Kristoff Understood

by Ceu Praca

Well the trolls are friendly and helpful. There's just one small problem. They can alter memories. * Rated K-ish. (The 'ish' is for the implications, though this is a very tame little story. * Little oneshot written because I was highly disturbed by the trolls originally and that horror came back recently. *Planning to extend this into a full fic eventually*

Kristoff understood. His dad was there to work, not babysit, so he left him to practice with the tongs while he joined the other men to harvest ice.

Kristoff understood. He stayed out of the way while he found his footing and listened happily to the strong harvest chant and watched his dad haul ice.

Kristoff understood. The ice was good but also dangerous at night, he followed close on his sled when it was time to go home when the sun set.

Kristoff understood. The forest was not a good place to be alone at night, but still when a shock of cold wind and a path of ice struck through the ground behind him, he stopped and stared at the horses galloping with winter's breath trailing after them.

Kristoff understood. Following the path of ice was a stupid idea, but men had to be strong and a strong man would make sure it wasn't a danger to his family, so he took off after the horses and forgot that his dad wouldn't know where he was.

Kristoff understood. When the trolls appeared and the one said it wanted to keep him and Sven, that was Not A Good Thing. But the troll was stronger than him with sharp teeth so he smiled nervously and went along.

Kristoff understood. The troll chieftain was wise and strong and smart and would sometimes pat his head when he grew upset, glows of magic calming whatever storms of loss and grief that crept up on him in the night.

Kristoff understood. The chain that bound him to his bed of moss was to keep him from sleepwalking, from being led away by faint dreams of a home he never knew and a father he never had.

Kristoff understood. Years went by and he grew stronger and more capable, using an innate knowledge of ice to provide money for the trolls' ever growing hoarde of treasure. It was his job to do so, the trolls were the only family he had ever known.

Kristoff understood. When he went into towns to trade with people he was never supposed to talk to strangers and always delivered his goods, recieved the money, and went straight home.

Kristoff did not understand. Why did Anna look at him in such horror when he explained that he had lived with the trolls all his life?

Kristoff did not understand...until one day he saw the graveyard mourning children stolen by the fey folk, and his name was written upon a stone.