Growing up in her self-imposed isolation, Elsa had found plenty of time to study. She'd devoured books on matters of state and diplomacy, and discovered a love of mathematics and geometry. It made sense in hindsight that she'd be drawn to things that might give her a sense of control.

Today, she felt a little less in control than she was comfortable with. It was also a little exciting, meeting someone new and one of many things she'd shied away from as a child. New people meant too much risk of her secret being exposed, and in the thirteen years the gates had been closed, she couldn't recall any visitors to be excited about anyway.

Court was moving slowly, too. Several disputes that required a delicate touch and took a lot of time to sort out took up most of the morning and she was glad for the last petitioner to leave by the time lunch came around.

Typically, she had lunch with Anna, and sometimes Kristoff but with both off to greet her new Lady in Waiting, it meant she had to take it alone. She decided she didn't actually like it. Dining alone brought back too many bad memories and she could feel Anna's absence like a weight in her chest.

But that was part of the problem. Elsa was stuck in a strange place between not wanting to isolate herself (to the point of clinginess), but also wanting time just for herself because other people were, quite frankly, overwhelming. It gave her a headache.

It probably shouldn't take this long to escort someone from the docks, and Elsa assumed Anna was giving Cassandra the grand tour. That probably meant most of Anna's favorite spots, the treat shop and some other imaginative adventure.

She walked to a window overlooking the courtyard, and spied several figures approaching in the waning light. Anna was unmistakable, a walking container of light and joy. Elsa turned and made her way down the hall and the stairs, wanting to greet them.

The guards had already opened the main doors by the time she got there, and she came to a stop near a tapestry as Olaf toddled in first, followed by Kristoff, Sven and Anna.

Cassandra was the last to enter and Elsa realized it was silly to be hiding in the tapestries. She stepped out into the light and offered her best smile. "Welcome to Arendelle, Cassandra. I'm Elsa."

Cassandra's eyes were dark and deep and left Elsa feeling curious about what lay within. Cassandra seemed guarded, a feeling that Elsa understood all too well. She hoped… she wanted Cass to feel at home here. Elsa wondered what had chased her away from Corona.

"Your majesty." Cassandra curtsied, fluid and practiced.

From what Elsa had read, she couldn't have picked a better woman, but only time would tell if she'd actually mesh here or not, "Please, call me Elsa, at least when it's just us."

Nodding, Cassandra relaxed. Or at least she tried to. "All right, Elsa. So when should we get started?"

"You probably want to settle in to your room at least, before getting to work," Elsa said. "It's...Anna, where are you going?"

Anna had started to drag Kristoff towards the door, and paused. She laughed a little too loudly, "Oh, just got… things to do. And you guys should totally start getting to know each other and stuff."

She waved her hand and tugged a very confused looking Kristoff out the door.

"Your sister is nice," Cassandra said, finding it easier to stare at the door than look at the Queen.

Elsa just raised an eyebrow.

"And a little exhausting."

Laughing, Elsa gestured for Cassandra to walk with her. "You don't know the half of it. I don't know where she gets all that energy."

"I used to think Raps was sun powered." Cassandra winced. She really had to stop doing that. "Princess Rapunzel. Almost as much energy as Anna and twice the optimism."

"That's a lot of optimism."

"Yeah…" Cassandra sighed.

Stopping at a door, Elsa studied her. She felt like there was more to what was bothering Cassandra than what she was letting on. "Is everything all right?"

"Just a little home sick."

"That's understandable." She opened the door to reveal Cass's room. It was larger than the one in Corona, with large windows and a view of the bay. "My chambers are at the end of the hall. I've...never really had a lady-in-waiting before. I don't know what to expect."

Putting a hand on Elsa's back, Cassandra smiled reassuringly. "Luckily, I know all the tricks." Arendelle would have its own nuances she'd have to learn, but she didn't think that would take too long. It was the cultural aspects she'd have a harder time with, but that would come with exposure and time.

"You won't have to help me dress too often at least," Elsa said, acutely aware of the hand on her back. She found it difficult to step away and yet she did, turning towards Cass and twirling her hand. A swirl of frost ran up her body, turning her dress from her royal robes into a hip-hugging gown in a dark navy shade.

"I guess that makes my job a little easier," Cassandra said, voice just a little too tight and eyes just a little too wide.

Cassandra's voice wasn't the only one that was a little too tight. Elsa took a deep breath. "Your things should be here any moment. Once you're settled, come find me. I'll be in my room."