When Elsa awoke, she found herself in the arms of the redhead. Well, arms and legs. For just over a week, every morning has begun this way. Since she picked Anna up from Oaken's Brew. The first day, Elsa watched over the recovering redhead, who seemed to simply drift in and out of consciousness. She called her father, giving him some lame excuse to postpone marriage plans. Her mind was focused on worrying over the distraught redhead. And also, herself. So… I liked Sir Anders… And I certainly cared about Anna, but what does that mean? I mean… I'm not… I can't be… No. Just because I liked Sir Anders doesn't mean I like Anna. Right? But… they are the same person, are they not? I will have to wait and see what our conversation brings The next day, however, Elsa awoker to a rigidly upright Anna. The girl had shot up, rousing Elsa from her slumber. That was when their "talk" began.
Elsa shifted up into a sitting position, "Good morning." The look Anna gave her was that of a scared puppy. She held to blankets close to her body, as if they'd shield her from everything.
"G-good morning…" Anna's voice was frail. Weak. Nothing like the rambunctious girl Elsa had met almost a month ago.
"We have a lot to talk about." Elsa wasn't going to coddle the redhead. Too many thoughts crowded her mind to give that much. She noticed Anna's nod, but they were soon interrupted by a vicious roar. Blush crept up Anna's face.
"Maybe we could eat first?" Still shy, and so unlike Anna. Elsa nodded and rose to head to the kitchen.
After a scrumptious meal prepared by Elsa herself, Anna's eyes bore into the ground. Elsa was fully prepared to have this discussion. She had an entire day to prepare herself for this conversation. Answers. That was all she needed. But, she would at least give the freckled girl some time to collect herself. She had been beyond intoxicated, and was lucky to not have gotten alcohol poisoning.
When Anna finally met her gaze, Elsa began, "Why didn't I know?"
"What?"
"Why did everyone else know, but me? Kai… Gerda… Sir Alden I understand, but we were supposed to be friends Anna!" Elsa tried to rein in her anger, but the pent up frustration and hurt was making its way through. Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she held them in.
Anna's gaze turned melancholic, "They… They needed to. No one but Sir Alden was supposed to know, but he put me here! They had to know! How else would I be able to avoid you finding out! I don't want to be known!"
"Why?" It was a simple question. Really, quite simple. But it brought Anna into full blown tears.
"Goddamn it. Goddamn it! GODDAMN IT!" The shouting shook Elsa to the core, but not so much as the pain on Anna's face. "No one sees it. No one ever sees it. Not even you! How could anyone love that bastard!"
Anna didn't need to say his name. Elsa knew. "Wh- Anna, I don't love him…"
"Liar! I-I-I heard you! 'I will try to love him…' How could you even want that! God! Why can only I see his fucking evil manipulative ways!" By this point, Anna's shouting had roused the house's two other occupants. Kai, with wife in hand, gave Elsa a look denoting that they were going to leave for a while. Moments later, the rumble of the car confirmed that the two were alone.
"Anna, please, calm down. I-" She didn't have a chance to explain herself.
"CALM DOWN? You want me to CALM DOWN? I'll calm down when that bastard is dead. He ruined everything. My family is gone because of him! All he ever does is take! And now he's going to take the one thing that was finally bringing light back into my life. It'll be me and fencing again. Just like old times…" The end was spit out bitterly, as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. Anna was wracking with ugly sobs.
Is she talking about me? Elsa sat down, and a heavy breath escaped her lips. "Anna, he's not welcome here anymore."
"Of course! Because he just- Wait. What?"
"Sir Alden told me he was the reason, and I may not know exactly what he did, but that… just now… that was enough for me. I… I want to ask, Anna. But, I… I don't think either of us is ready for that… I… I've thought about this a lot, and I will wait. Wait until you tell me of your own accord."
Silence cut through the air for several long minutes. Anna broke it. "Where does that leave us then?" The question caught Elsa off guard, and she stiffened in her seat.
"I don't… I don't know, Anna. Where do you want it to leave us?"
"Honestly?"
"Honestly."
Anna took in a steeling breath, "I want things to go back. You and I friends, and Sir Anders will still be your tutor. If for nothing other than the sake of my comfort. I enjoy the separation…" Anna received a long hum in response. She minutely nodded, shifting her plate around on the table.
"I think that will be just fine, Anna. Thank you."
"For?"
"Sharing yourself with me…"
The day had given the girls time to reinforce their bond, and Anna even told Elsa smaller parts about her past. Like how her dad was always into funk, rock, and soul music, and Anna learned to love music because of him. He used to sing with her every night, and even taught her to play the guitar and piano! However, when nightfall came, the girls were unsure of what to do. Anna had been sleeping in Elsa's bed for the last two nights, and Elsa had grown… accustomed to it. While, for Anna, it was simply a fear of the nightmares that visited her at night.
After an awkward amount of shuffling, and nothing being done, Elsa bid Anna goodnight, shuffling into her own room.
In the middle of the night, Elsa was awoken by the sounds of heavy sobbing. She walked out of her room, and at the banister sat the redhead, legs hanging between the railing. Elsa walked up silently, listening to the girl, and giving her time to simply cry. That night, Elsa nearly had to drag the redhead into her room, sleeping just as they had the two previous nights. Helplessly tangled within each other.
For the rest of the week, they continued to spend as much time as possible together, and the lessons with 'Sir Anders' had begun again. Now, Elsa was preparing to retrieve her mother from the Oslo Airport. Well, as soon as she was able to untangle her limbs from Anna's. However, when that had finally come, Kai's voice drifted upstairs.
"Ah, Hello Miss Engels. Come, sit at the table. I will retrieve Elsa." Elsa's eyes widened. Her mother wasn't supposed to be here yet! How am I going to explain the redhead in my bed? Well, not in my bed in my bed, but still! I mean it's innocent enough… Well maybe not my thoughts, but… Oh shut up self! You have a problem you must deal with now!
Elsa exited the door, and turned to make her way down the stairs, meeting Kai's gaze as he was just climbing them. He nodded at her, and they proceeded to the dining area in amicable silence.
"Mother!" Elsa rushed in to hug Idunn. "You weren't supposed to be in so soon! I was going to pick you up today! I cleared my schedule!"
Her mother laughed wholeheartedly, "I know, my dear. I wanted to surprise you, and spend a whole day with you. So, sit down dear. Let's get some food into that tiny body of yours." Elsa rolled her eyes, but seated herself anyways.
"I'll prepare the usual today, Miss Solnberg. And for you, Miss Engels?" Kai interrupted their conversation.
"Just some coffee for now. Now, dearest Elsa, how has school be-"
"Ow. Shit. Fuck. Jesus. Fuck. God. Shit. Owwwww." Elsa winced with each word, and the final crash.
"Anna!" She quickly ran over to the bottom of the stairs, where the redhead sat, completely disheveled. Her hair sat like a nest atop her head and her clothes were inexplicably twisted. "Oh Anna… Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah," Anna groaned, "Just a little trip down the stairs. Goes way faster that…" another pained groan, "way…"
"Oh, come now, let's get you something for the pain," a loud grumble from Anna's stomach interrupted her, "And some food for that beast there." Elsa grinned at the way Anna's cheek lit up with a pink blush before nodding. Elsa supported Anna, draping the redheads arm around her own shoulders, holding tightly to her waist and wrist. As she turned around, she met the amused gaze of her mother's hazel eyes.
"I see you've made at least one friend there." Her mother was wearing a self-satisfied smirk.
"Huh? What?" Anna spoke out, clearly still half-asleep. Before receiving an answer though, her head dropped again, light snores emitting from the redhead. Elsa gave her a small smile, eyes widening again when her eyes meet her mother's knowing ones.
"Uh… Yeah, Anna's my… my friend. I apologize, I'm sure you can tell she isn't much of a morning person." An endeared smile settled on Elsa's face as she watched the freckled girl in the corner of her eye.
Idunn chuckled, "Yes, I see that. I also see you've gained some strength. I'm surprised you can hold that girl up."
Elsa blushed, "AH… Yeah… I've been taking fencing lessons… from Sir Anders."
"Sir Anders? Interesting… Can I watch your next lesson?"
"Yes, of course, mother. It will be tomorrow. Now, I apologize, but I would really like to set her down, because she's a lot heavier than her small stature lets on to." Elsa groaned lightly. She slowly dragged the girl over to the dining table, sitting her in a chair. Anna promptly fell face first onto the table. Elsa winced, but the girl seemed to be happily asleep.
"I'm glad you've made a friend, Elsa. You haven't really been close enough to hold someone up since you were little." Elsa blushed and shuffled awkwardly.
"I… I know. She's good. Really good." Again with that knowing stare… It's making me uncomfortable… "I'm going to make her some hot chocolate, that should wake her up, so you may share a more proper introduction."
"Already know how to wake her up? How long has she been sleeping over here?" Elsa's eyes widened. How long… Well Anna has only been here for a bit over a week… but Sir Anders has been living here since school started… So… Who? Are they really different? I… I don't know… Elsa let her thoughts run rampant while she mindlessly prepared two mugs of hot chocolate. Her mother's original question lay forgotten amongst the tumult it aroused in her thoughts. She brought the mugs of sweet hot chocolate back into the dining area, meeting the unshakable gaze of her mother. She set a mug next to Anna, and held the other in front of herself as she just held her mother's scrutiny.
The redhead seated next to her began to stir, and Elsa broke eye contact to watch the freckled girl sit up, appreciatively sip on the hot chocolate, then meet the hazel eyes of her mother. The girl's teal eyes widened and she choked on her hot chocolate, nearly spitting it out. "G-good morning. I… uh… I'm Anna Ildkule, it's nice to meet you…?"
"Idunn Engel. I'm Elsa's mother. It's nice to meet a friend of Elsa's." Idunn stared deeply into the eyes of the redhead, and her eyes caught the mallen streak in her hair. Anna… It couldn't be… She's been missing since that bastard came along and ruined her sweet mother's life…
Anna shifted uncomfortably in her seat before nodding at the woman, "I really appreciate the opportunity to meet you. Though, I can't say Elsa has spoken much of you, but then again, she doesn't speak up often about herself." The oldest woman laughed, nodding at the redhead's statement. Anna turned towards Elsa, "I'm gonna step outside and get some fresh air before leaving. I have to sing at Oaken's today." Elsa nodded.
Moments after Anna left, Elsa excused herself. She stepped outside, spotting the redhead at the edge of the back deck, cigarette in hand. "What's up? This is the first time I've seen you smoke in a week."
"I… It feels like your mother can see everything about me with just one look, and that… that was a lot to handle. I just… I'm glad to meet her, but she intimidates me, and I needed a break to just clear my head." Elsa nodded in understanding.
"Can we listen to you today?" Elsa was dying to hear the redhead sing again.
"Elsa… You never have to ask. I… Despite everything, I'm glad you know. It makes me happy to know I can trust you Elsa Solnberg. Which, by the way, leads me to my next question. Last names? Different?"
Elsa chuckled lowly, "Divorced and remarried. You may not know this, but my dad's an ass."
Anna gasped, "Elsa! Did you just cuss?"
Elsa met Anna's gaze with a challenging one, "Why yes, yes I fucking did." The two girls shared a hearty laugh. "But, yeah, they divorced after a family friend passed away and my dad kind of… shut down. He became insufferable and truly married to his work after that. She got remarried to a really nice guy, an American, and they moved back to the States." Anna nodded along, taking a long drag of the end of her cigarette before putting it out, and pocketing the butt. She released the puff of smoke before grinning at Elsa.
"Let's head back inside. I need to get ready, and you need to catch up with your mom."
Idunn joined her daughter as they sat in the backseat. Kai kept silent, but continuously glanced at her shifting daughter. She studied Elsa out of the corner of her eye. She's in love with that girl and she doesn't even realize it… I wonder if Anna is… Anna… Elsa loved her then too. Only friend then… Why'd she run away…?
When the duo arrived at Oaken's Brew Idunn couldn't help but stare up at the old style building with a fond heart. It was one of her favorite places when she still lived here.
They walked in, greeted by the sight of Anna perched on the stool, paper in hand, talking to Kristoff. Anna pulled a pen out, crossing one line out, and writing something in its place. Kristoff nodded at her, and she set the paper on the space of the stage between them.
Idunn ordered herself a black coffee, and Elsa ordered a chai latte. Almost exactly as they settled into a booth with their drinks, Anna spoke up, "Alright folks, we have 3 songs planned out for today and then we'll take some suggestions. After all, Suggestion Sunday!" The crowd chuckled at the vivacious redhead, "Now this first song goes out to my dad. He's… he's always here for me," Anna pounded her heart, "And this was our Sunday song." Anna ended up pulling a keyboard in front of her.
Kristoff alternated between plucking and strumming the strings, complementing Anna's keyboarding. Her voice rang proud and strong, "Sunday morning rain is falling…" Her voice was truly amazing, but what caught Idunn more was the preceding statement and song choice. This was Isaac's favorite song… he would always have this play every Sunday morning. I remember when I asked him about it, and he just looked at his daughter… No… she's… the streak. The song. Elsa. It… it can't be… Anna is Anna. I have to ask her about this…
Anna's voice broke through the residual echoing as the song ended. "You all having a good Sunday morning? Well good, because I've got another song for someone. This one is for a very special friend. My only one. Well, other than this big lug." Anna grinned and punched Kristoff's shoulder. He rolled his eyes in response. Elsa's eyes made a passing connection with Anna's and her cheeks practically burst into flames from the intensity of Anna's eyes. She could still feel Anna's gaze on the side of her face, "I won't lie to you, I know he's just not right for you." Anna's timbre resonated within Elsa, and she found herself locking with the redhead's intense gaze. She… she's singing to me. Elsa grinned in spite of herself.
Anna woke up in her bed for the first time that week. Her eyes shot open and memories of the previous day flashed before her eyes. Singing to Elsa, about Elsa. Well, in any other sense it would have been romantic right? No wait! You can't Anna. She's straight and way out of your league. I mean… an arranged marriage? Oh yeah. Definitely out of your possibilities.
But she did grin, and there's no way she didn't know you were singing to her…
But did you see her mom? She knows something… I just hope she doesn't know that.
Anna shook her head to pull herself from her thoughts. She had just barely avoided a confrontation with Idunn, practically bolting out of the back door. Elsa texted her to make sure she was fine. Anna simply told her she'd be with Sir Alden for the rest of the day.
Now, though, she couldn't avoid the woman. She could only hope that Elsa's mom wouldn't figure out who Sir Anders was. She took a glance at the clock on her phone. 9:47. 13 more minutes until the most awkward lesson ever. Anna drug herself out of bed, suiting up into her gear, and trudged down the stairs and into the basement. Elsa soon followed, with her mother in tow.
"Alright, so today I would really like to focus on your basic footwork. I want to smooth your transitions from going backwards to forwards, and vice versa. So, to do that, we will first practice proper distancing." Anna positioned herself en garde on the mat, and gestures with her foil for Elsa to do the same. "Now, get a sturdy foundation, bend at the knees, and utilize your thigh muscles well." Anna tapped Elsa's foot to adjust its angle. "For this exercise, I want you to stay this distance from me. I will move, and you will have to accommodate in a very timely manner." When Elsa had nodded in agreement, Anna shuffled forward. The Goldilocks game of 'just right' distancing would restart whenever Elsa couldn't keep her footwork steady, or she wouldn't move fast enough, and Anna would land a hit. On about their fourth round of this game, the doors burst open.
Hans, fuming, lugged his personal bag of gear downstairs and glared at Anna through the mask, "I have come to challenge you once more Sir Anders! And, if I win, our engagement is back on Elsa!" Anna tensed and glanced over at Elsa, who gave her a steely nod. Then, Anna braved a glance over at Idunn, who seemed just as upset at their new arrival as herself.
"Then, Mr. Westergard, if I win, you will pack up and leave, and stop pursuing Miss Solnberg. A man who can't understand the word no could never defeat me. Are you sure you would like to make this challenge, Mr. Westergard?"
"Yes!" He barked out. He scanned the rest of the room and made eye contact with Idunn, "Oh, my apologies, Miss Solnberg. I was unaware you were visiting Miss Elsa. Sir Anders and I have shared a bit of a feud since my last visit with him."
She deadpanned, "I'm sure. Now, may the most gallant knight win." She stared into Sir Anders mask, "But, unfortunately for you, I am no longer Miss Solnberg, so I will have to vote against my husband on this round and cheer on the honorable Sir Anders." The way she said that name made Anna's blood freeze. Good god, she knows. I will truly have to win now.
"Very well then," Anna cut into the conversation, "For the honor of these lovely women, I will fight. I suggest you suit up, Mr. Westergard." Hans nodded, and moved into the upstairs area to change. Anna glared holes into the back of his head. "Dickwad." She spat it out, then through her hand over her mouth, embarrassed at having cursed in front of Elsa's mother.
"I couldn't agree more. Do defeat him and his unnecessarily large ego. Must be compensating…" Anna and Elsa both sputtered out at the vulgarness of Idunn's statement, "What? It's true." Idunn turned her nose up and away, while Anna and Elsa could only gape at each other.
"Y-You'll defeat him, won't you? I mean… I can't… Him…" Anna nodded resolutely. She didn't have a doubt in her mind as to her ability. She knew, however, she'd have to reel in her own feelings to win most honorably.
Anna nestled herself into a nearby chair, taking soothing breaths to bring herself into an undisturbable peace. It would be the best way for her body to simply react. To do what it does best, fence. Hans joined the serene atmosphere, disrupting it with his pompous attitude, "Now, on with it, Sir Anders."
With a newfound ability to separate the Anna that hated him, from the Anna that fenced, she took position of the mat. Elsa stood to referee, calling, "En garde!" Both fencers take position, "Prêts?" Both fencers nod, "Allez!" The match begins. Immediately, Hans takes the aggressive. He lunges, Anna dodges. He moves to strike, Anna blocks. The match is honestly a boring affair for Elsa and her mother, as they watch Anna toy with the man. His movements quickly become sloppier, and his motions predictable by even an amateur. Suddenly, he lunges with great force, yet Sir Anders maintains the same safe distance he'd always had, then pushed forward with a riposte, landing on the slow-reacting Hans. "Hit!"
"See Elsa, fluidity between forward and backwards is a necessity, otherwise you will lose." Anna offered her hand to the man who had fallen when struck. He slapped it away, and she stared at him, shellshocked. He rose and dusted himself off. Without another word, he picked up his bag and walked out of the room. "That shows you. Maybe you shouldn't be such a stick in the mud and go and ruin absolutely everything for someone else because the only thing you have on your mind is yourself." Elsa laughed at Anna's statement behind her hand.
"Yes, Sir Anders, that may be true, but I should make sure he makes his way fully off the property." With that note, Elsa left as well. All of a sudden, Anna felt dread pool up inside herself. She turned to meet the steely gaze of the last woman in the room.
"Anna, dear, please remove that mask so I may meet our eyes." Yep. Definitely caught. Oh well. Too late now. There's no way she could know… that secret. Anna removed her mask, setting it on the plastic table. "You have her eyes…"
"I'm sorry, what?" No. Please, god, no.
"My apologies. First, how long have you been hiding as Sir Anders?"
"Three… maybe four years?"
"Ah… I see… Well, no one must know Anna, because you're very clearly the same person." Anna laughed at that statement.
"While it's true that no one knows me, even Elsa couldn't figure it out. And she's supposed to be the smart one!" Anna began to fiddle with the ends of her braids, the earlier statement still echoing in her head. 'You have her eyes." She said… Mama… I miss you…
"Yes, well… SHe's a bit different on the social sphere. So, why did you run away?"
"What?" Anna's skin crawled at the perceptiveness of his woman. She prayed that the woman wouldn't acknowledge her true identity.
"Princess Anna, why'd you leave poor Cecilie behind? She loved you."
"No she didn't. If she did, she wouldn't have… Anyways, I'm no princess. You're crazy."
"Come on! I'd know the emotion behind Sunday Morning like the back of my hand. Princess Anna, we need you back! The king… He didn't produce any heirs…"
Anna's eyebrows shot up into her hairline.
"I'm sorry, but you have the wrong girl. I'm not Princess Anna." Ann turned to grab her fencing gear.
Elsa's mom grabbed Anna's arm, "Just let me explain! We can help you! Even if you won't admit to it, I know you are her!"
"Who?" Elsa had appeared out of seemingly nowhere, and the two women jumped.
"No one, Els. I'll… Later, okay? Your mom thinks I'm someone else…"
As Anna and Elsa walked back upstairs Idunn whispered out, "I've found the lost princess…"
A/N: Hey there everyone! This one came out soon because it just kind of ran away with me! Some unplanned things happened, but I'm going to roll with the punches! Hope you all can enjoy! Reviews are always helpful in crafting this story!
BlossomCharms: You may be overthinking... Maybe not? Do you believe Idunn? And you've been very inspiring for me! So, thank you!
PaladinBOS-2277: I hope to keep you on your toes. ;)
Bio-Hazard93: Glad to hear it! Hope this chapter was good for you!
yeahyo: I can neither confirm nor deny that statement, but I'm sure it will all be revealed coming soon ;)
chiefbiddlesaidso: I hope this chapter lived up to your expectations, and I am glad to have you onboard! Keep reading, and I'll keep writing!