Because it was her birthday, Elsa allowed herself a five minute conversation with her sister. She had thought about it and decided that something so brief probably wouldn't hurt anybody. It was her present to herself.

Now, that she was talking to Anna, seeing her eyes light up and hearing her laugh, she remembered why, at eight, she had loved playing with her more than with anyone else. Anna was all emotion. Unlike their parents, she never held herself back. Whatever she felt, she felt it completely. Right now, she was happy and it made her so charming, that everyone who looked at her had to smile.

The musicians played with gusto. The air smelled like chocolate.

"This is nice," Anna said.

Enough, Elsa thought. She would remember the moment for weeks. Maybe Anna would as well but enough was enough. She cut the conversation off as politely as she could.

"Unfortunately, it can't always be like this."

"Well, why not?" Anna asked directly.

She should have remembered Anna's personality. A little bit was never enough for her.

"It just can't."

Anna's eyes flashed with hurt. "Excuse me." She marched past Elsa, quickened her pace and bumped into a young man.

Elsa found that she was taking step forward, just to be near in case Anna was too upset to make conversation. But Anna was already laughing and accepting the young man's invitation to waltz. That quickly.

Elsa stepped back into her appointed place. She tried to feel glad. I am not glad, she realized. Yes, poor, rejected Anna. So angry and hurt, it took one dashing smile to make her forget about it completely.

Anna wondered whether Hans felt as self conscious as she did. They were walking in the garden and she was going on and on about her lonely life, wondering if she was talking too much but simply unable to stop because nobody had really listened to her for the past three years. The servants had always pretended to listen but she knew they were paid to pretend. Generally, they tuned her out.

But Hans listened seriously, intently, kindly. He asked all the right questions.

"Is this all really boring?" she finally asked nervously. "Am I talking too much?"

Hans shook his head. "I like it." He kissed her hand, making it tingle. This was just like she had imagined it would be, while romping through town this morning. She pulled her hand away and fixed her hair. She couldn't seem too eager. But then Hans took her hand again and she let him.

"You have the nicest dimple in your left cheek," he said.

Anna felt tears fill her eyes. Her father had teased her about that dimple once. "Thank you."

"Queen Elsa?" A young woman approached her. She had short dark hair, large luminous green eyes and a small delicate crown. A princess. "Happy Birthday."

"Thank you." Elsa studied her trying to match her up to one of the faces in her recent history textbook. The young woman would have been a child when the book was written. She would have been portrayed on a family painting. But nothing came to mind.

I'm princess Rapunzel. Don't worry if you don't know who I am. I mean, I didn't know who I was until 6 months ago." She chuckled.

"Really?" Elsa didn't know what else to say.

"I was kidnapped as a baby."

"The lost princess!" Elsa said, remembering. She had read about that.

"Yes. Kidnapped because of my magic hair." The girl shrugged. "So how do you feel about becoming queen?"

"Wait." Elsa was suddenly dizzy. "You have magic hair?"

This was astonishing. Elsa had never met any other human being with magic powers before. She knew she was not the only one but also knew she was very rare. Now here was another person, around her age and from a royal family as well. Did she hide her powers? Were they dangerous? She suddenly felt a powerful kinship with Rapunzel, suddenly wanted to tell her everything.

"Not anymore. A friend of mine...cut it off. It wouldn't grow back."

"Oh. Did you ask him to?"

"No." Rapunzel shook her head and bit her lip. "The way he saw it, my hair was keeping me from my freedom, from living the life I was meant for…he was kind of setting me free."

Elsa thought of her hands, her terrible, magical hands. If her hands got cut off at the elbows, would she be trading in her secret struggle for a more obvious handicap? Would she be able to finally hold Anna close? To lean on a man's shoulder someday?

"Were you glad to lose it?" she asked.

Rapunzel frowned. "No. I was furious. It had the power to heal, you see, and Flynn was dying. But it all worked out in the end. And it was just hair." She smiled. "I am more than my hair."

Yes. This radiant girl clearly was more. She had probably been more even while she had magical hair. She had probably even forgotten about it at times. But Elsa's feet left bits of ice on her carpet even while the fireplace was blazing and her eyelashes were often covered with frost when she woke up in the mornings. She could not contain her powers in her hands alone. They were in every cell of her body. She controlled them with great difficulty and sometimes, they controlled her.

Elsa turned away. No connection there, after all.

"Are you all right?" The girl touched her on the shoulder. Elsa instinctively pulled away.

"Yes."

"Perhaps, we could write to each other when I return to my kingdom," said Rapunzel kindly.

Elsa smiled. That would be pleasant and safe for everyone concerned. "I'd like that."

Anna and Hans were running through the ballroom, dodging the guests and laughing. Anna considered the words she was about to say to Elsa. Hans and I are engaged. It sounded so strange, so funny. She could hardly believe it herself.

She felt an odd twist in her stomach. Could she be...scared of this?

"Hans?"

Hans stopped and turned, instantly attentive. "Yes?"

"Can we just not...not hurry to get married? I mean, I do love you but...let's take some time to...learn each other."

"Well, of course," Hans said. "You might change your mind."

"Oh, no!" Anna said automatically. "I would never!"

Hans's smile glowed. He drew Anna close and her fears disappeared. Here was a person who truly loved her.