Elsa remained kneeled over the bed, hugging Fritz and sobbing for a long while. Fritz was so pale, he could pass as dead himself if it wasn't for his entire body trembling with sheer primordial terror. Even physical contact with his dream girl wasn't enough to shake off the horror welling up in Fritz's stomach, and Elsa herself hardly seemed better off. If anything, she was quaking with even more fear than he was, and her breathing was once again on the brink of hyperventilation.

"Wuh-Wuh-What happened?" Fritz stammered out.

Elsa took a hearty number of breaths before answering. "My bodyguard... didn't show up on time... I went to his room... to check on him... There was so much blood."

Aaaaaaaaaagh! said Fritz's brain. No not blood why does there have to be bloooooooood?

There wasn't an ounce of moisture in Fritz's throat. "A-And then you came into my room?"

"I was... making sure you were okay..." Elsa managed to say between gasps.

"Do you think it was the... m-muh-mo... mon..." It took Fritz a couple more tries to say, "monster?"

Elsa's eyes widened. "Anna," she whispered. Then she sped out the door and down the hall, leaving Fritz alone.

He remained in his bed, staring at the ceiling. On the pros side, Samson was no longer a competitor for Elsa's affection, and apparently, when in the face of mortal peril, Elsa actually cared about Fritz – at least enough to make sure he wasn't dead, too. On the cons side, Samson had just been violently murdered, and now there was a wight-monster-thingy running around the castle despite the current maximum security lockdown. And... who's to say it would stop at one bodyguard?

Fritz pulled the covers over his head.

Elsa sprinted up the stairs as quickly as her heels would allow. She forced herself to focus on breathing, to shut out the image of overturned furniture and shattered glass from a window beneath a bloodstained floor. Once she reached the bedchambers hallway, Elsa had to fight back the urge to run into her room and throw herself before the mirror.

Wait, what? Why would she want to do that?

But she didn't have time to dwell on it. Elsa charged straight into Anna's bedroom, through the door that was, on Anna's insistence, kept open and unlocked at all times. The first thing in her line of sight was a surprised red-haired girl sitting up in bed.

"Anna! Thank God!" She practically tackled Anna with a hug.

"Elsa? What's going on?" asked a shocked Anna. "Are you okay?"

"It's here..." No matter how rapidly she inhaled, Elsa couldn't seem to get enough air. "The wight's here... in the castle..."

"What?" Anna gave a start. "Did you see it?"

Elsa shook her head. "My bodyguard... was missing... blood in his bedroom... had to be the wight..."

"Alright, alright, just... calm down." Anna returned Elsa's tight grip. "Elsa, your breathing sounds terrible. You need a doctor."

"No, no... I always get... like this... when I'm... stressed..." Elsa ended the hug and spun to face the doorway. A wave of her arm caused a barricade of ice to sprout over it.

"Uh, what are you doing?" asked Anna.

Elsa glanced at the nearby window, frowned, and then covered it in ice, too. Her work finished, she dropped to the floor, hugging her knees.

"Hiding," she admitted.

"Elsa." Anna sighed, then moved to the floor beside her. "Have you warned the staff there's a monster loose in the castle?"

Elsa failed to meet her eyes. "I told... Fritz..."

"Oh, I bet he'll be a real help," said Anna flatly. "Look, I know you're scared, but you've got to deal with this." As she spoke, she straightened some loose strands of Elsa's hair. "Look, whether the killer's really a 'wight' or not, you've kicked the butts of, like, a bajillion rebels and a guy with an ice-eating sword. You can take it!"

"I... can't go out there," said Elsa. "I can't let the staff see me like... this." She took some more irregular breaths, as if to demonstrate.

Here came another hug. "Okay, Elsa... take a minute to get a hold of yourself, then."

Elsa nodded feebly. There was a brief silence in the bedroom as the sisters sat motionless, save for Elsa's heaving chest.

"Well, so long as we're waiting, I guess now's as good a time as any..." Anna took a deep breath of her own. "I'm really, really sorry for... for clocking the Duke and screwing up your trade-thing, for running away from the castle, for rushing into things with Kristoff just because I was upset, for yelling at you... Elsa, I promise I didn't mean a word of it."

Elsa's breathing finally slowed to normal. "I'm sorry, too," she said. "You were right, Anna. I should have spoken to you. I could have reached out to you years ago, but... I was too scared." Then she added in a near-whisper, "Can you forgive me?"

Anna grabbed her shoulders. "Of course I forgive you. I was just mad before – I never really held it against you. Honestly, when we were first separated, I was a stupid little kid, and I- I actually thought it was my fault. I thought Mom and Dad took you away because I did something wrong."

"Nothing has ever been your fault," said Elsa quietly.

"It was stupid, I know, but it's what I thought up until... Wow, I guess I thought that all the way until your coronation." Anna seemed to have surprised herself. "I mean, now that my memories are fixed, I remember what really happened before my head froze and stuff, but I still remember not remembering. Huh, that's kinda weird..." For a second, Anna was lost in introspection.

"I'm such an idiot," Elsa suddenly said. "After everything I did, breaking all my promises to you, it was all for nothing. The wight got inside anyways."

"You're not an idiot," said Anna firmly. "You don't want your loved ones to die. Nobody does. That's not being an idiot – That's being human. But Elsa..." She closed her eyes. "...you can't protect everyone from everything. I mean, we have no clue what crazy magical powers this wight has. Maybe it could kill us all by blinking!"

Elsa tensed. "No, Anna, I won't let it hurt you-"

"And how do we know it ends after the wight is caught?" continued Anna. "How do we know there won't just be another monster?"

Elsa's pulse was starting to pound again.

"Maybe the Southern Isles will declare war on us?" Anna ranted, throwing her hands in the air. "Maybe there'll be another rebellion? Maybe I'll get struck by lightning the next time I step outside?"

"But I can't just do nothing if-"

"All I'm trying to say," concluded Anna, "is sometimes bad things happen, and there's nothing you can do about it."

"I tried!"

Anna flinched. She hadn't expected Elsa's reaction to be so... loud.

"I tried to stop them!" In an instant, Elsa's voice was shaking, and her breathing was back to frenzied. "I had a bad feeling about it. I begged them not to go. But... they... wouldn't... listen..."

"Elsa..."

"It... can't... happen again... I won't let it..."

The conversation was put on hold to make time for crying and hugging and all the other sisterly interactions that should have happened three years ago.

After a while, things grew reasonably quiet again. "I am so sorry, Elsa," said Anna. "After everything we've been through, of course you were afraid of losing me. And I didn't understand... I was selfish... All I cared about was the fact that I was locked up."

"It's okay, Anna," Elsa said quietly.

"Well, I won't be like that again." Anna took Elsa's hands in her own. "I promise I'll stay in my room and be grounded, and I'll never do anything stupid to put myself in danger ever again, and, heck, I'll be a perfect little princess if that's what you want... on one condition. You have to apologize to Kristoff. He didn't deserve what you said to him." She gave a wry smile. "And, y'know, I'd kind of like to be dating him again."

Elsa shut her eyes and took a breath. "Anna, you dating him wasn't exactly the part I took issue with..."

At this, Anna stiffened. "Yeah, well, we're both grown-ups, so that's not really any of your business."

"I know, I know, but... you're my little sister. I worry about you." Elsa hung her head. "You'll have plenty of time for..." A tinge of red entered her cheeks. "...for 'that' once you're married."

"So when can Kristoff marry me?" Anna immediately asked.

"How about once you're through menopause?"

"Elsa."

"I'm kidding." Elsa gave a feeble smile. "I'm sure you've learned your lesson about rushing into marriage. We already missed out on a good chunk of our childhood. Don't throw the rest of yours away."

"I won't." A second later, Anna blurted out, "But making out's still okay, right?"

Elsa cocked an eyebrow. "Are you two at least being sanitary?"

"What?"

"I've seen him eat after his reindeer."

Anna gave a start. "Yeah, but he- he washed his mouth after that. Probably..." She stared off into space, mortified.

Then, after a second, she said, "Anyways, are you ready to face this wight-thingy?" Elsa nodded. "Good. I guess I'll stay here-"

"No." Elsa impulsively grabbed her arm. "I'm not leaving you alone in your bedroom again. From now on, I want you right next to me." She rose to her feet. "I will protect you from the wight personally."

"Alright!" grinned Anna, rising to her own feet. "That's what I'm talking about! Why didn't we just do that in the first place?"

Back in the staff quarters, there was a Fritz-shaped lump in the bed's covers, shaking so hard you'd think it was about to explode. Every tiny creak sent Fritz into a fit of cowering, wincing, and waiting for the inevitable end of his life.

The door swinging open was nearly gave him a heart attack, and then he almost died again from the whiplash of discovering that the person standing in the doorway was not, in fact, a horrific monstrosity come to rip him to pieces, but the most gorgeous woman on the planet and her reasonably hot sister.

"I'm back, Fritz," said Elsa. "Sorry I was gone so long. I shouldn't have left you here alone, but I had to check on Anna. I hope you understand."

"Uh, yeah, it's fine. I wasn't scared or anything." Fritz sprang out of bed, trying to look as dignified as the situation would allow. "I was just... uh..." He had to abandon that sentence halfway through when he realized there was no possible way to finish it.

"The rest of the guards are on high alert," said Elsa. "But since you're her bodyguard, you'd better stay with Anna and me."

"Right. Good idea." Fritz seized the chance to hide behind Elsa.

"What about Kristoff and Olaf?" asked Anna.

"Kristoff's in town, and Olaf can't be hurt anyways," said Elsa. "I guess the wight could still kidnap him, but I don't see why he'd bother."

"So we're sure the wight's in the castle, then?" Fritz's teeth were chattering. "You don't think maybe Samson was killed by, like, a regular, non-monstrous person? Or maybe he just cut himself really badly shaving?"

"I'm not taking any chances." Elsa cautiously exited Fritz's room, peered around the corner both ways, and then motioned for Anna and Fritz to follow her.

It took another minute for the realization to sink in. Elsa had just... come back to check on Fritz. And, well, there was absolutely no way she sincerely thought he could offer Anna even the slightest protection from the wight, so... that meant she'd really asked Fritz to come with them because she wanted to make sure he was safe. And, earlier, when she'd first entered Samson's room and seen the blood, who had she run to? Fritz first, Anna second. Now, that could be because of the proximity of Fritz's bedroom to Samson's... or it could be indisputable proof that Elsa was secretly madly in love with Fritz!

Wow, Samson's death is paying off already, thought a very evil part of Fritz's brain.

Shut up! he told it. But Fritz couldn't deny it was a good point...

Oh God. Fritz had done this. He'd wished upon a star for unspeakable things to happen to Samson, and now Samson was gone. Kicked the bucket. Two weeks past expiration date. Off to the big weight lifting gym in the sky.

Wait a minute. What if... What is Fritz was the wight? He was transforming at night into a horrific beast that murdered Samson in a fit of jealous rage! That's how the wight was sneaking past the guards so easily! It all made sense. He was a moooooooooooooooonsteeeeeeeer!

Elsa stared at the door to Samson's bedroom and forced herself to breath in steady, regular intervals. Queens don't show fear. Besides, as terrified as Elsa might feel, the people counting on her were far more so. Anna may have hidden behind a confident facade, but Fritz at least was quite visibly out of his mind with fright.

"I'm going back in," Elsa told them. "I never saw the..." She faltered only for a second. "...body. I need to make sure he's really dead." Her hand slowly, carefully went for the doorknob. The door opened with a low creeeeeeaaaak... Elsa peered inside.

Horse. An entire horse. Right in her face. Elsa nearly tumbled backwards in shock.

"What-?"

"Oh, I wouldn't come in here if I was you," said a voice from behind it. "It's a bit too gruesome for a lady's eyes, Your Queeniness."

Out stepped a familiar-looking man in dark clothing.

"Not you again!" groaned Anna.

"Who let you in here?" demanded Elsa.

"Good to see you too," said Detective Brand, lighting his pipe.

"You can't smoke in the castle," said Elsa.

"Uh huh. And I'm accompanied, as always, by my crimefighting ass- Huh." The instant Brand put the pipe to his mouth, the flame went out. He shrugged and lit it again with similar results.

Elsa gave him a stern glare. "Animals aren't allowed, either."

"Crimefighting associate," Brand said sternly. "I came as soon as I heard. Hope you don't mind, but I helped myself to a little examination of the crime scene. This one fits all the signs of the other attacks, except that the killer usually goes after pretty girls... I dunno, maybe pretty guys do it for him, too. I don't pretend to understand the criminal mind."

"Anything else?" asked Elsa.

"Yeah, there's not a body in there," said Brand. "That fits his MO, though. Usually, we find caves full of bones in the killer's wake. He probably takes his victims there and then-" He caught himself and quickly said, "-does stuff not fit to discuss with a lady. And, I mean, it's pretty obvious he dragged the poor guy out of the castle. The window's broken and there's a really clear trail of blood leading to the woods and everything. Oh, and you might wanna fire your guards, seeing as the killer apparently managed to slip past them hauling an unconscious, muscular man."

"A trail of blood?" repeated Elsa. "Interesting... Well, detective, you've actually been very helpful. Thank you."

"It's what I do," grinned Brand. "Just another day in the life of the greatest, most reputable private eye in all of-"

"You!" Suddenly, Anders was running towards them down the hallway, flailing his arms in a rage. "We said you can't come in without license! Get out, you low-life!"

"I've, uh, gotta skedaddle. Duty calls. Olympus, come." Detective Brand gave the royal sisters a tip of his hat, then bolted. The horse gave them an apologetic look before following suit, shaking its head in embarrassment.

Elsa, Anna, and Fritz remained in the hall a while longer, all with identical expressions of disbelief.

"Someone's a few ice cubes short of a palace," muttered Anna.

"That was excellent news, actually." Elsa let out a big sigh of relief. "It sounds like the wight's left the castle... for now, at least."

"But what are we gonna do about it?" spoke up Fritz. "You've got this place on full-out lockdown and it still slipped past."

"Maybe we can send some guards to follow the blood trail," said Anna. "What do you think, Elsa?"

"Right now... I think you need to go back to your room."

Anna's face fell. "What happened to you protecting me personally?"

"If the wight's in the forest, it probably can't return to the castle too quickly," said Elsa. "You'll be alright with Fritz for a little while. There's something I need to do..."

"Can I at least go somewhere besides my room?" groaned Anna. "It's soboring in there!"

"You're grounded," said Elsa, folding her arms. "You're not supposed to be having fun."

"I'm still grounded?" Anna's jaw dropped. "But we had a heartfelt apology and stuff!"

"Yes, but I didn't only ground you to protect you from the wight," Elsa said patiently. "I also did it because of your misbehavior. I'm glad you apologized, but that doesn't absolve you completely."

"But Ellllllsaaaaaa!" Anna gave her sweetest puppy dog eyes.

A smile flickered across Elsa's face. "Besides, I'm going to speak to Kristoff soon, and I seem to recall somebody promising to be a 'perfect little princess.'"

"I never said that!" Anna said with mock indignation. "You're twisting my words!"

Nevertheless, Anna ended up back in her room with Fritz at the door. But this time, Elsa left Anna's bedroom with a big smile on her face. Considering it had started with discovering a room full of blood, today was a surprisingly nice day. Elsa hadn't been expecting to make peace with Anna so quickly. Like Elsa had thought before, the one good thing about tragedies was they made you appreciate what you had.

On the other hand, while Elsa hadn't thought too highly off him, but Samson's loss sent a shiver down her spine. She had wanted to hire a bodyguard, so, in a way... it was her fault.

Out of nowhere, Elsa's splitting headache returned. Almost on impulse, she found herself walking to her own bedroom and seating herself at the dresser.

"Oh, Elsa, look what you've done now." Mary sounded disappointed, and the thought of it twisted Elsa's stomach into a knot. "How many is that now, Elsa? How many people's blood on your hands?"

"I'm sorry..." Like a house of cards tipping over, Elsa was breathing wrong again. "I was only trying to protect Anna."

"And how's that been working out for you, exactly? What was stopping the wight from choosing Anna and not some guard you don't care about?"

Elsa jerked her head, forcing herself away from her reflection's gaze. "I know, but... it's gone for now. We have time to act. We can save her."

"And I, once again, must question why you bother," said the mirror. "Anna is no different from anyone else. They'll all turn on you."

"No..." Elsa seemed to be grasping for words, doing her best to think rationally despite the pain in her skull. "You were... wrong... about her. She did apologize. She did forgive me-"

"I will never lie to you." For an instant, Elsa's reflection changed... but she only caught it out of the corner of her eye. When Elsa returned her gaze to her reflection, it seemed the same as always. Mary's eyes locked with Elsa's again. "You think Anna is being sincere, you idiot? She knows if she makes up with you, you'll reunite her with her boyfriend. You can't trust either of them."

"I... I don't want to talk about this." Elsa was having trouble forming sentences. When she stared at Mary's eyes, she felt like a child. "I came... to you to... ask for help about... the wight. It's in the forest. There's a trail of blood. What do I do?"

Mary let out a chuckle. "What do you think you do? I've seen this wight – He's no threat to you. He's barely even latched onto the world of the living." She leaned in closer, forcing Elsa to mimic her posture.

"You are the Snow Queen. It's time you stopped holding back."