Archive of Our Own ^beta

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“So… don’t eat this one?” Elsa held out a white berry.

“That’ll kill you.”

“What about this one?” she held out a red one. 

“That one’s bad, but sometimes red ones are good,” Maren shrugged. Elsa frowned. She was cute when confused. 

Where did that come from? Maren blushed. She led Elsa to a bush of purple berries. 

“These are good.”

Elsa groaned. “How am I supposed to remember all of these?” 

“There's a rhyme. It goes like this: White and yellow, kill a fellow. Purple and blue, good for you. Red…” she paused. “Could be good, could be dead.” 

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The fire crackled in front of Maren. She thought of Elsa’s cute face. Wow, I thought that again. She blushed at the intrusive thought.  She is, though… cute. 

Speak of the devil- or ice witch spirit-protector Fifth-Spirit-thingy-person, really, Elsa walked up to her. 

“Hey!” Maren stood up. “Sup?” 

Elsa gave her a warm smile. Maren was baffled on how someone so cold could have such a warm grin. She’s not cold. She’s just made of the cold, there's a difference. 

“Game night on Friday? My family wants to properly meet my new friend.”

Maren melted. That was adorable. “Of course.” 

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Elsa was completely terrible at charades. Maren could not figure out anything she was doing for the life of her. 

Maren was sure she’d left that out on purpose when she was talking about what they did for game nights.

Olaf cheated by rearranging himself. Maren was getting used to there being an alive snowman.

Anna was… okay. She over-exaggerated her body movements to the point of unrecognizability. 

Kristoff only won when he was paired with Anna. It was either telepathy or couple’s intuitiveness.

Maren was falling in love with Elsa’s family. Mostly the Elsa part of that. But still.

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Maren watched Elsa floating in the distance on Gale. Presumably, unless Elsa recently became able to fly. She smiled at the sight. Though she was far away, Elsa looked happy, which was good. Maren could hear her faint laughter. It was quite possibly the best noise she’d ever heard. She blushed. Bruni hopped up on the log she was sitting on. He curled up, seemingly watching Elsa as well. 

“She’s pretty, isn’t she?” I just said that. To a lizard. Who can probably understand me. 

Bruni puffed out a small flame. Maren laughed.

“I’ll take that as a ‘you agree.’" 

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Maren’s rough hands moved over Elsa’s, showing them where to go. She was helping Elsa set up a tent, since the Northuldra were nomadic, constantly building her own tent out of ice had proved to be rather tiresome. They were warm, a nice contrast to Elsa’s cold hands. 

“Like this,” Maren said, stitching an X into a sheet of leather using a bone needle. Elsa bit her tongue as she tried to follow the step, partially in concentration, but she was also keeping herself from blurting out some inappropriate comment like ‘You’re cute.’ That was… a normal friend thing, right? 

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Anna was visiting, for once, instead of the other way around. She rarely did, since the trip to the forest took about one to two days, but the trip to Arendelle took only a few hours because Elsa had the Nokk. 

“Elsa!” Anna ran to her older sister and engulfed her in a hug. “How have you and Honeymaren been?”

Elsa blushed at the thought of her friend. “Good. She’s been teaching me how to get around. Be Northuldra,” she motioned to her outfit. Northuldra leathers. 

“You look good,” Anna mused. “Are you blushing?”

“What!” Elsa quickly turned away. “No.” 

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“Hey,” Honeymaren leaned into Elsa’s side, startling the blonde from her thoughts. “Enjoying the fire?”

Elsa shrugged. “I don’t really need it. I don’t exactly get cold, unless I’m sick or whatever. Which, oddly enough, tends to happen in the summer.”

“Well, since we don’t have fire then, I’d be happy to help warm you up.” 

Elsa’s eyes widened. 

“Not like that! No, I just meant like, I could give you a hug… or I don’t know, make you a fur blanket?” Honeymaren hid her face. Elsa gave her a smile, resting her chin on Maren’s shoulder. 

“That’d be nice.”

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Ahtohallan always left her with a sense of completeness. She went from time to time to check on things. 

“Hi,” Maren grinned as Elsa slipped off of Nokk, handing her a small basket of berries. 

“I presume I can eat these?”

“Yes,” Maren laughed. She took Elsa’s hand in hers, and they walked through to the fire. Elsa rested her head on Maren’s shoulder, feeling Maren smile at the motion. Maren’s hand loosened slightly, but Elsa gripped it back tighter.

Never let go.

Yelena caught her eye from across the clearing, an amused glint in her eye. 

Elsa blushed. What? 

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“WHAT THE-” Maren clasped a hand over her brother’s mouth.

“Shhhhhh!” she narrowed her eyes. “She’s over there,” she nodded towards the spirit-girl who was creating ice sculptures for kids. 

“You like the fifth-spirit. The one who literally tamed four rogue elements with a wave of her hand,” Ryder hissed. 

Maren groaned. “She’s never gonna like me back! It’s bad enough that I’m completely useless compared to her! Is being gay even allowed in Arendelle? Ugh! She’s probably straight.” 

“You guys seem very close,” Ryder shrugged. “Like, more so than usual friends. And who cares? Elsa probably-” 

“Shhhhh! She’s coming!”

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Elsa brought Maren to Arendelle again. It was nice being there, and Elsa seemingly enjoyed showing her around. 

“Oh! Have you tried chocolate yet?” Elsa’s eyes brightened. “Come on! You have to try some,” she pulled Maren into a shop. 

“Your majesty,” the salesman inside bowed.

“Just Elsa, please,” Elsa grinned. “This is my friend, Honeymaren!” she thrust Maren forward. “C’mon, try this one.”

Elsa handed her a dark-brown square. Maren popped it in her mouth, watching as Elsa did the same. A soft moan left the blonde’s mouth and her eyes slid shut. Maren smiled around the milky-sweet candy. 

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 Anna came to the Northuldra on Friday. Elsa returned from Ahtohallan with memories that she could hopefully show to her sister.

“...Anna’s love could hold up the world,” their mother said in the memory that Elsa recreated. 

“We’ll tell her when we get home,” their father agreed. Anna sniffed as the memory flurried away and then thrust her arms around Elsa. 

“Thank you. And, Elsa, you do deserve joy, even if it brings your powers out just as strongly as fear.”

“Thanks, Anna,” Elsa brushed away a tear from the redhead’s eyes. “They believed in you, and so do I.”

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“Oh come on, it’s Friday night! That means...!”

“...Chocolate?” Elsa guessed slowly.

“Noo!” Anna groaned. “Game night! Come on, we’re getting you out of the forest for one day.”

“But I- I have to protect,” she stumbled over her words. “The spirits need me!” Bruni jumped onto her shoulder. “See?”

Anna rolled her eyes. “Where’s Nokk?”

Elsa pointed to the water. “Where’d you think he’d be?”

Anna grabbed Elsa’s hand and pulled her onto Nokk. “Come on, it’s one day. Let’s go home.”

Homeward bound, she thought, a lazy smile forming on her lips as they rode into the sunset.

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Anna took a slip of paper from Sven. She smirked, tossing the now-crumpled paper aside. 

“Waving?”

“Kissing?”

Silence. Anna groaned. 

They didn’t get it. Not that Anna had expected Elsa to, but she thought Kristoff might.
“Starts with an L?” she said, exasperated. Kristoff smiled knowingly.

“Elsa!” he laughed. 

“Correct!” Anna said, while her thoughts were screaming: Yes! Exactly! 

“What!?” Elsa frowned. “My name starts with E, you morons. ”

“Lesbian, you doof,” Anna sat back down and ruffled Elsa’s hair. 

“I’m not-” Elsa covered her face. 

“Honeymaren?” Anna smirked. “Everyone knows already, my dear, oblivious sister.”

“Oh,” Elsa blushed. “Yes.” 

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“It’s not that hard,” Elsa frowned. “Just tell Honeymaren that-”

“Tell Honeymaren what?” Ryder came up next to her. Elsa gasped. 

“Ryder! Nothing-” she shook her head. “Actually, can we talk?”

“Sure! What are you gonna tell Maren?” 

You just  tell your crush’s brother that- crush, wow. She blushed. 

“You’re blushing! Yes!” Ryder pumped his fist in the air. “You finally figured it out!”

“Figured what out?”

“Everyone knows that you and Maren are practically together. Really, have you seen yourselves?” 

“What!?”

“Sorry, not everyone . The only people who don’t know about you and Maren are… well, you and Maren.”

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Usually, when Anna went up North, she was inseparable from Elsa. Ryder noticed that today, however, she was sitting alone. He walked up to her. “Hey, Anna.” 

“Oh! Hi, Ryder. What’s up?”

“Well… I assume Elsa’s told you.”

“About Maren?” Anna snickered. “Yeah. Look at them. Useless.”

Ryder followed her gaze, and even from the distance it was obvious they were flirting with each other. Unsuccessfully and completely oblivious to the other’s teasing. “Totally and completely useless,” he rolled his eyes.

“We need to do something to end this pining purgatory,” Anna smirked.  

“Please. What do you have in mind?” 

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“My dearest sister, whom I love so-”

“What do you want?”

“We haven’t really had any time together in a while.”

Maren arched a brow.  

“Lunch? We can bring…” Ryder listed off her favorite foods. 

“Hmm,” Maren shrugged. “Fine.” 

“Mare?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve had a small setback and unfortunately won’t be able to join you for lunch.” 

“Great. Lunch alone.” 

“Not necessarily alone…”

“What do you mean?” 

“You could go with Elsa.”

“That's... great, actually,” it was, though she'd looked forward to time with her brother. 

Maren could spend time with Ryder later.

For now, she was going to find Elsa.

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“Hey Elsa!”

“Oh, hi, Maren. Is something wrong?”

“Nope!” Maren grinned. “Just wondering if, maybe… you wanted to go for a picnic?” 

“Oh, uh, sure!” Elsa grinned. Spirits, Maren loved that grin. She blushed. 

“Great! We can eat it under your favorite tree, the weeping willow over there,” Maren nodded to a short, lone tree. 

“How- how did you know that’s my favorite tree?” Elsa looked touched, but also confused. “I’ve never told anyone that.”

Stalker much, Maren? Maren shook her head to clear it. “You always gravitate toward it, I’ve noticed. And you’ve remarked on its beauty to Yelena.”

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“This is nice,” Elsa looked up at the sky through the low-hanging leaves of the willow. “Thank you for inviting me.” 

“Oh, um, my pleasure,” Maren smiled. “I- I always like eating and hanging out with my- my friends.” 

Elsa looked back at her, trying to keep the slight sadness off of her face. It was clear that Maren didn’t think of her as more than a friend. “Me too,” she agreed instead. If only there was a way for Maren to see how Elsa felt. 

Maren moved closer to her. “Have I ever mentioned how pretty your eyes are?”

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Dearest sister of mine, Elsa,

You are very fond of that friend of yours, Honeymaren. Maybe instead of admiring her from afar, could you communicate your desires to her? 

Your concerned sister,

Anna

Anna,

What

Love,

Elsa

My idiotic, Elsa-y sister, Elsa,

I am going to put this in words where you cannot possibly pretend to not understand me: 

Have. you. talked. to. Honeymaren.

With love from your still-concerned sister, 

Anna

Anna,

Have I done what? 

Your now-confused sister,

Elsa

Elsa, 

Talk. To. Maren.

Anna

Elsa,

Do not ignore me!

Anna

Elsa, 

Screw it. I’m coming to the forest.

Anna

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“ELSA!” 

The blonde jumped upon hearing her name, turning around after she caught her breath to face her sister. She quickly folded up the note she was holding, but it had already caught Anna’s eye and the redhead nodded toward it.

“I see you’ve been getting my letters,” she said accusingly. 

“They don’t make any sense though,” Elsa frowned. “Of course I talk to Maren! I see her every day!” 

Anna sighed. “Have. You. Talked. To. Maren. About. Your. Feelings.”

Elsa blinked slowly. “What... do you mean? Anyway, we went on a picnic the other day.”

Anna groaned and facepalmed.

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“So… sending them to lunch together didn’t work.”

Ryder rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Our attempts might need some escalation... You should have seen Maren,” he shook his head. “She was all up in Elsa’s face and heart-eying her, and your sister-” he sighed. 

“Let me guess,” Anna groaned. “Completely oblivious yet also gawking at Maren?”

“Yeah. She was being…”

“An idiot?”

“Well, yes. But really, what I was going to say was Elsa.”

“What more did we expect?” Anna punched Ryder’s shoulder. 

“In reality, not much,” Ryder laughed. Anna smirked.

“I think it’s time we get some… new friends involved." 

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Their ‘meeting’ (if one could even call it a meeting) had ended with a fistbump, which, now that Ryder thought about it, was quite childish. 

“Gale? We need to talk… it’s about Elsa, and I’m pretty sure you know why. Wow,” he stopped with a sigh. “I’m talking to the wind… what Maren would say if she saw me now.”

There was a rustle in the leaves nearby and a gust of wind went past Ryder’s face. “Hi Gale,” he mused. “You’re smart. I think you know what to do with her, don’t you?”

The spirit merely chirped in response.

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Anna carefully darted through the trees, keeping a watchful eye out for her sister. Since Elsa moved into the forest, the least surprising thing she’d done was jump out of trees at random moments. Much higher on the list was what had started this whole endeavor. 

“Nokk?” she called out when she neared the edge of the water, a quizzical expression drawing itself across her face. “Is that even your name?”

The horse rose majestically from the waves with a whinny. Anna’s eyes darted around before they settled on the water. 

“Okay, good. So here’s what you have to do…”

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So it had come to this.

The earth giants.

Great. 

“Aha- you lost,” Anna had shrieked, retreating the hand that had brought her to glory from outside Ryder’s fist. “Yes! I get Bruni!” 

“Hello?” he yelled and gulped. “Earth… giants? Are you there?”

He sighed. Of course they were, they were everywhere. “It’s about your beloved fifth-spirit!”

There was a slight tremor in the ground and then one of the larger giants rose. 

“Thank you,” Ryder gasped in relief. “So… Elsa and Maren.”

The giant nodded in recognition and puckered its lips. Ryder laughed. “It seems you get it already.”

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Anna laughed. She had beaten Ryder to the good spir-

Okay. The earth giants weren’t bad, Anna just didn’t like them that much after the whole dam… situation. “Hi Bruni!” she said as the lizard scampered up her outstretched arm. 

Lowering her voice an ounce, she continued. “So… I can’t really imagine your use-”

The spirit cocked it’s head, almost in indignation. 

“Sorry. You’re going to be plenty helpful.”

Bruni seemed to agree with that. Anna rolled her eyes.

“But you get it, don’t you?” 

Bruni trilled, dancing around on thankfully-blue paws. 

“Anyway, this is your part of the plan…”

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"Stop! Put me down! GALE!" 

Maren looked up at the annoyed screech to see Elsa trying unsuccessfully to fight the wind spirit, who had picked her up… and now- oh shoot-

Gale slammed Elsa into Maren’s chest, causing the pair to tumble to the ground. 

Elsa smiled awkwardly at Maren from her position above her as she rolled off. “That was awkward,” she grimaced. “I don’t know what got into them,” she pointedly glared at the sky. 

The spirit responded by knocking her back on top of Maren. Elsa gave an embarrassed chuckle, screaming at the wind after getting up.

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Gale was proving to be difficult today, and Elsa was not sure why. All she knew is that it included Maren for some reason, and that Gale wouldn’t let her be six feet away from the brunette without pushing her back closer. “So….” she’d been trying to make small talk… because after what was probably their fourth hour within a very close proximity of each other, they’d run out of things to say. “I have… nothing to say.”

“Gale?” Maren called out. “I have to get changed…”

Elsa wasn’t sure she’d mind if Gale didn’t let her out.

Wait, what?

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Finally, after several hours, Gale had let Maren and Elsa separate. Finally.

Did Elsa say finally already? 

While she was sure that she could spend hours upon hours more basking in Maren’s light-

Maren’s light? Since when did Elsa think like that?

-it was good to get a break from being that close to her, because for the sake of literally everyone, it kept her powers from going haywire. Heh. How would she have explained her powers suddenly going crazy, especially when she was visibly not sick? ‘Oh yeah, I just really… erm, like you… and…’

Yeah, nope. Not happening. 

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The hem of Elsa’s dress was on fire. Because, of course Bruni had to chase her out of her tent with a stream of flames. 

Not only her dress, but her tent was inches away from getting set on fire, Bruni wouldn’t leave her alone… and worst of all, Elsa didn’t really care. Of course, Bruni had decided to force her to go to Maren’s tent. 

When she arrived, Maren tossed a bucket of water at her.

And then gently tended to the burns that Bruni had given her. 

Elsa was so close to tearing her hair out in exasperation. 

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Of the things Maren was expecting to happen at the end of a very-long and very-hard day of pretending not to like Elsa, the last thing she expected would be for Elsa to show up in front of her tent.

Especially not in literal flames. 

Or that she would now be carefully applying bandages to slightly-burnt skin. That Elsa would be close enough to touch. That Maren was touching her.

Or that Elsa would be close enough to kiss.

This was a whole lot harder than she cared to confess. 

Apparently, the spirits really disliked Maren.

Of course they did.

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Elsa's eyes fluttered open the next morning in a cot that had been set up next to Maren's. She shot upright, wincing as the pain from the burn on her leg sunk in. “Maren..." she breathed. "I’m sorry about last-”

"Elsa," Maren cut her off. “Does it seem like I care? You were hurt. I like helping the perso-” Maren choked on the words she'd almost said. “...How’s the leg?”  

“...painful. But okay. I’m... leaving now, if... that's alright.”

“If you're sure... that's okay." 

“I am... Leaving now, that is. And sure. See you,” she said with an awkward chuckle. 

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Elsa limped her way down to the water, her leg aching with every step. It hurt a lot more than she was letting on.

The pain could be ignored. Maren couldn’t. Elsa’s brain had fogged once she’d realized how close Maren was, only able to think about how she had to get away. Again. Luckily, the Nokk would take her to Arendelle and she could spend the day sulking in the castle.

She undoubtedly wanted to spend the day with Maren. Anna would ask her why she was running, since that was the case.

And Elsa?

She didn’t know why.

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The Nokk materialized from the waves.

“Hey,” Elsa murmured, grimacing as she slung her leg over his back. “To Arendelle, please.”

Nokk refused to move. “Could one of you please cooperate for once ?” Elsa pleaded. Nokk whinnied in what seemed to be displeasure, pawing at the floor with what could be interpreted as a look of indignance on his liquid face. Elsa rolled her eyes and jumped off his back.

“I guess I’ll do this by myself,” she muttered, starting to freeze the water over. Nokk reared and slammed his head into her chest, knocking Elsa flat into the water.

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Elsa spluttered as her head surfaced from underneath the waves. “What is wrong with you?!!” she screamed at Nokk, prompting the spirit to knock her underwater again, where she sucked in a lungful of water. 

She reemerged only when Nokk pulled her from underneath. Then, he butted her stomach, sending her flying over patches of grass… and she landed with a thud and a deep groan outside nowhere other than-

Maren’s tent. 

Elsa waited for Maren to inevitably seek the commotion, too apathetic to stand. When Maren did, she took in Elsa’s sopping frame and turned to the sea.

“NOKK!!!!”

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“Elsa, you okay?” Maren knelt down next to her.

Elsa let out a hysterical giggle.

“Yep,” she started to stand. “Okay, good, fine, one-hundred percent- agh!” she cried out and clutched her side. Upon skirting her dress around a bit, she found the beginnings of a bruise. “Great.” 

“Do you want to change into something… less wet? I’ve got some clothes you could borrow.”

“I think I’m-” a shiver ripped through Elsa’s muscles and her teeth clattered together. 

“I don’t want you getting sick.” 

Elsa rolled her eyes. “I don’t get sick.”

“Anna would beg to differ!” Ryder chimed in.

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“There we go,” Maren held up a set of thick furs to Elsa, who was actively trying not to shiver. “They should fit, even if they’re a little wide.”

The clothes would at least suffice in keeping her warm and dry. “Do you want me to leave so you can change?”

Elsa nodded, looking disdainfully at the leathers. Maren chuckled.

“They’re not so bad. And you’ll stay warm in them.” And you’ll look cute. 

Maren left, hoping she didn’t say the last part aloud. 

When she returned, Elsa had put on the clothes-

Sometimes, Maren desperately hated being so right.

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Elsa found herself wrapped in a blanket by Maren's fire. It felt nice although she was not cold. The brunette woman had also insisted that Elsa stayed the night again, despite Bruni no longer seeming intent on burning Elsa’s tent down.

Maren entered with a steaming cup. “Coffee?” she offered. “To keep warm.”

“Not cold,” Elsa protested. 

“You’re shivering,” Maren pointed out. “You’re sick.”

“Not sick,” Elsa protested again. “Very healthy.”

“Do I need to get Anna to force you to take care of yourself?”

That was a threat if there ever was one... “No! I’m fine!”

She wasn’t. Clearly.

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“Elsa…”

“No.” 

Maren rolled her eyes. “Elsa, I have tea and soup… you need to eat something if you want to get better.”

Elsa groggily sat up, her eyes red and rimmed. “Not sick,” she protested adamantly.

“Says the sleep-deprived, shivering, and very clearly sick person.” 

“Umfide.”

“That’s not a word,” Maren brushed a damp-with-sweat lock of hair out of Elsa’s face. “Look, I don’t care if you admit that you’re sick or not, just eat something. Please. For Anna, if not for me.” 

Elsa whispered a couple words before pressing the bowl of soup to her lips.

"For you."

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Maren finally managed to catch a break once Elsa finally went to sleep, all the while sticking her tongue out at Maren. 

She made her way to Yelena, who motioned for her to come over. “How is she?” she asked, pouring two cups of tea and handing one to Maren. 

“Remind me why I care about her so much,” Maren groaned. 

“Just care about her?” Yelena scoffed. “Darling, you’re in love." 

Maren's jaw fell open.

"I don’t know why though." Yelena took a long sip of tea before continuing. “Romance is boring. Why have love when you could have tea?”

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Maren, still quite dumbfounded, made her way back to thei- her tent because she had to check on Elsa. At least, that’s what she told herself she had to do. Not because she already missed Elsa, even her sleeping presence-

Maybe Yelena was right. Maren could hear her nagging voice in the back of her mind, 'Darling, I’m always right. It comes with years of training observance to become observant perfection-’

Elsa was inside Maren’s tent still, but now sitting up. The sick glossiness in her eyes had dissipated. 

Maren wasn’t sure why that made her feel so disappointed.

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Elsa had managed to shake the worst of the cold, all that was left was a slight cough. A minor inconvenience, really; and Elsa decided it would be best to get out of Maren’s hair.

And her tent.

Elsa couldn’t fathom why Maren was being so nice to her.

“I think I’ll go now,” she said and winced at the pain in her side as she stood.

“I should check that out,” Maren said. Elsa’s throat went dry.

“No I think it’s alright, just a bruise…”

“Just a bruise?” Maren chuckled. “Still, I should treat it so it doesn't worsen.”

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Elsa peeled away the leather from her skin and pretended to not notice the ugly black and blue bruise spanning half of her left side. “It’s fine.”

Maren rolled her eyes. “Clearly,” she muttered and moved around Elsa. “Move the gákti a little to the right.”

Elsa sighed and obliged. 

“Tell me if it hurts.” Maren looked seriously up at Elsa as she started to bandage it. 

Maren worked gently, so it didn’t hurt particularly badly, just enough to make Elsa wince - not nearly bad enough to make her jump away. 

And still, Elsa found herself flinching from Maren’s touch. 

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“You could always stay with me.” Maren’s eyes widened. “Here, I mean. Like, ’you could always stay here, with me is just a thing that, you know, happens if you stay here-” she exhaled sharply. “You don’t have to go back to your tent, I don’t mind, is what I'm trying to say.”

Elsa chuckled, her gaze shifting to a side-eye at Bruni, who had entered. “It’s okay.”

Maren sighed.

“You’ve been so nice to me so far, but I do believe you would enjoy some alone time. And in respects to that …” that entirely, nothing else... “I should go.”

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Elsa’s tent felt too big. 

It was full, sure, of her belongings - her bed, her desk, some books, and icy trinkets - but even still, she still felt like there was something missing.

And she didn’t know what it was. 

She had a small ice statue of her and Maren recreating their lunch under Elsa’s favorite tree - Elsa staring into the distance and Maren gazing up at her. Elsa smiled sadly at the ice and moved to sit down on her bed. 

Elsa felt too alone.

She was about to curl up into a ball when the ground started to rumble.

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“Could you leave me alone for once?” Elsa grumbled. The ground beneath her feet started to roll, pushing her out of her tent. “Maybe even let me put on my shoes before you harass me!?” 

A few stones flew through the air and bounced off her forehead with a crack. That’ll leave another bruise. Hooray for me. She winced deeply.

She crossed her arms and tried to hold her ground. “It would be nice to relax!”

The ground started to roll with more force and she stumbled over her own feet, falling forward. “What have I ever done to you!?”

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Elsa was desperately trying to keep ahead of the ground that was probably trying to swallow her whole. At least the giants were only destroying Elsa’s tent...

It just had to be just Elsa. Again. If the spirits were ganging up on her, she didn’t like it. And it seemed they were.

“Ow!” 

More stones showered down over her head. “Why do you want me to leave my tent so badly?” she hissed. “I was hap-”

Elsa sighed and rubbed her head. She had felt a little lonely. 

“You know what? Fine! I’ll go where you want to take me!” 

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Elsa’s side still ached from the Nokk, even her leg still hurt from when Bruni decided to light her on fire - which was so very fun! Not! - and now her forehead stung too, from the giants. 

Now she found herself half sniffling and fighting back tears and half chuckling and fighting back laughter. Back in front of Maren’s tent, again. 

At least she wouldn’t be alone...? 

“Well, you’re back again,” Maren said, sounding happier than Elsa expected. They had seen a lot of each other recently. “Are you okay?”

Elsa shook her head gently. “They destroyed my tent,” she mumbled.

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“Oh. Wow,” Maren’s eyes went wide. “That is very destroyed,” she spluttered, lost for words. “At least it’s only your tent...?”

Elsa glared at her. 

“I meant I don’t mind you staying with me...” Maren’s eyes widened more and she coughed. “I meant , at least it’s only one tent that we have to rebuild.”

“Yeah, but it just had to be mine,” Elsa grumbled. “Remember how hard I worked on it?”

“Oh sure,” Maren teased. “Look, unless you want to climb through that for your belongings, let’s head home.”  

“Home?” Elsa arched a brow.

“My tent, whatever.” Maren’s cheeks flushed.

Chapter Text

“Your hands are cold,” Maren mumbled. “I mean, not that I expected anything else, it’s just…” she clamped down on her tongue, hard. Kind of really nice, she kept herself from saying. “Cool.” 

“Ice magic,” Elsa muttered. Her tone felt distant. 

“Yeah. Obviously,” Maren nodded. “So… have you eaten in a while? You must not have, it’s been quite crazy for you recently, hasn’t it? You should get some food - what?”  

Elsa was staring at her, eyes wide, lip trembling, her hands clasped white-knuckle tight in front of her chest. “Why are you being so nice to me?” she sniffled. 

Chapter Text

Elsa watched as Maren blinked, slowly.

And then again, even slower. 

Her stomach twisted at the shock spreading across Maren’s face. “Excuse me!?” she hissed, her voice filled with concern.

Elsa wiped at her eyes. “I’m just some idiot who can’t take care of herself, I’ve put all of my problems on you this entire time, and I just don’t know why you’re helping me!” she spluttered, choking on a sob. 

Maren’s eyes widened.  “What?” she breathed. Elsa took a sharp inhale.

“I just don’t know why you would want to have anything to do with me,” she mumbled, sheepishly. 

Chapter Text

“Why I would want anything to do with you,” Maren repeated, in disbelief. Blindly, she fumbled for the entryway to her tent and pulled it open. 

Elsa squeezed her eyes shut tight and nodded. When she opened them, a new cot was set up and made neatly, with warm fur blankets scattering the top. “See, you’ve done all these nice things for me,” she gestured to the bed, blinking back tears. “And all I’ve done for you is get hurt and force you to take care of-”

“Stop,” Maren cut her off with a low growl. “That’s what you think?”

Chapter Text

Elsa sat on the bed, clenching one of the furs in her fist. Maren was pacing the length of the tent, taking deep breaths and spluttering words every few seconds. 

“I can’t believe you sometimes, Elsa,” she groaned. “You really think that you’ve forced me to take care of you?” 

“Well it’s the truth, isn’t it?” Elsa sobbed. 

“NO!” Maren screamed in her face. “It’s not the truth!! I’m helping you because I want to, because you mean something to me… because you’re my- you’re my friend, Elsa,” she pleaded. “And that’s what friends do. That, Elsa, that's the truth.” 

Chapter Text

“Hey,” Maren gently spoke. Her wrist had long since gone numb from rubbing Elsa’s back. “It’s getting late. You should sleep, at the very least, but also… maybe eat something? You might feel better.”  

Elsa sniffled and coughed. “Okay,” she mumbled. 

Maren nodded once. “I’ll be right back.”

When she returned, carefully holding two bowls of stew that she’d gotten from Yelena, Elsa had pulled her knees into her chest. Elsa’s hand brushed over Maren’s as she took one. 

“Just a few bites, at least,” Maren breathed, eyes wide; exhilarated. 

With a nod, Elsa brought the spoon to her lips.

Chapter Text

“Maren?” Elsa’s voice was rough, raspy. “Are you awake?”

Groggily, Maren pushed herself to a seated position. “Yeah,” she mumbled, half-yawning. When her eyes focused, they rested on Elsa, who was sitting with her knees pulled to her chest. “Are you okay?”

Elsa’s blue eyes widened slightly before narrowing as she averted her gaze. Her throat bobbed as she stuttered an answer. “I-I-I… I just-” she swallowed and grabbed a blanket, tightly. 

“Elsa?”

Elsa let out a long exhale and closed her eyes. “I just…” her shoulders relaxed as she cracked open her eyes again. “Could I have a hug?”

Chapter Text

When Maren neared Elsa, she opened her arms up. Elsa looked up at her briefly, eyes wide, before leaning into Maren’s outreach. 

Elsa’s lip wobbled and her breaths were shallow, and for a second, Maren wondered if she was going to cry again.

But Elsa didn’t. She rested her head against Maren’s chest. 

Maren wrung her hands before wrapping them around Elsa. “Is this alright?” she asked quietly.

Elsa hummed a sound of appreciation. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice raspy.

“Of course,” Maren’s voice cracked. She rested her chin on the top of Elsa’s head. “It’s what friends do.”

Chapter Text

Maren knelt down to be level with Elsa and pulled her closer, until their bodies were flush. Elsa responded silently by nuzzling her nose into the crook of Maren’s neck. 

“Just tell me when you want me to go.” Maren cut through the comfortable lull they’d fallen into. 

Elsa shook her head. “Stay,” she whispered, so quiet Maren wasn’t sure if she’d even spoken. “Please.” 

Maren smiled to herself. “I promise.”

Elsa didn’t respond but leaned deeper into Maren’s arms, her eyelashes fluttering against Maren’s jaw. Still careful to not hurt her, Maren tightened her grip and held Elsa there.

Chapter Text

When Elsa’s head finally fell limp against Maren’s and her quiet snores started to echo through the tent, Maren decided it was time for them to go to sleep. 

If Maren wasn’t so tired… She could have stayed. She would have stayed. 

Shuffling the blankets off to the side, she hooked her arm under Elsa’s legs and pulled them back onto the cot. Then she carefully lowered the top half of Elsa’s down before covering her up with the blankets. 

A hum mounted in Maren’s throat and she let it rumble through her lips. “Sleep my darling safe and sound…”

Chapter Text

Maren woke in a daze to a surprised shriek. 

“Gale!” someone… nearby? Someone yelled. And Maren knew that voice… so well… She shot out of her bed.

“This again, really?” Elsa screeched, tripping over her own feet as the wind spirit pushed her backward. “UGH!” she groaned, exasperated. “You know, I was beginning to think you-”  

Elsa started to fall, her sentence cut short with a yelp. Maren reached out on instinct and caught her, and Elsa landed with an audible oof. 

Elsa looked sheepishly up at Maren. “You see, I was just going out to- b-but I guess that-”

Chapter Text

Elsa hadn’t stopped talking for a half hour. 

Or, at least, Maren assumed she was talking. She may have just been repeating herself on end. 

“I thought they were done with throwing me around b-but I guess not. I can’t go back outside, Gale won’t let me, I don’t thi- I don’t think you can either… they really want us to be together, I think-”

Elsa’s eyes widened and her breath cut short. “I- I meant that,” she laughed nervously and rubbed her wrist. “Not together- together . Just- just li-"

Maren let go of a long sigh. 

“Elsa. Slow down.”    

Chapter Text

Elsa had been staring at the floor, her breaths drawn shallow, since Maren had interrupted her anxious ramble.

“Elsa,” Maren said gently. “It’s-” she drew in a sharp breath. “Look.” 

Elsa slowly pulled her gaze up to meet Maren’s. Her cheeks were flush. 

Maren’s own cheeks tingled, and she was sure they were just as red. “I-” she began, and pursed her lips. “I like you… a lot. And I-” she closed her eyes.

Are you actually doing this?

“I think you know that.”

Okay, you’re actually doing this. 

“And… I think…. maybe…” Maren continued. “You feel the same way…” 

Chapter Text

“I-” Elsa stammered. Her throat and lips had gone dry. “You-”

You can do this. 

“I like you a lot too,” she said. Her voice was faint, almost a raspy whisper. If not for the way Maren’s head shot up and her cheeks flushed darker red, she would have thought she hadn’t actually spoken.

But she had spoken.

She’d said it.

She’d said it. 

And Maren had heard her.

Oh spirits. Maren had heard her. 

“I-” Elsa’s hands shook. 

But then Maren had taken her hands and clasped her warm ones around them, and for a second, everything was perfect.

Chapter Text

Maren’s heart fluttered to her chest when she put their hands together. It wasn’t a new feeling, but it held a different weight this time.

“I-” she started. “I-” 

Elsa’s eyes briefly darted from where they were focused on their intertwined hands up to Maren’s face.

Maren chuckled nervously, awkward but unwilling to let go. “I don’t know what to do now… I didn’t really plan for anything after that…” she admitted sheepishly. “Or… for that at all…” her breath caught.  

Elsa shrugged and met Maren’s gaze with her cheeks flushed red. “I don’t know what to do now, either.”  

Chapter Text

If neither Elsa nor Maren spoke, the only sound that they could hear were their own breaths and the chitter of birds. 

After a while of waiting and staring at each other's palms, though, it was awkward if neither of them spoke. 

“I’ve never done this before,” Maren finally chuckled. “I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

“I’ve never done this before, either,” Elsa said with a small shrug. “But we’ll figure it out together, right?” 

Maren lifted their still-loosely-intertwined hands and let Elsa’s fingers slip through her own. “Together,” she breathed in affirmation, and smiled. 

And Elsa smiled too. 

Chapter Text

“It’s still early,” Maren noted. She looked up from the fire she was stoking, over which she was going to boil water for tea. “You could catch up on sleep if you wanted. While I’m doing this. 

She trailed off and rubbed the back of her neck.  

“Would you sing to me again?” 

Maren’s eyes widened and her head shot up. “You heard that!?” 

Elsa shrugged and nodded.

“You weren’t supposed to hear that!” Maren squeaked in embarrassment. 

“I’ve heard you sing before,” Elsa chuckled. Maren’s face grew a darker red.

“But not—” she coughed. “Singing to you!! Like that!!”

Chapter Text

“Sooo,” Maren drawled as she handed Elsa a steaming cup of tea. “We really should… uh…” She tapped her knee with her hand. “Talk…” 

Elsa looked away and bit her lip. “I- yeah. We should.” 

The cot creaked as Maren sat down next to Elsa. "What do you want?" she asked after a long sip of her tea. 

Elsa choked on the cool breath she’d been blowing across her tea. “What?” 

Maren smiled at her. “What do you want from us?”

“I- I don’t kn-know what I want .”

“Okay.” Maren shrugged. “If it’s easier, then what do you not want?”

Chapter Text

Elsa’s jaw quivered as she barely held Maren’s gaze. The cup of tea had cooled in her hands already, and now it was icy to the touch. “I don’t want t-to hurt you,” she admitted. Her breath caught in her throat. “B-but I hurt the people I care about, I alw-always do. And may- maybe this is a bad- a bad idea. And maybe I should- I should- I should go.” 

Maren’s hand was stiff on Elsa’s shoulder before she could make a move to stand. “Hey,” Maren began warmly.  “Take a breath. Trust me. You’re not gonna hurt me.”

Chapter Text

Maren chuckled and reached to loosely hold Elsa’s hand. “Look at yourself. You’re covered in bruises and yet you’re worried for me being hurt.”

Elsa glared at her halfheartedly. 

Maren shook her head and gently stroked Elsa’s thumb. “It’s sweet.”

“I’m glad you find my pain sweet.”

Maren swatted her shoulder. “Shut up.  You know that’s not what I meant. I just meant that…. Uh…” She quickly rushed out a jumble of words. “ Have you gotten the spirits under control yet?” 

Elsa vaguely gestured at the purple marks over her face. “Yes, clearly,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Chapter Text

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Maren said. Her hands shook wildly and she sounded like she might start crying. 

“What do you mean?” Elsa asked, tentatively.

Maren took a shaky breath. “I can’t believe that you’re here, th-that you're here with m-me, and that the mist is lifted and that we’re free from it and that you stayed,” her voice cracked. “With me.” 

Maren shook her head, tangling her fingers through the mess of her hair, which she hadn’t yet pulled into a braid. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.” 

“Maren, I- What-? What don't you know?”

Chapter Text

Maren took a breath, her knuckles white around a fistful of hair. 

“I’m sorry,” she breathed. “I’m sorry. It’s just… Gro-growing up, I never thought that we would- we would ever be free from the mist, but then you came, and you did it, and not only that, but you sta- you stayed here. And now you’re here with me, and this is m-more than I’d ever thought I’d ever have and I-I don’t know how I feel, or what I feel, but I-I know that-”

Shyly, she reached for Elsa’s hand. “I would kiss you, if you’d let me.”

Chapter Text

Elsa’s hands shook and the feelings that pulsed through her chest were raw, unfamiliar, and overwhelming. She closed her eyes, her body swaying on her feet. Her chest shuddered as she took in a deep breath. 

She clenched her hands into tense fists, relaxed them, exhaled slowly, and surprised herself - and Maren - when the word that tumbled off her lips was…

“Yes.” 

Her eyes snapped open. Frost dwindled at her fingertips. She bit down on her lower lip. 

It wasn’t that she hadn’t meant it. 

It was that she had. 

She brought her gaze up to meet Maren’s. “I would.”

Chapter Text

Elsa looked up, the world spiraling in. Maren was so close to her.  

Elsa closed her eyes and leaned in closer. The space between them squeezed tighter. Maren’s breath tickled Elsa’s chin, but it wasn’t unpleasant. 

Maren chuckled nervously. “Why me?”she asked, her voice quivering. 

Elsa took one of Maren’s hands in her own, and stroked it with her thumb. “Why not you?” 

“You deserve it all,” Maren whispered. She squeezed Elsa’s hand back. “I can’t gi-”

“You can,” Elsa started to say. 

And then her lips were on Maren’s and she knew, for sure, that…This was enough.

Chapter Text

“Elsaaaaaa! I’m sorry I haven’t been up here in awhile-” Anna bounced off the wagon she’d arrived in. “It’s been busy, you know, queenly- Woah,” she stopped short. “What did you do!?” 

Elsa looked up, eyes wide. “What?” she gasped.

“You’re all bruised!” Anna exclaimed.  “Is there an inch of clear skin on you?” 

“Oh,” Elsa shrugged, looking relieved. “It’s just some bruises and a burn…” 

“ Just some bruises and a burn?!?” Anna’s eyes bulged in their sockets. 

Elsa shrugged, too tired to deal with it all. “The spirits all hate me, I guess…” she mumbled.

“WHAT HAPPENED???” Anna screamed.

Chapter Text

Elsa sighed. “Gale threw me at Maren and then they wouldn’t let us be apart.”

Anna’s mouth was formed into a probably-permanent ‘o’, and she fought back a chuckle.

“And then finally they did let us part and I went back to my tent. Then, of course, Bruni nearly set my tent on fire, which forced me out of my tent. I had nowhere to go, so I headed back to Maren’s. And then, on my way there, he set me on fire...” she lifted her leg up. 

Anna grimaced. “Ouch.”

Elsa nodded limply in agreement. “That was not fun.”

Chapter Text

“And then some stuff happened and I was probably intruding on Maren so I tried to leave to go to Arendelle...” she rubbed her eyes. “But the Nokk decided he didn't want me to go.”

Anna couldn’t help but chuckle. “What did he do?”

 Elsa grumbled. “He dragged me through the water and then he threw me at Maren again-”

Anna’s grin grew even wider.

“-And I crashed through a bunch of trees.” Elsa showed Anna the purple peeking through the bandages spanning her side.

Anna's grin turned into a cringe. “Oh...” she winced. “That looks like it was… un-fun.”

Chapter Text

“Oh and because the Nokk was so mean, I was sick for two whole days.” Elsa wrinkled her nose. 

Through the time Elsa was reciting her stories, Anna’s eyes had driven wide. She chewed nervously on the side of her lip. “Thanks for telling me all this,” she rushed out. “Since you’re now done,” she giggled in an unnaturally high pitch. “I have to go. Now . Bye!”

Anna smiled a last time, looking anxious, and spun around quickly before running away. She gave a final quick wave before disappearing from view. Elsa stood in her wake, too surprised to react. 

Chapter Text

“Ryder!” Anna ran up to him, a concerned look stretching across her face. “Should we stop our ‘plan?’”

“....What do you mean?” Ryder asked. 

“Well… Elsa was sick for two days because the Nokk dragged her through the water. And she’s burnt because Bruni set her on fire. And she’s bruised because the Nokk also threw her at Maren. Also probably because the giants uhhh… giant...ed at her.... I never liked the giants.”

Ryder chuckled. “We could talk to them. The spirits. Or Elsa and Maren.”

Anna hesitated. “Maybe it is time to tell them. About all of this.”

Chapter Text

“So… what do we do?” Anna sighed. “Do we just gather them together and say that all of this was our fault? But we did it because we wanted them to get together?”

“I mean… I guess. If we don’t, they never will. Maren might figure out that Elsa likes her back, but she would never act on it. Because she’s… well, Maren . And Elsa…” Ryder hesitated, his eyes shifting to Anna, who raised a brow. 

“What about Elsa?”

“Well…” Ryder gulped. “I mean this in the sweetest way possible, but Elsa’s... a dummy and she’d... never figure Maren out.”

Chapter Text

Shaking her head slowly in confusion, Elsa made her way back to… 

She stopped short a few feet from the entrance. Maybe she could call it their tent now, not just Maren’s. She liked that idea.

In the spirit’s wicked way, she guessed it had all worked out. Maren was humming quietly to herself inside when Elsa entered. 

“Back already?” she asked, sounding surprised. “What about Anna?” 

Elsa shrugged. “No clue. She’s off somewhere, so I guess it’s just me and you for now.” 

Maren stared at her, looking almost dumbfounded. “Yeah, I guess it is just us for now.” 

Chapter Text

“So…” Maren breathed, twiddling her thumbs together and avoiding Elsa’s eyes. She could have sworn her face was on fire. “Do you want to go play a game of catch?” She barely paused for an answer before answering it herself. “Yes. Let’s do that.”  

Elsa laughed. “You’re just trying to avoid facing me—” 

“No!” Maren gasped. 

“—And you’re really bad at pretending.” 

“I am not!” Maren spun around. “You’re just bad at reading people, ‘cause you’ve got it all wrong.”

Elsa grinned. “Sure I am.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re amazing. I love you, never change.” 

Maren gawked in response.

Chapter Text

“Do you not think it’s a little early to be all like ‘I love you’?” Maren’s voice squeaked. She paced slightly, shifting her feet. “I mean we’ve been together for like a—” she stopped awkwardly. “—if that’s even what this is— for like— ugh,” she groaned and hid her yet-reddening face between her palms. 

Elsa shook her head, smiling just barely sheepishly. “Not really, no.” 

Maren tried to say something, but the words caught in her throat. 

“I love you,” Elsa continued. “And I have for a long time, so really it’s not a little early, it’s way too late.” 

Chapter Text

“Spirits,” Maren croaked. “Do you have to be like… that,” she gestured vaguely. 

“Like what?” Elsa teased. 

Maren spluttered. “You’re so endearing, and it’s so embarrassing.” 

“For you.” 

Maren groaned. “Stop it, you’re being a jerk,” she said. But she moved closer to Elsa anyway, and that gave Elsa the feeling she didn’t really mean it. 

“You love me,” Elsa barely heard herself say over the pounding of her heart. 

“No I don’t,” Maren said, with a slight chuckle, but Maren was a terrible liar and Elsa found it hard to believe because then, Maren’s lips found Elsa’s again anyway. 

Chapter Text

And they stayed like that some time, just… together, chaste kisses and fingers entwined, enamored by each other’s eyes. And yeah, it was cheesy, but maybe sometimes life should be that way because that’s what made everything all that much more real. 

And so Elsa focused on that, how real this moment was—

And then the entrance to their tent sweeped open, and Anna and Ryder crashed in before Elsa or Maren could react. “ELSA!!! It’s about time we tell you the—”

Anna stopped short, her eyes going wide. “Or maybe you’re the one with the explaining to do.”

“Anna!!”

Chapter Text

“Oh spirits,” Elsa groaned, dropping her head to her palms. 

Anna smirked at her sister.  “Yeah.” She clicked her tongue. “So… who’s gonna start?” 

Crickets. Unsurprisingly. Anna rolled her eyes. 

“Fine. Of course, the two of you—” she shot a playful glare at her sister and… her sister’s girlfriend. She snickered. 

“—Are going to refuse to cooperate,” Anna rolled her eyes again. She turned to Ryder and over-dramatically extended her hand to him. “Shall we?” 

Ryder sniffled and fell to the floor as everyone else watched in shock. “Everything is my fault,” he sobbed. “I’m a failure of a brother!”

Chapter Text

Maren stared at her brother in confusion. “I mean you’re not… wrong,” she joked, “but I don’t know what specifically you’re referring to by this ‘everything’ and I have to admit that I’m terrified of finding out.” 

Ryder continued crying. “I was the one who talked to Gale. And who talked to the earth giants! It was all me and I’m so sorry!!” 

Anna shook her head before kneeling down beside him. “No, idiot. It was my plan. Therefore my fault, not yours.” 

Maren looked back and forth at the both of them. Elsa stood up beside her. “...What… plan?” 

Chapter Text

“See,” Ryder sniffled. “We did all of that with the spirits and we hurt you but it worked out I guess and that was the plan but it wasn’t right, because it hurt you.” he rambled. “And I’m sorry!” 

Elsa continued looking at him and Anna confusedly. “The… spirits?” she asked, her voice tapering off. “Wait,” she exclaimed. “All of that insanity was because of you!?” 

“Well, it was my idea…?” Anna interjected nervously.  

“You’re insane, Anna. Actually, the both of you.” Elsa laughed. 

“Do you still love me, Maren!?” Ryder continued crying. “Don’t worry. I would hate me too...” 

Chapter Text

“Of course I still love you, idiot,” Maren chuckled. “I am, however, annoyed that you had to choose” —she turned to Anna as she spoke— “probably the worst method of execution for your plan, which was — if I have gathered correctly — to force Elsa and I together. Seriously! I don’t know why you thought sending angry spirits after us would work.”

“But it did work, didn’t it…?” Anna stated apprehensively. 

Maren groaned. “All I’m saying is I feel like there were many better ways that didn’t involve hurting poor Elsa in several ways and everything else you did!” 

Chapter Text

Anna scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Well, if you’re done accusing us,” she joked. Somewhat. “Pray tell. Since when are either of you capable of not being complete idiots long enough to accomplish something?”

Maren laughed. “Okay, that was all me.”

“Hey!” Elsa exclaimed. 

“You know it was,” Maren teased. “Anna may have been sorely wrong in many ways during her endeavor… but the one thing she did get right is that you, dear, are the most oblivious idiot this world has ever seen.”

Elsa looked at Anna for help, who put her hands up, uselessly. “You know she’s right.”

Chapter Text

“You guys are all so unfair,” Elsa said, only half-meaning the words. “And mean to me. I’m not that— ” 

She tapered off as Anna quirked a brow at her, a slight smirk starting to spread across her face. Elsa returned the look with a light hearted glare. 

“Fine, fine,” Elsa huffed. “Fine.” 

“Thanks for admitting it—” Maren chimed in. 

“Finally,” Anna and Ryder hummed, a unity like annoying cicadas. Elsa glared at the two of them—

“—That,” Maren continued, with a scoff, after her interruption. “You know you would get nowhere without me.” 

—Thus, Elsa’s steel eyes swung to meet her girlfriend’s.

Chapter Text

Anna and Ryder watched, quite amused, as the two lovers argued.

Anna decided that yeah-shmeah what her sister and her sister’s girlfriend (Anna was many things but not, necessarily, a liar — so she wouldn’t say she didn’t feel giddy calling Maren ‘her sister’s girlfriend’) said — it was worth it. 

Not the injuring-her-sister part — she hadn’t intended that. Well, she had, but only kinda and Elsa was fine so—

Really, Elsa was more than fine and while maybe a few small scrapes were their schemes’ fault, this is what came of it so really they should be the ones thanking her.

Chapter Text

“You’re the prettiest, Honey,” Elsa said, in that harsh-but-playful way.

“That’s you, actually,” Maren cooed back at her. Ryder feigned a gag. 

Elsa, or maybe Maren, or maybe them both, moved in closer to the other in that way that left no breathing room.

And so Anna made a disgusted face back at Ryder, and they stood up together. 

“You have officially grossed us both out,” Anna said. “Get a room.” 

Ryder grinned. “So we’re leaving now… feel free to carry on… your business here…”

It took Anna 3 steps before she burst out laughing, and Ryder only 2 more.

Chapter Text

“What are you doing?” Anna hauled herself up onto the rock where Ryder was sitting, crossing her legs beside him.

“Reminiscing,” Ryder laughed. Anna followed his gaze to Elsa and Maren, who were sitting by the fire far enough away that their exact expressions couldn’t be made out, but she could see the adoration in their eyes. Anna chuckled. "On this fun 'game' we've finished."

“This was fun. I should play the doomed matchmaker more often.”

“More like the surprised matchmaker.”

“To be fair,” Anna countered matter-of-factly. “You didn’t see this coming either.”

“Didn’t see what coming? I… expected... this...”

Chapter Text

Ryder was sure the only thing keeping him from breaking into laughter with Anna was the fact that she was laughing at him. 

“Really?” Anna chortled. “You saw them figuring it out. And then acting on it,” her tone was mocking. “Like, on their own. Without us literally forcing them together with our bare hands and mashing their lips together.”

“Did anything ever suggest otherwise?”

“‘Elsa’s a dummy, she’d never figure Maren out?’” Anna quoted, smirking, and quirked a brow.

“To be fair,” Ryder grinned. “She is."

“To be fair,” Anna shoved back at him. “I never said she wasn’t.”

Chapter Text

“So…” Anna bumped Ryder’s shoulder with a look in her eyes that should have told Ryder that exactly right then was a perfect time to leave. “Now that these guys are done with…  is there anyone that you like?”

She quickly dissolved into a fit of laughter as Ryder stared at her with wide eyes. 

“Absolutely no one,” he said, in a way that way-too-obviously said ‘definitely someone’ and that he would rather not indulge Anna.

Anna had none of this. “What, do you not trust me? What could I have ever done to break your trust? I’m literally so—” 

Chapter Text

Anna had continued rambling for spirits-know-how-long; Ryder had learned how to block out Anna’s long rants to no-one-in-particular-really, but herself. Words floated into focus at random, stuff like:

“Look, no one, least of all me, is blaming you for it, like he’s so attractive we all know this — but like everyone knows already you have the hots for my — let me emphasize, MY, my fiance, MY Krist—” 

Ryder’s heart had already lurched. An almost inhuman growl gurgled from the depths inside him to his lips (he hadn’t known prior to this that he was capable of creating such noises.) “WHAT!?!”  

Chapter Text

“You’re not good at secrets — I don’t think anyone in this family is. I mean like yes but no, not-at-all at all ,” Anna breathed. 

Ryder told her she had made no sense, but Anna, being Anna, insisted he wasn’t trying hard enough to understand her. So he let her continue her nonsense — it was all nonsense —  Ryder, in no way, had any sort of (other-than-brotherly) affection for his sister’s girlfriend’s sister’s fiance. 

It wasn’t like he’d give anything to— 

Or as if he had spent so— 

Or anything like that at all, really. 

Okay, fine. Maybe Anna had a point.

Chapter Text

This was as close to paradise as ever.

Maren’s hand was laced through Elsa’s and they sat on a rock by the shore, water gently lapping over their feet. 

And, Elsa was happy to announce, the water was peaceful . Everything was peaceful. There were no untamed-and-vicious spirits to attack one of them in the name of helping the two. 

There was nothing but them two. 

Finally. 

Maren’s fingers gently stroked through Elsa’s hair, guiding her to rest her head on Maren’s shoulder. 

It was serene. 

...At least until a shrill voice that was very distinctly Anna’s ripped through that serenity.

Chapter Text

“EWEWEWEWEW EW! ” Anna fought back a gag, then decided to not fight back that gag to show Ryder just how truly disgusted she was. 

“Ew, oh my spirits, ew.” Anna continued — more for the effect than honest reaction to what she had just been shown. In Anna’s world there was no such thing as unwilling and so really truly Ryder had really probably willingly shown her the letters and it wasn’t at all like she had blackmailed him via the spirits’ wrath — she would never. 

“YOU WROTE THAT?!?!?! FOR HIM!?!?!? I DON’T EVEN LIKE HIM THAT MUCH AND WE’RE ENGAGED!!!”