Harmon, but it feels like there is a whole big world out there that I’m missing out on. A world at the bottom of this mountain.” Anna pointed to the window where Arendelle was visible. “I promise I’m not moving there without a plan. I’m going to open my own bakery when I make enough money, and until I do, I’ll work in a bakery near the castle. Freya always said there were several. Several! Not just one, like we have here.”
Her parents still appeared tongue-tied.
“I know I’ll be far away, but I’ll visit, and you can visit, too.” They hadn’t interrupted her yet, so she kept going. “I’m eighteen and it’s time I started my own life. Freya always talked about how much I’d like Arendelle, and I know she was right.”
Her mother nodded knowingly, filling Anna with hope.
“I think you are too young,” Papa blurted out.
“I’m eighteen,” Anna whispered.
“Johan,” her mother started.
He shook his head. “Tomally, you know I’m right. A woman is of age at twenty-one. I’m sorry, Anna, but you are not ready. It isn’t…safe.” He looked at Ma. “Arendelle isn’t the right place for you right now. We need you here.”
“Ma?” Anna said, but Ma shook her head.
“Papa is right,” Ma said. “We are getting older, Anna Bear, and this bakery is a lot for us to handle. It was always our dream that someday you would run it.”
The idea touched Anna greatly. She knew her parents were tired of being up before dawn and baking all day. But staying in Harmon forever wasn’t what she wanted. She could feel it in her bones and see it in her dreams—dreams full of snow and voices. Sometimes it felt as if someone was looking for her. But that was silly.
“You know I love this shop, and I love being with you, but I’ve always dreamt of living in Arendelle,” Anna told them gently. “I feel like I’m meant for something bigger. Life is short. Losing Freya taught me that. I don’t want to wait another day to start my life.”
Ma and Papa kept looking at each other.
“She isn’t ready,” Papa said firmly to Ma. “It isn’t safe.…”
“I know.” Ma looked at Anna. “We want you to have the life you dream of—a life in Arendelle—and you will have it. I know it in my heart just as you do, Anna Bear.” She squeezed her hand. “It just isn’t your time yet. Trust us.”
“I understand,” Anna said, but she truly didn’t. She blinked back tears and held her tongue. She never disobeyed her parents, and she wasn’t about to now, but three years felt like a long time to wait.
I wish I had the power to stop time, Elsa thought as she stood at her bedroom window, watching people flood into the castle courtyard toward her family’s bronze statue. The gates were open and the chapel was prepped. The choir she’d heard practicing for days was ready to perform. But the time for her own rehearsals was over. She should stop worrying, but she knew she couldn’t. Time seemed like it was roaring ahead, and Elsa couldn’t slow it down.
She had already gotten dressed with Gerda’s help. Her gown was beautiful, but it wasn’t designed for comfort. And it wasn’t created with her in mind. It almost felt as if she were a doll playing dress up, living in someone else’s body. But she kept reminding herself the dress only had to be worn for a few hours. She could manage until then. There was nothing left to do but wait to be called.
I wish I could stop time, Elsa wished again, but she knew it wasn’t possible.
Being with Hans the other day had put her mind at ease, but standing in her room again, she couldn’t escape her thoughts. Papa and Mama, I wish you were standing here beside me. I can’t do this alone.
Elsa heard grunting and turned around. Olaf was trying to move her hope chest and failing.
“Olaf!” Elsa hurried over. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for Anna,” he explained. “She should be here for this.”
Elsa leaned down, her sadness almost overwhelming her. “We don’t even know who Anna is.”
“I know she’d want to see you, though!” the snowman said brightly. “Maybe she’s in this hope chest. She loved to hide in here.”
Elsa was about to ask Olaf what he meant when she heard the knock at her door.
The time had come.
Olaf reached out to hug her. “Good luck!” He ran to hide behind her