Elsa sighed. She reached out to graze her fingers with a magical touch along the rocky surface of an Earth Giant. It groaned in response, but leaned into her touch. The frost of her magic danced along the earth.

The Earth Giant stirred from its stationary position and leaned its head down toward Elsa until the rockiness of its 'nose' rested on the Fifth Spirit's forehead.

Elsa closed her eyes with a soft, calm smile. The ambient sounds of the rush of the river, the breeze, and the cluttering of rocks grounded her and connected her with the earth spirits. It was moments like these that she looked forward to. A meditation with the spirits of nature and a bond that only she, as the Fifth Spirit, could have.

The serenity of the moment was broken when something burst through the bushes behind them. The Earth Giant stumbled back from Elsa, now standing in the river, with a deep frown.

"Elsa!"

At the shout of her name, Elsa spun on the heels of her sandals.

"Honeymaren? What—" she gasped, narrowly avoiding a collision with their heads.

The Northuldran woman clenched her teeth. Her upper lip trembled and a dark eyebrow twitched.

Before Elsa could turn and flee, Honeymaren caught her by the elbow and pulled her in with a bruising grip.

"Why are you avoiding me?" she huffed, staring straight into Elsa's eyes, not allowing her to stray.

Each time Elsa tried to avert or move her head away, Honeymaren was back in her face.

"I-I. . .I don't—I'm not—"

Honeymaren shook her head, still holding the Fifth Spirit in her grasp.

"I have reason to believe that you're avoiding me! Every time I try to talk to you or am in the same place, you run. I don't know what I did wrong, but I know I don't deserve to be given the cold shoulder. We're friends, Elsa. Please just. . .if I upset you, just talk to me!"

Elsa froze.

Her eyes were wide as a deer caught in the sights of a hunter.

Her heart hammered in her chest and Honeymaren's touch sent a hot tingle up her spine and pooled down into her abdomen. A dark blush crept on her cheeks and Elsa opened her mouth more than once, trying to make a sound.

Words. What words? What were words?

"I-I. . .I just. . ." Elsa squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. She was going to send herself into a panic attack if she didn't. She couldn't talk to Honeymaren right now, could she? She made her feel. . .just feel—everything.

"You just. . ." Honeymaren repeated slowly, raising a quizzical brow.

Elsa sucked in her lips. Her shoulders raised to her ears. Her spine was stiff as a board.

"W-When I'm around you I feel warm. Too warm. And tingly? My heart races and it hurts and I don't know why. I just. . .I-I don't mean to avoid you I just—all of these weird feelings make me feel. . .too much. I'm sorry," she blurted with a sigh that sounded more like a meek whimper. Her lips trembled and, the moment she felt Honeymaren's grip loosen, she pulled away to wrap her arms around herself.

When she peeked her eyes open, Honeymaren was staring at her with a dumb-struck expression—mouth gaping, eyes wide, and eyebrows raised to her hairline.

Then, slowly, the Northuldran woman smirked.

Then, she laughed.

Elsa frowned, pouting her lips.

"What's so funny?!" she asked, offended and vulnerable.

"E-Elsa," Honeymaren called softly, stifling her laughs. She reached out for her. "Do you know what a crush is?"

Elsa pursed her lips. "Of course I know what a crush is."

Honeymaren lowered her head and gave her a serious look. That smirk was back. It was then that Elsa understood.

She took a step backwards.

"I-I. . .wait, what? I don't—what?"

"Elsa," Honeymaren called again, taking one of her hands in hers. "You have a crush on me. That's what all of those feelings mean."

Elsa swallowed thickly. Her blue eyes lowered down to their hands. The hot tingling returned where Honeymaren was touching her and a dark flush crept up her neck and filled her cheeks.

"It's okay, because I have a crush on you too," Honeymaren admitted softly, her cheeks equally as dark.

"O-Oh. . ." Elsa breathed, taking in a shaky breath.

Honeymaren lowered their hands and entwined their fingers, catching Elsa's eye with the softest and warmest smile Elsa's ever seen her wear. She couldn't help a similar smile of her own from blooming on her face.

Oh. Maybe. . .is this what love feels like? Elsa wondered as she found herself lost in the maple-like specks of Honeymaren's eyes.