Author's Note: Looks like I'm getting back into fanfiction. And it's the kind of fanfiction I'm really, really not used to writing. This is pretty much a guilty purge of a shipping that's garnered quite a bit of controversy. Structurally the story is somewhat bizarre, and I had a hard time figuring out how to make them in character, too. Ideas for a title never occurred to me either. "Aren't We Sisters?" and "Scandal in the Castle" just sound like the most awful TV movies/game shows.

I'd appreciate if you'd drop a line with suggestions on how to make the story better, though I've written a good amount already. Since everybody seems to be so adamant at disclaiming ownership of the franchises they write about, I'll say right now that I don't own the characters in this story. Without further ado...


The snow was falling naturally, tiny flecks of white descending onto the kingdom. They hit the cobblestone roads, to no one's witness; the outside was deserted, too cold for most to step away from their homes. Those who lived closest to the sea were chilled at the slightest draft, huddling under blankets or kindling extra firewood. Beyond their doors the sea heaved another icy breath, catching flakes and sending them across the sky, farther and farther up the silent road until they were over a narrowing bridge. A castle oversaw it all, turrets all around. Ice was spreading across the corner of the windows, but that could have happened any time of the year.

A young woman sat at a table, drawing a quill across the lines of some parchment. She narrowed her light blue eyes as she pondered the decree in front of her. Elsa had been Queen of Arendelle for six months, and though the work was tiring, she did it diligently and thoroughly. It was her duty to watch over her subjects, as her parents had.

The door opened. Elsa was used to this, and did not break her focus to receive her visitor. Instead she bent closer to the parchment and vowed not to look up until there was absolutely no way she could deny—

"Hey Els!" She could not ignore someone standing right over her. She relaxed the quill and looked into the smiling face of her sister.

"What's up?"

"Getting through some decrees," said Elsa, knowing very well Anna knew what she was doing. Her business kept them from interacting as much as they wanted, but there was a guarantee they'd see each other at least a few times a day, if only in passing. Anna had friends and her own work to do, which at least got Elsa some peace and quiet to rule. But she certainly did not object to sister time, and even if it was infrequent, so be it.

"Guess what? I made you something." Elsa could tell by the tea tray Anna was holding. The cup on it was white, intricate, and steaming. Elsa took the cup and nodded gratefully.

"Thank you."

"You bet!" Sunlight hit the window, moving to Anna and lighting her from behind. She was looking down, pleased, and in the moment Elsa felt the tiniest hint of alarm, a jilt somewhere below her throat. She was glad Anna's eyes were closed in that split second, for Anna would have definitely picked up her change in attitude. Something was stirring in Elsa, something she'd been pushing back for many years….

"Well? I'm not going to leave without knowing how you like it!" Anna crossed her arms, an eyebrow raised. She continued to look smug as Elsa took a sip.

"This…is very good," said Elsa, as a puff of steam came out of her mouth. Anna giggled. Elsa's simultaneous gift-curse of cryokinetic power made her body temperature function differently from others, and one of her idiosyncrasies was making steam whenever she drank something hot. Elsa laughed along with her sister, trying not to show her nervousness.

"Look at the big scary dragon, all serious over trades from a neighboring kingdom," said Anna, lowering her voice and spreading her arms into arches. Elsa took another sip to appease her, and then for the fun of it, blew the steam into Anna's face.

"Oh, you." Anna said it teasingly, but as Elsa went back to the parchment, she suddenly bent over and hugged Elsa, putting her chin on the top of her head. "I love you."

Elsa felt a shudder deep inside.