When Elsa finally emerged some time later, she appeared to have fully regained her composure. Her face was clean and damp, and the stray feathery blond hairs that had earlier escaped her braid had been neatly tucked back into place. She stood tall and with perfect self-possession, not looking at all like the tired, sick young woman who had been huddled on the floor just twenty minutes before. In answer to Anna's searching look, she smiled a soft, reassuring smile and crossed the room to join her.

"I feel much better now. Thank you for letting me have a few minutes alone. It helped."

"Great! That's good… I was a bit worried," the princess admitted, but she felt the tight knot in the center of her chest loosen slightly.

She wasn't accustom to being responsible for another person's welfare like this, and besides that, she rather liked Elsa. More than just liked, to be fair. One could go so far as to say that the princess was a bit enthralled with her slave. The more they spoke and the more she learned about her, the more she found the Northuldran girl to be a source of fascination. She hadn't liked seeing her so distraught and in pain earlier.

"No need to worry. I'll be fine," Elsa reassured her, sensing her lingering concern. "Nothing a couple more days won't set right. I should probably take a pass on the deserts for a while, though."

"Probably a good plan," Anna agreed. Then, she brightened as an idea struck her. "Just give all your deserts to me! Only until you're feeling better, of course. My stomach doesn't have any limits when it comes to sweets," she confided. "Especially not where chocolate is concerned. I could eat my weight in the stuff… I have eaten my weight in the stuff!"

She paused, scrunching up her nose in an adorable little grimace, realizing belatedly how unflattering a picture of herself she might be painting to the other girl.

"Not regularly, of course. It was just an expression. I'm not that spoiled, I just… I'm rambling again, sorry."

Elsa chuckled, smiling at her in an almost fond way. Anna felt the last of her worry recede at the sound.

Her slave really did have the most attractive laugh. She wondered what it would sound like if Elsa truly let herself go – let herself lose all of that tight control she so perfectly maintained. Unbidden, a stray thought popped up in the back of her mind. It was a silly fantasy, but Anna imagined it just the same, the mental picture it painted as brief as it was vivid.

… her pinning Elsa down upon the silken sheets of the nearby bed, fingers reaching for and discovering all of the little ticklish places on the other girl's body that she could find, her gentle assault unleashing all manner of squeals and laughter from the usually quiet, reserved young woman who was now under her power, forcing her to laugh and laugh until there were delighted tears in those lambent blue eyes and she was staring back up at Anna, writhing beneath her as she begged for mercy…

Anna felt heat rush through her, flooding her chest with a tingling warmth that settled uncomfortably between her thighs. She banished the images guiltily, thrown by her own body's strong and immediate response. The young princess was naïve in some ways, but even with her limited practical knowledge and experience, she couldn't ignore the… somewhat erotic undertones of that pleasant little fantasy.

And just what was that all about?!

It really would be something, though, to see Elsa breathless and laughing, her control undone by Anna's tickling fingers. Surely something like that scene could never… would never happen between the two of them?

Vaguely, Anna sensed that these were not the kinds of thoughts that a princess should be having about her new slave. She forced herself to return to the present moment.

"What…" Anna croaked out, then had to swallow before continuing again, "What would you like to do now? I could have them bring you some soup, if you think you could keep it down, or some herbal tea to settle your stomach? Hot this time, I promise. Or perhaps you just need rest…?"

"No, no I think not," Elsa said decisively, surprising her. "I think a bit of fresh air might be just what I need, actually. I would love to see the rest of the castle, and more of the grounds outside. If I'm going to be living here and acting as your servant, well, I should probably get to know my way around."

"Oh! That's a fantastic idea. Only if you're sure you are up for it, though. There's so much to see. I can show you the gardens, of course, and some of my other favorite places!"

Anna led them from her rooms, chattering about this and that as they went. She kept a close eye on Elsa, however, wary that she might take ill again or suddenly grow tired. She finished their earlier tour of the East Wing, then brought her down to the castle's main halls once again. This time, rather than passing by the library, which she had of course already seen, Anna took her to see the dusty, empty ball room with its domed, mural-filled ceiling, and its tall glass doors which opened to a wide balcony. Broad, winding stone stairs led down from the balcony on either side, bringing them directly down into one of the more ornate palace gardens.

"My great-grandmother designed these gardens," Anna explained happily as their feet met the crushed gravel path at the bottom. Sunlight and birdsong met them, as it was still mid-afternoon. "They say that old Queen Philippa really loved a good party. She updated the ballroom and added these gardens on this side of the castle. The galas she hosted here were said to be legendary. One year they had an actual circus – a circus! – perform here, with camels, zebras and giraffes, and a tight rope strung from the castle wall all the way to the roof!"

Elsa smiled but added no comment, seeming content to let her talk as she followed her along the gravel path down to the stone rimmed pond. A fountain trickled drearily at its center, creating small ripples across the new spring lily pads.

"My father said she started the tradition of hosting a winter festival ball here. Every year, they would invite local Arendellians from all different families and classes. Some years they even had a free lottery for the invitations. The castle gates would be open to visitors for the night, and they would dance and sing songs around bonfires, and even ice skate on this very pond. Can you imagine that, Elsa? All those people, people of every kind and social class, all dancing and skating together here in their best finery."

She couldn't help sounding wistful as she described it. It was a scene she had already imagined many times.

"It sounds like a delightful tradition," Elsa said, a thoughtful note in her voice. "Why did it end? I take it from the way you are speaking that this castle hasn't hosted a winter festival for the common people in some time."

Anna sighed, sitting down at the edge of the stone pond and looking out over the gardens. The sun on her skin felt warm, but there was still a chilly spring breeze that nipped at the air. Even with the trees and shrubs of the gardens around them, the castle walls were always visible just beyond, tall and stern and impenetrable, enclosing her horizon. She looked up at Elsa, who had come to join her by the pond.

"My father says it isn't safe anymore, with the war."

Her slave raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Some extra caution in wartime is understandable, but…"

"But?"

"Well, the war is many miles from here, Anna, far north across the border. Surely the King of Arendelle doesn't so greatly distrust his own people here in the capitol?"

"What? No!" Anna denied, beginning to feel anxious about the direction this conversation was taking. "No, that's not… He's just being careful. You have to be smart about these things when you're a ruler, you know. There's no telling how far the Ice Queen can reach with her power, and even without her magic, she could always send her spies or assassins to strike at us instead."

The princess chewed her lower lip. It was a bit uncomfortable, talking about these things with a captive slave from Northuldra, but Anna pushed past the discomfort. They were going to have to talk about the war at some point, after all. It was a major fact of life in both their kingdoms. It would be impossible for the topic not to come up once in a while, and it wasn't as though they could just ignore it forever when they were together.

Elsa was looking at her with that focused, intense gaze of hers, her eyes narrowing slightly. It made Anna want to squirm, but she forced herself to remain steady and return the look.

"Has the Ice Queen attacked you in such a way before, then? With her magic, or with assassins in the night? This would be the first I've heard of it."

Her questions were beginning to sound a bit sharp and pointed, a bit too much like an interrogation, and it made Anna feel the need to go on the defensive.

"I don't… I mean, not that I have heard about for certain, no," she was forced to concede. "But that doesn't mean it hasn't happened! No one here really tells me anything about the war. My father is the king, though. I'm sure there's a great many threats and dangers he is aware of that the rest of us couldn't possibly know about."

Anna thought this a very sensible point. King Agnarr was the ruler of an entire kingdom. He had generals, advisors, and an entire staff of dedicated men and women at his command. He must know more about the dangers facing him and his family than anyone else alive.

"Perhaps," was all the other girl said, and something in the dismissiveness of her one-word answer annoyed Anna.

"I know you're just curious, Elsa, but it's not your place to judge these things. It's not even mine. My father is a king! He's responsible for an entire kingdom. He has to make hard choices, impossible decisions every day. There's just no way you or I could ever understand what it's like to be in his position, to have to carry that kind of burden."

Her slave's proud gaze never wavered, her expression remaining utterly calm in the face of her mistress's rising emotion.

"I've upset you," she observed.

"Yes! Er, no… Maybe," Anna admitted, exhaling a breath that was tight with tension. "It's alright. I did tell you that you could always say anything you wanted to me."

She quirked an eyebrow and forced some levity into her words, trying to lighten the mood somewhat. She didn't like feeling as though she was at odds with her new companion. It made her feel unsettled in her stomach.

"Well, I believe I also warned you that I am a shamefully disobedient slave who is eager to corrupt you with my savage ways."

Elsa's tone held a teasing note, her proud features softening a bit as well. Anna smiled at this, already eager to forget her anger. It was impossible to stay peeved when the other girl was looking at her with those twinkling eyes and mischievous lips.

"Forgive me, Anna, I overstepped. It's natural for a daughter to defend her father from criticism. I won't bring it up again."

"No, no I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scold you. It really is okay," Anna insisted, rising from her seat and brushing her skirts. It felt like they were doing an awful lot of apologizing to each other in the short time they had been acquainted so far. She forced herself to meet Elsa's steady eyes again. "Truth is, it was thoughtless of me to speak to you that way. Of course you think poorly of my father. I can't blame you for that… Not after what he has done to you."

Here I am, yelling at her about how hard my father has it… when he is the one responsible for her captivity here. It was by his order that she was made a slave. I'm such an idiot.

"Hmm," was all the other girl said, but there was a thoughtful glimmer in her eyes. She opened her mouth as though to say something, then closed it, considering. Finally she said, an odd catch in her voice, "You continue to surprise me at every turn, Princess Anna. I don't think I've ever met someone quite like you before. It's… incredibly refreshing."

The princess felt that warm feeling fill her up again. She managed a somewhat dopey, pleased smile before she shook her head and blushed.

"I'm nothing special."

This attempt at denial only earned another thoughtful hum in response. Anna thought that the other girl really did make the most musical, expressive little sounds when she hummed like that. She felt the urge to return the compliment and couldn't help herself.

"I've never met anyone like you, either. I think you're the most wonderful person I've ever met! I… I'm really happy you're here, Elsa."

Anna wanted to rip her own tongue out to keep herself from saying more. She hadn't even meant to say that much, but the words had just tumbled out anyways.

The most wonderful person? Really? Wonderful?! Damn it all, just about any other word would have been better. She could have called her interesting, or nice, or… or… intriguing, perhaps. But wonderful? She hoped she hadn't sounded like too much of a besotted child, saying something so forward to a woman she had just met.

"Let's continue our tour, hmm?" Elsa said, smiling faintly now. "And let's not talk about the war anymore today, I think..."

"Yes, I think that's best," Anna agreed, eager to escape to anywhere else and leave this conversation firmly behind them.

With that, the two young women gathered themselves and started off across the grounds once more, heading deeper into their exploration of Castle Arendelle.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Some thirty minutes later, their slapdash tour found them exiting onto the wide, cobblestone road that wound its way up to the castle's grand entrance from the main gate. There were several detached buildings which formed a courtyard of sorts within the walls, with the tall towers of the gate keep rising just beyond, and seeing Elsa's evident interest in her surroundings, Anna took care to point out the stables, smithy, coach house and barracks, as well as the smaller workshops, animal pens and storage sheds. There were servants bustling about here and there on various errands, and quite a few guards loitering around as well. Distantly, she noticed that the postern gate was open, and a figure on horseback appeared to be hurrying towards it along the stone bridge beyond that linked the sprawling island castle to the mainland. She paid it no mind, however. Her father's men were often coming and going from the castle at all hours of the day and night on official business. The castle may be closed to most visitors, but the work of running a kingdom must go on.

"Would you like to see the stables? You can meet my horse," Anna asked hopefully.

In truth, the pretty sorrel mare named Lady was her mother's horse, but Queen Iduna didn't ride much these days, and she almost never left the castle. Anna had taken to riding her around the gardens and grounds a few years ago, and over time, she had come to think of the gentle mare as her horse in all but name.

"I would like to see the stables, yes," Elsa agreed. "I imagine your father has some of the fastest horses in the kingdom in his stables."

"Oh, I don't know about that," she laughed. "My father usually takes his carriage. But there are a few of the senior officer's horses that certainly look like they could win a few races! You have to be careful with them, though. They're trained warhorses, and they don't let just anyone handle them."

Anna had learned that lesson at a young age. The big steeds her father's soldiers rode were not to be trifled with. As a child, she remembered the stamping hooves and gnashing teeth that had given her the first real scare of her life. She had come out of it unharmed, thanks to the quick reflexes of a nearby stable hand, but it had taught her a lasting lesson. As they headed down the stone drive towards the stables, she told Elsa the story.

"So, that's how I learned not to pet a warhorse! Even if they do look really fluffy and soft. You don't have to worry about my Lady, though. She wouldn't hurt a fly. Lady might not be the fastest, but she is the sweetest horse you'll ever meet."

Feeling the eyes of the guards and servants milling around them, she resisted the strong urge to grab Elsa by the hand and loop her arm in hers. They were already attracting glances as it was, and she didn't want to give the onlookers any reason to gossip about how the princess was holding hands with her slave.

Anna was so busy pointedly not looking at the people that were pointedly not looking at the two of them, that she failed to notice the clatter and commotion heading their way. She only just started to look up at the sudden noise, realizing with some shock that the mounted figure who had earlier been approaching the gate was now barreling directly towards them. Someone gave a startled shout of warning nearby, and Anna felt her eyes go wide.

Goodness! Why was he going so fa- ?

"Anna!"

She was jolted from her feet as a warm body tackled her out of the way, just in time to see the black flanks of the horse thunder by. Her tailbone hit the hard ground first, followed immediately by the points of her elbows, then the rest of her falling body. An arm wrapped around her and the corner of a shoulder saved her head from striking the ground as well, but otherwise it felt as though her whole body was jolted painfully by the impact.

"Ughhhgh?" she moaned, a wordless, questioning sound of shock and hurt.

There was the sound of a mumbled curse, then an explosion of shouting from the person who had tackled her.

"Slow down you bloody fool! Are you an idiot?! Racing a horse through here like that, you're going to get somebody killed!"

The words were an angry, beautiful snarl, delivered in a feminine voice with just the hint of a sultry rasp.

….Elsa's voice. Elsa, who was now pinning her to the ground with her body and glaring up over her shoulder at the man on the stomping, froth-covered black charger.

Elsa had saved her! She had been right in the path of the charging horse, she now realized. Only her quick action had saved her from very serious injury. She looked up at the man now approaching on the back of the horse, and instantly she felt her blood run colder.

"Oh no," Anna mumbled, her wits coming back to her in a rush.

Her slave was still pressed against her, still cradling her where she lay in an ungainly heap on the cobblestones, blocking her view, but she could see clearly enough to know who it was that had almost collided with her moments before.

Anna also couldn't help but notice how… good Elsa maybe felt, pressed up against her as she was? She would need to unpack those sensations later, however. Right now she needed to save her impetuous new slave from getting herself into serious trouble.

"I'm okay, Elsa. Let me up, please!" she said urgently, laboring to sit herself upright.

Elsa glanced down at her and their eyes connected. The princess had to fight the urge to shrink back down under the weight of that cold glare. Her slave was f-u-r-i-o-u-s, and Anna felt a delicious shiver run all through her body. In the next moment her eyes had softened, however, her stiff arms relaxing their hold, her expression now mostly one of concern.

"Are you alright? I'm sorry, there wasn't time for anything else," Elsa said, standing and helping her to find her own feet once again.

The man was now dismounting, his dark cloak swirling as he tossed his reins to a nearby servant. He began to approach, threatening like a storm cloud on the horizon.

"I'm fine, it's fine," she hastened, barely above a whisper. "Thank you, but please, you have to let me handle this now. You don't know who-"

"Your Highness," his voice interrupted in a baritone drawl. Anna gave Elsa a last, beseeching look, willing her to obedient silence, before she turned to face him, drawing the other girl to stand behind her as she did so.

"Lord Raspaitin! My goodness, you gave us such a scare just now."

She forced an air of careless good humor into her voice, as though what had just happened was merely a passing, frivolous annoyance, and was pleased when it only wavered slightly.

Flat, grey eyes observed her under thick slashes of black eyebrows set on a gaunt face. His thin lips were curling into an ingratiating smile, but as ever, the expression never reached those eyes. Otherwise narrow features and a hooked nose were made more handsome by a thick black beard that he always kept short and well groomed. Equally dark hair, except for some wisps of gray at the temples, allowed to grow long and held back by a leather tie, was a bit disheveled from his wild ride. As she smiled back at him in what she hoped was an agreeable manner, he swept his fine cloak back behind his wiry shoulders and performed a deep, apologetic bow.

"Your Highness, I am sorry to have caused you any alarm. I have urgent business with His Majesty, and my haste got the better of me. A thousand apologies." His eyes lifted to meet hers before he straightened, a grimace twisting those thin lips as he looked past her at her companion. "I assure you, however, you were never at any real risk of harm. I had the beast firmly under control. This unhinged servant clearly misjudged the situation. A disgraceful overreaction. She should not have laid hands on your royal person in such a manner, Your Highness! And the words she spoke to me just now… Inexcusable."

Anna could feel the smoldering rage pouring off Elsa as though it were a physical thing. Alarmed, she glanced at her and was relieved to see that the other girl was only standing there blankly, her face expressionless and her hands clasped gently together. Her jaw was clenched tight, however, and those eyes… Those eyes didn't do a very good job of hiding her simmering anger.

"It was all a misunderstanding, my lord, and no real harm done," Anna quickly reassured him, stepping to put herself even more between the lord and her slave. "She was just in shock, no doubt, and worried for my safety. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it."

Please, please just let this go, she prayed. Please just hurry on your errand and leave us be!

She tried to remember what exactly Elsa had shouted at the man. Words like "idiot" and "bloody fool" came to mind, all of which were damning. She couldn't think of a single person, besides maybe her mother or father, who would have dared speak to Lord Raspaitin in such a way.

"Yes, well," he murmured, those thin lips of his pursing. His eyes slid past her again and she though she saw a moment of recognition, a sly turn to his expression as he considered them both. "As you say, your Highness. I must trust your judgement."

She felt a wash of relief pass through her. The intimidating man shot one more, keen glance at Elsa before he turned back to the princess and gave another hurried, apologetic bow.

"Now you must again forgive me, but I will take my leave. I really do have urgent business with the King, and I mustn't keep him waiting."

Anna quickly assured him that he must of course proceed, and with a last dismissive glance, the man turned and strode with purposeful steps up the rising path towards the castle, his long shadow fleeing before him on the pathing stones. The hapless servant left holding his horse – Anna thought he might be one of the castle gardeners – seemed at a loss for a moment, looking after the fast departing lord, before he finally just sighed and began leading the trembling mount towards the stables. A few guards remained, as did a few other milling servants, all of whom were now openly watching the princess and muttering amongst themselves at the spectacle that had just occurred.

"Come along, Elsa," Anna heard herself say, a commanding note in her voice that felt unnatural. She could feel all those eyes on her like crawling insects on her skin, however, and she knew she had to get them both away from here without causing any further scandal. "I've changed my mind. I think I'd rather not visit the stables today."

Her slave gave no reply, simply fell in beside her as she turned back towards the garden path they had first arrived on, retracing their steps. Once they were safely hidden within the trees and bushes of the winding gravel path, she slowed and turned to the other girl, grabbing her in a fierce hug that took them both by surprise.

"You! You saved me!" she exclaimed. It had all happened so fast, she hadn't had time to process it all yet. "That was terrifying… That was incredible! You're insane! What were you thinking? You could have been killed, jumping in front of a galloping horse like that!"

She just barely managed to keep her voice down to a strained hiss, hardly containing her shock. The adrenaline from earlier was catching up with her. She pulled back from the hug so that she could look at the other girl with wide eyes, still keeping tight hold of her upper arms. She wasn't sure if she wanted to keep hugging her or shake her silly.

"And you… you called Lord Raspaitin a bloody fool! An idiot! You yelled it right in his face. I heard you! Everyone heard you. Oh god, Elsa…"

Surely the prickly lord was never going to forget that, no matter what he had just said. He was not the sort of person who forgot things like that.

"So that was the infamous Lord Raspaitin?" Elsa finally said, her face grave, calculating.

"Yes, that was him," Anna confirmed, shaking her head and closing her eyes. "What a mess. I don't know what will come of this. Maybe nothing. Maybe I'm overthinking things. It's just," she opened them again, finding solace in the calm, deep blue of Elsa's eyes, "he's always frightened me, Elsa. He can't do anything to me, of course, but you…?"

Elsa seemed to understand what she was implying. Gently, she removed Anna's hold of her arms, taking her hands in hers. Her grip was warm and steady. She looked down at their joined hands for a moment, then back up, squeezing Anna's fingers reassuringly.

"I've heard of him, back in Northuldra… and yes, I think you're right to be cautious of that man. You have a very discerning nature. If he frightens you, then you should trust that instinct. I will have to be more careful myself, going forward."

Annoyance flashed across her face. Annoyance at herself, Anna thought.

"I should have guarded my tongue, but… I was upset. He could have hurt you very badly, had I not pulled you out of the way in time. Oh, I don't care what he said," she growled, "he was not in control of that horse. Still, it was a misstep, but this wouldn't be the first time my sharp tongue has gotten me in trouble. It will be okay, Anna."

Anna squeezed her hands back and smiled, touched by her anger on her behalf. She tried her best to look as though she believed her.

"I hope you're right."

"Me too," Elsa deadpanned, widening her eyes comically. It made Anna giggle, which had clearly been the other girl's goal, and some of her fear and lingering adrenaline from the hectic encounter lifted.

"I think I've had enough fun and excitement for one day," the princess bemoaned, forcing herself to release her grip. She couldn't keep clinging to Elsa all the time like she was her personal comfort blanket, though she sort of wanted to.

"It has been a rather long day."

"Let's go back to my rooms. I'll need to get cleaned up for dinner soon, anyways."

Her poor dress was probably going to need to be changed entirely. It was starting to look positively wrinkled. They kept mostly quiet as they walked now, both deep in their own thoughts. Something occurred to Anna as they drew closer to her rooms, however.

"Had he met you before?" she asked, not feeling the need to mention whom she was talking about. Elsa gave her a questioning look, however, so she added, "Lord Raspaitin. You seemed surprised to hear who he was, but… I could have sworn he recognized you. Or at least, he knew who you were, once he had got a good look at you. Something in his eyes."

Elsa considered this, not answering directly. Anna didn't press her, just continued to lead them onwards, waiting.

"I think you might be right. I think he was in the room during my initial… let's call it an interview… with the king, just after I arrived here. They were trying to figure out what use I might be. I believe I was a disappointment. I didn't tell them much beyond what I had already told the naval Captain earlier on the ship, and I wasn't fully myself yet. Your father did most of the talking, asked the most questions, but not all. I can't be certain, but something about his voice does seem familiar..."

She paused again, giving Anna a sharp look.

"His name was never spoken, though, so I couldn't have known. I would have remembered hearing that name."

If anything, this explanation only made Anna even more curious. Her father had said that he had talked with her new slave previously. Honestly, it made sense that they would have questioned any captured Northuldran, even if she was a sick, harmless young woman like Elsa. How else could they hope to be certain that she was safe to give to the royal princess as a slave? Some of the other things she had said piqued her interest, however.

"Is he so well known in the north, then? You said he was infamous. Why is that, exactly?"

They had reached her rooms now, but Anna paused at the door, searching her companion's face. In answer, the other woman simply sighed, suddenly looking deeply tired.

"Some other time, Anna. Please?"

There was such a weight of heavy weariness in her voice that the princess could do nothing but nod.