Elsa noticed the immediate change in the room as everyone instantly wrapped their arms around their bodies and commented on the sudden chill. She had to act fast, suppressing the fury of emotion that had so abruptly tightened its grip on her heart.

Love for her sister had healed Arendelle in the first place, thus, Elsa attempted to channel that particular emotion and remedy her current situation.

Yet, it did not work. In fact, Elsa found herself spiraling further and further out of control. The more she allowed herself to think of Anna and the bond they shared, the angrier and more frustrated she became, images of Kristoff fueling the outburst.

Calm. Calm. Calm. Calm.

He looked at her. Held her. Kissed her. Loved her, possibly!

Conceal. Conceal. Conceal. Conceal.

Why was she so angry? Why was the jealousy so intense this time? It hurt. It hurt too much. Why wasn't it stopping? It always stopped! But this time…! This time…!

'Elsa!' Anna's voice snapped Elsa back, and the cold flash disappeared, Elsa's normality stationed comfortably within her mind once again. She brought herself back to reality. Her mental prison was just that. She couldn't allow it to trap her anymore.

'…Yes?'

'You went to La-La Land again.' Anna laughed, Kristoff's hand on her shoulder as he also chuckled along. Elsa didn't want to stare. She didn't want to fixate on such a natural display of familiarity and affection, but she couldn't help it. Her eyes flickered back and forth, and her chest tightened horribly.

'Makes sense though. How goes the selections? Can't say I'm exactly jealous of you right now.' Kristoff went on.

'Does La-La Land have tasty treats?' Olaf asked sweetly. It almost soothed Elsa's festering anxiety. Almost.

'It…has been narrowed down, thanks to Anna's help.' Elsa forced the words out, her mouth feeling heavy and awkward.

'Yeah? That's good. Any of them really strike you as winners?'

'How far is La-La Land?' Olaf whispered to Anna.

'There are a couple who seem qualified enough, but it is hard to say at the moment. The ball will hopefully make it all easier to decide.'

'That's great! Anna's been stressing over this since it was first brought up, so I'm glad it's finally in the works and all.'

'Shhh!' Anna whirled, pressing her index to her mouth. 'She doesn't have to know that!'

'Really? My bad.'

'How does a ball decide who you're going to marry? Don't you just play with it? Oh! You're gonna play "Hot Potato", aren't you?' Olaf popped over to Elsa, his round, black eyes sincerely inquisitive. There was something about the mysterious being that helped Elsa's nerves, and she was thankful for that since she found them slipping by the second.

'No, Olaf.' Elsa smiled, but it hurt. 'In this case, a ball means a dance or social gathering of sorts.'

'Ohhhh! Fancy!'

'It will be.'

A loud snort could be heard outside, and Kristoff started, becoming fidgety as the other guests looked about questioningly.

'I'm coming, Sven! Just be patient!' He changed his voice goofily. 'But I'm lonely!'

'Silly Sven. Guess Uncle Olaf is gonna have to keep you company, huh? Bye-bye, friends! See you in a minute or two, or three or four; whatever happens!'

Olaf slushed across the restaurant, his little cloud of condensed winter keeping him cool and alive. He waved to the owner of the little eatery, and the large man returned the gesture with enthusiasm.

'So, I don't want to rush you or anything, Anna, but we should probably get going if you want to catch the lights.'

'Oh! Oh, right! I totally forgot! Yes! Yes, yes!'

'What…is happening?' Elsa inquired, her chest aching more.

'I found a really nice spot in the mountains nearby that lets you see a collection of aurora lights. They form only on clear nights, and my family says there's a heavy dose of magic in that area from a long time ago. They think their ancestors had something to do with it, but it's hard to say. Anyway, I thought Anna and I could check it out.'

A beat.

'Did you want to come too, Elsa?' Kristoff asked kindly. It almost felt patronizing somehow, and Elsa's instinctual reaction was to deny the offer. She was about to do so too when Anna became even more excited, bouncing in her seat and leaning forward spastically.

'Oh! That's an awesome idea! You should definitely, definitely come!'

Elsa wanted to. She really did. But she couldn't imagine coming between Anna and Kristoff's date. Kristoff was a good and kind man. He invited Elsa out of obligation. If Elsa did go along, she would feel awkward. Like a third wheel. Like an outsider.

But why?

It wouldn't be the first time she had been with her sister and Kristoff out and about. What had changed? It didn't make sense. This pain was confusing. Elsa needed to be alone. That's all there was to it. Unless she could be with Anna only, she had no desire in interrupting her sister's romantic endeavours.

'Are you okay, Elsa?' Anna asked, discerning of her older sibling's subtle facial expressions.

'I am.' Elsa managed, honing her developing ability to remain stoic enough in the face of emotional turmoil. 'I wish I could join the both of you, but I doubt Leonard would be pleased, and I personally don't want to shirk my duties at the moment. I need to submit my selections so that the next phase of this process can get underway.'

'Oh.' Anna's smile flickered, her eyes shifting in disappointment.

Elsa felt a blow to her stomach. Was it the fact she had neglected Anna for so long that made letting her down all the more difficult? Was that why it continued to hurt so? Elsa searched Kristoff for any sign of relief at her dismissal of the couple's offer. She evaluated him as long as possible in an attempt to find a reason to validate her need to turn him down.

But there was nothing.

The man was honest through and through. He sincerely had no issue with Elsa coming along, and for some reason, that only worsened Elsa's seemingly baseless unease. She felt her eyes burning, and knew it was absolutely time to go. She knew this feeling too well. As a little girl, through her teens and into her young adulthood, the tears were all too frequent. Curled up next to her room's door as Anna begged for her to come out and play all Elsa could do…was cry.

'I'm sorry. Thank-you for the invitation, but this is a difficult time. I have too many responsibilities at the moment.' Elsa stood up, placing money, including a generous tip, upon the table. Her features softened slightly as she addressed her sister. 'Let me know how it is, Anna. I should really get back to the palace. I am being a poor host by hiding from any kind of interaction with my suitors.'

'…Okay, Elsa. I'll…uh…see you tomorrow?'

'I should hope so.' The queen gave a small nod, feeling the gazes of her citizens observing her every move. It was suffocating, but she was learning to adapt. 'Take care of her, Kristoff.'

'Always do.' The man smiled.

Elsa could imagine why Anna liked the individual. He was confident but not cocky, strong but gentle, somewhat oblivious but also attentive. Elsa didn't find him attractive, by any means, but he was a good person, and that had to mean something to her. Why couldn't she release the storm brewing in her soul, then? Why would it be so easy to release her magic in a maelstrom of frustration? She was being emotional. It had always been her problem. It would always be her problem.

'Good evening.'

'Bye, Elsa.'

'Good luck!'

Elsa pressed her hands to her chest and exited the restaurant. She wanted to run, but she also didn't want to draw further attention to herself. Olaf and Sven both perked up at the sudden appearance of the queen, Olaf bouncing a bit while Sven grunted excitedly.

'Are you going to La-La Land now? Can I come?' Olaf remained fixated, and it could have been annoying if not for his perfectly innocent delivery of any ridiculous lines he managed to produce. To think that Elsa created such a being always perplexed the young woman.

'I am not. I'm sorry.'

'Oh. Too bad. But hey! You comin' to see the light show? Kristoff's mommy and daddy are going to be there!'

Sven huffed, stepping in closer to Elsa enthusiastically. Part of the queen softened to the innocent displays of affection, but the pulsating agony within continued to swell, and she stepped back slowly, shaking her head with as much remorse as she could muster.

'I'm sorry. Not tonight.'

'Gotcha! Time to be a queen, right?' Olaf took it surprisingly well. Sven, on the other hand, lowered his head quite dramatically.

'Yes. Thank-you for understanding. I'm sorry, Sven.'

'I am a pretty understanding guy, aren't I?'

Elsa bid the odd pair farewell and dealt with the other townsfolk that had enough courage to approach the lone queen. Without Anna, however, there was an obvious decline in the number of people who called out to Elsa. She was thankful for that fact, but it also made her queasy, resurfacing anxiety she didn't wish to contend with in the moment.

When she passed by smaller alleyways, part of Elsa rejoiced, replaying the surprisingly intimate conversation she had enjoyed with her sister hardly an hour or so ago. Yes, it had escalated into a near-bicker, but Elsa valued the ability to get to that point with her sibling as well. She had to wear a face all day every day for the sake of everyone around her, but with Anna, there was no need, and Elsa loved the freedom.

Was any of her suitors capable of making her feel even a fraction of what she experienced when she was with Anna? It didn't seem likely, but Elsa also had little desire to even give them the chance. Why was she so reluctant? Why was she so disinterested? Any book that Elsa read, or any conversation she heard regarding romance amongst her maids, treated love for women as the pinnacle of accomplishment. She loved adventure stories, but questioned the lack of female heroes, the few that did star the "gentler" sex as warriors so rare it was disheartening to Elsa, who connected with them so much more than the damsel in distress that Anna had always cooed over.

All the females in Elsa's life, save for Anna, were vocally envious of her opportunity to handpick from a near-dozen batch of appealing male suitors. They were all rich, contemporarily attractive physically, and generally charming to a degree. Elsa thought for certain she would experience the spark of love that had been given so much attention throughout the entirety of her life. She thought it would just…happen someday.

But there was nothing. And that worried Elsa.

The queen was already viewed as abnormal in various capacities. She couldn't let anyone know that she had never – not once – found a man romantically alluring. Granted, she was never actively seeking out such companionship, but wasn't it a natural occurrence regardless? Should something have stirred her heart by now? Was it incorrect to be concerned?

Elsa entered her palace, her mind abuzz with conflict, and she almost failed to greet her guards. As expected, Leonard was waiting near the entrance, and while Elsa wouldn't have been shocked to see him assembling a small team to remind Elsa that she was needed at the palace, she was taken aback by the sight of her attendant engaged in an apparently riveting conversation with Leon's personal aide, Grimoire.

'Ah! Queen Elsa. I was prepared to remind you of your need to make the necessary selections by later this evening, but I am glad to see you have rendered that particular order unnecessary. Grimoire here happened to be on his way to his lord's chambers when our paths crossed. He has quite the stories regarding Sir Leon.'

'Now, now, Leonard. You promised.' Grimoire sighed, his voice more of a hiss than a normal pitch. He was an interesting but dark looking individual, his black-as-night long, wavy hair reaching just below his pointed chin in the front. He almost had as much royal presence as his master; he was even taller. As Elsa drew closer, she noticed, for the first time, that the man had piercingly grey eyes, which should've been beautiful but were, instead, frightening.

'I can only imagine.' Elsa responded, although she doubted she was terribly convincing.

Grimoire lifted his chin a bit, easily looking down on Elsa for a split second prior to bowing low.

'My master has been on edge since the interview. You should know that he is quite smitten with you. Queen Marisol thought to tease the poor boy by sending him, his arrogance disallowing him the thought he might sincerely find the Queen of Arendelle a worthy chase.'

'Thank-you, but you are not playing fairly, Grimoire.' Elsa levelled her voice.

'Pardon me, my queen. You are correct, of course.'

Elsa could see Leonard smiling in the corner of her eye. He was proud of her. It was a small victory.

'Might I ask, however, if you have had the chance to look at the gift Lord Leon selected for you? It is quite the antique, we were told.'

'Not yet. I am going to my room now, and will probably be settling soon, so I will likely see it then. I didn't want my decision being swayed by material things.'

'A wise course of action.' Grimoire nodded slowly.

'Well,' Leonard clapped his hands. 'It was a pleasure, Grimoire. I hope we have the chance to speak again.'

'I hope so as well. Goodnight, good friend. Sleep tight, Queen Elsa.'

'And you as well. Give my regards to Lord Leon.'

'He'll be overjoyed.' Grimoire muttered, his voice as raspy and deep as ever. The brooding man made his departure, and Elsa turned, knowing Leonard would follow. The sun was nearly set, and the lanterns about the castle were already being lit in tandem. Elsa listened to the sound of her shoes clacking against the floor's carpet, contacting the hard stone beneath even through the material.

'I trust you have made your decisions?'

Elsa handed the sheet to her attendant, her head still throbbing, but the promise of her private chamber so close. She attempted not to walk too quickly.

'Ah. Very good. I also agree with your selections.' The gruff man chuckled. 'How was your time with your sister, Queen Elsa? I know you haven't had much occasion for her as of late. These have been busy days.'

Elsa appreciated that Leonard was even asking. When he first became her attendant, the battle-hardened individual was awkward when it came to interpersonal relations. It was an area of opportunity that Elsa made clear to the man. Since that conversation, he has been actively improving upon himself to care more about other people's emotions. Unfortunately, at the very moment, Elsa wished he hadn't bothered. It was picking at her wound.

'Fine. It was good.'

'…I understand.' Leonard truly did, for he pressed for no other piece of information. He was always perceptive of the rhetoric behind words. He just didn't know how to respond every time; primarily when the hidden meanings were matters of the heart.

As Elsa and her attendant rounded a final corner and traversed down a principally familiar hallway, Elsa breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that Gerda was at ready just outside her door.

'I will process the names and take care of the rest, my queen. I thank you for all your hard work today.'

'I should be thanking you, Leonard. I appreciate your efforts.'

Leonard waved off the gratitude, glanced from side to side, and then leaned in just so.

'You…are still committed to this venture, my queen?'

'I am.' Elsa answered quickly, thinking of Anna and Kristoff for but an instant.

Leonard raised a brow, but resumed his perfect stand, clicking his heels together and bowing low.

'Take care of all the queen's needs, Gerda. She deserves the best of treatment tonight.' The man practically ordered.

'Y-yes!' Gerda stammered.

At that, Leonard gave Elsa one last, knowing glance, and then was on his way, mumbling something to one of the guards at the mouth of the hall.

Elsa allowed Gerda to get her door, and finally relaxed every muscle in her body at the sound of her barricade from the outside world being latched shut. She took off her handbag and was about to dismiss Gerda altogether when the maid began fussing with her clothes, undoing the various strings and wraps that held Elsa's rather ornate dress in place. The girl had soft and pleasing hands, the way they tickled various parts of Elsa's body making her shiver in a different way than Laura or any of the other maids managed.

'I'm sorry, my queen. I don't mean to irritate you.' Gerda apologized, stripping Elsa to her thin, white undergarment that consisted of an attractive dress that reached just above her knees. The bondage had been released, and Elsa could finally smile, the sight of her little snowgies alerted by their creator's presence soothing to the young woman.

'It hardly bothers me.' Elsa turned her face, not realizing Gerda's was right next to her own, their noses brushing against one another's causing both girls to flinch back in overcompensation. Elsa's heart hammered against her chest at a mile a minute, her blood notably speeding through her veins. The reaction was intense, and it took the queen a solid moment to come to terms with her response.

'S-sorry! I'm so sorry! I should've…'

Elsa lifted a hand, breathing harshly and still trying to focus. She blinked through the haze, taking in Gerda's smaller form and the way her uniform hugged her modest curves just slightly. Her eyes were drawn in a way they hadn't been throughout the entirety of every single interview. Something stirred within that Elsa instinctively knew was precisely what she felt was missing during all interactions with her suitors: physical attraction.

Then, the fear came.

'You should go…' Elsa wheezed, even her snowgies unsure whether or not they should move.

'I'm sorry?' Gerda said again, her tone even higher.

'I-I'm not angry.' Elsa needed to reassure her. 'I…I'm just very, very tired. I'll see you tomorrow.'

'…Yes, my queen.' Gerda gave a curtsy that did little to help Elsa's progressing revelation. When the door closed behind her, Elsa stumbled to the handle and ensured it was locked before she collapsed onto her bed, the multiple, flickering lights from her candles casting elusive shadows upon the ceiling to which she stared. Her heart still hadn't slowed.

'Don't feel. Don't feel. Don't feel. Don't feel!' Elsa whispered over and over again, her snowgies snuggling into her body in an attempt to comfort the erratic queen. 'I don't want to feel this. I can't feel this. Why? Why? Why?' Elsa's eyes hurt, the tears hardening in her lids forcing her to scrape them off with minor doses of agony, the shards of ice scratching her fair skin. 'It can't be right. I…!'

Elsa pushed up from her bed, scooping the collection of little snowgies into her hands and trying to forget what was happening in her body. The miniature snowmen couldn't be fooled, however, and they merely stared back in hesitation before Elsa gently replaced in their spacious bowl. She then pushed her hands through her hair and moaned, clamping her mouth shut so the pain wouldn't escape into reality. Elsa then haphazardly went to her gifts; the same gifts Gerda had organized so wonderfully earlier in the day.

Had it really been the same day? How long some hours could fumble about.

Flowers, jewellery, treats, cosmetics, soaps, dresses, and a very exquisite sword. Nothing stood out too terribly, except for perhaps the decorative weapon, and thus, Elsa's mind refused to release her from the forming truth. Finally, Elsa gripped at a glorious piece of cloth that concealed the largest gift that Gerda had expressed interest in initially. She pulled the blanket back, and was startled by the exposure of the most beautiful, full-body mirror she had ever seen.

'How unique…' Elsa mused, feeling a tug on her curiosity and latching onto any form of distraction. She looked at her reflection, a dishevelled woman barely clothed and appearing sleep deprived. Elsa rubbed her eyes, stepping closer to the other world, and stared deep into her perplexed gaze.

'You do not have such a preference.' She told herself. 'The queen of Arendelle cannot possibly have that form of taste. It's bad enough she possesses "witch's" powers. She cannot also be so socially and romantically deviant. It was a coincidence. I do not find my…my own form fascinating!'

Elsa waited for a response, but knew it would only come if she deemed it necessary. She blinked long and hard, allowing the cooling of her body's temperature to come and go. When she opened her eyes, all but one candle had been snuffed, and when Elsa chanced a look at her reflection once more, a sneering twin sister froze her in place, the doppelganger allowing the straps of her dress to slip down her milky-white shoulders.