Winter Moon (Jelsa)

Chapter 3: Elsa

The next day, my mother, Queen Iduna Arena of Arendelle, told me to prepare to visit the trolls. Hauling myself out of bed, I let a servant dress me in dark blue. Another one braided my hair back and helped me into a pair of boots as well as a beige-colored cloak.

Exiting my chambers, I glanced ruefully at Anna's door, which was at the end of the corridor. When we were little, I spent practically every waking moment with her. However, as we grew older, our parents separated us. Now days, we rarely saw each other. Not even at meal times. 

I didn't know why our parents kept us apart. Only that they were determined that we would stay separate.

A servant helped me into a carriage where I found myself seated opposite my mother.

"Good morning, Elsa," my mother greeted me with a polite smile.

"Good morning," I replied. My mother was beautiful, with vivid blue eyes and hair the shade of cinnamon. It was a sharp contrast to my hair, so blonde that it was practically white; however, we shared the same blue eyes. Anna also had the blue-eyed trait, but her hair was strawberry blonde, the color of autumn leaves.

The carriage trundled along, following a rocky path that led away from the castle and into the wild. The trolls lived around the foothills of the mountains. They were made of enchanted stone and possessed some magic as well as being the ambassadors for the Elites in Arendelle. I had seen them only a few times in my life.

"We've arrived," my mother announced.

I jerked awake. I must have fallen asleep.

The carriage door swung open and a troll helped me out, leading me to Elder Pabbie, chief of the troll clan. I had always thought of him as Grandfather Pabbie.

"Child! You've grown!" Grandfather Pabbie exclaimed as I approached. 

"Well, I suppose I have," I admitted. When had I last visited? Perhaps a few years ago.

"How old are you now, child" Grandfather Pabbie asked me.

"Eleven, Grandfather," I answered.

"As courteous as ever," he gave me a warm smile.

"Elder Pabbie, you know what to do," my mother interrupted in a clipped tone. She was tense all over.

"Hold still, child. This will take but a moment," Grandfather Pabbie took both my hands in his rough stone ones.

"Wait," I met Grandfather Pabbie's steady gaze. "What are you doing?"

"Just a little magic," he replied playfully.

"What kind of magic?" I queried, curious and worried that he wasn't giving me a straight answer.

"A cleansing enchantment," my mother intervened. "It will revitalize you and aid those nightmares you have."

"I never told anyone I had nightmares," I frowned, tugging out of Grandfather Pabbie's grip.

My mother's face paled for a slight moment before she recovered her composure. "Your father and I hear you screaming at night."

I crossed my arms over my body protectively. "I don't need a cleansing enchantment. I don't have nightmares either," I lied.

"You do, Elsa, you do," my mother assured me. Her voice sounded brittle and edged. She was hiding something from me.

I backed away from them, bumping into another troll. "I don't need the enchantment. I assure you that I am alright."

"It is for the best."