Chapter 16:

Thawing Attina

Ariel

Ariel made her way to her sister, her heart pounding in her chest. She asked Elsa to stay by the firepit, hoping that not having her nearby would help calm Attina. As Ariel entered the shaded area, birds chirped in the tree that provided the shade and a gentle breeze blew over the beach from the sea. Attina’s narrowed eyes tracked Ariel’s every move, her silence palpable. Her fists were clenched in her arms and her tailfin lay in the sand, motionless.

“Hi, Attina,” Ariel greeted, drawing out the words in a breathy tone. She forced a playful note into her voice, a strained smile plastered on her face. “How did you sleep?”

Attina’s upper lip curled in a sneer. “What are you doing with her, Ariel?” she demanded, nodding sharply in Elsa’s direction.

So much for that. Ariel dropped the act of trying to be playful. “Come on, Attina, she does have a name.”

“I don’t care what her name is, Ariel! She’s a witch! Did you not learn anything from Aunt Ursula?”

“Atti—” Ariel growled in her throat, but in an attempt to remain calm, she took a deep breath. “Elsa is not a witch.”

Attina’s slitted eyes didn’t move from Ariel’s. “Does she wield magic, Ariel?”

That fact that Attina kept using her name wasn’t lost on Ariel. She ran her fingertips through the sand, her nostrils flaring. Stay calm. Ariel took another deep breath.

“Yes,” Ariel answered, simply. “But she doesn’t—"

“That makes her a witch, Ariel!” shouted Attina, her voice booming across the beach.

Ariel glanced back at Elsa who had obviously heard Attina. How could she not have? Elsa’s shoulders sank as she sat in the sand with her ice basket in her lap, her head hung with her blonde hair hanging down her back and over her shoulders. Ariel’s fingers dug into the sand until her knuckles turned white. She snapped her attention back to Attina. Remaining calm wasn’t a priority anymore. “Yeah, well, she saved your life so maybe you can show her a little respect!”

Attina opened her mouth to speak, but then snapped it shut.

“Yeah,” Ariel continued, “you see her?” Ariel pointed at Elsa. “She saved. Your. Life!” This time, Ariel’s voice boomed across the beach. The birds that had been chirping in the tree above them flew away, scattering across the sky. “You wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for Elsa!”

Attina’s narrowed eyes softened as she glanced in Elsa’s direction almost as if she was having a change of heart. But then she glared back at Ariel. “I can’t believe you let her touch me, Ariel!” Attina motioned at the frozen spot on her tail. “You let her use her sorcery on me!”

“I panicked!” shouted Ariel. “I thought you were going to—” her breath hitched in her throat. She couldn’t bring herself to say it. Ariel took another deep breath and exhaled slowly, loosening her fingers until they sat atop the sand rather than digging into it. “There was blood everywhere. You were shaking. I was a mess, Attina. I thought I was going to lose you. So, yes. I did let Elsa touch you. I let her use her magic on you.” Ariel reached for Attina’s balled-up fist. Her fingers loosened in Ariel’s hand and knowing that she could have lost her sister last night, she did her best to calm her anger. In a gentler tone, Ariel muttered, “I would have lost you had it not been for Elsa.”

Attina didn’t say a word. As her silence grew, Ariel watched as Attina glanced at Elsa again. Her glare softened. Progress?

Attina faced Ariel. “Your fixation with humans has got to stop, Ariel.”

I guess not. Ariel growled in her throat, slumping her shoulders and rolling her eyes. “My fixation with that human”—Ariel nodded in Elsa’s direction—“is why you’re here right now.” Ariel turned on her hips so that she was sitting up with her tail out in front of her. She cupped her other hand over Attina’s so that Attina’s hand was held gently between both of hers. Ariel took another deep breath. “I’m not asking you to like Elsa. But I do want you to be nice to her. Be grateful for her.”

Attina glanced at Elsa, her eyes softening again. Suddenly, her brow furrowed. “Is she wearing ice?”

Ariel’s lips curled into a playful grin, her gaze shifting from Attina to Elsa and back to Attina. When Attina noticed Ariel’s expression, she rolled her eyes. “I’m not taking an interest in your human, Ariel.” She sneered the word ‘human’, but it wasn’t as condescending as her previous sneers were. “She’s sitting in the sun wearing ice. How is it not melting?” Attina glanced down at her tail. “And how has that not melted yet?” She pointed at the icy spot on her tail.

That actually was a good question. Why didn’t I think of that? Ariel shrugged. “We can have her come over here and we can ask her?” suggested Ariel.

“No,” Attina asserted.

Ariel sighed. “Oh, come on Attina. Now you have me curious, too. I promise she won’t hurt you.”

“How can you be so trusting of a witch, Ariel?”

Ariel groaned, her frustration boiling over. “Attina, that’s enough! Elsa isn’t a witch.” She pulled her hands away, eyes flashing. “If you can’t accept that, then stay here. I’m going back to her.”

Attina’s eyes widened in shock. She shifted forward in an attempt to reach for Ariel, but as she did, a sharp cry escaped her lips.

Ariel immediately turned back, catching her sister. “Attina!” she gasped.

Attina clutched at her tail, face twisted in agony. “It hurts so much,” she cried.

Without hesitation, Ariel laid her sister onto the sand and gathered a small mound beneath her head as a makeshift pillow. “I’m here,” Ariel whispered, her voice softening, concern replacing her anger. She brushed the hair from Attina’s forehead, her own heart aching for her sister.

Ariel felt her pulse pounding in her neck and in her ears. Elsa wasn’t a witch or a monster, and Attina needed to understand that, but despite their argument, Attina was still her sister, and Ariel still wanted to take care of her. She knew Attina would do the same for her, no matter how upset they were with each other. But that didn’t make it any easier.

“How did you even get over here?” Ariel asked, running her hand through Attina’s orange hair. It hadn’t registered with Ariel until just now that Attina’s decorative crown piece that always sat atop her head was missing.

Attina’s eyes were clenched shut and her teeth clacked. “I p-pulled myself thr-through the sand.”

“Why did you pull yourself away from the water? You’re going to dry out.” Ariel ran a hand along Attina’s hips where skin met scales, feeling the flaky dryness.

“I woke up alone on land, Ariel!” Attina shouted, her eyes wide before squeezing shut. “The sun was too hot,” she groaned, wincing in pain. “Look at my skin. It’s turning red.”

Ariel chuckled and when Attina opened her eyes and glared at Ariel, Ariel realized that chuckling wasn’t the best response. “It’s just a bit of a sunburn.” Ariel continued to brush her hand through Attina’s hair. “Speaking of sunburn”—Ariel glanced in Elsa’s direction—“she also has a sunburn. I’m going to ask her to join us in the shade.”

“Don’t!” exclaimed Attina through gritted teeth.

Ariel examined Attina closely. Her sister’s skin was redder than usual, warm to the touch from the sunburn. Her tail, once glossy, now appeared matte and dull, the scales seeming to separate slightly. While merfolk would need to be out of the water much longer than Attina had been for serious damage to occur, it was still concerning. The icy spot on her tail remained frozen, prompting Ariel to wonder again: how did Elsa’s ice not melt in the heat?

“Like it or not, she can help you, Attina.”

# # #

Elsa

The sun beat down on Elsa, her thick blonde hair offering some protection to her scalp and shoulders, but it did little to ease the discomfort of sitting in the sun, even with her icy attire. She picked up a strawberry, holding it between her fingers as a crooked smile tugged at the corner of her lips. The thought of Ariel’s reaction to the strawberries made her smile fully. Knowing she could bring so much happiness to someone who wasn’t Anna filled her with such warmth.

As she stared at the strawberry, Elsa reflected on Ariel’s joyous expression: those big blue eyes open wide in amazement, her bright red lips spread into a broad smile, and those flushed, rounded cheeks that made her appear younger than she actually was. Even though Ariel’s hair had nothing to do with her smile, Elsa couldn’t help but sigh contentedly as she pictured Ariel’s long, red hair when it was wet and plastered to the side of her face, down her neck, and over her shoulders. When Elsa brought the strawberry to her mouth, her bottom lip popped out from under her teeth. When she bit into the strawberry, she moaned softly at its sweet flavor.

“Elsa!” Elsa looked to Ariel who was waving her over. “Come here.”

As Elsa entered the shade, a wave of relief washed over her. Although the heat didn't affect her much—her body naturally ran cold—being out of the sun was a welcome reprieve. Attina lay in the sand beside Ariel, her head turned away from Elsa.

Unsure how to greet Attina, Elsa focused on Ariel, offering a tight-lipped smile. Holding her ice basket with both hands over her skirt, she took Ariel’s offered hand and sat down beside her.

“Are you hungry?” asked Elsa, this time a genuine smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she found Ariel’s vibrant eyes.

Ariel’s stomach growled, eliciting soft giggles from Elsa and Ariel. “I guess so. Do you have any more strawberries in there?”

Elsa reached into the basket and pulled out a couple of strawberries. “Of course. I wasn’t going to eat all of your favorite fruit.” Ariel’s eyes locked onto the strawberries in Elsa’s palm, while Elsa’s gaze lingered on Ariel’s red lips as she ran her tongue over them. “Here.” Elsa offered the fruit to Ariel.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Ariel grabbed both strawberries and popped one in her mouth. She moaned at the flavor, prompting another soft giggle from Elsa. Being the one to elicit these soft, sensual noises from Ariel was that Elsa lived for in that moment. After swallowing, Ariel ate the other strawberry, leaf and all. Elsa then picked up a strawberry and ate it, avoiding the leafy top.

“Why don't you eat all of it?”

Elsa threw the leafy bit of the strawberry somewhere behind her. She scrunched up her face thinking about it. “I'm not actually sure. The leafy bit isn't poisonous or anything, I've just always grown up eating the fleshy part of the strawberry and not the leafy bit.” Elsa cocked her head back in thought. “Maybe it had something to do with associating leafy green food with vegetables?” Elsa chuckled. “Anna and I hated vegetables growing up. Our parents were so insistent on us eating our greens, but all we ever wanted to eat was strawberries, oranges, watermelon, pineapples, and chocolate. Have you ever had—”

“Chocolate!” moaned Ariel, her shoulders slumping and her head falling back. Elsa didn’t mean to belly laugh at Ariel, but her reaction to chocolate was both adorable and endearing since Elsa also felt the same way about chocolate. “I haven't had chocolate since I was a human. Attina”—Ariel placed her hand on Attina’s shoulder, though Attina still faced away from Elsa and Ariel—“you would love chocolate!” Under her breath, Ariel added, “She loves sweets.” Elsa and Ariel laughed.

“I've had chocolate,” grumbled Attina. Elsa and Ariel stopped laughing and they both stared at Attina. Her head was still facing away from them, but she must have noticed their silence was them waiting for her to elaborate. “Your wedding, Ariel. I had chocolate at your wedding.”

Ariel gasped. “That's right! Eric and I had a chocolate cake.” Ariel's eyes fluttered as she turned her attention back to Elsa. “Have you ever had chocolate cake?”

“Have I ev—” Elsa recoiled, almost offended. “Anna and I would eat nothing but chocolate if we could! Chocolate cake, chocolate pies, chocolate fondue…”

Ariel laughed. “Attina, what did you think of chocolate?”

“It was gross, human food,” she spat, now facing Elsa. “I hated it.”

Elsa’s ear-to-ear grin shrank, her shoulders sinking. What a way to ruin the mood.

Noticing Elsa’s sudden change in demeanor, Ariel quickly tried to lighten the atmosphere. “Oh, come on, Attina. I seem to remember you and our sisters loving it! Remember when Arista shoved a piece into Father’s face?” Ariel’s eyes sparkled at the memory, and as she turned to Elsa, her enthusiasm was contagious. “Elsa, he was so mad until he licked his lips and realized how good the cake was.” Ariel’s laughter filled the air, and Elsa couldn’t help but join in, her mood lifting.

“I don't like chocolate!” Attina shouted. “I don't like your human food and I didn't ask for you”—Attina sneered at Elsa—“to come over here!”

Elsa’s mouth snapped shut, tears welling in her eyes at Attina’s sudden outburst. Her jaw trembled. The way Attina treated her felt just like the night she ran away from the castle, cursing Arendelle with a relentless winter. She remembered the Duke of Weselton calling her a monster, the residents gasping and shielding their children from her. It felt no different now. Elsa clutched her hands to her chest, her teary gaze fixed on the sand at her feet. Ariel gently placed a hand on her exposed knee. “Elsa, she didn’t—”

“It's okay!” Elsa interjected, her voice quavering through her feigned cheeriness. She wouldn't give Attina the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Elsa stood up, knocking over the basket, its contents spilling onto the sand. “I've got to…” Her voice trailed off. She had to what? Walk away and cry? Stress over what a mermaid thought of her? Who cares what Attina thought—Attina wasn't the one Elsa had feelings for. She cared what Ariel thought.

Ariel reached for Elsa’s hand. “Please, don't go.”

“She hates me!” Elsa choked out. “I did nothing but save her life and she still hates me.”

“You didn't save my life. Ariel did when she found the redwee–”

“Shut up!” roared Ariel, seething at Attina. “We saved your life! Is that what you want to hear, Attina?” Ariel turned her attention back to Elsa; her eyes softened. “Don't listen to her. I want you here.” Ariel picked up an orange from the sand and presented it to Elsa. “Stay with me and help me peel it?” She smiled genuinely at Elsa. “Please?”

Elsa sniffled. Tears threatened to leak from her eyes and her jaw still trembled, but she wasn't going to give Attina the satisfaction of seeing her cry and in fact, she wasn't going to give Attina the satisfaction of seeing her run away either. Elsa nodded, sitting down beside Ariel, wiping her eyes.

Elsa took the orange from Ariel. She bit into the fruit, tearing a piece of the rind from the orange and spit it out. From there, she dug a thumb up under the rind and began peeling at the fruit. Meanwhile, Ariel sat the ice basket upright in the sand and began picking up fruit that was within arm’s reach, wiping sand from each piece.

“Hey, I had a question I wanted to ask you.” Elsa turned her attention to Ariel as she kept peeling the orange. “Your clothes are made of ice, but they don’t melt even when it’s hot like it is now. How do you do that?”

Attina huffed and grumbled under her breath, “Sure, that was your question…” Ariel ignored her.

Elsa peeled the last of the rind from the orange and handed it to Ariel. She sniffled and cleared her throat. “When I use my magic, I’m conjuring the snow and the ice—I’m creating it. The ice that I create isn’t like normal ice. It comes from within me, and it’s not bound by the usual rules of nature. Even in the heat, my ice remains solid because it’s a part of me.” Elsa reached into the basket and pulled out another orange. She bit into the rind and then began peeling at it. “My outfit”—Elsa motioned to her icy bodice, skirt, and leggings—“and this basket don’t melt because with my magic I will them not to melt. The spot on Attina’s tail doesn’t melt because I want it to stay frozen so the redweed leaves will stay in place. Your arm,” Elsa nodded at Ariel’s right arm, “was still frozen when I woke up this morning, but I melted it so I could check on it. When I saw that it was healed, I didn’t bother re-freezing it.”

Ariel rubbed her right arm. “You are truly spectacular, Elsa.”

Elsa blushed as she finished peeling the orange in her hands. “I’m glad someone likes my magic.” She hadn’t meant it as a dig at Attina, but she also didn’t attempt to make amends when Attina huffed and looked away. Elsa split the orange down the middle and ripped off a piece, shoving it in her mouth. She savored the citrusy taste.

“If you can make yourself an ice dress, could you make me something?” asked Ariel.

Elsa tugged her lips to the side of her face as she thought about it. “I don’t see why not? I’ve never tried making an icy outfit for anyone else because no one else appreciates the cold the same way that I do.” Her eyes flicked back and forth, and then under her breath she added, “Well, except for Kristoff…?” Elsa grinned at Ariel. “Want me to try making you something?”

“Ariel, don’t!” warned Attina.

Ariel ignored her sister and with wide eyes, she nodded her head enthusiastically. “Oh, please, Elsa. Yes. Do it!” She gasped. “Let’s start with my hair. Can you put ice in my hair? Remember how last night when it was frozen when you were protecting us from Scyllari beneath your ice shield? Can you do something like that, but maybe not completely frozen?”

Elsa smirked, pointing her index finger at Ariel’s hair. A wisp of ice and snow swirled around her left hand, circling her closed fist before spiraling up her finger. With a flick, a thin beam of ice shot from the tip, enveloping Ariel’s hair in a shimmering cascade. Snow and ice crackled and popped, creating a radiant display as it wrapped around Ariel’s red locks. When the magic settled, ribbons of glistening ice wove through her wavy, disheveled hair, sparkling like diamonds.

Ariel ran her hand through her transformed hair, her mouth dropping into a wide smile, eyes alight with wonder. She gathered a handful and brought it over her shoulder to admire it. “Elsa, it’s beautiful!” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I love it!” she cried. “I promise I’m not sad,” she sniffled, “it’s just…” Ariel nuzzled the icy strands against her cheek. “It reminds me of Mother when she used to braid seaweed into our hair.” She turned to Attina, showing off the intricate ice ribbons. “Remember when Mother used to do that?”

Attina’s mouth hung agape, her eyes fixated on Ariel’s sparkling hair. “I remember,” she murmured. She faced Elsa. “You can do that? With your magic, you can do that?” Elsa only nodded. “And it doesn’t cost anything? You don’t need Ariel’s voice or—or, her most precious memories or—or her soul?”

Elsa shook her head. “I don’t know what kind of magic you expect from me, but I don’t require anything from you to use it.” Elsa glanced at the spot on Attina’s tail. “I do ask for consent, but we were afraid you were going to die if I didn’t use my magic on you last night, so…” Elsa lowered her head. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. “If you really don’t want my help, I can melt the ice on your tail.”

Attina looked down at her tail. She moved her tailfin, but when she tried moving her tail, she winced. Ariel placed a hand on Attina’s arm. “I promise you, Attina, she isn’t going to hurt you.” Elsa lifted her head to see Ariel gazing at her sister. “She isn’t Ursula.” When Attina’s eyes softened, Ariel—still holding her hair—lifted her eyebrows and grinned. “Now, do you want some ice in your hair?”

Attina looked at Elsa. Her throat bobbed and her eyes were glossy as if she might cry. “Mother—” her breath hitched in her throat. “Mother used to…” she sniffled. “Mother used to make this crown of seaweed for me that would sit on the top of my head with seaweed that she would then braid into my hair.” Attina’s lower lip wobbled and under her breath, she asked, “Can you do something like that?”

Elsa gazed into Attina’s emerald green eyes. It was the first time they were looking at each other without hostility being present. She took in Attina’s features—her slender nose, high cheekbones, and refined jawline. Attina was undeniably beautiful, but as Elsa glanced at Ariel, she saw the same beauty reflected in her. Ariel’s slender nose, high cheekbones, and elegant jawline were captivating. The difference was that when Ariel looked at Elsa—just as she was now—Elsa’s heart fluttered, her cheeks warmed, and her lips tingled with the memory of their kiss. She had to tear her gaze from Ariel to refocus on Attina. Her parted lips spread into a soft smile. “Yes, I can do that.”

“Would it be easier if I sat up?” asked Attina. “Ariel, help me.” Ariel grabbed hold of Attina and helped her sit, being careful not to move her tail much. Sand fell from Attina’s hair and Ariel brushed it out using her fingers. Attina swallowed hard, clearly unsure of what to expect. “I-I’m ready.”

“It won’t hurt, I promise.” Elsa lifted her left hand and pointed her index finger at Attina. Just as it did with Ariel, snow and ice formed around Elsa’s hand and a thin beam shot forward, enveloping Attina’s hair. Attina gasped at the sudden chill circling her head, but quickly grinned and shivered, clearly enjoying the bitter cold enveloping her. Ice popped and crackled around her hair and when it was all down, Ariel’s mouth fell open.

“Wow,” Ariel gasped. “Attina. Your hair, it looks—”

“What?” shrieked Attina. She grabbed at her hair, her breath hitching when she touched the icy crown atop her head. “Is-Is that—?”

“It’s beautiful,” Ariel gawked. She reached out to run a hand through Attina’s orange hair.

Sitting atop Attina’s head was an intricately woven crown of ice, perfectly resembling seaweed, minus the green. It wrapped elegantly around her head, and delicate strands of ice braided seamlessly into her orange hair. Attina pulled a handful of her hair over her shoulder, her eyes widening as she took in the ice, glistening like enchanted seaweed. Tears welled up as she covered her mouth with her hand, sobbing. “I-It looks just like h-how Mother used to do it.”

Elsa’s sinuses burned. She vowed not to cry in front of Attina, but that was before Attina’s heart thawed, allowing her to accept Elsa and her magic. Now, with Attina and Ariel crying together over memories of their mother, Elsa couldn’t hold back her own tears. Her shoulders shook as she smiled through the tears. Bringing her hands together, she conjured more ice, and as she spread them apart, a small disk of ice with a delicate handle formed between her palms. Elsa gripped the handle, feeling the ice solidify completely. Her red, puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks reflected in the ice as she offered it to Attina. Attina looked at the object in Elsa’s hand, then back at Elsa.

“It’s a mirror,” Elsa said, sniffling.

Attina took the mirror and turned it toward her face. When she saw her reflection with the crown of seaweed-inspired ice atop her head, Attina sobbed even harder. “I love it,” she cried. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Attina turned her attention to Ariel. “How do I look?”

Ariel reached forward, a shaky breath escaping her lips. She cupped Attina’s face in her hands and wiped away her tears with her thumbs. “You look beautiful, regal. You look like the future Queen of Atlantica.” She beamed at her sister.

“Ariel, I’m so sorry for telling Father that you were at the surface.” Attina hung her head, her shoulders sinking as she continued to cry. “Andrina told me to promise her not to tell him and I did anyway. I broke Andrina’s trust, and I drove you to swim away from home.” Attina wept.

Ariel enveloped Attina in her arms. “It’s okay,” she whispered, running her hand up and down Attina’s back. “I forgive you.”

Attina wrapped her arms around Ariel, hugging her tight. “And I’m sorry for being nasty to Elsa,” she murmured.

Ariel’s breath caught. “You accept her?”

Attina pulled away from Ariel and wiped her eyes. Gazing at Ariel, she nodded her head and then she turned her focus to Elsa. “You’re not a monster.”

Though tears still leaked from Elsa’s eyes, she wasn’t crying anymore. In fact, her mouth hung agape at what she had just heard. Sure, Attina wasn’t scared of her anymore, but that wasn’t what had Elsa in shock.

“Did—Did you say the Queen of Atlantica?” Elsa was aware of how gross she must have looked at the moment. Salty tears rolled past her lips and into her mouth and she had to keep sniffling to prevent her nose from running.

Attina turned to her sister. “Ariel, you didn’t tell her?”

Ariel’s mouth snapped shut, her gaze locked on Elsa. Slowly, she shook her head, her expression unreadable. Attina’s eyes flickered between Ariel and Elsa before settling on Elsa. “Our mother was Queen Athena; our father is the King.” She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. “Elsa, we’re princesses of Atlantica.”