Hush.

Elsanna| Ficlet| Rated K| Modern!AU| in which Elsa has nightmares, Anna is cold, mothers are gone, and lullabies hurt.|



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Oh sleep, sweet babe

Though the snow is cold and deep around

Just sleep, dear babe

Though the wind’s a keen and icy sound

Oh hush,﻿sweet babe

There is nothing you should fear

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Arendelle, 24th December, 1980

A single lamp lights the room, a golden flame that draws blurry and soft shapes of furniture and people: Elsa’s little hands that won’t rest, the small horse of the carillon right next to the armchair and Idunn’s lips whispering a sweet lullaby.

The shut windows keep the owls of the storm at a distance: a small moan of protest extinguishes at the soft voice of a mother.

Mum and her carillon. Elsa hears only them.

Idunn tickles her tummy, and plays with her blonde locks. Elsa likes it when someone strokes her hair: she does that round and satisfied expression, and her half smile, and the small hole on her right cheek, just that one.

“Shh, sleep, my sweet babe, sleep. Close your eyes. Don’t be afraid.” One huff, just one. “Mum is here with you. Sleep.” Beautiful, brave, Idunn. She keeps singing.

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Just hush, dear babe

For my love is always here

*

I lightly hold you safe in my arms

So no evil can touch you

Will not come to harm

Wake now, dear babe

Now the night is nearly through

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New York City, 25th December, 2001

Anna is shaking, maybe from fear, maybe from cold. Her clothes are light and the floor is freezing like the air outside the small apartment.

She finally breathes in relief: Elsa is finally resting, her breaths get less and less paced, the screams are gone. Only now Anna lets herself light their small lantern, observe the tension on Elsa’s face: she’s drowning in sweat, her hair glued to her forehead, and a tear rolling down her cheek. Anna wants to cry, but she holds her tears back: be strong, Anna. She grabs one more blanket, and lightly strokes Elsa’s untamable hair, again and again: Elsa breathes and, in her sleep, she almost smiles, and a small hole appears on her right cheek, just that one.

“It’s going to be okay, Elsa. You can sleep… I’m here.” I’m with you. I’ll never leave you.

She holds her close in her arms. The night’s almost over.

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Wake now, sweet babe

There’s a world waiting here for you

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