Chapter Thirty-Three

Elsa had thought that Arendelle castle would have changed for some reason. She was almost certain that the loss of her presence would have altered her former home. But as she she was led through familiar halls with exact details seared into her mind, everything seemed the same. It was the same castle when Anna lost her memory, it was the same when their parents had died, and it was still the same now. It was silly to think that her absence would have changed anything.

Snow was still falling outside the castle windows when she walked into the throne room. Instead of being bound as prisoner this time, she was chained to Hans, still holding his hand and riding off the high of their almost complete victory. No matter what Ingvalda said or did, Elsa knew that what they'd accomplished today was enough. As long as Hans had his father and family back, she'd be satisfied.

The throne room was bright and cold, and was lined with guards called to duty by a likely flustered Ingvalda. The woman herself sat atop the throne, and Elsa felt only a twinge of hurt and anger when she spotted the crown upon her head. Ingvalda looked older- crow's feet dragged her skin and a permanent worried look upon her face made Elsa wonder what had happened since she was banished. The reminder of the still effective banishment made her hold Hans' hand tighter.

King Lewis, the brothers, and the rest of their entourage entered and stood before the throne. Anna was one of the last to enter the room, and when she did, Ingvalda gasped. Elsa wondered if the custodian was upset at her thwarted plan on keeping the crown, but the woman stood up with wide, anxious eyes.

"You're alive!" Ingvalda gasped. "I was certain they killed you. I-I-"

"Don't." Warm, loving Anna surprised her by interrupting. "I know what you did to Elsa, and I won't tolerate anyone harming my sister like that."

Elsa, a distance away from the scene, watched it play with mixed emotions. Anna's passion for her warmed her heart, affirming that through everything, they would still defend each other 'til the last breath. But Ingvalda... Elsa wasn't sure how to feel about her.

The snow queen had encountered two different power-hungry women this year; Ingvalda and Carol. At first, Ingvalda was an absolute tyrant, the worst of them all. She'd sent Elsa away and took the crown for her own. Was she any different from the cunning, murderous Carol they'd just defeated? A few weeks ago, Elsa may have thought they were practically sisters. But now, Elsa began to realize that Ingvalda was a very different breed. She may have been power-hungry, but only because she desired to see that law was carefully and properly executed. And truth be told, Elsa was far too easily distracted and too undertrained to carry it out. Ingvalda may have been wrong in her method, but Elsa had mercy on her.

"Anna," Elsa called gently. "It's okay."

Anna and Ingvalda both looked to the woman with degrees of surprise. Ingvalda looked guilty and sheepish, and Anna begrudgingly grunted and nodded towards Ingvalda, but didn't speak another word.

"Your majesty," King Lewis took ahold of the situation. "I believe that some explaining must be in order for us."

Ingvalda looked down the line of brothers and affiliates, then nodded without a word.

Lewis told of Carol and Bhumi, and why the bodies washed into Arendelle. He explained how Hans had been framed, and how magic had gotten all mixed into the situation, simultaneously causing and fixing their problems.

"I ask that you'll keep Carol here in your dungeons for her crimes against Arendelle and against all in our chain of trade," Lewis concluded. "Please let my sons and I depart with the bodies of our fallen, so we may finally return home."

With barely any hesitation, Ingvalda said, "Yes. I grant you supplies and provisions to make it to your destination, and we will harbor this criminal in Arendelle."

Lewis nodded with an amiable smile. "Thank you, your majesty."

And that was that. Elsa was dazed by the lack of discord, as it seemed her life had only been confrontation after confrontation for the longest time. They were given rooms for the night, and invited down to a lavish dinner before they departed the next day.

Hans had followed Elsa to her former room, which hadn't been touched since she'd been banished.

"I never thought I'd be back here," Elsa said quietly, running her hand over her dresser, her bed, anything she could get her hands on.

"Certainly fit for a queen," Hans commented.

The former queen had made it to her balcony door. She unlocked it and swung them open, stepping onto the snow-covered surface. She rested her hands on the rail as she looked out into the snow, whirling and acting as a veil for the waterfall. Elsa closed her eyes and listened to the falls again, feeling the cold air all around her. In a fit of nostalgia, she wanted to run away.

A warm presence behind her caused her eyes to open. She let Hans wrap his arms around her and put his head on her shoulder.

"It's beautiful out here," he murmured.

Elsa hummed in agreement, enjoying his warmness like a nice blanket. "I really am going to miss it."

"So you've decided already?" Hans laughed. "I was wondering how to ask if you were going to stay here."

Elsa smiled faintly. They had identical thoughts. "I thought about it. For a moment, I wanted to stay again. Arednelle will always be my home, but..."

She stopped talking, staring back out at the waterfall. She remembered standing here months ago, having spoken with the strange prisoner that day about horses and adventure. She remembered wanting to escape. The same thirst for adventure struck her now, as she realized that this adventure that Carol had created was coming to a close. She wouldn't the adventure end.

"But?" Hans prompted.

"But you promised me you'd teach me how to ride a horse."

The prince was confused.

"When you were still in your cell, you told me about your horse and how you loved to ride, and I said I'd never been riding. You promised that someday you'd teach me," Elsa said. "I can't stay here without you, and you have to reacquaint yourself with your brothers, don't you?"

"Elsa," he said softly, as though he knew it was proper to disagree, but didn't have the heart to.

But Elsa shook her head. "My time here is gone. The crown is lost to me, and I've had too much a taste for adventure these past few months. I can't live easily anymore; I need to learn how to ride a horse."

Elsa looked up to Hans- who had a smile he couldn't hide- and kissed him. "Promise?"

He pulled her into his embrace and grinned against her lips. "Promise."

Too soon, Elsa against found herself on the dock of Arendelle, preparing to leave a large portion of herself behind. The snow from yesterday had stopped, but it still sat in piles on the ground, a thin layer under her feet. The open fjord was inviting and terrifying and vast, and Elsa had to steady her breathing. She was opening the next chapter in her story.

She heard someone walking behind her. Regal steps, silent entrance; it could only be one person. Elsa turned to confirm that it was Ingvalda, a cloak wrapped delicately to keep her warm. The woman looked up, but didn't say a word as she continued on her path.

When Ingvalda reached her, she was still silent. Elsa was at a loss for what to do.

"Ingvalda," she greeted quietly.

"Elsa," she said back with a small nod, looking towards the ground. "I... I don't know what to say."

She stopped again, not meeting Elsa's gaze. It occurred to the former queen that Ingvalda may have been trying to apologize.

"I..." Ingvalda tried again. "I was wrong to banish you. It was careless and unprofessional of me. I was concerned for the kingdom and it's safety, and I thought-"

"Don't make excuses," Elsa said softly. "I don't need to hear them."

Ingvalda shut up and looked guilty. "Yes, of course."

"I forgive you," Elsa said. "It was wrong, but we both knew I wasn't anywhere near as good as you at ruling."

"Oh, I didn't mean-"

Elsa smiled and shushed her with a wave of her hand. "No, it's fine. I know I wasn't the best for the kingdom."

Ingvalda stared at the ground again. "I can't give you the crown back, I'm afraid. Once committed of treason, a ruler cannot be reinstated. That's law."

Elsa looked out to the endless sea again, watching the overcast skies cast a dull gray across the waters. "I know. I'm leaving Arendelle. But since you owe me, I have one condition for you to follow."

"Yes?"

"I want you to take Anna under your wing like you didn't do with me," Elsa said, making Ingvalda look into her eyes to know she was dead serious. "I want you to train her as best you can, as kindly as you can, to make sure she knows exactly what it means to rule. I know Anna is going to be the fairest, kindest queen that Arendelle has ever known."

Ingvalda blinked. "Is that all?"

"Yes," she said, looking back out at the sea. "And if when I return, Anna is anything less than perfectly educated, I'll remind you of my unjust excommunication."

"Of course," Ingvalda said, a little less than thrilled. She was going to have to work very hard to make up for what she'd done, but Elsa knew that this was the best she could do for Anna. She felt a twinge of guilt for leaving her sister, but she knew this was the best thing she could leave her with.

"Elsa!" she heard a voice cry out, as if on cue. Elsa turned to see Anna running at full speed towards her. The princess slowed down just enough to not crash into her sister, but still grabbed hold of her to balance.

"Anna," Elsa laughed. "You know I'm not leaving yet. I wouldn't go without saying goodbye."

"I know, I know," she said, catching her breath, cheeks bright in the chill air. "I was just worried I wouldn't catch you. There's something very important I need to do."

Anna looked anxious, nervous even. She was jumping from foot to foot, like she was going to burst at any second.

Elsa furrowed her brow in confusion. "What are you doing?"

"You'll see," Anna sang, turning behind her. Kristoff was following at a brisk pace, followed by a good many of the crew and Southern Islanders.

They all stopped near the three woman. Ingvalda melted into the crowd and Elsa found Hans immediately, nodding at him in greeting. Everyone was speaking to each other, and Anna cleared her throat loudly for attention.

"Everyone," she called out. "Before my sister and a lot of you all leave forever, there's something important I wanna say."

A hush fell over everyone as they watched the woman with pinned up red hair and a lavish red dress.

"My sister means everything to me," Anna began. "She's always looked out for my best interests, always sought to protect me, and she's basically worth a billion times her weight in gold. If it wasn't for her and her icy magic, Arendelle never would have had it's period of winter in summer two years ago. And if that had never happened, I never would have met Kristoff Bjorgman."

All eyes turned to the soft-spoken, blond mountain man who was steadily growing redder, with curiosity burning. He looked like he wanted to shrink into his coat with embarrassment, but Anna's cheeks were flush and she couldn't stop smiling. She reached over and pulled him towards her.

"This man has taught me so many things. He taught me to take life a little slower, to settle for a while and not rush into things. And I've tried and tried and tried to be patient, Kristoff. But Elsa's leaving, and I really wanted her to be here for this moment, so..."

Anna suddenly dropped to one knee, pulling from a pocket in her cloak a small box- a ring box. Elsa immediately rose in excitement, and almost couldn't stand still as she watched the entire crowd start to cheer and holler. Kristoff was bright red, and was covering his mouth with his hands.

"Kristoff Bjorgman, will you marry me?"

He looked like he was about to die on the spot, but he nodded, at a complete loss for words. Anna grinned as wide as she could and leaped to her feet, jumping at the man and kissing him. The brothers all cheered and yelled at the excitement, and Elsa couldn't help but realize that she'd made it begin to snow again.

Everyone congratulated the couple, and it was all a whirl of laughter and joy. Elsa spotted Bhumi in the busyness. The princess was able to get a ship and crew out of Ingvalda as well, and was planning to leave a few days later than the Southern Isles ship was. She would be taking the sheepish and guilty-faced Charles with her, for that penance she was adamant he would serve. But Elsa knew the sentence wouldn't be nearly as cruel as she tried to make it sound; Bhumi was a changed woman, and that much was evident.

Elsa said goodbye to Bhumi, and thank you for everything. Had it not been for her, after all, none of this would have happened. The Indian woman thanked her in return, and went to congratulate the princess and her mountain man.

In all the happiness and commotion, Elsa had lost track of time, and before she knew it, she was standing on the ship with Anna tightly holding her.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," the princess- someday to be queen- mumbled. "We were distant when we were close, and now we're gonna be close when we're distant."

Elsa laughed and grasped her tighter. "I promise we'll come back for the wedding, maybe even before."

Anna made some unintelligible comment as she stuffed her face in Elsa's shoulder. When she came back up, there were tears in her eyes, but she was smiling.

"Big day, huh?" she said. "Who woulda guessed we'd end up here?"

Elsa took her sister into an enormous hug again, and then finally had to tell her goodbye. Many tears and many 'goodbyes!' later, the ship was all loaded and sailing out to sea until Anna, Kristoff, and everyone who came to wish them goodbye were just specks on the horizon of the castle that was once her home.

Just hours later, dusk was already falling like a curtain. Though it was cold in the crisp winter night, the ten remaining brothers, the king, and Elsa were all gathered on deck, listening as each brother recanted their Bhumi death experience. One by one, brother stood in front of the audience, dramatically telling how they met their demise.

"I could have sworn there was no one behind me when I turned around," said John, the third brother, comically acting out his fearfulness. "But I heard footsteps! I broke into a run- I was terrified! It could only be ghosts, I was certain of it! And then I turned one last, fateful time..."

Elsa was snuggled next to Hans, not because she needed his warmth, but because she loved his company. On her other side was Jørgen, who she'd been very pleased to reunite with.

"Bang!" John yelled suddenly. "It was all over. And to think my last thought was that I never would get to have that pheasant for dinner."

The brothers all laughed and clapped while John took his bows, and then sat back down.

"No more?" asked the eldest, Campbell. "Jørgen?"

The seventh shook his head. "No, I was never killed. No stories here."

The brothers all booed him, but laughed. Elsa laughed too as Jørgen shrugged, claiming his lucky number seven as reasoning.

"Why don't we have Elsa perform for us?" suggested Anderson.

The brothers were all quiet as they looked to the youngest prince and the woman in is arms. Hans instinctively tensed up and held her tighter.

"What?" Elsa asked.

"Give us a show with your ice," he clarified. "I wanna see what you can do with your magic."

"Oh," Elsa said, patting Hans' arm to let him know it was okay. He didn't look happy about it, but he let her out of his grasp. "Well, if you want me to."

"Yeah," cheered on Christian. "And Hans too!"

Hans' eyes were suddenly wider than the moon. Elsa knew what he was thinking, Is this a joke?

The brothers must have read it too, because they all cheered and encouraged him up there. Hans, sitting as unresponsive as a slug, took a while to realize they all wanted him up next to the smiling woman that he called his. He clumisily got to his feet and went to her, slight fear in his eyes.

"They want to see me do magic," he quietly said to Elsa, as if in disbelief.

She smiled encouragingly back to him. "I know."

And with a look, he seemed to know that things were okay. That for the first time in his life, his brothers wanted to see what he could do. They wanted him to perform magic, and they weren't going to tease him about it. It seemed unreal.

Elsa took a few steps back. They hadn't had lessons in months, but she was sure they'd still be able to find a balance.

She unfurled her fingers, snow and ice curling up and around it, shooting into the air like a soft mist. Hans, though slightly unsure, held him palm up for a roaring fire to burst to life. The brothers all 'oo'ed.

Elsa moved both hands, crafting snowflakes and ice in a pattern like the dance of a falling leaf, and Hans shot little bursts of fire through the sheen of coldness. They both created flowers in the air, petals of fire and ice raining down, but always disappearing before they hit the ground.

Hans looked beyond delighted to finally have his family supporting him, but soon, Elsa and Hans knew that neither of them saw anyone on the ship anymore. Not even the boat was there; it was just them. Creating and dancing in a magical, strange form that complimented the other in every way. Their magic was beautiful, and put together was like watching everything right in life lined up in perfect harmony. Everything about it was complete, and all that mattered now- all that ever mattered- was that the two of them danced in the fire and ice.

The End

I can't believe we've come all the way to this point. Last year, this was just a fancy that got jotted into my phone's notes, who would've thought it would end up 100k+ words?

I'm so, so, so thankful for all the incredible people who have been in contact with me over the course of this story. All my reviewers, translators, even those of you just read without speaking your mind; thank you. It's been such a joy to write, I only hope it reads as well as it felt to write.

No, there won't be a sequel, sorry. But there's a multiplicity of amazing other fics that I'm certain will keep your little hearts pumpin'.

Again, thank you to every single one of you. I'm gonna miss you!