When Estelle reached to her bedroom, her breath was short and shaking, and frost grew from her shoes. Instantly, the ice covered the floor and reached up to the ceiling. She tried to remove the ice, but what she did was thickening it, and piercing spikes pointed at her heart, growing nearer and nearer. In the state of confusion, she raised her hand and her palm faced the ice. The ice immediately stopped growing and shrank, finally became mist and disappeared in mid-air.

The door opened. A black figure came in. Out of fear, she hid herself under her quilt, shivering madly.

The quilt slowly lifted up, revealing Estelle's shaking body.

"Estelle." The familiar voice rang.

Estelle looked up, staring at her mother and dazed with horror. Gently, Elsa hugged her and patted her back, offering the greatest comfort.

"Mama…what should I do?" Estelle hid her face under the queen's arms, while her body was shaking with anxiety. "I…I…tried to hide it…"

"I know." Elsa whispered. "You've done your best."

"But things just aren't going my way."

"I know."

"You aren't going to shut me out, are you?"

The little watery eyes reflected the image of the queen. She tried to hold back her tears, but the fear and woes were too overwhelming, the tears fell softly on the long eyelashes and dropped onto the queen's gown. Estelle's face was red from sorrow and the eyebrows were crushed together, only half inch of separation. Her eyes were shut tightly, trying to stop the tears. The shrill cries were distressing and constantly interrupted by hiccups and quick breaths. Elsa could feel the agony inside the child, and tears rested upon her cheeks.

Both of them did not speak a word until Estelle caught her breath.

"I'm sorry, Mama…"

Elsa bit her lip and hugged the child more tightly, as if she feared that she might lose her child.

"No, it's alright. Everything will be fine."

"No, it's not. I'm nothing more than a weirdo. They will come and get me and throw me into a dungeon."

"No, you're not. They're not going to get you. You'll be fine, you'll be safe."

"Really?" Estelle attempted to control her sob, trying to utter the word clearly.

"Of course, as long as I'm with you." Elsa tucked a stray lock of hair behind Estelle's ear and whispered. "I will always protect you."

Estelle beamed at her mother and nodded. Elsa let her daughter undressed and relaxed. Tenderly, she covered Estelle's body with the quilt once the little girl lay down on the bed.

"Good night, sweetheart." Elsa kissed her forehead.

"Good night, Mama."

"Sweet dreams, my precious Estelle."

Elsa closed the door mildly, and went back to the ballroom for entertaining the guests until midnight.


When Elsa returned to her room, she was completely worn out. After she had undressed, she fell into the armchair, massaging her temple while keeping her eyes shut.

Then, she could feel a warm hand slowly placed her hand to the chair's arm and two hands began to massage her temples.

"Better?" Erik bent down a little and whispered.

"A lot better." Elsa replied while enjoying. "It's a waste that you aren't a masseur, you'd be famous and wealthy."

"Am I not wealthy enough?"

"Of course you're. You were a prince, then a king. A majestic king with vast land and a maze-like castle."

"Those are nothing. The most valuable thing in here is you and Estelle. Without you two, what am I? A king, just a king."

"An unloved king."

Both of them silenced for a while. Elsa loved it a lot. It was rare to have silence, safety and love together, nothing could be more enjoyable than having someone you loved.

"Is Estelle fine?"

"Frightened. But I think she will be alright tomorrow."

"But what I fear is what others think. That Henrik and his children…Their presence at that moment makes Estelle vulnerable. Not everyone has seen ice power before. And something tells me that Henrik is not the type of person who is trustworthy."

"Now, don't worry. Just go to sleep."

"I can't sleep with so many worries in my head."

"Then I will force you to sleep."

He lifted Elsa up suddenly, making her squealed with surprise, clutching his shoulder and neck tightly. Erik laughed and slightly lifted his arms higher for adjusting to a more comfortable position to hold his wife.

"Stop it, Erik!" She exclaimed and wriggled.

Erik raced to the bed and threw himself onto the bed with Elsa. Elsa struggled to get out of his arms, but only finding the grasp tightened.

"Erik, let me go." Elsa said calmly, hoping that her husband would listen.

"I will never let go, never."

Elsa smiled sweetly, when was the last time she had smiled with overload of happiness?

At that night, whispers of affection and warmth filled the room, and did not cease until dawn.