Chapter One

A snowball sailed through the air, exploding with crystalline enthusiasm against the bare shoulder of the Queen. Pale blonde hair tried to escape its heavy braid. Thick black lashes lowered over true blue eyes as that shoulder lifted in instinctive reflex. Cold, white clumps dribbled down an arm dressed in sheer cloth as blue as the eyes.

"Got you!" crowed the Princess, throwing wool-encased arms into the air. Her winter cloak fluttered from the sudden gesture.

Queen Elsa merely tilted the corner of her mouth in a sly smile. Fingers of opposing hands began to twirl about each other with deceptive elegance. Glittering sparkles began generating between those slender digits. At first it was just a scattering of them, glinting in and out of existence, but their numbers rapidly grew to undeniable reality.

Princess Anna uttered a most un-royal "awp!" With a complete lack of grace, she spun away. Her flight was a staggering one, hindered by both snow and body-shaking laughter.

The snow did not hinder Elsa, although her own laughter made her aim unsteady. The whirling snowflakes coalesced into a giant snowball that wobbled drunkenly over the young Queen's head before hurling itself at Anna's fleeing form. The collision resulted in a soft "woomph", belying the heavy force. Light caught on fractured crystals and turned the resulting snowfall into scattered rainbows. Splintered colors chased each other through the silence that so suddenly weighed on the court's gardens.

For one heart-numbing moment, Elsa hesitated. Her eyes tightened and a trembling hand reached towards the pile of snow in concern. Her worries were dispelled quickly, however, as the snow exploded with laughter. A wool-encased head shoved through the white surface. Elsa's shoulders visibly relaxed. Her shaking hand lifted to her mouth, transferring its tremors to her lips.

Anna was too busy flailing in the powdery depths to heed the lapse. Red hair sprang to vivid life as her woolen cap tumbled off her head. Laughter continued to shake her even as she took her sister's now-steady hand. With an unlady-like grunt she made it to her feet. Her one mittened hand kept a firm grip on her sister's bare hand. The other brushed the heaviest of the accumulated snow from her own person.

"Remind me again to NOT get into a snowball fight with you!" she gasped. "We need to find another way to play!"

Elsa's hesitant smile abruptly flipped into a frown. "Did I hurt you?" she anxiously inquired, twisting to look for injuries even as she held tight to Anna's hand.

"What? No! Not at all!" Anna snorted, giving their joined hands a shake. "You just have an unfair advantage! A VERY unfair advantage!"

The frown gave way to a cautious smile. "I guess I do at that," she allowed. The smile softened, becoming pensive. "We didn't have snowball fights as kids. I was usually just making snow slides for you." Her tone turned wistful.

Anna heaved a heavy sigh. "I wish I could remember it. I mean, I do, well, kind of at least. Without the magic, of course. Ah! I just wish I could remember it properly!" Blue-green eyes shot wide open and turned to her sister. "Do you think the rock trolls can give me those memories back? I mean, I remember playing with you, but just in regular ho-hum ways."

"Oh, so without magic I'm just ho-hum, am I?" Elsa dared to tease Anna.

Anna responded with a protruding tongue. "Nyah! You know what I mean! I just… I wish I could remember your magic, too. Y'know, from when we played..."

"I'd like it, too," Elsa admitted. Her gaze slipped to one side. "But…."

Young sister twisted to eye elder sister. "But…?"

Elsa smiled a little grimly as she gestured to her own temple, then to Anna's. "But then you'd remember… why… all the rest of it."

Anna snorted and rolled her blue-green eyes. "Please! I'd be fine remembering that. Well, maybe not fine-fine, but accidents happen, you know? And it all turned out okay! Eventually!"

"Eventually," echoed Elsa uncertainly.

Red braids whipped about as Anna whirled to face her sister. Their hands released due to the sudden movement. For a moment Elsa's face expressed sad confusion, but Anna's exuberance chased away any possible ruminations. "Yes," Anna practically chirruped, "we're back together and you know how to handle your powers, so it's all okay! Unlike the time I accidentally spilled wine on your birthday gown… I don't think that stain EVER came out!"

Blue eyes blinked then narrowed. "Spilled wine is hardly the same as a grievous injury, Anna," Elsa declared in pedantic correction. A moment later she relented with a small smile. "Besides, if I remember correctly, that 'accident' occurred because you didn't understand why I got a new dress and you didn't."

"Eeyeh, well, ah..."

A gentle laugh eased Anna's decade-old reflexive guilt. "We were children, Anna. Children still learning to be people, careless with the best of intentions."

Anna's hesitant smile amplified into a sudden grin. "Exactly!" she pointed at Elsa, "You should remember that, too! We were just kids, and accidents happen!"

"Really, Anna, wine on a dress does NOT compare to what I did to-"

"Ahem," a deep voice coughed.

Both sisters whirled to face the guard who stood a polite distance away, his tall hat tucked beneath one arm. A thick walnut-hued mustache and mutton-chop sideburns twitched with a suppressed smile. His carefully bland gaze was betrayed by crinkling at the corners of his brown eyes. Shoulders and spine remained rigid within his grey uniform cloak. His free hand rested easily on the hilt of his saber.

While Anna's stance remained casual, Elsa immediately drew herself straight and folded her hands before her. Her sheer blue gown shimmered and became a more modestly ornate woolen dress. "Captain Beorne," the young Queen greeted her Captain of the Royal Guard. "Is there something amiss?"

Anna glanced at her sister, then hastily corrected her own posture. Hands fidgeted frantically before finally clasping each other in a rather more stressed version of her sister's own demure stance.

"My apologies, Queen Elsa, Princess Anna," rumbled the tall, brown-haired man. His thick mustache flexed openly with a kind smile. "I did not wish to interrupt your morning commune, but a messenger from the outlying villages has arrived." Some of the kindness leached away, chased by stern disapproval. "Your court advisers feel you should hear him out as quickly as possible. I did try to stress how important this time is to Your Highnesses, but they were… most insistent." The disapproval deepened into a scowl. "They would not enlighten me as to the nature of the emergency, either."

Queen Elsa frowned as well. "That is poor behavior. If it is urgent enough to demand my immediate attention, then it is urgent enough for you to be informed as well. I will speak with them about proper security, Captain Beorne."

"Not to mention how if it was that important, they could have come themselves," Princess Anna complained, moving her hands from an attempt of a demure clasp to a more natural akimbo stance. "And still told you what was going on!"

Captain Beorne's faint scowl softened into that earlier kind smile. "Your Highnesses' consideration is most appreciated. Perhaps it would not be too out of place for me to suggest they adjourn to the throne room to await your presences? If they prove difficult, I may explain that you were conferring with each other regarding matters of state?"

Queen Elsa's own frown gentled into a slight smirk. "There will be no need for that, my good Captain. The court is familiar with the Princess's and my own morning sojourns in the private garden. They should also be aware that a change of attire would be needed, lest we drip ourselves dry upon the floor."

"I dunno, we could go in there and shake ourselves dry on them, like dogs do," Princess Anna griped, then held her hands up as both Queen and Guard turned to stare at her. "Just kidding!"

The Queen's sly smile twitched. "You have no idea how tempting that mental image is, Anna," she chuckled, then sighed, "Alas, not one we can indulge."

"But never-the-less very tempting indeed," Captain Beorne spoke solemnly even as his eyes glittered with amusement. He shifted his tall hat of office back to his head. "Still, I shall restrain myself from such contemplation and go inform the court that you shall attend to them as soon you have cleared current matters."

Only her crooked smile gave truth to the gracious nod Queen Elsa bestowed on him. "Thank you, Captain Beorne. We will be along shortly. If you could, please let Gerda know to meet us at our chambers? I assume Kai is already… attending… to the advisers and our messenger guest?"

His own nod was equally gracious and sly as he replied, "You assume correctly, my Queen. I confess to a particular delight that Kai was on hand to tend to them. He has a particular… diplomatic skill… that I lack."

"You mean he's very good at making someone think they're about to sit on a pillow, only to have them sit on nails instead and wondering where the pillow went," Princess Anna laughed.

Queen and Captain stared at her a moment before bursting into more restrained snickers. "Be that as it may," the Captain chortled, "I go to assist Kai… if by no other means than being his intimidating shadow should his… pointed… tact by some unfathomable reason fail."

Still chuckling from Anna's outburst, the Queen nodded. "Thank you, Captain Beorne. The Princess and I shall be along very shortly."

The Captain of the Royal Guard bowed deeply to each sister, then straightened and did a habitual about-face all the more graceful for his total lack of awareness in its performance.

Anna surreptitiously watched his exit as she brushed snow from her cloaked shoulders. As soon as he was indoors, she turned to her sister. "So when are you going to do something about that?" she demanded.

Elsa raised one thick eyebrow. "I thought we were about to…? The messenger has only just arrived." She began moving to another garden exit.

Anna hastened to follow. "No, no, not about that! About Beorne! We've talked about this! You know he likes you!"

An exasperated sigh escaped the elder sister. "Stop with the matchmaking already, Anna! He's the Captain of my Royal Guard. I would certainly hope he likes me! My life could well depend on that! Besides, wasn't it just last month you were trying to pair me with that young prince from Spain? And the month before that, that poor confused merchant?"

Jogging to keep up with Elsa's brisk pace, Anna gasped, "You know what I mean!"

"I am sure that I do not," Elsa stiffly denied.

"Elsa…!"

"Anna…," Elsa sighed, then turned to face her sister as they left the snowy garden for the stone enclosure of the castle. "It doesn't matter. As Queen, I have a responsibility. I can't get involved with just anyone."

Mittened hands thrust impatiently in the general direction of the throne room. "Captain of the Royal Guard is hardly just anyone!" protested Anna.

Elsa's second sigh carried a hint of warning. "You know what I mean, Anna. There are political and economical considerations to be made. My choice of mate and even my eventual child's fate is ruled by the throne, and I care too much for Arendelle to abdicate for a… a… fling."

"A fling," Anna deadpanned.

"Well, that is what it would amount to," Elsa shrugged. She resumed walking towards their bedrooms, saying over her shoulder, "since it would never have the room to become something more serious."

Anna bounced a few steps to catch up, then fell in beside her sister. "Well, if that's what it means to be born first, man am I glad I was born second!" She winced at her own comment and hastily amended, "I think you know what I mean, though. It's not even about romance." She skipped a few times to keep up with Elsa's suddenly increased pace. "I just… I want to see you, you know, relax more. Laugh more. Have friends." With a sudden burst of speed she moved ahead of Elsa then whirled to face her. Anna's hands reached to capture Elsa's own hands. As soon as Elsa halted, Anna lifted their joined hands. "I want you to be able to touch someone besides me. And sometimes Kristoff." A nervous burst of laughter escaped her. "Well, not sure if that sounds quite right, but… you know what I mean..."

A struggle of emotions played itself across the young Queen's face. Elsa forced herself to meet Anna's earnest gaze. After a laden moment of silence, she exhaled sadly. "I do know, Anna… but that will take time. I spent a lot of years learning not… to touch. Anyone. Even our parents. Especially our parents." The corners of her mouth trembled. "I still miss them. I wish I could have hugged… them… before…."

Anna's hands tightened over Elsa's. "I did, and… it still hurts. I still miss them too."

For a few precious moments they wrapped arms about each other in shared grief. The sound of melting snow dripping upon flagstone forced Elsa to reluctantly withdraw from the embrace. She sighed heavily. "Unfortunately we really should be going. As satisfying as it would be to keep the court advisers waiting, there is that messenger to consider. Something must be gravely amiss for one to venture to the castle from the outlying villages."

Anna's sigh rivaled Elsa's for weight. "I can always tell when you're going all Queenly," she complained amiably as they both resumed walking down the hallway.

"Oh?" Elsa inquired, arching one eyebrow.

"Yeh. Your speech gets all proper!"

"Heh, I suppose it does at that. Proper speech serves me well in negotiations, especially with guild masters and diplomats. I think they find it intimidating. Which reminds me, we still need to work on your own diplomatic skills."

"Pfft," Anna protested, vaguely flapping a hand. "I'm just leaving that up to you, sister!"

"Oh no you won't," Elsa protested, her tone neatly straddling exasperation and amusement. "We've talked about this before, too. You have your responsibilities. Just because you're second born doesn't mean you don't have a role here. At the very least, if I am indisposed for any reason, Arendelle will need you to assume royal duties." Seeing her sister wince, she persisted. "And I can use the support, too. Someone I can trust with our country's welfare."

"Oh, I know, I know!" groaned Anna. "It's just so BORING. If I have to read over the details of Weselton's trade embargo one more time…. And that one delegate, he's just so… so… SMARMY. I don't know how you do it!"

Both sisters came to a stop as they reached Anna's bedroom door. Elsa had clasped her hands before herself. She tilted her head to contemplate them before looking to Anna. "It takes a lot of patience and self-control. Skills," she added sternly, "you could use more practice in…."

Anna threw her hands into the air. "Just because I laughed at that one dignitary…!"

"And nearly started a… shall we say, an international incident? Honestly, Anna..."

"Okay, okay, sheesh!" the younger sister yelped, "I'll practice my be-nice skills… if, and only if, you practice your make-friends skills!"

Elsa jerked her head back, startled. She stared at Anna a few moments, then burst out laughing. "There you go. A good attempt at negotiation, if a bit lacking in tact!"

"I'm serious!" protested Anna.

The elder sister shook her head. "I may well be a hopeless case, Anna. Too much time spent in castle walls..."

Anna threw her arms wide. "Maybe that's what we need! To get you out of the castle. And not in a runaway-to-the-ice-castle sort of way!"

Elsa's slender shoulders heaved in a great sigh. "Really, Anna, that's just not feasible..."

"Not really!" the red-headed sibling protested. "We could go on a trip to the villages. Like the ones our parents would sometimes take. Y'know, to check on their welfare? Do you remember when we used to pretend to do that, back when we were kids? Traveling about Arendelle, tending to the people, administering to the populace?"

The sigh was driven away with forceful amusement. "As I remember, it was more like, 'Stand there and be praised and showered with gifts from the grateful populace!'"

"Yeh, well, yeh! They'd nearly bury us with flowers while you stood there waving graciously and I reminded them how amazing you were! ...er, are!"

Elsa shook her head in slow bemusement. "Somehow I doubt it would actually work out that way."

"And then entire villages would have sledding parties and feasts and celebrations in order to… well… to celebrate us being there!"

"Alright, Anna," the elder sister protested with a twisted smile. "Let's go ahead and refresh ourselves so we can be presentable and find out what that messenger is about."

"And ice cream! There should definitely be ice cream! Elsa, can you make ice cream?!"

"Anna. Focus."

"Right. Focus. Messenger. Mysterious-not-emergency-but-please-come-right-away message." Anna paused, one hand on the handle of her door. "Hey, Elsa?"

"Yes, Anna?"

"Maybe… maybe we could plan a trip? For real? Just to get away for a little bit? You, me, Kristoff, Sven, Olaf… Maybe even Marshmallow and the Snowgies?" Her voice suddenly turned playful. "Maybe a certain Captain of the Royal Guard? You know, for protection?"

Elsa shook her head at her sister's persistence. "Perhaps," she chuckled, "but business first. Go change. Your dress is soaked about the hem. Gerda should be along shortly to help. I'll meet you here, so we can go to the throne room together."

"Oh all right," Anna capitulated. "Be back out in a moment!" She ducked into her room.

Elsa blinked, then dropped her gaze to the puddle of water Anna's winter-soaked cloak had left behind. She turned her eyes to the very dry flagstones beneath her own feet. Shoulders lifted in a weighted sigh. Many thoughts tangled themselves together in relation to that single observed duality. With an effort she shrugged them aside, forcing herself to think of the messenger she had yet to meet.

She would not think of all the ways she stood apart, as a person and as a Queen.

She would not.