Elsa paced back in forth in her chambers despite her exhaustion from the battle and her lack of sleep, rubbing her forehead as she searched for a solution to their problem. She had insisted that Anna see the royal physician even though she seemed mostly unhurt, and after instructing Kai to have the injured guards sent to the hospital she had retreated to her room to think. But despite all the thoughts whirling through her head, she was not making any progress.

Instead, all Elsa could think about was her own guilt, a whispering voice that reminded her of all the ways that this was her fault. Elsa shook her head. She couldn't allow herself to wallow; she had to figure out a solution. She dug her nails into her temples, leaving indentations in her skin that took several seconds to disappear. Melting them with her love for Anna hadn't worked, but why? It had worked for the eternal winter. In what way was the eternal winter different from those things?

Then Elsa remembered what Grand Pabbie had said about how her magic followed her emotions and it all made sense. Elsa laughed desperately, stopping abruptly when she realized that she'd done so out loud. She hadn't really, truly considered what Grand Pabbie had meant. She had been so shocked that she had created those things at all and so focused on erasing her mistake as quickly as possible that she hadn't considered why she had created them.

No, she had been avoiding thinking about it. But now that she did, it was obvious. And it was equally obvious that there was nothing she could do about it. Elsa let go of her forehead, her arms hanging limply at her sides. She walked in front the desk next to her bed and opened the drawer, removing the false bottom that she'd had installed there years ago. She took out the lacquer box and placed it on her bed, simply standing and looking at it for a few seconds before removing the lid with trembling hands. Inside was a pair of blue gloves, her spares from before the Great Thaw. She put them on, flexing her hands when she was done. It was odd, really. Wearing these gloves used to put her at ease, but now they only felt confining.

"Elsa, what are you doing?"

Elsa hadn't noticed Anna entering her room, and now Anna stared at her sister with wide eyes as she watched her putting her gloves on for the first time in three weeks. Elsa looked away.

"I'm doing what I must." She murmured, not meeting Anna's eyes. "I'm going back to North Mountain. I created those things, and they are haunting me. If I leave, the kingdom will be at peace." Anna grabbed Elsa's hand, her forehead lined with worry.

"But what about you, Elsa?" Anna pleaded. "You won't be at peace." Elsa sighed.

"There's nothing else I can do. I can't melt those things."

"How do you know that? We can try again. I know we can figure it out!" Elsa laughed dryly, meeting Anna's gaze again.

"I've already figured it out, Anna. That's why I know it can't be done." Anna tilted her head.

"What do you mean?" Anna tightened her grip on Elsa's hand. Elsa took a deep breath.

"Do you remember what we talked about yesterday? My magic is formed by my emotions. I was able to thaw the eternal winter because I wasn't able to shut you out anymore after you sacrificed yourself for me. But it's different this time. The reason those things are so hostile and say those horrible things to us is because, on some level, I resent our parents." Elsa's brow was furrowed with shame, but she did not look away. "On some level, our parents are those monsters in my mind. I know that's not fair of me, but I don't know how to forgive them, so I can't melt them. I've been trying ever since these thoughts first came to be after the Great Thaw, but I can't. Do you know how?"

Elsa searched Anna's eyes for answers, but once again, Anna didn't know what to say. Even when her sister needed her, she failed her.

"I don't. I can't forgive them either." Anna looked down, tears of shame prickling her eyes. Elsa nodded.

"Then I need to go." Elsa turned away, intending to pack the things she most needed.

"Wait! If you're going, then I'm going with you." Elsa turned and stared at Anna in shock. Anna's jaw was set and her arms were crossed. "Remember, you promised that you wouldn't push me away anymore." Elsa wrung her hands.

"You're right, and if that's your final decision then I won't stop you. But are you sure?" Elsa frowned, silently pleading Anna to say no. "You don't have to come, and you'd be happier here."

"I told you already." Anna's voice cracked as she held back tears. "Don't ever tell me to go away again." Elsa's face twisted with guilt and she pulled Anna into a hug.

"You're right. I shouldn't have said that." Elsa spoke into Anna's back, feeling her sister tremble with restrained sobs.

Elsa didn't know what to do. She couldn't stay in Arendelle without endangering the people, but she knew Anna wouldn't be happy living on North Mountain, far away from anyone else. Finally, Anna calmed down and she pulled back. She took a deep breath and held Elsa's gaze.

"Just go to bed for now. We'll get up early and figure something out in the morning." Anna said, her voice small.

"It's only four in the afternoon." Elsa protested, but Anna's stubbornness returned to her and she crossed her arms.

"You didn't sleep well last night, did you?" Elsa winced, realizing she'd been seen right through. "And I bet you're tired from all that magic you just used." Anna looked down and put the tips of her fingers together. "Besides, I think we need to sleep on a decision like this." Elsa nodded slowly.

"Alright. I suppose it can't hurt." Elsa doubted that it would help, but Anna smiled at her in relief.

"Well, I'll let you sleep then."

Anna walked out, glancing back briefly before leaving the room. Once she left, Elsa returned to her desk and tried to do some paperwork, but she could barely keep her eyes open. There wasn't much for her to do with the current crisis as the priority for government business, but she had still neglected her work for the past two days. She really wasn't worthy of being queen. Elsa finally gave up and went to bed, so tired that she fell asleep in just a few minutes, though her dreams kept her from truly sleeping well.

Anna lay in bed, but she couldn't sleep. Her thoughts kept returning to their problem, but no matter how many possibilities she considered, she couldn't think of a way for her and Elsa to stay in Arendelle without endangering the people. In the end, she decided to wander the halls. When she was younger, she had the habit of talking to the portrait of Joan of Arc when she was lonely or worried. It would be a bit embarrassing if she was caught, but it was the only thing she could think of that might make her feel better. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of the painting. Joan's face was the epitome of fearlessness even as she held a sword and rode into battle; Anna had admired her a great deal when she was younger.

"I wish I could have faith as strong as yours." Anna said, frowning. "I'm trying to be strong, but I just don't know what to do. Elsa has reason to be scared and I just hope she's not right. Everything she says makes sense, but I feel like I'm missing something, like something doesn't add up, but maybe I'm just deluding myself. I wish the angels would send me visions too. God knows I need them."

Joan didn't say anything, of course, but sometimes Anna would imagine what Joan would have said.

"I was not much older than you." Joan would have said. "I trusted in myself and in my visions, no matter what anyone else said. Trust your own judgement, and you will prevail." Anna nodded.

"Thanks, Joan." Anna returned to her room and got back into bed. This time, she fell asleep nearly instantly.

"Again! Again!" Anna giggled as she jumped from one pillar of snow to another, clapping her hands in delight.

"Wait! Slow down!" Elsa cried as she hesitantly shot out pillars of snow from her hands.

She seemed to struggle to make each pillar smaller, but for some reason she couldn't control it. More and more came out, and she couldn't seem to hold it back. Each pillar brought Anna higher, and at the worst possible time, Elsa slipped on the ice, and wasn't able to make the next pillar. Anna gasped as she began to fall.

"Anna!"

Elsa waved her arms, trying desperately to catch Anna, but in her hurry she instead struck Anna's eyes with her magic. The image became blurry and faded to black.

"Anna!"

Anna gasped as she woke and sat up in bed. She looked out the window and saw that the sky was just starting to brighten; it was almost dawn. Anna bit her lip as she recalled the dream. It was the same dream she'd had before – the memory that she'd started to recover. But now that Anna could remember it better, she realized that there was something strange about it. Elsa had perfect control of her magic until the very end of the dream, when she couldn't seem to stop herself from creating larger and larger piles of snow for Anna to jump on. It was as though the magic had listened to her instead of Elsa. Anna began to sweat as her mind raced. That hadn't been the only time, had it? Anna scrambled out of bed and ran out of her room. She had to tell Elsa.

Anna knocked on Elsa's door frantically. For a moment, she was reminded of the hours she'd spent as a child waiting in vain in front of that very door, and she worried that it wouldn't open. She was relieved when Elsa opened the door, blinking her eyes in weariness, until she remembered why she was there.

"I know we were planning to get up early, but I didn't think you meant before dawn." Elsa yawned, but then her eyes widened as she realized that Anna was close to tears. "Anna, what's wrong?"

"Elsa, it's not your fault, it's mine!" Tears pooled in her eyes and began to drip down her face, but Anna just barely managed to keep her voice steady. "Those things, they're my fault too!"

Elsa blinked in confusion, then shook her head and grabbed Anna's hands.

"Anna, no. I don't know why you think it's your fault, but it can't be. It was my magic that did this." Elsa held Anna's gaze, but Anna continued crying.

"It's true. Think about it, Elsa. During the very first blizzard, our father mentioned the time he told me that you need to put your duty as the future Queen before spending time with me. He never told you about that, did he?"

Anna watched Elsa carefully, and Elsa was unable to hide her surprise. She was right. Elsa hadn't understood what he had meant at the time. If he had said something that only Anna could have known, then Anna must have had some influence over her magic. Elsa shook her head.

"That doesn't make any sense." Elsa's eyes were wide with shock. "It must just be a fluke."

"It's not. Each time they came, they knew exactly what to say to hurt us. Both of us, Elsa." Elsa continued to stare, struggling to think of something to say. Anna's tears tickled her lips and she tasted salt as she spoke. "And at your coronation, I was also angry when you lost control." Elsa shook her head again.

"But how?"

"Your magic is controlled by your emotions, right? Maybe it's influenced by the people you care about? But it doesn't matter why." Anna trembled. "All this time you've been blaming yourself for not being able to control your magic, but it was my fault, too. Elsa, I am so, so sorry."

Anna could no longer hold back her sobs, and Elsa hugged her briefly. Elsa still wasn't sure what she should say, but she knew she had to be there for her sister. She pulled back and led Anna into her room and guided Anna to the chair next to her bed. She retrieved her handkerchief, which Anna accepted, blowing her nose loudly. Elsa sat on the bed next to Anna and patted her shoulder awkwardly until she finally thought of something to say.

"Anna, it wasn't your fault." Elsa said, doing her best to sound sincere.

Anna looked up at her, but she was still crying, and didn't seem convinced.

"There was no way you could have known. These are my powers, and even I didn't know until you pointed it out to me." Anna began to nod, still sniffling, and Elsa continued. "You are a good person, the best person I know. Now that you know, I am certain you will do everything you can to control it." Anna was still sniffling, but she began to smile.

"Thank you, Elsa. I promise that I will help you control it." Anna's lips were now tight with determination. Then she smiled, the tears still wet on her face.

"What is it?" Elsa asked, an eyebrow raised. She was glad that Anna wasn't blaming herself anymore, but that didn't explain why Anna was grinning like a fool.

"I just realized something." Anna was still smiling. "Doesn't everything you said apply to you too?" Elsa blinked. "You've been beating yourself up about not being able to control your powers, but once I'm the one to blame, you insist that it's not my fault."

Elsa blinked again, and then began to laugh hysterically, and Anna joined her. By the time they finally calmed down, the laughs subsiding into wheezes and pants, Elsa felt as though the enormous weight on her shoulders was suddenly much lighter.

"Seriously, though," Anna continued, meeting Elsa's gaze, "If you can forgive me, you can forgive yourself. I still remember what you said before, and you're not a monster. You're my big sister, and the best one I could ask for."

Elsa's eyes began to tear up and she looked away to fiddle with her braid for a few seconds before nodding.

"I guess you're right." Elsa conceded. "I will try, at least." A dam had burst between them, and now Elsa felt she could ask something that had been bothering her since the beginning of the conversation. "Anna, what was that conversation father had with you?"

Anna looked away and didn't say anything at first, but Elsa was willing to wait.

"It happened when I was thirteen," Anna recalled, her eyes unfocused. "I had had enough of you shutting me out and I made Father explain why. He used to just avoid the topic, but that day I wouldn't let him get away. Eventually, he snapped and said that you needed to prepare to become Queen and that you couldn't afford to waste time with me when you could be studying. It made me feel like I was a burden to you."

Anna frowned, trying not to let the memory affect her.

"I know now that he didn't mean it and that he didn't think he could tell me the truth, but I believed it when he told me. That was when I stopped asking."

Elsa laid a hand on Anna's shoulder, her eyes wide and her brow furrowed.

"Oh, Anna. That's why they said those things about you holding me back, isn't it?" Anna looked down, not saying anything, but she didn't deny it either. "That's not true at all. I've said it before, I wouldn't even be alive now without you. And our parents didn't think of you that way either. You don't have anything to prove."

Anna smiled weakly at Elsa, but Elsa could tell that it wasn't enough. It hadn't been enough in the past.

"Isn't there anything I can do to convince you?"

Anna tilted her head, surprised at the question. But it didn't take long for her to come up with answer. It had been bothering her for a while.

"The same thing I told you before. I want to help you rule the kingdom, Elsa." Anna said, placing a hand over her heart. "You told our parents that you resented them for leaving you with the kingdom, and I don't want you to feel like it's a burden anymore. I know you're a good ruler and I know you enjoy being able to help people. Remember how happy you were when that woman thanked you for helping the farmers?"

Elsa nodded slowly, surprised that Anna had been so perceptive. She did, in fact, enjoy her job from time to time. It was just that she sometimes felt overwhelmed by the responsibility she held, or felt unworthy of it due to the problems her magic kept causing.

"Whatever training you think I need, I will do it, because I want you to be happy and I want to be useful to you."

"If you insist, Anna," Elsa said softly, smiling.

It always surprised and touched her how much Anna cared about her, no matter how many times Anna proved it. Elsa began to laugh lightly, and Anna glanced at her, curious. Elsa noticed and explained.

"I was just thinking that our parents would be rolling in their graves if they knew I had agreed to this. They wanted me to be queen because my powers were a danger to myself and others, so I could never leave the palace. They wanted me to take care of the administrative work so that at least you would one day have a chance to be happy." Anna's eyes widened as the implications sunk in. "They never wanted you to be lonely or unhappy, Anna, and they didn't think you were a burden or incompetent. I was the only one who was too dangerous to be let out." Elsa looked down at her hands. Anna shook her head.

"That's not true, Elsa. They didn't think you were a monster. They wanted you to rule the kingdom even though you had magic. They trusted you."

Elsa looked up, her eyes shining with tears.

"Do you really think so?"

"I know it." Elsa wiped her eyes and stood up. She reached a hand out to Anna.

"I'm ready. I can do it now."

Elsa's back was straight, but this time Anna could tell that the confidence wasn't a façade. This was Elsa at her best, her big sister who could do anything. And Anna knew now that Elsa believed in her, too. Anna took her hand and stood up at Elsa's side, nodding in agreement.

"Me, too."

Anna and Elsa waited nervously in the dining hall as the clock ticked closer to 12. The table was set with all their favorite dishes, including several chocolate desserts. Anna sat to the left of the head of the table, and Elsa sat on the opposite side. Two places were left empty at the head of the table. Their family had eaten dinner together like this many times when they were children; it was the only time of the day that Anna and Elsa had always spent together, so it had been Anna's favorite meal. Sometimes, Elsa would even talk to Anna for a few minutes during dinner. Finally, the clock struck twelve, and knocking came from the door to the dining hall. Anna and Elsa exchanged a look to reassure themselves and then they stood and walked to the door. Neither of them was afraid anymore, and Elsa was no longer wearing her gloves. Elsa opened the door, and waiting just outside were their parents. Their bodies were even more realistic than before, the multicolored ice carved in such great detail that their facial expressions, which had previously been mere caricatures, couldn't be told apart from their fondest memories of their parents. The grotesque skin that they had once worn was gone as well, and this time there was no storm.

"Welcome home." Elsa said, as she always used to. Her father nodded at her.

"Hello, Elsa. Work kept us out later than we expected, but we're back now. Let's get started."

Their mother walked up to Anna and hugged her, and then they all walked to the dinner table. Their parents sat at their spots at the head of the table and Anna and Elsa returned to their previous places. As always, their father led them in saying Grace. Afterwards, as they unfolded their hands and began to eat, no one said anything for a few minutes, as the hall was filled only with the sounds of clinking dinnerware and chewing. It was strange, but it didn't feel so to either Anna or Elsa. The atmosphere felt like an old pair of clothes, warm and comfortable. Once they finished eating, Elsa decided to address them.

"Mother, Father, I wanted to apologize." Elsa began, looking into their eyes.

"Whatever for, Elsa?" their mother asked, tilting her head. Elsa gripped the underside of the table.

"I have resented you for the last few weeks. I blamed you for telling me to shut everyone out and for making me queen. I thought you believed I was a monster."

Elsa took a deep breath, bracing herself.

"I was wrong. You were only trying to protect me, in the only way you knew. You never thought poorly of me. You made me queen because you trusted me to take care of the people in your stead. I forgive you, and I'm sorry."

"I have something to say too." Anna said, putting down her fork. Her stomach churned with shame, but she couldn't let herself look away. She had to be strong, like Elsa. "I made the same mistake as Elsa, except even worse. I blamed you for all of our problems and even for my own mistake with Hans. I didn't even believe that you loved me. You wanted us to be happy. You cared about us. I should never have believed those things."

Tears began streaming down Anna's cheeks and when she looked, she saw the same was true for Elsa. They looked up, startled, as their parents began to laugh. Their father wiped away crystal tears of laughter and tried to calm down to explain, though their mother continued to laugh.

"Oh, girls, you have nothing to apologize for. Anna, you're still a teenager. And Elsa, you're not much older. We'd be strange parents indeed if our children didn't hate us at some point, and we know we weren't perfect." He said, his voice as warm as it always used to be. Their mother finally stopped laughing as well.

"But we're at dinner, dears. Why don't we talk about something more cheerful?"

Elsa smiled as she thought of something.

"You're right, there are a lot of things that we haven't had the chance to talk about together. Do you remember that time when I accidentally froze Father to the ceiling and we had to figure out a way to get him down before anyone realized he was missing?" Anna's eyes widened.

"You did? How many accidents did you have without me knowing?" Anna folded her arms in mock protest, but she only got laughter in response.

"Kai gave me a strange look when I asked for an ice pick but wouldn't tell him why I needed it." Their mother giggled.

"I don't see what was so funny about that. My back hurt for hours afterward, and your mother refused to give me a massage." Their father pouted, and Anna snorted.

"Oh, I have a good one that Elsa probably doesn't know about." Anna said, beaming. "Mother, do you remember when I tried to sneak out of the castle and I begged you not to tell Father? We had to hide behind the suits of armor to get back in without being noticed, and Mother didn't fit behind all of them. That was a close call."

"Dear, it's not polite to comment on your mother's weight."

They talked for what felt like hours, sharing memory after memory of the good times they'd spent together. Elsa couldn't recall the last time she'd been so happy; certainly not before the Great Thaw. Finally, the laughter in the hall died down, and after a few minutes of silence, their parents got up from the table.

"It was nice seeing both of you again." Their father said, gazing at each of them sadly. "But our time is almost up."

Elsa quickly got up from the table, and Anna followed her.

"Wait!" Elsa said, wringing her hands. Their parents didn't move, and Elsa continued speaking. "There's something else I need to tell you. Thank you. Thank you for raising us, and for believing in us, and for believing in me." Elsa smiled sadly. Anna spoke next, her voice strained.

"Thank you for having us. Thank you for giving us a chance to live, and for giving me a wonderful sister. Thank you for loving us."

Their parents walked up to them and drew them into a hug. Elsa and Anna closed their eyes and returned it. Despite the ice, neither one of them felt cold.

"Thank you for being such wonderful daughters." Their mother said.

"You've grown up well. I couldn't be more proud." Their father patted them on the heads.

Finally, they parted and their parents walked back to the exit. Elsa and Anna waved goodbye, and then their parents turned away and dissipated into snow, which was blown away by a strong wind. Anna turned to her sister and squealed, hugging her close.

"We did it, Elsa!"

Elsa smiled down at her.

"Yes, we did."

They heard a gruff, but welcome voice from the entrance and they turned to see Kristoff standing there, with Olaf beside him.

"Hello. What have you two been up to?"

Anna ignored the question, running up to him and tackling him with a hug.

"Kristoff!"

"Woah, easy there, Anna. I know I was out later than I expected to be, but you're hurting my spine."

"Hey, I heard Kristoff was back. Are we hugging now? I love warm hugs!" Olaf grinned. Anna laughed and waved Olaf and Elsa towards her.

"Come on, you two! Group hug!"

Elsa smiled shyly and joined them, hugging Anna and Kristoff, and Olaf joined too, squeezing their legs. Their parents were gone, but for the first time since their deaths, Elsa felt complete.

A/N: This story ended in a pretty strange way, and I imagine that this last chapter, with 4500 words of dialogue with almost no action probably turned some people off, but I'm pretty satisfied with it. I'd like to thank those who gave me advice on this story. It really helped me make it better, especially those who helped on reddit as /u/Timewinders. Please let me know what you think. I'm still open to making improvements if someone has suggestions, and if you liked it I would be really glad to know that.