A/N: Thank you for clicking on my story!:) If anyone is particularly concerned about it, this will stay in canon, but end on a happy note. So...yeah.:) Also, I'll probably update this story a little more sporadically than my other one; not because I don't have more ready to publish, but because I have to figure out where to split the chapters.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Frozen characters, obviously.

Sixteen-year-old Elsa sat in the window seat in her room, gazing out the window. My eighth birthday without Anna. Years and years of this room, all because of one accident. All because of my stupid ability…or disability, if I listen to Mom and Dad. She looked down at her gloved hands in distaste. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. It wasn't Anna's usual rhythmic knock, so it was probably her parents. Elsa sighed and slowly walked over to the door, waiting for whoever it was to identify themselves.

"Elsa? It's your parents," King Agdar said.

Elsa unlocked her door and promptly headed for the opposite side of the room. "The door is unlocked."

King Agdar and Queen Idun came in, looking far too cheery in Elsa's opinion. "Since it's your sixteenth birthday, we thought you might have anything you want in honor of the occasion," Idun said.

Anything? "I want to see Anna," Elsa mumbled softly.

"What did you say?" Idun asked.

"I want to see Anna," Elsa repeated, a bit louder this time. "She could stay out in the hall even, and I'll stay way over here by the window. It's been so long…I just want to talk to her…"

"Now, Elsa, you know we cannot do that," Agdar said. "It's too dangerous. Isn't there anything else you would like?"

"I haven't frozen a single thing in almost a week. I'm trying to conceal it, but it's just so hard!" Elsa sighed. What did I expect would happen? Of course they were going to say no…it's probably just as well, I suppose. What if I lost control in front of Anna? "I suppose I would like some new books and more paper for drawing blueprints?" One of Elsa's favorite pastimes was drawing up blueprints for imaginary buildings. She had a large collection of blueprints she'd drawn up in her desk, all different and unique.

Idun frowned. "What kind of birthday presents are those? You can just have those things anytime."

"Since I can't see Anna, those are the only things I want," Elsa said flatly. "May I please be excused?" (This was a rather illogical question, as this was already Elsa's room, but she was hoping her parents would get the message and leave her alone.)

"Well, we have one thing to share with you, even if you don't want it," Agdar replied.

Elsa looked at her father expectantly but said nothing.

"This is something that you are to tell no one. It is a secret known only by the royal family."

Who do you think I'm going to tell alone in my room? My reflection in the mirror? The one person I would possibly blab to I'm not even allowed to talk to. "I can keep a secret," Elsa answered, struggling to maintain control.

"We know you can keep a secret," Idun said, trying to reassure Elsa. "The secret is this: there are secret passages throughout the castle for escape purposes, sieges, and other things of that sort. Now that you are sixteen, you're old enough to know."

Elsa listened with interest. Secret passages were something new. If no one but my parents and me know about them, maybe I can use them to get out of this room sometimes, even if I'm still alone all the time.

"Here are the plans for the passages," Agdar said, crossing the room to give the plans to Elsa.

"Don't come any closer!" Elsa's voice sounded panicky. Too close…too close. She could feel the ice threatening to slip out unbidden. Conceal, don't feel…conceal, don't feel… Elsa took a deep breath and said, "Could you just leave it on the desk? Please?"

Agdar sighed and set the plans on the desk. "They're on the desk, Elsa. Once you have memorized the plans, burn them. Don't keep them."

"I won't. May I please be excused now?"

"Elsa, I…" Agdar began to say something, but Idun laid a hand on his shoulder and lightly shook her head.

Elsa gave her mother a grateful look before her parents left the room. The instant they were gone and the door shut, Elsa ran to lock it. Meetings with her parents always felt tense even when she was temporarily in control; Elsa always felt on edge, as if she might do something wrong any moment. And she didn't like being around people-she might hurt them, which she knew was the reason she wasn't allowed to see Anna. Elsa sat down at her desk and began to peruse the plans to the secret passages. There's an entrance to one of them right here in my room! I can explore the passages without actually leaving my room! Before thinking any further whether this was a good idea or not, she pulled the comfy chair out of the corner and consulted the plans to see how to open the passage's entrance. Let's see…it says there's an irregularity in the molding that you press simultaneously with the bottom of the wall directly below it. Elsa struggled to find the tiny irregularity with her gloved fingers. Stupid things, I can't even get my fingers to work right, she thought. Maybe if I take them off just for a minute, it would be all right… She slipped the glove off her right hand and just stared at her pale skin for a moment. I haven't seen that part of me in ages. Well, back to the original mission-find that irregularity! Elsa's bare fingers quickly located the irregularity and she opened the secret door, revealing the dark passage beyond. She slipped her glove back on and went to find a candle and matches. Then she crawled into the passage, bringing the plans with her as a map. A couple feet into the passage, the ceiling rose high enough for her to stand up. Elsa felt as if she were going on an adventure in her own home. Using the plans as a guide, she went through a series of twists and turns, down a long staircase, crawled down a long tunnel; and once the ceiling grew taller again, a few more turns, ending at the secret entrance into the passages that was behind the throne in the Great Hall. She debated for a few minutes whether to open the secret entrance, but immediately decided against it when she heard her parents' voices. Elsa couldn't hear everything distinctly, but it was enough to give her a clear picture of what they were talking about.

"…seriously consider a betrothal for Elsa," she heard her father say. "We have already…several proposals from…"

"…only sixteen. Elsa isn't… Also, what about…problem?" she heard her mother reply.

"Surely…way to cure her…come of age…five years…"

Elsa suddenly didn't want to hear this conversation anymore. She'd heard too much already. I don't want to be betrothed to anyone! I can't! I'm too young, and there's still the ice problem. If there were a way to 'fix' me, they would have found it by now. There is no way to get rid of it-I'm stuck with it! And why is it all right to betroth me to someone I don't even know when I'm not even allowed to talk to Anna? That doesn't even make sense! As Elsa's thoughts raced, ice began to spread under her feet. Elsa backed right into the side of the secret passage and fell with a thud, extinguishing her candle. There goes my six-day record of not freezing anything. She struggled to find another match in the pitch dark. Elsa heard her parents saying something about where that thud had come from. Oh no. I'm going to be in big trouble if they find me here. Finally, Elsa was able to relight the candle, and she rushed back to her room as fast as she could. When she arrived back in her room, she quickly shut the secret entrance and pushed the comfy chair back in front of it. Then Elsa studied the rest of the plans, putting them to memory. Just as she decided that she was ready to dispose of the plans, she heard another knock on her door. This wasn't Anna's knock either, and her parents were still in the Great Hall as far as she knew, so it had to be Gerda. No one else would be knocking on Elsa's door.

Elsa shoved the plans into the back of her desk and went to the door. "Hello, Gerda," she said through the door.

"How did you know it was me, Princess Elsa?" Gerda asked from the other side of the door.

"Deductive reasoning."

"Please open the door; I've brought you a special birthday lunch."

Elsa unlocked the door and retreated to the opposite side of the room. "It's open."

Gerda came in and set Elsa's lunch on the desk, knowing Elsa didn't want anyone near her. "Happy birthday, Princess Elsa."

Icky birthday is more like it. Elsa shook her head with irritation at herself. Mom and Dad would be really mad if they knew I was coming up with…not-so-nice thoughts like that.

"Are you doing ok?" Gerda asked.

"I suppose…I lost my six-day record this morning, though," Elsa said, knowing Gerda was referring to her powers. Gerda was one of the only people who knew about it besides Elsa herself and her parents.

"Well, six days is good! Maybe you can make it to seven this time," Gerda said.

It won't matter. I still won't be allowed to see Anna. "Maybe," Elsa replied dejectedly. "Thank you for lunch, Gerda."

Gerda knew Elsa wanted her to leave, so she did, shutting the door behind her.

Elsa pulled the plans back out and burned them to ashes before sitting down to eat her lunch. Those plans were thoroughly etched into her memory now.

Two hours later, Elsa heard Anna's signature knock on her door. "Elsa? I know you're in there. Are you listening?" Anna asked.

Yes, Elsa thought. I'm listening, Anna. Part of Elsa loved hearing Anna's voice, as it was the only contact she had with her sister, even if it was one-sided; but another part of her hated it since it just reminded her of being unable to spend any time with or communicate with Anna.

"Well, whether you're listening or not, I'll just talk anyway. I slid down the banister today and I might have kinda sorta busted one of those suits of armor at the bottom of the stairs. It was funny but it made a big mess! It took forever to figure out how it went back together again."

Elsa smiled on the other side of the door.

"Are you having cake for lunch, Elsa? You should be 'cause it's your birthday. Oh, yeah, by the way, happy birthday, Elsa! What presents did you get? I miss you. Can't I see you just for today since it's your birthday?"

No, you can't. I already asked. Elsa's eyes filled with tears. Stop it, Elsa! Get a grip on yourself. Don't feel, don't feel. "Please go away, Anna."

Anna was disappointed for a moment at Elsa's reply, but then thought, She actually said something today! Even if it was just to tell me to go away. Maybe Anna could get Elsa to at least talk to her through the door. "No, I'm not going away! I know you're listening, Elsa." Anna had a sudden idea. Maybe Elsa's door was just shut, not locked, and she could just come in whether Elsa invited her or not. "I'm coming in, Elsa!"

Elsa frowned. That door was locked…wasn't it? A second too late, Elsa realized she hadn't locked the door after Gerda had left earlier. Anna eagerly barged in, and Elsa backed against the far wall, hands clasped to her chest. "Anna…please, you have to go."

"You don't look sick." Anna stared at Elsa. "Or dangerous." Elsa grew up…a lot. She looks pretty. And depressed. And scared.

"Wh-wh-where did you get those ideas about me?" Elsa asked. Anna moved closer to her. "Don't touch me! Stay away!"

"Our parents," Anna said, stopping in the center of the room. "They told me you were sick, and that you weren't safe to be around."

"Well, they're half right. I'm not sick, but it's not safe for you to be around me. Anna, please go!" Elsa was unaware of the decreasing temperature in the room. "And I'm going to be in big trouble if our parents find out I let you in here," she added in a whisper.

Anna narrowed her eyes at her sister. Elsa was trying to be impassive, but her blue eyes betrayed her true sad and scared feelings. Anna suddenly realized it was downright cold in Elsa's room. She shivered. "Is it just me, or is it getting kinda cold in here? And Elsa, why would you get in trouble? I just barged in; you didn't let me in."

Elsa's eyes grew wide. I must have messed with the temperature again. "Anna, please, you have to go! Please."

Anna sensed the urgency in Elsa's voice. "Ok, but I'm coming back. I'm never, ever giving up on you!"

The moment Anna was out the door, Elsa dashed to lock it, leaving an icy trail wherever she walked. I'm going to be in so much trouble for that. How could I forget to lock the door?!

"Elsa?" Anna said from the other side of the door. "I don't know what the problem is, but I'm going to try to fix it for you."

You can't fix it, Anna. Nobody can.

"I'm going to talk to our parents at dinner tonight. This is the dumbest situation ever, and it's not fair! Why did they lie to me and say you were sick anyway?" Anna sounded mad now.

No, Anna, don't do that! It won't change anything. And they said that because they couldn't very well say, 'Oh, your sister blasted you in the head with ice when you were five, so she's dangerous.' Elsa's melancholy thoughts made the temperature drop even lower in her room.

"Elsa? Why is there a really cold draft coming from under your door?" Anna stuck her fingers under Elsa's door.

Oh, no. Elsa curled up in a ball on her bed just to get herself off the floor. Hopefully Anna wouldn't be able to touch the icy streaks all over the floor.

"By the way, I'm so glad I got to see you even if we didn't have a real conversation. Oh, bother, I have to go. Mom's calling me to do lessons. Bye, Elsa!"

Elsa heard Anna's footsteps fade away down the hall. Bye, Anna.

That evening at dinner in the dining hall, Anna decided to talk to their parents, like she'd told Elsa she would. "So, Mom, Dad, I've got something to talk to you about."

"You always have something to talk about, Anna," Idun told her, smiling. "What is it this time?"

"It's Elsa."

Agdar and Idun exchanged glances. "What about Elsa?" Agdar asked.

"Elsa's not sick. Why did you tell me she was sick? And I don't believe she's dangerous, either! She's my sister, for goodness sakes. What Elsa did look like was sad and scared. She shouldn't feel like that, especially on her birthday. Why can't we spend time together anymore?"

"What makes you suddenly think she's not sick?" Idun asked.

"She told me so! I went in her room earlier-and before you say anything, Elsa did NOT let me in! I just barged in myself," Anna said, remembering how Elsa had told her she'd get in trouble for letting Anna in.

"The door wasn't locked?" Idun asked.

"Weell…noo…And it was really cold in Elsa's room. Which is really weird 'cause it's summertime! Anyway, you ought to put a heater or something in there for Elsa-she's going to get cold," Anna said.

"Do not go in your sister's room again, Anna," Agdar said sternly, not addressing Anna's comments about the temperature in Elsa's room. "It's not safe, no matter what you might think."

"I don't care! I want to actually spend time with and talk to Elsa again! And I don't believe you OR Elsa when you all say it's not safe for me to be around her! It's stupid! You act like you think Elsa has some contagious disease or something! She wouldn't even let me near her. She kept saying, 'Go away! Don't touch me!' and stuff like that. This is RIDICULOUS! Elsa's terrified for some reason, and I WANT TO KNOW WHY!" Anna's voice rose in pitch and volume until she was shouting.

"That is not acceptable dinner behavior, Anna. Stop shouting. Go upstairs to your room right now," Agdar told her.

"Oh, fine, so you can lock ME in MY room, just like you do to Elsa! She doesn't even come down for dinner anymore, not even on her birthday!" Anna shoved her chair away from the table and stomped upstairs. "THIS IS NOT FAIR! NOT FAIR, NOT FAIR, NOT FAIR!" Anna marked each word with a vicious stomp up the stairs. She stopped in front of Elsa's door and banged on it.

Elsa jumped in surprise. That was most definitely not Anna's knock, but she knew it had to be Anna because she'd been able to hear a little of the dining hall argument, Anna had been shouting so loud. I'm so going to get it for this. I wish Anna hadn't said anything at all.

"Elsa! I TRIED, but they wouldn't LISTEN! It's not FAIR! It's not; it's NOT! They wouldn't tell me ANYTHING! You're NOT dangerous, I just know it!"

Elsa flinched with Anna's each shouted word. Anna, please stop. You're only going to make it worse. Elsa couldn't take it anymore; she ran into her bathroom and shut that door to block out some of the noise.

Anna continued her rant, "And they LIED to me! You're not sick!"

Elsa sat crying in the bathroom. Go away, Anna. Stop yelling; you'll just get us both in worse trouble.

A minute later, Elsa heard Anna's incessant shouting stop. I bet our parents came upstairs. Elsa left the bathroom and went back into her actual room, ice following her footsteps. A sharp rap on her door and an "Elsa there's something we need to discuss" confirmed her suspicions. Elsa wiped the tears off her face and unlocked the door. "The door is unlocked," she said in her best indifferent voice as she headed to the opposite side of the room.

"What is going on with you and Anna today?" Agdar asked the moment he and Idun came in. "I said earlier it was too dangerous for you two to be together. Yet Anna comes to dinner and starts shouting about things, and saying we lied to her. You were not supposed to let Anna in here."

Well, you DID lie to her. I'm not sick… I knew this was going to happen. Anna's right; this isn't fair. I might be dangerous, but I could talk to her through the door. Suddenly Elsa felt something she hadn't felt in a long, long while. She was angry. "I didn't let Anna in," she said. "Anna came in herself."

"Why wasn't the door locked?"

"I forgot to lock it after Gerda brought my lunch earlier. And to be quite honest, I'm not sick. Why did you tell Anna that anyway?"

"Queens-to-be cannot afford to be forgetful! You're sixteen, Elsa. That's old enough to take responsibility for your actions. And look at this room-there are icy streaks and puddles all over it. This is why you cannot see Anna! Do we have to change the locks so that they're on the outside of the door instead of inside?"

Something inside Elsa snapped. You want to actually lock me in here. Like I'm in a cage. "What do you think I've been dealing with the last several years?! I've been taking responsibility for one incident all this time! I didn't ask for these…these powers! I don't even want them! Why was I born like this anyway? I make one mistake and then have to pay for it forever." Icicles began to spread on the ceiling as Elsa continued, "I hate this. And Anna's right-this isn't fair. Why can't we even talk through the door or something? It's not safe for her to be around me, yes; but we could still at least…talk to each other." Elsa's eyes began to well with tears once again as her anger dissipated. I just exploded at Mom and Dad. Not a good move, Elsa. She backed farther away and whispered, "I'm sorry I exploded like that…I just…just…" Elsa collapsed onto the floor and burst into tears. I can't deal with this anymore. I wish I could run away. Somewhere where there isn't anyone around. I'd be free from all this. Then, a moment later, What a foolish, childish idea, Elsa. You can't run from this. You're heir to Arendelle's throne.

Agdar and Idun had never seen Elsa so distraught. "Just leave her be right now," Idun whispered.

"She's ravaging this whole room!" Agdar whispered back, gesturing at the spreading ice on the ceiling and floor. "It'll take ages for it to melt."

"Agdar, she's upset! And technically she's right-we did lie to Anna."

"Elsa can't afford to get upset! She does THIS whenever she does because of that disability of hers. No blueprint drawing for Elsa for one week," Agdar decided.

"You can't take that away from her! She does that all the time."

"All the more reason. She can practice containing those powers of hers instead. Elsa?" he said, raising his voice so Elsa could hear him.

Elsa raised her head and looked up at her parents.

"No blueprint drawing for a week."

I will not beg. I won't. I'll go in the secret passages instead. "Fine," Elsa replied. This isn't fair. She stood up and took a few shuddering breaths. "Good night. I'm going to get ready for bed." Elsa turned her back and began digging in her closet, hoping they would just leave. She sighed in relief when she heard her door shut. After Elsa put on her nightgown, she tumbled into bed and dove under the covers. What a rotten, rotten day.