Happens after Frozen Fever, mentions events from "Sleep".


Overworked

It's the middle of the day, and the queen of Arendelle is bundled up snug in a sea of blankets and pillows. Arguably, it's no time for napping, not when there's treaties to be reviewed, emissaries to meet, a country to run. It's also Anna's nineteenth birthday, of which the queen had planned an entire day of celebration for missing so many others.

With Arendelle's panel of advisers taking over for the day, the country is in good hands, which begs the question; why is Elsa holed up in her bedroom?

Anna rests the back of her hand against Elsa's forehead, then slowly drags it down against her throat. Despite the feverish sweat clinging to her skin, Elsa shivers, drawing the sheets closer to her body. Anna takes the wet towel she brought in with her and pats down Elsa's face and neck. The queen can't help but feel that Anna is babying her just a little too much, but she's too drained to do anything about it.

"You look awful," Anna frets.

"Anna, there's still time, we can still-"

Elsa cuts herself off with a sneeze, and three miniature snowmen pop into existence from seemingly nowhere. They giggle and chatter, scurrying off as soon as they are 'born'. Anna follows their departure, then turns back to her sister with a knowing look.

"If you set one foot out of this bed, I will drag you back into it," the princess' eyes are severe, her tone motherly. The dichotomy tickles Elsa, though she's smart enough not to let it show. "I don't know how you were walking with a fever like that."

"Me neither," Elsa replies honestly. "I don't ever remember being sick before."

"Well, not all of us are that lucky," Anna beams a kind smile. "How do you feel?"

Elsa's eyes dull and her expression sours.

"Awful. Is that normal?"

"For us mere mortals, yes," Anna replies with her own brand of gentle sarcasm that Elsa has come to love. She lightly strokes her sister's cheek, earning a fraction of a shy smile.

"You know, you really scared me at the clock tower."

As stuffy as her head is, Elsa remembers, vividly. A cycle of emotions flashed through Anna's eyes when the ill queen took just one too many steps from the safety of a flat surface, then proceeded to spin around a wooden pillar as though she wasn't hundreds of feet in the air.

"I'm sorry," Elsa sniffles. "That was pretty stupid, wasn't it?"

"I'll...decline to answer. You shouldn't have pushed yourself so hard."

Elsa groaned, her head in her hands.

"Elsa, are you okay?"

"I had this whole thing planned for months, you know? Months! And I just had to get sick! I've never been sick! Why now? On your birthday of all days!"

"Hey," the princess scrunches her brows with worry as Elsa's agitation grows. She runs her hand along Elsa's arm with a softness that rivals a mother's touch. "That's not something you can help. If anything, you probably overworked yourself."

Anna sighs softly.

"Also, you've been skipping meals again. Don't think I haven't noticed."

A cold jolt travels down Elsa's spine.

"...okay, a little bit," she admits with guilty eyes, earning an unfavorable glare from her sister. "Only for the last few weeks, some last minute stuff came up and I just forgot, I guess."

"Elsa, you're gonna work yourself to death!" Anna cries out, unaware of her own volume. The queen flinches, her nails digging into her scalp.

"Ah, I'm sorry!" the princess cringes. "Is there anything I can do?"

"This isn't right!" there's more than a hint of desperation to Elsa's tone. "I just wanted today to be perfect! You deserve that much!"

The queen breathes hard, her own ire sucking what little energy she has left. It's as though the success of the day hinges entirely on her ability to power through a high fever and still function like a normal human being.

"Not at your expense," Anna counters with calm hands resting on Elsa's arms. "You've gotta stop doing this."

The princess doesn't need to elaborate. Elsa hangs her head with a defeated huff.

"Come on. Give yourself a break," Anna entreats. "I had a great time today because I got to spend it with you."

Too weak and tired to argue, Elsa nods in the affirmative. She runs her hand under her nose with a disgruntled sniffle.

"Okay."

"Now lie down," Anna fluffs the pillow beneath Elsa's head. "I'll get something to cool you down, okay?"

If she were feeling more like herself, Elsa would have laughed at the irony. Anna vacates the room for no more than five minutes before returning with a small, wet towel in her hands. She places it across Elsa's forehead, and the instant moan of relief inspires the giggles within the princess.

"I bet that feels good," Anna gives a sideways smile. "You looked really uncomfortable."

"Eh, this is nothing," in truth, Elsa feels like curling up and withering away. "You remember last winter, when you had the flu?"

"I–it wasn't that bad."

"Anna, you slept for two days," the queen emphasizes with worried eyes. "And when you weren't sleeping you were-"

"I know, I know," Anna's cheeks tinge red as she waves her hands. "I was there, remember?"

Elsa gives a small shudder.

"I've gotta get back to work tomorrow. What if-"

"You aren't doing anything until your fever breaks," a firm hand stops the queen from rising. "You need to rest. I'll take care of everything until you're back to normal, I promise."

A soft yawn from the elder sister accidentally proves Anna's point. The princess rises from the bed and bestows a soft kiss to Elsa's cheek.

"Anna, you'll catch what I have," she whines.

"I'll catch it anyway. Now, go to sleep. And thank you, for everything."

As Anna exits the room, Elsa calls her name.

"What is it?"

"Happy birthday, Anna."

Even scratchy and nasal, Elsa's voice maintains its pleasant lilt. The princess can't help a grateful grin.