Chapter 1 – Arrows and Icicles

Anna lifted the bow and arrow up to her eye so she could train her sights down the length of the shaft. She drew back the bowstring until she could feel the wood give no further. Satisfied she was going to make her mark; she let it go.

In the blink of an eye the apple was skewers and burst into mushy chunks that cascaded down from the top of the post it was sat on. Elsa started clapping giddily at yet another well placed arrow by her sister. Anna bowed to her admiring public that consisted of her infatuated sister and Olaf; but unfortunately he was more interested in a passing butterfly. Elsa couldn't contain herself; she was so elated from spending time with her sister and finding out she was so talented, and that they were finally getting to know each other more. Elsa ran up and hugged Anna, ignoring the fact the bow was still between then and being pressed into Anna's face.

"Oh goodness, Anna, you're a natural!" squealed Elsa "I bet you're as good a shot as the old Scottish Queen Merida!"

"Who?" said Anna, trying to answer in spite of the fact her bow was mushed into her face.

"Oh, never mind" said Elsa, forgetting her sister wasn't as wide read as she was "It's hard to believe that you only started practicing a few months ago.

Elsa finally let go of Anna to step back and look at her sister. It had been a year since Elsa had revealed her powers to the world and so far things hadn't been too bad. No kingdoms besides maybe Weaseltown viewed Elsa as a threat and the events had actually done wonders for the kingdom in terms of trade because everyone knew where Arendelle was; news that your kingdom has a Queen with ice powers is news that travels far and fast.

While she had been training for the three years after their parents death until her coronation on how to run the kingdom; she still was learning the ropes somewhat. She still had her advisers take a lot of the load of decision making but when she was younger she spoke to her farther about what it would be like when she finally ruled Arendelle and he told her to never be ashamed of asking for help. He told her she can't burden herself with all the responsibilities lest she crack under the pressure. She knew he was saying this to make sure Elsa wasn't liable to lose control of her powers due to the stress of her queenly duties but it did mean she could spend time with Anna without feeling guilty she was neglecting her kingdom.

The pair, and on the odd occasion Olaf, would meet early in the morning for Anna's archery practice. Anna had taken it up because she felt she needed some way to fight if need be. Elsa had her magic, Kristoff had his strength; even their cousin Rapunzel had perfected a pan based form of martial art that Anna teasingly called Fry Chi. Elsa said she didn't have to be afraid; upon returning home to the Southern Isles, Hans had been exiled so wouldn't be a problem for the sisters but Anna explained that the reason she wanted to learn of some way to fight was because she felt so incapable compared to everyone else. Upon being told this, Elsa's reaction was just to stare at her sister wide eyed; in awe of her sister's modesty and how she had seemingly forgotten all the amazing feats she had done to get to the summit of the North Mountain and then back down again.

But regardless, Elsa had granted Anna her wish and found her an archery teacher and had had made for her a custom bow that was etched with snowflakes on the wood. Anna had gotten so good so quickly because she practices each morning and because she would meet with her teacher each week so she could learn new techniques to help her fire more accurately and while under pressure.

Anna stretched a bit, tired from not getting much sleep the previous night. She looked at her sister who was practically bouncing in spite of the early rise but that was because she was always excited to spend this time together. Anna smiled at her sister and wished nothing more than to climb back into bed with her and cuddle her until they drifted asleep but Elsa was insistent that they never wasted their time together and were always doing something. Anna pleaded for them to just sit around in each other's arms but Elsa was clearly trying to make up for the lost years.

"Hey, Elsa" said Anna breaking her sister from her stupor of staring at her lovingly "Watch this!"

She readied another arrow and drew back the bow and aimed at Olaf who was running away now; content to catch the butterfly, apparently wishing to make friends with the insect. Elsa tried to step forward and stop her but Anna had already accounted for the movement of the target and had aimed ahead of Olaf and fired before Elsa could grab her arm. Elsa drew her hands to her mouth as she gasped at Anna's surprise cruelty until she saw the arrow harmlessly bury itself in Olaf's behind without the snowman even noticing. The pair started giggling as the saw the arrow bob up and down as the little snowman did the same with each step. Olaf noticed the girls' laughter and turned to see what the commotion was and noticed the arrow sticking out of him and burst out laughing.

"Look at that, I've been impaled" laughed Olaf, even going as far as wagging the feathered end like it were a tail because the enchantment that gave him life was having effect on the arrow now as well.

The pair laughed at the snowman's fooling about and his attempts to remove the arrow before giving up and chasing his butterfly again.

"While I wish you had used something other than Olaf, it is impressive you can hit moving targets also" said Elsa smiling.

"Thank you, I am quite amazing" said Anna with mock self-flattery because she knew it made Elsa role her eyes so adorably and as if on cue, she did.

"Well you are amazing" said Elsa "I would never have thought that you'd be so good at archery"

"Why? Because I'm clumsy?" said Anna disapprovingly of her sister's comment.

"What? No, I meant… what I meant to say was that... you see…"

"Relax Elsa; I was only kidding" said Anna dropping the act "I know I've always been a bit clumsy but only because I don't bother to concentrate. The world is far more wondrous if you just let yourself be lost in it rather than focus on silly details like where you put your feet or keeping your elbows away from priceless vases"

"That's a nice way of thinking I suppose" said Elsa contently with a hint of frustration in her face as she remembered how Anna's clumsiness had broken the gift the Southern Isles had given them as an apology for Hans' behaviour.

The pair stood awkwardly in front of each other for a few moments; this often happened because the two were so keen to impress the other that they couldn't allow any dead air to exist between them in case the other thought they were boring or something but because they tried so hard, awkward silences were inevitable. Olaf ran past and Anna keen to break the silence reached down and quickly grabbed the arrow of Olaf's behind. It still wagged like the tail of an excitable dog until the residual effects of the enchantment wore off.

"You should try learning to fight with a sword" said Elsa, taking note of her sister's dexterity.

"Well if you can find us another Master of Arms, I would" said Anna, inspecting the arrow, debating if it was right use again or was it now a part of Olaf.

"What's wrong with Hemmershock?" said Elsa, shocked that Anna had taken a dislike to the lovely man.

"He says I'm a menace after I broke his sons arms when we gave sword fighting a go once" said Anna annoyed, remembering the situation.

"How… how did you break Johan's arm?" said Elsa flabbergasted.

"We were practicing parrying with blunt swords and I got a little over eager and swung at his arm after parrying one of his swings and that somehow broke his arm" said Anna, confused at the events she was recalling.

Elsa looked on confused also. She had been told by Hemmershock that Johan had broken his arm in a workshop accident. It was now clear that he hadn't wanted to admit that his son's arm had been broken by the slight and clumpy Princess Anna. Elsa pondered on this; she had been told by the staff of how they had always had suspicions that Anna had sorcery like Elsa that manifested itself as superior strength whenever she willed it. She had heard of times when Anna had genuinely struggled to pull herself on to a horse and then of others when she would regularly waltz with busts in the portrait room which were made of solid stone. Hoping she'd never annoy her sister enough to give her warrant to punch her; she put the thoughts to the back of her brain and addressed the issue at hand.

"Well if you like Anna, I can find you a new trainer to teach you sword fighting" smiled Elsa

"Oh you don't need to, it's really isn't important"

"I would certainly think it is" Elsa sternly corrected "I'm not letting talent such as yours go to waste! And besides, the Queen wishes for her protector to be properly skilled"

"Protector?" Anna said puzzlingly.

"Yes, protector" beamed Elsa "I, Queen Elsa, shall say that from this day on, Princess Anna of Arendelle is my sworn protector"

Anna was a little confused; why did Elsa need a protector? She had the ability to freeze a man into a popsicle and shatter them into sparkling dust; why did she need the protection of a girl who was only a pretty decent shot and had selective strength as she called it. But then she realised as she looked at Elsa who was trying to maintain her beaming expression in spite of Anna's confusion was that Elsa just wanted to be more a part of Anna's life and for Anna to be more a part of hers. Perhaps the whole protector business was just more of an excuse to have Anna around without delegates asking her to leave so they could discuss things in private because Elsa could say no with the explanation that Anna can't leave her side because she was her protector.

Realising how important her acceptance of the offer would be to Elsa, she immediately bowed graciously to her Queen before dropping to her knee with her head bowed low and taking Elsa's hand in her own two.

"I, Princess Anna of Arendelle, graciously take this charge to be your protector and swear to defend you with my life and defend your kin thereafter" said Anna, mimicking her sister's impromptu pledge "I will be your protector, your knight, your last line of defence" she then raised her head and kissed Elsa's hand like a real knight would in accordance with Arendelle tradition.

"Then arise, Sir Anna of Arendelle" said Elsa slightly fumbling her words and blushing because of how much Anna was getting into the part of a knight.

Anna stood up and bowed courteously to Elsa one last time before dropping the act and embracing her sister in a tight hug; so in love with her because she was so keen to spend time with her that she had just appointed her as her knight so she'd always be by her side. Olaf as if he had an innate sense for warm hugs ran over to the pair and hugged their legs, bringing a giggle from the pair. They finished hugging but still not keen to let go simply stared at each other lovingly while holing each other's arms.

"I'm sure you'll be a great knight, Anna" smiled Elsa

"Wait, does this mean I have to train really hard and go away to some knight's camp?" said Anna worried.

"What? No! I appointed you my protector so we could be together more" frowned Elsa "I'm not giving you over to some self-assured knucklehead so you can be his squire and be taken away from me again"

"Oh thank goodness" said Anna with a sigh of relief.

"But I do want you to learn how to use a sword" said Elsa pointing her finger sternly "Such a skill is invaluable"

"Ok Elsa" said Anna kissing her sister on the forehead "I'll do it for you"

"Thank you" said Elsa closing her eyes and bowing her head in thanks "Now, how about you and I have a little competition"

"What kind?" Anna asked ponderously.

"Whoever can hit the centre of the target the closest wins" smiled Elsa "We have three attempts each"

"But you've never fired a bow before" said Anna worried, well aware of the potential injury one could cause themselves if they used a bow untrained.

"I have no need for a bow" said Elsa dismissively before conjuring a small icicle that she floated above her hand "I have ice powers remember"

"Oh, fair enough then" said Anna hopping excitedly "but if you freeze and shatter my target board, you're buying me a new one"

"What do you mean your target board? If I remember; it's the Castle's and anything of the Castle's is mine" said Elsa with self-importance.

"Oh whatever, you stinker" teased Anna "Queen goes first I suppose" added Anna, stepping aside.

"Thank you" said Elsa with a little bow.

Elsa walked up in front of the target and shook out her arms to relieve the nervous tension that had built up in her limbs because she was on the spot. She raised her arm up and tried to use her parted fingers as means of training her sights on the target. She breathed in and out and tried to relax before summoning an icicle and firing it with a blast of ice wind, sending it sailing across the training field.

To say she missed the target would be an understatement; the icicle shot the target so wide that had it been Marshmallow, it wouldn't have even grazed him. Elsa hid behind her fingers with embarrassment because of how badly she had missed. She hadn't used her ice powers in combat at all since the events of a year ago and was clearly in need of practice.

"Wow" said Anna, squinting to see the tree on the far left that the icicle had shattered against "Perhaps you do need a protector. Unless your enemies have the good grace to stand several feet to the side of where they were when you fired"

"Oh quiet, Anna" sulked Elsa, glumly realising she was in need of practice more than Anna.

Elsa watched on as Anna stood in position, effortlessly pull back the stiff bow like it were made of soft rubber in spite of the fact she had struggled to lift the target board into place an hour earlier; clearly demonstrating that selective strength of hers again. She watched as Anna took aim, check her footing then loose the arrow and having it land almost directly in the centre of the bulls-eye.

"I think I win" said Anna smugly.

"Oh quiet, you stinker" huffed Elsa, bringing a giggle from Anna.