AN: So funny story, I was talking with a morgate lender the other day about my work hours and all that and he asked me in a rather concerned voice if I sleep and I was like why does everyone keep asking me that?

Anywho, thank you all for your revies an kind words, you guys are my favorite. I hope you enjoy the new chapter.

It took a long moment for Anna to realize the door to the cabin was still open. She blinked, turning to where Malthe stood on the threshold.

"You should get some rest, as well," the doctor told her.

"I slept for hours the day before yesterday."

"And yesterday?"

Anna pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked back at her sister, who for the moment was blessedly still. Malthe had just given Elsa another round of medication; Anna was certain her older sister had taken more medicine over the past week than she had her entire life combined. It was necessary, though, as her withdrawal symptoms had been steadily worsening.

Spending the day out on the deck of the ship had put some color in Elsa's cheeks, but the effect was short-lived, as she succumbed easily to the painkillers the doctor gave her in the early evening. Even as Alarik had to carry the sleeping Queen back to the cabin, Anna had to admit that her sister looked more relaxed. The next morning, Elsa looked anything but, restless and overheated as she thrashed in bed, troubled by dreams she couldn't quite remember. She dozed sporadically throughout the day, and hardly had an appetite. Considering she didn't have much of one before, Anna grew more concerned as she watched her sister push away each barely touched meal. Finally, Malthe had suggested administering a sedative, but Elsa had stubbornly refused. In the end, it was her call to make.

"I know you want to help her." Malthe's voice pulled Anna from her drifting thoughts. "We all do. But you can't help her if you run yourself ragged. You have been through a lot as well, and you need rest. If you don't do it for yourself, then do it for a weary old man who is already struggling to get one patient to take care of herself." He smiled.

Anna returned the smile and nodded. "I will."

The physician didn't look like he believed her, but also like he knew better than to push the issue further. The door closed softly behind him, leaving Anna alone in the cabin with her slumbering sister.

Anna shifted her gaze to the small port window, through which she could see the brightening morning sky. They would likely be making port in Arendelle late that night. She was excited at the prospect of being home-her own bed, the comfort of her own room, the ability to take a bath whenever she wanted. She would feel more relaxed knowing there were multiple people that would help her take care of her sister, people she knew she could trust. People Elsa was more likely to allow to help.

But as happy as she was to be going home, she still worried Elsa would use the opportunity to return to work earlier than she should, and use it to bury her feelings about everything that had happened. It had been on Anna's mind since she found Elsa, but as they finally drew close to home, she realized there were people at the castle who would be just as eager for Elsa to return to work as soon as possible. She was going to have to find some way to run interference between them and her sister, lest they encourage exactly the behavior Anna was trying to avoid.

Anna was trying to figure out the best way to keep the council from bothering Elsa when she heard a gasp behind her, quickly followed by a weak groan. She turned to see her sister was awake, her legs drawn up and face scrunched in obvious discomfort. A lump formed in her throat. She'd been hoping that the pain meds would allow her sister to finally get the few hours of solid sleep that she so desperately needed. If the journey pushed on through the night, Anna might ask Malthe to offer her sister the sedative again.

She crossed the distance to the bed in a few short steps and sat on the edge of the mattress, worry twisted her gut. She didn't even have to touch her sister to feel the heat radiating off her. The doctor had warned them that with the fever, overheating would be a problem, concerned that Elsa's indifference to cold may leave her oversensitive to heat. There was no way to know for sure, as Elsa had rarely been sick growing up, and the few times she was ill her temperature never rose very high.

Anna placed a hand against Elsa's cheek, pushing back the sweat-drenched hair that was plastered against her skin. "Hey," she said softly.

Elsa cracked open glassy, unfocused eyes. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and rolled her head against the pillow, her chest heaving with short, labored breaths.

"Shh, you're okay, try to relax." Anna reached for something, anything to comfort her distressed sister. There was nothing. Feeling utterly useless, she brushed her hand against her sister's head. She wished their mother was here, or even Gerda. They'd know what to do, how to help.

Elsa clenched her jaw tightly, stilted breaths sawing between her teeth, and shifted against the bed. "Sick," she mumbled.

At first Anna didn't understand what she was saying. It wasn't until her sister pressed the back of her hand against her mouth that she caught on. The image of Elsa's bruised torso and injured sides came to mind, and she immediately knew that throwing up with such injuries would be nothing short of absolute torture.

She reached over to the nightstand where a bowl of fresh, cold water had been brought in not long ago, and grabbed the cloth draped over the side. She soaked the cloth in the water and turned back to her sister, running it over her flushed skin. Elsa turned into the comforting cold, a groan escaping between labored breaths. Anna pressed the cold cloth against her sister's neck, forehead, and sides of her face until it too became hot. She repeated the action several times, and it seemed to be helping, but Elsa's legs were still drawn up, her arms still wrapped tightly around her stomach. Every few moments, a deep wince folded her flushed face.

Anna finally asked, "Do you want me to get the doctor?"

Elsa shook her head. Anna hadn't expected anything less, but still turned toward the door, debating ignoring her sister's refusal. Without warning, Elsa shoved against the bed, struggling to push herself upright with her splinted hand pressed against her mouth. Anna quickly moved to help her sit up, grabbing a nearby bowl that had been left for this very reason, just in case. She shoved the bowl in front of her sister just as the older woman started to gag. Elsa threw up the medication Malthe had just given her, what little food and water she had managed to eat, followed by dry heaves.

Elsa clenched the side of the bowl so tightly Anna worried she would further injure her broken arm. Ice spread across the sides of the bowl and down the covers as Elsa continued to dry heave, each one so violent it seemed like she was being torn apart from the inside.

Anna kept one hand on Elsa's shoulder to keep her from tipping forward and the other rubbed her back in wide, gentle circles. It felt like forever before Elsa's stomach settled. As Anna removed the bowl and set it aside, Elsa curled forward over her tented legs, her fingers digging into the blanket just below her knees. Her whole body was trembling, her breath coming in sharp, stilted pants that were accompanied by a heart wrenching whimper of pain.

Anna once more grabbed the cold cloth and pressed it to the back of Elsa's neck, wiping away the sweat and attempting to cool her overheated sister while whispering soft reassurances. Elsa didn't respond to any of it. Her fingers twisted in the thin blanket, her breathing sharp and erratic. Anna looked at the icy spikes framing her sister's hands and trailing across the blanket. It occurred to her that this was only the second time Elsa's magic had manifested on its own since they found her in that hallway. The last time, the small burst of frost had appeared when Anna startled Elsa after she had woken up alone, confused, and in pain.

Not knowing what else to do, she asked, "Do you want to lay back down?"

Elsa was still for a tense moment before she shook her head fractionally.

Anna bit her lip. She ran her hand against Elsa's sweat-soaked hair. "Do you want me to get the doctor." She felt she already knew the answer to this question but asked anyway.

Elsa didn't respond. After a painful stretch of silence, Anna nearly asked again, but then her sister nodded against her tented legs. Anna felt her heart drop into her stomach.

"Okay." Anna tried to force a calm exterior even though inside she was a hair's breadth away from complete and totally panic. "I'll be right back." Elsa was silent, her body curled into an impossibly tight ball.

Anna all but ran to the door, yanking it open and breathing a sigh of relief when she immediately spotted Alarik just passing by the room. "Get the doctor," she said in a rush, pausing only long enough to assure herself that he was doing just that before she closed the door and returned to her sister.

She hovered over Elsa's curled form, not knowing what to do, afraid of hurting the injured woman even further. She did the only thing she could think of, and grabbed the cloth from the bowl of cold water and pressed it against her overheated skin, washing the grime and sweat away.

Gerda paced in front of the castle entrance, unable to sleep, her eyes ticking toward the darkness beyond the large, open windows. They would be back any moment—Elsa and Anna. She could hardly think of them as queen and princess right now. She couldn't help remembering them as small girls with wide, innocent eyes. Anna's infectious laughter, and Elsa's rare but beautiful smile.

Footsteps approached, and Gerda looked to Kai as he joined her. He bobbed his chin, his expression calm, but Gerda knew there was a storm of anxiety brewing beneath the surface. She knew it, because she felt it herself.

"I'm sure everything is okay," Kai said.

"I hope so." They didn't know all the details of what the girls had been through. Preparations had started soon after the Gambit arrived with news of the impending royal return. The Captain of the Gambit had personally delivered a sealed report meant for the council's eyes only. The report was read behind closed doors and even Kai hadn't been privy to its contents. They only knew the Snow Squall would be back within the day, that Anna was okay, relatively speaking, and that Elsa had been injured. but they didn't know the severity of the injury.

Gerda's only hint to the Queen's condition was in the instructions from the Royal Physician to pick up supplies from the town's apothecary. She had handled the task herself, had made the trip that morning and seen the look in the apothecary's eyes as he read through the order and asked if she was sure it was correct. The herbs requested by the physician were typically used as strong painkillers or sleep aids, and most for long-term use.

Now, she wrung her hands, unable to stop thinking of what might have happened to her girls to require such medication.

"Looks like we're about to find out." Kai's voice pulled her form her thoughts as he nodded toward the large window that looked over the castle's courtyard.

Gerda followed his gaze to see a young man running up to the castle. Relief and trepidation filled her. They were home. After two long months, they were home.

The guards opened the large doors, allowing the runner into the castle. He came to a halt in front of Gerda and Kai, leaning forward to take large gulps of air. He must have run all the way from the docks. Gerda folded her hands in front of her and gave the man a moment to catch his breath while trying to keep herself from fidgeting anxiously.

After what felt like an eternity, the man straightened. "The Snow Squall has docked," he said. "The Queen and Princess are preparing to disembark as we speak. The Royal physician sent me ahead to ask you to prepare the Queen's chambers." He held out a small note with hastily written instructions.

Gerda took the paper and quickly read it over. "Bowl of ice water, cloths, towels, pot of water put over the fire. Meal brought up for Princess Anna." She lifted her gaze to the messenger. "Just one meal?" she asked. "Nothing for the Queen?" Her stomach churned with concern. That wasn't a good sign.

The messenger shrugged. "I'm sorry, that's all he gave me. A carriage has been sent down to the ship. The doctor said it will take them some time to come ashore, but asked that those items be retrieved ahead of time."

"Of course." Gerda turned toward Kai so they could do just that but paused, she turned back to the man with a question burning in her chest. "Are they okay?"

The messenger sighed deeply, shaking his head. "I don't know. I was on guard duty in the outer wings while we were in Hasvik, and the Queen and Princess kept to the Captain's cabin during the journey. I did hear the Queen was out on the deck for awhile early into the trip, but I didn't see her."

"Thank you," Gerda said. It wasn't much, but if the Queen's injury hadn't kept her from going out on to the deck, maybe it wasn't as bad as she feared. She would hold on to that hope. She turned toward Kai.

"I'll alert the cook and have towels sent up," he said. He turned and hurried down the hall.

Gerda nodded and headed off to complete her own tasks. The Queen's chambers were already prepared—she had seen to it herself once they received word of the impending return. It was a simple and quick matter of getting the supplies ready, and then the older woman was left waiting, idle. She went about tidying up—turning down Elsa's bed, then doing the same for Anna.

With that done, she was left once more with nothing to do but wait. Gerda fought with herself over whether to stay put or greet them at the front of the castle. The choice was made for her when she heard a quiet clamor in the stairwell. When she turned the corner into the hallway, the first face she saw was Captain Jogeir. Just behind him was another young man whom she vaguely remembered accompanying the Captain from Valle when all this first started. He was carrying what appeared to be a litter, with Kristoff on the other end. Flanking them were Malthe on one side and the Princess on the other.

It took Gerda a moment to realize the shock of blonde hair laying prone on the litter was the Queen. The frail bit of hope she had been holding onto shattered. Elsa was willful, stubborn, and fiercely independent. There was no way she'd ever agree to being carried into to the castle. As the procession moved closer, she got her first good look at the girls.

Elsa was wrapped snuggly in a blanket that was pulled to just below her chin, but it didn't hide the bruising that covered the side of her face, stretching down her neck and disappearing below the thin sheet. She was impossibly pale and sweat beaded her skin. Her sister seemed to be fairing only slightly better. Anna was pale and drawn, her face pinched with exhaustion, with bags under her eyes so dark that Gerda almost mistook them for bruising.

She was torn between attending to her Queen or her Princess. Malthe would surely be taking care of Elsa, with an entire castle's staff if he needed it to settle her into bed and get her whatever she needed. While the focus would be on the injured Queen, it would be too easy to overlook the younger sister, who may be uninjured but in no less need of attention and comfort.

She covered the distance between them as they continued down the hall. "Your Highness," she greeted with a small bow.

Anna stopped in front of her, her eyes watery and filled with worry. "Gerda." She threw her arms around the woman.

Gerda didn't hesitate in returning the hug with an equal fierceness. She rubbed the young girl's back soothingly before stepping back and cupping her face. "Welcome home."

Anna gave her a weak, tired smile, wrapping her fingers around Gerda's hands. Gerda stepped back, but didn't release her hold. "The kitchen is sending up some food shortly. Let's get you cleaned up and into something more comfortable by then."

"But. . ." Anna's gaze shot over Gerda's shoulder toward her sister.

Gerda tugged on her hand, drawing her attention back. "The doctor will get her settled and take care of her. Let's get you bathed and fed while he works, and afterwards you can join her. How's that sound?"

Anna chewed on her bottom lip, staring down the hallway toward her sister's room. She nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Good." She reached up, brushing a lock of dirty hair from the young girl's face. She guided her down the hall. One of the servants had already drawn up a hot bath. Gerda hadn't been sure whether it would be needed, but hazarded a guess that after four days at sea, someone was going to need, or at least want, a bath..

They walked down the hall silently. Gerda imagined there was a lot on the Princess's mind, and her own burned with a thousand questions about what had happened, whether Elsa was okay, whether Anna was okay, but she held her tongue. Anna looked dead on her feet, and bombarding her with questions wasn't going to do her any favors.

Anna undressed mechanically then slid into the steaming water, a deep sigh escaping her as the tension visibly seeped from her muscles. Gerda settled onto a stool behind her and got to work gently untangling her hair. She combed through it before washing out the dirt and grime, something she hadn't done since Anna was little. The action was like a soothing balm on her nerves.

Anna laid back against the tub for a long moment before finally working up the energy to drag a washcloth against her dirty skin, wiping away all evidence of the last two months. When she was clean, Gerda helped her step out of the deep tub and wrapped her in a soft cotton robe. She turned to grab a towel for her hair when she noticed marks on Anna's hand. She reached out and turned the girl's palm over to find it covered in healing cuts.

"Gracious child, what happened?"

Anna looked down at her hand. "Oh," she whispered absently. "I was holding a crystal. It shattered."

Gerda knew there was more to the story, but Anna's voice sounded distant and tired, so she let it go for the moment, instead locating a container of aloe cream. When Anna stared at the container like she couldn't possible be expected to know what to do with it, Gerda gently took it back, dipping her fingers in and rubbing a generous amount of cream over the small cuts.

She led Anna back to her room, guiding her to the bed. "I'll go get you some food," she told the exhausted Princess. "Sit here for a moment, and I will be back shortly. Then we can go see your sister."

Anna nodded numbly.

Gerda left the room, intercepting the maid carrying a large tray filled with some of the Princess's favorite foods. She took the tray and thanked the girl before returning to Anna's room only to find her curled up on the bed, sleeping deeply. Gerda smiled and set the tray aside. She pulled the heavy blankets up around Anna, tucking her in snuggly.

She hesitated, not wanting to leave but knowing the best thing for Anna right now was sleep. Gerda finally made her way out of the room, heading down the hall toward the Queen's chambers. Captain Jogeir and the younger man from earlier stood just outside the room. She had a feeling for the next while, wherever the Queen was, the Captain wouldn't be far behind.

The door opened as she approached and Kristoff stepped out of the room, shutting it behind him. When he saw her, his gaze flicked over her shoulder. "Anna?"

"She's sleeping," Gerda told him.

Kristoff nodded, rubbing the back of his neck.

"How's the Queen?"

Kristoff rolled his lips against his teeth. He looked back at the door then shook his head. "Hanging in there."

Her chest twisted painfully. That was not what she wanted to hear. Gerda took a deep breath and studied the man before her, the man who had somehow in just a few short months done what no one else could. He'd brought life back to Anna's eyes, put an infectious smile on her face, and made a dent in the walls that Elsa kept around herself. And he did it all by being nothing more than himself—honest and loyal. Gerda was grateful for Kristoff, for what he had done for her girls. As long as he remained honest and true, she was more than happy to treat him like one of her own. "Kristoff," she started in a stern voice. "you smell worse than Sven. Have one of the servants draw you a bath. A room has already been made up for you." Maybe a little gruffer than her own.

Ears turning red, Kristoff jerked his head back, but the hint of a smile played on his face. He nodded then made his way down the hall.

Gerda steeled herself before entering the Queen's chambers. The room was quiet and dim, faint light spilling from the fireplace at the far end and a light on the nightstand. The only occupants were the physician, kneeling next to the bed at Elsa's side, and an assistant who was mixing something in a bowl.

She didn't get far into the room before Malthe looked over his shoulder at her. "Gerda, bring that bowl over, please."

She nodded, fetching a bowl of steaming water next to the fire, likely left to cool just enough to not burn anyone. She approached the bed but stopped suddenly, nearly dropping the bowl as she got an up close look at the young woman who had been so much like a daughter to her.

The thin blanket had been folded down to Elsa's hips, dirty bandages laying on the bed at her side, leaving her upper body bare. Gerda stared at the injuries that littered the Queen's body, leaving hardly any skin unmarred.

Malthe stood, carefully taking the bowl from her numb fingers. "The bruising isn't as bad as it looks," he offered quietly.

"And the rest?"

He shook his head as he set the bowl on the nightstand. "Her right arm is broken, as well as three ribs on the same side. The laceration on her shoulder is comparatively minor, though it'll be sore for a while. The wound on her side is fairly deep and will be slow to heal."

Gerda pressed a hand over her mouth. She struggled to process the information. This was what the medicine from the apothecary was for. Her gaze drifted to the bruise on Elsa's chest, the bruise that was shaped disturbingly like a boot. Someone had kicked her, hard. She wanted to cry. "Who would do this?"

Malthe scrubbed a hand over his face. "A cruel man. One who is now dead. Unfortunately, by the Queen's own hand."

Gerda's eyes snapped up to his. The news shocked her down to the bone. Elsa was a gentle soul, caring and selfless, and only wanted to help and protect people. She had been devastated by the storm she caused. Being forced into an action as desperate as ending someone's life. . . that was going to leave a mark that would last forever. Gerda didn't know how to even begin to heal such a wound. She wasn't sure she could. "What happened?"

He shook his head, reaching for a cloth and dipping it into the steaming water. "Too much, I'm afraid."