Chapter 17:The Aftermath

Elsa joined her sister and Eugene in Anna's room, Jack following closely. Eugene was sitting in a chair, next to the fire-place, his head in his hands. Anna looked desperately worried as she listened to the doctor's diagnosis, holding a damp cloth over Kristoff's forehead.

"He will recover, if we spend every effort to keep his temperature down. Someone has to be by his bedside day and night, checking that his temperature is remaining normal."

"Of course," said Anna quietly.

The doctor bowed, and left the room, telling that he'd be back to examine Kristoff again in a few hours.

Elsa strode to her sister, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she looked at Kristoff's sleeping body. His body was covered by a white sheet, but Elsa could see that his stomach was covered in bandages that wrapped around his body.

"He'll be alright," she said to her sister, trying to convince herself as much as Anna.

"I don't know what I'll do if- if he-"

She stopped talking as tears spilled down her cheeks, and Anna hid her face in her hands.

"I can't bear it," she said, and Elsa's heart broke as she gripped her sister tighter. "It's all just so horrible- the ballroom- everyone's just on the floor, and Rapunzel's gone, because she saved me-"

At the sound of his wife's name, Eugene looked up, and Elsa noted the paleness of his face.

"Anna," he croaked, and he stood from his chair, and advanced towards Anna's other side, and wrapped his arm around her, like Elsa had done, so that their arms intersected in Anna's back. "She's the bravest person I know. She'll be okay, I know it."

Anna sobbed harder, and Elsa felt her throat tighten. It was only now beginning to hit her, as the shock of all of it was finally wearing off- Rapunzel, her beautiful, brave cousin was gone, and maybe she would never see her again, and she was the one that had called to her for help, she was the reason Rapunzel had come here in the first place, this was all her fault- And where was Eleanor, where was Gregory? She'd grown to admire the beautiful queen, to value her friendship, and was it possible that she had been taken, maybe killed-

They'll be okay. They're resourceful, they'll find a way.

And, if Eleanor had been taken with Rapunzel, Elsa felt a little less scared for her cousin.

But nothing Elsa or Eugene said made Anna cheer up; on the contrary, she seemed to sob harder. Elsa saw Kristoff's eyes open, and his head turn towards Anna.

"Anna?" he said weakly, and immediately Anna straightened, wiping away her tears and putting on a brave face. Elsa couldn't help but feel a burst of admiration and pride for her sister, as she was trying to spare her husband from any worries.

Though, contrary to popular belief, Kristoff wasn't stupid. Even half-dying, he saw the state his new wife was in.

"I'm here," she said, smiling bravely at Kristoff. His hand twitched, and Anna- realizing what he was trying to do- grabbed his hand in hers.

"Are you alright?" Kristoff asked, and Elsa had to concentrate hard to hear him. Jack was hanging back, as if he felt like he was intruding on something meant only for family.

"Kristoff, you're the one laying on the bed with a punctured stomach!" cried out Anna. "And you're asking me if I'm alright?"

Kristoff didn't answer, squeezing his eyes shut as if he was experiencing a pang of pain. He opened them again, Anna watching him worriedly.

"I'm fine," he said, and Anna threw her arms upwards.

"You're not fine! What were you thinking, throwing yourself in front of me like that! Don't you ever do that to me again, Kristoff Bjorman! You were on the ground, I thought you were dead, you bastard-"

"Yeah well," interrupted Kristoff, gritting his teeth. "You were leaving your left side unprotected again."

She looked at Kristoff in disbelief, before a strangled laugh escaped her, and she threw her arms around Kristoff's neck, her shoulders trembling as she sobbed. Kristoff wrapped his good arm around her. Elsa smiled, and turned to look at Jack, who was watching, grinning. His eyes snapped to hers, and she smiled at him. Later, they'd talk- for now, they had to deal with the aftermath of the battle.

"I'm going to see the counsellors," she said. She stood up, Jack joining her at the door-

"Can I come?"

Elsa turned, to see Eugene watching her with a heart-breaking desperation, a need to do something, anything-

"Please," he breathed. "I can't bear to just sit around."

"Of course," she nodded, and Eugene gratefully followed them out. They passed a servant, who was hurrying along the corridor, holding what looked like a pile of bandages.

"When you've finished bringing that to the person who needs them," called Elsa as the servant passed them, "Go and fetch the counsellors, and tell them to meet me immediately in the Council room."

The servant nodded, and continued to run down the corridor, now nearly running.

"This way," Elsa murmured to Eugene, and led them through the castle's corridors, and swung open the familiar double doors of the Council Room. The last time, she'd been here, her castle had still been intact- Rapunzel had been safe-

"Your Majesty," greeted a voice, and Elsa saw, to her great surprise, that four counsellors were already here.

"How did you get here so quick? I just sent the servant-"

"We were waiting for you. Counsellors Hugo, Wentworth and Terence are injured, or they would be here too."

None of them were sitting, and Elsa made no movement to sit down. Eugene stood beside her, as did Jack, though the counsellors couldn't see him.

"Tell me," she said simply, and at once Counsellor Nicodeme stepped forward.

"The soldiers came in from the servant's passage, we're investigating right now if one of them betrayed us, and let them in."

"None of them would do that," she said, but even as the words escaped her lips, her thoughts flitted to Mary, Katie's friend who had seemed to hate her so much.

No, she thought firmly, she was Katie's friend. I told her what was at stake.

"The Southern Royal family disappeared in black smoke," continued the counselor, "as did all the soldiers that attacked us, but we managed to secure two prisoners-"

"You did?!" she exclaimed, and the counsellors nodded. Elsa saw from the corner of her eye Jack stand a little straighter, gripping his staff tighter. She looked at Eugene. He was wearing an expression of pure rage, and Elsa greatly feared that whoever those prisoners were, they would be dead in the minute after they would be taken in.

But, she thought, it should have been impossible- all their enemies had disappeared in a hurricane of black sand- why would these two be different?

"Bring them here," she ordered at a guard that stood near the door, "I want to ask them some questions myself."

The guard bowed and exited the room, closing the door behind him.

"What else?" she said, turning back to the counsellors.

"A lot of nobles died in the first moments of the attack- their families are fleeing as we speak. May I remind you that the support of the nobility is crucial for your reign-"

"And the servants?" Elsa asked.

"The servants, your Majesty?" said Nicodeme, frowning in confusion.

"Yes, Counsellor, the servants, or don't they count as lost human lives to you?" she snapped, and Nicodeme flushed.
"I didn't mean any disrespect," he said quietly, "I don't have a precise number of lost lives-"

"Well, I want a list by tomorrow morning with all their names, and how to contact their families."

"Of course," he said, bowing down, "I will have someone attend to that immediately-"

"You will do it personally," she said, "And I suggest you get started, now."

Nicodeme bowed again, though Elsa saw a gleam of rage in his eyes before he hurried out of the room. Only three counsellors were in the room now, but before she could address any of them, the doors banged open. Five guards entered, dragging two people.

"LET US GO, WE FOUGHT WITH YOU, YOU IDIOTS-"

Elsa could have laughed in relief at the sight of Eleanor, her hair a mess, her dress covered in blood, as she was putting up a hell of a fight, kicking and thrashing. Four of the five soldiers were gripping her, looking exhausted. Next to her, Gregory was standing, stoically calm, only one guard standing next to him, not holding him, not even seeming to expect an act of hostility from his prisoner. Gregory was watching Eleanor try to fight off the guards, not making a move to help her, his eyebrows raised, grinning.

Jack was grinning too.

"Eleanor!" cried Elsa out in relief, "I was wondering where you'd gone to!"

"The second the Southerns disappeared, these goddamn fools grabbed us, refusing to hear reason-"

"We saw you fight!" argued the guard, though he'd looked taken aback at Elsa's exclamation of relief.

"FOR YOU, IDIOT, WE WERE FIGHTING ON YOUR SIDE-"

Elsa burst out laughing as Eleanor roared at the guard, who looked frightened and genuinely sorry that he had ever touched the queen.

"But- but you're their queen, what was I supposed to think-"

"I'm sure Timothy didn't mean any harm," said Elsa, struggling to regain control. "The mistake was quite understandable."

The guard looked relieved and threw a grateful look at Elsa.

"But your Majesty-" said the second guard, "She had a dagger in her hand, with a dragon- that's the emblem of the Southern princes' mother's family; are you sure-"

"I'm sure," said Elsa, not unkindly- these guards had fought in the ballroom, that much was clear, maybe had even seen some of their own fall. She more than understood the need to have someone, anyone that could be blamed, punished-

But Elsa noticed that at the guard's words, 'that's the emblem of the Southern princes' mother's family', Eleanor had whipped her head to Gregory, her eyes narrowed.

"It was hers," said Gregory quietly, and Elsa couldn't pull her eyes away from them. "I was wondering when you were going to figure it out. Figured you would like it better than a ring."

Eleanor stared at him, stunned. Suddenly, she threw her arms around him and kissed him with such passion that he staggered back, though gripping her against him. He laughed against her mouth.

"Is that a yes?"

"You stupid prick, why didn't you ask me straight away? Yes, yes, yes, of course I'll marry you!"

"But- but aren't you already married? To his father?" asked one of the counsellors weakly, and Elsa saw that they were looking, astonished, at the pair. Elsa hadn't even fully comprehended what had happened yet, but she spoke instinctively, as if she'd been waiting for the moment to say it without realizing.

"That can easily be fixed," she said, and Eleanor turned her face to her. Her eyes were wide, shining with happiness, her cheeks flushed with giddiness and joy. Jack was leaning on his staff, wearing an ear-splitting grin, though he was now looking at Elsa curiously. "I've not known you long, Eleanor, but I know you're probably the strongest girl I've ever met, and will ever meet. You more than deserve this, and you have proved to me that you deserve more. If you desire it, I can make you a citizen of Arendelle, and thus have the power to completely and irrevocably annul your marriage to the King."

"You can do that?" asked Jack and Gregory at the same time, Eugene looking bewildered.

"Yes, as long as at least one of you is a citizen of Arendelle. Obviously, I won't make your husband the same offer-"

Her words floated in the air, and before she'd realized what was happening, Eleanor was sprinting towards her across the room and flung herself into Elsa's arms, her wild red curls flying around her and surrounding them like a curtain.

"Thank you," she whispered, "It will be an honor to consider you as my Queen."

"Your Majesty," said one of the counsellors, "Are you sure that it is wise? You will provoke the King of the Southern Isles by doing this, it will be considered an act of open hostility, maybe even start a war-"

"I think it's kind of too late for that, don't you?" Elsa asked, as Eleanor released her. "I don't know if you've caught on, but there was just a battle downstairs."

"We don't know if the Southern Isles were responsible-"

"Oh come off it!" snarled Jack.

"They've all gone, Counsellor! Not one Southern person is here anymore, except for these two- or I should say, only Prince Gregory."

"If that is the case, Queen Elsa, you may have just given Arendelle citizenship to an enemy!"

Elsa rounded on him.

"She fought! I saw her! She pierced her husband, her King, with that very dagger, do you think that was the act of the enemy?!"

The Counsellor didn't answer but gazed accusingly at her. She ignored him, and turned back to Eleanor. She would waste no more time convincing them.

"You do realize that once I cancel your marriage, declare it invalid, you will no longer be Queen?" she asked Eleanor. Eleanor turned her head to look at Gregory, who smiled encouragingly.

"Of course," she said, turning back to Elsa. "I never wanted to be Queen in the first place."

"Very well," said Elsa, "Then I declare, as your Queen, that your marriage with King Leopold of the Southern Isles is annulled. You are free from the ties that imprisoned you to him, and free to choose your own path."

Eleanor curtsied gracefully, and it was nearly a comical sight, seeing in which state her dress, her hair was, how she'd been screaming a few minutes before to the guards, that she had now turned into the picture of elegance. No wonder Gregory had fallen in love with her. She was wild, untamable, even after all that she had endured, freer than anyone she had met before-

She turned to Jack, suspecting that she would find him looking at Eleanor and Gregory, maybe even thinking the same things she did- though it bothered her that the same thoughts would cross his head- but she found him staring at her instead. They had barely spoken since the battle, but his look said what a million words couldn't. Elsa remembered that moment, when she'd been imprisoned with Pitch in that bubble she'd formed to keep them all out, all the people she loved; Elsa hadn't even realized she had cast it- had not even known she could- and she'd felt so terrified, when the ghosts of her mother and father and Katie and then imitations of the still-alive Anna and Jack had told her all those horrible things… and it was the real Anna and Jack's screaming that had tethered to reality.

She shuddered, and he seemed to know what she was thinking, and restraining himself from walking to her.

I've never felt like this for anyone before.

Believe me, the real me, that's offering his heart to you, not because you have ice powers, or because you're broken inside, but because you're the most amazing, wonderful, brilliant girl I have ever met.

Elsa had never thought that words could bring her so much joy, hope and terror at the same time. Maybe she wasn't ready, and if this was war- not the most sensible time for a relationship.

And though she felt as if she'd known him forever, it had only been a month since they'd met- definitely early-

She couldn't explain the pull he had on her. She really couldn't.

But she knew this, at least; maybe this would end badly, maybe it wouldn't, there was no way of truly knowing; and though what North had said to her still echoed in her mind, she just wanted to sink into a deep, deep sleep, Jack's arms around her. She craved the touch of his lips against hers, the sense of security, the feeling that she could be herself-

Concentrate, she thought.
She turned back to the counsellors.

"Princess Rapunzel was taken by the Southerns. I think they plan on taking her hostage."

Eugene blanched at Rapunzel's mention, but seemed to straighten, and Eleanor looked horror-struck.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

"It's not your doing," Elsa said, "Although if you have friends at the Isles- anyone, that can keep a look out for her-"

Eleanor seemed to think, chewing her lip. Then her face lit up.

"I'll see what I can do."

Elsa nodded.

"Counsellors, I expect you to do everything you can to prepare an army, contact all our allies, send word that we need help- We are at war, gentlemen, it's no use denying it."

Though some looked reticent, Elsa was pleased to see that they all nodded, muttering 'Of course'. She turned away from them again.

"I have to see the ballroom. See if they need help."

The Counsellors probably thought she was talking to them, but Jack recognized that her words were meant for him, and nodded. She was grateful that he followed her as she exited the room, followed by Eleanor and Gregory and Eugene, who hadn't said a word in all of it. Elsa strode to the enormous stairwell, a few corridors down, and looked down at what had been, a few hours ago, the most beautiful room in the castle.

The floor was now covered in shattered bits of glass and ice, that surrounded bodies. There were at least twenty of them, woman dressed in luxurious robes, men in tail-coats, and servants, and children, and in death, they were all alike, no matter how they were dressed or how they looked: in the end, thought Elsa, we're all the same, a limp form on the floor-

The horror of the scene struck her like a blow, and she staggered back. Between the bodies swarmed servants, who covered the bodies of what had surely been their friends or their masters with white sheets, cleaning up the mess, and even from where she stood, Elsa could see their hands trembling as they tended to the wounded, who were still on the floor, for some of them, their faces glistening with tears-

Elsa descended the staircase, her long glistening capelet training behind her. It seemed like such a long time ago that she had stood in front of her mirror, examining the dress she'd created, thinking about Jack-

Now, he was at her side, and without a word, he caught her hand, and Elsa tightened her hold on him. Some of the servants stopped their work, gazing at their queen.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," she murmured, her voice quieter and without the confidence she'd had in the Council Room. "I was wondering- if I could help."

The servants looked at each other, bewilderment and surprise etched across their faces.

"Your Majesty, surely, you should be resting-"

"I'll rest when I'm dead," she said, "Let me help. Please."

The servants hesitated for a moment more, but one finally scurried forward, bringing white bandages to the Queen.

"There are buckets of water over there, if you see that one of them has a too-high fever that has to break urgently and it can't wait for him to be moved. If you need towels, bandages, sheets, anything they're over there too," he said, indicating a spot near the servant's entrance. Elsa recalled how it was a possibility that one of her own people had betrayed them, granting access through the doors, telling the Southerns when to strike, for when better than a ball on New Year's; every member of the royal family was sure to be there… but she suppressed the thought as she took the bandages the servant was handing her. She would worry about finding out what exactly had happened later… for now, there was work to do.

"I want to help too!" she heard Eleanor say as she came running down the staircase, holding tightly her still bloody dagger in her hand. At the sight of her, several servants backed away, throwing her looks full of hatred, which seemed to make her pause.

"It's fine," Elsa said, loudly enough, "She was spying for me. She's on my side, defended us."

They seemed to relax slightly, though several still looked wary, even more so when they saw Prince Gregory in her tow. Eleanor, though, seemed oblivious to this as she took bandages and followed Elsa as she walked between the wounded and the dead. They were joined by Eugene who, Elsa was pleased to see, seemed to have gained a sense of purpose as he grabbed bandages too. Soon, Elsa, Eleanor, Gregory and Eugene were at different areas of the ballroom, separating the dead from the living, and doing everything they could to help the wounded when they could. Elsa, her dress now unrecognizable beneath blood and grime that seemed to stick to the ice, felt that they might have been there minutes, hours, maybe days, her tended to the wounded, Jack giving her whispered advice, telling her to turn somebody's body one way or another, wrapping a bandage this way, not that way, Snowflake, look…

She had entered a dream-like state, not seeing the dead bodies, but concentrating on the work she had to do.

The huge clock decorating the ballroom gave twelve chimes, and Elsa looked up. It was only midnight, the start of a new year, a new dawn, and what a bloody dawn it was…

She swayed on the spot, and Jack caught her, looking half-amused, half-worried.

"You have to go to bed, Snowflake," he said, gently.

"No," she mumbled "I- have to help-"

"You've helped plenty, and you're going to end up killing someone. Come on."

Incapable of resisting the pull of his arms or finding more arguments, Elsa walked towards the staircase, apologizing profusely to anyone who would listen as Jack continued to forcefully pull her up, though no-one could see that but Eugene. They crossed corridors and mounted two other staircases, when Elsa saw Jack pulling open the door of her bedroom. Dimly, she told him to turn around, and slid out of her dress, that looked like it had been rolled repeatedly in a bucket of blood and mud, and wriggled into her usual white nightgown. She walked to her bed, and collapsed onto it. From the corner of her eye, she saw Jack approach the ruined ice dress.

"You like it?" she said sleepily.

"I've never seen ice so… feminine," he said, and she snorted.

"What, did you think ice powers was a man thing?" she asked, teasing, and Jack turned to her. Elsa realized that her nightgown was raised to above her knees, crumpled under her. She had laid down over the covers, and there was no way of hiding from Jack's gaze, as he took her in.

She didn't want to, anyway.

Slowly, he straightened up, the capelet of the dress sliding from his grasp. He walked towards her, and gently set down his staff next to the bed, before crawling onto it.

"Jack," she said not even knowing what she was going to say, and she was half-relieved, half-disappointed to see that he was only laying down beside her, on his back, his arm twisting under his head. His other arm stretched out to her, an invitation and a choice. He was watching her intently, and there was so, so much in that gaze…

"I've been thinking," she said, and he groaned.

"If this is about us again, then I think you've been overthinking it way too much."

"It's not- well, it is, but-"

"Nope. I'm not listening to this, I'm too tired. If you're going to try and make me leave again, do us all a favour and don't waste your time-"

"That's not what I was going to say!" she said angrily, and found that her exhaustion had subsided, replaced by frustration at Jack.

"Okay, Snowflake, what were you going to say, then?" he said, his tone coated with mock-patience. She restrained herself from giving him a punch in the stomach.

"I was going to say that seeing as war is coming, maybe we should-"

"Not listeniiiiiiiing," chanted Jack, and Elsa saw that he had stuck a finger inside each of his ears.

"Will you listen?!" she said, half-exasperated, half-amused.

"What was that?" he said, and she rolled on him, sitting on him, forcing his hands out of his ears as she pinned them on the bed, though she knew that if he had really wanted to stop her, he could have.

"LISTEN, you pain-in-the-ass Winter Spirit!" she said, and he looked up at her face, grinning. Her hair, free of the braid she'd worn to the ball, fell around her face like curtains, tickling Jack's face. "I'm not telling you to go away!"

"Oh good," said Jack, his voice coated with irony, "Seeing as that worked so well last time."

"I'm just saying," she said, ignoring his comment, still pinning him to the bed. "That war is coming, emotions are going to run high, and we're going to feel like we have to rush things, and I don't think we should get carried away. Yet."

Jack looked at her, comprehension dawning on his face.

"Are you talking about sex?" he said, grinning, and she felt herself blushing furiously. "You were!" he cried, "You just can't keep your hands off me, can you?"

"Jack!" she cried, infuriated. "I'm just saying that despite our feelings for each other, the truth is we met a month ago-" she was cut short by Jack raising himself into a sitting position so suddenly that she nearly toppled off him, and kissed her. She leant into the kiss, her feet intertwining behind his back. She grabbed his face in her hands, opening her mouth, letting him in- her core tightened in all the right places as she felt her senses awaken-

Then, to her great dismay, he broke away, and slumped back onto the cushions, with her still sitting on him.

"Sorry," he said. "Got carried away. You were saying that we had feelings for each other."

She smacked him playfully on the chest.

"I am trying to talk seriously, Jack! Can't you listen for a minute? Please?"

"Fine," he sighed, rolling his eyes, and made a zipping motion over his mouth as he looked at her, an air of fake-seriousness around his features.

"Thank you," she said. "So, despite our feelings for each other, we only met a month ago-"

"During which we spent every waking hour together," he objected, but quickly shut up at the glare she shot him. "Sorry," he mumbled, and stilled again.

"And a war's starting, so our emotions are going to be running really high, right? So our feelings are going to intensify, if we keep this going-"

"If?" said Jack, outraged.

"Oh, all right, seeing as we're going to keep this going (Elsa ignored the huge grin that split across Jack's face) so I was thinking that we should probably do this properly. Because otherwise we're probably going to rush into things, and I don't want to mess this up."

"Yeah, that would be a serious problem," he said seriously.

"So, I was thinking that we should probably restrain from kissing in public, because I read somewhere that that would be really intensifying for our feelings."

"You read- (he interrupted himself at Elsa's sharp look)- Yeah, I mean, sounds reasonable-"

"And be really professional when we're having discussions- like no touching, no holding hands, no hand on the waist-"

"What?" Elsa shot him a look, and he shut up again, "I mean, sure, sounds like a good plan to stop ourselves from doing anything a certain person I know would qualify as 'getting carried away', if we're not even touching-"

"Of course we can touch, just not in public! And we should probably restrain ourselves in here, too-"

"Sounds like a great plan," said Jack, rolling his eyes, "Absolutely marvellous."

"I'm not saying you can't kiss me or anything, just that we have to be very careful about how we're going to express our feelings from now on. We're taking it slow."

"Sure," said Jack, his tone heavy with irony, "This is all very sensible. Extremely practical and logical."

"You think so?" she said, beaming.

"Of course, of course, we're not getting carried away-"

And then, he sat up suddenly again, but this time he grabbed her back and rolled over, so that she was now underneath him, and he was above her, and he was kissing her, and every thought of caution was thrown to the wind as she wrapped her legs around his mid-riff, pulling him closer. He broke away a little, his breath tickling her face. He looked at her, grinning. After a moment, she groaned, giving in.

"Okay," she said. "Never mind."

"Great," he said roughly, and bent, kissing her deeply and she relished every place his body touched hers, his tongue in her mouth. She was only vaguely away that her nightgown was around her waist, her silk underwear plainly revealed. Jack's hand gently, but surely, caressed her leg with one, cold finger, and she moaned a little at the touch, as his hand raised higher on her thigh. His mouth crashed into hers, as if to consume the sound, his hand raising higher, the other next to her head, relying on it so as not to crush her. His hand passed her waist, taking a little more time that it could have over the silk, and made circles on her stomach. Her back arched as his hand seemed to slowly lower itself back towards her waist- so low, that it touched the band of her underthing,and she didn't know if she wanted him to stop or go on-

Then, he pulled his hand away, and pulled his mouth away, and she groaned in protest as he pulled her to him.

"Why did you stop?" she said, feeling alive, aroused-

"I think you're right, about taking it slow. Though I plan to kiss you in public, your measures were a tiny bit extreme, I don't think we should- um- get carried away yet."

Her cheeks reddened, and she felt so embarrassed to have let him go that far- but it had felt so wonderful, and it wasn't like they'd strictly done anything-

He seemed to know what she was thinking, however.

"I really want to, you know," he said and Elsa was glad that he couldn't see her blush in the darkness, "but you're right. We can't mess this up. And though you're very- I don't know how to put this- tempting? – I really, really don't want to mess this up."

"Me neither," she said quietly, still feeling an odd shyness creeping on her.

"So," he coughed, and Elsa was glad to detect absolutely no hint of embarrassment in his voice, "we're going to take it slow. We're doing this properly. I'm going to take my time."

She blushed, but this time it was not from embarrassment.

"We should sleep," he said softly, and Elsa curled up beside him, his arm around her as she laid her head on his chest. She'd thought that she was farther from sleeping than she had ever been in her life, and it was a long time before her heartbeat slowed, her eyes drooping, the exhaustion that had disappeared temporarily rushing back. When she was just on the edge of sleep, she felt Jack move and she tightened her hold on him. He laughed quietly.

"Not going anywhere, Snowflake," he said, and she felt his hand pulling her nightgown down over her thighs. He settled back down, and Elsa threw him a questioning look. "It was too distracting," he explained, grinning, and miraculously, exhausted as she was, she found that she could still blush with pleasure.

She curled up again, listening to the soothing pattern of his breaths, and she slipped into sleep.

…

The morning sun came in in her room, and Rapunzel groaned, covering her face with her pillow. Any moment now, Eugene would get up and draw the curtains back properly and would badger her to get up-

Automatically, her hand reached over to Eugene's side of the bed, trying to keep him in bed a little longer, because come on Eugene, ten minutes is not going to change much, but she found it empty, her hand grasping only cold sheets. Her eyes flew open and she sat up, breathing quickly. The sunlight revealed a small yet luxurious bedroom, that was completely unfamiliar to her. The battle, her pretence of being Anna, her short but completely terrifying talk with Pitch- it all came rushing back.

Trying hard to stay calm, she looked around her. She was in the middle of an enormous four-poster bed, though the blue curtains were drawn back. Her body sank into the enormous mattress, and the cushions were plump behind her, the shape of her head still there. It was, all in all, extremely comfortable; and that was what worried her.

She let her feet drop to the floor, and was met by a fluffy white carpet, that contrasted with the dark wooden floor-boards. She realized she was no longer in her evening gown, but in a silk blue nightgown, short-sleeved and reaching her feet.

Rapunzel decided not to dwell on who had changed her into the nightgown.

She looked around her. There was a white, wooden desk, and upon it was a neatly stashed pile of paper, with a feather quill and a bottle of ink. Frowning slightly, she turned on the spot. There was a huge wardrobe, made out of the same white wood as the desk. She crossed the room and swung it open, revealing rows and rows of shoes and dresses. Now completely confused, she gaped slightly at the room around her. The ceiling was high above her, and Rapunzel felt a thrill that had nothing to do with fear.

Then, as if she'd been planning it all along, she rushed to the huge window. She looked out of it; a sumptuous garden rolled out underneath her, giggling girls in beautiful silk dresses and stern, grown men walking around it. A dazzling, warm sun shone in a cloudless sky, the sight so different from Arendelle's snowy landscapes, that she'd grown used to in the time she'd been there. She tried to open the window, and found- with a rush of disappointment, though she'd been half-expecting it- that it was locked. Anyway, the ground was far below her, too far to attempt jumping down to escape.

She looked around the room. It was spotless, as if it had been inhabited for a while, but still cleaned and looked after. The grate was empty of a fire, but the atmosphere was still pleasantly warm. She looked around wildly for a weapon. She rushed to the fireplace, searching for a poker, anything, but there was nothing there. The fireplace, obviously, was next to nearly unused.

She felt a rising panic, as she saw that nothing in the room could help her defend herself, and out of sheer desperation she took the quill from the desk. She'd heard about someone killing someone using a pen, that they had plunged into an artery in the victim's throat. Though she wouldn't be aiming to kill, the thought comforted her a little.

Think Rapunzel, she said, turning around on herself again, Think.

She went to the door, and tried it; of course, it was locked shut. Rapunzel could no longer ignore her panic as she looked around the room, completely trapped. It was like being locked in that tower all over again, but this time Eugene wouldn't find her-

Eugene.

She repeated her husband's name over and over in her head, until she was soothed. She wasn't in the tower, Gothel was dead, she would find a way out of this place.

Okay, she thought. So, I'm at the Southern Isles. Imprisoned, but they hopefully don't intend on harming me, since I didn't wake up in a cell.

She breathed in, out, in, out. She would be fine. She would get out.

She heard the lock click, and the door creaked open, and her temporary sense of safety and comfort vanished as she spun to face the intruder, tightening her hold on the quill. Where she had expected the red-head, or even Pitch, she saw a rather handsome man, with dark hair and stunning midnight blue eyes.

"Princess Rapunzel?" he said, in what was a some-what reassuring voice. She backed away, tightening her hold on the quill. "Are you Princess Rapunzel?"

"Where am I?" she asked sharply, choosing not to answer.

"The Summer Palace," said the servant- because that was what she supposed he was- automatically.

"Where is Pitch?" she asked, and the servant looked around quickly, as if afraid of being over-heard. He entered the room, closing the door behind her with a click.

"I'm Emile Wyatt, and though I don't have his name, I was born of Romuald Yliria," said the boy, and the way he said it made Rapunzel think that the words were supposed to mean something to her. "I'm a bastard."

"I'm sorry," she said, "I don't understand."

"A bastard is a child that is the result of a sexual relationship not within the confines of marriage-"

"I know what a bastard is!" snapped Rapunzel. "I just don't know what I'm supposed to- I don't know any Yliria-"

"You don't?" he asked, bewildered. "Lea said you did."

"Lea?"

"My sister," he explained, "Eleanor Yliria. Well, technically, half-sister, but-"

"You're the Queen's brother?" Rapunzel asked, her heart skipping a beat. Now that she knew, she could see the resemblance- though their eyes and hair were different, there was something familiar about his face.

"Half-sister, by blood, but she is my true sister in all ways," he said. "And she's no longer Queen, though the King doesn't know that yet."

"I still don't know what you mean."

"My sister sent me a letter yesterday evening, brought by a snowy-white bird, telling me to look out for any sign of Princess Rapunzel, and to try to keep you safe. And to tell you not to worry, help is on the way."

Rapunzel had seldom seen the Queen of the Southern Isles, only vaguely recalling that her name was Eleanor. She had not spent a lot of time with her in the castle, seeing as she had acted as a spy, and had only met her properly that night- that seemed so long ago now- at the Queens Arms.

"I must go," said Emile quickly. "Soon, they're going to come, to prepare you."

"Who? What are they going to do with me?"

"I don't think they plan on harming you," said Emile, backing away towards the door, "But be on your guard. You have friends here, at court."

He left the room, closing the door behind him, leaving Rapunzel still holding the quill tightly, though now she knew that she wasn't truly alone in this hostile place; it was a comfort.

But it didn't change much. She was still imprisoned, far from her husband and her family, in enemy territory…

Help is on the way.

She wasn't going to wait for help.