Disclaimer: Frozen belongs to Disney

Anna lay on the couch in the great room, her pistol resting on her stomach. She had been patrolling the house since Agdar's phone call to Weselton, her body on high alert; every few minutes she thought she heard someone trying to break in, and each time it proved to be a false alarm, her tired but still-overactive imagination threatening to drive her crazy. Finally, her exhaustion had driven her to the couch, where she dozed fitfully for a few hours.

Real sleep, however, was elusive.

Despite Agdar's conversation with Weselton, none of them trusted that their pursuers would leave Olaf alone. After some heated discussion, they decided that Anna would take the motorcycle and return to Arendelle City to meet up with Eugene and check on Olaf. There would be no meeting with Hans. With Olaf protected, there was no need to expose Elsa or Anna to whatever he might have planned for them.

Anna had called Eugene to warn him that the threat had now been extended to Rapunzel. He had not taken it well. As he rained curses down on her head, she half-wondered if Eugene might not lock his wife back up in the penthouse prison he'd rescued her from almost a decade before. He didn't calm down until Anna explained the situation in more detail, leaving out the part about Elsa being the heir to the throne. No need to borrow any more trouble than they already had.

"You've gotten yourself into some deep shit, Squirt," he'd said after a long silence.

"Don't I know it?" she replied with a sigh.

After Anna left to ride back to the city, Elsa's caretaker would pick up Agdar and Elsa and take them to the Gjoheim airport. Agdar had arranged for a charter plane to fly the two of them to a private airstrip just outside the Arendelle City.

Agdar wanted to take Elsa directly to Arendelle Castle and put her under the protection of His Majesty's Own. Elsa flat-out refused, pointing out that until they could get a DNA test, they had no hard proof that she was the heir, and thus had no business in the Castle.

Anna's suggestion of a demonstration of ice powers had not been…well-received.

So instead of going to the Castle, Agdar and Elsa would go to a motel in Arendelle City after they landed, and register under a false name. Anna would meet them there once she was sure Olaf was safe and protected.

Or at least that was what they'd told Elsa. Agdar had told Anna privately that he intended to take Elsa directly to Arendelle Castle anyway. The commander of His Majesty's Own was an old friend, he explained, and he had made arrangements to secretly get Elsa into the Castle and into their protective custody until Weselton, Westergard, and anyone else involved in manipulating the succession could be dealt with.

Anna sat up and rubbed her gritty eyes. She agreed with Agdar; the Castle was the best place for Elsa. No one would expect her to go to the most famous landmark in all of Arendelle, and even if they found out, they would have no way to get to her. It was the most secure building in the country. Elsa would be safe there.

Safe but furious.

Anna just hoped she wouldn't be furious enough to try some kind of hare-brained stunt like the one she had pulled at the airport, when she tried to ditch Anna and fly to Oslo. Or furious enough to shut Anna out completely.

Who am I kidding? In the long run, it's not going to matter if she's pissed at me or not. Once Elsa goes through the Castle gates, she will officially be royalty and that will be the end of…whatever this is…between us. She's going to be Queen. And queens don't have relationships with people like me.

Anna pushed herself to her feet and headed up the stairs. If she couldn't sleep, she might as well get a jump start on her trip back to the city. She took a quick shower and changed her clothes, then packed her backpack. Once she finished, she made her way down the hall to Elsa's bedroom.

"Elsa?" she called softly, tapping on the door.

No answer. Maybe Elsa was sleeping, but somehow Anna doubted it. She eased the door open and slipped through. "Elsa?" she called again, closing the door behind her.

She took a quick look around the room, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. Elsa's bed was empty, the covers undisturbed. Anna took a quick peek into the bathroom. No Elsa. Maybe she had gone downstairs while Anna was in the shower.

Anna was about to go back downstairs when she caught a flash of light out of the corner of her eye. Turning toward it, she saw Elsa on the balcony outside the bedroom. Elsa stood with her left hand in front of her, a flurry of snowflakes swirling around her fingertips in a sphere of blue-white light. As Anna watched, wide-eyed, Elsa waved her right hand up around over the left, and then a perfectly round snowball hovered between her palms. With a flick of her fingers, the snowball shot up over her head and exploded in a shower of shimmering snowflakes.

"Whoa…" At that moment, Anna wasn't sure which was more beautiful – the magic or its caster. Elsa was in her nightgown, her hair loose and tumbling over her back like a white-gold waterfall, her face alight with wonder as the sparkling snowflakes fell around her. She looked almost…otherworldly, winter made flesh, a snowy goddess descended from the heavens.

She stepped out on the balcony. Elsa started, and Anna shivered as a gust of frigid air blew around her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

Elsa clasped her hands together and looked a little sheepish. "It's okay."

Anna wrapped her arms around herself against the chill mountain air. She realized with a little jolt that Elsa was barefoot and wearing nothing over her thin nightgown. "Elsa, aren't you cold?"

Elsa shook her head. "No. It's strange. I know it's cold out here, I can feel that it's cold, but I'm not cold. it just doesn't…bother me. Part of the whole - " she waved her fingers and snowflakes twirled around the tips, " – thing, I guess." She frowned when Anna shivered again. "But you're cold. Let's go in."

"Wait. Would…would you do that again?" Anna asked. She wiggled her fingers, imitating the way Elsa conjured the snow. "The – the magic? It's so beautiful."

Elsa just looked at her for a long moment, then held out her hand. Another pulse of that blue-white light, and snowflakes danced above her palm. Anna leaned in, peering closely at what seemed to be a tiny blizzard swirling in Elsa's hand. A few random snowflakes bobbed around the edges, one popping out like a spark from a fireplace. The whole thing radiated an arctic cold that Anna could feel even at her slight distance, yet other than the slight blue cast to her skin, Elsa's hand seemed perfectly normal.

"What…what does it feel like?" Anna asked. She put her hand closer to the miniature snowstorm. It was almost painfully cold. "When it comes out?"

"There's a little tingling," Elsa said. "Almost electrical. It's rather…pleasant, actually." She closed her eyes, and the swirl of snowflakes became a stream, shooting upward like a geyser. Anna tipped her head back as the flakes drifted back down around her, eyes closing at the sensation of them melting against her skin.

"This is amazing," she murmured. She opened her eyes to see Elsa biting her lip and watching her, and she resisted the temptation to reach out and tug Elsa's lip from between her teeth with her thumb. "What? What is it?"

Elsa shook her head. "Nothing. Let's go in."

They went back into the bedroom. Elsa spotted Anna's backpack leaning against the wall by the door. "You're getting ready to leave, aren't you?" she asked.

"I..um..yes," Anna said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I tried to sleep, but I'm just too wired, I kept getting up to check the doors, and it's a long ride back and I just figured I'd get a jump on it even though it's not light out yet and - "

"Anna." Elsa's fingers came up to cover her lips, a small smile on her face. "You're rambling."

"Sorry," Anna said sheepishly.

"It's okay, I couldn't sleep either."

"Where's Agdar?"

Elsa let out a little giggle. "I think he might actually be dozing, if the chainsaw sounds coming from his room were any indication."

Anna chuckled. "Well, at least one of us will be rested."

Elsa was chewing on her lower lip again, a worried expression flitting over her face. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

Anna shook her head. "I don't want you anywhere around if Hans or his goons decide to show up at Olaf's." She reached out and took Elsa's hand. "But I don't like leaving you."

"You need to make sure Olaf and your cousin are safe. I'll be fine, Anna. You heard Agdar, he's got them cornered."

"Cornered animals can be really dangerous. Please, please don't let your guard down."

"I won't, I promise." Elsa squeezed her hand.

"See me off?" Anna whispered

"Of course."

They walked down to the garage, clinging tightly to each other's hands. Anna loaded her pack into one of the motorcycle's saddlebags, then wiggled into her heavy mesh jumpsuit. Elsa helped her get it up over her shoulders. She tugged the zipper up to Anna's neck and let her fingers linger there. Anna's throat bobbed at the gentle stroke of those cool fingers along the neckline of the suit, and she let her eyes fall closed briefly before taking a deep breath.

"Make sure the doors are locked when you go back in," she told Elsa. "I really, really hate leaving you unprotected."

"I will. Oaken will be here to take me and Agdar to the airport in a couple of hours anyway." She moved her hand up to touch Anna's cheek. "Now promise me that you'll be careful. Please. Don't do anything too, well, Anna-ish."

Anna tried to laugh, but it came out sounding a little choked. She nodded, then slid an arm around Elsa's waist, intending to pull her in for a hug. Elsa's other hand came up to cradle her face. Her lips brushed Anna's, just a faint touch but enough to make Anna's breath hitch. She pulled Elsa closer, and suddenly the hug became a hard kiss, rough and messy in its desperation, their bodies pressed flush together in the dim light of the garage.

They broke the kiss and Anna buried her face in Elsa's neck. She wished fervently for the world to revert to back to how it had been just twenty-four hours ago, when they lay intertwined in Elsa's bed, breathless and sweaty from lovemaking, and oblivious to everything except each other. Anna clung to Elsa and cursed herself for ever having picked up the phone to call Agdar in the first place.

Now Elsa belongs to Arendelle and not to me. I know I'm being selfish, but God, it's just not fair!

She took a shaky breath and pulled out of Elsa's arms. If she didn't go now, she might never be able to leave. "I – I should get going."

Elsa nodded, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. "Be safe."

Anna pulled on her helmet while Elsa raised the garage door. She wheeled the motorcycle out and mounted it, then flipped up the helmet's faceplate. She looked back at Elsa, taking in everything about her, from her bare feet to her shapely legs to her crystal-blue eyes to her long, white-blond hair.

"Elsa, I…" She swallowed hard. I love you. "…I'll see you in the city."

Elsa nodded again and gave her a sad little smile. Anna's gaze stayed riveted on her as she lowered the garage door, and she wondered if this was the last time she would ever see her.

The garage door closed with a muted thump. Anna turned away and kicked the motorcycle's engine to life.

"Oh, shit!" Kristoff swore as the motorcycle roared out of the driveway and onto the road leading down to the town. I should've known that the minute I left the car to get a closer look at the house that something like this would happen. He jumped up from where he was crouched at the tree line and slogged back to the car as fast as he could. Kai had already gotten out and was watching the Honda disappear around the bend.

"She just flew by here," Kai said. "I never saw her coming. How did she get out without you seeing her?"

"Shit!" Kristoff swore again, slamming his hand on the car's hood. "I never saw the garage door open. I didn't even see a light come on. I didn't see anything until the bike cranked up."

"She's already out of sight," Kai said, peering down the road. "So what do we do? Go after the bike or up to the house?"

"I'm not sure we could catch her. That bike is a lot more agile on these mountain roads than this tank," Kristoff said. "So I guess that leaves the house and Elsa, assuming that was Aarndahl on the motorcycle."

Kai looked worried. "We're presuming that Kjarensen is still in the house, but we really don't know for a fact that she was ever there. Until the motorcycle rode off, we hadn't seen either of them since we got here."

"Goddamnit, I knew you were going to say that. She better be there. If we just let Aarndahl ride away and Elsa isn't in that house, I will go out the back and straight up the mountain. And you'll have to come with me, because we're both gonna be screwed."

"So we have to go into the house." Kai pulled his sidearm and looked around nervously. I'm not sure I like this, Kristoff. It could be a setup. We might be walking into right into an ambush. You're unarmed, and we have no backup."

"I don't think we have much choice, do you?"

"No, we don't," Kai said grimly. He hefted his gun. "Just stay behind me."

Dressed in mottled white-gray hunting coveralls and boots, the three men moved quickly and quietly through the trees surrounding the mountain house. Dawn was fast approaching, but the men were virtually invisible in the snow-covered woods, and the fresh powder muffled the sounds of their movement.

Each of the men carried a 9mm semiautomatic pistol with a silencer, and a razor-sharp fighting knife, specially designed to sever the carotid with one efficient stroke. All three of the men had used their knives for just that purpose in the past, and they were prepared to do so again now.

Their orders were clear: everyone in the house must die.

If they executed their plan properly, they would be in and out in no time, perhaps even be back in Arendelle City before evening. After all, it was just two women and a middle-aged man. How hard could it be?

It would not be difficult, Fritz Schlager thought, but it definitely would not be quick, not if he had his way.

Schlager grasped his pistol awkwardly in his left hand as he brought up the rear of the trio. He had taken his right arm out of its sling, and it hung at his side. He had little movement in the useless limb, and even less feeling in it below the elbow. His brother Gustaf had not wanted him to come on this job, but once Fritz found out that Anna Aarndahl was among the targets, he begged his boss to let him in on it. He just couldn't pass up the opportunity.

She had gotten lucky at the cabin. Not only had she been in his sights three times and lived to tell about it, one of her wild shots had hit him in the arm, resulting in what he suspected was going to be permanent nerve damage. But worse than that, she was responsible for his failure to kill Elsa Kjarensen, and the blow to his pride was almost more painful than the bullet in his forearm.

Fritz intended to make Anna Aarndahl pay for the damage to both his arm and his ego. Her elimination would not be quick and painless.

He narrowed his eyes at the two men ahead of him. They were brothers, two large, hulking specimens that were even dumber than they looked. But they were as motivated as Fritz about this job, as they had also once failed to eliminate Elsa Kjarensen – she had slipped through their fingers at the airport, again with the assistance of Anna Aarndahl.

One of the brothers looked back at him, the one with the eye patch. That one might be a problem, as he also wanted revenge on Anna Aarndahl. The man's face was one ugly purple bruise from his brow to his upper lip, courtesy of the broken nose that Aarndahl had given him.

Fritz suppressed a smirk. At least Aarndahl, a willowy slip of a woman, hadn't publically beaten him hand-to-hand and left him lying on a sidewalk outside the airport.

Yes, it would be satisfying to finally run the elusive Aarndahl to ground. They would get rid of her, and then they could take care of their primary targets: Elsa Kjarensen and Agdar Erikksen.

They skirted along the edge of trees, scouting for the best spot to break for the house. The low pre-dawn light worked in their favor, but they wanted to limit their exposure once they burst from the trees. It was unlikely they would be seen, but better safe than sorry. Their last intel update said that Aarndahl was armed, and if she managed to spot them moving over the open ground, she could be deadly.

They reached a spot where the distance between the woods and the house was fairly short, and crouched behind the trees. Fritz saw what looked like a covered deck or patio surrounded by a low wall. There would be a door there leading into the house. There were windows above, probably bedrooms, but they were dark. It was unlikely they would be spotted.

The three men approached the house and slipped over the low wall around the deck, moving past the hot tub toward the solarium. Their plan was simple and direct – hit the house hard and fast. Make sure everyone inside was dead before leaving. Fritz remained on the deck to keep watch, but instructed the other two, "Kill everyone but the redhead. When you have her, come back and get me."

One of the brothers jimmied the solarium door, and the two slipped inside, moving around the pool with a swiftness that belied their bulk. Fritz turned his attention to the road, keeping a sharp eye out. No one would interfere with the job this time.

A/N: Thanks to vesfarhloc and grrlgeek72 for the beta read. Getting closer to the edge now - hope you'll stick with me.