I can handle devious foreign powers, misguided parents, energetic snowmen, chocolate cravings-but, please...

"Save me from (Anna's) good intentions!"

by GrandMoff
Author's note: Most of the characters and settings are property of Disney. Warning: This story will feature lesbian relationships and a straight relationship. Please don't read the story if either will offend you.

oOOOo

Part One: Qualified advisors

"Why is he moping?" Elsa asked, discreetly gesturing with her thumb.

"Because he asked me to marry him and I said not yet."

"What? Why?"

"Elsa, I just-don't think I'm keeping secrets from you-but I don't think I should tell you why."

Anna had told Elsa that Kristoff was a good kisser. Elsa had seen for herself that he was brave, and devoted to her. On the other hand, Anna wasn't frivolous. At times, she could be an adorable, clumsy airhead, but not frivolous. She must have a reason for putting off Kristoff. "Come on, you know I'm always on your side, little sister," Elsa said.

"And I'm here for you, and that's exactly why I shouldn't say anything yet," she told the queen. The petite princess grinned. "Believe me, you'll be the first to know when I say yes to Kristoff." And I hope that's soon, she added silently.

oOOOo

Three days later, Anna had talked to as many people as she could think of who might be able to help but she could trust not to blab. Her school friends Erika, Jiordet, and Betrois; her maids Claudia and Nien; Gerda-and no one had ideas. Then she talked to her boyfriend.

"Let's ask my family," he suggested.

Brainwave! "Why didn't I think of that?" Anna said.

"Traumatic experience?" Kristoff deadpanned.

Anna scrunched up her nose. "Yeah...be helpful and come to my rescue if I can't get through when I'm trying to talk to them, okay? They can be kind of pushy."

"I'm used to it! Actually, maybe that's why I can put up with-"

A small block of ice on the back of his neck kept him from finishing the sentence.

oOOOo

The small gathering of trolls made a lot of noise (which was usual for them) as they discussed Anna's question. Some began offering suggestions right away; others contradicted them; it was too much for the copper-haired princess to absorb at first. Luckily, Kristoff had coped with this kind of chaos for years. He gave some direction to the brainstorming.

The group suddenly quieted, and one of the grassier females spoke as their representative. "My dear, we've never actually talked to your sister, or touched her. I'm afraid we can't give you any helpful advice if we haven't had contact."

"Nonsense!" squeaked one of the higher-voiced females. Several trolls quickly supported each side and the arguments started again.

Anna didn't want to be rude, but she raised her voice to stop them before they got too quarrelsome. "Wait! I'm open to everyone's ideas!" That calmed the gathering a bit, and Anna seized her chance. "Why do you think you can advise me now?" she asked the female with the high voice.

"Because we've seen her magic, and that gives us a great indication of who she is. It's powerful and beautiful and it comes easily to her, but she can't use it to cause violence without great effort."

"That seems true to me," Anna said.

"So her character is similar to her magic. That means that she needs a man who won't be threatened by her confidence. He's got to be a farmer or doctor or something, too; someone who likes to nurture life."

"Pretty vague!" Kristoff said.

"It's something to go on," Anna replied. "What about how he looks? What about how old he is?"

"Looks aren't important to her," said the squeaky troll.

"That's rubbish!" the grassy troll said. "Kristoff, didn't you say you saw a magnificent staircase and a palace of ice?"

Another troll quickly added, "You said it was one of the most beautiful sights you'd ever seen."

The grassy troll butted in before the blond-haired boy could say anything. "She sounds like an artist; looks will mean something to her."

Again, the trolls began to argue.

"So you can all agree-" Anna yelled to be heard- "-that if I bring Elsa here, you can tell us something specific! Right?"

The trolls nodded, almost in unison.

"Thank you!" said the princess.

All the way back to the castle, Anna tried to think of a way to get Elsa to come along and see the "love experts."

oOOOo

"Take off early today. Come with me! We'll go for a ride in the hills," Anna said.

"You have that gleam in your eyes," Elsa said wryly. "What're you up to, little princess?"

Anna fluttered her long-lashed eyelids, trying to look innocent.

"Not buying that for a minute," the silver-haired queen said with a stifled giggle.

"How well she knows you!" Kristoff said and even Sven appeared to hold back a laugh. Anna stuck out her tongue.

Then she tried another tactic. "You haven't gone for a ride with me in so long..." She turned big, sad, teary eyes toward Elsa.

It was an act, of course, but Elsa had no defense for that look. "That isn't fair!" Elsa protested, but she was already setting down her books. "I'll go, I'll go; could you at least tell me why we're riding into the hill country?"

"Not yet!" Anna chirped.

Elsa sighed. "I want to take Olaf along then."

The shorter girl balked. Olaf was not good at keeping secrets. If Elsa learned something sensitive about herself, how could they keep Olaf from blurting it out to people? On the other hand, he was easily distracted. Maybe Anna could keep him from hearing anything anything delicate. Elsa would feel more comfortable if the snowman tagged along.

A solution occurred to Anna. "He can't ride with us," she stated sensibly.

"I'll bet he can," Elsa said, hiding a smile.

oOOOo

"No wolves will get near us while they're around!" Elsa shouted to Anna and Kristoff. Olaf the snowman screeched with delight as he bounded around them on the back of the huge snow-bear Elsa had formed for him. Anna and Kristoff could only admire Elsa's power and resourcefulness.

"You're good!" the copper-haired woman finally said. They were approaching the troll circle rapidly. She turned in her saddle. "Kristoff, could you show Olaf that grove of blooming apple trees?" With Olaf's love of flowers, Anna figured they'd be busy for a few minutes or more.

Elsa looked at Anna with suspicion. The queen and the princess slowed their horses.

"Love experts," Anna admitted, squirming under her sister's inquisitive gaze. "I wanted you to see them."

"No, Anna! I'm not looking for love; I'm too busy as it is!"

Anna quickly put her hand on Elsa's forearm before she could shake her reins. "But they're the ones who saved us all, remember?"

"I remember. However, this has nothing to do with that."

"Please, just talk to them for a minute?" Anna prepared to use her sad-and-lonely face again.

"Oh, all right! It's a waste of time, though," said Elsa.

Elsa and Anna dismounted their horses. Elsa whirled on her younger sister. "No no no no! You are not coming with me. I will talk to them, if you wait here and don't try to overhear what's said. Deal?"

Anna kicked a small rock with her sturdy riding boot. "Deal."

"Uncross your fingers," Elsa said.

The princess laughed nervously, and took her hands from behind her back. "Deal?" the queen repeated.

"Fine, be a bad sport!" Anna kidded.

Elsa ruffled Anna's hair. Then she slipped through the undergrowth to see the trolls.

oOOOo

The wisest female troll released Elsa's hands. "You've hidden your feelings very well, my dear, even from yourself. But deep inside you, you know that you will fall in love with a woman, not a man."

"I can't do that," Elsa said. "People wouldn't understand."

"They would, dear! You haven't seen them because you haven't been looking, but there are a lot of people in your country who have lovers of the same sex."

"What?"

"Open your eyes. You'll see them. You'll also see that your people don't judge them for that. Besides a few bullies, I mean."

"...Wouldn't I freak out Anna, though?"

"You know the answer to that! She put your needs before hers, remember? She sacrificed herself for you."

Elsa's swirling blue eyes looked skeptically at the small pseudo-advisor.

"Okay, she might freak out a little. Even if she does, she'll get over it quickly."

"You make this sound simple, but I'm not as courageous as Anna is. Besides, I don't feel any need for romance," said the young queen.

"'Not as courageous as Anna?' Who is? That's her magic. It's as real as yours, just not as visible." The wise troll put her hand on Elsa's. Elsa calmed down.

"You don't have to be as brave as she is," said the troll sage. "Just be you."

oOOOo

As soon as Elsa emerged from the thicket, Anna all but pounced on her. "What'dtheysay? What'dtheysay!" she asked emphatically.

Elsa opened her mouth, but closed it immediately. "Better wait to tell you when we're back at home," she answered slowly. "You might be...surprised."

oOOOo

Anna's blood practically boiled while her sister stalled. "I'll see you tomorrow, then, Betrois," Elsa said to her new (and Anna's old) friend. "Oh, but before you go, maybe you want to try one of these eclairs?"

"That is gracious of you, but I've got to dash," the chestnut-haired young noblewoman said. "I'll see both of you tomorrow, Majesty and Highness."

"Alone at last!" Anna said loudly as soon as the door was shut. "Come on, big sister-"

"-Does it seem too humid in here to y-"

"-Argh, you can be infuriating! Tell me what happened!"

Elsa gestured with her right hand and made a snowy easy chair. She sat heavily on it. The look she gave Anna showed apprehension and reluctance. Anna almost regretted pushing so hard for this information.

Elsa's glacial eyes looked down a moment, then up as she gathered her courage. "The trolls said I don't want a man."

At first, Anna wanted to tell Elsa to tell her the truth, but something told her that this was the truth. "I don't really get it," the younger girl admitted.

"I will-I mean-the trolls said I'd fall in love with a woman."

Then there was silence.

"Didn't expect that," Anna said quite unnecessarily.

Elsa looked sheepishly at her sister. "I didn't either, but it sounded so true when the sage said it aloud. Now I don't know what I'm going to do."

"Me neither," Anna said.

"What do you mean by 'me neither?' Nothing has to change for you."

The young princess wished she'd kept her mouth shut. "Oh, you're right!" she responded. "I guess I didn't mean anything!"

But Elsa had already started thinking about Anna's slip of the tongue. "...You put off Kristoff: this is why, isn't it?"

"Don't be mad! I just didn't want to get engaged and then maybe married to him and have you all alone. We were both lonely too long. I wanted to make sure you had someone special in your life..." Anna trailed off, watching her sister look more and more disappointed.

"It's not your fault," Elsa said quietly. "I thought you knew me better than that, but we don't know each other at all: those long years apart. Just like in the Northern Palace, you only wanted to help me. I'm sorry I've made you worry."

Anna lunged and hugged Elsa. "Don't be sorry! I made a mess of this, I know. But I'm not worried and I'm not pitying you. I'm concerned, that's all."

The silver-haired girl took a deep breath. She looked into Anna's eyes, trying to make her understand. "I'm not saying that I don't want romance because I haven't found anyone," she explained. "I need to adjust. Things have changed so much for us lately. I don't know yet how I'm supposed to be Queen. I don't know what I should be doing with this amazing gift I have. I don't know how to relate to our people-heck, I don't know for sure who I am! Adjusting takes time and that's what I need: I need time."

"Right," Anna mumbled. "As princess, I will support you as well as I can."

"The first way you can do that," Elsa tapped Anna on the end of her nose, "is to accept Kristoff's proposal if you want to, or reject his proposal if you want to. I meant it: I'm on your side either way. Even if you marry him tomorrow, you aren't going to take off to the other side of the world and never see me again, are you?"

"Of course not!" A weak smile appeared on Anna's freckled face.

oOOOo

The queen and the princess said goodnight to each other a few minutes later. Anna smiled deviously as she snuggled under her blankets. Elsa hadn't caught her crossing her fingers that time! As long as she was shrewd about it, she could still find someone for Elsa to love. It might be a little more difficult, but difficulty hadn't ever stood a chance against Princess Anna of Arendelle!

And the trolls could probably make it easier. If she could convince one of them to come to the castle to live for a bit, they could make a love charm, or read the fates, or scry Elsa's true love, or...

...Anna fell asleep, plans swirling through her mind.

oOOOo

Part One End