Anna's survival instincts shifted into high gear as she struggled to break free from her sister's grasp, but the effort was for nothing as Elsa wasn't going to let her go anywhere, regardless of how much she kicked her feet around. She noticed that the chain gang had put their shovels down and was now standing up straight, with all of the prisoners on it saluting the warden in perfect unison (wait, was this standard practice, or had these girls done enough dumb military-style chants to think they were in the actual army?).

"Did she you hurt you, convict?" Elsa was looking at Meg, who was sitting herself back up after Anna's tackle.

"I've survived worse, ma'am." Meg wiped some grime off of her cheek. "Serves me right for trying to be chummy with someone."

"I promise you that she will pay the price for her violence towards you." Elsa gave Anna's back a hard pat like she was a naughty dog or something.

"As I said, I'll live, ma'am. I have a crappy book in my cell I've been meaning to read anyway." She flinched as she stood to her feet, her skinny legs wobbling a bit as she did so, but she managed to drag her ball off without issue.

"I'm very disappointed in you, convict." Elsa placed her hands on Anna's shoulders and forced her to walk with her. "I had hoped that your time in the hole would've given you a lesson in manners around here, but it seems it was foolish of me to believe that."

"I didn't realize it was your goal to actually rehabilitate us, warden." Anna's resistance was futile as she had no choice but to keep up with Elsa's steps (while praying she wouldn't "accidentally" stomp her boots down on her toes). "Or do you make us wear stripes just to help boost up our self-confidence?"

"Your stripes serve as a constant reminder of who you are, what you've done, and where you are. If that makes you unhappy, well, it means I must be doing my job right."

"Is that how you feel about us having miserable lives? No wonder they call you 'Elsa the Wicked Warden,' because it sounds like you're proud to have earned that title."

Anna had to maintain her defiant attitude for anyone who might be staring at them, as the last thing she needed was for one of Merida's watchdogs to witness her being cooperative with her sister and assume she was going to spill the beans on the big escape plan.

"What the inmates think of me is really none of my concern. It's not like I need to flatter them for votes in order to stay in office. But one thing I don't tolerate is violence among you girls, and I've been hearing you've developed a bad habit of physically attacking prisoners around here lately."

Elsa had taken Anna inside, but they weren't heading towards the isolation cells, and were instead going down a hallway she had never seen before. The hard floors which her feet had become so accustomed to were instead taken up with thin red carpet similar to the kind at old movie theaters, with lighting that suggested a hotel lobby more than a maximum security detention center.

"Warden, where are you taking me?"

Elsa said nothing and kept dragging her sibling along. Some officers going by nodded at the two of them while giving questionable glances, and Anna tried to look away out of fear that they might secretly be on Lord Fergus's payroll. Finally, they arrived at a large doorway which Elsa swiftly locked up.

"In. Now."

Anna did as she demanded, and found that she was in Elsa's personal office. There was a desk which was crowded with paperwork and napkins, a closet filled with a number of outfits which all looked the same, and a folding bed in the corner. So the rumors were true. Elsa did sleep here.

"Ma'am, why did you bring me here?" Anna suddenly got scared that she was about to become a block of ice like Blondie.

Elsa closed the door firmly, and locked it shut with three seperate keys. She gave it a nudge to ensure it was sealed.

"Anna, please, we're alone now, aren't we? I think it's fine on this occassion is you skip with the formalities and simply call me 'Elsa' for a change. Like in the old days."

Anna stood there baffled.

"I'm sorry, what?"

Elsa sat down on her chair which was strangely shaped like a queen's throne.

"No one has boxed your ears to make them hard of hearing, have they?"

"I'm...I'm not sure what you mean.

"I mean, dear sister, that I think you and I need to have a little chat. I was waiting for an excuse to take you away, honestly, when you provided it by getting frisky with that inmate Meg. Poor girl. She's well-behaved, so I doubt she deserved it, but I also don't think you really hurt her. At least not as badly as you got hurt recently."

Uh-oh. Elsa was presumably asking Anna about her bruises.

"I...fell in the bathroom. Um, you know, not all of the girls aim right, I guess, so dumb old clumsy me slipped on a pee puddle."

Elsa chuckled.

"That does sound like you. But no. We both know that's not what happened."

Anna started perspiring. She knew that Elsa had brought her here for information she wouldn't be able to provide her with.

"Look, warden, I don't know what to say. Despite your so-called best efforts, I'm afraid prisoners are still going to have cat fights from time to time. It's in our nature. Or something."

"I see." Elsa spun her chair around to reach for a coffee pot before pouring it into a small paper cup. "You know, Anna, I bet you miss the taste of real coffee, don't you? I mean besides the mud they serve you in the mess hall. I'm talking about actual coffee."

"Are you offering me a cup of coffee, ma'am?"

"God, Anna, you're worse than Kristoff when it comes to the formalities. Though I suppose that's to be expected. You are becoming institutionalized, after all."

Anna groaned.

"Well, Elsa, it would be rather hard to drink a cup of anything with my hands cuffed behind my back."

Elsa chuckled again, but this time Anna noticed it was a nervous giggle.

"Of course, Anna, how silly of me. Now, hold still."

She went behind her and removed the restraints.

"You sure this is okay? Allowing me to be unchained around you? I'm a violent woman, after all. What's to stop me from attacking you?"

Elsa smiled and took a glove off her hand before immediately placing it back on.

"That's the special thing about me, Anna. I'm always armed." She slid the cup over towards Anna. "Now, don't burn your tongue. It's really hot."

Anna took it and swirled it around a bit.

"Elsa, why did you really bring me here? For us to play 'catch up' as sisters? Because last I checked, that became impossible a long time ago. Even before I got arrested."

Elsa leaned back and rubbed her fingers together. There was clearly something she wanted to say, and Anna was afraid she could easily guess what it was about.

"Fine. I'll cut to the chase. Anna, I need you to tell me what Merida has been up to. Or else."