Act 1 Scene 3
As promised, King Agnarr and Queen Iduna returned to their castle where they began the preparations immediately. The morning after the fateful night, Anna woke up in her bed. The youngest princess fluttered her eyes open, waking up with a yawn as she was covered in blankets. The sun came through the window to indicate the time for the girl. What she didn't expect to find was her whole family standing around the bed, staring at her. Not that she didn't mind her parents and sister being the first thing she wanted to see upon waking up. Yet there was something off about their expressions, mainly in their eyes which showed worry and concern. She only saw it for a moment before they all relaxed upon seeing her regain consciousness.
"Uh… morning?" Anna wasn't sure how to respond to the way they were looking at her.
Agnarr sighed as he looked at his daughter. "Morning honey… how are you feeling?"
"...Fine?" Anna wasn't sure how to answer that question. She sat up on her bed to get a bit comfortable. Iduna set a tray of food for Anna. It contained a bowl of a type of porridge called grøt: which consisted of flour, rice and groats boiled with milk. There was also a piece of bread with scrambled eggs, thin pieces of salmon and thyme on top of the loaf and a glass of milk. It was Anna's favorite breakfast, which was why she dug in and started to eat as quickly as possible.
Since she had a robust appetite, the parents and sister concluded that she wasn't sick. Even so, while she didn't have any physical injuries, aside from her hair, they wanted to see how her mental state was. "Anna… do you remember what happened to you last night?" Agnarr asked.
The youngest princess swallowed the rice and groats in her mouth before recalling the events of last night. "Um… we were… playing last night. Because I was woken up by the lights in the sky. Elsa and I were sneaking out but got caught by you two. But we agreed to go back to bed after an hour of play if you joined us."
"Anything… else?" Elsa questioned, as she wondered if Anna had any recollection of her sister's abilities.
Anna tried to think but for some reason, her memory was foggy and… disconnected. As if there were pieces missing but she didn't know what. "I just… remember us playing in the snow. And something… hit me?" She reached up to her head and rubbed her skin.
Elsa looked up at her father, wondering what they should say. Even Agnarr wasn't sure how to explain the event, since they could not bring up Elsa's powers. Iduna noticed her husband and daughter struggling to come up with an explanation, but they needed to present one fast or else Anna would just keep pestering them with questions. The queen took the chance to tell her version. "We were skating… on the ice. You and Elsa were having fun and… the ice started to break. You fell through, but Elsa risked her life to get you out. We had to bring you to the Valley of Living Rock, where your aunt Opal had to heal you."
"Opal?" Anna repeated.
"Yeah…" Elsa added. "She… healed you and we brought you back to the castle."
Anna looked between her parents and sister, as she tried to put the pieces together. It still seemed like something was missing, then again she did remember feeling cold and numb. Perhaps that was what happened? Her memory was a bit fuzzy, but she did remember skating with her family and playing in the snow. "Are you okay, Elsa?"
The eldest sister was taken aback by that question, but she quickly answered. "Y-yeah… I'm alright. Opal was able to heal me as well, but you got the worse end of it."
Anna crawled over to her, pleading eyes as guilt rose into her being. "I'm so sorry! I should have listened to mother and been more careful! And you had to risk yourself just to save me! If I didn't suggest we play outside last night-"
"Anna…" Elsa silenced her as she reached over, holding her face gently as she looked deep into her eyes. "The important thing is that you're safe. I'm safe. We're alright." She reassured, managing to place a smile on her face for the first time since last night. Iduna and Agnarr noticed this, as both of them held each other and beamed to see their daughters close together. Perhaps this meant that Elsa wasn't fully overcome with fear due to the trauma.
Anna still had many questions and concerns, but feeling the touch of her sister's hands and seeing the care in her eyes, caused her to be content. The auburn haired princess grew a grin and nod. "If you're sure…"
"I am… I'm really grateful you're ali… alright…" She quickly corrected herself as she pulled her hands away. She stared down at them, as a flash of the memory from last night wrapped around her mind. All she could picture was how she used her powers to hurt Anna and that figure, even though it was an accident on Anna's part.
The youngest princess still kept that smile as she looked at her sister, offering her one of her toasts with eggs and salmon. Elsa merely looked at the food, then up at Anna as she kept holding it out. It took a few seconds to register, but eventually she did take the food and bit into it, which caused the grin on her sister to grow. Elsa looked back at Anna, as she too started to beam, showcasing she still cared for her sister and her well being. Once again, making the parents relieved that Elsa might not be as distraught as she was last night. "So, you are feeling better?" Elsa asked Anna.
"You know me! I'm a ball of energy!" To prove it, Anna jumped up on the bed, nearly knocking the tray of her breakfast down had it not been for Iduna who caught it. "So much so, I'm ready to play again! What do you say, Elsa?!"
The eldest daughter of the kingdom kept her smile until Anna asked that question. She turned to her parents, who looked at her before turning their attention to the auburn haired girl. "Actually… Anna, there's something you should know." Agnarr began as his voice changed from a father to a king. The princess sat back on the bed, staring at her parents and sibling in question. "You see, Elsa and you will… no longer be sharing a room together."
Hearing that made Anna's heart drop, as she gazed at her father with eyes as small as a button. "What?" She gasped, unable to process the information. "Why? Did I do something?"
"No, no!" Elsa reassured her. "This isn't your fault, Anna… it's mine. I was the one who decided on separate rooms."
Anna felt betrayed as she looked at her eldest sister with dilated eyes. Thoughts ran through her head as she was unsure why Elsa would decide to just move out. Her lip pouted as it seemed that she was ready to cry. Elsa rubbed the back of her neck, as she tried to avoid eye contact. How was she supposed to explain to Anna why she had to move out when she couldn't explain her powers? Agnarr noticed the way the eldest princess was acting, clearly unable to format her words and thoughts. The king held onto Elsa's shoulder and looked at his other child. "It was our idea." He began. "Your mother's and I's. We wanted Elsa to begin her training and studying. For… for when she becomes queen!"
Hearing that made Anna go from upset to baffled. "Queen?" She repeated.
"Yes! Elsa is the eldest, so she is the first in line to have the throne." Agnarr added.
"I know Elsa seems a bit young, but she has a lot to learn and the sooner she is able to pass all of these tests, the better off she will be." Iduna added, sitting next to Anna as she held her shoulder. "Things are going to be changing from here on out, but they will be inevitable. So, we will have to go along with them."
Anna stared up at her mother, listening to her gentle tone. Even so, when she looked back over at Elsa, the eldest daughter seemed to not want to make eye contact with her sister. So many emotions were running through her mind, and she could hardly process even one of them. The auburn haired princess could only ask a question. "How do you feel about this, Elsa?"
She was caught off guard by her sister's curiosity, but neither of her parents would be able to answer as Anna would only be satisfied from the words coming out of Elsa's mouth. Even though there were many thoughts swimming through her brain, she needed to be upfront and strong. Taking in a breath, she spoke with sympathy. "It's… gonna be a lot of work. But it is my birth right. So, I need to learn to be better for myself and for the people. Even if that means we won't be able to play as often." Anna was once again saddened by the very fact that this new dynamic is something that Elsa is fine with. And the idea that this would result in the sisters not being able to play as often was a punch in the gut. Elsa saw how upset Anna was, and knew that she would suffer just as much as her. "But… that doesn't mean we won't see each other any more." She added, which made Anna perk up. "I'll be able to see you and talk with you… and we'll still be sisters. Just… things will be a bit different now."
"You promise we will be able to still talk?" Anna asked.
"Of course! We're not going to separate you two." Agnarr reassured.
"And no secrets either?" Anna questioned.
Elsa was a bit hesitant to answer, as she was already keeping many things classified against her youngest sibling. Sure, it was for everyone's protection. Even so, it was unfair to keep Anna in the dark. It wasn't going to be forever, yet it hurt to go through it now. "I'll… try to be as open as I can. But I can't promise such a commitment…" Elsa admitted. "Still… no matter what happens, you'll always be my sister. And that will never change." The last sentence was more to comfort Elsa, as she would only be as confident in her future training so long as her family would be with her. They were her only anchor of support, and without them she wouldn't be sure what to do.
Anna was still unsure about this new arrangement, but knew that at this point there was no way out of it. The auburn haired princess reached over, hugging Elsa tightly. The eldest sister was once again surprised by the hug, yet welcomed it regardless. Elsa had to remind herself she was doing this for Anna's sake, even if that meant that their relationship may never be the same again. Iduna and Agnarr looked at Elsa, giving a nod to reassure that she could do this. With a bit of courage, she hugged her younger sister back, as it would be the last time in quite a while they would be this close.
That very day, the servants and the royals worked to create separate bedrooms for the princesses. Anna would keep the room she initially shared with Elsa, while the eldest would be the one to move. They took Elsa's bed and her books, then gave her some new curtains, a rug and a study desk. Elsa decided to let Anna keep their stuffed toys, since she knew she would need them more as their play times would be next to non-existence at this point. For now, they spent the rest of the sun-lit hours together. Agnarr and Iduna switched off certain meetings and hearings so at least one of them could watch over their daughters. Elsa didn't trust herself to be alone with Anna, in case something happened. The parents didn't argue, and at least Anna was not truly displeased with this arrangement. She enjoyed the activities they were able to do, such as reading stories, playing with their dolls, lessons in dancing, it was the least her family could do for her now that their lives would be different. They even made Anna's favorite lunch and dinner, showcasing how spoiled she was being for that day. Even so, Elsa was just glad her sister was alive.
Night soon came around, and it was time for the daughters to head off to bed in their new rooms. Elsa stood at the door leading into her quarters, while Anna and their parents were there. It would be the first night the girls would be sleeping apart from each other. Anna was holding her hands behind her, rocking back and forth on her heels. She was not as happy as she was many hours ago, because now the reality of this change is being brought to her attention. Agnarr was standing next to Anna while Iduna was with her eldest daughter. "Alright girls, let's get to bed…"
Elsa was looking away as Anna stared at her sister. If Elsa looked at her, the guilt would only resurface. Iduna held onto her daughter's shoulders. "We'll sleep with you tonight so you won't be as lonely… but you will have to adjust to these new arrangements."
Anna's eyes kept looking back between her mom and her sibling. The five year old bit her lip, taking a step towards the white-haired princess before she unveiled what was behind her back. She held up a white snowman with an oval head, and two smaller circles for the body. It had a carrot nose and thin sticks for arms, as well as two smaller circles for the bottom feet. Elsa managed to see what her sister was holding, and was a bit surprised. She wasn't sure what to say, so Anna was the first to speak. "I know you wanted me to have all of the stuffed dolls. But since we won't be sleeping in the same room anymore… the least I can do is give you one. That way, if you do get lonely, you can just hold onto him and be reminded of me."
Elsa was stunned by Anna's generosity. Even though she was not fond of this separation, she was still trying to make the best of it for her sister's sake. She shouldn't be surprised that Anna was being so selfless just to make it easier for Elsa. "...I'm sorry…" Elsa whispered, as she lifted her hands up and took the toy. It was warm, despite it resembling something made of snow. In a way, it resembled the two sisters in a sense. A small smile spread on the eldest princess, as she looked at Anna. "Thank you…" It was a sincere gratitude, and seeing how sparkly Anna's eyes were showed that it was what she wanted to hear.
"Come on Anna, I'll tuck you in." Agnarr took hold of her hand, ready to take her to her room. Anna looked up at her father, a bit saddened as now she would be heading from her sister.
Elsa watched as the two were starting to walk away. "Wait!" Elsa ran inside of her new chambers, holding onto the toy doll still. Agnarr and Anna waited, as they watched the eldest princess rush inside, looking around her bookshelf as she searched the covers. Her icy eyes finally landed on a book that had a hard, leather cover that she was all too familiar with. The eldest princess came back with the item, and held it out in front of Anna. The auburn daughter reached for it and took the book, seeing the title alone made her eyes light up. "I know it's not the same… but you always loved the stories that pre-date Arendelle with the creatures and characters. So… I figured they could keep you company at night if you ever get lonely." Elsa explained.
Iduna grew a smile on her lips, as she saw Elsa returning the generosity to her sister. Although Agnarr was just as grateful, when he looked at the book, he remembered something about it. "Oh… it's the one in that language…"
"That is the book that has been on my side of the family for generations." Iduna reminded her husband. "Sadly all I could translate were names and locations… most of the story is still in that ancient text not even I am able to understand." She sighed. "If only I had asked my grandmother for more lessons before she passed."
"Well, I don't think I'll be any better with it." Agnarr admitted.
"We can always just look at the pictures! Please Dad!" Anna looked up at her father, holding the novel as she wanted to hear the stories within. "Just until I fall asleep! It will make the first night alone more bearable!" She stood on her tip-toes, keeping that pleading smile as her eyes were sparkling.
The King looked over at his wife, trying to bargain. "I don't suppose you want to switch daughters?" Iduna raised a brow with a sly grin, giving her his answer. With a defeated sigh, he held onto Anna's hand. "Alright, let's go." The two turned on their heels as they began to walk away, going down the halls to bring Anna back to her room. The youngest princess looked over to her sister, watching as Elsa was escorted by her mother to her new chambers. Anna gave a smile over to Elsa, and even though the eldest sibling did not return the gesture, seeing her sister's expression did give her some courage and reminded her why she was doing this.
The first year of the separation was the hardest on the sisters. Elsa mostly kept to herself in her new room, tending to her lessons to become queen, while also attempting to get a better handle on her powers. Anna and her still spent time together, but only when the parents were present. Even then, it was a rare occasion for Elsa to even want to spend time with Anna. Due to Anna's playful and extroverted nature, she would often attempt to engage in activities with Elsa, finding any excuse to do so. Anna was walking around the halls of the castle, when her warm turquoise eyes noticed the first snowfall of the year. Since Arendelle was close to the mountains, most of their months were filled with snow and ice, as it was a feature in their land. For Anna, it was a perfect opportunity. The young child rushed over to Elsa's door, as it was painted white with purplish-blue decorations of snowflakes that represented the royal family's crest.
"Elsa?" Anna knocked on the door a few times, waiting for her to respond.
The eldest cracked open the door, not fully letting her in but just enough to get a peak outside. "What is it, Anna?" She asked, keeping her body behind the frame.
Without losing her smile, Anna asked her question in a singing manner. "Do you wanna build a snowman? C'mon let's go and play!" She begged, pressing herself against the wooden barrier that separated the room from the halls. "I hardly see you anymore! Come out that door! No need to stay away…"
"Anna…" Elsa tried to dissuade her, but Anna was persistent as she kept singing.
"We used to play together, but now we don't. So I still wait for your reply!" Anna sighed as she looked back over at her sister, expressing her boredom and her sadness of not being with her. "Do you wanna build a snowman? It doesn't have to be a snowman."
Even though Elsa wouldn't have minded playing in the snow with her sister, she was hesitant as the memories of what happened were still fresh in her mind. "Not… right now, Anna."
Hearing that made the auburn princess frown, as there was no changing her sisters' mind. "Okay, bye…" She walked away with a sulk, going off to find some place to entertain herself. Iduna saw the whole thing, reaching out her hand as she would play with her daughter for a while. Anna saw her mother and took hold of her. It may not have been her sister, but at least it was someone. Elsa felt guilty for pushing her away, but she had a promise to keep. Though it wasn't any easier for the gifted sibling. The first few years of this new arrangement put some stress onto her. She kept practicing her powers, whenever her mother or father were around. They wanted to see how well she could handle them, and she had a good understanding of using her magic. But as she was growing, she noticed her powers were advancing as well. It was during one of her sessions with her father, she had finished making a large wall of ice, which was thick and sturdy.
"Very good, Elsa!" Agnarr commented, tapping his sword on the cold solid. "A perfect barrier that not even a cannonball could penetrate."
Elsa smiled at the comment, as long as her father was happy then she was as well. And it helped to know that her powers were cooperating with her. "I'm still not sure if I want to start attacking with my magic though…" Elsa admits, as she was still skeptical about the idea.
Agnarr sensed her doubt and put on a reassuring smile. "It's alright if you want to wait a bit longer. We have plenty of time for you to learn. Besides," he gestured back to the wall. "Sometimes the best offense is a greater defense. At least you won't risk hurting anyone that way." Elsa nodded, taking his words to heart. She looked back at her ice barrier, seeing how tall and thick it was in just the first try. "I think we can call it a day, you can head back to your room Elsa. I also got you a new book to read over there." Agnarr pointed to a novel on the desk against the wall. The princess turned around and when her eyes saw it, she immediately ran over. Part of her was thankful her training was complete for the day, so she could go to her room and read to take her mind off of it. Once she was at the desk, her hands reached over and touched the cover of the booklet. As she was about to pick it up, small crystals of snow and ice started to cover the leather binding of the papers. The eldest princess gasped, noticing this and dropped the book to the ground in shock.
When Agnarr heard this, he ran over to check on his daughter. She turned around, looking scared as she held her wrists, and stepped away from the book. The King's eyes wandered towards the crystal covered novel, then back at his daughter. He knelt to her level and held her shoulder. "Are you hurt?" He asked her gently. Elsa shook her head, as she was shaking not from the cold, but from the shock.
"I… I don't know what happened. I just picked it up." Elsa admitted. Agnarr looked back at the book, seeing that it was covered by the powers from his daughter. He asked her to try touching the desk, wondering if it will happen again. Hesitantly, Elsa reached over to the surface of the furniture, letting her hands lay on them. No sooner did they make contact, the wood became encased in specks of ice and snow began to decorate the frames. Elsa immediately pulled back just as half of it had been frozen. The princess was distraught, confused and slightly nervous. She had never been able to freeze anything with just mere touch alone. Her hands went against her chest, curling her fingers in her palm as she could only stare at what she had done.
Even Agnarr was baffled by this sudden newfound power, though he knew he had to remain calm as Elsa was already terrified. He placed a hand on her shoulder, looking down at her as he stared into her icy blue orbs. It was clear she did not mean to do what she did, it merely happened. The King looked at her hands, seeing them shaking but they appeared normal. "I-I'm sorry…" Elsa apologized.
Agnarr embraced her into a hug, reassuring her that she was not to blame. Perhaps the training was making her gift stronger as her body was aging. That meant they would have to increase their difficulty, while also finding a way to cap Elsa's powers if she was not using them. The King looked down at his daughter, then noticed his hands as they were covered with his gloves. That is when Agnarr got an idea.
The next day, he presented Elsa with her own gloves, decorated and hand made by Iduna herself. They were a blizzard blue color, with the white snowflakes on the back. "There we go…" Agnarr helped put them onto Elsa's hands, fitting them through. "How do they feel?"
Elsa moved her fingers around in the fabric, as they were hugging her digits. She smiled up at her father. "They fit."
Agnarr grinned at the answer. "They should help to ensure you don't encase anything else. Hopefully you'll outgrow that once you have a better handle on your gift. For now, in public places, it's best to keep them on. Remember, this is temporary…"
"Not the solution." Elsa finished. They both believed that she wouldn't have to wear them forever, but until then she would have to keep them on her. Especially when in the presence of others that were unaware of her gift.
More years passed, as Elsa and Anna were growing up into fine young ladies. Elsa was already halfway through her teenage years, while Anna was just a mere pre-teen. Of course, while Elsa was going through many changes, Anna remained more or less the same. She was still determined to spend one on one time with her sister. One such occasion was when Elsa was taking a walk down the halls of the kingdom, as it was the first snowfall of the year. She had a lot on her mind between her lessons of becoming future queen and her gift. Due to her mind being occupied, she did not see Anna who had bumped into her. Elsa jumped as she saw her younger sister, who was just as surprised to greet her. "Anna…" Elsa was about to speak, but Anna interrupted her with a familiar request.
With a wide smile and sparkling eyes, Anna spoke in a sing-song voice. "Do you wanna build a snowman?! Or go wax sliding down the halls!?" She asked as she glided across the floors which had just been polished. Elsa merely watched her, seeing her enthusiasm but kept a distance. Once she climbed back onto the rug, being near her sister she kept singing. "I think some company is overdue! I've heard you talking to the pictures on the walls!"
"Jones needs someone to motivate him." Despite Elsa wanting to not be near Anna, she did want to play along with her. She wasn't actually talking to the portraits, she was just venting to herself, but clearly Anna had ears everywhere.
Anna rolled her eyes at the comment, bringing Elsa to a common room with a grandfather clock. "Don't you ever get lonely? In that empty room?" She asked, laying on the ground as she placed her feet at the body of the furniture. "Just watching the hours tick by? Tik tok, tik tok, tik tok…" She mimicked the sounds of the clock, representing how bored both her and Elsa were and must have been. Even though Elsa contemplated the idea of running off with Anna and playing to take her mind and stress off of her worries. The eldest princess knew better, as she still had doubts of her control. Thankfully, Iduna and Agnarr were there to help them. The queen took Elsa away while the king went to his youngest daughter, joining in on her mimicking of the clock. Once again, not the company they wanted, but ones they were not ungrateful for.
Elsa's training was taking a turn for the worse. Iduna entered her chambers to check the progress Elsa was making with her powers. To her surprise, she noticed half of the room was covered in ice and snow dust. Crystalized winter covered many parts of the corners like frozen vines. The most disturbing part of the room was seeing a distraught Elsa, pacing back and forth as she held onto her hands. With motherly concern, Iduna hurried over to her daughter. "Elsa? What is wrong?" Her voice was gentle, to show she wanted to listen not demand.
The princess looked towards her mother, tears welling up in her eyes as they were puffy and red. She was sniffling to hold back her pained cries. "I… I tried." Her voice was hoarse, indicating she had been crying and hyperventilating for quite some time. "No matter how much I focus, I can't keep it under control. It's getting stronger."
"It's alright Elsa, please let's calm down…" Iduna took a step forward, in an attempt to shelter her child.
"No! Stay back!" Elsa shouted, which caused Iduna to pull her hand away. Elsa let the tears cascade down her cheeks, slowly at first but they continued to fall like a damn that was letting all the water out. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't hurt me Elsa…" Iduna reassured. "I know you're scared, but you can't expect to control your gift within a day."
"This is not a gift!" Elsa continued to raise her voice. "All this power has done is hurt my sister! It's a burden to you, father and the kingdom!"
"That's not true, Elsa."
"Why was I given such a curse?! Why couldn't I have been born normal like Anna?! I want to be like a normal girl! I don't want this power anymore!" Elsa wept with sorrow, as she was letting her frustration out. Iduna knew that Elsa was upset, but it wasn't as if she could remove the power. The princess, in her sadness, rushed past her mother and out of the room. Crying as she ran out the door, just as Agnarr appeared for he wanted to check on her training. When he watched her leave, he turned to his wife as he was longing for an explanation. Iduna could only gaze the door with painful eyes. After all, there was no pain greater to a mother, than watching your child suffer and being unable to do anything about it.
Now Iduna and Agnarr felt the guilt that Elsa had to bare. Despite their sacrifices and perseverance, they have seemed to make the situation worse. Even so, they were determined to fix what they could if it meant bringing their family back together. Iduna had spent the next many years searching through all of her books, the history of Arendelle and the stories of myths. After all that searching, she finally managed to get somewhere. Agnarr watched from the sides as her study desk was full of papers and books. A large map of not only Arendelle but the surrounding countries was drawn, all separated by a large ocean in the middle and many rivers. Iduna used a pen to draw small dots to indicate a path from her home to the country above Arendelle past the mountains.
"Are you sure?" Agnarr asked, as he looked at his wife.
Iduna lifted her head up to stare at her husband. She knew he was doubtful of this plan, but it was all they had. "It's the only option we have left. He might be able to help Elsa. He was the one that gave her those powers, so He might know how to control them."
"But the barrier…"
"I'll figure it out when I get there." Iduna stated, ignoring the important details as she was piling her books and maps into a satchel. Agnarr was still unconvinced, and for a moment he seemed to want to dissuade his wife. Iduna saw the look in his eyes, knowing what he wanted. "We've already put Elsa and Anna through enough. They both have suffered, and if we don't try this we may never get them back. I don't expect you to come with me, it is dangerous. But as a mother I will not allow either of my daughters to suffer any longer."
Agnarr softened his gaze, stepping over as he held her hands in his. "As a king, it is my job to look out for my subjects and land. As a father, it is also my duty to ensure the safety and health of my children. As a husband, I will stick by my wife's side through the best and worst of times." He reached his hand up, cupping her face as they stared into each other's eyes. "If this is our only chance to help Elsa and get our family back together… then I will accompany you on the boat, Iduna." Hearing that made her smile, as they leaned in for a passionate kiss to make their promise.
So, it was settled. The king and queen of Arendelle informed their daughters of their voyage. Though they did not fully tell either of them the truth, as they feared it would only complicate matters. Regardless, the two speculated that they would be back within a few months. They began to make preparations for the trip, packing up and making sure certain businesses were handled. It was when Elsa was 18 and a half and Anna was almost 15 when their boat was ready. Agnarr and Iduna were in the foyer, looking at their daughters as this would be their goodbyes. Anna of course was making the best of it. She reached up and hugged her parents enthusiastically. "Have a safe trip!"
They patted her back, smiling at her warmth. She pulled away and stood a few feet from Elsa, who merely bowed to her parents. Anna didn't think much of it, as she let her say her goodbyes. "I wish you didn't have to go…" Elsa admitted.
Agnarr smiled at her. "You'll be alright, Elsa. We'll be back before you know it."
"Take care of each other…" Iduna begged, looking at both of her children.
Anna and Elsa stared at one another, though they wanted to make their mother proud, they were hesitant as so much time had passed since last they spent any time together. Even so, they would only have one another as family for a while, so the least they could do was tough it out.
Unfortunately, fate once again played a cruel test on the sisters. After a month, news had reached the castle and the kingdom. The ship which held the King and Queen of Arendelle had gotten lost, swept up in a storm that carried them out to the vast sea. The ship was unable to survive the raging waves, sinking into the depths. There weren't any traces or evidence of the crew onboard, so chances were no one survived. Not even the parents of the princesses. The moment the news got back to the Kingdom, preparations were made to honor the deaths of King Agnarr and Queen Iduna. It was Anna that helped in preparation for their funeral, Elsa did as much work as well, but all of it was paperwork related. Anna was the one that spoke to those that were doing the preparations.
As was the tradition of Arendelle, the royals would be buried underneath their stone monuments, within the circle of the 'Borre Mound Cemetery'. A field that covered 45 acres that represented the past kings and queens of the country. It took roughly ten days to create their stone pillars, one for Agnarr and one for Iduna. The stones held the symbol of Arendelle: The Snowflake. Beneath the symbol were their names, followed by the year they were born and when they died. The last thing was a long paragraph of their autobiography, explaining what their lives were like before and after they were crowned. Agnarr and Iduna's monument were stationed right next to King Runeard, Agnarr's father and the grandfather of Anna and Elsa.
On the 10th day after the news was delivered, the funeral was held. The whole kingdom gathered, except for Elsa who was mourning in her room. The sky was cloudy that day, but no snow fell. The archbishop spoke about how the souls of the King and Queen will live on in legacy and that within the coming years, they will gain a new queen. Anna barely heard anything, she kept herself quiet. It was the first time in her life where she was unable to speak or find any enjoyment in such a ceremony. She had never felt more alone than on that day.
The funeral lasted five hours, and once it was all done, Anna headed back to the castle. She was still grieving and processing the death of her parents. It didn't help that any portraits involving either Agnarr, Iduna or the both of them have been covered in a black curtain, indicating their passing. She couldn't even look at the picture frames as it only reminded her what she had lost. First it was her relationship with Elsa, and now the presence of her parents. Anna truly felt isolated in a castle with limited staff and half of her family deceased. The once energetic and go-lucky princess was sulking, as she wore her mourning wear of black. Despite how chilly it was outside, it did not compare to the coldness in her heart.
The second princess of Arendelle wanted nothing more than to go back to her room and shut herself inside. Wallowing in her pain in an attempt to make herself stronger, something that Elsa was most likely doing. The auburn-haired woman turned down the hallway, eyeing the very door that held her sister as she was on her mind. At first, Anna was against it. What good would going there do? Elsa never allowed her in, despite promising her they would still remain close. Then again, Elsa was all that Anna had left. Biting her lip, she allowed her feet to march down the corridor, slowly but effortlessly she soon found herself at the door decorated with snowflakes. With a weary hand, Anna brought her knuckles to the frame and knocked on it. This knocking was of a somber tone, as it matched her voice when she spoke. "Elsa?" Anna asked, she didn't get a response right away. But she would keep trying, as it was all she could do.
"Please, I know you're in there… People are asking where you've been." She explained, singing with a lower pitch in tone and leisurely. "They say 'have courage', I know you're trying to. I'm right out here for you. Please let me in." She was pleading, though she doubted she would get through to her sister, she still kept that persistent nature, even in the state she was in. "We only have each other. It's just you and me." She turned around, pressing her back against the door as she slid down, sitting onto the floor as she pressed herself to the wooden barrier. "What are we gonna do?" Her voice cracked near the end of the question. Her brave façade was slowly chipping away, like a mask that had been unused for years. She could feel the tears welling up within her eyes, ready to fall any minute. The silence that followed after her question only made Anna realize that she truly was on her own. She felt she had lost everyone she cared about, and was unable to do anything to stop it. Or so she thought.
Her ears picked up the sound of clicking coming from the door. The auburn woman blinked, lifting herself up and turning around, as the handle moved. Her eyes were as wide as her sockets, as she could not fathom what was happening. Opening the door was her older sister. She looked exhausted, physically and mentally. Anna believed it was due to their parent's passing, but there was more to it than she realized. She didn't open her gate all the way, just ajar so she could see only Elsa. Her face and body were in full view, but only her left arm was out while the other was hiding behind the frame, keeping it in its place. At first, Anna could not understand what she was seeing in front of her. After so many years of distance between the sisters, here Elsa was opening the door for her. Albeit only through a crack, yet Anna would take what she could get.
With her free hand, Elsa held up something for Anna. In her gloved fingers, was a plush toy that resembled a snowman, the very one that Anna gave to her over ten years ago when they would be sleeping apart for the first time. The youngest princess stared at her toy, as the tears kept gathering before her eyes went back to looking at her sister. Elsa kept holding up the stuffed snowman, giving a small yet kind smile. An expression Anna hadn't seen on her sister in over a decade. "Do you… wanna build a snowman?" Asked Elsa, as she was mimicking that singing tone that Anna had been using whenever she had that question. Now, it was Elsa who wanted an answer to her pondering thought.
It caught Anna off guard, as she heard the elder princess ask the same question Anna would ask her. At that point, she didn't hold back the tears, allowing them to run down her cheeks. With her hand still in the black mittens, the auburn woman reached up and held onto the blue glove of her sister. Their hands, despite the layers of clothing, was the first time they were able to hold onto each other. The first contact they had in so many years, and neither of them backed away. Anna sniffled, her lips slowly curling into a sad smile. "It doesn't have to be a snowman…" She answered, weeping happily as she leaned forward to press her head against Elsa's. Elsa still remained mostly in her room, but part of her body was put out to be as close to her sister as she could.
They cried together, grieving the loss of their parents. But their deaths ended up bringing the sisters back around. They held onto each other's hand, pressing their foreheads together. Elsa still kept some distance though, but now that it was just her and Anna, she knew she would need to open up just a little. Behind her was her room, encased in crystals of ice and snow. After learning about what happened to her parents, she let her powers go wild and it resulted in the decoration of the walls and floors. It was because of such a curse she could not allow Anna to get too close. However, Elsa promised herself that she would focus on doing anything to spend more time with Anna and to keep her powers hidden away. Only without acknowledging her abilities, could she perhaps rebuild her relationship with her sister.