Act 2 Scene 5
Elsa wasn't sure how long she ran, but she didn't look back. She pressed forward, running from the frozen bay, through the snowy fields, and up the steepness of the mountain. The Queen only had the thoughts of escape in her mind, as she wanted to get away from everything and everyone that had caused her grave stress. She didn't want to hurt anyone, especially Anna. Yet had Elsa stayed there with the situation, she felt she would have made things much worse. Like she had many years ago. The white-haired monarch walked through the snow, leaving footprints behind. She didn't mind the weather despite how cold it was, nor was she bothered by the white powder scattered across the ground. When you have the ability to create winter itself, you were more or less used to dealing with such elements. It ended up helping Elsa escape more easily, as such obstacles that others would have struggled with were able to be overcome by her powers. The only good thing that they had managed to do at this point.
After many hours of running into the night, the Queen finally decided to turn around and gaze at how far she was. She could see the Castle and town beyond the bay, which had been frozen over due to her magic. She figured it would thaw out come morning, but it was the least of her concerns. Yet as she stared off at the Palace, all she could think about was her sister and how heartbroken she must be right now. Elsa sat down against one of the trees, sighing as she began to let the thoughts run through her head. "What am I doing?" She finally asked herself. "I had the chance to tell Anna everything, I could have stayed but I just… abandoned her." She leaned her head against the trunk, the weight of her actions crushing her. "Some sister I am…"
She failed Anna. She failed to be there for her people. She failed to be Queen. It was as if no matter how hard Elsa tried, she could never live up to what she should be. A ruler, a sister, and a normal human. She continued to make every situation worse, and all because she couldn't control her powers. Because they were a part of her and she had to live with them the rest of her life. Her ice-cold pupils gazed down at her hands, staring at the one showing skin and the other covered by a glove. Biting her lip, Elsa finally realized the full extent of her powers and how much they have grown. "I really am dangerous…" She told herself. If she was around her sister or her people, she would put them in jeopardy. If not from those that wish to use her, then due to her lack of control. No matter how many times she tries to make things right or better… somehow they only get worse? Was it her powers that were a curse, or herself? It seemed impossible to keep her powers bottled up, as they have proven to find ways to be released from her.
Her knees drew up against her chest, resting her head on her legs as she allowed the tears to fall. She was reminded of the position Elsa was in three years prior, after she and Anna lost their parents. She was willing to give up her powers and birth magic in exchange for being with her sister. It wasn't easy, but it was a sacrifice she was willing to make so she wouldn't lose anyone else. She loved Anna, even though she feared she would hurt her. Yet she seemed to have continued to do so. "I can't… go back…" Elsa finally realized, staring over at where her home of Arendelle was. If she returned now, no doubt it would cause more problems. But… What was she to do now?
The Queen's ears rang as the faint sounds of a howl was heard. Whipping her head to the other side, she saw a large figure walking through the snow. She immediately stood on her feet, shaking in fear as she wondered what could be approaching her. She knew she could defend herself with her powers if she had to, and it was pretty tempting. Yet she didn't want to hurt anyone else. Eventually, the figure came into view for Elsa to get a better look at. Thankfully, it wasn't a human. Before her was a large wolf, with fur as white as the snow itself and specks of crystals in the mane. The Queen gasped, taking a step back as she realized how huge the animal was, appearing intimidating. She had never seen a wolf this close before, but knew they lived up in the mountains. "S-Stay back…" Elsa warned, shaking in fear as she wondered if it would attack her.
To her surprise, the Wolf remained where it was, staring at Elsa with eyes that looked identical to her. It did not advance, nor did it appear territorial. It seemed to be gazing at Elsa, with understanding and even… longing? The tail wagged, signaling to Elsa that the Wolf seemed happy. She lowered her hands, taking a step towards the Wolf, yet remained cautious. "H-hello…" She greeted, as the animal stuck its tongue out and panted, smiling in a way as it looked up at Elsa. The young woman came to the conclusion that the Wolf didn't seem hostile, more playful than anything. She couldn't help but grin slightly. "Where did you come from?" She wondered, looking around the area, but she didn't see any caves or dens. The Wolf turned on its paws, back towards Elsa as it took a few steps forward then paused to look back over at her. Elsa was confused at first, so the Wolf took another step while keeping its eyes upon the human. Did it… want her to follow them?
Elsa couldn't help but glance back at the Kingdom of Arendelle for a moment. She did want to get some distance between her and her home, but going through the mountains seemed foolish, despite how desperate she was. "Arf!" The Wolf barked, making Elsa jump and gaze back at the animal. The creature made eye contact with her before it began to walk without looking back. It seemed to not give Elsa any other choice, not that she had many options to begin with.
"Hey, wait!" Elsa started to follow, compelled to see where this Wolf would take her. Even though she was in such a large and stiff dress, with the snow inching up her legs she pressed on. Elsa didn't look back, she marched up the slope of the mountain. Climbing higher and higher to reach the heavens. Her eyes kept their focus on the Wolf before her, as it guided her. "A-Are you… Skadi?" Elsa questioned, talking to the creature. The Wolf remained silent, merely pressing forward. Elsa, however, kept speaking. "Please… I've heard the stories. I know you are the embodiment of the winter that blankets Arendelle. Is my curse… related to you?" If anyone were to have seen her talking to the Wolf, they would have believed the Queen to be crazy. But when you are desperate for answers, you are willing to go through anything just to get them.
She got no reply from the animal, except for when it stopped in the tracks. Elsa ceased her movement, noticing the hound was waiting for something. She looked around, but didn't see anyone or anything approaching. Just as she was turning to face the mutt again, a powerful gust of wind blew towards her. Elsa covered her face with her arms, powder of snow and ice were thrown at her. A cold feeling she was all too familiar with, one she was born with. She kept bracing herself through the sheer force, staying in the spot so she wouldn't be blown away. The gale was finally settling down, and once it ceased, Elsa was able to open her eyes. The Queen gasped, awed by the fact she was no longer near the bottom of the mountain, but closer to the top. It was odd considering she didn't even move, yet she had managed to have gotten this far? Was this an illusion?
Elsa noticed the Wolf had disappeared, which meant she was all alone. She started to panic, wondering if that creature was the reason she was here. Was the creature Skadi or one of her helpers? The Queen gulped, taking further steps as she tried to investigate the tip of the mountain. She noticed that there were strange stones of blue and clear white within the snow. It was hard to tell but they appeared to be part of an architecture? Like ruins? Where was she?
"...go…" The breeze whispered. Elsa stopped moving, turning her head in all directions as her ears had picked up that sound.
"Hello?" Elsa called out. It felt like she wasn't alone, but she could not see anyone else within these ruins of ice and crystal.
"Let… it… go…" The voice of the winter winds spoke to her clearer, yet the message it gave her was vague.
"Let it… go? Let what go?" Elsa asked, wanting an answer as all she had done was question and second-guess herself. The voices in the air ceased, leaving her alone yet again. The wind kept blowing at her, as the snow was up to her ankles now. She was on her own, but for some reason, it felt nice. She didn't have to worry about the eyes of people watching her, judging her, fearing her. For the first time she could be in a place where she wouldn't hurt anyone. But… What was she to do? She sighed, looking around to take in her surroundings. White powder as far as the eye could see, ice and crystal ruins in the snow, and the only living thing for miles was her. She began to advance a few steps, closing her eyes as she let the wind speak to her. The words it whispered still echoing, giving her the only piece of advice she didn't understand at first. But… if it told her to 'let go', maybe she should try?
Taking in a deep breath she started to speak out and let herself hear the inner voice she kept silent for so many years. "The snow glows white on the mountain tonight. Not a footprint to be seen. A Kingdom of isolation, but without me, there's no queen." She thought back on how she ran away, leaving her sister, people and home behind. All in the sake of protecting them and herself. "The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside…" She sang, feeling the powers of ice and snow in her body. The woman hugged herself in an attempt of comfort. "Couldn't keep it in, even though I've tried." No matter what attempts were made, her curse always found a way to ruin things. She began to walk again, thinking of everything she would tell herself to put a cap on her abilities. "Keep calm, stay alert. Show no fear. Know your limits, keep your head clear. Control yourself, can't let them know…" She lived by that code for most of her life, even though it wasn't forced onto her by her family. She felt it was the only way to protect herself and everyone.
Elsa looked at her hand that was still covered by the glove, being reminded of how long she had to keep her powers hidden and contained. To ensure no one would see them and put everyone at risk. However, her secret had been revealed. And as such, she began to question why keep her powers inside anymore? "But now that they know…" It was redundant that she should be held back, as there was no longer a reason to. Everyone knew what she could do, but she left them. And now that she was in a place where she couldn't hurt anyone, perhaps it was time to give into the cravings her inner self wanted. She took hold of the fabric, peeling it off her skin and held it tightly. No holding back, she thought to herself. She was going to give her curse what it wanted for so long. Elsa flung the glove into the air to let it be carried into the wind. Taking the advice, she held out her palm and watched as she summoned ice and snow particles from her skin. "Let it go, let it go…" She repeated the words the wind told her, allowing the powers inside her to be released. Doing so seemed to make her become calmer, more care-free. Something she hadn't felt in so long.
"Can't hold it back anymore! Let it go, let it go. Turn my back and slam the door!" Her vocal increased in volume, as she was putting more passion into her performance. She threw her hands in certain directions, summoning the forces of winter within her. "I don't care what they're going to say!" She finally admitted, a sense of nonchalant washing over her. "Let the storm take hold… The cold never bothered me anyway." She shrugged with a grin, moving through the ruins as she decided to embrace her powers, even if that meant not looking back. All she could do was move forward. The night had gotten clear, the sky was visible as the stars were dwindling, ready to sleep as the sun would rise soon.
"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small." She turned on her heels, looking down the mountain. Yet no matter how hard she looked she was unable to see the Kingdom of Arendelle due to the distance. Despite not seeing her home it only caused her joy to increase. With such distances, it meant that she couldn't be held down from what she was scared of. "And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all!" She turned back towards the mountain, running despite the heels and dress. She headed up the hill, noticing a gap between the two ledges that separated her from the next level of the mountain. "It's time to see how I have grown! To test my strength for my own!" She declared, now having an area with no one to get hurt by her, and to let herself lose with her powers to satisfy them and her. She held out her hands, blasting beams of ice and snow, connecting the two ledges with a snow-covered stairway that had railings on either side. She was impressed that it came out well, but needed to see if it could hold. Rushing over, she stood near the first step, looking down as Elsa was a bit cautious, yet willing to take the first step. "No slips, no dips, keep calm and breathe…" She told herself, trying to pep talk her conscience to ease the fear. The moment her foot was placed on the first stair, she watched as the powder was brushed away and solidified ice was replaced instead. Seeing the transformation made Elsa smile, for once her curse was working with her instead of against her. "Break Free!"
The smile on her face grew, holding out her arms to be just a few inches from the rails while she ran up the stairwell. "Let it go! Let it go! I am one with the snow and ice!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, hopping from the final step of the frozen stairwell she made and onto the highest point of the mountain. "Let it go, let it go! No longer will I cry!" She declared, letting all of the responsibilities and pains of the past be washed away. She moved a bit closer to the middle of the ground, then looked up at the sky. "Here I stand! And here I'll stay!" She stomped her foot on the floor, creating a large ice snowflake that covered the ground. The symbol of Arendelle, but also the one associated with the Goddess they worship. "Let the snow rage on!" She would give it her all, taking on a big project despite the lack of practice.
Raising up her arms, she made the ice below her rise up, creating pillars of crystalized water and forming a structure of her own. Walls began to form between the beams, floors of different levels were making the building higher, the craftsmanship of the windows, furniture of tables and couches were decorating the floors, trying to liven it up. "My power flurries through the air into the ground." She cried out, finishing the structure of the walls as the ice spread above, creating the roof. "My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around!" She watched the ice come together at the center, pouring down to create a chandelier with sharp edges yet glistened in the light. "And one thought crystalizes like an icy blast!" Once the structure itself was done, Elsa felt the weight in her being lifted. For the first time in her life, she truly felt free. Her hands reached to the headpiece resting on her hair. Taking it off, she looked at the symbol and came to a realization. There was no way she could deny her powers any longer. They were a part of her, but it would no doubt hurt the ones she loved one way or another. Regardless, she had to accept them, but that meant one thing… "I'm never going back, the past is in the past!" It was decided. If this was to be her new life, then she had to never go back to her home. A small price to pay for everyone's safety, including her own.
Elsa reached back to her hair, removing it in the bun and letting it flow in a braid over her shoulder, with sparkles of ice in the strands. "Let it go! Let it go! Can't hold it back anymore!" As she continued to sing, she held up her arms and let the magic turn the outfit she wore into something a bit more fitting. The once stunning ball gown of royal, deep sapphire turned into a sleeveless dress of arctic shade which hugged her figure and flowed over her legs like the frozen tendrils of a winter waterfall. The neckline dipped down to reveal a touch of her cleavage, but her collarbone was hidden by a band of beautifully woven fabric that helped keep a cape flowing behind her in place. It helped her move more easily, and she didn't feel as heavy from the frills and ruffles. A new image for her new self. "Let it go, Let it go!" She began to walk from the room and towards the balcony of the top floor. As she did, she caught a glimpse of herself on the floor's surface, seeing how she looked. It was… odd, to see herself in such a state. At the same time, a sense of relief washed over her as she could express herself without causing harm. "That timid girl is gone!" No longer would she hold back her powers. Now she could use them to their full extent and see what she was capable of.
She walked out onto the balcony, just as the morning sun was rising. A symbol that this was a new beginning for Elsa, and though she would be isolated from those she loved, she knew they would be safer without her present. A sacrifice she was willing to make, but didn't take into account how others would feel, especially in that moment. "Here I'll stand! And here I'll stay! Let the snow take hold!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, into the mountains as she made her final stand. "The cold never bothered me anyway." With her sly smirk, she turned around and headed back inside her ice palace. Closing the door to the balcony, as she wanted to be left alone on the North Mountain.