"...I will be free."

Pairings: Platonic Elsanna, Light Kristanna

Genre: Sisterly Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Angst

Cover Art by Glacial-Sentinel

A/N: This story explores the events after Frozen, showing Elsa and Anna coping with their new lives together, and their mutual healing process. Be warned there will be some pretty dark stuff coming, as well as a fair bit of incestuous subtext.

As of 30/12/15, this is a rewrite of the original story. I couldn't have done it without help from /frz/ and /r/Frozen. You guys rock.

Critiques are very welcome!

Chapter 1

~ Reopened Wounds ~

You'll be fine, Elsa.

I won't, Papa. Not without you.

It'll be just two weeks, darling.

Mama, don't go. Don't go! I promise I'll be good. I'll control my magic this time. Please!

Their backs faced her, and Elsa reached out. Her fingers grazed the soft folds of Papa's shirt before pinching onto one. Yes, this time she'd stop them. So close. So close–

"Elsa?"

Her eyes flew open. The wind howled and whipped her hair. Her heels crunched on grass. The valley was blanketed by low-lying fog, and above her was an empty, grey sky.

"Elsa, what's wrong?"

The snow queen reached out to her side. Anna's fingers closed around hers, so tightly that it hurt, as if fearing she would slip away. Dreams didn't hurt. Dreams didn't have warm fingers.

"I'm fine." Elsa forced a smile for the one person in the world who shared her loss. Anna's lips pressed into a thin line, and their eyes met. Time passed. Ten seconds. Twenty seconds. When it became clear her sister had nothing more to say, Elsa squeezed and let go, shuffling towards the twin graves before them.

The stone marker loomed over her. The craftsmanship on it was remarkable; what was once rough mountain rock had been polished smooth as river pebble. Yet, it stayed porous enough that dew and time would paint its surface with a mosaic of moss, just as its owner would've liked.

A worthy tribute, if only it wasn't empty.

Elsa touched the etched crocus with a finger before tracing down to the Futhark runes.

'Here lies Queen Idunn'

The words blurred before her. The queen was no longer here to hold her, to love her, or to listen. But Elsa whispered all the same. Even without looking, she knew Anna mirrored her by the other grave.

"Mama, do you remember Stein's bakery down by the clock tower? Anna and I went yesterday. She said their custard tarts were your favourite. I can see why." Elsa chuckled under her breath. "They really were the best. We brought two whole boxes back. You should've seen how many Sven and Olaf ate! You–" She rested her head on the cold stone. "You should have."

I could tell you all the stories in the world. Of my coronation, of Anna helping me conquer my fears, of how Arendelle accepted me at last. I just wish you'd hear even one. Elsa closed her eyes. If the stone heard her, it gave no indication.

Just one, was that too much to ask?

A sniffle made her glance behind. Past the pain, her heart swelled with pride at the sight of a dozen lowered heads. Kristoff, Gerda, Kai, Sven, Eirik and the ministers showed up always; such was their loyalty to her parents, so beloved a pair of monarchs they were.

Anna and she switched places. Now standing before Papa's resting place, her eyes fixed on the runes.

'Here lies King Agdar'

The knife stabbed deeper. It felt like yesterday when she heard the shouts echoing through the walls. When even the gloves were no barrier to her ice, she saw for the first time in her life, this brave and noble man crying. He took the blame of her magic unto himself. And so he died full of regrets, not being able to see his daughters reunited, or his beloved kingdom flourish under her.

A glimmer of blue crept across the stone. She clenched her fist, and the frost cleared into the air.

"I haven't touched Mama and you since twelve." She caressed the cool surface of the stone. "And now I never will. Oh, Papa…" Her other hand clutched her chest as she gasped.

A queen must retain composure no matter what. Conceal, don't feel.

"I–I want to do what you taught me. To live not for myself, but for our people. But how can I ever make it up to Anna? I love her, Papa. I love her so much. But I only made her suffer." Elsa fought it, but her shoulders heaved on their own accord, and the fire in her eyes couldn't be quenched.

"Why couldn't we have understood that love was the key? If there were others like me, we'd have known what to do about my powers. Why was I the only one with magic? Why?"

Tender hands wrapped around her shoulders. Elsa tore her gaze away from the stone, meeting her sister's glistening eyes.

Conceal, don't feel. "Anna, I–"

The younger girl took her in a crushing hug, as if to banish her pain by force of will. Anywhere else, Elsa wouldn't have allowed it. Rulers masked any and all weaknesses. To the world, she had to be the all-powerful snow queen, and Anna, the fearless princess.

But here, they were just two girls yearning for their parents. She buried her face in Anna's neck and let the grief take over.

I don't deserve you.

The spoon flashed silver on gleaming porcelain.

Ding– ding– ding–

Kristoff cleared his throat.

Ding– ding– ding–

"The soup isn't gonna drink itself," he said.

Anna poked into the bowl, stirring up its murky depths. Seconds later, the spoon fell in with a sticky plop.

Okay, not the stew then, Kristoff thought. Why not pass it over to me?

"Anna." He waited for a moment, then raised his voice slightly. "Anna." Her eyes were glued to the soup still, but at least he saw her shoulders twitch. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She pushed the bowl aside.

Kristoff bridged his fingers, saying nothing else. The grandfather clock drummed before their contest of silence.

"I am fine." Her tone was forceful enough to tell him otherwise.

Giving off a tough front no matter what. Any other time, this girl's spirit rivalled the summer itself. Few things could dampen it so, but Kristoff had a pretty good idea. "Elsa?"

Anna's back slackened. "It's been three months since we saved her. But–" Her mouth pressed tight, and her eyes were misty. "She still can't get over everything."

Watching the scene this morning, it took every ounce of his will not to approach. But it was neither his, nor anyone else's place to intrude. We tried. Only you can heal Elsa's wound.

"This can't go on." Anna dipped her head, covering her eyes.

"Give her a little time. She's been through a lot."

Her voice softened to almost a whisper, "That's putting it lightly. Do you know what it's like? To be cut off from the closest person in your life, even though she's right next door? I cried for her. I cried for Elsa every night. I couldn't stop asking, what was it that I did? Why did she have to shut me out? All those times, I wondered, I begged, I cried, I shouted– But I still couldn't help her."

"You saved her from Hans."

"I made her wait thirteen years."

"But you did all you could."

Anna gave a small, bitter laugh. "That's what Elsa told you? Something about how I never gave up on her? How I knocked on her door every day, and sang whenever it snowed?"

Kristoff leaned forward. "…Didn't you?"

Her mouth opened, then closed. Her fingers locked onto the edge of the table till her knuckles were white.

"Come on, I know you tried." He reached for her.

"I didn't!" Her palms slammed down, sending plates clattering against one another.

Kristoff pulled his hand back, unwilling to risk another outburst. The silence stretched between them.

"Please, Anna. Help me understand."

She wheeled on him, and the intensity of her stare disarmed him. Then he realized the source of the rage in her eyes.

"Did you know? One day, when Elsa was fourteen, I saw her in the hall saying goodbye to her tutor. There it was! My chance to bond with my sister again. She looked at me, and I looked at her. And you know what I said?"

Kristoff sat beside her. She didn't resist as he took her trembling hands in his.

"Nothing. I said nothing to her. I thought I didn't matter to her anymore, so I pretended she wasn't there, that I didn't have this sister. After so long, she finally had the courage to come out into the open. But I was just… so angry, I made it all about me." Anna's voice broke. "I could have said something, could have asked how she was, could have asked 'why'. But I turned my back at her. Then my parents were gone, so she shut herself again.

"I failed her."

Kristoff pulled her close, willing his warmth to drive away her sorrow. This talk was long overdue. Neither sister had allowed herself to dwell on the ramifications of their isolation, instead choosing to relish in their reunion. So now, when the grief came, it surged over them like a tsunami. He'd expected that one of his jokes or songs could lighten the situation, but nothing could've prepared him for this utter resignation.

"She blames herself, I heard it just now. She blames herself for all our pain. She locked herself in her room to protect me, but I was out there having fun. I had people to talk to. The servants. The guards. Who did she have?"

He stroked her hair. "It doesn't matter anymore. The two of you are together again."

"Why didn't Elsa tell me? Why's she always hiding her pain? We promised there'd be no more secrets again!"

"She doesn't want you to worry."

"How could she blame herself? Everyone knows it was–"

"No." Kristoff squeezed her. He refused to let her go down this train of thought. "Don't think about that now." It took a moment before she relaxed into his embrace.

Elsa isn't the only one who needs help moving on.

She mumbled something into his chest. He gave it a few seconds before patting her. "Sorry, didn't catch that."

"Have you ever heard of anyone like Elsa?"

"Someone with ice powers?"

"Nope. Anyone with any sort of magic. When she spoke to Papa, she asked why there wasn't anyone else." Anna nodded to herself. "Strange, isn't it? There must be others out there. You've travelled a lot, right? Do you know any?"

She looked so hopeful that Kristoff was tempted to lie. But at last, he said, "No. Sorry."

Anna heaved a sigh and detached from him. She propped her face against her knuckle, puffing her cheek up.

God, you're so cute when you do that.

"I've heard tales," Kristoff added quickly. "You know, witches, sorcerers and so on, but I've always thought that those were just stories. And yet we have your goddess of a sister." Hearing Elsa described as that always cheered Anna up.

She jumped to her feet. "That's it! We should find them!"

"Uh…"

"Elsa never spoke of this before. I didn't even know she wanted to meet others with powers like her. Did you see how sad she looked? Elsa must be getting lonely! And if she's lonely, then she's miserable. And if she's miserable, then she can't be a good queen! And if she isn't being a good queen, then I'm not doing my job as a sister!"

Kristoff stared at her blankly. "She has you."

"But I have no powers. I am well, just me. But if we found someone, it'd change everything! I mean, just think of the possibilities! Another king or queen out there with fire magic, or lightning!" Anna gestured wildly with her hands, as if conjuring an invisible storm.

"How about ice?"

She stuck her tongue out. "Elsa's special. She's the only one in the world with ice magic!"

A smile tugged at the corner of Kristoff's lips. Of course Anna idolized her sister, and what a dear she was for that.

"We need to search somewhere. We need to start like, right now!" She rattled his shoulders.

"Whoa there, calm down."

She seemed not to hear him. "The library's out. I've been there a thousand times. Okay, maybe not one thousand, but you know what I mean. Kai and Gerda can't help, because they don't travel outside much. Ah-ha! Once Olaf's back, we can have him ask around too!" Face scrunched in concentration, the feisty little princess ticked off invisible notes from her fingers.

He pushed himself up. "Get your cape. We are heading out."

"Since they're just stories, we can't simply– wait, what?"

Kristoff gave a wry smile as he grabbed his hat.

"There is someone."