A/N: Thanks for clicking on my story!:) Obviously I don't own Frozen, by the way...:)
This is a sequel to "Mind Games"; I think it'll be understandable without reading it first, but you'll probably like it better if you do.:)
Important info for new readers: It's about six months or so after the Great Thaw. (Right after Christmas.) There are two OC's that I promise will NOT take over the story. Anikka is a five-year-old orphan Elsa met back in the summer. [She made a brief appearance in "The Coming Storm".] Eleven-year-old Kiara is Hans's little sister. At the moment she is staying in a guest room in Arendelle castle. [Kiara was a secondary character in "Mind Games".] Hans is in the castle dungeon. Elsa's and Anna's parents have returned to Arendelle, and after a rocky start, they actually had a happy family Christmas together for the first time.:)
I think that's everything! On to the story!:)
"Come on, Elsa, you aren't giving yourself a chance to get your strength back," Anna told her sister. "All you do every single day since right after Christmas is push yourself past your limits and end up collapsing on the floor. You aren't strong enough to go set off fireworks and firecrackers and whatever in the courtyard yet. We can still have the 'New Year's party which is also Princess Anna's postponed birthday party', but you can't go by yourself. You're gonna need help."
Elsa had fallen seriously ill on her sister's birthday a few days before Christmas. Although Marshmallow and Rania, a small snowgirl Elsa had accidentally made upon Olaf's request, had sacrificed themselves to save Elsa's life; Elsa was still weak and she became exhausted quickly. She could barely walk down the hall from her room to the castle library without trouble. She also had a sprained wrist from a fall she had taken while she was sick that was still healing. And she still couldn't hear quite as well as she could before she had been so ill, although Elsa knew her ears were getting better every day and were almost back to normal. "Anna, the new year is not going to wait for me to be back to normal," Elsa said ruefully. "I am not going to cancel all the festivities that should be taking place for the first time in thirteen years just because of me. Besides, everyone knows I was sick already. It won't matter if I'm not completely well again and people see me." I won't like it, but it won't mess up my public image, I don't think. At least not any more than it would be anyway.
"Elsa, think carefully about what you're doing," her father warned. "You have brains in your head. Use them. The general public knows you were sick, yes. They don't know just how ill you were. Do you really want to appear as an invalid young girl in public? Our people may not care, but you are asking to get Arendelle or yourself directly attacked from outside sources. You should cancel everything until you're better…you shouldn't appear in public needing to be carried about or, worse yet, collapsing because you've pushed yourself too much."
"I can still defend myself if I have to," Elsa replied stubbornly, frowning. I can't mess up Anna's party yet again. What about everyone else in Arendelle besides?
Agdar looked his eldest daughter straight in the face. "Look at yourself, Elsa. You're leaning on the furniture because you still get tired standing up. You also only have slightly more than half of your built-in defenses available for you to use right now. Not to mention I highly doubt your…special abilities are working as strong as they would ordinarily at the moment."
Elsa scowled at that. "My powers are just fine. They just make me tired faster, that's all. Papa, I just don't want to mess up all the festivities just because of me…again," she said softly.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself and everyone around you. You have no reason to feel guilty if you cancel," Agdar said flatly. "Elsa, you know I still don't like those special abilities of yours, but they are Arendelle's most valuable defense-and offense, for that matter. You and I both know it. You cannot defend your country in your condition, and that is what you are going to end up needing to do if you appear in public like you are."
"I'm fine," Elsa insisted. "I can deal with things. I'm not helpless."
Without a word, Agdar grabbed Elsa's right hand and squeezed her wrist-not roughly, but slightly more than gently.
Elsa involuntarily cried out and stumbled backwards into the wall, holding her injured wrist close against her chest. Anna was instantly at her sister's side, just holding her close and giving her a hug. "Dad, why on earth did you do that to her?!" Anna demanded. "You know Elsa's wrist still hurts her sometimes!"
"Exactly another reason why she shouldn't appear in public until she's completely better," Agdar replied unregretfully. "Elsa, if just that caused the reaction you just made, you would be in serious trouble if someone tried to attack you, don't you think? You aren't helpless, true. But you aren't the extremely difficult to defeat ice mage right now, either. If someone wants to attack you, what do you think they're going to go after?"
"Either my wrist or my stupid leg," Elsa replied. "But Papa, you know my leg isn't going to ever be completely better. I'll always have to wear a brace to be able to walk…" My friend Kiara didn't mean to hurt me permanently, though…I'm okay. Elsa winced as Anna carefully rewrapped part of the bandage around her wrist. It didn't hurt as much as it had at first, but it was still sore.
Agdar awkwardly put one hand under his daughter's chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "That isn't something you can help. You are forbidden to feel bad about your leg. It isn't your fault."
Elsa smiled slightly and hesitantly held her arms out for a hug; then abruptly backed away and blinked back tears when her father just frowned at her in response. "Please, Papa?" she whispered. She felt Anna hugging her tightly and immediately felt better. Papa's just acting strange around me 'cause I'm still not completely recovered, that's all. Right?
Anna waited a few seconds, but neither Elsa or their father said anything else. Anna simply picked her sister up and carried her down the hall and downstairs. Elsa didn't protest, but she bit her lip, thinking hard about what her father had told her. Papa does have a point…it's just…won't it look all that much worse if I cancel? Wait, I know exactly what to do. "Anna, I am not canceling the party, but I'm not going, either. You will have to set off the first firework instead of me, that's all," she decided.
Anna made a face. She had more than enough patience to take care of her big sister constantly, but she had to admit she was growing tired of staying in the castle right by Elsa's side all the time. Yes, Anna had been fine in the castle when she was little, but still. She just wanted to go do something outside the castle with Elsa. I was looking forward to going to the New Year's celebrations with Elsa, even if she can't really do anything active right now. I don't understand why Dad thinks it'd be bad PR for Arendelle…I mean, everyone gets sick once in a while; it's just Elsa got REALLY sick.
And Anna was so tired of trying to make sure Elsa didn't hurt herself trying to do too much. Since the day after Christmas, Elsa had continued forcing herself to walk down the hall to the library, firmly insisting that she try by herself. "I'm not going to get stronger if I don't try," Elsa would insist. The selfish bit of Anna wanted to just let Gerda deal with her sister for awhile, but Anna knew that would be sure to hurt Elsa inside badly. So she stayed with Elsa constantly. I am not letting Elsa be hurt again. Period.
Elsa gave Anna a lopsided smile and wiggled herself out of her sister's arms, nearly sending herself sprawling. Okay…I didn't fall. Good. "Anna, you'll just have to be annoyed with me. I've made my decision. Go on out to the festivities by yourself in the courtyard. If you decide to go outside the castle gates, take two guards with you, just in case. I'm sorry I'm such a drag at the moment," she said softly. Elsa knew her little sister was starting to grow tired of helping her every minute, and while that knowledge stung, Elsa didn't blame Anna in the least. Really, Anna still taking care of me even though she's tired of it just proves she loves and cares about me.
Anna hesitated. "What about you? Who's going to take care of you? I'll not have you left alone again," she said firmly. "And what are you going to be doing?"
"Gerda will take care of me if I need help," Elsa replied. "Look, I don't belong out at the celebrations anyway. Papa is right. I'm still weak from being sick…it's all right, Anna. You can go. Goodness knows you've been literally right by my side ever since I got sick in the first place. I want you to go do something for yourself now." Elsa forced a convincing smile and just slowly limped out of the room blinking back tears. Anna doesn't need to have an 'invalid young girl' trying to follow her around. It's all right, Elsa. Quit being selfish. Elsa didn't understand why she was upset; she just still wanted her baby sister with her.
Elsa wasn't even really paying attention to where she was going when she found herself in the dark parlor plopped on the floor in the corner. What's wrong with me? I shouldn't be upset because Anna wants to go off and do something I can't do…
You're selfish, Elsa. Bad girl. Anna's been taking care of you for ages and you're being ungrateful. You didn't deserve any help at all if you were going to act like this. Elsa closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to get rid of the negative thoughts in her head. Maybe she should tell someone what was happening to her. She'd been absolutely happy the day after Christmas, but since then, Elsa had noticed that she would be perfectly fine one minute and then the next some negative put-down thought(s) would invade her mind and she would have trouble getting rid of it and the whole thing scared her. "I'm fine. Prob'ly just an aftereffect of being ill," she muttered to herself.
You can't tell anyone about it. You'll just be making Anna deal with more issues. You're supposed to be stronger now, Elsa! Get it together. Elsa ran her finger over the scar on her left wrist and shuddered. Not again. Not again. I know what will happen if I don't get my own thoughts under control. I'll try another attempt. I promised Anna I would never do that. I won't. Elsa realized there was a small shard of ice in her hand and almost instantly began crying. "I promised you, Anna! I promised…I will not do that again! I won't…" She slumped on her side, the sharp piece of ice stubbornly clutched in her fist. If I can keep the shard and not do anything, then that proves I'm fine.
You're pathetic, Elsa. Who are you fooling? You're just being stupid. No one needs you anyway…what's the big deal? Sure, Anna would be upset, but she'd get over it. Look. She left you to go to the New Year's festivities.
Shut up. Anna loves me. She may or may not need me, I don't know, but she cares about me. She just needed some time for herself. I told her to go by herself. Leave me alone. Wait…why am I talking to myself?
"Kai, where is Elsa?" Agdar asked. "I saw Anna go outside, but Elsa was not with her."
Kai frowned. "I thought she was in the library reading, sir."
"No, Anna carried her downstairs and I haven't seen her since. Kai, we need to find her. I am not sure, but she's been acting a little…off for the last few days. I don't know if it's just the whole recovery process getting to her or if it's something more." Agdar paused before adding, "And she needs to recover soon for another reason…the second someone from outside the castle finds out she's not her usual self, they'll try to take advantage of it."
Downstairs, Elsa still lay on the floor in the corner of the parlor still stubbornly clutching the sharp ice shard in her hand. I'm fine. I'm fine. It doesn't matter…I'm not going to do anything. I can hold it. That proves I'm okay. She subconsciously flinched when she felt rather than heard footsteps coming toward her, but she didn't move.
"Miss Elsa, what are you holding?" Gerda asked gently as she lit the kerosene lamp on the small table beside one of the chairs in the room. She gasped when she saw a few drops of blood near Elsa's pale hand. "Queen Elsa, what in the world are you doing?!" she demanded. Gerda quickly knelt by Elsa's side and pulled her close.
Elsa involuntarily let the ice shard slip out of her hand and just kept her eyes closed, unsuccessfully trying to keep her tears from falling as she buried her face in Gerda's shoulder. "There's something wrong with me, Gerda," she whimpered. "Please don't tell Anna…"
Gerda shook her head as she held Elsa tightly. She pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and pressed it into Elsa's hand. "Here, hold that instead, Miss Elsa," she said calmly. Gerda was fairly certain Elsa hadn't meant to cut her hand at all since she had just been lying on the floor, not even moving. I'll not ask her questions right now. I don't know what's going on, but we can get to the bottom of this.
Elsa suddenly realized her hand hurt, and she jerked away from Gerda and just looked at her hand. "I didn't even know I did that," she whispered. "I just…Gerda, what's wrong with me? Why did I do that? I swear I wasn't trying to hurt myself…I…I'm…I…those awful thoughts got in my head again and I thought if I could hold the shard without doing anything then that would prove I was okay…" And then I hurt myself anyway and didn't even know I did.
"Do you think you might be depressed?" Gerda asked as she picked the poor girl up and simply carried her out of the parlor toward the stairs.
"I don't know! All I know is I felt completely happy and strong inside that day we celebrated Christmas and since then negative thoughts keep bothering me more and more often. I don't understand what's happening to me, Gerda," Elsa admitted. "Is there something wrong with me?" Yes, there is. You didn't even know you cut up your own hand.
"I have an idea of what's going on, Miss Elsa," Gerda told her. "Do you know just what illness you had?" Elsa shook her head, and Gerda continued, "You had meningitis. I am fairly certain depression can be one of the aftereffects from that. Perhaps since you've been depressed in the past, it made you susceptible to that happening to you. This doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. It means you need help, and not just from your sister. She's three years younger than you, Miss Elsa. She doesn't have the same maturity level you do. Princess Anna is perfect for comforting you when you get upset, but she can't take care of you and help you recover on her own."
"I'm a burden to everyone around me," Elsa said softly. "I'm…I'm sorry…" You shouldn't have lived, Elsa. Your family could have found some other way to protect Arendelle from whatever danger is lurking around. You can't even protect yourself from yourself.
Gerda shook her head as she carried Elsa into her room. "No, Miss Elsa. You're a sweet girl that we are all lucky to have with us. Now just sit quietly and let's take care of that hand of yours." She gestured at Agdar, Idun, and Kai and shooed them all out. "Out at the moment, please," she said firmly. "Miss Elsa is safe. She was just in the parlor by herself. Leave for now. Thank you."
Elsa just sat quietly on her bed leaning against the pillows waiting for Gerda to come back. She took the handkerchief away from her hand and just stared at the damage. There was a single cut across her entire palm, and there were cuts across each finger from where she had been holding that shard so tightly. None of them were particularly deep, but she was still upset because she'd done it to herself and not even known. How did I not know I did that? I'm so stupid… And it's going to be hard to take care of that properly because my wrist is still messed up…
"Now let's take care of that," Gerda announced a moment later. She sat by Elsa's side and began removing the bandage supporting her wrist as gently as possible. "Miss Elsa, try to move it as little as possible until we're finished, all right? I'm very sorry if I'm hurting you."
Elsa just shrugged and didn't complain. Maybe she deserved for it to hurt. I just wish I could go back to like I was when I was little before the accident…and that's impossible… Elsa couldn't help flinching as Gerda gently cleaned her hand with a soft cloth and some cool water, but she didn't say anything.
"Try thinking about something that makes you happy, Miss Elsa," Gerda suggested.
"My kitten?" Elsa asked hopefully, looking at her Christmas present kitten, Kolfinnia, fast asleep on the foot of her bed.
"Whatever you like," Gerda assured her. She quickly taped a bandage over the cut across Elsa's palm; then took care of her fingers before carefully rewrapping her wrist. "There. All done, Miss Elsa."
Elsa took one glance at her hand and almost instantly started trying to blink tears away. My hand looks the way I feel inside. All torn up underneath everything on the outside covering up the hurt. What's wrong with me…? I chose to come back. I should be happy! She held her bandaged hand protectively against her chest and whispered a thank-you but couldn't bring herself to say anything else. Elsa's slender shoulders shook with sobs, and she didn't even understand why she was crying. Gerda was right there with her. And then she knew.
She wanted Anna. While Elsa fully understood why Anna could not be with her twenty-four seven, Elsa's damaged heart needed her baby sister to be with her. She was nothing without Anna. If it wasn't for Anna, she would still be trapped in her room completely isolated and lonely.
Gerda just picked Elsa up and held her close, not caring that the girl was the queen. Right now Elsa could not deal with things on her own. She needed help. "Miss Elsa, I don't know exactly what's hurting you, but we will get you better," she said firmly. Elsa isn't scared of being touched, so this has nothing to do with her powers…I still think it's simply from her illness. Maybe she'll recover on her own. She needs all of us to love and care for her constantly. "Will you talk about things?" Gerda asked.
"It hurts," Elsa said after a moment, not knowing how to express herself otherwise.
"What hurts exactly?" Gerda prompted. "No, no, Miss Elsa, leave your hand alone," she added hurriedly when Elsa started picking absentmindedly at one of her bandages.
I should just tell Gerda exactly what crossed my mind a minute ago… "My hand looks the way I feel inside. All torn up underneath everything on the outside covering up the hurt." Elsa held out her injured hand and made her signature snowflake, albeit painfully. That's one thing that's actually not messed up. My powers are just there. Just plain Elsa. Even when the rest of her is ruined. Elsa didn't realize she had spoken those words aloud.
Gerda gently pushed Elsa's hand down, not wanting her to hurt herself any more than she already was. "Make your snowflake with your other hand, Miss Elsa. And you are not ruined," she said firmly.
Elsa looked at Gerda through pain-clouded eyes. "How do you know?" she asked. "It never seems to matter what I do…I always end up hurt and in pain from something. Always. My parents never wanted a little girl like me in the first place. I…I just…Gerda, you have to fix me. Please. I can't deal with those awful s-suicidal thoughts again. Make them go away! Maybe I am useless…I'm…I…I can't even barely walk. All of me is messed up-on the outside and on the inside…why did I stay…?"
"I know you are not ruined because what I see is a beautiful girl who's simply had awful luck in life. Right now she just needs to recover." Gerda picked Elsa up and carried her over to the mirror before setting her down on her own feet. "Look at yourself, Miss Elsa. What do you see?"
"A pitiful little girl with a brace on her leg and a bandaged hand and wrist that thinks she's dressed for a party because she's wearing her favorite dress," Elsa said softly, turning away from her reflection. "And she looks a mess because she's messed up inside."
"Miss Elsa, stop it. You can't even see the brace on your leg, for one thing. Your hand will heal, too. And while I'm still convinced that ice-dress is scandalous, you do look pretty in it." Gerda paused; then added, "I see a sweet and intelligent young girl who needs to give herself a chance."
"You didn't say anything about me being messed up inside. See, even you know it's the truth," Elsa whispered. She slowly limped over to the window and just gazed outside. Please, someone just set me free. I'm tired of…me.
Elsa, you are free. It doesn't matter if you're useless or not. There are people here who love you. Elsa suddenly remembered the little snowflake necklace around her neck. "No fear. Love equals freedom," she whispered to herself. I remember what I saw…I am not finished yet. I just have to get better. Elsa turned to face Gerda and gave her a lopsided smile. "I don't think I'm going to be all better instantly, but I think I'm ready to try to stop being so…depressing. I'm sorry. What did you say you thought all my negative thoughts are coming from?"
"Elsa's not going to be happy with you if she finds out you're drinking that," Kristoff warned.
"Oh, relax, Kristoff," Anna replied. "It's not alcohol. I'm not stupid. Why don't you try one?" she asked, holding out her non-alcoholic margarita. "Why would I drink a real margarita anyway? Gross."
"If you didn't know what it was," Kristoff said firmly. "Are you positive that doesn't have alcohol in it?"
Anna nodded. "I asked, actually," she said confidently. "I'm worried about Elsa…I should go back home and at least check on her, and-" Anna's eyes went wide when she spotted bright orange flames from a few blocks away, and she immediately put her drink down and ran back toward the castle. "Kristoff, come on! Let's get Elsa! She can put that out!"
Kristoff caught her by the arm. "Anna, I saw Elsa a couple days after Christmas. Unless she's made a miracle recovery in the four days since then, there's no way she can make it all the way out here," he said quietly. "She seemed pretty drained and tired to me and as far as I know, all she was doing was trying to walk down the hall. We can't expect her to come all the way out here."
"But the fire…"
"We can go investigate. Maybe it's not as bad as we think," Kristoff suggested. "Come on!"
Eleven-year-old Kiara scowled when she saw her friend's hand during dinner. "Snow Queen Elsa, what did you do to your hand?" she asked curiously.
Elsa immediately jerked her bandaged hand back under the table out of sight. "I cut it…by accident," she said simply. "I don't want to talk about it." It was only half an accident, Elsa. If you hadn't been so stupid, it wouldn't have happened…
Agdar gave Elsa a sideways glance. "Elsa, that isn't the whole story," he said firmly.
"I said I didn't want to talk about it," Elsa said again. "I'll be fine," she added to herself. I will be fine. Gerda is going to help me get better, inside and out…I trust her, too. Elsa smiled a bit and leaned back in her chair. "Gerda, do we have any dessert?"
"Elsa, do you perhaps want to eat your dessert in bed?" Idun asked. "I think you should rest now, especially after whatever happened earlier today." Something's the matter with Elsa…she's not acting like her usual self. I know she's still recovering, but still…
"No thank you. I can sit at the table." Elsa's voice was quiet but firm. She looked down at her bandaged hand and just shook her head. Elsa, snap out of it. It'll heal and you won't have that stupid reminder of what you did anymore. "Gerda, is my hand going to scar?" she whispered.
"Sweetie, what happened to you?" Idun asked gently. "Did you hurt yourself?" What happened to Elsa? I hope she didn't do that to herself on purpose or something…
Elsa slowly nodded, but said, "Not on purpose." That's the truth. I didn't even know I did it…I don't know which is worse, doing it on purpose or doing it and not even knowing it.
"Miss Elsa, those cuts weren't deep. I don't think they'll scar at all," Gerda assured her. "Just don't pick at them or anything and you'll be fine." She subtly nodded at Idun, who immediately picked Elsa up and carried her out of the dining hall.
"Mama, put me down! I said I was fine. I want to eat my dessert in the dining hall, please," Elsa protested. She sighed and didn't say anything more when her mother simply shook her head and continued upstairs. This is one time I seriously would like to abuse my authority. I wanted to stay downstairs! And no one listened…
"You are not fine, Elsa. I need to talk to you," Idun told her. "I know you're still recovering physically from being so sick, but something else is the matter, sweetie. For one thing, why did Gerda bring you upstairs with your hand bleeding like that earlier? She would not have asked the rest of us to leave if you'd simply fallen and hurt your hand or something. There's more to it than that."
Elsa just pressed herself closer to her mother when Idun sat down and held her tightly in one of the big soft recliners in her parents' room. "I sent Anna out to enjoy the New Year's festivities and…and I found myself in the parlor in the corner and I got really upset somehow…I swear I didn't do it on purpose, but a shard of ice appeared in my hand and I was trying to convince myself I was okay… So I just held it, thinking if I could hold it and not do anything, then that meant I was fine. I squeezed it in my fist too hard and cut up my hand. But I didn't do it on purpose. I swear I didn't. I didn't even know I'd hurt myself until after Gerda found me." You sound ridiculous, Elsa. That doesn't even make any sense. What were you thinking?
Shut up. No fear. Love equals freedom. Mama is holding me. She loves me. I don't know why, but I know she does all the same.
"Elsa, you do know you are most likely just experiencing aftereffects from that illness. You sound depressed, like you're trying to fix it, but not in the right way. This doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. If those negative thoughts come back again and you subcobsciously make another ice shard, just throw it away from you. That way you won't hurt yourself again. I know you like to be strong inside as much as possible, but don't put yourself in harm's way by doing things like holding a sharp object trying to convince yourself you're all right as long as you don't do anything." Idun gently stroked Elsa's platinum hair and just held her close. My little girl is not going to turn suicidal again. She's going to be fine. At least we caught this before too much time had passed.
Elsa sighed as she leaned her head against her mother's shoulder. I'm going to be fine. I don't know how long it's going to take to fix this, but I'm going to be fine.
Anna nearly screamed when she and Kristoff got closer to the fire. "Kristoff, it's the orphanage!" she shouted. "What if there's still children inside?!" I wish Elsa was here…she could fix this within minutes… There was already a bucket brigade going, but it didn't seem to be making much headway with the flames. "We need Elsa! Better we have a tired Elsa than a whole bunch of dead people or the fire spreading to another building!"
Kristoff sighed. "I don't think you're going to get Elsa back here in time, but go ahead. I'll stay here."
Anna took off running back to the castle. The second she burst inside the main entrance, she paused for a split second before dashing upstairs and down the hall to her sister's room. No Elsa. Where is she?! I'll check the library… Elsa wasn't in the library, either. "Ok, where else could Elsa have gone?" Anna muttered to herself.
"Anna, what are you doing here?" Elsa asked from the doorway. "Mama and I were going to play chess, and-"
"And you gotta come down to the orphanage, Elsa!" Anna interrupted frantically. "It's on fire! I don't know if anyone's inside, but the building's burning down! Hey, Elsa, what happened to your hand?" Anna asked, pointing at her sister's bandaged hand.
Elsa bit her lip and looked down at the floor. "I cut it," she said softly. "Anna, I can't walk all the way down there, and even if I could make it, I wouldn't be fast enough…" What else is new? Something else I can't fix.
"Sure you can, sweetie," Idun said quickly. "Ride a horse down there. That will be faster and less exhausting. See, this is something else only you can fix, at least with the least amount of damage."
Elsa frowned, wondering if she could still ride a horse with that brace on her leg. It doesn't matter; I have to try. Besides… "Anna, you could ride behind me and help make sure I don't fall off," Elsa suggested. "Y'know, because of this," she added, gesturing at her leg.
"Yes, your majesty," Anna teased, and quickly picked her sister up and went downstairs as fast as she could go, ignoring Elsa's protests that she didn't want to be carried.
Soon the two sisters were riding Elsa's horse, Lorin, at a fast pace down the somewhat short distance to the orphanage. Elsa didn't feel very safe up on the horse, but she trusted Anna to hold her if she started to fall. Right now, Elsa was more worried that people would be hurt in the fire before she could get there. Elsa screamed in horror when she saw the burning building. That building is beyond saving! I can still put out the fire, but… She bit her lip and sent a stream of magic toward the fire, letting a contained blizzard form above, around, and in it. Eventually the fire would be completely out and she could come back and dissolve the tiny storm. Elsa heard people shouting her name and instantly began feeling self-conscious as she hid her bandaged hand under part of the snowflake cape on her dress.
"Queen Elsa, it's wonderful to see you up and around again!" "We heard you'd been deathly ill!" "She contained the fire in less than a minute!"
Elsa spotted a group of scared children huddled near the adjacent building and asked Anna to help her down. I hope all the children got out… She slowly limped toward the children; then changed her direction when she spotted one little girl standing apart from the rest of the kids. Self-consciousness forgotten, Elsa made a beeline for the child, leaving Anna to talk to the crowd. That's Anikka! Where's her brother?!
Anikka was a five-year-old girl Elsa had met back in the summer when she and Anna had visited the orphanage. Elsa knew the child had one older brother named Timothy, and that little Anikka had refused to talk after her parents had died. She had talked a little bit to Elsa back in the summer, though. Now Elsa wanted to find the little girl's brother. "Hello, Anikka," Elsa said quietly.
Anikka recognized Elsa and ran over to her and hugged her as tightly as a five-year-old could. "Anikka want Timothy!" Anikka wailed.
Elsa sighed. "Anikka, let's try to find him, okay? Did he get separated from you in the fire?" she asked.
"All burn up," was all Anikka said in reply as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Elsa stopped in her tracks. What happened? Did she lose Timothy in the fire? Maybe he just was in another room or something. That has to be all it is. She tried to pick the little girl up, but found she couldn't because of her bandaged hand. "I can't hold you, Anikka, but come on. Let's look for Timothy," she told Anikka.
"All burn up," Anikka repeated, clutching her little arms around Elsa's leg. "All gone. Elsa hurt," she added, pointing at Elsa's hand.
Elsa spotted Mr. Everstad, who ran the orphanage, and waved him over. "Mr. Everstad, have you seen Anikka's brother Timothy?" she asked hopefully. Please say yes…please say yes…
Mr. Everstad looked sadly at her and shook his head and nodded slightly toward the destroyed building. "Three didn't make it out in time," he said quietly. "I tried to go back, but…it was too late…"
Elsa bit her lip hard as she tried to keep from crying. Children had died because she wasn't fast enough to get over here in time. Poor Anikka had no family left because of it. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "If I'd just gotten here faster, maybe…"
"No, Queen Elsa. You came as fast as you could," Mr. Everstad assured her. "Everyone knows you've been ill. If you'll pardon my saying so, you still don't look quite your usual self. You did far more than anyone would have possibly expected you to."
"All burn up," Anikka said again. "No Timothy. No doll." She was still crying hard, and she hung on to Elsa. At least Elsa wasn't dead. Elsa was her friend. She would stay with Elsa if all the grown-ups would let her.
Anikka already knew Timothy was gone, Elsa realized. That's why she keeps saying 'All burn up' like that. Elsa suddenly knew exactly what she wanted to do. "Mr. Everstad, may I take Anikka back to the castle with me? She does know me, and I know you can't possibly take in all those children into your house behind the orphanage." You're in no condition to take care of a traumatized five-year-old girl, Elsa. You're a mess. You accidentally cut up your own hand earlier.
Oh, shut up. I can help Anikka. If I need help, Gerda and Kai could help me take care of her. I'm not old enough to be a mother, but I can be Anikka's friend.
A/N: If any new readers have questions, please feel free to PM me and I'll answer them as best I can.:)
And I promise Elsa will be fine eventually; she's just trying to recover. :)
Next chapter coming soon!:)