Kaya easily avoided another clumsily thrown punch. After dodging the closed fist just long enough to have it sail safely past her right cheekbone, she turned slightly and grasped the slender wrist and forced it behind her charge's back.

It was obvious to Elsa that her captain was significantly holding back on her. She didn't know whether to be insulted or glad about that fact. She knew there was no way she could ever hold her own in a fight against someone as experienced as Kaya without using her magic.

With her wrist forced up in what seemed like an attempt to have that hand reach the back of her head, Elsa's shoulder strained slightly at the pressure. Still, she knew Kaya could make it a lot worse. She would've almost rejoiced at the closeness that she and the object of her recent infatuation now shared. Kaya was not even breathing hard, while Elsa's chest heaved as she tried to regain her breath.

Behind her, Kaya frowned. This was going nowhere. These sessions, requested by the queen herself, were going to be a waste of both hers and said queen's time if the royal didn't start taking this seriously.

It was beyond Kaya what the merit was of an already-discovered-and-accepted magic-user learning hand-to-hand combat. Elsa insisted it was because she 'couldn't very well spar using her magic' with someone who couldn't fight back. The ignorance of the queen, through no fault of her own, had almost made her break down laughing right then and there. Instead, she had accepted the queen's request to be a sparring partner/teacher.

In Palladon and the surrounding kingdoms, Kaya had not been famous by name, but her skill and magic certainly had drawn equal shares of fear and admiration from both enemies and allies alike. Because no-one knew her name (her soldiers had simply called her by her title, 'Vanliga', at that point), she could travel without drawing too much attention. When she did need to fight, she did so without her powers as much as possible. Thus, she needed to be able to fight without her magic to be able to travel by herself. Elsa had no need for that with the knowledge of her powers already out in the open.

And as nice as being physically close, if only briefly, to Elsa might be, Kaya was sure that both she and Elsa had better, more productive ways they might be spending their time. Namely, getting in more training sessions for Loren so he could take over after the soldiers had learned all she could teach them. Arendelle's security would be in their own hands from there.

Not that she really wanted to leave. In the past weeks, she'd grown closer with both her charges that she trained and the royals she protected alike. If she were being honest with herself, she was growing used to the constant peace that seemed to invade Arendelle's atmosphere. It was inexplicably contagious to Kaya, especially since she had been groomed from birth to take her father's place in commanding his armies, which she did, eventually.

She and Elsa had gotten closer as well, but Kaya wasn't convinced that the newly shortened distance between the two of them was for the best. She was a warrior, with instincts honed and sharpened like the sword that she wore tied at her waist. She was the ruler of Arendelle, kind, beautiful, diplomatic, and most of all, pacifistic. They were all wonderful qualities in Kaya's view, especially in the quantities that Elsa held them, but Kaya had no place at the side of someone so reluctant to hurt someone else. Elsa's fear of conflict was endearing, but that reluctance to defend herself wouldn't be an asset if someone were to physically attack her, especially if that time came after Kaya had left Arendelle for good.

"I think we should stop." Kaya carefully disguised the disappointment in Elsa's progress. The Pallidonian was convinced that Elsa had a talent for combat hidden deep down. So deeply, Kaya was certain, it only surfaced when her life was truly in danger. Elsa had indeed improved from when they'd started, but she still held back.

"One more time." Elsa pleaded, readying the stance that Kaya had taught her and prepared another strike.

Look at her, all ready to go again. Orinda whispered snidely. I have to say I'm always impressed at the stamina you seem to inspire out of beautiful women.

Kaya shook Orinda's voice out of her head. "This isn't working."

"What?" Elsa knew that Kaya had held back, but why would she stop?

Kaya tried not to glare accusingly at the queen. "You obviously know how to use your magic to defend yourself, so I'm not worried about your innate lack of talent for hand-to-hand combat."

Elsa pointedly ignored the thinly-veiled insult. "So what is it?"

Her captain, astonishingly, looked bored and irritated at the same time.

"You lack of conviction is a problem." She said scathingly. "You aren't fighting me like your life depends on it."

Elsa laughed. "Because it doesn't." She stopped giggling at the expression on Kaya's face, an expression that plainly said that Kaya was not amused in the least by her joke. "Isn't the point of this just to learn how? I don't have to want to kill you to learn how to defend myself," She hesitated. "Do I?"

Kaya mentally rolled her eyes. "The reality that I'm not trying to hurt you makes no difference; it's not the point." She narrowed her eyes. "The point is to visualize this situation as dangerous as possible, so you know how to deal not only with your opponent, but also the rush that comes with fighting that opponent."

"What do you mean?"

"Sparring with me isn't the same as fighting someone like an assassin." She sighed and shook her head again. "I guarantee being in a fight with an assassin will be a lot different."

Elsa looked properly chastised.

"If you don't fight seriously now, you won't be able to do it when it really counts."

"I-" Elsa looked up to find the other woman already coming at her again. She gasped and tried to evade.

"Maybe I overestimated you." Taunting the queen into anger (and thus a serious use of her abilities) wasn't the first idea that had come to mind, but it was the one she was going with. "You're just not cut out for this. You're the Queen of Arendelle, you really think you'll ever have to fight your own battles?"

Kaya scoffed, ignoring the slight furrowing of the queen's brow. "It doesn't matter what you do, you'll never look like anything else to other kingdoms but a sheltered," Kaya blocked a punch. "Weak," And another. "Immature queen who doesn't know the first thing about war or conflict."

That did it. Elsa took all the physical power she possessed and threw all of it into one swift, high kick that would have knocked Kaya off her feet if her years of training hadn't kicked in at the last second.

Kaya knew she had a look of mild surprise on her face as she looked at where she grasped Elsa's thin ankle, stopping it mere inches before it hit her square in the face. She almost smiled. Elsa's initial form for the attack had been flawless, using everything Kaya had taught her so far, keeping her back straight, her knees bent, and her hands still up to guard her torso even after striking.

Unfortunately, it didn't seem that Elsa ever expected to actually come that close to hitting Kaya, as she hadn't been prepared for Kaya to render her immobile by grabbing her leg so firmly.

Kaya let out a soft breath, watching as Elsa breathed harshly, in and out, signaling her anger at Kaya's tactless and out-of-line commentary.

Elsa let out a quick squeal of surprise as Kaya twisted her foot around and took her other foot out from under her, landing her bottom solidly on the floor.

Her mentor put her hands on her hips and she heard Elsa growl in frustration. She quirked a smile. Elsa never growled.

Kaya made sure to make eye contact with Elsa before she said, "Better." Ice blue looked deeply into gold. "Much better."

Elsa sighed. "I still ended up down here."

Her captain actually laughed that time. Laughed! "It'll be years before you can floor me without using your magic, Queen Elsa. " She nonetheless held out a hand to her queen to help her up. "You understand why I said those things to you, right?"

Taking her hand, Elsa sighed again. "Yes, I understand." She looked down at the ground, then back up to meet Kaya's eyes. "Do you...use that tactic a lot?"

Kaya grinned as she chuckled. "Only for my more...reluctant students." She couldn't help but stare as Elsa laughed as she completely forgave Kaya's previous insults. It was clear to Elsa now that she hadn't meant a word of it, she was only trying to get her to really show Kaya what she'd learned.

The two women smiled at each other before Kaya settled back into her stance. "Come on, then," She held up her hands. "Again."

Elsa mimicked her captain's position and pursed her lips in a suddenly serious (and if Kaya was being completely honest, absolutely adorable) expression on her face.

The older woman's lips curved into a slight smirk as they started again.


"The solstice?"

Elsa gave a small smile. "It isn't something that I really want to attend, but it is a requirement of sorts for all the monarchs of the land."

Kaya listened only half-heartedly. Of course she'd heard of the Solstice Congregation; she'd frequented it herself as a guest on occasion, assuming she hadn't been otherwise engaged carrying out her father's war plans. It was a grand event that happened every other year; some old fool's attempt to strengthen relations between the differing kingdoms. All rulers that didn't want to insult the others attended, mostly as a political obligation rather than an act of peace. Kaya had no doubt that Elsa attended with the latter in mind.

The queen would probably be leaving after celebrating Princess Anna's birthday slightly earlier than usual, considering the solstice would also mark Anna's 20th birthday,

"Captain Kaya?"

Kaya snapped out of her thoughts and looked up to meet Elsa's puzzled gaze.

"Is something wrong?"

The fire-wielder shook her head. "Of course not, Your Grace."

Elsa didn't look like she had bought the statement, but she seemed to take it as what it was; a brush-off.

She smiled. "Well, I hope you will be well-rested for the trip? It's quite a ways to Corona."

Kaya blinked. "Corona?"

"That's where the Congregation is this year." Elsa cocked her head. "I just...you'll be accompanying me, right?"

"I'm paid to train your soldiers, not attend royal gatherings as a bodyguard." Kaya didn't want to think about what might happen if anyone at the Congregation recognized her. At the very least, Zmeya might finally gain a clue as to her whereabouts. And that was if no one tried to capture her and ship her back to Palladon first.

"Captain, please." Elsa said. "I'll feel much safer if you're there with me."

Kaya pushed aside the feeling of pride at the compliment. "Will Loren not do? He's still got a ways to go, but I'm sure he can do the job."

It wasn't a complete lie. After the episode in the woods, Loren had become somewhat more compliant with her training methods. Not obedient, but less pigheaded than their first encounter. Kaya could honestly say he was one of the most talented men she had ever trained.

"With all due respect, Captain," Thomas piped up from behind them. "I think you're much better suited for the job."

The captain shook her head. "I'm not even halfway done with your soldiers yet, Queen Elsa." She tried suppress the increasingly persistent pounding in her head. "I'll be much more useful here."

What Kaya didn't expect was feeling her heart melt at the sight of Elsa's face falling slightly in disappointment at her refusal.

The queen looked down at her hands, looking sheepish."If you're sure, Captain."

She really wants me along that badly?

Kaya sighed. Why couldn't she tell this woman 'no'? "I suppose I could spare a few days."

The expression on the Snow Queen's face was priceless to Kaya. Elsa's eyes lit up and grew as bright as stars. Kaya could almost see herself reflected in the queen's eyes if she dared to look hard enough.

Elsa wanted to throw her arms around the Captain, but held herself back what with Thomas still being in the room. "Thank you, Captain Kaya."

Kaya tried not to sigh again as she closed her eyes and bowed. "It's my pleasure, Queen Elsa."