"Come on Elsa! I've been waiting forever!"

Anna was sitting on her side of the bed with her back resting at the head board. She's been waiting for the other girl to finally decide to take rest after yet a busy day at the castle. It was already dark. The sun has already set a few hours ago and only a hand full of people are still awake at this time of the night.

It has become a habit of them to wait for each other before going to bed which really ends up with just Anna waiting for Elsa most of the time. She didn't mind though. Elsa's busy running the kingdom and she really doesn't feel like she has the right to complain. A notion she would never tell the other girl. Elsa would be furious if she found out she's having these thoughts to herself.

Countless breakthroughs were achieved between the two of them since the Thaw. She also noticed how Elsa has change in the way she handles herself. She looks more free now, more sure of herself, and more like her age. She also speaks more freely now but only when they're alone. Their talks have been full of tears on the first few nights after the Thaw; full of apologies for the past and full of promises for the future. When they've ran out of things to talk about or can't think of anything else to say, they started reading stories to each other. Another habit of them that started one night when they fell silent after talking about the past and Elsa suggested to fill the silence.

It was nice. Anna thought, remembering how Elsa used to read to her when she was too young to even comprehend a letter.

"Alright, alright." Elsa chuckled warmly. She was just finished brushing her hair then held up a book in front of her as she stood up and turned to the bed. "Look at what book I brought tonight." The cover of the book read 'Joan of Arc'. The blonde was biting the bottom of her lip while trying to contain her smile.

That's adorable! Anna thought mindlessly. She was tempted to say yes to the silent offer but she has other plans in mind.

"Actually, I want to hear something else tonight." She said instead.

"Oh?" Elsa gave her a quizzical look as she settled to a sitting position beside her sister. She was quite surprised at Anna's refusal at her favorite book. "What do you have in mind?"

"I want to hear something I haven't heard before. Or read." She added after a pause.

"Anna, the library is at least a few miles from here. And I doubt I can find anything you haven't read yet."

Anna took note of the fact that Elsa knew she spends most of her time reading in the library if not outside enjoying the sun. "I didn't know you're capable of hyperbole, sis. And besides, you can always tell me a story of your own." She smiled innocently.

Elsa frowned half in thought, half in annoyance. "Anna, I'm hardly a poet. I don't think I can do that at such short notice."

"Please, Elsa? You don't need to be a poet to think about a short story." She dropped her smile and put her best effort in her pleading eyes and pouted lips.

The queen only pursed her lips and made a disapproving noise. "Are you sure we can't just read your book?"

Anna shook her head.

"Please? I promise to do the same the next time." She was now on Elsa's shoulder; looking up at her pleadingly.

The monarch chuckled at the redhead's shenanigans and force her to sit upright. "Okay, okay. You got me at the magic word, Anna." She kissed the girl's nose and Anna squealed gleefully. She found a comfortable position as she lay on her side.

"Just give me moment." Elsa said as she lie too, facing the lively girl.

"It isn't actually an original story per se. I heard it once with the maids talking." She started then paused as she seemed to recollect the story.

"I didn't know you were into gossips, Elsa." Anna teased. The pale girl only gave her a playful glare but didn't comment.

"It happened with one of the kings of Arendelle – well, the king and his family. Have you ever noticed that one part of the castle which no one goes to?" She asked and Anna only nodded.

She was talking about the west wing most of the castle. Some of its rooms were being used for the guests but the farthest rooms were restricted since she can remember. Perhaps it has been before she was even born.

"What of it?" She asked when Elsa didn't continue.

"Well, from what I've heard, the old king and queen used to take residence there." Another pause. "The king was a benevolent ruler and a good husband, the kingdom respected him and his wife loved him dearly."

Anna smiled, thinking of how it was somehow similar to Elsa's case although not with a spouse but a sister instead.

"One day, the queen gave birth to twins. The kingdom rejoiced and the queen was happy, however, the king was not. He grew distant with her wife and their newly borne children. The queen and his advisers asked him many times about what was wrong but he only kept quiet. As the twins grew, the king changed, and he started beating up his children for the simplest mistakes and sometimes, for no apparent reason. When the queen had learned about it, she tried to stop him but she, too, was abused by the king."

Anna gasped by how dark the story was turning and pulled the blanket to her nose while she both anticipated and dreaded Elsa to continue.

"A few years passed by and the king grew more cruel. When the twins were strong enough, they killed their father in his sleep. The queen was awoken later on by her children and urged her to escape with them but when they turned from her, she stabbed them with the dagger they used to kill the king."

"She wailed in agony for losing her family that night and, eventually, killed herself too. It was said that to this day, you can hear the queen crying at night and see her walking aimlessly in the castle as if lost or trying to find something or someone. It was also said that she sometimes call people to accompany her to alleviate some despair." Elsa finished with a whisper that had Anna's hair stood up in fear.

The ice weaver eyed her. Anna's shoulders was now reaching her ears, her eyes wide, and her breathing slightly shallow.

"Anna, are you quite alright?" Elsa asked with a tinge of concern in her voice.

"Uh-huh." The fear-stricken girl responded. She swallowed thickly. She hasn't moved from her position since Elsa started the story.

"You're not scared are you? Aren't you a little too old for ghosts?" Elsa teased with a small grin to alleviate the redhead's stiffness.

It seemed to work as Anna snapped out of her fear.

"Pft! As if! And says the one who just told a ghost story, stinker!" She poked her tongue at the older woman.

A small laugh escaped the young queen's lips. "Okay, it's time for bed now brave princess." She lifted herself up with her elbow and blew at the candles. The fire on the fireplace and the moon outside were the only source of light in the room now.

"A-actually, I'd like to hear Joan's story now." Anna said a bit shakily, pulling at the sleeve of Elsa's night wear.

Elsa shuffled and lied on the bed again, this time, on her back. "Anna, I need to be really early tomorrow morning. I have a meeting to attend to at the city outskirts, remember?"

Anna sighed and released her hold. "Right. Snuggle with me though?"

"Of course." The older woman agreed with a smile and held out her arms. "C'mere."

The princess was all too eager to accept and inhaled the queen's unique scent. It still took her longer to slip into unconsciousness but at least the warm body kept her fears at bay.


Anna woke up later than she usually do that morning. She stretched her body and yawned then made her way to the bathroom only to find the door locked. She tried wringing the door knob more when a strangled voice spoke up.

"Anna?" The voice was coming from inside.

"Elsa?" She asked. Her mind was still muddled from the sleep.

"Sorry, I just got in and I'm not wearing anything right now."

"Oh that's okay!" A yawn. "I can wait."

"Actually, I want to ask a favor."

Silence.

"Can you look for Kai and get the ribbon I asked him please? He'll be at the west wing at the sixth guest room. I really need it right now." The girl continued when no reply was forthcoming.

The younger girl yawned again. Her eyes closed and her head resting at the door. Her hand hasn't left the door knob since earlier. "Okay. Just give me a moment Els."

She lazily went in front of the mirror to compose herself. She can't take a bath yet so she settled with a little bit disheveled but presentable look. She headed straight to her destination after prepping. When she was nearing the room, Elsa's story from the night before came crashing to the forefront of her mind and she stilled in here tracks.

Unlike the other hallways in the castle, this one's windows were always kept closed unless there were guests residing. The look of the area gives an ominous atmosphere. She shivered lightly.

Damn it. Of all the places Kai could be. She grumbled and continued pacing – slowly now – as if something might pounce on her if she made too much noise.

The door creaked open when she arrived at the room Elsa mentioned. "Kai?" She whispered as she poked her head inside.

She opened the door a little wider and looked around. There was no sign of the man but she did saw a ribbon at the top of a chiffonier. Bingo. She hurriedly went to the bed and took the ribbon. When she was out of the room, she started half running from the west wing. Then, she heard a clicking of a tongue from the farthest wall that seemed to reverberate across the whole castle. She stopped her hurried pace and slowly turned to the sound.

The end of the hallway was dark; almost impossible to see anything else. She squinted her eyes as two black mists with the shape of a human caught her attention at each corner. It was unmoving but at the same time, seems to move closer to her. She started to run and bumped to a servant on the way to the bedroom. She apologized frantically then continued walking much slower now but still fast enough. When she arrived at the bedroom, she was panting and sweating really hard and it was not from the running. She took her time to catch her breath before knocking at the bathroom door. But after a few more knocks, she opened the door to find Elsa gone.

She huffed. Whatever. She needed a bath anyway. She can find Elsa later.

It was hours later before she found the monarch though. The blonde was walking at the main hallway with her travelling suit and looking thoroughly exhausted but was still as poised as ever.

"Elsa!" Anna shouted from the other end and dashed to embrace her. The blonde shrieked but returned the gesture after a moment of shock.

"What are you wearing?" She trailed her eyes on her sister's clothes when they part, Elsa followed her eyes. "Wait, don't answer that." She interrupted when the taller woman opened her mouth to speak then closed it and quirked an eyebrow at her.

"More importantly, how can you do that to me?!" It wasn't really a question but a demand. Her voice rose up unintentionally.

"What do you mean, Anna?" Elsa asked calmly and cautiously, feeling the rise in the other girl's temper although her face was smeared with a slight frown.

"What I mean?" The younger girl hissed. "What I'm saying is this!" She held up the ribbon in front of the monarch's face. Elsa took it quickly then eyed the material fervently but finding nothing amiss.

"I don't understand." The queen frowned deeper.

Anna narrowed her eyes dangerously. "You made me go to the west wing to get that. And just after you just told me that story last night!" She huffed then crossed her arms indignantly.

The pale woman's eyebrows shoot up. "What are you talking about? Anna, what time did I asked you to do that?"

"The same time I got up, of course. An hour before noon, I think." She said, confused as to why the girl was asking but was stubbornly holding her glare.

"Anna…" Elsa said slowly. Concern marring her face. "I told you, I have a meeting early today remember?"

The princess' face went slack and her jaw dropped. The information sinking in.

"No…" She said weakly then repeated it with more strength. "No. But-but I heard you. You talked to me. And it was the middle of the day! You-you said they only haunt at night."

"Anna, I left early today. You were still asleep when I left the room and I went straight to the carriage then. It's impossible we could have talked."

The redhead felt all her blood drain from her body. She can hear the concerned voice of her sister grew louder but it was somehow muffled then she saw only darkness.