A/N: Guys, thanks a lot for the love on the first chapter! It means a lot to me! Enjoy the second chapter! Oh, and don't think I forgot about the other characters! Especially Olaf!

Disclaimer: Frozen belongs to the magnificent Disney.

Chapter 2: Admirable Kindness

Since Henrik was quite fatigued from four consecutive days of travel, Elsa left him alone the following day to rest. At noon, she donned a pastel blue gown and comfortable footwear, obeying Anna's instructions. The princess had suggested a walk through the village to ease Elsa of her stress, and Elsa agreed delightfully. A quarter past, Anna was shuffling quickly down the grand staircase, gripping unto the railing so she wouldn't fall. Elsa mustered a smile just by looking at her.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," Anna said, passing her finger through her hair. "I'll save you the absurd story about my morning. The point is I overslept." Elsa chuckled.

The two sisters proceeded outside the doors with permission from the guards and into the amber sunlight of the summer day. Once they were past the gates, they greeted their subjects as they strolled by. All Elsa saw were smiles and kind faces. Nothing like the awful nightmares she was greeted with when she closed her eyes for the night.

Elsa didn't like to worry Anna with her dreams. Anna was such a pleasant soul, hardly troubled or distressed. She surrounded herself with positive thoughts and ideas. That's what Elsa admired in her younger sister. She respected her sociable and happy spirit. She wished she would be as carefree, but there were always troubles for her. Her dreams differed by the week. One week she would relive the pain she experienced by cursing her home with eternal winter. Another week, she would dream of life if Henrik had died a winter ago. But her usual nightmares were ones that were plagued with the taunting mysterious voices and filled with the intensified cold she always felt, without the trace of warmth she treasured in her sister and Henrik. They weren't dreams that made her wake up in the middle of the night, screaming, but dreams that dared to make her relapse into her former self, isolated and paranoid. Although she would never allow that to happen again, Elsa still remained uncertain.

"I've always wondered if we could start a public garden." Anna's voice, thankfully, hindered her dark thoughts. "One for the people who don't always have food to eat. We can even grow the crops ourselves!"

"You know, I think that's a fantastic idea," said Elsa, folding her hands. "How did you come up with it?"

"Well, the weather's perfect, and I just think we should make ourselves look more like human beings than monarchs," Anna prompted. She kicked her foot out, then alternated, walking with vitality. "I mean, we already make ourselves look like human beings, since we're vulnerable to stuff . . . well, I don't mean we're vulnerable as in weaklings or anything, but—" She sighed. "All right, I'm going to start over."

"No need, I get your point."

"You do?"

"Yes. It doesn't need to be explained. I'll discuss the budget for a public garden with the Council in our meeting tomorrow."

Anna squeaked with excitement, squeezing Elsa's waist. Elsa smiled weakly, hugging her in return no doubt. After releasing her so she could gather air into her lungs, Anna advanced ahead, leading the way. Elsa recalled Anna mentioned something about the walk having a surprise. She followed at an easy pace.

"See, it does need to be explained," Anna told her, rounding the cobblestone corner. "Remember that week you went on that business trip to France and you left me in charge?"

"Yes, that was also the week you held a festival for three continuous days without my permission and failed to hide it from me when I came back," Elsa responded, wrapping her arms around herself. "What of it?"

Anna stopped walking, swiftly turning around to Elsa. "I meant to show you this on your birthday, but it wasn't finished by then . . ."

"Anna, what is it?"

"Come see," Anna tempted in the quietest tone Elsa had heard her use in a while.

Elsa followed Anna further to small courtyard-like grounds. Captivated by the aroma of honeysuckle and sweet white roses in which they were covered in, Elsa nearly didn't notice the white stone statue of herself placed in the middle of an arrangement of the same flowers.

"Elsa, the Snow Queen of Arendelle," Elsa read, tracing her fingers over the engraving. A full-fledged smile crossed her features. "This is beautiful . . . Anna, I'm speechless . . ."

"I knew how much you thought that people were still fearful of you or hated you," Anna said, resting her arm on Elsa's shoulder, "so we prepared this for you and organized it with a majority of the townspeople. It seemed fitting. I put in the money, though."

"We?"

"Olaf, Kristoff, and I."

Elsa said nothing else. She simply took Anna into her arms and meant it more than anything. The fact that her sister got part of Arendelle to contribute to a statue made in her honor was more than amazing. No feeling could sum up what Anna had done for her. Though they had their number of indiscretions and arguments, Anna would always turn out to be one of Elsa's biggest supporters.

.:.^*^.:.

Comfortable with a cup of tea and a new novel, Elsa sat by the large triangular-shaped window in her chambers to watch the gorgeous sunset drape itself over Arendelle. A soft knock countered on her door when she was in mid-sip.

"Enter," she spoke, setting her cup down. Henrik let himself in her room. "Well, I hope you had fascinating dreams, sir."

"And I presume your walk went splendidly," he said, sitting in the chair opposite of her. She raised her eyebrows. "Of course I knew, Elsa. I took liberty in sleeping in so you could do so."

"Liberty? If you had the chance, you would sleep for half the day."

"As I recall, you agreed with me on that idea."

Elsa remembered how that conversation between them went. "I remember distinctively adding 'in my own bedroom' afterward. You were completely inappropriate."

"Where is the fault in sleeping side by side? I did not suggest anything else besides sleeping. That's where you are at fault, my dear."

She chuckled nervously, rolling her eyes. "Getting back to the point . . . You knew?" He nodded, leaning back in his chair and placing his left ankle on his right knee. "How, if I dare ask?"

"Why would I want to tear my beautiful queen away from her whimsical sister the day after my unplanned arrival? It didn't seem fair at all. The concept itself was heartfelt and well-planned by Anna. Take it from someone who misses out on the special sibling bond the two of you share."

Elsa noticed his tone was dark on his last sentence and she felt pity. Henrik's elder brother Adrian had passed six years ago in a horrific fire. He was absent in his brother's time of need, so he carried a guilt and depression with him, though he barely showed it. In his letters, he expressed this to her, wishing that he shared a relationship like Elsa and Anna's with Adrian.

"How many times have I told you it's not your fault?" Elsa inquired, holding his hand.

"As many times as I remember insisting that it is," Henrik said, squeezing her hand.

"If you keep insisting that something that was out of your control was your fault, then you can never move on, Henrik. You have to be here in the present. You have a kingdom, a niece, and many other people who depend on you. You have people who love you. Promise me that you'll move on from this."

After a long pause, Henrik nodded solemnly. "I promise."

"Good."

"I love you," he added, glancing at her sincerely.

"I love you, too."

The door creaked open. Olaf peered in, giggling, apparently spying on them. With the flick of her wrist, Elsa opened the doors, making Olaf stumble inside. Henrik's mood lifted, judging by his laughter.

"Anna sent you, didn't she?" Elsa asked, folding her arms.

"Uh, no," Olaf said, adjusting his nose. "I happened to wandering these very hallways when she approached me and proposed I take a peek in your room." Elsa cocked up an eyebrow, smirking. "I swear, it's the truth!"

"Of course."

"Anyway . . . Hi, Henrik!" In a flash, Olaf was by Henrik, who immediately became entertained. "Long time, no see! How's my buddy Yvonne? What about the kingdom? Ooh, are you growing a mustache? Gotta be careful. I don't think Elsa likes facial hair."

Elsa mustered a giggle at Henrik's confounded face.

"Come on," Olaf instructed, prancing towards the doors. "We can all talk over dessert downstairs!" He ran out the room.

"Would you really hate me if I grew facial hair?" Henrik asked, getting up.

"No. I just wouldn't kiss you until you got it removed," Elsa said plainly.

"That's even worse than being shot."

Kisses! ~TwistedTelepath