A/N: Hey there guys, it's been a while! I'm sorry this took a hella of a lot more time than it was supposed to but you know how it is. I've got a life that doesn't revolve around fictional lesbians. I'm just kidding, no I don't LOL. I've been having lots of ideas for other fics and all. I have like three unpublished drafts. I wish I had more time /creys/ *Ahem* anyway, I'm sorry to say but this story is reaching it's end. There will probably be one more chapter and then an epilogue and if you guys are interested maybe a prequel on Cora's backstory :3

Oh, and a supper mega awesome shout out to piece-of-lime. tumblr. com for doing fanart of this fic! :* give this awesome person love and cookies on tumblr

Here's chapter 10! Enjoy xoxo

Even though she had come on the royal palace horse that was more or less hers now, Cora was breathless by the time she reached Frida and Fiona's home. Her head was still throbbing from the hit she had received and her heart was beating painfully hard in her chest. She sighed out in relief when she got there. The bakery was intact.

Dismounting the horse, she tied him to a nearby post and fed him an apple. Slowly, she approached the door. Yes, it might be weird and a bit rude to show up at someone's door step this late but it was for their own good. It was best she keep an eye on them. Taking a deep breath, she knocked. It took a few moments but the door opened to reveal Frida in night clothes and a small candle in hand.

"Cora? My dear, what are you doing here this late? It's much to chilly for a southerner. Come in!" She gently pushed Cora inside and locked the door behind them.

"Oh, I just.. I was feeling lonely, I guess... I'm sorry to wake you, I should have come earlier. You know me, I tend to act on whim." Cora lied perfectly.

"Oh nonsense, dear. You know you are always welcome here. I wasn't even sleepin'" Frida replied easily. She wasn't sure if Cora was telling the actual truth but she didn't seem seriously troubled, so she shrugged it off.

"You know where the things are. Go get yourself a blanket upstairs and get some rest. You're gonna need it when Fiona wakes t'morrow to find you here." She chuckled as she brushed Cora's overgrown bangs behind her ear. Frida made a note to herself to cut them in the morning. The girl responded with a smile went up the stairs but before going to her own room she gently opened the door to Fiona's. Cora smiled as she felt tears coming back to her eyes. She's going to be okay. Even though extremely relived, Cora felt a crashing wave of despair hit her. The only possible way this mess could have a good outcome is if she did what she was told and then disappeared from Arendelle.

But how could she bring herself to do that?

For the first time in almost three years, she was finally starting to be happy again. Actually happy. Finally getting over what had happened.

It isn't fair. She thought, crying into her pillows. No matter how hard she tried to find something worth living for, life always wrenched it away from her grasp before she had enough time to taste it. She bit her lip hard holding back a gut-wrenching sob as she felt the familiar pain of her heart breaking all over again. The last thing she registered before drifting away to sleep was the metallic taste of her own blood.

Blood.

It was everywhere. Cora felt herself scream at the sight. Tears fell down her cheeks as she saw the body that lay in the middle of the room. His pitch black hair fell over his face and across his almond shaped eyes, which were still open. Soon, her grief turned into sheer rage as she saw the three figures responsible for the horrible scene in front of her.

It happened way too fast and way too slow at the same time.

She ran to the first one with her knife. It ran once through his stomach, then across his neck. The second came up from behind her but she was much quicker. Cora dodged the oncoming dagger with a spin. Using her momentum, she stuck her own weapon into his chest. She tried to take it out of the man's body but it wouldn't budge. Noticing the third figure approach her fast, she jumped and rolled out of his way. Losing his balance for a moment, she took an opportunity to kick his knife out of his hands. It flew across the room as she tackled him to the ground. She punched him. Hard. She punched him until he bled. Until his teeth were knocked out of his mouth. She punched him until he stopped moving.

She stopped.

What... have I done?

She looked around at the blood in the room. The men's blood, Qiang's blood. The blood on her hands.

No. No. No.

Going to the center of the room where he laid. She turned him around so he was facing her. His eyes were open but he gazed right through her.She buried her head on his chest.

His blue necklace dangled uselessly on his neck.

"I'm so sorry."

Elsa soon found she was beginning to enjoy Prince Lincon's company. When they met she had been very much prepared to dismiss him just as quickly as she had all the others but there was something different in him. At first she was reluctant and defensive, just waiting for a reason to reject him. But after spending a lot of time in each other's company, Elsa realized he was completely genuine, if not a bit lost. When she let herself open up, even if just barely, things took off from there.

Turns out, they had many thing in common. Both were shy to a fault, although Elsa hid it better. Lincon wasn't fond at talking at all, something Elsa respected.

"Some people just fill the world up with nonsense and pitiful gossip." He had told her. "I think sometimes it's better not to say anything at all."

They also shared a strong bond with their respective sisters. Elsa could see in the way that he talked about Griselda that they went through their share of hardships together. In his eyes he held a kind of... baggage. A deep sadness, turmoil and most of all... Regret. Elsa felt a strange urge to comfort him, to fix whatever it was that was making him upset. It was second nature for her. Putting others needs before hers and trying to fix everything, even some things that weren't even broken to begin with.

Lincon also noticed things in Elsa. He was very intimidated by her at the start, after all, people from all parts refer to her as The Snow Queen. But as time went on, and the ice started slowly chipping away, he found Elsa was a gentle and very kind soul, with an uncanny love for chocolate and all things intellectual. A small glimpse of the girl -No. Woman- behind the crown. Soon enough, their awkward attempts at conversation turned into peaceful afternoon strolls and then into playful chess games. When the date of Lincon's departure came they were both slightly disappointed but promised they would write. Before he boarded his carriage he surprised the queen by taking her into a spontaneous hug. He learned something else about Elsa that day.

She gave the warmest hugs ever.

As Elsa watched the carriage go through the gates down the road to the docks, her heart began to feel heavy in her chest. The time she had spent with the prince had been lovely. He was sincere, easygoing and smart. No doubt an amazing king. If Elsa were to choose a husband, it would be him.

But...

Elsa's thoughts couldn't help but drift to Cora. She had been avoiding thinking about what their outcome would be. What were they after all? Friends? Lovers? Both? Was that even possible? She planned to talk to her about it, really she did, but every time Elsa saw her, her plans went awry.

The queen thought back to past. Fear and anxiety were so strong it made her blind. She ran away, she thought avoiding everything would solve her problems but it didn't. When Anna told her how she froze over her own kingdom, her own people. She stopped thinking, the only thing she could listen to was her own heartbeat and the raging storm that was begging to explode inside of her. She couldn't even listen to her sister, desperately calling out to her trying to reconcile, to help her but her desperation was so strong she couldn't take it.

Ironically, she had the same biological responses when she was with Cora. Her mind went illogical and her heart went aflame... but maybe that's why it was so therapeutic. Cora helped her realize that emotions didn't have to be bad. They didn't have to be shoved down all the time. Of course Cora wasn't the only factor. Elsa started learning this at the North Mountain but then she had been alone. It was easier to not be afraid when she was alone. With Cora, she was slowly overcoming her fear of human contact and letting herself really feel.

And it was kind of addicting.

So she tried to avoid thinking too much about it because sometimes her over thinking led to messing things up.

And this was something she really wanted to get right.

A familiar knock sounded against Anna's door. She sat up from her bed and hollered for the guest to come in. Elsa opened the door softly and let herself in.

"Hey! I thought you were busy today."

"I am, actually but... I just wanted to talk to you about something..." Anna patted the spot on the bed by her side. Elsa sat down promptly.

"Well first of all I want you to know that I considering betrothal to Prince Lincon." Anna beamed and giggled loudly at Elsa's words.

"Oh Elsa, I'm so happy for you!" She tackled her sister in crushing hug. "I knew you would come around." Anna pulled away after a few seconds when she realized her sister wasn't happy about what she had just said.

"Hey... what's wrong?" Anna asked with concern. Elsa took a deep breath before responding.

"I'm just... I don't think..." The queen rarely struggled with her words. Something is definitely wrong. Anna thought. As Elsa tried to form a coherent sentences, something in Anna's head began clicking together. As if a missing puzzle piece was finding it's way into her brain.

"Lincon... he's great. Brave, fun, mature... he would make the perfect king but everytime I think of marrige I-I don't think I can go through with it..." Anna listened to her sister's words with furrowed brows. The things she was thinking couldn't be true...No. Elsa would have told me... I think.

"Why not?" Anna asked. Elsa took in a shallow breath.

"I- Because... I'm-I think-"

"Because you're in love with someone else... Aren't you?" Anna completed. Elsa contemplated the idea for weeks now but she couldn't bring herself to admit it. The consequences of admitting that to herself would be too great and too heartbreaking.

"I don't know." She decided. Her body shrunk a bit as she said the words. Anna hugged her sister again, this time more tenderly.

"Oh, Elsa why didn't you just tell me? I would have stopped bugging you with all those suitors. Gosh... I'm so sorry! I was so anxious for you to find love I didn't even notice you had already found it!" Elsa quickly shook her head as she faced her sister.

"No, don't blame yourself. I should have told you about it before."

"Well... why didn't you?" Anna's words escaped her mouth before she could stop herself. "I thought we were close again." She widened her eyes and cupped her mouth as Elsa's own contorted into hurt and guilt. Anna kicked herself in her mind. "No- I mean... I didn't mean it like that it's just that... I don't see the big deal! Even if he's like... a peasant or something, it's okay! I mean Kristoff is and no one bugs us because of it-"

"Anna." Elsa gently interrupted. She still looked serious but a glint of fondness adorned her eyes. "It's more complicated than that."

"What? How is it complicated. Love isn't complicated. I mean- well, it is but that's not the point. What's so bad about this guy? Is he old?"

"W-what?"

"Old. Like... grandpa old. Don't get me wrong, I don't judge but come on! You can do better than an old dude. Oh gods... don't tell me it's the ol' prude from the elder council."

"An- heavens no!"

"Oh thank gods." She paused for a moment, raking her mind for eligible people she had overlooked. Elsa was about to say something but was quickly cut off again. "Oh. My. Gods. Is it that Prince from the Southern Isles who came uninvited to that ball? That would be nasty. I-I mean... not a problem as long as it's... real love and if he isn't like H-"

"No, Anna-"

"Ugh why don't you just spit it out?"

"Anna, I'm try-"

"I mean, seriously, what's so bad about him that you can't tell me? Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I-"

"Is he like a criminal or something?" Elsa blushed heavily at that last comment. Anna was stunned for a moment.

"Uh... more or less." Elsa replied slowly. Anna blinked one and then twice before she responded

"Oh my...That's so..." Elsa's heart beat faster in anticipation. "Scandalous."

"Anna!"

"I can see now why you were so reluctant."

"Anna."

"Does he steal you away from the castle in the darkness of the night?"

"Anna."

"Wow Elsa that is so roman-"

"For heavenssakes, Anna, it's Cora!" Elsa suddenly lost her composure and was now a blushing disheveled mess. Anna stayed still, mouth still open. A few seconds of absolute silence passed between them. Elsa was already beginning to think of a quick escape route in case things went wrong. She couldn't help it, old habits die hard. Anna's brain stopped dead in it's tracks and expanded in an alarming speed. Her only reaction was:

"Wait what?" Elsa didn't know what else to say. They both started at each other for a few moments, Anna processing what had just happened and Elsa going half insane with the suspense.

"You mean... Cora, Cora?" Elsa nodded slowly. "Oh... Oh... I- Wow it is... more complicated than I thought..." Things began making sense in Anna's head.

"Wait... so you're okay with this?" Elsa asked, hesitantly, when she saw her sister frown in thought. Anna turned to look at her, incredulous.

"You're happy with her, aren't you?" Elsa gave a bittersweet smile and nodded. Anna tackled her into yet another hug. "Then that's all that matters." The queen felt her eyes start brimming with moisture. She couldn't believe it ever crossed her mind that Anna would be anything less than accepting

"Thank you, Anna. You don't know how much this means to me." Anna chuckled as she let go of Elsa's embrace.

"Oh please, stop being silly, you're my sister. I'll love you no matter what." Anna smile but soon her expression turned into a glare. "If she breaks your heart though, I'll have her personally kicked out of Arendelle." Elsa laughed but her eyes held heavy guilt.

"That's... why I came to you in the first place." Anna frowned, ready to go find Cora and... do something. She wasn't sure what. Probably involved intimidation and a significant amount of shouting.

"You won't need to kick her out because..." Elsa sighed deeply "I think I broke her heart first."

"What?" Cora asked, eyes molding into a sharp glare.

"Cora, what did you expect?" Elsa replied, distraught.

"What do you mean what do I expect?"Cora snapped. "You seriously expect me to watch you marry another guy like it's nothing?" Elsa massaged her temple as she got up from her vanity seat and turned to look at Cora on the bed.

"Cora, please calm down. Let me explain." Cora's posture deflated a bit but she remained frowning, not meeting Elsa's eyes. "The Kingdom of Termina has a famed military service. Something Arendelle doesn't have in case of a conflict and it's also a massive trading post for seafood for both importation and exportation. It would bring equal benefit for both kingdoms." Cora was now looking at her own feet, her knuckles white clutching on to the bed sheets.

"So you're going to be betrothed into a loveless marriage for seafood privileges?" Elsa rolled her eyes, despite herself. The room's temperature was gradually dropping.

"That's not fair." The queen retorted. "You know I have obligations to my people."

"What about obligations to yourself?" Elsa scoffed at Cora's response.

"Obligations to myself? More like obligations to you." She hissed back. "You are not the center of the world." Frost crackled underneath her skin, trying desperately to come out.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're being selfish."

"Well maybe I am!" Cora fumed in utter frustration, standing up from the bed. Elsa was getting angrier as well. Her hands closed into tight fists as a small blizzard began to form in the room.

"Well you can't be!" She cried. "Do you know what I would give for this to be simple? For this to be normal? But it's not and we- I cannot afford to be selfish. There are bigger things at stake here don't you see? If people found out they would disapprove, alliances would be broken, the kingdom would be shunned." Cora paced around in the room trying to vent out her exasperation. She turned to Elsa with a response.

"You're the Snow Queen, for heaven's sake, you can do whatever you want!"

"By striking fear in my subjects? That is not the ruler I want to be."

"Fine, but you don't have to marry. You can stay single."

"No I can't." Elsa explained. "I need heirs."

"Well, what about Anna?"

"Cora, if Anna and Kristoff's children were to take the throne, they would be called bastards. They would be accepted easily by the people but ridiculed by other Kingdoms. I can't put a responsibility like that on Anna's shoulders." Cora's eyes began to fill with tears of anger at the unfairness of the world. Finally, she looked up at Elsa again in defeat.

"I'm sorry..." Cora choked out in complete loss. A lump formed in Elsa's throat. She wasn't expecting that

"For what?" Elsa may not have been an expert at human body language but she was observant to a fault. One of the things she most certainly didn't notice Cora do before was this. She looked completely crushed. Her posture, usually so self-assured was deflated and subdued, a hand clutching her necklace like a lifeline, and her lips pursed into a thin line. In was incredibly unsettling. There was something Cora was hiding from her.

Cora tried to form words but nothing would come out. There were too many things she wanted to say at once.

I'm sorry I can't tell you.

I'm sorry I'm a selfish coward.

I'm sorry because I know you deserve better.

I'm sorry it had to be me.

And...

"Cora..." Elsa's face softened as she took a tentative step forward. The other girl looked up at her. The blizzard had changed into soft falling snow but hard ice began seeping through Elsa's toes and creeping it's way up the walls and to the ceiling. The queen noticed this and started backing away from Cora, hiding her hands. Her breathing increased and she was overcome by sudden emotion. Why was this happening? She didn't even know what she was feeling. If she didn't know what it was, how could she stop it? Her surroundings began to fade. Make it stop!

And it did. It stopped as soon she felt a familiar set of lips upon hers, while a hands pulled her closer by her neck. Slowly, she closed her eyes. Her trembling hands moved to wrap themselves around Cora's waist, pulling her impossibly close until she felt every inch of her body. She never wanted to leave. But just as the kiss got intenser, Cora pulled away forcefully, almost tripping over her own feet, breathing hard.

"I-I have to go." Cora raced to the door, hastily grabbing her leather bag on the way. The sound of metal clinking against metal resonated from it but Elsa didn't notice. The queen was too busy feeling tears slide down her face before she even knew she was crying. What is even happening? She sprinted to the door, calling out Cora's name, but stopped as her feet came in contact with something wet. Elsa looked down at the puddle in confusion. She spun her head and her eyes widened at the sight of the rest of the room.

The ice was melting.

Cora tried to wash away her guilt by saying to herself she didn't have a choice. Taking a look at her face as she left the palace in tears, you could tell it wasn't working.

Secretly she hoped Elsa would suspect it. That she would stutter about something and blow her cover. That Elsa would call out her crap and help her confront them and everything would be happy again. However that was unlikely. Because one: she was pretty sure Elsa wouldn't be very anxious to anger an infamous organization of thugs and cutthroats, and second: Cora was a terribly good liar. For once she wasn't glad about that.

Looking inside her bag on her way home only made the guilt deepen. It was chalk-full of jewlery. All she could do now was wait for them to come back and claim their treasure.

She wished her life could be more simple.

Why couldn't I just have been born into a normal family? A family here in Arendelle. She laid down on her bed an allowed her mind to wander. I could be Fiona's actually sister. I could have gotten a job at the royal palace. She smiled wider at that particular thought. Her thoughts went to Elsa. Her smile fell again.

Oh Elsa. If only you knew how rotten I really am.

It was raining. Cora ran through the rooftops jumping and sliding, never missing a beat. As a gap approached she jumped, soaring through the air for a few seconds before landing with a roll. She looked at the city. It was a bit hard to see because of the water falling from the sky but she recognized the place. She jumped down to a window ledge, then another, then two more.

Third floor, second window from the right. She opened it.

Inside was pleasantly warm from the hearth. She couldn't see the room very well but she noticed a form lying on the bed. Silently, she unsheathed her dagger with trembling hands. Cora didn't want to do this. It was the first time she had been assigned to something so serious. Usually it was just thievery but... They had confided her to an assassination job. Don't get this wrong, Cora had no fixed moral compass and usually didn't care about the well being of others (at least not at that time) but... The thought of making a heart stop beating was... unsettling. She shook her thoughts away. It's not like she had a choice. Cora been hired by a growing company to take out the only heir of a rival business. It's current boss was soon becoming older and more cynical. They predicted his last straw would be the death of his only grandson. She couldn't screw this up. Cora tread carefully in order not to step on any toys.

Toys.

The girl stifled a horrified gasp as she recognized the object on the ground to be a miniature wooden horse. Stepping closer to the bed she saw a little boy sleeping peacefully. Her heart almost lept out of her chest. Cora looked at the dagger in her hand. She lifted it up over his body and...

She couldn't do it.

Cora sheathed her dagger, opened the window and jumped out into the cold rain.

"Wake up."

"Wh-" Cold water soaked through her bones. She coughed and snorted as some of it got into her nose.

"Where's the stuff?" A gruff voice. The girl, now drenched along with her small bed, took a few seconds to realize what was happening.

"It's in the bag." She spoke curtly. The big hooded man picked the bag up and looked inside of it. He glanced at Cora, then slung it over his shoulder and began making his way to the door. Cora didn't even protest about the man taking her bag. It was best to cooperate for now. Just as he made his way out of the door of her bedroom, another man came in. He instantly sent a chill down the girl's spine.

"Well done. I knew you could do it." His condescending tone forced her to bite back her fury.

"I've repaid my debt. Please let me be." A wail of laughter bounced off the wooden walls. He stepped closer in agonizingly slow steps. Cora ignored all of her urges to run away and stood her ground. The man jerked forward and suddenly grabbed her by her throat.

"Foolish little bird." Cora struggled to breathe as his grip tightened. After a few seconds, he released her. She coughed and gasped for air. The skin on her neck was slightly bruised

"It's a pity really, you were always my favorite." The tall man examined her for a bit, lifting her chin up with his finger. Cora wanted desperately to swat away his hand but instead she forced herself to meet his gaze. She knew how things worked with these people.

"Look, I've been stealing everything I can find in that castle for four weeks. I've been running for three years. I only ever disobeyed you once. All I want is my freedom." The man's lips curved into a smirk and he rolled his eyes. He let go of her face.

"And what about the child? The young queen? You wouldn't want them to end up like that Qi-"

"Please. I could care less. You think I wanted anything more than a warm bed and a good fuck? You know me. Like I said, I only want you to leave me alone." He paused. His face contorted into a sharp glare, trying to identify falsehood in her voice.

"I'll just run away again and you know it."

"Very well." He snickered with a shrug. Cora didn't know if she should feel relived or incredibly angry. After all those years running for her life he fucking shrugs. She hated this man. She hated him more than she could bare. "If you steal a few more things for me, I will let you go free."

"What's the catch?" Her voice was sharp an accusing. The man chuckled.

"The only catch is that you're going to have to figure out how to steal said things on your own." He responded. Cora's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Our sources state that there is a very secret room in the lower levels of the castle, filled to the brim with Arendelle's most prized and ancient riches." He smirked slightly. "Only one has ever managed to get in... yet none have made it out."

"I'll do it."

The man just smirked at her.

"But I need proof you're not lying to me." He quirked an eyebrow. In a swift movement he unsheathed his dagger and sliced his palm. If he felt any pain he didn't show it. Cora hesitated for a second but pulled out her smaller knife that was hidden in her pockets. She hissed in pain as she felt the cold steel rip her flesh. They shook hands. He smiled wickedly at her before turning away from her to leave the house.

"Good luck."