Anna and Kristoff stood awkwardly beside Elsa as they watched the final preparations being made for the journey to the capital of Palladon. Captain Kaya stood several paces behind them, with a certain uncharacteristic stiffness to her posture and demeanor that hadn't departed since the Empress of Palladon set foot in Arendelle. Of course, only the astute that paid attention to the blossoming affection between the captain and her queen would notice such a subtle change in the two.

The sole remaining Princess of Arendelle looked back and forth between the two and decided she while she was probably one of the few who had noticed the growing bond between Kaya and Elsa, she was certainly not the only one that felt a chill in the air, and it had nothing to do with Elsa's mood.

Anna discreetly took one of Elsa's hands in her own, garnering the attention of the monarch.

"Whatever it was..." She said. "It's not enough to break the bond you two have."

Anna didn't need to elaborate on what "it" was. Kaya had been in such a foul mood lately, even she had been persuaded by Kristoff to at least try to gain a sense of self-preservation, for his sake. It didn't take more than one scathing glare from the other woman to have the reckless redhead seriously considering Kristoff's advice...much to his surprise.

The princess internally shrugged. What could she say? The woman was scary when she was angry...And Anna didn't fear much.

Elsa scoffed. "What bond, Anna? She won't even tell me what had her so bothered about Zmeya's visit..." Eyes downcast, Elsa sighed. "It's as if we took one step forward, and two steps back."

Anna's eyes softened. "Elsa, you have to be persistent. Just because something doesn't work the first time, doesn't mean it never will!"

The comment was shortly followed by an eye-roll by Kristoff, which was then rewarded with a swift smack in the arm by his girlfriend.

Turning back to her sister, Anna continued. "All I'm saying is don't give up so easily...She might be hurting as much as you under that stoic mask."

Elsa winced. "I have no doubt...I said something terrible, Anna."

"Then apologize."

If only it were that easy. Elsa had every intention of apologizing the moment she woke up the morning after their argument, with a sore neck and itchy eyes from crying herself to sleep in her study.

But every time she tried to approach the captain, Kaya always just happened to be leaving the vicinity at that moment.

It was uncanny. It was like Kaya knew when she was coming...

Shaking her head, she looked sorrowfully at Anna and allowed herself to be pulled into an embrace as a guard appeared bearing her horse.

Anna rubbed her back comfortingly and whispered in her ear, "Everything'll work out fine, Elsa, you'll see."

Elsa certainly hoped so, but it didn't look like Kaya would be talking to her anytime soon, not of her own volition, anyway.

Kaya stepped forward and took the reins of Elsa's horse from the guard and motioned for him to step back. As she stood with the horse, Elsa tried to meet her gaze as she prepared to mount the horse.

Nothing. Not even a flicker of eye movement her way.

Elsa's heart sank. Looks like making things right again wouldn't be as easy as a simple "I'm sorry".


Kaya forced herself to ignore the stares and sad, regretful expressions Elsa kept throwing her way. The last few days without interacting with Elsa had been torture, but that was nothing compared to her anger over the fact that she actually cared.

If she was being honest, it wasn't so much what Elsa had said. It was who had said it, and the fact that it had been the woman she had fallen in love with made the comment -

Kaya physically froze, in the middle of walking to her own horse. A few of the soldiers that noticed gave her strange looks briefly, but then returned to what they were doing.

"In love with-"

Of course Kaya was practical enough to realize what was happening without actually having to put a name to it. But that was exactly why she had to leave. Loving Elsa, hell, feeling anything for her at all would be putting her in danger.

As if that particular point wasn't moot already.

Kaya had to agree. That Zmeya had come here in the first place wasn't a direct result of Kaya's feelings for Elsa, but the fact that the queen and a handful of her guards were now journeying leagues away to a city that more than likely had a trap waiting for them...that was.

She could only hope that she could make the announcement that she was indeed leaving Arendelle as public as possible, and in front of Zmeya, if possible. That way, when she left, hopefully Zmeya would go back to chasing her, and Elsa would be left out of it. Kaya would never again be able to safely return to Arendelle, but at least the people and their queen would be spared from her murderous ex-lover.

That thought alone was what gave the former Komandir of the Palladonian army the strength to mount her horse and fix her gaze on the road ahead.