As both princesses enter the dining room, fear is evident in the younger girl's features. Elsa held her sister's hand tighter to reassure her that everything would be alright.
"Have a seat you two."
No one spoke, the elder sibling just guided Anna to the seat beside her. She then got a few eggs and bacon and placed it on her sister's plate. "Eat up." She told her with a smile.
Their breakfast was silent. Each just puts a spoonful of food into their mouths and chews. No one dared make a sound. Elsa observed her younger sister and noticed the young girl trembling in her seat. She must still be terrified. We'll need a change in scenery. Acting like the older sister that she is, Elsa looked at their father and spoke. "Papa. Could I and my sister go to the amusement park today? Just need a breather."
Anna and their mother were both surprised at the boldness of the elder princess. Given all that had occurred, was she not scared of their father? To add to that isn't she too injured to even walk? What in the world would an injured little girl do at an amusement park? Go on rides? That's preposterous.
"Have your wounds healed?" Agnarr replied directly to the point without showing any concern.
"They're healing. I'm perfectly capable of going out now papa. Would you let us?" Elsa responded with all the innocence in her features.
Agnarr swallowed a spoonful of his meal and stared at his daughter seemingly looking for something. Elsa just smiled at him ignoring the pain on her arms and back. Satisfied with what he saw he smiled back. "I don't see why not. Just take Gerda and one of the guards with you. Just make sure you are perfectly capable of what you going to do. Do not overexert yourself."
Their breakfast went normally without any more conversations.
"Are you sure you're okay to move and come with me to the amusement park? It's not that I don't want to but you're injured." Anna asked her elder sister while packing all the stuff she would be bringing with them.
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine." A huge lie. Every step she takes makes her want to just crawl into a ball and cry herself to sleep. "Besides, you need a change in scenery. Something to get your mind off of papa."
"Welllll…. If you're sure. Then I'm ready when you are."
Elsa hasn't even started packing yet and her sister is already finished? Wow, talk about excited. "That was quick. Got 2 extra change of clothes?"
"Got 5 ready."
"We're only staying overnight. Toothbrush? Comb? Soap? Shampoo?"
"Best be prepared. And yes, to all four. Come on I'm super excited."
"Alright. Alright. Jeez, I'll just go get my…." Elsa was hindered by the sudden pain in her back. She closed her eyes and tried to find a position where the pain was lesser. Of course, there was none. Just let it pass. The pain will pass.
"Maybe we shouldn't go." The sad tone of her little sister cut Elsa from her train of thought. She quickly jumped at her sister and started tickling the younger one completely shoving off the pain and pretending it did not hurt. "Tickle tickle tickle. Gotcha. You need to always be prepared. Now come on."
With a smile on both their faces. Elsa extended her arm and helped her younger sister up. "I'll just go get my…"
"That won't be necessary your highness. I've got it all prepared for you here."
"You didn't have to Ms. Gerda; I could have prepared it myself."
"I'm sure you can. But this is faster is it not?" Gerda would gladly help the princess the best she can after all she can clearly see the internal struggles going on with the elder princess. A little help would not be too much of a bother. "Accompanying us today will be a guard. Sir…"
The moment the guard showed up, Anna cut their nanny "Sir Red" She shouted as she ran towards the guard. The guard quickly put his weapon down in favor of picking up the little princess. "You'll be accompanying us today, Sir Red?"
The guard smiled at the little princess and couldn't help but chuckle at the nickname he was given. The little princess must have had a hard time remembering his name and just associated his hair color with his name. He doesn't mind though and finds it cute in fact.
"Red?" Elsa tilted her head making sure she got the name right. "Weird name but okay."
Anna got down from the guard and to her sister whispering something inaudible. The elder princess laughed in response. "Just cause you can't remember his name doesn't mean you can call him by what you remember." She was now rolling on the floor with her arms on her stomach laughing to her heart's content.
The younger princess pouted in response and playfully punched her sister's arm. This elicited a hiss from the latter.
Anna immediately retracted her hand regretting what she just did. How could she forget her sister's injuries? The injuries she caused were because she couldn't protect herself. Guilt was now evident in all of her features. She wanted to apologize but did not know where to start. Sorry for causing you nothing but pain? Sorry for being so scared that you had to stand up for me and take the punishment? Sorry for failing to control my powers? Sorry for everything?
Flames started to engulf the young princess. The stress and guilt were starting to get to her as her thoughts continued. She continued to list the things she was sorry for. It ended with her accidentally voicing out her final apology. "I'm sorry for being born."
The flames were starting to get bigger but Anna was still trapped in her mind the guilt starting to consume her.
"We need to get her out of here, Your Highness. She might burn the palace down." Sir Red suggested not exactly sure how to handle the situation. He has heard stories of events like these and seen the aftermath but has never experienced an outburst firsthand.
"No." Was Elsa's simple response before getting back up on her feet and hugging the flaming girl that is her sister. Oddly enough it does not burn. Could her sister finally be learning control? It doesn't matter at this point; her only objective is calming her sister down. "I'm here just relax and disburse this flame. You can do it."
"If I may Gerda. Shouldn't we get the young princess out of here before she causes any harm? I know that Princess Elsa has ice powers to quell that raging flame. She'll be safe, but what if… what… if she loses control? Princess Anna might burn her to death"
Gerda looked at the young guard with tears in her eyes. "Sadly, this is the safest place for them right now. You know how their father is. If the King finds out Anna lost control again who knows what he'll do? And knowing Princess Elsa, she'll definitely take the fall… again. I don't think her body can take any more abuse right now. She's already running a fever as it is. It will only get worse."
"A fever?! Wait is she alright? Has she taken her medicine? Shouldn't we let her rest?..."
"Shhh… She refuses everything. She says the medicine makes her groggy and sleepy. She doesn't want to sleep for fear of what their father would do to her sister. I'm scared of her well-being, but there is simply nothing we can do. Going against her wishes will be considered treason. If I die who will look after them?" Gerda was crying at this point. How can one girl shoulder the pain brought by the King. Will she even live long enough to become the Queen of Arendelle?
Anna's flames soon subsided and the two princesses continued hugging each other. "Everything's alright now, see?"
"I hurt you again." Anna sniffed as she wiped the tears from her face.
Elsa pulled her sister closer and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry, I was just teasing you. I didn't mean for it to go that far."
"But you…"
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." Elsa said while beating herself for not being able to control her reaction to pain. I need to learn to hide my emotions better. I must not worry my little sister more than she already is. The elder princess gently pushed her sister such that they were now at arms-length. "Now, why are you apologizing for being born? Don't you know you are the best thing that has happened to me?"
Anna's eyes widen in shock. I shouldn't have said that. After all the things my sister has done for me. After all the pain I've caused her. I should say that. Right? She thought to herself. "I cause you nothing but pain. For every time I lose control, for every time I make a mistake. For every time I get scared. For every time…"
"You make me happy." Elsa continued for her. "For every time we get to play. For every time we spend our lives with each other. For every time we talk. For every time you make my life worth living. For giving me a reason to live. For giving me happiness, and joy. For being the only person, I find a reason to wake up to every day. Anna, my sister, I love you for all that you are and it would hurt me if you were never born. So please never think like that again."
"But I hurt you. Well, papa hurt you because of me."
"And seeing you smile and be happy is well worth it. If Papa's punishments are the price I have to pay for your happiness, then I'll gladly pay it."
"But what about you?"
"What about me?"
"What about your happiness? What about living a life worry-free and pain-free?"
Elsa smiled at her sister. That is not something a five-year-old should think about, right? What has happened to them? Why in the world would she think and say things that a teenager could not even think of? She's so lucky to have a smart sister. "Didn't you hear me? I'm always happy when I'm without. Sure, I won't have to worry about you but I only worry because I love you. And wouldn't have it any other way." She then rubbed her sister's head to dispel any other negative emotions the younger one had.
"I love you with all my heart. Anna."
"And I love you thank you for taking care of me. One day I will take care of you."
