Crystal

The week had been one of the calmest Anna had ever lived. Ironic, she thought, considering Elsa was currently the target of a murderous and vengeful duke. Following Garret's identification of the crest, her sister had been mostly silent, spending all her time fulfilling royal duties with religious devotion. Kristoff and herself knew there had been something wrong, but the specifics had remained secret for a bit. They were only made aware of the news that evening when Einar had taken a few minutes to summarize what they had learned while getting out of one of Jürden's meetings.

"They only want Her Majesty. He says they pride themselves in only taking their shots at those they consider witches."

"How does it make sense that they tried to kill literally everyone a week ago, then?" Anna asked with lifted eyebrows. While not a military genius, she could very much understand when someone wanted her dead.

Einar shrugged, his traits tempered like iron. "That was my first question too, Your Highness. He looked as puzzled as we were. And that was the end of what he divulged, though I'm still sure he's withholding some information."

Kristoff was rubbing Sven's fur with ample and thorough movements, the reindeer's strangely expressive features as anxious as the couple next to him.

"I mean, what would he win from not telling everything? He's been straight with us until now."

"Just a feeling, sir. This man's appearance timed too well with this new threat, and he sniffed around a bit too much for my liking." Einar's attention was focused on the door at the other end of the hall behind which Garret was slowly getting back on his feet after being bedridden for seven full days. "I would be cautious about what to tell him." He brought his gaze back to his princess and dropped his voice lower before continuing. "I do not wish for you to have anything similar to last year's situation repeated."

Hearing his sympathetic tone—in his own way—made her understand his remark was well-intentioned, but Anna still sensed a bit of color drain from her face at the insinuation. Kristoff's reaction, on the other hand, was a lot less subtle.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, dropping his tight fists to his sides as a frown appeared on his face. The princess delicately put a calming hand on his shoulder with a small smile.

He's not wrong.

She slightly hung her head, her eyes not leaving Kristoff's. "That is a fair warning, Einar. Thank you." The captain bowed respectfully. "Say hello to Najöra for me," Anna concluded. Einar nodded with a tight pursing of his lips and walked down to the barracks, his hands clasped behind his back.

"He shouldn't have said that," Kristoff commented with a raise of his shoulders as soon as he was out of earshot, his brows still furrowed in a surprisingly symmetrical V shape.

"It was still true." Anna had had a lot of time to reflect on what had happened after her sister's failed coronation. She knew she hadn't done anything wrong—the entire kingdom ensured that particular bit was hammered into her mind early enough—but that didn't stop from feeling a touch of guilt.

Could have used a little common sense though.

She heavily sighed and lightly kissed the back of Kristoff's hand with a thankful smile. "But that was sweet of you."

"I'm the only one that gets to mention or make fun of what happened last year," Kristoff huffed in a normal voice, his clear annoyance diminishing the instant he locked his gaze on her face. The blush on his cheeks almost made Anna giggle.

"And Elsa," she added instead while holding her index finger up in the air.

"And Elsa. But she never does anyway."

Anna regained her enthusiasm in a flash. "And you know why? That's because she's actually a sweet well-mannered girl who cares about me."

"I'm well-mannered too."

"You eat carrots your reindeer just half-chewed."

"Carrots are delicious!" he exclaimed with a bewildered face. He briskly turned his back to her, lifting his face to the ceiling and dramatically running a hand through his hair. "I don't think I can stay with someone who can't appreciate them."

"I like carrots. I'll just eat the ones Sven didn't almost swallow." She tilted her body to the side, bringing her eyes to the aforementioned reindeer. "No offense."

Sven neighed in acknowledgment.

"Choosy," Kristoff scoffed. "Aristocrats."

Anna feigned a surprised look. "Where did you hear that word? The brainpower surge could be fatal! You sure you don't want to lie down?"

Kristoff lifted an eyebrow. "I know tons of words. Like furnace, tirade, mendicant…" He stopped when his hair fell over his eyes as Anna's hand gently patted his head.

"I know. I'm proud of you." They shared a laugh at that, not leaving each other's eyes. Anna heaved a quick breath, nervously playing with a single strand of her hair. "Witch-hunters huh?"

Kristoff slowly rubbed her shoulders and spoke in what Anna understood was his best attempt at a reassuring voice. "They're not gonna get her. We're talking about Elsa. She basically beat two trained guys with crossbows on her own."

I'm more worried about what she's thinking.

Anna knew firsthand that Elsa was very prone to blaming herself for things like these. She'd have to go have a talk with her, even though she had had the very distinct feeling that her sister had slightly avoided her during the last week. For the moment, the queen was holed up in the conference hall with Kai, Jürden and all the other advisors for an urgent special session. This had been the first time she'd summoned them for anything other than routine meetings during her reign.

What could I even say?

She didn't want Elsa to revert to her shut-in self. She wanted to keep her sister. She wanted to see her as happy as she had been during the last year. She wanted her to go out, meet the people of her kingdom, get tongue-tied as she usually did, talk it off, have fun, find love and experience all the marvels of life that Anna had experienced herself. She wanted her to live.

"Wanna talk to him first?"

As if reading her thoughts, Kristoff's voice snapped her out of her own mind. He gave a nod toward Garret's chamber. Anna and Kristoff had visited him quite often during the last few days. While always she had found the young man honestly pleasant and quite entertaining, a part of Anna knew that he wasn't in the best state of mind either.

They went after him before. Is it possible they followed him here? she quickly wondered. No, he isn't a target, she immediately answered her own question with a shaking of her head under Kristoff's amused stare—he had become accustomed to Anna talking to herself like she'd do to anyone else. The four idiots didn't know anything about him.

"Yeah. Let's go," she responded with another smile, dragging Kristoff by his hands.

Garret had gone through a rough week. He had been assured his injury would heal, but it still took him days to stand up without tipping to his right side. It had only been half a day since he could finally walk almost normally, but the lower part of his back still stung whenever he took a step. He stood to the window, slightly hopping on his uninjured leg. Throwing a glance outside, he observed the sun's last rays disappear behind the water with a fiery shine on the surprisingly smooth sea, giving way to the colder but no less intensive sparkle of the moonlight that broke through the thick clouds over Arendelle like a divine crown.

God-freaking-dammit.

Quickly eyeing the door, he waved to the two guards standing not far from it with a fake cocky grin. Last week, the captain had insisted they stayed inside his room to keep a closer eye on him. Tilting his head with a quick shrug when they didn't respond, Garret released a long sigh.

I don't think he has enough people for this. He knows a full-on assault won't work.

He hadn't really considered the idea that he could have to run into that fanatic ever again. Garret felt the taste of blood rise in his esophagus. He clenched his fists and shook his head to extricate himself from his own memories, letting his thoughts go to the queen instead.

And she's had to deal with that thing just a year ago. Poor woman.

Elsa had occupied quite a significant part of his mind whenever he was alone in the room, fiddling his fingers and learning where all the cracks on the walls were. She was an intriguing yet gracious being. The way she had manipulated ice to become an enormous radiating castle was something he was sure would stick to his mind for a while, but her quick wits and overall calmness he had found to be almost reassuring. And having an idea of what she'd been through only reinforced the sheer admiration for her which he was slowly discovering deep within himself.

But while Anna and Kristoff, as well as Olaf and Sven, had come a few times to speak to him, Elsa had not shown herself nearly as much. From what he understood, she was still debating what to do with her advisors. He had seen her twice in the entire week, once when she had come to ask him about some details along with Jürden, Kai and Einar, and a second time when she had accompanied the nurses for his physical.

Bringing his eyes to his left leg with a disgusted grunt, Garret sighed again. Where was his coat? He was starting to miss it.

A soft knock echoed in the room, Anna's voice emerging from behind the door. "Garret? It's Anna and Kristoff. Can we come in?"

The soldier slightly smiled. "This is your castle, you can go wherever you want."

The door leaf half opened, letting the pouting face of his host peek from the embrasure. "I'm polite."

Garret heartily laughed. "That you are, Your Highness."

Anna rolled her eyes with a huff as she stepped inside. "Told you to call me Anna. 'Highness' feels weird. Only the guards call me that. Hi guys, by the way." This time the two guards eagerly returned the wave they received.

Okay, now that's just mean.

Putting aside his mild irritation, Garret focused on the royal couple that had just entered. "What can I do for you, Anna?" He stressed her name with a playful smile. She nodded in approval.

Kristoff answered in her stead. "Just wanted to talk a bit, see how you were doing."

Garret tried not to let his surprise show on his face. "You were worried?"

"Well, yeah," Anna responded with a nervous chuckle. "They told us these witch-hunters were after you at some point." She brought her hands together, playing with her fingers as if she wasn't sure of what she was saying. "We wanted to see if you were okay?"

Garret took a few seconds to process the question. He had always been good at not showing his emotions, and this was one of those times where he was happy for that fact. "I'm alright."

Anna lifted an eyebrow, doubt plastered all over her freckles. "Did that ever convince anyone? 'Cause you're gonna have to do a lot better."

"I assure you. I'm fine."

She shot that same eyebrow even further up. Maybe he wasn't that good after all. "Gustav, Alfonse, can you please leave us alone for a moment?" she asked while turning around to face the two guards.

"Ma'am? Captain Einar said—"

"I know. Please? It'll be just a minute." Kristoff opened the door with a large smile, inciting the two to leave. As soon as they—reluctantly—stepped outside, Anna whirled her head back. "So?"

"I think I'm doi—Are you a detective? Or a foxhound?" Garret asked with a shake of his head. "How many fingers can you see?" he continued as he lifted three of them behind his back, where she couldn't see them. Could she?

Anna lightly laughed but didn't allow the digression to distract her off course. "I've got a power of my own, never told you? I grew up with very stoic friends. Now, Garret. I can't believe you don't have anything you want to talk about."

The soldier scratched his chin with a pensive expression.

Would it be so bad?

"I do, actually. But this is not the time."

It bloody well would.

There came that eyebrow again. "What do you mean, this is not the time? When will it be the time?"

Garret felt his own features drop and his eyes glaze ever so slightly. "It isn't the time because what I would say would not help us today. There'll be more than enough when we have this mess sorted out, innit?" He stood as firmly as he could, letting Anna scan his face for any little twitch, any sign that he wasn't steadfast in his conviction. "I reckon I'm hardly the priority, right now. Did you talk to your sister?"

Anna seemed to consider inquiring further upon the first part of his answer but decided against it in the end. "No, I didn't. She's been… kinda busy for the last few days."

"This must be weighing on her mind," Garret murmured in response with a sympathetic wince.

Anna's upbeat demeanor quickly changed to a more crestfallen expression. Her eyes lowered slightly, mirroring the perceptible fading of her smile. She was slowly bringing her closed knuckles together repeatedly while biting her lower lip.

"We're a bit afraid that's what's happening," Kristoff answered as he gently put his arm around the sprightly princess. He made a small gesture with his head, indicating the young red-headed woman at his side. Garret nodded in understanding.

A year is not that long a time, all things considered.

"Anna," he called with a small smile, taking a quick step to come a bit closer to her, her expression visibly distressed. "I know this isn't really my business. But if I may, in the short while I've known you, I can safely say you're one of the closest pairs of siblings I've ever met." Anna slightly lifted her eyes—their corners were starting to shine. "Going through something like this is hard enough as it is, she doesn't have to do it alone. Her Majesty is lucky enough that she has you both, the reindeer—as strange as that sounds—Olaf… Heck, from what I saw the day of the celebration, the entire kingdom adores her! Just be there for her, I think you already know how valuable that can be. And I'm sure Kristoff agrees with me."

"I do," Kristoff confirmed, giving him an appreciative nod. "We both know it means a lot to her that you stand at her side."

Anna's eyes flew between the two men. "What if she doesn't want us to?"

"She does." Garret could almost hear the hopeful flutter of Anna's heart. "It doesn't mean that she sees she does."

"What do I say, then?"

"You don't have to say anything," Kristoff responded. "You didn't when she needed to rest because she had caught a cold. You didn't when you took the h—You know. Hans. You've always been there. Just do it again," he finished with a tender grin and a gaze Garret guessed could only be that of a man in love.

The soldier simply lifted his hands toward the taller man with a quick nod. "There you go. Couldn't have said it better myself."

Anna quickly sniffed even though her eyes were dry. She brought a hand to gently cup Kristoff's cheek, and muttered a feeble "Thanks". She then stepped forward, standing in front of Garret with a confident and renewed enthusiasm. "Thank you, too."

"My pleasure."

Anna's brows furrowed a tiny bit, indicating that she was carefully thinking over her next words. "Garret… I know you said this wasn't really your business. But—" She took a long breath that made Garret question how lungs so large could fit into so tiny a body. "But as you've probably already noticed, Arendelle isn't really a gigantic super force. I think we could really use your help."

And she stood there, apparently awaiting his reply. Garret was a bit taken aback at first.

That's new. Use my help?

"I'm not going to be that useful if I can hardly walk," he deadpanned while lifting his left leg.

Anna's gaze lingered upon it for a few moments. "We need all the help we can get. I-I know this is a lot to ask… And that we've done nothing but bring trouble to you… But Elsa, she'll—I know her, she always wants to take everything on herself —And this is really—I mean, I'm really sorry—"

"Anna." She stopped her disarticulated parole. "I promise to do what I can," Garret said with finality, a genuine smile making its way to his lips.

"Really?" Anna asked, her eyes wide as if she didn't believe what he had just said.

"What, you want me to say no?" Garret asked with a dumbfounded expression.

"No, no, no!" she hurriedly spurted. "You already said yes!"

Ah, confidence. Know when to show it, but never overestimate it. She'd make one hell of a leader, Garret thought as he suppressed a chuckle.

"You're the first people to treat me with such kindness in a very long time. The least I can do is help. And should you need it, I can spare an arrow or two," he said with a wink.

In the last few years, he had grown used to be treated with mild fear and indifference at best, outright disgust at worst. It felt refreshing to finally have to deal with people who saw him as the weird sounding rando who happened to know how to fire frozen arrows he was.

The princess' shoulders sunk as she released a jerky breath and mirrored his smile. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that." She then gave his arm a quick thankful rub, her warm hand burning against his skin. "You're a good man, Garret." His heart clenched a little, but he still maintained his beam.

"Attention!" a voice loudly called from the exterior. Garret instinctively stood upright and barely held onto his salute.

"At ease," another voice uttered. For the second time that evening, a knock on the heavy wooden planks was heard throughout the room. Before the trio inside could say anything, the door opened and Jürden walked in. The old counselor was adorning a more formal military suit this time.

"Good heavens, I apologize for interrupting, highness," he said when he noticed Anna and Kristoff's quizzical stares. He stood tall, his hands behind his back. "Her Excellency requests Sir Garret's presence." Said Garret pointed towards himself. "Yes. You, son," Jürden repeated, leaning away from the door to grant passage outside. "Let's go."

What does she want?

The soldier threw puzzled looks at Anna and Kristoff, only receiving inconclusive shrugs in response. He finally nodded, stepping out of the room behind the decorated old man as the royal couple waved goodbye.

They passed a corridor, then a second. As they strode through the adjacent hall, Garret realized his light limp impeded his ability to match his guide's speed. Jürden quickly broke the silence that had settled between them.

"So. Where did you serve?"

"Huh?" was Garret's answer to the back before him.

"It is my understanding that you are former military. Where did you serve?" Jürden repeated as he turned his head around with a sympathetic smile.

"Umm… Great Britain. The British Armed Forces."

To Garret's surprise, Jürden released a quick laugh. "I was able to put that together, seeing as you're British and a soldier. I meant where, as in which regiment?"

"Oh," Garret understood his mistake. "I was in a specialized strike team linked to the 45th Foot line infantry regiment."

"Strike team, huh?" Jürden's tone was noble, but still held a semblance of cunning that didn't go past Garret's ears. His whole demeanor reminded him a lot of his father. "Disruption or deletion?"

"Disruption, sir."

"Ah. Clever choice," Jürden complimented with a tilt of his head. "You can climb ranks quickly with that, and you usually don't see a lot of ugly combat. But you still must have been pretty good to get into it in the first place. Or call in a few favors with the brass."

My old man had contacts.

"I was in the right place at the right time."

He hoped his half-answer wouldn't entice a deeper questioning.

Jürden nodded appreciatively. "The result's the same either way, yes?"

Suppressing an overwhelming urge to deeply sigh, Garret coughed in his hand instead. His question came out almost unwillingly.

"Did you serve too?"

"I did, under Her Majesty's grandfather and father. I was the equivalent to a lieutenant-general for a few years before I stepped out. I am now merely an advisor."

Something odd occurred to Garret. "Wait. Lieutenant-General? Arendelle has a military? I thought there was only the Guard to handle security matters."

"We had one up until around thirty years ago," Jürden responded. "Our numbers became too small to justify sustaining an armed force. The Guard was kept as a peacekeeping order from then on. About that…" An idea seemed to pop in his head. "I know Captain Einar has not been the most welcoming…"

You don't say, Garret thought as he recalled the almost frantic interrogation he had suffered a week before.

"… but I hope you understand he holds the kingdom's safety in his heart. He has nothing against you, it is his job to be suspicious."

"I understand. A man's got to do what a man's got to do. And speaking of being suspicious, you don't look like you are enough, if you want my honest opinion," Garret said with a shrug.

Jürden laughed again. "You don't mince words, son. I like that." He readjusted his numerous insignias on his shoulder's pauldron before resuming. "I was at first. The timing and your seemingly unyielding urge to explore our barracks didn't help. But you took a blade to the back for our queen, and we are in a strange position of counter-siege. I say if you were somehow linked to those witch-hunters, we wouldn't have been able to stop you at this point."

"I-I guess that makes sense."

"But that's just me… I don't know if you've seen the looks on the maids or the guards inside the castle. They still haven't gotten past what happened last year."

"I… got vague echoes of that. It also makes sense."

"You'll get used to it as fast as they'll get used to you. I wouldn't worry too much. Anyway, we're here," Jürden simply stated as they reached an immense ornate door with a golden handle he effortlessly pushed open. When he stepped inside, Garret was amazed at the sheer scale of the room he found himself in.

The engravings intertwined in a harmonious dance above the crystal chandelier. The gleam of the corners reminded him of the ice that filled every possible interstice, as glimmering as the moon outside. The table in the center of the room seemed to stretch endlessly, the strips of fine polished wood carved to perfection, reflecting the blue light of the night like a hundred ebony mirrors. A small fire crackled within a fireplace that seemed to be covered with red satin, its glowing aura contrasting with the cold glint of absolutely everything else. Quickly registering its location, Garret made a mental note to stay away from it. In the back of the room, below a window as tall as a house, stood Elsa, her dress blending in the background of a calm and transparent water behind the glass that glittered softly under the scattered clouds of Arendelle's night sky. She turned around as soon as the noise of a closing door reached her ears.

"Thank you, Sir Jürden. Good evening, Garret."

Even his trained ear had trouble making out her words from a distance.

"You called for me, majesty?" Garret asked with a bow once he got close enough to not have to shout. He had always felt ridiculous when trying to imitate the formal curtsies he had seen his father accomplish at times. He was sure he looked as gracious as an ostrich running under water.

The counselor left the room quietly after a respectful nod, leaving Garret to stare at the circles of fire that the warm light drew in Elsa's navy-blue eyes. He stopped for a second, noticing her tense shoulders and crossed arms.

Did she always look this… tired?

"Yes. I just finished an extraordinary session with my advisors, and we've reached the global consensus that we will give this matter our undivided attention. All other pans of my duties will be suspended for the time being."

Oh, because not doing exactly that was an option in the first place?

Garret kept his ill-placed sarcasm to himself. "I can only support your decision. These guys are far from amateurs."

"Yes, and your words definitely heavily weighted in the balance. You said this Roger is an adept fighter?"

"Well, he is, but that's not really the problem. The duke is not as dangerous, because from what Anna told me, he's aggressive, egoistical, cruel, a manipulator and a moron. Roger, on the other hand, is aggressive, egoistical, cruel, a manipulator and an intelligent man. He's a competent war strategist, and he uses his knowledge of tactics for precise strikes."

Elsa took a few seconds to think, her unwavering yet slightly hollow gaze not leaving his eyes. "Is that so? Then why pick up this 'trade'? Why hunt down people?"

"He's a man of deep conviction. He always thought the witch purges had been left incomplete, so he took it upon himself to finish his idol's job, and he took the horrors of the middle-ages as an inspiration. Hopkins was one of the most famous witch-hunters during their golden age, hence the name of his group."

"Yes, I've… read about him. About some of the things that he inflicted on those poor souls." Her stare had now shifted to a more sympathetic glance. "They burned them, didn't they?" She was intensively scanning his face as she spoke.

Pushing back the nauseating smell and the cries of agony into the abyss of his consciousness, Garret flinched a tiny bit. "Yes… Yes, they still do."

A heavy silence lingered after that, not unlike the one that had settled a week before in front of the little pond.

"I'm sorry," Elsa muttered after a while. Garret answered with a short laugh.

That rings a bell.

"What are you apologizing for?"

That too.

"This is in part why I've summoned you. We brought you into this without even—"

Elsa stopped talking when she saw that his smile had grown even broader than before.

Sisters they are.

"All right, Your Majesty, I already did this with Anna," he said. "You told me this yourself— don't apologize for being who you are. You have nothing to be sorry about. We'll sort this thing out. We know that he will only target you. That is an enormous advantage." He pointed toward the door. "And I must stress that you're not going to deal with this alone. I wouldn't be surprised if Anna was waiting outside the door, ready to jump at whoever comes out first. Calling it now, I'd rather have that person be you."

Elsa seemed hesitant for a moment. She eventually stood a little taller, uncrossing her arms and folding her hands in front of her. Her face looked just a tiny bit brighter.

"Right. Sir Jürden suggested we wait for now, while the Guard secures the area around us. He said he'd station ships around the kingdom and create different choke points should they decide to make a move."

This guy knows what he's doing, Garret thought as he recalled the quick conversation he had exchanged with the old ex-officer. Arendelle was in good hands.

"Sound advice. We have a fortress and we're going to use it."

"We?"

"Oh, yeah, Anna made me promise to help. Well, she didn't make me, but I promised to help as much as I could. Which, I guess, was your next point?"

"It was, actually." Elsa heavily sighed and apparently relaxed a tiny bit. She let her eyes run along the ceiling, stopping here and there while a small smile grew on her face. "I spent most of my life inside this castle, loathing it for shutting me inside. It never once occurred to me that it could protect me from something out there."

Garret let his shoulders slump down. "You were kept inside…" He hadn't known that.

Elsa simply nodded, nostalgia clear on her face. "I was. My father insisted on it. And I always thought it was to protect the outside world. In the end, I'm not sure if it wasn't to protect me instead. I guess it doesn't really matter now."

She wasn't being sad, per se, but Garret was clearly getting the impression that her childhood hadn't been the merriest.

She was locked in her room, alone, and didn't see her own sister for more time than you've been a man.

"Your parents. They're the ones in the portrait back in the room, right?"

"They are. Did the dates give it away? Good deduction."

Well, your mother is basically you with dark hair. Almost didn't need the dates.

"I'm sorry," Garret said.

Elsa put a hand in front of her mouth and she softly chuckled. He almost had to force himself to remember to breathe.

Damn, she's beautiful.

"We're going through this another time?" Elsa asked in an amused tone. "You're going to apologize, I'm going to say: 'What are you apologizing for?' and then we're going back full circle, is that it?" she finished with an easy smile and a lifted eyebrow.

Garret mirrored her laugh with a sincere one, one of those few that felt good. "I do sense some history with that sentence. Mind refreshing my memory?" She shook her head and rolled her eyes in feigned annoyance at his antics. "Sounds like we found a common theme other than ice."

Elsa scoffed. "And witch-hunters, apparently."

"That too, but let's focus on the better parts," Garret added before they shared a quick and quiet laugh.

Elsa lightly rubbed her own arm as she gazed outside once again, a tiny ray of blue flashing in her eyes. "Speaking of ice, we still have to decide when to work on yours."

"That's still a thing?" Garret blurted out without thinking. He had tried to apply her advice about his ice's anchor points during his very immobile week, and he was starting to see some improvement, but he didn't think she'd be up to it again considering the circumstances.

"If you want to. My powers are fine," Elsa answered.

Garret's eyes widened at the same time as his smile. "Is that smugness I hear, Your Majesty?" he cheekily asked.

Elsa slowly seemed to realize why he would say that. "N-No! Not at all!" she corrected with small panicked movements of her hands. "I mean, if you want to train, since the kingdom is going to run at idling speed for at least a few days, I can spare the time."

She could use the distraction.

He noticed the intrigued glance she threw at him as he laughed once again. "Don't worry. I'm just sassing you," he reassured her in a mischievous tone. "And of course, I'd be happy to. Whenever you like."

Her features softened into a more serene expression. "Very well. I'll have Kai notify you when I'll be free."

They then both stood there, their gaze focused on the horizon behind the fjord.

"You're going to stay here?" Elsa asked after a few seconds.

"I told you, majesty. I don't think I am currently physically able to handle an Anna-tackle."

"You're exaggerating. She's not waiting behind the door."

Garret didn't answer. He simply clasped his hands behind his back and eyed her with a daring tinge of cockiness. He could still feel the little shards of ice on his hands, but they were far from being as worryingly big as they usually were.

Accepting the challenge, Elsa squared her shoulders and headed toward the gigantic door in a dignified stride. Garret's eyes followed her at first, but he finally turned back to the fjord and let his ears hear her heels click away as she neared the door, seemingly waiting a single moment before pulling it wide open. He just threw a smile at the window in front of him when he heard a sudden crash and two light, clearly feminine cries.

Elsa's morning was the most pleasant she'd had in a week. Anna had simply been an absolute delight the night before—she recalled the last time she'd had such a heartfelt conversation with her sister was just after another time of crisis.

She had been scared; she knew that. But what she hadn't noticed were the different causes of her fears. She had discovered it wasn't only the witch-hunters or the duke, while those still were terrifying. She, in truth, feared turning back to the old power-hiding, self-loathing and exceedingly depressed Elsa. The few hours she spent with Anna on her room's balcony had helped at least alleviate some of those fears. They were natural. But she knew she could fight them somehow.

And thus, that morning she felt like ice-making.

"I'll seek him at once, Your Majesty," Kai answered with a low bow. He then exited the small garden whose calm and serene atmosphere she relished. The start of her day had been oddly non-tumultuous, so much so that she found herself in front of the ancient and proud cluster of birches that stood on a platform in the middle of the pond without realizing it.

I wonder if I can make him create a snowman too.

Elsa spent the next few minutes planning her lecture. She'd have to first see if he had a firm grasp of the linking technique she had taught him last week. From there on, she could show him how to project crystals onto each other to create imbrications and layered strata that could densify the ice. And after that, she could tackle the concept of keeping the water in liquid form until the rupture point so he could create anything quicker.

We have so much to review, she told herself with a quick sigh. Despite the circumstances of the lesson, she couldn't contain a small excited grin. For once, she could speak freely about her magic without feeling otherworldly. And there was someone there to understand her.

"Your Majesty," her pupil's surprisingly clear voice greeted her from behind. She turned around to see Garret making one of his awkward bows. She let out a quick chuckle.

"There's no need to put your arm in front of your chest, Garret," she said with another suppressed giggle. "Good morning."

The man attempted to answer, stammering, before finally just dropping his arm. "I knew I was doing something wrong."

"That looks better. Shall we begin then?"

Garret met her eye-line with a determined glint. He was looking a lot less tired than usual.

"Yes, master," he said with a straight face. He stopped a few steps away from her.

"No need to call me master, either."

"I've always wanted to do that."

"You can do it with someone else."

"Aww."

Elsa shook her head, though her smile didn't disappear.

Spirits help me. I already have to deal with one over-excited redhead.

"Anyways. Do you remember the triple-head linking technique?"

Garret regained a more serious demeanor. "I do, though I didn't really have time to perfect it." Without waiting for her to ask, he joined his hands and produced the same arrow he had created in her ice castle.

While he worked, and now that he wasn't wearing his large cloak, Elsa couldn't help but notice some of the scars on his fingers, his hands, his forearms, even that little one on his neck. And she was getting a distinct feeling that there were others. Many others, concealed under his clothes and inside his mind, witnesses of the person he was.

Later.

"There you go," Garret said as he handed her the small projectile. Elsa almost took it from his hands before a flash of what had happened the first time she'd done that traversed her mind. Steeling her heart to resist the temptation, she glided her hand back to her side and politely signaled for him to bring the arrow closer to her instead. It was more crystalline, less opaque and exuded strength in a way his first attempt couldn't match. There was still a lot of progress to make, but he now had a solid foundation to build upon.

"Great!" she exclaimed with a clap of her hands. "Now, I want you to try something somewhat trickier," she stated as she lifted her clasped hands in front of her. The wave answered her call like a siren's chant, flowing out of her in an ethereal breath that materialized in the form of a statue the size of an apple representing Sven atop her now open palms.

"Now, I know the advice about love sounds somewhat whimsical, but I assure you that is how I see it. How I feel it. I, however, think I oversimplified the idea last time. It doesn't have to be a person. Anything can do: A moment. A concept. A memory. All of these should work too." She had recently tried with the thought of that snowball fight she had had a few months ago with Anna, and it had worked just as well as if she had just kept her sister on her mind. "I strongly believe that, if you only focus on one thing, it'll come to you. Forget everything for a moment. Whatever's on your mind, let it go."

Garret threw a strange glance in her direction. Elsa wasn't certain whether her eyes deceived her, but she could detect a slight twitching in the corner of his lips. It seemed to disappear almost instantly however. She simply shook the image off when the soldier came closer and bent forward to observe her creation.

Garret took a deep breath when he finished studying the iced reindeer, sharply nodded and shut his eyes. Putting his hands together, he quite oddly looked like a monk diligently praying to his deity. Nothing happened for a few moments, even though his concentration visibly grew in intensity with each passing second. He sighed deeply, keeping his eyelids sealed.

"I'll try again," he said, once again not awaiting her reaction.

For whatever reason, Elsa's heart started beating a tiny bit faster seeing his shoulders tense up and brows furrow, and she could swear a streak of platinum surged and pulsed through a few strands of his crimson hair. She heard a very faint hum coming from his direction, ebullient and vibrant not unlike the soft melody he had crooned when emerging from the debts of unconsciousness. She got the distinct impression that his eyes burned blue for a fraction of a second when he opened them again before coming back to their usual light green. In the end, however, Garret released a long groan that made his entire chest heave. The task had proven too hard for him still.

Oh. Too bad.

Elsa's first instinct was to appease him. "It's okay, Garret. I-I am already happy with what you achieved. You have a good grasp of—"

She let her unsaid words fly back to whatever part of her mind they had originated from when he slowly opened his hands for her. There, among the light calluses and small scars, she could discern a minuscule statue, very rough and bumpy. Alert ears, a long snout, four little paws, and even a tail. A wolf.

Her face adorned a bright smile as pride started swelling her chest. "You did it! This is amazing, Garret! You di—"

She lifted her eyes up to his face. Elsa was expecting him to be as elated as she was, if not even more.

She hadn't expected to see a single tear slowly rolling on his otherwise unflinching face.

Elsa gently walked closer. "G-Garret?"

As quickly as it had appeared, the frozen wolf disappeared into thin air with a puff of vapor, flying to the heavens as the now frozen teardrop plunged to the ground, shattering into a thousand crystals.

AN: Hope you enjoyed this one! Thanks Grand Paladin and SleepyEnigma for reviewing this chapter!

I know we're at a kinda slower pace for now, but it'll pick up soon enough. If you want to share anything with me, please go ahead!

Now onto the news: It is a possibility I won't be able to update next time - and next time only. Exams are here, and I'd rather make sure that I pass. If I have time, I'll try to release CH 10 on schedule but exams have priority. And if I don't post in 2 weeks, I'll release it in 3 weeks with an extra-long chapter to make up for it - my chapters already went from 4k to 7k words but hey! who's counting. Sorry in advance!

Another small thing, I am moving the update day to Sunday, because it lets me have Saturday to do a final review.

That's it for now. For next chapter's theme, YouTube search "The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond" by Ella Roberts. Hope it gets you excited!

Edit: Little sneaky update. You may have noticed that the fic now has an official cover. It has been created by talented AzimuthZero. He's done an incredible job without asking anything in return, so the least I can do for him -and for you too, honestly- is to recommend you check out his The Ice Within and The Last Arendellian if you want well-crafted badass badassery! The Witching Hour is funny as hell, and It's The Butler also has some badassery, but not from whom you'd expect ;). If you go through here, thanks again, my man!

Peace,

CalAm.