Escape enough? Loki thought bitterly. For her, perhaps. She had a kingdom to rule when she went back. She had power. He was only the unwanted disappointment of a second son—no, not a son. Not even that. The connection he had felt between them, so strong a moment ago, seemed to melt away into the night. Loki jerked the door open and gestured through it.

"Your subjects await," he said bitterly.

She frowned and tossed him an enigmatic glance as she passed back into the real world.

Elsa moved away from Loki without looking back. Something—she wasn't sure what—had changed in those last few seconds. For a moment they had had a connection, and then it was gone.

Perhaps there really was no escape after all.

Oh, well, she thought. What did it matter what she had or had not shared with the younger prince of Asgard? He was not of Arendelle; when tonight was over, he would leave, and she would probably never see him again. Whatever had happened between them, it could never have been other than fleeting. There were others she needed to worry about now.

Like Anna. It had been a long time since she had stalked off. She would never understand. She thought she could have sunshine and parties all the time just for the asking. Well, let her sulk, Elsa told herself. She ignored the tiny voice inside her that said, Sulking isn't like Anna.

Loki still couldn't stop watching her. She fascinated him. The moment she had passed back through that door she had tucked her fears and vulnerabilities neatly back under her mask, almost invisible even to him, who had seen them explode from her only moments before. She moved gracefully through the room, touching no one but smiling at all, and everywhere around him he could hear the buzzing whispers of her subjects' approval. They liked her. They thought she was wonderful.

And everyone called him a silver-tongued deceiver.

A movement caught Loki's eye, and a mischievous smile spread across his face as he saw trouble making its way across the room in the form of the younger sister, dragging Prince-Hans-the-Whiny-Thirteenth-Son-of-the-Southern-Isles by the hand. The attention-hungry prince had certainly wasted no time. Though going after the younger sister was an unexpected move. Princess Anna could hardly suit his purposes, unless—

Loki had taken several steps forward toward the queen before he realized what a fool he was making of himself. The prince could hardly do anything to Elsa in such a public place, with the younger princess not yet secured as his bride. Loki did not doubt the accuracy of his guess, but now was not the time to act on it. Now was the time to watch, though the certainty of Hans's plans had stolen any amusement he might have taken from the exchange that was coming.

"Elsa!"

Elsa turned. Finally! Anna was smiling again, which was a relief, though the sight of her dragging a handsome, well-dressed young man behind her through the crowd was something less than encouraging. She hoped her sister had not been too forward, though given Anna's sheltered life and vibrant personality, it seemed rather too much to ask.

Anna pulled up short and bobbed a curtsey. "I mean, um, Queen. Me again. Um…" Anna's voice adopted the stiff awkwardness that was her attempt at being dignified. "May I present Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."

The prince bowed. "Your majesty…" He glanced at Anna.

"We would like—" they said together, then looked self-consciously at each other as though deciding who should go on. Elsa hid a smile. Was it possible Anna had managed to find someone as awkward as she was?

At last it was the prince who continued. "Uh, your blessing—" He stopped again and they shared another look, their faces far too close this time. Blessing, Elsa registered with alarm. Valhalla, please don't let the next words be what I think they are.

"For our marriage!"

Anna leaned her head on Hans's shoulder, and they looked expectantly at her, identical silly smiles on their faces.

"Marriage?"

Anna answered with something between a giggle and a squeal.

"I'm sorry, I'm confused." Surely they can't be serious. Surely she doesn't mean it.

"Well, we haven't worked out all the details ourselves," Anna babbled. "We'll need a few days to plan the ceremony—of course, we'll have soup, roast, and ice cream—and then—" Anna gasped and grabbed Hans's arm. "Wait, would we live here?"

"Here?" Elsa interjected.

"Absolutely!" the prince replied.

"Anna!"

"Oh, we can invite all twelve of your brothers to stay with us!"

"What?" Elsa cried, throwing up her hands. "No! No, no, no, no…"

Anna gave her a sharp look. "Of course, we have the room—"

"Wait! Slow down!"

Anna stopped short.

Elsa tried to keep her voice calm. Authoritative. Queenly. "No one's brothers are staying here. No one is getting married."

"Wait, what?" Anna finally let go of Hans and stepped toward her sister.

"May I talk to you, please? Alone?"

"No. What—whatever you have to say, you can say to both of us." Anna stepped back and took Hans's arm again.

Great. Now it's me against them. Elsa sighed. "Fine. You can't marry a man you just met."

Anna frowned. "You can if it's true love."

"Anna, what do you know about true love?"

"Well, more than you!" Anna tossed back. "All you know is how to shut people out."

Elsa flinched. "You asked for my blessing, but my answer is no. Now, excuse me."

"Your majesty," Hans cut in. "If I may easy your—"

"No, you may not, and I—I think you should go." Elsa walked away from them. Conceal. Don't let—No. I can't. Not now. She shook her head. "The party is over. Close the gates."

Loki let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't given Queen Elsa enough credit. Sheltered her life may have been, but she knew better than to be taken advantage of by a greedy, ambitious prince. She hadn't needed his protection after all.

Reluctantly, he began searching the crowd for Odin and Frigga in preparation to leave. It was unfortunate. He had hoped to be able to observe the ice queen a little longer.

"Elsa, no! No, wait!"

Loki turned back in surprise. Odin's eye, she isn't going to let it drop! he thought in amazement. The younger princess rushed forward and made a grab for her sister, who was steadily moving away. She missed, but she did come away with… Elsa's left glove. Oh, no.

Elsa turned, the same terror in her face that he had seen on the balcony. "Give me my glove!" She snatched for it, but Anna pulled away.

"Elsa, please! Please, I can't live like this anymore," Anna pleaded.

Her sister looked at her, and Loki caught the glint of tears in her eyes. "Then leave."

They stood there, panting. Then Elsa's shoulders slumped and she turned away, misery and defeat in every line of her body. Anna stared after her.

"What did I ever do to you?"

"Enough, Anna."

"No, why? Why do you shut me out? Wh—why do you shut the world out? What are you so afraid of?"

"I said, 'Enough'!"

Elsa spun around to face her sister, and as she did, a stream of ice flew from the fingers of her bare hand. The ice took root in the floor and grew outward, creating a sharp, icy barrier several feet thick between her and the rest of the company. There were gasps and cries of astonishment and fear, and the Duke of Weselton loudly whispered, "Sorcery!"

Only Loki was silent, marveling.

Elsa groped for the door with her gloved hand, clutching the hand that had betrayed her to her chest. Finding the door, she flung it open and fled.

Revised as of January 2018