Chapter warning: Description of surgical amputation. Not to worry, it is not overly detailed and Anna is not distressed or agonized during the procedure.

"Anna! Where are you?!"

Kristoff's voice rings out loudly on the calm sea, and Elsa clears her throat to respond in kind.

"We're up here! On the ship! Please, hurry! Is the doctor with you?!" She hears a shout of assent and the scattering thunks of what sound like boots on ice. Satisfied, she flicks her fingers to lower the rope ladder down to the two men. While they climb up, she moves her sister away from the pool of drying blood.

Doctor Oskar Thomsen crosses the ship's handrail clumsily, his large bag obviously a burden for a man of his size.

"Your Majesty, what has happened? The mountain man told me to prepare for amputation!"

"His name is Kristoff." She says shortly, huffing a breath as she sets herself down with Anna in her arms. "And what has taken you so long?"

"My apologies, Your Majesty! His story just seemed so- A-and the fjord! He seemed to know to head toward where the beam of light originated, but we had to commandeer a boat..." He finishes lamely, Elsa's glare withering.

"Am I to understand," she replies, teeth clenched as she pinpoints the root of the delay, "that my sister has endured this agony for longer than necessary because your suspicions caused you to plod your feet? Did the royal seal not satisfy you?!"

Snow whips angrily around the group and Oskar pales, eyes wide with fear.

"W-we were told the princess was dead, which meant that someone else must have used her seal. I thought-"

"It does not matter! You're here now, though I've done most of the work for y-" She cuts herself off and pinches the bridge of her nose, sighing. "I… apologize, Oskar. I am letting my emotions get the better of me. Based on the information you had, there was reason to be suspicious." Kristoff scowls at that, and the corner of Elsa's lips twitch slightly. "Thankfully this mountain man had enough sense for the both of you." Kristoff stands straighter upon hearing her words, and Elsa looks back at the doctor, eyes flashing. "You will treat my sister now, correct?" She holds Anna even tighter. "Or do you require further proof of our authority?"

"Yes, Your Maj- I mean no, Your Majesty! My deepest apologies." His shame and contrition are evident in his downcast eyes as he kneels beside them and busies himself with getting ready. Elsa almost feels badly for treating him this way. She truly does have a temper.

"Y-your Majesty? We need to lay the princess out so that I may examine her. The procedure will have to be done here. Moving her in this state would just be fraught with danger."

He looks far too nervous for Elsa's liking, and she places a careful hand on his shoulder. "I have full faith in your abilities, Oskar. I do apologize for my demeanor. It has been a… stressful experience." She looks at him gravely. "Please, do whatever is necessary to help my sister. You will have my eternal gratitude."

He smiles tentatively, and his shoulders seem to fall in relief. "Of course, Your Majesty. It wouldn't do to have the halls of the castle empty of our dear princess's antics."

She returns a wan smile and begins to extricate herself from Anna's grip, somehow stronger in her unconscious state. With Kristoff's assistance, she lies her sister down on the deck of the ship, resting on her knees beside her, a cool hand stroking a hot forehead.

Oskar tears Anna's sleeve, rolling them up above her elbow before he begins to clean the area with antiseptic. Anna's brow flinches but her breathing remains steady.

"Remarkable…" Oskar murmurs under his breath.

"What is?" Elsa asks. Her eyes reluctantly leave the doctor's hands to peer at his astonished expression.

"Well, Your Majesty, she does not bleed! An injury like this should… forgive me, but even with a tourniquet, if the princess sustained this injury as long ago as I was told, she should be… deceased from blood loss." Oskar inspects the wound closely, presses two fingers to her neck for a few moments, and then looks back to Elsa. "Indeed there is a substantial loss of blood, yet her pulse seems uncommonly strong for such a dire state." He stares at her, and she feels just a little uncomfortable under his admiring gaze. "The tourniquet is slack and yet…"

Elsa regards him evenly. "Ah. Well, as I've said, I did some of the work in your stead, Doctor."

Oskar beams back at her. "Indeed. You may have very well saved the princess's life, Your Majesty."

She is surprised at his lack of questions following that statement. Elsa smiles back at him tremulously and looks to her sister.

Oskar chuckles before nervously broaching the topic she knew needed to be discussed. "Still, I'm… afraid the severity of the wound does necessitate amputation, Your Majesty. She will lose most of her forearm."

Elsa's eyes drift shut and she steels herself. "I trust your judgement, Doctor Thomsen."

He nods, setting up his work station.

Just then, she hears huffs of exertion as a familiar snowman clambers over the ship's handrail, falling with a small wet thump onto the deck. "Olaf!" Elsa can see the distressed state of him, snowmelt dripping onto the deck as he patters over to her.

"Elsa! Oh my goodness, I've been looking everywhere! I found Kristoff like you said to do!" He's bouncing as he talks and his feet plop wetly every time he lands. "And I met the most wonderful school of fish! They didn't see me, but they looked so happy to be together. I bet it's nice not to feel so cold now that summer has returned." His smile is wide and genuine. His carrot nose droops.

"Hold on, little one." Chuckling softly and grateful for the distraction, Elsa waves her hand idly, creating a permanent cloud of snow above the creature.

"My own personal flurry!" He giggles and dances around the deck, no longer dripping with every step. As he pirouettes, his wide eyes seem to spot Anna for the first time since he last left her side, pained and agonized on the fjord. His head stops spinning. His body doesn't. He rights himself slowly, face shifting into a look of fear and concern. "Anna?"

Elsa's mirth evaporates as quickly as it had bubbled up, and she's solemn when she addresses the little creature. "Olaf, Anna will need a little while longer to recover." Elsa decides it best not to be overly detailed in her explanation.

"Can we still play together? I mean, when she gets better? She gives such warm hugs." Olaf sounds so hopeful, and Elsa suppresses a fresh sob.

"I'm sure she'd love nothing more," Elsa replies, false cheer ringing hollow to her ears. Her fear and uncertainty return as she thinks about the future. Anna's future. Her recovery will be long, and she prays that her little sister never loses the mischievous, rambunctious, spontaneous spirit she's had since childhood.

For a while, during their separation, Elsa was worried about this very thing. She could hear how much more dejected and forlorn Anna had become with each and every hopeful visit to her door. It ate Elsa up inside that her failures as a sister were robbing Anna of a normal, happy childhood.

Until one morning, shortly after breakfast, she went to the window to conduct her studies. Sitting there, wrapped up in her work, she idly glanced out of the window down into the grassy courtyard. There, under that magnificent oak tree, she saw her. Just barely eight years old, little Anna was attempting, again and again, to wrap her arms around the enormous trunk in an ultimately fruitless attempt to climb it. For over an hour, Elsa watched, cheering silently for her sister. She saw the look of determination in Anna's eyes when she got back up after a fall. The triumphant smiles that would light up her face whenever she made substantial progress. It was all so… wonderful. It made her heart ache for the days when they would play near the pond for hours, Anna chasing frightened little ducklings and Elsa trying to placate the mother with promises of fresh bread.

She had begun crying then, softly and silently. She missed her sister so, and it was both the greatest pleasure and the darkest torture to watch Anna from her window. Because Elsa knew Anna would be okay without her. She would always push on, create her own luck, and overcome any obstacle. Elsa… wasn't needed. Even if Anna wanted her sister's company - wanted it so deeply that Elsa hated herself for denying her - Elsa knew her baby sister wouldn't simply be fine without her. No, in actual fact, she would thrive.

"...and then I thought we could have a picnic under a tree! For some reason I keep thinking about how wonderful that would be. Don't you think so, Elsa?" Olaf looks at her, innocent eyes expectant.

Elsa gathers herself, smiling fondly at the snowman. She'll be fine. I know she will. "Why yes, Olaf. It sounds like a lovely idea."

He grins, eyes closed, his little twig hands coming together as he giggles.

Elsa gives him another glance before she turns her attention back to Anna. She's still asleep, and the doctor is finishing up his treatment of the injured area, preparing for amputation. She sees an ugly bone saw lying next to him as he tends to her sister, and she hunches her shoulders, hand to her mouth, brow creased with worry once again.

"And you're sure this is the right course of action, Doctor?" She says, entirely aware of the uselessness of the question.

"Quite sure, Your Majesty. Not to worry, Princess Anna will be made as comfortable as possible during the procedure. I'd say I'd stake my life on it, although…" He trails off with nervous laughter.

"Do not worry about such things. I know you'll do your level best to make sure she receives the care she needs." She smiles at him, then looks away, back to Anna's sweat-soaked face. "At any rate, the threat of death hanging over you does no good for Anna, and that is my only concern at the moment."

Oskar nods once to himself. "Regardless, I will not fail Her Highness. Nor you, Your Majesty." He grabs a brown vial of liquid. "We need to get her to ingest this."

"Laudanum?" Elsa hazards a guess. She smiles upon recalling Anna's humor surrounding the subject. In any other situation, Elsa would have paled at the joke, but her sister has always had a knack for appropriate impropriety.

"Quite right, Your Majesty! This will diminish the senses to such a degree that, should she wake up during the process, the most discomfort she would feel would be a dull throb." He grimaces as he continues, "Though it should be obvious that her current state is… preferred… for this procedure." He uncorks the vial and gestures to Elsa. "If you would be so kind as to assist me, Your Majesty?" Upon seeing her swift nod, he says, "We just need to hold her jaw open enough to pour a modest, precise amount down her throat. I'll need you to hold her just… so." He demonstrates with a gentle hand on Anna's jaw, and Elsa maintains that position. "And hold her there as still as you possibly can. We don't want this to reach her lungs."

Elsa nods diligently, brows scrunched in concentration. "Understood, Doctor." She drowns out her own self-doubt and fear with thoughts of future moments with her beloved sister. Maybe a picnic under that great Oak tree, as Olaf had so clairvoyantly suggested.

Oskar sighs. "Perfect! The correct dose is administered, and her body should start feeling dull and sluggish quite quickly."

Elsa watches Anna gulp the medicine down unconsciously. In the back of her mind, Elsa remembers reading about the potentially addictive properties of the substance.

A long road to recovery indeed.

"Your Majesty, you may wish to look away for this. It will be a gruesome sight."

"I will not. Is there any way I can assist further?" Elsa's tone is short. Commanding. "If not, then I will observe. I will not obstruct, but I will not leave her side."

"Truly?" He seems taken aback at this, before gathering himself again, clearing his throat. "My apologies once again, Your Majesty. However, before we discuss how you can assist, we'll need some way to arrange safe transport for the princess, preferable as soon as the procedure is completed."

"I can do that!" Kristoff almost shouts. Elsa had honestly forgotten about the man in all of the commotion.

He's already over the handrail before Elsa stops him. "Kristoff, wait!" She quickly composes a letter requesting a royal guard for a transport from sea. Stamped with the royal seal, she turns to the doctor. "Your signature, Oskar. My… authority may still be in question. Corroboration may hasten their arrival." She resolves to implement new systems of verification soon. She cannot have her command - or Anna's, she realizes - being doubted at every turn.

With the message signed, she hands it to an antsy Kristoff. "Make sure this reaches a castle guard. Each one of them is trained for precisely this situation, and the response will be immediate. As before, answer any questions with total and thorough honesty. Anna's safety depends on this, Kristoff."

He straightens at this and nods once, expression solemn. "Yes, Your Majesty." He glances at Anna, and there is pain in his eyes.

Having learned his lesson last time, he gathers himself and bolts for the side of the ship, Olaf in his arms. "Come on, buddy! Sven needs some company, and Anna needs her privacy, all right?"

"Okay, Sven. Bye, Anna! Bye Elsa! Bye Scary Man With a Saw!"

"Oh! Uh- G-goodbye, Olaf." Oskar sputters. When they've both disappeared over the side of the ship, Oskar looks at her, questioning.

"I think we can trust them. More importantly, Anna already does," Elsa states simply.

With that, the matter is settled.

"I understand, Your Majesty. Now, I believe you asked if there were any other ways you could assist?"

"That's right. I'll do whatever is necessary."

"That is wonderful news! There is the matter of… cauterization," Oskar trails off delicately.

Elsa's brow darts up in shock. Surely the doctor had a plan for this? "Yes?" She responds, jaw tense.

"O-of course there is the standard procedure of using a hot iron. I can certainly employ that method with no difficulties, however the pain will be… intense during the healing process. Normally it's a reality that we must simply endure, but your… gift… offers a better solution." His expression is wary. Guarded.

Her eyes narrow and she speaks plainly. "Do you fear me, Oskar? My gift?" The word is like bile on her tongue.

Oskar releases a bark of laughter far too large for such a small man. "Fear you? But of course! You are my liege. You could command my death at a moment's notice. The power you possess does not inform my fear or respect. What matters to me is how you choose to wield it." His expression softens and he stares at her, unflinching. "Your power can and has caused untold damage and endangered many, but I also know you've returned the summer season to Arendelle, and I know you've saved your sister's life. As far as I'm concerned, in time, your power will be a blessing. I pray it always remains so."

Elsa's composure slips in the face of his trust and acceptance. "You're a good man, Oskar."

"All we can do is try, Your Majesty."

"Indeed." Elsa's smile is warm. Looking back down at Anna, she schools her expression, hand resting on her sister's upper arm. "I am ready, Doctor."

"Then, we begin." Oskar says.

Anna murmurs then, and Elsa's heart hammers.

"Not to worry, Your Majesty. She is quite asleep." Oskar's voice is gentle. Without further preamble, he begins sawing into Anna's flesh, a mere two centimeters above where the wound begins to taper off. The tourniquet had been tightened earlier, but Elsa's magic flows beneath reddened skin, once again slowing the flow of blood. She focuses on trying to encompass the wound, her ice branching out. She cools and numbs the flesh. She can sense a sharp, shooting pain, dulled at her touch, and she smiles brokenly. Through some miracle, she is able to help mitigate her sister's pain, but Anna's hand - and now even more of her - has been taken away, because of her own selfish inaction. It's a small consolation to be of some use to her now.

Oskar's saw is slow and steady, and he explains, "We mustn't rush, Your Majesty. The more precise and cautious we are now, the easier the recovery process will be for the princess."

"Y-yes, of course." Elsa's occasional worried glances between the saw and Anna's sleeping face had not gone unnoticed, then. "Forgive me, I'm simply a mess of worry. It's the consequence of being an elder sister," she smiles weakly.

Oskar chuckles, and the absurdity of the situation hits her with full force. Without some form of levity to distract her, Elsa would have surely gone insane by now.

"Your Majesty, do you know," Oskar says, eyes wide in realization, "that with the flow of blood slowed to such a degree, the process of litigating the blood vessels would be trivial?" He sounds… excited. An odd man.

"Litigating?" The word is familiar to Elsa's ear, but not in a medical context.

"Yes! Tying off the blood vessels to stop the loss of blood. With your gift, the work is simple, and according to my research, the results are far preferable to any form of cauterization alone." A pause. "Your Majesty…" He seems to consider his words carefully, glancing furtively at Elsa.

"Speak plainly, Oskar. Formalities are burdensome at the present moment."

"Yes. Well. I do believe that your gift interacts with Princess Anna in quite an interesting way. However… we do not know the full, long-term effects. She could develop… frostbite." Oskar trips over himself to continue when he sees Elsa's worried frown. "B-but we do not know this for sure! My only point is this: we should be cautious about relying on your gift for a permanent procedure such as this. Slowing the flow of blood is a boon, but going further… I see the ice on her destroyed blood vessels, Your Majesty. It was an ingenious solution, but I'm concerned about her recovery, and the possibility that the permanence of the procedure could be called into question."

Elsa's eyes shift back to Anna's brow, damp with sweat. She runs a cool hand over it. "You are a very skeptical man, Oskar." Her eyes do not leave Anna's face. Oskar's saw remains slow and steady, but he gasps, ready to apologize. This is all so much to deal with. "Do not take back your words, Doctor. In your field, skepticism is a virtue. I appreciate your candor, and it's plain to see that your only concern is Anna's welfare. As is mine. I've said it before, I place my trust in your judgement. Anna's future depends on getting this right. I am… glad… that you've enlightened me as to the risks of my magic's healing aspects. To be truthful, merely two hours prior, I had no notion of using my magic to heal others. It took my sister's cries of agony and unwavering acceptance for the idea to even take root in my mind as something I was capable of. I only want what is best for Anna. My ego does not matter, nor should it. You must do whatever you can to help her. I would sooner die than prevent that."

Her glare is ice, and Oskar visibly shivers at the drop in ambient temperature. "You have my solemn assurance, Your Majesty. Recovery will be difficult, but this entire procedure is fairly routine. And with your… magic," There's an odd stress on the word and Elsa winces, "Slowing the flow of blood, it makes the job so much safer."

"Does it?" Elsa asks, hopeful.

"Yes, indeed, Your Majesty! I am already nearly finished with the sawing, and then it's a simple matter of tying off the blood vessels and suturing the wound shut." He sounds amazed. "Princess Anna is an absolutely wonderful patient, and your assistance has spared her so much agony in the present as well as the future. She is fortunate to have such a resourceful sister to look after her." He smiles broadly.

Elsa returns it automatically. The guilt and shame of her past failures are still present, gnawing at her subconscious, but she allows herself a small measure of pride. Anna will be alright. Her self-loathing can be pushed aside for the moment. She has fulfilled her duty, finally, as an elder sister should.

Elsa's fingers stroke through Anna's fringe of red hair gently. "I can assure you Oskar, between the both of us, I am the more fortunate one." Her smile is fond and eyes gentle as she peers down at her little sister. Elsa marvels at her. She is so small and frail, yet so, so strong.

"We're nearly there, Your Majesty! Just… need to... " He trails off, concentration unwavering as he carefully twines some thread around each major blood vessel. It's painstaking work in the summer sun, and sweat drips from his creased forehead. Elsa waves a few fingers and a gentle winter breeze blows past them. He sighs gratefully. Moments later, with the excess skin pulled taut over the clean wound, Doctor Thomsen sutures it with remarkable speed and precision. A final wipe of disinfectant and he releases a deep exhale, setting his tools beside him and looking over to the Queen. "A rousing success, Your Majesty. Barring any unforeseen complications, she will make a full recovery."

Elsa allows herself to smile openly. Unrestrained. Tears flow freely from her crinkled eyes and a burst of choked laughter bubbles forth. Her trembling hand strokes Anna's forehead and she just wants to gather her sister into her arms and never let go.

"I don't know how I could ever repay you for what you've done, Oskar. You've… saved the both of us." Elsa's voice is thick with emotion.

"Your Majesty," he replies gently, "It is my honor to be of assistance." He clears his throat. "May I… speak candidly, Your Majesty?" His glance shifts to the side, and his expression softens further upon hearing Elsa's murmur to continue. "I have cared for the prin- Anna since she was a child. Always the troublemaker, but with the most stubborn and willful heart of anyone I have ever known." His brown eyes, deep with the wisdom of half a lifetime, regard her with a look of relief. "It brings me such joy to see the two of you reunited at last. You were all she ever talked about, Your Majesty, at least in my presence. Always asking about your health and smiling with delight - and no small dose of skepticism - when I informed her that you were doing well."

Elsa's hand falters as it strokes Anna's brow, and she brings it to her chest. "I… should not be surprised, and yet she manages to leave me feeling so with a startling regularity."

Oskar smiles widely then, eyes focused on his tools and materials as he stows them in his bag. "She really is a wonder, the princess."

"She is." Elsa's eyes are back to Anna's serene expression as she nods, tears forming yet again. She chuckles to herself as she leans in. "I must be mad," she murmurs softly into the space between them, laying a soft kiss on her sister's forehead.

A/N: Work continues! The next chapter brings us back to the present - a good seven months following these last two chapters. I have quite a few things planned for the sisters. Angst, adventure, romance, politics (oh god), sexual tension (eventually)… and even Fluff!

Hold onto your butts!