The Broken Link

Three

"Elsa, these are the people in the flying ship I was telling you about," Anna says to the Queen.

"Queen Elsa," Hiccup says politely.

"Call me Elsa," the Queen murmurs quietly. "I'm sorry for the storm."

"It's not your fault," Milo laughs. "Freak storms happen all the time."

"Yes," agrees Astrid sarcastically. "Especially in the middle of July."

Elsa sits down in one of the chairs, closing her eyes. Anna takes one of her hands.

The scene between the two sisters is so intimate, that I feel as if I'm intruding on a private family moment.

"I don't know how it happened," Elsa groans, opening her eyes.

"Are you scared about anything?" Anna asks, and Elsa shakes her head.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," Elsa says in a frustrated voice.

"Right. Because you caused a snow blizzard in July," nods Astrid. I've had enough of her snarky comments.

"Would you just shut your mouth! You don't know anything about magic!" I yell, and everyone falls silent.

"And you do?" Astrid rolls her eyes, unaffected by my comment.

"I know it's gettin' outta control." I say, and I see Elsa staring at me. "Yah 'ave magic, don't yah?"

"I do." Elsa confirms. "I can control the winter." To prove it, she conjures up a snowflake in her free hand.

"There has to be some sort of balance." I mutter. Something about that Mel's sense, as if that answer was something knew all along, just waiting for the right moment to surge forward. "Magic ain't natural. There needs tah be a balance."

"You think this balance is broken." says Elsa, and I nod.

"Maybe that's why yah caused a storm. Because the balance is broken."

"Usually I can control it, but lately..." Elsa faltered.

"There might not be a balance!" Anna says. "Elsa was born with powers, not cursed."

"It's just a theory." I say, but I feel as if there's more to it, that there's something I'm not remembering.

Well, not like I'm currently remembering much at the moment.

"Well, that's all fine and dandy. But my ship is outside in your blizzard. And we need to get somewhere." says Milo.

"The storm won't last much longer." says Elsa. "I'll get right on it. You guys can stay here, while I try and control it. Warm up."

Elsa leaves the room, presumably to go outside. Anna scratched the back of her neck awkwardly.

"So..." Anna says awkwardly. "Merida, would you like to come with me? Your dress is soaking wet, and I bet we're the same size. I insist you borrow something warm to change into. And everyone else, I'll ask our handmaids to give you a change of clothes."

"Alright." I say, and everyone else nods, even Astrid.

I leave the room with Anna, grateful to be away from Astrid. We walk in a long hallway in silence for a few moments, before Anna starts to talk.

"Why does Astrid hate you? It looks like she does." Anna asks, and I shrug my shoulders.

"I dunno. She's ain't mah number one fan either." I reply.

"Oh." Then, "Um, I like your dress. Even though it's all wet. But I'm sure it's was even prettier when it was dry. Of course, it's still pretty now! Oops, am I babbling again? My fiancée, Kristoff, says I do that. I try not to, but it's hard, you know? Once I get going, I can't stop. Now would be a good example, wouldn't it? Whoops, there I go again!"