The two large trunks of the queen's luggage, as well as Ingrid and her satchel, were met in the courtyard by Helga, Kurt, and Axel. Helga had the boys haul the trunks and walked alongside Ingrid as they entered the castle.

Helga leaned in. "If you need something heavy lifted, get two boys to do it. They'll kill themselves showing off to each other." She grinned. "So, Ingrid, she's made you her personal attendant. Quite a jump up from chambermaid. You must be proud."

Ingrid was glad of the excuse to spend more time with Elsa, but was nervous about how it'd be received downstairs in the castle. She answered, truthfully, "I've always been proud to serve the queen."

"Always?" said Helga, smirking. "Even when you were mucking out chamberpots?"

"I would do anything for her."

Taken aback by the seriousness of Ingrid's answer, Helga changed tack. "So, is it true you saw Finn Rejdersen? What's he like?"

Ingrid turned away. Helga thought she was being bashful, but she was actually hiding a nervous grin. Composed, Ingrid turned back and said, "Isn't he just a character in some stories?"

"That's not an answer, girl."

As they climbed the stairs, heading to Elsa's rooms, Ingrid took the middle so that Helga could support herself on the railing. "I can't say."

"Oh, Ingrid, you don't have to keep secrets from me."

She thought about the things she had done for Elsa. "I'm afraid I do. I'm very sorry."

Helga felt a delicious thrill for all the wrong reasons.

They were met in Elsa's rooms by Solvej and Christina, who were dressed as chambermaids. Helga dismissed the boys, then looked expectantly at Ingrid. To Ingrid's discomfort, the girls were looking to her as well. She turned back to Helga. "Where would you like me to start?"

Helga pulled her aside. She tried to remember how Gerda had talked to her back in the day. "Ingrid, I can take over this once, but I don't recommend it. You're not just Queen Elsa's personal lady's-maid and attendant. She's made you her ama…some Greek word I can't remember."

Carefully repeating Elsa's pronunciations, Ingrid said, "Amanuensis."

"In these rooms, you're in charge."

"It's just that she likes having me handy."

"Be that as it may, you're going to have to start giving orders for a change. It'd be a bad start if you didn't take charge." Ingrid looked lost. "How did you used to feel when you looked to someone for orders, but they waffled?"

Despite a sudden pang at Helga using the past tense, she knew what Helga meant. She looked to others for confidence. Now Solvej and Christina were looking to her. Like a cat. Like Mrs. Vinterhavn. I'm Elsa's right hand now. She stood straight and relaxed and turned to the other maids. That is, to the maids.

"Have the rooms been aired out?"

Solvej spoke for the two of them. "Yes, ma'am."

The ma'am tripped Ingrid for a moment, but she recovered. "And the bedding?"

"…no, ma'am."

"See to it. Christina, you can start unpacking Her Majesty's clothes. Do you know where they go?"

"Yes, ma'am. That is, mostly."

"Make a start, and I'll help you in a moment." The girls went to their tasks. Ingrid looked around at the space thoughtfully, and turned to Helga again. "Do you think it would be all right if I made some small changes?"

Elsa and Anna spent the day together, usually arm in arm, sharing stories and catching up. They had written each other daily, but only so much experience can fit in an envelope.

Elsa was delighted to see how little paperwork was left for her to do. She was proud to see how effectively Anna had taken over. Anna told her about coming into her councillors' meeting with bodyguards Stors and Kile, and described the councillors' reactions, complete with voices and expressions. When Anna got to the part about the Councillor for Schools and Orphanages, Elsa laughed with delight, remembering not to cover her mouth this time.

Anna promised a surprise for lunch, and arrived carrying the sword and wearing the chain mail and metal boots she had used at the Battle of Baldur's Pass. Elsa gasped at Anna's dashing, heroic figure. As Anna described the conflict over lunch, Elsa swung between being terrified for her sister and bursting with pride at her courage and cleverness. "They didn't figure out that there was only one Marshmallow, and the other three ice-houses were empty?"

"Empty? They were fakes. Canvas and paint, courtesy the Royal Arendellan Opera House. By the way, it's the Royal Arendellan Opera House now, if that's okay."

"Of course it is. And it's nice to know that dragging you to the opera had some benefit."

That afternoon Elsa told her about her negotiations with King Frederik, the heavy-handed marriage proposal, and later the treaties and the acquisition of what was now the Arendellan West Indies. The moment she mentioned almond trees, Anna shouted "Kransekake!" and hugged her again.

Over dinner they talked about Hans and his plot. Elsa spilled her tea, freezing it in midair, to demonstrate how she defused the tension about suddenly unleashing her power at the banquet. As Elsa tossed a droplet of tea in the air and caught it in her mouth, Anna exploded with laughter. "How did you even think of that? And so fast?"

"I just asked myself, 'What would Anna do?' Was I right?"

"Mmm, pretty much, yeah."

Anna forgot about her food as Elsa described her confrontations with the Duke of Weselton, the mercenaries, and finally Hans himself. "Wow," said Anna. "I wish I had been there. I mean, it was a bad thing, of course, and serious, but it would've been amazing to see that. You are amazing."

Elsa looked down, then smiled up at Anna. "Thank you. You were pretty amazing yourself at Baldur's Pass, and I wish I had been there to see it."

"You don't know how much I wished you were there. And not just to whip up a few more girls like Marshmallow."

"Girls?"

"Olaf says…well, never mind. I so wished you were there, so you could take over, but even if you didn't I wish you were there to talk to. It was exciting, and I'm glad we won of course, but still." Anna's voice grew small. "I don't want to have to make choices like that."

Elsa patted her hand. "And I'll do everything I can to make sure you don't have to. And I hope you never do, but I'm proud of you, and I'm glad to know you could if you have to."

Anna looked at her big sister, eyes shining. "Thank you." Sitting up, she took a deep breath and blew it out. "Anyway, I wonder how much of this stuff I can fit into the next Finn Rejdersen story."

"That reminds me, I have a present for you from cousin-in-law Eugene."

"That's right, he and Punzy were there. How are they?"

Elsa leaned in and whispered, "Pregnant." As Anna gasped and grinned, Elsa went on. "As to the present. He's written up some of his adventures from when he was Flynn Rider, so you can use them for your stories."

"Did you read them?"

"Yes. I'm…not sure they're all entirely true."

"Not that it matters, as long as they're exciting."

Elsa thought for a moment. "I suppose you're right." She sighed, and they dawdled over their desserts. I wonder when she's going to tell me about Kristoff. She wasn't sure how to bring it up. Finally, she said, "I didn't see Sven in the stables today."

"Elsa, don't. Just don't, okay?"

Elsa leaned in, about to speak, then stopped herself. She sat up, smiled warmly at Anna. "Whenever you're ready. And I won't mention it again." The plates were cleared. "If you don't mind, I'll go freshen up. And I want to see how Ingrid's settling in."

"Sure. Of course." They hugged warmly, and Elsa left for her rooms. Anna sighed. It had been a perfect day, not counting the early morning. She hadn't been this happy for a long time. And Elsa was as warm and wonderful as ever. There's something missing. Something in her hugs. The way she took my arm. She didn't want to think about what it was, or why it was making her unsettled.

Ingrid was waiting as Elsa entered her rooms. "Good evening, Your Majesty," she said, curtseying.

"Good evening, Mouse," Elsa replied, and Ingrid ran into her arms. They kissed gently, and Elsa released her. "How have you been manag— " She looked around. "Something's different. Oh!" Elsa looked around. "You brought me flowers." Elsa beamed. She hadn't spotted it right away because there wasn't a large bouquet demanding attention. Instead there were small vases dotted around: lavender on her vanity, Queen-Anne's-Lace on her writing table, damask roses on the windowsill, violets on her dresser.

"Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful. Quietly beautiful. Like you."

Ingrid dipped her head shyly. "It wasn't any trouble. They won't let me do any real cleaning or polishing anymore, so I had some time to run down to the flower shops."

"Shops? Plural?"

"I thought you might like some variety. I was going to ask you first, but I decided to be bold and present you with a fate accomplitt."

Elsa paused. "A what?"

Ingrid pulled in her shoulders. "A…fay-it accomplitt?"

Elsa smiled and stroked Ingrid's back. "Spelled f-a-i-t ?" Ingrid nodded. "It's pronounced fait accomplit," she said, with the trace of a Parisian accent she had learned from her tutor. "It's French."

"Oh." Ingrid's face fell. "I'm sorry. I should've known. I've been having thoughts above my station again. I apologize."

Elsa cupped Ingrid's chin in her palm and lifted up her face. "You have nothing to be sorry for. How could you have know? You didn't have the advantages I had. Which makes it much more impressive that you know what it means, than that I know how to pronounce it. And as for your station, it's whatever you want it to be. Our situation is, well, unique."

"It's…sooey generis?" said Ingrid with a faint smile.

Elsa laughed. "Yes, exactly." She kissed Ingrid's forehead, and whispered, "That's sui generis, by the way."

There was a knock at the door. Ingrid answered it as Elsa sat at her vanity, letting her hair down. The door shut, and Elsa said, "Yes?"

"With Her Highness' compliments," said Ingrid, and presented her with a small envelope

Elsa opened it.

I can talk about it now.

A.

Elsa stood up. "I'm sorry, Ingrid. I…" She shrugged.

"Anna?"

Elsa nodded.

"About Kristoff?"

Elsa almost asked how she knew, then simply nodded again.

"She must be upset."

Elsa nodded once more, and sighed. "I'm sorry, Ingrid."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. She needs you. Please, do anything you need to do, to make her feel better."

Elsa tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Ingrid kissed her cheek. "The more I love you, the more I want you to be happy. No matter what. She's your sister. You love her. Don't think about me, just go comfort her. I'll be fine."

"I'll be back soon," said Elsa, and Ingrid pretended to believe her.