Princess Anna screwed up her face and squeezed her eyes shut. Light filled her bedroom, streaming in through the picture window and winding its way across her face to peep into her eyelids. She gave a groan and rolled over, twisting the light pink bedspread around with her. Surely the day could wait one more... Two more... Three more hours. Ducking her head under the blanket, Anna sighed contentedly, having blocked out both the blinding sunshine and the birds twittering outside in the courtyard below. A trickle of drool glistened in one corner of her mouth.

A sharp tap on the door suddenly came, and Anna bolted upright. A muffled voice came through from the opposite side.

"Princess Anna?"

It was Kai, head manservant of Arendelle Castle. Anna had known most of the servants since she was born, and Kai was no exception.

Anna pulled a bit of strawberry hair out of her mouth and managed a "Huh, yeah?"

"Sorry to wake you, ma'am," Kai apologized, "But-"

"No, you didn't," Anna yawned, "I've been up for... Hours..."

Her voice dropped off as sleep dragged her back into its clutches. Her head drooped a little and she startled herself awake.

"Who is it?!" She called.

Kai stifled a laugh. He had woken the princess countless times before, and this time was no different. "Still me, ma'am. Time to get ready!"

Anna's bleary mind searched for a reason, but she could come up with nothing; no purpose for getting out of bed on this wonderfully sleepy day.

"Ready for what...?"

The manservant behind the door decided that she must be kidding. Surely she hadn't actually forgotten...?

"Your sister's coronation?" He offered.

"My sister's... Corneration." She repeated.

Anna lazily opened one eye and caught sight of the beautiful gown displayed on a dress form at the foot of her bed. All too quickly, the significance of the day came flooding back to her.

"Coronation Day!"

She threw back the covers and leaped out of bed, bolting across the room. She grabbed the dress form and span it around in excitement. She stripped it of its clothing and tossed the dress on the bed, freeing herslf from her nightdress as swiftly as she could. Pop! A tiny green button rolled across the floor and came to rest near her bed. Oops! Anna picked up the button and placed it on top of the nightstand. Gerda or someone would take care of it. Not the first time Anna had wrecked an article of clothing, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

The gown was green, just like her nightdress. Anna had always had a fondness for green. Maybe because it reminded her of spring; a representation of new beginnings, just like today: Coronation Day. Anna's only sibling, Elsa, was to become Arendelle's new queen. There was to be a formal ceremony held in the chapel, followed by a whole day of celebrating. Anna, as second princess, was, of course, required to attend the ceremony, but she was most excited about just one thing: the castle gates would finally be open.

As long as she could remember, Arendelle Castle had been locked up tighter than a prison, and Anna had never known why. Was it keeping something out? Or was it keeping something in? She sometimes felt like a prisoner in her own home. Maybe it was the second one. All her life, Anna had dreamed of seeing the outside world, and today, finally, the gates that had been shut tight would open. She was happy for her sister, too, of course, but her relationship with Elsa had always been... Strained.

Well, maybe not always. Anna could remember happier times. When they were both very young, she and Elsa had been the best of friends. Then, one day, Elsa locked herself in her room and almost never came out. Anna had seen her just three times this year; a far cry from the six instances of last year. Apart from their time together as children, Anna knew almost nothing about her sister. And it was a very lonely life. Their parents were lost at sea when the two of them had just entered their teenaged years, leaving Elsa as Anna's only family. She could remember countless times she had tried knocking on her sister's door, begging her to let her in.

Anna shook the thoughts from her mind. Today was different. Today was going to change everything. She finished dressing and ran to her vanity to do something about her hair. She shoved three hairpins into her mouth and began brushing, braiding, tying, pinning.

And... Done! She jumped into her shoes and burst through the door, hair ribbons flying fast behind her. She grabbed a nearby unwitting maid and swung her around, shouting for joy.

"It's Coronation Day!"