Time seems to drag on forever in that moment, my terrified gaze locked with Elsa's, my heart pounding like a group of drummers. After what turns out to only be a few agonizing moments, Elsa's own frightened gaze softens with understanding.

"Kendra, I know you're scared, and I know this is a lot for you to take in. To be honest, I'm scared too...but the fact is you're our only hope. And I promise...it's not as impossible as you think it is."

"But...how...?" I don't see how it's as easy, as possible, as she keeps saying it is.

She takes a step to kneel down in front of me, placing her hands on my right hand, which is still gripping the right arm of the chair. "Kendra...what was the theme of Frozen?"

This strange question takes me by surprise. I mean, what does it have to do anything? "Um...ice and snow? Fear? Sisterly love?"

She shakes her head after my first two guesses, smiling warmly and patiently, and softly chuckles at my last answer. "Love." I'm still not following her, and it's written all over my face. Elsa merely laughs as she stands back up, the answer as plain as day. "Kendra, the answer to all of your questions, is love. The Aesir's prophesy says that only someone with the purest, most loyal form of limitless love will be able to stop them. And I can proudly say with the utmost confidence, that in the short time I've known you, you fit that description perfectly, and more. You're so sweet and innocent, so pure and loyal, and you love wholeheartedly without holding anything back. And you seem to understand better than us all, just how many different forms and kinds of love exist. Just like the movie proved, true love can save all."

As my face reddens and my eyes widen, I glance over to Kai and Gerda, and they both nod at me with big smiles, completely agreeing with their queen's words. The look of shock and disbelief on my face apparently doesn't faze them in the slightest; even when I look back at Elsa, she has that reassuring smile of hers.

"...You're serious... Love? From me? That's it?"

Elsa starts moving her hands, her icy powers coming to life once again. The swirling snow converges on the table in front of me, forming a figurine of myself, herself, and Anna. The three replicas all have smiles, happy and carefree, and showing a strong bond between them. I can't help but smile again at the simple pleasure of witnessing her powers, before she finally answers my question. "Yes and no. The love you contain will be what tips the scales in our favor, but it won't be enough by itself; we still need my sister. Together, the three of us should be able to conquer the Aesir. It may sound unbelievable, but it's as simple—and complicated—as that."

I take a deep breath to think over her words, setting my elbow on the table to hold the side of my head in my hand, my fingers gently gripping my hair above my ear. I barely register when Elsa excuses the two head servants, leaving the two of us alone again. Elsa snaps me out of my trance when she kneels down to give me a hug, but she doesn't say a word, just letting the action speak for itself.

I return the hug after a moment, clinging to her comforting presence, carefully thinking over the situation I'm now in the middle of. "...Elsa...can I really do this...?"

"You can... I know you can..." Her gentle voice soothes some of my worries, though I wonder how she can have so much confidence in me, when I hardly have any confidence in myself... Her warmth is a little calming though, her comforting touch, her hands rubbing my back in reassuring comfort, her head against mine.

I snuggle more against her neck and shoulder, closing my eyes in doubt. "Elsa, how can you be so sure...? Can I really make that much of a difference?"

"You can. Just believe in yourself, like I believe in you... I've seen the kind of person you are; I know the kind of person you are. I know what you're capable of, and I know you'll be fine."

I allow her kind words to fill me up inside, soothed by their sincerity, clinging to the hope they present me with. Elsa has so much faith in me... The least I can do is to do everything in my power to not let her down. "Well...I just hope that, I won't disappoint you... I'll do my best to save Arendelle, and make you and Anna proud..."

Elsa immediately breaks the hug, taking me by complete surprise, until her gaze locks with mine. The big, happy grin on her face makes her seem like the little kid from years ago, the one who often played with her little sister, using her ice powers to have all kinds of fun. It makes me feel all warm and bubbly inside, giddy even, and I softly blush from her contagious happiness.

"Oh thank you thank you thank you!" Elsa practically bounces, gripping my hands and bouncing them as well. I can't help but laugh at her reaction, realizing that I just renewed her hope even more. Sure I don't know what all is going to happen, or how 'love' is going to stop a very powerful evil force, but if that is the key, then I'll do everything I can, or die trying.

"So now where are we going?" Elsa is now leading me through the castle, and though I'm trying to keep track of where we're going, I'm already lost. It's going to be impossible for me to navigate the castle by myself.

"We're going to a large indoor arena to begin your training. Though love is the key, we must prepare you in combat as well."

"C-...combat?! But, we're fighting magical beings, like wizards and warlocks, warriors of darkness! How is physical combat going to help against that?!"

Elsa allows herself some light laughter as she wraps her arm around my shoulders. "The combat will mainly be for defensive purposes, not for offense. It's best to be as prepared as possible, to be versatile and flexible to react to whatever situation presents itself. The combat training will prepare you in case they try to get physical, as well as make it easy to evade some of their magic." I look at her with awe and amazement, though I'm obviously still skeptical. "Don't worry; it'll make sense once we begin with the actual training."

"If you say so," I giggle back, wrapping my arm around her waist, completing our side hug as she leads me to a heavy set of wooden doors.

Our side hug is broken as Elsa steps away from me and up to the doors, pushing them open to reveal a rather large room. As I step inside behind her, I'm completely shocked to see a handful of her royal guards eyeing us, and actually start to feel very anxious and scared. But they smile as we enter, bowing very respectfully to us, their forms perfectly stiff as they bend at the waist, a hand over their chests and feet clicked together. It's only then that I see Kai and Gerda behind them, standing against the wall, a large wooden chest beside them.

"I sent them on ahead, to alert the guards and get things set up," Elsa whispers, leaning towards me so only I can hear her.

I just smirk, whispering back, "Of course, always prepared." She nudges me playfully, eliciting some giggles from us both, releasing tension and lightening our moods in wake of the serious situation we're in. I just hope training won't kill me before the Aesir can...