lol by 'one or two more chapters', i meant that that's how many i have left to write xD in all, there will be around 11 chapters to this fic. i could make it longer, but i don't have the energy. it will be a complete story when i'm done with it, though :)

Elsa awoke sometime in the middle of the night to sobbing. There was a voice, but it spoke in low tones.

Kai, she realised. Which meant that-

Before she even realised, she was out of her bed, drawing her dressing gown around her body and feet slipping into her slippers.

Anna was stood in the corridor, Kai crouching in front of her. The poor girl looked absolutely distraught, face puffy and red in the light of the candle. As Elsa moved closer, she could see what may have been the cause for the distress.

There was a rather large damp spot in the front of her clothes.

Oh...

Her heart went out the small child, and she stepped closer. It seemed that it was only then that Anna noticed her; it only made her wail harder and try and hide herself. She was speaking, or trying to; her words were incomprehensible to Elsa, which only made her more invested.

"Mr Kai?" she asked. He hadn't noticed her, and shot to his feet.

"Your Majesty," he began. "I apologise for disturbing your sleep. Miss Anna has... had a small incident. Please, you may return to your bed. The matter will be resolved promptly."

"Nonsense, Kai," she scoffed. She took his place in front of Anna, bending down so she was at Anna's height.

"Anna...?" she asked, very gently. From this distance, she could see Anna trembling; whether it was with the cold, or her anguish, it was impossible to tell. Through her crying and choked words, Elsa understood at least two: "I'm sorry!"

"What are you sorry for, Anna?"

The questioning, gentle as it was, seemed to help a little. Slowly, Anna's sobs died down, though they never completely stopped. Her face was red and puffy, and damp and sticky from her snot and her tears.

"I- I-"

"Shh, it's okay. Take your time."

"I r-ruined your p-pretty clothes, and- and the b-bed... please don't punish me!"

It seemed to have taken all her willpower to say that one sentence, because as soon as she had, she was sobbing once more. But... punish her? Why in God's name would Elsa do a thing like that? She stood and turned to Kai.

"Could you go and fetch a new set of clothes for Anna, Kai?" she asked. He gave a stiff bow and disappeared down the corridor.

"Would you like to clean up before getting dressed, Anna?"

It seemed the young girl was not expecting such a question, because it surprised her from her tears.

"P-pardon?"

"Well... I have Mr Kai going to collect some fresh clothes. Would you like to have another short bath to clean up?"

Shakily, Anna nodded her head. Elsa smiled and stood. "Let's go and doo that, then. I'm sure Mr Kai will find us."

She began walking down the corridor, Anna following her. What she did not expect was for Anna to slip her hand into her own, squeezing tightly.

Anna sniffled. "Am... am I not in trouble?"

Looking down at her, Elsa smiled. "Silly goose, why would you be in trouble? Accidents happen."

But Anna didn't answer, and Elsa thought that perhaps she already knew the answer.

The more she learned about Anna's life, the unhappier with it she became.

...Surely there had to be something that she could do. Something to ensure that, when Anna left the castle and returned to her life, that she would not be in the same situation as Elsa had met her in.

But thoughts like that could wait until it was morning proper.

It didn't take long to have a bath. The water was only shallow this time, and not as warm as before. It was not cold, but the steam did not rise quite so thickly. Anna took only as long as Kai did to return with her clothes. Then she was getting dressed.

Elsa made sure Anna was sufficiently distracting before taking Kai to the side.

"What happened, Kai?" she asked in an undertone. He gave a small shrug.

"She was in the hallway, calling my name. I think she didn't want a stranger to come, which is why she didn't ring the bell. She'd had an accident and was afraid of getting into trouble for it. It was hard to get anything out of her; I am grateful that you arrived, though I apologise profusely for waking you."

Elsa brushed it to the side. "Its fine, Kai. Do you know why she had the accident. I was under the impression that children her age did not... have issues with this sort of thing."

Once more, he shrugged. "It is entirely possible that she could not locate the bathroom. Did she go before bed?" It took one look at Elsa's guilty face to give him an answer.

"It's quite all right, your majesty; you couldn't have known, and if she didn't mention it... This does leave us with the issue of where she can sleep tonight. I am more than happy to host her, as you are aware, though my wife-"

"I understand that Gerda is ill, Kai. It's fine. She can take my bed. I'll sleep on the settee or something."

He nodded, and Elsa turned to return to the bathroom. Anna was surely finished by now. She paused when his voice carried through the hallway.

"Your majesty, if I may make a suggestion?" he asked. She nodded. "I'm sure your bed is big enough for the two of you; and being in a strange place, Miss Anna may appreciate the company more than she would say. Just a suggestion."

Elsa frowned briefly, but nodded her understanding. "Thank you, Kai. You may return to your chambers." He gave a short bow.

Anna was standing in the middle of the room, towel clutched in her hands. The new clothes were an even poorer fit than the last ones, drowning her in fabric.

"Come, Anna. Time for bed."

She nodded glumly, not looking at Elsa. The towel was placed on the seat Elsa had used earlier that night, and this time, Anna did not try and take her hand.

The joy in her from earlier had vanished, only to be replaced by shame and disappointment.

It didn't sit well with Elsa, and Kai's suggestion echoed around her head.

Perhaps... perhaps this would be good for her, too.

This was, after all, the first year in a half-dozen that hadn't ended with her own tears; that hadn't ended with something broken, or frozen, or someone hurt.

"Would- would you like me to braid your hair before sleep this time?" she asked Anna. It was damp again from the bath, and while it wouldn't dry while braided, it would stay out of the way. Anna looked uncomfortable with the question, and Elsa could guess why.

"Why don't we try it, and if you don't like it, we can take it out?" she offered instead; it seemed that Anna didn't want to ask for anything more than she'd already been given that night, even if that request came in the form of accepting an offer.

Elsa was practised with braiding; for so long she had done her own, and even now, some days it just felt like too

much too have a maid do it for her.

Too much to have anyone close to her, touching her.

Within a few minutes, Anna had two twin braids either side of her face. She tanked Elsa softly, but didn't move towards the bed even as Elsa did.

"Um... Elsa... where am I sleeping now?" she asked, still looking very unsure of herself.

There was no point in lying to the girl, and Elsa had no intention of telling her half-truths, so she simply said, "There are no other rooms made up, and unfortunately Mr Kai's wife is ill. We've decided that you should sleep in here tonight, with me."

"With you...?"

"Yes. So, come now. I am sure you're tired – as am I – and we have a big day tomorrow."

This time, Elsa had no difficulty with helping Anna up; her bed was a little higher up, and the short girl couldn't quite reach it on her own.

It was odd, having someone else in her bed. Elsa remembered, a very long time ago, when she would crawl into her mother and father's bedroom. Before they died and before she had become so crippled that she couldn't even make eye contact with another person.

But there was also something comforting. It didn't take long for either of them to fall asleep.