Chapter 6: Breaking the ice

Elsa woke up in the middle of the night. She paced the room trying to make herself tired enough to go back to sleep. She sighed there was no way she was going to fall back asleep. She knew going to bed that early she wouldn't sleep through the night. Elsa decided that she would go for a walk. She climbed down the stairs and through the castle. As she walked passed Lokis room she looked inside he looked so peaceful as he slept. A small smile crept it's way onto Elsa's face as she watched him sleep. Elsa walked over and grabbed the blanket that he had thrown off in his sleep. She could see that he was shaking as he slept. She covered him the best she could and started a small fire to keep him warm. As Elsa got up to leave she looked down on his sleeping face one last time. She failed to notice a single white streak running through his black hair. Elsa walked out of her castle and down the stairs. Elsa used her magic to make a small ice rink. She made ice skates and started skating. Her thoughts wandered to the prince sleeping within her castle. At first she felt as if she had been trapped all over again. She had felt free when she first built her castle then he came and everything she had left behind came rushing back. Now she felt as free as she had when she first arrived despite the nightmares she felt safe again. He made her feel safe when he spoke to her it seemed as if everything else was melting away. All her fears, worries, and everything else that came with her powers. She had built up walls of ice over the years to block out all feelings and he had broken those ice walls. She had fallen for him she knew it but she didn't have to let him no he had his own world to return to. Elsa stopped skating something didn't add up. When he first arrived he had told her that he had left his world because he was only causing destruction to it and came to Arrendelle. Just yesterday he told her that he had fallen into her world by accident. There was something he wasn't telling her. Something important. She would have to figure it out later. Elsa could see smoke in the distance. She walked towards it to see if she could find out who was there. She could make out figures but they were still too far to tell who exactly they were. They would have visitors soon. Defiantly by tomorrow afternoon they would be at her castle. She had to prepare and Loki needed to be ready as well. Elsa walked back into her castle and to Lokis room. Elsa tapped Loki on the shoulder waiting for him to wake up. Elsa huffed as he just pushed her hand away and turned the other way. Elsa pulled the blanket away and snuffed out the fire. That'll teach him, Elsa thought. Loki patted the ground searching for the missing blanket when he couldn't find it he used his cape as a blanket. "Oh come on!" Elsa yelled. Elsa could hear Loki snicker at her. Despite being slightly irritated Elsa smiled a little bit. She lightly kicked Loki until he rolled back over.

"Ok I'm up!" He said as he slowly sat up and stretched.

"I feel sorry for your mother." Elsa said as she sat next to him.

"And whys that?" Loki asked as he raised his eyebrows.

"You must have been a pain to wake up in the morning!" Elsa lightly shoved Loki.

Loki chuckled and shoved her back. "So why did you wake me in the middle of the night?" Loki asked.

Elsa sighed as she answered, "We will have visitors tomorrow. I'm not sure what their intentions will be. I must ask that you stay hidden. I wouldn't want them to hurt you for being here with me."

Loki shook his head. "I can't do that Elsa." Elsa turned to look at him her eyes slightly widened with shock. "I can't let them hurt you."

"You don't understand. These people see me as a monster. If they know you've been here with me they'll kill you, Loki! They'll kill us both! I can't let you die when you've done nothing wrong!" Elsa looked at Loki. Surely he could understand that. He had to.

Loki turned his head away from her. If only she knew what he had done. She wouldn't be saying any of this if she knew. "Fine. I will stay hidden but I will not leave you. And if they try to harm you I will not hesitate to kill them myself." Loki stood and walked to look outside. He could see the smoke in the distance. Yes he would kill them should they even think of harming Elsa and he would do so with the upmost pleasure. She was safe here and he intended to keep it that way. He cared for her there was no denying it now. He knew she would die for him and he would do the same for her. He knew those nightmares couldn't simply be dreams not when they had the exact same one. He would keep her safe for as long as he could.

Elsa sat shocked at what he had said. No one had ever cared so much about her before. She knew he must feel the same way she did about him. Elsa walked over to Loki and grabbed his hand. "Come let us spend our last moments of peace doing something fun." Elsa said as she pulled him out to the little ice rink she had made. Loki stepped onto the ice and stumbled. Elsa chuckled as he gripped onto her arms for support. "Don't they have ice skating on Asgard?" Elsa teased.

Loki made an irritated face at her as he answered, "Of course they do. I was just never fond of it."

Elsa giggled as she watched him struggle to keep his balance. "I can see why! Your terrible at it!"

"Your encouragement is overwhelming." Loki responded sarcastically.

"Ok ok no need to get all upset." Elsa responded. "Here let me help you." Elsa held out her hand for Loki to hold onto as she guided him around. They slowly skated around the little rink. After a while Loki got more comfortable and a bit more confidant.

"I think I've got the hang of it now." Loki said as he dropped Elsa's hand and took a lap by himself.

"Ooohhh I see were a big boy now." Elsa teased as she watched Loki take a slow lap by himself.

"Shut up I'm trying to focus." Elsa laughed at the look of concentration on his face as he spoke.

"It doesn't take that much concentration. It's just like walking." Elsa commented as she easily skated over to him.

"Stop making it look so easy. It's harder than walking." Loki commented as Elsa skated backwards and did little tricks as he struggled to keep his balance. Elsa laughed.

"Ok fine you wanna see hard watch this!" Elsa skated all the way to the edge of the rink and readied herself. Loki stopped skating and sat on snow next to the rink. Elsa skated as fast as she could to the middle of the rink and once she was there she jumped and twirled in the air. As Elsa landed her skate caught on the ice and she fell right on top of Loki.

Loki grunted as he pushed himself up onto his elbows. "Not bad but I'd say you need to work on your landings." Loki commented.

"I'm so sorry! I thought I'd stick the landing!" Elsa blushed as she noticed that she was still on top of Loki. She felt her heart speed up at the close proximity her hands placed gently on his chest.

"Its fine. Your not that heavy anyways." Loki chuckled as he saw her blush. He pushed a few loose strands of hair out of Elsa's face. He saw her blush deepen and he could feel his own heart speed up. He had never been so fond of a woman before. She was everything he had always wanted to be. She was perfect.

"Thank you, Loki. For everything. I was in a rough spot before you came and now that your here I feel like everything will be ok again." Elsa smiled at Loki as she spoke. She couldn't help but feel complete there with him.

"No Elsa thank you. You make me feel like I've never felt before. I feel complete with you." Loki said surprised at his own words. He had never been so honest with anyone before. He truly felt like a completely different person like his past never even happened. He had broken down her ice walls and she had broken down his. He knew that their love would be doomed but he couldn't help but fall for her. Elsa leaned her head towards his and placed a small kiss on his lips.

"Thank you." Elsa whispered as she laid her head on his chest listening to the beat of his heart. She closed her eyes and listened everything felt absolutely perfect. Loki kissed the top of Elsa's head and leaned back in the snow. He was absolutely freezing but in that moment he didn't care. The small white streak in Lokis hair faded a tiny bit. They laid there in the snow in perfect silence perfectly peaceful as Elsa played with the fabric on Lokis armor and he stroked her hair. Finally Elsa sat up. She looked out into the distance and sighed.

Loki sat up and asked, "What's wrong?"

"They'll be here any moment now. We must be ready." Elsa pulled Loki up out of the snow and they walked back to the castle hand in hand. The visitors would be at the castle anytime now and they needed to be ready for the battle they were sure they would have to face.