The warmth of summer came and with it her sisters coronation as Queen, a joyous occasion for the whole kingdom and the gates (the castle) would soon be open to all once more. Anna hated it. Each day went by with party preparations, rehearsals of the coronation and dress fittings, servants flitting from guest room to guest room to make sure the beds were made the windows open. Only one wing remained untouched and that was hers.

Elsa was happy, all smiles and laughter and brightness as she prepared for the day. Speeches and ceremonies were practiced and Anna watched from a distance, enswathed in darkness and cold like some sort of shadow and it was made increasingly obvious that she didn't, had never, belonged here. Arendelle was a place of warmth and sunshine, even in the snowy winters the sun still made its appearances and everyone was happy, carefree and calm. Only she had been cursed with eternal ice and snow, that clouded her and exiled her from the rest and Anna found herself withdrawing further into herself. As the people of Arendelle made ready to be seen by all once again she cloaked herself away from them and dreamt of isolation.

It seemed that all too soon the day of the coronation came, it was a warm and sunny day, and Anna watched from the window of a tower as noblemen and royalty from far and wide began to arrive by ship and boat and carriage to their home. They crowded around the closed gates, looking excited and happy and talking amongst themselves like old friends. A cold wind blew around the top of the tower, entirely unnatural for the heat of the day and Anna shivered, not from the sudden coolness but from the fear of everything going wrong. No matter what happened she would not ruin her sisters day.

She fiddled with the gloves, thick with fur on the inside, but seeming like simple silk to the untrained eye – it was not uncommon for ladies of high class to wear gloves and she hoped no-one would call her out because of it. When she stepped away from the windowsill ice cracked beneath her feet and Anna swallowed nervously, racing down the stairs without looking back. The clock chimed twelve outside and she hurried to the chapel where the crowning would take place.

It was still mostly empty when she arrived, the priest stood ready at the top, a few people sat around, one of them a young red haired man who looked to be around her own age. Everyone else there were old nobles who couldn't stand or walk for too long and she barely remembered their names and titles besides the lessons. The young man she had no recollection of, and so merely smiled nervously at him when he waved and fought the urge to shift awkwardly.

She definitely had not been expecting for him to walk up and introduce himself.

"Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, my lady." He had a smooth voice, and a simple yet handsome smile and reminded her of the stories she had read as a child, where strong and dashing princes saved princesses. Prince Hans, she fought, definitely fit that bill. He gave her a strange look and Anna realised suddenly that she had yet to reply to him, having been sucked into her own world.

"Princess Anna of Arendelle, it is a pleasure, Prince Hans." She curtsied politely, biting down on her lower lip and she froze in surprise when he brushed his lips over her gloved hand.

"The pleasure is all mine, Princess, or will it soon be Queen?" Ah, that explained it, he believed her to be Elsa and she shook her head quickly.

"N-no that is my sister, Princess Elsa, she will be taking the throne." His eyebrows creased in confusion and blinked at her and it was almost adorable the way he did so. Anna almost giggled, but held it in, scolding herself for even the thought of being rude.

"I did not realise Arendelle had two princesses." Hans said softly after a few moments before smiling at her. "Perhaps they hid you away for your beauty, Princess Anna, because I have never seen one as lovely as you." A flush came over her face and Anna stuttered weakly, looking up at Hans with wide blue eyes, shocked and flattered by his words because no-one had ever called her beautiful before. The only men she had known were her father (who had despised her with most of his being, perhaps all) and a young servant boy who always looked more fearful than awed. It was a strange, but not unpleasant feeling that curled in her stomach and Anna giggled lightly this time.

"Thank you Prince Hans, you are most handsome yourself." She murmured, and soon after the chapel began to fill with many people, the time now closer to one. With a soft smile she pulled away from Hans to stand in her position by the priest and gave him a quick little wave when he sat down.

Everything went silent as Elsa walked in, dressed in deep green and gold and a smile that was bright but regal and Anna heard more than a few people gasp. When she looked over to Hans though, his eyes were on her and she felt herself blushing again, quickly glancing away to hide her embarrassment.