Once Upon A Time Frozen Over: Shards of Secrets (Book One) [COMPLETE]

CHAPTER TWO - NEW BEGINNINGS

Twenty-One Years Later

Present Day

Anna and Elsa sat at the large dining table in their nightgowns, giggling and drinking hot cocoa.  The two sisters had been reminiscing for hours, although it seemed like only moments ago that they stopped ice skating in the courtyard and the eternal winter had ended.

"Really?" said Elsa amazed. "You've read every single book in the library?"

"Yep," said Anna proudly.  "A lot of them more than once."

"Wow, but I suppose there wasn't much else to do, being alone all those years," said Elsa sadly.

"Well, that's not entirely true," smirked Anna.  "I explored the entire castle — there's some pretty amazing secret passages, by the way.  I'd slide across the ballroom floor in my stockings....In fact, I hold the record for the longest slide ever...even though it was just me," she said to Elsa who was trying to stifle a giggle. "One of my favorite things to do was to go to all the picture halls — I actually made up a story for every single painting.  And, anyway, I wasn't completely alone.  I had all the servants to keep me company.  Berta was always there to cheer me up.  And I had all the soldiers in the barracks.  They gave me great words of wisdom...like, 'You don't always have to stab someone when they upset you'.  Anyway, so you see, it wasn't that terrible," Anna finished, realizing she was blabbering.

Elsa, looking serious now, said, "I'm happy you were able to keep yourself busy and you weren't completely alone, because I know no one could stand that.  I know I couldn't.  But I can't help wondering, did you say you spent time in the...barracks?"

"Oh," Anna chuckled. "I've been training with the soldiers in the barracks since I was about...oh...I don't know...about twelve."

"Really," said Elsa with amazement. "What did you learn?"

"Well, I learned sword fighting, dagger fighting, knife throwing, archery, self-defense, horse riding and parkour.  So, I guess pretty much everything!"

"Wow, Anna, that's incredible!  I didn't know that....Of course I didn't....I was hiding away for thirteen years," said Elsa, her countenance falling.

"Elsa, there's no need to be upset.  That wasn't your fault, you were just trying to hide your magic.  You were trying to protect everyone in the kingdom — you were trying to protect me."

"Of course it was my fault!" Elsa insisted. "How could I have protected anyone, hiding away for all those years?  Now I've been gone for so long — I've missed everything."

"You haven't missed everything," Anna consoled Elsa.

"But, I shut you out when you were barely five and now you're eighteen — so, I've missed a lot," Elsa demanded, hanging her head low.

"Elsa, we're together now...that's all that matters," Anna said softly, taking Elsa's hands in hers.

Elsa slowly raised her head as a small smile formed on her face, and said, "You're right, there's no need to be upset.  We're together now and that is all that matters." Elsa let go of Anna's hands and embraced her.

"Promise me, Elsa, no more hiding, no more secrets," Anna said, her head resting on Elsa's shoulder.

"I promise," Elsa said, taking Anna's hands again.

Anna rose up her mug of hot cocoa in a toast and said, "To being sisters again!"

Elsa raised her mug up as well and repeated, "To being sisters again!" They clanked their mugs and sipped their cocoa joyfully.

"So," Anna said, setting down her cocoa, "since we're going to be honest with each other from now on, no more hiding or secrets, I have something to tell you.  But, I'm not exactly sure how you're going to react."

Elsa set down her cocoa and gave Anna a concerned look.

"Don't worry, it's good news! ...I just don't know if you'll think it is."

Elsa's look grew more anxious.

"So, what I'm trying to say is...well...I...uh..."

"Anna, just spit it out!" demanded Elsa.

"Okay, okay, okay," Anna said as she picked up her mug of cocoa to take a sip. "I'm currently in a new relationship," she blurted out as fast as she could behind her mug of cocoa.

Elsa gave Anna a blank look as Anna cringed, waiting for her response. "What?" Elsa said, sounding worried.

Anna took a deep breath, "I said, I'm curr — "

"I heard what you said, Anna!" Elsa said curtly. "I mean what do you mean?  Are you not aware this is the same exact day you broke up with your ex-fiancé?"

"I am aware of that," Anna said firmly. "Let me explain — "

Before she had the chance to do so, Elsa interrupted. "Okay, fine. I will listen to your explanation, but, first tell me this, who is this man?  Who could you possibly even — oh, I know who it is...it's Kristoff, the man that helped you.  He's your new dalliance?"

"Yes," said Anna confidently, "he is....But, please don't be mad.  I've known him for two whole days."

Elsa buried her face in her hands in dismay.

"I promise you, he's a completely different story.  What I had with Hans wasn't even real...but this is.  It's everything I ever hoped for — nothing crazy happened!  It's not like we're engaged or anything.  We just kissed."

"You kissed?" Elsa raised her voice in alarm.

"It was my first kiss...and now I'm thinking possibly my last."

"No, no," Elsa said calmly. "It's okay, I'm not upset.  You've wanted love your whole life and now you have it.  Like you said, Hans was a mistake — I understand that.  I'm happy for you."

"Thank you for understanding," Anna said, letting out a sigh of relief.

"I'm your sister, it's my job to understand," said Elsa.

"You don't have to worry.  He's an amazing person — trust me," Anna said happily.

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Author's Note:

I know, a little fluffy, but they were in Once Upon A Time too! Hey, they needed a little fluff! They've been through a lot! Read on to chapter three for death and darkness...... mawhahahaha (evil laugh).