Summary: You have five days to break the curse. Break the curse. Save her life.


Chapter Two

- Anna's Midwinter Wedding -


- The First Day -


Queen Elsa was a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm. Her presence was so powerfully alive her mood seemed to infect everyone who came in contact with her. Her touch soothed fears and anxiety, and sewed cords of eager calm. She spoke with passion and often broke into sweet song.

It was good that Elsa showed so much life and warmth, because Anna felt like her head was stuck under a pillow and Kristoff had unwittingly sat on it.

She's alive, Anna thought, heart swelling. But the same thought always followed: But the dream... The dream's memory fell on her during every idle moment. The remembered stench of corrupted flowers gripped her nose and the man's soothing voice whispered in her ear.

You have five days, Anna.

But every time Anna plucked up the courage to tell Elsa what she had dreamed about, Elsa's enthusiasm tore her away after only a few words. What could she say to her sister anyway? That she had a dream? Anna didn't know if she believed it herself.

Surely it couldn't have been real.

The chapel was just as Elsa described – just like Anna remembered it being, worryingly enough. The smell of decay was non-existent. Instead, the air was thick with the soft aroma of winter flowers and excitement. Red rose petals marked the way down the aisle, and white flowers separated the pews filled with people here to see her.

Not Elsa.

Her.

Her husband waited beside the Bishop. He's not my husband yet, Anna had to remind herself. Someone had run a comb through his blond hair and styled it so it would not fall into his eyes. His black velvet doublet was tight around his arms and chests, and the button on his collar looked close to bursting. But he looked handsome in his discomfort, and Anna couldn't help but smile at the sight of him.

But Anna couldn't shake the sensation that she had seen all of this before, right down to the button that would burst halfway through the wedding reception and fall in Baron Aubert's goblet.

Elsa took her arm and infected Anna with her whirlwind of calm. Don't be nervous. "Don't be nervous," said Elsa.

"I'm not nervous," Anna replied, smiling. "This is perfect."

"I'm so happy for you," said Elsa. A silent, crystalline tear glided down Elsa's cheek so gracefully it could have been a dance. Elsa touched it with her finger. "You're so beautiful. The perfect bride."

Anna felt a flush creep into her cheeks. Coming from Elsa, who was always beautiful, those words meant everything. "Thank you."

You're wasting time, the voice whispered in her ear, and Anna jumped. She looked at Elsa, but her sister was smiling dreamily down the aisle, and had not appeared to hear anything.

Are you real? Anna asked the voice.

I hope so, the voice replied, sounding as clear and bright as if the words had come from Elsa's mouth. Are you real?

Of course I am!

And you're wasting time.

My wedding isn't a waste of time.

Will your marriage break the curse?

What curse? You haven't told me anything useful!

You're wasting time.

"Are you ready?" Elsa asked her, snapping Anna's attention back to reality.

Anna smiled, and shook the man's voice from her ear. "I am."

Break the curse, Anna.

"Elsa?"

"Yes, Anna?"

"Can we talk soon? I need to tell you something."

The harps sounded in welcome before Elsa could reply. The men and women lining the pews stood and Elsa's link on her arm lead Anna forward. Anna curled her fingers around her pale bouquet. The flowers smelt like winter, but the memory of decay seethed.

It's not there. It's not there.

Elsa's body had been so pale, and the flowers like coloured crystal.

Five days. . .

She ignored the voice and lifted her chin. Across the chapel, Kristoff smiled at her.

"With this kiss, I pledge to thee my love and take you for my wife," Kristoff said when the songs and prayers and vows were said and done. He stumbled over the words, but to Anna they were as sweet and beautiful as Elsa's tears.

"With this kiss, I pledge to thee my love and take you for my husband," replied Anna with a glowing smile.

Kristoff's kiss was as sweet as their first, filled with passion and ardour that flooded through the chapel in waves.

The bishop smiled, raised his staff and waved it in a slow circle over their heads. "Under the eyes of God, I solemnly proclaim Baron Kristoff Bjorgman and Princess Anna of Arendelle to be man and wife. From this day they are one flesh, one heart and one soul. From this day and forever more."


#


The bedchamber had been filled with flowers too. A vase of winter lilies was above the fireplace. They looked pretty there, but the smoke would see them half-dead before morning, or so Anna remembered from her dream. Several more vases were perfectly placed throughout the room, but perhaps the most important one was on the circular table next to Anna.

"Would you like a cup of wine?" Kristoff asked, sounding unusually courteous.

"That would be lovely," Anna replied. She had nursed a cup during the reception, but Kristoff must have had more than five. Anna had lost count the first time, and she had forgotten the count this time. Kristoff handed her a cup full of the crimson liquid before pouring one for himself. Anna sipped hers, while Kristoff downed his in three large mouthfuls.

A heavy silence settled over them, thicker then the mid-winter snows outside. Kristoff shifted uncomfortably and clasped his hands together.

Anna looked at him expectantly before she realised. Right, this will be his first time. And mine too, technically. She vividly remembered this moment from her dream. She had been just as nervous as Kristoff the first time. She had clutched her sweaty, clammy hands under the table and continually crossed and uncrossed her legs. Her hands weren't sweaty now – she hardly even felt nervous. That fact that her big man was was undeniably cute.

He's about to come for me, thought Anna, thinking back. She put her cup on the floor – it wouldn't be safe on the table, and waited.

Right on cue, as if a bell rang to signal the first movement, Kristoff tore his hands from his pockets and surreptitiously wiped them on his pants. "Right!" he exclaimed and started towards her.

Anna's eyes flicked towards the vase of flowers on the table. He's going to knock them over. She rose to meet him – which she hadn't done in her dream. Kristoff swept her off her feet as easily as if she were made of feathers and pressed his rough lips against her soft pink ones.

She hardly had a moment to react before he pressed his tongue to the seam of her lips and delved inside her mouth. He tasted of sweet wine. It was a very sloppy kiss – hardly their best, but it was passionate and loving and made Anna's toes curl in her shoes. She wriggled her arms out of capture as she returned Kristoff's kiss, but only put one arm around his neck – last time she had used both. Any second now. Kristoff twisted around, intending to carry her to the bed, but as he turned he bumped the table with his hip. Anna moved without thinking – she didn't have to think. She knew. Her hand lashed out and grabbed hold of the vase stem moments before it hit the table and cracked the glass.

"Huh?" Kristoff broke the kiss and stared at the vase in surprise. "Some reflexes."

"Thanks." Anna tossed a lock of hair out of her face in a most dramatic gesture and straightened the vase.

"I didn't think you could move that fast."

Idiot. "And what's that supposed to mean?" Anna tried to put her hands on her hips, but the effect was ruined by the grip Kristoff still had around her back and legs.

"Nothing." Kristoff laughed and kissed her again.

"Then why aren't we in bed yet?"

When they were finished, Anna curled up against her giant's hard chest and played with the patch of blond hair that grew there. Sweat beaded against Kristoff's skin and his face was still red from effort. He breathed deeply, and Anna felt her head rise and fall with his chest.

"Wow, Anna. I . . . you were. . ."

"Shh," murmured Anna sleepily. It's been such a long day, don't ruin it now.


#


You have five days to break the curse.

The man sat in a violet chair this time, tapping his fingers against the over-stuffed armrests. He seemed . . . thinner somehow. His eyes, which had seemed so large last time Anna had seen him, now seemed to pop from his emaciated face. They glinted with amusement as they regarded her.

"What?" Anna said, shifting her feet uncomfortably.

"Are you sure that's how you want to spend your time?"

"It's my wedding night," Anna replied, embarrassed.

"Five days, Princess Anna." The man smirked.

Five days.

You have five days to break the curse.


#


Anna couldn't deny it any more. The man said it had only been a dream . . . a vision . . . but it didn't feel that way to her. It felt like time had taken her from the alter next to Elsa's body and plonked her back in bed the morning of her wedding. And the man's voice in her ear, and the place she went to while she dreamed . . . how could she possible explain it when she didn't understand.

"It's all true," she whispered. "And it's all happening the same way."

Yes, the man's voice crooned to her. Are your doubts assuaged, Princess?"

She couldn't keep this to herself – couldn't do this by herself – not if even half the things she remembered came to pass.

"Kristoff?" Her giant snored softly. She knelt on one elbow and shook his chest. "Kristoff!"

"What?" Kristoff protested sleepily.

"I have to tell you something."

For some reason, that got her giant's attention more than her name-calling and shakes. "Oh, no, I knew it." he said, clutching his head.

Anna stared. "What are you talking about?"

"You were so . . . good!" he said. "No one's first time is that good."

"Kristoff. . ." Anna sighed. Idiot. "That's not what I'm talking about."

"You've done it before, haven't you?"

"No!"

But Kristoff wasn't listening. "Just please tell me it wasn't with Hans."

Anna slapped his chest so hard she left a red imprint. "It's only been with you, you idiot!"

Kristoff's mouth gaped open. "But we hadn't . . . not before tonight."

"That's what I'm trying to tell you." She searched for the right words. How can I say this without sounding completely insane? "Ok." She breathed deeply. "This is going to sound absolutely ridiculous, but I promise I'm telling the truth. I really need you to believe me, Kristoff." Her gentle giant nodded slowly.

"Okay. . ."

"We got married five days ago."

"Anna." Kristoff's eyebrows rose apprehensively.

"Let me finish! I know we didn't really get married five days ago, but to me it was five days ago. To me, today was the second time we got married. Tonight was the second time we made love for the first time. I knew about that indent on your hip, and I knew how to touch it because we figured it out together five days ago." Anna snapped her fingers. "The vase. You remember how I caught the vase?"

"Yeah." Kristoff's eyebrows threatened to disappear into his hairline and his mouth was cracked open.

"I knew you were going to bump the table. I knew that vase was going to fall."

"Anna, that doesn't prove. . ."

"You're going to give me your mother's locket tomorrow night," Anna said quickly, cutting her husband off. "You were going to give it to me tonight, but your friend Rainer pointed out that it might not be a good idea to give me something that belonged to your mother on our wedding night."

"He told you that?" Kristoff sounded panicked. "I'll strangle him!"

"He didn't tell me a thing. You would have tomorrow night. You were going to take me to the lighthouse – it's the only place outside the city that's warm enough this time of year."

Kristoff's mouth gaped. "How did you know?"

"Because I've been through it before, aren't you listening?" That's not fair, Anna. It's ridiculous. It sounds ridiculous! "Kristoff," Anna said, far more gently. "I know how this sounds, but I promise I'm telling you the truth. I . . . I need you to believe me" She stared into light brown eyes and pleaded with the soft flecks of colour. Kristoff was silent for nearly a minute before he breathed deeply and said:

"I believe you."

Anna released a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. A weight lifted from her chest and for the first time all day it felt like she could breath again. He believes me. Her heart overflowed with love for this man. She pressed forward and kissed him as passionately as she knew how. "Thank you! Thank you, thank you!"

Kristoff smiled, and scratched his hair. "So if you've already lived through the next five days. . ."

"Four, now. . ." Anna corrected. "Not including today, I suppose."

"Why?"

"Because today's almost over."

"No." Kristoff shook his shaggy head. He really needs a haircut. "I mean . . . if you already lived through the next four days why have you . . . come back, I guess?"

"I need to stand up." Anna scrambled from bed, dragging one of the heavy fur blankets with her. She felt Kristoff's eyes on her nakedness as she swept the blanket around her body, shielding it from the cold air. She saw her husband stir under the blankets and she felt spots of rosy colour touch her cheeks. She hid it by walking towards the fireplace and poking the embers with a poker.

"Okay." She steeled herself, swinging back around and pacing in front of the bed. "In four days, my sister is going to die."

"Elsa's not going to die," Kristoff said reassuringly, leaning forward.

"She does," Anna insisted. "I saw it happen."

"How?"

"I don't know," admitted Anna. "She gets sick on the night of the Winter Solstice and dies three days later. The physicians couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. She just got sicker and sicker until. . ."

"But what do you think was wrong with her."

Break the curse.

You have five days to break the curse.

"I think she was cursed. No, I know she was cursed."

"Cursed?"

Anna nodded solemnly. "I don't know how to explain it. She becomes so . . . distracted. She would be speaking to you one moment, but in the next she's staring off into space. And her magic . . . her magic. . ." She had no idea how to describe what happens to Elsa's magic.

Kristoff's face grew pale. "Anna, tonight's the Winter Solstice."

"I know. What's that go to do with. . . "

"Do you know what the trolls call the first hour after midnight on the Winter Solstice?" Anna shook her head. "They call it the Witching Hour. Magic is at its strongest at that time. Centuries ago, witches used that hour to do their most evil magic. That includes curses, Anna."

Talons clawed deeply into her stomach, twisting and turning until her insides were shreds. "We have to find my sister!"

In the depths of the snowstorm outside, the wooden soldier pushed through the mounds of snow to meet with his partner before the clock-face. The big hand ticked over to midnight and the wooden soldiers raised their mallets. The snow was thick, and the bell hardly made a sound.

The man's voice whispered in Anna's ear.

Four days, Anna.

You have four days to break the curse.


#


Author's Note: The wedding scene was going to be much larger, but it kind of felt like I was wasting time. I included the most important parts and just went with it. These chapters have been pretty short so far, but I'm sure they'll start to grow.

A huge thanks to my reviewers! Love it.