Chapter 1: Half
The Prime Minister curiously studied the raggedy old peasant man seated across the desk from him. Then his eyes flitted down to the piece of parchment and handkerchief which this peasant had just placed before him - both articles bearing the royal family's seal. And the signature of the Queen Mother, the late Queen Iduna...
"Do I have your attention now, sir?" the peasant asked calmly.
The Prime Minister cleared his throat to hide the flustered state in which he now found himself. "Most definitely now. Though you had it when you demanded to speak with me regarding a matter of national security."
"And that it pertained to the Princess," the peasant reminded him. "I only wish for the truth to be known."
"And it shall be conveyed, sir. To the royal family," the Prime Minister promised. "This kingdom extends to you its deepest thanks. Dismissed."
Guards posted outside the Prime Minister's office escorted the peasant away. Meanwhile, he tucked the letter and handkerchief inside his robes. This information would be of most interest to Queen Elsa...
And in fact, changed the course of Arendelle's history.
"There can be no debate!" the Prime Minister declared. "These articles offer compelling proof that throws the paternity of the Princess Anna into question. She is not fully of royal blood and must therefore no longer be harbored within the walls of this castle!"
The rest of Queen Elsa's Council took up the call in agreement, even as their Queen sat at the head of the table, looking devastated and broken. But the exhibits of evidence did not lie, it seemed. Both bore the royal family seal - at least, as it was printed in the old days, during the reign of King Agnarr and Queen Iduna. Stricken with grief, Elsa rose to address her Council. She would not beg - as the monarch, that was below her. But she could respectfully request mercy.
"Prime Minister, Anna and I share the same mother. She was born from the loins of the Queen Mother. At the very least, she is half-royal and should be honored as such. Can we not just let this technicality go? Deliver to her the truth, if you must, but at least let Anna stay here in the palace with me!"
The Prime Minister's expression was solemn and grave. "I am sorry, my Queen, that is not possible. Half-royal though she may be, Anna still possesses commoner blood in her veins. Besides, her heritage has arisen in her desire to consort with peasants; even now, she allows into her bed the Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer - a lowly backwoodsman!"
Elsa frowned. "My sister knows the ways of her own heart. Why should her romantic relationship matter to this?"
"Because it somewhat explains her heritage!" the Prime Minister insisted. "Anna cannot be trusted as a heartbeat away from the throne! As its heir!"
An icy chill settled over the room. "I should charge you with treason for that," Elsa snarled.
The Prime Minister stood firm. "Censure me if you must, Your Majesty, but should you do so, I will let this development be known far and wide. Princess Anna must be banished. If you refuse to obey the law, then this secret will be leaked!"
Blackmailed. By her own Council. Elsa was trapped, and she knew it. Eyes swimming with tears, she forced her head to nod.
"Very well. See to it that Anna is given the most comfortable arrangements and transportation for her... her departure."
The Prime Minister dipped his head. "As my Queen commands."
It was later that evening that Elsa found herself in her chambers, in the fetal position and rolling around in tears of agony. She felt sick - physically sick. Dizzy and nauseous. Anguished - that her sister was being ripped from her arms.
"Ha, banished?" she wailed. "Be merciful, say death, for death cannot be worse than this. If the Council were merciful, they would let Anna and I die in peace, in blissful ignorance of our origins! Ah, gods above, have pity on me! Have pity on us both!"
From across the room, Kristoff was watching his Queen drown herself in her own misery, trying and failing to find the right words to say to ease her suffering. No words in any language could calm the Queen.
Yet the Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer attempted to do so anyway. "Anna won't be alone," he promised. "I will follow her wherever she may go." An idea sprang into his head. "I could take her to my troll family and have them care for her."
"Oh, Kristoff, thank Arendelle for you!" Elsa threw her arms around him and broke down completely, even daring to kiss him on the cheek through strangled breaths. Kristoff awkwardly patted her back; it was all he could do to comfort her.
Kristoff eventually managed to convince the Queen to settle down to sleep, departing from her chambers as the sun was setting. He had not gone very far down the hall when he saw a familiar redhead collapsed below a portrait of Joan of Arc, head in her arms and sobbing.
Kristoff gazed down sadly at the love of his life, as he thought of the terrible fate that had befallen her. Wordlessly, he knelt at Anna's side and drew a protective arm around her shoulder, silently helping her to her feet.
Anna hiccuped down a sob and finally willed herself to look at her lover, her eyes puffy and red. "Kristoff..." she whispered brokenly. "If I'm not the Princess of Arendelle, if I'm not Elsa's sister, then... who am I?"
Kristoff thanked his normally empty head for sending him the right words to say in that moment. "You are the quirkiest, funniest, kindest, most beautiful woman I've ever known. And no matter what anybody says... you'll always be a princess to me. Anna..." And overcome with love, Kristoff yanked her into his arms and kissed her. Hard.
Anna let out a startled squeak into his mouth, before eventually closing her eyes in acceptance. Swooning, she draped her arms about Kristoff's neck and deepened the kiss. In the years she had know him, never had Anna seen Kristoff be this... passionate. He had never kissed her like this, never...
The couple eventually found themselves pressed up against the Joan of Arc portrait, kissing desperately. They broke apart minutes later, gasping.
"I love you," Kristoff got out helplessly.
A dazed Anna nodded. "I know. I love you too."
It was deep night out in the palace courtyard. Sven was hitched up to his sled, which Kristoff was now waiting besides. Heart breaking, he watched as Elsa and Anna tearfully clutched at each other, hugging goodbye.
"You will always be my sister, and I will always love you!" Elsa wept. She gently kissed Anna on her forehead. "May God watch over you, my dear."
Anna nodded in thanks. "Please don't forget me."
Elsa was agog. "Forget you? Everything I am is because of you!"
"We've gotta go," Kristoff called to the sisters gently.
Anna and Elsa willed their feet to move to the sleigh, and Kristoff offered his hand, helping Anna in. Turning back to Elsa, he was startled to find her fixing him with a firm stare of warning.
"Now you listen to me, reindeer man... you be true and faithful to that girl. As long as you are with her, the happier she will be, and the safer I shall sleep. Into your hands I deliver my greatest treasure, and my trust. Do not break either one."
Kristoff bowed low in understanding. "I will not fail you, Your Majesty."
"Good," Elsa tilted her head in acknowledgment. "See that you don't." Then, unexpectedly, she wrapped him in a hug and kissed him on the cheek. "Godspeed."
Kristoff mounted the sleigh, and clicked the reins. "Sven: go. Hi-yah!" And as the runners gathered speed along the cobblestones, Anna allowed herself a final glance back, keeping her eyes on Elsa until the last.