Chapter 4

Thousands packed the palace's great courtyard, corralled practically shoulder-to-shoulder by scores of watchful guardsmen. From the third storey balcony on which she stood, Elsa surveyed the vast crowd gathered below, willing herself to remain as cool and steady as the stone walls surrounding her. Only a handful of ships remained in harbour now, visible by the tips of their masts bobbing above the castle walls in the distance, yet it appeared to Elsa that everyone in Arendelle and half her surrounding realms had turned out for the queen's first ever public appearance.

Well technically it was her second ever public appearance, Elsa reminded herself ruefully, although she hoped this one was progressing a little more smoothly than the last.

The sun had just dipped below the mountains to the west, veiling the castle in evening shadow and giving the gathered throngs the appearance of one great, seething mass. Elsa could just make out stallholders and food vendors at the ground's periphery, lighting their lanterns and no doubt enjoying the surfeit of hungry customers.

Just wing it, Anna had said yesterday. Elsa almost had to shake her head.

Her address had started strongly enough, some time ago. The introductions had been dispensed with and she had discussed recent events with what she hoped was honesty and dignity. She'd promised Anna there would be no more secrets, no more hiding - and feeling the younger woman's gaze on her from within the darkened anteroom beyond the balcony, she'd tried her best to hold true.

She had been worried sick all day while preparations inched along around her. It was not the threat of losing control of her powers again that concerned her, or even her skill at public speaking – she found that even now, standing before the unfamiliar multitudes, she could slip into the 'good girl' role once more like putting on an old familiar dress. So even as her emotions raged, she spoke calmly and lucidly, and held herself with poise. It was the very thing she'd been training all her life for, after all.

No, the thing that most worried her was the one and only thing she was trying to achieve with this day: how to show the kingdom who she really was. She could tell them the facts, she could apologise, make promises – but how could she connect with them?

Be yourself, Gerda had advised her. But take away the ice and snow, Elsa thought, and I don't know if there is any 'myself' left to be.

Lonning had been right - they had plenty of reasons to fear her, but what reason could she give for them to love her? What did she really have to offer them?

She didn't even have her sister's sense of humour or wit or ability to improvise, something Elsa was keenly aware of as she realised she was fast running out of things to say. She took a deep breath.

"So, lastly, I'd like to introduce you all to my first official appointment as your Queen." Elsa said, pausing as the criers at the edges of the crowd repeated her words for those out of earshot. She glanced over her shoulder at the young woman waiting in the wings, just out of view from below. Elsa had to stop herself from staring yet again at the breathtaking sight of her.

"I'm sure many of you have already seen her about the capitol, since it's hard to keep her indoors these days. And so, I hope that soon you will be able to meet her in person. Could you please welcome Arendelle's new Chancellor: Princess Anna of Arendelle."

Elsa stepped aside to make room for Anna on the small balcony as the princess nervously inched forward at her cue.

"You look incredible." Elsa whispered in Anna's ear as she took her position at the queen's side.

She meant it too. Anna was decked out in a full-length sleeveless gown of purple and green with a sequinned choker necklace of fine black lace interwoven with glittering pale blue gems she had obviously chosen to match Elsa's own gown of ice. She wore her strawberry hair up in a beautiful braid that had taken most of the morning to construct, and on her ears Elsa caught a new addition that she hadn't seen before: small silver earrings, each shaped like a single perfect snowflake.

"Uh, hi everybody! Thanks for turning out!" Anna yelled, waving at the assembled masses. Half-contained giggles rippled through the crowd as the criers repeated her words, some even mimicking the gesture.

The princess turned red with embarrassment, but strove on regardless.

"I guess you know I'm Elsa's sister, or, well, maybe you don't. But anyway, here I am and I'm ready to get down to work! As chancellor, uh, it's my job to listen to what people have to say, and make sure things get done. Which is great for you guys because I'm the only one my sister listens to. Haha. So if you want anything done up here, I'm your girl!" Anna beamed, sticking out her chest in mock-confidence.

"Thank you Anna." Elsa said, surreptitiously reaching behind the balustrade and giving her sister's hand a quick squeeze to let her know that she shared the younger woman's nerves.

Nobody ever had to tell Anna to be herself, she reflected at the sight of Anna's giddy smile. If being true to yourself was daring, Anna was the bravest person she knew.

Elsa reflected on her own tentative steps in that direction today – deliberately eschewing the beautiful dresses picked out for her that morning in favour of one of her own crystalline creations, for instance. She remembered the awed silence of a thousand held breaths when she had first stepped out onto the balcony, dazzling in the afternoon sunlight. It had been terrifying, but exhilarating at the same time. Maybe, just maybe they could accept her after all.

This is me, she thought. I have to let them in. I have to own my powers as both a queen and, she hesitated as the word elbowed its way into her thoughts, as a sorceress.

Elsa closed her eyes and squeezed Anna's hand once more, trying to draw energy from the vivacious spirit beside her.

"I am not ashamed to say," Elsa began, "that what happened here this week past was a product of fear. My fear. I have tried so long to deny what I am that I let this fear get the better of me and, in the end, and you all suffered for it. So I ran away. And for that I am ashamed.

"They say you always hurt the ones you love. Well, I hurt Arendelle. But the one thing I learnt in the ice was that the way to fix that hurt isn't to deny love, or run from it, but to embrace it. I learnt that love, while it can't change a person… love will help them change themselves. Love will thaw."

Elsa felt the hand she was gripping tightly squeeze back and glanced again to the woman by her side, forgetting for the moment that thousands were hanging on her every word.

"The cure for fear is love. I love Arendelle. Arendelle is in my blood. I was a fool to drive myself away, out of fear, but love is why I have returned here, and here I'll stay. I… I can only hope that in time, I will be able to prove myself worthy of her love in return."

At this a cheer erupted across the courtyard, resolving itself into emphatic hurrahs, shouts of "Queen Elsa!" and more than a few calls of "Snow Queen!"

"You nailed it!" Anna whispered into her sister's ear over the roar of the crowd. Elsa just smiled shyly.

"Oh!" Anna exclaimed as she turned back to the cheering multitude, raising both arms for attention and inadvertently dragging Elsa's arm up in the process before remembering to let go, "Umm, so, everyone, sorry. Hello again. Chancellor speaking."

Slowly the cries died down.

"Uh, so we were thinking because you all love Queen Elsa's ice powers now and she totally wants to use them for stuff that'll, you know, help people - why don't you all come back here in a week and Elsa, I mean, Queen Elsa will make the whole courtyard into an ice skating rink! It'll be a big party and nobody will get frozen, we promise!"

After several long minutes of waves and smiles, the cheers from the crowd showed no sign of subsiding so the women turned and led one and other back into the castle. As soon as they were beyond sight of the balcony, Anna grabbed Elsa by both shoulders and began joyously bouncing up and down on the spot like an excited puppy. The queen couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh Elsa, that was great! Did you hear them cheer? They love you!"

"It… it didn't go too badly did it?" Elsa agreed uncertainly, still trying to process her feelings on the event. She had laid herself open in a way she had never before dared and felt, to her surprise, not terror or shame but… relief. For a moment she had felt something like the freedom she had experienced on the North Mountain, but this time it felt more real. More earned. It was elating.

"I couldn't have done it without you Anna." Elsa said, wrapping her sister up in a warm embrace. "You must be rubbing off on me."

Anna returned the hug enthusiastically, kicking both feet up behind her with a squeal and causing Elsa to stumble forward under her weight.

"Whoa now! Come on, if we don't get to supper soon there'll be no time to pack for the trip tomorrow!"

With that, Elsa grabbed the princess' hand and strode off for the hallway, leaving Anna to hitch up the hem of her dress as she stumbled along behind.

"So we're definitely going then?" Anna asked brightly, amused by her sister's uncharacteristic exuberance and noticing as she looked behind them that it seemed to be manifesting as a trail of frosty footprints along the carpet.

"Of course! If everything hadn't taken so long today we'd be on our way already." Elsa replied over her shoulder, noticing Anna's expression become more thoughtful as she spoke.

"It's just for a day, Anna." Elsa reassured her, "I meant what I said out there - I'm not running away again."

"No, it's not that. I just wasn't sure what the plan was so I invited-"

"Kristoff?" Elsa said in surprise, stopping up short so suddenly that Anna ran into the back of her, slipping on her train and throwing her arms around the queen's hips as she fell.

The door to the dining hall had just opened before them and out of it stepped a tall, solidly built blonde man wearing a fur-lined tunic and hat.

"Your majesty." He said, instantly removing his hat and bowing deeply.

"Um, hi." Said a small voice from waist-height behind the queen.

Kristoff peeked upward and saw an immaculate auburn hairdo emerge from Elsa's side, followed by a pair of big blue eyes and a sheepish grin. He quickly cast his gaze back to the floor to hide his smile.

"Hello Anna- uh, princess." He said.

Elsa planted her feet, torn between helping Anna up and sparing them both further embarrassment. She had actually been hoping to have a word with Kristoff soon, wanting to get to know him if only for her sister's sake. But now that she was face to face with him again for the first time since the thaw it just felt like an intrusion, as unfair as that seemed.

"It's… good to see you again." She eventually settled on, allowing the words to take on a slightly questioning tone.

"Yes, you too your, um, ma'am." Kristoff replied falteringly. He stood back up straight but kept his hat in his hands, wringing it between his palms nervously. Anna too had managed to stand at the queen's side and Kristoff looked to her flushed face imploringly.

"Elsa, I thought Kristoff would be able to help with our trip and he's been dying to-" Anna rambled.

"It's alright Anna, after all we have been through, there's no need to stand on ceremony." Elsa said, secretly enjoying Kristoff's discomfort as she turned to address him, "I'd be delighted if you dined with us this evening."

"This stuff is great!" Kristoff said as he spooned Lingonberry jam onto a fist-sized heel of bread he held in one hand.

Seated at his side, Anna nudged him in the ribs and pointedly glanced at the silver fork she held daintily in her own hand. Kristoff nodded sagely, placed the bread on his plate then stabbed it with a fork before continuing.

"I, uh, haven't eaten this good in weeks," He continued, picking up the fork and taking a large bite out of the bread stuck to the end, "been nothing but carrots!"

Anna let out an exasperated sigh and returned to her own meal.

"It's the least we could do." Said Elsa, quite amused by the mountain man's table manners and Anna's increasingly hopeless attempts to rein him in, "I never had a chance to thank you for everything you've done. I know my sister can be… wilful. It couldn't have been an easy task to help her the way you did."

"Ha! You got that right." Kristoff said with his mouth full, beginning to loosen up to the conversation. Anna simply stared into the bottom of her wine glass as she took another gulp.

"And there's no hard feelings about setting that snow monster on me. I mean," here he paused for effect as a broad grin came over his face, "Olaf can be a handful, but he's alright once you get to know him."

Despite what he felt to be a sterling delivery, it seemed that the joke had fallen flat.

"I really am sorry about everything I put you and Anna through." Elsa replied genuinely, "If there's some way I can make it up to you-"

Kristoff propped an elbow on the table and leaned forward.

"Well I've been thinking about that." He said, casting a nervous glance at Anna.

Oh no, thought Elsa, feeling the bottom fall out of her stomach. He's not going to ask for my blessing, is he? Between the wine and Kristoff's easy manner, she'd been letting her guard down. Suddenly she felt the doors inside her mind slam shut and that odd jealousy that had been prickling at her all through their dinner rush in at full force.

"And… oh you've finished your wine. Hey, uh, excuse me?" Kristoff continued, motioning to one of the attendants to refill Anna's glass.

"Don't you think she's had enough wine? She is only eighteen you know." Elsa said to Kristoff icily.

"Oh, err, yeah." He sputtered, caught off guard by the queen's intimidating gaze and the steel in her voice, "maybe…"

"Thank you for your concern big sister, but I think I shall have another." Anna said, holding up her glass and poking out her tongue in a show of particularly unladylike defiance.

Elsa sighed.

"It'll be an early start tomorrow Anna and I don't want to have to put up with you being tired and grumpy from too much wine."

"Oh yeah? Well how would you like to put up with me being grumpy now from not enough wine?"

"Anna, that doesn't even-"

"Yeah, so this trip you're planning." Kristoff interjected, scratching at the back of his head, "ah, so what I was gonna ask you was if it would be alright if I could come along? As a guide? Because you said you wanted to make it up to me so I thought maybe this could be how?"

He finished with an uncertain shrug. By now the sisters were glowering at each other across the table. Elsa turned back to their guest.

"Is that all you wanted?" she blurted.

"Well, yeah. What did you think I was going to ask?" Kristoff said.

"Oh, nothing, it's just, ah, I'd already assumed you were coming. Anna has been quite insistent."

"Really? She's the one who kept nagging me about not making a big deal out of it. It's almost like she was trying to keep me away from you. But I figured it was only right to get your permission."

"Well, you have it, with my thanks." Elsa said with a relieved smile.

"I was glad to hear you thought it important to get the trolls' opinion on how the magic had effected Anna." She went on.

"Oh yeah, Anna felt very cold when she came to me yesterday."

Princess Anna, who had quietly had her glass refilled while Elsa and Kristoff were engaged in conversation almost choked on her half-swallowed mouthful of wine.

"That was only because Elsa froze my dress and I'd only just gotten changed and–" she protested.

"She froze you again?" Kristoff turned a critical eye towards Elsa.

"She felt very cold?" the queen retorted, raising an eyebrow.

"No, haha, Elsa and I were just playing, it was nothing. I'm fine now, uh… see?" Anna said, scooting back on her chair and jumping up to dance a little jig as if that would prove her point. In a way, it did, as both Kristoff and Elsa snorted with unintended laughter at the bemusing display.

I might have my powers, Elsa reflected, but Anna's magic is even stronger – without even trying, she's managed to charm the both of us.

And there it was, that hurt again at the thought of having to share Anna's affections. Elsa couldn't help but warm to Kristoff and wanted nothing more, she was sure, than to see Anna with a good man like him. Then why did she feel this way? If her love for Anna was of a different nature to Kristoff's, why did she want her sister all for herself?

"We're both just concerned for you Anna." Elsa said after Anna had sat back down, "And even if you are fine, the more I learn about how my magic works, the better I'll be able to control it. The trolls can help with that, right Kristoff?"

"It can't hurt." Kristoff replied, cleaning the last of the gravy off his plate with a finger, "I thought we might be able to take a detour up to the North Mountain as well, while we're out there. I really would love to see that castle again."

"Really?" Elsa said, lighting up at the suggestion.

"Absolutely, yeah. Your ice is amazing! Uh, if I may say…"

"Thank you sir," Elsa smiled, sharing Kristoff's enthusiasm, "coming from an ice expert, I take that as high praise. Once we're safely out of Arendelle I can show you more ice creations if you'd like?"

"I'd like that very much, your highness." He said earnestly.

"Please Kristoff, call me Elsa." She said.

Anna did indeed have another glass of wine, and then another, before Elsa reminded her that she still needed to pack for the trip and hustled her off to her room. Elsa, of course, had prepared for the journey earlier in the day so she and Kristoff retired instead to an adjacent drawing room after supper to discuss the particulars of the trip with the castle steward.

"…So the trolls adopted you?" Elsa asked, as Kristoff walked her back to her chambers late in the evening once the arrangements had been concluded.

"Sort of. They just kind of let me in and I stuck around. The ice-cutters I'd been staying with since my parents died didn't seem to mind, but then they weren't really family, you know? I guess family is what you make it, huh?"

"Could they teach you their magic?" Elsa went on, curious.

"Nah, it doesn't work like that." Kristoff replied, "You gotta be a troll to use troll magic. They didn't know what to make of me, really. I remember they tried to feed me and Sven rocks for the first week or so!"

Elsa laughed.

"Still, it must have been fascinating." She said.

"I suppose… I never really thought much of it to be honest. It's funny how you just get used to things when you're a kid. Your life can get turned upside down, and then half a year later that's what's normal for ya."

Elsa could relate to that, alright. She nodded.

"If anything," he went on, "it was just kind of lonely. But that never bothered me."

"Alright then, tell me about my sister." Elsa said, changing the subject, "You've been getting to know her these last few days, same as me. You know we were separated for a long time, right?"

"Yeah, she told me about it. But really, she doesn't say all that much about herself – you're all that she talks about when she's with me. I almost feel like I know you better than I know her!"

"I… well I hope-" Elsa said, suddenly stumbling for words. Kristoff laughed.

"Ha, don't worry," he said jovially, "she's been doing nothing but singing your praises. I'd almost be jealous if you weren't her sister."

"Jealous?" Elsa said, feeling her eyes bulge and her throat constrict as the word forced its way out.

Kristoff grimaced slightly as he realised he'd accidentally crossed a line. You're speaking to a queen, he reminded himself. A queen who can zap you to death with her magical powers on the spot if she wanted to. You have to remember your place.

He'd been getting along so well with Elsa after their dinner that he had almost forgotten. The last thing he wanted to do was make her think she was dealing with yet another Hans.

"I, uhh… sorry. I don't meant to imply that it's, uh, my place to get jealous of Princess Anna or anything. I know I'm not anything special. I think she's just… I mean I'm very fond of her. And um…" He trailed off.

Elsa shook her head and tried to control her breathing. She could feel the coldness pouring out of her heart with each beat, spreading to her fingertips and the soles of her feet, into the space around them. Tendrils of frost were creeping up the skirting boards. With a sidelong glance she could see Kristoff's breath steaming in the chilly air.

The guilt playing on Elsa's conscious had stepped in before her mind had a chance to weigh Kristoff's words. Of course he had meant it as a joke- a sign of their newfound friendship. And yet for an instant she was back in the ballroom on the night of her coronation, panicked at the thought of being exposed- of losing everything as a result. Of losing Anna.

To see that Kristoff had taken this reaction as merely an accusation of impropriety on his part was, frankly, a relief. She willed the cold back into her body and felt warmth return to the corridor around them. Hopefully Kristoff hadn't noticed.

"There's no need to apologise, Kristoff." She said trying to keep her voice level as though being magnanimous towards his minor slight, "I'm glad, actually, for your concern for her. Anna has been alone for a long time. Just… bear that in mind."

Kristoff was sure for a moment that he could feel a bite in the air like he had stepped out of a warm house and into a snowstorm. A shiver ran down his spine and he stuck his hands into his pockets just as the feeling inexplicably subsided.

"Yes ma'am." He said stiffly.

"I'm glad you offered to join us on this trip," Elsa added, slipping comfortably back into pleasant formality as they rounded a corner, "we really do need an experienced guide. I doubt Anna remembers the way to the valley, considering the state she was in at the time."

"Yeah," Kristoff agreed, "and it's been, what, ten years since you were there?"

This time queen Elsa stopped dead in her tracks.

"How do you know about that?" she asked, turning on Kristoff with her brows furrowed.

Kristoff had thought he was growing used to the queen's intensity, but this time he was at a loss. Had he put his foot in it again?

"Uh, I was there, when Grand Pabbie fixed Anna." He offered. "After you struck her with your powers. The first time, I mean, when you two were just kids. That's how I originally met the trolls, you see. I don't-"

"You… you were there? What did you see?" Elsa demanded. Once again, Kristoff could feel the temperature drop around him.

"Well, it was a long time ago. I saw Pabbie change Anna's memories, uhh… and he gave your parents some advice about your powers. And, um. I'm sorry that's really all I can remember. Is this important?"

Elsa was reeling. With her parents gone and the trolls keeping to themselves as always, she had been safe in the knowledge that that night had long ago become nothing more than a shameful memory – hers to bear alone. But now?

"Does Anna know about this?" she asked, snapping at Kristoff in spite of herself.

"I… I thought she did. I haven't told her if that's what you mean."

"Good, I-"

Elsa looked up into Kristoff's perplexed expression.

"I want to tell her. I plan to tell her. Soon." she said defensively, "This is… family, Kristoff. It's my place to tell her what happened. Why we did what we did. Could you keep it a secret a little while longer? Please?"

Kristoff had no idea where this had all come from. Elsa's powers were common knowledge now. Why the secrecy over this one detail? He hesitated, searching Elsa's tormented expression for some sign of how to proceed.

"Of course, your majesty." He said simply.

"Thank you. Well…" she said, looking quickly away, "my room is just down the hall and the guest suite is, I'm afraid, quite some distance back the way we came, so I think it would be best if we parted ways here. Thank you again for your company this evening and I look forward to our journey tomorrow."

Kristoff smiled pensively, still unsure of what to make of their conversation's final turn.

"Yeah, bright and early. G'night y- uh, Elsa." He said, bowing a little uncertainly.

"Goodnight." She said.

With that Elsa turned and walked on without a second glance. After a moment, Kristoff shrugged and did likewise, wondering how in a few days he'd gone from running ice down rocky mountain paths to navigating fraught conversations with royalty in lofty palace halls. His thoughts turned to princess Anna, but he instantly dismissed any idea of trying to search her out now.

"I think I'd better check on Sven…" He said to no one in particular as he bypassed the guest wing and veered off towards the stables. Now, a night spent in a barn with a reindeer? That was something he could understand.

A few paces on and Elsa finally let out her breath. She would have to discuss this with Anna now, no doubt about it. She honestly didn't know why she hadn't yet- the opportunity had presented itself in the garden yesterday, but some nagging fear had held her back.

I'll speak to her tomorrow once we're on the road, Elsa resolved. After all, isn't the real reason I'm taking her on this trip is to see if the trolls can return her true memories to her?

As she passed, Elsa noticed the door to Anna's room ajar and candlelight burning within. She was reminded of the long dark nights years ago when she would sneak out of her room while the castle was asleep and make her way silently to that door. On a handful of occasions she had worked up the courage to peer in, and look upon that beautiful moonlit face which haunted her dreams.

But tonight, the room was empty. The bed was still made and at its foot was a large trunk, lying open with various crumpled outfits and bric-a-brac scattered about it.

"Oh Anna." Elsa said to herself, regretting sending her little sister off on her own after dinner in the state she was in. She checked the adjoining bathroom, also empty, before taking a step back out into the hallway and casting furtive glances up and down its length.

It was late and with Kristoff gone the castle halls were dead quiet. Worry began to creep over the queen, sidelining the annoyance she felt. She strode fast to the next door along, the door to her own room, and opened it; feeling the handle turn to ice within her grasp.

In the dim glow cast by a single candle burnt almost to nothing on her nightstand, Elsa could see Anna lying on the bed, fast asleep.

"You little troublemaker!" Elsa whispered as she shut the door behind her.

In the stillness of the room she could hear a gentle snore emanate from the sprawled figure of her sister. Anna seemingly hadn't bothered to change for bed, merely stripping down to her underclothes and half-crawling under Elsa's bedsheets. And, yes – stepping stealthily to the bedside, Elsa could see that while her braids hung loose, in her ears Anna still wore the beautiful silver snowflake studs she'd spotted earlier.

"Just for tonight, huh?" Elsa said with a tender smile. With every little act of kindness from her sister, she felt her heart melt anew. How could she ever repay that devotion? For that matter, how had she ever thought she could live without it?

Elsa looked down and, with a laugh, vaporised the crystal dress she wore then peeled off the simple shift beneath it, leaving her in an identical state of undress as her sister. Relishing the feel of cool linens against her bare skin, she carefully climbed in next to the younger woman. Elsa could now see in Anna's hand, lying open on her breast where it had fallen, a book. Peering closer, she read the title - Selected Works of Sappho of Greece.

She cursed to herself silently. After their long talk yesterday, Gerda had recommended the poet to the queen, among many other works she thought might help to 'guide' the young woman. This book had been easiest to find in the castle library as Elsa vaguely remembered the name from her tuition in the classics. She'd set it aside to read and obviously Anna had found while she waited here for Elsa.

Oh well, she reasoned, Anna shouldn't think anything of her queen studying the classics. Carefully, so as not to rouse her, Elsa reached over and lifted the book. Her eyes briefly alighting on the words 'love shook my heart' on the open page as she placed it on the nightstand beside her sister's sleeping form.

Leaning over her like this, Elsa could feel Anna's hair brushing against her arm. It smelt to Elsa like elderberry and honeysuckle, like sunshine after summer rain. An intoxicating scent. She could feel Anna's breath cool against her neck too, sending a shiver down her spine in spite of her usual resilience to the cold.

Hesitantly, as if fighting a siren's call, she looked down into her sister's face. It was closer to her own than she could ever remember seeing it, even since their reunion. Elsa's heart shook.

Without a thought she leaned in, as if compelled by something beyond reason, and pressed her trembling lips to Anna's. It was soft at first, barely a touch for fear of waking her. But tasting sweet wine on her mouth emboldened Elsa, drawing her into the kiss as the sensations stirred something powerful and hungry inside her.

"Hmmm." A moan escaped the younger woman.

Elsa gasped and quickly lay back down on her side of the bed, trying to control her heavy breathing as she pretended to sleep. At her side the queen felt Anna stir, roll and cuddle up to her. The flame-haired beauty mumbled something sleepily beside her ear. It sounded to Elsa like, "I missed you."

Eventually the faint snoring returned and Elsa un-tensed her body. Into the darkness that enveloped them both she simply spoke-

"I love you Anna" as a deep and dreamless sleep took her.

They were delayed the next morning, as Elsa and Gerda helped the apologetic Anna re-pack her travelling trunk.

"I want you to look after the council while Anna and I are gone. It should only be for a day." The queen said to Gerda as they prepared to leave.

"Oh I won't hear of it m'lady," Gerda said, "my place on the council is precarious as it is, and you know how I feel about politics. Just leave the Earl in charge, I'll be sure to keep an eye on him for you."

As their small carriage crossed the causeway to the mainland, Elsa poked her head out the side and looked back for the first time on the grand castle that represented at once both her palace and her prison. They'd meant it for the best, she thought.

"No dreams last night?" Anna said to Elsa once she was back inside.

"No, none." She said. Well except one, she added to herself; averting her eyes from her sister's sympathetic gaze as her heart began to flutter.

She thought about the dreams. Until last night Elsa had had them every night since she was young, but they had only grown more terrifying since nearly losing Anna. No matter what it took, she could never let that happen again.

"Kristoff?" Elsa asked into the exterior divider.

"Yeah?" came the muffled reply from the driver's seat.

"When we get to the end of town, can you turn down the road that leads up into the hills by the forest? There's just a quick detour I need us to make."

"I think I know the way." Kristoff said.

Elsa's legs felt weak as she walked the short distance from the road up the bare hillside to where two lonely standing-stones stood at its peak. Anna trailed a few paces behind, keeping her distance out of respect.

It was a bright day in early summer, and the short grass was still sprinkled with wildflowers. Elsa had picked two purple crocus flowers near the base of the hill, crafting a fine crystalline vase out of ice as she walked and placing them within. In the shadow of the stones she kneeled and placed the vase between them.

Head bowed, she tried to stand, but her legs refused to carry her. Guilt and heartache and, yes, even anger nailed her to the spot as she felt Anna approach.

"This is the first time I've even-" Elsa stopped, a sob catching in her throat.

"I… I should have been here for you. I'm so sorry Anna."

Tears rolled down Elsa's pale cheeks, falling to the ground like glittering diamonds. Anna kneeled down and grasped her sister's hand.

"You're here now. We're together now." Anna said, feeling tears well in her own eyes.

"I'll never let you go again Anna," Elsa said, turning her red-rimmed eyes on to her sister, "I promise."

"Me too." Anna cried, wrapping her arms around her sister tightly as if afraid she might fly away.

"Me too." She repeated.