A calm summer night was falling over Arendelle, gently turning the sky black and sending sleepy townspeople to their waiting beds.
The last of the ships in the bay glided languidly to the harbour, where their sailors tied them up securely before trudging home.
Children were called in from playing in the streets, gardens and fields, just as their older teenage siblings began to plan how they would sneak out a little later that night.
The sun slid comfortably under a sheet of and then it was gone, replaced by a softly glowing moon.
Queen Elsa stood by her bedroom window, watching lanterns flicker on and then off all over her sleepy kingdom. She smiled, proud of the settlement she ruled over. It was a good place, a happy place, with the sadness of the previous year long forgiven and forgotten.
Suddenly, there came a knock on the door. Elsa turned around, abruptly ripped from her daydream.
"Yes?"
"Hey, open up, it's me!"
"Come in Anna!"
The door creaked open and Elsa's younger sister peeked in, instantly scanning the room for the queen. When she spotted her over by the window, she grinned impishly.
"Hey, eh, might be a little bit of an odd request but can I sleep in here tonight? With Kristoff gone on that big delivery to Briethy, I guess I'm feeling a little – I don't know – I guess you could say-"
"Lonely?" Elsa smiled and cocked a knowing eyebrow.
Anna shrugged and grinned sheepishly.
"A bit, I mean...I'm just used to having him there, y'know? It'll be weird not having someone sleeping next to me!"
"No problem, you can sleep in here," Elsa agreed, instinctively moving towards the bed and adjusting the covers. "Heaven knows a king-size bed has plenty of room for-"
"Oh my gosh, great!" Anna clapped her hands together excitedly, jumping up and down in place. "It'll be just like a slumber party! Ooh, do you think they'll make some special dessert thingies down in the kitchen for us?" – and before Elsa could reply - "I'll go ask! Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"
Elsa watched her sister scamper off (nearly slipping on the polished glass and falling) and smiled to herself. The sun was setting all over Arendelle but the one thing it would never set on was Anna's natural enthusiasm.
A few hours later, the two royals were sitting cross-legged on the covers of Elsa's bed, in their pyjamas and playing a board game.
It was a mild night so Elsa had left the window open to invite a breeze in.
Anna picked her glass of water up from the bedside table and took a sip.
"Urgh, it's gone warm!" she waved it gently in front of her older sister's face. "Elsa? Would you mind?"
Elsa sighed amusedly and rolled her eyes.
"What am I, a barmaid? OK," she waved her hand and the drink became cool again.
"Thanks sis!"
Elsa smiled at the girl beside her and then glanced out the window, suddenly thinking of Kristoff.
"What's it like for you with him being gone?" she found herself asking.
Anna glanced up at her sister, a questioning look etched on her face.
"Sorry, intrusive question, forget I asked!" Elsa said, waving her hand dismissively.
"No, it's alright!" Anna responded quickly. "I was just caught off guard really. Eh, let me think..."
She swirled the liquid in the glass around absent-mindedly, staring straight ahead and obviously trying hard to scan her own emotions.
"Em...it's kind of like I'm gone too. Like part of me went with him or something, y'know? I don't know, that probably sounds super cheesy, but I don't feel like I'm totally...here. When I'm in my room, it doesn't feel right without Kristoff being there too. Which is why I asked to sleep in here with you. It's not like me and him would ever be in your room together! So in answer to your question, I feel a little bit...incomplete I guess?"
Elsa stared at her sister, lost for words. After a second, Anna let out a little laugh and looked down at the drink in her hands again.
"Maybe that sounds stupid..."
"No, it doesn't," Elsa countered immediately. "It doesn't sound stupid at all."
Anna smiled gratefully at the queen.
"Thanks. And hey, it means we get to spend some quality one-on-one time together, right?"
Elsa nodded, moved by her sister's sentiment.
"Right!"
"Awesome!" Anna returned her attention to their board game. "Your turn!"
Much later, the two girls got tired and decided to call it a night. The air also got colder so Elsa crossed the room to close the window.
As she returned to the bed and slipped underneath the covers, Anna reached out for her, wrapped her arms around the older girl's waist and rested a drowsy head against her shoulder.
"Goodnight Elsa," she yawned.
Elsa relaxed her arm around her little sister's shoulders.
"Goodnight Anna, sleep well."
And she did. In a matter of minutes, Anna was fast asleep, snoring very lightly.
The queen, however, found it harder to find such easy rest.
She stared up at the ceiling above her, musing on Anna's words from before.
I feel a little bit...incomplete I guess.
That fascinated Elsa. The fact that someone could make you feel fuller, more whole, more yourself. She wondered what it must be like for Anna whenever she looked at Kristoff or vice versa.
It must be like looking at the very cause of your happiness, she thought.
And that must be wonderful. Beyond wonderful.
Although together for nearly twelve months now, Elsa was still always greatly interested by their relationship. Sometimes it seemed like they fell deeper in love with each other every single day. Anyone who looked at them could see it. They were so happy together, so compatible as friends and so utterly perfect for each other as partners.
It's kind of like I'm gone too. Like part of me went with him or something, y'know?
But she didn't know. She had never known what it was like to have somebody who loved you so deeply and devotedly.
Well, she had Anna. And Kristoff, Olaf and Sven were all quickly becoming part of the family too. She had lots of friends now that the castle doors were open to the public.
But that was a different type of love. Strong and constant, loyal and reliable, but nothing romantic. Nothing amorous or intense.
Elsa looked down at Anna sleeping contentedly beside her.
She was so happy for her that she'd found love with Kristoff. So totally delighted that her sister was with such a kind, caring and hard-working soul.
But a little part of her ached when she saw them.
She wanted what they had...someone to be devoted to her and look after her. Someone she could connect with on every possible level. Someone she could laugh with and talk seriously to. Someone she could trust and depend on. Someone she could love and be loved by. Someone.
Elsa admitted to herself that night in the dark what she'd been feeling for a long while...she was lonely.
Just then, Anna stirred in her sleep, muttering something about chocolate cake, and then fell back to a restful slumber.
The queen stifled a laugh and turned over on her side to comfortably cradle her younger sister. At least she had this love, this fond, sisterly love.
She hugged Anna a little more tightly, rested her own head on the other girl's soft red hair and fell asleep.
In her dreams that night, she saw a young man with frosty white hair pressed up against the window, peering in.
And by the time she and Anna woke up the next morning, the icy tracks his hands had left on the window were gone.