Merida

"Ten points if you hit a ship on the way in," I say. The captain raises an eyebrow. I can't wait 'til I'm queen and I can make it an order. I'm relieved to be getting away.

I haven't seen any of these people since we were all small. Apparently our parents had us play with each other on state visits and such, but by the time I was six, we had all started being left home when Mum and Dad went to do business. I remember how fun Anna was… and the way Elsa made snow… Mum told me that the snow bit was just my imagination, but I know it was real. That was the best part, how could I forget? I'll get Elsa to tell me the truth.

It's summer now, but it feels like spring. It isn't unbearably hot, and there's more wind in my hair than just through the movement of the boat. The mountains around the inlet seem like they were specifically made for riding on- the lower ones, at least. I don't plan on taking my horse, Angus, on any of those cliffs. Those are for me to climb on my own.

Our boat nears the dock, and I join the deckhands in gathering together the lines to throw to the people waiting on the boards. I see some looks of confusion amongst the men on the dock, but I don't let it bother me. My Mum wrote a letter for me to give to anyone who gives me a hard time.

I thrust my coil of rope toward the dock, and note with pleasure how my throw goes longer than half of the deckhands. Quickly, the men onshore begin to tie us off and the deckhands jump off to help. I'm about to follow suit when I noticed Angus pawing at the ground.

I walk towards the stable and step up on a bucket I have in the stall, so that I'm level with his face. There's a stable above and below deck for him, and I wanted him up here for the final leg of our journey. The captain was worried that he would be a disruption, but I convinced him by saying that I wanted Angus out so that I would be ready to make my grand entrance. I pet the steed's muscular shoulder and speak a few soothing words to him to calm him.

By the time he's fully pacified, we've fully docked and it's time to offload. I feel bad letting the people of the village carry in my trunk, but they seem happy to do it and I can't let go of my horse, so I resolve to repay them later. I lead Angus out of the stable and hear a cry of delight from above me.

Looking up, I see the stone walkways of the city, and a girl with a thick braid hanging off of the carved railing. "Merida!" she shouts. "Merida! It's me, it's Anna, I'm so glad you're here!" I smile and wave. Behind her, I spot a strongly built blonde guy. He's smiling slightly, but his hands are up, like he's ready to catch her if she falls over. Who's he?

My excitement quickly overrides me skepticism, and I take hold of my horses reins and run up the dock, dodging through dockhands and dragging Angus galloping clumsily behind me. I rush up the ramp and round the corner, drawing to a stop right in front of Anna.

Anna laughs and sticks out her hand.

"Here," says the guy, and relieves me of custody of Angus. Free, I knock anna's han out of the way and throw my hands around her. It wasn't until just now that I truly realized how much I missed company of my own age. Young Macintosh, Wee Dingball, and Young MacGuffin aren't really the most interesting lot, and if I took them out on an expedition I'd end up defending them and going home to a feast honoring how they brought me home safely.

Anna returns my hug with as much enthusiasm, and after a few seconds we break apart.

"'Allo!" I say. "I've missed you!"

" I can tell!" Anna laughs. "And by the way, excuse my manners, this is Kristoff."

"Nice to meet you, Kristoff," I say, taking Angus's reins back out of his hands. "Thanks for taking my horse. How do you guys, erm, know each other?"

Anna looks at Kristoff, giggles and grabs his hand. "We're-um-"

"We're a thing," Kristoff says, with a shrug of his shoulders and a smile.

"Like, a dating thing?" I ask, slightly dumbfounded.
"Well, yes, it all started with the-" Anna pauses. "Why don't we wait for the others to come? Elsa and I have a lot to tell you."

"You have no idea," I say.