It was called a farm but was more of an enclosure or miniature zoo that happened to provide food for its humble owners. Terminology aside, it had always been a place to find solace for Anna though she'd never understood why. Was it the smell? Was it the farmhands, their kindness and joviality being qualities she rarely saw in her normal life? Was it because no one she knew would ever visit it, which guaranteed her privacy? Whatever the reason, she knew all she needed to do was visit and her pains would fade. At least until she left.

But it wasn't working today. Whatever magic the place held for her had died. Once she would have gladly skipped among the trees or cooed over the ducks by the pond but now she felt lethargic, dragging her feet along the rocky paths with her head down, desperately trying to forget.

I let her down. Elsa needed me, but I let her down.

Memories of their meeting flashed in front of her eyes. She slammed them shut as she stumbled, flailing arms gripping a fence for support, but she could still see the room, the innocent nurse, the fear in her sister's eyes...

What was I thinking? What on earth did I think I could do for her?

Her heart had already resumed its erratic beating and her chest ached immensely. Anna pressed her back to the fence as sweat began to trickle down her forehead.

I should have known that was going to happen. That I was going to screw it all up. I can't believe I was so... so...

A number of adjectives came to mind as she forced herself back onto her feet, none of them pleasant.

Mum and dad were right about me being a failure. I couldn't help the one person I had to help. With a sister like me, maybe she's better off with Joan. Someone who can actually care for her.

Her breath fell short and she began wheezing as her trembles returned.

She would be much happier without me in her life.

She staggered to her feet and forced herself towards the nearest pen, choking down her tears.

I should just give up.

Having reached the pen, she placed a hand on a wooden post and leaned forward slightly, taking in the scene. A herd of reindeer was housed within, the males off to one corner fooling around while the does grazed. The fawns had enough room to run around and Anna couldn't help but chuckle as one tripped over itself. She looked up, scanning the area before her eyes alighted on the Unicorn.

In truth, the Unicorn was simply another reindeer, yet unique among them due to both his age and the fact that one of his antlers had broken off long ago. The stump and been filed down to a gentle curve to prevent grievous injuries to the other bucks. Anna watched as he walked forward on shaky legs towards the fawns who immediately ran to him, one nuzzling into his side. Anna smiled at the sight.

That's so sweet. I can't believe he can still fit in.

She scoffed as the obvious moral floated in front of her. Did she really think she could force her way back into Elsa's life simply because a reindeer reminded her of her? The very notion was just insulting.

What am I trying to tell myself here? That she can learn to live with us despite her differences? That other people will accept her? Learn to love her even if she sticks out?

She shook her head, pushing the idea back.

That's just clichéd. I can't compare my sister to a reindeer! That's absurd! And Elsa's case is so much worse. Stop clinging to straws Anna!

She stopped as the memory emerged unbidden, overwhelming her.

It had been two years ago, soon after her parents had rid themselves of the Bjorgman family. Anna had been beside herself with hysterics when she'd seen the news and had spent hours in bed, frozen in shock. She knew what had happened, who was responsible. She didn't speak to them for days until she began to crack under the stress. Her father had decided to start taking her out every few days as "compensation" (or a way of buying her silence). She had asked him to visit the farm with her, which by that time had already become a reliable refuge. Despite her prior experience with the area her father had insisted she not leave his side as he meandered from pen to pen at a snail's pace, wrinkling his nose at the various smells that assailed it.

It hadn't surprised Anna in the slightest when he turned their supposed bonding time into a learning experience, cornering a farmhand and dropping a mountain of questions on top of him. How much did the enclosure cost to maintain? How much money did it make? Did the staff ever consider methods to maximise their profits? Anna was bored out of her mind yet was unable to stray more than a few feet away before Agdar's sharp cry recalled her.

It was then that she saw the Unicorn out of the corner of her eye, grazing contentedly before looking up at a younger buck that approached it. They stared at each other, grunting before stepping back and lowering their heads. Anna frantically looked around to see if anyone would break up the fight but to no avail. How was it even fair when one reindeer had such a glaring disadvantage?

Before she could turn to the man her father was speaking to, she saw the two bucks charge into each other. The fight was over almost immediately, the Unicorn recoiling as the younger buck's antler crashed into his skull right beside his stump before collapsing in a heap of unsteady limbs. No one noticed but Anna. She watched it struggle to its feet and wondered if reindeer could feel pride. The young one returned to what could only be its friends, tossing its head triumphantly before this smaller herd wandered off, setting Anna's teeth on edge. She'd seen many a bully act the same way after shoving her to the ground or throwing her bag away.

He sure does.

She tried to see the Unicorn's face but it had already turned away, shaking its head. Anna spared a glance at her father, still deep in conversation before stepping slowly along the perimeter of the enclosure she was currently standing by, ignoring the braying of the goats as her perspective on the sole reindeer began to shift...

"Anna? Anna! Get back here!"

She huffed and turned back to her father, but not before seeing the reindeer's face.

So do you.

Anna started, returning to the present before looking back up. The Unicorn was slowly plodding toward the does with the fawns in tow. Anna looked as the weariness left his face and a spring returned to his step. One doe rubbed herself into his side and he rested his head on hers before a farmhand arrived to fill their troughs. The inhabitants of the pen made their way over to it and Anna was astounded to see the Unicorn stand beside his fellow bucks as they ate; the missing tuft of fur on one identifying it as the aggressor who attacked him so long ago. There were no signs of jostling, no angry glares, nothing to indicate any lingering resentment between the two.

Maybe Elsa's not so different. If a reindeer can start fresh and live life, so can she.

I just need to try again.

She thought for a moment, formulating new, better plans.

I have a memory of her. Something I can build off of. Her song and that book. I only know what the book looks like but I know the song pretty well, so I can work with that. Good. I have a place to start. I can make Elsa remember herself. I can do this.

"All this time she's been on her own." Anna looked up proudly. "But she's survived. I won't let her efforts go to waste."

Most of the younger reindeer had eaten their fill and were leaving. The Unicorn was one of the few left. A tag dangled from his neck, catching Anna's eye. She took a tentative step forward. She'd always wanted to know this particular animal's real name, yet had never gotten the chance. Now, as long as she was slow and steady...

She got up close to the fence and bent her hip as she leaned. Frustrated that the tag was still hidden by the fence she leaned further, her left leg leaving the ground as she gripped the wood with her hand for support, unable to suppress the cheer in her throat when she finally read it. She straightened up and immediately blushed.

The reindeer was looking straight at her. Anna had the strangest sensation that if he were human, his eyebrow would have been lost to his hairline. Even as a reindeer though, she could practically hear him speaking with a confused, yet gruff voice. "What are you doing?"

She reached out to stroke him, but decided not to test her luck. I need to save it for later after all.

"Nothing. I just wanted to thank you."

She beamed, her spirits truly lifting for the first time in weeks. The Unicorn tilted its head, as though intrigued by her words.

"So thank you Sven."