The morning was well underway by the time their little procession made its way through the castle gates. Anna had done her best to respond to each citizen's greeting or cheer with a smile and wave of her own. It wasn't easy, now that she knew the price of her return, and the townsfolk weren't making it any easier by making such a fuss over her face.

She had seen it. It wasn't that bad. And unlike other wounds suffered the night before, it would heal. She understood the Guards' sacrifice. Truly, she understood it better than just about anyone could. But that didn't make it less of a shock that someone had actually given their life to save hers. What made her so special anyway?

Elsa squeezed her hand. Anna looked up and saw a reassuring smile on her sister's beautiful face. Anna felt herself blush in response. Oh, right. She thinks I'm special. That was enough for Anna. If the Guards thought so, and most importantly if Elsa thought so, then there was no room for argument. She would just have to accept what had happened and do everything she could to make their sacrifices worthwhile. She would earn the second chance that they had given her.

Both Kai and Gerda were waiting inside the gates, clearly straining to keep from making a big deal over the girls while the Guards were still coming in. It was probably best that their prisoner didn't see the Royal sisters being treated like children anyway. What is Elsa going to do with him?

She had almost killed him. She would have killed him. Anna was sure of it. If she hadn't stopped her sister, that man would be dead on the ship right now. She couldn't suppress a shudder. Did he deserve it? Probably. But she couldn't imagine what being the one to do it might have done to Elsa. It had been such a relief when she had seen the compassion return to those eyes. Elsa had just let her anger get the best of her, and Anna couldn't say that she wouldn't have done the same, if she was being honest. There wasn't anything that she wouldn't do to get her sister back if their roles had been reversed.

She couldn't have expressed how happy it made her that Elsa had chosen to let him live. Her thumb gently caressed the back of Elsa's hand, making her look over again. Anna didn't need words. She could feel her own love for her sister pouring out of her. Clearly, Elsa felt it too because her eyes softened and a single tear slid down her pale cheek.

It wasn't necessary, for Anna could feel everything that Elsa wanted her to, but Elsa whispered, "I love you too."

"Your Majesty," began one of the Guards whose name Anna didn't know.

"Please, just take him to the dungeons. Make sure he is under constant guard. Captain Tendro and I will question him tomorrow." Elsa turned to face the Guards who had come back with them. "Thank you. For everything you do. For everything you've done. You've been brave, and strong, and you have been everything that could possibly be expected of the Queen's Guard." The men were visibly swelling with pride. Some of them looked to be swelling with tears. They really were the most loyal men anyone could ask for. "Once the prisoner is secured, make sure that every inch of the castle is patrolled by at least two Guards. I will not have this happen again. When the castle is sufficiently guarded, then please go rest. None of you are to take part in the oncoming shift. You've earned a day off."

The men saluted crisply and dragged the prisoner away. "See to it that his arm is treated. And make sure he gets food and water, too!" Anna called after them.

The men hesitated only a second, "Yes, Majesty. As you will."

"You never stop amazing me, Anna. After what they did to you…" Elsa's cold hand rested on her cheek. Stars but it felt good, and she didn't just mean the cold. It hadn't even been two days, and already she had missed her sister's touch so terribly.

"I know. But if we do the same as they did, then we're no different."

The look of wonderment on Elsa's face pleased Anna thoroughly.

"Your Majesties!" Kai and Gerda exclaimed together now that the Guards were gone. They were a whirlwind of concern, mostly focused on Anna's face, that carried the girls upstairs to her room. Elsa, being uninjured, seemed to escape it for the most part, but followed closely. Good, I don't want to be out of her sight again for a long while.

It felt like forever before Kai and Gerda were finally persuaded to leave Anna to Elsa's care. They had insisted that she didn't tell the story right away so that she could relax instead, but they ended up hearing the whole thing anyway because they kept asking questions. Elsa marveled at her sister's bravery. She had always been the strong one, but this was a whole new level for her.

It had better be the last time she has to find a new level of bravery, too. Elsa would keep her sister safe. There was no way that whoever did this was going to get another chance to harm her family or her kingdom.

Elsa laid herself down on the bed next to her sister. "I'm so happy you're safe."

Anna smiled, "I wouldn't be safe if it weren't for you."

"I'm going to keep you safe. I promise. It's my fault you were taken in the first place. I'm so sorry, Anna. Please, forgive me." She hadn't intended to bring that up. The words had just started coming out, and now she was crying.

Warm arms wrapped around her. "Shh." Anna's hugs could have soothed a rabid wolf. "I don't know how you managed to blame yourself, but I promise, it wasn't your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault."

"If I had just…," crying made this difficult, "stayed in your room… I could have stopped them. I could have protected you."

"Oh, Elsa, no. You can't take responsibility for that. You did the right thing. Taking it slow was what you needed, and I won't let you use that to beat yourself up."

The tears didn't stop, but they felt different. Like cleansing tears instead of burning, judging tears. How did Anna always know what to say? She was so perfect. Elsa knew she didn't deserve her, but she sure wasn't going to let the most precious thing in her life go unappreciated.

She held Anna close, and covered her bruised cheek with soft kisses. "I love you so much, Anna."

Under her lips, she felt Anna's smile, "I love you too." They each lay quietly for a few moments before Anna spoke again, "Hey, Elsa?"

"Hmm?" Elsa could have laid here forever, just drinking in the scent and presence of her Anna.

"Can we go to sleep now?"

Elsa laughed. "Oh, goodness, yes."

They stood up, and Anna started to change into her smallclothes. Elsa looked away and dispelled her outfit as she climbed under the covers. Anna grinned when she turned and saw Elsa in her bed.

"I would have been so upset if you had tried to leave."

"I told you I would protect you. I can't do that very well from my room, can I?"

Anna's smile grew even bigger. "I suppose not." She slid under the covers and cuddled close to Elsa.

Elsa had never felt anything so incredible as her sister's body cradled in her own. She was okay now that Anna was home. Everything else could wait until tomorrow.

For now, everything she needed was safe and asleep in her arms.