A nice long chapter for you. Only one more to go. Enjoy!

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Chapter 28 – The Fifth of August

August 3.

Intense heat, the core of summer upon them. Anna received her scolding from Sera Avundir that morning with good grace, but it looked like her hands would recover from the overload of Elsa's magic that had poured through them the previous night. There were also marks on her shoulders from where Elsa's magic had entered her. Elsa hadn't been spared from the verbal storm either, and accepted Synneva's ire with similar grace and remorse.

Anna wondered if Elsa regretted sharing her power with Anna, seeing as the consequences had been so disastrous. When Anna had asked about it this morning, Elsa was quick to say that she was sorry the magic did so much damage to Anna, but that she didn't regret sharing it. And that she forgave Anna for destroying their tree.

But neither had they decided to create a new tree. Elsa could have easily replaced that small and perfect tree, but it didn't seem right somehow.

Anna would have wondered if Elsa was telling her the truth, but then she had Elsa's oath, to always speak the truth. And she held that oath.

Anna was barely able to hold a sword in weapons practice that day, but she didn't mind. As cataclysmic as the entire experience had been, Anna had gained something very valuable from it. Her faith in Elsa was absolute. The flood of Elsa's power moving through her had nearly uprooted her entire soul. Elsa could defeat him – the only question was, would she live through the encounter?

Later that day, Elsa and Anna were sitting on the shaded balcony in the heat of the summer afternoon. Many of the chalet's inhabitants had decided that walking the perpetually cool forest was the best way to combat the heat of the summer, which left Anna and Elsa practically alone. Synneva, in particular, often walked the cool and sheltered paths, alone, her face always pale, always drawn.

If people had noticed the sudden absence of the little tree in the dell, they hadn't mentioned it to the royal sisters. Had it been Fenris who warned everyone against the topic, or were they just being cautious and careful around Elsa and Anna?

Fenris was sleeping the afternoon away, gaining his strength for the lonely vigil of the night time hours, for his own burden of secrets and silence.

A small flurry hovered above them as they sat on the common room balcony, sending down tiny flakes of snow that melted before touching their skin, nevertheless cooling the air itself.

It was quite pleasant sitting there, even though they sat carefully apart from each other, and treated each other with detached warmth for the sake of the guard that watched from the far edge of the balcony.

There was a horn call, and the guard, also blessed with his own little flurry to help cool him in the molten fire of the day, quickly strode away from the snowfall to peer over the edge of the balcony. "Looks like you have visitors, Your Majesty," the man said. "Master Kristoff and Olaf, it looks like."

Anna's heart constricted as if squeezed by a giant fist. She hadn't thought of seeing Kristoff again until they had returned to Arendelle. What on earth was he doing there?

Elsa was looking at her, an unspoken question in her eyes. "I have no idea," Anna answered. "I certainly didn't invite him. I had no idea he was coming."

"Well, he's here. Should we sit out here or greet him inside?"

"We better do it inside," Anna said. "Who knows what Olaf might say." She shot a wry smile at Elsa that said a thousand words about the freedom of Olaf's snowy tongue.

Elsa stood shakily on her feet, favouring her leg, as she waited for Anna to stand next to her. With Anna's arm in hers, they walked inside. They could hear Kai calling to Gerda in the kitchen, to prepare the lemonade and some snacks. Anna had just enough time to sit Elsa on the couch in the common room before she could hear the door to the chalet open, then Kai's voice welcoming the young man and the snowman.

Anna blindly reached for Elsa's hand. Her wrist was still in plaster; the miracle was not for her.

It was never for her.

Soon enough Kristoff and Olaf came into the common room, bowing and making their courtesies to the royal pair, but they both relaxed as they drank lemonade and ate cookies and were made comfortable. Anna was almost surprised to see Elsa treat both Kristoff and Olaf with such ease. For herself, Anna's damaged hands discovered a new level of clumsiness as she accidentally spilled her lemonade, dropped the cookies as she handed them to Kristoff, and then even knocked off one of Olaf's arms.

She could feel Elsa warmly smiling at her.

After the pleasantries were done, and all courtesies had been made, Kristoff finally asked if he could speak to Anna in private. Anna shot a glance at Elsa, and saw a quick flash of stark terror on her partner's face. But then Elsa waved them away, told Anna to show Kristoff the forest, and to enjoy their conversation.

Olaf stayed with Elsa.

So Anna went outside with Kristoff, out into the brilliant afternoon sunlight. She felt the weight of her final two days upon her. So little time to spend with Elsa in the relative quiet and peace of the chalet, and now Kristoff had come to mar that silence, no matter how good his intentions.

The silence was uncomfortable for a while; she remembered how unequivocally she had told him that he couldn't accompany her to the chalet after their disastrous conversation with Grand Pabbie.

Had it really only been two weeks ago?

The young man looked uncomfortable as well, but gamely tried to make conversation. He commented on how well both Elsa and Anna looked. He asked about Anna's sword fighting, and how her wrist was doing.

For her part, Anna asked how he was enjoying his quarters at the Queen's Blessing, and if his surrogate mother, Bulda, was doing well. Kristoff coughed and admitted that he had been spending more and more time with a certain young woman who worked at the Queen's Blessing; her name was Inga, and she worked in the stables because she couldn't stand to work as a chambermaid or in the kitchens. Besides, she seemed to have a real affinity for animals, and Sven absolutely adored her.

There was a strange twinge to Anna's heart as Kristoff spoke of this possible love interest. They duly stopped at the stable, where Sven was overjoyed to see Anna. At her request, the reindeer followed them out of the stable and out into the field, where a track had already been forming from people going to visit Elsa's ice forest.

She walked on one side of Sven, holding his neck, and Kristoff walked on the other. She drew comfort from Sven's reality, though the scent of him was a knife to her memory. It was all smashed lutes and wolves and being carried away from the valley of trolls to kiss Hans…

Anna turned her thoughts away from the past, and looked at Kristoff as they topped the rise. For a man whose life was ice, she could only imagine how he might enjoy seeing Elsa's latest creation.

So she carefully looked at him as they walked over the rise, and the young man first saw the forest Elsa made a few days ago.

He stopped as if frozen, amazement clearly written on his face. Anna couldn't help but grin. "Wow," he breathed. "And here I thought that her fortress on the North Mountain was amazing," Kristoff said.

Then he looked right at Anna and said, "How does she even do this, Anna?"

Anna knew now how Elsa worked her magic, but she couldn't force the truth over her tongue. Rather than lie, she just breathed and acted as if he had asked a rhetorical question.

Kristoff returned his gaze to the forest of ice. When he spoke again, his voice was pensive. "I don't even want to think of what my life would have been like, Anna. It was by chance I saw King Agnarr and Queen Idunn carrying you and Elsa out to the trolls that night so long ago. It was coincidence that I followed. That Bulda decided that very night to adopt me. The trolls became my family, they became my life. None of that would have happened if Elsa hadn't had her magic. And if she hadn't struck you with her powers that first time."

Anna nodded. They had spoken of this before, but it reassured her to hear it again from Kristoff's lips. Actions had so many unforeseen consequences; could any of them have known that this unknown man would get such benefit from their tragedy?

"So I guess what I'm saying is that no matter happens, there is always a chance for things to get better. We can't always see the end, can we?" Kristoff carefully looked away from Anna as he said these wise and warm words, striking Anna with truth and love.

So they approached Elsa's forest and began to walk through it, and again and again Kristoff was brought to a halt, appreciating the subtle beauty of a vine, a snowy blossom, of the sun's rays slanting through the icy canopy. The days had continued to be hot and fierce, yet the enormous forest showed no sign of melting or disappearing. It endured and flourished, as did the Queen of Arendelle. They encountered a guard and a kitchen maid who were taking their ease on the snowy grass under a great oak tree.

They were laughing, cheeks bright with colour. Anna looked at them, and saw love.

Her heart broke again for her Elsa.

Through a break in the trees, they saw Synneva sitting by herself on fallen log, looking at a spray of snowy roses. Anna hurried Kristoff along, for Synneva had a particularly peaceful look on her face and Anna didn't want to disturb her.

Every path in the forest eventually led to the little dell that, until last night, had housed their special tree. Anna didn't really want to go that direction, but felt she had to. Soon she and Kristoff were standing in the little open area, surrounded by snowy trees. Anna's throat closed up tight as she looked at the evidence of her magical mishap last night. It looked so stark and broken in the plain light of day. The boulders and spring truly had been obliterated, and fell in pieces that looked strange and out of place.

There was no evidence of the unbroken tree.

Kristoff looked around him with surprise on his plain face. "Looks like something happened here," he said.

"More like someone happened," Anna replied. "And that someone was me." And with that said, of course Anna had to say a little more, so she continued, "Elsa was able to share some of her magic with me, and things got a little crazy. There used to be a little tree here, next to a spring of water. I kind of destroyed it."

It appeared that Kristoff was wise enough, or remembered the strength of Anna's fist, so he didn't ask anything more.

As for Anna, the minutes that passed in this clearing were torture. She shouldn't have brought him here. She didn't want to remember him in this clearing. This should have been just hers, and Elsa's.

Why did all of this have to be so freaking hard? Even with the news of his interest in Inga, this was hard. She held on to Sven's neck, and took comfort in the reindeer's solidity.

Kristoff suddenly turned to look at her. "I have something for you," he abruptly said. He fished into his pocket, and then hesitated. "Okay, more words are necessary. I asked Bulda to make something for you and Elsa. These are gifts from the trolls to you, but they are for you to share with Elsa."

With that said, he urged her hand away from Sven's neck and dropped something into her palm.

Well, two somethings, actually.

Anna stared at them.

They were identical crystal rings. Clear as glass throughout, except for slim threads of solid gold entwined with platinum in their core. Her jaw dropped open as she looked at them, for they were slender and simple and altogether perfect.

"My god, Kristoff. Can I even accept these?" she breathed.

"You better. It took Bulda the last two weeks to make them. And you should know that's pretty quick work for a troll. She asked for at least a year, I told her three days, and we compromised on two weeks." His voice was incredibly proud, and Anna looked up at him. "It's magic, Anna," he continued, unable to keep the excitement from his voice. "Bring Elsa and the rings to Bulda, and she'll bind them to the both of you. Once the spell is complete, you'll always be able to sense Elsa. No matter how far she is. No matter what is going on. The rings will connect you. Forever."

Anna thought of all she had told Kristoff of Erasmus, of Elsa's great and terrible fate, her shipwreck of destiny, and her heart broke in gladness and gratitude. She rushed to the young man and put her arms around him. She was almost shocked to realize that she was nearly in tears. "Thank you, Kristoff. This is… I mean… I don't deserve you. Really I don't."

Kristoff hugged her back for just a moment before he stepped away. "I kinda love you, feisty pants. I am not in love with you anymore, just thought you should know that, but you're my best friend. I want you to be happy. Apparently Elsa makes you happy. And Elsa… Elsa is kinda incredible, too." He paused and looked up into the frozen canopy of trees, the sun creating shifting shadows on the ground. "I mean, seriously. Who can do this?"

Then he looked back at Anna. "I'm sorry at the way we parted, Anna. I had a lot of thinking to do. But believe me when I say that I just want you to be happy. That I hope you and Elsa have a lifetime to share with each other." Then he stopped for a minute, and truly looked at her.

Anna saw deep into his light blue eyes, and heard him continue, "I mean it, Anna. I know you love her, and I can see how much she loves you."

Tears of gratitude finally seeped from Anna's eyes. "Kristoff, I'm… I'm so scared," she finally whispered.

Once again he took her in his arms. And he held her, there under the shifting beams of sunlight within Elsa's icy forest next to the remains of the spring. "I know, Anna," he whispered back. "I get it. I'm scared, too. Scared for both of you. I'm scared for Olaf, too, whose life is linked to Elsa's. Anna, if there is anything I can do, anything at all, I will do it. I promise you."

Anna nodded against his chest. "Thank you, Kristoff," she said, clutching the crystal rings tightly in her hand. They were more than just rings to her. They were a promise of the future as well. If the magic worked as Kristoff claimed, they could very well be Anna's lifeline to her beloved girl.

That tiny seed of hope in her heart was emboldened by this sudden and unexpected gift from the trolls. Despite the destruction of her unbroken tree, Anna wondered if her greatest wish that she had made upon a fallen star could still come true.

Let me be with Elsa. Let us have a lifetime together. Let us love each other forever.

Olaf stayed with Elsa while Anna and Kristoff left the chalet. Her flurry seemed to be keeping him safe and strong, and he chattered on and on while Elsa tried to stay focused on the conversation. He had been making his own home between the Queen's Blessing with Kristoff and Sven, the castle, and a little hideaway of his own that was up near the waterfall that overlooked the palace. He sounded content and happy, and spoke of his little joys and adventures with pride in his heart.

Not that he spoke only of himself. Time and again he asked Elsa about the events of the chalet, questions that began with the scars on Elsa's face, and how did it feel for Anna to save her life again, and was she getting enough rest at the chalet so she could come back and be queen.

By some miracle neither of them mentioned the huntsman, nor Anna's visit to the trolls and the subsequent pronouncement of Elsa's doom. Olaf, normally so loquacious and sometimes tactless, seemed to steer clear of these topics with some care.

Elsa conjured him a glass of icy lemonade and was laughing at one of his jokes when Anna and Kristoff returned, nearly two hours later. Her eyes went immediately to Anna's face, and noticed that there seemed to be a weight lifted from her shoulders. She looked happy, her eyes bright, and Elsa was astounded by the sudden sharp twist of jealousy that ravaged her insides. She hid the emotion as well as she could as Kristoff made his excuses and declined to stay for supper. He hadn't wanted to impose on their good nature, not without notice.

It was obvious that his entire purpose in coming had been his conversation with Anna. And they both looked so happy, so pleased.

And just like that, Kristoff and Olaf were all gone again, promising to spend more time together once they were all reunited in Arendelle.

Elsa dearly wanted to ask Anna what they had talked about, but dinner was then served, and then she had a bout of rehabilitation to endure with Synneva after supper. The rehabilitation left her out of sorts and in pain.

The question was on her mind as Synneva left them for the night. Anna, while outwardly cheerful, had been pensive and quiet all evening.

"How did your conversation with Kristoff go?" Elsa finally asked as Anna began to brush out Elsa's hair.

"It went well," Anna replied, but then she paused in her brushing. She stood beside Elsa, and then kneeled so she could look into Elsa's eyes.

Another great and vicious twist came to Elsa's heart.

No, Anna, don't say it. Don't say you still love him. That we are a mistake.

"Elsa, I know you are curious, but I need to think more about what Kristoff told me. I need to make sense of some things. Sweetheart, can I save this conversation for later? Trust me, please?"

Elsa's heart felt wrung out like a towel, but she bade her clay tongue to be faithful. "Of course, Anna," she replied. "I do trust you." She wanted to add so much more, but with some effort she reined in her tongue. Anna just called her sweetheart. Everything was fine.

Then why did her heart hurt so much? Why was she so scared?

Again and again her mind turned to the events of the previous evening. How gratifying, albeit difficult, it had been to hear of Anna's deepest worries and cares. How Anna just wanted to be saved sometimes instead of the one doing all the saving.

Elsa had once made a personal vow, to give Anna anything in her power she asked for.

If I should live a million years and grant a million favours, it could never repay my debt.

So despite her hesitation and her fear, she had shared her magic with Anna. And once again, it went out of her control. As if all the work she'd done in the last few weeks was for naught. It had been far more devastating than she let on to lose that control.

And once again, she hurt Anna. She could still see the marks on her shoulders. Anna's hands were still slightly red and chapped from the frost.

And their tree, their precious tree that Elsa had fashioned out the depths of her greatest pain, was gone.

All day Elsa told herself time and again not to put too much faith in the destruction of the tree. It was an accident. It wasn't an omen. It wasn't a hint of her future fate. It was just an accident, like any number of accidents that sometimes happened around the Princess of Arendelle. No more portentous than an ancestral bust sprouting out of her coronation cake, or the sudden disassembly of suits of armour.

Anna seemed distracted the rest of evening. Their goodnight kiss lacked the ardour of previous nights, and Elsa tried to convince herself that nothing was wrong. That this was the time to trust. That if ever there was a time to trust, it was now.

Elsa felt the shortage of her time at the chalet. She desperately wanted to make love to Anna, but felt her advances wouldn't be accepted. Something had happened to Anna today, and for now Elsa was left outside of her love's thoughts.

The pain in her heart was greater than any crossbow bolt, greater than any broken prow of a ship plunging through her body. How could she have forgotten what this kind of heartache felt like?

Oh, it was closed doors and gloves and isolation, and all of it made Elsa want to weep with sadness and frustration.

Yet Anna curled into Elsa's body as darkness drew a curtain over the events of the day. "I love you, Elsa," she breathed as she held Elsa close, her plaster cast on Elsa's naked stomach, her fingers on Elsa's hip. "I love you so much."

"And I love you, Anna," Elsa replied, her heart soft and broken.

Soon enough Anna fell asleep, and Elsa's mind was left to whirl endlessly in thought and supposition. And even though Anna's body was curled next to her own, Elsa felt alone. Time and again she told herself to trust Anna, and to trust the love they had for each other, but as the shadows shifted and the night lengthened around her, all Elsa could feel was sorrow.

August 4.

Thursday.

Elsa woke from a thin and painful sleep as pale grey light bled into the horizon, accompanied by the steady thrum of rain on the roof of the chalet. She turned her head to behold her partner, and she smiled through the remnants of the pain in her heart to see Anna's wild and dishevelled hair, her arm somehow sticking up in the air under her pillow, a tendril of hair near her mouth.

Elsa pulled aside that tendril of hair and contemplated how soft and innocent Anna was on the outside, yet what an old soul was now on the inside.

Anna's hands still looked angry.

And yet again Elsa had to tell herself to stop being so foolish regarding Anna's visit with Kristoff.

Trust, Elsa. Love needs trust.

You've told Anna more than once that you trust her with your life. Now it's time to trust her with your heart. She deserves this trust; after all she's done for you. For all the times she's saved you. Don't just say the words; don't just say that you trust her. Prove it, Elsa. Prove it right now.

So Elsa curled into Anna and tried to fall back to sleep, slightly comforted by the sound of the rain and the still mostly dark room they slept in. This high north, the sun rose abominably early, and she could have a couple more hours of sleep before the day would truly begin.

But try as she might, she could not pull the veil of sleep back over her troubled mind.

Fine.

Elsa rose, giving Anna a soft caress and a light kiss on her bare shoulder, and then pulled on a dress and a light robe. Perhaps a cup of tea would soothe her nerves. Coffee would be even better, but she had never learned how to make coffee. She certainly didn't want to wake any servants just so she could have a cup of coffee.

But tea. She could handle tea.

Dawn's light barely illuminated the corridor. Elsa stepped out of the room and noticed Fenris sitting against the window, looking out at the soaked valley. He looked in her direction and smiled at her.

"Good morning, Ser Ulafsson," she quietly said.

"Good morn, Queen Elsa," he solemnly replied, and then returned his attention to the view outside the window.

Elsa walked down the hallway, enjoying the coolness of the wood floor against her bare feet. Colours of indigo and navy were slowly morphing into cobalt and azure as the grey light of dawn crept into the chalet.

She had learned her way around the kitchen during her time at the chalet, and quickly found everything she needed for a big pot of tea. For some time she lost herself in the small tasks required, like stoking the embers of the fire, piling more wood onto the new and young flames, and setting the kettle on the hob over the fire.

Some time later she was just finishing with straining the tea leaves and pouring herself a cup when she heard footsteps in the hall. She peered out of the kitchen and saw Kai making his way to the common room. A smile on her face, Elsa poured him a cup of tea as well, putting it on the saucer the way it had been served to her a million times, along with a spoonful of honey.

Then she carried both cups of tea out into the common room, where raindrops were striking the windows, creating streaks of bold wetness.

Her most faithful Steward turned to her, astonished at both her presence and the cup of tea she held out to him. "Queen Elsa," he stammered, taking the cup of tea.

"It's just Elsa right now, Kai," she quietly said.

"Elsa, then," he said, unable to help smiling. "Thank you."

For a moment they stood together in the common room, looking out through the vast windows that showed the glory of Lost Island Lake. Like the vantage from their bedroom, this room also looked out over the lake and the valley, but the mountains surrounding the valley were barely visible through the mists of low-lying clouds and the rain.

"You are up rather early," Kai eventually ventured, breaking the fragile silence.

"I didn't sleep all that well," Elsa admitted, blowing on her cup of tea before sipping.

Kai sipped from his own cup, and then softly asked, "Is there anything on your mind, Elsa?"

Elsa softly sighed, and watched the steam rise from her cup of tea. "Many things, Kai," she finally answered.

"Do any of them have to do with our imminent return to Arendelle tomorrow?"

"That's part of it, but not all."

Kai turned to her, then, his broad face beautiful in the dim morning light. "Would you not confide in me, Elsa? My ear has always been yours."

Queen Elsa turned to regard him, this most faithful servant of Arendelle. "Your ear, your loyalty, and your very heart, wouldn't you say?"

By the soft anguish on his face, she could imagine they both thought of King Agnarr, of Queen Isolde, and secrets not shared between brother and sister.

Not waiting for his answer, Elsa asked, "You have been married a long time, Kai. What can you tell me about trust?"

Showing the deep sense of regard he had always shown her, Kai only glanced in her direction as he answered, giving her the space she might need for his words. "Just that trust is the very foundation of all relationships. Some might say it is love, but love itself is founded on trust. Without trust there can be no love. And once trust is breached, it is very hard to rebuild."

Elsa paused, and then blurted out, "Kristoff came to see Anna yesterday. And she couldn't tell me why."

Once again Kai only glanced in her direction and then returned his attention to the rain. "Do you worry about Anna's feelings for Kristoff?"

"I didn't think I did. Until I saw him again. Now, I wonder." Now that the words were coming out of her mouth, Elsa couldn't seem to stop them. "What if I'm not the one for her, Kai? What if he still loves her? What if she still loves him? Will she leave me?"

In her mind's eye she could still see her fingers on Anna's shoulders, and watching in awe and horror as their beautiful tree grew to an immense size and then exploded. She remembered how it felt to tuck Anna into her body and instantly create an ice wall to shield them from the shock of the explosion.

It was just an accident, Elsa. It didn't mean that Anna is tired of being with you and wants to leave you. Stop being ridiculous.

Finally Kai looked at her, that grey light so kind upon his faithful countenance, and he softly asked, "What does your heart tell you, Elsa?"

"My heart is a poor and confused beast right now, Kai," Elsa answered, unable to keep the melancholy from her tongue.

"Then look deeper, Elsa. For there is a space even deeper and greater than the heart itself. And this space does not lie. Not when you truly listen to it."

Elsa wanted to close her mind to his words, and to wallow a bit more in the strange despair that had come over her, but no sooner did she really calm herself to listen than she knew the truth. Truth that was inscribed on her, ghostly imprints of Anna's mouth on her skin, memories of Anna's words so indelibly written in her mind and soul.

Elsa closed her eyes to Kai, just as she tried to close her mind to the truth, but then her most loyal servant's voice was in her ears, and she listened, because she had to. "Oh, Elsa. Trust, like love, is often blind. Every errant thought, every sideways wonder must be thrown from your consciousness, like cargo tossed overboard a ship during a storm. You keep only what matters, Elsa. You keep what you hold true, and you keep it close to your heart."

He touched her shoulder, then, and her eyes slowly opened to look at him.

"Listen to me, Elsa. I loved your uncle, King Agnarr. I loved him like a brother. So I trusted every decision he made, if even if I didn't understand them. Every one, Elsa. I had to, for our bond to remain strong. We needed that bond, in the end. I needed him, and he needed me. The kingdom needed us, to hold it together against the predations of the huntsman. No one knew the name of this dark force that menaced us, no one but we. So yes, Queen Elsa, I trusted him, because I loved him. We had gone through hell together. Now that he's gone, it brings me peace to know that I loved him that much, that I trusted him to the ends of the earth, and that time itself has brought fulfillment to that trust.

"One of the foundations of our kingdom is Spoken Law. Princess Anna invoked that law the night of your coronation when she left Hans in charge of the kingdom. I had to trust her, even as I helped her get ready to leave the palace in her search for you. That was hard, Elsa, but I retained my faith in her. I trusted that things would eventually turn out all right. Seeing you both together now, it has validated that trust, even though I well know how harrowing and dire things got.

"Now is the time for you to be strong. You need your bond with Anna. It will be essential before the end. Elsa, I know we don't speak much of the future, of Isolde's prophecy for you. But in my heart, my dearest child, I know you will need her. You cannot face the huntsman alone, dear one. You will need your Anna.

"So trust her, Elsa. She has earned your faith and trust. Trust your love for each other. For it is a beautiful thing, my Queen, and I will bless and celebrate your love to the end of my very life."

And he bowed his head to her then, and the sight of it scorched her very soul. The grey veils of light were so gentle yet brilliant upon his balding head, his words so soft yet so incredibly strong.

"And I trust you, Queen Elsa. With my honour, and with my life. You have my trust, and my love, to the end of my days."

Tears sparked in Elsa's eyes. Her tea cooled, not drunk.

"Thank the gods for you, Kai," she whispered.

He smiled for her. "Go to your girl," he said. "Because tomorrow, everything changes again."

Elsa set down her cup of tea. Before she left the room, she touched him on the cheek. "You have my thanks." Then she smiled, wide and fierce. "And if we should not really emerge today, you will know why."

He blushed then, this amazing servant of the Crown, and said, "Understood, Majesty."

Elsa's heart was full as she returned to her bedchamber. Once again she saw her sworn Fenris in the hallway, and once again he merely inclined his head to her, acknowledging her presence but no more. The courtesy and understated support lent steel to her bones, as did the knowledge that he would be relieved of duty in less than an hour as the sun came fully up.

She crept back into their bedroom, noticing with some delight that Anna had reached out for her in her sleep, that Anna's hand was upon the bare sheets, her eyes fluttering in dismay at the empty space.

Elsa walked to her love, still amazed that she could do so a mere three weeks after breaking her leg. Anna was naked, except for the leather pouch around her neck that held the heart of the earth.

Elsa slid out of her own clothes and climbed back into bed, gently lifting Anna's out-flung hand as she resumed her rightful place. Anna murmured something incomprehensible as she snuggled along the length of Elsa's body. Elsa tucked Anna's arm around her waist as she settled into her pillow, ignoring the faint ache of her shoulder. She kissed Anna's forehead and whispered, "I love you, Anna."

Comforted by Kai's words, lulled by the sound of the rain on the roof of the chalet, Elsa was able to doze for a while. Dreams skated across her consciousness, light and silly things she couldn't remember.

An hour or so later, Elsa felt Anna shift in her sleep, turning on her side away from Elsa. Elsa opened her eyes just in time to notice Anna sleepily tug on Elsa's arm, urging her to cuddle up tight and close, Elsa's front to Anna's back. Elsa smiled and snuggled in, placed a kiss on Anna's bare shoulder and put her hand on Anna's stomach.

Anna fell back asleep, once again softly snoring.

Sleep was now elusive for the Queen of Arendelle, but she didn't mind. It was blissful enough just to lie here, to feel the length of Anna's warm skin against hers. She listened to the sound of the rain, to the sound of Anna's light snoring, and to the steady beat of her own heart.

Some time later, Anna changed her breathing. Elsa recognized this as the precursor to Anna waking up.

Elsa moved her hand to Anna's hip and applied just a bit of pressure as she moved her own hips forward. She was blessed to feel Anna respond by pressing back. Elsa released a bit of the pressure on Anna's hip as she allowed her own hips to rock back, accepting Anna's movement. Then she gently moved her hips forward again, her hand holding Anna's backside in place.

Anna breathed aloud, and she lifted her plastered wrist to blindly reach back and hold Elsa's hip.

Neither of them had spoken yet.

The rain hummed above them, pinging like bells on the windows to the balcony.

They rocked back and forth for some time, in a maddeningly slow rhythm that ignited Elsa to her very core. The sound of Anna's breath was like music in her ears. On one such rocking hip thrust, Elsa moved her hand down the inside of Anna's hip, close to the juncture of her legs. "Elsa," she heard Anna whisper.

"Stay still, Anna," Elsa whispered back. She felt Anna's fingers tighten on her hip in response.

She kissed Anna's shoulder again as her hand continued down, and with more pressure on Anna's inner thigh she urged Anna to lift her leg and put it over Elsa's bent knee. Anna willingly complied, opening her legs to Elsa, her breath softer, faster now. Elsa's hand drifted, rediscovering the perfection that was Anna's body, and encountered soft curls, already pearled with desire.

Anna rocked back against Elsa once more as Elsa's fingers gently slid down, cupping Anna's core. "I said stay still, sweetheart," Elsa breathed into Anna's ear. "Or don't you want this?" She teased Anna's folds with her fingers and Anna opened her mouth to inhale in delight.

"Oh, I want this," Anna replied, whispering into her pillow. "I'll stay still."

"Good girl." Elsa peppered Anna's shoulder with kisses as her hand continued to slowly caress Anna's core. Then she shifted position slightly, scooting down on the bed to get more leverage, and slid in two fingers.

Anna arched her back, a delicious ripple of movement, and Elsa paused with her fingers inside her love. "Anna," she warned, a rich undercurrent of joy in her voice.

"Ahh," Anna breathed. "I'm good. I'm staying still."

Elsa grinned and continued her steady onslaught of Anna's center. She remembered how it felt to have to stay still for the sake of her broken body, and how amazing her release had eventually been. She wanted Anna to have that experience as well.

Her heart felt so much lighter after her chat with Kai, as if her soul had once again resumed its rightful course upon the ocean of her love for Anna.

And what was love without a bit of play?

She could tell how difficult it was for Anna not to respond to Elsa's thrusting fingers, to the warm kisses Elsa planted on her shoulder. Her fingers convulsed on Elsa's waist, and the plaster cast was hard and scratchy on her skin, but Elsa didn't care. She just continued to love Anna, with her lips, with whispered words, and with three fingers that gained in tempo and brilliance.

She could hear the change in Anna's breath, could feel her stomach muscles rippling in anticipation. She sped up her thrusting, an almost frenzied pace, and then Elsa thrust one last time, grazed her thumb over Anna's bundle of nerves, and then paused, waiting, her fingers so deep and still inside her lover, her heart so incredibly vast and full of love. Her other hand held Anna's chest firm and motionless.

Heartbeat.

Anna's body seemed to unfold, a great and sinuous ripple of muscle and bone as she found release, a paroxysm that started at her core and swept her every limb. Anna kept her teeth clicked shut but couldn't help the throaty moan that still escaped her mouth as her body flailed in release.

Elsa stayed there, holding Anna close, her fingers still deep inside, accepting oh accepting every tremor, every convulsion.

It was so incredibly beautiful.

A few moments later Anna quieted, and then Elsa heard her whisper, "Let me see you, Elsa."

Elsa gently pulled her fingers out of her lover, and Anna slowly turned around in her grasp.

Elsa would never forget it.

Anna's hair mussed and wild and glinting in the rain-light. Her cheeks flushed. Her brilliant teal eyes gleaming. Her lips trembling in a low smile.

Then she saw no more, for Anna buried herself in Elsa's embrace, urging Elsa's arms to go around her and hold her. With one of her legs she pulled Elsa's legs tight and close and then she wrapped her leg and knee around Elsa's thighs. Her arms wrapped around Elsa's back, the wrist with the cast near the swell of Elsa's backside. She was trembling. She was shaking.

A small note of alarm began to rise in Elsa's breast; had she hurt Anna? Was she all right?

"Pet?" Elsa whispered.

"Hold me, Elsa."

Elsa did.

As the day began, so it continued.

At one point Anna knew she needed to eat breakfast, but she didn't want to leave this glorious loving space that Elsa had created. They both knew it was their last full day at the chalet. Did the universe know it as well, and blessed them with this constant thrum of rain, masking their sounds, enticing them to stay indoors?

Anna glanced towards the door and noticed that a note had been shoved under it. "Elsa," she said.

They were sitting up in bed, facing each other, bare legs tangled impossibly close. Elsa was leaning forward and kissing her neck, and only murmured, "Mmm?"

"There's a note."

"So go get it."

Elsa kept kissing her.

"You're making it kinda hard to leave."

"That's your problem, not mine." Elsa wrapped her arm around Anna's back and kissed her shoulder. And then the swell of Anna's breast.

Anna forgot about the note for a while.

A little while later her stomach made a hideous growling noise.

"Damn it," Anna growled back. She was busy kissing Elsa's stomach. She heard Elsa chuckle, so Anna lifted her head.

"Sailor," Elsa mouthed.

"Tell me something, Els," Anna drawled. "Do you really want me to get up?" She trailed her finger along the inside of Elsa's thigh and was delighted to see Elsa's sharp intake of breath.

"Not particularly," Elsa replied. "But we might have more energy if we eat."

"Why do you always have to be the practical one?"

"I wish I had a witty retort for that, honey, but I'm rather hungry, too. Besides, you're not making it very easy for me to think straight."

"That's your problem, not mine," Anna repeated, a grin on her lips.

"Minx. Go grab that note."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Anna kissed Elsa's stomach one more time before she scrambled off the bed. She felt a little strange walking about stark naked in the grey daylight, but her heart was so happy and full she didn't mind. She picked up the note and read it, a smile breaking out on her face.

"What is it?" Elsa asked. Anna looked over to the bed. Elsa had rolled onto her side, facing her. Anna's heart hiccupped in her chest to see her there, so perfect and whole again. Deflected sunlight lit her platinum hair, so love-mussed and wild. Her cheeks were slightly flushed with desire, making the thin scars on her cheek shine almost as platinum as her hair. Her eyes were wicked and dark. Anna nearly abandoned the note and all thoughts of eating, but then a fresh rumble of hunger overtook her and she reluctantly turned her attention back to the written words.

"It's from Kai. There's a breakfast tray right outside the door. They've been refreshing it every half hour, so it should still be warm when we eat it." Anna's heart closed up tight with gratitude. "'We'll bring all your meals,' he says. 'Don't come out unless you want to.'" Anna looked at Elsa. "What did we ever do to deserve them?"

"We are very blessed," Elsa replied, her smile so gratified, so warm. "And, I do think that the pay is quite good."

"Paid? You mean people around here actually get paid? Why haven't I gotten paid?"

Elsa lowered her eyebrows at her, a sultry smile on her face, and Anna gulped. "Okay, okay, maybe the pay is good for me, too," Anna quickly answered. "Toss me a robe, Elsa, and I'll grab the tray."

Elsa waved her wrist and a floor length robe of verdant greens appeared on Anna's shoulders. Anna shook her head as she thrust her arms into the robe. "I'll never get used to your magic," she replied, a wry smile on her face. Then Anna opened the door, peeked both ways down the deserted hallway, and grabbed the tray.

As Kai had promised, the porridge was still warm, and the tea and coffee still hot. The young lovers ate their breakfast, shoved the empty tray out into the hallway with their own return note of thanks, and resumed their very important activities.

Never in her life had Elsa been so happy to see the rain. It was steady, constant, occasionally lighter and then heavier, but all that beautiful day the rain continued. It was a warm embrace, a tender cocoon, and time and again Elsa blessed that rain that so enraptured and protected them.

While there had been many nights of love, she and Anna had never made love in the middle of the day. By the time the afternoon came, Elsa realized she had never been so happy in her entire life, and never had she been this deeply in love with Anna.

This glorious day of slow and immaculate love changed them. There was no hurry. There were no appointments, no expectations. There was no responsibility.

There was understated acceptance from their servants, as a tray of sandwiches, cookies and lemonade appeared outside the door around noon. They could hear distant noises from outside as everyone started to make preparations for their return to Arendelle on the morrow. They ignored those sounds as best as they could.

They had a brief nap after lunch. Then they woke and sat up in bed together. Anna had curled up between Elsa's legs as Elsa rested against the headboard. Elsa read their love letters out loud, her voice lingering on those passages that had affected her most. Anna's hand was on her thigh, and it had finally resumed its normal colour. Elsa's mistake had been erased by time alone.

Then Anna tugged her into the bathing chamber, and they had a joyous bath together. How Anna loved to run her warm fingers over the raised and ropy scars of Elsa's right arm, to urge Elsa's neck to the side so she could lave kisses over the pulse point in her neck, to cup Elsa's firm breast with her soapy hand and gently squeeze. How she loved to hear the change in Elsa's breathing as she did so, to feel Elsa's own hands hard and desperate on her skin.

Try as she might not to think of the future, to focus only on the present moment, many times that day Anna also experienced moments of sharp bleakness, of utter despair.

It was the worst feeling in the world to finally have everything she always wanted and to be in constant fear of losing it.

Dusk.

And another note under the door.

This time it was Elsa who was sent to pick it up, wondering what it might say. They had deposited their empty supper dishes outside the door about an hour ago.

She read it, and her heart fell.

"What does it say, Elsa?" Anna asked from her perch on the bed.

"Despite the rain, all preparations have been completed for our return to Arendelle tomorrow. Kai recommends a departure of four hours past sunrise so that we may return to the castle well before sunset." Elsa folded the note again and set it on the bedside table, next to the leather pouch with the heart of the earth.

"I always knew this day would eventually come to an end," Elsa quietly said as she climbed back into bed. "I have so much power, Anna, but why couldn't I have the power to stop time?"

Anna enfolded Elsa in her arms. "Some things will change when we go home, Elsa. Of course they will. But some things won't. I will love you in the castle as much as I love you in the chalet. That won't change. That will never change."

Elsa reached up with her hands, cupped Anna's face, and kissed her. "I know," she whispered. "And I thank the gods each and every minute for the blessing you are to me. Anna, I can't imagine my life without you. I love you so much. So goddam much."

Anna smiled and kissed her again.

And loved her, as if they would never have to let go.

August 5.

It was three hours past dawn. Anna and Elsa had eaten a quick breakfast, and then headed out of the chalet, arm in arm. Anna wore Elsa's sword at her waist, and a guardsman followed them at a discreet distance. The sky had cleared, but the ground was soaked from all the rain.

First they walked to the barn. Horses were being groomed and readied for their journey. Leather harness creaked and hooves stamped upon the straw. The cousins looked about them, not speaking much, but remembering everything. Kittens on Elsa's lap. Dust motes in the sunshine. Anna and Nils, fighting each other in a glorious display of prowess and speed.

They moved on from the barn and along the track to the ice forest, walking slowly, enjoying the dew on the grass, the scent of spruce in the light breeze, the puffy white clouds that ambled across the sky. Enjoying each other. Not speaking of the future, of the fact that by nightfall, they would be a Queen and Princess again.

The immense forest of snow and ice was still as vibrant and glowing as the moment Elsa had first created it. The constant rains had not eroded it; the sun had not melted it. From time to time a terrible thought surfaced in Anna's mind, that this forest would disintegrate into ruin at the moment of Elsa's death.

Oh, gods, be that death so far away. After a lifetime of living, and loving.

Anna set those thoughts aside, and focused on the present moment, on being arm in arm with Elsa as they walked the now familiar path to the dell.

And saw, once again, the slightly ruined center of this forest, with its broken boulders and absent tree.

Elsa spoke, barely above a whisper. "Am I even strong enough to leave this place, Anna? Can I resume a throne I barely know how to rule?"

Anna released Elsa's arm, only to clasp her hand. She turned her head to look at her cousin, her love, her Queen. "Yes, you are. And yes, you can."

Elsa smiled at her, and tapped the back of Anna's hand with her thumb.

They resumed their final stroll. Out of the ice forest, and down along the edge of the forest before going into the woods. These were the trails they had taken in that first week at the chalet, when Anna had been recuperating from pneumonia and Elsa from the killing fever. Arm in arm again, they smiled to see the place where they had lied together on a blanket, kissing and touching, their love still so young at that point, still so new.

And finally down to the edge of the lake itself. The weeks of rain and the trampling step of visitors had mostly erased the marks of the pyre Erik and Kai had made to burn the wolves. Only a few charred stones remained.

And here they stood for a long time, their hearts heavy.

Anna sighed. The weight of the cast was so annoying now, and she still had three more weeks to wait before Sera would even consider taking it off.

So much had happened here. Just here.

"It will be all right, Anna," Elsa quietly said, as if able to read Anna's thoughts. She quickly leaned forward and kissed Anna's cheek. "After everything that has happened, we are still here. We are still together."

"I kind of love you."

"I know."

Up the long and gentle slope Anna and Elsa returned to the chalet, leaving the echoes of memory behind them.

Just before midday, the entire company was finally ready to depart. Erik looked so pleased to finally have the chalet back to himself, though new guests were already expected to arrive in only two more days.

Elsa kissed her uncle on the cheek, wishing she had spent more time getting acquainted with this soft-spoken man who was her father's brother. "Thank you for everything, Ser Avundir," Elsa said, carefully not addressing him as uncle in front of the guards and maids milling about. "For the most part, we really enjoyed our stay at the chalet."

He quirked a smile at her. They would not speak of the men and wolves. "It was such a pleasure having you with us, Queen Elsa. Come again anytime you have need. And thank you for the leaving the ice forest behind. My future guests will love it."

"It is small recompense for all the hospitality we have received." Elsa moved aside when she was done speaking so that Anna could give her own enthusiastic thanks to their host.

There weren't enough coaches for Elsa and Anna to have one to themselves, so they sat in the first coach with Synneva and Fenris, Kai and Gerda. The servants and maids joined four of the guardsmen in the second coach. The Captain of the Guard split the remainder of his guardsmen to ride at the front and the rear of the small caravan.

The Captain came up to Elsa and said, "We are ready to depart, Queen Elsa."

Elsa swallowed and said, "Then let us be on our way."

For a last moment she and Anna stood together outside the coach, and looked back at Chalet Avundir. Lost Island Lake glinted with ripples of water, and a soft breeze made the tips of the surrounding forest wave goodbye.

Elsa looked at Anna. "Ready?" she asked.

"No." Anna breathed softly a couple times and then continued, "But then there are some things you'll never be ready for." She looked back at Elsa and said, "Let's go home."