Heated Ice (Helsa)

Chapter Sixty:

Laila sat quietly by herself in the main living room of the castle, sitting near the fire and was reading a book quietly to herself. The book was about an adulteress who ends up falling in love with a rich man and in the end dies of a rare cancer.

"Yes," A male's voice came from near the entry way of the room. "I know," He said again but Laila couldn't figure out who it was. "No, I'll figure it all out. Just calm down, okay?" He said and a smaller female's voice spoke but Laila couldn't make out the words.

"Hans," Laila whispered and her dark red lips curved into a smile. Hans entered the room a moment later with the Queen of Arendelle, Elsa. Elsa was dressed in a yellow knee length sundress and had her hair slung over her shoulder into a delicate braid. What's she doing with him, Laila thought to herself and stared up at them both. Elsa was glaring down at her then looked away quickly while Hans looked at Laila briefly then tried pulling Elsa back out of the room. "Going so soon?" Laila asked, making Elsa cringe at the sound of her voice. "I haven't formally met the Queen, Hans. Please," Laila said and shut the book, standing up and crossing the room to Elsa. "Let her stay. I'd love to catch up with my old friend," Laila smiled and looked between Hans and Elsa. There was something going on between them, Laila thought, with the way they're looking at each other and their body language wasn't something two strangers wouldn't do.

"No," Hans said and shook his head. "She and I have plans with Anna and Kristoff." Hans said and looked away from Laila's deep eyes, hoping she wouldn't catch his lie.

"Oh, Hans, sweetie. I know when you're lying," She smiled and tapped him lightly on nose, being too playful, Elsa thought to herself. "Let dear little Elsa stay with me."

"I'll be fine." Elsa said and smiled up at Hans. "Tell Anna and Kristoff I'll be there in a few minutes." Elsa said, trying to make Hans' lie seem more believable.

"I will," Hans nodded and looked down at Laila for a second or two. "If you hurt a hair on her head, so help you." He threatened Laila and stalked off out of sight and Elsa's eyes went wide.

Elsa was practically in the lion's den and she was a helpless lamb, although she wasn't fully helpless. She had her powers. Elsa's hands shook nervously but at the same time she was angry that Laila would even want to talk.

"He's very protective over you." Laila said and sauntered over to the chair near and facing the fireplace. Elsa walked over and decided to sit on the couch across from her. "He's not protective over anyone." She said and stared at Elsa. "Do you know why he's protective over you?"

"No, I'm afraid I don't." Elsa said and stared back into Laila's expressionless eyes, she had to show Laila she wasn't weak, afraid or upset in anyway. "He's been protective over me ever since he arrived." Elsa said and straightened her dress out over her thighs and crossed her leg over the other.

"I see," Laila nodded and looked over to the fire and stared deep into its flames. "How have you been over the years? We lost touch after your parents death." She said bluntly and looked over at Elsa briefly before looking back into the fire. Elsa stiffened at hearing about her parents death, it may have been six years since their death but the wound from it was still far from healing.

"Yes," Elsa nodded and looked down at her hands, examining her clean fingernails, noting to herself to apply nail polish to them tonight. "We did lose touch, but no matter, you're here now... And with Hans' family?" She said and looked up at her momentarily.

"Yes, we're all quite close. Especially Alan, Hans and I. I'm practically a member of their family." She said and flicked her hair behind her shoulder and smirked at Elsa. "His parents practically consider me a daughter they never had. It's quite flattering, actually."