A/N: Hello beauties and gentlebeauties! Sorry for the delay on this. The mood just struck me to give this piece an update. I'm not sure when the next chapter will come.

From then on, Elsa wasn't the same around Magdeline. She was more reclusive than usual, talking to Maggie less and letting her leave early. Maggie, of course, noticed the change, but had hoped it would be temporary. Except, Elsa didn't stop acting this way. This continued for days, then a week, and Magdeline started to worry.

One day, the princess pulled her handmaiden away from her chores. She wanted to discuss something, and the brunette began to worry. "Maggie," Elsa began, not looking directly at her, "your friendship means everything to me, but...for your own safety, I don't think you should spend so much time around me. You should only come in here when it is necessary." She finally connected eyes with the younger woman. "Do you understand?"

Magdeline was silent, averting her eyes to the floor. She swallowed, rubbing her hands together. Her insides were twisting, hurting. Elsa waited patiently, until Maggie finally stated, "I'm not going anywhere, Elsa." She looked at the princess' shoes. "I know that you want to protect me, but I refuse to leave your side. Whether or not you need me, I need you, Princess." Maggie's brown orbs connected with Elsa's sapphires once more. "I'm never leaving you."

Elsa could only stare. She then looked down, nodded, and smiled.

"Elsa… Elsa wake up now. Come on." Slowly, Elsa sat up before Magdeline could begin lightly shaking her. "Today is your big day, your highness." The princess cracked open her eyes to gaze at Magdeline. Nine years had passed since they first met, and in that time Magdeline had blossomed from a small girl with messy, brown hair to a beautiful young woman with flowing, curly locks and bangs that framed her ever large, beaming, brown eyes - a small, blue crack running through the left one. "Your dress is ready, but you should wash up first before dressing."

Magdeline backed off the edge of the bed so that Elsa could finally get up. She rubbed her eyelids tiredly and stifled a yawn with the back of her hand. When her eyes adjusted and landed on the dress in front of her changing screen, the gravity of that day fell upon her, and she frowned. "Today is…coronation day."

Noticing the now apparent dismay on Elsa's face, Magdeline placed a comforting hand on her right arm. "It will all be okay, your majesty. The gates will only be open for a day, and then you'll have solitude once more." She swallowed, knowing that no matter what she said, she wouldn't be able to calm Elsa's nerves, not today. "I-I've already run a bath for you. It's still warm, I'm sure. Would you like me to check?"

"What good would that do?" Elsa asked, not looking directly at Magdeline, rather at the space around her. "Any water I touch goes instantly cold, anyway. On a day like today, you might come to find me in a tub of ice." She tried to smile, but only one corner of her mouth complied. "Maggie…why don't you go get ready? You can come back for me later. I'd like some time alone this morning."

Magdeline hesitated, then nodded. "Of course, your majesty. I won't be gone too long." She curtsied. "Call for me, when you're ready to be dressed." With that, she left, and Elsa stared after her, wondering why, in the past few days, Magdeline had become so much more proper around her. The fear that Magdeline was slowly starting to treat her more like the queen rather than her best friend came into her mind, and Elsa hoped that their friendship wouldn't be in jeopardy after today.

Alone in the servants quarters, Magdeline stared down at the dress that had been laid on her bed. It was plain, and blue – not her most favorite color. Magdeline only loved the color blue if it was the same shade as Elsa's eyes, but she had never come upon anything else that hue. The dress had long sleeves, and no details or lace or ribbons. This was all to be expected, though. Being only a servant, Magdeline wasn't destined to wear beautiful bodices or frills like Elsa did.

After picking up the dress for close inspection, she noticed that most of the stitching was perfect, but in some places it fumbled, falling out of its perfect line and making a sloppy curve before rejoining the proper pattern. A smile came across Magdeline's face to realize this was her mother's stitching. She hadn't seen her mother as much, since she started spending her nights in the princess' room. How long had her mother been working on this dress? From what Magdeline could remember, her mother had hardly gotten any free time, after the king and queen reduced the staff of the castle.

Magdeline's hands began to tremble a little, though she didn't know why, as she took off the dress she'd been wearing and pulled on the one that her mother had made her. The fabric didn't breathe well – not good for summer. She sighed, but smiled, thanking her mother in her mind for the thoughtful gift.

She brushed her hair the best that she could, putting it up in a bun that was in no way perfect, and covered it with a white bun cap. Magdeline wandered about the castle to make sure that no one needed help preparing. Everyone that she approached told her that they wouldn't want her to get her nice dress dirty, and turned her away. Enough time had passed, and so Magdeline made her way back up to Elsa's room, unlocking the door and letting herself in after making sure that Anna wasn't around. Magdeline was fairly sure she'd seen Anna not much earlier singing and dancing with the paintings in the art gallery, so she presumed that it was safe to enter Elsa's room.

The soon to be queen was wearing just a small white dressing gown, a corset, and bloomers, staring out her window, which was progressively sheeting with frost. She turned upon hearing Magdeline come in, her face frightened. "There are…so many people outside," she said quietly.

Magdeline nodded, coming towards Elsa, a hand reached out to her. "Why don't we get you dressed, and I'll fix up your hair?" When Elsa wasn't moving, Magdeline gently took her hand and led her over to the changing screen. "It will be okay. All you have to do is make an appearance for a few hours. I'll be right there with you, I promise." She squeezed Elsa's hand before letting go, taking Elsa's dress off the mannequin. "This is going to look fabulous on you." Magdeline smiled. "Let's put it on, yeah?"

After Elsa was dressed, she sat on the edge of the bed, and Magdeline sat on her knees behind her in order to put up her hair. "Maggie?" Elsa finally said after being silent for so long. When Magdeline hmmed in question, Elsa pointed out, "You've been acting differently towards me lately. Why is that?"

Magdeline stopped moving her fingers for a second, being totally still and silent, before continuing to put up Elsa's hair, answering, "You're going to be the queen now. It's time I start treating you like the royalty you are. I've always treated you like you're a normal person, but you're not." When Elsa's shoulders became more rigid, Magdeline sighed, adding, "I meant in the way that you're a princess, about to be the Queen of Arendelle, and I never give you the proper respect that you deserve." Elsa turned her head back slightly, and Magdeline groaned when this made her lose her grip on the princess' hair, causing her to start over again. "Please, keep your head still, your majesty."

"But I don't want you to treat me like the queen. I've always enjoyed talking to you in such casual ways. It's made me feel normal." Elsa closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. "If you start treating me like everyone else does, then you won't be the same Maggie I grew up with."

Magdeline sighed as she pinned up Elsa's hair. "I will always be here for you, Princess, and I will always be someone that you can talk to and depend on. But it's time I grow up and realize that we're not equals." When Elsa turned around with an offended look, Magdeline scoffed. "Look at us, Elsa. You're beautiful, regal, and you wear only the nicest things, even when no one but I can see you. And me…I'm so ordinary." She looked down at herself. "We can't be treated the same, because we're not the same."

For a few seconds more, Elsa continued to stare at Magdeline, completely taken aback by what she'd heard. She then turned away, rising from the bed. "You're right, we aren't the same. You are ordinary…and I'm not." Ice spread on the ground beneath her as she walked out, closing the door quietly.

"Elsa…" She stood to follow, but the princess was already gone. "I never meant to make you feel like a monster. You just needed to be able to feel how important you are…" Magdeline also left, going the opposite way of Elsa. She knew that Elsa was hurt and scared, and that it would be best just to leave her alone.

As Elsa waited for time to tick by in her father's old study, she walked to the window, looking out once more at the masses below. Soon, the entire kingdom, and people from other parts of the world would be in her home, just to get a look at her. Elsa didn't want to be seen by anyone, but she knew that she didn't have a choice. She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. "Don't let them in… Don't let them see."

She turned away from the window walking over to a small table against the wall, just under a painting of her father during his coronation. On the table was a small, blue, glass box and a tall candlestick, mimics of the scepter and orb she would be holding later. Elsa pulled off her left glove. "Be the good girl you always have to be." She took off her other glove, laying both of them on the table. "Conceal…" She lifted the glass box and candlestick into her hands. "Don't feel." She turned, pretending to be in the process of her coronation. "Put on a show." Frost spread through her fingers, encasing the glass box and climbing up the candlestick. "Make one wrong move and everyone will know." She winced, turning to put the objects back on the table behind her.

She looked down at her hands. "But it's only for today…" She pulled her gloves back on. "It's agony to wait…" Elsa quickly walked over to the doors of the office, throwing them open. "Tell the guards to open up the gate!" She began her slow stroll down the corridors, out to the people. Just before entering the main hall, she leaned over to one of the servants. "You remember the gift that we discussed?" The servant lady nodded, and Elsa continued, saying, "Go now. Leave it on my bed in its box." The servant curtsied, and just before she could run off, Elsa whispered, "Thank you…"

With that, she continued walking, her arms folding neatly in front of her. "Don't let them in. Don't let them see…" She closed her eyes, breathing a sigh, her hands now on the door knobs of the doors that led to the balcony. Elsa slowly opened the doors. "Be the good girl you always have to be." She walked out onto to the balcony, and people awed, gazing up at her. "Conceal… Conceal, don't feel. Don't let them know."

"You're singing again?" Elsa turned to see Magdeline, a tiny smile on her face. When Elsa didn't smile back, Magdeline's face stopped glowing so brightly, and her smile faded. She curtsied before saying, "Please forgive me for earlier, your majesty. I was rude towards you."

Elsa scowled, almost unnoticeably, before turning back to look down at the people. "Please, stop that. It's as if you didn't hear me earlier. I don't want you to be so formal around me; I don't like it." After being silent for a moment, without looking back at Magdeline, she added, "And I don't prefer being called 'your majesty,' not by you at least. And I don't like all the curtsying. Please, don't act any differently, not now." She turned back, her face stern, but something in her eyes faltering. "I don't want you to change."

Magdeline stayed still, now standing straight from her curtsy. She smiled and nodded after a bit of time passed. "Nothing would make me happier, Elsa, but, would you mind if I did act more properly, just for today? There will be people around, and I wouldn't want anyone to see me as rude for treating you like a peer."

Elsa pulled her lips in between her teeth, as if she was trying to hold back from saying something, then turned once more to look over the rail of the balcony. "Just for today. But tonight, when everyone is gone, you'll act normal again." This was the first time that Elsa was actually giving a command to Magdeline instead of a request. Before the handmaiden could say anything in return, Elsa added, "Before I forget, go to my bedroom now. There is a present for you on my bed."

Magdeline looked at her in confusion. "What do you…a present? For me?" Slowly, her face lit up, and Elsa turned back to smile at her. Elsa nodded her head in the direction of her bedroom, idling her to go, and Magdeline giggled, stepping forward to wrap Elsa in a quick, loose hug, before she ran off down the hall, holding her skirt in her hands. It had been so long since she'd gotten gift, and now, she would be receiving two in the same day. Upon reaching Elsa's door, she suddenly remembered her own gift for the princess. She would have to grab it quickly, after opening her own.

First, she made sure no one else was in the hall, then she opened Elsa's door, going inside. It was different being in the room without Elsa; everything felt too lonely and quiet. She almost forgot to lock the door behind her. On Elsa's bed was a white robe box, tied with a dark blue, velvet bow. Maggie could only smile, walking across the still-icy floor, and sitting on the bed. She pulled the box into her lap, gingerly pulling the velvet ribbon until it came undone. Taking a deep, excited breath, Magdeline removed the lid of the box.

Inside was a beautiful, pale yellow dress. Maggie had never seen a dress this color, and it took her breath away. The material of the dress was smooth and soft - she wasn't exactly sure what it was. She stood, pulling the dress from the box and unfolding it. The sleeves were three-quarter, and puffed. A yellow ribbon pulled together a chestnut bodice. Around the hem of the dress, there were small, embroidered daisies. Maggie could only stare at the wonderful, outlandish gift.

It was only then, as she studied the hem of the dress, that she noticed a folded piece of paper on the floor. Carefully, the young woman laid her gift on the bed, then bent to retrieve the note. This must have fallen from the box when she pulled out the dress. Elsa's handwriting was so wonderful. Maggie had always admired and envied her penmanship. The note read:

Dearest Maggie,

Please accept this offering. This does nothing to show my feelings of gratitude.

The handmaiden smiled wide, folding the note and placing it on the bed. She quickly changed into her newest dress, leaving the other on Elsa's bed. She would just have to come back for it later. Maggie took her time in front of Elsa's vanity, giving herself a new hairdo worthy of the marvelous dress she now wore. Her straight bangs hung just above her eyes, and the shorter locks of her hair fell around her face in natural curls. The rest of her hair was put in a braid, which she rolled into a bun.

When she was satisfied with her appearance, Maggie scurried over to the bed. Underneath was a small, light pink box. She giggled as she made her way to Elsa's stationary desk. Magdeline was sure that the princess wouldn't mind if she took some of her paper. Thus, she wrote a note for Elsa, leaving it atop the pink box.

It was when Magdeline turned to leave that something caught her eye. In Elsa's waste bin, there was a crumpled ball of paper. She cocked her head, looking at the trash suspiciously. Sitting in Elsa's desk chair, she pulled out the piece of paper, and unraveled it. It was just like the note that Elsa had included in Maggie's present, except...

Dearest Maggie,

Please accept this offering. This does nothing to show my feelings of-

The next word had been scratched out. The brunette's curiosity overtook her, so she studied the writing carefully. Under and around the mess of ink, she could just make out the word...love. Her breath hitched in her throat. Of course...Elsa couldn't have intended her to think she meant a romantic love. Elsa loved Maggie platonically, as a friend. That must have been why she had tossed out the note, just to avoid confusion. Still, Maggie hummed happily, closed her eyes, and clutched the note to her chest.

Just then, she could hear the bells. It was time for the coronation. She gasped, dropping the note to the floor, grabbing her skirt in her hands, and hurrying out. There wasn't a chance Magdeline would miss this day. Elsa, her dearest and oldest friend, was going to become Queen of Arendelle.

A/N: Five reviews on the first chapter. Welcome to the wall of fame! Again, sorry for the delay! You're all wonderful!

Wall of Fame

AllSpark Princess, Ro, Nas, and one guest