Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen

A/n: This site currently hates me. Suppose all I have to say is thanks for reading along, hope you're having, or had, a fabulous Monday, and I hope you enjoy!

3) The Asking

The first prince arrives two weeks later. At first, Anna comes up with plans to avert Elsa having to marry anyone. Luckily, Elsa manages to nip the more dangerous ones in the bud and, even though Anna is upset, for some reason, she eventually agrees to stop the plans. But she doesn't stop worrying about Elsa. Her conversations leap between angry, sad, determined, hopeful – often all within the space of ten minutes. Elsa almost feels weary trying to keep up with her. She expected Anna to take the news badly but not in this way.

At least she accepted that only one of them need be miserable. Probably. Just in case, she decides that the first week with any prince will be for Elsa and him alone, with his retinue being entertained by trusted nobles, just in case Anna is hiding a plan and will implement it immediately. She doesn't tell Anna this, of course. She simply says that she wants to get to know the prince away from the court.

In any event, the first prince is a failure. From the moment he arrives, Elsa can see that he is arrogant. She grits her teeth and talks to him and the first day passes … it passes.

On the second day, he suggests doing something in the evening. Elsa, who is already sick of him but determined not to cause a war, says she would love to but it would need to be after her evening meal with Anna. In response, he grows angry, even after she explains that due to circumstances, this is the only time of the day she has to spend with her sister and current heir.

"Will you always dine with her in the evening? Even when we're married?"

Elsa eyes him coolly and says, "I suppose you'll never find out. Since we won't be getting married."

Kai congratulates her afterwards. For a few nights, she worries that she actually has started a war. Then she receives a letter from the queen of his country, explaining that her son told her what happened and she would like to personally congratulate Elsa on bringing him down a peg or two.

My husband wanted some kind of repercussion, of course. I reminded him that half of the reason we sent our son to Arendelle was to get him out of our hair. The only anger you have incurred here is that we need to find another way to make him grow up.

Anna giggles when Elsa shows it to her.

"But you can skip the evening meal, if you need to." She fidgets. "I know how important this is. I mean … I don't like it but … I guess…"

It doesn't matter what Anna says. Elsa can see in her eyes how much this is hurting her.

"I'm not skipping evening meals because of some man in a crown," she says. "Besides, you're the perfect get-out clause," she adds. "I was going to fake food poisoning to escape whatever activity he had planned for the night."

Anna giggles again and it makes Elsa smile. She likes making Anna laughs, likes the realisation that even after thirteen years, she can still do it. At first, it surprised her because she didn't think Anna would be a fan of dry wit. Now, she accepts it.

"What's the funniest joke anyone's ever told you?" she asks. By unspoken agreement, they now ask at least one question in every conversation.

"Did you hear about the martial artist who joined the army? Knocked himself out the first time he saluted."

"Really?"

"No, but it was the only one I could think of off the top of my head."

Since the prince is gone, Kristoff comes for dinner again and this time, he's more relaxed. Elsa is still silently amazed that this is the man Anna likes. Not that there's anything wrong with him – he's just not the sort of person she would have thought Anna would like. So this time, she pays him more attention and realises that in a strange way, he does fit with Anna. Both socially awkward in different ways. He's calm when she isn't and she's kind when he's sarcastic. Insightful in different ways, knowledgeable in different ways.

And the fact that she notices this makes her wonder if, finally, she knows Anna. But there are still things they haven't discussed, things she hasn't asked. She wonders if they ever will.


The second prince is a calculating man and Elsa is sure that he is exactly the kind of prince that Anna worried about. The kind who views her as a tool to be used.

He lasts longer than the last one, mainly because he shrugs when Elsa explains about eating dinner with her sister, and says, "It was only a thought. Perhaps I could eat lunch then, with both of you tomorrow."

Her first instinct is to say no but she can't think of a good enough reason she could give him for that. Besides, she's half hoping that Anna does have another plan. So he eats with them. Anna behaves during the meal but as soon as night falls, she knocks on Elsa's door for the sole purpose of telling Elsa that there is no way she can marry him.

"He's horrible. He's awful. He's … he's all slime and he barely even pretended to take an interest in you. Just your powers. I know I said I'd stop trying to stop you but he's-"

"Anna-"

"I swear, if you're about to say anything that sounds like it might be even slightly in the realm of possibly marrying him, I'm going to set Olaf on him."

This is such a strange sentence that Elsa's sure she misheard. "You're going to do what?"

"People freak out when they see Olaf."

"That's true," Elsa concedes, "but I think he'd realise that Olaf's harmless within a few seconds. Given that Olaf greets everyone with Hi, I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs." Seeing Anna's expression, she smiles and says, "I have no intention of marrying him. The benefits it would bring aren't good enough for me to want to be near him. Or be used like that."

"Good. Good." Anna fidgets. "He's not even that handsome."

"Hm."

"Wait, you didn't think-"

"No, no. Don't worry, Anna. Not my type. You have my word."

"Good." She pauses. "What is your type?"

"Huh?"

"You just said you have a type."

"No, I said he isn't it."

"Which means there is one. C'mon,Elsa, what kind of guy d'you fantasise about?" Elsa stares at her and Anna seems to realise the inappropriate wording because she hastily says, "I mean, what kind of guys do you … you know, get feelings for?"

The problem with her promise is that Anna's questions range wildly from the mundane to Elsa's private thoughts and feelings. Elsa rarely asks the latter kind of question back but that's because she can still see a wariness in her sister. She initially thought it was a wariness of Elsa, and maybe part of it is, but she suspects it's mostly a wariness of cruel truths and baring her soul. She doesn't know exactly what Hans said to her before he ran onto the frozen fjord but she can guess. If that isn't enough to put someone off the truth, she doesn't know what is.

She promised Anna. No more secrets. No more closed doors.

"I don't know."

"What?"

Elsa doesn't look at Anna, can't look at Anna, because this is something she has never, ever, discussed with anyone. "I don't know, Anna. I … I don't even know if I'm attracted to men."

"Wait, what? Who else could you be attracted to?" She pauses. "I guess women then? Um, that's cool. I guess. You know, you gotta love who you love and if it's women then, yeah, you should go and love them. Yeah. Well, no. Unless you could arrange a marriage with a princess? Or maybe you could have an affair. Yeah, that's the answer. Do that. Uh, what kind of women do you like then?"

Elsa sneaks a glance. The discomfort on Anna's face fights with her desire to see Elsa happy. Suddenly Elsa feels unspeakably fond of her little sister.

"I don't know," she says again. "I don't know if I'm attracted to women either." Feeling the confusion return, she says, "I didn't feel." She has stopped looking at Anna again. She doesn't think telling the carpet this is any easier but she doesn't want to look at Anna just in case it turns out it is. "I mean, I tried not to feel. I thought. We thought that was what I was supposed to do, to control my powers. I suppose it is, in a way, because the calmer I am, the easier it is to control them. But we took it too far. Now … I try to let myself feel whatever it is I'm feeling but it's hard not to repress it." She keeps staring at the carpet, half-hoping the fabric will soak up her words. She could invite Anna in but every time they end up in each other's rooms, they argue. Perhaps it's only happened twice but it has a 100% occurrence rate. "Mostly negative thoughts but others as well. Extreme happiness. Curiosity." She pauses. "Desire."

"Oh, Elsa." Those two words are filled with many of the emotions Elsa could never feel. But she still can't bring herself to look up.

"So I don't know. I don't know if I'm attracted to someone and repressing it or whether I genuinely don't feel desire for anyone." She manages to shift her gaze from the carpet to the wall behind Anna. "Sometimes I look at someone and I think they look nice but before I can think about it further, I find myself trying not to think about it. I don't even know what it's supposed to feel like." She shrugs, helplessly. "I just don't know."

"You'll find out," Anna says softly. "There's plenty of time."

"Time has nothing to do with it. I have to marry one of the princes." Now she manages to look up. "You see why it's better I do it than you. It doesn't matter if I marry someone I don't desire. I don't know what I'm missing. You do."

Anna shakes her head. She looks as though she doesn't know what to say. Elsa knows the feeling well.

But then she says, "I hate our parents."

"Anna, what-"

"I used to think they were so great, you know? They were so nice and fair and funny and … and then I find out they made you feel nothing for years and they hid the truth from me and isolated us and … and you wouldn't have to marry anyone if Father hadn't nearly destroyed the country by hiding. How could they do it? How could they act so normal and do that to you?"

It feels as though her heart has stopped.

"Anna, they were our parents."

Anna's cheeks are red and she wears the expression that means she's fighting back tears. Elsa sees it more and more often these days. "So? That doesn't mean it's right. How's it right to make you so numb that you don't even want anything?"

"They were trying to save us," Elsa hisses and the anger she feels surprises even her. She drags Anna into her room, argument rate be damned, because this is definitely not a conversation for the corridor. "They didn't know what else to do. It was a mistake but that's it."

Anna opens her mouth to retort but then she pauses. "Elsa," she says, "do me a favour. Imagine everything happened the other way round."

"Huh?"

"Imagine I'm the one with powers and you're the normal one. And we're playing together when we're little and I hurt you."

"I was losing control before that," Elsa reminds her but, of course, it isn't a reminder because Anna doesn't know it.

"OK, fine. I have a couple of accidents and then I hurt you. We all go to the trolls – who, as an aside, are kinda crazy and could give a straight answer like do an act which shows you love someone instead of something weird like love will thaw a frozen heart – who give one of their stupid cryptic answers. Mother and Father tell me not to speak to you or anyone. They make me stay in my room except for family dinners. They tell me not to feel anything, to the point that I don't want anything and I won't touch anyone and I'd rather spend my life alone on an icy mountain than with friends and family, where I'm not even happy, I'm just close to happy but it's still better than my life so far. They ruin the country trying to make sure no one ever needs to meet me in person and then they die and I have to deal with all of these problems." Anna looks at her. "How do you feel?"

Elsa closes her eyes as she imagines it. Anna locked away – not just in a castle but in one room. Anna unsmiling. Unfeeling. No rambling speeches or giggles or wild adventures. Icy, still. Someone she barely knows. A stranger.

"Hi."

A jump. Surprise flashes across her face.

"Hi, hi me?"

"I'm angry," she says with surprise, opening her eyes again. "They hurt you."

A glimmer of triumph plays on Anna's face. "And you're saying I shouldn't hate them?"

"But they didn't mean it."

"That isn't an excuse. You didn't mean to freeze Arendelle but that doesn't make what happened any better." Her eyes widen. "No, Elsa, I didn't mean-"

"No, you're right. What I did was unforgiveable. But there's a difference between nearly killing an entire country and trying to protect two little girls."

"And there's a difference between learning from what you did and fixing it, and making the problem worse."

"Anna, they died. That's hardly their fault."

"So what would've happened if they'd survived? 'Cause you know what I think? I think you'd have lost control in a much worse way and they wouldn't have saved you. Or you…" She bites her lip.

"I?"

"No."

"Anna, say it. What would I have done?"

"You'd have snapped maybe and killed people." She hesitates and then says, softly, "Or more likely yourself."

This is Anna. Anna who is cheerful, Anna who is silly, Anna who people don't take seriously. Anna whose favourite colour is green, who likes warm seasons, who climbed up a snowy mountain in a dress to save her. Anna who can't concentrate while reading a few reports but can look at a letter and suggest an option agreement without ever hearing of it before. Anna who started a conversation asking a normal question and is ending it discussing Elsa's potential to commit either murder or suicide. Anna, her innocent little sister. Anna, who isn't so innocent anymore.

"They loved us, Anna."

"I know," Anna says. "But I still hate them."


Anna regrets starting that conversation but even now, with the next prince arriving, she doesn't regret what she said. The more she thinks about it, the angrier she feels. It surprises her because, before Hans, she didn't think she hated anyone. Now, the list has tripled in size in just a couple of months. So, she regrets starting that conversation but she's angrier with her parents because if it weren't for them, she wouldn't have had to regret it. A question about the kind of person Elsa fancies would have been commonplace.

She does more inspections around Arendelle, taking the weight off Elsa's shoulders as she talks to the prince. It's as much for her as it is for Elsa. She'd tried – she'd tried, damn it – to save Elsa. She'd tried speaking to ministers, researching the law, locating eligible bachelors in Arendelle. Elsa had stopped most of them before they could get too far and Anna eventually agreed to let it go. Not because she wanted to but because Elsa knows more about this than she does and maybe she can persuade Elsa away from it later. Besides, most people hadn't taken her seriously. No one ever takes her seriously.

Kristoff accompanies her on these inspections and she's a little taken aback by how happy people are to see them. Kristoff is also startled and she can see that he's overwhelmed. He isn't used to people. When they come to speak to him, he answers carefully and it's sad because he doesn't sound like himself.

She doesn't ask him if he's regretting becoming involved with a princess but he says, "Whew. One day, I'm going to take you ice cutting and then you can be the one out of your depth."

"Ice cutting? Really? When can we go?"

"When will I ever learn?"

But he's smiling and he kisses her on her cheek before heading towards the mountains to do some of his work and she knows he's fine. If only Elsa were this easy to understand.

The next few days are similar. However, on the day that Elsa is due to introduce the prince's retinue to the court, she sees the prince's ships leave the harbour and a note is pinned to her door telling her dinner will be a private affair again.

That evening, she says, "Didn't work out, huh?"

Elsa raises her hands. "I know you say I need to take some time out from being queen but he wanted constant attention. He got mad and left when I asked if I could please have some time to meet with the ministers. Or even just the one who's spent the last day trying to speak to me. That one was just about ready to find out where my bedroom is so that he could get hold of me."

"You should've let him. Then the prince would have gotten the message."

"Thank you, Anna. When I want men knocking down my doors, I'll let you know."

Elsa smiles and Anna smiles and it feels almost … well, not like normal because they've never been normal, but like she imagines normal would feel. They've kept the serious conversations to a minimum, partly because Anna is trying not to ask too many questions. Normal, innocent queries can reveal all sorts of things and she doesn't want to face them yet.

Besides, she's starting to wonder whether she should implement the same thing Elsa has – let Elsa ask her anything. Somehow, she doubts Elsa would use it. Elsa seems to know better than Anna which questions are innocent and which are loaded.


The next prince is the first one Elsa doesn't seem to have cause to complain about, although to be fair to Elsa, it wasn't her who sent the last one away.

"Think he could be the one?" Anna asks. It's a dangerous topic, she knows, but they've been laughing and joking and it doesn't feel like a conversation stopper.

It isn't. "We've known each other for four days," Elsa says. "I'm not about to declare us soul mates."

You can't marry a man you just met.

You can if it's true love.

Oh, Anna. If only there was someone out there who loved you.

"Four days is longer than the others," Anna says, too brightly, pushing down cold rooms and lips that are close but not quite. "You're basically married."

"By that logic, I should be pregnant by about next week."

"That's a poss-"

"Shut up and eat your vegetables," Elsa says and Anna laughs, this time not too brightly.

In any event, she, along with the rest of the court, is introduced to Prince David and his retinue two days later. He's taller than Elsa but not by much, with pale skin and dark hair, including a moustache. His build is slight. His eyes are brown and there's something strangely familiar about them. He speaks with a strange accent, words sounded out carefully, as though afraid to get even one syllable wrong. Otherwise, he seems like a stoic, quiet man. She doesn't speak to him much and really, she thinks the only reason he's lasted so long is because he's too quiet to be irritating in the same ways as the others.

From Elsa, she knows that his kingdom – Burakoem – isn't the strongest alliance but they could offer some much needed food and materials. Their soldiers are also known for their ferocity, although Anna doesn't see that in David.

But you – you were so desperate for love that you were willing to marry me just like that.

But then, Anna is no judge of character.

That night, Olaf charges into her room and tugs at her hand until she wakes up, snorting hair out of her face and saying, "'m awake, 'm awake." She blinks sleepily. "Olaf, what? It's like … 's like … early."

"Come on, Anna. The sky's awake and there's a strange man near the library," Olaf says and Anna sits up immediately.

"Show me," she says and follows Olaf as he waddles. Olaf chatters about how he found the man but she manages to quieten him as they reach the library. True to Olaf's word, there is a man, walking towards it.

"Prince David?"

The man jumps and turns. "P-princess Anna." He bows before looking away. At first she thinks he's acting guilty until she realises that she's in her nightdress.

"Hi," Olaf says. "I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs."

To his credit, Prince David does not jump this time. He looks at Olaf and then says, "Princess Anna, I'm sure you know this but you've got a talking snowman under a small snowstorm next to you."

"Isn't it amazing?" Olaf twirls underneath his snowstorm. "Elsa made it so I wouldn't melt!"

Prince David coughs. "I see. And, uh, you like warm hugs. Is that the proper way to greet you then … Olaf, was it? In my country, see, none of our snowmen talk so I'm not sure what the, ah, the protocol is."

Anna takes pity. "You don't have to hug him. He likes being hugged but there's no protocol except, you know, be careful with fire and don't kick his head."

"Right. Got it." He looks down at Olaf. "Um, are there more of you then?"

"Just Marshmallow but he likes to stay in the North Mountain. Elsa asked him if he wanted to come here but he said no."

Anna blinks. She had almost forgotten Marshmallow. When did Elsa visit him? How does Olaf know about it? Why didn't Elsa tell Anna?

"OK." Prince David looks at Anna then away. "I'm sorry, Princess. I must look like I'm up to no good. I assume someone told you I was here."

"I did!"

He jumps again. "I'm afraid I couldn't sleep. Queen Elsa mentioned the library and said I could look when I wanted to, see. I heard Arendelle songs are quite something so I wanted to see if there were any written down."

"Songs?" Anna's not sure if he's lying. It's so strange that it can't be the truth. "Why didn't you just ask?"

"I probably would've done eventually but since I couldn't sleep…" He shrugs. "I know it sounds odd. Reason I wanted to see it is because in my country, music's important, see. Our bards are some of the most important men in the land. We always look for new music."

"I … see. The library's locked though."

He smiles faintly. "Good thing you found me before I tried opening the door then."

He looks uncomfortable and can't stop glancing at Olaf.

"Why are you here?" she blurts out.

He jumps again. Strange. She'd thought him a stoic man earlier but he's actually quite twitchy. Or maybe she's too used to ice magic by now.

"Um, the songs, Princess-"

"No, I mean here. In Arendelle."

"Oh." He fidgets and now she's sure of it. He's not stoic. He's nervous and his quiet comes from that. "Um, to court Queen Elsa. I'm sorry, Princess, I thought you knew."

"Courting?" Olaf sounds excited although he also knows why the princes have been coming. "You're going to marry Elsa? Oh, that's amazing. It'll be so nice."

The prince's eyes widen and they're still familiar. "I might marry Queen Elsa," he says to Olaf.

"Don't you want to marry her?"

He looks away from both Olaf and Anna and this time, it's not because of her nightdress. "I think that's something we'll decide eventually." He coughs again. "Maybe I should return to my room. I'm sorry, Princess Anna. I shouldn't walk around like this." He bows again to her and then drops to one knee, facing Olaf. "Mind, I'd hate for the report to Queen Elsa to say that I acted completely horribly, so, Olaf, would you like a hug? It rains a lot where I'm from so I can't promise warm but-"

Olaf charges into him and wraps twig arms around the man's slight frame. He chuckles and while Anna can't comment on the temperature of the hug, the chuckle is warm.

"You know," she says as he straightens, "maybe let's not tell Elsa about this."

"Are you sure?"

"Uh, she kinda wants the whole courting thing to work out. I mean, I dunno if she wants it with you – though you're nice but she's … Elsa so it's hard to say, but, uh, I think Olaf and I will get in trouble as well. For, you know, scaring you. Not scaring, maybe startling … wait, what?"

Prince David smiles. "Tell Queen Elsa I was lost if you want," he says. "If she asks what you said to me, I'll tell her we talked about rain."

"Rain?"

There's a sparkle in those familiar eyes. "In my country," he says, "it rains a lot, see. I'm sure, if pressed, I could talk about it for a long time." He pauses. "Um, without wanting to add to the lie, actually, could you tell me where my room is?"

"I'll show you!"

Prince David nods. "Thank you, Olaf. Goodnight, Princess."

She curtseys, realising it's the first time she's done so. "Goodnight, Prince David."

As they walk off one way, she finds herself thinking that there is a lot to be said for a royal prince who would hug a talking snowman.

She's been wrong before though.


Elsa is flushed with relief at signing a trade agreement when she rounds the corner, straight into Anna, Kristoff and Prince David. The terms weren't as draconian as she feared, although she knows that at least part of that has to be her reputation. Nevertheless, she manages to wipe the smile off her face and curtsey to the prince, who bows.

Anna simply looks at them with exasperation.

"You know," she says, "if you two get married, you're gonna have to stop bowing and curtseying to each at some point."

The prince looks uncomfortable while Elsa mentally catalogues the myriad ways she could enact revenge on Anna. She supposes she is too old, and her position too dignified, to put something squishy in Anna's bed.

Then something occurs to her. Anna can be tactless but she tends to think before making a comment like that around someone Elsa needs to impress – unless she's comfortable with the other person. Anna mentioned that she ran into Prince David a couple of nights ago but she didn't think that was enough to spark any kind of friendship. She hadn't thought Anna thought much of the foreign royal.

And how on earth did she, Kristoff and the prince end up in the castle together?

"I think we have to show each other some respect right now," the prince says in his quiet, lilting voice.

"You don't bow to me!"

His cheeks tinge red. "Um, that's because you told me not to, Princess Anna. You told me you hated how everyone bows and scrapes around you so could I please not do it. And Official Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer Kristoff said no one ever bows to him so could I not start?"

Which sounds exactly like something Anna would say. She only gets mad about her royal status if someone intentionally disrespects it.

"It's fine," Elsa says hurriedly. "Your highness, do whatever makes you comfortable. Please, you're our guest here."

"You're gonna have to call each other by name too."

"Anna, are you trying to start a war?" Kristoff realises who he's talking to. "Not that I think you two will start a war but-"

"It's fine, Kristoff," Elsa says. "You two are clearly made for each other." As they both blush, she asks, "How was the children's day?"

Anna's face lights up. "It was great. The decorations were amazing and the kids were so cute. Lots of bakake and music and dancing. You should've come, Elsa. They said they wanted to see you."

She isn't too sure about that. She may have opened the gates but she isn't the most people-oriented of rulers even if she does sometimes throw impromptu snow parties. She would have liked to attend the children's day but the trade agreement was more important and, besides, she knew Anna would serve well as the royal representative. Especially as Anna doesn't view that as work.

"I'm afraid I had to attend to something else. And, your highness…" She catches Anna's look. "Uh, Prince David. I assume that's where you ran into my sister?"

She'd told him she needed to work all day. He'd taken it in his quiet, sanguine way – he didn't expect her to entertain him constantly, he said, and he was sure he could think of something to do today. That already puts him ahead of the first and third prince.

He nods. "I thought I'd have a look, see, and that's where she found me and some of my courtiers. Her and Official Arendelle Ice Master and Deliver Kristoff. They showed us around the city." He smiles. "My people wanted to have a drink but I was tired. I'm afraid that I followed Princess Anna and Official Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer Kristoff back, a bit like a lost sheep, see."

Elsa blinks. "Um, maybe my sister has a point. I can see the value in us referring to each other by title but I don't think anyone's expecting you to refer to Kristoff by title every time you say his name."

Kristoff looks at her. "What if I want people to?"

"Hush, you," she says. Anna laughs and she's glad that she likes Kristoff, glad that she can make these jokes and Anna won't be offended.

The prince smiles. "Thank you. I was starting to think of ways to avoid Kristoff's company just to avoid having to say that. Not that I dislike you, Kristoff." He turns to Elsa. "I'm David, then."

"Elsa." She tries to think of what to say now. "You said you'd like to hear some Arendelle songs. Perhaps, after dinner, I could show you our song books, for your interest?"

He agrees. She eats dinner with Anna, who is still happily chattering about the children's day. It's enjoyable and Elsa laughs at the right places and asks questions at the right places. However, as they finish their food, Anna looks thoughtful.

"Say, sis." Elsa looks up. "Um … say you do marry and you have children. Who's heir?"

Anna has avoided asking questions for a while. She makes this one sound like she's only just thought of it but Elsa has the feeling it's something she's been thinking of for some time. Or, at least, for some of today.

She coughs. "I … well, to be honest, I'm not even sure I can have children." Anna's eyes widen so Elsa carries on quickly, not wanting to open this wound as well. "Nothing I've read about my powers suggests that people with powers can do it. Of course, most of the stories have them die before they can get around to it…" She pushes that thought away. "But if I'm wrong and I do have a child I intended to name him or her as heir, in accordance with Arendelle's succession law." She makes herself meet Anna's eye. "I've never thought that you want to be a queen. But … I mean, you are the current heir so if you want to object, please-"

"I don't." Anna shakes her head and Elsa is glad that she's not questioning whether Elsa can have children. "I would do it if I had to but I'm not raised to it. And…" She shrugs. "I dunno. It was just a conversation I had with David."

"Oh?" David doesn't strike Elsa as the kind of man who would discuss succession law with Anna. He looks uncomfortable enough about courting Elsa. Which is one of the reasons she's finding herself warming to him.

Anna catches the confusion. "I asked about his family. He said he's third in line. So I asked whether he'd be happy being a king here."

"Of course you did." Elsa sighs. "Anna-"

"Sorry! It slipped out before I knew what I said."

"Strangely, that doesn't surprise me."

What does surprise Elsa is the crinkle of happiness that creeps into Anna's eyes at that. "Yeah, well, anyway, he kinda looked uncomfortable – I mean, like, more than normal – and he said he would work hard but he wouldn't pretend being responsible for that many people didn't worry him."

There's something else. Anna and David talked about something else. She nearly asks but if Anna hasn't said it, she doesn't want to discuss it. Asking won't do anything but suggest Elsa doesn't trust Anna. All she can do is hope that Anna didn't say too much. Or, at least, too much about something relevant.

"That worries you?" she says instead.

"I guess. Or maybe I'm just happy as I am. So, yeah, if you have children, give me the word and I'll step aside." She smiles. "Besides, can you imagine Kristoff being a king? I think between us, we'd end all your diplomatic relations."

The idea that Anna might marry Kristoff is strange. She doesn't know if Anna's even realised what she's just said.

"I suppose by then, I'd be dead, so I wouldn't have to worry."

Anna's smile slips. "Don't say that."

"I was jo-"

"Don't, Elsa."

She takes a breath. "I'm sorry, Anna." She glances down the hallway. "I had better show David these songs."

Anna nods but as Elsa reaches the door, she says, "He seems nice but … I don't understand why he's here."

"To court me."

"But he doesn't want to be a king."

"Presumably for the good of his country then."

Anna looks thoughtful but when she says nothing else, Elsa slips from the room, and marches towards the library. She's surprised to find she's looking forward to it – David is a shy man with an otherwise easy-going approach to life. He doesn't prod about what happened before the Great Thaw or about her powers or about how things would be if they married. He just talks to her.

He is the third son in a small but proud nation of warriors, situated near the Southern Isles. That he doesn't want to be king doesn't especially surprise her but nor does it worry her – better, she thinks, to have someone who doesn't want to snatch power from her than someone constantly plotting. His nation would be useful allies if not the strongest.

And truth be told, she needs to sort this out soon. She can keep the country going for a while, especially with her success in trade, but the support another country could lend is necessary. It's either that now or that later and raised taxes, job losses and starvation in Arendelle in the meantime.


She continues to spend time with David. He appreciates that she is often busy and comes for no more than an hour during the day and the occasional meeting with her court. The more they get to know each other, the chattier he is. He has a surprising silly streak, hidden behind a serious demeanour, and he's happy to spend time reading. He likes to explore. He doesn't like fighting but does like dancing. On one day, he sings to her in his native language, his voice pure and strong. She doesn't tell Anna about that because Anna would probably giggle and she wants the moment for herself.

She tries to make a similar list about Anna. There are few foods Anna dislikes but she especially loves sweet things. She used to like sandwiches but, for some reason, she's gone off them. She tends to speak at speed when she's nervous or simply not thinking. She's clumsy. She feels everything strongly. Her favourite colour is green, her favourite season is summer and her favourite number is twenty-nine. She's smart but silly. She doesn't lie but she does avoid topics. She doesn't ever seem to cry – she bites her lips instead. She would put herself in Elsa's place if Elsa hadn't forbidden her. Despite everything, she still believes in the innate goodness of people. Except their parents. Anna hates their parents.

It's a lot. Elsa could probably think of more things – things Anna has told her and things Elsa has noticed. And yet she can still feel the gaps.

On the last night of David's visit, they sit in the library. He is to return, both to speak to his family and to discuss the terms of any alliance as a result of marriage. She's actually sorry to see him go. She knows Anna and Olaf both like him. But although she's sitting up into the night to talk to him, she's not comfortable with him. Not comfortable in the way she is with Anna, which is still not as comfortable as she is on her own.

He's not comfortable with her either, and, somehow, that makes it better.

She is telling a story about Anna breaking her arm when they were younger when he says, "If you don't mind me asking, Elsa, why do you eat dinner with Anna every night?" As she frowns, he says, "I don't mean that to say you shouldn't, mind, and I haven't been here long but I've seen you sacrifice all sorts of things and you've never missed dinner with her, except when it's a royal dinner for us. Even then, she always sits next to you."

She's about to tell him that it's tradition but hears herself say, "To reconcile with her."

He is quiet for a minute. She think he's going to ask but, instead, he says, "She adores you."

She closes her eyes. "I know. She's always loved me. Even when I didn't deserve it."

"I don't know enough to comment about what happened between you two but no one deserves not to be loved."

She considers him and then says, "Anna told me you don't want to be a ruler. Why did you come?"

The uncomfortable expression appears. "To seek an alliance," he says quietly. "We need the protection you can give us."

"I won't fight. I won't be used like that."

"I know. Our ambassador said you didn't seem like the kind of person who would use your powers like that. I said you wouldn't but my father sent me but…" He looks away. "He's desperate," he says quietly, looking up to meet her eyes. "He's hoping the mere threat of you is enough. Alone, we're a small nation, see. They say we're a nation of warriors but the truth is, we're a nation of defenders. The sickness last year's crippled us, and other countries are taking advantage. There's only so far we can defend ourselves. But with a link like marriage with you, it changes. They'll think twice about attacking us." He pauses. "It's the first time we've ever tried marrying outside Burakoem."

He looks miserable.

"Not power, then?" He shakes his head. She should be angry, she thinks, that they want her only for the threat she poses, but she isn't. "It's funny," she says instead. "Prince Hans, from the Southern Isles … he tried to kill my sister and I, for a throne. He wanted power. But my sister doesn't want to be a queen – in fact, I think she's appalled at what I have to do as a ruler. You don't want to be a king. Sometimes … sometimes, I wish I wasn't the Queen. Sometimes, I wish Hans had just said upfront what he wanted so that I could have handed it to him."

David moves over to sit next to her. "Do you know," he says, "your sister said almost exactly the same thing to me?"

"She did?"

"I think you two are more similar than you realise."

She smiles at that. "You really think so?"

He nods. "But I don't think you should abdicate, mind. I think someone who wants power would ruin Arendelle or Burakoem or any other country. You and Anna understand it, see. And I think if you left, you'd always hate yourself for it. You care for Arendelle. You couldn't abandon it."

She looks at him, sitting in his chair, thoughtful look on his face. "We're a fine pair," she says. "You may as well know, since you were so honest with me: I'm only looking to marry to save Arendelle from starvation."

"But you don't know if you want to marry me to do that."

"It's only been a month."

"But I think we both know we need to decide soon."

"I know." She pauses. "I'm sorry. I don't want to rush into something. I know I have to but…"

He hesitates and then says, "Love isn't a requirement for marriages like ours. Just for everyone else's." He looks away. "I wish someone had told Prince Hans that."

"David?"

He looks back at her. "People talk, Elsa. Everyone knows that you froze Arendelle when he seduced your sister. He offered her love and used it to try to kill you. All for a throne. I don't know about what happened before but if I were Anna, I think I would've been tempted to agree to Hans as well. A noble marriage founded on love? It sounds wonderful. And Hans used it and now … you're here."

"David, I don't understand. Hans did something despicable but I don't understand why you're upset about me?"

"Because you're being forced into something you don't want to do. And because…"

"You're being forced with me."

He manages to smile. "Maybe being forced."

"Maybe."

"At least we know it, mind."

"We do."

As they look at each other, he moves towards her. Heart thumping, she leans forwards as well and their lips softly meet.

After a few seconds, they break apart.

He smiles a familiar smile. "I'll visit again in a few weeks and we can decide. I'll … I'd say yes."

"Because you need it," she says softly and maybe he's right and she is like Anna because she recognises her sister's hiding smile on his face and she knows that their feelings match.

"Because we're both being forced." He stands up, still smiling that smile she hates so much. "At least we know we could stand each other's company for a month."


She gently pushes the library door open. Elsa sits in the dark, sobbing, as snow falls and ice coats chairs.

Anna is immediately there, holding her. "Are you OK? Dumb question, obviously you're not OK, not if you're crying but…"

Elsa looks at her, eyes red, and says, "I'm sorry."

"What's wrong?" Anna asks gently. "Is it … David?"

Elsa nods. "I'm going to marry him." Her voice is hoarse.

"You are?"

"He'll return in a few weeks but unless we argue or the terms of alliance between us and Burakoem change…"

She sniffs again and Anna knows that this is not a time to ask questions.