Frozen Beyond [gxg]

The Sky's Awake

"I think I'll stay in my room." Elsa finished, eyeing a pouting Anna.

They were both already dressed, Anna in a magenta and green dress similar to the one she used to wear. Her hair tied up with her braids crowning her head.

Elsa looked at herself in the mirror. She had on a dress that looked similar to her coronation dress minus the long cape. Her hair was in her traditional braid swept to the side and large blue eyes stared back at her. She felt like she warped back in time to the scared, shut off girl she once was.

"But Elsa! We need to have fun. You need to have fun, you know?"

Her stomach grumbled anxiously and she let out a hefty breath before turning to Anna. "I just... you know I don't dance."

"Please, please please!" Anna bounced dramatically before sprawling over the bed. The moon was already full in the sky and laughter trickled in from the courtyard below. Anna put her hand to her forehead dramatically. "See Elsa. The sky's awake, so we need to be awake!"

Elsa clicked her tongue and looked over at Anna. "Fine. How do you do that?"

"What? Make you feel guilty for not coming with me? Years of practice. Let's go!"

Once down in the courtyard, Anna was immediately swept up by Kristoff and Sven. Elsa folded her hands in front of her and stood off to the side.

Olaf ran around entertaining the children. Elsa laughed and flicked her wrist, snowflakes falling over the kids and they let out happy squeals while Olaf danced under the mini flurry.

This was nice, she had to admit. She happily watched everyone, the smell of baked goods and chocolate floated in the air. The music made the atmosphere playful and exciting; everyone was laughing and talking with ease.

She glimpsed Crow and a few of his crew saunter in. Narrowing her eyes and watching them carefully. She had to figure out a way to spend her time tonight and following Crow was, in her opinion, a plausible cause.

Peeking around the fountain, she leaned on the edge as Crow and a few of his men made their way towards the spread of food and alcohol. The large wayfinding leader smacked one of his crew on the back so hard, the man nearly went into the cake.

That would've been a dishonor to that cake.

"What are you looking at?" A voice echoed beside her ear.

Elsa let out a gasp, ice jetting from her hands and once more sticking them to the surface of the fountain.

"That's cute. Do you always shoot out ice when you're embarrassed or surprised?" Keahi asked with a chuckle.

Grappling with the ice she tore her hands away and stood up straight, getting out of the proximity of Keahi.

"I wasn't surprised. And I wasn't embarrassed... earlier, that was. That is, I mean. What?" Really, what? She wanted to dunk her head right into this fountain with how ridiculous she sounded.

Keahi had her arms behind her back, a brow arched in amusement. "Uh huh, right. Have you never been complimented before? I assumed, being royalty, you would have a bunch of suitors walking around sprouting sickly sweet nothings in your ear." Keahi shivered in distaste at the idea.

Elsa laughed faintly, her shoulders relaxing. She wasn't sure what made her so on edge with Keahi, but it was pleasant and terrifying at the same time. But the other's humor put her more at ease. She was thankful that Keahi didn't comment on her awkwardness.

"No, when I was Queen I shut myself away from most. And now..." She shrugged.

"I see." Keahi murmured, crossing her arms and leaning against the pillar connected to the fountain. Keahi offered her hand and Elsa eyed her with an arched brow. Keahi laughed. "Let's dance then!"

Elsa recoiled from Keahi's outstretched hand. "I told you, I don't dance."

"Why?" Keahi whispered, the husky tremble of the woman's voice made a shiver rush through her.

If that alone didn't tell her not to take the woman's hand, nothing would. She used her index finger to push the woman's hand away. "I just... never cared for it. Besides," She motioned to everyone dancing, "it would be odd if you didn't dance with a man. Why don't you go ask Crow?"

Keahi wrinkled her nose. "Why would I ask my brother to dance?"

"Brother?" Elsa echoed. Oh, of course. She could see the family resemblance now.

"Besides, women can dance together. It's not that weird. I'm sure you've danced with your sister before?"

"Yeah, that's a little different." Elsa scoffed.

"Well, maybe a little." Keahi finally agreed. She held out her hand again, "Let down your guard a little and dance. You're sister and her clunky husband are out there. You can't possibly dance worse than them."

Elsa grinned, trying to find her sister in the crowd. Anna wasn't the best at dancing, but she always looked like she had so much fun. Thinking for a moment, she finally, albeit hesitatingly, took Keahi's hand.

Keahi whisked her into the crowd and Elsa nearly stumbled when they finally got towards the center. She felt Keahi's hand on her hip, the other clasping her hand. She stiffened, her whole body tense.

"I'm not kidnapping you, you can relax."

She shot a look of scorn towards her dance partner. "I told you I don't dance." She murmured.

"You know, I figured out your problem." Keahi started.

Elsa half listened as she focused on what her feet were doing, eyes directed down to the ground to make sure she didn't step on her dance partners feet. "And what is that?" She asked dryly.

"You seek too much control. Even now, if the situation isn't perfectly controlled you just don't want to do it. You have control issues. Let it go."

"You've got to be kidding." Elsa concluded at the woman's choice of words.

"Elsa?" Annas voice floated behind her, sounding completely surprised.

She glanced back at her sister, who was playfully being swept around clunkily by Kristoff, but they both were laughing and smiling at one another. Their relationship was playful and adorable, it always had been. She chuckled, going to respond but her dance partner swung her around playfully and she let out a breathless 'oomph'!

"Are you dancing?" Anna laughed. "I'm jealous. I can barely get you to dance in private. Hi! I'm Anna, you're kinda dancing with my sister." She told playfully, directing the last bit at Keahi. Beyond the playfulness of Anna's voice, Elsa caught a tinge of protectiveness.

Which confused her.

Keahi gave a charming smile and Elsa's chilled heart beat sporadically as she was dipped, suddenly looking at Anna upside down. A bubble of laughter escaped her instead of the dread she thought she'd be feeling right now.

Keahi had dipped Elsa while using it as an opportunity for a makeshift bow to Anna. "Your Majesty, it's nice to finally meet you. I'm just teaching your sister how to lose a little control."

"Good luck with that," Anna joked, a fit of laughter escaped her when Kristoff copied Keahi and dipped Anna.

The sisters looked at each other and both broke out into a fit of laughter.

They met the rest of the night with dancing and chocolate; she felt free and unhinged, like her feet weren't exactly on the ground. At first, she didn't like the feeling and pushed it away. But as the night progressed, she felt certain freedom that was different from the untamable wild she felt in the Enchanted Forest.

Tonight was eye opening, and she enjoyed the time she spent with her sister. Begrudgingly, she admitted to herself that she enjoyed spending time with Keahi.

Exhausted from dancing and being more social than she ever had, Elsa escaped behind the castle to the hill that created an overlook of the town.

The very same hill she started her venture into the unknown.

She pulled her mother's shawl around her shoulders, watching the sky. The yellow stars shone so brightly in the cold autumn night. The crisp, clear crest of the moon had her soaking up the light as she upturned her face to its light.

The sky was wide awake tonight.