A/N: Hey all! Glad you liked the last chapter so much. It was something I really wanted to explore, so I'm glad it got good reception. This chapter is a little different from that one. More of a story-driven chapter.

If any of you have read A Nightmare Come To Life, one of my other fics, that is an AU of this chapter. I wrote this one first, and then thought, "Hey, why don't I put Elsa and Anna together and explore that?"

That being said, they are ultimately different stories. Only the premise is roughly the same.

Okay, that's enough of that. Time to read and review!

Anna's Day Out

Set nine months after the Thaw (March 1843)

Anna bounded into the family dining room, her face brimming with excitement. "Good morning, Elsie!" She swooped by her sister and dropped a kiss on her cheek before settling into her own seat.

Elsa chuckled fondly at her sister's bubbly mood. "You're in good spirits this morning. I presume that means you're meeting a certain ice harvester today."

Anna simply nodded, her plate and mouth already full of food. With a gulp, she swallowed her bite. "Yup, Kristoff promised to take me to that lake on the North Mountain. You know, the one with the lovely flowers he brought me last week?"

"Hmm." Elsa responded absentmindedly as she scanned the day's paper. It took a moment for her sister's words to register, but when they did – "The North Mountain?"

"Yup! We should be back by dinner though, since we're not going all the way up."

Elsa folded the newspaper with a concerned frown. "I'm not so sure you should be going up the mountain at all, Anna. The roads are dangerous and isolated, what if you need help?" Since the assassination attempt months ago, Elsa couldn't help but be paranoid about her sister's every movement. Guards watched over Anna whenever she left the safety of the castle, but even that wasn't quite enough to mitigate her older sister's fears.

Anna shrugged. "I'll have Kristoff and Sven and my guards. I'll be alright Elsa. Don't worry about me."

Despite the mild panic thrumming in her veins, Elsa gave her sister a fond, loving smile. "Oh, sweetheart, I'll always worry about you."

The princess felt a wave of warmth wash over her. Knowing that there was someone who loved and cared about her so much made Anna count her blessings all over again.

"Relax, Sis, I'll be fine. Plus, don't forget, I know how to fight now." She swashed an imaginary blade through the air and through her coffee mug.

Elsa rolled her eyes at her antics. "You're still a novice, and I'd hardly call what you do sword fighting. More like dodging and flailing wildly." With a smirk, Elsa recalled the few sessions she'd sat in on. "And falling on your butt."

"That happened one time!"

Elsa laughed heartily at her sister's pouty tone, reaching over to grab her sister's hand. "Oh Anna, what would I do without you?"

Anna grinned back cheekily. "Be horribly bored, I'd imagine." Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the time. "Oh! I said I'd meet Kristoff at the stables at 9. I have to get going." She leaned over and kissed her sister on the cheek before darting out of the dining room. "Bye Elsa! Love you!"

"Be careful!"

Anna had already disappeared, but a faint "I will!" came from the hallway.

Sometimes, Elsa was sure her sister had the ears of a bat. She chuckled softly at the thought and returned to her breakfast.

Anna couldn't have been more thrilled to be out in the open.

"Can you smell it, Kristoff? The air is so sweet and light…"

He grinned as the princess spun around, sighing happily. "Come on feisty pants. Let's go pick out a good spot."

Sergeant Geir, head of the princess' guard detail, stepped forward, "Your Highness, if we could check the clearing first…"

Anna waved them off to do their duty, leaving the couple alone. She watched the guards for a bit before turning to Kristoff, "I kinda wish it was just the two of us…and Sven." She added before the reindeer could pout.

Kristoff shrugged, "I don't know. After what happened last time, I kinda think this is a good thing. I don't blame Elsa for being so paranoid."

Anna heaved a big sigh, "I guess you're right…"

The ice harvester handed her the basket, "Here, hold this. I'll go get our blanket from the sled."

Anna grasped the basket in her hands, humming quietly to herself as she glanced at the gorgeous surrounding. Unbeknownst to her, in the bushes not far from where she stood, a set of beady eyes were waiting for just the right moment.

Elsa was really beginning to envy Anna.

It was such a beautiful day outside, but rather than spend some time in the light air and perfect sun - which Anna was definitely taking full advantage of - she was stuck in here, listening to the Foreign Minister ramble on without an end in sight. Before he could put her to sleep, Elsa decided to take matters into her own hands.

"Minister Bjorn," She cut the man off, startling him and the rest of her council, "Did the Georgian ambassador say anything about the concerns I mentioned to him last month or not?"

"Well, Your Majesty, I have the most interesting story about that. You see…"

"It's a simple question, Minister Bjorn. Yes or no?" Elsa resisted the urge to massage her forehead, where she already felt the dull thud of a migraine.

"When I met the ambassador, he was with the Duke of York. We got to chatting and I told him about the …" The council began fidgeting in their seats, agony written all over their faces.

Oh Good Lord! Elsa rose, ready to chew the man out for failing to answer a simple question. But before she could get a word in, the door to the council chambers slammed open and a harried Kai ran in, waving a note in his hand.

His solemn expression caused a flare of confusion and concern. Elsa had known Kai all her life, and rarely had his face been so grim. In fact, the last time he'd looked that way….

Elsa felt her heart stop at the thought. Is this about Anna? Did something happen to her?

She received the note with slightly trembling hands and read it, the blood draining from her face as she absorbed the information slowly. The guards…a struggle? Anna! Bile rose to her throat as Elsa bolted to her feet.

"The council is dismissed," She was out the door before the members had a chance to process her words.

She found Kristoff in her study with Gerda beside him, a warm cloth in her hand as she wiped the dirt off his face. The sight of blood spattered on his clothes sent a chill down her spine. Elsa hugged herself tightly and repeated her mantra in a futile attempt to calm herself down. Conceal, don't feel, don't let it show, not now.

"When did this happen?"

Kristoff bowed his head as Elsa towered over him, his eyes no longer bearing the characteristic glint that Anna had once waxed poetic about. A small grunt of pain escaped him as Gerda wiped his bloody cheek. "Around 2 or so. We'd just gotten to the lake… the guards said they were going to check the area. That's when they attacked us."

Captain Vilhelm emerged from the shadows. "What were they like? How many men? Were they wearing anything? A flag, insignia, a crest?"

The dull brown eyes glowed for a second. "Yeah, I did actually see something. It was a crest, I think. Something with red and green, a snake on it."

Lead settled in Elsa's stomach at his words. Unfortunately, there was only one crest in the known world that fit that description.

The Duke of Weselton had kidnapped her sister.

With the realization came soul-crushing guilt, followed by volcanic anger and the determination to save Anna before the duke got his grubby paws on her dear sister. She clenched a fist at the thought of that lecherous man using her sister as some sort of bargaining chip. No, she would to do everything in her power to keep Anna away from that weasel.

"Captain, send every available man to every inch of this kingdom. I want the princess found immediately. If those men succeed in taking her past the borders…."

The captain didn't need to hear the rest of that statement. "Yes, Your Majesty, right away." He hurried away, barking orders to his men.

Elsa turned back to Gerda and Kristoff, her mind whirling with tasks. "Gerda, I've already sent for Physician Bodil. She will be here in a few minutes."

Kristoff began to protest, but Elsa cut him off with a raised hand. "You are injured. Let the physician tend to you."

He nodded slowly, his eyes darting back to the floor. "Alright, Your Majesty." Elsa saw his hesitation but decided to ignore it. She had too much on her mind now.

The queen turned back to her trusted handmaiden. "And make sure Master Kristoff is comfortable, Gerda. Give him whatever he needs. He will be spending the night in the castle."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Gerda replied with a small curtsy, her eyes never leaving Elsa's.

The pity in Gerda's face only made Elsa's heart hurt more. She clenched her fists to keep her magic from spiraling out, but it was becoming a monumental challenge. She had to leave, before her magic escaped her control. A pale hand gripped the door handle.

"I'm sorry I couldn't keep her safe."

She had prayed to the gods that they would spare her this confrontation, but fate was clearly not on her side. She was furious with Kristoff, perhaps too furious to be rational. She didn't, couldn't trust herself to keep her magic in check in his presence. Even now, as she stood glued to her spot. frost leaked from her hands and coated the handle. Every fiber of her being demanded she leave before she hurt anyone, especially Kristoff.

Instead, she turned around slowly, taking in Kristoff's broken form for the first time since she'd entered the room. He hunched over in his seat, scratches and scrapes all over him. One eye was already swollen shut and a red welt shone on his white skin. But for all the physical pain he'd endured, it seemed the emotional pain was more palpable. Elsa could feel the guilt weighing heavily on him. His eyes glistened with unshed tears and he had yet to look her in the eyes.

She had every right to be furious with him, but as she took in his pain, Elsa felt her anger dissipating. "It's okay, Kristoff." The frost began to recede from the doorknob. "We'll find her. Anna will be okay."

Before he could reply, the queen swept out of the room and to her chambers, her heart heavy with the thought of Anna in trouble. Despite the reassurances she'd given Kristoff, Elsa had a hard time ignoring the dread that settled in her stomach.

Anna, wherever you are, know that I will do anything to find you… please, just stay safe till I do.

Anna was cold and tired, but scared she was not.

Since she'd begun training with Captain Vilhelm, the princess had learned quite a bit about self-preservation and strategy. Rule number one: don't let them see your fear.

The moment they know I'm scared of them, they win. They need to believe I don't fear them.

At the moment, her captors were seated around a fire, laughing heartily, and drinking to their hearts' content. Though Anna didn't feel like sharing the company, she did wish they'd let her closer to the fireplace. Instead, she sat near a tree, her appointed caretaker biting into a turkey leg beside her.

Anna's stomach grumbled loudly. I didn't even get to eat the lunch Gerda packed me. As if on cue, one of the men threw a sandwich to her. "Eat up sweetie. Boss says we gotta treat you like a princess till we get there."

Anna scowled. "Well, I'm sure he'd be pleased to see what a horrible job you're doing. How am I supposed to eat if my hands are tied together?" She lifted her hands up for emphasis.

The guy shrugged. "How should I know? I ain't removing those things. Don't want you escaping on us or nothing." He turned to rejoin the party, leaving Anna to try and pick up the sandwich awkwardly in her tied hands.

The poor sap sitting next to her looked at the sandwich, then at Anna. "I'll untie the rope, but it goes back on as soon as you're done."

Anna wasn't sure where the guy's sudden change of heart had come from, but she would take it. She let the kidnapper untie her. Once her hands were free, she looked down at her wrists, which were raw and red from the chafing of the rope.

"Thanks," she mumbled before she scarfed down the sandwich.

As soon as she was done, the guy began to tie her hands up again, leaving Anna to sigh in slight frustration. Perhaps she should have eaten a little slower.

"You don't have to tie me up right now."

The guy shrugged. "I untied you, you ate, I tie you back up."

"Look, I won't escape or anything. There's like seven of you, and one of me." Anna replied, taking care to emphasis the enormous disadvantage she faced.

The guy stared, his eyes betraying little of his thought process.

Anna sighed. "Look, it's just for a bit. My wrists hurt. I'm not exactly used to being tied up and all. Besides, didn't your boss say to treat me like a princess?"

The guy groaned. "Fine. I'll tie you up later."

Anna suppressed a smile. Good, now to find a way out of here.

Elsa stared out the bay window in her study, her frantic eyes searching the courtyard for a glimpse of familiar red hair. She hadn't heard any new information in hours, and it was getting late. And Anna was out there, probably alone, scared, in danger…

Was she okay? Had she eaten? Was she hurt? Was she trying to escape? Was she… was she… was she..?

With a strangled cry, Elsa shot a blast of ice magic across the room, extinguishing the fire and turning her study into a cold, gloomy den. But despite the relief that flooded her veins, the action did little to soothe her troubled soul.

I shouldn't have let her go. Or maybe I should have sent more guards. Maybe I should have asked her to go another day. Should I have done something, could I have prevented this in any way?

Elsa collapsed into her chair, dropping her head into her hands as frigid tears pricked her eyes.

This is my fault. I should be the cautious one. I should have protected her…

She'd failed Anna. And if anything happened to her sister as a result of her failure…Elsa shook her head, unable to fathom the horrific idea.

A knock on the door startled Elsa. She bolted upright, wiping her cheeks furiously and donning some semblance of composure.

"Come in."

Gerda entered the study, a tea tray in hand. She paused to take a cursory glance at the frosty fireplace before placing the tray on the desk. "Your nighttime tea, Your Majesty."

Elsa nodded absently. "Yes, thank you Gerda."

The handmaiden, however, didn't budge. "Your Majesty, we will find the princess." Elsa looked up to find Gerda's eyes tinged with painful resolve. "Anna will come home."

Her throat choked with emotion, Elsa merely nodded. With a small sad smile, Gerda bowed and excused herself, leaving the queen in darkness once again.

Slowly, as the night wore on, the kidnappers dropped off as sleep claimed them for herself, their drunken snores loud enough to awaken the dead.

It would have been so easy to slip away, but unfortunately for Anna, the guy who'd been watching her all day was on the first shift of night duty, and he hadn't had an ounce of liquor. He'd also tied her hands back together while mumbling something about not entirely trusting her.

Alright, so things didn't go totally according to plan, but I can make it work. I just need to get past one guy and make sure he doesn't wake his friends up. While my hands are tied.

Anna tried to keep one eye on the guard as she feigned sleep. Though he occasionally turned to check on her, he seemed to be more worried about a search party.

As he should be, no doubt Elsa's got the whole kingdom looking for me.

At the thought of her sister, Anna sobered up. Her sister was probably worried sick about her. Anna could only hope that Gerda and Kai were taking care of her and keeping her from spiraling out of control.

I'll be home soon, Elsa. Please don't worry too much. Anna shook her head. Oh, who was she kidding? Of course, Elsa was going to worry about her.

A chilly breeze snapped her back to reality. As she wrapped her arms wrapped tightly around herself to conserve heat, Anna looked up just as the kidnapper turned around to check on her. She quickly shut her eyes and pretended to be fast asleep. After a beat, she cautiously opened one eye, only to find he'd turned back to the forest.

When she was sure it was safe to move, Anna slowly got on her knees and crawled toward the guard. Ten feet in, she found a knife lying on the ground.

Geniuses.

She quickly freed herself and tucked the knife away for later use. She'd need something much less messy to knock the guard out.

A few feet further, she found a hefty tree branch. It was perfect. One whack with that whopper and the guard would be out till dawn.

Slowly, she snuck up to him, weapon in hand as she watched with bated breath. She needed to strike at the right moment, just when he least suspected it.

Unfortunately, that was when her luck ran out. The man turned sharply, catching her with her arm raised over her head. His eyes widened comically before his mouth opened to yell, but before he could get a word in-

Whack! He crumpled to the ground without emitting so much as a shout.

Anna stood over him, branch on her shoulder, and admired her handiwork. Captain Vilhelm would be proud of her, as would Elsa. But first, she needed to get home.

"Don't worry, Elsa." She whispered. "I'm coming home."

As she headed off down the path toward what she thought was home, the unconscious man began to stir.

Anna ran from her captors, looking frantically over her shoulders as they approached. Arrows whizzed past her head, each one just barely missing her. They were closing in!

She jumped over a fallen branch and crouched behind a boulder, heart racing. She waited patiently for the sound of accelerating footsteps and loud noises, but there was nothing.

Where were they? She peeked out over the boulder and saw nothing but trees. Huh, maybe she had lost them.

She slowly clambered to her feet. "Arendelle is that way, maybe if I walk far enough, I'll find some people, maybe a town. I could borrow a horse and get back in no time." She turned towards home only to bump into one of her captors.

The man grinned viciously at her. "Where do you think you're going, princess?" His hand clenched around her throat, squelching her screams.

"Anna!" Elsa bolted upright in her bed, panting heavily as she shook off the remnants of her nightmare. She placed a trembling hand over her heart in a futile attempt to calm herself…but how could she be calm when she knew her sister was in peril?

"Your Majesty?" the doorknob rattled, startling Elsa out of her stupor. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Emil. It was just a nightmare. Please return to your post." There was a moment's pause before Emil responded and left the doorway.

The exhausted queen slumped, her head in her hands, her knees drawn up to her chest. There was no way she could go back to sleep now. Not when Anna was still out there.

It had been hours since she'd received information about Anna's whereabouts. For all Elsa knew, perhaps the kidnappers had already crossed the kingdom's borders.

No… I can't think like that. If they take her to Weselton, then all is lost. The duke won't surrender her without a price, and since he knows how much she means to me, the price is likely to be something I cannot pay.

The thought of bartering for her sister's life brought bile to her throat. The ice in her veins escaped her control and began to creep onto the sheets, the room dropping to sub-zero temperatures. "Conceal, don't feel, conceal, don't feel…" She whispered as she attempted to rein her magic back.

But even the decade-old mantra was useless in the face of her growing panic. All she could think about was negotiating for her sister's life while Anna lay at the mercy of the duke.

"Elsa? Why are you sad?"

"Olaf?" Elsa blinked in the darkness, but sure enough, her talking snowman was standing by her bed, looking inquisitively up at her. How did he get in here? A quick glance at the door reassured her that it was still locked.

"Where's Anna? Isn't she usually here to help you when you're sad?"

To the snowman's utter bewilderment, Elsa responded by bursting into tears.

"Oh no. I'm sorry Elsa. I didn't mean to make you cry." Olaf clambered onto the bed and gave her a hug. "You look like you need a warm hug."

Through her sobbing, Elsa nodded. She pulled Olaf closer to her and took comfort from his icy body. He patted her head awkwardly. "There, there. You'll be okay."

Elsa sniffed and wiped her nose with her hand. "It's not me I'm worried about. It's Anna." With a start, she realized that Olaf probably didn't know what had happened, considering he'd been visiting Marshmallow at her ice palace. "Anna was kidnapped, Olaf."

"Kidnapped? By whom?"

Elsa sighed. She wasn't interested in explaining the interpersonal politics at play in this situation, certainly not this late at night. "Just…some bad people." She replied instead. "And I'm worried I'll never see her again."

Olaf shook his head. "You'll see her. I know you will."

In her cynical state, Elsa couldn't exactly appreciate his unfounded confidence. "How?"

"Because she escaped from whoever kidnapped her and she's looking for a way home."

Her eyes grew wide with disbelief. "What? How do you know that?"

The snowman simply shrugged. "I can sense what she's thinking."

"You mean, like how you sensed I was sad?"

"Uh huh, except my connection with you is stronger, maybe because you made me."

Elsa couldn't help but wonder what else Olaf was capable of, but she only had one question on her mind at the moment. "Is she safe?"

Olaf nodded. "She's not scared, if that's what you mean."

For the first time in hours, Elsa felt the warmth of hope. "Oh thank God." She whispered a prayer of thanks to the heavens before turning back to her companion. "Olaf, you have no idea how happy I am to hear that."

The snowman smiled. "She's thinking about you, you know. Anna doesn't want you to worry about her."

Oh Anna… Sometimes her sister's selflessness brought Elsa to tears. "I can't help but worry about her, Olaf. Once she's home, I'll be able to stop."

Olaf pulled her back into a hug. "She'll find a way home. She's Anna! She can do anything."

Elsa laughed softly. "Yes she can, Olaf." She pulled the snowman closer, imagining she was hugging Anna instead.

Sergeant Geir was many things, but above all else, he was an adamant man. I will not fail a second time. I will find the princess if it's the last thing I do.

As part of the princess' detail, it had been his responsibility to take care of the royal, but he had failed, spectacularly. And now the princess was missing. Of course, he had offered to resign right after the debacle, but the queen had insisted he stay on.

"My sister trusts you, Sergeant Geir." She had told him in a calm and clear voice. The queen's words gave him strength, and a new resolve.

I will not let you or the princess down again, Your Majesty.

Geir turned to his crew. "This is the Forest of Acetir. Beyond this land lies the border of Arendelle and Sweden. If those mercenaries wish to take the princess out of this kingdom, they would have to cross this forest. We must catch them first." His men nodded in unison, determination in their eyes.

They trekked through the forest, eyes peeled for any sign of the princess or her kidnappers. Hours wore on with not a single lead. But Geir wasn't giving up, not when his queen had such faith in him. He turned the corner and approached a large cluster of trees.

A sudden rustling of leaves spooked Geir's horse causing him to nearly tumble off her. "Calm down girl." He patted her side, his gaze never leaving the bushes. The rustling grew.

Swords were drawn. "Hold steady men. Be prepared for anything."

The rustling intensified and then…

"Princess Anna?!" Geir had never been so glad to see the princess before in his life.

Anna looked up and around her. The guards, my guards. I'm safe!

She heaved a sigh of relief and looked up at Geir. "Well, what took you so long, Geir?"

He laughed heartily and dismounted, kneeling in front of her. "We are glad we found you, Your Highness."

She smiled. "I'm glad to see you too, but we should hurry, The kidnappers know I escaped. I've been fleeing them all morning."

Geir stood up at attention. "With your permission, ma'am, we'd like to bring them back to Arendelle for justice." After I give them a beating they'll never forget.

Anna shook her head. "Don't bother, gentlemen. They're hardly worth the trouble. If we hurry, they will have no idea you were even here."

Geir tried to not let the disappointment show on his face. "As you wish, Your Highness." With Anna mounted on his horse, the jubilant sergeant led the party back home.

Elsa had never run so fast in her life.

She'd been pacing restlessly in her study when a breathless Emil ran into the room. The wide eyes and look of relief on his face said everything. She's back… she's safe!

Her guards nearly toppled over at the speed with which she raced past them and down the two flights of stairs to the castle entrance. Only a sense of propriety forced Elsa to slow down slightly as she approached the large doors of the castle entrance. Servants and castle staff crowded the entrance, all of them anxious to see their princess safe and sound. As Elsa moved between them, she felt blessed to see the dedication and loyalty the castle staff had for her and her sister.

When she finally broke through the crowd, she saw Kristoff helping her sister off her horse.

"Anna!"

The princess turned, her face brightening as she laid eyes on her older sister.

"Elsa!"

Like magnets, the two sisters found each other.

"You're home, you're okay!" Elsa's face buried into Anna's neck as hot tears threatened to escape her closed eyelids. With a gulp, the blonde cupped the back of Anna's head and pulled her sister closer still, needing the reassurance that she was truly alright.

"Elsie…" Anna felt her sister tremble with repressed sobs. "I'm okay, Elsa. I'm safe now." At the words, Elsa relaxed, though she didn't pull away.

Anna was glad she hadn't. In her sister's arms, she finally felt safe for the first time in hours. She melted into her sister's warm embrace as it chased away the cold that had haunted her since last night. "I'm home…"

At her sister's words, Elsa drew back. "Shame on me. You must be exhausted and I'm making you stand out here in the cold." She turned to the servants, now fully in queen mode. "Gerda, please draw up a warm bath for my sister. And Mary, please tell Cook to have lunch ready." Elsa turned to Anna. "I assume you're hungry?"

"Are you kidding? I'm starving!" Anna exclaimed, eliciting a giggle from her sister at the familiar dialogue. Anna laughed with her a little before the fatigue from the adventure started to take over. Now that she was home, she felt every ache and bruise make itself known. Given how sore she felt now, it was a miracle she'd escaped in the first place.

"Actually…I really just want a hot bath and a nap first."

An understanding Elsa returned a small smile. "Of course, Anna, as you wish. I'll have Mary bring you a tray for later."

"That sounds wonderful." Anna felt a yawn envelope the rest of her words.

Elsa let out a small chuckle and herded her sister into the castle. "Come on sleepy head. No falling asleep before we wash that dirt off you."

Hours later, after Anna had been scrubbed clean and fed till her stomach burst, she lay in Elsa's arms and waited for the day's exhaustion to settle in.

"Comfy?" Elsa whispered gently, tightening her protective grip around Anna.

Anna sighed contentedly and nuzzled closer to her sister's side. "This is so much better than sleeping on a forest floor." Elsa chuckled at the joke and kissed her forehead before pulling the blanket around them.

"Sleep, darling. You're safe now…"

Yes, she was safe. But then again, she always felt safe when Elsa was with her. Anna closed her eyes and let the comfort of her sister's heartbeat lull her into a pleasant sleep.

As Elsa watched her sister drift off, she thanked God for listening to her prayers. Her sister was safe and at home. It was all she could hope for.

And yet, Elsa knew the story wasn't over. There was still the matter of Weselton's unforgivable actions. Her eyes shifted to the red lines on Anna's wrists. Unbridled rage briefly overcame Elsa at the thought of her sister being tied up, but it dissipated as quickly as it came as she felt Anna shift in her arms.

Weselton had made a grave mistake by messing with her family…but she had Anna back. Perhaps that was all she needed to care about for now. With a yawn, Elsa rested her head on Anna's, and let her eyelids drop closed. In any case, she'd have to think about that later…after she got some sleep.

Safe in each other's arms, the sisters fell into pleasant dreams.