Hey, readers! I apologise with all that's left of my heart for how long this has taken. Rest assured, this (probably the hardest chapter for me to write) will be followed before too long. Definitely faster than this. To those who have reviewed and followed and favourited, I love you guys!
Anyway, this chapter is our icy couple learning how to fully let their guard down with each other.

WINTER'S HEART – By Lonely God
The Ice Palace

The morning sun sent rays of golden light through the frosted-over windows of the Queen of Arendelle's bedchambers. Elsa stirred as the light fell onto her. She felt a man's arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and smiled as the memories of the night before flooded her. She woke up Jack with a kiss, leaning in to it as he sleepily reached an arm around her neck. They were both torn apart by loud knock at her door.
"Queen Elsa! You wished to be awoken at sunrise for your picnic with Master Jack!" The door opened as a young man, the son of an older servant, who had quickly become one of Elsa's personal servants. Many considered him besotted with the Queen, and so was stunned when he saw her in Jack's arms. All three, Jack, Elsa and the servant, got over their surprise quickly. Elsa climbed out of bed and walked over to Erik, who carried a small plate of pre-cut fruit and a steaming mug of tea.
She took the breakfast and the tea, and told the young servant that she would talk to him later if he desired. He gave a stiff bow before leaving. Elsa walked back over to the bed, which Jack was sitting on the bed. He smiled up at her as she approached, stepping into the space between his legs so that she could lean down and kiss him.
"Elsa… I love you." Jack whispered. It had taken him a while to realise it, but he was sure now. He loved her.
"Jack," she gasped, pressing her mouth against his. "I love you, too." She knew. There was no doubt. She had found someone who never flinched from her ice, who saw the beauty in it. They pulled apart when they needed a breath. They then just held each other close for a little while before Jack suggested that they go to the Ice Palace. Jack left the bedroom and waited outside while Elsa changed into a clean dress. She also asked him to find a servant to come up and help her with her hair and make-up. Jack walked through the citadel, soon finding an old woman sweeping a corridor. Jack asked her where to find one of the Queen's personal servants, and she gave him directions to where he could find one. After Jack had found a young woman who sometimes helped Elsa in the morning, and sent her off, he went to wait in the courtyard.

While waiting, he played around with his ice powers. He smiled when he accidently created a statue of Elsa. He was about to melt it, when he heard a voice behind him.
"Should be in the centre of the courtyard."
Jack looked over his shoulder to see Kristoff standing there, with Anna standing next to him. He smiled and stood, shaking hands with Kristoff and bowing to Anna, taking her hand and kissing the top of it as he did so.
"Your Highness," he said to her.
She shook her head and told him to call her Anna.
"Are you going to marry Elsa?" Anna asked, unable to contain herself any longer.
Jack smiled. "I hope so. Would that be alright with you, Anna?"
"Of course!" The princess squealed with delight.

Jack turned back to Kristoff. "In the centre you say?"
Kristoff nodded. "Facing the main gates."
Jack smiled and used his powers to lift the statue, turning it and moving it to the centre.
"Better," Kristoff said.
"Trying to impress me?" Elsa called from the doors as she walked out into the courtyard, fully dressed and with a few small touches of make-up.
Jack smiled and walked up to her, leaning down to kiss her softly and to take the picnic basket she carried.

Elsa wrapped her arms around him as he summoned the winds and took off, his staff in one hand (the arm wrapped around Elsa) and the other holding the basket. Elsa smiled freely as they flew, away from the eyes of everyone else, and any judgement.
"This isn't very queenly." Elsa said in Jack's ear.
"You might be Queen of Arendelle, but you are still a person. You might have ice powers, but you heart still beats. Every person has the right to love and be loved. They can't judge you for being yourself and for being happy, can they?" Jack asked.
"They might. A queen should be in control."
"Elsa, you have been maintaining control for years. Keeping your emotions hidden, maintaining a mask. Who cares if you just let it go every now and then?"
"You just happen to know exactly the right things to say, don't you?"
"I saw the way you looked at Anna and Kristoff when I first came here. You longed what they had. You wanted to be loved, to have someone who wasn't them to look at you for Elsa. Not for Queen Elsa of Arendelle, not for the Ice Queen, just Elsa, a young woman who still had the same desires as any other."
Elsa was shocked. "How do you know all this?"
Jack gave her a sad smile. "Over 300 years of watching people who couldn't see me taught me all this stuff. I know how it feels to bottle up emotions, and to feel so alone."

The couple fell silent for the rest of the trip. As the Ice Palace came into view, Jack's eyes widened. He set Elsa down and flew around the palace. He couldn't help but wonder at the beautiful delicateness of it all. He flew back down to land next to her at the main doors.
"Elsa… This… This is incredible!"
Elsa's cheeks grew slightly pink. "Come on, Jack." She took his hand and led him inside. Soon, they stood on the balcony. Jack waved his arm, creating a large chair, just like a park bench, that they could sit on. Jack sat on it and held his arms out to her in open invitation.
She hesitated, but decided when Jack said "There's no-one here to judge you."
She let her defences down and sat down next to Jack. He put her arms around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"What about your world?" Elsa asked him.
Jack thought about it for a minute. "I'm going to talk to them. I want to be with you, Elsa."
"What if I hurt you?"
"Then we're lucky that you and Anna know how to reverse it."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, Elsa. I love you."
Elsa relaxed into his embrace. "I love you, too. I want to see your world sometime."
"Really?"
Elsa smiled, leaning up to kiss him lightly. "Yes."

They stayed there for hours. Elsa talked about the stress of ruling and keeping her powers under control, while Jack tried, with difficulty, to explain his world. He was just trying to explain planes when Elsa shushed him. Following her eyes, he saw the sun starting to set. She started to lean on the edge of the seat as the sun's rays touched the spires of her palace. It looked much the same as it had when Elsa first saw North's sleigh which brought Jack to her. Jack also stared; stunned at the beauty that Elsa's powers had created. He showed her his amazement the best way he knew, which was to pull her close and kiss her.

Night had fallen when they flew back to Arendelle. Jack went to the kitchens to get some food they could share, while Elsa called for the servant Erik. When he arrived, she asked him to sit.
"Erik, I know you have feelings for me, however I do not return them. I tried to make it clear, but things have come to a head. I must ask that you seek another to love. If you seek to resign from your post, I will understand, but I will not suggest which road you must take. That is your choice. Take your time."
The servant didn't say a thing, he just bowed and left, pushing past Jack who was just returning from the kitchens with a pair of sandwiches. Jack frowned, but pushed it from his mind. Elsa gave him a small, sad smile as he approached. They enjoyed their dinner, then Elsa pulled Jack to the bed, and they started to fall asleep curled up together again.
"Elsa?" Jack murmured as his eyes closed."
"Mmhmm?" She replied.
"I love you." He whispered, cracking his eyes open one last time to see one of her tiny, special, just-for-him smiles.

Well, there we go. I don't really know why I threw in the servant. He probably won't get mentioned again for the rest of the story, but meh.
So, next chapter will have Elsa's arrival in Jack's world, I'm not gunna say much more, but I will say this: One of the big things that stresses me about Jelsa is the knowledge that Jack is immortal, while Elsa will age and die. I WILL overcome this. I already have it taking structure in my head.

Anyway, keep your eyes open for the next chapter. REVIEW! Your reviews mean a lot to me, and anything you say will take a part in making me a better writer.

Yours in icy, fluffy fanfics;
The Lonely God.