AN: Description currently in the works. The skeleton of the story is already written out but I need to slap the meat and skin on it. It does involve Arendelle getting invaded by the Southern Isle so if you feel you've read too many of them here is you're warning. Until then, I hope you find my meagre offering acceptable. Apologies for spelling errors etc. More story related AN below.

A cockerel woke the small folk of Arendelle from their slumber into a crisp autumn morning but for the royalty of Arendelle and their servants morning began when the sky was still dark. Queen Elsa was eating in the Grand hall, a portrait of her parents watched over her humble morning feast. It was the first day of the fourth month since the Great Thaw and the burdens of her kingdom hit her hard. For the first month, things had been blissful. She and Anna had explored Arendelle high and low. A world outside her bedroom walls, a world without fear had been dizzyingly joyous. But what she learnt was the goodwill of the people only lasted as long as the grain supply. Her winter had destroyed their crops and she had cut ties with Westleton, who were one of their most reliable wheat suppliers. People were surviving of the scraps of the larders and root cellars. When a steel tipped wooden spear came crashing through a hallway window and lodged itself a mere foot away from the Queen, Arendelle hanged it's first traitor in half a century over the fjord, and a trio of conspirators were imprisoned beneath the castle.

After that, the gates were closed to all visitors once again. Elsa was willing to leave, but not without an escort or a mask of peasantry handed down to her through several lessons with Kristoff. She has decriminalised poaching and set the fishing fleet out in force to keep her people fed. The second winter of the year was only weeks away and no amount of love could thaw what was likely to come.

Until the next harvest she had vowed not to eat anything that a commoner would not see on his plate. But at this rate it was more likely she would not eat anything at all. For the third day running she had stared at her breakfast of fish soup and yesterdays bread long enough for it to go cold and unappetising. On the other side of the table her sister had been tentatively nibbling on a French pastry. She didn't even notice her approach,

"You know, you should really stop punishing yourself." Anna said to her sister before switching her stone cold broth with a croissant, cherry pin wheel and a side dish of apple slices. She helped herself to a slice,"You need to eat"

"I don't find myself very hungry Anna. Give my apologies to the chef." The queens eyes barely left the table but seemed repulsed at the sight of sweet foods. Anna stopped chewing and swallowed harshly. They had both had a lot on their minds of late. With no word on the fate of Hans even Anna was anxious. They though their ship had perhaps been lost a sea with the prince on board, seeing as it had not returned, only they had received no news from the Southern Isles, not one request for his whereabouts or wellbeing.

"Doesn't change the fact that a Queen needs food," she pushed the apple sliced closer, "I haven't seen you eat in days."Anna's voiced was full of concern, and Elsa conceded half of an apple slice and ate it bitterly. When her sister smiled she abandoned her breakfast and strode over to a broad window with her sister in tow. It looked over the whole city and the open ocean, At this point in the morning it had become common for the families of fishermen to wait at the docks. It used to make her smile to look out these windows and see families reunite with one another, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, fathers and daughters... As she well knew for some they're would be no reunion. But then the reality of her famine sunk in. That was not cheering and hugging she saw from afar, but pushing and shoving, punching and kicking, a starving child trampled under hungry feet. She loathed her ignorant self. With more fish arriving each day guards assured her all was calm by the docks but even so her view was spoiled by another stain. Her would-be assassin, Erik, if she recalled correctly, had quickly become a feast for birds by the dockside. A reminded to the meek that she can not be killed, and to the discontent, a reminder that people are trying.

"It won't be like this forever Elsa," She placed a hand on her shoulder, and turned her Elsa around to face her and no longer look so forlornly over the harbour.

"Come next year we'll have a kingdom full of happy people with fat bellies. All of this will be forgotten."

"Some things can't be forgotten Anna, nor forgiven." Anna's arm fell limp by her side, Then the girl's attention went back to the window as the sound of whickering horses and the clacking of carriage wheels against cobble became prominent in their ears.

Approaching the gates was a convoy of polished black carriages, each with matt purple wheels coated with mud, and on the door of each carriage was a floral emblem with fine stems and flower blossoms just beneath the window. Just as quickly her head whipped to face the grand doors behind them after a hasty knock and a servant.

"They have arrived, your Majesty," she was informed.

"Thank you, let them know we are to meet in the council room."

The servant swiftly left. Alone with Anna again, the Queen of Arendelle gathered her wits and exhaled after a long breath. She was nervous. Today was a first for her.

The council room was dark and oppressive, with neatly stacked paper, quills and other deskware taking centre place on the dark oak long table. It was the middle most room on the second floor with halways along the perimeter and thus had no windows. Light was provide by three candelabras spread across the table and several candles fixed onto the walls. Despite the dimness she could not avoid the eyes of the last King of Arendelle piercing through the haze onto the meeting from his portrait just above Lord Bjelke.

There were five Lords surrounding her, Anna and Kristoff sat to her right. She had given Kristoff the title of a Lord, though he was landless. Even so she did not regret the decision, Kristoff gave her a new outlook on ruling Arendelle concerning the less fortunate, although she never considered herself dismissing of their problems she now knew she how to do more for them. Plus, raising him to Lord-hood had save her sister's relationship from scandal; now only the Queen's judgement was questions amongst the aristocracy. Behind her stood Sir Aegir Dahlberg, a Knight who served her father and now her. He was young when she was young. Now he was old with a few grey hairs starting to take root.

The Lords came from all over her Kingdom, for the first meeting since her father closed the gates when she was a child. Like her father, before she was coronated as queen she ruled the kingdom with little input from her people. Issues were brought to her bedroom and were dealt with the same day. She wanted to bring back the normalcy Arendelle knew in her father's time, before her powers changed everything.

The meeting began with food concerns. Lord Bkelke was aggressively asserting that the rations were not making their way north and demanded more. Elsa would sympathise but this was a gluttonous, plump man not well favoured amongst his townfolk. She offered him a two dozen more soldiers to hunt in the forest for wolf and ram for the peasants. Similar matters arose and were dealt. She displayed a letter from the Corona royal family which detailed an offer of aid. They could worry less about the food shortage until the end of this winter. Her Lords nodded approvingly before the discussion changed to less favourable matters.

"There is a merchant prince in the East kingdoms with an substantial silk empire, if not the cow prince of the west perhaps hi-

"We're not discussing this Lord Hummel,"

"Arendelle could benefit from an heir,." Lord Solberg added,

"We have an heir," her irritation showed, Anna and Kristoff sank into their seats. "If you need that in writing there is a quill and paper right in front of you," she said whilst gesturing to the stationary with her hand.

"Perhaps and heir is not the issue my Queen," Lord Foss conceded, "but you closed the door to Westleton and the Southern Isles are no longer an option. We need new connections." Foss was once a friend to her father. She hated how right he was now, "You must take a king within the next few years, even if you - prefer otherwise. The welfare of the Kingdom demands it." She felt a blush rise in her cheeks, everyone else felt a chill.

"Not today," she uttered with a finality no one questioned.

Foss fell back into his seat, exasperated, and the Lords watched each other in silence until there was an unexpected knock on the door behind Lord Bjelke. She stood as the doors opened and three men entered.

"Majesty of Arendelle and her council. I apologise for my abrupt arrival. It seems the bird we sent did not arrive." Bjelke stood aside whilst the stranger took his place at the table. Their visitor was young, lithe, with sleek black hair and a dusting of stubble across his cheeks and chin. The two guards in black on either side were so tall and broad of shoulder that they dwarfed the carried no weapons which was a small relief.

"What was your letter regarding," the Queen inquired, before briefly pondering how many future meetings would have unexpected situations to tackle.

"The Duke of Wesleton, my father, passed away in his sleep a month ago. My elder brother Albert is currently ruling but he sent me with an offer and a request if it interests you."

The Lords began muttering curiously. "Speak quickly," she commanded.

"Westleton hereby surrenders it's sovereignty, it's lands, assets and loyalty to the Arendelle crown," there were gasps around the table, even Anna and kristoff stared wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Elsa was apprehensive about the offer. He continued, "Our spies informed us that the Southern Isle intended to attack our home land with a fleet of 30 ships. They're on the seas this morning your Majesty. Westleton lacks strength on the seas. We request, humbly, that Arendelle come to out aid in this assualt. "

She knew it was coming. She just knew it. It was almost a relief to hear news of the Southern Isle. She used the gossiping of the Lords to mull over how she was going to reply. Their soldiers were out hunting, or policing the populace. They had few to spare and fewer ship but she couldn't tell him that, and the thought of having the resources of Westleton under her thumb was too alluring to outright dismiss.

"Why come to me," she wondered, "If you surrender to the Southern Isle they'll treat you kindly. At least after the fighting is over."

" We know you are not on diplomatic terms with the Southern Isle. My people know better than to make an enemy of you, my Queen," She flinched. His words stung her. Like father like son he saw her as a monster and her rule of Westleton would be lead through fear. "Beside, given you're father's arrangements, Albert assumed you'd feel some...marital obligation to assist." She scrunched her eyebrows .

"What?"

Lord Foss chimed in, "Your Majesty, had you not dismiss our earlier discussion we would've brought up the matter. See, before his untimely death your father made arrangements for a marriage."

Her heart dropped,

"Your marriage."

AN: Aren't croissant's awesome.

AN: This story will support no ships, no love relationships aside from Krisanna and that's only because I feel obliged to (film canon and all). No Elsanna but I've just realised Elsa may have accidental symbolically impregnated Anna in that one chapter later one so...yeah. No Olaf either, but possibly Marshmallow.