Part 1: The Map

Princess Anna hummed a tune as she walked down the halls of the castle, looking in the rooms out of boredom. She was waiting for Elsa to finish up helping people who needed her service or advice in the throne room. Meanwhile, Anna was on her way to visit the library.

As she passed a picture of her parents, an ache filled her heart and she wished she could see them again. The dark curtains had been removed so everyone who passed their painting could remember them. Anna tore herself away from her parent's painting. She missed them every day, just like she was certain Elsa was. Everything was so different without them.

The candles on the walls were lit, the windows were open, and a fresh early summer breeze was whispering through the halls. Servants rushed up and down the halls attending to their chores, carrying baskets of laundry or dusting the picture frames. They curtsied to Anna as she walked past, and she waved to them cheerfully. Arendelle was much warmer now that Elsa had opened up the gates.

Anna arrived at the library and entered, and found it nearly empty. There were a few servants dusting and organizing shelves, and two guards were placed in front of the doors. A plate of chocolates awaited her at the table in the center of the room, and she gobbled up a handful of sweets.

"Princess Anna." addressed one of the servants, "May I help you find something?"

"I appreciate your help, but I'm just browsing." She had to find out why it was so interesting to Elsa. She spent a lot of time in here when she wanted to be alone, but the doors were open so Anna was welcome to read with her. Anna curtsied politely, and then started looking up and down all the shelves for something that would catch her eye.

The library wasn't really that great of a place for Anna, as it had been where Hans had let her nearly freeze to death. Part of her didn't want to be here because of that, but a much stronger part of her wasn't going to let the past control her future. Besides, this was her castle, not Hans'.

As she searched she continued humming Do You Want To Build a Snowman to herself. A lot of the books were old and starting to crumble, and they even had runes on a lot of the titles. Anna wondered what they said, but never actually looked into studying the ancient runes.

"Psst." someone said. Anna looked around, but not one of the servants had spoken. The voice sounded like it came up from above the bookcases. So, Anna looked up and tried to find who had whispered, but she didn't see anyone. But she did see something else…

Way up on the top shelves near the windows, she noticed an odd piece of paper sticking out and a stream of warm sunlight illuminated it. She looked around for a ladder, and found it a few feet away. She was just about to pull it, when one of the servants on top of it screeched.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you up there. Sorry. Um, my apologizes." Anna said, and quickly backed away from the ladder. All the other servants glared at her.

"Do you need this ladder for something?" the servant asked after taking a shaky breath. She was still clinging to the bookshelves as if her life depended it. Anna nervously brushed her hand through her braids.
The lady had dark brown hair and green eyes, and she was wearing her maid's uniform, so she had on her little black and white hat. She was about thirty, Anna guessed.

"Yes. I'd like to see what that paper is sticking out over there is." Anna pointed up to the paper she spotted earlier.

"As you wish, Princess Anna." the servant named Marie said, still a little nervous to be around the clumsy Princess.

She climbed down the ladder, and Anna guided her to the paper.

"Shall I fetch it for you?" Marie was about to climb up, but Anna wanted to grab it.

"Oh, I think I can handle this." Anna said, she cracked her knuckles, "I'm kind of experienced with climbing."

She remembered how she had climbed a part of a mountain to go talk to Elsa at her Ice Palace.

"Be careful. If you change your mind, I'll grab it for you."

"Thank you." Anna climbed up the rings one by one, and she climbed up pretty fast and easily, "Hey, I made it!"

She looked around for the paper and pulled it out to see what it was. When she saw a bunch of x's on Arendelle's map, she knew it had to be a treasure map!

"It's a treasure map!" she squeaked with excitement, and fell off the ladder since she lost her balance. Marie caught her, but they stumbled into a table and Marie hit her head.

"You should be more careful, Princess Anna." she winced, rubbing the back of her head, and was kind of backing away from her. She winced in pain, but tried to hide it. Anna could tell when people were hiding something…
"I'm really sorry. Um… Marie, you can take the rest of the afternoon off. I'm really sorry I hurt your head." she looked down, full of shame that she had hurt one of the servants who had helped her.

Marie nodded, curtsied, and scurried out of the room. The other servants were watching her, but as soon as Anna looked at them, they got right back to work as if they hadn't witnessed anything. Anna placed the map down on the table and looked at it up close but not for long, since she getting all jumpy inside knowing an adventure was just around the corner!

"I have to show this to Elsa!" she exclaimed, and dashed out of the room with the paper whipping and whirling around behind her.

She felt like a little girl again, running through the beautiful halls. But this time it was better, because she knew Elsa wouldn't shut her out again.

Anna rushed to the throne room as fast as she could. She was careful not to bump into anyone, as she had already caused enough injuries today. A princess should help her people who helped her, not hurt them. Anna didn't let it get to her, though.

In the throne room there wasn't a lot of visitors, to her surprise. There were a few citizens talking amongst themselves in the shadows, but it was clear they weren't here to talk with the queen. A couple were helping themselves to the banquet tables of food that were set up, but they weren't being selfish about it.

Up at the throne, Elsa sat straight and regal, in her ice dress, with the cape sprawled all around like a snowflake. She was speaking to Kristoff, and Olaf was jumping around trying to get their attention but to no success. They were clearly talking about something very important. Anna knew just what to do when she saw Kristoff.

She ran, picking up speed, and jumped on to Kristoff's back! Within an instant he knew it was her, and she giggled and hugged him, and kissed his cheek. He was so warm!

"Hi, Anna." he said, and Anna could tell he was rolling his eyes, because Elsa was giggling politely.

"Hello Kristoff. Oh! I have something to show all of you!" she said, waving the map about.

"A piece of paper? Why's that so interesting?" Olaf asked, giving her a weird look.

"Because it's not just your normal piece of paper, Olaf, it's a treasure map!"

"Oh boy, a treasure map! Now I wanna see it!" Olaf was excited as she was. He jumped in the air to try get it, but Anna was up really high.

Anna climbed down from Kristoff's back, and he put his arm around her waist. She showed them the map and explained how she found it in the library a few minutes ago. She left out the part about Marie, however. Elsa had enough to worry about.

"It looks like fun," Elsa said nodding, "Why don't we go find the treasure all together?"

"All of us?" Anna replied, her eyes gleaming. An adventure with both Kristoff and Elsa was something worth getting excited about!

Well, and Olaf and Sven, too, of course.

"Yes, Olaf, Sven, Kristoff, and us two."

"How long is it going to take?" Kristoff asked, "I have an ice business, you know."

Anna shrugged, but Elsa took a look at the map, and did some quick mental calculations. She poked each of the X marks, thinking carefully.

"I think maybe a couple days, three at the most. We won't be going far, just up to my ice palace and to the trolls place, and then we'll come back." she said, smiling lightly.

"It's going to be so fun!" Olaf said, "We can go visit the snowgies and Marshamallow! Oh, Anna, what are the treasures?"

"I'm not sure actually." Anna shrugged, but she wished she knew.

"All the more reason to find out." Kristoff said, "Hopefully it's gold. Or ice."

"Or cookies!" Olaf laughed.

"Or carrots!" Kristoff said in his Sven voice, even though Sven was outside, that is what he would've said, "Carrots are better than cookies."

"If you're a reindeer…" Olaf replied.

Elsa giggled, "Well we should start planning what we need to bring. We can't just walk out the door."

"How about Kristoff and I get the materials together, and you and Olaf go manage the uh more political stuff?" Anna suggested.

"Of course. But I think Olaf should go with you."

Olaf was skating and sliding around the floor, and picking snacks off the table, especially the cake. It was crystal clear Olaf didn't mix well with politics.

"Okay. We'll keep an eye on him."

"Excuse me please." Elsa said politely, stood up and walked towards the guards to talk to them.

Kristoff and Anna snuck off to Anna's room to help her pack up. Once in her room, Anna pulled out three summer dresses, but since they were going up into the mountains, Kristoff reminded her about her last trip to Elsa's palace. Even though it was summer, there was still snow up at the North Mountain all year round.

"Those won't do. You really don't know how to pack, do you?"

"More than you." she grumbled sarcastically, putting a cloak in her suitcase.

"Hey, I was just kidding, alright… feisty pants…" he grumbled back, but he wasn't being mean or grumpy.

Then Kristoff wrapped his arms around her and distracted her from packing.

"Kristoff, we don't have all day." she reminded him.

"So?" he said.

They had to get packing, and Anna didn't even know what materials they had to bring along. She had never been on a treasure hunt before!

"Anna?" Elsa asked outside the door.

"Come in!" Anna replied, and Elsa entered the room.

"I told the guards the castle will be closed for a few days. How is your packing coming along?" Elsa asked, looking over at Anna's suitcase.

"Well, I had a rough start." she cleared her throat, looked at Kristoff, who blushed.

"I didn't… interrupt something… uh, intimate, did I?" Elsa brushed her ice cape with her fingers and looked down at the floor.

"No, no, not at all!" Anna laughed nervously.

Kristoff stepped a little away from Anna to make the point clear.

"How about while you two are packing, I'll go get the sled ready with tools, food and supplies?"

"Good idea." Elsa nodded politely.

Kristoff hurried out the door. He waved awkwardly to her and then was gone. It was mostly because Elsa was there, and they were very busy. Anna pursed her lips together to make a thin line, and put thicker dresses in her suitcase.

Elsa sat on the bed and helped her roll up the dresses and cloaks. They didn't need a lot, so they could put their dresses in the same bag, Anna figured. They dragged the suitcase to Elsa's room right next door, and put three of Elsa's winter dresses and spare cloaks — in case Elsa did get cold, or someone got sick. Maybe they would stumble across someone who was lost and cold, and needed some warmth.

"Hey Anna, what do you want the treasure to be?" Elsa asked, breaking the silence.

Anna thought a few moments. Well, jewels and precious stones would be lovely, but that was cliché.

"Chocolate!" she exclaimed, and Elsa bursted out with laughter. There was a never ending supply of it in the castle, so whenever Elsa or Anna were craving sweets they could just ask a servant to grab some for them, or head down to the kitchens and get it themselves if they were feeling adventurous.

"Maybe some pies and tarts, too." Elsa added. Anna nodded enthusiastically.

They quickly finished packing, and met up with Kristoff outside. He was busy packing the sleigh, and other townsfolk were helping him. They must've known he was going on a journey with the Queen and Princess. Because if they didn't, they certainly knew now. Elsa and Anna approached the sleigh, and tossed their bags in with the rest of the supplies. There were sleeping bags, climbing tools like rope and hooks, bags of food and water skins, plenty of carrots for Sven, torches, and a compass and a telescope.

"Almost ready, ladies." Kristoff said, tightening the ropes around the bags of supplies to make sure they didn't fall off. Sven nudged Kristoff since he saw Anna looking at Kristoff with heart-filled eyes. Elsa was patiently waiting to go, looking elsewhere and nodding at the townsfolk.

Kristoff then came and helped Elsa and Anna up into the sleigh — Anna was in the front with him, and Olaf jumped in the back seat with Elsa. She puffed some more snowflakes into his personal flurry since he was starting to drip. The summer sun was warm and shining in a sky dotted with puffy and wispy clouds. Birds flew overhead, and Anna could hear trading boats in the harbor.

"Let's go, Sven!" Kristoff said after he hooked up Sven to the reins, and was sitting in the front seat.

They glided through the town and soon were on the outskirts of the village. People waved to them as they flew past, and Kristoff was careful not to hit anyone. Children tried to run as fast as the sleigh, but Kristoff left them in the dust.

Anna pulled the map out from her travel bag once they were out of the town.

"Where to?" Elsa asked, looking over the seat at the map.

"Oaken's Trading Post and Sauna!"

"Aww do we have to?" Kristoff complained. Last time he and Oaken met, things didn't go very well.

"Do you want this treasure or not, ice delivery boy?"

That hit the spot.

Kristoff whipped the reins down and Sven bolted down the path that would take them to Oaken's Trading Post. Anna couldn't wait to start searching for the treasure!