I swear, I could write fucking anything here, cus it's very clear some people don't read authors notes.

-IEA-

"Are you ready?"

Elsa asked, trying not to stare at where Anna was sucking icing off her fingers. How was she allowed to do that in public, really? The residents of Arendelle clapped and cheered, still a heady reminder of that first time after the Freeze and the Thaw, when nobody ran in fear from her powers anymore.

"Yes!"

"Go Queen Elsa!"

The tables of Anna's gifts and the cake had been moved safely out of the way, and as she had insisted she couldn't skate, Iduna had been encouraged to move back into the doorway of the castle. Fingers clean, Anna shuffled over to Elsa, waiting. As she saw everyone wait excitedly, Elsa lifted the hem of her dress a little and tapped her foot on the ground. Ice began to spread out from the tip of her shoe, spreading out to cover the entire courtyard, sparkling columns springing up around the edges. Just for decoration.

She froze the fountains so they wouldn't splash out, waved her fingers so everyone's shoes became skates. They all took off happily - ice skating was now a standard Arendelle pasttime, so pretty much everyone could skate - except for Anna, who reached for Elsa's hands.

"Need some help?"

Anna nodded, still a little... off. Elsa wondered if it was their mother watching, or the party overwhelming her, but when the ice was under their feet again, she took Elsa's hand and smiled.

"Let's skate."

Elsa remembered the first time they did this, that first time Anna leant on her for support and the first time Elsa felt truly free. Anna had climbed that mountain and survived a frozen heart and saved Elsa's life, warmed Elsa's cold heart with her warmth and love. She'd been the one to assure Elsa that Arendelle would accept her again, to convince her not to hide away with her powers all over again. So it was novel that Elsa was a natural at something for once, that there was something she could show Anna.

She felt their mothers eyes on them at times, but it was Anna's birthday and Elsa was happy to let the tension go ignored for the day.

"Show off a little for me."

"Do I have to?"

Elsa already knew she would. She had a lot of trouble saying no to Anna, and oh how her sister knew it.

"Just a little. Please?"

That smile, those eyes... that was all it took for Elsa to agree. Closing her eyes, she thought about it before waving her hand again, conjuring a dozen tiny little snowmen, each one circling Anna before clambering up to bounce around on her head and shoulders. She roared with laughter, Elsa's heart swelling at the sight.

"Show-off enough?"

Anna liked her powers more than Elsa really thought healthy, but it was much better than her being afraid, and it was fun to tease her a little now and then...

"For now. You can show off a little more later."

Her eyes sparkled with promise, Elsa's pulse quickening. Olaf squealed with delight when he saw the little snow-creatures, shouting "little brothers" and chasing after them. They scampered off, and Anna called after the larger snowman to be careful not to knock people over in his excitable haste.

After they'd cantered about on the ice for a while, dodging Sven and Kristoff as they skidded about and Olaf as he chased Elsa's newest creations, Elsa found herself with an armful of Anna as they stood at the sides under guise of catching her breath.

"Don't you realise how amazing that is?"

Anna asked, looking up at Elsa.

"What?"

"That you can make... living stuff. Those little snow peeps, Olaf, even Marshmallow. They're alive. You did that! And even your Ice Palace is a work of art. You're so incredible Elsa."

Feeling her cheeks flush, Elsa pressed her face against Anna's neck.

"Today is supposed to be about you. Go back to making me blush some other time."

"Aww, but I love making you blush!"

She giggled, rubbing circles on the back of Elsa's neck with her fingers. That warm touch was enough to send a pleasant shiver down her spine, and Elsa reluctantly pulled back before Anna really flustered her.

"I'm gonna go get more cake. You coming?"

Elsa shook her head, much as she wanted to carry on watching Anna dig in to sweet treats.

"No, you go ahead. Maybe you can catch up with mother for a little while."

Anna's face shifted to something strange before she pushed out a tight smile, which she had to know wouldn't fool Elsa but she was already moving.

"Yeah, maybe."

Elsa watched her to the door, a little beckon of her fingers pulling the ice from under her feet so Anna could walk into the castle rather than wobble on the thin blades.

"Your Majesty!"

Kristoff gave a dramatic bow, which had the predicted effect of making Elsa roll her eyes and laugh.

"You know you don't have to call me that."

"I know, but it makes you smile. What's on your mind Elsa?"

"What else?"

Kristoff snickered, leaning dramatically against the wall and doing his best "I am wise" face.

"Anna, of course. But why? She's obviously having the time of her life. You did great!"

Elsa nodded, but her mind kept replaying the strange look on Anna's face.

"I hope so."

She really hoped so. Hoped Anna's mood shift was nerves about their mother, or Elsa's own imagination. Kristoff patted her arm, uncommonly at ease with touching royalty. He'd more than earned it. Sven bumped his head on her shoulder, expecting attention. Elsa patted him awkwardly, mind still very much on Anna in the castle.


Well, Iduna certainly couldn't fault Elsa on effort. It wasn't grand in the way balls and weddings were, but Anna's birthday party had still definitely been a major event, and it had obviously been everything Anna had wanted. From the ridiculous things like cycling in the halls and the string all over the place to seemingly random gifts and ice cream cake.

There were new, tiny and squeaky little snow-things running around the castle when the party began to wind down. Her daughters had disappeared the minute the guests were heading out of the gates, and Iduna did her best not to think about that. She wasn't ready to retire to bed just yet - a testament to her physical recovery, perhaps? - and so Iduna requested a hot drink and took hersel off to a nearby lounge, intending to enjoy a roaring fire and the view afforded by large windows of Arendelle as dusk fell.

The lounge wasn't empty.

Anna's head turned, glancing up at Iduna before looking away sharply. Her younger daughter was half-sitting, half-lying on the sofa. Elsa was laid on top of her, head resting on Anna's chest, one hand resting on Anna's stomach, and she was fast asleep. Anna was looking at the sleeping form of Elsa as though she couldn't possibly imagine a place she would rather be, eyes soft and full of love.

"Do you not both have beds?"

Anna blinked, not meeting Iduna's eye even when she looked over. Both kept their voices as quiet as they could.

"Uh. Yeah. But Elsa swore she wasn't tired. She's been working late the last few days, and then I think she was up all night sorting birthday stuff."

Remembering finding the Queen of Arendelle under a table, tying string, Iduna nodded.

"I saw her putting string up in the night."

"You did?"

"I woke for the bathroom, and heard a peculiar noise outside my door."

Anna nodded at her, eyes still on Elsa, one hand occasionally feathering across the top of Elsa's hair.

"Honestly, today was amazing, but this is my favourite gift right here."

"Elsa sleeping?"

Anna exhaled softly, mouth turning up in a smile.

"Letting me take care of her. She's stubborn and tries to always insist she's fine. Moments like this are... precious to me."

When Iduna had thought of her daughters those lost years and wished they were taking care of each other, that wasn't what she'd had in mind. But she couldn't deny how content Anna looked, how relaxed Elsa looked. Her reign could weigh heavily, but Anna brought her a peace unrivaled by anything or anyone else she'd seen.

"I hadn't expected to find you here."

Anna shrugged lightly, peering to check it hadn't woken Elsa.

"Well, yeah, I was hoping for... never mind."

Anna caught herself, cheeks flushing. Iduna was saved trying to come up with a response by the arrival of the drink she'd asked for delivered by Peter, another fairly new face to Iduna. Upon noticing the Queen and Princess, Peter excused himself quickly after asking if Anna needed anything, to which she replied in the negative.

Silence hung thick in the air for a few minutes, broken only by the crackling of the fire and Iduna's occasional sips. Elsa slept on unaware of the awkwardness.

"You look... well, by the way."

"Excuse me?"

Anna seemed uncommonly flustered, but Iduna put that down to almost saying something she shouldn't to her mother.

"I noticed earlier, you look, you know, a lot healthier. And the dress you have on is really pretty."

As they'd not seen much of each other recently, perhaps the difference was more obvious to Anna than Iduna, who saw her own sickly reflection daily.

"Oh. Thank you."

Elsa began to stir on Anna's chest, covering her mouth with her hand to yawn softly as her eyes fluttered open. Anna petted her gently until Elsa pushed herself up on one arm, blinking as she took in the sight of Iduna, then turned to look at Anna.

"You let me fall asleep."

Her voice was still a little rough with sleep and there were marks on her face from the fabric of Anna's clothing that had been under her cheek, but Anna was unapologetic and simply tapped a finger on the tip of Elsa's nose.

"You're cute when you sleep, and you needed the rest."

Elsa offered Anna a rather indulgent smile, shaking her head and yawning again.

"Then I should get to bed. Good evening mother."

Elsa inclined her head toward Iduna stiffly, then left the room. Anna stayed where she was in silence for a moment, then got up herself. There was little point in pretence in front of her, really.

"Enjoy your drink, and I hope you sleep well."

And with that, Iduna was left alone. She stared at the spot that her daughters had vacated and wondered, not for the first time, if she was fighting a losing battle in trying to make them see sense.

-IEA-

This isn't quite the chapter I had planned, but some rude dick put me off working on it so I threw on a quick ending and I'm putting this up cus I don't know when I'll feel like working on this again.