Original post date: December 15, 2013.
Original Note: "There is a serious lack of Kristelsa stories in this fandom. ...I don't like that. So I write my own!"
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Ice was his life. Kristoff teared up each time he witnessed Elsa's magic or saw her magnificent sculptures. He couldn't help it; she did beautiful work. He'd never seen ice so pure or crystal-clear before.
He found himself thinking of her when he worked. At first, he simply wondered how she would fare in the ice business. Then, he began wishing she were beside him, helping. He would shake those thoughts from his head. He had Sven. He didn't need any other company.
And yet, each time he met with Queen Elsa, and each time he would go back to his ice, the feeling returned a thousand fold.
Everything about her reminded him of his favorite thing. Her delicately braided platinum hair, her crystalline blue eyes, her pale, pale white skin... He shivered to think of her. Elsa was, indeed, the true queen of the ice and snow. Even when he first met her he noted how cold and distant she seemed. Though time had melted her frosty personality toward him, he knew how she could be.
Even now, thoughts of her swirled through his mind as he pulled up to Arendelle, his sled piled high with ice. The moon shone over the quaint town and the surrounding fjord. He considered his options. If he went on to the castle, he knew Anna would welcome him with open arms and gladly give him lodging. Elsa would stand behind her, a small smile gracing her lips, her torso slightly turned so that her right shoulder faced him. She always looked so warm, so...
He shook his head again. The castle was obviously out of the question. He slapped the reins against the reindeer. "Let's camp tonight, buddy."
Sven grunted and continued pulling the sled forward.
Kristoff allowed his thoughts to flow again. They wandered back to Elsa, visions of her dancing through his head. He appreciated how quiet and reserved she was. For a moment he imagined them together. It would be silent, but a comfortable sort of silent.
As the sled pulled up by the edge of the fjord, he turned his gaze toward it. In the moonlight he could barely make out a figure on the water. No, not water; ice. Parts of the fjord had frozen. He rubbed his eyes. The person didn't disappear.
He pulled back on the reins to stop Sven. "You stay here. I'll be right back." He leapt down from the sled and walked to the water's edge. Tentatively, he stepped down on it.
The ice didn't make a sound as he put all his weight on it. He looked up at the figure. He knew of only one person who could make ice this thick. "Elsa..." He breathed. He took off in a run toward her.
As he got closer he could see she was skating, gliding along the ice as if it were second nature. He skidded to a halt away from her. She didn't seem to notice him. He watched her in admiration, almost drinking in her graceful form.
The queen then leapt into the air, twirling, and came down to the ice as if she never broke stride. He realized she let her hair down, completely and totally down so that it cascaded around her shoulders and down her back. She shimmered beneath the moon. He couldn't take it anymore.
Kristoff cleared his throat.
She stopped immediately and whirled around, her hands raised before her. "Who goes there?!" She slunk around him. With a relieved gasp she relaxed. "Oh, Kristoff..."
"I didn't mean to startle you." He smiled slightly, awkwardly, and rubbed the back of his neck. "I was just...watching."
"Watching?" She tilted her head, a soft chuckle working its way up her throat. "I can't imagine how boring that was."
Kristoff bit his tongue to avoid denying it, to say that he had been enjoying watching her far too much. That she needed to continue. Instead, he asked, "So, what are you doing all the way out here, Your Majesty? Especially this late at night."
"I could ask you the same." She sighed. "Today was... Today was a bit stressful. I had to relax somehow. I couldn't sleep." She gestured to the ice. "The hard part will be melting all this."
"But you can do that. Melt things, I mean."
"Well, yes."
An uncomfortable silence settled between them. Elsa suddenly slid forward until they nearly touched and held out her hand. "Would you like to try?" She gazed up at him.
In the moonlight he could see ice crystals woven throughout her hair. He took her hand with a nod. "S-sure."
A puff of smoke floated into the air as she exhaled a breath she didn't realize she held. "Excellent."
Kristoff allowed her to lead him across the ice, first by one hand and then by two. He soon realized they weren't really skating at all; rather, they were simply gliding around. He didn't mind. Her hands felt strangely warm and very delicate in his own, and he had no intentions of letting go.
Elsa laughed as they went, a true, genuine smile gracing her lips. He gazed at her lithe form, expertly zigzagging around the frozen fjord. She was pulling him with her, forcing her to go backward. Backward! He knew it shouldn't have astounded him so, though perhaps it was because she was queen.
The ice man gasped as he realized they neared the edge of ice. She couldn't see it, as she had just turned her head to him. He pulled her closer and dug his heels into the ice. Fortunately he managed to stop them before they went tumbling into the water. Kristoff shuddered slightly. The fjord would not be comfortable this time of year.
"K-Kristoff?"
He gazed down at the young woman in his arms. She pressed against him, trembling ever so slightly. Her hands were on his chest and he could barely see the beginning of frost surrounding her fingertips. "Are you all right?"
She nodded. Then, she looked up at him. He felt a twinge of pain and guilt stab at his heart to see her normally strong eyes watery with tears. "I'm sorry. I should've been watching where I was going." She smiled slightly. "Thank you, for... For saving me—us. Saving us."
He tightened his grip on just the tiniest bit. "You're welcome." He smiled as he realized her cheeks had grown darker. A blush, perhaps? "Thank you for sharing your night with me." He leaned down, brushing his lips against her cheek. Definitely a blush.
Elsa stiffened and looked up at him as he straightened. She seemed confused. He chuckled, warmly, and pressed another soft kiss to her lips. As he pulled away, he smiled. "Ice is my life."
She cast her eyes downward with a curt nod. In the shadow across her face, he hoped he saw the beginnings of a smile. "Mine too."