A/N: Yes! After a long, long time, here we have it, I'm back on Cold War!

Vickers was losing his patience. He was chafing under his…confinement. Trapped in his own damned embassy in this frozen backwater by its sorcerous bitch-queen, he was positively…

He drew a sword from the mantle over the fireplace and in one fluid movement carved a chair in two.

…frustrated.

He'd tried destabilising the rural settlements with bandits and the wolf-attacks. He'd tried infiltrating and turning upside-down the leadership of the Watch. He'd inadvertently had Princess Anna kidnapped. He'd instigated a violent uprising in the city, he'd smuggled in a mercenary company, the streets had burned.

It wasn't enough.

And now he was trapped in here. All it needed was one last push, he could feel it. The villagers in the country were fearful, the people were shaken, the Watch was still licking its wounds, the meagre military forces at Elsa's disposal were spread thin watching the city, the palace and the rural regions. He was about to curse out loud when out of the corner of his eye he saw…nothing?

He didn't turn to look properly, but there, in the corner of his study had been the barest hint of…

And that was it. It was so simple.

He poured himself a glass of wine, casually. He then took up his pen and began to scribble down the particulars of the plan forming in his mind, barely able to contain the pure…thrill he felt. He'd been going about this all wrong, this wasn't Weselton. It wasn't about power or honour or anything like that to Queen Elsa. This was about love.

It was so simple, no more elaborate schemes, long-game plans. No secrets or conspiracy. It would be love he would use to bring her kingdom, then her, to her knees.

He put down the pen and got to his feet, casting the barest of glances at the corner of the study again, then left the room.

The study was still as the Vickers' footsteps echoed quietly down the hall outside.

'Did he see us?' Kristoff hissed.

'No.' Hans replied, adamant.

'Are you sure, I swear I felt him staring at us…twice.'

'Your mind is playing tricks on you…even still. Let's be quick, on the off-chance he has gone to get guards.'

Hans swiftly began foraging through the desk and drawers lining the walls.

'What are we looking for?' Kristoff asked, casting a glance over the fresh notes Vickers had left out on his desk.

'Accounts, numbers, payments. He won't have just left a note saying 'This is what I did and how I did it'.'

'Are you sure?' Kristoff replied, picking up the note. Hans watched as his companion read it with widening eyes.

Hans took it from his Kristoff's trembling hands.

'…a marital alliance?'

'We can't let this happen.'

Hans said nothing, brow furrowed in concentration.

'Elsa would never allow this, Anna would be little more than a hostage in a hostile country, they'd use her to get whatever they wanted out of us.'

'Just…let me think.'

Something seemed off to Hans about all this, Kristoff's passionate objections were distracting him, he just needed a minute to…

'We need to warn the Queen, or Haagan, or…somebody. Vickers can't get away with this.'

'Damn it Kristoff, shut up a minute.'

'What are you talking about, we need to-'

'Will you think? What's this?' Hans gestured to the note. 'He's just written down what he's done and how he's going to do it.' He hissed.

Kristoff shut his mouth, stifling his objection.

'Has anything Vickers had done up till now led you to believe he was this stupid?'

'But what if it is this time?' Kristoff stared at the paper, in thought. 'Or…even if it isn't, don't you see? He's forcing the Queen's hand.'

Hans' expression was frustratingly neutral. Kristoff resisted the urge to grab him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him.

'It's clear that your bloody country isn't going to stop with Weselton, if the Queen refuses even a false claim of alliance with the Southern Isles it's as good as siding against them. Corona and a number of other states to the south have already cut off ties with them, this would be all the justification they'd need…' He shook his head. 'Look, Elsa has been walking a tightrope, this is it. If she agrees to this, the Southern Isles gets a hostage and unparalleled leverage over our home. If she doesn't, then we're the enemy.'

'Then surely the Queen would agree, she'd not see her people slaughtered, nothing I've seen of her suggests-'

'Elsa would never give up her sister. Not for anything, or anybody. If you haven't realised that now then you've still a lot to learn about her.

Hans balked, but in his gut he knew Kristoff's words were true.

'You're right.'

'So what do we do?'

Hans looked away from Kristoff's pleading expression. On some level, he probably thought there was a way out of this, but Hans knew there wasn't. The bottom line here was surrender or fight.

'The only thing we can. We warn the Queen. Give her a little time to prepare for her choice.' Hans scribbled down a copy of Vickers' note. 'Come on, let's get going.'

Kristoff nodded and followed Hans back the way they'd come. As soon as they were gone, and the room was empty, Vickers strolled back into the study, leaning on the doorframe. He crossed his arms, emitting a quiet, satisfied little sigh. Sometimes, he didn't even have to do anything. It was times like these he felt he was truly at his best.

…

Elsa stared at the paper on her desk, numb.

In front of her Kristoff, Hans, Haagan, Kauffman were stood in heated discussion. Anna stood to one side, by the window. She had decided, for fairly obvious reasons, to restrict the number of people who knew about these things for the time being, though she suspected it wouldn't be long before Vickers broke the dam himself.

'What am I going to do…?' She muttered, barely realising she'd said it out loud. She saw Anna glance at her, eyes full of concern. She wasn't going to give her up, that was about the only thing she was sure of.

'Vickers will undoubtedly announce this himself soon, what we need to do is use this time to prepare your answer, your majesty.' Kauffman stated.

Haagan nodded in agreement.

'We understand the pressure you must be under, we're all under it now. But we are faced with a choice, and we have no choice but to make it.' Haagan added.

'What choice?' Kristoff interjected. 'Anna isn't some bargaining chip!'

'Young man,' Kauffman replied. 'Do not mistake yourself to be the only one concerned for the wellbeing of the princess.'

Kristoff bit back the retort when he saw the tortured expression on Elsa's face.

'If you accept the terms of this…alliance…Anna will be married to some Southern noble of Reinhard's court and used as a hostage. Make no mistake. If you don't, it will be war.'

Everybody turned to Hans, who had remained silent till that point.

'Vickers is forcing the issue. You surrender to the Isles in all but name, or you stand against them.' He continued.

'Perhaps we can buy ourselves time, perhaps if we pretend to negotiate the issue.' Kauffman ventured.

Haagan shook his head.

'I think it's too late for that.' He paused. 'Listen, I do not want war, but war is upon all of us. Corona and a number of her allies are already siding against the Southern Isles, all they need is a spark. One nation to stand up and say 'no more'.'

Elsa's memory was racked by a flash of images of her fight against DeMolais, she suspected the Commander had not unintentionally chosen those words.

Anna glanced back at her, she met her eyes briefly. She looked so worried, at least as worried as she was herself. If the others hadn't been here, she had no doubt she'd be unable to stop herself storming over there and taking her sister into her arms in an attempt to comfort the redheaded princess.

Her heart was in torment. She couldn't throw Anna to those…wolves. She had no doubt in her mind she'd never see her again, and that Arendelle would become nothing but a subject nation, her people all but slaves.

But the alternative was….war. It was always that. But war. She couldn't give Anna up, but war. She couldn't just surrender to them, not after all they'd been through, but war.

'Your majesty, we are not alone. We do not need to remain alone. There are allies we can turn to.'

'Arendelle has not seen a war for…I really have no idea how long.' She shrugged, honestly. 'Most countries in this region haven't, apart from the Southern Isles. Until about a decade ago, Reinhard spent the better part of his life warring the numerous island and city-states that make up his kingdom into submission. His forces, his army and navy are veterans, made up of the men that did not die. They know how to fight.'

She looked around the room. Hans, Kristoff, Kauffman and Haagan were silent. Anna was looking out the window again.

'I do not think it is a war we can ever win…' She continued. The words came out of their own accord, she felt sensation as of being on a tightrope again. She even felt oddly lightheaded.

Again, the others were quiet, waiting for her to finish. She pushed back her chair and got to her feet, crossing to the fireplace at the left of her desk. This used to be her father's study. His sword rested above the mantelpiece. It was purely ceremonial, he'd never used it. She'd never even touched it before, but she did now.

'I will not let them run riot over our home.' She ran a hand along the cold blade. 'I will not let them dictate terms to us.' She turned back to the others. 'I will not …I will not give them my sister.'

'Are…you saying…?'

'We reject this proposal.'

'You can't!' Anna blurted.

All eyes turned to the princess.

'Anna, they are not getting away with-' Elsa began.

'You can't do this, Elsa.' Anna insisted.

An uneasy silence settled over the room.

'I've decided.' Elsa paced slowly to the centre of the room, expression hard.

'I won't let you go to war over me!' Anna squared up to her. Their eyes locked, neither willing to back down.

Kauffman coughed politely, mumbling some excuses and leaving the room. The others did the same.

'Anna…'

'You said it yourself, we can't win. I can't let you choose the death of so many just because of me, sister. I can't-' Tears welled in the girl's eyes.

Elsa cupped her sister's cheeks.

'I'm not letting you go, I can't.' The Queen's voice faltered. 'Don't ask me to.'

'Elsa-'

'There's no guarantee it'll save everybody anyway, if I let them take you, it'd be as good as handing them our people on a silver platter.'

'But they'll be alive.' Anna rebuked.

'They will not take you from me.' She pulled back, seeing the pained expression on Anna's face. 'I can't, I won't let this happen. That's it.'

'You can't…'

'I love you.' Elsa murmured, leaving the room.

Anna watched her go, forlorn. Her heart ached. Elsa had never declared her affections for her quite so…strongly. Not since the night of the summit. Tears were streaming down her cheeks now as she left the study, hurried down corridors and hallways to the entrance of the palace.

Her feelings for Elsa made what she was about to do all the harder.

…

Vickers set the glass of wine down on his desk. The sun was high in the sky, his servants would bring up lunch soon. Perhaps he'd sit out on the balcony, savour the nice weather. It was shaping up to be a good day.

There was a quiet knock on the door to his study.

'Come in.'

One of the embassy's garrison saluted smartly.

'Ambassador, there's somebody to see you.'

He looked up patiently.

'Oh?'

'It's…Princess Anna, sir.'

He allowed himself a small smile.

Yes, a good day, indeed.