Chapter 5

A gentle rain pattered against the window as Elsa stared out into the blackness of the night. The only sound to be heard was the showers drizzling against the transparent panes. Otherwise the air was still, with most of the castle's occupants having retired for the evening. Apart from a solitary candle resting on her nightstand very few other lights could be seen in Arendelle as the city slumbered, though the occasional bolt of lightning would illuminate the fjord for the briefest of moments before darkness would come crashing back in. Then thunder's roar would sound, followed by silence and the soft patter on the window.

Completely lost in thought, Elsa noticed none of it. Not the feeble rain, nor the encroaching shadows or even the brilliant flashes from the heavens. Having changed into her nightgown and released her hair from its braid, she stood barefoot with a fist clutched to her chest while gazing aimlessly into the gloom. Her other hand absentmindedly tugged at a few strands of hair and if one listened closely they would hear the humming a listless tune between the silence and the storm. If one paid even closer one might even see a brief glimmer of orange light slip from between her fingers.

After a while her humming trailed off and she blinked a few times, retreating from her musings. The storm outside was gradually intensifying but she still didn't notice it, instead glancing down at her closed fist. Holding it out in front of her, she opened it to reveal her most prized possession. It was a small, immaculate sphere a little over a centimeter across and seemingly forged from glass. That is, if glass was filled with fire. Its interior was brimming with an eternal flame that flickered and throbbed just like a normal blaze. Letting off a gentle amber light, it also emanated a subtle aura of heat that warmed her palm and spread into her cool skin.

None of this made it special, though. Rather, it was where it had come from that made it very dear to her. Aaron had fashioned the orb for her with nothing but his own power and sheer will, somehow collapsing fire into a physical entity and despite the fact that he'd since offered to make others for her it wouldn't be the same. That was the first time she had seen what he could do with powers like hers with the will to use them and as a result her life had never been the same. If Aaron could manipulate his fire to change its very nature just imagine what she could do with her ice. Of course, it had taken over a decade for him to learn what he knew but the possibilities still seemed to be limitless.

Not that she was ready to venture into the more mysterious realms of her powers yet. Although she was more comfortable with them than she'd ever been, there was still so much about them that she didn't understand. The long winter had helped, with plenty of snow and ice to practice on and few people around to interfere but she had been unwilling to explore the stronger aspects for her abilities. After all, the last thing they needed was for her to trigger another ice age.

Elsa's eyes snapped up, staring into the night while straining her ears. She'd heard the faintest of whumps come from outside. Then a second one sounded, followed by another, slightly louder than the first. The fourth was followed by a faint amber glow streaming through the glass doors that lead to her balcony. In fact, the light was nearly identical to the shine emitting from the orb in her hand. A quiet thump sounded outside and the light extinguished itself. Then, after a brief pause, a knock came from the door.

Though there was only one possibility as to who it could be she waited until after hearing a second knock before quietly saying, "Enter." The only response was the door opening with barely a whisper and quiet footsteps crossing the room before a pair of familiar arms wrapped around her. An inadvertent smile crept across her face when she felt him press his lips against her hair to give her a tender kiss.

After breathing in a slow breath and letting it out in the form of a contented sigh his moved his mouth beside her ear and whispered, "I've missed that."

Placing her free hand over his and laying her head back so that it rested on Aaron's shoulder, Elsa tilted towards him to gaze longingly into his amber eyes. So warm and inviting, there was few things she enjoyed more than to lose herself within them. And, as usual, they almost seemed to smolder like a bed of hot coals but the longer she stared into them the more she could swear that they glowed with a light of their own. After a few moments where neither of them hardly blinked she quietly asked, "Missed what?"

That got a small smile as he replied, "The smell of your hair." When the only response he got was an incredulous look he shrugged and added, "You smell nice, sweety."

I… smell nice? Aaron had given her some odd complements in the time they'd been together but she'd never heard that one. Still, he did just pay me a compliment just because he could. "Do I?"

"Yeah." Tilting his head closer, she felt him draw in another long breath letting it out in a huff. Feeling his hot breath rush across her neck was enough to send an excited thrill through her and to give her skin a warm flush as her pulse quickened. Fortunately, though, he didn't seem to notice as he muttered, "It's actually kind of soothing. Like… lavender."

As he did this she found that she had to admit that she quite liked his scent as well. Being so close, it was easy for her to get a heady whiff of him just by inhaling. A smell unlike any other, it was a musky scent like that of dormant cinders that somehow managed to calm her mind yet also awaken a carnal desire deep within her. Of course, if she told him that she would never hear the end of it so instead she tried to push past the intoxicating aroma clouding her mind, quietly whispering the first thing that came to mind.

"I love you."

At first Aaron didn't react, pausing to place a delicate kiss on the side of her throat that gave her a thrilled tremble, but eventually he drew back to peer into her eyes again. However, this time the warmth of his eyes had given way to a burning intensity that seared into her and she could almost see the mounting passion bubbling just below the surface. When he pressed his lips to hers, though, it was a gentle yet lingering kiss that left her weak in the knees and her heart racing. While not as zealous as some of their other kisses he somehow managed to convey a fervent adoration that nearly coaxed out her more lascivious side.

When their lips parted his eyes returned to hers and he murmured, "I love you too, Snow Queen."

And, just like that, the mounting tension in the room suddenly became quite palpable. As though there was a powerful current coursing between them that beckoned her, that pulled at her and would, if she wasn't careful, sweep away all her inhibitions. In fact, had they been at her ice palace, just the two of them, she might have actually given in to with the swelling tide. To let the night carry them to whatever fantastical places they might go. To finally be with him in the way that she so craved…

But they weren't at her ice palace and it wasn't like she could just forget who she was for a night. After all, she was the queen of Arendelle, which meant exhibiting at least some manner of restraint. Not participating in a torrid night with her beloved. Even if she really, really wanted to. Just imagine if someone heard us! How disastrous that would be. There's no way we could… ever do… something… like that…

Despite these thoughts she was still gazing into Aaron's sweltering eyes, causing such worries to drift away. They almost seemed to be hypnotizing her and eventually she realized she had no choice but to look away. Either that or give in. However, it was only when she glanced down at the floor that she noticed the large smile pulling at her lips and that her heart was racing in her chest faster than it ever had before. Get ahold of yourself, she thought, trying to push such thoughts to the back of her mind. That wasn't made any easier when Aaron chuckled and gave her cheek a quick peck before resting his chin on her shoulder. Having him so close only served to stoke her urges, especially since she hadn't seen him for a few days.

"What have you got there, love?"

She'd closed her eyes in an effort to collect herself and cracked one open to see that he was giving her other hand a curious look, which she'd inadvertently squeezed back into a fist. Elsa was going to ask how he knew she was holding something but quickly realized that he must have sensed the fire within the flame shard in the same way she could detect frost. So, instead of questioning it, she opened her hand and said, "Something you might recognize."

Aaron's eyes lit up as soon as he saw the little orb, his smile broadening. "I didn't know you kept this."

"Of course I did," replied Elsa, also looking at the sphere. "It was the first thing you ever gave to me. As if I could ever throw it away."

As they looked at the flame shard she noticed a steady warmth spreading through him, starting in his core and cascading into his extremities. It flowed down his arms like a molten surge and pooled in his hands. And all the while the shard responded. At first there was only a faint glimmer in its core, throbbing under Aaron's influence. But, as she watched, its light gradually grew until it was shining like a fallen star. Oddly enough, though, even when it was burning brighter than ever it became no hotter than normal. Then, just as quickly as it came, he released the flow and let the shard return to its natural state.

After waiting for it to return to its natural glow Elsa glanced back at Aaron with a smirk. "Show off."

"Oh please," he sniped, giving her a small squeeze. "Like you never show off."

"I would never!" Feigning indignation, she gave him a scornful look. "My powers are far too precious to squander on such petty displays."

After shaking his head and chuckling he gave her neck another peck, causing her scowl to falter. "Sure, love. Sure."

Before he could give her another she quickly excised herself from his embrace, in need of a respite before her excitement became too much to control. Her skin was beginning to crawl with an itch she couldn't scratch but Aaron could. Now it was slowly burrowing into her mind, preventing her from thinking about anything else. Calm down, Elsa, she thought as she walked over to her nightstand. What's with you tonight?

She gave the sphere one last glance before setting it on the table, where it continued to glimmer in the dark. Turning back, she saw that Aaron was looking out into the storm, a distant look in his eye. As though he'd suddenly become years older than he actually was. Feeling uncertain, she quietly crossed the room and placed a hand on his, giving him a concerned look. "Is everything okay?"

Fortunately, when he looked at her his mouth curved up in a smile and he shook his head. "Just tired is all. It's been a long day."

"And tomorrow will be even longer. Maybe you should have gone to bed."

After regarding her for a moment he shrugged. "Perhaps. But before I do I wanted to spend some time with the person who matters to me most."

Elsa silently gazed into his eyes for a moment, letting only the rain speak at they stared at each other. She knew that they both needed their rest for the coming days but his words caused such a stirring in her heart that she was unwilling to say goodbye just yet. So, instead, she took his hand in both of hers and, while looking down at them, quietly asked, "Why not do both?"

The silence resumed for a few moments as she continued to contemplate their joined hands until she couldn't take it any longer. Glancing back up, she expected him to give her an excited or amused look, or at least bemused. But he was none of those. Instead he continued to watch her closely with a thoughtful expression and when her eyes timidly met his again his mouth turned up in a tender smile that just melted her trepidations away.

Slowly, gingerly, she took a step backward, towing him along with her. He gave no resistance, simply allowing her to guide him with his eyes never leaving hers, until Elsa felt her leg brush up against her bed. Her heart gave a small jump at the contact but by then she was so deep into Aaron's eyes that the anxiety soon wafted away. Gradually backing onto the silken sheets, still moving leisurely, she waited until she was kneeling on them to pull him towards her. Once again he followed without question, sitting down beside her, only this time he leaned in towards her.

However, before he could make any moves, she placed a hand on his shoulder and gave her head a minute shake. Not yet. Coming to a halt, he give her a puzzled look but still said nothing, silently waiting for her to continue. Though her heart was beginning to rise towards a heightened frenzy his unquestioning patience helped to sooth her climbing pulse as she continued to push until he lay back against the pillows. His eyes remained fixed on hers, now with a hint of amusement, when she also lay down beside him. Only then did she break eye contact, resting her head on his chest before letting out a content sigh.

Outside the storm had steadily intensified, with the rain continuing to fall between the odd bolt of lightning. Inside the room, though, the air was completely still. The only sign of the storm was its pattering on the window and the occasional flash of light. Otherwise one might not even have known it was raining. Letting her eyes droop shut, Elsa blocked it all out, focusing on a single sound. The rhythmic beating of Aaron's heart.

To be honest, it reminded her of him. Strong. Constant. Unwavering. A peaceful island in an ever worsening sea to which she could retreat to in order to escape life's thrashing waves, if only for a moment. Here, in Aaron's arms, she felt safe. As though he would somehow protect her from all the hardships the world could throw at them.

She was about to let out another sigh but it died away when she heard him give a subtle snore. It took her another moment or two to realize that Aaron had actually fallen asleep. Instead of feeling irritated or angry, though, Elsa had to suppress a laugh so as not to wake him as she propped herself up on an elbow. After hearing the snore she'd intended to give him a prod followed by a playful scolding for drifting off during their moment but those urges quickly faded with one look at his face. He looks so… peaceful, she thought, brushing some stray strands of hair away from his face. Always so busy caring about me and looking after the people of Arendelle.

After marveling at his dozing form for a minute or two she eventually decided to let him sleep rather than waking him and squander the opportunity. Who knew when they'd get another opportunity to sleep in the same bed together. It certainly didn't hurt that having his warm presence beside her always lead to a deep and restful sleep filled with rousing dreams. However, as she was going to lie back down, Elsa realized that she couldn't resist giving him a kiss goodnight first.

Moving slowly, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his as softly as possible. Despite her efforts, though, she still felt him stir at her touch and made to pull away. But before she his hand slid behind her neck, holding her in place for a moment longer. Even while groggy he still managed to instill some passion into the kiss and once again rouse the desires that lay dormant within her.

And, for once… she actually was actually entertaining the idea of indulging in them. After all they were lying in her bed together and Aaron had made it clear on multiple occasions that he had no qualms with having that kind of relationship with her. Well… maybe just this once it wouldn't be so bad if we… That thought quickly trailed off when he abruptly broke away with a chuckle.

"What's so funny?" she asked, her curiosity piqued as her finger absentmindedly traced patterns on his chest.

Shrugging, he replied, "I just realized that I was woken up with a kiss. Then a thought crossed my mind."

Her finger paused. "What thought?"

Aaron had been staring at her bed's canopy as he spoke but let out another chuckle before looking back at her and saying, "That I wouldn't mind being woken up like that more often."

"Perhaps I should do that more often," she purred, flashing him a mischievous wink before glancing towards the window. I can't believe I said that. What's gotten into me?

"In that case…" His fingers gently caressed her chin and brought her eyes back to his. "Can I have another?"

That got a laugh from her as she shook her head. Aaron could be subtle when he wanted to, playing with mind games to coax her into going along with him, and other times he'd just blatantly ask for what he wanted. She wasn't sure which she liked better but in this case she was more than happy to grant his wish. "I don't see why not."

Closing her eyes and leaning in, Elsa intended to give him a gentle kiss only to find that his patience was running thin. His lips were much more ravenous than before, begging for more. Ordinarily she would have subdued him, calmed things down a bit before proceeding. But not tonight. Tonight her heart was running wild with her mind desperately trying to keep up.

Once more he cupped the back of her neck, but his other hand slowly trailed down along her spine before stopping in the small of her back. Then he made his move. Her heart leapt into her throat as he leisurely rolled so that they switched places, pressing her into the pillows. If Elsa was anxious earlier then it was nothing compared to what she felt now as he began to explore her. But, no matter how nervous she was, she just couldn't get over how exhilarating it felt to have Aaron caressing her thigh. In turn the distracting itch within her had become a dull ache, a burning that was only fueled by his questing lips. It had started deep within her only to spread outward into every fiber of her being, a raging fire that needed to be quenched.

No matter how hot her body became, though, it was nothing compared to Aaron's. His skin was scorching, searing her trembling flesh with every touch and yet, even though it was nearly painful, she couldn't get enough. Each brush of his fingers sent sparks ripping through her while his lips burned into hers. Then, just when she felt she couldn't take anymore, his lips slipped away from hers, migrating to the eagerly awaiting flesh of her neck. And… that was it. Whatever tattered thoughts that were still drifting around her mind were instantly vaporized as her strength fled. All she could do was try to endure the barrage of ecstasy overwhelming her senses.

…And then, just like that, he stopped with a grunt. She was about to ask him why when he laughed openly. Concern flashed through her as she opened her eyes. Why's he laughing? Did I do something wrong? She had her answer as soon as she saw that he was looking down and followed his gaze, letting out a surprised, "Oh."

In her excitement Elsa had clutched Aaron closer to her, which only seemed to encourage him. At the same time, though, twin waves of frost had crawled outward from her, completely covering the front of his tunic. Though it melted away at his touch it still looked like he'd been caught in a blizzard. Then she noticed tendrils of rime snaking away from her over the sheets, creating a shimmering web around them. In her excitement her powers had apparently responded with great enthusiasm and she'd simply ignored them. "Sorry," she mumbled sheepishly, waving the frost away with a flick of her hand. "I guess I just got a little carried away."

"Good."

Now that was not what she was expecting. Maybe frustration or at least mockery, not encouragement. Yet when she looked back at him all she saw was a charming smile, which did nothing for her confusion. "Good? How so?"

"Means you're enjoying yourself," he replied softly, his grin broadening. "Just be sure not to freeze me solid."

An inadvertent smile of her own crossed her face as Elsa whispered, "No promises."

That smile, however, faded just as quickly as it came as she tried to suppress her mounting embarrassment. I can never afford to lose control like that. Not ever, no matter what. Even if she was more in tune with her powers than ever before they were still dangerous, especially if she just let them roam free. And though Aaron was resilient to them he was still vulnerable. If it was all the same to him, nearly killing him once was more than enough for a lifetime.

All the while, as these thoughts passed through her mind, Aaron was watching her closely. He was always so good at knowing what she was thinking and it seemed that this time was no different when he said, "Its fine, Elsa. You just got a little… riled up."

Letting out a weary sigh, she shook her head. "Maybe so, but that's no excuse. I can't just let my powers go, even when you're… distracting me. I mean, look at what nearly happened last time I did. The world nearly came to an-"

Her ramble was abruptly cut off when he pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. His voice became incredibly gentle as he muttered, "Shh. I thought I told you not to think like that." As he spoke his hand moved to caress her cheek.

There was something about his touch that Elsa just didn't understand. It always managed to excite or calm her, sometimes both, and even now managed to leech away some of her anxiety. Not all of it, though. "You did. But-"

She was once again cut off by his finger as he softly said, "But nothing. Your powers are a part of you, Elsa. Just like you're part of them. As long as you can control yourself you can control them."

"I know. But…" She trailed off when she realized that she was about to say something very embarrassing, her cheeks taking on a pinkish hue.

He waited until it became clear that she didn't want to continue before giving her a small prod. "Go on."

"I…" No, I can't say that, Elsa thought, pushing the thought back. Not even when he's looking at me like that…

Aaron's eyes seemed to have locked onto hers, preventing her from looking away. He knew all too well that the longer she stared into his eyes the more her reluctance would crumble so he kept her fixated with those amber orbs, whispering out a hushed, "Yes?"

Unfortunately, when Aaron wanted something he had a way of just doggedly pursuing it until he got it so the only option was to give in now or to give in later. There was no way he was going to let something like this go. Steeling herself, it took a moment but she eventually managed to mutter, "I… can't always control myself around you." Hearing herself say it out loud caused the pink in her cheeks to give way to a deeper scarlet blush and she found that she just had to glance away from him, fighting back a smile that she knew would only make her look foolish.

As she expected, his first response was to laugh followed by a confident, "Oh, I know you can't." Then he added, "However, it sounds like you're blaming me for your little outburst."

"Of course it's your fault!" she replied, giving him a smirk of her own. "If you hadn't been distracting me with those confounded lips of yours it wouldn't have happened."

Smirking, he shrugged and confidently replied, "Well, in that case you're welcome."

There it was again. Just when Elsa was feeling unsure or vulnerable he was able to sooth her fears back down with nothing more than his presence and a few well-chosen words. At the very least her embarrassment had managed to force her cravings back into their cage. For now, anyway. Even so, this evening had become so much more than she expected. After all, here she was, lying in bed in the arms of the man she loved. If only it didn't have to end.

"What are you thinking about?" Aaron asked, cutting in on her thoughts.

"Nothing. I just… wish this moment would never end."

"It doesn't have to."

A pang of sorrow entered her at that as she gave him a sad smile. "But it does."

Several seconds ticked by with Aaron saying nothing, his eyes suddenly becoming guarded. Eventually he quietly asked, "Meaning?"

Shrugging, Elsa tried to appear nonchalant as she replied, "We both have a very busy day tomorrow. And you haven't gotten a proper night's sleep in days."

Still he remained nonplused. "Your point being…?"

"That maybe you should go so we can both get some sleep."

He continued to give her a hard stare for a moment longer before dropping his eyes with a sigh. "Sure you don't want me to stay?"

Rolling her eyes, Elsa shook her head. "Please. With you here there's no way I'll be able to fall asleep." Which, of course, was a downright lie. Having Aaron around always lulled her into a serene state of mind that made sleep easy. Not to mention that having him leave would only make it harder to drift off but it wasn't worth the risk. What if someone caught him leaving? She doubted even he would be able to talk his way out of that one.

"Fine. I'll go. But I want it made clear that I'm only going because you want me to. If I had it my way I'd be staying."

Think you can outromance me? I can do you one better. Giving him the most earnest look she could muster, she whispered, "And if I had it my way you'd sleep here every night."

At first it looked like that was the wrong thing to say, since it made Aaron look very reluctant to leave. Then, just when she was sure he wouldn't more, he gave a long, slow blink and replied, "One day." Leaning in, he gave her one last kiss before sitting up and heaving himself off the bed. Standing next to the night stand, he stared down at the little flame shard with a smile on his face before looking back at her and saying, "Goodnight, my queen. Sweet dreams."

"Goodnight, love."

When she continued to lie on the sheets staring up at him he gave an exacerbated sigh and quipped, "No, don't get up. I'm sure I can find my way out on my own."

Shaking her head again, she playfully replied, "Let me know if you get lost."

That got another chuckle as he turned to head for the door. As he went he passed his hand over the lone candle, which quickly sputtered and died to welcome the night's shadows into the room. However, when he opened the door to the balcony he didn't immediately step outside. Instead he lingered in the doorway for a moment, gazing back at her with those amber eyes of his, before stepping out into the storm and closing the door behind him. The orange glow shined through the glass paneling again but quickly faded again as the night settled back in. And just like that, he was gone.

Elsa lay there for a while, staring at the door, almost wishing that he'd step back through it. This evening certainly hadn't gone the way she'd expected and as such when she rolled onto her side to drift off into sleep a delicate smile was still tugging at her lips. In fact, it had nearly gone better than she possibly could have dreamed. Oh well. Always next time. Even if she did miss Aaron she would always have a piece of him nearby. Still sitting on her night stand, the flame shard glinted at her in the darkness.