A/N: See profile for updating and story info. There are suggestive themes at times in the story, but there will be nothing explicit or violent. Read, Review, and most importantly Enjoy!
"Your house is wonderful!" Anna smiled up at Kristoff, who was busy unhitching Sven from the sled.
"Really? I mean, I like to think so. It's not much, but it's warm, and it's home." He glanced over at his wooden lodge proudly before unfastening the last latch on the harness. Sven shook his hide, glad to be free of the load. Sven licked Anna fondly before looking around him eagerly. He then promptly started rolling in a dirty patch of snow. "Sven! No! I just bathed you!"
Anna was bent double with laughter as Sven paused to give Kristoff a sloppy upside-down grin. Kristoff couldn't suppress his laughter either, and he bent over and grabbed a fistful of snow. He wound back to throw it at Sven's smug face, only to take a snowball square to the jaw. "Ack!" He brushed the snow out of his eyes in time to see Anna diving behind the sled for cover.
"Why, you—" He threw the snowball after her, barely missing. Thus began an hour-long snow fight—Anna versus Kristoff versus the rogue element named Sven. They took turns throwing snowballs and dodging, at times teaming up only to have them turn on each other. By the end of it, all parties were covered in snow and sopping wet. Anna was upside down in the sled and Kristoff had lost a shoe. Sven had disappeared at some point, likely to the stables where his feed was. Still panting, and with wide smiles stretched across their faces, Kristoff hoisted Anna onto his shoulder and crossed the threshold of his home before setting her down.
Somehow, her hat had fallen down over her eyes. Kristoff fondly adjusted it. He took off his mitten and brushed the snow out of her blue eyes, admiring the way her freckles framed her face. He bent down and rubbed their noses together.
Anna to this point had been watching him wide-eyed, but now a mischievous look flitted across her face before she dumped the last of the snow she held onto his head. Kristoff laughed loudly, only to be cut off—Anna had wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and was kissing him. He could feel warmth spread throughout his body all the way to his fingers and toes. He gently set Anna back on the floor. She yawned, and Kristoff led her to his couch. They stripped off their soaked outer layers of clothing before stretching out in front of the freshly lit fireplace.
Kristoff scooped the last of the offending snow out of his hair as Anna settled against his chest. Despite his profession as an ice harvester, winter had never been his favorite season. He respected the hell out of it, without a doubt, but his favorite sound in the world—other than Anna's voice—was the song of the returning sparrows announcing spring. This didn't mean he hadn't found things to love about winter.
Kristoff smiled into the crackling fire of his mountain home and wrapped his arms around Anna tighter, remembering their recent snow fight. She had dozed off only moments ago: she was now breathing gently out of her mouth. She had never been an elegant sleeper, but that only made him admire her more. Kristoff loved that she was so open and free and honest, even though she was royalty. He regarded her sleeping face with nothing short of wonder. He had no idea how she hadn't gotten tired of him yet- she was much too beautiful of a person to be wasting her time on him. But he wasn't one to complain. He never was.
Elsa threw down the missive in disgust. Why did they refuse to consider has anything other than a possible wife for their destitute royal line? It was outrageous! And admittedly perplexing. She had sent out the customary introductory letters, as recommended by her royal advisor, Kai. Most of the responses were cordial, but also made unnecessary inquiries into her health and wealth. A few were hostile, but attacked her family or kingdom rather than her as a person of… unusual powers. A small number were astoundingly direct, asking for her hand in marriage. She had expected a much more negative reaction. Only one letter had called her a heathen ice witch.
Elsa sighed and looked around the library—her favorite place to conduct business due to its quiet atmosphere. Kai was quietly reviewing Arendelle's import reports. "Kai, it's not that I'm displeased about the generally positive reactions about my ascension. I just don't understand why others are glossing over my " -she looked at her hands- "unconventional abilities."
Kai sat back in his chair, seeming to think his words over carefully. "Your Majesty might recall Queen Hester, your great-great-aunt. She was as able as the rest of us, growing up. Unfortunately, on the day she came of age she had a severe riding accident. Her body recovered, her mind did not. While her prospects for marriage were not at the same standard as before her fall, she was still married by the following year because she was still able to produce an heir."
Elsa paused. "Thank you, Kai." She supposed that made sense. As long as the bloodline and her reproductive abilities remained intact, she would still be valuable as a broodmare, essentially. Elsa shivered, and not because of the slightly chilly air. The idea of becoming married and having children made her feel physically ill.
There was a time when she had hoped Anna would marry a prince—one a sight better than that bastard Hans—and take the throne from her. While Elsa loved her kingdom and her people, the implied task of giving birth to children fathered by a man she likely wouldn't meet until their engagement horrified her. Could she even bear children? She hadn't lost control in months, but she had no idea whether she could even have sex, let alone give birth, without negative repercussions for those around her. Would it kill her child if she became fearful during pregnancy?
"Your majesty!" Kai's voice interrupted her thoughts. Elsa suddenly became aware of the small flurry dancing around the library shelves. Her cheeks flushed and she vanished the snow with a brush of her hand.
"My apologies, Kai." He watched the Queen for another moment before returning to his close study of the papers in his hands. She closed her eyes and focused on her breath. She couldn't quite remember when she had realized Anna had no intention of leaving Kristoff. She supposed it must have been the formal awards ceremony. It had been to recognize Kristoff for his services to Arendelle in protecting the royal family—and the kingdom by extension. Kristoff, however, was terrified of being in such a large public setting. She was pretty sure he had puked at least twice, and she had caught Anna forcing Kristoff to drink beer "to soothe his nerves". It had been a wonder that Kristoff had managed to walk across the stage to accept his reward. She could smell the alcohol and sick on him when she had pinned the Cross on to his jacket.
She sighed. She had confronted Anna afterward, who had made excuse after excuse for Kristoff's behavior. She had refused to acknowledge Elsa's concerns. Elsa had thought Anna would have tired of Kristoff by now, but it was apparent that she would need encouragement.
He couldn't remember when things started to feel different around Elsa. It had all started nicely, she was very appreciative that he "saved the royal family, and by extension the Kingdom of Arrendelle". That's what she had said as she awarded him with the Royal Cross. It had been a grand and uncomfortable affair. He had never been in front of so many people as he had for that ceremony. His nerves were so bad he threw up right before his entrance, and nearly passed out while she pinned him. That actually might have been the moment. It had been a blazing hot summer's day, and his formal coat weighed down on him. The sudden cooling of air had been a god-send, but perhaps it was a manifestation of Elsa's displeasure...
As usual, he sensed her before he saw her. It helped that the temperature dropped wherever she arrived. Queen Elsa looked up from her book as she walked through the palace hall, taking notice of the burly Kristoff. He could swear that her brow furrowed for a moment before her usual neutral expression stole over her face. He wish he knew what her expressions meant. Was it confusion? Irritation? Distaste? She was so much harder to read than Anna.
She gently closed her book, somehow managing to make the motion appear elegant. "Kristoff." Even the way she spoke strongly impressed upon him a vision of ice: clear, smooth, and with a sharp clarity. "Will you be joining us for supper?" She had said it with distinct courtesy but he knew there was more under her tone. Not with any ounce of evidence or knowledge, only a strong and deep intuition.
"Er- yeah. I mean, if it's okay. Anna asked me to." Kristoff couldn't conceal the tension in his body, and felt incredibly awkward. He thought he saw the Queen's eyes narrow. Did he mess up? Did Anna mess up? Is she suspicious of something? A moment later he was wondering if he had imagined it- she was almost smiling at him. Admittedly it was thoroughly polite and not warm, but warm had never been her style.
"Lovely. I'll see you at six, then." She reopened her book and continued on her way down the hall, as if she had never even paused in her journey.
Kristoff's unease increased.
A/N: The next chapter is already written and will be posted Thursday.
