Nora rubbed Elsa's back as she waited for her to say something. She could wait all day in this position. So many days spent watching the love around her and never touching it. Now she was holding it.
Finally, Elsa took a shuddering breath and said, "Do you think we should run?"
"Run?" asked Nora. Out of all the possible reactions she had imagined, this was not one of them. "Run where? From what?"
"I don't know about... this kind of thing. You know, usually it's a boy and a girl. I don't know how people will react."
"Why? Why would it matter that both of us are girls?"
"I don't know. It's just, first my powers, then I spring this on them. What do you think will happen?"
"Do you know your people?"
"I guess not."
"Me neither," said Nora, thinking a bit further, "but they're not mine to claim... I guess the real question is, do they respect you?"
"Respect, fear maybe..." said Elsa.
"Well then, even if they think it's crazy, they won't kick you out."
"I don't know," said Elsa. "I would feel safer in my ice palace, I guess."
"Then make this place your ice palace. But don't let the thought of what they might do scare you away."
"When did you become so brave and... wise?"
"I think it was when I met you. This is the first time that I don't... I don't have to be a shadow. I feel alive, like I could do anything."
"And if they hate us?"
"We can deal with hate. We've always had to, right?" Nora made a small snowflake in the palm of her hand and showed it to Elsa. Elsa put her hand over Nora's and the snowflake melted, dripping over the sides of Nora's hand and onto Elsa's knee.
"True love melts frozen hearts," said Elsa softly.
"Your heart is far from frozen," said Nora, running her fingers through Elsa's hair. "You showed me what love is."
"I guess I have to see how Anna reacts first. She still doesn't know about your powers, either."
"Do you think we should tell her?"
"How should we?"
"Let's go together," said Nora, standing up and pulling Elsa to her feet. "She barely knows me anyway."
"She was painting a mural either. Let's go see if she's still there," said Elsa.
Nora acted brave, but inside she was terrified. What if she split the relationship between Elsa and her sister? What if she got Elsa exiled? What if Elsa changed her mind and left her? The last one, however, she didn't think of as a real possibility. She knew that Elsa had the same gaping hold in her life that Nora had. They needed each other.
Finally, they reached the room where Anna had been painting on the wall. She was still standing there, paint dripping off her paintbrush onto her boot as she stared into space.
"Hi," said Elsa, jolting her out of her thoughts.
"H-hi," said Anna, hastily setting down her supplies and stepping in a splatter of blue paint on the floor without noticing. "So um, hi." She looked down at Elsa and Nora's hands, and Nora realized their fingers were still interlaced. "Are you- so are you- two- " She made a gesture, pointing from one to the other and looking vaguely confused.
"Is that okay with you?" asked Elsa, speaking quickly and betraying her nerves. "I mean, not that it matters what you think – I mean of course it matters, but-"
"I love Elsa," said Nora, interrupting her and taking the opportunity to lean her head on Elsa's shoulder, wondering if Elsa was blushing. "I come from a life where I was told that I was wrong, where I never knew love, and then I cam here, and Elsa showed me what love is, and... we are the same."
"Oh," said Anna, brushing a hair away from her face as she digested the information. "That's beautiful. But what do you mean, the same...? The same gender?"
"No, I mean – well yes, but what I mean is," she twirled a finger and snow began to fall from the ceiling.
"Oh!" said Anna. "I see."
"I don't really see how gender has anything to do with anything though," added Nora.
"Well, I... I suppose not," said Anna.
"See?" Nora said, looking up at Elsa. "I told you she wouldn't kick us out." Elsa was definitely blushing at this point.
"Kick you out!?" Anna asked. "Never! I was just surprised, that's all. But I'm glad you're not alone anymore. Either of you. Um, also, I was thinking as soon as Kristoff gets back – which should be any moment now – we could all go have waffles and hot chocolate. Does that... Would that be okay with you? Or do you have... other plans?"
Nora watched as Elsa blushed even more. "No, that sounds good," Nora answered. "I've never had waffles and hot chocolate before."
Anna's eyes got wide. "Never!?"
"No," Nora shook her head.
"We must remedy that," said Anna. "I hear Kristoff! I'll go let him know. Is it okay if I tell him... everything?"
Elsa looked at Nora. Nora nodded.
"Great," said Anna. "I'll see you in a few minutes in the dining room." She hurried off toward the front door, tracking blue paint as she went.
"I bet the servants are going to love cleaning that up," said Nora.
"I'll tell them not to bother. This place could use some color in it," said Elsa.
Nora laughed. "So um, what are waffles?"
"You'll see," said Elsa. "Oh and by the way, thank you."
"You're welcome," Nora kissed her on the cheek. "You look beautiful, by the way."
"You know," said Elsa, "Maybe we should invite your family over some time, just so they can see what a gorgeous princess they lost forever to the clutches of the evil snow queen."
Nora laughed. "I'd love to see that. Anyway, we'd better go find Anna and Kristoff." Nora could feel that this was just the first of a series of changes as they walked to the dining hall, and she wondered just how far those changes would reach.
Author's note - So, there's about a 40% chance this is the end of the story (especially as I'm going back to school next week + starting my first job), but also a 60% chance that I'm going to continue this with some other ideas I've been playing with. Let me know what you think! :)
