Frozen Beyond [gxg]

Excuses

While a few days passed and Elsa kept a close eye on their... unwanted guests, she searched the crowds for a certain green-eyed Wayfinder and that alone confused her.

She paced in the foyer, chiding herself. She wanted to go out to search for the woman, but what excuse did she have to run into her? She needed something, anything. The need was a force of its own, beckoning her out into the streets of Ardendelle. She'd never felt such a draw, such a compulsion, to a person before. What was going on?

"Elsa, are you okay?" Anna stepped into her room.

She ran a hand through her hair. Was she okay? Why did she feel on edge, yet desperate to get one small look at Keahi? Her stomach coiled in knots and it all had to do with the situation she was grappling with. "I — yes, I mean, I think so." She groaned, frustrated. She sat down on the edge of her bed and held her head in her hands.

"Elsa, you know you can tell me if something is wrong?" The bed indented beside her where Anna took a seat.

Elsa gave a forced smile and took a deep breath. "I know, Anna. Thank you. I think I'll go for a walk to clear my head. I'm fine, really." She tried to ease her sisters' worry. Resting her head on Anna's shoulder, she closed her eyes to try and sort out the wayward thoughts jumbled in her head. "I'm sorry, Anna."

"Wait, for what?"

"Not being the best older sister. You are the one always going out of your way to be sure I'm alright." She murmured. While Anna was constantly following her around and watching her like younger sisters did, Elsa was supposed to be the protective one.

It seemed that responsibility still fell onto Anna. Sitting up, she smoothed Anna's hands in her own. "I just want to let you know, you are doing such a great job. Don't focus on me, make sure you are spending time with Kristoff and focusing on Arendelle. Promise?"

Anna was blinking in surprise, she didn't look like she understood where all that came from. "I promise." She edged, hesitantly.

Elsa wrapped Anna into a hug, squeezing her tenderly before standing up. Tucking a strand of hair behind her own ear, she put her hair up in a ponytail, garnering a little more courage. "I'm going to find General Mattias and see what's going on with our... guests."

She wrung her hands together before rushing out of the room and back into Arendelle.

Spotting General Mattias in marketplace, she let out a sigh of relief at the charming older soldier and rushed up to him. Once he spotted her, his easygoing smile instantly filled her with comfort.

"Your Highness," His voice smooth as velvet as he tipped his head towards her.

She tipped her head back. "What have our guests been up to?" She ground out, trying not to sound too harsh. She still didn't trust them, she likely never would.

He chuckled, arms slipping behind his back as he angled himself towards the docks. "They've been doing repairs like they said they would." He arched a brow back at Elsa, "I promise I'll monitor them. You do trust me, right?"

"Oh, yes. I didn't mean to imply I didn't." Ugh. She was not good at communicating, clearly.

He laughed, his shoulders shaking from the movement. "No worries, your Highness. I know you are just worried about your sister. I assure you, I won't let anything happen to her." He gave her a wink.

Elsa grinned back at the man. She somehow felt like a kid under the watchful gaze of her father with Mattias.

Something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Keahi was loading up a small rowboat with a fishing net and other items she couldn't make out.