Apparently, Elsa did not get the news that Anna had turned away the noblewoman that came to visit her earlier in the day. When she did, she was absolutely livid. She could hear the usually silent woman's screams of rage even now. Such an odd thing to witness, her face red with rage, veins straining in her neck. The woman knight couldn't help but find grim amusement in the fact that she had caused this dark, putrid mood. Her older sister had her quarters closed off that night and Anna was sent a letter with only one sentence on it. 'You will never do that again if you wish to stay by my side.' Any thrill she got from infuriating her sister disappeared. Obviously, she was not allowed to go and see what exactly her sister had been up to that night as discussed.

To be quite honest, Anna didn't want to know. She had thought about if after her sister departed…At first, the idea of prying secrets from her cold sister had been exhilarating. Then, she realized, there was only so much she could handle before she couldn't bear it anymore. It was already bad enough that she was willing to sleep with Hans for an heir…Hans! Of all the men. She didn't know what her sister was capable of anymore. Did she really want to know what made even her sister realize what she was doing was wrong?

Yes, but also no.

Anna lifted the heavy ice armor before her, lay it down on her desk. Heavy, dark, a symbol of her sister's corrupt love. Nothing angered her sister more than when she took it off. The black ice had saved her from many different situations, and the only time it had ever fallen apart was when Embra herself melted it with flames. Other than that, it was seemingly unbreakable. Anna tied her hair back, pulling on narrow trousers and a long-sleeved, white tunic. She was going to visit that noble woman she had turned away in order to gain Elsa's forgiveness.

Elsa's anger was one thing Anna had never been able to handle. She didn't really have a choice in this matter.

Anna gazed at herself in her bedroom mirror. Not too casual. She strapped a dagger to her belt. Wearing clothes like these reminded her of what she was. Who she was inside. Princess Anna…it had been so long since she'd heard that fall from anyone's lips. Anna sighed heavily before she tugged on some boots and departed.

The noblewoman's name, according to Kai, was Izabella Giovanni. A foreign woman staying in a nearby town. The journey would take an hour or two. In the back of her head, another trip was repeated. One that involved traveling into the mountains, and her friend being burned alive. Shivering, she swore she felt their ghosts…The longer she walked this path, the more corpses were appearing along with it. Kristoff, Tabitha, Embra.

Embra's death especially left a mark on her soul. She saw the poor woman whenever she closed her eyes. The chopped off fingers, the cross embedded in her beautiful, slender throat. Anna stopped at the stables to get a horse. She dropped a few coins in the stable boys' hands to keep him silent. She didn't need him spreading the news that Anna had departed on horseback to the other servants, and therefore, Elsa.

It felt good to have her legs wrapped around a saddle again. Oddly enough, the beautiful white horse reminded her of Hans. How they'd met, how sure she'd been that he was someone special. That they were meant to be together. Anna had been infatuated with him. It was for the best that it had turned out like this, so she wondered how things would be right now if he had kept pretending and married her instead of betraying her.

Would Elsa still be mad with this power she held?

Anna turned her attention back to her trip. She really would have to talk to her older sister about these conditions. People would surely rebel again if she didn't feed them and care for them properly. Though, Elsa would happily spill their blood again. For their own sake, she hoped they could suck it up while Anna attempted to convince the Queen. A voice murmured in the back of her head. You're the princess. You can do something about it. Maybe with a certain noblewoman's assistance..? Anna forced the thoughts away. She didn't want to do anything to anger Elsa. Feeding these people might do that…but she was the princess! She had to serve her people too. Anna was in a state of turmoil. She tried to focus on the roads, on the cold air, on anything but the countless homeless people and beggars reaching for her and rasping "food, please."

Izabella's estate was one town over. It was almost night time by the time Anna reached it. She hadn't expected to take so long, but her horse had started acting rather oddly and the bad weather had gotten worse halfway there. She also had to ask for directions. According to commoner she spoke to, this noblewoman was cruel and narcissistic and had only been here for a few years. The old noble that watched over these people had taken part in the uprising against Elsa and killed. Anna, as always, felt guilty.

She brought her horse to the front gates of the estate. "Hello," she called to the guards in a friendly voice. Stoic, one of them approached her. His mustache was quivering and his brow was low. He clearly didn't recognize who she was.

"You realize what time it is, missus? The lady will see no visitors."

Anna gazed up at the darkened sky. She frowned. "I wonder how the queen will react when she finds out your lady cast out her sister instead of showing her some decent hospitality." The guardsman's eyes widened, and he gasped.

"I am sorry! I didn't recognize you. Jonathon, go inform the missus that she has a visitor." He turned to Anna now, mustache quivering. "You follow him. I'm afraid I cannot leave my post. It was good to see you though, princess. You look very different from when I worked at the castle." Without another word, he turned away. Anna's own eyes widened. The man was vaguely familiar. He apparently had worked at the castle, probably one of the many men that had been forced out with Elsa's violent "change." Kai was one of the few exceptions, but most of them had been replaced by women.

"Interesting," Anna frowned as she hopped off her horse. The young man called Jonathon took it from her. The gates were opened, and he ushered her in, the horse as well. When they entered he whistled, and a different man arrived with a big belly and shaggy blond hair. He took her horse, smiled at her, and walked away. He was familiar too. Were all these men people who used to work at the castle? Despite her feeling bad for them losing their jobs, it was probably better they were away from Elsa.

The air was starting to chill even more with night's arrival, and she was thankful when she was allowed into the massive estate. She hadn't expected this place to be so warm, or hospitable. It reminded her a little of the castle when she was a child. Portraits of wondrous places and people, statues, and vases, lush red carpet and heavy drapes. The air smelled vaguely of spices…Anna enjoyed it. She inhaled slightly, mouthwatering. Somebody was cooking something.

Jonathon turned to her. "You wait here." His heavy armor clinked as he marched away.

So a random noblewoman from Italy had an estate near their palace, with all their former workers? Odd. She waited where she was told to, arms crossed. She removed her coat though, laying it over her arm. What seemed like a long time later, a familiar face appeared? "Guard Captain, right? Not doing a very good job of 'guarding the queen' this far away from her, are you?" Izabella smiled at her, wearing rather revealing, sensual clothing. She caught Anna's lingering gaze on her body. Her breasts especially were held high in a bodice. Anna cleared her throat when the woman smirked and averted her gaze.

"Mm I knew I was right, you have just as much interest in me as your lovely sister. Who wouldn't?"

Anna's gaze jerked over. "That's what I came here about. You need to return to the palace with me. I made a mistake making you leave."

Izabella's dusky eyes met hers. "I don't think I shall."

"The Queen-"

"Is up to something suspicious. I will not be here much longer, as a matter of fact. I suspect you saved my life." The beautiful woman stepped closer, dark curtains of hair falling over her shoulders. "I have to thank you for that." Her perfume was thick. Anna briefly wondered what she had been up to before Anna arrived.

"Why do you think that?" Anna asked, genuinely curious.

"Someone has informed me that I am not the first woman Elsa has "taken an interest in" you could say. No doubt I'm not the last. These women, she invites them to the castle and they never return. Some of them were dear friends. I have no choice but to leave here. I thought perhaps that was why you came. To stop me." Anna gazed at the woman standing before her, wondering if her words were true. "Someone" had informed her? Who. And was this true? Now that she thought about it, Anna never saw these guests. What was Elsa doing to them? Regardless, Anna could not just allow this woman to flee.

"You cannot just flee."

Izabella chuckled. "No I cannot, can I?"

"Perhaps we can make a deal," Anna murmured thoughtfully. "Tell me about this letter you were sent by my sister and tell me of this person that told you about the other noblewomen, and you can come to the palace as my personal guest. You can bring your guards. No harm will come to you." Strain crossed the noblewoman's brow. Her dark eyes met Anna's, curious, wary.

The fact that there might be a possible traitor in the palace was worrisome.

"You would invoke our queen's rage for me?"

"I would," Anna answered seriously, grim. Her teal eyes were cold and unwavering. Raising a brow, Izabella smiled.

"Careful now, lest I fall for you… Come then, we can talk in my bedchambers."

The letter that Izabella spoke of certainly made it sound like Elsa was courting her. Apparently, it spoke of her immense beauty, and how the queen would like to see it in person. Jealousy filled her the more the noblewoman spoke, her tone making it clear that despite the danger, she was still incredibly attracted to Anna's sister. Who could blame her? Anna was too. Apparently, it was a man who informed her about the other women. Priest-like, with a cross, emblazoned on his robes.

A cross, which as Izabella described it, sounded exactly like the one embedded in Embra's torn throat.

"He left as quickly as he came," the woman trailed off, blinking. "That is all there is to tell."

"You've told me a lot, actually," Anna responded, smiling kindly. "I appreciate it."

"Happy to help…" Izabella gazed at her, "You look so uncomfortable standing there. So stiff…" Her lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Why don't you let me help you…relax?" Oddly enough, her seductive tone, her words, were actually rather tempting. It had been a while since she'd been taken by her queen or vice versa. Alas, her sister was the only one who could turn her gaze so she had to decline.

"I apologize but I'm not interested," Anna grinned cheekily. "Thank you, though. I'm flattered." Her eyes twinkled.

"You relationship with your sister can only go so far, my dear," Izabella sighed, "she will need an heir- a husband if she wants to appear powerful. Her ice magic is something, yes, but can it stop armies of thousands upon thousands? Other lands are rallying against her, you realize. Including my home. Some, because of her witchcraft. Others, because of her incestuous relationship with you. Some, because of both."

Obviously, Anna knew all of this. Even so, it hurt to hear. She winced, turning away. No doubt, this was why Hans was the obviously better choice. He was ambitious and intelligent. A man and not her brother…Even so, Anna was not willing to give up what they had. Izabella saw her determined expression and sighed. "It's your loss."

"Then we are done here."

The noblewoman nodded. "I look forward to your hospitality at the castle." Anna smiled, bowed, and turned away. Internally, guilt was threatening to overwhelm her. She wasn't going to keep this woman safe. She wasn't going to protect her. She was delivering her like prey to a predator. She was completing what Elsa couldn't accomplish the first time. Anna was…delivering Izabella to whatever fate awaited her the first time she went to the castle.

"Allow me to dress and pack some things and I will be right out."

Anna nodded. Izabella smiled at her, then stepped closer. Before Anna could make sense of what was happening, the taller woman was kissing her. Hard and insistent, with just a bit of tongue. When she pulled away, Anna was left breathless. Confused, and a little dizzy, she stumbled out of the temptress's bedchambers and back to the entrance of the huge home. Kissing her had been odd…wrong. Was her body truly made for Elsa? It seemed like that was the case.

An hour or so later, she realized what had happened. The woman had fled. The letter left on her bed confirmed it.

Mercedes has promised me that he will take me to a safe place. He is the man who I was…passing time with before you interrupted and also the man who told me of your sister's dark intent. I'm sorry my dear, but I will not return to the castle like a fly crashing into a spider's web. I trust him more than I trust you…I will see you again, I'm sure. Perhaps then, we can finish where I left off? Your red face was oh so very cute.

Explaining where she'd been to Elsa just became a lot more difficult.