Anna sat alone in her room, pieces of armor strewn out on the floor around her. Thank the gods, it fit perfectly. Now all she had to do was wear it while facing one of the kingdom's most accomplished Swordmasters in single combat.
It had been perhaps the most ill-thought-out decision of her life, but it was too late to back out now. She couldn't bear the shame of forfeiting, and Vrael had doubtlessly already informed half of the castle of tomorrow's match. The redhead sighed. What would the Queen-?
BANG! Her bedroom doors flew open, propelled by a compressed blast of freezing air. Standing in the doorway was Elsa, eyes alight with fury.
"What the hell were you thinking?" the monarch demanded.
Unable to meet Elsa's eyes, Anna looked to the side, saying nothing.
"Vrael is a Swordmaster. He has decades of experience against your two weeks of training! What the hell made you challenge him?!" Elsa shouted.
"He insulted me," Anna muttered. If possible, Elsa's glare seemed to grow even angrier at the proclamation of her pathetic excuse.
"It was stupid. I know. Really really stupid!" she added, throwing up her hands defensively. "But it's done. I'll bear the consequences for it."
In an instant, the room's temperature seemed to fall twenty degrees. " Bear the consequences?!" the Queen demanded. "You could be killed ! This isn't a tourney, where the participants use blunted weapons. You'll be fighting for real, against a man twice your age!"
Anna sighed. Technically, the Queen was correct. Traditionally, honor duels were fought between Knights when one party felt he had been wronged. The contest only ended when one yielded or was killed. In truth, instances of death were rare, but the losing competitor was almost always wounded, often badly.
"I'll be fine!" the redhead promised. She did have the advantage of Elsa's magic. And if she indeed was wounded, the Queen could always heal her.
To her surprise, Elsa nodded. "Yes. You will be fine, Anna. Because there isn't going to be a duel. I forbid it. Vrael will be notified within the hour."
"You can't!" the redhead protested.
Elsa raised a fascinated eyebrow. "Oh? I can't ? There are very few things, Anna, that I can't do," she began. Her tone was deceptively calm, but the monarch was clearly incensed. "I am the absolute ruler of Arendelle. Every being in this kingdom lives or dies by my consent. I could order the entire Royal City burned to the ground if that was what I wanted. So let me be clear. This duel. Will. Not. Happen."
Anna looked her right in the eyes. She didn't want to fight Vrael, but she was not going to let the Queen pay for her own mistakes. The penalties were for Anna to suffer, not Elsa's reign.
"Technically, you can forbid it," she agreed, "But doing so would violate of centuries of tradition. There's no telling how many Knights and soldiers would be enraged by that decision. You'd be putting your personal feelings ahead of the good of the kingdom!"
Elsa's eyes widened slightly, and Anna knew that the Queen had realized she was right.
"Perhaps," the monarch consented reluctantly. " But-" a fierce light appeared in her eyes. "That doesn't mean I can't order you to forfeit."
"What?!" Anna demanded.
The monarch frowned. "If I went to Vrael and ordered him to surrender, the entire castle would know, and I would still lose support. But I know that you wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize my reign. So I hereby command you to find Vrael and inform him that you are conceding."
Anna stared at her in shock, but Elsa's gaze was utterly resolute. "You… you can't! I'd be humiliated, and Vrael would tell everyone !"
"You should have thought of that before challenging him." Suddenly, the Queen's gaze turned a modicum kinder. "I'm doing this for your own good," she said. "Vrael will shame you, but at least you'll be safe. Even with my magic, fighting him is too dangerous, Anna. I won't let you kill yourself out of pride."
In any other situation, the Queen's concern for her well-being would have made her glow with warmth, but Elsa's proclamation only filled her with dread. Forfeiting to Vrael would… how could she ever face Drell again? How would she ever train in front of the soldiers, who would never let her forget her cowardice? She would shame not only herself but her teacher as well. And worst of all, she would still shame the Queen, who had been the one to vouch for her in the first place. No, this was Anna's mistake, and she would be the only one who suffered for it.
"No," Anna said softly.
Elsa looked as if she could not understand Anna's words. "Excuse me?" she questioned.
"I'm not going to forfeit. I'm sorry. I'm not going to embarrass you and Drell by being a coward," Anna repeated.
For a tense moment, the Queen stood deathly silent. Her mouth gaped open slightly, eyes widening in outrage. "I am the Queen, Anna. Your Queen. You are my subject and you will do as I say. Do you understand?" she hissed.
Anna shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I won't-" she stopped as a layer of frost appeared on her lips, sealing them together. The redhead could still breathe through her nose, but the ability to speak was lost to her.
"My word is law, Anna. Do you understand how that works? A word from me could have you executed in an instant. Or thrown in the dungeons for the rest of your life. So when I tell you to forfeit, you forfeit !" the Queen shouted. All semblance of Elsa's usual composure was gone now. Anna realized that for the first time in five years, someone was disobeying the monarch, and Elsa had no idea how to handle it.
With a glance from the blond, the ice on Anna's lips melted.
"So arrest me," Anna offered. "Or kill me. But given that your reasoning for the order was to protect me… I mean, that would be kind of counterproductive, wouldn't it?"
The room grew so cold that the redhead could see her own breath, but she knew that she had successfully called Elsa's bluff. Oh, the Queen certainly could do those things, but whether she actually would was a different matter.
Elsa's hands trembled in both rage and helplessness. "How… how dare you?!" she demanded. "After everything I've done for you!"
"Everything you've done? Like getting me arrested, twice, for things I didn't do?" Anna shot back.
The Queen's face fell slightly, and Anna instantly regretted the words.
"I'm sorry," she said hurriedly. "You have done a lot for me. More than anyone else ever has. And that's why I can't embarrass you. It was your idea to have me trained, and most of the castle knows that by now. I have to prove that you were right; quitting would bring shame on you, and I won't do that. The duel is my fault, and I'll pay the price," Anna vowed.
Elsa wasn't convinced. "No one's going to lose respect for my rule just because a woman I vouched for backs down from fighting a Swordmaster !" she shouted back.
Anna shook her head. "I'm not going to let you take that chance. I'm sorry, Your Majesty. If you're going to arrest me for my disobedience, do it now. Otherwise, leave me be, and let me get some rest for tomorrow."
The two women stared at each other in silence. Anna gazed into the Queen's icy blue orbs, inviting the monarch to make her move. Five painful seconds passed.
"Then get yourself killed for all I care," Elsa hissed.
The Queen turned away. She walked quietly through the open doorway, footsteps echoing through the hall.
Had it been Anna's imagination, or had she glimpsed a single tear in Elsa's eye?
Elsa slammed her fist down on her desk. She was pacing around in her study as her cousin sat in Anna's usual chair. Anna…
The mere thought of her name made Elsa's heart race.
"Maybe I will have her arrested," the monarch hissed. "The gods know she deserves it. I am her Queen. How could she…" Elsa trailed off hopelessly. Never since her parent's deaths had she felt so helpless. All the power in the world, and she couldn't protect those she cared for.
"We both know that you won't," Rapunzel pointed out. "It would destroy her much more surely than this duel will. You're not mad at her for disobeying you. You're upset because you can't protect her."
The monarch stared down at her hands. Was her cousin right? Such defiance from anyone else would have enraged her, but from Anna… the only emotion she could truly muster was worry. The redhead believed she was doing this for her. And somehow that made it feel even worse.
"She has a chance," the Princess said dubiously.
"Maybe," Elsa admitted. Rapunzel looked at her in surprise. Evidently, even the always optimistic Coronan Princess hadn't believed her own words. But the Queen knew something she didn't.
"Over the past few weeks, I've been 'healing' her every day. We discovered that continuous applications of my magic might have interesting effects. Ever since, she's been growing stronger, faster, and more resilient, almost to an unnatural level," the Queen revealed.
Rapunzel's eyes widened. "Is she okay? Magic is unpredictable. Who knows what else it could do to her?"
Elsa nodded. "The thought occurred to me as well. I've demanded constant updates. So far, she says she's fine, and I believe her. Other than the streak of blond hair she's gotten, all the effects so far have been unambiguously positive."
"Her blond streak was caused by your magic?" The Princess seemed fascinated now.
Elsa sighed. "That's not the problem right now," she said impatiently. "Even with my magic, I don't know if she can… Vrael is a master with a blade. Anna has a lot of natural talent, but only two weeks of dedicated training. If she's hurt, I-I don't know if I could…" She stared down at the table, utterly dejected.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her cousin rise from the chair. Elsa was surprised to find Rapunzel's arms wrapping around her, pulling the Queen close.
"She'll be fine. Your magic can always heal her, and if not, mine will," Rapunzel offered. The Queen nodded. As badly as the redhead was wounded, a single tear from the Princess could save her as long as there was still breath in her body. But even her cousin wouldn't be able to save Anna if Vrael cut her head off. An instant death blow was all but impossible, given the armor Anna would be wearing, but the thought still made the Queen's stomach clench.
" Then get yourself killed for all I care." The words replayed themselves again and again in her mind. Hopefully, Anna would know that she hadn't meant it, that it had been said in the heat of the moment. It was too late to apologize; the redhead was probably already asleep, and waking her now could jeopardize her chances in the duel. Perhaps tomorrow morning… but no, Anna wouldn't be able to afford any distractions, and Elsa knew that any apology she offered would have an emotional impact on both of them.
But if Anna… if Anna didn't make it, then those would be Elsa's last words to her.
Suddenly overcome with fear, the Queen hugged her cousin fiercely.
\
"You support this?" Anna asked.
Drell scowled. "No. I think you're a blasted fool. But since there's nothing I can do to stop you, the best I can do is try and help you survive."
The redhead smiled up at him. She'd gone down to the barracks at ten, ready to begin warming up and armoring herself, only to find her teacher waiting for her. He'd tried to convince her to forfeit, but if both her crush and Queen hadn't succeeded, even her mentor was doomed to failure.
The Arms Master had finally decided it was hopeless.
For the next hour and forty-five minutes, he showed her how to best prepare. The right exercises to perform. What to eat and drink. How to put her armor on perfectly. His presence made her feel more confident, but as the minutes ticked by, the dread in her heart steadily increased.
Finally, it was time.
"Let's go," Drell sighed. Together, the two walked in silence towards the arena. She didn't need his directions; Anna had explored most of the castle by now, and the redhead knew it like the back of her hand. With every step she took, the dread in her stomach grew heavier. The walk from the barracks to the center of the castle seemed a lot shorter than it usually did.
Finally, they stood at one of the two competitors' entrances. Vrael, she knew, would be walking in from the opposite pathway. It appeared as if the arena was filled already; Anna could hear the excited chattering from out in the hall.
"Good luck," Drell said softly. "Fight hard, but if you're wounded, don't be afraid to yield. No one could fault you for that." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder briefly, and then he was gone, heading for one of the two spectator entrances. Anna sighed.
It was time to get this over with.
Elsa didn't want to watch. Word had spread through the castle like wildfire, and nearly half of its residents would probably be in attendance. Most would be undoubtedly rooting for Vrael, although Anna would certainly have her supporters among the servants. At the very least, most of the crowd did not want to see the duel end in a fatality.
The Queen had to go. Not officially, of course, but if Anna was injured, she would have to be there to help heal the redhead. Rapunzel was attending for the same purpose.
But there was one thing the Coronan Princess didn't know.
Elsa would allow the duel to commence. But if it looked like Anna was about to be seriously injured or killed, the Queen had made up her mind that she would intervene. Not for a small cut or minor injury; in a way, she'd be glad to see the redhead hurt mildly. It would give Anna an excuse to yield, and something minor could be healed by her magic within minutes.
But if it appeared as if Anna wasn't going to surrender and Vrael was going to score a decisive blow, she would stop the match. Verbally, if possible, Magically, if not. A blast of ice would quickly break up the engagement. The people wouldn't be happy, but Elsa could always claim that it had been a reflex out of concern for one who had saved her life. In time, most of them would move past it.
Elsa knew that it was a bad idea, but the Queen couldn't bring herself to care. She'd been powerless to save her parents, and they'd died after an argument that could now never be forgiven. The monarch was not going to let the situation repeat itself. Anna would survive, one way or another. Elsa would apologize for her outburst, and they would move on.
Hopefully.
\
Despite the fact that her magic would be Anna's best chance if she was injured, part of the redhead didn't want to see the Queen in the stands.
This hope was dashed the instant she walked into the Palace Dueling Arena, sword clutched tightly in one hand and helm held in the other.
The room was large, with much of the room being taken up by the circular dueling rink. The floor was composed of smooth wooden boards, all of which were completely colored a dull brown save for a circle of white that marked off the rink itself. Comfortable bleachers surrounded the arena on all four sides, only parting to make way for the arena's four entrances.
Against her will, Anna's eyes were drawn to where she knew the Queen would be sitting. Elsa, Rapunzel, and a group of officials from both of their countries sat in the high, walled-off section of the stands, surrounded by a cluster of guards. The Ice Queen appeared completely stoic, not betraying a hint of emotion with her expression. She glanced at Anna for only a split second before averting her gaze to the middle of the arena. The Princess of Corona was trying to imitate her, but she lacked the decades of practice afforded to her cousin. Even fifty feet away, Anna could perceive the worry on her face.
What if Elsa's not acting? Her brain panicked. Was the Queen so angry at her insubordination that she no longer cared for Anna's fate?
No, Anna couldn't allow herself to believe that. She knew almost without a doubt that the monarch was furious with her, but Elsa would never be so callous. She had to appear impartial, and the redhead couldn't fault her for that.
Nevertheless, the distance between them whacked Anna with a painful dose of reality. There was Elsa, seated in the Royal Box… accompanied by the Princess of Corona and surrounded by an elite order of warriors dedicated to her protection. Anna was on the ground, with most of the room content to see her about to risk her life.
Despite the unlikely friendship that had formed between them, she would never be able to be with the Queen. Elsa was the ruler of Arendelle. Anna was Anna. It was time for her subconscious to accept that.
She shook her head slightly, trying to clear her mind. Here she was, thinking of her feelings for the Queen before a potentially lethal duel. Anna's obsession with romance had gotten her hurt several times, but she wouldn't allow it to get her killed.
The door opposite her opened, and Vrael entered the room. The Knight was clad in a glimmering set of steel armor, and in his hands rested a powerful broadsword. His helm was cupped under his arm, so for the moment, the redhead could perceive the wicked gleam in his eyes.
Anna gulped.
Kai stood up from the first row of the stands. As the Castle's seneschal, it was his duty to preside over the event. Anna could perceive just a hint of regret in his eyes, but like Elsa, he had decades of practice in concealing his emotions.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" he announced. "We are here to witness Lord Vrael's acceptance of the challenge issued by Anna of Arendelle to a duel of honor. The Queen would like to wish the best of luck to both parties and express her hopes that the contest can be concluded without serious injury to either contestant."
Kai paused, as if awaiting an objection. "I believe that is all. Begin!"
Vrael raised his blade in the most contemptuous salute that Anna had ever witnessed. The redhead matched his pose, taking deep calming breaths. She could do this. She had to.
Both warriors placed their helms on their heads and stepped slowly into the circle. Anna's vision zeroed in on her opponent. Suddenly, there was no crowd. No Queen in the stands. There was only the fight.
They stepped toward each other warily, stepping along the edges of the perimeter. Slowly, Anna approached Vrael, ready for an attack. Her strategy was simple: use her superior stamina to outlast him. Easier said than done, but it was better than going on the offensive and being cut to ribbons.
She made two small steps to her right. He mirrored her movement. Well, if he wanted to play the waiting game, then that was-
Vrael rapidly changed direction, his footwork was so smooth that she barely perceived the danger until it was too late. His feet shifted to the left, putting him within range, and the Knight stabbed at her leg with incredible speed.
Anna wasn't nearly as skilled as he was, but she was faster. The redhead's reflexes saved her just in time; she jumped backwards a half second before he could make contact.
She could see Vrael scowl under his helm.
He pressed her again, attacking with a series of intricate and refined blows that the redhead had a difficult time parrying. Vrael's form was perfect, his movements were the epitome of efficiency. It took all of her concentration to withstand his assault.
But withstand it she did. On a technical level, Anna was by no means a Swordmaster, but it would no longer be a stretch to call her a skilled swordswoman. Over the last few weeks, her natural talent had been honed under Drell's tutelage. Even without Elsa's magic, Anna would judge her abilities to be superior to those of the average soldier, her aptitude more than making up for their superior experience.
Vrael feinted toward her head, and she fell for it. Anna lowered her blade just in time, deflecting a slash at her thighs. For the first time, the redhead attempted a counterattack, but the Knight saw her stab coming from a mile away. He parried the blow effortlessly before renewing his offensive. Again, he forced Anna back.
Her training allowed her to just barely hold her own on a technical level, and thanks to her unnatural speed, Vrael was unable to achieve a quick victory. He drove her back around the circle, but Anna held fast, remaining on the defensive but nearly matching him blow for blow.
Unfortunately, that was the extent of the advantage her quickness afforded her. Vrael's defense was far too tight for her to penetrate. Anna ducked a slash at her neck and came up with a swipe at his chest, but the Knight's blade angled downward and intercepted the redhead's attack. She was forced to jump backwards again, barely avoiding his riposte.
Anna could sense his frustration growing. The crowd had grown silent, all expectations of his quick victory gone. Anna raised her sword as Vrael charged her, preparing herself for the next assault. She had to wait him out; he would make a mistake eventually. But then again, so would she.
Perhaps holding him off was only part of the solution. Anna smirked slightly. If he wouldn't slip up, then she would have to encourage him.
\
On the outside, Elsa was (as per usual) the most composed being in the room. In contrast to her cousin, who gasped nervously every few seconds, the Queen did not indicate as to what she was feeling.
But on the inside, Elsa felt as if she was going to have a heart attack. Every time Vrael's blade came within an inch of the redhead, the Queen's chest grew so tight that the monarch felt physical pain. Around and around the perimeter the combatants circled, Anna struggling to hold the Swordmaster at bay.
Gods, this was all her fault. If Elsa hadn't sent Anna to get her armor at the exact moment she had, the redhead would never have had that fateful meeting with Vrael. It was stupid to blame herself for the unforeseeable outcome, she knew, but the Queen couldn't help but hold herself responsible.
If something happens to her… I should have told her how I felt; now it might be too late. Logically speaking, it would have been a bad idea; whatever her reaction to it, the confession would have distracted Anna from today's duel. Still, " I have feelings for you," sounded like better last words to a friend than " Get yourself killed for all I care."
The Queen's eyes widened slightly as Vrael launched another vicious assault. He was getting tired of Anna holding her own. He attacked her from all sides, feinting from half a dozen directions. There was no telling when the final blow would-
A lightning-fast backhand swipe came at Anna's right arm. The redhead tried to jump back, but this time even her speed wouldn't save her. To her left, Rapunzel let out a small scream as the Knight's blade ripped through his opponent's gauntlet.
Anna jerked her arms back just in time to avoid losing a limb, but the weapon still made contact. The tip of the broadsword cut her just below the wrist, and Anna let out a small cry of pain.
Already, Elsa could perceive small red drops falling to the floor near Anna's feet. The desperate fear she felt redoubled at the injury, but the Queen's worry briefly turned to relief as she considered the cut.
It was not remotely lethal, and a quick application of her magic would remove it. And now, Anna had an excuse to surrender.
Yield, Anna. Please yield… Elsa's mind pleaded.
The redhead did no such thing. Anna raised her weapon defiantly, trickles of blood running down her sleeve. With a yell, she met Vrael's next charge. The two warriors clashed again, but now Anna was being driven back even faster than before. Even the Queen's untrained eye could see the redhead's wounded arm tremble as she struggled to hold off the assault.
What was she doing?! Anna could concede right now, and no one would fault her for it. Why was she risking her life in a battle she could not hope to win?
Elsa almost groaned. Anna never gave up; she wouldn't yield until Vrael's blade was at her throat. Usually, the redhead's determination was a quality that she admired, but right now it made the Queen so fearful that she wanted to puke.
Even her practiced regal mask began to slip as Anna's parries grew increasingly desperate. The Knight hammered at her from all sides, focusing the majority of attacks on her right flank. Elsa clenched her teeth, praying that Anna would escape without being dealt a death blow. She stared down at the combatants, waiting for it to be over.
And sooner than she expected, it was.
\
Anna hadn't been concealing her inhuman speed. But for most of the duel, there was one surprise she kept to herself.
She matched Vrael's blows with a level of strength roughly equal to the Swordmaster's own. The Knight had thought she was struggling to match him in terms of brawn, but in truth, Anna had been holding back, waiting for the right moment. She would get only one chance to surprise him with her true strength.
That chance had now arrived.
The cut on her arm was indeed painful. But it wasn't nearly as crippling as she made it out to be. While the blow stung, it hurt much less than it ought to have. She allowed Vrael to think otherwise, weakening her parries and allowing herself to appear more sloppy than she truly was. Sensing victory, the Knight pressed her harder, prepared to finish her off.
His form grew reckless. The Knight's technique remained impeccable, but even the most skilled swordsman could not rush blindly into an offensive without presenting some sort of opening.
Vrael feinted toward her leg, and Anna shakily brought her sword down to intercept him. Before their weapons could make contact, the Swordmaster rapidly altered the angle of his attack, launching a final slash at her chest.
This was it! With steadiness she appeared to have lost and strength she had not yet demonstrated, Anna swung her blade as hard as she could into an upward swipe.
The Knight's intended coup de grace never reached her body. A loud clang sounded throughout the room as Anna's sword intercepted his blow. Vrael's sword was torn from its owner's grip; the weapon flew halfway to the ceiling before falling to earth. By the time the sword hit the floor with a noisome clang, Anna's own blade was already leveled at her opponent's throat.
The redhead grinned in triumph as the Knight stared at her in shock.
"Yield," she demanded.
For a moment, the anger in his eyes made her think he would refuse. But fear and self-preservation overpowered his rage. "I yield," he muttered.
The next minute was a blur. Some of the crowd cheered. Others booed. But everyone was in shock. It took Kai thirty seconds to tone down the yelling enough to announce that a winner had been decided. By the time of the proclamation, Vrael had slunk from the room. He probably wouldn't be showing his face for a while.
Anna was in a daze. She had done it. She had done it. The redhead raised her weapon, saluting the crowd. She couldn't even feel the pain in her hand. In a way, she had shown them all. Many of them would never like her. But they would never be able to laugh at her again.
The crowd began to disperse. Her eyes instinctively looked for Elsa, but she was already gone.
"Miss Anna?" Kai tapped her lightly on the shoulder. She turned to him, smiling brightly.
"Yes?"
"Her Majesty would like to speak with you in her study."
Anna's heart plummeted. Their argument came rushing back to her. She'd explicitly defied the Queen in a grave matter. Part of her doubted that Elsa would let that go easily, even if she didn't officially punish Anna by having her arrested.
"Oh. Thanks, Kai," she replied. Without another word, she began to move towards the door.
Drell intercepted her just before she could leave. "Not bad," he complimented with a wry smile. Despite her apprehension, she grinned up at him.
"It was all thanks to your training," she replied. A lie, but not a complete one. Magic or not, Anna wouldn't have stood a chance without his instruction.
He nodded. "I'm glad to see you're alright, even if I still think you're a fool," he added. Despite his words, Anna could see the relief plain on his face.
"I think you're ready," Drell continued. Anna looked up at him curiously.
"Ready for what?"
\
Elsa sat in her chair, staring at the door nervously. Rapunzel stood next to her, pacing around the room with a bright smile on her face.
"I can't believe she won!" the Princess said for the sixth time.
The Queen nodded. She'd never been more relieved in her entire life. But her worry was quickly returning. Would Anna forgive her words from the previous night? Could things between them ever return to normal?
A knock on the door.
"Enter!" Elsa called.
Anna walked into the room, staring at the ground nervously. "Your Majesty," she said stiffly, bowing deeply. "You summoned me?"
The Queen nodded. "Anna, I'm… I'm so glad that you're okay," she breathed. "Let me see your arm and I'll take care of it."
To her shock, the girl shook her head. "Thanks, Your Majesty, but I don't think that's a good idea."
Elsa stared at her. "Why?" she questioned.
"I have to get used to fighting without your magic now. Drell says my training's finished, and there's a tournament in Hammerfest at the end of the week," Anna explained. Her eyes shone with sadness.
"You're leaving?" Rapunzel demanded.
Anna nodded, staring down at the floor. "Even if he doesn't know about your magic, Drell's still right; I've learned enough to compete in competitions."
"When will you be back?" the Princess questioned.
The redhead sighed deeply. "I… I won't be. There's no excuse for me to be here anymore. My reward was to stay here until my training was complete and now…" she trailed off.
Elsa's mind turned to mush.
Anna couldn't be leaving. Somewhere along the way, the Queen had forgotten that Anna wasn't a permanent resident of the castle. The monarch simply couldn't imagine life in the Palace without her presence.
Say something, you idiot! Elsa mentally screamed at herself. But her lips were too stunned to form the words.
Anna raised her head slightly. "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty," she said, bowing again to the Queen. Without another word, she turned and left the room, unaware of Elsa's agonized stare on her back.