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She was softer than Marie expected. The young woman found her hands trembling at the thought. Mattias rubbed his eyes and eyed her. "You alright?"
Marie jumped. "Y-yeah! Sorry." She and Mattias were in the library, the morning sun casting rays upon the piles of books through the lightly dusty area. "I think I found something else. Right here." The dark-skinned man rose from his wooden chair and leaned over the table to peer at the book in her hands. "It's another name. In my world, the man who "discovered" North America was named Christopher Columbus. This book says his name is Christopher Columebus." She withdrew it. "I kind of like that better, actually…"
"Morning!" They looked up to see a cheery redhead prancing towards them, her arm waving in the air. "Want some pancakes? Kristoff got carried away with them again."
"Good morning, Your Highness." Mattias bowed. "There is nothing of concern to report from last night's patrols or this morning. There was a sighting of an ice slide coming down from one of the castle balconies in the middle of the night again, however. Also, the position you asked about is open and ready." Anna crossed her arms when Marie let out a nervous chuckle.
"Did she at least thaw the fjord this time?" The queen asked. Marie nodded. The ginger looked around before asking, "Where is Elsa?"
"Sleeping," Marie said. The general and royal grew silent. The young woman blew out air from her mouth. "We've been doing some research that I think you should hear about!"
"Yes!" The General responded quickly, noticing Marie's change of topics. "I think that as well!" Anna raised her eyebrow but settled half her bottom on the table, adjusting her simple grey dress. "Lady Marie has been in the library since four this morning. I found her at six and have been helping her research for the past three hours. We've taken breaks to work on her combat skills like you requested."
"Since four?" Anna asked. "Why so early?"
Marie bit her lip as she carefully plucked a book from a small pile in front of her. "Couldn't sleep. So, I started in a general history book," she stated, turning the thick brown book towards Anna. "In the movies, Frozen was set around 1840, and my world was in the year 2020, so I thought that I had simply jumped back in time. But when I started looking in here, I noticed that there are little differences between our worlds that are too common to be grammar mistakes. For one, Britain's most famous author is named Willam Shakespeare in this world, but I've always known him as William Shakespeare. Here!" Anna jumped as Marie dropped another book on top of the history book. She flicked it open to a page that was being kept by another book. Anna noticed that most books on the table were sandwiched in this manner. "George Washington damaged an apple tree, not a cherry tree." She side-stepped and opened a yellow book. "Hans Christian Anderson, the man who wrote the book that the Frozen movies are based off, doesn't exist." A blue book was thrown open. "Dinosaurs have already been documented versus just starting to be discovered." She pointed to another brown history book. "Mona Lisa's name was Delilah when we don't even know her name, Chris Columbus has a different name, some of the United States' battles have slightly different dates, and this is the biggest one." Marie placed a Christian bible in front of Anna. "Thomas wasn't depicted as such an asshole for doubting Jesus, it rained for forty-one days during Noah's ark, and this version of the bible is just way more literal in its translation than any that I've ever known!"
Anna shut her mouth that was hanging open. "Wait, what?"
"It's a different dimension, Your Highness," Mattias said.
"Exactly!" Marie's eyes were tired but excited. "Things have happened the same in history, but with the smallest differences that don't really seem to affect anything. I tried looking up some repercussions of some of the things that were different, but nothing seemed to change. Maybe because this world is technically in the past compared to mine, but with these differences, it's not the same place. Also, try to avoid the United States for the next thirty years because we're about to go into a civil war that'll make us look like giant assholes for the rest of eternity."
Anna gave Mattias a wide-eyed look. "Uh, I'll have to remember that."
"If I'm not in the past, and I really am in a different dimension, I wonder what that means for me?" Marie turned and leaned against the table, her blue eyes staring out the window. "Do I still exist in my world? Are our worlds existing at the same time next to each other or has one already happened? Since it's not the past, can I go back?" Anna folded her hands and stared at the wooden floor, a lump growing in her throat. "I wish I knew so I'd…Well, so I'd know. If that makes sense."
Anna began turning towards the other woman to respond, but a trail of platinum passing by swiftly in the hall caught her eye. She paused and saw a familiar dark pink dress run across the floor in a hurry. "I'll be right back." Anna calmly rushed to the library door. Sure enough, her sister dove into the kitchen storage room as soon as she rounded the corner. "What are you doing?" Anna hissed, catching her by the arm. "If you're trying to sneak around, it's not working so well! I could see you!"
Elsa acknowledged her sister before turning away. Anna felt her chest flutter with a rush of excitement when she saw that her sibling's cheeks were flushed, and her body language was sheepish. "Oh. Y-you did?" Elsa stammered.
"Elsa, what's going on? I haven't seen you like this since Honeymaron tried-…" A loud gasp escaped Anna. "DID SOMETHING HAPPEN WITH MARIE?!"
The ice queen covered her sister's mouth with her pale hands. "Shh! Don't be so loud, Anna! Nothing happened, okay? I just-…" When Anna began giggling behind her fingers, Elsa sighed and dropped her hands to her sides in defeat. "Do you promise not to make it a big deal?"
"Yes! I mean, yes. I mean no! I mean-! I promise."
Elsa hugged her forearms in a way that made Anna's grow wide. She dropped her hands once more and said quickly, "I kinda had a nightmare last night and Marie held me while we slept." Anna began nodding slowly, but as she sped up in pure excitement, Elsa stopped her. "It wasn't like that! I mean, I don't think it was like that. I-…" Elsa was flustered. "I saw one of her memories and I had a nightmare about it. I woke to her telling me how it was okay and that I was safe, and she held me in her arms the rest of the night. Well, until she woke up. But I didn't stop her."
Strands of Anna's red hair fell in front of her as she leaned forward. "But you don't seem to mind."
Elsa felt her chest tighten and she clasped her hands tightly in front of her. "I don't mind at all. And that's the problem." Her dark pink dress ruffled as she whipped around. Anna frowned. "I know that's not how she meant it, but I couldn't help but feel…" She touched the palms of her hands together, her fingertips drifting slowly over her other palm before slipping her fingers together. "It's hard to explain."
Anna gave her sister a brief hug. "You can always ask her."
"Ask?!" Her blonde hair whipped Anna in the face as she turned around. "But we haven't known each for that long!"
"Hey, I am the perfect example of how not knowing someone for that long can still work out for the good!" Anna furrowed her brow. "Yet again, I'm also the perfect example of how it can go terribly wrong. But you're different, Elsa! This isn't like you, but that's not a bad thing! What can hurt from asking her? If you can stop the dam from destroying our kingdom, you can ask your childhood idol if what she did meant more to her."
Elsa rolled her eyes but hugged her. "You always knew how to put things into words," she said quietly.
"You'll still always have me, marriage, seperate kingdoms or not." Anna pulled away. "You should probably come to the library and hear what Marie and Mattias found."
"I heard everything from the hallway," Elsa said nervously.
Anna patted her on the shoulder. "Then pretend you didn't hear anything and listen to them anyway! And then come have some pancakes." As she pulled her sister out of the dark storage room, Elsa stopped. Anna glanced at her.
"What did Pabbie say to you?" Elsa asked quietly.
The new queen faced her sister and grabbed her hands. "Do you trust me?"
Elsa tipped her head. "Of course, I do."
Anna touched her forehead to Elsa's. "Then trust me with this."
The older sibling relaxed into her. "Okay." Anna withdrew and gestured for Elsa to exit before her. As her sister departed with a confident stride, Anna lowered her gaze to the floor.
"Mother, Father, please tell me I did the right thing," she breathed.
"Thanks for breakfast." Marie lightly pushed her plate aside and set her elbows on the kitchen counter. Creamy brown fur followed the dinnerware eagerly, and she scratched behind Sven's ear as he licked her plate.
A male tenor's giggle sounded to her left. Olaf clapped his whipped cream covered wooden hands together. "My pancake's face is done. Finally!"
Kristoff chuckled and took Marie's plate. "Did Anna talk to you yet? She said she had something to show you."
Marie shook her head. "No. Do you know what it is?"
He snatched the syrup bottle from his reindeer when Sven's tongue reached for it over Marie. "Manners, Sven!" The reindeer bayed in protest. Kristoff sighed. "I don't want to spoil the surprise like someone is spoiling their appetite. Speaking of appetites, those two sure didn't eat much. You didn't eat much, either."
Marie blew the steam away from her tea before sipping. "If I ate anymore, I'd fall asleep at the table." She lowered her mug with a furrowed brow. Once Anna had returned to the library with Elsa, Marie and Mattias filled in the former queen about their discoveries. Elsa had listened intently, but even more intense had been her gaze. It did not leave Marie once. The brunette groaned childishly and dropped her head on the marble countertop. "I'm such an idiot."
Sven nudged Marie in concern. Kristoff set down the clean plates in his hands. "Whoa, you okay?"
Olaf stole her tea and blew the hot air away. "I'm guessing it's one of the following options; one: she's dealing with the newfound responsibilities of having magical powers and the weight of saving a world that isn't her own, two: something happened between her and Elsa to solidify the rising romantic tension between them, or three: she thought the pancakes were awful."
A spoon slipped out of Sven's mouth and fell to the floor with a loud clatter as silence rang around the room. Marie shoved herself away from the counter as she stood. "Pancakes. Definitely." She casted Kristoff a reassuring look to which he nodded. "I should go talk to her," she said quietly as she made her way across the kitchen. A body slammed into her in the doorway. Marie jumped backward.
"My apologies!" a young maid with olive skin stammered. She held out a white envelope. "For you, Lady Marie."
"Oh. Uh, thank you." Marie grabbed the envelope and ripped it open. A peach rose pedal fell to the floor as she pulled out a note with a single word on it that read, "Chapel." She turned to Kristoff. "I think Anna wants to see me."
Olaf let out a giggle. "So that's two sisters now."
Kristoff shot the snowman a glare while Marie rolled her eyes. "Stop," she scorned with a playful tone. "I would never. Plus, I don't even-…Never mind." She whisked herself out of the room.
"My pancakes aren't that bad!" she heard Kristoff grumble to Olaf behind her. Anna had drawn a rough sketch of the castle halls with arrows pointing to where the chapel was located. After five minutes of taking wrong turns and asking for directions, the foreigner finally pushed open the giant dark doors. She could not help but stop in pure wonder. The chapel was even bigger and grander than the first movie had depicted. It was large enough to fit the entire kingdom in its pews that lined the length of the neighboring courtyard. A second story loomed over her and sunlight blazed through the glass windows that ran along the walls. Stained images of Christ and the disciples covered the glass. It smelled of leather books, old furniture and dust. A delicate figure dressed in dark pink sat in the front pew to the right. Elsa turned her head to look at Marie, her loose blonde hair falling behind the pew. They gazed at each other for a moment before simultaneously holding up their respective notes.
Elsa let out a chuckle. "Typical Anna."
A wave of tension hit Marie square in the chest. "I can leave," she said quickly, backing toward the door.
"No," Elsa retorted and stood. "I don't want you to leave." Marie opened her mouth, but the former queen took a step forward. "I know what you're going to say. You're going to apologize for holding me last night, but I don't want you to." The brunette's breath caught in her throat. She had turned away any chance of intimacy with another person for the last several years of her life. Although painful, it was not any more difficult than ripping off a bandage. But in front of her stood the living version of a person that had captivated her at first sight. Elsa clasped her hands in front of her and nervously took a few more steps toward Marie. "Please say something."
"It was of my memory," Marie said softly. Elsa stopped. Marie stared at the floor. "There was a cold flurry above your head, and you looked like you were going to wake up from it. It was awful. I don't want you to go through something like that ever again because of me." She looked the royal in the eyes. "I'm not sorry for what I did, but I am sorry for causing you pain."
Elsa leaned against the edge of the front pew and looked up at a stained glass of Mary and a lamb. "My mother used to come in here all the time. I used to watch her from the back while she prayed." She crossed her forearms and gripped them tightly. "She knew I was there, but she never said anything. I could have gotten in so much trouble for sneaking out of my room. Leaving everything and everyone she had known must have been hard, but she still allowed herself to find happiness here." Elsa tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "You didn't cause me pain, Marie. I chose to see your memories on my own. But, thank you, for comforting me." Elsa felt a flicker of fire ignite in her chest as Marie leaned against the same pew as her and joined in gazing at the stained glass. The blonde swallowed a lump in her throat. "I'd like to return the favor someday."
Marie looked at her before gazing at the glass once more. "You have. More than you know."
The ice mage's hands were turning white from squeezing them together so hard. "D-did you manage to warm up? You mentioned it was cold."
"Oh, yes!" Marie let out a chuckle and looked at her. "You're actually quite warm." They froze when only a couple inches separated their faces. Elsa's lips began to part on their own as she stared into Marie's eyes. Light brown circled her pupils and spread out into bright blue flames. Her eyes were so expressive, honest and once again, vulnerable. It was a rare expression that Elsa had only seen when the two were alone. It enticed Elsa as much the siren's call. She wanted to keep it there in her eyes, but she could not rush it.
"Would you like to get some ice cream?" Elsa asked, pushing herself up from the pew. "Oaken made a new flavor that I want to try."
The woman before her seemed to visibly relax. "Does he really say "Woohoo?""
Elsa walked past her but let out a chuckle. "All the time."
Marie joined her and yawned loudly. "Oofda, I'm tired!"
"You'll have time to catch a nap on the way to The Enchanted Forest. I plan on going there after we're done." Elsa casted a sideways glance at her. "I meant to bring it up earlier. We should stick together with everything going on."
A gasp escaped Marie's mouth. "Really?! That's so cool!" She stretched her arm above her head. "Tell me everything I need to know before going there!"
Elsa smiled and shook her head warmly. "Well, for one, we'll need to pack lots of dry clothes." She let out a sigh. "It's rainy season up there."
Marie put her hands behind her head. "The rain always bothered me, anyway," she sang in the famous melody. Now aware of the reference, Elsa elbowed her. Marie jumped in surprise but laughed, running forward.
The summer sun beat down on the land of Arendelle, but the breeze still had a slight chill to it. Anna shivered and tugged her mother's shawl tighter around her shoulders. She was standing on a balcony of the castle, her ocean colored eyes peering over her kingdom. She had caught sight of Marie and Elsa a few times and had desperately tried to resist the urge to spy on them, but to no avail. Shuffling sounded behind her. Kristoff rested a hand on her back before joining her. He leaned against the wooden ledge and folded his hands. "I caught Olaf rubbing his buttons again…" Anna's face contorted in response. The wind tussled their hair. "Are they going to be here soon?"
"Yeah." Her eyes narrowed. "That's the ninth group that has stopped those two to ask for her autograph. What a culture shock," she mumbled.
Kristoff followed her gaze to observe a baffled looking Marie shaking the vigorous hand of a mother with two children. One of the children held out a book, which Marie took and signed. "Have you been spying?"
She puffed out her small chest. "I am the queen." The child jumped up and down in excitement as they retrieved their book and turned to give Elsa a hug before departing. The two women waved and watched the family leave. Anna's hair was buffeted by the wind once again. Rhythmic, thunderous booms sounded from the hills outside of the town. A wave of little snowmen slithered over the land toward Arendelle. Anna started for the balcony door. "They're here."
Kristoff whistled as a giant snow monster appeared over the hill and descended along with the other snow creatures. "This should be interesting," he mumbled.
Anna raced down to the castle doors and pushed them open. The snow giant stood over ten feet tall. Marshmallow's body was covered with various ice spikes that pointed into the air. Anna felt her chest tighten at the memory of how afraid her sister had been when she had summoned him. The Snowgies scampered around the bridge, their little squeaks filling the castle grounds. "Glad you could make it!" Anna put her hands on her hips and looked up at Marshmallow. "I hope the trip wasn't too rough."
Behind the snow group, Elsa and Marie approached from the town. The Snowgies cheered in unison and tackled their mother. Elsa laughed as they ran up and down her limbs. "It's nice to see you, too!"
Kristoff, Sven and Olaf came through the door. "Siblings!" Olaf shouted gleefully. He dove into a pile of miniature snowmen. "How have you been for the last six days I haven't seen you?"
Marie froze as Snowgies swarmed her body like mewling kittens. "Holy crap. They're real, too," she squeaked. The bridge shook as Marshmallow took a step toward the stranger. Anna glanced at her sister in concern as he stared at Marie with narrowed eye slits. Elsa nodded her head. Marie took a step back, her eyes wide. Marshmallow exhaled and caused her brown hair to blow backward. Silently, she held up a shaky hand. The giant paused. "Hello," Marie managed to say. Marshmallow leaned down and rested his forehead against her hand. "Whoa." Suddenly Marie's hand shot back from his touch.
Elsa put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Sven let a groan of confusion next to Anna. Marie shook her hand as though she had been electrocuted. "Yeah, I'm alright," she replied slowly.
"Our reinforcements have arrived, Elsa." Anna made her way through the swarm of small snowmen to her sister. "You don't have to worry about leaving Arendelle alone now."
Elsa eyed her creations around her. "Are you sure? This enemy is different from any that Arendelle has faced before, but I can't leave the forest alone, either."
Anna softly placed her forehead on her sister's. "I know. We'll be okay. Plus, I think these little guys will keep everyone's spirits up while you're gone. Now!" The ginger clapped her hands together. "To the courtyard, everyone! General Mattias and the guards are waiting to start the meeting!" She gestured toward the castle doors. The Snowgies waddled past her, nearly sweeping her off her feet. Olaf's laughter filled the bridge as he was taken away by his brethren.
Everyone made their way to the courtyard and piled in. Mattias stood with his hands placed behind his back, but Anna could not help but notice his face twist in shock at the sight of the snowmen, big and small. "All right, all right, settle down, everyone!" Her ingénue voice echoed throughout the yard, silencing the crowd. She crossed her arms. "Arendelle isn't the only place in danger from the darkness. The Enchanted Forest is also at risk, so my sister and Marie need to go there and protect the spirits and the Northuldra. My sister's magic has proven useful against the darkness, and our guests have agreed to watch over the kingdom while she is gone." A couple guards mumbled amongst themselves. Anna continued. "I know this isn't the perfect solution, but it's all we have. We need to trust those who have chosen to fight this threat." Her eyes landed on Marie, who was staring at her. "I know I do."
Anna held a briefing with her staff, discussing the measures they would take to protect the citizens if any threat arose. Elsa and Kristoff went to ready a carriage for their trip while Marie and Mattias spoke near Marshmallow. As Anna approached them, Mattias bid farewell and left with his guard. Marie was nearly thrown off balance as a few Snowgies leaped on her head. "Nice speech," she remarked to the queen. "You seemed to get everyone's spirits up." Anna folded her hands together and stared at the foreigner with a blank expression. Marie held out an arm and summoned a dark blade as a little snowman ran down her long limb and jumped into its crowd of brethren. "But I wouldn't trust someone like me so quickly."
"I don't trust you," Anna said. Marie grunted in surprise but stood up straight as Anna maintained her eye contact. "My sister might, but how can I? You're not even from here! I just-ugh!" She snatched the blade of darkness from Marie and started striking the air. "Stupid guards can't even listen to me! They don't take me as seriously as they took my sister! Well, I'M sorry that I wasn't born with magical powers that could freeze you in an instant if you ticked me off!" Marshmellow let out a rumble of confusion as she continued to slash the empty air. "And what is wrong with me? My sister was born with magical powers, but when my kingdom needs protecting, the powers of darkness or fate or whatever choose a BOOK character to protect it! Stupid wedding has to be during all of this, and it's too late to cancel because of all the planning and the guests that are coming!" Anna paced, the Snowgies playfully running around her feet as she moved. "My sister gets to ride a water horse while I lead a kingdom! You!" She pointed the blade at Marie's chest, causing the woman to jump. "What are you to Elsa, anyway? How do you feel about her?"
The royal eyes grew wide as the woman in front of her shook, but Marie did not avoid her gaze. She maintained her ground, even though she knew Anna could easily dispatch her. "I don't want to hurt her," she said quietly. Anna tightened her grip on the ethereal weapon but faltered slightly. "She's important to me." Marie's hand suddenly shot to the blade and squeezed it. "I don't know why you weren't chosen, Anna. I don't know why I'm even here. None of it makes sense. But I wouldn't give this power to you even if I could."
Anna gasped. "Why not?" she shouted.
"Because it's a horrible burden. I almost let it take control of me and kill people. This thing that you want so badly tore me from everyone that I love, from everything that I've ever known. It has the power to do that and probably even more than either of us can imagine." Marie's voice was passionate but still calm. Anna found herself aiming the blade's tip at her chest while listening intently. Footsteps pounded across the stone, and General Mattias yelled out to her with a line of guards at his side. Anna held up her hand. She glared at Marie. The other woman loosened her grip on the sword. "Elsa trusted you with this kingdom because she knew you were the right choice all along. You were born to lead. The darkness chose me because I know what it feels like. I'm not saying you don't because I know you've been through a lot, but I still wouldn't give this to you. Don't you feel that?" Anna shifted and looked at the blade as Marie motioned to it. "Wielding this power is heavy."
It was true. Ever since Anna had taken the dark blade from Marie, she had been filled with anger, sadness and malice. The blade seemed to feed off her emotions the longer she hung onto it. Anna lifted the hilt. "Why can you wield it, then?"
Marie shook her head. "Because I have nothing to lose."
"But what if that changes?" Anna asked. "What if-?" She stopped. Marie exhaled heavily as the queen lowered the dark sword. Anna flicked the blade downward and offered the hilt to Marie. "Forgive me. I just needed to see if you were strong enough. Here."
"Keep it," Marie responded, trying not to appear visibly nervous. "I think you'll get plenty of use from it."
Anna twirled it around and peered at it. "You're right…Do you think you and Elsa could make enough of these for the guards?"
Mattias sheathed his steel sword. "I'm too old for this," he muttered.
Anna held out her hand to Marie. "You did well. If you couldn't handle a little intimidation from me, I don't think you could handle a threat to the whole kingdom."
Marie blinked. Slowly, she shook Anna's hand. "A little?"
Anna let out a laugh. Marie gasped as the queen suddenly pulled her in for an embrace. "Look after her for me."
Marie hugged her back. "I will."
The baying of a reindeer sounded near the entrance, and the two women looked up to see Kristoff, Sven and Elsa entering the courtyard. Elsa stopped in her tracks. "What did you do?"
"Just a little training!" Anna piped up, scampering toward her. "Do you think you could make like twenty ice swords? Ooh, and enchant this one, too!"
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Why do all the Snowgies look terrified? And how did you get that sword?" Anna placed her hands on her hips while she and Elsa bickered. Marshmallow groaned loudly and sat on the ground.
Marie joined him and sighed. "And I thought you were scary." The snowman grunted in agreement.
