(these author notes are left unchanged, just a reminder, I, Lord Redmoon, AM Salathi, This is just my more recent and more active account which I am changing all stories over too.)

(old)Author's Note: This is a heavily AU world, read my brief explanation before you start the chapter if you wish to understand some of the history of the story as well as a more in-depth understanding of some of the things happening in the story.

Elsa history: Elsa is the Winter Queen of the fae and for reason unknown to anyone but herself (and of course me) she had fled her kingdom leaving Snow White, one of the fae nobles and her best friend to run the kingdom of winter. Elsa arrives in the human kingdom of Arendelle and persuades the king to accept her into the court, no one knows the "Ambassador Elsa" is in fact Queen Elsa. (a common name among the fae) Queen Elsa's croí fíor is a snowflake (you will learn what a croí fíor is in the next paragraph).

Facts of the fae: They are immortal and split into four nations; Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring; all of the kingdoms besides Winter are ruled by a King and Queen. The Winter Kingdom is ruled by a single monarch Queen Elsa. Fae are cursed/blessed with the ability to recognize their true love at first sight much like imprinting for werewolves (it strongly resembles imprinting from twilight at least in Elsa's case, you will understand as soon as you start the story). Every fae possess what is called a croí fíor or true heart. It is a unique tattoo branded from birth someone on the body of every fae, its placement and pattern are unique to each fae (yes kinda like MLP so sue me). It is this tattoo that is the key to their magic, life and mind. This tattoo can be removed from a fae's body and it forms into a crystal in the pattern of the tattoo. When this is done anyone with the croí fíor has control of the fae it came from. Should the croí fíor be broken the fae will die. Should someone be holding the croí fíor when they ask a fae a question the fae must answer fully without half-truths. A fae can also find their croí fíor and if two fae exchange croí fíor the can speak mind to mind and even use the magic the other possesses, it is common for fae to do this exchange with their true love.

Cover Art: I had a lot of trouble picking out a good piece for this story but I settled on a beautiful and very detailed piece by artgerm on deviantart

My Awesome beta reader: Heroism as he is known on fanficiton has put forth is almighty skill to make sure that this piece of work is free of grammatical errors. He has also had many helpful pieces of advice to improve my writing in general.

Disclaimer: I don't own Frozen or its characters. Bam I said it now I'm safe... right? Lol

Author's other note: I worked on this piece when I took breaks from Thawed hearts chapter 2 reboot (which is at least half done now) and Frozen Blood chapter 4 (which I plan to have at least half done in the next 2 hours)

The Winter's Queen

Chapter 1

"Tell me a story, Elsa?" My red-haired five year old charge begged as she jumped up and down on my bed.

"Anna, you are supposed to be in bed," I said, chiding her gently. I hadn't been asleep, but at least I was pretending to be. Anna stubbornly stuck out her little chin and said in a voice that was her best imitation of her father Adgar.

"Consider it a royal order!" And at that I sighed in defeat. I knew she wouldn't go to bed until I read to her so I climbed out of my bed and picked her up.

"Yes your highness." I whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek, causing her to giggle.

I brought her back to her bed, which was just in the room connected to my own by a single door. I was her guardian, her protector and caretaker when needed; and I had been since the day she was born into this world.

"Which story would you like tonight, my little snowflake?" I asked Anna as I tucked her into bed, having navigated through her messy room with practiced ease. Anna gently fingered the snowflake charm around her neck at the use of her nickname before her face lit up in excitement.

"The story about the four Queens!" Anna shouted in a high-pitched voice and trying to sit back up, but I held her down with a hand to her shoulder.

"Again?" I asked in a teasing voice. It was Anna's favorite story. She had picked it each night for the past week.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Anna said excitedly and I, once again, had to hold her down.

"Alright, alright." I chuckled softly and sat on the side of her bed.

"Long ago there was a darkness that covered this land. There was unrest among the people, war between countries and even the seasons themselves seemed to be at odds. Snow would blanket the ground one day, only to be melted by the blistering sun the next. Now there was the kingdom of Tír, which today means Land. The kingdom of Tír was a magical place ruled by the fae and they used their magic to keep all others barred from their land.

"The human kingdom around Tír eventually came to believe that it was the fault of the fae and their magic that the very seasons were in conflict, and so they united in their anger and marched upon the fae. The ruler of Tír, who was named Maleficent, foresaw this assault before it reached them. Together with her four daughters, Maleficent cast the strongest spell in known history. She created a new land, apart from her own kingdom. This land could only be accessed through magical pathways and the humans could not find entry to it. Maleficent died upon completion of her spell, for the magic had been much too powerful for her body to handle and there was then a debate of who should rise to take her place. Traditionally a parent names an heir from among all their children regardless of who was born first. It is one of the many ways we differ from humans in our customs." I patted Anna's head at this, making her smile.

"And then what happened?" Anna asked in a soft voice as if she didn't already know.

Flashes of memories raced through my mind at her simple question. "Battles—so many battles," I thought sadly. Images of blood and bodies littering beautiful green fields that seemed to drink in the blood as if it were rainwater filled my vision for a moment before I focused on the beautiful teal eyes looking up at me. I focused on those eyes and let my happier memories, bright memories (mainly those filled with Anna) replace the dark and grim ones.

"The four sisters eventually came to the decision that they would split into four kingdoms. Queen Rapunzel, the eldest of the four sisters claimed the field-land in which it was eternally summer. Queen Aurora claimed the forest in which everything was always growing; the land of eternal spring. Queen Merida picked the hill country in which the trees were in a frozen state of autumn. And the youngest Queen, Queen Elsa settled the only land remaining to her; the mountainous region of eternal winter. As the Queens each sat upon their thrones, the seasons in the human realm slowly stabilized, and over the course of a few years returned to their normal state." I stopped my story there as I heard a soft snore from my little snowflake.

Standing up quietly, I returned to my own bed and settled in. I let my mind drift to sleep, dreams of my past coming to the fore.

I walked through heavy oak doors into a large throne room. The doors were beautiful, with large, finely-detailed trees carved into the surface of each one. I found myself staring at them as I walked through.

Once I tore my eyes from the doors I noticed the human king and queen upon their thrones. King Adgar and Queen Idun, though very close trade partners to my own kingdom, have never in fact seen me; the Winter Queen. Dressed as I was, I doubt they realized just who they were speaking to, which is exactly what I wanted.

"Greetings, Ambassador Elsa. To what do we owe this visit?" King Adgar spoke up from his throne. I wasn't afraid that he might discover I was no ambassador, but in fact the Queen herself, just because we shared names. In fact, I had sent other ambassadors before and two of them had shared my name.

"Your Majesty." I bowed low. I was dressed as a 'man' as these humans say—in brown breeches and a deep blue tunic. "I come as a gift of sorts from the Queen. I have extensive experience in many areas: healing, battle, and politics only to name a few. I can also educate you in matters of fae politics, culture and abilities. Queen Elsa believes that our nations would benefit if we had a better understanding of each other. I was sent as a sign of good faith and trust to you, if you will accept the proposal, of course."

The king leaned forward in blatant surprise at my words.

"This is.. most surprising, Ambassador Elsa. I had not thought the Queen one to give her subjects to another." The king furrowed his eyes as he worked through all I had said. He knew that I, like all fae, could not lie. We could, however, leave out parts of the truth and I knew he was looking for what might have been hidden under my words.

"Will you remain under the Queen's authority while in my court? Will you make reports to her?" He finally asked, leaning back into his throne.

"No, Your Majesty." I answered simply. I couldn't do either. I was the Queen, after all. One does not report to themselves, nor is one under one's own authority.

"Are you a criminal of any kind? Have you been sent here as a form of banishment?"

"No, Your Majesty." I said again calmly. I had expected all of these questions. I did not however expect the next one.

"Do you have a comhpháirtí an chroí?" I was shocked that a human even knew such a phrase, though I didn't believe him to know what it truly meant. It was a fair question. If I was bonded to someone like that, all I knew they would know and should they wish to tell others they could.

"Is é mochroímo chuid féin. My heart is my own," I replied, forcing my voice to remain calm and strong. And the king nodded.

"Then I accept the Queen's proposal, Elsa. Welcome to Arendelle. I will have my servants show you to some guest quarters and we can discuss this evening what role you will play in my court.

In the end it was decided that I would aid the castle's healer, Gerda, as well as share my knowledge of herb lore with her to help expand her skills. And it was because of this position that I was present for the birth of Princess Anna and my world was changed forever.

-^-v-^-(Eleven Years Later)-^-v-^-

Anna sat on a three-legged stool, fiddling with her snowflake necklace as she watched me do up her fiery red hair into a tight bun atop her head in the mirror. The air between us was tense and nervous. Tonight was a party, hosted by her father for the sole purpose of showing Anna off to suitors from other nations, and Anna was a complete bundle of nerves because of it. I, on the other hand, was aching with protectiveness and jealousy at the thought of so many men pursuing my Anna's hand in marriage.

I breathed a heavy sigh and did my best to relax. She wasn't mine: "I can't own her," I reminded myself, though it didn't help at all.

"Why do I have to wear this?" Anna asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Huh, wear what?" I replied, blushing slightly at my obvious inattention.

"This necklace—why do I have to wear it?" Anna asked again, holding up her necklace to show it to me.

"Anna…" I sighed and reached around to tweak her nose. "You know why, so long as you wear it I will always be able to find you, to protect you."

Anna pouted. "But it doesn't match my dress." That wasn't a complete lie and I sighed in defeat. Her dress was a beautiful piece of crimson and gold, and the ice blue charm around her neck was in stark contrast to it. In my eyes it was a beautiful contrast but Anna liked for all her colors to match.

I knew she wanted me to use my magic to glamour the necklace to look like something else. I forced a look of annoyance onto my face.

"You want me to do it again, don't you?" I asked in mock-irritation, though honestly I love the way Anna adores my magic.

"Please!" Anna said excitedly and I couldn't hold in my smile.

"Alright, which one this time?" I asked and Anna hopped off the stool to rummage through her jewelry box, finally pulling out a golden chain from which a large, heart-shaped ruby hung.

"This one would look beautiful," Anna said, handling the piece as if it was a child.

I took a moment to lock the image of the necklace in my mind and then waved my hand, not that the hand motion was needed. The appearance of her snowflake necklace shimmered briefly until it was replaced with the image matching the necklace in Anna's hand.

I smiled warmly as Anna 'awed' softly and cupped the necklace at her neck.

"That never gets old, Elsa. It's beautiful every time." Anna said, smiling at me and I nodded, blushing slightly.

"Well, Your Highness, it is about time for us to head down to dinner." I hinted gently, causing Anna to pout for my benefit before straightening her shoulders and doing her best to walk gracefully from the room with me as her shadow, catching her as she tripped in the doorway—just as I knew she would.

-^-v-^-(After the party, Elsa)-^-v-^-

I sat on the garden wall cloaked in glamour so that those below couldn't see as I kept my eyes trained on Anna. Dinner had gone smoothly with the princes making only polite conversation with Anna. But the dance afterwards had been torture for me. Prince after prince came and laid their hands on Anna as they danced around the ballroom and Anna blushed and laughed and flirted with several of them, and now she was walking through the gardens with three of them. They were all respectful, but obviously competing for her hand and Anna was soaking up the attention.

After a while Anna turned and curtsied, muttering something I couldn't make out and each of the princes bowed in return and turned away. The last one, however, paused and reached for Anna's hand and kissed it as he bowed and I heard Anna's giggle ring out from the contact. I grit my teeth. The prince straightened after a moment and then left.

I leaped down from the wall once Anna was alone and I leaned against it for a moment, closing my eyes and focusing my thoughts. I was so close to losing control and I desperately searched for a memory to focus on, a happy time.

It was two years ago. Anna and I were laying in a meadow after a long day of riding. Anna loved to ride and took trips out through the surrounding area every day, with me, her guard, always at her side. The day had ended a few hours ago and the stars were starting to peak out from the night sky. It was there under those stars that Anna shared her dreams of the future with me.

"You wanna know my dreams, Elsa?" Anna had whispered as she stared up at the stars. My heart leaped and I smiled broadly at her.

"Of course I do," I said, enthusiastically staring at her, my star so much brighter to me than those overhead.

"I dream that one day I will meet my true love. It doesn't matter to me where he comes from, his past or his looks because if its true love I'll love it all anyways, right? I mean, it would help if he was a prince of course but I am sure I could convince father to let me marry him." At her words, the smile on my face fell and my heart clenched tightly but Anna couldn't see that. I knew Anna wanted a man. She had crushed on many boys already but to hear it like this, to hear the longing and wonder in her voice for her true love cut me deeply.

"And once we're married we'll have children, and they will be so beautiful and perfect." Anna continued in a breathless voice, her eyes distant as if she were living the very dream she was sharing with me. Another stab to my chest. She wanted children.. another thing I could not give her. "I can't wait to watch them grow and make families of their own." Anna finished with a sigh before turning to look at me. I hastily forced a look of polite attention onto my face but I must have been too slow because Anna suddenly looked confused and worried when she saw my face.

"Elsa…? Are you alright?" She asked me, moving to sit up.

"I am fine, Princess Anna." I said, breathing deeply and focusing on her eyes. It felt like I was burying my pain under the love I held for her.

Anna watched me for a few long moments before sighing deeply. "Fine, I know you won't tell me what's bothering you; you never do." She pushed me playfully at those words and broke into a smile.

"Hey Elsa, what are your dreams? What do you want to do with your life?" I froze at her words, surprised and unsure what to say, but glad for the moment the snowflake charm around her neck was against her dress and not her skin.

Anna's face fell as she watched me and she looked down. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry or anything—I was just curious." And she laid back down, staring at the sky and no longer looking at me.

"Anna… I am sorry. I was just surprised is all." I said gently, sitting up myself this time to look down at her. She turned her head slightly and watched me expectantly and I sighed inwardly.

I didn't know what to tell her. I couldn't tell her the truth, not yet at least, but at the same time I was fae I could not lie even if I wanted too. "She is still too young for the truth," I told myself. I settled for a trick that all fae use. We cannot lie but we can tell half-truths so that's what I did.

"My dream is similar to yours," I said simply and she waited for me to say more. And when I didn't she sat up and mock-glared at me.

"Oh come on Elsa, give me more than that." I smiled and flicked her nose before getting up and walking to the horses. Grumbling, Anna followed; but I wore a smile on the ride back, unable to hide the joy that Anna had wished to know more about me.

"Elsa?" I jerked as I heard Anna's voice in the present and I opened my eyes, ending the flow of memories.

"Yes, Anna?" I asked, forcing a smile and bowing slightly.

"What are you doing out here?" Anna asked curiously. "I haven't seen you at all since you dropped me off in the dining hall."

"I was just watching you as is my duty, Your Highness. Though I admit I took a short break once I saw those princes leave." Anna blushed a little at this.

"So.. you saw me with them?" she asked a little nervously and I nodded.

"I would be a poor personal guard if I didn't," I replied and stood up straight, no longer leaning on the wall.

Anna smiled and sighed deeply as if accepting that I saw it.

"Well it's like my dreams are coming true Elsa." I flinched on the inside but keep my outward appearance firmly neutral. "I mean, I don't really know if I love any of them. Not yet, anyway but I could see myself loving a few of them." Anna's eyes took on a dreamy, glazed look as she lost herself in her dreamland once again. I locked myself down emotionally just as I did back at court, where emotions were used against you, where they were a sign of weakness.

"Hey Elsa, how about you?" I stared at her dumbly, completely lost for a moment at her abrupt change of topic. "You know, your dreams? Are any of them coming closer to reality yet?" And the wall I had been putting up cracked a little. I failed to notice that just a small piece of Anna's snowflake necklace was touching her collar bone above the neckline of her dress.

"No," I answered simply, but then as if something else controlled my mouth I added, "they won't happen. My dreams will remain dreams." I clamped my jaws shut and trembled slightly. It was the truth that I didn't believe I would ever have the wonderful girl in front of me, but that doesn't mean I should have said what I did.

Anna's smile faded at my words and she stepped forward, worried. "Elsa, what do you mean?" And as if Anna had cast a spell with her words, I spoke up again without thinking.

"I can never be with the one I love, not without changing who they are and I would never want that, ever." Again, truth—I could never be with Anna. She wouldn't want me; she wanted a man, a human man and I was a woman and fae. She wouldn't want me. And I wouldn't want to change her just to make us a possibility.

Anna looked even more confused and stepped closer, putting her hands on my shoulders. "Elsa, don't say that, I am sure it will work out. Remember all the stories you told me? True love always finds a way." Not this time, I thought and turned away.

There was silence for a few moments before I heard Anna whisper a question. "Who do you love Elsa? I would love to meet him. Maybe I can even beat some sense into him. Like, seriously, who would turn a beautiful woman like you down?"

I bit my lip firmly so as not to mindlessly answer this question like all the others. I finally realized what was going on as my eyes fell on the snowflake that was now half on her collarbone because of her raised arms. She was my true love. I knew that the moment I saw her as all fae are cursed, or blessed to know their true love at first sight. Because of that I had given her my croí fíor, my true heart and I was bound to be open with her and completely truthful with her without hiding any details if it touched her skin. Before I could make up my mind to flee I felt Anna turn me to face her once more and she stared at me.

"Elsa, answer me," she said in a firm whisper and I was unable to keep my mouth closed.

"You." I said, and Anna's face went blank with shock before turning to denial and then what I think was brief disgust before denial once again was plain on her face. But I didn't see it because I was already running away with the look of disgust on her face burned into my mind and soul.

-^-v-^-(Anna)-^-v-^-

Me? I thought dumbly as I processed Elsa words. No, that can't be. I'm a woman, she's a woman. It's not right. It's wrong against our laws.. and it's.. well, gross… isn't it? I thought in a daze. No, she can't be serious, I'm sure. I'll ask her again. I'm sure it was just a joke; something to hide the truth from me. I mean, I know she loves me—we're best friends so she could have said me and not lied right? I opened my mouth to ask her again who her true love was, only to realize she was no longer standing in front of me. I was alone in the garden.

"Elsa!" I called out, whirling around to look for her, but it was like she had vanished. Then my eyes fell to the ground and I could see where she was off to. The grass had frozen under her feet. It was a clear path to follow.

"Elsa!" I called again as I started after the frozen trail. It quickly left the garden and into the castle.

Author's note: I would love to know what you guys think of this. And It was a pleasant distraction when I hit periods of well… writers block or something with Thawed Hearts. I am determined to redo it like I am but the completely lack of reviews (well I got one that Claire Cooper for which I am very grateful) kinda has me down when writing it. I am not sure if the next chapter posted will be for frozen blood or thawed hearts as I am working on them both atm. But I plan to have whichever it is out Sunday night or Monday.