Frozen Love: Jelsa

Chapter 2

Elsa

Elsa was no longer alone. It was quite a strange new feeling. Sure, she had always been surrounded by people, but they had always seemed like part of another world, one separate from her own, where it was only her. Even her sister Anna had seemed like she could never truly be family after what Elsa had done to her when they were young. But then Anna had almost died saving her older sister. Elsa had always filled up with pride and happiness when she looked at her sister's face. Now, that was all she felt. There was no guilt or sadness underneath. She had finally forgiven herself. Unfortunately, not everyone had forgiven her. After The Great Freezing, and of course The Great Thawing, as the villagers called it, most of the people of Arendelle had realized that Elsa had not meant to make the mistakes she had made and was not a monster. Others however, simply could not forget what she had put them through.

Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff were strolling through the city plaza one morning making their weekly rounds. Many of the people bowed respectfully to the queen, prince, and princess, (Kristoff and Anna had been married for about a year) but there were still those who gave her looks of absolute loathing. Elsa wanted to help, to show them that she didn't deserve their loathing, but she wasn't sure how. "They just need time," Anna often assured her.

"Anna, it's been almost a year and a half," Elsa would always reply. Her sister had good intentions, but Anna was always trying to see the good in the world, even when there was none. It didn't seem wise to Elsa, but strangely, she admired her sister's innocence. As they walked along the stone paths of their kingdom, Kristoff laced his fingers through Anna's and looked lovingly into her eyes. Anna was slightly shorter than him, but they looked at each other like no amount of distance could separate them, like they were the only people in the world. When they had moments like these Elsa became slightly uncomfortable and wasn't sure what to do. Eventually, she simply kept walking and studied her icy, crystalline shoes. Even now, she remembered the cold tingly feeling coming from her fingers as she formed the snowy accessories from thin air. Letting go was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Now she was learning to control her powers, although it would've been easier if she had a teacher.

Of course, Elsa was happy for her sister and her husband, but she often felt like a third wheel around them. She was known by the kingdom as the regal queen who had saved everyone from her own powers and could rule without a king. But Elsa wasn't sure she could live up to that her whole life. Sometimes she wondered whether or not anyone could love somebody like her. Surely I deserve to fall in love as much as anybody else, right? But who could love a monster...--Elsa recalled someone, a young boy with brown hair who had helped her a long time ago... She shook her head to clear away those unhealthy thoughts.

Those were the kinds of things she had thought about during The Great Freezing, and that was far behind her. Besides, she didn't need anyone but Anna. She did her best to hide these uncertainties when they did resurface. But she didn't like hiding things from her sister, after all those years of concealing her feelings of fear and anxiety. Her thoughts were interrupted by Anna nudging her in the shoulder.

"You know, I met the Duke of Harrington the other day, and he has been searching for a wife..."

Elsa quickly interjected. "Oh no, not again," she complained. Anna had been trying to set her up with a match for the past ten months.

"Oh, you know you can't be alone forever," said Anna insistently.

"Who says that I can't? I don't need anyone," Elsa countered. "Besides, you're not exactly great with strange men seeking wives!" They both giggled at Elsa's joke, obviously remembering the surprised look on Hans's face as his plan to kill Elsa and inherit the kingdom failed and he was bound in chains.

"I wouldn't say that she's the worst judge of character," Kristoff said shyly. "Second time's the charm," said Anna as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek.

"Oh, Kristoff, you know I don't mean it in that way," Elsa reassured him. They all started to laugh, and for just a minute, Elsa forgot about the uncertainties of a minute ago. But her feeling of longing couldn't be avoided for long.