The next morning, after Elsa had gradually convinced herself she had to get up despite how inviting it had been to just lay beside Anna all day, she made her way to the palace library. She had left her sister, lost to the world in a deep sleep. She hadn't the heart to disturb her.

She entered the library, coming to an abrupt halt. It was a large room, well furnished. Books adorned the walls, hundreds of old volumes and collections. She wasn't looking at that though.

She was staring, shocked, at the large table in the centre of the room. It was strewn with open books, papers covered in scrawled notes and half-finished sentences. Hans was buried behind a mound of tomes somewhere in the middle, accompanied only by the quiet scratching of a pen on paper.

'…Hans?' She ventured.

The scratching stopped.

'Majesty!' Hans appeared from behind the pile.

'I can see you've been…busy.'

He looked disparagingly around, as if the mess wasn't worth considering.

'I fear I've turned your library upside down for nothing.'

'Nothing?' Her heart went cold, she hadn't hoped for much, but…

'If there are answers to be found, I don't think they are to be found here.' He raised his arms, then dropped them in frustration. 'It is as if somebody has been through this place, removing, omitting, editing every piece of useful information and leaving…nothing. Somebody does not wish you, your sister or anybody to delve too far back into the histories of your parentage.'

Somebody. Not just somebody. The thought stung, bitterly.

'Not just somebody, Hans.' She spoke softly, through gritted teeth. 'There is nothing to be gained trying to hide from me the only obvious answer.'

'I didn't-'

'Mother and father were responsible. This was their home, their library, their history. They sought to hide their…our past from us, for reasons I cannot even begin to imagine.' She chuckled, bitterly. 'Though it would be foolish to hope those reasons had nothing to do with…this.' She flicked a hand casually through the air, painting the ceiling in a mural of icy spirals.

'That was impressive.' Hans nodded, staring at the expanding patterns on the roof.

'Thanks.' She smiled, wryly.

'Have you ever tested the limits of what you can do?' He asked, genuinely curious. 'There are still remnants of that ice-palace you built, on the North mountain. I remember when I first saw it, it was…incredible.'

'I have some idea of what I'm capable of.' She replied, distant. 'That was the night I let go, cut myself loose from the world and its worries. It took no effort to build that thing, no thought to…give it form, bring my feelings to life.'

'That doesn't sound so bad.'

'We're all human Hans, we all have parts of ourselves we hide away, buried deep. I lashed out at you and your men, on that mountain, I've killed a man, the mercenary, I've nearly killed Anna…twice.' She paused, looking at her hands. 'If my feelings are the fuel for these…powers, they can just as easily…no, more easily harm those I love than…' She sighed.

'Are you saying you're always holding back, even when you were fighting DeMolais?'

'There were children.' She glared at him sharply.

'You were nearly killed!'

'The strain was…severe. While I was fighting DeMolais, I was fighting myself.' She regarded the frozen mural now covering the ceiling. 'Using my powers is like opening a floodgate, I have to keep letting it through a little at a time, or else…' She struggled to find the words. 'It's like they're alive, they want to be free.'

'But you could do so much, if you embraced your gift, learnt to control them, wield them fully.'

'A kingdom built on…insubstantial magic is no kingdom at all. I rule because it is my duty, my responsibility, and I will not render my people dependant on unreliable sorcery.' She sighed. 'There is no path back, once I take that step.'

Hans found himself stunned into silence. The Queen normally never said more than she needed when speaking with him.

'I…understand, your majesty.' He replied, surprised to find he truly did.

She glanced at him curiously, then gave him an awkward nod of respect.

'I also came today to ask whether you've learned anything of Vickers or what he's planning.'

He shook his head slowly.

'I have few contacts left in the Southern Isles, majesty. The few I have…' He trailed off, suddenly sombre. 'The few I have seem to be getting fewer, these days.'

'I see.' He saw the hint of worry flash across her features.

'Of course, I am telling you nothing of this, for the sake of your deniability, but I am intending to break into their embassy.'

'No. It's too dangerous.' She insisted.

He only shrugged.

'I have become good at what I do, majesty. Besides, I have other reasons for doing so, admittedly.'

'To risk your life in such a way? They'd better be good ones.' She scoffed.

He fell quiet, as if in thought, holding something back.

'Hans.' She stated.

He caved under her stare.

'I believe DeMolais is the key to moving our investigations forward. I don't know what she knows, but she knows something. She knows things that we cannot learn from this library.'

'We have her here though.'

'Yes, but she was working for Vickers for some reason.' He paused. 'I've known her for a long time, nearly all my life, on and off. She's not a conventionally good person, but even this was…out of character.'

'So they had something on her?'

'She told me she needed to get here, she must have been desperate if she would sink to serving somebody like Vickers. You know what she is but…you don't know what she is, too.'

'You almost sound like you admire her.'

He exhaled.

'I do.'

'You…?'

'Remember when I told you she used to visit my family fairly often? As a child until I was a youth, then the visits stopped.' He sighed.

She nodded.

'That was true, she was my only friend, my only companion, my only…solace.'

Elsa's eyes widened as she realised what he was saying.

'You and…she…?'

'I had just turned sixteen at the time. Angry, bitter, alone.' He smiled sadly. 'We had always been close, but that visit we…'

'You don't have to tell me anything, Hans, you don't owe me anything.'

'I do.' He replied, neutrally. 'I think I loved her. I think I had loved her for a long time. I told her I wanted to be with her, to sleep with her and that night we did. We made love.'

'What did she feel? Did she feel the same?'

'I don't know.' He shrugged. 'I have no idea how old she truly is, how long she's been alive. I don't know whether she is still capable of such an emotion. It didn't matter to me at the time.'

'I had no idea.' Elsa admitted, feebly. Finding layers to Hans had been the last thing she'd expected to wrestle with today.

'Nobody does.' He replied, curtly. 'I'm sorry, your majesty.' He apologised quickly.

She waved a hand, dismissively.

'And she left after that?'

'Never saw her again until just before I left to attend your coronation.'

'That's awfully…convenient timing.' Elsa murmured, eyes narrowed in thought.

'We think along similar lines.'

Elsa nodded to herself.

'Find what you can, Hans.' She continued, after a pause. 'I will speak with DeMolais.'

He opened his mouth to object, but thought better of it on seeing the determined expression on her face.

'Majesty.' He bowed slightly, making for the door.

'And Hans?' He stopped at her words. 'Be careful.'

He bowed again and left, unable to constrain the slight smile on his lips. It was more than he had had any right to hope for.

…

Anna let herself be pulled along by Nell, trying not to laugh. Karden followed closely behind her. The market was in full swing today and Anna had thought it a nice enough day to take the children out. The snows of winter weren't upon them yet, there was merely a light frost in the mornings and a chill in the air.

She was enjoying herself. The effect was only mildly spoiled by the two soldiers escorting her. To their credit, they made a point of following from a tactful distance.

Elsa had been adamant that Anna was not to venture into the city alone anymore, for a time. And with Kristoff busy today, she'd been forced to accept them.

'Let's get th' flowers!' Nell insisted, tugging her along.

Anna pushed down the sadness she felt rising within.

Every week for the past month Nell and Karden had insisted they lay flowers at the memorial built on the site of their own home, to honour the lives lost in the crisis.

The location had been Elsa's idea and it had been no accident. She had eventually told Anna what transpired in that house one night, as she'd awoken from a particularly bad nightmare. Including the fact she'd taken the life of one of her attackers. Anna felt for her sister, and the two children.

She couldn't help but suspect they'd gotten the idea once they'd learned of her weekly visit to the graves of her own parents.

She bought the flowers and let the children lead her to the memorial. As she turned the last corner, she was surprised to see Brynn waiting there.

'Hello Brynn.' She smiled in greeting.

'Highness.' She inclined her head, respectfully.

Anna regarded the captain curiously, as the children scurried forward to lay the flowers by the statue now built on the site of their old home.

'Fancy meeting you here.'

'Just fancy.' Brynn shuffled, awkwardly.

'So…do you have your officers spying on me or something?'

'That's…a disturbingly accurate assumption, your highness.' The woman acknowledged, honestly.

Anna only shrugged.

'I'm getting used to this sort of thing.' She gestured in the direction of her escorts.

'I mean nothing personal by it, highness-'

'Call me Anna, please?' She turned to Brynn.

'I'm not sure that would be…'

'I can always order you to, if that'd make you feel any better.' She grinned.

'…Anna.' Brynn managed, finding her train of thought again. 'I look out for my friends though, or friends of friends, as it were.'

'Aren't we friends?'

'I didn't mean-' Brynn blurted, flustered.

'I'm sorry.' Anna laughed, setting her at ease. 'The look on your face was…anyway. Do count on it though, us being friends.'

'Then I'll be looking out for you.' Brynn replied, regaining her composure.

She liked the princess, all things considered. Even if she had a habit of keeping you off-balance, Anna was inherently likeable.

'I haven't seen you since Nestor's funeral, captain. I suppose you've been quite busy lately.'

Brynn nodded.

'I…wanted to thank you for coming.'

'He probably saved my life two or three times, I had no intention of missing the chance to say goodbye.'

They watched the children lay the flowers by the stone monolith, rushing back to each latch onto one of Anna's hands.

'Quite a handful, aren't they?' Brynn smiled, kneeling down to look at them.

'Oh…well…yes, a bit.' Anna chuckled.

'Hey!' Nell chirped.

'Well you are!' She laughed, looking down at the girl. 'How would you two like something to eat?'

'Sure.' Karden piped up.

'Well, you take your sister and go with one of those men over there.' She pointed at one of the soldiers. Karden nodded, leading Nell off.

'They suit you.'

'I like them a lot.' Anna spoke softly.

'Will you…look after them?'

'I don't know.' She answered. 'I just…I don't know if it would be right, but I know I haven't the heart to send them away to an orphanage, I'm pretty sure Elsa doesn't have it in her either…I don't know.'

'Have you asked them what they want?'

'…I was too afraid of what they might say.'

'That they might want to leave?' Brynn asked, cocking her head to one side.

Anna looked the woman in the eyes, sadly.

'I think I'm more afraid they might want to stay.'

'Why? Forgive me for being blunt, but you clearly care for them, and seem quite capable of continuing to do so.'

Anna's eyes suddenly became sharp, something behind her expression.

'I don't know anything about raising children, my parents died years ago, their idea of a loving family was to isolate me and my sister and hide her away.' She snapped. 'What have I to look up to there?'

'I'm sorry.'

Anna softened again.

'No, I am.' She sighed. 'That wasn't fair of me, it wasn't even fair to mum and dad.' She looked at the ground.

'Perhaps you're looking at this wrong.'

'Sorry?' Anna looked up again.

'I think, if anything, you are what those children need. Between you and the Queen, you know what a child needs, considering what you've just told me.' Brynn gazed at the monument, absent-mindedly. 'Nobody is perfect, Anna. People make mistakes. I don't doubt your parents loved you, but if what they did was wrong, then make it right. You can't half-love those two forever, you can't keep them in limbo, with one foot out the door. Those children deserve somebody like you.'

Anna felt tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

'Thank you, Brynn.' She managed.

Brynn was surprised as the princess pulled the older girl into a hug, unsure of how to act at first.

'That's…you're welcome, Anna.' She replied, reciprocating the embrace.

'I hope Kristoff realises how bloody lucky he is.' Anna laughed.

'Well, we'll be sure to remind him, won't we?' Brynn smiled, feeling Anna nod.

The princess pulled away, murmuring a 'goodbye' and heading off after the children.

Brynn watched her go, with a smile. Every time she met the princess she was pleasantly surprised by her. There was always something new to admire, or respect. She raised a hand, signalling one of her officers to come forward from their hiding place.

'Keep any eye on them.' She ordered. The officer saluted, jogging off.

She protected her friends.

…

As the afternoon came to a close, the streets began to clear. Kristoff was on his way to see Brynn, she'd be finishing her shift soon. The thought found its way to the forefront of his mind once again, as to whether he should be doing more.

He'd been at a loose end, lately, ever since the Watch-Schism. He felt more and more…obsolete. Events were getting beyond him, getting bigger and bigger and he wasn't sure what to do. Brynn commanded a Watch-House, Elsa was…well, Queen. Hans was working for Commander Haagan now, and with the Queen on something else, he'd heard from Anna once. And with Nestor gone…he couldn't believe he missed the man this much.

He felt like he should be doing…more.

He was abruptly pulled from his musings as he walked straight into somebody else.

'Sorry.' He groaned, rubbing his head. 'Was miles away.'

'Kristoff?'

'Hans?'

He looked the exiled prince over quickly. He was dressed in plain dark clothes, the sort that'd make anybody hard to notice if…

'I can't stay and chat, many apologies.' Hans started to leave, only to find Kristoff grabbing his shoulder.

'What's going on.' It wasn't a question.

'I've got orders, and I'm going to follow them.'

Kristoff stared him down.

'The only thing you'd find interesting in that direction is the Southern embassy.'

Hans balked.

'That's a dangerous implication.'

'You're dealing with a dangerous proposition.'

The exiled prince looked around, cautiously.

'Get out of my way, Kristoff. I don't have time for-'

'I'm coming with you.'

'What? No, if we get caught it'll be a disaster. If I get caught, it's not the Queen's fault. I'm just the exiled prince.' Hans insisted, adamant.

'I owe it to Nestor.'

They stared hard, neither willing to flinch or back down.

'Fine.' Hans conceded, reluctantly. 'You do every damn thing I say though.'

Kristoff nodded, stern.

'Come on.'

Hans ducked into an alley, Kristoff trailing behind him.

…

Elsa stood quietly at the bars of DeMolais' cell, trying to envision the sleeping woman…werewolf…as Hans had said she once was, as the smiling woman in the locket's portrait with her mother, as kind, friendly…as anything other than what she was now.

It was dark out now, the winter-night stars glittering in the sky through the barred window.

'How long are you going to keep staring?' The woman breathed, rolling over to face her.

Elsa managed not to jump.

'I have questions.'

DeMolais slowly sat upright, leaning with her back to the wall so she was facing the Queen.

'I'd imagine you do, your majesty. What makes you think you're going to get any answers?'

'I know a little of yours and Hans past. He's not here now, I am.'

'You know nothing of my past, you know even less of that poor boy's.' She was on her feet before Elsa could even blink.

She pushed aside the fledgling sense of guilt writhing inside.

'How did you know my mother? How do you know me? Why do you know? What…what is all this about!?' Elsa slammed her fists on the bars. 'What am I!'

'Ah.' DeMolais, nodded with a smile. 'Now, that is the question, isn't it?'

'I'm not playing games.' Elsa growled. 'I'm through with this. You will tell me or I will make you tell me.'

DeMolais' eyes narrowed, in respect almost.

'You would, wouldn't you?' She rubbed her chin, thoughtfully. 'I have counter-proposal.'

'What.'

'A deal.' DeMolais continued. 'Let me go. Let me leave tonight, and I swear on oath that one day I shall return.'

'That's it?'

DeMolais frowned, in thought.

'I needed to get to Arendelle, I suspect Hans has told you. It was important, there are things I must discover.' She paused. 'What I didn't tell Hans, is that part of the reason I came here was to kill you.'

'Kill me? Why? For Vickers? King Reinhard?'

DeMolais laughed.

'Not a chance. They have no idea what's really at stake, all they can see are their petty wars and ambitions.'

'Then why?'

'The same reason I came here a century ago to kill your mother.'

Elsa stared. That couldn't be…it wasn't…

'…what?'

'I thought that might get your interest.'

Elsa turned from the woman, frantically running what she'd said through her mind.

'You're lying, you're just trying to-…' She trailed off, realising how foolish she sounded.

'As hard as it may be for you to believe, I do not enjoy torturing you.' DeMolais whispered, sincerely. 'As you may be aware, I did not kill your mother, and I have not killed you.'

'Why?'

'Why what?'

'Why did you want to kill my mother? Why me? Why haven't you?'

DeMolais suddenly looked sad.

'Your mother was…special. She was a wonderful woman. With a big heart and a fiery temper, if provoked. Qualities you and Anna seem to have inherited.'

'I don't understand.' Elsa exhaled, frustrated.

DeMolais walked right up to the bars, grasping them with her hands.

'Let me go. One day, I will return, once I've found what I'm looking for. I promise I will explain. I'll explain everything.'

'Have you seen what's happening? I don't know what's going tomorrow let alone next week. I can't risk letting you-'

'Elsa, please.'

She was stunned by the sincerity, the raw plea beneath the woman's words.

She found her hands moving of their own accord. She laid an open palm on the lock, freezing it instantly. She clenched the hand into a fist, shattering the lock into a cloud of fine, glittery ice.

'You're an adept.' DeMolais grinned.

Elsa didn't react, her expression plain as the cell door swung open.

'Leave.'

DeMolais strolled out of the cell slowly, Elsa just wanted her gone.

'Have you ever heard the story of the Snow Queen, Elsa?' DeMolais stopped at the door out of the cell block.

'Is that some kind of joke?' She spat bitterly. 'I've heard the snide remarks, the jokes, the rumours about me in the city…'

'Not at all. I'm not talking about your reputation with some uneducated fools, who have no idea what they're talking about.' She replied, calmly. 'Have you heard the story?'

'…of course.' Elsa replied, eventually. 'Most people in Arendelle have, it's one of our oldest stories.'

'I'd suggest you revisit it.' DeMolais stated, curtly. Then she was gone.

Elsa lingered in the dark, wondering just how she was going to regret this decision later.