Finne Min Senter

Chapter One

Elsa, Queen of Arendelle

There was great sadness in the kingdom of Arendelle, not since the untimely death of the king and queen in the sea but now, their eldest daughter was to follow their footsteps for an early grave. The only sibling, Princess Anna never left her older sister's side ever since the young queen had coughed up blood. Elsa, the infamous Snow Queen, had been having fevers for months and recently, blood had mingled in her coughing fits as well as sudden chest pains and loss of appetite. Healers and doctors from near and far had been called to aid the sick young woman but they all came to one conclusion; Queen Elsa of Arendelle was dying. The doctors had asked Anna to leave Elsa in case the illness was contagious but after weeks of staying by Elsa's bedside, she was still fine.

Anna had begged Kristoff to ask for Pabbie's help but the old troll answered with the gravest expression on his aged face, "I would give the whole world for Elsa but all I can do is ease her pain for as long as I could. Though I could reverse spells and recite enchantments, natural causes such as diseases are out of my abilities." The answer was not enough for her that she threw a fit and raged that her voice echoed throughout the whole Valley of the Living Rock, but in the end, she broke down into weeping mess and had be carried off by a heartbroken Kristoff back to the castle.

The moon was full and the night was clear from any clouds. Stars twinkled brightly and the scene made Anna frown; the moon should be hiding, clouds should have filled the evening sky because even if Elsa didn't show it, she was already at her limit. It didn't help that she laid in her bed with her signature side braid placed on her shoulder like before and the blankets were drawn to her chin; her skin was paler than usual and the bruises under her eyes made Anna's eyes water at the sight of her usually graceful and poised-perfect sister now bedridden and weak, but she held it in.

Crying would only make things worse and Elsa would blame herself if she saw it upfront, so Anna pulled out the best smile that she can as she opened the curtains wide and the beam of moonlight flooded in the room that was brightened up by candles.

"The moon's very lovely tonight" Elsa sighed softly as she gazed at the visible sky on her balcony.

Anna smiled as walked towards her sister. Her two braids were tied together and pinned up and her bedclothes were rumpled on the sides. Elsa turned her blue eyes to her little- no, not little any more- younger sister who took care of her every single day. Love bloomed in her chest whenever Anna smiled but she also felt the icy stab of guilt; Anna had been hovering around her and sometimes she felt that she was keeping her sister from everything else. Anna insisted that it was fine but she didn't see Kristoff's lingering stares at her with hopes of spending more time together while she spends the majority tending to Elsa.

It troubled her; Anna had her whole life passing every day but she focused too much on her sibling's health to the point that it stressed her out more. The illness had taken a toll on her body yet she can still make it snow beautifully and create everlasting ice sculptures that never melt. Her mind briefly wandered to Olaf who was on his way to the ice castle to keep Marshmallow company.

Olaf...

Marshmallow...

She didn't want to die yet.

She wants to live and die because of old age. To have a family and to see Anna with her own. To rule Arendelle with happiness and life alongside her family and friends. Dying was out of the question but... maybe it was her fate to die this way. She didn't want to leave her sister, didn't want to leave her home, her kingdom prematurely. To leave Olaf and Marshmallow who, in a way, were like her children. They were her creations and treated them lovingly.

Anna eased next to the chair by Elsa's bedside and lifted a brow when Elsa scooted to the other side and patted the space she occupied earlier.

"Are... you sure?" she asked.

"C'mon, it'll be a cold night" Elsa insisted.

Anna shrugged as she looked at Elsa's thin robe. If Elsa wore another layer, she would immediately take it off and say that it was too hot. As if to emphasize Elsa's words, a cold wind blew on her feet and nipped her toes.

Without thinking, she jumped into the bed and into the covers with her teeth chattering. Fall was upon them and the sudden drops of temperatures at nights were already a sign of the coming winter. When her mind processed what she had done, her teal eyes widened and squeaked an apology to her sister but Elsa smiled and leaned slightly on her pillow.

"The last time we slept together in the same bed was in my eighth Jul season. You were only five at that time."

"Oh I remember that!" Anna nodded enthusiastically, "Papa was trying to tuck us in and got scolded because I kept taking the Krumkake from the kitchens. Why was mama scolding you though?"

Elsa's smile widened as she absent-mindedly let her fingers dance on the air and made intricately designed snowflakes that slowly fell on the blanket, "I was doing the same thing with the Multekrem that was supposed to be served to the guests the next morning."

Anna's cheeks puffed out as she remembered her mother lecturing Elsa while she clasped her hands behind her back while her lips were coated with whipped cream.

"And I crept into your bed and begged you to make it snow inside the bedroom but I got very sleepy because I was so full-"

"And snored all through the night" Elsa added which earned her a mock indignant look from Anna,

"I do not snore!" she took a pillow and softly hit Elsa right on the face.

Elsa faked a gasp and took another pillow to hit Anna with it, "You dare hit the queen?" They started their mini pillow fight with their laughter bouncing on the walls.

Their brief moment of happiness was halted when Elsa coughed out rather violently. Anna scrambled to get off of bed to get some cloth but Elsa grabbed her on the wrist and let the coughing frenzy settle before she took a deep breath and offered a sad smile to her sister but the smile faltered when two streaks of tears streamed down her face.

"Anna-"

"I don't you to leave!" Anna cried as she tackled Elsa with a hug. Tears seeped from her eyes to Elsa's robe and her hands bunched the fabric like something would grab Elsa away from her.

"I don't want you to die Elsie"

Something in Elsa broke when Anna uttered her childhood nickname and clung to her desperately, like the way she clung to Anna's frozen body a year and a half ago. Elsa hugged Anna closer to her chest and began to hum a song that Anna had never heard before. It was a sad yet beautiful tune and it echoed into her mind and soul;

There's a light inside you
It's a spark that will never die
In the land of ice and snow
It's fire that's in your soul, never let it go

.

Even when I'm gone my darling,
Don't forget my love and don't you cry
Close your eyes and remember my voice
As I sing this lullaby

.

And know that I love you
Forever and always

Elsa ended the song with a hum and cradled the silently weeping Anna close to her. In turn, Anna nestled her head on Elsa's neck and wrapped her arms on Elsa's midsection.

"I love you Elsa" Anna whispered and laced her fingers with Elsa's own. The queen gave her a sad smile and kissed her forehead, her platinum blond hair mixed with her strawberry blond locks,

"And I love you and forever will."

Anna looked up to her, eyes glistened with tears and her nose was red. "Will you still be here in the morning?"

"I will always be with you, I promise."

Anna nodded furiously and kept a firm embrace around her sister and took a deep shuddered breath. Elsa propped her back on the headboard so that Anna could lie on her chest. She reached to her bedside table and let her icy wind blow out the flames that flickered.

Under the soft glow of the moonlight they basked, two sisters who shared an unbreakable bond held on one another because for one, she will never see the light of a brand new day.

Elsa felt her body weaken. She tried to summon her ice or even her snow but not even a single snowflake emerged. Her fear for Olaf and Marshmallow ebbed when she turned to look at her ice figurines and saw them retain their pristine condition.

'I love you Anna. No matter where I go, I will always protect you.' She turned to the moon and gave a small grin. Elsa had always loved the moon, for it had been the sole witness of her growth from the discovery of her powers to her freedom in the North Mountain. It gave her strength and in certain instances, she felt as if it's been looking out for her. It was nice to be taken care of for a change.

But fear began to drown her senses; who will take care of Anna? Of Arendelle? Of everyone in the kingdom? Realization began to soothe her worries as fast as it came.

Kristoff and Olaf and even Sven can take care of Anna. The whole staff of the castle did ever since they were babies. Anna would be a kind and fair queen even without her by her side. Arendelle will thrive and be prosperous more than ever.

Everything will be alright.

With that thought, Elsa closed her eyes and placed a hand to her chest while the other one closed around Anna's. She inhaled then exhaled for the last time; a puff of icy breath exited from her mouth and within moments...

She was gone.

In the North Mountain, Olaf waddled around the ice castle as Marshmallow sat by the stairs. The snowman hopped on one of the steps and patted the creature with his stick arms, "Don't worry Marshmallow, Elsa's gonna be fine" he assured him. But the creature looked at the sky and stared at it with awe. Olaf looked at where he was staring and gawked at the ribbons of multicolored lights that flew to the direction of the port near the castle.

The creature emitted a grumble from its throat that weirdly sounded like 'Mama' and looked at the ground with its head down.

Olaf felt something in him which was strange. He was made of snow so he couldn't have possibly felt something but he knew metaphorically speaking that he felt it in his heart.

With a worried look, he turned to the direction of the kingdom and quickly waddled towards the edge of the cliff until he could see the castle,

"Elsa?"

A few miles away, a tall, dark and brooding form detached itself from the shadows of the tree and looked at the moon with unwavering hate and disgust.

"Looking out for a new spirit eh? I will have my time again and I assure you, I will defeat your oh-so-precious Guardians and people will believe me again."

Pitch Black had always been a patient spirit and if he could wait for several centuries, he could certainly wait for a few more. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the Northern Lights changing direction to the kingdom where nobody knew existed.

He had liked this kingdom especially the previous year where fear was abundant and it gave him power that saved him from being written out. A healthy dose of fear and misery was and always will be his source of existence. After all, as long as there is a living being, there will always be fear.

A wave of light shot out like an arrow and he didn't need to go closer to know that the Man in the Moon had made another spirit eternal. Most human spirits will be carried off to another realm but forces as powerful as the moon can redirect the spirit's destination.

"Like that time in Burgess" he contemplated, "If you're going to make another one like Jack Frost, I would say you're rather desperate." With a dark chuckle, he slowly slinked back into the shadows with his dagger like teeth visible in the dark,

"All good things come to those who wait"

End of Chapter One

Author's Corner

And that is the first chapter to my first story. It's kind of short but it will get longer in the next chapter so don't worry.

Thoughts?

Comments?

Suggestions?

Then don't hesitate to review or PM me

PS. I appreciate constructive criticisms but not flames. This is my first time writing out for public viewing and I'm kinda nervous so please, be nice and I am looking for someone to mentor me with writing stories because I'm not fully confident with my writing abilities :)

Terminology:

Jul – Literally 'Yule', can be the equivalent to Christmas season since this was practiced in Northern Europe.

Krumkake – A Norwegian waffle cookie with cream and dusted with sugar.

Multekrem – A traditional Jul dessert made with cloudberries, whipped cream and syrup.