Elsa whimpered inwardly as her heartbeat thudded wildly.
She wished Ivan would just listen to her.
She tried to free herself from his grip amidst stifled grunts but he intensified his hold on her.
Tears trickled down on her face.
She was crying?
She was crying!
Ivan stopped and loosened his grip on her.
He straightened up from his snuggle over her and turned to the other side of the bed.
He sat and faced the window that let the mild breeze blow across his face.
Those tears reminded him of things he didn't want to recall.
He felt enraged, sorry and guilty - all at the same time.
Elsa lay still on her back as tears dripped with intensity from both sides of her eyes.
Slowly, her heartbeat returned to its previous tranquility.
Ivan blocked his thoughts.
They were coming after him.
They were racing to destroy him again.
They were racing to render him vulnerable again.
Everything that had happened to him before had emerged without a warning - no signs.
He had never seen them all coming - a whirlwind of darkness that uprooted everything in him and cascaded shadows over his actual being.
Elsa's tears had crushed his soul; they pierced through his heart and rendered him empty.
He wanted to let out a strangled scream.
He wanted to scream...yell.
Ivan looked back at Elsa who lay horrified behind him.
She had already curled into a miserable ball on top of the massive bed.
He suddenly rose from the bed impetuously and darted towards the door with his robe.
He let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh as he stood and faced the open field.
Emptiness.
He felt empty, yet heavy.
He never knew emptiness would feel so heavy.
He was currently close to the armoury ( a building away.)
Ivan inhaled more frigid air and smiled at himself.
He tightened his fists and clenched his teeth.
His pounding heart beat unevenly.
No!
His head screamed back.
He mustn't let those tears escape from his vulnerable heart.
" Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," he let out a loud peal of scream and exhaled heavily while falling to the ground in a silent thud.
______________
Elsa blinked inwardly and turned on the bed.
The sun rays had found its way into the room and into her eyes.
Slowly, she flustered her eyes open.
She could hear the sound of birds chirping.
Her eyes widened in astonishment when she saw Lydia sitting close to her on a chair.
Lydia had walked in not long ago and had been watching the princess in her peaceful sleep.
She smiled softly at Elsa and passed on the warm coffee.
Elsa extended her hand and received the warm coffee - perfect for the chilly morning.
The aroma of the coffee wafted through her nose as she inhaled more.
" Are you well, your highness?" Lydia looked on inquiringly.
She could see faint lines on her face that seemed to have extended to her jaws from her eyes.
Elsa ignored Lydia's look of inquiry and went on to sip the coffee.
She hummed jovially in delight.
" This is good, Lydia."
Lydia shook her head and took Elsa's hand in hers.
" My lady, I know that being married to the prince is no luxury, but all you can do is to talk about it. It could ease your pains, and I'm here to listen to all you have to say."
Elsa smiled meaningfully and dropped the cup of coffee on the tray that was laid on the bed.
She took a quick glimpse at the window and smiled again.
She couldn't tell if she felt relieved, disappointed or....
She knew Ivan had a good heart, and he wouldn't hurt her intentionally.
He had only let his emotions overrule him.
" I believe I can handle whatever comes to me. Thank you so much for your concern, Lydia."
Lydia sighed and nodded approvingly with a satisfied expression as she rose from the bed to prepare a warm bath for the princess.
______________________________________
Elsa walked past few portraits which she guessed must be the descendants of the previous kings and stopped at the portrait of the queen Marion.
It felt like she was staring right back at Harriet.
There was simply no difference!
They had the same sunflower blonde hair and the same violet eyes.
She extended her hand and touched the portrait.
It felt - solid?
She didn't know what she felt when she touched the portrait but she knew something struck her instincts on the spot.
She moved closer and stared at it.
Her gaze deepened as she heard the ticking of a clock.
That sound resonated from the portrait.
Elsa looked around.
The clock continuously ticked, and this happened any time she intensified her touch on the portrait.
She pondered for a bit then she held her breath unconsciously.
She could hear voices and it drew nearer.
But, it seemed strange that the voices were not coming from the external environment.
Someone was coming.
Elsa's eyes darted around for a hiding place.
The pillars were no hiding place.
She could be seen easily.
Immediately, she bent down and hid herself behind a sculptural work two portraits away from the queen Marion's portrait.
" Ivan should never get to know," the voice rose hysterically as it reverberated in the hallway.
She recognized that voice.
She would recognize it even in her sleep.
She peered through the sculpture and gasped.
Her eyes widened in astonishment.
A lady covered in a hood came out from the queen Marion's portrait.
How?
It was only a portrait that hung over that wall.
She couldn't help but feel unease and curiosity slither down her spine.
She laid her head lower when she sensed the lady would look towards the sculpture.
" We have to get to work," she said again and trotted out.
Elsa could hear the sound of another footstep accompany her in silence.
But she couldn't recognize the second person even when she peered again.
She hastily walked to the portrait after making sure that the coast was clear.
The clock ticked continuously but this time it was faint.
Below her - on the ground, the bracelet lay there.
She had stepped on it without knowing.
She picked it up.
The bracelet had pure diamonds on it with carvings.
Only the royal family posseses such bracelet.
Only the royal family had the power to wield such ornament.
Elsa stood rigid and in thought.
What was it that Ivan should never get to know about?