Anna had had a busy morning. The repair crews had already begun their work when she arrived, but there were so many places that she found she could help that she ended up getting her hands dirty several times on her way to find Tendro. Whatever Elsa said, the man needed a friend right now, and last time Anna checked, she was a pretty friendly person. At least, she liked to think she was.

The plain skirt and blouse she had chosen as her work outfit was pretty dirty, but she doubted that the Guard Captain would care any more than she did. It was surprising that she hadn't seen him out among the workers so far. He had better not be sulking in his office still, or she would have some choice words with him. Words like "duty" and "unavoidable" and "it wasn't your fault so quit blaming yourself."

She peeked inside, and his desk chair was empty. That was good, she supposed. At least he was out and about. But where… ah! He was right there with Kristoff. In the training yard… for some reason.

"Hey, guys!"

"Oh, hey, Anna!"

"Princess Anna."

"I thought for sure that you two would be helping with all the clean up. What's got you over here?"

"Well, we were over there at first, but honestly we just kept getting in the way. It's crazy how efficient the townsfolk are at restoring their home. Anyway, the Captain and I got to talking, and I decided I didn't want to run and hide if anything like this happened again. So he's going to teach me to not run away."

"Or try, anyway," Tendro muttered.
"Oh shush, you're a great teacher. You taught me how to fight, I'm sure you can teach Kristoff too."

The soldier nodded his head in acquiescence. She studied his face for signs of sarcasm, but found nothing too obvious. If he was joking, he was keeping it quiet, and that would have to be good enough. Kristoff was right that he needed to learn to control his cowardice, but really Tendro needed something to get his head back on straight. He needed to see that everything was still normal, and then maybe he could accept what had happened as being out of his control.

"Anyway, I just wanted to stop by and tell you that… you know, maybe it would be better if we had some privacy. Would you mind, Kristoff?" The Ice Master jogged off to talk to Sven. "Thanks! What I'm saying is… I saw first-hand what the Duke was capable of," Tendro's look got very stern at the mention of that name, "and it was horrific. What happened to you could have been so much worse. All these powerful men were controlled against their will like it was nothing, they didn't hesitate to do anything that the Duke wanted. Thousands died while still under his influence. Nudging a decision or two for you was so much better than we could have hoped for. I know it's hard but… you can't blame yourself, Tendy!" He bristled at the nickname. "Just… no. You just can't."

He didn't reply, but she fancied that she could see him mulling over her words. He was going to be fine. She had another job for him soon anyway. Those Coronan survivors that Elsa spared weren't really in any shape to take themselves back home.

Corona… oh Freyja, bring Elsa home to me.

"Kristoff! Tendy is ready for you to beat on him some more!"

"Princess Anna, would you please-"

"Nope. No, I will not stop calling you that. Someone around here has to maintain a sense

of impropriety, and it might as well be me."

The Princess skipped across the yard to throw an arm around the spectating Sven. They watched for a moment, but seeing Kristoff get trounced wasn't as funny as she had expected. Even though it wasn't real fighting, something about yesterday kept popping into her mind and made her feel sick to her stomach.

"Hey, buddy, I'm gonna go, okay?" The reindeer gave her a pouting look. "Oh, shush, you big baby. You're having fun watching anyway. I don't suppose you know where Olaf is?" Sven nodded towards the mountains. "He's… but why? Oh… Marshmallow. He never came back?" A grunt and a shake of the antlers. "Well, someone's gotta go find them. Thanks, Sven!"

A few minutes later, she was galloping out the gate, jade cloak streaming out behind her to reveal her shield. A little part of her wished that she could see herself. She was sure that it looked pretty heroic. Actually, yesterday had been enough heroism for a while, and she decided that she didn't need to see herself after all. It felt nice to just let her mind wander while she rode. Plans swirling in her mind. Thinking back to the day that Elsa had come home for good. Anna wasn't sure if her sister even knew that she had kept a piece of that giant snowflake after it burst. She just couldn't think of a better memento to always remind her of how they had come together to begin their lifelong journey.

She had covered much of the distance to the shore when she finally found Marshmallow. He lay on the ground, surrounded by fallen Weseltonian soldiers. He was staring at Olaf, who was attempting to push one of the golem's legs up a hill to him. The little snowman was making absolutely no progress. She wondered how long he had been at this.

"Whatcha doin', guys?" she asked as she hopped from her saddle.

"Anna! You found us!"

Even Marshmallow looked relieved to see her. She hadn't thought she would ever see any real emotion on that face. And how on Earth had he managed to keep the crown on his head through all this?! "Princess. Hi," he rumbled.

Her eyebrows climbed in surprise, "Well, hello there, big guy. You ready to come home now? You look like you've had quite an adventure out here."

Before the golem could say anything, Olaf chimed in, "Oh, he sure did, Anna! You see all those guys there? The ones that look like they're sleeping? Well, they aren't sleeping. Marshmallow did that. He's like a hero! But a hero that got his legs chopped off and then left in the woods. Can you help me?"

It wasn't hard to move the leg once they had gotten it atop Anna's shield. She was shocked at how quickly it reattached itself when pressed against the big snowman's stub. It took him a little bit, but he finally got himself upright again.

Once Olaf was on Marshmallow's shoulder, and Anna was back on her horse, they headed back towards Arendelle. "Okay, Olaf. I need your help. Actually, I need both of you."

"Anything! What are we doing? I hope it's exciting. But not too exciting. It's not another war, is it? I've decided I don't like wars."

"Okay, wow. You really just dive right in, don't ya? Nope. Not a war. Definitely not going to be doing that again anytime soon. Or ever, hopefully. I need you guys to help me plan something… a surprise for Elsa."

"Oh, I love surprises! What kind of surprise? Is it her birthday again already?!"

Anna couldn't help but laugh at his eagerness. "No, not her birthday… I'm um… I'm going to ask her to marry me."

What was happening? Did she just go deaf? How was that possible… oh… she had just never seen Olaf quiet before. Marshmallow had stopped in his tracks, and both snowmens' jaws were hanging open. Olaf didn't even move to stop himself as he slid forward and fell face first onto the ground.

She could hear a muffled cry of, "Th't's 'mz'ing!" before she picked him up and put him back together. "I am so so SO happy!" He was shaking like he might explode. "It is about time, Anna! I can't believe you've waited this long! We were starting to worry that you'd never get around to it."

"Wait, what? We? Who's 'we'?"

"Me, Kristoff, Kai, Gerda, Tendro, Sven, Marshmallow, Sveinn, and pretty much everyone else at the castle. Plus that lady from the dress shop that keeps asking me when you two are getting married. She said something about having to make the perfect dresses… I don't know what she's talking abo- oh my gosh!" He was practically dancing with excitement, "She means she wants to make your wedding dresses! Anna, do you know what this means? You and Elsa are going to get married!"

"Um… yep. That's what I said, Olaf. Are you even listening? And since when are people so concerned with me and Elsa getting married?"

"Of course I'm listening! Can I be the maid of honor? Or maybe the snowman of honor?" That got a growl from Marshmallow, apparently there was competition for that slot in the wedding party. "And they are concerned because they love you guys! We all do. And you're both so crazy in love that we almost started planning it for you when you hadn't announced anything. But that lady… what is her name? Silvi! She said to us, 'No! You must let them do it in their own way, as they do everything else in this world. They do things together or they do not do them at all.'"

That had been a disturbingly accurate portrayal of Silvi's voice. And it had looked very strange coming out of Olaf's face. Anna could not help but laugh. With many glances towards Elsa's one-time Ice Palace on the mountain, they began their planning on their way back to Arendelle.

"They're in here uh… Your… High-Majes… Queen Elsa?"

"Okay, open it then."

The slightly more competent thug had been ever so eager to help her once she had proven her identity. He jumped to the task at the door with a purpose. "Our orders were to keep them alive and well, so that's what we did. It wasn't easy though, I tell you what. These folks try to escape like you wouldn't believe! Especially that horse. Never had to lock up a horse before."

There was a click and the door was open. "Stay here." Elsa grabbed the keys on her way into the enclosed cell. It was dark, but she could make out the shapes of people against the wall, and the unmistakable silhouette of a horse as well. "Rapunzel?"

"Um… what? Who is that?" came a high-pitched voice.

"You. Bring a torch," the mercenary trotted inside dutifully, illuminating the room.

"Queen Elsa?" said an astonished Eugene. "I have to say, you're not exactly who we expected."

A small smile crossed the Queen's lips. "Well, I suppose I could go. I just thought since I was here that I'd… you know," she turned a key in the air, "but hey, if you've already got something lined up-"

"You are so funny, cousin. Yes, please let us out of here!"

Her desire was mimicked in a loud snort from the horse. "Maximus, tsk tsk. I can't believe you let anyone lock you up like this," Elsa chided. "You know Eugene is going to tease you about this forever, right?"

The look on the gelding's face said that he would love to see that. One by one, the prisoners were released, there was even a small cage next to Rapunzel. "Really? Who locks up a chameleon?"

"Uh, well, you see, m'lady… they um…" the oaf stammered.

"Pascal got the keys for us a couple times," Rapunzel bragged, smiling and stroking her lizard's back.

Elsa couldn't help but laugh at that. "At least nobody can say you didn't try to get out of here."

"We did. But thanks to you, we don't have to worry about that anymore. Where is everyone else?"

"Yeah, the place seems rather empty. I love the castle and all, but this… this is just weird."

"Your troops are in Arendelle, recovering from a battle." The shocked looks on the couple's faces were proof that they had been in that room for quite a while. "Don't worry, they're fine. It's kind of a long story… but first," she turned to the men she had found in the Throne Room. "You're part of the Red Company, yes?"

"Aye."

"Yes'm."

"Who is your leader?"

Only a second's hesitation at that, "Emil is his name, Maj'sty."

Of course it was. "No, it's not. The Duke killed Emil. I guess that leaves you in charge then…"

"Steinn's my name, Maj'sty."

"Steinn. Very well. I have seen enough killing for quite some time. Get your men out of this castle, and out of Corona. If any of you are ever seen in mine or my cousin's kingdoms again…"

"No need to describe it for us! We're on our way!" They gave a quick, sloppy bow, and ran from the room. Their shouts echoed down the corridors as they rounded up their remaining comrades.

"Okay! So… why is everyone in Arendelle?"

"Yeah, and what is the Red Company anyway? They looked like the type of guys I used to hang out with."

"Mercenaries."

"Ah… even better than the guys I used to hang out with."

"Basically, what's happened is this…" Elsa explained how the Duke had enthralled Prince Hans to try and seize the throne of Arendelle, but was foiled by hers and Anna's true love. And how he had then started magically manipulating entire armies under his command to attack Arendelle, but had underestimated the sisters again. This time, his mistake had cost him his life. "I'm guessing that he locked you up because true love protected you from his powers, but you don't actually have magic so he couldn't justify murdering you outright… the Duke was an exceptionally twisted man."

"Wow, that's… that's a hell of a story, Elsa." Eugene looked thoroughly impressed.

"You really came through for, well, everyone. Those mercenary creeps would have left us in there to rot if it weren't for you."

"What are cousins for, right? Oh gosh, you should have seen Anna's reaction when we heard there were Coronan banners on some of the ships!"

They talked and laughed for a while, questions and answers back and forth until Elsa looked out the window. "Oh, goodness, it's almost dusk. I have to go. If I don't get back, Anna is going to freak out and I'll never hear the end of it. I'll be sending your troops back as soon as their ships can be made seaworthy again."

Rapunzel ran and hugged her so tight. The slender girl's arms felt nice after the day she had had, but they made her miss Anna so much. Anna was the absolute best at hugs. "Thank you so much, Elsa. You guys really need to visit more!"

"She's right! We can show you all our old hiding spots, and re-enact the best moments from how we met," Eugene was always so excitable. "There was this one time, when I was with Maximus on a cliff, and I had this frying pan-" Rapunzel elbowed him in the ribs.

"That sounds great," Elsa smiled. "I know Anna will just love it. Oh! And… just some advanced notice… you might want to expect an invitation to the castle sometime soon. Just so you know."

"Why's that?"

"You'll see!" Elsa grinned and ran out into the courtyard. She waved back at her cousin and Eugene, and brought a gale that carried her into the sky. It was going to be close. The sun to her left was speeding towards the horizon, and she poured on every ounce of wind that she could muster to beat it.

Anna paced just outside the castle's main doors, staring up into the nearly-black sky. Where was she? She said she would be home by tonight. Her heart was pounding, and not in the good way that it did when Elsa kissed her, or held her, or was anywhere near her at all. If she played with her hair any more, it would probably fall out, but she couldn't stop. What if something had gone wrong?

She pushed her hair out of her face. Stupid wind. It was going to ruin her hair, and then she wouldn't look good for Elsa. Again, she had to push it from her face, and a third time. This was getting ridiculous. Maybe she should just wait inside… oh! Wind!

Arms outstretched for balance, the Queen was the image of an angel as she touched down gently in the courtyard. She smiled up at the Princess, who made sure to deliver her most withering glare.

"You are late!"

Elsa ran up the stairs, still smiling. How can I keep pretending to be mad at that smile? Oh my gosh, she's beautiful! She swept Anna up in her arms, and for the moment, all the fake anger fluttered away with the butterflies in the Princess's tummy. The world was right now. She was in Elsa's arms, right where she belonged.

But that didn't mean that Elsa got to get off so easily… "I'm still mad at you," she mumbled into the blonde's neck.

"I forgive you for that."

"You… you what? You can't forgive me for being mad when it's your fault!"

"Can too."

The nerve… who did she think she was, anyway? The Queen? Probably. Her sister? That too. The most devastatingly drop-dead gorgeous woman on the planet who Anna would spend her whole life striving to be worthy of? Okay, she probably didn't think she was that. Even though she totally was. It was impossible to hold in a little whimper when she looked into Elsa's eyes.

"Fine, but I still get to be mad."

"Of course," she gave Anna a very solemn look. "You were worried. I told Rapunzel you would be."

Anna gasped, "You talked to 'Punzel! Of course you did, I was so worried, I didn't even think about that. What did she say? Are she and Eugene okay? Did you say hi to Pascal? He's okay too, right?"

"Woah, woah, slow down there, sweetheart." Elsa grinned and kissed her lips. It felt like someone had covered her brain with a blanket. Everything was so warm and fuzzy. Someone giggled… it might have been her. "Yes, everyone is okay. They were prisoners in the castle, but now they're not. It was just a few of those mercenaries from the Duke. Nothing scary."

Still reeling from the kiss, geez she has her own mind-control with those kisses!, Anna just nodded. "That's good. We should see them soon."

"Yeah, they said the same thing. We'll figure it out after everything has settled down."

"I'm so sleepy… can we go to bed now? I need some Elsa-cuddles."

"Not still mad at me, huh?"

Oh, right. "Uh, duh! Of course, I am! That's why I'm making you repay me with cuddles!"

Was that a smirk she was hiding behind that cute little hand? It had better not be… "Oh good, I was hoping you'd have some way for me to repay you."

"Yep. You can start tonight! Now, take me to your room!"

Their walk was filled with hand-holding and an extremely comfortable silence. There was nothing that Anna craved more than Elsa's happiness, and as long as Elsa being happy included holding Anna's hand, then the Princess was the luckiest woman alive. She couldn't wait to climb into bed, snuggle up to her sister, and hear all about her day.

When they stepped into the bedroom, Anna immediately tossed her blouse onto the floor. It felt so good to be out of that thing. She was sliding her skirt down her legs when Elsa asked, "Hey Anna?"

"Hmm?" She tossed the skirt onto the blouse.

"Remember when I said I'd repay you?"

"Um, of course? It was like five minutes ago."

She felt cool hands on her hips from behind. Then Elsa's breath coursed over her ear, "No. Not that time. In the training yard."

Anna's legs trembled. "Oh. Yes… yes, I remember."

The older girl gently nudged her cheek to the side, and kissed her hard. Anna's mind went blurry. Big, piercing blue eyes stared deep into her own. Her knees felt like jelly. "Good. Because I didn't want you to think I had forgotten." She felt cold fingers slide down her butt and up between her legs. She couldn't suppress a moan when they grazed her warm sex. "One of these days, I'll get around to paying you back for that."

Another shorter, softer kiss as the fingers retreated,and Anna was left dazed and breathless, holding onto the edge of the bed for support. "W-what?"

Her mind-numbingly sexy sister was climbing under the covers with a wicked grin on her face. "Hmm? Well, come on. I thought we were going to snuggle!"

With a moan, the overly-aroused Princess shuffled herself into bed, terrified that if she moved her legs too much it would drive her crazy. Elsa was diabolical. But it was okay, because Anna was exactly where she belonged. In her sister's arms.