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Chapter Text

"Staring out the window won't make time go by quicker." The queen of Arendelle glanced to the left, prompted by her husband's good natured quip. Anna's breath fogged the glass temporarily before resting her forehead against it with a dull thud. Arendelle's atmosphere was what could be described as warm, which may have been due to the July sun which had just descended behind the mountains.

Fireflies floated along the city—avoiding capture from children—while adults mingled, talking to a passerby they recognized, and shopped. Lantern rays of light sent an orange haze casted over cobblestone and faces. Despite herself, Anna wanted to enjoy the homely setting. It was like a picture was quaintly painted in real time before her, if only she could muster away this damn anticipatory feeling that felt as if time couldn't move fast enough.

Her nerves relaxed somewhat while Kristoff's hand firmly grasped her shoulder, his long fingers adeptly massaged some tension away, while his other hand rested on Anna's opposite arm giving small circles drawn with his thumb. It was an invitation for Anna to rest her head just below the crook of his chin. She sighed in the position for what felt like the hundredth time in the past few hours. "I wonder what's keeping her."

Kristoff shrugged, displacing Anna's head momentarily. "Probably being a spirit." His sarcasm, conspicuous as it was, did not get a rise out of Anna like he intended to in order to distract her.

"Still… I mean, it's always something, you know? Either she's having to reroute migration routes for animals, or she's accosting poachers, or stopping a herd of reindeer from stampeding off a cliff from being spooked by said poachers!" She threw up her hands, nearly smacking Kristoff in the chin before breaking away from the embrace, sitting on the couch. Her legs crossed, bouncing. 

"She does have time to relax and take it easy but when things get busy, they get hectic." Kristoff said, joining her on the couch. "And that was just last week." At first, Anna had assumed two years ago when she had ascended to the throne and her sister ascended to her... non secular position. The overly stressed woman would be able to live and frolic with the other spirits, pursuing whatever venture she so pleased. While, yes, she did do those things, Elsa was still Elsa; Altruistic and courageous. She lended a hand wherever said hand was needed, fiercely protecting the forest and all of its inhabitants. No matter how big or small.

Anna grinned in recollection. Last year Elsa spent the summer helping a duckling find his flock. It was comedic seeing the spirit bend down while holding the small animal gently in her cupped hands, presenting him to numerous wild hens asking: "Is this her? No? Okay, don't worry. We'll find her." Oh, how happy Elsa was when the little duck nearly leapt from her arms and swam out onto the pond, quacking loudly at an adult hen who guided it to fall in line with his siblings. Her smile was gigantic when she turned to Anna who found the expression utterly contagious.

Even Kristoff began chuckling at the end of the story Anna brought up. He ran his fingers through his already disheveled hair. "She spent. The entire summer-" a giggle bubbled from his throat. "-Interviewing ducks!" The irony was not lost on Anna. Elsa went from writing tax legislations and charters to interrogating possible parental water fowl. She leaned against him, still laughing silently. That was her Elsa and she wouldn't have her any other way.

A shrill scream followed by bellows of fear had Kristoff and Anna upon their feet instantly. They only looked at each for a second before rushing to the window to see people running, some grabbing their children and families ducking into buildings. "What the hell?" Anna breathed. A large object fell in front of them causing her to jump back and yelp. Looking down they saw that it was a piece of the castle's roof lying splintered on the courtyard below. "Go find Olaf and Sven, get them inside." She ordered Kristoff who looked hesitant at leaving her.

"You stay inside as well." He ordered back with a pointed finger before kissing her head and rushing out the room leaving the door ajar.

A large shadow appeared hulking over the roof, footsteps sounded as if a giant cat had made its perch. Returning to the window, Anna's pupils blew out when a fast glistening blur consisting of different hues of blues, grays and light purple spread out its wobbly wings and glided downward to an adjacent roof of a shop. Anna watched in terrific horror at the beast, which scraped and distressed tiles trying to gain balance. Its body was held up by four strong legs, going down to paws which possessed lethal talons. 

The long tail ended in a trident like fluke. A flow of cyan fur—darker than its skin—trailed from the shoulder blades to a shaggier mane, which grew slightly over the eyes between two ear appendages. Below the shoulder blades, where the fur ended, a curved spin began going down its tail in slightly indented ridges. And the eyes, those eyes. Anna's heart raced at the expression of the creature who seemed to be now staring back at her. Its pupils were slits, intelligent, and angry. It growled crouching, poised like a lynx.

Archers took aim and shot at it but their arrows simply bounced off the surprisingly armored creatures body, it didn't look to be so hard yet the iron could not pierce its hide. It roared at them, high pitched and guttural with fangs being put on display. They were terribly sharp. They dripped with saliva, as its lips retracted back to expose more of the weapons. Anna pressed her hands against the window when its chest lit up ominous sapphire traveling up to its neck. Mouth closed, it inhaled deeply. Anna screeched "Move!" The men must have had the same thought, since it was impossible for them to hear her. They retreated, as it spewed blue and pink flames which seemed to escape its nostrils as well. The flames spread out below the building it resided on. It wasn't aiming at them? Anna didn't take time to calculate the creature's misfire and ran down the hall, the entire castle was in a frenzy.

Once at the stairs, Anna bumped against a chest sending her to the ground ungracefully. "Your majesty? Are you alright?" Mattias panted, helping Anna to her feet quickly surveying her for injury then looked down at the commotion of men rushing outside.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine, I'm fine. What-" Anna began, hands raising to her head not quite touching it before halting, words seemed impossible to form for both of them at the moment.

Anna moved to head outside when Mattias ignored protocol and impeded her physically. She looked up at him daringly but he met her gaze with kind worry. Concern was an understatement for the man. "Your majesty, I couldn't possibly let you go out there with that-" as if punctuating his sentence another roar followed by bellowing of men traveled to them. While he was distracted Anna took the sword from his sheath, hiding a wince. The sword was heavier than expected

She hurt her shoulder brandishing a weapon so cavalier. "My husband is out there Mattias, and so are my people. I refuse to hide here while they're in danger." She resolutely held the sword in two hands with a determined scowl. Sighing he had seen that look before. What was more dangerous? Rock trolls or a mysterious monster that controlled the fire of Hell itself?

"Your Majesty," a soldier bowed to Anna, he hid his surprise quite well at the sight of his queen but Anna still caught it. She chose not to take offense. He then turned to his military superior. "General Mattias, the creature has moved to the north side of the city." He reported. His chest showed that his breaths were haggard and fatigued, as soot clung to his once neat uniform and face.

"Should we evacuate?" Anna asked.

Mattias looked around at the destruction. "I don't know yet, but it doesn't seem able to completely demolish buildings. Any casualties?" The soldier shook his head drawing a relieved sigh from Anna. Yet, wasn't that odd? She kept her thoughts to herself, just willing to be grateful for the oddity.

Her eyes glanced back, searching for any sign of Kristoff, Olaf and Sven. "Just a few injured but I don't think we'll have to amputate this time sir." Mattias chuckled shortly at the soldier's ability to wisecrack in a situation like this while Anna gave a small grin.

"I have to go find Kristoff, on the way I'll start guiding people to the castle for refuge." Anna declared. Her general nodded in her direction.

"We'll spread the word to those residing on the north side, and hopefully either drive the monster out or slay it."

Anna frowned. She didn't like the word monster even if it wasn't in reference to Elsa. Still she grunted in confirmation and ran eastward toward the castle yelling instructions in the streets to meet her there for shelter.

Mattias and the soldier winced at how she was swinging the sword around during her sprint. 

"You aren't supposed to be here, you know!" Nokk neighed wildly as if in agreement with Elsa. She raised her hand blocking the alternative path the animals tried to take. Halting on their hindquarters they quickly diverted to the correct way. They growled and yipped as Elsa rode behind them, brow set downward. At first it was quite confusing for them to be chased by a prey animal but Nokk was not and never had been anyone's prey.

Her eyes scanned ahead for any cracks or nooks a wolf could slip thr- "Oh for crying out loud!" She exclaimed as one did exactly that. She leaned down caressing Nokk's neck. "Keep them in the right direction, don't hesitate to give them a little bath if they give you trouble." He grunted glancing back at her slowing down only slightly so she could hop off and chase the wayward wolf. To keep up Elsa created a slip stream of ice to glide on into a small ravine. The wolf whined at the inconvenience of the dead end being nothing more but a sheer wall of rocks. "I told you not to come this way." The calm voice earned a growl but the spirit remained resolute, his haunches raised and ears lowered. Sensing his tightening stance and impending charge, an ice pillar was erected just in time which Elsa stood upon. The animal looked confused at first then to Elsa's surprise looked up and tried jumping at her snapping his jaw audibly. Elsa smiled, shaking her head.

She wondered if he was this much trouble for his family. Despite his fruitless efforts to bite her he banged his head at the base only stepping away to paw at his ears... She frowned looking down. "Stop that." She berates. "You'll hurt yourself." Jumping down the pillar lowered while Elsa began slowly stepping to the left. The wolf copied her, their gazes on each other never wavering. She continued the dance until his back was to the way they came from. "Go on you, back to your pack." She commanded softly yet held firm. He barked saliva flinging from his jaws. Elsa smiled at his stubbornness. More bull than wolf.

A fast spritz of fire alighted along the ground and stopped by Elsa's side. "Hey big guy." Bruni didn't greet her back and charged the wolf with his back alit in pink and purple flames, screeching a supposed war cry. The wolf yelped at the heat and sprinted back to the pack but they'd trail him just to be sure. "You coulda got here earlier you know?" Animals did tend to fear fire more than ice.

Bruni squeaks climbing up her dark blue pants leg to her neck. Elsa chuckled, casting some ice over her shoulder extinguishing Bruni's lingering flames. He started to complain so she doused his mouth with snowflakes before taking off in an easy jog after the pack.

The rain brought on an extra giddy canter to Nokk's steps while Bruni slept behind her hair like a curtain. Her body was sore from the day's exertion and Nokk's bounce didn't placate it by any means but he was having fun and she wouldn't ruin it. Elsa cracked open one eye to see even his head was swinging to some imaginary beat. Moments like this were rare for the usually stoic steed, who only played with her and Bruni. 

He's probably just humoring us if anything.

Picking up the pace so she could make it to Arendelle before the sun completely set would only be possible if she took the shortcut by sea.

Entering Northuldra, Honeymaren waved at Elsa as she trotted by. "Elsa, you better hurry! Anna sent a second letter this time, so someone's in trouble.'' She waved the sealed parchment, allowing Gale to carry it over to Elsa who playfully winced and thanked them both, stating she would read it once she reported her success to Yelena. As she made her way through the village, she saw the others taking refuge in their huts and shelters as the rain became heavier.

Going inside of Yelena's tent the woman was looking over a map on the wall marking what looked to be the canyon that Elsa had herded the wolves through. "Hello Elsa, how was it?" She asked calmly.

Elsa was careful to freeze the water she was soaked in and flung it outside to not damage the soft carpet. "Well, we trailed them all the way back to the path, which would lead them to the base of the north mountain and to the north woods, but I don't doubt that they'll be back. Unmarked territory with prey animals would be far too tempting for them to resists." Still Elsa didn't worry about the wolves or other animals that wandered into the enchanted forest, since slowly but surely they would be reintroduced to the ecosystem by Elsa and the other spirits when the time was right. As well, when the Northuldrans were properly educated about the different species.

"Yes, well, hopefully animals are all that wander in." Yelena thought solemnly as she finished marking the path with a circle from where the wolves entered and left the territory. "You're probably eager to get to your sister so I won't keep you. Thank you, Elsa."

Elsa smiled warmly. "All in a day’s work." Outside, underneath a tree, she opened Anna's letter which Bruni sniffed curiously. "How mad do you think she'll be this time?" She asked Gale who was swirling rather oddly in her hair. The wind didn't feel playful as it usually was, more stressed and strained if anything. Humming, Elsa looked down and began reading. The more she read the quicker her breath became before she stopped altogether dropping the letter into the wet grass.

Ryder yelped, jumping into his sister's arms as Elsa rode Nokk dangerously fast past them. They looked after her quizzically at the sudden and abrupt behavior. Glancing at each other, neither had an answer.

Anna heard cheers erupt as Elsa galloped into the castle courtyard, worry furrowing her brow. She leapt down from Nokk who neighed and began counting on the cobblestone. She was enveloped in a tight hug but it was welcomed as the comforting chill and scent of her sister wafted her senses. She exhaled heavily. "Are you okay?" Elsa said into her hair. She nodded, not wanting to break the embrace. Elsa pulled away, scanning around. "Is Olaf alright, what of Kristoff and Sven?"

"All fine." Anna confirmed. "Kristoff is helping Matthias calm everyone, and Olaf is calming Sven."

"Elsa!" Elsa smiled as the snowman grabbed her legs.

"I stand corrected." Anna said. Elsa knelt and hugged him until his attention was turned to Nokk.

"And Puddles!" he squeezed Nokk's leg, who slowly lifted it from his grasp. "You know, I feel like we don't ever hangout."

"Whoa." Elsa took in the damages caused by the supposed creature. Roofs were destroyed with debris laying here and there, the rain turned out to be very serendipitous indeed having drowned the flames.

"What happened?"

Anna grabbed her hand and began leading her inside. "You're going to want to sit down for this one."

Elsa shook her head. "I don't think that's going to be true." If anything she was sure the details of the attack would cause her to stand of all things but she let Anna lead her to what used to be her study.

It was less organized and evidence of Anna making herself quite comfortable over the years was evident. From the books out of alphabetical order to a plate that surprisingly was left with one scone which had a bite in it. Elsa pointed to it as Anna basically plopped down with a huff. "Was that yours?" She asked crafting a chair to sit beside Anna who nodded. Elsa delicately took it and began eating. She waited patiently for Anna to begin. She retold the events that happened a few hours earlier. Elsa remained hooked on every word, leaning closer.

"How did they escape?"

"Come on men! Don't let it escape your sights!" Arrows knocked against crossbows and bows aimed at the beast as it skidded rather clumsily from rooftop to rooftop. Until it ran out of space to jump It turned and the familiar glow rose up in its chest. Mattias cupped his mouth to amplify his voice. "Take cover!' he ordered. The men yelled ducking into alleys as others who didn't have a choice dove into the water. Mattias gritted his teeth as heat blazed near the gutter he hunkered down in. Satisfied that pursuit was now impossible due to the flames it jumped from the roof and ran as best it could along the bridge. Mattias watched as it limped into the treeline.

Elsa grabbed Anna's shoulders and pulled her close. This was all her fault she concluded, if she could have been on time she could have maybe hel- "Stop it." A soft voice pulled her back to see Anna eyeing her gently yet forthcoming with her displeasure. Elsa sighed, it wasn't often as before she'd fall into self deprecation but during extremely specific situations such as these the old habit wormed its way back to mind in order to attempt and replant itself growing weeds of doubt and guilt.

"I'll find them Anna." Elsa promised, looking forward.

"Elsa we don't even know what it is-"

"But we have a description. I can track them down and drive them away. If fire is their main weapon then I'm the best defense we have against them." Anna sighed then reached up and flicked her forehead. Elsa's neck retracted back then she glanced to the side at her. "Anna, I'm not just meant to protect the enchanted forest, but Arendelle as we-"

"That wasn't for our previous discussion which isn't over by the way, but because you were late to game night."

Elsa made an oh face then gave an apologetic smile. "I'll try to avoid that."

"What kept you anyways?"

"I was herding a pack of wolves." Anna sat up then frowned. Her mouth opened then closed several times putting her hands in her lap.

"What?" she finally asked, turning her head.

Elsa chuckled and then explained her and the spirits conservation efforts to reintroduce the Enchanted forest into a stable ecosystem. She left out Yelena's worries of humans finding it and exploiting it, angering the spirits once again. Elsa then would remind her that she too was a spirit and would not only protect the forest but educate potential visitors of its importance, how crucial it was to keep the bond between man and nature alive and strong.

That night however Elsa kept diligent watch over Arendelle. She sat perched up on her bed as Anna snored, secured snuggly into her side. She gazed out the window. She would begin tracking the creature tomorrow morning. This was a thorn in her plans of staying in Arendelle for a few days, but she had to protect her people, her family. She just hoped whoever was out there was in a listening mood.

Chapter Text

Okay, so maybe the creature wasn't in a listening mood after all and decided to just drop off the face of the earth but Elsa could not leave that to chance. She frowned as her eyes skirted across the green and vibrant summer landscape. She was grateful at not being prone to sunburn due to her constant lowered temperature. This allowed her to wear less constrictive clothing, her white short sleeved tunic was opaque and billowy exposing just one shoulder while the other shoulder had a intricately woven snowflake crest of the spirits upon it. Her blue pants were more tight yet flexible meeting above where her ankles were, and her feet well. . . Elsa had discovered she enjoyed open toed shoes and sandals when her environment allowed it. Sometimes going completely barefoot with simply compacting ice along the palms of her feet allowing to feel the earth more intimately.

Materializing a telescope she took one more sweep of the valley below. Grunting in dissatisfaction she held on as Nokk reared to back away from the cliff's edge galloping down the ridge. So they weren't in the valley but based on what Mattias had reported the creature was injured and no animal Elsa had ever encountered stayed in the open during a vulnerable state. Still she would leave no stone unturned and keep her promise to Anna.

"Any sign of them?" She asked Gale, gusting by her head. The fellow spirit left with a somber mood, Elsa huffed as Nokk tredd to the forest, lowering his speed to a rushed trot. Elsa had never felt her eyes become so hyper focused in all her life as every slight movement caught her attention. Unfortunately every other movement was either a rabbit, a bird or nothing.

"Well Anna has absolutely no need to be concerned, since I can't even find them." Dejected Elsa let her mind wander to the early morning.

"Are you sure you don't want to take Mattias with you or some guards? They'd be more than willing." Elsa bemoaned at Anna's bemoaning and took her eyes from the last of the books that she was packing into her satchel, some were objective to figuring out what she was exactly tracking, others were more indulgent reads she found while scouring the library for Intel. Slinging the strap around her shoulder Elsa took a cleansing breath. Before she could reply Kristoff beat her to the punch.

"She'll be fine Anna, if Elsa can herd a pack of wolves she can drive away whatever that weird beast was." If Elsa didn't know any better she would have sworn she heard reverence in Kristoff's tone as he consoled his wife who still didn't look convinced.

Elsa finally stepped in taking Anna's two hands in her own. "If I encounter the creature then I'll be able to bring closure to this whole situation easier if I'm not surrounded by people to protect-No offense General Mattias." She glanced at him apologetically.

He raised a hand. "None taken, I'm well aware what you're capable of Elsa and well aware of who would be protecting whom but uh know you have backup here in Arendelle if you so need it." Elsa smiled gratefully nodding to the man. Her attention was then turned back to her family.

It was rare for Olaf to look so melancholy but when it did happen it was usually the result of Elsa leaving. She knelt before him expression just as grieved. "I'll be back soon, Olaf, but I have to catch this creature before they seriously hurts someone, besides I'll have Gale, Nokk and Bruni- even the earth giants will help."

"But you were supposed to stay."

Elsa placed a hand on his cheek running her thumb along it. "Hey we can have the best, biggest sleepover when I return and while I'm away you can plan it and I'll do everything in your itinerary." His pep returned instantly as he clapped his stick hands.

"I better get to preparing. I'll need a list or- what no no a list of all our slumber party activities. Oh and Sven can come-" He leapt and kissed Elsa's cheek and bounded off to tell the reindeer. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Mattias watched after him fondly.

"Almost everything." Elsa's after thought drew a giggle from Anna. Her eyes turned serious as they made contact with Elsa's. The spirit did not enjoy looking into people's eyes. She saw fear, so much fear in many eyes before and although she knew that was no longer her predicament it still made the activity unenjoyable.

"Promise me you'll come back safe." Anna's tone rarely sounded as it did at the moment. Closing her eyes slowly Elsa nodded. "Say it." Anna urged.

"I promise." Elsa said, holding Anna in her arms once more. Kristoff smiled; he never expected Elsa to be so touchy and it initially took him by surprise. She was definitely more comfortable with giving touch than receiving it and only reserved her touch for family and friends. Speaking of, said woman smiled at him and held out her hand. He took it and allowed himself to be pulled into the embrace. He was the last to join and the first to pull away, Elsa had let him. Another aspect of her touch he noticed, she never enforced it.

"Alright, well remember our deal?" Elsa nodded. "I return every week to report back to you, my queen." Elsa could see the blush rising to Anna's face as she looked away before clearing her throat.

"Right well." She kissed Elsa's cheek and held on to her until she mounted. Elsa waved as she and Nokk took off. Something inside told her this would be no easy task.

At least it would be If she knew what the creature actually was! That would at least give her some indication of where they went. Did they go off in search of food and water, did they seek a river to dwell in or a den?

When there were no traces of them she headed to Northuldra. Ryder waved her over to the fire pit he and Honeymaren were currently seated at and handed her a wooden plate of Gáhkko with a knife and a small bottle of cloudberry jam. Thanks was given to him quietly. Honeymaren smiled in pity watching Elsa fix the jam on her bread pointedly, the spirit took failed tasks very seriously, maybe a little too seriously. "I'm guessing no luck." She started as Elsa took a bite. Swallowing, she shook her head. "Any theories on what it might be?"

"I have a few but they only share two traits with one of the possible choices." Elsa reached in her bag as Bruni glided over climbing up her lap. He punched his tongue against the smeared jam that was on her knife.

Honeymaren took the notebook offered and opened the marked page. "You think it's a dragon?"

"But haven't they been dead for like centuries?" Ryder added as he was handed the book.

"Well that's the only lead I have."

"I wouldn't put it past the thought. Arendelle, besides the enchanted forest, is one of the strangest places ever." Elsa smiled nodding slightly. Honeymaren was right, Arendelle could possibly be the only nation on earth which still had magic; it was only befitting that dragons were added to the mix as well.

"What are you gonna do with it when you find it?" Elsa looked back down at her plate mulling the question in head. What was she going to do with the creature when she found them? She had told Anna she'd drive them away but was that such a good idea? She had never heard of such an animal or even read about them. They had to be incredibly rare and if they were a dragon they may have been one of the very few left. Based on the measurements Mattias and his soldiers gave her they weren't as big as the dragons of old so perhaps they were a hatchling. That poses another problem, were dragons incredibly maternal and paternal? And if so, how far away were the parents? Would it be smart to study the creature and then perhaps drive them away if they still posed a threat? Elsa decided to let the situation decide if she found them.

"I'll drive them away."

Ryder and his sister did not look convinced. "I do not like how long it took you to answer that." He admitted quickly. "You were doing that face." Elsa tilted her head in confusion at Honeymaren's accusation while she rubbed her temples.

"That face you make when you're contemplating something or figuring something out or debating on it. Elsa, if the stories from Arendelle aren't exaggerated this thing is dangerous."

"I won't let them hurt anyone."

"And yourself?"

Elsa's shoulders dropped, she stood up and thanked them for the meal and began walking to the village's edge. Honeymaren met her there, clasping her hands tightly. Dread clenched her brow and stomach. "Elsa, your sister writes to me telling me to keep you from doing anything asinine and dangerous, she warned me that there may be moments where you put yourself in danger for the sake of helping others, please tell me this isn't one of those moments." Elsa hated causing her friend such trepidation. So she gave an undaunted nod and mounted Nokk.

At night she looked up at the northern lights then down at her sketch of her query wistfully. "Why did you attack Arendelle?" She asked the picture. Were they scared? Or perhaps ill? She remembered when Ryder's Reindeer Emil was sick with a virus she would aggressively attack the village or at least attempt to. Maybe Arendelle's attacker was sick or injured. Mattias did say they walked with a limp. If that was the case Elsa hoped to find them before they injured themselves. Maybe they'd be grateful for medical care which would give Elsa the chance to learn about them. Her mind meandered to less quintessential questions.

Are they a boy or girl? Neither? Was it a youngling?

Reclining back gave Bruni the chance to crawl onto her knee and contemplate the sky just like his friend. His little paws caused steam to evaporate from her exposed knee. It was then she leaned up surveying him. He glanced back sensing the scrutiny but then opened his mouth as if asking for payment for being observed. Amphibians and reptiles weren't related but they definitely were close in other aspects. There was just so much to possibly learn. How could she pass the opportunity?

Her previous conversation when Yelena discovered word of Arendelle's mild destruction had caused her to seek Elsa out. She too sensed Elsa's hesitation to cast the creature away. She did not like it one bit. It disturbed her.

"Elsa I understand that there could be much to learn but at what expense? The forest is in a delicate state and this is not one wolf seeking refuge but a great beast!"

"We cannot take that risk! Our village is not as fortified as Arendelle. . . Yes we have you and other spirits to defend us but I would prefer it to not get to that point, what if you get hurt?"

Elsa didn't want to admit that it irritated her, everyone's concern. It wasn't an insult per say, just misplaced worry. The only ones that weren't worried were Kristoff and Mattias. She knew it was silly to think that perhaps it was a female trait because Ryder had also shown perturbations at the idea of her keeping the possible dragon around. There were always outliers however. He definitely was that. Red took residency on her cheeks when she remembered his proposal to her.

He took her wide eyes and blank face as a positive shock. "Rendered Utterly speechless" as he put it until Elsa found a voice and told him "Um uh- no- no thank you." Then jumped onto Nokk and raced incredibly fast away from Northuldra in a panic attack. She hid in Arendelle for a few days seeking comfort from Anna.

Returning was just an awkward affair as leaving and Elsa feared it was even worse when she saw Honeymaren slap the back of his head urging him to approach. Elsa's own anxieties eased into pity as he apologized, shoulders hunched eyes casted downward, for making her uncomfortable and being a "vagrant" as his sister had said. He begged that they could just write it off as another one of his clueless blunders. Elsa confirmed they could by giving him a tender hug.

A bubble of a giggle rose as she remembered all the marriage proposals that came in and still hadn't slowed down that she and Anna would sit up at night and read, the poems were especially hilarious. Still Elsa found that her disturbance was not union itself but who was proposing it. She couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to have a romantic partner. And at this point it seemed silly to even think about. It wasn't the first time she had thought of it by any means and didn't even understand the need. She had her family and friends, a purpose that was far beyond anything she could imagine, her freedom. All amazing things on their own and put together made an amalgam of perfection. It felt selfish to even think of wanting more.

She stared at her hands wondering though, What would it feel like to hold another's in a non platonic manner? She then felt along her lips slowly. What did it feel like to kiss someone's else's lips? She remembered how tolerant Anna and Kristoff were with her when she stared intently at them kissing from time to time. Was this just an innate nature of curiosity wanting the answer to everything or was it a desire?

Sighing she gave up asking, pressing her notebook against her breast slipping down against the tree. She didn't want to go to her cottage tonight and instead allowed sleep in where she lay.

Bruni would have to confess hanging on to Elsa's shoulder as she sailed through the forest was even more difficult than running.

The woman giggled propping him into a better position, she was especially ecstatic today after five whole days of searching high and low.

"Gale at the rivers divide it's a left correct?" She asked, the spirit of air went left at the fork and Nokk followed. They were in-between a ravine that grew more narrow and more flooded. Reason being the blockage a rock troll's leg provided, perhaps Gale had instructed him to do so their fire breathing friend would stay put. Elsa wondered why they didn't simply fly. Detection avoidance could be their desertion to taking flight.

Eventually as they drew close the troll lifted his leg allowing Nokk to rush past with the water that had collected, Elsa ran her hand along the troll's. The river led to a grassy shore she dismounted upon. She froze Nokk so he could follow. She took note that there was quite a bit of underbrush around. This part of the enchanted forest was definitely uninhabited, well until recent.

Gale gusted in front of them and sped forward deeper into the bush. A low hanging fog appeared claiming the ground. It was incredibly lush green. A weak waterfall that casted a small rainbow explained the fog. Elsa's eyes were so busy taking in the environment she missed the Blue and gray mass shifting a few feet ahead of her in a clearing. Her Yelp when Nokk grabbed her purple half cape was short when she hit the ground behind a fallen log. She glared at him until she saw him kneel on his front legs thrusting his neck forward. Her head slowly rose just above the log. Her eyes widened and breath held at the sight.

They had a slipstream body, smooth that appeared to seamlessly curve into other body parts. Incredibly elegant when they moved even with a limp. The very little light that filtered in through the trees caused their skin to glisten. Not very inconspicuous. Elsa shrugged, but still pretty all the same. Their tail, light gray with a blue underside which covered the entire under belly and chest, long and perfectly controlled definitely perhaps acted as a rudder with the way the end was shaped. They looked as if they were built for high speed. Their fur also seemed to glitter with some particles littered throughout.

Elsa immediately began memorizing the face, elongated muzzle but still somewhat round. A cute little fang was poking from an unadjusted curled lip. They're eyes intrigued Elsa the most. On the outer side of the pupil a dark slither of purple sat, lightening as it rounded toward the cornea and followed into a pink turning blue. The iris was slightly rounded, but still more vertical than horizontal, grew and shrunk accordingly when they faced the light and looked away. Almost cat-like.

"Gorgeous." Elsa breathed adjusting to a more comfortable position. Bruni titled his head then looked at Elsa then back at the dragon and began crawling towards them until Elsa grasped him firmly shaking her head.

The creature shooed away the fog in a little circling prance which made they're captivated audience grin. They moved regally, steps dainty and light. It reminded Elsa of a princess. . . Not like Anna, she had never been an ordinary princess.

The wings were large and ended in sharp tips. The top of them matched the creature's skin but the underside was a dusty purple that fused into a blue.

Elsa looked at the fur again, which somewhat disparaged her dragon theory, she had never seen a dragon having fur in any book or painting.

The body stiffened and they rose to their hind legs sniffing the air, the appendages on their head rotated and swiveled listening for audio cues. Elsa Clenched her teeth and ducked down. They had caught the scent of her. She heard them chitter curiously and waited till she was sure it was safe. Peeking out again the creature was looking her straight in the eyes.

The temperature dropped.

A low growl showcased sharp white fangs, the appendages now flattened against the head. They chose to not fly over the waterfall and were backed against a ridge. Taking a deep breath Elsa stepped from her hiding place. Nokk followed snorting irritably. Being the only thing between the creature and escape. They gave a quick bark standing once again on their hind legs flapping powerful wings disturbing the foliage and remaining fog, a clear threat display. Bruni responded with his own. That's when Elsa noticed the gaping hole in the right wing.

So that's why they didn't fly.

The chest began to light up which Elsa had been warned meant fire was to be blown. She shielded herself and her friends with ice ready for exertion of heat but the fire was aimed three feet in front of her. That is perplexing. This suddenly reminded her of when Bruni flexed his power by shooting past her at a tree, he too titled his head intrigued by the flames. She flicked her wrists and suffocated the fire. The slitted irises widened for a short moment in surprise then returned to their previous state as the creature began lowering down to a near crouch. They gained eye contact which Elsa kept. Then slowly took one step to the left. Elsa copied. Then another step. Again Elsa mimicked smiling now. They were trying to switch positions with her to escape. After three steps Elsa refused to move again. They growled this time trying the right, again only managing to get three steps out of Elsa. She giggled at the deadpanned exasperation on their face shoulders and wings lowering. She herself had made that face many times when an animal was stubborn. With a low chirp it bucked a ducked head forward signaling Elsa to get lost. Instead she took a step forward hand held outward.

"I won't hurt you." She assured gently but it was clear she was not believed and received a growl and hiss. So instead she retreated and sat on the log taking out her notebook jotting down all details of the interaction. It watched her still crouched stiff, remaining so for two hours. Impressive. Till finally, in a slow cautious manner as if Elsa would attack if they made any sudden moves, they lowered to the ground keeping pressure off the injured leg watching her. When they wrapped their tail around themselves Bruni glided over. He was regarded with curious eyes and every now and then it still glanced at Elsa but now Bruni claimed the foreground of attention.

Elsa saw how he crawled onto their paw without fear. A little worry tugged at her chest when the large paw was raised but instead of slapping him away the dragon leaned back to sit on their rump forearm dangling while the one that held Bruni was raised for closer inspection. He titled his head which was copied. Elsa giggled and was glared at, the ears lowered again in agitation. She folded her lips to keep her amusement to herself.

It chortled at him, he chortled back. Are they communicating to one another? They allowed Bruni to explore their body which urged a little envy into Elsa's heart for the salamander. In closer viewing Elsa discovered the skin was covered in fine scales. She filled fourteen pages with notes while Bruni made acquaintances. Nokk kept his distance. Gale blew through the dragon's fur, messing it into a comical up do. Elsa smiled.

After sitting and just watching the spirits interact with the strange- Elsa still wasn't sure if they were a dragon or not. She found herself wishing she resembled less of a human since Bruni's new buddy seemed more accepting of creatures except humans. What had led it to attack Arendelle? Was it even an attack?

Standing, Elsa shifted hearing bones crack as she stretched. Bruni understood and crawled back to her after casting one more gaze at the larger animal. Gale too pulled away. Their arms dangled lamely at the sides as the company began to leave. Elsa felt remorse for them. "I'll be back tomorrow okay? I'll bring food this time." Even though I have no idea what you eat, most likely a carnivore with those fangs. She could always bring a variety. Maybe they liked chocolate. Arendelle would have a chocolate shortage at that point for sure, the kingdom was barely hanging on supporting her and Anna's addiction as is.

Her head made frequent turns toward the small waterfall. They now settled themselves near the small reservoir and began drinking watching the spirits leave. She longed to stay but she had other matters that required her attention. She had to remind herself she'd be back tomorrow and most likely even if they did change location they wouldn't make too great a distance with their injuries. 

"Hopefully they aren't infected." Elsa mused aloud, sending Nokk in the direction of her cottage.

Chapter Text

"Elsa what are you doing with all that fish?" Elsa jumped, turning to the question. She remained silent for a moment staring at the ground. Her mouth opened four seconds before she actually began to speak.

Her next words made her nearly curse herself to an early grave. "What fish?"

Honeymaren raised a brow in sync with her Reindeer Erin.

"The ones you just stuffed in that bag?" Honeymaren pointed to the sack Elsa clutched tightly. Her tone also added the question: Are you going insane?

"Oh these fish well um. . ." Elsa smiled, patting the sack, her closed fist reached her mouth while she coughed, clearing her hoarse throat. "Dealing with bears." The regret was instant clogging her chest at Honeymaren's stressed eyes. She had heard of bears but never actually encountered them yet. By their description she had tried to convince Yelena and Elsa that the forest was perhaps better without them, they sounded aggressive and large. Not a good combination.

"Need some help?" She sat up on Erin readying her stirrups then jumped at Elsa's quick objection.

"It's fine, nothing I can't handle." This was just getting worse. Elsa never really knew if she was a good liar or not due to not being one prone to lie. She had that to her advantage at least but still deception was not an action she revelled in and would never understand anyone who did.

Her morality falling by the wayside had dampened her entire Outlook of the day so she quickly turned away and leapt onto Nokk giving a single wave at Honeymaren. Still the alternative was sending the whole village into a panic. They all began to believe she was now just on a devoted wild goose chase for her sister's sake and that the "Monster" was long gone. She'd tell them eventually but for now she had to visit said "monster" and then her sister. Her pupils dilated. Anna . Could she lie to Anna, would it even work? They both were able to read the other with a gained ease down to certain tones to the micro expressions that occured from time to time. She swallowed hard. She needed a plan.

Or maybe she didn't since the very essence of her dismay was nowhere to be found at the moment, she flapped her arms haplessly against her hips. "Where did she get off too?" She whispered to herself. Bruni began sniffing the ground like a hound then raced up into the trees searching the area with Elsa just below him. Certainly she couldn't have gotten far. The spirit kept her pace slow, it was surprising how well the animal was at blending into the lush environment.

Once again Elsa was in the wrong and it was barely the afternoon. For her dragon had gotten far on her injured leg and was nowhere in sight. What if she had fallen prey to another animal? No, even injured what normal animal would fight a creature able to breathe fire? But then again an animal had fought her at some point that much was obvious from her leg. Still why the sudden change in behavior. Elsa had been here the day before yesterday and the day before that and always found her either resting soaking in the water or licking at her wounds.

"Oh hush you." Elsa scolded softly as she walked into the clearing at the dragon who was growling, she then raised her head from her paws eyeing her, they craned over to the sack Elsa carried over her shoulder. The Spirit lowered the bag with a huff letting it hit the ground causing a thud. It had taken quite a bit of effort and stealth to gather the various meats, and fish Elsa presented. She was reminded of the difficulty everytime the dragon snubbed her offerings hissing. She would then limp away and lick at her wing and leg.

She brought a new variant of food for the past three days but still not a bite was taken. "You must be a youngling of sorts if you're this fussy." She mumbled emptying the bag onto the ground. Triggering an ear appendage to swivel in her direction and growl to gurgle in the air.

Looking up she could see her dragon's indignant expression. She raised her hands palms facing forward. "So you're not a youngling? Huh, then you're a lot smaller than what I would have thought to be an adult dragon." The dragon's expression did not change. Elsa cringed at it. She had committed the same mishap twice.

Apparently age and size were a sensitive topic for dragons. And humans too, she supposed. So Elsa began a little damage control, wrapping her hands behind her back pacing languidly around, her head nodding to the dragon while her eyes averted. "Not to mention how cute you are didn't help in gauging your age." She said casually. The dragon's irises widened and it was her turn to avert gazes. The only thing missing from the sheepish expression was a blush.

"Still fussy though." Elsa whispered loudly, she ambled closer not yet alerting the dragon until her hand raised. Elsa fully expected she would move away hissing but still was disappointed when it actually happened. A loud puff of air escaped her nostrils that resembled white smoke. "It's okay, we just met, I understand. Believe it or not I'm not very keen on being touched either." She sat down on the ground. "I won't touch you until you're ready for that, if you'll ever be ready." A few minutes later she felt a large presence beside her. The dragon had seated herself on her haunches, ears not quite lowered but down.

This was the closest she had ever come to Elsa willingly. Elsa smirked, staring for only a few moments before watching the rainbow shimmer in the waterfall when a deep exhale escaped her chest that was followed by the dragon's own deep breath.

 That had been yesterday and here she thought it was a huge step in the right direction. Now she had been casted ten steps back. After leaving the fish by the water she summoned Nokk at the river's edge, her mood casted down even further and started off for Arendelle.

Anna squeezed Kristoff's hand a bit too tightly then released the instant when Elsa entered the courtyard. Anna hugged her with her arms wrapped around Elsa's neck but when she pulled away her smile vanished to nothing at the sight of Elsa's falsified mimic of one.

"You didn't find it? Huh?" Elsa nodded. Anna felt some relief at that but knew Elsa probably felt as if she had failed.

"You still get your super awesome slumber party with Olaf." She couldn't even ask why Elsa seemed so crestfallen before the woman replied. Anna's frown deepened immediately.

"Yeah…" 

Anna's eyes trailed to Kristoff who shrugged.

After painstakingly not mentioning Elsa's mock enjoyment of the activities Olaf and Sven planned, Anna entered Elsa's room. At first it seemed she wasn't there until she heard a soft. "Where are you?" Come from the balcony. Elsa was leaning against the railing fluttering snowflakes around idly.

Anna's eyes followed where Elsa's stared out. "Hey." The snowflakes grew exponentially with Elsa's fright. She quickly flicked them away, turning.

"Anna, what are you still doing up? It's late." Her voice was nurturing.

Anna smiled tilting her head slightly at Elsa, the queen didn't have a bedtime but big sisters still had to sister she guessed. She joined her leaning on the rail. "I could ask you same question Els."

"Me?" Elsa pointed to herself, Anna nodded. "I don't know."

Anna leaned in. "I think you do." Anna didn't want to bring it up, the creature those eyes still terrified her and she thought of herself to be extremely brave. Maybe Elsa's worry was getting the better of her. "It's fine, I doubt it'll come back." She placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. Elsa raised her own. "I'll protect you." Despite the chuckle she said it with she meant it unknowingly stirring up more guilt in her already guilty ridden sibling.

"Anna what if-" Elsa stopped. She was choosing her words carefully. When she found them she faced her. "What if that wasn't an attack?"

Anna shrugged, gripping the rail. "I mean- what, I..." Talking seemed difficult for both of them at the moment. "I don't know what else it could have been Elsa. It sure looked like an attack to me."

"But what if it wasn't? You said it yourself, ones who got hurt were injured accidentally-"

Anna interrupted this time a bit more sternly than before. She had been learning how to firm her words and voice since becoming queen, pushy dignitaries and royals would do that to a person. "Elsa I'm not mad at it, but I also have a responsibility to our people and a family to protect." To emphasize her point she poked Elsa's shoulder. "That includes you. I'm happy it's gone, hopefully wherever it came from."

"I know Anna, like you I agree she didn't-"

"She?" Elsa flushed at Anna's sharp inquiry. "Well- I mean-"

"Why did you say she?" She inched closer resembling a cat to Elsa who reflexively backed away similar to a mouse. Then the pieces fell together. "You found it!" It wasn't a question, Elsa scoffed at her careless slip. She usually wasn't so loosely lipped but around Anna a lot of her barriers came down. "Elsa you found it! And you didn't tell anyone! Not even me!" Anna was angry. She ran her fingers in her bangs down to her face groaning.

"It isn't what it seems, she's not a mindless animal that just attacks." Elsa defended.

Anna turned back to the door of the balcony. "I need to sit down." She admitted taking a spot on the bed. Elsa stood in the entry wringing her fingers together. "You lied to me!" Her head snapped up at the sharp words.

"Technically I didn't, I can't find her."

Anna crossed her arms. "Oh so that means you lost it."

Elsa's face became impish, after a pause of ten seconds she looked away. "I didn't say that either."

"Semantics!" Anna threw her arms up. "You're going to give me gray hairs, you know that? I'm not ready for that. I like my hair." She caressed her braids mournfully. Now Elsa felt all the day's misdeeds encompass her at once when she joined Anna on the bed. The younger crossed her legs hiding them under her nightgown. She didn't want to look at Elsa at the moment. she didn't even know if the blonde had sudden-

"Anna." That voice, that sweet and gentle voice beckoned her eyes to Elsa's who looked truly regretful. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you that I found her, and for earlier. Misdirection is still a lie."

"I'm glad you think so." She sighed. "What are you actually planning on doing with i- her?" Her mind didn't even touch base on how Elsa knew it was a girl, that was usually something one had to get close to conclude. except for humans... sometimes.

"Well learn from her and hopefully nurse her back to health. Gain her trust." Elsa felt a weight lift from her chest. It felt good to be honest. If lying felt that bad then she'd avoid it as much as possible in the future especially with her loved ones.

They sat in silence for a small while. "Well alright." Elsa felt Anna smile against her shoulder. She looked up and smiled a bit more calmly than before. "I give you my blessing to study and earn the trust of the…" Tapping her chin she cued Elsa to finish the sentence.

"Dragon."

"Right the dragon, by Odin's Ravens you actually just waltzed up to a dragon." Elsa didn't think about it that way. So instead she filled Anna in on the interactions she had with the dragon.

"So she's a big Bruni?"

Elsa shook her head. "No Bruni is an amphibian and dragons from what I've read are reptiles, while similar there are too many contrasts."

"Like what?" The older hadn't expected that question since it was hard finding someone interested in the same things as her, Honeymaren was interested for the sake of avoiding ignorance as well as Yelana who did it for the sake of her people. Although she would love to pull Anna in she knew better than anyone how busy being a monarch made her. Anna's free time was spent traveling around with Kristoff or music and painting. The queen had discovered her passion for the violin, singing, and painting be it with oils, water, whatever she could get her hands on. Elsa even had her first completed work hung up in her home. It was abstract, a view of a winter scape, mountains and a frozen lake with trees in contrasting bloom from the perspective of a cabin porch. Still the girls would sometimes collaborate and Elsa would allow Anna to paint her while she read a book aloud.

"Well reptiles are usually dry to the touch and amphibious animals usually create a slime like mucus, that's just one of the many differences." Anna made a disgusted face which Elsa always found endearing. She then went on explaining how the dragon refused to eat anything she brought.

"Maybe they eat people." Elsa stared pointedly at Anna after the remark. She simply shrugged, closing her eyes.

"I'm tempted to bring her some chocolate at this point."

Anna's face flashed many emotions before her voice lowered to almost a whisper. "I forbid it."

Elsa laughed at her leaning back against the bed joined by Anna. "Well just don't get eaten okay, I've grown rather fond of you."

This didn't help Elsa's laughter. "I should be so lucky.

It took nine days more of sitting for hours waiting for her return. Elsa spent the time reading and taking notes. She had taken a break from the books of researching nature and decided to indulge her choice of reads. She was currently studying the maps of star constellations and astrology. Many nights she stayed up especially on particular dates to try and catch sights of them. She had learned her own birth chart and which specific stars aligned in which order on her birthday December 22nd. Elsa looked up from her work feeling a prickle in her skin but shook her head dismissing it.

"Would you like me to make you a birth chart Anna?" Elsa asked from the table over the song Anna played. She paused, opening her eyes. "Sounds messy." She replied to which Elsa began explaining what it actually was and soon Anna agreed, being more intrigued at having her birthday be tracked, June 21st.

"Can it tell my personality?" She asked while tuning her violin.

"No."

"Future?"

"Anna, don't be silly." Elsa chuckled at her disappointment as she walked back to the window mumbling. "Well that's dumb can't even tell me my future."

Her head popped back over unexpectedly. "What's Kristoff's?"

She had also asked Honeymaren who politely declined she was more interested in the actual myths and tales Elsa had to share about the constellations.

Spreading out the large parchment she began charting when an exhale moved the small hairs that escaped her ponytail. Don't overreact. Glancing backward there was her dragon looking over the papers inquisitively. She hummed lowly and moved her eyes as if reading. One paw was raised off the ground as she peered over. Elsa sat back on her knees. "You like it?" She then pointed to the map. "This is what the sky looked like when I was born, or a rough draft of it. It's supposed to be the Capricornus constellation." She rubbed her chin then continued drawing. "Half goat and half fish. It's one of the twelve zodiacs and one of the 48 constellations listed by the Greek mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy."

Elsa half expected the dragon to walk away or be drawn to other distractions but that was not the case this time. Instead it held a position beside her glancing from the paper to the woman occasionally. "Its name means “the goat” in Latin, this constellation has been known by the Sumerians who knew it as the goat-fish. It marked the winter solstice during the early Bronze Age. The ancient Greeks associated the constellation with Amalthea, the goat that saved the baby Zeus from his mother, Rhea, so his father, Cronos, wouldn't devour him. Knowing the tales of Zeus he may have done the world a favor if he left well enough alone. But anyways It was also sometimes associated with Pan, the god with a goat’s head who saved himself from the monster, Typhon, by growing a fish tail and jumping into a river." The dragon balanced a book in her paws reading over the pages. 

"So you can read?" Elsa asked. The dragon merely mewled. "Well then I could bring you some books and we could read some Greek tales together they're um well- what's the word- unique?" The dragon seemed to like this idea settling down on her stomach, ears perked and eyes wide in fascination.

Elsa did a double take from her work to Dragon, she licked her lips, opening and closing her mouth shyly before speaking in a hushed voice. "Would you like me to make you a birth chart?"

Chapter Text

Elsa's height seemed to be diminishing slowly to anyone who would have left and came back a few minutes later, but to her audience the answer resided in the snowy path she paced upon. Her feet created deeper and deeper indents.

"I may not know much about people or how they work but I do know animals...well at least the ones I've encountered." Ryder admitted.

"Believe it or not Emil hated me when I first met her." Elsa did find that revelation very hard to believe. The man and that reindeer had a bond that rivaled even Sven and Kristoff's.

"How are you so close to her now then?" Elsa asked incredulously, ceasing her pacing.

"She didn't fit in well with the other reindeer. She was lonely and I felt a kinship to that." His previously despondent eyes lit up.

"It took weeks of me being stubborn and spending all hours approaching her, trying to feed her, she even broke my arm when I tried to ride her. Then I left her alone and we became friends."

"Wait what?" Elsa asked surprised.

Ryder nodded.

"I left her alone and let her approach me and that's when our bond began to grow, slowly but I would take what I could get."

Elsa thought about this for a few moments. So many worries had plagued her mind since the dragon entered the forest. What if animals attacked her? What if poachers saw her and hunted her down as a prize? What if she was unable to hunt on her own and starved or succumbed to injury?

As if reading her trail of pessimistic outcomes Ryder spoke up a bit louder. "Now I'm not saying you avoid her at all costs but just try not to be so overly eager."

Elsa blushed. Had she been overly eager? Her answer was yes, yes she had been, but she never concluded that it was driving the dragon away.

She smiled attentively at him. "Thank you Ryder."

"You are most welcome, try not to get eaten also." He laughed at Elsa's heavy audible sigh as she walked from the campfire, hoping that her being eaten didn't become a customary goodbye that others gave her.

It was late but perhaps she could try her no hands on approach now. Was that still her being too eager? Maybe, but all of her visits had been during the day, if the dragon was sleeping she'd let it alone. Nothing said fervid like waking the object of obsession up in the middle of the night. 

At their usual meeting place Elsa affectionately began calling Drage Den the dragon definitely was not sleeping since she wasn't even there, Elsa mentally pinched herself for not recognizing the nocturnal traits of the dragon's eyes. Her eyes are much akin to a cat or more closely an owl no doubt. So of course she wasn't sleeping.

Elsa quickly jotted down her theory. The dragon's eyes widened when the creature wanted to take in more of the environment, not just during the night but also during times when curiosity got the better of her. This theory was backed by when the dragon was reading and her pupils would expand to great widths or when she licked the snow pile Elsa had made for Bruni during their usual lunches together.

As Elsa scoured her brain for more evidence she sucked her teeth in frustration as another important detail shook the foundation of her hypothesis. If the dragon's widened pupils allowed it to take in more information then why did they slit so tightly when it was angry or irritated?

Elsa had even more examples of this occurrence, she knew humans eyes dilated during certain times of stress or infatuation. So the same could be said for a dragon's sudden contraction of the pupils to also be tied to its emotional states. "And who's to say it can't be both theories." She concluded aloud.

A snapped twig brought her attention back to her current position. She realized she had stopped in the middle of the woods to write her findings.

Hastily she closed and put the notebook back in her satchel.

Elsa walked for thirty minutes before a loud screech drew her head North. That sounded as if it came from the beach. She frowned.

Gently moving a bush's branches from her face she set her sights across the landscape until they settled on her dragon standing on a cliff side, dangerously close to the edge gazing out into the night.

"Couldn't sleep?" Elsa asked good naturedly, as she stood next to the dragon who didn't turn to acknowledge her presence.

The ocean seemed quite restless that night, as it splashed against the shore and rocks in a comforting sound Elsa would find herself being lulled to sleep for many nights.

"Is there someone out there waiting for you?" This question caught the dragon's attention, and she turned to the spirit. Elsa noted her very large and dilated eyes slit just slightly. Then this time she noticed when she turned back that the dragon wasn't looking at the horizon of the ocean but up at the stars.

Elsa's eyes trailed to the dragon's wing. It was the least worrisome of the dragon's injuries, it was old and wasn't so much as a wound as it was a terrible disabling scar. When caught before looking away she could see traces of a smirk on her companion's mouth.

"You miss flying huh?" She'd miss it too if she had the ability. So to see perspective Elsa thought about losing her powers. She chuckled aloud at the irony of the sadness it brought her now.

"Six years ago I would have happily surrendered my magic no questions asked, but now my abilities help my people and my family, the power that once was my own prison both mentally and physically now is the source of my freedom. No more a curse but instead a gift given to my mother for saving my father. I suppose flying was never a curse for you though..." An ear twitch was her response.

"Or are you looking for your July birth constellation? Cause if so unless you were born on the first you won't spot it." The dragon rasped folding her ears as Elsa chuckled.

Bruni took them both by surprise when he zipped by lit aflame. This mesmerized the dragon who called out and followed, Elsa ran after them.

Bruni led both his friends to the beach below, careful to remain a good distance from the shore. His dragon friend still lay chase to him. Even with the limp she kept a good speed but anyone could still see the hindering it caused. Elsa only hoped she didn't strain the old and now pus filled wound.

Bruni allowed himself to be caught under a gentle paw but as soon as it was lifted ran away. The dragon rolled onto her back with a groan kicking her legs in a clownish fashion, as if she were a turtle flipped on its shell. She let her tongue roll out of her mouth. Bruni approached her mouth slowly peeking inside. When close enough a cloud of gray smoke was blown at him causing swift retreat.

Elsa tilted her head and grinned genially as they continued to play.

Small rocks blended into sand, the dragon squished it with her toes as if testing the texture. She stared at Elsa as she created an ice bank to sit on careful to not get any sand on herself.

She wasn't too fond of it like Anna was when they came to the beach, it always caused her to itch when it got stuck in her clothes and shoes.

As if having an intuition of her disinclination to touch it, the dragon approached her. Elsa feeling the ulterior motives in her movements leaned back slightly. "Hey..." She greeted lamely. A low and deceptively innocent mewl answered. The dragon then dug the side of her paw into the sand.

Before Elsa could question it, sand was flung at her head causing her to yelp and stand sputtering to spit it out and wipe it from her face and hair.

A strange sound reached her ears as she wiped her tongue on the sleeve of her plain white ice tunic as a last resort to remove it from her mouth. Seeing the dragon stare at her with a jovial expression allowed the woman to conclude she was laughing at her.

Shaking her head she smirked and placed her hands akimbo. "So that's how it's going to be huh?"

The dragon pranced in a circle then crouched low readying to run. Elsa hid her hands behind her back so the dragon couldn't see the magic emanating from her fingertips.

Her wings lowered in disbelief when something wet splattered on her head. Shaking it away she saw Elsa readying another snowball and set off down the beach turning to see Elsa did give chase.

Taking the opportunity to slow and turn she threw more sand at the woman's torso when she drew close enough, then galloped down the beach. "Ah! Oh get back here you giant gecko!"

Bruni munched on a beetle thoroughly entertained by the snow and sandy battle that erupted before him.

The ammunition was traded for water when the chase led to the ocean as they splashed and rolled in the waves. Elsa lost her footing when preparing another attack and crashed down into the water surfacing to find the dragon laughing at her again.

Comeuppance was swift when a wave filtered the salty and bitter water into her mouth which was spat out. Leaving her tongue dangling, the dragon retreated back to the shore wiping it with her paw in almost the same manner Elsa had earlier.

Elsa giggling approached taking pity on her plight. She doused the dragon's mouth in snowflakes larger than what she provided for Bruni. With a little tail flick droplets of water plastered on her forehead. "That's a very unique way of saying thank you." she snickered.

When settled she became aware how close they had become, she could feel the warm breath of the dragon who seemed to also notice this as well. She made no move at all but saw the conflict in the dragon's eyes. She sat up on her haunches looking between her paws and Elsa. Seeming less agitated at their proximity and more so frightened with her quickened breaths.

Elsa's eyes drew to her leg and then wing. For the past few weeks she had thought it was an animal that had inflicted them. A human did this. All evidence pointed to such.

At close inspection she spotted a green arrowhead that was jammed in the dragon's leg. She raised her hand to it slowly looking up at the dragon who was watching her carefully. She sat there frozen as Elsa's hand without touching her enclosed around. Quickly Elsa yanked it out drawing a pained roar from the dragon who licked her bleeding leg clean. "Sorry." She winced.

Elsa examined the weapon, it had jagged teeth running on both sides, ensuring great pain to whoever was its target. She knew the stone was neither emerald or peridot. What caught her attention was the strange writing within a symbol, two mountains resting upon clouds that had a waterfall pooling into a lake below surrounded by tall stick-like trees.

Elsa turned her attention back to the dragon. She didn't seem furious or angered, just in pain and shockingly was the one to approach Elsa in a shy manner when she put the arrow away in her satchel.

Elsa half smiled. "Hey..." The dragon looked at her, she appeared completely vulnerable. It hurt to see. Elsa used to see it in herself. "I used to fear people as well, for opposite reasons however... I was afraid of hurting them. You're afraid of being hurt by them. I can tell you not all humans are bad, I know this for a fact. I know some of the most amazing people, who are brave, loyal and full of love." Elsa placed her own hand on her chest.

The dragon glanced down at her paws then to Elsa again. "When you're ready, and only then." Elsa turned to leave when Bruni crawled up her body taking his place in her hair, turning she glanced over her shoulder smiling. "Goodnight."

"The only problem with your discovery is whoever shot her, if they're still out there..." Kristoff didn't need to finish the sentence for Elsa to know what he was implying. She nodded gravely facing forward. Elsa took the arrowhead to Arendelle. There wasn't really anyone she could ask, as her dragon for now was secret between herself and her closest friends, not that she expected anyone outside of her circle to have an answer for her anyways.

She immediately began investigating numerous books and scrolls about Norse runes, but this rune was not Norse. It had very distinct lines that Elsa didn't recognize. It frustrated her when she realized it was assuredly a different language and how small her actual knowledge of the world was.

Kristoff gave slack to the reins and turned to her. "There's two ways this could go, if they are out there and come here then we could take them down so they don't hurt anyone else." Elsa nodded rather quickly, she liked that outcome. "Or they could come here find the enchanted forest, exploit it, kill the dragon and go after you next, which isn't too far fetched since they managed to do that much physical and mental damage to a dragon that breathes fire." Elsa stopped herself from nodding absentmindedly. This was one of the times she didn't appreciate Kristoff's blunt nature. "So what're we going to do?"

"Well if they are out there and track her here whether she leaves or not won't matter and it seems more of an advantage if she stays and they come for her."

"How so?" Kristoff asked, incredulously.

"I could protect her." He opened his mouth once and nodded. His silence was loud.

Elsa took her weight off of her elbow and slowly looked at Kristoff. Feeling her scrutiny his eyes quickly darted toward her.

"What?"

"What what?"

He relented with a slow exhale. "Elsa you..." He searched for the proper way to continue, Sven glanced back at them and bellowed, he then looked to Elsa who had a single brow raised. "Are a rescuer through and through."

"But?"

"But sometimes, not always, but sometimes it does tend to get you...into trouble." He finished the last part quickly, wincing.

Elsa scoffed quietly. "Anna gets into trouble, only now she can't be grounded due to being queen." She crossed her arms.

Kristoff shrugged, focusing on driving. "You take turns."

"Example?"

"The bear that tried to eat you while you released it from a trap."

"He stopped trying when I got him loose."

"Those hunters that tried to kill you."

"They were hunting out of season, and I was just supposed to let them?"

"The lynx kittens from the north mountain."

"That cave was going to collapse, I couldn't just leave them in there."

"The madly in love Elk bull."

A tense silence followed.

"You promised you wouldn't bring that up again." Elsa mumbled.

Kristoff chuckled at the blush that took over her cheeks. "Look all I'm trying to say is, you and Anna are more similar than you are different, and you both worry each other and I have to be the one who wakes up in the middle night to take Anna to the enchanted forest cause she received a letter from Gale that her sister was possibly suffocating in a cave collapse. I haven't had a nap since the day I met you two."

Elsa sat up and responded in a way that reminded Kristoff that she used to be a queen. "I refuse to take responsibility for your obscure sleeping patterns."

"Fair enough, but I mean I would prefer that I wasn't woken up to Anna crying that her sister has been spit roasted by her own pet lizard."

"Kristoff..." Elsa began, exasperated.

"Elsa..." He copied her tone.

"Just promise me that, if it ever comes down to your safety or even your life and being a savior... You'll choose the former."

Elsa quiet was all the response he needed but at least she had heard his words and wouldn't forget them.

The rest of the way was either in light conversation or a comfortable silence the two always shared when alone together.

When they arrived Kristoff helped Elsa out of the sleigh. "Let's hope Grand Pabbie has some answers for us."

Yeah, Elsa thought, looking at the green Arrowhead. Let's hope. She had a feeling that whatever the answers might be she wasn't going to like them.

Chapter Text

Elsa stepped aside allowing the numbers that rivaled an army's, of rocks overtake Kristoff with a small smile of amusement. Some trolls tugged gently at the hem of her white skirts urging the woman along as they passed the clearing to a cave with a large and rounded entrance. Elsa heard the chorus sounds of her name, Kristoff's and other excited exclamatory remarks that were drowned out by the cacophony their visit had brought.

Both Elsa and Kristoff ducked low to avoid being jabbed by the teeth of the stalagmites and stalactites that claimed the roof of the cave's entry tunnel. Crystals of varying sizes and colors lit the way in the same glowing semblance as the ones that hung from some of the trolls' necks, just larger and more luminescent, no doubt from being connected to their original sources.

Elsa was careful to not trip on the rolling boulders that filtered into the cave at surprisingly high speeds past her legs. Kristoff's less careful maneuvers fared easier than she already passed the low hanging ceiling into the dome mega-den of the trolls. Holes of varying sizes littered the walls leading to different rooms and sections. It always reminded Elsa of an anthill, alive and humming with life and constant activity. She lowered her head quickly as a speeding troll flew past her head ramping from one hole to the next. The ceiling once inside was covered in moss and thousands of Panellus stipticus troops and other species of bioluminescent mushrooms.

Probably much safer, Elsa considered, to have overhead than crystals.

As Kristoff asked one of the older trolls about the whereabouts of Bulda and Pabbie Elsa's eyes trailed from him to a small young troll staring at her from his elevated perch on an actual stone. She grinned awkwardly offering a small wave. His gaze and smile didn't falter. "Can you help me to that ramp?" said the small voice.

Elsa's line of sight followed to where he was pointing, seeing the ramp he referred to to her left. "Um..." Her consideration of this was heavily influenced by his sweet and cute smile. "Ver-very well." 

When Kristoff returned after going back and forth with one of his cousins in a terribly irritating guessing game they finally relented thus ending his suffering and rolled off to fetch Pabbie and Bulda. He smirked, crossing his arms taking in Elsa's predicament. He heard her labored breathing from a few feet away. Her face beet red from helping one of the unexpectedly heavy troll younglings off the rock platform and onto a ramp. She turned to help the next, and then the next but paused before taking him into her arms. "Wait, I just did you." He awed and rolled to the back of the line.

"Alright guys that's enough of your game." All the children booed and jumped off the rock dispersing the line filed.

"Game?" Elsa gasped, nearly dropping the child in her arms but instead placed him down gently.

She followed after Kristoff, arms dead at her sides. "They used to pull that with me, I stopped at age twelve." Kristoff informed, as they followed his cousin into one of the larger tunnels.

Elsa nearly caught her breath, chest still heaving heavily. "He said he needed help to the other side."

"Elsa that ramp leads to nothing, the kids have access to all the places they are allowed to go." She groaned tiredly, her arms didn't even burn this much when she used excessive amounts of magic. Kristoff's smirk never died on his lips. He didn't look back at her expression which probably had her brows drawn together in confusion. "Why didn't you just use your magic?"

Elsa raised a delicate eyebrow, staring at the side of Kristoff's face. "He said my magic could hurt them, they don't have their crystals yet." she explained as if it was obvious common knowledge.

Kristoff should have known.

He pulled back the moss curtain for Elsa to enter first, replying nonchalantly. "Another lie."

She stood there for a moment, her face placid and deceptively hard to read, a million conclusions could have been drawn up from her eyes alone, before entering with a small shake of her head.

Inside the smaller cave lay perfectly circular gours, connected like the roots of a tree. Much more intricately built crystals, larger ones housed smaller ones at the foot of the crystalline beds. Mossy beds housed different trolls completing different tasks, while adolescent trolls guided by those more mature than they held their hands over the crystal deposits till one shined at their proximity and was delicately plucked. The younger and now excited trolls followed the ones carrying the crystal away to a different room.

Bulda and Grand Pabbie overlooked the entire menagerie of small ceremonies with serene faces. The trolls, sensing their presence, turned to the two. Bulda lit up at what Elsa guessed was the sight of Kristoff but was corrected when Bulda rolled over enclosing four legs in a hug instead of two. "Elsa we haven't seen you in..." Bulda held up her stone fingers and began counting. She looked to Grand Pabbie who nodded softly, then turned back to the spirit supposedly settling on an unspoken number. "You shouldn't be a stranger sweetie."

Elsa smiled apologetically, her hands folded in front of herself when she glanced away. "Being a spirit kind of keeps me occupied most days, Bulda, Grand Pabbie. I'll try to make more frequent visits." She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. "Not to play 'Help me from this rock to the ramp' with the little ones though." She ended in a chuckle. Both trolls joined.

Bulda nodded satisfied, then to Elsa's and Kristoff's Shock jammed a hard and somewhat painful finger into his knee. He yelped and rubbed it furiously. "And you Kristoff! What's your excuse?"

"Being a prince consort isn't easy either, especially when Anna has me read her letters while she signs papers." Elsa's not so well hidden wince and pursed lips had him staring narrowly at her. Her avoidance of eye contact confirmed she had something to do with the redhead's "ingenious" idea.

"Still Kristoff there's no excuse for you to not visit, we're your family too." Bulda reprimanded with a still threatening finger.

Kristoff aggrieved, gestured to the deceivingly innocent looking Elsa, silently asking why her excuse was acceptable.

"And I'm guessing you came cause you need something." Bulda sharply pointed out while Pabbie chuckled quietly, holding his staff in both hands.

"Actually..." He began with a smug half smile. "Elsa is the one who brought something she needs you and Pabbie to look at."

Bulda and Pabbie looked to the spirit who half smiled and half cringed. "Well what did you bring us sweetie? I'm sure we can figure it out." Elsa wasn't certain of the unfair treatment that was parried in her favor but she wouldn't complain nor question it.

Kristoff balked and then sulked away mumbling. "I'm going to go play 'Help me from this rock to the ramp'."

Grand Pabbie gestured for them to sit on a moss bed. "Before I actually show you, I just have one question?" Both trolls regarded her with inquisitive eyes.

"What do you know of dragons?"

They both chuckled which for a moment had Elsa thinking she had made a foolish or ridiculous inquiry. It was when she recoiled slightly that Bulda rested a reassuring hand on her arm.

Grand Pabbie spoke once composure was gained again. "Forgive us Elsa, it's just that asking such a question in that manner would be like asking you about the plant life of Arendelle, the enchanted forest, and all the surrounding land." It was true her fascination with fauna had inspired Elsa to keep track of the many different species of plants, flowers and trees, noting their healing or poisonous properties. She now understood, it wasn't that her question was foolish, it was much too vague.

"My apologies, what do you know of dragons in Arendelle? If there ever were any." She hoped her rephrasing would yield some results. Grand Pabbie looked down as if reminiscing about such a time. It was difficult to tell if the question made him feel repentant or simply nostalgic.

"There haven't been dragons in the northern realms for centuries. There used to be an age when they dwelt in all realms but the age of the dragonslayers had brought that time to a close." Elsa frowned. Not the most conceivably joyful of starts to this already bleak conversation. 

"The North was the most aggressive in the war with dragons producing some of the most fiercest dragonslayers, dragons were not the bloodthirsty monsters as they were portrayed as nor were their murderers heroes as the romanticized tropes in stories." Elsa's mind imagined the plethora of dragon books she read in hope to find some answers but they all began or started as more of the same. Dragon kidnapped princesses or terrorized town, knight or dragonslayer was employed to slay the beasts rescuing those plagued by them. All ended in the same outcome. Slain dragon. It rendered her heart in a constricting painful grip when she thought of her dragon. Elsa had seen firsthand intelligence, mischief, curiosity and fear in those eyes...

Her chest tightened as did her hands around her satchel. This did not go unnoticed by Pabbie or Bulda who shared a certain look.

"Already scarce the last of the dragons skedaddled east, where some worshiped them or other's revered their nature." Bulda added.

"Then what?" Elsa asked, leaning forward. "Are they still there?"

Grand Pabbie's grim eyes answered her question. Bulda resting a sympathetic hand on his back sighed. Elsa too felt commiseration for the troll. It was not lost on her how spectacular dragons were if her friend was anything to go off of, she didn't envy the troll who probably had to watch such an astonishing species be killed off by man's lust for death and glory.

"Dragon slaying although not as popular in the East still resided there non the less. In the end the violent humans seemed to be the ones to decide their fates." A thick lachrymose took over the air that surrounded them juxtaposed by the giggles and idle chatter that filled the rest of the caverns.

A determination entered Elsa's eyes setting them ablaze when she silently decided that the fate of her friend's kin would not befall her. Her magic sizzled beneath her pores. Grand Pabbie and Bulda exchanged glances before sharing their visible bafflement with what had shook the woman's core and magic.

"I have possibly the last dragon with me in the enchanted forest." Bulda gasps turned into a high squeal clutching her hands to her cheeks happy tears pooling in her eyes.

Pabbie did not seem so convinced as Elsa met his apprehensive stare with her own resolute one. "Are you sure, child? How can you be sure? Perhaps you have mistaken them for another."

But Elsa remained absolute. "I don't know of any other being with wings that breathes fire." Instead of confirming this only bewildered Pabbie even more. "Wings? Fire? No dragons from the East breathe fire or have wings."

Elsa shrugged at a loss until the other spoke, lifting her morale. "Western dragons do! More specifically ones from the North, South and West!" Bulda chimed in, clearly she was not willing to barge Elsa with doubt of the possible Dragon's existence. She took both her hands firmly speaking with the most conviction Elsa had ever heard from her. "Elsa the life you are tending to is very important, there are perhaps many who would wish to capture them or harm them, control them!" Elsa nodded understanding perfectly what the Troll woman meant, she tried to move to reach for the arrowhead satisfied that this segued perfectly into her next question, but her hands were still held ransom.

"And precious," Pabbie contributed moving in closer toward the hunched woman. "Dragons are creatures of pure light, they brought a balance to the world that it has not experienced in a long, long time. Eastern dragons bringing water and life, and yes even Westerners which were thought to only bring fire and death. They all had a light inside them that took the form of either fire or water when released from their bodies, that could not only destroy but heal and create as well. If what you say is true Elsa than you may not only be the protector of Arendelle and the Enchanted forest but the protector of the last Dragens lys."

Elsa's mouth parted slightly as she absorbed every bit of the information given no matter how overwhelmingly daunting it was. Pabbie chuckled at her mesmerization. As if breaking a spell she shook her head and retrieved the green Arrowhead from her white satchel. Once retrieved she hoped that a sign of recognition would show in the trolls' eyes as they looked on at the weapon closely but saw none so she went on explaining carefully.

"I found this embedded in the dragon's leg last night." This brought a grim expression to them as Bulda more delicately than she needed picked it up holding it even closer to her face. After two minutes she handed it off to Grand Pabbie who had his hand outstretched.

"This is Kanji." He said rubbing his chin. "The stone is Jade." He continued his examination without much more explanation so Bulda stepped in.

"Kanji is the Japanese alphabet, these here mean Mikoto, I'm not sure what the crest means, I've never seen it before." Elsa was taken aback glancing at the arrowhead squinting if only to catch another glimpse of it as it was carried away by Grand Pabbie to a better light source. "Jade is a very strong stone- stronger than steel- found in China."

"This weapon is very odd to have been found in what-"

"I described to be an Western dragon. An unsettling Peculiarity indeed." Grand Pabbie and Bulda both look impressed by the woman who also now stood and began pacing.

"Unique weapons like these were treasured for their hardness and ability to pierce a dragon's hide."

"It means either the dragon has traveled a great distance and encountered an experienced dragon hunter in the east to which they'd most likely follow her here," Elsa had drawn in her arms hugging herself as she wrung her hands, her loose braid now trapped between her body and arms. "Or they traveled here all the way from the East looking for her. Both possibilities-"

"Very very very bad." Bulda finished. Elsa looked up at Grand Pabbie who also seemed to be in deep methodical analysis of the situation albeit more quietly.

"Elsa we must protect her and the enchanted forest, no doubt an experienced dragonslayer would see you and the spirits as prizes as well." Elsa nodded in agreement before she could turn and leave in haste Bulda gripped her sheer blue skirt. "There are many nuances to housing and associating with a dragon Elsa, no doubt Grand Pabbie she'll need someone to-"

"Bulda wishes to visit so she can see the magnificent bringer Of light under the guise of giving you lessons about Dragons and the intricateness of their societies." He approached with a much warmer smile for now impish Bulda, that gleamed with a playful fondness.

"I'd appreciate a few lessons disguised under any intention from you two." Elsa admitted, it seemed she was completely inept on those intricacies, feeling some anxieties this visit had brought to quell down at the idea of the two much more experienced trolls taking over the situation.

"We will meet you in a few weeks once this class of younglings have settled into their crystals, do you think you can keep her safe and healthy until then Elsa?"

Elsa was very tempted to ask if they truly both had to stay but did not want to give the impression of unreliability on a task as great as this. Taking a breath she nodded twice. "I better keep this here for research," Grand Pabbie stated, placing the arrowhead away in his moss cloak. "Hopefully by the time we venture to the enchanted forest I'll have an answer for you."

Elsa surged forward down the tunnel, fixing her satchel on her shoulder to discover Kristoff had indeed been playing with the younger trolls. Elsa caught his eye immediately, spotting her he grunted, placing the boulder baby down who booed simultaneously.

Before leaving Elsa constructed a small ice slide they could easily climb gaining their cheers and possible place as their favorite visitor. She and Kristoff ran through the entrance. "You just have to keep making my family like you more than me eh?" Elsa's giggled echoed through the tunnel as they raced towards Sven who bellowed a greeting and Sleigh.

"Onward Sven!" Elsa heroically exclaimed pointing Northward after jumping in enthusiastically. Her newly acquired role as protector of the Dragens lys fuelling her dramatic flair.

She hadn't however realized that Kristoff was not in the sleigh but taking out a troll child stowaway.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" He cursed as he ran after them.

Elsa glanced back then turned forward to Sven. "Oh, stop Sven." The reindeer huffed annoyed but complied. Without having heard the request the sleigh halted, causing Kristoff's momentum to shoot him forward into the trunk flipping onto his back.

Elsa guilty, hunched her shoulders as he grimaced and crawled over the seats into the front. "Sorry." She apologized quietly.

"No you're not!" He said indignantly, cracking his back then spurred on Sven who double checked that everyone was on board this time. "Oh I'm getting old."

A swift light smack to his arm followed the comment. "What?"

"We're the same age." A slightly vexed Elsa pointed, out placing her hands gracefully on her lap.

"Oh right of course... Well we're getting old."

With a flick of her wrist swift justice was served to her cheeky brother in law who complained about his now frosted hair. 

Chapter Text

Her arrival did not raise the same trepidation as it once did for the dragon who now merely accepted it As ambiance. What did break her from her napping torpor mid yawn was the brusque tone of voice Elsa took with her declaring that her purportedly protracted fast had come to an end.

Her face was contorted in discernible frustration accumulated by the weeks of denial from the dragon but it did not have the desired effects since the dragon continued studying her, features indecipherable.

As she quickly laid out various vegetables, and to her visible disgust raw meats and fish the spirit knelt balancing delicately on the balls of her feet. "I don't understand, I've brought you everything I can think of, from desserts, to fruit, rice, wheat..." Running fingers through her hair didn't seem to displace the tresses further than the hike from the stream where she left Nokk due to his distrust for the dragon who also seemed to hold a similar disesteem toward him.

"... I implore you to just eat. You can't just live off of Bruni's snowflakes." As if to emphasize this point the dragon acted on her words, sharing Bruni's already placed pile of snow. Watching them with hooded eyelids she rose when the dragon took a sniff at the food then turned away quickly. Not swift enough however for Elsa to notice the same fear that entered her eyes when she attempted to touch her.

She stared at the spread. The dragon must have had a bad experience with food in the past, the same or similar type that led to her aversion to touch. Shaking her head Elsa picked up one of the vegetables. Elsa had already seen her try to hunt which was unsuccessful due to the injuries she wasn't allowed to tend to. Now led by desperation, Elsa lifted the vegetable to her mouth, when she was certain she had an audience took a bite while maintaining eye contact.

The dragon's ears twitched back to the front twice more, placing her tongue back inside her maw, she let out a pitiful mewl.

That was... Something. Elsa just didn't understand what, whether to announce this silently as a victory or loss was undetermined.

Placing the bitten potato back down, she forced herself to swallow the bitter food and backed away slightly, an unnecessary precaution.

It was a victory! The dragon sniffed the root veg before taking it into her mouth, chewing deliberately keeping her gaze on Elsa who kept herself from a happy adolescent squeal of delight. Her grin did attempt to reach both ears.

As an urgent afterthought she hurriedly albeit clumsier than she would have liked reached for her notebook, furiously scribbling.

July 12, first food intake: Raw potato. Eaten after example. Herbivore or omnivore. Undecided

The dragon blew white smoke from her nostrils over the other food.

Well if example was the only way to get the dragon to eat then an example Elsa would give.

She hung her head mumbling to herself before creating a knife perhaps more dull than it should have been to cut through the flank of salmon. She grimaced at the idea and promised to kick herself if this didn't work. She had long since discovered that meat had not agreed with her stomach nor tastes and avoided it when possible.

Taking a deep breath she held it as the slimy flesh was pressed between her teeth, lips lifting to avoid touching it as much as possible, she barely chewed before swallowing. It took a very determined amount of willpower to not shudder. An irrational fear that the dragon would surely take this as a sign of something being amiss.

She began swallowing all the saliva in her mouth trying to rid the taste out of it.

The dragon snatched the carved fish away. Elsa's attention was now completely on her as she burned the fish with a small flame cooking it before devouring the salmon with soft appreciative warbles.

Elsa's mouth gaped slightly, searching her memory for if she had- no she had given the dragon cooked food. She rubbed her face with harsh pressure banishing the idea that she had eaten raw fish for not.

No, there was a reason. The dragon apparently did not trust enough to not be poisoned or most likely drugged.

It wasn't too far-fetched of a conclusion she decided having seen many sovereigns have food tasted before deciding to partake. Either way the most important feat of the day was that she had finally eaten.

When her eyes darted to the elk meat then back to Elsa expecting the same treatment, that is where she had to draw the line. Defeated, she sighed. "I don't like meat. Please just eat." Narrowing her eyes the dragon regarded it carefully with an experimental lick.

Elsa's breath remained held until after a few tense moments where not even Bruni moved she gave the meat the same treatment as the fish and began eating. The amphibian joined his friend briefly, tongue punching the meal before deciding it wasn't for him and crawled up to Elsa's hair.

With the spread now gone the dragon settled on a sunspot stretching before laying on her side to turn over onto her back. She gave Elsa an upside down winsome smile chuffing breathy.

Elsa chuckled, tilting her head in half attempt to put them at equal perspectives. Adorable overgrown gecko. She understood a dismal when one was given and raised a hand gracefully standing, leaving the dragon to sleep with a full belly for maybe the first time in weeks.

Elsa stood on the hill next to Nokk who neighed at sight of their home galloping straight towards it, her little haven, tucked away in the woods, bordering a large lake which fed into streams, to the ocean.

Elsa grinned, it had been two years since she built it but the same sense of accomplishment entered her as it always did whenever she stayed away for a period of time and returned.

It had a humble front yard, and a porch, below the porch was lined with healthy flower beds which Elsa kept with very careful tendency, above them was hanging plant beds resting in baskets that swung slightly whenever the wind or Gale passed through. The entire front was lightly guarded by a small crystalized ice fence centering at a spaced picket gate held shut by a small latch.

Bay windows which were only shut when she was away to allow Gale or Bruni free agency to come and go as they pleased, had the frames of dark wood stenciled with reinforced white ice.

She unfroze the rounded porthole shaped oak door stepping through into the front entryway.

An array of plants and flowers Elsa shared with hindered her from using her powers too much in the construction of her cottage. Anna had insisted on sending workers, Kristoff included, to help when Elsa had finally chosen the location but she declined only accepting pieces of furniture, rugs and other house essentials Anna personally delivered and declared to be housewarming gifts.

Still everytime she entered or dwelt in the abode Elsa had to admit the months of studying woodwork, and speaking with artisans of Arendelle helped bring her envisioning to fruition, having an already higher than average understanding of architecture also aided immensely.

A splashing sound drew her eyes to the open area she refused to close off with walls connecting to outside of the lake. Nokk counted the water with his hooves clearly in a jovial mood. He dispersed into the waters after Elsa tenderly smoothed her palm along his snout.

The ice support beams upon the ceiling doubled as another storage means she could keep her plants not wanting to waste any space. The wooden steps creaked slightly under her weight when Elsa descended entering her study room. It took a shape very similar to her old one which Anna had inherited. Elsa used a bit more of her magic, in the book shelves and desk facing the door.

Meticulously books were put away according to titles, genres, and dates they were written. Except one particular work. Anna had ordered for her to further her research. It was a Japanese legend of the supposed myths which were Eastern dragons, thankfully translated, from Corona. Elsa put writing a thankful letter to send to her cousin in her itinerary for later.

Carefully she opened the book where she had left off and began her research. Grand Pabbie was proven correct by the colorful illustrations of the serpent like dragons. Not that she had ever doubted the wise troll's words in the first place.

From her readings, oriental dragons were held in a higher esteem than their western cousins. Even considered by many to be the guardians of the heavens. What really garnered her interest was the stories and anecdotes about the dragons being protectors and controllers of both the weather and the very elements of earth, favored by wind and water. Are you a spirit of a different land?

It was difficult to believe that such powerful creatures who not only had immaculate abilities but very diligent followers, worshippers, were overtaken by dragonslayers armed with nothing but particularly hard weapons.

"What happened?" Elsa pondered aloud, sitting back in her chair. She glanced out to her right at the glass balcony double doors. It was an indulgent whim, but reminded her of the faithful awakening she had in her ice castle.

She stared at the book and her carefully crafted notes stacked in a neat pile beside it. None of it made sense to her. It was all so close in relation yet each piece of information couldn't seem to bridge the gap to properly form a correlation.

The dragon was not an Eastern dragon or at least didn't share their anatomy, yet supposedly came from the East, specifically Japan. The god-like dragons which fell victim to man's violent tendencies. How had they rallied enough support to begin the slaughter of dragons so long ago? How old was the dragon which seemed to narrowly evade the dragonslayers? Where did she really come from? How were there still dragonslayers with such expertise if dragons had been extinct for centuries?

As if sensing her stress a gust of wind blew through her papers nearly sending them off her desk if Elsa had not intervened placing her hands upon them. "Hey!" The wind blew through again this time more aggressively. "Gale!" She laughed as the spirit blew through once more, twirling her hair high letting it drop against her back.

Now with her thoughts impeded Elsa ran gentle fingers in the wind. "Is this very disadvantageous interruption a call for dinner?" Bruni climbed upon her desk, eyes irked. The sun had gone down, a tell of the hours she had spent reading and writing. An impatient neigh resonated through the hall.

Accepting defeat and being outnumbered, Elsa rose, stretching her cracking bones. "Alright, alright. I'm coming down.

It was a peaceful ritual the spirits developed together in the evenings they spent in their home.

Elsa would cook in the kitchen listening to Bruni irritate Nokk by either setting something aflame which Nokk would irritably extinguish or by climbing upon the water horse alit causing steam to resonate off him.

They continued the games while Elsa sat at the small round dining table either engrossed by a book or watching silently content to not pick sides unlike Gale who would intervene occasionally, defending who they deemed in the wrong at their whim. Usually it was Nokk.

Elsa then cleaned the kitchen as well as the dishes and made her way upstairs to her room.

It was this room she made almost entirely of ice, minus the books upon her shelf and thin sheet she used to cover herself at night, more so out of habit and comfort than to actually conceal warmth.

More of Anna's art littered her walls, with pictures sketched by Arendelle and Northuldran children.

After exiting her washroom, hair wet from bathing, Elsa sat at her vanity brushing the long locks. This part of her evening always pulled her thoughts to Anna. A bittersweet small smile graced her lips as she thought of the nights her queen would brush her hair, sometimes lovingly, and other times teasingly.

"I don't even know why you bother brushing it, miss 'my hair never tangles.'" 

Elsa hummed, placing the brush down.

Once in bed she managed to get in an hour of reading the book which sat on her nightstand under the light of a snowflake hovering above her head till fatigue got the better of her, claiming the spirit for the rest of night. Bruni nestled in her hair.

A loud bang sent Bruni flying across the bed sheet when Elsa bolted upright chest heaving from the fright it gave her. They exchanged glances then raced downstairs as the knocks grew more anxious the longer she took.

She peeked through a small hole and was about to answer when she realized she was in a simple white slip. "Just a second!" She called creating a white robe to tie around herself in maintaining modesty.

"Ah Elsa thank goodness you're home." Ryder haggardly breathed. She took in his appearance. Covered in black smoke spots, disheveled clothes rumpled.

Elsa's eyes slowly panned up above his head to see a large black plume cloud circling blotting out the sky.

Nokk bayed and ran through the living room wetting the floors to the front door.

As they rode towards the cloud, Ryder updated Elsa as best he could upon Emil. "The herd was separated at Eastern point but we managed to get one half clear but the fire is spreading too quickly for anyone to safely put it out."

A dark, low hanging smoke perfumed the forest suffocating life out as animals fled in various directions, Elsa and Ryder coughed drawing near. White blazed from her arms which extended in whatever way flames tried to devour the foliage.

Ryder took her upon a high hill so as to see the depth of the destruction moving rapidly across the land. They saw briefly Gale gust the heat towards water sources working quickly, smaller pyres were easily snuffed out.

Rock trolls carried the frightened Northuldrans and some reindeer high above and away from danger. Others who were not providing transportation gathered dirt in their palms, scattering it across the ground in powerful throws.

"Make sure everyone gets to safety, and steer clear. Move them towards Arendelle if things get out of hand." Elsa's unshakable voice spoke above the blizzard that was forming, cooling the already putrid hot air.

Snowfall moistened his already damp cheeks, whether it be from crying or from the tears jerked by the smoke Elsa could not tell.

"But what about the other half of the herd!" He yelled over the growing winds of hail and sleet. "I'll find them. Now get out of here!"

With that said a short hesitation from him was given before he spurred Emil into a retreat to fulfill Elsa's orders.

Navigating down into the valley and forest she dismounted Nokk allowing him the ability to drown the flames much easier. Bruni leapt from her shoulder seeking out the fire's sources, guiding Elsa to wherever they needed to be quenched. Her snowfall and winds covered more ground than she was able on two legs or by sliding along the frost covered surfaces. Her winter gales had unfortunately covered the south end of the forest in blankets of snow as Elsa followed Bruni closely, pelting branches of trees or anything else which had caught fire with rapid blue and white swirls.

The spirits worked in a circle containing the disaster to a choke point to cease its spread.

A very large clump of earth hurtling towards Elsa was blocked by an ice wall as she ducked avoiding debris littering across.

A branch snapping was the only warning Elsa had as an arrow directed towards her.

Before she could bring up another protective block reflexively the head of the weapon deflected against an armored scaled chest.

The dragon roared in the direction of the trajectory, breath hot against the cold air, standing to full height akin to a bear, wings beating furious winds, tail thrashing out behind her.

Her scales individually rubbed against their neighbor creating distinct dangerous low rattling almost hissing warning.

It had nearly muted the noise of breaking bushes and thickets. Glancing at each other they took after the fleeing assailant. Who now rode away on horseback.

Elsa aimed after the attacker but her arms fell once he disappeared from sight. Resting her hands on her knees she bent over to catch her breath.

She'd get them later, there was a reason they attacked her and she had a sneaking suspicion it had to do with the fire as well.

This wasn't over. 

The dragon continued further snorting but she too had to end the pursuit sitting down allowing her limp leg to sprawl out. She rested her head upon her paws huffing in short spurts.

Wanting to examine the damage Elsa slowly rid her magic in the environment packaging it in a giant snowflake neatly before breaking it down to mere dust which lingered in the air.

Tired, she leaned against a tree sliding down to ground dipping her head low and her arms upon her knees. Bruni climbed upon her leg and titled his head nuzzling her limp fingers.

Elsa's mind tried to process the night as she stood as sluggish as her attempt was.

Whatever the causes her questions were about to be answered when twenty minutes later a reindeer below rang out from a distance. Elsa squinted past the smoky haze Gale had yet to blow away.

Ears tuning into the noise the dragon rose but fell back down once more. Less graceful than her usual movements she clambered to her feet ignoring Elsa's protest who jogged toward her and limped off deeper into the wood.

"Elsa!" A voice called. Soon the spirit was enveloped in an embrace from behind. Breaking from her stupor Elsa turned in Honeymaren's arms returning the hug. Ryder's arms enveloped both of them tightly.

"Are you alright?" Elsa, unaware that she had even been unable to speak, nodded meekly. As if not believing her the siblings checked her over for injury but found nothing but her soot stained robe and skin.

"Is anyone injured?" She asked, finding her voice once more.

"Everyone got away unharmed." Yelena's revelation gave the spirit an unspoken invitation to seat herself upon a fallen tree in a heap.

Honeymaren continued rubbing her back in soothing circles as the three allowed their exhausted friend to collect herself.

"The fire grew while we slept, awoken by the cries of our animals." Yelena began. "It grew at unnatural speeds as if we had happened upon a dry season similar to the flames that overtook Arendelle some weeks ago..."

Gasping at the implications Elsa stood and took a couple careful steps towards the elder. "When the fire settled I was attacked by a mysterious figure in black and gray cloaks..." Ryder and Honeymaren shared worried glances, not used to the intensity Elsa spoke her convictions in. "The dragon who is taking shelter in the forest came to my aid. We chased them but the assailant fled."

They all took in the new intel. It certainly complicated things.

"Where's the dragon now?" Ryder's worried voice cut the tension as Emil drew closer to him less for her comfort than it was for his.

"She went back to her den..." A worried shake resounded in her tone.

"I'll gather capable warriors and we'll hunt down this attacker." Honeymaren reported her palms closing in shaking fists. Before departing upon Erin she rested a hand on Elsa's sagged shoulders offering a placating smile. "Get some rest Elsa, you've done more than enough." But it wasn't enough. Not only did she have to worry about whether these men had been possibly involved with the dragonslayers, but now they had gotten away from her and showed a promising tendency for arson.

Ryder spoke up again offering an escorting arm to Yelena. "We'll gather those who don't join us to salvage what they can and take damage reports." Yelena joined him on his small cart.

Nodding Elsa spoke up as an afterthought. "Perhaps I'll join you to get some medical supplies... If they're available."

Ryder perked up before reaching behind. "Sure! We didn't know quite what to expect so Honeymaren brought this just in case." He handed over a small box which Elsa gratefully took.

"Honeymaren is correct Elsa," she said, taking the younger's hand gently as if sensing the reckless aura she endowed. "Please rest, we can discuss more tomorrow morning."

Elsa watched them ride off, box clutched to her chest when a wet nose pressed into her shoulder earning a gentle stroke. Kneeling Nokk steadied as Elsa swung herself onto his back.

Rest. Shaking her head Elsa spurred him off toward the Drage's den.

She'd do anything but.

The dragon despite her best efforts wasn't able to make it to her den. Elsa's heart broke when she witnessed her leg shake from the strain of being dangled above the ground while she hobbled further on three legs.

She can't go on like this. 

Making her presence known Elsa broke from the treeline. The dragon puled pathetically at her, ear appendages flattening against her head.

Looking down at the ground Elsa held up her hand showing her intentions. As if sensing a promise breaking the dragon tried to gather herself continuing her cries.

The louder they grew the more Elsa's hand trembled.

"Where the north wind meets the sea.."

Her fruitless escape attempts ceased upon hearing the Spirit's melodious voice regarding her with large pupils.

"There's a river full of memories..." Elsa's voice cracked from the emotion welling in her throat but her audience didn't seem to mind as she drew closer.

"Sleep, my darling, safe and sound." She looked over her injurious leg, reaching into the box. She beckoned Nokk over and when the horse refused to come closer to the beast. Elsa looked over her shoulder whispering. "Please..."

Snorting rather dramatically he walked over offering his mane to the cloth she held.

When it was drenched he gained distance again and hurried to get away.

The dragon complained again, Elsa cooed gently lifting the rag to the wound. "For in this river all is found."

Cleaning it as gently as she could she hummed the hymn, wincing whenever a high whine was released. Slowly the puss, and dried blood rinsed away.

After some prompting the dragon lifted her leg while Elsa carefully wrapped it round her mid thigh.

"In her waters, deep and true- You know," she started, while focusing on her work. "I have an idea of what to name you. I just need to double check my sources before I tell you."

The dragon chuffed sounding a bit more sanguine than prior. "Lie the answers and the path for you."

"I'll fix that too if you'll allow me." Elsa said mid hum. The dragon looked to her gestured wing lifting it up, the moonlight shined through the gap on the ground in a near perfect circle.

As if more curious than anything by her process the dragon offered her wing to Elsa once her leg was securely wrapped.

Elsa felt a swell of pride as her dragon seemed less tightly wound. She gauged the wing's membrane elasticity and structure with a rapt heed.

Closing her eyes, Elsa heard a surprised guffaw as her magic overtook the hole enclosing it. Blue and white swirls connected the sinews together before settling.

Bruni climbed upon the wing inspecting her work. He licked the icy dust before Elsa picked him up wagging a humorous finger in his face.

"Besides Olaf, Marshmallow, and my palace, I'd say this is one of my better works. Wouldn't you agree, Nokk?" The horse rebuked her trotting in a circle.

Slowly both wings rose as the dragon tested it tilting toward the wind. Elsa backed away, giving her space to fully extend them.

She was not expecting the dragon who wiggled her rear end to bound into the sky gaining altitude, taking off eastward with a spin, voice exploding in the air with a victorious drum, before Elsa could even utter a 'Wait.'

She stood there hopeless among the flying dust and leaves. Her breathing wanted to quicken to compensate for her thundering heart.

She tried to calm shakily sitting down on the ground by the waterfall.

Everything caught up, the fires, the damaged forest, the attempt made upon her life, the last existing Dragens lys having had just left. She failed Grand Pabbie and Bulda having lost the last of pure light in the world in a blink of an eye.

When her brain settled on the many problems which all lacked viable solutions stinging tears pooled in her corneas and fell turning into full sobs.

She hugged herself as she crumpled.

Nokk approached slowly, not disturbing the fragile air that surrounded the woman. Bruni rested his small head on her lap.

A snowfall began to fall around them. It was quiet and small, as if reflecting Elsa's last spent energies. A hard cry hurt the muscles in her chest as it tried keeping up with her haggard hiccuping breaths.

Nokk backed away, but Elsa didn't have the strength to open her eyes. She snorted, nose congested.

A gentle pressure rested atop her head. Elsa's shot nerves jumped at the feeling which lifted when she lurched upward.

Paw, still suspended in the air, held still while Elsa roughly wiped away her tears and mucus on her robe sleeve to get a better look at the dragon, who sat beside her tail curled around them. Elsa blinked a couple times as if she hadn't believed her vision.

She watched her before resuming to pet Elsa's hair tenderly.

Elsa's heart beat slowed to a reasonable tempo as she curled her knees closer to her chest. Elsa closed her eyes once more testily leaning against the dragon's side...

Her brain deemed rest the priority as it packaged all the worry and stress away finally emptying enough to allow Elsa sleep.

Chapter Text

"But how do we know it wasn't the dragon residing in the woods!"

"You dare doubt the Fifth Spirit's witness? Her life was threatened!"

"I am merely giving the benefit of the doubt-"

"I'll give you the benefit of doubt before I punch you in the face." Ryder placed a hand on his sister's bicep lowering it down to the table. Honeymaren's face remained deep red, Elsa could have sworn she saw an angry vein hidden beneath the small wisps of hair that hung free from her head.

"Enough. I am just as weary of the dragon's presence as any of you but I will not veto Elsa's testament." Yelena gave the current context of the conversation a significant look but it was not reciprocated since Elsa was daydreaming out of the window wondering when the meeting would reach some conclusion. She had already reported her story to them and they had already given reports to the damages caused in the village and forest, but it seemed Yelena wouldn't adjourn until everyone had some semblance of peace and security.

It wasn't that she blasé to their concerns, she actually considered them very heavily but the accusing of her dragon had brought on a sense of indifference defense, in addition to a meeting she had in less than hour with Arendelle's Monarch albeit was a lot more informal still Anna's time had extreme value and she would not be tardy.

All silenced when she began to speak when she turned her eyes upon them all deliberately.

"The dragon is no threat to the village and her safety and health is my imperative. I understand everyone's trepidation at her stay and do not wish to stress you all, I will take full responsibility for all her actions but she was not the one who caused the fires last night I assure you. Honeymaren?"

The woman straightened upon hearing her name giving Elsa her full attention instead of the fools she had been arguing with all morning, nodding with her brows furrowed.

"Any news back from the scouts you sent out last night?"

"Nothing yet but their search remains diligent."

Elsa nodded at her now regarding Yelena who gave an equally respectful stare. "I will try to keep her from the village until everyone has good faith that the attack was not hers." Satisfied Yelena graciously called the meeting to an impasse yield until some results were conclusive.

Elsa was the first out of the temporary council tent and upon Nokk before Honeymaren could run out to stop her.

"Elsa?" That was a call she could not ignore but was surprised to hear nonetheless. How did Yelena make it out before Honeymaren did? How fast did she move to be standing calmly beside Nokk hands folded with nothing out of place, not even a breath?

"Yes?" Yelena made certain others were out of earshot before answering. Her tender voice drew up Elsa's brow in shock. "I'm worried about you." It took the younger woman much longer than she would have liked to recover.

She dismounted Nokk, leveling their gazes; she had always been taught it was rude to speak formally with someone atop a horse when you were either below their station or of equals.

"I have some concerns that you are putting the world upon your shoulders again instead of distributing its weight among those who would happily take it, those who care about you." Yelena certainly did not open up like this often. She voiced her concerns yes, but all emotional ties were usually put at the back, stating them as facts rather than the state of her being.

"I'm sorry to cause-" She couldn't even finish the thought in her head before she was interrupted. There was no point in rushing Yelena was clearly in command of the conversation from the moment she said Elsa's name.

"You're doing it again, there is no reason for you to apologize for my... anxieties." Elsa didn't believe that for a second. "I know I'm keeping you but all I ask is that you try not to punish yourself in penitence for things out of your control, even silently." Yelena left Elsa to digest her words thoroughly.

"Please." The quiet plea said over Yelena's shoulder when she turned her head back concreted the discussion in Elsa's subconscious. She was snapped out of her silent arguments she began developing by the anxious Nokk counting the ground.

She had to meet Anna at her cottage and if she wanted to remain punctual she could afford no more delays.

She sighed in relief upon arrival seeing that she had beat her sister, immediately dismounting she ran in leaving the door ajar kicking off her flats to set up the tea nook in the back gardens.

Every visit she always hosted them back here, not caring to admit it but silently accepting the reason being the compliments and pride Anna drowned her older sister in be it about the flowers Elsa grew or how picturesque the view was of the lake, mountains, how at the right time of dusk the sunset would hit the lake and make it shimmer and at night when the peaceful waters were still how the night sky reflected in the pools as if a thousand stars also resided here on earth.

The cups, food platters, and other dishes clinked together as Elsa sped walked down the cobble path to the small table setting down the china and cutlery. Teacups hung on her fingers to save the trip.

She practically ran back inside to retrieve the small Hors d'oeuvres she prepared, unable to hide her elation she always had when her sister and brother in law visited.

Anna had written that they would be spending the night to taste test a bottle of spirits with Elsa she had received as a late birthday gift from a Ruskland duke. It was known the queen was partial to the drinks, as Anna had put it 'they made fun even more fun' though Elsa had a strong disagreement to that sentiment.

Observing the table Elsa's hand cupped her chin as she wondered what was missing that continuously tickled the back of her mind.

Snapping her fingers loudly they danced together spawning a vase and ice chrysanthemums Anna's favorites. She had been very accommodating to Kristoff as well fixing up his favorite type of bacon wrapped cranberry appetizers.

Going over the details once more and now being satisfied she gave a small nod. Not particularly fancy enough for a state visit but still intimately pleasant.

"Elsa!" Anna called entering her home while Kristoff unloaded the sleigh with their belongings. This would definitely take him two trips due to his wife's tendencies to over pack insisting every single article in her trunk was an absolute necessity.

"Elsa!" Olaf repeated, hugging her legs.

Now fully constricted, Elsa hugged back tightly, before she attempted to pull away but was held by Anna's arm around her waist. At least she could walk since Olaf had released her legs.

Chuckling as her sister led her to the couch in the sitting room. She was released when Anna Ooed at the chocolate truffles Elsa set out helping herself to a handful. Olaf gave himself a tour of her abode talking to himself animatedly as he always did when he visited.

Decorum abandoned, Anna spoke as she cheeked the treats. "So tell me all about last night.." she swallowed with a loud gulp. "Why you're still running into fires like you're mental." She shot a warning deadpan look Elsa's way, grabbing her sister's chin who was distracted by Kristoff's noisy grunts in the entryway.

"He's fine, he needs the exercise anyways." Kristoff balked at Anna's comment, resting his elbows on the trunk he set down vertically.

"Excuse me but I'm not the one who eats at least four desserts in a single day."

Elsa giggled behind her hand when Anna threw a truffle his way aiming for his head but the trajectory was changed as he opened his mouth catching it.

Olaf hid a loud whisper behind his hand to the man. "I wasn't going to say anything but I think you both could do with carrying in a few trunks."

"Alright you lost your smelling privileges." Kristoff snatched the carrot as Olaf chased him back outside.

Elsa then with prodding went over the events of the previous night keeping out many details that would make her endeavors sound too dangerous.

Her prudent attempts all derailed upon mentioning the arrow despite her efforts to draw attention to a certain dragon's preventative actions.

"We're going to need this sooner than I thought..." Anna mumbled pouring the liquor in a cup. "Anna, it's barely passed one." Kristoff berated taking the bottle.

She shrugged. "You're right we should be sharp minded when we meet the hero dragon." A moment's pause had the man staring off before he grumbled pouring three glasses.

Olaf clapped. "We're going to meet a dragon! I've never met a dragon before." He tapped his snowy chin when recollection hit him. "Oh! Except for the one that destroyed our roof, and blew fire all over the city, and attacked Mattias and the soldiers, and ran away into-"

Giggling, Anna handed Elsa a glass which she had begun to refuse stating they'd be trying it tonight but Anna pushed it into her hands brow raised.

"You know it's quite rude to refuse a drink from your queen." She knew where the target was to coerce Elsa and hit dead center.

Relenting Elsa took the glass. "You're very pushy, you know." She lamented cradling the glass carefully in her palm.

"All the more reason why I am surprisingly great at politics."

They held up the cups standing in a circle. "Here's to Elsa giving me nothing but gray hairs and not dying."

"To Elsa not dying!" Kristoff repeated.

"To Elsa not dying!" Olaf cheered happily that his surrogate mother wasn't dying. Or was she and they were trying to stop it?

Elsa shrugged. She could drink to that. "To not dying." a smile began forming and bled out into her cheer.

They tipped the glasses and down the liquor. Elsa's pupils dilated as she sputtered, coughing, placing a hand on Kristoff's shoulders to steady herself from both embarrassment and the burning in her chest.

Anna sputtered, dribbling some of the liquid on her green and black travel clothes laughing at her sister's blunder. She wiped her chin with the back of her hand.

"Are you drunk already?" Olaf asked curiously. It usually took Anna two drinks to get 'there' as Mattias called her states of when she was buzzed. If Kristoff wasn't around he would take over being her drunken caretaker, while not abandoning decorum, and has even been known to not only cover Anna's drunk rants about specific dignitaries and royals Anna had a distaste for but tuck her in to bed when she either fell asleep at the table, on the table, standing up, on her throne, or just about anywhere.

She shook her head at Kristoff who did not join in on her mockery then gestured to Elsa. "Oh come on, that was funny, the spirit can't handle her spirits."

"I beg to differ." Elsa said, not quite finding the humor, flicked her wrists summoning a handkerchief to wipe her face and blue tunic which had remained tucked into her white breeches. "So tea." She offered, gesturing to the back yard.

"Oh! Tea I can't drink it but I do enjoy the smell- Kristoff I need my nose back."

"Ah damn it!" Anna complained, stepping outside. "We could have poured the vodka in it."

Elsa shook her head grinning. "No thanks."

"So uh... Where is she?" Olaf asked.

Elsa's eyes scanned the skies with her hands shielding them. They were dejectedly empty save for a few puffy white clouds which glided along slowly.

"I told her to meet us here this morning." Elsa frowned. She had picked the perfect place to show the graceful beauty in flight.

"I have very important people for you to meet this afternoon so I would ask you kindly to look presentable-" Elsa emphasized the word taking in the dragon's mud covered scales as she was caught mid lick with a fish.

Elsa could see her considering her word carefully as she stood up and before the woman could duck in cover shook the mud as a dog who would attempt to rid moisture from their pelt.

Elsa spit out the mud which coated the side of her lips, she gave a gracious slight head bow. "Th-Thank you."

The dragon mewed, looking quite pleased with the ordeal, examined her body for any traces of mud or muk which she accumulated by following a deer's idea of wallowing. 

"You told her?" Kristoff yelled dubiously.

"Kristoff can-can you steer us away from the cliff side?" Anna clutched his tan tunic sleeve nervously. She truly hated them, always stating she needed to lay down when faced with the sheer faces of the ones near the fjord.

"Don't worry Anna, it's only an endless drop down into the ocean below, so if you fall you won't hit the ground." Olaf patted her knee as she paled further.

Elsa tended to her swiftly placing both hands on her shoulders rubbing them up and down.

He took a bite of Olaf's nose before kissing her head. "No worries my sweet sweet carrot top-"

"I told you not to call me that, the tops of carrots aren't even good you toss those out." Anna leaned into Elsa's touch, her cool hands did help chase away the dizzying effects the cliff's edge had.

"We're not even close to-"

"Kristoff!" Anna cried.

Elsa reacted quickly, shooting a blast from her fingertips, as she jumped from the sleigh, rushing to the edge of the drop. Her icy rope lassoed around his ankle stopping his plummet.

Kristoff sucked in air from screaming as he reached up clutching the rope. Sven bellowed and grasped the back of her blouse between his teeth, while Olaf grasped his tail tightly, yanking her backward.

A large shadow passed over them.

Kristoff landed upon Elsa with a rough tumble. She groaned in pain climbing from up under the large man. Anna had already thrown her arms around him kissing every inch of his face before running her hands along his chest and neck checking for any harm.

The man was locked in shock, eyes expanded to almost impossible widths as Sven sniffed his hair.

Elsa looked up and frowned. Anna's eyes followed hers now understanding the cause of the ruckus. She stood and pointed at the ground. "Get down here now!" Elsa gulped at how the anger shook her throat and words.

The dragon landed stumbling slightly, looking confused as to why the mountain man was still alive.

Upon regarding the scene before her she no longer felt proud of herself that much was certain when her chest sunk slightly, between Elsa's look of bewilderment and Anna's red cheeks, she garbled lowly ears folding back almost apologetically.

Olaf tried to rush forward, arms extended. "Hi I'm Olaf-" he spoke the rest of his greeting behind Kristoff's hand who clutched at him tightly in his lap.

Anna stepped forward. "First you destroy my roof then you go and chuck my husband off a cliff!" The dragon's neck leaned back, eyes darting to the side at Elsa who offered no aid. She slowly and diffidently copied Anna's peeved stance, arms akimbo, foot tapping.

"Do you hate me? Is that it? I didn't do anything to you!"

The dragon tucked her tail, eyes downcast, looking like a scolded kitten letting out barely audible pitiful noises at her chastisement.

At this Anna softened slightly. She approached further, "Can we start over?" A little glance at her told Anna yes.

"I'm prin- er- Queen Anna of Arendelle. Resident of castle Arendelle, owner of the roof you broke." Anna held out her hand which was dwarfed by the paw which jiggled her fingers lightly.

She giggled, raising her shoulders up to her ears.

The dragon's attention was caught by small twigs enveloping her forepaw tightly, while the sisters helped Kristoff to stand on his still wobbling legs.

Elsa was endeared to the moment as Olaf giggled at the dragon who dragged her large slightly forked tongue over his head.

Well besides the attempt on Kristoff's life, this was going great. Elsa had witnessed the big curious goof the dragon became as she grew more comfortable with her surroundings and less fearful.

Anna tried persuading her husband to join her by the dragon's side but he went on how he needed to comfort the now traumatized Sven.

Anna put a hand upon the dragon's right flank slowing when she recoiled slightly but held still bravely as she touched her scales which quivered underneath the flighting caresses.

"Whoa." Anna ran her hand up and down the scaly surface, noting the intense heat. "I'm petting a dragon!" Her cheers only grew with small jumps as the dragon crooned at her. It was similar to the pleading tone she gave Elsa the night she finally mended her leg and wing. A cry the spirit now personally identified as 'Don't hurt me, please.' 

She wrapped both arms around the now stiff creature who, similar to Kristoff, froze while keeping eye contact with Elsa. "Mmm I could use you in the winter." Elsa nodded in encouragement, trusting that if anyone could be a representative of the good and happiness humanity could bring it was Anna.

"She has the warmest hugs I've ever received." Olaf too went in full body.

"Elsa this big Ole cutie gave you all that trouble? If she hadn't scared the living daylights outta me I wouldn't believe it." Elsa opened her mouth to protest the dragon's remarkable permissive behavior to Anna and Olaf's curious handsy greetings, but decided against it, this was what she wanted after all.

She knew half of her family were near impossible to refuse, be it a stubborn lawyer who did not want to pass a bill of law to a dragon who now wrapped a tail round the two purring.

"Kristoff, you have to feel our friend here, she's so sweet." Olaf refused to release his new obsession unlike Anna who now just rested a hand upon her shoulder, her eyes met the content looking at Elsa's silently speaking.

Anna understood now.

"I could have died!" Kristoff protested, folding his arms. He had wearily offered a pet which the dragon initially moved away from probably sensing the man's budding negative opinion of her, but the dragon soon abandoned her ruminative thought of him when she discovered teasing him was very entertaining, much like Anna in an abstract sense but different in action.

Twenty minutes into their introduction Kristoff received the second biggest fright of his life when the dragon crouched shaking her shoulders pretending to pounce on him but instead landed a few inches from his face which fell away as he peeled backwards quickly and clumsily.

"Yes but you didn't so it's funny now."

Anna rested her head on his shoulder.

"Yea but why me? Why couldn't she have grabbed you?" The latter most likely would have drawn an even darker opinion in the man about the dragon.

Anna thought for a moment, tapping her chin slowly. "Because I look like Elsa." She pointed at the woman who tilted an incredulous head at her brows knitting together. She and Kristoff spoke at the same time.

"I don't think that's the correct reason."

"She couldn't have seen you from up there."

Again Anna shrugged leaning against the tree now watching the Dragon try to draw closer to Sven who kept his distance with Olaf in tow trying to convince him how warm she was. A secret the sisters shared, if anyone wanted to know at times how Kristoff was feeling outwardly, look to his reindeer who sometimes served as an inverse mirror to the man.

"What's her name?"

"She doesn't have one yet." Elsa answered, picking imaginary dirt off her pants, it was a bit of shame that made her desire to meet Anna's eyes grow less and less. At those moments when she and the dragon interacted a name was less of a necessity than figuring out how the dragon felt and could be helped. During those times Elsa concluded that the dragon's scars flowed deeper than physicality; enough exposure was evident to anyone paying attention.

"What? Well Elsa what have you been doing these past few weeks?"

Elsa began counting upon her fingers, looking up, her voice oozed of sarcasm. "Oh well let's see: Stopping forest fires, visiting the trolls, tracking down a dragon, important research about how the last dragon may right in front of u-"

Anna grasped her fingers saluting a peace, she silently cursed herself for drawing attention to how busy her sister had been. "Fair enough. We have to name her though." She hummed, taking in the dragon's appearance carefully.

"Periwinkle."

"What?" Elsa and Kristoff asked simultaneously.

"Periwinkle." She stated as if they were missing the obvious. "It's cute and she's cute."

"That's really dumb." She slapped Kristoff's arm lightly. "Oh yea let's see what you come up with 'Mr. Judgy"

Kristoff regarded their subject pursing his lips. "I like Paul." He said simply.

"We are not naming the dragon, Paul." Anna ridiculed. "She's a girl for one."

"How do you know?" Both their eyes turned to Elsa when hugged herself not meeting their eyes, her mouth hid behind her fingers as she cradled her elbow in the opposite palm.

"Cause she's-she's pretty." She felt even more foolish when Kristoff rolled his eyes.

"Paul."

"We're not naming her Paul." Anna nearly growled. Elsa rubbed her temples in circles.

Both names are terr-

"Let's ask her," Kristoff cupped his mouth and yelled. "Paul!" The dragon looked up momentarily from her play in the field with Sven and Olaf before turning back now distracted by a dragonfly she gave chase to.

"Rest my case." He said clapping his hands ending in a rub together as one would do before eating a long awaited meal.

"Oh yea," Anna yelled even louder. "Periwinkle!" Again the dragon gave them her attention albeit a bit more annoyed than before. The dragonfly got away.

"She looked at me longer."

"Both those names are..." Elsa continued carefully. "Not ideal."

"Oh yeah well you didn't even have a name for her." Anna challenged.

"I have a name for her I just didn't tell her yet." With expected eyes on her she continued. "Well I was going to name her Ryu."

Kristoff shot up an inquisitive brow. "What's that mean?"

"It's Japanese...for... Dragon." She replied quietly.

"You were going to name the dragon...dragon?"

"Says the one who wanted to name her Periwinkle." Kristoff grumbled under his breath. It was still heard and led to a debate Elsa tuned out since it did not seem overly serious. Her gaze fell to the sweet creature in the fields.

Her charging legs had displaced a caterpillar and its perch. Skidding to a halt she looked over the small plant she destroyed. Allowing it to crawl up onto her paw the dragon placed it upon her nose.

Elsa's head titled as a warmth spread through her chest watching the dragon show the small life to Olaf and Sven before placing it gently on tree branches. She grinned warbling softly at it, tail slowly wagging completely astounded.

Elsa's unconscious sigh cut through the arguing unintentionally. The couple stared at her, the expression she had odd. They looked at what kept her attention.

Paul/Periwinkle was laying on her back allowing Olaf to jump upon her stomach among flowers, the pollen entering her snout snapping her head forward in a sneeze.

They had said their goodbyes to the dragon who took off of the cliff over the ocean. Elsa was tempted to invite her to her home but the dragon was gone before she had even come to the conclusion. Another time perhaps.

Elsa remained silent for the ride, occasionally answering Anna and Kristoff's questions about anything pertaining to the dragon. Olaf took over the silence telling his tales of the adventures they had wandering off to a brook.

Apparently the dragon liked to swim and more importantly splash. From his stories which sometimes began at the middle and ended in the beginning she was just as easily distracted as he, from what Elsa could interpret, but also managed to actually focus on multiple predicaments at a time a skill Olaf was inherently lacking.

At Elsa's cottage in the sitting room more drinks were poured as Elsa presented her notes and learnings to them upon the center living room table.

She almost wished they were numbered but to Anna that hadn't mattered and Kristoff was able to decipher which ones were connected.

She sat with her leg hiked up on the couch tucked nearly underneath its twin, the drink already loosening her inhibitors.

"Dragens lys." Anna read carefully speech slightly slurred. She took in her physically and mentally tired sister who was rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Uh-huh." Anna shook head head, eyes closed when the weight of what was happening finally settled like a fog over her aura.

Kristoff read the room before he and Anna exchanged glances. Anna left hurriedly while he grabbed Elsa's hand startling her briefly. She looked up at him perplexed. "Come on dance with me."

"Wha- there's no music and I don't dance." As the words left her mouth a light cheerful room sounded from the stairs.

Anna wiggled her brows nudging her head forward, fingers almost expertly playing at the strings of her violin, the tune filled the cottage riding it off the detriments of the task that slowly presented itself to the misfit family.

Elsa sighed, dragging to her feet. Kristoff was a bit more exuberant in dance than she was until his energy soaked in like a contagion.

Elsa giggled as he swung her around. Anna paused in short intermission reaching to pour more drinks.

"Elsa! Elsa let me show you how they cheer in Russia- you're gonna freak out- uh where can I break a glass." Elsa's brows rose at the inquiry. Pointing to the outside pathway, she already was reserved to whatever customs they beheld in Russia upon entry to the idea but her curiosity had taken center stage in the forefront of her mind.

Anna led them to the back and took the shot. Elsa jumped when glass Was shattered into stone. "Huzzah!" Anna shouted laughing, her throw was Abit too close to their legs for Elsa's liking but no one appeared to be injured so she copied, her aim a bit further away, she, completely flushed, took her shot, face sour then copied Kristoff who had also aimed his glass a bit farther.

"Huzzah." She shook her shoulders a little, festively in a little cheer. It was fun.

Upon returning from Sven in the gardens Olaf challenged them to an impromptu round of charades.

Elsa was still stiff when it came her turn unsure of how exactly to act out the dragon. How topical.

Unsure, her fingers curled in tiny hooks by her cheeks in an attempt to create fangs.

"A pincher bug!"

"A- Uh pincher bug!"

"Hey that was my answer."

She flapped her arms lightly, keeping her elbows tucked into her sides.

"Bird!"

"Chicken."

"That's still a bird." Kristoff explained, legs crossed.

When time ran out Elsa sat down showing Anna the paper. "You get the easiest ones!" She complained, taking her turn.

She read the paper. A spitting politician. "You gotta be kidding me."

"Hey no talking."

Elsa sat on her balcony in her study, the moon now full, she didn't know why she was out there. Maybe the flush of her cheeks felt pleasant against the night air. Perhaps she enjoyed the crickets and other ambience the forest had to offer. Or maybe she wished to see a dragon's silhouette against the full moon.

That dragon had become her reason for a lot of things. The Dragen lys. Was that why she felt such an obligation to care for her? Her mind imagined her limping along in the field of wildflowers rolling around, carefree. No, Elsa shook her head. Her actions would remain the same had in another life there was no such a thing as Dragens lys.

"Ryu." It was soft, barely speaking into the night. A test of sound. It sounded lovely. The name raised questions about the strange creature it embodied, so many parallels that all made sense if one took the time to really delve into the subject. What did it mean? Where did it come from? Why had it been?

Elsa felt a slight curve of her lips, her legs lazily kicking from the bench while her arms supported her weight. Should she say it again? The question made her bubble in giggles steadily rising in octaves at the silliness of it. She could say it as much as she wanted. "Ry-"

"There you are." Anna plopped down beside her barely giving the older girl time to make room for her. She lifted the bottle of liquor. "You wanna finish this?" She slurred. Elsa daintily took it from her grasps. "No and neither do you." Anna awed, begging her for one more drink.

"Fine. But that's it. I don't want you getting sick in my kitchen again." Anna cheered as they took one more swig. Elsa sneakily hid the bottle under the bench tucking it back with her toe.

No need to repeat her twenty third birthday. The thought caused an involuntary shudder.

"Hmm?" Anna asked, roused from the small tremors, lifting her head from Elsa's shoulder.

Elsa merely played in her hair resting her cheek against Anna's head. She closed her eyes, arms around her sister. They had found themselves here at this time many times before, drunk, sober, crying both tears of happiness and sorrow.

This place was slowly becoming a crucial point in both their histories and futures. It was where time stopped and it was just the two of them watching the moon which was also frozen in place. The sun would never rise so long as they sat there.

"What's wrong Anna?" There it was again. That strange intuition her sister always had about her feelings and the feelings which of course could not deflect onto herself.

"I'm scared." There was no use to denying it. Both of them knew denial would be just a waste of time.

"I know, 'of what' though is the question?"

"Well... Our family has a habit of falling into a happy pattern, we all reach a point in our lives where we're happy and it doesn't even feel long since it's been so long if that makes sense, and then..." Elsa prodded on Anna to continue. "and then?"

Her lips quivered in an effort to not cry. "And then something bad happens to uproot us. Something drastic, hell it's even happened when we're not happy. Hell I'm not ever afraid to change anymore, it can be good, yet the consequences of what it brings still haunt me." The pain was audible, Elsa knew what haunted her sister. What drove her still adverse reaction to change.

"I have felt like I've never needed to learn anything else from life before which was foolish, but life always has proved me wrong." It always did, and it always hurt. Each time escalating the last as if life said but wait there's more at the end of each needed yet still painful lesson it taught all of them.

"Anna," Elsa began. Whether the drink had loosened her lips she didn't know but she had only hoped that this was what her younger sister needed.

"At the end of each lesson, sometimes in the short perspective of things it seems not worth it, the pain, the efforts we give and take, but it's necessary to help us grow as we should be doing always, and with growth change will never stop, and never stop being needed, and I'm happy about that since I get to see you become all the more this amazing, spectacular person you've become, and I'm amazed every single time."

Anna lifted once more and planted a sloppy kiss upon the corner of Elsa's mouth.

Elsa hummed, rubbing her arms. "What was that for?" She asked quietly.

Anna shrugged. "Guess I've grown fond of you...over the years." Her voice groggy covered a yawn.

"I should be so lucky."

"You are."

After a few minutes just when Elsa thought she was sleeping she spoke again.

"Elsa?"

"Hmm?"

"You love me?"

"You know I do."

"Then promise me you won't ever leave me."

Elsa parted her lips and inhaled a small breath.

Chapter Text

There were a few rules that the dragon lived by, live and let live and enjoy life and all it had to offer are the two Elsa had learned were a part of her true character. She had stored the pain that her dragon felt and tried to carefully address it whenever she was able.

However if the situation was uncalled for such behavior she did not.

Whenever she wanted to bring forth the pain of touch and all the subtle implications that had been accompanying it in the past she found it inappropriate as her new companion had been busy with the inhabitants of the forest.

Currently she was balanced on a sturdy branch crooning for a baby bird to join her family in the sky who had abandoned her. The bird's mother could not be faulted Elsa concluded as she had limited time and other young to care for and teach to find food.

She did give quite a significant amount of prompting to the chick before taking off, more than what Elsa had seen inspired by determination to help her young to fledge but despite all her efforts they were ignored.

The dragon decided to become a participant in the lesson climbing the tree and after some strong convincing became either a non threat or an inevitable variable in the chick's untimely demise.

After some attempts to demonstrate how flight was achieved the dragon much to the chick's detest began nudging it gently out of the nest, paying heed to not destroy its delicate structure.

Elsa's anxieties rose as she did from her rock perch as it neared the edge of the branch trying to hop Over the dragon's rounded snout. She hugged her arms and hair in a learned behavior to curve her negative emotions which increased.

The dragon hadn't waited for the robin chick's consensus to draw the conclusion it was ready to. She had seen it, it was not sick, weak, or suffered any inflictions it simply didn't want. That was why she persisted, not willing to let the chick waste the precious life it had been gifted.

Upon the edge the dragon used her tongue to nudge it forth. The chick drew out a pleading squeak upon the long fall to ground, yet it never met the ground and instead in the rampant effort of flapping met the end of a snout underneath.

Deposit the safety net she provided the dragon had remained powerless in whether the bird would survive but instead increased its chances by not allowing it to drop too low whenever they failed to catch their weight with their wings. After an hour of falling, flapping, and catching the bird had learned how to navigate the air as a novice.

Elsa didn't know why she was hesitant to glance to right where the dragon who was too busy overwatching the bird's flight stood. Perhaps it was the conclusions her mind regarded no matter how foggy they may be.

Her gaze became a magnet when the dragon turned her head to her. Why had she been so nervous? It was a comfortable stare they held together.

A chirp broke their regarding of one another. Instead of dwelling in the moment the dragon drew forward lifting to her hind legs. The noises she let out were exclamatory in pride that made the woman jealous as they represented everything she wished for growing up.

They definitely inspired the bird to leave the wood heading for the open fields. Their tutor started in the direction, turning as if sensing Elsa's lack of following she summoned her with a growl and head jerking in the direction. 

In the field what was to be respected as the bird's family resided to which they joined gaining height. The dragon flapped her wings instinctively wanting to join but with great restraint held back. She had not developed the same understanding with the other robins as she had with the fledgling.

After a couple of minutes of watching the family take the sky Elsa approached however shyly to her companion and nudged her flank unsuccessfully moving her in any manner physically. "They're amazing, want to see some other friends of mine?"

The contemplative ooh said yes as the dragon followed the spirit back to the forest. They walked longer than Elsa would have expected had it not been for the multiple stops they made along the way to say hello to some very frightened brown rats, a few stoats, and some toads which the dragon tried to copy by hopping along in the streams creating splashes Elsa avoided.

Elsa denoted their arrival with a waving gesture over her arm to a bees nest which bustled so busily they're arrival had not been noticed. She placed a halting hand upon the eager dragon's chest spreading her fingers causing an involuntary shiver.

"I don't think they're as eager to be your friend as the stoats were."Her voice chastened, as she felt the strong and powerful inhales and exhales of the creature. Reminding her of life's very essence, to take in each moment and live it fully. Was that what it meant to be a dragon, to know oneself and be just that?

Her dragon had unapologetically introduced herself, nothing but herself, to other creatures wanting to know more of them while also showcasing who she was to them hoping that they would like her. If they did they learned much more than if they hadn't known her and if they weren't interested it was a loss however sad not debated long enough before she moved on.

They observed the bees before Elsa continued. "Humans work alot like bees, everyone fulfilling their respective roles."

"However fulfilling and empty those roles may be." The dragon met her eyes with a question that could not have been avoided. The spirit felt more critical of herself reminding her of when she affronted among family gatherings or even during political events. 

Her body deviated from their respective spot as an audience trailing away.

"Sometimes it all makes sense when it happens, you fall into it, and it fits you perfectly. And... Then you feel selfish for wanting more, and you wonder if anything will ever be enough, after you get that... What if you just continued to want more?"

Elsa reigned herself in at seeing the dragon contemplate her words. She had reprimanded herself for voicing such whimsical woes to someone who hurt so thoroughly. She wasn't the last of her species, she wasn't the one being hunted possibly for her whole life, or being mutilated-

A pulling vociferate drew her in from her mind. The dragon's expression was readable if it had lasted for longer than a few seconds before she turned to the beehive exhaling loudly. Elsa's cheeks reddened at her spacing before joining her once more. She decided to guide the one-sided conversation to a more lightening direction.

"The beautiful thing about humans is unlike bees that we know of, we value individualism much more. Spectacular individuals that break from the norm in remarkable ways are held in a high regard."

Pontificating eyes filled Elsa with the wonders of all the things she got to expose the dragon to in the times to come. Not just with knowledge but the art and inventions that existed only in the human world.

If her companion took in consideration the simplicities of a beehive, something she had probably seen so purposively then how would she intake Arendelle's selective collection of art of a species who had hurt her so viciously?

Turning away the dragon had turned to Elsa who hadn't noticed her hand resting upon the dragon's right flank and blew a considerable amount of white warm smoke upon her face.

The spirit coughed shortly before joining the creature in her departure toward the beach. A place she frequently vacated at night Elsa noticed.

"Your majesty, I do not wish to doubt you or your decisions-"

"Yet you do just that." Anna mumbled as she sorted through files. Silence had informed her that either her snarky comments or her lack of usual replies had drawn them to a company that was less than cantankerous than what was offered by their queen whom they would not win any argument with rather due to her ability to be a skilled contrairian to than rank.

Anna had both a beloved and conniving way of always asking why in a discussion that if not favored to her people or family she was less and less inclined to listen to. Despite her inclination to lead with her heart rather than head in a lot of decisions, much to her advisors admonishment, were not finalized until they went through Elsa or Kristoff making them very valuable allies to have in a discussion.

"Knock knock," Anna smiled seeing Kristoff half way through the door leaning against the frame with dinner.

"Come in." Anna sang, eyes going back to the papers littered upon her desk.

Kristoff considered the papers setting the plate where they had not lied. "Mattias had gone over with me the other militant's concerns from Ruskland lords and Weasletown." Anna inhaled deeply as her husband's hands had run over her arms still facing the desk.

"You can't blame them," Kristoff continued in his message. "We may be small but Arendelle is a scary ideal to those not accustomed to magic." He managed this conclusion putting himself in the shoes of a commoner who had not been native to the magical elements and land Arendelle possessed. Now that their sovereign had garnered even more attention than two sisters unmarried, to a sister married with no political gain with another apparently immortal being counted among spirits of magical nature ready at attention to defend their land. Such a promise of gain could not be ignored even by someone as obtuse as Kristoff.

So they had to divide up their attention to actual courts who pledged their allegiance in veneration to kiss asses who wanted nothing more than protection from larger powers with prestige.

Anna had been knee deep happily aiding her people in such discussions bringing forth what some had considered a new age of wealth and trade which benefited everyone down to the lower class of people. She was less inclined to bullies who tried to force their way into Arendelle's way of life.

Kristoff was the last one to be approached by those his wife would impetuously reject, but he much to their dismay, would proceed to discuss the issues with her and at times with Elsa, Anna's reasoning versus the present argument.

When Kristoff could not get through to her despite his biased opinion Mattias spoke for not only the people but also their past which Anna no matter her protest was beguiled to listen to.

"It's difficult to take another's word for peace when they hold such a position of power." The major general began, careful to not offend the already peeved Monarch.

"They're frightened of us..." He took the route of boasting about Arendelle rather than bringing it down. A stance he and Anna could find a commonplace upon. "As they should be, we are a terrifying nation as we have ever been before, it would be unwise to provoke already negative stereotypes they hold, in fear about us. Let's prove them wrong. Show them we are above the greed and hunger of power they believe us to be."

This appealed to Anna's contrarian nature even more so. If other's thought her sister a monster then let them be proven wrong time and time again.

She moved to speak to the woman who was not there. An ordinary occurrence more than what she was comfortable admitting. Nodding, Anna dismissed her general, looking out to night with her arms still wrapped around her body, as if it were a secret that her fingers anxiously pricked at her dress and loose hanging hair.

Kristoff shot him a grateful smile, turning afterward to his wife.

Anna spoke into the silent invention he gave as if the very important diplomatic matter that concluded was nonexistent to them.

"I can still sometimes smell her in the air of the castle when I go through the halls, as if she had just walked by. Does that make me crazy?" Kristoff opened his mouth to answer but was stopped as Anna continued not noticing and giving him time to answer.

"You know if we had that relationship... That we do now I would have told you you were crazy but now instead of thinking of all the impossibilities of it, I can't help but think of the possibilities. Of all the things I wish I said to her. I rehearsed them so much as if they were a memory instead of a figment of my imagination." He definitely did not expect this turn of conversation since conclusions like these always geared towards the spirit and also... Actually no he expected this fully since said spirit was contextual to the conversation prior.

"And yet I get jealous of the words I never got to say the first time around compared to the ones which would be told to her by her lover." Okay, this definitely wasn't the direction her consort had been anticipating.

"They'll get to say all the right things to her the first time that sets off that flame and get to feel all the butterflies she gives them, not knowing how deep her river runs. They'll get her without any strings attached! And I know that it's wrong that I can't move past this but no matter who Elsa ends up with I can't shake the feeling that no matter what they won't deserve the sweet, sensitive, patient, brave person she's become! What if they don't appreciate her properly or take advantage of her?" Anna spun to him now speaking in a tone the servants would most likely gossip about the next morning but to her it mattered not. "I got to see it, how she's grown and they won't! They won't truly know everything even if I myself tell them!"

Kristoff joined his wife unsure where the conversation derailed from Elsa and her fellow spirits posing a threat to other nations to her love life which was as far as he was concerned nonexistent. Truth be told he would rather discuss his and Anna's. Nothing was the trouble in paradise truth be told but Bulda had always told him that there was always room for improvement.

Still he held her there between his chest and arms which covered her back rocking back and forth. Whatever she needed he'd promised he'd be that no matter what.

A gasp drew his attention downward atop her head. Her tear stained cheeks beamed with the same heat he hated and loved whenever she got an idea.

"That's it." Anna whispered as the train of thought took root. She pulled away slightly still resting her arms upon his upturned biceps.

"We can help Elsa find her one and only!" Oh god it was worse than what he had imagined her conclusion would be somehow. "Oh ho oh ho yes! If we hand pick her beloved and make certain that he loved her then things can't help but go perfectly."

"Okay, first of all, how do we know her type let alone what she's looking for?" He held up a second finger. "Second, how do you know she's looking for that right now?"

Anna still had a solution to both. "I'll ask her and second of course she is plus if I get this done and dealt with I won't have to worry about it as much as I do."

Before he could ask her how much thought she donated to this Anna held up her finger to his lip. "Quite a lot and imagine how hard it was to find my true love, I had to fall off a cliff."

"You knew then?" Kristoff spoke between the pressure of the finger, his lips puckered.

Anna took another bite ignoring the coldness of the meal, speaking between a forkful.

"Actually I knew on our sixth date but who's counting?"

"You apparently."

The sky was particularly awake as if aware an observance had been gathered. The dragon's eyes absorbed every small detail of it, not taking a second to look at Elsa as she spoke as if trying to memorize the stars in her head.

"I chose a name for you." she began a knot settled in her stomach as she wrung her fingers. "Ryu. It's Japanese but you probably already knew that." Maybe Anna was right and calling the dragon, dragon but in a different language was a foolish idea. 

The dragon crooned softly, her voice carrying on into the night, she looked even more content then she had previously which seemed like an impossibility with her relaxed body and tail swaying lazily behind her in the grass. 

Throughout the day they had shown each other the wonders they each had been exposed to during their stay in the enchanted forest. One discovery more beautiful than the last. 

Elsa had learned of amazing powers an aggressive stream had upon fish who risked their lives to go up it, starting the cycle of life once more and taught the fact that some plants had an equally aggressive deterrent to keep from being touched. A lesson she regretted illustrating after consuming a plant who had released spices upon her tongue, an effect that did not affect her dragon. The steam delighted her partner to the highest degree who created her own display of steam to match Elsa's which she blew in her face.

Now appraising eyes took her in before speaking. "You were born on the fourteenth." This was not said as revelation as it was confirmed in the low hum that took in more of the July sky and its constellations.

Elsa continued considering the dragon's careful wide eyes as she considered more of the sky and the aurora that danced above them. She hadn't done much that day if her actions were re-accounted by others. Taught a bird to fly, made friends with stoats, saw some bees, flying about in the sun, and traveled to beach, before taking in all Heaven had to offer as if it were made specifically for her. The infinite was rare and too beautiful, too vast for Elsa to write down but she'd be damned if anyone would stop her from seeing Ryu see it.

From her seeing it.

Chapter Text

A heavy yawn escaped Ryu's maw. She heard her bones crack from the prolonged stasis her nap had put them in while she stretched like a cat, coiling in on herself. Her eyelids were heavy with sleep, which she blinked away. She sometimes wondered if Bruni was on to something with the way he would lick his pupils clean of debris.

Her slow travels around the woods had brought her to a field where wild flowers claimed almost every inch of ground. 

This land was a joy to reside in. The air was cool and crisp from the winds that blew in down from the snow covered mountains. It bristled Ryu's mane which she shook out.

Some animals fled after sniffing curiously in her direction fleeing when they sensed the predatory aura she held. But it wasn't the rabbits or elk that were her query but instead the fish splashing and traveling along the clear shimmering stream. 

Swimming had become exceptionally easy since her leg had been tended to by her spirit friend. Elsa. The spirit had shown her so many wonders while also being a wonder herself. 

Elsa had displayed a kindness Ryu didn't know was possible in humans. She treated her as an equal with respect and a kind of reverence she had never experienced before with the species. Her touch, always tender and asking instead of harsh and presuming. Her extremely cool fingers were a pleasant contrast to Ryu's heated body. 

She was a mystery, that was certain, one that promised a pleasant end result once solved. 

Ryu had been sniffing curiously at a bush while Elsa had been seated delicately balancing upon a rock writing something down in her notebook. 

A cricket jumped out of the bush, as if confessing it was the cause of noise, upon the dragon's nose who leapt back winging in terror. 

Elsa flinched, dropping her notebook placing a hand upon her chest at the sudden intrusion to their symbiotic silence they had been sharing for the past hour.

Ryu leaped away from the cricket hiding behind Elsa looking worriedly over her shoulder. 

When seeing what had caused the response Elsa looked to the cricket then back at the dragon before hiding her giggles behind her hand.

The humor of the situation had claimed her eventually, she snorted in laughter lightly exclaiming at the noise that came from her throat. 

Ryu began her own chortles at the sound, nudging Elsa's elbow with her snout.

Elsa eventually abandoned her mock offense and began chuckling once more. They both were fools for different reasons. 

Her smile and giggle when Ryu did something silly always lightened the dragon's mood. 

Even her sister, Anna, was it? Had a bold sanguineous manner about her. Her sweet bubbly demeanor was appreciated. Perhaps a benignity attracted benignity, there was the ever present fear of pain that still gnawed at the dragon's heart. 

She hated flinching away from gentle touch, it somehow felt as if the opportunity was being taken advantage of to show affection. 

Elsa too had a dark pain seeded in her eyes which were warm like her heart others probably presumed to be cold as the ice which she reigned over. 

The idea of such a woman being hurt was distressing to say the least. All she had done was care for others reflecting their emotions in comradery that very few had the ability to show. 

She had seen the spirit watch over the forest and its inhabitants as a mother in a way. Taking in everyone's perspectives equally no matter how minuscule they may have seemed. 

Ryu stared at her own eyes reflected in the stream. Ryu. She now had finally a name to put to her face. It was a privilege given to her by Elsa. A gift she had not been given upon birth.

The spirit had been nervous to share it, but Ryu thought it was perfect. It was what she was. A dragon. A creature capable of mass destruction and power. 

Meant to be destroyed less you cause the end of humanity and all things good. 

The words echoed in her mind. The haunting image of the one who raised her appeared in the water. Her gaze averted as if hoping that looking away would cause the face to vanish. 

Her simple innocence was tainted by a sin she had not yet committed but was destined to. It was her birth right. 

Ryu didn't want it. She had no desire to kill or wreck havoc, the world was so beautiful, but it was what she was meant to do. 

It was taught to her the only solution would be her death, but she didn't want to die either. It was a crossroad she had been stuck at her whole life. Either eventually destroy or be destroyed for the greater good. 

It seemed a selfish choice she had taken, the choice to live was her great guilt that would follow her from one end of the earth to the other. 

The cool water bubbled around her snout, as air was breathed below the surface. She held still, posture tightened, her jaws ready to snap closed at the first brush of any touch. 

Patience wasn't her strong suit but a necessary bore if she wanted to eat. Elsa had been still adamant about feeding her, which Ryu was grateful for feeling undeserving of such kindness, but Elsa wasn't around today. 

A sudden snap echoed muffled by the water. Ripples waved through it as the still surface was disturbed by the struggle of the fish now trapped between fangs. 

It was charred by flames upon the bank then devoured. Ryu sat and began licking the scales upon her chest. 

A loud scream obstructed the serene peace. Ryu stood, she looked around the forest before taking off in the direction of the noise. 

Why? She at first thought she had no idea but deep down knew. 

It was what Elsa would have done. 

A persistent urge had driven Elsa to awake thirty minutes before dawn for the past few mornings, she found herself awake at night more and more. During the very diligent reports of the morning, whether they had been about the amounts of game, their behavior, about the attacker.

Elsa could only note certain specifics, devoting the rest of her idle brain power to the dragon whenever she was talking to the Northuldra people. 

One report caught her attention though. 

Nina, a little girl, had been missing since the morning. She was last heard of when she went to pick wildflowers in the fields.

Elsa's mind ran through all the possible and mostly dangerous scenarios the child could have gotten into. 

As if sensing her distress Gale blew through her hair. 

"Gale, begin searching the surrounding area, Bruni, you search the canyon. Nokk?" The horse splashed upon the shore and awaited his partner's instruction as the other spirits rushed to follow Elsa's orders.

Elsa's powers spread across the horse's surface, she mounted him taking off in the direction Nina's family had reported. She'd tell the rock trolls to cover ground the other spirits couldn't. Their vantage points being a valuable asset in the search. 

Ryu climbed the rock which overlooked the majority of the field where the scream resonated from. The only noise to be heard were her heavy breaths for a moment when movement caught her attention to a fallen tree trunk. 

There a child was pressed upon its bark in hopes to shield herself from five gray wolves closing in growling.

 Easy prey for them. 

The dragon roared, alerting the predators of her presence. They turned to her at first confused then expressions morphed with a brewing confidence towards the new contender for the meal. They had numbers. 

The child began hyperventilating at the new threat as it climbed down the ridge towards the trunk. She had no other options. After witnessing the speeds at which the beast was capable of she'd have no hope in running. 

The dragon approached slowly going before the tree trunk keeping a trained eye upon the wolves. She stood on her hind legs and roared, it echoed throughout the valley and forest, saliva flung from her teeth. Spreading her wings she flapped them creating powerful gusts of air. 

They grew hesitant at her size and began moving to her left and right flanks. Snarling they clashed into her hips trying to overwhelm the intruder. Their bites were unable to pierce her hardened scales.

Ryu slapped their backs, claws extending, attacking at the same time was fruitless. She proved capable of thwarting the nips and herding behaviors sticking close to the girl.

They pulled back pacing testily, calculating the risks versus the worth of the situation. She falsely charged the animals when they drew too close. 

They ran a few feet away before trotting back. They continued testing one another's limits, both sides not wanting to cause devastating harm in the stand off. 

Hurting them was to be avoided, they were after all trying to survive as all other life was led to do but the little girl deserved that right as well. Glares were shot in her direction before one of the wolves made their decision to leave the scene before critical injuries were made.

One by one they followed their pack back into the trees occasionally looking back. 

Huffing steam into the air the dragon turned to the girl with coos vibrating her throat.

The child lay paralyzed as the dragon drew in closer slowly. She prayed it would be quick. 

Ryu sat on her haunches tilting her head. Opening one eye the girl regarded her. Huh, the dragon didn't look as threatening with her tilted head and flapping ears. 

"Are you nice?" The small voice asked, almost whispering. The dragon glanced back, she mewled softly lowering to the ground crawling upon her stomach towards the girl. She was so small, and flighty. She looked as if given the opportunity she'd bolt into the forest just to be overtaken by animals once more. 

They both studied one another carefully. "Y-you're friendly?" She asked once more, taking a deep breath, she held out a shaky hand in front of her, this time being the one to step closer. When the distance was bridged her little hand rested between Ryu's nostrils avoiding her jaw. 

She hummed lightly looking into her rescuer's eyes. They were so pretty. He was so cute! She felt as if she was going to vomit but in a good way.

The slight wince the dragon gave endeared the girl more to her.

She gasped upon feeling the hot scales while the dragon closed her eyes nudging into the touch more. 

The child giggled and began rubbing her head, a second hand joined the other less shaky, less hesitant. Their height differences despite the dragon laying on her stomach was awkward. 

The girl was spooked however when Ryu sat up on her hind legs and reached out a paw. A surprisingly gentle pet was placed upon her head ruffling her hair. 

A great relief took over the girl. Her life she thought would have ended so easily, she thanked her gods for the luck that her supposed demise instead ended up being her savior. 

She felt less fear at being lost in woods having been found. 

"My name is Nina." She informed. "I don't really know my way home from here." The dragon thought for a moment. She recalled where a surplus of humans were but that was in Arendelle, a place she'd rather avoid. 

No she wouldn't go back there. Perhaps the child could stay with her for now. At least she would be safe in her company. 

Nina squeaked when she was scooped up by a large paw which helped her scramble up to the dragon's back. She straddled her, not minding the slight ridges that dug into her backside. Her hand gave testing squeezes to the fur which blanketed the dragon's neck and head. 

She had some experience having ridden reindeer before and knew they could be guided by slight tugs. The dragon ignored the child's navigational pulls to her hair and headed back to the field, there she could get them to her den.

Elsa rode Nokk frantically, her anxiety had only grown with each passing hour Nina was missing. She had been both grateful and disheartened that there were no signs of the girl anywhere, hoping with all the hope she had that she wouldn't find any traces of blood or Nina's clothing. 

A howl sang in the air at least four miles away. Elsa's cheeks billowed with the excess air they blew out. 

They were running out of time. Nokk followed the noise. The wolves were prowling the woods spreading out to cover more ground, their barks could be heard filling the forest. 

Elsa promised herself she'd find Nina before they did. She had to. Gale rushed through her face and hair in a way she always did in emergencies. 

"Did you find her?" Elsa asked quickly. She wouldn't waste a single second. Gale twirled and flew off ensuring that Elsa remained on her tail. 

Elsa recognized the way they went as Nokk galloped through the ravine. His icy hooves bounced noise off the rocky walls. 

At some point Elsa could feel his intense disinterest to continue on but the horse swallowed it down and trotted into the brush. 

"No, you don't eat the flowers, you wear them." Elsa scrambled off of Nokk following the voice. 

All the tightness in her chest had fled instantly upon entering the clearing. 

Nina admonished the dragon again for trying to take a bite of her carefully crafted flower crown whilst seated upon her forearm. Her brown hair was braided with wild flowers of various colors. She tried to place a crown upon Ryu's head when she reached for it again playfully. This erupted giggles from Nina. 

"You're silly." Ryu turned her soft eyes from the child to Elsa who still stood watching them. Something about the way her white dress clung to her body and blue leggings hugged her calves drew in Ryu's gaze over her clothes which sometimes glistened when they caught the sun. 

Nina, noticing her friend's attention was split, looked behind her back. Her cheeks split in a grin. "Hello miss Elsa!" She greeted not moving. "Wanna make crowns with us?" It was as if she had completely forgotten she had been missing for hours. 

The tempting offer was dismissed with a raised hand and head shake. Elsa would cause no more panic to the girl's father by joining them. 

Once near she bent down. "Your father is missing you terribly Nina." Her hand could not resist sliding along Ryu as she spoke. 

The dragon closed her eyes, soaking in the gentle cold caress. "Oh I know." Nina's head bowed sadly. "I was picking flowers and then I got lost and then these wolves chased me for a hundred miles then my new friend came and saved me from like twenty wolves!" She bounced as she spoke from her arm perch. "He was so brave and strong..." her clasped hands met her cheeks as she rocked from side to side, she spoke in a lowered tone looking at the ground as a blush overwhelmed her face. "...and handsome, and he's my hero." She gasped for air after the rambling and rested her head against Ryu's chest, nuzzling the scales. 

Elsa chuckled at the wide shocked eyes the dragon casted downward at Nina and back at Elsa a couple of times. "Yes Ryu is a hero, she saved me as well." 

The girl turned to the spirit mouth agape. "He's a girl?" Elsa nodded. Returning to her previous position Nina shrugged. "That's okay, I don't mind." She giggled. Ryu quirked her face, expression dubious.

Why did that matter? 

Elsa shook her head somehow she understood Nina's current and seemingly growing infatuation with her friend. Ryu has a little admirer.

"Well I have to take you home now everyone is worried sick." Nina became disappointed fiddling with her fingers. After spending hours with the dragon she now didn't want to return home just yet, but she also felt bad after causing so much worry to her papa. 

"Can Ryu come with me?" She mumbled. Elsa looked at the dragon waiting for her to answer. She appeared completely beguiled by the child, but just Elsa couldn't, she too could not resist her large begging green eyes and pouting lips. 

Grumbling to herself the dragon rose, sliding the girl off her leg. Message quite clear. She'd come too. 

Nina cheered, bouncing up her leg trying to gain height in order for her to climb upon Ryu's back. 

"Alright then let's get going before it gets dark." There were still wolves out there, somewhere. Elsa hoped they would be deterred by Ryu's presence as well as her own being the shy creatures that they were. 

Nina did not allow the journey to the Northuldra camp be made in silence as she recounted the adventures she had that afternoon. 

"She had gotten me some berries, and then she showed me how to make a rainbow with water, she's really clever. I didn't even know anyone like her existed. Did you see her fur? It's so pretty and really soft."

Elsa saw how tired the dragon was probably completely run down by the girl she had taken charge of, but knew she was just as charmed of her as she was. Nina had a remarkable resemblance to Anna when she was younger. 

"We're gonna have to go flying sometime. Maybe during the night so I can see the stars, I think papa would let me so long as I didn't fall off or anything." 

Evidence of the camp came in audibly as the sound of other people danced in the air and reindeer circled about grazing peacefully. It was here that Ryu stopped. Elsa glanced up at her then to the camp. 

She wasn't quite ready to meet so many people with such extreme emotions as worry but soon, soon she'd meet her neighbors. 

Elsa urged Nina to slide off of Ryu which was awed solemnly. "But I want her to meet papa." Tears welled in her eyes, remaining unshed. 

Elsa knelt down, sliding her hands up and down Nina's shoulders. Ryu's anxieties began to show in her lowered ears and tense stance. Her tail stopped swaying and held out straight. 

"Ryu is still a little afraid of people but when she's not I'm sure she would love to visit you all the time." Wait, she would? A questioning warble was ignored by the spirit. "You'll see her again." Elsa promised as Nina hugged Ryu's forearm burying her face in her scales. 

"You mean she only likes me now?" Her voice became hopeful as she shyly peaked at Elsa. 

Elsa opened her mouth, remaining silent scrunching her face. "Well that wasn't exactly what I mean-"

"Okay! I understand! She's just a little scared is all." Scales quivered against Nina's petting, her neck craned up to look into Ryu's face. "I'll see you soon I promise." She ran towards the village but turned around immediately to jump up and plant a peck on Ryu's cheek. 

The dragon's head receded back into her neck, doubling her chin, eyes wide. Elsa snorted quietly. "I'll explain everything to her father. Thank you." She whispered the last part as if it was a secret kept just between the two of them. 

Ryu watched as they walked away. Her ears twitched, a small grin moved her jaws. She sat down wrapping her tail around her paws for a while. One leg reached over the opposing one as she moved to walk back to her den. 

She looked back one more time wanting to follow but fear pulled her in retreat back to her den where she was promised safety and unfortunately solitude. 

Elsa averted her eyes waiting for the queen who was currently embracing her husband to finally tell her why she had summoned her here in her study.

Finally garnering her attention Anna hugged her and kissed her with lips which had just been locked with her husband. Elsa blew away the green envy which tried to wisp into her heart with a deep exhale as she took a seat next to Anna. 

"Sooooo how ya been?" She already didn't like this. Anna had very specific tones that predicted almost everything she was about to say or do. This particular tone was foretelling that an uncomfortable conversation was about to take place. 

"I've been alright, busy. How are you?" Anna shrugged, already impatient with the small talk. "Can't complain."

Elaa nodded her eyes moved to side glance at the redhead who began preparing her notebook and pen. "I was curious..." Anna began turning her stare to Elsa leaning her elbow against the sidearm of the chair. 

"About?" Elsa prompted. Anna thought for a minute on how exactly she was going to present her secret project, it'd be difficult that much was certain, with Elsa's reservations and lack of acknowledgement about the topic. 

"Well I was talking to Kristoff and we were discussing what we found attractive about one another, and then we debated about what your type would be?" Anna had hoped Kristoff could serve a buffer and draw attention away from her meddling. 

Elsa raised a delicate eyebrow. "My type of what?"

"Your type of partner as in what you would find attractive about someone... you're attracted to." Anna thanked the maid for bringing in the cups of tea. 

Elsa frowned. "Well I mean- what- why?" Anna gulped down the hot liquid much harder than intended, Elsa winced, it had to have been hot having been just poured. 

"Just wondering, we never talked about it before and as your sister I'd like to know." Not an entire lie just simply lacking some truths. 

Elsa took Anna's teacup before she would injure herself further and cooled it with her breath returning it. 

She considered Anna's topic of choice. What qualities did she find attractive in a prospective mate? She really hadn't the time to consider those things. She had considered what it would feel like to have a partner but never actually thought about who that very partner would be or be like. 

"I actually don't know..." Her hands rubbed themselves up and down her arms. 

"I can help you with that!" Anna said a bit too eagerly. "Have you ever been attracted to anyone you've met already?" 

After a few moments Elsa shrugged hopelessly. 

"Oookay. Let me make it more simple. What kind of person would you find attractive, what would they look like?"

Another little shrug drew a grunt from Anna as she looked down at the blank paper. 

"Anna why are we-"

"Forget about looks." Anna informed taking charge of the conversation once more before Elsa could shut it down. "What qualities personality wise would you like in a partner?"

Elsa was now growing frustrated as her mind offered no solace in an answer. Sensing this Anna gave one last effort to simplify things to a level Elsa could formulate a response to. 

"What qualities would you like in a friend? Like Honeymaren, what do you like about her or Ryder, hell even Nokk? Olaf?" 

Elsa's demeanor lightened as a few words filled her head. "I like that Honeymaren is honest and speaks her mind, Olaf is very pleasant to be around, Nokk is strong and protective." Elsa's stare drew to the paper where Anna wrote the word Honesty. 

She wanted to question this but Anna once again spoke up. "What else, what would make the perfect person for you to share your time with?" 

"Someone who's kind, and sweet." She was encouraged by the pleased nods offered by Anna who mumbled the words appreciatively. 

"Someone who is... Gentle and smart. Brave. Loyal." Caught up in thought Elsa stood, growing more bold at Anna's expectancy. "Someone who is outgoing." This must have surprised her sister who peered up at her from her writing. "Really?" Anna asked as if giving Elsa a chance to change her mind. 

Elsa nodded, smiling. "A sense of humor," although not a priority Elsa enjoyed laughing and someone who could make her laugh was a huge positive. 

"But that's not a requirement." 

"Not a requirement." Anna wrote the small note next to the word as Elsa continued. "Someone who is-"

"Wait." She shook the pen for more ink. 

"Oh sorry." After being gestured to continue Elsa hummed, drumming her fingers against her arm. "Creativity would be nice."

"Enjoys learning, reading, and unbiased, warm." 

When she heard Anna mumble. "Enjoys books, good convictions, learning, and Alive." She worriedly sat next to her. 

"No no, I mean warm as in demeanor."

"Oooh okay." 

"But I would like them to be alive. Yes, that's good." She whispered. Anna pointed towards her writing, alive. 

"Anything else?" Now Elsa was again lost in thought. 

"How about· able to laugh at themselves?" Elsa's eyes lit up as she nodded enthusiastically. After twelve seconds of staring she tapped the paper. 

"Write-write that down please." Anna snapped out of her own thoughts and logged the trait. 

"Optimistic, and affectionate. I guess I would just want someone like yo-" Elsa stopped herself, Anna's head snapped up almost painfully. Her voice was soft.

"What was that?" 

Elsa shook her head, cheeks glowing red. Anna half smiled understandingly. "Don't be embarrassed, judge free zone in here." She waved to their space. "What were you going to say?"

Elsa bent her head, lips clasping over the other before she said quietly. "S-someone who is...someone... Like you..." Anna rested her head upon her elder sister's shoulder. 

She giggled looking up at Elsa. "I'm married, Elsa." She teased easing the tension in Elsa's shoulders. 

"Well then maybe someone like Kristoff." 

"I have him preoccupied these days." Anna quipped, flipping the page. "Now physically, what would you like? Maybe someone tall, with a beard or-" Anna paused when a disgusted expression took over Elsa's face, scrunching her small nose. 

"Okay so short, naked face annd-" she droned. Elsa shrugged for a third time. The sisters had moved to the couch now eating dinner. Elsa enjoyed having something to do with her hands, as she answered the questions. Anna had enticed hee into some vodka quoting. 'In goes the liquor and out comes the truth, now swallow this." 

Now more relaxed Elsa chuckled as Anna read the number of new marriage requests for Elsa's hand. 

"Oh no wasn't he the one who tripped over himself to try and get to me before I left?" Elsa said between giggles. 

Anna recollected nodding. "Mhm and spilt wine all over himself. I thought from a distance he put on a ginger toupee from how red his head was." 

"Well...write back to him and say maybe." At this Anna collapsed on her side in laughter. "I'll be sure too. Humour was on your list." 

After a while of chuckles they settled into the silence now holding one another. "Do you really think they're out there?" Anna turned her face into Elsa's chest, answering. 

"I know they are, but it won't do us any good just sitting here twiddling our thumbs. We have to find them." 

"How?" 

"Dates!" Anna threw her arms up excitedly. Elsa however did not share her enthusiasm. "I don't know Anna I'm terribly busy, where would I find the time for-" 

"Come on Els, it's not like you have to marry the first man you go out with but exploring this would be good for you and think about how happy you'll be when you find Mr. Right." 

Elsa stared down at the carpet. Mr. Right huh? 

She was beaten; she couldn't think of any more reasons to refuse and the subject did seem to put Anna in a joyous mood. "Alright." She gasped for air when Anna put her in a choking hug, squeezing tightly. 

"Yes! Yes! Yes! And we'll be extra careful, between the two of us appraising them you'll find the perfect love." 

A knock caught them off guard. Mattias entered holding some papers he placed on Anna's desk. 

"Hello your majesty, hello Elsa." She tipped her head to him still smiling. He was about to speak when he stopped taking in the bottle of vodka which sat on the end table and pointed at it. "You're not allowed to have that during the week." His demeanor changed entirely as his arms became akimbo. The two girls' shoulders drew up to their guilty flushed ears. 

"I'm allowed on special occasions!" Anna voiced, crossing her arms indignantly. "What's the occasion if I may ask?" He challenged. Anna balked slightly, searching her mind desperate. "Um Elsa?" Even if it had been said confidently Mattias still disapproved. 

"Well it seems as though the celebration has already been had so I will be confiscating this now." He smiled coyly while taking the bottle. 

"Yes please." Elsa quipped. Anna glared at her treacherous sister.

"But-" 

"I'd get to bed if I were the two of you. Wouldn't want another fiasco with the armed knight decorations like last time." Elsa face palmed herself as all the shame and embarrassment of the incident came rushing affront in her thoughts. 

A drunken evening of her being shoved into one of the knight suits by Anna, creating bruises she questioned the next day. 

"I'm not tired." Anna practically whined laying across the couch armrest dramatically. 

"Trust me you will be, you have a meeting with some of the planning committee first thing in the morning about the upcoming ball and summit." Elsa considered his words, Anna hadn't told her about that. She suddenly felt silly for using precious time to talk of love and romance.

She rose from the couch, taking a moment to recover from the head rush she experienced. "I'll get her to bed Mattias." She promised, dragging Anna to her feet. 

"Well I'll be available if you need anything. Goodnight you two." He bowed with a smile and left the office holding the door open for the pair. 

"He's too strict with my bed time. I'm gonna have to talk to Halima about that." Elsa balked with laughter as Anna dramatically threw herself onto her bed. Whenever the spirit visited the two would either fall asleep in Anna's study together, to Gerda's disliking, or Anna would stay in Elsa's room. 

"You know he means well." She disappeared behind the screening to dress for bed while Anna followed her example getting stuck in her nightgown. 

Elsa tsked at her and came to the rescue, yanking it down. 

Anna settled in her lap content as a cat in the sun, tucked beneath her arm. Elsa stared out the balcony window sighing. "You really think they're out there?" She was convinced that if just one more time of getting assurance she'd actually believe it. 

"Of course they are." Anna replied sleepily. "Just think they're staring at the same stars you are." 

"What if they're inside?" Elsa's voice awoke her. 

"That's why windows exist Els." 

The spirit grinned, while her sister snored and thrashed to her right, she kept her eyes on the sky taking in the twinkling lights elated that somewhere out there her one and only was seeing the same lights she was.

Ryu blinked harshly to stop Bruni from tongue punching her eyeball. The salamander croaked climbing up her head which was tilted upward. 

The stars seemed to have places to go tonight as they shot across the sky leaving trails of light. The moon had not been out giving the center stage to constellations. 

Chapter Text

"What?" Elsa harshly whispered, turning to Nokk, she knew that face. Her friend still possessed strong reservations towards Ryu. 

Elsa gave her an affiliative smile, waving her hand in a small motion at her friend who was standing in the shallow banks of the lake behind her cottage. Ryu raised her brow, ears titling forward curiously. 

"You could join us in the water you know, water spirit." Elsa challenged. Nokk grunted, becoming more agitated. "If you just give her a chance I'm sure you'd like her. Just imagine she's a giant Bruni." Probably not the right thing to say since she received no response whatsoever. 

"Well alright," Elsa turned away, putting on the performance of dropping the subject. "If you're afraid of her then I guess-" 

Her ponytail whipped around her neck as Nokk raced past her and into the water. Shaking her head with a weak laugh she waded into the lake the horse a few feet away sank into.

Once at her side Elsa placed her hand upon Ryu's strong neck, fingers scratching lightly at the surprisingly soft and pliable scales.

Elsa examined them using her thumb and index finger to displace the skin. Huh, she could have sworn she had seen the dragon's armor deflect an arrow before, and Grand Pabbie had informed her that the scales of a dragon were incredibly difficult to pierce. 

Ryu looked at her curiously when a low rumble began vibrating what seemed like her whole frame. It reminded Elsa of a cat, in a way. "Do you like that?" She asked, continuing the massage. 

A light gurgle and muzzle now being pressed into her abdomen said yes. She took a few steps back from the pressure, recovering easily. 

Her other hand stretched itself into the dragon's mane, Ryu raised her gaze to Elsa's hissing white smoke into her face. 

Elsa retreated, inhaling intermittently thrice before releasing a squeaky sneeze. She sniffled hoping she wasn't allergic to the smoke Ryu kept blowing into her face. 

Then she pounced splashing into the water thoroughly soaking Elsa. Her fingers flew up to her face heavily rubbing away the droplets of water. Shrugging she dove beneath the surface. 

Ryu proved to be quite the strong swimmer, not able to keep up with Nokk in the slightest but she was definitely faster than Elsa both above and below the water. 

Her swimming patterns made Elsa think of the otter family she had seen a couple times occupy the lake whenever they had offspring to nurse. Just as playful, the resemblance became uncanny when the dragon relaxed upon her back floating along the light waves Elsa and Nokk had created. 

Elsa berated herself to the dumb idea that kept pestering her mind. She had been tempted to swim up to Ryu and hold her paw, receiving an odd look but she didn't pull away. 

Elsa had gone thirty minutes over her scheduled time of when she was supposed to depart the lake and meet Yelena, and Honeymaren. 

She ignored Ryu's calls to come back in entering her home in a rush. Elsa was grateful that no matter how light she packed she never had to worry about a lack of wardrobe. 

Tying the white sash around the waist of her blue traveling jacket, Elsa waved over Ryu signaling for her to join her at the front of her cottage. 

"Oh." Elsa piped, somewhat shocked at seeing Ryu lounging in her front garden.

She was curious about the two bags Elsa had set on her porch deciding that they required immediate investigation, performed by a prodding nose. 

"Ahem," The spirit knew she was being heard despite the lack of eye communication, Ryu's ears turned to where she stood. "Arendelle this week is having a very, very, important diplomatic summit that I must attend." Anna had been writing to her almost every night stressing the details of the event, also stressing the unnecessary detail that Ryu would not be able to be invited, as it would be the fondant on top of the fear cake other countries had been baking in their rumor mills and tall tales. 

"I need you to take care while I'm away okay? But a good friend of mine very kindly offered to keep you company." Now she had the eyes of Ryu who slowly rose to full height. 

"You want me to do what?" Ryder squawked, nearly falling off of his log perch. 

Elsa smiled impishly, folding her hands together. Ryder had adamantly offered to keep an eye out for Ryu when he asked why the spirit seemed so silent at dinner. She tried to dissuade him that it wasn't necessary but he insisted bravely. 

As she went over her list she had begun pacing in front of the man who hesitantly agreed with a pathetic groan. "Talk to her about…well anything, she'll listen to you. She also likes to smell and look at flowers, her favorite food is fish, she loves bees, please don't let her lick them, but she is afraid of crickets. Oh and don't touch her unless you ask her permission. Her favorite night time activity is watching the stars. She also enjoys reading so whatever books you find in my house please both of you help yourselves." Elsa hummed tapping her chin trying to scrounge her mind for anything she was forgetting. "Oh! She also plays this game where she'll jump out of the bushes and pretend to pounce on you, it can be alarming but after the first ten or eleven times you'll be accustomed to it, if you really want to have fun with her I'd recommend you run away after she pounces and then she'll chase you!" 

Elsa paused her rant, smiling fading away at the horrid expression on Ryder's face. He coughed into a trembling fist. 

"One question; what if she eats me when she catches me, like I heard from you actually that running from predators is kinda dumb?" 

"She won't, trust me Ryder, if it was dangerous I wouldn't have accepted your brave and very sweet volunteering." Ryder nodded, not seemingly convinced but Elsa had helped him more times than he could count. As if hyping himself up he rubbed his hair furiously groaning which rose in volume the faster he messed his hair.

Elsa watched, eyes slightly widened silently. 

Once done, he grinned, his chest rose much faster than before. "Alright let's meet your... Friend." 

The dragon seemed to be processing her words, becoming more and more anxious. Elsa too felt some consternation at the idea of leaving not just the dragon behind but also the forest. There were still no signs of the attacker the night of fire, still this summit was not something she could be absent from as the importance of it and the weight of possible failures had a great influence on Arendelle's, Northuldra's, and the enchanted forest's futures. 

No pressure. 

"Hey," Elsa drawled softly, Ryu allowed her to lift her chin. "You'll be alright, it's only for a week, but I do not want you following me to Arendelle, understand?" Her thumbs rubbed along her muzzle in small circles. "I have to go represent the spirits and make sure our home is safe. And you have to stay here. No following." She wagged a finger in front of Ryu, the serious expression left as quickly as it came. 

"Ryu I'd like you to meet Ryder." The man took a few minutes to realize it was his cue to step out of the house. 

He cracked open the front door slightly and slid out, with his hands behind his back still grasping the knob. His lips folded in a tight strained smile. "H-hello there, Ry-uhh Ryu." 

She looked him over quickly then shot a deadpan stare towards Elsa who showed her teeth in a wide grin. 

"Ryder, this is Ryu." It seemed useless at this point but she continued the introductions. When neither party made an attempt to move she looked to Ryu before rolling her eyes towards Ryder. Go on. Be nice. 

Letting out a complaining moan the dragon approached slowly to the dismay of Ryder and leaned back upon her hind legs, reaching easily six foot five in the stance. Much more like a ragdoll than anything a lazy paw dangled in the air. 

After checking with Elsa who nodded, Ryder went forward stretching his left leg back as if it didn't want to leave the porch. He took the paw in a three finger hold and shaked it twice before pulling away a bit too quickly. 

Elsa sighed, accepting that it was going to be as good as it got for now. They'd be good friends eventually, they were both similar in multiple ways. They were both goofy and... And...

They were similar in one way, but Elsa was certain they could bond over it. 

Elsa wrapped her arms around Ryu's neck and squeezed gently. "I'll be back soon." She mumbled before pulling away.

She fastened her satchels to Nokk's back offering one last reassuring grin before the water horse took off in a trot. 

She closed her eyes, willing away the nagging feeling of dread that everything would implode in on itself and things would be fine. 

Honeymaren was just as shocked at the news that Ryder would be watching Ryu as Elsa was when the man offered. 

"Elsa..." Her hand ran over her face trailing to the back of her neck. "I love my brother, dearly, but he- let me tell you a story. Before Ryder had met Emil he had a pet, named Pebbles and loved him dearly. Then one day while trying to show him something Ryder dropped Pebbles down a very deep earth fissure..." 

Elsa gulped. Oh god.

"He held a funeral for him and was crushed." 

"Poor Ryder, I'm sure even though he may blame himself it's not his fau-" 

Honeymaren's apathetic eyes bore into the other woman who met them with her own confusion. 

"Elsa... Pebbles was Ryder's pet rock."

Honeymaren nodded along as Elsa rubbed her temples. She didn't know if the moral of the story was that Ryder felt deeply for everyone put in his charge and took loses to heart or that he was somehow capable of even killing a rock. 

Honeymaren took pity on her, regretting the harsh reality she had crushed Elsa's idealisms with.

"Still you have good instincts and I trust you. So if you think he can do it then I know he can." Elsa gave a grateful smile. They rode ahead of Yelena in silence for a short while, until Honeymaren's silence became loud. 

"What's wrong?" Honeymaren shrugged, Elsa left the invitation open until she felt comfortable enough to raise her voice. Elsa always had an odd way to draw, even the most quiet in, without even uttering a word to unload their woes to her. 

"I just worry about him. I've always protected him and I always will but I am concerned for if there may ever be a time when I... can't." She could understand that very well. 

"I hadn't had the throne for more than three years, but even then I felt the weight of the responsibilities that came with it. I didn't want Anna to feel the substantial pressure that I felt with being the 'perfect queen', I wanted to keep her safe from how cruel and daunting political and aristocratic society could be." There was a very specific twinkle in Elsa's eyes as continued on, a giddiness that sent tremors in her voice. 

"I was so happy when she showed me and herself that to be the perfect queen was to be herself. How proud I was, just imagine how proud you'll be of Ryder when his day comes. I have a feeling he'll surprise you and even himself, all you have to do is just give him a chance." 

Honeymaren half smiled, looking down. "Well, Anna has a pretty impressive example of a big sister."

"And Ryder has an amazing sister-" 

"You both are some of the most exemplary women I've ever had the privilege of meeting." Both of them turned to see Yelena urging her reindeer to catch up with ease. 

The younger women blushed as Yelena now between them regarded Elsa and Honeymaren appreciatively. 

"Although I can admire humility, don't let it turn into self doubt and snuff out the great potential you possess. Both of you." Yelena was the only one Honeymaren and Elsa knew who had the ability to make a sincere compliment into a command.

Honeymaren turned in her saddle glancing behind them when Yelena took the lead of the group. "Wasn't she like-" she jutted her thumb over her shoulder facing forward again. " Thirteen feet behind us?" 

Elsa leaned over face alit with mirth, whispering. "You think she has magical ears?" 

"Definitely, without a doubt, this one time I couldn't stop sneezing all the way in the fields mind you, cause I was allergic to Ryder's dumb new hat, and when I got back to my hut Yelena tossed some handkerchiefs at me, she wasn't even anywhere near the fields."

"You'd think her ears would be bigger if they were magic..." Elsa in jesting contemplation hummed, her mouth moved sideways.

Honeymaren shrugged and spoke in a suggestive tone. "Mm well..."

Their heads snapped forward when the older woman's voice broke through their whispers. 

"I heard that girls." 

The pair erupted in a fit of giggles as they urged their mounts into trots joining Yelena's side. 

Elsa's mind wandered to Ryu, she hoped she was at least being courteous to Ryder. It had only been two hours but a lot could happen in that amount of time. 

"Sooooooo... Ya like corn?" Ryu's eyes slowly glanced to the side at the strange man Elsa left her company to. 

She wanted desperately to follow and even found herself willing to take her chances with entering Arendelle again but the special occasion seemed of imperative significance to the woman and she wouldn't risk it. Plus she had never seen Elsa truly cross and had no desire t-

"I hate it." 

After a few hours the group had entered Arendelle's city. Honeymaren bashfully accepted the gifts which passerbys gave to her and her companions. 

Elsa watched Nokk gallop past Honeymaren and Yelena's mounts which were being taken by the stable master and dive into the fjord waters. 

"Hey Elsa, Yelena," Kristoff greeted them with a wave but not as enthusiastically as Sven who received loving scratches beneath his muzzle from Honeymaren. 

"Honeymaren, I heard you were knocked off your feet by Ryder's latest prank." He said coyly, crossing his arms. 

Honeymaren mimicked the stance. "Oh yea I was right into a poison thicket, I heard you were knocked off a cliff." Kristoff visibly searched his mind for a retort to the playful jeb but was unsuccessful. 

Honeymaren chuckled at the blunder. 

"Stop sending my brother prank ideas." Elsa couldn't help but snicker. When she spotted Anna come from a door leading into the foyer looking quite frazzled. Her chest tried to catch up with her breathing and she walked at a hurried pace. 

"Hello everyone." Despite her appearance her voice remained chipper and full of energy. She immediately attached herself to Elsa's arm slightly tugging her away to the side she and Kristoff stood at. 

Elsa groaned internally, Anna had a jealous streak towards Elsa's friend, it was less aggressive than before but she still had subtle ways of telling Honeymaren that she was Elsa's number one and Elsa was hers. 

Not wanting the pain of an awkward silence the spirit spoke up, clasping her hands together. "Well I'm going to show Honeymaren and Yelena to their room-"

"I told Gerda to, but Elsa we need to talk now, like right now." Anna grabbed her hand and led her up the stairs. Elsa waved back trying not to stumble. 

"I'll see you guys later!"

They watched as she disappeared silently. 

"She's not as subtle as she thinks." Honeymaren snorted at the observation and shook her head, Kristoff nodded. 

"Yea that's not really her strong suit." 

Ryder definitely was a lot more animated than Elsa when it came to chase, his pretend screams were so realistic. 

The man tripped over some roots with yelp and flinched when Ryu pounced, shielding his face with his arms. Ryu sat down staring at him. 

He grunted when a paw slapped his stomach hard, at least it wasn't hard as when Honeymaren punched him in the gut after his pranks. 

Ryu crooned and moved off him after receiving a thumbs up. "Alright you won again." His words paused in-between heavy breaths as he stood up. 

He was fun, a bit skittish, but entertaining nonetheless. Ryu began spinning in place gracefully, ending it with a small jump in an attempt to return the favor. 

Ryder's mouth turned upward slightly as her tail curved around toward her face. "Huh, bravo," he clapped. "You would have made an excellent dancer. I too am blessed with the art of dance." Ryu backed up as he closed his arms around his torso and performed a pirouette. 

Ryder bowed as his audience clapped her paws, humming very delighted. 

"Thank you, thank you." Well, now what? Ryu pondered. There was this nest of bees she could show him. 

"Wanna see something awesome?" Now she was curious as he gestured for her to follow him into the thicker woods. 

They walked for twenty minutes and Ryder had to admit, he could see the charm that Elsa seemed to know the dragon possessed. 

If they came across anything new she would fully inspect, be it with her nose or eyes or... Tongue. She also was much more physical than he expected from Elsa's description of her temperament, while all the same being consciously aware of her size in comparison to his much smaller frame. 

She'd nudged his arms and back hard but nothing too extreme to put him out of commission. Ryder kept an eye on her though ever since she had snuck up behind him and pushed him into a stream. 

"Alright take a look, this has been here for years and I used to think it was a tremor but now I think it was earth giants that made it." Ryu had only seen a place as deep as the earth fissure they were peering into twice in her life. 

When she got too close to the edge Ryder pulled her back by her wing. "Let's not!" He cried, now probably regretting bringing her here. "One of my friends is down there." Ryu looked at him as he sat on the ground placing his arms on raised knees. 

"He uh, I dropped him." Ryu turned her attention back to the deep hole. "his name was Pebbles, he was uh...uh rock I painted orange and yellow." 

That was... Special. 

She regarded him again, his remorseful words bounced about in her skull. 

Before the man could react she jumped off the edge into the hole keeping her wings close to her body. His calls echoed off the walls of the fissure. 

"Not again!" 

She broke her fall clinging to the sides of rock from the descent that lasted for a few minutes. The darkness would have been suffocating if she could not see. 

Her pupils widened to the maximum width taking in all the details of the eerie pit. The sound of claws scraping the rocks echoed, volume taking over the space. It seemed as if she was the only living thing down here. 

A fragile skeleton collapsed as Ryu's back leg accidentally tipped over its skull. Her heart rate increased for a moment at the noisy intrusion. 

She sniffed the air, dust, and the scent of Earth perfumed her scales. 

There are a lot of rocks but one of these rocks is not like the other.

It was fifteen minutes before she turned around and searched the area which was right beneath where Ryder stood. 

Orange and yellow caught her diligent vision. She found him! Ryu rasped gleefully, bounding over and moving the other ownerless rocks aside. 

The colorful pet was gently grasped between her jaws. The way up was much more difficult than down but she managed doing her best to not get entangled in the roots and foliage which grew along the fissure walls. 

The sun hurt her eyes as it spilled from the cracks of the surface.

Her paw clung to the top, claws burrowing into the dirt as Ryu hoisted herself up. 

She huffed at Ryder, his sobbing cries could be heard a few feet down. She approached slowly since he didn't seem to take notice of her return and chuffed at him. 

He gasped, scrambling to his feet. "Ryu why would you do that to me, I had a heart attack! Are you insan-" his rant ceased as he noticed what was held in her mouth. 

"Is that?" She spat into his held out palm, he didn't seem to mind the sticky saliva dripping from his fingers. "You found... Pebbles?" He whispered, lip quivering rapidly. 

Ryu barked lightly, his choking hug was not expected but not rebuked either as praises and gratitude poured from his mouth. 

"Honeymaren is not going to believe this, no one will believe this!" His voice cracked. "I hope Emil won't be jealous." 

Ryu sat down as the boy took in the moment then began backing away from the friend swallowing pit. "Let's get outta here though." 

Dinner was not as an awkward affair as Elsa thought it would be at first, the Duke of Weaselton had sent his son, Lord Thomas Weaselton as his representative.

A cowards way out as Anna had put it when they accepted him in the throne room. The idea of a handsome man being the product of the Duke was hard to believe. Elsa concluded that the man must have inherited his symmetrical sharp face, which sported a brunette stubble, thick brown locks, and light green eyes from his mother. His cheekbones suggested towards the strong physique, hinted at by the way his gray suit clung to him. The way the fabric swelled when he moved his biceps or when the white buttoned up shirt stretched beneath his strong chest. 

The Duke must have been fond of tall women since his son stood at least an inch taller than Kristoff. The thought brought a secret shudder to Elsa. 

"That's his son?" Anna incredulously asked in a whisper.

"Yep." Kristoff answered. 

"Not adopted?" 

"Nope." 

"Ew." 

It seemed Anna had the same train of thought as Elsa. 

His boldness and flirtatious manner was the only inclination that he was his father's son. 

She hated the way he kept his eyes not only on her and Honeymaren's forms but also the maids as well. 

"If I had known Arendelle had such beautiful woman I would have come sooner." His voice wasn't as deep as one would think going off looks alone, Elsa would not be able to listen to it for long periods of time with the lord's tendency to hum after every word. Perhaps he was trying to be suave or he couldn't help it, it didn't matter. 

Anna's well practiced false smile was sent his way, the Lord raised his glass to her. 

Georg Scherer of Ruskland was much more conventional than Lord Thomas. He was quiet but not in a shy sense, his eyes were small, and sharp yet took in every detail of his environment. He had more hair on his face, with his handlebar mustache and short pointed brown beard, than on his head, only possessing hair along the sides of it. 

His age showed in wrinkles and his hefty body, but Georg's energy was that of a young man in his twenties. 

Kristoff had attempted to strike up a conversation with him; he was a writer and pulpit orator in one of the Archduchy of Ruskland. 

Since there were no relations to be made Georg was questioned about his position at court, he was a very opinionated man that proved to be less orthodox than his general appearance alluded to. 

Elsa found herself immersed with fascination with his tales, he was a maven at telling stories. A religious man with philosophies that seemed to oppose the taboo but he did not speak of them with contempt in his deep voice. Instead he seemed to want to know the psychological reasoning in the acts of impermissible deeds. 

"I was once presented with a complaint from a fellow compatriot about two ladies of the church, in regular attendance, who were involved romantically with one another," 

For some reason Elsa leant back swallowing harshly, wanting to put as much physical distance between them, why did she feel such disquietude? Her eyes left the man but her ears were still trained on his words. Perhaps this isn't the most appropriate conversation for dinner. 

Kristoff looked as if he was debating of whether to tell him of the permissible laws in Arendelle regarding same sex relationships, while Anna with the aid of Honeymaren and Yelena thwarted off Thomas' lascivious speak of Elsa which were mute words spoken as far as the spirit was concerned. 

"They were very well practiced in apothecary and were sisters," the resonating clang of a dropped Fork drew the attention of the dinning room to Elsa. 

She cleared her throat. "My apologies." Then tilted her head at Thomas, he took the bait. 

"I know, I know, I can be quite brash but better to miss a shot than never take it." He winked at the spirit. 

Elsa felt Georg's eyes, the stare had taken form as a physical sensation that raped the side of her face. She dared not look up from her plate. Paranoia that he somehow knew her reactions were caused by his words and not the young lord's.

"Lady Elsa," she refused to allow this man to make her flinch but the idea that his attention was now on her was unsettling to say the least. 

Just as Anna's, Elsa's false grin was just as convincing. The distance of the seating had put her in advantage. She did not need to look him in the eye just simply in his general direction. 

"You too seem to be agog with the anomalous nature of man whether or not you take part of or wish to know why is another question." Elsa didn't answer the statement, thinking of a response, it was daunting that this man had made the pronouncement of her oddities she hadn't even explored herself. 

"Yes, being a spirit one would think I am an anomaly myself but I have no right to judge anyone so long as they are not hurting others. It would be akin to a fool being judgemental of the clowns when he visits a circus." Georg smirked and chuckled. Though her voice remained even, eyes remained cordial, and even words had not been a full snub, Georg understood her without elucidation. 

Back off. 

The rest of dinner had gone by much easier, Anna entertained Georg with her contentious opinions that clashed with his own. He still remained calm and content with her keeping those convictions, perhaps it was the queen's warning when he and Lord Thomas began a discussion of faithfulness in a marriage. 'You are not here to preach or convert anyone, we are all aware of your beliefs and whoever it suits and whoever it does not leave them be. Have a nice stay.' 

Ryder was a loud snorer, his calls of sleep traveled through the woods. Ryu had thought the man would return to his home but he insisted that he stay the night with her. 

An arm flopped over Ryu's forehead with a loud 'plap'. Groaning, she nudged him away for the fifth time that night. Curling up her eyes shot open at a particularly intrusive snort. 

Giving up on sleep wasn't as sacrificial for the dragon as it may have been to others. 

All things beautiful existed when the sun retired its light and gave the moon charge over the next watch especially in the enchanted forest. 

Fireflies were one of those things. Ryu held still as one nearly landed on her muzzle. Others followed using the high perch her body acted as. She moved slowly, only disturbing a few. Maybe the ones that stayed were tired. 

Either way she enjoyed the company. Bruni was nowhere to be found in this part of the wood. Did he follow Elsa? 

Her micro sized travel companions glided away when an itch on the ear could no longer be ignored. 

Ryu paused mid scratch at the sound of activity. That wasn't an odd occurrence; plenty of nocturnal creatures dwelt in the wood, what was odd was what was making the noise. 

Nose raised Ryu growled following the trail to a rocky formation which caved over the shore. She crawled low on her belly just a short hair's length from touching the ground and peered downward. 

"Shut up you fools..." 

"No fires. We don't know if any of the natives are dwelling in this area." 

There were three men dressed in leather and gray furs. Their weapons drew her eyes and their scent made her nose curl. 

They stink!

"Why does Julien get to stay in a nice cozy inn and we have to rough it out here?" 

"We wouldn't have been in this mess if he didn't miss in the first place, I could have easily killed the snow bitch with my eyes closed." 

This caused a growl to vibrate Ryu's throat. 

"What was that?" Their questions were answered by a large shadow dropping down onto one of the men's shoulders tearing into it. 

She spat it out, staining the sand. The man writhed beneath her screaming out when a single claw pierced slowly into his back seizing when it hit his spine. 

The arrows were drawn quickly. Ryu admired their aim not that it would help them by any means but their accuracy and speed were impressive. 

"What the fuck is that thing!" One asked his comrade, he couldn't answer too busy unsheathing his sword. 

"It's dead is what it is." That wasn't the right answer, wait... Ryu bent down listening for air. Oh he died. 

A charge was made against her. They gawked when she leapt over their heads but they managed to keep up with the dragon's evasive movements. 

They'd attack at the same time somewhat overwhelming, the shashka swords slammed against her shoulder causing a temporary stumble, before she could recover a blade was stabbed against her side. She roared in pain, when the men saw that her hide could not be penetrated one of them threw his sword onto the ground and fished in his pocket.

Ryu yelped lowly when his gun pointed towards her chest. She hated guns, they were noisy and painfully dented her scales inward. She had only been shot at a few times in her life and was determined to keep it that way. 

Her ears plastered against her head when it fired. 

"Get the rope!" The man bellowed, loading his weapon again. The other rushed to their small boat. 

Ryu stalked like a cat and hissed deep and guttural, she stopped moving, waiting for him to take aim again. Before he could pull the trigger his arm momentarily fell downward in horrific awe when her chest lit ominously and swelled, flames were blown from between her fangs. 

His friend slowly stopped running back seeing his partner ablaze and screeching. The fire obscured his vision making his path to the ocean difficult. He did make it though, that would be his last destination. 

The man stared at the crisp corpse floating, his eyes trailed to the beast who watched him. He slowly backed away, not making any sudden moves till he reached the boat. She let him push it into the water and paddle away. 

The two bodies were abandoned on the beach. She panted climbing up back into the forest realizing what she had to do. 

Light filtered through the thin cracks of her scales, she felt her muscles constrain, everything was so tight to an almost painful degree. Her scales retracted like thousands of needles all over her body then when the tingling of her flesh climaxed she fell back onto the ground with a thud. 

That was way worse than I remember.

Shakily she tried to stand just to fall back to the dirt whimpering.

"Fuck."

Chapter Text

Arendelle was now a magical marvel instead of the daunting leviathan that had angry and frightened people running and attacking her on sight.

The cobblestone beneath her feet worn down by generations of people who walked along them felt warm to the touch.

The buildings all had life teaming in them. Many voices combined in a cacophonous hum. Elsa was right, humans are like bees. 

At first Ryu had been pacing back and forth at the border of the city, not noticing some people watching her wondering if the girl was mental or not. 

Before her nerves could send her back to the forest she sprinted past the border, eyes closed and fist clenched. 

No screams could be heard, and no arrows were shot. Stares were given though and then turned away when interests waned. 

There was a lackadaisical sense of urgency in the air. Everyone was moving quite fast but not in an emergent manner. 

People still took the time to talk and chat with one another, or lightly chastise a playing child for bumping into them. 

Heavy steps turned Ryu around to spot a man heading straight towards her. She gasped and pressed behind a lamp post. 

When he passed the dragon his brows furrowed and lifted to his hairline, shaking his head. 

It worked, they have no idea. 

Confidence rose within her as she shuffled away going deeper into the city. It struck her though that she had absolutely no idea where the castle was. 

If I were a castle where would I live? I guess nowhere since people would live in me. 

She was tempted to ask someone, the majority of the people seemed friendly enough but that would mean she'd have conversed with them. What if she screwed up? What if they discovered her? 

"Kill her! Kill the dragon!" Hundreds of pitchforks were drawn from what seemed like impossible places. Flowerpots, pockets, tankards.

Ryu backed away bumping against a baby carriage. Looking behind her she saw the baby's mouth morph into a devilish smirk as it raised its pitchfork from under its pillow laughing maniacally. 

She didn't notice a woman growing uncomfortable, pinned beneath her distant stare. 

"Miss? Ma'am?" When she felt a tap on her shoulder Ryu yelped scrambling to get away, the temporary blindness from her panic made her smash into a post falling backward. 

A round face slowly made her way into Ryu's vision looking at her upside down. "Are you okay?" 

"Uhuh.." Ryu popped up securing Ryder's hat on her head hiding her hair. "Yesu." She bowed respectfully. Either she was perplexed by the girl's phonetics or her manners, maybe both. 

"Okay, well um stay out of the sun." The woman's warm voice busted through Ryu's defenses. She glanced up at the heated ball in the sky and could not resist asking. "What's uhh wrong with the sun?" 

"Hmm? Oh it can play tricks on you. Are you sure you're alright dear?" What was in the water that made the people in this place so affable? 

Ryu nodded slowly and returned the smile, careful to not show her fangs. "Have a good day." 

She giggled then spoke perhaps too loudly. "You too! Have a good day-ehya!" The woman disappeared into a shop.

Ah damn it, she forgot to ask her. 

In front of the shop Ryu read the sign. It was a general store. Her head thudded against the window as she peaked in, hands cupped around her eyes. 

The woman possibly heard the noise and turned back to the window. Her eyes traveled left and right awkwardly. 

Her hand rose and fingers moved in a come hither motion. Ryu shook her head which only confused the lady even more. She mouthed 'Why?' When she wasn't answered she gave away her position in line and exited the building.  

"Are you not okay?" She asked, Ryu looked down, scuffing her boots against the cobblestone. "I'm... Actually lost eh?" Her worried face grinned as she closed her eyes and drew closer. 

"Well why didn't you say so?" Ryu shrugged quickly. 

"Now where is it you need to go?" 

"The Castu... erm the castle." This seemed to surprise her as she straightened a bit. She gave careful instructions going as far as pointing to the correct streets or their general direction. 

"Erusa..." Ryu whispered looking Eastward, she smiled bouncing a small bit on her toes, taking off she skidded nearly tripping turning back to the woman. "Thank you!" She ran again then repeated her same action of stopping and turning around. "Have a nice day eh-ya!" The woman laughed at her antics and entered the store again. 

Ryu did her best to avoid as many people as she could in her run but this body was much less graceful than her previous. She tripped a few times catching herself on her hands. 

She raised her nose sniffing the air. She would find Elsa and then, she'd figure it out from there. "Okay, fire," sniff. "Sheep," sniff, "Dog uh," sniff, "sweaty kids," this inhale lasted longer than the rest wanting to completely fill her lungs with it. "And... something else?" She followed it, mind now zeroed in on finding the source. Eyes closed so as to enhance the other sense's experience.

A wooden surface collided with her head. "Ow." Rubbing the sore spot Ryu looked up. The sound of her impact drew the attention of a man standing at a cart. 

"Huh?" He looked around then smiled when he caught her gaze. "Hello there! How are you finding yourself today ma'am?" There is definitely something being put in the water here.

"Um, I was sniffing and I am... Here?" He chuckled a baritone laugh belly shaking. 

"Well here is where you want to be." 

She shook her head. "No it's not eh, but I was following the smell." 

He too seemed put off for a few seconds by her which was nerve wracking to his possible new customer but presented what his cart was hiding. 

"Fresh snails. Just out the oven." Her disgusted face drew out more laughter. "No no no, they aren't real snails." A platter was put on the stand from the back. The smell intensified, luring Ryu's nostrils into their savory sweet grasps. 

"Mmm." She hummed, drawing closer. "Care for one?" He got an enthusiastic head nod in response handing her the treat. 

She examined and hesitated for a while. It was too tempting to not try though, she took a bite, eyes expanding just as big as her world was currently. The cinnamon swirl daydream was interrupted by the vendor's outstretched palm. 

"That will cost three crocuses please." Ryu stared at him, cheeks resembling a chipmunk. 

Swallowing, she admitted feeling riddled with guilt. "I...don't have those." He retracted his hand. 

"Well ma'am as much as I'd like to, my cart is not for charity." 

Ryu's shoulders slouched, she really didn't want to but, sighing she tried to hand him back her new favorite food ever but he did not accept it. 

"I can't very well sell that now can I?" 

"Maybe eh if you tried?" She offered, hoping that he wouldn't become aggressive. Clearly from her pronunciation she was not from here so he took pity. "Consider it a free sample, but do not return until you have money, cause you need that to buy things." He sounded almost like he was in disbelief that he was explaining this. 

She nodded then remembered. Reaching into the pocket of her Northuldra garb, she had stolen- well- borrowed from the camp she had snuck into, she released the little treasures she had collected on her way to Arendelle. 

The vendor stared down at the river rocks that now littered his stall. "They're pretty ya." She hoped the stones brought him as much joy as they brought her.

His eyes softened as he took them. "They're gorgeous, and I will accept them this one time, thank you." 

Smiling Ryu nodded. "Have a nice day-eh!" She cheered before running away. 

He only hoped he just didn't get scammed. 

She was back on her mission from the small detour wiping the crumbs away from her face. There was a large bridge that had fewer people upon it than in the city. Behemoth gates stood open. Two men stood sentry outside them. 

They were the same kind of men that had attacked her when she first came to Arendelle. Taking calming gulps of air Ryu straightened up and walked as casually as her legs would carry. 

Don't be suspicious, just don't be suspicious.

"I'm sorry miss but the queen will not be accepting an audience during the summit event." 

It didn't work! Ryu groaned. 

"Hello," she wiggled her fingers at them, grinning. "I um have to get in there eh." They both looked at each other then back at her. 

"Ma'am we can not allow that. I'm sorry, if you have any troubles please head to the guard house its-" she tuned out their words and looked to the left then walked away. 

"Have a nice day ya!" She yelled at them. 

"Ma'am?". Rounding a corner people began murmuring when she walked off a pier into the fjord pools below. 

Their blurry faces could be seen becoming small as she swam deeper and deeper. 

Now behind the castle Ryu clasped at rocks above climbing onto the steep faces. Water lurched from a burp, hunching her back. Wringing out her hat, and other articles of clothing as she removed them, she surveyed the castle.

Changing back to her original form felt so good, less constricting than the opposite action. With her clothes in her mouth the dragon clawed her way up the wall and onto the roof. 

A loud THUMP! above them drew everyone's eyes skyward. 

"What the fuck!" 

"Anna!" Elsa yelled glaring at her sister. 

"Kristoff, go see if there's another dragon on my roof." The man chuckled, shaking his head. 

"Anna, don't be silly, it was probably just a bird." She looked daggers into his face when lighter thumps followed along going right. 

"How many birds do you know that are big enough to nearly cave in a roof?" 

He thought for a bit, lips pursing as he looked down at his lap. "Go check an encyclopedia and come back and tell me." The queen crossed her arms. 

"Actually there are more than several birds which are large enough to-" 

"I wasn't asking you miss knows every bird on the planet." Anna's fear was getting to her, coming out irritably. 

Another bump came from the left. 

"What the hell is going on out there?" She mumbled opening the window hanging half her body out of it, Elsa joined her placing a hand on her back as her torso twisted to look up.

She patted Anna's back four times drawing her back in. "I'll go see." She assured. 

Ice caked to the side of the castle wall outside the window. Elsa climbed on the staircase and ascended. 

After five minutes she crawled back in, shaking her head. "There wasn't anything out there."

This answer didn't befit the redhead at all who held a finger. "Okay I heard it, I saw you all hear it, so why am I acting like I'm the only one who heard it?"

"It was bir-"

"Whoever suggests that the loud clang on the roof was a bird again is being exiled... For thirty minutes" She left the room in hurried shuffles leaving the door open. 

Kristoff snorted standing up. 

"She still gets cranky when she hasn't had lunch." Elsa's tone was doting, as she smiled reminiscently, looking at the open doors. 

Well that was an ordeal Ryu would rather not live through ever again. She leaned against a sill of a window, her damp clothes were uncomfortable and stuck to her skin.

This place was huge and she could tell that just from being in the hallway. Voices caused Ryu to stand up, her body flattened against the wall, eyes darting to look for somewhere to hide. Without a second thought she tucked her head and rolled silently towards a window with drapes... casting them over her body. 

"Her majesty just wants us to check the roof thoroughly."

"If there's another dragon up there I'm... I'm retiring." As the voices grew faint Ryu peeked from behind the curtain and walked with her knees bent. Sensitive ears could detect movement everywhere, spanning in all directions. How many people lived here? Anna must have a lot of friends.

She moved quickly throughout the second level, slightly annoyed that the boots hindered her steps. Her feet were light but she'd still have to be careful. 

Backing away from a door when the knob moved bumped her elbow against a table. Reflexively she caught the vase before it shattered. 

"Whew." She hugged it. 

"Excuse me, can I help you?" Ryu screamed, jumping at least five feet into the air. The loud clatter of the vase shattering did not faze the regal looking man, dressed in a prim pressed green suit and pants

He closed his eyes, calling upon more patience, before opening them and regarding the damp girl. She knelt by the broken decoration and brushed some of the pieces together. 

"Sorry, I can uhhh fix, would need glue."

"How can I help you, miss?" Her head snapped to him then back down at the vase, and to him again. She pointed down at it. 

"Not with that, I will have to ask you what business do you have in the castle." 

Ryu stood, she was tempted to inform him that she knew Elsa but the spirit had ordered that she stay away, and she did the opposite of that, of course Elsa would probably have understood the emergency, but Ryu just couldn't find it in herself to tip the delicate nature of the summit over a precipice with chaos when their home hanged in the balance. She was certain she could remain incognito, and still protect Elsa without ruining the event, and Elsa would never have to find out that she disobeyed her wishes and be mad. Yeah she could do this, no problem.

"I have uh business, um to..." Another person appeared promptly cleaning up the mess. She pointed at them. "That?"

"You wish to apply to become a maid?" She nodded vigorously in agreement. 

"I would not be the one to discuss this with, you would be seeking Gerda head governess of the house." 

Ryu glanced around. This wasn't a house, it was a castle. 

"Please, where is she?" Not wanting the girl to wander around by herself he moved to the side and gestured with an extended arm. "I can escort you to her." 

Stepping around the glass shards she followed him on his flank, leaving the poor person to clean up her mess. She took in more of the castle, stopping every few minutes to gawk and gasp at what could be a painting, something shiny, vases but not too close, a door knob that glistened and anything else that garnered her attention. 

Hopefully he didn't ask any-

"So you are a bit early for your appointment, I do recall Gerda stating that she was looking for a new maid for the summit." How convenient... Ryu always knew deep down she was lucky, despite her life greatly disputing this, it was a fact she held on tight to.

"Punctuality is much appreciated and valued here." He smiled at her. She returned it although she didn't really know what punctuality was but if he wanted her to have it she'd learn. 

"My name is Kai by the way, master of administrations in the castle." 

"Hello Kai, master of admin- mmm, hello!" She had gotten the first part of his name correct at least and this seemed to please him if the faint smile on his lips served as evidence to go by. He seemed to be more amused than charmed but that was still a positive! 

They came upon some stairs, the man remained neutral as Ryu went to the stair banister and ran her hand all the way down it as they descended. It was so smooth.

He knocked upon the double doors gently. Gloved fingers curling. 

"Gerda your Twelve is here." 

A voice which reminded Ryu of a woman who owned a tea shop she had met in France answered. What was her name? Mrs. Kettle, Mrs. Pan. No that wasn't it but she was really nice. 

"Already darling?" Opening the door revealed a stout woman with brown hair dressed in a simple brown and white dress. Her eyes crinkled at the corners when she grinned at the dragon. "Hello there, I'm Gerda, head governess of the house here." She introduced offering a hand. Ryu slowly took it. Why did they keep calling it a house? 

Expecting stares stilled when Gerda spoke up. "And what's your name dear?" 

"Um it's ruh..." She couldn't use her real name, she'd need a disguise. Fun.

She searched desperately for something anything in the room that could be a name! 

Another maid walked past Gerda excusing herself with a tray that held a pastry upon it topped with a red fruit. 

"Tray-pastry- cherry, sorry uh" she shook her head. Gerda looked sorry for her. 'Nerves' she mouthed to Kai who looked taken aback by the outburst. 

"Cherry, it's Cherry." Her voice cracked. 

"How unfortunate." Gerda slapped Kai's arm for the quiet remark. 

"Well Cherry, is there a last name to go with that?" She shook her head, she didn't know she needed two! Why two? Kai excused himself and went back upstairs.

"Have a good day ya!" He waved at her. 

"Do you have any recommendations?" Gerda guided her into the room. It was a small office full of so many interesting finds. Ryu found that the globe was practically calling her name to spin it. 

"I recommended uh me because I..um well I am good at cleaning." She didn't see Gerda but her lips clamped shut. 

"Oh my okay, have you ever worked as a maid before?" 

"No." Ryu shook her head, after a few questions Gerda seemed remorseful but also not impressed. 

"Why do you think I should give you this position?" Ryu turned to her. She was seated at her desk with spectacles resting on her nose. 

"Because I have an important job here, one that can not be ignored, I will take the job seriously, and fulfill it to the best of my ability ya," she looked at her in her brown eyes. "I want to help as much as I can and am able to. I want to... Be there for the royal family with all that I am." 

Gerda held her under appraisal. She looked at her papers. Ryu did not break away from her focus. Expression grave. She was not well spoken in their language as well as she would have liked, was dressed in damp clothes that were too big in size, had only one recommendation from herself, and broke a vase.

"I will discuss your payroll with you after your training, we must see how you fair, of course." Ryu's chest loosened its tightened grip on her heart allowing it to beat freely. 

"You can shadow Kelsey and she will report to me how you perform." As if by magic a younger woman appeared in the doorway smiling politely. Ryu bowed to the governess. 

"Oh yes, dear?" Ryu turned from following the maid. "Why are you...wet?" 

"I walked into the fjord. Have a good day!" Ryu didn't stay long enough to see Gerda's reaction to her words and trailed Kelsey. 

Elsa felt cornered, yes she could have dismissed herself at any time but for some reason letting on her discomfort to Georg seemed foolish. The man had a predatory sense about him, as if horses would flee in his presence.

"Giving up the crown to your younger sister to live life in the forest, a noble but challenging endeavor is it not?" 

"It wasn't difficult at all really, the process and how it came to be yes but Anna is exactly what Arendelle needs and it requires me in my role." 

He hummed facing the flowers in the gardens. "Seems to be every Monarch's worst nightmare imaginable." They had been talking for only six minutes and yet the man had prodded at subjects appearing hopeful that her answers would unveil some detrimental flaw in Elsa's character. As if he were trying to find some explanation to not like her. 

"Yes well I wasn't the average monarch." He spun to her slowly. 

"No you weren't, you were and are remarkable." It gave her whiplash, this man gave her an almost metastasis set of being! It was simply exhausting.

Conversing with him felt like riding a horse that made you believe it was going one way then veer off in the total opposite direction. 

"Thank you." 

"You're very inquisitive Lady Elsa especially about one's character, your intuition is a gift, never betray your instincts, for then you'd be in the wrong." He nodded his head respectfully. "Please excuse me, enjoy these beautiful gardens." Before leaving he spoke in a suggestive voice."You are in excellent company." 

Elsa did not miss court. Nor the chess game it had been. She was generally a good judge of character, great even. People seemed so easy to read, yet Georg was a mystery. Did he know that she couldn't find any grounding around him? Was he merely peacocking that fact or was it a genuine compliment? 

He enjoyed making her uncomfortable and throwing her for a loop that she was certain of. He was correct on one thing, I am in good company. 

Elsa relaxed, running her finger delicately along a soft flower petal.

"I don't like him." 

"AH!" She flinched back from the bush, both her hands were encased with frosty layers. 

Was she going insane? The bush didn't talk, it couldn't have, could it? 

Honeymaren rose slowly up from it, eyes narrowed in the direction of Georg. "He's cocky and he revels in making people squirm." 

Elsa felt less like prey knowing that Honeymaren had been there to witness the interaction as well. She did have her powers but Georg knew that as well. Even if she didn't it would put bad relations to the powerful kingdom of Arendelle at odds with Ruskland. A slight that would not be forgiven on both sides. Elsa couldn't claim bad decorum from mental badgering. 

"There are all sorts I guess." She said, focusing on the flowers. 

The rules seemed a bit... Arduous but Ryu filed away each and every one meticulously. She exited the room in the maids uniform presenting herself to Kelsey. 

"It's on backwards." She winced. Ryu looked down at herself then returned to flip the olive green and gold dress around. Kelsey was nice and pretty, patient, kind, gentle and pretty. She allowed Ryu to explore most nooks and crannies but put her foot down when she wanted to taste a jewel that sat in a glass display case.

"Gud, ya?" 

Kelsey fixed the hat on Ryu's head then smiled giving a thumbs up. "Gud ya." She copied and then waved Ryu to follow. She tucked all of her hair beneath her bonnet, its colors did not exactly blend in and she could not leave any chance of her identity being discovered.

"Now here is your big test, don't be nervous," Kelsey seemed to be the one that was nervous as they walked approaching double doors. On the side table beside the doors was a silver tray full of treats and a kettle. Ryu knew tea when she smelt it. She pointed to the tray and Kelsey nodded. 

Her hand was smacked and held against her chest like a dog just tried to nip her fingers. Kelsey looked apologetic then rocked back and forth on her toes. "It's not to eat, you're going to serve the royal family just like I showed you and remember the rules." She spoke fast and hushed. "Don't be nervous, they're very kind. I'll do the talking. Smile." She pointed to her own grinning face before handing Ryu the tray carefully ensuring that it was balanced, opening the doors she allowed Ryu to enter first. 

"Good afternoon your majesty. Lady Elsa, Master Kristoff." 

Anna's scrunched up sarcastic features sped into a more pleasant expression. "Hello Kelsey!" She bounced. Kristoff waved not looking up from his cards, it required complete concentration if he was to finally defeat Elsa. 

Elsa leaned backwards resting her arm upon the back of the couch. "Good afternoon Kels-?" Her words died in her mouth. Dark tanned skin was freckled somewhat like Anna's except some of hers created patches from being so closely knit, there was a clustered scattering upon one of her dimpled smiling cheeks. The maid's uniform was too big for her and somewhat too long, the skirts reached her ankles.  

They shuffled into the room as she placed the tray down carefully, a little pink of her tongue was showing as it pressed to the side of her upper lip focusing as if she were putting a thread through a needle for the first time. 

"This is my new trainee, Cherry, she will be serving you today, I am just a supervisor." Kesley explained. Only Anna acknowledged her words since Kristoff was still deciding his next move and Elsa could only form one thought.

Why does she seem so familiar?

Elsa watched her bend and straighten to serve the cups, her little hands clasping them shaking. It wasn't too peculiar of a training maid to be nervous during their first time serving the queen and her family, so Anna wasn't very bothered by the rattle of porcelain against a saucer. 

Elsa didn't register that a cup was being handed to her, too occupied with attempting to subtly to get a better view of the new maid's eyes. They seemed pale blue but she could have sworn she saw more. She questioned herself on why that mattered, as if her eyes held an answer. 

"Elsa!" 

"Yes?" Her head whipped to Anna, with her extended palm motioning towards Elsa's front.

"Take your cup." Elsa was confused at first till a cup was raised so close to her face she leaned away so it wouldn't smack her lips when she turned. 

"Oh thank you." She said, very beholden even for Elsa, which was quite a lot since she made certain to express sincere gratitude to the staff whenever they serviced her. 

Cherry returned to Kelsey who nodded pleased with her efforts. When she didn't move from standing right in front of her Kelsey gently gripped her shoulders and herded Cherry to face toward the royals beside her. 

"Kristoff if you don't make your god-damned move..." Elsa cleared her throat, mouth closed, at Anna's colorful language and snickering.  

Anna ignored her, sipping tea. 

Have I ever met her before, perhaps seen her in town, why does it matter so much? Elsa wondered, she couldn't rest on a choice when she heard Anna say it was her turn. 

Without caring about the card she played from her hand Elsa put it on the table, beginning to search her memories. The girl seemed to possess the same ability to create a visceral effect in Elsa as Georg did. Elsa had an impeccable memory, so if something was displaced it tended to befuddle her to a vexatious degree. Trying to not seem overly creepy, Elsa curled her fingers beneath her lips and stole another glance at the maid.

She was shorter than Kelsey who stood at five foot six. Maybe Anna's height. Her eyebrows were curved and eluded to light hair, though Elsa could not decipher the color. She had to keep adjusting her bonet from sliding over them every few seconds while her eyes stayed downcast to the floor. 

I could ask her, but how inconsiderate would that be, she's probably already trying her hardest to not misstep. I'd surely distract her, only causing unease. 

"Elsa!" She offered Anna her attention. Kristoff was cheering, standing up. 

"Yes sweetheart?"

"I finally won! After all these years." 

"No, she didn't even look at her card, I saw her!" Anna accused. Elsa went over the game then nodded. 

"Yes, good job Kristoff you won." Back in the recesses of her silence, she had never heard that name before, she would have remembered specific as it was. 

"Ha!" Anna was not pleased. Since it always was impossible to beat Elsa at cards she won vicariously through her, through relations as she put it. Elsa's victory was Anna's by extension. She threw cards onto the table pouting. 

Kristoff sat beside her and pecked her lips. "Well you're married to me my sweet carrottop, so any victory of mine is one of yours." Anna grinned, snuggling into his side. A new rule had been stated. If Elsa won, Anna won by blood. If Kristoff won, Anna won by marital default, and if Anna won... She won. 

After an hour of watching Anna and Kristoff play and combing through the events of today the maids cleared away the tray and cups exiting the room, when Elsa glanced up she realized they had gone. Bolting up she opened the doors abruptly and faced to the left then spun to the right seeing the maids retreat.

What in the world was wrong with her? 

"What?" Anna followed where her attention was and saw nothing but an empty hallway. 

"Elsa, are you feeling okay?" The back of her hand touched Elsa's forehead. She wasn't feverish but she was a smidge sweaty. Was she okay? She didn't have an answer, maybe the mental Olympics that she had been through for the past few days had finally caught up.

Anna wiped her hand onto her green dress. "Maybe you should go lay down." 

Elsa nodded, weakly smiling a reassurance, heading off to her room. 

Anna watched her, worry and confusion beginning to bloom for her sister. 

Elsa was never sweaty. 

Chapter Text

A waste of time.

That's how Ryu would describe the domestic drudgery she had been subjected to as a maid. Cleaning things that had already been cleaned, polishing the polished, dusting the dusted. Her mouth remained shut, reminding herself that Elsa's life was at stake and her presence in the castle would be a non negotiable.

The hardest part of her endeavors was the fatigue from being up so late into the day. Her eyelids were heavy--her blinks longer than usual. The surface of her eyes burned as the air touched them.

Every now and then a sigh or yawn would escape at a moment's weakness when a task would require them to stay still for a period of time longer than ten minutes. Luckily Kelsey found it amusing than a lack of enthusiasm she'd have to report to Gerda and Ryu had to admit it--she was really good at burnishing. Her large pink and violet eyes, that Kelsey cross examined every chance she got, had an adept ability at detecting small details of dirt upon surfaces. She still wasn't allowed to lick curiosities they came across.

The most curious part of the castle had to have been its inhabitants, humans had proven to be the most diverse species that Ryu had ever known. The dragon found herself marveling at what was important to them, for example the principles of dinner etiquette. This spoon had to be placed in this position; this knife was meant for this food but not that one. Use this herb as a garnish but it was not meant to be eaten. It was almost overwhelming the marvel that Ryu had for the whole ordeal. Almost...

Servants acted as soldiers walking, not running, but still completing duties with total proficiency and speed.

Spending time in different countries had not prepared her for this spectacle. The event being held was not the pinnacle of sophistication Ryu had ever seen, that title would have to be given to the party hosted in the palace of Versailles celebrating the birthday of Louis Philippe I Ryu had snuck into by the roof.

How wrong she had been that humans valued the excessive and baroque manner. While subjects of the castle seemed to uphold the quintessential it wasn't completely to the point of being labeled ridiculous. She still found herself adrift amongst the organized chaos.

Arendelle's castle had the unique ability to capture familiarity in, say, the warm atmosphere, with a splash of a reminding one of the nobility that resided here.

She tucked a curly rogue strand beneath her bonnet once she caught a glimpse of herself in the reflection of a dinner platter that rested among the other meals on the brown, polished table.

It was incredibly warm in this room despite the large windows overlooking the fjord due to the hot platters. Luckily she didn't swelter easily, already used to her high internal temperature.

Meats cooked and seasoned to near perfection, potatoes roasted or mashed, vegetables baked and boiled filled the air with their succulent smells.

But what really drew her in towards the table was the fish dishes' siren call to her nostrils so captivating she hadn't heard the begrudging rebukes that were casted her way by the staff as she wandered into their paths blindsided.

She rested her chin on the table looking up at the intricate silver crocus shaped cloche covering the seafood, she had only ever tasted fish cooked by her own flame. All she'd have to do is lift it slightly, stick a finger in and tast--

"Ay! You've done your job now shoo!" Gasping she jumped away from the table. A whine wanted to be released but she abstained. The man had somehow balanced a large brass pot bigger than his head on one upturned palm. His auburn mustache twitched in annoyance but like the rest of the staff in the castle was surprisingly tolerant.

"You're getting in the way of the rest of dinner attendants, please move."

Sighing and slumping her shoulders Ryu trudged away from the table allowing him to bathe the foods with a brownish broth.

She looked back into the bustling room that was without argument the best smelling room in the entire castle, maybe even the whole kingdom.

"I assure you Lord Thomas my sister is not looking for marriage at the moment." Reactively Ryu wanted to hide under one of the hallway tables or behind the drapes having heard Anna's voice nearing towards the dining room entrance but then it occurred to her. She was incognito.

"I understand the trauma that deposed Prince Westgarde may have put you through."

"No you don't, I'm sure."

Anna and Kristoff had no reason to suspect her of anything. Hiding away and possibly being caught would raise suspicion though. Her best camouflage would be in plain sight. But what was she supposed to do, ignore them, say hello, curtsey?

Her training did not prepare her for what would happen if she encountered a royal without serving them, a huge oversight on Kelsey's behalf, and they only drew closer.

Calming her breathing down, Ryu followed the old protocol she was taught in her homeland.

"I mean no disrespect but this is something you must discuss with her and only her, she'll be joining us shortly but that is not an appropriate dinner conver-" Ryu's eyes scrunched closed as they passed her no doubt noticing her low bow. They paused for a moment then slow steps continued.

"Discuss this with her instead of coming to me to garner favor-" When she heard the dining room doors open then close muting Anna's voice she sprung to her feet and quickly walked from the hall hoping she didn't bump into any more high profiles for the rest of the night...

The free time now gifted to her, Ryu decided to use in the investigation of the assassin that was lurking in the castle somewhere. The very idea lowered her heart into her stomach. Where was Elsa? She sniffed the air of every room she entered, sometimes receiving befuddled stares from those occupying them.

When a room lay empty she searched it for any sign or clue that would help her in identifying the threat.

A large empty room in particular was full of artwork depicting different scenes on the walls. They were beautiful, watercolors, and oils. The room required less searching than the others lacking anything useful besides the occasional sofa and table which had only empty drawers.

Frustration was starting to take root, as room after room reaped no results. How was she supposed to save Elsa by catching the assassin, while remaining anonymous in a place such as this? He could have been hiding in any room, nook or cranny.

Ryu stopped. But why would he? His target was in fact Elsa, who, if Ryu tracked the time correctly, would be eating in the dining room with her family right about now.

The next best place to hold an ambush or trap would be...

Sprinting assuredly abandoned all regulation within the halls but was not even on the bottom of Ryu's priority list until she hit a body which easily tumbled backward. With momentum being so abruptly halted Ryu toppled overhead and landed on her back.

"Cherry, what in the world do you think you're doing thundering around the halls busting into rooms like this!" Kelsey helped her up, and by help meaning holding her hand as Ryu propelled to her feet, energy surging through her smaller frame.

"Kesey ehhh I uh..." Her body whipped about searching for seemingly nothing. The older maid neared how one would to a rabid dog or spooked horse, Ryu knew why. Her eyes had bags beneath them and were sunken in, bloodshot--that only looked more bizarre with the wild spinning her pupils did trying to detect anything around that could ground her from spiraling.

It felt like a million thoughts were all bouncing to and fro within her skull that made picking one monumentally difficult. "Uh Erusa, Lady Elsa- Elsa's room!"

She might as well have asked for the royal crown with how Kelsey's face reacted to her demand. "Why?"

"I..." Come on, think! That's all I've been doing nonstop today. "I was sent to- uh- retrieve something for her."

"Were you now?" Her arms crossed as she leaned on one leg, not the stance of a believer.

Ryu set her jaw. "Yesu."

"By who?" Say someone believable.

"The queen." Damn it!

Kelsey rubbed her forehead. To disobey the queen or even be in the way of that had to have had grave consequences. Detrimental enough that the maid huffed, lowering her arms. "Come on then I'll accompany you."

They weren't walking fast enough, not as fast as Ryu would have liked but it was gratitude to Kelsey for giving her the benefit of a doubt to a lie that kept her quiet.

They arrived at two white double doors marked by angular floral and snow designs and shapes. What if Kelsey wanted to come in too? She couldn't do a proper search with her looming around.

Without thinking the solution manifested physically.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Kelsey cried after Ryu who ran slowly down the hall. "Bu-but the queen!" Kelsey gave chase as intended. This would surely get her in trouble with Gerda but she'd worry about that later. 

She led the woman all the way to the gardens before doubling back at a faster speed Kelsey wouldn't have been able to keep up with.

Her breathing escalated as she stopped looking behind and forward to ensure the off chance that the woman had trailed her from the gardens.

The part of her that felt guilty was strangled out by the urgency of the situation. Kelsey was a nice woman and she'd be fine, she was abandoned in the castle gardens not the middle of the woods. Ryu would have to be quick though before she returned.

Entering the room an inordinate amount of what was definitely Elsa's scent lay siege to Ryu's senses. Small wisps lingered from under the door but nothing like this. Raspberry, chocolate, the crispness of the cold, some night blooming Jasmine, and natural body aromas that were unique to only Elsa's person drenched the air. It couldn't have been this intoxicating to someone without a heightened sense of smell, unfortunately Ryu's nose was very sensitive.

It was like being near her in the woods except now she was everywhere, soaking into Ryu's pores. Sniffing too hard caused a sneeze to wheeze out, no detection of any other foreigner in the room allowed the dragon to relax slightly. She ran her hand along the soft bed and purple duvet. She didn't know why, but from the littered books upon the white nightstand and the light purple canopy drapes tied back around the deep brown headrest, to the soft glow of the lantern next to the books, it all the more reminded Ryu that Elsa was more than just a spirit or snow sorceress or even more than just Ryu's friend. Those identities made her not only want to protect Elsa, but the depth of who she was made the dragon realize she needed to as well.

Giving one last push downward on the mattress, Ryu withdrew her hand not wanting to intrude too much in the private space. She stepped onto the large purple circular carpet toward the white fireplace taking shape as an outward square corner that was wrapped in Selbu patterned snowflakes, blue, white and purple.

A singular painting drew her eyes up, hung above the fireplace. It was Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf. Smiling faces and familial love. The corner of Ryu's mouth quirked towards her cheek upward.

Families seemed like such a commonplace for almost everyone. She knew what one looked like, they could be big or small. They could look alike or be completely different.

She tried not to be jaundiced toward Elsa, she deserved to have a loving family more than anyone Ryu ever knew. She wondered, though what it would have been like to have one. A silly thing to wonder she always thought. The whole point of her life had been she was the last dragon so it wasn't and couldn't ever be possible for her to be apart of a family.

Sighing her head dropped down to the empty fireplace.

Now Elsa was completely certain something suspicious was amidst with the new maid. The girl must have the reassurance that Elsa was supposed to be in the dinning room with her family and guests, but she had discussed with Anna that due to Georg and Thomas--she would arrive twenty minutes before the meal ended to lessen her time among both of them. Anna was to remain 'uncertain' to the reason of her absence.

So she had plenty of spare time to remain concealed by the shadows--sitting in her favorite cushioned chair by the same wall the doors were opened to. The second she heard her them open she flicked her fingers riding the glowing snowflake from existence wanting to see who didn't even have the courtesy of knocking that wasn't her sister or Olaf.

She remained silently scoffing at the maid sniffing around her room... And feeling her bed. She made no move to steal anything...yet and only seemed interested in her family portrait. Elsa couldn't see her face, only sagged shoulders and a ducked head. The way she now carried herself was melancholy. The spirit decided she'd give the girl three strikes before she would intervene.

She turned on her heels and dropped to her knees checking beneath Elsa's bed. Strike one.

She was so distracted with having not found what she was seeking that she remained obtuse that her every move was being recorded. She opened the closet peering in. Strike two. At least she didn't rifle through it.

A window was opened, Next Cherry checked all directions possible, and then crawled out of it shimming to the side.

Elsa's eyes hardened, now incredibly alarmed, gave her final strike.

Recreating a light giving shard above her head she resumed reading her book waiting for Cherry's return.

When she jumped back in from the window Elsa could hear her half taken step freezing in place. She hadn't bothered to look up from the book, rested upon her crossed leg.

It was when the girl spoke that she offered visible attention, flicking her eyes up at her. She had bowed not curtsied. "Hello." The accent was heavy yet could not be placed. Her words sounded casual, as if her job wasn't on the line right now, as if she didn't have a lot to lose and it all depended on Elsa.

Elsa bookmarked her page deliberately, slowly placing it on her side table, then her hands delicately folded in her lap. "Hello, since I am more familiar with my room than you, why don't you tell me what it is you're looking for so that I could aid you." Though on surface level her tone and words were polite, she could see the maid wince at the true intentions behind them.

"I apologize for being in here Lady Elsa but... I do not think I require any assituh-assiten..." Shortly Elsa felt pity towards her struggle but reminded herself that this maid was snooping in her room and any embarrassment or trepidation for lacking eloquence was deserved.

She snapped up in spine breaking speed. "help! I did not find it, so I will leave."

Elsa stood at a normal pace, going to the door at the same time as Cherry providing a nonthreatening blockade. The nerve of her thinking she could leave without answering Elsa's--non direct--but still obvious question.

Finally she had gotten a full view of the maid's eyes, and she had been correct. They had more than one color of pale blue, pink, and violet were mixed in as well. Elsa could have sworn she had seen them before but knew that she had never met anyone with different colored eyes to this degree. She had seen a duke who had one blue and one green before but never different colors in one iris.

She must have leaned too closely, for the girl had backed away casting her stare to the floor, her fingers rubbing themselves at her sides. Back to the matter at hand.

"What were you searching for?" The room chilled along with her authoritarian tone causing a shudder in Cherry's shoulders. She didn't answer immediately no doubt conjuring up a lie, Elsa would let her- having the unnatural ability to detect whenever someone was lying to her.

"I was looking for someone." She stopped breathing for a moment, either this girl was a very skilled liar well versed in the art of deception or she had indeed been looking for someone.

"Who?" It came out more sharp than intended. The fact that Cherry didn't like this question, displeasure evident in her face confirmed the results of the last question to be the latter. When she had begun to speak more truths did the temperature of the room decrease unintentionally until Cherry's words were visible in the smoke that left her mouth.

"I do not know their name."

"And this person they could have been hidden under my bed or in the closet."

The maid nodded. "Hmm."

Elsa stopped a feeling of endearment she had felt once before from developing as the maid nervously pricked at a loose strand in her skirt.

"What do they look like?"

She shook head. She believed her but Elsa's plan to appear incredulous as possible had served her well in the past, and she was confident that it would serve just as beneficial now.

"You don't know what they look like, or what their name is, this friend of your-"

"They are not my friend." The quick, sharp, darkness she spoke in and lour drew Elsa's brow to her hairline. Cherry seemed to remember after a pause the company she kept. It was frightening how quickly her features went from menacing scowl to a now tranquil expression and said more respectfully in bow. "Lady Elsa."

"What would they be doing in my room?" Recovering from the momentary fear, Elsa went away from the door ensured that the girl would not run--not that she'd get far to begin with.

"What exactly they would be doing that I am unsure of."

"How do you know of this person? What's their allegiance?"

"I overheard-a someone speaking of them, of their allegiance I do not know."

Elsa now watching the sky took an audible breath. She was dancing around her words now, Anna had done it all the time. Telling the truth but still lying in admission. She had tried it before but the guilt from it was too much to bare. A conclusion was made, a shiver inducing, dreadful conclusion, that--if correct than Elsa knew exactly who Cherry was looking for and if not she'd abandon the train of thought chastise the girl and send her on her way.

She faced her. When asked Gerda had informed her about the trainee--that she had not been employed as a maid before. That may have been true but Elsa could tell that there was some mentally drilled in discipline from the very specific way she held herself and stood--it was too deliberate- too precise. What the nature of said discipline was had yet to be determined. She had first noticed it at tea that afternoon but wrote it off as hyper vigilance searching for answers in meaninglessness.

It wasn't so pointless now that she could study her without the caution of upsetting her stride in work.

She wasn't from Arendelle, her features were telling of that. She was young but how young Elsa couldn't gouge, and it irritated her further that she couldn't identify her accent, it had to have been from a country which never visited Arendelle before, which only lengthen the list of contenders instead shorten it by that criteria. Elsa filed away the questions for a later time.

"This person... you're looking for..." She didn't want the answer to confirm her suspicions. "Do they wish to harm me?" There was shock in Cherry's eyes that was there for a second then vanished, her lips pressed into a hard line. She began steeling her resolve, as if armoring herself to any outside stimuli.

Elsa had every right to demand an answer after awaiting for one as long as she did-- but that would only escalate things and raise the dramatics higher and higher. And this young woman, despite her invasion in Elsa's privacy, did not deserve that.

"Please..." Elsa had not recognized her own soft voice which unbeknownst to her shattered Cherry's defenses like a feather breaking through a wall of stone, unexpected and not in the procedure of how this interaction was expected to go.

As her arms wrapped around herself, Ryu gulped, then made the largest mistake she had made since entering the room and looked up. Elsa looked so vulnerable with how her arms wrapped around her torso, just as she did that night when Ryu flew away to the beach.

Her breath hitched. Could she tell Elsa of the threat without ruining the political summit and revealing her identity? She had already gotten a good look at her and despite the signs of recognition triggering on multiple occurrences--in the way her brows would knit together and head tilted slightly whenever she studied her, Elsa had no reason to suspect Ryu's identity. For Ryu now it mattered more than just upsetting her, she needed Elsa to not worry about the dragon being so deep in Arendelle's capital and just focus on her own safety, she needed Elsa to not fuss over her alerting the staff and castle residents. That was the Noble side of her reasoning, the selfish side was a deep pit Ryu had no desire to look into.

What would happen if she let just this one secret come to light would the other easily follow? Could she trust Elsa to not trip over herself trying to navigate the attempt that would be taken on her life? Maybe it would prove to be more advantageous with keeping her safe if she was aware of the danger in first place.

Ryu's fist shook as she stammered, attempting and most likely failing to keep emotion from her voice.

"He wants to kill you--I overheard the plot last night, I could not know who had said it. They are gone now. I came... In your room to find them and stop them. I did not want to mess up the summit or lose my job."

Elsa's face softened despite the morbid information she had just received. "May I?"

Ryu nodded not knowing what the question was for until she jumped when cool fingers ran down from her shoulders to her hands gripping them upwards. The same firm and gentle grip she remembered and missed. She looked up into Elsa's sad smile.

"Thank you. You were right about keeping your discretion, Arendelle is trying to form and maintain fragile relationships currently but keeping this from me won't help- it only blindsides me." Ryu nodded, understanding exactly what she meant.

A thumb rubbed along the back of her hand before pulling away. "It was very brave of you to come here to my room alone knowing there might be danger." Ryu could only hope Elsa wasn't subtly accusing her of being in league with the assassin, but her voice held no ulterior motives.

"It was the right thing to do." Ryu said with a fierce conviction.

"I wouldn't want to put you in any danger but you're the closest person who has some semblance of what's going on, perhaps with your assistance I can finally put an end to this." Her brows furrowed, did Elsa have a sneaking inclination that her life was already in danger?

"We'll need a plan," Elsa paced about the room clutching her chin with her long slender fingers, Ryu's head merely followed her. She hadn't really thought of a plan outside of find the assassin--catch the assassin--save Elsa. Those steps seemed to make sense to her.

"I'll confide in some trusted confidants, I'll need more information from you tomorrow, but for now I'd like your involvement to remain a secret for your own protection and mine." Ryu barely suppressed the contradictory glint in her eyes, Elsa raised a hand quieting any protest that might have arisen.

"As I said prior I'll still need your help but remember discretion. Right now our best advantage is ignorance. Or at least the ignorance we're supposed to have." Ryu despite her disguise hadn't exactly been as discreet as Elsa accredited her for, running and barging into rooms haphazardly. She scratched the back of head, face heating up. Maybe it was serendipitous Elsa had caught her tonight.

"We can reconvene in the morning when I have brainstormed some ideas on how to handle this." Was this a dismal? It sounded like one.

"Lady Elsa," a bow then words were spoken with a hot flamed desire to protect the spirit that started out at first as a hearth and now burned like a forest fire. "I hav-'' the growl born of intense emotion that tried to ripple from her chest was covered in a cough. "I have some concerns regarding your safety."

If Elsa was touched by the gesture she hid it well behind a calm smile. "I understand but now that I am aware of the threat I am quite capable of protecting myself." That wasn't exactly the answer she had been hoping to hear but what other answer would have sufficed anyway, if anyone was able to protect themselves in the kingdom it would have been Elsa. The night in the enchanted forest when she had nearly been shot took image in Ryu's mind steadily ascending panic taking her heart in a vice like grip, it beat faster as if trying to escape the hold. She'd stay near tonight, Elsa wouldn't question it with the truce they had now settled together.

"If you'll excuse me eh Lady Elsa." Bowing Ryu turned to leave, face grim.

"Wait please?" She blinks back over the shoulder, noticing how the moon from the window almost made Elsa's blonde hair-- draped at her shoulders--appear silver in its beams. Her long dress seemed like the deep pools of the lake they had swam in, wrapped around her body--moving along with her whenever she took a step. It wasn't made of ice as par her usual clothing, but instead was a satin deep navy blue, contrastingly complimenting to her pale skin. At her knees the front split in an upside down v, within the material had changed from satin silk to a thicker velvet, darker almost black in appearance. The lighter colored sleeves which hung off her shoulders were sheer and glittered whenever they caught the light. Attached to the right one was a short silk half cape, the top black and the underside blue, clasped to her by a golden pin shaped as a crescent moon.

Ryu had learned a great deal about the woman that night--two of the many was- like all of the less fancy wardrobe she wore in the forest; Elsa no matter the location enjoyed having her clothes incorporate sparkles and capes.

"Hm?"

"If I may ask, where are you from, Miss Cherry?" Stepping closer Ryu held up a placating hand, grinning lopsided when she closed her eyes.

"Please you do not have to say Miss, just Cherry. And I... Came from..." She clenched her teeth behind her lips, Would it be too much? Would Elsa figure it out? The woman was proven to be very intelligent, and had great deduction capabilities. She could give her only a little but still not enough, that should do it.

Her arm swung around--in a flourish- as if the room was one giant map that represented the world. "I have traveled all over the world, Lady Elsa." The way Elsa's eyes dilated and body leaned forward made Ryu curse herself.

"All over?" She asked as if not believing that it was possible. Ryu nodded and turned to leave again but Elsa's voice impeded her once more.

"What brings you here to Arendelle?" She chuckled probably at the absurdity of the notion but Ryu could see the thousands of thoughts quickly flashing in her bright blue eyes. She wished she knew what she was thinking, anxiety started pounding in her chest at the woman's silence when she realized it was her turn to speak.

"Just looking somewhere to settle down."

"Really?" She nodded, not liking how excited Elsa was visibly becoming. She tried and failed to hide it, but her eagerness was something Ryu had witnessed before.

"Hm." Please don't be noisy, please don't be curious. Ryu felt like hypocrite with her silent plea as she had just been caught snooping through Elsa's room, good intentions did not justify wrong being done.

The girl appeared more anxious about being asked of her time before Arendelle than when she was caught at the window.

Be it from pain or something more nefarious Elsa mercifully decided she had caused her enough near heart attacks for one night. She turned back towards the window. "Tell me about yourself Cherry?" Relinquishing some of the power she had in the conversation while also gaining some insight to who she was spelled as a win for both of them as far as Elsa was concerned. Now instead of asking specifics she'd let the girl chose what she wanted to reveal.

If she was involved with Elsa's attacker then it would come to light soon enough but for now better to let her think of herself as an ally than to antagonize her and she reveal to him that they had been discovered.

"I umm... I like food, erm." Elsa coughed away a chuckle, the girl's phonetics were... interesting to say the least. While some foreigners she encountered lacked the ability to complete a word, Cherry added extra syllables and noises to hers. It made Elsa wish she was a studied linguist.

"I love umm stars." That itched in her mind, it wasn't so unique, many enjoyed the stars--some more than Elsa herself. She had only met two aspiring astronomers in her life, Ingrid, the little girl who had requested an ice sextant two years ago, and...

And there it was again. The congenital, obsessive perception that scratched at the surface but was trapped under an ice sheet drowning Elsa's discernment. Georg Scherer's ice sheet was thick and contemptible, as he stood on the ice and laughed in mockery at Elsa's lack of mental prowess which was outpaced by his own. Cherry's was thin, as if one small answer would connect all the synapses that she disconnected with her uncanny and esoteric nature which frustrated Elsa even more.

The girl wasn't mocking her, but Elsa felt that if she were it would be justified somehow.

"What did you say? I'm sorry I was lost in thought..." Elsa asked, the girl joined her at the window and had been talking beneath Elsa's scrutiny, a palpable warmth resonated off her body as if her chest contained a furnace, it was almost distracting. She looked as if she were to run at the mere snap of twigs. Elsa cursed her recklessness with the situation. If she was to get answers from Cherry she'd have to tread carefully and not spook her.

"It is okay, I was just saying nothing." She didn't sound dejected, or insulted as she continued taking in the stars. In Elsa's periphery Cherry's fingers drummed against their neighbors and body rocked-- a noticable behavior throughout their conversation, in some way or manner Cherry was always moving, constantly fidgeting. Elsa wasn't sure if it was a nervous tick, or what.

"No please, tell me." When she didn't reply right away Elsa's irritation began its metamorphosis to self degradation.

Of all the times my listening skills had to become subpar it was no-

"I was just saying--no, that the Serpens is my favorite constellation..." Elsa's peripheral glance turned to a full stare. It was ignored in favor of the stars.

"It has more than fifteen stars in it eh. Unukalhai is the neck and Theta Serpentis is the tip of the tail." She really did love the stars. Elsa's identified those exact stars, Unukalhai shining the brightest in the entire constellation.

"I have a collection of favorite constellations," It was Elsa's turn to be watched. She'd return the courtesy of not drawing attention to Cherry's regard of her.

"Boötes, Libra, and Ursa Minor."

"Why?"

Elsa's face was overcome with fondness unaware that every micro expression and twitch was being studied as closely as they were.

"Those show up around and on my sister's birthday." The silence that enveloped them was comfortable, the troubles of the night lulled away to obscurity that would be handled tomorrow.

"Here's a difficult question, what is the most outrageous story as told by the stars to you?" Ryu tapped the side of her temple with her index as her lips folded inward. Elsa observed her contemplation and the detonation of its end when her eyes lit up.

"Ahh eh!" Her choosing had been exclaimed as if it was a personal victory. "Gemini- mhm, Zeusu seduced the Spartan Queen Leda. As a swan no." She shook her head, eyes closed, opening them they found Elsa's shining with mischief, as she wagged a finger as one would to a misbehaving child. "I hope they didn't make kids while he was still a swan." Elsa's lips grew lopsided, engrossed at the maid's enlivening enthusiasm.

"You say now." She prompted, she seemed tempted to touch the spirit with how close her fingers drew but refrained. Elsa had prepped for the question to be fired back at her since Cherry seemed the curious type.

"Well when Zeus transformed himself into the white bull with golden horns, Taurus, when he fell in love with the Phoenician Princess Europa and kidnapped her to Crete." Her regaling was approved by Cherry who folded her arms, her elbow rested in the opposite arm's palm while the one raised towards her face tapping her chin with her index coyly.

"Shame no, both our answers just had to have Jukan- erm I mean 'bestialituh' eh?." Elsa didn't require a translator to know what word she had attempted to say, when Cherry joined her in laughter, Elsa's calmed so as to hear Cherry's chortle closely.

It was light as her voice and followed no uniform pattern but that wasn't why she had muffled her own behind her hand to listen. Her words broken and mispronounced did not conceal the zeal and animated harmonic notes--as if she was singing every other sentence. Elsa wasn't certain if it was the cadence of her accent or her voice itself, and frankly didn't care--She enjoyed listening to her.

Settled Cherry tilted her head to Elsa. "Do you think they uh-"

"I don't know if they had...relations while he was a bull," A heat overtook her cheeks and ears, Cherry seemed immune to such talk. Probably cause she has a fever. "I'm sure there are many translations that differ from one another." Elsa had only known the woman for a day and she had already learned the Spirit's secret penchant at finding darker and unwonted subjects had the potential for humor and even played upon it.

"I should be attending dinner right about now." The girl seemed more reluctant to leave than before, Elsa took this as progress. She hadn't had many wins that day and would take them wherever the opportunity presented itself.

"I do not envy you... Well, except for the fish." Her eyes widened as if she had made a grave error and quickly added. "And other foods, it all smelt so good!"

Elsa hummed, majority of the food she did not partake in, though Anna always went the extra mile to give her lots of non meat options whenever she joined them for dinner. If she was being entirely honest with herself--she would rather have stayed here in her room with Cherry than have to face Lord Thomas or even worse Georg Scherer.

Cherry seemed sharp enough, she had shown some knowledge in not just Astronomy but Grecian mythology, and had allegedly traveled the world. It made Elsa grow intrigued of what other subjects she knew about or studied, what other topics they could discuss and pontificate toget-

"Goodnight Erusa."

What did she just call me?

Elsa spun round to Cherry half way through the door. "I said goodnight, Lady Elsa." Her reply made Elsa realize she had spoken her thoughts aloud, snickering once she shut the door behind her. When alone Elsa rubbed her face paying heed to not redden it despite the urge to add pressure.

If she was to make it through this dinner she'd have to erase all traces of Cherry and what she revealed to her from her mind. Paranoid that Scherer would see somehow right into her memories at their conversation.

Anna dominated most of the dinner conversation to help Elsa, keeping the attention of the majority on herself speaking of nothing and yet everything at the same time. Despite her efforts Elsa still felt his eyes on her. That wasn't the issue though, Elsa was used to being studied like an exhibit--despite how rude and obnoxious it was- during state dinners. The problem was that he wasn't staring at her. He kept his eyes upon the queen with a lazy indifference.

Was he doing this on purpose? Elsa shook her head. No, now she was being obsessive and paranoid. After having not eaten all day Elsa's stomach twisted not with hunger but anxiety.

Even without any effort Georg Scherer had been dictating her emotions. She hated it! A hand upon her knee jerked Elsa back to the present, Honeymaren was concerned and kept her hand upon Elsa's knee who took the invitation to place her hand atop it- enjoying the reassurance. The room had gotten cooler, just a few digits from allowing everyone to see their breaths.

"Excellent display Lady Elsa," Thomas clapped loudly, Scherer was less inclined to praise. "It was quite tepid in here, if I do say so myself. Cooling on demand, what a dream!" His voice chirped as he raised a glass in Elsa's direction speaking in a reverence that made her uncomfortable.

"To Lady Elsa of Arendelle, and her remarkably unfathomable power!" The fellow dinner goers joined in hesitantly to the toast. Elsa nodded to him, tipping her water glass. The cold liquid allowed her to focus on it and Honeymaren's hand.

Thankfully, she kept it there through the entire dinner. It was a simple task, all that was required of her at that moment was to drink water and account the physicality of her friend's grip.

Her thoughts became superficial, counting the grooves of Honeymaren's hand, or how many palmar flexion creases she had on each finger.

Instead of slowing dinner as her previous pondering had done, the menial actions of guessing to herself which picture Honeymaren had traced on her palm sped it up. Some were absurd, others made her chuckle quietly.

And soon dinner was dismissed. Elsa rose first, slinking towards Kristoff, her hand was gripping Honeymaren's who allowed the distressed woman to pull her along. She made certain he was alone before approaching.

"Kristoff, meet me in my room in thirty minutes," she says hushed. "Tell Yelena to come and don't bring Anna."

Kristoff blinked rapidly at being bombarded so quickly while he was just simply minding his own. "Are we finally planning that coup I told you about?"

Despite the gravity of the subject Elsa found herself giggling. "Most definitely." Honeymaren oohed rubbing her hands together in a playful devious nature. The man nodded, turned and was ambushed by the Lord Thomas who looked dejected that Elsa would not be lingering.

Elsa linked her arm to Honeymaren, her eyes flitted about as if they were children sneaking a sweet from the kitchen, just replacing the mischief with a rampant urgency. "Have a conversation with me." Honeymaren nearly stopped walking but the hold her arm was twisted in prevented that.

"Isn't that what we're doing right now?" Elsa shakes her head, denying the true fact.

"No, make it seem important." Now she was completely thrown for a loop.

"I- I don't know how to do that," Honeymaren stammers. "What, do you want me to yell at you or something?" Now it's her looking about, for an answer that isn't in the servants clearing away the table or Anna slowly running her hand down to Kristoff's lower back inviting herself into his conversation with Lord Thomas.

"No, no just-" hands plant themselves upon Elsa's shoulders. She had been so anxious since the Lords arrived in Arendelle.

"It's Georg Scherer." It would have been a guess had it been an actual question and not a statement.

Elsa nodded defeated. Her friend knew that face all too well. She had seen it many times. Elsa felt weak, vulnerable... Scared, and for some reason was guilty about her state of being.

"Hey," Honeymaren watches her shift, her smile broadens. Her tone was proud, cause she was. She was very proud of Elsa who instead of withdrawing into herself, ironing out her emotion to solve whatever problem that was at hand, had asked for help...in a quirky sort of way.

"Come on," her head nudged towards the hallway. "I'll walk you to your room, and then you can debrief me before Kristoff gets there." They walked in their previous position. When Honeymaren brought up Ryu, Elsa began engaging more in the conversation.

She missed the forest, She missed her cottage, she missed Ryu. Elsa didn't have to hide behind masks or double entendres with the dragon who accepted her like her family had, just as she was and gave nothing but her own entirety in return. Elsa wondered if the dragon--if she was to see her now--would be able to recognize this opaque altar of herself she put on during state visits.

They had come across Scherer in the halls which sadly meant a sudden topic change to nothing in particular or that was what Elsa had gathered, she hadn't really been paying attention instead channeling energies into a mock engrossment in what Honeymaren was saying. Honeymaren hadn't been paying attention either, it could have been complete nonsense.

They greeted each other politely to the man who loved to hear himself speak. Before they knew if he would even open his mouth to say more Honeymaren tugged at Elsa.

"Come on, we have to hurry if I'm to show you before it gets too late!" They both hoped he'd let them go without interference before they had to come up with what Honeymaren was supposed to show Elsa. He had.

Elsa let out the breath she kept trapped, shooting a very grateful smile to Honeymaren who was glaring after Georg Scherer.

Her thoughts were clear, practically plastered upon her forehead. The idea that he hadn't pursued similar to before meant- He was cornering me.

Relinquishing her hold on Honeymaren to open the door she gestured for her to enter first. For safety's sake Elsa looked to the left then right down the hallway before proceeding to enter.

Despite her prodding for information Elsa doesn't look up from her notes when she answers, scribbling down some afterthoughts.

"It'll be easier to say it all at once when Yelena and Kristoff get here, and safer." That silenced her for the duration allowing Elsa to sort out her notes, the pages containing what she would mention marked against her private thoughts, observations and plans.

A knock made her snap the book shut, tucking it under her arm as she opened the door inviting them in. Yelena doesn't take a seat upon her bed as Kristoff and Honeymaren did.

The creak of the floorboards telegraphed when everyone was settled.

Still facing the doors she had just closed, she sorted how to announce the conspiracy that had arisen almost overnight.

"There's going to be an assassination attempt towards me in the castle." Her lips pressed into a line at the end of the unintentionally fast admission.

Yelena's face remained unmoving, Honeymaren's fists clenched. The most emotive of the three was Kristoff with his fingers gripping the upper bridge of his nose painfully.

When he spoke each syllable was prolonged by expectancy and placid anger.

"Of course there is."

Chapter Text

"So what you're saying is; that I may not see the report you're already writing Mr. Scherer, and that I am just to take good faith that you'll present the spirits and their magic in a positive light?" The question's purpose was more so to point out the absurdity of it all than get an actual answer. 

Georg Scherer cleared his throat, and sat back more comfortably in his chair, as if preparing to be in the queen's office for a much longer time than anticipated. 

"You're Majesty, please understand that the whole prerogative of this summit was for me to meet the Fifth Representative and report back to Ruskland what I kno-"

"Sorry may I just need to interrupt you ple- please- for a moment," He paused in courtesy to the sheepish yet still fierce ruler. "The whole point of this summit is so you can blatantly report back to Ruskland that the spirits including my sister pose no threat to any of our neighbors and well-" she shrugged her shoulders to the side. 

"It would be foolish to do that- no offense- without getting some proper insight."

"I plan to, your majesty." Anna cringed slightly, she still never understood why everyone had to put 'Your Majesty' at the end of every sentence. 

"I am now just recording my first impressions of Lady Elsa. I can't speak for the other spirits without having met them... at all." Ideas began formulating in Anna, apparent if anyone had ever seen it happen before. 

Kelsey took the liberty of pouring her more water and in return received a bright smile. "Thank you!" She grinned back, then took her place beside her apprentice who had a hard time keeping focus on anything for too long. Anna understood, she had the same problem when working at her desk. Always fiddling with some random trinket or other. 

She had made it a game with herself whenever Georg Scherer went on a tangent to guess how many seconds Cherry would study something that caught her interests before moving onto the next. 

"I know it would be quite...biased to have our input in your reports directly but think for a moment; this could be an opportunity to not just go back and say-" She put on a deeper, much more posh voice impersonation. Whether it was to be Georg Scherer or not was lost on the guest. "Oh the spirits are peaceful they won't hurt us' but to educate your nation and education just spreads if you allow it. People tend to fear the unknown, the more they know of the spirits the less fear that can fester in not just the empire of state but your fellow citizens as well." Anna's eyes flicked to Cherry who was now indirectly looking at her in what seemed to be contemplation. This brought a grin to her face. See it's already working. 

Georg Scherer took a loud breath and nodded, a good sign hopefully. "I will consider her majesty's indepth words in regards to my report. Forgive me for saying I find it... quite contrasting that you wish to spread your educational gospel of the spirits but prevent me from spreading my own here." 

Anna huffed, placing the flat of her palms against her desk quickly to form a rebuttal. "Mr. Scherer I can understand how you can perceive it that way, but the situations are different. My people know and are aware of your teachings and some even believe it themselves versus Ruskland who know nothing of magic and what it entails." 

Anna held up demonstrating hands raising each to represent the different sides. "One is a direct disinterest and the other is a complete lack of knowing. If anyone does wish to know about your religious doctrines they may speak to you about it and you to them, I merely asked that you not force it upon people." 

He grinned, bowing his head to her. "Well met Queen Anna, but I ask you, how can one know what it is they are missing if they do not know of its existence." That Anna could not form a retort to, so instead she sighed. 

"You are correct sir, I veto my own words to you and instead say this; You may... preach? Lightly to anyone you see fit but-" she held up a rigid finger and quirked brow. "If they express disinterest you must leave them be." Her audience both George and Cherry seemed complacent, albeit one more than the other, with this conclusion. 

"Very well your majesty, thank you for the reconsideration. An action that is not common among royalty." 

Anna hiked her shoulders to her ears. "Well I'm not your average royal- not to sound conceited or anything- just less conventional." As she stumbled with her wording they stood and she walked him to the door.

Georg Scherer chuckled, his deep baritone was even in his laugh. "It has come to my understanding that nothing in this kingdom is conventional." His eyes glanced beyond Anna's shoulder into her office. 

She tucked a loose strand behind her ear. "That is something we can agree on." Once he bowed his head and left Anna practically ran to her desk and began writing at a lightning pace. 

She looked at the clock and dropped her head with a thud upon her desk. Kesley, as if by an aptitude, abandoned her station in favor of rubbing small circles upon Anna's back. 

She was naturally a nervous and flighty woman but when it came to knowing when to care for her employers or fellow employees she had a gift. 

Anna turned her head showing the side of her face. "Is it bad that I would rather eat five of Kristoff's custom lutefisk dishes than meet with Lord Weasletown?" Kelsey instead of answering offered a remorseful smile.

A loud entrance drew their eyes to the door which was closed. 

"She's not in- oh there you are!" Olaf chuckled waddling in closer to Anna's desk. "I have something important to tell y- oh hello there." He waved at Cherry who grinned and waved back. 

"Hello Kelsey." He greeted, approaching Cherry. "I don't think we've ever met, although you do look familiar. Have we ever met?" Cherry did not confirm this by shrugging. "Well in case we haven't I'm Olaf, I love warm hugs but also handshakes as well and secret handshakes, Sven has taught me a few-" his twig fingers tapped his icy chin in recollection. 

Anna rested her chin on fists propped up by her elbows. Olaf met a lot of people throughout the day, more than Anna herself, and despite his incredible efforts to recall all their names Anna didn't doubt that one could have possibly escaped him.

"Do you know the secret handshakes?" Cherry thought for a moment then bent down shaking his branch regularly at first before flattening his palm as best she could against hers, pulling them away with kept pressure till his hand reached her pinky which she linked with his own ending it in a wiggle. 

Olaf squawked happily, his little round feet running in place. Giggling, he looked her in the eye. "That wasn't it but it will be added to my vast collection; I know two." Before she could stand he wrapped his twigs around her neck hugging tightly. He lingered a lot longer than usual, exclaiming in amazement. "Anna no offense at all but she has the most warmest hug I've ever had!" 

"That's alright Olaf but let's not-" 

"Wow she's actually really warm, hot even I'd say. Oh kinda like Ry-" 

"My name is Cherry." The interruption was abrupt but not rash or out of anger, the emotion Anna could have named would be more like the jitters. 

Olaf pulled away and wiped his brow. "Whew almost melted in that one, but I didn't!" He said with unnecessary relief. There were a lot of temperatures tested against Elsa's ability to create permafrost, much higher than human body heat. 

"Olaf, you said you had something important to tell me." 

"Oh right," He lit up in recollection, pattering over to Anna. She pulled away from her desk to allow him to climb up into her lap. 

"Now what was it?" He mumbled. "So I was walking in the garden soaking up the sun for my lovely tan. I'm going for a bronze this summer. I think it would really bring out my eyes," Anna listened with a fond grin. The great thing about Olaf was that when one was expecting to get one story they usually got three or four and he was a marvelous story teller with his ability of multitasking upon more than one subject. 

"And who should I see, none other than Bruni! I waved at him but he seemed busy. I think he was looking for Elsa or beetles. I couldn't be sure unless I asked him. So I came to ask you where she was and also how your day is going." Anna perked up at the mention of the little fire spirit. He would sometimes visit Arendelle even if Elsa wasn't present, being the most outgoing out of all the spirits including Elsa. 

Perfect now all we have to do is get Gale here and figure out a way for the rock trolls to attend...they are a little big though. 

"Oh! My day is...going great Olaf. I am getting alot done and will be completely exhausted by tonight." She was completely exhausted now but she'd put on a brave face for Olaf at least, but like all other times his perception never ceases to amaze. 

He sported a soft- totally- not convinced grin. 

"Your day is going way too long, and you're very tired, even though it's only -" he looked at the grandfather clock across from them pointing at it. "That time." He still didn't quite understand clocks yet but it was on his to-do list of things to learn. 

Anna welcomed to cold relief the side of his head provided when she rested against it. He hugged it, not too tightly cooing. He spoke wistfully, stroking her hair. "You know sometimes I get tired too, not really sleepy but I just feel like I wanna do nothing- like this morning I was out in town and this shepherd asked me if I could watch all his baby sheep. They were so cute and bouncy and headbutty and I loved it! Then I counted them to make sure everyone was there, and I started getting sleepy, and then I realized I never knew how many he had to start with and uh- oh yea! I went and asked Sven to watch them for me and when we came back they were missing! So Sven and I spent the entire morning finding them. It was a lot of fun, and turns out the shepherd had taken them all home, which was the last place we looked, which should have been the first and then it would have... still been the last..." 

He began thinking until his pep returned and jolted Anna from the trance he pulled her in. "So I guess in the grand scheme of things nothing matters except the journey to get there! Did that help?" 

Anna, now bleary eyed, nodded slowly. "Great! Say do you know where Elsa is?" A head shake had her lap empty and him heading for the door. "Glad to help you! I'll see you later. Bye Kelsey! Bye..." He hugged Cherry's legs. "Mmm toasty." 

Anna sat back. One part of Olaf's deceptively innocent but morbid story was the part of him recruiting Sven for help. 

Standing she went for the door, pausing briefly in front of Cherry as inconspicuous as she could. Olaf was correct and not being hyperbolic. 

The young woman did exude outwardly a noticeable heat. 

Anna made the mental note as she was excited to have her seen by a physician to ensure one of her staff wasn't working and walking around with a high fever. 

Elsa's day had been running much smoother than she initially expected. 

Her night was long, spending it planning with Yelena, Honeymaren and Kristoff. They all wanted to accompany her today but she explained for what felt like the sixth time that night that it would raise suspicion and that their guise of ignorance to the plot was key. 

They couldn't argue with that logic though she could clearly see on their faces they really, really wanted to. 

Her meeting with Cherry that following morning was more insightful, less urgent emotions surging through them allowed for more concise communications of concerns. 

Cherry, despite having never met him, had a vague description of what the man would look like. When Elsa questioned how she knew it was a man she answered by giving a name. 

Julien. 

"They said his name?" 

"Hm." A curt nod. 

"Why didn't you report this immediately to the queen? Why go all vigilante?" 

"Because it seemed they had already planted him within the city. I suspect the queen would not have dealt– eh– with this situation in a quiet manner, no? He would have already run and waited for another chance to strike." Elsa couldn't ignore the point. 

"What were you expecting to do if you had caught him last night?" The meaning of her statement was not lost but also not directly said out loud. 

Cherry wasn't impressive in size and was just a maid and previous traveler. Luckily she took no offense to Elsa's implications. 

"I would have done whatever I was able to do in the moment to Sutoppu- to stop him." 

They had been trailing each other when the meeting ended. Both trying to subtly follow and spy on the other. Cherry was much more silent and somehow ended up in places Elsa would have never expected. 

She was also less bashful than Elsa when caught. Simply shrugging and once shooed away by the spirit gently and would go back to her duties. 

Elsa once seen sneaking around would unconvincingly find a painting she had probably seen over a thousand times very interesting.

But now she had the jump on her. 

Tucked behind the railing of a balcony overlooking the gardens, a perfect vantage point to see how the maid acted without the knowledge she was being observed. 

She was more of the same when alone, she sniffed some flowers appearing to be most content yet still hyper vigilant of her surroundings. She inspected the gardens and much to Elsa's frustrations sometimes went beyond the visionary capabilities the balcony allowed. 

Elsa felt guilty deep down. Spying on someone felt like a misdemeanor she'd never commit, she'd have to remind herself that even though Cherry had agreed to help and brought light to the danger she was in she still had no proof if the girl was involved or not, despite every suspicion Elsa had that she wasn't. 

She had brought a sense of familiarity that Elsa would have found comfort in if it didn't unsettle her that she couldn't pin down why. 

She watched her move. Like a stream constantly flowing, her motions were fluid as if she knew what steps she'd take ten paces beforehand. She was almost absolutely silent as if she weighed nothing. Numerous times she caused Elsa to duck in cover when she faced the balcony's direction but her eyes never went upward. 

"Ohayō." For some unexplained reason Elsa's heart rate escalated in fear of her discovery only calming when she realized Cherry was not directing her words to her. 

Wait, what did she just say? 

Peaking only up to her nose Elsa's fingers clamped the ledge. 

Bruni! 

The fire spirit crawled up a branch to equal his height to Cherry's who was smirking at him. He hesitated for five moments inspecting her carefully. 

Elsa heard the noise he only made when happy and walked upon her offered hand. 

Interesting. 

Bruni was generally very curious and friendly. It did take him a while when meeting someone new to get an insight on them to act as personable as he was now. 

She found herself smiling small when the maid giggled as Bruni climbed the outstretched arm to her face. 

He tongued her eye making it close tightly but she didn't appear to mind any, stroking his head gently. He made his way upon hers confused by her bonnet before deciding it wasn't for him and took a place where her shoulder met her neck. 

He chirped at her and she nodded as if understanding everything he said. 

"Right, eh! You're looking for Elsa?" He nodded. 

"Oh, she's up there." 

Curses!

Elsa didn't need to see from her hunched position to know Cherry was pointing to her hiding spot. 

She hid her red warm face in her palms. Peeking through fingers she saw Bruni staring at her. Sighing she held out her hand for him to jump on. Steam wafted from wherever his body touched as he sank down in relief. 

She couldn't very well slink away now as much as she wanted to, could she? 

Straightened to full height seeing that Cherry was not even looking at her but instead taking inventory of the high points of the outside area. When she finally turned her face brightened. 

"Good morning Lady Elsa." Cherry bowed and much to Elsa's embarrassment she bowed back in the same fashion. 

"Good afternoon Lady Ch- uh Cherry, good afternoon. Errh good morning I mean!" Her face grew hotter when Cherry smirked but said nothing of the verbal mishap. 

"Can I eh help uh you with anything?" Her head swiveled left and right as if a table of tea she could serve was available.

Elsa shook her head. Bruni cried at her bouncing up and down. Cherry chuckled and continued on as she was. 

Elsa blew out a small snow flurry from her mouth going back inside while Bruni chomped at the escaping ice flakes. She pressed and slid down the glass balcony doors in mortification. 

Bruni leapt from her shoulder, apparently headed to join Cherry in the gardens.

So Elsa followed, that wouldn't raise too many questions if the Assassin was always watching her somehow. 

A shiver shuddered through her spine at the very notion. 

"Ah it is a nice day Lady Elsa yes?" As cliche as the question was, Elsa had to agree. The sun felt lovely on her skin and had painted Cherry in a beguiling way as she bent down closer to the White Chrysanthemums. 

Bruni went under the bush no doubt on the hunt for any tasty bugs which hid among the foliage.

"Chrysanthemums are beautiful, one of my favorites." Cherry hummed appreciatively at Elsa's goading tone

"Yes they are ah beautiful, I love the meaning of flowers, so much said without speaking a single word deh?" It was the purposeful way she spoke that drew Elsa closer to something so simple yet the meaning hidden in plain sight. 

"I as well enjoy fauna or flowers, what do white chrysanthemums mean?" 

She rose up from the bush, ridding the easy smile on her face for a more serious expression. "White Chrysanthemum means truth telling or grief and sorrow..." Silence lasted for five seconds before Cherry spoke again. Her face flipped over in expression from displaying the meaning of Chrysanthemums to more jovial. 

"Have you ever seen a spider lily, Lady Elsa?" She asks in a light voice, almost smiling. 

Elsa poked at her brain remembering her book of fauna from different regions of the world. "I have once in a book, I don't exactly recall their country of origin though, why? Does that flower have a special meaning?" Cherry grinned lopsidedly at the question. 

"All flowers do. Red spider lily means death. It is said when you see someone for the last time... a spider lily will grow in the place you said your last goodbye..." 

Elsa felt that unease once more, the hope that Cherry wasn't confessing what she thought she was keeping her rooted in place. Her confidence she thought she was gaining recedes in on itself. 

"Have you seen any red spider lilies today, Lady Elsa?" Her chest loosened at the concerned face Cherry casted her way, she was somewhat catching on.

She hoped she was at the very least.  

Her thoughts went to Georg Scherer who would pompously watch her drown in confusion-- Cherry would watch from the shore but instead of leaving Elsa with doubt she threw rafts after to help her ashore.  

"I have not seen any today. I don't know if one has planted itself in the gardens though...without my knowing." The maid looked satisfied.

"What flower means distrust?" This was a topic she'd have to tread carefully on-- not making an enemy out of Cherry but still not accepting her as a solidified ally. 

Her smile broadened, with a finger pointed to the sky, as she closed her eyes, moving so animatedly. "Ah, some say it is the lavender." Elsa followed her over to the flowers they spoke of. 

She smelled them in a deep inhale finally opening her bright eyes which reflected in the sun. "But they also mean devotion. Two sides but almost opposites. A Gyakusetsu some would say in places erm far from here." 

"What does that mean?" Asked Elsa breathlessly. 

"I think the word would be umm," she tapped at her temple. "Paradox!" 

It was perfect. The word Elsa had been unknowingly searching for to explain her feelings towards Cherry. She looked to the lavenders-- a physical representation of her emotions. It was comforting having an answer the very perplexing Cherry led her to.

She had to admit she felt safe in her presence but also didn't. As if she were a mouse sitting beneath a tiger's open maw. 

Cherry was patiently waiting for Elsa to speak, enjoying the company the flowers gave her. 

"The tiger lily must be uprooted, no? From the gardens, I have not seen any today but I will keep looking out." 

Elsa remained silent as her mind performed somersaults to make the connections.

This was their language. 

A common ground they could both meet upon which left others oblivious to what they spoke of while not in private.

She grinned, joining Cherry. Between the sun, Bruni who was nested on her head, and the maid's unnatural body heat Elsa felt as if she'd melt. She chilled the air significantly for Cherry to notice but not be bothered by the sudden climate change. 

"We'll find the tiger lilly...together." They smiled at each other.

Elsa held her breath when Cherry slowly offered a single finger to her waiting. The spirit was just as hesitant with her own left pinky linking it to Cherry's right. 

"Together." 

"Ah Lady Elsa I thought I might find you out here." The robust voice ripped Ryu away from Elsa who also distanced herself, smile shrinking to a neutral expression.

"Good day Mr. Scherer, how are you this afternoon?" Ryu didn't like Elsa's voice when she spoke to the man, or her posture which to the naked eye was regal and polite. 

Ryu knew better, she had seen Elsa in the forest relaxed, on guard, working as the metaphorical mother of nature and the other spirits. She remained graceful, yes but also relaxed. Now she was as stiff as the wood and rock the castle was built with. 

She didn't like it. 

The way his eyes roamed over Bruni in Elsa's hair.

"I should introduce you." Elsa's hand went up to her head, serving as a perch for Bruni to climb upon. She didn't present him in her palm, instead bringing him closer to her chest. 

"This is Bruni, the fire spirit of the enchanted forest." 

Georg Scherer bowed. "A pleasure to meet you. How serendipitous; I was just discussing with the Queen that I had yet to meet the other spirits." 

"How fortunate indeed." It’s a strange instinct. This urge to stay still, stay frozen, for fear of drawing a predator’s attention when he finally took notice of Ryu who kept her lids heavy, her eyes that stared at the ground. 

"And you have company..." He said now fully facing her after his visual examination of Bruni. 

It was her turn to be scrutinized. 

"Yes this is a new member of the castle Staff, Miss Cherry."

"What a unique name, pleased to make your acquaintances." Ryu nodded in false solidarity. He seemed interested-- way too interested when he spoke-- in not only Elsa and Bruni, but herself as well.

"Might I say as impolite as it is for me to point out, your eyes are quite...sui generis." 

She had no idea what that meant but decided to dislike the term. He continued the one sided conversation either oblivious to the discomfort he caused or just didn't care.

"Perhaps a congenital error from birth?" 

Elsa's chest and shoulders bristled like a puffed up cat that had been petted without giving its consent. She stepped in front of Cherry speaking with that authority she harbored and let loose whenever a situation called for it. 

"Mr. Scherer I ask that you please remember yourself and not comment about the physicalities the castle staff may possess-- or anyone for that matter as it is in poor taste." 

Georg Scherer pulled back his neck, his Adam's apple jumped with a harsh swallow. 

Despite his superior height Elsa still managed to seem taller during her chastisement. 

He relented. "Please excuse me, I'm terribly sorry-" he sounded very not sorry. "Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me when it comes to the unknown." His eyes flicked to Cherry's. 

Bruni jumped the short distance from Elsa's shoulder to Cherry's, curling his body and tail against her throat while keeping his squinted eyes trained on Georg Scherer.

Elsa's skin pricked in his presence as it always did but now she felt emboldened to step in for Cherry's sake not wanting her to feel the same way she did with Scherer. 

She would not allow it. 

"Mine as well, I understand but we must not let it get the better of us at another's expense." 

Fully placating, he bowed asking for forgiveness once more. 

"My eyes Mr. Scherer, they're different I know. From birth." They both turned to the maid who stepped from behind Elsa. Their eyes flicked together before Cherry's met his, no longer hiding them. 

"Ah I suspected as much." He addressed. 

Elsa watched Cherry's throat subtly bob up and down. In a nearly horrific short instance her features morphed from timorous to convivial complete with a slight head tilt as though she was watching a flower she hadn't known the name of yet. 

"You are drawn to the bizarre Mr. Scherer despite being a holy man no." As if contemplating her own next sentence she spoke it mostly to herself glancing away in thought. "Sounds conflicting..."

"You too seem to be agog with the anomalous nature of man whether or not you take part of or wish to know why is another question." 

Georg Scherer's attention was raptly on the maid smiling leerily. 

"Yes, ludicrous is it not, but I can't help myself, even in the mundane I desire to know why. Some would say there's an answer to all matters of subjects and I would like to know them." Elsa had to keep her nose from scrunching or leaning backwards-- the ends of his sentences always sounded as if he was growling but was aware it was nothing more than the gravelly nature of his voice.

Cherry appeared less inclined to flee, her grin still relaxed and unstrained. "You must have seen a lot of strange things to end up like this, no? I heard uh that-tuh people attract the energy they carry or drive away those that have the very energy they wish for with bad intentions..."

The envy was silly, Elsa knew it. The calm manner and full eye contact she hadn't received when she first met Cherry was now being given to the last man on earth she'd thought would be deserving of it. 

"Do you attract the unusual or repel them?" She stared him down in a way that was not appropriate for a staff member, but her tone and posture heavily suggested her affable nature. 

Green tendrils would not be tugged away this time that wrapped around Elsa's heart. Her eyes flicked over to his small ones and large beard. No he did not deserve this, especially after his intrusion to their time together in the gardens. 

His discomfort was barely perceptible, but Elsa had seen it. His smile was dampened, and mustache twitched slightly to the left. 

"I suppose it depends on the nature of the context. Where do you hail from, Cherry?" He answered. 

Elsa's head whirled from Cherry to Georg Scherer. She had given Elsa permission to drop her prefix but not him!

The absolute nerve of this man assuming such quick familiarity!

Before she could bring attention to it Cherry spoke swiftly once more glancing sideways at Elsa. 

She wanted to keep talking to him for some reason and did not want Elsa to intervene. Sighing, the grips her palms had while clasped in front of her caused Elsa's knuckles to turn white, not used to being so irritable. 

"I hail from uh a place where your religion is not dominant." This diverted him from the track he had just attempted to go down. 

"Intriguing, are you familiar with my religion?" 

Cherry shook her head while scrunching her nose as a child would who was repulsed by broccoli. 

In place of offense butted in amusement. "Oh not riveted I would assume." 

"You assume right..." She pointed a finger at him as though he had just come up with a grand idea. 

"But if you are unlettered then how can you decide you're not captured?" 

"It is not-tu- not really your religion per-say but the source doctrine. I have read it before and do not like it alot. Maybe as a story but not as a rule book for my life..." She tapped her chin. "There is one verse that is my favorite..." Then shrugged, closing her eyes. "Kinda like not wanting to drink lemonade for the first time when you do not like lemons no?" 

Elsa cracked a smirk, the first positive visible expression she had since this conversation began.

Cherry seemed genuinely glad at her reaction, softening her eyes when she looked at her, but slammed them back into being wide and alert when they returned to George Scherer when he asked.

"What may I ask do you find off putting about it?"

The maid impishly waved her hands in front her face replying in her sing-song accent-- from a distance any onlookers would think Georg Scherer had offered her some food she didn't want. 

"Too many contradictions in it yah. Is God good and happy and loving or is he vengeful and angry and jealous-nuh when he gets no attention? Is human sacrifice allowed? Or is it forbidden?" She scratched the back of her head giggling at the silliness she found in it. "I have no idea what's allowed and what is not, I would not be a good follower and ask him lots of questions. So God is better off without me!"

Religion had always made Elsa uncomfortable, specifically the Lutheran faith that dominated the majority of Arendelle, and those resembling it like Georg Scherer's Roman catholicism.

She was close to what should have been considered a witch, a sorceress, evil. She didn't feel like any of those things and only wanted to help the world as best she could. Glancing down at her hands her grin grew when she looked up at Cherry who was practically bouncing on her toes waving her arms. 

The way she constantly moved, and sang her words, Elsa knew she enjoyed listening to her, she didn't know what it was-- be it her enthusiasm-- her voice-- just her ideas. Elsa hadn't the slightest clue, but whenever the girl spoke she found herself thoroughly engrossed, even if she would have picked a more compelling topic than this.

Apparently Cherry had shockingly managed to disturb Georg even if signs of this were subtle. It made Elsa wish she had actually listened to the conversation instead of daydreaming and watching the maid hop on one foot. Now even more so as her light voice spoke in such a big way that Elsa didn't even know a tiny person was capable of.

"And then why nouh- does she have to marry a man who raped her eh?" 

Elsa's pupils expanded. 

Oh bother. 

Georg Scherer seemed unsure if he was about to be attacked or assaulted so with raised hands he backed away gracefully. 

"I'm afraid I must be going now, but I am anxiously awaiting our next conversation. Miss Cherry, I admire your passion. Good day Lady Elsa, Miss Cherry." 

They watched him leave. 

Elsa turned her repentant stare to Cherry's. The need to comfort the girl overwhelmed her. But she didn't seem too worse for wear, albeit a bit red faced.

Cherry took her invitation, and allowed Elsa to rub her thumbs along the back of her hands. 

"I'm so sorry about that." Her voice was low and had a slight scratch to it. 

Cherry tightened her hold. "It was not your doing... He is morbidly curious..." 

Elsa nodded in agreement, for a fleeting minute she had felt confidence from seeing someone finally drive away the man that seemed to be a stoicism expert, and tugged on Cherry's fingers drawing her closer. 

"And you aren't?" She teased. Cherry clicked her teeth. 

"I wouldn't say morbid no. I am... pleasantly curious." 

Elsa chuckled, nodding with surrender. 

She didn't want to pull away, Cherry's skin was soft but had slight microscopic grooves that scraped the pads of her fingers, but her hold had reached the timer that deemed it inappropriate. Giving one more experimental rub with her thumbs, she released her. 

They stayed in the gardens for two hours. Cherry would lament the meanings of the flowers or play with Bruni, who was quite fond of her. 

Elsa's ambivalent feelings which rested on a fence now leaned in favor of Cherry. 

"You can't." 

"I can." 

"You're joking." 

"I'm serious." 

"Show me, please." 

"...Yea okay." Elsa backed away and made certain Bruni was safely tucked in her hair before giving Cherry a thumbs up. 

Her arms lifted above her head as her body wound tightly like a spring. 

The screech she let out was maybe a battle cry, maybe a screech of pain, who knew? But Elsa was not expecting it or for her to crouch low to the ground and use her palms to lift her feet up by a few inches, swinging from one side to the other before bowing dramatically. 

It was zany enough that Elsa doubled over giggling, half composed as she rose clapping at the very unimpressive display. 

"If you loved my backflip you are gonna love this, my friend taught it to me!" Hiking her leg up she pirouetted in place-- once again bowing while Elsa claps quickly. 

"Bravo! Marvelous Cherry! Completely spectacular!" Her beaming face made Elsa want to cheer even the little things she did as if they were magic.

She didn't mind being the end target of jokes so long as Elsa laughed, not all of them landed but Cherry's reaction after Elsa would cringe drew out chuckles from her enough that she didn't mind. 

It was difficult to not trust her, while she abandoned decorum and sat in the grass beneath a tree, stretching. 

She turned her head to Elsa and patted the grass next to her. 

Elsa found it to be utterly winsome and joined her, the entente growing between them helped her relax in the breeze. 

There was a peace settling. Elsa hid her giggle behind her fingers when an Apollo butterfly decided Cherry's nose made the perfect rest stop. 

Her face scrunched when his legs tickled her lips but she remained still accepting her new job as an artificial flower. 

Bruni stalked it from her head slowly stepping across her forehead. He was a second too slow in pounce. 

It fluttered around their heads, taking off into the shrubbery. 

 "Tell me about your travels." 

Cherry leaned back against her elbows. She must have felt the same security Elsa did, they were hidden from eyes that entered the gardens. 

"I have been uhh...everywhere I think, I have watched people and their customs. Some seemed like an entirely different species." She sometimes glanced at her captivated listener but kept her eyes forward most of the time. 

"I have been to... France, Germany, London- Persia, others too." 

The questions boiled over in Elsa's mind; she could see her spilling them out fast and hurriedly to get answers, but she kept calm despite the rapture that was overtaking her. 

"That's incredible, I know I just told Georg Scherer off for what I'm about to do-" she picked at her sky blue dress. " But I must ask, you have an accent that I don't recognize at all. Where are you from?"

Ryu sighed heavily. She smiled sadly, folding her lips together. Her fingers caressed Bruni into a nap. 

"I will tell eventually but such things make me sad..." Her eyes fogged with a sorrowful wistfulness. She wasn't looking at anything in the present. 

"I let you beat me!" 

"Oh well how generous of you." She shoved her shoulder into his nearly knocking him off his feet and onto the hard wooden floor.

"Sparring is over now, there is no need for that." The words, although calm, promised a harsh punishment for such uncouth behavior. 

"My apologies, Master Mikoto." She bowed during the man's departure into his office. Susanoo smirked in his father's direction. 

"You may as well call him father at this point." The dragon put him in a headlock after confirming the close was clear and punched his stomach swiftly and hard. 

"I suppose that would give you the role of an annoying little brother. I think it suits you." 

"We're the same age! You oversized lizard" He choked out, escaping and rubbing his abdomen.  

Susanoo waved a key in front of Ryu's face mischievously then placed it in his pocket. "We can finally practice your flying." 

She backed away twirling her fingers. She wanted to stretch her legs and wings but also didn't want to risk another injury or even worse getting in trouble. "I don't know-" 

"Come on, I'll be right there with you-" he grabbed her forearms putting on a resolute face. "I won't let you fall. Never, I promise." 

It was as if she wasn't here. Her gaze was so disconnected. Elsa had seen it before in herself. The shut down, as the emotions of everything one's past had draped across their mind, turning them to stone. 

She felt almost like an intruder in this space. 

Forcing down a swallow Cherry created a fake smile to flash at her, words coming out choked. "Yea eh? I will tell you eventually." 

Elsa nodded while wondering when 'eventually' would be. 

"Have your friends found any signs of the tiger lilly Lady Elsa?" 

The question caught her off guard. The formality of her title sounded odd coming from Cherry even though it was expected. 

"No, they haven't. Have you?" Cherry was now laying completely on her back. 

"Hm." Says Cherry.

"Well... Did you find them?" 

"They may not be in the castle, they may be in town waiting." Her voice darkened. 

That should have brought some relief but for Elsa it doesn't cause any comfort. 

"How do you know this?" 

"Before his accompli- Comrades...left, I heard them mention an inn."

There were many inns in Arendelle, and both Elsa and Cherry assumed the Assassin was smart enough to not use the name Julien. 

"I would send one of your friends to investigate it..." 

Elsa anticipated more but it didn't come. "But-" she ushered on. 

"I think the smartest and the only option would be to wait till he strikes yah." She too seemed to be weighing the risks of this path. 

"Wait until he kills me?" 

She turned to Elsa, squaring their eyes together. The intensity nearly made Elsa look away. 

"I won't let that happen Elsa." 

"Why are you doing this?" It wasn't meant to come out as a whisper. 

Her lips move to speak but the words never make it past them. She sees something, something in Elsa's blue eyes that she doesn't like for some reason and turns away. 

"I am a servant to your family, and to be that means to serve." 

She has said those words before. Elsa's intuition mutters to her. 

Cherry didn't come across as one who always knew what to say unless she had time to think it through. 

They sit in silence for the remainder of their time in the gardens. 

Cherry traveling to the past once more and Elsa wondering, for Cherry, where the past was.

He moved like a lion--skulking about a savannah, searching for a lone gazelle or zebra to pounce upon.

 When he was spotted from the corner of Ryu's eye for some reason she stills, as if moving would give away her presence to the predator on the prowl. It wasn't calculated, it was instinctual and difficult to ignore no matter how doltish it may have seemed to Ryu, it wasn't as if he could harm her. Sweat beaded down her brow to her cheek when he passed her. She could feel his gaze lingering on her shoulder blades for much too long. 

Always much too interested.

That was why she had followed him as contradictory as it was. All nerves and volitions ordered her to go the opposite direction but they were buried deep down in her psyche. Her biceps and calves quivered with anticipation in case flight or fight was to be engaged. 

Now she was the stalker and he was the prey. She took inventory of him in the gardens and was still addled by what she saw. He was average height, heavy set-- his belly protruded like an overstuffed hen, balding, squinty eyes. This was not the lion that rendered her motionless yesterday momentarily in the gardens or just now.

But he was. 

He couldn't possibly be the assassin. 

Her nails scraped the red wallpaper, curling to fists, digging crescents into her palms.

His mouth is set in frown as he strides around. Ryu continues to trail him carefully using her disguise to the advantage, for whenever he would turn, probably sensing her intentions, she takes her rag and wipes idly at any surface present making certain to turn her back to him so as to look no different than any other servant from behind. 

Why was she so interested in this man when there was more pressing matter that deserved to take the forefront of her mind? But she doesn't stop even when having no answer for the questions she asks herself. 

Chapter Text

He saw her. 

Many maids and castle staff had vivid for both his sister in law and his wife's attention in some way or another during celebrations such as this but hers--

Hers was not like any he had seen before. 

So that was why he leaned against a wall, belly filled with drink, and watched her. Her eyes were too keen and vigilant-- that wouldn't have seemed odd until he followed hers to Elsa who was happily conversing with Olaf and Bruni, playfully to divert their attention from the cake that sat on the banquet table. 

That wasn't anything a maid who was interested in gossip should have been diligently watching. 

She had caught his eye when she deviated from the same line of protocol all castle staff had taken during events. Separating herself from the rest even though she was not assigned to the area, the maid was deliberate in her placing which Kristoff had eventually discovered was according to Elsa's.

"All she does is watch her... I don't know if Elsa noticed but if she hasn't we should tell her." Honeymaren nodded at first agreeing to the notion then shook her head, she distinctly remembered Elsa watching the maid as well. Be it if she was suspicious of her or just fascinated as she was yet to be determined. Elsa was always enraptured by anything out of the ordinary as she was herself, and the maid's appearance and behavior had been that. Elsa's usual past time outside of Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf had been having her elbows propped up on the balcony and staring at Cherry down below who was sniffing the flowers showing them to Bruni. 

They spoke together outside of the normal amount of time Elsa spent with the other staff including Gerda and Kai.

This all made the maid a suspect. She arrived the day Elsa had brought attention to the assassination. The coincidences were too strong to ignore. 

"We can keep an eye on her collectively, I just hope Elsa isn't keeping anything from us." Her eyes flicked to the spirit who was calmly watching her sister animatedly speak to Halima complaining about her bedtime enforced by Mattias and Gerda with a fond smile. Not wanting to be the fuel to panic, Honeymaren also shrugged. "But she could just have a crush on the amazing Fifth Spirit goddess." At this Kristoff chuckled, he wasn't convinced but put on a grin. 

It was difficult telling his genuine expressions from false ones since he wasn't very expressive to begin with except when it came to Anna. Once parted the consort followed the maid using many covers; from getting food, to pouring drinks, speaking nothing's to whoever provided the closest and easiest access to the maid. 

She couldn't have been onto him and his intentions that type of intuition was crazy yet started feeling less and less impossible as she thwarted him getting lost in the crowd of party goers in the front castle courtyard. Sven too provided some cover inconspicuously maneuvering towards Cherry.

He got so desperate that he joined a man leaning against a pillar for a smoke of a musty cigar. Hiding his cough, his vision scanned for her. She was by Elsa. Her eyes lingered too long, and it wouldn't have been alarming had it not happen five times since the party began a half hour ago. Before he could follow towards another diversion Anna grasped his arm. 

"This was a pretty amazing idea huh?" She plays off as if their conversation is much more uninhibited than this but he too nods at the spectacle this short planned celebration had been, going along with Anna's aww at the children playing with a ball of snow Elsa made for them. The only ones that had been unable to attend were the earth giants and Ryder perhaps due to keeping Ryu company. He didn't know what it took and wouldn't rebuke the man for upholding such obligations, but knowing Ryder he hoped it didn't end in disaster.

"I wasn't really asking in self praise but more so hoping you'd be a little bit more applauding of the staff who made it all come to fruition." Anna frowned as she held his arm speaking from the side of her mouth. 

Kristoff hummed appreciatively, not wanting to ever sound ungrateful with those he shares a roof with. "Oh right, sorry, they definitely earned a raise." He still can't sound sincere without the influence of an outside distraction, with his attention split in half by the curious maid. 

"Elsa seems to even be having a better time than she usually does at this kind of thing." Her head turned to Elsa, easily charming one of Arendelle's lords, who chuckled generously. Her eyes narrowed, when the man reached for Elsa's hand ceasing when she gently put it out of his reach. "I just hope the theme doesn't make her uncomfortable." She began searching for Georg Scherer, he luckily had left Elsa alone and took to speaking with the locals and writing in his book, and watching. Beady eyes roaming over everyone and everything. She wondered what had changed suddenly. He made a big fuss about speaking to her and getting to know the spirits yet kept his distance like a vulture hunched on a tree.

"Yes dear." Kristoff says absently. 

Anna noticed and followed his gaze. "She's new..." She says while scanning everyone around the courtyard for the appropriate amount of time, smiling at those who caught her eyes and keeping note of attendees who had arrived that could maybe save her and her husband from being wallflowers for too long. 

Before she could throw her own raft for them to join a conversation Kristoff threw his own. "Sven! How's it going buddy!" She allowed Kristoff to pull them towards the reindeer who had been so immersed with Olaf. 

"It's pretty Awkward with that new maid around." 

Anna for once took Kristoff's words as his own and not through the esteem it had been delivered by Sven. 

Kristoff played it off for now but Anna knows by now that he was exposing his own emotions to her in his own way. 

Not an immediate emergency but she'd also to keep an eye on the maid who appeared to be just fulfilling her duties in an eccentric manner.

Elsa wasn't aware of how loud her laugh had been until the music died down from the band who were taking a break to retrieve food and drinks. Eyes now on her caused a blush travel from her cheeks to her neckline, hidden by the slim somewhat form fitting blue and green ice gown. Composed from the humourous outbursts

She couldn't help it, why Gale had chosen to torture Cherry was lost on her but darn if it wasn't entertaining, enough so that Elsa decided to not intervene. 

Gale was a usual trickster either knocking bashful lovers together or cups off of a table or papers from someone's hand. Yes the air had a sense of humor and knew how to entertain themselves but this was just reaching the point of ridiculous. 

If only Cherry could just reach the table to refill her pitcher. This attempt was impeded when Gale flipped her over onto her face... 

She tried the self defense of smacking at the air with her silver pitcher. "Knock it off ya overpowered flatulence ya!" When Cherry finally noticed she had an audience from Elsa-- who was hiding her face to muffle her giggles-- a new set of determination furrowed her brows as she pushed against the gust, feet sometimes slipping on the cobblestone ground. 

Gale took interest in her pitcher and swirled around it, Cherry had unknowingly won most determined maid of the year, refusing to let go of her pitcher even as she was dragged further away from the table. 

She got at least three feet off the ground before she was dropped on her rear. She glared at the wind spirit who now wanted her bonnet but that was no doubt out of the question with her arms firmly strewn across her head. 

Gale whirled into her face dancing in elation when Cherry whistled blowing her own air back at them.

Nokk's loud neigh echoed throughout the courtyard gaining the attention of many nearby to see him rear up when Ryu had crossed his path. She however, seemed unperturbed by his noisy protest and continued on with her duties. 

Finally her pitcher was filled, her task given by Kelsey was done and she could stand by-- folding her hands in front of her.

"Not enjoying the party?" Yelena asked, causing Honeymaren's eyes to become less squinted as she joined her side speaking low. 

"She's a possible variant." Honeymaren spoke even lower, nodding her head towards Cherry. Yelena looked after her grunting. It was indecipherable.

"I've seen that look many times before, it is not the stare of aN assailant, but the eyes of fondness." Honeymaren snorted at the answer. Yelena remained immovable in her opinion though. 

"Yeah, we can't judge a book by the cover." 

"Yet you haven't even looked at the cover." Her sharp words made Honeymaren's cheeks warm, and her mind doubted itself. Was the maid's fondness so obvious that it could be considered the cover to her book?

"I'll speak to her." Before Honeymaren could protest, Yelena had already vanished from her side, nowhere to be seen. 

How did she do that? Did she possess the ability to vanish along with super hearing? 

"She keeps all our attention, you needn't feel so odd about it." Ryu jumped when the voice broke her from her focused trance. She feigned obtuseness until she heard a chuckle and turned to see it belonged to an older Northuldra woman. 

She had seen her before, with Elsa and the others. She was usually quiet and spoke only when she felt it to be important, that Ryu could respect. Many loved to hear themselves talk and flood people's ears with drabble. 

Normally Ryu would have felt transparent and vulnerable having been caught watching Elsa so intently, it was hard enough with that young Northuldra female, Anna, and the clumsy mountain with his reindeer setting their sights upon her for whatever reason. She didn't want to guess why, they weren't as nefarious as Georg Scherer's but still felt negative in nature. 

"Excuse me your-" she paused, unsure what title this woman held. She was noble enough in the way she carried herself but not in the royal manner of the others. Ryu only became more discombobulated when she held up a slow hand. 

"Yelena works quite fine for me, thank you." Her eyes trailed back to the Spirit. 

"She's so elusive yet at home in this environment." Ryu had to agree Elsa played a very expertized middle man for the two cultures of Northuldra and Arendelle. Between the aid of Anna and Honeymaren the trio was unstoppable. 

"Yet just as her previous role one could only think if habits die off so easily. Elsa had let her previous responsibilities consume her and the predecessor to that..."

 Elsa spoke of her life briefly before her title of being the fifth Spirit, but not in much detail, it made Ryu wonder what she had been like as queen. No doubt exhausted and less free as she was now but was she still just as exhausted, yet happily gave her all.

"Those watching see a free soul, a happier soul, but are there any who perhaps share the same experiences and see beyond that?" Having been raised in a world of double, sometimes triple meanings, the art of entendre was not lost to Ryu yet this woman's words still had many meanings and possibilities and not a single one could be deciphered. 

"I don't know." 

Her sharp eyes withdrew an old need in Ryu to stand taller under their scrutiny. 

"I think you do but I could be wrong..." She began walking away before speaking over her shoulder.

"But then again, I usually am not. Huh odd." It didn't seem odd to her at all from the way she spoke. Did she know? Ryu shook her head. 

No she couldn't have possibly. 

Elsa's whole chest shook from holding in giggles at badly ill timed jokes or blunders when Cherry would make a passing comment about either the topic or whomever Elsa was conversing with. 

Elsa doesn't have to look to know she is near. It brings her comfort and makes talking somehow easier than it had been, with insights she'd never would have never thought of.

At first the girl may have been doing it as a courtesy but was now doing it just specifically to see if Elsa could hold in her chuckles when her observations had hit right on the mark. 

" Ugh Elsa please consider the amount of spices I could gift your sisther" Cherry said with a nasally tone, impersonating one dignitary under her breath while serving drinks. 

'Please Elsa become my wife, you are so powerful and I wish to use that power for myself.' it was said with a specifically bad Germanic accent that parodied a lord who was bold enough to ask for a hand in marriage.

Cherry had made her face to split in a grin and unfortunately for the vying suitors it only encourages them. 

She waited until she was alone near the walls of the castle to grip Cherry's arm whispering harshly. "You are completely dreadful." 

Cherry chuckles, whispering back. "I never said I was wonderful." 

So the whole hour Elsa had to stop herself from smiling at the maid behind those she held a conversation with.

It was when the maid went as far as miming them that Kelsey intervened. She understood it cost the maid her job but still wished it didn't end. If things went as far as that she'd explain to Anna to some extent the situation. 

And perhaps the castle staff now thought Cherry insane but it was absolutely perfect.

Now more serious conversation had taken her attention, talking with her mother's people and her father's citizens had always been to some degree easy. 

They always met in middle ground not at first but the cultures did find a concordat, with Elsa reminding them of the past mistakes which led to Northuldra's isolation. Sometimes a deal would emerge from the discussions sometimes it went sour but everyone remained cordial and nice. 

Nokk neighed far too aggressively than this celebration had called for scaring some of the guests. 

Elsa ran to him, petting his muzzle tenderly when Gale gusted through knocking some of the dishes to the floor. Elsa's nerves stood on end while Bruni sought to comfort her and also figure out the reason for the spirits shift in behavior. 

In the madnesses of the whole ordeal she had a constant reminder of why she was here in Elsa's little smiles or polite laughs. She'd be ashamed to admit she had paid more attention to those than the distressed spirits around her four minutes prior.

Had maybe she would have caught up to the situation unfolding before her. Ryu sniffed thrice before catching his scent, seeing the glint of the metal of his crossbow in the late evening sun. The small scales along her chest and back began to rattle. 

Elsa yelped when Cherry tackled her to the ground two seconds before an arrow thumped against a pillar creating a crater in impact.

Elsa stared up at the maid who had her pinned down. Her body heat burned through Elsa's chest like molten lava melting into her stomach. It was terrifying, she had half a mind to push the girl off her lest she melt into a puddle. 

Cherry smiled lopsidedly saying 'Hi' to the woman who sucked in air and replied 'Hello' politely. 

Ensuring Elsa was alright Ryu's neck snapped in the direction of where the arrow came from.

Now she had to act. Already on her feet she can hear Elsa bellowing commands to gather her family together, ice cracking in the creative barrier she crafts around them as people scatter and scream.

Bodies are pushed aside as Ryu finds herself sprinting again to where she had seen the glint. Her eyes zeroed in on the perpetrator who turned away from his perch. 

Her knuckles turn white as she wraps her arm around a pillar hoisting herself upward reminding her mind that this was what she had waited for. Grabbing the cornice of the castle Ryu growled when she made it to the last hurdle crouched low

The faint scent of leather and sweat wisp against her nostrils. Her eyes widened. 

She knew that scent.

That night, of the fire. 

It was him. 

Her face scrunched into a harsh scowl.

Failure is an option for others but not for you. 

The battlement of the castle remained abandoned since Arendelle had not been to war in years, he would have had to know this. 

For Ryu that fact remained serendipitous, no one was up here to get hurt, perfect.

Listening carefully, light footsteps ran to her left barely audible. Following them Ryu found herself in front of the gray clothed assassin. 

They stopped momentarily stifled by the surprise of her landing then improvising took off in the other direction. 

Ryu was already on his tail.

Knowing she is closing in they stop reaching backwards and grabbing her arms, using the momentum to flip her over their shoulder and onto her back.

Forearms shielded over her head to stop a fist hurtling towards her face, the hit was hard and sharp giving the inclination that this man was a seasoned fighter. He flung her a distance away, bashing her back against the railing of the pathway.

Ryu pushed back against the stone wall, stumbling to her feet. 

The assassin didn't seem very interested in fighting, having broken away, he reached into his pocket and flung a ball to the ground. It erupted into a heavy gray cloud of smoke. 

Coughing Ryu threw her hands to and fro to clear her vision.

Amongst the diversion Ryu hadn't seen the assassin in front of her, his leg pulling back-- swiftly moving forward into her stomach with a cracking force. 

The blow stole air from the dragon-- she sputtered resisting the urge to clutch her injured and probably bruised abdomen. 

The next kick was caught by Ryu's hands-- she gripped his knee, squeezing so tightly.

A deep grunt resounded from him when sharp nails dug into the flesh of his leg. She growled when he ripped it away, leaving trails of deep scratches penetrating his leather trousers, fumbling back in a heap. 

She couldn't see his face through the black cloth covering the lower half beneath his nose but knew his teeth were gritted. 

His deep green eyes locked on her own growing wide when scales began rippling to the surface of her skin like a rash spreading. 

Gripping his sword's hilt strapped to his waist he now seemed less inclined to run.

Her stomach hurt. She hated exposing herself like this but the soft pliable skin of her human body would not suffice in this fight. 

The courtyard's screaming, shouts and the unnatural growing of wind flurried in the air around them. A small flame ran to Ryu's feet and the crystalizing powers of water grow beside her. 

Nokk roared by her side shaking his head from side to side. 

Alike, both the assassin and Ryu blinked. "Daijōbu-" she shrugged. "-kare o shutoku shimas!" The spirits did seem to understand her body language rather than her words. 

The assassin unsheathed his sword, the black shaft glowed in the setting sun. A strange glass chamber filled with green smoke ran from the end into the curved black blade, the shape reminiscent of an hourglass, it was at least ten inches long and four inches thick. It looked much too heavy for his average build to wield yet he gripped it in one hand with ease, twirling it in the air like a buck showing off his antlers in rutting season, the movement slow and deliberate.

He didn't seem to mind that he was clearly outnumbered, spreading his legs in a fighting stance. 

Ryu charged first at him instinctually dipping below where his blade sliced through the air aiming for her throat, whistling from the speed the slash was delivered in.

Jolting upright she gained the advantage with his arms lowered and slammed her elbow into his bicep, when his arm lifted the blade another strike was given to his wrist before he shoved her using his broad shoulders. 

Performing a kip-up-- Ryu's legs moved fluidly encircling the man, arms rigid yet relaxed. She felt Bruni crawl up to her poised hand looking back at her then leaped off giving a small furious cry and encircled the man in a ring of fire, zooming around him at impossible speed. 

He jabbed his sword downward trying to catch the speedy salamander, when he wielded the blade the green smoke oozed from it and slowed Bruni when he inhaled more of it coughing. His pink flames died down. A heavy boot kicked his small body away with a pathetic plap against the stone. 

"No!" Ryu snarled. She felt the rage coil, more scales covered her body, her face elongated into a muzzle. 

The assassin watched in horror at her deformed mouth and nose. She snarled loud, ignorant of the volume, and surged forward punching rapidly at his arms, stomach and chest. He brings the sword up while using his arm to block some of her blows.

Ryu is quick to react, dodging to the left and down when the blade changes course. 

His slice at her is too late, fingers are already wrapping around his wrist, twisting. Her teeth clenched in the effort of trying to get him to release his weapon.

He refused, grip unfathomable.

His wrist gave a pop but Ryu did not relent.

She'd break it if she had to.

A strong gust blew against him nearly knocking him off his feet. Ryu cursed under her breath as the wind also pushed her backwards. His other hand punched her in the throat resulting in a crunch of his knuckles as they collided with her hardened scales. 

It was the first time his voice was heard aside from a grunt or growl. 

"Fucking hell. What are you?" His voice sounded funny. Ryu tilted her head and she had heard the cadence of it before yet couldn't place where or when.

Gale had managed to twirl the attacker six feet into the air before dropping them down on their shoulder. 

"Nokk-" Ryu choked out but before couldn't even manage to to finish the plea for help the horse neighed and raced into the Assassin melting down into a wave which encapsulated him. 

If left there he could drown. 

"Bruni!" Ryu ran to the salamander, skidding down to her knees. Her hands shook wanting to scoop him up, yet he looked so fragile laying on his side. A great relief flooded her-- he was still breathing, rapidly, haggard but still breathing. 

"Bruni?" Her voice cracked as fingers gently stroked his side. Her tresses waved against her face. 

Gale too inspected the fire spirit as best they could, wisping against his body. 

It's the sword. It did something to him. 

Ryu had witnessed magic before in the different lands she traveled to, specifically Persia and her homeland, but never encountered anything like this. 

In a moment of clarity Ryu raced forward towards Nokk's water prison, the waves bubbled at the edges becoming foamy, white, agitated. She could hear his whines, he was hurting.

She had been expecting him to be struggling, gasping for air, yet he floated there-- deathly still-- watching Ryu's every move. She tore her eyes from him and stared down the weapon, forcing her arm into the water in an attempt to grab it. 

She had never known the pain of fire before and didn't know what burning felt like, but she knew that this was it, when she gripped the hilt. 

Even Nokk's cool water didn't soothe the burn. 

"Aaahhh!" Ryu screeched, yanking her hand back. It was red, nasty and blistering.

Nokk had reached his breaking point; the water flooded in all directions across the ground and over the sides of the battlement. Dropping the man into a coughing heap. His hand instantly latched onto the sword. 

Ryu reached out. "Nokk!" The water lay there around them twitching ever so lightly. "Why are you doing this?" She pleaded-- he didn't answer instead greedily gulped air into his lungs.

The next breath they took was visible in a chilly smoke. 

Ice crept along the ground and enveloped the pillars and any connecting surface ominously. 

Gale flew forth in assault, all he simply had to do was slash the sword through them to render the spirit in pain blowing to and fro. 

Ryu's mind panicked, helplessness suffocated her nerves. She had no idea on how to ease her friend's pain. 

"Gale!" The assassin took five quick, long strides forward and took advantage of her distracted moment jamming his blade expertly into her stomach. He didn't reach far when a gust of ice forced his arm to move away. A burning cold gripped his ankles.

He tried to move but it was impossible with ice encasing his legs up to his knees. 

Ryu gasped clutching at the newly acquired injury, whining with each struggling breath she took. The blade broke off with the vice-like grip her scales had around the tip, it fell from her stomach with a metal clang. Ryu saw the other end snatched from the Assassin's grip in a clatter a few feet away.

All was quiet, till the stomps of feet charged forward then stopped, probably assessing the scene before them. Ryu couldn't see from her fetal position, crumpled over clutching her stomach. It didn't bleed but definitely pierced her scaly armor to some degree and hurt like hell. Her features tucked back in, the tightness of the constriction a new comfort only leaving faint scales along her neck, arms, and stomach.

Those refused to move. Protecting her stomach and other organs from the fierce cave in. 

The assassin struggled to free himself from the ice; his efforts stopped when the whistle of something moving incredibly fast followed by a harsh thunk sounded through the air as voices yelled and rushed forward. 

Goal still in mind clenched Ryu's fist, her vision was blurring-- she could still see the blob shape of Elsa's assassin. 

Using the last of her strength she pulled her arm back and punched the only place she could reach. 

A grin spread her quivering lips when she heard him gurgle and grip his crotch. 

"Elsa if you think I'm letting you go up there you're insane!" Anna's grip was tighter than a bear trap around Elsa's wrist. The adrenaline from the chaos and quick events that ensued soaked through all of them leaving a thick residue of anxiety.

"Anna I can't just stand by and let people get hurt! Cherry went up there!" Oh god, Cherry was up there. The small maid- traveler had saved her life and pursued after the killer...

"Yeah! Did you see her? She climbed the walls like a lizard, there's something going on with that maid and if she's in cohorts with the assassin then we have an even bigger problem!" It was rare when Kristoff elicited panic, he was usually the strong solid ground that kept everyone stable and present. 

"He's right Elsa, I have my best fighters gathered. I can't stop you from going up there but I will come with you." Mattias said approaching closer to her side. Honeymaren joined them. 

"So will I." She said resolutely. 

Yelena stepped forward not needing to say her clear intentions. 

"Well I'm coming too-" Kristoff sputtered, grabbing Anna's shoulders. 

"Whoa Anna you need to stay down here and keep everyone calm. They're already scared and they need their queen." Anna's mouth opened and closed twice.

"And their king." Elsa reminded.

Sorrowful eyes turned to her and broke her heart

The sisters immediately embraced as Anna took a shaky breath speaking low. 

"Remember your promise." Elsa could feel the quivers in her arms and chest. Anna was close to breaking down that much was certain. Guilt clouded her mind, she had traumatized her sister yet again. 

"I remember."

It was a terrible sight. 

Like a battlefield, with the enemy standing strong and his foes defeated. The assassin looked rather proud of himself until his eyes landed on Elsa spreading an ugly sneer across his covered face.

She'd deal with him later but more important matters needed her attention.

Her family was strewn about, crumpled on the ground. She didn't know who to run to first. 

The group scattered, Honeymaren ran to Cherry, Elsa to Bruni lifting him up gently-- he gave a weak warble which Elsa sadly grinned at. Yelena had begun the search for Nokk and Gale around the wall. 

Securing him to her chest she looked around. They had to be somewhere close. "Nokk? Gale?" 

A disparaging rasping of breath snatched her attention to Cherry whose head was being gently clenched by Honeymaren who ushering words to keep her awake.  

Honeymaren's hands slowly rose from accessing the damages confused as if she couldn't believe what she had just felt. 

"Cherry!" Elsa knelt down towards her, her free hand touching her face before pulling back just as Honeymaren's did. 

She looks up to Elsa brows scrunched tightly. "What, what did he do to her?" 

Elsa stares at the small almost invisible scales and feels them once. She experimentally rubbed them between her fingers. 

"Erusa..." A raspy voice said.

Elsa grabbed her hand, tears pooling down her cheeks. "Y-yes Cherry?" She sniffles when Honeymaren puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. 

The background noises of soldiers struggling with the prisoner and Mattias giving orders fade away when Cherry turns her head at her. 

She noticed her bonnet was gone, her hair... blue was the dominant color mixed in with pink and lavender. Alarms sang off in the Spirit's mind. 

That was why Elsa had run her fingers through it, to both comfort and explore. She had seen these colors before. 

"I don't want you....you to think I left you..." Cherry's eyes moisten, each breath painful upon inhaling.

Before Elsa could ask what she meant Cherry grabbed her hand, breathing out.

"I'm right here... Tell Anna I'm sorry about her roof..." 

Wait...

"Tell Kristoff I'm sorry as well, I shouldn't have thrown him despite how funny it was yah." Elsa shakes her head trying to deny the realization that is slowly settling in. She clutches Cherry's hand tighter, that was how she noticed the burns decorating the inside of her palm, she kissed them cooling them with her lips. 

"Cherry-" she nearly begs but the maid shakes her head. 

"I'm sorry for lying, That's... Not my name." It's as if she can't look at Elsa so she sets her gaze to Honeymaren who is just as bewildered. 

"My name is...Ryu Paul Periwinkle." 

She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. All she could do was stare at her dragon who now had a hole in her stomach. Elsa's heart dropped to the ground, even lower than that. 

Bile wished to rise in her throat, Elsa swallowed it down and raised her voice at the soldiers investigating the battle field. 

"We have to get her to the infirmary now!" Her words are rushed and when she raises to her feet she feels unsteady, as if the ground below is a sand pit which will swallow her up. 

In her bedroom that was Ryu.

Still holding Bruni, Honeymaren helps Elsa lift Ryu up and to the stairs leading down into the courtyard. 

It hurts, the moving, the bending, but she has no energy to protest. 

 In the gardens Ryu. 

The only ones to crowd around the trio were Anna, Kristoff, Gerda, Kai, Yelena and Kelsey.

Bruni was taken by Kristoff assuring he'd get him some medical care as well, Elsa couldn't thank him, her brain was maxed out on all capable functions. 

The head physician was gifted to remain tranquil in face of Elsa's hysterical questioning. 

"Is she going to be okay?" She couldn't move her watery eyes away from Ryu as she was laid gently on the bed, her breathing was slower, much too slow, staggering when she forced herself to get more air.

The familiar sensation that spread through Elsa whenever she was near Ryu. 

The room gasped at the sight revealed by the assistant who cut through her maids uniform. It was a sight difficult for them to take in. Ugly mangled scales caved in just below her ribbed cage as if her body was vacuuming itself inward. 

The epicenter was the worst of it, black and dark purple as if already infected by bacteria.

"Elsa what's, what-" was all Anna managed to get out, her questions were placed on a shelf witnessing her sister break down at Ryu's bedside, holding her hand to her chest. She poured her powers through to the injured hand hoping to relieve even a little of the pain. 

It was as if she teleported to Ryu's side holding her arms wrapped around her.

The doctor's fingers pried at the scales completely thrown for a loop, he needn't say he had never seen anything like this but Elsa's sorrow inspired him to try and save the strange girl. He delivered her into this world, watched her life's story unfold becoming the woman she was now. If this girl was important to her he'd give his all. 

"Her liver is being crushed by this..." He glanced at Ryu, rubbing away his gray mustache before gesturing to her scales. "Armour that is coating her abdomen. It's safe to assume her liver has been lacerated." He turned to his assistants. "We will attempt to remove the scales and take the pressure off her liver." Nodding they listened closely debating with their superior the best method of removal. 

Ryu whimpered weakly looking around, before settling on Elsa who was stroking her hand quickly. "I don't wanna die yet." She admitted with a nonchalance that was surprising. 

Elsa sniffled, her nose congested with emotion and was noisy and caused her voice to sound muffled. "You're- you're not going to die okay? You're going to be fine but you have to be strong for the doctors alright?" 

Ryu rolled her head to her. Inhaling with great effort yet she still managed a lopsided smile. "I am plenty strong... I just don't wanna die either way no?...plus you may still be in danger...so I have to get better." 

She smiled at the courageous declaration. "Either way-" despite not wanting to see her eyes trailed downward. 

"You're going to let them perform what they have to to get you better." 

Ryu chuckled. "So-eh-so I can serve you tea by morning?" 

Elsa smiled bittersweet, clutching her hand. "So you can live and I can show you my palace on the mountain and you have so many great people to meet " 

Her head dented the pillow when she looked up at the ceiling. "I do not know...I'm not fond of... Doctors. Or touching..." She had the same expression when Elsa had caught her breaking in that night. Unfiltered by raw emotion, maybe she thought herself already dead.

"Bruni?" She croaked. 

"Bruni is being looked at by another doctor. He'll be fine." 

"Gale? Nokk?" 

"We'll find them. Don't worry, just focus on getting better." 

So many things flashed so quickly in her eyes, regret, pain, guilt. "I'm sorry." 

It hurt, the lie Ryu had told her. Concealing her identity. It made Elsa wonder how different things could have been if she had known about Ryu's ability to become human from the start. 

Ryu's eyes slid shut and head dropped. It was worrying but the doctors did not react. 

The tools and medical utensils clanged in the background. Anna rubbed Elsa's back watching both her and the unconscious girl in the bed. 

"Elsa..." Despite the soft tone it crashed through Elsa's worrying stupor. 

"We have to talk. The doctors will take care of her, we should get out of their way." 

She didn't want to, staying at Ryu's side seemed like a better option than going and facing the truth of all that occured. 

Here Elsa could sit in silence and truly study her face. She felt like such a fool. All the signs she was blind to were there yet she missed them all; from her facial expressions, her eyes, mannerisms, the traveling around, her accent. Her determination to keep Elsa safe.

It was all Ryu. 

Sighing Elsa tilted her forehead to Ryu's hand feeling the tiny groves that were now confirmed to be small scales one last time before surrendering the hand to the side of the bed. 

She kept her gaze on her as Anna maneuvered her out of the castle infirmary and to her office. All of their friends were present with the exception of Olaf and Sven. 

Their expressions grave, a tight tension coiled around the room. She felt like a puppet being manipulated by Anna to sit down, her body felt numb yet her mind couldn't share the sentiment. 

After tending to her Anna straightened and walked to her desk taking a seat motioning for the others to follow. 

When Elsa looked up, the soft tenderness that Anna had just a minute ago was gone. Now in its stead was pain, anger, and a cold monarchy stare. 

She folded her hands moving forward. Her voice cut through the air cold as Elsa's ice. 

"You broke your promise." 

Swallowing loudly Ryu had kept her eyes closed. Voices muffled but she had no idea what they were saying. It didn't matter. Fleeting touches made her muscles twitch and shiver. The pain in her stomach would not compare to her failure. 

The scent of nothing plundered her nostrils. No not nothing, it was a strong smell deprived of all other smells. 

The pressure and slight pain made her stomach feel heavy and like lead rested in it.

She didn't know why she was awake right now when her eyes told her that it was time for sleep, voices spoke in echos to her ears. 

"She's awake."

"She shouldn't be."

"Should we give her another dose?"

"No, just in case give her this." 

That was fifteen minutes ago, she still wasn't sleeping. This was pointed out by one of the voices who gave in to his partner and injected a stinging liquid to Ryu's veins. 

Her eyelids, despite her efforts, closed with much louder voices trying to get through the cloud that was her mind yet she couldn't make heads or tails of what they said. 

Chapter Text

"How are you feeling?" Her soft voice opened Ryu's eyes to see Elsa sitting by her bedside. She didn't know when but at some point they had moved her from the infirmary wing of the castle and while at first alarming she could only hope she hadn't evicted anyone from their own room.

The dusky sun pooled past the curtains crowning Elsa's head with a gleaming halo. Sitting up, Ryu's head tilted, sighing at how the spirit looked, it was a sight that comforted her. 

Her lack of reply must have worried Elsa even more, beneath her large eyes was darkening perhaps from lack of sleep or stress, and her lips were set in a small frown. 

Ryu wanted nothing more in the moment than to see her smile again. 

 "Well..." She began murmuring in a sleepy torpor. "Call me a baby cause I have been de-livered." It took six moments before Elsa's mouth quivered in all directions, her hand reached up to cover her sputters. 

"Oh no-" she giggled. "You still have your liver." Her hand reached out for Ryu's. It felt like she hadn't felt this cool delicate touch in hundreds of years. A bit dramatic but she'd stand by the sentiment.

Elsa's other hand wasn't necessarily demanding her other hand but she'd seen the slight twitch it had as if restraining itself from jumping to grab her left. So she gave it. 

After sitting in quiet, allowing Elsa to rub her hands nearly lulling her back to sleep inhaling Elsa's smell. It was the first tell of her presence. 

She cracked open one eye- Elsa was watching her never ceasing the encircling of her thumbs. 

"I'd like food, I'm really running on an empty stomach." Elsa hummed, shaking her head. She had heard about the fuss the dragon caused when they moved her rooms or refused medicine not liking the sedative effects and promised the doctor she'd keep Ryu on track. 

"I hardly think now's the time for jokes."

Ryu's brows furrowed. "What? Oh! Oooh. Hai, that's funny. But I wasn't joking." The Spirit's expression changed from soft chastisement to sympathy. "You can't eat yet I'm afraid." 

"Oh, Kuso." She didn't need the translation to know the tone of a curse when she heard it. 

Her corneas stung from tears she thought were already long since shed over the past two days but no her body apparently had much more to give. The lump in her throat went down painfully, and when she tried to turn away Ryu clasped her wrists pulling her more onto the bed. 

She didn't allow Elsa to ease her back to recline and instead leaned forward whispering. 

"Hey- hey? It's alright Erusa." 

Elsa sniffled, turning she was surprised to see how close Ryu scooted. She shook her head. "No it's not, what if he had aimed higher into your chest and got to your heart or lung?" Her eyes flicked over the areas she mentioned. Ryu's followed, glancing down at herself. When she looked back up a single corner of her mouth was raised. 

"But he didn't, this-" she gestured to her bandage stomach, finger plying underneath the wrappings feeling the foreign smooth skin of where her scales used to be. "-was just a gib in the plan ya-" 

"This was more than a gib. You got stabbed!" 

Ryu nodded, still grinning. "I was there, I know. But I would have done it all over again if I had to-"

"But why?" 

Why? 

"Why?" Ryu mumbles to herself as if asking the same question, and chuckles madly once finding the answer. "Cause I like you." Elsa finds it in herself to laugh weakly as well. 

"Be serious." Elsa beseeched. 

"I am. I would have done this again and again cause I like you." It was too simple, and was utterly overwhelming. Some others wouldn't even travel to a different city for ones they loved let alone liked. Yet for Elsa, the answer made her feel so much better than she had this past eventful week. 

Grand Pabbie and Bulda would be visiting by the time the summit was over, the very idea that she had already failed them reigned in her giddiness. She couldn't have Ryu throwing herself into dangerous situations merely because she liked her. 

Shaking her head, with a serious expression again. "Don't." 

Her warning was cast aside when Ryu curled her fangs over her lips, showing no intention of heeding her words in the least, looking like the mischievous Níðhöggr himself. 

"No promises." Elsa groans resting her forehead in her palms. She could be happy that Ryu was giggling at least and found more humor in the situation than she did and wasn't running from the hills away from the chaos that was Elsa's life. 

A breath shuddered her chest when the dragon's hand reached up to pet her head just as it did the night of the fire. 

The height and positioning of them made it difficult to reach up so eventually after a while she stopped. 

Thump,thump...

Thump....

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump.

Elsa turned to the dull patting noise that the girl was making as her hand hit the blanket. She hesitated for a moment- normally she relied on Anna to give some comfort during times as these but-

"You truly do think so low of me that you keep the scheme against your life a secret!" 

"Anna you know I don't, I just didn't want to risk it or worry you." Elsa's tone was practically begging.

Their family had excused themselves from the awkwardness of the yelling (mostly from Anna) allowing the siblings some privacy. 

Anna's face was crimson from anger and probably hurt that shined in her unshed tears. Everytime Elsa approached she retracted, holding her arms up defensively, turning away. 

Elsa's hands hung there in the air, feeling useless as ever, frozen in place. 

"So I'd just be a liability?" 

"What no-" 

"Do you really think I'm that idiotic or incapable of helping?" She turned back to face her. "You don't have any faith in me do you?" 

Elsa looked away, only capable of shakey inhales. She was becoming desperate. "No! I mean yes I do- I just... I listened to Ryu when I shouldn't have since she doesn't know you very well and I..." She sank to the couch like a damaged boat wrecked by the cannonball glares of her sister. 

"I messed up, again and again and I... I'm sorry." 

Anna raked her hands against the nape of her neck huffing before joining Elsa on the couch. 

"You did, Elsa, we're a family you don't have to carry everything on your own. You entrusted me with the kingdom you should have known better to have trusted me with this." Elsa nodded. Maybe then, Ryu And the other spirits wouldn't have been injured and nearly killed. But like most mistakes, someone doesn't know that they are mistakes until it's too late. 

"You're right Anna, it was selfish of me and I hurt you so terribly. I promise I'll never keep anything important from you again-no secrets. Those only get us in trouble." 

Anna balked and laughed somewhat bitterly. "They get you in trouble. This isn't your second time doing this Els- it's a bad habit of yours that you need to break before you or someone we care about gets hurt. Which is basically the same thing since you getting hurt would hurt m-" Anna's words died as she finally let loose her sobs. She didn't move away this time allowing Elsa to wrap her arms around her neck pulling her in tightly. 

God, she couldn't believe how she had been so foolish and had no foresight. 

"I'm so sorry Anna." Composed Anna sat up accepting the ice handkerchief to blow her nose rather loudly. 

Elsa winced when it was handed back to her but said nothing except a quiet. "Oh? Thanks." 

"I know you're sorry, you said that already. I... I forgive you, but we should go speak with Mattias and the guards about our unexpected guest for the summit." Elsa would have entirely believed her had she still not sound so... Despaired. 

"Anna?" The queen glanced up from the floor questioningly before realizing so she took her hands staring at them.  

"Elsa, I forgive you but I'm still hurt. I just- I need time okay?" She could respect that, reluctantly Elsa nods and helps Anna to her feet. She's unsure if she should pull her hand away or not but Anna answers by breaking the physical contact heading for the door.

Elsa submitted to lay -very carefully- on Ryu's lap, so her impromptu head message could continue. 

Curling her legs up, Elsa eventually allowed her full weight to relax. They both released breaths, closing their eyes. She must have dozed off before Ryu, since curious fingers continued to knead through her hair long after she had fallen asleep. 

A light knock jerks her from making sense of the vague images forming into the early stages of a dream. Her hands caught slacking off duty continued petting Elsa. 

Ryu's breathing became haggard to the point of hurting her stomach. She tried to still the urge to squirm as he entered. The scales along her arms raised pricking the sheets and pillows beneath her. 

"Ah hello Miss... Ryu was it? My name is Destin Mattias, General of the Arendellian Army." She had only ever heard him bark orders to his men to stop the Assassin...to shoot her.

Involuntarily, Ryu recalled the day she crawled from the depths to Arendelle's castle. It had to have been ranked the third worst day of her life which led to the best turn of events to have happened to her. She glanced down to the still very tired Elsa then back to the man.

Still having not found her voice it faltered. "Hai." Not much to go off, he seemed to be dealing with his own inner battle as she was. 

Her own bitterness and guilt coiled around one another like venomous vipers fighting for dominance over Ryu's emotional state till their vile juices dripped in her brain, each drop playing a tit for tat.

She had destroyed parts of the castle- They shot her without abandon- she still couldn't remember who shot first- she injured their citizens- they chased her into the forest- before that though she had tried to kill them while they were just defending their home and people. 

Guilt won by pointing out that if Elsa had not been present Ryu would have growled at him, she would have reacted aggressively. No matter how much she tries to find any loop or alternative route that would have happened had the spirit not been peacefully snoozing atop her legs. 

"I came to apologize for...the day you arrived here in Arendelle-" Oh God. She can't look at him. She just cannot meet his eyes! 

As pathetic as it was she wishes Elsa were laying beside her instead of on top so she'd be able to bury her face in the extremely soft pillows provided for her. 

"I swear we're much more welcoming to new visitors than that." He chuckles dryly, ending it with a small smile. 

Ryu nodded, knowing she wasn't deserving of this. She hadn't given anything to him except hostility and even worse was about to again when he entered. 

"Thank you." Her wobbly whisper must have been the only invitation he needed to walk closer, careful of his steps and the volume of his presence to not awake Elsa. 

"May I?" He gestures to the chair by her bed and sits when Ryu nods. 

"She needed this. I've never seen her so tired." They both watch the steady rise of Elsa's slow breathing. 

"Has she not been sleeping well?" Ryu asks. 

"No, worrying about Anna- you." He sighs, sitting up straight, Ryu frowns, this is exactly what she didn't want, Elsa spending all her mental energy with concern for others when it should have been focused on herself.

"Speaking of worried friends-" Mattias reached gently in his military jacket where a now moving bulge was grasped. 

Ryu's frown turned upside down as she reached her hand out. "Bruni!" She scream whispered , letting the salamander jump onto her arm. "He's been weak like the other spirits but recovering well- so I let him hitch a ride." 

His small feet tickled as he traveled up to her shoulders. Ryu giggled, keeping her mouth closed so Bruni could climb along her face freely. 

"The doctors say you'll be allowed to walk by tomorrow, albeit not great distances, strenuous activity is no." Ryu grunted in acknowledgement, he sounded like the parents she had seen in her travels, she had heard only drug induced whispers of her recovery and condition so his small update was welcomed.

"I've been in many battles and fights and never seen anyone recover from a stab wound to the liver that deep." 

The dragon shrugged. "I've felt worse." 

Mattias laughed a small bit at this. "And I've interrogated the man- he's a trained killer- hence the title of assassin actually. Either you have a death wish or you're craz- 

"I'm crazy." She interrupted in a matter of fact manner. 

He stood and headed for the door lingering a moment before leaving. "Then you'll fit right into Arendelle. Welcome." 

The door closing drew a grunt from Elsa who lifted her head a small bit- turning over- she snorted. "Gale cut it out I have thirty more minut-" 

She really was tuckered, which was why Ryu felt bad for what she was about to do. Smirking at Bruni she leaned down and blew smoke into Elsa's face. Luckily she didn't rise, instead sneezing, wiping her nose with her inner wrist in a very undignified manner.

Settled back down, her arms hugged Ryu's legs, tucking in closer. 

Her smirk melted into a fond grin. 

Worth it. 

Honeymaren used the full stride length of her legs as she, despite her superior height to Anna, had managed to walk a few places ahead of her down the dungeon corridor. The cells were practically empty save for a few misdemeanors and petty thieves that would be going free after their short sentences. 

Yelena had agreed to keep a close eye on Elsa along with a few select guards, Kristoff would manage Georg Scherer and Thomas Weaselton, while they went down and interviewed the assassin. 

Anna led the way left down another hallway, heels clicking against the stone floors, it was one of the few interior areas of the castle which still had stone flooring. Honeymaren guessed to intensify the discomfort of the wrongdoers who found themselves at the other side of the bars. 

At the end of the hall a heavy wooden door with two soldiers standing sentry awaited them. 

The guards bowed at the queen who spoke in the not so Anna manner. No- this strong and reputable woman dressed in a deep velvet burgundy gown, who took over when the situation called for was still Anna as much as the happy go plucky girl with pigtails and green summer dresses. 

Honeymaren drew in closer to Anna's flank, her hand rested upon the sheathed staff at her waist. 

The door was opened with a heavy groan as they filed in, the light of a torch crept up the walls and cobble until it touched the cloaked chained man who was watching sunset finish its final rounds on the mountains and fjord. His stance was much more casual than what his charges would have alluded to. 

"Evening your Majesty-" he turned to them, bowing as best he could in cuffs. Honeymaren felt a surge of pride at the shiny knot his temple still sported from her staff. "And company." 

"Evening, Julien." The knowledge of his name brought only a small bit of surprise.

"How may I be of service to you?" This wasn't what Honeymaren was anticipating at all, when she thought of an interrogation she was expecting it would have been a bit more like the books she and Elsa had read together. 

Criminal tied to a chair in a room shouting sneers and curses as he refused to talk and was beaten red and blue by the guards or scorned lover. 

Although the notion of beating this man who dared threaten Elsa's life upside the head with her staff again seemed very pleasant, she'd still treat this as serious of a matter as it deserved and then some. 

"Of service to me?" Anna said blinking then began to pace tapping her chin. "Oh! Well I think that time has long since passed. If that was really your intention then you could have been of service to me by not trying to murder my sister!" Her fist clenched at her sides. 

"Hmph-" he did not move from his spot by the barred window. "Murder? No it was not murder but a cleansing." 

"Cleansing?" Honeymaren accidentally questioned out loud. 

"Indeed, no offense your majesty-" 

Anna held up a halting palm, closing her eyes. "I'm going to stop you right there cause you're about to say something offensive, don't patronize me with flowering euphemisms, we are not colleagues, you are not my citizen and we sure as hell are not friends." 

He grunted in what Honeymaren could have deciphered as a laugh, and she didn't care what Elsa or Kristoff said she loved this Anna, admired her really, it was a shame she usually only was this way in less than savory situations. And despite their differences of having the friendly competition for Elsa's affections they made an excellent team.

"Well then I won't flower my language your majesty but I will not abandon decorum I stand by. We are not friends but you are not my query, just someone who does not agree with it, for that I will not fault you, she is your sister after all." 

"You have very impressive manners for a murderer." Honeymaren poured as much venom into the compliment as her throat would allow. She would not tolerate this man's sick justification for killing Elsa of all people!

"Thank you. It is a shame that Lady Elsa is not sinister by choice, but merely birth right. Based on her actions or what I've heard she does her best to do good but sadly that is not enough." 

"Why!" Anna's sharp voice echoed through the room traveling all the way up to the high ceiling. "All Elsa's ever done is good, she's the most kind, honest, caring person I know. Hell I've seen her step on a roach then apologize to it!" 

He was becoming more and more frustrated at their lack of understanding of his twisted ideals. "Yet she froze your heart-" 

"By accident!" 

"Yes, a human could kill his own brother by accident, maybe even his whole family. Or a young girl could doom her small kingdom to living under the rule of a tyrant. Accidents do happen-" he says, words leaking of implications. "Yet, Elsa's 'accidents' seem a bit more prone to the cataclysmic detriment of things. Say she has an accident that leads to the death of thousands freezing over nations, causing famine, war." 

Honeymaren placed her hand upon Anna's shoulders which shook with her building rage shooting her own narrowed eyes at him. "No matter how you attempt to manipulate the situation with hypotheticals you cannot justify killing an innocent woman." 

"It takes no manipulation to see these hypotheticals coming to fruition. And we will not stand by allowing those theories to become some poor unfortunate souls' realities." 

"We?" They spoke at the same time, leaving swiftly when a smile stretched at the man's lips. 

Mattias met them at the door grasping both their shoulders. "He's not working alone, I mean we already knew that- but I need to find out the totality of this immediately." 

"We will know by tomorrow morning your majesty, who all are involved in his schemes." The general said darkly entering the room with five more men. 

Unlike the curious Honeymaren, Anna did not want to stick around for the extraction of information and swiftly made her way out of the dungeons.

"No Erusa! Nah uh!" 

Yelena looked completely vexed with the droll taking place before her as Anna and Honeymaren entered Ryu's room after searching high and low for Elsa. Considering she frequented the room even when Ryu was in a drugged stupor they felt a bit silly at not searching here first. 

"What's going on?" Anna asked before the trio's eyes casted to her, Elsa tried to answer but Ryu grabbed the bottle off her nightstand and tipped the spoon Elsa held content into it. 

She gasped, snatching it away holding it up to the dragon's clamped lips. 

She turned her nose up at it, closing her eyes as if that would make the medicine vanish. 

"Oh please-" Elsa cooed. "You'll be in pain without it, now don't be stubborn and take it." 

Ryu's lips barely opened, still denying entrance. "I'd rather be in pain, the medicine makes me loopy eh!" 

Elsa giggled. "You're already loopy." 

Perhaps it was the nap that she needed since Elsa looked much more energetic and happy despite being very annoying according to Ryu. 

"They've been at it for thirty minutes." Yelena complained, spectating as one would a sports event or play. 

Anna even found herself laughing. When Elsa glanced back at her smiling shyly she returned it. She was still hurt. They both knew it but seeing her sister kneeling on the bed trying to inch the spoon closer claiming it was a bird and Ryu's mouth was its nest to entice her to give in...

Anna had to admit it was hard being mad at her when she was like this. 

Bruni upon Elsa's shoulder chirped and she lent down her ear to him smirking. "Oh I agree Bruni-" her eyes slid over to Ryu. "She is that thing that you just said." 

Honeymaren took her staff, extending and twirling it expertly while approaching the side of the bed. 

"Want me to pry her mouth open while you pour it in?" 

"I'd like to see you try." Ryu challenged through gritted teeth. 

Sighing, Elsa's arms fell into her lap. "We may have to resort to that so standby." Her attention was once again on Bruni whispering to him as he gurgled. Unable to resist, Ryu leaned forward, uncrossing her arms. 

"You know I can understand him better than anyone no?" Elsa shooed her away gently. "Shush this is special spirit speak you wouldn't understand- uhuh- Yea I know she used to be that but I'm at my wit's end since she isn't anymore." 

"Used to be what?" Anna rolled her eyes. Elsa had many talents, but acting was not one of them, the fact that Ryu was slowly falli-

"Oh, be a big brave dragon who would take her medicine." 

Ryu became completely crestfallen, pointing to herself with a limp index. "B-but I am." This claim was denied by Elsa and Honeymaren's shaking heads. The Northuldran joined them on the bed sitting sideways. 

She raised her shoulders up. "Mm not one who takes her medicine though, you can take a stab to the stomach like a champion but turn into a complete baby with bitter taste." 

Elsa dealt the finishing blow folding her hands together beneath her titled head. "Please-" she beguiled a few octaves higher than usual. "For me." 

"Oh come on!" Anna complained when Ryu slowly opened her mouth and plugged her nose. She doesn't know why but for some reason she was betting on Ryu not taking the bait, maybe because she knew they were totally playing the dragon for a fool. 

Elsa worked quickly pouring the medicine and tipping it into Ryu's mouth. 

She swallowed and gagged at the flavor tongue hanging out. 

Unprepared for Elsa to play dirty and sneak a second dose in there Ryu made a larger fuss than when the doctor had cut her open with a scalpel. 

It was a dramatic death she enacted but entertaining at least. 

"Gah! Goo guh! Gaaaaah!" Elsa got up, reached in a box sitting on the nightstand and casually popped a white chocolate truffle into Ryu's gaping maw shutting her up instantly. 

Her chews were at first cautious but became more enthusiastic humming at the yummy treat. After distributing pieces to Yelena, Anna, and Honeymaren, she gave the last one in her palm to herself. 

Ryu opened her mouth once more extra wide but Elsa gripped her chin and clamped it shut audibly. 

"You get more when you take your medicine." 

"Mm so will I-" Anna mused nodding. "I'll take a spoonful if I have to." 

She sat up despite Elsa's indications to rest and looked outside rather than clock. "When will that be eh?" Her words had already begun slurring. 

Elsa hummed thinking, she laid the blanket on the dragon who untucked her hands clasping the edges. "About twelve hours." 

"I got the chocolate yah?" 

"Ooh well that depends will you take your medicine?" 

Ryu smiled and nodded. "Hai!" Elsa grinned. That was a yes if she ever heard one. 

Anna's brows knitted together when Elsa bent down towards Ryu's hair but then quickly straightened, clearing her throat. 

With the lights dimmed they moved to exit when she shot upright in bed. "You're going to stay, Erusa?" 

Elsa was half way out the door. "Yes I'll be right there." She called back. Then gave an impish look to her friends wringing her hands together. "She doesn't like the medicine's side effects and asked me to stay with her tonight." 

"Just don't stay up too late." Anna warned, Yelena had already bid them a goodnight. 

"And don't worry about coming to wake me if you need me to pry open her jaws." Honeymaren waved as she took her leave. 

"Thanks-" Elsa said grinning, it died a little when her and Anna's eyes lingered, before Anna nervously waved. "Night!" And raced off. 

"Goodnight Anna." 

Elsa closed the door with both hands so as not to disturb the snoring Ryu. Her rhonchus noises reminded Elsa of piglets she had heard befor- 

She jumped back clutching her chest when a snarl-gurgle ripped from the small girl's nose. Or sometimes the hogs. 

Grabbing the book she had brought in on previous visits Elsa looked up and eyed the box of sweets which Bruni had fallen asleep beside. 

Her stealth proved fruitless in retrieving the candy when Ryu snorted half awake. 

"I want one." The hand she weakly batted towards Elsa fell back down when the medicine proved too powerful for her to overcome.

She wanted to sit on the bed, and had been just minutes before, but something about the silent stillness of the room or the darkness of dimly lit candles made Elsa feel like it would have been inappropriate.

She shook her head- It wasn't as if they were spending the night together- and it was only Inappropriate if she made it inappropriate. 

Settling down on the left side Elsa reclined back onto a spare pillow opening up to her book mark. 

After about eight minutes she found herself reading the same two sentences over and over again. The ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner was too disruptive all of the sudden and she was unconsciously timing it with the heartbeat she heard in her ears.

Slowly, her eyes trailed over the top of her novel, across the white sheets and onto the back of Ryu's head. 

As if the bed was too soft the dragon turned over restlessly grumbling. 

Elsa began counting the freckles on her light brown skin, it was slightly difficult since they sometimes clustered together so tightly. 

Eighteen, nineteen, twenty-

Elsa slid a curl that was blocking her view out of the way. She pressed it between her thumb and index maneuvering the tresse in small circles. It wasn't necessarily soft but felt different... There was something uncanny about her face that alerted others that she wasn't human just mimicking. Elsa however couldn't pinpoint what it was that eluded to such illusions. 

Her nose was small, and eyes large, maybe too large? Or perhaps it was simply that she was not human and a pure being of magic. Kind of ethereal, if she was of impressive size that could have maybe given it away but she wasn't. Her dragon body wasn't as big as Elsa would have guessed or had seen depictions of, maybe the same translated in this form as well? She wasn't a large dragon so she wasn't a large human. She'd know when Grand Pabbie and Bulda came to visit. They had at least seen other dragons before. 

Her attention grazed downward to Ryu's lips wondering why. She found the reason and had to stifle a giggle. 

One of Ryu's fangs had been jutting out of her mouth in a goofy expression. Without a second thought Elsa's thumb gently pulled it free. 

A visibly cool breath fogged the air in front of her as she pressed her index finger to trace the pliable skin of Ryu's lips- they were soft, somewhat chapped from her mouth breathing but gave way to the light pressure Elsa exuded upon them nonetheless. She watched with rapt fascination as she moved along them, once- twice- thrice.

Startled by the pink tongue that lazily darted out to moisten the lips pursing them, she yanked her arm back staring on before turning forward clutching her book in a white knuckle grip, whispering in adrenaline and confusion. 

"Okay I made it inappropriate..." 

Chapter Text

Ryu grunted when giving one last rinse to her face. He was polite enough to let her finish but not polite enough to not enter her room uninvited. She couldn't admonish him too much though she had done the same thing albeit her intrusion was a bit more altruistic.

She wiped her hands over her cheeks and eyes roughly ridding them both of water and the annoyed sneer she sported- turning around. 

"Mr. Scherer." 

"Miss Cherry." 

He seemed more alert than in gardens when she was just a mere maid with odd eyes, aware of what she was and capable of. 

Letting the tense silence slowly constrict their personal spaces together Ryu gestured towards the door. 

"Shall I fetcheh you some tea or maybe some cakes- or how about a lesson in how to knock, knowing when to just may save your life one day no?" 

The man's emotions remained uninfluenced, watching her as she gathered clothes: a plain white tunic and gray trousers, and unceremoniously tossed them onto bed; it was then he began to speak.

"I have come to learn over my years of working with others that the most timorous are more often the ones who hide behind being facetiously cocksure-" 

"Oh yea?" Ryu grumbles with an obvious dilettantism of the garrulous man. 

"-Though I never knew a woman to carry this trait." 

Finally returning her gaze to him, Ryu began slovenly untying her bottoms and shucking them off. 

He was careful with his reaction wanting to lay undetected by her perceptiveness, with how tightly wound his body became, he smelt nervous but he was a man of God after all and to show an outburst of any nature would allude to a nature he hadn't wanted to be implicated giving Ryu the satisfaction. 

She at least had decorum to turn around when removing her shirt. Ryu would let him think it a shyness instead of her being disinclined to put her injuries on display. He'd see the scales on her back and ass but not see that they could be somewhat penetrated. 

"That is kinda like how idiots are most likely to be- what was it teh called-" she trailed off thinking of the pronunciation then snapped her fingers- turning once her shirt was over her head, it was a bit long. "Sesquipedalian." It was a fun word, and ever since she had heard it she had been wanting to try it out practicing how to say it. His sharp inhale told her that she had pronounced it well enough. 

She continued on poking the bear while grabbing her trousers. "Or-or-"A finger was wagged at him impishly. 

"Or eh how the most perverted and twisted hide behind being very pious." She glanced up when his silence became loud and Oh- well she had done it now. 

It was kind of creepy how his face grew darker in vermilion but remained the same. Was he having a heart attack? 

"I will be here in Arendelle for an extended stay-" he drew closer making Ryu wish he would try to assault her in some way, then he'd be dead and wouldn't bother Elsa anymore. Problem solved.

"-which should give me enough time to conclude why a creature like you would attack Arendelle then return under the guise of a maid, only to completely compromise herself in order to protect the Ice sorceress. Forgive me but it seems quite treacherous." 

Ryu scoffed to the side leaning back on the bed. "Well that was not me being me treacherous no? That was uh just bad planning on my part. How would you have done it-huh?" 

Her genuine question was ignored.

"Nevertheless I will find out." 

Her face scrunched up as she straightened to sit at the edge, hands clasped. 

"Don't you have homework from the old egg in Ruskland?" 

"I will tolerate a lot from you because of what you are-"

"-Great." Ryu's jejune smile was wholly disarming given the topic being discussed. 

" -but I will not tolerate you contemptuously referring to the illustrious Tsarina of Ruskland in that diabolical manner." 

"Humans and your titles-" Ryu muses standing up. She spoke as a parent to a child who spent too much time outside and not enough time studying. 

Her fingers gripped the door frame as she momentarily stopped midway out. "I swear if you put as much energy on learning and knowing things to improve huh instead of titles and the privilege they brought...well I'd say you deserved ruling the world but -" taking a breath she lopsidedly grinned at him. "Most of the time no one gets what they truly deserve, eh- feel free to snoop around my room uh."

It was hard going at the pace she wanted, it hurt, the halls were spacey and perfect for speed walking. She'd find Elsa hopefully, maybe ask around. She kept Ryu up to date on how far the investigation had gotten. The answer; not very far at all. Julien had refused to speak no matter the threats or promises made to him. He had a powerful weapon against them that thwarted all attempts; He knew he was right. 

At this rate he'd sooner die than say anything. 

Ryu stopped. 

In the fight, at that moment he had said "Fucking hell. What are you?"

There was the answer. The context irrelevant but the bigger picture wasn't. 

"Fucking hell. What are you?" And she knew what he had said. Perhaps it was the adrenaline that distracted her and even after it did not occur to her that a reflex of translating languages had set them back for days. 

He had said. "Maldito inferno. O que você está." 

Fuck.

"Allo." Ryu tried to play casually with all of the castle residents and from an outsider's perspective it was working and they welcomed her but she knew better. They were still uneasy from her presence akin to hens' side eyeing a fox in their coop. She didn't blame them, or tried at least not to take offense, they were all still adjusting to her now exposed striking appearance, and those who connected the dots of drew the dragon roof incident straight to her. 

She felt terrible the moment she caught a housekeeper's attention for frightening the man into dropping a tray. The loud clatter drew some eyes of others who slowly continued on with their duties. 

She winced. "How may I help you ma'am?" He was still pleasant during recovery retrieving the tray from the ground. 

"Sorry but where do you keep the people in the cages huh?" She spoke too fast that was evident in how he held his mouth open trying to decipher it but eventually gave up. 

"I beg your pardon, what?" 

"Where do you keep-" Spinning her hands around in circles as if it would help. " The people-" 

"The peepholes?" That was how he heard it. 

"People, the bad people. Criminals." She wished she led with that. 

His face lit up with excitement at finally understanding what she was saying. 

"Oh you're looking for the dungeons ma'am!" She shared his enthusiasm, both practically jumping up and down. 

"Hai!" 

He gave very explicit directions to the dungeons which were kept in a separate building only attached by a small corridor. Access was limited but the guards allowed the royal family hero to pass through without much questioning, Lady Elsa's orders were that Ryu would not be bothered by anyone unless it was of utmost importance.

The only light source were lamps and the natural sun rays that trickled in here and there through barred windows and doors. The air was colder than anywhere else in the castle. The dragon jumped every now and then when a loud bang or yell echoed through the halls. 

Ryu's first instinct was to follow her nose, she had his scent memorized. The smells she picked up made her stomach toss like a green sea full of bile.

Julien's led to a hallway, at the end stood a large wooden door and two guards sentry. 

"Halt immediately." A strong voice said. "Turn back around now, no one except the queen and General Mattias are authorized in this area." 

Ryu blinked and did indeed halt for a second at the barrage of words thrown at her face then continued until she stood in front of them. 

Their uniforms looked very clean despite their surroundings, the one who spoke regarded her carefully releasing some of the tensions in his face, even his beard lowered down a tiny bit. 

"Ah the little hero of Arendelle." His tone despite his words were not condescending at all, more so fond. 

"Why little?" Ryu still voiced. 

"Please if you are lost allow me to send for someone to escort you where you wish to go."

She looked past him at the door pointing to it."Julien?" 

"Yes ma'am?"

"Can you open the door please? I want to speak with him." She nodded hands now akimbo as waiting for them to open the door. 

"I'm afraid that goes against the queen's orders and Lady Elsa's."

A few seconds passed. 

"So you not going to let me in there huh?" 

The guard shook his head remorsefully. It was no secret what the assassin had done to Ryu. Some whispers said he had pierced her heart and the amazing royal physician resurrected her, others said she had lost a limb. Either way he was assured that she was the last person who should see the monster kept behind the door.

"Is there a-a way for me to sneak in?"

His companion swallowed down a chuckle. The guard smiled small, shaking his head. 

"I'm afraid not, the windows are sealed by the strongest iron no way in or out." 

Ryu was not pleased in the slightest bit. Her eyes narrowed at the dumb wooden barrier keeping her from her goal, it simply had to go or the guards had to, either one would work, or both. Then when the brainstorming ended she waved at them and turned back. "Have a good day then eh." 

"You as well ma'am."

She paced in the castle halls, if Anna and Elsa were so adamant about keeping her out she couldn't very well turn to them with her theory that had no evidence. She could already hear Elsa's Absolutely not! Are you insane?

Yes the woman was predisposed to anxiety and worry to the point Ryu could deduce it had to be a condition. 

Anna was very stubborn, they both were from what she had seen but Anna was fiery and could shut down an idea she didn't like very swiftly and sometimes viciously. 

She could easily brute force her way through the door but there'd be a chance of interruption she couldn't risk. 

A good distraction would be marvelous right now. 

She could release a bear in the halls but that could be quickly resolved and end badly for the bear... Where would she even get a bear?

The woods duh.

Maybe release a few prisoners. Ryu played out the scenario, rubbing her chin with her index and thumb, shaking her head no. They could run into the castle and start stabbing people in the asses. 

Leaning against the high overlook railing she drew her head back thinking. The soft dancing flickers of a hanging lantern drew in her eyes. 

She could burn the wing down but her fire was recognizable by color. She stared at the dungeon entrance at the end of the walkway. 

Fire was still a very viable means to sneak in. Humans couldn't handle the smoke, lungs too small and weak, the tight space would be suffocating forcing a retreat. 

Someone could die though.

She waves her hand in front of herself dismissing the notion.

She'd make it a small fire, and ensure it wouldn't block the exits. It'd be fine.

She'd get the answers and help Elsa and hey! Anna would be thrilled as well. A little property damage was a small price to pay to get results.

A classic win-win. Nothing was set in stone if her plan needed recalibration or tweeks of improvement that'd be easy. 

She whispered out the one word that described her idea

"Kanzen." 

She would need it to spread quickly and cover all the areas she wanted.

Making her way to the main wing a delicious smell captured her nose. Following it led to the perfect source. 

What place was most likely to catch fire in not just a castle but in any home? 

She smiled broadly, finding the answer. 

If only Elsa could tell him how busy she was, the dire circumstances she found herself in these past few weeks, then he'd feel foolish for pestering her with ridiculous requests such as marriage and all things akin to it. Requests of taking her for a stroll in the gardens. 

Then he'd know she could only spend time with those who were working with her on the investigation. Luckily they were people she wanted to be around and even if it was a luxury that she could afford to waste her time frivolously she'd still only give it to her family and friends. 

"Lady Elsa I think you have misinterpreted my intentions." This caught her attention. 

"Have I? I'm only going off the multiple and very persistent requests given to me and my sister for my hand in marriage." 

"Those aren't my intentions." He shrugged, the action displacing hair that was tucked perfectly back. 

Elsa mocked the surprise leaning forward slightly. "They weren't!" She straightened. "Well you certainly had me hoodwinked, unfortunately I am quite busy and don't have the time to make acquaintances-" before she could make her leave he impeded her path. 

"I do wish to marry you-" 

"Please make up your mind-" replying quickly Elsa began walking down the hall towards Anna's office. 

"I've made up my mind, it may not be the same conclusion but I do wish to marry you, what I meant was that I haven't been asking for your hand I've been asking for a chance." This slowed Elsa's steps a little bit. He took the miniscule invitation and joined her side. 

"I would like to get to know you- court you properly- since I think we'd make good company together." 

Elsa hummed, not convinced in the slightest. 

"My father sent me here to ask for your hand directly and I hated the idea, I never wanted to marry; it's very time consuming and I value my time since there's so much I want to do but now that I've met you I think we would make a compatible match based on what I've observed from you and heard-" 

"Eavesdropped-" 

"Semantics." 

Now they stopped by a window while Elsa stayed silent for a while before pinning him with her eyes. 

"You sound like you don't even know what you want." Her tone was more sympathetic than a barrat. She didn't know how old this boy was but he couldn't have been no older than twenty - three.  

"That's a bit hypocritical coming from you." Elsa's face hardened and taken aback. 

"And you know me so well from the... Twelve minutes that we have interacted together, suddenly you know what I want, you who don't even know for yourself." He met her challenge without aggression but instead an even more infuriating passivity. 

"No I don't, but I only know what I want at the moment. So do you, you just convince yourself that you have an idea of what you'll desire in the future because it gives you security. Everyone does that so don't feel too terrible." Elsa looked away blinking, she didn't feel terrible about that all, she felt terrific. 

"So what's worse, me being honest saying that I don't know what I'll want in the future or everyone else settling on one thing because it's what they want now?" 

His words seeped into the itinerary she had been creating for herself for years. Elsa knew what she wanted, she had goals and aspirations, yet two years ago she thought she had everything she needed and could ever want, her crown, her family, and all that changed then weeks before now when she had convinced herself again she had everything she met Ryu. 

Still this man did not know Elsa in the slightest and she was developing a disinclination towards him for projecting his own inconsistencies on her. 

"Lord Weaselton-"

"Thomas please-"

"Thomas... You don't know what the future holds and that may frighten you- the way it changes constantly for all of us so you don't invest- in anything and just live in the moment and that has brought you here since you're father...is a schemer-" Thomas' face became more relaxed in a silent contemplation. 

Elsa searched for any signs of offense but found none so continued. "So he sent you here to solidify your future- took your life in his hands and plopped it on a path that seems more beneficial for him than for you." 

The Lord nodded, rubbing his stubble. "You're good." He jabbed, bringing a smile to her face for the first time since they spoke. "And right, I always rebelled trying to prove him wrong. That I could live the way I want to and be happy and successful."

"And what happened?" 

"I failed," he answered plainly. "Multiple times actually. One time I ended up accidentally on a ship to the Americas and they had to turn around and the entire crew was fired for their late coffee shipments to France." 

Elsa could only blink trying to process his speedy speech, composed she cleared her throat.

"Well uh- Always double check with the entire crew before you set sail on a ship of the destination but- Thomas you can live your life the way you want to but you're going about it wrong. You need a balance of spontaneity and also caution or you or someone else will get hurt." 

He smiled warmly at her, his bright green eyes nothing like his father's. He was not an investor and Elsa could find some comfort in that, he didn't look at her and see a walking commodity that could be used at further dates, he saw a person to connect with and it was endearing.

"We definitely could teach other things." 

"Like?" 

"Like let's try a little exercise; I'll say what I want in this very moment without thinking of the future, its consequences or anything else- I won't do it I'll just think!" He quickly pacified the reluctant expression forming on her face as he spoke. She already didn't like this. 

"Right now I want to go riding on this beautiful summer day, around the countryside exploring Arendelle." Well that wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be. "Now you." He gestured his hand towards her. 

Taking a breath Elsa began to thin- "And be honest." 

"Right now I want you to heed my words and leave me alone for the time being." 

"Hmm well at least one of us will get what we want. Have a good day Lady Elsa." His bittersweet expression touched her heart so she called after him before he got too far. 

"Thomas!" He spun around slowly.

"The stables have a wide variety of horses for you to choose from. Just tell them I sent you." 

His grin split showcasing his white teeth, Elsa playfully rolled her eyes at his over exaggerated waist deep bow and continued on her path to find Ann-

"Fire in dungeons! Fire!" Elsa's nerves jolted her powers to her finger tips, creating a blue and white glow crackling like ice scraping. "Quickly it's spreading on the roof!" 

I guess it's time to take Thomas' words to heart. She opened the window and jumped out onto an materialized icy surface climbing up to the roof, that was the first priority, if it caved in someone could get severely injured.

It was easy to sneak in under the protection of smoke and everyone rushing to get snuff out the flames. Everytime they thought they had extinguished them an alcohol bottle tucked in either a rafter or hidden somewhere else would explode, spreading it in controlled bursts.

The guards had dispersed from the wing, locking the doors shut to ensure no escape. Within the stone walls the prisoners' safety was not a concern. 

The door protested, groaning loudly as Ryu shouldered her way in giving consistent pushes and shoves till eventually it gave out. She would have fell face first had she not been clinging to the brass handle. 

She continued hanging on searching the dark grey tinted space. "Allo?" She sang glancing around until Julien was spotted shackled to the wall pontificating the contents of his book. 

He didn't look up when he spoke. "All that trouble just to see me, it won't do you any good, I already said all that I am willing to say."

Shutting the door with one hand Ryu let its thunderous boom settle before she said with a laborious breath. 

"Just take the compliment." 

His eyes panned up quickly to her hearing his native tongue past her lips. He continued on in Portuguese as well. 

"You are a well learned demon. I'll give you that ma'am." 

"And you-" she began pulling out a chair to sit. "Ah I got nothing." She waved her hands. 

"My previous statement still stands. I will not speak." Her light eyes bore into his. 

"But you already have." 

His smugness was not deterred by the assured calm she seemed to possess having encountered enough interrogations in his lifetime. Confidence was key yet also was a dead give away that someone was goading him on if they tried to convince him that they knew too much already by impossible circumstances. 

"And yet you came here asking for more, as long you and anyone else does not have the answers I live and you visit me, and will get nothing until it is too late." 

Ryu leaned back against the chair propping her feet up on the wall, her head rolled to the side."Aw don't be like that!" She cooed. "This visit is so much more personal. Everyone knows that when the tip of a man's blade has been inside you it's rude not to visit him." She had to admit Portuguese was much easier to grasp than the Nordic language in Arendelle. 

"Of course a demon of your caliber finds humor in such debaucherous things."

She hummed, waving her finger. "You speak only as if you say facts, a poor trait of one not willing to learn." 

"What could I possibly learn from you?" 

"We could learn from each other; You could learn about my species-" 

"I know what are-" he began but the abrupt scrape of Ryu's chair when she stood up stopped him. 

"And I know what you are; an idiot." Each step she took closer he met with leaning forward. "I am not a demon because of what I am- I am a demon because of what I've done." She ended with a whisper then recoiled when a particularly loud shout was heard. They stayed silent wondering if their time together was cut short but after five seconds turned back to one another.

"Tell me why of all humans out there you attempt to kill the kindest one?" 

"Kindness is meaningless when paired with insurmountable power, it gets drowned out."

At this she shrugged. "I'd rather be trapped in a room with an incredibly kind lion than a very mean dog. Luckily the dog in this room is chained up." 

"If that's what you think of me, so be it. Elsa could easily wipe out the entire human race at her whim." 

Glancing to the side, Ryu's eyes held no remorse.

"Mm good."

"Of course you do not understand the ramifications of the subject-" 

"Humans have been commiting genocide against every living thing, themselves included for centuries." Her tone consisted of a stultification that would only get worse the more they went on. The rocks that she kicked scrambled across the stone floors echoing in the chamber. "I'm convinced you all could use a good thinning of the herd, at least you're fascinating. There are those out there right now pillaging, raping, butchering. Why not try to stop them?"

"I cannot account for all the sins of the world but I do hold myself accountable for the unholy and unjust that take place before me! Elsa is an injustice against nature!" Ryu smiled. So that was how to rile him up, question his beliefs and he defended them with his very last breath not even considering the slight possibility that he and all others who followed were wrong. So tunnel visioned. No wonder he was absconded easily after trying to shoot Elsa, he didn't take into account other likelihoods for an escape.

"She literally is an element of nature." Ryu deadpans, she was growing quite bored of the routine, already caught on to the gimmick. "Besides, isn't murder a sin?" 

"This is not murder, it's a cleansings for the better of humani-" 

"Spare me the saving humans bullshit." It was all the same, he was like a dog chasing its tail, constantly going in circles never getting any further. He was however more prone to talking during an emotional outburst and more prone to emotional outburst when his morality was rattled. 

Turning from the barred window after testing their restraint- The guard was right they were super strong- Ryu scuffed her shoes against the ground looking along his restraints and to the floor. 

Let's rattle him a bit.

"You know I never completely settle on one belief unless it is backed by facts maybe if you had given me a compelling argument I would have joined your little murde- oh sorry cleansing attempt, but to me it just sounds like whoever you're working for is just jealous of Elsa's power-" the disgust on her face being genuine only helped her act even more. "And if whoever sent you truly is doing the will of God then he sounds just as envious- Envious like a shallow woman who saw an even prettier girl enter the ball!" 

Julien stood and rushed towards her chains rattling as they pulled back against his weight and strength, making the whole dog analogy kinda seem on the nose.

"Do not take the name of the Lord in vain!" 

Cringing Ryu sardonically replied. "Sorry- unless- I mean who is to stop me, no one has ever seen him, you don't even know who you serve."

"I have-" 

"Where?" 

"The only way to see him is through his words." 

"His word?" He nodded, not quite grasping her false mocking dubiousness. 

"Who has time for that?" 

"Those who are enlightened by his words, and set aflame with passion for his will, as I am." 

Squinting eyes challenged him. "You didn't read all of it." 

"I have-" Ryu continued shaking her head. "All seventy three books I have." Her shaking slowed when she backed up putting at least a foot between them. 

"You must have a lot of time on your hands, now onto something else more enticing, Religion makes me nauseous." Physically she was the one being tortured, all she had to entertain herself was whatever was in the cell and what she could make of it, picking at the wall here, kicking rocks there, looking out the window could be but so enjoyable so few times.

"What is a Brazilian assassin doing all the way out here in Arendelle?" She chuckled at his changed expression. 

"Brazil?" 

"Yes, your accent nor the way you speak are from Portugal. Although that would make more sense if you were." She whispered the last part to herself. "But you're not." 

Ryu continued musing aloud now fully ignoring Julien and whatever show she was putting on for him by pacing. 

"How did you get here, to Arendelle all the way from- Oh."

Now she finally looked at him calmly and went for the door. 

"Whatever conclusion you think you came to-"

"You assumptive ass, I didn't come up-" she strained pulling the door open again to be greeted by small wisps of smoke. "-with a conclusion but I did come up with a few helpful tidbits for Elsa. So I bid you a goodnight, your story seems quite interesting, I wish to hear more but for now thank you-". A bow. "You have been in this conversation as you have always been... completely and utterly useless." 

It was awkward even to Ryu who was usually impervious to such tensions, she now wanted to slip through the floor away from the head stewardess. 

She could smell the anger radiating off Gerda like heat from an oven who kept their pace brisk and silent. When Ryu spoke, things only seemed to go downhill from there. 

"So... How ya been eh? I want to um know." 

"Do you now or is that another lie?" 

Her slowed steps kick-started up again to catch up with the older woman after the momentary verbal stunning. It was to be suspected, yes but Gerda somehow managed to transform into everyone's mother, the one person everyone universally feared and rightfully so, they were terrifying.

"Technically speaking I did not lie." 

"Well then that changes things entirely-" Excellent very good, Ryu grinned nodding. 

"You're an even bigger ne'er-do-well than I thought." A what? Ryu didn't know what that meant but it sounded aggressive. 

"What's better, lying to me directly or manipulating the truth?" 

Gerda waited as the dragon tapped her chin thinking, before she could answer her mouth hung open when Gerda instead voiced. "That was a trick question since in both circumstances you took me for an imbecile." 

"What no no... Just gullible." 

She scoffed, rolling her eyes and began escorting Ryu once more to the council room. 

"I was only trying to help the best way I knew how!" 

"And you never once considered the scenario of taking this matter to Queen Anna and Lady Elsa both of whom could have maybe not prevented the Assassination attempt but prepared for it. You could have lost your life young lady." 

Ryu sighed, no she hadn't considered that before. Prior she had thought it best and just improvised her way through and it worked by luck not skill or planning, with how dire the subject at hand was it was beyond foolish to leave such things to luck, she could have lost Elsa. It was a pain far worse than her stomach and heart could handle as they began to hurt and churn. 

Noticing her dour attitude and contemplation Gerda faced her speaking more gently than before. 

"And yet without you we would be in a much more horrible detrimental future than we are now. The day Elsa met you was the day her life had been saved, and in extension all of ours as well-" Again What?

She laughed at Ryu's puzzled brows scrunching together placing a hand on her shoulder, she did not miss the girl's micro wince but kept her hand in place. 

"Elsa is the fifth Spirit, she and Anna are the bridge between our people and the natural magic of this land. Without one we fall and perish as a whole." 

The gravity of what happened and all that hung on the delicate precipice settled upon Ryu like a weighted blanket. Still she couldn't miss the opportunity to look up at Gerda smirking. 

"One would think eh with so many lives on the line you would have a back up bridge." She laughed while Gerda slapped her shoulder mortified and followed after her hearing the words: Simply just an incorrigible child.

Chapter Text

Gerda appearing with Ryu in tow was the only thing that finally drew Elsa's eyes up from her notes that she was furiously writing, the scribble was drowned out by the conversation of the investigative team trying their hardest to gain some ground.  

Her clothes were rumpled and black dust subtly coated the bridge of her nose, the clear signs of a rushed and clumsy clean up attempt. Her shoulders remained pulled back standing with that familiar discipline in the presence of authority. Elsa still couldn't decipher if it was an instinctual habit of dragons or something trained into her; she had not asked deterred by the girl whenever she tried to take a small shuffle into the conversation of her past receiving the reply of 'later'. She now was developing a distain for the word. It was evident Ryu was still was insecure with both the environment and the people she shared it with.

Elsa squinted at her state while the others nodded in greeting, it would have been difficult to notice at a glance and when Elsa's inspection was descried Ryu turned her head away to the right. 

The light filtered in through the large window to the left of the table, giving the wood the illusion as if it had just been polished, the only one not seated was Ryu, she stepped aside as a maid poured her a glass of water to which she nodded to in thanks. 

The chatter momentarily stopped when the dragon stood next to the empty chair, and when her gaze found Elsa's they shared a small smile but kept quiet when Mattias spoke up. 

"As I was saying your Majesty, the linguist have few ideas in regards to country origins of Julien but he has neither confirmed nor denied them and refuses to speak in his native tongue."

Anna did not look pleased. Elsa was tempted to go over and comfort her to ease the tension which coiled tightly in her shoulders. What kept her rooted in place was Kristoff taking the role of being her sister's pillar of support, soothing her with whispered words of encouragement keeping the table occupant's spirits up in his usual cool practicality. 

Elsa watched as he took temporary control of the room. He definitely was a different man than he used to be; more confident which was only aided by his decisively calm demeanour. It was easy for people to listen to him, to trust him, and take comfort in his blunt and direct but kind words.

"Finding out his country of origin will be helpful yes, but the magic he possessed is also alarming and should be investigated as well. Elsa?" 

She looked up from her writing at first with her eyes then head. Placing the pencil down gently she folded her hands politely upon the table. 

"Yes?" 

"How are the other spirits doing since the incident? Any weird-" he moved his scrunched up hands from side to side. "-symptoms effects?" 

"Besides lethargy and a decrease in Bruni's appetite- no- though Nokk is acting odd it could be a physical or mental side effect of which I'm not sure of quite yet." 

Satisfied, Anna nodded removing her index finger and thumb from cupping her mouth and chin when she sighed heavily. 

"Well it seems the best course of action is finding his country of origin and as Kristoff said how he came upon such a weapon as a sword-" 

A small groan was barely heard coming from the dragon who shook her head. 

Elsa looked to her disquieted, before she had the opportunity to open her mouth Anna spoke up staring directly at Ryu. 

"Is there a problem Periwinkle?" 

"Yes, that's a very stupid plan." Anna's eyebrows rose to her hairline at the statement. 

"I beg your pardon." Mattias said now turning his head from Anna to Ryu. 

"No need-" Ryu said simply. "That's just a bad plan all around-eh." 

"We don't really have anything tangible right now to work with, any course of action at this point seems like our best bet-" Kristoff says shrugging. "We tried waiting it out, that didn't work, yes we have Julien in custody but he obviously has friends." 

"Maybe the plan would have went better if the queen wasn't kept out of the loop." Elsa deflected the pointed stare shot her way with a small apologetic cringe writing much more quickly now while Kristoff met Anna's face with indifference. What happened happened, it was in the past and couldn't be changed now.

As far as the queen was concerned Ryu was the last person to be consulted on planning. Her plan was successful yes but it was also unnecessary, risky, and hair-brained. 

It was when Ryu responded that Anna realized she had voiced her concerns out loud in antipathetic murmurs. 

"Yes agreed, I make bad plans uh which is why I know a bad plan when I see one." 

Mattias and Yelena found themselves squinting at the dragon for very different reasons while Anna countered nearly standing with how much force she exuded. 

Honeymaren crossed her arms interjecting without caution. "Not taking action is a bad plan and the greater of the two evils it seems." Her frustration evident from corner they had all been backed into."Besides it seems things just keep getting more and more complicated what with fires now being set in dungeons." 

Anna continued. "We don't even know if it was an escape attempt or jailbreak, there were no suspects found." She wasn't sure how much more she could take, how much more anyone could take. Sleep wasn't something that had been easy to come by lately, staying up all hours of the night either talking, figuring out what to do or just anxiety and worry. 

It was serendipitous for Elsa to look up at the right moment to witness Ryu's abstruse grimace.

She didn't...

Ryu picked up her glass and took a long deliberate sip, setting it down slowly as if it was the most important task in the world. The spirit had seen that look before when Ryu was caught doing something naughty in the woods. Despite having a different body she still made the same expressions as before. 

She couldn't...

As Mattias continued to express the details of the incident her gazed fixed for just a few moments when he went over the injuries with an internalizing concentration. When no injuries were reported she returned to the previous manner of conducting herself during the damages report. 

She did.

Standing up and ignoring the questioning looks Elsa stalked towards the dragon. 

Of all the reckless, irresponsible, foolish-

Everyone witnessed on confused as she took a stance near Ryu arms crossed, her eyes became angry shards boring holes into the side of her target's head who folded her lips inward sheepishly. 

"Uuuh-" Kristoff glanced at the others for answers but they were searching for some as well.

Slowly, Ryu began to crack under the pressure of Elsa's glare. "It- It wasn't a jail break or escape attempt." Her voice quivered. 

This caused the room's, that is except for Elsa who continued her intense glowering, to keep foreheads scrunched in apprehension. 

Anna would have laughed at her sister had she not been so confused, Elsa rarely made that face that was reminiscent of a child who had their candy stolen from them, it wasn't the least bit intimidating but it seemed to be successful in whatever Elsa's goal was by making Ryu wither.

The air began to grow colder in juxtaposition to the incandescent late afternoon sun. 

"And you know this how?" Yelena finally spoke calmly, face placid. 

Gulping Ryu spoke up with a dry taciturn note hitching in her throat. 

"Because eh uh I am the one who...started it." 

Eight seconds passed for the news to finally take grip of the room. 

Numerous voices, belonging to Anna, Honeymaren, Mattias and his select few trusted men could be heard but the words couldn't be discerned. 

Elsa's shoulders slump as she rubs her face haggardly in sync with Kristoff. 

Many emotions, silent and verbal opinions ricocheted in the room like a a bolt piercing through the air from a high pressured machine. 

"Are you serious? Why are you so determined to destroy my home?"

"If word of this gets out people will begin the rumour mill that you were in league with assassination attempt." 

With all eyes on Ryu, Elsa noticed the scales upon her neck which dipped down into her neckline harden and twitch. 

"I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep Erusa safe-" 

At this Anna scoffed bitterly. "And you think we're not!" Her arm flung gesturing to the table's occupants. 

"I don't know yet, I do know you're all willing to waste time sitting in a room crafting horrible ideas-" 

"How dare you!" 

"At least we're not running around committing arson." Honeymaren said with a sarcastic shrug. 

A flare of emotion erupted inside Ryu reflecting back out in her eyes. Her body was tight- like the string of a bow, looking as if it would snap at any moment from the tension her chest glowed putting those that knew what followed on edge. "I'll commit whatever crime I have to in order to protect Erusa! And happily accept the consequences..." 

It was a difficult argument to say the least for Anna. She understood Ryu's perspective she too would commit many crimes to keep her sister safe but she also had other responsibilities as well to her staff, her people, her family, and setting fires in the castle still seemed so asinine. 

"Why didn't you just ask to speak with Julien Miss Ryu?" Mattias interjected cautiously.

When Ryu answered she kept her eyes trained in front reminiscent of a prisoner appearing before a court on trial. "I was given word from the guards that Erusa and Anna gave orders for me to not have an audience with him." 

"Well yeah he stabbed you nearly taking your life." It was said as if it was obvious, but it wasn't for the dragon who merely shook her head. 

"He is chained to a wall, the worse he could have done was strangle me with the chains, or attempt to I should say. Even if I asked you both would have said no." 

Anna's face became red and heated at the presupposition of her character and judgement. This was the second time the dragon was presumptive of her, what kept her words reigned in was the indecision that squirmed its way into her head. Would she have said no? The incline that lead to yes was tucked away. 

Elsa however voiced her own truth. "I would have forbid it, wondering if you were insane." Anna shot her down with a glare that could melt an ice cap.

At this Ryu upturned her palms deadpanning her eyes in Anna's direction. 

Kristoff stood up deciding to take charge over the room. "Everyone calm down. There's no use fighting amongst ourselves when there are bigger carrots to pluck." 

"I don't think that's a saying- but Kristoff is right!" Kristoff smiled small at Honeymaren's support, while ushering Anna to sit. 

Elsa too nodded in agreement, a hatred formed in her heart for the bickering Ryu and Anna took part of, she had hoped they'd get along. 

"Now that our Allegiances are confirmed, Miss Ryu have you found out anything that could aid us?"

The agitation cooled down inside her chest as she collected her thoughts in a neat little stack. Now finally they could have a conducive conversation, she wasn't entirely unrepentant for the fire infact it stabbed at a deep and large rooted nerve within her heart for reasons she'd rather not visit ever, but it was a necessary misdemeanor and she'd work personally to help clean up her mess unlike in the past. 

"Tracking his country of origin, which is Brazil by the way, is a fool's errand. I am confident that Brazil has no quarrel with Erusa- they have their own problems to worry about." Ryu despite the security of the entire room felt quite pleased with her ever growing vocabulary and pronunciations. She was bit out of practice but language was just like riding a bike... She didn't know how to ride a bike but the principal remained the same to her. 

"It would be odd for Brazil to place a bounty on you-" Honeymaren adds glancing to Elsa. "Would they even know you exist?" 

Elsa looked down at the table in contemplation. "I don't believe we've ever had correspondence with any South American countries. Anna?" 

Looking to her sister Elsa could tell something was bothering her and she had a sneaking suspicion it had to do with Ryu.

Anna shook head no. The eyes of the room returned to Ryu as she continued. 

"And even if there is a chance that-tu Brazil is involved then we have-" she side eyed fleetingly to the clock. "Four to six months give or take...or never if by the likely hood they all die of scurvy and other diseases they'll bring."

Elsa looks up for a moment speaking without reserve mistakenly. "...and then we'll all be dead from exposure to foreign bacterium." A disturbed look scrunched some of their faces besides Ryu and Kristoff who nodded in agreement. 

"And if they have agents already here?" 

"We look for any foreigner who just came here with a weird accent." 

Ryu could sense the small bit of scrutiny in everyone's eyes that were upon her aside from Elsa who was busy writing everything that had been said thus far. 

"Brazilian accent." Honeymaren says correcting herself. 

"Okay, what about the weapon?" Kristoff asks crossing his large arms. 

"It's irrelevant." Elsa concludes. "I've read tales from other lands and fact checked them best to my abilities, they aren't just children's stories. Magic exist all over the world and we don't know if this sword could lead us back to Brazil or Germany or even a few miles away from here, it's sadly a waste of time at this juncture."

A puerile grin graced Ryu's face, she looked thoroughly satisfied with that conclusion.

"So what do we do-" Anna intercedes impatiently."Sit here and wait for them to come shoot you?"

Elsa is rubs her chin actually considering the option. Anna watched in disbelief before throwing a pen in her water cup with surprising accuracy, the result splashing Elsa's face snapping her from contemplation. 

"Ah ah! Hey no! That's bad! We're not doing that... Not again." After some quick thinking Anna snaps her fingers. "We find out where he came from!" 

"We know that already, Brazil." 

"No, no, we know where he's from but not where he came from." 

Both Ryu and Elsa's eyes lit up while the rest watched on in confusion.

Before Kristoff could open his mouth probably to ask for an explanation Ryu spoke up. 

"I know what you mean, That's a much better plan than before, but this means we have no time lose." Resolute she turns heading for the door quickly, letting out a strangled gelk when Honeymaren grabbed her collar absent mindedly in a vice grip.  

"No ships from Brazil landed near Arendelle and unless one came to a different country and he walked here -also unlikely- then he came on a ship that was at port recently." Elsa says. 

"Well then I think my agents and I have much work to do then." Mattias muses. He looked to his queen for dismal which she grants. 

"It still wouldn't hurt to find out where the sword came from." Now Anna and Elsa began to develop a hunch that Kristoff had an interests in the weapon that went beyond the cause. 

"Which should not be a priority right now but go off." 

"Hush you." Honeymaren chastised, dumping water on Ryu's head who remains apathetic.

"It would be much more useful to find out what it does from your grand papa baddie and worry about whether it's feeling homesick later yeah-" she held up her thumb and nodded. "Good." 

Kristoff snuffed a small laugh through his nose. "Either way I need to go see Grand Pabbie."

"Actually he's visiting in a day or two so we can ask him then." Elsa confirmed. The idea still brought her some anxiety, she was supposed to keep Ryu in good health but now she was back to limping with a crater like epicenter in abdomen and heavily involved in a conspiracy against her life. 

"Perfect." 

Finally with the meeting concluded Ryu was released from Honeymaren's grip and into the hallway before anyone had even gotten up. 

"Hey Periwinkle?" Ryu turned upon hearing her name, finding Anna holding her green skirts as she sped walked towards the dragon. 

"Look I-" she began but then stopped staring at the ground as if it had the right words for her to say. Ryu remained patient despite the anxious twitch of her muscles. 

"I just wanted to say to you that the plan you crafted with Elsa will not happen again-"

"I agree." Despite being shocked by Ryu so readily submitting she carried on. 

"Elsa values your opinion and input and just you in general-" Ryu appeared perplexed by this information. "I do not appreciate you telling my sister to keep something as serious as an assassination attempt from me." 

"Okay." It sounded as if an And? Would follow but instead the implication of it was left unsaid. 

"It's undermining to me as both the queen and Elsa's sister, I also will not have you discredit my decisions in front of people." The queenly persona Anna now displayed was entirely different than the bubbly girl Ryu had met prior or seen around the castle. 

"Your decision was idiotic." Ryu stated in a matter of fact tone. 

"Even still it is disrespectful to undermine my authority." 

Ryu hummed rolling her words in her head carefully. "So what you are saying eh you don't want anyone questioning your decisions?"

Anna blinked a couple times as her queenly semblance slipped away. "That is not at all what I'm saying-" she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just be respectful of the authority I hold here please."

"Anna I'm not going to respect you because you are the queen, I respect you cause you are the person I care about's sister and as an individual as well. I do not pay heed to human titles, useless." She swatted at the air shooing away the word and concept it represented and with that said Ryu turned to go on her way. 

Anna stared after her. W-was- did that go well? She let out a humourless laugh. "I liked it better when you couldn't talk." 

Down the hall she heard chuckles erupt from Ryu who looked over her shoulder with a knowing grin before limping away. 

This certainly wasn't how Elsa hoped the relationship between Ryu and Anna would develop. The meeting had been intense to say the least. 

She rubbed the nape of her neck which ached from watching Anna create a trench in the carpet with her pacing. 

"I mean what if she were to do that in front a dignitary or ambassador? And now Georg Scherer is staying longer than expected we can't afford any trouble Els and while I appreciate her efforts everytime Periwinkle steps into the capital she causes trouble." 

Elsa remained quiet during her sister's venting, she went over their discussion and could understand why Anna would feel confused around the dragon, she did as well sometimes but for different reasons, were they any less frustrating that she wasn't certain of. Placing the tea saucer down to free her hands as Anna sat beside her upon the lounge, she allowed her to snuggle into her side and ran her index finger down the bridge of Anna's nose. 

"I'll have a talk with her if you'd like, I think perhaps it's just difficult for her to grasp the complexity of our lives and all that entails. Apparently dragons have a society all of their own with different customs and intricacies." An unconvinced grunt was her reply, Elsa ventured through the topic carefully she didn't want to sully Ryu's already dubious reputation but still did not want to invalidate Anna's feelings towards the matter. 

Both sides important.

It seemed the list of things she and Ryu had to talk about would keep growing and growing, from Anna's tribulations, to the encounter she had with Julien, her propensity for arson-

Her past. 

It felt ridiculous sneaking through her own secondary home, more than ridiculous it felt horribly nostalgic of the days when Elsa was allowed to venture from her room on rare occasions in the night. 

Entering the library she spotted Ryu pouring over some papers. Instead of making her presence known she stood a good distance away and watched the expression of bored concentration etch itself over Ryu's features. 

The way her light brows knitted together ever so slightly, her eyes dilated as they absorbed whatever it was she was reading. 

Here was a dragon that seemingly came from nowhere injured and afraid now standing in the castle library reading. Yes things had changed quite sudden and abruptly. 

Why was she here? What drove Ryu's inclinations towards her? What did the dragon want in the grand scheme of things? 

The words that followed the flicker of Ryu's nose startled Elsa into a small jolt. 

"Still spying on me?" Her voice remained small with a tiny laugh in effort to maintain the quiet, upon closer inspection Elsa saw the pen she held to circle words on the papers. 

Eventually she slowly made her way to Ryu's side, the warmth she felt in the air was palpable, humid almost but easier to breathe in. Without her magic it would have been uncomfortable somewhat for her. 

The dragon scooted a bit to the left allowing Elsa more room to see the contents of the paper. 

It was ledgers from the naval master no doubt regarding the ships that had been in and out of Arendelle's port. 

"Kristoff-eh gave them to me, he said it was important that we record all ships in and out of port and my sharp eyes were needed." Ryu said sardonically.

Elsa nodded noncommittally, she sounded frustrated by the busy work, she had to admit to herself that Ryu never strikes her as one favoring such an abstract pursuit as studying ledgers and charters.

Kristoff's intentions however weren't as subtle as he probably would have liked to both of them. If Ryu was in the library busy then she was less likely to get into trouble, he even used Elsa's safety as an incentive knowing she'd not abandon the task until it was completed. 

"So am I to presume you enjoy this?" 

"I hate it hm, but it is necessary and besides once I have the- the answers I can move forward a way I see fit.

Looking back at the work she noted the Kenji - was that what Grand Pabbie called it? 

It looked as if Ryu attempted to write it in their Nordic language but gave up seeing as it was difficult to read for both speakers of the language and herself. Her writing in her own native tongue was much more neat than the first clumsy attempt. 

Elsa's finger gently traced the Japanese notes written vertically, it was beautiful more likened to art than actual writing. 

"When we eliminate those who pose a threat to you I can teach you if you'd like." Elsa's trance like stupor over the notes was broken sharply. 

Eliminate? Did she mean? 

Debating whether or not she should ask the intentions behind that word instead decided to add that as another topic for them to discuss. 

"I'd like that." Elsa remarks softly. As much as she was enjoying their amiable quiet that was only disturbed by the small scribbling of Ryu writing she gave Anna her word she'd voice her concerns. 

Taking a deep breath she treaded carefully with her words."I well- I told Anna I'd speak to you about the meeting." Ryu merely peeked at her from the side. 

It was all the invitation Elsa was given to continue. "She felt you disrespected her." 

"I know she told-eh me already, I think it is sorted yes." Ryu replied in her usual quick manner of speaking. 

"Yes she told me about that too-" looking off to the side Elsa twiddled her fingers. "It somewhat left her a bit puzzled- that talk the two of you had." 

Ryu seemed to be entirely unsuspecting of this when she finally drew attention away from the ledgers with a brow raised. "And she didn't tell me this why?" 

That was a difficult question, one Elsa didn't have an answer too, she knew Anna wasn't afraid to speak her mind and generally was rather bold and forthcoming. 

"Perhaps she felt some difficulty communicating with you and found it easier if I spoke to you instead."

"Because it is easier for you?" Elsa nodded slowly. She still looked as if she couldn't grasp the notion but acquiesced silently. 

"Her plan was foolish- not outrageously so- but it was no good, I won't apologize for pointing that out." Slowly the pen was laid down. "I'm not much of a planner, never have been- so it seems I have no right to speak, but you do not have to know how to play piano to hear when someone is off key." She gave Elsa the opportunity to process what she was saying. 

It was difficult to argue with those points, Elsa's only backings were emotional and rationality seemed to rule Ryu's heart and mind. 

Except when it comes to me she decides to act in recklessness.

Elsa blinked heavily at the whisper she heard from within feeding into self indulgent recollection of Ryu's motivations.

"I would have done this again and again cause I like you."

She could appreciate the cogent approach to some issues but then sympathy over any hurt feelings always got the better of her so most of her truths were put through many filters before her words would touch the air. 

"You seem disappointed." Elsa hugged her torso shrugging, with her chin pointed down slightly, her gaze casted upward past her lashes. "It's not that-" 

Finding footing was difficult with Ryu leaning back, eyebrow arched, and head tilted looking at Elsa as if she were an intriguing puzzle, even her scales looked softer than earlier.

"I said what I said to help, and it did help, I said what I said because- I don't know." Her once crossed arms now hung at her sides defeated. 

"Well maybe show some more respect as Anna feels you don't"

"If I didn't I would have let her barrel ahead with that idiotic plan instead of warning her."

Finally a connection had been drawn inside Elsa's mind. This must have been one of the few ways Ryu displayed affection outside of the physical. She too appeared to be just as shocked as Elsa by this as if she came to the realization just then. 

"That's entirely understandable, perhaps though we could practice tact." Now there was a word she never heard before. 

Elsa giggled at her quizzical expression and began explaining what it meant. 

"So I should-uh not say what I really feel and think and well just allude to it?" It seemed like a waste of time to her. 

"No, say how you really feel and think but know that sometimes in certain situations it isn't what you say but how you say it." A pregnant pause drew a distance between the two despite their close physical proximity. 

"What I say is what I think and how I say it is how I feel." Resisting the urge to run a palm down her face Elsa instead retreated inside to find a way to put them on even ground. 

"Perspectives are subjective for each individual and vary due to experiences, emotions, personalities, environment, rearing-" It was evident by the Ryu's subtle pout and the way her eyes bounced to here and there as if searching for an answer that Elsa's answer was lost on her, curious but still confused. 

Ryu made a small noise."Hm." 

Perhaps she could turn it into something more physical and less abstract...

"Think of the way we see the world and react to things as a window, everyone has their own window that is shaped and colored uniquely to the lives they live, now you may look out your window and see a white ball that to you is- um what is your favorite color?"

Ryu shook her head. "I don't have one." 

"Oh well alright then- your window is green and to let's say Anna hers is red, you both see the white ball, to you it is green and to her it is red. So you argue about what color the ball actually is. Both right in your own view of things."

"The ball is white so we're both wrong." 

Elsa held up her hand. "In this scenario the actual color of the ball is non-quintessential, the ball just represents a view point white because it is objective. And many others see other colors as well and sometimes people see a perspective or window that opposes their own as antagonizing when it is simply just different." 

After pacing about Elsa drew closer. "Understanding another's perspective can open up an entire new world that is their own of possibilities and opportunities for us to grew and improve but scorn them even without meaning to and they draw their blinds and are less likely to share with you their world, that to me is more important than being right." This seemed to appeal to Ryu's better nature which in turn made Elsa feel quite proud until she spoke up after mulling over what the spirit had lamented. 

"Is that why you hide yourself behind tact? You think your true self will offend them?" 

Elsa's retort whatever it may have been died in her throat. As a puddle would dry up under the scorching sun Ryu's words burned her to exposure. 

She knew the 'them' Ryu had referred to was anyone except Ryu herself, as if she knew that whatever was contained in Elsa's small inner world could never spoil her opinion of the spirit. 

The feeling of alienation that had once terrified Elsa didn't, now that she had someone else on the lonely island that marooned her from the rest of the world. 

"I don't hide." This didn't shake away the doubt that gripped her assuredness. No she didn't hide, she was through with concealing, she had learned that lesson twice now. Thrice if Anna's birthday when she had gotten sick counted for anything. 

The look Ryu gave her spoke a thousand and one variations of one word. Bullshit

"You do even from Anna," Ryu swayed back and forth, arms swinging as they dangled at her sides. "Things- certain things." 

The mention of her sister had brought on a level of defense Elsa had not felt since before when Ryu was just Cherry. "Are you assuming you know me?" 

A giggle hiccuped in Ryu's chest. "I'm assuming I don't." Elsa had still heard it even though it was a whisper. "Even though I'd like to." 

The reverence she spoke in gestures to Elsa as if she was some grand puzzle to be solved, and it seemed to thrilled Ryu more so than frustrate her. 

"I could say the same thing in your regard." 

Ryu snorts. "I'm nothing more than a dragon, a creature of destruction who likes cinnamon snails... What more is there?" Despite her efforts to evade the terrible implications of the remark with a glib tone, Elsa's heart still cracks for her and the fragility that just threatened to spill over.

"Alot more, there's a whole world of more...but alas we have reached a impasse." Another word Ryu did not know. 

"Impasse is more like when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force." 

The dragon hummed drumming the pen across her palm. "We could continue to hold ourselves ransom against the other or..."

"Or?" Elsa prodded.

"I give you a bit of me and you give me a bit of yourself in return." 

Well that would solve a great deal of the emotional turmoil that would have came with asking Ryu about herself and her past. Perhaps if it were more transactional she'd be more inclined to share and Elsa could help her, in exchange she'd give herself. 

Although Ryu's innate curiosity still perplexed her to no end, sure she had interesting stories to tell and almost impossible situations happen to her- outside of the fantastical occurrences Elsa as an individual considered herself bland. She was reserved, cared deeply for her loved ones, could create winters- something that was a gift for her mother's heroics and altruism, and enjoyed simple things; Reading, writing, mapping the stars, fauna, spending time with her family, friends and academics. 

Anna was the more exciting of the two according Elsa. So it seemed she had nothing to lose. 

"Deal." They sealed it with gentle smiles before Ryu spoke again.

"And... I- well I suppose I could practice having... Tact?" Elsa's smile grew. 

"You are alot more easily persuaded than I would have thought."

"Or maybe you're very convincing, plus it seems important to you and you are a very intelligent person so I would like to know why."

Unsure of how to respond Elsa merely began translating some of the words learning it was much easier to understand the language than to speak and writing it for Ryu. 

Even though the previous discussion wasn't the most jovial it still offered a great relief to Elsa, a comfort that with those Ryu cared about she did not mince her words or thoughts, she had no filter, her thoughts came out of her mouth without editing. 

Still it felt hypocritical to enjoy the sense of security from Ryu's transparency while she hid behind opaque glass with most. 

She'd definitely explain this to Anna.

With that matter settled she ventured to a different topic. 

"Two friends of mine, Grand Pabbie and Bulda, will be visiting to see you, so we should probably prepare to return home after gathering more information of course." 

"Why do they wish to see me?" The trepidation was obvious in her question not wanting to raise alarm Elsa swiftly went on to explain their draconian history and expertise, this calmed and even intrigued said dragon who nodded. 

Looking to the papers she gestured to them with a head jerk. "We can continue the investigation there I suppose and maybe you'll be safer." 

It was then it dawned on Elsa, would Ryu be staying in her home or remain in the forest? 

This was one of the rare occasions Elsa considered what she wanted, did she wish for Ryu to stay with her in her cottage? 

"Chikushou!" Ryu cursed the pen shaking it for more ink. It exploded in her face during her perusal of its tip, regretfully she licked the corner of her mouth ridding it of ink.

"Nnnguh!" She choked out disgustedly.

Yes. 

She did want Ryu to stay even if for a little while. Her mind already came up with numerous reasons on why that arrangement would benefit the both of them and would bring those reasons up when they left for no other purpose than the fear of her offer being rejected by the dragon. 

Elsa hid her giggles behind her fingers. Ryu shook her head. "You shouldn't eat ink." She warned as though it was Elsa that licked it off her lips instead she herself. 

"Hm I had no idea- Ah!- don't wipe your finger on me!" She protested laughing along with Ryu's mischievous chuckles while manifesting an ice cloth to clean her now stained forearm. 

She really is an imp.

While many desired for the sweet nostalgic reprieve happy childhood memories bided, to him they were nothing but a curse, a reminder of a foolish time when it was thought that love and compassion were enough to change one's inherent nature. 

The moments of laughter and innocent play pure and right meant nothing except willful ignorance and contradictions. Could a fox raised in a chicken coop lose its appetite for fowl? Would it still bark or would it cluck? When the fox turned on the chickens whose fault was it? The chickens who instead of purging it out while it was young kept it for senseless sentiment, or the fox for simply doing what every fiber in its being ordered it to? 

The sound of wood groaning from the abuse casted upon it from the strong summer monsoonal waves had become a comfort, this had been his home for the past six years, more than what was deserved, still the water could not cast away the guilt of still planning to show mercy when it was undeserved, the guilt of loving someone so wrong.

Something so wrong. 

Only when he was awake could his mind focus on the memory of damp stone steps that barely alerted to one's presence, the gurgled out cry of his brother gasping for his last breath and her...

That damned creature who made him love her as his own, standing over the body with the audacity of reflecting fear in her glowing eyes, then unremorseful in ignoring the wails of a mother who had just lost her son to run away from what she was, what she was destined to be.  

This memory was the truth, not the warm, sanguine ones that came in the night while he slept and lacked control over his own mind, but the one filled with cries, blood, and death. 

A knock interrupted the ambiances of his deep meditation. "Speak please." His strong voice commanded not breaking the difficult position which kept him upside down rested upon his forearms for balance. 

"Lord Mikoto, we have received word from your agents in Austria." The Lord opened his eyes and gracefully descended down to the ground till his bare feet met the wood of the floor. 

Opening the door revealed the captain with a small parchment offered up. 

Going over the contents the lord took a deep breath, they were still a few weeks out from Europe, which did not bode well for their query. If it decided to not stay long in Austria then it was fairly possible for them to lose its trail if this was approached recklessly. 

"Captain Sato?" The large man nodded before his lord, the rings braided into his long dark beard clanging together from the movement. 

"How stocked are we from our last rendezvous?" Lord Mikoto began flicking a jade knife impatiently between his fingers as he waited for the captain recount their supplies. 

"We have enough to comfortably last for four weeks my lord, with lower rationing I'd estimate six."

He wandered to map hanging up the wall. "Then so be it, lower the rations and tell the men that we must remain frugal with any perishables. We won't be stopping for a long time." 

"It shall be done as you say my lord," The hesitant tone of the captain brought up his lord's gaze. His eyes swam across the captain, dark grey irises circling around his space like sharks in stormy waters. 

The expectancy of the air encouraged Captain Sato to continue. "Though the men may question this my lord, the uncertainty of whether that would be worth it if the dragon continues its randomized path-" 

"Please excuse me captain but he-its paths are not randomized at all. I would not expect a crew new as it is or someone novice in this hunt such as yourself to recognize the patterns."

The captain straightened up rolling his shoulders. "Patterns my lord?" He said dubiously.

Staring at the map Susanoo eyed Europe intently then trailed his knife along. "Yes- before our encounter in Siam when she lost her ability of flight perhaps then it was random but now-" his knife led from Siam to locations the dragon had traveled to mostly by water, sometimes by land. 

"It prefers to not remain landlocked, sea faring nations have been its main target as well as countries which are close in proximity, with easily crossed borders..."

"Shall we set swift course to Germany then my Lord and then travel to Austria?" Captain Sato could not hide his surprise when in reply he received a curt and resolute no. 

"I shall write the correspondence to my agents myself. We shall however set course for Copenhagen."

"Denmark?" 

"Indeed."

"An excellent calculated guess. Mayhaps it would be also an asset to see what others in the area know of its whereabouts when we arriv-" 

"Majority of the time what people know is useless, some know dragons do not exist... How useful is that piece of knowledge Captain? This is no mere prediction."

Receiving no further explanation Captain Sato bowed and backed out of the cabin. 

Susanoo only opened his cabin's door once more that night to receive his stationery and was not to disturbed for the rest of the evening. 

He'd split his men at different scouring points in Amsterdam, Brussel, Paris, and London while he and small crew investigated Denmark, it wasn't certain but would serve as the best choke points they could afford. 

Staring at the letter his mind wandered and wondered, albeit silly, if the love he gave his dragon was not enough, it hurt to think about more than he'd ever admit to himself for what he gave her... it was all he had in his heart. 

Chapter Text

"I know Anna I'll be safe I promise." It felt like the hundredth time Elsa had to reiterate this for her sister just this morning. She still didn't seem happy with the arrangement but they both knew Elsa couldn't stay in the capitol forever. The evidence was clear in the queen's slumped shoulders and slight pout- she didn't want her sister to leave during such a precarious time- deep down she understood however it was for the best and safest option.

Keep contact every week. That was easy enough. 

Check in the investigation every week. More of the same 

Lock the doors at night, understandable.

Stay out of trouble. Now that was the difficult part but Elsa still agreed more or less. 

Sympathy gripped Elsa's heart, so she hugged Anna for the thirteenth time that morning, even Nokk's impatient neighing and counting of the cobblestone couldn't break the embrace.

They pulled away only enough to face Ryu and Bruni who was perched on the dragon's wrists teaching her the benefits of licking one's eyeball. Kai eyed the pair nonchalantly as Kelsey beamed at his side clearly more enchanted than her supervisor. 

Clearing the emotions from her clogged throat she spoke up after whispering a few words to Elsa, the spirit nodded looking characteristically repentant. 

"Ryu?" 

The girl abruptly twisted her head almost completely around at them expectantly, Elsa seemed to find this less disconcerting than Anna did. She had seen Ryu do this before the knowledge of her changing magic had been discovered. She had a very flexible spine and neck. 

Ryu's tongue hung out in the air drawing away from her eyeball.

"You promise no secrets?" The dragon considered the words before giving her attention back to Bruni with a lazy 'Nah' which sounded more like a yawn than an disagreement. 

Elsa chuckled, resting her hand on Anna's shoulder. 

"Well at least promise to protect Elsa?" 

That had caught her attention though her stare remained on the amphibian who resolutely responded with a nod of his head. 

"With my life." 

Elsa was certain her gulp could be heard all the way to the kitchens with how abrupt it had been. For some reason she couldn't find it in herself to be left alone with Ryu and desperately searched for some type of buffer. 

"Olaf!" The snowman grinned and bounded over to them from Nokk. "Would you like to come and stay with me for a week or two, I could use some help with my garden?" She knew Anna was currently squinting her eyes at her from the side but paid no heed to the stare. 

Her attentions were drawn naturally to the snowman who clapped his hands excitedly in agreement. When Elsa straightened she pursed her lips. 

"It's ashame to see you depart so soon my lady." A meandering Thomas states. If he felt any trepidation from Elsa's departure he hid it well the only sign being that of his more solemn demeanour. 

While Anna wanted to object she couldn't help but feel her attention divided by the confusing conversation happening between Bruni and Ryu. 

"-but your tongue is longer than mine so that's probably why." Did she really understand the little lizard?

Elsa plastered a fake smile onto her face. "Well I do have many things to attend to-" 

"Perhaps I could visit you at your estate." Now Elsa was floundering upon herself. If anyone knew her well enough they'd know she valued her home immensely, as it was an extension of herself and did not extend invitation to many. 

"Elsa she has-is very busy-" Anna stumbled, soon Honeymaren joined the verbal fray hurriedly putting an arm on both Anna and Elsa. 

"And! It would be important for a lord such yourself to visit Northundra!" 

Anna found footing among the excuses that tumbled from both their mouths. "And tours-" 

Honeymaren nodded with the importance similar to that of a council member backing a new law. 

"And the tours! For you to visit... And get them Elsa will be there." The spirit readily agreed. 

"Yes! Of course a Spirit's work is never done." Anna had heard Elsa utter that line so many times to people that it now felt like an inside joke between the two. 

Before the baffled Lord could catch up on the conversation unfolding between them Elsa gently albeit quickly called. "Nokk, Bruni, Gale, Ryu shall we be off then?" And before he could protest she had already gathered the small entourage together for travel. 

Whether it was the urgent need from Elsa to get away or that Nokk had warmed to Ryu a bit more since their battle with Julien he seemed more ambivalent towards the dragon even while being tired of the teasing she and Bruni shared towards him, both finding comradeship being creatures of fire.

Ryu however seemed confused as to why she was mounting Nokk behind Elsa. The spirit could hear her groan and glanced back to see what was wrong. 

A large yawn broke her words. "Why can't I just fly to where we're going?" Elsa who lowered her voice considerably answered. 

"Because I think some of the residents could do with some adjustment to your presence."

Ryu considered this and much to Elsa's dismay poked holes in her logic. "But doesn't adjustment usually require exposure?"

"Well generally yes but due to given company perhaps less conspicuous travel is best."

After questioning the word and hearing the definition Ryu continued. 

"Is not a Japanese woman, lizard, and blonde lady riding atop a horse made out of water more...Conspicus than-" 

"It'll be fine and you'll be safe... -" Elsa glanced back furrowing her brows. "Safe- if you were doing anything else with your hands than what you're doing right now-" Ryu adjusted from reclining back with her palms bracing against Nokk's rump to a more appropriate position of resting them in her lap. 

"Oh." 

Elsa nervously looked between the dragon's large yawn exposing her canines to Thomas, luckily the Lord didn't seem to notice. 

"Ryu that's not a safe way to ride bud." Kristoff warned approaching them. "Oh..." The dragon complained. "I've never ridden a horse before I use my legs no." 

He shrugged causally. "Just wrap your arms around Elsa." He said it as if it were obvious but from the way Ryu haphazardly throw them about her waist evidently it was not. 

Elsa grunted small closing her eyes at the vice grip. If she had to ride the entire hour with Ryu suffocating her in her heat she was sure she'd melt half way there. 

Shaking his head Kristoff adjusted the hold to one that was more appropriate while Ryu ragged dolled herself. Elsa shot him a grateful grin while manipulating herself so as to allow the dragon to be more comfortable. For she wasn't diurnal or even nocturnal as Elsa first led to believe but more crepuscular and it was about ten in the morning so she was long past the time she'd be awake adding this to the list of things she'd ask Grand Pabbie and Bulda about. 

"And here is Olaf." Anna said hulling the snowman to sit in front of Elsa. 

"We'll bring you back some sun tea when we come to visit!" Anna and Kristoff both nodded being very fond of the Sun tea Elsa made them on occasion. 

"You have fun big guy keep Ryu and Elsa out of trouble." Olaf saluted Anna as Ryu grumbled something about being terrifying and fierce from the rear. He chortled whispering to Nokk. "Isn't she adorable?" 

"Well that's one way to describe he-" 

A loud ruckus drew them to see Ryder stumbling into the courtyard on Emil. He rested his hands on the perturbed Thomas who despite being confused still allowed him to bear weight upon his shoulders. 

"Elsa!" He called, both Honeymaren and Yelena rushed to him. 

"I was with okay umm- so I have been looking for days I don't know what happened but I've been riding for days hence- hence the name Ryder I guess but anyways-" he sputtered as his audience grasped at some semblance of sense. "But anyways I've been looking for Ryu for days! And she just vani- oh hey Ryu." 

The dragon groggily nodded mumbling. "What you want?"

"She vanished for days-" all mouths went agape at the instant recognition that flashed in the young herder's eyes until he too turned to the girl who appeared next to him pointing. "What? Wha-wha?" So he wouldn't out the entire situation Honeymaren snatched him up by the nape to Yelana grumbling quiet and sometimes passionate words. 

From the distance he could be seen pointing at Anna, Kristoff, Elsa, Ryu in disbelief... The consort joined them solidifying Honeymaren's support before returning.

"What's going on over there Kristoff?

"I dunno." 

Elsa stared then patted Nokk's rump gently as he grew to be more impatient pulling Ryu back up with her. 

Ryder returned to the small circle pale and tired it almost made Ryu feel guilty. Almost. 

"I think I need a drink... Not the fermented honey kind of drink." He whined as his sister patted his back a bit too hard for his liking. 

Sven puffing out his chest approached Emil while conveniently waving his head. He warbled a greeting which went seemingly unnoticed by the female who busied herself searching among the cobblestone for loose grain left by any other mounts. 

When he turned to Kristoff helplessly the man at that moment regretted keeping the education of Mating a mystery to both of them. He stuttered turning to Anna. She shrugged just as clueless. "Throw her off a cliff?"

"I didn't throw you we fell." Kristoff reminded. 

"Uh-oh look out Anna there's a new power couple in Arendelle." She guffawed at this leaning on Elsa's leg. 

"As charming as Kristoff is I don't think he's Emil's type." She then turned serious when facing Elsa. "Remember your promise." Elsa smiled affectionately and kissed her head. 

"I'll never forget it, darling." Her face instantly changed when Ryu leaned down and also placed a kiss atop her head.

Elsa chuckled, she had talked to Ryu about getting along with Anna that morning. It wasn't exactly what she had in mind but it was a start. 

During the ride Olaf kept Ryu awake talking about anything that seemed to cross his mind and despite being tired she humoured him most times reaching excellent concluding parts only for the snowman to throw a log into the discussion keeping the dragon on her toes. 

Whenever the conversation would turn nonsensical she found herself inescapably drawing in. 

"So if you're so warm why aren't doctor's using that to treat hypothermia or at least prevent it?"

"Well because some people are afraid of me?" 

"Why?" 

"Because I'm scary to them."

"But they don't know you yet so how can you be scary to them?"

"I don't know Olaf, I guess cause I'm different. Some people would be afraid you." 

"That's very sad then since they don't know me, I'd be a great friend to them." 

"I truly believe you would be." 

"Ryu?"

"Yes I've heard there are different types of teas around the world and they all seem warm and nice-"

"Do not get me started." 

And so the great tea debate began Elsa could hold a foot in the race, she was fond of alot of them but from the way Ryu had described the difference between English and Asian teas she began to doubt her stance on it. When trying to ask the difference between Mid-Eastern and Eastern tea Ryu had been silently plucked from Nokk's back which should have caused panic but to see the earth giants treat her so fondly as one would a small kitten as they rubbed her chin and back while she purred it had been errant they had already made acquaintances and recognized her even in this more human like body. It made Elsa feel foolish for being so oblivious to when She had met Cherry. 

"It is really no worry Erusa-" but Elsa apologized again having seen the observant nature Ryu had while they explored her home. Olaf had gone off to walk the earth spirits to their favorite resting spots promising to return for dinner. 

Had she really not invited the dragon in since she had known her?

Elsa felt as if she had snubbed her new friend, but Ryu made no point in shedding light to this. The worries were abandoned as Elsa explained certain books and art pieces she had collected in time. 

"Oh that was a gift from Andulsian king and oh! That one was from a small girl named Ingrid she drew that for me two years ago." 

"This one is my favorite Anna painted it for me. " Every single one had its own place and purpose, even the plants Elsa had named affectionately. At some point Ryu could have sworn that each fauna had it's own personality. 

Elsa would have normally felt silly yet with how interested Ryu was in every piece of her home even the furniture asking for explanations it felt...

"And what tuh- is this one's name?" She'd ask while holding up a small budding flower pot.

"Where'd this one come from? They gave it to you? For free? Why? Oh- good." 

When they finally reached her office Ryu's eyes dilated as they absorbed all the titles, some translations of books she had seen before while others-

"Oh that isn't a published work- I wrote that or am writing it." Elsa said impishly to a notebook Ryu held in a delicate grip. 

"Would you prefer me to not look?" She asked gently but Elsa shook her head turning to face her desk listening carefully as Ryu turned the pages. 

"You should publish this." Her gaze turned upward towards the dragon still pursing the words on the pages. 

"Really?" She whispered. 

"Mhm. Although I would put a pun to make it fun for the reader a bit more in- in context of the chapter eh- I have seen this plant before-" Elsa looked to see the fly traps she had written about not by experience but from another book she had explored herself. 

"I had no idea that it was eating bugs I thought it was trying to eat me-" Ryu now chuckled at the absurdity of the notion. "I - after seeing them I always looked where I sat in the forest." 

Elsa chuckled joining her closer over the book. "It is all very clinical the way you describe them but with plants that I saw downstairs you speak of them as if they are people. That is normal but it would be very good book if you describe them all like that. Personal to help eh the reader." 

She nodded and admitted to herself she didn't even noticed the differences in definitions. "Have you encountered alot of plants and habitats?"

Ryu nodded. "And animals although ya odd enough you probably know more about them and what they are called then I do. Hmm-" she closed the book and put it on the desk. "Good " A tiny breath skipped as Elsa thought of the travels and things Ryu had probably encountered in her life.

"Again I am sorry I would have prepared more-"

"You apologize so much it is okay- is fine to me food is food and welcomed whenever possible." Elsa thought on this while she set the table and Ryu politely stood aside and even offered to help but after one decline she ceased asking. Olaf took his place at the round table where he often did and even managed to bring Elsa to laughter multiple times till they began speaking of Ryu's travels. She didn't make show of the struggle she had with the utensils and Elsa made certain to not ask why. 

Even with the little sauce that she could provide the dragon ate politely, and quickly save for the slight slurping from her bowl. She cleaned her plates both times making it clear that even if she was not fond of Elsa's vegetable mix she was grateful, such a juxtaposition to Elsa's food offerings when they had first met. 

As Elsa recalled this smiling she continued watching quietly as Olaf and Ryu spoke while Bruni and Gale teased Nokk. 

At the end of the meal she said with a slight bow Gochisousama-deshita which Elsa could only accept as thanks. It brought her back to when Anna would report how much the girl would bow when assuming her Cherry alias and even after that. 

"I brought you auh- teacup." Elsa guffawed at the offer but upon seeing Ryu's sincerity couldn't help not to decline. 

"I didn't know we were bringing gifts."

"Mm no you have eaten here before." Ryu assured which didn't put the disgruntled snowman at rest. They played a game of hide the object which Elsa excelled at. Olaf would hide the hidden object while they searched for it diligently which Olaf would fascinate Ryu with either random or specific facts. 

It was becoming obvious that Olaf was much easier to conversate with when they went outside to gaze at the stars together. Elsa rested her head on Nokk while Bruni jumped back and forth between the stomachs of Ryu and Olaf. 

"I mean isn't it crazy to see something we have no idea about and just make up stories to explain it?"

Ryu chuckled. "A human trait I'm sure of." 

"What do you mean?" Elsa dreaded the answer of humans fear of the unknown, yes they had a fear of that which even she shared at some times. 

"Well you don't have answers for things so you make them- don't know how we all got here boom religion explains it all- and even after learning from the wrong answers it's - some move on and accept change and some don't but that's okay-" Was it okay? "You can see it from now that you move on whether others wish for us to or not you still do and that is which drives and inspires people to come up with new answers that make sense and make life better."

"Is that how you feel? " Even though the question had not been her own it puzzled her. Elsa could see how humans lost their sense of wonder, magic and wondered if it was the better route or if there was possibility for a balance. 

"If my kind vanishing from the world means it gets better than yes. Yes I do." Was it the pain in the way Ryu's voice cracked or from the very notion itself Elsa couldn't tell. She could only be happy that she was here before the magic of world had ceased to be. 

"I still cannot believe you drink that!" 

Ryu snorted careful to not spill her warm water on Elsa's couch. 

The owner defended herself sounding a bit more frantic than usual having the fatigue of the day setting in and staying up past her usual bed time. 

"It's comforting for me, besides you eat foods that incorporate it!"

Ryu huffed taking another sip. "Yes but I don't have to see it or taste it, why drink the milk of other baby animals? Don't you assert enough dominance of the earth? Why don't you collect human milk?" The notion painted a pink tinge on Elsa's cheeks. 

"I don't think it's about that I think it just tastes good?"

"I've tasted it and it is not good without help." Elsa soon challenged her on things that tasted bad but then good by Japanese stance of cooking but found none. And soon they began the badinage of Ryu's past again. 

" -and there would just be thousands and thousands of colors and fish I did not know what to do with myself. I stayed there for as long I could." The vaste listings of colors, sponges and aquatic life reminded Elsa of dream she had and when Ryu told of the predators or dangers of said place her pulse quickened- Ryu being the natural raconteur that she was kept her single audience member clinging to every word. 

When she brought up the beavers that had duck bills and who laid eggs with a poisonous touch Elsa recalled seeing an exhibit of such animals and suddenly dragons seemed the less mythical to her. 

"To see one in person I could not imagine it would probably make you doubt what is and isn't possible."

"I think you could. They seem less magical when you are on a bank fighting for your life because of its deadly nature..." Elsa side eyed her companion. 

That seems very specific.

"God imagine what we could fill books up with you and I-" Ryu agreed with a half smile while they both pontificated the ideas that bounced back in forth with conversation.

Some questions Ryu obviously deflected asking her own instead. 

"So-" she began quietly glancing away at the carpet. "Ahto-mm damn it the big glacier is like a library place- thing where you spy on people?" Elsa's cheeks billowed as she chuckled softly. 

"No, it's kind of hard to explain but remember that story I told you of when I was twenty four." Ryu nodded. "Well Ahtohallan is the source, almost like a mother-" her words caught slightly hitching her tone up. "A mother of sorts to all of the spirits and our magic and the magic of Arendelle and Northundra, the rock valley, all of it." Ryu could hear the sadness in Elsa's tone shift towards more a reverence as she spoke of the river. It was peculiar, she always saw Elsa as the mother of forest and other spirits but as she watched her and Gale tease Bruni with snowflakes she could now consider that instead of a mother Elsa was more of older sister to all of them well experienced in the role naturally. 

"I mean I mostly go there to visit or for guidance or for very important answers. I don't use it to spy on people. Besides they only show me the past sometimes to learn for the future." 

Ryu gulped harshly and took a shakey breath. Noting her rising anxiety Bruni crawled up her shoulder and nuzzled his face into her hard scales, nipping at a loose one. 

"They probably wouldn't show me yours-" Elsa added attempting to make it seem as an after thought. "Only events that have transpired in the waters that pass through are shown." For a split second Ryu felt a tad bit of relief until the very idea that she herself had lived in the seas near and bordering Arendelle for a few months rose back to the forefront of her memory. Still she was certain Elsa wouldn't pry without her consent. 

She stared at the grinning spirit who was slowly looking through a large tomb. 

She had spied on me before, but that was before she knew it was me... Still.

Ryu exhaled heavily, closing her eyes and only opening them when Elsa carefully scooted closer sharing a view of the book. For some reason the artwork didn't thrill her as much as Elsa. The Eastern words and designs poked small needles into her brain till they reached the nerves of memories Ryu would prefer to keep buried. 

 "Do you like it?" She asked. How could Ryu say no when Elsa's expression looked so buoyant- with her big blue eyes? 

"I do yea umm just uh I don't know much about dragons except what I've told you and you don't agree so I won't be of much help." Elsa would not be deterred on the matter though. Her face set to a firm and gentle expression. 

"Well we can compare and contrast ideas and research of course-" she placed notes of various notebooks and papers upon the coffee table in front of them. She organized them as Ryu's stare fell upon a small brown notebook. "May I touch?" Elsa although engrossed nodded humming. 

Ryu flipped through the book. It was numerous notes and sketches of herself! The various body parts- some in detail and some vague. When Elsa finally faced her she cleared her throat wringing her hands together. 

"I apologize for that I probably should have asked first." Ryu leaning back titled her head to rest on the couch cushion. 

"You can draw whatever you like." She murmured, in her life she had never heard of someone needing permission to draw someone else. 

Whether Elsa took it as her pointing out common sense or giving her permission to continue she didn't know. 

Reading and listening to Elsa go over some of details about Eastern dragons stirred many ingredients into Ryu's pot of cantankerous emotions. She hated it. None of them made any sense. 

Jealousy over their power and those that loved them? What did it matter they were dead now. 

A small sense of security that not every single member of her race was a monster? Mute ideals, the only one now left was a monster.

Anger that the humans killed them and those reasons weren't specified? Humans killed everything that walked or breathed even things that didn't. 

Or fear- if Dragons so powerful in their prime who banned together did not stand a chance, what hope did barely past being a fledgling stand on her own, alone in a world full of them. 

That feeling was the worst one, a baby chick trapped in a den of foxes and yet she had always been told she was the monster and for the most part believed it, where monsters ever afraid of their quarry? Were human's the heros in her story and she the villainous coward? 

Navigating some the information was to say the least extremely difficult, silent the entire time Ryu was immensely uncomfortable. Her shifting eyes and hard scales that twitched ever so slightly, to tightly tucking her limbs underneath her body as best she could. It reminded Elsa of a small hedgehog which would curl into a spikey ball of protection. 

Ryu was trying to reign in her emotions but they were coming off her like fumes- It was like smelling the heavy grey clouds before the storm arrived- Elsa considered the book- she did not want to ever indirectly make Ryu feel threatened especially in her home but when Elsa would tip toe or skip a passage she was told to read it. 

It was only when Ryu changed the topic to coral reefs as they spoke of the elements, specifically water, that Elsa goaded her on to try and draw it to lighten the mood but they discovered... Ryu was terrible at drawing. 

When she drew a particular creature Elsa slowly closed her eyes failing at hiding back a smile. The deviant grin meant the perverted design wasn't lost to Ryu either. She leaned back snickering then after a brief pause mumbled. 

"God is a pervert." Finally Elsa's chest let loose the laughter it had been trying to retain. She rubbed her face groaning. "Are humans related to starfish?" Gale finding delight in the now lifted spirit twisted in the living room. Already prepared for the sylph Elsa placed the weighted coasters she kept for such an occasion on their paperwork. 

"Seems the starfish are the ones wining if that is the case. Look at the size." 

Both their hands landed on the notebook when they dared to look up at each other. 

"Mine." Ryu stated gripping the notebook tighter. Still smiling Elsa shook her head. "No that's mine."

"You said I could have it." Bruni sided with Ryu's peccadillo ownership over the book. 

"No I didn't. I said you could use it."

"Haaaaveh."

"Uuuuuse." 

"Huse."

Elsa lost her composure now, her laugh sounding like an old man wheezing, Ryu wouldn't tease her though still recovering from embarrassment of 'Huse.'

Finally calm Elsa looked her in the eye and gave her own contribution to their blarney. "Uave." 

"Mine was better." Ryu giggled.

"Oh my goodness I think the time is getting to us, I don't usually stay up past nine-thirty." It was Eleven. 

"No, I do not sleep at night I'm just like this." 

"Still-" Elsa states standing to clean up the notes. "You haven't slept well yesterday or today so maybe some rest would be good for you." She turned to Ryu brows lifting. "No?

After considering Ryu leapt to her feet. "Okay." 

In Elsa room she searched for a gown or shirt that would fit the dragon. 

Finding one she turned to spot Ryu pushing against her bed. 

"I've never slept on bed before I got hurt." Elsa held the dress allowing her to explore a bit more until she came across Elsa's friend. 

She reached out and touched his cheek gently. "Allo." 

"That's Sir Jorgenbjorgen." Elsa reminisced how he would listen to her talk about anything and everything when she was isolated growing up. 

"Hello Sir... Borgus smor-' slowly looking to Elsa who shaking her head sympathetic. "He also goes by Sir." He didn't but for Ryu he could. Picking him up Elsa sat on the edge cuing for Ryu to as well handing her the small puffin. 

Tenderly she caressed his features and glove cape. Elsa saw how her nostrils flared as she leant her face closer to him subtly scenting him. 

"He winking at me." Ryu tilted her head. Elsa chuckled waiting till she gave him back to her. 

At first she was a bit embarrassed by having Ryu see something so sophomoric in her room but that worry had long been gone and as Ryu dressed Elsa wondering if she had gone nose blind brought the puffin up to her nose and inhaled deeply smelling nothing but comfort and herself. 

Once dressed Ryu trailed Elsa to the room across and watched as she made the bed so deliberately she wondered if all humans or at least most performed the task and how important was it. 

"Well I know you aren't going to sleep but... Goodnight Ryu." Ryu just watched her as if the words traveled at a much slower pace then they were spoken at. Elsa held her eyes in her own nothing but the blood rushing through her ears, her heart beat joining her body's symphony when Ryu smiled contently. 

"Goodnight Erusa." 

As much as she wanted to slam the door that would have been an overreaction, Elsa was sure. The moment, though happening only seconds ago, replayed over and over again. How Elsa practically ran out the room to her own felt so childish. 

Her head rested back against the door. What was that? Curiosity of one another? 

From Ryu's stories it seemed she was just as curious of humans as Elsa was of her from the limited contact she had with them. Most likely curiosity on her part but Elsa's...

This seemed to do nothing to comfort her. Sitting upon her bed after getting ready she glanced at the book sitting atop her night stand. Laying back she propped Sir Jorgenbjorgen on her lap in the crook of her arm and attempted to read. 

The words all muddled together not making any sense even when Elsa could register them she retained nothing. Giving up she laid down pricking absently at her stuffed friend's hairs. 

All the days events and words Elsa dosed recounting. Bruni watched when he finally arrived back at Elsa's magic manifest her dreams, some of the images like Ryu and himself and Anna made sense but other confusing shapes that wafted anxiously in the air made his head tilt. 

Her fizzing fingertips brought Elsa back to the woken world she shot upright seeing the results of her dreams. That was odd... She usually didn't get so restless in her sleep for her magic to act upon its own accord, at least not since she was child. She decided to throw on her robe and check on Ryu. 

As quietly as she could she cracked open the door to see Ryu's bed was empty. Swallowing she slowly pulled away standing in the dark hallway. What was going on with her emotions lately? It wasn't an absurd thing Ryu was creature of a the night of course she wasn't in bed. 

A sweet creature. 

"I just need to get a grip-" light stretched itself from under her office door illuminating a small portion of the hall. 

Peaking in Elsa hoped she didn't cause too much of a commotion. 

Ryu was sitting at her desk pouring over her fauna book she had written. Elsa's chest tightened causing her heart to beat against its restriction defiantly as if it wanted dance. As she went back down the hall to her room she enveloped Sir Jorgenbjorgen in a giant hug, and her grin was kept all throughout the night even as she slept. 

Chapter Text

"Be sure to let me know how it goes?" 

"And any intel we can share with the village about Ryu..." Yelena interrupted before Elsa could answer as she packed the fish and other ingredients into a pack. 

Elsa looked up and smiled smally. "Of course." 

"Can you even begin to think about the possibilities this could bring!" Elsa chuckled at Honeymaren's enthusiasm. "I mean Elsa we've probably seen more than most people around the world, magic, spirits, you-" her hands grandly gestured to Elsa bringing a blush to her cheeks. "- and now dragons! I've been doing some reading and I don't think any other place has such a plethora of wonders." 

Elsa couldn't open her mouth to agree before the less jovial Yelena interjected. "All the more reason we must proceed with caution. I have seen the greed of humans and what it is capable of. A greed so great that they would sooner destroy something precious if they cannot contain it for themselves. Even now Elsa's life is being threatened and by extension the balance of the bridge." She shared a glance between them. 

"Besides reading, have you had any reports back from your warriors Honeymaren?" 

"No, but we're still scouring every inch of the forest, the beach is next on our list."

"Now it is imperative that we must focus on protecting our people, our home and each other. We will keep any new developments small and to ourselves." The last part was spoken in a hushed tone. 

Both young women bowed their heads respectively. Yelena gave an acknowledging grunt and left them when a hunter beckoned her away to the large communal goahti. 

Elsa appreciated both efforts and thoughts from Honeymaren and Yelena although the motivations seemed mildly different. While they both share similar temperaments and ideals Honeymaren had always been more in touch emotionally in her endeavors, her heart was incredibly strong. 

The mind and heart both have their strengths and weaknesses, do not favor one over the other. 

"Would you like to join me when I introduce Grand Pabbie and Bulda to Ryu?" The question came fast and unsuspected by both of them. Elsa wasn't entirely certain why it had crossed her mind. Maybe it was the way Honeymaren tensed up when Yelena spoke, or the way her eyes became crestfallen when she was asked of any reports to share, either way Elsa had a feeling she could use a break from her duties for the day. It wasn't as if it wouldn't be conducive. 

While Honeymaren debated silently what answer to give Elsa reasoned with her sense of duty by stating. "It would be best if both of us heard and were educated by Grand Pabbie about dragons... To share with everyone." 

That seemed to do the trick as Honeymaren let out a loud and sharp whistle. Soon Erin trotted over to them nuzzling his nose against Honeymaren's chest

"Ready when you are." She smiled at Elsa's ice knapsack then looked over at Nokk. 

"And maybe we can take some of those supplies off you two." 

Elsa relaxed somewhat atop of Nokk with the morning fog spreading beneath his hooves as Erin easily kept up. She glanced back at them and wiggled her fingers creating small snowflakes which fluttered into Erin and Honeymaren's noses. She wiped away the itch with her tunic sleeve and playfully glared at the spirit. "That's enough of that." 

Elsa laughed watching as Honeymaren bent down and scratched Erin's nose. 

Yes she was certain that Honeymaren would make an amazing successor for when Yelena retired... If she ever did retire. 

She also couldn't wait for the time when both Northundra and Arendelle could accept the dragon and Ryu could soar through the skies to her heart's content. 

And as she rode back to her cottage those thoughts are what she used to wash away the grim anxiety of Grand Pabbie and Bulda's arrival. She'd meet them at noon Gale informed them based on their route they had taken. 

The cross road of telling them of the attempt made upon her life was easily resolved, they could use all the help they could get and the wise trolls would be a powerful asset with their immense knowledge and surprising worldliness. 

Still... She knew it would be disappointing to them that a precious rarity as the Dragens lys was involved heavily in murder conspiracies.

"So-" Honeymaren poked her head in curiously. "Where is she?" 

Elsa hummed, resting the supplies down on the counters. "Probably still sleeping. Hungry?" Honeymaren shook her head but slowly stopped when Elsa raised her eyebrows and began unpacking. 

"-I could probably eat again." She mumbled quickly to which Elsa nodded, satisfied knowing the girl had skipped breakfast. 

While she cooked Honeymaren wandered around until she made her way back to the kitchen. The silence was telling and after thanking Bruni for lighting the stove she faced Honeymaren. 

"Do you have anyone you can talk to about it?" At first Honeymaren's expression was nothing but caught off guard and perplexed. 

"Huh?" Elsa drew in closer, pouring her a cup of tea.  

"Your worries. They aren't the same ones are they?" Sighing Honeymaren took a sip and shook her head. 

"No you were right I can't and shouldn't force Ryder into becoming someone's he's not thinking it would make him better. He's already great- albeit eccentric- but great all on his own and shouldn't be molded into who I think he should be." The spirit's cocked brow only brought a new layer of confusion.

"What?" 

Turning back to the eggs stirring them up Elsa thought of how to proceed. "Have you tried applying that same standard to yourself as well?" Honeymaren pursed her lips together focusing on her cup of tea. "Yelana has done an excellent job in training you everyone can see that but- but you aren't her, and you try very hard to complete your responsibilities as if you were and it stresses you out." Grabbing the plates Honeymaren held them as Elsa loaded some eggs and fish onto them. "There are some traits that leaders can share but what makes them amazing leaders is they themselves-" placing the plates down she gripped Honeymaren's hand sharing a mutual gaze. " And Honeymaren you are remarkable just as you are." 

For a few moments the younger woman choked down some emotion as she hugged Elsa tightly. Recovered, her smile shifted to a smirk. "You're a bit of a hypocrite, you know that?"

Elsa balked, pulling away to pick up the plates. Playfully scoffing she says in a haughty tone. "I have no idea what you are talking about." She rolled her eyes at the coy 'Uhuh.' Following her up the stairs into the guest bedroom. 

"Whoa Elsa is this where you keep your dirty laundry?" The spirit shook her head as she examined the large pile of linens, towels, and blankets alike atop the bed. 

The giant heap seemed to be moving steadily... No, it was breathing.

The small fat of a gray tail was poking out not giving any clue as to where it began and ended. 

Honeymaren watched as Elsa scratched the scales, making them twitch, tightening, and stretching much like the hide of a snake, until the annoyance was put to an end as it tucked in. 

A low grumble mewled. After three minutes of attempting to pull and yank at the pile to awaken the dragon all efforts came out fruitless. It was a well known fact to Elsa that if Ryu did not want to do something she wouldn't and negotiations were tough if one didn't know the proper bargaining tools. 

"Here..." Said Elsa, grabbing the plate of laks og eggerøre. She held a piece of laks in front of the pile. A little wiggle here and some shifting there. 

A light gray muzzle rooted its way out an opening of the blankets. The nostrils flared in a deep inhale. Her mouth opened as if to eat the smell. 

Honeymaren covered her chuckles with her hand while the dragon gently maneuvered towards the fish which Elsa mercifully gave, smiling as she chomped on it.

A large head followed wrapped in the blanket. 

"Good morning Ryu." Elsa states softly. Ryu's irises slitted from the sunlight filtering in through the window. Clearing away some of the blankets Elsa placed the plate in front her. 

The smell even drew out groggy Bruni whom Elsa was not expecting to be in the pile as well. 

"Anyone else in there?" Honeymaren jested lifting some of the sheets. 

Noticing Bruni's attention on her food Ryu glanced between him and the plate, offering a bit of egg which he chewed curiously. 

Honeymaren sank into a chair against the wall while Elsa created her own to sit beside her. Ryu didn't pay much attention to the conversation as she juggled eating and observing Honeymaren closely, deciding she didn't mind her either much like her brother, though Ryu could say that she was more impartial to Ryder. Honeymaren and Elsa seemed to share an understanding for one another as well as similar interests, one key difference between them was noticeable right away. Honeymaren seemed much more brazen than Elsa which could be alarming at times, but she had an understanding for the mystical and occult though and from the bits Ryu picked up held a respect for said subjects. 

"So need any help dolling her up for the trolls?" Ryu's stubby tendrils pricked up at this. 

Elsa mulled over the idea and after sharing a quick expression with Ryu nodded. 

"Probably."

"Well-" Honeymaren rose, collecting the plates. "Let's get to it then shall we!" 

Ryu being the least unenthusiastic of the three tried to burrow her way back into the comfy nest she had constructed but was intercepted by Elsa throwing the blanket off. 

"Oh no you don't!" Elsa chastised, shaking her head at the growl she received in reply. 

"Ryu we have two hours according to Gale to prepare you for the visit." She told her. 

Still this did nothing to raise the dragon's disposition. So she sulked, she knew of the visit and had been dreading it everyday since. One part of her feeling overjoyed to know more of her own kind and the other part feeling very self conscious of meeting dragon experts knowing she herself was a disappointment having been told by her previous household. It was much better being surrounded by those ignorant to what she was, she wasn't the grand and terrifying beast of old but rather a caricature and now she had to represent her entire species. 

What would they tell Elsa? That she managed to save and find the shadow of what dragons once were? Would she be disappointed? 

"Hey-" Elsa says a bit more gently, her palms cupping Ryu's muzzle rubbing her thumbs the way she knew relaxed the dragon. "There is nothing to be worried about. I know it's a lot of pressure but I like to think I have impeccable judgment-" she giggled then smoothed Ryu's mane from her eyes. "They'll be in awe of you." 

Sighing Ryu retreated into the blankets and Elsa watched as the sizable lump grew smaller and smaller. Changing had become easier the more she did it, not as painful but more so uncomfortable tucking herself into a smaller body till everything was secure and in place. 

Elsa yelped as Ryu bursted out from the nest starkly nude. Covering her eyes Elsa carefully wafted her hand and used the quick memory of Ryu's form to cover her in a long tunic. 

Elsa's cheeks were so red she'd felt as if she'd expire from the inexplicable embarrassment. Warm hands pulled at her wrists to see Ryu frowning and cocking her head. "You okay?" 

"Yes I am!" It was a louder octave than what was necessary, either Ryu didn't notice or she simply didn't care. 

"Good." She said curtly. They both turned to Honeymaren calling in the hall. 

"Elsa!" She entered the room once more. "I couldn't find any towels- oh that's right they're all on the bed." 

With the towels gathered Elsa and Honeymaren managed to warm a bath up for Ryu as she hovered over them inquisitively as they filled the tub with a eucalyptus and other fresh smelling concoctions. 

"Alright hop on in-" Honeymaren made work of the ice tunic pulling it over Ryu's head, Elsa looked away. She was clearly more prudent of nudity than either of them and only turned back around when she was sure Ryu's form was obscured by the bubbles. 

Honeymaren removed her hands from the situation when Ryu growled at their aid, she held them up in surrender and was content to just sit back and pontificate the small scales littering her neck and shoulders. She left after a while to retrieve some clothes Elsa said that were in her wardrobe. 

When Elsa took a comb to her hair she frowned glancing at Ryu as she taste tested the bubbles. Gripping the ends to not hurt the girl, the comb still did not want to go through the wetted curls. 

"Ryu?" 

"Yesu?" 

"How do you usually comb your hair?"

"I don't." The clanking of the comb hitting the ground turned her around, gripping the sides of the tub to lean over. Ryu reached down and handed it back to Elsa before turning around. 

With it back in her hand Elsa found her voice again. "Why ever not?" 

Ryu shrugged. "Never needed to plus it hurts." Elsa smiled sadly at the wispy light blue and pink locks. 

"Well the more you do it the less it will hurt, if your hair tangles it can fall out." She flicked her wrist and disposed of the ice comb replacing its teeth with her fingers instead. 

A constant purr rumbled through Ryu's throat and chest as the soft fingers worked their way through the knots, sometimes it smarted but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle, the pleasure definitely outweighed the pain in this instance. 

"Why does that matter?" Her voice shook. 

It was sad, the young woman was deprived of a lot of things that much was certain, but to be deprived of basic self care Elsa just simply could not wrap her head around. It made her feel a bitterness towards Ryu's household she had been raised in. 

"It'd be a shame if your hair fell out- you have such pretty hair." This heightened the volume of Ryu's purr as she closed her eyes leaning further into the touch.

Messaging deeper revealed she had more prominent scales all over the entirety of her scalp. Some fell out easily which was alarming but somewhat expected. 

Honeymaren retrieved a simple white cotton dress for Ryu to wear and despite the expectancy of protest she wore it.

"I look like a lilly." Honeymaren agreed and Elsa nodded. They probably would have to remind her to take it off before changing bodies though. 

"Or like a snowflake cause of how light your hair is." Honeymaren ruffled Ryu's curls causing her to purr for a couple of seconds. 

Olaf had joined them for their walk to the meadow where Grand Pabbie and Bulda would meet them but before entering Honeymaren and Olaf gave Ryu some tips on how to present herself. 

"Give a little flourish-" Ryu folded her head tendrils sideways. "After all they haven't seen a dragon in- how long, Elsa?" 

"Centuries." She replied quietly.

Honeymaren's stare lingered a bit longer on the woman before smiling at Olaf and Ryu. 

"Olaf, why don't you show Ryu some good twirling effects." 

"Ah! Come here watch carefully, it's not as easy as it looks- actually let's do it in the sun come on!" The snowman cheered, leading Ryu a small distance away. 

"Hey-" Elsa turned to Honeymaren's concerned face. "What's going on in that head of yours?" 

Elsa opened her lips a few moments before she could speak. "I- just a little nervous is all." Honeymaren's mouth pressed together disapprovingly. 

"Elsa..."

"I just, I already feel as if I failed." She breathed out. "I was supposed to keep Ryu safe and healthy and I- I did the opposite." 

"Well not really, the opposite of that would have been... Mm not good. You did the best you could-"

"And it still wasn't enough, it's like I'm a sundial for danger." 

"Or life happens and happens to all of us quite fast, I've seen the way she is with you Elsa. She doesn't trust easily cause she's been hurt but she trusts you- do you trust her?" Elsa nodded. 

"Then trust that she trusts you, besides she seems a good judge of character." They both glanced over. 

Ryu twirled in place her paws tapping the ground like a ballerina to the claps and cheers of Olaf. 

"Elsa! Olaf! Honeymaren! It is a great pleasure to see you all again." Grand Pabbie cheered as they approached the trolls. Bulda gave everyone a long and strong hug- careful to not crush Olaf's snowy physique. 

"It's an honor to meet you both again." Honeymaren respectively bowed. 

"We haven't seen you since last year, please sweetie don't be a stranger." 

Elsa grinned at Bulda's repetitive saying. They chatted idly, catching up before Honeymaren bumped Elsa's elbow with her own. 

It was time. 

"Oh right yes umm-" she coughed into a closed fist. 

"Grand Pabbie, Bulda-" They gave their full attention. 

"Allow me to present to you-" they all were excited, no one more than Olaf who could not contain his joy interrupted Elsa with a sing-song voice. 

"The Dragen Lys!" His stick arms waved to the sky. 

Elsa awkwardly recovered. "Well... Yeah." Honeymaren clamped her shoulder giving it a little shake. 

A roar tore through the air followed by a swift shadow that passed over them. Bulda squealed, holding her fist up to her mouth. Grand Pabbie's face remained neutral but more enthused than normal. 

Ryu twirled in the air wrapping her wing round herself and dove towards the ground, landing with a cat-like grace displacing some grass and dust around her large frame. Her tail loosely curled around her legs. She performed the twirl she and Olaf practiced ending the show with a loud guttural roar. 

To Honeymaren it was reminiscent of an eagle cry, and bear growl. 

Elsa lips split in a grin and chest filled with pride from the awed expressions of the trolls at the regal specimen she presented before them. 

They stood still allowing the trolls to take in the sight before them. Bulda wiped away a few tears clasping Grand Pabbie's hand which rested upon her arm. 

"Allow me to introduce you formally please." Elsa spoke up walking to Ryu. She petted down from her head to her muzzle locking eyes with Ryu.

"Ready?" It felt as if there were no other options for Ryu but to match Elsa's determined gaze with her own. She chortled low and deep. 

Turning back she followed Elsa to the others slowly as they watched her every move. 

"Grand Pabbie, Bulda this is-" Elsa hesitated for a moment. Would they judge the name chosen for Ryu? Her hand flattened against Ryu's hard neck. Strong and resilient. If Ryu could face the trolls with such Elegance and stunning composure, so could she. 

Besides, Ryu liked her name so what others thought of it did not matter. 

"This is Ryu." Grand Pabbie confidently approached gripping his staff. He bowed his head to the dragon. "It is an honor and blessing to make your acquaintance."

Ryu mimicked the gesture to him and Bulda. Elsa noticed the trolls made no move to touch the dragon. 

Eventually they settled into each other's presence as Elsa retold the events that transpired the past few weeks. The trolls listened and simultaneously kept attention on Ryu as well. 

When they sat on the grass Ryu laid behind Elsa wrapping her tail in front the two of them lazily. 

Honeymaren had to admit the goofy and stubborn dragon looked nothing short of royalty with her head held high, shoulders straight and forepaws crossed. She welcomed Olaf to sit in her lap as she reclined against the tree shading them. 

When Elsa approached the assassination attempt portion of the story she had began to stammer a small bit to her mortification. Ryu twisted her head to face the spirit warbling at her softly. Shifting somewhat her chest pressed to Elsa's shoulder putting them at the perfect height for the top of Elsa's head to tuck snuggly into the crook of Ryu's neck and chin. 

The trolls soaked up the interaction as well as Elsa's words. "Can they see it?" Elsa asked, looking up at Ryu. The dragon growled cementing herself into the grass, she had no intention of showing anyone her caved in scales, why did they have to see it? They could take Elsa's word for it. 

"This does complicate things immensely." Grand Pabbie mused scratching his chin. "We will help you with this matter as best as we can, Elsa." 

Elsa let out a held breath in relief. "Remarkable isn't it Pabbie?" Bulda chirped, shaking his arm. 

"Now onto the reason for our visit. It would seem Ryu is not exactly a Western dragon." Elsa glanced at her. 

"And she does not look like any eastern dragon's I've seen before either." 

How could she be neither? 

"She does share qualities with both however."

"Like-" Honeymaren goaded on. 

"Like her coloration-" Bulda said. Ryu regarded herself. "Western dragons tend to be more dramatic and darker in colors, richer you could say while Eastern dragons are more lighter and pastel, glittery." She fluttered her fingers in effect. 

Elsa began noting down the information. 

"And she has fire breath?" 

"Oh yes, she's quite enamored with fire actually." Ryu impishly looked away from Honeymaren's suggestive tone. She did at least help clean up the dungeon fire, but she had a sneaking suspicion the woman would never let her live it down. 

"A Western dragon trait! But her features and scales are much, much more smoother than dragons of the west, almost slipstream as if she were built for the water." Elsa grinned she hadn't caught herself till it was too late, she was already affectionately nuzzling into Ryu's chest thinking of the lavender back in Arendelle. 

My little Gyakusetsu.

"Oh and think of all the temples that are possible to visit now!" Bulda's exclamation was met with Grand Pabbie's caution. 

"Dragons had temples?" Elsa asks. 

"Indeed, dragon temples have been lost to the world since their mass murderers, only a dragon has access to such places, most are underground or hidden within mountains."

Bulda cut in."They were places of communion, and guidance. Hatchlings, chicks, fledglings, and even primed dragons within the community would gather there for social events, guidance and teachings provided by elders and later during the war for refuge." 

"However-" he shot her a warning glance. "They are unstable and dangerous now without upkeep. Many humans have lost their lives searching, hoping to find treasures and riches when the famed lies of dragon hoards were believed." The meaning was not lost to them, there would be no visits to such places. 

"Grand Pabbie please reconsider, such a place could answer so many questions for us, for Ryu- it's a part of her heritage."

The troll looked remorseful at this. "I'm afraid even for a fledgling like Ryu-" Elsa made an awkward face. Ryu was a fledgling? She'd need more elaboration on that later. 

"Such a visit could be dangerous. The dragons may be gone but their magic still dwells in the temples, unruly, and untamed. It is best to not disturb them."

Elsa's shoulders slacked, she looked to Ryu who was staring down the troll defiantly. She had seen the expression before. Ryu did not really pay heed to authority and she wasn't going to start now. 

"And she loves flowers, and water, excellent swimmer-" 

They listened while walking back to Elsa's cottage as Olaf lamented facts about Ryu for the trolls' information. Grand Pabbie and Bulda could only stay for three days, but during that time they'd trade off as much intel as possible and now it was Olaf's turn to contribute. 

"What in the world!" Honeymaren exclaimed seeing one of her troops standing sentry outside of Elsa's house. One of the windows was broken and the door was ajar. 

The group rushed forward to the man holding a spear. 

"What's going on here Juffe?" Ryu brushed past them sniffing the ground leading into Elsa's house. She let out a dangerous growl when the intruder's scent was picked up. 

"I was on my way to inform you that we found troubling evidence of the assassins at the beach, the spirits were in Elsa's home in a frenzy when they zipped off. My guess is one of the assassins attempted to break in but ran off at the sight of them. I will keep post here in case they return."

After checking every inch of the house nothing had been stolen just out of place, a few plant pots broken and papers thrown haphazardly. 

"Perhaps when they found you to not be home they decided to snoop about." Bulda added. 

"Perhaps." Grand Pabbie agreed grimly. 

"I should go help the other spirits." Elsa stated, standing. "And warn Yelena."

"Umm perhaps it's best if you come to the beach Elsa at least to see what we've found." Juffe said. 

"What did you find?"

"Bodies."

Elsa's stomach sank to her feet. Ryu just continued to stare blankly, she changed, shaking up some of the room a bit. Elsa looking away quickly retained her modesty cloaking her in the same Icy tunic as earlier but she was indifferent to it. 

"I did it." 

"What?" 

She lifted her hands. "The bodies, they- they were the men who I spoke of before, I killed two of them." She said plainly.

Silent, Elsa retreated into the kitchen to fix and gulp down a glass of water, small crystalline patterns spread across the glass when she held it. Her hands gripped the counter top, frosting it turning her knuckles white. Her head sank between her shoulders which shook taking uneven breaths. 

Ryu followed, looking lost to the reaction. 

Elsa rallied her rapid firing thoughts inside a box to compartmentalize them into actions reigning in her magic's stress response. 

She had to go to the beach now, those men had been killed for her sake. Recomposed, she returned to the living room with nothing more than a cold chill following her. 

"Juffe, can you return to the village and inform Yelena of what has transpired." He bowed and left immediately. 

"Grand Pabbie, Bulda I apologize for the state of my home-"

"Nothing to apologize for Elsa."

Rolling over Bulda caressed her leg. 

"Olaf would you mind helping Grand Pabbie and Bulda settle in?" The snowman hugged her legs. 

"You can count on me, You're not going to danger are you?" Elsa smiled down at him shaking her head. 

"We'll be back for dinner." She promised. 

"Ryu, Honeymaren." She called them outside. 

Taking a deep breath Elsa bounced in place shaking her hands, out came residual snow and ice. 

For some reason a shame filled Ryu watching Honeymaren relax Elsa. It was confusing, those men had wanted to kill her yet Elsa seemed full of grief. Yes, killing was bad but it was necessary sometimes. Those men worked with Julien and were cold blooded but with the disappointment in Elsa's eyes Ryu felt like even more of a monster than she already did. 

She had killed before- once, and the guilt ruined her life so she calloused herself to it, avoiding it mostly unless it was necessary, with the prospect of her actions about to be shown to Elsa those calluses softened to red nerves.

"To the beach?" Honeymaren said. 

"Yes, Ryu? Ryu?" The dragon kept her eyes casted downward and merely jerked her head towards her back. 

Slowly Honeymaren touched Ryu's flank but she didn't react just waiting for her to hoist herself up. 

"Whoa okay, I've ridden Emil I can ride a dragon." Settled on Ryu's back she offered her hand to Elsa. 

Before getting on Elsa placed her hand on Ryu's neck. "Are you alright?"

When given no reply she retracted her palm and climbed up taking Honeymaren's hand. 

It wasn't a weight Ryu was used to but it wasn't detrimental. Slowly her wings unfurled as her rump raised in a bow. Four hands gripped tightly her mane when she leapt into the sky.  

Chapter Text

Kristoff's face felt numb from the constant rubbing of his hands which smelt of ink. His head ached from dealing with the organization of the tours for Lord Weselton and Mr. Scherer- what a fine bunch they turned out to be. 

Thomas was no different than all the other gregarious dignitaries and royals who came to Arendelle bright eyed and curious, if not a little annoying but he couldn't blame them. Outside of being hyperbolic Arendelle was a magical place, one of the few nations left that openly had magical properties. The Lord as far as he had seen was generally harmless; liked pretty women, drinking, and adventures. 

Scherer... He was another type entirely, tongue as sharp as his wit, bold, presumptuous, really. He made not just other residents and staff of the castle uncomfortable but also Elsa and Anna as well. 

Unlike the rest of the council who still doubted their queen based off her actions six years ago he learned that Anna, when thinking clearly had an impeccable judge of character albeit she did not always trust this intuition and ignored it at times possibly due to doubt she had of herself or the impartial instinct to not assume the worst in people he wasn't sure. 

A knock on the door did not draw his eyes up from the plans he was pouring over, nor did he look to see who entered already knowing based on the strong scent of sandalwood invading his nostrils. 

"Peterssen- didn't we send you away on vacation?" He gave the lord a stern look, the playful haze only shining in his eyes. The man in return mockingly wilted. 

He was of short height, average build, with a roundish nose and symmetrical face many consider welcoming. 

He opened his mouth to speak quickly darting his eyes around the room then spoke in the same eccentric way he always did. 

"Ah yes your majesty-"

"Kristoff-"

"Kristoff- right well- umm I was of course fulfilling my duty to the crown's orders to relax umm- however..." Eyes deliberately trailed up from the desk to Kristoff's face, smiling tight lipped. "I couldn't help but overhear rumors about the capitol being in a bit of trouble, word of an attack um- dragons setting fires to things-" 

The man trailed off when Kristoff pinched the bridge of nose, releasing a deep exhale. Of course rumors were to be spread. It's what people did, one of the traits he found most exhausting about society. 

"How did people react to these rumors? Do you know?" Peterssen thought for a moment deeply, folding his arms and lifting one hand from clutching his elbow he replied. 

"Most seemed dubious at least about the dragon portion, I guess people can only suspend their belief but so far." He said it as if it was a foolish notion and it was, in a world where princesses turned to solid ice and back again, and other royals could shoot ice, and rocks could come alive before your very eyes dragons seemed the most believable on the list. 

Kristoff leaned back and huffed in dry humor. "And you just came running back huh? Couldn't relax even if your life depended on it." The Lord smiled at this.  

His appearance of being a worldly man, with curly brown hair and lucrative ways of living a private unmarried life, had gained him the reputation of a respectable rake but the royal family knew he was anything but, his eyes were warm, deep green, reminding those even during the winter months of the blooming grass hills, and his presentation of himself was that of humility and dignity. Even his wardrobe reflected Kristoff's dark brown trousers, simple green shirt and purple sash at his waist, though Tobias wore a burgundy shirt topped with a black vest, pants akin to Kristoff's and a mustard silken waist sash. 

His father, Lord Tobias Peterssen I, had worked for the royal family and proved to be a considerable asset training Elsa for her reign as well as serving as regent for the kingdom till her coronation. He promptly left the capital to focus on his family. It was when he passed that his son, Tobias II stepped up to his father's position as Viceroy for the new Queen Anna, while his younger brother was being trained to inherit the title as Duke of Harmon, a smaller duchy some miles away from Arendelle's main town. 

Tobias grinned lightly. "Well I could either have stayed in Harmon and twiddled my thumbs and worried over cups of tea and laks, pressing my ear towards any hint of gossip that may or may not be true-" Then gave a little shrug. "Or I could come back and be of some use to my queen and king."

He paused briefly in case Kristoff wanted to say something, anything, and then when he did not and continued to stare, said, “I apologize for indirectly disobeying, I am not ungrateful for the time off- really I'm not- I enjoyed time with my brother and mother really I did it's just-" by now Kristoff was already standing leaning against the front of his desk shaking his head. 

"Are you really apologizing for cutting your holiday short and coming to help us Tobias?" The viceroy had no response to that even though the proper answer would have been yes, yes had. 

"Come on I'm sure Anna will be super glad to have you back." He clapped the man's shoulders and ushered him out the room. Kristoff gave a briefing on the situation while Tobias remained quiet. 

"Have you spoken to Mattias yet?" He asked as they sped walked down the hall. 

"I did though he also suggested I speak to you and the queen as well, things seem to be a bit messy." He ended in a hush. 

Grabbing the door knob Kristoff shook his head mumbling. "You have no idea." 

Entering Anna's study her eyes locked at first with Kristoff's. "Kristoff I was just about to come get you this is urg-" then they widened at the sight of who accompanied him. 

"Tobes?" Her voice was laced in both shock and hiking in octaves as she quickly abandoned her previous thoughts and papers scattered about to walk around the desk to hug him so tight he grunted at the effort but gently returned it. Punctilios be damned. 

Pulling away her brows furrowed despite the grin not leaving her face. "I thought you were on holiday." She looked between the men. 

Tobias wagged a finger. "You know you are the-" he thought for a moment. "Fifth person to say that- anymore inquiries and I'll begin to believe I haven't been missed." Their smiles grew as Anna pffted at that, shooing away the thought with a wave of her hand. 

"You said you had something urgent to share?" Kristoff said, nodding, Anna waved both of them over to her desk and showed a list of names in sections from the harbor. 

Looking up so abruptly that they thought her neck would snap, she spoke rather quickly. "Have you been updated on everything that's going on?" 

"Yes and no, I was given a short summary from Mattias, and a slightly less vague briefing from Kristoff so I saved asking the details till I spoke to you." Anna's lips flatly curved to the side as she blinked at Kristoff slowly. 

He offered his palm. "I gave him the important cliff notes cause I am not so skilled with the other-" he twirled his finger rapidly looking for the right word. "Stuff- as you are." 

Anna casted a remorseful look on Tobias. "It's true." She beamed at Kristoff resting her chin in her hands. "What would you do without me?" 

"Probably be somewhere cold, lost, without a purpose... A virgin." Kristoff lamented making Anna guffaw, Tobias suppressed his amusement, lowering his head to swallow his own laughter. 

Having Tobias back during such a vexing time gave some comfort to Anna. Sure she had an amazing support system from everyone in her life, Tobias filled the gap her inner circle had been lacking: Elsa had experience as queen and training but she wasn't as worldly and socially experienced. Kristoff was pragmatic and wickedly smart, still the life of royalty sometimes left him floundering and despite having come a long way he still had some adjusting to do. Kaia, Gerda, and Mattias were the most experienced and wise out of all of them, however their age differences did tend to show in their traditional ways and with other duties Anna felt bad for burdening them with issues outside of their job descriptions. 

Tobias had experience at court and other courts outside of Arendelle, he was sensible and offered impeccable political advice, and still was not pushy like some other council members, just a year older than Anna put them on some even ground. 

With Kristoff seated on the couch, Anna on his lap allowing her husband to draw patterns into her back as she went over the past week's events and Tobias sitting across from them in an armchair clutching his teacup listening intently he was soon caught up. Some parts were much more disturbing than others, he even had to cast a hand across his chest during the bit when Elsa had nearly been shot dead. 

"Now onto what I discovered- well actually Mattias- well actually the harbor master but-anyways." She waved her hand and got up to retrieve the leather bound book and dropped it on the low center table with a thud making Kristoff jump. 

Kneeling, she opened it up and angled it so they all could view the contents. 

"Mattias had a long discussion with the harbor master and apparently there are some names missing from the Ruskland ship, well no not missing just unaccounted for. Since the docking laws require keeping a head count of all the names of the passengers for events, safety, and health regulations." Kristoff was tempted to interrupt since he learned of this already when he visited the docks a few days ago, but he let Anna continue on. 

"Sure I mean none of the names are Julien-the assassin I told you about earlier." She looked to Tobias who nodded. Anna rubbed down her hand and back over her fingers repeatedly.

"But I mean that's why alias' exist." 

"Well if this Georg Scherer is as undesirable as you say-" 

"Creepy." Anna confirmed. 

"Yes, this will have to be handled with utmost caution." 

"You're right-" Kristoff agreed. "I'm sure someone must have seen the ship docking. I'll tell Mattias his men have a new quarry." 

Anna stayed silent then abruptly sprung to her feet. "We're going to dinner with Scherer." She declared confusing her audience. 

"I thought the plan was to hide in our study till late tonight with the excuse of planning Scherer and Weselton's tours in Northuldra."

"I just had an idea, we tell Scherer about the missing passengers." 

"What?" Kristoff and Tobias said simultaneously. 

Standing Kristoff grabbed Anna's arms with very concerned eyes. 

"Is that a good idea? We promised to keep this between only a few people and Scherer definitely wasn't on that list." Kristoff would have rather confided in the talkative Thomas than that man. 

"We can use ignorance as our best asset. We'll pretend to only be concerned about them because of the harbor master and see how he reacts." 

Kristoff was still dubious about this fork being thrown into the plan. "You've seen the man haven't you, I'm pretty sure if his hand were to be cut off he wouldn't even blink."

"Yes but he does have micro aggressions and slight tells, everyone does!" 

"Okay what are they?" 

Opening and closing her mouth thrice Anna raised a finger. "That I am... Not sure of- but we can find out tonight. It will be our test run. We work him out a bit then when the moment is right boom!" She slammed her fist into her palm rendering Kristoff speechless. 

"This idea is crazy." He deadpanned.

"No more than my other ones." 

He drew closer, a smile forming. "You're crazy."

"No more than my other ones. Wait what?" 

"What?"

Instead of answering Anna pulled him in for a sweet kiss, relishing the way his arms wrapped around her lower back. His strong body was just as sturdy as his support she leaned on. She almost deepened the embrace when they both remembered Tobias. 

He was still sitting politely, tapping his legs, brows raised, adeptly examining his teacup. 

"If this goes wrong..." Anna bemoaned but Kristoff pulled her worrying hands away from squeezing themselves. 

"Hey-" he called gently, drawing her to look up at him. "I got you." He stated, tucking a loose copper lock behind her ear. 

"You gonna join us?" Anna asks Tobias, keeping her hand on Kristoff's arm. 

Tobias looked at her blinking rapidly. "For dinner or the kiss?"

"Take your pick." Kristoff quipped, painting a blush to the man's face. 

"I consider myself a rather... monogamous creature by heart so despite my own reluctance I chose the former." He ended with a warm grin. 

Elsa was convinced her stomach and its contents were left on the ground far below them. The reservation of hurting Ryu by pulling her mane too tightly was put aside. 

Honeymaren was faring no better, switching back and forth from squeezing Ryu to Elsa's midsection. The incline was the most daunting. Elsa clutched her legs tightly around Ryu's shoulders only lessening the tension in her hold when they straightened out. 

She released a held breath looking about the sky with wonder. A shot of endorphins ran rampant through her body drawing out a bubbling laugh. The reason for this whole trip temporarily forgotten in favor of the idea that no human had ever been this high up before, no one else had ever witnessed the views they were seeing. Her vision had already adjusted to the high winds, she wiped the constant tears pouring from her eyes. 

She looked behind them to see a trident-like tail moving accordingly with their directions. 

"Ryu this is amazing!" Ryu screeched in response, dipping to the left. Experimentally Elsa copied the movement with her own body. 

"You're amazing! Ryu thi-" she glanced back again over her shoulder. "Honeymaren open your eyes."

"No! This is nothing like riding Erin!" 

"You'll like it." Inspired by the promise, Honeymaren squinted her eyes open, keeping her face pressed against Elsa's shoulder blade. Feeling a bit more adventurous she pulled away but the first thing she did was look down. 

"Ahh!" 

Elsa giggled. "Why would you do that!" But she found herself doing the same seeing the almost microscopic trees and mountains below, it seemed Ryu was taking the scenic route. Her head snapped forward immediately though as she gulped, closing her legs tighter once more. 

There was turbulence whenever Ryu flapped her wings. Looking down at the dragon's much jovial expression Elsa grinned, spreading her arms only grabbing on when Ryu became much more cavalier in her maneuvers. Elsa created a few flurries throwing them in the air. Ryu caught some on her large tongue then roared into the air, blasting a burst of flames beneath them in excitement. How long has it been since she had been able to fly? 

It made Elsa almost regret telling her she couldn't yesterday, witnessing how much happiness it brought her. Elsa could tell the dragon was holding back with both speed and agility. It was what she was meant to do, what she was built to do. 

And despite not having wings of her own Elsa believed a part of her was meant for the air as well. 

Reaching out to the clouds they wisped passed Elsa's fingers, they were somewhat wet and reminiscent of fog. She was probably the first ever to touch a cloud in the past hundreds of years. 

Wait till Anna hears about this. 

Oh how Elsa would have loved it if her sister were here to experience this-this absolute splendor. 

Thankfully for Honeymaren Ryu brought them to descent at a much slower pace, their stomachs twisted in an unnatural manner. Elsa leaned back into Honeymaren, tilting her lower body forward and up to match angles with Ryu and keep her and Honeymaren balanced.  

When they began to hover. Some of the Northuldra warriors were a bit alarmed at the sight till they saw Elsa and Honeymaren wave them down.

Ryu hovered a bit longer than what was needed, weary of the men and their staffs and spears, Elsa rubbed her tendrils easing her temper. 

Landing in the sand with a slight crouch she shook her scales and mane out knocking the women down in very ungraceful slides to the ground, luckily they caught themselves. 

With her hand on her chest Honeymaren patted Ryu's flank. "Whew thanks for the ride I never... It was wow." She ended in a chuckle. 

Ryu chuffed and did a swift once over of Elsa who rubbed along her neck. 

The men approached slowly nodding to them. The adrenaline wore off when the reasons why they had come shifted the air mixing in with the salt of the small waves. 

Ryu flattened her ears and dipped her head as they followed the men to a rocky overpass. 

She watched Elsa take a deep breath, steeling herself before moving forward. Honeymaren gripped her hand firmly.

Ryu lagged behind glancing over her shoulder, should she leave? Make herself scarce? Were they better off without her?

Maybe, but this was an opportunity to not run away from her actions and consequences as she had always done. 

Elsa and Honeymaren gasped covering their mouths at the sight of the rotten corpse in tattered clothes. 

His gray flesh had been torn into, body mangled, the injuries she inflicted upon him were unrecognizable among the others. 

At first Ryu had been tempted, seeing Elsa turn away with watery eyes, to state she hadn't mauled him like this, it had to have been animals but...

She might as well have, this was her fault and no amount of deflection would change that. 

"You said there were others." Honeymaren questioned when Elsa walked away. She hadn't spared any glances at Ryu. Though part of her wished Elsa had, it was better this way. 

"Yes one more, he is... Over there." The man led them over to where a cluster of sharp rocks pointed out of the water, Honeymaren used her staff to lean over, his body was charred blackened, scent of decay and death clung to the air refusing to disperse. Snow began to fall on the beach. Ryu welcomed the cool flakes upon her scales, imagining it was Elsa's touch forgiving her for her sins, even the ones she committed before coming to Arendelle. 

"Elsa go home, I'll handle this." Honeymaren whispered, clutching her hand. Elsa shook her head. 

"Anything else?" Her voice quivered.

"Yes, their weapons, a few guns and swords." 

"Let's see them." Honeymaren said. The weapons were put in a pile, she picked up a sword weighing it in her hand and she looked to Elsa for answers. She took it examining the slightly curved blade and gold gilded pummel. 

"This is a shashka- mostly used in Ruskland territories." Oh god. 

Elsa's face flushed and neck tightened. Honeymaren's face tried its best to mask her fury at the implication. 

Ryu sat low on her haunches, wrapping her tail tightly around herself. 

"I don't really know much about guns, I'm afraid." Elsa said, eyeing them on the ground. She had never even held one before. 

They continued discussing the findings with the others till eventually Ryu could no longer take the sadness clouding Elsa's once bright eyes. 

They had a ride back to Elsa's home judging by the carts led by reindeer parked higher up on the grassy banks, quietly she slipped away into the forest. 

She warned Elsa, she warned her of what she was! Why didn't the woman believe her!

Arendelle was the best thing that had happened to Ryu and just like all other good things in her life she had to ruin it. The actions of the ones who raised her were starting to make sense. As a chick she thought them to be just mean and maybe wrong about what she was. Things would have been much more simple if she had just listened. 

The young dragon chick couldn't help but smile at the stoic nod gifted to her by Lord Izanagi who stood observing on the balcony. Her chest heaved from exertion and muscles ached, all signals she had pushed herself. She bowed to her teacher then to Lord Izanagi. The man turned and went back inside. 

She could take this as one sign...

Progress. 

Dismissed she too went inside to find an empty rec room and stretched wincing when a bruise or torn muscle was tested too much against the movement. 

"You have been summoned to lady Izanami chambers." The small voice startled Ryu, she turned faster than what her body would have liked creating a burning sensation in her neck. The girl paid no heed to her discomfort and kept a good distance between them, her delicate pale face remained unchanged. Her movement matched Ryu's in maintaining a space between them. Lady Izanami's handmaidens were the most apprehensive of the strange little creature possibly from the hearings of their mistress. According to them the dragon was unpredictable, wild, and flighty who had a tendency to bite in her first few years in spite of discipline. 

Wincing Ryu stood, the pain in her neck was forgotten in favor of the knots forming in her stomach. Breathing became a difficult task, a task she would have to perfect on the walk to the other side of the large Estate.  

Her mind would not stop drawing up possible conclusions for the summons all of which psyched up her anxieties. 

Glancing at the maiden walking in an elegant yet swift manner ahead Ryu thought it best to distract herself with anything and everything her vision could absorb, from the beautiful floral trees decorating the handmaid's yellow kimono that were accentuated by the lanterns reflecting off the red and tan walls, to her delicate hair wrapped around itself and pinned up by the glass Kerria. It made Ryu jealous when she would watch the shogun's harem giggle and gossip in the gardens braiding and decorating each other's hair. They were always so pretty and sophisticated. Ryu wasn't quite sure what they're purpose was but they did keep the lord and lady company at times. 

The longing to be a part of the harem grew the more her eyes soaked in the details of the woman in front so she turned her attention to the side while keeping pace to the art decorating the walls. She had seen them all throughout her life and thanks to Susanoo knew the stories of every single painting, even the intricate ones decorating the display vases. 

A small grin began to form, yes she could think of him on the way there till every ounce of her concentration would have to be geared towards how she conducted herself.

Like the times he'd sneak her out to the forest for their flying lessons or the way he'd slip her his Yakimono and Mizumono during meals, or teach her how to read and write. 

Sneaking around together took up pretty much all their time. 

Facing the shoji covered with colorful depictions of beautiful women dancing atop of waves felt like a gamble, a gamble one did not want to take part of but must. Ryu could hear muffled sounds of the shakuhachi being played accompanying the harps. 

The doors slid open casting the light upon Ryu's face. Squinting her irises entered a state of Miosis, the woman who retrieved her returned amongst her peers who were kneeling upon pillows here and there around a purple long couch which seated Lady Izanami. Ryu fell into a bow touching her forehead to the ground. 

A smile began to grow across the lady's red lips when she spoke in a smooth voice some considered a gift stating she was the closest example to a celestial. "There you are." Her words dangled like shiny lures to fish that was Ryu. 

"Come." Robotically Ryu rose to her feet and approached, some of the handmaidens shuffled out of her way taking residency in a new area of the room. Ryu's nostrils flared as a rich, smokey, and sweet fragrance filled her nose. 

Nothing went unnoticed by the lady who held out her hand to be passed the incense burner. "Do you like it? I know you do-" her voice was haughty, almost teasing in a way as Ryu gulped more of the spicy scent. 

"I had this imported just for you all the way from Sumatra." A few beats of a moment passed before Ryu bowed again. 

Izanami watched her and after handing the incense off to someone folded her hands upon her lap. "Did your teacher cut out your tongue as well?"

"Thank you, my Lady." It was her favorite name to be called by Ryu on some occasions and judging by her mood today it seemed now was one of those times. 

"Well since you enjoy it so much you'll bathe in it, I had a warm bath prepared for you-" reaching out her hand pulled aside the collar of Ryu's gray Keikogi, running a single finger along her scales. 

"Was I wrong? Do you not enjoy the scent of Amber?" Ryu counted the golden stenciled stars that trailed along the lady's purple gown. 

"You are right, I do, my lady." From her shoulder a hand rested atop Ryu's hair, clutching her head firmly, it stayed there for two minutes until the hand traveled down to her chin lifting her face to her mistress'. 

"You like my gown?" Ryu stared at an empty space behind Izanami's shoulders. 

"Yes my lady. It's beautiful." 

"I knew you would, that is why I decided to wear it for you this evening, since you will be in my company and in my company you shall stay." That familiar fog which clouded her mind in confusion returned steadily with the gentle strokes upon her chin from Izanami's thumb. It was one of her games, for a time she'd treat Ryu's opinion with the utmost consideration, what could be called doting. Then other days said opinion was forbidden from being voiced, for according to Izanami it no longer existed. 

If there was a food or smell Ryu hated then her lady would watch her consume them telling others how much Ryu loved them. 

If Izanami said Ryu enjoyed it then she enjoyed it. 

Ryu's opinions mattered when Izanami said it mattered. 

The lady of the house had many moods she conducted herself in but this one was the most dangerous Ryu had learned. 

She was being forced to traverse a huge canyon across a tightrope as a hazy mist shrouded the entire way to the other side. The only hope she'd have would be to keep balance as best she could and assume the path was straightforward but knowing her luck it most likely wasn't. 

She wasn't sure how long she had been walking but it was long enough to bring her to a cliff side with just the sea as the view. 

What was she doing?

Running. 

Breaking another promise. 

Was it worth it? Continuing the cycle until Susanoo caught up and ended her. He had lost her thanks to traveling by water, he most likely would never find her again. 

The very idea of him finding this place, telling his mother...

Ryu shuddered and knew now for sure that Elsa was unlike any person she had ever encountered. A being of pure kindness and light. They had called her the Dragen Lys but that title seemed more befitting to Elsa who wasn't even a dragon. Her sweet nature held no secrets, it was just as it was. No lies. 

Ryu gazed out to the horizon. She wasn't worthy of a place such as Arendelle, it deserved better than a coward. The people were good, the nature beautiful and magic precious. 

So Ryu made a new promise, not to herself or another person but the land itself. 

And if she broke it, then she was sure her soul was certainly damned. 

"I already sent word to Anna, and the burial arrangements are already made. I have time." 

Bulda sighed exasperated as Elsa rushed from the inside of her cottage, Bruni jumped from a beam onto her hair.

"She probably just needs space right now don't you think sweetie? Besides, is it wise to be traveling alone while those vagrants are still out there?" Bulda offered but Elsa shook her head no. 

"I know what she's going through better than anyone. isolation is the last thing she needs, I can't risk her running off thinking she's some kind of monster all because she was trying to protect me." There was no point in arguing with Elsa who was bristled towards the trolls that stood helpless in her front garden. 

Grand Pabbie gripped his staff leaning against it. "I do agree to some extent Elsa, Ryu may be contemplating leaving but it will be very difficult for her to do so." 

Elsa narrowed her eyes at the elder troll. "How do you know?" 

"She has taken responsibility to you." 

Elsa's eyes widened causing Grand Pabbie to chuckle. 

"I saw it earlier during our first meeting, dragons as a people, especially those of the west protect their own." He waved her off though. "Go and find her for your own sake but she'll be back." 

Elsa's gaze softened when Olaf emerged from behind the cottage with a basket full of cucumbers. 

"Elsa! Where's Ryu? I picked some cucumbers for you to try in an Italian dish I read about, I memorized the recipe." He chortled. "Well most of it."

Elsa knelt down to him kissing his head. "I'm sure we'll love it, I just got to go get Ryu for dinner okay?" He nodded and waved as Elsa set off. 

After walking for thirty minutes she puffed out her cheeks then held out a hand for Bruni to jump upon. 

"Do you know where the others are?" Bruni looked about then shrugged which Elsa copied pursing her lips. 

She tried to trail the most logical path for Ryu to have followed. Though her legs grew tired after walking for an hour and a half she kept on. The culpability of what she had put Ryu through weighed her down some. 

She refused to stand idle and allow her friend to punish herself merely for wanting to protect those she cared about, Elsa had been the reason she killed in the first place. 

"Ryu!" She called passed cupped hands into the forest. Her calls echoed into nothing. 

Ryu lazily wagged her tail as she remained perched up watching Elsa nearly trip over an above ground root. 

A force nudged her shoulder, she snapped her jaws at the Earth's giant's finger and was bonked on the head in consequence. She shook away the stinging sensation. 

Huffing she stood and pounced off of the rock giant's knee and made her way toward Elsa. 

"It's not the first time you know." Elsa's magic shimmered in her palms she held up in defense but quickly lowered them at the sight of Ryu finishing her change. Reflexively Elsa looked away and coated her in a white dress. Bruni jumped down and climbed up to her shoulder. She grinned at him and rubbed his head cooing. "Allo little boy."

"I was worried about you." Elsa stated but Ryu continued her previous thought. 

"It is not even the second time I have killed but it is the first time the people were deserve- they deserved it." She still refused to look at Elsa instead just watching Bruni crawl along the forest floor. 

"I- I won't say that I agree with the choice you made but I do understand." Ryu smiled sorrowfully in her direction. 

"I don't believe anyone is deserving of death, it's a right we all share no matter class or rank or race." It was a face of disbelief Ryu made to the statement. 

"If someone's life doesn't matter then no one's does and that is unequivocally not true." Ryu wisely made no reply until she was ready. 

"I did not feel sorry about killing them, I would have not preferred-eh to but it was you I felt bad about." Elsa neck muscles tightened making swallowing at the moment difficult. 

"It's a difficult decision I know, some people have to make it. I hate that I drove you to such a choice."

Ryu shrugged then smiled bitterly. "I know the feeling no, the type of guilt that uh you have when someone does something horrible for your sake or behalf-" now Elsa drew closer intrigued and also scared of what her friend would say next. 

"You did not even have a choice, it was forced upon you." Elsa pulled Ryu into her embrace, smoothing her hair back as she spoke into her shoulder. 

"The worst is I know what you feel now and I'd still do it again." Ryu whispered. What could she say now? Ryu's ideals were not as easily moved as getting her to rise out of bed. 

"Allow me to show you an alternative way, hmm?" Elsa pushed her away a small bit. "That was our deal wasn't it? That we share ourselves with each other. I've seen this side of you and I don't like it. I won't lie, so now you'll see why I believe in what I believe and maybe you'll change your mind." 

Blinking Ryu nodded and coughed away her emotions, bottling them in a neat little glass. "Good." She said curtly lifting a thumb. 

"Okay let's go." She scrunched her brows then asked where toward Bruni but he only pointed ahead with his tail. 

Elsa's stare was wide and simple. "It's time for dinner." Ryu forced herself to exhale and followed her, expression dubious as if she couldn't fathom that Elsa would still invite her to her table. 

Later that night as they all ate no one had brought up what transpired and instead listened to the trolls speak of the time of dragons. 

Grand Pabbie had slipped a scroll to Elsa regarding the Mikoto seal. She'd read it in private later.

They partook in a fun guessing game the trolls called 'Moss or Grass' where the opponents would have to guess what the person drew and put on their forehead based on the facts given to them. The trolls said goodnight and feeling much at home under the stars retired to the gardens while Elsa set up an ice bed to tuck Olaf into. 

"I have a great idea, Ryu, sing a song in Japanese." 

"Oh yes, why don't you?" Elsa chimed clapping her fingers together but Ryu shook her head. 

"I cannot sing as good as some." Elsa didn't believe that for a second smirking at her, the girl practically sang whenever she spoke. 

"I'm going to have to insist." 

"Please." Olaf spoke softly, placing his hand on her knee. Sighing Ryu closed her eyes and cleared her throat.

Both Olaf and Elsa snuggled together on the side of the small bed forming an audience. 

Their smiles slowly died as Ryu began to sing what was maybe a lullaby? 

"Remind me next time when she says something to take her word for it." Olaf whispered behind his hand. Elsa hid cringing as best she could when Ryu's voice cracked and stuttered on notes especially the high ones. The girl was completely tone deaf and the melody was definitely lost to her.  

"Ta-da!" She bowed. 

Elsa clapped her hands with a forced smile elbowing Olaf to follow along reluctantly. 

Her eyes trailed over her notes to the corner of the couch where Ryu was curled up reading her fauna book resting her head on a closed fist. Subtly Elsa switched the papers out for her pencil and notebook and began sketching, sneaking a glance to Ryu every now and then. 

When she cleared her throat Ryu gave her attention. 

"If whenever you get tired, you can always sleep here, or just rest or come here to socialize-" occasionally Elsa's eyes darted to her note book as she struck Ryu with a borage of smooth spoken albeit quick words. 

Ryu grinned and nodded to her. "Thank you Erusa." 

Nearly a minute passed when Elsa drew on.  

"And eat here and bathe if you'd like and store anything you'd like and just relax here and sit here and take refuge from the rain or heat or cold or anything, anytime you want to." She spoke as casually as her voice would allow, busying her adroit fingers. 

The message had been received of what Elsa was insinuating with her generous offer. 

Ryu left the cottage that night into the forest but instead of letting her nerves get the better of her Elsa washed the day away in a lovely room temperature bath and on her bed dressed in a white nightgown poured over her research till she startled herself awake when her head lulled to the side too much for her unconscious' liking. 

It sounded like knives being dragged across the wooden floor followed by heavy rhythmic thuds. 

Elsa's eyes shot open at once hearing the sound, she watched a dark shadow pass beneath the crack of her door. The clock read at about twenty past four in the morning. 

It could have been from a horror story- the noises she heard- parents used to tell their children to coerce good behavior from them. Elsa chuckled, tickling Bruni's back as he slept on her pillow. 

"She's not a monster-" she whispered moreso to herself than Bruni. "Just a big gecko." 

A strong wind outside told of Gale's presence, some leaves and small debris pattered against the glass. Anna opened the window inviting Gale inside.

They flew in messing up Anna's plaited updo but she didn't mind any chuckling as papers flew about. 

"Hey Gale, do you like it?" Anna showcased her autumn red and orange dress, down the sides of it were dented inward v shapes and the inside fabric sparkled. The wind examined her dress and blustered underneath it, Anna squeaked and pushed it back down and into place. They liked it. 

"A joke for a letter?" The wind spun around Anna, happy to oblige in their traditional exchange.

"Okay, I know what your favorite day of the week is..." Anna said with a cheesy grin. "Winds-day. " 

Gale zipped in a tight circle. 

Anna could never tell if the spirit was humoring her or actually enjoyed the jokes she traded. The letter dropped in her hand. 

"Ahem totally came up with that one on my own-" Anna mused before reading over Elsa's message. 

When finished she blinked a few times and stood in silence as if her body was filled with too many emotions and could not decide which to go with. 

She puckered her lips. Her stare went to the door Kristoff opened, frowning at Anna's current frozen state. 

Recovering she waved the letter, planting it in his hand. "Some call it foresight, I call it my 'Annatuition'."

Kristoff read the contents exhaling heavily. "What's your 'Annatuition' telling you now?" 

With her shoulders straight and head held high Anna offered her arm to Kristoff which he took. 

"It's dinner time." 

Chapter Text

"Those colors flatter you quite nicely Queen Anna." Anna's smile was tight, quickly vanishing when sat in the chair Kristoff pulled out for her, at the head of the table. To the naked eye it was a diplomatic dinner hosted by the queen to strengthen and appease Ruskland's ambassador, and it was for the most part. A situation as delicate and paramount for Arendelle received only the best the staff and kitchen had to offer. Extravagant roasted meats and vegetables glazed to absolute perfection, highest quality of vodka, the flavor of the borscht was telling that the chef had probably pulled his hair out trying to perfect the taste on such short notice. 

Anna would definitely give the man paid leave for pulling together such a feast. For now she had to reign in her focus on the true nature of tonight. This was a game of chess in a way, Anna was blessed with a natural adroitness at the game surpassing any who played against her. This game would have much higher stakes for the loser than giving up their desert or gloating rights. 

"Quite the lovely spread of yours, majesties, your kitchen staff's abilities is definitely something to marvel at." Georg Scherer said, taking a sip of his water. First move. 

"Yes Johan is an excellent cook, he helped me realize that there are more flavors than salty, sweet, and bitter?" Kristoff replied simply. Anna forced herself to not directly stare at Georg Scherer, wanting to appear as casual as possible. Elsa was so much more adept at that than she. Always knowing where to look and for how long. What facial expression was appropriate and how to hold herself. 

The conversation of Arendelle's culinary attributes drifted away with shortening replies. Anna began eating her borscht, seeming impressed with its tastes. 

Tobias flashed his eyes from the queen under the pretense of searching the room for an attendant's attention, requesting a shot of vodka to be poured for him. The flicker of brief discomfiture was adjusted accordingly; he would have served his own but had an image to upkeep. Second move. 

Georg Scherer removed his attention from Kristoff to Tobias with a serene, curious smile.

"Lord Peterssen, your father, Tobias Peterssen I, served as regent before former Queen Elsa's reign, correct?" Anna stared at the man. It took all of her willfulness for this ploy to work to restrain herself from voicing her affronted protests at the pitiless question. Georg Scherer truly did not have any forethought on the feelings of others. She would have to pack those away for a later time and push forward the sympathy she felt for Tobias.

If he was affected by the reminder of his father's passing he was a master at hiding it. His face turned to Scherer remaining nonchalant. He kept the cup of alcohol he had been nursing on in his hand, taking a sip before answering. 

"That is correct. He was, I was just a boy really, only now do I realize the true reasons he had been so busy, the utter priority it needed." Georg Scherer didn't even offer condolences! What an absolute cunt.

Okay so that was a strong word, but what else could she call someone so callous towards someone they barely knew?

Anna was dragged from her glowering at the touch of Kristoff's hand underneath the table gripping hers. Her thumb rubbed over his knuckles rhythmically. He looked her over and saw him, nodding. 

Georg nodded. "Ah so you have quite large shoes to fill as they say don't you? A daunting task indeed." This reply made Anna wonder just what was the man's goal with this conversation, was he merely just trying to implant a seed of doubt in Tobias just for the hell of it? His plays were as unpleasant as she expected. She had no worries though if it would take hold however, Tobias may have been quiet, appearing passive to some, his mind had conviction. 

He took his time to answer, eyes glittering over the contents of the table. "Yes well, to me everything has its time and era before forward thinking sets it aside for another. Rulers, laws, people, services, beliefs, even religion. We are ever changing." Third move. 

Anna did a swift scan of Georg Scherer's face, noting the subtle falling of his expression. She turned back to Kristoff. He lifted her hand and began going over useless observations disguising his flirting. 

"I hope there won't come a time when I must fulfill my father's shoes and expectations, for his role was brought on by tragic necessity." Goerg Scherer grunted, taking a break from conversation to eat. Anna prepared herself for when he would speak again. He was certainly thinking of what his next move would be. 

"What do you think his opinion of you would be now?" It was unspoken. The rumors of Tobias' rakish lifestyle of occasionally entertaining women discreetly, drink, and travels did not align with the pious pulpit orator, and they certainly were not exotically taboo enough to intrigue a religious controversialist. Sometimes there was no seedy or secretive reason for enjoying such activities besides that they felt good. 

Tobias grinned, glancing upward as if recalling a fond memory. "I think he'd probably join me on my escapades, we Peterssen's tend to enjoy life to its fullest." Georg Scherer exhaled heavily through his nose as if he were disappointed that he couldn't make Tobias ashamed of his harmless lifestyle. Fourth move. 

"Queen Anna," Anna blinked towards him under, mocking that she hadn't been listening and watching but instead was engrossed with Kristoff, even occasionally giggling. "You're usually so not dissociative, sometimes even leading the dinner conversation?" 

"My apologies Mr. Scherer," the words tasted like stale milk and vinegar. "I merely have been so busy as of late that Kristoff and I barely get any time for ourselves." For effect she batted her lashes lovingly at Kristoff. That had been the easiest ruse to pull off. She and Kristoff hadn't been able to give one another the attention they both longed for with the investigation going on. Even though they had seen each other every morning they woke up and every night when they would kiss each other goodnight and cuddle together, she missed him so much and could see how much he missed her reflected in his beautiful, safe brown eyes.

"It is quite rare to see two monarchs in love." He was ignored by all except Tobias who watched Anna and Kristoff get captured by the other's gaze. 

"Yes it is." He replied warmly. 

Anna pulled away first blushing, inside her stomach churned at the idea of exposing something so precious to Georg Scherer. Back to the game. 

"Mr. Scherer, have you ever been in love?" Georg, taken aback by the bluntly asked question, straightened in his chair. Kristoff looked at Anna pondering. She was going off script most likely due to impatience and irritation. Fifth move. 

"Yes I have, though not conventionally." At this Anna tilted her head, folding her lips in. 

"Was it with a man?" Sixth move. Kristoff and Tobias sputtered on their drinks. Georg Scherer balked, his face flushing red but not by embarrassment nor prudence. Anna kept her eyes on his, leaning forward with interest, gauging what emotion he was feeling at the moment. 

"No your majesty, and I must say that is a rather insulting inquiry-"

"Why? Nothing to be ashamed of-" 

Kristoff and Tobias jolted when Georg Scherer's hand impacted the table loudly, while Anna locked away the smile that wished to grow on her lips. 

"IT IS! AND THE VERY INSINUATION- That I, a man of God am a reprobate! Why is it a great dishonor to me as a man, my empress who appointed me and my beliefs!" A thick silence consumed the room making it a challenge to not get up and walk away.

Checkmate. 

Kristoff desperately wanted to pull Anna to him but she seemed to be none the better, once again proving her resilient prowess. Swishing the wine in her glass watching the liquid swirl. She tipped the lid to Georg Scherer impishly. 

"My apologies sir, that was not my intention to allude to you possibly having an attraction to men-" 

"No please, I must apologize to you, your majesty." Georg definitely did not want her to finish that sentence. "I tend to be... Zealous in demeanor when it comes to my values being questioned. I beseech for forgiveness Queen Anna, King Kristoff. That was uncalled for and highly inappropriate. I know there is no excuse for my actions." He truly did appear repentant, it was very interesting to see other emotions from this person who enjoyed making others uncomfortable with his snarky apathy. 

"Well-" Kristoff began, his fingers drummed on the table top. "It is uhh- we all have different opinions and sometimes we'll butt heads but as long as we don't tear each other's antlers off, a bit of passion is okay." Tobias raised his glass to that. 

"That's right-" Anna agreed, raising from her chair enthusiastically. "I forgive you Mr. Scherer and thank you for apologizing. An action that is not common among men of your demeanor." She knew she was pushing it, reciting his words back at him, but he stayed true to his word and kept calm. 

"Well I'm not your average man of faith." He might as well have whispered it with his gravelly voice doing him no favors with volume. 

"Indeed. You. Are. Not. And! To prove that there is no ill will, I invite you to our parlor for after dinner drinks and desserts. A Queen's personal invite." Anna turned her bright smile to the head attendant who returned it with his own and bowed before exiting the room. 

She hated throwing around her title to get what she wanted, despised it actually, but Georg Scherer was not only a remorseless shrew of a man but also a traditionalist and it would be considered a breach of tradition to refuse a seemingly generous invite from the queen. 

"I look forward to it your majesty." He stood as well to bow. "Please excuse me a moment before I join you." He went towards the doors of the dining room, turning around. "King Kristoff thank you for having me and for being so for being so magnanimous."

Kristoff wrapped his arm around Anna's waist and waved. "No problem." 

"Lord Peterssen it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance." 

"Wish I could say likewise." Tobias muttered under his breath, speaking louder when he rose and nodded. "Yes, tonight has been... Riveting, never a boring moment." 

"Queen Anna exuberant conversation as always expected." When his eyes befall Anna her first instinct was to shudder at not only his gaze but the way her name sounded coming past his lips, Anna remained stubbornly jovial in stance and waved as he exited. 

The group groaned, falling back to their seats in a heap finally enjoying a moment's respite. It was as if the room was constricted by a large snake whose grip only grew tighter and tighter by the second till it finally slithered away. 

"I know you warned me but somehow I still felt unprepared." Tobias mused to no one in particular. 

Anna rested her head on Kristoff's chest, closing her eyes when he began to stroke her hair in the way he knew she loved. 

When they gained privacy Anna squeaked, being scooped up in Kristoff's arms. "You have never stopped amazing me with everything that you do." Anna couldn't really say anything to that having used up her mental energy in the dinner game, so she kissed this time deepening it. It was exploratory as if they had never kissed before. Both trying to memorize and map the other's features. Anna's hands roamed slowly over his hair, neck, shoulders, until they reached his chest. 

She felt Kristoff squeeze her frame to his, moaning contently from the embrace. She loved it when he did that, as if he didn't want to let her go and no one of any feat of strength would be able to pry her from his grip. He always mixed the perfect blend of gentle romance with primal intimacy. 

Pulling away, they were both left breathless. "I think we deserve a break later." She whispered against his lips.

"What kind of break?" 

Toying with the hair on the back of his head which she knew drove him crazy with desire she replied coyly. "The kind that would make Georg Scherer most likely choke on his values." Kristoff grimaced and Anna giggled, kissing the corner of his mouth. A stubble tickled her lips and she gave herself a reminder to tell him not to shave this time, curious to see him in a beard again. 

"Please don't bring him up during said break." Now it was Anna's turn to frown in disgust at the thought. 

"I'd rather think of Grand Pabbie than that guy." Setting her down Kristoff rested his head on top of hers shrugging. 

"Or we could think of neither, also an option... A preferable one. Let's get this over with, I want us in our room by-" he took a quick check of the clock. 

"Ten tops."

Anna beamed up at him with her radiant grin, he had seen it more than a thousand times but still could not figure out how anyone could be so summery, beautiful, charming, smart, bold- he could go for days with the list. Despite all the magic he had seen and experienced she was the most extraordinary rarity in all the world. 

And when he smiled down at her Anna was reminded of the lesson he had taught her, she didn't love him just as a prince charming or knight in shining armor. She loved him because Kristoff was Kristoff, her husband, support, best friend and family. Someone who obsessed over love and all it came with Anna was still unprepared for the feeling of purity and strength it entailed... 

"It's a date." 

Elsa was awake but still remained in her bed with her eyes very reluctant to open and greet the pink and red hues of the sun's imminent return. She ordinarily awoke an hour after dawn but she had a fitful sleep in thanks to her lower back flaring up in pain and no position was comfortable for very long.

This would not be ideal by any means when her day assuredly entailed lots of physical activity. It was an old injury she obtained in Ahtohallan, she hadn't even noticed it until a few days later when it began to ache with each bend and twist. It lasted for about six weeks give or take but returned after Arendelle's annual ski event during the winter solstice celebrations. Elsa's body had grown accustomed to the exertion she regularly exuded upon it so there had to have been a plausible deviation to explain it but Elsa couldn't think of a single- oh yeah. 

Ryu tried to be accommodating in their flight; she knew that much but riding a dragon had proven to be much more strenuous than riding Nokk who still posed a challenge than the average horse with his wild nature that could never be tamed. 

Today was much too important to spend trying to rest and recover, Elsa decided she would just have to grin and bear it. At least she had time to relax. Judging by the sun she'd be able to lay in bed for thirty more minutes before she'd get up and make breakfast. Going back to sleep was not an option so Elsa entertained herself with her magic crafting snowflakes of varying shapes and designs until Bruni awoke and she gave him chase with his favorite treats. 

Groaning Elsa sat up slowly, she swung her legs over the edge and scooted. Standing was the hardest challenge and as much as she wanted to lift her arms and reach in the air the ache disagreed. After throwing on a sky blue housecoat to cover her matching Nightgown, she offered her hand for Bruni to perch on. 

 She endured fifteen minutes of standing in the kitchen scrambling eggs and placing it upon slices of toast. With Grand Pabbie, Bulda, and Olaf exploring the forest this morning with the rock giants it gave Elsa a moment of quiet to herself in her home. Bruni leapt out the window to probably go find the others. 

She'd take Ryu's plate up- Elsa looked to the creaking of the stairs, surprised to see Ryu trudging down, hair disheveled, in a billowy white blouse and pants tied in the front by laces. 

She rubbed her eyes aggressively, only one of her pupils was dilated. Elsa watched with fascination as they adjusted to the light rays of the early sun reflecting off of some of the structural ice of the small dinning room and kitchen.

"Good morning." Elsa greeted in a scratchy voice from a dry morning throat. She glanced at the small round table, somewhat disappointed she hadn't set it properly unaware that Ryu would be awake before ten. 

"Ohayō." Ryu grumbled, Elsa was tempted to ask the meaning of what she just said but inferred it most likely meant good morning. 

"I made you breakfast." She stated, placing short glasses of a dark reddish juice next to their plates. 

Elsa eyed Ryu as she smelt the glass, her eyes grew in surprise and recognition, and then dipped her tongue in it, working the flavor throughout her mouth. She waited for her opinion of it. 

She looked as if she were trying to figure out on her own what it was before her eyes flicked up to Elsa. 

"Lingonberry." Elsa answered calmly, taking a bite of her eggs. 

"It's uhh- sour." Elsa nodded, taking a sip of her own. Ryu then dipped her finger into the juice looking closely. There were probably a lot of things in Arendelle Ryu had yet to taste, see, experience. If she was this thorough with everything new she came across it'd probably take them years just to visit and explore the valley of living rocks alone. 

Elsa sighed contently, turning her view to the bay window they sat adjacent to, watching the flowers of her garden sway gently to the early breeze. It was a welcomed moment of peace since the summit. 

As Ryu ate she kept her stare fixated on Elsa who seemed most appreciative of the simple view they had. It was perplexing how others couldn't see it. It made Ryu even less remorseful for killing those men remembering the harm they wished to wrought upon Elsa. 

Julien's terrible words echoed in her mind. "Elsa is an injustice against nature." It was the most ludicrous oxymoron Ryu had ever heard. Elsa was a direct gift from nature itself, Honeymaren had told her and she could see it for herself. 

The peace she brought everywhere she went. She was incarnate– winter's snow untouched by footprints, reflecting off the morning light. The biting nip of the air. Yet also her demeanor reminisced the warm relief of a hot beverage. And her scent... It was a bit overwhelming at first in small spaces, there was raspberries, dark chocolate, the smell of the forest that was always orbiting her, fragrances that were surface level. Humans had a scent that came from within, Ryu learned, that was unique to each individual. 

She was beginning to figure out Elsa's, when she was sweaty from either riding Nokk or running in the forest she smelt of salt, seawater, moss, and dirt. If she wasn't sweaty then her odor reflected her magic, and the foods she ate, specifically the lingonberry. It was a constant reminder that Elsa, despite being a spirit, was very human. 

The small thud of something mushy struck Elsa's temple, she turned from the window to look down at the table spotting a piece of egg. 

With an eyebrow quirked up she turned her attention to Ryu and deadpanned. "Did you just throw an egg at my face?" 

Ryu's raspy giggle proved her culpability. "I think you can answer that one for yourself." 

"And I think you'll find that the better and more polite solution would be to just call my name." With that said Elsa looked back down to finish off her meal. 

"Erusa?"

"Hmm?" Looking up proved to be a foolish thing to do, when Elsa did another piece of egg smacking her in the forehead.

"Okay I think that concludes our breakfast this morning." She stated, trying to hold in her chuckles. Ryu quickly finished her plate entirely, including the pieces of egg on the table. Standing Elsa couldn't hide her small wince. Ryu hurriedly took the plates from her, rushing them to the sink. 

"What is wrong? Are you hurting?" She searched Elsa's form for any visible injuries and found none. 

"It's nothing, just an old back injury that flares up from time to time. I'll be fine." Elsa's assurance didn't convince Ryu though whose brows still furrowed as she followed Elsa into the kitchen. 

Ryu's hand gently hovered over her back. "Can I touch?" She asked. Elsa nodded, keeping focus on cleaning their dishes. 

She was being gentle, far too gentle than what was necessary. "Where does it hurt?" Elsa heard her mumble from behind. Reaching behind she guided Ryu's hand to the aggrieved area. 

"I could help?" Elsa began to shake her head thinking she was referring to the dishes when she realized she meant her back. Did dragons have healing capabilities with their magic? 

"How?"

"Come on, I will show ya!" Ryu grabbed her wrist pulling her into the living room. She gestured to the carpet. "Lie down on your uh belly." Elsa hesitated for a moment before complying, removing her housecoat, she grunted from the strain but with help she was lying prone on the floor. She turned her head to the side to see Ryu on her knees matching the angle of her head with her own. 

"Comfy?"

She winced. "Mm no. Can you pass me a pillow from the couch?" Ryu did as requested. With some support for her head Elsa tried to relax, closing her eyes. 

"Don't worry I am a profession-nen-nal and will get you all fixed up." Ryu quipped smacking Elsa's rear lightly. She yelped, her cheeks burned red so she buried them into the pillow. Best not to bring attention to it in the risk of things becoming awkward. 

"Erusa?" 

"Hmm?" 

"Your butt is so jiggle, it jiggles." Elsa heard her blitheness in her voice when she began rocking Elsa from side to side. 

"That's fascinating Ryu, I-" 

"Fa-ass-inating." Elsa blinked rapidly then lifted her head once more. Her face remained impassive. 

"Right well-it's... Not my butt that is in pain Ryu." 

"Oh right it's your bac-"

"It's my back yeah." She heard Ryu clap and rub her hands together. She placed them both on Elsa's shoulder just rubbing downward lightly. The thin material of the nightgown she wore did not hide the intense warmth of Ryu's palms. Though it wasn't exactly the mythical idea she had when Ryu offered to help, she couldn't color herself disappointed. 

It was soothing, like warm compresses gliding across her back increasing in pressure as they gained confidence. Elsa wondered if her extreme difference in temperature was uncomfortable to touch.

"You are very tense, Erusa." Ryu stated quietly. "You do not have to worry about anything else right now, just think about how it feels and breathe." Ryu's words reminded Elsa that she had stopped breathing regularly. Ryu audibly inhaled and exhaled to which Elsa followed along with. 

"You know... You don't have to do this." 

"I know." Elsa could hear Ryu's smile in her voice when she straddled her calves keeping her weight off of Elsa's body. Her fingers dug in and moved with circular friction along the sides of Elsa's spine down to her hips. 

"Ryu?"

"Yesu?

"Thank you." 

Elsa wasn't sure how she felt about the massage, she had never received one before. She could tell Ryu was trying to figure out the balance between firm and gentle. When she reached her problem area Elsa's hiss made Ryu retreat briefly before returning. 

"I know, I'm sorry." She mumbled with pity. "How did this happen?"

"In Ahtohallan, there was a ledge and I thought there would be water at the bottom and there wasn't so I had to land in the safest way I could." They both remained quiet for a little while until Ryu spoke up again. 

"How far a fall?"

Elsa tried to calculate, how far did she fall? And could only come up with a rough estimate of the height. Ryu dryly chuckled, shaking her head. 

"You are crazy." Elsa grinned, at the time it felt like the only option she had. 

Twenty minutes passed, Elsa had nearly gone back to sleep when Ryu stood. "How do you feel now?" She questioned. Elsa sat up crossing her legs and began stretching, the pain was not completely gone but it certainly was better than this morning. 

She looked up gratefully at Ryu. "I think I'll be able to ride Nokk without killing over." Ryu gave a thumbs up nodding. "Good."

Elsa loved when she said the word, knowing she meant good but coming from Ryu it sounded like 'Gud.'

"Speaking of we should probably get ready to go meet the others in Northuldra." Standing Elsa scratched the scales on Ryu's shoulder and neck in passing heading upstairs. 

Bruni climbed up her shoulder, she regarded him with a sad smile, the idea of meeting a group of people left a knot in her stomach that almost made her want to vomit. "You'll protect me today won't you?" Bruni nodded, licking her pupil. Ryu scrunched the eye shut rubbing it with the knuckle of her finger. 

Honeymaren waved over Elsa, Nokk, and Ryu who had Bruni sitting on her muzzle to the large fallen log she and the trolls with Olaf had been resting at. She crossed her arms drumming her fingers on her bicep when they approached. "We expected you guys earlier." 

Elsa grinned apologetically. "I'm sorry, my back decided to begin hurting again this morning." She circled around Elsa rubbing her shoulders. 

"Oh jeez, when are you planning on getting a new one?" Elsa smirked and shrugged. 

"As soon as I find one I like." She opened her arms to Olaf who hugged her legs. 

"Hello Ryu." Grand Pabbie rested his hand on her cheek when she leant down to him and Bulda who laughed joyously when Ryu blew thick smoke into her face. 

"Aww what a lovely greeting." Grand Pabbie said. 

"That's a greeting?" Elsa asked, looking around at the dispersing smoke. 

"Oh yes! It's a very friendly way of saying they're happy to see you." Elsa watched Bulda pet Ryu's leg thinking back. She wondered how many things Ryu did that she did not notice or understand. 

Olaf bounded up to Ryu's lowered face and blew air into it. She chuffed at him, nudging his head. He grabbed his midsection, twisting it in place and spoke up in a delegating tone. "Alright time to set up for the party, Ryu we may need an extra hand to help out today since Elsa's back is so old and brittle."

At this Elsa stood with her arms akimbo, somewhat offended. "Olaf, my back is not brittle, it's just...sore."

"We should probably announce that you're finally here. Just to get everyone prepped." 

"I'll do it!" And before anyone could protest Olaf set off for the village yelling. "The dragon is coming! The dragon is here!" His friends winced at the wording not being exactly what they were looking for. 

"Oh Walnuts." Elsa groaned, turning back. "Help me catch him?" Chuckling Grand Pabbie and Bulda rolled after him with Elsa and the other spirits. 

Honeymaren began jogging when she slowed, noticing that said dragon was hesitating looking intensely at the log. 

"Hey." She called softly, going back. "You coming?" Ryu didn't answer, instead using her paw to displace some dirt. 

"I get it, you're probably nervous huh?" Sitting down with her legs crossed. "Well, I'm not going to promise that everything will turn out perfectly, my village can get rowdy and be loud and... Other things." She scratched the nape of her neck self-consciously. "But I wouldn't be lying if I said they're great people who have seen a lot of weird things even more strange than you. They may be a bit apprehensive but the kids are way scarier than you'll ever be." Honeymaren chuckled thinking of the little monsters that wreaked havoc. "And I know you don't know me as well but you know Elsa, and she hasn't introduced you to anyone horrible yet has she?" Ryu glanced at her from the side and shook her head. "So trust her. Come on it's now or never- well not never probably later but it's best to get it over with." She bumped Ryu with her shoulder and stood up and headed for home with Ryu trailing behind. 

The voices of the village hushed when Honeymaren entered the clearing with the dragon behind. Elsa looked around at the varying reactions to her presence. She wanted so desperately to rush over to Ryu and comfort her. She looked absolutely terrified, ears folded backwards and wings and tail tucked in tightly. When she tried to step up Grand Pabbie drew his staff in front of her. 

"She must learn to handle her fears on her own I'm afraid." Elsa knew he was right, she couldn't always be the one to break the ice between Ryu and a stranger. She had seen how socially skilled the girl was once she grew comfortable. 

Ryu's eyes found hers looking expectantly. If Elsa wasn't going to come to her then Ryu would go to Elsa. 

"Ryu!" The cry startled Ryu when she was attacked by a small child sprinting over wrapping her small arms around her neck. "I knew you'd come visit me again! Papa, this is Ryu, my hero!" Elsa giggled at the dumbstruck expression on Ryu's face. 

Nina's father came to his daughter's calls and bowed his head to Ryu, he wasn't a large man, a bit stout with kind brown eyes. "I'm glad I finally have a chance to thank you Ryu." 

Nina's face held only awe and admiration. She dragged Ryu over to a small group of children who at first were a bit frightened to approach. "She's nice, see." Nina demonstrated pecking Ryu's flank. Ryu laid down tucking her limbs which gave a particularly bold kid the opportunity to climb on her back, his prize being her ears which flickered as he touched them. "Don't crowd her! I'll show you how to do it!" Nina growled, throwing her arms backwards leaning against Ryu's chest. 

 Elsa couldn't very well rescue Ryu now, being surrounded by children herself as well. Elsa knelt down as a child climbed onto her knee to play with her hair. "Miss Elsa, can you spend the night here?" Elsa over acted in thinking, tapping her chin, thrilling the little ones with her theatrics. "Well I hadn't planned on it but since you asked, yes." She bopped the little girl's nose. The children begged her to make it snow for them. 

"Alright, alright let's do it over here so as to not get in the way- hey Nunenuk no pushing."

"Oh they are goners." Honeymaren said leaning against Ryder. "At least they'll keep them distracted so we can get some work done." He replied watching as the children switched back and forth from exploring Ryu to playing in Elsa's small snow fall with Olaf and Bruni.

The village had grown accustomed to Ryu's presence a lot quicker than what Elsa expected. She did her best to keep Ryu in her peripherals but that was difficult when everyone wanted her attention, especially the adolescents. 

Bulda and Grand Pabbie answered alot to Yelena and other elders who were either concerned or curious about the strange creature inhabiting the forest now. It definitely aided in dissipating the tension. 

Ryu stood when she lost sight of Elsa looking around anxiously. "I'm riding a dragon!" The boy on her back exclaimed. She trotted trying to pick up Elsa's scent in the air coming across a man struggling to push a wagon with a oven like contraption on the bed. Setting her rump on the ground slid the boy off to his disappointment, the grief short lived when he ran off after his peers. 

The man yelped when the wagon he shoved with his shoulders moved forward sending him to the ground. He peered around from the back, Ryu had the front clenched between her jaws walking backward. 

"Oh right there that's perfect!" He exclaimed when they made it to the table. "Thank you." Ryu panicked when his hand came towards her too quickly she hissed, backing up until she was startled by the table hitting her thigh. A large basin of some type of alcohol spilled to the ground knocked off by Ryu's tail. 

Her tendrils flattened when others came over to help with the mess. 

"Oh you're fine, don't get all sulky, we have plenty for the party tomorrow." Honeymaren said, clapping Ryu's flank. Ryder leaned in whispering. "If you ask me, everyone here could do with a little less." 

"Ryu!" A little voice rang through the village, Ryu's eyes widened as she leapt away from the thundering tiny footsteps coming towards. 

It wasn't as bad as she was expecting par Honeymaren's description of them, but she had already been poked in the eyes twice. 

Finally! 

She found Elsa conversing with three older women and a man laughing at something she just said as they sat around a fire pit. She was much more relaxed and informal than in Arendelle speaking a different tongue than the native Nordic language in Arendelle. More inclined to touch and being touched. Either a hug, arm pat or a shoulder squeeze of someone passing by. 

In fact that had been a regular behavior of everyone present with one another. Ryu felt her scales soften somewhat as she watched the forest people from a distance. Some stared at her as well, it wasn't as unnerving as before they were curious glances, holding fascination rather than fear. 

The afternoon sun tried its best to breakthrough the birch trees and blossoming plants. Sounds of nature and of the Northundrans crafting a gentle synchronous humdrum. 

Having sensed the stare Elsa turned and smiled showing teeth when she spied Ryu sitting on her haunches by a tree. She waved her over to the circle. Ryu delayed but eventually trotted over. 

"Here she is." Elsa said in Northuldran to the group. 

"Will she get any bigger?" One of the elders asked. Elsa shrugged regarding her. Grand Pabbie had said she was a fledgling, and still had two more age groups to go. 

"Oh yes! She has a long way to go. Growing for dragons is quite a strenuous and tiresome task. The younger and smaller the dragon the more they are likely to be aggressive in defense." They all listened intently to Grand Pabbie's musings. 

One of the elders lifted a hand to Ryu's snout for her to retract her head hissing deeply. He wasn't offended the slightest, laughing heartily. Elsa sucked in a breath sharply in worry. "I won't harm you." He promised, not moving to touch her again. Ryu probably had no idea what he just said so Elsa translated. 

Ryu's tense shoulders sagged somewhat, happy to have the attention off her. 

"So Elsa, any word on the monsters who broke into your home?"

Elsa sighed, straightening up. "Unfortunately it's not good news. It seems they came from a powerful nation Arendelle is in correspondence with. On the bright side we can probably settle this matter cordially." They contemplated this with hums and nods. Elsa was glad that they didn't push to know what nation had sent the assassins. 

Said nation would be visiting tomorrow. Northuldrans were slow to trust and somewhat slower to forgive when one of their own were threatened and would not welcome Georg Scherer if they all knew with open arms even if he wasn't involved. 

An elderly woman grunted, crossing her arms. "I'd hardly call an attempt on your life a 'matter' Elsa. And they tried to burn us out!" 

Elsa placed a hand on her arm giving an affable smile. Ryu mewled when she felt something sucking on her lower belly or at least trying to. Rising a small white reindeer calf kept nuzzling at her paws. 

Elsa giggled, scooping up the small animal in her arms, cooing at it. Its eyes were foggy and slightly pink. "Misty no suckling on Ryu, she doesn't have any milk for you-" Elsa side eyed her with a smirk. The baby bemoaned latching onto Elsa's inner wrist. "This is Misty, she tries to suckle from anyone who has a heartbeat. Let's go get you fed little one." Elsa rose slowly with the baby and began walking off. 

Turning back to Ryu her head jerked in the direction she was heading to. "Come on! You haven't met everyone just yet."

"Is she hungry?" Ryder asked atop Emil leaning on her antlers. 

"Oh she's starving. Always is." As if agreeing, the baby cried out. 

He was surrounded by reindeer grazing peacefully, that is until they caught the scent and sight of Ryu beginning to bellow and scramble away in disorder. 

Including Emil who sent Ryder lurching forward, clutching her antlers desperately. Elsa groaned, nestling the calf in the crook of her right arm lifting her left. "Step back okay?" Ryu complied. Elsa spun around elegantly creating a corral of ice enclosing the animals in so they wouldn't go stampeding out into the field and village. She stretched backward. 

Ryder handed her a satchel with a nozzle. Elsa held up the bag which the calf grasped frenzied, bobbing her head quickly. The herd still kept trotting around perturbed. "Alright everyone settle down-" Ryu was almost convinced to turn and go back to the village. "Oh don't go anywhere Ryu, they have to get used to you somehow. And you little one breathe!" Elsa pulled the nozzle out of the calf's mouth with some difficulty. 

"Well this is the herd Ryu, sorry they're a bit skittish." Ryder introduced grandly gesturing to the reindeer numbered at about fifty or so. Ryu peaked through the fencing. It was understandable to all present. Reindeer were prey animals and Ryu definitely had the aura of a predator, but the animals trusted their caretakers nonetheless. 

Honeymaren strode over from the village looking over fencing. She had Erin at her side who was much more bold in regard to Ryu, almost completely apathetic to her really. 

"They got spooked huh?" She asked her brother, hopping the fence with one arm. "Yes but they'll get used to her... Eventually."

Misty was set down when the satchel was emptied in record time and walked until her head hit the fencing. She slid it along until her nose poked against Ryu's. She couldn't see her but she definitely could smell her. 

"Well at least Misty likes you." Honeymaren mused. 

"Well I better get back and help with the decorations." Elsa said, flicking her wrist creating a path in the fence for her to walk through. 

"Oh so you're going to help and not sit on your butt chatting?" Honeymaren teased. 

"Hahaha-" Elsa mocked Honeymaren's jape while she held a reindeer's hoof, Elsa draping a leg and arm over the fence said in a contrary manner. "I was actually having a very serious conversation." 

"Well excuse me I had no idea the importance of how baby beavers are the cutest animal you've ever seen are a very pressing matter." Elsa's face blanched. 

Oh she heard that part.

"I think they're calling me back actually." She held her hand up to her ear nodding. They definitely weren't. "Do you two want me to keep this up?" 

"Nah they're fine, gonna have to get less nervous if we're going to be inviting bears, wolves, and a dragon." Honeymaren waved her hand to Ryu. 

Nodding Elsa lifted the fence and turned back with Ryu in tow. 

They were preparing for a party but the preparation felt like a party in itself. Ryu had even garnered some praise for helping some people as a living step ladder to reach the trees and hang lanterns, while Elsa used her magic for more intricate designs along the branches. As they worked through the day it waned off into the night meaning the sweet smells of roasted meats and vegetables filtered through the air. Multiple fires lit and huddled around where conversation was traded. 

Elsa was caught sprinkling tiny snowflakes on Ryder's head, whenever he would turn back to her she quickly pretended to be listening to Yelena resting her chin on a closed fist. "Elsa I know it's you!"

"Huh?" She questioned, seeming confused. "What's me?" 

"You keep putting-" he touched his damp head. "Snow in my hair." 

Elsa remained calm and confused. "I don't know what you're talking about." She all but mumbled. "Probably raining." 

He pursed his lips at her. "Oh right, right, it's raining just and only on me?" 

She shrugged. "I don't know, I'm not a water Spirit ask the water Spirit."

"Wha-"

"No, no, Ryder, I think you're confused. I am not a water Spirit, I am the fifth spirit, I control winter. I make things cold, not wet."

Honeymaren hummed loudly and deliberately at this coughing. 

"What?" 

"I don't know, I used to be the most eligible bachelorette in the tribe and then you came and now-" Honeymaren smirked devilishly. "I think the ladies would beg to differ about you making things wet." Elsa's face against the fire light looked even redder than what it probably was as she hid it in her hands. 

Ryu wasn't sure what the statement meant but it certainly made Elsa bashful and smell nervous. Honeymaren handed her a cup which she took and sniffed pulling it away. 

"No." Elsa tried to hand it back to her friend but she refused. 

"Elsa we are having splendid fire conversations, drink it." Honeymaren mocked in the accent they spoke in Arendelle.

Elsa frowned and cradled the cup in her hand. "Why is everyone always trying to get me drunk?" 

"Cause you're hilarious when drunk." A young man piped up from across the fire pit. 

"That's not true." Elsa mumbled through a pout. Ryu laughed, drawing in everyone's eyes at the strange sound when Elsa choked on a sip of the drink. 

Elsa shook her head coughing. "She's laughing at me, don't give her attention." She rasped. 

"Eat this." Ryu glanced down to see Nina holding a piece of flatbread. It smelt as if it had butter on it and some kind of berry similar to the juice Elsa gave her this morning but not quite the same. 

"Take it." She insisted, pushing it closer to Ryu who stared and then glanced around for some assistance. 

"She's not going to leave you be till you take it." Ryder spoke as if he had experience with the situation. 

"It's rieska." Nina confirmed. Gently Ryu used her lips to take the flatbread when she swallowed, she nuzzled Nina's neck sending her into a fit of giggles. 

"I too have something for you to try Ryu." Honeymaren said holding a cup that was dwarfed by the dragon's large muzzle. Ryu swallowed the burning liquid before huffing her alcoholic smelling breath in Honeymaren's face. 

She mimicked her chuckling. "I take it that means you like it." Honeymaren leaned against Ryu enjoying her warmth, when a child bounded up and plopped themselves on Elsa's lap. Like birds, more and more children flocked to her. "Tell us a story please!" They all bounced agreeing with the one who spoke up. Elsa smiling placed her cup away from them and exhaled heavily, already exhausted. "Mm why don't you tell me a story?" She suggested, the children thought about this for a while but one by one they began shaking their heads. "Tell us the story about um- about um Ahtohallan!" 

"I wish I could go there.". One boy lamented. 

"Well Ahtohallan is less of where and more of a whom." They gasped at the wonderful, playful intrigue Elsa's mask of mystery invoked. 

"Mhm and she's looking out for every single one of you. That's why Gale, Bruni, the rock giants, Nokk, and I are all here to protect you and keep you safe... Ahtohallan is our mother in a way, she birthed the magic that inhabits here and even Arendelle." The slight quiver in Elsa's voice drew Ryu's eye to her as she continued on telling the origins and nature of the glacier. Her smooth voice drew out a yawn in some of the youngsters and even Ryder. 

After the story the children were put to bed by their parents, the last to go was Nina who clutched at Ryu's chest and had to be pried off by her father's strong hands. 

They sat and talked until the fires died down and more people began to retire. 

"Alright-" Elsa yawned, stretching when she stood up very wobbly on her legs. "Alright come on Ryu let's go." Honeymaren smirked mirthfully at Ryu who merely raised where her brow would have been. 

She was drunk, but Ryu couldn't judge her for it. When she too stood she found herself unstable and had to take a few steps to regain balance. Elsa rested her arm around Ryu for support as they walked- stumbled really away. Ryu had not been drunk in a very long time and although it made her more reactive to sounds and sights, she liked it. She felt as if she were thinking everything and nothing. 

Elsa hummed a happy tune trying to lean against Ryu but also lead at the same time, her lovely voice through a drawl in slur was still lovely all the same. "If I were to dance for you... I'd dance like no one's watching... If I were to sing to you... I'd sing like no one's listening... If I were to love you, my love would have no end- for you are my friend." When Elsa pulled at Ryu's neck they found themselves in front of a goahti.

"Well this is it!" Elsa proclaimed too loud than what was appropriate. "My home away from home. I have blankets and books and...blankets...pillows...and things to read and some chocolate stored in there but don't tell anyone if the little ones knew they'd ransack me." It was nice and much suited Elsa with its blue linens and coverings stenciled with the same Selbu patterns as her fireplace. If there was one thing Elsa was, it was consistent. She liked what she liked and kept those things and aspects with her wherever she went.

"Okay, come on in!" She said excitedly scrambling in the front flap. When Ryu did not immediately follow due to being unsure she'd fit, a hand slowly came past the flaps and a finger beckoned her in. Crouching low the dragon slipped a few times while taking care to not bump or ruin anything. To her it felt more like a nest, and she was honored by the invitation even if Elsa was a bit tipsy. 

Elsa grabbed her neck again and pulled until the dragon could fit inside and landed her chest upon her stomach with a large oof. Soon after the spirit laughed her wheezy laugh. "See you fit just fine- it's fine, perfect, okay! Good job team." Elsa cheered, sitting up when Ryu regained her footing. 

"You have a good day?" Ryu thought about changing to her more talkative body but the insecurity of being that vulnerable in a new place when she could have the choice to not be was too great. She was exhausted and a bit overwhelmed too. 

She huffed lowly. Elsa tilted her head crossing her knees. "Yes it was pretty tiring huh?" Ryu sat in front of the entrance and curled her limbs in closing her eyes until she heard the sweetest voice she'd ever known whisper. "I'm so proud of you." 

When her eyes opened Elsa's smile confirmed that she only spoke the truth. Elsa looked as if she were about to cry but her grin conflicted with this. Ryu had heard others be told this before but never herself. 

"You were so brave, and gentle and I-" Ryu made a confused noise, she had definitely not been, hissing at three people and causing five fires to the decorations, but maybe Elsa's standard for her was that low. No. She wouldn't let that spoil it, this moment she didn't know she had been waiting for all her life and didn't even know was possible. 

"Northuldra is my home, as much as Arendelle and my house on the hill. I'm really happy I got to show it to you cause-well... you're my friend. I hope to someday be your friend." Elsa was so eloquent when she was nervous, Ryu had noticed, sounding like a queen speaking among subjects she didn't know how to please, specifically slow and clear as if every word was carefully considered. 

Grinning a little bit, Ryu crouched and crawled towards the spirit who busied herself setting out pillows and blankets and blew smoke into her face, warm and somewhat moist from spittle. Elsa closed her eyes and coughed then blew a contrasting cold smokey breeze to Ryu. 

It was thrilling being understood, to be spoken in a language she wasn't adept in but knew deep down inside. 

"What'd you say we light this place up huh?" Ryu could have reminded Elsa the lighting qualities of her magic, and also the fact that her eyes perfected seeing in darkness but her energy was strong from her crepuscular tendencies and the way Elsa's face already seemed to be so enthusiastic with the idea she couldn't resist.

So they ran, straight to the meadow, the path lit by Bruni who found them joining the sprint and Gale blowing through their hair vigorously. It was thrilling, they stumbled and scared the nocturnal forest life half to death with the they bursted from the bushes. Elsa would definitely regret this in the morning, from her back to the bruises and scrapes that decorated her knees but for she didn't care. 

When they cascaded through the bushes like the waters of a wild bursted dam the fireflies scattered decorating the northern lights like a billion stars. 

"Haha get em!" Elsa growled pointing towards their tiny prisoners. All the same they were gently rolling and chasing each other through the tall grass rather than the original quarry. 

When they finally settled painting laboriously the fireflies slowly fluttered and landed on Ryu's scales who resisted the urge to itch as they crawled about. 

Elsa gasped and hovered her finger above one which flew away. "I have read that fireflies enjoy warmth and humid temperatures. Are they cold?" Elsa asked with the concern of a mother who was watching her children shiver. She turned her frown into a smile and backed her hand away. 

"Well they have you now." Ryu gurgled, displacing some but they drew right back into her chest. Ryu inhaled deeply. Elsa smelt salty, exhilarated yet calming, balsamic, and spicy. She smelt of the forest and blood, of the dirt beneath her fingernails from scrambling to stand up from the ground. Someone who meandered up the north mountains and came back with scars that told their story. 

Her smile was small, hopeful, telling of how she was feeling just as much as her scent was. The familiarity they shared reminded Ryu of ancient books, ones read by many and known by all, the green pines, the alcohol they drank tonight that lulled them into silliness and would give them headaches in the morning to laugh about and regret. 

Elsa smelt of all the things they did that day. Something that Ryu had never known in her entire life of wandering the earth. 

Elsa smelt like a friend. 

Elsa smelt and looked like home. 

Chapter Text

"Gotcha!" Elsa laughed at the screeching giggles and squeals the children erupted in when she caught one in the game of hide and seek they had been playing. She hung upside down from a tree branch her legs had been gripping and tickled the kid for good measure before letting him go and run. It was his turn to seek but the rules had been getting bent. All the children wanted to do was hide but Elsa didn't mind.

Climbing down she caught sight of Ryu reclining in the grass, she was in a cycle of dozing off and jerking awake when Nina asked a question. Wearing clothes Honeymaren lent her while Nina decorated her hair in flowers and jewelry. 

"These are one of Miss Elsa's Favorites!" Nina said holding up a purple Heather, she had been glued to Ryu's side the entire day. Ryu flipped her hair and leaned over. "Put 'em in." 

"Miss Elsa!" Elsa turned to the voice that was behind a tree. "Come find me!"

Elsa meandered over to the tree, hands clasped behind her back. "I wonder where Nunenuk is-" she wondered loudly, checking behind all the wrong trees. "Is he back here?"  

"No!" She chuckled at his growing frustration and decided to put the boy out of his misery and 'found' him. 

"Wow-" Ryu said, looking herself over in the little mirror Nina held up. "I look beautiful." She said it with a confidence Elsa almost found herself being envious of and humourous all at the time. 

"They're here!" 

"The queen's here and her friends!" 

The cries alerted Elsa and Ryu who stood to speed walk to the entrance of the village, the children hot on their heels. 

Red hair was the first thing Elsa's eyes zeroed in on. It was as if her presence could be sensed by Anna. She turned around from speaking to Yelena over her shoulder then jogged over to Elsa who braced herself for the momentum of the impact. 

Encircling her arms around Anna's hips allowed her to twirl her. 

"Miss me?" She asked coyly. Anna scrunched her nose and offered the same expression. 

"You?" She dug a finger into Elsa's chest gently. "Absolutely not.

"You look absolutely beautiful." Elsa replied softly. Anna blushed, rubbing her fingers. Anna's attire wasn't necessarily formal, as if she were expecting some strenuous activity, Her slender green dress was complemented by the purple sash tied around her stomach, with a black military like short jacket decorated with purple lapels clasped by gold buttons. 

Kristoff in his brown tunic and tan pants, clearly did not want to be dressed up by any means while traversing. 

"I have so much to tell you!" They spoke simultaneously, staring a few moments before laughing. 

As the rest of Anna's traveling convoy arrived. It seemed she had ridden Kjekk faster than everyone else. His heavy panting was a tell. The horse neighed when Anna stroked his strong neck apologetically, sometimes forgetting his much older age. 

"Olaf!" Kneeling she scooped up the snowman and held him up in a bridal hold. 

"Anna! I have so much to tell you! We made sun tea this morning, and Bulda and Grand Pabbie are here-oh and some men broke into Elsa's house- and she flew! We had a picnic and dinner-" 

Anna shook her head fervently, Elsa could see the information overload make her nearly drop Olaf, she still held his head but his body had fallen to the ground. 

"Olaf, slow down- we don't want to overwhelm Anna. Don't worry, we'll tell her everything but later." Elsa said in the austere way that got the message across to him. 

"Oooh." He hummed as his head was put back in place. "Sorry it was just so exciting and also kind of scary but don't worry Anna I kept Elsa and Ryu out of trouble- well not really but I thought about it." 

Anna smiled, placing a hand on his cheek. "Thank you Olaf, Kristoff and Sven missed you too you know." Her eyeline trailed to Kristoff unhooking Sven's harness. 

They watched him race over to Kristoff and Sven, both unsure of what to say next. Elsa observed Anna quietly to not disturb her sister from processing everything Olaf had just said. Her expressions seemed to match the train of thought and her eyes fluttered as if she were actually reading something. Once everything was neatly organized in her mind Anna looked back to Elsa much more calm. 

"Your letter." Elsa nodded, gripping Anna's arm in hopes to assuage her worries and growing anxiety. 

"God Els-" Anna lowered her tone. "This is getting out of hand, but don't worry I have a solution." Elsa quirked her brow. 

"Which is?" 

Anna's eyes flicked to Georg who dismounted, watching everyone and everything with his beady gaze, back to Elsa and led her away from the crowd on a secluded walk through the forest. 

She had caught that. The atmosphere of the warm summer, friendly air, and laughter was scared off by the looming Scherer. Elsa hated having him here, she hated exposing her people, the forest, her friends, and family to this type of person. The type that had a dangerous thirst of knowledge and was willing to get it no matter the costs simply because they were agog. It was a defiled curiosity. 

Elsa wouldn't let him have his way. Not here. She'd show him the magic of the land was not only peaceful and benevolent but also powerful when tempered with. 

Her grip on Anna's arm tightened, her face became placid yet underneath it was a bellicose scowl. 

"Anna, why don't you say– find Honeymaren and Ryder while I go back to greet Mr. Scherer privately? I need to explain and show some things to him." Her voice was steady, holding a confounding fluidity of strength. Her eyes azure blue yet held the same reflection of a wolf's golden gaze which caught sight of prey. 

Despite trusting her sister, Anna could not ignore her own urges to protect her. 

"I'm not leaving you with that man alone, not knowing what I know." She tried to match Elsa's tone but instead sounded riddled with anxiety. Elsa thought for a moment, she knew Anna wouldn't let her have the time she needed with him. 

"Is it... That you don't want me to hear what you say to him?" She couldn't help sounding a little hurt at the notion. 

Elsa faltered, shaking her head. "No! Not at all! Sweetheart-" she cooed, Anna leant her cheek into Elsa's palm she had cupped on her face. 

"I need him to think we are alone for this discussion and he is a very smart and allusive man. Suspicious." If Anna wanted to take part she would need a level of discretion that many would assume be easy to obtain in the forest but Elsa had seen how well Georg could read his environment, they'd be moving around as well so Anna would have to follow, it was a risk she couldn't take.

"I'll be introducing him to the other spirits and I need to study how he reacts. If we're alone I can safely assume his micro-aggressions will be genuine. He acts differently around people than when it's just him and I." 

Elsa began pacing, her mind whirring into many possible outcomes, some end results being undesirable. They still would need to depend on Georg for a good report back to Ruskland. 

Her sister wasn't exactly the most stealthy of people either, Anna wouldn't have been able to be close enough to hear but not be seen. How could she-

She rubbed away the prickly feeling spreading along her arms. It was a familiar sensation. 

Elsa halted, her eyes dilated as the bright smile she casted towards Anna slowly became a smirk. Closing her eyes she chuckled, arms crossed to call fondly. "Ryu? You can come out now." Anna tilted her head and began looking around. 

Elsa had no idea where the dragon would come from but was answered a minute later. Anna yelped when she looked to the left and saw Ryu swaying her arms by her sides. 

"Were you spying on us?" Anna asked, taking her hand down from her chest. Ryu shook her head no. She adjusted her hat which looked incredibly similar to Honeymaren's, she probably stole it from Ryder. 

Grinning Elsa took her hand and led her closer to Anna. "Ryu, could you do me a favor?" 

She shrugged. "Depends on what it is." Anna raised her brow when Elsa glanced at her.

"Do you think you could help Anna accompany Georg Scherer and I... Without him knowing you both were present?" Ryu now studied Anna closely enough to make her squirm under the scrutiny. 

"Yesu, I was going to anyways-" 

"I know you were." Elsa said, sounding both amused and exasperated. Anna's dubious scrunched face did not leave Elsa's calm resolved expression. 

She knew no one better at not being seen or heard than the dragon who spent her entire life watching humans closely enough to know some of their cultural practices and behaviors without detection.

Ryu's manner of movement reminded her of the cats that dwelt on the rooftops and in the shadowy alley ways juxtaposition to how loud and careless she could be in general. Everyday proving to Elsa how much of a walking contradiction she was. 

Ryu pulled her leg back while the other bent, keeping her balanced, her hands moved purposely as if she were mimicking Elsa's hands when she wielded her magic. 

Her accent thickened considerably when she spoke. 

"Anna I will teach you the art of ninjutsu-"

"Wha- what's Ninjutsu?" Anna began trying to copy the stance holding her arms out like a flapping bird for balance. Her leg couldn't stretch as far behind her as Ryu's nearly sending her toppling. 

Else watched with a hand gripping her chin, brows furrowed in confusion. 

Ryu expertly stood and pressed her fist into her palm bowing, Elsa was positive that she was just being overly theatrical. "It is the beautiful mixture of war and espionag-eh." 

Anna was beginning to become entranced at the thrilling idea, she loved learning anything new and again Anna copied bowing as well. "Wait, how is this going to help us?" 

"Do not question your senpai." Both Anna and Elsa blinked at her then looked at each other worriedly. 

It seemed Ryu had taken the inch Elsa gave and turned it into a thousand miles. 

"We have much to prepare for Kohai if you are to learn Ninjutsu- Forō shite kudasai!" They watched Ryu take off into the woods flipping over a log. 

"Umm- okay, I think that means I'm supposed to... Follow her?" A few steps in and Anna turned and waved at Elsa who waved back. 

"I'll see you later." Elsa said softly. 

Anna smirked over her shoulder. "No you won't." Elsa winced when Anna tripped over a root landing in some bushes. 

"I'm okay! I'm alright, supposed to look forward when you walk."

Anxiety began gripping Elsa's heart and stomach causing a terrible ache. She glanced at Gale over head when she blew down swirling next to her while she continued staring in the direction Ryu flipped and Anna tumbled in. 

"What have I done?" 

"Hello Honeymaren." The sanguine voice turned Honeymaren's head to see Tobias holding two goblets. Honeymaren grinned and took the offered cup speaking after a sip of the wine. "Tobias!" Her brows set downward when she questioned. "Aren't you supposed to be on holiday?" 

He released a long exhale and blinked slowly. "It was cut short by dragons, assassins, and scheming villains." 

She nodded as he joined her overlooking the party that began shortly after everyone settled. 

Elsa and Anna were who knows where, Ryu was probably stalking them, Kristoff had stowed away with Grand Pabbie and Bulda probably to speak with them about the mysterious weapon of nefarious magic, and Ryder was- well he seemed to be overtaking Lord Weselton who appeared engrossed with whatever they were talking about. 

Mostly she had been listening in to the lighthearted bickering between Mattias and Yelena. 

Tobias apparently didn't know what to say next, they had only spoken a handful of times in the past but from what she could tell he was a sensitive soul, empathetic to most. 

"Well I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted. The royals do keep us on our toes don't they?" She glanced at him to see his quiet laugh. 

"Yes they do, we'll be gray by the time we reach our thirties I presume." He then retreated into his mind for a few minutes occasionally looking at the side of her face. A small noise sounding like the beginning of a word was stopped then he spoke again. 

"Would you care to take a walk with me, enjoy the forest for what it is?" In his eyes Honeymaren observed a specific type of fondness swirling in them. Oh boy that's not good.

She wouldn't assume though, and hoped the fondness was for nothing but her character, his outstretched arm offered to her implied something else entirely. 

"Sure! Just let me grab my brother." Tobias graciously bowed his head, lowering his arm, keeping his face and eyes pleasant. Guilt tried squeezing into Honeymaren's heart, but she sealed the cracks. She liked who she liked and wasn't willing to compromise on that. 

"Ah Miss Yelena-" Georg Scherer bowed in a manner which made Yelena unabashedly roll her eyes. "A pleasure to see you again." 

"I wish I could share the same sentiment Mr. Scherer." There was no use in hiding it, yes they were not formally in a conflict, they both were on opposite ends of a subjective spectrum of beliefs and principles, and had nothing in common. Scherer remained polite as he could be despite this. 

"Your people are a wonder I must say, frozen in time, connected to the magic of these lands." 

"I know our history." She replied curtly without sparing a look in his direction. 

"Well I compliment you on how quickly you are all adjusting to joining us in the real world." Now she faced him. 

"I do not accept your compliments for I do not believe that they are truly complimentary but instead you use it as nothing more than a lubricant to slither your way in any crevice you can spot with your nose." His mustache twitched upward. 

"Listen to me and listen well I do not repeat myself, and I know you are not deaf given how much you love to hear yourself talk, if you bring any harm to my people- Elsa and Anna included- or these lands I will ensure that you believe that your God has forsaken you, from when you cry out for mercy and he does not answer." 

When Elsa happened upon Georg and Yelena her hurried footsteps hesitated at the stare down that they were initiated in. The air around them tight, constricting any who passed or approached. 

Elsa coughed into her fist gaining their attention. She forced a smile and nodded to Yelena. 

"I'll let you two be." She stated, leaving slowly. Scherer looked after her and grunted. 

Elsa had no desire to be left in the man's presence not by fear of any potential lethal intentions towards her but the emotional fatigue he caused. The situation and company was much more favorable if the less hostile composure he once held himself in was any tell. This slighted an offensive nerve deep within Elsa but it mattered not. His underestimating of her would soon be his downfall that she was certain of. 

Clearing her throat again Elsa spoke. "Mr. Scherer-'' no Pleasant to see again, or hope you're faring well. flowery words and greetings would be no use. They both knew they'd be a lie and just noise getting in the way of what really mattered. 

"Ah Lady Elsa not accompanied by your dragon companion I see." The word became nasty and implicative when he said it and Elsa would make certain to hopefully never hear him say it again. So he decided to snoop around Arendelle and after reaping no fruit debased his ears with lowly gossip and rumors. 

Elsa held her chin high and voice confident. "She's a bit busy, I'm afraid entertaining, guests for the party." He gave a noncommittal grunt as if he couldn't believe a beast capable of possessing such gifts as hospitality and manners.

"A shame if I had known a simple maid was a creature of myth I would have dissected her more thoroughly." 

Elsa took a calming breath keeping her goal in the forefront of her thoughts instead of wrath. "I do believe I promised you a meeting with the other spirits of the forest did I not?" He followed her unspoken invitation to a forest trail. 

The petty side of of Elsa wanted to take- a high social man of Scherer's stature- through what some considered the rough patch of the woods but this opportunity was too important for such a spiteful ruse- Elsa watched his beady eyes silently scoff at the beautiful nature that surrounded them and hid back a sneer- as tempting as it was. 

First stop on the tour was a stream Nokk frequented which trickled banks along almost the entirety of the forests connecting to other channels of water serving as his own personal highway. 

Georg had seen the watery steed before but never in his own element. Once his anamorphic change was complete he paid no heed to the man greeting Elsa as tenderly as he always did.

"This as you know is Nokk, he's as brave and noble as he is stubborn and surefooted." The horse had no qualms with that description, snorting in agreement. He held his head high and proud. As they spoke on about the science behind his existence Scherer transparently shocked that Elsa had no answers and appeared content with that. Even with Gale and Bruni, the answer was just simply magic and it almost felt disrespectful to pick apart the matter's intricacies, as if one was doing a disservice to the immaculate that was their existence. 

"Mr. Scherer? Do you question the lord's existence? How he came to be? How he conjured the ability to create life itself?" The man shook his head no slowly. 

"Then why question us? We simply are like this because he made us to be. If I wasn't meant to have my powers-" Elsa crafted a small flurry to add effect to her words. "Then I wouldn't, my parents performed no acts of sin when conceiving me, no rituals or spells. They had union in holy matrimony in the eyes of the church. So I was born just as I should be." The notion that Elsa had been ordained by gods to have such power did not taste well with her but she had to relate to the man in some way and if she had to feign the idea of such implications then so be it. 

"I had no idea that you had any standing with faith Lady Elsa." He challenged. Elsa shrugged then bent low to tend to a sapling which was struggling to sit upright from being trampled by an animal. 

"I don't, but I've been and have been continuously challenged in what I thought possible and impossible so who am I- a person who has seen magic trolls, water horses, winds with personality and character, and talking snowmen- what right do I have to tell someone their faith in any God is false?" 

Georg Scherer watched Elsa gently stroke the budding plant with the consideration and love some parents even lack for their own children.

He remained silent searching for an answer while she waited for one thus draping them in silence. 

"How is this supposed to-AH! He-help me be more stealthy!" Anna's arms flayed to and fro as she desperately tried to grasp at the air and balance on the wood Ryu sent her adrift on in a small water reservoir.

Ryu closed her eyes, grinning. "Ah the answer is simple, stealth is not a single action but a group of many actions and balance is one of them no?" Anna in her panic did not see the dragon sink down into water swiftly approaching. 

Anna barked out a laugh of triumph when she found balance finally. Her head snapped up to where Ryu sat on the bank or more so where she once sat but was now missing. 

"Ryu?" Anna called looking around. She yelped when a sudden tremor sent the drift wood back into wobbling. A reflection beneath the water's surface told her where the dragon had gone. That little imp! 

"Ryu! This is cheating!" Ryu surfaced still bumping against the wood. "Adapt! Overcome!" She cheered until Anna fell into the water with a splash and cry. 

Ryu stopped treading to laugh at the now soaked queen who floated to the top. Her face was not amused until she heard the laughter and thought about how she must have looked flopping all over to keep afloat and finally joined in with her own giggles. 

After a few...lessons Anna learned pretty much nothing about the art of ninjutsu as Ryu called it but she could at least crouch and walk at the same time without tripping.

"Now we just have to find Elsa-" Anna mused, wringing out her hair. Ryu, lifting her nose, sniffed thrice then moved ahead somewhat. "She went that way." Anna's eyes followed Ryu's pointed finger towards the streams. 

"You know I used to think it was a bit strange you can do that, but it's actually kinda cool." Anna said joining Ryu's side. 

"Oh?" The dragon seemed genuinely shocked by this as they began the pursuit. "Yea I mean what are you even smelling for?" She shrugged. 

"Erusa." It almost made Anna feel stupid for asking had Ryu's tone held any teasing or ill intent but it hadn't so she continued. 

"Well yeah obviously but I mean what does that mean? What do you pick up?" 

"You mean what does she smell like?" Anna considered this. She did know what Elsa smelt like, memorized it even. She recalled all the times as a child and even a young adult when she would catch an article left behind be it a pillow or glove, or blanket that once belonged to her sister and how she would inhale its air gluttonously while crying. She'd cling to the object until Elsa's smell faded, replaced with her own. With Ryu however it seemed the scents she picked up from Elsa as she described them were much, much more intimate. An invasion of privacy if one were silly enough to take assault from it, but Elsa knew Ryu had been tracking her now and in the past from how adept the dragon was at it and was fine with it. 

So Anna shook away the thought and followed her until Ryu began slinking lower and lower to the earth, she mimicked as best she could but Ryu proved to be more quick and fluid in her motions pausing a step at random, freezing like a sculpture in positions that looked completely uncomfortable. She moved as if she weren't in a more human-like body on her hands and bare feet. 

The only thing moving on her were her scales which twitched every now and then. If Anna didn't know any better she'd say the two of them were hunting Elsa and Scherer. The latter, she wouldn't mind, if Ryu decided to pounce on the man and do with him as she wished. 

Anna snapped from her surprisingly morbid train of thought when she heard Elsa speak about religion and ducked out of sight. She tried to steady her breathing and focus on the words being said. 

Her hands supporting her crouched body shaking from exertion, she looked right to see Ryu still as a rock, miosis irises glued to Scherer's back past the bushes which concealed them. 

For an hour they successfully trailed the two needing less caution when the rock trolls came lumbering by and Anna felt very proud of herself. 

"Elsa you are an amazing individual to say the least-" Why did Anna feel as if a but was coming on? And since when were they on a first name basis? 

"I sense a 'but' is to follow Mr. Scherer." Elsa did not turn to him, instead keeping an eye on the trolls clearing away debris which were forming a dam down in a ravine. 

"Ever perceptive. Do you believe that anyone is capable of change?" Elsa sighed now staring at the horizon's setting sun. 

"Yes I do, anyone is capable of changing, if they will change or wish to is an entirely different matter." 

"I sense altruism in your statement, so if someone is capable of changing for the better, why should it be any different for a person to change for the worst?" Anna watched her sister's shoulders tighten and arms cup their neighbor's elbow. 

"If I am following your insinuation correctly you are alluding to that even if you believe me to want to bring only good and peace as well as the other spirits there is still the worry that that may change in the future." 

"Correct. Now it is not a matter of whether you will, the possibility of that you could is still a... Threat." 

Elsa's voice became more disheartened at this. "It's a lot to ask of someone.

"Indeed it is." 

Anna did not like where the conversation had led them. She could understand both perspectives, she knew her sister would never intentionally bring harm to even her enemies but no one else who did not know Elsa truly could be assured of this. It made her pity those that feared her sister, living with worry of their safety and she couldn't blame them. She learned harshly the pitfalls of trusting too easily and swiftly. 

Yet she still could not just let Scherer tarnish her sister's or the other spirits' name just from a fear especially since he did not have the assuredness she did. 

Anna finalized a plan that had been brewing in her mind for the past two days. 

Ryu watched Mattias, Tobias, and Halima bid goodbye to Northuldra and the royals with Scherer in tow. The conversation was still buzzing in her mind as she kept her eyes trained on the back of him. When she finally looked away and noticed Anna had been doing the same as well, she was clutching Elsa's hand tightly. 

Even Thomas knew not to overstep the queen and try to garner Elsa's attention for himself so he clapped joyously and clasped Ryder around the shoulder. "With the old stiffies now gone perhaps you can show me how you party in properly in the Northuldran way eh?" 

"Uuuh-" Ryder opened his mouth when Honeymaren stepped in, already delegating orders to the crowd and her brother. 

"Ryder, why don't you show Lord Weselton where we keep the mule wine while everyone else gets the food and music started?" 

"Oh yea um sir? My lord?" Thomas waved away Ryder's stammer, not removing his hand. "No no, titles here just call me Thomas my good man!" 

The gregarious Lord led Ryder away into the crowd. 

Elsa, now surrounded by Anna, Kristoff, the trolls, and Olaf, eyed with a hard stare Honeymaren, Yelena, and Ryu to follow them into a large goahti. 

"Kristoff I know it doesn't sit well with you-"

"Sit well with me, I can point out at least three issues with this idea Anna. One: If Arendelle's crown is going to make a formal statement in person to the Ruskland empire wouldn't it be odd that the queen is without her consort? Two: as far as we know now Julien came aboard a Ruskland embassy ship which makes Ruskland enemy territory and three: this doesn't sit well with me in fact this doesn't even stand or have any good position with me." 

Despite his even tone Kristoff was incredibly disturbed by the idea of Anna going back to Ruskland with Scherer and this would not be an easy thing to sway him on. "Kristoff's right Anna we'll be safer if we go as a group." Elsa added squeezing her shoulder.

"I second or third? the notion the more backup we have the better." Honeymaren twirled her staff easily. 

"Hai!" Ryu bowed her head which drew all eyes towards her with scrupulous expressions of doubt. 

"Hey-" Anna greeted, waving her fingers. "You're not coming." Ryu's face fell, after all they had been through together what with her throwing Anna in the water and tossing her from the tree branch... She- well Ryu thought they had a connective understanding! 

"I am." 

"You're not." Kristoff voiced, shaking his head. 

"I am." Ryu shrugged.

"No." It was Honeymaren's turn to protest. 

"But yes." 

"Ryu, it's probably best that you don't come-'' Elsa cringed at her betrayed face. "Those in Ruskland aren't as accustomed to..." She thought of careful words. "To well people like us there and if word of a dragon in Ruskland got out then it could travel to those hunting you and put you in even more danger." Ryu sighed and pouted. She'd never get any leeway at this rate. It was when her expression morphed to a wry smile that her friends became more and more concerned.

"What?" 

"Oh nothing..." She trailed off haughtily. "Just eh everyone has a choice they're free to make in life, you can choose to not let me come and then I have freedom to choose to follow you very easily without your knowing of my location or you can let me come on your own turns." Anna's jaw clenched so tightly it could be seen in her temple while Elsa rubbed her nose's bridge. 

Ryu was able to ignore the side eye glares, feeling quite pleased and smug with herself giving Anna her focus when she was able to speak again. 

"Are you threatening us?" 

"If you consider my presence a threat then yes."

Anna groaned then mumbled. "A threat to sanity yes but if you're going to come we have rules for you to follow."

"I wouldn't suspect anything less." 

Taking a calming breath Anna grounded herself. "Let's think about tomorrow tomorrow and let's think about tonight tonight. "

"Anna, are you sure that's how it goes?" 

"Yes!" Was Ryu's new favorite thing to question what Anna said? Because evidence suggested yes. 

She tapped her chin."I thought it was 'think about tomorrow next week."

"No cause then that would be thinking about last week when we're in next week."

"So the saying is 'be reminiscing of the past?"

"No! It's 'worry about tomorrow tomorrow." 

"But then it wouldn't be tomorrow when tomorrow happens it would today." 

Kristoff had already begun tuning out the conversation as Honeymaren left the tent. 

"So think about yesterday yesterday and think about today today?"

"It would be impossible to think about yesterday yesterday since it already happened."

"But technically it is possible if we think about today today cause then tomorrow it'll be thinking about tomorrow's yesterday today or actually yesterday if we're in tomorrow."

A foreign voice caused them all to jump, seeing a Thomas who seemingly appeared out of nowhere. 

"In this context-" 

"Has he been there the whole time?" Elsa whispered. 

"No, we just came in." Says Ryder. 

"I think I do believe the verbiage is circumstantial entirely. Elsa, am I using that word correctly, circumstantial?"

"Mm no." Elsa replied casually leaving the tent as well with Ryu by her side. 

She'd leave the gathering early to set up her house to entertain Anna, and Kristoff, the non verbal consensus being they'd stay the night. 

The only problem was that if they stayed in the guest room where would Ryu sleep? 

Ryu watched her pontificate the question. Elsa was certain the dragon wouldn't mind frequenting some other place afterall she did sleep in the woods but it felt rude to banish her from the cozy comforts of bed to house her sister and brother-in-law. 

Would it be inappropriate for them to share a room Elsa was sure she could make a cot for herself to sleep on. 

Clearing her throat she finally turned to Ryu who gave her attention. "Well um Ryu?" 

The dragon blinked at her. "Would you mind resting in my bed while Anna and Kristoff stayed in the guest room?"

"Would you mind me resting in your bed, Erusa?" That was entirely unfair to do and warmed Elsa's cheeks and neck. She shook her head entering her bedroom and set to creating a cot. 

"Erusa?" Elsa turned to Ryu who was seated upon the edge of the bed gingerly. Ryu's brows scrunched sympathetically. "We have slept near each other before and I don't think a cot would be good for your back. I don't mind sharing the space with you but if it makes you more easy I can uh lay on the cot." She nodded towards the one Elsa had set up, smiling softly. 

Elsa hadn't meant for the "I don't mind sharing with you." To come out as breathlessly as it had but it did barely pass as a whisper. Ryu nodded and watched her retreat into the washroom. Her bosom rose quickly with each breath which hammered away. What was this reaction? Elsa asked herself. Entirely ridiculous is what it was. She had slept near Ryu before sharing her bed was no different than the times Ryu had fallen asleep with her head of muzzle resting upon Elsa's lap in the gardens and forest. 

As Elsa changed and freshened up a part of her wished to find Ryu as a dragon curled up on her bed but instead she walked in to Ryu lacing up a nightshirt still seated on the mattress. 

Swallowing Elsa signaled to the door when she heard Sven's sleigh in the yard. 

Anna wondered why she barely spoke as Elsa put Olaf to bed and bid goodnight to her and the trolls. 

Elsa was in her head tonight and there she'd stay. She lingered outside her door and almost knocked when she opened it. Her face felt as if it was burning in spite of her efforts to cool it down at the sight of Ryu leaning against the headboard atop of the sheets. She smiled sweetly at Elsa who bit her lip attempting to grin back. 

Elsa stood at the edge of the bed, the only other person she had climbed into bed with were her parents, Anna, Honeymaren and Olaf. For some reason this felt... Different. 

Pulling back the sheets Elsa climbed into her bed and sat back twiddling her thumbs. She could feel Ryu's eyes on her intently. 

"How was the- the ninjutsu training?" 

"Anna learned nothing... But I got to throw her into a pond." This drew a chuckle from Elsa easing some of the tension. She glanced at Ryu's legs and tugged at the blanket. "I know you probably don't have to but you can get under it you know." Ryu got up as Elsa peeled back the corner letting her crawl into the space. 

Once settled Ryu grabbed her fauna book and began reading, so Elsa copied the action and started her own venture into literature. Eventually things became much more comfortable and Elsa found the small noises be it a sniffle or shuffle from the dragon to be a comfort. Usually at this hour she'd be here alone but now... Her eyes flicked to the side at Ryu who seemed very content... The silence was a comfort instead of being a result of one lacking company. Even the page turns were nice. Elsa valued her alone time greatly but this, just existing together was something she could get used to and enjoy. 

They stayed like this naturally drifting closer and closer till they were just merely inches away from not touching for about two hours when Elsa yawned. "You can dose the light if you'd like." Ryu commented, appearing to not stop her reading. So Elsa did and still Ryu kept on reading as the spirit laid on her side clutching Sir Jorgenbjorgen to her chest. "That must be handy." Said Elsa. 

Ryu lifted her head, Elsa couldn't see her expression but heard the smile in her voice. "It is. Oyasumi Erusa." Giggling when Elsa's sleepily replied. 

"Oyasumi Erusa." 

Chapter Text

She looked rather dashing if Ryu said so herself... And she did. After giving one last twist in the mirror, turning, hands akimbo she looked to Bruni perched on a chest. "Well what ya think?" Tilting his head, eyes squinted in appraisal he licked his eyeball. 

Snapping her fingers Ryu nodded in silent agreement and scooted him off the chest containing spare clothes and cloths. "Ah-ha!" She lifted a black garment and set to work manipulating it to take the shape of her desire. Sure this excursion's purposes were very perilous in nature but that didn't mean it also couldn't be fun. 

The last provisions and luggage were loaded onto the Royal full rigged ship Fredriksværn Jernbre, the pride and joy of the Royal non combative naval Fleet of Arendelle. The ship was a namesake for Elsa and Anna's Great-great grandfather Fredrick Árnadalr. The large vessel brandished green wood with gold gilding along the sides. The prow's nautical figurehead was a beautifully carved Eagle. 

Elsa had only traveled upon it thrice, the first trip to the kingdom of Corona was one of frequent snow storms of anxiety from sea travel both Anna and Elsa possessed, the last ones went by much smoother with the help of Nokk aid's. Elsa had finally conquered her fear of oceans, the bitter wounds had turned to dull scars. Fear would not rule her life any longer. 

The ship's Captain, a long weathered naval officer and well respected in Arendelle's navy, had earned every single medal his green and black pressed uniform adorned. 

"Ah Lady Elsa, I must say it is an honor to be accompanying you, please if you need anything-" his large calloused hands gestured to the entirety of the ship. "Do not hesitate to ask." Elsa knew the proper thing to do was to offer her hand to him if he so asked for it and she would have, possessing nothing but high regard for him and his services. Her esteem for him increased tenfold when he made no request instead allowing her to walk beside him along the dock. 

"A small bird told me that we will be having an... Unexpected guest joining us- she was very eager this morning to board-" his goading tone made Elsa withhold a wince knowing exactly who he was referring to. 

"Yes that is correct, Captain Saunes but rest assured she will be on her best behavior and prove to be no detriment to your crew or Fredriksværn Jernbre and I will take full responsibility for all her actions." This must have satisfied him enough to turn his attention to Anna and Kristoff bowing deeply, paying the Royal couple the proper reverence. 

Anna of course was the most casual of the group in greeting with a beaming smile. "Hello Captain Saunes-" her attention was immediately taken by the ship and its crew who moved with such precision and fluidity of cogs in a clock, she whistled in veneration. 

Kristoff too nodded, holding his large knapsack carrying everything he'd need over his shoulder. "It's big." The simple statement earned a nudge from Anna. "She's more than big she's - she's-"

"Big." Honeymaren finished for her, jogging up the dock to join them except her tone fluctuated at the sight, she had never seen a ship like this before in her life let alone travel upon one. Her eyes bounced from the large beautiful sails rolled up doned in purple and green with the golden crocus taking centerfold. 

Elsa and the captain shared a chuckle at her gawking. 

"So where is Ryu?" 

The question broke Elsa from her observations of Honeymaren's reaction to a frown. She turned to the captain. "Didn't you say she was already on board?" 

His eyes looked past her shoulder with an unreadable expression. 

"I wouldn't quite say 'On board' any longer." This perplexed Elsa further as she tilted her head at him. 

"What do you mean by th-" before she could finish her question she felt a force grip her waist tightly speeding up into the air. Her scream stopped short when she realized she was swept up in the arm of Ryu with the other gripping a long rope attached to who knew what swinging them away from the deck as her friends and captain stared at where she once stood before she was snatched off her feet. 

Time slowing seemed impossible till then for Elsa, as she stared up at her dragon clad in a billowy blouse barely laced at her clavicle covered by a black leather vest- Where did she steal those clothes from!- looking nothing short of the swashbuckler pirates Anna would read to Elsa enthusiastically at bedtime when they were children. 

Her hair slit back from the forces of the wind as she twisted left to angle the velocity at which they traveled, for the first time Elsa noticed how lithe and strong the Dragon's human body was. When they landed on a deck without any haphazard crashes Elsa released her fingers from clinging to the dragon's vest with a deep flush, Ryu's hand hadn't removed itself from the small of her back until she was certain Elsa was planted firmly on her legs. 

Ryu smiled brightly, still hanging onto the rope. 

"I see you um-" Elsa waved to her outfit's boots and brown riding trousers. She definitely stole those. "Are excited for this aren't you?" She ended in a breathless giggle. 

"Are ya kidding this is the first time I've ever been on a ship and not shackled!" That was something Elsa would definitely inquire about later. "I deem myself-" Ryu's hand placed theatrically upon her chest before reaching in her pockets pulling out two makeshift eye patches. She spoke in her best rendition of a stereotypical pirate accent. "Paul Periwinkle the blind eerr pirate." With both eye patches in place she outstretched her arms to stumble forward. 

Shaking her head Elsa looked between the stumbling dragon and her friends, gripping Ryu's shoulders she held her in place with a sheepish shrug. "It's Blind Paul Periwinkle the pirate?" 

Instead of the expected irritation at her antics Captain Saunes bellowed a laugh. "We usually lock pirates up in the brig."

Honeymaren shook her head grasping Ryu's shoulders. "Oh that won't be necessary unless she decides to set fire to anything."

Finally Kristoff asked the question they all had been pondering. "Why are you wearing two eye patches?"

"Because arg! I be blinded by my parrot who betrayed me and stole me treasure-" lifting one of the patches she narrowed her eye at him speaking in her usual voice as if it was obvious. "I mean- I- it's in the name." 

Anna folded her arms. "Book idea, called it."

Ryu nuzzled Elsa. "Come on Elsa be a pirate with me!" Elsa glanced down at her own very un-pirate attire of a blue blouse and white tights, her light cyan heeled boots. 

"Um-" she began awkwardly waiting for the group to disperse but the only one to leave to delegate the crew was the captain. 

"Yea Elsa, let's hear your best pirate voice." Anna devilishly goaded crossing her arms with a shit eating grin. 

Elsa felt like they were playing a game of charades except this time in public. She hugged herself and leant forward slightly. "I uh- I can't do impressions especially Gaelic or accents I uuhh-" taking one look at Ryu's pleading eyes growing in width was a mistake and entirely unfair. 

"Uh Argh should we-" What do pirates say? "What'da ya say should we take them out back?" Even Elsa had to break down in laughter at how she sounded, it probably couldn't even be considered an accent, more akin to a shady salesperson luring in a victim while drunk. 

All the same it made Ryu happy, and Anna cry with how hard she was laughing, Honeymaren was chuckling so hard the wheezes stayed locked in her throat.

"You be a funny lass, so I shall make thee me first mate."

"Well thank you." Elsa bowed her head graciously. 

"But don't you have to be captain to have a first mate?" Kristoff asked as they were led to the cabins. 

"Don't you have to be captain to be a first mate?" He whispered again to Anna who shrugged apathetically and trailed behind as Elsa looked over her shoulder and nodded, taking care that Ryu didn't notice the silent message sent between them. 

"Uh oh I forgot something up on the deck!" Anna declared urgently halfway on the steps. "Honeymaren, Kristoff can you guys help me with it? Kinda heavy." 

"Oh uh. Sure!" They followed her back up.

Perfect, Ryu seemed more so excited at the aspect of sea travel than curious as to what was going on. Her demeanor ebullient as she practically skipped beside Elsa down the ships short hall. 

"Well-" Elsa began standing in front of a wooden door, she grabbed the knob turning it. "This will be our home for the next two weeks and then another two weeks."

The cabin wasn't as extravagant as the one Anna and Kristoff would be occupying but luxury wasn't really a priority for Elsa. A nice desk with a lovely window above a sunbed, perfect for gazing out at the sunset over the ocean's horizon. A book shelf probably unused for quite some time, a door which led to a washroom..and a sizable bed. Ryu seemed pleased though if she wanted to stretch as a dragon she'd have to do so above on deck, and even Olaf was content sitting on the edge of the bed.

Wait a second-

Elsa did a double take. "Olaf!" She shut the door quickly. The snowman waved at her kicking his small stubby legs. 

"Hi Elsa! I didn't know we'd be bunk mates. The room is a little cramped though for three people so Ryu may have to sleep in there." He pointed to the washroom but Ryu shrugged. ''I don't mind."

Elsa rubbed her temples and began pacing. She wasn't going mad was she? Cause she distinctly remembered explaining albeit in a painful goodbye that the snowman and other spirits would have to stay behind. Sure they were welcomed and loved in Arendelle but if the assassination attempts were due to her magic that very well could make them targets as well. 

Nokk took the news the hardest but was far more understanding of the situation than Olaf which was very evident by the fact that he was right here in front of her ready for an adventure. 

She knelt in front of Olaf cradling his small sticks. Her voice, comforting yet remorseful. "Olaf, this is a very dangerous mission we're on. I explained to you this morning that while I would love for you to come, it's too dangerous and I couldn't bear anything happening to you." 

Olaf bowed his head in shame, mumbling apologies. 

Ryu watched, leaning on the desk with a somber expression. She almost regretted their exchange that morning after her heart to heart with Nokk. 

It was difficult waking so early but the fear of being left behind spurred Ryu to awaken. She still didn't beat Elsa to being an early riser. When she opened the door to her bedroom her sheets were neatly tucked and the room devoid of her presence so was the house.

Out the front door she found the spirits gathered around in what appeared like a solemn discussion. Elsa too was quiet when she noticed her and took shakey inhales before mounting Nokk. 

"Are you ready?" Her scratchy voice trembled.

"As I'll ever be." Ryu replied quietly, changing forms quickly. Elsa set the horse into a trot but Ryu lingered behind. Bruni was utterly depressed and didn't even acknowledge the dragon who approached him. Was Elsa really leaving him behind? 

If she was, Ryu knew it was only out of anxiety, probably for the little guy's safety. She regarded him very closely and nudged his side. The salamander still did not respond climbing up into the rafters of Elsa's roof.

Ryu's nomadic lifestyle had hardened her heart to good-byes, all of them being permanent through her travels. She had met benevolent creatures of all shapes and sizes, stayed with them for varying periods. Some tried to kill her at first yet still endeared themselves to her and some were crucial aspects as to why she lived to this day. Still even with this short period they would be away it hurt and she wasn't sure if she was synthesizing with Elsa's emotions at being separated for so long with those that she considered-no- those that were her family or what. To some bizarre reasoning she felt herself feeling more for Elsa with recondite emotions than she did herself and could not concur the truth behind it. 

Perhaps it was simple: she hated seeing the woman in any form of trepidation.

Perhaps that's why when Olaf cried icy tears sharing them with Elsa's, she waited for the woman to leave the courtyard and corresponded with him when she was out of sight. 

Directly influencing him to disobey Elsa was not difficult with the reasoning that there was much more to the snowman than many in his life believed. Deep down Ryu could sense a unique intelligence and wisdom in his jejune manner of going about things, Elsa knew this, Ryu had seen both her and Anna take his council without question and have success yet their fear of his safety sometimes superseded that. 

This quest they were on was both diplomatic and delicate and Ryu was recondite in all of those aspects as far as she knew. Perhaps the snowman could provide insight to things that were lost to others who over complicated matters. Afterall he was a combination of the love Elsa and Anna shared for one another and both were naturally perspicacious in different ways. 

"Olaf Elsa needs us, for different eh reason yesu but she needs us." Those words were enough to convince him to stowaway on board. Even if he was just for moral support Ryu sensed that he was needed and she, just like with Elsa, would protect him. 

The vow became solidified when Nokk tugged at her sleeve before boarding the ship. They locked eyes and for once Ryu understood the stallion. Her eyes bore into his with determination that burned within her chest. 

"I will protect her, with all that I am. No matter what Elsa will return to you safely." She'd have to add it to her many promises she made in her life, some broken some still in the process of being kept but Nokk believed her, she could tell he accepted and passed on his hopes to her and Ryu would freeze over hell before she broke trust they had developed in the quick intense exchange. 

How could Elsa send Olaf back when he needed her, and she needed him? They had already been through hell and high water together. Despite the debate within herself it was never to be undone or resolved. The shift beneath their feet signaled the ship's departure from the docks. What was done was done. Sighing tiredly she stood and faced Ryu with a confusion of what emotion to feel. 

Ryu met her stance that made their height difference vanish. 

"You will never say goodbye to any of them."  

Elsa squared her shoulders and kept their stares locked, enabling Ryu's ability to deny or look away, her muscles froze her body in place. Elsa's eyes were beautiful- sweet- yes but they possessed an ability of becoming dark, dangerous.

"We. All of us will never say goodbye." 

Ryu nodded understanding, yielding. 

As the crew busied themselves with setting the sails Queen Anna once again made an appearance as she entered the lower brig which smelt of burnt wood, gun powder, rats, and other things she wouldn't rather mention or think of. Despite being part of the Royal convoy the brig was rarely used on this ship until now. 

"Comfy?" Honeymaren stoically asked, feeling as much satisfaction as Anna and Kristoff did seeing Julien shackled and gagged. The man remained eerily calm as expected; it took quite a lot of goading and mental fatigue to get him going. He stubbornly refused to relieve his joints and body upon the wooden cot provided.

Anna took surveillance of the heavy military guard and patrol he was placed under. It wasn't so much the lack of protection for her traveling party but to keep a certain curious dragon out. She had already felt it risky to have Elsa in on the plan of bringing him back to Ruskland but Anna trusted Elsa despite Elsa's seeming lack of trust in her as of recent months but as queen she'd lead an example for her subjects, and even her older sister at times. 

She shared a small smile with Honeymaren, both women knew their rivalry for Elsa's affections at first may have been serious but now was a playful jest between them, as maturity set in, silliness of many matters took root as well. Besides, Honeymaren was as formidable as a Valkyrie with just her staff and spear alone. 

Returning to the upper deck the trio could see Ryu already getting more than comfortable with life at sea. The girl was all over the place climbing masts, using very tolerant sailors' and seamans' shoulders as jump boosts to get to higher places or as a platform.

At first Anna thought herself irate to dragon's antics but seeing the fledgling's wonderment and somewhat submissive- absolute incredulousness to her surroundings and those she shared it with Anna found herself beginning to grin in observation of her. She was still fearful of humans and obviously testing the boundaries of her freedom at sea. There was an innocent mischief in her actions and mannerisms that Anna recognized in both herself and Elsa. The behavior of an older individual who never had the chance to be a child during their years of youth. 

Even now at twenty-six Elsa would hide in trees dumping snowy tricks on the queen. Anna of course would rebuttal with her own antics and pranks. They played games and teased each in ways that many would deem immature for their age, but they couldn't bring themselves to care... Well except Elsa who still sometimes among certain audiences played the prim and proper mature sibling but Anna knew the truth that she was just as much of an awkward goofball as herself. 

Anna left Kristoff and Honeymaren to talk amongst themselves to join Ryu who was leaning severely far over the edge of the ship's railing looking at the waters with familiarity and fidgeting from the way her scales twitched and shivered rocking back and forth on her heels, she hardly even noticed Anna resting her elbows on the wood gazing at the waters sloshing lazily against the hull. 

She overheard Olaf? And Kristoff. 

"How did you even get on the ship, Sven wasn't allowed to come- did Elsa sneak you on?"

"Actually it was Ryu."

"Of course it was."

Anna shook her head, she'd deal with that whole situation later but now... 

"You know..." Anna began nonchalantly fiddling with her fingers. "Everyone aboard knows that you're dragon and when we arrive to Ruskland you won't be able to be you're true self-" she glanced at Ryu who stopped moving but still did not look at her. "I don't know- maybe it's best to get all of that...'dragon energy' out for the two weeks we're sailing so you won't be so-so antsy." 

Ryu still seemed dubious of the woman's intentions, so she kept looking to the water and back at Anna so quickly in a way that made Anna truly question how old she was. 

Closing her eyes to sigh was a mistake since she didn't have the awareness to prepare herself for the loud splash of salty bitter seawater which burned her eyes and puckered her mouth. She groaned, almost giving up on ever predicting what Ryu would do next. She definitely knew now that even without it being intentional Ryu was determined to torture her in some way or form. But when the burning was rubbed away Anna found herself transfixed on the submerged configuration of the gray dragon maneuvering under the water's surface swiftly on varying motions. 

There was a sense of unabashed freedom and wildness Anna wished for herself. To move freely in life is inhibited. Yes she had learned responsibility and how to control the compulsive nature that still roared within her. That same control kept her from leaping into the waters and joining Ryu in her gallant frolic. 

"Captain! Reporting that our passenger has flung overboard and a large creature is in pursuit." Captain Saunes looked to the worried Elsa who rushed to the side of the ship and sighed with relief. Taking her reaction to heart he patted the young and nervous sailor on the shoulder and assured him they'd be seeing a lot of that on their voyage. 

Elsa smiled at the captain and followed Ryu's fast swimming along the deck apologizing to anyone she'd bump into. Taking out her notebook she scribbled that when a swift evasive action was required the dragon's trident tail flukes and legs would tuck against the sides of her body for her to slither and move forward by means of lateral wavelike motions of the tail- like a crocodile- and for more broader and long range motions she'd spread her flukes out flat and moved in an up-and-down motion to accelerate similar to a whale. It was exhilarating seeing Ryu use different motions of animals Elsa had both read and seen in an aquatic environment. 

The minutes felt like seconds and the hour felt like minutes. Elsa was utterly bewitched. Sometimes Ryu would completely vanish underneath the depths which worried Elsa in case she'd be left behind but she was quickly assured when she'd seen a swarm of fish scurry to the surface to be flung into the air and seemingly played with by Ryu's tail and snout, above water they'd be burned, by purple pink flames just to be chewed and swallowed. 

Poor fish. 

These behaviors that Ryu repeated; diving, swimming, and entertaining the ships occupants with complicated acrobatics of breaching and flipping, soon were joined by a pod of dolphins who took the opportunity of the hunt deciding that Ryu proved to be more symbiotic than predatory. This made Elsa feel guilty as much as she felt elated. Ryu's communication with the dolphins seemed fluent, sometimes they'd butt heads but altogether the brief relationship formed benefited both. More and more dolphins appeared realizing that the strange creature following the boat meant food for their young and kin and was less of a threat. Their cries and flips awed all present in appreciation.

Elsa though, enjoying the show as much as anyone else present, was saddened by the what if pessimism that swarmed her brain. Had she been keeping Ryu from miraculous events such as these? Dragons, as Grand Pabbie told her, were a perfect equilibrium of nature to exist in peace and bring light, with symbiotic understanding in keeping balance and kinship with all living creatures. How far had humans' selfish destructive tendencies go to destroy such a egalitarianism and torture those left behind? For the first time ever Elsa felt a disdain towards humans she had never experienced before. It startled her so much she recoiled physically from seemingly nothing finally returning from her thoughts to the present show at hand. 

After four hours Ryu courteously returned to the ship and recoiled as if her nature and instincts were a blight upon those present but instead of rebuke she received praises upon her acrobatics and skill.

Some sailors even joked about bringing her along on fishing trips and more royal expeditions if not for her benefit but to simply be an enjoyable sight to see. 

She tried to hide her timid appreciation in a rigorous shake. Water flung from her scales not phasing the well seasoned men. Her scales rattled in a way that further pulled Elsa in though Ryu could not see the appreciation as simply an acceptable response, she refused the possibility, keeping her guard up to not frighten anyone. It made Elsa's curiosity grow.

Taking a few steps upon the deck she looked around, head low but no one seemed to exploit her acquiescent manners. This was odd and she craned her neck to look for any transgressors yet found none. 

For the first time since she arrived in Arendelle Ryu felt truly spent, sprawling on the deck in a corner. Her limbs splayed out on her side, as she panted. "Oh you're bleeding." And that was how Elsa found her looking perfect as usual in her icy garb and heels sounding like music as they clicked on the wood. Ryu watched the spirit waltz over as if her presence meant nothing, as she didn't know the effect she had on others. The nerve of her! in her blue tight blouse, little white cape and form fitting white trousers. Hair tied in a perfectly messy ponytail. Seriously, how could someone so natural look as if they were crafted purposely to allure the unexpected into a trap of heaven yet hone so much authority in a caring and giving manner? 

Ryu had known two aspects in life. One domineering in force and power and one yielding submissively without choice. Yet Elsa was both. How could that be? Her regal nature beguiled those to follow in assurance of safety, security, promising to care and guide yet soft and submissive to not force one; to instead protect and shield from the harshness of the world.

 She was utterly inveigling in her soft and firm touches. Ryu couldn't help but be clay molded into whatever Elsa wished her to be. It was as terrifying as conformity that settled in Ryu's body. To be told what to do- no not told- but bewitched, promising nothing but pleasant things ahead if she listened. 

Elsa's expression of awe quickly changed to that one she had when she found an injured animal or plant, honestly Ryu felt both insulted and flattered. 

She knelt in front of her tutting at Ryu grasping her muzzle, rubbing circles into it with her thumbs. "Your nose." She cooed remorsefully and flicked her wrist, summoning an ice cloth to gently dab and wipe away the blood. Ryu's eyes shut allowing Elsa to rake her own over all the features of the dragon. She grinned, noticing that even in this form Ryu had a light dusting of freckles which were fainter due to her coloration. Pretty soon the blood was long gone but still Elsa wiped and pressed, focusing intently on the feel and give of Ryu's face and head. 

There was no more bleeding coming from her nostrils, and thus no more reason for Elsa to keep tending to her but-

I need to examine where the injury came from in the first place! And maybe check her for more,Yes!

Placing the cloth down she brushed Ryu's soaked mane from her eyes which opened looking up at Elsa with more trust than she had ever seen from her. 

Elsa's heart bashed against her ribs, pulsing audibly in her ears. She felt an excitement thrumming through her at what she was about to suggest. 

"Those dolphins might have banged you up, so let's go to my cabin and I can check and get you all dry before you catch something." It was silly, obviously Ryu was resilient enough to not have to worry about growing ill from dampness, afterall she spent a good portion of her life at sea but-

Better safe than sorry. 

Nodding Elsa stood up and half turned till she realized Ryu had already begun morphing. Gasping, she worked quickly to dress the girl in a thin gown. Ryu didn't care or was prudish about nudity but Elsa would not allow her to go stark naked around the deck for the sailors to gawk at. 

They were a respectable crew, but everyone had their limits of piety. 

Ushering her away she gave Anna a notice of her plans but was in such a hurry she didn't catch the chary way Anna raised a brow at her retreating form. 

Entering the cabin Elsa shoulders slacked at Olaf's serendipitous absence but hadn't the slightest notion of why. Shaking the thought away she washed her hands and returned with a towel to find Ryu sitting with her legs crossed on the bed. 

She looked sleepy and yawned. Ryu must have been fatigued from how she still left small bits of her draconic features exposed, her ears weren't traded for the appendages which drooped down and more scales covered her skin than usual. 

Hesitation kept Elsa from climbing onto the bed for a few moments till she was gently rubbing and kneading the towel over Ryu. The only thing to be heard was her loud purr resonating in her chest. 

The air was warm and lanterns created the perfect atmosphere for the pair's tête-à-tête as Elsa tenderly encouraged Ryu to lay back against the pillows murmuring. "Let me take a look at you." The dragon was obliging and this only made Elsa giddy and scoot closer. 

"I want to make sure you're alright." Ryu nodded and dazedly watched as Elsa's hands hovered above her arm, signaling permission.

Elsa's fingers slid up and down her bicep tracing the scales, commiting how they felt to her memory. Her hands trembled as they traveled up to the shoulders. She was so warm. 

Her scales, soft and somewhat pliable.   

When her eyes closed Elsa became more bolden with her perusal. A greed was born inside her, a compulsion to know Ryu inside and out. Ideas circling in her mind for future endeavors they'd pursue, knowledge they'd discovered together. 

Finally.

The exploration made Elsa lose herself, she hadn't noticed how close her face was or how repetitive her caresses were. 

Ryu looked to be on the cusp of sleep, her contentment assuaged Elsa's arguments within that this was wrong, that she was taking advantage and her ulterior motives were not of pure intent. 

When Elsa reached her belly, running fingertips roused the dragon, her eyes opening. Elsa's head snapped up and her probing hands slowed. 

"Does this hurt?" She whispered slowly, removing herself. Ryu shook her head and grabbed her wrist pulling it back to her stomach, the cave in was less prominent and bruising was completely gone. The only tell of her previous injury was the lack of scales. 

"It feels nice-"she said in a hoarse voice. Her breathing quickened when Elsa continued and a noise that wasn't like her purrs uttered passed her parted lips. It was whining and needy. 

Elsa glanced at Ryu's eyes which were blown out, she had never seen them that way before and it was startling, especially when she sat up easing closer in proximity. 

"Erusa-" her breath wisped across Elsa's mouth. 

"Yes?" They both looked down at Ryu's hands, coaxing Elsa to proceed. 

"I like that." Elsa would have never guessed, with how Ryu hid her soft underbelly from everyone going as far as to hiss at offenders who tried to defile that boundary. 

And now- with her head resting against Elsa's shoulder, body leaning into her chest and hands guiding her wrist in different motions- now Elsa felt honored to have the privileged exclusivity. 

Elsa had never witnessed Ryu so relaxed, adding to the list of firsts for them. The only part of her not at complete ease were her hands which clung to Elsa's shirt as if to prevent escape. Elsa giggled silently at this, as if there would be any reason to escape. She promised to care for her Drage lyse and that's exactly what she'd plan on doing. 

Her dormant hand tickled along Ryu's spine and shoulders until she reached her nape giving the little fluffed up scales her signature scratch. 

This pleased Ryu even more, so she reciprocated Elsa's message, petting her torso and neck. 

She's so sweet and needy. Deep a pleasure grew in Elsa from being needed so much. 

Reason was gone, logic nowhere to be heard inside Ryu's mind, whatever it was Elsa was doing to her she prayed it didn't end. She couldn't explain it, didn't understand what was happening. All she could do was react in ways that should have been embarrassing but that didn't matter right now. 

Never had she felt so cherished, so cared for. As if she mattered, Elsa handled her as one would handle a delicate old tome, whose paper and seams would fall apart at the slightest carelessness. 

Her pressing body forced Elsa to lean more into the pillows with a chuckle. Was Elsa mocking her? Maybe, she didn't care, her only concern was touch and smell, specifically Elsa's touch and her amazing scent. Normally overwhelmingly sweet but now intoxicated Ryu like whiskey warming her stomach and her nose became a magnet attaching itself to Elsa's neck. 

The woman stiffened in her arms but did not cease her ministrations. "Ryu?" Her tone inquisitive and also confused. She was answered with Ryu's tongue, lathering the exposed shoulder. Elsa tasted of berries, and seasalt, ready- for what Ryu had no clue. It was pleasant nonetheless. 

This has to stop. 

Elsa could barely hear the still inner voice above her shuddering breaths, rolling her head to the side, it was the opposite of what she should have done, enticing Ryu to behave like this. 

It wasn't wrong, and was not selfish. 

This had to be the way of dragons, how they treated those they cared for and Elsa just so happened to enjoy it. This was their language and Elsa would speak said language and allow Ryu to bask in her instincts. She wasn't like the others and those who raised the dragon. Ryu could be herself entirely with Elsa without rebuke or shame. 

In over indulgence she pressed face to Ryu's hair inhaling while her dragon licked up her neck ending each swipe with a soft nip. 

What were they doing? Elsa battled against the notion, if somehow this was wrong, that nagging intuition that she was taking advantage still tried to worm its way in but was snuffed out by the warmth gathering in her lower abdomen. For a rare time in her life she felt hot all over and her skin flushed pleasantly. 

She had cuddled Ryu many times before, and they were friends, friends would cuddle. Dragons would cuddle their friends. She wasn't even touching her anywhere that was less than appropriate, Ryu enjoyed it and so did she. 

Elsa's eyes shut when the dragon's tongue was replaced with teeth, tenderly nipping at her jawline. Grand Pabbie had explained this behavior before, it was a form of grooming. 

Why was she doing it now though?

Elsa's eyes opened at the question. It was platonic of course, she didn't know how grooming could not be. 

They continued like this with the occasional whine or pule from Ryu when Elsa would stop, all signs of drowsiness gone. Eventually she allowed Elsa's hands to rest, took to curling around her tightly and grooming her wherever possible while Elsa would pet her at random now falling asleep herself. The only thing keeping her awake was the tingle she felt shiver up her toes and spine when Ryu's hot tongue dragged across her cold skin.

The peace was shot down by the thunderous knocking scaring Elsa senseless, she jerked upright. Ryu dug in her claws to her side growling dangerously. 

That was definitely an overreaction, especially since the person on the side of the door was a very concerned Anna. 

Her eyes raked across Elsa's flushed form and disheveled hair to Ryu who was glaring heatedly at her. 

"Is something wrong?" Elsa asked, only to be looked at like she was crazy. 

"Uh I should be the one asking you that?" Elsa's head titled. 

"What are you talking about?" Anna pointed to the window. 

How did Elsa not notice it was snowing... In July! 

Anna grasped her hand frowning. "I was worried that maybe... You were sick or something?" They both knew what type of sick Anna was referring to. 

"No I'm fine I was actually falling asleep- is it bad?" Elsa asked, cringing. 

"No, just a light snowfall, were ya dreaming?" 

"Not yet, hmm odd.." A musing Elsa glanced at Ryu while tapping her chin, the dragon still did not look blithe, borderline wrathful if Anna were to guess. Turning to Anna she smiled. "I'll be up to fix it in a minute." 

Anna casted one last dubious look at Ryu before retreating

Shutting the door Elsa pressed her forehead to it, breathing heavy. "Erusa?" Ryu's call was utterly pathetic and it plucked at Elsa's heartstrings. 

She sat at the edge of the bed. Trying to lighten the mood she bopped Ryu's nose. "I'm going to go fix the surprise snowfall. You rest up okay? I'll even bring you back something sweet." Ryu was not appeased. Rising up she fixed her gown and stormed out of the room slamming the door so hard it rattled the walls leaving Elsa perplexed and a little hurt. 

"What had gotten into her?" She asked aloud. 

On the upper deck Honeymaren also looked thrown off jogging up to Elsa. "Thanks for the snow, was getting pretty humid- What's up with Ryu?" Everyone seemed to appreciate it as well stretching in the cool weather, some of the men were busy laughing at Olaf telling surprisingly well and morbid jokes. 

Elsa looked around. "Why where is she? " It seemed all anyone had was questions and no answers. 

Honeymaren's hands flung upward."She just became a grumpy dragon and flew off, before though I asked her where she was going and she told me to tell you, don't bother waiting up for her, she'll be back later. And poof! She was gone." 

Elsa replayed all of what transpired in the past hour while absentmindedly ridding the skies of cold air and snowflakes. 

She examined Ryu, Ryu enjoyed it, they cuddled, Ryu groomed her almost to sleep then Anna came. Was she really getting huffy enough at the interruption that she'd storm off? 

Usually Elsa would just let her simmer and try to talk it out later if it were anyone else but Ryu- while being impulsive was exceptionally rational and level headed- so this was very much out of character for her. 

There was nothing Elsa could do now but convene with her family and wait for her to come back. 

This was a terrible idea. Flying over the vast ocean was reminiscent of living on the run in the past. Hunted down like prey. The moon reflected off the dark waters beneath casted in a quick shadow of Ryu's body. 

Baka, Baka, Baka! 

Ryu berated herself, the frustration she felt when Anna knocked for a completely innocent reason did not deserve the aggression Ryu directed at her, nor did Honeymaren or Elsa deserve such treatment either, and now to make matters worse Ryu's anger chose herself to be its next target. She'd swear she was a glutton for punishment. 

She was having such an amazing experience with Elsa discovering new things about herself and then of course she ruined it. But why? 

The lack of emotional control frightened her, the neediness and longing frightened her. Sure she always had a pull towards Elsa, she was her best friend but when the spirit did what she did it- it triggered something and what that was Ryu had no answer for. 

How would she explain this to Elsa and the others when she got back? Best thing to do was to just apologize and blame crankiness from lack of sleep and hope- pray even to whatever God existed- that Elsa wouldn't see past the redirection with her accurate intuition. 

Chapter Text

The flat was empty and completely devoid of noise, the occasional bang or rise of mindless chatter from those who were employed by the Manor would have to be tolerated.No, that wasn't what the bother was or the servants who tried to curry favor from the young, foreign, mysterious Lord and his correspondents. 

After witnessing the stares of Susanoo's glowering, cimmerian eyes when someone would enter the dusty, cold study, either finding him pouring over papers upon a desk or staring out the window, the locals' opinions of him changed. He wouldn't have it any other way. He hated their country and disdained those who called it home. 

The man had been in many undesirable locations, arriving in London he finally received missive from his mother, yet from the tone of her words bluntly shining light on her son's ineptitude in completing his mission she gave him what some would consider aid but both parties knew it was punishment of the harshest degree. He had been put to shame. 

So here he waited, in some desperate attempts he had his men continue the search discreetly for any evidence of their query's whereabouts.

That had been two weeks ago. 

A knock rasped against the door timidly. The irritation held his patience in a shakey hold stretching it like a rope that would snap as soon as any pressure was applied. 

The knock location was lower in height than any of the servants' statures would allude to. 

"Come in." The sound of his voice must have intimidated the visitor, it took fifteen seconds of hesitation before they finally opened the door to reveal themselves. 

Susanoo stood from the chair, the legs of it scraping loudly against the polished wooden floor. The steps he took were silent until he casted a shadow looking down at the dirty boy.

The ornate chest was either too heavy or he was terrified for some reason perhaps hearing the rumors and taking them to heart. His arms shook. Why had the staff entrusted this child with the package? Perhaps too busy or saw themselves above the work of being a carrier and saw it more fit for a child ignorant of its contents and how detrimental their choice had been. 

"Put it on the desk please." The boy nodded, rushing over to do as he was told, wanting the task to be done and over with. 

Susanoo half expected him to dash out of the room but he manners, enough decorum to back away and wait.

Turning from him he inspected it closely. His meticulous eyes absorbed every curve, every groove. He nearly missed the small four smudges on the locked lid. The way they smeared upward allowed him to concur that these markings did not come from transportation, they were small and faint of someone who was attempting to be careful. 

Sighing he rose slowly to full height. "You tried to open it." He stated, not needing to turn around to know the boy nodded, shutting his eyes tightly. 

This certainly changed things. 

In silence he began removing his suit jacket. The delivery boy watched him fold and drape it over one of the lounge chairs then fix the cuffs to his black button up. The suit was ill fitting despite being the correct size, more so it was an aspect of personal preference. 

Once again he was in front of the child looking down at him with considering eyes. If he met the lord's gaze he would have seen glimpses of compunction. 

The next words from his mouth changed the feeling of the room from cold and dusty to still as if all the natural occurrences, such as the clock, the ambient noises of the outside and the occasional creaking stopped. 

"I will have to kill you now. I apologize." 

The boy didn't suffer. He most likely didn't even register what was happening until the dagger was swiped across his throat, leaving a clean slit that only began bleeding when his head dropped down as if trying to see and his hands tried to touch the injury.

The thud of his body released the tension of the room. Susanoo exhaled, crouching he turned the corpse over and gently shut his eyes. It was always a shame that curiosity ended like this, it was a terrible trait when possessed by those with dull minds. 

As swiftly as the traveling party came, they left that night in carriages and on horseback. With the package secured they rode further into the country, off road, into the woods. 

Clutching the chest, Susanoo produced the key and listened as the latch released. Green illuminated the chest from the cracks of the box.

A nervousness crept up on his heart despite its hardness, vines trying to infiltrate a Stonehenge.

He relabeled the emotion as concern and well placed. What he was about unleash; wild, single minded, unpredictable. The essence of everything he hated but his mother deemed necessary to complete the hunt. 

The forest lay still, no sign of life except the heavy foliage occupying the space. Even the moon hid her face from the ritual about to take place, not wanting to donate any light to shine upon the abominations. 

There he was alone, his convoy instructed to wait till he was done. Kneeling down, Susanoo placed the small tomb down, made from wood carving in designs of kanji and mountains graven into the sides and top, black as ebony and still casting small shimmers of what was inside. 

He spoke words that had been taught to him as forbidden and dangerous in a hush whisper. The casing heard his prayer and opened temporarily blinding him in emerald luminescence till the inhibited magic settled to a soft glow. There lay on black silk amulets, carefully he picked up the first circular piece weighing it in his hands. He could feel the energy crackling beneath it waiting to be freed. 

A snake. Fangs sharp and mouth open, coiled in a pose to strike. A signal horn rested upon its snout. 

The next, a tiger with wide jaws and powerful, terrifying claws, body rippling, frozen muscles laid beneath. 

And lastly, one which confused him. 

The Phoenix wings spread open, flames dripping from its feathers, and talons spread wide. 

He didn't know if they represented anything, a message coded by his mother but if they did it was lost to him. 

With the jades clutched in his palms Susanoo stood unmoving. Once they were set upon the world there'd be no going back, no one to stop them until they completed what he failed to do. He thought the dragon had sealed its fate long ago on the temple steps, but this moment, he was the one giving it finality. The notion both thrilled him for the justice that would finally be fulfilled and rendered his body immobile. 

He hadn't felt doubt of his goals since their first encounter in Siam years prior. 

The jades were flung into the air giving off harsh low whistles as they flipped. 

The ground shook as the first landed, anthropomorphized in a large shaking animal followed by its siblings. Their roars filled the night as consciousness seeped in. The tormented spirits let their agony take hold then reigned it in. 

It was out of his hands now. They had their goal and orders embedded and would stop at nothing to fulfill them. 

The jade golem tiger roared, encircling Susanoo clearly taking charge. Voice loud like thunder, it decided he wasn't worth its time and chuffed at the other two. 

The snake hissed, snapping at its Phoenix sibling who took flight. It shouldn't have been able to fly being completely made of jade and yet there it was displacing leaves, and dirt with the turbulent winds its wings created while flapping then took off. 

The snake slithered at inhuman speeds after it but the tiger turned its head to regard Susanoo once last time. The unnatural gold light from its eyes haunted. It snarled a warning. One he understood. He would not intervene, he had no purpose now stolen by the Jade beasts. It took off leaping over the bush in a sprint to catch up with its pack. And with them all the light, and noise gone leaving behind a man who crumpled to the floor in a disgusting show of emotion, tears blurring his vision, his nails dug into the soil. 

He knew what the future held. He knew what was to come and worked almost his entire life to accomplish it. It left him empty, a hollow shell only filled with death, and ruthlessness he was not proud of. 

He knew. 

He knew that the power his mother wielded was not her own, was not meant for man, and had no hope it wouldn't be the end of them all. 

"So you took off growling and huffing because you were... Tired?" Kristoff repeated the explanation as if tasting the ridiculous nature of it on his tongue. 

Ryu ducked her head, folding her lips together, her eyes took in the faces of her friends who all seemed a little doubtful but accepted the explanation nonetheless. "Yesu and I'm sorry I just- I just haven't been that exhausted since I've been in Arendelle- well except when I almost died- but I wasn't tired I was dying." Ryu bowed stiffly to each of them. " I am sorry and apologize for my behavior." 

The first to speak up was Anna who ruffled Ryu's hair playfully. "Well we all had a feeling you were a brat to begin with so no harm done." Honeymaren scoffed and slapped her shoulder. "As if you aren't when you get hungry!" As they bickered Ryu smiled down gratefully at Olaf who hugged her leg and spoke in a soft voice. "We forgive you." 

Elsa didn't miss the small flinch when Anna touched Ryu's hair nor did she believe the explanation to be valid. It was simple and she knew Ryu. She was usually honest but it appeared she was practicing tact in the wrong way. She refused to allow the reason to be the truth, giving some benefit of the doubt it could have played a role in what transpired but there was something deeper in Ryu's emotional reaction and she'd get to the bottom of it. 

"Ahem!" Anna cleared her throat talking in a mockery of her most queenly tone she could muster. "As punishment for your behavior-" Ryu began wilting away, Anna stared her down then winked. "You owe me a ride in the sky." 

Ryu grinned up at her and nodded. "Hai!" The redhead wasn't expecting Ryu to grab her hand and pull her towards the starboard of the ship. "What! Now?" She gawked as she was dragged away half expecting Elsa to intervene. "Aren't you tired? Isn't that the whole reason why you stormed off in the first place?" The points and Ryu's actions seemed so counterproductive. The dragon perched easily on the ledge and looked back at Anna grinning. 

"Yea but-" she studied the sky, the stars and aurora shimmering high above them. "I was planning on staying out longer anyways, besides I don't sleep at night." She slowly rose, brow quivering with a worrying smirk, words oozing with coyness. "Your majesty eh- your chariot awaits." Diving off the ship, Anna braced herself, shaking out the nerves. 

When Ryu flew upward she leapt off grasping at anything she could on the dragon to not fall into the water. 

"Be careful!" Elsa's anxious calls yelled from the boat. Grunting Anna finally managed with some help from Ryu's muzzle and paws to straddle her back. It was evident from the indignant growls that Ryu hadn't expected Anna's insane leap onto her. 

Now able to take in the feeling of flying, the wind whipped her braid back when Ryu leveled out. Anna's mouth remained open as she could barely begin to comprehend the overwhelming beauty surrounding her. 

They weren't high up by any means that she could smell the salty sea and hear the waves churn beneath them. Ryu's brow furrowed at the woman's silence worried she wasn't as impressed as she thought she'd be. 

"Ryu-" Anna's voice was raw from all the emotions flooding her heart. Ryu's ear swiveled backward to hear what she'd say next. "I mean Elsa and Honeymaren told me about this but... They really failed in how remarkable this is-" a warm hand spread upon her flank. "You get all this. All the time. This is awesome!" Anna cheered, flailing her arms and legs in laughter. Craning her head up she closed her eyes allowing the winds to crash against her skin, the thin green jacket covering her blouse didn't provide nearly enough insulation to not be somewhat chilly but it was July and Anna frankly didn't care. She had never felt this way before. So free, as if any laws of the world below didn't apply to her. The sky was no longer the limit, a few tears escaped her eyes. She never in a thousand years thought she'd be able to see the world like this. It wasn't even so much a privilege as it seemed like an impossibility.

Sentimentality reminded her that every single individual in her life was spectacular in their own way- even Ryu- who yes was annoying and crazy- as she was enthralling and capable of rare and spectacular things with her existence alone. Her past was dark and full of terrible things Anna was sure yet she was like a paintbrush crafting any she encountered in beautiful colors and lights of the sky and universe. She was a gift that kept on giving. 

Her stomach adjusted to the speeds and she learned quickly to tighten her legs around Ryu's back to keep a good grasp. 

Looking back she could still see the dim lanterns on the ship that were growing smaller in distance. They were going fast but she had a feeling Ryu could go even faster!

"Hey?" Ryu mewled in answer, keeping them on course to go straight. "I have a feeling you're holding out on me here." Anna leaned down mischievously. "You're a dragon right? So fly like a dragon."

Looking back Ryu searched Anna's face for any doubt, Honeymaren and Elsa had been terrified of flying despite also finding its wonder. She found no fear or indecision. Just longing and anticipation in her teal eyes which reflected the Auroras hues. Gurgling, she turned forward and clenched determined to see just how much the queen could handle. 

Their speed increased dramatically, flinging Anna's torso back. "Whoa okay! Should have braced myself- my fault! My fault!" Anna reached a couple of times to clutch Ryu's mane. 

They rose in the air leaving the earth far below, still Anna showed no signs of being frightened in the sudden increase of pace delighted to find them among the northern lights. 

"Yes!" She cheered egging Ryu on to dip suddenly, building momentum in their movements. Anna repositioned herself, ducking lower and lifting her hips slightly as one would upon a galloping stallion. This allowed Ryu to move more freely with the lack of friction her body would create against the forces of the gale. 

Some ice and rock formations came into view, putting an idea in the dragon's mind. Her tridents tucked in as well as her wings soaring through the air like an arrow in between the ridges, she twisted upside down roaring along with Anna's continuous whoops and screams of delight weaving through the obstacles. 

She could feel Anna's body move in tandem with her own, the speed and velocity they flew at disturbed some of the resting birds who took off from the rocks along with them. 

Anna's stomach was left a few miles back, each time Ryu maneuvered closely to a rock she thought they'd painfully crash but every single close call was saved by a single inch. 

They weren't out of self induced danger yet, Anna knew the dragon was testing her limits and met the challenge head on. 

Out of the ridges Ryu's powerful wings propelled them up higher than Anna would have thought possible till the clouds could now be considered the ground. They didn't feel as Anna would have expected, more akin to mist than the fluffy pillows they looked like. She wondered what Ryu was planning but didn't have to wait long to find out. 

The dragon ceased her propulsion and went limp; they stilled in the air then descended in a life threatening free fall back to earth. 

Anna couldn't scream, adrenaline at all time high till she felt a calm wash over her once accustomed to falling. With eyes closed slowly her grasp on Ryu lessened till she drifted away from her. 

Letting go felt like salvation rather than damning herself to death. There was no way to control what was happening and for the first time in her life Anna felt at peace with that, all she could do was react and have faith in Ryu's reaction as well. 

It felt mad, but also comforting. There were two outcomes yet Anna knew in heart everything would be alright and she decided to trust her heart. It had led her astray in the past but now it was strong enough to lead her to what was right. 

The nosediving dragon tilted her head to see Anna no longer attached to her. Was this woman insane? Ryu's respect for Anna surpassed far beyond what she was expecting it to ever be. She was bold, brave, and trusted Ryu enough to save her from their plummet. 

Her safety was no issue, Ryu wouldn't have done this unless she was ensured Anna would come out in one piece. Anna didn't have this knowledge though and yet still took a chance. Ryu studied her calm, beautiful face. As if sensing this Anna opened her eyes tearing up from either the wind or emotion it was hard to tell. 

Anna had to be the bravest person Ryu had ever met, including herself. 

After watching the other Ryu wiggled her tail to gain speed and dipped underneath Anna spreading her wings as they closed in towards the water. Anna grunted from the impact, knocking herself into Ryu's back. 

Ryu's heart skipped when she felt her paw graze the water. Okay that was a little too close. 

Shaking her head Anna lifted on the dragon's back and smiled dazedly. 

They flew for a little while longer enjoying the views, no more tests or tricks Anna had shown she was more dragon than human. 

The juxtaposition of how lonely and vulnerable Ryu felt while flying alone, sharing this with someone else was therapeutic. She didn't feel like prey, or terrified for her life. She felt comradery and was certain this would be the closest she'd ever get to flying with her own kind. 

This was the best idea ever. 

"This isn't one of your best ideas I must admit." Elsa flicked her eyes to Kristoff in her vanity mirror seated on her bed. She buttoned up the gold on the white and blue military jacket she was wearing ensuring every aspect of the uniform was perfect. 

"I've had worse ones." She commented off-handedly, adjusting to the feeling of the saber wrapped around her waist. The uniform was a modified version of her father's. She'd concluded that the look would humanize her enough in Julien's eyes, showcasing her respect for order, laws, and the ways of ordinance. She was a spirit yes but still a part of humanity. Regarding herself in the mirror she swallowed harshly seeing traces of who she was, hair in the tight bun similar to the style she wore during her coronation-it no longer hurt to wear, that many had forgotten since she became the fifth spirit.

Elsa Agnarrsdotter Oldenburg Árnadalr. 

A name that meant so much, a trait humans and Dragons shared. Their names were who they were and held power and influence. 

Kristoff joined her resting a hand on her shoulder not caring if he wrinkled the perm press jacket. "You look great but are you sure you want to do this alone?" He had no problem with joining her, him or Honeymaren maybe both, but Elsa shook her head. She needed to speak with Julien alone, she needed the truth out him, if he truly hated her along with all those that followed. Most importantly she needed to know if she could change his mind about all this. 

Kristoff and Honeymaren would wait outside the door, refusing to compromise any further. Elsa grinned weakly at them as she entered the brig. 

With his gag removed by the military present, Elsa dismissed them fully expecting the hesitation they gave her but they wouldn't question their former queen, many of having seen what she was capable of. 

Staring the other down both not moving, Elsa allowed him to study her as she studied him. He was not a man of easy character, it showed in his scars, his hard face and dark eyes. 

Her anxieties began taking grip, there was no point in putting on a facade, he'd see right past it. So Elsa would be herself; all of herself. 

"Would you care for something to drink?" He titled his head back at her gesturing to the table where a tankard and pitcher rested. He wouldn't answer so Elsa poured it. Placing it between the bars within his reach. 

"Never been offered a beverage before during an interrogation." He chortled, suggesting there had been many of those in the past. Taking the drink, his shackles clanked against the ground. 

"This isn't an interrogation." Elsa replied, waiting for him as he downed the water. 

"No? Then why are you here then, Miss Agnarrsdotter? I'm sure you cannot say anything that hasn't been said already." The fact that he knew her maiden name was unsettling but not surprising, she was after all his target, he probably knew a great deal of her, all superficial facts, and rumors. 

"I'm here to converse with you, ask some questions? -" he barked a laugh. 

"An interrogation-" Elsa shook her head clasping her hands in front of her, resisting the compulsion to rub her fingers raw. 

"You don't have to answer them, I won't be using this information to further incriminate you, there'd be no point. I mean, I'm out here and you're in there." He chuckled at her pointing between the two of them, her words weren't malicious or smug just stating simple facts. 

"Very well then Madam. Please ask away." 

Elsa thought of her first question she had planned on what to say, she was going to ask why he wanted to kill her but she already knew. Fear and a sense of justice deeply rooted in him with an unshakable faith that was admirable. 

"Why did you leave Brazil?" Quickly the smile faded and amusement replaced by disquietude. 

"Why do you want to know that madame?" 

Elsa shrugged Innocently. "I've read about it, it seems like a beautiful place full of such a unique culture. What led you to come here?"

His lips pursed and throat bobbed as if he was swallowing down emotions, his eyes looked like Ryu's when they would discuss her past. His alluded pain became Elsa's for his sake. 

"I left because of the slave trades." Elsa had heard of such practices frequenting the Americas but she did not delve into the subject matter, not wanting to face its evil and hideous nature. 

"I had witnessed so many horrors. Men selling men and women, children. Herding them onto boats like cattle. Endenturing my town to help them carry out their bidding. My mama and sisters- i led them to safety but could not stay. Something in me burned like a fire to stop men from becoming powerful enough to hurt and kill. This led me to my faith and a man and his group promising to equalize the world. Telling me of a great threat that was born in a little Nordic nation called Arendelle. A woman so powerful she froze an entire country. So powerful she could create life, a goddess walking among us." 

Elsa held her breath, moving closer to the bars of his cell. 

"So we planned, gathered more like minded individuals, and finally struck." 

Elsa's tears did not faze him, he watched her covering her mouth and composing herself. What she did say though twisted his mind the likes of which he hadn't felt since he left home. 

"I'm so sorry." Now Elsa had finally realized the fear she instilled upon not just her own people but those around the world who had heard of her with her past mistakes and actions. 

"You have been through so much pain and torment and now you see yourself being punished for trying to do the right thing. And I could tell you that I'm not the enemy and would never hurt anyone intentionally ever again but those are just words and you've seen the horrors that people are capable of so of course you're frightened. I'm terrified as well." 

Standing he came as close to the bars as possible and she met him halfway. He held a remorse for her as she did him each for different reasons. Shaking his head he reached for her hands which she let him take and stroked them with care everyone on this ship probably did not think possible. Elsa twitched, wanting to pull away from his calloused grip, her fingers and hands being incredibly sensitive. "I am sorry Elsa, I can tell you did not want this, you cannot help what you are. Just like a jaguar kept as a cub which grows into a mighty beast and must be put down by their master." Elsa snatched her hands away. 

"I'm not a beast and I have no master. We'll find a way to fix this. We will. Without death or murder or any more terrible deeds! You cannot stop a forest fire with more fire! You cannot fight fire with fire cause then everyone burns!" Her raised voice brought in the guards and Kristoff. Honeymaren wrapped an arm around her seeing her distress and shot a glare at the man. 

Elsa allowed her to lead them out back onto the deck. "What happened in there?" She promised to tell them later and found Olaf who was watching the ocean. 

She sat on the bench he was occupying and stared at the horizon. The snowman stared at her till he decided to climb onto her lap to snuggle into her chest. 

Elsa wrapped her arms around him stroking his head. He was beautiful and full of love, her ice castle was beautiful, the joy and smiles her snow brought to children and adults alike was beautiful. She'd keep creating beautiful things and prove to everyone that power did not beget evil. Malic and destruction did. 

It was the same motivations that brought on the slaughter of dragons. Man projected their own wickedness onto those more powerful assuming they were like them when they weren't. 

"Come on you lazy reptile-what are you two doing?" Anna had been searching the ship high and low for Ryu to go on a flight, a routine they both had settled into for the past week and so happened to find the dragon mouth wide open with Elsa digging in her lower jaw with various swabs careful not to prick herself with any of the sharp fangs. 

Her eyes were comically large behind her spectacles, almost as large as the grin she had when she looked up at Anna from the stool she was seated upon. "Anna! Come here! This is amazing- you'll never believe what I discovered." She returned back to her work as Anna closed the door to their cabin. 

"Based on the things that have happened to us my suspension of belief is pretty far out there Elsie." She giggled while joining her sister in front of Ryu. Curiously she ran a fingertip along the thick and wicked looking fangs. 

"Nice." She mumbled appreciatively. Spittle squirted both their faces when Ryu tried to gurgle a thanks. Wiping it away from her lenses- Elsa was the least concerned of the mess, mildly surprising Anna since she was so fastidious of the two. Elsa's fingers pressed and stroked Ryu's large tongue fondly. It was official in Anna's mind, Elsa was obsessed spending most of her days studying and fussing over Ryu, she had already filled three books full of notes.

"Ryu has two pouches of scent glands resting on the left and right side of her oral mucosa- they seem to secrete different musks which then somehow travel between the scales of her lower jaw and neck." As Elsa went on her hands demonstrated the areas, grasping beneath Ryu's jaw and gently clasping what looked like pouches of skin. 

Anna blinked in stupefaction at her sister placing her hands near her nose taking a long inhale. 

"There's no consistency to the scents though so it must be hormonal or perhaps a means of communication-" she jotted down the last theory on paper, swiveling to the desk on her left side briefly. 

"Umm-" Elsa grabbed Anna's wrist placing them underneath Ryu's muzzle, releasing it she nodded for Anna to follow example and take a whiff. 

Reluctantly she did, casting her eyes from her fingers to Elsa's expectant ones. She knew what she was silent asking with her fidgeting. 

"I mean it's I don't know-" Anna took another smell trying to think of words to describe what she was experiencing. "Kinda, salty? Piquant, but somewhat pungent. Like cinnamon but if cinnamon was musty." 

Elsa nodded bouncing in her chair. "Exactly!" She tapped Ryu's muzzle, allowing her to close it. Elsa rubbed her nose along Ryu's and looked in her eyes humorously whispering. "What are you trying to tell us?" 

Ryu shrugged casually, not having an inclination either. 

"Well I'm glad you're having fun Els." She truly meant it. Yes it exasperated Kristoff and Honeymaren at times when Elsa would info load them with all that she had discovered but Anna had to admit it was kinda... amazing learning about a race that existed before she was even thought of. 

Elsa made a come hither motion with her fingers, the pair must have mastered silent communication cause Ryu knew exactly what to do. 

"So what was it you needed, sweetheart?" Elsa asked, not looking up from examining Ryu's webbed toes. 

"Huh? Oh I just was actually coming to steal Ryu from you for some flying, I'm a little bored to be honest-" Anna scratching the back of her head saw that Elsa wasn't too keen on her stealing Ryu. 

She adjusted her magnifying glasses before removing them. "You could always join us." Ryu yawned loudly. "After this I was going to read to Olaf while Ryu got some rest." Rising up Elsa tucked the large dragon into the bed with pillows and a blanket covering her. 

She's such a mother hen. 

Anna snorted. "She literally rests all day!" She could not take this anymore especially with Elsa jutting out her bottom lip and resting her head atop Ryu's. She petted her sadly. "Yes but she gets so sleepy." Ryu mewled nuzzling into her chest, but Anna caught that sly slip of a smirk on that overgrown gecko's smug mug

She watched on in horror. Wa-Was Elsa seriously using a baby voice to a dragon? 

"You could join us, Ryu likes the stories too."

"Elsa you can't even fit on the bed!" Anna was convinced that Elsa probably slept on the floor at this point. 

The comment was dismissed with a flimsy wave of her hands. "Yes I can don't be silly- umm-" she scanned around for a spot to sit, then seized the opportunity when Ryu lifted her arm for Elsa to scramble under. After some shuffling and scooting her large paw rested in Elsa's lap holding her like a living teddy bear. 

"Ahh see-" her hands drummed on Ryu. "Wanna join us?" 

"Where even would I-"

"Here." Elsa folded back a piece of blanket patting a spot that not even Olaf could fit on. 

It was midday in July! And she wasn't about to spend it squished beneath a live furnace. Sure Elsa could tolerate it but she controlled her own body temperature which assuredly was not fair by any means. 

Anna grimaced a fake smile and held up her hands. "No thanks, I'm gonna go play chess with Honeymaren.... For the fifth time today." 

Elsa shrugged. "Suit yourself, send Olaf down please. It's his turn to pick."

"Sure thing." Anna waved out the door, shaking her head mumbling about the pair and what a total sucker Ryu was turning her sister into. Olaf bounced passed her acclimated to the routine Elsa set for them. It was story time.

The deck was not so boring anymore, sailors rushed to and fro. The captain held a grim look that made him look even older yet fierce despite his graying streaks in short black hair. 

"What's going on captain?" Anna questioned joining him at the bow of the ship. 

"Here you are your majesty." Taking the offered telescope she followed his direction pointing it she spotted exactly what the issue was. 

A half rigged armored ship was sailing towards them and fast, the ship sported no distinguishing look or colors, except a black and gray flag. 

At first she was fearful that it could have been Julien's friends taking on pursuit to free him and try to harm Elsa but the Captain sighed tiredly turning away. 

"There is another ship flanking, they're planning on herding us into position to be boarded. Sea-Wolves."

That wasn't as bad as what Anna was anticipating. She had heard of the Sea-Wolves band a few times, they were nothing more than seafaring bullies taking advantage of whatever vessel they came across, wannabe pirates not letting go of the past. 

"I'll go get Elsa." She bemoaned, rushing down the stairs, on the fifth step she collided with a mass and tumbled downward landing on top of it in a heap. 

"Ouch, damnit- Elsa?" There lay her sister flat on her back, arms spread. Anna's stomach sank when she didn't respond. "Elsa!" She shook her enough to at least get a groan from her. 

"What's going on? What happened?" Ryu knelt by Elsa's head propping her up. 

She finally came too moaning in pain rubbing her head. "Ouchy" she complained in a groggy voice. "What happened, why? Just why?" Burying her face in her palms. "I didn't even do anything." Elsa whined. Anna spewed out a slew of apologies when Ryu noticed an ugly knot misplacing some blonde hair. Curiously she poked it. 

Elsa slapped her hand away. "No- no- no. No touchy, that hurts." She hissed. Ryu and Anna glanced at each other, Elsa was acting... Not like Elsa, maybe drunk Elsa but not normal Elsa. 

The realization of what was going on set in as they tried to assist her to stand on unbalanced legs. Ryu and Anna both uttering. 

"Fuck." 

"Kuso." 

Ryu became accusatory towards Anna. "Why'd you go on ahead and do that eh?" 

Anna guffawed. "I didn't mean to, I was rushing to get Elsa cause we're under attack or will be in about six minutes." 

Elsa pushed silencing fingers to both their lips, propped against the wall. "shh shh no more fighting between you two, I don't like it." She slid down slowly to the floor. 

"Hey, no falling asleep Els- you have to stay awake okay?" 

"I wasn't, I'm not sleepy just mm-" She stared off at nothing, mustering an answer while Ryu and Anna spoke. "I dunno." 

"What's attacking us?" 

Anna sucked her teeth. "Some dumb group of pirates that think they can bully people-" 

Ryu's eyes expanded, shimmering with glee. "Pirates!" She parroted, without saying anything she abandoned them in the hall to run into her cabin. Some rustling of things being thrown could be heard on the other side till Ryu bursted through the door in her pirate costume. 

"Arg! Where they be?" Anna rolled her eyes and grabbed Elsa. She was not dealing with her sister, not even making sense mumbling about who knew what- and Ryu's lunacy at the same time all while defending from an attack. 

"You take Elsa into your cabin and stay there, do not move, keep an eye on her and keep her safe." Ryu awed as Elsa's arm was wrapped around her shoulder. 

Lifting her head Elsa rubbed Ryu's nose smiling. "Hey cutie." She cooed. 

Anna shuddered, luckily the sight was interrupted by loud bellows from the upper deck. "Ryu, keep Elsa safe! Elsa?" 

"Yep!" 

Anna smiled, shaking her head. "Get better." Giving her arm a squeeze she casted one last glance back at them on the stairs. 

Elsa tugged at Ryu's arms towards their cabin nearly tripping, mushing her face into Ryu's cheeks. "I'm going to explore your mouth s'more. Come on you!" They fell through the door together like two drunken men stumbling out of a bar. 

"I hate, I hate, I hate, I hate." Anna chanted, jogging up the stairs. 

Ryu fumbled, getting Elsa onto the bed, waking Olaf in the process. "Sven? No, don't kill him." He exclaimed half asleep. 

Elsa giggled rolling on the covers, she grabbed the snowman and gave a sloppy kiss delighting him. 

Ryu smiled at them then crawled on her knees to the window pressing her palms against the glass. She could barely see anything except the mass waves caused by the two ships on either side of them. She whined, feeling restlessness overtake her body. 

She must have caught Elsa's attention, feeling her arms wrap around her midsection, ensuring there was no space between her back and Elsa's front. 

Her chin rested on Ryu's shoulder. "Whatcha looking at? What's wrong?" She asked, Ryu nearly yelped as her scales rattled. Elsa, uncoordinated, took to trailing her mouth on the nape of her neck. It was apparent she was attempting to mimic the grooming techniques Ryu had done to her. 

Speaking was the most difficult for some reason with Elsa's nuzzling and... She wasn't even licking the girl, instead just dragging her mouth along the little scales that coated her neck. 

Ryu had half a mind to toss the woman off her but it was endearing that Elsa was attempting to comfort her in her own language... Even if she was concussed. 

"Is Elsa trying to eat you?" Laughing at this Ryu saw Olaf waddling towards them on the sunbed. 

"No buddy." She replied with a smirk. 

Elsa's head flopped backward. "It's grooming son." 

Ryu tried turning around in her arms to face the woman but this was difficult with Elsa flopping around like a cod. Gunshots startled the whole room and increased Ryu's determination. "I have to go out there." 

"Mmm just stay here with me-" Elsa slurred into her skin. "We cuddle. You like that." Managing to half twist when Elsa's busy hands took to her stomach. Ryu growled at herself to resist the temptation. 

"I want to help too!" Olaf inspired sounding uncharacteristically serious. 

"You can Olaf. I need you to keep Elsa safe okay. I'll be back." She pinned Elsa beneath her, grasping the spirit's wrists and pushing them into her chest. Elsa cackled. "You're so much stronger than me." Demonstrating this by trying to resist Ryu's hold. 

"Elsa I have to go." Elsa whined at this like a child. 

"You're not allowed to say goodbye." Ryu stared at her for a few moments then nuzzled their noses together. 

"I'm not, I'll be back." She helped the pouting Elsa sit up and laid her down on the bed smoothing back her hair. "Remember Olaf, keep her safe." Then was gone out the door. 

"What's our plan of action captain?" Kristoff asked among the gathered group. 

"I can set them on fire." Some of the sailors jumped at the sudden appearance of the enthusiastic dragon. 

Anna opened her mouth but Ryu rolled her head in annoyance, answering loudly. "Elsa and Olaf are safe tucked away in the cabin."

The captain rubbed his neat beard considering what Ryu added. "That actually might be a good idea." Ryu's chest was already aglow. 

"Absolutely not!" Interjected Honeymaren. "Elsa would be extremely upset if we sicced Ryu on them, she has a fire addiction that we're trying to break her out of." 

Captain Saunes deadpanned at the very notion. "She's a dragon..." 

"Yes but, their ships are probably full-" a gun shot sounded overhead interrupting Anna. "Of gunpowder. And I'd rather not have so many casualties on our hands if we can help it." 

"We could just beat the shit out of them until they go away." Kristoff offered the most simplistic and yet most reasonable advice that all present seemed to agree with. 

"Alright Ryu no setting fire to things." 

"Hai." She nodded curtly. 

"Everyone else give these pirates trauma when they leave upon hearing the name Fredriksværn Jernbre." Anna's Valorous words were met with the undauntable cheers of the crew. 

The temptation to burn was too great when she was a dragon so Ryu grabbed a sword from an unsuspecting sailor's sheath. 

"That's mine." He said simply. 

Ryu hugged it to her chest, hopping away from him. "I need it." Giving up, the man left to find a spare as Ryu weighed the weapon in her hand. 

This'll be fun. 

Elsa scrunched her eyes shut, it hurt terribly. How did they expect her to sleep when they were causing all that racket above her? 

What did Anna say they were doing again? A play? Musical... Party.

Elsa's eyes shot open wide. Parties meant fun, and fun meant messes and messes. Gasping, she sat up. Her poor many greats- grandfather's ship! 

Standing she stumbled backward, the world felt watery and she felt nauseous but there was work to be done! 

"Olaf?" She slurred to him. 

"Oh you're awake! Honestly I found it a little rude that they're making so much noise up there." His eyes trailed up to the ceiling. 

"I agree, but we still have to play our part, so I assign us to clean up duty." 

He clapped enthusiastically. "Wow, that sounds- not fun." But he sounded enthusiastic all the same following Elsa out of the cabin to the hall. 

Up on deck where all the commotion was coming from everyone was running around, yelling, throwing sharp things at each other- How irresponsible!- and it smelt of sweat and sulfur. Elsa wanted to wretch from the disgusting display but she had a job to do. 

"Come on Ralph." She waved at Olaf to follow. 

"Is that my clean up duty name?" He asked curiously. Elsa shrugged going to the mess closet. She tried to push it open but the darn thing wouldn't budge. Scanning around she spotted a behemoth of a man in leather garb. 

He banged his head hard against a sailor sending him to the floor. Elsa wobbled up to him and shook her head. "That's not nice." But he didn't notice her until she tapped his tree trunk sized bicep. 

"I need your help please." He grunted at her and the snowman with confusion so she'd show him what she meant. Taking his arm he allowed the little blonde lady to lead him to a closet. 

"Can you open this for me please?" She gestured to the closet. 

"We're on clean up duty." Olaf explained. Looking around he was beyond himself and obliged, pulling the doors open with ease. 

Elsa leaned over to Olaf. "It was a pull-"

"Oooooh that explains a lot." 

Wagging her finger between them, it all made sense now. "We were pushing." 

"Ma'am." The large man bowed and threw himself back into the fray of violence.

Elsa dazedly watched till Olaf pulled her fingers towards the cleaning equipment.

Anna panted, blocking the swing of a sword hurtling towards her, she kicked the assailant down some stairs. Her muscles were sore, she really needed to get back to her sparring lessons when she got back home. 

Fatigue must have been playing tricks on her mind cause could have sworn she saw Elsa on the other side of the deck mopping.... With a bucket on her head as a helmet. 

"Nope- no" She shut her eyes tightly and opened them. Sure enough Olaf was wiping things down with a wash rag including the heads of men knocked unconscious.

"I can't- what is that!" Her hand spastically gestured towards the sight to a man mid swing paused and considered what she was looking at. "A boat?" 

Anna shook her head walking away. She needed to get to Elsa who was humming and mopping along the deck causing whoever was left behind to slip on her ice trail. 

Her path of cleaning led her between two fighting men.

"Elsa!" Anna cried out, pumping her legs faster. 

"Excuse me." Elsa said politely and they separated, ceasing all violence letting the woman pass. 

Anna had been toppled over by Honeymaren who had just been thrown off. The woman gripped her spear ready to take on the brute.

"Can I have your hat?" Ryu asked the pirate she had been lazily fighting with. She didn't even need a sword, these men were unaccustomed to her flexible Taijutsu techniques. 

"What? No!" He bellowed, swinging a sword toward her. She performed a Ushiro sabaki, back sliding in evasion. 

Then I'll take it. 

The Ago kin geri swiftly knocked him out. Triumphantly she took the Monmouth cap and placed it upon her head. "My hat." 

"Ryu!" She looked down to the main floor upon hearing Kristoff's call as he was locked in combat. "Elsa!" He pointed to the woman underneath her spraying a bottle and wiping away dirt on a barrel. 

She was in her own little world. 

Another pirate came charging at Ryu, glancing at the rope she smirked. 

Oh this would be too good. 

She dived rolled underneath his attack and grabbed him from behind spinning them around off the top deck down until he was tangled up in rope.

They landed right next to Elsa swinging from side to side. He screamed on his way down and screamed when they landed. Probably breaking his ribs. 

"It was fun hanging out with you!" Elsa giggled at the pun and fist bumped her. 

What were they so worried about? 

Ryu questioned, observing Elsa collecting guns, even confiscating them from people both Pirate and sailor. 

She was fine. She even had a bucket to protect her injury.

And a makeshift cape out of a towel. 

"Always with the capes." Ryu mumbled. 

"No! I absolutely hate guns. Hand em over, come on." Reluctantly they surrendered their pistols to her only for her to throw them overboard watching them sink. "Bad guns." 

Well for the most part. Fine. 

Arendelle proved victorious in the end. The Sea-Wolves leader knelt in front of the queen and her entourage in shame. 

Elsa knelt before him, sprayed his nose and wiped away some smoke, in concern she whispered. "What led you to a life crime?" No one wanted to hear his life story, Kristoff picked her up as Anna gave her verdict. 

"I hope this taught you a lesson- probably not but still- you don't have to do this, you can make something of yourselves. Arendelle's navy is formidable and could use some expert seamen such as yourselves. You'll get pay, training, food, and sometimes rough up some scallywags that stir up trouble. The choice is yours. You can either go there and become something or you can continue on this path till you mess with less than merciful enemies and find yourselves as fish food." Some of the defeated considered her words carefully, and she had a sneaking suspicion she'd see some of them in a couple months at the recruitment offices. 

"You're free to go- oh wait! As a recompense you will hand over all the rum on your ships." 

"Or else." Honeymaren backed wapping her staff against her palm. 

Ryu coiled around Anna growling, her large teeth sealed the deal. 

"Ahem." Sounded Elsa from Kristoff's shoulder. He turned around so Elsa could see Anna, with the face of a reprimanding big sister. 

"Please?" She goaded on. With a relenting sigh Anna crossed her arms and addressed the men. "Give us all your rum... Please" 

"Or else." Honeymaren repeated. 

Ryu's roar led some men to wet their trousers retrieving what was asked. 

A small party was thrown in celebration of the win. Ryu watched from a high railing. She'd join the merriment if her head wasn't reeling and emotions clouded from her earlier encounter with Elsa. 

"Ahoy pirate Paul Periwinkle." Kristoff greeted easily, hoisting himself up to her perch holding two small notebooks. Ryu offered a weak smile. 

"Not very pirate like of you to not have a cup of rum." Ryu shrugged. She wasn't in the mood to party. 

"You're a... Hard to read gal." She hadn't anticipated this direction. "I have no idea how Elsa does it. You seem to even confuse yourself sometimes."

What else could she do but nod? It was true. Ever since meeting this group of weirdos Ryu's compression of her emotions had been slipping away from her. 

"You grew up pretty isolated from social settings, I grew up raised by trolls. They like to think they understand humans but they missed a lot of marks. I have the same problem. I get these feelings and I don't even know what to call them, or where they came from ever since I met Anna." Ryu gazed at him, he kept his eyes trained on his wife down below having a jovial conversation with the captain at a long table. 

"Anna had the same issue funny enough, as did Elsa, we're all fucked up." That! Ryu could agree with. 

"Anyways, Anna told me that I'm a very physical man." He chuckled at the grossed out face Ryu made, nudging her shoulder. 

"Not like that, but I comprehend things easiest when I can see them physically. So she gave me this." He handed her one of the notebooks, looking at him he nodded his head for her to open it, quickly turning a page nervously that looked like it had a lot of writing on it to the middle of the section. 

There was a date in the corner, and some sloppy handwriting. Ryu could barely make out the 'I miss Sven.' turning the page several times they all read the same thing. 

"I take it you miss Sven?" She riposted back. He laughed breathlessly. 

"Point being it helps. Doesn't have to be deep or poetic or well written just write down how you feel. Here, this one's yours." Shakily she took the empty book rubbing her fingers down the cover then pushed it to her breast. Her eyes misted, stirring a brief panic in Kristoff that he did something wrong but then suddenly her arms wrapped around his neck. 

Awkwardly he patted her back.

"I've never owned anything before." 

He choked back his own sorrow at the confession and hugged her back more earnestly. "Well now you do Paul." 

Pulling away they sat contently, till Ryu punched Kristoff's shoulder. 

"Ow! What the hell is wrong with you!" Ryu pursed her lips while he rubbed the pain away. 

"I saw one of the sailors do it to his friend. I thought it was another way humans show affection, no?" 

"It's definitely not!"

"Oh..." She folded her hands in her lap, continuing to watch the party. It did look fun, with the dancing and music- 

"Ow! Damn it!" Ryu came to seeing Kristoff clutch his hand. He'd tried punching her back but her scales reflexively tightened. 

"Well come on then Paul, might as well join them-" he began climbing down. "I think Elsa is feeling a bit better now." 

"Are you certain I didn't cause any trouble with my powers or anything?" Ryu overheard Elsa questioning the Captain and Anna. 

"Peshaw no Miss Elsa, you were a bit out of it but nothing eventful occured I assure you." 

Elsa nodded gratefully. "I'm just thankful there were no casualties." 

"Ah a few broken bones and bruises are nothing we are not accustomed to, they'll be healed soon enough." 

A beautiful sailor's voice rose over the chatter in a jovial shanty, in harmony, fiddles, tin whistles, mandolins and squeezeboxes floated across into ears. 

It was uncontrollable, the tap of Ryu's foot, she too felt the tingle of gaiety that reached everyone. Even Elsa swayed moderately to the melodies and laughed at the stories the songs told. 

More and more of Ryu's body was captured like a true sailor lured in by sirens. She was truly a closeted audiophile. 

Elsa's attention was divided between the story of Johnny boy's wife left at home and Ryu dancing in the corner to herself thinking no one could see her. 

She was ousted when a Sailor hailing from Spain caught her singing in his Latin tongue. He petrified her jumping from the table and grabbing her hand tugging her into the complicated footwork of his flamenco, he motioned for her to give her own display. Gulping nervously, her feet tapped, circling gracefully, earning cheers. 

Shock and elation surged her on to continue dancing even the Norse and Gaelic ones she wasn't so well versed in her mimicry came in handy, some variations were either her own made up dances or ones from cultures Elsa had yet to witness. 

Elsa's inhibitions were lowered considerably by her concussion, it took her five minutes of leering at Ryu to figure out she was gazing right back at her. 

Was Ryu dancing specifically for her?

It was such a hedonistic notion that Elsa wouldn't let go of, she knew better but everyone was drinking themselves to singing and dancing stupors so why couldn't she have her own little intemperate thoughts?

"What dance is that?" Anna asked, watching Ryu move. 

"I don't know I made it up just now." 

"Do dragons make up dances?" 

"Well I'm the last one so I guess they do!" 

"Aye, Miss Paul Periwinkle?" The man singing the last song asked clasping her shoulder. 

"Huh?" 

"How was the music of Japan in your youth?" Elsa was also interested in the answer to this as well. 

Her dragon did her best to be courteous of the man and those present, masking the growing consternation, her scales braced and her breathing quickened. Instead of hissing or immediately fleeing she snickered a parody of her true laugh, blabbering out a slew of excuses. 

Elsa stood much too fast making the world spin so she held out a hand to steady herself coming back from vertigo and searched for Ryu. The singer shrugged. 

What had she said? Something like they didn't really have music there? 

Why lie? 

The man kindly directed Elsa to the less occupied side of the boat, she spotted Ryu speed walking up the stairs to a ladder leading into the crows nest. 

Elsa pursued, she'd have no hope using the ladder so she crafted a small case of stairs lifting the hem of her purple skirt, it was arduous and she felt so drained reaching the top. 

"Erusa!" Ryu chastised offering a hand to the spirit in her to sit on the circle benching. 

"What are you doing up here?" 

"I could ask you the same thing. Why did you leave the party?" Ryu looked away shrugging. Elsa lolled her head to the side at Ryu, she was tired and not in the mood to dance around words or tip toe in conversation. 

Ryu exhaled. "Dragons love music so much. I was taught that in Japan, but like many other things like growling, or clawing, flying... I was forbidden to partake." Elsa's cold grip around her anchored her from drifting in a sea of grief. 

"It all made sense at the time, whenever I rebelled or indulge someone got scratched or scared and I wondered, why I even existed. Would I have been better as a sunset, something to end? I'm just so tired of being me at times. The world seemed better off without me some days."

Elsa mulled over all the things that Ryu said that were true for herself. After a while she spoke, mapping the constellations. "I would- when I was locked away and forced to not be me- I would stare out the window and pretend in my head that I wasn't me. Even as queen I still wasn't me, not truly but I was on the way. Those thoughts plagued me however." 

"Do they ever go away?" Ryu's hope, her longing for the right answer constricted Elsa's resolve to tell a stretch of the truth. 

"Yeah." 

Ryu nodded, hope still alive. "Let me ask you something Ryu. When you saved my life- twice- did you wish you weren't you then or didn't exist?"

"N-no."

"And when you meet my people, or when we played with the stoats or when you played with Olaf and Bruni?"

"No."

"What about when you take Anna flying that she can't stop talking about endlessly, do you wish or have those thoughts then? Do you wish you weren't a dragon or you?" 

They knew the answer was the same. 

"... No." 

"Then there you go. You hate your past, and the things did to you but not yourself. Not the true you, you hate what they made you believe you were, but let me tell you something-" Elsa leaned in closer shushing her voice. "I am a genius-" Ryu bubbled in laughter along with her but she knew it was true even if Elsa was joking. 

"Well maybe not a genius but certainly much smarter and better judge of character than the people in your past and I say; you are beautiful, you are smart-" Even while Ryu shook her head, beginning to cry Elsa gripped her chin firmly forcing Ryu to see the truth behind her eyes. "You are funny, you are brave, you are kind and gentle. You are a gift to me, as I was to my parents and I will not squander you. I will cherish you- I will protect you- I will teach you- I will lo-" Elsa faltered, blaming it on a coughing. "I will love every moment we get to spend together." 

Ryu tucked her head beneath Elsa's chin wrapped in her arms hiccuping. Bulda had told her it was a dragon trait, the tucked dragon seeking safety and the one atop if they did not withdraw promised to provide those things. Elsa let the weight of her head rest on Ryu's closing her eyes. Ryu could lean on her, depend on her and she knew in return she could do the same. No matter what awaited them in the future. 

"Is it a requirement that every-eh- everyone you know have shitty childhoods?" Elsa giggled genuinely at the joke. 

"It would seem so." Elsa rubbed her nape scales eliciting a purr. Ryu's lips ghosted along her clavicle and neck, whispering her name. 

"Erusa." 

Anna found Elsa leaning on the side of the ship, one leg resting against the back of the other watching the water, watching Ryu. 

She had seen them. Anna realized what her sister needed, could see what she desired but she also had a responsibility to protect her. And what Elsa longed for was wild, unpredictable, and dangerous as she was wonderful. Her mind hadn't decided yet, her heart told her to proceed with caution. She would continue her previous plan and help Elsa but first she had to make something right. 

When Elsa noticed her presence she smiled then went back to watching the sea. 

"Hey Els?" 

"Yes sweetheart?" 

"I'm sorry." Elsa moved closer, rubbing Anna's arm. 

"Hey it's not that bad, the doctor in the infirmary said I'll be better in five days tops." 

"No not that- well yes that- but I'm sorry for pressuring you to go on dates and stuff. You should only do that when you're ready if you ever want to in the first place." Anna took a deep breath from her rambling. "I was controlling all because I wanted the best for you but that's not my place to decide. It's yours." 

Elsa absorbed all she had been told, remembering the night Anna got her to agree to open up to the possibility of dating. It felt so long ago. "I guess I'm not... Against the idea of finding love." 

So many unspoken words, so many truths they both didn't want to face. Anna halfheartedly smiled. "Honest, speaks their mind, pleasant to be around-" Elsa grinned back playing along.

"Strong, protective."

"Gentle, smart." 

"Loyal, kind, sweet, outgoing." They both chuckled at Anna's initial shock at this. 

"Sense of humor-" 

"Creative would be nice."

"Yes it would be. Enjoys learning, reading, and unbiased, warm." 

"Enjoys books, good convictions, and Alive."

"So alive." Elsa breathed out the words as Anna continued. 

"Optimistic, and affectionate. Short, no facial hair annnnd like me." She sounded a little proud of that last one. The humor set itself aside for more awkward layers that the girls wouldn't peel away, at least for tonight. They were both terrified, both nervous for what all this could mean. 

"Well as long as you know you have options-" 

"Right options, the world's too big with too many people... Not to meet." So forced, the conversation wouldn't have a natural end that wasn't uncomfortable or gauche. 

Anna slammed a kiss to Elsa's cheeks momentarily forgetting her injury, catching her when she fumbled sideways. 

"Sorry um- goodnight Elsie"

Leaning over, she called down. "Night Ryu, don't keep Elsa up too late!" A gurgling roar was her response when the dragon submerged again. 

Anna lingered at the stairs observing. 

Ryu climbed back aboard and shook her scales and manes from any excess water soaking Elsa. 

"Hey!" In vain her arms lifted to shield her face. Ryu laughed her weird laugh when she was in this body. Elsa slapped her rump. 

"You brat." 

The dragon rubbed the length of her body, from her chin to the tip of her tail, along Elsa's side leading the way to their cabin. 

Anna rushed away to her room. Kristoff lay snoring peacefully in bed as she pressed her back to the door, hearing the muffled laughter of her sister and Ryu's footsteps. 

Chapter Text

"Black."

"Black?"

"Black." An amazing color one which would not attract much attention such as its reputation preceded. It was a smart choice and would provide them enough anonymity. The only trait that would accentuate any oddity was Ryu's eyes. It was inconsequential so long as they kept it such.

Kristoff huffed. "Guys I think she gets it." His comments from the corner of Elsa's cabin ignored in favor of fussing and meticulous details which were in the broad scheme of things ridiculous, he'd just stay leaned against the corner- arms crossed. Satisfied with the results Anna gave "Astrid '' Elsa's personal Lady in waiting the last bit of instructions to her role in their court. The alias' creation segued into a long discussion of the possible routes they could go, bodyguard; "That would give Ryu too much freedom to crisping anyone she felt was even close to threatening Elsa. Cofferer; Ryu didn't even fully understand the concept of finances, she thought that humans measured how rich they were by the amount of livestock they accumulated- Elsa loved that reasoning. 

Her position was delegated unanimously, one that would keep her in close proximity to Elsa, and remain inconspicuous.

Dressing to represent the royal house of Arendelle had to be accentuated, Honeymaren had brought a formal silver gákti, sleeves embroidered with gold hexagons. It wasn't the attire a chieftain would don but someone of high standard and ranking among her people.

Elsa took great care in dressing Ryu, Anna had brought some clothing mostly fitted for herself but Elsa refuted this vehemently birthing an uncomfortable end to the discussion.

Once alone Elsa, taking advantage of creative liberties, wove a sky blue brocaded gown, simple by most standards yet intricate with threading individual snowflakes along the skirt and fitted sleeves. It was reminiscent of her own gown, but she had to remind herself that hers had to be a bit more extravagant than what her Lady in waiting wore. It was pleasant though to see the dragon in her own designs and fabrics. As silly as it was, it gave Elsa a small sense of security for Ryu. 

The desired effect for her own dress was a success despite her magic's uncooperative behavior. Every attempt she made ended up shadowing Ryu's clothes until Elsa willed her focus and requested silence from her friend. Ryu knelt in front of Olaf tying his green and orange bow-tie neatly around his neck and flattening the twigs on his head wistfully commenting about his appearance with a fond voice. "You look very handsome."

"Thank you, you look very pretty, I'm so excited. You know I've only ever been to Corona- it's an amazing place, they call it the land of the sun- have you ever been there?" Ryu shook her head, multitasking between listening and perfecting his appearance. "Oh I'll have to take you, Anna and Elsa's family live there-" Ryu had only heard passing comments about the cousin whose life rivaled the girls' in excitement and adventure. She was curious about the extended royal family who had also seemed magical, perhaps it ran in the family.

"Whoa." Heard Elsa from Ryu when stepping from the washroom breathe upon seeing her. The translucent sleeves, somewhat billowing her arms glittered when catching the light leading to the slim fitting deep indigo dress, giving the appearance of silk becoming lighter and lighter in shade as it descended down into a pooling skirt nearly touching the floor. The middle crystal brooch; Arendelle's crocus, surrounded by teardrops flowing downward. Her cyan heels could not be seen unless she took a step showcasing the same design upon their vamps.

Ryu noticed the lower length of Elsa's locks were left in slight curls, her left bang delicately pinned by a clear ice crocus overlapping the hair that lay behind it. Smirking, Ryu tugged lightly at the white velvet cape attached to her shoulders by two silver ringlets, tutting her teeth. Swatting her hand away Elsa did a final once over of herself and Ryu. Initially Ryu thought Elsa was the picturesque image of a queen until she saw Anna, arm linked to Kristoff's. She turned to them away from the sight of the strange foreign land. Anna's red hair rivaled the sun's gleam, some coifs escaping in bangs and the rest pulled back into a bun of curls hiding behind her silver enameled a crown, circling it were well placed emeralds diamond in shape. reaching from the peak of her head. The shirt black, traveling along the sleeves were ornate orange leaves following their slanted journey across her breast tucking into her side. Her skirt was split off to the left, one half dark pine green and the other inner layer a mesmerizing lime. The inside of the cape covering her shoulders was purple, top spilling over in the same color Ryu had seen decorate the Arendelle flag, centered with an orange large design of the Royal symbol. She and her husband matching, Ryu could barely recognize the man, this was the most colors she had ever seen him in. His buttons polished gold and hair coiffed in the front like Anna's.

Her eyes shimmered when she saw Elsa, filling with pride when her sister took her rightful place on the queen's left with Honeymaren flanking Kristoff's right. Ryu had stopped her trailing of Elsa in shock at how splendorous the group looked. It reminded her of their stations and regal blood, and for the first time she felt like a commoner among them.

That was good. Their ruse would be believable. Hopes dashed, hopes of an uncertain future, she was brutally reminded that she and Elsa were not equals. Elsa was a goddess of winter, former queen and savior of an entire nation compared to what she was, a caricature of an extinct race, a coward, a monster, a murderer who did not deserve the grace and care Elsa extended to her.

The spirit believed in her, that she was strong and brave so she'd be those things. Yes she would break, but she'd break carefully not shattering everywhere and when this was over she could pick up the pieces and glue them back together again.

Elsa looked over her shoulder to ensure Ryu was in her proper place and not sniffing around. She had been to Ruskland before and showed great restraint when it came time to fully dock. It was a bizarre sight seeing the dragon look like nothing more than a servant in not only dress but demeanor as well, even her steps light and not cumbersome- a proper little lady of court with her hands folded in front of her, head slightly bowed and eyes glancing but never staring. It both soothed and rattled Elsa's nerves, they wouldn't be discovered if Ryu kept her manners up yet it felt wrong to have a creature such as Ryu behave this way. She even refused to hold Olaf's offered hand. 

Ryu did not attempt to look around though it was tempting, she had been in this capital before, the air in comparison to Arendelle was not warm, tepid, not welcoming or quaint. Where Arendelle preferred wood and using the natural resources of its environment, this place valued stone, and various marbles, statues decorated the streets.

Their naval presence was not heavily relied upon but still present. The Neoclassical buildings were tall and strongly held up by dark cobblestone roads filled with people and carriages despite the harsh and vast landscape surrounding the opulent city. All eyes were upon the royal party as they entered the territory.

Ryu closed her eyes briefly. She held no desire to retreat back into herself and bring forth the subservient shut down prisoner she imagined still existing within a hunched dark corner not cowering outright, instead dead in the eyes; a ragdoll who stood apathetically carrying out any order given, obedient, ignoring all instincts.

Hearing their approach first, synchronous footsteps which number could not be discerned until they were seen. 

Fourteen soldiers, broad-shouldered, and large in stature led the charge, fitted in infantry coats shining in gold-braided galloons tied around their hips. Their sharp eyes matched the pressed uniforms of thick, cotton, black trousers, spic and span white gloves and hard-heeled black boots. At their rear an officer marched along in a summer cherkeska. His medals were heavy, crested in gold and silver which he wore proudly attached to his red chest. His command choreographed a split of the soldiers into two ranks, not breaking stride in their mission to greet the royal family who had never seen a display such as this. Beside him a stiff little woman in a corseted white dress, puffing out at a pale blue skirt, the torso laced with gray trimmings, looking entirely out of place among the gruff men. Her features were delicate and small, one could see her face was set by her nature; commanding, calm, and conscientious. "This is a little much if you ask me." Olaf whispered to Anna forcing her to stifle a laugh.

They halted in front of the Royal family of Arendelle awaiting a tall and thin announcer with a mismatched loud boisterous voice to introduce the caravan. "Presenting Dutchess Ophelia Maria Alexandrovna Dmitrieva-Mamonova, as well as Major General Konstantin Grigory Sokolov of Her illustrious majesty's Army." Everyone, including Elsa and Anna, found themselves shocked not saying a word, they kept this masked behind placid modest smiles. The ruler of Ruskland had sent her highest ranking General and a duchess who, given her last name and house, was of some relation to the Royal family to greet them.

It drew the question in their minds, how much impression and reputation Arendelle, being small and quaint, had built with the rest of the world to be granted such an audience immediately upon arrival. Stepping forward was the dutchess who spoke first addressing them, again superseding expectations, by both not allowing the General to take charge of the interaction-in a society that was incredibly patriarchal- and speaking in a poised English accent which made her Nordic words come off way more posh sounding.

"It is an honor to make your acquaintance and for you to prestige our great Empire with your audience. Her Majesty Queen Anna Oldenburg Árnadalr, Guardian and Sovereign of the Northernmost Realm among the Nordic isles, Commander in Chief of the Fridtjof Nansen Fleet and Sten valkyrja army." Her curtsy in the dress seemed impossible until she performed it with nothing except elegant dignity. Turning she addressed Kristoff paying the same respects to him and Elsa. "Consort Prince Kristoff Bjorgmen to her illustrious. And Lady Elsa, blessed fifth spirit, gift to the Northern Realms, personification of Skaði's kiss upon the world." Elsa gulped quietly, while flattering it was also jarring hearing the titles she had been given by the rest of the world. She especially hated the comparison or having any Affiliation with gods and goddesses of her Nordic culture. Impressively the woman held her equanimity when faced within what should have been an unknown person but once again proved to be completely erudite when nodding her head to Honeymaren. "And greetings to friends of Elsa's, Honeymaren Nattura of Northuldra and master Olaf Árnadalr."

"Master?" He questioned aloud but was ignored by the woman who kept her trained eyes blinking towards the queen.

Stillness paused between the two groups, The dutchess did not seem misplaced by the slight lack of decorum from Anna's hesitation to speak faltering slightly as she began. "Thank you Dutchess Ophelia for this most... Gracious and prestigious welcome it is a great pleasure to meet you and you as well General Konstantin."

The grim faced man bowed at the queen's recognition. His accent was that of Ruskland, thick, deep and smashing the Nordic tongue harshly but expertly. "We hope your stay is prosperous and enjoyed. We have prepared carriages to escort the Royal family to the Dmitrieva-Mamonova palace." They followed his gesture to three lavished chariots gilded with gold and red satin, led by large Don horses. Anna was taken aback when they boarded. She and Kristoff were to share their space with the Dutchess, while Elsa- needing not to be directed- took to the carriage behind hers with, Honeymaren and the general.

Elsa gave Anna a look of apologies but beseeching her to understand. The siblings in Arendelle may have been inseparable there, it was not the custom here. Instead of being the sides of a magical bridge, equal yet different, here Elsa was a lower rank than Anna, a hard concept she would have to get used to. Elsa was most expecting. Anna wasn't the only one perturbed with the arrangement. Ryu and Olaf would be riding in far back together alone, when she approached the horses neighed and tried rearing up in agitation with her presence causing a minor disturbance. Their handler berated them back into submission, clearly annoyed.

Clasping the handle to enter Elsa lingered watching, her brows furrowing and lips set downward, a robust voice spoke from behind. "Our horses here have brave hearts, strong bodies, and stubborn minds." He sneered but only in jest moving towards their steeds "Riding one is not for the faint of heart, I've seen one cripple a man!" The hearty slap on the horse's rump triggered a small kick. Jumping back the General chuckled while pointing to the animal. Elsa grinned back, he was one of infectious laughter dispersing all precursors to what he'd be like when they first saw him. 

"I am very fond of them-" he continued climbing in after the women politely sitting across from them. "Fond of all, beautiful animals. They can read people." Elsa and Honeymaren giggled at his joyful thick brows rising in wrinkles when he pointed at them. "I truly believe it, I believe it. They know a man's heart like no other. Lady Elsa?" She gifted him her attention, already feeling at ease in his presence. Admittedly having a soft spot for any who treasured animals and their intelligences. "You have a water bronco, uuuh-" he trailed off. "Nokk." She corrected, he gave an enthusiastic nod. "Tell me everything we have about forty minutes to the capital no doubt Dutchess Ophelia is filling their ride with history and- hm- let's speak of more important things- and Lady Nattura your people live and protect reindeer-" his giant hands moved as he spoke animatedly. "I am a stranger to them but I must admit... I uh hunt them for food, pelt. I hope that is not too big a blight for you." 

Honeymaren remained calm and realistic, shrugging her shoulders. "Not at all, if it was I'd be a hypocrite, we hunt deer, and fish and birds. Reindeer provide us with milk and fur so no it's not General Konstantin... " As she spoke he poured three glasses of vodka, handing them out. Oh goodness gracious. Elsa took a deep breath. She did not want to be inebriated in the slightest when meeting the ruler of Ruskland, but she'd have to balance respecting customs and not getting sick. Honeymaren gladly accepted the offering having no problem in holding her liquor. So with fingers Elsa took the glass which iced over instantly in grasp. The General made an appreciative noise of shock and awe at the display of anxiety unbeknownst to him.

"May you please?" He said handing her his own. She obliged and so they spoke in a delightful conversation as the vodka settled and burned her poor insides. Ahtahollan give me strength.

"Why won't you talk to me? Did I do something wrong?" That snapped Ryu out of her daze of sitting, straightened back, palms folded in her lap while staring out the window. She sighed heavily. "No Olaf, it's not you it's just..." She'd have to remain conscious of the footman sitting ahead upon the roof. "You can't treat me like a friend here-"

"But you are my friend, no matter where we are." He scooted closer to her. "Well yes I am but here the rules are different, I'm a servant and servants are not friends. You're going to have to ignore me most of the time-" finally she looked at him. "I'll still protect you, and keep an eye out but you have to do this okay? Remember we're working together-'' her eyes went to the windows seeing some civilians stop and gawk at the convoy. "I need you to keep an ear out for anything pertaining to Elsa for me and for her." Ryu knew she wouldn't be able to be everywhere Elsa and Anna went.

She was in a position of heavy restrictions once again and it hurt to the point of her promising once alone in privacy she'd vomit all the contents of her stomach. When agreeing to this she didn't take into account the entirety of the suffering this role would entail. It wasn't the role itself by any means but the behaviors which were so heavily related albeit in a less oppressive way to the way she was raised. It was a light roleplay that still dug nasty teeth and claws into old scars turning them into bloodied red wounds pulsing with each heartbeat.

"Okay." 

She hated depressing him. Olaf was joy incarnate and any who took pleasure in displeasing him were inherently evil as far as Ryu was concerned.

She nudged him. "Hey, when we get back to Arendelle think of all the fun and amazing things we'll do together okay. You still have to show me around and I still have to take you flying." He inhaled deeply, holding his breath with his excitement. "Mmm okay let's get this over with! And Sven can join!" She shushed him giggling, it was a reprieve from her current state, the silence they say in less tense and more promising. Eyes flitting to the side she could see the smirking determination of her little buddy. Funnily enough, she had first thought he'd provide Elsa with emotional support but now... She clung her heart to his as one clung to a torch surrounded by pitch darkness.

The Dutchess, Anna had learned, was a strong woman juxtaposed to her small stature with a voice strong and eloquent in pronunciation and dignity. She almost reminded Anna of Elsa- if Elsa was ridden of anxiety and more outwardly spoken- as she led the conversation of the cities history and culture. She was well educated and knew it, confident in who she was but not arrogant. She was somewhat of a stickler and stiff. "-though the many of the structures you witness before you were destroyed in revolt, they have been built up, efficiently and some opinion might say more glorious than before in the same baroque style as of the past. Differing opinions wanted a more modern approach."

Anna, chuckling, spoke in a playful manner. "If it isn't baroque don't fix it." Kristoff looked to her eyes brimming with adoration as if he fell in love with her all over again. An opposing reaction came from the Dutchess with an arched brow, unamused face. Slowly turning to the window uttering a single. "Quite." Ending all conversation till it was picked up again minutes later.

Anna couldn't help but feel as if the Duchess was no longer holding them in the same respect, speaking now as if she were educating children, going over the etiquette of court and behavior expected from their family and entourage. Simply speaking; Don't touch anything that looks expensive. It was a rule for children, yet Kristoff knew it was very necessary for certain members of their party, his wife included.

Upon arrival it was evident that the city was nothing more than the shimmering scales of a serpent protecting and obscuring the resplendent, daunting, leviathan that was Dmitrieva-Mamonova palace. Everywhere one would look they were bathed in riches and palatial views from just the courtyard alone if one could even name it such a thing. Polished to perfection, every surface was a mirror, from the marble roads, unparalleled opulence of the high and detailed vestibules, three-story building built around a quadrangle, and strong columns sporting sandy tan backgrounds, with golden stucco moldings. Along the roof's statues made by the finest artists in the world, various positions of dance, war, and history of the empire. Even heaven's gates would be envious of the large doorways which surpassed the height of Arendelle's entire castle's tallest peak.

Every step of the party could be heard when they entered. The Duchess didn't have to delegate the staff of the important state visit, maids, and servants bustled around them attending to every need as the nobility of the estate bowed and showed respect to the passing royals. Stopping at the entry of the wing, every member of Ruskland moved in a scary procession to the precise areas of their station. The duchess was especially pleased at the awed and slacked expression of her guests.

"Our staff will be moving your belongings and household items to each designated room of your majesty, as well as escorting you to your chambers. You will meet with her Imperial Majesty tonight at six before a grand feast is served at eight. Please do not hesitate to ask but please-" She pinned Anna beneath a knowing subtle glower speaking purposefully, as if knowing it was within some present's character to wreak havoc. "Hesitate to touch anything within the halls as they hold not just unimaginable monterey value but that of the imperial family's history and esteem."

"You'd think they'd keep such important things away from where they could be broken or shattered if they valued them so much." Olaf's musings enacted small subtle, blink and miss eye twitch from the Duchess.

Honeymaren was simultaneously amazed beyond belief and disgusted with how distanced from the earth this place and its people seemed. The signs of any nature were well kept exotic plants placed decoratively throughout, none seemed native. As if the residents wanted to be as far away from land as possible while still living in the middle of it.

Elsa sparred a confused glance to her sister debating if something had happened to create such a defensive and embittered tone from their host who had been only perfect and courteous until now. Breeching decorum she grabbed Olaf's hand glancing back at Ryu who remained quiet and still. It was eerie to say the least. Sure she didn't want the girl to cause trouble in a place such as this with stakes so high... Just the way she... Shut down as if she didn't exist at all, vanishing within the crowd like a drop of oil in the ocean was... Unsettling. As they were led to their room every single one of them let out a cleansing breath when the servants were shooed away and assured many times that they could manage on their own.

Kristoff laughed as his wife threw herself onto the oversized bed that could fit as far as he was concerned at least twenty people. The room was gauded out with art pieces, plush rugs covering marble floors and a grand window. In fact grand was the only way to describe the gold and crimson room. They had a sitting room, a large bathroom that was the size of their own chambers back home and the master bed, with four pillars decorated with burgundy velvet canopies.

"Well this is... Just think this is the guest room and I'm getting a headache just thinking about what the Empress' room looks like." Anna giggled at this leaning up on her elbows.

"I couldn't even imagine this in all the books I read and yet they're scared of us?" Humourous and incredulous she still couldn't believe the wealth she was surrounded by.

"I'll need a map just to find you in the bed." Anna hummed at this raising a coy brow, she eyed Kristoff who knelt on the other side of bed realizing how soft it was. "Hmm and why would you need to find me?" Tone leaking of coquettish intent as he removed his outer coat and shrugged. "Oh to rendezvous for the mission."

Anna sighed, laying on her side eyeing him in appreciation as he lay on his stomach trying to relax beside her, his hand rested upon the dip of her hip. "I think the Dutchess has it out for me."

"You two are literally opposites." He comforted. "And that's okay, she's... " He searched for the right word. "I get the feeling she loves rules." Upon hearing this Anna scrunched her nose in disgust which was kissed by her husband.

"Gross."

Olaf and Elsa stared at Ryu's back facing them as she gazed out the window, probably taking inventory of the view, mapping it out. Exchanging looks Olaf went to explore the vast room as Elsa stood beside Ryu also taking in the view. "Ryu, you're... Breaking down." The statement wasn't refuted, answered with an absence.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"For this to work." Was there another plan Ryu had in mind? The only plan they'd have was that Ryu came as back up to protect if need be while under a guise. Elsa tried lifting morale while also getting answers but Ryu's posture didn't change from the old discipline she had always kept under certain circumstances to match Elsa's playful goading. "Diverting from the original plan?"

"No."

In the spirit of honesty Elsa spoke her truth. "Ryu please... Don't do this to yourself. I don't know what it is nor will I pretend to but-"

"Erusa, what I am doing is needed, I trust you are smart enough to know why. There is something here, dark that wants to hurt you and to uncover it... I must play the part." Elsa now knew what it was. Ryu was suppressing herself, what she was doing to Elsa, it would be like keeping her powers buried and retorting to wearing gloves again, and she hated it not thinking it would go to this extent after they had come this far. Every thin synapse connected. This was a less abusive role Ryu fulfilled before she escaped Japan. The servitude, and deadened reactions; in Arendelle Cherry was following her own rules, and going solo as vigilante to save her friend she hadn't met too long ago, only knowing that she was the only one who had shown her kindness in her entire life.

This was in far contrast with more at stake. Elsa felt a silent rage beginning to stir towards so many at the same time, from the Mikoto household who crafted Ryu's fear and pain, to herself who was unintentionally doing the same, to the others Ryu encountered showing them the worst of humanity blaming their aggression on the something she couldn't help. She'd protect her, she'd keep Ryu and her family safe while completing this mission. She had faced worse odds before. "Ryu I know you're dedicated to this but... " What was the point not matter what else could have been said, she knew Ryu would not take heed to her word or any ultimatums and options she offered but she'd still have to try, sickened by the small part herself that hoped Ryu's selfish preservation trait was still alive somewhere in her.

"If this becomes too much you'll back out. We can accommodate you easily."

"Hai."

It wasn't an agreement, just a mere acknowledgement to what she said. "I'm still going to keep my promises, nothing will keep me from that." She hoped it provided comfort to help Ryu through whatever inner turmoil she was going through. Feeling helpless, she'd have to look at this through another perspective for the sake of her sanity and keeping a level head. If she was to gain back some control of the situation she'd have to bend to the rules Ryu self inflicted upon herself. 

Ryu- committed to the role with her unpacking and tending things around the room as Elsa watched her with intense gaze- was her lady in waiting, thus Elsa had a responsibility over her, to not just allow Ryu to care for her but to care for Ryu as well. In her culture Ladies in waiting and handmaidens were respectful women of lower rank catering to their mistresses as companions most notably from middle classes of families, and sometimes mistresses of the Robes- Elsa froze her thought process. It should not have led there, but either way Ryu in this guise or Astrid of Harmon was- legally speaking- hers since she was not married. Elsa's. Both as a guardian and authoritarian, so long as Ryu was under the Alias of Astrid of Harmon she belonged to Elsa giving the woman some semblance of reprieve and in the darkest reaches of her mind a clandestine itch was sniffing out to be scratched clasping at the opportunity like a wild dog to a calf, not willing to release until it had eaten its full. "Ryu." The dragon stopped her task unpacking, not turning to Elsa as if sensing the shift in tone and demeanor of the woman.

"Yes Lady Elsa?" She answered, turning slowly enough to send a shiver down Elsa's spine. Ignoring her consciousness that told her no, that this was self satisfactory. "Come here." Elsa had never spoken with such authority unwarranted to Ryu before but the dragon approached her at an appropriate distance. Elsa closed their gap, boring down on the girl unwavering with intent that couldn't be shaken from her by concepts like moral ambiguity. She held her eyes exuding all she felt until Ryu could sense it too and hopefully find security and protection.

"If you are to play this part to its full extent then I must too. If we are to be believed. You are my lady and mine in any circumstance legally and morally to protect, and guide...and Have while we are here. You are to obey me and abide by what I say. Do you understand this?" She searched in the purples, pinks and blues for any resistance or perturbation to the arrangement and found none. Ryu kept her gaze, and breathing even, Elsa could see the battle of her nature fighting and thrashing against these words, she wanted to growl and snarl at what was being said to her. Her dragon wrestled it down and fought, at what was now crucial to their mission, what had to be done. Submission was not an easy thing to give when one had been tormented by it all their life, finding freedom then once again relinquishing it. She wasn't like the others, who only desired power, and complete reign of a dragon, wanting to beat it down till their strength could be controlled and redirected to carry out their bidding, she was more than that, better than that. Elsa prayed that she was worthy enough to do such a task and fulfill such promises.

It wasn't happening again.

A small voice told Ryu. She was compelled to lash out and handle all this the way she saw fit that would have been easy. It was Elsa who stopped this compulsion. Elsa did not require respite in this small sacrifice but it was who Elsa was. She looked- no- she was a goddess before Ryu. The setting sun illuminating her figure, her white and blue dress glowing as she easily towered over Ryu. Who was she to refuse this being? Winter incarnate, ending the world if she so willed yet did not in a kindness thought unattainable. Elsa had saved so many lives and had done the unimaginable. She deserved every bit of reverence she requested and more. She had chosen Ryu to be her follower in this task of preserving her life and thus the lives of thousands. It was calm for Ryu, ducking her head held up by a weak neck and bowing upon wobbly knees. Perhaps this was her chance. A final chance to do something good, a chance to maybe repent for all the sin she had committed against the innocent and undeserving, and if sacrificing what she could pay the price or came remotely close to it, she'd gladly do so without question.

The servitude Elsa felt radiating off of her dragon was intoxicating yet disgusting. She soaked in the sight of the prostrated girl until her resolve broke and she knelt lifting her back up smiling. The storm of emotion she had witnessed in her face, Elsa silently asked if they had gone too far. Ryu didn't have an answer.

"Erusa?"

"Yes?" Elsa whispered back, Ryu bit her lip glazing downward then back up again. "I know how my station behaves and the deeds they perform generally both from my life in Japan and from watching people but... I don't-" she sounded completely callow. "Could you tell me my duties to you here now." Elsa inhaled sharply and stood nodding.

And so she began instructing Ryu on what was expected, the dragon wasn't a complete novice already anticipating some of the tasks beforehand but accepted Elsa's tutoring and learned something new. They stood in continued silent existence as Ryu mimicked the folding Elsa showed her with their wardrobes which were delivered. Ryu's fingers and arms moved carefully accepting nothing except but perfection in her performance as Elsa felt a new freedom in her stares at Ryu's body then she had before. Liar.

Ryu made her a liar.

Promising to protect her from such attention Elsa was inflicting upon her, she was also a novice with controlling such growing urges and interests she hadn't felt before in another's body. Ryu's was ideal, at least as far as one could go appraising attraction. From her stature she was short, this seemed to compact all her feminine features to embolden themselves. Her chest was not large or supple enough to be noticed unless she were to wear something tight yet they were there, most of her weight and fat congregated to her thighs, hips, and rear. She had put on some weight from being fed regularly than what she had been needing to hunt or scavenge or go without when Elsa first met her. Her mind wandered to the Arendellian maid uniform barely fitting.

Ryu had been underweight substantially and maybe could still be considered such, even in her dragon form her ribs had shown when she twisted or turned, now they showed just a whisper that existed at a certain angle. Upon closer inspection Elsa found herself noticing that minus the obvious differences Ryu as human was shaped similarly to how she was as a dragon. Delicate, strong, and definitely female. Was there sexual dimorphism in the species? She wondered- eyes lidded, watching her move about the room. Every flex, twist, or bend, noticed. She sometimes moved comfortably almost floating- bouncing coyly- seemed not all her mannerisms were completely muted and buried. 

Good.

A knock jolted Elsa from her appreciative leering like a child caught stealing a sweet. Ryu answered the door speaking with the visitor with a professionalism Elsa hadn't known she was capable of. "Well seems it's time to for you to take audience with the Imperial Majesty." She didn't need Ryu's sardonic exaggeration, her nerves were already dreading this moment, the idea that she could have been meeting someone of incredible influence who wanted her dead or was subverted ignorant of schemes brewing underneath her very nose.

Ryu watched her with sympathy take deep breaths.

"I'd come with you if I could…"

Chapter Text

The implications of the food that lay in front of her were heavy and of deep consequences that Elsa found to be just a challenge in prodding it gingerly with her fork to show some interest. 

There were no traces of any meat in the dishes placed closest to her and on the plate. Two paths formed in her mind as to the meaning of this. It was no secret that meat did not agree with her and wasn't too outlandish for that information to reach the Ruskland kitchens, a noble would state this fact to his party in conversation as if he had audience regularly with Elsa or if they dined often enough for them to be in on the know. Or it was to trap her into a corner that lacked no means of escape or excuse to not eat the poison laced food, but this was unlikely. It would be too traceable of a crime. 

There were too many stimuli in the intimate dining room, triggering all of one's senses at once if they could not find a means to turn them off and enjoy one experience at a time. The classical preludes played beautifully from the quartet in the background, the shining surfaces showcasing wealth, the staff shuffling in the background silently to and fro like shadows on a frequented street known for its active nightlife, the many scents wafting up from the table, to the conversation which overtook the music at times.

It made Elsa envy Anna and Kristoff who were not comfortable but still seemed able to function and fare better than she could. She blinked for longer than usual, everytime willing her powers to sooth down its hum. 

The meeting with the queen had been anything except orthodox. She was a stout old woman with a dull expression answering every utterance made to her as she sat on her pedestal. That face remained the same, until Anna entered with Kristoff and Elsa at her sides. The queen's moss green eyes roamed over them, looking past their backs and around expectantly. 

Grunting she leaned back in her cushioned chair not hiding the frown which created even more wrinkles upon her weathered face. She didn't address them first as the crier began introductions. 

"Presenting-" 

"Shut up!" The Empress ordered. "I know who they are and they know who I am." 

Leaning over an attendant leant his ear to her. There was no need for the proximity since her voice was loud enough that even Anna could hear it from where she stood. 

"I thought I extended an invitation to the little snowman Edgar." 

Elsa rescued the man who shot up his brows in a quiet panic at a blunder which probably wasn't even his fault. "Your majesty Olaf will be taking his dinner in my Chambers tonight, we did not think it possible for him to sit still long enough for our dinner, he is umm quite... Exuberant." 

The empress turned in her chair, pursing her lips. The way she spoke made Elsa feel as if she were an adolescent but she determined that must have come with her age. 

"Who told you he would have to keep perfect behavior or his exuberance down in order to attend dinner? From Ophelia's description of him it was the reason for his invitation." Well that explained it. Having already glanced around when they first entered the room seeing exotic contortionists and dancers performing intricate maneuvers upon giant golden ringlets dangling above the ground, they had barely received any attention for the displays. Olaf was to cure the Empress' boredom of her own court. 

The Empress' expression was now indiscernible, squinting eyes and tightly puckered mouth. "Tell me Lady Elsa, is he safe under proper security?" 

The alarm bells rang off inside, Olaf was indeed safe under the watchful eye of Ryu whom Elsa knew would uncover her disguise to protect him, so the only concerning aspect of the question was that of its nature. 

"He is." Anna interjected with no further elaboration, she too must have felt the same consternation as Elsa. 

"Excellent. He is a treasure no doubt. Rare. A living snowman. Who had ever seen such a thing but a small nation of people. If you do require help in keeping him safe and sound do not hesitate to ask for more guards to secure his person-" Elsa's brows scrunched watching the Empress reach out having a sizable jewel placed in her palm. Looking at it as if it was just a hunk of coal. 

"Do you like it?" She held it out for them to see. 

Kristoff was not impressed but still kept his manners. "It's very beautiful, and expensive I'm sure." 

The empress scoffed at his answer. " You don't believe it is beautiful, you believe others think it's beautiful. I know your type. Practical yet wise in taste- you don't even know what type of stone this is." She continued her examination of the stone. 

"Alexandrite-" Elsa stated, stepping a bit closer to her sister and brother. "A rare gem that is said to change colors. Emerald by day, ruby by night." 

Alexandrovna was not impressed by neither the Jewel nor its accurate description. All present jumped when she threw it upon the ground harshly, not breaking it but definitely lowering the current value.

"What's a treasure worth if it's not alive? What are you to do with it? Stare at it, impress others with it? What good is it to me? Who do I need to impress?" They watched one of the most powerful women in the world sit bitterly and lament on. "I'd- I'd say that this jewel is worth a million times less than your precious... Olaf was it?" 

Anna opened and closed her mouth in confusion. Was this woman about to try and buy Olaf? 

"Arendelle is full of treasures such as him and yet I'm the lucky one..." 

Elsa stepped closer daring to study the downcast eyes of Alexandrovna Dmitrieva-Mamonova, there were so many emotions that one would not suspect to be found in a woman of her age and stature. 

Contentment, passion, restlessness, bitterness, loneliness. 

A dangerous mixture as far as Elsa was concerned if handled illy. 

That was why she needed to shut down the sensory noise which filled the room trying to distract her from the dinner conversation. It had been nothing more than the Empress asking Anna and Kristoff to tell their love story. 

Kristoff let Anna handle the details and excitement while he handled the facts. Elsa had heard the story over a thousand times but it still always made her smile fondly. 

The empress laughed, stuffing another pastry in her mouth. "You truly did tug him off of a cliff as a giant threw a tree at you? " 

Anna nodded enthusiastically. 

"Absolutely outrageous. I have had so many royal couples and pairings ask for my blessing to the match and regale their "riveting"  stories of how they saw each other across a room and fell in love or someone's father wanted a merger on a deal to make it more legitimate," a roll of her eyes gave the answer of how often this occurrence was. 

"Yes it wasn't instant for us-" Kristoff began. "I did not want to help her at all-" Anna giggled at the bluntness of his voice, as did Elsa. "I thought she was crazy. I was only in for the sled at first, and then I got to know her and I was goner. Even when I was determined to leave her behind to a perfect prince..." His eyes shimmered when he stared at his wife. "I couldn't."

Elsa was finally pacified enough at the story and sound of her siblings' voices to take a bite of her food right when attention were turned on her. "And what of you Lady Elsa?" She choked on a roll, recovering as gracefully as possible. 

"Oh no, sorry there are no epic love tales for me nor do I think there will be." 

"Really? No knights in shining-" the empress turned to Kristoff briefly. " Leather, to sweep you off your feet. No daring storms of castle rescues fighting off fantastical beast?" 

Elsa grinned, shaking her head. "I'm afraid not. I'm a very simple person-" at this Anna and Kristoff sputtered over their wines looking very dubious at this, Elsa ignored them. "-so if love ever does come my way it most likely will be the kind to bore you."

The empress observed her closely. " My dear girl, I hope you aren't planning settling-" 

"Oh no, no, no-"

"Because to settle on love means a lifetime of regret.''It sounded as if she was speaking from experience. "Besides your beauty affords you the ability to not have to do such a thing. You deserve more than just some handsome man who thinks he is entitled to you cause he's handsome and brave, when your own accomplishments and power supersedes his own." Anna agreed vehemently to this spreading a blush on her sister's cheeks. 

"Now on from sentimentality and to more pressing matters." Oh boy. 

"Arendelle is an ancient relic still alive as if it never left the days of old. A land frozen in time-" Anna and Elsa exchanged glances. 

"A prize really overlooked as being nothing more than a seafaring nation that likes little festivals and fish... But that time has passed- others are beginning to notice you. Some will be kind and some deceitful, some will be both. Your only Ally, Corona. Another simple place filled with magic. Birds of feather no doubt." 

Anna spoke up, her gleeful voice replaced with one hard and cutting. "We scare other nations, so we're currently showing them they have nothing to fear, hence why we're here."

"Then you're doing a terrible job at it-" the older woman shook her head in disappointment. "I do not fear you personally but if this is how you present yourselves to others they will either think you fools who are incapable of defending yourselves or a threat and one that needs to be wiped out quickly." 

"And which one are you?" She smiled at Kristoff's question fondly. 

"The same one I've always been; The smartest person in the world . We both have what the other wants." 

Anna doubted this highly. "Which is? " 

"You have a land full of beautiful treasures, ones I wish to experience and behold and be a part of the preservation of, and I have the means to preserve and protect it." Elsa's head shot up in response to the conversation's direction. 

"You wish to fill our home with Soldiers and weapons controlled by you." It was a foolish offer when put that way but the croon empress shook her head. 

"I wish to be allied with you, the world is changing- advancing much quicker than Arendelle. Soon others will take it be it for the magic or so they can rest easy at night knowing their world won't freeze over. I however know that removing magic from the source is foolish, be it a lamp in a cave, or a spell from a witch that turns your mother into a bear, or perhaps the heart of a goddess, once benevolent turned malevolent." 

Elsa had read these stories as well and agreed entirely. If the Empress wanted Arendelle she could have easily taken it, maybe not have won but cause serious damage and casualties, she wanted to drink from the river instead of building a dam that would overflow and flood everything. 

"Could you protect Arendelle from say... I don't know- a nation like Japan?" Anna stared harshly at her sister silently asking what she was up to. The Empress chuckled at her like she was a fool. "Japan is of no threat, they have their own problems and are far too landlocked away from you, traveling by sea to a naval nation is just stupidity at its highest degree, but if they were to try anything they'd have to go through Ruskland."

Anna continued on keeping her eyes locked with Elsa's. "And if nations were to see our alliance as an even bigger threat enticing them to attack even more? " She was waved off. 

"Germany, England, Finland could gather and still be wiped out. Besides, many of Europe are allied with my crown. To threaten you would be to threaten me, and to threaten me would be to threaten more than half of Europe." 

Elsa took a shuddering breath staring down. Half of Europe. Half of Europe as an ally to Arendelle. She could help Empress Alexandrovna Dmitrieva-Mamonova, and in return the Enchanted forest could be left be, her home would be safe, her people...Ryu. 

She'd have most of Europe possibly backing her in the protection of the Drage lys. She could introduce the dragon to the Empress once a fidelity was formed. She promised to protect Ryu and truly believed she could but if there were others out there such as Julien who wielded sorcery that could harm the magic of Arendelle... 

"You've presented us with a lot to think over and discuss." Kristoff's voice knocked Elsa back down to Earth. Anna was still keeping an eye on her as they bade farewell after more casual conversation over tea tomorrow and the activities they would have to look forward to during their stay. 

Anna felt as if her head would explode from the dinner they just had, ushering Kristoff who was explaining what had happened to Honeymaren, and Elsa into their Chambers. 

"Elsa-"

"Anna I think we should lean with a favorable consideration of the Empress' preposition." It was sudden and abrupt, and shocked her friends and family. 

"Elsa-" Anna began holding up her hands. "We still haven't figured out if the Empress is the one who wants you dead-" Elsa hugged herself and began pacing. 

"I don't believe it was her, if she wanted me dead she has the power to ensure that it would happen. She's not like Georg or Julien, she's... She hates her life and she wants more and believes that Arendelle is the key to a happier road that has more meaning than... " She threw an arm towards the display case of collective eggs and gems and fine china. 

"And you came up with this all on your own from the what- five hours we met her?" Elsa nodded. 

Rubbing his beard Kristoff sighed and conceded his own thoughts on the matter. "I agree with Elsa." Anna whipped her head to him so fast it should have cracked. 

"What?" She couldn't keep the small bit of betrayal from her voice. "So we should just make allies with an empire! Without even considering the negatives this could bring, without even consulting the council?" For her to bring the council into this, a group she considered to be stuffy old farts that were stuck in the past, meant Anna was truly not in favor of the idea at all. 

"Anna's right-" Replied Honeymaren. "What if the Empress tries to impose her ideals on us or plants militia in Arendelle's capital or even the enchanted forest? What if this is all a plan to get us under her thumb like she did with the other countries of Europe?" 

"Honeymaren, we're stronger than that, we could protect the enchanted forest from her or anyone who wished to cause it harm but we can't block out the reason that there could be many people who do and we may need help." Whipping her head from side to side Anna stopped when something that had itched at her brain during dinner surfaced once more to the forefront of her mind. 

"You're doing this to protect Ryu- because you think it can protect Ryu..." 

Elsa sighed, closing her eyes at the true accusation, it wasn't the only reason she was in favor of this. "It could aid in that as well yes-" 

"Oh my god Elsa! Do you not realize the gravity of this situation? Are you really blind to it because you want to protect your dragon!" 

"She has a name-" Elsa responded quietly, it was somewhat insulting that Anna would think she was merely doing this for a short sighted interest and didn't consider the extensions or possible outcomes. 

"And you're in on this?" Anna poked Kristoff's chest. 

"Look, we can't stay hidden from the world forever, no matter how much we'd like to. And Elsa- Elsa is going to protect Ryu and so are the trolls with their lives... And the people who are hunting her who do not care, they're ruthless. If we can get some help against them then we won't have to take those risks." 

Anna studied Elsa who refused to look at her during the duration of her scrutiny, uttering a small whisper. 

"You promised." 

Finally she looked at her. "I'm not breaking that promise, I never will." Rushing over she let Anna grab her holding on just as tight. 

"We have to go about this carefully Elsa." 

"We will, we still have a lot to investigate here-" Elsa pulled away and ran gentle thumbs over her cheeks. "If you were listening I said consider it favorably, not decided ya peanut." Anna grinned up at her resting their foreheads against each other. 

"Together?" 

"Always." 

"Olaf I told you, I'm not your friend here." Elsa paused with her hand on the handle decidedly slipping into the room as quietly as she could.

"Well yeah but no one is around. Plus how am I going to get stories to you if we can't talk?" She heard a sigh, most likely from Ryu. They were in the tea room and from how faint their voices sounded seated upon the sun couch looking out the window. 

"Olaf you have to understand-" 

"No, you have to understand!" Elsa's brows rose, she had never heard Olaf speak so assertively before to anyone, it was odd and kind of terrifying enough to shut Ryu up. 

"You're not the only one on this mission Ryu, I know you said you have a part to play but so do I and that part was given to me by you- and I... I can't do it alone, I need Anna, Kristoff, Honeymaren and Elsa... I need you..." A pang of guilt resounded like a gong within Elsa's chest for underestimating how seriously Olaf took their mission, how he felt about it. Ryu had explained he wasn't just a stowaway or tag along. He was integral and needed. 

She was right. Elsa now knew that without him, her Olaf- despite being made from snow was spring incarnate- she'd go insane in a place like this. She needed him and from the sound of it Ryu needed him as well if at least to talk some sense into her stubborn skull. 

"I guess being in this role again, it took me to a very dark place inside me."

"Yea but you have friends now and you don't have to go there alone anymore." 

Ryu trusted her word to a certain degree but Olaf's council was indispensable to the dragon, even if she disagreed with it, she hung on his every word. 

"There has to be compromise and it can't only be in favor to you. Compromises make healthy relationships. You can't have one without it." Peeking from the corner Elsa could see Ryu's pupils dilate as she leaned in closer to him. 

"Really?" He grinned and chortled. "Of course, even if it's for the good of others, their feelings matter. Did you know that someone can die of a broken heart?" Ryu's head shook slowly. 

"I had no idea."

"It may seem silly but if you love someone, you should not just keep them safe but also happy, it'll make you warm and cozy inside but you may not need help with that, Miss Furnace." A twig finger poked Ryu's chest, she scooted closer to him and just as Elsa was about to make her presence known Ryu spoke up again. 

"Olaf?" 

"Yes?"

"I- I think I love you." 

"Aww well I can't say the same thing right now but I like you alot."

"It doesn't bother you?"

"I always welcome love, it feels great and I can't wait till I love you too. I bet it feels as exciting as being loved by a dragon." 

To not intrude Elsa slipped into the bedroom and purposely slammed the bathroom door closed and open again .

 As she predicted both Olaf and Ryu had made their way to the bedroom when she emerged.  

"How was dinner?" She scooped Olaf up and sat on the edge of the bed as Ryu retrieved the things she'd need to get ready for bed. 

"It was interesting, the Empress missed you, so you'll be coming with us tomorrow." This excited him as well as Ryu but she kept herself a bit more composed. 

"You know Ryu, you don't have to be Astrid when it's just us. It'll make communication a bit more difficult don't you think?" When she said this Ryu's hands stilled as she straightened from hoovering in the wardrobe. Half turning her eyes fluttered to Olaf's who had his brow quirked then back to Elsa who kept up an innocent facade.

Inhaling deeply she mouthed a word that Elsa could barely make out. 

Compromise. 

"You're right I guess I was being a little dramatic earlier." She ended with a chuckle. 

"Well I wouldn't call a trauma response being dramatic." Elsa nodded along with Olaf's remark, setting him down. 

"Here, why don't you help me brush my hair." She sat at the vanity and eyeing Ryu in the mirror just in time to catch her rolling her eyes. 

"I thought you just said I didn't have to be a lady-in-waiting in private." Ryu didn't have a clue as to why she was arguing, she needed something to do with her hands otherwise she'd go crazy and Elsa knew that. 

"You don't, so I'll ask if you would like to." Relenting the dragon approached and began the task gently removing the pin and brushing out the curls. 

"Oh so I'm only Astrid when it's convenient for you huh?" Elsa was quick with her riposte. "Being my lady in waiting means everything you do is for my convenience." 

Elsa went over the dinner and the Empress' proposal and if Ryu's expression was evidence to anything it was that she did not trust it. 

"This all seems pretty coincidental, which I was taught to not trust." There was a reason behind everything even if said reason was never discovered or could be explained. 

"I don't believe she's behind the attacks, Ryu." 

"Elsa, that is a big coincidence which is an even bigger problem." Similar to Elsa, Ryu definitely would not have minded having more allies to the cause of keeping herself and Elsa alive but the very thought of trusting someone who could have ordered Elsa to be killed in the first place... 

"Maybe the queen needed a problem so she could give a solution like the book I read about how to create an immoral business and how they succeed. They're called solution salesmen I think." Olaf tapped his chin, a usual habit he had when thinking. 

His conclusion wasn't lost to Elsa or Ryu. They exchanged thoughts through staring at the other's reflection in the mirror. If they were to safely consider the deal then the villain behind Julien and all his little friends would need to be uncovered and brought to justice discreetly. 

"You're the David Hume of Arendelle Olaf, you know that right?" Elsa commented softly. He regarded her with a smile. " I don't know who that is." 

Ryu placed her hand on his head shuffling around the snow. "He gets it from you-" picking him up in her arms. "Alright time for bed... For both of you." 

Elsa twisted on her bench watching as Ryu put Olaf on the large bed, practically tossing him. "Is my lovely Lady-in-waiting telling me when I should rest?" She jested joining them on the edge as Ryu sat up on her knees and jutted a finger in her direction. "Your totally awesome, amazing, gorgeous, lady-in-waiting is ordering you to rest." It was pleasant that this distressing gambit of theirs was now something they could joke about. A comfort really, if Elsa could keep Ryu in good spirits about it then she could keep her from closing in on herself and fracturing again. 

"It is now officially! My responsibility to take care of you." Elsa giggled while the dragon tucked her in next to Olaf. Her lips went down when Ryu turned off the lamps and went to the window seat. Sitting up she tilted her head feeling foolish for expecting the dragon to actually sleep in a place such as this, hoping that she'd be a light enough sleeper if she was to detect if Ryu decided to explore or investigate in the night on her own. 

"Ryu?" She looked at her holding Elsa's book of fauna open to a bookmark. "Oyasumi Ryu chan." 

"Oyasumi Erusa chan."

Not being one to beat around the bush of conversation the Empress, dipping a spoon of sugar into her porcelain asked. "So have you given further thought to my offer, Queen Anna?" 

Anna froze mid-sip, eyes flitting from both Kristoff to Elsa at the round table. Lady Ophelia must have been informed about it as well but her opinion of the subject was unreadable. She was poised and proper as usual sipping her tea quietly letting the empress control the conversation unless intel on a particular subject was needed. 

"We still need time to consider it, I hope you understand that an alliance of the nature that you're prepositioning to Arendelle is well-" Anna shrugged as she thought of the right word. 

"Paramount." Ophelia provided. The empress regarded both of them. She'd give them time but akin to Anna, she was a woman of action. An attitude dangerous for a young monarch to have, a lethal one if the ruler was experienced and weathered in the world of politics to others. 

"Ophelia I do hope you haven't been whispering paranoia into the hearts of our guests." 

"Paranoia is the foolish fears of an imbecile plagued by impossible outcomes, caution is wisdom of someone who only trusts in what is possible." Her stare roamed across the guests, briefly landing upon Ryu who was standing at Elsa's left leisure. "I am not frightened of being attacked by a lion within my own study, but if I were to be alone at night on the savannah is a subject entirely different."

"Hello there everybody!" The tension was sliced in half by Olaf's cheerful greeting as he meandered upon the terrace from the gardens neighboring them. 

The Empress clapped with a chirper laugh, boisterously speaking. "Hello master Olaf, I hope you are enjoying your stay here." Olaf beamed at her climbing upon Anna's lap. "It's a big place but I don't think I could ever live here, it would be like living in a big mirror." 

This caused laughter to rouse the table and in the entrance hall turning heads to see two almost identical figures with gender being the only difference to determine they were not clones. 

"Oh my god is that a snowman!" A chirper voice yelled. Anna was taken aback by the young woman crowding her to get a good look at Olaf. By her well made gown sporting the Dmitrieva-Mamonova crest it could be deduced that she had to be a member of the Royal family, her decorum or more so lack thereof was the persona of someone who knew the rules but held themselves above it without care. 

She knelt down, eyes glowing with wonder at him sending a friendly smile to Anna. "Hello there," she spoke as one would to a child. "I'm Darya."

"Hi I'm Olaf." 

"Please excuse Darya-" the male version stated stealing a grape from the empress' plate. She smacked at his hand making him chuckle. "She tends to forget her company and herself when excited." 

"As do you." Lady Ophelia scowled. He squinted playfully at her taking a seat besides Elsa. She already knew his type and braced herself for what was to come. 

"Well that's why we have you, to remember for us less we forget our identities entirely." He turned to Elsa. "My name is David or was it dale-" he rubbed his light facial hair in thought. "Something with a D, like Darya, my father loves alliteration."

"Perhaps it was Daniel." Darya chimed, sitting beside Ophelia and the Empress. 

Rolling her eyes, Ophelia addressed Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff. "Please excuse them, they went without air for three minutes after birth. This is Prince Demetrius and Princess Darya."

Demetrius snapped his fingers and grinned at Elsa leaning in. "That was it! That's my name." She winced a smile back. "Nice to make your acquaintance Prince Demetrius." She knew his character already. He was handsome, dark haired, charming, and thought of himself as witty; with a juvenile boyish air.  

His sister constituted herself in the same manner. With her mouse-like features that were pretty, delicate, with a bubbly persona that rivaled Anna's, lacking the maturity her sister had developed over the years. 

"I take it was a very important matter you two were attending that explains your lack of audience at last night's dinner." 

Darya pouted, serving herself the food which was most likely cold. "It's less of an oversight on our behalf then it's the simple fact that we weren't invited." 

The Empress' silence confirmed this to be fact, Elsa could understand. Given the sophomoric nature of the two and the gravity of topics discussed at dinner the two forces just wouldn't mix. 

"And where is Alyona?" Alexandrovna asked Darya who shrugged. Demetrius scoffed. "Probably with Enrique commiting deeds I dare not say due to the given company." 

Conversation buzzed more fluidly with the twins leading the charge. 

Elsa gradually fell silent save for the polite responses she offered to Demetrius, luckily he read her signals and turned his attention to Kristoff speaking of more masculine topics he probably did not get from his family. 

Olaf had told a joke which had even the empress laughing and Ophelia subtly grinning. With the others distracted Elsa stole a glance at Ryu.

It was remarkable the amount of restraint she held in the situation. Still as a statue, eyes constantly casted to the floor. Elsa knew that she was soaking up every bit of information her eyes were not allowed to partake in, compensating with hearing and smell instead. 

Elsa had to admit it was nice having a second pair of ears to capture any subtleties she may have missed. It was surprising that the empress had four children, three girls and one son, she did not mention her children once but Elsa had seen in passing portraits of three in the halls and rooms, the fourth child must have been a mystery that she'd ask about it when it was appropriate in case it was an ill topic. 

"By God have you all been given a tour of the palace yet?" Kristoff shook his head. 

"The tour is scheduled at noon today, and will be hosted by me." Ophelia was waved off by the prince who rose from the table. 

"Nonsense we can give them one right now-" 

"If they're schedule allows it." His sister joined in looking to her mother for permission. 

"Very well, I will not join you. I am quite content right here. Ophelia?" The lady stiffened knowing what was to come next from her Empress. Dread filled her whole aura of being. 

"You will superintend the tour." Ophelia inhaled an entire lung full of air and stood slowly folding her hands. 

"Very well. Do come along, we shall begin in the Northern corridors and make our way from there." Darya and Demetrius booed at the punctilious instructions and shot winks to their guests. 

Throughout the tours Honeymaren had joined the group introducing herself or more so allowing Lady Ophelia to introduce her. 

Demetrius tackled breaking through Elsa's glacial demeanor while Darya and Anna chatted away, sneaking touches as they passed by with some of decor much to Ophelia tribulation yet she held fast and began rushing them out the rooms with the most expensive and extensive history. 

"Here we have a portrait of Emperor Igor's first hunt in 1788 in the Kamchatka-Kurile taiga peninsula in its complete accuracy." It was of classical design in dark water colors of a group of men and hunting hounds chasing a herd of boars over fields of gold. 

Complete accuracy huh? Ryu doubted it, the painting was made in favor of the hunting party casting them all in valiant poses and the boars with ugly faces and tusks. It was a group of males which wasn't plausible by any means. If anything it would have been a group of sows with their young and maybe one male, unless it was during mating season, but it wasn't. The painting showcased summer weather and mating season was during the fall and winter months for boars. 

The painter must have been very skilled and fast to capture such an event. 

Ryu smiled at the joke and looked to Elsa who was listening intently to Ophelia's lecture, wanting nothing more than to whisper the jape to her. 

Demetrius took to her side and whispered his own jest earning not quite a laugh nor a scoff. It must have been humorous enough to catch her off guard. 

For some reason this hurt. Sharply. Inside seeing them continue to converse. Sighing, Ryu turned away. To the world this was right. She had lived it before throughout her life. 

She remembered the same pain when she was taken to galleries with the Mikoto household. How she wanted to tell jokes and make fun of the art with Susanoo but it was forbidden especially in public and just like them she'd keep her jokes about the art and artist to herself to enjoy alone. 

Olaf wasn't very fond of it and decided to veer off from the tour and take a closer look at whatever was in the adjoining room. 

"Olaf?" Ryu whispered, trailing after him. She found the snowman atop a chair looking down into a vase, his voice echoed from within. 

"I never understood keeping a vase if you're not going to put anything in it." 

"Olaf, we shouldn't stray away no?" She chastised joining him to lift him away but his bowtie with the crocus pin in the center caught upon the rim and fell into the deep dark hold of the vase. 

"It ate my pin!" He cried, setting him down, Ryu pet his head. 

"Don't fuss and fret-" Ryu placated. "I'll get it." The vase was smelly like a hollowed out ram's horn. Much too deep for her arm to reach the bottom. If she maneuvered in just the right way she could get her shoulder and head through to reach. 

"Got it!" She could hear Olaf's cheers from within but the celebration proved premature when she began to pull out but couldn't. 

"Kuso jigoku." She spat between her teeth. After many attempts to squeeze and wiggle free she realized the only way would be to dislocate her shoulder or break the vase both were not options she hadn't wished to explore. 

"Looks like Urn in trouble there." 

Laughter echoed in the vase walls before she cleared her throat. "Olaf go get Elsa please." 

"On it!" He saluted running out the room just to return. "Don't move okay?"

Ryu pulled herself upright making the vase sink further down along her ribs, instead of a reply of sarcasm she kept her mouth shut and nodded the vase. 

“...I didn't...I mean, I wasn't...” Anna tried to explain, while Darya wiped her eyes as Ophelia's twitched. 

"Your majesty please understand that every piece of art was curated back before you or even I were born and deserve the utmost respect despite what Princess Darya and prince Demetrius may think."

"Sisters." At first Elsa had thought the murmur from the prince was for her own sibling but from the way he coyly eyed Ophelia...

Oh... Well that explained some things. 

Speaking of touching things she scanned around for Olaf panicking briefly before she felt a pat at her hip. 

There he stood tapping his twigs together sheepishly. Kneeling down she gave him her ear. 

"Um Ryu and I kinda need you in the other room... She's kinda... Come with me." 

Elsa's anxiety returned as she followed Olaf to the room. 

"How?" She began at the sight that met her. Ryu was taking advantage of her flexibility by using her feet to try and pry herself from the ceramic hydria bohemian prison. 

Rushing over she sat her up. "Ryu, how did this happen? Are you alright?"

Ryu chuckled, her voice muffled. "Oh hey. I'm alright, I guess you could say I get really into art." 

Elsa snickered and examined the rim tightly holding Ryu's right torso. "I'll say. Goodness, just hold still." 

They tried pulling, they tried twisting, and prying, but to no avail. "Elsa, can you use your magic?" She had thought of that already but how could ice and snow possibly help the situation? To test the give she could get between Ryu's neck and the rim Elsa's finger prodded along. Pressing down she felt Ryu's beaded scales flexing beneath her touch. 

"Ryu soften your scales dear." The whispered instructions were followed as best to the dragon's ability, Elsa could understand. She was stressed and in an embarrassing position that was not of her own volition. 

"We haven't even been here for a day." Elsa grinned painfully over her shoulder at Honeymaren. She knelt down tapping the vase. 

"Hello?" Ryu answered. More anxiety creeped into Elsa's consciousness with the sound of footsteps and faint voices of their tour group nearing. 

"What are we going to do?" She harshly whispered to Olaf and Honeymaren. 

"I'll distract them." Olaf was being gravely dramatic about his pseudo sacrifice running out the room. 

"Oh hi Olaf, where's Elsa?"

"Well that'll buy us... Six minutes." Honeymaren droned. "Maybe we can just stuff her somewhere." 

"I doubt that'll work." The others may not notice but Lady Ophelia definitely would note the vase's absence. Looking to the table and back at Elsa, an idea shot like lightning into Honeymaren, she nodded to Elsa to follow along. "I've got an idea! Look natural." 

"In this room we hold many private functions such as auctions and charity events towards the church. In honor of that they commissioned a vase from the famous Joseph-Théodore Deck whic-" 

Honeymaren mocked studying the vase closely next to Elsa who for a better lack of words did not follow her friends instructions at all and if she was trying to this only further concreted the notion of her being a terrible actor. 

Anna's eyes squinted with worry as Kristoff's did the same but with suspicion seeing Elsa there hand upon her hip leaning against a table, face plastered with a toothy fake smile. 

"Umm?" Anna began. 

"Oh you decided to move ahead in the tour-" Lady Ophelia deadpanned regarding the vase centerpiece. "And touch the Mavericks Saint Cruiseo." Oh, that name sounded important. 

Honeymaren laughed, rubbing the back of her hair. "Oh-oh-oh yess see um we were just captured by its-" she waved Elsa over to her side. "beauty-" 

Lady Ophelia curtly replied. "It's upside down." They both looked back as if checking to see if she was correct. 

"Yes it is-" Elsa agreed. 

"You see in our culture-" 

"Yes Northuldran." 

"Yep! We are-"

"Believe-"

"Believe! We believe that it is bad luck to... Have a vase with nothing in it right side up-" 

 Elsa held up a finger to emphasize her words then pointed to the left of them. "Whilst being right of a southern hemisphere centric window."

"What?" Kristoff crossed his arms, boring his eyes into his friends. 

Honeymaren nodded pursing her lips. "Yes it is a very bad omen and we just couldn't help ourselves."

Demetrius and Darya seemed very intrigued by this idea. "Oh we didn't mean to disrespect your culture I wish we would have known. Ophelia!"

Not wanting to be one with an oversight Lady Ophelia called to a passing servant. "Please for the sake of our guests so they will not touch anything else, put all the cases in the Palace that are..." She checked the positioning. "Right of a southern hemisphere centric window upside down." The servant opened and closed his mouth but did not question the strange request and left. 

Satisfied, she turned back to Elsa and Honeymaren. "Shall we move on?" 

"Ahh we have to stay with it for about-" 

"Twenty minutes." 

"To cleanse ourselves of the... Bad luck." 

Anna was completely thrown and approached Elsa whispering to her ignoring Olaf tugging at her arm to leave. "Don't worry, it'll be fine we'll catch up with you guys." she assured her knowing she'd have a lot of explaining to do later. 

As they left Kristoff put his fingers to his eyes, turning them back on The woman who waved in sync. 

"I think I know a way I can get her out." Elsa listened intently. " Can I get up now?" Ryu asked from kneeling behind the stand. 

"Ryu, Honeymaren said she can get you out."

Ryu gasped and perked up waddling over. "Really?" 

Honeymaren had her hands akimbo nodding. "Yep! Just have to dislocate your arm." 

"Oh okay." She and Elsa said together then paused. 

"Wait what?" 

"What!"

"Come on, I can put it back into place when we're done okay?" Elsa did not like this idea but did they really have any other options?

"Ryu you can hold my hand as she does it."

"Actually Elsa I'm gonna need you to pack some snow in the rim to lubricate her so she slips out easier." They set to work, Honeymaren testing the pull of the best angle to yank at while Elsa packed the rim with the softest snow she could muster. 

Ryu sputtered as some leaked through hitting her face and mouth. "What is this? Why eh! Erusa what are you doing?"

"I'm lubricating you, it'll help." Once finished they set the vase right side up and balanced Ryu. Elsa froze it to the ground to prevent movement of any kind. 

"Alright, ready?" Honeymaren gripped  her shoulder and side, planting her feet on the handles. 

"No, go ahead." 

"On three. One. Two. Three!" Elsa yanked at Honeymaren's hips when she leant back to the left pulling Ryu out with a sickening pop. 

They landed in a mess of rumpled dresses, clothes, and entangled limbs. 

Ryu lay prone, in her right hand was Olaf's bowtie. "I've had worse." She moaned, closing her eyes when she sat on her rump. Elsa immediately began checking her limp shoulder. 

Honeymaren chuckled, dusting herself off. "Now the worst part is over, let's get this back into place shall we."  Dragon bones were a bit more fluid and flexible than humans and the joints were differently placed. 

A particularly high pitched yelp and growl had Elsa covering Ryu's mouth using her other hand to gently caress her cheek. 

"Done!" She proclaimed stepping back as if Ryu would turn feral and project her aggression towards her, placing the vase back in place. 

Instead she slumped over defeated mumbling. "Thanks guys." 

Elsa helped her to her feet fussing over her shoulder. "I'll ice it later." Elsa offered as they exited the room none of them intended on ever returning to. 

"There's a tiny crack but since no one ever touches it they won't notice. That's still coming out of your salary." She side eyed Ryu winking. 

Ryu fell back, sniffing the air inquisitively, then frowned at what she picked up. "You coming?" 

Taking one last whiff she answered quietly. "Yesu." 

Ryu was taking the news that she would not be able to attend the party that was being hosted tonight very well. A little too well. 

"I will bring you back something special though, I promise." She received only a half-hearted response, coming from the bathroom Ryu was lounging near the window gazing out into the night observing the gray clouds looming closer. Her expression, solemn and far too serious. Elsa could tell it wasn't due to her lack of invitation however. 

Ryu jumped not even noticing when Elsa approached, startled by the gentle squeeze of her shoulder, she craned her neck up to see Elsa's eyes brimming with concern. 

"Hey, are you alright?" Her hand rubbed a cooling sensation along her sore shoulder drawing out a hum. "That feels nice. Thanks." Ryu was definitely in another world, in a delayed reaction she did a once over of Elsa's wardrobe. 

"Red?" Elsa smiled down at herself. It was an odd color of choice, she never really wore such bold and saturated colors as these. "Prince Demetrius said to wear something daring and flashy as par with tonight's party theme."

Ryu nodded, turning back to the window. "You look nice." Elsa frowned sitting beside her, she wanted to say more but had no inclination of what those words would be. "Thank you..." Before pulling away she sighed and pressed her face into Ryu's neck nuzzling her. It was reciprocated dryly.  

Her fingers lingered when she stood on Ryu's shoulder, hesitant to pull away and go to the door. She casted one last glance at the brooding dragon. 

What is going on with her? 

The question remained as a fog in Elsa's brain, even with all the colors, sights, sounds, and people eagerly vying for her attention greeting her as she entered the party. 

Ryu was doing well, her goal held little consequences and reaped large rewards if it was successful. Her attire was black, just like her hair and would allow her to melt into the shadows, to be in plain sight but not seen. She already had an excuse reeved up in case she was caught. Ryu scowled at the notion. She would not be caught. 

Casually leaving Elsa's chambers she wouldn't draw attention as long as she kept in mind while in the guest wing, passing guards and servants, she belonged here. 

She was confident she could balance the regality of being a lady in waiting, a proper lady, and still pale perfectly when catching the eye of a guard or any male that skulked about in the halls. She was small and feminine enough to not be considered suspicious or a threat. Especially with the knowledge of the foreign royal family's visit. 

There was one male though that she would have to avoid at all costs. 

He was here. Ryu was sure of it,  now was as good time as any with Elsa and everyone else distracted by the party. 

Exiting the guests wing Ryu subtly sniffed the air picking up so many smells it almost made her dizzy. 

She followed the trail where it began to grow stronger and stronger ignoring the foul taste it left in her nostrils and sullied memories it roused in her mind. It was an awful mix of cigars, ink, and something similar to rotting tree bark, as if there was something dying inside him that oozed from his pores. 

His noxious gas led her to the eastern wing of the palace. It was darker and devoid almost entirely of life, a little too cliche for Ryu. She'd have no choice but to take to the stone sills outside. The windows weren't easy to pry open, even with her superior strength.

Outside her back hugged the stonewall shimming to the side. She heard the clicking of someone deciding to close her way back in enticing an eye roll. Whatever, it wasn't as if she were locked out completely she could find another opening. As the saying went, windows were just doors for the brave. 

Being outside did have the disadvantage of not being able to follow the scent trail, so Ryu would have to improvise checking carefully along the rooftop and other ledges for any sign of Georg. She wondered if he was attending the celebration tonight or if the saint was too holy for such debauchery she knew the Ruskland court was capable of. 

What if he ran into Anna or Elsa? Shaking away the what ifs to focus on the here and now, Ryu braced herself to climb up. The height was formidable to one afraid of falling, luckily Ryu knew how to navigate buildings. She leaped across an impasse tucking and rolling and was met with an instant regret from the pain that throbbed in her shoulder. 

A passing guard was looking straight at her but she knew he would only see a black shadow hunched like the gargoyles which decorated the stone arches along the roof. 

She checked the window after window, highrise after highrise till she used her legs to hang upside down, not feeling up to jumping downward in case this one turned out to be stale too. 

"Kanzen." Fangs splitting into a triumphant smile when the horrid smell slipped between the sill and window cracks, leading into a dark study. Her pupils dilated to their fullest, taking in every detail that they could absorb. 

Flipping upright she brute forced her way in through the locked window, the momentum sending her in a brief roll on the magenta carpet. She sprang upright and began her search for anything, anything that could incriminate the man and prove his involvement with Julien. 

Her claws made easy work of the lockbox she found within the desk popping it open to find a journal. Patience was not a key player, with the way she turned page after page in the middle of the book but none of it made any sense; it was just his life written in perfect print in a language she had a slim grasp of. She'd keep sifting through it until she found- her eyes moved quickly across the pages and stomach clenched tighter with each word she read. 

"Anata wa byōki no rokudenashi..." 

Finally some fresh air that wasn't polluted with the smell of cigars, sweets, perfumes, and alcohol. Honeymaren slumped over the garden railing pricking her cuticles. 

"May we speak in private Miss Natrura?" She screamed at the even tone preparing to strike whoever invaded her personal space and time but relaxed her battle stance when She saw Ryu standing somewhat similar to Lady Ophelia. It was so bizarre seeing her like this. 

"Uh sure? Why'd you have to sneak up on me like that?" She complained as they went back inside in search of an empty room, very few people could. "It was not my intention to frighten you." Entering a dark and dreary study Ryu shut the doors behind them and relaxed her posture. 

"I found out who is behind the assassin attempts." She said evenly. 

Honeymaren however could not keep calm and grabbed Ryu's arm pulling her further into the room. 

"How? I mean who?" She sputtered. 

"Georg Scherer." Her blood began to boil, she knew it! She knew it! Knew that man was a rat! 

"How did you find it?" 

"I read his journal. Turns out he's a witch hunter who took to the church and came here but before then he..." Ryu paused, turning pale as she recalled what she had read. 

"He did unspeakable things to people who he believed were a part of the occult. Just recently before coming here he... " 

"He did what?" Honeymaren probed unsure if she wanted to actually know or not. 

"I'd rather not say right now but that explains so much. " 

"If he's been dealing with magic for a long time then it only makes sense he'd know its weaknesses." Ryu's hand subconsciously hovered over her stomach with a grim look. 

Honeymaren shared the same expression, that same monster had been left alone with Elsa many times, that same monster had been in her homeland, among her people. 

"We have to tell the others. Did you find out if the crown was involved at all?" Ryu shook her head. 

"It only recounted his life story before coming here, but I mean they have to be involved somehow. Why else would he come to Arendelle under their orders." Honeymaren wanted to be objective to the matter as Elsa had been but found entertaining the ideas and hopes insufferably naive. 

"We'll tell them tomorrow night." 

"Why wait!" 

"Because tomorrow no one will have the time, the empress and her children have filled up all of our schedules. So we'll meet up for dinner just between us and make it seem like we'll be discussing her proposal- which I guess in hindsight we will be. Elsa and Anna seem a bit distracted tonight anyways so it'll be for the best, I just have this feeling we should wait." 

Ryu examined her own feet. She didn't want to in the slightest and instead wanted to rush to Elsa and spew everything she had learned. One thing stopped her and that was she trusted Honeymaren and wanted Honeymaren to trust her as well so she'd keep this between them for now. She didn't understand the hesitation but she'd go along with it. 

She met her stare and nodded reluctantly. Honeymaren grunted and headed for the door. "I'm going to go back, they'll be wondering where I am, want me to walk you to your room first?" 

Ryu shook her head. "No, I'm going to walk around a bit more and try to listen out for any whispers, if Elsa gets back before me just tell her I went for a walk. Tell her not to worry." 

"What about Georg?" 

Ryu shooed her out of the room. "I'll be able to spot him way before he'll spot me." 

It was an extraordinary sight seeing Elsa in red and black, the colors just emboldened her light hair and eyes, like an angel disguising itself in hell. 

Anna attached to her side wrapping their arms together as they navigated the party. She too felt out of place wearing yellow but the twins did say bright colors and the party proved if they had worn anything dull they'd be incongruous. "Why do you have to look gorgeous in every color you wear?" The anger and envy behind her clenched tooth murmur, complementary and teasing, were met with a similar coyness from Elsa who leaned in to whisper. "I was going to ask you the exact same question." Anna shrugged scanning the fashionable crowd in their smocks that she'd only consider wearing at a costume party in Arendelle, her searched ended landing on the banquet tables of sweets, one sweet that was specifically coveted- 

"I reckon you have a battle plan for how we're to get over there unscathed." Elsa must have either been following her line of vision or had the same idea. 

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking." She hummed surveying guests to guests and which could provide the shortest conversation and safe passage to the tables and which were most likely to apprehend them in an hour long soliloquy sharing their life story. 

With a jerk of her head Elsa led her sights to a stout man, holding the line of chatting women of the court and off to left hunger wolfish men already eying her and her sister. 

"Lord Cliesse, a man of little to say and the disposition of porcupine-" Elsa was impressed, raising her brows whilst avoiding eye contact with the other gentlemen, if she could even call them that with their lascivious stares. "You've been studying?"

Anna shook her head. "No Darya told me about him twenty minutes ago." 

Elsa took inventory. "Alright so we say hello to him, then make our way to the ladies over there, chat with them then excuse ourselves to the table and oh dear." 

"What?" 

She sighed heavily. "The food table is the perfect place to ask for a dance or make conversation..." That was the last thing she wanted right now, what with so many issues plaguing her thoughts, her temper was short tonight. 

"I'm not worried, I'm married." Anna's blaise answer had Elsa shooting her a beleaguered look. "I'm not." 

Anna's grip tightened on her arm. "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Elsa choked on a laugh. "My hero." Operation retrieve the sweets without being absconded by any matrimonial hungry predators or their...mothers. Anna shuddered at the very thought of it. They felt the eyes of many following their steps as they made their way over to Lord Cliesse who proved true to Darya's intel was a man only interested in his flask and speaking of those he wished to form deals with, they made short work of him exuding his social prowess, he excused himself rather shortly after introductions leaving them to join the flock of court birds. 

Elsa let Anna handle their gossip and questions answering them with enough flair that the women were completely entranced, no man dare try to breach the perimeter they created around the sisters following them to the banquet table. 

Remaining cordial and pleasant was an easy task, the conversations happening around them were actually dare Elsa say entertaining, listening to them regale how useless or stupid their husbands and suitors were. How simple it was to ensnare them in marriage by playing the virtuous damsel who would bat her eyes at just the right time and laugh at the perfect pitch at jokes that weren't even funny. 

It brought on the realization to Elsa how facile it would be to get a husband, she could even probably get one tonight, but also with that came to light how challenging it would be if she were to pursue her true love story, one that was real and meaningful. To her that seemed fair. Nothing worthwhile came to the effortless. 

Anna grinned watching Elsa look completely content and adorable to gracefully eat, watch the acrobatic and exotic performances, and listen to them talk. She was almost jealous, almost if she wasn't a social butterfly herself. She knew even if she wasn't she'd all do the same for her. 

A crowd gathered to spectate Olaf deciding to join the contortionists with disassembling his parts with ease to match their expertise. It made the onlookers laugh and Olaf smile wide when he was applauded even by the Empress. 

When Kristoff approached the circle the women actively blocked him from reaching Anna and Elsa with impatient head tilts at the interruption."Need something Master Kristoff?" The leader of the flock asked. He held up a finger folding his lips together. "Umm my wife?" He shut up quickly seeing Anna behind their backs making rapid gestures for him to not intervene and whisk her away, surely dispersing the group and leaving Elsa with no shield from the possible suitors making rounds and circling the group of hens like foxes, ever on the search for a way in. 

"I'll just go... Find Honeymaren check on her." Nodding quickly he left. 

They kept their gazes on his back then returned back to Anna. "Your husband is so..." One lady began. 

"Big." Her friend assisted, Elsa paused mid bite glancing sideways at all of them without moving.

Anna's grin grew lecherous, wiggling her brows at them. "He is." They cackled in an uproar except Elsa looking like a pathetic swan among hens who desired nothing more than to stuff her beak with food and dive her head underwater and remain there for the entirety of the evening. 

Anna shoulder bumped her smirking. "Nothing comes for free." Elsa nodded, waving her off in favor of sipping some champagne she distractedly thought to be water. Her eyes widened examining the glass of bubbly fluid, it was delicious!

The ladies retired to a sitting room later on in the evening, Anna hadn't remembered the last time she had this much fun talking to strangers of this caliber but did ensure to memorize all of their names and get their information so she could invite them to Arendelle's next large holiday or festival. 

Even Elsa seemed to be enjoying herself, though that could have been due to her being a bit drunk, which Anna determined when she started rocking a small bit to the music closing her eyes and humming, she made an ice baggie not caring who saw and began packing away some deserts for later. Anna looked around, cringing, she'd need to get her sister out of here before someone took advantage.

"My legs are jelly." She complained. One of her new friends agreed with a frowning nod. "I was a fool for wearing heels."  The rest echoed the notion. 

"I know a place we can sit. It'll be quiet and I'll get someone to bring us food and drinks!" A young blonde stated. 

"Lead the way, Cosette!" Anna grabbed Elsa who was perplexed as to where she was being dragged to but didn't argue. She couldn't help the smug formation taking over her lips as she took away the prize of the evening and disappointed the trail of expressions that followed them out. 

She tapped Kristoff's shoulder after finding him huddled in a corner with Honeymaren, both looking bored and miserable. He'd been warding away any men seeking a night or conversation with her sticking them together like glue. Anna hated dashing his hopes when he caught her eye, probably expecting her to tell them it was time to retire but she wasn't quite done yet. "Keep an eye on Olaf. I'm going with these lovely ladies to another room." 

"We already are." Honeymaren said. She wanted to join the foreign festivities or at least have a conducive conversation with someone but the women were hard to talk to and the men all seemed more interested in her than discussing the societal differences in a culture exchange. It kind of made her miss Tobias. Yes his attention was still unwanted but he at least respected that and would still talk about the most interesting of topics that could at least lead to some action of betterment for her people and his. 

"You are really pretty." Cosette giggled in surprise and gave Elsa her warmest smile. "Thank you so much you're so sweet, you know I've heard so many things about you and not at all like any of them, well except you are a bit mysterious." 

Anna chuckled, she'd let Elsa have her much needed fun, she herself felt relaxed as well this group was nice and funny although a bit crass. She liked them. 

"Elsa and Olaf are the sweetest people in all of Arendelle." Elsa had a permanent grin on her face leaning her head on Anna's shoulder. She grabbed her hand rubbing circles along the back of it. "Stop it." Elsa's cheeks reddened from embarrassment at her sister's praises. 

"Do you all wanna see a magic... Thing." Oh boy what was Elsa planning. 

The group gasped, clapping their hands. "We were waiting for you to ask!"

"What are all of your favorite aminals- animals?"

They went silent for a minute thinking over the question. 

"Uuh- Rabbits, they're the cutest things." 

"Cats. I have three."

"Horses." 

"Pigs, they look funny."

"Dogs, loyal beasts. My wet nurse was a dog." 

Elsa looked up at Anna who tapped her nose. "You know already."

"Yes I do." She said proudly sitting up and rubbing her hands. 

"Okay." Gasps filled the room, some of the servants paused before leaving to see the magical figurines come into existence. Once complete Elsa left them on the table. "Ta-da." 

The boldest of the group picked up her dog half expecting it to freeze her hand and tested the surface of the ice. 

"Every winter festival Elsa makes toys for the children. They'll never melt even in the summer." Anna boasted as they all looked over her work. 

"Thank you so much Elsa." 

"Yes thank you, you're such a dear." 

After their gratitude Elsa bashfully waved her hand. "It was nothing." She took her place back to leaning on Anna growing drowsy. The atmosphere changed for the better, after the little gift exchange, they became much more forthright with information and gossip even personal problems seeing the genuine affection and authenticity between the sisters. 

"So Ruskland seems like a busy place, you just get visitors and imports from all over, huh?" Anna took a swig of vodka. 

"Yes we do, someone is always ordering something or someone coming from distant lands to trade, especially recently." 

Perfect. 

Anna remained nonchalant. "Really, Arendelle hardly gets imports from far away. Where do they come from?"

The women exchanged looks then began speaking in a more hushed tone. "Well it's no secret that the empress has exotic tastes we all do, but I do believe it is rubbing off on the church. There's a possibility they could be using the finance from the crown to satisfy it." 

They groaned and tutted. Anna goaded them on further with indignity. "And they have the nerve to say that we women don't need a scarf from France and tell husbands not to overindulge you." 

"Precisely what I'm saying, just three months ago I tried ordering a new dress from Italy, and you know what my husband told me?" 

Anna raised her brows in question. "I don't need it. Yet we give money to churches for them to receive imports from Places like, Germany, the Americas and the Eastern isles." 

"The Americas?" Anna had the mental prowess to cover up her shock and falling nerves with a laugh that came out sounding more like disbelief. 

"I know! The Americas, what do they have that we don't? The south and the North. Ridiculous."

"Absolutely absurd." Anna closed her eyes. So this evening hadn't been a waste after all. A duper's grin teased her lips. "And they have the nerve to call us wasteful, but alas the church is run by men and you know how they are." 

Entering the room Anna set Elsa on the bed as she turned her head to and fro. "Where's Ryu?" She asked, taking the the water glass from Anna.

"I'm not too sure, maybe she went to the kitchens to get some food." Elsa held up the ice baggie pouting. "But I brought her macaroons." 

A very disheveled Honeymaren burst through the doors collecting herself in heaving breaths. "You alright?" Anna asked in concern. 

"Yea I'm fine, I was just uh taking a walk with Ryu and she was uh just stretching her legs." She scratched the nape of her neck. 

"I should go find her, what if-" 

"She'll be fine Elsa-" Honeymaren assuaged. "She has this Lady in waiting role on lock, I just came by to check on you." 

"I'm alright. Just- Anna I'm sorry, I was not intending to get tipsy tonight, I should have-" Anna instantly was sitting next to her rubbing her arms. 

"Hey, hey it's completely fine Elsa, you had fun, I had fun. And hey you actually helped me alot." Elsa's face remained incredulous to this, if anything Anna was her hero tonight.

She laid against her, happy to receive the head rubs that followed. "Thank you." Anna smiled and kissed her head. 

Ryu felt like a fool, not for her being caught by Honeymaren who was much more understanding and lenient than she would have ever admitted previously, but for the fact that turning a corner she collided with someone who gripped her shoulders to either siege or steady her she wouldn't wait to find out. 

Free from their grasps, a handsome face greeted, one that possessed a deep smooth voice sounding seven years her senior at least. 

"Woah there miss, what's with the hurry? Last I checked there was no fire." He spoke in Ruskish with a thick accent. Ryu sighed in relief as she took inventory of his red, gold, and black uniform. 

Ryu righted herself as a proper lady should. "I was simply out stretching my legs, I'll be returning to my mistress now. Good evening. "After the initial surprise of her knowing his tongue faded he tried impeding her quick escape, by mirroring her steps which she predicted going the opposite direction and off on her way. 

Matching her quick strides with her was easy for the guard to keep pace with. "May I help you?" 

"Not entirely but my mother would sooner see me hung than to allow a pretty maiden such as yourself roam these halls filled with drunks alone." She rolled her eyes. 

"I assure you I can handle myself quite well." She replied simply. He chuckled at this but it wasn't in mockery. 

"I can believe that." 

"Why is that?" 

"Because I could see the look of a fighter reflected in your eyes, before you realized I was guard, you didn't see me as a threat-" he squinted his eyes at her. "Just merely an annoyance." 

Ryu kept her gaze ahead as they walked the halls towards the guest's wings. Was she really that transparent or was he very astute? She supposed that knowing someone's non verbal intentions came with the duty of his line of work. She deflected the unease she felt at being so easily read by a stranger. "The fact that you are following me confirms that I still do, sir." 

His laughter fully echoed through the large open area alerting some other passerbys. "I'm not following you, I'm walking with you, there's a difference." 

"Yet both irritate me all the same."

"You mentioned a mistress earlier, may I ask who she might be?"

"E- Lady Elsa of Arendelle." His eyes expanded. 

"Well then now it is no longer a deed of good merit, I must return you to her in good health and safety." 

Ryu wouldn't argue, he could provide a buffer in case anyone tried to stop her- "How does one come to be the lady in waiting for Miss Arendelle? I hear she's quite reclusive and- forgive my saying so- difficult in temperament." -If only he'd do so in silence. 

"If anything I'm the more difficult one between the two of us, Elsa is merely doing me a charity." 

"Still serving royalty or Noble is not an easy feat. It's like they're a different species or breed of human altogether." She offered a half smile as he spoke. Yes humans all shared many qualities and instincts despite class and their regional distances yet were still all so extremely unique. It was dizzying to even try and keep track of. 

"Yes, well humans are unlike any animal I've ever come across." The wording caught the guard's attention, so he looked down at her. "Animals?" Oops, Ryu cringed at her slip up. 

"Humans must be the worst animals to ever exist, at least from what I've seen." His line of sight took hers to spot a man cornering a woman of court pathetically trying to win her attention. 

"Well animals kill, abandon their young, or and are prone to violence yet, you can't blame them, they do it for survival. Hu-we humans do it simply cause we're bored or didn't like the way someone looked at us." She hated grouping herself in with them yet felt comforted by the idea that in this moment she wasn't a monstrous dragon. If humans were this horrible and deemed dragons monsters, she couldn't fathom how deplorable her species truly were. As if Satan himself was wincing and scoffing at one's actions in disbelief that they could be capable of such atrocities. 

"You have an interesting take on the matter Miss..." 

"Astrid... Astrid of Harmon." 

"Miss Astrid of Harmon." He repeated, commiting the name to his memory. "The way you carry yourself is unlike any Lady I've ever met. My name is Petyr, Petyr Goulse." It was meant to be a compliment but to Ryu it felt as if someone had ripped her disguise off and yelled to a crowd her true identity. 

"Thank you Mr. Goulse." She replied stiffly. 

As they arrived at Elsa's door she turned to the guard to take his leave but before she could voice a goodbye the door clicked open revealing Elsa in a house robe. Her face softened fondly at Ryu then immediately hardened when she noticed Petyr. 

"Is something wrong?" Ryu pursed her lips at the worry etched in Elsa's voice, knowing how this must have looked. Her being escorted back to their room in the company of a Palace guard. 

He bowed deeply. "Lady Elsa, nothing is amiss I assure you. I was merely escorting Miss Astrid back from her walk to your rooms to ensure her safety." His smile was disarmingly attractive. His whole face and body were and Ryu decided after studying his features while he talked that she liked his dark brown eyes and hair, along with the light stubble creeping up his cheeks. 

When she turned to Elsa her face changed but demeanor stayed the same this time the aggression was targeted at Ryu leaving her completely confused. What had she done in the last twelve seconds since Elsa opened the door?

"Thank you very much for keeping her safe-" It was Ryu's turn to scowl, he hadn't kept her safe from anything! He only provided conversation on the walk back. 

He took his leave with another bow and bid Elsa farewell, turning back a few steps away. "Goodnight... Miss Astrid." Ryu couldn't resist returning his grin but the spell that kept their eyes locked was interrupted by Elsa lacing their fingers together and gently pulling her into the room. 

Locking the door, she faced Ryu and put her finger to her mouth, shushing her. There on the bed lay a snoring Olaf who slept with a smile on his face dreaming of the eventful night he had with the Empress' and the performers. 

Elsa led them into the tea room shutting the door. Spinning around, her white night dress whipped about with the force when she removed the robe draping on the chair all while keeping her eyes locked on Ryu with an intensity she was not accustomed to seeing from Elsa.

Is Elsa readying to fight me? 

The spirit cocked her head and gave her a rather assessing glance, as if she had been reading Ryu's whereabouts on a piece of paper attached to her forehead. Ryu had seen that look before; Elsa was concocting an idea of sorts. Decidingly, Ryu found the experience and silence somewhat unnerving.

Finally Elsa chose to break the tense silence. "I wish I could have brought you to the party-" she said, finally tearing her eyes away from Ryu in favor of retrieving a bag that lay on a small round table. "You would have enjoyed so many colors and people and music and food..." Elsa sighed as if it were some great tragedy that Ryu did not attend. "Nevertheless I brought you a surprise." Ryu sat on the couch when Elsa motioned for her to do so. Her muscles melted into the soft fabric. 

Elsa sat down beside her, maybe too close allowing their thighs to touch. She was moving especially bold tonight with her movements and behavior, with her fingers rasping across Ryu's back.

"Now-" she started turning so Ryu could not see what she had in bag. "I'm sure you've never had these before. So for your surprise..." Facing her again this time with her hands hidden behind her back, smile wide and excited. "Close your eyes and open your mouth." 

Ryu blinked at her a few times before she complied, somewhat nervous but also very curious as to what Elsa was up to. Something flakey and sweet touched her bottom teeth and tongue when she heard Elsa whisper. "Bite." 

Elsa was correct, she hadn't had something like this before. It had to have been a dessert of some kind. The outside was crusty but inside was a delicious smooth and creamy goo that tasted of raspberry. 

"What is that?" Ryu asked, keeping her eyes closed. "A macaroon. They come in all different flavors and I got you one of each." Elsa sounded quite proud of herself pushing more of the treat into Ryu's mouth. As she ate Elsa rubbed her shoulder tenderly working in a chill to soothe the inflamed sinew. Ryu melted into her embrace leaning in closer as she fed her more macaroons. 

"Is that better?" Elsa mumbled, getting a nod and heavy exhale in reply. Ryu's body was like a magnet to Elsa's attaching itself to her as best she could, entranced by the cold respite of the physical ventures endured that day. 

Getting into the message Elsa began using both hands one caressing Ryu's face experimentally and the other scratching the nape of her neck. 

Soon a groan drowned out by purrs rose out of her throat when she rolled her head to the side. 

"What were you up to?" Elsa asked gently.

"I was..." She almost told her, almost broke the pact she made with Honeymaren a few hours ago and that startled her into coming back from the blissful paradise Elsa's fingers created. The feeling of wanting to be at her mercy completely vulnerable. 

"I was just taking a walk, being in this room was driving me insane." There wasn't a lie, and Elsa would know that. 

"You're tired aren't you?" Elsa knew the answer to that question. Ryu hadn't been able to sleep during the day and night her body still fought her to stay awake challenged by the patter of a heavy July rain typing against the window and roof. 

Before she could protest Elsa scooped her up in her arms. "I want to watch the rain." Ryu tried worming her way out of Elsa's grip but her sluggish attempts meant nothing.

Elsa had sat them on the window bed, Ryu resting against her curled up legs. She too wanted to watch as well. Her silken dress felt better than the sheets of the bed. Elsa misplaced her hair, staining her hands in the black dye slightly. 

"You want to tell me what you were really up to Tenshi no akachan." The words had Ryu's body tighten and eyes shoot open looking up into Elsa's face as she watched her gaze at the rain, for that was all that could do. 

Did Elsa know what that meant?

If so Ryu found it to be entirely unfitting, if anything it was more suited to be directed at Elsa than herself. 

They were still having lessons in Japanese and Kenji, Elsa's pronunciation was impressive and she was quick to grasp things like syllables and writing. When Elsa looked down at her with those impossibly deep azure eyes Ryu couldn't look away. Elsa had trapped her, she was immobilized and felt her sanity slipping away through the cracks of her wall Elsa's gaze and touch had created. 

It was at this moment Ryu was convinced that living couldn't get any better and she wondered why Elsa gave up heaven so they could be together. 

"I was snooping around, I think I found something useful but I'm not too sure. I was going to explain it tomorrow night to you and the others, see if we can make sense of this." She added a finality to her tone in hopes that Elsa would accept that answer. 

She felt Elsa lean down and squeeze her firmly. "No more secrets okay?" 

When Elsa relinquished her spell from Ryu to face the window again, Ryu buried her red face into Elsa's stomach, nodding. 

Elsa whispered into her ears as she drifted off which would repeat itself in her dreams the entire night.

"Watashi no tenshi no akachan." 

Chapter Text

Elsa wasn't certain what time it was, it was still dark outside, she awoke surrounded by a balmy, almost unfamiliar warmth radiating on her back and midsection. 

As her eyes adjusted to the dark, her inspection of the room led her from Olaf snoring, propped up by her legs to the empty window seat where Ryu once sat. 

Elsa almost bolted upright in panic but with the arm slung over her waist and body pressed into her back- both kept her from flinging herself and Olaf to the floor. She glanced behind her and found Ryu sleeping, occasionally letting tiny growls and grunts escape. 

Sighing Elsa slunk back down onto her pillow rearranging herself to comfortable perfection. 

Her heart slowed following the ticking of the clock until a few moments passed. Elsa's small grin faded and her eyes snapped open at once. 

Ryu hadn't left the room, Ryu had gotten into bed most likely at her bedtime of three in the morning...

Don't panic and make it weird. Elsa scolded to her heart's increasing tempo. Friends spoon friends. She spooned Anna all the time and Anna her. It was no big deal. 

Carefully she turned over to face the girl buried underneath the blanket. Reaching, Elsa slowly touched her finger to Ryu's face, pressing down. 

The snores emboldened her light touches of brushing Ryu's hair back, fingers lingering too long on the scaled skin. She committed every scale, every mark to her mind's core library. A small purr ruptured giving Elsa no time to react. 

A purple, hazey stare greeted her when she looked into Ryu's eyes. Elsa froze stiff, holding eye contact. She felt like a total fool, of course Ryu wasn't fully asleep, she had just gone to bed if the clock was correct in time. There was no escape and no excuse. 

She had been caught. 

It was only natural that Elsa remained repentantly still when Ryu returned the favor of testing the feel of her skin. The way her eyes flickered back and forth across Elsa's features, gaze curious and bright, it was like a mirror. 

Ryu was much less apologetic and careful with her exploration which led to the palm of her hand clasping above Elsa's chest, the way her heart thundered inside, it felt as if the organ would break through her rib cage. Ryu looked up at her. 

"Are you scared?" She whispered. Elsa shook her head glancing down at the hand on her chest. Sliding back down neither removed their hands, and continued grafting every single inch of the other's face and hair. 

Everything was clenching, every part, every muscle. Elsa's stomach hurt, in a way she wouldn't mind feeling again in the future. She wasn't entirely sure the cause, perhaps the alcohol she had last night, yet this didn't feel that way. It was more so tingling and lightness to her head than feeling weighed down, dizzy and sick. 

Ryu was in deep thought, Elsa could see the detonation of the choice made burst from her expression. 

She moved in closer and tucked her head beneath Elsa's chin. 

Hugging her Elsa stared at the wall, unable to do anything other than squeeze Ryu close. It was like a hug, hugs could be given anywhere. Olaf taught her that from various positions. 

Turning her head Elsa rested against Ryu's and inhaled deeply. It reminded her of a cat pushing their head against a human or each other.

Between Ryu's purring and arms wrapped around Elsa's waist, split her lips into a wide smile. Closing her eyes she rocked her dragon a small bit in giddiness. This was a new sensation—this sensation of being wrapped in another’s warmth— body to body. Not thinking, not worrying, just feeling and loving it. 

Elsa always valued mental and emotional connection, now she realized how much she neglected her physical needs, how disconnected she had been from it. 

A worm of self degradation tried to find some loophole to slither in, if just to remind Elsa in this little exchange the more she took the more she'd want. She'd never be satisfied, first she wanted Ryu to trust her, let her help her, then she wanted to know Ryu mentally and emotionally. And now... Now—

I want her physically. 

Elsa shook her head at the thought trail.

Platonically!

"We could continue to hold ourselves ransom against the other or..."

"Or?"

"I give you a bit of me and you give me a bit of yourself in return."

"Deal."

She'd give more of herself to Ryu. Elsa fell back asleep with that promise on her mind. 

It was a wonderful morning.

Ryu took a risky stolen glance at Elsa with an almost invisible smile. She looked absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful. The golden yellow cape draped to the front and, clasped by a pendant, shimmered when the sun caught it from the window. Her silk dress beneath it was soft, cream, and layers upon layers of light materials creating a shade of lemon. 

Almost as soft as her skin was last night. Wonderfully cold and smooth. How could Ryu feel jealousy after the moments she and Elsa stole together when no one was watching? It was proving difficult to keep the duping delight in check.

Elsa was dressed like the summer sun and her bright dazzling smile lifted the spirits of the Mamonova family as she displayed her adroitness at the piano forte. The music echoed through the dome like room. 

"Pleased by the music, are we Miss Astrid?" Ryu sighed signaling her attention to the guard...

What was his name? Pedro? Pesto? Arnold?

"Elsa is so talented." She stated, scooting over to keep some distance between her and the guard. 

"Yes she is full of surprising charm." Ryu scrunched her nose, why was everyone so perplexed by the idea of Elsa being a prodigy capable of magnetism? Yes, she was a bit awkward and skittish but she was warm and fun as well. Adorable even which Ryu had no idea humans could even be capable of. 

It was evident with the way the noblemen eyed her whenever they walked by in the halls or gardens, they didn't even know her, just that she was beautiful. 

Petyr chuckled at Ryu's neutral expression to what he had just said, clearly she wasn't listening and was not even attempting to hide it. 

"Funny really, Elsa is the kind and considerate one out of the two of you. Impressive you radiate heat yet still manage to keep a demeanor of ice." Ryu didn't budge. 

"Yeah."

"Am I really that unpleasant to converse with?" She shrugged. 

"It's not that, I just have no interest in talking with you. If you think You're an unpleasant conversationalist then go ahead, but the responsibility of cause is not mine." She expected him to huff or leave or even berate her, what she wasn't expecting however was a smirk and eyes full of some sort of positive emotion, she couldn't pinpoint what emotion it was exactly. She'd deny it if asked about how when he laughed at her in a non mocking manner that it did boost her ego a little. She'd deny how he made her feel seen in this opulent environment. 

"Well said-" Petyr lifted his hands in a pretend surrender. "You've bested me. I apologize for bothering you." 

Ryu rolled her eyes. "If you were annoying me I would have told you already." 

"You have."

"Oh yeah, still you are very assuming it's annoying." They continued watching Elsa blush under the lavish compliments and attention of the royal family as well as her own. 

"Most people are." 

"And most people are very annoying all the same."

"Perhaps it's just a part of our nature, though it always made me wonder, do humans even have a set nature? We share qualities and yet at the same time are so different. Good, bad, boring, spontaneous." It did make Ryu question as well, did humans have a set nature and if so what was it? Who was right and who was the outlier? 

"Maybe the nature of humans is change?" It sounded dumb at first to her ears, Petyr instead actually contemplated that. 

"It would make sense, it's the only thing we all have in common. Some fight it but in the end everything always changes."

"I like change." Ryu's voice became quiet when she confessed it. Petyr smiled with his teeth. "Me too. Care to take a walk with me through the market? I am sure you'll find some very interesting vendors. And perhaps we could continue our talk from the previous night about man versus nature." He held out his arm to her, she studied Elsa a bit hesitant to leave her presence. His eyes followed hers. "I'm sure your mistress will be alright without your company, there are many servants to attend to her every need." Still Ryu felt as if it were an unwise choice to wander off...

On the other hand it did sound boring just standing here watching her get fawned over when she couldn't do any of the fawning herself. 

"I guess being gone for a little while wouldn't hurt." She mumbled stepping past the offered arm out of the room. "Let's go Pedro." 

Petyr jogged to keep up and set the pace. "It's Petyr." He chuckled. 

There was that guard again bothering Ryu. Elsa's face beneath the light smile was scowling, what did he want anyways? It made her nervous to have someone so focused on the disguised dragon and intent on capturing her attention. She was certain there was a motive, there had to be. Yes Ryu had a sweet face, her appearance and dress were plain. Meant to blend in, it seemed for someone in Ruskland their taste would never lie in anything plain and yet him. When she was certain no one was looking she'd sneak spying glances on the two talking. Ryu didn't appear to be vexed at him, Elsa had seen that expression before, she was intrigued? What was he saying to her? 

When she looked away for too long to listen to the princess go over her interactions with a few famous composers she turned back to see the man luring Ryu away! She stared down their backs hoping Ryu would turn around so Elsa could communicate the worry in her eyes but she never did. 

"Elsa?" 

"Elsa!" 

Her head whipped back to Olaf tugging on her sleeve. "Yes my love?" She replied sweetly. "What was the name of the song you taught me on the piano?" 

"Twinkle twinkle little star." He bounced and tried cracking his twigs. "Yes, ahem I will be performing twinkle twinkle little star but as my own rendition." 

"Ever the daydreamer Miss Elsa." Demetrius teased. Honeymaren and Anna, sensing her distress, were immediately fussing over her speaking through their eyes. 

When Elsa answered Anna began troubleshooting instantly. "Um, please excuse us for a moment." The group dismissed them while Kristoff and Olaf went directly for roles of distractions. 

"What happened?" She whispered as the three of them huddled away from the rest. 

"I don't know yet but someone just lured Ryu away." They all looked to the spot of where she once stood by the door. "What! Do you know who?" 

"A guard, Petyr, I believe his name was. I'm not sure about his intentions but I am worried about what he's after, it... Unsettles me." Elsa needn't explain further. Her friends and family had learned it wise to trust her inner intuition, it proved to be right the majority of the time. 

"I'll trail them and see if anything fishy is in the midst. You guys keep talking with the royals and maybe try to separate them from Ophelia, get 'em to talk, see if there are any clues of what they know and how involved they are with the... With..." she didn't want to speak his name aloud knowing even walls could have ears. 

"The spider lily." Elsa shrugged at their questioning looks. "It works." 

Anna squinted her eyes. "Sounds too complimentary." Despite the situation Elsa giggled and shook her head. "Trust me it's not. I'll explain later." 

Everyone dispersed and took their battle stations. Anna, being the ever wonderful actress she was, put on a bright smile and clapped her hands together. 

"What games do you all play on a lovely day like this?" The royal siblings rubbed each other's chins playfully mulling over the options. 

"I was actually going to go visit the markets in town, let my legs breathe and my lungs stretch." It was funny enough to make all laugh except of course Ophelia who nodded respectfully to Honeymaren's decision. "Please do enjoy. I can have a guard escort you if you so desire." 

"That won't be necessary, thanks. I can handle myself." She took her leave slow and calm to not seem as if there was a hurry. That was very difficult with the prospect of Ryu being in danger dangling in front of her nose. 

"As for your inquiry Queen Anna we do have croquet in the gardens if something physical interests you?" The twins' eyes lit up and they cheered. "Oh yes! We haven't had a good game of bat 'n' ram in ages!"

The prospect of getting dirty or rowdy or even worse both did not sound very appealing to Ophelia but she respected the sportsmanship and skill it required. 

"I never played croquet." Kristoff stated simply. "Neither have I, I mean unless I have played and since I never played it before I wouldn't know that I am playing it." Elsa helped Olaf off the bench and folded her hands in front of herself as he lamented on. 

"We can teach you!" Darya shouted, already heading for the gardens. 

"So you can knock your opponent's balls out of the way and mess them up?" Olaf asked, holding the small ice mallet Elsa made fitting his size. 

Demetrius nodded, wolfishly eyeing Ophelia like she was a deer, she glared at him choosing a different start position. 

"So if I were to say hit Anna it-" 

"Don't you dare!" Anna warned not to deter her husband. "It's a love tap carrot top." 

She squinted in the sun, shading her brows. "I don't want your love taps." She proclaimed making Elsa blush and chortle like a schoolgirl. 

"That's not what you said last night." Kristoff whispered to himself. Ophelia humphed thoroughly scandalized by the foreigners. "Please try to avoid misconduct during the game, and it will be enjoyable for everyone, I assure you." 

Demetrius crossed his arms, an overgrown pouting child. "I never feel assured by your assurance." 

Kristoff had managed to knock Anna and Demetrius' balls way off center. Anna played her part of disgruntled wife beautifully following the prince after them. He didn't seem to mind too much, laughing as he gave chase. 

When they were a good distance away, looking as casually as she could Anna made conversation. "So are you the youngest or somewhere in the Middle of your siblings?" 

He grinned, testing his swing. "I'm the youngest." That made a lot of sense. Many had always told Anna they could tell Elsa was her senior. "Being the youngest has its pros but definitely cons as well. Especially in royal families, you're raised differently, educated differently, a just in case child if you will." 

 He snorted at this." Understatement of the century!" There was some underlying aggression in his whack to the poor ball, not far enough to get them back to the group but enough to gain some ground.

"I seem lucky, blessed with only sisters, but my father many thought him fool when he put Polina in charge instead of me. She's a very capable young woman-" he managed to mix admiration in bitterness. "A lot like a mother in a way so I guess we're in better hands than if I were in charge." He didn't speak of a longing but Anna had been watching them all interact. He gets along well with Darya but there was a strain there, queerly more of strain than he had with Ophelia, he used humor to undermine the stuffy woman's requirements for protocol. She supposed all younger siblings suffered from the same symptoms of feeling like a spare. She hadn't given Hans any mental energy wherever he was but he entered her mind, how he lusted to be seen and for power, bullied and overlook by thirteen others, now down the line her anger turned to pity for him, his desperation. Desperation was a dangerous thing indeed but useful. She'd feel guilty for exploiting this prince but if he was possibly involved with the attempts of Elsa's life... 

She pondered the best approach when it was her turn to hit her ball. "I can understand that, I felt completely under prepared to become queen." 

"Yet you're still doing a fine job of it from what I've heard, your sister respects you and your authority greatly. If I ever became emperor my sisters would still mock me, keep things from me and not listen to a damned word I'd say." He chuckled, while shaking his head and closing his eyes. 

"You and Dayra seem close though, I'm sure she'd listen to you-" Anna's words died on her lips when he shook his head denying everything she said. 

"She doesn't even respect me now well enough to tell me things. She's more involved than I in court. We love each other but she'd be the worst one, probably would hop on my throne with the entire nation present." 

"She probably has her reasons and means well enough." 

"If you find out those reasons, be sure to let me know." The air turned sour, the prince was nice enough to not aim his attitude towards Anna knowing it wasn't her fault she brought up a touchy subject, it wasn't her doing which led to his family's flaws being so deeply rooted and layered. So he changed the topic. 

"That Kristoff of yours sure has a wicked arm on him." She grinned watching Kristoff strike carefully avoiding the much slower Olaf. When the snowman swung, missing the ball, his entire torso spun around from the effort setting him backwards. He chuckled to himself waving to Elsa who waved back. 

Before she could aid him Ophelia was by his side. "Master Olaf, if I may demonstrate, I believe your technique could improve. You're plenty strong enough to make an impact but first you must aim, here." After Elsa set him forward she helped him practice hitting the ball gently. 

Elsa was startled by her ball being shot forward from behind. She turned to see Darya smiling. "Sorry Elsa!" She most certainly did not look sorry. Elsa saluted her, it was all in good fun. 

"By all means please do keep inching me further Darya." She gestured to their balls in the grass. 

"As long as it means my brother doesn't win then so be it." Elsa maneuvered hers out of the way and gently tapped it. 

"You don't seem to be in too much of a rush." Darya observed. Elsa's swings were calculated and reserved, she could win easily if she'd like but that wasn't in her plans for today. 

Aggressive play was on the agenda for Kristoff, Anna and the twins. Darya again whacked her ball too far right into the dirt patch of a tree. She raised a playful brow, side eyeing the princess before going after it. Darya's ball flew past her ankles and she could hear her whine from behind. 

"Kristoff!" 

Her jog quickly caught up to Elsa waiting for her to take her turn. She aimed quietly, stopping her swing short when Darya's voice broke her concentration. "I envy you Elsa." That was entirely out of nowhere. Elsa craned her neck up, glancing at nothing in particular, blinking back to her with surprise. 

"Once you dedicate more energy into aiming than speed I'm sure you'll make an exemplary player." The princess giggled rolling her eyes, she moved like a child at least of the age of fourteen yet she was older. 

"I meant how you carry yourself and how mature you are. When you speak, everyone wants to listen." 

Elsa chuckled a breathy laugh at this. "Let's just say I had to grow up early." 

"My god I'm sure you did. Everyone at court was talking about you and the stuff you've been through. God you're so brave too. I don't think I could do what you did without fear-" she mumbled looking down at her nails. " I'm always afraid it seems." 

Elsa hummed at this. "To not be afraid of anything is foolishness. To fear and still do it is true bravery. I can assure you I am very much afraid of things." As they followed their balls Elsa thought the conversation came to a natural conclusion but the Princess disagreed with the notion. 

"Are you ever afraid of your powers?" An uncomfortable itch plagued Elsa's skin making her want to fidget but she resisted the urge. 

"I used to be, but love helped a lot from those around me and from within." 

The princess wistfully sighed at the romantic notion. "I think if I had powers I'd use them to prank my brother." Elsa laughed along with her. 

"I do that to Anna and Kristoff, all my friends really."

"Are you ever afraid of hurting them?" 

"Not anymore, my magic used to be a reaction and still is but now it's more so of an extension of my intentions, and since my intent is to protect and love them my magic acts accordingly." 

"So it's a thing that lives inside of you-" Darya mostly said this to herself but Elsa nodded. "Do you ever feel guilty for when you-" she stopped herself and winced at her curiosity getting the best of her. "I'm sorry I really shouldn't have asked that I guess I inherited my mother's fascination with the whimsical, but I'm sorry-"

"It's quite alright-" Elsa held up a calming hand. "and to answer your question; I have regret, yes but the guilt has subsided. It used to be terrible but My family and country forgave me. I trust their judgment and so I learned to forgive myself as well." They stopped and right after swinging Darya stared her down with a look of awe, shaking her head as if she couldn't believe Elsa was real. 

When they began she wrapped their arms together, if she noticed how Elsa stiffened she didn't seem to pay it any mind. "I wish I could keep you." She said fondly, leaning into her side.

"Nope, nope, nope, you're not getting past me." Kristoff took to gatekeeping the siblings out of the player area with his masterful hits and aim, now the game became 'get passed Kristoff'. The twins betted on who would succeed first. 

"Wonderful hit Mister Olaf, your aim is improving." He beamed up at Ophelia. "Thank you! I love this game but can confirm I have never played it." 

"We should set up a game like this at Elsa's house in Arendelle. That way we can play all the time like your family." Ophelia faltered somewhat in her hit. "Well my family doesn't play it too often I'm afraid." 

"Why is that?" 

"I am far too busy for games." 

"Well when you're not you can just ask your family. " 

"They're all busy as well. Even Princess Darya and Prince Demetrius."

"Well, just play with your friends." She hated shooting down every one of his suggestions, they definitely came from a place of purity and sweet naivety. "I don't have any." She replied rather blunt instead of taking offense as she assumed he would, she made a small noise when she felt his arms wrapped around her skirts. 

"You do now. And maybe you can even visit Arendelle and we can play there ooh! I can introduce you to Sven, and Bruni, and Nok, and Gal, and Ryder, and Emil, and Samantha, I still have no idea who that is but she's a friend. You'll have so many friends during your visit, then maybe you won't be so lonely." Ophelia patted his head awkwardly, when he didn't let go it gave her some time to determine it was nice. Perhaps she could make an acquaintance with this little fellow. He wasn't the sharpest weapon but he was by no means a fool, some would mistake it for stupidity but she knew it was just innocence. And by the end of the game Ophelia found herself more inclined to smile and humor him. 

If more people in her life were like Olaf, she could say to herself in honesty she wouldn't have minded it. 

"But if your parents love you why would they want you in a dangerous occupation?"

"My father believes there is honor in falling in battle for your country." 

"Your father's an idiot." She replied casually taking in more of the sights and smells of the market as she left the laughing Petyr behind. Everything was rich and colorful, full of life, a regular ecosystem. Some scents smelt of delicious places she had visited before others were unrecognizable but still just as delectable. Despite having been here in previous years she never had this much agency to walk among the people, hear the words in Ruskland pour from their mouths in quick loud barks, negotiating prices and bargains. Again Ryu found herself comparing it with Arendelle which was a busy place though not as quick and merciless for the slow as Ruskland. 

"I suspected you'd say that, despite his disappointment he truly is a great man-" Ryu doubted it but bit back her reply. "If we make a left by the fountain the spice salesman will be-" 

Honeymaren? Was she enjoying the market as well? The thought of having her join them crossed Ryu's mind, she did look rather busy trying to remain inconspicuous, maybe looking for any evidence to help their mission. Ryu observed the woman ducking behind carts and carriages. 

The dragon shook her head. She'd let her be for now and joined Petyr's side once again heading left. 

Anna sighed. "Elsa." 

"I mean why else would he have singled her out out of our entire traveling staff-" Elsa insisted. 

"Besides the fact that she is the youngest and only unmarried among our staff." Anna muttered to herself, speaking louder when Elsa's pacing only doubled in speed across the carpet, exasperation bleeding into every word. "Elsa, Ryu is a young woman and Petyr is a young man. The guards and maids back home are always flirting even while on duty, that's probably the status quo here too. If we draw attention to it then that's only drawing more eyes towards Ryu." Truth be told, she would have rather been going over the information they had uncovered rather than Ryu's dating life. 

"But that's just it Anna-" the stress made Elsa's words tremble in the way it always did when she didn't feel heard or seen about something important. "Ryu is incredibly important! How do you think Grand Pabbie and Bulda would react to the fact that the Dragen Lyse is walking freely with some strange man, unprotected, alone, going who knows where, talking about who knows what-" 

Anna snapped her fingers when her eyes lit up at the idea. "Maybe she's investigating the palace staff. Genius!" Her excitement was tucked away when her sister failed to share her enthusiasm instead pouting in complete misery. 

"That wasn't a part of the plan." Elsa mumbled. 

Anna's mouth opened then clamped shut when Honeymaren entered the room rubbing her red and watery eyes. She sniffled loudy relieved when offered a cool icy handkerchief from Elsa. "I don't like the spice market." She whimpered pathetically. 

"Are you alright?" Anna stood flanking her left. She held out a hand waving off both royal's concerns. "Yea I'll be alright I just never been exposed to so many smells."

Elsa treaded carefully with her next choice of words so as to not sound so selfish and disregarding Honeymaren's wellbeing."Did you spot anything... Odd?" 

"Oh Ryu, yeah she's fine, they just walked around, she stole some food, he paid for it and they talked about not really anything. He doesn't seem to have nefarious intentions with her. They're walking back now." Anna pointedly stared down Elsa with an 'I told you so' expression. Elsa receded into herself and turned away from them, wringing her hands together. 

Some worries were soothed with the intel but the good news only bred new ones. Why wasn't she appeased by this? Now all of sudden she felt worse with her stomach and chest twisting in knots. 

Faint sounds of footsteps and voices filtered through the cracked door. Elsa was there in an instant signaling for Anna and Honeymaren to remain quiet as she listened in. 

"I must say Miss Astrid you are unlike any woman I've ever met." Elsa couldn't stop the rolling of her eyes at the brown nosing. 

"And I can say that you're not as annoying as I thought you were." Ryu replied sounding genuinely surprised by this. 

"Considering how sharp your mind is, I'll take that as a compliment." 

Ryu blinked at him, giving a single nod. "Okay. Thank you for the umm bag of spices... Come to think of it-" She began musing examining the bag. "Why- I don't cook- why did you buy me this?" 

"As a keepsake." He beamed a smile at her that had Elsa squinting at him, usually she didn't default to distrust but it was challenging. This man was completely unaware of who he was trying to garner favor from and similar to when Scherer had said her first name when they met in the gardens, she felt him completely undeserving of Ryu's attention. 

"Perhaps tomorrow we coul-" 

Elsa opened the door, Ryu turned around and her dull expression morphed into one of joy and serenity. Elsa grinned back knowing that this was probably the first time her dragon had genuinely smiled all afternoon. Her knots calmed and the small blizzard that was whirling around in the room had ceased. 

Ryu and Petyr bowed in respect. "Mr. Goulse, hope you are faring well-" she lied through her teeth but he took her word as gospel. "I'm afraid I must whisk my lady away from you, urgent matter." If Elsa's words hadn't gotten the message across her tone certainly did.

You are dismissed.

"Of course Lady Elsa, I should return to my duties as well.-" he returned his sights back to Ryu and kissed her hand gently. Elsa decided his hand remained on hers for far too long. Hypocrite. She shook away the nagging voice from within. "It was a pleasure spending time with you Miss Astrid. Until we meet again." 

Before Ryu could muster a goodbye she was tugged into the room abruptly, the door shutting behind her. 

She stiffened when her eyes landed on Anna. She curtsied perfectly. "Good afternoon your Majesty." 

Anna casted her hands akimbo. "Quite it." Ryu relaxed, chuckling. "But I'm a lady-in-waiting." Anna placed a hand over her bonnet and reigned in her reaction. "You're doing an amazing job at it but in private it's just-" she searched for the right word to not discourage Ryu's good behavior. 

"Strange." Honeymaren finished for her having experienced undercover Ryu for herself. 

"Just a little. So!" She clapped her hands rubbing them together like a thief that found a purse containing three coins. "Find out any juicy details among the palace staff?" Ryu rubbed her chin in thought going over her afternoon conversations. 

"All the guards had lice last month except Petyr cause he bathes more regularly." Elsa shook her head, closing her eyes. "That is not quintessential to anything." 

"I found something of use while playing with the Prince this afternoon." Anna offered, Elsa thought about bringing up her interactions with the princess and if there was anything it could offer them as Anna regaled the events of the croquet game. 

"So we have a princess and Empress mesmerized by magic, irregular imports from the Americas for the church, an assassin we can't present to the royal court until we know who hired him, and a young prince feeling as if he isn't respected or seen in his family." Elsa bemoaned, she smiled small at the comforting hand Ryu rested on her back.

Honeymaren and Ryu exchanged glances both fitting in the piece of information they had recovered from last night. "Ryu?" Elsa called from bending over the table to write this down in her journal. "What was it that you learned yesterday?" 

Ryu sought permission from Honeymaren. "Wait Kristoff should be here for what you have to tell, where is he?" 

"He's with Olaf and the prince in the parlor." Anna absent mindedly answered more so focused on what Ryu had to say. They sent for a servant to fetch him and Olaf immediately under the pretense of a decline in Anna's health. 

He bursted through the doors looking frantic. "Anna? What's wrong? Is it your stomach?" He planted a hand on her abdomen, brows scrunched up. "No I'm alright, Ryu just has something to tell us."

Satisfied Honeymaren nodded while Olaf locked the door, and nudged Ryu forward. The young girl took a breath and began bouncing in place, her face pink, her mind felt like a dam ready to burst with thousands of gallons of water. Words coming out in rapid succession recalling the things she had witnessed yesterday. 

Her friends did their best to keep up until she had to be calmed and interrupted once Japanese began pouring from her lips. She had to be shushed when they raised at an inappropriate volume. 

Elsa scratched her invisible scales to ease the both of them needing something to do with her hands. 

"I knew it!" Anna proclaimed

"Shush." Elsa said gently. Anna's arms flayed about in every direction, anger, excitement, perturbance all making an appearance on her face at least once. "I knew, he was a creep, that ooooh- we need to arrest him for treason." 

Olaf snorted, climbing up onto the table. "Oh that won't work silly." 

"We can't just let him walk around freely-" Honeymaren protested with a growl. "I knew there was a reason he was avoiding us, there's no way he hadn't heard about our arrival." 

"But if we say anything then he'll continue to walk around freely. Like when Ryu cracked the vase, if they were to find the crack do you think she'll confess that it was her or stay quiet about it?" 

"Wait what?" Anna and Kristoff looked down between them at the dragon who avoided eye contact with anyone in the room thus driving home Olaf's point. "That's coming out of your salary..." 

Ryu guffawed. "You don't even pay me, I- ugh! Look-"She crossed her arms indignantly and closed her eyes. "The evidence is in his possession ya, it's not like back in Arendelle where Anna has power over the justice systems. This is a pretty big accusation that is coming from foreigners from seemingly nowhere, no?"

"I hear a lot of things shooting down solutions and no one actually coming up with one." Honeymaren was growing impatient, they were still at square one with just a bit of information under their belt. 

Anna stayed silent for a minute. Her demeanor became that of a queen that would leave no room for rebuttal. "I'm going to bring this up to the empress today." The shocked looks shared around the room weren't that much of a surprise even from Elsa who came to her side immediately. "Look if the Empress is behind it then we can go from there not like we have a choice anyways, and if she isn't then we'll have a good footing in this race. Either way the risk of having that pro outweighs the con." 

"Con being that she wants Elsa dead." Kristoff deadpanned. Ryu growled at him. "She won't be able to kill Erusa without a head on her shoulders." 

"Whoa okay!" Elsa held up her hands calling for a time out. "Before we start committing to acts that would cause a detrimental war, let's discuss this with her and see what she has to say first, if she doesn't have anything to do with Georg or Julien then we have an ally and if she does-"

Ryu punched a fist into her palm. "Then we kill her." Her voice was so devious and malicious. Elsa gripped her head in her hands looking her in the eye. "No! We hear her out and try to negotiate a peaceful compromise. Remember? We don't have to kill." 

Her thumbs rubbing across Ryu's cheeks and pure blue eyes did the majority of the assuaging the wrath inside of her dragon, relenting with a sigh. "Fine." Ryu bit out. 

Now with the subject of murder behind them for now, Kristoff needed to ensure they covered all their bases."Ryu do you think you can sneak back into Scherer's office and steal any evidence we can present to help our case?"

"Hai." She nodded with a determined smile. 

"Alright then, Honeymaren and I will go secure Julien, Anna you and Olaf go over how you're going to bring this up to the Empress-"

"I'll go with Ryu to make sure she's safe." Elsa offered. 

"Alright let's move out Snow Group!" Olaf cheered running out the door. 

"Is that what we're calling ourselves now?" Honeymaren deadpanned. 

"I like it." Elsa chirped. 

"You would."

A blink and miss moment. That's how Elsa would describe Ryu's slight twitching and resurgence of a rogue scale tucked in the collar of her dress. 

"Hey?" Ryu grits her teeth at Elsa's soft call. They had attracted some attention but in this wing there were less inhabitants frequenting the halls. "You okay?" Elsa already knew the answer and they both knew Ryu was lying when she said yes. Truth be told she was just as anxious, the situation could go south very quickly with the smallest of misstep. She needed Ryu focused, if small bits of her identity were slipping through the cracks of her skin now.... 

The dragon gasped when Elsa acted quickly, shoving them both into a dark dusty broom closet freezing the knob. "Uuhhh-" Ryu gathered herself cocking her head to the side, what in the world had gotten into Elsa? Did she spot Georg. Her pupils dilated not only from the darkness but the cool slender fingers that danced in a massaging dance against the nape of her neck. Her purr was obnoxiously instantaneous, but her chest whined in protest as Elsa drew closer, until there barely was a distance between them at all. And it’s hypnotizing, the rhythm of Elsa's breath as it puffed across Ryu's mouth, her instinct demanding she relinquish any other feeling besides contentedness. Elsa grinned, still working her fingers to draw out more chills and shivers from her dragon until she feels a hand shakily push her away. A weak attempt but Elsa conceded. 

"Erusa not right now." Ryu groaned, thudding her forehead against Elsa's collarbone. 

"I thought this would relax you." Her voice was too sweet, filled with concern as to why the care she was exuding was being rebuffed. 

"It does- it does, but I don't want to be THAT relaxed." It dawned on Elsa what she meant crafting an oh face. 

"I'm sorry." The spirit went on the retreat. She was still trying to figure out what caused the visceral reaction in that particular place. 

Ryu's chuckle was broken, her voice cracked when she spoke nuzzling Elsa. "It's okay, thank you." Elsa closed her eyes, relaxing somewhat against Ryu's warmth. The gesture felt so familiar, to see and feel Ryu behaving as a dragon after concealing it for so long. 

Elsa met the familiar with the familiar replying. "Dōitashimashite." 

They held each other in an embrace, silently reminding the other that everything was going to work out while doubting it themselves.

It had to. 

"This is the window." Ryu whispered, they both peered out of it, it'd be easy for Ryu to sneak out there but Elsa... Well she was much more noticeable than the dragon shockingly enough. 

"The only way in I noticed is through those doors, you can watch them for me?" Elsa nodded, then clasped her hand around Ryu's wrist when she tried to unlock it. "I need a way to signal to you that someone is coming." 

Ryu hadn't thought that far ahead and had no solution to solve the hiccup. Elsa thought of many possibilities and outcomes that could work. She made a little noise when she concluded the best line of action. Grabbing Ryu's hand she carefully crafted a simple ice ring, slipping it slowly onto her finger.

Ryu examined it. "Pretty." 

"No, no see-" Elsa hovered over it, shushing her voice. "It's how I'll get my signal to you. If someone is coming then it'll melt and when the close is clear it'll stay put." Ryu hummed, twisting the cold jewelry around her finger. 

"Wow Elsa-" she said with reverence. "You are so smart and talented." She didn't see the other woman's blush as she climbed through the window swiftly, closing it behind herself. 

Elsa seated herself on a bench causally, creating a book that held no words but anyone who looked on would have never known. 

"Dokoda, dokoda, dokoda?" Ryu chanted as she scrambled through piles of papers and files. "Ah!" She shouted gathering every paper she could stuff into her pockets even the ones that at the moment did not seem relevant. Most importantly she stored the journal within the treasure box in her corset keeping it pressed to her chest. Liquid pooling at her feet made her look at her finger where the ring once sat snug. 

"Tawagoto." She cursed not caring any longer if everything was left in its proper place, that wouldn't matter in a few hours time. She flung herself out of the window tumbling down the roof. She would have fallen had her feet not skidded her momentum to halt. Shuffling to her feet she climbed up to the window. Elsa was nowhere to be seen cause of course she wasn't if she sent the signal. 

Something uneasy settled at the bottom of Ryu's stomach, her body began pumping itself with adrenaline. She didn't care who saw Elsa's lady in waiting sprinting down the hallways anymore. The whispers and gossip didn't matter, nothing else mattered except finding Elsa and delivering these papers to Anna. 

Hands yanked her hard back into a utility closet, clasping over her mouth to keep her from screaming. 

She pushed them down so she could speak in haggard pants. "You gotta stop dragging me into closets." 

"Sorry. I had to hide, Georg was approaching." Elsa winced, her face was flushed, chest moving like a rabbit's that just avoided a hound.

"I figured." 

 "He had the princess with him." 

"What!" Elsa shushed her harshly. 

"Did they say anything?"

She shook her head. "She was just scolding him? For hiding. Did you get the papers, the journal?" Ryu patted herself proudly. Elsa cupped her cheek beaming. "Good job, so proud of you." She shrugged, she had done it before it was hardly a challenge but she'd take praise from Elsa for anything. 

"We have to act now." 

"What's the next step?" Elsa took a calming moment to sooth her jolting nerves. "We get these to Anna, we bring them to the empress and hope for the best, we have fifty-fifty chance of her not wanting me dead. Who knows maybe I've appealed to her better nature." 

"I've had worse odds." 

"And you're sure this is everything?" Anna questioned raking her eyes over the documents, ledgers, and journal.

Both Ryu and Elsa nodded, organizing the papers was a difficult task but not as difficult as battling the feelings of anguish at the thought that they had welcomed a witch hunter into their home. Anna felt like a fool, her only comfort was holding Olaf close to her chest. 

The worst story they had read was the murder of 70-year-old Elise Plainacher of Mank, a Lutheran, who raised her granddaughter Anna. The girl had suffered some medical condition that was believed to be caused by her grandmother's hexing. The whole ordeal ended with the innocent woman being burned at the stake. The similarities in names only drove the perturbation further home. Anna had seen enough and stood up from the desk, Elsa however wanted to know more no matter how sick and disturbed each story escalated to in detail. The man was sick and needed to be brought down. 

Ryu still for the life of her could not fathom why they couldn't just kill him and have it over and done with, but he didn't deserve a quick beheading, no this man deserved a slow agonizingly slow demise. He deserved to burn starting with his feet working the flames up till they would consume him. 

Her chest began glowing watching the sisters collect themselves. With Kristoff and Honeymaren in place to present Julien outside the throne room doors. The situation was beyond any of the guards or servants.

To gain an audience with the Empress was easy, the monarch probably assumed they had an answer to her proposal and if the smug way she sat upon her throne was any tell, knew that the answer would be yes. Ophelia stood to her left brow raised in question, surely they could have discussed this after dinner. 

"Well dear Queen Anna, do you have an answer to my preposition?" Anna's face remained grave, voice firm and unfaltering. 

"Yes I do, we have thought it over carefully and accept your generosity under one condition." The empress waved that off as if nothing they could request would be out of her power to grant. 

"We can make the formal arrangements after dinner, I believe a celebration is in order. See Ophelia? I told you the Queen was smart." 

"Perhaps before we get ahead of ourselves your Majesty we should consider what the one condition may be." The empress rolled her eyes, landing them on Anna. 

"Earlier this month my sister's life was threatened as you know, our request is that you bring the people responsible to justice-" the Empress remained passive at this, having the complete confidence that it could be within her ability to do so. "first being Julien of Brazil who gained access to our shores through a ship originating from this nation-" Ophelia balked in an undignified squeak. 

"Do you have proof of this Queen Anna?" 

The weeks, days, hours of toiling away, ripping her hair out, the threat against her sister's life all became lava pooling into her face resulting in a deathly glare. It was unfair really, she knew that Ophelia was suspicious by nature and if she were in her position would probably demand proof as well, but her patience was thin and she would not be challenged. Honeymaren and Kristoff accompanied by the royal convoy's guards bursted through the door with a very battered Julien in shackles and gagged, after being dismissed Arendelle's guards marched back out to leave the royals in privacy. Had they beat him before they came in? Anna wondered noticing the bruises and lumps decorating his head.

Good. 

"I do, the next accused is your pulpit orator in the Archduchy of Ruskland, Goerg Scherer. We have documented evidence of his contractual connections with the assassin as well as personal history that further back up such claims." The thick silence which followed did not have a chance to settle with the Empress kicking it back up to cloud the air around them. 

"Very Well then... We'll put them to death." Anna and Elsa's eyes widened at the blaise calm in the Empress' words. "Your majesty!" Ophelia rebuked but was silenced. 

"Of course Ophelia you can look over the documents presented by the Queen and Lady Elsa while we have dinner. Is that all?" The sister's had wondered if Ryu had gotten to the Empress somehow. 

"Uumm-" Anna began now at a loss for words. "No? We believe there is some connection to whomever sent him to Arendelle in the first place." 

Now the monarch began paying attention but she spoke as one would to a child who had asked them to check under their bed for monsters. "It was me, I sent him but if I wanted Lady Elsa dead you would not have been able to track it back to me. I'm not so sloppy." 

It was both reassuring and very unsettling, so much so that now they all were positive that the empress had done such a thing to others. 

"Actually if I may my Majesty point out that Arendelle's magic was first brought to your attention by-" 

The doors opened a second time producing a confused Princess Darya, she slowed her steps awkwardly smiling. "Ooh God everyone looks so serious." She chuckled. Her eyes locked with Elsa's still smiling as she approached her mother's throne. 

"Darya I'm afraid I don't have time for you currently, I'm in the midst of an arrest." The princess' hands flew to her chest. "Who?" She looked around. 

"This here, Brazilian fellow though I think Arendelle has already seen it and Georg Scherer. No loss on our account so no need to be concerned." 

Darya's smile didn't falter though there was something rather unhinged slipping away, as if her makeup was being melted. "Oh mother, that won't be necessary." 

The Empress finally looked at her, growing irritated. "It is if I say it is." 

"And what I hear you saying is that you don't care for the good of our empire." The puzzle pieces fell into place for the old monarch. She exhaled long and hard, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Oh Darya..." She said woefully. "Have you been being a cunt lately?" 

"Another mess for me to clean up." Ophelia muttered, shaking her head. 

"Don't be so dramatic O." She rebuked, turning to face the shocked foreign royals. "You think we are fools. That you could come running to my mother with your problems and have them solved by holding hands and making friends. That you could hold the very end of the world in your arms and say that love solves all." When the word love passed her lips she gazed heatedly at Elsa. "Do you not realize how terrifying it is to exist in a world with someone who can control the breath of Skadi herself and to just be expected to take your word for it... That you're nice." 

Elsa held out her hand to deescalate the situation as best she could ignoring her sneers. "Darya, I mean no harm to anyone, I never have and never will. There is a dark side to my magic, to all magic but there's a light side as well that can help and heal. I am still human and can't control the fact that I have magic, I can't control how strong it grows, but I can control what I do with it. I have a choice just like everyone else and I chose to be good." Her other had clasped Anna's arm when she surged forward not knowing what her temper would make her do to this woman. 

Darya broke down in laughter clutching her stomach. "Oh Elsa, you actually believe that-" 

"That is enough!" The empress shouted, echoing it throughout the room but Darya's rage continued marching forward. 

"You actually believe that you can convince everyone that you're a saint! When you froze over your own country with fear. When you froze your own sister's heart!" She descended down the steps to face Elsa who held her place. She touched her face gently searching inside her, Anna wanted to pull her sister away but Elsa held out her palm. She knew there was good inside her and she wanted Darya to see it. "As you said you're still human and all humans have a breaking point. I don't want to find out yours." The remorseful confession was followed by a greater pain than Elsa had ever experienced. 

"Elsa!" She heard her family cry but she was too stunned to go to them, instead crumpling down on knees holding her left side. She bled like everyone else, and wailed like any other human would. She wanted to stop the bleeding but found her left hand useless for producing magic. 

Darya examined the black blade stained with blood. 

"What have you done you foolish, stupid, girl!" Her mother cursed while Ophelia stood between the two of them to protect her Empress. 

Anna rushed to Elsa's aid trying to put pressure on the womb while Kristoff punched the princess in the face with a force that knocked her off her feet with Honeymaren confiscating the blade from her. The glass chamber filled with green smoke ran from the end into the curved black blade, the shape of an hour glass. She stared at it then to Elsa, green tendrils slithered through her left side like vile snakes. 

Ryu's head lifted from its perch on her arms. Something wasn't right. It was approaching fast. A feeling of illness spiraled her into a panic as she sank to her knees looking around the room. Olaf swiftly ran to her. "What's wrong Ryu? Are you sick? Do you need a doctor?" Her mouth gaped open as she took quick gulps of air in. 

"Olaf..." she rasped, squeezing her head. "Something is not right. I just-" Her ears burned and rang. "Olaf get down!" She tackled the snowman to the ground clutching him tightly. The wood, rock, cobblestone and glass bursted in an explosion, opening the room out to the outside air, a gigantic mass stumbled and struggled to gain its feet letting out terrible screeches and guttural croaks. The bird bellowed, breaking the furniture and scratching the floors barreling towards them. Ryu froze in place at the sight of the known magical nightmare from her last coming to haunt her. 

This couldn't be real. 

It couldn't be. 

It wasn't. 

"Ryu we have to go!" Olaf yelled. 

It was. 

Olaf used his body to push her out the crater the bird had made in the side of the palace.

Crashing down to the ground, when he landed his body splattered leaving only his head intact. The snow pillows accumulated back together.

Ryu had face planted, starting a vicious nose bleed when she smacked the cobblestone. The Phoenix leapt down towards her. She transformed to meet its impact with her own large clawed feet and threw the heavy jade beast off of her. She stood between it and Olaf not emitting very ferocious sounds, more so pathetic pules with her tendrils pulled tightly back against her head. There was running and screaming alike at the strange monsters inhibiting the courtyard. 

The behemoths encircled each other, sizing their opponent up. The bird's glowing yellow eyes held no regard for Olaf who clung to Ryu's leg. She bent low keeping an eye on the monster while helping him scramble up to her back between her wings. Her lips curled revealing slobbery sharp fangs, scales rattling to hiss. She reared up on her hind legs creating gusts of strong winds with her wings. 

 Chest glowing with the deep inhale she took, a huge wall of flames poured from her throat enveloping the Jade monstrosity. 

Guards broke into the room yet instead of pointing their spears at the rogue princess they aimed at the royal family, they made quick work of the unsuspecting Arendellen soldiers in the hall. Kristoff and Honeymaren were restrained, kicking and jabbing everywhere, Anna caught against her captors in a more desperate manner as they pulled her away from her sister. 

"Uh I- wa- your highness!" One of the traitors pointed towards the window. 

A giant green rocky bird collided with a dragon, teeth and talons gnashing against one another in mid air till it circled around dragging Ryu with it, on the third rotation it released the dragon sending her hurtling towards the throne room. The collision was catastrophic. Using the chaos to their advantage the royal family scramble to their feet, ripping some weapons away from the unsuspecting. 

"Ryu! Anna!" Elsa yelped, using all of her strength to hobble up to her feet and towards her family. They regrouped near Ryu's panting frame watching the Ruskland guard go into survival mode and usher their monarchs out of the room. Screams erupted in the halls. 

Ryu stood to her legs and shook the pain away. A rancid yet familiar scent stole her focus off of the jade bird to Elsa. Her large head lowered, examining the wound. Elsa gently touched her snout to comfort but also to ensure she didn't attempt to lick it. "Things didn't quite go as planned." She rasped, chuckling.

Ryu shrunk down, moving in haste to carry Elsa bridal style before the bird would attack again. It crashed itself into the building creating more damage and rubble, crumbling the pillars and walls around them. 

Anna screamed, clutching Kristoff pulling him away from the debris. "Come on this way!" Honeymaren called from the double doors which barely hung onto the hinges. The group fled into the halls, they skidded to halt when some guards ran across the adjacent hallway in front of them. Kristoff ushered everyone into a spare room barricading the doors. 

Elsa yelped when placed down on a chair. "Erusa what happened?" Ryu was completely flabbergasted searching with Anna for something, anything that could wrap the wound. 

"Darya-she-" Using her right hand the cool sensation was enough to keep her from fainting. 

"That traitorous little vile cunt!" Anna angrily stormed over with a cloth she ripped off of a piece of furniture. A tremor shook the room cracking the ceiling. "She's the one who sent Goerg, she's the one who wants Elsa dead, she's a part of that creepy little cult Julien mentioned. She stabbed her with the same weapon they used on the other spirits. It's done something to her." Her tone of voice did not match the gentle and soft way she handled Elsa's wound. 

"I'll be alright." Elsa softly offered, Honeymaren gripped her shoulders, before looking up with complete fear in her eyes. "Ryu what the fuck is that thing?" 

"Another one of Darya's pranks?" Kristoff asked stalking to the windows to peer out carefully. 

Ryu took shaky breaths, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No-" she croaked, heart raced too fast, her throat closing up. Her friends were already in danger and now peril thanks to her. "It's a- from- it's from-'' she couldn't say his name less he appeared right inside this very room. She was petrified and certain her bladder was about to release all it had to offer. 

"Hey." Honeymaren left Elsa to grab Ryu to shake her a little. "Hey. It's gonna be okay but we need you. We have to keep clear heads and make sure everyone is safe and we are as well but most importantly-" she gestured to Elsa slumped in the chair. "We have to get Elsa to safety. Slow down your breathing okay." It was Anna's turn to placate grabbing the hyperventilating dragon. She and Honeymaren both glanced at each other, sometimes they forgot Ryu was the youngest here, just a kid really, less than a month into the age of twenty. "Ryu all I need you to do is help me protect Elsa okay? That's it, the rest of us will handle everything else, I just need you to protect Elsa. Can you do that for me?" Ryu licked her dry lips and nodded, she kept on nodding cause that's all she could do, nod and slow down her lungs. Anna slipped a sheet around her naked body. 

"Do you know where Olaf is sweetheart?" Elsa immediately regretted asking. "Hey was on my back when they- the Jade bird threw me! He must have fallen into the gardens! Oh god! Oh no!" Ryu broke down again. She was supposed to protect him. 

"Ryu it'll be okay, I'll find him." Kristoff voiced firmly. "Not by yourself." Anna warned. Kristoff rubbed a palm down his face. 

"Well we can't exactly drag Elsa down there Carrot-top." 

"I'll go with him-" Honeymaren twirled her staff as it extended to full height. "You guys get Elsa to ship and Kristoff and I will meet you there." 

A bellow that was unlike the screech of any normal bird drew up their heads. They held in air watching the door.

"Ryu..." Anna began carefully. "Is that the noise a bird makes?" She whispered. Ryu shook her head slowly. "No it's not." Ryu walked up to the door and listened. 

She pulled away going to Elsa, when she helped her to her feet the strangled noises Elsa released broke her heart. "Come on Elsa. I'm taking you home now."

Elsa could exhale in relief at the sound of that. It wasn't pleasant or easy to stay upright but she could manage with the help of Anna to climb through the window after Ryu had checked the skies. 

Anna kissed Kristoff long and hard before separating on the roof. There wasn't really any time for anything else, they'd see each in a few minutes ideally. 

Ryu stayed silent when she changed, able to support Elsa's body much easier now, she stayed low on her limbs like a cat. They crept along the tiles, avoiding both guards and shadows in the sky whether they were large or small. Anna jumped when she felt Ryu beneath her stiffen, breaking out into a feral growl. 

Anna had to rub her eyes to confirm her vision was still correct. Perched atop a ruined tower sat a giant bird, much bigger than Ryu, made of a deep green stone. Its eyes glowered over the city. The sound of rock rumbled deep whenever it shifted its weight on those terribly sharp talons. The crest of stone feathers went upright whenever something had caught its attention. She hated to admit it but... this creature was absolutely magnificent. 

Elsa too sat up to study it in awe and when she did its neck craned towards them. Instead of attacking it threw its head back and let out an ear piercing caw to the skies. 

Elsa whispered, "It's... communicating.." but not with them. When she and the Jade bird locked eyes they both froze in place unable to look away. "Are you in that much pain?" Elsa muttered. Anna pulled her sister back against her chest frightened that delirium had taken hold.

Ryu was less amazed with the monster. Neither made the first move, refusing to break the tense stand down. 

"Up there!" An archer cried pointing up the two myths. The bird screamed when they began shooting pointless arrows at its hard surface and launched for Ryu. She was quicker of the two not made from stone but rather muscle and sinew. Arrows were aimed at her as well which she carefully avoided maneuvering through buildings. Anna clutched her tendrils tightly aiding in providing a second pair of eyes moving Ryu's head in accordance to avoid arrows and other projectiles thrown their way. 

The twists and turns made them lose momentum allowing the bird to catch up and grasp Ryu's side in talons clawing bloody scratches into her. Her fire did nothing but discombobulate the bird's vision. Anna screamed as she clutched Elsa closer to Ryu's back to avoid being speared. With neither flying beasts looking at where they were going they crashed into the side of a large building. The dragon did her best to stay off of her back to not crush her passengers. When the dust settled Anna growled with the endeavor of coaxing Ryu to lift her large head up and stand to her unsteady paws. 

"Come on Ryu we have to go!" She kept her eyes on the bird dislodging itself from the rubble still hanging on Elsa who had long since fainted from the pain thrusted on her from the fight. Ryu flew up and took off as fast as her wings would carry them. Anna looking behind at the pursuer and then at Ryu's frantic eyes which reflected her terror thought about the water passing beneath them. "Ryu fly up as high as you can go! Go, GO!" Ryu obeyed, taking them in a direct incline towards the sky. The air bit into Anna's skin, she grit her teeth from the exertion of holding Elsa and onto Ryu against Gravity's very will. 

"Now dive!" She ordered once they were high enough, the bird naturally followed. The wind burned her eyes and her thighs begged for some relief of the tension she forced them through. As they plummeted her heart slowed with the water and crashing waves of the sea coming closer and closer to view. 

She needed every single second they could spare.

Not yet. They were seventeen feet above the water. 

"Not yet!" 

Fifteen feet. 

"Wait!" 

Nine feet. She could taste the salt of the water. Elsa's eyes fluttered open taking inventory of their situation through giant eyes, her fingers reached over Anna's in a death grip, she glanced behind her and Anna could only offer an apologetic half smile. She nodded dazedly and turned back to look at the water. Ryu crooned and she too stared back at the both of them. Their gazes held so much hope and faith. 

"Trust me." Anna promised. She faced forward. She did trust Anna and Elsa with all that was in her, she trusted these girls. 

Five feet. 

"Now!" Ryu felt every part of her spine crack in protest at the curve she sliced through the air. Her head was the first to go up followed by her torso and the rest of her body.

As the bird hit the water, they rushed upward to avoid the upcoming tidal waves. Ryu flew them towards the harbor. 

"Kristoff! Olaf! Honeymaren!" Anna waved frantically. Ryu roared at the crew who cheered at the sight of them. 

Kristoff's expression of relief and joy morphed to one of warning waving his arms for them to move out the way they could barely hear his yells and hollars. Ryu twirled to the left avoiding the chomping beak.

Elsa had nearly fallen from the twist crying out to hold on and not plummet to waters below. 

"Elsa, we can try to drop you off on the ship!" Anna announced already trying to concoct a plan of how to make that happen. Maybe they could circle back but they'd have to make it quick, Ryu's labored breathing and grunts notified her she wasn't doing too hot and could not keep this up injured and bleeding. 

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving you two ever!" Elsa stubbornly gripped Ryu's tendrils tighter facing forward. "We can lose them, trade places with me." She petted along Ryu's back. "Ryu you're doing great honey, just keep us steady, you only have to do this for a little longer." 

The dragon growled, shaking her head violently, exhausted. She evened out in the air allowing Anna and Elsa to carefully trade places. Elsa sat with her back to Anna's. She set to work with her uninjured hand, tethering herself to Anna's waist. "Help Ryu navigate the storm." 

"What storm?" Anna peaked over her shoulder. Elsa decided to answer with action, she dug down into herself shutting her eyes tight before opening them vision zeroing in on the bird which still would not relent. Holding up her right arm she released gusts of icy winds, praying to the closest thing she had to a God and begged Ahtohallan to strengthen her gift. It felt as if her energies were draining the more snow and ice poured and materialized around them. The bird cawed in surprise as the blizzard enveloped them. Her chest burned, her headache, and body felt ready to collapse but still she kept on crafting the perfect storm. The winds would carry it on all the way back to Ruskland so long as she pushed with everything she could offer. 

She tried to send another gale but her arm fell limply at her side as she slumped against Anna's back. "You're amazing Elsa!" She cheered, reaching behind to ensure Elsa's safety. "You as well Ryu, just follow my direction." Her teeth chattered, shaking her words. "You're just getting started, I know it!" She pivoted them off of the straight course to a hard left. If they had been going forward the whole time she could circle back to somewhere near the coast where they could rest, take shelter and lick their wounds. 

It was a full hour and thirty minutes before her eyes could make out some land. Ryu's panic served well to spur her wings to keep flapping. Anna feared a couple of times whenever she felt turbulence that they would crash into the ocean. 

"Ryu look!" Anna pointed to the snowy peninsula. Ryu did not hesitate in her decline. Anna could feel the dragon's ragged body grow heavier and heavier the closer they drew to land. It was definitely going to be a crash landing. Tightening the tether Anna went straight into damage control angling and spurring Ryu's body to angle in a way that wouldn't cause too much causality. 

She bit down growling with strain to tip Ryu's snout upward, closing her eyes at the very last second bracing. Elsa yelped, lifting her wrist to pillow their fall in a patch of soft snow that wasn't nearly big enough but was better than nothing. Ryu spun out bringing the girls to her chest enclosing them with legs, arms, and her wings. 

She landed onto her back skidding her large body forward. Anna clutched Elsa's head screaming. 

When Anna cracked her eye open she shot up. "Elsa!" Head bumping against Ryu's wing. The dragon opened her body shield allowing the women to sit up. "Are you okay?" Anna asked, lifting Elsa up, checking her for any other injuries. "Yes, all the same. What about you oh god Anna." She held her left side using her right hand to do the same checking over her as well then hugged her tightly taking a moment to catch up with the events that had been racing by them. 

Ryu stumbled to straighten her legs and walked off a small distance before collapsing to the ground. "Ryu!" Anna called, she didn't answer, she didn't want to answer. All she wanted to do was lay here in the storm.

She knew in reality she should have dropped Anna and Elsa onto the ship and fly off taking the Phoenix with her. Now here they were stuck, thousands of miles away from home. She swore on every star, yet she was reckless and once again a coward. She'd take them back home. She had too.

They sat there for twenty minutes until Ryu caught up with her pounding heart. 

"Do you think you can walk?" Anna asked, Elsa made a face, nodding. "Yes, yes I can walk. I don't know for how long though." 

"At least for as long as it takes to find shelter." Anna surveyed the area, there were some rocky formations along the coast above those the peninsula led up into dense forest. 

When she turned there stood Ryu offering her back to them. "Ryu-" Elsa began placing her palms against her flank. "You've done more than enough, I'm not going to burden you with my weight." 

"Yeah I'll carry her fat butt, I'm in the best shape out of all of us." Anna quipped. The dragon denied her attempts to lighten the mood and insisted with a growl. Sighing Elsa allowed Anna to hoist her up to the dragon's shoulders. Ryu focused her vision on the distances, pressing her hot body to Anna's to keep her warm as they walked. 

It took a while before they found a cave dry enough facing down wind of the storm. Elsa sat on a snowbank allowing Anna to look closely at her wound. It appeared very irritated, with veins of red and green weaving through it, luckily it seemed to be clotting.

"Hey Els, do you think you can close it off? I know you used a lot of energy in the air but I don't want it bleeding out through the night." Anna cooed, picking up Elsa's hand and placing it on her side. 

Elsa nodded scooting to sit up a bit more. Small flakes of crystal and snow began spilling over the area covering it tightly. Her hand fell with her head. "That's all I got." She replied meekly. 

"Hey-" Anna cupped her cheek, lifting her face to her own to connect their foreheads. "I am so proud of you. You are the strongest person I know." 

Elsa smiled wearily and let her eyes close savoring the feel of Anna's heart and pulse beneath her skin. 

Ryu sat on her haunches by the cave entrance staring out into the storm, turning when Anna called her back in while gathering as much foliage and anything flammable as she could scavenge. "Could you uhh? Do you think you can" Anna moved her hands from her mouth creating what sounded like an explosion. Ryu leaned close to the pile and breathed heavily through her nostrils casting a torch illuminating the cave. The light kept Elsa just on cusp of falling asleep.  

It was now Anna's turn to take a much needed and earned rest against the stone wall. Her arms dangled from her bent legs, green trousers ripped, her stately jacket barely did anything to insulate her from the chilly winds. "We need a plan guys." She could barely be heard over the flickering embers. 

"I have one." Said the naked Ryu crouched, staring into the flames. Elsa averted her eyes, flushing. "I'm taking you and Elsa home." 

That was the best news any of them had heard all day. "Right, good plan, but we're gonna have to figure out how to stop that giant rock turkey." 

"That's just it, you don't." Ryu couldn't meet Anna's blurry mirage distorted by the heat. "I'll handle it."

"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" 

"I don't know, once I drop you two off I'll figure it out." Now Elsa was awake, sitting up the fatigue was swapped for anxiety, voice trembling in her throat. "Ryu, I'm not allowing that." 

"It's not a matter of allowance Erusa, it will track me down and it will find me. I'd rather not put everyone I lo... Grown to care for at risk. Not again."

"No-I no this isn't right. I am supposed to protect you, we protect each other Ryu, you can't just leave. You have a home in Arendelle and people who care about you there." Anna was at her side pulling her back to recline. 

"I don't think we have much of a choice." Ryu replied defeatedly. 

"Everyone has a choice they're free to make in life Ryu, you can choose to not let us help you with this and stick together and then I have freedom to choose to help you very easily without you agreeing or you can let us help on your own terms." Anna said, feeling quite proud of herself. 

"You don't get it do you? They're Yokai put into Jade vessels, given a task, to either kill me or bring me back maybe both. I don't know. I just know they are spirits, once unruly and angry only calmed by dragon's magic. They served them grateful for the peace. And now Susanoo has control over that magic, and he has given them a task. They don't tire or rest, they're already dead." Elsa thought back to when she saw the phoenix. She heard anguish, and agony, writhing searching for reprieve. It believed that once it completed its mission it would find tranquility and begged Elsa to stay out of its way. Elsa knew. She knew that it would not be granted peace of any kind while in the charge of the Mikoto family. 

"If they're yokai? Was it? Controlled by dragon magic then you should be able to stop them!" Anna voiced. Ryu's face scrunched up in pain and irritation. "Maybe we can try and you can, I don't know, order them to stop? I mean surely they'd rather listen to a real dragon than someone who stole their magic. All we have to do is try Ryu. We don't have to give up." 

Ryu snapped standing up. She growled low, hissing. 

"I can't! I'm not like the dragons of old! I'm a hollow imitation-a mockery of what dragons once were, a coward who still would rather run and hide." She postured her shoulders forward towards the queen who stood up to meet her challenge. Elsa weakly protested just to be ignored. 

"I'm not like you guys, I don't have the strength or bravery to fight!" 

"Bullshit." Anna said with venom, fist balling up, Elsa didn't know if she was going to punch Ryu but she was ready to either leap up between or fall down trying, at least then they'd spend time helping her instead of fighting. 

"You entered a town where people attacked you, shot at you just to save Elsa while nearly dying in the process. You set my home on fire to get answers and stood alone in a cell with a man who ruptured your kidney!"

"Liver-" Ryu offhandedly corrected. 

"I don't care! You then went undercover in a foreign land just to help, then instead of running away when that bird attacked you, you protected Olaf, you protected Elsa and you protected me! You speak of dragons of old whoa scary, how amazing they were. Well I never met one! None of them saved my sister so to hell with the dragons of old. We don't need the dragons of old, we need you! The dragon of new or whatever." 

Ryu changed back to her scaled form and stalked towards the entrance, tail flicking back and forth. 

"You like facts, well those are things that literally happened! You're not a coward. But you are a hypocrite." 

Not the approach Elsa would have made but her mind was too jumbled and lines too crossed. A few stray tears escaped her eyes. Her family was hurting, she wanted nothing more than an answer of what she could have done to protect them better, if there was a thing she could have done to love them better than she had. Ryu and Anna were scared, hurt and there was nothing she could do to keep her safe like she promised. 

"You don't run and hide cause you're selfish and care only about yourself. You do it cause it's all you've known, you know they're going to catch you eventually and you're just biding time. You fight and give your life for Elsa, to protect her. And she cared about you and I care about her and I won't let you hurt her by running away and getting yourself killed. I protect her too... even from you. So we are going to find a way back to Arendelle, to Grand Pabbie and Bulda and stop that jade demon and then we're going to I don't know arrest that bitch Darya." Ryu stood frozen hunched over, exhaustion hit her like a falling mountain. Her eyes looked the same as when she was in the crow's nest. Still questioning her worth, her decisions and even her very existence itself. Elsa very well couldn't let her do that. A determination numbed her own pity for herself and all those around her, numbed the wound. So long as she, Anna, and Ryu were still breathing, no promise had been broken yet. 

"Ryu?" Elsa's sweet call drew her head up. "It goes away." She held out her fingers wanting nothing more than to feel the warmth. Ryu hesitated before limping over to her. She cautiously curled herself around Elsa. Anna stood above them, cranky and disheveled. "Move over." She mumbled. Elsa smiled despite the situation, Anna was finally joining a cuddle session. Sure it took her getting stabbed and a giant bird which almost ate them all but she was finally joining! 

She wrapped her arm round Elsa letting her rest in the crook of her neck. Ryu's heat radiating through them and pretty soon both women were snoring. Elsa's lips held a constant grin and Anna's were leaking drool all over Ryu's scales. 

She watched them sleep for a long while, outlasting the fire they built. She never agreed to what Anna said. They could be left in Arendelle and she'd leave the first opportunity she could. Wasn't that what love was? Being willing to let them go? They'd move on, especially if she was already gone before they could say goodbye. Maybe that's what she was meant to do, with all she had come across, to eventually say goodbye and the more she clung to them the more danger and hurt she caused. They'd remember each other kindly which was more than what Ryu ever could ask for. She'd still consider herself lucky to get so close to love, having been around the world she had seen so many that never got the chance. 

It was okay to say goodbye. All things died, that was a law that no one could break, no man or woman, no lord, no king, no empress... No dragon. 

Ryu wasn't as foolish as one would think, she knew they cared deeply for her, that she'd somehow wormed her way into their hearts and they into hers. 

She'd break all their hearts carefully. 

Chapter Text

Elsa did not sleep well at all, too much heat, too much pain. If she had to rate it, she'd say last night was the most uncomfortable night of her life. All things considered that made her happy and grateful to be alive in the first place. She did her best to not make a ruckus out of discomfort waking Anna and Ryu, when she shifted carefully to sit up Anna's snores stuttered, she turned over reaching out for something to snuggle against and found Ryu's tail bringing it close to her chest. 

Elsa didn't know if she could stand but she'd find out soon enough, her legs shook even with using Ryu's back for support. Icicles hung at the cave's mouth refracting the early sun rays. A part of her contemplated whether waking the girls was a good idea but decided against it. What they had been through yesterday earned them a lifetime amount of sleep. 

She had a limp on the left side which kept a dull ache turning sharp whenever she moved wrong. She was still tired but not completely exhausted like yesterday. So much had happened in less than twenty-four hours and thinking about it all gave her a headache. She'd have to put it on a back burner and focus on the current predicament. They'd have to find a way home and during the ordeal survive the Ruskland wilderness. 

Retreating into the cave she slid down Ryu's torso and sat back dozing off for a few more hours. 

When she woke again the sun was in the middle of the sky. Oh dear, she hadn't meant to sleep for that long. They lost alot of daylight and from the moment they had landed on the coast every second counted. 

She contemplated which one would be easier to wake regarding both. Anna or Ryu and couldn't come up with an answer. At least she could move Anna. 

"Anna?" Anna whined at having her shoulder shaken. "Anna?" She'd need a different tactic. Hovering her finger above Anna's face she sprinkled small snowflakes onto it which were wiped away. 

"I don'wanna go to work t'day." Anna complained. More chilly specs littered onto her cheeks. "I'm already awake, you can stop." She slurred rubbing her eyes, Elsa didn't stop knowing full well that whenever Anna said she was awake she most certainly wasn't. 

Turning her over on her back Elsa created a small wet snowball and let it slip from her fingers to plop right on Anna's nose. 

She sputtered, yelling and punching wildly, almost striking Elsa in the head. "Gah! Yousonofbitch I'll get you!" She looked around frantic, pacified when she noticed it was just Elsa smiling lovingly with her head tilted. "Sorry I didn't mean to frighten you, but I mean well we both know how hard it is to wake you." Anna sheepishly chuckled at Elsa's explanation and took in the sun's position. 

"Jeez sorry I slept in so late, I felt dead to the world." Elsa shook her head placing a hand on the left side of her chest. "Not quite I checked." Anna rubbed her head, her fingers touched her hair jerked away as if she felt vipers instead of tresses, it didn't feel like a bird's nest, in fact it was still in the twin braids from yesterday. "Elsa how's my hair look?" It was such a nonsensical question but she couldn't believe it.

Elsa's eyes raked over her, leaning forward to comb some dirt out. "It looks fine." 

"Wait what! So when I sleep in a comfy bed I look like a hurricane but in a dirty cave laying against a dragon's butt I look okay." 

Elsa tittered. "Well in a bed you thrash about a lot, I think you may have found one sleeping position that was comfortable and stayed in it." 

Anna hummed and then shrugged, it made sense to her. They both leaned back against Ryu who growled, thumping her tail against the dirt. 

"So-" Anna started. "How do you suppose we get home?"

"First things first we have to locate fresh water-" Anna's stomach interrupted with a loud gurgle causing her to blush and Elsa to stare fondly at her. "And some food, then we figure out how to pack and preserve it and head back home." 

"Good plan! Better get started then before nightfall." She jumped to her feet and resumed the process of waking up Ryu. "Hey! Come on, you lazy reptile, get up, time to get going." She grunted while pushing Ryu from side to side, not gaining much ground. Elsa could tell by the breathing pattern that Ryu had been awake since Anna woke up screaming. Ryu was a very light sleeper contrast to what Elsa's friends believed, she just was also very good at ignoring anything she didn't deem important. 

"Ryuuu! Get up!" Anna fruitlessly shoved her shoulders against Ryu's. "Do you have to go through this every morning?" She panted slumping onto her back. 

"Mm no, I don't wake her up in the morning." Elsa said, moving to Ryu's snout. Anna watched with inscrutability as she scratched at it tactfully rousing Ryu. Her purple eyes dilated at the sight of Elsa glowing in front of her, she gave one chirp and blew a cloud of smoke into her face purring once Elsa returned the gesture with cold mist. 

"Ah!" Anna yelped from sliding onto the floor when Ryu stood up and sat back to scratch herself like a dog ending in cat stretch. Her claws had disturbed the scratches she obtained in battle which Elsa tended to as best she could with the small ice bandages. 

"Oh so unfair." She whined following Elsa and Ryu out of the cave. 

Ryu yawned, showcasing her fangs to the sun. It always freaked Anna out a small bit with how wide she could unhinge her jaw, how every inch of her mouth seemed filled with lethal knives. Now awake she ran and leapt climbing expertly up a rocky ridge, standing on her hind legs to scan like an owl the lay of the land. 

When she climbed down Anna stood in front of her. "You see anything?" Ryu didn't even look at her with a small cheeky lip turn gracing her snout. 

"You see anything?" Anna asked again. Ryu nosed her way between the giggling Elsa's legs sliding her down to her shoulders, setting off to walk along the coast. 

"Do I make noise when I talk to you?" Anna jogged and jumped at the dragon's rump hoisting herself up behind her sister. 

They had walked until noon and until hunger plagued all three of them. Ryu would have flown them and planned to... Eventually, but she was incredibly sore and even keeping her wings tucked along her body sent sharp pangs to her nerves. 

Anna did a once over of her team and they weren't looking too good. Time for a spirit rising, moral building speech. 

"We can do this guys! We have the smarts to catch food." Anna pointed to her temple. "We have fire!" Her finger cued Ryu to snort out a puff of smoke from her nostrils. 

"And we have..." Anna held out an arm to Elsa propped up against a tree, she looked around at all the ice and snow on the ground, her dampened powers did not seem very useful to their goals right now but she appreciated Anna's efforts nonetheless and twirled her fingers producing a small flurry of sparkles. 

"An Elsa!" Anna finished grandly. 

"Yay." Her voice cracked in cheer. 

"We got this!" Anna was sure of it, so to join in the meeting a few howls broke out a few miles away to be answered by Ryu. They got the message which echoed through the distance and went silent. Still growling she curled up around Elsa who let her head fall against her flank with a thud.

Anna clasped her fingers together. "That's a good sign! Where there's wolves there's food. Let's move out of the snow group." 

Ryu sniffed at the ground as Anna scouted for food. The woods and coast were teaming with wildlife so they had room to be picky. 

"Found something!" Anna called, it looked like a hairy rock and when she poked it her finger sank in. "You're either food or you're gonna be." She whispered during her inspection. An annoyed bellow followed by the raising of a large mass drew her eyes to large tusks decorated by whiskers which had her backing away grinning. "Ah my apologies I thought- well it doesn't matter what I thought, carry on." She took off towards Ryu tripping over her tail rolling into the dirt. 

Elsa and Ryu glanced from where she came from seeing the lumpy animal hop into the water. "I'm not hungry enough to eat a walrus Anna." Ryu cocked her head at the creature, she's eaten walrus though she couldn't say it was pleasant, besides she wasn't on the hunt for meat, they had enough ailments as is and adding stomach irritation to Elsa's list didn't seem like a wise decision. 

"Better than nothing, what did you two find?" Anna asked, lifting her head from the ground.

"Right now I'm looking for a field or some place damp." Elsa closed her fist into a hole using her hand as a telescope searching the bushes and among the snow for any signs of life. Her circle landed on Anna's eyeball staring into her palm. "Why?" She whispered. 

"To find moss." Elsa whispered back. Anna pulled back. "We're going to eat moss?" 

Elsa chuckled at the notion. "No silly." Elsa wanted moss? Ryu knew where moss would be. Without warning she swept her tail underneath Anna's legs scooping her up to take off in a sprint across the wet meadow. 

"You manhandle me more than my husband!" 

Elsa smiled, despite the circumstances it was fun riding Ryu along the beautiful landscape of the summer tundra, she felt like the adventurers who wrote the books she read information from. Yes she missed home, her friends and the rest of her family yet still it was kind of nice being in a new environment. Unlike in the Ruskland city where cobblestone, and metal reigned here in nature everything was free, untamed and wild. She could tell by the bounce in each bound Ryu made she was enjoying the freedom as well from being trapped on a ship for two weeks and then forced to keep herself hidden in the Palace.

She was indulging. 

"Oh! Oh here!" Elsa tapped her tendril, skidding Ryu to a halt. "There, see!" Low to the ground among moss and some other foliage were stems holding fat little orange and red berries. She stepped onto the offered leg Ryu lifted to get off. When Anna tried to use the same method Ryu removed her leg causing her to fall onto the ground. "Humph! Hey!" She squeaked at the mrrp noise the dragon made as she leapt over her deeper into the field to eat the berries. 

Elsa examined the fruit lifting it to her mouth to taste it, she had never had them straight from the source. 

Anna dusted herself off joining her sister's side. "I didn't know cloudberries grew here." 

Elsa closed her eyes savoring the rich sweet flavor. She moaned both answering Anna and at the taste. After watching her sister eat peacefully for a few moments Anna swatted Elsa's arm. "I think Ryu likes them too!" They watched the dragon clear out a patch of berries as if she was trying to see how much her mouth could fit at once. When she finally noticed she had an audience she sat on her haunches and gave a smile looking like a chipmunk. 

They ate until all were full, packing some berries away in an ice pouch for later. Ryu stretched her sore body around on the soft moss. Rolling back and forth from her stomach to her back finally settling on her belly. She lay there among the foliage watching it displace with the breeze from her nostrils. 

Anna sat up on her knees hurriedly. "Oh wow Elsa look!" Elsa turned her attention from watching Ryu to a large polar bear heading down towards the coast. Elsa frowned and pushed Anna back down onto her butt in the dirt making her roll her eyes. "Oh yea cause I was just going to meander up to him and pet his head. I don't approach dangerous wildlife with my hands outstretched." Anna pointed to herself. "That would be you." She bopped Elsa's nose leaving a smear of juice on her nose. Before Elsa could wipe it off herself Ryu came over and touched it with the small tip of tongue. "Thank you." 

Crossing her paws Ryu also watched the polar bear listening in on the sisters laughing and teasing one another gathering up onto her back.

This was nice, after being alone for so long in the wild a part of her felt like she found what was missing, selfishly she wanted to keep them out here or other places to go exploring together. She could protect them if it came down to it, though a small seed inside still doubted that. It was just something about the way Elsa's eyes twinkled whenever they came across a plant or animal she found interesting, thus rapidly explaining to Anna its behavior and anatomy. Her gentle fingers were careful to not displace anything when she did touch. If Anna wasn't interested in the biology and zoology lessons she hid expertly, always asking questions even if they seemed silly. 

"Well that explains why I never saw the brown foxes in the winter, they all turn white, what a trick!"

"Not all of them but artic foxes do."

"What's the difference?" And so began the in depth lesson of subspecies. 

An hour into their walk Elsa awoke from a nap. "We're not the only ones out here." She was dazed and the color drained from Anna's face, she began whipping her head back and forth. 

"Why did you say that?" 

"Huh?" 

"That, what you just said."

"What did I say?" 

"We're not the only ones out here." 

"I don't know... "

"Elsa, are you going loopy from blood loss?" Lifting her arm she winced when Anna prodded at the hole in her side, it was still green and still honestly quite disgusting to look at. 

"I am not, I'm perfectly, fine doctor." Elsa snatched her arm away. 

"Doctor?" Spending time with the girls listening to them rant or bicker was the most entertainment Ryu ever had while traveling. 

"Don't sass me, I address you by your proper title." Both she and Anna couldn't tell if Elsa was in fact succumbing to madness or joking. To be on the safe side they stopped once more to ensure everyone was hydrated.

Odd Yowls came from the trees. Probably a cat of some kind."Oooh guys I think maybe we're not the only ones out here." Anna mocked moving her fingers like a spider. 

"Don't worry I managed to make a bow, we're practically invincible." Elsa produced an ice bow of a smaller size, it looked as if it would break apart as soon as the first shot was fired. 

"How many arrows did you make?" 

"Uuuh- one piece." Elsa says assuredly.  

Ryu snickered, failing entirely at keeping it hidden. 

Sometimes they rode atop Ryu, sometimes they needed to stop for a few minutes and instead of resting Ryu decided to use this time productively disappearing into the foliage. 

"Hey Els is this edible?" Anna asked leaning down to poke at a plant unaware that a few feet in front of her stalked a dragon slowly crawling closer and closer. Her slitted iris blocked out all other stimuli locking in on the mock prey. 

When she burst from the bushes at the screaming woman Anna ran to her sister putting her arms underneath Elsa's armpits to drag her away from the threat. 

Elsa looked up blinking. "That's your escape plan from a predator?" She asked bewildered at the method, Anna blushed embarrassed. "I wasn't thinking, she came out of nowhere I didn't know she was there." She defended placing Elsa down. 

"That's kinda the point of an ambush Anna." Elsa finally let loose the laugh she had been holding in while Ryu did a victory prance in a circle. 

Anna felt completely undignified. "I hope you guys find it funny when a leopard or bear is eating me." But her sister waved her off. "Pssh no, I'd never let that happen and neither would Ryu. Right Gecko?" 

Ryu was currently taking in all the smells and sights of the forest edge. 

"Gecko?" She gave Elsa her attention not really paying heed with a bored expression on her face. "You wouldn't let something eat Anna?" Instead of answering she went back to sniffing the ground foraging sometimes sharing and other times eating what she found. 

"I feel so valued." Anna seethed comically, Elsa placed a peck on her cheek shoving a piece of fruit Ryu had given to her into Anna's hand. Elsa took in how far her sister and dragon had come. They weren't exactly the closest of friends with Ryu's relentless teasing and tricks, Anna could finally understand what it was like to have a younger sibling. The tension from their quarrel last night still hung around but they'd address it another time or not at all. 

"Don't you dare shake! No." Anna held a finger up inching away, every step she made the muddy Ryu copied. Instead of shaking out her mane as Anna thought she would, Ryu lifted her paw and pushed her into the muddy puddle she rolled in. 

"Oh you've done it now I'ma get chu!" Ryu ran in circles around Elsa with Anna behind her barely keeping up. 

Elsa was just glad they were somewhat getting along resting her chin on a closed fist waiting for them to be done doing whatever it was they were attempting to accomplish so they could continue the journey home.

As the sun dropped so did the temperature and the time to find shelter drew near. Ryu was content to just find a tree and nestle in the branches but for the girls a den would be more appropriate. She didn't trust Anna to not roll over in her sleep and fall, breaking her neck. 

While digging up a nest in rich soil underneath a tree Ryu's tendrils flickered backwards overhearing Elsa coo at some animal that decided to scurry up to her. 

"Hello little one, want a berry?" Her voice was sickeningly sweet Ryu turned, seeing her hold out her palm to a ground squirrel, the fuzzy creature snatched the food and ran. 

"Okay so no shelter that way or that way." Anna shook her head coming back pointing in the directions she explored, Ryu sat patiently by her creation waiting for someone to notice. 

"Wait we haven't searched that part of the wood- wait yes we have..." Elsa chuckled at her blunder. "Ignore everything I was just about to repeat. Guys I'm getting older!" Elsa laments making them chuckle. 

Anna came running past noticing the den underneath the tree. She pointed at it. "Ooo-Elsa I found a shelter!" She yelled, probably alerting anything listening within a three mile radius of their presence. 

"Good job Anna!" Elsa praises balancing on a rock. Huffing Ryu goes to her aid. "Thank you." Once settled inside she removes the ice sheet over the wound hissing at the stinging sensation. 

"Does it hurt really bad?" Anna asked remorseful once inside, kneeling. Elsa frowned, shaking her head grazing fingers over the gash. Ryu gave Elsa's side a tentative sniff, resisting the urge to drag her tongue across it. 

"I've gotten used to it by now." They sat shoulder to shoulder. "Maybe we should clean it though." There was a stream not too far from where they settled. 

"Can you make a pouch? I'm thirsty anyways." Elsa did so, handing it over not expecting Anna to rush into the dusky forest calling over her shoulder. "Be right back." 

Elsa didn't have to voice her request when she slung her head in Ryu's direction. The dragon made a small merp sound and stood, cantering out. Her butt shaked as she prepared to jump and climb up the tree settling on a branch which allowed a vantage point. Her keen vision spotting the rampaging Anna in the brush.

Elsa sighed and leaned against the hollow tree bottom. Her thoughts wandered to the Yokai Ryu spoke of. It didn't wish to harm her, and probably didn't wish to harm the descendant of the ones who set it free from strife in the first place. Yet another victim of selfish greed and lust for power. Maybe they could help the Yokai while also helping themselves as well. 

The forest contained many sounds, some of which Elsa recognized given that Ruskland and the enchanted forest shared similar ecosystems albeit Ruskland was the envisionment Elsa had for her home. 

Elsa's neck snapped up when Ryu barked and came down bounding into the trees, scales bristled. Elsa heard a roar in the distance startling some fowl from their nest. 

"Anna!" 

Anna stood still hugging the water pouch to her breast. 

Ryu placed herself in-between the queen and amur leopard which yowled at the sight of her. What was once an easy meal now became a problem. Anna looked at both predators realizing how similar they both behaved coiled to a stillness that made her very nervous to disturb. 

Ryu broke the stand off with a bark and stamp of her paw into the snow. The cat wanted to bolt yet felt like it couldn't take her eyes off of the bigger animal which claimed her kill. Still watching the puffed up leopard Ryu turned her head and nuzzled Anna's neck trying to find something to grip. Her teeth delicately closed around her jacket collar. 

Anna yelped, nearly dropping the pouch when she was hoisted into the air and carried back to the tree. When she began slipping, Ryu held her up with a paw chomping down on more of the clothing trotting off. 

Elsa tapped at her knee anxiously awaiting their return. "Oh thank goodness'' She would have joked about her sister being carried like a kitten, made fun of the unamused look ghosting her face but the relief that her well being brought overwhelmed those urges. 

Her legs caught the ground when she was dumped. She raced to Elsa showing the water pouch and that the mission was a success mostly. 

"It's fine Elsa, just a leopard." Elsa kissed her forehead and when pulled back her lips kept on trying to break out in a grin. She nudged Anna's arm. 

"What?" 

"I told you she wouldn't let you be eaten." 

"Oh yea that reminds me." She turned to Ryu, grooming her scales. "Thanks ya big reptile." Ryu mewled, joining them underneath the roots. 

Elsa massaged Ryu's shoulders gaining an appreciative mewl, it felt so good she just had to roll over onto her back stretching. 

"Sick of us yet?" Ryu answered by butting her forehead with Elsa's calmly. Her hand traveled up to her cheek stroking her thumb around the scales, occasionally wincing and sniveling as Anna cleaned her injury.

Anna and Ryu allowed and encouraged Elsa to drink the rest of the water left before retiring. 

A few hours later listening to the lullabies of Anna's snores and Ryu's heart beat Elsa woke up bemoaning when she felt a pang of pressure in her bladder. She lied there a couple minutes willing away the sensation but to no avail. She really had no wish to disturb her sleeping sister and Ryu even with her still awake stargazing peacefully but her body protested against her considerate nature. 

"Anna?" She said into the night, Ryu broke away from her thoughts and roughly smacked Anna's face with her tail fluke when she didn't respond. 

"No Sven, don't kill them!" She started sitting up, when she registered the pain in her cheek she rubbed the reddening spot vigorously. 

"What's up?" Elsa sat up looking apologetic and regretful."I um... I have to go." 

Anna stared bleary eyed. "Go where?" Elsa made a pleading look leading Anna to the right conclusive realization. "Oh...Oh!" 

When she began getting up Elsa apologized but was shushed. The three exited the tree, Anna led Elsa to the most secluded spot she could find. Before she could help Elsa settle, both sisters looked to their right where Ryu stood indifferently watching the whole ordeal with affectionate eyes. 

Clearly not getting the hint Anna spoke up. "Do you mind?" Ryu shook her head. 

"Periwinkle, Elsa needs privacy!" When she went away Elsa now directed the same expression to Anna. "What? Me too?" Elsa nodded thanking Anna as she joined Ryu with their backs turned.

She snuck a peak at them. Anna finally regarded the dragon who was staring at her intensely coughing and choking when Ryu blew thick smoke into her face. 

Elsa grinned to herself. 

"Oh come on Els it doesn't even look that bad, and think when this is all over you'll have more freckles like me." The beet red Elsa peered at Anna beyond miserable. Ryu kept to the shade as best she could, shielding Elsa from the July sun. Elsa never had sunburn before with her powers constantly keeping her cool, she apologized inwardly for ever complaining about them. 

Her vision was obstructed when Anna tossed her jacket over her head. "Thank you." Elsa adjusted the jacket like a cloak so she could still see the busy work she made braiding Ryu's mane. "Welcome to my world Elsa." Anna jested patting her back. 

"You don't get sunburnt easily Anna." 

"Nope!" Anna kicked her legs jovially against the side of Ryu's stomach. "Guess I'm just lucky heheh." Ryu twisted her neck towards Elsa and licked her pink hand. Elsa flinched away, keeping her arms out of reach. "Thank you but please don't." 

Anna poked her head out gazing down the dangerously steep rocky cliff side plunging into the crashing waves below. Prepping Elsa double knotted the sleeves around her neck as Ryu inched as far as she could go, her wings spread out full length retracting in and out to stretch. They ached but not unbearably so. All she had to do was curve to the southern north. 

Both women gulped when she hopped from the cliff descending downward to gain some air currents which lifted her to the sky. They had a six hour flight ahead of them. Ryu would take all the assistance she could get. 

"Elsa, did you remember to go before we took off?" Elsa flicked her wrist sending a wet slushy back into Anna's face. 

"Nokk!" Elsa screamed, having half a mind to throw herself off of Ryu's back when she saw the unusual bubbles of glowing water begin boiling to the surface. The horse whinnied vaulting up as high as he could to reach Elsa. Tears stung the corners of her eyes, hand reaching out. "Nokk!" Anna cheered, keeping a hand on Elsa's shoulder not quite trusting her crazy sister to not go after him. Ryu wailed and lowered as far she could slowly. Elsa transferred mounts carefully, not protesting as the bronco bunked and twirled, circling around. She was in for a world of pain later on but for right now- stroking his mane and whispering saccharine words- she couldn't bring herself to care. 

Ryu crashed into the sea as well, submerging her and Anna, surfacing for air. Rather than admonish her she hugged Ryu's neck in celebration of being so close to home then thought for a moment. "If he sensed us coming then that must mean..." As if waiting for a cue, Gale blasted they're way through, almost drying them off. She spun and danced in Elsa's hair.

Ryu surged on quickly beating her wings. Bruni must have been waiting on shore, her boy! She desperately needed to see him. Anna danced along with her gleeful sways and flips to an imaginary rhythm as they raced to Arendelle. 

A tiny spec of fire was zooming around in circles on the sand at ungodly speeds, this pumped Ryu's wings racing for the beach. "Ryu! You have to slow down!" Anna braked pulling back, decreasing their velocity by a hair. It was the third worst crash landing she'd ever experienced and taking into account she's only had two she did not want to make a habit of it. Ryu checked her for injury and seeing her unharmed bolted straight for Bruni, the amphibian crooned and ran all over her body she could barely keep up blowing smoke everywhere, the two wrestled and played in the sand flinging it all over.

Anna, his next victim was tickled by his tiny feet zipping and finally landing on her shoulder. "Oh!- I-wa- there you are." His body curved along with her fingers going down his spine. He abandoned them for the caught up Elsa pelting his body straight into her bosom her palm covered him, Nokk rested over her shoulder tugging her close to his neck. "My boys!" Tears flooded her cheeks. "My beautiful boys." Gale flew so fast in her hair they whistled. "And girls." Anna joined the embrace as what they went through rendered her to a sobbing mess. 

Ryu watched tail swaying slowly only backing away as Nokk snorted and approached, he counted three times before he bowed his neck in her direction. Ryu mimicked the gesture hesitantly and for once did not see consternation in his eyes which held hers. 

She had completed her mission. She had brought them home, but there was more to be done. More to fix and she'd start no later than now.  

When they settled and the energy simmered down Anna's shoulders sagged when an obvious absence made itself known, she turned to the ocean gazing out at the horizon. Elsa joined her solemnly pulling her in. 

"It'll be two more weeks, two more weeks before they know if we're okay- before we know if they're okay!" Her arm fell limply at her side. "They'll be back safely Anna. We can wait it out I'm sure I-" Elsa pressed her lips to Anna's temple whispering into her hair. "They'll be back safely." 

When they turned around Ryu nudged Bruni off from her snout. She had an odd look about her, her body was a rigid crossbow ready to be triggered by the slightest of movement. She seemed impatient. 

"Ryu?" As Elsa's fingers reached out the dragon backed up lifting a single paw off the ground and in a blink of an eye one of Elsa's greatest fears came to fruition when she bounded in the air and took off leaving dust and leaves whirling in her wake. 

"Ryu!" Elsa bellowed, Anna stood flabbergasted staring after Ryu's figure which grew smaller and smaller. 

"She didn't even say goodbye... She just left." Her eyes flitted from the ground to the beach around them. Her stun spell was broken at the sounds of Elsa struggling to mount Nokk fully intending to go after her. "No Elsa! You're still hurt and I won't have you chasing Ryu to all ends of the earth." Elsa's chest rose and fell quickly looking desolately back at her sister now seated Upon Nokk, Anna was very grateful that the spirit seemed to understand this and was in no hurry to gallop off in the direction Elsa wanted. 

"Bu-but Ryu she-" Elsa sniffles, her lips trembling, Anna did her best to dry her tears. "We have to get you back home, don't you worry your pretty head over it. I'll bring her back." Nokk set off in the direction of home slowly. "H-how?" 

Anna smirked, raising a sharp brow. "My dear sweet Elsa, I have friends in very high places." At least it drew a chuckle out of Elsa, a weak one but Anna would take what she could get. 

"You're the queen, you are the friend in a high place." 

"Precisely. I'll drag Ryu back by her as-" she cringed when Elsa glared and quickly corrected. "Tail! If I have to." 

"I'd rather violence not be used." Elsa was incredulous to whatever method she had in mind, she could feel the anger Anna tried to hide rippling beneath the surface of her light and airy tone. 

"Who said anything about violence?" Shrugging Elsa turned around wincing. "It sounds violent." 

"Pfft what? No, I'll gently drag her back of course." And utterly throttle her if she tries to hurt Elsa again. "And then we can talk this out but for now let's get you right as rain." Elsa nodded huffing deeply. 

"If it isn't one thing with you girls it's another. Either one or both are being frozen solid, one is dying, getting shot at, stabbed, recklessness, you must be more cautious, acting as if you're invincible. The world has it out for you I swear it." Anna and Elsa pitied the pillows which were beaten into submissive fluffy clouds. Under any normal circumstance Kelsey and a few other maids would have tended to them but Gerda took charge immediately when she witnessed the state of them stumbling past the castle gates, tired, filthy, exhausted. Castle staff rushed them into the infirmary and stitched back together Elsa's side, disinfecting it, fortunately all of Anna's cuts were superficial.. She hated how distraught Sven became when he noticed Kristoff wasn't there, she managed to sit with him for thirty minutes as they waited for Elsa to be done in the infirmary. The women were cleaned, fussed over, and fed- Anna still was wondering how the ravenous Elsa ate so quickly and neatly at the same time.

Elsa's muscles screamed when she sank into the mattress with Anna collapsed on a pillow drowsily holding a piece of chocolate. No one would be able to pry it from her fingers. 

Elsa sighed, placing the hot chocolate down on her night stand. Her exhausted thoughts led her to Olaf, Kristoff, Honeymaren... And Ryu. 

Gale hung around the room as a barely noticeable wind, displacing papers every now and then. Bruni nosed her limp hands open to crawl into her palm. She stared down at him, he titled his head at her. "I'm sorry.." she said after failing to create the Snowflakes he enjoyed. He cooed and laid his chin atop her thumb. 

Just when she concluded that she had cried all the tears she had to give her body still managed to produce more. 

Ryu, her beautiful, gentle, brave, sweet Gecko. She still had so many words to say, so many things for them to do together. Even if it tore her to shreds, digging deeper than any blade could, she just wished Ryu would have told her before leaving if there was something she could have done to make her feel more safe and protected. If there was something she could have accomplished to make her stop hurting, was there anything she could have done differently to make her feel more loved? She would have done it! All Ryu had to do was just say the word, Elsa hoped she would have lied to her and say she'd be back, deciding false hope was better than none. 

Elsa wanted- needed Ryu to lie to her and say she loved her. She knew she didn't but it'd be the most beautiful lie to ever pass someone's lips, but not all she did was leave. She didn't even have enough mercy to leave all the sweet memories they shared, she didn't have enough empathy to let Elsa feel her smooth scales one last time. No, instead she flew away and took Elsa's heart with her. She couldn't imagine what the dragon could do or possibly want with it. 

Elsa hiccuped, stuttering between sobs and waking Anna. When Anna had seen those glistening big blue eyes she pulled Elsa's head to her chest allowing her to shake and mourn, glaring at the window. Coming home was supposed to be a joyous occasion and Ryu had turned it bitter. From Elsa's reaction her sneaking suspicion between the two became a forefront theory. 

As soon as Elsa cried herself to sleep she gazed down at her tear stained cheeks. She barely heard it when Elsa whispered "Lie to me Ryu..." In her sleep.

Weird.

"Oh Elsie, I wish it could have been someone else-" she smoothed her hair back. "Someone who wouldn't leave you. But you had to go ahead and- I'll bring her back to you. I swear it. " Kissing Elsa's head she got up and left quietly. She jogged to her office, she could be left alone for the most part today since Gerda practically sent the council away like a pack of dogs with their tails between her legs.  

"Tobias!" The man looked up from her desk, placing down the pen calmly. "Your majesty? Aren't you supposed to be on vacation?" Anna grinned embracing him as he stood. He returned it, rubbing her back. 

"We've got a lot of work to do." She announced pulling away. "I suspect nothing less." She did a quick survey of the papers stacked neatly on her desk. It was the cleanest she had seen it since inheriting the throne from Elsa. "Thank you so much for handling things while I was away." 

Tobias' hands clasped behind his back. "It's a part of the job." 

Anna hummed pointing at him. "Yes but you went above and beyond cause you care." Shrugging, Tobias half smiled. "I've been accused of worst." If Anna wasn't pressed for time she'd ask, sitting down she let her eyes slide shut, as tiring as it was it felt good to be back to her duty. 

"Oh thank God." The voice spread a grin on her face seeing Mattias in the doorway. He let out a noise of surprise when Anna ran and hugged him tightly which he eventually returned. "I missed you as well, your majesty." Sentimentality aside they went straight to work. Anna had conquered death more than once making the tasks that lay before her seem as child's play. 

"I want extra guards on duty and soldiers at our borders reporting anything out of the ordinary other than the spirits, if a ship or boat that is not our own within a twenty mile radius so much as points anywhere near my country I want to hear about it. And if they see a flying creature that isn't a normal animal then I will need that report as soon as possible. I would also like to organize a meeting with Yelena to discuss extra security from the north mountains, to the enchanted forest all the way to Harmon and beyond." Mattias nodded, saluting to the delegation. 

"Tobias I want the best hunters and trackers in town and in Northuldra to meet with me." She noticed his puzzled eyes but knew he'd do it without doubt, she could at least offer an explanation. "A certain cheeky dragon flew off with my sister's heart a few hours ago-" She studied the map, eyes flicking from one area to the next. Where are you? You vagrant reptile? 

"And it's time she gave it back." 

"But what if we ask the dolphins to get us back faster politely? They seem reasonable." Kristoff rubbed his corneas at another one of Olaf's theories of how they could move the shop faster to Arendelle, he didn't have the strength to tell him that Anna and Elsa may not even be there right now. The little guy's hope was infectious nonetheless but Kristoff wasn't about to bet all of his emotional energy just for his fantasies to betray him to find Arendelle empty. He didn't think he'd heal from that, barely recovering from what had occured in Ruskland. Seeing his wife in peril made him feel so helpless, like in the blizzard on the frozen fjord, he swore he'd never stand by while his family faced danger and yet here he was; on this godforsaken ship with Anna and Elsa somewhere out there. It was in Ryu's hands- paws now. He wasn't a religious man but every night Honeymaren caught him praying to whoever was in charge to reunite his family again, for old times sake. "Why don't you tell your theory to Captain Olaf." He didn't mean to sound so blunt but seeing how anxious the snowman got as the drew closer and closer to home was going to drive him to insanity, in addition to him wanting to curse himself for not preventing the unpreventable. 

Honeymaren joined him sitting on the bow with impressive balance letting her leg dangle over the edge. She smacked a flask to his shoulder. Titling it to her in thanks he took a swig wanting rum but was met with water. He slowly turned to her tongue-in-cheek. "What?" She was genuinely confused by his reaction but he waved it off. 

"They're safe, you know." Kristoff dropped his head. "Not you too." He groaned. "We don't know if they made it home or not." 

"Slow your reindeer, I didn't say all that." She held up her hands, halting his reaction. "I just said they're safe." He wished he shared her confidence, a better trust in the raw tenacity he had seen in both Anna and Elsa but worry and love had different plans.

"And you know this how?" 

"Cause, I know Elsa would freeze hell over to keep Anna safe from harm and Anna's desire to protect Elsa burns so hot I'm surprised the oceans of the world haven't evaporated." He could agree with that. "I don't know if they're waiting for us or not, they've got two weeks so. Just look for signs."

"What signs?" Honeymaren half smirked down at him. "The world hasn't frozen solid so Anna is alright and we haven't heard the banshee screams echo over the distance so nothing happened to Elsa." For the first time in a few days Kristoff felt himself ease up a bit and grin a little. 

He craned his head up at the night sky. Alright put faith in the love Anna and Elsa had for one another, it was something he'd bet his life on so he guessed that was easy enough.

A large bird-like shadow flew over the ship blocking out the moonlight. The sailors and soldiers panicked. Honeymaren stood up on the ledge watching as well. 

As it drew closer Kristoff threw away the water flask. "You've got to be fucking kidding me." 

It had been a few days since a messenger hawk was sent out for the insert ship name. Anna and Elsa waited anxiously for news, be it from Ruskland of whether the princess was triumphant in taking over the empire, or from scouts about Ryu's whereabouts, if a giant jade bird was going to attack them, or even from their family. 

Anna did her best to keep Elsa in the loop of what was going on as well as her plans without stressing her out in recovery yet. She was gifted a crutch to support her left side. They both put on brave faces for the other despite both of their hearts cracking inside their chests as more time went on. Their castle staff and inner council wondered who would collapse the facade first but they found strength in each other even while feeling equally weak. Elsa gave lessons to the search parties of what to look for and what to be cautious of to ensure no one was hurt, the memories they brought haunted her. It felt like months had passed but reality reminded them it had only been three days. 

"I thought I declared that fishing ships- all ships really belonging to Arendelle- are to be marked with the royal crest." Elsa rested a hand on the stressed Anna's knee, she needn't listen to the voices inside her head, it was all going to be okay, but she was overwhelmed even with help. They shared small smiles, turning back to the godsent Tobias who had been issuing all of the policies with wicked precision. "I suspect they had been away on a fishing trip but they will be notified at once your majesty." He bowed when she thanked him. Anna slouched in her chair, leaning her head back. 

Her eyes shot open at the sound of the alarm bells tolling in the distance followed by shouting. "Fuck!" For a rare moment Elsa didn't chastise her completely understandable reaction and couldn't agree more. Sighing she stood and grabbed her crutch trailing after the storming Anna. She nicked a sword off of a passing soldier in a fluid motion, well accustomed to snatching swords away from running passerbys, she'd have to get her own some day. She hadn't the time to practice but was prepared to stab whoever else dared to invade again. 

Anna stood in the courtyard looking around. "What is it Mattias?" 

"Anna." Elsa called keeping her stare trained on the horizon. 

"I thought we hastened the communications between the patrols!" 

"Anna?"

"What's- what's the point of having them if the threat is going to get to us before the warning?" She exasperated, marching towards him. "Anna look!" Before he could open his mouth Elsa roughly gripped Anna's chin turning it to the sky. 

She held up her hands made into a looking glass before someone slid a real one in her grasp. She dropped it to the floor turning to Elsa with the same shocked expression. 

"Olaf!" They yelled squealing. Anna took off with Elsa keeping up as best she could, waving her arms wildly. "Olaf! Kristoff! Maren!" She stopped running to jump up and down. 

Elsa was jealous she couldn't express her joy through nothing but tears and laughter. Her muscles hummed wanting to leap for joy. 

Ryu roared, picking up speed. "Paul! Careful now! Careful!" Kristoff gripped her paws trying to find purchase, he had been held like this before and he only tolerated it to get to his family faster. Ryu looked between her legs smiling. His screams turned to shrieks when she nosedived towards the courtyard. To his horror she released flinging him at Anna, impatient to reunite the couple. 

Anna held open her arms to catch him not caring how painful it was when their bodies tumbled to the ground. "Looking on from an outside perspective you'd think she hates us." Kristoff casually commented, grunting when Anna threw herself into his lips butting their heads, he was roughhoused more when Elsa too embraced him, she'd give the couple time to kiss and all the other things they wanted to do to each other later. Sven, agreeing with the sentiment, slobbered all over his best friend, firing spittle all over Anna and Elsa. 

"Anna, Elsa I rode a dragon!" Olaf cheered being assisted off of Ryu's back. He and Honeymaren were their next targets for bear hugs. They picked him up and spun him. 

Ryu smiled at the sight, she couldn't believe she had even contemplated keeping Anna and Elsa from this. The grin vanished when she noticed the castle staff and some citizens gathering to witness the reunion as well, tucking herself into her human body. Okay now she was just naked in front of a bunch of people, she guessed this was better? She didn't know they seemed uncomfortable. 

Mattias, her new found savior slapped a long military coat to her back ending it in a rub. "Thanks for bringing them home, kid." She straightened up and bowed her head at the man. 

"Ow!" She suddenly cried out with Anna hanging on her ear dragging her over to the hugging group while also filling said ear with a good reprimanding. "Do you have any idea how much unnecessary worry you caused Elsa and me? I mean I'm super grateful and all but really Periwinkle you couldn't have at least said your plan without barging onward with it?" 

"I wanted to get it over and done wi-OW!" Once near enough Anna released her, she couldn't escape yet and screamed at her absorption into the mass embrace. "AH!" 

So many scents mixed, she knew all of them but it was the arms that suffocated her. She struggled to be released, squirming until a specific body pressed against her own. A cold hand rubbing her neck, with lingonberry, chocolate, and some new medicinal smell filling her nostrils. When they dispersed with Kristoff complaining he was half dead and hungry Elsa and Ryu lingered behind. Ryu couldn't move paralyzed by Elsa's stare. When she cupped her cheeks she blew some smoke into Ryu's face which she returned. 

"You could have told me." She laughed behind tears. It dawned on Ryu the reason explaining the strong emotional response, fore the last thing she had told Elsa was that she would drop her and Anna off, and she had done exactly that but they didn't know she would return. Guilt swelled in her chest. Reaching up she tangled their fingers together tightly. "I'm sorry, you know me when I get an idea I kinda just bolt to it." 

Elsa nodded. "Yes, yes I do know you." Ryu couldn't decipher the double meaning but based on the tranquil expression she knew it was a positive. "Besides I couldn't possibly leave-" she had to look away momentarily or she didn't know what she'd do. She glanced up winsomely. "-still haven't shown me your ice castle yet... And other things." 

Elsa echoed her words positioning them practically body to body. "And other things." Ryu couldn't comprehend how she possibly stayed away from this woman for three and a half days. Even with memorizing every single detail about her, looking at Elsa always felt like the first, as if because they're first meeting didn't go well Ryu got blessed to relive it over and over again. 

Nuzzling Elsa's neck she heard her giggle. "You make me crazy." Elsa stated, her voice was raspy from the whooping and cheering, and perfectly imperfect. 

"I'm not too sane myself, no?" 

"No, no you're not." 

"Come on." Elsa began hopping backwards as if to ensure Ryu would follow even with their fingers still locked. Ryu wanted to keep Elsa for herself all evening to make up for everything she put her through. 

You're so selfish. She rolled her eyes at the thought, noticing the crutch, she grabbed it and tossed it over her shoulder nearly hitting someone. Elsa wouldn't be needing that anymore with her around. The spirit yelped when she was scooped up bridal fashion in Ryu's arms wrapping her own around her neck. If Ryu was tired she didn't show it, reenergized at the prospect of being Elsa's personal pair of legs which only meant she got to touch her, she carried Elsa as if she never wanted to let go. 

And she didn't. 

The royal family was not to be disturbed at all during the night or the next day, exceptions being the ones Anna specified to Tobias, Kai, and Mattias. Dinner conversation was carried by, Anna, and Olaf, as Honeymaren, Kristoff and Ryu wolfed down their food piping up only to add an "Uhuh" or "mhm, Elsa was too busy adoringly making heart eyes at the gorging dragon in Anna's opinion to join the discussion. Yelena and Ryder would visit tomorrow, they had gotten word quickly to Northuldra of Honeymaren's arrival and were just as anxious to get to Arendelle. All was right in everyone's world, even with the looming threats knocking at their doorstep they'd take any opportunity to be happy at this juncture in their lives. 

Retiring to the family game room to think of a low effort activity they could do together they settled on a chess tournament. Sven whined when Kristoff kissed Anna again, gaining both their attention. "Everyone wants you." Anna joked, scratching Sven's chin. "As much as I love Sven only you get me." he pecked her nose. 

"I don't want him." Honeymaren proclaimed from searching the drawers for the chess boards. This made Elsa and Ryu cackle like imps. 

Knocking at the door sent a chill down all their spines except Olaf, he bounced over and opened it to reveal Mattias. Holding a decorative brown bottle wrapped in a gold bow. 

"A welcome home present, your majesties." He humbly presented the gift with a tray of glass type cups. "I apologize for the interruption." 

Anna took it reading the engraved label. "What would we do without you?" 

"Have a mediocre General." His confidence was well placed, how could anyone disagree. 

The chess tournament was no different, other than the addition of whiskey, anyone who lost a piece had to drink their dues except Anna- who drank whether she lost or gained a piece. When Elsa gave Ryu a moral boasting hair ruffle sitting to face off with Olaf. Anna shook her head, closing her eyes. "Traitor." Elsa shrugged off the playful accusation. 

"You can do it Anna!" Olaf patted her forearm. She grinned showing her teeth. "Thank you Ola-" 

"You can do it Ryu." Her smile fell when he offered the same praise to both sides, to him there were no corners of the battle arena, instead seeing it as one big circle everyone sat in. 

"You got this Anna." Elsa eyed her own chess board smirking. 

Anna met her smirk with a playfully coy eyebrow lift. "It would have been you and me playing if you weren't "distracted" when you versed Ryu." Elsa blushed coughing into her hand gesturing to the board. "I find Olaf a challenging enough partner, thank you very much." 

Anna licked her lips in concentration, She wasn't certain of Ryu's patterns and gimmick yet, her moves were so random. Whenever Anna looked to Kristoff for advice a piece was missing from Ryu's side. 

Anna pretended to look away but did a double take catching Ryu pushing her other knight in her mouth freezing at being caught, she sucked it down her gullet audibly. 

"Periwinkle-" Anna began calmly. "Why are you eating your pieces?" 

"Yea she does that." Elsa quipped, thinking it couldn't possibly be a healthy habit. 

"So you don't take the ones I like." Anna squinted, snickering like a teapot. She couldn't be serious. She gained enough courage to ask despite the dreaded answer she may have received. "Ryu do you- do you know how to play?" 

Crossing her arms and closing her eyes Ryu puffed out her chest. "Nope." 

"Don't feel bad Anna, at least you get to keep your pieces." Honeymaren exhaled slowly when Sven snacked on her rook. 

"Olaf you won!" He most certainly did not. Elsa shuddered, taking a shot with little gusto. 

An hour into the game had Honeymaren calling for a break, between Ryu and Sven they were running out of pieces. 

Anna rolled her neck looking at Kristoff with a dumb founded face. He had one arm draped around her shoulders with both their bare feet rubbing Sven's back. Elsa dozed off with Olaf in her lap and Ryu counteracting her lean. They had been watching Honeymaren put on a play with the remaining chess pieces, every role played by a different voice she strained her throat to make, truly a riveting tale. "There's at least seven plot holes." 

She peered over the table top glaring at Ryu. "Yea and one of them is your mouth which you need to shut." 

"Hey, know what I say?" Anna slurred. 

"No, what?" Kristoff was hoping her next suggestion would be to retire to their bed. 

"We play erm that uh game from the Ruskland. With the balls and sticks and we beat each other with em." He made a scrunched up face. "I don't think that happened." Anna gave him a quick peck on the lips. 

"Let's do it. Elsa!" Elsa snorted like a piglet sitting up. "Huh? I wanna play." She rubbed her eyes. 

"We're going to play indoor croquet." 

Elsa tapped her chin. "Sounds like it'll break something." 

Another game they set up in the halls which Ryu had no idea how to play, she was an expert at hitting Honeymaren and Anna's makeshift balls Kelsey procured for them along with some putting sticks made from leftover wood in the kitchens. 

"Ryu you've hit all of us out of the goal except Elsa! You two are in cahoots!" Elsa blinked looking anywhere and everywhere but the aggrieved party's faces. The rules were so confusing and became what anyone said they were at the moment. 

"Okay, okay fine!" She swung sending her ball down the steps tapping Elsa's across the finish line giving her a single hit for the stair obstacle course. "There." Anna facepalmed herself. 

"We shoulda just went to bed." Utterly drained Kristoff set his stick aside and headed towards his bedroom chambers with Sven in tow. "This means war. " Anna declared going after her boys, she poked her head around the corner "Ya need help getting ready for bed?" 

"No I have Honeymaren and Ryu to take care of me, I'm in very good hands. Goodnight onion..." Elsa shook her head laughing. "I mean Anna." 

"Never change Elsa."

Honeymaren had fallen three holes ago with Olaf on a random sofa back in the lounge, draped with a blanket Kelsey gifted to her. 

"No, I mean it." Ryu laughed a little too loud, Elsa shushed her for the thousandth time as they stumbled down the dark hall with no destination in their itinerary, but it seemed they were heading towards the gardens. "I still can't believe that it was you who stole his cake." 

"I can't believe you know about it." 

"Of course I do, he wrote every kingdom within a hundred mile radius the famous tale of the loss of Duke Henry's missing birthday cake."

Ryu chortled in a very unladylike fashion. "He's a cunt anyways." Elsa paused with a frown. "He died a year later of a heart attack." 

Ryu jabbed her finger in the air. "Aha! So I was doing him a favor anyways, too many sweets the dumb fuck." Elsa felt horrible for laughing but she couldn't help it, somehow Ryu always brought out an inappropriate humorous side of her she tried to keep buried deep down. 

The drink fogged her mind, sometimes a plethora of words would spill out and she herself had just caught up to them mid sentence. 

"And after that I vowed to never ever try to keep a squirrel, a badger and a sparrow in such a small space ever again." Why did I tell her that?

Ryu straightened her knees out, falling against the grass nearly hitting her head on the tree they sat under. "So you were so lonely you stole whatever poor defenseless animals you crossed paths with and defiled them." Elsa balked, turning on her good side lying next to Ryu flicking her forehead. "I did not defile them." 

"Kidnapped." Elsa stared down at her, eyes tracing her freckles as if they were constellations to be mapped out, the trees rustled above them sending a fallen leaf down to Ryu's face, she puckered her lips and blew it off. The moon gave them some privacy hiding behind wispy clouds that rolled by in the dark sky only peeking out occasionally. 

"Abducted." Elsa scrutinized her pointedly so intensely she hadn't realized her hand was on Ryu's chest drumming her fingers impatiently. She was proud of Ryu's growing vocabulary but not so pleased that it was being used against her. 

"Why do you keep using such deplorable words ?" Ryu considered her. A heartbeat of a moment passed. 

"Assaulted." Exasperation had Elsa burying her red face into Ryu's neck. "I never hurt them, I just wanted a friend." Her muffled voice was concealing the fact that she was secretly enjoying the banter. 

"So you have a history of seducing random creatures you found in the woods and nature." She lifted her head sniggering. "I never seduced any creatures I found as a child." The verbiage wasn't lost to Ryu

"And as an adult?" She quirked a coquettish brow. Elsa provocatively played with her soft dry lips with a middle finger. 

"I don't know, you tell me." Ryu opened her mouth at first to speak but the finger tracing her mouth was too distracting. Elsa should have pulled away but she was helplessly shackled to the erotic sensation of Ryu's tongue chasing and catching her fingertip every now and then. She nuzzled her lips against Elsa's whispering finger touches. 

They both knew the dangerous game they were taking part of, the rules ever changing and not in their favor. 

Elsa couldn't risk Ryu leaving again but she also couldn't live another day without telling her all the unsaid words which set a metaphorical distance between them. Elsa had more than enough of that distance for the last three days- hell since they met she wanted to bulldoze through her own wall to climb Ryu's. 

She never felt this way before and she didn't think she'd ever feel this way again. She was a starving animal and Ryu was her only source of carnal satisfaction. 

For the first time in weeks Elsa allowed her only existence to be aware of her neglected physicality, she and Ryu were both just two souls interacting with one another. The stillness of the dark cloaked their surroundings, so they sought the only source of light around, it was the same light that made them what they were. 

Elsa's loose hair draped over them like a curtain making Ryu feel safe and secure. 

"Will you fly away from me again?" Elsa murmurs, her bright blue eyes unflinching. Come on Ryu tell me that beautiful lie, never tell me the truth if it means you say you won't go. 

Ryu's throat bobbed, tipping her forehead to Elsa's clavicle, her eyes ceased searching for Elsa's gaze. She takes both her hands, and laces her fingers between Elsa's. “I’m never going to leave you again. Ever."

"Don't ever leave me again Ryu." Elsa repeats anguished to hear it again. 

"Never. I can't." Ryu sounds just as defeatist. 

"Sweet creature." Elsa muttered as she closed the distance between their mouths; she hung there stuck breathing in Ryu's air. A breath that had just been inside her chest. She thought that would be enough, it wasn't, she became even more unsatisfied now knowing how delicious it was. Her body invited Ryu to take whatever she wanted, as much as she wanted. 

She was petrified not of Ryu rebuffing her affections- for if she did Elsa could stop torturing herself with what if scenarios and move on- she was terrified of taking too much, anything she found inside and outside of Ryu, she was desperate for, and longed for Ryu to take as well so she wouldn't be left empty if Elsa lost the control that was slowly slipping away. 

She had no idea if her insatiable cravings were wrong, so what if they were? She was already deemed a witch by the church standards, being wrong was her birthright. And Ryu, the Dragen Lyse, was the closest she'd ever get to sweet purity.

Ryu's purr pulled her in like a siren song, her hand reached behind the nape of Elsa's neck and began caressing, she made a sharp gasp Ryu greedily inhaled.

Elsa swore on her life that if Ryu made one more move her resolve would shatter to dust with no hope of being glued back together ever again. So of course the dragon just had to lean upward and break Elsa with a flick of her tongue licking her mouth. 

Elsa's pupils dilated with lust pinning her down before surging forward committing herself to this sin. With a pressure of their lips connecting, she became a senseless addict with no hope of recovery. It was when the kiss started Elsa realized she hadn't a clue of what she was doing. All she could do was react, her thoughts were too scrambled to try and recall the techniques she witnessed from Anna and Kristoff, her brows winced. She didn't want to think about them right now anyways. 

At first Ryu's deathly still body had her pulling away not even an inch due to a firm hand gripping Elsa's nape tugging her back down to her lips. She groaned at the idea that Ryu didn't want her to go, didn't want her to escape. The audacity of this girl, as if that was a justifiable worry. Elsa would dedicate her life to ensuring every moment Ryu experienced was nothing except spectacular. 

Ryu deserved to be treated like the precious rarity she was, she deserved slow respectful touches, Elsa thought, not the lechery she emanated upon her. It was too late, she couldn't stop. they had kissed all the oxygen out of their lungs. 

Panting she bridged the gap between their foreheads, rubbing her nose and parted lips over anywhere she could reach. Elsa's traitorous hands had wandered caressing up the sides, finding the hem of her shirt, breaking and entering the clothing with fingers that squeezed and groped her sides and back when it arched off the grass. When they first met Ryu's fiery temperature had made her feel sweltering now it was the only heat Elsa felt like she could bask in. 

The sun could piss off. 

Gulping down air of the night that wasn't Ryu's Elsa concurred it couldn't compare. Her words broke into a moan when Ryu bit the juncture between her neck and shoulder growling. 

Their hearts drummed to the same tempo. Ryu whimpered when Elsa rolled off of her to lay flat staring up at the sky. Come back please. Ryu knew she could be pathetic at times but she didn't know how Pathetic she could get until she met Elsa. She wasn't certain what had just happened but if it didn't happen again she didn't see a point in living. She looked over at Elsa whose face was indiscernible then down at their hands resting in the soft grass. 

She wondered if Elsa hated the hesitation to be so close as much as she did. She'd ask but it felt like a crime to use her lips for anything other than pressing them to Elsa, so she used her fingers which reached for her hand. They curled around Elsa's, it was moist with icy dust coating them. Her heart tried to claw itself from her chest when Elsa pulled away, she didn't see her rub her palm on her blue silk dress. Ryu only knew that she couldn't stop smiling when the hand returned, entangling their digits again. 

A question plagued both their minds, nearly ruining what they just shared.  

What are we going to do now? 

Standing on the balcony Kristoff and Sven looked up from what they just witnessed occur down below and side glanced at each other. 

"I told you so." Sven 'said'. 

"I'm going to bed." Kristoff declared walking back inside, turning off the lights. 

Chapter Text

Ryu liked to think of herself as a pragmatic, logic driven person, she wasn't by any means, but it was still a conviction she held onto. The emotions of others seemed so arbitrary and the majority of times unnecessarily dramatized. No problem couldn't be fixed without the right action involved. Hungry? Forage for food. Tired? Sleep. Someone annoying you? Chase them off. Bored? Find out what you liked to do and do it. It was these sensibilities that kept her alive for so long and it was these same sensibilities that failed her most when it came to Elsa.

Everything surrounding the woman was a complicated maze with walls that would crumble if she tried to push through them, and oh how she wanted to push past the barriers. So many emotions she wasn't aware of existing within surfaced, sometimes all at once leaving her mute and incapacitated. As if hit with a tranquilizer that made her feel everything and also nothing all at once. Especially when she looked at her. Prior to the other night's what could she call it? Prior to that night's incident Ryu had been captivated by Elsa's physical features but more so had been attracted to her mind and soul. They were beautiful and impossibly perfect when combined, now… 

A forlorn sigh escaped her nostrils when Ryu laid her head down on crossed paws gazing from the roof into the courtyard. 

Now she had experienced the bodily sensations Elsa's physicality had created, the euphoria she didn't know was possible to feel from a touch here or there. She didn't know what she had been missing when it came to sensuality. Ryu had decided that it was a completely unfair trifecta. She was now a slave to Elsa's mind, soul, and body and that was a terrifying reality. The chains Elsa unknowingly shackled to her existence couldn't have been real could they? They felt real. 

The very idea of one individual having so much power over her spread a shudder throughout her whole frame.

Ryu had tried to gauge Elsa's stance on what was happening between them but Elsa being the enigma that she was had retreated back into herself, a turtle tucking all her limbs and head into their shell which had Ryu tiptoeing on the thinnest of ice for days trying to coax Elsa out with any means she could muster in that boggled brain of hers. 

She could appreciate Elsa's maturity to not avoid her or the subject entirely but staying so close in reach was even more torturous. And she was so gracious about it cause of course she was, it was Elsa! 

"Erusa, please can we just talk about it?" Looking up from work she had been doing as a favor to Anna Elsa's eyes would fill with pity and understanding upon seeing how fraught Ryu was allowing one hand to slowly pull the shaggy bangs out of her frowning face. A blush consuming Ryu's cheeks at how puerile and restive she sounded. Elsa was busy piecing Arendelle's political positioning right now… 

And all she could do was winge about a kiss. 'What is wrong with me?' Ryu thought cringing. Elsa's grin slowly became a frown noticing the distress she was causing. 

"Oh sweet darling…" Oh sweet fuck. There it was again, that short circuiting from just the sound of Elsa's dulcet tone. "We'll discuss it as soon as we get home, I promise." 

Here she was sitting like a kicked puppy. 

"I promise Anna I won't do anything too strenuous, if my condition changes for the worst even just slightly I'll send Gale to you immediately." Ryu's head whipped up so fast her neck snapped. 

There she was! It amazed her just how fascinating she found this woman. Every twitch, every gesture, every small nuance was a small book of wonders.

Even with her limp she held herself with regality. "I'll be checking on you in three days alright." Elsa nodded with her eyes closed listening to Anna's ranting worries. 

Everyone else Ryu had seen around the world paled in comparison to her. The lip upturn always teasing her lips, her intensely colored eyes that still contained a calm nature, the dainty cheekbones, framed with that amazing head of platinum hair cascading over her shoulders. Her cornflower blue dress' simplicity only drew more attention to her natural features. There was no dampening the strikingly disarming features. Her face had no makeup, she was so much more pretty without it in Ryu's opinion. 

A pebble bouncing off of Ryu's snout broke the stupor she was captured in. "Paul! Elsa's ready to go home, I thought you'd be eager to see Ryder and the earth giants."

What is wrong with me? 

Jumping down she joined them, noticeably her avidity was lacking and it stood out like a dragon in a castle among her friends. Sven nudged underneath her chin in a loving shove. Ryu jolted, she hadn't even seen him. His demeanor towards her had softened immensely since she had brought Kristoff back to him, he still had a little reservation being a prey animal it was his nature. 

She offered a small half smile and joined Nokk's side, finding the anticipation oozing off of his frozen form sickening. She wanted answers but not if Elsa's plan was to let her down tenderly, why else would she be so hesitant to say what was going on in her mind? It couldn't be anything positive.

With assistance Elsa sat upon Nokk holding his ice reigns tightly but he didn't complain. Torn in two, pinning to be home again to see her tribe and her cottage yet… her stomach twisted with dread with the inevitable conversation she'd have with Ryu. She had been praying non-stop playing the scene in her mind on a loop. The withdrawals Elsa had been experiencing didn't help at all either from the intoxicating drug Ryu. 

She could sense the dragon's irritability to speak with her about it; there were numerous possible outcomes; the one that plagued her most was linked to Ryu's solemn behavior. If the dragon reciprocated surely she wouldn't have a storm cloud hanging over her wherever she went. She was less inclined to joke around even when gouged on by Anna, she wasn't sleeping or eating well, and would sulk by windows or outside avoiding the gardens. She had tried to hide it but Elsa could discern from that cute little pout decorating her expressions she was upset. Guilt flooded Elsa subconsciously for thinking how attractive a brooding and moody Ryu could be. 

That's messed up. What is wrong with me? 

Elsa couldn't provide an answer. All she had an answer for was did Ryu's amativeness increase tenfold since that night in the gardens? And for Elsa the answer to that was Yes YES YES! She couldn't stop thinking of those angel eyes which swirled with so much potential of a future where they were both together and happy. Elsa couldn't resist but to indulge in that possibility as well, it was maddening! So many feelings all conflicting with one another. 

There was a plethora of potential. She'd give Ryu everything and anything she wished for, any yearning the girl had Elsa would fulfill and then some. If she wanted time to stop Elsa would go to the ends of the earth testing out every type of magic to complete the task. 

Elsa brought herself back down to earth. She was getting a little ahead of herself- but how could she not get giddy from the prospects! That is until she spotted Ryu laying on the roof watching her with a fervent glare leaving Elsa with a vulnerability from having her soul cross examined. 

She needed to get them home. 

After the goodbyes she sent Nokk into a gallop out of the courtyard hearing Anna and Kristoff yell at her to slow down; they were drowned out by the chants replaying in her mind. 

 Ryu don't break my heart again. 

It played as she watched the earth giants handle Ryu like a cat holding her and petting along her body. 

Elsa wanted to join them up there in the heavens, it was very dangerous though. She wouldn't be able to till she healed a bit more. They took the news well however, relieved that she had returned to them safely sticking around her wanting the close proximity. 

Elsa took a deep breath as Nokk's hooves thundered over the grassy plains, Gale and Bruni joined the trek luring Ryu downward from the heavens roaring gleefully. No matter whether Elsa looked to her right or left there was a friend present riding along with her in their own unique manner. Once again the blessing bestowed upon her caught up. The magic of her home is alive all around. She had felt her own magic humming for days after being laid dormant for so long, today it was damn near bursting forth with her own emotions. She was worried that perhaps the gash in her side was akin to a barrel full of water that leaked from its cracks never to refill again, currently she understood that whatever awful magic the princess and her cult wielded didn't rid her of magic it simply sedated it temporarily. If she herself had known about it years ago… or even her parents. Elsa shuddered at the thought of the person she'd be this day. 

Tears misted the corners of her eyes seeing her humble little cottage still in one piece, just as she left it. Nokk slowed to a trot as they drew closer. Ryu pranced… rather bounced along behind them frolicking with Bruni and Gale in the grass. 

As Elsa opened the door she looked around still not completely believing that she had made it home. The smells and trickling sounds of the lake behind her house were to be heard. Kicking off her flats she needn't look towards the door to hear her friends come barreling in still occupied by Tom foolery. Looking down she noticed tiny little mud paw prints which could only belong to… 

"Oh Bruni, breaking house rules while I'm away I see." She chortled until she heard the morphing sounds of Ryu. That could mean only one thing.

Elsa didn't trust herself to look at the naked woman without embarrassing herself. 

"Proud of ya son." Ryu praised seeing the muddy prints. She must have sensed the tense fog clouding Elsa's joy at being home so she jutted a thumb towards the stairs. "I'll uh go get dressed." She chuckled descending the steps. Elsa listened out for the door to close leaning on the counter. Gale blew into her face drawing her eyes up. 

"What am I even going to say to her?" Her inquiry was answered with an acrobatic sanguine flip. 

"I was afraid you'd say that." She groaned sitting on the couch carefully letting her head lay back to close her eyes. Depending on how the talk went Elsa went over her plans for the evening, reminding herself she'd need to vehemently thank Ryder and Yelena for taking care of her home. 

After a few minutes Elsa sensed a weight above her head and cracked open her eyes. Upside down Ryu was gazing at her with a tilted head from the back of the couch. Elsa smiled. 

"Hi." 

Ryu nodded her head. "Mhm." 

Well she supposed there was no time like the present. Taking a moment to calm her buzzing nerves Elsa patted the cushion beside her. Ryu flipped over the couch and flopped over in the seat. 

Clearing her throat, Elsa clamped her mouth shut when Ryu spoke up rather abruptly. "Alright Erusa I can't take this anymore, I need you to tell me if what happened in the gardens is something you regret." Oh so they were getting right into it then. Elsa could appreciate the straightforward approach no matter how much it intimidated her, so much so she faltered. "I- you are referring to the… kiss?" This only wore down Ryu's patience, judging by the stone scowl and heavy silence. 

Elsa had to look away as difficult as it was and spoke in a hushed voice. "I… didn't regret it." It felt like someone had removed a drenched comforter off of the atmosphere. It couldn't have been due to Elsa; she was still wound up tight. She began pondering if all dragons had the immense influence of the emotional conditions of those around them as Ryu did. It was almost distracting enough to draw Elsa's attention away from the dragon playing with her fingers, her knees supporting her elbows. She looked so… so… 

Witnessing her demeanor softened significantly brought Elsa's mind to the Greek statues she had seen at an exhibit visiting Arendelle. Her dark tan and freckles alluding to her life lived in the sun, the billowy blouse hanging off her shoulders concealing her torso, her raspy, breathy chirp of laughter that left Elsa marooned at its sea. 

She finally turned her head to Elsa with a lopsided grin eclipsing any other interests that could capture her attention. 

"You are the most confusing person in the world." Taken aback Elsa met her gaze challenging this statement. "Wha-how- me?" Ryu nodded simply. 

"Well do you regret the kiss?" 

"How could I Erusa? Have you ever kissed or seen yourself?" 

Elsa blushed from her cheeks to her neck. "No and yes I have, that is entirely negligible to the discussion young lady!" Ryu shared a knowing glance with Bruni who was seated upon the back cushion between them. The serious and dreaded discussion had somehow transformed into a debate. Elsa couldn't help but hide the agitation that she had been self inflicting, all the worry and fear for naught when she could have spent those energies in other pleasant fantasies while still feeling tormented by the idea that her attraction hid slip by unnoticed as Ryu continued. She crossed her arms staring forward with a sour expression.  

"Besides, how could you ask me that when you were acting the way you were?" 

She replied curtly. "What do you mean?"

Ryu flung her arms up. "Avoiding the topic, hiding yourself." 

"I only did that cause I was thinking about how to present the topic to you, I haven't been able to stop thinking about that night-" Elsa said dreamily. "Then I started thinking and was afraid you were feeling contrite with how temperamental you were behaving." Ryu closed her eyes. 

"I was moody because I thought you hated what happened between us." 

They sat there in silence hating themselves knowing that if they continued this it would only invite emotional pain, just not expecting it so soon. Still Elsa thought, she must invite the heartache knowing it is better to have loved once than to never experience the euphoria at all. 

What unsettled Elsa, though, wasn't the intricacies needed to navigate the complexities of relationships. It was the simplicity and how over a very simple concept of jitters she felt for the first time, how they unraveled any sense of logic she thought she possessed. If she had seen this issue from an outsider's perspective she would have deemed both herself and Ryu foolish and actually did deem them as such. Even from the beginning they had been tiptoeing around each other already trying and failing to win the other's favor. 

Here on this couch the gut wrenching anxiety, the fanning and stoking of flames, the enthralling promise of so much ecstasy from such a small interlude of what was to come just merely a fingertip away, second guessing every push and pull she made, the stumbling like newborn deer it was sickening but also so… so… rapturous! 

Elsa's eyes clenched and then opened, she looked down noticing the ice block that fused her hand with the couch. Ryu didn't seem bothered, in fact she appeared glad at the small resurgence of power Elsa displayed. After ridding the magic away they sat in silence. 

"Erusa, are we idiots?" That was the icing on the cake, Elsa broke down into a hearty laugh she hadn't felt in her stomach in a long time, Ryu side eyed her not understanding the humor but continued on. Her head snapped to Ryu hissing in an odd tone that came out creakier than what she intended. "No!" It was Ryu's turn to giggle. 

"I think we might be idiots no?" After some time when the humor died down Ryu couldn't help her curiosity piquing. 

"Soooo are we going to do it again?" Elsa turned her head to her still resting it against the cushion. 

"Yes-" Elsa started carefully, her body drifting towards Ryu, a subconscious invitation. "But we need to exercise some semblance of propriety." Ryu looked disgusted, she didn't know the nature of that word yet but it sounded stiff and boring. 

Elsa grabbed her hands pulling them closer together while rubbing her thumbs up and down the pebbled scales. "We should take this slow, there's no rush, it's not like our time together is limited."

"That sounds boring." Elsa chuckled, connecting their foreheads. "We should savor every last second and build this up together." Even through the obstructed view of their proximity conjoining Ryu's eyes together into one it was still a gorgeous sight to behold. 

"Why didn't you say so?" There it was again that sweet air Elsa had missed inhaling since the night of the "incident". Ryu's attempt to kiss her was halted by a finger pressing against her lips stopping the advance. "There are rules." She groaned upon hearing that instead planting gentle pecks along Elsa's fingers nearly drawing out a moan. They both had learned that Elsa's fingers were incredibly sensitive. Excellent leveraging news for Ryu, detrimental for Elsa. 

"Go on then." Ryu prompted as if her assault wasn't as distracting as someone wearing red at a funeral. Elsa relinquished ownership of that hand to Ryu's lips. 

If this is what they had to look forward to, Elsa could kick herself over not having acted sooner. What was she going to say? Oh right, the rules. 

Opening her eyes she weakly attempted to take her hand back but Ryu must have taken this as a summons to lather her scorching tongue along the exposed part of Elsa's neck. "Must you make everything for me difficult?" Elsa's words were such a juxtaposition to the hand she put behind Ryu's head pulling her tighter against her shoulder. 

Ryu chuckled against her skin. "When have I ever made it easy?" 

"Good point. Fair enough first rule, we must keep discretion from everyone until we figure whatever is going on between us, okay?" Elsa gripped Ryu's cheeks gently, bringing up her face to her own imploring expression. She needed her to share the understanding of the severity one misstep could cost them, all they could possibly lose. They'd have to go about this carefully especially with their lives in peril already, it'd be adding kindling to a house fire. 

"I know Elsa, I know." Ryu husked, her purr gave Elsa some source of confidence that everything would be fine. Suddenly the perception that they had an audience hit Elsa opening her eyes. Bruni was covering his face peeking from behind his tiny digits, Gale sharing the excitement, whirlwinds a batch of summer flowers around them in a frenzy. Finally Elsa's focus landed on Nokk, he was eyeing Ryu dangerously. The new couple shared a glance before Ryu stood walking over to him full of surety. 

Elsa bit her lip, silently hoping that he'd approve of their coupling. 

"I made you a promise that I'd bring her home, now I make a new one; I vow that whenever Elsa wishes to be happy, whenever she requires something no matter how big or small, I will dedicate every breath to fulfilling that wish. Every single color I find is hers. She'll never be lonely as long as I'm alive. No scholar or author be they human or dragon, beginning from birth to their death will be able to fill any book with how wonderful I intend on making her feel… and if I'm ever the source for any kind of pain for her I want you to cut me down-" He looked over the dragon's shoulders to see Elsa vigorously shaking her head at the last sentence. 

"If she were to ask me for the world somehow I'd give it to her, I'd sell my soul and not harbor a single regret." 

Bruni impishly laughed at Elsa swooning over the declaration holding every word to herself as well. It was over dramatic and a bit much for the seriousness of their budding relationship but Ryu was perfectly imperfect that way to her. 

The water spirit regarded them when Elsa came over and held Ryu's fingers in her own. He gave her a specific look. 

Are you sure you want this one? 

Elsa looked at Ryu's determined face, turning back to Nokk she nodded grinning ear to ear. After a few seconds which felt like an eternity the horse snorted and bowed his head before turning with the final say having not spoken a single word. 

They turned to each other elated and embraced tightly with Elsa burying her nose into Ryu's hair. Their whole relationship relied on maybe but it had been worth it so far. 

The moment was interrupted by Ryu's growling belly. Elsa giggled and murmured. "Want to help me make supper?" 

Ryu pulls away. "We don't have any food." The remark had Elsa eyeing the garden outside. 

After the initial introduction to the kitchen and Ryu settled down from her excitement high she proved herself to be a very well adjusted cooking companion. Elsa found herself completely thrown at the idea suspecting that she would be more inclined to hunt than wash vegetables and keep everything neat and tidy. Going back and forth to discard the potato peels she snuck a kiss to Elsa's shoulder. 

Elsa had to take a moment to compose herself, this was more than anything she hoped for, Ryu was everything she wished for but didn't think she'd find. And if she had to wait this long for her… well it was worth it. 

Until I want more. 

The degradation was silenced as Elsa turned to a ruckus gasping when she saw Ryu juggling two large knives. That was a strict violation to the kitchen safety regulations. 

"What are you doing?" She had to keep her distance at the risk of being stabbed again. 

"Cutting the potatoes!" She turned, slicing them swiftly, bouncing to whatever tune was playing in her head. 

Elsa came up behind her, pacifying the frenzy that was her hands calmly. Despite the near heart attack she just experienced Elsa couldn't erase the smile. "Please don't." She demonstrated a slower technique that should have been efficient enough for Ryu. 

It wasn't. 

Elsa jumped when Ryu slashed the other potato up even faster than before cautiously confiscating the knives from her. "Okay that's it, you're off cutting duty, go butter the dish and get the oven started-" she pointed a finger at her. "Do not set the house on fire." 

Elsa felt her soul leave her body for the third time that night at the outrageously loud bang coming from behind her. Spinning around, Ryu had one hand on her chest and the other on her bent knees laughing so hard no sound came from her mouth. 

"I didn't know it would close like that!" She wheezed, it must have frightened her as well, leaving Elsa scoffing. 

"Erusa Psst." Elsa turned to see Ryu red faced looking like she was about to burst.

"Mhm?" The giggles kept her from speaking until she finally got control of herself. She presented a cut stick of butter to Elsa's face. 

"You're my butter half." Elsa dropped the knife squealing into her hands which covered her face, the shaking of her stomach made her side hurt, a bittersweet feeling. She'd never survive. 

Oh Gecko, what am I going to do with you?

Their fill had been eaten leaving them on Elsa's study floor. Ryu nearly dozed off listening to Elsa recite the lovely words resting her head against her lap with her fingers combing through her hair lazily. 

"A slender, lovely, graceful girl,

Just budding into supple line,

And you scare her and make her shy.

Laid her down in a thousand flowers,

And put my soft wool cloak around her.

I slid my arm under her neck

To still the fear in her eyes,

For she was trembling like a fawn,

I caressed the beauty of all her body

And the desire of love wringed my heart

Like a huge cloud cloaked my eyes

And stole the sweetest breath from my chest." 

After soaking in what was just read Ryu cracked open an eye. "Read it again." 

"No." Elsa shook her head, turning the page. "Did you write that?" 

Elsa pffted. "I wish, it was written by Archilochos, the oldest lyric poet in Europe, from the island of Paros, written in 690 BC or around that time." Ryu kept gazing up at her as she read, she didn't even notice. 

"Hmm! I think you'll like these.

Your kiss is laced with birdlime, 

And your eyes, Timarion, with fire. 

Look at me, and I burn, 

Touch me and I am caught.

My image is stamped on your molten heart...

Your beauty is engraved on my soul. 

I know only one utterly beautiful thing,      

 My ravenous eye knows only one thing: ...That is at Mysikos.  

To everything else, I am blind.

I would like to be the wind,

So that as you walked along the seashore..

You could bare your breasts and let me caress you with my breath." Elsa was wrong. Ryu didn't like them, she loved them, until this night she wasn't aware of the depth and meticulous thought humans dedicated to love. It was confusing that a species capable of the atrocities she had witnessed could create such beautiful imagery and sentiment. As Elsa read on not just poems but of the monumental splendor of arts she would display on the pages Ryu concluded she wouldn't mind living in ancient Greece so long as Elsa was there. Looking at the statues and back to Elsa she could spot the similarities. The proportion, poise, and the idealized perfection of the human body were all qualities Elsa claimed. As if statues have souls and she herself was one reincarnated. It was so illogical but Ryu was convinced of the fallaciousness. 

She sat up on her knees, eyes brimming with wonder. "I think I'd do very well in ancient Greece." Elsa closed the book, raising a brow at her. "Is that so?" Ryu nodded eagerly and began her theory. 

"You read that they prized brilliant minds and well- not to say mine is any special but I have a lot of ideas for inventions." Elsa considered herself intrigued, Ryu had never mentioned this before, truth be told she never spoke of this with anyone. "Like?" 

"Like?" Ryu repeated to which Elsa nodded. "Well uh- portable ovens for starters." It seemed ridiculous saying it out loud but Elsa held no ridicule on her face, Ryu still felt a little self conscious so she shifted the spotlight onto Elsa. 

"You'd be a gem there too." This did trigger her derision but Ryu remained steadfast. "You would, you're so smart in so many things, art, sciences, math, history. You could be a scholar." The list of praises warmed her cheeks, she stubbornly shook her head fighting against Ryu's impassioned envisionment. 

"You could have been my mentor." Ryu says this as if this would tempt her. It did but Elsa wasn't convinced it was for the right reasons. "Yea! Seeing as you already teach me things now." Elsa waved her off in hypocrisy with her mind already imagining them in an idealized version of Greece. The hot nights, sitting by the sea just outside of the andron they called home, Elsa reading, writing, with Ryu's electric soul setting her ablaze with new ideas and philosophies. She could picture them so clearly, Ryu playing with her like a child in wheat fields by day, drowning out the cicadas with whatever music they created together on various instruments, Ryu soothing her aching soul by night into the morning, tangled limbs among the sheets… 

Whoa, that is a thought t o explore later without Ryu nuzzling my neck.

"Speaking of academics-" Elsa's voice cracked. "I've been practicing my Kanji, Katakana, and hiragana." It worked. Ryu's attention was now redirected, she jumped up racing to retrieve a pen and paper so Elsa could display her new adroitness. 

She began carefully tracing the lines which would spell her name and Ryu's as well as a few other easy words she memorized. 

"Aww." This made Elsa feel self conscious until Ryu tried her best to look disappointed. "Why's your handwriting better than mine?" 

"Oh hush it is not." 

"It is too, I couldn't have this one thing I could teach you. Nope you had to go ahead and be the best." Elsa's chest drummed at the humorous praise given. Despite Ryu's good impression at sadness Elsa could see the pride her eyes contained. 

"You still have a lot more to teach me, you've been slacking senpai." Elsa quipped. Ryu humphed placing her hands up on her hips. 

"Mōshiwakearimasenga, darekaga watashi o betsu no kuni ni hikizurikomanakereba narimasendeshita." Smirking devilishly Elsa leaned over. 

"Sore wa iiwake ni naranai so no ue, anata wa kitakatta." Ryu dramatically groaned and began crying falsely. "You gotta stop!" Elsa giggled and rapidly bestowed a series of pecks on her lips. 

Ryu groaned, readily succumbing. "Don't stop." She whispered against Elsa's mouth. She needn't worry Elsa would never stop. 

"I continued practicing on my own because it was the only way I felt connected to you." 

Ryu grinned, nudging her nose against Elsa's chin. "Well I'm here now and you can slow down a bit, or else I'll be taking lessons from you eh." 

"You could teach me ninjitsu." Elsa offered. 

"Hmm maybe when you don't have a hole in your side-" she held up an advisory finger. "be warned I've seen what a quick learner you are and won't go easy on you like I did Anna." Elsa squinted her eyes at this. 

"You tossed her in a pond."

"Hai! Although you're a little old to learn it completely." Elsa slowly turned from her writing, face devoid of expression. "You're calling me old?"

Ryu shrugged. "Eh, I've seen older." Earning herself a snowball to the face. Bruni appeared from seemingly nowhere to tongue quickly at the feast decorating Ryu's mug. 

Chapter Text

Routine wasn't a very common matter that would ordain Ryu's actions in the past, but that was the general consensus for many who favored nomadism. Could she actually call it that? What else would she call it? 

Running. 

At first she would worry that the mundane settling would cause her to become restless, irritable with feelings of stagnation calling her back to the skies and seas but whenever she would look to the horizon their calls fell silent. Truth be told life in Arendelle wasn't as simple or quaint as one would assume. There was always something happening, someone to help in and out of the forest. Her friends made it easy for the days to fly by quickly. From the spirits either wanting to play or show her something, to the locals some still weary and others readily accepting the dragon's aid in pulling or delivering something, setting fires to things that needed burning or keeping the children out of their hairs if only for a few minutes. The true highlight however made Ryu smile to herself no matter who was present. 

Erusa. 

That was the answer of what– well who was keeping her put. The deal continued between them, each day they shared a bit more of themselves with the other, be it through conversations, playing, or simply tending to the house. Elsa would try to help as much as she could but was always rebuked back to resting. Surprisingly enough it was her who had begun to grow edgy during her recovery. 

A day trip to Arendelle could not come soon enough as far as Elsa was concerned. She smiled and waved at citizens who greeted her enthusiastically, taking time out from running their businesses and shopping to speak with Elsa. Ryu waited patiently at her side, that is until the lure of whatever they were selling caught her attention. A familiar scent drew her away from the seamstress who was talking Elsa's ear off about weaving and sewing to a small shop, the door was opened to allow the interior to cool off from the baking ovens on display behind the counter. Entering slowly Ryu drew closer to the ovens taking inventory of how they were built. Now if she could make that but smaller.

"Well if it isn't my little river rock friend!" Glancing up she saw the large robust baker coming from the back. "Do you like it?" He gestured grandly to the store. It was cozy with two round tables seated by the window accompanied with chairs. Ryu nodded. "Less portable than a cart eh?" He chortled at the jest. "As much as I love these–" he nodded to the water bowl housing a few fish and Ryu's last payment adorning the bottom. "I'm afraid I'll be needing actual money this time hmm? Browse around, everything is made fresh by the hour." Ryu examined the desserts displayed in glass, eyeing the Cinnamon snails with envy. She didn't have any money.

"See something you like?" She didn't turn, feeling instead how close Elsa was leaning close to her ear. A hand clasped her shoulder when she nodded. Elsa straightened, greeting the baker. "Ah Miss Elsa! What a great pleasure!"

"Hello Mr.Markus, this new shop is quite impressive-" 

"And we've only been open for one month." The man boasted joyously. "A little less mobile than your cart but very nice." He looked between Elsa and Ryu shaking his head laughing. "What did you pick?" Elsa goaded but Ryu shook her head. "We don't have to." 

"Ah she's being modest, this one devoured the cinnamon snails right in front of me the moment they reached her hands, you should have seen her face, it was as if her world was changed forever." His large hands created a rainbow pattern for effect. 

Elsa giggled looking down at Ryu who for some reason was blushing. "They were good." She mumbled crossing her arms. Elsa scratched her neck ordering one. When offered other deals she politely refused thanking him for the dessert. 

"Thank you!" Ryu took it looking between them, and just as he said she bit into it and smiled, closing her eyes content. "And for the lovely miss?" Elsa shook her head. 

"That'll be all, thank you." Just as they were out the door he gave one last attempt. 

"Well perhaps another time you can try the chocolate croissants. Have a good day." He smirked seeing Elsa halt halfway out the door. She paused for a moment, squinting her eyes in thought. 

"What kind of chocolate do you bake into them?" She tried to keep her voice nonchalant as if she hadn't already been sold. Still she was a connoisseur when it came to certain things and wouldn't accept just any confection smothered in coco. 

Markus went into an explanation of the process and the types he used. Their three minute visit had turned to twelve. 

"What?" Ryu merely shook her head laughing as they exited with the treats. Elsa of course got the croissant and then she had to get something for Bruni, and Honeymaren, and Ryder, Kristoff and Anna. "What?" Elsa asked again. 

"You'd never survive at a bazaar." Ryu quipped finishing her food. Elsa indignantly huffed at this. "I try to contribute to Arendelle's economy as much as possible. So your insinuation of me spending frivolously is unfounded." She nudged her gently as they walked upon the bridge. It was true, Elsa gave her business to most of the local shopkeepers in Arendelle and traded regularly with her tribe, sometimes connecting traders and sellers with the help of Anna.. 

Ryu ran and jumped up the railing leaning against it looking down at the sloshing water below. The wind wisped her bangs against her head, as the salty taste of the air complimented nicely with the cinnamon still lingering on her tongue. Elsa joined her resting her elbows against the stone. 

"Erusa?" 

"Hai?" 

"Ever wonder what's at the bottom of the sea?" Despite the uncomfortable nature the question held, Elsa still grinned. Inquiries such as this were nothing new when spending time with Ryu. She wondered about so many things, sometimes in hopes to gain something and other times to just simply know. 

"Erusa are all humans the same on the inside?" 

"Yes, generally speaking, there are some genetic differences, large and small but the anatomical makeup follows the same rule or at least tries to." Noticing the dragon's perplexed expression she pulled away from her work and motioned for Ryu to come closer. 

Taking her hand she placed it on her heart. "It's nice." Ryu commented. "Thank you, now I have a heart that beats just like every other person in the world, but my heart may be stronger than another's either due to age, or sickness, or simply because they were born with one that is more frail." 

Ryu felt it under her fingers, it's Rhythm picking up the longer she lingered there. "Do I have a strong heart?" She jutted her chest out towards Elsa who grinned. She needn't check to know the answer to that but she pressed her hand to Ryu all the same. 

"Yes, you have a very very strong and warm heart." Elsa murmured. 

Elsa hummed, staring out at the horizon. "I never actually wondered, I've always been more curious about what's in the sky than down below in the water, that is until I met you." It was true, all of Ryu's stories had sparked a curiosity about the depths more than any book Elsa had read. 

Jumping down once she grew tired of sitting still Ryu held out her palm with a wide grin. "Want to hold my hand?" Elsa gulped. She wanted to, even more so that Ryu had asked first but they weren't children nor related. Arendelle was lenient in the aspect of affection and the people's demeanor generally were very friendly towards one another. Still Elsa felt a self conscious pinch nipping at the back of her neck at the idea of it. 

Slowly she entangled her fingers with Ryu's who practically skipped down the pathway. The people did not eye them suspiciously as Elsa's mind kept insisting they were, they did however become more curious of the character when they stopped to speak with Elsa. 

How she wanted to hold Ryu's hand without these nasty fears or emotions ruining the moment. Disgusting shivers of revulsion shook her frame at the idea of some greater being looking down at them in disgust. Ryu didn't deserve that, she was a being of purity and all Elsa was doing was just tainting her chaste legacy red. Ryu did not deserve to ever be associated with guilt and shame. Elsa took an unsteady breath and focused on her warmth. Elsa knew she shouldn't be ashamed of being with her, she wouldn't be, she refused… and yet, shame was there. She wanted to give Ryu everything and more, including herself. Didn't she? 

Elsa did not believe that those who chose the same gender were in need of persecution or wrong, it made her question where these feelings originated from. 

If she was this disturbed by just holding Ryu's hand in public, how could she ever… she gulped… how could she ever move forward in the relationship? 

Ryu didn't raise a fuss when Elsa let go of her hand when they passed the church, briefly hurrying her steps to get away from the building in quick succession. 

Ryu looked over her shoulder, studying it with a frown. Did something terrible happen there to Elsa she hadn't told her about? Sure she knew Elsa's aversion to religion, especially the Lutheranism that dominated Arendelle but this was more than a mere disregard for this building and what it symbolized. She had developed her own demons with religion, having seen too much both beautiful and atrocious. It frightened her, Elsa hadn't even looked back to ensure the girl was still following. 

She jogged to catch up and remained silent. It hurt, how much more relaxed Elsa seemed now that there was no contact connecting them. Ryu's hands made a home in her pockets, she understood. She wasn't bound by the same rules as the spirit. She was already a monster and had no reputation to keep pristine and perfect. Elsa had much more to lose than she. 

She didn't know what it felt like to have so much on the line except her own sanity, but she could understand. They had to be discreet and upkeep propriety. Sure she'd love it if the woman kissed her senseless in front of any who'd dare look but she didn't need it. What they shared was enough, more than enough and Ryu would respect the danger of what they were doing. She didn't mind being a dirty little secret so long as she was Elsa's secret to keep. 

Elsa needed to make it up to Ryu, for so many things; her behavior sullying their outting, the terrible thoughts she had about her and for any future blunders she was certain she'd make, she needed get them out of here yet she couldn't very well drag Ryu all the way back home just to… what was Elsa going to do to make it up to her actually? Maybe she could accomplish two things with one act. She was feeling uncertain about this and Ryu needed an apology. 

Her eyes looked around desperately, Ryu's eyes began scanning too, not sure what Elsa was searching for but eager to help. 

After walking down a narrow alley she found it. Ryu yelped when Elsa urgently pushed her into the rickety old shed, dark and dusty with the only light being any late sun rays that bled through the cracks in the walls and roof. 

"Uuuh?" She began but was silenced seeing Elsa wring her fingers till they turned pink. "May I kiss you?" Ryu blinked at the question tilting her head. "Okay?" Elsa took her cheek gently rubbing it with her thumb. Her eyes were still searching yet for something else entirely. Every now and then a sound from the outside drew Ryu's stare to the door. Elsa leaned in, hesitating, breathing in Ryu's air. It was stuffy in there but her cool fingers soothed any discomfort created by the heat. 

When their lips first embraced Elsa stiffened, till about three seconds in her tight muscles relaxed and pushed her forward. Yes, this felt right. This felt good. She began moving her lips against Ryu's who responded with a purr. Elsa's fingers gripped the back of her neck pulling their bodies flush against the other. This felt too good. 

Ryu licked her lips, it was reactionary for Elsa to capture her tongue and draw it into her mouth gently with her own, and when Ryu squeezed her hips a groan traveled up from Elsa's stomach to her throat. Elsa turned and twisted her head searching for the best angle that would put them even closer if it were possible. This felt right, it was natural even though Elsa knew others would deem it an abomination. Ryu licked her jaw, invited to Elsa's neck by some light head pressing from those cool slender fingers. The small trills and growls Ryu made alongside her randy actions sent currents of electricity throughout Elsa's form, foreshadowing the feral, concupiscent nature that a dragon had. Elsa, aware that her own quiet mewls and rubbing was edging Ryu on to grow rougher, felt a bump hit her upper thighs. Turning back to see it was a shelf Ryu pushed her onto it. Panting against her clavicle, Ryu's dilated pupils focused on her face. "Erusa I… I'm sorry." 

Elsa kept her close, brushing her tresses from her eyes. "Whatever for?" She whispered.

"Your propriety." Ryu winced. Elsa nodded dazedly, not sure she even knew what the word meant anymore. "Uh Uh." She kissed her again, no longer too shy to wipe her tongue against Ryu's, now adding her nails into the mixture of touching. Elsa's mind berated her for her hypocrisy but her body argued there were more pressing matters that required her attention, specifically the eager dragon practically jumping up into her body. Her hands wanted to rub anywhere that was appropriate and knead the muscles along Ryu's back and shoulder. She giggled when Ryu nibbled her ear's shell. 

Elsa studied the contours of what made them both women– breasts touching through her dress and Ryu's blouse, finding a kinship… and affinity. It wasn't the things she had read in books during a woman's first time sharing some semblance of intimacy with a man. Despite everything being familiar, knowing what Ryu was feeling as well it still was just as if not more so intoxicating.

Elsa reluctantly pushed Ryu's shoulders away from her own losing track of their tryst in the shed. She loved the disaster she saw in front of her, from the lipstick smudging Ryu's face and lips, her disheveled hair and wrinkled shirt. They helped each other fix anything out of place and exited the shed after sharing a short chast kiss. 

Did Elsa want this? Yes, well no, maybe not. But maybe yes. Yes, yes, yes a thousand times yes. Perhaps it was the intensity of the emotions Elsa felt towards Ryu that drove her uncertainty, providing a layer of protection, a buffer to keep her grounded in reality, less she became starstruck and so very very vulnerable. 

As they walked to the gates Elsa observed Ryu's little bounce in every step she took, and smiled at the surprise shock on her face when Elsa gripped her hand. Did they go too far? Maybe. Would Elsa mentally kick herself for sending mixed messages and being a contradicting mess? Certainly. Did she regret it?

Once more she side eyed Ryu trying to hold her hand while still biting at a moth fluttering around her head. 

No. 

The outing had Elsa out of breath and back in pain for more reasons other than just the walking, which meant Ryu would administer her medicine. 

With Elsa napping upstairs it gave Ryu the opportunity to work on her own little project she had been ruminating over the past week. 

Kneeling on the ground she unfolded the pieces of folded paper she had been plastering together. Bruni crawled over her shoulder taking inventory of the map. He stared at her for an explanation. 

"It's the outskirts of the North mountains. They're the biggest mountain regions in Arendelle and since dragons like mountains it's my first guess of where any dragon temples would be located." She'd start her search today, she wasn't certain exactly what she'd be looking for but ever since Bulda had mentioned it she felt a longing inside for answers to questions she didn't even know she had. 

"Wanna come?" Bruni nodded, closing his eyes. "That's my boy!" Ryu cheered. Going to the kitchen the search for food began, whatever shelves Ryu couldn't reach she climbed, sometimes tossing boxes over her shoulders when they weren't what she was looking for. Bruni jumped in protest at the clanging and banging she made with the cabinets but was shushed. "You wanna wake Erusa up?" 

They'd be gone for three hours tops back just in time to help Elsa with anything she'd need. If that medicine worked as well as Bulda said it would then Elsa wouldn't even know they were gone-

"Where are you going?" 

"AH!" Ryu dropped her sack after leaping into the air, successfully casting Bruni off her shoulder to the floor. Elsa continued leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and brow furrowed. Her expression of concern meant she had most likely seen Ryu pack away the food, map and other supplies. 

"Erusa I thought you were sleeping." Ryu complained, picking her bag up to set the strap back on. "I was but then I heard all the commotion you were making down here and came to check on you."

Ryu glared down at Bruni. Why'd didn't he tell her they were being too loud? 

Elsa's eyes trailed behind the girl into the messy kitchen causing a frown. "Glad I did." She mumbled. "What are you two doing exactly?" 

"Making lunch." Elsa nodded, her face clearly was expecting more elaboration on the matter. "To go… outside." 

After the silence began choking Ryu accompanied by Elsa's deadpanned face she casted a glance to Bruni who shrugged. "We're going to the north mountains." She stated simply.

Blinking in surprise Elsa seated herself upon the arm of the couch. "Oh I thought you wanted to go together when I fully healed–" Elsa hid the hurt at this, she wanted to play tour guide and show off her castle. 

Ryu, catching the offense she had just spurted, quickly correcting herself. "Not to see your castle or anything. I'm just… " she didn't want to say since it seemed Elsa sided with Grand Pabbie but no more secrets between them. For one it made Ryu feel awful and two only seemed to lead to more trouble. 

"I'm looking for a dragon temple." Elsa's eyes conveyed too many emotions for Ryu to keep track of. She stood and began pacing. "Didn't Grand Pabbie say that would be too dangerous? And you were going to just go find one by yourself?" Ryu opened her mouth to defend herself that she had Bruni with her until Elsa turned around. "I mean they're full of spirits, and probably traps, and dragon magic-" A realization detonated in her brain when she stared at Ryu in awe and glee. "Ryu you're a genius!" The praise seemed to throw Ryu off the defensive axis Elsa's previous words had taken her on; she stood stunned feeling like anything but smart. 

"Umm thank you? But why?" Elsa clasped her hands excitedly. "Dragon magic!" Elsa repeated as if that would answer any further questions. It didn't. 

"The Yokai hunting you, maybe a dragon temple can help us in some way on how to stop it." Elsa rubbed her chin in thought, Gale burst through the window creating a whirlwind in the living room. Snagging some paper from her tornado Elsa sat down and began writing. Ryu peeked over her shoulder making out the words Anna, Kristoff, and quest. 

"Erusa, any temples we find here in Arendelle would have been built by western dragons, Yokai are Eastern spirits." Elsa held up a finger wagging it in the air. 

"Yes Gecko I thought about that, yet from what I've read there are similarities between both western and eastern dragons. Obviously there has been a crossing in cultures at some point. I mean look at you!" Ryu frowned and looked down at herself. She just saw a stain from making lunch while Elsa saw the perfect example of hybridization of a species and cultures. 

When she was done writing a few letters she handed them over to Gale. "Would you mind delivering these to Arendelle, Northuldra, and the valley of living rock please sweetheart?" Gale zipped away taking the letters with her leaving behind a small mess.

"Now let's see it." Elsa demanded. Ryu tilted her head. "See what?" 

Elsa raised a mordant brow crossing her arms. "That map you've been building and trying to hide from me for the past few days." Ryu, feeling utterly diffident, reached into her bag and handed over the map. Elda spread it on the table and clasped her chin, her head tilted forward with concern and disbelief. 

"I- honey–" she began warm heartedly. "This is just a map of the north mountains," Elsa had plenty of those in her study all in varying detail, she gave this one another peek then added. "And it's somewhat inaccurate." Ryu facepalmed herself so hard Elsa feared it would bruise. 

"What exactly were you planning on doing with this and a few sandwiches?" Ryu shrunk down, rubbing her arm. "Go out there and um…" Don't say it if you want Elsa to not think you're a complete imbecile.

"I erm-" Don't. 

"Was gonna look for anything… weird." Elsa's eyes pitied Ryu but she kept her voice even and patient. "Ryu, that's not very smart. For one I'm quite sure dragons would have hidden their temples very well, and for two the north mountain regions are incredibly vast with that approach it'd take you years." 

"Oh… " Elsa hated making her crestfallen but she needed to know all the same. "I'm sure if we explain the necessity to Grand Pabbie he can help us, Bulda can aid us in convincing him, she is Anna's mother in law after all." She held out her hand which Ryu solemnly took. "Just because you may not see eye to eye with someone doesn't mean they're the enemy." Ryu nodded, lesson learned. 

Convincing Grand Pabbie proved to not be an easy task as Elsa thought. Even with the support of her family the old troll was stubborn with his ideals especially when they pertained to forces unknown. 

"I'm not sure where to start on why this task is foolish." He mused tiredly hanging onto his staff. 

"How about from the beginning?" Anna offered, kneeling in front of him.

The shaman tapped his fingers together contemplatively, before nodding "Yes Anna, that seems better than going from bad to worse." They all side eyed each other briefly before the old troll began. 

"Dragon temples; when they lived, served many functions, from a place where council summits were held, to justice halls where the wicked were condemned and sentenced accordingly for their crimes, to educating their young and handling much more complicated matters." Elsa nodded along; she knew this already and was waiting for the but to come dashing her hopes and dreams of finding the information buried somewhere here in Arendelle. 

"Like what?" Anna asked. 

"For example the handling of the vættir." Elsa immediately looked to Ryu who made a face of frustration from her lack of understanding, before she could offer some explanation Grand Pabbie gave his own. "The word's meaning is vague in its own definition dear one but can be used to refer to the full cosmos of supernatural beings inhabiting what was once known as the nine realms, including the álfar–elves, dvergar or dwarves, jötnar–giants, and gods, the Æsir and Vanir." 

"Whoa, whoa, hold on, so you're telling me that Thor, and Odin, Loki, even Heimdall– Asgard! Are they all real?" Kristoff wasn't surprised by Grand Pabbie nodding his head; he was more perplexed by Anna's suspension of disbelief. "Have you met your sister?" He asked, tapping Elsa's leg. She pulled away deeply perturbed to be compared to the Æsir and Vanir. "I'm not a god." Elsa's defensive rebuttal drew a chuckle from Grand Pabbie.

"Nor were the Æsir. Humans were the ones who created gods and goddesses." Well that made sense when she thought about it, by many cultural standards Elsa technically could have been named a goddess of winter as well as the other spirits yet were not. 

"When the nine realms and some branches of Yggdrasil fell back to the other cosmic planes after Ragnarok formed the world we know today." As interesting as Kristoff found this he still wished for a connection. 

"And where do dragons come into play in all this?" 

Grand Pabbie gathered some pebbles from the ground and scattered them across the dirt. "Well not all creatures perished in Ragnarok and even those that did their souls were at unrest, they hadn't a home afterlife, resting place, or anyone to guide them, the sins of the past haunting them to act in wrath." Elsa stared at the pebbles, this all felt familiar, as if it were happening all over again, a history doomed to repeat itself. 

"Some were soothed by wrongs righted and others found respite with the magic of the drage, pacifying and containing them in their temples." 

"And so that awaits us in the temples?" Asked Kristoff growing more concerned about the mission they were presenting, wondering if he were on the right side of the fence. "A bunch of angry spirits and vættir who probably hate humans all the more for killing their saviors in the first place." 

"Not quite-" Bulda interrupted, sounding much less grave than her father and son. She gathered up the pebbles and stacked them carefully. "The drage magic still exists but now it is unwieldy, perhaps laying dormant and if disturbed–" a poke from her fingers scattered the rocks again. 

"So we'd have to ensure not to disturb any of the magic there, no biggie we won't touch anything." Anna said but Grand Pabbie stared down Ryu and Elsa. 

"I'm afraid that won't be enough, magic is almost always reactionary to other magic–" 

Anna caught on. "And Elsa is a whole little ball of concentrated magic." She bunched up her hands to demonstrate. 

"And Ryu is a direct descendant of those that managed to calm them down." Kristoff added. 

"Maybe they'll react positively, after all we still don't know how the Yokai would behave if not under the dragon hunter's influence to Ryu, and it did try to communicate with Elsa." Grand Pabbie and Bulda glanced at Elsa who was hugging herself. "You left that part out." 

"I am so sorry." Elsa replied shakily. 

"High risk, high reward. None of you guys have to come with me." Ryu stood up already having made up her mind, where the others saw this meeting as a means to get permission from Grand Pabbie; she just regarded it as a stop to ask for directions. 

Despite the inside serpent of doubt telling her she didn't deserve to go to the place of her birthright, she wasn't worthy or would even be accepted by whatever was waiting for her there the side that wanted to rid herself of the Yokai and perhaps conciliating anything scornful along the way won. It was the least she could do to protect her friends and others, nothing deserved to remain in agony and unrest for all eternity, especially innocent souls that had been ripped from their own worlds over a war that did not involve them, and if this was all true it was her responsibility, something she hadn't ever known or possessed. 

"That's even worse! You're not going alone Ryu, what did I tell you about wandering off on your own to do shit like this!" Anna chastised. 

"I'll go with you sweetie." Bulda offered, rolling over to Ryu's leg, she marooned Grand Pabbie since someone had to stay behind and to run the village and she knew it, despite his trepidation at this he trusted her and would have to learn that the older he grew and more powerful Bulda became this would not be the last time something like this occurred. Kristoff sighed, getting up. "And Elsa's going with you too, which means Anna's going which means I have to come along too." Kristoff cut off all the volunteering from the sisters. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. 

"This will be dangerous, I have some books and scrolls that will aid you." 

"And the directions of how to get there of course." Ryu followed Grand Pabbie into a cave first which was lit by crystals and luminescent fungi. "Of course." As he gathered the supplies Ryu snooped around looking at the bottles of potions and other ancient scrolls. When they got back she'd have to come here more often. When outside she was taken aback by the masses of round bodies that had encircled the cave entrance. 

She didn't like the way the little rocks were studying her, some even looking at the crystals which hung around their necks then back at her as if expecting something to happen. Unexpectedly they parted like the red sea when she took a step to rejoin her group. Their whisperers were so loud, they weren't afraid of her by any means; fascinated to an alarming degree but unlike the disrespect they had shown to the others by clambering on them and roughhousing there was an aura of reverence they held towards her making Ryu cringe. 

"She's a lot smaller than what I thought a dragon would be." 

Growling Ryu turned scanning the rows of rocks balling her fists. "Who said that?" They stared silent until the perpetrator was revealed when his neighbor slapped him in the back of the head. They weren't exactly what she had expected. Ancient yes, wise yes, friendly and warm especially with the royal family was odd though from such creatures. Who were all probably older than her. 

As they gathered up in the sleigh a voice stopped Ryu's ascension. 

"Dear one." She turned to see Grand Pabbie standing behind motioning for her to follow him to a grotto. Briefly her eyes fluttered to Elsa who nodded for her to go.

As they traveled deeper and deeper darkness consumed them but only for a short while until a shimmering light ahead alluded to the end of the walk. Ryu had to crawl just to follow the troll into the chamber. Strange humming noises filled her ears, they sounded unlike anything she had ever heard from this world. The song was resonating from the hundreds of colorful crystals surrounding the gours. They crept up and out of the water. Seemingly every color existed here, even ones Ryu had never seen before, but how was that possible? The more she stared the more warped her vision had become until she felt the outlines of everything grow wobbly, flaring vertigo in her head bringing her to her knees. She felt fat stubby fingers clutch her shoulders. "This is perhaps the closest you will ever get to light magic as pure as the one within you." Red, green, white, blue and yellow, violet and colors she didn't know the names of contained in shards poked out of the celite in small clutches and large bushels, surrounded on all sides. The water bubbled as she followed him closer to one of the pools. If that was true then why did she feel ill. Ryu didn't know if it was wishful thinking but what she did know was that she wasn't as pure as what the troll believed 

"You must get used to it, as Elsa recovers and prepares for your journey. You will be facing this and much worse in the temple." Ryu changed to her true form growling instead of remedying chaos growing inside her. It amplified the noises and luminous glow of the crystals. The dragon behaved much as Grand Pabbie expected, knocking over one of the crystals to "kill it" if she could but when she touched it the dragon felt tranquilized at the buzz spreading through her. She had never felt this way before but it was comforting, familiar. Changing back she waded into the water and lifted the crystal which towered over her upright, rubbing her palms and forehead on its surface. It pulsed, light flashing in a forgotten language. Ryu didn't know how to respond but could hear, feel what it was saying. An unused portion of her mind understood, the rest just reveled in the sensation. 

The others sang out wanting her attention as well reluctantly she went to them running her fingers along their surfaces. 

She sat at the edge with the young ones, pleased to finally have their turn. She picked up one in particular and enclosed it with her fist sending it into a rambling frenzy. They had so much to tell. Turning to Grand Pabbie with teary overwhelmed eyes she found her voice. "How do I reply?" He smiled softly, lifting his own crystal that hung around his neck. "We can teach you." 

Nodding Ryu turned back to the pool. "I… I'm not what you think. I'm a dragon but I don't know something is broken inside, I-" she froze mouth hung open, not caring about the dazed drool dripping from her lips. "I don't feel like how people describe the dragons of old. I've done terrible things." 

"Nothing was as many say they were dear one. Hurt lingers and cannot always be explained, you wish to justify all the things that were done to you in the past so your mind creates lies that explains and brings you balance. It is your nature and with it brings the inability to comprehend chaos, the inability to understand senseless violence and hatred that have been exuded upon you." That all seemed so contradictory to what Ryu thought of herself, she was the chaos bringer. Yet the crystals of light, the ones who did not lie, did not know what lying was agreed with the troll. 

"Come now." Ryu looked forlorn at him. Clutching the crystal to her chest. "A little longer… please." She didn't want to go back out there, having just learned of this place she had no desire to return to the outside world. Instead she could remain here in peace among her own kin or the closest she'd get to them. 

"You must resist their calls to you at some point if you are expecting to leave the temple of sound mind Ryu. I will request them to dim their song and glow but only a small bit." Lifting his crystal Pabbie whispered heavenly words to them which translated the message to the others. They all heeded except the one clutched by Ryu. She chuckled at them. "They want to stay with me. They haven't been here long but they have a lot to tell and ask. I'm sorry I can't take you with me. You should stay here." She looked out at the pool caressing the crystal tenderly. They did not understand and their sadness stabbed her heart. With a shaking grip she released the crystal back into their place in the pool and stood to unsteady legs following Grand Pabbie in silence out of the Grotto. 

The others silenced when their eyes fell upon them, Elsa regarded Grand Pabbie then Ryu rushing over from the sleigh. Something kept her from touching the dragon, her eyes were red, puffy as if she had been crying yet also starstruck and mournful all at once. 

"She will be fine, and has agreed to some training to prepare for your mission." Grand Pabbie informed, he patted her calf returning to the others. Elsa remained dubious to the type of "training" she'd be going through and if it made her remain as silent and dissociated as she was now was it healthy? 

Everyone remained quiet in the sleigh sensing something else present within the dragon. Her chest glowed but her demeanor was tranquil. When she finally began to talk she couldn't explain what had happened or what she saw or heard in any words from all the languages she knew.

Elsa could sense it, as well as the other spirits who were just as uncertain as she was on how they should conduct themselves further around her. 

Elsa couldn't put to words the feeling she was experiencing, it was deep and cosmic could not be said to be negative nor positive.

It just was. 

At dusk Ryu would leave for the valley of the rock with an impatient yearning that eclipsed all other interests, when she returned in the hours before dawn instead of trudging upstairs to her room she'd collapse upon the couch breathing as if air wasn't available where she ventured. Elsa had watched closely from a distance unsure how to help or ease whatever it was the dragon was enduring, the other spirits too had been drawn in yet still kept their distance when studying the state of her. 

"Erusa?" Elsa turned from her spot on the couch seeing Ryu standing there using the door frame as support, stupefied. "What are you doing up?" Her voice was too quiet and barely filled the space. For a few moments the spirit just scrutinized the girl, catching small glimpses of the forces infusing into Ryu's person, she saw the kindling etching itself inside. It felt beyond physical, Elsa had always thought she knew Ryu, now it felt as if she were truly seeing her for the first time. A low hum resonated through the air sounding miles away yet its origin was from within Ryu. It was both terrifying and alluring, the song, ancient. As Elsa approached carefully she was reminded that despite Ryu's young development, the creature that stood before her was anachronistic. Conceived and existing in a stasis centuries before her, hatched a mere twenty years ago. 

She decided that to receive more answers she'd seek out the council of Ahtohallan about the piece of history staring into her eyes. To be certain, fingers touched the scaled skin. It was still Ryu, it would always still be Ryu. The side that expected to feel someone different breathed out in relief. 

"Would you like for me to accompany you tomorrow?" Ryu appeared tempted, making the action of shaking her head more difficult but once she began she couldn't seem to stop as if answering the question for herself more so than Elsa. "If you came… I'd have no reason to return. I'm trying to learn to resist entities such as those that exist in gour, I have to." 

Now it was Elsa's turn to be dissected by chasmic eyes. "You're very similar." 

Elsa blinked rapidly. "To who?" 

"The light." She knew it was just an observation but felt like a compliment of the highest degree. Elsa's humility was silenced, accepting this to be true. 

"There's–" Ryu led her to the couch and reclined back, keeping their fingers locked. How could she explain something that didn't exist in words? "The crystals, they grow there and live. The trolls tend to them." Elsa knew that much at least. 

"They're the light of the land, kept underground. They speak to the trolls, some of them. Others they… can only communicate through light. It's not like words that you can forget. Whatever they say stays forever." 

"What do they say?" 

Ryu frowned, craning her neck back to stare at the ceiling. "I don't know, it doesn't exist like our words do. It's nothing that can be expressed or used in this world." 

"Maybe in-between worlds, like between the branches of the Yggdrasil." Elsa theorized, the questions and hypotheses that swirled in her mind felt dangerous, even being a mere mortal and knowing of such things was inviting and tempting peril, let alone understanding them. 

They stayed in silence until the sun rose, minds too awake and aroused to invoke fatigue. 

The august sun beamed down upon the traveling party packing up the last of provisions into Kristoff's sleigh. Nokk counted the ground impatiently, nearly stamping Ryu's foot. Elsa soothed him with pats along his neck and mane. 

"Not taking Kjekk Anna?" Anna shook her head at Elsa resting her chin on her palm. "No, he's been well… old lately." Bulda made a face at the answer. "Lately? I didn't know age was curable." She chuckled as she was lifted in the sleigh next to Olaf. 

"Aging is only cured by death!" Ryu gasped, clinging onto the side, agreeing completely with Olaf. "Dying cures everything." She added, just as jovial as he. 

"Okay!" Elsa interrupted changing the direction of conversation, as interesting as they were she did not want to spend the entire journey listening to Olaf and Ryu trade morbid facts of mortality and whatever else they could think of. 

"We won't need the map until we get to the valley below Fjallit Norða. Sven you can set our pace since you're carrying the most." The reindeer nodded enthusiastically, happy to just be back on the road with Kristoff and Anna again. 

It took an hour to till they saw the last remnants of Arendelle's farms and pastures giving away to more unkempt fields. There were so many topics Bulda wished to discuss with Ryu, Elsa needn't explain to her though of the dragon's sleeping schedule content on just petting her scales as she dozed in the back of the sleigh. 

Elsa, Bulda, Olaf, and Anna chatted the morning away into the late afternoon, even with the sun uncovered by clouds, the air grew colder and crisp as they climbed altitude. Elsa inhaled deeply, loving the mountainous air, Nokk however was not a fan, it was dry and very thin unlike the deep, moist, and frigid winds closer to the sea. By late mid day they reached the outskirts of the Fjallit Norða Valley.

"Whoa what was that?" Kristoff and Anna panicked fleetingly when looking back seeing a heavy dragon leap from the sleigh causing the wheels to creak in protest then hiss of the mitigation her departure left. Nokk spooked, drawing away from where Ryu ran hard past them, trampling through the forest with the agility of a big cat and leaving a trail of dust and leaves charging towards the field. 

Elsa made quick work of calming them down so as to trott after Ryu, Nokk lifted a leg when Bulda rolled quickly in pursuit proving her small size was balanced by the weight she could exude once momentum was gained. 

Skidding to a halt Ryu took in the meadow sniffing the air then letting out a loud yowl that echoed off of the mountains surrounding them. Dismounting Elsa joined her side placing a hand on her shoulder surveying the area for herself. 

"Have a nice nap?" Ryu mewled at her which was interrupted by a yawn. She could have slept more but the smells of a new unexplored territory roused her senses. The meadow was absolutely breathtaking, flowering grass claiming this land as their own swaying in the breeze that blew down from the cliff faces. 

Ryu stretched like a cat rolling down the hill in a manner that seemed painful had she been more frail and less armored. Entering the taller foliage Elsa could hear Ryu's chuffs and gurgles as well as Anna's laughter ring out. 

Bulda followed the dragon, closely garnering attention with her movements triggering the predatory instinct to entice the dragon in a game of chase. When Ryu grew too close she'd charge her startling the dragon to retreat just to return back. 

When Elsa caught her eye that was enough of an invitation for Ryu to crouch low and stalk her. It was intimidating enough to stir her legs to sprint away. Even Nokk joined in the game. From Kristoff's perspective it looked like she was nearly trampled by thundering hooves and paws and worry tugged at his belly when the spirit went limp spreading out her arms and legs, but Anna could see her scrunched face and slowed breathing. Her stillness was enough to lure in Ryu to sniff curiously at her face and probe her belly with her large paw. 

Nokk clucked the top of her head with his hoove making Elsa wince trying to hold in any noise. "Ouch." She groaned, he galloped away before she could retaliate. 

Chuffing Ryu stepped over her to follow she turned around when hands gripped her tail dragging along Elsa's limp weight to the other end of the meadow.

Anna snickered at the comedic sight, hands akimbo she spoke in a coy tone. "Whatcha catch Ryu?" 

The dragon lifted her tail dangling Elsa by her arms with an impressive grip. "Oh wow an Elsa." 

"I hear those are very rare." Olaf said, nodding his head. Kristoff wasn't as bedazzled as the others. "Eh this one is pretty scrawny though."

Anna threw up her arms before leaning against Sven "Well what do you expect? She only eats grass, leaves and plants!"  

Well that's just rude. They only laughed at Elsa's pouty glare as she spun in the air. How dare they! She was not scrawny, a bit on the lithe side but definitely not scrawny. "Excuse me, but that is egregiously false. I also drink milk, fruits and eat eggs, and sometimes my personal favorites on occasions. I just have a sensitive stomach!" 

Both Anna and Kristoff hummed, putting on a show of still not being convinced as Olaf and Bulda picked flowers to make crowns with. 

"Ryu, are you sure you'll be able to take care of it?" 

Elsa balked. It! 

"Yea having an Elsa is a big responsibility, she gets hurt a lot–"

"And heaven forbid she goes three days without chocolate." 

"And you have to feed her grass."

Elsa's eyes narrowed dangerously at Kristoff. "I don't eat grass." She deadpanned. 

Ryu regarded the spirit closely, her light blue jacket was rumpled and had grass sticking to it, and the pale cream belt had been turned around backwards, she had flowers poking from her disheveled hair but to Ryu she was a picture of perfection. 

She was sure Elsa had received many compliments about her gorgeous azure eyes but wondered if anyone ever noticed the equally mesmerizing black of her pupils always going ever deeper to who knew where. She wanted to know. 

Elsa, lacking telepathy, didn't know what was on the dragon's mind and batted her lashes charmingly. Ryu chirped, giving a single nod and continued to drag Elsa away. The prize barked out a haughty victorious "Ha!" 

Anna smirked at Kristoff, he shrugged and followed after them. 

"What's that you're stashing over there Els?" Elsa paused momentarily rummaging in her bag then continued. "N-nothing." Her voice was low and held a tone Anna could recognize in an instant. 

"It's chocolate isn't it?" Elsa's silence answered that, in a rush Anna was peaking over her shoulder. 

"You stinker, you were holding out on me!"

Elsa clutched the small velvet satchels to her torso. "What? No no no, I just this is for the both of us I'm-" her hand splayed across her chest. "Just trying to be responsible and ration it." 

Anna held out her palm. "I'll take my share now please." Elsa backed away, not ready to give up the power over the sweet delicacies. Her response had Ryu and Kristoff half grinning, shaking their heads. The pair to them were perfect, absolutely winsome and they weren't even aware of it.  

"We should save them." 

"For what?" 

"Snacking." 

"I wanna snack now." 

"You just had dinner." 

"What does that have to do with anything? I don't eat chocolate because I'm hungry." 

When they both looked down the velvet pouches were gone, the sisters looked around for it until Anna's gasp and vigorous shaking of Elsa's shoulders led her gaze to a tree branch perching Ryu swinging the bags around by their strings. 

"Please give that back." She shook her head at Elsa. "Why should I?" It sounded innocent enough but the intentions were nefarious in nature. 

"Cause it's ours." 

Ryu cocked her head to the side. "And?" 

"And I'll give you um er…" Anna looked around the forest for something that she could offer. "You can borrow Kristoff for a day."

"What?" Anna winced at the man's distant bark. 

"Hmm, I'll consider it." Anna pumped her fist. "What about you Erusa what are you offering?" She thought carefully about how to word it so that it wouldn't raise any suspicion to the others. 

"I will, Ryu-chan, give you a Jasmine flower later." Ryu considered this and nodded, grinning. 

They backed away to give her landing some clearance. "Hey what about mine?" Anna complained when Ryu tossed the bag to Elsa. Another pouch thumped her against the temple landing onto open palms. 

"Jötunn represented the forces of the primeval chaos and of the untamed, destructive nature, however I'm sure asking anyone about their enemy would produce the most horrid description. Their defeats by the hands of the gods represent the triumph of culture over nature, albeit at the cost of eternal vigilance. It is most likely that Jötunnar were much more in tune with nature than many believed or would want to believe… their allegiance with Dragons alludes to the true nature of the drage as well, perhaps knowing they were the enemies of their gods drew man to the massacre of dragons." 

"Seems the Æsir were much more closely related to humans than they would want anyone to believe." Ryu's sharp hearing picked up the bitter mutterings of Elsa beside her. Biting her lip she spoke up. 

"Bulda what do you call an extinct dragon?" 

The troll tapped her chin looking up in thought. "I don't know Ryu what?" 

"A dragone." Anna bursted out with laughter not understanding why the bad pun got her so badly. Even Elsa found herself laughing as well. 

"I don't get it." Olaf still laughed despite this spreading the joy between him and the sisters. Kristoff was just ready for bed. 

"Hey Elsa, what do the bugs on Sven's back say when Kristoff gives him a bath?" 

Elsa smiled at her fondly. "What?"

"Flee, flee!" The spirit snorted into her hands.

Elsa leaned over watching Kristoff set up his and Anna's bedrolls. "What did the flowers say when the gardener added too much soil?" Ryu stared at her expectantly, goading her to finish. 

"That's too mulch man." Ryu snickered barreling over to the ground holding her stomach. Once more comfortable in her drage body both Elsa and Ryu settled underneath a tree.

"Hey Elsa, do you need a-" Kristoff paused when he glanced up seeing Elsa make herself comfortable among a patch of snow surrounded by Ryu's wings and tail.

"What was that Kristoff?" She pulled her hair to the side allowing Ryu to drag her tongue across her shoulder ending each swoop with tiny nips.  

"Nothing." 

"Uh Elsa, why is Ryu umm…" Anna's finger made small circles pointing towards the pair. 

"Hmm? oh Bulda can explain it better than I can I'm sure." 

Bulda nodded proudly. "She's grooming her, dragons groom each other for comfort, to ease anxiety, to create bonds, to clean they're babies and for potential mates."  

Elsa's pupils widened, regretting giving the reins over to the blunt Bulda, she chuckled waving her hand to potentially shoo away the compromising intel. "Oh but our thing is I'm sure is much more different than um ahem that last one. She's probably a little anxious about the-" Elsa couldn't complete her sentence, embarrassment overcoming her momentarily founded courage, spreading a blush along the spots Ryu continued to groom. 

Olaf hopped onto Anna's lap. "She looks fine to me." His innocent observations were followed by a cumbersome silence, the only ones immune were Bulda, Olaf, and Ryu. 

Kristoff's brows shot up and eyes closed when Anna licked the side of his face from top to bottom. Nodding slowly, anyone present couldn't have guessed what was going on in that head of hers. "Hmm yea I can get behind that actually." He looked completely helpless. 

Ryu and Elsa shared a look and rolled their eyes when they caught his low "later" he whispered to her ear.  

Kristoff sighed heavily, tossing and turning to find just the right spot. When sleep started to pull him under little giggles and whispers dragged him back to the waking world. 

"Flee.. can you picture them with their tiny little arms running away from a giant flood?"  Ryu nodded. 

"Go to bed you two." Elsa did her best impression of him for Ryu. "Go to bed!" But it came out low and nasally as if she were holding her nose shut. 

"Good one Elsa." Anna praised lifting the blanket from her face. 

"I don't wanna hear a peep out of any of you. I'm exhausted." He thought he won when light peeps came from beside him and from under Ryu's wing. The dragon's chirp when she joined in actually sounded like a chick. 

Bulda couldn't help herself. "That's a sound young hatchlings make for their parents." 

Anna peeped one last time before her sides were attacked, sending her into a fit. She squirmed and wiggled away from the tickling digits and slapped Kristoff's wrist. 

"No Kristoff, not tonight I'm tired!" 

"What- I wasn't doing anything!"

"Mmm then who's hand was that? Olaf's?" 

Ryu opened her eyes, witnessing Elsa's nose scrunch in disgust. "Yuck." She whispered, settling down when the dragon gave her cheek one final small lick, nuzzling her neck.

Elsa growled in frustration studying over the map she held in her hands, it was straightforward in guiding them up the ridges, which were steep, vast and had Kristoff clutching Sven's reigns tighter than usual, this time it was Anna comforting him no longer daunted by heights, she'd been higher. Her confidence aided Sven in keeping surefooted when the dirt trail ended giving into rocky terrain, pebbles and rubble would displace falling below into the cavernous depths. "Don't we travel through the mountains all the time?" 

"Not these, there's a reason many ice men avoid these mountains, ever wonder why there's no else around. First the ocean, and now we're traversing god's scalp."

"Mountains form when two large pieces of land collide together." Anna grinned at Olaf over her shoulder. "Is that so Olaf?" 

He nodded. "As long as they have a similar thickness and weight, neither one will sink under the other. Instead, they crumple and fold until the rocks are forced up to form a mountain range." 

"Oh so it's not even solid ground-" Kristoff rasped, shrugging. "That's- I mean that's good to know." 

An impasse was reached, the sleigh would be much too wide for the narrow way forward. Elsa continued walking, not looking up from the map, allowing the others to sort it out. Nokk bayed loudly, yanking on her blue cape with enough force that sent her to the ground. 

She was so engrossed she hadn't noticed the cliff side she almost just waltzed off of. He nuzzled her cheek and she patted his thanking him breathlessly while she rose to her feet. 

As much as Grand Pabbie's translations were appreciated, some still made no sense, his instructions would take them to the peak of Sørkjefjellet then nowhere. Sighing she rolled up the scroll and tucked it away in her belt, all they could do now is follow it and hope. 

"-who's going to steal a sleigh all the way out here?" 

"Kristoff, Nokk can take Sven and Olaf back down to the meadows and wait for us there." Both the Reindeer and his friend were not keen on this line of thought. "Don't worry Nokk will protect them, won't you?" The ice steed nudged his nose into Elsa's palm snorting. Separating was not ideal, but both Nokk and Sven were very much out of their element and Olaf wasn't exactly built for climbing a mountain. Elsa knew the fellow spirit would have followed her into an active volcano if she had asked but she'd never stress him more than what was necessary. 

"Can I be in charge?" Olaf asked to cope with the idea of not being allowed to take a long but he had read a lot about mountains; they required a lot of fingers and shoulder strength besides he didn't want Sven to feel lonely. Sure he had Nokk but the water spirit wasn't the most forthright in sharing stories. 

"Of course you can Olaf." Anna promised them quickly mumbled behind her hand to the horse. "Nokk you're in charge."

So Olaf hugged Anna, and Elsa tightly and allowed Kristoff to place him in the sleigh. 

Nokk made certain Elsa was sure about this, she nodded. Neighing, he called Sven to follow his every step back down the summit with Olaf sitting in the driver seat. The Reindeer glanced longing back at Kristoff after he kissed his snout and waved at him.  

"I'll see you later guys." 

"See ya later!" 

Bulda squeezed Kristoff's calf gently. 

So the journey continued on foot.  

"Stick by me." Elsa ordered as the path narrowed, they hugged the wall as closely as possible, wanting to keep far from the edge of an endless drop. It wasn't worth the risks Elsa decided clenching her wrist; she flexed her fingers and thrusted a hand out creating an ice railing which wrapped along the path. 

Ryu watched the ordeal satisfied they wouldn't be in immediate peril. Looking upward she climbed to an overhang clambering up keeping an eye on them from above leaping from ledge to ledge. 

"Careful!" Kristoff called when a pebble struck his head from a jump Ryu struggled with, the last thing anyone needed was concussion from Ryu's mini landslides. When there seemed to be no way forward Elsa's magic set to work again, the creaking of ice and snow compacting echoed, no matter how many times Anna had seen Elsa defy gravity with materializing platforms and stairs it would never cease to amaze her. Yep that was her sister, Elsa didn't invent the saying where there's a will there's a way but she damn well perfected it. 

Feeling much more relaxed that her family had safe passage, Elsa could watch Ryu's serpent-like body navigate the tricky geography like a leopard hunting goats. Her tail serving its purpose keeping her balanced, the joints at her ankles twisted and swirled in a manner that would have broken if a human had attempted such feats. Even when a perch would crumble Ryu would assess and handle the situation calmly. She had certainly done this before without the security of a patched wing. 

"Have you ever been to a dragon's temple before Bulda?" 

The troll shook her head with a sour expression. "I was far too young to ever receive an invitation. Grand Pabbie has whether or not he has been to this one in particular I'm unsure. From his stories however I'm sure nothing but splendor awaits us. " 

"They discriminated against your age?" Elsa didn't know why she found herself surprised at this, perhaps hearing that temples were places they sometimes housed young ones of their own. 

"I wouldn't say discriminate, age is a very important aspect among the drage, even more important than size. To have access to a temple is an immense honor and responsibility, they are sacred and vital to their culture. I'm protective over my home and Kristoff is grown now as are all my children, but the secrets and security it provides me I treasure and wouldn't tolerate others coming and going lightly." Bulda didn't have to mention the species of the others she was referring to, Elsa knew enough about the nature of humans to understand. She felt the same way about Ahtohallan, only she and Anna had stepped foot among the memory river. The thought of some random strangers feeling entitled to the magical sight made her blood boil; she couldn't imagine how much more intense she'd feel on the matter if the glacier provided as a nursery for her own offspring.

This brought her back to how violated she felt when the Empress wished to visit, not the enchanted forest per say, she would always provide guardianship for both the forest and Arendelle and welcomed any peaceful visitors who would wish to be educated, Ahtohallan though, the idea of opening attendance felt beyond disrespectful.

"Are the temples nesting grounds for Dragons?" She liked to imagine so, a beautiful temple brimming with culture, magic, light, and little babies wrecking havoc just as the pebbles do in the valley of living rock. 

Elsa stared at Ryu gliding from a ridge, she miscalculated the distance and amount of wingspan required resulting in her smacking her face into a wall. 

The conversation made her grow reminiscently curious of what the dragon was like as a chick. From Ryu's and Grand Pabbie's stories it would seem dragon chicks were quick to bite and slow to listen. The drage parents and adults must have had the patience of saints in order to raise them, the cuteness factor Elsa was certain they possessed must have helped them get away with a lot. Elsa didn't believe she could survive as a dragon parent, the minute her baby did something, even as naughty as bite Yggdrasil's root, all the little Nidhogg would have to do is flash their big sad eyes at her and she'd melt. 

"Yes, during the wars when roaming became too dangerous dragon's would migrate to the nearest temple to lay their eggs and hatch their chicks. Ahhh to see the little darlings- well I would have sold my left foot to ever witness such a sight as a baby dragon bursting through their shell." Elsa could agree with that extreme sentiment. 

"Well this can't be right?" Elsa mused squinting at the map, changing how she held it as if that would somehow alter the words she read. 

"What's wrong?" Kristoff looked over her shoulder tilting his head for a better view. 

"It says to find the entrance we must trust the key of the temple enough to follow wherever they may lead." She and Kristoff glanced at each other handing it over to Bulda while she whispered begrudgingly under her breath about Grand Pabbie and his damn riddles. 

"So the key is… there's multiple of them?" 

They puzzled over it for a few minutes while Ryu played amongst herself a game of plummet. 

"Trust them, huh." Elsa's eyes scanned around. "Ryu?" The dragon answered dangling upside down naked, Elsa looked away waving her wrist to dress her in an ice cloak. "Hai!"

"Does this mean anything to you?" She held the paper so Ryu could read it over. Perhaps her training with Grand Pabbie could aid them now. "Hmm do not let Anna or Olaf touch this." 

"I take offense to that." Said Anna crossing her arms. 

"No, not that part, this!"

"Nope!" She was being much too blase about this for anyone present's liking, solidifying she had no answers to offer when she changed back now hanging from her tail, limbs tucked in her wings. 

Elsa's magic buzzed in her fingertips the more dead ends they led themselves to. She wanted to blast something, anything, to rid herself of this frustration building up inside. Were they overthinking this? 

Anna groaned from leaning over the map joining Ryu at the cliff side. She followed her example of closing her eyes and allowing the wind to brush hair back against her cheeks. 

Ryu walked away wanting to get a better vantage point of the view as the sun rose to its noon point. She looked back and barked at Anna to follow, jerking her head. She didn't want to experience it alone.

"Hey guys Ryu wants to show me something, we'll be back okay to help."

"Please be careful." Elsa fretted. 

"Pssh Elsa she can fly, we'll be fine. You're great at puzzles, I have complete and utter faith in you!" Anna called following Ryu's steps. Some of the foot holds were far but she had scaled many mountains in her lifetime, this would be no different. 

Ryu cooed at the expanse of what they could see, Anna too felt the rush of the sight. A lazy curl of smoke; be it mist or fog Anna wasn't sure glided across the landscape. The green grass despite some of the scattering snow pooled over the hills and mountains decorating them like long hair cascading down mother nature's shoulders. The snow acted as a beautiful twinkling shawl. Anna strained her eyes searching for where the giant plates of the earth clapped their hands only to never separate. The winds whistled through every crevice carrying the moaning song of the mountains for miles. 

Once every detail was squirreled away in her mind Ryu led Anna to a small stream rippling from a crevice, where the water came from was unknown but it was cool and a pleasant to touch. Ryu lapped at it with her tongue humming when Anna copied, slurping from cupped hands drinking from the spring. It was delicious, she could taste the rocks, and ice that had melted into the beverage. 

Wiping her hands up on her black trousers Anna's chest indulges in another greedy gulp of air. "Anything else you want to show me?" Her reasoning was simple really, Ryu was a dragon, and dragons liked mountains so much so they carved important complexes in them or under them Anna still wasn't clear on what was going on with the temple location, but her inner voice told her that if she were to enjoy being stuck atop a mountain peak than having a dragon as a tour guide was the way to do it. 

Ryu shot her a quizzical stare, this was Anna's territory, she had never even been to this part of Arendelle before, but if it was nice stuff Anna wanted to be shown Ryu was sure she could find some things. 

She rose to her hind legs sniffing around. She picked up a lot, some scents were more interesting and alluring than the others and those were the ones she followed. 

Oh this was something. 

Going up to a wall Ryu aligned her paws properly and hopped up gripping the jagged edges tightly with her pads and claws. To Anna it appeared as if she were standing on nothing but air, hovering like a dragonfly over the water. "Wow! That's amazing! How are you doing that?" 

Ryu wiggled her long tail which kept her balanced with counterweight then showed off her large grippy talons. 

"Let me try." Anna bounced on one leg removing her boots and rolled up her magenta sleeves to her elbows. She launched herself to the wall but only succeeded in bruising her ribs and back when she fell back down to ground. "Ow."

Ryu laughed, nearly falling herself but swiftly corrected. 

The pleasures of the oasis mountains led the girls higher and higher, Ryu following her nose and interests and Anna following Ryu commenting on said interests even discovering some new ones for herself leaving behind Kristoff, Elsa and Bulda to ponder over the map. It's not like they had anything better to do. Sure she wanted to help and went over the words in her own mind but she had no hope of figuring it out. She didn't even know where to begin, and worried that any solutions she offered the group would just fog their minds more than they already were. 

"Oofm!" The sudden force of smacking into Ryu's rump sent Anna onto her tailbone, hissing as she stood up rubbing the sore spot. She stopped short from giving her an earful when she saw the weird head and ear swivels Ryu made, a gurgling hum bobbed her throat in a high frequency. "What?" Anna asked genuinely concerned from the behavior. Ryu barked and yowled noises at a few peaks Anna had never heard from her before. "You wanna go there?" Anna pointed to an encircled range of mountains, sitting like the jewels stop a ruler's crown. The clouds shielded their snowy slopes slowly dragging along. 

Ryu jumped in place. Anna wasn't fluent in drage but that could only mean Yes! Yes! YES! 

She observed them then Ryu, shrugging as she climbed to her back. "Okay." She didn't see any reason why not. 

"Maybe there's someone who will show up and show us the way." It was a bottom of the barrel statement but it was all Kristoff's mind had left, he was slumped over a rock defeatedly and his mind felt fried. Elsa sat with her fingers folded glancing at him with sharp eyes. Even through his well controlled expression a hint of a grimace was let pass. Elsa felt for him.

She fell silent after swapping ideas and let Bulda and Kristoff continue their connections out loud. Grand Pabbie wouldn't have said that unless it meant something, she examined the last part. Follow wherever they may lead. The key was moving. Or mobile. That meant the key wasn't just a simple brass one or password but had an identity. May lead, not asked to lead but to lead of their own volition. Perhaps Kristoff was right, the best thing for us to do is wait here. 

Ryu's roars approached and her loud paw steps could be heard, Anna was with her looking over the group. Elsa couldn't break her focus and look up from the paper, she felt closer than she had ever been in the past two hours, unaware that she was being studied as well. She felt foolish and dim minded. 

Ryu drew closer, Seeing Elsa's brows furrow like cracks in a wall showcased her humanity yet she remained standing strong for those who needed her. Elsa didn't pester or berate her and Anna for leaving to goof around and explore. Instead putting the burden of finding a solution on herself. 

Her eyes sharp went over the words as comb teeth that didn't allow a single hair strand to escape their detangling. They shined with frustration and impatience of mind desperate to move yet was held still with great discipline. 

"What have you two been up to?" Bulda asked. 

"I brought some water for everyone." Anna offered,  tossing the water pouch to Kristoff's lap. 

"Do Grand Pabbie words make any sense yet?" She asked, leaning against a wall. Elsa ran her fingers through her hair pushing it from her face. "We have theories but all they are theories that we don't even know how to implement." 

"Well that's a bummer, Bulda? You know him better than any of us here especially what would be going through his head when he wrote this." The usually perky troll hung her head. "I'd sooner throttle his fat head, you know I never suspected he'd be this sneaky. I know he didn't want us to go the temple in the first place but to send us on a wild goose chase!"

"We'll just have to ask him once we get back from exploring the temple." Anna's words tickled something inside of Elsa's mind drawing her up from her seat. "What- how can we explore the temple without figuring out-" 

Anna's eyes lit up. "Oooh yea Ryu and I found it, it's over there." She pointed to the mountain crest. 

"What?" Everyone yelled, shooting up stretching their coiled and cramped muscles that had been abandoned in favor of exercising their minds. 

"How- I mean how did you?" Anna shrugged sheepishly. "We just kinda mucked about until we came across it. Sorry I wasn't really of any help but I didn't want to distract anyone so I just followed Ryu around until we came across it." That wasn't exactly what happened, it wasn't as lucky as Anna described from Ryu's perspective. As she explored the range with Anna she came to the conclusion that Elsa was a lot like the mountains they resided in. Quiet with her strength, yet a dangerous temptress with her cliff faces. She held her power in reserves yet it still bubbled just inches beneath her skin whenever a powerful emotion would surge through her. The mountains that hid the temple away reminded her most of Elsa, with the way they drew her in with quiet hums, buzzing just beneath the surface. An energy surged through them that she couldn't resist when she came close enough, and the more their proximity grew the stronger the urge became.  

Ryu figured the moment Elsa solved the puzzle it would feel as like a dam that held back thousands of gallons of water but also containing cracks along its surface which existed there for years, but now that moment could never arrive due to her own and Anna's curiosity getting the better of them. She just hoped Elsa wouldn't be mad or disappointed. 

Elsa fell silent once more and her mind's dam broke. And oh boy was it a beautiful sight to see for Ryu. She joyously laughed, hugging Anna tightly. "Anna you're brilliant, you hear? Amazing!" Anna chuckled a long nervously, really it wasn't as big a deal as Elsa was making it. Just her stumbling into the right place at the right time, well more so Ryu doing that, she just went along for the ride. 

"We don't have to ask Grand Pabbie for the translation! Cause Anna you figured it out." 

Bulda squealed, hugging Anna's legs nearly toppling her over had it not been for Elsa's form grip. "I did?" She tilted her head still not catching on. Kristoff joined the group looking to Elsa for an explanation. 

"Yes you did, behold everyone, our key." Elsa waved at Ryu who was in the middle of scratching a pesky itch behind her head. "To find the entrance we must trust the key of the temple enough to follow wherever they may lead. Ryu is that key, Anna and you followed her around the peaks until she was finally able to locate the temple."

Anna made an oh face then gave herself a little pat on the shoulder. "You solved it." Kristoff pecked her lips. 

 "I didn't even know I was! I just wanted to know how she could stand on walls like a goat!" 

Returned was the determination that lit Elsa's eyes ablaze as they casted to the mountains. 

"Let's get to that temple." 

Chapter Text

From a few miles away Elsa had been deceived into thinking that peaks' crest would act as a half circle wall as means of protection, now standing on the rocky ledge she could see she was half right. The jagged crown was a wall but once one got past it there was a lethal drop into a crater, an endless fall, and if the clouds hadn't shrouded what awaited them, Elsa doubted her eyes could see that far to the bottom.

The wind was unforgiving, Elsa and her companions had the constant need to squint, wanting the ability of having her full– nearly full vision Elsa tamed her long tresses up in a ponytail, giving the same courtesy to Anna, handing over a thin ice band, she gazed back down into the crater. 

There was no path, no trail, just a few connecting parts and naturally formed arches which bent in very unnatural angles downward, even the clouds now that she was looking closer were lenticular clouds drawn towards the epicenter. Elsa had concluded from the walls and formations that like a beast of the sea who opened their large gaping maw sucking in anything above so to were the contents being pulled into the waterless whirlpool, until– feeling pricks at her fingertips did she notice that her magic was leaking from her pores in small incremental wisps. 

The discovery was alarming at first, until Elsa realized she had been the one doing it. The urge wasn't strong enough to inspire her to fling herself off the edge but there was a lure, a force that she was drawn to by her own beguilement, not akin to a siren's song but a pastry that sat on a counter wafting its delectable scent through the air. 

She turned to see the only one affected by this phenomena as well was Ryu. Her reaction was much more perfervid, the dragon passed along the ledge anxiously drumming her fingers along her biceps. She still had the will over herself to not abandon them there but wanted in. 

"Just a straight plummet to certain death." Kristoff's voice echos died down telling of how far the sound traveled before it ricocheted off a surface. Anna kissed his cheek tenderly. "Don't worry Kris, Ryu knows the way down safely." As she said this the dragon shook her head keeping her eyes pointed to the crater with a serious expression. "I don't, I just follow the pull." 

Bulda rubbed her chin curiously at this. "Must be the light magic, which means it's still alive somewhere deep down there. I wonder if they have any crystals." The excitement grew in her voice as she spoke of the prospects but again Ryu shook her head. "It is not the same gravitational force I felt in the gours. That was… concentrated and raw–overwhelming." That made sense to Elsa if she were to go off the stories and descriptions Ryu had graciously shared with her of her training sessions. The way she could make sense of it was that the magic crystals the trolls protected were sources, not diluted, of this world yes but the core of most things magical. It seemed bold to correct an expert that was Bulda but she knew Ryu was only stating the sensations she felt and considered herself extremely intrigued. "This is… like a lullaby. Someone is awake down there and they…" It was like comparing lemonade to an actual lemon.  

An expression of shock, worry, and excitement took over her face at once. "They know I'm coming."

Kristoff sputtered for a moment. "Who is they?" Ryu simply shrugged. "I dunno, let's go!" She morphed and went for the edge. 

Anna bounced into action rubbing her palms climbing onto Ryu's back. "I'll go first, I've already been down there once. Bulda wanna join?" 

"Is moss and lichen soup the perfect remedy for toe jam rot?" Anna blinked at her for a minute befuddled. "Umm… maybe? Yesss?" Bulda laughed, holding her belly. "Of course I'm ready to go! I've been waiting for six hundred and eighty two years for this! To not just explore a drage temple but to be accompanied by one as well." She squealed giddily. "Cliff is going to be so jealous." Ryu didn't want to get Bulda's hopes and expectations too high, yes she was a dragon but she was still just… Ryu. 

Anna leaned down and whispered context in her ear. "That's my father-in-law. You'll meet him when we get back." Ryu had no issue with that, she liked Bulda, she was good times. The rock troll spread out her arms for Ryu to grip her gently with her forearms, holding her like a child holding their teddy bear, rearing up to rest back on her hind legs. She had to brace her arms for a better grip, this troll was sturdy. 

"Okay, you guys take the scenic route Elsa and I can take the stairs and meet you down there." Elsa looked to Anna and understood her face of sympathy and pitied the man. Flying with Ryu could make one who was as ground centered as Kristoff sick to their stomach as the weightless sensations caused all of their organs to float around inside. Anna loved it the moment she felt it but Kristoff, he'd happily stick to riding Sven. 

"I'm sorry Honey but it's not a straightforward way down, there's lots of twists and turns and then a loop da loop–" Anna's finger twirled swiftly. "I still have no idea how Ryu navigated her way there without crashing." Ryu hooted at her. "That's true you did crash on our way out, but let's be honest that ceiling came outta nowhere. Just hang on tight–" Anna squeezed her legs closer to Ryu's torso. "and move your body according to hers. Like dancing!" They stared at each other until Anna remembered a well known fact about Kristoff. Her face fell instantly. 

"Oh that's right." 

Elsa watched her wings spread and take them off the ledge, to her bewilderment Ryu didn't plunge straight down as she expected, instead curving slightly up in their descent, to left then right vanishing into the clouds and darkness. She could hear Anna and Bulda's "Woohoos!" Even from a great distance. 

As they stood, Elsa wanted to comfort Kristoff but her thoughts remained on what was awaiting them, still she wrapped her arm around his shoulders receiving a grateful small smile in return. They both watched the clouds waiting for Ryu's familiar silhouette to appear. 

It seemed the siren calls from magical beings and entities was the life cycle she was destined to follow, it had to be some obscure law of attraction she wasn't aware of yet. 

The directions came quicker, the need to be led grew less required as Ryu memorized the way, she wished she had also focused that much mental energy on exiting, figuring it would be just an inverse. She was proven wrong when as Anna foretold she slammed into the ceiling of a ridge creating a cloud of dust and small rocks falling around the collision.

It took fifteen minutes when Elsa jumped away from Kristoff hearing a yelp reverberate from the crater. It was definitely Ryu. She cupped her hands around her mouth. "Ryu, are you okay!" 

A weak gurgle answered back, sounding closer than the cry. 

"Anna? Mom? How ya holding up?" Kristoff called but his only replies were too faint to be considered discernable. 

They back up for Ryu to land and shake out her body. Elsa touched her gently, unsure of where she hurt herself. Cooing she motioned for them to climb on her back with Elsa upfront. Kristoff's anxiety began to influence Elsa's wellbeing, heightened when Ryu ominously spread her wings teetering over the edge. This was a lot more nerve wracking than Elsa remembered. "Oh god." Kristoff took deep inhales and even longer exhales, his strong grip kind of hurt but Elsa wouldn't deny him the security. "Ryu would you mind if I umm tethered us to you?" Ryu dragon twisted her neck back to them, giving a little shake turning forward. Placing her palms on Ryu's neck, ice crept around her neck to her chest, spreading fractals to her torso, the ropes tied around Kristoff and Elsa's waists keeping them securely locked to Ryu's back. She growled and grunted as they tightened whenever Elsa grew more stiff. "Sorry." Elsa ruffled her mane's fur, very appreciative of her patience with their novice discomfort. 

Her breath jumped at the same time as Ryu did off the ledge following the same path she took before, Elsa could feel herself rising from the dragon's back despite the tether, her organs rose along with her floating the contents of her stomach. She gripped Ryu's fur probably too tightly to gain some semblance of control. Even if she tried she wouldn't have been able to steer the Dragon was now one track minded determined to reach their destination as hurriedly as possible. The speed they went at kept Elsa's ponytail constantly whipping Kristoff in the face. She reminded herself to never doubt Grand Pabbie again. No human would have been able to traverse this maze on their own. The smell of rotten eggs and damp rock assaulted their nostrils. 

Ryu performed a series of twists and turns, Elsa couldn't even see around them, catching only glimpses of rocks and cave-like structures. A small glimmer of light shines through a crack she hoped they could fit through. "Duck Kristoff." Ryu was forced to turn sideways, tucking in her wings and limbs– even her ears to squeeze through.

The first sense to detect anything was their ears flooded with the sounds of water. Opening her eyes, Elsa found herself astounded by the warmth and brightness of the sun hitting her face. 

A punchbowl waterfall descending in a constricted form spreads out in a wider pool, feeding the luscious fauna in the steep walled canyon The mountains cradled. The air smelt spicy and warm like flames were present yet nothing burned, juxtaposed to the cold, crisp, thin air from where they came from. 

Elsa could only stare with her mouth open at the oasis that lay before her. Anna and Bulda waved at them from below when Ryu landed in the grass peninsula shaded by a large tree. Elsa dismounting studied it having not expected a Norway maple to be growing this high up. To be fair she hadn't expected there to be a small little paradise overgrown with various plant life either. 

Even Kristoff was transfixed by what they found, tiny little particles shimmered in the air floating giving away that they were not a bug or insect of any kind. Come to think of it, as Elsa explored around, despite being the perfect sanctuary there were no signs of life other than the fauna present. One conclusion could have been the altitude but inside Elsa didn't think that was correct. 

The ethereal energy was somewhat overwhelming even for her let alone a stray goat or wolf who couldn't understand what they had come across. Across the land bridge Anna seemed to be enjoying herself completely chatting with Bulda seeking the meaning for what they saw. 

Elsa crossed glancing down at the water Ryu morphed and brought up the rear. It was expectant of her to splash around or leap, running from one side to the next, yet she remained tranquil. Even her eyelids weren't open fully but Elsa could tell she was still absorbing every detail no matter how miniscule, she couldn't blame her she was well and felt a deep heavy peace surrounding her being. 

So captivated she hadn't noticed the cairn planted in the grass before them. Oval and arcing, about four feet off the ground, it was hugged by creeping plants hiding the ornate sigils tattooing its surface. As Bulda pulled away the foliage Elsa leaned in closer to examine them more thoroughly. It was so similar to Nordic runes she knew by heart yet distant enough that she couldn't make heads or tails of what they could have meant, too curving and spiraling, all connected. The stone was sterile, lonely, despite the solid composition. 

Anna broke the silence first. 

"Well how do we get in Key?" Ryu shrugged at a loss for words ignoring Elsa's reaction to her nudity as she covered her in another cloak, it was becoming routine at this point. Bulda remained quiet squinting at the symbols, anyone who looked at her could see the connections her eyes were making as they flitted from one side to the other, her trail of reading led to the wall behind the shrine where she called to Kristoff to help in clearing away some of the hanging plants. 

A creepy still, small voice whispered in her ear. "Touch it." The voice did not come from within, feeling the air from Anna's mouth caress her neck startling Ryu to jump away. 

"Why did you whisper?" She complained. 

"I don't know, didn't want to disturb the peace of this place." Her eyes gesture to their surroundings.  

"Wait-" Elsa held out her hand. "Maybe you should wai-" but it was too late. Ryu's body shook as if she was struck by lightning and teeth clenched, looking closely they could see the subtle spasming in her muscles. When the ordeal was over she fell limp to her knees, face planting in the ground and rear end pointing to the sky. 

Anna took her fingers away from cupping her chin in favor "Well that's not ideal." Thirteen seconds when Ryu gasped, bolting upright glaring at Anna, her hand sliced through the air following a sharp whisper. "Stupid fucking idea."

"Aha! Well that's easy!" Bulda called. "It needs to know you're a dragon ryu. Show it." Ryu cringed, great now Bulda was speaking in riddles. Elsa helped her along by blowing cold mist in her face, she couldn't help but return it catching on from the spirit's raised suggestive brow. 

Facing the stone, her friends backed away, slightly uncertain of what would follow after Ryu opened the door. She eyed the pillar, fingers feeling cramped rubbed together as she took hard gulps. The first test, it was silly really, she knew what she was yet inside anxiety brought up terrible what if scenarios of what ifs. If whatever was supposed to happen didn't, she knew Elsa and the group ever determined would pry their way in but the shame of not performing well enough to prevent that… it made her want to throw up. 

Her friends waited patiently behind her. "Come on Ryu, you love burning things." Elsa grinned at the whisper Anna meant for just herself. 

Inhaling as deeply as she could Ryu closed her eyes, bracing her legs, her chest glowed from the build up of flammable substance bubbling. Even when full capacity was reached still she kept stoking the flame unaware that the heat she radiated could be felt by the others. 

Finally she released the flames which spewed out in such copious amounts Elsa, shielding her eyes, feared she would light the glade on fire or melt the stone. 

The shrine, like a dehydrated flower soaking up the first rainfall of the season, absorbed the fire within its crevices, spreading the lumination to the sigils. 

A low, resounding groan awoke behind the shrine. The obsolete sound of stone that hadn't been moved in centuries was heard, crumbling any too sedimentary stone away, it would not be stopped nor delayed. The wall began lifting, tearing away the fauna that had called it home for so long from their roots. It was slow moving but stringent. The dust was a choking hazard refusing to settle even once the wall was fully opened. 

The large corridor was lit by Ryu's flames traveling along the sides contained in the lengthy braziers which seemed to reach all the way to the end. 

Ryu tilted her head. "Where is it taking it?" Bulda joined her side and smiled. "Probably somewhere it can be examined by another dragon. Dragons can identify each other by their flames, each one is unique to them." 

Slowly they entered, traveling along the quiet hall. Bulda was practically skipping appreciating the architecture and they were only in the entrance. Elsa held Anna's hand, needing something to keep her from sprinting down the hall to see what was next, the sensation of the pull only growing more sporadic inside. The symbols on the walls similar to the one on the shrine were at a loss to her. Ryu kept her eyes trained forward, refusing to look at the walls, the two sides of her taking their places ready to battle one another. 

Elsa's breath hitched when they reached the end of the corridor, what lay before them was a great expansive space that could fit at least three of the earth giants comfortably. She had encountered large structures before but this… made her feel like nothing more than a spec. 

"Wow." Anna breathed. Light filtered from various sources including the hole carved in the roof, so many ways to go, the tasks that awaited them suddenly became much more daunting. Along some of the walls, rows of tall statues shaped like beasts of old were erected. Some of them looked like humans melded together with red deer, while others looked like strange birds mixed with lynx cats possessing hooves. Others were bipedal bears and carried weapons that could deal death in one blow. All at least fifty feet high. 

Elsa shivered when she looked into their faces, recognizing some of the creatures from what they represented in her culture and myths… well could she even call them that now– they were history and all shared a trait that created a foreboding sense of dread. It was they're dead, cold eyes, akin to the shrine outside, felt as if they were once filled but now remained empty, eyes that followed the group no matter which angle they took… If it hadn't been for Ryu's presence she would have felt like a proper trespasser. Touching some surfaces Anna noticed that even when being gentle it brought bits of disintegrating materials into her palms.

"This stairway is large." Kristoff points out, hoping the others caught on to what he was insinuating. 

"Of course it is cutie," Bulda chimed. "Dragons aren't exactly small creatures." She laughed at the very notion. "How big did they get?" Anna asked exuberantly. 

"They never stopped growing so no one really knows. A dragon has never actually died of old age before," Elsa frowned at this. Looking at Ryu, she wondered what she would look like as a titan, it plagued her to think of the individuals who wanted to snuff out her young life when she had so many years of growing and loving ahead of her. "The largest one in history, well that is difficult to say since so many interpretations of them exist even among their own kind. There's Bakunawa whose mouth is said to be as large as a lake, he was rumored to have a desire to eat the moon- Then there is leviathan, he was a sea dwelling dragon, said to be three hundred miles long." Anna dropped her water satchel at this. Elsa couldn't fathom such a creature like that existing, how did they eat? How did they move? How did they not rule over the earth itself?

"The list goes on really, but this probably isn't even the biggest space within this temple. Oooh let's go see!" No wonder dragons prized age and size if they had the capabilities to become such behemoths. Ryu remained quiet and perhaps feeling self-conscious regarding the talk of size, it was a sensitive topic for her, whenever being referred to as small made her bristle up like a cat.

Elsa began calculating, if it took Ryu twenty years to reach the size she was at now, she had a very long way to go. Elsa would help her every step of the way, she had no idea how long she had to live and didn't question it all that much taking things one day at a time regarding her mortality, it was a depressing thing to consider her magic prolonging her life. She'd have to watch her friends and family leave this earth but now she at least didn't have to be alone, intuition still told her that Ryu would be alive long past her time though, that was even sadder. The idea of the colossus Ryu roaming the world on her own, last of her kind, all Elsa could do was hope the world would treat her kindly. 

Ryu nudged Anna's arm with a mischievous grin. "If I don't die by the time I get that big, guess who am I going to put in my mouth?" Anna shuddered at the very idea. 

"Just don't swallow." Kristoff warned. "I kinda like her." 

"Nah she'd probably give me food poisoning and kill me." 

Anna huffed, snatching her elbow away from Ryu's grip. "Excuse me but I have heard from a very valuable resource that I taste very delicious." 

"From who? Kristoff? I've seen him eat an onion thinking it was an apple and didn't even flinch. Come on Anna." Ryu ripostes

With how charming she is Elsa was sure she'd have many love stories. Her smile slowly faded at this. She felt sick at the idea of Ryu looking at someone the way she looked at her, to kiss them, to caress them, to assure them that they were her one and only and all other love she experienced in the past were candle flames compared to the forest fires they ignited in her. 

Her hatred at this concept was self-absorbed. Ryu deserved to be loved through her entire existence; she knew it but she couldn't help it. She was the first and definitely would not be Ryu's last. She wanted Ryu to be loved, she wanted her to be protected by someone much more capable than she. All her inadequacies, they were a glaring blot on her existence, she'd die and someone else would come along and take the torch handling it with much more ability than she was capable of. She'd give Ryu everything she had to give and that still wouldn't be enough, and then Ryu would give it to someone worth so much more than she, would Ryu stay with her when old age eventually reached her, or would she grow bored and leave to search for a someone that could keep up with her? And if this terrible reality didn't come to fruition Ryu would be alone. 

So alone… 

She could stop now, she could leave before Ryu loved her and she loved Ryu but that too was a miserable option. No matter what she chose, every path led to pain. 

Her eyes began to sting from tears held back. 

She was going to be ill. Why did she have to do this when she could have been listening to Bulda's lecture? Breathing became difficult, so many thoughts swirling through her head and none of them good. If she had been paying attention she'd notice how her distress carried over the walls and ceilings. She'd notice how the air clenched not from her hyperventilating but the temple itself. The peace was disturbed. 

"Hey I'm gonna go–" she looked around for a way to escape. "Just gonna peek in these rooms to see if we missed anything." Before anyone could question her disappearance she ducked into a smaller hall blindly entering a room. It was a study, so mundane for its location could explain. Elsa didn't care; she needed privacy to calm herself. She felt foolish for letting this get to her as much as it did. They came here with a purpose, a serious one at that and here she was hiding and sniveling like a petulant child. 

"Well that's… unexpected." Anna said, holding out her arms, Ryu wasn't certain if she meant Elsa dipping away in a random hallway or the doorway which was sealed. It was unlike the others, the brightly hued white door was out of place amongst the dark stone. Patterns curved along the front of it the archway was much darker in tone than the actual door. It had no knob or handle, no latch or button to press, sealed tightly fingers couldn't pry it open. 

"Blow your fire at it." Anna commanded. 

"That's not the solution to everything." Yet Ryu still attempted this and nothing. Anna examines it closer, touching the outside. "It looks… flesh-like." She sounded disgusted by this but still continued her probing. 

"I'm going to go see what Erusa found, keep trying to open it." Ryu stated but the prospect of that happening made Anna's stomach churn. 

"Erusa?" Ryu's worry grew when she didn't turn around. "Erusa?" Her voice deepens and a smile disappears from her face. 

Approaching Elsa flinched from the hand placed on shoulder, Ryu looked her over. The only thing out of place was Elsa's puffy face, she sniffled tell tale signs that she had been crying. 

"Erusa what happened? What's wrong?" Elsa's throat bobbed, swallowing the lump that formed. 

"I'm sorry." Her voice quivered. "What for?" Ryu gave a weak chuckle, really what happened? Elsa had been behind them as Bulda talked and then she was gone. 

Elsa rubbed her face with her hands, not believing what was going on herself. "You're going to be alive for a very long time, and you will find and experience so much love, and care." It was a conflicting thing, her voice, sounding both sorrowful and happy. Ryu blinked. That sounded like a good thing to her. 

Elsa turned, putting the tomb down gently on the weathered desk. Clasping her hands behind her back. Her shoulders rose. "I won't be there." Oh. 

Ryu couldn't help but half smile at this. "Yes you will." Her confidence was puzzling to Elsa, Ryu could tell, she had that inquisitive look on her face. 

"How do you know?" 

"I can not explain it, but you're not like other humans, Erusa. The magic inside of you is not something that ages. It is so close to light magic and that it doesn't snuff out unless it meets an external source." Elsa hadn't considered that. 

"Still, no matter my magic, my body Ryu, my soul… "

"I'll keep it in here!" Elsa choked up at how Ryu excitedly pointed to her chest… her heart. "Bulda was saying dragons can serve as vessels." 

Pulling her in, Elsa caressed her nape and cheek. Feeling calmer already, she took a breath. "And when you meet someone else after I'm gone and want them to stay?" Ryu doubted this would happen, after all she had traveled the world and met no one like Elsa. "You'll have company?"

Elsa winced. "May get rather cramped in there, besides you'd have to die for that to happen." They connected their foreheads, sharing air. Elsa couldn't deny, the idea of joining souls, becoming one in a way she couldn't even fathom, was comforting, beautiful. 

"Erusa I don't know what's going to happen in the future, I may die before you do. But I do know about now, and right now is what matters most because it's happening." Ryu planted Elsa's racing feet back on the ground. "Our time is limited." Elsa rebuttals. 

This didn't deter Ryu, she remained resolute, she never actually focused so much on the future in the way Elsa did. More so it was planning her next move, what country she'd swim or fly to next, where to find her next meal. This concept Elsa was describing didn't solve any problems now even if they could figure it out. It didn't take away hunger, thirst, it seemed to only begot pain. So why did Elsa fixate on it so adamantly? 

"Then let's enjoy it while we can no?" It was true Elsa was jumping ahead, flipping through the book of her life but the pages were blank, not yet written so she theorized the ending to soothe her anxieties just worsening them.

"Hey?" She lifted her eyes. "If you ever worry about this, or anything again… if you want to, come to me." Elsa nodded, savoring the brush of fingers against her cheek. 

"Breath, focus on the now." Focus on the now; Elsa could do that, right now she and Ryu were holding each other's faces. Now there was a blurry girl at the end of her nose, her eyes merging together, it was a funny sight, it meant Ryu was so close. 

"What do you feel?" Ryu gently guided her hands over the table.

"I feel the wood of the table." Ryu nodded. "Good, what does it feel like?" Elsa had no idea how she sounded unfeignedly fascinated from such a simple, inconsequential inquiry. "It's old and will probably give me splinters." It did. 

Ryu grinned, keeping her eyes closed when she felt Elsa jolt. "Only been here for twenty minutes and you're already injuring yourself." Bringing Elsa's hand up to her lips 

 "A new record." Elsa would have told her she could use her magic to push out the slither of wood but the way Ryu sucked on her index finger stopped such protests dead on her throat. The heat from her breath alone was instantaneous, reminding Elsa of how alive Ryu was, spilling over her hand in little puffs of steam as Elsa exhaled. A tingle rolled down her body all the way to her toes which she clenched in her boots. Like a sweet venom, Elsa took note of how wet Ryu's mouth was, wet and hot, potent. How soft and pliant her lips were. Elsa hoped that there was an afterlife and that she could bring Ryu along with her when the time came, even if it was hell Ryu would probably drive Satan insane with all her meddling, and damned curiosity. 

Feeling how gentle she was careful to not pierce Elsa's skin with her fangs Elsa closed her eyes sighing, her other hand occupied itself scratching the nape of Ryu's neck drawing unorthodox sounds from her as well. 

There were a lot of maybe's that awaited them, those weren't written in their books yet, there was no reason to fear doom if it wasn't down yet. 

Why not fantasize about nice things? 

Elsa's fingers found their way to her hair, if asked Elsa would adamantly insist they acted on their own when they pushed Ryu down her finger's length. The dragon didn't pull away, instead hollowing out her mouth to play along. She pressed on the soft parts exploring places her tongue hadn't been yet finding them utterly fascinating. She was drunk off of the feeling. The devotion, and adoring touches. Elsa knew she was forever ruined before but now…

A part of her wished they'd never met, the idea of irrevocable emotions and pinning such as what she experienced were terrifying. She needed to quiet her emotions, they were too loud. The only way she'd survive was if Ryu lied to her, sweet untruths that could keep her from getting out of bed in the morning.. 

This is unsanitary. Elsa couldn't deny that Ryu probably put worse in her mouth, the story of how she drank from stagnant waters still worried Elsa but she must have had a strong immune system. Elsa's fingers were most likely the most sinful though. The thought brought a moan past her lips, she worried the bottom one with her teeth. 

"Umm." The familiar voice brought the pair from their personal heaven turning to the doorway seeing Kristoff frozen behind Anna who looked horrified at what she witnessed. How long had they been there? 

Elsa was also locked in place. She was a fish thrown onto land unable to breathe or move. Ryu dug in her cheeks and pulled out the splinter. "Got it!" She smiled unfazed by what was happening, unbeknownst to her Elsa was eternally grateful. Ryu gave a lopsided grin. Why did everything Elsa do have to be so damn cute? 

Elsa folded her hands in front of her. "Ryu was helping me retrieve a splinter from my finger." Elsa bent the red digit by her cheek, closing her eyes with a fake smile sporting her face. 

"Oh… okay." Kristoff quickly left them, his face red.

As she walked by Anna narrowed her suspicious eyes at both her and Ryu.

"Despite their immense size it seems the dragons were akin to the jotunar." Elsa quickly redirects gesturing to the study, though from Anna's expression Ryu could tell she would not let this matter go soon. Before she could ask any questions, lights leaving a trail of their presence surrounded them. Elsa would have raised her hands staving them off had not their sweet and mischievous nature been sensed from the start. They surrounded the group curling around their limbs, once the physical interrogations were over they settled upon floating among Elsa, Ryu and Anna deciding that the last was their favorite. 

Anna and Elsa, being more pious than the dragon, blushed as they curled and lingered among their body's more private areas. It was a greeting but an intimate one all the same. Anna giggled as one in particular favored her arm and neck. They tickled like the breath of wind yet we're heavier and more grounded in reality. Whenever they touched the skin it tickled like fingertips that never were bold enough to touch.

It didn't take a lot of deduction skill to know that they were flirtatious in their invitations yet still innocent with intentions. As one trailed particularly slowly up Ryu's crotch to her arm she couldn't resist the temptation to smack one away. It didn't hurt luckily but they were just performing their assignment and Bulda pulled Ryu's hand away. 

Elsa blushed profusely, she had been lured and called but never seduced. Though numbers out counted Anna's, the queen's sprites were relatively more enthusiastic.

"Hello." Elsa greeted in a small voice conscious that any loud noise would spook the first signs of characteristic life they had seen. 

"Sprites!" Bulda chimed, holding out her hand to one that ventured too close. "They are relatively harmless. They served dragons for many purposes, like strenuous tasks, to pleasuring and giving more experience to more youthful drage." Ryu strained out a groan from fighting off the adamant apparitions. "Seems to make sense." They reacted differently to Elsa and Anna, almost mournful and sympathetic than the excitement that twirled around Ryu and Bulda's crystal, paying a reverence they didn't offer to the group. 

The rubble that lay beneath Elsa's boots felt unstable initially as she descended more stairs opening to the true center of the crater which cradled the whole temple. The sprites followed them of course, having not had any contact with a living being in so long. The vale could serve as its own habitat to any creature seeking refuge from man yet remained empty devoid of organic life. 

The sprites kept their actions innocent, yielding not so pure reactions. "I don't like how good it feels." 

Deciding Kristoff had enough when a sprite lasciviously crawled up along between Anna's legs."I think I'll name you Romeo." Kristoff intervened in a manner Anna couldn't help but find endearing. "Hey! Hey– she's married." His chastisement was upon deaf ears–if The sprite even had ears, continuing its journey to her neck.

Some of Bulda's stories while riveting became staggering to say the least. Instead of answering questions it instead overtook the dragon's mind. She felt lost and small in this enormous structure; it was familiar and strange. Even with all the overwhelming information and history flooding from Bulda's lips to Ryu's ears something else kept nagging at her. 

 Every now and then a low wail would sound from the temple walls sending down leaves and dust from the ceiling, a giant waking to the call of life to their impingement. It felt like a stranger in the woods hollering their name to identify themselves yet couldn't carry their voice over the distance. The peaceful essence of the temple now was gone, replaced with disquietude that should have been swiftly rectified. 

Since her incident in the halls behind them and Sprites desperately hovering over their shoulders sometimes trying to convince Elsa and Anna to stay in one place pressing forward felt foolish. Moving from a light rain fall into the eye of the storm.

A large tremor shook the ground beneath them as well as above, eyes seeking guidance to Bulda. She seemed unfazed by the earthquakes, even her feet did not stumble when the large stone plates were misplaced, squeezing against their neighbor creating atypical manners.

"Tempelvakten." She breathed in almost a whisper of recognition. 

"The what?" Kristoff questioned. 

"The Templevakten; a giant sentinel that takes care and protects all those who inhabit the temple, ward off intruders, but they're main functions were to manage the vættir." 

"And us being intruders would we have to worry about this… Templevakten?" Bulda shook her head but she still seemed unsure. "No, that little earth shake was probably just the aging temple. The Vakten would be dormant, just as the vættir." He nodded. So everything was sleeping, that boded well for them. 

They'd have to watch their steps now, less cost tripping over a jutting stone that Elsa still could not identify.

Entering a chamber drew Elsa's eyes over the strewn about equipment and artifacts, they still displayed the same type of sigils as were carved into the walls and entry stone. Browsing her attention was drawn to a large greenish gray helm perhaps discolored by erosion of time, it had a repulsion that made her want to kick it across the floor but instead she picked it up flummoxed by the great weight drawing it back to the floor. Remnants of magic still loitered around spilling forth the cracks and visor, queerly it wasn't able to be pried open as a classical knights helmet would. Where a head would fit into was some kind of pale pink substance bunched up in folds.

"Hey Elsie what are you–" Anna's words trailed off as she eyed the strange object in Elsa's grip. "That can't be right, is… does it attach to a dummy or something?" Elsa was glad she caught on to the unusual design quickly. "No, whatever is inside can't be taken out, this isn't meant to be worn but filled." She fingered the puckered middle knob that protruded out. A joint, meant to plug into a cavity of some kind, reminiscent of a human body but much less complex. There was no decay or rot as flesh would over time nor were there signs of an actual human head being inside. This was crafted with an unambiguous design at play. "They look like the doors." It felt stupid to say and in any other circumstance may have been but Elsa trusted her sister's observations with all her heart and jotted down everything she said within her mind. "See? Looks like flesh yet it's dry." Anna's finger trailed the ribbing pulling each fold along. Of all the days Elsa left her journal at home. 

"Whatcha you guys looking at?" Elsa shared the piece over her shoulder to Ryu who was much less disturbed than the siblings. "Huh…" She easily explored the entirety in a more rough treatment than what they had given it. "Synthetic." Handing it back over to Elsa she was drawn in by the more compelling weapon's stand. 

Placing it back down on the table Elsa shook her head, she wouldn't give herself a headache over what another race that existed centuries ago was hoping to accomplish. 

The foliage grew thicker, making Elsa grin. Not even mother nature could be stopped by the powerful forces of dragons and Jötnar. She'd always find a way in if the environment deemed suitable for her children. They now as delved lower the intricacy of the carved crevices made it seem deliberate. The sprites had calmed their endeavors now moving more slothful . Certain windows allowed the wind to blow through creating beautiful sounds, Elsa considered what kind of music Gale would create if let loose here. The images on the wall became more abstract in a puerile manner, there was less meaning but an importance she recognized from the fatuous drawings decorating her own home. These were makings of children. No matter the species, culture or race there was a universal language shared among them all and it was spread by the children.  

One marking Elsa could only name as utterly darling caught her attention. A little paw print, the digits fat, with tiny claw marks scraping the stone. Surveying all deliberate juvenile pictures surrounding it, Elsa could tell–the manner in which it looked desperate yet still imprinted firmly to wall, the way the paint trailed down leaving tiny tracks in stone which lead in a circle–she was witnessing the scene of a little one at first kept from making a mess of the art pushed away. Told by the skid marks, they would not be deterred and would make art just as their elders. Along the wall hand and more paw prints followed, tiny and precious, each varying in size. Perhaps siblings. 

Children were so beautiful, the most precious beings in the world. That was as close humans would ever come to purity and light magic; a child. 

From what Elsa had heard from the women in Arendelle and Northuldra described it as a song with simple melodies then once the soft bundle was held a symphony would be heard. 

Leaning down for a closer look nothing could wipe the wide smile from her lips. Nothing. A longing was born within her. A thirst, one that she couldn't rely on anyone to quench. 

"What do we have here?" Ryu crouched down smirking at the scene. Elsa tore her stare from the wall to return the smirk, her mind made quick work of where she wanted to lead this conversation. 

"Were you ever this small?" Her fingers danced over the paint which did not stain. 

Ryu could never give Elsa children, that was an impossibility and Elsa couldn't find herself trading her in exchange for the chance of reproducing. Still the thought lingered in the back of her mind tucked away for safekeeping, if they were to fill Arendelle full of little dragons, she chuckled at the fumbling she and Ryu would make handling the chicks. Elsa had never really considered herself the motherly type, she had no experience with children officially other than the ones that dwelled amongst her people, she still loved them. Two sides of extremes were possibilities, either her emotional instability would get the best of her and she'd ruin them with neglect or she'd spoil them rotten. She had considered adoption prior and was still but wanted to ensure the child would be entering a stable home first, no assassination attempts, no magical being threatening her friends and family, no danger. That was the future she wanted for any children she may or not have…  

Ryu looked to Elsa and found herself subtly distancing herself from her, she could see the longing in her eyes but she could never fulfill it. She knew that. Having seen Elsa with kids before in Northuldra and based on the drawings she kept in her home the ones in Arendelle were fans of her as well. She was a perfect amalgamation of a mother. Kind, nurturing yet firm, wise, so very very warm, and fun. She had never considered children, it seemed those who were fucked up fucked their children up as well. That had to be true, her adolescent-hood was anything but ideal. 

An arrow flew past her head embedding itself in the tree in front. The young dragon panted bolting upright. Susanoo burst through brush on horseback leading the charge of five or so men. Staring back before running, she could see all she had done through his eyes. All she had taken. She should have run but stood frozen in place regretting it when a bolt pelted her side.

 The years seemed so short, and the dragon would have cherished them more closely had she known they'd lead up to this. She wanted to believe that all stories were lies that her kind were not destroyers of life but how could they be denied now, when all of that came to fruition and even still she'd been given a chance just to sully it and now there now was no longer them. No longer an us the dragon thought as she sprinted through the forest. The mud proved helpful despite being considered a hindrance provided traction beneath her sharp claws which gripped it just to fling it in the air and propel it backward. 

She shouldn't have grown so attached, she shouldn't have let him love her as deeply as he did, for it was the depth of that love which turned to hate and now inspired him to chase her down in the night. Dodging trees and boulders the dragon thought it best to just allow the hunting party to overtake her. That would serve justice for what she had done. Survival forged her legs forward, in spite of the second guessing. She thought of Susanoo as her soulmate but now, she thought of other possibilities; what if her soulmate died, what if as she had been taught she didn't have a soul. It was these thoughts that nearly killed her in this moment twice. 

How she wanted to turn around and tell Susanoo she'd give him everything, even the things they used to share just so long as he gave her back her heart before he killed her. 

She had no idea what lay ahead. All she had to do was keep moving forward, propelled by the sounds of neighing horses and flying arrows. 

She wanted to be back in that cell she had been in a few hours ago, stay there and have quiet conversations with Susanoo, listen to him convince her of lies; that she wasn't a monster and that the fire was an accident. That their father would be proud she could create such flames. She'd sit there forever and listen if it meant he wouldn't hate her. This was a prime example of how far forgiveness and understanding extended which till now the dragon had thought those lines were extremely short till she had been convicted and saw them in Sussanoo's eyes. The world was gigantic but they thought together they were bigger, once… when they were eight and held on to that dream. That dream had them pushing each other past their limits on training, past the points they believed their bodies and minds would break. All because of a dream. They'd feed back and forth ideas and desires long into the night in stories, discarding parts that didn't fit as perfectly as they imagined. 

So foolish and stupid! 

They had learned quickly that dreams were not meant to become plans for the future. The dragon was never really after glory, she just wanted Susanoo to succeed and know things, know why.  

Her small frame nearly fell off the cliff into the raging waters abusing the sharp rocks below. The dragon mewled to whatever God was listening, eyeing the bushes as lights bled through their cracks. Hooves thundering against the night. 

Ryu closed her eyes to clear away their streams, she looked back as Susanoo appeared, a hero upon his noble steed. A future lord ready to take action to rectify a crime against his family name.

The noises that came from her mouth were pathetic and did not appeal to his better nature. He had the best nature. The only one who had ever truly known her, the only one the dragon considered to be good and now he considered her the scum of the earth. Not worth a ceremonial death as those that came before her. 

Fear took over, facing to the cliff her chest rose repeatedly against labored breaths. Only the sky and sea awaited ahead.

"Dragon, stop this tired venture and face your crimes." His voice sounded so strange, so authoritative, to be very curt, harsh, and withdrawn, so much so for his age. She'd driven him to this. His movements and handling towards his favorite mare were much more aggressive. 

Realizing there was no use to reasoning Ryu faced ahead. She spread out her shaky legs but was not stopped, she was still a fledgling, Susanoo knew fore he had pushed her to this stage himself not knowing it would be the bane of his existence. The wings that opened were trembling, drenched, her down fur and scales were weighted making her feel pounds heavier. To her suspicion the dragon wasn't shot, the hunters had to have seen her readying to take flight or die trying. She'd like to think it was compassion from Susanoo behind her that stopped them or at least curiosity of whether she could brave the storm brewing ahead over the waters. She'd never know though, she didn't look back. 

Taking what could have been the last breath the dragon jumped from the cliff's edge plummeting, whether it was the storm winds she had no idea but something carried her novice wings along the air keeping her afloat.

Over the past hour she had learned the errors of moving her limbs in the wrong manner or wings, crashing her into the sea, desperately she'd flap against the waves somehow finding flight again so ready to leave behind the life she had once lived. The dragon didn't know what awaited her; the only tells were the thunder winds and warm waters. 

The dragon became convinced that after fifteen days the east sea was a never ending force and all the tutors she'd eavesdrop on were lying. Fatigue nearly drove her to crash again, as well as the winds which grew stronger the further she went. The dull atmosphere was replaced with a need to keep above as the winds pushed against the dragon's body, so many times she had been tossed and twirled, sucked into the water spouts that formed. Above the commotion she heard yelling. The more optimistic side picked up Sussanoo's voice.

Limbs fruitlessly fighting against the winds the dragon whined. Please Sussanoo take me home. That was not his intention when by pure luck the young girl avoided a harpoon shot at her, nearly piercing her chest.

Maybe it was a foolish whim to hope that he'd come to his senses by now but he didn't. The dragon took advantage of the winds using them to avoid the projectiles aimed at her from the ships below. Diving down she used her dead weight to pull her from the vortex wishing she didn't, for only more ammo was used once she was clearly seen. The dragon cried at Susanoo retreating when he scowled at her with a look she had never seen before. She stared at his wet face, the rain disguised his tears telling of all the tragedies, his soul which loved every part of her. 

The dragon's train of thought became self-centered. Who was going to take her home! Who was going to feed her beneath the tables at banquets? Who was going to defend her when she was chased out of his room by ladies with brooms and their fans? Who was she going to watch grow and conquer the world? 

Not needing to be told twice Ryu flapped away from ships glad that the storm provided her some leverage. 

Who was she going to watch during the sleepless nights dream peacefully? 

She couldn't be the only one who treasured those moments, they felt too real, too monumental to just let go. 

She didn't mean it. The dragon swore to the present day she didn't mean it. She had no defense and her only alibi was trying to kill her! 

It was deserved, well earned but that was music Ryu couldn't face right now if she were to survive, yet inward she knew… was sure that every thought she'd have facing forward in her short life would be plagued by him. A small bit of satisfaction slithered around her heart that she'd had done the same to him in some way. She promised herself she would never love another person as much as she loved Susannoo.

Ryu chuckled, with a small grin. "Smaller." They sat thinking of different things.

Before the next half of a lower level could be reached, the group was stopped by Bulda rolling up the stairs looking doleful and frantic in disorientation. "We should probably explore another part." Ryu immediately went on the defensive for the second time with the rock troll really. Her brows furrowed and she frowned, twisting her head. "Why?" 

"There's nothing down there that would aid us. I'm sure. It smells...wrong." There was a tone some had only heard once from her in their lives and for Ryu and Elsa it was the first. They glanced at each other exchanging a silent message, Ryu being the contrarian that she was and Elsa wanting to be thorough plowed down the troll woman's resolve. "Bulda we can't be certain what would be useful to us or not, it's best we examine every inch of this place if we can. All of us." Elsa's rare finalizing tone left no room for contention, her urgency fueled by Ryu's eagerness to see what was almost hidden from her. Bulda gave up as they walked past her, Ryu and Elsa leading the charge, even her son and Anna's touch gave no comfort. 

The sprites fled as quickly as they had come, fearing where their new friends were heading. 

The scent as they went down grew more putrid, and like old clothes left wet for too long mixed with death, only pressed them on. They couldn't say whether it was morbid curiosity or another otherworldly desire to see what was at the end of the stairs.

The hall was dark, but Elsa remained resolute. Ryu could guide them, she had been avoiding using her magic fearful that it would trigger something, be it the ground opening up and swallowing her whole or the temple collapsing upon them she couldn't say. 

Another shrine awaited at the end of the hall, Ryu made quick work of it by lifting the large wall similar to the one outside. 

Anna had to cover her nose with her wrist protecting herself from gagging at the horrible things invading her nostrils. 

As the fire illuminated the sepulcher she was swiftly taken to Kristoff's side by the arm protectively grasping her shoulder. 

"Fuck." He breathed, the gravity of what they had come across made him wish they listened to his mother.

What else could be said? 

Elsa ceased her breaths, swallowing harshly. The joy that had filled her chest was now consumed by… 

What was it she felt?

Littered throughout the rows of nests, explained the smell. Corpses, skeletons, some mummified by dust and ash, both in wholes and others torn and skewed, missing pieces. Skulls that resembled humans, skulls shaped with elongated muzzles, and horns. 

A tearful Anna had to turn away, never being surrounded by so much death before. What happened? 

Ryu could only stand off to the left silent. She had witnessed lifelessness before, she had seen her fair share of corpses, perhaps she was too calloused to it. She felt remorse, most of it extended to Elsa and Anna. They didn't deserve to be exposed to such atrocities. She wanted to drag them both out of here pretending they hadn't come across it. There was no going back now, she was aware that once it was witnessed it'd be tattooed to the soul forever. 

Elsa took one step further into what was once a place to house young life now encapsulating death. Her head turned to the left, spotting a dragon's skeleton no bigger than a large dog, laying on its side upon a bed of rotten leaves and cloth. Kneeling besides, apathetic to the dirty floor her eyes trailed over every inch of it. 

She folded her lips when she saw it, there scattered, a few small scales gray from dust. She delicately picked up one and cleaned it with her fingers revealing a deep crimson color. 

Elsa's lips trembled as the fate of so many innocent lives that barely had any time in the world finalized in her heart, hardening it with a hatred for whoever could commit such acts of barbarity. 

No. 

She knew who had done this, fury threw resolve away and was replaced by her wrath. Frost began to cover the scale cradled in her hand. 

Elsa silently apologized to it, reigning her powers back in. This little one did not earn any of her anger. 

Elsa felt she owed it to them to take a part, even a small bit, of them with her. "Please forgive me." That I am here, and that you are gone. Please. 

Her eyes stung with the need to cry, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She had no right, she was alive and well, not forgotten in a temple for thousands of years. 

A small seed of revulsion and hatred planted in the soil of her heart towards her own species. 

"Elsa?" Anna's still voice broke the trance from over her shoulder, a hand touched it and squeezed gently. "We should let them rest." Nodding as Anna helped her to stand they wrapped their arms around each other following Bulda, and Kristoff out. Ryu stayed behind them eyeing the back of Elsa's head. 

She saw the subtlety of Elsa pocketing something but would not ask. It seemed peculiar to keep a memento from the tomb but she wouldn't question Elsa's coping methods. 

Elsa didn't want to forget. She'd never forget. The cries and wails of children echoing in her mind, plaguing her thoughts with macabre visions. 

Bulda grew less forthcoming with her words trudging on and she remained at Kristoff's side. A high pitched whistle blew through the halls. Darkness seemed to be bleeding through the walls dimming the environment. 

"Elsie?" Anna coaxed when she noticed her sister had ceased walking staring out a large caved in gap within the wall.

The air around her was cold. She was trembling in effort from keeping her magic from lashing out in an unspoken grief. 

Anna stood beside her following her gaze to the valley, trees clung to cliffs and structures desperately. 

The temple had been so decrepit for a very long time that now the foundations of buildings were barely keeping them erect, all smothered in ivy and vines like a thick curtain and moss flowed sluggishly through the cracks in the stone, both the only thing adhering the cracked walls together and the one thing splitting them apart. Loss carved out in gaping holes.

She turned attention to her sister. "Elsa…" how could she make it better? Turning back time seemed like the only feasible choice but that was impossible. Elsa spoke so hushed Anna almost didn't pick up her words over the wind. 

"I'm sorry I led you to that–" Anna caressed her back in small circles. "We both saw it, how could you have known what was down there?" 

Elsa shook her head bitterly. "I should have listened to Bulda. Stupid, stupid!" How could she have been such a fool? 

Anna needed to stop Elsa's self berating before it consumed her mind, not only that it seemed there were so many things brewing inside of Elsa creating such a nasty storm her features couldn't settle on a single emotion and just feel it out. 

In the fabric of Elsa's jacket her fingers twisted, needing some physicality to ground herself. 

"It was meant for us to see. It's history that can't be erased and shouldn't be left to vanish in obscurity. I don't regret it. Things like this, tragedies– they should be known. And the victims deserved to be memorialized." Elsa heeded Anna's wisdom, it did not erase the responsibility she felt but it was true, forgetting history was a dangerous misgiving sealing that it would only repeat itself in the future. 

Facing her, the younger pulled Elsa in for a hug warming the air around them. With her head resting against Anna's shoulder, Elsa squinted at the distance. "What is that?" She whispered, drawing Anna's head from laying on her own. 

The monolith-like building erected in the middle of everything appeared so out of place they almost didn't trust their vision. No signs of decay or age, timeless as if years couldn't touch it. That's where the pull had come, from the top of the peaks, to the entrance that's where Elsa's insides longed to go. 

"Let's go to it." Elsa glanced at Anna shocked when she noticed the stare she shrugged. "It looks very important. We're here to find answers aren't we?" 

Elsa nodded. 

"Soooo that requires a little–exploration." The way Anna wiggled her shoulders in the direction of their interest accompanied by the lift of her brows, she was definitely trying to distract her elder sibling and get her out of her head till things settled down in there, she had seen the pining in her eyes. 

Despite this Elsa was still overtaken by apprehensions, what if she were taking her sister to another horror just as appalling as the one they had walked in on earlier. Anna entwined their fingers, smiling her grin that could clear away any clouds and turn sunflowers to her direction. 

"It'll be alright Elsie." She wished she shared her confidence. 

Elsa sighed. "We should tell the others before we go." 

Anna waved this off with a flip of her wrist. "I already told them." This got a rise from Elsa's brow. 

"Not that we would be going to the–weird white building but that we would be talking and needed some time." Nodding they peered over the edge then looked up at the large bridge leading to the monolith. 

"How do we get over there?" 

Elsa examined their surroundings and took inventory of what she was working with. They were at least ten stories high, the neighboring structures were too dilapidated to rely on for Elsa to build off of, that didn't matter, she could create their own bridge. She'd require triangles, and lots of them. Calculating the distance she came up with the correct equation. 

Anna watched the gears behind Elsa's eyes turn darting here and there. It always fascinated her, watching her sister connect dots and come up with solutions quietly. 

Stomping her foot once on the floor below them Elsa nodded, content with what she felt. Anna hated to disrupt her thought process but she just had to know. 

"You're going to build a bridge." 

"Mhm." 

"I thought you were avoiding using your powers here… " 

"Well–" Timorously Elsa's slender shoulders drew up to her ears. "I'm not up for putting you in danger with trusting the structural integrity of the centuries old architecture." 

Noticing Anna's dubious posture Elsa leaned in closer with a teasing tone. "I am trying to avoid using my power, but it exists within me already, so technically speaking– dismissing semantics shouldn't make a difference." When there was no change she shrugged. 

"If you don't want to explore we can always rejoin the others–" Anna raised a dismissive hand. 

"Dismissing semantics is my life's work." Elsa giggled behind her hand at this. "Okay–" she huffed out, rolling up her sleeves. Her palms sizzled as the ice and snow crystalized upon them. It felt nice having a project she could work on, and felt even better seeing Anna's impressed expression when the abutments appeared on the platform they'd be landing on. 

Self indulgence had made Elsa make the bridge a bit more dramatic and intricate than necessary but there was nothing to lose from it. Anna's reactions were fun and in case they needed it in the future she'd rather have the ice and snow compacted together well enough to be exerting the same amount of force on… something as heavy as a dragon in equilibrium.

Anna experimentally touched the curved railing rubbing the smooth surface which glided past her skin with ease. "You're gonna have to make one for me back home." She said to the Spirit who stepped proudly up. Elsa chuckled, shaking her head. "Where would we even put it?" 

Anna laced their arms together as they crossed. "I don't know, we'll find a spot even if it leads to nowhere. What's your fee?" 

"Oh you know what my fee is." Elsa replied coyly. Anna groaned dramatically. 

"Quarter dozen." 

"Dozen." 

"Half a dozen." 

"Two dozen." 

Anna blinked at this, rotating her head to Elsa. "You know how bargaining works right?"

"Of course I do, you state your offer then I state what I want and you give it to me."

"You are such a brat!" The last word was emphasized by a thud of Anna's boot impacting Elsa's.

"Me? You just kicked me!" 

"I didn't kick you, I nudged you." 

Elsa hopping on one foot rubbed the sore area."Still smarts." 

Anna cooed, slowing down. "Awww do you want me to carry you?" She was half serious. Elsa thought about it for a moment. 

"Since you're offering…" Walking forward Anna presented her back which Elsa hopped up on gracefully, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. 

"Still think I'm the brat between the two of us?" A grin spread over Anna's cheeks when she felt Elsa rest her forehead against the nape of her neck. 

"Oh most definitely." 

Elsa and Anna weren't sure what to expect once they reached the building, but all of their expectations and theories had not prepared them for this. The structure up close was as imposing and salient as it looked from far away, even more so. 

The design was very deliberate and the aura was much heavier than that in the halls they had already explored. 

Anna wanted to turn around and march right back from where they came, but the look on Elsa's face as she hopped off of her was evidence that she wouldn't follow. 

The stone was smooth, porous, cream with tints of blue shimmering ever so subdued by the outer white layers. 

There was that door again. The same one Anna saw in the temple and hated for some unknown reason to her. It would be pointless to draw attention to, not like they could open it anyways. 

The larger gateway remained cracked. "Odd–" Elsa commented, from the light that shines from the cracks she'd think those who dwelled here so long ago would have kept it closed to keep others from getting inside. 

A silhouette passed over startling both girls backward, Elsa whipped her arm out in front of Anna ushering her to stay back. 

Or keep whatever it was housing in… 

"I'll go first." Elsa assured, turning on her sideways she used her palms to push herself through the thick door. 

Huh. The inside was barren. "It's okay Anna!" She called, unable to rip her stare away from the walls. The stone inside, if it could be called stone, opaque, as if there were another side that couldn't be made out. 

Catching up Anna huffed out visible puffs. Holding her hand in front her face deliberately blowing out more steamy clouds. "What the- are you cold?" 

Elsa's sardonic expression had her instantly holding up surrendering hands. "Right I know it's just– look there's steam as if the air around us was low in temp but I don't feel any changes." This had Elsa examining her closely. "Are you sure?" 

"Yea." Elsa looked around taking note of the low hanging mist that nearly concealed the ground. Following the hall which rounded left was fruitless everything looked the same. 

They stopped for a minute, Anna gripped her chin then in frustration raised her voice which echoed throughout the building.

"Why is this even here!" For such an important building placed in the middle of everything it was pointlessly empty. 

Elsa's mouth opened to offer some answers her mind had come up with then audibly snapped shut. Every muscle stilled like a statute. Her tone remained low and careful. "Anna, don't move." 

Anna obediently kept all parts of her frozen except her wincing face. "Please tell me you're kidding around." Elsa's eyes moved from over her shoulder to her face four times. "No." 

The shadow within the wall grew larger, the top reaching higher than seven feet, keeping its movements in tandem with Elsa who delicately stepped to Anna pulling her away. There was no threat it exuded, but the power could be detected even if she had been in another room. 

"What is that?" Elsa could only shake her head, she had no idea. 

The silhouette confirmed her theory that there was another side to the walls as they watched the apparition slowly melt away filmy layers showing itself. 

Before them stood a giant white bull Elk, ears twitching as he looked the pair over with intelligent eyes. His presences forthcoming that this was no ordinary Elk but a creature of mythos. His deep brown rack decorated with torques contrasted against his snow white pelt seemingly made of strong oak. 

Instead of bolting back outside they remained rooted in place. A flash of recognition flew across Anna's face drawing her in closer. 

"Cernunnos?" 

Elsa drew near her ear speaking in an equally hushed tone. "Friend of yours?" 

Anna frowned. "What? Oh...uh...no, not really. I mean– I know him well, not know him but know of him. He's the King of the wilds, or rather a god or deity of nature." Comprehension dawned on her face. In lieu of all she had witnessed in her life Elsa could not digest this information properly. 

"A deity?" Anna nodded. "Like Loki or Thor… Jesus?" 

Shaking her head Anna closed her eyes briefly. "Oh no, no. He rules over nature and brings peace to enemies like predators and prey. Some say he even is a God of fertility and life but little is really known about him." Elsa was impressed. 

"How do you know all this?"

"I read a book, written by this man. His name was… something… something or other." 

Elsa brought her four fingers from her lips. "Very informative." She'd have to bother Anna later about this book. 

"Point being I think you'd like him." 

"Is it rude that we're talking about him right in front of his face?" Anna rolled her eyes, of course Elsa would be worried about a thing like that. 

"We don't even know if he's really there." 

"Whatcha mean?" 

Anna's arms flailed about. "I mean he could just be a vision or something. Also we don't even know if it's him, could just be some random Elk in the walls." 

"Still just in case I think we should maybe introduce ourselves just to be safe." 

Clearing her throat into a closed fist Anna marched forth hubristically with Elsa as her shadow. "Umm… hey." 

She frowned, that's not exactly how she'd approach greeting a God but it'll do. 

Cernunnos' ear lowered as his muzzle pointed down at them calmly. 

"So I'm Anna by the way, I am a huge fan of your um–work? With nature and everything. Oh! And this is my sister Elsa–" Elsa wiggled her fingers at him in a wave and thus Anna's ramble began. "And you're probably wondering what we're doing here, so we have this friend and they're in trouble with some Yokai– I don't know if you know what those are– but they're angry spirits–" 

Thirteen minutes had passed when Anna began to wrap up the summary of what had driven them here. "–so to make a long story short–"

"Too late." Elsa mumbled to herself under her breath. 

"–we could really use your help or guidance or literally we will take anything at this point. Please." He remained unmoving before turning back and leaping deeper into the void. 

"Oh no, look we offended him." Elsa bemoaned pouting. Anna finally turned to her, devoid of expression. "Was my explanation boring?" Elsa shook her head. No part of anything Anna said could be considered remotely dull. 

"Anna, look out!" The king of the wilds returned charging at them with his head bowed. Throwing her weight into her sister, Elsa yanked her to the side out of the trajectory of his stampede. 

Reaching the barrier he plunged his antlers into the wall. It sparked and crackled creating a kaleidoscope of dangerous colors ceasing as he bucked upward, lifting the translucent layer opening their view to what truly was hidden behind the veil. 

Creatures of all shapes, sizes, and forms traversing the heavenly terrain slowly. It was an Eden, where chimera lay with lambs, and giants walked some similar to humans while others took on more animalistic features. The proud way the king held himself chest puffed out standing straighter than before told Elsa all she needed to know. 

"You were the first…" Elsa drew his attention to her, Anna remained in her stupefaction with her mouth agape. 

The king nodded his head. Anna broke out of her spell. "B-but you're not Nordic, you're Celtic. Aren't only vættir kept here?" 

Cernunnos tilted his head, perplexed by this. 

There were many words that could describe the king; Noble, majestical, Ethereal. One word the sister's didn't know they could add to that list was cute. 

"Come to think of it, many of the creatures I see aren't Nordic either." Elsa pointed out. The king twisted over his large shoulders doing a once over of his subjects. 

"Did the drage place you in there?" The king nodded slowly. "And the others?" The same response followed. Elsa began pacing in front of them, holding her arms behind her back. "They did so using their magic, say for instance the Yokai Anna spoke of earlier the young dragon Ryu, could her magic bring their souls serenity?" When he nodded again Anna fist bumped the air. "I knew it!" 

"Do we need anything? A spell or some sort of talisman, something other than Ryu herself?" He swayed his head from side to side. 

"So it's just a matter of her digging deep I bet!" 

"It can't be that simple Ryu is still a fledgling Anna, not only that but she doesn't have any guidance she's just so–" Elsa growled in frustration. "She's so disconnected from her heritage. She needs help!" 

"Do you know anything about Drage magic, can you help her?" The king shaking his head took some steps back, rattling his torques, the metal creating a beautiful melody of refusal. 

It was uncomfortable the tingling going up her spine at the manner he pinned her with his eyes pointedly. Message received and understood. It was Elsa's turn to back away a single step. 

"What? me?" Elsa squeaked. He nodded. "I don't know anything about Drage magic." He held firm in his stance on the matter. 

"Where would I even begin? How am I supposed to help her?" Teach her of a topic she had no capabilities in… Elsa felt she was entirely unqualified. 

Anna's supportive touch tampered down the rising fear bubbling like a volcano in Elsa's belly, it was her turn to address the king. "Is there a way for Elsa to learn about Drage magic?" 

To their utter dismay he replied no. 

"Then how is she to help?"

Anna clutched Elsa's arm tightly at the loud, deep, wailing bugle that came from the Elks mouth. 

"What severed connection?" Elsa's exasperation completely bypassed the hauntingly beautiful sound the King made. 

Anna's eyebrows scrunched, swiveling her head to throw a surprised look at Elsa. "Since when have you been able to speak Elk?" 

"Beg your pardon?"

"You responded. So when did you learn to speak Elk?" Her hand flew up towards the Elk before falling limply to her sides. 

"I don't." Elsa wasn't exactly catching on until he grunted. "You don't understand him?" 

"Noooo. I don't speak Elk." 

"Neither do I do!" Anna snorted in laughter. "Clearly you do. You're a spirit and he's a spirit and he's spirit–soul–type so maybe that's why?" That didn't give Elsa comfort but she had more important things to focus on. He bellowed at her again, his voice reverberating over the wall like a thunderclap. 

"From all the years of torment no doubt." Anna heard her sister's voice darken dangerously. 

"What's he saying?" Anna intoned. This snapped Elsa back to the present. 

"He says the fledgli–Ryu's connection to her magic has been severed." 

"So how do we–ya know –" Anna brought her two index fingers together. Elsa sighed tiredly at this. "He doesn't know and neither do I." Elsa could only hope that Grand Pabbie had some wisdom pertaining to the matter. She had always been connected to her magic, perhaps a little too much. It wasn't a separate entity existing within her but instead was her. A physical extension of her emotions and inner being. 

The task that lay before them was monumental but if it meant saving her cherished ones and right so many wrongs her species had committed then Elsa would freeze hell over to complete her mission. 

Turning to the king she smiled softly. "Thank you for everything. I'll repair the Drage's magic." She didn't know how to repay him except with an oath. She'd been giving alot of those out these past few years. "Once it's restored we will rehabilitate your home from being abandoned for so long." 

His ears twirled quickly, lightening his disposition instantaneously. With elegance of royalty he bent his knee and knelt down to her and Anna, they mimicked. With one last bleat he returned the wall back to its opaqueness and pranced off into the void. 

Anna looked to Elsa for a translation. "He said you'd make an excellent queen." Giggling at the irony and giving the wall which hid another world one last look Anna caught up to Elsa's quick strides to the exit. 

"So we're going to repair Ryu's magic?" Elsa grinned at Anna's self inclusion. 

"Yep." 

"Do you know how we're going to do that?" 

"Nope." Elsa admitted, still smiling broadly. 

"I like Cernunnos." 

"Me too." 

"Do you think we could let him out once we get this place up and running again?" 

Elsa's eyes furrowed as they squeezed back out the cracked gate. "I don't know Anna, he's in charge of this place and may be the one keeping it in order, if he were gone chaos may break out among the other souls. Besides, he seems pretty content where he is now." 

Anna's steps slowed as something itched the back of her mind, her eyes fell to the floor. "Elsa?" 

Elsa looked over her shoulder. "Didn't Bulda say that the vættir would be asleep?" 

Elsa thought back and then nodded, not sure of the point Anna was trying to make. 

 "They're not." That much was obvious but Anna's worry became contagious.

"If they're not asleep, then that means the Templevakten probably isn't either." 

They stared blankly at each for a few heartbeats until the gears in their bodies spring into motion propelling their legs to sprint across the bridge back to their family. Dreading the tremors they heard quake the temple. 

Chapter Text

This tremor wasn't like the others they had been experiencing in the previous hours; it was constant, shifting the temple's foundations. Running back into the grand hallway Elsa's head drew upward following the trail of a large crack along the walls splitting the ceiling apart. 

Ryu barked at the pair who were shielding their eyes from all the dirt and dust in the air. "Anna!" Kristoff yelled, running from under the refuge Ryu's wings provided. 

He embraced her tightly. Elsa allowed him to check her over as she assessed the situation. "We have to get out of here!" Judging how there was no way they'd be able to go back the way they came unscathed Elsa troubleshooted the main issues. There was an unusual pressure coming from the upper level which was stressing the arcades along the opposing walls into bending. 

Running ahead slightly her arms outstretched, compacting ice rapidly stabilizing four. Clenching her teeth, her legs spread with the forces pushing against her from the left and right. "Ryu! Get them out of here!" The desperation of her tone almost made Ryu take off with Bulda, Anna and Kristoff. The dragon growled, shaking her large head at the notion. 

She was terrified, but the possibility of Elsa being buried alive scared her more. She would not leave her. Bellowing she crashed her shoulder against a developing fissure, pressure scraping her claws against the floor until she raised upon her hind legs, pressing her head against the buttresses. The weight held no mercy for them, brutally sinking downward. 

Over her own distension grunts of effort Elsa could hear Ryu's shrill low screech under the hideous stew of rocks and rubble. 

Seeking shelter among the walls or in one of the rooms, Anna felt the ground beneath her feet giving up demands from the floor of supporting her weight. Her shout was short when the forming hole's gravity tried to pull her under. She made the mistake of looking down, swaying left to right. Time had caught them before any other being that dwelled in the temple. Her hands vice gripped the ledge. She shook in fear of keeping her place, this hold seemed to not disturb the stone she clung to. Her feet kicked forward to find some purchase but found only air. "Kristoff…"  her stifled voice was choked out by the falling rubble pelting her head and cheeks.

This was it. She'd fall, she knew it, from the way her fingers burned bending over the ledge, to the subtle sliding of the stone coming closer towards her. 

Anna bent her head in a way that would cause the least damage when stone fell from the broken floor, she wasn't given the chance to scream.

"Kristoff!" Now her tears were ones of relief but only for a moment. It seemed fate had other plans than what she had wanted. "I got you Anna!" Kristoff glanced back at Bulda holding his waist sash tugging backwards. His biceps bulged as he began lifting her. "We've got you. I'm going to pull you up." He promised, but Anna doesn't allow herself to believe having seen the flooring he was laid across, she noticed how his weight burdened it and how with every move he made it protested more. Anna closed her eyes tilting her head down, she raised her gaze to the ceiling above knowing what had to happen. Adamantly she shook her head, sagging her body down. 

"Not exactly helping feisty pants." He complained slanting further towards the hole. 

"Kristoff–" Anna breathed, gulping. "You–you have to let me go… now." An authority was placed on her last word while the previous ones were broken, trembling. 

"You hit your head huh?" It was ridiculous to him. He continued lifting him but Anna's initial struggle became more urgent as the ceiling shifted 

"Kristoff? I love you." 

"Stop it." He warned darkly, tightening his grip. Anna shook her head. "I need you to run." He wouldn't relinquish his hold on her. Anna knew this. She kissed his palm savoring the feel of him, the strength and dirt caked within his callouses. Memorizing every detail of his hands and face, clasping one she held it tight, then with great regret sank her teeth into his wrist as hard as she could, perhaps puncturing it and letting go of his other hurting both their fingers which were entangled. 

"Anna!" The ceiling had finally enough, tumbling down its load he scrambled backward coaxed by his mother.

Ryu was never good at these decisions, she and Elsa with combined efforts secured this section but not where it also mattered. She gave Kristoff the one thing they didn't have– time– to pull Anna back up and get over here. 

But if he did that he too would sink, the ground beneath him capsized and flooring above also descended another inch dislodging from the summit. Massive cascades of rock and rubble pulled free from the ceiling, shattering and rolling like a hideous stew of earth and granite as it struck the ground

There was definitely a struggle going on at the other end. She looked to the over refinement that was Elsa whose chest labored excessively. 

She wanted to stay with her that's what she chose, yet when she heard Kristoff and Bulda's wail, and Anna's scream which caught Elsa's attention, the dragon abandoned the wall sprinting down the hall, leaping over the elevated mound created by the destruction. 

Grabbing the man by his shirt she used the same amount of strength as on the cracks and flung him and Bulda towards Elsa, unwittingly sending the woman to her knees with the impact his rolling body caused. 

She barely made it past the collapse as she dove into the hole hoping that her weight would quicken her fall enough to catch up with Anna before she hit whatever was waiting for them at the bottom. 

The only noise to surpass the cacophony of the subsiding ceiling was the wail that ripped itself from Elsa's throat. Even the roaring of a shattering empire couldn't compare with the agonized cries echoing off the walls of the hole, so loud it felt like it shook the temple more than the earthquake as her sister was once again stolen away from her. 

The impact her body made with Anna's was not gentle, her limbs and wings that wrapped around her were not delicate, but she'd rather squeeze the woman uncomfortably than risk her slipping out of her grasp.

The first collision had Ryu tucking her head in, eyes sealed shut. Wherever they landed was up to their trajectory now. It hurt, she had to keep reminding herself it wasn't the worst pain she had ever felt to lessen the urge to whimper. They snowballed and cascaded from walls to ledges slowing down the decline. Ryu barreled over the top of herself finally coming to stand still. 

She didn't want to move, or open her eyes. Remnants that survived the plummet cracked against rocks a few feet away and on top of them. 

She was hyperventilating, locked in place holding Anna close to her chest. She stayed still as well, exempt from the trembling she exhibited, keeping her face and balled fist against Ryu's torso. 

Kristoff was a pacific, level headed person, it was what he was known for. That man was now banging his fist into a bloody mess on the floor. It Bulda some effort to stop him from breaking his hand. He yanked his arm away from her small hands but she took no affront allowing him to slump against the wall taking deep breaths. 

Elsa was too busy checking over the rubble destruction beyond the sizable ice dome. There was a clatter of materials here and there among the mess. Her shivering body clambered up nearly slipping and scraping her knees. She covered her sobs with her palm. "Anna… " 

Bulda observed the adults breaking down in front of her meaning the torch of reason had been passed down to her and she'd wield it valiantly. 

She couldn't let anguish consume them or they'd get nowhere. She wanted to comfort them both but that task was on a shelf she wasn't meant to reach. The only solution was to get her daughter back. 

"Well!" She began dusting off the leftovers of what just happened. "That was an awful earth shake, not as bad as the one back in 1812 but sent me for a loop–" as suspected silence answered. "I'm going to go find Anna and Ryu, they're counting on us. Feel free to join me." 

It was all the coaxing Elsa needed. Her feet scampered off the rocky hill at the mention of Anna and Ryu's name. They couldn't keep up with how fast she wanted to go, sending her hurtling on her face, fortunate that she didn't twist or break her ankle. As if numb to it she propelled herself upward. "We have to hurry and find a way down to where they are and get us out of here." She tugged at Kristoff's arms and he stood reluctantly.

It was okay that he wasn't in the mood to talk, so long as he kept on moving Bulda was satisfied. She'd get him to open up eventually. Elsa was content to leech off of Bulda's calm confidence lacking her own. She marched forward at a hurried pace. Her heart felt hollow but Bulda could sense she was already filling it with a new goal that she'd stop at nothing to complete. The longing chewed through the sorrow. They couldn't afford to wallow, the ones they loved were in need and the answer to that need filled their hearts.

"Okay, well it's simple really we just have to find an opening and go through it." Yes that was all, it may have taken a while but Anna was determined to hug both her sister, mother in law and husband. All at once then each individually. The thought calmed her nerves just a tad. As they walked towards the tunnel Anna's shaking knees collapsed and she lurched forward as the intrusive thoughts washed over her like black waves overtaking an already sinking ship. She couldn't inhale properly, odd noises came from her throat. 

So many things were happening all at once. Anna was frozen solid upon the fjord, feeling a cold she couldn't comprehend being possible. She was hanging over the broken dam having missed the jump. They were all happening now. She had to make it to Elsa, she had to face death to save her people. 

Unbeknownst to her she was merely staring forward on her hands and knees, making feeble whimpers with each breath. 

The hand that touched her shoulder sent her doubling away like it burned her covered skin only worrying Ryu more. 

"Anna… what's happening?" Ryu retracted upon seeing the fear in Anna's eyes. 

Collecting herself, Anna stood feeling unsteady wiping herself off.

"Nothin-nothing, I'm fine, let's go." She didn't bother to sound more convincing. It wasn't something she had any desire to discuss or explore. 

"Well that's not true." Ryu replied simply. "If you need more time to rest–" she jutted her thumb over her shoulder. 

"I said I'm fine." Anna turned dangerously towards Ryu. She eyed her only softening her demeanor with a sigh when she heard how she sounded so sharp over the echos not used to hearing it come from herself. 

Luckily Ryu didn't seem offended moreso puzzled. 

"I'm sorry, just a little shaken up is all from the fall, it's nothing." She shrugged as they entered caverns that appeared too well sculpted to be naturally made, Anna could barely see two inches in front of her. 

Ryu scoffed at this. "If there wasn't any confirmation before there is now; that you and Elsa are definitely both related." It sounded both playful and mocking. 

"Excuse me?" 

"You both hide yourselves so much." 

"I do not hide myself." Still Ryu was not convinced. "Maybe not as much as Elsa does, but you hide the bad things, I've seen you do it with her, and her to you and other people." 

Anna should not have continued to reply; she knew it wouldn't lead to anything good or conducive, but her mind was overstimulated even with the lack of stimuli around them additionally the topic was pricking at exposed nerves. "Elsa and I do not hide ourselves from each other. No hiding and no secrets." Anna couldn't see the brow rising on Ryu's face, even if it weren't dark she'd be too distracted worrying about so many things plaguing her mind. She twisted her fingers together. 

"Speaking of what is going on between you guys anyways?" Ryu walked ahead and rolled her head back tauntingly. "Thought there were no secrets between the two of you."

"There wasn't–" Anna hissed, nearly tripping over something. "Aren't– isn't."

"Right, what's it to you anyways?" Ryu's tone went from blithe to downright sardonic and averting which had nearly slipped Anna's detection. They reached a large overturned column which Ryu easily cleared, leaving Anna to find her own way through a gap where it curved. 

"Um, I'm her sister." 

"And?" 

"And it's my job to protect her and so far all of her secrets have just led to her getting into danger." 

Ryu frowned, vacillation spreading with each sprouting scale needling its way out of her skin. "Not all of them." 

"And how would you know? You barely even been in her life for two months! You don't know everything about her." 

"Nor do I want to yet, I have a lot of questions about Elsa but guess what? I don't demand to know, she has a right to privacy without people trying to stay up her ass all the time eh."

"I don't invade my sister's privacy–" 

"I never said that, but you did." Anna had enough of this, standing before her was the same girl that influenced Elsa to not tell her about the assassin and God knows what else putting her in danger for no other reason other than 'wanting privacy'. Judging by how deflective and aggressive Ryu became in such a quick manner only made Anna more suspicious and uncomfortable. 

"I am not going to take your advice on how to behave with my sister. You aren't aware of all that we've been through! You don't understand what it's like to lose family once, let alone thrice in one lifetime." 

"Oh yea and how would you know?" 

Anna, emotionally running on fumes– actually she was sure those were gone now too– holding her tongue considering the detriment her words could have brought. 

But she needn't say it. Her face spoke up without her parting her lips. 

Because you don't have one… 

Instant regret came quickly when something snapped behind Ryu's expression turning it dark and ugly. Her body armored itself in light gray platings which nearly took over her face. Taking a deep breath she shrugged, smoothing her hands over her horripilate hair to smooth it down to no avail as soon as she was done it puffed up again ripping the disguise of an indifferent persona away. 

" I don't have a family. Maybe that's for the best." Anna took a step back stunned. "What– how could you possibly think that–" 

The way Ryu became so inclemently placid, speaking the cruel words to follow in the same manner one would telling their spouse about their day in town. "Easy, hearing about all the stupid actions you all took in the name of love for each other, I think I'd rather be alone." 

"Love is the most powerful thing in the world, being alone is terrible." Anna said, a little more forcefully.

"How? Because you can't handle being alone for more than five seconds without breaking down?" 

"So what! I love being with my family, I enjoy being surrounded by the people I love. Is that so hard to comprehend? Being alone is the worst thing that could happen to someone." Ryu rolled her eyes thinking of plenty worse things. "Where would you be if you hadn't met Elsa, or me, Kristoff and everyone else? Honestly."

"I'd be a quarter way to Australia by now, living as I was meant to." 

"Ryu you can't truly mean th-" 

"Why?" She chuckled humorlessly. Spitting venom, coiled like a snake in the grass. "Because some Queen who stupidly believes that love fixes everything told me so? Kuso, that isn't how the world works, Anna, grow up!" Shaking her head Ryu backed away in disbelief. 

Anna trailed further behind until they reached a fork in the path one led to what seemed to be another part of the temple and the other lower section, perhaps used for mining or maybe an emergency escape. 

Anna trudged left to the upper incline knowing that Elsa was on a level above them so if there was a way up they'd take it… or so she thought it would be, not hearing Ryu behind her she turned seeing her stuck in place. 

"I'm not going in there." 

"Ryu come on, Elsa is probably worried sick about us." 

"I'm sure she is but I'm not going in there." 

"Why?" 

"There's something in there, and I don't like it." Anna groaned, even if there was something she was sure they could overcome it… maybe. She hoped at least but Ryu was not budging. "Ryu we don't have time for this." 

"Then go, I'm not coming. I'll find my own way out." Anna wanted to rip out her hair, instead rolling her eyes and stomping away to the left. It was indeed more of the temple, gulping at what Ryu said she fastened her jacket around herself and moved forward. "I'm coming Elsa."

Ryu traded two legs for four, no longer needing to care about a bothersome, emotional redhead to– quiet sobs caught up to her ears making them fold backward in guilt. 

Those things she said, those horrible, horrible things. And why? Because Anna said something that was somewhat triggering but entirely true. And what had she done? Spit lies and slander from behind the safety of her wall of false stoicism. Even if Anna were wrong and she did have a family, Ryu was certain she'd screw up and drive them away. She couldn't even handle friends– friends who had risked their lives for her just to save her countless times– take her in–show her nothing but kindness and this was how she treated them. The worst being that Ryu couldn't figure out why she said those things to Anna, how it escalated to that point. She said only one intelligent thing during their whole argument: she was meant to be alone but not for her own sake, for the sake of any who dared cared about her. 

If it wasn't confirmed before that she was a monster Ryu was aware it certainly was now. Turning on the spot she trotted back out the lower tunnel and to the left where Anna had gone. She was nowhere in sight, which sped the dragon's legs up, she did sense something, an unknown Ryu didn't want to bother with. 

Monster or not, Ryu wouldn't leave Anna to fend for herself. She wouldn't necessarily approach her, shame prevented that, but she'd definitely keep a very close eye on her from a distance. 

Her tears blurred any peripherals she had. It was so dark Anna thought her lids had slid shut over her eyes without her own will. 

What was on the left and right didn't matter, all that mattered was getting to Elsa. 

That was why she was so easily startled by the blue blaze which sprung up to her face. "Oh! Hello there Romeo." Anna's mood was perked up a bit at the sight of her Sprite friend. They were happy to see her too apparently if one could not tell by the way they caressed themselves against her body and face wiping away Anna's tears. 

"Wanna keep me company?" Romeo blimped thrice following after her listening to her ramblings. 

"Maybe Ryu was right. She obviously knows something I don't about Elsa and I should be okay with that right?" The sprite hummed. Anna frowned, glancing down. "And maybe I am just being overprotective but Elsa is so precious–beyond precious– to nearly lose her thrice then officially twice I guess that has kinda just made me… " 

Crazy. 

As if reading her mind Romeo twirled quickly then took off ahead turning a corner. Anna's shoulders slouched. Left again. 

The sprite returned floating by the corner bobbing up and down. Anna quirked a brow. "You– you want me to follow you?" 

She slowly stepped in their direction following the sprite to see what he had to show her. Maybe a way out, but that seemed to be too much wishful thinking. 

The wind moaned against the walls making the ghost that haunted this giant tomb harmonize an eerie choir. Between the sounds and environment even with company Anna's flesh remained covered in goosebumps, her heightened senses caused a jolt. What was once sarene, a sleeping giant hidden from the world, had now trapped her family within its belly where Anna sensed horrific things distorted by time. 

She studied the large pulleys and platforms taking up space in the next room she entered, dejected by the fact that there was no opening to the outside or upstairs. It smelt…clean but there was an undertone of medicinal smells that snuck up on the senses. Cold, stale, untouched, sterile. 

"Is this a medical wing?" Anna's question remained unanswered but she was certain she knew right away entering a smaller corridor. Beakers and bottles lay askew upon trays and desks dried up from any contents they contained. She found Romeo encircling a dangling chain– at the end of it a handle. 

His message had been received, an instinct inside telling Anna not to pull it was out voiced by her curiosity. Reluctantly her fingers gripped the handle. A moment passed till Romeo egged her on nudging her arm and blinking rapidly. 

"What can it hurt?" Tugging on the chain Anna closed her eyes bracing for what was to come. 

She hadn't the slightest idea until a warm sticky glob spilled out from a chute onto her head. Recoiling back as it seeped down her face and body she made noises of disgust involuntarily holding out her arms. To keep it from her eyes she continuously wiped at them till they were safe from being covered. 

"Ugh– god Romeo what were you thinking?" She admonished, the sprite seemed very pleased with themselves and perplexed by her displeasure and glaring. 

"I'm not in the mood for pranks right now." It was just a silly trick right? The nagging intuition from within said no. That being covered in the gooey, light blue glowing slop was a huge detriment. Anna, not needing anymore negative fruitions, settled on this being just a mischievous jape, shaking her head, still rubbing as much of the substance off and going back to the larger area of the infirmary. 

"Oh my god!" She flinched away at the sight of Ryu. To placate her racing heart her hand went to her chest. Anna was reaching her limit of frights, nerves were completely shot. Still it was a relief to see someone familiar, although their fight had left a sordid taste. 

Ryu remained still standing staggered at the other end of the room. Anna wasn't sure why the air felt so tense, maybe it was the after effects of vile words spewed out in defensive anger… still there was something else about the dragon's presence that was disturbing. A niggling sense that tickled at first was now ringing alarm bells off inside of Anna's head, preventing her from going forward. 

Ryu made the first move, trotting forward, plunged along by a drive, not sprinting but dead set on her target– had spurred Anna by the sharp rowels of panic to retreat away into the room going to the wooden door and attempting to pry it open, her intuition saying to put as much distance between herself and Ryu as possible. That would be ridiculous right? In the background she heard behind her chuffing and other vocalizations that were unnerving to hear. 

Turning she saw the dragon had taken to licking the floor where the mystery goo had spilled out. She cleaned every drop and just to be sure cleaned it again. 

The door squeaked open causing Anna to cringe. She looked back slowly towards the large creature that had noticed– licking her muzzle, the movement uplifting a lip exposing the fangs hidden underneath, eyeing her. 

Ryu's breathing was quick and irregular, reminding Anna to slow down her own hyperventilation. Continuing her moves slowly Anna turned pressing her back to the door, desiring as much space as she could get. Something wasn't right and this was confirmed by Ryu's eyes, dilated to the max, there was no color left in them, only black. Her muscles were coiled so tightly Anna could see them ripple and twitch despite the rest of her remaining deathly still, exempt from her shoulder sinew she could see protrude favoring whichever limb she pressed forward. Anna could only describe the sight as someone would a great cat stalking their pray, so patient and ready. 

Romeo tried to communicate something frantically flying about, he was not understood, Anna couldn't even tear her gaze away from Ryu to look at the sprite.

A clash and a clatter from some beakers he knocked down broke the stillness. Ryu huffed as Anna scrambled to open the door too afraid to turn around and close it behind her. She sprinted blindly not looking back knowing Ryu was in pursuit of her.

Is this how mice feel? Anna pitied them. She skidded needing a barrier, she wouldn't be able to outpace four legs on flat terrain. She climbed some knocked over pillars, squeezing into any space she could fit. It was a second too late when a large paw missed her. 

"Periwinkle!" Anna's desperate calls were ignored as the dragon circled the crawl space working out how to get in there, after a couple minutes the dragon barked repeatedly seven times before ending the last in a chitter vibrating her throat.

"It's me! It's me Anna!" She was trapped. The arm out reached in the hole Anna flattened herself against the wall when a long toe nearly nicked her skin instead hooking itself in her shirt. 

She needed an out but then what? Obviously Ryu wouldn't make it back to the others in this state and what if they couldn't fix her? Would they have to leave her in this temple a feral beast less she would tear them apart? 

The dreaded sound of rock straining against rock drew Anna's attention back to her predicament. By the way her pillar shield was slowly drawing away, it seemed Ryu had figured out a way in. 

Panting Anna stood, a chill never wavering intensified on her spine. The moment Ryu would burglarize her safe haven she'd take her opening and run like hell. 

The dragon had a different idea of how things would play out though. Anna hated the way it seemed she had read her mind, as soon as the pillar was moved Anna could have sworn she blinked and there was the dragon closing in. 

"Ryu, I– I'm– I'm sure Elsa wouldn't want you to hurt me–" shuffling back tripped Anna onto her rear, using both her hands and feet to scoot backwards against the wall. "Or anyone for that matter. Please, this isn't you!" For the first time since they met Anna was petrified of the creature and what she was capable of.

It felt like hours but had only been one since their separation. Elsa wouldn't entertain the possibilities of fate being even more cruel than any evil in existence stealing away Anna and Ryu from her. 

She'd remain positive for the sake of her own sanity and those around her for if that were to happen her powers would become unpredictably dangerous and as an off chance fetal. So she instead focused on how it would feel to hug them, to kiss them tearily never letting them go again. 

Comforting Kristoff and Bulda would only bring thoughts of her family being hurt to the forefront, it would address realities Elsa refused to acknowledge so they walked in silence. 

The misery which oozed from Kristoff was louder than the resounding thunder from the temple which seemed to be drawing nearer and nearer, but Elsa wouldn't think about that either.

"ELSA!" 

Elsa's heart stopped beating hearing her sister's shrill scream echo throughout the domain. "ANNA!" her answer was just as dolorous. 

Without any regard for their own safety or sense of direction the group raced forward, Elsa managed to stay a few paces ahead, jumping and safely vaulting over any obstacle that dared to lay in her way. 

I'm coming Anna.

A large gap awaited them, Elsa was not deterred, it was an easy fix to make it to the other side and even if it wasn't she'd still make it to Anna nonetheless. 

Initially Elsa had thought another part of the temple was falling towards her but the temple did not possess fingers, nor an arm, nor a face. 

Falling backwards from the heavy contact of an arm leaning against the ledge hauling from the depths of the hole, a creature emerged, pulling itself up revealing more of its form with a low guttural bay, akin to an old man rising from his chair. 

Elsa couldn't believe what she was seeing, but then again, a part of her could. Their limbs shook the entire mountain it seemed, confessing to the crime of causing the earthquakes and cave ins. 

It was no animal. The only word Elsa could use to describe it was enormous. What even was this? 

Elsa had experience with giants, having been in the company of the Earth spirits back home. Gigantic was where the similarities ended. Where the earth giants seemed to be cut from the mountains being made entirely of rock, this creature possessed animalistic features. Covered in shaggy fur, the vines that hung off of their back and shoulders told Elsa that they had just woken up from a dormant state for those to grow.

Their head Elsa recognized to be wolf-like but the rest of them was a concoction of a man. From this distance she couldn't be sure if it also fused to rock or if that was merely armor. She moved backward to collect herself from the apprehension and gut wrenching dread that were poisoning her mind. 

How this decrepit fortress supported his weight was at a loss to her. 

He had set his sights on the stunned Kristoff and less stunned Bulda, his eyes, those eyes, they glowed green like moss grown over a lake. Yet there were pupils or irises, just a swirling vortex swallowed into a black hole, Elsa drew the connection to the lenticular clouds back on the mountainside crest.

Rushing ahead towards them she and Kristoff clasped at one another's elbows."Vakten?" She asked Bulda who nodded, struck with awe. 

"I thought he'd be asleep!" In spite of his voice cracking in disbelief Kristoff retrieved the pickaxe sheathed in his waist shaft readying for battle. 

"He was but something woke him up." They hoped he wouldn't be temperamental as most creatures were when woken up but the angry growl resonating throughout his chest said otherwise. 

His earthquakes were upon them, bouncing anything not nailed to the floor. Elsa took inventory of the circumstances searching around then to her family. 

The tone she spoke in had rarely come out, more popular during her reign, it left no leverage of argument against its authority.

"Kristoff, you and Bulda get away from here, get outside if possible and see if there's any ways to lower levels."

"What? No! I'm not leavin–" he clamped his mouth shut when her eyes bore into his, the intensity did not match her relatively calm face. Defeated, he picked up his mother.

"Elsa honey?" Her stare softened at Bulda's warm call. "He may be more understanding than you think." Elsa could only hope that was true. 

As they retreated, the winds had already begun the process of a whirling blizzard. 

Stepping before the behemoth Elsa stamped her foot, beneath a pillar rose putting her at their eye level. 

They did not appear to be surprised or confused at the display. Elsa didn't care, she wouldn't strike first, rather choosing to showcase her abilities remaining on the defensive. 

Uplifting her wrist summoning ice shoots to coat his feet. Now that he was in place she spoke, projecting her voice as loud as she could. "I mean you no harm!" The winds and snow ceased all movement in a manner nature could not explain. 

"I am Elsa Fifth spirit of the Enchanted forest. I came here seeking answers for my friend's predicament– she's a dragon and in danger. I do apologize for the intrusion, we thought you'd be asleep–" Elsa fumbled, shaking head and hands realizing how that may have come across. "Not that we were going to invade your home while you were asleep, we had no intention of disturbing you or any other inhabitants." 

The triangular and octagonal shapes in his glass eyes twisted and shifted, Elsa watched carefully feeling exposed to an unfathomable degree waiting for his response. He lifted his legs one by one, shattering the ice shackles. A deep audible cut through the air followed his mace's wallop to her pillar, collapsing it, an ax to a tree. She didn't even notice the weapon. 

Elsa yelped as she fell caught by the large palm. His fingers easily juggled her body to be enclosed in his fist. She tried pulling out of it but her physical strength could never dream to match his. 

Placating the pang of guilt she burrowed down into his hand and caged herself in an encasing of ice, compacting as much as she possibly could before allowing it to expand outward forcing his palm to open.

Falling down she spun facing the ground blanketing it with snow to break the fall. 

Unfortunately she landed on her back. Elsa whined, closing her lids. Blowing a puff of air out her lips to remove the rouge tresse of hair that flopped over her eye Elsa shot upright, removing her boots, a sheen of ice coated the bottom of her feet. 

The giant immediately made his move, she had time Elsa convinced herself, enough to at least shed her jacket and tie up her loose hair. Bouncing on her toes she awaited till he was within range. "Okay, you're cranky understandable, let's see if I can cool you off." Her arms raised, charging up an arsenal of hail and ice. Rapid shots impeded the mace boring downward towards her. The force staggering him momentarily. 

His free hand reached to grab her once more, Elsa evaded leaping and rolling to the left. "Oh no you don't!" 

His blows were heavy, his size only giving him more speed then she could muster alone her only advantage was her magic and agility. 

Elsa's keen vision calculated the environment, all the nooks and crannies she could fit into. Maybe her size also provided an advantage as well. 

Barreling straight between his legs, narrowly dodging the palm trying to capture her. She sprinted for the arches, turning he advanced upon her, probably predicting she'd head for the way she came. Elsa shook her head when his left hand slammed against the small entry she snaked her path to right, he proved to be just as well versed in strategy as she was colliding his mace down destroying the arches. Instinctively Elsa lowered herself to the ground skidding beneath the rubble through an opening. Her hands planted on the lowest part of the mace's shaft vaulting her legs over it. 

"I should have stretched." 

"Ryu if this payback for earlier yo–" Anna grunted from tumbling over the stairwell. Her body ached, covered in black and blue and horrible scraps."You've made your point!" Anna gave her a trail to follow striking out from off the flat plain of a path she had been running along, following into the labyrinth that the temple had bestowed upon them. 

She executed a series of intricate loops retracing when Ryu was near to catching her again and again making all of her dodges and spirals feel fruitless. Weary, Anna was insistent with hands and face lashing out to clear away anything be it dust or thick foliage hanging from any structure, to meet her sister. 

The dragon continued her pursuit through the column stumps and maze-like hallways. No matter how much Anna tried to trick her through doubling back curving this way and that she remained on her heels.

Anna sought another means of escape which in her hindsight had been so foolish to attempt with a creature that could fly– she went up, clinging to any cranny or crevice her fingers could successfully grasp and hoisted herself up until she met the beams of ceiling.

Reaching a support she knew she had an advantage above Ryu being more fitting for the small spaces she had led her through which gave her enough time to flatten herself down on the limb, through a screen of dust and darkness almost as thick as a rich soup, she watched, covering her mouth with her palm to muffle the quick air that was exhaling and inhaling from her lips and nose. 

Ryu burst through the small doorway, having to contort her form by the desperate way she flexibly wormed her way in. She sniffed the ground, seeding a dread within Anna turning on her back. She had felt that power up close, with one particular paw swipe the young dragon could lacerate her upper body, not initially per say but that would be a tortuously slow death. 

Her brain had slowly imagined wolves hunting her instead of the ancient beast below whose sound remained unfamiliar and horrifying. 

She had heard the scrape of large toes against stone lift up. The dragon wasn't exactly trying to be stealthy or maybe she was just a clumsy fledgling unaware that the best strategy for prey was the quarry to  not know of their presence. Either way Anna thanked whatever powers at hand for her predator's recklessness. 

Risking a glance to the side she could see Ryu had stood up on her hind legs and bobbed her head releasing the very distinctive bay she had earlier crescendoing in the same juddery chirp, bouncing off the walls.

Anna deep down knew the call was for her but wouldn't answer it. She couldn't. 

Ryu dipped her head, Anna could hear and so much as feel the inhales she took. This was so much worse than being confronted by a wolf or leopard in the woods that followed instinct blindingly. 

Between the dragon's size, swift ability to maneuver on a second's notice, the capability to adapt to all the traps and tricks Anna threw at her, her hissing even breath, which despite being fast was not over barren as Anna's was…

Ryu could probably hunt her down here for days without growing weary… 

Turning back up Anna thought of nice things, things she promised herself she would do though that list was self indulgent when she thought about it–being one to take life as it came, she had thought she'd grown, improved and bettered herself. Laying up here brought the thoughts of the dangers she had willingly put herself in, she felt like a child terrified of what was lurking under the bed. I need to slow down, if I want to live into my thirties. 

Wood splattered everywhere, breaking Anna's momentary peace and reflection. She screamed rolling down Ryu's spine to the floor. The dragon barked again but Anna wouldn't sit around and listen to it. 

She was reaching her limit, telegraphed by her screaming legs and torso, they burned worse than her lungs which in her opinion was stating a lot. 

"Whoa!" Her hands squeezed the railing of a balcony leading to nothing but a painful demise, black velvet was the only way that could describe what lay ahead– a thickened void, Anna couldn't see the end of. Her momentum doubled her body over. 

Ryu skidded nearly passing the archway. She leapt in place angling her front to Anna pressing forward in spite of her outstretched hands. Anna glanced back at the drop then to Ryu wondering which she would be better off taking her chances with.

There was nowhere left to run, not that she'd be able to if there was. She scrunched her eyes bracing her body for agony. Maybe she'll snap out of it while chewing on my leg. 

Sobbing, expecting fangs Anna glanced down to the chuffing muzzle pressed and licking her chest. Not yet trusting it, Anna wanted to scoot around the large body taking up most of the platform but when she shuffled to the right a powerful head pushed her back in place. 

"Okay! Okay…"  Anna's voice came out in a half-choked breath, pushing an absent hand through Ryu's mane, relinquishing any plans she had of escaping. Shaking palms tried fruitlessly to put some space between her and the large mass of muscle. Finally opening her eyes to the licking and nuzzling her gaze momentarily locked with Ryu's. She wasn't going to devour her, instead more enraptured by the goo that clung to Anna. Quickly Anna shredded her jacket, the target of Ryu's infatuation, which was stained the most she shoved it roughly to the dragon's face–"Keep it."– stepping past her, she rigorously shook herself off to be rid of the substance. 

She was still trembling, wiping the stress tears leaking from the corners of her cheeks. Her walk was hurried, she would not be running for a long while.

Ryu easily caught up, jacket clenched in her jaws. She dropped it at Anna's feet entering a play bow wagging her rump. Anna scooped it up, sighing, draping it over her shoulder. Ryu's antics continued less intense than before she leapt as Anna continued forward to keep them at equal distance.

Anna shook her head speaking up in a croaky voice. "I don't want to play." She didn't have enough resolve to put any anger in her words. 

Ryu ceased her efforts, she couldn't have possibly understood anything except Anna's energy and posture. Slowly she lowered her butt and ears, sitting upon her haunches watching the woman trudge forward. Ryu barked in the same tone Anna heard earlier but juxtaposed did not pursue after her.

The sound halted Anna mid step, when a realization detonated in her mind. Whatever that goo was didn't turn Ryu into a feral beast, was she ever really in peril? Did Ryu turn on her like a starving dog? 

Anna turned around seeing her seated down the hall, sympathy gripped her heart. She desired more than anything to just feel Elsa's arms wrapped around her again but… Ryu in this state– would have no hope of making her way back or even out of the temple. 

I can't leave her like this. 

After a cleansing breath, Anna thought of Ryu's issues, how hindering they were, but she had to admit she was pretty fucked up too. Together they were so dysfunctional. If Anna were a normal person she wouldn't be able to overcome that, but she remembered so many who would say: You're not normal

 Anna half smiled.

No, no she wasn't. She was an atypical queen but a queen nonetheless, and Queen's did not abandon others who needed guidance. 

"Come on Ryu!" She didn't move. Of course she didn't, why would she? Going back Anna studied the dragon who sniffed at her. 

It was so stupid, Anna concluded what she was about to do but her determination won out.The thought made her heart pound in her chest, ignoring the clamoring in her ribs Anna sprinted down the hall and predictably Ryu chased her catching up. She grunted and growled, swiping her paws at Anna's ankles. 

Anna yelped when she was tripped up, her guard remained at attention in case Ryu grew too rough in her handling. And it was a bit more physicality than what Anna was comfortable with; what with her raising to her hind legs wrapping her forelegs around Anna's torso and shoulders sometimes taking her to the ground but nothing malicious. Ryu's fangs never pierced her skin and her talons remained retracted. It was still just Ryu, she was still cheeky, and stubborn if not more so than the dragon normally was. 

Anna felt her trust growing in Ryu's self control, and was shrinking in regard to her sense of direction, sometimes going in the opposite direction they were supposed to be headed; more inclined to explore scents and rooms. 

"Ryu!" She chastised, Ryu's eyes drew up to her from where her head rested on her crossed paws. It would seem she decided that now was the time to take a break. 

Surrendering Anna sat on the stones next to her. It was beyond frustrating, but with Anna lacking the actual strength or ability to control her she didn't really have a choice. "You know–" she began not knowing why she chose to make conversation if Ryu couldn't reply. She grinned as her mind wandered to Kristoff and Sven. "The faster we get to the upper level the faster we can see Elsa and go home." What if they couldn't return her to normal when they did get back. Anna shook her head– no they would– still just in case they couldn't…

"Ryu–" Anna leant her elbows upon her raised knees. "I… I'm sorry about what I said earlier–" her soft voice drew Ryu closer towards her. "I was scared and I don't know what the emotion is called or what happened but I was stuck in all the moments that I almost died, it was like they were happening again and I couldn't breath or think and– well that's no excuse but I wanted you to know it wasn't you. Those things I said were untrue and I'm sorry. That isn't me. I won't let it be." Ryu purred at the slender fingers combing through her dirty mane. "I'll get us out of here, I promise. I'll keep us safe." Her size had such a dissonance with the way she nuzzled against Anna's now outstretched legs. A responsibility was born inside Anna's heart towards the creature. 

After a few moments Ryu startled her standing up and stretching. It was interrupted by a clanging echoing around them.

Anna groaned standing to her weary legs. What now? Noticing Ryu's distress, hissing and rattling scales she wrapped her arm around her neck. "Hey it's alright, it's okay. It must have been the wind. Or it's our ears playing tricks on us." Her touch assuaged the scales to lower and to lure Ryu into following along hesitantly. 

As time went on Anna found herself becoming more and more casual with the dragon. Speaking of where was she– 

Anna looked around and spotted her looking up at the ceiling letting out a longing bellow. "Yes I know! You want to go up there, me too." 

Finally! The trek had led them to an area that looked like progress met their eyes. It was a relatively large, open cavern, the ceiling high and vaulted, stalactites crowning around, ferns and moss growing at the edge of the crumbled pillars and fallen pieces of wall. 

"Oh look at this Ryu now you can play!" Anna called excitedly but the dragon was already ahead of her galavanting pass. She jumped off the debris and galloped around. 

Anna investigated their surroundings for any openings or crevices. Occasionally Ryu would brush past her sending her toppling over but Anna minded less and less. 

Straightening, she gave her attention. "Run Ryu! Run–" she offered an example of jogging around, now Ryu was less interested and more intrigued in hosting her own probing. "Or just walk around, that's fine." Anna chuckled, coming over to what had caught the dragon's sights. Aha! A small hole nearly blending into the wall appears to be the only way forward. "Seems like only I can fit–" Anna ventured, bending sideways to look inside, she glanced up at Ryu. "Unless you want to become smaller." 

Ryu scratched herself, message received and understood; Anna would be going alone to find a way through for them. It was a short way to the other side. She could hear Ryu's calling barks which held a sad tone to them as she watched her vanish into the crawl space. They made eye contact. "If I'm not back in twelve minutes… wait longer." Only Ryu's warbles replied. 

Going lower seemed foolish to Anna, especially with the synthetic helmets and limbs littered about the high buff she was upon. The trepid sensation returned yet this time there weren't any culprits responsible present. Was this an Aqueduct system, maybe sewers. There had to be some purpose meant for draining excessive water here. Everything was eroded.

Clasping the ledge Anna descended herself to the next stone etching testing its durability with a few boot taps. When deemed safe she continued. It wasn't the most expansive drop she had seen in the temple but enough to make the hairs on her arms and nape stand at attention

Pain coursed through her limbs as the various scraps and bruises pressed uncomfortably against the wall. Anna sucked in air filling her lungs to capacity, there were no more footholds her toes could probe for. She checked then double checked just to be sure. 

Looking down had her considering… it wasn't an awful fall, wouldn't be a pleasant one either and lethal if she fell wrong.

"Just jump Anna–okay I can do this! I can do this–just jump. This was a stupid idea, whatever– break your leg for all I care!" 

The internal argument was cut short impulsively when Anna let go of the ledge. keeping her legs bent and arms out to brace for impact. She landed with a huff on now sore ankles and slipped backwards onto her butt wincing. The cold stone bit into her palms.

Standing, Anna dusted herself off taking a look at where she had landed herself.

Her attentiveness zeroed in on the much hated flesh doors. Initially Anna had concurred that much of the findings they discovered down here had been a result of cave ins, parts of the temple sinking down into the ever vortex that was the mountains it was built into, if that were so then why was the door here? Why were there a few doors here, not in ruin but intact and still sealed shut? 

Anna's eyes narrowed, slowly, keeping her gaze fixed on the door she backed into the wall and slid along it feeling blindly for a way back up, deciding she'd rather backtrack with Ryu than be down here for too long.

At first Anna thought the small hiss was her ears ringing but as it grew louder and louder her insides twisted into a nasty ball upon knowing it came from one of the flesh doors.

As many times as her and her family tried to pry open the door, witnessing it finally, slowly, crack open was dreadful. Even with the unworldly light that beamed through the crack. 

Heavy metal footsteps alluded to the soldier's presence, his actual appearance just as if not more so chilling than the opening of the foreboding door. Standing at a high seven feet his shadow loomed over Anna like a storm cloud threatening a peaceful field. At first glance he could pass as a person but if one took the time to study him they would see in-between his heavy panoply, the gothic plating was somewhat recognizable etched in the mysterious material that made up his suit but it was overcome by the similar markings and symbols Anna had seen all over the temple, where the joints and other extremities that would identify him as human lay the spongy flesh synthetics she had pointed out to Elsa inside the helm earlier. 

That wasn't what concerned Anna though,  her worries drew her eyes to his left hand, clutching a terrifyingly beautiful helbard. The exaggeratedly Malachite glow although fainter than the beaming behind him was not dimmed out by it. The shaft was dark black and green in places, the color not unlike freshly tilled soil. It was decorated with coils, running the length of the stone, each scroll-work containing ancient runes which were carved deep into the surface of the grain.

The head, shaped like one of Ryu's fangs and over a foot long, looked sharp enough to filet a chunk of marble into the finest slabs, and seemed so natural, that of bone… Or– Anna gulped– teeth, and she knew of only one creature big enough to have a tooth of that size. Within the body of the head, more runes could be found as the ones etched into his body, but these glinted with a vibrant luster, in sharp contrast to the rest of the shaft.

As he exited, much to horror another twin followed suit, and another… and another. 

Anna didn't need to be told twice to move her ass. She got up and sprinted off to the right. Not looking back she could hear their hurried steps behind her. Am I faster then them– maybe– I don't know, guess I'll find out. 

Swirls of hieroglyphs kept pace warped and left trails of the malachite green. They were only interested in touching bare skin, making Anna wish she hadn't left her jacket with Ryu. 

Leeches! These things were leeches! Anna concluded as they attached to her skin stinging like the bite of walking half naked on a winter's morning. Scratching and smacking at them like insects was pointless. It couldn't have been fatigue which made Anna's shoulders feel like a huge chainmail which weighed as much as herself had been placed upon them, it wasn't exhaustion that intensified the gravity on her thighs and legs.

Her breaths labored with effort, efforts that weren't enough to keep her moving at a speed which kept them at bay.

Large powerful stone hands encircled around Anna's waist lifting her up off the ground, she gave them an excellent challenge with her screaming and thrashing about and began calling out to Elsa, Kristoff, her mother – those who would not hear till she settled on using her usually loud voice to warn the one person she could of their presence. 

Her mind felt like it was thinking so clearly yet also focusing on nothing at all. It was euphoric but hindering, every emotion was intensified a thousand times over. Every thought so fleeting so important she felt sad when it escaped her never to be recovered again. 

And when the redhead left her, anxiety was disabling. Ryu exhausted all possibilities of getting through the hole. Her mind one tracked on with its desire for the gabby human's company. She had been digging now for, well she didn't know for how long but it felt like a long time just for the stone to laugh at her claws which only caused scratches. 

Giving up she chose a spot next to the gap and laid down in a miserable huff. She could go back, find some food to quell the hunger pains but even that need was dampened by her human's absence. In this state she couldn't care how pathetic the whines which escaped with every breath sounded, or the tears which dribbled out her pupils, she just wanted her human back.

This place was so lonely, devoid of life. Ryu squeezed her eyes tight as she tried to remember what it was. A place of worship? Maybe. Now that she thought about it, Ryu couldn't remember much of anything before her and the redhead's fun game of chase. She was very anxious about it, as to why Ryu couldn't answer. She wanted to stop but the delicious scent which clung to her skin and clothes had lassoed the dragon tightly around the throat. 

The scent was gone now leaving only in its wake confusion and exultation. 

The dread that suddenly overcame the atmosphere was much worse than the separation anxiety plaguing her. Something was wrong, the dragon stood up and began pacing about to calm her nerves in vain. She growled and screeched at nothing. Scales and fur reflexively raised giving an uncomfortable tickle along her spine.

"RUN RYU! DON'T LOOK BACK JUST RUN!" 

My human! 

Ryu's ear tendrils shot straight up twisting towards the hole. Approaching it cautiously she peeped in and saw nothing, but she heard the sounds of a struggle, the clanging of armor. The sounds echoed in her head until they were the only things heard, muting Anna's cries to silence. Ryu's rushing heart beat in time with the gnashing of weapons. She was rendered motionless. 

The trail would wash away soon, left upon the bank. It was so hot here, summer or winter, spring and fall. She'd always be looking over her shoulder hearing the galloping hooves and music of iron banging against iron behind her even in the waters. 

Coming up on a cliff the tell tale signs of approaching ships and men made the dragon sigh lowering her head questioning why she went on. Biding time? Maybe a game to see how long she could go on for? 

She was so tired.

Pressing a paw against the rock the dragon roared, giving away her position looking to the upcoming hurricane she'd use to escape them. And she just might. Still an eye needed to be kept on them. The horn signaling sleepless nights droned out over the waves. Still she was here thinking of him, still haunting her heart. 

This wouldn't be easy; sharks had bullied her out of their hunting grounds, penetrating her developing scales which grew austere day by day yet not hard enough to survive the oceans. Blood from wounds earned from living at sea also helped those tracking her follow along as she walked the Australian costs. 

The dragon sat in the cove licking her wounds till the storm picked up just right for her to call out again and take flight. She'd die maybe tomorrow, not tonight…

This was not as Utopian as how she wanted this encounter to go. Maybe injury played a part, maybe fate. The dragon growled trying to find the rhythm of the storm. The weakness in movement must have been spotted and exploited. The dragon roared, flapping her wings to catch up but it seemed luck did not favor her tonight. 

Still with the rain and wind beating against her face blinding her vision the dragon moved into the perfect position, the lightning revealed her hidden shadowed wings spread. 

Ryu's life flashed before her eyes when the harpoon struck its mark through her wing, spreading the burning pain in the membrane, traveling up her shoulder. With nothing to hook into it slumped out of the gaping hole. 

Hope of traveling above the storm still drives her upward. Or what could have been. 

There was a beautiful person, there was laughter, peril, and a small home filled with children. Would her future have that? Children, she could tell stories of temples and foreign lands, and of the cold world to prepare them. 

There was peace which did not seem possible now. Yet before all that this would have to come first. This pain. The loss of what had always been taken away was the price she'd pay for such a wondrous existence. 

It could have been her mind rushing to come up with conclusions as it did when she was younger, to scribble down her story before it ended. A comfort. 

The heavy "no!" She heard from the seamen and realized that she'd been not only struck by the harpoon but banished from the skies forever, the world yanking her back down into the ocean. 

There was stillness, a force carrying her body. Opening her eyes which burned initially until Ryu's lids blinked over a protective layer she hadn't known she had. 

Moving in the water was like moving in the air except there was more assistance. Soon she found a rhyme she could bob her form to accordingly. White fuzz filled the space around her. Ryu sank under the  ship's hull naively surfacing searching for Susannoo. Her gaze found him as the ship left her vancity. Treading the water she tried to cry, for him to capture her and take her back to her nice small cell and continue to visit in the night, but he shook his head, cocking the jade bolt through the crossbow in his arm, signifying that all other hunts before this had been practice, a chance for Ryu to gain her stride–now that she found it, the dragon officially became quarry and he the hunter. It felt so wrong to think of him in such a way, it was the truth now. 

Her boy. Her sweet boy was capable of all this. 

Ryu would not be tested to see how far his tolerance went and dispersed into the depths. The night made it difficult to swim low enough to camouflage among the corals and other vibrant life. That sadness that she left him alone followed along like a parasite but she knew his boys were with him. He had a group as most lords in Japan did. Some still wanted to make it up in life and left him. Ryu promised as she watched them leave with disgust she'd never do such a thing. Always by Sussanoo's side no matter what. 

The karma of looking down on those who left with dignity bore down even past the gallons of water, she swam above them just to be dunked down under.

Surfacing she'd put a significant distance between herself and the ships. Hesitation kept her in place until the cannons, still so loud, sounded off behind with those awful screeches of metal weapons and armor scraping. Ryu scrunched her shoulder, in a wince not used to the new reality that faced her. 

She had grown up with so many of Susanoo's boys she'd hoped that a part of her would convince them to plead her case to him and take her in from the harsh seas. Never did their eyes soften.

 She was proud of them in a way. How determined they were to follow the chase she presented. 

Ryu had to keep telling herself it was selfish. She just wished she heeded the warnings instead taking some encounters as a chance to catch up on Sussanoo's life.

Did he ever get the chance to marry and have kids? Was hunting her a tradition they carried? Cause if so she'd lead them around the world just to thrill them. But no Susanoo still chased alone without any prospects. 

Why didn't he have children? A Wife? Someone? Why still chase after her? The regret only deeply seeded itself, relieving only a small bit when Ryu would see some of Susanoo's boys almost unrecognizable from time. She knew them… 

As the years went by their numbers dwindled. One by one and sometimes two by threes were nowhere to be seen on the hunts. 

Susanoo would have to stop eventually and make a family right? If he never did… if Ryu drove him to the oceans… 

She couldn't have waited forever. Now she has a life. It wasn't perfect but she had found it and made it all on her own, and if she left him still roaming… he used to be her purpose. 

Drifting to an abrupt halt, Ryu panting looked back. 

"JUST RUN RYU! DON'T LOOK BACK!" 

Anna.

Slowly Ryu turned around then took off to where Anna's voice came. Her strong legs no longer trembling with fear, the tears dried replaced with a blaze shadowed the furious furrows of her brows. 

Stopping at the hole it was pointless to even try to get through. Ryu backed away regarding the wall. 

If Susanoo was out there still searching for her to avenge his family name that was his choice, and Ryu would always be remorseful she led him to that but this was her choice. 

A new purpose. 

It had nothing to do with legacy, or dynasties or even fate. Even if it wasn't the same it would be the closest Ryu could ever get to defending family. Here and now that was her choice. 

 My brother. I'm so sorry.

A prodigious concoction of hail and sleet gushed from Elsa's palms, it built up the wall layering it thrice over creeping to the top of the grand entry. If all went according to plan this should have caged the Vakten. 

Elsa could see the silhouette studying the wall. To her terror he raised his arms ramming them through the barricade in an explosive wave. The force sent her backward a few feet away. 

The night sky cast the two opponents in its cascade of colors.

Glaring Elsa stood slowly, readying her stance. All around them the blizzard roared, swirling in tandem with Elsa's arms and legs. She twirled gathering the storm, herding it towards the Vakten. A composure Orchestrating a great and mighty melody. His massive arms shielded his face from her elemental symphony. 

"Surrender, I don't want to hurt you." That age old authority surfaced once more, the one she knew, as naturally as she knew to use her powers. Vakten charged forward against her weather, his mace thudded to the ground and swiped quickly at Elsa, the unearthed ground overtook her.

This is growing old fast. Elsa was at fork in the road, she didn't want to condemn the Vakten for performing the duty he was created to do and on the other path he could only be considered as a delay, an obstacle that was keeping Elsa from getting to her sister and Ryu who– if those cries were anything to go by– in some type of distress. She had promises to uphold just as he did and would not bend to make his job easier.

The spinning of her body guided her winds into a vortex unintentionally flinging her into the air. Elsa had always prided herself in her adaptation capabilities and this time was no different. Now at a greater altitude than  her opponent her hands drew close together, a sphere of winter was born growing as her arms spread apart. Twisting her torso she moved her hold behind it pushing it towards her target striking the top of his head.

Her thighs split, landing upon an ice platform sprouted from the ground. 

At least that affected him. He shook his mighty dome, growling in frustration, it shook Elsa's entire core but she remained dauntless. She had him locked in her sights, ignoring the large shadow passing over them quickly. Buildings and other structures could be heard crumbling in the distance, what else was new. 

Anna's struggles became more reckless and painful when she saw what the soldiers had planned for her. She'd sooner have them throw her off and overpass than take her through those awful doors. 

She'd never find out what was behind them, never!

A loud roar brought them to halt. Some looked over their shoulders towards the disturbance. 

High up the wall rocks flung everywhere, as dust shrouded them. Anna gasped and broke out the biggest grin she could have mustered today. 

"RYU!" The dragon shook her head like a rutting buck wincing away the pain of having just used it as demolition equipment clawing her way out the tight opening she had created. She had slipped twice, still uncoordinated from her brain fog.

Her lips peeled back at the sight of soldiers apprehending Anna, snarling dangerously. 

To Anna's surprise the soldiers merely carried on as they were before towards the door. 

Ryu leapt down landing directly onto one of them propelling his dismembered limbs to sprawl across the floor. Wisps of magic expressed from his parts like green mist whirling around a bog.

Now she had their notice, the ones not occupied with Anna surrounded Ryu trying to pull her to their levels. The force of her jaws when she gripped their arms and smacked their torsos was enough to send them toppling over. Hearing Anna's struggles Ryu ran over and sliced her paw against Anna's capture sending her to ground unceremoniously.

"Umph!" She grunted, recovering swiftly to her feet.

They acted as mindless draugr. Anna could tell their intentions were not lethal as they tried to overpower the fledgling though she wouldn't voice this to Ryu who was being surrounded with clinging hands pinning the dragon to her belly.

"No! Put me down you bastard!" Anna was once again snagged and easily slung over a shoulder to be taken through the door. 

Two soldiers clasped Ryu's wing, holding it steady for their comrade to slice away the icy layer with adroit precision protecting her disabled limb. The dragon whined when the hole in her membrane was exposed. 

"Ryu!" Anna cried, the volcano within her boiled with wrath heating her entire body to what felt like impossible degrees. Growling menacingly she took her hand and dug into her captured flesh as far as it could go. It was enough to force him to release her. Without wasting another second she raced over to the pile up. 

She couldn't keep track of the chaos. All she was aware of was the soft joints she dug into without mercy, the soldiers remaining single goal minded hardly noticed her annoyances. 

"Leave." A jab in the shoulder. 

"Her!" A stab to the back of the knee. 

"ALONE!" Anna gripped the soldiers head and pulled using the force of one tugging her hips back decapitating her target. She held the helmet, staring at it for a few seconds, deciding it would be a great weapon to bash against her assailant's head, staggering him to loosen his grip. She ran while playing decoy climbing a pillar, dangling her leg like a toy in front of cats. 

With three off of her Ryu roared chest glowing, she breathed out an unexpected blast of hot flames. It didn't injure them, serving as only a distraction for her to rise. She barked Anna's signature call and ran for her, colliding into their enemies. 

Fueled by adrenaline to make a hasty retreat Anna didn't bother turning around instead flipping off the pillar landing onto Ryu's haunches.