#your children will never have to suffer in sleepless nights and crowded beds. It makes your kids sleep freely without any disturbance even

[hurryguruau]

Here, hurry guru provides the right reasons and importance why your children must sleep in their beds. We also supply a collection of kids trundle beds for sale with utter utility and a special appeal by adding a wooden trundle bed. Just take a glance below to know the benefits of having beds for your children. 

• Get Good Sleep: Most parents find it difficult to make their children sleep every night. Kids need at least 12 hours of sleep every day.  Hurry Guru’s kids race car beds do not contain any Phthalates, BPA, VOC, and Splinters. So, your kids will sleep safely. Parents don't have to be concerned about their children’s sleep time.

• Keeping Your Kid’s Safe: Hurry Guru’s cool and unique kids beds Australia keep your children’s safety during sleeping. Our kids car bed will be comfortable for your children. It is designed with a double wall and seamless construction. Hence, you no longer have to worry about your kids may fall from the bed. 

• Make Your Kid To Be Self-Soothe: Hurry Guru’s beds help your children to be independent. So, your kids will learn how to sleep properly without their parents’ sleep. There are many times when situations occur in which parents cannot be available to sleep with the children. 

• Improves Kids Growth: In most small houses, keeping a separate room for your kid is difficult for parents. It is essential to make your children grow up and motivate the kids to sleep in their beds. So, your kids will learn how to sleep alone.

• Maintain Parents Privacy: Generally, every parent wishes to sleep privacy. Because of the modern lifestyle, most of the parents may come late in the nighttime. It would disturb your children’s sleep. By having this hurry guru kids bed, your kids will never wake up from sleep in the nighttime. 

• Setting up A Firm Routine: The important thing in creating boundaries for your children is to have a systematic regime. The practices develop a structure in which children can stay. So, your kids will know how to sleep, play, and they will learn to obey all the rules. It is mainly necessary for kids who need more framework.  Scheduling a proper bedtime routine makes your kids be well prepared for getting a good night’s sleep. It can also be a perfect time of great bonding for parents and kids.

• Ignore Co-Sleeping Stigma for children: For especially older children, sleeping with parents can be shameful and embarrassing. Little kids don’t have any peers that will embarrass them to sleep with their mother and father. School-aged children are subjected to every sort of ridicule from peers. As they get older, children will get worse and be afraid to sleep alone. So, keeping an individual kids car bed will make your children confident and bold.

• Ignore Crowd: If one kid will become practiced to sleep in the bed, the remaining younger ones will also easily follow. So, your children will never have to suffer in sleepless nights and crowded beds. It makes your kids sleep freely without any disturbance even during the relative's arrival or function time.

• Ensure Your Kids To Gets Adequate Sleep: On one side, it may appear to be that your kid is having an amazing good night’s sleep as you are the activity which covers back from your children or holding your kid's elbows and feet out of your view. On the other angle, parents may think that their kid may be having a hard time getting good sleep, and afterward, your children wake up at midnight to come to the parent's room. Children generally are not getting the best quality or quantity of sleep as your kids want it either. Hurry Guru provides the good kid's race car beds that will keep your children sleep healthy as well as in the same room.

• Creates Play zone: Hurry Guru’s kids race car bed will make your children feel amazed to fall asleep in the bed healthy. Why because, your kids will have more playtime with the toys, and automotive fan in the kids race car bed. All the car bed themes, molded-in, and decals features will entertain your children to play and sleep well.

Hurry Guru is so proud to offer their kids a race car bed that develops new ways to play and get all the kid’s dreams to come true. Moreover, it creates unlimited childhood memories for your kid. Your children will learn to sleep on their own. Don’t miss this amazing chance to give your kid restful sleep. Let’s buy Hurry Guru’s race car bed to keep dreaming, playing, and exploring with your kid.

[themadameditor]

This summer is a special one for me, because last summer I was in hospital for most of it and spent the rest of it on steroids and a host of there medications, swollen like a blowfish, and getting better. I am still in the course of treatment, but a long way away from where I was last year, feeling much, much, MUCH better, and planning to live every freaking moment of the summer and beyond. I am not a huge fan of the summer, the heat on my skin, the humidity; Britain has the most humid summers… but I vividly remember myself last year hoping and praying that if I make it out I would live that cliche of living my best life. And I’m trying y’all, I really am.

This summer has been glorious, actual sunshine and heat, hotter than an Indian summer if you’ll believe that and come the first of August we are counting down the days to Autumn zooming right past it to the thick of winter. By the end of August we are talking back to school and back to real life for parents and children and the grind of things. But we have now before then, so let’s plan to live the hell out of the summer and make some good memories that can keep us going till the next summer. As I type this, it is pouring down with rain outside my window, bang in the middle of this blazing summer we have torrential rain and thunder storms but I am not mad at the in the least, we need the rain, farmers need it for the soil to keep feeding us good food in season, we need the rain to clean all the humidity and gunk from the pollution the earth is suffering.

This list is a guideline, if you do one thing on it fabulous. Ten? Grand. All? Fantastic. the aim is to live your best life, (said in my best Oprah voice). So let’s get right on into it shall we?

1. Sleep In: August is heaven for everyone, everywhere, no school in session, family holidays, blissful commute into work because trains are not crowded…it is the perfect month to sleep in and catch up on the hours lost to sleeplessness, work and all nighters. Sleep in and get your energy right on balance, and catch up with your body and reacquaint yourself with her natural rhythm.

2. Let your body wake up naturally: see number 1. Get rid of your alarm clock and let your body wake up to the sound of birds and the rise of the sun. Even if it means going in late for work or missing our on the morning calls. Better still no calls until noon until the summer is over.

3. Read two books: something old and something new. For something old, if you have never read it, read Lucky Chances by Jackie Collins. For something new read an Italian Holiday; a book about four women getting away from the ish of their lives in London and holidaying in Italy. Bonus points; read my book. 😉

4. Have a Day-cation: binge watch some shows on Netflix and Amazon. A couple on Netflix: Luke Cage, Drug Lords, Chef, North & South; okay, more than a couple. Amazon: The Bold Type- I really like this show, it is set around three women working the fashion industry, publishing specifically, and yes the three girls can be annoying and atypical at times but it is a far cry from the Devil Wears Prada, which shows of this ilk tend to slant towards. My favourite character is the Editor In Chief. She’s cool and the type of person I would like to believe exists in the industry. Another show and one of Amazon’s best creation is Bosch- this is my absolute favourite show on Amazon, detective Hieronymous “Harry” Bosch, central character in the dark crime drama set in Los Angeles. Binge watch all four seasons in one day and thank me later.

5. Go to a music concert: I’ll admit I am not a huge fan of concerts, crowds make me anxious and the moment gets lost in the melee. Give me a couch and a big screen TV and I’m good, but its the summer and we are living it up so we are taking our fly selves to a concert, in the Park, or at the Albert Hall or maybe something more low key and free; the ever faithful underground busker… whatever floats your boat just go.

6. Plan a night in Paris: be impetuous, call your girlfriends or go SOLO for a night in Paris if you’re close enough.

7. Do something fun in Paris: a fancy meal at L’Orangerie @ George V perhaps, or afternoon tea @ Le Bristol. Go to a museum, forget the Louvre, D’Orsay is my favourite museum in all of Paris. Be a cliché and have expensive hot chocolate at Cafe de Flore. Walk around and marvel at the astounding beauty that is Jardin du Luxembourg; my favourite place to be in Paris.

8. Return from Paris: with pastries from Pierre Here and spend the evening drinking champagne before bed.

9. See a play in the west end: Its a shame that Baba Segi’s wives is not in theatres anymore, but there is always something on so scroll through timeout or art reviews, pick a small theatre, they normally have good plays and go see it, for the culture and for support. Or if you can get tickets, you should go see Hamilton. It is quite simply the greatest show on earth.

10. Go Clubbing: re-live your youth and party in heels that hurt, a dress that is too short, full face of makeup. Flirt with handsome men, exchange numbers for the night. Jump on the night bus home and stop by the kebab shop before you make it home at six in the morning.

11. Babysit your nieces, nephews and god-children: preferably not right after your wild night out in the club.

12. Throw a fabulous dinner party: for friends and catch up on the good times you had.

13. Get lost in London: it’s a beautiful city to get lost in and no matter how many times you roam it, every corner is a surprise.

14. Picnic in the Park: Hyde Park is so beautiful, so vast, so lovely all year round but nothing beats it in the summer. Grab a picnic basket, bottle of chilled champagne, meats and cheeses, fat strawberries and cream, salads and go chill in the park with your bestest

15. Call an old friend: we all have that one friend we have lost touch with, call them up, check in with an old relative, see how they are doing, and say a prayer for the world.

16. Clean your skirting boards: as a matter of fact, clean the whole house, organise your closet and take excess to charity or give them out to family or friends who want them. Live light and let light in.

17. Organise your christmas holiday plans: have a white Christmas or escape somewhere tropical. Do something fun and unusual this time.

18. Get your low maintenance beauty routine on point: the summer is no time to bother with too much make-up because the humidity will not let you be beautiful and great so fine-tune your best make up, no make up look that won’t be a victim of the humidity. Paint your nails, scrub your feet and moisturise them. I love this foot cream, from Burt’s Bees, 100% moisture all day. Don’t be ashy this summer.

19. Plan your wardrobe ahead: make this the summer you wear the prettiest dresses. If you can, and I know you can, plan all the dresses for the 31 days in August.

20. Spend some time being alone: check yourself into a hotel or stay indoors, order room service, go dine out alone or cook yourself a home-cooked meal… do something for you and all about you, get to know yourself better and enjoy being in your company.

21. Spend time with family: I have an awesome family and we are all scattered around the world but in each other’s lives through phone, texts etc. When you can, drop by your parents’, call your brother, sisters, aunts, uncles… get the barbecue going and enjoy being in the company of loved ones.

22. Go to a quiz night at your local… I know, I know but try it its so much fun

23. Spend a Monday by the sea: away from work and the hustle of every day life

24. Write a short story: it can be about anything you want at all, just carve out sometime and put words down to paper.

25. Take a leap of faith: If its a bad decision, learn from it and move on. Enjoy the rewards of a good decision, pay it forward pass on the good feeling

26. Take a day trip outside of London: a summer’s day punting on River Cam, taking a literary tour of Oxford, or walking the bucolic lanes of the Cotswolds… do something that takes you out of the big smoke.

27. Take a digital detox: nowadays, a lot of things on social media make me so damn mad and I find myself engaging with crazy people but I have cut back on my time online and it has done me a world of good. Social media is both good and dangerous for you, find sometime to be ignorant of the shit that can sometimes go down on there.

28. Go to bed late, wake up later.

29. Eat dessert as a whole meal.

30. Fall in love with your life all over again: Be intentional about this and make sure you love your life. We are all going through things, the world is a shitty place to be sometimes these days but here is the thing; you only have you at night when you look yourself in the mirror. Be intentional with loving yourself. Please.

31. Take it all in: Take care of yourself. Check your breasts, drink lots of water, eat well, eat in season, moisturise at night, exercise however you can, limit your meat consumption, use sunscreen, my sister, use sunscreen.

To the summer of our lives.

31 Days of Summer This summer is a special one for me, because last summer I was in hospital for most of it and spent the rest of it on steroids and a host of there medications, swollen like a blowfish, and getting better.

[abratatas]

Western// Kim Taehyung

Summary: Being a western star dating a Korean idol is hard, the criticism you receive is revolting. However, one thing an interviewer says makes you remember all of the things Taehyung has done to you; and you decide you’ve had enough.

Angst, Smut, Fluff

Request!

Thank you for requesting!

The strong smell of coffee travels around the quaint cafe in waves, the pleasant smell making you smile faintly every time you take a breath in. Taehyung had his hands wrapped tightly around his mug, one hand constantly being removed to play with the strands of hair covering his face- a habit you picked up on that he does when his nervous.

"Taehyung," You sigh finally after minutes of silence, making his head snap up and his eyes meet yours. His eyes that are usually filled with a childish sparkle, now dull and dazed. "You know why we're here." You decide to get straight to the main reason why you asked for you both to meet up, it hurt you to even think about doing this to him- to you both- but what hurt more was the criticism. It was heartless of you, extremely heartless of you, to put your career before everything else but you couldn't help it. You couldn’t help the fact that you had been dreaming about this opportunity your entire life, it's all you had ever trained for and aspired to be; and Taehyung knew that. That's why, his heart pure as gold, he could never ever hate you for doing what you were about to do. He knows exactly why you're going to do it, and although he'd never do the same- you two aren't the same people; everyone has their reasons and he understands yours.

"Of course I do, I've known this was going to happen for months. Just, please, don’t keep me sitting here looking like an idiotic lost puppy; just get it over with, please." He whispers the last word with such pain that what was left of your heart shatters into a million pieces, falling into the depths of your empty stomach. The low growl, that you hope only you can hear, that emits from your stomach reminds you that you haven't eaten properly in days; the constant thought of Taehyung has clouded your mind every second since the last interview you did- three days ago.

"So, Y/N. The rumours are true I suppose?" The MC says smugly, leaning on the glass table; his hands folded neatly.

"Rumours? About what?" You ask in surprise, everyone knows you're a fairly non problematic celebrity; that's why most people actually like you and you don't have that many haters, but there's always someone trying to catch you out. Apparently you're too perfect for the American view of fame, they use your ethnicity against you although you point out every time that you're proud of who you are and where you're from.

"Relationships, the usual. But this lover of yours is a kpop idol, correct?" He says, trying to mask the smirk that is clearly evident on his face. Disgusting, it’s going to happen again- he's going to insult Korean pop and completely make you feel inferior due your love life. It happens way too often to be healthy, the insulting comments slowly eat away at your self-confidence; mostly coming from his fans. They say you're too fat, your skin isn't pale enough and you wear too much makeup; they even insult your hair which, although should be a laughable insult, just makes you feel even worse about yourself.

"Yes, he's a kpop idol. Your point is?" You dare to ask, chewing on your bottom lip nervously. Your eyes scan the crowd, the muffled sound of laughter escaping behind people's hands as they try to cover their mouths makes your stomach churn; tears brimming in your eyes.

"Why would you date a guy like him when you have all of these American artists after you? You're a beautiful girl, Y/N. Why are you wasting everything for this guy that, I'm guessing, you barely ever even get to see?" He says and the words swim around your brain. He's right, I never do see him. It's always work before you, he doesn't even give you a second glance when you're actually together in Korea when he comes home from practice. It's work then sleep, he doesn't even sleep in the same bed as you sometimes; too tired to even make the small trek to the bedroom where you lay waiting expectantly, the bed cold and lonely. So many sleepless, tear filled nights have come from this relationship.

More tears, caused by both the MC and your own thoughts about your rocky relationship stream down your face as you excuse yourself from the interview and rush out before your manager could stop you. You had to end it, you couldn't take it anymore.

"I can't do this anymore, Taehyung." You say bluntly, your coffee now turning cold as you had taken around five minutes to work up the courage to start your sentence; but once you started, the words wouldn't stop.

"Do you have any idea how many nights I spent alone in that apartment, just begging that you'd come home? To be honest there wasn't really any point, when you did finally come home I was ecstatic; but then you'd walk straight past me without even a glance. Do you know how horrible I felt? I spent so many nights, so many nights Taehyung, where I just sat and sobbed- I didn't get any sleep. I looked dead, I felt dead. But you never noticed, did you? You never noticed that I began to stop trying to speak to you, you never noticed that I had physically lost so much weight because I couldn't work up the energy to eat, you never noticed that the circles and bags under my eyes were so big that even Jimin told me to go to a doctor. Jimin. But you, my own boyfriend, the only guy I have ever truly loved, didn't care. Not one bit. I can't take it anymore Taehyung, my career and health has suffered because of you and I've just gotten back on track. Did you even notice how much better I've looked since I returned to America? I'm healthy now, and happy. I have so many loving fans and friends. You're the only one who was really holding me back, you were always on my mind. So much worry and sadness I felt when I even so much as heard your name. I'm done. We're done."

Your heart was pounding, blood was flowing through your veins and your nose had turned red from the tears you were holding back. You had just admitted all of your weaknesses in one go, he probably already sees you as pathetic; you don't want him to think of you as more pathetic than he already does.

"Okay." He says, his one word loud and strong; knocking the air out of your lungs and making your heart drop to your feet.

Okay? Is that it? After all the pain he has caused you, all he can say is Okay? This is exactly what you had been worrying about, him simply not caring enough. You had imagined all the possible ways this could've gone and your heart broke at all of them, but hearing it in real life simply destroyed you.

"Goodbye, Taehyung." You whisper, throwing money on the table and leaving the shop as quick as you could- the cold air smacks you in the face the minute you leave, the temperature reflecting the way your heart feels. A piece of it missing, Your home, gone.

The sound manager hands you your microphone, fixing your earpiece as you crouch underneath the vibrating stage. The crowd's roar was almost deafening, a smile brightening up your face as you imagine all of their excited faces when you step onto the stage. Your fans never failed to make you smile, you had been extremely happy the past few months; and being home in South Korea made you even happier. Walking down the familiar streets of your hometown whilst smiling and waving at fans who gasp and point just brightens your day. There's no place like home, as Dorothy would say.

Your intro starts playing and the roars get louder, the once vibrating stage now shaking as the fan's excitement fills the atmosphere; their excitement channels your own, the pumping of blood full with adrenaline flowing through your body. You're sure you can hear your own heartbeat as the platform you were crouching on starts to rise, taking you with it. You stand, striking a small pose and smiling as the blinding spotlight finds its way to you. The first thing you see as you scan the crowd are familiar faces, ones you haven’t seen in years. Jimin, Jungkook, Hoseok, Namjoon, Seokjin and Yoongi stare back at you; waving their light sticks like children with huge smiles on their faces and a childlike sparkle in their eyes, You're sure your facial expression reflects theirs as you find yourself almost tearing up at the sight of your six best friends. Six. Only six. Nobody else, just six.

Lifting the microphone to your lips, you belt out the first word to your most popular song to start the show off perfectly; the simple yet challenging choreography tires you out completely but you push through it, the pure amazement and excitement of the crowd fuelling your performance as you use the little energy you have left on your last song. A ballad, one you wrote about someone you once knew. It's a powerful song, the crowd starting to tear up; waving their light sticks rhythmically and swaying to the slow beat.

You end the show with a thank you, a bow and you throw an envelope to someone in the crowd. The envelope contains a letter that you wrote specifically for your fans, the people who got you to where you are today.

Running off stage, you round the corner to see six smiling faces running down a corridor.

"OH MY GOD!" You scream and they do the same, rushing over to your sweating frame and engulf you in a huge group hug. One that you had been dreaming about for months, but something was missing.

Taking a deep breath, you look them all in the eyes one by one; there once smiling faces dropping slowly, looking at you with sympathy.

"Where is he?" You sigh, hugging yourself and looking at the ground. They all glance at each other, silently debating on who is going to be the one to say it. Finally, Seokjin sighs and lifts your head up with his finger.

"He couldn't do it," He shakes his head, gazing at the other members trying to signal for them to help.

"I'm sorry, Y/N." Jungkook says softly, taking your small hands in his. You had missed his bunny smile. You has missed Yoongi's gummy smile and sharp glares at everyone, you had missed Seokjin's motherly instincts and warm hugs, you had missed Namjoon's advice and clumsiness, you had missed Hoseok's jokes and bright laugh that would make anyone's day, you had missed Jimin's cuddles and comforting words; But most importantly, you had missed his box smile. You had missed his fluffy hair. You had missed his deep, comforting voice. You had missed his large hands that somehow hold yours perfectly. You had missed his warm cuddles when it was raining outside. You missed him. You missed him a lot.

The boys left after a few hours of gaming in the dressing room, your managers made you stay late so you could watch some of the clips taken for your movie. Sighing, you lay down on the sofa; closing your eyes and reminiscing on the day you've had. Seeing the boys was amazing, something you had dreamt about since you left Korea again; but your dreams always contained one more person.

"Y/N," A soft familiar voice breathed, sounding weak and out of breath. The minute the word was spoken you shot up from your position, all fatigue leaving you straight away.

There he was, skinner; dressing in an oversized brown long sleeved shirt, blue jeans that looked worn to death and his light brown hair was messy as if he'd just woken up. He had never looked more amazing in your eyes.

Gasping, you stand quickly; running over to the man in the doorway and throwing yourself in his arms. The strong smell of his cologne fills your nose, provoking tears that had gathered when you first saw him to flow down your cheeks. Home.

"I'm so sorry, Y/N. This entire time, all I've been able to think about is what you said. I was truly horrible to you, I find it hard to believe that you even stuck around as long as you did. I know I'm not in a place to be defending myself, what I did was absolutely disgusting; but everything I said was an act of fatigue and exhaustion, I wanted to quit Bangtan. It was all too much for me, and you being at home meant the world to me- but I never showed it. I know I was horrible to you, Y/N but can you at least stay friends with me? I can't stand being away from you whilst also knowing you hate me, it's torture." He whispers the whole thing, his thin arms gripping your waist as if he's afraid to let go; as if he's afraid you'll leave again.

"I was never mad at you, I can't be. I understood what you was going through but you took everything out on me. It was torture for me to be living in an apartment that was pretty much empty all the time, none of us were every home; there was barely even a relationship going on between us, Taehyung. That's why I stopped it-"

"I know, but my promotions are done now, and so are yours. We release new stuff at the same time right? That means we can be together until then, and then we can still be together but be also busy. We need to both accept the fact that we're going to be busy and stop getting upset over it, it's childish. We're adults with full time, extremely busy jobs; we need to star acting like adults." He says louder this time but not intimidating, his words were full of passion and reassurance; making you feel as at home as you've felt in months.

"Okay, Tae." He smiles at the use of his nickname, his once dull eyes brightening with the childlike sparkle you've grown to love. Taehyung can't act like an adult fully, it’s just not how he is.

"Oh thank god, I love you so much Y/N." He squeals, bringing you in to him by your waist and gazing into your eyes. You stayed like that for a while, taking in each other's features; features that you haven't seen in what felt like forever.

"I love you too," You whisper finally. He smiles, leaning his head down and connecting his lips with yours. The familiar butterflies erupt in your stomach, your heart pounding as if it was playing drums. His lips were soft, just as you had remembered them.

Home. You were finally home.

[wandering-bard-from-the-id]

Daughters of Arendelle - Chapter 22

Daughters of Arendelle - Part I - Bonding

Chapter 1- 21 at FF.net

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12222767/1/Daughters-of-Arendelle

Chapter 22

Sept 4, 1840

Anna ran. All she wanted was to get away, away from Kai, away from the lies. Tears blinded her as memories of the Chamberlain chased after her. Strong hands lifting her up after falls, pushing her on the garden swing, carrying her to bed when she fell asleep outside Elsa’s door. He had always been there for her, and he had always been part of her parent’s lie.

Unable to shake the thoughts she ran faster.

She burst through a set of double doors, reaching the center of the room before sliding to a stop on the hardwood floor. Somewhere within her grief stricken mind she was aware of all the faces staring back at her. Once she had found solace in the painted faces, now they seemed to mock her.

Her parents had lied. Elsa had lied. Even Kai and Gerda. Everyone she loved and trusted had lied to her. Buried under a lifetime of betrayals she dropped to her knees, ignoring the pain as she struck the floor.

Unable to hold back any longer she wailed at the walls. Her silent companions bore witness to her pain, as they had for years.

0000

Gerda entered her chambers to find her husband seated at the small table tucked into a corner. Her heart sank at his disheveled appearance. His jacket lay crumbled on the bed with his tie tossed atop it. All three buttons of his vest were unfastened so it hung open. Most disturbing was the bottle of amber liquid sitting in the center of the table.

“Kai?”

“Leave me be, wife.” There was no malice in the words, only a sense of defeat. He reached for the bottle, pulling the cork free. Amber liquid splashed onto the table as he filled a small glass. His hand trembled as he picked up the glass. With a little salute he downed half of it in one gulp. He shuttered as the liquor burned down his throat.

“You shouldn’t be drinking alone.” She stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

He snorted. “Don’t you mean I shouldn’t be drinking at all?”

“It’s never brought you anything but sorrow.” As she drew near she tsked at the small droplets, seeping into the wooden table. “What a waste of good Akevnitt. It’s been many years since I’ve seen you tip a bottle so hard.”

“She knows.”

Her brows furrowed with a deep frown. “What are…?”

“Elsa knows I was the one who placed her in the manacles. They both know.”

Fear coupled with panic caused her legs to buckle. She sank into the chair opposite him. “How?”

“Tollak, told her.”

“He didn’t come to you first? I thought you were friends.”

“So did I.” He finished off the glass with a grimace.

Gerda reached for the bottle and a second glass. The bottle clattered against the glass as she poured a short shot. She down the liquor in one gulp. Closing her eyes as it burned through her chest. She wiped the corner of her mouth with a thumb. Satisfied her voice wouldn’t crack she looked to him. “How did they react?”

“I’ve lost Anna.” He buried his face in his hand with a hitched sob.

“Kai,” Stunned by her husband’s collapse, she pushed back against her own fear. “I doubt that.” She touched his arm. “The girl loves you. They both do.”

“You didn’t see the pain, the hate in her eyes.” The hand drew down his face, revealing red rimmed eyes.

“Anna doesn’t hate anyone. It’s not in her nature.”

“I dare say, it’s a lesson she learned well from that thieving prince.” He filled the glass, before lifting it he offered the bottle to Gerda.

With a shake of her head, she pulled the glass away. “That animal left her for dead, and tried to kill Elsa. You know how protective Anna is of her sister. She worships the ground Elsa walks on.”

“And my actions nearly got Elsa killed.”

Gerda’s gaze shifted away. “We all made mistakes with Elsa. Starting with the King’s decision to lock her away.”

“Gerda, must we dig up this old argument? He was the King, and her father. He did what he thought best for both girls. His intentions were good.”

“Bah! Another cobble stone in the road to hell, is what it was.” She slammed the glass onto the table. “It was a mistake, and the girls paid dearly for it.” Tears stung her eyes as old feelings of despair and helplessness rose to the surface. She tilted the glass watching a drop of liquor slide across the bottom. “They’re still paying for it.”

“What’s done is done. At least, they’re together now. Elsa is proving to be a good Queen and Anna…Anna is learning her place in the world.” He took a small sip, wincing at the taste.

“This isn’t a fairy tale ending, Kai. Yes, they are together, but do you not see the way Elsa flinches when Anna touches her unexpectedly, or how she shies away from crowds? She recoils under my touch, and I helped bathe and dress her till she was twelve. The King’s actions only added to her burden.”

A weary sigh left his lips. “He was her father.”

“And what of her mother?! Do you know how the Queen agonized over her children’s fates? The sleepless nights she spent trying to comfort one daughter, while unable to touch the other. How she was forced to drug her daughter’s food and drink to get her through the worst of her spells. You never had to watch her cradle an unconscious child, because it was the only way she could hold her without starting a blizzard.”

“I know how this pains you, wife. But, the Queen was not the only one worried about their fates. Many a night, I found the King locked away in his study grieving over his daughters.” He eased his glass onto the table. His eyes narrowed as he studied his wife. “You don’t still drug her food with sleep drops, do you?”

Her gaze turned to the table. “Not since the night before the Coronation.”

“Gerda.”

She fixed him with a steady gaze. “You had your orders, and I had mine. The Queen made it clear I was to help Elsa through her episodes anyway I could.” Her defiance crumbled. “You didn’t see her that night. The way she paced her frozen room like a caged animal. I…I couldn’t watch her suffer like that.”

He reached across the table, placing a hand atop hers. “I know.” With a reassuring pat he released her and sat back. “I offered to resign.”

“Resign?” Fear gripped her heart. She felt as if the floor had vanished beneath her feet and she was falling. “Wh…what did she say?”

He tilted the glass as his lips rose ever so slightly. “She wanted to know where I would go, and if I expected her to throw you out into the streets.”

Her eyes closed against unshed tears. The breath she’d been holding escaped in a relieved sigh.

“She asked me to stay, even gave me a little kiss on the cheek.” His hand brushed over the spot, a sad smile on his lips.

Gerda’s brow arched. “Elsa, kissed you? I haven’t seen her show such affection for anyone but Anna since…in a long time.”

“Believe me, no one could have been more shocked than I was. The last time that happened, she was five.” Lost in the memory, he sat for a moment. “She’s so brave, and strong. But beneath it all, there is still a frightened little girl.”

“Who needs us more than ever. Someone tried to kill her,” Gerda’s hand tightened around the glass. The memory of bandaging Elsa’s hand after the attack brought with it a rush of anger and fear. “I don’t believe he was working alone.”

“Nor do I.” Kai sat his glass aside.

Gerda’s gaze found his. “I’m scared, Kai. I think our girls are in trouble, and I don’t know how to protect them.”

He took her hand in both of his. “We protect them as we always have. We rely only on those we’ve known to be worthy. We trust no outsiders.”

“That’s a small number, husband.”

A smirk tugged at his lips. “We’re use to working shorthanded, wife. We will make it work, for the girls.”

She squeezed his hand. “For the girls.”

0000

Faint sobs led Elsa to the gallery doors. She paused to study the young woman kneeling in the center of the floor. Soft weeping shook her petite body.

Each sorrowful breath caused Elsa’s chest to ache. She quietly pushed the doors closed. “Anna?”

With her arms wrapped tight around her body, Anna staggered to her feet. She didn’t turn to face her sister.

Elsa closed the distance between them. Her hand hovered over the girl’s shoulder a moment before dropping to her side. “Are you alright?”

“How could he do it?” How could he betray you like that?”

“He didn’t betray me.” Magic stirred in her chest. “He was trying to protect me…us.”

“How?” Anna turned to face her. Her arms still tight around her body. “By locking you away? Leaving you vulnerable to that…monster.” She didn’t notice her sister flinch at the word.

“He did what he had too.” Though her voice was calm, controlled, she couldn’t hide the slight tremble of her hands. “He did what Father ordered.”

“What Father ordered? How does that make it any better?!”

Elsa closed her eyes pushing back the ice stirring in her veins. She wrapped her arms around herself. Careful to tuck her hands in close. “Father, understood how, dangerous, I was. He was just trying to protect you, and the kingdom. He did what he thought was right.”

“Bullshit!” Spit flew from Anna’s lips as her arms dropped, her hands clutching into fists.

“Anna! Language.”

“No, no, Elsa, you don’t get to tell me how I’m supposed to react to this. For thirteen years I’ve been told to ignore my thoughts and feelings about us being apart. And now, I find out Papa reached from the grave to try and take you from me! No more!” She took a step forward leveling a finger at Elsa’s chest. “This stops now. No more secret dungeons or special shackles. No final plans to stop you. I’m done with secrets and lies!”

“Anna, you have to understand. Papa, was doing his best, for both of us.”

“If that was his best, I’d hate to see his worst!” She turned away clutching at an arm with one hand.

“Enough!” Cold air swept through the room. Ice spread out from Elsa’s feet and danced over her clenched fists. She fought the urge to step closer to her sister. “Do you have any idea what he and mother gave up for us? How dare you stand there and belittle their sacrifices.”

Anna spun to face her. Anger twisted her soft features. “Perhaps I’d appreciate it more if they had bothered to tell me the truth!”

“You were a child, they…”

“I grew up, Elsa! They could have told me when I was older. You could have told me.”

Elsa looked away. “No, I couldn’t.”

Anna’s head ducked as she clutched her arm. “Do you know, how many years, I lived in fear that you were dying?”

“What?” The air rushed from Elsa’s lungs with the word.

“At first, I believed the little lies that you were getting older, and needed your own room. But as I saw less and less of you, I began to think something was wrong. I heard whispers among the servants. They spoke about how sad it was for you to suffer so. I was sure you were sick.” Her voice quivered with each word. “There were times, when I was certain you were going to die.” She drew a shuttered breath.

“Oh, Anna…” Elsa moved forward, reaching for her.

Anna stepped back, avoiding the embrace. She wrapped her arms around her body. “As the years passed, I realized you were going to live. That’s when I truly began to believe I done something to make you hate me.”

“No. No, I could never hate you.” Elsa raised her hands to reach for the girl, but did not touch her as Anna drew away.

“They denied it too, but nothing else made sense. Mama and Papa lied to me, and they made you lie to me. Everyone lied to me.” Tears ran hot down her cheeks. “I meant so little to them they couldn’t even tell me the truth.”

“No!” Elsa pulled up short as Anna retreated from her once more. She wanted to grab her, and hold her close, instead she held her distance. “No, Anna. That’s not true. Mama and Papa loved you so much, more than you can ever know. We all love you.” Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. “I’m so sorry, sister. We’ve done you such an injustice. You had a right to know the truth. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“I wish you had, Elsa. But you’re not the one that started this lie. Papa, created this mess. He’s the one that stole our childhoods, and kept us apart.”

Elsa closed her eyes, growing weary of the fight. “He did, what he thought was best.”

“Well, he was wrong!” She turned away when Elsa bowed her head.

“Anna…we almost lost you. I held you in my arms. You were so cold, so still.” Elsa held up her hands. She could still feel the weight of her sister’s limp body in her arms. She closed them as frost etched over her palms. “I thought, I had killed you.” She paused a moment, fighting down the ice and emotions threatening to overtake her. “Papa took us to the trolls. It cost you some memories, but it was a small price to pay for saving your life. Grand Pabbie warned us of what could happen if people found out the truth, about me.” She licked her lips and drew a shaky breath. “Yes, Papa made the decision to shut everyone out, and yes, he decided to keep us apart. But he was only trying to protect us.”

She pushed through the emotions threatening to overwhelm her and squared her shoulders. “And I would do it again. If it would save you, I would gladly lock myself away for another thirteen years. So yes, Papa and Mama made mistakes, but everything they did was for us. They were trying to protect you…from me.” Her shoulders slumped under the weight of the memories. “Can you really say they were wrong? I killed you.” She bit her lip to hold back a sob.

Anna’s head rose, but she didn’t turn to face her sister.

“I know it was an accident, but that doesn’t change what happened. You froze to death, and it was my fault. Everything Papa tried to stop…happened.” Tears slid unchecked down her cheeks. “I know you’re angry with Mama and Papa, but please understand, they never meant to hurt you. Don’t be angry at Kai. He was trying to protect me, as he always has.”

“Elsa,” Emotion weighted the word down. “I’m trying. I know he was following Papa’s orders, but that only makes it worse. I need some time before I can trust him again.”

Thought Anna couldn’t see it, Elsa nodded, biting her lower lip.

Anna turned to face her sister. “I know you want me to forgive Papa. But, how can I, when he created a dungeon and bindings to lock you away? It’s one thing to separate us, but to lock you away like some…monster. I…I can’t forgive him for that.”

“He didn’t create them.” Her voice was so soft and low, Anna had to strain to hear her.

“What do you mean?”

Dark blue eyes rose to fix her with a steady gaze. “Papa, didn’t create the dungeon or the manacles. I did.”

“Wait, what?” Anna stumbled back a step. “Why? Why would you do that?”

“Shortly, before my seventeenth birthday I could feel my powers growing stronger. My control over them was slipping. I froze over the council room following a disturbing, meeting.” She silently cursed Poul for pushing her to that point. “I had the manacles made, and found a cell in the dungeon where my powers would do the least harm.”

“And Papa allowed this?”

“No, well, not at first. When I told him what I had done he was upset. He insisted such precautions were not necessary. It took some time, but I managed to convince him there needed to be safe guards in case I, became more dangerous.”

“So the two of you cooked up this stupid plan? What about Mama? Did you convince her too?!”

“No.” Elsa allowed herself a humorless chuckle. “She was furious at the suggestion. We could not sway her. She demanded the manacles be destroyed, and to never speak of using the dungeon again. I’d never seen her so angry. Father finally relented. He agreed to destroy the manacles.”

“But he didn’t.” Anna’s eye twitched, her fists curled tighter. “Instead, he hid them, with secret orders for Kai to use them, on you.”

“Yes.” Fresh tears slipped down Elsa’s cheeks. She took a breath. “I understand why he did it. It was necessary…”

“Stop it!” Anna charged forward, stopping just short of running into her sister.

Elsa drew her hands to her chest, but did not retreat under the attack.

“Stop defending him! You didn’t deserve to be locked in a dungeon, or chained up. Did you really think I would stand by and let that happen?”

“Anna, please…”

“No! He had no right to keep us apart. We could have helped each other.”

Elsa ducked her head.

“I know he was trying to protect me. But he took you from me without asking if I wanted it. I needed my big sister.” She thumped a fist to her chest. “And you needed me. I could have helped you learn to use your magic. We could have grown up together. He took that from us. And no matter the reason, I can’t forgive him for that.” She wiped the back of a hand over her eyes.

“I’m sorry…”

“Stop saying you’re sorry! Stop blaming yourself for every bad thing that happens in this family!”

Clutched hands tucked in tight against Elsa’s chest. Her head remained bowed.

Anna turned away, pacing several steps as she ran her hands through her hair, trying to settle her thoughts. She spun and closed the distance between them, taking Elsa’s hands in her own. She ignored her sister’s recoil at the touch, and pulled the hands up, kissing them. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you.” She bowed her head, touching the cold hands to her forehead. “It just hurts to see you torturing yourself over things that aren’t your fault.” Her eyes rose seeking out her sister’s gaze. “You are a good person, Elsa. You have so much love and compassion in you. I just wish you could see yourself as I do.”

“I’m trying.” She leaned in touching her forehead to Anna’s. They stood, each lost in her own thoughts. Neither wanting to break away.

“I miss them.”

“So do I.” Anna sighed as she leaned back. “For a long time I was angry at them for leaving.”

“So was I.” Elsa managed a teary grin.

“Really?”

Unable to trust her voice, Elsa gave a little nod.

Anna ducked her head with a soft chuckle. “I guess I’m still angry at them.” She wiped a hand over her cheek, smearing tears across her face. “And I’m angry they’re not here for me to yell at them.”

From her sleeve Elsa pulled out a handkerchief. She took Anna by the chin and began wiping at her face. “I know.”

Anna said nothing. Her eyes closed as she let her sister work.

“They never should have gone.” Elsa wiped away the last of the tears, and tucked the handkerchief away. “It should have been me.”

“What?” Pulled from her thoughts, Anna’s head cocked to one side. “What should have been you?”

Unable to face her sister’s gaze, Elsa’s attention shifted to the floor. “It should have been me on that ship. I was of age, as Father’s heir, it was my duty to go, not his. It should have been me.”

Anna drew back a step. “Do…do you think losing you would have been easier?”

Elsa’s eyes rose. “At least you wouldn’t have been forced to stand alone at the graveside. Maybe it would have been better for everyone.”

It happened so fast Elsa didn’t have time to react, one minute she was facing her sister the next she was tackled to the ground. Her back ached where it slammed against the floor. Anna straddled her, holding her down. Her wrists painfully pinned to the floor.

Anger overrode pain as she struggled in vain to throw her sister off. “Anna, have you gone mad! Get off of me!” Her attempt to escape only caused Anna to press down harder.

Freckled cheeks flushed blood red, as Anna hovered inches from her. “Don’t, you ever, say that again.” Her breath came in short, hot gasps against Elsa’s face as she glared down at her.

“Anna, enough.” She hissed through clenched teeth. “Get…off…of me.”

“NO! No, I mean it. How dare you? How dare you think that losing you instead of them would somehow ease my pain?!”

Elsa cringed as the grip on her wrists tightened.

“How dare you have so little regard for my sister’s life.” Tears slipped down her cheeks to splatter onto Elsa’s neck. “What did our parents do to make you care so little about your own life?”

Elsa went limp at the question. Tears began to trail from the corners of her eyes, into her hair.

“He blamed me.”

“What?” Anna’s head cocked to one side.

“’Elsa, what have you done?’” With those words she was lost in the memory of that faithful night. “That’s what he said, when they found us in the ballroom.” She began to tremble, squeezing her eyes shut. “What have you done?”

The cold seeped through Anna’s clothes. She shivered.

“He blamed me!”

“It was an accident.” Anna whispered.

Elsa shook her head from side to side, tears flowing freely. “That’s not what Papa…thought.” She drew a labored breath. “He never…spoke of it again.” Her voice quivered and broke. “But, I knew. I could see the disappointment…in his eyes every time…I lost control.” Watery eyes came to focus on Anna. “It was…my…fa…fault, hurt…you…didn’t…mean too…” Her eyes closed as she began to sob. Ice spread out along the floor.

Beneath her Anna could feel each breathless cry as it left her sister’s body. “Oh, Elsa. No. No, it’s okay.” She stroked Elsa’s face and hair. “Please, don’t cry. It wasn’t your fault.”

Normally pale skin grew deep red. Each sob was a strangled gasp. Anna feared Elsa might pass out from lack of air. Unsure what to do she climbed off of her.

Elsa rolled to her side, curling into a tight ball. The sobs turned to wails. Each wail added a fresh layer of ice to the floor.

Struggling for traction on the spreading ice, Anna tried to pull Elsa into her arms. It took several attempts before she was able to wrestle her from the floor. Once in her arms, Anna cradled her. She stroked Elsa’s face and hair. The wailing continued. “Elsa, please, calm down. You’re going to make yourself sick.”

Her own tears streamed unchecked down her cheeks. She hadn’t seen her sister so distraught since the fjord. “Elsie, please. You’re scaring me.”

Anna’s words seemed to reach Elsa on some level. She turned into Anna, clinging to her as she buried her face against Anna’s body.

Anna held her close, whispering comforting reassurances.

How long they sat there Anna couldn’t say. She began to shiver from sitting on the ice. Coupled with the cold radiating off of Elsa, she was chilled to the bone. The cold brought with it painful memories of her time on the fjord.

It caused her muscles and bones to ache. Panic crept into her thoughts. Unable to stop her teeth from chattering, she shuttered.

“Anna…?” Elsa eased back to look up at her.

Anna’s heart broke at her sister’s tear soaked face. Red rimmed swollen eyes and flushed cheeks. “Hey.” Anna tried to coax a smile, but her teeth wouldn’t stop chattering.

“You’re freezing.” Elsa tried to pull away.

“No.” Anna held firm. “I’m…ok…okay. Please…stay.”

Elsa’s eyes closed. Her brow furrowed into a deep crest.

Anna felt her draw a shaky breath. Beneath her the ice began to recede. It didn’t fade as normal, instead inching away at a painfully slow pace. Elsa began to tremble.

“Relax. Don’t force it.” With her thumb Anna wiped tears from Elsa’s cheek.

More ice vanished. Soon all that remained was a thin patch beneath the sisters.

Elsa began to tremble. Her fists clenched to her chest.

Anna leaned in and placed a kiss atop her sister’s brow. “I love you.”

The ice vanished in an instant.

Warmth embraced Anna once more. She nearly cried out with joy. With the ice gone Elsa collapsed in her arms.

“Elsa?” She cupped a flushed cheek. “Are you okay?”

“Tired.” Her eyes fluttered closed.

“Okay. You try to rest.”

“Anna?”

“Yes?” She found her sister staring up at her.

“Do you forgive me?”

There was so much pain and fear in the blue eyes staring up at her, Anna felt her heart crack. “Oh, Elsa, there’s nothing to forgive.”

“Please.”

The plea shattered Anna’s heart. “Of course, I forgive you. You’re my sister.”

Elsa curled into her. “I love you, too.”

Anna cupped the back of her head, holding her closer. Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. “I know you do.”

From their places along the wall, silent painted sentinels watched over the sisters.