A/N: Apologies for yet another delay after a flurry of updates. Much more will come, but I cannot promise that it will come quickly. I hope you enjoy what little there is today.

~Six Months Earlier~

Elsa rubs at her aching temple. She's read the same paragraph over a dozen times by this point, and she's getting nowhere fast. Tax law can be so fascinating when one is in the mood for such minutiae, but at this very moment, her mind is far below her in the dark, craggy-walled dungeons of Arendelle's castle.

Anna is tossing and turning each night, suffering every day, and now she lies in a fevered state, frail and wan, because of him.

Don't let yourself off so lightly...

She pushes the thought aside and refocuses. She needs this poison. Hatred is so much less painful than guilt.

He has been their prisoner for close to a full month by now. With all the chaos surrounding Anna's injury, it's astonishing that the man didn't manage to escape. Well, his wounds were quite critical… Elsa's smile is bitter - almost feral.

The political realities that forced her to see that he had proper medical treatment leave her feeling trapped even now. She is not foolish enough to believe that this man… this cretin acted on his own. His methods may have been improvised and cursed with his own personal flair, but there is little doubt that he was carrying out the will - explicit or not - of his kingdom's throne.

With this calculus in mind, Elsa decided quite early on that any action taken on her kingdom's part in terms of enacting justice - anything beyond imprisonment for the purposes of detainment - would be met with accusations of provocation as well as calls for retribution against her and her people.

Against Anna.

With a shuddering breath, Elsa stands from her chair, arms outstretched and hands splayed onto the desk in front of her. Frost coats the wooden surface with an alarming quickness and the sound soothes her as she stands there, eyes fluttering closed.

This is not fear. This is anger. And she's allowing herself the luxury of its comforting catharsis.

This is absurd. I am the Queen of the Kingdom of Arendelle! It is my sovereign duty to protect this nation against-

She sighs. It does not matter. She has gone over this argument with her advisors countless times, and in her own head many, many more. No matter from which angle she approaches the problem, the end result is the same. Hans of the Southern Isles will return to his kingdom as a free man.

In her terse correspondences with the island kingdom, she had been assured that Hans would answer to the king himself upon his arrival, and that 'this attack on the sovereignty of a peaceful nation would not go unpunished.' These empty promises held no weight. No concrete actions were detailed. Just diplomatic lip-service meant to console a poor, naive queen.

Hans's signed, written confession had detailed his plot and the methods he employed in his attempt to usurp the throne of Arendelle. When Elsa read it for the first time, she felt sick. This man clearly had no remorse, and he delighted in the retelling. The things he told Anna… both his cynical deceit as he schemed to win her desperate heart and his utterly cruel words to the princess before he left her alone to die… Elsa was beside herself with rage, but she did not dare let it show in his presence. Her face was placid as she handed the document to a waiting advisor and swept from the torchlit dungeon hall.

Leaving him there to rot.

She remembers his face. Hans was wholly unconcerned by the supposedly dire fate that awaited him. Smug in his assurance that he would be safe at home in just a few short weeks, he bid Elsa a fond farewell and all she could do was ensure that his remaining time spent in Arendelle was as uncomfortable as she could make it.

And so every day, a single meal of stale bread and spoiled milk… And a perpetual storm of his very own to keep him company as he shivers on the cold, hard floor of his cell.

Elsa desperately wishes she could rise above such pettiness and at the same time, she is helplessly disappointed by her lack of creativity.

Oh, if Anna knew what was running through my mind…

His heart, encased in ice… Ripped from his chest and crushed beneath her foot.

She'd run from me.

Painfully aware of the late hour, Elsa decides to retire for the night. The work will keep until the morning. She leans over the desk and huffs a breath. Cool air sparks blue in the heat of the summer night and the flame on her desk dies out. The moon casts a wisp of a shadow as she makes her way to bed. She hastily undoes her braid and slips under the covers. Even in the sweltering heat, as her eyes flutter shut and the world outside grows faint, she finds herself wishing she could bask in her sister's warmth.

o~o~o

The heat in Anna's room is stifling, as she expected. Anna lies upon the bed, still and silent but for her ragged, shallow breathing and Elsa watches the shaky rise and fall of her chest. She sees the way her brow is furrowed as though she's in constant discomfort, and auburn locks cling to the sheen of sweat on her freckle dusted forehead.

It's all Elsa can do to keep a steady stride toward her spot by Anna's bedside. As she takes her seat, she reaches a trembling hand to her sister, brushing a knuckle or two along a proud cheekbone. The magic within her flares excitedly at the touch and Anna cants her head in her sleep, deepening the contact. Elsa rests her palm there on Anna's warm cheek. Her eyes shine with tears as she gazes fully upon Anna's restless countenance.

She's been like this for a week. Eight days, to be precise. 'An infection', Doctor Thomsen had informed her solemnly, that first night Anna had fallen ill. Complications from the life-saving procedure out on the frozen fjord.

Another trial for her sister. Another obstacle she'll need to overcome.

Elsa's free hand balls into a tight fist and a pulse of magic threatens to loose itself into the world. Ice begins to crawl along the chair she sits in, the wooden frame creaking in protest. Her eyes slam shut as she focuses on her sister. She lifts a nervous hand from Anna's cheek and lays it upon her burning hot forehead. A small whimper, and she nearly pulls back until a grateful sigh leaves Anna's lips. Elsa smiles brokenly, stroking the matted hair back and wiping away the sweat from Anna's brow.

"Anna? It's time for breakfast. Wake up now," she coos softly. Her thumb continues its idle caress of clammy skin, and she eyes the steaming bowl of oats and fruit on the bedside table. Anna hasn't eaten anything substantial in two days. Elsa tries not to let her desperation show, but the stress and worry are getting to her. She can barely focus on her duties, so preoccupied is she with her sister's recovery.

A hollow groan leaves Anna's lips.

"Anna, please. Just a few spoonfuls?"

Her sister's breathing stutters and she shifts in her bed. Her head turns to the side, eyes fluttering open and she stares, bleary-eyed into the bright room. "Mmn… Elsa?" A tired smile lights up her face and she brings her hand up as if to make sure what she sees is real.

"Good morning, Anna," Elsa replies. The smile is easily returned as she looks down at her disheveled sister. "How are you feeling?" She catches hold of the hand between them. Her throat constricts when she feels how weak Anna's grip has become.

"Thirsty," Anna sighs. She begins to sit up and Elsa experiences a small moment of panic.

"Ah, careful! Mind your arm." Elsa is on her feet in an instant, protectively cradling Anna's head and reaching for the bandaged arm with her free hand. The last time Anna put any sort of weight on the damaged limb, the pain nearly rendered her unconscious. It breaks Elsa's heart to see how often Anna uses her arm as though nothing is wrong. The look that flashes in her sister's eyes when she realizes - the defeat and disappointment there make Elsa want to weep, though she knows it would do no good. She needs to be strong for her sister.

As Anna sits upright under her own strength, Elsa arranges the pillows behind her. "There now, just sit back and I'll fetch some water for you." She rubs the tense spot between Anna's shoulder blades, careful to keep a hand between the headboard and the head of copper hair until Anna is settled in.

"Thank you," Anna mumbles, clearly still drowsy from the fever medication. She reclines with a small groan of effort, sheets rustling as she adjusts the angle of her position.

Elsa's eyes barely leave her sister as she crosses the room, grabbing the pitcher of water and cup from the desk. The water sloshes in the pitcher as she walks, and she consciously calms her pace. She's too worked up, nerves buzzing within her as anxiety creeps through her subconscious. I have to relax. Anna needs me, and I need to show that I can care for her as an older sister should.

Of course, being the sole ruler of a modest kingdom, Elsa's duties prevent her from keeping a watchful eye as often as she'd like, and in these times she entrusts her sister's care to their excellent staff. At the moment, though, she enjoys a rare reprieve from the weight of her crown and takes full advantage of it in order to tend to an altogether more rewarding endeavor.

"So," Elsa begins as she takes her seat once more and pours a glass of cool water. Her eyes flit up to Anna while the water fills the cup. "I had the notion that you might like to help me look over the new tax proposal. After breakfast, of course."

Anna takes the glass with a shaky hand and her eyes are much more alert. "Is this the same proposal we discussed a few days ago?" Her voice croaks and she takes a gulp of water, wincing as she swallows.

Elsa sets aside her concern for the moment. "Y-yes. A new revision of the proposal was brought to me late last night, and I haven't had much time to look it over." What with all the brooding and such. "I'd discussed a few of your suggestions with my advisors and-"

Anna coughs and sputters, water dribbling down her chin.

"Anna?!" Elsa frets. The coughing continues. "Breath slowly!" Elsa grabs the water from her sister and places a cool hand to her overheated shoulder. Anna's chest spasms with another cough but then she's returning to a normal rhythm. "That's it," Elsa says softly, rubbing her back in small circles. "Slow, deep breaths."

Anna nods unevenly, pulling her hand to her chest. "Sorry, I just…" She inhales slowly, and deeply, and Elsa smiles at how hard Anna seems to concentrate on the act. "What did you talk about? I mean, um, which suggestions?"

Elsa gives her a bemused smile. "Well, the agricultural subsidies for a start, as well as tax relief for the kingdom's fishermen. As you pointed out, both industries were grievously harmed by the storm, and this year will be tough for them." Anna looks shocked, and Elsa can't understand why. "I also suggested lowering tariffs on essential imports so that our citizens - especially the ones hit hardest - will be able to replenish their stores more easily." Elsa's smile widens, her fingers rubbing along Anna's shoulder as she brings them back into her lap. "Your ideas to relieve our citizens are both compassionate and practical, and I was proud to argue in favor of them."

She blushes at the praise. "Elsa, I was just rambling when we talked about this. I don't know the first thing about economics… At least not practically. It's all just stuff from those boring old tomes I was made to read. Stuff that I barely even remember." Anna looks down at the edge of the blanket she's fidgeting with, and Elsa aches to see her sister's confidence returned.

"If that's the case," Elsa replies gently, "then it is obvious that you have a mind for this, as my advisors were quite visibly impressed with many of the details of your ideas." She gives a wry smile. "Their excited questions left me struggling to recall the nuances of the subsidies in particular. When I told them that we could expect a larger revenue in the year following the next full harvest, even with the lower tax burden per citizen, they all but demanded to speak to you personally."

Anna's eyes drift up from her fiddling fingers, and Elsa's smile is warm and soft when she sees her little sister's back straighten, her chest flaring with pride.

"And so I think it best that we both look over the proposal that my advisors and I have drawn up. Your input matters a great deal to me, Anna." She brushes her fingers over warm skin, clasping her hand over her sister's. "A queen never rules alone."

Anna squeaks and her hand flinches - from the cold, perhaps - and Elsa pulls back smoothly, careful not to worry her with a show of sadness or disappointment. The sensation of another's touch is still so new for the both of them, and it will take some getting used to. Elsa clears her throat softly and continues, "This proposal will be the first major task that is demanded of me, and I must confess that I find myself less than perfectly prepared for the responsibility." Her hands are wringing together against her conscious wishes and she averts her gaze, her voice taking on a soft tremor, "Our people depend on me to fix what I've done… Their livelihoods are at risk because of what happened. Because I couldn't control it. I need this to be perfect. No one else should have to suffer for my misdeeds." And suddenly that same hand, warm and soft, gently rests upon hers.

Fingers intertwine and Anna brings Elsa's hand to her chest. "If you are to blame, then so am I." Anna's voice is sweet, though the words are wrong to Elsa's own ears. She frowns and Anna almost giggles.

I must look so petulant. Ever the regal exemplar.

"We aren't alone anymore, Elsa." She brings her hand up to cradle her sister's cheek. Her gaze is resolute. "Whatever you need from me, I will do my best to help."

Elsa nods gratefully and smiles, her eyes crinkled shut to stave off embarrassing tears. "Thank you."

It's all she can bring herself to say.