Terror on the Mind

The Next Day…

A million things went through Elsa's head when Kai informed her that her father wanted to see her alone in his study. She nervously twiddles her hands, keeping her gaze low as she follows Kai to the King's study. What does her father want to speak to her about? Was it regarding what happened yesterday with Johnson? She didn't know and would have waited until she saw him.

Elsa sees her father's study doors. Kai knocks on them to make his presence known. He sticks his head in, speaking to somebody before gesturing to Elsa to go in. Then the ice wielder walks in, with the door closing behind, to see her father sitting on the sofa with a small smile.

"You wanted to see me, Papa?"

"Yes dear. I wish to talk to you about something." Agdar approached the empty spot beside him, inviting Elsa to sit down.

"Is this still about what I did to Johnson yesterday?" Elsa questioned with a hint of fear in her voice. Hearing her speak that way broke Agdar's heart.

"It's related…somewhat. But I'm not mad if you're worried about that."

Elsa looked relieved to hear that. "Oh, good. He's doing fine last I heard. I apologized for punching him. Johnson also apologized for invading my space. He seemed genuine."

That was also a relief for Agdar. Looks like Storstrand did his magic as always. At least he doesn't have to worry about a guard holding a grudge. Still he wanted to be sure. "It's nice that you both made up, but I want to make sure that you know if he or anyone else is giving you trouble let me, or at least Storstand know. I swear well will take care of it."

"I know, papa."

"But Johnson is who I don't want to talk about. It's more the subject that led to you punching him. Or rather, who."

"What do you mean?" Elsa tilted her head.

Agdar turns away from her, letting out a deep breath. "…Fritjof."

The King swore he felt the temperature drop by a few degrees. If she was nervous Elsa appeared to do a good job hiding it. "Why?"

"I want to know more about him."

"What's there to know?" Elsa sits back, crossing her arms and legs. "He took me from you guys and held me prisoner for five years."

"I know that. But what I want to ask is…Has he ever tried looking for you?"

"If he tried, he didn't do an excellent job. I haven't seen him since I escaped, and I want it to stay that way."

"Believe me, so do I." Agnar quipped in a low tone. "Do you ever get worried about him finding you."

"I've had that thought every day for the past ten years. Even now." Elsa gives her father a quizzical look. "Why are you asking me this, papa?"

Agnar gives out a tired breath. "Councilman Gadd brought this concern to me shortly after we met with him. He has a reason to believe that when you reveal yourself to the public, your captor could come after you again."

"I don't think he would. I'm sure he probably left the country at this point."

"Are you certain of that?"

Elsa opened her mouth but then closed it. She did not have a clear answer.

"You were about eight when you escaped him, right?" Elsa nodded her head in response. "Maybe the reason Fritjof did not find you was mostly because he did not think you would live long. You were a young child isolated from the world. He likely did not believe you would survive in the wilderness."

"But I didn't."

"No, you didn't. Despite the odds, you did survive. Long enough for you to come back to us." A grim pause lingers. "But he probably does not know that. For all he knows, you died when you were a child. Nobody expects a child, much less an eight-year-old, to live independently in the wilderness. What do you think he'll do if he learns that you're alive and back in our care?"

It was a good question, Elsa will admit to herself. Though it had been years since her escape, she could still remember Fritjof's cruel nature as clearly as day. She had seen firsthand what he is capable of & what he is willing to do to get what he wants.

"I'm not sure if he is stupid enough to try to retake me."

"And you know what, you're probably right." Agdar agreed. "If he was smart, he would've left the country like you said and not show up around here again. But not all criminals are smart. Some are so blinded with pride that they think they could get away with it again. It's a small chance but still a chance remains that he could try again. And maybe he'll resort to extreme methods."

"What do you mean?" Elsa questions fearfully.

Agdar had thought over the possibilities of how Fritjof could potentially strike back. He did not want to share them with Elsa. The last thing he wanted was to make her highly anxious. However, as long as this man is still around, Elsa is in danger. If not her, then the people close.

"He could target us…He could hurt me. Your mother. Or, God forbid, Anna."

Elsa could feel her heart, metaphorically as she tells herself, drop from her chest. That was never an idea she had fathomed before. It brings her back to that nightmare she had the night she told Anna & Kristoff about Fritjof where it depicted him killing them. Hearing that could possibly make her feel nothing but dread inside.

"I-I never thought about that." Elsa breathes out. "Could he really do that?"

"It's possible. Evil people are not above targeting their enemy's loved ones to hurt them," Agdar stated.

"I don't want him to hurt any of you guys. I don't want you to get hurt because of me." Elsa trembles at her words.

"I swear to you it won't come to that, and even if it did, it would not be your fault, snowflake." Agdar gently grabs Elsa's hands, using his thumb to stroke her knuckles comfortably. "The reason for me asking is because if there's a possibility that he's still in the country we can capture him to ensure he never hurts you or anyone else again."

"What if he isn't in the country?"

"Then we let other kingdoms know. See if Frijof's running rampant in their lands. Or, if we're lucky, in their prisons. And if he's nowhere in the European vicinity then we can assume that he's either far away or dead."

Elsa's eyes glance elsewhere. She was unsure what to say. It would be nice to know if her former captor is free-roaming. On the other hand, she wasn't sure if she was ready to revisit the memories of the dark five years of her life.

As if he could read her uneasiness, Agdar placed a comforting touch on her shoulder. "We don't have to get into the details today. It's only something I want you to think about for a time. You can tell me whenever you're ready."

"I…I'll think about it," Elsa responded.

"Good. You can go now. I think I tortured you enough for today."

"Believe me, I've had worse torture," Elsa said with a scoff.

Agdar decided to not press on whatever she meant by that and to be frank, he probably didn't want to at this time…

Elsa strolls through the gardens of the castle. Many beautiful flowers were blooming all around. The plants glowed in a healthy, ripe green. There was even a family of ducks, with ducklings swimming around the pond. Elsa reached into her pocket to throw food into the pond, and the ducklings rushed over to gobble them up. Elsa giggled at the sight.

A light rumble from the bushes caught her ears. Scrambling out were several of the Snowgies who were chasing each other. Elsa giggled at the sight.

She follows the Snowgies throughout the garden. During her trek, she saw her parents having tea under the gazebo, with Olaf sitting at the table with them munching on some small cakes. All three waved with happy smiles.

She then catches sight of Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Marshmallow having a picnic. They too gave a wave to her. Anna's smile gave the biggest grin on her face. Elsa returns a friendly wave & smiles back at all of them. The Snowgies shuffle near her feet. They darted out of her sight. With a giggle she followed them in the direction they went off to.

No matter how hard she looked, Elsa could not find her little snow friends. Strangely enough, she could no longer hear their usual squeaking. In fact, she could not hear anything at all of a sudden.

Elsa found herself in a secluded section of the gardens trying to find any sign of the Snowgies.

What she did find was a hooded figure.

The person was admiring a flower bed. They stroke their fingers on the pedals. The person let out a chuckle.

"Beautiful flowers, aren't they?" The man didn't look at Elsa. "A shame you won't be here long to truly admire them."

Elsa froze in place as the man spoke familiar words. "Fritjof?"

He turns in her direction, grinning wickedly at him. His eyes shine through the shadow's of his hood.

"Did you think I was gone forever?" Fritjof taunted as he strolled over to her. Circling around and playfully strokes her braid. "What's the matter, darlin'? Aren't you happy to see an old friend?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Taking back what's mine. I will commend you for avoiding my grasp for ten long years. But you let your guard down. All because you foolishly put your faith that your 'family' could keep you safe."

"Papa promised me that he would…"

"Ah yes, because that worked out SO well last time."

Elsa slowly walked backward to try to move away from Fritjof. That's when she felt her back hit against a stone surface.

A stone wall towered over her. It is not just a wall but a dark, tiny room. The cold, hard metal felt around her hands. Elsa's hands had metal gauntlets chained together. Another chain connected to the floor, limiting her mobility. The ice wielder panicked as she tried to free herself from her bounds.

"There's no need for that, dear. You're nicely safe & secure back in my care. Where you belong." Fritjof's voice purrs, sending chills up Elsa's spine.

"You can't keep me here! I escaped once! I'll do it again." Elsa spat back.

"And I'll find you every time, darlin'," Frijof cups her chin, staring down at her like he was looking deep into her soul. "You run as far as you want, but I will find you as long as I'm out there. Not even your family can keep you safe. And believe me, I'll ensure they'll never find you again."

He pulled out a bag, dumping the contents to prove his point. Elsa's eyes widened with shock. Laid before her were several recognizable items.

Kristoff's snow hat. Her mother's broach. Her father's crown. And most horrible of them all, Anna's braids sliced off.

Every single one of them had spots of blood.

All she could do is scream

Elsa darted upward from her bed with a gasp. Cold sweat lingers on her skin as she pants out. It took minutes for her to calm herself down and to see she was safe in her room back at the castle.

Unable to return to sleep, Elsa dangles her legs on the side of her bed, leaning on her knees, hands intertwining with her hair.

How much time had passed that Elsa had spent in that position, she didn't know. All she could do was think. And think. And think even more. When she was done thinking, she realized she could not go on like this.

She stood from the bed, put on a robe, and exited her room. She walked to the door leading into her parents' bedchambers. Elsa knocks on the door. Minutes of shuffling come from inside before the door opens, with Agdar rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Elsa? What's wrong?"

The ice wielder puts herself into a hug, letting out low sobs into his chest. Agdar immediately returns the hug, no questions asked. He whispers soothing words.

Some time had passed before Elsa pulled away from her father, wiping the tears out of her eyes and sniffling her nose. She then looks straight into her father's eyes.

"I'll tell you everything. Everything about Fritjof."

I swear I'll try to make future chapters longer T_T...

But Elsa is now open to talk more about Fritjof. We'll see how that turns out.

And I remembered that Frozen is now 10 years old. Like good Lord, its been that long already...I still remember the internet being all crazy about it (in good & bad ways) the first few months after it came out. Time flies eh?

Thanks for the favs, follows, and reviews. And Happy 10th to Frozen!