The devil has red hair. Elsa knows that now.

The dreams began so early on, and so frequently, that at times she felt as if he were always with her and not just when she slept. She didn't catch on to his identity right away. As a girl, she thought he was some kind of magician. Who else but a magician could wave his hand across the night and make the moon disappear?

That was the best thing about him. Elsa's own parents were fearful of her. But because he too had power, the magician wasn't afraid of hers. In fact, he praised her for her magic and warned her about fear.

He told her stories, though she couldn't remember a single one. Those earliest memories were few. He disappeared once she and Anna grew close, though she wouldn't make that connection until later.

In a few years, Anna became her playmate. Elsa forgot about the magician for a while.

It was her fault, all her fault. Anna was sick or hurt or... dying, and it was Elsa's fault.

"It was an accident."

No, she didn't really believe that. A roar filled her ears as she tried to follow the conversation between her parents and the strange rock-like creatures in the forest. Her parents had been right to be afraid of her. Why had the magician told her she was special?

"Listen to me, Elsa," the elder addressed her sternly. "Your power will only grow."

Elsa wanted to spit at the troll. She didn't want more power. She hated how he looked at her and just knew things.

"There is beauty in it. But also great danger. You must learn to control it. Fear will be your enemy."

Isn't that kind of what her magician had said?

Anna would forever carry a piece of the ice Elsa had struck her with. The strands of white in her hair were a constant reminder. For the most part, their father kept the girls separated. But Elsa learned to keep an extra distance so she wouldn't have to look at that white hair. She knew it broke her little sister's heart, but it was so much harder to keep the fear at bay when she worried about hurting Anna again.

Her little sister put up a commendable fight against the separation. But Elsa remained firm, ultimately locking herself away. It was a lonely, solitary life spent largely in her room. But it was best that way.

She entertained herself with reading and studying. Her parents were her only regular visitors. The castle waiting staff was asked to rotate so that the same servant would not frequent Elsa's room too often.

It was better that way.

Sometimes she'd look out her window and imagine sailing across the fjord and out to sea. She'd climb mountains and plant fields of flowers in faraway places of her mind's creation, all far away from the responsibilities of the crown princess.

Couldn't Anna be the heir to the throne? It would be better that way...

The magician came back to Elsa after her 18th birthday.

The castle was all abustle with news from Corona. Elsa's cousin, the once lost princess, was to be wed in the spring. It was a rather romantic story that had everyone talking; Princess Rapunzel, kidnapped as a baby, was kept prisoner for years to a mad witch in the forest. Eugene Fitzherbert, Rapunzel's now-betrothed, helped Rapunzel find her way home.

The king and queen were to go to the wedding. As heir to the throne, Elsa would remain in Arendelle. There was no question of Anna going. According to their parents, Anna was not the best student. They had apparently made a deal that if she passed her trade and history examinations before the winter holidays, she would be allowed to sail to Corona with them. Elsa herself had looked over her sister's exam answers. She chuckled as she recalled Anna's misnaming Napoleon as "Neapolitan" throughout an entire essay about the conqueror.

Anna sure liked her ice cream.

"I missed that laugh."

The silvery voice caught her by such surprise that she actually squeaked and jumped. She turned in her seat and consciously kept her mouth from dropping open when she saw her redhaired magician standing there in her room. Was she hallucinating or dreaming?

"This is no dream, Your Highness…" He stepped towards her as he spoke, a sly grin on his perfect face. She noted certain things she hadn't paid attention to when she was a child. The magician's eyes were green and jewel-like. His hair was…perfect, not a single lock out of place; she found herself wanting to run her fingers through it just to see if it could be made messy.

Where did that thought come from?

She looked down at the floor, her face fiery hot. This was a sensation she was definitely not used to.

"Can you read my mind?" she asked.

"No. I can read your facial expressions though."

His voice, nearer now, tickled and tugged at her. She looked up directly at him now standing just inches from her.

"I thought you were just a figment of my imagination…"

He turned away as he laughed, sitting on the end of her bed. She didn't like the familiarity with which he rested there, his gem-like eyes locked on her.

"I had to stay away for a while. I apologize." He bowed his head, but Elsa had not missed the tinge of irritation in his voice when he spoke about his absence. "You've grown into a beautiful lady since I last saw you."

He'd just thrown more kindle to the fire in her cheeks. It was extremely uncomfortable to her as someone who liked the cold.

Uncomfortable, but… not unwanted.

"All those years ago… maybe I didn't think of it because I was just a child, or maybe because I thought you weren't real, but… who are you, exactly? How is it you haven't aged at all?"

Again, there was that airy laugh that made her heart stop and start again in violent flutters.

"I'm your refuge. Don't you remember when you used to be scared of your power? Oh, wait…"

Elsa's brow furrowed. Did he know about the accident with Anna?

"Yes, you helped me back then. Thank you."

"Don't thank me just yet," he teased, sliding off from the bed and approaching her once again. Elsa stood to meet him, feeling that somehow staying seated put her at a disadvantage. It didn't really matter whether she sat or stood, though. Something about the magician yanked at her like a magnet.

"What do you mean?"

"Elsa… lovely, enchanting Elsa. Do you know why I've come back?"

The crown princess had years of training in the art of composure. Even so, it took everything she had in her not to squirm when he asked the question. Why did he come back? Why was he here? What was it that seeing and hearing him was doing to her? Her toes curled in her shoes. Goosebumps raised against her sleeves. The hair on the back of her neck twitched.

"I haven't the faintest idea," she answered, proud of the indifference packed into her tone.

His smile suggested that he saw through her. "You're more powerful than I expected you'd be. I'm proud of you."

That caught her off guard.

"What? You mean… my magic?"

The magician nodded. "Yes… maybe you can't see it, but I can. Your power is rolling right off of you in little… silver, chilly waves."

When had he moved behind her? His hands slid down from her wrists and pulled at her fingers, slowly drawing the gloves from her hands. She murmured an objection, but fell silent when he exhaled against her cheek.

There was a knock at the door. The two of them looked up and froze.

"Hey, Elsa? Can we talk for a second?"

Anna. Elsa snapped out of the spell of attraction and walked to the window. She took a deep breath, but she didn't answer.

"No?" Anna called through the door. "I mean, I figured it was a long-shot… I thought maybe if you tutored me, Mother and Father might reconsider my going to… hum… nevermind! Sorry I bothered you!"

Elsa held one balled fist up to her chest as she stared out the window. Her heart ached as she listened to Anna's footsteps grow distant. It hurt more each time she ignored Anna. But all she had to do to justify it was remember that frightening night in the troll lands. Her baby sister had looked so fragile then. What did she look like now? Elsa had only watched her from afar.

But back to the matter at hand.

"Just tell me why you're here," she commanded. She summoned her courage and turned to face the magician again. He looked pleased with himself.

"That's more like it. A queen shouldn't be so easily flustered."

"Queen?" She tilted her head at his choice of words. "I'm not a queen."

"You could be," he said. "You will be. You were born for it."

His influence was finally shattered with that remark. Enlivened by the indignation that suddenly took ahold of her, Elsa strode up to him and glared.

"I don't want to rule."

There was something satisfying about the shock on his face. He recovered quickly, though.

"No? I guess I was wrong about you. I saw so much potential in you years ago… stood by you, helped you overcome fear of your own magic… and now I come back to find you've devolved into this frigid little frightened thing." Each word felt like a needle wriggling into her skin. "That's a shame. I guess I spent my time on the wrong sister."

"Leave Anna out of this. Just… actually, leave-leave. You shouldn't be here," she said. "I don't want to see you again."

The magician chuckled at that. "Oh, I doubt that. But don't worry… I can see that I'm not welcome. Perhaps your sister will be happier to… receive me."

Was it her imagination or was there something suggestive in the way he'd said it? Something in her snapped. She flung her hand back and yelled out as she slammed her fist forward, pitting all of her magic toward him in one concentrated ice spear. The magician was a step ahead of her, however. He casually stepped out of the way of her attack and simply stared at the frozen spear that had missed him. Then, he blinked and smiled at her.

Footsteps approached from out in the hall. There was an urgent knock at the door. The guards had heard the commotion. Elsa cursed under her breath.

"Yes, I'm sure Anna will be more grateful than you," the magician said. "You don't deserve your power."

Elsa trembled, repulsed by how he would use Anna to get to her. Worse was the fact that it was working so well.

"You go anywhere near my sister and I'll make you regret it," she said, surprised by a sudden calm that settled over her as she threatened him. She took victory in seeing his arrogant smirk falter. He hadn't expected his visit to go this way.

"Not as much as you'll regret being born, Your Highness. Your power will bring down both you and Arendelle. And I'll be there to see it happen."

She lifted her hand for another strike against him, but he snapped his fingers and her bedroom door suddenly burst open. Several guards tumbled in, literally falling all over each other to make sure the princess was safe. Elsa's head jerked up at all the sudden noise. When she looked back, the magician had vanished.

A/N: Don't expect too much from this. It'll be a two or three-part piece and that's it. I'm still largely a Hansanna shipper, but I had an idea for a fun Helsa fic and decided to run with it. It was interesting to write these two since they pretty much don't interact at all in any of my other stories

Thanks for reading!