Anna sighed softly to herself, leaning lightly on her crossed knee with her folded arms. Elsa had gone to converse with a few of the council members even though they were supposed to be on a recess. The words she'd whispered to her replaying in her mind on repeat. The more she digested them the more she didn't fault her sister from pulling away from her under the guise of duty.

It was clear that she'd hurt her sister's feelings but her own had been hurt too. Wasn't she allowed to express herself as well? Of course, she knew that Elsa would never deny her that privilege but she also knew that she had about as much tact as a stable-hand down at the pub.

Another sigh sagged her shoulders and she let herself lay back against the leather cushions, her eyes tracking her sister's movements as her mind continued to turn. It wasn't that she didn't want to be Queen. It wasn't like she wouldn't take the responsibility seriously or that she wouldn't do anything to keep the people of Arendelle safe and happy. She just…didn't want Elsa to give up the title without really taking the moment to understand her side of things. Or so she believed, though something deep down in her soul was crying out for her attention. For a deeper meaning to why she felt so resistant to accepting the title. After all, who was she? Just a spare, an heir. Nothing more, nothing less.

Anna's eyes grew darker as she watched her sister move. How tightly her body was wound. How strict her back was when she spoke to people she had no reason to fear. People who had stood beside her every decision for the last six years. Yet still, there was a wall between them. A fear that could barely be seen by way of the minor tick of her right eye. In the way, she still wrung her hands when trying to speak. After all they'd been through, after everything they'd learned about themselves, Elsa was still…afraid…

Elsa glanced slightly behind her, feeling the weight of her sister's eyes on her back. She tried not to look worried but it was an impossible task given the information she was presently being given. She forced her eyes back to Raik her lips pursing as he finished. She nodded her head slightly, unsure of what else could be said at that moment before she turned and made her way to the next member of the council who had something more private to share.

Anna frowned even deeper; whatever was being shared with her sister didn't look good. Her body itched to come to its feet, to try and find out what could be the cause but her mind had other things to worry about. Though try as she might, her own introspective thoughts eluded her. Constantly turning back towards Elsa and the prison that she seemed to be trapped inside. So deep was the impossible tunnel that she'd found herself falling into, she'd not noticed the passing of time, nor her sister's approach.

"Anna?" Elsa's eyes shifted away even though she spoke to get her sister's attention, her focus on the men and women of the council who seemed very content on relaxing as long as possible. No doubt their break would be at least an hour-long, possibly even longer as she noticed the clock and the tell-tale grumbling in her stomach that was signaling lunch's approach.

"Hm?" Anna took a small tart from the tray being offered to her, having declined breakfast in her haste to get to the meeting. She took a small bite as she returned her focus to Elsa who seemed to be looking so far away she might as well have been in another country.

"Could I show you something?" Elsa offered out the tray towards one of the servants who was waiting to be of use along the wall. The young boy took it with a small bow before hastily moving away to give the sister's privacy.

"Of course." Anna offered a small smile and took the hand on offer, bringing herself to her feet. Though she did lower her head down to her palm that was unnaturally cold though Elsa had already released her to walk back towards the council room. A frown began to form as she licked the crumbs from the corner of her lips and moved to follow. She motioned slightly to one of the other servants setting down the pastry on the tray before slipping through the left-open door.

Elsa waited patiently behind the large ornate desk that had become her second home, the papers over the surface neatly stacked and organized. She waited just long enough for Anna to close the door before leaning down to pull open one of the bottom drawers, the key clicking loudly in the lock before she pulled it open.

"What's that?" Anna moved around the side of the desk, tilting her head at her father's crest that had been embossed into the cover.

"Father's personal journal." Elsa's lips ticked just a little. She'd been slowly making her way through the series over the last six years. It was one of many in which her father had recorded his personal thoughts. Though most of the others had recounted his courtship with their mother the latter ones had been more informative on what it meant to him to be King and how he reasoned out his decisions. It was a perfect guide to any monarch. It was also a look into the past without the risk of death.

"I've not seen this one…" Anna, of course, knew of the journals, she'd been forced to read through so many in her youth. She was sure Elsa had too, the office study filled floor to ceiling with all the prior monarchs writings. Only for those of royal blood to see.

"It was the one he'd not finished yet…" Elsa took a small breath and opened it, the binding was still rather stiff and the noise it made her fingers twitch, her body wound up so tight from having to mingle with the council, "It was still in his desk when I…."

Anna offered her the best reassuring smile she could before moving just a bit closer. She wasn't sure why but she just wanted to pull Elsa into a tight embrace and never let her go. She could almost feel the vibration of suppressed magical energy in the air. It was enough to raise the hairs on her arms as she leaned over the desk to take a look at the now-open page.

Elsa has not left her room for nearly six months now. Iduna and I have grown worried that perhaps there is nothing more we can do to help her control this curse. That everything we've been working towards all these years has been for naught.

There have been whispers from the neighboring lands about our inquires into the magical realm. A bid for power they say but we cannot defend ourselves so long as we remained a closed Kingdom. Even our closest trade partners are beginning to ask for more than what we can supply in the way of answers.

The suitors that have written are no longer seeking Elsa's hand but Anna's. She is still young but I believe there is at least some hope that we would be able to find her a suitable prince. Though I wish for her to marry for love above all else, how will she ever get the chance so long as we keep her locked inside this castle?

Elsa has made it painfully clear that she has no interest in any of the very suitable young men who have written to her, and now she refuses to even accept letters, cordial or otherwise. Sadly, this is doing nothing but to increase tensions between trade partners, or those who would wish to be our partners.

My greatest fear, however, is that my eldest daughter might not live to the end of this year. More and more whispers from the guards and the staff have brought rising concerns to her safety even within these walls. Not only from those who might seek to understand why she is isolated, but also, sadly, by her own hand. Even the briefest lapse of concentration seems to be risky for her now, and my wife and I have noticed far too many burns from ice that I care to think about.

Our research has produced nothing but a prophecy of doom. I fear her fate may already be sealed by the powers that she still struggles to control. There is nowhere she can go now, that her fear does not completely overtake her. How we have failed her so deeply, how I wish I could re-write history. To find a way to rid her of this wretched ice. To bring back my beautiful moon.

Anna could feel tears burning her eyes as she continued to read, the tears of another having already milked the ink in some places. Despite the rising emotion in her throat, her lips began to move outside of her command, her voice soft and heavy, "Anna, my second born, is our only hope now. Her light and love will bring in a new era for Arendelle. We must turn our efforts and attention to her. We have one more effort to save Elsa, one last chance to get this right for her. If we fail, we must prepare both sisters for what the future must be…We need to make sure she's ready for what needs to be done. There is no doubt in my mind now that Anna will be the true Queen of Arendelle…"

Elsa held her breath as she watched a myriad of emotions cross over her sister's face. The one she hadn't expected however, was the pure fury that twisted her beautiful features. Her chest tightened and her entire body jumped when Anna closed the book with a sharp snap, her body instinctively taking a small step back so as to better observe her sister.

"Why do you do this to yourself?" Anna's voice was a dangerous whisper, her body frozen in place as she forced the words through her clenched throat. Her eyes staring so hard at the wood of the desk that had she had any powers at all it surely would have exploded.

"Do what?" Elsa's own voice was nothing more than a wisp along the wind, her throat thick as she held herself even tighter. Her large eyes trying to catch her sister's own but failing.

"Make yourself seem worthless?" Her fingers curled into the leather binding, the pain and unbridled rage in her chest making the air in her lungs burn.

"I'm not...?" Elsa made to approach but found herself only rocking on her feet, her voice too weak to properly put up a defense. Not that she had much of one to begin with.

"You are...This... Why would you show me this?" Anna took a slow breath to try and calm herself; though her volume had grown more level, her heart still hurt in ways she could hardly describe.

"I just...wanted you to know how much mother and father believed in you..." Elsa lowered her eyes towards the journal. It wasn't the first time she'd read about herself from her parent's eyes. Though her mother had remained hopefully optimistic about her circumstance, much like Anna, her father had slowly grown more pessimistic and resigned with each passing year.

"No, I get that—but you know what? They're dead." The words felt like poison on her tongue but her heart felt more than vindicated, "I couldn't care less what they thought of me." She turned to face Elsa now; the book that had been kept with reverence being thrown haphazardly across the desk, knocking over a stack of something that was surely important. A small figurine, that she'd always admired as a child when she'd come to play in the room while her father worked toppling to the floor. It was the perfect metaphor for the storm raging inside her now.

Elsa was nearly ready to curl inside herself at the tantrum, her eyes shutting tight to the sound of porcelain shattering. All the strength she'd managed to gather during their trip to the Enchanted Forest the only thing keeping her on her feet now. When warm fingers curled with bruising force into her arms she found herself staring deeply into endless pleading eyes of blue, her heart skipping with how they glistened with unshed tears.

"I only want to know what you think of me," Anna could not resist the urge to shake her sister, wanting her arms to release her sides, to stand tall like she knew she could. She didn't want to hear anything more about how unworthy her sister was of her position. How broken she seemed to be— because to her—she was anything but, "Because you're here with me; right here, right now. I don't want to lose you over this or for anything else."

Elsa swallowed just a little, the air between them growing colder but not enough to freeze, just enough to notice, "I think, Arendelle would be blessed to have a Queen like you." She sniffled just a touch, raising her arms hesitantly to Anna's elbows, "You were born for this. It comes naturally to you. I've seen it, and I'm sure you have too—but you are so wonderful with everyone. It's….truly amazing how well you take control and think things through and…you know where the danger lies and…how to avoid it…You're so strong and confident in your beliefs. There isn't anyone who could shake your core…You're what it means to be a Queen…"

If only Anna could see her as she did. The strength that had come to her shoulders, the determination in her jaw and the love in her eyes. Everything a good queen embodied. Everything Elsa could simply not bring to the table. It just wasn't in her nature. Yes, she was capable of putting on a charade but it took years and years of training, endless tears, and immeasurable amounts of stress. Yet, there Anna sat, comfortable with herself and those around her.

Though Ahtohallan had shown her what it would mean to believe in herself and in her powers; it also showed her what she was truly capable of, what she could become. If she just allowed herself. How she could bring the world together without bearing the weight of a crown she had never wished to wear. It was her duty, a solemn oath that was prepared to live and die by but it wasn't what she wanted to be. What she was meant to be. What she could be.

The world needed Anna more. They needed her love and determination to do what was right. It didn't need any more power; there was plenty of that to go around. No, what the world and Arendelle needed most was a Queen who was led by the power of love, not the sharpness of ice.

Anna's hold relaxed to the confession, "Thank you…" Anna sniffled just a bit wiping at her tears before reaching out to thumb away Elsa's own, "I just…I needed to hear that from you…"

The world around them seemed to tunnel down to just the two of them. Each one going through their own emotional turmoil before their hands met between them. Their fingers lacing together as they took the time needed to just find the right words to say.

"I mean it…you won't be alone…I know that there are things that I need to do elsewhere…but…I'll always find a way to you when you need me. There is nothing nor no one who would ever keep me from your side." Elsa held on tighter, her eyes focused somewhere between them.

"I know that. I knew that from the moment we first talked about this…I was going to tell you today that I was ready to take this on. That I was ready to do this. Not just for the Kingdom. Not for Mother or Father…but for us." Anna ducked her head to try and catch Elsa's eye, "I love you, for all that you're meant to be and if that means that I wear the crown and you dance in under the stars, then I'm ready for it. Wholly and truly."

Elsa finally raised her head to meet her sister's gaze, the love between them stronger than the mightiest sword, taller than the highest mountain, deeper than the darkest sea. Distance made no difference when it came to the bond between them. Either one would move heaven and earth just to see that the other was where they needed to be, that they never felt alone. It was their secret promise.

oOOo

"This council, is officially resumed." Elsa took her place with a barely audible sigh, her eyes flicking over to Anna who sat down with near-perfect grace. It was hard to believe that nearly three years ago the young princess was tripping over her own skirts and yet now she sat nearly as perfect as she. Though Elsa was able to see the subtle shifting as the younger adjusted to the hardness of the chairs, she'd definitely grown into a very respectable woman of privilege.

Elsa pursed her lips as she looked out at the council. Now standing as the meeting had resumed though she held in her hand the papers for her abdication. Anna was nearly vibrating in her seat at her right, her jaw set as they both awaited the result of the right thing in their life.

Elsa took a steadying breath and set her shoulders, "I'm sure some of you might find the information about to be shared with you to be oncoming. Though some of you might have objections, take note that this decision has not been made in haste," She glanced at Anna who nodded ever so slightly for her to continue, " As of this day, I am hereby renouncing my right to the crown and abdicating to my sister; the next in line and heir— Anna of Arendelle."