Mask of Shame

Chapter 2

Elsa tossed and turned. The moon low in the sky and the sun peeking over the horizon. She didn't sleep. Instead, her cheeks and pillows were tear-stained. Her hair disheveled and covers are strewn across the bed, half hanging off. She knows she has to get up soon. If she remembers correctly, she has a meeting with the Northuldra about trading.

She sighs, rubbing a hand over her face. It's been about a week since her coronation, a week since she last spoke a word to Anna. They kept to themselves and created a distance between them. Oh well, Elsa was always busy. She didn't have time for a social hour, let alone repair her broken relationship. Anna spent her days writing letters to a prince Hans anyway, much to keep her occupied.

Elsa groggily gets out of bed, adjusting the gloves on her hands. They grew onto her. Did she rarely take them off, afraid she'll freeze the castle's entirety. Although a part of her wouldn't mind. She’s exhausted and the constant weird glances she gets didn't make it any better. Then she heard servants talking about her the previous day and feeling bad for whomever she married, which soured her mood. 

Marriage wasn't even in the question. She refused to be tied down to one person. Not when she could kill them. Elsa lightly shakes her head before brushing out her hair. She didn't need to think of those things right now. All she had to worry about was fixing the dilemma with the people of Northuldra. She picks out a dark-colored dress, slipped it on. She checks herself in the mirror before grabbing her mask hanging up beside it.

 In the week of wearing this, she felt drained, empty-like. She cried often, just to feel anything and sleep was a whole different story. Some nights she’d be up, staring at the ceiling, just as she did when her parents were alive and after Anna was born. Dark bags formed under her eyes, giving her a dark look. Elsa grimaces and places the mask over her nose and mouth. Not much she could do to reverse the effects now.

She exits her sleeping chambers, planning to skip breakfast and attend to her duties before the arrival of the Northuldran. Her walks to her office space felt quieter and quieter. The silence felt heavy, yet soothing. A burden to most, but comfort for her. Alone with her thoughts and the creak of a door that causes her to look behind.

Anna. Leaving her room. She stops momentarily, taking one good look at Elsa before walking away. The queen shrugs and carries on. That’s a normal occurrence nowadays. She enters the queen's office; the room darkened per her request by thick curtains. The only light is a sliver of sun seeping through. 

She takes a seat, organizing papers, and prepares herself for whatever might come. Reading up on old documents in her father's handwriting, she takes the hour to learn more about the Northuldra and what they traded. Apparently, it was an assortment of items. From leather, fur, to special herbs. In return, Arendelle provided the recipes for medicines, food, and iron.

Elsa raises a brow. Why the sudden need for a meeting? Everything seemed to run smoothly and so far nothing has been reported stolen. She places the papers down when a half-finished one catches her eye. Scanning over, it detailed strange encounters with the four elemental spirits.

"The ones from father's stories?" Elsa questions out loud.

'The wind blows with a new rage, whipping at tents and trees. Many have lost their homes and left in their place are symbols. None familiar. Fire disappeared, only setting alight Arendelle goods, again, creating strange symbols with burnt ash. Earth giants now roam the nights, attacking whomever they see…'

The writing ends there and Elsa frowns. Strange symbols? If they were attacking the Northuldra, who dedicated their entire lives to nature and heed every call, was Arendelle safe? She turns over the parchment and her breathing stops. It was a drawing of whatever the spirits were leaving behind. Panic arose within Elsa. She’s seen it before. Inside the book that cursed her.