She didn't want to leave her. Leaving meant not being able to protect her. What if it happened again? What if Devil wasn't finished yet? What if the guards posted nearby betrayed her like Percival, Arvid, Nils, and Jostein (who all currently resided within the dungeons until further notice)? But Elsa also couldn't wake her. So deeply did Anna sleep. Her mind and body needed rest like never before. She had put on such an admirably brave front, but Elsa knew her little sister was shaken to the core – and rightly so. Her seldomly shed tears were enough proof.

Leonard waited at the door, having stealthily entered and stirred Elsa as quietly as he could. No words needed to be spoken. Although Elsa couldn't ignore an empty sensation in her stomach – perhaps because of the Soul Syphon – the kingdom of Arendelle wouldn't wait any longer. The votes had been cast. The day was heading into dinner time. The fate of Elsa as ruler and monarch rested in her people's hands. She tried to slip out of bed without moving the mattress too terribly, but just as both her feet touched the cool ground, Anna's hand grabbed hold of her sister's wrist, a little bit more of her strength, thankfully, having returned. Anna was still clearly fatigued on multiple levels, but the hours of rest had helped some at the very least.

'And where are you going, Missy?' She asked drowsily.

'There are still many political matters I must address today, Anna. Do not worry. Everything will be taken care of. You still need your rest.'

'Oh, okay.' For a moment, Elsa thought her sister truly had given up so easily, but in another second, she was pushing herself up and into a sitting position in the bed. 'So, I guess something big is happening today, huh?'

Leonard made a sort of snorting sound in seeming amusement.

'Pardon?' Elsa stammered.

'I'm pretty out of it, don't get me wrong, but I can still read you like a book sometimes, Elsa. What's going on?'

Elsa glanced to Leonard, seeking his guidance with how to go about this somewhat sensitive subject. The attendant simply gave his queen a nod of trust and approval.

'You…recall that Arendelle now knows about us, right, Anna?' Elsa began slowly.

'Yeah. I guess our secret isn't so secretive anymore…' Her voice was low, and she tugged at some of the bed's sheets fidgetily. Even Anna was capable of understanding the weight of this knowledge and what it meant for her future.

'I was forced to answer to my proclamations that day. In an attempt to be fair to all, I decided upon a voting day to allow Arendelle the choice between keeping me as its ruler or not.'

'R-really? So, when's that happening?'

'Today.' Elsa answered somberly.

'Great.' Anna shrugged. 'Is it too much to hope that we'll be okay?'

'…I think so, Anna. From what I have heard, the chances are not in our favour.'

A beat, but then Leonard spoke up with enthusiasm.

'If I might be so intrusive, but there has been a change in the mindset of some of Arendelle, my queen.'

Elsa's heavy heart lifted, but she held it down, not daring to become too hopeful in the face of such difficult adversity beyond her control.

'What sort of change?' The queen inquired curiously.

Leonard grinned broadly, but still held some reservation.

'Believe it or not, Devil made something of a spectacle of your final encounter with him. Perhaps he sought to paint you in an even more destructive light, but the end results proved to produce the opposite effect. He used his magic to make it possible for all of Arendelle to see within the walls of our holy sanctuary. I don't know who spread the word that you were confronting the troll in the chapel that night, but very few citizens of our city did not make time to see what you went through in order to save Princess Anna.'

A knot formed in Elsa's throat. So, Devil went so far to deface her? However, like Leonard said, perhaps the fact Elsa refused to sacrifice anyone but herself for Anna's life would help the queen's case.

'What was the popular consensus before the voting took place?' Elsa dug deeper, encouraging her thoughts not to entertain the glimmer of hope that continued to shine brighter in her mind.

'Kristoff and some of my more trusted men relayed that it is much less one-sided. It is impossible to say how your people ultimately decided to cast their vote, but it is no longer an impossibility for you to remain the ruler of Arendelle, my queen. We are…optimistic, yet cautiously so.'

'It would be foolish to be anything but.' Elsa sighed. She felt Anna's hand take hold of hers on the bed and she knew, whatever the results, it was all worth the struggle. 'I'm sorry, Anna. I wish I could have asked your opinion on the matter, but I had to make a decision.'

'Are you kidding?' Anna giggled, coughing a bit afterward and blinking rapidly to regain her focus. 'You could have just muscled your way through that kind of thing. This is the first time I've heard of a king or queen asking for his or her people's input, you know? It shows you really care about Arendelle and our citizens. It's super impressive. I…I get that what we have isn't okay and everything, but…but seriously; does it really bother everyone so much that they want to get rid of someone who is obviously so considerate and kind above and beyond their call of duty?'

'It does.' Leonard stated with finality. 'It affects everything, unfortunately. Our relations with other kingdoms help to sustain our economy and safety. If such relations are jeopardized, our very way of life becomes threatened alongside them. If the people of Arendelle cannot stand on a united front, nothing will change, and our kingdom will slowly crumble alongside its leadership.'

Anna caught her breath, gripping at her chest a little bit as she gathered herself. She looked so vulnerable. She would recover eventually, right?

'So…so everything gets decided today?'

Elsa nodded, squeezing her sister's hand and then releasing her.

'I will be addressing my people either way once the votes have been counted.'

'We wanted you to be present during the process, my queen, thus, why I am here now.' Leonard bowed, but Elsa could see that he was torn by what his future may hold in the coming hours.

'Thank-you. I will be ready within the hour. Have everyone necessary gather in the Royal Hall as soon as possible.' Elsa hesitated to continue, but if she was going to produce a speech, she needed the remaining details regarding Anna's revival and the final encounter with Devil.

'Before you go, Leonard, I must know what took place once I fell unconscious. Where is Devil?'

The bed stirred, and Elsa knew a chill had run through Anna's body at the mention of the monster.

'His whereabouts are completely unknown. However, upon stopping the connection between you and the Soul Syphon's power, he was quick to perform an alchemic miracle before all of Arendelle, the speed and majesty he processed such a powerful artefact dazzling if not for his evil nature. He, seemingly, allowed the Chronos Crystal to merge with Princess Anna's body, and then that was all anyone could witness before the chapel returned to normal, and not a soul could ascertain the mechanics behind Princess Anna's revival. Sir Daryun and a multitude of guards, naturally, stormed the building the moment they felt they could, but Devil was gone, with only his prisoners and two very weak Arendelle royal sisters to speak of.'

'I see. Is there a search party in pursuit?'

'…No. King Arthur convinced me it was pointless, and I have learned to agree with him. The manpower is better used here.'

'Good.' Elsa was quite relieved to hear that. It was a waste of time. Devil could be anyone and be anywhere. His command of dark magic exceeded Elsa's expectations. For now, however, she could begin believing it was over. Yet she couldn't shake the need to converse with the troll one final time. There were still so many unanswered questions. But not now. For now, a much more pressing matter demanded her attention.

'Thank-you again, Leonard. Please deliver my message and wait for me.'

'By your leave.' Leonard excused himself quickly. Time, as always, was running out. Elsa promised the inhabitants of Arendelle an answer by the end of this day. She wouldn't deny them the stability the majority of Arendelle desired. She turned to Anna despite all this, and fixed the right shoulder strap of her sister's nightgown, holding her touch on the girl's arm as she turned her head to the side a bit.

'This may have been one of the final nights we sleep in this castle, Anna.'

Anna's eyes fluctuated, but she shrugged hopelessly.

'I really don't like that idea. I love this place. It's my home. It's…it's our home. We grew up here. Yeah, there're some crummy memories, but there're way more good ones.'

'I agree.' Although Elsa's list of painful memories almost seemed to outweigh the pleasant ones. 'But I could do nothing else. Leonard claims there's hope, so let us hold on to that, shall we?'

Anna nodded, repositioning herself so that she was sitting up straight. Her head was swaying from side to side, whether she knew it or not, and Elsa hoped she wasn't considering joining her for the processing of the votes. The older sister wouldn't lie to herself though, for there really was little doubt as to what Anna would want to do.

'If you begin to feel too ill, make sure you are escorted to your room for rest. I know I can't stop you from coming, and honestly, I…I would like you to be there with me. I'm not sure how I'll feel if I learn I am no longer wanted as queen.' It was a piece of Elsa's identity that she didn't know she cared for so.

'Heheh.' Anna giggled happily as Elsa went to her closet, selecting the blue-hued replica dress that she had created when she first sought her freedom from Arendelle. It was one of her favourites, admittedly, as though she belonged in the sharp, elegant garb.

'I want to match.' Anna said suddenly, and Elsa's ears perked at the thought. It wasn't uncommon for them to compliment one another, but somehow this felt different. Perhaps it was because they were entering the public eye as lovers for the first time. It would be a statement. They wouldn't even be trying to hide the attachment the sisters shared.

'Match?'

'Yep. Something white. Something flowery. Something fun and cute.'

Elsa's cheeks were already burning at the thought. Her heart beat quickened, and her head began to float.

'I…wouldn't mind that.' Elsa admitted.

'Good.' Anna went to Elsa's side, grabbed a white, adorable spring dress for her sister, and smiled as she held it up against her. 'Alrighty. That's the ticket.'

'Should you be standing, Anna?'

'Oh, don't give me that. I'll be fine.'

Elsa considered forcing the issue, but she sighed, knowing better than to get in her sister's way of being up and about. Anna's skin tone was still a little pale, and the black under her eyes remained semi-present, but her spirit had improved dramatically, and Elsa loved having her so very close.

'Here we go.' Anna took the straps of Elsa's nightgown and pulled them over her sister's arms, slipping the one-piece down until it was bunched at her sister's ankles, only a tiny pair of silk underwear concealing the queen's lower body.

'Anna…' Elsa said in a warning tone, knowing immediately – simply by the way her little sister's touch had become a little tentative – that there was desire in the assistance.

'What?' Anna giggled, tracing her fingertips along Elsa's waist and hips. There was no way she couldn't feel the goosebumps that were instantly aroused. Not only that, but Elsa's voice betrayed her, a longing sigh escaping her lips.

'Your condition…' Elsa tried to rebel, but she knew she was gone. She couldn't reject this. She couldn't say "no". After everything they had been through, Anna still felt this sort of affection for Elsa, and it was a relief.

'The only "condition" I have is a crazy obsession with my older sister. Maybe I am a little nuts, but right now, I just want to feel you, you know? I want to be close to you. I…I never want to leave your side. I need to know this is real before anything else. All the details of everything can wait. I…I want you, Elsa. I want all of you…because, for a minute there, I thought I'd never see you again.'

Elsa's breathing faltered when she realized Anna was shaking. No other soul would be able to pick through the brave front her sister put on, but Elsa's instincts stabbed her in the gut, and she understood that Anna was traumatized by what had happened. Her becoming frozen to save Elsa was one thing, but being so brutally murdered before all of Arendelle? That wouldn't leave anyone any time soon. Anna's touch was a method of coping, and it wasn't sexual intimacy she was primarily seeking now; it was emotional and physical.

Elsa quickly turned to Anna and held her tight, gripping her against her body almost desperately.

'I'm here.' Elsa mumbled, blinking away the tears beginning to form. 'I'll be here no matter.'

'I-I know.' Anna whispered, and her rarely broken persona smashed Elsa's own. 'I know we gotta go, but I…kinda need this right now.'

'The world can wait.' Elsa guided Anna to the bed, easing her back onto it and propping herself atop her little sister, her hands on either side of her face. 'Arendelle can wait to deny that which is within our right to feel.'

'Oh, my! Queen Elsa learned how to sass while I've been gone!'

'I've always been a little sharp here and there.'

'That's true, I guess. Remember when I introduced you to Hans?'

'Ugh. Don't remind me.'

'Hahah! Oh, boy. I can be such a weirdo sometimes.'

'That's putting it gently.'

'Hey! Remember, I'm super fragile right now. Be nice.'

'Ah, yes. Of course.'

There was some laughter with a small pause afterward. Anna breathed out, reaching up and touching Elsa's face with more affection than another human could possibly transfer.

'I think…I thought you would never be mine in that way, so maybe I was just looking for a way out. I don't know. I didn't think about it much. I didn't want to. It scared me. I was so in love with you, but I thought it was just, you know, natural for a little sister. You were my idol. You were everything to me. And I'm saying the same things over and over, so I'll shut up now.'

'No…' Elsa sniffed, smiling but biting back the urge to sob. Just hearing Anna speak was enough to dishevel her, let alone hear Anna go on about how much she cared for Elsa. 'Never "shut up" around me. I want to always hear your thoughts. I never want there to be secrets between us again. I…I want to be with you…for…e-er…' Elsa became bashful, thinking she was beginning to sound juvenile.

'Forever?' Anna finished for her, beaming brightly, her own eyes glistening.

'Yes.' Elsa nodded, swallowing the unnecessary embarrassment. 'Forever. Forever and ever.'

'Heheh…!' Anna laughed, but she too was tearing up. 'Sounds like we're stuck with one another, then.'

'Not stuck; blessed.' Elsa corrected sternly.

'I know…I-I'm just kidding.'

'Whatever happens, I will not leave your side for a second.'

'Okay.' Anna's face was turning red as she noticed the way Elsa was leaning down, closing the gap between the two sister's faces.

'I'm so happy you're back, Anna. So very, very happy.' Elsa's voice cracked, and she found herself staring down at her sister, continuously consuming the fact she was alive again.

'Believe it or not, I'm pretty happy about it, too.' Anna shrugged, grinning slyly and clearly defusing the emotions overflowing within her.

Another pause, with both girls fighting back the urge to cry, laugh, scream, and lose control of the heat building between their bodies. Elsa eased herself down completely, her naked form – save for her underwear – pressing into Anna, causing the younger sister to gasp with near-excitement.

'Does that hurt?' Elsa whispered, her lips not even an inch from Anna's. She was thankful her snowgies were being so quiet. She wanted the illusion that she was completely alone with the princess of Arendelle.

'No. Not at all.' Anna breathed, the hints of her voice within the hushed denial seductive in its own right. 'But…Leonard's waiting, right? I-I mean…I want to, don't get me wrong, but…um…'

Elsa shook her head, scolding her sister with but a look and a raised eyebrow.

'I'm still the queen. Like I said, they can wait. They can wait for as long as it takes me to soak in every second of this moment. I have been without my sister and girl I love for an entire three days with the possibility of never seeing or hearing her again. I deserve this…and so do you. So,' Elsa fumbled with Anna's nightgown, lifting the bottom up until she could feel her sister's bare stomach against hers. 'Unless you tell me you aren't well enough, I'm going to make love to you in some way this very moment. Objections?'

'None.' Anna's mouth quivered, taken aback – in a good way – by the aggression.

'Dismissed.' And Elsa did her best to control the passion that had been suppressed for what felt like far too long. She kissed Anna gently at first, but the taste of her sister's lips, not to mention the familiar sensation of her soft skin, was intoxicating. Anna held Elsa's head tightly, wrapping her legs around the queen's hips and pressing their bodies even closer together. The fact Anna was so receptive in her quiet sort of way only added fuel to the fire burning in Elsa's soul. She had every intention of moving slowly with Anna, primarily because of her condition, but Anna showed no signs of wanting to stop even when Elsa haphazardly managed to lift the girl's nightgown over her head, feeling Anna's aroused chest tickling Elsa's own and sending chills through every part of her body.

'Ngh…!' Anna moaned when Elsa gave her bottom lip a small nibble, and the younger sister weaseled her hand down and between Elsa's legs, stretching the barrier of fabric that remained there until she could easily slide her fingers along and inside her older sister's slick womanhood.

'Ah…Yes, Anna…' Elsa was quick to reciprocate the favour, further relieved to find she could enter Anna with little effort, pleasuring her just as easily. Anna's pelvis flinched adorably, but she was soon swaying with Elsa's touch, hungrily adjusting to allow for more and more pleasure.

'Oh…I'm…getting really light-headed…' Anna mumbled disturbingly, but when Elsa tried to resist the urge to go on out of concern for her sister, Anna refused to allow such a thing, going so far as to grabbing hold of Elsa's wrist and forcing her to proceed.

'That doesn't mean stop…Silly…' Anna half-laughed, her dazed eyes somehow alluring to Elsa.

A shock went through Elsa's body, and she took Anna's hand from within her, lifting it up to their faces with her own sullied fingers so that she could consume the sweet nectar that only she would ever taste. Anna became just as greedy, the sisters' licking and kissing their hands and one another in a lewd, romantic way. Elsa, simultaneously, shifted her legs so that she could press her moistened groin against Anna's, stretching her underwear to the side so that she could have direct contact.

It was a warm, wet, and perfect, yet also a shallow representation of what both young women felt for one another. Their love became frantic and desperate with every second, the fear of ever being separated again fueling the heightened sexual experience. Anna wheezed tiredly, but she gripped onto Elsa, groaning in effort and ecstasy, as though this was everything she wanted to invest her energy into. She was constantly stealing glances of Elsa, and although the queen was self-conscious at first (considering the loosened expressions she was surely making in the midst of the intimacy), she could understand, for she too revelled in the beauty that was her little sister unravelled and utterly submissive to her desires.

Eventually, Elsa lost track of how many times she and Anna were shocked with microcosmic bursts of rapturous delight. With every position change and exchange of loving words, Elsa was ready for more and more and more of Anna's touch, her body, her kisses, and her whispers of undying affection.

As time went onward, and the sweat soaked about both girls' brows and bodies, Elsa longed for more. She felt she desired more, but didn't know how to approach the missing need. She wanted to become even closer to Anna somehow. Pleasuring her little sister with her own womanhood, her fingers, and her mouth was one thing, but Elsa found she lusted for the connection only a man was capable of having with Anna, and it irked her tremendously. So significantly was she bothered by this lack of ability did a semblance of rage take hold of Elsa while she and Anna were buried between one another's upper thighs and she unconsciously took a small bite of her sister, causing her to shriek and twitch away, breathing heavily as she stared at the roof, her small breasts heaving attractively.

'Whoa…! E-easy, Elsa! I'm already ridiculously sensitive right now…'

Elsa cursed herself, crawling up beside Anna and apologizing swiftly, cupping her sister's head into her arms gently.

'Sorry. I was…I suddenly felt…er…aggressive.'

'Yeah. I could feel that.' Anna giggled, blinking long and hard. 'But maybe it's for the best. I'm pretty sure it's almost been an hour, and I know "Arendelle can wait" and all that, but we might be pushing it a bit.'

'I'm more concerned about how you're feeling. You look pale again.' Elsa filed her inadequacies away for now, knowing they had no place in her life at the moment; not with what was to come the instant the girls left the queen's room.

'Well, yeah. I mean…that was a tiny bit intense. I loved it. Seriously. Like, seriously for serious. But…I'm super tired now.'

'Then rest. I will take care of everything else.'

'No way.' Anna pushed up onto the bed, her naked body already putting ideas into Elsa's head again. She couldn't stop desiring her because of the sheer love she felt toward Anna as a whole. 'I'm coming with you.'

'You already have; multiple times, in fact.'

Anna blinked, and then burst into laughter, holding her sides and shoving Elsa weakly.

'Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Did you just really say that?'

Elsa blushed furiously, regretting the attempt at humour. She wasn't suited to such jokes, but Anna's reaction was pleasant.

'It was foolish…'

'No! No way! I loved it! I guess we really are related, huh? I was wondering, since we can be so different, but then you go and say something like that and I'm thinking, "Yep. She's my sister.".'

'Indeed. We are sisters…' Elsa grinned melancholically, and Anna kissed her on the cheek.

'That just means we're sticking together, right?'

'Right.' Elsa nodded, loving the immense sense of companionship and unfiltered loyalty she felt from Anna. Gerda, Daryun, Rynn, Leonard, and Arthuria were one thing, but the relationship Elsa felt with Anna truly surpassed anything else by an insurmountable margin. This was why she fought so hard. This was completely and utterly worth it.

'Okay. Let's get dressed. I'm sure we're in a little bit of trouble, even if you are the queen and I'm the princess. That's not even mentioning the fact some of guards probably heard us. Oh, boy…'

Elsa nodded in agreement, taking Anna's hand and holding it tightly. She was still in an emotional high, and the thought of Anna being with her again wouldn't release her happiness.

'I love you.' Elsa couldn't help but say somewhat abruptly. 'I'll love you forever.'

Elsa could be very forward and also incredibly shy. Anna knew this was a statement that was normally hesitantly delivered out of that very shyness, so the pure resolve behind it made her heart skip anew.

'I-I love you, too, Elsa. I really, really do.'

'Whatever happens, I will be with you.'

'Same. Heheh.'

'It's all that matters to me now.'

'It's always mattered to me.'

The sisters kissed, and then it was finally time to confront the fate of Arendelle head on. Together.