Author's Note: Fair warning, there is a bit of smut ahead. I feel like I got you guys all excited for a battle, and now it's the lull between the first fight and the rest of the war.. Oh my god, I'm a tease. All joking aside, I'm glad you guys enjoyed Elsa's first battle! Oh, I don't think I've said it so far in this fic, but I don't mind it a bit if you want to PM me any questions you might have or anything, I always enjoy a back and forth with my readers. Also! Since there are quite a few, I'll leave the answers to reviews at the bottom of this chapter. Thank you all for your support, and enjoy the read! -Foxinstrazt

Part I: Chapter 5

-A Fellow Knight-

The City of the Sun, Corona

Two Years before the Solstice Celebration

Stumbling into a nearby wall, Elsa nearly fell before her arm was caught in the strong grip of the man who was walking alongside her. With a small, grateful smile, she sat back against the structure, laying her head against the cool surface. "It takes a lot out of you, it seems?"

Caesten's question, like his mannerisms when he had pulled her off of the ground during the battle, was oddly calm. Especially as he was helping a young woman who had just unleashed a wave of ice that had created a layer of frost over an entire battlefield, the same woman who had caused such panic in the enemy ranks that they were routed despite holding superior numbers. He didn't seem scared, and unlike her own soldiers, he wasn't glancing at her every couple of moments to make sure she wasn't using her powers.

Hanging her head as exhaustion tried to weasel its way further into her sore limbs, she stared at the cobbled road beneath her feet. "I have never used it on that scale." Making a noise that was supposed to be a chuckle, it instead came out as a dry cough. "Never knew what I was capable of.."

Crouching down to meet her eyes, the older man was studying her with an intense gaze. "It is quite a power, and it will serve you well in the battles to come."

If I'm not burned at the stake, first. His words brought her attention back to the task at hand, and she pushed herself back up to a standing position. "Come, my uncle is waiting." Willing herself to maintain her footing as they climbed the last road to the castle, she was not prepared for the squeal of happiness as they passed the gates into the courtyard.

"Cousin!" A slim body slammed into her, nearly taking them both down to the ground before Elsa was able to catch herself. Short brown hair was all she saw for a long moment, before the other woman pulled away, making a small noise of disgust and concern. "You are covered in blood!"

"None of which is my own, Rapunzel. It is good to see you." She allowed herself a quiet laugh at her cousin's antics, shaking her head.

The brunette's lips curled into a wicked smile as she turned to pull another into the conversation. "Elsa, this is my husband and the Prince-Consort of Corona, Eugene." Husband? Elsa's eyes slid over the man who was jailed by the woman's grasp on his arm. He seemed closer to her own age than that of the young princess, with a mop of dark hair and eyes the color of chestnut.

He didn't seem to sit well with the way she was analyzing him, as he ran his free hand over the back of his neck nervously. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Elsa." She was trying to place where she had seen him before, her mind only returning with a preposterous memory of a wanted poster, as Rapunzel gave another small squeal of excitement, which drew his gaze. It was up until that point she had deemed him unfit for her cousin, until she saw the loving way he looked at the princess, the absolute adoration evident in his eyes.

"The pleasure is mine, Prince." Bowing at the waist, the gesture was mirrored by the man standing beside her. When she rose, she could see that her aunt and uncle had joined them, and immediately dropped to one knee, a hand pressed to her heart. "Your majesties."

Large hands took ahold of her arms and raised her to a standing position, and she found herself looking into the eyes of the King. "There will be no kneeling from family, nor those whose timely arrival has saved my people from certain defeat."

"It was our pleasure to honor the pact King Arinos forged with Corona, my lord."

The soldier's voice drew her uncle's gaze to him with a raised eyebrow, prompting Elsa to speak up. "Allow me to introduce Caesten, the Marshall of Arendelle's armies. It was his leadership that allowed such a victory today."

"While I am sure the Marshall is an exemplary commander, I hear that we have you to thank for striking such rampant fear into the hearts of the enemy." Blue eyes flitted back to her, and she fought the urge to quiver as the discussion turned to the subject she had been dreading. "Is it true, do you bear the power?" Raising a hand before the small audience, she opened her palm and conjured a small flurry of snow that burst from her fingertips before quickly dissipating. It felt like the need to sleep was amplified by such a simple display, and her grasp on consciousness wavered for a moment. It seems as if prolonged battle with a blade drains me less than doing a simple trick.. Lost in her thoughts, she almost missed the bright grins from her relatives, and the giggle that originated from her cousin. It was shocking, to see such joyful reactions to her curse. Everyone else who had discovered her secret over the years had reacted with fear, or told her she needed to conceal it, to hide it away from a vicious world. Everyone except Anna. "It was truly a gift from the Gods that you led the forces here, my niece. I shall ensure that you, and the skilled Marshall, are honored for your heroism on the field of battle today."

Pushing back her exhaustion, Elsa shook her head. "Honors will have to wait, uncle. There is still a war to win."

Queen Gail, with her green irises filled with concern, stepped forward. "What do you mean, dear?"

"Mekrinon was pushed back, but they will regroup and attack again." Caesten's tone commanded attention, and she was glad to not be the focus of the exchange for a few seconds. "They know they outnumber us."

"Right now, we hold the advantage." Elsa chimed in, attempting to make her uncle understand. "They are on the run and in disarray. We should strike back while we can."

Driscoll looked between them. "I concur, but would it not be prudent to await reinforcements from Arendelle? As I understand it, you have but a fraction of your kingdom's army here."

"And the rest will follow within a week. For now, I will take our combined forces and drive the enemy back." Thoughtful nods accompanied her words this time, and it was her aunt who spoke next.

"Surely you must rest, first. Would you care to dine with us tonight? We can have a room made up for you, as well as a hot bath and a change of clothing."

It was hard to deny that she felt like a walking corpse, with an ache in the back of her eyes that amplified after each blink, and the way her mind stumbled over simple thoughts in its tired state. "That would be lovely, but I would like to attend to my men first, ensure that they are settled in for the night."

Her uncle seemed unwilling to take no for an answer, however, as he laid a hand upon her shoulder. "Nonsense, I will see to it personally that proper lodging is made available for your soldiers. You and Marshall Caesten will enjoy our hospitality for the night, and tomorrow we can truly begin our campaign to drive the invaders from Corona."

Glancing at the man by her side, the old soldier gave a nod. "War can wait a night, Elsa. You must also recover from your exertions, as no decision made while deprived of rest is a good one." With that, it seemed she had lost the argument, and her hand was seized by Rapunzel in order to be led toward the castle steps. Tossing a helpless look back at the chuckling monarchs, she sighed and accepted her fate.

Thank the gods, I did need this.

Relaxing into the bath with a pleasant sigh, Elsa felt the warm water begin to wash away the blood and dirt that was caked onto her skin, as well as the worry of what repercussions her unique ability being revealed would bring. Her clothing and armor, soiled with sweat and the remnants of battle, had been taken by the servants nearly the second after she had undressed. They had left behind a neatly folded pile consisting of a clean shirt and trousers, as well as undergarments she suspected belonged to her cousin, if frilly lace was anything to judge by. The clothes sat on the bed on the other side of the large room, topped with a pair of leather boots, the kind fit for battle and a fine replacement for the cracked and ruined ones she had been trudging about in for years before this war.

Closing her weary eyes, she let herself slip beneath the surface of the small pool, letting it dampen her hair as hands worked the platinum strands free of the confining braid. It wasn't long before the comfortable temperature allowed her to truly release the tension present in her limbs, and let the walls she had erected within her mind fall away. This moment could only be more perfect if Anna was here with me. The rogue thought quickly turned to fantasies of wet, freckled skin slowly lowering into the tub atop her own bare body, which in turn brought about a wave of panic that forced her to emerge from the water, sputtering and rubbing her eyes. What?! She is your sister, and your Queen! Reign in your impure thoughts, lest they become true desires. Conceal your emotions, do not feel them..

Deeply concerned with mentally berating herself, it took her a long while to notice the red haired girl lounging on the chair near the bath, giving a frightened yelp and jumping enough cause a small wave to crash over the side of the tub. For a moment, much too long of a moment, she held on to a trickle of hope that it was Anna. That her younger sister was sitting there, watching her nude form through the rippling surface of the water. But it was not, the distinct lack of freckles announcing that fact in her second take. "Begging your pardon, my lady. I did not mean to startle you." Despite the apology, the servant girl was containing a small grin by biting her bottom lip, brilliant sapphire eyes sparkling with an sinful glow. Elsa gaped at her, indignation burning on her cheeks as her expression asked the question she could not find the words to pose. "The Princess suggested that you may require some help relaxing, and said that I should offer my services.."

The young woman before her was nothing short of beautiful, with hair a much more subdued color than her sisters, auburn that was mixed with brown to create a rusted shine. Its length fell to slim shoulders, framing an attractive face while the fading light of the afternoon shined upon reddened cheeks and a button nose. It seemed as if her cousin had chose a girl far too similar to Anna to be a coincidence, and she found paranoia seeping in, in spite of having only discovered her own perverse feelings mere months ago. "S-services?"

"A massage, my lady." It was hard not to feel some measure of disappointment at the words, as thoughts of her sister had worked her body out of the realm of exhaustion and into a state of arousal. The girl rose to her feet, stealing another glance at the clear water with a sly grin plastered on her face as she walked around to kneel down behind Elsa. Her breathing hitched as hands settled on her bare shoulders, and the other gave a quiet giggle at her nervousness. "Try to relax, I promise I will not bite." It did not help to feel a trace of hot breath down the nape of her neck as the other spoke. "Unless you wish me to, of course."

She felt her eyes widen as the redhead began tracing her thumbs over the ridge of her spine, the sensation teasing the small baby hairs present there. Her cheeks were warm, and she knew that they were glowing a pink color from the simple act of this beautiful creature laying soft hands upon her. Fingers began kneading into tense muscles as she sat against the edge of the tub, her arms along the rim of the tub and paralyzed, as if the slightest movement would cause this wonderful sensation to end. "You are far too tense for my efforts to make any progress. You need to relax." The silvery words were enough to loosen her to a small degree, but the gentle kiss that was planted just behind her ear made her completely malleable to the woman's care.

She slipped a few inches down into the bath, catching herself before she would be too far away to continue receiving the pleasure of the rough ministrations. She had been wary at first, but each rub brought another wave of distraction from the ache of her bruised limbs and sore joints. It took only a few minutes until her head was laid back against the edge of the small tub, eyes closed and lips parted to let a small moan escape. The massage stopped abruptly after that, causing her to investigate where the other woman had gone. She was greeted to a sight of the girl looking down at her with wide eyes, and from here Elsa could clearly see the crystal blue hue of the irises, and herself reflected in them. Unable to ignore the warmth emanating from her core any longer, she raised a hand from the water and stretched it upwards. The only noise in the room was the sound of droplets falling from her hand as she draped it over the slim neck and pulled the other towards her.

Despite the awkward positioning, their mouths met first with the softest of touches. Closing about the girl's lower lip, she held the kiss for a long moment before letting the servant pull away, keeping her hand tangled in the auburn hair. That brief second of contact seemed to set her nerves on fire as she opened her eyes to see a bright grin on the face above her, azure eyes alight with desire. Elsa rose from the bath, uncaring of her own exposure as she stepped free of the water, creating a small puddle over the wooden floor. In some part of her mind, rational thoughts fought to prevail over the haze of lust, but she was already in motion.

Crashing into the smaller girl and wrapping her hands about the slender hips, she smirked as arms were thrown about her shoulders and lips met in the midst of the chaotic embrace. Stumbling towards the bed, her fingers worked feverishly to tear the ties apart on the front of her partner's pants, succeeding in loosening them enough that the clothing fell down to reveal legs as creamy white as her own. The garment tripped both of them up, and Elsa landed atop the other on a large rug. Breaking the kiss to laugh at what their frenzy had wrought, she saw that the carpet was adorned with snowflake designs.

"Very fitting." The woman beneath her spoke breathlessly, looking at the same thing she was. Stifling another giggle, she moved her hands to the side in order to lift herself free, but was stopped by the arms holding her down. Blinking in surprise and meeting the playful gaze, it seemed that even her desire was outweighed by the others, as the pink lips separated to speak in a cadence that promised sin. "It will do."

"Have you killed before today?"

The question caught Elsa off guard, causing her to fumble with the ends of the cerulean cravat she was tying about her neck, undoing all of her efforts so far. Staring at her reflection for a moment before sliding her gaze to the redhead who was lounging languidly upon the bed, and the sight brought a tumbling sensation to her stomach. The lithe form that had been writhing beneath her earlier was now clothed only in undergarments and a loose collared shirt, its buttons undone to leave it hanging and entrusting little to the imagination. Her mind seemed to hold enough pity to provide an answer, instead of abandoning her to stare like a simpleton at the in front of her. "..No."

With lips curling up into a smile, the other woman slid off the bed and sauntered over. She was left to shuffle her feet awkwardly as hands found the end of the cravat and began tying it for her, the girl staring at the cloth as she spoke. "And do you feel different now, as if it has changed something for you?"

"Not entirely.. The revelation of my powers to three armies has taken the stage of my thoughts, it seems." She accompanied her response with a breathy chuckle that came out sounding more like a desperate whimper, a quiet cry for the approval of this woman she barely knew. Barely knew, and slept with. Indecency is in abundance for me, lately. Imagine if she knew whose name it was that filled my thoughts earlier. Attempting to derail her own musings, and to avoid contemplation in general that concerned her sister, she tilted her head. "I slew those men in defense of Corona ..Should I feel guilt for such an act?"

Finished with the tying, the redhead reached up and traced a hand along her jawline and traveled down her neck before settling it above her breast. "Some do, some do not. I was merely curious which of those groups you belonged to."

The dodgy answer left her with even more questions, and the enigmatic nature of the servant girl was quickly becoming the only pursuit that interested her mind in the absence of a burning need that cried to be fulfilled. "May I ask your name?"

Her words were met with a flash of playfulness in the sapphire eyes, and a grin that was as equally devious. "Perhaps. In exchange for a kiss?" It was not a difficult request to meet, as Elsa brought a hand to cup the others cheek and pull her forward. Unlike the rest of their heated dialogue, this one began on a level that was much more chaste than before, a meeting between two sweethearts, not one time lovers.

Her nose rubbed against the girl's until she tilted her head ever so slightly to allow them to brush lips, feeling the warmth of a shaky breath wash over her chin. Pressing her body against the girl, she ran her thumb over the smooth cheek in circles before she took the lower lip between her own. She had planned to hold up her end of the bargain in a way that would leave the other speechless, to offer a worthy tribute in order to learn the name of the enticing temptress, but her attempt was interrupted by knocking at the door. "Elsa? Dinner is nearly prepared and I've brought some reports from our soldiers I'd like to go over with you."

Pulling back with a disappointed groan, her frown caused the girl in her arms to chuckle lightly as she turned to speak towards the door. "One moment, Marshall." When she turned back, the young woman was adjusting her collar and smoothing it out in an effort to make her presentable. Dropping her voice to a whisper, she leaned forward to gently touch their foreheads together. "May I please know your name?"

Slipping free of her grasp, the girl turned away to gather the last item of clothing to complete Elsa's ensemble, a black jacket with a long back. "Perhaps later." Suppressing a whine, she pushed her arms through the offered sleeves one after the other before allowing it to be pulled up about her shoulders. She felt her hair being gathered and a quick glance at the mirror told her that the redhead was tying her platinum locks back with a ribbon that matched the color of her necktie. Stepping around her to adjust the coat now covering her chest, the girl worked on it until it sat perfectly, raising a hand to sweep her bangs to the side and tuck them behind an ear. "Now, go enjoy your dinner." Lips were pressed against her cheek as the woman stepped past her, pushing her lightly towards the door.

Elsa scoffed as she moved to open the door, stepping out into the hallway to see the Marshall leaning on a nearby column shuffling through the parchments in his hands. His eyes slid upwards until they scanned over her, and she quietly hoped that the heated skin of her cheeks were not quite as noticeable as they felt. After a long moment, the soldier looked towards the door she had closed behind her with a raised eyebrow. "Company?" Sighing, she gave a slow nod, and the man chuckled in response. "I see. The benefits of being a hero, I suppose. I had hoped to speak with you, but no matter, we can talk while we walk down to the dining hall."

Grateful for his lack of interest in her affairs, she could not deny the effect the servant girl had had on her. All the tension and soreness from before had melted away, and even their time in bed had served to replenish her after the use of her power. Gesturing down the corridor, Caesten matched her stride while looking over his papers. "You said you had reports you wanted to speak to me about?" Her question seemed to remind him of it, and he gave a nod.

"Yes.. I have the final count of our dead, and wounded. We lost nearly a score in the battle, and nearly double that are now in the care of Coronan healers in the city." After seen her crestfallen expression, he made a contemplative noise before speaking again. "For what could have happened, this is an outcome we could not have hoped for. Your orders, while they carried a large risk, have paid off. Your father would be proud."

That I used my power? I think not. "It was mostly luck that brought us victory, Marshall."

"You downplay the importance of your own actions. What you did on that battlefield.. I've never seen grown men run faster." He gave a small laugh, but her mind was in another place.

"Our wounded, where are they being kept?"

"An infirmary near the entrance to the city. Why?"

Rounding the corner to the banquet hall, she stopped to raise a hand and rub the back of her neck. "I would like to visit them, make sure they are being well cared for." She noticed he was watching her with a small smile when she finally met his eyes. "What is it?"

"Nothing. It is just good to see a student take a lesson to heart."

It brought a light curling to her own lips as she remembered the lesson he was speaking of, one of the many he had delivered in the cramped cabin aboard the Interminable. "'No matter how many oaths a man may swear, his heart shall always belong only to those he deems worthy. A good commander will work to gain the respect and affection of his soldiers.'"

"Why Elsa, you look positively handsome!" Her cousin's voice interrupted the conversation, and drew both gazes to the brunette who bounded up to grab onto her arm excitedly. "I'm glad mother listened to me, I remembered that you hated dresses."

"Then I have you to thank, cousin." She cast a glance over her own form, and had to admit that it was an attractive combination. The dark brown trousers weren't as tight as they could be, but weren't loose enough to cause problems, while the jacket fit as if it had been tailored for her.

They were joined by the Prince-Consort, who gave his wife a dashing smile before gesturing towards the hall they stood outside of. "Let's not keep the King and Queen waiting, hmm?" With that, they filed in, to find Elsa's uncle already sitting at the end of the long table, and his wife in the seat on his right.

She took the chair next to the Queen, while Rapunzel and Eugene sat on the opposite side. Caesten eased down near her, giving a contented sigh as he rested upon the cushioned seat. As servants began to fill the hall and lay down dishes upon the long table, Elsa took the opportunity to look around. It had been years since she had been here, the last time being before her parents' death. Just as it had then, the amount of natural light that was let into this room surprised her, in comparison with Arendelle. The afternoon sun both illuminated and heated the room, casting a lovely glow over the walls.

"Ah, here is our final guest." King Driscoll drew her eyes, while he was looking towards the entrance to the hall. "Marshall, my beloved niece, let me introduce you to my daughter's knight." Sliding her gaze to the entrance, she had expected to see a burly man, much like Caesten, old and gruff. Instead, she was treated to a familiar sight of auburn hair. "Lady Kairi, heir to the duchy of Radiance."

Steel blue eyes found her, and Elsa could not stop the furious blush that overtook her as the other knight grinned in her direction. The unassuming clothes the girl had been wearing earlier were gone, replaced by a suit much like her own, only with a jacket of a deep red color, and a black cravat. Kairi's gaze lingered upon her for a moment before the redhead bowed. "My King, my Queen. Thank you for inviting me, I had hoped to meet the heroes of Corona before we marched tomorrow."

Taking a seat next to the Princess, the redhead greeted her cousin and looked down at the food before glancing up at Elsa. Her thoughts moved a mile a minute, struggling to recall what little she remembered of the duchy of Radiance. It was a small patch of fertile farmland on the northern edge of Corona's borders, proclaimed a duchy after the Lord who owned the land had assisted the larger kingdom in a war decades ago. By all accounts, it was paradise on earth, producing such a surplus of crops that many whispered that magic was involved. And she had slept with the heir, without even knowing her name. All because I thought about Anna. Reminding herself to bash her head into a wall the moment she was alone, she smiled shyly at the girl, receiving a wink that did little to deflate the flush that had taken her cheeks.

"Did you hear me, Elsa?"

Glancing at her cousin, she saw Rapunzel was staring at her with an expectant look on her face. Ignoring the laugh she saw Kairi stifle, she tilted her head and donned a bright smile. "I am sorry cousin, what were you saying?"

"When I asked father to appoint Lady Kairi as my personal knight, he originally refused. But I reminded him that you were a knight, and he held a tournament to test her skills. She fought and won against ten of our best Royal Guards, as well as some Princeling from the Southern Isles!"

Looking over at the redhead, who had a pink tinge to her face, and it was Elsa's turn to grin. "That is impressive. Perhaps we could spar some day, when the situation is not so dire for the kingdom?"

"Of course. You seem like you know how to handle a blade." The words, spoken with such a sultry inflection to the girl's voice, went unnoticed by the rest of table while it caused her to choke on the wine she had just taken a sip of. Well, this is going to be an interesting meal.

Having excused herself at the end of the private dinner, Elsa made her way through the streets of Corona's capital, happy to find them mostly deserted at the late hour. Reaching up to loosen the tie about her neck, she freed herself of the clutch of the two topmost buttons on her shirt as well, sighing in relief. Caesten had given her directions to the infirmary, and she had no trouble finding it, one of the few buildings still bustling with activity despite the fact the sun had fallen.

Stepping past the throng of healers that were either running back into the structure or leaving it to gather more supplies, she was greeted to a grisly sight. She had been showered with blood for the first time today, an unsettling experience to be sure, but this was far worse. The men and women laying here ranged from soldiers to citizens, some were even children, suffering from wounds inflicted by the siege. When she killed a man, she did not leave him with a festering wound and lost in a sense of agony for days later. An immense guilt filled her at the realization that her afternoon had been spent bathing, having sex, and attending a pleasant dinner. Moving forward, it wasn't long before the injured began to notice her, and murmurs had began to circulate through the crowd.

"It's the Lady Elsa."

She turned and grasped the hand of a Coronan soldier who was reaching out to her, laying her free hand upon his shoulder. The man's left eye was covered by a bandage that was wrapped about his head, and he was sitting up on the edge of his assigned bed. "My lady, it will be my honor to serve on the field of battle with you."

Smiling down at him, she bowed her head, becoming aware of the intent way others were listening in on the conversation. "As it has been my honor to serve your kingdom. Rest up, friend." Releasing him, she stepped past and scanned the faces watching her, thinking back to what her uncle had said of the beginning of this war. By Driscoll's own admission, he was not sure why Mekrinon had attacked, it seemed unprovoked to an extreme degree. Caesten had suggested that the rumors surrounding the southern kingdom's king might not have been exaggerated, perhaps he truly was mad.

Mad or not, Mekrinon's King, Draos, had caused so much death in this beautiful country that Elsa felt a righteous indignation burning within her at the sight of so much suffering. It may have been spurned on by the guilt she felt, but she found herself moving to assist the healers in any capacity she could. Hours passed before anyone confronted her about it, laying a hand on her shoulder. She turned to find Caesten looking down on her, shaking his head.

She looked back at the patient she had been helping, a young boy named Olaf who was afflicted with a strong fever due to the infected gash an arrow had left in his leg. The healers suspected that even if the fever did break, they may have to amputate the limb to stop the spread of the sickness. She had spent quite a bit of time using her powers to chill a bowl of water before dabbing a wet rag over his forehead, silently wishing she could do more. "You need sleep, Elsa."

The Marshall's voice was quiet, and as close to gentle as she had ever heard it, as he took the cloth from her hand and set it in the bowl before pulling her to her feet. Peering helplessly down at the wounded boy, she allowed herself to be led from the infirmary. The old soldier steered her towards the castle before letting go, mumbling that he would assist them in her stead. She watched him move back towards the building, before turning to stumble down the street.

Memories of talking to dozens of different people, from common folk to veteran soldiers, all blurred together as she staggered into her chamber door. She couldn't quite recall any individual name or face due to the way her exhausted mind only returned with an image of that small boy, Olaf. All that she had accomplished today, in saving the city and pushing back the invaders, seemed to pale before the fact she had not been quick enough to prevent that one boy from being injured. Turning the ornately detailed knob, she pushed the door open and stepped in, surprised to find that candles had been lit to illuminate the room.

A creak in the beds frame announced that she was not alone, and her eyes found the slim girl looking at her with an expression caught in a conflict between relief and worry. Kairi was still dressed in the attire of a noble, a sharp contrast to the clothing she had worn earlier, but doing much to accentuate her figure. Reaching back to wearily close the door behind her, Elsa took a moment before looking at the other knight. "Rapunzel did not send you to my room the first time."

"..No." The admission did not even begin to surprise her as she moved to the middle of the room. "It was my own curiosity that led me to seek you out. Though I admit my methods were a bit scrupulous."

That is one way to put it. "Do you usually make a habit of dressing like a servant, then?"

"In my defense, you were not dressed at all." The simple response caused her to chuckle unwillingly, too tired to even feign anger towards the girl. "And I will not apologize for my actions, because I do not regret where they led."

"Nor do I." Tilting her head, she ran a hand through her bangs before sighing. "How did you know I would be receptive to your advances?"

The redhead grinned, baring her teeth in the playful way that twisted Elsa's stomach into knots. "I took a chance."

Approaching the edge of the bed, she leaned her knees against it. "And can I expect the same recklessness from you in battle?"

Kairi laughed, smirking in spite of the reminder that tomorrow would be a long day of marching towards violence. "You didn't seem to mind it earlier." A small hand patted the mattress of the bed, quietly inviting Elsa to move forward.

"As much as I am enjoying our dance, I fear I don't have the energy to go another round tonight." Giving an apologetic smile to the other woman, she shrugged her shoulders listlessly.

The response was another pat upon the soft sheets covering the bed, pulling her gaze to the crystal blue of the redhead's eyes. "I would never assume such things, Elsa."

Author's Note: So most of this chapter was pretty much thought up on the spot, and wasn't in the outline. And yeah, Kairi. My knowledge of Disney characters is mostly restricted to the two newest movies because the last time I watched any of the old ones(except the Lion King), I'm pretty sure the Star Wars prequels weren't a thing. So I went with the one I actually knew something about! For those who don't know, Kairi is an unofficial Disney princess who appears in the Disney/Square Enix games called Kingdom Hearts. Go play them, they are fantastic. -Fox

Hermanadi: Well thank you! I enjoyed writing that chapter, and I'll admit describing Elsa's armor a lot of fun.

FrozenFanatic: Heh, I'm trying to temper her powers so they aren't wildly overkill against normal soldiers, but she's still a badass.

UnsightyViewings: Isn't she just awesome?! I actually acted out the scenes before writing them to see if they would work in a real sense, so it's good to know that my efforts paid off. Sorry to get you all excited for a battle and then give you this, but there's other fights coming before this war is over, don't worry!

Guest: The email I got notifying me of your review actually displayed it as "A**ES", which made me chuckle, so thank you for that. And don't worry, she will!