12: SISTER QUEENS

So, the Snow Queen was basically fantastic. And amazing. And brilliant.

And: dang.

Lighting down onto Elsa's balcony, Jack felt the familiar pull of gravity reclaiming its grip on his body, the young queen's weight returning to his arms instead of being carried by the wind. Despite the sudden strain on his muscles, he hesitated as he held her, pausing for a long moment before reluctantly starting to set the young woman down onto her feet.

His breath catching, Jack's heart skipped a beat as the Snow Queen clutched him harder, her eyes squeezed shut as she gingerly felt the wooden planks with her foot. Reassuring herself that they were standing on solid ground, Elsa relaxed slightly, shakily standing up and taking a step back from him.

"I—um," she breathed, nervously pulling her hands down from his neck and looking up into his eyes, "Thank you. Jack."

He opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out. Before he could try again, Elsa pulled in her breath, taking a quick step back from him and turning away.

The balcony door, still unlocked from when they'd left earlier that day, immediately swung open as she pushed it inwards, picking up the edge of her dress and running down the hallway. Silently following her into the art gallery, Jack pulled it shut behind him, already missing the feeling of Elsa's arms around him from the flight.

Reaching up and gingerly rubbing his neck, Jack slowly exhaled, his head still reeling. The Snow Queen believed in him.

The SNOW QUEEN.

And she didn't just believe in him, either—from what it sounded like, the Ice Powers Girl had been actively looking for him her whole life. And the fact that she was completely gorgeous didn't help matters in the least. Despite the fact that he was mentally kicking himself for not checking out Arendelle sooner (like, a couple decades sooner), Jack had to admit, the whole situation was pretty flattering. Somehow, it was even more flattering than the whole Guardian thing, to find out how much this young woman believed in him. Believing in him meant that she could see him, seeing him meant that she could feel him, and feeling him meant that she could touch him, which, by extension, meant that—he could touch her.

A girl.

Oh, man.

Biting his lip at the thought, Jack pulled his hand down from his neck, turning it over and looking at it in wonder.

So that's what dancing felt like.

Starting to walk down the hall in Elsa's art gallery—study—closet—okay, the whatever it was, Jack smiled sheepishly, practically feeling the Ice Powers Girl's cold hand on his arm again. And his hand on her shoulderblade. Just—just holding her, after so many decades of not being able to hold anyone, was just—wow. That was wow.

Not that Jack hadn't tried, before. In the previous March, he'd managed to convince the Tooth Fairy to try waltzing with him, and it had failed almost immediately. In an encounter that could only be described as cringingly awkward at best, dancing with Tooth had lasted for about five seconds, or rather, about four seconds longer that their attempt at a relationship had. Geez. And, speaking of bad ideas…

Jack bit his lip against the memory, sticking his free hand in his pocket and starting to walk down the hall towards the bedroom. After that little experience, he had made a firm resolution that—when it came to stuff like dancing—he would stick to his same species. Like a Nature Spirit. Like a Nature Spirit with ice powers.

Like an Elsa.

Jack smiled dumbly, his heart swelling as he ran his thumb over the edge of his pocket. What insane luck, that North had left them a phonograph. With that ice-ballroom thingy they'd built, getting a phonograph was basically an extended, pre-packaged pickup line. It was almost like North knew about the—

Wait.

Trying to dance with Tooth. North hadn't—he hadn't seen—that. Had he? He—North didn't actually know about—right?

Jack swallowed hard, feeling blood rushing to his cheeks.

Well.

That was embarrassing.

All of a sudden, kicking at the carpet, his toe hit up against something cold. His eyebrows lifting in surprise, he paused, looking down, and what the blizzards…?

Jack Frost crouched down to the carpet, reaching forward and gingerly picking up the delicate, icy high heel. Yep—definitely ice. As he turned it over in his hands, his eyes widening, the moonlight from the window caught the crystalline edges of it, sparkling and gleaming. Throughout the ice, embedded into the sole and top of the shoe itself, the Spirit of Winter could see that there were dozens, if not hundreds, of tiny snow flurries, delicate swirls of frost spiraling throughout the entire piece.

Holy mother of snowflakes.

"Yes. I'll be in here," Elsa was saying in her bedroom, making him jump and look back up. "Yes, please find Queen Anna at once!"

Straightening up and still holding the shoe, Jack walked forward, passing the desk and finally pausing in front of the doorframe, looking into the next room. Having kicked off her other high heel, which was now lying on the carpet over by her bed, the Fifth Spirit of the Enchanted Forest was frantically running back and forth, throwing her bedroom back into its previous state. The shattered bars of the jail cell were gone, as well as the ice-blasted statue of the Councilman, as she sprinted for the chair that was pulled out into the middle of the room. Jack watched as she shoved the chair towards the wall, raising his eyebrows as he involuntarily glanced down to the sparkling, icy fabric shifting over Elsa's hips.

Yeeeeeup.

That was definitely a girl.

Definitely, certainly, undoubtedly, and without any question, a specimen of the female persuasio—

"—So, that's okay?"

GAUGH!

The Ice Powers Girl was suddenly standing right in front of him, expectantly gazing into his face. Jack snapped back into focus.

"Um—sorry?" he blurted.

"I was asking if you wouldn't mind staying in here for a couple minutes," Elsa said quickly. "My sister will be here any moment, and she'll want to speak to m—"

Elsa's voice trailed off as she looked down, suddenly noticing the shoe in his hand.

His mouth falling slightly open, Jack looked to the high heel. Drawing himself up and clearing his throat, he then looked back into her eyes.

"I found your shoe," he informed her.

Elsa stared.

After a few moments, Jack shifted on his feet, gently tossing it to himself and then holding it out to her.

"I'm pretty sure it won't fit me," Jack added.

"Oh! Um…"

Elsa blushed, snatching the heel out of his hand and backing up into her room again. She nervously looked back towards her bedroom door, and then to the shoe, awkwardly whapping its sole against her opposite palm a few times before meeting his eyes again.

"I—my sister—"

"—I can meet her, right?" Jack asked.

"Sure. But—"

There was a knock at the bedroom door. Elsa's eyes bulged, and she jolted, spinning around. The knock came again, and Jack watched as the Ice Powers Girl stumbled back a step, shakily placing the crystalline high heel on her dresser.

"She's here!" Elsa gasped, "I—I'm sorry, I have to—I have to go."

Jack raised his eyebrows, moving out of the way as Elsa lunged into the art gallery for the door. Missing the handle, and then catching it, she collapsed onto the brass knob, blushing and looking to him.

"I," she squeaked, "Um—would you please excuse me for a moment?"

She shot him a nervous smile, starting to pull the door shut as she backed into her bedroom. Jack leapt forward, catching it with the hook of his staff.

"But you said I could meet your sister," he protested.

"Yes, but—I mean—okay, can I explain later?" she choked, moving his staff to the side and starting to pull the door closed between them again.

"But Elsa, I—"

"Can we just—"

"Uh—"

"Maybe—"

"I—"

"—Please stay here."

"Wait, what?"

Click.

And Jack Frost suddenly found himself staring at the door between Elsa's bedroom and art gallery.

He blinked.

Right.

Crouching down in front of the door, Jack peered into the keyhole. A tiny grin twitching out of the side of his mouth, he shook his head, pulling in a deep breath.

You and these PITIFUL old-fashioned locks, Snowflake.

.

.

Creeeeeak!

Light suddenly poured in from the hallway, and Elsa startled, spinning around and sucking her breath in through her teeth as she collapsed against the door handle.

"AAAAAAAAAH-Nnaaaaaaa!" she squealed, the exclamation a near-frenzied shriek as her voice slid into a deafeningly high register, "AH HA HA, eh, Hiiiii! I—"

"—Have been looking ALL OVER for you!"

Feeling heat rushing to her face, Elsa let out a nervous laugh as she shakily pushed herself away from the brass knob, glancing back towards it. Queen Anna lurched forward into the room, and Elsa jumped, instinctively leaping forward.

"Are you alright?" Elsa gasped.

Anna laughed good-naturedly, rocking back unsteadily onto her heels and patting her enormously pregnant stomach. "I'm fine. Now that you've magically materialized back in the castle?"

"And I'm so sorry about that," Elsa choked, "I—I completely forgot, and—"

"—Elsa, it's okay," she giggled. "I just want to know where you've been, you stinker!"

Elsa's mouth fell slightly open, and she glanced back towards the art gallery.

Deciding against it, she quickly shook her head. "I just—uh," Elsa lied, staring at the floor, "I went for a walk."

Queen Anna raised her eyebrows, and Elsa felt her heart leap into her throat. Fighting back the heat rushing to her face and trying to appear as casual as possible, Elsa gave her sister the best rendition of the Queen Face that she could muster.

"A… walk," Anna repeated glassily.

"Yes. A walk. Can I get you a chair?"

"You were gone for five hours!"

Elsa bit her lip.

"It—was a long walk," she choked.

Elsa quickly turned away, struggling to keep her breathing even as she paced to the chair, reaching for it and starting to drag it back as if it hadn't been in the center of the room mere moments before. Stepping back from it, she forced a smile again as Anna's eyes narrowed, studying her face.

The problem with the Queen Face: Elsa's sister was now also a queen.

"You know…" Anna started carefully, clearly recognizing the expression which she herself employed on a regular basis, "I'd assumed that you just went back to check on the Spirits. But if that's not where you were…?"

"The Spirits! Yes. That's—um, that's definitely where I was."

"Is there a reason that you didn't just send Gale, then? To tell me?"

Elsa gulped. "I—uh," she whispered, "I—should have done that. Right. I'm sorry."

Queen Anna's eyes narrowed a fraction more.

After a few moments, realizing that she wasn't going to get any more information out of her sister, Anna sighed, smiling weakly as Elsa gestured to the seat. As she stumbled over to the chair and sat down, Elsa let out her breath, turning and walking over to the dresser and picking up a small dish. "Chocolate?" she offered.

"Oh, yes, please!"

Elsa's heart swelled, seeing her little sister's face light up as she snatched a truffle out of the dish, popping it into her mouth. Taking the dish back and replacing it on her dresser—Elsa mostly kept it there for Anna—she heard her sister clear her throat.

"So," Anna started again, settling back into the chair and changing the subject as Elsa walked back over to her, swirling another chair into existence across from it, "How'd it go?"

"How'd what go?"

"Oh, come on. Your meeting?" Queen Anna prodded, "You're only been getting this reform ready since forever! You were able to get the housing project approved, right?"

Elsa froze.

"Oh. Um…"

She shakily sat down in the icy chair, her capelet sweeping out around its base. Looking down and fidgeting with her fingers, she pulled in a deep breath.

"It—um," Elsa choked softly, "It—it wasn't about the housing project."

Anna's eyes widened. Quickly closing her own and fighting against the color rising to her face, Elsa bit down hard on her lip again as she felt the air around her suddenly getting colder.

Conceal!

"What happened?" Anna breathed.

"Anna, it's fine—"

"—No," she prodded, "You're not. Elsa, what's going on?"

"Nothing is!"

"Please don't shut me out."

Elsa abruptly sucked in her breath, clasping her hands tightly in her lap. Reluctantly opening her eyes, she looked up, realizing why her sister was staring at her with such intent concern.

It was snowing.

Elsa's heart sank, and she pressed her lips together, seeing the delicate flurries materializing out of the air around her. No point in trying to hide it now.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Elsa pulled in a long, deep breath.

"TheCouncilWantsAKing," she blurted.

A look of confusion swept over Anna's face. "Wait, what?"

"A king." Elsa shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "The Council. They want me to get married. They want a king."

"A king?" Anna repeated, "But they've got you! What do they need a king for? I mean, even if Kristoff wanted to take over, he still thinks you should be the one in charge during my leave."

"I—well, I mean they didn't actually say it that way," Elsa stammered, blinking frantically as her eyes started stinging, "B-But they—they want to get rid of me. Basically. They said that I need to be seeing suitors, and s-something about p-producing an heir, and—"

"—Producing an heir!?" Anna sputtered.

"Yeah."

Elsa nodded weakly, her face pale as she looked down, staring determinately into her lap. Her sister's expression hardened.

"And this heir doesn't count… because why?" the pregnant queen gritted, pointing to her stomach.

The Fifth Spirit swallowed hard, looking up into her sister's eyes as the reasons—the real reasons—swirled in her mind.

Because you married a commoner, and they think this makes you a failure.

Because they don't think Kristoff, nor his children, are worthy of the crown.

Because they think that your entire job as queen was to make a politically-savvy match, be a pretty figurehead, and let them keep running the kingdom, because that's apparently all we queens are good for.

Pulling in her breath, Elsa closed her eyes, trying to figure out how to spare her sister from the worst of the truth.

"They don't think you're coming back," Elsa decided, her voice barely louder than a whisper. "They just believe that your leave is indefinite. And they don't believe that I'm the Fifth Spirit, either—I'm pretty sure that they've decided I'm crazy. So, they want me to locate and marry myself a replacement, so that I can be tucked away and never bother them or go to the Forest again."

As she spoke, Elsa watched as Anna's expression turned from anger—to fury—to shock—and finally, to sadness, as the last phrase fell out of Elsa's mouth. Her facial features softening into empathy, Queen Anna shifted in her seat.

"Oh, Elsa…" she breathed. "I am so sorry."

The flurries were slowing again, the feeling of pressure releasing. Letting out her breath, Elsa sighed.

"They've already invited the suitors," Elsa choked. "The first comes tomorrow, apparently."

Anna jolted, her eyes bulging in horror as Elsa miserably looked back down, beginning to fidget with her fingers again.

"Already invited them?!" Anna gasped. "Without your permission?"

Elsa nodded.

"Oh!"

Shifting on the chair, Queen Anna pressed her lips together in fury. "Well, I just—I—oh!" she gritted, "How—how dare those—!"

"—Anna, don't stress yourself out," Elsa begged, "Think of the baby—"

"—The baby is fine. I just wanna go punch whoever thought of that one, that—that—!"

The pregnant young queen paused, trying to decide on an insult.

"I believe that the phrase that you're looking for," laughed a deep voice, "Is, chauvinistic pig."

Elsa jolted, snapping her head up and sharply sucking in her breath. Jack Frost was casually leaning against the back of Anna's chair, his staff resting on his shoulder.

"That—jerk," Anna said resolutely.

Jack shrugged. "I still like mine better," he chuckled, grinning up into Elsa's eyes. "So, this is your sister?"

Elsa was speechless, her mouth hanging open in shock.

Seeing her expression, Anna twisted around, looking blankly through the space behind her chair. "What? What is it?" she asked, staring straight through where Jack was standing, "What are you staring at?"

Elsa jumped, jolting back into focus. "Oh! I—it just—yes. Jerk," she said coldly, glaring directly into his eyes. "I completely agree with you. He is definitely a JERK."

Jack grinned.

"Is it my hair?" Anna whimpered, anxiously reaching up to the royal twist beneath her crown, "Kristoff says it looks exactly the same as it always has, but I think it's getting frizzier, and—"

"—Your hair is beautiful," Elsa said quickly, "I—!"

"You really need to update the locks around here, Snowflake," Jack chuckled. "I mean, at least hire a yeti, or something. It's like you'll let about just any old riff-raff into this place."

"Anna, can you please excuse me for a minute?" Elsa choked, rising from the chair.

Before Queen Anna could respond, Elsa was briskly pacing across the bedroom to her art gallery door. Jack followed, silently joining her as she pulled it shut behind them with a click, checking the brass knob to make sure it was in place.

Turning and pacing a few feet down into the hallway and away from the door, Elsa bit her lip. Passing the desk, with Jack Frost following closely behind, she pulled in her breath, and—

"What—are you doing!?" Elsa hissed, whirling around to face him, "I told you to stay here!"

"No, you asked me to stay here. And I never said I would."

"But—"

"—You said I could meet your sister!" he protested.

"Nooooo, I didn't mean right now!" Elsa moaned. "Everybody thinks I'm going crazy already! Do you have any idea how the nobility has treated me since the last reform? Why are you so desperate to meet her, anyway?"

He let out a bitter laugh. "Isn't she your closest kin?"

"Well—yes!"

"And, I'm interested in you?"

A look of confusion swept over Elsa's face.

Shifting his fingers on the staff and taking a step towards her, Jack scoffed softly, shaking his head. "Look," he admitted, "I know you've never really—done this—before. And neither have I, but I think I kind of need her permission before—"

"—Wait," Elsa interrupted, "You need my family's permission before you can be friends with me?"

Jack's mouth fell open.

After a few moments, he closed it, clearing his throat and pulling in a deep breath.

"Um—right," he choked carefully. "I would like Queen Anna's permission to pursue a—friendship—with you."

"But—!"

Elsa crossed her arms over her chest, taking a step back. She hadn't really realized that friendship required that, but—well—well, she still felt pretty new to the whole "friendship" thing, so—

"Okay. I'll introduce you," she sighed in defeat. "I just don't see why she even has to know you're here. Yet, at least."

"What?"

"Why can't this just be a secret?"

"Oh, I dunno," he snapped, "Maybe because I don't like feeling like a total creeper?"

"How are you even so sure that she'll believe?"

"If you introduce me, she will."

"But—"

"—Because I can usually tell."

"You've known me one day, Frost—"

"—Elsa?" a voice quavered.

They spun around. Queen Anna was standing in the doorway, staring.

"Um…" Anna's voice trailed off. "Who… are you talking to?"

Elsa's face went pale.

"Talking? T-Talking to?" she blurted nervously, letting out a frenzied giggle, "AH, ha ha ha, just—myself! Just—talking to myself! Yep!"

"On second thought," Jack drawled, "Don't introduce me. You'll sound crazy. Because this definitely does not sound—OW!"

Recoiling from Elsa's sharp kick, the Spirit of Winter jumped onto his left foot, clutching his ankle in his hands. Although he was still apparently invisible, Elsa strategically stepped in front of him, fighting the blood rushing to her cheeks as the pregnant queen slowly started to walk towards her into the gallery.

"Elsa," she said quietly, "I know you're hiding something from me."

"Yep, and he's standing RIGHT here—!" Jack leapt out of the way as Elsa swung out her foot to kick him again.

"Hiding? Wha-What would I be hiding?" Elsa stammered.

"Your art project from earlier today is gone," Anna tried again, creeping cautiously towards her sister, "And then you disappeared for five hours. And now, you're acting…" she stopped, wincing. "Um… weird?"

Biting her lip again, Elsa drew herself up.

"Anna. I'm fine," Elsa choked, struggling to control her voice. "I'm just a little stressed, that's all. I'm stressed about the Council, but I can assure you, apart from that, everything is perfectly normaAAAAUGH!"

Something hard suddenly slammed into the back of her knees, and Elsa shrieked as she reeled backwards, being caught just before she hit and shooting upwards towards the vaulted ceiling. Realizing that she was suddenly hovering fifteen feet over her sister's head, Elsa squeaked, throwing her arms around his neck in terror.

"You were worried that she wouldn't believe, right?" Jack asked eagerly, gently tossed her in his arms. "This ought to convince her that I exist, don't you think?"

"ELSAAAAAAAAAAA!" Anna screamed.

"Jack! ME!" Elsa stammered, her eyes bulging with fear as she stared desperately into his face, "Floor! NOW!"

"Will you just tell her already?"

The pregnant queen was jumping up and down below them, wringing her hands with terror. "WHAT ARE YOU NOT TELLING ME?! HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT IN THE AIR?! THAT'S NOT HOW GALE WORKS; THAT LOOKS NOTHING LIKE HOW GALE—"

"ANNATHISISJACKFROST!" Elsa blurted.

Queen Anna abruptly stopped, gasping for breath and staring, dumbfounded, at her sister, who seemed to be floating independently in the air far above her head. A look of genuine confusion swept over her features.

"Wait… what?" Anna squeaked.

Elsa took a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Jack," she choked, "This is my sister, Queen Anna of Arendelle. Um, Anna…" She took another breath, clinging him tighter as he readjusted his grip on the staff, "This… this is Jack Frost."

"Jack Fr…?" Anna's eyes suddenly widened, and she stumbled backwards a step in shock as he slowly floated towards the ground, placing Elsa back on her feet.

"Mother of North," Jack breathed, "That didn't scare you so much last time, Snowflake."

"You didn't just grab me last time!"

"J-Jack… Jack Frost?" Anna gasped as they turned back to face her.

Jack smiled sheepishly, shrugging and tossing his staff into his other hand. Anna's jaw dropped, her eyes wide, as she stared blankly into space at him.

"Gorgeous," she breathed.

Jack grinned, raising his eyebrows at Elsa. She blushed, and he turned back to the pregnant young queen.

"Elsa was a bit reluctant to have me meet you," he explained, "But I wanted to have your permission before trying to pursue—uh—"

His voice trailed off. After a moment of hesitation, Jack Frost sucked in his breath.

"Uh—a friendship," he finished carefully. "I would like permission to pursue a—friendship—with your sister. Your majesty."

He did a quick bow and then looked up pleadingly, staring at her through his eyelashes. Biting his lip, his eyes slid in Elsa's direction, and then back into Anna's.

"Per-permission…?" Queen Anna asked dazedly. Then, her eyes snapping back into focus, she gasped. "YES! Yes, of course you have my permission!"

Jack let out his breath as the redhead wheeled around to her sister, who was now gripping the edge of the desk so hard that her knuckles were turning white.

Conceal!

"ElsaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAA…?" Anna whined excitedly.

"Anna," she choked, gripping the desk harder, "Calm down—"

"—Are you really Jack Frost?" Queen Anna bubbled, spinning back around to Jack, "Can you—like—wait, are you making it snow?!" she gasped, "ELSA! Look! He's making it snow!"

Elsa snapped her head up, looking back to them. Glancing upwards into the air, she realized that her sister was right—it was, indeed, snowing.

Around her.

Elsa felt blood rising to her face.

Grinning, Jack let the staff fall onto his shoulder, shaking his head. "Sorry, your highness," he chuckled under his breath, "But I—uh, I can't take credit for this one."

Slowly pulling in her breath, Elsa turned all the way around to face them, shakily pushing herself off the desk.

"Anna," she squeaked carefully, "Can we… um…?"

Without saying another word, the Fifth Spirit folded her arms over her chest, hunching her shoulders forward and turning to walk towards the bedroom, gesturing for her sister to follow. Lurching through the door in front of her, Elsa bit her lip, pulling it shut and stepping into her bedroom as the two queens left the Spirit of Winter standing alone in the art gallery behind them.