'Okay. Let me see if I got this straight. Devil invites you to a private little meeting to admit defeat and get himself locked up? Then, he tries to make everyone believe that Grand Pabbie – you know, the oldest and kindest troll in Kristoff's family – is some kind of evil mastermind? Is this sounding right?' Anna was sitting up in her bed, her nightgown pulled over one of her shoulders and her hair in a complete mess of hilarity.

'Mostly; yes.' Elsa made a face that showed she was just as confused as her sister.

Elsa had ended up disturbing Anna's night rest, but she now knew it had been the better of two options. Talking out her thoughts and attempting to make sense of all the paths that had suddenly became available to her was better than wallowing in sinking anxiety. Anna was the only one she could talk to without any reservations whatsoever, and that's precisely what the queen of Arendelle needed in this moment.

'Huh! And why wasn't I told about the party?' Anna crossed her arms and started rocking a little on her bed.

'I…didn't want to put you in any kind of danger. I wasn't sure what was happening, and I knew it would be difficult for me to act perfectly as the queen with you nearby.

'You saying I distract you a little bit?' Anna grinned.

'Maybe…'

'Heheh! Well, then; I guess that's kind of okay with me.'

Elsa took a second to absorb Anna's room. It had always been Anna coming to get Elsa when they were growing up, so actually taking in the minor details of where Anna's most private life occurred was somewhat pleasant. The hues of Anna's décor and walls were, naturally, a much warmer toned preference than Elsa's. The sheets on the bed, the curtains, and the various stuffed animals snuggled whoever resided within the space for longer than a brief spot of time. There were hints of a young woman living within the four walls, with a dress from the night before draped over a vanity desk's chair, and various pieces of jewelry sprawled about the same table. Anna's mirror was identical to Elsa's, but something in the older sister twisted in delight when she thought of Anna prepping for the day, evaluating herself and deciding whether or not she looked okay when the maids weren't required to do so for her. Despite the cool summer night, Anna's room was the warmest place in the palace, and Elsa could bathe in her sister's light forever if she was given the option.

'So, what's the plan, then? I mean, is that it? Devil's locked up, our names are cleared, and everything seems pretty much honky-dory other than Grand Pabbie, right?'

'Seems would be the key word in that question.'

'Oh? You think Devil is up to something?'

'…It's difficult to know for sure. He's impossible to predict. Clearly he has something in mind, but I can't help but believe what he has to say at times. He doesn't appear to be lying, and although he stretches the truth to its breaking point, he never flat-out deceives anyone. He leaves it to human nature and weakness to create the chaos he wants to witness. He refuses to get his own hands dirty if he can help it. Such an enigma…'

'Hmm…' Anna thought hard as well. 'Maybe if we ask Grand Pabbie we can find something out? I can't think of anything else. Him or Gerda, right?'

'True. But Gerda can hardly speak or stand. She's in a terrible state, and I fear that pressing her for more information would only lead to further pain. She is likely so very ill because she actively betrayed whatever agreement she had with Devil. Her involvement should be kept to a minimum so that she can heal properly.'

Anna nodded, sprawling out on the bed then and patting the spot next to her for Elsa to lay as well. The queen undid her dress's front buttons, and the fabric loosely folded across her chest as she shifted into a position similar to her little sister. They both stared at the ceiling that was a pinkish red turned light blue in the night's lighting and sighed almost simultaneously.

'What else can you do? I'm glad you didn't hurt Devil. That would've been too cruel.' Anna's hand crawled a few inches and held Elsa's, the coolness from one sister melding with the warmth of the other. 'I totally get what Daryun and Leonard were saying, but I don't think Devil deserves to just be offed like that.'

'I agree with you, of course.' Elsa sighed, gripping her sister's hand tightly and closing her eyes. 'But I wonder if we're just too soft to rule a kingdom. I'm sure most monarchs wouldn't have thought twice about it.'

'Oh, yeah. We're two fluffy pillows, you and me. But I like us like that. Obviously if Devil had caused a bunch of Arendelle people to suffer and really get hurt, then we might have to make a tough call, but he's more focussed on you and making you face some pretty nasty stuff head on.'

Elsa's eyelids fluttered, and she found herself wide awake suddenly.

'He wanted our relationship to be found out.'

'Yeah. I think so, too.'

'He wanted to see how our people would react.'

'…Well, he sorta got a sneak peak.'

'It wasn't a pretty picture, surely, but…it wasn't completely awful either. The council wanted me off the throne the moment they found out, but if I had Arthuria's support, then maybe…'

'Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Elsa!' Anna propped herself onto her elbow. 'You're not actually thinking of…like…letting people know about us, are you?'

Elsa sucked in her lips and looked at her sister longingly.

'It is something that has crossed my mind more than a few of times, I suppose.'

'S-seriously?'

'Seriously.' Elsa turned so she was laying sideways and could see Anna's dark-hued silhouette. 'I love you, Anna. I do. And I hate lying. I'm the queen. I shouldn't be setting such a horrible example for my people.'

'I get it, but…' Anna faced her sister as well, moving their held hands up so they were almost touching one another's chest. 'I don't think even we could get away with something like this. We're sisters. We're…sisters…' Anna's voice cracked, and Elsa shuffled in closer to the girl, a seldom release of the bundle of energy's emotions hidden by the night's blanket. 'I even have trouble with that fact, Elsa. I-I honestly do. I can feel it. I can tell that something is weird about the incredible love I have for you.'

'…Me, too.' Elsa admitted, her stomach turning. 'Do you…regret what we've become?' The queen forced herself to ask.

'No. Never.' Anna snapped. 'I question it, but that doesn't mean I would change our relationship for the world. I definitely want to be with you out and in the open. I don't want to be scared to hold your hand. I want to say you look beautiful in the streets and not get strange looks from everyone. I want to kiss you anytime and anywhere. I care about you so much, and yet…'

Elsa used her free hand to wipe the tears she could hear being shed down her little sister's cheeks.

'And yet, you're going to get married…' Anna sobbed. 'You'll get married…and it won't be to me…'

Elsa lost her breath, her whole body freezing in place. An old, old memory surfaced of Elsa, Anna, and their parents in an expansive, gorgeous rolling field. Elsa was placing a clumsily made laurel of flowers on Anna's auburn head. The smile Elsa's sister gave her then made her heart convulse.

'Anna…'

'Sorry.' Anna sniffed. 'Sorry. J-jeez. I'm a mess. Funny how the feelings can really take over a girl, huh?'

'You don't have to pretend anymore, Anna. It's okay to cry; especially when it's just you and I.'

Anna hesitated, but then curled into Elsa, nuzzling her head into her elder sister's breasts.

'It's just frustrating. I'm super frustrated. As things start to settle down, I can't stop thinking about what we could have if the world just was more accepting…But even if it was…And around and around I go in my silly brain.'

'I know what that's like.' Elsa stroked Anna's tangled head. 'It's partially why I'm here. Too much happened today. I was spiraling again. I needed you.'

'I always need you. I never want to be without you. I mean, you make everything I love in life shine a thousand times more beautifully.' Anna wrapped her hands around Elsa, gripping at her back and holding her so tight it almost hurt, but Elsa didn't exactly mind.

'…I can't promise I won't try something foolish, Anna.' Elsa finally stated with a crazed resolve. 'Do I have your permission to attempt such an insane reveal if the opportunity and odds are in our favour?'

Anna giggled, wind chimes to Elsa's ears.

'Just give me a heads up, okay? I totally want to help.'

The sisters laughed together, and the tears turned to the joy found in each other's company just so.

'Heheh! Other than that…I suppose I will simply have to play it by ear. We need to pay a visit to Grand Pabbie, it seems, and once Arthuria gets back to me, we can move forward with that situation. I might conduct an interview with Devil myself as well, and lastly…'

'Lastly?' Anna kissed Elsa's neck, and the queen trembled at the soft warmth of the girl's lips upon her skin.

'My magic. My magic continues to be difficult…'

'That's true, isn't it?' Anna shot up.

'Yes. I've pushed it too far, I think. I was told to let it recover ever since I injured my head but, if anything, I have only pushed it harder than normal these last couple of weeks. I fear I may have damaged my ability to wield it proper for a very long time.'

'Um…what?'

'It's beyond temperamental at this point. I planned on speaking with Grand Pabbie about it, but if Devil is telling the truth about him…then I'm not sure who to turn to.'

'Hmph. That's sort of a problem, isn't it? Does anyone else know?'

'Possibly Devil, but beyond him, I don't think so. I've only outwardly stated a problem with you. If others were to find out that the "Ice Queen" of Arendelle was crippled in any way, well, I do not like the scenarios that come to mind as a result.'

'Hmm…' Anna laid herself down on her back again and let Elsa draw imaginary shapes on her exposed collar. 'How about Rynn, then? It sounded like she knew a thing or two about magic. I mean, she sorta kinda changed Arthuria's body and all that, right? That's pretty magical.'

Elsa paused her tickling of Anna long enough for the smaller girl to weasel in closer, soundlessly begging for more, which the queen happily provided after her mind processed what had just been suggested.

'Should Grand Pabbie's conversation go poorly, that might be a very good alternative, yes. Thank-you.'

'Heheh. I love it when I help.'

'Me, too. A reward is in order.' And Elsa moved into position to meet Anna's mouth with her own, a passionate, lingering, tender kiss exchanged between the sisters before they embraced and pulled the covers over themselves, beaming into one another's eyes affectionately.

'Best reward ever!' Anna yawned, pressing her head onto Elsa's and welcoming a nap before separating for the night, the royal siblings of Arendelle knowing that yet another eventful day awaited them in too few hours.