Be not ashamed of your virtues; Honor's a good broach to wear in a man's hat at all times" – Ben Johnson


Lunch was awkward to say the least. Hans didn't show for it and though Elsa herself had invited him she was glad he didn't come. It was going to be hard enough telling Anna about what she had done without her trying to maim him. She hadn't even mustered up the courage to tell her, and was staring at her soup intently.

"Elsa?" The queen looked up to see Anna's confused face looking at her. Anna had been telling her about how Kristoff was heading up to the mountains tomorrow to meet with the other Ice Harvesters and would be gone all winter, something that Anna was very upset about. Elsa realized she had hardly heard a word of it.

"Yes, what is it?" she asked putting down her spoon and facing her sister.

"Are you ok? You haven't said anything since we sat down. Did something happen?"

"Well-"

"Because I saw those dignitaries leaving the castle earlier and I thought something might have happened. Did someone die? Is there a war? Are WE at war? Oh no, we are aren't we? That's terrible, I can't believe this I mean-"

"Anna."

"Think of all the villagers and people who will have to fight and-"

"Anna."

"What if we LOSE what will happen to us?! Elsa what are we going to do? We could lose our land or our LIVES and-"

"ANNA." The flustered princess fell silent but she still looked worried over her imagined war.

"No one is going to war Anna, its nothing like that."

Anna let out a sigh and put a hand over her heart, "Oh thank goodness..."

"But that doesn't mean that the news is good..." Anna regained her anxious look and leaned closer to her sister. It was meant as a kind gesture but it just made Elsa more nervous.

"What happened? You can tell me Elsie...its ok."

'Its now or never', Elsa told herself, "That dignitary was a prince...A prince of the Southern Isles to be exact..." Anna tensed up at the mention of Hans' homeland.

"What did he want?" She asked warily.

"He was here to tell me about what was going to happen to Hans. He actually...brought Hans here to make him apologize to me." Elsa admitted, an hint of disbelief in her voice.

Anna looked furious, "What? Why would he do that!? Why would he think that's ok?"

"I don't know," Elsa said honestly, "But he also wanted to tell me of Hans' punishment. Apparently his family has put him on some kind of trial. They've disowned him and are treating him like a full criminal."

"They should be! I mean what he did was awful!" Anna nearly shouted.

"Yes, I agree but...then his brother told me that they were deciding whether or not they wanted to execute him, and I...that seemed really over the top to me so I asked why, since there are many other options and he said that his family wanted to make sure that we felt safe and that there was 'no bad blood between us'."

"So?" Anna asked, clearly confused. Elsa knew that Anna had always hated her Language and Diplomacy classes and it was apparent that she had never payed much attention to them.

"So that means that they are only going to such lengths so that I won't cut off trade with them or go to war."

"Oh...well isn't that regulation? I mean typically traitors are treated like that right?"

"Yes and no, its complicated. Anyway, that's not important." Elsa put her hands in her lap and looked Anna in the eye. "I asked if Hans could stay here for a while, at least until the trial is over."

There was dead silence after Elsa's confession. Anna's face switched through a myriad of emotions, confused, shocked and then settling on angry.

"You did WHAT?!" She shouted, jumping out of her chair.

"Anna, calm down.", Elsa said, though she stayed seated, "Its just for the month."

"Just for the month? Oh my god, Elsa." Anna slumped back down into her chair in exasperation. "How could you? I mean, he tried to KILL us and take over the Kingdom and you are just letting him stay here like nothing happened!? Why would you do that?! Oh god please tell me he's in the dungeon..."

Elsa chose to ignore her sister's curse and sat a little straighter, prepared to defend her actions. "Anna, don't shout. I did it because...Hans...he looked scared. Angry yes, but scared. And his brother talked so casually about killing his own family...it bothered me."

"Who cares!? He deserves it after what he's done!"

"Anna done say that, no one deserves that."

"Yes, he does. Ugh." Anna put her head in her hands, "I cannot believe you are being so calm about this...I can't believe you are doing this!"

"Anna...I remember what you told me about him. How he was the 13th child in his family, and how the others hardly even acknowledged his existence...I know what its like to be lonely, we both do. You know how it can change a person, make them do stupid things." Anna looked up at her sister in disbelief.

"Are you actually trying to defend his actions?"

"Im not trying to say what he did was ok," Elsa stated defensively, "But I do understand the situation a little better. I just want to show him some kindness, even if he is evil he deserves at least that. He's been given too little of it in his life."

Anna looked down at her plate and sighed. Neither sister said anything for a moment both trying to cool their heads.

"Elsa...," Anna said eventually, "I know that you have your reasons for what you are doing and I love you but...I can't agree with you on this. He tried to kill us...to kill you. I can't forgive that."

Elsa sighed as well and nodded, "I won't ask you to. Besides, you don't need to worry, I have him guarded constantly and if he tries anything funny he'll be shipped back to the Southern Isles as an ice cube."

Anna managed a small smile at her sister's joke but it soon disappeared. "Elsa, its not that I don't trust you, please don't think that but I just don't feel safe with him here in the castle. Could I...well would it be alright if I went with Kristoff? Just for the month, then I'll come back." Elsa was upset, but not shocked. She knew that if it came down to it she could protect herself, but Anna didn't have the same advantage and wasn't surprised that her sister didn't want to risk it. 'I might even feel safer without her here...' She admitted to herself.

"I am worried about you...and I don't want you getting up to any mischief with Kristoff while you are with him," Anna's face turned crimson, "But I understand. You can go. Just promise me that you'll be careful. Ice harvesting can be very dangerous and I want you back in one piece."

Anna looked relieved, "Thank you Elsa, you really are a good sister." Elsa blinked away a few tears that came to her eyes and nodded. They both sat in silence for a few moments before Anna said, "I'm not really hungry any more...and I should probably go talk to Kristoff about all this."

"Yes of course." Elsa agreed, "I will see you later then?"

"Yeah." Anna stood up and excuse herself. She walked to the door, but before she left the room she turned back to her sister, "And Elsa?"

Elsa looked up, "Yes?"

"I know you have your reasons for doing this but...be careful, please? Some people...they just can't change."

"Yes, but they all deserve the benefit of the doubt."

Anna nodded and walked out, lightly closing the door behind her. Elsa let out a sigh and looked down at her barely touched soup. She didn't feel very hungry either, she hadn't all morning. She stood and turned to Kai, "Thank you for the meal Kai. Please if any of the servants or guards are hungry give them this food, I would hate to see it go to waste."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Kai bowed and Elsa was to tired to even tell him to call her her name. She quickly left the room and decided she needed a nap. On her way up to her room she passed Han's door and she couldn't help but wonder if Anna was right, that people couldn't change. And if she was really doing the right thing.


When Elsa got to her room she was surprised to find Olaf, her snowman friend sitting in front of the door. She wondered if she should come back later, while Olaf's unfailing optimism was usually an inspiration it was a bit much at times. Especially if you weren't feeling that optimistic at the time. Before she could decide what to do she saw him look up and see her.

"Hey, Elsa! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Hi Olaf." She said as she moved closer to her door, "Did you need something?"

"Not really," He said standing, "I just noticed that I hadn't seen you all day and thought I would say hi and ask how you were doing."

"Thank you Olaf, thats very kind of you." Elsa smiled a bit, she hadn't meant to bring Olaf to life when she made him (for a while she wasn't even sure how she had done it) but she was grateful for the accident. Olaf had become one of her closest friends, understanding exactly how it felt to not feel cold or be different from everyone else. The only difference between them was Olaf's strange fascination with being warm that she did not share. He had been welcomed at the castle and it wasn't just Elsa that valued his presence. All of the village children loved him and the maids and butlers adored his constant polite kindness. Anna cherished him as well, having made good friends of him during her journey, and both sisters were grateful of how he rescued Anna from freezing in the library and consequently save both their lives.

"Hey, are you ok?" Elsa was revived from her thoughts by the snowman's concerned voice.

"I'm alright Olaf, just a bit tired..." she said, not wanting to burden anyone else with her problems.

"You sure don't sound like it. Did something bad happen?"

"Olaf-"

She was cut off, "I just want to help. No one should have to be sad alone."

Elsa was caught by surprise. 'Maybe Olaf could help', she told herself, 'Well, its worth a shot.'

She leaned down so that she was more at his level and said, "You're right Olaf, something is bothering me."

"Thats awful, how can I help?" Olaf's genuine concern for her made her smile.

"Its a really long story, would you like to come in?"

"Sure!"

Elsa quickly relayed the story of her morning to the small snowman. It was surprisingly easy to confide in him. She was shocked to find that he agreed with her on the subject of Hans' execution, though she supposed she should have remembered that Olaf didn't have an unkind bone in his body(or any bones at all). When she finally finished she couldn't help but drop her head and say, "Anna is so mad at me...and I just can't help but wonder if I am doing the right thing..."

"Well, I think you are doing the right thing." he said.

Elsa looked up, "Really?" she asked.

"Yes", Olaf said, "Even when people do bad things and hurt us we should forgive them. Sometimes the only reason they do it is because they don't know how else to act because so many people have done bad things to them."

Elsa was once again taken aback. How could someone who has only been alive a year know so much about the nature of forgiveness? She smiled. 'No matter.' She thought. It was nice to have someone tell her she was doing the right thing.

"Thank you Olaf...you're really smart, you know that?"

"Oh please", he said making a 'pshft' noise, "Do go on." Olaf made a big show of being flustered over her compliment and only stopped when Elsa let out a laugh. Then he made another silly face and they both burst into giggles. When Elsa finally calmed down enough to talk she said, "Oh Olaf, you really do know how to make someone's lousy day better. Thank you."

"Don't mention it Elsa, I'm happy that you're feeling better!"

"I am." Elsa then reached down and gave the snowman a hug.

"Hey now", he said patting her on the back, "Things will be ok."

The moment was cut off by a knock at the door. "Elsa?" Anna called out.

"I should get that", Elsa said, putting Olaf down and walking to the door, pulling it open, "Yes, Anna?"

Anna looked nervous and was staring at her feet, "I uh...I told Kristoff what was going on and he wants to leave now. Im done packing and I just came to say goodbye..."

"Oh, yes of course. Let me come see you off." Elsa moved to leave and Anna stopped her.

"I don't know if thats such a good idea...Kristoff...he's really mad."

"Anna I'm going to go say goodbye to your properly and no one is going to stop me, I'm your sister and the Queen, Im sure I can handle myself." Elsa then moved around Anna and began the walk down the hall.

"Well...ok, but don't say I didn't warn you."


Elsa and Anna, tailed by Olaf made the long walk down to the courtyard. It was awkward to say the least, and the sisters didn't say anything to each other. Elsa was grateful that Olaf was there and made idle conversation with Anna about her day. When they reached the front doors Elsa pushed them open and saw Kristoff standing in front of his sleigh, which was all packed and hitched to Sven. He was tapping his foot anxiously and scowling. His face brightened a bit when he saw Anna, but fell back into a harsh glare when he saw Elsa. Anna looked between the two, clearly uncomfortable and nervous, but Elsa, with all the regality of a queen walked down the steps.

When they reached the bottom Elsa and Anna turned to each other. Elsa tried not to make it obvious but she was sad that Anna was leaving. Since the summer neither had been apart for long, something both of them were enjoying.

"Well, have a safe trip Anna." Elsa said, feeling at a loss for words. Anna looked like she was going to cry and jumped into Elsa's arms.

"Please stay safe." She whispered through her tears. Elsa hugged her sister tighter and assured her that she would. Anna released her and bid farewell to Olaf, then, still teary eyed, made her way to the sleigh. Kristoff looked relieved to have her in there and Elsa, though she understood his want to protect Anna, was a bit jealous and worried.

'It will be fine', Elsa told herself.

Kristoff went to get into the sleigh, but stopped and turned to The Queen.

"I really hope you know what you are doing." He stated simply, then got into the sleigh. With a flick of the harness and a small command Sven was off. Elsa stood there watching them go. before they hit the gate she saw Anna turn around in her seat. Worried that her sister was going to do something crazy Elsa stepped forward, but was cut short by Anna shouting, "I love you Elsa!"

Blinking back tears Elsa shouted back, "I love you too!"