Pains of the Past

May 1836

The Northern Lights danced across the starry sky. On the ground below, Anna, along with Kristoff & Sven, made their journey to The North Mountain to visit Elsa. Since Kristoff and Elsa met, he too also joined along for the visits most of the time as well. They were trailing at the base of the mountain.

"You think Elsa will like Apple pie. Wait, why asking that? Of course, she will. She loves every food I bring to her."

"Should I even ask how you manage to sneak that out of the castle?"

"I have my ways."

Kristoff playfully rolls his eyes, muttering out "Of course you do". Their trek up the mountain goes on. About halfway through, however, they notice something unusual. The winds had been more hectic tonight. It had only picked up speed the closer the group got to the ice palace.

"The winds are really intense tonight."

The princess looked at the ice harvester. "Isn't that kind of thing normal for mountains?"

"Yeah, but not like this."

"Maybe it's one of those nights?"

Kristoff only responds with a shrug. As they continue on their journey up the mountain, the winds only proceeded to get stronger and stronger. It had gotten to a point where the two friends and reindeer had stopped to get their footing back because the winds almost knocked them over.

"Something's definitely wrong." Kristoff used his hands to shield his face from the cold winds. "It's almost a blizzard out here. That shouldn't happen for this time of year."

Anna too was busy blocking out the cold wind to even respond. As she peers through the wind, she manages to find the large Ice Palace. But something about it was strange. The structure was not its beautiful shade of blue. Instead, there was a tint of red shown and not the warm kind. It suddenly clicks to the princess.

"That's no blizzard!"

Without giving Kristoff a chance to respond, Anna started running to the palace, dropping the basket in the process. When Anna made it to the stairs, she heard a sound that she never heard before.

Elsa screaming.

Anna quickens her pace up the stairs, miraculously not slipping once and Kristoff soon got caught up at the top. Once inside, they notice the state of the Palace's interior. The entirety of the foyer is in a dark eerily red color, large spikes made of ice slowly grew from the walls, and the sounds of howling winds echoed throughout the palace. A piercing scream broke out.

"ELSA!" Anna shriek.

Both friends made a dash to the foyer stairs. Before they could climb the main ones, something tumbles down the main stairs and broke apart on the ground. That something revealed to be the pieces of Olaf.

"Anna! Kristoff! Am I happy to see you guys!" They quickly assemble the snowman back together. "So much better!"

"Olaf, what's going on?" Anna asks the snowman, frantically.

"Elsa's having a nightmare! Follow me!"

The two humans followed the snowman up the stairs that led to the bedroom. Near the top, they saw that the bedroom door is wide open with very intense winds blowing out. Surrounding it were several ice spikes. Kristoff walks a few steps to get closer before a gust of wind knocked him back. A small grunt of pain came out as his hand grazed one of the spikes.

Anna shouted out his name as she came to his side. "I'm fine." He said as he lifted up his had that had a fresh new cut that went diagonally across his palm. "It's a blizzard in there." A loud scream of terror echoed the air. Loud enough to leave one's ears ringing.

"ELSA!"

"I kept trying to wake her up, but winds blew me out of the room. Marshmallow is strong enough to go in, but he's patrolling the mountain. I don't know what to do!" Olaf said in a panic.

"I'm sure-" Kristoff didn't finish his sentence as Anna ran straight past him, into the blizzard-filled room. "ANNA!"

The bedroom is indeed a blizzard. Winds and snow blowing so hard, Anna couldn't see anything around her. Amongst the loud winds, she can hear Kristoff yelling for her to come out as it was dangerous. But Anna didn't want Elsa to suffer whatever is terrorizing her.

Ignoring her friend's pleas, Anna slowly made her way across the room. Any other person would get lost in this very room, but Anna knew this place all too well. She knew every corner that Elsa had shown her, where everything was placed, including the bed. Finally, after managing to stay on her feet, she made it to the bed. Elsa was thrashing around, screaming for whatever was hurting her to stop.

Anna lifted her arms and gently places her hands onto Elsa's face. She gently moves her head to face the princess.

"Elsa, it's me." Anna coaxed the ice-wielder. "No one's here to hurt you." Elsa seems to finally start calming down a bit, but the blizzard is still raging. "I'm here. You're safe." By this point, Elsa shown signs of relaxing and the blizzard is starting to calm down. "We won't let anyone hurt you."

Elsa's face started to appear to calm down. The blizzard itself is also dying down as well. The winds ceased completely after several moments. From the doorway, Kristoff and Olaf watch in amazement, though they were hesitant to move.

Finally, Elsa opened her eyes. Anxiousness was still in them. They only relaxed once she saw who was in front. "Anna?" She slowly sat up.

"Are you okay?"

A loud sob came out as Elsa suddenly wraps her arms around the princess, clutching onto her as if her life depended on it. Anna was caught off guard, not sure how to react at first. Hearing the cries from the older girl brought her senses back. All Anna could do is hold Elsa closer, offering the best comfort she can at that moment.

Later…

Things at the palace soon quiet down after. The palace returned to its original color, and the ice spikes were all gone. But not all were well.

The bedroom was quiet as Elsa sat on the edge of her bed and Anna sat on an ice chair nearby. Marshmallow had returned not too long after Elsa woken up. A guilt written expression is on his face as he sat in a corner not too far. Olaf had assured the giant snow creature that he isn't to blame, but that didn't seem to change his demeanor. Several Snowgies had gathered around everyone, all with concern looks on their faces.

The door leading to the bedroom door opened. Kristoff came in holding an ice cup, and the now heated apple pie.

"How's everyone doing?"

"Alright, I guess," Anna answered.

Kristoff set the pie down on an ice table while handing Elsa the ice cup before sitting down in another ice chair. "Drink this. It should help calm you down."

"Thank you." Elsa accepted the cup from his hands and took a small drink. Anna took that moment to cut a slice of pie and gave that to her as well. As she ate, Elsa noticed the makeshift bandage around Kristoff's hand. "I'm sorry about your hand."

"This?" He lifted his bandaged hand. "Don't worry about it. I've had worst injuries. It doesn't even hurt." Kristoff tried to sound unaffected by this, but the guilty expression remains on her.

"Feeling better?" Anna ask.

"A little bit," Elsa answered. "I'm sorry you both had to see me like that. I was tired and I wanted to take a nap. Didn't think I would get another nightmare."

"Another? This happened before?"

"Often, but they're never usually this bad. It's mostly the same nightmare."

"About what?"

The room grew eerily silent. Elsa turned her head away from her two friends. Her eyes both have a mix of downcast and fear. Both arms crossed over her stomach, clenching both of her sides as if she's about to be sick.

"Olaf, could you, Marshmallow and The Snowgies leave them room?"

"Are you sure?" The ice wielder gave the snowman a nod.

Olaf and Marshmallow gathered all the Snowgies before they all exited the room, leaving only the three humans.

Elsa got off the bed and bend down. She seemed to be trying to find something before her arm pulled out. In her hand revealed to some sort of gauntlet, similar to the ones Anna had seen on knight armor displays in the castle. At first, nothing about the gauntlet seemed out of the ordinary. But Anna noticed how unusually small it was compared to the other gauntlets she remembered. Then once she saw how small it was compared to Elsa's hand did it occur to her. That gauntlet was small enough to fit a child's hand.

"Elsa, what is that?"

"Do you remember, around when we first met, when I told you about the men and that treated me badly?"

"Yeah."

"Did ever tell you how they treated me badly?"

Anna was quiet for a bit before saying, "No. What does this relate to your nightmare?"

"I wasn't simply kept there. I was locked up."

The room fell silent after Elsa blurted out those words. Anna and Kristoff gave each other odd looks. They both were worried and afraid of what Elsa may say next. Anna brings her attention back to the ice wielder.

"Locked you up?"

"My memory isn't really good, but for a time I was always kept in a room. The first few months were quiet. The only visitors I had were men that came by to drop off food and other things. They all weren't nice, and didn't really to care about me."

Elsa stopped herself for a moment.

"There was one man who checked on me the most. His name was Fritjof, my 'caretaker' if I can even call him that. He never told about my parents, only that they weren't important. At first, he seemed like a decent person. Whenever I did something he didn't like, he would get mad. He told me to never use my powers unless he's around, and if did caught me breaking his rule there 'consequences'. At the time I didn't know what that meant. Until one night I realized...just how far he'll go."

15 years ago…

Elsa lied on her bed staring at the ceiling. The small room she is in had only a bed and a small lantern as a light source for when it got dark. She was very bored, so she decided to do what she did when she was bored. It wasn't long until a pile of snow laid in her room. It wasn't very big because Elsa didn't want to let anyone know what she was doing. But she wasn't that worried since it was night where everyone should be sleeping.

Elsa loves using her magic. It's the one thing that made her life more...fun. So far she hasn't been caught yet. Besides, what harm is there with her using her magic to have fun?

Elsa rolled up a huge ball of snow and put it on top of a pile. She conjured several ice balls and place them on the top. What she created resembled a snowman.

"There you go, friend. Now you're perfect!" The young girl admires her work. "I know what we can do!" With a tap of her foot, the floor beneath her freezes. She then starts skating around, holding her snowman as she does. A series of excited giggles escaped her. They were sounds of pure joy.

That all ended when she heard the sudden shame of a door. Elsa stopped dead in her tracks to look to the door. Standing there is a tall man, with dark hair and equally dark eyes. Eyes that were filled with anger. This man was none other than her caretaker, Fritjof.

"Master?" Elsa spoke timidly, scared for what may happen next. "I thought you were sleeping?"

Despite the anger in his eyes, Fritjof replied to her statement rather calmly. "I should say the same thing. Instead, I find you disobeying my rules once again." The man slowly walked up to the small girl, who was too afraid to move. "What have I told you before, Elsa?"

"I-I shouldn't use my magic."

"And all you have to do is to follow that one simple rule like a good girl. It makes things easier for both of us. I always tell you to be a good girl." Fritjof kneels to Elsa's level. "Are you a good girl, Elsa?" The girl did not move or say anything. "Come now, dear. Answer the question."

"Ye-Yes," Elsa answered meekly.

The man turned his head away for a brief moment before his right hand suddenly went across his face. A small impact had pushed her towards the ground, knocking her into the snowman. A stinging sensation was on her left cheek. She places her hand there as an attempt to sooth the pain. Hand still on her cheek, she glances up to see her master staring her down with a dark expression.

"A good girl follows the rules. A good girl does not lie about being good. A good girl does not foolishly use her magic when I tell her not to many times! You, Elsa, were not a good girl."

"I'm sorry. I was just-"

"Just what, exactly?!"

"I just wanted to play…"

That answer did not seem to sit well with Fritjof. It only seemed to make him angrier.

"Play?" he said in a mocking matter. "Is it play if you struck someone with your magic? Is play when you unintentionally struck on someone when they come in to give your meals? We have rules for a reason. To prevent these things. It is why I only ask you to use your magic only when I'm here. And yet you continue to ignore my rules!"

"I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"

"After what I just witnessed? No, it's clear to me now. If scoldings won't get through to you, then I have no choice but to take higher measures." Fritjof grabbed Elsa's wrist and walked her to the wall, pinning her against it.

"Please. I really am sorry! I'll be good!"

"I'm sorry, Elsa, but this is for your own good." The man reached his hand behind his back and pulled out a knife. "Bad people always get what they deserve."

Fritjof lifted the tip of the knife onto the cheek he struck Elsa not too long ago. The cool blade made its contact with the skin on her warm cheek. It then pushed hard against her cheek until a small drop of blood came out. Then, Fritjof proceeded to slowly slice the blade across her cheek. With each movement, Elsa could feel the stings of the blade splitting apart her skin. Several whimpers escaped from her as it went on. It seemed to last for a long time before it finally stopped.

The hold on her then released. Elsa slid down onto the ground with her back still pressed against the wall. Tears fell down her face as she places her palm on the bleeding cheek. Fritjof stood up, wiping the blood off his blade before placing it back. A feign remorse grew on his face.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this, Elsa, but I had no choice. Now, will you be a good girl?" The small child gave a weak nod. "Good. I would hate for you to be a bad girl. This world is already cruel and wicked enough as it is." He then crouched down to her level, cupping her chin with his hand. "You should consider yourself lucky. Some people would've done far much worse, solely because of what you can do." He moved her head up, eye level meeting his. "But you and I will one day take care of that. With your magic, we can make the world a better place. We can't do that if you use your magic for play, can we?"

"N-no…" Elsa stuttered.

"Exactly. And I can't have you disobeying me as well. Have you learned your lesson?" Elsa nodded, earning a dark smile from the man. "Good girl." He stood to his feet. "I expect all this ice snow to be gone by tomorrow. Is that clear?"

"Yes…"

"Good." He walked towards the door-frame. "Sleep well, darlin'."

With that Fritjof made his leave. The thud of the door closing soon followed, leaving Elsa alone in the room. She curled herself against the wall, hand still on the cheek. After a few minutes, she starts to cry. The rest of the night onward she remained in that position until exhaustion caught up to her and she fell asleep against the wall.

A deep sigh exits Elsa's mouth as she lowered her head, hands on her head. Her friends had very different reactions. They were both shocked and appalled at what she had told them, Anna especially never figure that Elsa's former life was that bad.

"He really did that to you?"

"Yes." Elsa looks up back to Anna. "After that, he made a pair of these...gloves." She traces her hand over the gauntlet. "There were connected by chains, along with an additional cuff around my neck. I would wear them when I was locked in my room or do chores around the stronghold. I would only take them off when Fritjof wanted me to demonstrate my powers. That didn't stop him finding excuses to beat me. Even the smallest mistakes, he'll beat me, even for something I didn't do."

Elsa then told them other examples of Fritjof's cruelty towards her. How he would make her overwork herself with doing chores or demonstrate her magic, how some of his men would sometimes join in on her beatings, how sometimes Elsa would go days without food as punishment, or how he even locked her in her room with interaction for days as well. Needless to say, those were only a few examples of Elsa's horrible life.

Anna covered her own mouth with her hand, trying her best to break down as told her sad tale. Kristoff felt more angry than sad but kept his composer. They both could not believe that this 'Fritjof' person would be so cruel to someone as sweet and gentle as Elsa.

"How did you escape that…" There were many words Kristoff wanted to use, but feeling that it wouldn't calm him down, he only could muster out "...monster?"

"When I was eight, he wanted me to do something...very bad. I didn't, and he got mad. Just when he was about to beat me, my magic broke through one of the gloves. I took that moment to run away. I ran until I was far enough away from him. Not too long after, I found myself here and lived here alone since, until I met you guys."

A small smile appeared on Elsa's face before it quickly shrank.

"Even though I'm safe here, he still haunts me in my dreams. In them, he taunts me and tells me horrible things. The dream I had...involved you two." She faced away from them, trying to hold back tears. "In the dream he...he killed both of you." She covered her mouth as a tear trail down her cheek, holding back a sob. Her head remained down until she felt movement on her side as something touched her shoulder. Anna had moved from her chair and is sitting next to Elsa.

"Elsa, what Fritjof did to you was...beyond horrible. You didn't deserve that. I'm sorry you went through that. But you're safe now, you know why?" Elsa weakly shook her head. "Because you have us. You're not alone. You have me, Kristoff, Olaf, Marshmallow, The Snowgies, and even Sven. If Fritjof or anyone for the matter wants to hurt you we'll protect you from him. And if we do get hurt, then better us than you."

"You would sacrifice yourself for me?"

"Of course. You're my family."

"You mean that?"

"I do."

"So do I," Kristoff chimed in. "I was skeptical of you in the beginning, but spending time with you made me see why Anna cares for you so much. If she has your back then so do I."

"You want to hold my back?"

"No, Elsa. It means we'll be by your side when you need it," Anna said.

"You guys mean it?"

"Course we do."

The ice wielder took glances at both Anna, then Kristoff. Genuine smiles were across both of their faces. Anna held her hand comfortably as her eyes still have a caring expression. Their words echoed in her head. Before she realizes it, tears streamed out of her eyes. Not of sadness, but of joy.

"Those were probably the nicest words I've ever heard from anyone, ever. Thank you."

A finger could be felt brushing against her cheeks, wiping the tears. "Why don't you get some sleep?" Anna suggested.

"But what about our 'hang out'?"

"You look exhausted. You need a good night sleep."

"I agree. Trust me, it's not good for you to have a lack of sleep," Kristoff said.

"If I do...will you both stay until I fall asleep?" Elsa asked.

The princess gave a smile. "We'll stay with you all night if we have too. I mean that."

"Okay." Anna released her grip from Elsa. Once that was done, she slowly laid on her side. Still, the ice wielder appears to be afraid to close her eyes. "What if I have another nightmare?"

"Then we'll wake you up."

"I still don't feel comfortable about falling asleep."

"You know what helps me fall asleep?" Kristoff spoke up. " I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and think happy thoughts."

"Happy thoughts?" Elsa muttered.

"Yep. They can be something that makes you happy or an event from your past. Anything that makes you happy."

"That's not a bad idea." Anna agreed.

"Okay. I'll try that."

Elsa took a deep breath as she tried to relax. Her eyelids go over both her eyes. In the darkness, she tried to look back through events of her life in an attempt to find something that made her happy. There were very few she could find. Those were the ones that contain her moments with her snow creations, and Anna of course. But there was an event that took place many years prior, just after she freed herself from Fritjof.

10 years ago…

The North Mountain stood tall in the dark night sky. Small specks of snow flow gently all around the imposing mountain. Along the mountain is a small blonde girl about eight years old. Arms wrapped around herself. Her right hand had a gauntlet, while her neck had a cuff with a chain long enough to reach her middle torso.

Elsa had been on her own for several days. It had only been a short time since she freed herself from the clutches of her master. She had traveled on her own, and no one else. Unless she counts the snowman she had created, who called himself Olaf. Since creating him, he had also stuck by her side no matter what. They both were traveling until earlier when they decided to take a break at a cave not too far away. Elsa could not rest so she decided to walk around the mountain. There near the top, she stood in place, all alone

"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight. All around is the ice. A place of isolation. A reflection of my life." A small gust of wind blew past her head. "The wind is howling and making their getaway. Couldn't remain there, not for another day."

She looks down on the ground, holding herself even tighter. Words of Fritjoff went through her head, repeatedly.

'Under my hand, you do what I say. Without me, you're better off dead. Conceal yourself and always bow.'

Those are the words that were stuck to her head. Sound as clear as if he was here. But he wasn't. Fritjof wasn't here. She was alone. Away from him! Away from his rules. Free to do what she wants.

"Well, who's the master now?" With one swift motion, Elsa pulled off the gauntlet from her right hand. Both hands were now free. Free to express her magic.

"Let it go. Let it go. Can't listen to you anymore!" Elsa made a small swirl of with each of her hands individually. Then she swirls them both together close to her chest. She decided to shoot her magic right into the air. "Let it go! Let it go! Turn away and not be yours!" The young girl glances to her side and used both of her hands to made bigger gusts of snow, which she repeated again. "I don't care about what you say! Let the storm rage on! The cold never bothered me anyway!"

With a smile on her face, she towards the mountain in front of her. An idea popped into her head. One that made her smile grew as she made her way towards the mountain top

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small." She briefly faces the mountain range all around her. "And the abuse that once controlled me can't get to me at all!"

With that, she ran closer to the top. Separating her from it was a gorge that was in between. This didn't stop her.

"It's time to see what I can do! To test the limits and break through No right, no wrong, no rules for me!" With one swift motion of her arms, the bottom of a staircase covered with frost appears near the edge of the gorge. She ran towards it and examines her creation. Placing her foot on the first step the frost cleared away, revealing an icy surface. "I'm free!"

Sticking out her arms, she ran up as a beautiful ice staircase extended in front of her all the way until she reached the top. "Let it go! Let it go! I'm one with the wind and sky! Let it go! Let it go! You'll never see me cry! Here I stand, and here I stay!" Elsa ran to the center of the large cliff. With a big stomp, a giant snowflake formed beneath her. "Let the storm rage on."

The ice wielder lifted her arms as the snowflake below her became a platform. It lifted her perhaps several stories high into the air. But Elsa was not done yet.

"My power flurries through the air into the ground! My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around! And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast!"

With another motion, Elsa places her magic on the snowflake platform before lifting her arms up. Large walls of ice raise up all around her as they go even higher. One the walls finished growing, the large triangular ceiling formed. The young looked around the ice room she had created. All this time she never figures she was capable of making something this amazing! As she continues to look she caught a reflection of herself on one of the icy walls. Her reflection stared back at her, with the cuff and chain still stuck to her neck.

"I'm never going back, the past is in the past!" Frost form on the chain as Elsa had it in her grip. The frost formed until the neck chain & cuff were completely covered. With one hard pull, Elsa broke the neck cuff off of her. "Let it go! Let it go!" She gave her neck a nice soothing rub.

Looking at her reflection again she took notice of the old, ugly dress she wore. Another idea came to her head. Ice formed on the bottom of her dress. As it rose, the ugly fabric of her dress became a beautiful shade of blue. She even manages to create sleeves, and ice shoes on her bare feet.

"And I'll rise like the break of dawn! Let it go! Let it go! That timid girl is gone!"

Once her new outfit had been made, Elsa walked over to the other side of the room. Lifting up her hands, she created a pair of large doors. Once complete, she opened them and started to make a large balcony.

"Here I stand in the light of day! Let the storm rage on!"

And just like that, it was done. Elsa looked at the exterior of her creation. It had resembled a palace from the books she had read. Perhaps with time, she will make improvements. But it was perfect. This whole place is a perfect place to live for her and Olaf. After all.

"The cold never bothered me anyway!"

With that, she went back inside. Closing the doors behind her. Thus, begging her life of solitude in the mountain.

Both eyelids open slowly. The room around her was somewhat brighter than it was earlier. Elsa rubbed her eyes as she sat up on her bed, a yawn escaped her mouth as well. She felt...relaxed. Something caught her eye when she gave her arms a stretch. In a corner not too far from her head, Anna and Kristoff were slumped against the wall, sleeping soundly.

"They've been here all night." A voice gave her a slight jump.

"Olaf! I've told you not to do that."

"Sorry."

Elsa returns her glance to her sleeping friends. A warm feeling grew in her, knowing that they have chosen to stay by her side all night.

"You seem happy."

"They gave me some advice, and it worked."

"That's great!" Olaf exclaimed. "Shouldn't we wake them up?"

Elsa took a quick glance at her window. Dawn is peaking its way through the mountain range. But Elsa figures it was still early.

"We'll give them a little while."

"Okay. I'll go play with Sven!" Olaf waddled his way out of the room.

After the snowman left, Elsa returns her gaze on her sleeping friends. It really makes her wonder if she really did deserve to have them as friends. Even all these months they stood by her, helped her, teach her everything they know. Perhaps fate finally decided to be kind to her. Sometimes she feared something would take them away, whether by her friend's terms or some other malicious force. Well, there was no way that was gonna happen. She would not allow that.

And if someone, or Fritjof, does hurt them she will protect her friends at any cost.

Guess who decided to get off her lazy ass and decided to post this baby? You can promptly thank the Frozen 2 teaser for the motivation.

Anyways, we now know the mystery of Elsa's caretaker. I apologize if this chapter seems a bit messy. I finished and edited it last night and I did not want to keep you guys waiting any longer. Next chapter will hopefully be more light filled. And hey, you can't have Frozen without 'Let it Go'.

And before some of you may ask, Kristoff and Fritjof are not related. And let me tell you now, this won't be the last time we hear of Fritjof.

Thank you for the favs, follows, and reviews. Happy reading.