A/N: I really do apologize for the delay, I started university again and rewrote this chapter several times. Even though I have the story all planned out, at this point I had two choices as to where I wanna take it. I wrote and finished editing this chapter taking the fic in one direction, then decided I liked this direction more.

Also, I apologize for any grammatical errors, I proof red this 4 times instead of my normal 8 because I wanted to release it today. I don't think there are many, if any, but I wouldn't be surprised if a few escaped.

With that in mind, I hope it's worth the wait!

PS: I love you all

Anna sat there, staring at Elsa as her mind tried to comprehend what she had just agreed to. Her stomach occupied itself with turning inside out. Hundreds of questions and doubts buzzed through her head like hornets, stinging here and there. Am I really doing this? Where are we going? Throughout all the noise, the most prominent question remained the same. What am I getting myself into? The peculiar feeling of ominous air sunk Anna's heart. Am I in danger?

Through all of this, unbeknownst to the red head, Elsa was having her own internal struggle, though it was a different breed. Her innards were crawling with the odd feeling presented when the tension of anxiety is broken, leaving the body stressed and relaxed simultaneously. Her breaths were almost curt, her hands shaking. Her human side was showing, as it were. The vrykolakas closed her eyes and took a deep breath, soothing her muscles. She said yes! The excitement was electric.

After a few moments, Elsa spoke again. She locked eyes with Anna. Those teal orbs were dangerously alluring, and she could read each and every emotion spilling from within them. Elsa reached forward and grabbed Anna's hands. "We'll leave tonight, it'll be about a week's journey."

"Wait, where are we going?"

Elsa's face became stern. "If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone."

Anna was dumbfounded. "I can't tell anyone? Why? What about Kristoff?"

"Because, Hans will search every corner of Arendelle looking for me, and whoever gets in his way will regret it. If Kristoff knows, he will get hurt, Anna."

"Elsa, I can't just not tell my brother where I'm running off to! I can't just abandon him like that!" The red head flashed back to the day she realized her parents were never coming home. The sense of hopelessness and betrayal that enraptured her. The only way she got through it was by weathering the storm with Kristoff. Had she been alone, Anna might not have recovered. I can't put him through that again!

The shopkeeper backed down. "You don't have to come." Her voice rang out, boasting how dearly she wished Anna to accompany her.

Anna squeezed Elsa's hands. "No, I promise not to tell. I'm coming."

Joy was ill-contained within the shopkeeper. "We're going to Corona. I have land there."

Just one more thing I didn't know about Elsa. Anna tried not to speculate. "Okay, let's go."

Elsa would have left right then, but there was one problem: it was day time. "I have to, um, take care of something personal. You should go get ready to go, meet me back here at nightfall."

Just like that, an idea was born in Anna's mind. They weren't leaving that instant, she had time before they left. She could tell Kristoff where she was going and Elsa would never know. "Right, okay, got it." Anna made for the door, but was almost physically pulled back by Elsa's voice.

"Wait, Anna." The woman stood. Timid was a bizarre look on her. "Before you go-" she stepped closer, placing her hand tenderly on the red head's cheek.

The sensation eased Anna into understanding. She closed her eyes and leaned in, allowing her bottom lip to come between Elsa's lips. She was surprised at the force with which she kissed her, but it wasn't unwelcome.

They stayed there for their fill, but after several minutes of both just getting hungrier and hungrier, Elsa pulled away. Anna almost whimpered. "I'll see you tonight."

Hans sat in his quarters, bandages around his hand and chest. He groaned as the captain entered with a cup of liquid that resembled mud. He handed over the vessel. It wreaked. The prince's stomach wretched as the aroma filtered into his nose.

"Drink up, sir. It should make you well enough to return to Arendelle by this time tomorrow."

The royal gulped, but obliged. It was rancid. It tasted worse than it looked, and the taste lingered. It did, however, have one good property. As the substance entered Hans' stomach, he felt the pain in both his extremity and ribs subside.

Clothes, check, um what else? Necklace, check. Hair brush, of course, I mean, I have to look pretty while hiding out with Elsa, right? Anna's mind wouldn't slow down. She was packing everything she'd need, not entirely believing that she was about to do this. So far, there was no sign of Kristoff, and she didn't know how to feel about that. I could stop by the market, he must be there.

Finally, she had everything wrapped together, ready to go. The red head took one last look around the place and sighed. This was home. She was leaving it, and that felt wrong. But it's just until Hans gives up. I'll be back soon. Anna hoped she wasn't lying to herself.

The girl slowly exited and locked the door. Sven sat looking at her, half asleep out front. Anna bent down next to him and started rubbing his belly. The large dog stuck its tongue out and started happily panting as it rolled over. Anna kept rubbing his stomach for several seconds. "I'll see you soon." She felt a tear trickle down her nose. I don't have to do this. But, I want to... right?

Next was the market. Or I could just go, that'd be easier. No, no, you can't just leave Kristoff, he deserves an explanation. In that moment, Anna hated how much she loved her brother.

The marketplace was crowded, as always. The red head stood on the periphery, watching her older brother make a sale, trying to gain the courage to talk to him. A stately man walked away with several cubes of ice in a rag, wiping the thing on his forehead in the blistering summer sun, banishing tiny sparkling beads of sweat from down his skull. Anna stole herself and made for her mark.

"Kristoff!"

The blonde smiled brightly. "Anna, you've come to help out? Are you feeling better?"

Her heart sank. "Yes, well, no, I'm not here to help but I feel better, I just- I-"

Furrowing his brows, Kristoff inquired "then what's up? You seem a little... distressed, I guess?"

It was hard for Anna to hear over the thundering of her own heart. "I'm- looks like you're making good sales today!"

"Anna, don't change the subject."

The girl sighed. "I'm- I'm leaving- just for a while- I- I'll be back, I just, I don't exactly know when." She could hear the trembling in her own voice. Kristoff stared blankly back, as if nothing was going on behind his axinite eyes.

"I don't- you're just running off? Anna, I don't understand."

"I won't be alone! I'll be with- um, I'm leaving with Elsa." Her voice trailed off.

"What?" Kristoff looked stern. He grabbed his sister and pulled her aside. "Anna you can't, what are you thinking?"

That hurt. Anna thought that maybe Kristoff was coming around and accepting who she was. That fantasy got blown away like dark clouds after a storm. It stung. She lowered her head. "I know you don't like that I'm different, but I just wish you'd at least try to accept me." Her brother still not welcoming her made the idea of leaving much less daunting to Anna. She met his gaze. "I like Elsa, and I'm- I'm helping her with... something. Whether you accept that or not... I love you, and I'm going."

Guilt hung around the blonde man like a curtain of shame. "I love you too, Anna, I just don't want," he sighed. "I don't want you to get hurt. Elsa's dangerous, and you- you could be hung, I mean what if Elsa attacks you, what if someone finds out about you two-"

"That's enough! Kristoff, Elsa would never hurt me, and as for my feelings, that's a risk I'm willing to take! Why can't you just be happy that I found someone who cares about me?"

"Anna, that's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

"I- I don't know." The older sibling sounded truly distressed now.

Anna sniffled and bowed her head, a lump of cotton hung in her throat. She mumbled her next thought. "I just didn't want to abandon you like- I just wanted to tell you."

Kristoff sighed. "Where are you two going?"

It was now or never. Should Anna keep the secret, or give her brother some piece of mind? That piece of mind could cost him dearly... She worried at her lip, both options seemed right, yet each seemed so wrong. She was at a fork in the road and both paths were identical. "We- she said we're going to Corona." And just like that, in between heightened pulses of her heart and the background buzz of anxiety, Anna knew she made the wrong choice.

It was clear that Kristoff was trying to process everything, doing his best to be a friend, not a brother. When he found nothing to say, Anna spoke again. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

The man nodded, concern creasing his face.

Anna considered making one last stop at her parents' grave, but decided she'd see it again. At least, that's what she told herself. In actuality, she didn't want to face saying goodbye to them again.

Anna could scarcely believe what she beheld when she arrived back at the curiosity shop. There, in the settling dusk as the sun lazily drifted below the horizon and birthed darkness upon the world, was a horse drawn carriage. Two jet black horses were reigned in, standing diligently still. For a few moments, the woman thought they might be statues.

The carriage wasn't large, but had plenty of room for two. It was completely sealed, not a single window blemishing its surface. It was high end, but not over the top. Fancy but falling miserably short of being worthy of royalty. The wood was finished, lacquered, and the color of charcoal. Anna couldn't help but notice that there was no spot for a driver. She grabbed her precious necklace. "Elsa?"

The sun was completely below the horizon now, the night cooling down with the shivers descending Anna's spine.

"Anna, you came." Elsa exited her shop, nothing in hand except for two books: the large, worn away one, and the small one the red head had found before. What's in that book?

She pushed her questions aside. "Of course I did! Where'd you get that?" The girl pointed at what was presumably their mode of transportation.

Shrugging as if it was an every day item, Elsa simply responded "I bought it." She opened the door and gestured to Anna. "Get in."

A chariot, land here and in Corona? How much money does she have? I guess she's had quite a few years to accumulated wealth. Uneasiness rested like a lingering spider in Anna's stomach. Though she wasn't quite satisfied with the answer, she entered.

Elsa followed her, but not before whistling sharply at the impressive animals in the front. Just as she sat down, the carriage started moving, the trotting of horses echoing off of the stone road into the night.

"Ooh!" Anna jumped at the unexpected movement. Elsa could read her question before it was asked. "Um, who's driving?" They were both seated inside, there was one small bench within that fit them comfortably, leaving ample leg room. She couldn't make many details of the interior, as the only light source was a small lantern hanging in the front of the cabin.

The shopkeeper had the familiar impulse to lie. To say they were just smart horses, but she had already told Anna much more sensitive information than the secret of the steeds. Plus, Anna had extended her hand of trust by coming with Elsa, to deny her this answer would be to stick a proverbial knife in her back. After all, Anna had kept her promise, right?

With a deep breath, Elsa told the truth. "I cast a spell on them. They know where to go."

Teal eyes widened tenfold. "Whoa, what? You can do that?"

"Well, yes. It is magic, after all."

Anna was clearly impressed; she leaned in. "What else can you do?"

Elsa clammed up. What should she tell her? How much could she let Anna know? Her mind twitched with logic and emotion, each pulling it's own side of a rope. She decided, although it was wildly uncomfortable, to stand completely on trust for the first time in over five-hundred years. It felt like walking on cracking ice. "I can do anything that's, well, small or simple. Some mild healing spells. I can't do anything drastic... not like the hag."

The red head was fascinated, scooting slightly closer. Elsa secretly basked in the attention, letting it fill her veins like a flood. "Like you healed me! Could I learn magic?" The question held a childlike fascination and hopefulness within. Elsa hated to crush that innocence so swiftly.

"Only some people can use magic. I can use it because the witch imbued me with magic to make me immortal. I can... tap in, for lack of a better term, to the magic she left within me."

Elsa was relieved to see there was still an unmistakeable glint in Anna's eye. "Oh, cool. Elsa, this is so awesome, I always thought magic was just in stories to make them more interesting, like to enhance history, but it's real!" She started freaking out, in the best way. After a few moments, she calmed down and became more serious. "So, that immortality spell you've been working on, do you think you have the ability to pull it off? Or would it be, um, too much magic?"

A sigh escaped red lips as the shopkeeper deflated. Her heart expanded in her throat, choking tears into her eyes. She was reminded of her life of loneliness and longing, which was most likely what lay ahead for her. Her voice was trembling. "As far as I know, only the hag has power over life and death."

Anna saw that she had upset Elsa and quickly tried her best to jumble the pieces back together. "Well, that doesn't mean it's impossible, right?"

The pale woman smiled at the attempt to cheer her up. "Yeah."

They sat and rode for hours together. Anna began to grow weary. She huddled next to Elsa, resting her head on the woman's bony shoulder and yawned. As she grew more tired, her mind left itself vulnerable to thoughts of her parents. The day had been a powerful reminder. She hugged Elsa from her perch and sadly sighed. "I miss my parents." She let tears dribble from her eyes, leaving a mark on Elsa's shoulder.

The shopkeeper thought for a long time about what to say. Finally, she whispered "I've lived long enough to know that death is not something to be mourned. Your parents found each other, and had you and Kristoff. They had all the love that a life could offer. What's important is to focus on that, nothing else matters."

Coming from Elsa, these words meant a lot, and though they weren't the exact thing Anna was expecting to hear, they helped much more. It allowed bittersweet memories to leave a taste a cheerfulness on the bitter mood that had befallen her. She wiped her tears away. "Thank you."

The shopkeeper smiled and grabbed Anna's hand in her own. The contact elicited a soothing response, helping lull Anna to sleep. Soon enough, her breathing became deep and relaxed. She was out, dreaming on Elsa's shoulder.

Elsa sighed and leaned back. She could smell the savory iron littered in Anna's blood, hear the rush beneath her skin. The sweet sound of delectable, trickling rubicund glory danced passed her eardrums, trying to seduce her. She stared intensely at the crocus around Anna's neck. Her insides felt completely empty, the agony of starvation was once again setting in, replacing the high of being with Anna. Elsa groaned. Oh gods I'm hungry.

A/N: Anyone wanna guess why Anna was feeling slightly sick before?