"Excuse me, pardon me, coming through!" Anna muttered, weaving through clusters of nobles who were already turning towards the Great Hall where the ball would be held.
Her emerald gown swished around her ankles, a hindrance she wasn't used to. People offered polite nods or curious glances, but Anna barely noticed. Her target was Elsa, who was being quickly enveloped by a phalanx of castle advisors and visiting dignitaries near the main doors. Kai, the ever-present steward, was already murmuring something in Elsa's ear, guiding her away from the main flow of guests. Anna recognized the look on Kai's face – the same gentle but firm concern he always showed when dealing with anything related to Elsa's seclusion.
He knew something, Anna was sure of it, but like everyone else, he never spoke of it.
No, no, don't take her away again! Anna thought frantically. It felt like the last thirteen years condensed into a single moment – Elsa, just within reach, but being spirited away behind walls, visible or invisible.
"Elsa!" Anna called out, her voice higher than she intended, cutting through the polite murmur of the crowd for a moment.
Several heads turned, including, for a brief, heart-stopping second, Elsa's.
Their eyes met across the crowded space. Anna saw surprise flicker in Elsa's blue gaze, swiftly followed by something else – a flash of longing, a deep yearning that mirrored Anna's own. For a fraction of a second, Elsa's carefully constructed mask seemed to crack. Her lips parted slightly, as if to speak Anna's name, and she took a small, almost involuntary step towards Anna, her hand slightly outstretched before seeming to remember herself and pulling it back sharply. But before Anna could react, before she could bridge the distance, Kai placed a firm but gentle hand on Elsa's arm. He murmured something low and urgent, his expression professionally calm but insistent.
Elsa hesitated, her gaze lingering on Anna for one more agonizing second, a silent apology in her eyes, before the ingrained habit of obedience and fear took over. She gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod to Kai and allowed herself to be steered towards the side corridor, disappearing from Anna's view.
The moment, fragile and fleeting, was shattered.
Frustration surged through Anna, hot and sharp, mingling with a pang of disappointment so keen it almost hurt.
She stopped, momentarily blocked by the broad back of a visiting Duke discussing trade routes.
She wanted to come, Anna realized with a jolt. She actually wanted to. That tiny step, that look in her eyes – it wasn't just Anna reaching out. Elsa was reaching back, however hesitantly. But the barriers – protocol, fear, Kai, thirteen years of separation – were still too strong. Anna took a deep breath, forcing down the childish urge to stomp her foot or shout.
Fine. Elsa had tried. That was something. It was everything .
If she couldn't reach Elsa now, she would find her at the ball.
Tonight, things would be different.
Tonight, they would break through those barriers.
Squaring her shoulders, Anna turned and began to follow the main throng of guests heading towards the music and lights of the Great Hall, her earlier excitement now tempered with a fierce, unwavering, and newly hopeful determination.
The Great Hall was even more magnificent than Anna had remembered from childhood glimpses.
Hundreds, maybe thousands, of candles blazed in chandeliers and sconces, reflecting off the polished floor and the jewels of the guests. Music swelled from a full orchestra tucked into an alcove, a lively melody that invited dancing. Long tables laden with food – cakes piled high, glistening roasts, towers of pastries, and fountains flowing with… was that chocolate? – lined the walls. The air buzzed with laughter, conversation, and the rustle of silk and velvet.
It was everything Anna had dreamed of during the long, quiet years – life, noise, people, chocolate !
For a moment, the sheer spectacle overwhelmed her, the years of closed doors making the vibrant scene almost too much.
She blinked, taking it all in, a giddy smile touching her lips despite her frustration. But the smile faded as her gaze swept the room, automatically searching.
Where was Elsa?
The hall was vast, filled with swirling dancers and clusters of chatting guests. Anna stood on her tiptoes near the entrance, scanning the crowd. She spotted the Duke of Weselton, small and pompous, already trying to engage some dignitaries. She saw various nobles she vaguely recognized, and many faces entirely new to her. She even caught a glimpse of Prince Hans near the chocolate fountain, looking effortlessly charming as he spoke with a group of ladies, but Anna felt only a flicker of annoyance that he wasn't Elsa.
Her stomach twisted with a familiar mix of hope and anxiety.
Elsa had to be here somewhere. This was her coronation ball, after all.
But what if she decided not to come? What if the strain of the ceremony, the near-exposure of her… whatever that strange frost thing was… had sent her retreating back to her room, locking the door once more?
The thought sent a chill down Anna's spine, colder than any draft in the castle.
No, she told herself firmly. She wouldn't. Not tonight. She looked like she wanted to connect.
Taking another fortifying breath, Anna plunged into the throng. She offered polite smiles and nods as she navigated the crowded floor, her eyes constantly scanning, searching for that tell-tale flash of platinum blonde hair or the regal teal and purple fabric.
"Have you seen the Queen?" she asked a passing courtier, who merely shrugged and gestured vaguely towards the dais at the far end of the room.
Anna headed that way, dodging waltzing couples. The dais was empty except for the ornate throne. Disappointment warred with determination.
She wouldn't give up.
Elsa had to be here.
Anna would find her.
She circled the edge of the dance floor, peering into alcoves and scanning the groups near the food tables.
Then, she saw her. Standing near a tall window overlooking the fjord, partly obscured by a velvet curtain, was Elsa. She was still wearing the heavy coronation robes, the teal cape draped over her shoulders, looking somewhat out of place amidst the lighter ballgowns. She hadn't even taken off the crown. She held a glass, untouched, in her gloved hand, and her posture was still rigid, her gaze fixed on the dark water outside, seemingly oblivious to the swirling party behind her.
Anna's heart gave a hopeful leap. There she is! Still in her coronation outfit? Maybe she hasn't had a chance to change... or maybe she doesn't want to? Probably doesn't even know how to act at a party after being alone for so long.
Anna started forward, a direct path clearing in her mind through the dancers. This was it. She just needed to reach her, say hello, maybe ask how she was doing. Anything to break the ice that had existed between them for far too long. She was only a few yards away when a voice spoke directly beside her, making her jump.
"Princess Anna? Lost in the revelry, or perhaps searching for a dance partner?"
Anna turned, her hopeful momentum abruptly halted. It was Prince Hans again, appearing as if from nowhere, that same practiced, charming smile fixed on his face.
He offered a small, elegant bow. "The orchestra is playing a lovely waltz," he continued smoothly, gesturing towards the dance floor. "Might I have the honor?"
Anna stared at him, momentarily speechless. Her mind was entirely focused on Elsa, standing so close yet still so far, looking fragile and alone by the window in her formal robes. Hans's interruption felt like hitting a wall.
"Oh! Uh," Anna stammered, her eyes flicking past him towards her sister. Elsa hadn't seemed to notice their exchange; she was still gazing out the window. "Thank you, Prince Hans, but I was just… I saw my sister, and I really need to…"
"Ah, Queen Elsa," Hans said, his gaze following hers briefly before returning to Anna, his smile tightening almost imperceptibly. "She cuts a stunning figure, does she not? Even still in her ceremonial attire. But surely even a Queen must allow her sister a moment of enjoyment at her own coronation ball? One dance?" He held out his hand expectantly.
Anna felt a surge of impatience bordering on rudeness. Didn't he understand? This wasn't about enjoyment or dancing; it was about reconnecting with the most important person in her life.
"Really, I appreciate the offer," she said, trying to keep her tone polite but firm, already starting to edge around him. "But I haven't spoken to Elsa properly all day. If you'll excuse me…"
Her focus was entirely on Elsa again, willing her sister to turn around, to see her pushing through the last few people between them. Hans was just an obstacle, albeit a handsome and persistent one.
She took a determined step sideways, intending to bypass him completely, but Hans smoothly shifted his position, subtly blocking her path again.
"Princess, please," he said, his voice dropping slightly, becoming more earnest, though his smile remained fixed. "Just one dance. Think of the diplomatic implications – the Southern Isles would be so honored. And perhaps," he added, leaning in slightly, "it might even make the Queen notice her sister enjoying herself."
Anna froze. The implication, however politely phrased, felt manipulative. Was he suggesting Elsa would only pay attention if Anna was dancing with him ? The idea was absurd and vaguely insulting. Her protective instincts flared again, overriding any lingering sense of politeness.
"Prince Hans," she said, her voice suddenly sharp, losing all pretense of charm. "My sister and I have thirteen years of silence to break through. That is far more important than any diplomatic dance. Now, if you really want to be charming, you'll step aside."
Hans looked momentarily taken aback by her directness, his smile faltering for a split second before snapping back into place. He finally stepped back, executing another shallow bow. "As you wish, Princess. My apologies for interrupting your… reunion." There was a faint edge to his voice now, a coolness beneath the charm that hadn't been there before.
Anna didn't spare him another glance. Her full attention snapped back to Elsa. She was still by the window, but she had turned slightly, perhaps drawn by Anna's raised voice. Her gaze met Anna's across the remaining distance. There was apprehension in Elsa's eyes now, but also that same flicker of longing Anna had seen earlier.
Taking a deep breath, Anna closed the final few steps between them, her heart pounding not with anxiety this time, but with fierce, hopeful anticipation.
"Elsa?" she said softly, finally reaching her sister's side.
Elsa startled, turning fully towards Anna with a quick, nervous movement. Her gloved hands tightened on the stem of her untouched glass. Up close, Anna could see the faint shadows under her sister's eyes, the tension lines around her mouth barely softened by the candlelight. The heavy fabric of the coronation gown seemed to weigh her down.
"Anna," Elsa replied, her voice barely above a whisper, sounding rusty, unused. "You… you look lovely."
It was a stilted, formal compliment, but it was something . It was Elsa speaking to her . A wide, genuine smile spread across Anna's face, chasing away the last of her frustration with Hans.
"You too! I mean, wow, Elsa! That dress is… it's incredible! So… queenly! And sparkly!" Anna gestured enthusiastically, nearly knocking over a nearby candelabra before catching herself.
Smooth, Anna, real smooth.
A tiny smile flickered across Elsa's lips, so faint Anna almost missed it.
"Thank you."
The smile vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that familiar guardedness. Elsa's gaze darted nervously around the nearby guests, as if expecting someone to overhear or interrupt. She seemed unsure how to stand, how to hold herself in a conversation.
"It's… quite a party," she offered, her voice still quiet, hesitant.
"It's amazing!" Anna agreed, leaning in slightly, trying to create a small bubble of privacy for them amidst the crowd, trying to project some of her own ease onto her sister. "The gates are open, there's music, and dancing, and that incredible chocolate fountain! Did you see it? We have to try it! Remember how we always dreamed of having a chocolate fountain?" Anna's words tumbled out in an excited rush, years of pent-up conversation suddenly bubbling to the surface. She wanted to talk about everything – the party, the years apart, why Elsa had shut her out, why she always seemed so scared.
Elsa flinched almost imperceptibly at the mention of their shared past. Her eyes clouded over with something Anna couldn't quite read – fear? Sadness? Guilt?
"Yes, I… I remember," Elsa murmured, her gaze dropping to the floor. She took a small step back, creating a subtle distance between them again. "Anna, perhaps… perhaps you should go enjoy the party. Mingle. Dance." She sounded like she was reciting lines someone else had told her to say.
The suggestion felt like a gentle dismissal, a polite way of pushing Anna away yet again, and it stung. Anna's hopeful smile faltered.
"But… I want to mingle with you ," she said, her voice softer now, tinged with hurt. "Elsa, it's been so long. Can't we just… talk? Like we used to?"
Elsa looked up, her expression torn. There was a visible struggle behind her eyes – the longing Anna had seen earlier warring with deep-seated fear, the fear of someone completely out of their depth in any social situation, let alone this one.
"Anna, I… I can't," she whispered, her voice strained. "It's not safe. I'm not…" She trailed off, shaking her head slightly, her gloved hands twisting together. "You should stay away from me."
Each word was a tiny shard of ice piercing Anna's heart. Stay away? After all this time? After finally getting the gates open? The protective possessiveness surged again, stronger this time, mixed with confusion and hurt.
"Stay away?" Anna echoed, bewildered. "Why? Elsa, what are you talking about? What aren't you telling me?"
Elsa looked genuinely panicked now, her eyes wide and darting towards the crowd as if searching for an escape route.
"Nothing! I'm not talking about anything!" Her voice rose slightly, attracting a few curious glances from nearby guests. "It's just… this is all too much. I'm not used to… people." She gestured vaguely at the swirling dancers. "You are. You should go be with them. Please, Anna."
"But I don't want to be with them, I want to be with you !" Anna insisted, her hurt making her voice louder than she intended. Frustrated by the invisible wall Elsa kept throwing up, Anna reached out instinctively, wanting to bridge the physical distance between them, wanting to offer comfort. She grabbed Elsa's gloved hand. "Elsa, please just tell me what's wrong!"
The reaction was instantaneous and violent.
Elsa gasped, yanking her hand away as if burned, stumbling back a step.
"Don't!" she cried out, her voice sharp with terror. The sudden movement and her cry caused more heads to turn. The music seemed to falter for a beat. Whispers started near them, louder this time. Elsa looked horrified, staring at her own gloved hand, then at Anna, then at the watching guests. Her breathing grew shallow and rapid.
"I told you to stay away!" she choked out, backing further towards the window, cornered. "You don't understand! Just… leave me alone!"
Anna recoiled, stunned and hurt by the force of Elsa's reaction. Leave her alone? That was the last thing Anna wanted.
"Elsa, wait!" she pleaded, taking a step forward, ignoring the stares from the surrounding guests. "I don't understand! Why are you acting like this? Why won't you just talk to me?"
"Because you wouldn't understand!" Elsa retorted, her voice trembling, laced with a desperation that bordered on hysteria. "No one understands! I can't… I can't control it!"
"Control what ?" Anna asked, completely bewildered. "Control what, Elsa? Tell me!"
Elsa squeezed her eyes shut, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. The air around her seemed to crackle with tension. She looked ready to bolt, ready to shatter. Seeing her sister so close to breaking, and realizing the scene they were causing, Elsa visibly fought for composure. She took a ragged breath, opened her eyes – still wide with panic but now overlaid with a desperate attempt at queenly authority – and forced her voice into a semblance of calm, though it trembled.
"The… the party will continue," she announced, her voice strained but loud enough to carry over the whispers. She gave a jerky, unconvincing wave towards the orchestra, urging them to resume playing.
The musicians hesitated, looking towards Kai, who had materialized silently beside Elsa, his face a mask of professional concern. Two guards also moved closer, not towards Anna, but flanking Elsa protectively, subtly creating space around the Queen. Anna noticed the guards exchanged brief, worried glances over Elsa's head – they clearly sensed her distress, even if they didn't understand the cause. A tall, stern-looking man wearing the captain's insignia – a polished silver badge bearing the castle's standard Anna recognized as Captain Erik's mark – stepped forward slightly, his hand resting near the hilt of his sword, his attention settling on Elsa with quiet, protective vigilance.
Kai gave the orchestra leader a small nod, and the music hesitantly started up again, though many guests were still watching the sisters with rapt, uneasy curiosity.
"Your Majesty," Kai murmured softly to Elsa, his voice low and steady. "Perhaps a moment away from the main hall?"
Elsa looked wildly from Kai to Anna, then back to the staring crowd. Trapped. She nodded jerkily, unable to speak. With Kai on one side and the guards, including the watchful Captain, subtly shielding her other side, Elsa allowed herself to be gently guided away from the window, away from Anna, towards a less conspicuous side door. She didn't look back this time, her shoulders slumped beneath the heavy robes, the picture of controlled retreat.
Anna watched them go, her hand still outstretched slightly from where Elsa had pulled away.
The music played on, couples began to tentatively dance again, but the festive atmosphere felt punctured, strained.
Anna stood alone near the window, the cold glass reflecting her confused and worried face. Elsa hadn't run, hadn't ended the party, but she had fled nonetheless, leaving Anna with more questions than answers and a deepening ache of worry for her sister. What couldn't Elsa control? And why was she so terrified?
The reunion Anna had dreamed of felt further away than ever.
