ELSA RUBBED HER hands up and down her shoulders as she stepped through the darkened hallway heading back towards the ballroom. She didn't know how to explain what had just happened. Who was that lady and what did she want with her?

She wasn't sure if she should tell Mama and Papa. They wouldn't understand or think she was crazy and made the story up. She was already afraid that she was losing her mind due to her powers, and now her parents would think so too. Telling her parents was too risky. She didn't want to be locked in a room away from Anna. No, she had to keep this to herself.

She jerked and stood up straight as the voice returned, beckoning her to follow it. She wrapped her hands around her ears and shook her head as she tried desperately to get the voice to leave.

"No," she whispered. "I won't go with you. I'm not looking for trouble. Everyone I could ever love is here. I won't lose them. I won't follow you. Anna needs me more than a forest."

The voice grew louder. She squatted down, her head between her legs, begging for the voice to leave her alone. "What do you want from me?" she shouted. She sprang to her feet, balling her hands into fists as condensation rolled off them, and shouted toward an open window. "Leave me alone!"

"Elsa, what is going on?"

Elsa flung her to the right as Mama stepped into the hallway. She frowned, lowering her head. So long for wanting to keep this a secret.

Mama gripped Elsa's hands gently and pulled her around facing her. "Is everything alright, Elsa? I was getting a little worried about you. You missed the dancers from Weselton. They were very good."

Elsa gave an uneasy smile. "I'm fine, Mama." She quickly tried coming up with an excuse to keep her mother from thinking she was going crazy. "I went to the roof for a breath of fresh air, and got attacked by a flock of birds." She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "They won't leave me alone now. I think they like my purple."

Mama glanced down at Elsa's hands, her eyes growing wide. Mama grasped her right arm and shoved her sleeve upward revealing a small cut that encircled around the front of her wrist. "A flock of birds did this?"

Elsa quickly withdrew her hand from her mother's death grip and pushed down her sleeve. She quickly slipped her gloves back on. "Yeah, they were feisty." She walked around Mama heading back towards the party. "Can we just go enjoy whatever amount of the party that's left? Please?"

"Elsa! What are you hiding from me?"

Elsa ignored Mama's voice as she crossed her arms and hung her head. Her and Mama never got along well. Not since after what had happened to Anna all those years ago. She knew that secretly Anna was her favorite, and after that day when they were children, Mama had become frightened of the power Elsa possessed... and Elsa found herself becoming more and more afraid of what she could do too.

"Elsa!"

Continuing to ignore her mother, Elsa stepped up the two steps into the Grand Hall where the party was still being held. She glanced around at those who danced around cheerfully, unable to locate her sister.

Anna, where are you? Even though she could never tell Anna what she had just seen, she needed her sister's comfort. At least she'd always have Anna. Even if Anna didn't know of her secret. Her sister was the only one she could trust. She moaned feeling the tension rise. She needed her sister. Where is she?

She took another quick glance around and relief flooded over her as Anna stepped through the opened double doors. Smiling, she took a step forward, but drew back with a gasp as her eyes landed on the man who followed her through the door, Anna's hand in his.

She watched as Anna and the man stepped through the crowd toward their father. All she could do was watch in horror at the sight. She squinted her eyes at the vague memory of this man. She had seen him come in on the ship from the Southern Isles. He must've been one of their twelve princes. She was sure of it.

Before Anna and the Prince could reach Papa, the music stopped as Papa and Mama stood on the platform overlooking their people.

Elsa turned their way but hid behind one of the nearby pillars away from Mama's line of view.

"My people!" Papa began, as he raised a hand toward the crowd drawing their attention once again. "Queen Iduna and I have some important news to announce."

Elsa placed a hand on the pillar and leaned in close. She furrowed her brow. She didn't remember hearing anything about an announcement from her parents before the party. They didn't usually hide secrets from her and Anna. A thought struck her as her eyes widened. Is Mama pregnant?

Papa reached out and gripped Mama's hand. "We will be leaving the kingdom on a short voyage. We should only be gone for two weeks. Queen Iduna's niece is getting married in one week's time, and it'll take us several days just to travel across the South Seas." His eyes scanned the room as if to be looking for someone. "Princess Elsa will be in charge in my stead. She will watch over you, and take care of the kingdom while we're gone."

Elsa's heart sank as she placed her back against the pillar trying to keep herself from panting with the sudden rise of fear. Calm down, Elsa. She placed her hand over her heart as she sucked in deep breaths. She didn't know if there was anyone watching her, but she didn't care. She was terrified of ruling the kingdom. Even if it was just for a couple weeks. Me? Alone? Watching the kingdom by myself?

Papa was crazy. She was horrified of getting close to someone afraid of accidentally exposing her magic, and now he expected her to rule it alone? If word got out that one of their princesses had magic it would ruin the kingdom. Would they call her a freak, a... monster... for the power she possessed?

Cheers and claps began to erupt around her as the people rejoiced. Her heart only raced faster feeling like it was going to leap into her throat. She had to get out of here. She felt the pressure of being leader for two weeks already beginning to swallow her whole.

"Our voyage begins tomorrow!" Papa's dreadful words echoed in her ears not wanting to settle. Tomorrow? How could they not even give her more than a few hours notice?

Music began to fill the room once more as people joined in hand and danced.

Elsa quickly tried to squirm her way through the crowd over to Anna who pressed toward their father with that man following her. As she maneuvered through the crowd, a few people clapped for her as she squeezed by, no doubt excited for her to fulfill her two weeks duties. She tried faster to get away. Get to Anna! That's all that was on her mind. She had to talk to her.

As she neared her sister, she reached out trying to grab her shoulder, but was stopped when Anna spoke.

"Papa! I have something exciting to ask you!"

Elsa gasped and drew her hand back. She quickly backed up, trying to hide behind a few guests near the dessert table. She craned her neck in order to hear her sister's words over the music.

Papa turned around and gave a soft smile along with a small bow. "Prince Hans! It's nice to see you again."

This man... Hans?... returned a bow. "As well as you, King Agnarr."

Elsa furrowed her brow. Papa and Hans knew each other? She didn't recognize him. Didn't even think he'd ever been in the kingdom before.

"Papa," Anna continued. She gripped Hans around his upper arm and leaned her head against his bicep. "Uh, we would like..." She started giggling like a little school girl. She quickly turned to face the man dressed in white. "Should you ask him or should I?"

"He is your father," Hans replied, laying a gloved hand on Anna's soft skin.

Anna smiled as she looked back toward Papa and took a deep breath. "We would like to ask your blessing on our marriage."

Elsa's eyes nearly popped out of their socket. Marriage? She wanted to scream at Anna, but instead, she balled her fists with anger. They didn't even know this Hans. He could be a horrible person for all they know. Her heart bottomed out and she felt her knees go weak. They buckled beneath her, but thankful, one of the young servant girls caught her steading her.

"You alright, Princess?"

Elsa gave an uneasy smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Just got a little dizzy." She blushed as the servant girl walked off, and she turned her head back to watch Papa's reaction. Please, Papa! Say no!

Papa's face remained unchanged. His smile slowly began to slip down into a straight face. He placed his hands behind his back and stood tall. "I'm sorry, but no. You do not have my blessing."

Elsa felt relieved, but could see the dread and hurt on her sister's face as her hand slipped down Hans' arm.

"What?" Anna asked, stepping forward. "No?"

"I'm sorry, Anna," Papa replied, softly. "But you asked for my blessing and the answer is no." He placed his hand out to caress Anna's face. "You're still my little girl—"

Anna quickly stepped back and out of the way. "Well, I'm not a little girl anymore, Papa, and you can't keep me trapped in this palace forever." She gripped Hans' hand and dragged him behind her. "Come on, Hans. Let's go."

Elsa watched Anna march out of the ballroom with Hans following close, angry clear on Anna's face.

Elsa lowered her head and sighed. "Oh, Anna." She knew her sister's desire to get married, but she wasn't ready for her little sister to grow up and leave her. She loved her too much to see her go.

Hugging her arms against her chest, she slowly shuffled her way out of the ballroom.