"Why, Elsa?"

"Kristoff, I don't have time for this." Elsa said. She wrenched her arm free from Kristoff's grasp and tried to step around him. Quickly, he got in her way. She exhaled impatiently, her eyes flashing with anger. "I don't have time for your games."

"Too bad." Kristoff snarled. "You're going to make time."

"Kristoff, I've got to talk to Anna." Once again, she tried to step around him. And once again, he quickly stepped into her path. Instinctively, she raised her arms in a threatening gesture, as if to blast him away with her ice magic.

Then she got a good look at his blazing eyes.

Something told her she would only be making a serious mistake.

True, she could easily blast him out of her way, literally and figuratively. However, Anna was going to marry this man in a matter of weeks. Common sense and simple prudence dictated that it was far better and simpler to get along with her future brother-in-law.

"All right." Elsa gestured for him to get on with it. "Make it quick."

Rather than reassure Kristoff, her attitude only pissed him off.

Even though Elsa finally got a clue as to the damage Grand Pabbie's machinations have wrought against her and her family, she still didn't appear to have any inkling as to what life was like for Anna growing up.

"Elsa, do you have any inkling of what life was like for Anna growing up?"

"Yes." Elsa said. "Ahtohallan showed me everything."

"Elsa, being shown images of the past is far different from actually experiencing them." Kristoff said. "Anna told me all about your argument. It was almost like you weren't registering what she was saying, much less thinking or feeling."

"I know." Elsa looked down guiltily. "It's because I didn't."

"Why?" Kristoff demanded.

"Growing up with powers wasn't easy for me." Elsa explained. "I'm not trying to make excuses for my behavior, but I'm trying to provide an explanation for them." She added when he opened his mouth to protest. "My powers especially grew out of control whenever I was too upset, angry or scared. Instinctively, I became afraid of them as a result. Especially after the accident. So, to protect myself, I created an emotional barrier between myself and the world at large. I was too afraid of responding to people, of bonding with them and feeling their emotions. I was too afraid of what would happen with my powers as a result. So, I created this emotional wall because of it."

"Elsa, I think the barrier is still there." Kristoff said.

"It is." Elsa admitted.

"That would explain some things." Not that it necessarily justified Elsa's behavior, but it would explain why she couldn't interpret or register Anna's feelings. Growing up isolated in her chambers ever since she was eighteen didn't exactly do wonders for her emotional maturity either.

"She was right, you know." Elsa said.

"About what?" Kristoff said.

"After our fight, it took me awhile to calm down." Elsa said. "So I fled to Ahtohallan before my powers REALLY got out of control. It took a chat with Mother's spirit and the magicks of Ahtohallan itself for me to see things from Anna's point of view."

"What was she right about?" Kristoff asked.

"I never considered what it was like for her growing up." Elsa said, her guilt and regret marring her lovely features. "All I could think about was my battle with my fears and burgeoning powers. Then, after the Great Thaw, I was still wrestling with my fears, insecurities and trying to find my place in the world. It didn't help that I kept hearing Mother's voice. I didn't want to worry anyone. I thought I was losing my mind when no one else could hear it. I was too absorbed with my own worries to register Anna's feelings."

"It goes deeper than that Elsa." Kristoff said.

"What do you mean?" Elsa asked.

"Elsa, Anna has put everyone else first her entire life." Kristoff said. "She never made time for herself, except when she had to. Like when she had to turn to books and companions during the isolation. Do you want to know what she said to me yesterday?"

"What?" Elsa clearly dreaded the answer.

"'Mother and Father didn't want me around." Kristoff recited dutifully. "'They always pushed me away when I wanted to play. I didn't mean to get in the way. I didn't want to be a bother. The servants acted the same way. Elsa kept telling me to leave whenever I knocked on her door. I couldn't handle the pain, Kristoff. I know I appear cheerful and happy-go-lucky, but I'm as human as anyone else. So, I hid behind a mask, determined to smile despite the pain. I kept up that mask even when Elsa announced her intentions to move to the Enchanted Forest for good. I pretended that I understood and accepted her decision. I told myself that I couldn't be selfish and hold her back. I kept on smiling...until I couldn't play pretend anymore.'"

"Oh, God." Elsa raised her hand to her mouth in horror.

"'My whole life revolved around Elsa somehow." Anna continued. "'I spent so much time helping her, devoted so much of my time and energy to her, I don't know who I am.'"

"Oh, Anna." It was worse that she thought!

"'I know I sound jealous and childish, but it was always about Elsa.'" Kristoff continued relentlessly and remorselessly. He was bound and determined for Elsa to understand. "Not only was she the Crown Princess, Mother and Father were preoccupied with her and her powers. Then we had to bring her back to Arendelle, help her control her powers and eventually help her realize her destiny as the Fifth Spirit. I was reduced to being her emotional rock and support, as Grand Pabbie so eloquently put it. I was always reduced to the background, being nothing more than a spare, the supportive role. My entire life, I was in Elsa's shadow...I still am. Don't you understand? I'm nothing.'"

"She really believes that?" Elsa felt the strength leave her legs as she collapsed to the ground. She wrapped her arms around her stomach in an instinctively defensive gesture.

"'The only reason I received the crown is because Elsa didn't want it anymore. What is wrong with me, Kristoff? What is it about me that people despise so much? I just want someone to love me, Kristoff. To want me around. It's why I was so eager to accept Hans' proposal. With everyone else in my life pushing me away, books became my companions. The portraits became my companions, especially the ones featuring couples in romantic scenes. To me, finding my true love was my escape, a ticket out of my lonely world.'" Kristoff concluded.

"Oh, God." Elsa knew she sounded like a parrot, but she couldn't help it. She never bothered to analyze why Anna was so quick to accept Hans' marriage proposal. Just as she never thought about the emotional and mental damage Anna suffered during the isolation.

"Elsa, it's not just about understanding Anna's point of view." Kristoff said. "When you failed to properly understand what she was trying to say during your argument, you damaged her and hurt her severely. All she was looking for was a little compassion and empathy from the only family member she has left. All she heard from you are repeated diatribes about your duties as the Fifth Spirit and the work you promised to do with the Northuldra and the forest."

"But my duties are important." Elsa protested.

"So is your sister." Kristoff said. "She shouldn't come a far distant second place in your life. You need to comprehend the damage you've done before you can see her."

Anna could feel her mind racing as she stared at Grand Pabbie's image.

She wasn't an idiot.

The implications weren't lost on her. Any idiot with half a brain could see that he was a puppet dancing to someone else's tune. In other words, he wasn't in full control over his actions. Which was a scary notion in and of itself, she reflected grimly.

Grand Pabbie was a powerful entity.

She didn't like the consider the implications of something being powerful enough to control him and turn him into little more than a puppet.

It also put his actions into a darker and more dangerous context.

Someone else was pulling the strings.

This meant a powerful and evil entity was working through Grand Pabbie, turning the troll elder into a conduit. Someone had sinister motives when it came to turning Hans into a puppet. Of separating her from her sister and altering her memories when she was five.

Feeling drawn to the image of Grand Pabbie despite herself, she touched it.

Her eyes rolled back and they turned white.

FLASHBACK

Grand Pabbie knew he was taking a huge risk.

No one knew about his plans, even Asger was oblivious.

But he'd foreseen dangerous events in the timestream. The entity that was bound to that tree was seeking to break free of its prison. It was patient enough to do so by ensnaring various beings it could use as pawns to weaken the chains.

Grand Pabbie had to act fast.

Before war and blood soaked the lands of Arendelle and the surrounding areas.

There was supposedly a prophecy surrounding this entity, but it was too vague and open to too many interpretations for his liking. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He was powerful enough to keep the entity sealed.

He was sure of it.

Even the other trolls refused to approach these lands. Personally, he couldn't blame them. There was no life, no nature to this area.

No life.

No beauty.

Only empty desolation.

And eternally grey skies.

It was absolutely forbidden to approach these lands. Even the skeptic Arendellians gave this land a wide berth. No one was eager to approach the tree.

Rumors, myths and legends abounded about the tree for centuries.

It turned into a scary story to keep children in their beds at night.

But the tree was no joke. He knew the chains keeping it at bay were starting to weaken. That was inevitable as no magic could last forever.

Eventually, the spells would weaken.

Time was on the entity's side.

Finally, Grand Pabbie reached his destination and unfurled himself. Grimly, he approached the tree. It was all he could do to maintain his composure.

It was so dark and evil.

Worse than the devil, in fact.

He raised his arms, pointing his hands straight at the tree as he prepared to unleash his strongest binding spell. It wasn't often that he could be caught off guard.

But nothing prepared him for the attack as he was ensnared by clawlike branches.

FLASHBACK ENDS

Anna staggered backwards and lost her balance once more.

She barely noticed as she collapsed on her behind.

More and more images continued to assault her mind. Grand Pabbie was rendered unconscious by the attack. The entity easily ensnared his mind. Despite his own age and experience, his powers and abilities, Grand Pabbie couldn't properly defend himself.

He would never know that he would be turned into a sleeper agent.

The entity would make him think he was acting as if of his own accord.

Grand Pabbie would be deposited back to the valley of the trolls with no memories of what he originally intended to do in the first place.

Grand Pabbie wasn't a monster like she thought.

Oh sure, he was an arrogant fool who thought he could take on this entity alone.

But that meant all of his vile actions were because of this tree. Even worse, Grand Pabbie thought his plans and actions were his own. That something wasn't controlling him.

She was too lost in thought to realize the danger she was in.

A quick glance confirmed that Volva and Laeknir were still unconscious.

He didn't approach right away. He wanted to savor this moment.

It was a shame about Grand Pabbie. But the troll elder finally outlived his usefulness. Even better, there was nothing he could say or do to defend himself. There was no proof that someone else was pulling the strings.

Everyone thought he was a monster.

Every tragic event would be pinned on his shoulders.

It was a pity that he couldn't use Grand Pabbie any longer. The troll was easily controlled and manipulated, but he was EXTREMELY powerful. He made for a useful pawn.

At least for awhile.

But his actions have been exposed.

Oh well, Grand Pabbie would serve another purpose. Once the rock troll was finally put out of his misery, he could add yet another soul to his growing collection.

Which was good, as it weaken those damnable, accursed chains that much further.

However, he had another purpose.

He waited twenty-one mortal years for this moment and nothing would interfere. Agnarr and Iduna were still on their wild goose chase. Elsa and Kristoff were having their usual petty, mortal argument that only showed how weak and ineffectual they were.

At last, the real prize was at hand.

He slowly approached her.

Even in repose, she was beautiful. Despite the pain and suffering she endured, she still had a light and innocence about her. It wasn't a coincidence that she was born in summer. For she was life. She was light. She was the summer and the spring.

The Persephone to his Hades.

From the moment she was born, he knew that he had to have her.

While he didn't want to hurt her, he knew that he had to get to her before Volva and Laeknir could train her. He was ever mindful of the prophecy that connected them.

To him, it was only further proof they belonged together.

Unable to help himself, he reached out to touch her.

There were spells that he could implant into her mind to make her more...amiable and receptive to his advances in the future. He was confident that nothing could stand in his way...

Until a giant rocky wall formed between them before he could touch her prone form.