Five short knocks sounded on the solid oak door separating the royal study from the rest of the castle. The pattern was all too familiar with the new monarch since she'd heard it many times in the past week, and countless times over the years. She sighed as she placed her quill back in it's seat before leaning back in her chair and rubbing at her eyes. Every time! Every time I start figuring out what I'm doing, she has to interrupt me!
The thoughts were pushed out of her head as she realized how happy she was that her sister could still interrupt her, considering the events of the past week. And she couldn't very well go back on her word promising her sister open doors from that point forward.
"Come in Anna." She called as she opened her eyes to find her little sister's head already poking around the door.
"Whatcha doing?" Anna asked as she danced her way over to the desk. "I thought you'd be done for today by now."
"The kingdom doesn't rest, Anna." Elsa sighed as she looked back down at the paperwork for a modified trade agreement that had been proposed as an apology from Weselton. "And we need to reestablish trade with Weselton quickly. There are rumours that other countries aren't too happy about my appointment as Queen without a King, and Arendelle won't survive a war without a short trade route."
"Nonsense!" Anna waved dismissively. "Everyone loves you. All we need to do is throw another ball to show everyone what you're like when you have a handle on your powers!"
"That's the problem Anna! I still know absolutely nothing about them!" Elsa said loudly in frustration with herself. She watched as the frost prickled over her desk before slowly receding as she took measured breaths. "All I know is that when I get frustrated or upset, this damned ice takes over. And you seem to be the only way I can temporarily gain some semblance of control over it."
"See! That's what I mean!" Anna jumped animatedly as she pointed at Elsa who raised one eyebrow in question. "I help you control it! So just do that! You didn't know at your coronation, so that can't happen again. Not to mention, you don't exactly have to hide the fact that you can do some really cool magic anymore!"
"Anna, please. Even if I do invite all the countries back, some might be too afraid to come." Elsa reasoned while she closed her eyes to rub at her sore temple. "People do terrible things when they're afraid, Anna. Look at the Duke of Weselton. He tried to have me assassinated to end the Eternal Winter. And I'm almost positive he's not the only one who would have come up with the idea, he was just the one who chose to act on it first. And that's why I need to reevaluate these trade agreements. To show that I recognize that we were both in the wrong and I don't hold his country responsible for his actions. And on top of that, I received a letter from the Duke announcing his visiting delegation that will show up in three days for the Court of Nations next week, as well as a letter from the King of the Southern Isles explaining that he'd sent a different son this time to-"
"Elsa…" Anna said hesitantly, getting Elsa's attention. "You're kind of snowing…"
Elsa looked around to find a fair amount of snow falling from thin air near the ceiling of the chamber. The fire was extinguished and the coals had died as the air was turning more and more frigid by the second. Elsa looked worriedly at her sister as she realized she had to leave, but the queen froze as she took in the body language of her sister.
"Aren't you cold?" Elsa asked in shock as she willed the snow to at least stop. The temperature was easily below freezing, but at least it had stopped snowing.
"Not really…" Anna replied as she picked some snow off of a nearby lamp and let it fall to the floor. "Kind of odd, but I guess the cold doesn't bother me too much anymore. Maybe I'm getting used to it?"
"Skadi's skis Anna! It's colder than Niflheim in here!" Elsa couldn't believe her sister hadn't even crossed her arms to preserve warmth. Their breathing was falling heavy as the moisture froze into ice as it passed their lips. But much like her own skin that was one with the ice, Anna's skin failed to so much as take on the pallor of being cold, or the rosiness of the beginnings of frostbite. As Elsa circled her desk to inspect her little sister more closely, Anna approached her, offering her right hand up for inspection.
"It feels a little cool, but I don't really notice it if I don't pay attention. Like I know it's supposed to be freezing, but it just doesn't… feel like it." Anna shrugged, already resigned to not have the adequate words. "Maybe it had something to do with that whole thing from before…"
"I think we should consult with the trolls about this, Anna. If there's some side effect from me freezing your heart-"
"Elsa! Don't you dare finish that sentence!" Anna interrupted sternly. "I forgive you, it's over. Remember what I said? I love you. That's all that matters."
"But Anna-"
"You use it for sitting, Elsa." Anna cut her off again, the look in her eyes daring her elder sister to continue her train of thought. It was a look she'd obviously developed in their years of separation, and Elsa felt herself losing her will to continue.
"Alright Anna. But we're still going to the trolls." Elsa gave in quickly. One thing she'd learnt since letting her sister back into her life is that she couldn't argue with her when she was getting upset. Anna simply looked too cute when her brow furrowed and her cheeks puffed up in frustration. Not to mention those delectably tender lips that must taste-! Elsa shook the dangerous thoughts away and continued. "We can go tomorrow morning if you have no plans."
"Oh, no." Anna shook her finger at her sister. "You have worked hard enough for this week! We are going to visit the trolls, and then we are going to take the day off!"
"Anna, I have-"
"Nope! No dice!" Anna interrupted again. "You have that Nations thingy next week, and everyone will need you to be on point! If you wear yourself out now, you won't be able to sweet talk all the people you think are going to have a problem with Arendelle."
"Anna, I still have to go over this new agreement from Weselton and figure out which nations have strong connections to patriarchal religions, as well as how to appease them that I am every bit as capable of running this kingdom as any man." Elsa vented in exasperation. "And then there's the whole Southern Isles debacle that seems to still be moving straight to round two as this next son has announced himself as a potential suitor for us."
"Elsa, breathe." Anna giggled as she clasped Elsa's shoulders and started to dig her fingers in gently. "For the Weselton agreement, why don't you get your trade advisers to make a suggestion and go from there. They have years of experience in trade for a reason. Same thing goes for your security council and intelligence committee, set them on the whole who's mad at me thing. And then for Hans version two, just let him play his game and we'll just both say no. When we need to give a reason, we just say that Hans broke our trust in the family and it isn't such an easy thing to forget when he threatened both our lives."
Elsa thought of Anna's suggestions and sighed with a slight nod of her head as she let her sister continue to massage her shoulders while she was guided back to her chair.
"Good, now all you need to do is draw up the requests, which are fairly short if I remember right, and send them to the court chairman. He'll take care of the heavy work, and you might even get a bit more approval for going to them for help rather than try to do it all yourself." Anna said as she helped pile the papers on Elsa's desk into a stack and move it to the corner while Elsa pulled out two single pages. Seeing that her goal had been accomplished, she turned to walk out the door. "And Elsa, please, if you have plans tomorrow, cancel them. Because I want you to relax and I want to spend time with you. Like we used to."
"Fine, Anna." Elsa sighed as she willed the last of the snow to disappear from the room and the temperature to return to at least normal. Anna opened the door and was about to leave when Elsa felt she needed to say something more. "I'm not mad at you, you know. I just… don't know how to say what I want to with you. This whole… being your sister is still new to me. We missed so much over those fourteen years."
"I know." Anna smiled serenely. A smile that was filled with love and respect that Elsa knew she didn't deserve. "I'll let you finish what you need to do, but don't forget about tomorrow. I love you Elsa."
"Rest well, Anna." Elsa watched as she skipped out of the room. Once the oak had fully shut, Elsa turned her back on the door and returned her attention to her desk. "And I love you too."