Elsa had lost herself in paperwork early in the evening, and continued on well into the late hours of night. Several times, when unconsciousness threatened to swallow her coherent thoughts, she imagined Anna scolding her with mock anger and attempting to put her to bed, like she had so many times before. The gentle laughter kept sleep at bay for a few precious moments. After dressing for bed, though she had no intention of sleeping yet, Elsa returned to her desk to sign some sort of trade document that she probably should have gone over a little more thouroughly, especially given the late hour. She had barely began re-reading the paper, when what sounded to the tired Queen like an explosion rang out down the hall.

Immediately, she was wide awake and in the hall, searching for the sound. Gerda was at her side in moments, realizing with a sigh of relief that the Queen had nothing to do with the late night ruckus. They shared a momentary look that spoke 'Anna,' withotut words. But as the pair rounded the corner to head down the long hall toward the Princess's room, Elsa swore she heard whimpering coming from the only occupied guest room. She stopped, and waited to see if the noise would come again, unsure if she had actually heard anything, or if the night was simply playing tricks on her overworked mind.

"AHHHH!" A scream sounded from the other side of the door.

Forgetting her manners, Elsa simply opened the door and let herself inside. Gerda followed close behind, figuring silently that if Anna truly had been responsible, surely she would have come running for someone. Probably, Elsa. It took the Queen only a moment to assess the room; glass was shattered along the floor, and a sobbing Carolina was crumpled at the side of her bed, looking wholly terrified and bleeding profusely. She turned to Gerda with a worried look tightening her face.

"Please get someone up here to clean up the glass immediately. Also . . . Could you peek in at Anna and make sure she's alright?"

"Of course," Gerda said with a short nod. "Would you like me to tend to the child as well?" She asked, directing her eyes to Carolina. Elsa smiled carefully.

"No, I can handle that, thank you. I will however need the supplies to do so, if you would be so kind." Gerda reached out to Elsa's shoulder and rubbed it soothingly, smiling at her as if the girl were her own daughter. Some days, it certainly felt that way.

"Of course," she said again. "I'll put some alcohol and bandages in your bathroom."

"Thank you."

Elsa watched Gerda return the way they came, before turning back to Carolina, who was staring at her with cold green eyes the size of dinnerplates. Tears ran down Carolina's pink cheeks in torrents as Elsa gracefully manuvered her way around all the fragments of glass littering the floor. Ruby blood spilled onto the plush carpet just in front of where Elsa crouched to inspect the girl's wounds. They were none too deep, or incredibly serious, but the blood continued to flow at a rate Elsa was uncomfortable with.

"Are you alright?" She asked Carolina in a quiet tone.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Elsa," Carolina cried, her entire frame shaking.

"Hush now, this is all easily fixed. Please, just tell me you're okay."

"I . . . I d-don't k-kn-know," she stammered. Elsa couldn't tell if it was fear that was making the girl tremble, or the pain.

"Well, let's get you cleaned up and see." She moved to take Carolina in her arms, but the girl squealed in fright, holding up her hands as if she might explode if Elsa touched her.

"No! No, please! Y-you shouldn't t-t-touch me! I don't wanna hurt you!" The words took Elsa back to a time she had yet to come to grips with. The Queen could clearly remember being terrified to touch anyone, even her parents. She also remembered how desperately she wanted it in return, no matter how hard she pushed it away. Bringing herself back to the present, Elsa reached out slowly, letting Carolina watch her, and molded a cool palm to the girl's cheek. It didn't surprise her in the least, that after only a few seconds, Carolina leaned into the touch just a little.

"I'll be fine," Elsa assured her in little more than a whisper.
Without another thought, Elsa took Carolina under the arms, and lifted her in one swift move to her feet. Her leg was so weak that she began to slump to the floor again, but Elsa was there to catch her before she could fall. Carolina noted with the part of her mind not totally engulphed with thoughts of pain, that the Queen was much stronger than she appeared. It seemed like nothing at all for the royal to lift Carolina off her feet and hold her close, like a small child. For a short moment she wondered if she should be embarrassed having someone hold her like this, but it felt too good for her to give it any more thought, so she didn't.

Elsa carried Carolina close to her, pressing the girl's tiny head into the crook of her neck. Her skin was overheated, and she continued to shake as they made the short trip back down the hall to Elsa's room. It reminded the Queen of the times when her young sister would join her at night, afraid of the loud thunderstorms that often rested just outside the castle. Anna would shake and cry just the same as Elsa held her close, doing everything she could to make the Princess feel safe from whatever frightened her. Granted, there was something much more complicated going on with the little girl in her arms than a simple thunderstorm, but Elsa was determined to get to the bottom of it.

/ / / /

The glass came out easily enough, especially when Elsa used her powers to numb Carolina's leg before attempting to remove any of it. Gerda had lingered at the entrance of Elsa's spacious bathroom, watching with pride as her queen tended to the girl's wounds; removing the glass, washing the cuts with alcohol, and then bandaging them to help with the bleeding. A warm feeling spread in her chest that she couldn't quite explain, and she thought her heart might burst when Elsa gently kissed away Carolina's tears before picking her up again like a baby without a care.

"Your Majesty, I would be happy to take her back to bed so you can actually get some sleep," Gerda offered, holding out her arms for Carolina.

"No thank you. I would like to speak with her first. I'll make sure she gets back when we're finished." And with that, Elsa placed the girl on the edge of her bed, silently instructing Gerda to leave them be for the time being.

Carolina watched with a sour feeling in her stomach as the head maid quietly exited Elsa's bedroom, leaving her alone with the Queen. This was the last conversation she wanted to have with the young ruler of Arendelle, though Reiner begged her to do so before leaving Carolina in her care. This was why she was here. This was the moment Reiner had counted on. And honestly, she hated him a little for it.