Show Yourself (An Elsa Fanfiction)

Chapter Thirteen: Here to Stay

"Woah woah woah, what do you mean, 'get this under control'?" Alice demanded.

"That's what I'm here to help you with!" Elsa explained. "I can help settle what's been making you so sad! I was like you once. All that anger, all that fear" - she motioned to where the wolf had been - "I can help you make it stop. I can teach you the same things that I learnt, in order to control my powers."

"You can?"

"Yes. But we only have three days, so let's get going."

Alice smiled at her new friend, eager to begin - and then she heard footsteps coming up the stairs, towards her door.

"My mum!" Alice cried softly. "Quick, hide! Go!" She tried to usher Elsa to the open window as her mother knocked.

"Alice, can I come in? I'd like your laundry basket."

"One second!" Alice called, as she tried to help Elsa gather up the trains that trailed behind her dress and pile them out of the window.

But she wasn't quick enough. Her mother entered regardless, saw Alice leaning over her bed to help Elsa out, and looked more than a bit surprised.

"Alice?" she asked warily. "Who's this?"

Knowing that they had been caught, both girls turned sheepishly back into the room.

"Mum... this is Elsa. She's a friend of mine."

Elsa blinked. Was Alice really going to tell the truth? More importantly, how was she going to tell the truth? Elsa knew from firsthand experience that it wasn't the best idea for someone to unexpectedly find out about her ice powers - even more so here. In Arendelle at least, people still held on to the notions of the past and the legends within it; the very mountains and fjords rang with the ghostly calls of long-forgotten magic. Here, however, that call seemed to have fallen silent, like it had been rendered mute by the presence of steel and unflickering fires.

Elsa was driving herself frantic, wondering how on Earth she could possibly explain her gifts, when Alice opened her mouth once more.

"I was angry when you said I couldn't go and see Chloe, so I called Elsa and she snuck in - she shimmied up the drainpipe. I'm sorry, but Elsa is having some trouble of her own at home too. She was going to stay the night, but..." Alice shrugged.

"And you didn't think to tell me? Honestly Alice, I'd hear if you had a guest in the house."

Alice nodded. "I know, and I'm sorry, just Elsa didn't want a fuss making. She can't go home. It's not safe for her."

There was a moment, and then Alice's mother directed her next question at Elsa: "Is that true? You can't go home?"

"No." said Elsa, and she cottoned on quick, because this wasn't exactly lying. "I tried to, but it's just impossible. My parents..." - oh, what the heck, this wasn't exactly lying either - "... they lock me in my room and never let me out except to eat. They're not bad people, but I can't..." she trailed off.

"If it's really that bad honey, maybe you should call the police." Alice's mum suggested.

"No! No police!" Alice interjected hurriedly. "Please, mum. She doesn't want a fuss making, just a safe place to stay for a while. Her parents won't notice,  and anyway, Elsa is old enough to run away if she wants to."

Her mother scrutinised Elsa's appearance. "That's a very strange choice of clothing to run away in."

"She's been at a convention." Alice said quickly. "It was a belated birthday present for her, and she used it as an escape route. She's dressed as something from a fantasy show."

Alice's mother sighed. "Well Elsa, it certainly seems like you've had a troubling time. Please, feel free to stay as long as you want, although I don't want any drama under my roof. If your family get in touch, you have to go back."

Elsa nodded. "Of course." This was the perfect solution, and she didn't know how Alice had thought of it so spontaneously. As much as she missed them, there was no way her family was going to get in contact, but on the day she had to return to Arendelle, she had the perfect excuse for leaving. It was a multi-layered plan that was simply genius and worked on every level.

"Alice, give Elsa some of your clothes; she can't wear her costume all the time. Some pyjamas wouldn't go amiss either. I'll go and find a spare toothbrush and the air bed."

"Oh no, please! I don't want to impose." Elsa protested.

Alice's mum smiled. "You're not. We're a real family here, Elsa. We look after each other."

Then she walked away and went to make the necessary arrangements.

***

A little while later, Elsa and Alice were supposed to be asleep; Alice in her bed under the window and Elsa on a strangely bouncy mattress on the floor at the side of her. However, as comfortable as Elsa was in a set of Alice's pink fluffy pyjamas, both girls were wide awake, and whispering to each other quietly.

"I can't believe she bought it." Alice mused.

"Well, I have to say, you're quite the master storyteller. The way you managed to feasibly explain everything... if that's how strong your powers are, we might need longer than three days."

"It's all we have though." Alice sighed. "Elsa... what if I can't control it? What if it's stronger than I am? What then?"

"I don't know, but we'll figure out something together." Elsa yawned widely. "Maybe just in the morning."

"Yeah." Alice said in a too-small voice as she snuggled down. "In the morning."