Listen, Elsa Chapter Four

I can do many things.

I can skip. I can slide. I can fit five pieces of chocolate in my mouth at one time. (Elsa can do seven. Papa can do nine. Mama - can do thirteen.)

But there are some things I still can't do.

"Here's the syrup, my Lady. The butter is there." Cough. "Help yourself..."

"Thank you." I can cut and put the butter on -

"Half the stick is quite too much, Princess. You'll make yourself ill. Put some of it back - "

- and I can pour the syrup -

"My Lady, slowly - that's more than - oh, dear. Will you still be able to eat that?"

"I like syrup!"

"...very well. Do you remember how Princess Elsa taught you to cut your food? Last week?"

Of course! Every word which was Hold the knife gently. Like this. Stick your fork into the piece you're going to eat. Like this. Now push down with your knife -

Mmmmph. What else did she say? I think...I can remember: "'They possess powerful elemental and psychic magics.'"

"Pardon, my Lady?"

"Can you help me cut my hot cakes? I just can't."

"Of course, my Lady."

"Thank you. Are you making Elsa hot cakes with chocolate pieces too?"

"Is that what you recommend, my Lady?"

Yes. "I recommend it." These smell delicious.

"Very well, I'll let them know."

Kai cuts hot cakes into big squares. Mama cuts them into little ones. Elsa cuts in any shape I ask for. She even cut me little snowmen one time.

"...there we are, Princess. Enjoy."

"Thank you. Have a piece?"

"Oh, no thank you, Princess. I've already eaten."

One. Mm. Two...three - "Gai?"

"Do you remember what the King told you about speaking with your mouth full?"

Don't speak with your mouth full. "...Kai?"

"Yes, my Lady?"

"When is Elsa coming? And Papa? And Mama."

"Very soon, my Princess, I'm sure."

"Okay."

One. Two. Three...four...

"Princess - perhaps we should pace ourselves?"

Four. I can fit four pieces in my mouth.

How many can Elsa fit?

Oh. How many can Mama?

hands

They can't find me here. Surrounded by the snow.

I once read some pages in a book about the cold. I wanted to understand what it felt like. What Mama, and Papa, and Anna went through. When they felt the cold.

Sometimes, in the wintertime, Anna would climb into my bed in the middle of the night and get under my blankets and snuggle with me. Her teeth chattering, her body shivering. That's what the book said - shivering, and numbness in the hands and feet...and nose, cheeks, and ears. I check those parts of Anna whenever she seems cold - when we're out playing too, not only the nights she climbs into my bed. To make sure there wasn't any part of her turning gray or blue. That's what the book said would happen. When someone feels really, really cold.

Elsa.

I had a dream, last summer.

I was in my bed, in the middle of the night. Out the window the aurora was so bright - I had to cover my eyes from it - and...loud. I could hear it. Feel it. Deep inside me. And then I heard crying. Anna. I threw back my blankets and got down from my bed and walked across the room, stepping over long shadows cast by the windowsill and the changing screen and the toys scattered around the middle of the room. I stood by the side of Anna's bed, and looked. She was lying on top of her blankets, tucking up her knees to her chest and whimpering like she did when she was a baby. She's having a nightmare, I thought, but as I reached to pull the blankets over her she suddenly stretched out and began shaking. All over. And as I watched, she changed: her skin and her hair and even her green nightgown became whiter and bluer, until she was ice. Just...ice. The aurora's green...blue...purple lights gleaming off of her.

Elsa...

I'm not alone.

Elsa!

Don't worry, Anna, I'll fix your doll. I'll find a way.

...on - on my shoulders. Hands. They've found me.

listen

Sleeping.

"Elsa?"

Her eyes opened. She drew in a long, deep breath, released it with a shudder. "Papa." Blink. "Oh."

"Are you alright? Why are you asleep on the floor?"

"I'm okay," she replied. She lifted herself up by her forearms. "I think...I was looking outside." She looked over her shoulder, up at the window behind her. "It was warm on the windowsill and I fell asleep. I must have fallen down."

"Were you dreaming?"

She nodded. "I...thought I..." Then slowly scanned the study, left to right. "...never mind." She swept her hand over her brow. Sighed.

"I've come to talk to you. Just for a little while," I said, offering my hand. She took it. I helped her rise to her feet. "Until Mama comes to get us. Then we will all go down to eat."

"With Anna?"

I nodded - "She's already down with Kai" - and gently squeezed her hand. "She looks okay. She doesn't remember anything from last night..." Circles under her eyes. You must eat, Elsa. And rest today.

She was staring at something behind me. "Maybe it's not a good idea." She glanced at me, then away again.

I looked where she was staring, and saw on the crimson rug, beside the cherrywood feet of the chess table, two objects, glimmering in the daylight streaming through the window.

"...what's this?" I walked over to the chess table, Elsa following behind me, her palm in mine. "Ice? No." I knelt, peered, then looked back at my daughter. "Dolls?"

She nodded.

"Why are they frozen, Elsa?"

"It was...another accident."

They look familiar. I reached and picked one of them up. Cold - heavy - solid ice. I did not know you could do that. Turn something to solid ice. "Were you playing with them?"

"I found them - under the sofa - it must have happened during my dream."

"They're Anna's, aren't they? The ones she said she lost, the other day." This one: faint coloration of...red? Strawberry blonde pony tails. And a green dress. A golden crown.

"Mhm."

I stood and carefully laid the icy doll on the edge of the chess table. Elsa stared at it. Rubbed the side of her temple with her palm. Looked up at me.

"Come. Sit with me for a minute, Elsa."

We walked round to the front of the sofa and sat down, backs straight, shoulders squared, hands folded in our laps. I looked down at the little girl beside me. She looked directly ahead, into the smoldering embers within the fireplace.

"I understand if you want to be alone. But you shouldn't be scared of...joining the family for breakfast," I said.

She looked up at me. "But what if I freeze something else?" Quietly. "On accident again. And she sees?"

"It's rare that your powers show themselves on accident in that way."

"But it might happen. Still." Her hand gripped my waistcoat. "...and what if I hit Anna again? Or Mama, Kai - "

"Again?"

She nodded.

"Is that what happened last night, Elsa?"

She looked down, somewhere at the empty rug below our feet. "Anna was falling. I was scared - I thought she was going to hurt herself - I didn't mean for it to happen."

"Falling? And you two were...?"

"Playing," she breathed.

Playing.

"Elsa, I think it unlikely you'll hit anyone else with your powers again."

She rubbed one eye, then the other, with her fist. "Why?"

"Because, it seems to me that that only happens when you're...upset. Or scared. When you're having a dream, or perhaps," I said, "when you see something worth getting frightened about."

"But I do freeze things. Sometimes it just happens. Not when I'm dreaming or anything."

Yes. "Your powers are getting stronger."

Her grip on my waistcoat tightened.

I covered her hand with my palm. "You will learn to control it." I smiled down at her. Everything will be fine. "You have always been my good girl, Elsa. I know you always will be. And I, and Mama, will help you to always be so."

She looked back into the embers. "I don't want to see Anna. I'm still scared."

"Think of this as your first test. Come down and eat with the family. If it is too difficult - "

" - then I can eat in my room?" she said, again looking up at me.

"You can, if you wish. But, Elsa - "

She rested her head against my arm.

You can't always hide from this. Not forever. "I will do what I can to make it easier for you. Mama and I will help you."

She released her fingers from my waistcoat and held her palms open before her eyes. Then let them fall to her lap. A lingered sigh passed between her lips. "...Papa?"

"Yes?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Elsa: do you know how you melted the ice outside? Over the causeway?"

She looked up at me. "No?"

"Kai discovered that it was gone, when he went out to clean it up for you. Also the snow in the great hall - gone."

"All gone?"

I nodded. "Somehow," I said, "you made it disappear."

Again she looked at her palms.

"There is a secret to controlling your powers. You have to think carefully: what happened between now, and when you arrived back to the castle this morning?"

She closed her hands. I could see her eyes squinting as she concentrated. Then: "But all I did was go with you, through the entrance hall, and then upstairs into the study."

"Did you say, or perhaps think any words - in your head - on the way?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Did you do anything - with your hands, or...your feet?"

She shook her head again. "No. I don't think so."

I nodded. "It's alright. If you're patient, the answer will come to you. A leader must always be patient. It couldn't have been anyone else who did it. Don't give up. And that," I said, smiling, "is something a leader can never do." I stroked her hair. "A leader cannot give up, Elsa."

"Like Grandmama?"

Like Gran-

"I - " who told you "Darling - who told you about...Grandmama?"

Startled. "No one. I just read about her, one time. In the library."

"Do you - do you mean my mother?"

She nodded.

"Tell me about what you read."

"I read that Grandmama died when she was still young. 28. Because she gave up. That's what the book said." She knows. "...is...that what happens to leaders if they give up?"

"It can happen to anyone who...gives up."

"How does giving up make you die?"

How. "Sometimes - someone may feel very bad about themselves. Or, they may feel sad for a long time. And if they feel too sad, or...too bad about themselves, they may want to give up. And then die."

"From feeling too sad?"

I nodded.

She sniffed, scratched the tip of her nose. "I...think I understand."

I don't.

The fire is dying. Somehow it's always colder in this room then most anywhere else in the castle.

I cannot look. What if I said the wrong thing? I must teach her control. Evenings alone in her room - reading, drawing. Quiet walks alone in the garden, in the mornings, any day she has free to herself. Silent, punctual, hardworking, her tutor tells me. Reminds me of her. So much. Already. I cannot look.

A gentle touch, on the side of my shoulder. And then on my wrist, just over the cufflink.

I looked.

My firstborn was watching me with wide, and blue, and warmhearted eyes. She patted me several times on my wrist, just with the length of her fingers, her palm against my sleeve, so softly that I couldn't feel it through the linen. Then that same hand pried open my clenching fist and buried itself in my palm.

And she said: "You don't have to worry. I won't give up Papa."

The embers popped.

"The fire is dead. It's getting - it's rather cold in this room, isn't it."

"It is? I'll warm you," she said, and she pressed herself against me. Then added quietly, "We can build another fire and stay here. I don't mind. I'm really not hungry."

Your regality has always been a mask.

From your very coronation. From the start.

Even your little girl sees it now. She was never supposed to see it. She wasn't supposed to know. Not yet.

I looked to my left, at the white and silent door. Idun, where are you? I need you here. Please. What can I do? I was not ready for this. You were right - I am a fool - what can I do? I don't know. I don't.

"...I notice someone started a new game."

Elsa craned her neck to look back at the chess table behind the settee. "Mhm."

"Is it your game?"

"Yes."

"Challenging Mama again? So soon after she beat you?"

"No. Just me."

"Just you?"

"Mhm."

And I asked: "Do you often play chess on your own?"

"If Mama is busy. I played Kai last week. But he's usually busy too. Anna doesn't really play yet though I am trying to teach her."

"I see."

"Anna says she likes it but she gets bored really fast. So I think she's just faking." She snuggled deeper into the crook of my arm.

"She likes to do whatever you're doing. Be wherever you are. It's what little sisters are supposed to do."

"Mhm. It's hard to get away from her. She always finds me - wherever I go," she said, lifting her hands and shrugging exasperatedly. Her hands fell back to the cushions with a soft bounce.

I nodded. That's what little sisters do. "Elsa," I have an idea, "let's finish your game, shall we? We can stop when Mama gets here."

"Okay."

Up. Round the sofa.

I pulled back the chairs. My daughter sat down on black's side. I scooted her chair in, then sat down across from her.

She held her hands together calmly on her lap. Looked across the table at me.

"Elsa - look at that." The doll.

Elsa looked. Her mouth opened. She grasped the doll and examined it closely, front to back, up and down. It was still mostly blue and glittering ice but parts of it - a leg, half of an arm, the tail end of a strawberry blonde braid - hung limply toward the floor. She looked back at me.

"How strange, isn't it?"

She nodded.

"But it's only somewhat thawed. Let's play our game and see what happens. We'll keep an eye on it. Right?"

"Right." She set the doll back down on the edge of the table. Her palms grasped the edges of her chair. I noticed her legs swinging back and forth beneath her.

"Well. Darling. Your move."

steps

"Are you sure you want to take both of them with you?" I asked her. Agdar stood beside me, just outside the door to the study, in the middle of the quiet and empty hallway.

She nodded.

"Can you keep the one hidden?"

"...Elsa has a theory," my husband said, looking at me from the side, "about how to thaw the second doll. She wants to continue to test it out over breakfast now."

Truly. I stroked her cheek and looked into her eyes.

Her face looked - keen. But nervous. And though her fingers gripped and re-gripped the one in her hands, her eyes were bright with hope.

I smiled. On the edges of her lips, a smile formed too. She turned -

"Elsa, wait." I caught her by her shoulder. "You're holding the wrong one."

"But Mama - I think I have to carry her. For this to work."

I shook my head. "We'll carry that one. You can take little Anna."

She looked at the icy doll in her hands.

"Elsa."

"But Mama - it's my ice."

"Trust me - do as I say. This time."

Slowly, she reached out her hands. I took the frozen doll - heavy, cold - and held it behind my back. Out of sight.

"Trade." I held out its opposite.

She accepted the thawed doll with the same trepidation that she had released the frozen one with. Looked into its face.

"You fixed that one. You deserve to hold it. The other will be right here with me. Now, how long do we want to keep Anna down there all by herself?"

"Idun, Kai is with - "

Agdar -

"She doesn't like being alone. We should go now." Elsa breathed in deeply, released it, turned - her braid swinging, momentarily bouncing over her shoulder, then straightening again over her back - and lead the way down the darkened hall, away from the cold study, past her bedroom door, to the stairwell, and down.

"...so you asked - Agdar - " I stopped him at the top of the stairs. What's bothering you?

"Yes, we talked about what happened last night." He watched his daughter going down the steps. I looked too, and as if sensing us, Elsa glanced up, noticed our stares, and stopped where she was, her white hand resting on the gray iron railing. Waiting. Hesitating.

"Agdar, what is it? Is what you learned troubling you?"

His eyes flicked up at mine, then back down the steps. "She knows."

"Knows what?"

He didn't reply.

She knows?

He moved to go down the staircase.

"Wait," I said, pressing my palms against his chest. "What else did you talk about?"

His shoulders squared and his palms - opening, closing - "We talked about my mother."

I lowered my hands -

He passed by me and started down the steps toward the dining hall.

test

One. Two...three. "Good morning, everyone."

Only Mama waved.

But Papa smiled at me before he sat down. Elsa - wait, why are you sitting over there?

"Mama?"

"I'll sit next to you for awhile. Okay?"

"Okay."

"I saved this piece for Elsa," she whispered. I wiped her chin, neck, fingers, palms...forearms. Elbows? "Anna, there's syrup on you everywhere."

"I poured too much."

"Fine, but why everywhere - "

"I'm trying to eat it all."

"Kai, " I called.

"Yes, my Lady?"

"More napkins please."

He inclined his head.

My husband cleared his throat after Kai went out of the room. "I'll speak to him about his negligence after breakfast. He shouldn't have allowed Anna to make such a mess."

"It wasn't Kai's fault!" Anna said. I wiped the side of her mouth - she snuffled and twisted aside in protest. "I told him last-last week that I wanted to only help myself now unless I asked for help for something I still can't do - "

"I'm certain Kai wanted Anna to be happy," I said. "Can you blame our staff for...enabling our charming daughters, just a little?"

"Mama?" Anna tugged my dress.

"Yes?"

She motioned for me to draw near. I bent my head down. She cupped her hands round my ear and whispered.

Then she sat back in her chair and looked across the table at her sister.

Elsa was staring silently into her lap.

"Elsa," I called softly.

She looked up.

Come.

Beside me, Anna waved, almost shyly. Patted the place beside her with her palm.

Elsa breathed in deeply, closed her eyes, and pushed her chair out. Her eyes reopened. Then she hopped down and walked slowly round the table, her hands calmly holding the doll before her waist.

"Oh, you found her!" Anna stretched out both of her hands.

Elsa held the doll out. She did smile.

Anna accepted it. "Did you find the other one?" she asked, hugging the doll against the side of her cheek.

Elsa shook her head. "I'm sorry Anna."

Anna didn't reply, but looked at her sister and continued to cuddle the doll.

"You cut your food," Elsa commented, looking down at Anna's plate. Syrup flooded it to the edges; several large, cleanly cut squares lay smothered within.

Anna nodded her head proudly. Then immediately stared down at her plate. Her cheeks turned crimson. I stroked her hair once more and rose from my seat.

"Sit here," I told Elsa. She did. I touched her hand, waited, till she looked up at me. She seemed more anxious than when she was on the upper floor a minute ago but she had made it this far - now -

...now to hope for a normal morning.

"I saved this one for you, Elsa."

Anna sounded...sad. She pointed at a large wedge-shaped piece on the edge of her plate.

"Oh. That's okay. They will bring mine soon."

Anna's head sank lower.

"...are you alright?"

She shook her head slowly.

"Do you want to tell me why?"

She didn't do or say anything.

"You can tell me why."

Still silent.

Anna. "Please tell me why."

"...I told you a lie," she mumbled. "I didn't cut my food. Kai did."

"Oh, I see." I didn't think you did actually. Your food is a crumbly mess when you cut it. "Thank you for telling me the truth." I reached for her hand. She turned her face toward me - her hair - the white strand -

No. I shouldn't touch you yet. It isn't safe. I drew back my hand.

My stomach rumbled.

Anna sniffed, picked up her fork, and stabbed the wedge of hot cake and held it out toward me.

"...Anna. I can't."

She waved it before me. Syrup dripped onto the table -

"Anna. I said I can't. Please."

"I heard your tummy. Eat it."

"Anna."

"It's delicious." Her other hand gripped the edge of the table, she stretched out - I leaned away.

Huff. "Elsa."

"I said I don't want it."

"Just taste it?"

She stuck the fork at me again - I pushed her hand aside. "Please, stop."

"But you're hungry - "

"No."

"Yes!"

"Anna," Papa called.

"What?" she replied.

"You're getting syrup onto the table, and the chair, and the floor!"

Listen to Papa.

"Did I mention it's got chocolate inside?" she said to me.

"Elsa..." Mama nodded at me.

"Fine." I rolled my eyes. "Okay, Anna. I'll eat it."

She wiped the piece over her plate, gathering more syrup over it, and lifted it once more. "I hope you like it Elsa. Because I told Kai to make you the same kind."

I leaned toward her and opened my mouth...closed my eyes -

I waited.

...waited?

I looked.

Anna was holding a hand to her mouth. Her fork was empty. The piece of hot cake was drooping over the edge of the table between us - syrup running down the side of the white cloth, dripping to the floor. She held her palm up to me - whispered just a moment - then reached with her fork, to stick it back on? "It's too late now." I glared at her.

I heard Papa sigh. His chair screeched over the floor.

"It's alright Agdar. I'll help them." Mama rose from her chair.

"You just sat down - "

But Mama ignored him. She picked up her napkin at her place and walked around the table. She didn't look angry. Papa sat back down.

"Here," Mama said, stepping between our chairs. She peeled the piece off from the table and looked at it closely. Then she turned to me. "Open up - "

"What?" No. "I don't want it, Mama."

She turned to Anna. "Do you - "

Anna was standing up on her chair. She opened her mouth wide.

"Idun," Papa called. He mouthed a word - etiquette, I think - but Mama waved him off.

She dangled the piece over Anna's mouth. Anna stuck out her tongue.

Papa rose from his chair. "No. Nobody eat that. Kai!"

"My Lord?" Kai had just entered the room. He was pushing a wheeled tray with our breakfasts - and more napkins - before him.

"Please take over for the Queen immediately. And do not allow Anna to create such a mess again in our absence."

"Y-Yes, my Lord. My apologies."

Anna glanced at Papa, at Mama, at me.

I should have just eaten it when Anna first gave it to me. This is my fault.

Kai walked up to Mama, with a napkin in his hand. His face was red. "Apologies, my Queen - allow me - "

"It's quite alright Kai. Serve everyone their meals." And then she turned back to Anna.

Papa walked round the table toward us. "No, you will not feed her that."

Mama stood straight. The piece was cupped in her hand.

Anna looked at it - huffed - and crossed her arms. "I saved it all this time. Will somebody get to eat it?"

"No - and sit back down, Anna." Agdar stood before Mama, just beside Anna's chair. "Idun." Calm voice. Papa was angry but trying to conceal it. "Please. Give it to - "

Mama tossed it into her mouth.

Anna gasped. So did I.

Papa just stared.

Mama put her hand on her hip and looked at Papa, like she was proud. She licked her palm. "Mm. It's got chocolate."

And then, Anna collapsed onto the table - rattling her plate - and laughing.

It started as a squeal - the kind of sound she makes after she begs me to chase her around in the garden and I finally say yes. Then the squeal changed into a giggle, her smile wide, every one of her teeth showing, her head on top of her outstretched arm. Her blue eyes looked up at Mama sideways - her giggle steadily decreasing in volume but her face only getting redder and redder. Finally the only sounds that emerged from her mouth were hicks and gasps for air.

Mama looked a little worried. "Anna. Sweetheart - breathe - "

And Anna did, finally. She drew in a full breath and let it out with a wheeze. Her blue eyes flicked to me - creased. Oh n-

She started laughing again.

Mama held a hand to her mouth. Her face was turning red too.

"Look what you've done. She's tipped her plate over."

Mama looked up at Papa.

"There's syrup all over the tablecloth." He grimaced at her.

Mama's eyes shut.

Papa shook his head and stuck his hand at Anna, but before he said anything else - Mama put her other hand on Papa's shoulder. She looked like...she was fighting to stop from crying?

"Oh. Agdar. You're so angry." She cackled.

Papa's jaw clenched. This is getting bad. Anna's giggling on the table, with syrup spreading all over it, Mama's just standing there holding her sides and laughing at Papa -

"What will it take to get you to finally control yourself?" he said.

Mama punched his shoulder.

"Please - think of Anna - she's barely breathing."

"I know," Mama squeaked.

"Shall I summon a medic my Lord?" It was Kai.

Papa glared at him. Held his stare, for a moment. And then -

Papa laughed.

This is so out of hand. I've got to do something.

"Anna."

She turned her head and looked at me. She was still smiling, open-mouthed.

"Get down, okay?"

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Fine. I got down from my chair - Papa stopped laughing, Mama pressed against him and he brushed aside her hair over her eyes and held her head against his shoulder.

I looked back at Anna. "Anna, please - "

She exhaled noisily. "It's okay Elsa. I can breathe now."

I reached my hands beneath her sides. She isn't heavy, even for me. But when I tried to pick her up by her waist -

"Elsa, that tickles!"

Oof. "Come on. Get off the table!"

I pulled her by the waist but then - resistance -

"Anna, let go of the tablecloth!"

She said between gasps: "...are you taking me to the hospital?"

"I'm putting you back in your chair."

I let go of her sides and grabbed her by the ankles.

"Anna, please let go!"

"When?"

"Now!" I yelled. And pulled -

There was no resistance.

I fell backwards, flat on my back. And Anna fell right on top of me.

"Ow!"

Giggles.

"Anna!"

Giggles.

"Get off."

"You broke my fall. Thanks!"

"You probably broke my spine."

"What's a 'spine'?"

"Anna. Off!"

But she only clung to me tighter.

Mama looked down at me. She was hugging Papa. He had his arm around her shoulders.

I stretched out my arm. "Mama. Help."

"Alright Anna." It was Papa. "I think you may be hurting your sister."

"I do this all the time," she said.

"Anna," Mama said.

"She's just like a pillow." She closed her eyes and snuggled her head on my chest.

Alright. You asked for it. I stuck my fingers beneath her chin and wiggled them -

Anna tensed, squealed, rolled to the side - and lay still, her arms and legs spread out over the floor. "I'm dead. Elsa. Look." She rolled her eyes up and exhaled - her chest went flat.

I leaned up and watched. The last time she played this game, twelve seconds. One. Two.

She lay perfectly still.

Six. Seven. Eight...

Oh. I can't help myself this time. I poked her side.

She bit her lip.

"Dead people don't laugh." I poked her again. And again. And again -

She batted away my hand.

"What was that, hm?"

"'Involuntary reaction'."

And then - Papa knelt down, right beside us.

"Alright. Time to eat. No more play till after breakfast."

I got up. Oh. My dress is so wrinkled -

"I'm dead Papa. I can't get up," Anna murmured.

"Come on." He scooped his hands beneath Anna and lifted her up - she hung limply, at first not using her legs, but Papa whispered something in her ear and then she abandoned her game. She settled onto her feet.

Our breakfasts were all arranged at our places around the table. Our usual places. A cloth covered the place where the syrup had spilled. And now Kai stood off to the side of the room. By the closed window. I didn't even think about - I mean, I was so hungry now, so -

But then Anna gasped. And dove under the table! Anna. Annnnnna.

I was going to try to stop her, but I heard Mama say something to Papa, so I listened -

"Agdar." She brushed her hands over my shoulders. "I'm certain, no matter what we decide to do," she said, tracing her finger down the seam of my waistcoat, "no matter the changes we decide that we need to make," and then looked into my eyes: "things will turn out alright - as long as we remember to leave the fun." She smiled.

I leaned in and kissed her brow.

"I won't forget that, my Queen."

"Elsa! Look! Look!" Anna scrambled out from under the table. Dear me. She'll need a change, and likely her sister as well - the carpet cleaned, the tablecloth washed, only syrup. Only hot cakes. His Majesty's father's favorite breakfast, believe it or not. With chocolate pieces. A trademark of this family line.

"Anna?"

"I found her. She was under us all along." She shrugged. "Can you believe it?"

"I - "

Anna held her dolls close. Danced them around the edge of the table. "Together again. I was so worried." Hugged them in either arm. "But I found you. I would never stop looking." Kiss.