"You have no choice." Anna runs her hands through her hair. "I am sorry, but it has been two weeks and we can wait no longer. The people need to hear from their queen."

I sit in front of my mirror. A maid brushes my hair.

"Should I put your hair up?" The maid, a sweet girl of barely fifteen, asks. She slides her hands underneath my blonde hair and lifts it up. "Do you want me to do it the way it was for your coronation? You looked so beautiful-"

"No." I shiver. "I don't want my hair up at all. Just leave it down."

The maid, Marie, meets my eyes in the mirror. "But, your highness, that wouldn't be proper!"

"I know." I tug at my new gloves. Anna had them made special for this occasion. The creamy satin reaches almost to my elbows. No chance of me losing these gloves-or of someone pulling them off.

Anna sighs. "Do as she wants, Marie." My sister lays a gentle hand on my shoulder then leaves.

Marie combs the tangles from my hair.

"Thank you." I whisper. She is one of the few servants who acts as if the storm never happened. I respect her for that.

She nods. "You don't want your hair falling in your eyes during your speech. I have an idea." She carefully braids two sections of my hair and pulls them together in the back with a purple ribbon.

"That does look better." I smile and touch her arm. "You are very talented. Thank you."

She steps away from me and curtsies. "I will be praying that your speech goes well." The door clicks shut behind her.

I stand in my room alone and look at my reflection in the mirror. My hair falls around my shoulders, the end brushing the top of my gloves. My dark purple dress tucks in at the waist then flares out until it touches the floor.

I wish I could curl in my bed and hide under the covers. I don't want to stand in front of my people. But I owe them an explanation and Anna has already covered for me as long as possible.

With careful, measured steps, I walk to my door. My gloved fingers enclose around the knob.

Conceal, don't feel.

I breathe in and out slowly, then open the door and step into the hallway.

I can do this. I have to. For Anna. For Mother and Father.

For me.

**

"Nervous?" Rapunzel touches my arm.

I tear my eyes away from the crowd filling the outer courtyard of the castle. Within minutes I will have to face them. For now, Anna is addressing them with Hans by her side. I am still not sure what to make of him, but he seems loyal enough and he certainly is handsome.

"I'm fine." I press my hands against my stomach. "It is always hard to apologize." I swallow. "Especially in public."

"Just be honest." Rapunzel smiles at me. "They are ready to forgive you, but they need to understand why you ran off and why you covered everything with snow."

I lean my back against the wall and cover my face with hands. "Oh, what can I tell them? How do I explain? Do I tell them what my childhood was like?"

"That's actually a good idea." Rapunzel nods. "Anna is finishing her speech. It is almost your turn. You can do it, Queen Elsa."

"Thank you." I nod. "I will miss you. I am sorry that you have to leave in a few days."

"We have already been away from our own kingdom for too long, but I am glad that we could help you. I know it was a good idea to come to your coronation, even if we hadn't met yet."

The crowd applauds loudly as Anna takes her seat in the balcony overlooking the outer courtyard and main square.

Rapunzel squeezes my hand and steps back. I straighten my shoulders and fold my hands in front of me. I walk onto the balcony and face the crowd.

Face after face stares up at me. Children, adults, grandparents. Everyone has come to hear my explanation

Nerves twist inside my stomach. I take a deep breath and say, "Conceal, don't feel."

Whispers ripple through the crowd. Only then do I realize that I said the words out loud.

I abandon the speech that Anna helped me write last night. These people do not need to hear a practiced apology or polite explanation. They need to hear me.

"Conceal, don't feel." I say again, loudly enough for everyone to hear. "That is what my father told me when he gave me my first pair of gloves." I hold up my hands so that they can all see the creamy satin gloves.

The people stare at me, quiet, waiting for my next words.

I swallow. "Ever since I was born, I have been different. I don't know why. I thought that I was broken. One time when I was playing with my sister..." I turn and look at Anna.

She sits behind me with Hans and several other officials. She smiles at me and nods, giving me permission to continue.

This has always been our story, our pain. But now it is time to share it with our people. Only then can I truly be queen.

"I was using my power and I hurt her. I didn't mean to. I never wanted to hurt anyone." I press my gloved hand to my mouth, afraid to continue. I have never allowed myself to be this vulnerable and transparent.

For some reason, Jack's blue eyes flashes through my mind. He is somewhere nearby, listening like everyone else.

I stand up straight and tall, like Mother taught me. "My parents wanted to protect me and protect you. They took away Anna's memories of my power. They gave me the gloves and told me to keep my power hidden no matter what. I locked myself in my bedroom. I gave up my childhood because of fear. I was afraid that I would hurt someone, especially Anna. But I still hurt her. I wasn't a good sister or a good friend when she needed one.

"My parents are gone now and I am queen. Already I have lost control of my powers. I am taking lessons so that it will never happen again." I think of Pitch and shiver. What if he is listening too?

"I cannot promise to be a perfect queen, but I do promise to do my best. I promise to be as good and kind and wise as I can be. You will have to be patient with me. I will need your prayers and support. I love my sister and I love Arendelle. It took me a long time to understand that I might be different, but that does not mean that I am broken."

I hold out my gloved hands. "I am sorry for all the fear and pain I have caused you. I can only hope that you will be able to forgive me and come to trust me again." I drop my hands to my side and step away from the balcony railing.

The silence is interrupted by a familiar male voice, "All hail Queen Elsa!" Immediately, the square comes alive as men and women and children shout my name.

Tears burn inside my eyelids. I sit down next to Anna and right there, in front of her, in front of the whole world-I cry.