Phew. Look what we have here, a new chapter! As promised, here you guys go! Sorry it didn't come sooner. Holidays, then sick. Not a fantastic mix.

So this chapter is chalked full of Elsanna cuteness. Hopefully that sits well with you all.

Little bit more plot squeezed in there at the end. Trust me guys, we're no where near done! Looking to update this on a more frequent schedule, so sorry again for the wait.

I really, truly appreciate you guys sticking in with me! And hey, if you guys are enjoying my writing style I think I'll shamelessly plug my Tumblr, where I post a lot of oneshots and drabbles (even take requests!)

You guys can find me under the name HardcorePokemaniac. You'll know it's me if you hit an Elsanna-centric layout.

Still no beta, so sorry for mistakes. I'll fix them when I can.

Well, until the next chapter, szia!

Mending An Icy Break
- Chapter 16 -

For a brief moment, the Princess couldn't believe what she'd just heard. It took her a minute to process her sister's words, and even then, her mind seemed unable to comprehend it.

I do, yes. The words echoed in her brain.

She wants more. A slow, steadily growing smile, unabashedly wide, spread across the ginger's face.

With me. She wants more with ME.

Now giddy beyond all reason, Anna felt like she should say something, if only to break the silence, but her mind was blank. Or perhaps not blank, but the exact opposite, with too many thoughts running through it to undertake all at once.

Likewise, Elsa felt as though she should speak up, but nothing came to her aside from a growing sense of foreboding the longer her younger sister remained silent by her side.

The fireplace crackled quietly on the far side of the room, demanding to be stoked as embers sparked and popped boisterously, though neither sister had any intention of moving.

In fact, they were both steadfastly still, neither seeming able to do anything but wait.

'Say something.' Anna chided herself inwardly when she took notice of how long it had been since a word was said between them; 'you'll make her uncomfortable. Or maybe you already have. You need to say–do–something!'

But it wasn't that simple, the strawberry blonde reasoned, trying to quell the vicious debate raging inside her mind. What could she say? Where would she start? How should she follow up her own question? There were just too many variables, too many things to consider, and she wanted to approach this with all the maturity and tact it required.

Unfortunately for her, the Queen of Arendelle was no mind reader, and she was interpreting her sibling's unsettling silence as something negative.

"Anna," Elsa's voice was soft, almost mute, yet it still managed to draw Anna away from her thoughts, "I do apologize if I've made you uncomfortable."

'What? No, no, no–!' Anna tensed. 'Correct her, no, uh–.' Tilting her head up, Anna opened her mouth to speak, but instead stared at her sister, mouth agape.

"Were you…expecting to hear otherwise? With regards to your question, I mean," Elsa's face contorted with something Anna couldn't quite read, "I…suppose I'm still not entirely sure how to act. Have I…misread something?"

Anna whined softly high in her throat. 'Say something! Anything! Emend, remedy, repair–do anything to let her know she's wrong!'

Shifting slightly, Elsa's arms became limp, slipping down from her earlier embrace of holding Anna. "I–I'll understand if I've misunderstood, I can lea–"

Anna was quick to silence not only her sister's vile words, but also those unpleasant thoughts she seemed to be having with a searing kiss. Having been quick to quell them with her lips on Elsa's, she'd lunged forward and messily crashed their mouths together, bumping their noses as she desperately tried to terminate any negative thoughts from the Queen's mind.

Their lips pressed together almost painfully, their inexperience showing as they both attempted to tilt their heads to accommodate the other; first to the left, then the right, which resulted in a few muffled whines that were effectively muted into their suffocatingly strong kiss.

When she felt as though she might faint, Elsa broke away from the kiss with an audible gasp, breathing heavily as her chest heaved. Likewise, Anna sat back slightly, her own lips parted as she greedily sucked in desperate gulps of air. Both girls stared at one another, their cheeks flushed and their lips slightly swollen from the intensity of the kiss.

"Anna," The blonde panted softly, "I…I'm…sorry, I'm confused." Anna gave her a lopsided grin.

"Sorry," She breathed, "I just…I didn't want you to get the wrong idea." Elsa stared at her. "I do, I mean, yeah–uh," The redhead stumbled a bit with her words, trying to gather her thoughts and form cohesive sentences, "–I do want more with you. I just, I love you so much, I think you overwhelmed my brain with that yes."

If it were possible, Elsa's cheeks reddened to a deeper shade of crimson. "I love you too Anna, of course," She smiled shyly, her hands coming together in her lap, "I'm just not sure we really know what we're doing."

"You're not going to tell me I'm too young to understand this, are you?" Anna grumbled while her brow knit and her nose crinkled. "Because I am, I'm eighteen Elsa, and not a child." The blonde reached out, her fingers delicately tracing the contours of her sister's cheek, before cupping it fully and stroking the swell of it with her thumb.

Despite being pouty, Anna leaned into her sister's touch, and swore she'd have purred if it were possible. "No, of course I'm not going to say that," Elsa smiled sweetly, "you are a young woman, I agree, and certainly not a child. You're more than capable of making your own decisions."

Anna frowned. "But?"

Elsa sighed. "But sometimes you do rush into things without…consideration." Anna opened her mouth to protest and Elsa raised a finger to her lips. "Let me finish," The older sister intervened, her command gentle despite the seriousness of her tone, "but, reckless as you might be, you always act with your heart. Despite the fact you should act with your head, your intentions are always the purest and most honest I know."

Anna pulled back slightly to speak. "So then you should trust my word," She reasoned, "and not doubt me."

"I don't doubt you," Elsa insisted, eyes widening slightly, "I doubt…myself. At times,"

The redhead sighed. "Well stop that," She moved forward, crawling over her sister, wrapping her arms around Elsa's shoulders and burying her face in the crook of Elsa's slender throat. "I never doubt you."

Elsa smiled, winding her arms around her younger sister. "I know you don't," One of her hands wandered up to Anna's hair, her fingers threading in the ginger locks, "you are amazing, Anna." The redhead blushed heatedly, burying her face closer to Elsa, trying to cool her warm cheeks on her sister's cold skin. "I know that no matter what, you'd never lose faith in me. That's a precious gift, and I cherish it."

"Well…, good," Anna mumbled, never one for the intricacies of conversation.

Elsa laughed. "Yes, good," She hummed, her fingers still raking gently through Anna's fiery hair, "though I do think we need to consider the consequences of our actions." Anna rested her ear over her sister's heart, sighing.

"I suppose we do."

"We are, after all, rulers of a kingdom. I do believe that poses some obstacles with regards to our relationship." Elsa reasoned as she could feel as Anna's fingers began toying with the lace fabric of her nightgown.

"But you are saying we're in a relationship?" Anna quirked another lopsided grin, unbelievably hopeful with wide eyes alight with longing. Another small laugh escaped Elsa's lips.

"I would hope this isn't a simple tryst, or lark," The blonde teased playfully, lowering her head to bury her nose in Anna's sweet scented locks. Beneath her she could feel her sister's entire body go rigid, no doubt with distaste for the mere thought of something so derogate.

"Of course not," The redhead insisted unnecessarily, "I love you Elsa, more than anything! You're absolutely perfect, and I admire you and–and you deserve so much! Even if you weren't…with me…I wouldn't let anyone treat you anything less than the absolute amazingness that you are."

If possible, Elsa was sure she'd have fainted with how much blood had rushed to her face. She was practically as red as a cherry, or even the gladiolus flowers she remembered seeing in the garden on warm summer days. She swore she could even feel the heat from those days right now. She could feel it. She felt warm.

Anna made her feel incredibly, impossibly warm.

"Anna," The Queen managed, though her voice had a quiver to it, "I…I love you too, so deeply," She squeezed the younger girl tightly to her chest, desperate to hold her close, to feel the loving warmth she gave so freely to her.

Anna nestled happily into the embrace, rubbing her cheek against her sister's nightgown, smiling dopily. "I had a feeling you might," The Princess teased back, snaking her arms around Elsa's body, "according to Kristoff, you're more the type to talk with actions than words…I get it now, you know? I see all the little I love yous in the things you do for me."

Elsa buried her nose closer and nuzzled. "I'm…happy you do," The blonde whispered, "I do, admittedly, worry that I sometimes don't express my love…enough for you." Anna shook her head.

"You do, don't worry," She smiled, turning her head to kiss Elsa's exposed neck.

"You know I'll worry, especially if you tell me not to," The blonde hummed, kissing the top of Anna's head. "I believe I worry most when you say not to." Anna puffed her cheeks, and then laughed heartily.

"I guess that makes sense considering," She mused aloud, "but…I do agree. We should–should try to figure us out."

Elsa hummed her reply. "I don't mean for you to think I'm ashamed, or even that I don't want this," The blonde explained, hoping to pacify any gnawing concerns her younger sibling might have about her motives, "I just want to make sure we're safe…, and that we're not hurting Arendelle, either." Anna nodded slowly in agreement.

"I get it, and you're right, as always."

"Good," Elsa sighed, relieved. "That said…for the time being we might want to keep this between us. I want to gauge reactions, and look into a few things first."

"Into what things?" Anna asked.

"Just some legalities," Elsa replied softly.

"I suppose this," Anna gestured between the two of them, "is sort of…unorthodox," The Princess laughed, though it was feigned and a bit forced.

"But not unheard of," The Queen assured, "I've read about this sort of thing before. Inces–" The blonde took a pause midsentence, the word seemingly caught in her throat. "–ahem, consanguineous relationships do occur in royal houses."

"Between…sisters?" Anna inquired tentatively, as if she didn't really want to hear the answer. Elsa was quiet for a moment, which only fueled the fire of worry in Anna's gut.

"Not many times," Was the answer, though not nearly as devastating as Anna had expected, "though, again, not entirely unheard of. It's almost laughable that it might be that aspect which is a larger hurdle to overcome than the familial one." Elsa snorted, which was an entirely unladylike sound, only leading Anna to smile at its very admission.

"I'll take my chances," Anna tilted her head up, meeting eyes with her sister, "I've already braved an eternal winter, climbed a mountain and fought off wolves and a greedy prince; I don't think there's anything that'll keep me from being with you."

"I think you need to seal that with a promise," Elsa crooned sweetly.

"Alright," Anna took the bait, leaning up and pressing a kiss to Elsa's lips, smiling against them. "How's that for a promise?" Elsa hummed consideringly, winding her arms around her sister's neck.

"Perhaps another, for good measure," The Queen hummed, pulling Anna down for another kiss. This time when their lips met, they tilted their heads, allowing them to deepen the buss while sighing contentedly. Forced to hold the kiss, Anna shifted until her body was lying plastered atop Elsa's, their torsos aligned and meshed together.

The Princess' hands found her sister's blanched hair, her fingers tangling themselves in the luscious locks of spun ivory blonde, and holding tight as she hungrily attacked the Queen's mouth with her own lips in a passionate display. Elsa lost herself rather quickly in the fervent kiss, her tiny mewls soon succumbing to her body's desire, and turning into desperate moans.

Anna returned the sounds with her own, though both voices were muffled into opposite mouths as their kiss held strong and hard for what felt like an impossibly long amount of time to go without breathing. Once her body could take it no longer, the redhead parted her lips to breathe, panting softly against her sister's kiss swollen lips.

"H-How was that–?" Anna asked breathlessly.

"Amazing," Elsa replied, her voice equally as airy and light.

"Good," The Princess leaned in, turned her head and pressed a feathery light kiss to her sister's rose tinted cheek.

"So we're in agreement then?" Elsa hummed, her fingers once again raking tracks through Anna's hair.

"It's our secret, for the time being," Anna agreed. "Are we…going to tell them?" The redhead stretched herself out comfortably atop her sister, their eyes on one another.

"I'd like to hope so," The Queen replied, "assuming that it's legal in Arendelle for siblings to rule together in union." Elsa nodded.

"U-Union?"

"Mhmm, I've read somewhere that under certain circumstances the monarch is able to appoint the position of co-sovereign to sibling, and although you're already appointed my regent, I'd prefer you not have to hold a position of power below my own." The blonde flicked her eyes to meet Anna's, having lowered her own in deep thought, and was a bit stunned by the intensity of the stare she found there. "A-Anna?"

"Union, you said union," The redhead inched closer, eyes narrowed on Elsa's, making the blonde feel the hairs on the back of her neck bristle.

"Y-Yes?"

"You mean, like, marriage…?" Anna clarified, eyes practically burning holes into Elsa's skull with the intensity of her gaze.

"M-Marriage?" Elsa squawked, unable to contain her shock.

"Mhmm." Anna smiled.

"Y-You mean between us? Y-You and I–?"

"You were the one who suggested it." Anna deadpanned.

"I…well that is to say, I–uh, h-had meant," The blonde stammered uselessly, eyes flicking everywhere but her sister, while her hands clasped together and began wringing out nervously.

Anna's own expression fell. "You…don't want us to be married?"

Elsa felt something akin to a weight being dropped to the pit of her stomach. "N-No–!" She gasped. "I mean, th-that's not what I'd meant! I do, I mean, I would like to–"

She was silenced with a kiss.

Anna kept her lips pressed to her sister's until she was sure she'd left Elsa speechless.

"Elsa," She cooed, her voice honey sweet to the Queen's ears, and her breath equally as sugary and warm, "if the time comes, I would love to marry you," The redhead smiled fondly at her bewildered elder sibling. "You remember when we were little, and we played princesses?"

Elsa blinked, then blinked again and nodded slowly, so Anna continued.

"Remember how all of our fairy tales had a prince and a princess, but I wanted to fight the dragons and trolls, and save the day?" Again, Elsa gave a slow nod. "so you always took the role of the princess to let me save you because I'd cry otherwise?"

Elsa snickered. "You were so juvenile at times, but I'm surprised you remember that…you were very young."

"I was four, not that young," Anna quipped, "and I think being juvenile is justified at that age."

"Fair enough, continue," Elsa conceded.

"Well I remember playing the games, and though not the details of our plots, I do always remember demanding to get a kiss whenever I had decided I'd saved you."

Elsa giggled. "Yes, and I always gave you a kiss on the cheek, as per your demands."

"Yes, you did," Anna smiled, "and I always played those games, went through those elaborate stories, so that I could get a kiss." The redhead's freckled cheeks tinted a bit with a rosy blush. "And I can very clearly remember thinking that getting that little kiss from you was the best thing I could ever receive. And even as I got older, that feeling remained with me, but I grew to understand that it was because of how deeply I love you."

"I love you too, Anna, and…I rather enjoyed giving you those kisses too." Elsa smiled happily. "Though you asked for them nearly as often as I gave them for free, you know."

"Well, I liked––like them!" Anna retorted quickly, to which Elsa grinned and then suddenly moved forward, peppering her sister's flushed cheeks with many sweet, chaste kisses.

And through Anna's bubbling laughter, which tickled the Queen's ears, she decided that, when the time came, she would be the one to ask.

To ask for Anna's hand in marriage.

"Sir, the Bonacheron is ready to sail, with her Majesty's blessing," The first ship's captain, Ambros, was a large, robust man; burly, muscular and scarred beyond recognition, if it weren't for his tremendously decorated uniform, some might mistake him for a battered and weathered boulder.

"Here," Conner said dryly, handing off a sealed package of letters, bound in leather which bore the royal seal, "her Majesty blesses your voyage, and we've detailed your route and procedure for the next three months. Dock only when necessary for supplies, and only a few men at a time–never in uniform, and never in the Bonacheron herself."

Ambros turned his head and surveyed his gunship proudly; she was massive, stretching larger than most enemy craft on the seas, though the fact they were flying foreign flags did make the mountain of a man's brow twitch ever so slightly.

"Remember, Captain Ambros, what you do you are doing to Lüztunel," Conner bowed his head slightly, as if to convey the gratitude of a nation in the simple gesture. "Once you have reached your first post, send word back, and your sister ship will sail in your path."

"Understood, sir," Ambros grumbled in his baritone voice, his own head giving a curt bow.

Without so much as another word, Conner watched as the massive man climbed onto his ship, disconnected from the docks and set sail.

It wasn't until his ship was entirely out of sight that Conner returned to his carriage and made the short trip back to the castle.