Voices boom through the castle. I follow the angry sounds to North's room. I want to put my hands over my ears like I would when I was a little girl. I want to run away so I don't have to hear the shouts.

I hate it when people yell at each other.

I press my ear against the wood of the door. I want them to stop fighting, but I also want to know why the guardians are upset.

Is it because of me? Because of something that Jack did? They've only been here for two weeks and most of them have avoided me. Except for Jack, of course, but that is because he trains me almost every day.

"Didn't you read the message, mate?" Bunnymund shouts. "There is no doubt it is talking about her!"

Jack's familiar voice seeps through the wood. "She's just a girl. She has been learning how to control her power-"

"Exactly!" North booms. "She is already powerful. Should we really be teaching her how to use her weapon? What if she uses it against us?"

Jack lowers his voice, his words angry and fierce. "She will not hurt me."

Tooth's soft, melodious tones answer him gently. "You don't know that for sure. Besides, you're not the only guardian, Jack."

"I didn't mean-" Jack starts, but North cuts him off.

"Jack-"

Jack ignores him and continues to talk away.

I can hear North's fist crash onto a table or some surface. "Frost!"

"What?" Jack snaps.

I press my trembling, gloved fingers against the door. They are fighting about me. They don't trust me. Why should they? I've been nothing but a potential risk since they met me.

"Put down your staff and look at me, Frost." North pronounces every word carefully, "Do you trust her?"

"Yes!" Jack says quickly, eagerly. Why does he sound so confident? We only just met two weeks ago...and my month will end in only two more.

Tooth asks, "Are you sure that she would never hurt us or anyone else?"

"She's a guardian. She won't turn on her own."

Bunnymund scoffs. "She most certainly is not a guardian. She's a queen, Jack. She isn't one of us."

"Haven't you seen her powers? She is a guardian. You just don't see it yet, overgrown carrot-eater."

The argument flares up again. The guardians shout their opinions, their voices overlapping until I can no longer think.

I can't take it anymore! I swing the door open. "Stop! Just stop it!"

The guardians stop screaming, their fists still raised and their mouths hanging open as they turn towards me.

Jack's gaze burns into me. I am ashamed that I eavesdropped, but it hurts even more that they are arguing over me. I didn't know they hated me so much...Jack defended me, but he shouldn't have.

North is right.

I am not trustworthy. What will Jack say when he finds out about my deal with Pitch?

The silence in the room crackles and snaps. Jack takes half a step towards me. I immediately pull back.

"Don't fight." I choke on the words. "I am sorry, but please, don't. You-you're the guardians of our world, the heroes."

Bunnymund folds his arms slowly. "We might be heroes, but we are not perfect."

"I know that. But you are fighting because of me. It's my fault."

Jack sighs my name. "Elsa."

I stumble back. "I shouldn't have listened or interrupted." Heat flares across my cheeks. "I-I'm sorry."

I spin around and walk down the hallway quickly. I want to run, but I don't want anyone-especially not Jack-to chase after me.

**

I curl up on the window seat of Father's empty study. I press my cheek against the glass.

The moon shifts in the dark sky, its pale light straining to pass through the glass of the window.

Mother used to sit here and spend hours writing long letters to her sister overseas. I wonder what she would say if she saw Rapunzel now.

Mother had been so happy when they found Rapunzel three years ago. That is why she insisted on sailing across the sea with Father. It was the one wedding that she refused to miss.

But it was also the last time I ever saw her. She never made it back from the wedding.

Tears prick the corner of my eyes. But I don't cry, even though I am alone. I am still afraid that someone might see.

Tomorrow I address Arendelle for a formal apology and explanation.

Maybe afterwards I will get Rapunzel's side of the story. I am sure it would be interesting to find out how she met Eugene

"Hi."

I jostle in the window seat and almost slide off. A gentle hand steadies my arm.

Jack sighs, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you."

I shrug and look down. I am still embarrassed at the incident from earlier.

I pull my knees to my chest and tuck my dress around my shoes.

Jack leans his staff against the wall and sits on the far end of the window seat. He folds one of his legs against his chest. His foot almost touches my shoes.

"I am sorry about what happened earlier." Jack says.

"No." I shake my head. "I'm the one who is sorry. I shouldn't have eavesdropped in the first place."

Jack rests his head against the pane of glass. "You had a right to know that we were fighting about you."

"I know that the other guardians don't trust me." I lower my eyelashes. The question burns inside me, but I cannot say it while looking at his gentle, familiar blue eyes. "But do you...trust me?"

"Of course I do. That's why we were fighting."

We look up at the moon. Jack touches the window and a small snowflake spreads across the glass.

I smile and look down at my gloved hands. Two weeks of lessons and I am still too scared, too insecure to take them off.

Jack might trust me, but I don't trust myself.