Elsa opened the door to Anna's rooms a crack and peeked in. She saw Ingrid asleep on the divan, lying down, her legs flopped awkwardly over the edge. Elsa slid into the room and quietly closed the door behind her.

She smoothed Ingrid's hair and gently lifted her feet onto the divan. Elsa perched on the edge of the seat and watched Ingrid sleep for a little while, listening to her quiet breathing.

Satisfied that the girl was resting comfortably, Elsa shifted, about to get up and rejoin Anna. But her movement was enough to rouse Ingrid. Bleary, blinking eyes looked up at her.

"Hello, sleepyhead," said Elsa with an indulgent smile, her eyes crinkling.

Ingrid wailed in despair and rolled away from Elsa, burying her face in the back of the divan, covering her head with her arm.

"Hungover?" Elsa stroked her back, and felt Ingrid tense rock-hard under her hand. She heard muffled sobs. "What is it, mousie?"

"Please don't call me that," said Ingrid, her voice blurred by the cushions. "It's not right."

"Ingrid, what is it? What's the problem?"

"I've failed you. I'm so sorry. I – I'm sorry."

Elsa continued stroking her back. "Ingrid, we've all been through a lot in the past couple of days. There have been a lot of changes, a lot of… Well, I still don't quite know exactly where I stand, or where I'm going, with you or with Anna. Frankly, I think we could all use a few days of peace and quiet to take everything in. But all of us are kind, and we care about each other. I know we'd never mean to hurt each other. And if we have, I think we're all ready to forgive. So whatever it is that's troubling you, we can talk about it. We have to. And in the end it'll be good for us. Now, why do you think you've failed me? Whatever it is, it can't be that bad."

"I don't mean to argue, but it is. It is." said Ingrid. Elsa waited for her to go on. At last Ingrid rolled onto her back so she could look at Elsa. "I fell asleep." Elsa's quizzical look forced her to explain. Her face filled with despair, Ingrid said, "I fell asleep on duty. Worse, I got drunk, and passed out, on duty. I wasn't there for you. I'm a terrible servant and a terrible person. I'm a disgrace."

"Is that all?" asked Elsa, forcing herself not to giggle.

"It's enough. It's more than enough. My first full day as your amanuensis – No, it's not even a full day. The day's not over, and here I am…" Her lip trembled as she fought not to cry. "Here I am. Like this!"

Elsa almost wept with relief – and with the effort of not laughing. "Ingrid, you're a good servant, and a good friend. It's all right." As Ingrid shook her head, Elsa said, "It is. It's fine. Anna told me what happened. She said for you to have some wine, and I know you wouldn't refuse an instruction from the royal family, so actually it's all on her. You're as blameless as ever. Was it really the first time you had wine?"

Ingrid, still a little groggy, paused to think. "Not if you count communion wine. But otherwise, yes."

Elsa sat up straight and adopted a serious expression. "I see. Well, I shall have firm words with Princess Anna about being more responsible with our servants." Her face softened into a smile. "And with our friends and loved ones."

Ingrid's mouth quivered as she tried to sort through the guilt, pride, relief, and devotion that were buffeting her like a storm. "Thank you. I'll make you proud."

"You already make me proud, mouse. I don't think I've told you enough how proud I am. You'd already done and learned so much before I met you, and I've seen how much you've grown since."

A sunny smile dawned on Ingrid's face. "Thanks to you, my queen. I owe so much to you. You made me who I am."

"You made yourself who you are."

"No, it's… I know who I am. I'm not a leader, I'm a follower. It's my nature to serve. And whoever I serve shapes me." She smiled even wider. "That's why I chose you."

"You chose me, did you?" Elsa's smile became a smirk. "I seem to recall a terrified junior chambermaid coming to my study, shaking like a leaf. Are you telling me that even then you were planning on winning my heart?"

Ingrid blushed. "No, not like that. I chose to work for you. I wanted to serve someone good and kind and wise, someone I would always be proud to work for. Someone I would want to be shaped by. You."

"I'm not that wonderful."

Ingrid looked at her, clear-eyed. "You are."

Uncomfortable, Elsa steered the conversation away. "And how did you manage to choose to work here? There are only so many positions on the staff, even after we – I – opened the gates."

"I asked."

"It's that simple."

"Yes."

Elsa tilted her head. "Really?"

"Every morning, except Sundays, I came to the servants' door and asked if they had any work. After six weeks, Gerda said yes."

"Six weeks?" Elsa was taken aback. "Is that all?"

"And I worked very hard."

"I see. I thought you said it was easy."

Ingrid shook her head sombrely. "I said it was simple."

Elsa patted Ingrid's thigh. "The more I learn about you, the prouder I am." She sat up, dusted her hands off. "Now. I'm off to meet Anna for dinner. I suggest you – No, I instruct you to rest here until you're recovered, and then get something to eat. I'll see you again this evening."

"A moment, please, if I may." Hearing Anna's name had triggered a faded thought in Ingrid's mind. "There was…something important. To do with Anna. And Kristoff. If I can just think of it. I beg your indulgence, but if you could give me a moment…"

"Of course." Elsa got off the divan so Ingrid could get up.

Ingrid paced as she thought. "Anna was telling me what happened with, um, that night. And there was… I apologize, I'm not making sense."

Elsa sat down again, watching Ingrid, fascinated. "No, please, go on."

Ingrid continued, half to herself, as she walked through the actions of that night. "He was nervous. He wanted to keep Anna here. He wanted to talk to her. She wouldn't listen. She led him into…"

As Ingrid entered Anna's bedroom, Elsa got up and followed, bemused. She leaned against the doorframe as Ingrid played both parts in the drama. "They were by the bed. He still wanted to talk. They kissed. He asked her to stand. He asked her to face away. He knelt down next to the bed, next to Lissi's uniform. To tuck it back under the bed."

Elsa, despite herself, was getting lost in the playlet being performed for an audience of one. No, an audience of two. She's performing this for herself.

Ingrid knelt down. She stood up. She put a hand to her chin and thought. She knelt, and brushed her hand across the floor, hiding a phantom dress. She stood again. She scuffed her foot.

"Why was he kneeling? Why wouldn't he push the dress with his foot? It's the sort of thing he'd do. He's a man, he doesn't care about fabric. But he – why did he kneel – " Ingrid's face went pale. "Oh dear." She stood motionless.

"Ingrid." No response. "Ingrid." Elsa took a half-step towards her.

Ingrid returned to the present, and met Elsa's eyes. "I – Elsa, there's something I want you to know." She swallowed. "As much as I want to be with you in every way, I hope you know that I would not put myself forward at your expense, or Anna's."

"Of course," said Elsa, puzzled, as she folded her arms, hugging herself.

"This may – complicate things," said Ingrid. Elsa nodded for her to continue. Ingrid unconsciously mimicked Elsa's posture, folding her arms against herself. "Kristoff was kneeling. It's the custom, among some commoners, for a man to kneel in front of a woman when he…when he is about to propose marriage."

Elsa dropped her arms. "What?" Ingrid nodded. "That's impossible! He didn't ask me for her hand. He didn't even mention it. How could he propose without my blessing?"

Ingrid grimaced. "Some men ask the woman first. Girls are not as scary as fathers. Or…you."

"He couldn't wait until I came back?"

"He may…have been counting on your absence. To have the courage."

"But…" Now it was Elsa's turn to pace and think. "If he was about to propose to Anna, why was Lissi undressed in the closet?" The bedclothes fluttered in an icy breeze.

Ingrid timidly raised a hand. "I have a theory."

"Well?" Elsa winced when she realized she'd snapped at Ingrid. "Sorry. I'm a little… Sorry."

Ingrid acknowledged the apology with a nod. "I think… That is, Lissi and I used to work together. I suspect in my absence, she was…trying on Anna's dresses." Ingrid paused for breath. She wasn't used to talking this much. "She heard Kristoff. He scared her. She hid in the closet." Ingrid dipped her head. "I suppose."

Elsa brushed past Ingrid and sat on the bed to think. It made sense. At least as much sense as Kristoff cheating on Anna. Maybe more. But why didn't he say he was about to propose? She flopped backwards on the bed and stared at the ceiling. No, if he was that nervous in front of Anna, how nervous would he be in front of Anna and a half-undressed maid? She sighed heavily. It all made sense. "So now Kristoff's been unjustly banished, and Anna and I…" She sighed again, even more deeply.

After a minute, Ingrid cleared her throat. "I'm sorry to intrude on your thoughts, but I believe Anna is waiting for you in the dining room."

"Anna. Of course." Elsa raised her hands, and Ingrid pulled her to her feet. She smoothed her dress, patted her hair in place. "Well, there's good news."

"I…hope so."

"At least we have something to talk about over dinner."