Anna was sitting in Elsa's study, reading over a letter from the leader of the Fisherman's Guild for the third time. Each time she reached the end, she realized that she had no idea what the letter had said. She glanced out the window for the second time in as many minutes. The sky was ablaze in hues of red and orange, but Anna couldn't focus on the beauty of the sunset. Elsa had planned to be back from Trondheim slightly before dinner, but that had been nearly two hours ago. Anna knew that her sister could take care of herself, but she wasn't one to be late.

Anna tossed the letter onto the desk, abandoning the pretense of trying to read it. She pondered if there was any way to figure out where her sister was. The best option was Kai, but she didn't exactly want to run to him about Elsa if she could avoid it. Maybe she sent a messenger with word, but who would have-

The groan of metal and wood drifted through the open window. Anna rushed to it and leaned out, trying to peer around the corner of the castle to see the front gate. She couldn't quite see it, but she heard the clop of hooves and the clatter of wheels over the stones leading up to the castle. She dashed back across the room and out the door, skirting around servants and narrowly avoiding collisions until she reached the grand entryway to the castle.

The doors opened, and Anna couldn't help the grin that split her face as she saw Elsa walking in. She wanted to run over and sweep her sister up in a hug, but she hung back and waited impatiently. As she watched, she noticed that something was off. Elsa's normally graceful walk was a bit unsteady, and she swerved a little while she made her way inside. Her face was flushed and her normally serene smile was more vivacious.

"Anna!" Elsa cried, her already radiant smile growing even brighter. She pulled her sister into a tight hug. "I'm sorry that I'm late," she said once they had separated. "I hope I didn't worry you too much."

"Not at all," Anna replied. She held out her arm and her sister linked hers through it. "I assume that you had a good time?" she asked as they started to walk down the hallway. There was something abnormal about the Queen, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She had caught a faint whiff of something during their hug, but she'd been too distracted to place it.

"Oh, yes," Elsa said as they turned a corner. "Thank you again for taking over so that I could get away for a bit." She glanced around, then pushed Anna up against the wall and pressed their lips together in a heated kiss. After they separated, she leaned in and whispered, "Maybe I can show you just how much I appreciated it when we get to my room."

"I… uh…" Anna murmured. The sudden kiss had thrown her off, and she didn't get a chance to recover before Elsa kissed her again. There was a sweetness on her tongue with a familiar sting underneath it. They reluctantly pulled apart and continued down the hallway. "Have you been drinking?"

"No," Elsa replied, though a flush spread up her neck as they walked. She chewed on her lip for a moment before confessing. "Maybe just a bit while we were waiting for lunch to be served… And during lunch… And one more glass while she gave me a tour of her home." She hung her head, glancing over at Anna.

For her part, Anna couldn't help but giggle. "What's that face for?" she asked. "I'm not your mother. You're not in trouble." She leaned over and kissed her sister's cheek. "Besides, the entire point of the trip was so that you could relax and have a little fun. It sounds like you did just that." As they rounded another corner, Elsa squeezed her butt and made her jump a bit. "What's gotten into you?" she asked.

"Nothing compared to what's about to get into you," Elsa replied, grinning. Anna fought the heat rising up her neck and held her sister's gaze. After a moment, the blonde giggled. "It's nothing, really. I just talked to Alaya about our… predicament, and she—"

"You told her about us?" Anna asked. She knew they were alone, but she couldn't repress a quick glance up and down the hallway.

"No," Elsa said. She furrowed her brow for a moment. "Well, kind of… but not really, though. At dinner, she noticed I was a little stressed and she asked what was wrong. I had already had a bit to drink and it just kind of… slipped out." She ducked her head again. "I told her that you were a stable boy the Horsemaster had recently hired."

"Found something you wanted to ride more than the horses, huh?" Anna said, nudging her sister. She giggled as Elsa's face reddened. "Well, if it helped you feel better about all of this, then I guess I can't complain."

They reached Elsa's room, and Anna barely had time to make it through the door before she was pushed up against the wall and the blond attacked her. Elsa's lips roamed over her neck, while her hands nearly tore at the fabric of her dress.

"At least let me get the door first," Anna chided playfully. She managed to push the door shut, but the lock was just out of her reach and her sister had her pressed firmly against the wall. She tried to push forward a bit, but Elsa held her still and increased the intensity of her affections. The familiar ember in Anna's gut sputtered to life, and she knew that she would be overtaken by lust if she didn't act soon. Elsa's hand snuck under her skirt and brushed the edge of her panties. Anna laced her fingers through her sister's hair and pulled back so that their eyes met. "Bed," she growled, "now."

Elsa was all too happy to oblige, leaning in for one last kiss before racing off to the bed. Anna rubbed her hands over her face. Even after being together for some time, it still surprised her how easily Elsa could get her going. Anna set off after her sister, reaching back to work on the laces keeping her dress up. When she reached the bed, a naked Elsa pawed at her clothes.

"Just gimme a second," Anna said, chuckling. "We can't all just wave our clothes away like some people." She managed to get her dress down off of her shoulders, and Elsa leaned in to lavish attention on her breasts. Anna wove her fingers into the blonde's hair and let out a moan, her eyes fluttering shut.

The lock.

She glanced over her shoulder at the closed, but unlocked door. She chewed her lip for a moment, then turned back to her sister. Fuck it, she thought. No one bothers Elsa once she's retired for the night. She pulled Elsa's head back, leaning down for a kiss before pushing her over onto her back. She quickly finished getting out of her dress, then knelt down between Elsa's legs.

Well, almost no one.

Elsa pored over the expense reports from the past year that Kai had brought her. Each one was off. The total monthly expenditures were half of a percent lower than the total amount of removed from the treasury every month. It was a small enough amount to not be overly worrisome, but consistent enough that it couldn't be a coincidence.

There was a soft knock at the door, and Elsa looked up, curious. She wasn't expecting anyone. She glanced at the clock. That late already? Kai must have sent some tea. "Come in," she called, going back to the report. The door whispered open. "Just set it over there, thank you."

"You might want to sample this while it's hot, Your Majesty," a familiar voice said.

Elsa grinned. "Oh, and why might that—" The words died on her lips as she looked up. Anna was standing across the desk, clad in a long leather riding coat. And the light sheen of sweat on her face suggested she hadn't picked it for comfort. "What are you wearing?" Elsa asked.

"Oh, nothing much," Anna replied. She shrugged and the coat slid off of her shoulders, revealing her nude form underneath. Elsa's mouth fell open. A week had passed since her impromptu trip to Trondheim, but both she and Anna had been so busy since then that they had barely had time to talk to one another, much less spend any quality time alone. Clearly, the lack had gotten to her sister.

Not that she's the only one, she thought. Small pinpricks of warmth swirled through her gut as her eyes roved over Anna's body. Elsa swallowed, glued to her chair as Anna slowly walked around the table. "We shouldn't…" she said weakly.

"Oh?" Anna purred. "Is the Queen just so busy that she can't spare five minutes for her poor, lonely little sister?" She gave a fake pout and crossed her arms over her stomach, pressing her breasts together.

Elsa took a deep breath through her nose to try and calm herself, but she caught a whiff of Anna's arousal as the redhead crept ever closer. The last vestiges of her resolve crumbled away. "I've never known you to be satisfied with just five minutes."

Anna grinned triumphantly. "Well," she said as she straddled Elsa's lap, "I suppose that'll be up to you now, won't it?" She wrapped her arms around Elsa's neck and pulled the blonde into a heated kiss.

Elsa sat frozen for a moment, her senses overwhelmed by her sister's sudden closeness. The heat of Anna's skin seeped through her clothes and her taste danced across her lips. Her hands flexed indecisively against Anna's hips, unsure of where she should touch. Anna ground her hips against Elsa's lap, whining needily into their kiss. Elsa took the hint, snaking a hand between her sister's legs. She easily slid two fingers into Anna's dripping wet center. The redhead finally broke their kiss so that she could bite her lip to stifle a moan. Elsa took advantage of her freedom and wove a trail of kisses down Anna's neck, peppering in some nips as she passed over her collarbone. Anna tangled her fingers in Elsa's hair, pulling her closer while she continued to grind against Elsa's hand.

Elsa continued working her way lower, grazing her teeth over a stiff nipple before taking it into her mouth. Even though they had only just started, Anna's breathing was already sharp and ragged. Maybe five minutes was too long, Elsa thought to herself wryly. She pushed her fingers a little deeper, worked her tongue a little faster, and savored the sweet symphony of pleasure that she was pulling from her sister's body. She could tell Anna was getting close. Anna's hushed moans and gasps grew quiet, leaving the work of Elsa's fingers as the only sound breaking the silence.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The girls froze, neither daring to even breathe. For a brief moment, Elsa prayed that they had both heard the same illusory sound.

"Your Majesty?" A muffled voice called from the far side of the door. "Please forgive the intrusion, but I wondered if you might have a moment to talk."

Elsa tried to swallow, but it felt as though her throat had sealed shut. She sat back to meet Anna's gaze. 'Lock?' she mouthed. Her sister nodded. Elsa's mind raced, but only one option presented itself. "Under the desk," she whispered. Anna scrambled down from Elsa's lap and huddled beneath the desk. Elsa stood and took a deep breath to try and steady herself. She strode over to the door and gently turned the lock. She was about to open it when she noticed several noticeably damp spots on her skirt.

"Come in," Elsa called as she walked back to the desk. She sat down, taking extra care in scooting her chair forward. The door opened and Alexi Karloff made his way in. "Ah, Duke Karloff," Elsa said, smiling. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Thank you for seeing me unannounced, Your Majesty," Alexi said, giving a slight bow. "There was something said during the last Council meeting that I wished to discuss with you."

Elsa fought the urge to roll her eyes. Every time that Alexi want to 'discuss' something with her, she had trouble getting a single word in. As the Duke started talking, Elsa felt Anna's hands digging under her skirt and slowly moving along her legs. Fingertips danced up and down her legs, sending shivers up her spine each time they crept a little higher. She kept her gaze on Alexi, who she could tell was gearing up for a long-winded speech. She knew it was a terrible idea, that they had far too much to risk. But Anna's surprise visit had gotten her incredibly worked up before the Duke arrived, and the idea of doing something so naughty while someone else was there in the room with them—none the wiser—was tantalizing.

Elsa's libido overpowered her reason, and she spread her legs wider under the desk. The hands teasing her legs moved higher, skimming the inside of her thighs. Fingers traced further and further until they could trace the edge of her panties. Elsa bit the inside of her lip to try and keep her face neutral and her breathing under control. Anna's fingers rubbed down underneath Elsa's legs, pressing just hard enough to part her vaginal lips. The fabric pressed and rubbed against her, and it was growing increasingly difficult to keep up the pretense of paying attention to Alexi. Elsa couldn't slouch down or move forward enough for Anna's mouth to reach her nethers, but she felt Anna's lips winding a trail of kisses along the inside of her thigh where she could reach.

Elsa gasped as Anna's fingers pushed her panties to the side and slid between her folds. Alexi faltered for a moment in his monologue, watching the Queen to see if she wanted to comment. Elsa kept still, hoping that he might forget it happened and start talking again. The moment of silence stretched while his gaze lingered on her. She tried to recall anything the Duke had said, but Anna's movements were making it extremely difficult for her to focus. "I'm sorry," she said, "Could you repeat that last part?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," Alexi said. His brow furrowed for a moment, but then went back to pacing the room as he spoke. "As I was saying, the German delegation was insistent, but Duchess Haskaal and I managed to…"

Elsa quickly lost any attention that the Duke had garnered as Anna brought her thumb up to press against her clit. She bit her tongue against the surge of pleasure that raced out from her core. Anna's fingers built up a steady rhythm. Elsa felt her orgasm building and coiling in her gut. That's far enough, she thought, only to realize that she didn't know how to get Anna to stop. She squeezed her legs together, but that only served to trap her sister's arm between them. Anna leaned against her legs, and Elsa could feel her breath coming in quick short puffs against her thigh. The fingers buried inside Elsa moved faster, almost frantically. Anna pressed harder against her legs, shaking. Oh gods, is she…

Elsa brought a hand to her mouth to cover her erratic breathing. Unfortunately, it was the hand that she had used to pleasure Anna earlier. She could still smell her sister's wetness on her fingers, and it was enough to push her over the edge. Waves of pleasure pulsed out through her body, and she quickly feigned a coughing fit to mask her convulsions.

"Your Majesty! Are you alright?"

She put up a hand, thankful that the Duke froze in his approach to her desk. She took a moment to steady her breathing, then gave her best smile. "I'm quite well, thank you," she said. "But it seems that something I had for lunch didn't agree with me. I'm afraid that I'll need to cut our discussion short." She paused for a moment as Anna's arm slowly withdrew from between her legs. "If you would, please compile a summary of your and the Duchess' plan, and I'll review it before the next Council meeting."

Alexi watched her for a few seconds, clearly confused. "Of course, Your Majesty," he said, dipping into a light bow. "I pray that you—" he paused for an instant, his eyes locked on the floor. "—feel better soon," he finished. He turned and pulled the door open. Before leaving, he glanced back one last time. His eyes lingered on Elsa, then he quickly ducked out of the room.

Elsa buried her face in her hands and resisted the urge to scream, settling for a groan instead. "Anna," she growled as she pushed her chair away from the desk.

"So, do you want to stay in the chair, or should we clear off the desk?" Anna asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Elsa could only stare at her sister in disbelief. "Seriously?" she asked.

Anna shrugged. "Why not?" she replied. "Alexi's gone. Just lock the door again and lose that dress. If anyone else comes by, just tell them you're not feeling well and send them away."

Elsa groaned again. While the idea sounded appealing thanks to her sister's infectious enthusiasm, she had other duties to attend to first. "I can't," she said, "I've got too much on my plate right now. But I promise we'll get to spend some time together tonight after dinner." She moved her chair back further. "Now come on. Out."

"I don't know," Anna said. "It's pretty warm and cozy down here, and it's got a great view." She grinned and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Is it, now?" Elsa replied, smirking. She flicked her hand, sending a small wave of magic under the desk. Snow and icy wind swirled in the confined space, spilling up Anna's backside and causing her to jump.

"Yah! Cold! Cold!" Anna cried. She scrambled out from her hiding place. She frantically brushed her hands along her back, trying to dislodge any know that had stuck to her. She glared at Elsa and smacked her playfully. "I keep telling you; that's not fair."

"And I keep telling you," Elsa shot back. "I wouldn't have to do it if you weren't so stubborn." She stood up from her chair and grabbed Anna's coat. "Now, go have a bath and I'll see you at dinner." Anna pouted, but Elsa pushed the coat into her arms. The redhead grumbled, but put it on.

"I still say that I'd be more comfortable under the desk," Anna groused.

"That's exactly the problem," Elsa said. She pulled her sister into a gentle kiss, jumping when she felt a pinch on her butt. "Stop that," she chided half-heartedly. She shrieked as Anna redoubled her assault, chasing Elsa around the room and grabbing for her butt any time it was within reach. Elsa eventually whirled on her sister, grabbing her arms and pinning her against the wall.

"Mmm," Anna purred, "I thought we were done playing." She pressed herself forward, causing her coat to part.

"We are," Elsa growled. She took one last glance down at Anna's flushed and lucious skin, then let go of her sister's arms to close her riding coat. "Now go, or else we won't get to spend time together tonight because I'll be stuck here."

Anna pouted, but acquiesced. "Fine," she grumbled. She gave Elsa one last kiss, then headed for the door. "See you later," she called back over her shoulder. "Love you."

"I love you, too," Elsa replied.

Elsa walked down the hall, humming to herself. A week had passed since her and Anna's near miss in her study. In the days since, they had ensured that they made time for each other, and Anna had kept from trying to initiate any more intimate scenarios in places where they might be interrupted.

She rounded a corner and spied Kai. "Good morning, Kai," she said. Her smile faded as she got closer and saw that his face was clouded. "Is something wrong?"

"No, Your Majesty," he replied, dipping into a brief bow. "However, there is a matter that I wished to discuss with you." Elsa waited patiently for him to continue, but he glanced down the hallway over her shoulder. "Might we adjourn to somewhere private? It's a… sensitive issue."

Elsa blinked. Kai had never requested privacy between them before, and she wasn't sure exactly how to feel about it. "Of course," she said. "We can talk in my study." She turned and headed back the way she had come. She slowed her pace just enough to walk side by side with Kai, and she peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. His mouth was drawn in a thin line and his eyes darted around the floor. Luckily, Elsa hadn't made it very far from her study before Kai found her, so they reached it quickly. Once inside, she sat down and waited for Kai to do the same, but he didn't.

"I don't know how to say this gently," Kai said, meeting the Queen's gaze. "so I must be blunt. Gerda and I know about your… relationship with Princess Anna."

Elsa sat stunned, unable to even breathe. Questions raced through her mind, but they overwhelmed her from a dozen different directions and left her with only one thought to latch on to. Someone knows. They know. She had wondered and thought about how she would react if someone discovered her and Anna's relationship, about what she would need to do to minimize any damage. But all of that planning vanished like fog under the morning sun now that Kai had confronted her. All she could do was quietly ask, "How?"

Kai finally sat down across from the Queen. "The day that you went to Trondheim, an important missive arrived from Corona," he said. "I planned to present it to you when you returned that evening, but another matter came up that required my attention. I came to find you once it was resolved, but…" He dropped his gaze to his hands. "You and the Princess were already… together."

Elsa buried her face in her hands. Not only had Kai found them out, but he had done so by catching them in bed. "I…" she paused, unsure of what she could even say. "I'm sorry." She took a deep breath and pushed her hands up through her hair. Worrying about the fact that Kai knew or how he found out wouldn't help. The best thing she could do was move forward. "So," she said. "What happens now?"

"We won't tell anyone," Kai said. "While we're… still processing the discovery of your relationship at the moment, the two of you are adults and more than capable of making your own decisions on the matter." He relaxed a bit, his discomfort giving way to a discussion he had clearly planned and practiced. "But even so, there are some issues that we do need to discuss."

Elsa felt a wave of relief when Kai said that he would keep her and Anna's secret, but even that feeling couldn't drown out the one that reminded her of when her parents had lectured her as a child. "Of course," she replied.

Kai sat for a moment, seeming to search for the right words. "I'm sure you understand that a relationship of your and Anna's nature must be… discrete. In fact, I hesitated to even reveal that I knew because the two of you were clearly being extremely cautious outside of… a single unfortunate incident." He paused for a moment, pursing his lips. "However, there have been… rumors spreading through the city recently. Ones that suggest you have taken… an illicit lover."

Elsa felt as if the world had dropped out from under her. Mere minutes after recovering from learning that someone knew about her and Anna, now the entire city was talking about rumors of a lover. Panic clawed at her, but she fought to keep calm. She focused on taking slow, deep breaths through her nose. As the initial wave of panic abated, she asked, "What kind of rumors? How specific are they?"

"Very vague," Kai replied. "They merely suggest the idea. In fact, any of them that get more specific suggest that this mystery lover is a man." Elsa sighed, but Kai pressed on. "While that is a relief, the fact that there are rumors at all is worrisome. Someone saw… something that led them to start the rumor. Thankfully, it was something small enough or vague enough that it didn't reveal the truth of the situation, but it was something."

Elsa bit her lip. She knew exactly who had seen what. Alexi. She cursed her libido once again. "Right," she said. "We'll need to be even more careful from here on out." She paused for a moment, mentally testing out a few ways breaking the news to Anna. "Is there anything else?"

Kai wrung his hands again, discomfort returning in full force. "May I… speak freely, Your Majesty?" he asked.

Elsa gave a short laugh, saying, "I believe we're well past the point of you needing to ask for my permission, Kai."

"I suppose so," he said, smiling half-heartedly. "Even so, please don't take this question poorly. How… serious is your relationship with the Princess?"

Elsa felt a flush burn through her neck and up into her face. "We… haven't gotten around to talking about that yet. We've just kind of been… playing it by ear." While she and Anna had both agreed that they wouldn't overthink their relationship just yet, admitting that out loud made it feel all the more childish.

"I see," Kai replied. "I can't really say that I blame you, but given the nature of your relationship and your positions as royalty, it is something that you need to consider." he chuckled as Elsa's brow furrowed in thought. "Not necessarily right this moment, but in the near future. There are questions of marriage and succession that will need to be answered, though it doesn't have to be tonight."

"Right," Elsa said, "but the sooner we figure all of that out, the better." She stood from her chair. "For now, though, I'm afraid that you'll have to excuse me. I believe that Anna is waiting for me for lunch."

"Of course," Kai said. He stood and bowed. "My apologies for keeping you."

"It's quite alright," Elsa replied. "I prefer you do it now rather than after the rumors have been confirmed." She headed out the door, but paused just before leaving. "Please be sure to let me know if the rumors become any more… concrete." Kai nodded, and Elsa left the room. As she made her way down to the dining room, she couldn't help but think about how her conversation with Kai had left her feeling. She had always assumed that someone discovering her and Anna would reignite the worry that she had harbored early in their relationship, but the opposite had happened. It was as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. The rumors spreading through the city were a harsh reminder that she and Anna needed to stay vigilant in their secrecy. But the fact that someone knew about their relationship—Kai and Gerda, no less—and accepted it was more than she had ever dared to hope for.

Elsa pushed open the dining room to find Anna already helping herself to lunch. "Thanks for waiting," she said wryly.

Anna grinned around a piece of bread that was hanging from her mouth while she piled food onto her plate. She took it out and said, "You were late. You know the rules," before biting off a chunk.

"I suppose so," Elsa said as she sat down. She loaded her own plate with some food while she searched one last time for a subtle way to broach her talk with Kai. I see why he was blunt. She spent a few seconds idly pushing food around her plate before saying, "Kai told me about an interesting rumor he heard." Anna looked up at her curiously. "Rumor around the city has it that I've taken a secret lover."

Anna's eyes widened for the barest moment before she smirked. "Well, they're not wrong," she said.

Elsa rolled her eyes. "I suppose so," she replied, "but they're not a very good secret lover if people know about them."

"Fair enough," Anna nodded. "So I take it that means no more stints under your desk?" She ducked as a blueberry flew past her head. "Darn. I liked it under there." She smiled for a few seconds longer, then grew more serious. "We'll just have to be extra extra cautious from now on. But at least the only time someone has begun to suspect anything was the one time we were being unbelievably reckless." She sat back and popped a bite of food into her mouth. "At least it's just vague rumors. It's not like anyone has actually seen us."

"About that…" Elsa said, staring at her plate. She took a moment to try and calm herself, then said, "Kai and Gerda know about us." She glanced up to see Anna frozen in place. Elsa couldn't even tell if she was breathing. It's strange to be on the other end of this discussion. "He saw us one day when we were being a little too… affectionate."

"Affectionate?" Anna repeated. "Like kissing, or…"

Elsa hesitated. Part of her wanted to soften the blow and say that it was just a romantic kiss that gave them away, but she decided against it. "We were in bed," she said.

Anna covered her face and let out a groan. "Of course we were," she said. She took a deep breath, blew it out and echoed the same sentiment Elsa herself had expressed. "So what happens now?"

"He said that they'll keep our secret," Elsa replied. "But he emphasized that we need to be careful. There were a few other… issues that he suggested we need to think about. Marriage, succession… long term issues."

"Well, I suggested this whole thing because you said it would be easiest if we just married each other," Anna said, shrugging. She speared a piece of fruit, then pointed it at her sister. "For the record, I still think it's the best idea."

Elsa's smile faded. She pushed her food around her plate for a moment. "It's not like I don't agree. It's just…"

"Hey," Anna said. "I know. It would be amazing, but we can't do it for a myriad of reasons." She reached over and laid her hand on top of Elsa's. "Though, Grand Pabbie did try and marry Kristoff and me when we went up there the first time. I bet he'd be willing to marry us in secret."

Elsa brought her free hand to her chest in faux shock. "Run away and get married under cover of darkness? With a rapscallion such as yourself? I could never."

Anna smirked and pulled Elsa's hand up to kiss the back of it. "We'll see about that."

Elsa chuckled to herself and squeezed her sister's hand before they went back to their food. A few moments of silence passed, but the rumors of her lover niggled at the back of her mind. If only I could stop them. But I'd need to get married to do that. She furrowed her brow, feeling like the beginnings of a plan were just out of her reach.

Or would I? she thought. Maybe not married, but putting a name to my mysterious lover might help things blow over more quickly. They can't speculate about who it might be if we just tell them. She frowned as a glaring issue sprouted up in her mind. But he would have to be in on it. A hand waved in front of her face, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced up to see her sister watching her with a raised eyebrow.

"Everything okay over there?" Anna asked.

"Sorry, yes," Elsa said, "just—"

"Lost in thought?" Anna finished, smirking. "I figured. What are you so busy thinking about?"

"The rumors," Elsa replied. "I know that they're vague right now, but I worry that their vagueness might keep them relevant longer than we'd like. It sounds crazy, but spreading our own rumor of a false identity for this mystery lover might make the whole thing blow over more quickly."

Anna raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Since the rumors don't have any leads on who it could be, all people can do is speculate," Elsa said. "But, that also means that every Prince, envoy, and visitor will be viewed through the lens of 'could they be the one?'" She paused for a moment. "But if we put a name to the rumors, people will obsess over it for a time, then just… get over it. They'll wonder how whoever it is managed to win my affections. Then… it'll fade away. Old ladies will gossip about it and talk about how this kind of thing would never have happened in their day, but other than that, it will just be… a thing that is out there."

Anna blinked for a moment, turning the plan over in her mind. "That's… brilliant," she said.

Elsa ducked her head a bit as heat flooded into her cheeks. "There's no guarantee that it would work," she said. "And there's still the rather large issue of finding someone who would go along with the plan. It wouldn't look very good if my supposed lover starts denying our alleged affair."

"That would put a damper on things," Anna replied. She sat back, staring through the table as she thought. "The obvious solution would be to create a fake person to name, but you're in such a position of power that someone would try to track down this mystery lover and get curious when they couldn't find them. I suppose we could…" She drifted into silence for a moment, then smiled as inspiration struck. "Kristoff."

"What?" Elsa asked incredulously. "You can't be serious."

"Why not?" Anna replied. "We already know him well, so you two getting together wouldn't be completely out of the blue. He's a commoner, so people wouldn't be able to debate and obsess over how succession might work with a royal from another kingdom. And most importantly, we can trust him. Whoever we try to recruit for this is going to want to know why we need their help, and I don't think we'll be able to get out of telling them about us." She paused for a moment, then shrugged. "Now that Kai and Gerda know about us, I can't think of anyone else I'd trust more with knowing about us."

Elsa mulled over what Anna had said. Her sister had raised a number of good points. Especially the last one. "It does make sense," she said. "But solving that problem just leads to another. How do we go about asking him to help us?"

Anna raised an eyebrow. "We… just ask him?" she replied. "I mean, it will probably be really awkward, but we're going to have to tell him at some point. Being upfront about it will probably make it as easy as possible."

"True," Elsa said. She glanced out the window where the setting sun painted the sky in swathes of orange and red. "Would it be too late to visit him today? We might as well get this over with as soon as possible."

"That's the spirit," Anna said, smirking. She sat back and thought to herself for a moment. "I think he said he would be getting back from a trip a few days ago, so he should be in town. We can swing by his place after we finish eating."

Elsa poked at the food on her plate for a bit. She knew that she should eat, but the prospect of sharing her and Anna's secret with yet another person had her nervous enough that she wasn't certain that she would keep it all down. She managed a few more bites before pushing her plate away. Her sister's plate was already clean, so she asked, "Should we go ahead and head out?"

Anna hummed to herself as she neared Kristoff's house. Night had fallen, but light spilling from the nearby buildings gave her just enough light to find her way through the city. A cloaked figure skirted along beside her, occasionally disappearing among the dark swathes of the street. "You realize that you look more conspicuous because of that thing rather than less, right?" she asked.

Elsa lowered the hood on her cloak, lips pursed. "Yes," she said curtly. "It seemed like a good idea at the time. I didn't realize it would get dark so quickly, and I didn't want to end up getting spotted sneaking out of the castle after nightfall."

"Wouldn't that be a good thing?" Anna replied. "We're planning to start a rumor that you and Kristoff are lovers. Wouldn't you being seen sneaking off to his place lend some extra credence to it?" Her brow furrowed for a moment. "Then again, us going there together might raise a few extra questions…" She glanced around for a bit. "Actually, do you have any extra room in there?"

Elsa chuckled, but she couldn't shake the nerves causing her stomach to roil. They passed a butcher's shop, and the smell of the day's discarded offal washed over her. She brought a hand to her mouth, but it did little to block the smell. "Are you sure we're going the right way?" she asked. "I can't imagine that anyone would want to live in this part of the city."

"I know," Anna replied. "But he insisted that it wouldn't be a problem. He said, and I quote, 'If I can handle sleeping next to Sven, I can handle anything.' Plus with how often he's out of the city, he doesn't have to deal with it all of the time." She stopped and peered at one of the buildings lining the street. "Here we are."

Elsa followed her sister up to the door. The house seemed almost abandoned except for the dim glow of light struggling to even reach the windows. Anna pounded on the door, and Elsa jumped a bit at the sudden sound. They waited, no sound except for a slight breeze. Anna raised her hand to knock again, but the door opened just before she could. Kristoff leaned out, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Anna?" He grumbled. "What's up?"

"Oh, sorry, Kris," Anna said hastily. "I didn't think you'd be asleep yet."

"It's fine," he said, stifling a yawn. "I fell asleep on accident after dinner. Long day. Had a few more things to do anyway." He belatedly noticed Elsa standing next to her sister and stood up a bit straighter. "Oh, Your Maj—err, Elsa. Is… is everything okay?"

"Yes, for now," Elsa said. "But there's an… issue that we were hoping to discuss with you."

"Uh, sure," Kristoff said. "Come on in." He threw the door open and headed back inside. Elsa and Anna followed, and the room slowly brightened as Kristoff coaxed the dying fireplace back to life. "Can I get you anything?" He glanced over to the kitchen area. "As long as 'anything' is 'water.'"

"No, thanks," Anna said. She made her way around a pile of discarded clothing and headed for the couch. Elsa followed, but was clearly nervous as she sat down. Anna laced her fingers through Elsa's and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "It'll be fine," she whispered. Elsa looked concerned for a moment, but nodded.

"So, how long have you two been together?"

Elsa sputtered and seemed to choke on air, eyes wide as she stared at Kristoff. Anna could only sit with her mouth hanging open. Kristoff burst out laughing, flopping down in a chair across from them. "I'm sorry," he said, "was that supposed to be a surprise?"

"I… you… wha…" Elsa stuttered. "How?"

Kristoff shrugged. "Rumors about you taking a lover. The two of you showing up here after dark. That." He nodded down to where they were still holding hands. "All of that, combined with the fact that you two have been really close since after the Coronation… it just made sense. I'll admit that I wasn't one hundred percent sure, but that reaction made it absolutely worth it."

Elsa took a moment to recompose herself, then tried to recall any of the semblance of the plan she had crafted on the way to the house. "Yes, well, that's actually what we came to discuss with you. We've heard the rumors as well, and we would like to try and… encourage them along their course rather than let them simmer for too long." Her heart raced in her chest, but Anna's hand in her own kept her calm enough to keep going. "Namely, we want to plant rumors with a false identity for my… paramour."

Kristoff brought a hand to his chin, thinking the plan over. "But wouldn't putting a name out there just make people talk about it more?"

"For a bit, yes," Anna replied. "But it will stop people from being able to speculate about who it might be. They'll gossip about it for a while, then it'll just become a fact of life."

Kristoff considered the idea for a moment longer, then nodded. "Seems like a solid plan," he said. "The big question is where you're going to find someone willing to go along with it." Elsa and Anna looked at each other for a moment, then turned back to him. His smile slowly faded into a slack-jawed shock. "Me?" he asked.

"Yes," Elsa said. "We have an established relationship after… the whole coronation incident. We have a few common interests that could foster a relationship. And…" She paused, not quite sure how to continue. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but you're… unremarkable. Trying to find someone more… befitting my status as Queen would introduce a host of unnecessary issues. But above all, we trust you. Anyone that we would ask to do this would obviously need to know about our relationship to know why we would ask it of them." She shrugged. "Since you already know, that solves our biggest concern from the start."

Kristoff nodded. "It does make sense when you explain it like that," he said. He crossed his arms, staring at a spot on the floor while he stewed in thought. The longer he thought, his face grew more and more concerned. "Then again, I don't know. I mean, me and Elsa? Do you think people will buy that? Would they really believe that a handsome, strapping, extremely eligible bachelor like me would be tied down?"

Elsa and Anna were stunned silent for several long seconds before the latter burst out laughing. Elsa gave a more restrained chuckle, but smiled nonetheless. "Does that mean you'll help us?" she asked.

"As if you really needed to ask," Kristoff replied. "Do I really need to… do anything?"

Anna shrugged. "Just get ready for lots of people to give you side glances and whisper behind your back."

Kristoff nodded. "So just an ordinary Tuesday," he said, before devolving into a round of laughter. Elsa and Anna could only stare at each other in confusion. Once he calmed down, Kristoff tried to explain. "Because that's the day…" He stopped and waved a hand. "You know what? Never mind. Bad joke that, looking back on it, there was no way you could have gotten. But yeah, I can handle some whispers and looks."

Elsa smiled. A weight loosened from around her chest that she hadn't realized had been squeezing her. "Thank you, Kristoff," she said, standing from the couch. "It's horribly unfair of us to ask this of you, and that you would agree to help us is more than I ever could have hoped for."

Anna hopped up off of the couch as well, bounding over to hug Kristoff and saying, "Thanks a million, Kris."

Kristoff returned the hug, but smirked. "Careful, Anna, you wouldn't want to make my new lover jealous," he said. Anna gave him one final squeeze, then headed back over to Elsa. "But seriously, you're making this sound almost dangerous. You don't have some jealous prince who's going to come looking for your 'mysterious lover,' do you?"

"Of course not," Elsa said before furrowing her brow. "Actually, Anna, do you remember the name of that one Danish Prince? The one who threatened to duel any man who so much as looked at me for too long?"

"Ah yes, Prince Harald," Anna said. "Or as he styled himself, 'Harald the Deadly.'" She leaned in and pretended to whisper. "He carried a glove lined with iron on the inside so that it would hurt more when he slapped someone with it to challenge them to a duel."

Kristoff rolled his eyes and gave a fake laugh. "Ha ha ha," he droned, though it turned into a yawn at the end.

"I do believe that's our cue," Elsa said. "Again, thank you so much for everything, Kristoff. We won't keep you any longer." Kristoff started to protest, but she waved it off. "You said that you still had things to take care of anyway. Besides, Anna and I may have neglected to tell anyone we were leaving the castle, so we should get back before Kai has half of the city searching for us."

"Alright," Kristoff said, leading them back over to the door. "Just, uhh…" He rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know, let me know if you need me to actually do anything, I guess." After one last round of 'thank you's, the girls headed back out into the night.

"Well, that went… well," Anna said once they had rounded the corner off of Kristoff's street.

"That might be putting it lightly," Elsa chuckled. She blew out a deep breath, grinning from ear to ear. "I ran through that in my head a million times, but I never imagined that it would have gone that well." She glanced around, then grabbed Anna's hand and pulled her into an alley between two darkened shops.

"Elsa," Anna giggled. "What are you—" Her question got cut off as her sister pushed her up against the wall and pressed a heated kiss to her lips.

"I actually did tell Kai that we were leaving," Elsa murmured between kisses. "So, we have a bit more time before anyone would worry about where we are." She drew her cloak around Anna's shoulders, shielding them from the few meagre rays of light staggering in from the main road.

Anna grinned and pulled Elsa closer, breathing against her lips, "And I thought I was the incorrigible one."

The castle doors groaned open, and a small contingent of men strode in. Kai awaited them just inside the entryway. "Duke Kemmler," he said, bowing, "I'm glad to see that you arrived safely."

The large man at the head of the contingent guffawed, the laugh blowing out the whiskers of his bristling mustache. "Come now, Kai," he said, "How many times do I have to tell you that you don't need all of the titles and formality?" He continued forward while the rest of his party stopped. Kai rose out of his bow and the two shared a brief hug.

"As always, my apologies, Henrich," Kai said. "I'm sorry, but the Queen isn't—"

"Aw, quit your blubbering, you old codger," Henrich said, cutting across the other man's words. "So we're early. It happens, and I don't expect Queen Elsa to shirk her other duties to accommodate me." He grinned and laid an arm across Kai's shoulders. "Besides, I believe your last letter mentioned a particularly rare bottle of port that you had recently acquired."

Kai smiled as well. "I thought that might have caught your attention," he said. He turned to a pair of nearby servants. "Brigitte, Erik, please show Duke Kemmler's men to their quarters. Now come, Henrich, I think I might have a glass or two of that port left. But that letter was from quite some time ago." He led the Duke off towards his personal chambers, and the two slipped into the easy banter of old friends. "So, how have things been over in Germany?"

"Well enough, I suppose," Henrich replied. "Always plenty of beer and bratwurst to go around, so I can't complain too much. How about you? I hear that the Queen has taken to ruling like a fish to water." He nudged Kai with an elbow. "Worried she might put you out of a job?"

Kai chuckled. "She has taken to her new duties admirably, but I'm not planning my retirement quite yet," he said as he led Henrich up the grand staircase. "And in truth, the Princess has been just as eager and adept at taking on new responsibilities. I've actually been rather impressed with how quickly she has grown into her role and matured from some of her… rambunctious days."

As if on cue, a commotion came barreling down the hallway on the floor below. Princess Anna raced out of the hall and ducked between two suits of armor. A moment later, Queen Elsa stalked out of the hallway, searching for the redhead. Anna snuck around the armor and slunk back down the hallway. Elsa glanced over her shoulder, then shouted after her sister. Anna broke into a run again, leaving Elsa to wave an arm and create an ice slick in her path. The Princess slipped on it and fell, leaving her to rub her arm and shoulder until Elsa helped her up. Anna sulked, but took her sister's hand. Elsa gave her a kiss on the forehead, then the pair headed back down the hall.

"You were saying about Princess Anna's maturity?" Henrich laughed. "But I suppose siblings will be siblings, no matter their position." He fell into step alongside Kai again. "But regardless, I hear they get along swimmingly most of the time." Kai nodded and Henrich tugged at his mustache. "Have either of them… had any luck on the suitor front?"

Kai stroked his chin, feigning thought. Just as Elsa had predicted, their manufactured rumor naming Kristoff as her secret lover had set the towns rumor mill on fire. But like a flash in a cooking pot, it was a blaze that died almost as quickly as it spawned, and a few days later only old spinsters could be heard discussing it amongst themselves. Since then, Elsa and Anna had kept their more affectionate activities well hidden. Or at the very least, moreso than they had. To outsiders, they appeared merely to be exceptionally close sisters, but it was nothing that couldn't be shrugged off.

"No, I'm afraid not," Kai said at length. "There was a Prince from… Iceland, I believe, that seemed promising. However, after spending a few days with him, she felt that his… romantic inclinations may have lain elsewhere."

"Ha!" Henrich barked. "She catch him eyeing the help? Maybe she and Anna should just marry each other and be done with it."

Kai nodded, smirking to himself. "Why, what an interesting suggestion," he said. "I believe I will need to inform the Queen of your idea at once."

"Oh, yes, please do," Henrich said with an impish grin. Kai turned and headed back towards the staircase. "Wait, where are you going?" Henrich asked, his grin dropping like a stone. "Kai, I didn't mean… it—it was a joke."

"Your Majesty," Kai called. He chuckled as Henrich waddled more quickly after him. "Duke Kemmler just proposed the most intriguing idea."