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"…nothing's in my way-!" Anna belted out, singing about her joy for the day to come as she ran down the side of the dock pier. She closed her eyes, savoring the wind in her face as she ran…until something strong, broad, and furry hit her from her side, knocking her into a small boat. The boat slid on the ground and would have fallen over the side and into the water, if it weren't for a pair of man's hands and a reindeer's hoof. When the boat was safely pulled back onto the pier, Anna pulled some seaweed that had fallen on her head away from her eyes to see who did this. "Hey!" she hollered, annoyed as she sat there in the boat.In front of the boat, she saw a big reindeer—most likely the culprit of her incident—and beside the animal with big horns was a young man. Maybe a few years older than her, tall, broad-shoulders, blonde hair, brown eyes. He had on a long-sleeved pale blue tunic, a purple sash around his waist, dark slacks and boots.He was actually quite handsome, Anna could plainly see, but she was too annoyed to really focus on his pleasing features."Oh geeze!" the man said, rubbing a hand over his hair. "You okay?" It wasn't so much he was concerned about her, more that he was annoyed this happened and was now dreading having to deal with a snobby girl who was going to yell at him for 'attacking' her and ruining her dress."Do I look okay?" Anna hollered back, gesturing to herself. She had seaweed on her head, a bucket on her foot, and she was wedged into the end of the boat and couldn't get up.The man rolled his eyes and stepped into the boat. "Here, give me your hand," he told her, offering her his hand to take. Unable to pull herself out, Anna took his hand and let him heave her out and back up onto her feet. Anna then shook the bucket off her foot before she and the man stepped out of the boat while she also removed the seaweed from her head. "Better?""Much," Anna replied, brushing off her gown.With her attention off him, the man took a second to study the girl's face. There was something about her strawberry-blonde hair that almost reminded him of something from long ago, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Hey, do I know you? You look kinda familiar," he asked her.Anna stopped fussing with her dress and looked back up at him. She looked at his face for a second—even more handsome up close—looking for any sense of familiarity, but there was none. Not that she was surprised. Considering the fact that she had been shut inside the castle since she was five, she knew right off the bat she couldn't have met him before. "No, I don't think so," she told him. The two stood in silence for a few seconds, waiting for the other to talk again. Both their people skills were a bit dusty. Then Anna cleared her throat. "Thank you, but I should be going," she said to him before walking around the man, but she found her path blocked by the reindeer. "Uh…excuse me," she tried going around the big creature but he kept stepping in front of her, grunting something she couldn't understand.Behind her, the blonde man chuckled. "He's trying to apologize for knocking you over," he said, finding the scene funny.Anna turned back to the man. "You can tell?" How could he possibly know that for sure?"Of course I can," he said confidently before gesturing for her to look back at his friend. Anna did and from behind her, she could hear the man talking in a strange voice. "I'm so sorry for bumping you, little lady. I wasn't looking where I was going." Seeing the apologetic look on the reindeer's face was comforting to the princess. She was also amused by his owner's attempt to interpret what he was thinking. "But I bet you weren't either."That last comment had Anna turning back to the man sharply. "Excuse me, sir, your reindeer bumped into me. I was just walking, minding my own business," she said to him curtly."And excuse me, miss, his name is Sven, and it was an accident," he defended, crossing his arms. "And unlike me, he was actually trying to apologize.""So, you had no intention of apologizing yourself?""Why? I'm not the one who bumped you," he shrugged.Anna huffed. This man was very rude. "Fine," she said before turning back around. "Sven, was it?" She saw the reindeer nod his head. "Thank you. I accept your apology," she told him politely. Sven snorted, glad he was forgiven, and started to nuzzle against the princess's arm. "Aww, you are so sweet," she gushed as she gave the side of his head a scratch. "Unlike your grumpy, broad-shouldered, companion," her added, still in the sweet-goo-goo voice."Say what you want about me," Kristoff mumbled with a roll of his eyes. "Reindeers are better than people anyways.""I couldn't agree more. Sven here is much more polite," she said, giving him a curtsy. Sven surprisingly bowed back to her. "If reindeers were allowed inside, I'd ask you to be my date for the coronation service," she told the reindeer.Kristoff perked up with curiosity. "You're invited to the coronation?" Figures. She certainly looks dressed to be rubbing elbows with nobles and royals. She's probably even going to the party in the castle ballroom later in the evening. Meanwhile, common folk like him will be out in the courtyard, waiting anxiously to get even a glimpse of their new queen before the night is over and the gates are closed again.Anna turned back to him again, debating whether to tell him or not that she was the princess. But decided against it. She wasn't sure why, but it was kind of nice talking to someone without them treating she a certain way because she was royalty. "Uh, yup. I am," she answered simply. "Which reminds me, I should probably be heading back." She needed to get to the castle's cathedral. The ceremony would be starting soon. "Bye Sven, and good day to you too sir," she said kindly to the two individually before starting to walk back up the stone pathway."Kristoff."Anna stopped and turned back to the duo. "Pardon?" she asked."I don't really care for 'sir.' Just Kristoff is fine," the man said before—to her surprise once again—offering her a smile.He had a very nice smile, Anna thought for a moment. Even if his manners were a bit shotty, he didn't seem that bad. He did help her out of the boat."Oh. Well…bye," she said, quickly waving to them before picking up the skirt of her dress and walked off quickly, away from the docks and back towards the castle.As Kristoff watched her walk away, he still couldn't help the feeling he had seen her from somewhere before. There was just something about her that he found…different. In a good way.This surprised him a lot. He didn't tend to find any particular person so interesting.She was cute, but feisty. Had a lot of pride, but wasn't a brat.And she was nice to Sven. So she didn't seem that bad.Another surprise to him—he sort of hoped Sven bumped into her again sometime soon.
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Nobody noticed as Anna left the ballroom. Tears developing in her eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall in front of everyone. Just because she wasn't having a good time didn't mean she had to ruin the happy atmosphere for everyone else.This was the first party the castle was hosting in years and she wanted them to enjoy it completely.She had wanted to enjoy herself too. But that was hard to do when her own sister would barely talk to her. Anna thought, at least for this day, things would be different. She and Elsa could actually talk and be friends. But the moment she tried to ask about after that day—BOOM! She slammed the door in her face and that was the end of it.Anna just didn't understand. Why didn't Elsa want to be around her? Why did she shut her out all those years ago and why does she still do it? Even today?Being careful not to be seen by the crowd of people waiting in the courtyard, Anna made her way along the pillars on the side, hidden in the shadows. When she finally reached a big door, she pulled it open, went inside, then closed it behind her—unintentionally leaving it open just an inch.Since she was upset, it would make sense for Anna to go up to her bedroom or any other room in the castle she found comforting, but instead she decided to go to the stables. She wasn't sure why. Maybe because it was the least likely place for anyone else to be while there was a party going on. And she didn't want anyone to see her like this.Being alone, Anna sat on a bale of hay and let a few tears trickle down her checks and a sob or two escape her throat.Today was supposed to be magical and fun. But instead, she just got more misery and loneliness.Only a few minutes passed as Anna attempted to calm her sadness and dry her tears. Then she heard the stable doors creak open."Evening," a familiar voice said casually to her.Anna quickly wiped away what wetness remained on her checks and around her eyes before facing whoever had just entered the stable.She thought she recognized the voice, but wasn't positive. Then when she turned her head to face them, she remembered them in an instant.That man from the docks again. With his reindeer."Oh! It's you," she greeted him, trying to sound cheerful—not because she wasn't really happy to see him again, but she was still sad. Anna stood up and faced the man in the doorway. "Uh…Christopher, was it?""Kristoff," the man corrected her with a bored face."Right, sorry," Anna quickly apologized before she sniffled on reflex. The lighting may not have been great in the stable with just two lit lanterns on either sides of the doors and another in the far corner, but Kristoff could tell her face was hiding some emotions.He was no expert but he picked up a few pointers from some friends who were."I normally don't ask things like this but, are you okay?" he asked, taking a curious step closer.Anna just crossed her arms and shrugged. "Sure. I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be fine? There's a party going on inside, the Queen is now officially the Queen, and everyone is having a good time," she said, still masking her glum with a big smile."Yeah, but you don't seem to be.""Yes I am," she insisted. "I just…needed some air.""Okay." Kristoff let the matter be and decided to just move on. "Well then, do you mind if we stay in here for a bit? My friend here wanted some water," he said, gesturing to said reindeer waiting somewhat patiently in the doorway behind him."Oh, not at all. There's a trough over there," Anna gestured to another corner to her right."Thanks," Kristoff said. Sven walked past him, into the room. "Thank you, miss," Kristoff said in that weird voice again as the reindeer passed Anna."You're welcome, Sven," she said sweetly to him with a curtsy."Oh. So you remember his name correctly but not mine?" Kristoff said, somewhat offended."I said I was sorry. I don't…meet a lot of new people," Anna said bashfully."Lucky you," he muttered after closing the stable door all the way."Why is that lucky?""I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not really a people person," he said, turning to face her again."Well that explains the grumpy attitude."Despite the teasing remarks, Kristoff smiled again, sort of amused by this weird girl. "Oh yeah, I never did catch your name," he asked.Reluctantly, the strawberry blonde sighed. "Anna." She didn't see the point in hiding anymore. "Princess Anna of Arendelle."Sven abruptly raised his head from the trough and stared back at the two humans in the room. Kristoff's eyes widened, then he just stared at her for a minute, not saying a word. "The-the-the princess?" he stuttered. Anna nodded her head. "As in…the Queen's sister?" Anna nodded again, grinning at his nervousness. It was sort of cute. "Sven, you are in soooo much trouble for knocking her over!" he exclaimed to his companion. Sven blanched.Anna giggled. "No, it's okay. Neither of you are in any trouble," she reassured them then turned back to the reindeer. "And certainly not sweet Sven," she cooed, scratching the base of his furry neck. Sven grunted with affection. "In fact, do you like carrots, Sven?"Sven looked at her in excitement before vigorously nodding his head. "I sure do!" Kristoff spoke for him."I know the stable master keeps them somewhere around-" Anna said to herself as she looked around another area of the stables. Finally, she opened a medium sized box and there they were. "Here we are," she said, pulling out the whole bundle of orange root vegetables. "Eat up," she dropped them into an empty trough next to the water.As Sven ate his favorite food, Anna walked back over to her bale of hay and sat down again. Followed quickly by Kristoff sitting down on another bale right next to her."So… if you're the princess…" the blonde man started to speak again. Anna looked at him on her right. "Why are you in here when you could be inside, enjoying her big sister's big party?" he asked, still curious. Maybe even more so.Anna huffed. "Maybe because big sister doesn't want to see little sister." Before, she had been sad, now she felt kinda mad. And now she had someone to vent to. "I mean…we were talking—giggling even. It was the first time we've actually spoken in so long and-" she trailed off before sighing. This was her first time venting to a real person instead of just the wall, a painting, or her own reflection. Maybe she wasn't very good at it."Wait. You've both been tucked away in the same castle for years and not even you see her?" Kristoff asked. That was even weirder."Not really," Anna answered, her voice sad again. "We were so close when we were kids, but now…" That puzzled Kristoff even more. He vaguely remembered when King Angarr locked the gates all those years ago. Nobody knew why exactly. He locked himself, and his family away from their people. But it sounded like Elsa did way more than that. Was this all around the same time? "But I don't want to focus on that tonight," Anna said, snapping Kristoff out of his puzzling. "I was excited for tonight because I have the chance to meet people and have fun," she said, determined to still make the most of this night with her mood improved again."Well, you can't exactly do either of those things in here," Kristoff said jokingly, gesturing to the dusty and empty room they were in."You're right," Anna said. Then she glanced at her new friend and got an idea. "You know, watching Sven enjoying those carrots is making me hungry," she said with a sneaky grin. "Are you hungry, Kristoff?""Yeah, I could eat," he shrugged. "Unfortunately, they don't offer refreshments to the commoners outside the ballroom." He should have asked Anna to save a carrot for him.Anna just grinned and stood up. "Come on," she said, grabbing his hand and started tugging on him to stand up too.Kristoff let her pull him up—surprised by her strength—and also her sudden request. "Uh, where are we going?""The ballroom," she said simply, walking them toward the stable door."What?!" he exclaimed, planting his feet to the ground, stopping them both. Him? A filthy, nobody, ice harvester, going to a palace ball…with a princess?! "But-I can't…I'm not-""You can and you are," Anna turned back to him then quickly moved to his left side and wrapped her arm around his arm. "with a princess on your arm."A light blush came to Kristoff's cheeks as he looked down at this crazy girl, noticing, seeing her face up close for the first time, that she had freckles along her nose and under her big blue eyes. "Wh-what about Sven?" Surely Sven wouldn't let himself be left alone in this unfamiliar place while his buddy was dragged off somewhat against his will."He's welcome to stay in here while we're at the ball," Anna told him before looking back to Sven. "You don't mind if I borrow your buddy for a bit? Right, Sven?" she asked the reindeer.Sven grunted and tousled his head in their direction without taking his full attention off the trough, as if to say 'Not at all. Go on, get out of here.'"Would you believe that that was a yes?" Kristoff asked, hoping she believed him but Anna wasn't falling for it."Let's go!" Anna said excitedly as she opened the stable door and dashed out, dragging a still hesitant Kristoff behind her.
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Why? Why had Kristoff let this girl he just met drag him into this place?Him…Kristoff Bjorgmen…a poor ice harvester, whose only companions were a bunch of rock trolls and a reindeer, was going into the palace ballroom during a party. The first in many years.They entered through a servant's door where they only got a few looks from some kitchen staff, but all were pleasant smiles. With every step he took closer to the ballroom, he grew more nervous. Everything he knew he didn't like was going to be at this party; a crowded room, rich snobs, and manners.His manners were fair but definitely not at the same level as these people. He could offend someone simply by saying 'hello' incorrectly. Was he even dressed well enough? Sure, he dressed up a bit and got cleaned up for the occasion of the coronation, but that was just for the festivities for the commoners. This was a formal ball in a castle!"Anna-" Kristoff said as they walked down an empty hallway that lead straight to the ballroom. "I mean…Your Highness," he quickly corrected himself. Anna finally stopped and looked back at him just as they got to the closed ballroom doors. "I don't think I should go in there.""Why not? And just Anna is fine," she said. She'd only just met this guy but she'd like to think of him as a friend. She'd always wanted a friend. Someone who didn't need to address her so formally."Well…for one thing, I'm not really dressed for a royal ball," he said, gesturing down at his so-called 'special occasion attire.'"Oh please, you look very handsome," she said honestly, but as soon as the words left her mouth, Kristoff looked at her with slightly wider eyes and a light blush on his cheeks. And then Anna matched him. "I mean…you look fine. I doubt anyone will notice," she added, smiling timidly and glancing away, avoiding eye contact for a second, as she nervously brushed her hair over her ear. Kristoff grinned a bit. This girl—princess—was more adorable than he first thought. And she thought he was handsome. After that somewhat awkward moment had passed, Anna looked back up at the tall blonde man. "Besides, I'll be there with you," she reassured him with a more genuine smile.Kristoff appreciated it but he was still hesitant. "I've…never really been to a lot of parties before," he admitted. Parties meant people, and he was definitely not a people person."Neither have I," Anna admitted back. "Maybe that's why I'd feel a bit less nervous going back in there with a companion," she said, somewhat bashfully before shooting him a pleading, big eyed stare.As he stared at her face looking up at him, everything seemed to slow down, mainly as he watched Anna bat her eyes at him with that charming but not overly-exaggerated smile.What was happening to him?! He never saw much appeal even to other women who were also obviously beautiful but…this girl…she was something else.He didn't have the heart to say no to her. And surprisingly, he actually didn't want to.Kristoff sighed. "I guess an hour or two wouldn't kill me.""Wonderful!" Anna exclaimed not too loudly. "We'll have fun, I promise," she swore before taking his hand in hers and then pushed the door open with the other.Anna walked into the ballroom, Kristoff right behind her, and the door closed behind them.Kristoff's first observation of the room was the noise. Lots of voices talking over each other. It was already starting to give him a headache. There was also some light music playing in the background. The lighting was bright, and the décor was—he didn't know how else to describe it—fancy. Every person was either in a fancy suit or a fancy gown; talking, dancing, eating, and/or drinking. Everything was just so…fancy.He was going to stick out like a sore thumb. But, he would at least try…for Anna's sake. For some reason, he cared more about her having a good time than his level of comfort. And who knows, maybe this won't be so bad. He can't exactly claim to hate parties if he's never even been to one."Wow. So this is what a ball looks like?" he thought out loud, looking around."Yeah. Isn't it beautiful?" Anna said, looking around a bit herself before looking back at him for his reaction.One of the male servers suddenly came over with a tray of wine glasses."Drink, sir?" he said to a very caught off guard Kristoff.He had never been waited on before so it was a bit weird to him. But, he was being offered a free drink, so how could he refuse?"Thanks," he said, taking a glass. The man then offered the tray to Anna but politely declined with a small wave and a smile. The man nodded before walking away.Kristoff sipped the wine and it was pretty good. He didn't drink often but when he did, it was never anything like this. Beer, mead, and glogg mostly."Oh, that's right. I promised you food," Anna suddenly said. Kristoff was hungry and he couldn't be drinking on an empty stomach. She gripping the sleeve of his shirt and started tugging him in another direction of the room. "Come on, the buffet table is over here."Anna and Kristoff started walking, moving around other guests until they reached a very long table filled with more food than Kristoff had ever seen in one place. Some he recognized, some he didn't.Before he could pick anything out himself, Anna grabbed something, told him what it was, then handed it to him for him to try. It was good, so he let her do it again. And again, and then again. It was surprisingly endearing, her over eagerness and cheerful attitude of simply feeding him. So, Kristoff ate whatever she handed to him and he drank his wine until his glass was empty. Then Anna took it from him and placed it on another servant's tray as they passed by.As Kristoff glanced back at the table, he spotted a giant pot of brown liquid at one end."What the heck is that?" he asked, pointing to the pot."It's chocolate fondue," Anna said excitedly. She tugged Kristoff's shirt sleeve again—making him grin—and he followed her to the end of the table. "See you take these little things, they're called 'fondue forks,' to pick up whatever you like," she explained, picking up one of the tiny two-pronged forks from the table. Kristoff followed her lead. There was a large platter of different foods specifically for the fondue. Kristoff watched as Anna used her fork to stab a strawberry. Kristoff skimmed the platter for a second before stabbing what he assumed was a chuck of waffle. "then you dip it in the chocolate, lit it drip a bit, then eat it."Anna and Kristoff both dipped into the chocolate at the same time, then pulled them out. Kristoff held his fork just above the pot as he watched Anna let her strawberry stop dripping and then ate it with a smile. Kristoff then took his waffle chuck and brought it to his mouth."Mmmm," he moaned as he chewed. The waffle was fluffy and the chocolate was warm and sweet. Unfortunately, some chocolate dribbled over his lip and a bit down his chin. "Uh-oh," he muttered around his mouth full.Anna quickly noticed and grabbed a napkin. "I don't think you let it drip enough," she said, slightly amused but sympathetic. She made messes all the time, and fondue was just messy.It didn't even occur to the princess to simply hand the napkin to the mountain man and let him clean his own mouth. Instead, Anna immediately raised the cloth square to his lips herself to dab away the excessive chocolate.Kristoff just stood there, frozen in place, staring down at Anna again as she wiped at his mouth, transfixed at her close proximity to him. Kristoff liked his personal space. When someone invaded it, he couldn't wait to get them out of it. And yet, he didn't mind her there.Anna was staring up at him. Her focus bouncing back and forth between her task of cleaning his mouth to his brown eyes looking down at her. They looked warm and inviting. Like two tempting pots of chocolate fondue.When she was done, Anna lowered the napkin and looked away, nervous again. Then she noticed that she had a bit of chocolate on the side of her index finger. Kristoff watched as she raised her finger and sucked the side of it in her mouth.She giggled and Kristoff smiled. 'I guess even princesses can't always have perfect manners,' he thought."Anna?"The pair turned their heads to the voice saying the princess's name. And there stood the newly coronated Queen."Elsa," Anna said happily but then quickly curtsied to her. "I mean, Queen. Queen Elsa," she added. Kristoff, not sure what to do, quickly followed Anna's lead again and gave a bow.The other sister just smiled. "Anna, you don't have to bow or curtsey to me," she kindly reassured her. Even if she was the Queen now and technically had more authority than her, they were still both of the same royal family. Then her blue eyes shifted to the tall blonde man standing next to her younger sister. "And who is this?" she asked curiously."Oh, right," Anna lightly patted Kristoff's back, nudging him forward a bit, like she was presenting him to her. "Elsa, this is my new friend, Kristoff."The ice harvester took a hesitant step forward. "Uh…Your Majesty," he uttered nervously before bowing again. "It's an honor to meet you in person. I'm Kristoff Bjorgmen. An Arendelle ice harvester," he said. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to present and/or introduce himself to a royal—Anna didn't count because he hadn't known she was royalty when they met earlier—so he tried what he thought would be acceptable.Even if he messed up horribly, he at least trusted that Anna had his back, like she promised."An ice harvester?" Elsa replied in wonder. Her eyes shifted to her sister curiously as Kristoff stood up straight again.Under her sister's icy cold skeptical gaze, Anna protectively grasped Kristoff's arm. Kristoff nearly jumped at her touch. His eyes glanced down at her, basically clinging to his arm, blush returning to his cheeks. "I know he wasn't invited, but I met him earlier today and then I ran into him again outside and-" Anna quickly rambled, worried that Elsa was going to order him to leave or have him thrown out for coming in when he wasn't supposed to. "It is okay if he stays…right?" she asked, hopefully.Elsa had refused to have a conversation with her that was more than just friendly banter so Anna really wanted Kristoff to stay and keep her company for the night. She had been upset when she shut her out when they were talking—which lead to her going out to the stables and seeing Kristoff again—but if she dismissed her new friend away for simply not being allowed in the party, that would be too much.Fortunately, based on how she clung to his arm, Elsa could see her sister's desire for the man's company. Anna craved companionship, and since she still believed that keeping her distance was for the best for them both, this man could be just that.Elsa smiled. "Of course he can stay," she said, making Anna smile bigger. Kristoff even grinned, relieved. Even though he'd already eaten—which was pretty much the main reason Anna had for dragging him in there—he didn't want to leave yet. Or if he was being honest, he didn't want to leave Anna yet. He just knew she'd be upset all over again if he left so soon. Elsa then glanced over her shoulder for a second before leaning forward, closer to her sister. "Maybe if the Duke of Weaseltown sees you already dancing with him, he won't ask you for another," she whispered to Anna, making them both chortle a bit. Elsa then cleared her throat. "Excuse me, but I have more dignitaries to meet with," she said in a calmer tone. Then she stepped a bit closer to Kristoff and spoke again. "Please, take good care of my sister, Kristoff Bjorgmen, and enjoy the party," she said before walking away from them.Anna and Kristoff watched her walk away with surprised expressions."Huh. I think she likes me," Kristoff said, grinning back at Anna."Yeah. That went way better than I expected," she agreed. Over the years after shutting her out, while Anna still loved her sister dearly, she always had this assumption that Elsa had become cold and stern. But maybe that wasn't completely true.As they shared their relieved expressions, a thought suddenly occurred to Kristoff. "But wait, was she being serious about that dancing thing?""I guess," Anna shrugged. It certainly wasn't a bad idea. Then she heard the music get a bit louder and saw people dancing in the center of the room. "Oh, one's starting right now," she said excitedly, taking Kristoff's hand again. Another thing she'd wanted to do was dance with someone—other than the Duke who danced like a lunatic."Wait, Anna!" Kristoff exclaimed, a lot more reluctant than before as she pulled him onto the dance floor. Being at this party was one thing. He could just stand on the sidelines with Anna as they ate and chatted, but dancing? In the middle of the room where anyone and everyone could see them? "Anna, I don't know how to dance," he said as they stopped and she faced him.Kristoff looked around the crowd nervously at all the eyes on him. Anna felt bad for a moment, sensing his discomfort. But, at the same time, she didn't want him to feel like he didn't belong. Plus, she promised him a fun time and to have his back. So she was driven to make sure he had fun and he didn't feel embarrassed or out of place."It's easy," she said reassuringly. If she had to give him a brief dance lesson, she certainly didn't mind. "Look, hold my hand like this," she said, taking his left hand with her right and held them up to the side. "Now hold my waist like this." She then guided his right hand down to the left side of her waist. Kristoff swallowed nervously, but allowed her to move his limbs. Anna then placed her left hand on this right shoulder. "And then you just make a box with your feet. Like this," she said as she started to move her feet. 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. Kristoff looked down to see what she was doing and then tried to mimic her movements. "Hey, don't look at your feet. Look at me," she said, stopping her stepping and let go of his shoulder for a second to tilt his chin up.Kristoff stared again, lost in her big blue eyes for a moment and at how close they were, but quickly snapped out of it to respond. "But…what if I step on your foot?""You won't if you just relax. I speak from personal experience. When my tutor was teaching me to dance, I kept stepping on his feet too. But as soon as I stopped overthinking, listened to the music, and just enjoyed the moment, I stopped making mistakes," she explained. She returned her hand to his shoulder and started moving her feet again. This time, Kristoff let himself relax, got a feel for the music and the way Anna was moving, and he moved his feet too. Anna stepped back, he stepped forward. She moved, he moved. The urge to look down was strong, just to make sure he was doing it right. "That's it. Keep your eyes on me," Anna said gently.How could Kristoff resist that also powerful urge?"I-I think I got it," he said, somewhat proud of himself."I told you," she replied happily.The two continued to dance. Stepping, turning, and then Kristoff even attempted to twirl Anna. To which, they both giggled and resumed their dance. Kristoff didn't feel his foot on top of Anna's once. He wasn't even concerned with the other posh party guests they were surrounded by anymore.It was just him and Anna.This was the sort of dance she had anticipated for this night. True, it wasn't exactly like how she fantasized herself meeting a beautiful, tall, and fair stranger, but she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Or with anyone else.All too soon, the song ended and all the other dancers, plus Anna and Kristoff, stopped and applauded the musicians."Thank you for the lovely dance, Mr. Bjorgmen," Anna said in an overly sophisticated voice as she curtsied to her partner.Kristoff grinned, holding in a laugh as he schooled his face and bowed to her, nice and low. "The pleasure was all mine, Princess Anna," he replied in a just as sophisticated voice.When the two looked up at each other, still in the low bow and/or curtsy, they both started to laugh. When their mirth calmed to light giggling, they made their ways back to the buffet table.After grabbing small plates and loading them with a few more appetizers, they walked over to a window on the side lines of the ballroom where it was a bit quieter. From there, they both chatted as they ate."You talk to reindeer? I talk to paintings."Kristoff nearly spat out the cheese in his mouth. After taking a moment to finish chewing and then swallow, he said, "Sorry…what?" he chuckled."I often had a whole parlor to myself where there were so many paintings on the walls. I didn't socialize much and they had human faces so that was good enough for me," Anna explained without shame."Wow," Kristoff chuckled but quickly realized that she might think he was making fun of her. "Not judging. A guy who not only talks to reindeer but for a reindeer is defiantly in no position to judge," he said fast. But she giggled, making him giggle with her."I guess we both dealt with our loneliness in similar ways," Anna said with a shrug.Kristoff found himself staring at her again. 'Maybe we have more in common than I thought,' he thought.With their plates empty, Anna took them over to another servant close by with a tray collecting used glasses and plates.With her back to him a few feet away, Kristoff realized that he was staring again. He didn't want to seem creepy. There were other things to stare at.Nothing quite as beautiful as Anna though, a little voice in his head uttered. Kristoff told the voice to shut up before quickly looking for something else to stare at. They had been standing by a window so he turned and looked out it. It was dark so he couldn't see much but it was something. Maybe if he kept staring long enough, his eyes would adjust and he could make out what was out there.When Anna came back over, Kristoff was staring out the window. Anna looked out too at the dark gardens below. It was kinda hard to see from where they were with the light coming from behind them.They could go down there. She could use some fresh air and Kristoff might too, as well as a little break from all the noise and crowds. While Anna wanted to immerse herself into the party and savor it while it lasted, she didn't mind going elsewhere…as long as she was at least with Kristoff.Anna turned her head to him. "Do you wanna get out of here?" she asked, nudging the man with her shoulder.Kristoff's smile feel as he turned his head to face her. "You…want me to leave?" he asked in a small, disappointed voice. Had he overstayed his welcome? Was she kicking him out?Anna quickly saw his crestfallen expression and realized she misspoke. "What? No! No, no, no. I meant, like for a walk in the gardens outside. With me?" she quickly corrected herself while gesturing down to the grounds outside the window and then to herself."Oh," Kristoff smiled in relief—more relief than he was expecting. "Uh, sure," he said with a shrug. Stepping away from the crowded ballroom—with Anna—sounded good.Anna gestured for Kristoff to follow her and he did. Out of the ballroom, down another hallway, then down some stairs, and finally out a different door that lead to the garden. And the whole way there, Kristoff was a bit disappointed that Anna hadn't grabbed his hand or arm to pull and/or guild him where she wanted to take him.Upon entering the garden, it was still dark. No lanterns were lit but there was a little light coming from the windows of the ballroom. But the full summer moon above them provided plenty of gentle illumination. It didn't take long for their eyes to adjust so they could actually see.Anna and Kristoff walked side by side along the path in a comfortable silence. Kristoff glanced around, admiring the plants, but every once in a while, his eyes flickered back to the beautiful and feisty princess to his left.Her head was turned the other way, looking at the other side of the garden so she couldn't see him staring. As nice as the quiet of the garden was, Kristoff felt the need to keep talking. He wasn't much of a talker—with the exception of conversations with Sven—but talking with Anna didn't feel like such a chore. He could actually have a conversation with her without trying so hard to at least pretend to be interested. Because he didn't have to pretend.Kristoff bit his lip, struggling to think of a topic to bring up and start another conversation. Then his eye caught sight of the single light blonde streak in her strawberry blonde hair. He noticed it earlier in the better lighting of the ballroom but didn't think to ask about it."What's that?" he suddenly asked.Anna snapped her head back to look at him. "What's what?""That white streak in your hair," he said, gesturing to the right side of her hair-do."Oh, that," Anna chuckled, brushing her fingers over her ear like she was brushing some loose hairs away. "Would you believe that I was kissed by a troll?""Ha! Maybe," Kristoff laughed.Anna giggled too. "No. I was born with it," she said with a shrug."Eh, I like your 'kissed by a troll' explanation better," he said with joking disappointment. The two laughed a bit more before continuing their walk across the garden. Kristoff glanced off at the gardens again, then, without thinking, he said, "So…it this where you bring all of your dates?"Anna stopped walking and looked at him again. "Dates?" she asked curiously—yet intrigued.Kristoff, however, when he stopped, his eyes widened. Then they squeezed tight and his grit his teeth in frustration with himself. Why did he say that?! He was such an idiot! Then he started to laugh nervously as he turned his attention back to her. "Date?! Ha! Who-who s-said this was a date?" he uttered, nervously moving his hands and his eyes bouncing around from one place to another, not able to look her in the eyes. Then he simply turned his body forward, arms stiff at his sides, head angled away from her.Instead of being frustrated with himself or pretending to be amused, Kristoff's face showed embarrassment. He wouldn't be surprised if Anna laughed in his face and just left him there. Or even called the guards to escort him out.Him? A nobody ice harvester on a date with a princess?!After a few seconds of agonizing waiting for whatever came next for him, Kristoff felt something touch his cheek. A gentle, feather-like peck. He wasn't sure what it was at first but he's sure that Anna's face was in his peripheral vision the moment he felt it.The moment it was over, Kristoff snapped his head back to Anna who was smiling with her own blush on her cheeks."Who said it wasn't?" she asked bashfully before starting to walk on, toward the end of the path.They had reached the other side of the garden where there was another door that lead back inside the castle.As Kristoff watched her walk closer to the door, his lips turned upward in a somewhat goofy grin.She kissed him. On the cheek.Just as she reached the door, Anna turned around and gestured for him to follow her, then extended her hand out to him to take.Kristoff finally snapped out of it and happily followed her to the door then through it, back inside.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"So…which way back to the ballroom?" Kristoff asked when he and Anna entered another hallway."Oh, we're not going back to the ballroom just yet," Anna said, walking a bit ahead of him."Wait, what?" Kristoff asked after quickly catching up to her with a puzzled look on his face."I thought we could do something a bit more fun before we go back," she said with a cryptic smile."Fun how?"It felt a bit strange, walking around the empty halls of such a grand castle with a weird but very interesting young lady he just met that day—then again, it was strange when he walked into the castle and then the ballroom first with her. It was all strange, but in a good way.And what was even more strange in a surprisingly good way was sliding down the floors of those empty hallways in his socks.Per Anna's instruction—but mostly her insistence—Kristoff removed his shoes, and then so did she. Then she challenged him to a race to the other end of a fancy hallway. But they weren't allowed to run, no, they had to slide.And before Kristoff could question this crazy princess, Anna yelled 'Ready? Go!' and off she went. Then, without thinking, Kristoff followed, sliding after her.Because of his profession, Kristoff had experience keeping his balance on slippery surfaces. Ice, polished wooden floors; close enough. So it took very little effort for him to catch up to Anna who was still up but only by flailing her arms around like a windmill. Kristoff guessed to himself with an amused grin that she'd be even worse on ice.However, about halfway down the hall, Kristoff became worried that she was actually going to fall over and perhaps hurt herself. So, again, without thinking, Kristoff reached out and grabbed Anna's hand to keep her a bit more steady.Anna instinctively gripping his hand for dear life. When she was flailing less, the princess looked at their joined hands and then at Kristoff's face smiling at her. And she smiled back.Anna did this all the time. Slid down the wood floors in just her socked and/or stockinged feet, but she was always by herself. She had fond memories of Elsa doing it with her when they were little; in their socks on the wood floors or ice skating in the winter time, but these days, she only did it alone. But now that she had someone like Kristoff, she finally got her wish to have someone to race to the end of one hall without falling.Kristoff could clearly beat her, but he wasn't going to let her fall.The rest of the distance down the hall, Anna and Kristoff stared at each other more than at their feet—just like when they were dancing. But just as they were about to reach the other end of the hall, they heard some footsteps.As they reached the half-open double doors, Anna quickly scrambled behind the one that was closed, pulling Kristoff with her. The two stood with their backs flat against the large door just as they heard the door from the opposite end of the hall creek open. Anna figured it was a guard but she was not about to poke her head out to check.True, this was her home so her wondering around even while there was a party going on downstairs wasn't exactly forbidden, but this wasn't like when she usually did it. She was with Kristoff. A man. Her date? Basically. Alone within the vast walls of the castle. It wasn't exactly proper etiquette but she didn't care. The only thing she cared about was their fun not being interrupted or any guard questioning why the princess was running amok with a mountain man commoner. She was not embarrassed to be caught with him, but Kristoff might. He was already insecure about being there with her, he didn't need anyone saying it to his face. So, to spare them both that buzzkill, she insisted they hid.Plus, the added danger made it a bit more exciting.A few moments later, the door on the other end of the hall slowly closed and the footstep sounds retreated. Anna sighed in relief and then giggled. And for some reason, Kristoff started giggling with her.When they came out from behind the door, sure enough, the other set of doors was closed and they were alone. The two slid along the floor, holding hands again, back to the other side, then stopped to retrieve their shoes they hid behind some suits of armor.With their shoes back on, Anna lead Kristoff to a few more rooms; parlor, sitting room, library, study, gallery, the highest tower, and some more. With every room, she had a short story about what she'd do to occupy herself alone and/or what she and Elsa would do together back when they were close. And Kristoff hung on her every word with genuine interest.Finally, they made their way back closer to the ballroom and found a balcony. They could hear sounds of the commotion from the party but it was still peaceful where they were. So they decided to stay there for a bit to just talk and sit on the railing together.After talking about herself for most of her tour of the castle, Anna, tired of her own voice, asked Kristoff to share a bit about himself."So yeah, we cut the ice into these big cubes and we load them onto our wagons and sell them to people in the kingdom for their ice boxes," he explained. Not much for small talk, Kristoff thought talking about his job would be at least something. He wasn't anticipating Anna to be all that fascinated in the process of harvesting ice but by the way she was staring at him, she was hanging on his every word with much interest."Are they heavy?" she asked."Kinda. We don't cut them too big. We gotta be able to lift them after all," he replied."Well, your physique helps I'm sure," Anna said, glancing down at his arm closest to her. Kristoff suddenly blushed a bit. Then Anna glanced away and blushed too. "I mean…you have a very impressive build. I-I'm sure you can lift a lot," she added with a nervous giggle.Flattered, Kristoff grinned while rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah. I-I guess."A few moments of not-exactly-awkward silence later, Anna picked a different subject."What about your family?" she asked. She wondered about his parents, any siblings, or—she really hoped he didn't—a girlfriend. "Or maybe…a special someone?" she asked nonchalantly.Kristoff, once again flattered, glanced at Anna and grinned. "No. The only special someone I have is Sven," he told her. Or more like reassured her. Anna sighed in relief and joy in her head. He was single. "I grew up an orphan and then learned the trade of harvesting ice when I was just a little kid. It was just me and Sven."Hearing that, Anna's smile fell. "I'm so sorry. I mean, Sven's great but you never knew your family?" She felt lucky to have had her parents growing up. Even though they were busy ruling a whole kingdom, she never doubted that they loved her. And she had Elsa—or at least the fond memories of when they were best friends, but she still loved her."Nope," Kristoff replied, not as sad as her. He was too young to remember where he came from. Sure, he was curious about it sometimes but it didn't really bother him much. "I mean, me and Sven weren't totally alone," he added. "See, when I was a kid, still learning the ropes with the older ice harvesters, I met some nice folks and they kinda took us in.""Wow, they did? That's nice," Anna said with a smile. How sweet that some strangers were willing to take an orphan and his reindeer into their family. "Do they live close by?" she asked, curious and intrigued to meet these people.Kristoff hesitated for a second. "Not really. They live a ways outside the village. Up closer to the mountains," he explained, gesturing up to the huge mountain just across the fjord. He didn't need to tell her that they were a clan of magical rock trolls.Anna looked in that direction. "Huh. I didn't think anyone lived all the way up there." So trying to see these kind people wouldn't be as simple as she thought."I go up there to visit them from time to time," Kristoff added. He made regular trips up the mountain for ice harvesting and deliveries but he always made time to see them when he could.After that, their conversation suddenly went quiet. The two just stared off at the view of the fjord from the balcony.Anna wasn't sure what to say next and neither did Kristoff. Separately, the two felt a bit of panic that they weren't talking anymore. Was this a sign that the other was losing interest in them?Trying to be inconspicuous, Anna slighting turned her head back to Kristoff, only to catch a glimpse of him already staring at her.Seeing that he had been caught, Kristoff turned his head forward, back to the fjord. As did Anna at the same time. Both with bashful grins and a deep blush on their cheeks.And with that, neither felt too bad about the silence. They were just enjoying the night and each other's company. They already did a lot of talking and they'll do some more later.Turns out, hanging out with someone—date or otherwise—was less pressure than either thought.After a few pleasantly quiet minutes, Anna finally decided to say something. She'd been thinking about it pretty much since they had danced back in the ballroom. She was feeling a lot ever since and also felt the need to express it to the person that had caused them."Um…Kristoff?" Anna finally said. "I…Can I say something crazy?""I don't know. Today's already been really crazy for me. I might be at my limit for the day," Kristoff teased before chuckling.Anna chuckled with him. "Shut up," she said playfully as she nudged him with her elbow. When they were both done laughed, Anna's tone became serious and a bit nervous again. "What I wanted to say was…" She stopped for a moment, collecting her thoughts. Kristoff turned his body fully to her, ready to hear whatever she had to say. Anna faced him fully too but her eyes were turned downwards, glancing at anything behind him or his shirt. "I was really looking forward to today. Not just because the gates would be open, and the castle would be filled with people and we were hosting a real party. I was excited for all of that. But what I was also hoping for, more than anything…was finding…" Anna paused again before finally tilting her head up to actually look at the man in his warm brown eyes. "…love," she said a bit softer.Kristoff, taken a bit off guard by her word choice, took a small step back while holding his hands up to her."Woah, Anna. Hold on a second," he quickly said, trying not to panic. She couldn't really mean what he thought she meant. Then again, he was feeling something similar but it was far too soon to call… "Love? I mean…we just met today," he said as gently as possible while at the same time trying to explain something to her. "Granted, it's probably been like the best day I've had in forever but," he added as a sincere afterthought which made Anna grin. After quickly clearing his throat, Kristoff stepped closer to her. "Anna," he said, taking her hands into his. "I'm no good with people. Which means I'm also no good when it comes to…""Love?""Sure. I just know that you are the first human being I've actually wanted to spend time with for more than five minutes without trying to flee.""Really?" Anna said excited. She could feel her heart starting to beat faster. "I feel the same. I mean, I've never tried to flee other people, I love being around people, but-" she stopped ranting and cleared her throat too. "I enjoy spending time with you too," she said to him while squeezing his hands back. "Isn't that how love is supposed to feel?""Well, not exactly," he replied. It wasn't easy for him to explain this but he did his best, having picked up a thing or two from his family. He just didn't want her to get the wrong idea about what she thought love was or how they were actually feeling about each other. "Anna, I do like you. A lot. Even after just one day and it's kinda scary for me," he said. Kristoff had never imaged himself saying that and meaning it whole-heartedly. And there he was, admitting it to a princess of all people. "But I liked being with you today and I hope I can see you more after tonight. And, maybe someday, after more days like this one, maybe I could…like you more."What Kristoff just said didn't sound anything like what she had read about in the dozens of romance novels that she'd read over the years. And yet, it made perfect sense to Anna.She didn't exactly feel 'love' for Kristoff when she first laid eyes on him, nor did she feel it that moment. But it felt…close. After just one day, she felt something close to love for this man and he seemed to feel the same. He wanted to see her more days and she honestly did too. And if they had more days together, that 'close-to-love' feeling could become even closer.They could become closer. It made perfect sense."Wow. Are you some sort of love expert?" she asked."No," Kristoff chuckled. "But…my family sort of is," he admitted with a shrug."Is that so?" Anna asked with a curiously lifted eyebrow. "Well, what do you think they'd say about-" she didn't finish. She simply gestured between the two of them."I don't know," he shrugged again. He thought he'd channeled what they'd say about their situation already but maybe there would be more. He wasn't totally sure. Then he started to chuckle, rubbing a hand over his face. "Oh god, they'd have a field day if they knew about you," he mused to himself.Whenever they talked about love, it always lead to them asking him if he'd met anyone special/nice/attractive while he was out and about in the kingdom and honestly, it got on his nerves because his answer had always been no. He was a busy guy and didn't have the patience or social skills for dating. But now…Hearing this peaked Anna's interest—even more than it did when he first mentioned them."Well, let's go ask them then," she said.Kristoff snapped his head back to her. "Say what?""The next time you can go visit them, bring me along, and we'll ask them together," she said simply.Kristoff couldn't help but grin. "Really? You want to meet my family?" This girl was even more crazy than he thought. But still in a good way."Absolutely. I've always wanted to meet a love expert," she replied, excited and very serious.Now Kristoff didn't usually bring people to where his family lived, let alone mention that they were a clan of magical rock trolls—mainly because he never had anyone close to introduce them to—but he was intrigued by Anna too much to not at least consider it. "Well, okay," he said, a bit skeptical. She said to take her the next time he was free to visit them again. Who knew when that would be? Still, a part of him wanted to bring her while another part was weary—and not just because they weren't human. "Fair warning though, they can be a little inappropriate. And…loud, very loud," he chuckled. If Anna was serious about meeting them, he wanted her to understand what she was getting herself into. From there, he ranted more while looking off at the view, not noticing at all the delighted look on Anna's face the more he spoke. "They're also stubborn at times, and a little overbearing, and heavy. Like really…really heavy. Which, you know, but, you know you-you'll get it, they're fine, they mean well-""Kristoff," Anna finally cut him off, placing a hand on his arm. Kristoff shut his mouth and looked at her. "They sound wonderful. And I would absolutely love to meet them someday," she said, still as sincere as before.Anna's gentle smile was all the reassurance that Kristoff needed. And just like that, he wasn't so nervous of introducing her to his family. Someday.He smiled back at her. "Deal."Anna joined him in looking at the fjord again in comfortable silence. Kristoff's mind was mostly at peace, Anna, however, was thinking hard.About what Kristoff said about love and that it doesn't just happen in one day. She was always under the impression that love could be sudden if it was true love. Then again, what she felt for Kristoff happened in just one day. She didn't exactly love him yet but…she wanted to. And like he said, if they spent more time together, maybe they could.Another thought crossed her mind for a second. If Kristoff wasn't her true love, since they didn't fall in love upon first sight, should she bother trying to see him again? Maybe they would never fall in love, even after more days like this one.But when she thought of not seeing Kristoff again after that night—no more talking, sock races, chocolate fondue, laughing, dancing, or sharing stories with him—her heart hurt.Kicking Kristoff out of her life would hurt almost as much as it hurt when Elsa kicked her out of hers.She never wanted to shut Kristoff out. Never close a door in his face.Kristoff had opened a door for her. And Anna intended to keep it open.Still staring at the view, Anna finally decided to speak her mind. "You know, when I pictured tonight, I thought if I met a handsome stranger and we hit it off, laughing and talking all evening, he'd just sweep me off my feet. Our eyes would meet, our hearts would melt. We'd suddenly fall deeply in love, and he'd propose to me right then and there," she said. Kristoff snapped his head back to her, a bit surprised by her honesty. But Anna stared ahead. "But now…I don't want that," she said before turned her head to him. Then she took his hand. "I want this. With you." She took his other hand and the two stared at each other. "I want to see you again after tonight too, Kristoff. And someday…I hope to also like you more than I already do."Kristoff couldn't keep the smile off his face. Maybe he was better with love-stuff then he first believed.Then, without thinking, he leaned forward, to the side, and kissed her on her freckled cheek.When he pulled back, Kristoff panicked for a moment that he'd gone too far. She was still a princess! Commoners like him couldn't just smooch members of the royal family! He just really wanted to, and she did it to him earlier but…The blush that appeared on Anna's cheeks and the smile on her lips was enough to settle his anxiety. Especially moments later when she leaned into his chest and wrapped her arms around him.Kristoff breathed a comforted sigh as he wrapped his arms around her. She was small but so soft in his arms. And she smelled like wild flowers and chocolate.Anna melted into the warmth of Kristoff's body surrounding her. His arms were strong but gentle around her. He smelled like soap and pine, and a bit musky but in a good way. She liked it. A lot.Yeah. This night was not the end for either of them. It was only the beginning.After deciding not to go back to the ballroom just yet, Anna suggested another nice place where she and Kristoff could continue to talk;The library.The two were laid out on a large chaise, big enough for two. Kristoff was partially sat up, leaning back against one of the ends. Anna was seated the same, but from the opposite side so they could face each other.Curious about Anna, Kristoff had asked her to tell him more about herself. But after sharing a few more fun personal things, her train of thought took a detour into her relationship with her sister.She had already told him briefly about their distance back in the stables but there was more."Elsa and I were really close when we were little but then one day she just shut me out and I never knew why," Anna said, holding her knees before leaning forward until her cheek rested on them."Didn't you ever try to talk to her?" Kristoff asked her."Yes. I'd knock on her door at least once or twice a day to ask if she wanted to play or talk but she always just said 'Go away, Anna' and that was all I ever got. Plus, she started taking all of her meals in her room too so I could never catch her outside her door," she explained, a cross between frustrated and sad.Seeing her distress, Kristoff sat up, leaned toward her, and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder blade. "I'm sorry, Anna," he said, giving the spot a small, soothing rub. He could see her grin at him for the gesture but then her eyes shifted away, off into space in thought as her lips became a frown. The ice harvester hated to see her upset like this. And the only way to make it better was if the queen stopped shutting her sister out and actually talked to her. "Anna, you promised to have my back when I came in here with you. Well, now I've got your back," he said with a determined tone.Anna immediately sat up and looked at him with a bit of surprise. "So…you think I should talk to Elsa?" she asked."Yeah. Tonight. Tell her how you feel. I mean, she's out of her room for this party and after it's over, she'll probably shut herself away again," he added.Anna said so herself that Elsa came out just for the party so it was now or possibly never.Thinking for a moment, Anna realized that he was right. Elsa did already shut her out when she tried talking to her earlier, but she could try again. "You're right! This party is my best chance of speaking to her," Anna exclaimed, springing to her feet. But as she stood there, another thought occurred to her. "But I also don't think I should make a scene in front of everyone," she added, hesitantly.If she was going to confront Elsa, maybe a crowded ballroom wasn't the best place to talk about their family issues."Don't worry," Kristoff told her with a clever smirk. "I have a plan."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Back in the ballroom, Kristoff quickly located the man known as Kai. Tapping him on the shoulder, quickly handing him a small folded piece of paper, giving a brief explanation, then walking back out the doors.Puzzled, Kai read the note. Recognizing the handwriting, he understood what was being asked of him.After tucking the paper away in his jacket and locating the queen in the room, Kai made his way over to her."Queen Elsa?" he said, approaching her with a bow."Yes Kai?" she replied."There is another dignitary waiting to speak with you in the library. Apparently, it is a very important and private matter," he explained.Elsa looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "There is? I thought I've spoken with them all.""Well…one of them must have something else to talk with you about," Kai replied. He was just doing what the note said. "I think it best if you went."As odd as the request was, she saw no reason to refuse. "Very well. I'll be back momentarily," she said before making her way toward the main doors.Elsa left the ballroom and calmly made her way to the library. Whoever wanted to talk with her must value privacy. She could respect that. She was the most private person she knew.When she approached the library doors, one of them was slightly ajar. So, she pushed it open and walked inside."Hello?" she called out not too loudly before closing the door behind her.Upon receiving no reply, the queen walked further into the room, looking passing some shelves, searching for the dignitary."Elsa," a familiar voice finally called out quietly.As the queen stared at the last row of books halfway across the room from her, she saw none other than the princess walk out and face her."Anna? What are you doing in here?" she said, even more puzzled. "I was told that another dignitary needed to speak with me about-""There is no dignitary," the younger sister replied. "I wrote a note for Kristoff to give to Kai so he'd tell you to come here."Elsa was full on shocked. "What?" Anna, Kai, and her new friend had tricked her? "Why?" That's all she could ask. Why indeed?"Because…" Anna started but hesitated. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for not just all day, but for years. There was so much she wanted to say to her sister. But now…she wasn't sure where to begin. And she was nervous. About screwing it up and Elsa won't see what she was trying to convey. But then, her eyes glanced over Elsa's shoulder and saw the doors open very carefully. Kristoff stepped in and closed the doors behind him quietly. He had her back, just like he promised. Seeing his reassuring face gave Anna enough calm to continue. "…because…we need to talk."Elsa sighed, exasperated. "Anna, please. I don't have time for-""No!" Anna said a bit louder. "We…are going to talk," she said more calmly but her tone gave her emotional upset away. Elsa was shocked. Anna had never been the temperamental type. Then again, she might have changed over the years. "I am going to talk and you are going to listen," she asserted. "And then you can talk and I'll listen." Elsa didn't say anything more or move so Anna seized her chance and went on. "I…we used to be best friends but now…now you can barely look at me. You've barely said more than a few sentences to me in the past decade. So I want to know-" she paused again, getting emotional. "What…what did I ever do to you to make you hate me so much?"Elsa's eyes softened. "Anna, I don't hate you," she said, taking a step closer."Sure, you don't hate me but never want to see me," Anna continued, stepping closer to her. Soon, the two were only three feet away from the other. "I can understand that you wanted your own bedroom. I knew we'd get separate ones eventually but it was so soon, and sudden, and you just kept the door shut. To me and everyone." That was how it started. They used to share a bedroom, but one day, Elsa's bed and all her stuff was being moved out and into a different room. And when Anna went to knock, she never let her in."I…" Elsa started to say but stopped, knowing she couldn't tell her the truth. "I had my reasons," she said, glancing away. "Anna, I know this hasn't been easy for you. It hasn't been easy for me either." She hated not being able to play with her little sister anymore after that fateful night. She hadn't meant to hurt Anna by shutting her out but it was the only way to make sure she didn't hurt her…again."Then let me in," Anna said, taking one more step closer to her. She knew Elsa didn't like being touched so she resisted the urge to reach for her hand. "If you're not happy alone, and neither am I, we could be happy again…together," she said, offering her a hopeful smile.The two stared at each other's eyes. Elsa was contemplating in her head, but it didn't take long for her to realize that there was nothing more to think about."No," she said. "I'm sorry, Anna but things can't just go back to the way they used to be," she told her, her tone stiff and sad but determined, trying to stay strong. "So I suggest you accept that and move on." Elsa was just about to turn around. "Now if you'll excuse me-""Your Majesty." Elsa quickly turned around as the vaguely familiar male voice spoke behind her. Standing not far from her was the ice harvester Anna had befriended. He gave a brief bow before speaking again. "If I may…as Anna's friend," he said before glancing over the queen's shoulder to the fair princess that had captured his heart. "close friend," he added with a brief smile to her, making Anna smile a bit back. Then his gaze went back to Elsa, serious again. "She's upset and I think she deserves at least a bit more from you than that," he said bravely.He said he'd have her back and he meant it.Elsa, however, wasn't moved by his words on her sister's behalf."Mr. Bjorgmen, it is not your place to speak here," she said in a much more authoritative voice. He and Anna just met. And friend or not, he had no right to interfere with her and her sister's personal business. She hadn't even been aware that he was in the room. "I am declaring that the party is officially over and you need to leave," she ordered him. "Say goodbye to him, Anna," she said over her shoulder to the princess before walking passed him, toward the doors.Anna quickly approached Kristoff and grabbed his arm. Kristoff gave her a frown, sorry that his clever plan had failed. Anna looked sadly at him—sad at the outcome, but still grateful for his efforts—before glancing at her sister's retreating form. "Are you going to close the gates again?" she asked her.Elsa stopped for a second to reply. "Yes. And they will stay closed," she said coldly before turning back to look at Kristoff. "to everyone," she said sharply before resuming her walk toward the exit.Anna's eyes started to tear up. Not only was Elsa shutting her out again, but she was going to force Kristoff out too. She had already thought of never seeing him again after that night and never wanted to again. But now…she never would see him again. All because Elsa demanded solitude and isolation.Hearing this was the last straw for Anna.Letting go of Kristoff's arm, Anna ran to Elsa. Disregarding her sister's dislike of being touched, she grabbed for her hand in an effort to stop her."No, no, wait!" she yelled. She grabbed her left hand but it slipped right out of her satin glove, leaving said glove in Anna's grasp.Elsa turned and faced Anna. "Hey! Give me back my glove-!" she exclaimed, reaching out to take it back but Anna kept a firm grip on it."No, Elsa!" she cried. "I can't take this anymore! Just…talk to me!" she practically begged.Seeing that she wasn't going to get her glove back—she had extras back in her room—Elsa decided to just continue on her way out. "Enough, Anna," she said miserably, turning away from her and walking toward the door again, folding her arms into herself, keeping her uncovered left hand tucked away. All the while, she tried to stay calm.
Conceal, don't feel. Conceal, don't feel.
"No, I want to know why? Why do you shut me out?""Anna-""Why do you shut the world out!?""Anna-!"Elsa made it to the door but before she could grab the door knob—"What are you so afraid off?!" Anna shouted."I said enough!" Elsa shouted back, turning around but accidently gesturing out with her left hand.A blast of ice shot from her hand, creating a half circle of icy shards around her that sprang out from the floor. Separating her from Anna.Anna and Kristoff both jumped back at the sight. The shards were huge and very pointy.Elsa held her left hand to her chest, looking on in horror. What had she done? She just revealed her powers to Anna, after making her forget and then distancing herself from her for her own protection. She could have hurt her again with those sharp ice shards. Luckily, she appeared to be physically fine. But the expression on her face was awe with plenty of shock."Elsa?" Anna whispered in disbelief.Her sister had magic? Had she had this gift all along? Why had she never known?Elsa reached for the door knob behind her. When she had it, she turned it, opened the door, and ran out. She wasn't sure where to go. She just needed to get away. From Anna, and from anyone else before she hurt them. She couldn't just go back to the ballroom and pretend like nothing happened. That Anna and Kristoff hadn't just seen her powers.Instead, she headed for the castle's main doors that lead to the courtyard.The moment she burst out of the double doors, she was met with the sight and yells of a very large crowd on citizens."There she is!""The Queen is here!"Upon seeing her, they all began to clap and shout happy exclamations and praises to her.Elsa ran into the crowd while still trying to keep her distance from them."It is her!" one man in front of her said. "Queen Elsa," he said, bowing his head respectfully to her. But Elsa continued to run, trying to find a way out of the crowd."Our beautiful queen," another man said, bowing as Elsa ran past him.Then Elsa was met with a woman holding a baby. The baby was giggling and reaching out toward her in delight, but the woman seemed to notice that something wasn't right with the ruler. "Your Majesty, are you alright?" she asked, concerned for her.Elsa, breathing heavily, staring back at the crowd in panic, started to back up. One of the courtyard's fountains was right behind her. When her back hit the edge, she reached her hand back and gripped it with her left hand, making more ice shards appear and more ice spread from that spot. As this happened, Anna appeared in the main doorway with Kristoff, and a small crowd from the ballroom behind them.Elsa turned and watched with everyone else as the whole fountain froze over in seconds.The crowd stopped their cheering and gasped at the sight. The people from the ballroom was equally shocked to see the queen's sorcery."Elsa, wait!" Anna yelled, running down the steps. She stood on the courtyard ground with Kristoff beside her."Please, just stay away from me! Stay away!" Elsa pleaded. But, once again, her slight hand gesture released an icy blast right at the doorway. Kristoff pulled Anna off to the side, out of the blast's path in time.The blast froze the steps, knocking some people off their feet.The Duke of Weaseltown was the first to sit up. "Monster," muttered in shock. "Monster!" he yelled, pointing at the queen.The crowd gasped and stepped back in fear. Elsa looked at all their terrified faces in horror.She wasn't a monster. Her powers were dangerous but she didn't mean to. But that didn't matter. She just had to get away.Finally spotting an escape path, Elsa ran for it."Elsa!" Anna yelled to her fleeing sister. She ran after her, across the courtyard, Kristoff loyally behind her. She followed her through a passage way that lead out of the castle and to a small shoreline of the fjord. "Wait, please!" Anna said when she saw Elsa cornered at the water's edge. But she wasn't for long. With a single step of her foot onto the water's surface, it froze solid. As she took another step, it froze more. So she ran, the fjord freezing under her every step as she ran away. Away from her fears, her people, and her sister. "Elsa, stop!" Anna cried when she reached the edge of the ice, only to slip and fall down."Anna!" Kristoff knelt beside her.Anna watched helplessly as her sister reached the land on the opposite side and continued to run until she was out of her sight. "No," she whispered.Kristoff watched with her, concerned for Anna. But then his gaze shifted to the water. "The fjord," he uttered in worry. The ice that Elsa just ran across continued to spread, freezing the whole fjord that surrounded Arendelle.Moments later, it also began to snow."Snow?" the citizens back in the courtyard began to murmur amongst themselves as the flurry began.Kristoff and Anna looked up at the sky, watching the snow fall in surprise too as they walked back into the crowded courtyard. Being dressed in summer attire, they were holding their arms as the air outside was suddenly getting colder."It's snowing," Kristoff said in shock."I know," Anna replied."In the summer," he added."I know!" she said again.Kristoff quickly grabbed Anna's shoulder and turned her back to look at him. "Did you know?"Anna knew he wasn't talked about the dramatic change in the weather. "No," Anna lightly shook her head.She had no idea that her sister had powers or magic of any sort. She was just as shocked as him and the rest of the kingdom."Look, it's snowing. It's snowing! The queen has cured this land!" The Duke of Weasaltown cried out loud. "She must be stopped," he said before grabbing the shirt collars of one of his men. "You have to go after her!" he demanded."Wait, no!" Anna exclaimed as she walked over."You!" the Duke cried, jumping away from her and hiding behind his two soldiers. "Is there sorcery in you too? Are you a monster too?!" he asked accusatorily.Before she could reply, however, Kristoff stepped in, not happy at the weird old man's assumptions. "Of course not!" he said to him. But then, just to be sure, he turned to Anna beside him with a soft expression on his face and asked, "I mean…you don't have magic, right?""No," Anna replied to him calmly. They both shared a quick grin before she turned back to the Duke. "And my sister is not a monster," he told him."She nearly killed me!" the Duke cried."You slipped on some ice," Kristoff countered, rolling his eyes."Her ice!""It was an accident. She was scared. She didn't mean it. She didn't mean any of this," Anna added. The Duke just rolled his eyes in reply, not willing to let go of his first assumption about the queen and her magical powers. "Tonight was my fault. I pushed her," Anna said, mostly to herself. This wasn't Elsa's fault. It was hers. She exposed her, she made her want to run away, she started this. So it was only right that she fix it. "So, I'm the one that need to go after her."Hearing this, Kristoff's head snapped to her. "What?" he said, surprised.Anna started to walk away toward the stables. "I need my horse-" she began to call out for one of the servants to hear but Kristoff stopped her with a hand on her arm."Anna, wait," he said, making Anna stop and look back at him. "Tonight wasn't just your fault. It was mine too.""Kristoff," Anna sighed."I'm the one who encouraged you and helped you confront her. It's as much as your fault as it is mine," he confessed. If Anna thought she was responsible for all of this, then he had to take some of the blame too. "Plus, I can't let you go alone," he added. He cared way too much about Anna to let her go on some search expedition into the Arendelle wilderness all by herself. He still had her back. The ice harvester looked up toward the mountains, in the direction where Elsa was heading. "She might be heading into the mountains." Then Kristoff looked back at Anna. "No one knows those mountains like I do. You're gonna need me."As much as Anna wanted to do this alone, she knew it wasn't a very good idea to. Especially with Kristoff—an experienced mountain man—offering to be her guide. Plus, this would allow her to spend more time with him. She didn't want to shut him out and she would be doing exactly that if she left without him."Alright. Let's go," she said to him, determined. Anna picking up her dress and started making her way to the front gate to leave the castle grounds, but Kristoff stopped her again."Wait," he said, grabbing her arm again. "It's getting colder. You're gonna freeze in that," he said, gesturing down at her summer ballgown. "Go change into something warmer. I'll go get Sven and my sled."Although she wanted them to leave that very moment, she knew he was right again."Okay," she said before running toward the doors, back into the castle. She needed winter boots and a warmer dress.After getting Sven from the stables and hitching him up to his sled, Kristoff dug up his winter clothes for ice harvesting and changed into them. When he was ready to go, he stood in the courtyard by the castle gates, waiting for Anna. Sven and his sled were just outside the gates, waiting as well.He wasn't waiting long before the castle doors were opened again by two servants on both sides, revealing Anna in her winter gear.Kristoff stared at her for a minute as she made her way across the courtyard to him.She was wearing dark boots, a dark magenta cloak with a matching hat, light blue mittens, a dress with a dark blue skirt, and a satchel over her shoulder.By the time she reached him, he was still staring at her, speechless."Uh…you-you ready to go?" he finally was able to get out."As ready as I'll ever be," she shrugged. Then, Anna turned around, facing the crowd of citizens. In the front, she spotted Kai standing there. "I leave Kai in charge until we return," she declared for them all to hear.Kai stepped forward and took Anna's hand. "I'll take care of things, Your Highness. Safe travels to you both," he promised.Anna smiled at him before retracting her hand and walked away with Kristoff.The two passed through the gates and climbed into the sled."Are you sure you want to do this? It could be dangerous," Kristoff asked Anna, adjusting the reigns in his hands."Elsa's not dangerous," she replied. Even with her powers, Anna believed that Elsa would never hurt her or anyone. "Besides, I have you and Sven. I couldn't feel safer," she said, scooching in closer to him and nudging his shoulder, then shooting him a flirty grin.Kristoff bashfully looked away with a blush on his cheeks. It meant a lot to Anna to have Kristoff beside her through this trying time. And Kristoff wanted to be there for her. Again, it was something he never imagined himself feeling for another human being.After shaking away his smitten daze, Kristoff snapped the reigns with a 'Hyah!' And with that, Sven took off running, pulling the sled across the bridge, through the village, and into the forest. The ground was still mostly bare so it was a bit of a rough ride without a significant amount of snow under them. But it wouldn't be like that for long.Anna and Kristoff were in for a journey. One they would make together to save Arendelle, save Elsa, and bring back the summer.And maybe fall more in love with each other than they already were along the way.