A/N: Hello everyone. This is my first fanfic and I'm both anxious and excited to share it with you. Without giving away too much, this story will feature a female OC as the main character and focus primarily on her relationship with Elsa. I know many of you are wary of OCs and for very good reasons but I hope you can give Jul a chance. The story is set in the same time frame of the movie and it will continue from there. The romance will take some time to build but I hope it'll be worth it in the end.
A big thank you to my sister for the constant support and motivation and to my wonderful beta tinarox100486 for helping me with my English and for making this story ten times prettier.

Warning: Femslash! If that's not your thing, you know what to do.

Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen or any of its characters.


Sneaking past the guards on patrol duty had been easier than most nights. Six years of roaming the castle grounds for lack of decent company and recreational activities had given her quite the advantage on even the most experienced guards. However it was not the case tonight. In fact, the two young recruits were pacing aimlessly around the courtyard, uncoordinated and distracted by the silent quell of the night to spot the figure streaking past them. Midnight ticked nearer and promised to deliver a day that could potentially change everything. This could be her last night.

In a few hours the castle gates would open, welcoming foreign rulers and nobles from exotic and distant lands after thirteen years of forced isolation. Spirits were high among the population and the ranks, especially among younger soldiers. They were too young to remember what Arendelle had been like before its port had closed to foreign travel for reasons still unknown to the public. Over the past week, alcohol and women had been the height of conversation at the barracks, to the point of turning the place into a makeshift tavern of sorts when the rowdiest crowd congregated in excited bellows of tune and laughter.

Face twisting in disgust, Jul tuned out the sentry's voices and stalked towards the east. In the near darkness she picked her way across the courtyard toward the perimeter wall. She slipped past the stables, steering away from the torches set at regular intervals along the wall. Within seconds she was scaling one of the marble columns supporting the roofed walkway that surrounded the castle's perimeter. When she was certain that the guards walking sentry were well out of hearing distance, she leapt onto the battlement and dashed ahead.

The eastern side of the castle stood closer to the walls, close enough to kiss the outer border. It was there that Jul came to a stop and promptly leapt on the wooden railing. With one hand she grabbed the roof of the battlement and jumped. Using the forward momentum to breach the small gap with the castle, she flung out her free hand and found a safe handhold that would keep her from plunging toward her own death. Once her grip on the stone was secure, she did the same with her feet and then released her hold on the roof. From there, she began her climb up the stone walls, finding well-known handholds in the darkness.

The salty tang of the sea air casted a chilly welcome on her bare forearms and face in spite of the hood that covered it. Summer had so far conceded its fair share of hot, humid weather that every once in a while was brusquely swept away by unusual rainstorms that lasted long enough to leave a trail of unseasonal cold behind. It had been almost two days from the last one, the most violent so far to hit the coast, but the effects still lingered.

Cold and hot weather made little difference to Jul, but she was grateful for the thick layer of clouds covering the majestic globe of the full moon. The darkness concealed her progress up the wall, not just from the ground but from the walkway and the castle windows. It was fortunately a rather short climb, thanks to the peculiar outline of the castle with its many roofs and triangular windows.

Five minutes later she was within reach of a window on the first floor. She caught hold of the sill and hung by her fingers, listening closely for any sound coming from the inside. Nothing stirred. Freeing one hand, she pulled out a wooden shim from a hidden pocket in her black cloak. Her muscles burned all the way down her back from the strain but she clung on tightly and leaned over just enough to push the shim between the two glass panels of the window. Soon, she'd found the latch and unhooked it. Swinging one panel open, she pulled herself up by the sill and jumped inside. The thick carpet absorbed the hit and she hurried to close the window before stealing along the hallway and up one flight of stairs. Lamps burned dimly along the painted walls. Their light was barely enough to see two feet in front of her but through the years of experience she could easily navigate through the corridors.

It was the sudden dipping in temperature that assured her she had reached her destination. A long corridor stretched out ahead of her and disappeared into a dark void. The floors and windows had recently been dusted and cleaned but the stale smell of disuse hung persistently in the cool air like a stark reminder. There was only so much that the sweep of a broom could get rid of after all.

Still panting from a mixture of exertion and tension, Jul slowed her pace. Only one door was set into the wall halfway down the corridor. Its white frame seemed to lean some extra glow to the dim surroundings, reflecting what little light the lamps offered. Reverently, Jul stepped to the door. The intricately painted snowflakes were indeed shining brighter than she'd ever seen them as she pushed her hood back and went down on one knee in salute. The gesture had come unbidden to her the first night. At first she'd felt ridiculous, taking the knee for a panel of wood but all the same, the greeting had stayed with her and in time grown heavy with meaning. It eventually became a fundamental part of her midnight routine.

Tonight the moment felt doubly charged, tinged with hopes and a good amount of fear. Jul's right hand hovered inches from the wooden frame before gently reaching out to caress the door's panel. Eyes going wide, Jul immediately drew her hand back at the cold sensation under her fingertips. Looking closer, she noticed the entire frame was coated in a thin rime of frost. With a worried frown, she tentatively touched the door again, all the while wondering if her mind was playing tricks on her. Even for this part of the castle, the sight was unusual. It had always been colder up here but never like this and she felt an immediate tug of apprehension in her stomach that she couldn't quite shake off.

Breath misting in the air before her, Jul allowed her burning palm to linger on the frosted wood just a moment longer before pulling away. Careful not to make any noise, she took up her usual spot below the window facing the Princess's room.

For the longest time, this had been the best part of her day. Or rather, the only good part. A realist at heart, her expectations had shattered before her first day in Arendelle had even fully passed. Becoming the only woman to ever join the Royal Guard had set her up for a life full of hardships, ridicule and loneliness. The former she had handled with her wits, sometimes also with raised fists when the situation had called for it, but the latter was what had caused more damage in time. With no one to rely on for support, dealing with the cutting jokes, cruel pranks and the constant humiliation had required nerves of steel and self-imposed solitude. In hopes of fulfilling the solemn vow she'd made as a child, determination and ambition had been her lifeline. Needless to say, the road so far in order to keep that vow had been hard and twisted.

Back at the beginning of her military service, the inside of the castle had been off limits to most recruits except for Captain Svendsen, the army leader: only chosen members of the staff were granted access to the upper floors. Learning this had been like a blow for Jul, who had been brimming with energy and youthful enthusiasm. But then word had come to her of a patrol unit that walked sentry on the second floor, the one housing the royal chambers. It was back then that she started hearing the rumors. Some of those had travelled as far as her hometown, most of them strange enough to be soon discredited by most. But within the grounds gossip and superstitions had spread like wildfire, particularly among the soldiers who never got tired of speculating on the real need behind those nightly patrol rounds. Stories had grown wild over the years with talk of ghosts and evil spirits, to the point that most guards refused the post on the premise. Because of that, only a handful of soldiers could be trusted with the task and Jul had immediately jumped at the opportunity of becoming one of them. Captain Svendsen had eagerly accepted her request, thinking perhaps her goal had been to prove her worth and courage. He couldn't have been more mistaken.

In spite of the ruthless mockery she was under on behalf of her comrades, she had not wanted the post to prove something to them. Unlike many recruits of noble blood and higher status, she hadn't entered the Guard to make a name for herself or to follow a military career. She'd had no interest in competing with them whatsoever. Every last drop of her energy and every second of her training had been devoted to becoming a soldier capable and worthy of protecting the royal family and the kingdom. At the time, getting close to the second floor had looked like a good start.

For little over a year, Captain Svendsen had trusted her with the task and she'd protected that small portion of the castle with pride and indescribable joy. Seeing the white door for the first time had been a step forward into the life she'd dreamed about as a child. Even things at the barracks had become more manageable, partly because her shifts allowed her to spend less time with her tormentors. But as soon as the waters had calmed, everything had come crashing down with the untimely passing of King Edmund and Queen Lise.

Immediately after their funeral, things had taken a radical turn for the worst. No one but Captain Svendsen had permission to enter the castle and anyone caught disobeying those orders faced a lifetime ban from Arendelle. Jul had spent that whole week grieving from the loss of the kingdom's beloved rulers, consumed by a sense of helplessness at the thought of both princesses having to face the world alone without the guidance and love of their parents. The black strip of cloth sewn to her uniform had weighed like a ton of bricks on her chest as she had gone about her duties, eyes always drifting up to those windows suddenly so out of reach . She'd spent every waking minute at war with herself, fighting off the rebellion taking place inside her, and her nights shifting restlessly in and out of nightmares. But in the end, instinct had broken through her resistance. Under cover of darkness, she had sneaked out of the barracks, slipped past the sentry lines like a common thief and put her climbing skills to good use. Within minutes she'd been standing breathless in front of the white door, palms scratched and bleeding, trembling with fear and immense relief.

That night had been the first of many, sitting under the big window until the break of dawn chased her away. Over the course of three years, nothing had ever altered the complete stillness and everlasting cold that permeated the royal living quarters. All alone in the dimness with shadows dancing on the walls from the flickering lamplight, Jul had understood why so many of the soldiers had grown scared of the place. Every little noise had sent her twitching and scanning the darkness for any sign of life. In spite of the discouraging atmosphere, it had taken her little time to adjust the irrational fears plaguing her mind and acknowledge that nothing and no one would disturb her quiet night vigil.

With surprising ease, she had quickly settled into a routine that felt almost normal, broken only by extreme weather conditions and the occasional night shift on the battlement. Even the unusually low temperatures had become a familiar constant. The source of this coldness had always been a matter of interest among the staff and soldiers who'd experienced it firsthand. Many said the floor was cursed, others insisted the perpetual chill was caused by the ghosts of the deceased King and Queen who haunted the corridors seeking for their daughters. The theories had grown progressively more ludicrous and the lack of sensitivity or restraint toward the matter only fuelled Jul's rage. How could warmth hope to blossom in a place forgotten by the world, where pain and sadness had for so long reigned unchallenged?

No wonder the cold was so bitter tonight. The room beyond the white door was in darkness but Jul could almost imagine the young woman lying wide awake in bed, terrified at the prospect of setting foot outside her tiny reality. People liked speculating on what really kept the Princess locked away. Jul understood their curiosity. She felt it, too. She'd waited her whole life for this one moment of the anticipated truth but the wait felt insignificant, her desire childish in the face of what the young woman was likely going through. She would never allow herself to forget the insane amount of pressure that weighed on the young woman's shoulders. No matter how much she wanted to set eyes on the future Queen instead of clinging to a fading memory, she'd be willing to sacrifice that moment and grant her majesty more time to prepare, more courage to face her fears, whatever they were. If only there was something she could do to help, anything at all.

Truth was, she had no clue. In spite of her efforts to show up with regularity, her presence was insignificant at best. Even so, Jul had never bailed, never given up on the idea that even one drop of warmth could spread out and conquer this eternal winter.

Sighing, Jul hugged her knees to her chest as she watched the play of light and shadow on the painted snowflakes. Lately her mind had been filled to bursting with questions. During her six years in Arendelle she'd done her best to avoid certain issues and let others do the talking and whispering, but some things could no longer be ignored. Nobles and townspeople alike wanted answers; they wanted an explanation for why the royal family had barricaded itself from the public. With Coronation Day looming ever closer, they might just get their wish.

The notion was exciting as well as it was deplorable and Jul couldn't help but feel torn on the delicate subject. After years of forced inactivity, Coronation Day presented her only one opportunity to serve and protect the royal family at the best of her abilities and as such, fully experience the life she'd always dreamed of fulfilling. She could hardly imagine what the castle would be like in a few hours. Esteemed monarchs and dignitaries garbed in their finest waist-coats would be escorted with women powdered to flawless perfection, frocked in beautiful gowns that would magnify their beauty. Booming laughter, ballads and sophisticated tunes would resound within the polished corridors of the Great Hall, the doors finally unlocked for the first time to warmly greet everyone. If there was anyone who wished the cursed isolation would disappear it was her, in spite of the price she'd have to pay. This could be the last night she set foot on the second floor and the thought was tinged with bittersweet emotions. For so long the royal quarters had been her safe haven from the harsh reality of her solitary career in the military. Whenever she felt overwhelmed with raging emotions she'd take a deep breath and think ahead to the moment night would descend on the fjord. It was then she could pretend to be the soldier from heroic novels she adored so much as a child, the one she'd promised herself she'd become. Up in the little corner of the second floor Jul was free to be herself once again. Finding this place had saved her and helped her connect with the Princess in a way she never would've thought possible. Even if the connection was completely one-sided and unknown to the young woman, Jul had treasured her nights like a most precious gift. However the time had come for her to give up her routine for good.

Outside the wind had picked up and howled with intense sorrow, making the windows rattle in their frames. Jul wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, shivering. It was colder than it had any right to be, regrettably foreshadowing a rather uncomfortable and tiring vigil. Jul had been through worse nights before and she had no intention of abandoning her post for five hours of restless sleep, no matter how exhausted she felt after an afternoon spent drilling in the courtyard under Captain Svendsen's careful watch. Besides, that tug of apprehension in her gut had been nagging at her ever since she'd touched the frost-covered door.

Gripping the fabric of her cloak with tight fists, Jul fixed the white door hard enough to make her eyes water, recognizing it as the source of her unease. She'd lost count of the nights she'd wanted nothing more than to knock on that door and make her presence known but she had never gone through with it. The fear of losing this privileged spot had always stopped her hand short. After all, how could a complete stranger accomplish something that not even family and the closest member of staff had managed in over a decade?

Jul found this to be the hardest truth to live with for some reason, knowing the Princess was internally suffering. But finally things were about to change. Maybe she had been useless up to this moment but the opportunity to prove herself worthy of the uniform she wore had come at last. Coronation Day was more than just the crowning ceremony of the new monarch; it was a tiny opening that had the potential to lead the kingdom out of its forced isolation. If no one had the nerve and courage to take advantage of it then Arendelle would never find peace again and return to its former glory.

The stakes were very high at this point. Jul understood that she might have to put her whole career on the line to make a breakthrough. Scared as she was of losing way more than her beloved routine if something went wrong, she had to put an end to the pain and silence the castle was slowly drowning in. Whatever damage the past thirteen years of guarded secrets behind closed doors had caused could be undone, she was sure of it. Both the kingdom and the Princesses needed a new beginning, a chance at a fairer, fuller life in the open that could only occur if the gates remained open indefinitely.

Jul closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the wall as her decision fully sunk in. So much had changed in the last six years of her life but she still felt herself burn with the same mixture of determination and recklessness that had initially brought her to Arendelle to chase a dream. It was time to stop being a coward who clung desperately to the past instead of fighting for what she really wanted. The future was waiting just within arm's reach, warmer and brighter than ever. She had less than twenty-four hours to figure out a flawless strategy of action, one that would help the woman on the other side of the door regain her freedom permanently, no matter the cost.

"Hold on, Your Majesty" she whispered in the silence, "it's going to be alright."