The House Of Immortality

Winter in Arendelle was unforgivably cold this year. Thick layers of snow covered every house, every street, every bridge, in its freezing cold blanket, fountains had been turned to ice statues, icicles hung precariously along the edges of roofs like see-through daggers and the air was certainly below freezing, causing breath to come out in wisps of visible vapour. Not even the royal family were prepared for such weather, meaning that many were wearing their cloaks inside – an act permitted by the king himself, to prevent anyone literally freezing to death.

Despite this rather dark, miserable night, however, the royal family tried to make the most of it, as the king and queen had a rare and precious evening free of work, one of which they intended to spend with their youngest daughter of 6, Anna. At the request of the young princess, who longed for something fun to do since the rest of her day had been rather dull with no one to play with – her older, 9 year old sister, Elsa, had locked herself away in her room a year ago and had yet to come out, despite young Anna’s pleas -, the royal family sat in the library in front of the fireplace, blankets wrapped around them as they made smores.

They were all having fun and Anna’s mouth was covered in chocolatey-marshmallowy goodness, but that changed soon after the queen wiped the mess from her daughter’s face, the strawberry-blonde little princess looking to the space beside her, where Elsa should be. Why couldn’t Elsa spend time with the family? Why did she always have to miss out on the fun? Why wouldn’t she ever play with Anna anymore? Anna always asked, but no one ever really answered, so this time she decided to change tactics.

“Mama, Papa, can I take a smore to Elsa, please?” Big blue pleading eyes gazed at her parents, who both exchanged a look which Anna would come to understand in the distant future as the look of someone with a secret, a sad, scary secret, and after what seemed like forever to the young child, her father addressed her with a sad smile.

“Leave it outside her room, Anna, but don’t go in; it would be best not to disturb your sister.” Despite the soft words, the tone was more commanding, not even giving Anna a chance to at least peek into Elsa’s room. Frowning slightly, the little princess nodded, taking a napkin and a smore and heading upstairs towards Elsa’s room.

The further away Anna got from the warm fire of the library, and the closer she got to her sister’s room, the colder it got. Her blanket left behind, goose bumps crawled up Anna’s arms, though she tried to ignore it, because she had to give the smore to Elsa, so that she could feel like being a part of the fun too (and maybe her sister would answer some of Anna’s questions). Eventually the princess got to the big white door, adorned with paintings of simple blue flowers and took a deep breath, knocking on the door which seemed to be even colder than the air around her with her usual, rhythmic ‘Dun, dun, da-dun, dun’ tapping.

“Elsa? I brought you a smore! Papa said to leave it outside though, so I’m gonna do that, ok?” No response, though there was a slight shuffling noise of someone moving about and, after hearing dead silence for at least a week now, that tiny sound itself brought a beam to Anna’s face as she carefully set the smore down on the napkin outside the bedroom door. “We’re camping in the library, Elsa! Well, not really because we don’t have any tents, but we have blankets, and smores and the fireplace is kinda like a camp fire.” Anna sat on the floor, just outside the door, hugging her knees to her chest as she attempted a conversation with Elsa, who must’ve been just as lonely as she was. Remember when we went camping that one time and I pushed you into the lake and your dress got all wet? And then you pulled me in for laugh at you?” Was that giggling Anna could hear? The little girl’s grin brightened, glad to hear her sister laughing and being happy instead of telling her to go away like she usually did. “That day was fun! We got into trouble a little but it was worth it!”

Silence enveloped both girls for a moment, and Anna was worried that her sister had fallen asleep or something, but she still tried to ask questions anyway.

“… Elsa? Why can’t we have fun anymore?” No answer, and if Anna was paying attention to the top of the door, she would’ve seen frost start forming on it, but instead, she just stared at the wood that was directly in her line of gaze, trying to imagine Elsa on the other side. “Why won’t you come out and play with me? I promise I won’t tug on your doll’s hair anymore, or steal your paint! I just want us to be friends again.” And now the laughter had been replaced by sniffles on the other side of the door and Anna’s face fell as she realised that her questions had made her older sister sad, which was the last thing she wanted. “I’m sorry, Elsa, I just mi-“
A yawn broke into Anna’s sentence. Rubbing her eyes which were suddenly starting to close, Anna gave in. Maybe she could try to set things right tomorrow, when her brain wasn’t trying to tell her to go to sleep. “I’m gonna go to bed now, Elsa. Don’t forget your smore’s out here. If you don’t eat it soon, Kai might think you don’t want it and take it away. Goodnight.”

Her feet dragged against the floor as she moved towards her own bedroom, just down the hall from Elsa’s, tiredness slowly taking over her little body. By the time she had clambered into her bed, without even saying goodnight to her mother and father, Anna was sound asleep, curled up underneath the covers, as well as several blankets, cuddling her doll to her chest.

The next morning, as Anna emerged from her room and began running down the hall, intent on having a yummy, warm breakfast on a cold winter’s day, the young princess slipped on something by Elsa’s door, sending her skidding down the hall until the lack of balance caused her to topple over, landing flat on her face with an, “Oomf!” Princess Anna didn’t start crying like normal 6 year olds would, however. Instead, she just sat up, rubbing her face with a wince before staring down curiously at the piece of paper she had slipped on. Picking it up, she studied the words written on it:

‘Thank you ~ Elsa ~’

A glance to the big white door showed that the smore had vanished. Elsa had eaten it! And given Anna a note! That was the most progress she had ever made! A smile to rival the Cheshire cat’s spread across Anna’s tiny features and she got up, running back towards Elsa’s door. Knocking once more, she said, “You’re welcome, Elsa!” through the keyhole before making her way downstairs to breakfast again.

Despite the winter weather being cold and grey, Anna was filled with warmth and brightness for the rest of the day, all because of three little words on a piece of paper.