"So what you're saying is; that I may not see the report you're already writing Mr. Scherer, and that I am just to take good faith that you'll present the spirits and their magic in a positive light?" The question's purpose was more so to point out the absurdity of it all than get an actual answer.

Georg Scherer cleared his throat, and sat back more comfortably in his chair, as if preparing to be in the queen's office for a much longer time than anticipated.

"You're Majesty, please understand that the whole parogative of this summit was for me to meet the Fifth Representative and report back to Ruskland what I kno-"

"Sorry may I just need to interrupt you ple- please- for a moment," He paused on courtesy to sheepish yet still fierce when needed ruler. "The whole Point of this summit, is so you can blatantly report back to Ruskland that the spirits including my sister pose no threat to any of our neighbors and well-" she shrugged her shoulders to the side.

"It would be foolish to do that- no offense- without getting some proper insight."

"I plan to, your majesty." Anna cringed slightly, she still never understood why everyone had to put 'Your Majesty' at the end of every sentence.

"I am now just recording my first impressions of Lady Elsa. I can't speak for the other spirits without having had met them... at all." Ideas began formulating in Anna apparent if anyone had ever seen it happen before.

Kelsey took the liberty of pouring her more water and in return received a bright smile. "Thank you!" She grinned back, then took her place beside her apprentice who had a hard time keeping focus on anything for too long. Anna understood, she had the same problem when working at her desk. Always fiddling with some random trinket or other.

She had made it a game with herself whenever Georg Scherer went on a tangent to guess how many seconds Cherry would study something that caught her interests before moving onto the next.

"I know it would be quite...biased to have our input in your reports directly but think for a moment; this could be an opportunity to not just go back and say-" She put on a deeper much more posh voice impersonation. Whether it was to be Georg Scherer or not was lost on the guest. "Oh the spirits are peaceful they won't hurt us' but to educate your nation and education just spreads if you allow it. People tend to fear the unknown, the more they know of the spirits the less fear that can fester in not just the empire of state but your fellow citizens as well." Anna's eyes flicked to Cherry who was now indirectly looking at her in what seemed to be contemplation. This brought a grin to her face. See it's already working.

Georg Scherer took a loud breath and nodded, a good sign hopefully. "I will consider her majesty's indepth words in regards to my report. Forgive me for saying I find it... quite contrasting that you wish to spread your educational gospel of the spirits but prevent me from spreading my own here."

Anna huffed placing the flat of her palms against her desk quick to form a rebuttal. "Mr. Scherer I can understand how you can perceive it that way, but the situations are different. My people know and are aware of your teachings and some even believe it themselves versus Ruskland who know nothing of magic and what it entails."

Anna held up demonstrating hands raising each to represent the different sides. "One is a direct disinterest and the other is a complete lack of knowing. If anyone does wish to know about your religious doctrines they may speak to you about it and you to them, I merely I asked that you do not force it upon people."

He grinned bowing his head to her. "Well met Queen Anna, but I ask you, how can one know what it is they are missing if they do not know of it's existence." That Anna could not form a retort to, so instead she sighed.

"You are correct sir, I veto my own words to you and instead say this; You may... preach? Lightly to anyone you see fit but-" she held up a rigid finger and quirked brow. "If they express disinterest you must leave them be." Her audience both George and Cherry seemed complacent, albeit one more than the other, with this conclusion.

"Very well your majesty, thank you for the reconsideration. An action that is not common among royalty."

Anna hiked her shoulders to her ears. "Well I'm not your average royal- not to sound conceited or anything- just less conventional." As she stumbled with her wording they stood and she walked him to the door.

Georg Scherer chuckled, his deep baritone was even in his laugh. "It has come to my understanding that nothing in this kingdom is conventional." His eyes glanced beyond Anna's shoulder into her office.

She tucked a loose strand behind her ear. "That is something we can agree on." Once he bowed his head and left Anna practically ran to her desk and began writing at a lightning pace.

She looked to the clock and dropped her head with a thud upon her desk. Kesley as if by an aptitude abandoned her station in favor to rub small circles upon Anna's back.

She was naturally a nervous and flighty woman but when it came to knowing when to care for her employers or fellow employees she had a gift.

Anna turned her head showing the side of her face. "Is it bad that I would rather eat five of Kristoff's custom lutefisk dishes than meet with Lord Weasletown?" Kelsey instead of answering offered a remorseful smile.

A loud entrance drew their eyes to the door which was closed.

"She's not in- oh there you are!" Olaf chuckled waddling in closer to Anna's desk. "I have something important to tell y- oh hello there." He waved at Cherry who grinned and waved back.

"Hello Kelsey." He greeted, approaching Cherry. "I don't think we've ever met, although you do look familiar. Have we ever met?" Cherry did not confirm this by shrugging. "Well in case we haven't I'm Olaf, I love warm hugs but also handshakes as well and secret handshakes, Sven has taught me a few-" his twig fingers tapped his icy chin in recollection.

Anna rested her chin on fists propped up by her elbows. Olaf met alot of people throughout the day, more than Anna herself, and despite his incredible efforts to recall all their names Anna didn't doubt that one could have possibly escaped him.

"Do you know the secret handshakes?" Cherry thought for a moment then bent down shaking his branch regularly at first before flattening his palm as best she could against hers, pulling them away with kept pressure till his hand reached her pinky which she linked with his own ending it in a wiggle.

Olaf squawked happily, his little round feet running in place. Giggling he looked her in the eye. "That wasn't it but it will be added to my vast collection; I know two." Before she could stand he wrapped his twigs around her neck hugging tightly. He lingered alot longer than usual, exclaiming in amazement. "Anna no offense at all but she has the most warmest hug I've ever had!"

"That's alright Olaf but let's not-"

"Wow she's actually really warm, hot even I'd say. Oh kinda like Ry-"

"My name is Cherry." The interruption was abrupt but not rash or out of anger, the emotion Anna could have named would be more like the jitters.

Olaf pulled away and wiped his brow. "Whew almost melted in that one, but I didn't!" He said with unnecessary relief. There was alot of temperatures tested against Elsa's ability to create permafrost, much higher than human body heat.

"Olaf you said you had something important to tell me."

"Oh right," He lit up in recollection puttering over to Anna. She pulled away from her desk to allow him to climb up into her lap.

"Now what was it?" He mumbled. "So I was walking in the garden soaking up the sun for my lovely tan, I'm going for a bronze this summer I think it would really bring out my eyes," Anna listened with a fond grin. The great thing about Olaf was that when one was expecting to get one story they usually got three or four and he was a marvelous story teller with his ability of multitasking upon more than one subject.

"And who should I see none other than Bruni! I waved at him but he seemed busy I think he was looking for Elsa or beetles I couldn't be sure unless I asked him. So I came to ask you where she was and also how your day is going." Anna perked up at the mentioning of the little fire spirit. He would sometimes visit Arendelle even if Elsa wasn't present, being the most outgoing out of all the spirits including Elsa.

Perfect now all we have to do is get Gale here and figure out a way for the rock trolls to attend...they are a little big though.

"Oh! My day is...going great Olaf I am getting alot done and will be completely exhausted by tonight." She was completely exhausted now but she'd put on a brave face for Olaf at least, but like all other times his perception never ceases to amaze.

He sported a soft- totally- not convinced grin.

"You're day is going way too long, and you're very tired, even though it's only -" he looked to the grandfather clock across from them pointing at it. "That time." He stilled didn't quite understand clocks yet but it was on his to do list of things to learn.

Anna welcomed to cold relief the side of his head provided when she rested against it. He hugged it not too tightly cooing. He spoke wistfully stroking her hair. "You know sometimes I get tired too, not really sleepy but I just feel like I wanna do nothing- like this morning I was out in town and this shepherd asked me if I could watch all his baby sheep. They were so cute and bouncy and headbutty and I loved it! Then I counted them to make sure everyone was there, and I started getting sleepy, and then I realized I never knew how many he had to start with and uh- oh yea! I went and asked Sven to watch them for me and when we came back they were missing! So Sven and I spent the entire morning finding them, it was alot of fun, and turns out the shepherd had taken them all home which was the last place we looked which should have been the first and then it would have... still been the last..."

He began thinking until his pep returned and jolted Anna from the trance he lulled her in. "So I guess in the grand scheme of things nothing matters except the journey to get there! Did that help?"

Anna now bleary eyed nodded slowly. "Great! Say do you know where Elsa is." A head shake had her lap empty and him heading for the door. "Glad to help you! I'll see you later. Bye Kelsey! Bye..." He hugged Cherry's legs. "Mmm toasty."

Anna sat back. One part of Olaf's deceptively innocent but morbid story was the part of him recruiting Sven for help.

Standing she went for the door, pausing briefly in front of Cherry as inconspicuously as she could. Olaf was correct and not being hyperbolic.

The young woman did exude outwardly a noticeable heat.

Anna made the mental note as she exited to have her seen by a physician to ensure one of her staff wasn't working and walking around with a high fever.


Elsa's day had been running much smoother than she initially expected.

Her night was long spending it planning with Yelana, Honeymaren and Kristoff. They all wanted to accompany her today but she explained for what felt like the sixth time that night that it would raise suspicion and that their guise of ignorance to the plot was key.

They couldn't argue with that logic though she could clearly see on their faces they really, really wanted to.

Her meeting with Cherry that following morning was more insightful, less urgent emotions surging through them allowed for more concise communications of concerns.

Cherry despite having never meeting him had a vague description of what the man would look like. When Elsa questioned how she knew it was a man at she answered by giving a name.

Julien.

"They said his name?"

"Yesu." A curt nod.

"Why didn't you report this immediately to the queen? Why go all vigilante?"

"Because it seemed they had already planted him within the city. I suspect the queen would not have delt eh with this situation in a quiet manner no? He would have already run and waited for another chance to strike." Elsa couldn't ignore the point.

"What were expecting to do if you had caught him last night?" The meaning of her statement was not lost but also not directly said out loud.

Cherry wasn't impressive in size and was just a maid and previous traveler. Luckily she took no offense to Elsa's implications.

"I would have done whatever I was able to do in the moment to stopperuh- to stop him."

They had been trailing each other when the meeting ended. Both trying to subtly follow and spy on the other. Cherry was much more silent and somehow ended up in places Elsa would have never expected.

She was also less bashful than Elsa when caught. Simply shrugging and once shooed away by the spirit gently and would go back to her duties.

Elsa once seen sneaking around would unconveniencingly find a painting she had probably seen over a thousand times very interesting.

But now she had the jump on her.

Tucked behind the railing of a balcony overlooking the gardens, a perfect vantage point to see how the maid acted without the knowledge she was being observed.

She was more of the same when alone, she sniffed some flowers appearing to be most content yet still hyper vigilant of her surroundings. She inspected the gardens and much to Elsa's frustrations sometimes went beyond the visionary capabilities the balcony allowed.

Elsa felt guilty deep down. Spying on someone felt like a misdemeanor she'd never commit, she'd have to remind herself that even though Cherry had agreed to help and brought light to the danger she was in she still had no proof if the girl was involved or not, despite every suspicion Elsa had that she wasn't.

She had brought a sense of familiarity that Elsa would have found comfort in if it didn't unsettle her that she couldn't pin down why.

She watched her move. Like a stream constantly flowing, her motions were fluid as if she knew what steps she'd take ten paces beforehand. She was in almost absolutely silent as if she weighed nothing. Numerous times she caused Elsa to duck in cover when she faced the balcony's direction but her eyes never went upward.

"Oh hello." For some unexplained reason Elsa's heart rate escalated in fear of her discovery only calming when she realized Cherry was not directing her words to her.

Peaking only up to her nose Elsa's fingers clamped the ledge.

Bruni!

The fire spirit crawled up a branch to equal his height to Cherry's who was smirking at him. He hesitated for five moments inspecting her carefully.

Elsa heard the noise he only made when happy and walked upon her offered hand.

Interesting.

Bruni was generally very curious and friendly. It did take him a while when meeting someone new to get a insight on them to act as personable as he was now.

She found herself smiling small when the maid giggled as Bruni climbed the outstretched arm to her face.

He tongued her eye making it close tightly but she didn't appear to mind any, stroking his head gently. He made his way upon hers confused by her bonnet before deciding it wasn't for him and took a place where her shoulder met her neck.

He chirped at her and she nodded as if understanding everything he said.

"Right eh! You're looking for Elsa?" He nodded.

"Oh, she's up there."

Curses!

Elsa didn't need to see from her hunched position to know Cherry was pointing to her hiding spot.

She hid her red warm face in her palms. Peaking through fingers she saw Bruni staring at her. Sighing she held out her hand for him to jump on. Steam wafted from wherever his body touched as he sank down in relief.

She couldn't very well slink away now as much as she wanted to, could she?

Straightened to full height seeing that Cherry was not even looking at her but instead taking inventory of the high points of the outside area. When she finally turned her face brightened.

"Good afternoon Lady Elsa." Cherry bowed and much to Elsa's embarrassment she bowed back in the same fashion.

"Good afternoon Lady Ch- uh Cherry, good afternoon." Her face grew hotter when Cherry smirked but said nothing of the verbal mishap.

"Can I eh help uh you with anything?" Her head swivled left and right as if a table of tea she could serve was available.

Elsa shook her head. Bruni cried at her bouncing up and down. Cherry chuckled and continued on as she was.

Elsa blew out a small snow flurry from her mouth going back inside while Bruni chomped at the escaping ice flakes. She pressed and slid down the glass balcony doors in mortification.

Bruni leapt from her shoulder, apparently headed to join Cherry in the gardens.

So Elsa followed, that wouldn't raise too many questions if the Assassin was always watching her somehow.

A shiver shuddered through her spine at the very notion.

"Ah it is a nice day Lady Elsa yes?" As cliche as the question was Elsa had to agree. The sun felt lovely on her skin and had painted Cherry in a beguiling way as she bent down closer to the White Chrysanthemums.

Bruni went under the bush no doubt on the hunt for any tasty bugs which hid among the folliage.

"Chrysanthemums are beautiful, one of my favorites." Cherry hummed appreciatively at Elsa's goading tone

"Yes they are ah beautiful, I love the meaning of flowers, so much said without speaking a single word deh?" It was the purposeful way she spoke that drew Elsa closer to something so simple yet the meaning hidden in plain sight.

"I as well enjoy fauna or flowers, what do white chrysanthemums mean?"

She rose up from the bush ridding the easy smile on her face for a more serious expression. "White Chrysanthemum means truth telling or grief and sorrow..." Silence lasted for five sexonds before Cherry spoke again. Her face flipped over in expression from displaying the meaning of Chrysanthemums to more jovial.

"Have you ever seen a spider lily Lady Elsa?" She asks in a light voice almost smiling.

Elsa poked at her brain remembering her book of fauna from different regions of the world. "I have once in a book, I don't exactly recall their country of origin though, why? Does that flower have a special meaning?" Cherry grinned lopsidedly at the question.

"All flower do. Red spider lily means death. It is said when you see someone for the last time... a spider lily will grow in the place you said your last goodbye..."

Elsa felt that unease once more, the hope that Cherry wasn't confessing what she thought she was kept her rooted in place. Her confidence she thought she was gaining recedes in on itself.

"Have you seen any red spider lilies today Lady Elsa?" Her chest loosened at the concerned face Cherry casted her way, she was somewhat catching on.

She hoped she was at the very least.

Her thoughts went to Georg Scherer who would pompously watch her drown in confusion- Cherry would watch from the shore but instead of leaving Elsa with doubt she threw rafts after to help her ashore.

"I have not seen any today. I don't know if one has planted itself in the gardens though...without my knowing." The maid looked satisfied.

"What flower means distrust?" This was a topic she'd have to tread carefully on- not making an enemy out of Cherry but still not accepting her as a solidified ally.

Her smile broadened, and finger pointed to the sky, as she closed her eyes moving so animatedly. "Ah some say it is the lavenders." Elsa followed her over to the flowers they spoke of.

She smelled them in a deep inhale finally opening her bright eyes which reflected in the sun. "But they also mean devotion. Two sides but almost opposites. A Gyakusetsu some would say in places erm far from here."

"What does that mean?" Asked Elsa breathlessly.

"I think the word would be umm," she tapped at her temple. "Paradox!"

It was perfect. The word Elsa had been unknowingly searching for to explain her feelings towards Cherry. She looked to the lavenders- a physical representation of her emotions. It was comforting having an answer the very perplexing Cherry led her to.

She had to admit she felt safe in her presence but also didn't. As if she were a mouse sitting beneath a tiger's open maw.

Cherry was patiently waiting for Elsa to speak enjoying the company the flowers gave her.

"The tiger lily must be uprooted no? From the gardens, I have not seen any today but I will keep looking out."

Elsa remained silent as her mind performed somersaults to make the connections.

This was their language.

A common ground they could both meet upon which left others oblivious to what they spoke of while not in private.

She grinned joining Cherry. Between the sun, Bruni who was nested on her head, and the maid's unnatural body heat Elsa felt as if she'd melt. She chilled the air significantly for Cherry to notice but not be bothered by the sudden climate change.

"We'll find the tiger lilly...together." They smiled at each other.

Elsa held her breath when Cherry slowly offered a single finger to her waiting. The spirit was just as hesitant with her own left pinky linking it to Cherry's right.

"Together."


"Ah Lady Elsa I thought I might find you out here." The robust voice ripped Ryu away from Elsa who also distanced herself, smile shrinking to a neutral expression.

"Good day Mr. Scherer, how are you this afternoon." Ryu didn't like Elsa's voice when she spoke to the man, or her posture which to the naked eye was regal and polite.

Ryu knew better, she had seen Elsa in the forest relaxed, on guard, working as the metaphorical mother of nature and the other spirits. She remained graceful yes but also relaxed. Now she was as stiff as the wood and rock the castle was built with.

She didn't like it.

The way his eyes roamed over Bruni in Elsa's hair.

"I should introduce you." Elsa's hand went up to her head, serving as a perch for Bruni to climb upon. She didn't present him in her palm instead bringing him closer to her chest.

"This is bruni, the fire spirit of the enchanted forest."

Georg Scherer bowed. "A pleasure to meet you. How serendipitous; I was just discussing with the Queen that I had yet to meet the other spirits."

"How fortunate indeed." It's a strange instinct. This urge to stay still, stay frozen, for fear of drawing a predator's attention when he finally took notice of Ryu who kept her lids heavy her eyes that stared at ground.

"And you have company..." He said now fully facing her after his visual examination of Bruni.

It was her turn to be scrutinized.

"Yes this is a new member of the castle Staff, Miss Cherry."

"What a unique name, pleased to make your acquaintances." Ryu nodded in false solidarity. He seemed interested- way too interested when he spoke- in not only Elsa and Bruni, but herself as well.

"Might I say as impolite as it is for me to point out, your eyes, are quite...sui generis."

She had no idea what that meant but decided to dislike the term. He continued the one sided conversation either oblivious to the discomfort he caused or just didn't care.

"Perhaps a congenital error from birth?"


Elsa's chest and shoulders bristled like a puffed up cat that had been petted without giving its consent. She stepped in front of Cherry speaking with that authority she harboured and let loose whenever a situation called for it.

"Mr. Scherer I ask that you please remember yourself and not comment about the physicalities the castle staff may possess- or anyone for that matter as it is in poor taste."

Georg Scherer pulled back his neck, his Adam's apple jumped with a harsh swallow.

Despite his superior height Elsa still managed to seem taller during her chastisement.

He relented. "Please excuse me, I'm terribly sorry-" he sounded very not sorry. "Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me when it comes to the unknown." His eyes flicked to Cherry's.

Bruni jumped the short distance from Elsa's shoulder to Cherry's curling his body and tail against her throat while keeping his squinted eyes trained on Georg Scherer.

Elsa's skin pricked in his presence as it always did but now she felt emboldened to step in for Cherry's sake not wanting her to feel the same way she did with Scherer.

She would not allow it.

"Mine as well, I understand but we must not let it get the better of us at another's expense."

Fully placating, he bowed asking for forgiveness once more.

"My eyes Mr. Scherer, they're different I know. From birth." They both turned to the maid who stepped from behind Elsa. Their eyes flicked together before Cherry's met his, no longer hiding them.

"Ah I suspected as much." He addressed.

Elsa watched Cherry's throat subtly bob up and down. In an nearly horrific short instance her features morphed from timorous to convivial complete with a slight head tilt as though she was watching a flower she hadn't known the name of yet.

"You are drawn to the bizarre Mr. Scherer despite being a holy man no." As if contemplating her own next sentence she spoke it mostly to herself glancing away in thought. "Sounds conflicting..."

"You too seem to be agog with the anomalous nature of man whether or not you take part of or wish to know why is another question."

Georg Scherer's attention was raptly on the maid smiling wirly.

"Yes, ludicrous is it not, but I can't help myself, even in the mundane I desire to know why. Some would say there's an answer to all matters of subjects and I would like to know them." Elsa had to keep her nose from scrunching or leaning backwards- the ends of his sentences always sounded as if he was growling but was aware it was nothing more than the gravelly nature of his voice.

Cherry appeared less inclined to flee, her grin still relaxed and unstrained. "You must have seen alot of strange to end up like this no? I heard uh that-tuh people attract the energy they carry or drive away those that have the very energy they wish for with bad intentions..."

The envy was silly, Elsa knew it. The calm manner and full eye contact she hadn't received when she first met Cherry was now being given to the last man on earth she'd think be deserving of it.

"Do you attract the unusual or repel them?" She stared him down in a way that was not appropriate for a staff member, but her tone and posture heavily suggested to her affable nature.

Green tendrils would not be tugged away this time that wrapped around Elsa's heart. Her eyes flicked over to his small ones and large beard. No he did not deserve this, especially after his intrusion to their time together in the gardens.

His discomfort was barely perceptible, but Elsa had seen it. His smile was dampened, and mustache twitched slightly to the left.

"I suppose it depends on the nature of the context. Where do you hail from Cherry?" He answered.

Elsa's head whirled from Cherry to Georg Scherer. She had given Elsa permission to drop her prefix but not him!

The absolute nerve of this man assuming such quick familiarity!

Before she could bring attention to it Cherry spoke swiftly once more glancing sideways at Elsa.

She wanted to keep talking to him for some reason and did not want Elsa to intervene. Sighing, the grips her palms had while clasped in front of her caused Elsa's knuckles to turn white, not used to being so irritable.

"I hail from uh a place where your religion is not dominant." This diverted him from the track he had just attempted to go down.

"Intriguing, are you familiar with my religion?"

Cherry shook her head while scrunching her nose as a child would who was repulsed by broccoli.

In place of offense butted in amusement. "Oh not riveted I would assume."

"You assume right..." She pointed a finger at him as though he had just come up with a grand idea.

"But if you are unlettered of it then how can you decide you're not captured?"

"It is not-tu- not really your religion persay but the source doctrine. I have read it before and do not like it alot. Maybe as a story but not a rule book for my life..." She tapped her chin. "There is one verse that is my favorite..." Then shrugged, closing her eyes. "Kinda like not wanting to drink for the first time lemonade when you do not like lemons no?"

Elsa cracked a smirk, the first positive visible expression she had since this conversation began.

Cherry seemed genuinely glad at her reaction softening her eyes when she looked at her, but slammed them back into being wide and alert when they returned to George Scherer when he asked.

"What may I ask do you find off putting about it?"

The maid impishly waved her hands in front her face replying in her sing song accent- from a distance any onlookers would think Georg Scherer had offered her some food she didn't want.

"Too many contradicts in it yah. Is God good and happy and loving or is he vengeful and angry and jealous-nuh when he gets no attention? Is human sacrifice allowed? Or is it forbidden?" She scratched the back of her head giggling at the silliness she found in it. "I have no idea what's allowed and what is not, I would not be a good follower and ask him lots of questions. So God is better off without eh me!"

Religion had always made Elsa uncomfortable, specifically the Lutheran faith that dominated majority of Arendelle, and those resembling it like Georg Scherer's Roman catholicism.

She was close to what should have been considered a witch, a sorceress, evil. She didn't feel like any of those things and only wanted to help the world as best she could. Glancing down at her hands her grin grew when she looked up at Cherry who was practically bouncing on her toes waving her arms.

The way she constantly moved, and sang her words, Elsa knew she enjoyed listening to her, she didn't know what it was- be it her enthusiasm- her voice- just her ideas. Elsa hadn't the slightest clue, but whenever the girl spoke she found herself thoroughly engrossed, even if she would have picked a more compelling topic than this.

Apparently Cherry had shockingly managed to disturb Georg even if signs of this were subtle. It made Elsa wish she had actually listened to the conversation instead of day dreaming and watching the maid hop on one foot. Now even more so as her light voice spoke in such a big way that Elsa didn't even know a tiny person was capable of.

"And then why nouh- does she have to marry a man who raped her ehyah!"

Elsa's pupils expanded.

Oh bother.

Georg Scherer seemed unsure if he was about to be attacked or assaulted so with raised hands he backed away gracefully.

"I'm afraid I must be going now, but I am anxiously awaiting our next conversation. Miss Cherry I admire your passion. Good day Lady Elsa, miss Cherry."

They watched him leave.

Elsa turned her repentant stare to Cherry's. The need to comfort the girl overwhelming her. But she didn't seem too worse for wear albeit a bit red faced.

Cherry took her invitation, and allowed Elsa to rub her thumbs along the back of her hands.

"I'm so sorry about that." Her voice was low and had a slight scratch to it.

Cherry tightened her hold. "It was not eh your doing no? He is morbidly curious..."

Elsa nodded in agreement, for a fleeting minute she had felt confidence from seeing someone finally drive away the man that seemed to be a stoicism expertise, and tugged on Cherry's fingers drawing her closer.

"And you aren't?" She teased. Cherry clicked her teeth.

"I wouldn't say morbid no? I am... pleasantly curious."

Elsa chuckled nodding with surrender.

She didn't want to pull away, Cherry's skin was soft but had slight microscopic grooves that scraped the pads of her fingers, but her hold had reached the timer that deemed it inappropriate. Giving one more experimental rubbed with her thumbs she released her.

They stayed in the gardens for two hours. Cherry would lament the meanings of the flowers or play with Bruni, who was quite fond of her.

Elsa's ambivalent feelings which rested on a fence now leaned in favor of Cherry.

"You can't."

"I can."

"You're joking."

"I'm serious."

"Show me, please."

"...Yea okay." Elsa backed away and made certain Bruni was safely tucked in her hair before giving Cherry a thumbs up.

Her arms lifted above her head as her body wound tightly like a spring.

The screech she let out was maybe a battle cry, maybe a screech of pain, who knew? But Elsa was not expecting it or for her to crouch low to the ground and use her palms to lift her feet up by a few inches, swinging from one side to the other before bowing dramatically.

It was zany enough that Elsa doubles over giggling, half composed she rises clapping at the very unimpressive display.

"If you loved my backflip you are gonna love this, my friend taught it to me yah!" Hiking her leg up she pirouetted in place- once again bowing while Elsa claps quickly.

"Bravo! Marvelous Cherry! Completely spectacular!" Her beaming face made Elsa want to cheer even the little things she did as if they were magic.

She didn't mind being the end target of jokes so long as Elsa laughed, not all of them landed but Cherry's reaction after Elsa would cringe drew out chuckles from her enough that she didn't mind.

It was difficult to not trust her, while she abandoned decorum and sat in the grass beneath a tree, stretching.

She turned her head to Elsa and patted the grass next to her.

Elsa found it to be utterly winsome and joined her, the entente growing between them helped her relax in the breeze.

There was a peace settling. Elsa hid her giggle behind her fingers when an Apollo butterfly decided Cherry's nose made the perfect rest stop.

Her face scrunched when his legs tickled her lips but she remained still accepting her new job as an artificial flower.

Bruni stalked it from her head slowly stepping across her forehead. He was a second too slow in pounce.

It fluttered around their heads, taking off into the shrubbery.

"Tell me about your travels."

Cherry leaned back against her elbows. She must have felt the same security Elsa did, they were hidden from eyes that entered the gardens.

"I have been uh...everywhere I think, I have watched people and their customs. Some seemed like an entirely different species." She sometimes glanced at her captivated listener but kept her eyes forward most of the time.

"I have been to... France, Germany, London, eh- Persia, others to."


The questions boiled over in Elsa's mind she could see her spilling them out fast and hurriedly to get answers, but she kept calm despite the rapture that was overtaking her.

"That's incredible, I know I just told Georg Scherer off for what I'm about to do-" she picked at her sky blue dress. " but I must ask, you have accent that I don't recognize at all. Where are you from?"

Ryu sighed heavily. She smiled sadly folding her lips together. Her fingers caressed Bruni into a nap.

"I will tell eventually but such things make me sad..." Her eyes fogged with a sorrowful wistfulness. She wasn't looking at anything in the present.


"I let you beat me!"

"Oh well how generous of you." She shoved her shoulder into his nearly knocking him off his feet and onto the hard wooden floor.

"Sparring is over now, there is no need for that." The words although calm promised a harsh punishment for such uncouth behavior.

"My apologies, Master Mikoto." She bowed during the man's departure into his office. Susanoo smirked in his father's direction.

"You may as well call him father at this point." The dragon put him in a headlock after confirming the close was clear and punched his stomach swift and hard.

"I suppose that would give you the role of an annoying little brother. I think it suits you."

"We're the same age! You oversized lizard" He choked out, escaping and rubbing his abdomen.

Susanoo waved a key in front of Ryu's face mischievously then placed it in his pocket. "We can finally practice your flying."

She backed away twirling her fingers. She wanted to stretch her legs and wings but also didn't want to risk another injury or even worse getting in trouble. "I don't know-"

"Come on, I'll being right there with you-" he grabbed her forearms putting on a resolute face. "I won't let you fall. Ever, I promise."


It was if she wasn't here. Her gaze was so disconnected. Elsa had seen it before in herself. The shut down, as the emotions of everything one's past had draped across their mind, turning them to stone.

She felt almost like an intruder in this space.

Forcing down a swallow Cherry created a fake smile to flash at her, words coming out choked. "Yea eh? I will tell you eventually."

Elsa nodded while wondering when eventually would be.

"Have your friends found any signs of the tiger lilly Lady Elsa?"

The question caught her off guard. The formality of her title sounded odd coming from Cherry even though it was expected.

"No, they haven't. Have you?" Cherry was now laying completely on her back.

"Yes." Says Cherry.

"Well... Did you find them?"

"They may not be in castle, they may be in town waiting." Her voice darkened.

That should have brought some relief but for Elsa it doesn't cause any comfort.

"How do you know this?"

"Before his accompli- Comrades...left, I heard them mention an inn."

There were many inns in Arendelle, and both Elsa and Cherry assumed the Assassin was smart enough to not use the name Julien.

"I would send one of your friends to investigate it..."

Elsa anticipated more but it didn't come. "But-" she ushered on.

"I think the smartest and the only option would to wait till he strikes yah." She too seemed to be weighing the risks of this path.

"Wait until he kills me?"

She turned to Elsa squaring their eyes together. The intensity nearly made Elsa look away.

"I won't let that happen Elsa."

"Why are you doing this?" It wasn't meant to come out as a whisper.

Her lips move to speak but the words never make it past them. She sees something, something in Elsa's blue eyes that she doesn't like for some reason and turns away.

"I am a servant to your family, and to be that means to serve."

She has said those words before. Elsa's intuition mutters to her.

Cherry didn't come across as one who always knew what to say unless she had time to think it through.

They sit in silence for the remainder of their time in the gardens.

Cherry traveling to the past once more and Elsa wondering, for Cherry, where the past was.


He moved like a lion-skulking about a savannah, searching for a lone gazelle or zebra to pounce upon.

When he was spotted from the corner of Ryu's eye for some reason she stills, as if moving would give away her presence to the predator on the prowl. It wasn't calculated, it was instinctual and difficult to ignore no matter how doltish it may have seemed to Ryu, it wasn't as if he could harm her. Sweat beaded down her brow to her cheek when he passed her. She could feel his gaze lingering on her shoulder blades for much too long.

Always much too interested.

That was why she had followed him as contradictory as it was. All nerves and volitions ordered her to go the opposite direction but they were buried deep down in her psyche. Her biceps and calves quivered with anticipation in case flight or fight was to be engaged.

Now she was the stalker and he was the prey. She took inventory of him in the gardens and was still addled by what she saw. He was average height, heavy set- his belly protruded like an overstuffed hen, balding, squintish eyes. This was not the lion that rendered her motionless yesterday momentarily in the gardens or just now.

But he was.

He couldn't possibly be the assassin.

Her nails scraped the red wallpaper, curling to fists, digging crescents into her palms.

His mouth is set in frown as he strides around. Ryu continues to trail him carefully using her disguise to the advantage, for whenever he would turn probably sensing her intentions, she takes her rag and wipes idly at any surface present making certain to turn her back to him so as to look no different than any other servant from behind.

Why was she so interested in this man when there was more pressing matter that deserved to take the forefront of her mind? But she doesn't stop even when having no answer for the questions she asks herself.