Elsa was nervous, and that- in turn- made Jack nervous. Elsa was pacing back and forth, "What if she's hurt?" Elsa asked hopelessly, "Do you think she was hurt?" She didn't give Jack any time to respond. "Maybe I should go and check on her? I could just visit the kingdom briefly… see Anna, make Hans promise to be good to her, apologise to the people of Arendelle…" Elsa was surprised by how strongly she wished to go home; even though that 'home' had only ever brought her loneliness and misery. Still, it was familiar and old and filled with her favourite memories, of a time before everything became cold.

Jack shook his head, "Elsa, I really don't think that would be a good idea," He bit his bottom lip. He didn't want to hurt her, and he really didn't want her to feel sad about her current circumstance, but he would rather her suffer a bruised ego than a real- mortal- injury. He didn't want to be alone again.

What if someone hurt her? What if someone killed her? The thought wracked Jack to his core. What, he pondered, if everyone welcomed her home with open arms, and she decided to stay in Arendelle, with her family. That terrified Jack almost as much as the thought of Elsa dying.

Elsa wasn't like Jack; she was mortal and living, with a pulse and blood in her veins. She had a family. She was a queen; she had subjects. People could see her.

Jack was immortal and undying. Jack was invisible and unchanging, and he had been without human contact for such a long time, and he was horrified by the prospect of losing it again now. He was selfish, and he hated it, but he hated that sense of being all alone in the world even more.

Elsa wasn't just different compared to Jack, though. She was different compared to all the people back in Arendelle. She was made of unique, powerful magic; magic that was beautiful and frightening and well-meaning. Elsa was so strong and brilliant and beautiful. People would be jealous of her, Jack was sure, and jealousy could sometimes lead a person to doing something bad and evil. Jealousy wasn't Elsa's only enemy, though. Elsa should also be careful that people do not find her too scary. Humans, Jack had noticed, had an unfortunate tendency to destroy anything they didn't understand. Humans were weak and easily scared. What they couldn't comprehend inspired panic and fear; panic and fear inspired rash, vicious actions. Good intentions too easily turned to cruel means.

Jack refused to let Elsa out of his sight. He didn't trust other people with Elsa.

"But I could never forgive myself if I hurt her, Jack." Elsa said guiltily.

Jack softened, "Elsa, I'm sure you didn't hurt her. She isn't as fragile as you think." He smiled sadly, "She isn't a little girl. I mean, she travelled all the way out here, with only a man and his reindeer," Jack paused uncertainly, "And maybe a magic snowman, but I think I must have been seeing things then."

Elsa gave him an odd look at the mention of a magic snowman. "She fell over, Jack." Elsa said lamely.

Jack rolled his eyes, "Must I remind you that the floor is made of ice, Elsa? I'm sure it's pretty easy to lose your footing on a floor that is made of ice."

Elsa made a face, "We don't lose our footing." She pointed out.

"Yes, but we are more used to ice than other people," Jack returned easily, and Elsa frowned, agreeing.

It was late when Jack heard Elsa. He had been sleeping soundly, but then he heard Elsa pacing; her heels clicking against the icy floor. He sat up, because he had been sleeping on the floor in that very room, and watched her. She looked beautiful- as she always did- but she was obviously flustered; her cheeks glowing pink and her eyes frantic and as untrusting as breaking ice. Her silver hair fell around her face, because she had finally taken it out of it's braid. It looked lovely; long and sleek, with volume lifting up the roots.

"Elsa?" Jack asked, his voice groggy with sleep.

"Yeah?" She asked, as if it wasn't obvious that she was having a minor panic attack.

"You okay?" He clarified.

She looked straight at him, indecision spelled across her features. She swallowed, "I heard something, or someone." She said. She bit her bottom lip. "Lots of people, actually." She looked out the window and gasped, "Guards," She said. She turned on Jack, "What if they've come to kill me?" Jack could see the fear in her eyes.

Jack shook his head, "No one will hurt you." He stood up, and looked out the nearest window. Just as Elsa had said, there were guards there. They had just seen the staircase, and they were beginning to climb it; they looked at it as if it was some display of evil, rather than one of glorious creation.

He noticed that the guards were holding weapons; shining swords and gleaming crossbows. Jack's breath hitched.

"Come on," He said, taking her hand without question. He pulled her along with him, "We should go upstairs and barricade ourselves in. Just to be safe." He smiled at her, trying to show her that he was unfazed, but he knew that she saw the urgency in his expression. She nodded, her jaw set and firm.

They took the stairs two at a time, and by the time the guards found themselves at the top of the outside staircase, Elsa and Jack were almost out of sight. The front door swung open with a cold clatter and Hans stepped inside. He seemed to be in awe of the castle, and then he saw Elsa, and his expression was measured.

Jack was scared for Elsa as he pulled her along behind him. She stumbled once, tripping on her dress, but then he picked up her pace and soon she was the one pulling Jack along. The guards had all seen Elsa now.

Jack looked back down at them once he and Elsa had made it to the second floor. Elsa hurried into a room, and waited for Jack to follow her before she closed the door. She had seen the weapons too, and she was starting to recite her old mantra. Conceal, don't feel. Conceal, don't feel. Conceal, don't feel.

Jack placed his hands on Elsa's shoulders, "Breathe, Elsa, breathe." He said worriedly. "It's alright. I won't let them hurt you—"

Jack was cut off when the door was thrown open, and two brutish-looking men were admitted to the room. Elsa gasped, backing away from the. One held a sword; the other held a cross-bow. Both weapons were pointing at Elsa. Jack was invisible to the men, who thought that Elsa was trapped and alone. Jack scowled, how wrong they were.

The guards, or rather, soldiers, ran at Elsa, and Jack found that he was of little help. In fact, he was almost useless. Helplessly, Elsa shot ice at the men, warning them to stay away from her. They ignored her warnings, and continued their attack.

Elsa suddenly snapped, and she shot enough ice to trap one soldier to the far wall, and send the other one out of the room and making him balance on the baloney outside. Her breath was coming short and hard and she was about to send the soldier flying to the ground, when the door burst open again.

More soldiers spilled into the room, but Hans was standing in the front, his arm outstretched. "Elsa!" He called out, and Elsa's hectic eyes flew to Hans. "Don't become the monster they fear you are!" Elsa realised, very suddenly that Hans was right.

Elsa had stopped. She wasn't hurting anyone.

But someone was still out to hurt her.

Jack watched in horror as the soldier pinned to the wall shot an arrow at the crystallised, ice chandelier. The chandelier began to fall, and everyone was silent. Jack stared, because Elsa was going to be killed.

Elsa screamed.

Jack flew into action, and he collided with Elsa from behind, pushing her forward. She attempted to run with him, but she fell. Jack fell with her, covering her body with his, and- thank God- they were not harmed when the chandelier crashed against the floor, splintering and crackling.

They were okay.

Jack was breathing hard.

He looked down at Elsa, relieved, and then saw that she was unconscious; sleeping.

Her head had collided with the floor.