Cassandra had the vaguest feeling of deja vu, like she'd been here in this time, in this place before. She'd always thought it to be the most ridiculous of sensations, and attributed it to having been in places a lot like this. Or maybe it was the way the sky was so clear and blue, the air warm and comforting in a way that left her feeling lazy and relaxed. Water lapped at the sides of the little boat, and she leaned over to peer at her reflection in the water.

Her hair had grown out some since she'd left Corona, and for once in her life she didn't
particularly mind. While she preferred it to be shoulder length at most, she found she didn't mind the way it looked pulled back into a messy pony-tail. It probably didn't hurt how often Elsa seemed to take great delight in massaging her scalp. Cass figured that was only fair, since she could barely keep her hands out of Elsa's hair most nights.

Not for the first time, her heart felt like it was going to burst at the thought of Elsa. Long nights and endless days spent with her, no expectations but her own to bind her. No life but her own to live.

"So we're just following the flow of the river?" Elsa asked, smiling at Cass from where she sat across from her.

"Why not?" Cass looked up from her reflection in the water and grinned at her, "Do you have some place to be?"

"Wherever you are." Elsa winked at her.

Again, that warmth in her chest. Cass almost wanted to cry. How far had she traveled to find this sense of peace, of belonging? A part of her was momentarily sad, mourning the home she'd once had. Nostalgia, maybe a little bittersweet regret, but in the end she was happy and the future was wide open to her.

"I think we've both spent so much of our lives trying to steer ourselves in one way or another that it's kind of nice to just go with the flow sometimes." Cass reached over, taking Elsa's hand and lifting it to her lips, brushing her skin lightly.

"What did Yelana say?"

Cassandra kept hold of Elsa's hand, "We took a walk the other day and talked about my idea for that stop-over. She naturally has concerns about too many people coming to the forest, as well as the risk of opening the door to people thinking they can just ... Show up and settle. But she has the final say on the matter, and she's open to the idea of an intermediary trading post of sorts."

Elsa nodded, "I agree with her, for what it's worth. The Northuldra have suffered because of outsiders and the last thing they need is further risks to their sovereignty." She blinked, "We need. It's so easy to forget my mother was Northuldra and I don't know if I'm ever going to fully shake the feeling of being an outsider."

"Yeah." Cass stroked her thumb across the top of Elsa's hand, both understanding that notion of being an outsider among one's people and … not fully. That was something that only Elsa and Anna could figure out, but she'd support them both in whatever happened. And she was relieved that Elsa had so readily accepted the idea, and not just because it meant they could be close to each other.

Nor that the thought of Elsa living with her wasn't one that was out of reach. "There's a little place south of the forest that I like. Close enough that … you wouldn't be far away to visit, or stuff. An hour's ride, maybe. Maybe a few minutes by Nokk…"

Not about to try to figure out the whole Nook travel thing, she trailed off, and brought Elsa's hand to her lips again.

Elsa turned her hand over, touching the bottom of Cass's chin and tipping her face up, "It would have to be big enough of a building for travellers to rest, wouldn't it? Especially if you make it a waypoint for trade. A stables, a little store. Maybe a few rooms. Yelana would probably feel better if visitors had a place to stay that wouldn't intrude upon them. They've certainly had enough of that."

She chewed her lower lip, drawing Cass's eyes and nearly making her miss what she said next, "Would there… could there be room for me?"

"There's always room for you," Cass breathed, relief welling up in her chest. "I didn't want to assume, or to make you have to choose between me and the forest."

"Just because I'm a spirit of the forest doesn't mean I'm not human, that I don't have a life or wants or needs outside of my role," Elsa reminded her, expression gentle though tone firm.

"I still see my sister. I have friends here and in Arendelle. And you, I have you. I would very much like to wake up with you every morning and feel your arms around me every night." Elsa brushed her fingers across Cass's cheek, "Well, those mornings and nights I'm not actually involved with my duty to the spirits, at any rate. And just like I intend to give my all to my work, I expect you to give your all to the work you do, in whatever form that takes."

Cass nodded. No matter what she did with her life, or who she was with, she'd give her all, "You know I'd be unhappy if I was ever the reason you stopped yourself from doing anything, right?"

Elsa smiled, "That's what I mean about you, too."

"In other words, we're on the same page." Cass smiled at her, a tension easing in her chest that she hadn't realized had even been there until now.

"I love you, Cass." Elsa leaned back, stretching her legs out as she closed her eyes and smiled, her expression like a beam of light. The first time she'd seen Elsa smile, it had pierced a darkness in her heart, and that was one thing that hadn't changed.

It was … it was nice to have a family again, Cass realized. She hadn't really been looking for one, but now that she'd found it she didn't want to lose it. Raps would be happy for her. Was happy for her, she reminded herself. Oh, she had another letter or six to write, but that door had been reopened and she was excited to fully mend that fence. Raps had forgiven her, it had just taken her this long to finally forgive herself.

Was this optimism? Cass kind of liked it.

Elsa hummed, eyes still closed as a breeze ruffled her gleaming hair. Her humming took on a melody before she started to sing, of far distant lands and eyes of grayish-green.

Cass's eyes widened slightly. She'd heard this song, once upon a dream, though she had never remembered the words until now. Little by little, bit by bit it came to her, the melody rousing her heart and Elsa's voice like a balm to soothe her soul. Looking around, Cass took in the river, the boat and Elsa sitting there singing, face bright with joy. Tears brimmed in her eyes, and then, unable to tear her gaze from Elsa, she lifted her head and joined in.