Rifiuto: Non Miriena

"Six years? I've been gone for six years!" She turned, blue gaze narrowing at her husband. "You. How could you not tell me that it's been six years since I last saw my baby sister!" Jack scrambled to his feet, holding his hands up as his wife stood and made her way towards him. "You had three, four years to tell me, Jack, why didn't you?"

"Elsa... Elsa, listen to me, I... I know I should have, princess-"

"Don't 'princess' me, you pompous-"

"Hey! I would have told you immediately, but with everything going on-"

"So you couldn't take two minutes to explain to me that three years at the Winter Court is six years here in Arendelle?" She snapped, lashing out. Jack was able to block the burst of ice his wife sent his way. "You're my husband! How could you not tell me?"

"Elsa... Elsa-" He reached out, grabbing her hands and pulling her close. "I would have told you back then, but it's way more complicated than that. You weren't born immortal, you don't understand-"

She pulled away. "Then explain it to me, Jack Frost!" He glanced at his in-laws, before grabbing Elsa's arm and pulling her close.

"I will explain it to you when we return home, okay? For now," He sighed, reaching out and gently brushing a strand of hair off her forehead. "we're here, in Arendelle to see your family. Please, Elsa, we deserve to spend this time with them, catching up, not fighting each other. I'll explain everything when we return to the court." She glanced back at her family, before turning back to her husband. Though she was still angry, she knew that he was right. Who knew when she'd be able to return to Arendelle, if ever again? She had to make the best of it.

"Do you promise?" He nodded, wrapping his arms around her.

"Absolutely, princess." She sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder, before nodding.

"Very well." He grinned, leaning down to kiss her, but she held up a hand to stop him. "You'll explain it when we return?" He nodded; with a small smile, she gently tugged him forward, sealing the promise with a soft kiss. Anna squealed in delight as her sister slowly extracted herself from her husband's arms, returning to her side.

"Come on, Elsa! This way!"

"I remember perfectly well where my room once was, Anna! I don't need you to direct me!" Their parents watched, chuckling softly as their daughters dashed through the halls, Anna holding tight to her sister's hand as she led her to the bedrooms. Once the girls were gone, they turned back to the study doorway. Jack leaned against it, a small smile on his face. After a moment, the queen made her way towards the young man that had been her son-in-law for the last six years.

"You have taken good care of our Elsa, Jack. Thank you." He blushed, ducking his head briefly.

"She's my wife, Your Majesty. Besides, someone needs to protect her from my father and the court." She nodded, leading her son-in-law and husband back into the study. Once they were all seated, she spoke up.

"You know, it seems like just yesterday that the midwife laid Elsa in my arms. And now... she's grown and married... and..." She waved a hand, gesturing to Jack.

"Immortal." He supplied softly. She nodded.

"Did it hurt, Jack?" He glanced at the king, unsure of how to answer. "When my daughter died, when her mortal body ceased to exist and her immortal spirit remained... did it hurt? Her death? Anna awoke screaming that night. She swore that Elsa was dead, and that we would never see her again-"

Her son-in-law swallowed. "It was... painful, Your Majesty. I stayed with her, as I'd promised, and I was there when she awoke." The queen nodded, standing.

"Are you good to her?" He gave her a small smile.

"Absolutely, Your Majesty. I-" He stopped. His in-laws studied him, before they shared a glance, chuckling. After a moment, the king moved from the window towards his son-in-law.

"Oh, Jack, it's not such a bad thing, to discover that you love your wife."

Elsa stepped into the room, Anna behind her. It had been years since she'd set foot in her old room, and yet, everything was still the same. "Mama and Papa... they couldn't bear to change it after you left. They wouldn't come in here, and forbid anyone else from setting foot inside, but after you first left, I would come in here and curl up on the bed, because the blankets and pillows, they still smell like you."

The Crown Princess chuckled, turning to her sister. She perched on the edge of the bed, patting the space beside her. Instantly, Anna scrambled to sit beside her, and it was then that she got a good look at her older sister. She cocked her head, drinking in every detail she could. Elsa still looked sixteen, as though she hadn't aged a day from the moment she entered the Winter Court. Her pale locks were longer, softer, and dotted with small ice crystals; her once hazel eyes still that beautiful ice blue they'd changed to after Jack had saved her that day. "I am glad you're home, Elsa, even if it's only to visit and only today." Her sister chuckled, pulling her into a hug.

Anna had gotten older in these six years. She had lost the small amount of baby fat she'd still possessed when Elsa left, and her hair had gotten redder. Her hazel eyes hadn't lost that wonder, and she'd filled out, shedding her girlish figure for a woman's- something, with her immortality, Elsa would never possess. But there was also a hint of sadness within her sister's eyes; a sadness that hadn't left since Elsa's departure. "You won't wait so many years to return, will you, Elsa?" She glanced down into her sister's hazel eyes.

"No. I will never wait so long again, Anna. I promise."