I do not own Frozen.

Set after Frozen II. Elsa is still the Queen of Arendelle.

There was a stillness in the air. Elsa walked slowly, taking it in. She loved those moments. Away from the burden of her duties as Queen, her responsabilities toward her people, toward her family. She loved her family to death of course, but she needed this. The calm, the solitude, she realized she needed it to be a better Queen, a better sister. So she decided to allow herself those moments of freedom in the enchanted forest. She had started coming here right after the awful events of the dam. Almost a year ago. It had been a difficult time, despite the happiness coming from Kristoff marriage proposal, Anna had been particularly distant with her sister for a few weeks after the events.

They had talked, a lot.

Elsa knew her sister was angry to have been put aside, angry at her because of the few hours she had thought she had lost her. The grief, the pain, Elsa knew what it felt, she had thought too she had lost Anna once.

Anna had demanded at the time that Elsa promised her to never leave her aside again but Elsa had refused. She was adamant she would always do anything in her power to protect her little sister from harm's way.

"You're a hypocrite!" Anna yelled.

Elsa tried to keep her composure, a challenge given her sister's attitude. She knew Kai was outside the door, that he could hear them. She trusted the man with her life but she was always careful to keep her and Anna's disagreement as a private matter. Anna had told her repeatedly that neither she or Kai or even Gerda cared, but Elsa was still very strict when it came to appearances.

"If I had done what you did, you would have have my head!"

She was not wrong, Elsa had to admit. Since becoming Queen, and a big sister to Anna, she had been very lenient toward her sister. She had made clear to everyone that she was Anna's sister first, her Queen second. There was things though that she would not tolerate and Anna knew well not to push her luck. "But it's you so it's ok!"

"This is my job Anna! As your older sister!" As your Queen, she tought but refrained from saying knowing it'd fuel Anna's anger.

"Yes well I need my sister to be alive!" Anna said banging her fist on Elsa's desk. The gesture surprised the Queen. She realized it surprised Anna too. They looked at each other, Elsa seeing just now the tears falling from her sister's eyes. She felt her heart tense at the sight. Anna pushed them away with her sleeve and without a word she left the Queen's study.

The strain in their relationship was also one of the reason Elsa had started to come in the Enchanted Forest. Both sisters needed space. There was many tough exchanges between them in the weeks following. In the end they had found commun ground. But Elsa knew that Anna would never understand that she would sacrifice herself without a second thought if it could save Anna, or her Kingdom. It was the job of an older sister and of a Queen.

It's getting late, she thought making her way back to the Northuldra. Upon arriving, she was greeted by Yelena.

"Inspecting the Forest I see?"

Elsa was not easily intimidated, but she had no shame admitting Yelena was scaring her a bit.

"I hope it's not a bother?"

"You are always welcomed here. You have a role to play, the spirits made it clear."

They were interrupted by said spirits which made Elsa chuckle.

"What is so funny, Your Majesty?"

Elsa turned around to see one of her other reason to come here. She couldn't help herself and smiled at the sight in front of her, Yelena completely forgotten. Honeymaren smiled in return.

"I thought you had forgotten about me." The Northuldra spoke playfully.

"I couldn't even if I tried and I haven't tried." She smiled again, before taking the woman in her arms. "I missed you." The Queen said fondly before kissing the woman. Here, the development of their relationship was known to all. They had turned around each other for a couple of months after their first meeting until Elsa made the first step. She wasn't known to rush to action like this, but with Honeymaren things were different. She was sure of her feelings for the woman, she was comfortable with her, and most of all she trusted her.

Elsa had been the one initiating the different steps in their relationship, Honeymaren always happy to oblige. The Queen had been surprised at how easy and natural it felt to be with Honeymaren. They didn't wait long after their first kiss to share a bed for the first time. A fact Anna was more than eager to point out.

"Really Elsa?"

"What?"

"I don't have enough fingers to count the time you told me AND Kristoff to not rush things and wait and to be married yada yada. And you, you jump in bed within 2 weeks of knowing the woman."

"My warnings was not about you two having sex Anna, but of you two not being careful and ending up with a pregnancy without even being married. I do not have this problem."

"Well Kristoff is so terrified of what you said to him, he refuses to touch me!"

"Anna, your future husband is himself very clear on the subject, he wants to wait to be married. I really didn't-"

"You two are so infuriating!"

Honeymaren had prepared a picnic, they were enjoying their evening under the stars, talking.

"Can you stay the night?"

Elsa winced a bit at the question. She had planned to go back to Arendelle tonight. Honeymaren picked up on the change in behavior.

"You can't." The words were said simply but Elsa felt guilty nonetheless.

"I'm sorry, I should have told you right away. I have an early meeting tomorrow morning." She knew Honeymaren understood but lately Elsa could not help herself, she felt guilty for the way she was treating the woman. She came here as often as she could, but it was always based on her schedule. Honeymaren was alaways the one who had to adapt. She had said several times that she understood, that she knew what it meant to 'date the Queen' but …

"I'm sorry"

Honeymaren frowned at the Queen's words. "Why?"

"I'm not here enough."

"I never said that"

"I know-"

"Then please Elsa don't put words in my mouth, or bad intention to my questions." Elsa felt the mood change. Seeing the frown on Honeymaren's face she knew she had made the woman angry.

"I'm sor-"

"You're sorry, yes." The Northuldra got up on her feet and started to clean up around her.

Dumbfounded by the turn of event, Elsa joined the dark haired woman. "Honeymaren, I didn't mean to make you angry."

But the woman didn't acknowledge her words. Elsa didn't know what to do, they never had a fight before, not even a disagreement. So, she stood there feeling stupid.

After a few minutes, Honeymaren finally stopped moving.

"You feel guilty, I can sense it, it was there a few weeks back too. But it's your guilt Elsa. I do not mind our 'arrangement', but you seem to be uncomfortable with it. I made it clear I knew what it meant to share a life with you. I'm in this relationship knowing that I have to share you with a Kingdom, with your family. When you say you're sorry to not be there, that makes me feel like I ask too much even though I don't ask! Your guilt makes me feel guilty and I don't like it. You cannot come here to put this on me."

Elsa looked at the woman, shocked by her words. "I … I just want to spend more time with you."

"I wish we could Elsa, of course, but I do not expect it. Even if we lived together, even if we were in Arendelle we wouldn't spend that much time together. Here Elsa, here we can be us, just us, even if it's a few days a month. You can be you, and not the Queen. It's not ideal but it's what we can have and I prefer that than not see you at all." If Honeymaren expected a reaction from Elsa she would have been disappointed given that the Queen was at a loss for words.

"I love you Elsa but you need to think about what you want, from this relationship, and for you. So please, go home, make a choice, and stop guiltying me." On that Honeymaren was gone, leaving the Queen in the middle of the forest, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks.

The next day, the Queen was in her study trying to concentrate on the mountain of work she had to finish before going to bed when her sister entered the room.

"Anna, how many times-"

"Yes, knock, well I knew you were alone, I asked Kai."

"Practice makes perfect Anna."

The Princess rolled her eyes at the oversused expression, something that was lost on the Queen who had not levelled her eyes from her papers.

"We need to talk" The Princess said seriously, still not receiving the attention she wanted from her sister.

"Anna, can this wait? I'm tired and as you can see I still have a lot of work to do before calling it a day." Tired was an understatement. After her fight with Honeymaren, she stayed in the enchanted forest pondering what she should do, follow the woman or go home. She chose to leave but couldn't find sleep. After her scheduled meeting in the morning, she spent her day here burying herself in work mostly as an alternative to moping. The result was that she hadn't left her study all day.

"It can't wait."

Finally taking a look at her sister, the Queen gasped, "What happened to you?!"

"Don't change the subject." In any other circonstances, Anna would have made sure to avoid her sister at least the time her cuts and bruises subsided but what she had gathered as information worried her about her sister so she took the risk. "I'm told you came home in the middle of the night."

Elsa almost laughed at the very serious tone of her little sister. "You're keeping tabs on me?" She asked faking indignation. The same indignation she had seen from Anna many times before when the young woman realized her sister had been informed of her various encounter with danger/injustice/adventures. Of course the Queen was kept informed of the whereabouts of her heir, something that Anna was reminded about often.

"I asked around" Anna answered her sister vaguely not wanting to loose her precious little spies.

"You realize the person or persons giving you these informations could be tried for treason?"

"What?" The young woman said shocked. "They've given them to me only, they would never tell anyone else!"

"Maybe I should-"

"I know what you're doing, stop trying to change the subject!" Anna finally said crossing her arms trying to convey authority.

All Elsa wanted to do was laugh, not at her sister but at how cute she was. Not what she is going for, she thought.

"What did you hear then?"

It took a second for Anna to realize she had won, that her sister finally relented and was giving her permission to go on with the reason she burst in the study in the first place.

"I heard that you came home in the middle of the night. I know you had planned to see Honeymaren."

"First I did not come home in the middle of the night. It was late but certainly not that late, or that early. And yes I went to the Enchanted Forest, mainly to see Honeymaren."

"What happened then? You would never take the risk to make the journey at night, alone at that."

Elsa frowned at that knowing Anna was right. Under normal circomstances she wouldn't have. Seeing the look of concern on her little sister face, the Queen gave up. She slouched in her chair, pinching her nose, wincing at the headache she knew was starting to build behind her eyes. "We fought."

"What, why?" The younger woman asked approaching her sister wanting to be close to her.

Elsa sighed, not knowing what to say to explain what had happened. "We were enjoying each other's company" she saw her little sister make a funny face, and corrected herself with annoyance "we were having a picnic Anna, outside under the stars, not having sex, god … !"

"Well you had not seen her for a few days-"

"Two weeks"

"Two weeks, so I don't find it crazy that would jump on her the moment you saw her. She is a beautiful woman after all."

Now, Elsa was massaging her temples, regretting having started this conversation. "Anna, seriously, someday I will find out who taught you to talk like a sailor, i'll find them and freeze them. Tell me at least that you refrain from using this language when you meet with dignitaries without me?"

"Only with you dear sister, I promise." Anna taped on her hand reassuring her sister. "So the picnic?"

Elsa sighed again. "Honeymaren asked if I could stay the night. She was just enquiring about my plans, and I realized I had not told her beforehand that I would not. I felt guitly so I apologized but she ..."

"Yes?"

"She didn't take it well. She thinks I feel guilty about our relationship, and that I make her somewhat responsible for the way I feel." How had she not seen this coming. "Then she told me to go home, that I needed to make a choice."

"What choice?"

"Accept what we have and let go of what I wished we could have but can't. Or refusing to accept it and probably lose her."

Anne kneeled down next to her sister, taking her hand. "I'm sorry Elsa."

Elsa turned her head to look her sister in the eyes, "She's right. I want more than what we have and I can't let go."

"She knows you're only hers in the Enchanted Forest and she's only yours." Shyly, the Princess looked down, "I sometimes wish that for Kristoff and I. In the long run, I think we would get tired of each other but I would like to have a special place too to share with Kristoff."

Moving a bit in her chair, Elsa put her hand under her sister's chin forcing her gently to look at her. "You never told me that."

Anna avoided her sister's stare, embarrassed. "It's a silly thought."

"No Anna, it's not. If someone can understand that, it's me. You should have your special place Anna, where you can escape with Kristoff and take time with each other away from here. This place can weigh on you sometimes."

"But-"

"No buts, find a place, order of the Queen." She smiled at her sister who engulfed her in a hug.

"I love you."

"I love you more" The Queen answered kissing Anna's forehead.

"You need to talk with Honeymaren. Communication is the cornerstone of an healthy relationship."

Elsa raised an eyebrow at her sister's words. Despite the fact they were still hugging each other, Anna seemed to sense the skepticism coming from her sister.

"Don't laugh, I read it in a book and your situation is proof that the book is right."

"You're probably right. I'll go tomorrow, talk to her and hope she had not-"

"Don't go there" Anna said dislodging herself from her comfortable position. "You love each other. I'm absolutely sure Honeymaren will be waiting for you."

"What would I do without you?" The Queen wondered initiating the hug this time.

"Not much, I can tell you." That earned her a laugh from her sister.

They cuddled together for a few minutes before Elsa was reminded of another matter.

"Should we talk about what happened to your face now?" She felt her sister's arms tighten around her keeping her prisoner of her embrace.

"No."

Elsa barely heard the answer.

"Why?"

"Because I'm comfortable. Besides you said you were tired. You can yell at me tomorrow."

"I don't yell."

"You will" The Princess said moving herself to make it even more difficult for Elsa to move and to avoid the look she was sure Elsa was throwing her.

A few minutes passed before Elsa spoke again. "You realize we will need to move to get to bed."

Receiving no answer from her sister, she sighed. The chair was not that comfortable, and Anna was crushing her, her body was starting to ache. "I promise I won't say anything if you let go of me."

A few seconds, that's all it took for Anna to dislodge herself from her sister, kiss her on the cheek, wish her a good night and be out of the study in a flash. She heard Kai outside warning her sister to not run in the corridors.

"Your Majesty," he said entering the study, "will it be all for tonight?"

The Queen thought for a moment. "Do you know what happened?" She asked, knowing the man would know of what she was talking about.

"I do Your Majesty. I would have told you sooner but Princess Anna asked to be the one to tell you."

"She played you, Kai."

"I realize that Your Majesty." Elsa could see a smile on his face. He bowed and left.

Elsa took a last look at the pile of reading she had to take care of and pushed it aside, "Tomorrow."