resuming friendly business with him was not the best idea. Besides, he probably didn't like the fact that I had powers, much less that I nearly used them to kill two of his men. So, in order to avoid some awkward apologies (which would have done little to win his favor anyway), I decided to cut off business with Weselton altogether. The Duke was none too pleased, but I'm sure he managed to do fine without me. Actually, from what I hear, he got married a few weeks ago. Naturally, I wasn't invited to the wedding. From what I heard, though, the reception was fantastic. There was music, food, and - of course - dancing. The Duke enthralled the crowd with his unique set of "moves." It was spectacular. All in all, I'd say he's doing pretty well, despite everything that's been thrown at him.
Hans, on the other hand...well, let's just say it's a different story. After his failed assassination attempt, he was unceremoniously sent back to the Southern Isles, his homeland. There, he was faced with countless rebukes from his twelve older brothers, followed by a good, long lecture by his (rather scary) father. The poor guy was then thrown into prison, and before long, an execution date was announced! Poor Prince Hans was falling apart with worry. Luckily, due to Anna's (and my) intervention, he was spared his fate, and was even released from prison. He never got a chance to say thanks, but something tells me he's too proud to do so anyway. Now, Hans is a better man who does honest work. At least, that's what he told Anna a few days ago, when she decided to pay him a visit. Secretly, I think he's just trying to think up another scheme to gain power.
Olaf, having nowhere else to stay, has been living with us in the royal castle. Life has been good for the little snowman. He loves being treated like royalty, pretending he's a prince. He even has his own room! It has a little bed made of snow (made by me, of course), as well as a fireplace installed at his own request. He seems to love sitting in front of the flames, though I often have to warn him about melting - something he forgets about all too often. When he's bored, he likes to wander around the village square, where he has gained a celebrity status as the world's first living snowman. The citizens adore him! The kids are particularly fond of him. They like to play games with him and show him the warmth of the summer sun. On occasion, they tease him by stealing his nose and running around town, hiding it in the most random places, like in the fountain, or in someone's fireplace. The little snowman always gets it back by the end of the day, though. However, there are also a few people who are a little unsettled by him. He is, after all, a living snowman. You don't really see much of those every day. But, no matter how unusual Olaf may be, and no matter how irritatingly naive he can be at times, I still love him. After all, he may be the closest thing to a son I'll ever get.
Rapunzel and Eugene, the couple I had met during my coronation party, were crowned King and Queen of Corona last month. Of course, I attended the ceremony and gave my own personal congratulations. The celebration that followed was, in short, loud. And long. So, very long. Apparently, the people of Corona are always looking for occasions to celebrate. This particular party lasted for weeks. And guess who stayed in Corona the whole time? That's right, yours truly. Poor Anna had to rule the kingdom in my stead while I was gone.
During my stay, Eugene told me some rather interesting things about his wife. Apparently, she once had magic within her, too! I could barely believe my ears. Ignoring my stunned expression, Eugene went on to explain. A few years ago, Rapunzel had long, golden hair that had the power to heal people. Like me, she was born with this ability, though she always had full control over it. When she was 18, she and Eugene went of a life-changing journey that ultimately resulted in her hair getting cut. Her long, golden locks turned into a deep brown, and she was left with a head full of short, non-magical hair. She apparently appreciates not having powers anymore, as she now has the opportunity to live a "normal" life as the new Queen of Corona. I was disinclined to believe Eugene's story when Rapunzel came in and confirmed the whole thing. She told me about the journey the two of them took, and the countless people they encountered, from the evil Mother Gothel to the loyal chameleon Pascal. It's actually a very interesting story; I should probably get around to writing about it one time.
"Eugene and I were thrilled when we saw that you had magic!" Rapunzel said, before taking a wine glass out of Eugene's hand and setting it on the table. "Well, after the whole eternal winter thing came to pass, that is. That was one brutal storm you whipped up back there! Your magic is strong. Like, really strong. Poor Eugene ate nothing but chicken soup for the next few weeks!"
After some polite laughter and an awkward apology on my part, the three of us ended up talking throughout the rest of the night. As of now, Corona is Arendelle's closest ally, and it is still ruled by Rapunzel and Eugene.
Gerda and Kai, our two most faithful servants, also had some interesting things to say to me. Long ago, they also encountered someone with powers! It seemed like magic wasn't nearly as rare as I once thought it was. This mysterious woman, they said, looked a lot like me. Her eyes were as blue as ice, and her hair was as white as snow. Her pale skin was cold to the touch, and she was apparently a lot more powerful than I was, having control over the season of winter itself. She had kidnapped Kai long ago (for reasons she had never made clear), and it was up to Gerda to save him. She traveled throughout the land, searching desperately for her friend. Along the way, she was helped by a robber girl, a reindeer, and a prince and princess named Agdar and Idun - two royals who would later grow up to be my parents!
"It's a small world after all, wouldn't you agree?" Kai said warmly. "At first, Gerda and I were a little hesitant to tell you about the mysterious white lady. We thought it would make you feel insecure about your own powers, after hearing what that terrible woman did. But we see something in you that she never had: love. As long as you have it within yourself, you'll never become the monster that she was."
Speaking of my parents, Anna and I visited their graves a few weeks ago. As the sun was starting to set, the two of us went to the royal burial grounds and placed flowers on our parents' graves. Neither of us said a word. We simply stood together, staring silently at our parents' headstones. But I knew that I didn't have to say anything. I knew - and still know - that somewhere up there, my parents are smiling down on us, happy for their daughters and the way their lives turned out.
Three days ago marked the one-year anniversary of my ice palace's creation. I had actually been waiting for that day for several months; the last time I had seen my palace was during the battle with Hans' men. I hadn't seen it since. Naturally, then, I was eager to see how it had fared during the past year. Was it still standing? Or had it succumbed to the harsh winds and snowstorms of the North Mountain? There was only one way to find out.
Early that morning, I snuck out of the castle, leaving a note for Anna on my way out. I trekked up the North Mountain by myself, keeping my eyes glued to the summit of the mountain. As soon as I walked into a forest clearing, the sight became marvelously clear; in the distance, I saw the castle's tall, blue spires extending into the pink morning sky, still standing strong. I nearly ran the rest of the way, eager to explore the grand palace I had once called home. But as soon as I threw the doors open, I was greeted by none other than the snow golem, sitting on the shattered remains of my throne. As soon as he saw me, he lunged towards me, the ground shaking with every step he took. After my mini-heart attack, I turned around, about to make a run for it, when the golem scooped me up in his enormous arms and - to my surprise - hugged me tightly, producing a deep, rumbling sound that I could only guess was laughter.
"Elsa!" he cried out, laughing as he held me tighter. After letting out a sigh of relief, I looked up at him and hugged him back, my arms unable to fully wrap themselves around his colossal figure.
"It's good to see you too," I replied, my legs dangling in midair. Just then, I noticed something shiny on his head. Upon looking closer, I recognized it as my old crown, the one I had thrown away on the night of my ice palace's creation. I guess deep down, this big, scary monster is just a big softie. Today, the golem still lives in my palace. He rules his own imaginary kingdom, happy and free. He even has a proper name: Marshmallow. Yes, Olaf's nickname for the golem was apparently a popular one, because now that's what everyone is calling him.
Kristoff is doing nicely, too. After the Great Thaw, I figured that he would have to leave town soon, due to his ice harvesting business. So, to keep him around, I named him the Official Ice Master and Deliverer. I have to admit, I only did so as a joke, after I procured that sled for him. But Anna, being...well, Anna, took the job title so seriously that I had to make it real. Now, Kristoff lives in Arendelle with the rest of us. For a few weeks, he had trouble adjusting to life in a castle. But due to my repeated (and, I must admit, excessive) reminders to take a bath, stand straight, and not bring reindeers into the Great Hall, Kristoff slowly adjusted to the royal lifestyle. He actually does a pretty good job overseeing Arendelle's ice business. Thanks to him, ice has become the kingdom's number one export.
After the Great Thaw, Kristoff was told of the "one year" rule that I had put up. Of course, he wasn't too pleased to hear about it, but he was willing to comply. For the past year, he has been the kindest, sweetest, most thoughtful boyfriend my sister could ever have. Who would have thought that a princess like her would end up falling for an ice harvester like him? I smiled whenever I saw them together. Yes, it was already fairly obvious that my sister would end up marrying him one day, but he was perfectly fine with waiting for the day he could finally propose to her.
That day came yesterday.
Early in the morning, Kristoff invited Anna to take a walk with him. Of course, she went with him, not suspecting a thing. As soon as they entered the village square, they were greeted by the most amazing sight: a group of ice harvesters was gathered by the fountain, and they all performed a little song and dance for my sister! Anna simply stared at the scene before her, awestruck and speechless, as the citizens of Arendelle gathered around, curious about the show taking place in the village square. Then, the entire crowd gasped as Kristoff got on one knee, took out a ring, and asked the one question he had been waiting to ask for so long.
"Princess Anna of Arendelle, will you make me the happiest man in the world, and marry-"
"Yes! Yes, of course!" Anna cried out, tears falling over her smiling cheeks. She pulled up Kristoff and kissed him as all of Arendelle cheered wildly. Of course, I was among the crowd, witnessing the spectacle. I clapped and wiped a few tears from my own eyes, happy to see my sister with the man she loved. And then I got to thinking: would I ever have what Anna and Kristoff have? I was already twenty-two years old, and I hadn't even considered the possibility of love. But seeing Anna and Kristoff, happily embracing each other, made me think about what I may have been missing out on. My answer was - and always will be - the same: when I'm ready, maybe I'll try. But for now, I'll simply sit back and wait for the right person to come along.
Anna has adjusted quickly to her new life. Despite the way she may act sometimes, I often have to remind myself that she is a fully grown woman, capable of making her own decisions. In just one year, she learned how to take on the duties of a princess! Lately, her days have been filled with paperwork, negotiations, and other tasks. It's a hectic job, but it all comes with being the queen's right hand. Occasionally, when she wasn't busy spending time with Kristoff, I would take her with me in my travels, just like I had promised her when we were kids. While I would be busy discussing political issues with princes and dukes, Anna would usually be outside, enjoying the sights and sounds of whatever nation we were visiting. We would usually end the day by exploring the village square, sampling as many foreign foods as our stomachs could possibly manage.
Sometimes, at night, Anna visits me in my room, unable to sleep. We'd usually stay up together, telling jokes, reading stories, and making up for thirteen years of separation. Often, she would even fall asleep under the covers, snoring loudly as a book rests lazily on her face. Whenever that happens, I would simply smile, laugh to myself, and tuck her in, like our mother used to, before snuggling in right next to her. In those moments, I would be reminded that, despite everything she has been through, my sister is still the little girl I had come to know and love all those years ago, and that nothing in the world would ever separate us again.
As for me, life couldn't be better! There really isn't much I can say about myself, other than the fact that I've been busier than ever. As Arendelle's queen, I'm constantly faced with new challenges every day. And that's not even mentioning the magical powers I'm trying to keep under control! Yes, even now, a year after the Great Thaw, my powers are still proving themselves to be quite tricky. But at the end of the day, when all is said and done, I like to sit by the fireplace and count my blessings, remembering how fortunate I truly am. With loyal friends, an entire kingdom looking up to me, and a sister who I love more than anything else in the world, I believe my life has taken a turn for the better. Yes, I have magical powers, and yes, I rule over an entire kingdom, but in the end, I'm just an ordinary woman, with thoughts and feelings like everyone else.
I am writing all this for a reason. I've decided to record this moment in time - this incident that changed my life forever - so that future generations, perhaps hundreds of years from now, can learn a valuable lesson: as long as you continue loving the people around you, as long as you hold on tightly to the part of you that makes you you, nothing in the world will ever be able to bring you down. Because ultimately, the only thing that matters in life is love. It's what makes it worth living. So if you're reading this, you hold in your hands the story of Elsa the Snow Queen. I hope it changes you as much as it changed me.
Ah, I better go. I think I hear Anna coming.