Elsa was dressed in one of her best day dresses and soon to meet the first prince on the list that her council had provided. She wrapped her arm around her stomach. She felt ill. Anna was sitting on her bed and she watched her silently from across the room. She waited for the dam to break because her sister was never silent for long.

"You don't have to do this Elsa. You can tell those old stuff shirts that they can stick their list where the sun doesn't shine. You're their queen after all."

Elsa smiled at her sister's colorful words, and then sobered and shook her head.

"No, they are right; it's what's best for Arendelle."

Anna became agitated. "Screw Arendelle. I don't give a fig about the kingdom if ruling it is going to force you to do something you don't want to. You should marry for love, Elsa."

She felt her own agitation rise. "Enough Anna, you don't really mean that. You know what would happen to our people if Archie were to become king. And make no mistake; he would do everything in his power to overthrow me if given half a chance."

Her sister got up and started pacing. "It's not fair Elsa. It's just…not fair." She finished helplessly. The queen didn't state the obvious, that life often was unfair and no one knew it better than they.

Anna didn't want Elsa to sacrifice her happiness on the altar of duty. She knew that even after all this time her sister felt guilty for the freeze. She worked herself to the bone trying to make Arendelle a better place for all its citizens. It wasn't uncommon for Anna to find her big sister asleep at her desk after a particularly grueling day, her food trays untouched. Those days made Anna's heart ache. Elsa was an amazing person and it wasn't just because of her powers.

Her memories of her sister before her thirteen years of isolation were faded and worn with time, but she never forgot what she was like. Before fear got its hooks into Elsa, she was fun. She'd always been more reserved and less dramatic than Anna, but she was also mischievous and wickedly smart. The trouble they'd gotten into may have been instigated by Anna, but it was planned and initiated by Elsa.

Her sister could still be fun and mischievous, but it was tempered by adulthood and responsibility. Her natural reserve was sometimes mistaken for coldness, but Anna knew Elsa had an almost infinite capacity for love. She wasn't reserved around her family and it was that private Elsa that Anna loved best of all. It was the Elsa that would secretly conjure ice and stuff it down the back of Kristoff's shirt, and the one that would make snowflakes for Sven to lick. It was the Elsa who would ice skate in the ballroom when she thought no one was watching, or the one who would roast marshmallows with Olaf so she could adjust his flurry to make sure he didn't melt.

It was the Elsa who patiently taught Kristoff to read.

Her husband didn't know she knew about that, but she'd seen them one late night in the library. He'd been embarrassed that he'd never learned, and he hadn't wanted to admit his lack of ability to her. She'd never told her sister what she'd seen, but she would be forever grateful to her for teaching him and allowing him to keep his pride.

Those were just a few of the reasons in Anna's eyes why Elsa deserved to be happy.

Her distress must have shown on her face because the queen's expression softened. She crossed to her sister and pulled her into a hug. Anna clung to her, relishing the contact. It wasn't often Elsa initiated a hug and when she did Anna felt she could fly. Elsa was getting much better at them too. She squeezed her big sister tight.

"I want you to be happy." She felt Elsa sigh as she released her and linked their arms.

"Who's to say one of these men won't make me happy? It doesn't hurt to give them a chance."

Anna privately thought none of these princes would be able to really accept and understand her introverted sister, but she kept that thought to herself. She knew of only one man who would really make the queen happy in all aspects, but he was being a stupid butthead right now.

Elsa took her sisters hands in her own. "The law needs to be honored; Arendelle needs more than one possible heir. I can do this for my people."

"It's a stupid, antiquated law and you know it! Why can't we just get it overturned?"

The queen sighed. "Father tried; remember? But Archie is on the High Court of Judges. He made sure it would not happen."

Anna grumbled something about really hating that man and Elsa privately agreed. Her little sister was biting her lip like she wanted to say more and finally Elsa prompted.

"Just spit it out Anna."

The princess flushed red and said in a rush. "But what about love making?"

The queen dropped her sister's hands, stunned.

"E-Excuse me?"

Anna rolled her eyes. "I said what about love making, intimacy—you know that thing that makes babies? You are going to have to do that with—whomever and I don't—that is—"

Elsa felt her own face flush and a light flurry had started. She drew a deep breath, counted slowly to ten, and composed herself.

"A-Anna I don't think that is going to matter all that much. It's simply biology and once I have an heir I won't have to endure…"

"Endure? See that's what I'm worried about. I don't want you to have to endure making love to your husband. It should be something special shared with the person you love and it feels amaz…"

She cut herself off and blushed deep red. Elsa was exceedingly uncomfortable with this line of conversation. She could feel frost gathering at her fingertips. She was not naïve; she knew that her future husband would expect to share her bed.

When Elsa had turned sixteen her mother had felt that it was time to explain the nuances of the intimate relationship that can be shared between a man and a woman, but had stopped when an overwhelmed Elsa had frozen the floor and walls of her room.

She understood the basics, but she privately admitted she was slightly terrified of the reality. She had control of her powers, but touch was still hard for her and full blown intimacy? She wasn't sure if she could do it. She sighed and looked at her sister. She saw distress swimming in those blue eyes that matched her own. It seemed this was important to Anna.

"Don't worry overmuch about this. I promise that I won't rush into a decision. I am, however, willing to give this a chance."

Anna sighed in defeat and nodded. She crossed to the queen and took her hands in hers.

"I know that, and I know you Elsa. You're not like me, looking to feel butterflies in your stomach and heart palpitations when a man you admire pays attention to you. You're more likely to over analyze each person, which in this case is probably a good thing, but promise me this. Promise me that you won't choose someone who doesn't understand and appreciate you. You are amazing and the person you choose should also think you're amazing…and you should think he's amazing. That's what I have with Kristoff. Its love and respect and absolute trust and I know you don't trust that easily, which in this case is another good thing, but please, please, please make sure he will make you happy before choosing him. Don't make the decision all about the kingdom. Promise me, Elsa."

Elsa smiled softly at her baby sister and squeezed her hand affectionately.

"I promise…now let's go meet prince charming."

Anna smirked. "And hope he's not a frog in prince's clothing."

All of Arendelle was abuzz with the news.

The queen was being courted by twelve suitors, twelve princes, and the citizenry was in various stages of eagerness and expectation. The meetings would be held over the next thirty days, but each prince only had one day in which to woo their queen into accepting their courtship.

There were very few diversions in the life of a commoner. Even the most prosperous merchant worked, and the daily drudgery was tedious, monotonous, and uneventful. The courtship of their queen would prove to be grand entertainment. A list of the men had been obtained through slightly nefarious means and bets were already being made as to which one of the lucky princes would win their queen's hand.

Would it Prince Anders of Westwyvern whose mighty feats had been sung by traveling bards?

Or would it be Prince Willem of Osterland who was reported to be as large and powerful as an ox.

Or perhaps it would be Prince Natanael of Maradova who was said to be the most beautiful man in the world.

Or maybe it would be Prince Filip of Err who was a master horseman.

Or it would be Prince Gerold of North Caldon who was supposed to be a fierce warrior.

Or hopefully it would be Prince Odin of Lorthor, named for the mighty god of all, who was said to be one of the most successful generals Lorthor had ever had.

Then there was Prince Ivar of East Masterdon, Prince Benedikt of West Masterdon, and Prince Cornelis of South Masterdon, fraternal triplets who managed their eldest brother's holdings for the Island Nation of Masterdon.

That left Prince Matteus of Astok, Prince Anton of Guntherland, and Prince Tomas of The Northern Isles, all lesser princes with little to no information about their characters or accomplishments available to make judgments about them. Still, it was all very exciting.

Citizens chatted about nothing else as they went to the market, did laundry, worked on the docks, and did all those daily things they'd always done, but now it was with a feeling of anticipation. Everyone, from the oldest curmudgeon to the smallest child, had one question.

Who would the queen pick?

Elsa already had a headache and it wasn't even noon yet. She glanced at the man next to her, who seemed to like the sound of his own voice, and prayed for deliverance. Prince Anders of Westwyvern was the most pompous, self-absorbed person she'd ever had the displeasure of meeting, and if she had to listen to him any longer she might just run off to her ice palace again and never return.

He was talking about a great boar hunt he once went on that sounded suspiciously like the myth of the Calydonian Boar. She wasn't sure what was more insulting, his boastful lie or the fact that he probably believed she wouldn't be well read enough to know the story. She'd known in the first five minutes of meeting him that the prince did not have a high opinion of female intelligence.

He droned on and Elsa started doing equations in her head to pass the time and appear interested. Westwyvern was one of their trade partners and she didn't wish to insult the man. She, however, had no intention of allowing him to court her either.

He was still talking. She took a break from equations to study him.

He wasn't a bad looking man she supposed. He had thick blond hair and eyes a few shades darker blue than her own. His physique was average and he dressed well. His voice had a nasal quality that was beginning to grate upon her nerve endings, and he seemed to be the touchy sort. He'd brushed the back of his hand along her bare arm and twice he'd attempted to place his arm around her. She'd successfully dodged the attempts.

"Queen Elsa, are you listening to me." With a stifled groan she turned to him with a practiced smile. It was her polite, political smile.

"Of course my lord, you were expounding upon your heroics and daring when you single-handedly kept the boar for goring Sir Percival. It must have been quite difficult to do seeing as you were overladen with Lady Winifred's new bonnet, which you'd managed to snatch from the crushing grasp of the north wind." He completely missed the note of sarcasm in her voice. He puffed out his chest and an arrogant smile lit his features. Elsa rolled her eyes when he wasn't looking and massaged her temples.

It was going to be a long day.

Josef didn't often stay overlong in the palace, but today he found he was making excuses to linger. He was in the council room going over requests for audiences with the queen, when low and behold she hastily darted into the room and closed the door just enough to peek around the door frame.

"Queen Elsa, wait! You have yet to hear my account of the time I stopped a beast from terrorizing a small, provincial town in the south of France!"

Josef heard footsteps go by and the queen sighed in relief and shut the door. A small smile quirked those full lips, but it disappeared when those sky blue eyes noticed him. He felt a twinge of regret that he caused that smile to vanish.

"Master Josef, I am surprised to see you here. I thought everyone had left for the evening." Her voice was cool and her eyes remote. Obviously she'd not forgiven him. He stacked the papers he'd been reviewing, stood, and gave a correct bow.

"My apologies, Majesty, I was reviewing some requests for audiences with you. I was just about to make my way home."

Josef stepped smartly from behind the desk and made his way towards the door. She watched him with those eyes that slayed him every time. She was trying so hard to hide her hurt and she was failing so miserably. Oh, he was sure she could fool others with that icy mask she adopted to protect herself, but he'd spent the last year of his life studying every nuance of her beautiful face. He badly wanted to explain why he'd done what he'd done, but he would then have to confess things he never had any intention of confessing… it was best he let it lay.

He was almost home free, his hand on the door handle, when her voice stopped him.

"Why didn't you tell me Josef?"

He closed his eyes and gathered his resolve. He didn't miss the fact that she'd left out the honorific. It was something she only did in private, a mark of the friendship they'd developed. He turned to her and made sure his face reflected nothing of what he was feeling, but he made the mistake of looking her in the eye. Strength and vulnerability reflected back at him from crystalline orbs, she was such a fascinating blend of them both. He opened his mouth to defend his decision, but what came out instead was.

"I didn't tell you because as I stated before, you would have stopped them. You're right though, perhaps I did you a disservice not telling you. It seemed like the right thing at the time."

Her expression was stricken. "Why? Why on earth would you think that was the right thing to do?"

He shifted uncomfortably. Here in lay the problem. He was in love with her. He knew this without question, and it wasn't simply because she was beautiful (she was), it was because he'd never met anyone with a heart like hers. He knew that she had a deep capacity for love. He'd seen that love in the care she provide for her people, her kingdom, her sister, her sister's husband, his reindeer, and one very magical snowman.

Her family and her people were everything to her, but he saw the longing she couldn't hide sometimes. He knew what he'd told Kristoff was true. She wanted someone to share her life with, a partner, and he wasn't deluded enough to believe he was good enough for her even if he wanted her with every fiber of his being. So he'd done the only thing he could and gave her the only answer he could think of.

"Because I can see the loneliness in your eyes, Majesty."

She twisted angrily and turned her back on him.

"You presume too much."

She heard his sigh and heard his barely muttered.

"If only I could presume. I would…" He cut himself off. Elsa turned towards him and eyed him curiously. She was not ignorant of the fact that her advisor was a handsome man. She just did everything in her power to ignore that fact. She ignored that his black hair was thick and soft and disregarded her increasingly frequent urge to touch it and run her fingers through it. She convinced herself that his light gray eyes were not that special hue of the sky after a winter storm; that hue that only appeared when the first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds.

She denied that he amused her, denied that he was valiant and kind. The one thing she could not deny was his razor sharp intelligence and how it affected her. Elsa was drawn to intelligence. It was her Achilles' heel. She especially liked how he never underestimated her intelligence…something Prince Anders needed a lesson in.

Elsa studied her advisor and felt that familiar nervous flutter low in her belly.

It was best that she ignore that too.

She liked how he met her eyes without flinching, liked how he never acted afraid of her and was willing to disagree with her when needed. She just…liked him, she had since she'd met him, and she realized something rather startling. She trusted him. She did not trust many people.

"Josef," she said softly. He kept his expression blank.

"Yes, Majesty?"

She waved her hand. "Elsa…just call me Elsa when we are like this." A slight blush dusted her cheeks as she stammered. "I don't…I just…I consider you a friend. So please, when we are not in a formal setting I would like you to call me Elsa."

Josef had to swallow past the lump that was suddenly lodged in his throat. She was giving him permission to speak her name. Angels should know better than to allow mortals such liberties, but he was not going to argue with her about it.

"Y-Yes…Elsa."

He tried not to let it show how much he liked the sound of her name on his lips.

"I don't approve of why you kept this suitor business from me…but I think I understand your motivation a bit better. I would like you to do something for me."

He stood up straighter.

"Anything maj—Elsa." She smiled at him and he felt it like a bolt to his chest. God, he was pathetic.

"Meet me here each night after the day's suitor has retired. I will admit that I need some advice from someone I trust. I have Anna, but I don't think she is very pleased with this…whatever this is, and I know she cannot be impartial. None of these men will be good enough in her eyes so I need eyes that can remain impartial."

Josef felt his heart grind to a halt. She was asking him to help her select her husband…her king. She was asking him to pull his heart from his chest and stomp all over it, even if she didn't realize it. She must have seen the hesitation in his face for hers fell.

"N-Never mind, it was an idiotic idea." He took a deep breath.

"No, no its not. I am humbled that you trust my opinion in such a matter and I will be your sounding board my queen."

"Elsa," she softly reminded him, there was a twinkle in her blue eyes. He couldn't help but smile back.

"Elsa." He nodded decisively. This time her smile was wider and a teasing lilt colored her next words.

"You're not staying to help me decide if Prince Anders is the man for me?"

He all but snorted.

"That pompous ass? I have no idea what Teodor was thinking putting him on the list in the first place."

She laughed outright and love sick fool that he was it made him feel warm inside. Her laughter eventually subsided and she grew pensive again, but at least her eyes were forgiving as they regarded him. She glanced towards his hand on the door knob, smiled softly, and gently said.

"Goodnight Josef."

He smiled at her again, sure that all his silly feelings could be read on his face. He needed to get out of here before she caught on. Still, his body was reluctant to open the door and take the steps to walk away from her. Finally, after a moment that probably stretched too long, he nodded and firmly stated.

"Goodnight…Elsa." He ignored the fact that her name felt like a caress.

He left and she watched him go, her eyes thoughtful.