Notes: Just a fair warning this will chapter is dark. With self-torture in it. What we saw in previous chapters was just the aftermath of the "punishments". This chapter semi (not fully) dives into it. Feel free to skip this if it's too much. I will add another note at the end to summarize this chapter. But I think this is a great way to show how far Elsa would go for her sister.
"How come I never remembered any of this?" Anna closed her eyes trying to remember those events but she simply could not.
"The King took you and your sister somewhere, when you came back, we were told that the magic that was lodged in your head, and the memories of the day were removed to keep you safe."
Anna nodded urging Gerda to continue.
"It was a lie though Ms. Anna. A lie orchestrated by the King. The ice in your head melted away."
"Melted? How?"
"It was the first time your powers manifested. You subconsciously saved yourself"
Anna's eyes grew in shock and awe. "I thought the first time was when I accidentally set our room on fire out of excitement."
"No" Geraldine hangs her head low. Should she even continue this story as it is about to get gruesome? She has to. Anna deserves to know the truth. "Your father erased your memories. He went to an old friend. When he came back, he and your sister spoke. After which your sister handed you a green liquid and asked you to drink it. The King hoped you would never use your powers again. Elsa only agreed to erase your memories because she knew he would only hurt you if your powers manifested again. Hurt you the same way he has been doing to her. She never wants to hurt you."
"But it was an accident."
"Elsa was never the same when she came back. She requested for her own room and never left, used her powers, or talked to anyone for weeks. The only time anyone has seen her is during meals where she'll take just a few bites and return to her empty room. Her room was too bare, just a bed and the restroom, well bare if you will not count the icicles hanging from the roof, and the frozen floor that is. Her room was a complete Winterland. Any form of control she had was lost on that day. It felt cold and empty. She says she prefers it that way. No room for luxury for someone who has hurt the only person she was meant to protect."
"But that wasn't her fault. If anything, it was mine. I should have waited outside."
Gerda smiled, Anna this five-year-old child understands accountability. Just incredible. "But you can never convince your sister of that now? You know that."
The events that followed were too horrible. Guilt continues to persist as Elsa can hear the pleas of her sister from outside her door begging her to play with her. But Elsa needed to be alone to control her powers. She can never say no to her sister. How can she hold her powers in if her sister asks her to use them? No, she needs to stay here until she's certain she can control her powers completely.
But it was no use, she kept on trying to wield her powers back. It just isn't listening. Anna's powers will resurface soon and she's running out of time. She needs to figure out how to get this under control so she can pass on the knowledge to her sister. But nothing is working.
"Elsa, I know you're in there. I can see ice out here. No fair playing alone. Let in so we can play."
Horror enveloped the elder's features. My powers are seeping through it is not safe here. That was the day, she asked her father to lock her up in the dungeon, away from her sister until she could control her powers. She also requested all of her father's punishment tools. She'll figure something out. For her last request, do not let anyone near her cell door. Food and water supply good for a year were already stored in the cell with her.
Six months, six months and no one saw or heard from her. It was like she was gone. After six months, Gerda saw Elsa's room covered in ice. That was it. The signal. Elsa is ready to come out.
Gerda hastily went to the dungeon and asked the guard for the keys. Elsa was about to be set free. "Before I open this. I need to warn you to be prepared." Sir Red, Elsa's personal guard, told Gerda with tears covering his eyes. "I have been crying the past six months hearing what she's doing down there. I don't know what we'll see but the sounds she makes are not something a seven-year-old should ever make… No, it's not something a human makes."
Seven? That's right, Elsa spent her birthday alone in the dungeon. When the cell opened. Elsa was on the floor sporting all sorts of cuts and bruises. Not a part of her body was not covered in some sort of injury. The worst of it included the stab wound in her stomach, which she encased in ice to prevent bleeding. Her broken left arm which looked like it was smashed by a hammer, and her frozen heart.
Both Gerda and Sir Red can't breathe at the sight. What has she done to herself? "Princess, are you all right? Of course not, but why are you smiling? Come on we need to get you treated."
"Is she breathing?" The guard asks unable to move from his position.
"She is… but barely. Come on princess." Gerda carried the princess in her arms and noticed how light she was. Has the princess been eating?
As they were about to exit the dungeon Elsa spoke very softly and if you didn't pay attention, you would have missed it. "Is Anna safe?"
Tears fell on both Gerda's and guard's faces. She is almost dying and her first concern is still sister. "Don't cry." Elsa tried to lift her hand up but to no avail, she was too tired and hurt. "I did it. I can be with my sister again." She fell asleep with a smile on her face.
The treatment went by okay. Elsa would live so long as they took care of her. "What in the world happened down there?" Their mother asked looking at the sleeping figure of her eldest. How did things escalate this badly?
"Don't pretend that you care your Majesty. You and your husband are monsters who…"
"Rivet that is enough." Gerda used the name of the guard to get him to back down. She understands where he is coming from, but this is still their queen. "Respect her Majesty."
The queen knew the guard was right. She was their mother and yet she couldn't do anything. Her child bore the burden herself and did everything she could to carry it alone. It was an incredible feat, but something no child should ever go through.
"You weren't there listening to her as she self-destructed. Listening to her cries of anguish. Guarding a door, a child, hurting herself for her people, for her sister. Standing outside unable to console her cause she froze the door shut. You do not understand how a person could make such noise and say she's okay. I asked her every night if she was fine. She said perfectly. And we come to this?" the guard broke down crying.
"What has she done?" Their mother asked, but the question was rhetorical.
"She would release her powers and try to force it back, if she can't she would hurt herself until she succeeded." The guard started. "She asked me on multiple occasions not to look, but how can you not after hearing her screams? At first, she would just cut herself. Then it got worse. I realized I needed to stop her so when I tried to enter the door, she froze it shut, and eventually, she added layers and layers such that I could no longer see what was inside."
The room was quiet. They were all speechless, not exactly expecting the guard to tell them what happened.
"One day, she told me she had a brilliant idea. She would use her powers on herself. If she can't stop it then she'll just have to face the consequences. Afterall, she was a useless monster unable to protect those she loved. If she can't get this under control then, that's the burden she will bear. That was not a brilliant idea. Three weeks later she mastered her powers."
No one dares to speak after hearing what has transpired. They were all crushed. Elsa tried to shoulder everything despite being a child. Sure, she got what she wanted at the end but at what cost? What has the King done to his daughter for her to think this was right?
"And what's worst, are the derogatory words she kept saying to herself. Useless, pathetic, coward, monster, good for nothing. You can't even protect your sister. What good are you for? You should just die no one would care. My sister would. Then do better. More pain means more control. Control it with more punishment. For your sister." At this point, the guard was on the floor unable to continue.
Back to present. Anna was beyond shocked at the revelation. Who would have thought her happy sister went through literal hell for her? Since she was a baby even. Tears started pouring down her eyes like a storm. "I'm so so sorry Elsa. It was my fault."
No. She shook her head and roughly wiped her tears. "If… she did that for me. I have no right feeling sorry. What I can do is to learn control. Learn to control my powers so I will no longer be a burden."
"Dear, that's not what she would…" Gerda tried to wrap the princess into a tight embrace and was shocked to get pushed back.
"No? No? Well… who asked you? Who asked my sister? She shouldn't have done that." Anna was slowly losing her mind. Her sweet caring sister who only wanted what was best for her. How could things turn out this way? "What did you say she did? Turn her power on herself?" Anna engulfed her right hand with flames.
Gerda now understood what the young princess was thinking. That might have worked with Elsa but that was after hundreds and hundreds of experiments, right? This might end up killing Anna. Gerda tried to grab the Princess' hand but was too late as she saw Anna move her hand to her chest, flames and all.
As soon as it touched her chest, the flames vanished and a voice was heard behind them. "You will not use your powers on yourself." The voice was so serious, so regal. The perfect voice for a ruler. "I will not allow you to hurt yourself." Elsa forced herself to get up, her body protesting in any way it could. What did they do to me? Why does my body feel like lead? She just opted to lie back down.
"But you did it. And look at you now." Anna wanted to get through to her sister. She just wants to control her powers as well. To not be a burden anymore.
"I may have and that was not the best course to take… I know what to do. I know how to help you control your powers. Just let me, okay?"
The smile on her sister's face was enough to convince her that everything was going to be all right. That her sister will once again be the solution to her problems. Always has been. Always will be. "I'm sorry. I love you. And thank you. Thank you for everything."
Summary: To control her powers, Elsa asked to be locked in the dungeon for 6 months as she tried countless way to control her powers. In the end she directed her powers to her heart and freezed it forcing herself to control it or she'll die. Elsa succeeded. Anna wanted to try it on herself but was stopped by her sister. In the end Anna believed her sister when Elsa told her she would help Anna control her powers.
Side note: 1) No, this will definitely not be a repeat of Frozen 1. Not by a long shot. 2) They will get their happy ending.