"Please lay her down carefully, Laeknir."
Her apprentice nodded her compliance.
Even though this wasn't technically Anna's real body, any damage she suffered in her dreams could be transferred to her actual form in the waking sphere. So it was best to err on the side of caution. She watched as Laeknir carefully caught Anna's unconscious form and put her carefully on the ground. Laeknir performed a cursory examination.
But there was no damage from the mild spell that knocked her out.
Good.
Elsa fulfilled the prophecy. First, she united all of the elements as one-with her joining them as the Fifth Spirit-until nature was in balance once more.
Granted, she had help from her sister.
But Elsa tamed the spirits and restored the proper balance to Ahtohallan.
Then, she captured and subdued the architect of the damaging spells done to the sisters: Grand Pabbie, the leader of the rock trolls. Ahtohallan already unraveled the last of the spells inciting Elsa's lingering fears and suppressing her memories.
She was fully restored.
Thanks to her actions, it was finally Anna's turn.
She scowled as she motioned for the five-year-old version of Anna to come forward. Grand Pabbie did more damage than he knew. When he suppressed Anna's memories, the fool literally fractured her mind. There were five versions of Anna spread throughout her mind.
Lying dormant.
Fearful and confused.
Due to the psychological damage, the trauma those spells caused, Anna's soul split into six parts. A version of her, in separate stages of her life, would fracture from the main whole like a piece of a pie. This version would remember Elsa's powers or learn of them.
When Grand Pabbie erased her memories, the version would remain.
But would become a prisoner of her mind.
Fortunately, Ahtohallan provided more than answers to the past. The ancient structure would correct any mistakes or spells that were wrongfully performed upon a person.
But the conditions had to be right.
And the person in question had to be ready.
"Why didn't your spell succeed until now, my lady?" Laeknir asked.
"There are two conditions that have to be met, my apprentice." She replied.
"My lady?"
"First, the person who cast the spell must be subdued."
"Which happened when Elsa encased Grand Pabbie in ice." Laeknir realized.
"Exactly." She nodded.
"And the second condition?"
"The person afflicted must be ready."
"Ready?"
"Queen Anna has been suppressing her emotions for years." She explained. "Rather than face the pain or confront her family, she chose to suppress her pain and anger. She pretended that all was well even as she was ignored and neglected. Then, after Elsa unfroze Arendelle, Anna focused all of her energies towards helping her sister. She suppressed her pain and anger once again to avoid hurting Elsa. Anna has always put others first."
"But now, she can't bury her emotions anymore." Laeknir said.
"Precisely." She said.
"What are you doing now, my lady?" Laeknir said.
"Helping Queen Anna become whole." She said.
"Whole, my lady?" Laeknir said. "I don't understand."
"Anna had her memories forcibly suppressed by Grand Pabbie on five occasions." She explained. "The trauma was so severe that Anna's psyche fractured." She quickly told the hows and wherefores regarding Anna's separate selves. "Now, we can finally undo the damage."
"I can't believe Grand Pabbie did this." Laeknir said.
"He used to be a wise being." She replied. "But somewhere along the line, he lost his way. When one is constantly told you are powerful and wise, sometimes, you begin to believe in your own hype."
"So much so that he thought he knew what was best." Laeknir said.
"He had good intentions." She sighed. "But you know what they say about intentions and what the road to hell is paved with."
"She is ready, my lady." Laeknir said.
"Very good." She turned to smile at the younger Anna. "Come, Princess."
"Wi-will i-it h-hurt?" Young Anna asked, stuttering uncharacteristically. This made both women curse under their breaths as they realized the extent of the damage Grand Pabbie had done to not only this poor girl, but her sister as well.
"No, Your Highness." She said. "It is time to become whole."
"Okay." Little Anna took a deep breath and knelt by her older self's head. With Laeknir's encouragement, the little princess reached out and touched the queen's forehead.
FLASHBACK
Anna was giggling uncontrollably as she slid down a snowy hill.
She couldn't resist encouraging her sister to use her powers so that they could play.
It was a beautiful evening, with the Aurora Borealis in full swing, so to speak. To Anna, this meant the sky was awake, so they had to play. Every so often, she would keep a lookout for Mama and Papa. They didn't like it when the girls experimented with Elsa's powers. To Anna, this didn't make any sense.
This was magic.
How many people could say they knew someone who could wield magic?
At first, the evening went well. They ran giggling down the stairs to the ballroom without alerting Mama and Papa. Elsa made a snowman named Olaf for her.
Then she turned the ballroom floor to ice with a stomp of her foot.
Then Elsa made them glide along the icy floor with her magic, with Olaf in tow as Anna happily danced with the snowman.
Soon, she was creating large piles of snow. Anna couldn't help her giddy laughter as they slid down one hill after another. "Tickle bumps!" Anna went from one hill to another. It didn't faze her as she made an Anna-shaped hole in the small hill. She shrieked in more laughter as she emerged from the hole like a gopher and threw some snow into the air.
"Hang on!" Elsa said as she magically created hills for Anna to jump onto.
"Catch me!" Anna said as the hills grew in size and height.
"Gotcha." Elsa said.
"Again!" Anna urged.
"Wait!" Elsa was scrambling to create the hills in time so that Anna wouldn't fall.
"Whoohoo!" Anna exclaimed.
"Slow down!" There was a note of panic in Elsa's voice. Then she let out a startled grunt as she slid on the ice and hit her head.
"Whoo!" Anna exclaimed innocently as she jumped into the air.
"Anna!" Elsa yelled, sending out a burst of magic.
Then everything went black as Anna was struck in the head.
The next thing Anna knew, she was in a dark void.
One moment, she was happily playing in the magically conjured ice and snow with her sister in the ballroom. The next, she found herself in a large room surrounded by dark fog and scary, wispy shadows.
"Hello?" Anna called.
She rubbed at her arms, feeling a growing chill.
She started shaking and shivering.
"Elsa? Mama? Papa?"
There was no answer.
Where was she? What was going on? Where was Elsa? What caused that pain in her head? Why was it so cold? Anna continued to shiver and rub at her arms rather vigorously.
But she couldn't get warm.
She started walking.
Her eyes feverishly scanned her surroundings. At first, all she could see were the dark fog and wispy shadows. Then, she started to see encroaching ice. But this wasn't ice conjured by her sister. The ice looked black and menacing.
Dark veins formed via cracks.
The ends formed giant, clawlike fingers with menacing-looking nails that were reaching for her even as she frantically scrambled backwards to avoid them.
"Anna."
"Who's there? Who are you?" Anna looked around frantically, even as she backed away form the ice. She found herself in a corner. She whimpered, crouching to the ground and hugging her knees to her chest.
"Do not be afraid." A woman slowly shimmered into being. Anna couldn't make out any features, as she was wreathed in shadow.
But she could make out a pair of bright blue eyes.
Eyes that were somehow familiar.
"Who are you?" Anna asked. "What's going on?"
"We haven't much time." The woman said.
"I don't understand." Anna said. "What's going on? Where are we?"
"You won't remember this, Anna." The woman said. "But one day, you will."
"What are you talking about?" Anna was clearly confused.
"Your life is going to change, Anna." The woman said. "Something terrible is about to happen. But one day, it will be undone. And I'll be right here for you, waiting."
Before Anna could press her for answers, something dark and scary appeared.
She couldn't make out any features.
But he was a somewhat squat-looking creature, with glowing, menacing eyes and thick fingers. If she squinted closely, she could almost swear that his skin was like rock.
To her shock and confusion, images began appearing in the air.
She could see past moments where she played with her sister.
But they were being replaced. Anna instinctively made to stand up and protest, but she couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She couldn't even blink. All she could do was watch helplessly as her memories were replaced.
One by one.
"Like I said, you won't remember, Anna." The woman gave her a sad smile. "But one day, you will..."
Then everything went black.
FLASHBACK ENDS.
Little Anna gave both women a grateful smile. She kept on smiling even as she dissolved into a cloud of shimmery particles that slowly entered her older self's head. Laeknir couldn't speak.
She couldn't believe that one of her old mentors could be that cruel.
Especially to a child.
Her lady motioned for the six-year-old version of Anna to come forward. After witnessing what happened, this form of Anna was a little more courageous and less tentative.
But Laeknir could clearly see lingering trauma in her young features.
Little Anna knelt by her older counterpart and placed her hand on her forehead.
FLASHBACK
Anna woke up, gasping.
Her face paler than the moon.
She was panting as she reached out with a shaking hand for a glass of water on the nearby nightstand. Every now and then, she would suffer from a nightmare. The images would scare her. Unfortunately, she couldn't remember any of them. All she could recall feeling was being scared.
Anna drained the glass entirely.
But her throat felt drier than the deserts she read about in the royal library.
Feeling thirsty, Anna lit a nearby candle and shrugged into her robe and slippers. She held the candlestick in her right hand and the waterglass in the other. She reached the kitchens without incident and filled the waterglass.
She had to drink several times until her throat didn't feel parched anymore.
Just in case, Anna filled the glass once more before heading back to her room.
However, just as she was about to reenter her bedroom, she could hear muted voices coming from her estranged sister's quarters. Curiosity got the better of her as she tiptoed to the door and pressed her ear against it.
"...aren't working!" Elsa was saying.
"You just need to give the gloves more time." Mama said.
Gloves? Anna thought, confused.
What are they talking about?
"You heard Grand Pabbie." Papa said. The conversation was only confusing Anna more. Who was Grand Pabbie? Why was Elsa so afraid? Then her mind started to race.
Was this why the sisters were kept apart?
Was this the reason the palace was in lockdown.
"Fear will become your biggest enemy." Papa continued. "You need to calm down Elsa, if you wish to control your powers." Anna barely stifled her gasp in time as she clamped a hand over her mouth. She had to set down her waterglass in order to do so. "We cannot afford a repeat of the last time you accidentally hurt your sister."
Elsa hurt me?
When?
How?
Anna could feel her mind racing even as the panic in Elsa's voice increased.
"I'm trying, Papa." Anna could feel the temperature dropping. She could see the mist escaping her mouth due to her breathing as she inhaled and exhaled. She grabbed her robe tighter around her, trying in vain to keep warm even as the flame on her candle snuffed out. Ice began forming on the nearby walls and ceiling despite the closed doors. The water in the glass became frozen solid. "I'm trying!"
"Elsa, calm down!" Iduna cried.
"Stop, before anyone notices." Agnarr snapped.
"I'M TRYING!" Elsa yelled in frustration. She let out a giant burst of ice magic in response, flinging the doors open and sending Anna flying across the hallway.
A brief fissure of frustration appeared on Agnarr's face.
Before he pasted a worried look on his features.
Elsa looked horrified that she hurt her sister once more. Her panic increased, sending ice and snow everywhere. Agnarr had to call for Kai and Gerda to bring her back into her room. Iduna picked up her unconscious daughter.
Looks like it was another trip to the trolls.
It was also telling that Iduna and Agnarr looked more annoyed than worried when it came to their daughter's welfare. After all, Anna hit her head hard upon impact.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Six-year-old Anna slowly dissolved into similar particles before entering her older self. Both women knew that Agnarr and Iduna took Anna to the trolls to erase her memories.
Again.
This time, her lady focused on the nine-year-old version of Anna. This time, she appeared haunted and lost. As if she witnessed things that were better off being unseen.
There was a pained look in her eyes that broke their hearts.
What did this poor girl endure?
Tentatively, willing back tears, Little Anna knelt by her older counterpart and reluctantly placed her hand upon her forehead.
FLASHBACK
Anna woke up again.
She drained her waterglass.
Once again, she was suffering from nightmares. This time, she was starting to remember the images. In her dreams, she was frozen solid.
Unable to move.
Unable to blink.
Unable to talk.
Unable to breathe.
All she could do was watch.
Sometimes, she would find herself on a tropical island somewhere. Sometimes, she would find herself in a hauntingly beautiful forest. Sometimes, she would find herself in the middle of a small village.
While the location would change, many things would remain constant.
Like the constant fighting.
The endless screams as people ran out of fear for their lives.
Or if they were murdered in a violent fashion.
She even recognized the portrait of her long deceased grandfather, Runeard. She would see her grandfather grappling with a man clad in furs as they tumbled over a cliff.
Anna grabbed her favorite shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders.
Then she put on her slippers.
Anna lit a candle and padded to her parents' rooms. In the past, when she had a nightmare, her parents would tell her to get over it and return to her chambers. But Anna was hopeful that her mother would relent this time.
She was still a child who wanted comfort from her parents.
Tentatively, Anna knocked on their door.
"Yes?" A bleary-eyed Iduna snapped impatiently, rubbing at her eyes after opening the door. Her hair was messy and her nightgown was rumpled.
"Mama?" Anna said. "Can I sleep with you? I had a scary dream and-"
"No, Anna." Iduna cut in coldly. "You're almost ten years old. You're far too old to want to climb into bed with us. Get over it and go back to sleep."
Before Anna could protest, Iduna closed the door.
Then she locked it.
Valiantly suppressing her tears, Anna returned to her chambers. On the way, she passed her sister's door. Before she lost her nerve, Anna went to her sister's door and knocked. She needed someone, anyone, to give her comfort and provide a sympathetic ear.
At first, Elsa tried to chase her away.
But Anna begged and pleaded until she relented.
Elsa listened as Anna began crying and trying to describe her dreams. The key word being tried as the memories were fading. But Elsa could clearly see her sister was in distress. She was clearly debating about something before she made a decision.
She revealed that she had powers.
To cheer her up, Elsa began demonstrating what she could do.
Unfortunately, as they would do many times over the years, the parents intervened and brought the girls to Grand Pabbie.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Nine-year-old Anna soon rejoined her older self like the others.
This time, it was 15-year-old Anna's turn.
FLASHBACK
Anna didn't realize that she fell asleep against Elsa's door.
Once again, she failed to entice her sister out of her chambers.
It was dark outside. Anna was grateful to be awake as she had horrid nightmares invading her sleep yet again. The images were clearer.
They were horrifying.
All she could see was war and conflict.
Violence and bloodshed.
Anna learned over the years to keep the dreams to herself. Her parents never cared to provide a sympathetic ear. The servants thought she had an overactive imagination and was trying to act out in a desperate, pathetic bid to get attention.
Elsa kept on telling her to go away.
No one would believe her when she insisted they were real.
They felt she was making it up.
There were also times she could have sworn she could tell what others were feeling.
For example, when she would pass the servants, she could sense their impatience and annoyance with her. All the while they would smile and curtsy or bow and pretend they were glad to see her or to serve her.
When she passed by Elsa's door, she could sense her sister's fear and loneliness.
When she was around her parents, she could sense their preoccupied distraction.
They never appeared happy to see her. She could easily see through their fake, pasted smiles and seemingly friendly, caring expressions. Anna never told anyone.
If they didn't believe her about her dreams, they definitely wouldn't accept that she could sense how others were feeling.
Anna was jolted out of her reverie when she could make out her sister's sobs.
Almost as if in response, the temperature started to drop.
Ice began forming on the walls, windows and ceiling. Anna was blown away by a large, unexpected burst of ice magic. Before she could process what the hell just happened, the palace was suddenly invaded by a bunch of rock trolls.
The leader touched her forehead and everything went black.
FLASHBACK ENDS
The teenage version of Anna gave the women a sad smile before she disappeared. Laeknir gazed at her lady in shock.
She couldn't believe what she just witnessed.
Then, it was 18-year-old Anna's turn.
FLASHBACK
Anna couldn't sleep.
She wasn't excited that tomorrow was Coronation Day.
Her sleep was rocked by strange nightmares. Instead of seeing war, blood and conflict, piles of dead bodies and crumbling buildings, she found herself in the middle of town. The streets were empty, the lamps were extinguished and the houses were cold and dark.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't speak.
All she could do was watch as Arendelle was slowly but surely being engulfed by an increasing sheet of ice. The townspeople would emerge from their homes as if in a trance.
They didn't try to panic or run as they were engulfed by the ice.
Becoming little more than frozen statues.
Anna woke up with a gasp. She retreated to the kitchens to drink more water. She felt like she was haunted by her nightmares for as long as she could remember. The servants wouldn't listen to her. Elsa ignored her. When her parents were alive, they did the same.
Her only confidants were the portraits.
Feeling wretched, Anna returned to her chambers.
Then she paused. She could hear muttering from inside Elsa's quarters. Curious, Anna pressed her ear against the wood. "Conceal it, don't feel it." Elsa muttered. "Don't let it show." Quietly, cautiously, Anna tested the doorknob.
To her astonishment, it wasn't locked for a change.
Quietly, she opened the door and peeked inside.
Her eyes widened. There was a virtual snowstorm in her sister's room. Ice was forming everywhere and a huge tempest of violent winds was sending snow all over the place. In the midst of this violent storm was Elsa, pacing restlessly back and forth like a tiger in a cage, wringing her gloved hands in agitation.
Before Anna could confront her, the rock trolls interfered.
Again.
FLASHBACK ENDS
"My lady." Both women watched as the final version of Anna disappeared. "The rock trolls didn't just take away Anna's memories and fracture her psyche..."
"They suppressed her powers." She said grimly.
"But didn't Grand Pabbie say she wasn't born with powers?" Laeknir asked.
"Grand Pabbie is powerful, but he's not omniscient or omnipresent." She said grimly. "Anna's powers would have manifested properly and naturally if it wasn't for his interference. When he blocked her memories, he created a huge block on her powers."
"How did she develop them?" Laeknir asked.
"It's simple." Volva said grimly. "She's my granddaughter."