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

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - SISTERS QUARREL

Present Day

East Forest

Elsa raced down the path, ice flying off her horse's feet as they beat furiously against the ground.  She knew she was looking for the manticore, but she could hardly concentrate with her mind clouded by her rage.

"How could she choose him over me?" Elsa thought.  "And who does he think he is?  He thinks he can take her away from me and do whatever he wants with her," her mind going back to her finding them in the midst of their passionate moment.  "He can't really care about her — he's only known her for three days!  Anna thinks he's so perfect, but I just know he can't be trusted.  He's exactly like the last one," she continued to stew in her thoughts.  "Then you have his revolting thoughts of fornication and the fact that he's a poor commoner.  Anna just doesn't understand." 

The wind whipped against her face as she rode furiously down the path.  Frost formed on the path in front of her and sheets of ice climbed up the trees as she rode by them.  When the entire path turned into solid ice, her horse came to a sudden halt and reared up on its hind legs, whinnying, snapping Elsa out of her state of rage.  She pulled on the reins and brought the mare back down to all fours, then petted its neck to ease it.  Elsa closed her eyes, put her head down and took in a deep breath to calm herself.  She opened her eyes and saw the ice under her horse's feet.  She shot her head up and looked all around her to see the winter landscape she had just created.  She saw the trail of jagged ice that she had been leaving behind her and that the entire path and all the trees around her were completely covered with ice. 

 Knowing now that she could never be in full control of her magic without the help of her sister, she began to thinking of their happy moment drinking hot cocoa in the dining room of their castle last night.  She let out another deep breath and waved her arms, making all the snow, frost, and ice around her melt away. 

In the distance, she heard the ominous sound of the manticore.  Elsa, now completely focused and not wasting any time, flicked the reins of her horse and galloped up the path toward the cries of the manticore.  She noticed a clearing in the path ahead and stopped just before it.  She sat still, listening intently for the manticore —  but all she could hear were her horse's snorting and the sounds of the forest.  After dismounting her horse, she walked into the middle of the clearing, looked around and saw there was path going north, south, east and west.  She searched the setting sky for the manticore and saw only a flock of geese flying in their V-shaped formation.

Elsa, still looking to the sky, took another step forward, accidentally stepping into a large divot, and lost her footing.  Looking down, trying to catch her balance, she noticed she had stepped into a large paw print — her eyes then caught sight of two more paw prints.  She knew the manticore's paw must have been seriously injured, since there were only three prints.

"It must be having a difficult time flying and need to rest," she thought out loud.  "So, it must not be far from here now....I can get it on my own."

Just then, Elsa heard the galloping of horses coming up behind her.  She turned around to see Anna, Kristoff, and Evie riding up the path and stop right beside her horse.

Elsa huffed, feeling completely overwhelmed.  She felt bad for getting so angry with Anna and for what she had said to her.  She knew she shouldn't be taking it out on her when Kristoff  is the real problem.  But still, she was upset with her for getting on the horse with Kristoff and disappointed in her for what she had witnessed in the village earlier.  Such inappropriate behavior was unacceptable for a princess.  Besides, Elsa couldn't understand why Anna was upset with her, all she wants is what's best for her.  Not wanting to fight with her sister any longer, she knew the manticore would have to wait — because no matter what, they would always be sisters and that would always come first.  She knew she had to fix this and the problem was going to have to be discussed.