Chapter Text

"I took an oath to always do what is best for Arendelle."

Elsa looked over to Anna.

"Luckily, I know just what that is."

"So, now we're going home? I'm going to tell Kristoff to prepare Sven and -"

"Anna, we need to talk." Elsa took Anna's hand and brought her away from others.

When they stopped and faced each other, Anna's eyes were already wet and Elsa could see that her sister had a puffy face, looking as she wept all night.

"Do we really have to? I thought you were gone, really gone, and I don't want to talk about losing you."

"Anna, you should be still angry at me, I shut you out again."

Anna broke into sobbing.

"I am, I really am". Elsa started to reach for Anna but Anna stopped her. "Don't try consoling me, I don't want you stopping me as Mother would. I want to be heard. I know I am childish and weak, but let me cry."

"Oh, Anna. You are not childish and weak." Anna let Elsa hug her.

"Olaf was gone and I was alone in darkness. I put Olaf's nose and twigs and stones in my bag and hugged it close because it was everything I had left. I couldn't move. You had gone too far and I don't even know how I managed to rise from the floor."

"But you did. And after that, you did what was right to mend our grandfather's treachery. You are so strong. I don't know why I could not see how strong you are. I am sorry."

Anna started to sob even harder and Elsa’s impulse was to console her. But that was not what Anna asked.

"I didn't say anything about the voice,” Elsa started cautiously, pained to be the cause of Anna’s sobs. ”And I didn't want to argue with you when you followed me into fire. I was afraid to hurt you, but I hurt you more when I pushed you and Olaf away in the ice canoe without discussing it with you. I am so sorry."

The sisters hugged tightly as Anna's sobs subsided.

"Three years ago, I told you to enjoy life in the castle, to open up the gate, and be the queen I couldn't be. It wasn't only fear speaking, it was a selfish desire. But then Hans brought me to Arendelle, you saved me, and I was Queen again. I just continued to do what I was supposed to do. You were happy and that was what mattered to me. But now, I am saying it again.I know you are a better queen than me. You managed to do the right thing for everyone even when you were lost deep in darkness."

Elsa started to stroke Anna's hair. "I know the idea of us being separated hurts now, but I feel my place is here. I need to stay here for myself. I have never felt so calm and excited at the same time before in my life. This place will heal me.” Elsa gently loosen the embrace, “Anna, please look at me".

Anna was calmer and the sisters looked at each other.

"Your place is Arendelle, it has always been. You loved to go outside the castle and into the town when you were a child. And you still love it! You love each of our people, you love the merchants haggling over fish, you love the castle. I just... like them. And I try to be the monarch I am supposed to be, worrying about messing it up. Here, I finally breathe free."

Anna's face was intense. Elsa was starting to worry, but she had to let Anna take her time. Finally, a smile bloomed across Anna's face.

"Fine. But, if you want any kransekake, you will have to come to Arendelle. I will not bring them up here."

~

When Elsa and Anna returned to the Northuldra encampment, Yelana approached them with a warm smile. "Thank you, Elsa and Anna, for everything you have done today. The mist is lifted, the dam is destroyed, there is peace between the Northuldra and Arendellians. And, the fifth spirit is among us." Yelana bowed a little towards Elsa.

Then with a tone that left no space for objections, she said, "Now you need to eat something and rest. I know you have hardly slept in three days!" Anna was already starting to object, but Yelana cut it off. "Moreover, Lieutenant Mattias and I have decided to have a joint celebration tonight. You are the guests of honor."

Honeymaren asked them to follow her to the camp and gave them soup to eat. Afterward, she brought them to a goathi. "Please, have some rest or else Yelana will be angry with me".

Anna was still excited about the wedding proposal. She was also talking about bringing home the Arendiallian soldiers and how happy she was for them. Despite her enthusiasm, the soup and the cozy pelts made her doze off in minutes.

Elsa also felt all the exhaustion from these past three days, and, not like usual, fell asleep quickly.