#tdoe

Jenny took Neta's hand and tugged. Neta let herself be pulled out of bed, pausing to put on a pair of slippers. Jenny's feet remained bare- she never noticed the cold. They were passing Aunt Elsa's and Uncle Alarik's room when Neta heard her mother's voice coming from the same room. Neta stopped- that was strange. 

"Elsa, it will be alright. Really-"

"It's our tradition, Anna!" Aunt Elsa sounded like she was close to tears. Neta and Jenny shared a concerned glance- what could make Aunt Elsa so upset?

"Elsa, they will show up, I promise. Let's focus on today, and we'll keep an eye out for them, alright?"

Aunt Elsa sniffled. "Alright." 

Footsteps approached the door, prompting Jenny and Neta to race back to the room and close the door. 

"What's a 'tradition'?" Jenny asked. 

Neta shrugged. "I don't know. But Aunt Elsa seemed sad about losing it."

"I know." Jenny looked thoughtful for a moment, and then her face brightened. "Let's ask Bestemor and Bestefar! They'll know!"

"What will we know?"

Both Neta and Jenny jumped- they hadn't heard Bestemor enter the room. 

"What's a 'tradition', Bestemor?" Jenny asked.

Bestemor's lined face crinkled into a smile. "A tradition? Well… it's something people do at special times, something that's been passed down from person to person. Or it's something special to a place." When she noticed their scrunched-up faces, bestemor gestured outside. "Such as ringing the Jul bell. That's a tradition for Arendelle. Or when we read as a family after the ball. That's our family's tradition. Why do you-"

"Your Majesty? Pardon my interruption, but His Majesty would like to go over final details for tonight's ball." Kai stood in the doorway, giving the family a deep bow. 

"Of course." Bestemor rose to her feet, placing a hand on Jenny's and Neta's shoulders. "Now, get dressed you two. I'll see you at breakfast." She leaned over to kiss each of them on the forehead before leaving. 

"I don't know how Mama lost a tradition." Jenny's brow was furrowed. "No one's ever lost the Jul bell before. It's too big."

"But Bestefar lost the book last year." Neta pointed out, as she pulled out her dress. "Bestemor had to find it for him. Maybe that's what happened to Aunt Elsa's tradition."

Jenny's eyes lit up. "Then we can look for it! After breakfast- everyone will be busy then! Let's surprise them!"

………..

It wasn't until after breakfast, when they were able to sneak off, that Neta pointed out a big problem with Jenny's plan.

"What are we looking for?"

The question made Jenny pause- she clearly hadn't thought that far ahead. 

"I don't know. Maybe some books? We could look in her study."

Nets looked uncertain, but followed Jenny when she started walking. They were halfway to the study, when Jenny stopped abruptly, causing Neta to stumble. 

"Jenny! What…"

Her cousin was staring at a ladder left out by one of the servants. She turned back to Neta with a grin. 

"The attic!"

"Wait, what?"

Jenny was already headed towards the stairs, only pausing long enough to grab Neta's hand and drag her along. 

"The attic! There's a bunch of stuff up there! And Kai left a ladder up in the spare room! Let's go!"

Any arguments Neta might have voiced were left behind as Jenny continued her enthusiastic rush to the residential wing. Her cousin fast when she wanted to be, and it was all Neta could do to keep up. Only when they came to the spare room was Neta able to catch her breath.

"Jenny, I don't think this is a good idea…" Neta cautiously eyed the very tall ladder leading up to the trap door in the ceiling. 

"It's fine!" Jenny rushed forward and started scrabbling up the ladder. 

"Jenny!" 

Neta clambered up after her, wishing she was anywhere but on the rickety old ladder. Above her, Jenny pushed the trapdoor open and climbed up. Neta followed her, her eyes struggling to adjust to the darkness. As she pulled herself up, her foot caught on the ladder, and she tipped forward. 

Neta yelped, and kicked out on reflex. In a matter of seconds, everything went wrong. The ladder fell back, and the trapdoor swung shut. With another yelp, she pitched into Jenny, sending them both sprawling into the darkness. Several things began to fall, and Neta cried out when something hit her head. 

Silence fell over both of them, save for their ragged breathing. 

After a moment, Neta heard Jenny whisper, "Are you okay?"

"My head hurts."

"I'm really sorry." Jenny sounded as if she were about to cry. "It's all my fault."

Neta fumbled in the darkness until she found Jenny's arm, then her hand. She squeezed, trying not to cry herself. "It's okay."

Jenny sniffed, but squeezed back. "Can you find the door?"

Neta shook her head, then remembered that Jenny couldn't see her. "No. I fell. I don't know where…"

"Neta? Jenny? Where are you?"

"Mama!" Neta cried out. "Mama, we're up here! Help us!"

Neta heard her mother say "The attic!" After a moment, there was a clatter, footsteps, and to Neta's great relief, light flooded the dark room as Mama pushed the trapdoor open. 

"Mama!" Neta all but collapsed into her mother's arms, clutching tight. The tears she'd been fighting to hold back now fell, rapid and insistent. Mama made a startled noise, and rubbed Neta's back. 

"It's alright, it's okay. I've got you. Come here, Jenny." Neta felt Mama reach out, and moments later, Jenny cuddled in beside her. She too was crying.

"What happened!? Are you hurt?"

A cool hand ran over Neta's head, and she looked up to see Aunt Elsa's face, tight with worry. Before she could say anything, Jenny spoke up. 

"It's my fault."

The story came spilling out, Jenny keeping her eyes firmly on the floor. Only when she came to the end did she look up, tears running down her cheeks. 

"I didn't mean for Neta to get hurt! I just wanted to find the tradition! I'm sorry!"

"I'm fine. I just got a bump on my head." Neta rubbed the sore spot, and sighed in relief when Aunt Elsa pressed a cool hand to it. 

"Tradition?" Mama asked. 

Jenny hiccuped. "The- the one you and Mama were talking about this morning. The one you lost."

Aunt Elsa sighed, and she pulled Jenny closer. "Oh, little one. I appreciate you trying to help, but going up here alone is dangerous. I was looking for the dolls. They aren't stored up here."

Mama sighed too. "Actually…" 

She got up and opened a trunk, pulling out something wrapped in paper. "I was hoping to do this tonight, but I suppose now is as good a time as ever."

Mama peeled the paper away, and they all gasped.

……

"'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house…"

Elsa rested her head on Alarik's shoulder, and his hand, wrapped around her, pulled her closer. Dag was fast asleep in his other arm, and Elsa used the corner of his blanket to wipe a dribble of milk from his lips. 

As Agnar continued to read the poem, Elsa's eyes fell upon the dolls. They were, as was tradition, sitting atop the mantle above the family's stockings. Slugged replicas of her and Anna, from their own childhood, but now updated with the clothing and hairstyles each of them preferred as adults.

And it was no longer just the two of them. 

At Anna's side was Kristoff in his ice-harvesting outfit, his shaggy yellow yarn hair falling over brown button eyes. And at her doll's side, Alarik, wearing a dark green vest and cream shirt, his red yarn hair a mess of curls pushed back to reveal bright green button eyes. Elsa's doll now held a small bundle with Dag's dark curly hair and tiny blue eyes just visible. 

But there were two dolls missing from the group. 

Elsa gazed down, smiling when she saw Jenny and Neta yawn in near unison. Between the attic incident, the ringing of the Jul bell, and the subsequent party, they had to be exhausted. And in each of their hands, they held the doll of the other. 

As Agnar finished the poem, Jenny yawned again, slumping against Neta. Within seconds, the two of them were asleep. 

"Time for bed." Anna whispered.

She pulled free of Kristoff's embrace and scooped Neta into her arms. Elsa did the same with Jenny, making sure the Neta doll was still tucked in her daughter's arms. Jenny made a small, sleepy noise, and cuddled closer to Elsa's chest. 

"So, do you like the newest additions?" Anna nodded to the dolls. 

Till Min Älskling,

It is less than a day since our marriage was finally made complete, the consummation of our love. Even as I write this - “working,” ostensibly, at the desk in the quarters we now share - I just caught you glancing my way, saw your soft smile and hooded eyes, the flush across your cheeks, and I know you are thinking of it, too. The best part, though, is that you look happy.

If I could bring that light, that joy, to your face every moment of every day for the rest of your life, it still would not be as much as you deserve. But I swear to you this, my darling Elsa; I will spend the rest of my life doing all that I can to give you that happiness. If I have a purpose in this world, it is that.

And it is a purpose I thought would be forever unfulfilled. Do you know when I first felt a spark for you, a tiny flame carefully kindled and carried across so many miles and so many years?

Alas, the day and time are lost to me, fallen victim to faulty memory and failing attempts to deny those same feelings. They frightened me, Elsa - oh, how they frightened me! You know well what a coward I am.

And yet, you have accepted my love regardless. You are everything I know I will never be. You are everything of which I will never be worthy. And for so many years, a part of me has known how much I love you.

For a very long time, i tried to deny that part of myself, to convince myself that it was merely a result of your philosophical presence in my life long before your physical one. I knew you for so long through the words of your father; surely, I thought, this is the natural extension of seeing what has always been a product of the imagination unexpectedly made flesh! And truly, it took me by surprise, on our first introduction so many years ago, to actually meet someone who had heretofore only existed on paper. I’m sure your first impressions of me were far from favorable, considering I was behaving like a puppy, overeager to please but as yet not particularly well-versed in etiquette. You have spoken of wishing you had taken more time to get to know me - I lay no blame on you, considering the circumstances and my behavior.

But it was sometime then that the spark was kindled - the realization that not only were you so much more than words on a page, but also that you were the most remarkable person that I had ever met, would ever meet. And despite my best efforts, that spark only grew.

Did I truly believe I might ever see that love reciprocated? I hoped - but I did not truly believe, no. Too many times, I set myself on a path I knew was doomed to fail, and at some point, I finally learned my lesson. But hope - yes, there was always hope.

I might have forgotten the moment when I realized I was in love with you, but I shall never, as long as I live, forget the day I knew it was reciprocated. I will never forget how beautiful you looked, the way the light reflected in your eyes, the way your hands felt when I took them in mine. I will never forget you in my arms - how right and wonderful, at that moment, the whole world seemed to be. I will never forget any moment we have had together since - not if I can prevent it. A true narrative began then in my life - new meaning, new purpose. I do not know where our story ends, but I know the journey through it will be a magical, beautiful one. 

Elsa - my darling Elsa - know always: you were the answer to all of my questions. 

I love you.

- Alarik

Til Alarik, Min Elskede Mann

So many things I once thought were impossible, because of me, because of who - or what - I am. Angry mobs screaming “monster” were never necessary to see one in the mirror. I knew. From a very young age, I knew, but I did not understand. I didn’t want to understand.

I just wanted to be anyone but who I was. Even as at the same time, I believed I deserved it - to be a pariah. An outcast.

I hurt, again and again, the person I loved more than anyone else in the world. I deserved every torment life could offer me.

I lived with that truth for so very long.

There are many people to whom I might owe an apology, but only two I felt deserved an explanation: Anna, and you.

But as I have discovered time and again, through all the years of my life: I lack talent in the spoken word; I stutter and stammer; I lose the path of my thoughts, and fail to backtrack to the start.

Anna is patient, but she has her limits, and I fear I will never adequately express for her all that weighs on my fractured conscience. Perhaps, if I find the self-fortitude to deliver this letter, rather than casting it into the fire, I will try to write to her, as well.

(Speaking of fires - I’m still getting used to trying to sleep, once more, in a room made so suffocatingly warm by one. I trust you appreciate the sacrifices I make for you!)

From a young age, I knew that my future held not only the running of a kingdom, but also, in all probability, a marriage made for diplomatic reasons. It was the case with my own parents, it would be the case for Anna, and it would be the case for me, no matter the fairy stories that spoke of love and romance: such things existed for me no more than a poisoned spinning wheel and cottages of gingerbread.

Then, of course, I realized the darker truth: no negotiations would be made for my hand. No family would risk their child on marriage to a monstrosity. I would be spared the possibility of a loveless union, but equally, I could never anticipate a loving one. I could only hope Anna was not assumed to carry the same taint in her blood; she wanted so badly to believe in the possibilities of romance. Selfish thing that I am, I couldn’t bear the thought of being responsible for yet another of my sister’s disappointments.

But I found out later, much later, that it was me, not Anna, for whom my parents were attempted to negotiate a betrothal at the time they were lost. I didn’t have the faintest inkling - but when I found out, all I could think of was what Anna would have thought, finding I had taken something else from her. With a history of such thoughts, I still marvel that I was surprised when she showed up on the arm of the first eligible royal she happened to meet. It seemed the beginning of the end. I could never have imagined it heralded the start of wonder as well as terror.

The young woman I was then - I doubt very much you would have seen anything but a cipher, a half-clever ruse. You have always seen so deep within me. It is one of the traits, to my own surprise, that I have come to like best in you. I enjoy being seen as who I truly am, at least as far as your biased gaze observes me. My role and my strange abilities so often create facade that is view enough for most.

But I digress. My point: I never anticipated, initially, an opportunity to marry for love; later, I never anticipated an opportunity to marry at all. Perhaps as a result, when the responsibility became mine, I reacted rather poorly to Anna’s first attempt at betrothal. Hindsight may have shown this to be for the best, but it was, honestly, due solely to panic on my part. In some way, I have always seen Anna as my sole chance at redemption. Her marrying for love, then, not diplomacy, was more important to me than was perhaps politically expedient. I will credit myself with one thing: doing everything necessary to allow her to marry Kristoff, when that proved to be her wish, and to assure that her children might be legitimate heirs to my throne.

I believed, then, that I had done my part, as far as such things went. My sister in a happy marriage to a wonderful man like Kristoff, and Neta the healthy child of their union. My feelings for you, despite their gentle, gradual growth, came as quite the shock when I finally forced myself to acknowledge them.

What am I trying to say here? I wish I knew for sure. Perhaps I’m no better, in the end, with written word than with spoken. I can’t think of anything I’ve attempted to write aside from my schoolwork and official correspondence - and it is possible I would better grasp my own intentions with the familiar format of an essay or diplomatic missive.

Or I could build you something from ice?

(Actually, I have strong suspicion you might like that very much!)

I have rambled on long enough, I think, with no obvious conclusion in sight. I was hoping that writing this might ease my mind - should you receive it (or merely stumble across it) at some distant point, I should say that I am writing it in the midst of another half-miracle: I believe marriage unlikely, marriage for love almost outside the realm of possibility. But carrying a child?

I would have harshly, unequivocally dismissed the very notion.

I am frightened, Alarik. As frightened as I have perhaps ever been - and fear is, for me, an old friend. I know that you, and scholarly authorities, maintain my powers hold no threat for the quickening life I carry - but my heart returns always to my tiny sister, so still and cold in my arms.

And yet, the same arms ache to hold the child that grows within me, the very physical manifestation of the unwarranted love you have gifted upon me. Your faith in my ability to navigate these uncharted waters gives me such strength - such hope. Your trust in me is the greatest gift I will ever receive.

So many paths that I believed closed to me, you have helped me find my way down. With you as a light in the darkness, I conquer the unknown.

Jeg elsker deg.

- Elsa

Till Min Älskling,

I write this as you speak low, soft words of encouragement to the infant at your breast, both of you entirely absorbed in one another. “Johanna,” I have learned from your sister, means “gift from God” - she informed me it is related to “Joan.” I meant to ask you about the relevance of the last, actually; I know Johanna is your grandmother’s name, but I have not come across a Joan in the annals of Arendelle. Perhaps this will jog my memory later.

I have learned quickly that I prefer not to interrupt your interactions with Jenny: few things in life give me as much pleasure as watching you with her. In three months, it seems to have become wondrous second nature for you, mothering our child. I should finally admit, through this safe medium of paper and ink: As you feared pregnancy and birth, I feared you would refuse to allow yourself to love the baby once she arrived. Rarely have I been so pleased to be proven wrong! You have taken to it, to her, so naturally. I can hear your arguments to the contrary, my darling, were I to voice these thoughts. “I’m just doing what I saw Anna do,” or, “I’ve read a lot of books, I’m just following directions.”

But it is not that simple, and you know that as well as I, whether you are inclined to admit it or not. Not everything can be learned by extension: many things, you must just do, and discover in perseveration any talent or natural affinity. As Anna could attest - she can watch how beautifully you can skate across ice, but it does not ever seem to improve her own performance! Some things, you can either do well, or you cannot. And you, darling, care for Jenny so, so well.

She fascinates me, you know. I have not often since my own childhood spent much time around children, and even less around infants. There is the added, selfish bonus here - the infant in question is made up for half of you and half of me, and somehow, that makes her more fascinating still. I seem somehow almost hardwired to see with amazement every change in her, every new development or act of self-discovery. (Though I will admit, it will take a lot to displace my most cherished memory: our shared mirth at Jenny’s obvious delight upon first discovering her hands!)

But watching you and her together: that is one of the greatest gifts that life has given me. I watch you when she wakes crying, the way you soothe and murmur, the soft song to ease her back to sleep, cuddles and smiles and gentle touch if she calms, and the way she stares up at you, you who are the center of her entire world. What a wonderful, loving world it is, too!

I thought, for a very long time, that I could not love you more, that I knew your bravery and your strength and your intelligence, and that left me so enamored that no matter what happened, I thought it could not be more than it was. How wrong I realized I was, the moment I first was able to place our newborn daughter in your arms!

I truly believed I would never have children of my own. For a very long, as you know, my life held the possibility of ever-present threat, and risking a child to that would have been the height of selfishness. By the time all that was dealt with, of course, I was well past the typical age by which one would be expected to marry. And truly, by then, I knew - I could love no other as I love you. And I believed wholly that my own cowardice had destroyed any affection you might otherwise have felt for me.

Wonderful woman that you are, though, you would never deny someone a second chance, just as you believe so many gave to you. (Anna, I suspect, would disagree that you ever had need of them!) And you gave me mine - and so much more, more than my wildest dreams might have imagined. Including the daughter I can see even now warm and well-fed in your arms, fighting sleep, those slow, heavy blinks that mean the inevitable will have her soon.

I know that you, too, believed you would never have children of you own, though for different reasons. I do remember when you told me, so many years ago, that Anna felt it her duty to provide the kingdom with an heir, because you believed yourself incapable of carrying a child. I had my doubts, even then, but of course I had no place in your life to say that - more cowardice.

But I have always believe din you, Elsa - in your strength, your power, your intelligence. You are a wonderful mother - but you are, always will be, so many other things. So much more.

I love you, darling.

………..

Bright light brought Jenny back to consciousness. She blinked awake, turning away from the window.

Wait.

That was her bedroom window, and she was in her bed! Jenny shot upright, looking around in growing horror. This wasn't a dream- she was back in her room, not downstairs. 

Jenny threw herself back into her pillow with a muffled scream. No! Santa hadn't come! Why else would she be up here? She had to have stayed up long enough to see him come to the house at least! The Santa map had showed her that. Mama and Papa must have put her back in her room when they saw there weren't any presents. 

She was mad! She had been good all year long! Well, maybe not all year, but at least for December! She had done her very best to leave Dag alone, no matter how annoying he was, and had tried to do all her chores! 

And despite all of that, Santa still hadn't come!

Despite hearing her family call her name from downstairs, Jenny pulled her blanket over her head, tears streaming down her face, feeling hollow inside.

………..

"Jenny still hasn't come down yet?" 

Alarik shook his head. "I haven't seen her since last night."

Elsa worried about that. They'd found Jenny fast asleep with her stuffed hippo and her favorite blanket moments before they were about to place the presents under the tree. She hadn't even stirred when Alarik picked her up and tucked her into bed.

"Did she feel hot at all to you? Maybe she's coming down with something?"

Alarik's brow furrowed. "She didn't feel hot last night. And I haven't heard any coughing or sneezing. Do you want me to check on her?"

Elsa was already on her way. "I'll check. Can you keep Dag away from the presents until then?"

"I will."

When Elsa came to Jenny's room, the door was still closed. As she reached for the knob, Elsa heard sniffling sounds- Jenny must be sick. 

"Jenny, are you feeling alright?" Elsa opened the door and stepped in to find Jenny buried under her blanket, her body shaking.

"Go away!"

Elsa realized then that her daughter wasn't sick, she was crying. That worried her far more than any illness- it was rare for Jenny to cry. 

"Jenny! What's wrong!?"

A tangled mass of auburn curls popped out from under the blanket. "Santa didn't coooooooome!" Jenny wailed, pounding at her bed with a fist. 

Elsa blinked in surprise. That wasn't something she thought she'd hear. 

"Jenny, what are you talking about? Of course he did!"

"No he didn't!" Jenny pushed her hair free from her face. Her green eyes were bright with tears, and a flush colored her cheeks. "I waited all night! He didn't show up! He was on the map, and he didn't come to our hoooooouuuse!" Jenny fell face-first into her pillow, sobbing. 

Elsa fought the urge to laugh- leave it to a seven-year-old to come to such an odd conclusion! But laughing would do her no good. Instead she sat at the edge of the bed, rubbing Jenny's back.

"Jenny, that's not the case. You just fell asleep before Santa came. We found you-and the presents- last night. He was very hungry- all the cookies are gone. Come on downstairs and see."

Jenny shook her head into the pillow. "Don' wanna."

Elsa shook her head as well, but there was a smile on her face. "Well then, I suppose I'll just have to send your presents back to Santa then."

That got Jenny's attention. She shot up, almost colliding with Elsa before leaping out of bed and dashing down the hallway. 

"Wait! Wait for me!"

She dashed down the stairs, Elsa following in her wake. As soon as she reached the family room, Jenny stopped in her tracks. Her eyes went wide, taking in the considerable pile of gifts, the boot tracks on the mantle, and the empty plate and cup.

"Mama! Santa came! He really came!" 

Jenny ran over, hugging Elsa's knees. Elsa bent down and hugged her back.

"Is everything alright?" He started to pull away, but her hands tightening on her arms stopped him. 

"Yes… that was nice…"

"Was it?" He returned to the spot, suckling the skin there, and she whimpered, her nails digging into his arms. Not that he cared- he only wanted to hear more of her pleasure. 

Suddenly, Elsa pulled free, turning around to face him. Before he could ask if he'd done something wrong, she had her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. This one was fiercer than any she'd given before, but he found himself reciprocating instantly, working feverishly against her lips, even pressing his tongue against them. She opened her mouth with a soft moan, and he pressed it inside, running it across hers. 

After a few minutes, they pulled away, breathing heavily. Elsa played with the hairs on the back of his neck, and Alarik sensed that she was hesitating. He cupped her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. 

"Elsa?"

"Alarik, I… I think I want…" she looked down briefly, then back up at him. Her eyes were wide, a flush creeping up her neck. "I want to have…sex." At the final word, the flush crept all the way to her cheeks, which he felt grow warm under his palm. 

"Are you sure?" He watched her face for any hint of hesitation, but she nodded firmly, placing her hand on his.

"Yes. I want to. I want you."

He reached out to her, but then shook his head. "I don't have a condom! I didn't think-"

Elsa took his hand. "You've been tested?" When he nodded, she squeezed. "I have an IUD. It's alright."

They came together once more, the kiss even more desperate than the last. Elsa's hands tugged at the collar of his sweatshirt until he let go long enough to tug it off. Her hands were slower then, running through the hairs on his chest. Alarik watched her, his pulse racing. She slid her hands down his arms, taking his hands and bringing them to the hem of her sweater. 

At her nod, he pulled it over her head, and then undid the straps of her bra. He stopped before lowering it. 

"Okay?"

"It's alright."

He let the garment drop to the floor, and the sight of her was enough to make his breath catch. 

Elsa was watching him, her own breath coming out in soft huffs. He reached out, and stopped, until she nodded, and ran his hands up her torso. He could feel goosebumps rising on her skin, but doubted it had anything to do with the cold. Alarik continued his way up, cupping her breasts. She pressed into him with a low whine, and he teased her nipples with his thumbs. When that drew out an even louder moan, he pinched them gently, reveling in the way she arched into his touch.

Elsa's hands were at his waistband, tugging until he released her to deal with it. She worked her own pants free, but he stopped her when she started on her underwear. 

"May I?"

Elsa let her hands fall, and he pulled it away, leaving her completely naked before him. His mouth was dry, and it took him a moment to realize he was staring. 

"My God, Elsa. You are beautiful."

She blushed and looked away, but when he rested his hand on her hip, she looked back up at him. He lowered his lips to hers, and she arched against him, pressing against his own arousal, causing him to buck his hips. Elsa found the waistband of his boxers and pulled them free, pausing with her hand hovering over his erection. 

"It's okay." He murmured. She traced a vein, then swiped her thumb across the weeping tip. Alarik couldn't help the needy moan that escaped his lips. When her hand curled around his shaft, he shuddered, his hands gripping her hips. 

Elsa released him and settled onto the rug, her eyes locked on his as she slowly laid back. He could see the trust and love in her gaze as he followed her down. Alarik slid a hand across her stomach and let it come to rest on her pale curls. She nodded, and he brought his fingers to her folds, seeking and finding her nub. 

Elsa's head fell back as he stroked, her hand gripping his arm. Alarik pressed a finger inside, curling it against the rough patch on her wall, nuzzling her neck and inhaling her scent to ground herself. Elsa's nails would undoubtedly leave marks in the morning, but Alarik couldn't bring himself to care. He slid another finger inside her, shivering at the slick warmth.

"Ah… Alarik. I need you… please…"

He rolled over her, bringing her hand to his member, letting her wrap her fingers around it. "Take your time," he murmured. 

Elsa took a breath, and guided him in. Alarik dug his fingers into the carpet, tossing his head back at the sensation of sliding into her tight heat. He made himself wait, let Elsa control the pace, until he was fully buried within her. 

Elsa shuddered, and he kissed up her neck, staying still. Even when she relaxed, he just jogged his hips, trailing a hand down to circle her bud. She rose to meet him, hands gripping his shoulders, and he pulled back and thrust in. 

"Yes!"

She clung to him as he found a steady rhythm, his finger stroking her nub in time with his thrusts. Alarik closed his mouth over a nipple, flicking it with his tongue. Elsa cried out, nails dragging across his back. 

He was thrusting hard, now, his entire body screaming for release. He could feel Elsa's walls fluttering about him, driving him to the precipice, but he made himself stop for a moment, even when she whined in clear displeasure.

"I'm…close. Should I… pull…out?"

Elsa shook her head, wrapping her legs around his thighs. "Let me feel you, I'm almost there." 

Alarik's head dropped to her neck as he groaned, thrusting faster, his pace erratic. Elsa pulled him to her, her cries reaching a crescendo. And then she was there, head thrown back, body taught against his, her pulsing walls driving him to completion, spilling deep within her, crying her name out like a prayer. They shuddered together for a few moments more before collapsing. 

Alarik was quick to roll off Elsa, whimpering as he slid free of her. Now he was plenty warm. He sought her hand and clutched it, working on catching his breath.

Once he felt he could speak again, he rolled onto his side, trailing a finger down Elsa's arm. "Are you okay?"

She rolled to face him, a sleepy smile on her face. "I'm wonderful. Thank you."

"Thank you, min älskling. But I think it's best if we get to bed. My back doesn't do sleeping on the floor any more."