Arendelle was now a magical marvel instead of the daunting leviathan that had angry and frightened people running and attacking her on sight.

The cobblestone beneath her feet worn down by generations of people who walked along them felt warm to the touch.

The buildings all had life teaming in them. Many voices combined in a cacophonous hum. Elsa was right, humans are like bees.

At first Ryu had been pacing back and forth at the border of the city, not noticing some people watching her wondering if the girl was mental or not.

Before her nerves could send her back to the forest she sprinted passed the border eyes closed and fist clenched.

No screams could be heard, and no arrows were shot. Stares were given though and then turned away when interests waned.

There was a lackadaisical sense of urgency in the air. Everyone was moving quite fast but not in an emergent manner. People still took the time to talk and chat with one another, or lightly chastise a playing child for bumping into them.

Heavy steps turned Ryu around to spot a man heading straight towards her. She gasped and pressed behind a lamp post.

When he passed the dragon his brows furrowed and lifted to his hairline, shaking his head.

It worked, they have no idea.

Confidence rose within her as she shuffled away going deeper into the city. It struck her though that she had absolutely no idea where the castle was.

If I were a castle where would I live? I guess no where since people would live in me.

She was tempted to ask someone, majority of the people seemed friendly enough but that would mean she'd have conversate with them. What if she screwed up? What if they discovered her?

"Kill her! Kill the dragon!" Hundreds of pitchforks were drawn from what seemed like impossible places. Flowerpots, pockets, tankards.

Ryu backed away bumping against a baby carriage. Looking behind her she saw the baby's mouth morph into a devilish smirk as it raised its pitchfork from under its pillow laughing manically.

She didn't notice a women growing uncomfortable, pinned beneath her distant stare.

"Miss? Ma'am?" When she felt a tap on her shoulder Ryu yelped scrambling to get away, the temporary blindness from her panic made her smash into a post falling backward.

A round face slowly made her way into Ryu's vision looking at her upsidedown. "Are you okay?"

"Uhuh.." Ryu popped up securing Ryder's hat on her head hiding her hair. "Yesu." She bowed respectfully. Either she was perplexed by the girl's phonetics or her manners, maybe both.

"Okay, well um stay out of the sun." The woman's warm voice busted through Ryu's defenses. She glanced up at the heated ball in the sky and could not resist asking. "What's uhh wrong with the sun?"

"Hmm? Oh it can play tricks on you. Are you sure you're alright dear?" What was in the water that made the people in this place so affable?

Ryu nodded slowly and returned the smile careful to not show her fangs. "Have a good day."

She giggled then spoke perhaps too loudly. "You too! Have a good day-ehya!" The woman disappeared into a shop.

Ah damn it, she forgot to ask her.

In front of the shop Ryu read the sign. It was a general store. Her head thudded against the window as she peaked in, hands cupped around her eyes.

The woman possibly heard the noise and turned back to the window. Her eyes traveled left and right awkwardly.

Her hand rose and fingers moved in a come hither motion. Ryu shook her head which only confused the lady even more. She mouthed 'Why?' when she wasn't answered she gave away her position in and line and exited the building.

"Are you not okay?" She asked, Ryu looked down scuffing her boots against the cobblestone. "I'm... Actually lost eh?" Her worried face grinned as she closed her eyes and drew closer.

"Well why didn't you say so?" Ryu shrugged quickly.

"Now where is it you need to go?"

"The Castu... erm the castle." This seemed to surprise her as she straightened a bit. She gave careful instructions going as far as to pointing to the correct streets or their general direction.

"Erusa..." Ryu whispered looking Eastward, she smiled bouncing a small bit on her toes, taking off she skidded nearly tripping turning back to the woman. "Thank you!" She ran again then repeated her same action of stopping and turning around.

"Have a nice day eh-ya!" The woman laughed at her antics and entered the store again.

Ryu did her best to avoid as many people she could in her run but this body was much less graceful than her previous. She tripped a few times catching herself on her hands.

She raised her nose sniffing the air. She would find Elsa and then, she'd figure it out from there. "Okay, fire," sniff. "Sheep," sniff, "Dog uh," sniff, "sweaty kids," this inhale lasted longer than the rest wanting to completely fill her lungs with it. "And... something else?" She followed it mind now zeroed in on finding the source. Eyes closed so as to enhance the other sense's experience.

A wooden surface collided with her head. "Ow." Rubbing the sore spot Ryu looked up. The sound of her impact drew the attention of a man standing at a cart.

"Huh?" He looked around then smiled when he caught her gaze. "Hello there! How are you finding yourself today ma'am?" There was definitely something being put in the water here.

"Um, I was sniffing and I am... Hereh?" He chuckled a baritone laugh belly shaking.

"Well here is where you want to be."

She shook her head."No it's not eh, but I was following the smell."

He too seemed put off for a few seconds by her which were nerve wrecking to his possible new customer but presented what his cart was hiding.

"Fresh snails. Just out the oven." Her disgusted face drew out more laughter. "No no no, they aren't real snails." A plater was put on the stand from the back. The smell intensified luring Ryu's nostrils into their savory sweet grasps.

"Mmm." She hummed drawing closer. "Care for one?" He got an enthusiastic head nod in response handing her the treat.

She examined and hesitated for a while. It was too tempting to not try though, she took a bite, eyes expanding just as big as her world was currently. The cinnamon swirl day dream was interrupted by the vendor's outstretched palm. "That will cost three crocuses please." Ryu stared at him cheeks resembling a chipmunk.

Swallowing she admitted feeling riddle with guilt. "I...don't have those." He retracted his hand.

"Well ma'am as much as I'd like to, my cart is not for charity."

Ryu's shoulders slouched, she really didn't want to but, sighing she tried to hand him back her new favorite food ever but he did not accept it.

"I can't very well sell that now can I?"

"Maybe eh if you trieduh?" She offered, hoping that he wouldn't become aggressive. Clearly from her pronunciation she was not from here so he took pity. "Consider it a free sample, but do not return until you have money, cause you need that to buy things." He sounded almost like he was in disbelief that he was explaining this.

She nodded then remembered. Reaching into the pocket of her Northuldra garb, she had stolen- well- borrowed from the camp she had snuck into, she released the little treasures she had collected on her way to Arendelle.

The vendor stared down at the river rocks that now littered his stall. "There pretty ya." She hoped the stones brought him as much joy as they brought her.

His eyes softened as he took them. "They're gorgeous, and I will accept them this one time, thank you."

Smiling Ryu nodded. "Have a nice day-eh!" She cheered before running away.

He only hoped he just didn't get scammed.

She was back on her mission from the small detour wiping the crumbs away from her face. There was a large bridge that had fewer people upon it than in the city. Behemoth gates stood open. Two men stood sentry outside them.

They were the same kind of men that had attacked her when she first came to Arendelle. Taking calming gulps of air Ryu straightened up and walked as casually as her legs would carry.

Don't be suspicious, just don't be suspicious. Don't be suspicious.

"I'm sorry miss but the queen will not be accepting an audience during the summit event."

It didn't work! Ryu groaned.

"Hello," she wiggled her fingers at them grinning. "I um have to get in there eh." The both looked to each then back at her.

"Ma'am we can not allow that. I'm sorry, if you have any troubles please head to the guard house its-" she tuned out their words looks to the left then walked away.

"Have a nice day eh-ya!" She yelled to them.

"Ma'am?". Rounding a corner people began murmuring when she walked off a pier into the fjord pools below.

Their blurry faces could be seen becoming small as she swam deeper and deeper.

Now behind the castle Ryu clasped at rocks above climbing onto the steep faces. Water lurched from a burp, hunching her back. Wringing out her hat, and other articles of clothing as she removed them, she surveyed the castle.

Changing back to her original form felt so good, less constricting than the opposite action. With her clothes in her mouth the dragon clawed her way up the wall and onto the roof.

A loud THUMP! above them drew everyone's eyes skyward.

"What the fuck!"

"Anna!" Elsa yelled glaring at her sister.

"Kristoff go see if there's another dragon on my roof." The man chuckled shaking his head."Anna don't be silly it was probably just a bird."

She looked daggers into his face when lighter thumps followed along going right.

"How many birds do you know of that are big enough to nearly cave in a roof?"

He thought for bit, lips pursing as he looked down at his lap. "Go check an encyclopedia and come back and tell me." The queen crossed her arms.

"Actually there are more than several birds which are large enough to-"

"I wasn't asking you." Anna's fear was getting to her coming out in irritably.

Another bump came from the left.

"What the hell is going on out there?" She mumbled opening the window hanging half her body out of it, Elsa joined her placing a hand on her back as her torso twisted to look up.

She patted Anna's back four times drawing her back in. "I'll go see." She assured.

Ice caked to the side of the castle wall outside the window. Elsa climbed on the staircase and descended.

After five minutes she crawled back in shaking her head. "There wasn't anything out there." This answer didn't befit the redhead at all who held a finger.

"Okay I heard it, I saw you all hear it, so why am I acting like I'm the only one who heard it?"

"It was bir-"

"Whoever suggest that, the loud ass clang on the roof was a bird again is being banished." She left the room in hurried shuffles leaving the door open.

Kristoff snorted standing up.

"She still gets cranky when she hasn't had lunch." Elsa's tone was doting, as she smiled reminiscent, looking at the open doors.

Well that was ordeal Ryu would rather not live through ever again. She leaned against a sill of a window, her damp clothes were uncomfortable and stuck to her skin.

This place was huge and she could tell that just from being in the hallway. Voices caused Ryu to stand up, her body flattened against the wall, eyes darting to look for somewhere to hide. Without a second thought she tucked her head and rolled silently towards a window with drapes... casting them over her body.

"Her majesty just wants us to check the roof thoroughly."

"If there's another dragon up there I'm... I'm retiring." As the voices grew faint Ryu peeked from behind the curtain and and walked with her knees bent. Sensitive ears could detect movement everywhere, spanning in all directions. How many people lived here? Anna must have alot of friends.

She moved quickly throughout the second level slightly annoyed that the boots hindered her steps. Her feet were light but she'd still have to be careful.

Backing away from a door when the knob moved bumped her elbow against a table. Reflexively she caught the vase before it shattered.

"Whew." She hugged it.

"Excuse miss can I help you?" Ryu screamed jumping at least five feet into the air. The loud clatter of the vase shattering did not faze the regal looking man, dressed in a prim pressed green suit and pants.

He closed his eyes calling upon more patience, before opening them and regarding the damp girl. She knelt by the broken decoration and brushed some of the pieces together.

"Sorry, I can uhhh fix, would need glue eh." "How can I help you miss?" Her head snapped to him then back down at the vase, and to him again. She pointed down at it.

"Not with that, I will have to ask you what buisness do you have in the castle."

Ryu stood, she was tempted to inform him that she knew Elsa but the spirit had ordered that she stay away, and she did the opposite of that, of course Elsa would probably have understood the emergency, but Ryu just couldn't find it in herself to tip the delicate nature of the summit over a precipice with chaos when their home hanged in the balance. She was certain she could remain incognito, and still protect Elsa without ruining the event, and Elsa would never have to find out that she disobeyed her wishes and be mad. Yeah she could do this, no problem.

"I have uh buisness, um to..." Another person appeared promptly cleaning up the mess. She pointed at them. "That?"

"You wish to apply to become a maid?" She nodded vigorously in agreement.

"I would not be the one to discuss this with, you would be seeking Gerda head governess of the house."

Ryu glanced around. This wasn't a house it was a castle.

"Please, where is she?" Not wanting the girl to wander around by herself he moved to the side gestured with an extended arm. "I can escort you to her."

Stepping around the glass shards she followed him on his flank, leaving the poor person to clean up her mess. She took in more of the castle stopping every few mintutes to gawk and gasp at what could be a painting, something shiny, vases but not too close, a door knob that glistened and anything else that garnered her attention.

Hopefully he didn't ask any-

"So you are a bit early for your appointment, I do recall Gerda stating that she was looking for a new maid for the summit." How convenient... Ryu always knew deep down she was lucky, despite her life greatly disputing this, it was a fact she held on tight to.

"Punctuality is much appreciated and valued here." He smiled at her. She returned it although she didn't really know what punctuality but if he wanted her to have it she'd learn.

"My name is Kai by the way master of administrations in the castle."

"Hello Kai master of admin- mmm, hello!" She had gotten the first part of his name correct at least and this seemed to please him if the faint smile on his lips served as evidence to go by. He seemed to be more amused than charmed but that was still a positive!

They came upon some stairs, the man remained neutral as Ryu went to the stair banister and ran her hand all the way down it as they descended. It was so smooth.

He knocked upon double doors gently. Gloved fingers curling.

"Gerda your Twelve is here." A voice which reminded Ryu of a woman who owned a tea shop she had met in France answered. What was her name? Mrs. Kettle, Mrs. Pan. No that wasn't it but she was real nice.

"Already darling?" Opening the door revealed a stout woman with brown hair dressed in a simple brown and white dress. Her eyes crinkled at the corners when she grinned at the dragon. "Hello there, I'm Gerda head governess of house here." She introduced offering a hand. Ryu slowly took it. Why did they keep calling it a house?

Expecting stares stilled when Gerda spoke up. "And what's your name dear?"

"Um it's ruh..." She couldn't use her real name, she'd need a disguise. Fun.

She searched desperately for something anything in the room that could be a name!

Another maid walked passed Gerda excusing herself with a tray that held a pastry upon it toped with a red fruit.

"Tray-pastry- cherry, sorry uh" she shook her head. Gerda looked sorry for her. 'Nerves' she mouthed to Kai who looked taken aback by the outburst. "Cherry, it's Cherry." Her voice cracked.

"How unfortunate." Gerda slapped Kai's arm for the quiet remark.

"Well Cherry is there a last name to go with that?" She shook her head, she didn't know she needed two! Why two? Kai excused himself and went back upstairs.

"Have a good day eh-ya!" He waved at her.

"Do you have any recommendations?" Gerda guided her into the room. It was a small office full of so many interesting finds. Ryu found that the globe was practically calling her name to spin it. "I recommended uh me because I..um well I am good at cleaning nu." She didn't see Gerda but her lips clamp shut.

"Oh my okay, have you ever worked as a maid before?"

"No." Ryu shook her head, after a few questions later Gerda seemed remorseful but also not impressed.

"Why do you think I should give you this position?" Ryu turned to her. She was seated at her desk with spectacles resting on her nose.

"Because I have a important job here, one that can not be ignored, I will take job serious, and fullfil it to the best of my ability ya," she looked her in her brown eyes. "I want to help, as much as I can and am able to. I want to... Be there for the royal family with all that I am."

Gerda held her under appraisal. She looked at her papers. Ryu did not break away her focus. Expression grave. She was not well spoken in their language as well as she would have liked, was dressed in damp clothes that were too big in size, had only one recommendation from herself, and broke a vase.

"I will discuss your payroll with you after your training, we must see how you fair of course." Ryu's chest loosened it's tightened grip on her heart allowing it to beat freely.

"You can shadow Kelsey and she will report to me how you perform." As if by magic a younger woman appeared in the doorway smiling politely. Ryu bowed to the governess.

"Oh yes dear?" Ryu turned from following the maid. "Why are you...wet?"

"I walked into the fjord. Have a good day eh-ya!" Ryu didn't stay long enough to see Gerda's reaction to her words and trailed Kelsey.

Elsa felt cornered, yes she could have dismissed herself at anytime but for some reason letting on her discomfort to Georg seemed foolish. The man had a predatory sense about him, as if horses would flee in his presence.

"Giving up the crown to your younger sister to live life in the forest, a noble but challenging endeavor is it not?"

"It wasn't difficult at all really, the process and how it came to be yes but Anna is exactly what Arendelle needs and it requires me in my role." He hummed facing the flowers in the gardens. "Seems to be every Monarch's worst nightmare imaginable." They had been talking for only six minutes and yet the man had prodded at subjects appearing hopeful that her answers would unveil some detrimental flaw in Elsa's character. As if he were trying to find some explanation to not like her.

"Yes well I wasn't the average monarch." He spun to her slowly.

"No you weren't, you were and are remarkable." It gave her whiplash, this man gave her an almost metastasis set of being! It was simply exhausting.

Conversing with him felt like riding a horse that made you believe it was going one way then veer off in the total opposite direction.

"Thank you."

"You're very inquisitive Lady Elsa especially about one's character, your intuition is a gift, never betray your instincts, for then you'd be in the wrong." He nodded his head respectfully. "Please excuse me, enjoy these beautiful gardens." Before leaving he spoke in a suggestive voice."You are in excellent company."

Elsa did not miss court. Nor the chess game it had been. She was generally a good judge of character, great even. People seemed so easy to read, yet Georg was a mystery. Did he know that she couldn't find any grounding around him? Was he merely peacocking that fact or was it a genuine compliment?

He enjoyed making her uncomfortable and throwing her for a loop that she was certain of. He was correct on one thing, I am in good company.

Elsa relaxed, running her finger delicately along a soft flower petal.

"I don't like him."

"AH!" She flinched back from the bush, both her hands had encased with frosty layers.

Was she going insane? The bush didn't talk, it couldn't have, could it?

Honeymaren rose slowly up from it eyes narrowed in the direction of Georg. "He's cocky and he revels in making people squirm."

Elsa felt less like prey knowing that Honeymaren had been there to witness the interaction as well. She did have her powers but Georg knew that as well. Even if she didn't it would put bad relations to the powerful kingdom of Arendelle at odds with Ruskland. A slight that would not be forgiven on both sides. Elsa couldn't claim bad decorum from mental badgering.

"There are all sorts I guess." She said focusing on the flowers.

The rules seemed a bit... Arduous but Ryu filed away each and every one meticulously. She exited the room in the maids uniform presenting herself to Kelsey.

"It's on backwards." She winced. Ryu looked down at herself then returned to flip the olive green and gold dress around. Kelsey was nice and pretty, patient, kind, gentle and pretty. She allowed Ryu to explore most nooks and crannies but put her foot down when she wanted to taste a jewel that sat in a glass display case.

"Gud, ya?"

Kelsey fixed the hat on Ryu's head then smiled giving a thumbs up. "Gud ya." She copied then waved Ryu to follow. She tucked all of her hair beneath her bonnet, it's colors did not exactly blend in and she could not leave any chance of her identity being discovered.

"Now here is your big test, don't be nervous," Kelsey seemed to be the one that was nervous as they walked approaching double doors. On the side table beside the doors was a silver tray full of treats and a kettle. Ryu knew tea when she smelt it. She pointed to the tray and Kelsey nodded. Her hand was smacked and held against her chest like a dog just tried to nip her fingers. Kelsey looked apologetic then rocked back and forth on her toes. "It's not to eat, you're going to serve the royal family just like I showed you and remember the rules." She spoke fast and hushed. "Don't be nervous they're very kind. I'll do the talking. Smile." She pointed to her own grinning face before handing Ryu the tray carefully ensuring that it was balanced, opening the doors she allowed Ryu to enter first.

"Good afternoon your majesty. Lady Elsa, Master Kristoff."

Anna's scrunched up sarcastic features sped into a more pleasant expression. "Hello Kelsey!" She bounced. Kristoff waved not looking up from his cards, it required complete concentration if he was to finally defeat Elsa.

Elsa leaned backwards resting her arm upon the back of the couch. "Good afternoon Kels-?" Her words died in her mouth. Dark caramel skin was freckled somewhat like Anna's except some of hers created patches from being so closely knit, there was a clustered scattering upon one of her dimpled smiling cheeks. The maid's uniform was too big for her and a somewhat too long, the skirts reached her ankles.

They shuffled into the room as she placed the tray down carefully, a little pink of her tongue was showing as it pressed to the side of her upper lip focusing as if she were putting a thread through a needle for the first time.

"This is my new trainee, Cherry, she will be serving you today, I am just a supervisor." Kesley explained. Only Anna acknowledged her words since Kristoff was still deciding his next move and Elsa could only form one thought.

Why does she seem so familiar?

Elsa watched her bend and straighten to serve the cups, her little hands clasping them shaking. It wasn't too peculiar of a training maid to be nervous during their first time serving the queen and her family, so Anna wasn't very bothered by the rattle of porcelain against a saucer.

Elsa didn't register that a cup was being handed to her, too occupied with attempting to subtly to get a better view of the new maid's eyes. They seemed pale blue but she could have sworn she saw more. She questioned herself on why that mattered, as if her eyes held an answer.

"Elsa!"

"Yes?" Her head whipped to Anna, with her extended palm motioning towards Elsa's front. "Take your cup."

Elsa was confused at first till a cup was raised so close to her face she leaned away so it wouldn't smack her lips when she turned.

"Oh thank you." She said, very beholden even for Elsa, which was quite alot since she made certain to express sincere gratitude to the staff whenever they serviced her.

Cherry returned to Kelsey who nodded pleased with her efforts. When she didn't move from standing right in front of her Kelsey gently gripped her shoulders and herded Cherry to face toward the royals beside her.

"Kristoff if you don't make your god-damned move..." Elsa cleared her throat, mouth closed, at Anna's colorful language.

Anna ignored her, sipping tea.

Have I ever met her before, perhaps seen her in town why did it matter so much? Elsa wondered, she couldn't rest on a choice when she heard Anna say it was her turn.

Without caring about the card she played from her hand Elsa put it on the table, begining to search her memories. The girl seemed to possess the same ability to create a visceral effect in Elsa as Georg did. Elsa had an impeccable memory, so if something was displaced it tended to befuddle her to a vexatious degree. Trying to not seem overtly creepy, Elsa curled her fingers beneath her lips and stole another glance to the maid.

She was shorter than Kelsey who stood at five foot six. Maybe Anna's height. Her eyebrows were curved and eluded to light hair, though Elsa could not decipher the color. She had to keep adjusting her bonet from sliding over them every few seconds while her eyes stayed downcast to the floor.

I could ask her, but how inconsiderate would that be, she's probably already trying her hardest to not misstep. I'd surely distract her only causing unease.

"Elsa!" She offered Anna her attention. Kristoff was cheering, standing up.

"Yes sweetheart?"

"I won finally! After all these years."

"No she didn't even look at her card I saw her!" Anna accused. Elsa went over the game then nodded.

"Yes, good job Kristoff you won." Back in the recesses of her silence, she had never heard that name before, she would have remembered specific as it was.

"Ha!" Anna was not pleased. Since it always was impossible to beat Elsa at cards she won vicariously through her, through relations as she put it. Elsa's victory was Anna's by extension. She threw cards onto the table pouting.

Kristoff sat beside her and pecked her lips. "Well you're married to me my sweet carrottop, so any victory of mine is one of yours." Anna grinned snuggling into his side. A new rule had been stated. If Elsa won Anna won by blood. If Kristoff won, Anna won by marital default, and if Anna won... She won.

After an of a hour of watching Anna and Kristoff play and combing through the events of today the maids cleared away the tray and cups exiting the room, when Elsa glanced up she realized they had gone. Bolting up she opened the doors abruptly and faced to the left then spun to the right seeing the maids retreat.

What in the world was wrong with her?

"What?" Anna followed where her attentions were and saw nothing but an empty hallway.

"Elsa you feeling okay?" The back of her hand touched Elsa's forehead. She wasn't feverish but she was a smidge sweaty. Was she okay? She didn't have an answer, maybe the mental Olympics that she had been through for the past few days had finally caught up.

Anna wiped her hand onto her green dress. "Maybe you should go lay down."

Elsa nodded, weakly smiling a reassurance, heading off to her room.

Anna watched her, worry and confusion begining to bloom for her sister.

Elsa was never sweaty.