Hullo charming reader. Elsa's working herself in to a pickle isnt she.

I was looking through my outline and cam to the startling realization that I am at the very least halfway through this. It is ridiculous to think that I made it this far. Every review has helped, along with every favorite and follow. Thank you so much, now lets cut the sap and get on with the chapter.

I struggle through the night, my body tossing and turning so frequently that all I hear is the rusting of sheets as a move. In the scarce moments of silence all I can feel is fear, my mind is empty and blank save for the streaks of panic that pulse through me. I do not manage to sleep.

Once the sun has replaced the moon and the chirping of birds becomes too apparent to ignore I pull myself from my pathetic attempt at sleep. My arms ache from Hans's grip and my cheek still stings with the echo of his hit. Bracing myself for the worst I check the damage in my mirror. I have a simple purple bruise under my cheekbone; it makes me look sunken and ill.

I know that no matter how much powder I pile on, it will still be all too obvious. With that knowledge I resolve to keep the left side of my face pointed away from everyone I am forced to meet with today.

Despite my better judgment I skip breakfast. I know skipping breakfast will not end with Hans in a particularly good mood, but that feels like a problem far too irrelevant for me right now. My feet take me back to the library and for a moment I consider going in, but it feels too normal. It feels so utterly normal and simple to spend my morning curled up with a good book that I cannot consider it for more than the briefest of seconds.

I let myself wander somewhere else.

Only when the snowflakes settle on to my eye lashes do I realize that I am outside. The winter air is a relief. I am far more at home without the stifling heat of the castle burning against my skin during all hours of the day.

In what could only be called a fit of joy I kick some fine white snow in to the air. It cascades back toward the ground. I throw my left arm in the air and release a curling and swirling stream of delicate snowflakes. They flitter to the ground bringing with them a sheen of something special that was not there before.

A smile pulls at my features, reminding me that I can in fact still feel joy. My palms come together and I rub them against one another, creating what would have been a warm pocket if it was not for the snow I am channeling. I open my hands and place them, palm up, in front of me. Leaning down I blow across them and send a wave of frozen water droplets in to the air. Each and every one gets caught in a slow fall, nearly suspended in the air around them, and catches the sun in such a way that they shine with the brilliance of a full rainbow.

I laugh.

My body is relaxed and my mind is calm. I cannot remember the last time I was not walking on eggshells around the castle. The last time I could manage to breathe without the pounding of Hans's threats ringing in my ears.

Frost swirls around me in an undeniably gleeful fashion. The pressure in my chest is lighter and lighter with each passing second. Snow is relaxing and exhilarating all at once. Rime dances across my arms and blooms in to the air, climbing across trees and latching on to flowers. Then I twirl.

I twirl about like a ridiculous child ignoring all the responsibilities of the world. So many people expect so much from me and I am determined to ignore it all in these fleeting seconds in which I can breathe without a weight upon my chest.

Of course, as all good things tend to do, my bliss comes to an untimely end once I register the chain of my mother's necklace rub against my neck. How can I have fun when she is stuck alone in the dark of a madman's boat? Suddenly I feel like a guilty child caught trying to sneak an extra cookie. I cannot be happy, not until I can free my mother and Anna from the terror I have unwittingly forced upon them.

The rime coated flowers die as my mood shifts. The petals shriveling as the ice around them constricts, freezing out every whisper of breath still fighting for life. My fingers have worked themselves in to tight fists.

This has been my entire life, happiness shamefully torn away by the duties I have to preform, or the powers I have to supress. Even now my life is a teetering mess of Hans, my mother, Anna, and an angry volatile set of powers.

Even if, through some impossible fluke, I make it out of the hell Hans has constructed for me what comes next? I will have to somehow explain to Anna that our father is dead not because of a stray wave, but because I could not keep him alive despite my best efforts. Our mother will have to stay in hiding as Hans rules and destroys Anendelle.

I push thoughts so morbid out of my mind, resolving to take things a day at a time, and my problems at present are as simple as a bruise on my cheek. A slight ache has developed in my jaw as the sun has pushed across the sky, I have no doubt I will be clutching it by the time I force myself to pretend to sleep tonight.

A quaking shiver not caused by the cold, courses from my neck and comes to rest at my toes. I am being watched, by who I am not sure, but I know that someone is. Looking behind me I come face to face with the Olafs. Kasper's dog and the living snowman Olaf are both looking up at me.

"I found a new friend!" Snowman Olaf declares rather excitedly.

"Did you?" I ask, feeding in to his enthusiasm and praying that the gentle angle of my head is enough to hide my bruise.

"Yeah, He likes warm hugs too." Snow Olaf exclaims while throwing his twiggy arms around dog Olaf.

"Does he?" I play in to the part I am required to play for Olaf, my Olaf.

"Yup."

I am about to respond when I hear frantic calling of Olaf's name.

"Olaf, did you check to make sure Kasper knew you were going to play with Olaf?"

"No."

I sigh wishing secretly that Olaf was slightly more worldly and self-aware, but knowing deep down that I would not have him any other way. As the breath whistles past my lips Kasper sprints in to view his face coated in concern. Before he gets a chance to ask me if I have seen his dog he spots him.

"Olaf, thank god. I was worried. We aren't home, you can't go wandering off you might get lost." Kasper coos while ruffling dog Olaf's fur.

Snow Olaf looks befuddled at his name being used not in reference to him. I will have to explain this to him, but am too preoccupied with getting away from Kasper before he can notice my bruise.

I start to back away from the dog and man reunion when Kasper stands up to address me. "I couldn't find him. He doesn't know his way around here-." Kasper explains, then his face shifts in an instant and I know he has picked up on my all too apparent bruise. "What happened?" He seems to forget himself for a moment. His shoulders drop and his prince like grace falls from his movements. With a great lumbering hand he reaches to make face in an effort to examine my unfortunate blemish. All I manage to register in the hand approaching my face and in spite of myself I flinch.

Kasper's face is a patchwork of emotions which flicker in and out of his features faster than I can give them names. He pulls his hands from the air between us and returns them to his side. "Who did that?" His voice is concern mixed with just the slightest undertone of threat, which I hope I am imagining.

"Who did what?" I ask while trying to turn my face to such an angle that Kasper thinks his eyes were playing tricks on him.

"Don't play dumb, I saw that bruise." He insists, his hands twitching as he fights the urge to point at it, or examine it. Only now do I realize that both Olaf's have gone off somewhere else to play and have, thankfully, missed Kasper pointing out my bruise.

"I fell."

"No you didn't, you don't get a bruise like that from falling." Kasper retorts.

"Nothing happened, just leave it alone." My final words are much closer to shouting that I intended. I cannot tell him anything, he cannot know. What would he do it he found out about Hans, my mother, or my father?

His face softens. "Sorry." His voice is far from the angry demand of before. "You fell. It's fine."

I nod softly, thankful that despite the fact that we both know I did not fall Kasper relents. His eyes turn to face the ground and I can tell he has a thousand questions, none of which I intend to answer. He opens his mouth several times before he decides which words to force out. "Did you sleep well?"

I lie. "Yes quite well."

Kasper nods, and shuffles his feet around in the gravel walkway. "Would you care to accompany me to lunch?" He asks.

I panic, lunch with people watching me, noticing my bruise, Hans sitting next to me as an immense figure of pain and tragedy in my life. No. I cannot go to lunch. Not with Kasper, not with anyone. Maybe I can steal an apple from the kitchens instead?

"No, I have documents to sign and treaties to look over." I try to explain my feeble lie.

"They can wait." Kasper offers his arm to me, which I wish I could take. He shows no signs of ill intent but I cannot bring myself to trust him entirely.

My stomach chooses this rather opportune moment to let out a gurgling growl declaring that I am indeed hungry. Kasper smiles affectionately and I find myself nodding. I can perhaps stand a single meal, but I will not take the arm Kasper is still holding out for me.

We walk side by side, our arms resting by our sides and our steps syncing. Step, step, step. Soon the gravel beneath my feet turns to delicately cared for wooden planks. The midday light streams in from the windows all along the hallways, its brilliance amplified by the snow and ice winter brings.

The dining hall is packed, but less so that it has been in the last few days. The guests that were able to leave have done so, and those who remain will likely have to wait out the winter as travel conditions are on the decline. Hans will play host, he will enjoy it, and it will be an excellent chance for him to seduce dignitaries with pretty treaties and poorly thought out trade agreements. I can only hope Hans destroys my country quietly, I do not wish for knowledge regarding its downfall.

I fall in to my seat beside Hans. I angle myself as far from him as I can and keep my head down. If no one talks to me then I stand a vague chance of my bruise going unnoticed. Hans ignores me and continues chatting with a prince from the east. My sweaty fingers wrap around my fork and I stare at my meal, though I suddenly feel unable to eat.

"Sweetie, if I were you I wouldn't be eating, it really isn't doing you any good." Hans is leaning toward me, his mouth at my ear whispering the command so that no ones can hear anything other than perfectly formulated small chat. I let go of my fork as with as much demeanour as I can manage, the urge to run is overwhelming, though I do not act upon it.

I stay firmly upon my chair, fighting the urge to be anywhere else but here. Forcing myself to look around and take in the guests. I realize that both Anna and Kristoff are absent from lunch. If there was something I could say to Anna that would make her forgive me I would say it. I would say it without a moment of thought or hesitation. I have never wished more strongly for the strength to say words.

After a half hour of ignoring my guests and looking in to my plate everyone has left, everyone except Hans. I ignore him for as long as I can, but with time his voice breaks the icy silence of the room. "Are you mad at me? Because I feel like you're mad at me." Hans explains. "And Elsa, you must know, a husband should not feel this way so soon after his wedding. Our marriage is lacking in some respects, don't you think? Take, for example, the fact that I was lying in a cold empty bed last night, with no one to hold, no one to love." His last word delivers the greatest sting, as if what Hans did to me could ever be called love.

"And Elsa, pray tell, how is a king to ensure his heir if his wife never comes to bed with him?" Hans asks in a voice all too innocent and careless for the things he has done, for the things he has taken.

I do nothing but continue the examination of my plate.

"Elsa." Hans's tone is warning now. "You owe me one more thing before you have exhausted your use, you have one final thing which I need you for, and that is a child. I need you to bear me a son so that he can rule Arendelle after my death, and you will give me one."

If I could feel cold I am sure I would. My shoulders ache and my cheek burns at the memory of its abuse. The things that Hans asks are things I cannot give him. I cannot take him to bed; he has had his way once surly I will not have to endure such a night again.

Without warning he reaches for my, tugging at my dress, slipping the sleeves off. "No, no, no, please no." I feel the words fly out of my mouth as my panic mounts. I need to get away; I need him to be away from me.

"Elsa, if you will not take me to bed, then I will be forced to take you here. This is your fault, it could have been better, it could have hurt less." Hans's hand is on my thigh getting all too close to places it should ever be. I jerk away.

Standing up in a lurching stumble I shout. "No."

Hans chuckles.

"No is not an option sweetie." He explains.

As he steadily advances on me I try to keep a distance between us by backing up in time to his steps. The room is quiet and Hans's face tells me that he is absolutely serious. Panic, in this moment I am not much more than panic shoved in to a roughly human form.

Hans reaches out for my throat as I corner myself. Then in a moment of blissful coincidence Anna walks through the door. She says nothing, but lets out a horrified gasp. Hans leaps back from me and exits with a warning glare directed so only I can see it.

Having just gone from Hans's hand inches from my throat to Anna questioning gaze I take a moment to fall to the floor. "I have something I need to tell you." I force the words out looking up at the confused Anna.

Her face shifts, and she walks over to me, her steps aggressive and demanding. "Did he give you that bruise?" She asks pointing at my cheek.

"No." I insist, trying to calm down the fury I can see behind her eyes.

"He did, didn't he?"

"No."

"Stop lying to me." Anna shouts, her eyes electric, desperate for an answer that makes any kind of sense.

"Yes." The truth springs from my lips, throwing a carefully constructed web of deceit in to the frosty winter wind.

She does not say anything. Tension fuses to the air around us, catalyzed by my admission. She will want to know everything, I cannot tell her everything. If she were to learn about our mother's situation or our father's death she would lose control. Anna has always been privy to the desires of her heart and her rather compulsive behaviour. I want to back track, I want to take back my words. I cannot tell her anything.

To say I expected fury would be an understatement. I do not know entirely why I expected it, but I did. When Anna speaks in a broken voice is am baffled. "Why, why did you let him?"

She is not just asking about the bruise, she is addressing the last few months. She gains urgency as she speaks, but it is not a powerful urgency, it is empty and tinged with tears. "You don't deserve this. Elsa, no one could ever deserve him." I know somewhere so far inside of my head that I can no longer view it with reason that she is right. No one should fear sharing a bed with their husband.

"I-." My voice shivers and quakes with the terror and tears building in my chest. "I have to."

"Why?" Anna begs. "Please tell me."

"I can't, you have to know that I would if I could, but I can't" I decide in that moment that I will not cry, the wails and sobs may knock at my lips but I will keep them all sealed within me, if Anna were to see me cry she would demand more than she is now. I cannot afford to tell her the whole truth, but I cannot pass on her lack of shouting right now. She is being far too reasonable for me to hide everything.

"Anna, you don't understand, you don't understand the things I would do to protect you, the things I have done." I need her to understand with nothing more than that. I cannot give her more than that, though I wish I could.

"Elsa." Anna says my name sort and simply. There is a weight to it, as if the syllables hold a hidden power. She falls in to place next to me, staring forward without words. She starts a few sentences; they all trail off in to silence. I feel her fingers wrap around mine and she pulls my hand tight to her chest. I feel her heart beating with wild abandon and hear her uneven breath; she does not know how to feel or how to react.

I cannot help her.

I am not even sure I can help myself anymore.

Next chapter will be up Tuesday. Please review, it is awesome to know what you think.

LilyGHall: All in good time. Hans may be turned to ice yet.

The Pianist's Touch: Evidently the bruises were indeed noticed by Kasper and Anna. Also this chapter conveniently explained why Hans is keeping her around.

Lordhhp: Thank you, I cant wait to upload more.

Theminergirlcraft: First off, thank you, secondly, never apologize for your pen name, trust me when I say an author is far more interested in the review and the fact that someone actually bothered reviewing.