Welcome back. I am sorry that it took me a week longer to get this up. I have started a new job recently and am still adjusting to it. I will still try to update once a week.

Corvino

He wandered through the halls, leaving the queen to her sleep. His mind was swimming, for more reasons than just the alcohol. Elsa confessed feelings to him.

He was about to grab the bottle when a thought entered his mind. After that one, I'm going to advise against trying to drink yourself to your limit. I don't know if she'll remember it, but I will and I'll remind you of it. Not to mention you are an absolute pain when hungover. To everyone.

He knew Esmerelle was right, so he went to his room. Something was different about that kiss. He hadn't felt like this in a long while. He knew there were feelings that he had, but he didn't know to what extent. Now's not exactly the best time to try to nurture a relationship.

Explain to me how this differs from your conquests.

I actually respect her. The man's response to the dragon was partly due to the queen's status, but he knew that it was mostly from how Elsa had treated him.

You didn't respect the others?

I respected the captain, and one other. As you can tell, I don't keep in contact with one and the other is dead. The pirate wouldn't have lasted, but his first love could have. Dwelling on the thoughts proved to lull him to sleep, however, as the dragon soon observed the man snoring.

Elsa

The morning hurt. The chirping of the birds hurt. The light hurt. Elsa's head pounded as she arose. She tried to remember last night, but all she could get was a slight tingling sensation on her lips and a fuzzy vision of her kissing Corvino. Slowly, the queen got dressed and made her way down for breakfast. Her head pounded as everyone else's conversations seemed to pound in her head.

She felt a tapping on her shoulder. She looked up and Duncan seemed to have a small glass for her. "Drink this with food." There was a knowing smile on his face. She wondered how many times the man had the remedy ready for someone else.

That someone else shuffled his way in. Corvino wasn't entirely himself, but he was functioning. He sat down across from the queen and started eating. He kept quiet until she drank the glass that he seemed to recognize.

"Sleep well, your majesty?" He looked at everyone else at the other end of the table, but they all seemed to leave the two to themselves.

"I don't know. I don't remember." The response was quiet, as she didn't know how to answer or question what happened, but she knew that she woke up alone, and in her own bed.

"Well, I did the gentlemanly thing and brought you to your own bed. You don't have as much of a tolerance for the stuff as I do." He poured a glass of water and downed it quickly.

"You have my thanks then. I didn't realize it would hit me so hard." She wondered if they talked about anything, but Corvino changed the subject.

"Esmerelle and Corypheus are both monitoring the approaching army, which could be here within the day. I know Arendelle is well guarded, but we should look at potentially keeping those that can't fight on ships and enough crew for protection and operation. Maybe instruct them to make for Corona."

"We're not going to lose this city." She bored her ice-blue eyes into him, and he shrugged.

"I'm just considering worst-case scenario. That's why I'm here. That and to help in the battle"

Elsa looked at her plate, and sighed. "Do you think we can win?"

"I think there's a good chance, but there's still a lot about the situation that we don't know."

The door to the dining hall opened and Kai came in with captain Garrus. "Your Highness, there's a small gathering of rocks outside that weren't there before."

"I'm sorry, You're bothering me about rocks?" Elsa looked over to Kristoff. "Kristoff, were you bringing your family here?"

"Not that I was aware of." He got up and started toward the gates, and Elsa followed. The trolls reacted when Kristoff showed up, and surrounded him. Pabbie, however made his way to the queen.

"Greetings, Queen Elsa. I am here to offer our healing prowess to your cause." He bowed.

"Thank you, Pabbie. I hope we don't need it." Her voice was regal, and she led the trolls to the palace. Throughout the streets, people again were alight with wonder about the new piece of legend that came to life.

Kristoff made sure that his family was comfortable in the castle, and Elsa went to her daily meeting.

Corvino was rather quiet, offering his opinions when he was asked. He studied the map and she could tell that he was getting the insight of a dragon. "Thankfully, we have the fjord open as an out." Several council members nodded.

"Fine. We'll do it. Garrus, speak with the captains. Everyone else, return to your positions." Elsa had a gut feeling that something was going to go wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She did notice that the brothers disappeared, and decided to let the pair have their time, choosing to help Kristoff's family get settled.

Corvino

His plan was simple enough to follow, but his mind was occupied elsewhere. Hoban was especially timid today. After the meeting adjourned, Corvino went to follow the former duke, but was stopped by Thorin.

"Whatever it is, it can wait." He tried to move around his brother, but the bigger man stepped in front of him.

"I've seen that look. You have passed judgement on a man before he has even had a chance to commit a crime." The smaller man sighed. Corvino hoped he wasn't that obvious.

"I can't describe it, it's just a gut feeling." He shot. "I guess old habits really do die hard."

"That or you're too used to being on the run that you're jittery now. Kaylee told me about yesterday. How you were itching for the fight." Thorin leaned against the wall, knowing his brother wouldn't run off.

"I'm not one for peacetime. Not now. Maybe in the future." the smaller man leaned against the opposite wall and stared blankly. "I don't know how to explain it."

"Perhaps you've forgotten how to settle down. Kaylee says you've found someone to help with that." Corvino made a face.

"Again? Look. I don't know what's going to happen. What will happen, will happen." He shrugged it off.

"Don't dodge around it. You have something you can build around yourself here." Corvino raised his gaze to meet his brother's.

"And leave you to face destiny alone?"

"Destiny?" It was Thorin's turn to make a face. "Jassiney is lost. We have to accept that."

"No. Absolutely not." Corvino felt some sembelance of pride. "This needs to happen. We have to bring back glory to our home."

"How can we do that? The enemy holds the stronghold."

"I don't believe this. You. The premier soldier, of all people. Losing faith. When the hell did we switch our roles?"

Thorin stared off. "Why are you looking towards the fight? You've never cared about things before."

"Because I've changed. It's been four years since Jassiney fell. I've changed since then. We both have. Hell, I'm still changing. Something I've taken to heart lately is a statement I stumbled across. Regardless of how, a hero chooses why they fight." The words escaped Corvino's mouth before his mind registered them. "You think I planned to save the queen from bandits? Granted I would probably have done it to impress a beautiful woman in any case, but you know what I mean. You think I planned to lead an army to her doorstep? I stayed and fought for Redbrooke because of that reason."

"It wasn't you the army was after." Thorin's voice dropped. "It was me. They wanted to cut the head off the proverbial snake."

"Yet another reason for me to fight. Nobody's allowed to try to kill you but me." Another automatic response, this one drawing a laugh from the bigger man. "Brother, you're right. I do have something I can build around myself here. That said, I can't let my only brother charge off on some damned foolish crusade. Not without me by his side."

For added effect, Corvino stepped over and clapped a hand on Thorin's shoulder, before turning and walking down the hall. He paused, and turned back. "You're right. I'm itching to fight, but it's because I have a chance to change the world around me." With that, the reformed assassin continued down the hall, leaving Thorin in his thoughts.

Quite the speech there, little one. Well spoken and concise.

Just leave the remarks at that, Esmerelle.

Elsa

Elsa followed voices. She overheard the conversation between the two brothers and her heart leapt knowing that she was referenced. It soared when she recognized him referencing one of their first conversations. Corvino didn't deny anything either, which really seemed to put her head in the clouds. She was grounded when Corvino finished the conversation. "You're right. I'm itching to fight, but it's because I have a chance to change the world around me."

She watched him continue down the hall, leaving Thorin standing there alone. The near-giant spoke up. "I suppose you're rubbing off on him."

Elsa looked around, before realizing he was talking to her. "What do you mean?"

"I don't entirely know, but this is not the man that my sister described in her letters. Even Duncan's noticing a change." The revelation stunned the queen. The situation between her and Corvino seemed to be playing out like a fairy tale, and she wasn't sure she wanted that. She wanted a story like he told, not the ones everyone knew. Thorin seemed to read her mind. "Don't worry. With Corvino around, there will never be a dull moment."

"How so?" Elsa mused. She seemed to like the idea of having Corvino around.

"Well, he's made quite the list of enemies. There's also the fact that he's always been, well, mischevious. Getting into all sorts of trouble." He paused. "He'll be able to handle that. Still, the entire situation is curious."

"How so?" the queen shot the man an inquisitive look.

"You. Corvino acts different around you than he normally seems to do. It's not just around you, I'm actively seeing him change."

"How can you know that he hasn't changed because of the dragon?" Elsa tried to remain calm, but her heart was racing. Who changes for someone they just met?

"There are certain things that go beyond that. I don't know. Maybe it's just me being hopeful for my brother. His past still haunts him, and if you really are that important to him, he'll explain it. It's not my place. Good Day, my lady." The giant left the queen to her thoughts.

Corvino

You have been brooding quite long enough. The statement roared in his head.

I am not brooding. Just trying to refocus. I never expected to be giving Thorin a rousing speech. He looked to the direction of the cliffs, knowing that somewhere there the dragon was returning his gaze. He's not wrong, I am getting restless.

As am I, but one shouldn't look for combat. Especially when it has a tendency to find you.

Corvino wondered what the dragon meant by that, but war horns began to bellow an announcement. Esmerelle?

Corypheus and I are already en route. Satisfied with the statement, Corvino ran through the castle, finding the war council gathering at the gates of the palace. Thorin, Caylee and Duncan were there as were Anna and Kristoff in their armor.

"So. This is it." Elsa was nervous. He knew she wasn't raised around combat.

"Trust the plan. If we have to change it, one of the dragons will inform you." He was about to continue when a roar split the air. He looked back and saw a drake in flight. No specter.

"We can take it." Thorin spoke, but more roars cut in. More drakes. "Uh-oh."

"We can still handle it." He felt the urge for battle rising. He was ready. "Elsa, if the fighting comes here, remember your training. The soldiers we face will move to kill regardless of what rank or gender you are."

The queen turned to look at him and nodded. There was apprehension in her eyes. "Be careful out there."

"Aye." He looked back at his brother. "Today is a great day for another person to die."

"Well spoken, brother." The big man ran along the wall and jumped, drawing his greatsword. The massive golden form of Corypheus carried him into the sky.

Elsa

Thorin's exit was more in the fashion of Corvino, but it was impressive. In the mean time, She saw a fire in Corvino's eyes. She felt something in her hands, and when she opened it, she saw a necklace. Something she had seen him wear. It looked like a small tooth. "I will come back for this." He flashed his cocky smile, and left in the same fashion as his brother, Esmerelle carrying him away to to battle.

Ooh boy. Battle time. What's going to come of this? You'll have to wait until next time. As always, feel free to review or message me and let me know what you think.