Anna, Do You Wanna Know A Secret?

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Warnings: Violence, bloodshed, language and implied sexual abuse.

I warned you that it would get a little darker. If any of the above is triggering for you I advise that you skip the sections marked with the bold 'X's'.

You have been duly warned.

Chapter 10

For Arendelle

"The Queen has given the signal! Now is the time to move!"

"For the people!"

"For the Queen!"

"For Arendelle!"

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"Now is the time for you to tell me what you and your sister have planned Princess. We wouldn't want another innocent life to be lost because of your stubbornness now would we?"

Anna sat stock still in her chair, staring straight ahead. Her face was a neutral mask, void of expression, a stark contradiction to the storm she felt raging within her and the one that was beginning to rage outside the castle walls.

"I'm going to ask you one more time Anna..."

"Why don't you just kill me?" Anna challenged her tone soft and steady. "You'll get further that way." She restrained a gasp when she felt a cool blade press against her throat.

"Don't tempt me," Hans growled into her ear. He pressed the blade a bit further before withdrawing it. Anna could feel the bruise beginning to form on her neck, but she ignored the pain, watching as the redhead prince paced from one side of the small chamber to the other.

"Why do you have to be so difficult?" he asked, slamming his hands down on the table. "This was supposed to be easy…" he said with a sigh.

"You expected us to give in to your wishes without a fight?" Anna asked in an incredulous tone. "That we would simply bow down to you while you usurped the throne? I have been called naïve Prince Hans, but I believe we share the ailment."

"You agreed to marry me after only a few hours in my company Princess," Hans reminded her haughtily. "I am not the one who is naïve."

"No, perhaps not," Anna replied. "Idiotic is a better term I suppose."

The slap came fast and hard and it surprised Anna. She had never been treated in such a way in her life. But she schooled her features and ignored the sting of her left cheek as she straightened herself out, staring unwaveringly at Hans.

"You're going to learn to treat me with a little respect wench," Hans spat.

"Trust me," Anna replied. "I'm treating you with as little respect as possible."

Another slap, harder this time, and as Anna straightened out, she could feel her check swelling and taste the blood on her lip. "It's funny. You're not out fighting this battle for your kingdom like a real king. Instead, you chose to stay indoors where it's safe and warm, beating a defenseless woman." She watched the anger begin to swirl within Hans' eyes, but continued. "It's no wonder your own father denies any blood relation to you… or is that because he's ashamed of his bastard child, the son of a common whore."

"You want me to act as would a real man then?" Hans asked softly.

Anna didn't answer, only watched the Prince with a warily.

"Alright then…"

Before Anna could blink, she was on the floor, the wooden chair she had been sitting on broken beside her. She tried to stand but Hans pushed her down, using his strength to pin her hands above her head and his body weight to trap her legs. Anna's eyes widened as she realized what Hans was going to do.

"Aren't you going to plead for mercy? Beg me not to?" Hans whispered, his hot breath washing over her face and making the bile rise in her throat. But she remained silent. She would not beg.

"No?" Hans asked with a sinister chuckle. "You surprise me Princess. Perhaps, this is what you wanted all along…to be taken. Like a common whore."

"Get off of me this instant," she hissed, her eyes watering against her will as she squirmed, using all of her strength to struggle against Hans. Her efforts only earned her another hard slap, this one making her head turn forcefully and bounce on the cold cobblestone floor, her vision darkening at the edges slowly.

She vaguely remembered a hand slipping under the skirts of her dress and then even that began to fade into replayed memories of her and Elsa as children, of her parents smiling down at them as they played and of the moments she and Elsa had spent together after Elsa had told Anna her secret.

"It's ok Anna… I've got you."

She smiled, a sense of peace overtaking her.

And then everything went black.

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Elsa gazed out into the storm that overtook Arendelle, knowing that with this manifestation, her troops would know that it was time.

She only hoped that they arrived sooner rather than later.

Until then, she turned back towards the castle, determined to find Anna, praying that she was alright. She ran around the outer wall, finding the secret passage way that lead into the tunnels that ran under the castle. Closing the small trapdoor behind her she allowed her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting that filtered in through the floors above her and that a few scattered torches provided.

She walked for what felt like miles before she came to a familiar clearing.

She was under her bedroom.

She searched for the narrow stairway that lead up to the hatch in the floor under her bed and lifted it, listening carefully for footsteps or any other noise that might alert her to an oncoming threat. When she heard none, she slipped out of under the bed and stood, hastily slipping out of her ball gown and into heavy pants, boots and tunics, wrapping a belt around her waist before going to her closet.

She unlocked her private armoire to revel her own armory that held only one thing.

Elsa slowly unwrapped the large bundle to reveal the sword she had crafted out of her strongest ice. It glistened in the pale moonlight, almost glowing an eerie blue as she lifted it and swung it once, familiar with its weight. Sheathing it slowly, she closed the armoire once more and walked out of her closet, freezing when she heard some movement by the door.

Placing her hand on the handle of her sword, she slowly moved forward, watching as the door opened.

"Queen Elsa?"

Elsa released a deep sigh of relief when Liam came into view. She walked over to the boy and dropped to her knees. "Liam, are you alright?"

The boy nodded. "I am. But I don't think Princess Anna is."

Elsa felt her heart rate pick up at the mention of Anna. "Where is she Liam?"

"The ballroom," Liam answered. "I followed the guards that took her there. Hans is there too. I think… I think they killed someone Elsa."

Elsa closed her eyes and sighed. One life was already too much and she would not risk losing anymore. "Liam, we are at war. Prince Hans and Lord Vik are trying to take over Arendelle."

"You're not going to let them are you?" Liam asked.

Elsa shook her head. "No, of course not. But it's going to be hard… many people will get hurt."

"The people of Arendelle love you Elsa. They will fight for you," Liam replied, and Elsa smiled at the conviction in the young boy's voice.

"I'm going to find Princess Anna…"

"I'm going with you Elsa."

Elsa shook her head. "It's too dangerous."

"I'll be ok," Liam assured, raising his hands. Elsa watched as the boys' fingers frosted over. "I have these remember."

Elsa couldn't help but smile. "Alright. But stay very close to me, understand?" When the boy nodded, Elsa patted his head and motioned for him to follow her as she slowly opened her door and looked out into the dark hallway. There wasn't a guard in sight.

She slipped out into the hall, motioning for Liam to follow her once she was sure that the coast was clear.

They walked down the hall, there footsteps light and quick, Elsa looking around every corner before turning it. She stopped abruptly when she head footsteps and listened carefully to what the guards were saying.

"If the Queen escaped, the storm must be the signal."

"Elrick told us to stay put. If the Queen returns, she's going to need backup."

"What of the Princess?"

Elsa's heart drop when she heard as sigh.

"There isn't much that we can do for her. We're outnumbered fifty to one if we go into the ballroom."

Elsa turned to Liam, kneeling in front of him once more. "Liam, we're about to face some very bad people… people that want to hurt me and Princess Anna…"

"Are you're going to kill them?" Liam asked softly.

Elsa released a deep breath. "Not if I don't have to Liam. I don't want to kill anyone."

Liam nodded. Elsa placed her hands on his shoulders and said "Liam, if you're in danger and I can't get to you, I want you to use your powers."

Liam bit his bottom lip. "How will I know when to use them?"

Elsa smiled and brushed the boys' soft blonde hair out of his eyes. "When the time comes, you'll know. Now, stay close to me." Elsa stood again, looking around the corner and taking a deep breath before approaching the guards.

"Queen Elsa!"

Elsa hesitated, eyeing the armored men warily, her hand at ready by the hilt of her sword.

"My Queen, you have nothing to fear. We are of Elrick's men."

"Our loyalty will forever lie with you Queen Elsa."

Elsa relaxed a bit and nodded. "Thank you… now, I must go save my sister."

"My Queen, there are at least a hundred trained soldiers in the ballroom. They are guarding the Prince."

"You cannot do it alone Queen Elsa."

Elsa turned to them, allowing her powers to flare up just enough so that the floor beneath her feet turned to ice. "I think I can handle them… cover my back. But only take a life if you must…"

"Yes My Queen."

"Yes Your Majesty."

Elsa nodded and made eye contact with Liam before approaching the doors of the grand ballroom. Pausing for a moment to take a deep breath, she slowly began to freeze the doors. She could pick up on the gasps coming from the other side but continued. Then, with one strong pulse of her magic, she blasted through the doors, unsheathing her sword as she ran into the ballroom.

"It's Queen Elsa!"

"It's the Queen!"

"Alert Prince Hans!"

Elsa growled at the sound of the name, but before she could react arrows whizzed passed her, a bit to close for comfort. She zeroed in on the guards with the crossbows, freezing the feathered projectiles in place before summoning a gust of wind to knock the guards to the floor. Before they could recover, she built what looked like a cage around them, trapping them in place and freezing their weapons before turning to her guests, frantically searching the crowd for a familiar face.

"Your Majesty!"

Elsa turned towards the voice and released a sigh of relief at the sight of Kai. "Kai, get this crowd out of here and to one of the inner rooms. The library should do."

"Yes ma'am."

Elsa turned to the guards that had crashed in with her and froze their opponents' feet in place, allowing her guards to knock the weapons out of their hands. "You two need to go with Kai and keep these people safe. When the time is right, I shall join you. Now go! Hurry!" She watched Kai and the guards herd the people out of the ballroom, turning when another door crashed open to reveal more guards.

"Liam go with Kai!" she yelled as she battled off guard after guard, wielding her sword in one hand and using her magic to create a shield with the other.

"I'm not leaving you!" Liam called back and Elsa watched as the boy created a sheet of ice under the enemy guards' feet, causing them to slip to the floor. With another gust of wind, Elsa pushed their weapons out of reach and created another cage.

She cried out when an arrow sliced her sleeve and cut the soft skin underneath the cloth. She turned to see the guard responsible and felt her stomach flip when she came face to face with Captain Aksel himself.

"Traitor," she growled, charging at him with a loud cry, her sword high in the air. Aksel lifted his sword just in time to block her blow but it still threw him off balance. Elsa quickly lifted her sword again, striking blow after blow. "Have you nothing to say for yourself Captain?"

"I did it for the good of Arendelle," Aksel replied with a huff as he spun and blocked another one of Elsa's blows.

"You did it for yourself!" Elsa yelled back with another swing of her sword, meeting with Aksel's shield this time. She ducked when he swung at her head and slipped her leg out to kick his feet out from under him. Aksel landed squarely on his back and Elsa took advantage, standing above him with the tip of her blade pressed to the bob in his throat. "You have lost this round Aksel. Drop your weapon and stand down."

The man simply grinned and Elsa pressed forward with the blade only to be stopped by the feeling of cool metal against her own neck.

"I believe it is you who has lost, Your Majesty. Now at the risk of sounding redundant, drop your weapon and stand down."

Elsa did as she was told, cringing in disgust as she recognized the voice.

"Grab the boy! Don't let him escape!"

He heard Liam struggle with the guards and then cry out in pain. Her heart clenched as Hans turned them both and she caught sight of Liam, a bruise forming on his cheek and a gash across his temple.

"Leave him alone Hans," Elsa ordered, her eyes searching the room for a means of escape.

"You are in no positions to make demands," Hans replied haughtily. "Now, be a good girl. We wouldn't want another life to be lost because Arendelle's former Royalty didn't know how to behave."

He turned her again and Elsa almost gagged at the sight of Lord Dahl's body, headless and wallowing in a pool of blood. "Monster," she growled through clenched teeth as she fought the tears that stung her eyes.

"Rest assured Your Majesty, he didn't suffer. It was quick and painless. Much like your sisters punishment…"

Elsa's entire body tensed, the anger slowly building in her chest. "Where is Anna?"

"The Princess is taking a short recess," Hans replied and Elsa could hear the wicked sneer in his tone. "After all, I did work her over very hard. Frail little thing isn't she? We'll have plenty of time to work on that during our honeymoon."

The innuendo in his voice had Elsa seeing red.

A blast of magic sent the guards sprawling towards the walls, their bodies covered in ice and snow. Sharp icy spikes rose from the floor, pinning them in their places as Elsa turned to Hans. He had been knocked on his back by the blast and was reaching for a sword that lay by his side. With a sweep of her hand, Elsa blew it out of reach and retrieved her sword, standing above Hans with the tip of the blade pressed to his throat.

"Where is Anna?"

Hans stayed silent, adopting a defiant façade. But Elsa saw right through it to the fear that swirled in his olive green eyes.

Pressing the blade into his flesh until he winced and Elsa saw a tiny trail of blood trickle down his throat, Elsa narrowed her eyes at the Prince, keeping her voice low. "Do not make me ask again…"

"Elsa! Anna's in here!"

Relief flooded Elsa's chest when she heard Liam's voice, her eyes never leaving the Prince. Kneeling, she grabbed Hans by his collar. "You are lucky she was found. If you have hurt her in any way, you will die. A slow, painful death." And with that she stood, removing her sword from his throat.

"You're not going to kill me?"

Elsa locked her eyes with his and she couldn't help the evil smile that curled her lips. "Yet. I am giving you a head start. I suggest you take advantage of it."

She watched as Hans scrambled to his feet and bolted from the ballroom. 'Coward'. Elsa turned back, finding Liam. "Take me to Princess Anna Liam." She followed the boy to a hidden room behind the ballroom, one that Elsa had not seen before. Her heart clenched when she saw her sister lying on the floor, beaten and bruised. There was a gash across her right temple that rested on the stone floor and a dried up cut on her lip.

Rushing to her sisters' side, Elsa pulled off her cloak and covered Anna with it, touching her face gently. "Anna…" she whispered, rubbing her sisters' cheeks with her thumbs. "Anna… please wake up…" Elsa watched in relief as Anna's eyes fluttered open after a few moments, the teal orbs meeting Elsa's immediately.

"Elsa…Elsa? What- what happen- where?"

Elsa leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of Anna's mouth, resting her forehead on Anna's. "Hush dear one… you're safe now. I've got you…" Pressing another kiss to her bruised cheek, Elsa shifted, slipping her arm under Anna's neck and knees before slowly lifting her, a deep feeling of tenderness overtaking her when Anna wrapped her arms around her neck and rested her head on her shoulder. She kissed Anna's forehead and turned to Liam, motioning for him to follow her.

"Where are we going?" Anna asked softly.

"I'm taking you to the Library," Elsa replied. "We'll clean and dress your wounds and you'll be safe there until I put an end to this war…"

"I'm going with you Elsa."

"Anna-"

"No Elsa. You're not doing this alone," Anna argued, lifting her head slightly and looking up at her pointedly. "I'll get these wounds clean, change and then we're going to defend our kingdom together."

Elsa knew that Anna would not be swayed. She had made her decision. "Very well…" She turned down a hall, changing her course and headed towards their chambers.

Once they arrived, Elsa told Liam to stand guard and alert to anything while she walked Anna to her bathing chamber. There was a bathing basin filled with clean water that was now lukewarm but it would do. Elsa lead Anna to her vanity and guided her down onto the bench before dipping a washcloth in the water and gently cleaning Anna's lip.

"Elsa…"

"What is dear one?" Elsa asked softly, not wanting to break the aura of comfort around them. The room was bathed in the soft glow of the moon and the winds could be heard howling outside the castle walls, and Elsa knew that outside their world was at war.

But at that moment it was only her and Anna.

"Hans… what did… is he?"

"He is still alive," Elsa said. "For now."

"He… when we were… I think he…"

Elsa now wiped the tears that were rolling down her sisters' face, her hatred towards that man growing with every tear that fell. She could see the pain in her sisters eyes, the total despair and Anna's valiant efforts to lock what had happened to her away.

Elsa knew, that though painful, locking away those memories would do more damage than good. "Anna, look at me love…"

When she did Elsa could see her little sister fighting to burry the emotions. "I need you to tell me exactly what happened."

Anna released a shuddering breath, more tears falling from her eyes as she spoke. "Do we have to talk about it now?"

Elsa nodded then paused for a moment before asking "Were you unconscious the entire time?" Anna nodded.

"I remember him hitting me and then feeling his hand… and then nothing."

Elsa nodded, fighting the urge to go find Hans right at that moment and pin him to a tree with her sword. He would pay. But Anna needed her to stay levelheaded. "May I check…" she swallowed and tried again. "I'm going to look and see… is that alright?"

Anna hesitated for a moment, tensing when Elsa placed a hand on her thigh. Elsa held her breath, waiting patiently for Anna to respond. When she did, it was with an almost imperceptible nod of her head giving way to a new stream of tears.

Elsa leaned and kissed Anna gently, trying to convey all the love she felt for Anna in the small gesture and at the same time comfort her the best she could, not only as a lover but as a friend and as an older sister.

After feeling Anna relax into the kiss, Elsa pulled away with a series of smaller kisses before stepping completely and kneeling in front of Anna. "Are you ready?"

Anna nodded once, hands clenched over the sides of the stool.

Elsa took a deep breath and slowly began to the skirts of Anna's dress, holding the breath as she revealed more and more of Anna's legs.

"Queen Elsa! There are guards coming!" Liam called from the outer room.

Elsa stood abruptly, as did Anna, the former task forgotten in light of the looming threat. Elsa turned to Anna cupping her face and kissing her once more. "I love you."

Anna smiled, a gentle curve of her lips, but a smile nonetheless. "I love you too Elsa."

Elsa instructed Anna to change and finish cleaning her cuts as she walked out into the bedroom. She found Liam freezing the locks on the doors and smiled. "Well done my friend. Now, how many guards are there?"

"It sounded like five or six," answered Liam.

Elsa nodded, unsheathing her sword and pressing an ear to the door. She could hear the footsteps and the muffled voices as they approached. She held a finger to her lips when the footsteps drew closer and the voices louder.

"The attack on the castle has started. We don't have much time before they try to siege."

"It won't be much of a siege with half of the rouge royal guard in frozen cages in the ballroom. The Queen did well."

"I would have killed them."

"Make no mistake: the Queen will seek vengeance for her sister and for Arendelle."

"We have to find her and inform her that Captain Ryder and the others have already started their counterattack."

Elsa released her breath in relief. These guards were on their side. Keeping her sword in hand as a precaution she slowly opened the door and looked out into the hall, catching one of the guard's eye.

"Your Majesty!"

"Queen Elsa!"

The group of guards dropped to their knees, fists over their hearts and heads bowed low and Elsa felt a sense of pride at their loyalty. "Rise, please and come in quickly."

The guards did as they were told and Elsa closed the door behind them. "Now, what do you have to report?"

The lead guard, who's name Elsa learned was Kasper, began to fill Elsa in on the battle waging outside the palace walls. "The Coronan, Eastern and Western battalions have already begun their counterattack Your Majesty and more our allied forces are on their way."

"How are the enemy forces fairing in this climate?" Elsa asked.

"Not well Your Majesty. But they are not backing down."

"As expected. Why have they not entered the castle yet?"

"Our troops have been able to hold them back, but more enemy forces are on their way. I'm afraid it won't be long until they make siege of the castle and demand that you and the Princess be brought to them." Kasper answered.

"My Queen," spoke another guard. "I believe that it would be best if you and the Princess escaped from the castle and into the mountains, until it is safe."

"What is your name solider?" Elsa asked the young man.

"Fredrick Your Majesty."

"I appreciate your concern Fredrick," Elsa said warmly as she placed a firm hand on his armored shoulder. "But I must fight for my people. Defend Arendelle. I will fight alongside my men and we will have victory."

"And I alongside my Queen."

The group turned to see Anna walking out of the bathing chamber, a quiver and crossbow strapped to her back and a sword sitting proudly on her hip. She wore a light gray, almost white tunic so as to blend in with the snowstorm as the Queen had instructed all of her soldiers to do. It afforded them the element of surprise while keeping them warm, giving them the upper hand.

By the look of things, they needed all the help they could get.

"My Queen, Weselton's troops are many and there are whispers of more on their way."

Elsa's face grew grim. "They will not be able to dock in Arendelle's harbor. And if they are not able to dock, they will not be able to attack." Thinking for a moment she said "I am going to rally more of my own… reinforcements. Meanwhile, you men head to the library and make sure everything is alright. Tell them that it is by order of the Queen that they are to stay there until I go and meet them personally. Two of you stay and help the guards already on post. The rest of you…"

"Will join me in the attack," Anna replied, pinning up her hair. Elsa turned and was about to argue but Anna held up a stern hand. "They need a leader Elsa. I know your battle strategies and plans better than anyone. And as Queen Regnant it is my duty to my troops and to my people."

Elsa pulled Anna away from earshot of the guards, not wanting to belittle her word but worried for her sister's life. "What of Hans? What of Vik? We have no idea what they're capable of if they capture you… Anna, I can't take that chance."

"It's not your chance to take my love," Anna murmured tenderly. "This is my battle as much as it is yours." After a pause Anna added, "And I doubt that Vik or Hans will kill me. They know that I'm a powerful bargaining chip when it comes to you."

Elsa sighed deeply, cupping Anna's face in her hands, not caring who was present. "Promise me you will not purposely put yourself in harms way. Promise me that you will be as careful as humanly possible."

Anna nodded once and smiled sweetly. "I promise Elsa. I promise."

Elsa rested her forehead against Anna's. "I can't lose you dear one, not when I've only just gotten you back."

"You aren't going to lose me Elsa. I promise."

Elsa closed her eyes, took a deep breath and released it slowly before opening her eyes and pulling away. "Very well." Turning back to her guards she said "The rest of you will be led by the Pri- by the Queen. You are to mind her orders as you would mind mine." Elsa slipped her sealing ring off of her finger and slipped it onto Anna's. "This is a symbol of Anna's authority. Those who go against it will have to deal with me. Is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Yes Your Majesty."

Elsa felt a slight tug at her tunic and looked down to find Liam. "What about me Elsa?"

Elsa smiled and ran her fingers through the boys hair. "You're coming with me Liam. There are some friends of mine on the North Mountain that I want you to meet."

Hans caught his breath as he arrived at the barracks, his hand coming up to touch his throat. He looked at the fingers of his white gloves, at the blood that had stained them. His blood.

"She's going to kill me."

"Prince Hans!"

Hans turned to see some of the royal guard and a few of Weselton's troops walking up to him. He fisted his gloved hand and hid them both behind his back, his head held high.

"Sir, you're bleeding."

"Fantastic observation," Hans sneered sarcastically. "I had a little run in with the Queen. That's all."

"Where is she?"

They all turned to see Vik walking towards them, seemingly unfazed by the howling winds and snow that swirled around them.

"The last I saw her, she was in the ballroom," Hans replied, cowering slightly at the man's presence despite himself. He was tired of the sorcery these people possessed.

"And you let her escape?"

"She had the upper hand."

"Fool," Vik sneered. "She is a 21 year old girl."

"That poses a power that is not so easily defeated!" Hans argued back. He didn't appreciate being humiliated in front of his troops. "That was never part of the plan!"

"I have to agree with Prince Hans my Lord," spoke up a captain within the guards. "Our troops were not prepared for this weather, nor for a counterattack."

"Counterattack?" asked Hans and Vik in unison.

"Yes My Lords. Guards from Corona and the Western and Eastern countries have all swarmed into Arendelle, well prepared and are rising in number."

"It seems that our little Ice Queen was better prepared than we thought," Vik noted. "No matter. We shall continue as planned. Weselton is sending in more troops by sea."

"And what of the Queen?"

Vik's eyes narrowed. "Leave her to me."

"Let the storm rage on."