Disclaimer: These characters belong to Disney

Warmth: Chapter 1

By:SheAlwaysDies

Elsa's heart was pounding wildly. She felt it trying to push through her chest, squeezing passed the spaces between her ribs. It stretched out her skin as it bound forward only to retreat back inside her and burrow into her lungs. She was used to the feeling. The quick pace of her blood rushing through her body always coupled the ice that ran through her. When she wielded her power she could feel every single one of her veins dilate and pulse. The tips of her fingers would beat and her temples would expand. Elsa felt the power everywhere, even behind her knee caps, between her thighs, laced in her spine and deep in her throat. The rush of blood was cold.

Elsa's heart never beat regularly. It raced as fast as her mind always waiting to explode at the first sign of trouble. Her mind was a catalogue of what if's and reactions to all possible outcomes. Her thoughts were always overwhelmed with the best way to do damage control.

Even though Arendelle had been thawed her heart and her mind had not quieted their pace. The anxiety that lived in her core was not settled. Yet there was a new, overpowering feeling rushing through her. It paired with both her fear and her power. It was love. She had been able to channel that sensation and reversed not only the frost but the seismic damage it had caused.

Holding her sister in a tight embrace, Elsa wondered if Anna could feel the way her heart was trying to crawl out of her and make its way into the warmth that enshrouded the Ice Queen. Elsa did not want to let go. She knew that once her sister let go of her the Queen would have to face Arendelle, the man in the water, her guests at the castle, and her Royal Council. She did not want the love she felt to be overcome by the panic that was surging through her. Summer or not, Elsa was still a monster, she still had to answer for over a decade of secrets.

When Anna finally pulled away, Elsa felt her heart sink and push down into her organs, crashing into everything inside her. Her fingers tingled as they itched to expand the cold. Damage Control, her mind said, and Olaf's personal flurry grew in size. He yelped in excitement, and Elsa let the snow fall on him a little faster to keep the growing crowd from noticing that the slightest thing could trigger a snowfall. Her years of concealing kept the expression on her face in check, as Anna stepped away from her and towards the sweet faced stranger that stood on the miraculously reconstructed boat beside a rather tame looking Reindeer.

"Elsa," Anna said, her voice practically singing her name. "This is Kristoff and that's, well that's Sven."

The redhead stood between the strangers, her body vibrating, still bounding from the adrenaline that had powered the Princess to save both herself and her sister. Elsa was suddenly flushed with worry, her own exhaustion creeping up her ankles and weighing her shoulders. Anna was on her heels, her body language clearly telling Elsa and Kristoff that she wanted to rush to be close to each of them, and was struggling to pull herself apart and borrow into them both.

The man standing before Elsa was awkward, his response to the introduction was to bring his hand to the back of his neck and raise his elbow high while gritting his teeth in what was a grimace and smile.

Elsa wanted to kill him. It wasn't her powers telling her to shoot him in the heart before her had a chance to harm Anna, it was that unfamiliar feeling she'd used to thaw. It was telling her to pull Anna closer to herself and push everyone else out.

The silence that settled between the group was making Anna sweat. Her eyes darted back and forth from the mountain man she had just met and her sister, who was also a stranger to her. Somehow the Princess felt a pang in her heart for both of them. The warmth of summer was cascading on them, the sun was a gift. Everything she had wished for on the morning of the coronation was standing before her. The silence made her feel nauseous. She had fumbled into it, but she had made this happen. Every one of her actions that orchestrated this. Anna let herself bask in that. She had some power, and if she could pull this together then she could cut through the tension. Even if awkwardness was her greatest weakness.

"Elsa?" Anna said again. This time reaching out to her sister. She let her fingers reach for Elsa's and was happily surprised when they interlocked with their cold counterparts. Elsa had accepted her hand, and had even answered her with a small squeeze.

A smile crept up on the Queen's face. It was a regal one, not like the one that left her visage only moments ago as the wooden planks underneath them started to sway steadily in the water. This was her Queen mask that dropped in a small nod towards Kristoff.

"Kristoff," The raspy voice said. Anna received another squeeze. This one was tighter and its pressure lingered. Elsa was unsure what to say. Anna was at her side, not his, as if the Princess's body had settled and chosen Elsa. It was a pleasant thought and one of only two nice things her brain was currently mulling over.

Besides the emotional state of Arendelle, Elsa was focused on the feeling of Anna's skin on hers. The last person Elsa had touched was Anna. So many years ago.

"Can I say goodbye?" Elsa had asked her parents when they had finished settling her sister into bed. Fatigue was oozing from the couples pores. Their bodies were unable to endure another moment of this long night.

"No Elsa," Her father had said, his tone firm. "You best start accepting this now." He added, moving to pat his daughter's head but changing his mind and walking passed her instead. Iduna's face had softened but she remained true to the King's word. Elsa would learn that her mother always backed up the King. Elsa was ushered to what would be her new room. As Elsa looked back at Anna's closed door, she wished she had known to steal a kiss as her sister lay unconscious on her lap.

"Okayyyyy," Anna stretched out the word as she tried and failed again to connect the last pieces of her happy ending.

"Nice to meet you," Kristoff said after Sven prodded him with his antlers.

"Yes," Elsa responded as she debated if it was easier to deal with the mob that awaited her at the docks, or this man that had boldly tried to claim love for her sister.

"Listen," she started, seeing from the corner of her eye Anna's mouth open wide in what was an eager smile. "Thank you," was all she could think of to say and Anna squealed. She raised her hands to her mouth as her legs started to dance in place excitedly. The movement pulled Elsa closer to her. In her glee, Anna wrapped an arm around Kristoff bringing the trio into an embrace. The mountain man fell into it easily. He wrapped his muscular arm around Anna's shoulders. The Princess dug herself into his chest, again forcing Elsa deeper into the hug. The happy sounds emitting out of Anna seemed to sing to Kristoff, and his build relaxed. His other arm closed a circle around the sisters. Elsa found herself deeply burrowed within them. Her heart was pounding wildly, but as she melted into the arms she heard two other beating hearts.

"I love hugs," Olaf declared and wrapped his stick arms around Elsa's legs.

"Me too," Elsa found herself saying. It was snowing soft flurries that swayed backwards and forwards as if conducting thousands of different symphonies.

There was such an intense feeling of warmth. Elsa let herself bask in it, before she was the first to shift. Her eyes locked with Kristoff's as they both readjusted their stances. He pressed his lips together and gave the Queen a quick nod. She returned the gesture, suddenly ready to disembark. She kept her fingers interlaced with Anna's and pulled the Princess along with her.

"Oh geeze," Anna spat out as she noticed the crowd that had gathered. Each face was asking a different question and each wore a different expression. Elsa had a lot to answer for and Anna knew she could be of little service. She had enough questions of her own. But the people before her were not going to wait the years Anna did for answers. There was a great unrest brewing before them.

"Eep, We're cornered." Anna coughed out.

"We can do some crowd control," Kristoff offered and Sven huffed agreement, suddenly wagging his body ready to serve. But Elsa raised her free hand, it settled the reindeer and a good portion of the mob.

With a flick of her wrist she built a few steps and a podium. The crowd gasped and Anna received another squeeze before being pulled up to stand before most of Arendelle.

"I'm sure you all have lots of questions," Elsa said. Her voice fanning out to the crowd easily. "I know I have to answer to you."

As Elsa spoke she widened her creation, making a sort of stage. The Queen pulled her sister along beside her and Olaf instinctively followed. As they moved Elsa dissolved the staircase. As the stage grew on one end it retracted on the other. Kristoff and Sven were left behind, the crowd, both fearful and amazed, jeered as Elsa took a breath, seemingly trying to conjure ice and find the right words at the same time.

"I was born with the power to conjure and manipulate ice and snow. The gates were closed when the Late King and Queen deemed it no longer safe for me to be in contact with Arendelle. I have spent the years since in search of ways to best serve you as Queen."

Elsa was composed. Anna could see it was true, her sister had trained to keep herself from cracking. The crowd was weary, even this heavy sun couldn't warm them to what they had just witnessed. Yet Elsa's nose was still slightly upturned and her shoulders square.

Anna and the rest of Arendelle were so focused on the Queen that did not not notice that the path Elsa made was in retreat. It came across as if The Queen was offering herself to the masses, while she really was weaving them closer to the gates.

"I do not know what the extent of my force is. But as you have all witnessed it can come with a furry. One that has altered Arendelle for too many years now. I understand the unrest you must feel. However, I am your Queen now. Unless you want to overthrow me, your best option is to see that as an asset and recognize that I took an oath to do what is best for Arendelle. I will move forward with my reign doing so, and hopefully showing you what I am capable of." As if you punctuate her stance, Elsa conjured a beautifully crafted set of stairs.

The crowd had followed them along the elevated path, Anna scanned their faces wondering which angry scowl was more likely to attack. Elsa still pulled her along. They descended together. Anna fought back the urge to squeeze her eyes shut as they became level to the concerned citizens.

"Witch!" Anna heard someone yell. More became emboldened to call out.

"She can't be trusted!"

"Monster!" Elsa gave Anna yet another tight squeeze.

"For now the gates will remain closed. I will hold another audience tomorrow." Elsa said firmly. Anna suddenly realized that Elsa had brought the trio just outside the courtyard.

"Home!" Olaf exclaimed as he piece together what Anna just had.

"Thank you. That is all." Elsa did not linger. She ushered her sister past the gates. Anna's heart sank a bit as she felt the gates be slammed behind her and the mob roar as the lock was sealed.

"Where can I sleep?" Olaf asked as his eyes wandered, and took in the glorious stone and wood work that adorned the courtyard. "Do I sleep?" The snowman asked a passing guard. The woman yelped. Then looked to Elsa. The Queen took a deep breath before addressing the frightened staff.

"His name is Olaf. He's to be treated as if he were either myself or the Princess. I suggest that anyone with any qualms get on the other side of the gate now. For if anyone even hesitates to serve us, they will be removed. Go now if you do not want to be made a spectacle of later." A few of the staff shifted. Most, Anna assumed, were hired to work the massive influx of the coronation but at least three Anna recognized well and had grown up around.

The guard standing with Olaf smiled down at the snowman. "She forgot to mention I like warm hugs." Olaf said as he spread his arms out. The soldier accepted the embrace and Anna chose to focus on the exchange rather than to watch a piece of what she had considered family exit. She looked at Elsa and the Queen seemed unfazed. Her focus was on those that chose to stay, as if she was reading each and every one of them.

"You should rest," She said abruptly. Anna suddenly realized that she had barely spoken to her sister still. There was a shift. Anna easily recognized it. They were about to part ways. As soon as she thought it Elsa dropped her sister's hand. She flagged down a guard.

"Assemble the Council." Elsa demanded. Anna saw the Gloved Queen again. As Elsa started towards the castle, all Anna could think of was the yearning feeling in her stomach that wanted her fingers wrapped around the cold again. She wanted to drag Elsa to the room they once shared and take back everything they had lost between each other.

"Elsa?" She called out meekly. The Queen stopped but did not turn. "You rest too," the Princess found herself saying, instead of can't it wait, because I'm done with waiting or I need answers. I need you.

Elsa looked over her shoulder. Her eyebrows were knotted, but she smiled back at her sister. Anna felt a pang of loneliness as she wondered if what had started outside on the boat was now over. The staff around Anna were already starting to shut all the windows. Anna was left to do what she did best, kill time until tomorrow.