Kristoff returned to the castle five more times to deliver ice before he saw the princess again, never quite as grumbly as he had been the first time but, (and he hated to admit) just as nervous. As he steered the sled down the mountain his stomach flipped. He knew he was being completely silly. He hadn't seen the princess in months and it was likely he wouldn't again. Their encounter had just been a fluke. But as he thought of her warm eyes and the pink that colored her round checks he allowed himself a bit of fools hope and urged Sven to move a little faster.
When he arrived at the gates he greeted the guards with a nod he entered inside. The path up to the castle was dotted with trees. It was the first warm day of spring and he stopped to take a moment and enjoy it. Thats when he spotted a pair of tiny boots dangling from a branch. Then the person they belonged to was clumsily jumping out of the tree.
"I thought that might be you!" The princess addressed him smiling.
"Ya got me." He replied doing his best to keep cool as she walked towards him. Her broad smile made his palms dampen and he did his best to discreetly rub them on his pants.
"Whats this guys name?" She asked as she approached the reindeer and ran her hands along his nose.
"Sven," He answered and then awkwardly added " and uh, I'm Kristoff."
"The royal ice delivers." she finished for him and he nodded.
"Thats us."
Sven butted his head against her leg digging his nose into one of the pockets on her dress as if looking for something.
"No stolen cookies today." she told the reindeer blushing. Kristoff couldn't help but smile a little.
"and your princess Anna?" He finished the introductions. She nodded and smiled.
"So the princess has to steal cookies from her own castle?" He liked making her blush and as if on cue she did and nodded.
"It's not all roses in there. Lots and lots of rules but see I'm the rebellious one." She told him "or at least the bored and kinda lonely one." She gave an uneasy laugh and shrugged, her eyes left his as she looked down embarrassed as though she had slightly over shared. But then she caught sight of something hanging from Kristoff's neck."ooo whats this?" She gestured to a small orange crystal. She stepped closer to examine it and his stomach did a small flipflop. At this distance he could make out each individual freckle on her pink checks and found himself realizing he could easily spend the rest of the afternoon counting each one. She looked up at him and he realized he was suppose to be providing an answer.
"Oh uh its a uh crystal." He said stupidly. It was obviously a crystal but she seemed excited at his lame answer.
"Its amazing! Did you find it up on the mountain?" She still maintained the close distance.
"No, it was more of a family present thing for my birthday." He reached for it and held it in between his fingers, looking down at it. He'd only had the crystal a few weeks. It had been a gift from his adopted family of trolls for his 18th birthday. At night the crystal glowed and he had been told it was full of powerful magic, but they had not told him what he could use it for. The only answer he had received was, 'you'll know when you need it.'
"Really? Wow all I got for my birthday were some ridiculous slippers and this bag that had these demented looking fuzzy cats all over it, but well, nothing as cool as this. They must really love you." finally she took a step back and looked off at the castle. He had the sudden urge to step towards her and resume close proximity between them, but knew better than to act on this silly whim. "Do they live up on the mountain with you?" She brought her gaze back to him. He shifted on his feet wondering if she had been checking the castle to see if anyone was coming down. But the longing look on her face suggested she had been thinking of something else.
"No it's just me and Sven up there. Well and the occasional fellow burly ice harvester."
"Isn't that kind of lonely?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Nah it's peaceful."
"Nobody wants to be alone all the time. I mean my parents are on a trip and they've only been gone like a week and look what its driven me to! Waiting on the road for the ice delivery guy, whom I made a total fool out of myself in front of but, in my defense those are the best cookies the whole world."
She had been waiting for him? His stomach flipped again. He wasn't sure what to say. Her gaze made his mouth dry and he found it a bit difficult to speak.
"Don't you have a sister?" He finally asked.
"Elsa's a bit...solitary." she sighed glancing up at the castle again. He followed her gaze but this time someone someone was hastily walking down the path towards them. Kristoff recognized the little man who always came and took the ice from him.
"Oh jeeze." she sighed and turned back to him. "I guess I should leave before he gives me another lecture about the smelly ice guy, I mean, he certainly did not call you smelly but uh, fragrant. Yes that was the word he used!" She smiled and darted off with a quick wave. He clumsily waved back as he watched her small frame disappear around a corner. This whole ice delivery thing was a pretty alright gig even if he did get called smelly from time to time.
