Over the next few days, Anna spent a lot of time in the training yard. She had barely seen her sister since their trip up the North Mountain. Elsa had been up there with Tendro and a rotating crew of Guards, keeping an eye on the approaching fleet. Anna was sure that the men were perfectly capable of doing the job without the Queen present, but Elsa was so worried that something would happen and she would be needed. She really was an excellent Queen, but she worried so much.

Ever since Elsa's initial return to Arendelle after her coronation, Anna had grown so used to having her around. It almost felt like all those years of being shut out had never happened. That familiarity is exactly what made this little separation an absolutely miserable experience for the Princess.

Spending time with Kristoff, Sven, and the snowmen was great. It just… it wasn't the same. Somehow the past few months had made her just as soft in some ways as they had made her strong in others. She could hold her own with the Guard's archers now, and Tendro had told her that her skill with the shield was unlike anyone he had seen. All she had to do now was make sure that everyone survived this war.

She snorted.

Yep, that's all you have to do. Just help your sister save the whole freaking kingdom from the biggest armada that anyone has ever seen. No big deal.

"You okay there, Anna?" Kristoff asked.

"Huh?"

"You kinda zoned out there for a minute. I had asked if you wanted to go another round. I think I can take one more before I'm too bruised to go on." He laughed, but he did look pretty beat up. It was hard to remember to take it easy on someone when you were distracted with thoughts of your Queen sister's naked body pressing you down into the sheets…

"Yes! Another round! Now. Sorry. I will go easy this time, I promise."

He hefted his gladiī and came at her clumsily. Kristoff was pretty useless in a fight, but he had endurance from all his work on the ice. An opponent would have to start the fight pretty much unconscious for him to have a chance, so this was more like stamina training for Anna. Plus, Tendro had taught her that inexperienced fighters can be the most unpredictable. That just… wasn't the case with Kristoff.

The Princess deftly batted the attack aside and bent her knees, waiting for more. He tried a thrust with one blade, immediately followed by a slash with the other. Anna blocked the thrust and spun into the slash, bringing the kite shield around to slam hard into the Ice Master. Like every bout before, he dropped like a sack of reindeer droppings. She set the shield down, blue snowflake emblem face-up, and offered a hand to help him up. He accepted graciously.

"Ow."

"Sorry. I didn't expect that to land as hard as it did," she winced at the dazed expression on his face.

"Neither did I. I thought I remembered you saying something about going easy… but I must have dreamt it when you knocked me out."

"Oh ha-ha. I did that one time, and I apologized and even had Gerda bring you soup to help you feel better."

"It's true, Kristoff. I remember. She did, and you said it was delicious and that you forgave her," Olaf turned to Sven, "Do you think he doesn't remember because she keeps hitting him so hard? Maybe he should learn how to fight so she can't keep hitting him so hard."

If reindeer could laugh, Sven would have. Kristoff just settled for glaring at the snowman. "Hey, I can hear you."

"Oh good. At least it's only your memory, and not your hearing that's bad." Olaf seemed quite happy about this news. Kristoff… didn't.

"Aaanyway. Thanks for the practice, Kristoff. I'll let you go relax now. Olaf and I can clean up here."

"Any time. And thanks for taking it easy on me." Leaning on Sven, he hobbled off towards the Guards' mess hall.

"Were you really taking it easy on him?"

She sighed, "I was trying. I just… I use the training to escape from missing Elsa. So I sorta let myself get carried away. Does that make sense?"

"Of course it does! She's your true love. Last time she was on the mountain without you, you tried to wander up through a blizzard to find her all on your own." He was grinning up at her, "It only makes sense that you'd go a little crazy this time too."

That perked Anna up a bit. "I guess you're right. I was worrying that I had gone soft or something."

"Don't be silly!" Coming from Olaf, that was a bizarre statement. "You've always been soft! Elsa is just a great big soft spot for you. Well.. not big… she's not big, she's just the right size..." he trailed off when he realized Anna was laughing at him.

Boy, he had her there. Even thinking about her sister made her insides quiver in the most delightful way. She couldn't wait to feel Elsa's hands on her again. Or to kiss her perfect lips...

"Mmmmmm…"

"What? What are you 'mmmmm'ing about, Anna? Were you thinking about Elsa again? Is this something else that I'm not supposed to ask about?"

"Yes. To both of those. You just… nope. You do not need to know. Where is she, anyway? Didn't Kristoff say earlier that they were coming back today?"

"I… I think so? I sure hope they come back soon. I miss Elsa. You're the best Princess I know, but when Elsa's around you're so much more."

"Aww, Olaf… that was so sweet."

He positively shook with excitement at that, "It's true! You two are perfect for each other! Nobody is ever half so happy as the two of you when you're together. And the way she looks at you… it's magical! And not just because she's… you know… magical. It's just… well, it's true love!"

Elsa was so glad to finally be back in the castle. As much as she enjoyed being up in the cool, crisp air of the mountains, being away from Anna was something akin to torture. The fact that her sister hadn't been waiting outside the gate for her was disappointing, but obviously the Princess had a life too. She was probably out training still. Elsa would just go find her after she'd changed into something comfortable.

It was such a relief to have the watch station finally working all on its own. They had coordinated a system to relay messages down the mountain with a set of smaller lenses, so there was almost no delay in communication between the castle and those on guard duty at the summit. Not to mention, she was pretty proud of the shelter she had built for them up there. They wouldn't be getting cold any time soon. That fireplace was huge.

Thoughts like this didn't keep her distracted for long. The fleet was almost here. Close enough that tomorrow… No. She couldn't think about this. Not now. Tonight, she was just going to focus on Anna.

Her steps sped up to match her racing heart. She was in such a hurry to go find Anna that she almost decided not to change at all, but she wanted to look her best for her Princess. It had been days since she'd had the chance to lose herself in the enchanting forest of Anna's eyes.

She wasn't prepared for what she saw when she stepped into her room. Her sister's red-gold hair was loose, and laid perfectly over her shoulders so that its ends sat atop her full and ever-so-perky breasts. Elsa could see just a hint of light pink nipple behind the waterfall of wavy, crimson locks. Anna's eyes shone bright in the candlelit room, wide and inviting, drawing Elsa away from all her doubts and worries and from the outside world completely. The Queen whimpered and bit her lip as her own eyes drank in every detail of the Princess, from the delicious dimple of her belly-button to the way her soft hips splayed out and swept down to form the sexiest legs that Elsa couldn't wait to have wrapped around her.

She is an angel… A real, live angel. You should say something. Anything. Just… words… oh my gosh… words can't describe her… Elsa say something!

"Wow…"

Anna's radiant smile lit the room as she practically glided across the floor to Elsa. "No. No words. Just you and me."

Elsa felt her armor, both the physical and emotional, evaporate against the unbridled passion of Anna's kiss. The younger girl's hands were everywhere, they roamed over Elsa's now-naked body frantically, and the stimulation was overwhelming. Her legs would have given out if Anna had waited much longer before pulling her atop herself onto the bed.

Anna's kisses felt like fire, each one threatening to consume Elsa, but always leaving her just on the brink of sanity. Teeth found her neck, she heard herself moan in response. Her sister's small hands were each outmatched by the ample chest swaying above her, but that didn't seem to deter her groping in the slightest. Her tongue found Anna's ear, and ran slowly up its edge, drawing a shudder and a giggle. Then they were kissing again.

Elsa rolled to her side, and used a hand to lift a freckled breast to her mouth. She could feel the heat from her sister's pleasured, breathy sigh flowing down her back; it sent shivers to her toes. Her hand found its way down to Anna's perfect ass and squeezed. Fingers interlocked in her hair, holding her tightly in place where her tongue continued to play with the Princess's nipple.

Her hand slid between Anna's thighs, meeting no resistance. The younger girl began to grind on her fingers almost immediately as she pulled Elsa's lips back up to hers. Between kisses on the cheeks, mouth, and just breathlessly holding one another, Anna's hand found its way between Elsa's legs as well. The Queen felt her eyes roll back as the pleasure washed over her.

Anna was it. She was everything in the world. There was nothing else Elsa needed, nothing else that needed her, nothing else that existed anywhere. Her sister was everything.

And she is all mine.

The thought drove Elsa over the edge. Her hips started bucking harder, forcing Anna's fingers deeper inside her. Her own wrist moved quicker to match their new rhythm, drawing a loud moan from both women.

The last thing that Elsa remembered before everything was lost in a haze of bliss was Anna's lips on hers and the feeling of white-hot tears crushed between their cheeks.

Dawn's light roused the Queen from the most delightful dream where… she looked down at the most gorgeous redhead wrapped up in her arms… oh… it wasn't a dream...

After a minute of waking up, she realized exactly what that light meant. Dawn meant a new day. It meant that tomorrow was no longer tomorrow, it was today, and despite her current situation, today was not a pleasant day. She was so grateful for the night before, and for the lack of interruption from the ice forest.

Thank you.

You're welcome. I knew you needed the rest.

Woah. She had never communicated with the woman outside of a dream before. She didn't even think that was possible. Thanking her wasn't really even an intentional thing.

Um… you can hear me?

No answer. Maybe she had just imagined it. Or maybe she still knew nothing about this woman. Thinking about it now wasn't going to help anything. Maybe if she slipped out without Anna noticing, she could keep her sister from the battle completely. Or rather, keep the battle from her sister.

Getting out of bed without disturbing her wasn't easy, but luckily the redhead slept like a Troll. Or a rock. Which was worse? A Troll, she decided. She checked her armor in the mirror. After last night, it was a deep blue, and she had adorned it with several rows of spikes and ridges to deter any attackers. Not that she hoped to be in close combat during this battle, but one could never be too careful. That's what the Captain always said.

"Mmm… Elsa?"

Uh-oh.

"Good morning, sweetheart," she put on her best smile.

"Why are you dressed like a viking warlord's wet dream?"

Only Anna could make her laugh on a day like today. "Wow, I love you so much. I'm… I'm going out. I have to take care of things."

Her sister was suddenly very alert. "They're here, aren't they?"

"Not yet, but they're too close. I can't let them come any closer. I have things to put in place that will keep Arendelle safe… that will keep you safe."

"I'm coming with you," she was already out of bed, her smooth body threatening to destroy Elsa's concentration.

"No."

The Princess stopped, eyes wide. "No?!"

"Anna, no. I cannot be distracted by keeping you out of danger while I'm out there trying to keep you out of danger. I have to know that you're safe at the castle. If I have to split my concentration… it would be like," she looked down at her hand that was running up her sister's bare hip, "See?! I can't keep my head straight with you around!"

Anna chuckled. "I guess you have a point. You're pretty darn distracting yourself, Your Majesty," she winked. Then the laughter stopped and she was silent for a minute. They each stared into each others' eyes, knowing exactly what the other didn't want to say. Anna grabbed her sister's face with both hands. "Listen to me. You're coming home to me. I don't care what it takes. You are going to do whatever it is that you have to do out there, and then your beautiful blonde behind is coming right home to me, and I am going to take care of you…" She wiped a hand across her eyes, "I swear, Els'... if you even think about… about… leaving me…" Her eyes glowed like emeralds in a forge, "I will come for you. And there is no power in this world that will stop me."

The Queen's spine was frigid. She was so terrified of losing Anna that she hadn't considered just how afraid of losing her Anna must be.

"I'm not going anywhere, Princess." Her hand cupped Anna's tear-stained cheek, "As soon as you're safe, I'll come right home to your arms. I promise."

Anna kissed her. She could taste the salt of their tears on her lips. She savored every second of it.

"Go on then. Go be the Queen you were born to be. I love you with all my heart, and I will always wait for you."

Elsa's throat clenched. She was able to mouth, "I love you," before forcing her legs to carry her from the room. Her violet armor flashed in the sunlight from the windows as she ran down the corridor. She had to escape these feelings if she was going to be successful today.

She cleared her mind as she ran, and before she knew it she was atop her horse and galloping along the fjord toward the ocean. Tendro had already begun his part of the plan; several large ships were stationed in a defensive pattern around the city's harbor, and there was nothing but open water between them and the sea. She saw the bolstered Army of Arendelle arrayed in gleaming ranks along each side of the water.

Good. This had better work. If it doesn't, a lot of those men are going to die. You've practiced this so much… it will work!

Raucous cheers followed in her wake. As she passed the last company of troops, she looked over her shoulder and thrust out her will. An enormous wall of solid ice rose from the ground. It spanned across the fjord and up onto the mountains on each side. It would take any armada a lot of firepower to get through that should she fall today. But that wasn't an option.

She had made a promise, and she was going to keep it.

Author's Note: For anyone wondering, yes Elsa's armor did change colors. In the movie, her ice changed colors depending on her mood, so it does here too. I just wanted to clarify so people didn't think I had lost my mind =)