CHAPTER THIRTEEN; THE SNOW QUEEN, PT. 1

➳

THEY RAN THROUGH THE FIELD OF GRASS, their laughter ringing like bells. The four sisters were chasing a kite that was gliding through the wind in the blue sky.

The youngest was Gerda. She had red hair and soft brown eyes; light freckles coated her cheeks and she had a smile that could bright up the whole kingdom of Arendelle.

Then there was Helga, whom was a spitting image of their mother with her gorgeous blonde locks and bright blue eyes.

And lastly, the oldest children of the royal family, twins Ingrid and Freya. Both girls had silver-blonde hair that was soft as a feather and flowed down their spines, straight as a pin. Their eyes were their most beautiful feature: the most beautiful shade of icey blue eyes the kingdom of Arendelle has ever seen.

While holding Gerda's hand, Helga turned back to glance at her oldest siblings who were quite far behind them. "Ingrid, Freya, hurry! It drifted over here!"

Finally the group of sister's came upon a tree where the kite was jammed within the branches. Ingrid grabbed the string and pulled it down. It hit the ground in front of Freya, allowing Ingrid to pick it up.

Freya frowned. "It's ruined."

"No, it's not. The ribbon is still beautiful." Little Gerda pulled the yellow ribbon from the kite and wrapped it around her neck. "It would look lovely in my hair."

"No, Gerda. It would look lovely in my hair," Helga said, taking it and placing it to her blonde locks.

"It was my idea!"

"I saw the kite first," Helga retorted.

"I should have it." Ingrid took the ribbon. "I'm the oldest, after all."

Gerda shurg'ged. "So?"

"So, one day I shall be Queen. And this is befitting a Queen," Ingrid smiled.

"I see you've found my kite." The four girls whipped around and watched as a man wearing green plaid appraoched them.

"I'm so sorry." Gerda picked up the mans broken kite and started walking towards him, her sisters staying behind to watch. "We didn't know. But we didn't break it. We found it this way."

"That's all right," the man told the young red head, a smile on his face as he gently took the kite from her tiny hands. "It wasn't worth much. And besides, I've got my eyes on a much bigger prize. Such pretty Royal Princesses will fetch an equally pretty royal penny!" He picked up Gerda, who began to struggle against his hold.

"What are you doing?!" Helga shreiked, charging forward, only to be caught within the mans hold herself.

"Help!" Gerda cried.

"Don't even try it, little one."

Anger surged through Ingrid's veins as she watched the man manhandle her two younger sisters. "Let my sisters go!" She charged at him, only to be kicked in the chest. She fell to the ground with a pain in her chest, but not before ice shot from her hands and hit the tree, freezing a branch.

The man, in shock, released the two princesses as he stared at the tree.

Freya stared at her sister in shock. I wasn't the only one, she thought. For about a year she had these ice powers, but now her twin shared them with her. Freya stepped forward, guarding her twin, and thrust her hands forward, throwing a strong amount of power at the man.

He clutched his chest where his heart began to grow cold.

"Aah!" Gerda shrieked, hugging Helga tight; Helga hugged back.

"You're monsters!" the man yelled, falling to his knees, clutching his chest in pain. Freya's magic began to freeze his insides, slowly and painfully killing him. Then the branch that Ingrid's magic hit fell, crushing him and ending his suffering.

He was dead.

"Ingrid, Freya, what's going on?" Helga demanded, confusion swirling within her blue eyes.

"I don't know," Ingrid said in fear. 'Stay back. I don't want to hurt you."

Freya marched forward and took Ingrid's hands, giving her a tiny smile. "It's okay, Ingrid. Don't be afraid, it'll only make you lose control."

Helga stepped forward, removing Freya's hand from Ingrid's so she could hold both their hands. She then looked at Gerda, giving her a look to do the same.

Gerda smiled softly at her older sisters as she gripped both their hands. "You saved us."

"He called me and Freya a monster," Ingrid said, near tears.

"He was trying to take us. He's the monster," Helga reassured not only Ingrid, but Freya as well. She could tell what Freya did was effecting her as well.

"But look what I did to him," Ingrid said. She then looked at her twin. "What we did to him. We...killed him."

"Whatever you did, you had no choice," Helga said.

"But I had no control over it. What am I supposed to do if it happens again? And how am I supposed to be a queen? What will happen when people find out?"

"They won't find out," Helga declared. "It will be our secret. No one has to know about you or Freya's abilities."

"I'll help you control it, Ingrid," Freya said.

"We'll help both of you," Helga corrected, squeezing both their hands. Freya and Ingrid smiled at her.

"You'll help us?"

"We're your sisters. Of course we'll help you. And we will never look at you as a monster," Gerda said.

"That's right, Gerda." Helga turned around and picked up the four yellow ribbons from the kite, handing one to each of her sisters. "Everyone take a ribbon. This is our sisterly pact. As long as we hold these ribbons, we will be there for each other."

"We will never be alone."

➳

Now beautiful young women, Gerda and Helga stood before a mirror, preparing for a ball. Behind them, sat on Freya's bed, the twins sat and watched them get ready.

"Oh, Gerda, Helga. You both look so beautiful," Ingrid said, a smile on her lips. Freya nodded in agreement.

"Get up. Ingrid, Freya, come on! Join us," Helga said.

"It's better this way," Freya replied.

Helga and Gerda walked over to Freya's bed, where the twins sat. "Father would be so pleased. He only turns seventy once. We should be united." They all took hands, smiling.

"I'll wish him a Happy Birthday, but we all know it's better if I disappear before anyone sees me," Freya said.

"How many years can you both do this? How many years can you both hide?" Helga asked.

"As many years as we're afflicted," Ingrid replied for the both of them.

"You're not afflicted." Gerda grabbed her sisters hand and Helga twirled her. "Don't you want to dance? Have fun?" Ingrid and Freya chuckled.

"She's right," Gerda said. "It's not good for the future queen to be so elusive."

"You mustn't always think the worst, Helga said.

"I'm thinking the best...for you." Ingrid stood, taking Helga's hand and dragging her over to the mirror. Freya did the same with Gerda. "Don't you have a suitor coming? And isn't he a Duke...no less?" They giggled as Helga blushed. "And aren't you going to introduce him to father?"

"I want you both to meet him, too," Helga said.

Freya smiled. "Someday. But for now, you're our sister, and we don't want risk ruining a special moment for you." Freya placed a kiss on both their gloved hands. "Go. Both of you, have fun. We'll be all right."

Helga and Gerda gave them both a hug before leaving the room with their hands clasped together. As soon as the door was closed, Freya and Ingrid turned to one another with matching frowns.

Oh, how they wished they were normal and could have the happy lives of their younger sister's.

➳

Hands clasped together, the twins of the royal family walked down to the ballroom. All they wanted was a quick glance at the magical night their sister's have been talking about for the past several days.

They reached the ballroom and turned the corner, but made sure to still stay out of sight of the guests. They spotted their sister's and smiled.

"They look so happy," Freya whispered, her smile soon dropping and matching Ingrid's saddened one.

Tears brimmed their eyes. "Why can't we be normal, sister?" Ingrid asked, voice barely audible.

Freya frowned and leaned her head on her sisters shoulder. "I don't know."

Silent tears fell. They envied their sisters; watching them dance and smile and giggle with their handsome men was breaking their hearts even more.

White flurries surrounded them, only saddening them even more. Together, they turned and walked away to go back to their room, wondering if they will ever find love.

➳

"Freya, Ingrid, you have to taste this. The royal Baker really outdid himself!" Helga wore a grin as she and Gerda walked in with two desert plates of delicious cake. It went away as soon as she spotted them packing a some essentials into a luggage case. "What are you doing?"

"We were hoping to be gone before you returned," Freya replied, watching as Helga and Gerda put the desert plates on Ingrid's bed.

"Nonsense." Helga walked over and took the small box from Ingrid and the comb from Freya's hand. She put them both on the vanity behind the twins. "You were perfectly fine when we left you. What happened?"

"We went to the party," Freya said.

Helga smiled and looked at Gerda, who also smiled. "You did? We didn't see you there."

"We saw you," Freya said. "We watched you dancing and laughing. You both looked so vibrant and...and free."

"We're not meant for such things, Helga. We've accepted that," Ingrid said. "When we're gone you'll both be able to have the normal lives that you deserve." Ingrid took Helga's hands. "Your compassion and strength will make you a wonderful leader, Helga. You are the Queen that Arendelle deserves."

Ingrid's voice began to crack, breaking Helga's heart. "Ingrid, stop this right now."

"I can't control my power, nor can Freya. It's too strong. We don't want to hurt anyone." Ingrid was trying so hard to keep in her tears, as was Freya.

"Remember what we promised. We will never abandon each other."

"I think I know someone who can help," Gerda voiced.

"What did you say, Gerda?" Helga asked, not knowing if she heard her correctly.

"I've heard whispers of a man, a sorcerer, who might be powerful enough to control their powers."

Freya stepped toward Gerda. "Where does this sorcerer live?"

"He lives in a land called Misthaven. And his name...is Rumplestiltskin."

➳

"Ice powers, you say?" The Dark One named Rumplestiltskin said.

"And snow," Freya said, giving Gerda's hand a squeeze. Originally, it was only supposed to be her and Ingrid traveling to the man before them, but Helga and Gerda insisted on tagging along.

"My, my. How intriguing. And such a rare gift. Why would you ever want to give it up? Perhaps I could interest you in lessons instead?" he offered.

Ingrid and Freya's eyes met. For a short moment they had a silent conversation. It was Freya who decided to speak for them both. "No. We want to stop them. We heard that you were the greatest collector of magic in all the Land. You must have something that can help."

"Well, of course I do, dearie!" He leaned forward in his chair. "The thing I don't understand is why you both need me when you already have all the help you could possibly ask for."

Ingrid furrowed her eyebrows at the sparkly-skinned man. "What do you mean?"

He stood and walked over to stand behind the group of sisters. "True love comes in many forms. But the sisterly bond...Oh! Worth its weight in magic."

"Our powers are too strong. We need something to control them," Freya said.

"Well, if you insist. Just remember. Love is free. But all magic comes with a price." He waved his hand, making a pair of gloves and a crystal pendant appear. "These can help conceal your powers."

"And stop them?" Ingrid asked.

"Well, only if you believe it," Rumplestiltskin replied. "Faith can be powerful. But for those who lack it, well, sometimes another solution is required." He showed them an urn. "Think of this as your fail-safe. If things get too chilly, simply pop the top and in you go. All your powers will be contained, and all of the Realms shall be safe from you. Problem solved."

Freya went to take the urn, but he pulled it back with a giggle. "I don't know how you do things in Arendelle, dearie, but here a deal requires an exchange of goods. What I want is, uh..." He stared at their ribbons. "These lovely ribbons...All four."

"Our ribbons?" Ingrid smiled. "But they're just silly little things we've worn since we were children."

"Sometimes, with enough love, ordinary objects can come to possess their own special kind of magic."

Freya stared sadly at her wrist. She didn't want to take it off. The ribbons are what forged their deal of forever sisterhood. They're what has made their love and bond stronger through their years together. She wasn't the only one who felt that way. As Ingrid went to take off her ribbon, Helga stopped her. "Ingrid, no!"

"We can't give them up. It's not right," Gerda said, wearing a frown.

"I-I-it's just a symbol. It's not strong enough. I need something that will guarantee that I never hurt anyone again. Like, he said, a fail-safe."

"We are your fail-safe, Ingrid," Helga said.

"Do we have a deal?" Rumplestiltkin asked.

"I'm sorry. It's not enough," Ingrid told her sisters. She tore off her ribbon and handed it over to the sparkly sorcerer.

Freya, Helga and Gerda frowned. They stared at Ingrid for a moment with brokenhearts before pulling theirs off as well.

"Deal, deal, deal, deal."

The sisters then left with the urn, gloves and pendant. On their way out the door, they bumped into a man.

This man caused Ingrid to drop her gloves onto the ground.

"My apologies!" the man said, crouch down and picking up the blue gloves. When he stood up, his eyes widened in shock. Before him stood the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. She had blonde hair and icey blue eyes.

He cleared his throat realizing he had been staring for far too long. "Here you go, m'lady," he said.

Ingrid's cheeks burned pink as she took the gloves from the dark-haired man. "T-Thank you," she stuttered.

Freya turned to her sisters with a smirk and they shared a smile, trying to contain their giggles.

"I'm Ingrid, and these are my sister's, Freya, Helga and Gerda."

"You don't mean the Princesses of Arendelle, do you?" he asked.

Gerda nodded. "That would be us."

He glanced at Gerda before returning his gaze to Ingrid. "What are four Princesses doing at the castle of the Dark One?"

Ingrid was quick on her feet and conjured up a lie. "Personal business for our Kingdom. Just....looking for a lost object."

"I see." He nodded, then gently took Ingrid's hand. "I shall be on my way now, but it was lovely to meet your acquaintance, Princess Ingrid." He kissed her knuckles, making her smile and stared down at her feet to try and hide her blush.

He gave Ingrid a wink before walking past her and to the door of the Dark One's castle.

Before he entered, however, Ingrid called after him, "Wait! I did not catch your name."

He smirked, turning back around to face the Arendelle beauty. "Sherlock Holmes, m'lady."

Ingrid flashed him another smile before turning around and walking away with her sisters, who giggled at Ingrid's pink-colored cheeks.

It was then and there that Sherlock Holmes promised himself to go to Arendelle to visit Ingrid. He definitely wanted to see her again.

➳

Ingrid sat in the castle gardens under the gazebo with the urn on her lap and the gloves in her hand. She wore a smile up until a Duke arrived in the gardens.

"Ah, the Golden Crocus. A mysterious flower that blooms only for those who are willing to wait." He walked into the gazebo and extended his hand to Ingrid. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure."

"Ingrid." She gave him a smile and went to take his outstretched hand, but thought better of it and instead bowed. "You must be here for Helga. I'll go and fetch her for you."

She went to leave, but he stepped in her way, causing her to drop her gloves. "Yeah, I-I'd heard rumors of these mysterious twin sisters, but I had to see them for myself."

"Oh." She went to pick her gloves, but he would not allow her. Fear crept into her veins.

"The stories did not lie. You are more beautiful and intriguing than I could have ever imagined, as I'm sure your twin is as well." Ingrid stared at him in shock.

He laughed, nervously. "Did I say that out loud? Of course I did. Oh, you are enchanting." He stepped forward and tried to kiss her, but Ingrid dodged him.

"Oh, no. Don't do this!"

"Helga will never know," he promised.

Ingrid stared at him in disbelief. "She loves you."

"But it's you that I want, you mysterious flower...The Queen to be." He wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

Ingrid struggled to get him off of her. "No, no, no, no, no, no! Get back!" Finally, she could not control it. She blew him away with magic.

He scrambled onto his feet and stared at her in fear. "What dark sorcery is this? Stay away from me."

Ingrid quickly went down the steps. "Please, don't tell anyone. Please. This has to be our secret."

It was then that Helga arrived. "Ingrid," Helga voiced, drawing Ingrid's gaze to her. Helga could see how flustered her sister was. "Ingrid, what's going on here?"

As Helga walked into the gazebo, The Duke followed and explained what happened before Ingrid even had a chance to.

"Your sister started kissing me. She told me she loved me. And when I rebuffed her, she tried to kill me with...With her magic."

Helga was filled with anger, knowing for a fact that Ingrid — her sister — would never do such a thing. Besides, she hasn't been able to stop thinking about that Mr. Sherlock Holmes from the Dark One's castle.

Ingrid stared at him wide-eyed. "No! Helga, no."

"Thank you, Duke," Helga said, giving the man a smile.

"That is not..." Ingrid tried to explain herself, hurt that her sister was believing his words, but Helga cut her off. "Thank you for showing me what a...liar and a scoundrel you are, and for saving me the trouble of considering taking your worthless hand in marriage."

The Duke stared at Helga, incredulously and took a threatening step towards her. "How dare you?"

"We shall see to it that your diplomatic mission here is over. straight back to Weaselton."

"It's pronounced Wesel-ton. And I am its Duke, and I do not take orders from you. Believe me, when Arendelle learns the truth about her, they shall side with me."

"Ingrid and Freya are my sisters, and I love them for who they are. And so shall everyone else," Helga declared.

"Really? Is this why you hide them away from balls and royal dinners? Why no one has ever laid eyes on these freaks?"

"You are out of line, Weasel-ton."

"Mock me all you want, but the people deserve to know what their future Queen is. Before I'm through, all of Arendelle will know your secret. And when they find out how dangerous your sisters really are, you won't have to hide them any longer because they'll lock them up and throw away the key."

Ingrid was near tears, her eyes full of fear.

"Enough!" Helga shouted.

"Because that is the only fate befitting a monster."

"Stop!" Ingrid shouted. Ingrid thrust her hands forward to hurt the Duke but Helga had protected him and took the hit.

"No!"

Helga staggered, holding onto her chest, a pain-filled expression on her beautiful, youthful face.

"N-no! No!" Ingrid cried.

The Duke ran away as Ingrid ran forward and grabbed Helga before she could fall. "Helga! Helga, no. Helga."

Helga gasped for breath as her body began to turn to ice.

"Helga. Helga, hey. I'm so sorry," Ingrid said. She stared into Helga's eyes and all she seen was pain. Helga cried, but only for her tears to freeze against her skin. She tried to speak, but she could not.

"H-Helga...No." Ingrid watched with tear-filled eyes as her little sister was completly frozen. Dead. Dead, because of her.

"I...No! No! No! No!" Ingrid stroked her sisters frozen cheek, which only caused her to crack. Her entire body began to crack and soon she was just a pile of shards of ice.

Ingrid sobbed as she stared at the ice that was once her beautiful little sister. "No! Helga!" She stared at her hands in disbelief and guilt. "What have I done?"

"Ingrid?" The voice of their baby sister made her heart break even more.

Freya frowned when she noticed the look on her twins face. "Ingrid?" she asked in concern.

Ingrid couldn't bring herself to speak at the moment.

Freya and Gerda walked up into the gazebo. "Ingrid, what happened? Where's Hel..."

Both sisters gasped, hearts practically stopping at what they seen. Ingrid was a crying mess next to a pile of ice. They knew by the look on Ingrid's face who was once the pile of ice.

Their sister.

Their beautiful Helga.

"I didn't mean to," Ingrid croaked.

"What did you do? What did you do?!" Gerda's voice began to crack as tears filled her eyes. She gripped hard onto Freya's arm.

"I was trying to stop the Duke. It was an accident. You have to believe me. Freya tell her, please," Ingrid pleaded, tears in her eyes.

Freya didn't utter a single word. She was too in shock. Her twin sister...had killed Helga. She couldn't even look Ingrid in the eye.

"You have the gloves, Ingrid. You didn't have to use magic," she was finally able to say. Her words broke Ingrid's heart even more than it already was.

Ingrid toom a step towards them, causing Freya and Gerda to step away. "You stay away from me." Gerda commamded. "Stay!"

Ingrid stopped, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No! No. Please...Please, don't be afraid. We said that we would always be there for each other. We made a promise. I love you."

Freya and Gerda only stared at her in fear. Of course, Gerda knew that Freya also held such powers, but Freya always had a better control over them and now with the pendant around her neck, she never had to use her magic again. Ingrid, however, had the gloved and chose to not where them. And now...now Helga was dead.

"Gerda, Freya, please, you have to help me. Take my hand." She stretched her hand — the hand that once carried their matching ribbons — out for Freya or Gerda to take. "Please take my hand. You're all I have left."

"Ingrid..." Freya croaked. "You killed our sister."

"You're...You're a monster," Gerda said.

Ingrid let out a sob. "No, G-Gerda, no."

Gerda glanced at the urn sitting on the bench and back at Freya. Quickly, she grabbed the urn and ripped the cap off.

"No! No! Freya, Ingrid, please!" Ingrid cried.

Freya bit her lip, holding back a sob as she watch Ingrid being sucked into the urn. Their eyes met and Freya knew she would never forget the heartbroken look on her face. It would haunt her forever.

Once she was inside the urn, Gerda placed the top back on and put the urn down.

"Oh, Freya!" Gerda sobbed, flinging her arms around her sister. The two collapsed to their knees and held each other tight as they broke into sobs.

➳

"Your faces shows great tragedy," Grand Pabbie, one of the many rock trolls, stated as he stared at Gerda and Freya.

"We lost both sisters today," Freya voiced.

"Oh, I am so sorry. How did such a thing happen?"

"It's too painful to talk about," Gerda replied. "But my pain has to be set aside. We need to see that Arendelle survives this. Which is where I need your help. I need a memory potion strong enough to make all the realm forget that Ingrid and Helga ever existed. My father, the Duke of Weselton, everyone within our borders must forget. Can you do this?"

"Yes. But, my dears, I must warn you, the truth has a way of coming out, one way or the other."

"It mustn't. The future of the Kingdom depends on it," Freya said.

"I will do this for you. But this is strong magic that you speak of. And magic always comes with a price."

"I...I'm fairly certain I've already paid it," Gerda said, voice cracking. She took Freya's hand and the two sisters left.

"We shall see," Grand Pabbie said, watching the sisters — the only two Princesses of Arendelle left — leave.

Freya wrapped an arm around Gerda's shoulders as Gerda cried. "This was the right thing to do, Gerda. If people find out about — " Freya gulped. Saying her name hurt as it was her twin after all. " — about Ingrid, and what she did then the Kingdom will fall and we will be killed."

A/N: I'm back!!!!!! You guys were probably wondering where I was since I've been updating a chapter a day. If you read my blog or follow my Instagram, you know where I've been. If not...well I'll tell you. I HAD MY BABY!!! She was born on the 10th (Jan.) and only just left the hospital on the 12th (Jan.) 💜💜

I would like to give a shout out to LacyKs for guessing Teresa's father correctly!! He is, indeed, Sherlock Holmes!! Nice job and smart thinking!! I was wondering if anyone was going to catch on to Teresa's last name.

So, how'd you like the chapter? What do you think was Freya's fate, as Elsa and Anna have no memory of her? Remember, Elsa said that none of them existed in the records, including Freya.