A/N: A last-minute idea I had made me change the previous title "Love is Strength" to "The Endless Aftermath." It's been a while, I know, but I promise it's worth the wait. If you thought "Christmas in Arendelle" was amazing, this will blow you away. If you thought it was great, but lacked somethings, hopefully this will please you. Updating will be sketchy, but not as delayed as before. The first chapter will be uploaded immediately after this one.

Once again, I thank all reviewers and followers for their constant adoration and support.

Disclaimer: Frozen belongs Disney.

Prologue

Sunlight seeped through Henrik's vision, waking him up from sleep. His sight was bleak at first, every figure and object looking awfully fuzzy, but eventually, it cleared up. His mood darkened when he saw the widely opened velvet curtains, the source of the fitful sunlight and the humidity. With a lackluster groan, he rose from his pillow, throwing his arms up to stretch. Along with making stiff sounds, limbs loosened up. He revolved his head around, sending relief to his neck. While moving his head for the third time, he saw a fresh letter on his nightstand with his name scripted on it.

He took it and separated the letter from its envelope. He squinted at the thin script, but managed to read it.

Dear Henrik,

Thank you for all the messages this past year. Our communication has managed to sustain our relationship, albeit our different locations. You mentioned coming back to Arendelle in your last letter. I think it's a splendid idea to see you again in so long, since much has changed since our last meeting.

I think the people are finally warming up to me. When I am not cooped up in the council chamber or the library, I find time to take walks through Arendelle, greeting my people (with Anna's assistance, of course). A handful of them said hello to and conversed with me, which is a great improvement. But there was still the occasional nervous person who only stared at me with fright. This led me to wonder what I was doing wrong and what was being said about me behind my back. I know some people were sketchy about my rule since the beginning, enjoying the three years without royal authority in the kingdom. Others were excited about seeing me for the first time in what felt like forever. However, after the indiscretions on the night of my coronation, the people feared me, and I still feared hurting the people.

Lately, I had gotten around to making sure no one felt I was a dangerous tyrant or wicked monster. I attempted at hellos and asking friendly questions, though some of my conversations didn't go as I expected. It wasn't until the anniversary festival held in my honor that people started returning my greeting and making conversations with me themselves, which I appreciated.

Anna sends her greetings. She's been herself as usual. She turned twenty a few weeks ago. Kristoff, Olaf, and I celebrated with her, or I should say she celebrated mainly with Kristoff, since he took her to a "special place" and they didn't come back until the early dawn the next morning. Hopefully nothing inappropriate took place and I'm not an aunt to her child. I couldn't imagine my younger sister being with child before me. It's a very frightening thought.

My powers have become more controllable with practice, although my emotions are the core of them. And let's face it: you cannot completely control emotions. So, I'm getting there slowly. The beauty and danger feel as light and dark, so I try to feel light on a daily basis. But I'm making an effort to keep them in check, and my control has gotten better and better. I'm only disappointed that you're not here to see for yourself. I can't wait to see you again and reconnect.

Yours Truly,

Elsa

Henrik smiled as he put the letter on his nightstand again. Sitting on the edge of his mattress, he lifted the blonde locks from his face to stare at his chamber doors when he heard faint footsteps. They opened slowly. A petite, redheaded chambermaid stood in the opening. She strode in his room, closing the doors behind her.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," she said, going to the opposite side of the bedchamber. She grabbed the curtains to shut them.

"Good morning, Carina," murmured Henrik, realizing he was still stuck in sleep.

"Pleasant dreams?" He grunted informally as response, shrugging. Carina's sharp hazel eyes looked at the opened envelope on the nightstand. "I see you read the letter from Her Majesty, Queen Elsa." He nodded, his signature smile growing. Since he and Carina had a friendly relationship instead of a business one, she rolled her eyes as she went to the other side of his bed, fixing his wrinkled pillow. "Have you informed her?"

"No," he answered after clearing his throat. "Telling her would feat the purpose." Carina smiled as she folded his loose blanket. "Is everything packed and ready?"

She nodded. "Karolina has made sure of it."

Henrik mentioned to Elsa that he was arriving in the summer, which wasn't entirely a lie. It was now the late spring, summer was around the corner. An early visit was in order, since he was growing tired of simple communication. He had plans that couldn't wait until the next month.

He got off the bed to make Carina's work easier. He put on the blue robe hanging on the edge of it and fastened the sash in a bow. Bidding Carina goodbye, he chose to put on hunting boots instead of slippers. He exited the room, making his way down the dull navy corridors of the palace. Stopping at a pair of ivory doors with decorative, traditional rosemaling, he sighed before knocking softly. Seconds later, his niece Yvonne opened her doors.

"Hello," he said meekly.

"On the last day I'll see you for the season, all I get is 'hello'?" she asked, wrapping her arms around him.

He mirrored her actions, burying his face in her wavy chestnut hair. Her steady breathing gave away that she wasn't crying, so Henrik was glad she didn't think he would be away forever. But a few months without a parental guardian and a kingdom to look after were enough to break any eighteen-year-old. As an orphan himself and a past like his, he could understand this, but he knew she would never be wholly alone. He only feared what she would exercise her feelings.

"This will be good for you," he told her, grasping her pale cheek in his hand. Her gray eyes looked lifeless to him, like she was trying to make him feel more guilty than he already felt. "It'll be good for both of us."

"Are you sure?"

"Yvonne, please trust me."

She sighed. "I do trust you, Uncle Henrik. I just don't trust them. They treat me as if I'm a tool."

"Don't let them treat you like a tool. You have control of your own actions, don't you?" He softened up, running her hand through his messy hair. "Look. The kingdom is very fond of you. I guarantee you they will look up to you and warm up to you being in charge. You won't be alone. You have Karolina and Finn and so many other people who will help you along the way. You have to remember that I alone won't always be here to guide you."

She paused. Her eyes fell to the floor. "Okay." she said after her silence.

Henrik placed a kiss on her forehead, taking her by the shoulders. As he let go of her, Finn, Captain of the Guard, came to his side.

"Your Majesty, the horses are ready." he said.

Kisses! ~TwistedTelepath