Author's Note:
HELLLOOOO friends! I know I haven't updated here in FOREVER. And I am so sorry for that. Good news is I have several chapters to add, so I will get on doing that. For the most up-to-date additions to this story, find me on Tumblr (link is in my bio)! If you enjoy this chapter, leave a review at the end and that will absolutely make my day! As always, read, enjoy, and review!

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Elsa kept her head towards her desk but glanced her eyes up at Kristoff. It had been 3 weeks since her sister and fiancée returned. In that time, Kristoff grew more and more anxious as the beginning of engagement lingered over them.

"You want your post back?"

He nodded vigorously. "I'm healed—I feel fine. You and I both know Kjellsson is going to come down from those mountains any day. I need to be with the ice harvesters."

Elsa shook her head, "I am more than willing to give you another week or two to heal. You are no good to any of us if you're constantly in pain."

"I want my command back, Elsa."

She glanced up at him with a scowl, "Have you told Anna you want your post back, and what exactly that entails?"

"Well, no, not exactly," he admitted, glancing down.

"You absolutely have to tell her."

"I know," Kristoff shook his head, "It's just hard—to tell her that I volunteered for the mission."

"I offered you an out, Kristoff. I did everything I could to keep you from accepting the position."

"I know, I know," he looked back up at her, "And I have no qualms about accepting the mission for the ice harvesters. I just don't like the thought of being away from Anna for so long. She'll be worried sick."

"If you tell you and you don't just leave this weekend, then at least she'll know where you are and what you're up to. You don't want me to be the one to break the news to her, Commander."

Kristoff nodded.

"It should probably be tonight. Kjellsson sent me a summons."

"A what?" Kristoff rose to his feet.

Elsa shrugged, "A meeting to discuss the terms of Arendelle's surrender."

"Surrender?" Kristoff scoffed, "We haven't even started yet."

Elsa walked around her desk and gave Kristoff a halfhearted smile, "He's going to give me an offer that I shouldn't refuse."

"That leprechaun is a cocky bastard." Kristoff hissed under his breath.

Elsa chuckled, "Hopefully he has underestimated us then."

Ingvar slipped into Elsa's office, the quiet click of her door interrupting the pair.

"Master Bjorman, I apologize for interrupting," Ingvar nodded towards Kristoff.

"It's fine, mate. I was on my way out."

"Kristoff," Elsa called, "I want you there. At the summons."

He paused with his hand on the handle of the door, "I'd be honored."

The door shut behind him. Ingvar moved towards Elsa, "You're really going to invite Kristoff to the summons? Kjellsson may kill him then and there."

Elsa motioned towards the armchairs in front of the small fire. "Then I'll kill Kjellsson and his armies can leave. No war."

"You would never sacrifice Kristoff like that," Ingvar chuckled, moving first towards the wine in the shelves on the side of the fireplace. He motioned towards a glass and Elsa nodded. "You would never be able to tell Anna he died."

Elsa took her glass from him and sipped the red wine in silence. This was a common occurrence for the two of them. Ending their stressful days with good wine and good company.

"Anna asked me something today," Elsa said, her eyes never leaving her wine.

Ingvar settled himself into the chair across from her, "And what did her Highness ask?"

"She wants to volunteer and train as a field nurse."

Ingvar nodded into his wine, "You think she can handle that?"

Elsa sighed, "Kristoff says her nightmares aren't nearly as bad as they were a few weeks ago, right after they returned. I know she is still shaken—but something to do may be good for her, she can focus on that instead of just sitting and thinking."

"You know what she'll see in a field hospital, Elsa. You can't un-see war wounds. She'll be right there in the thick of all of it. She could be in danger. It's in bad taste, but field hospitals are fair game in the battles."

Elsa shook her head, "I know, I know, but I have to let her do something. I can't fight myself, I can't send her fiancée on top secret missions, and then tell her she can't do anything. If she wants to help, I think I'm going to say yes."

Ingvar shrugged, "She's your sister, and who knows, maybe having someone on the inside will help keep you out of the spotlight every time you get injured."

Elsa grinned at him, "I thought you were going to protect me, mighty general."

He laughed, "I have a feeling you won't be easy to protect."

"Oh, speaking of which, my armor arrived today. What I commissioned after the generals agreed to let me on the battlefield."

"Right," Ingvar smiled, "And?"

"It's wonderful. Built exactly how I wanted it. Fits like a glove too."

Ingvar nodded. He may have had some design influence on Elsa's armor, but he would never tell her that.

"When do you think we should respond to Kjellsson's summons?" Elsa looked up at him, suddenly wary.

Ingvar set his empty glass down on the corner table next to him. "The sooner the better I suppose. I don't know about you, but I'm getting antsy, and I know the other generals are too. May as well start this thing on our own terms instead of waiting on that bastard to initiate everything.

"Cocky leprechaun," Elsa chuckled.

"Excuse me?"

Elsa smiled at Ingvar, "Kristoff referred to him as a cocky leprechaun."

Invar laughed, one of his pure, head thrown back, belly-rolling laughs that Elsa saw so rarely from him. She giggled with him, the ridiculousness of their situation suddenly overwhelming her.

"Could you imagine," Ingvar gasped, "If he brought an army of Kjellsson sized soldiers with him?"

Elsa laughed harder, "I don't think I could take that seriously—a battlefield full of short, fat, balding men. It would be too much."

Both continued to laugh, not sure what was funnier—the joke or just their reaction to it. As Elsa continued to double over, a loud snort escaped from Elsa's gasps. Both stopped laughing immediately, Elsa's hand flying to covering her mouth, Ingvar's jovial eyes wide in surprise.

Did you just… snort?" Ingvar wheezed.

Elsa gave a small nod from behind her hand, setting both of them off into fits of giggles again.

"Look at us," she breathed, collecting herself, "Two of the most powerful leaders of an occupied country, laughing over the man who calls himself the invader."

"I know one thing for sure," Ingvar stood, a goofy grin still on his face, "If we weren't laughing about it, we would probably be crying."

Elsa's smiled faded as she agreed, "It's better to laugh."

Feeling brave from their friendly exchange, Ingvar crossed over to Elsa and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, "I'll take my leave now, Elsa."

She touched her fingers to her cheek, her eyes wide, "General?" she breathed.

"Goodnight, my Queen."

Elsa heard the door close behind her, her fingers still pressed to her cheek. She felt her heart flutter, a warmth course through her veins, pulsing through her soul. The place his lips left was cool, her skin and magic reacting to the unexpected touch. She chuckled and smiled.

Perhaps she wasn't the only one wrestling with feelings that she was afraid to name.