It was hot out. The early sky was angry. Anna was soaking in sweat. The thick air felt like a meal going down her throat as she tried to catch her breath. After several trips up and down the stairs, the rooftop garden was quenched and ready for another day in the heat. Anna had reserved a few drops of water at the bottom of her bucket for herself. The mouthful did nothing. Her face was still burning red. She tossed the bucket at her feet. The metal on the stone was a satisfying racket, one Anna wished she could make with angry grunts and stomping feet. She could not be made ready for this day, and yet she kept going through the motions.
It was the first anniversary of the Great Thaw.
Over Anna's shoulder, down the castle walls, and at Arendelle's shoreline, several ships bobbed in the water. They would be disembarking within the hour. If Anna's heavy breaths would simmer, she'd be able to hear the rush of it all. It had sounded so familiar when it roused Anna awake for the day. The late Queen's coronation had been so alive, the air of excitement exquisite. It had all noble persons and citizens drunk on the thrill of it. But Anna was not under its spell this year.
The rising sun was right in her vantage, obstructing her view of Arendelle's energy. She didn't have to look. Anna had worked closely with the council to plan this celebration. The details had consumed her. Not because she cared that the council had pleaded with her to come out of mourning. Or because the invitations to neighbouring nations were a strong political move for a novice Queen. But because Anna could only survive her grief if she could fixate on something.
Considering what was born as a celebration of life and a chance for Anna to show her people how much she had grown, the planning hadn't saved her much pain. It had evolved and was now leading up to what was being called The Thawing Ceremonies. The hot sun was kicking off what would be a week-long affair. People from all walks of life were being challenged to correct the fates and bring Arendelle's first reigning Queen and her King back to life.
Anna shook in anticipation as took her shears and carefully pressed them into the stem of a rose. Once the bloom was free and spinning in Anna's fingers, the cold found her.
Anna. It spoke to the Queen at the back of her eyes. Which one?
"Last year, on the fjord." The Cold didn't pause to let Anna steady herself. It yanked her eyelids shut. Anna's body fell forward as she left her mother's garden and joined Elsa in a raging storm. Even though Anna was outside of herself, she could feel the cold shrapnel embedded deep in her muscles, like it had that day. Her little heart was struggling to find space enough to pump within the ice that grew around it. It was always so strange to see herself within a memory. Anna was never interested in those versions of herself. She paid the Princess, with her arm out defensively over her sister, no mind.
The memory lost sense of time as Anna paced through it to reach Elsa. Curled up into herself, she had knees and an open palm pressed into the ice. She was barely holding herself up by leaning her forehead into her wrist. Anna recognized the way Elsa's back pointed to Hans. She'd seen it in so many of the memories the cold offered. This was how Elsa took hot lashings from their father. Anna reached out to touch her sister. She cupped her face and took in the turmoil written there. It was part of history. The hopelessness would find its way to the upcoming celebrations. All Arendelle would be cheering the majesty of the thaw that followed, but such wonder could have never happened without such pain. Elsa's face only distorted further as she heard the blade of Hans' sword shatter.
The storm died along with the Princess. Anna ignored it all to take in the calm. Elsa's sobs were the only thing disturbing the fjord. Frozen solid, Arendelle was glorious. The sun pierced through. The ice bent its light. For a moment, one Anna could pause, there was peace. The cold settled, making a home for itself over every surface it could find. It was radiant. If true love hadn't existed, then Elsa would have found solace in the cold that hung in the air. No longer fearing the loss of Anna, a new Kingdom could have been born, where Elsa would live in harmony with her power. Elsa was in pain but her fight was over. Won or lost, it didn't matter. Everything she'd endured to that point had run its course. Anna cursed at her former self as she watched her thaw. True love be damned. Elsa's hell awoke again. The battle reignited.
Anna wished for her sister, on that day, her 21st birthday, that the Princess' heart remain cold. Yet, there were no altering memories. No, there was no beating the past. Anna had lost much of her present fighting her sister's memories. She tried to hold back her father's wrists as he came down on his eldest child. She wrapped her body around his target. But the beatings never ceased. Anna rushed at her sister and tried to push her out of hiding and into the arms of the smaller versions of herself. She berated that same little princess to take up arms and hack her way into Elsa's bedroom. But the sisters never reunited. Anna always thought she'd learned her lesson. Yet even the night prior, she'd lost all sleep as she threw a tantrum at Lord Tarik's feet. She balled her fists into his chest and hammered down on him. In this particular bout of rage, she'd taken a chair to his head. He stood immobilized at the threshold of Elsa's bedroom, watching Anna take Elsa as her wife. Resigned to her fate, Anna eventually watched with him. Shoulder to shoulder, they took it all in. This time, when the Princess so obediently got out of her sister's bed, Anna saved her voice. She didn't plead for her to turn around and fight the threat they faced.
You can't change the past. The cold said then.
"Then what's the point of you?" Anna asked it.
To either drive you mad or keep you from it.
Out in the fjord, Anna stepped into herself and fell into Elsa's embrace. As the sisters shared touch again, she brought her kiss to Elsa. It wasn't real. Elsa's mouth was tasteless. Anna was transported back to the garden. At her lips, she felt the petals of a white rose. Yes, Anna would save her fight for the present.
Olaf was waiting for Anna outside of her dressing room. He was swatting at the invisible bout of cold that was floating around taunting him. The sprite noticed Anna's arrival before Olaf did. She felt it abandon the snowman and come to her side. If the sprite had a face, Anna imagined it would have dropped its jaw at the sight of her. It swirled around, struggling to find enough skin to give her a long caress. Anna's gown was a replica of her sister's coronation dress. Fashioned to tie around her neck and cuffed at her wrists, the gown's design kept the cold from seeping out. It was now doing a fine job keeping the sprite from coming in.
"Good morning, Frore," Anna said, trying to evade the sprite as it persisted. It was her turn to push Frore away as it fought for the thing desired most, to be close to Anna. "You'll ruin my rose," Anna squealed as she fell into play with the sprite. She held the flower to her chest and wrapped it around the set of gloves she was carrying with her.
"Elsa!" Olaf suddenly called out, his tone was shocked and excited. Frore and Anna had bounced a few paces away from the snowman. Anna froze at the sound of her name. Her head whipped back at Olaf's direction. His face was all twisted up. He knew his mistake. Anna tried to stay even but she could feel her lip start to curl and her knuckles clench. The anger was at her throat. Frore settled and reached out for her. It was starting to run at her shoulders, attempting to get them to drop back down.
"I'm sorry, Anna. I got confused." The snowman said. The Queen tried for an even breath. Her exhale rattled; it sounded like a restless horse. Anna couldn't blame him. Just a few moments ago she was alone in front of the mirror taking it in. Anna's hair had lost its pigment on the entire left side. When she had tied her hair in the same braided crown Elsa had adorned the year prior, Anna had felt her stomach flip. The blanched side of her head had such a stunning resemblance to her sister. For a moment, looking into her reflection, it had felt more real than going into Elsa's memories.
"It's okay, Olaf," she responded. Months ago, Anna had finally lost too much of her red hair to keep hiding the white. She was at an all-time low when she freely gave herself to the cold behind her eyes. She'd spent nights reliving Elsa's touch and wondering why hers wasn't enough.
The Queen reached out for Olaf and held onto his hand. "I see it too," Anna said softly. She tried to smile. Olaf hung his head but leaned into Anna's comfort.
"I thought someone had done it. I thought she was back," Olaf whimpered.
"Maybe soon. The Thawing Ceremonies are set to start. Are you excited to see some amazing feats of magic?" Anna's voice was a little too high to come off as genuine. She wasn't a fan of the voice she channeled when she was wearing her crowd.
"My Queen?" The Captain of the guard commanded Anna's attention and she turned to him. Ioas was donning his most formal uniform. His face was straight, a trait he often had to force in Anna's presence. In the last year, the Captain's role had shifted from guardian to protector. Anna nodded at him. His presence calmed her. The Queen's grief had made her unpredictable. The people closest to her knew to watch their tread. Anna's state was ever fragile. Whatever the emotion, joyous through melancholy, could be triggered to another end of the spectrum. Ioas seemed to be the only person spared by Anna's newfound wrath. "It's time," he said.
Gerda was a step behind him with a tray in her hand. "Eat something quick, my dear," she offered. Anna could tell Gerda was trying to gauge what kind of mood she was in. The head maid stifled a compliment. Anna could see her hold it back as she took a good look at her. Gerda was in awe of the Queen who stepped into the day.
"What do you think?" Anna coaxed. She hated being treated like a petulant child ready to throw her toys.
Still, Gerda chose her words. "I think you're ready," she said. Anna couldn't blame her for holding back. Her sister's name was still ringing in her ear. It felt like Olaf had been stuck on repeat, calling out for her sister incessantly. As of late, it was rarely spoken aloud. The Queen's tantrums, as gossip called them, were far too easily triggered. It became an unwritten rule. Elsa's name was locked away.
"I need a few minutes with– her," Anna said. She turned to kneel in front of Olaf and gave him the white rose she'd been holding. It was an invitation to join her. He took it with a shy smile.
"The ambassadors from Corona are in the foyer now," the Captain said. Anna stood to back up as she pulled a pair of her sister's finest gloves over her hands.
"Clear the room then," she demanded as she scolded herself. Anna was aware the performers wanted to take a good look at what they were up against before the ceremonies. There was so much chatter over Corona. Arendelle erupted in speculation when they accepted the invitation to the Thawing Ceremonies. Flooded with magic, Corona was the nation most likely to break the Queen and King's curse.
Captain Ioas led the way towards the foyer. Anna walked with Frore sitting tucked in her shoulder and Olaf's hand in hers. He was twirling the rose up above his head letting the flurry above him take in its perfection. When they arrived at the top of the stairs the Captain took a closed fist to his mouth. He was about to announce the Queen. As soon as Anna saw the Princess of Corona, she put her hand on the guard's shoulder.
"Hold," she whispered. Anna had not expected this. Last she saw Rapunzel her hair was above her shoulder. They'd only shared a quick exchange the year prior, in which they'd both showed off their odd strings of hair. The Princess looked completely changed. Her hair was tied back in a thick braid that was likely holding back countless yards of golden threads. Its colour shone, reflecting the sun as if casting its own light. The golden light bent when it hit the ice. It made Elsa's tomb glow. The monument looked like a treasure.
"Leave us," Anna instructed the guard. Her hands were shaking at the sight of such glorious magic. He gave a quick bow and retreated. Anna hugged the wall at the top of the stairs. She felt like she needed to collect herself. She heard Olaf waddle away a bit. He didn't follow the Captain. Something had caught his attention. Anna let him wander off. She focused on the group below her.
"I don't get it. I don't get it!" Anna recognized the voice pacing around the frozen monolith. "Why?" he was asking. His name was Eugene, Anna recalled. He was Corona's Prince Consort and married to her cousin Rapunzel. The Princess was another family member touched by magic, Anna noted. She was on tippy toes trying to get a good look at Elsa's face. The lines on Rapunzel's face were deep as she got a good look at Elsa's peripheral. She dropped to the pads of her feet and began to walk circles around the ice. She did so slowly, using her bare hand as she ran her fingers along the cold. Anna leaned in closer, impressed.
"I don't get it," Eugene said again. This time he threw his hands in the air and took a step back from the frigid cold.
"I'm sensing you aren't going to shut up until we ask what it is that you don't get," a third ambassador said. She was sitting on the floor several feet away with her knees tucked into her chest, rubbing her shins. Her breath was blowing steam. Her deep voice rattled.
"I don't get why," the Prince said. The woman rolled her eyes so hard that even her head fell back a bit. She clocked Anna then and let her neck hang to get a better look at her. She offered Anna a smile as Eugene continued.
"It's ludicrous. Apart from some wise trolls, Arendelle is a magic-free zone. This cute little Kingdom has survived for how long without dealing with magic? And now, suddenly, they are bringing it in by the boatload. Can you imagine how wonderful a place this is without having to worry about what we deal with daily? They are literally shipping in trouble. And for what Cassandra? For what?" The rant struck a chord with Anna. She was prepared to interrupt but the woman, Cassandra, who still had Anna's eye, interjected.
"It's a Queendom," her voice deadpanned.
"What?" Eugene's arms were already spread up above his head in exasperation.
"Arendelle is a Queendom. It will manage," Cassandra winked at Anna. Before Eugene started up again.
"I feel like that was a dig at my father-in-law." He said, still shaking his head.
"It's for love, Eugene," a future Queen, herself, said as she came around the corner of the large block of ice. All eyes fell on Rapunzel. "Arendelle has never been free of magic. Where true love can flower magic exists." Eugene softened immediately. Anna noticed even Cassandra sighed.
"I had the pleasure of meeting Elsa last year. We stole away for a while."
"When?" Eugene asked, confused.
"You were at the dessert table eating that big swirling bread thing," she explained.
"Oh, the kransekake. Yeah, I did spend a good hour there."
Rapunzel ignored the comment as she furrowed her brow. "She was terrified that day."
"Well yeah, she was about to blow the pla–" Eugene started to say.
"No," the Princess interjected, "it wasn't about that. At least, not what we talked about. We used to write to each other. Elsa sent me a letter within days of the announcement that I'd been found. We had everything in common. Letters from her healed something in me. I tried to be that for Elsa, but she was so complicated." Looking for comfort, Rapunzel ran her hands through her thick golden braid. Eugene instinctively stepped closer.
Anna was starting to get angry at the sweetness that was Corona's Princess. It was a green feeling, jealousy. The furry she'd garnered a reputation for was right at her throat. Elsa. How dare Elsa trust someone else before confiding in her sister? It was like what she'd done with Tarik. Thoughts of Tarik always led Anna to spiral. The Queen practiced her deep breaths and refused to let her fingers form a fist at her side.
"She'd write to me about someone she was deeply in love with," that statement relaxed Anna a fair bit. "When she wrote about herself and her feelings, she'd use words like impossible and destructive. But when she wrote about her love, it was tender, beautiful, chocolate and honey, silly and sweet." The Princess was set to continue but Eugene stopped her as his lip curled up.
"This guy?" He said skeptically as he used his thumb to point over his shoulder.
"I wouldn't be so sure, no," Rapunzel answered, taking a step closer to the King. She was shaking her head. Anna tracked her movements so intensely she did not notice the other woman get back on her feet. The Princess and her Prince were deep into their conversation. "That's one thing solved. She's got the wrong guy in there," Eugene said.
"Absolutely," Rapunzel agreed. "We need to find out who Elsa was writing to me about."
"Chocolate and honey, hey?" Cassandra said but not to the royal couple. She was at the bottom of the stairs looking right at Anna. Anna snapped her attention back to her.
"Cousin!" Rapunzel took a bound away from the cold and in what seemed like three leaps was up the stairs. She threw her arms around Anna and whatever malice the Queen had built up fizzled away. It reminded Anna she still had family left. "My goodness, your hair!" Rapunzel exclaimed as she pulled away from Anna. Her hand hovered about the white locks, knowing that each one of them was tied back to perfection. She didn't dare mess it up.
"Your hair," Anna countered.
"A lot has changed this past year," Rapunzel said. Her face fell, knowing what it implied about the long days Anna had endured since they last met.
"I was so sorry we had set sail back to Corona before the Gate Ceremonies last year. You shouldn't have had to go through this alone." The Princess seemed sincere. Eugene approached and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Corona needed us, love," he reassured and then fell into a deep bow. "Your majesty."
"So, what say you about our lovers over here?" Cassandra said from the bottom of the stairs.
"Cass!" Rapunzel scolded. "Please don't mind my bodyguard. Cassandra is always business first. We've learned a lot about magic together." Cassandra mimicked Eugene's bow.
A childlike laughter hit the quiet. Olaf had crossed paths with Pascal, a chameleon companion Anna played with for a bit at the coronation. The snowman was rushing Anna to give her back the rose she had entrusted him with. As soon as it left his fingers, he ran back to the creature.
"Oh! Who's this?" Rapunzel was captivated. As Olaf gave her and the Prince his formal introduction, Anna left them. She'd yet to knock on the cold around her. She walked past Cassandra, who had not gone up to join the sudden party that started at the top of the stairs. Frore placed what felt like a kiss on her cheek before it floated off to join in.
"You haven't answered my question," Cass pressed.
There was quite a racket being made. Anna liked hearing Olaf's joy. She listened for a while as she looked up at her sister. "Do you hear that?" She asked Elsa and the frigid cold that hovered around her.
"Who is the Queen of Arendelle's true love, Anna?" Cassandra tried again. Anna looked back upstairs. Rapunzel was twirling an armless Olaf and Eugene had the sticks up in the air. Frore was teasing the Charmeleon, who couldn't seem to make his scales invisible.
"Let the Thawing Ceremonies begin," Eugene yelled out in excitement. The rest of the group danced around him. Anna sighed. It was so easy for others to find joy. She turned back to Cassandra and took a long stride. She stood in the other woman's breath, craning her neck to meet her dark brown eyes. The Queen had an answer.
"I am," Anna said, "I am Elsa's true love."