Chapter Two

Kristoff

Anna leaped down the hallways, her mood slightly elevated after her conversation with her sister.

He won't be gone forever. She thought. He'll be back before I know it. She threw the thoughts from her mind, not wanting to spoil her mood and began to sprint down the halls, excited to be free of the dark palace and get her first taste of sunlight. She rounded a corner as fast as her legs would take her and nearly knocked over one of the palaces maids, Gerda, carrying a rather tall stack of freshly cleaned towels.

"Oh!" Gerda gasped. "Good heavens!"

"I'm so sorry!" Anna pleaded. "I wasn't watching where I was going." She began helping picking up the towels she had knocked all over the hall floor.

Gerda, seeing it was the princess exclaimed, "Your majesty! A thousand apologies I...I couldn't see anything..."

Anna picked up a green embroidered towel that she recognized from her own bathroom. "Oh please, no need to be sorry. I was just in a hurry."

"Please your highness, you don't need to help me, I've got it all," Gerda said.

"Don't be silly, I knocked them down, I'm going to clean it up," Anna laughed as she picked up the rest of the towels. "Here." She smiled as she handed the load of towels back to the maid.

Gerda paused for a minute, surprised at the princesses charm and kindness and smiled. "Thank you my lady, please, I can take it from here." She began to walk down the rest of the hall.

Right before she turned the corner, Anna shouted, "Oh! Wait! Have you by any chance seen Kristoff lately?"

Gerda turned and shook her head. "I'm sorry princess, not since early this morning."

"Thanks Gerda," Anna sighed. She watched the maid leave the hallway and blew a piece of hair out of her face again. The last thing she wanted to do was as run around the entire grounds looking for her fiancé. He always seemed to elude her whenever she was looking for him.

Guess that's what I get for sleeping in all the time. She pondered. He was always up hours before she was at the crack of dawn. Maybe I should start getting up earlier. She continued, knowing that was never going to happen.

She walked down the corridor until she came upon the door leading into Kristoff's room, though he hadn't slept in there lately since the engagement of course. She opened the door and scanned the room but as she expected, empty. She shut the door and pouted. He could be anywhere. She walked away and decided to confide in the next best thing; Sven.

She made her way through the palace and finally ended up at the front door. Beaming with utter excitement, she pushed open the grand palace doors and immediately felt a warm breeze. She took a few steps outside, not even needing a jacket, and twirled around. She closed her eyes breathed in the sweet smell of the air coming down from the mountains and the slightest hint of salt from the sea. The sun painted the stones of the courtyard with light and even more snow had thawed away, revealing even more fresh grass. She called to the guards to open the gates and she exited the palace interior, heading towards the stables. The streets were crowded with people hustling and busting about their daily lives; merchants trading their goods with each other, women searching the stands for that evenings supper, and children running up and down the alleyways with wooden swords pretending to be Royal Nights of Arendelle.

She approached a group of three boys who seemed to be locked in a serious battle amongst one another, "My good knights, you must be exhausted from protecting Arendelle with such valor."

The boys stopped in their tracks and bowed. "Princess Anna!"

One boy exclaimed "I was just about to save you and Queen Elsa from the evil dragon!" Pointing at one of his companions with shaggy brown hair.

The brown-haired boy opened his mouth wide and roared with all his might, although he sounded more like Sven's stomach when it's empty rather than a dragon.

"My goodness!" Anna gasped kneeling on the ground to be face level with them. "A scary dragon indeed! Please do everything you can to save me!" She laughed.

The boys resumed their mighty battle, and before long, one of them brought down the "dragon" with his sword. The brown-haired boy clenched his heart and collapsed with the melodramatic fall that every slewed dragon should.

Anna clapped and thanked her saviors, "Thank you valiant knights. To honor of your great acts of bravery, I shall make you honorary Arendelle Noblemen." She took one of their wooden swords and tapped their shoulders. "The Queen and I thank you for your heroic deed. I now christen you as Nobleman of Arendelle. Please, continue to protect our kingdom and have a new adventure."

The boys were ecstatic and could barely contain their excitement. They bowed, "Thank you your highness!"

Anna rose and curtseyed back, "No, thank you."

The three boys bounded down the alley, probably to tell their friends no doubt. It wasn't everyday that you were knighted by the princess after all. Anna turned and saw a few people had stopped to observe her with the children, all smiling in awe at the princess' kindness. Anna tucked her loose hair behind her ear and proceeded to move through the crowd in the direction of the stables. Stopping to respond to the occasional "Your Highness," and "Good afternoon princess."

She walked over to the stable blocks where stable hands were bringing horses in and out of stalls, cleaning buckets, and sweeping the floors. She stopped outside one of the larger stables on the end and peeked inside. "Sven!"

The reindeer lifted his head with a mouthful of fresh grass at the sound of her voice. He swallowed and greeted her with his familiar grunts.

"How ya doing boy?" she asked as she entered his stall. "Thought I would come and visit you. I don't have the patience to run around looking for Kristoff all afternoon."

"Gee, thanks," a voice called behind her.

Startled, Anna spun around at the sound. Her gaze met by the familiar, warm brown eyes and messy blonde hair that she loved so much. "Kristoff!"

"What, did I scare you?" he joked, entering the stall.

"Ha!" Anna lied, "Not in the slightest!" She crossed her arms, the way she always does when she's determined to prove her point.

Kristoff smiled, he always found her stubbornness to be oddly adorable. "Whatever you say," he said, pulling her close and kissing her nose.

She grinned, pleased with herself. She moved back to Sven and pulled out a couple strands of grass that had tangled themselves in his fur. She looked at Kristoff, who was setting an assortment of grooming tools and supplies on the ground that she wasn't familiar with. She stopped, "What's all that for?"

He paused, looked at her and then back at the supplies, "The weather is finally warming up. I need to take care of Sven's hooves and saw down his antlers a bit. They've gotten pretty long. The rest of the stuff I need to pack for the trip."

"Wait...what?" Anna said, her heart dropping down into her stomach.

He looked at her, and could see the distress written all over her face. "I already told you," he said. "I have to meet up with the other ice harvesters to start gathering ice by tomorrow."

Anna's eyes widened. "You...you're leaving today?"

Kristoff picked up a grooming brush, "Well, I can probably get away with leaving tomorrow morning if I leave early enough. I could be up in the north mountains late tomorrow evening if we're quick about it." He looked at Anna, who had no choice but to be absolutely stunned. She didn't think he would be leaving so soon. So much for her good mood. Kristoff could see the anxiety in her eyes, and set down the brush. "Hey," he comforted as he went over to embrace her. "No need to worry. You know I won't be gone for too long."

She rested her face against his warm, broad chest. Even through his thick sweater, she could still hear his heart beating; solid and strong. "I know," she admitted. "I don't know why I'm so anxious about it. I guess I'm just going to miss you."

He smiled, "I'll miss you too Anna." He lifted her chin to kiss her. He kissed her cheeks, her lips, her forehead, anywhere her face had skin. She couldn't help but crack a smile: he was always able to lift her spirits no matter what. "How about you help me out today alright?" he said. "Then I'll be able to get done faster, and we can spend the rest of the day together. Deal?"

She half smiled and agreed, "Deal."

They spent rest of the afternoon gathering his harvesting supplies, tending to Sven, and loading up his sled. After they had finished, they ate supper and strolled through the town square in the evening hours.

When the sun had set, the couple returned to castle and the gates were closed for the night. Kristoff returned to his room to get ready for bed, and Anna sauntered down the halls until she reached her sisters bedroom door. She knocked, "Elsa? Are you in there?" She opened the door and her skin shivered from the chill in the room. Her sister was sitting in front of her mirror taking out her braid. When she heard Anna's voice she turned to face her.

"Anna," she said. "How was your day?"

The princess shrugged, "It was pretty good." However, Elsa could see a flicker of doubt flash across her sisters face. She finished undoing her braid and stood up.

"Are you sure?" She asked. "Is everything alright?"

Anna walked over. "Kristoff is leaving early tomorrow morning for his trip."

The queen sighed and beckoned her to sit in the seat in front of her mirror. Anna sat down and looked at her reflection. Her French braid from that morning was loose and falling back behind her head and she had more strands of hair hanging along side her face than from before. She scowled, "That's the last time I try anything new with my hair."

Elsa laughed, "It wasn't that bad. I liked it." She picked up a brush and began to comb out the braid. Her cool hands maneuvering through the waves and curls until the braid fell out. "What has you so worried about Kristoff's trip?"

Anna thought for a moment, not knowing how to respond. "I don't know," she finally spoke. "I wasn't worried about it when he first told me. I don't understand why it's bothering me so much now."

"Just a part of being in love," Elsa said

"What do you mean?" Anna asked inquisitively.

"You being concerned about him leaving. It's just confirmation that you care deeply for him. It's a good thing." Elsa replied, working on sections of her sisters auburn hair.

"We'll it doesn't feel like a good thing," Anna looked down at her hands. Twirling her ring around her finger. She felt like she was worrying about nothing. He had been on this trip a hundred times before in his lifetime. "But I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right." Elsa set down the brush and lifted her sisters chin so she would look into the mirror.

Anna gasped. "How did you...?" Her hair was in long soft waves that reached down passed her shoulders. It was soft and shiny, and the blond streak on the right side gleamed like a frozen river. "Elsa, it's beautiful!"

The queen shook her head, "You're beautiful." Anna stood up and hugged her sister. Somehow Elsa knew just what to say to help her feel better. It was moments like these that she cherished with her sister. Elsa smiled, "Now go find Kristoff and get some sleep."

When Anna went back to her room she quickly changed into a light night gown and started a small fire in the fire place. Since the sun had set the temperature had gone down considerably, and Anna wasn't willing to give up the heat just yet. As soon as she lit the fire, she saw her door open, only to see Kristoff enter the room in his night shirt and pants.

He took one look at Anna and widened his eyes a little "Whoa..."

She shrugged, "Elsa did it for me." She smiled, "It is a little different isn't it?"

Kristoff shook his head, "You look beautiful." He walked over and sat on the bed.

She made her way to the other side where he was and stood in front of him. He took her hands into his and kissed them. When he looked up into her eyes he could see the worry etched in them. "I wish you wouldn't worry so much. You just aren't your usual spirited self."

She sighed, "I know. I don't feel like it either."

Kristoff frowned. He hated seeing her like this, full of doubt and stress. "Maybe a little sleep will bring back my feisty-pants."

She couldn't help but chuckle, "You're probably right, it's been a pretty long day I suppose."

Kristoff took her wrists and pulled her down onto the bed next to him. He rolled the blanket over them as Anna laid her head on his chest.

"Don't leave without saying goodbye tomorrow," Anna's voice cracked.

He kissed the top of her head, "Of course."

As the night hours passed, they slowly drifted to sleep in each other's arms. The firelight caressing them and kissing the walls of the room, keeping the darkness at bay. There was a warmth and a peace that would lull any other person into a deep sleep in an instant, but that night Anna's dreams were full of ice and bad dreams.

The next morning, Anna was shaken awake by some unknown night terror. She lifted her head, groggy, trying to feel the bed next to her for her fiancé, but all that was there was a mess of sheets. She sat up alarmed, and looked out her window. The sun was starting to shine through between the mountain peaks and the towns people were already starting their day. He wouldn't leave without saying goodbye would he? She didn't have time to answer. She threw her messy hair into a bun and threw a long jacket over her nightgown. She flew down the halls and out into a courtyard, running in a blur trying to get to the stables.

She ran down the stable block to Sven's stall, and when she came to his stall, it was empty. Fear shot through her like a lightning strike, fast and powerful. "Kristoff..." she whispered.

She backed away from the stall and ran to the shed where he kept his sled. She opened the doors and was relieved to see him hitching Sven up to the black sled. Olaf was there helping load up food and the rest of the supplies into the back.

"Kristoff," she breathed. She went over and threw herself at him and hugged him around his waist.

"Anna!" he exclaimed "What's the matter? Are you okay?"

"Hey Anna!" Olaf greeted. "Great timing. We were just about to come wake you up!"

She looked at the snowman, "You were? I woke up and you weren't there Kristoff, I was afraid you, you know, left." She looked back up at the mountain man.

Kristoff smiled, "I told you, I would never leave without saying goodbye." He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry I scared you."

She chuckled, "No I'm sorry, I guess I over reacted you know?"

"Okay Kristoff, everything's all packed," Olaf said, walking up to Sven and scratching his nose. "Aw I'm gonna miss my cute little reindeer."

"How many times don't have to tell you, don't talk to him like that," Kristoff said. Olaf laughed and led Sven out towards the outer gates of Arendelle.

Kristoff and Anna followed them and stopped just outside the tall iron gates that opened to the trails that led up to the mountains. He turned to her and embraced her with all his might. "I'll be back in a few weeks time, I promise," he said to her.

Though not even remotely as strong, she hugged him as tightly as she could, "Just be careful when you're up there, okay?"

He lifted her face to his and kissed her, "I will."

He released her and got into his sled. Olaf walked back and stood next to Anna, his own personal snow cloud following him. "Bye guys! See you soon!"

"Thanks for all your help Olaf," Kristoff turned to Anna, "Goodbye."

She gave him a half smile, "Bye."

Kristoff snapped the reins and Sven took off. He looked back and waved one last time before disappearing into the trees.

Anna waved back, keeping in mind his promise to be careful. Everything will be fine. Ice is his life. She thought to herself.

Olaf looked at Anna in her night gown and jacket with no shoes on. "Let's get you back inside Anna! Don't want to get frost bite on your toes!" He took her hand and started leading her back into the direction of the palace. She took one more look back at the tracks that Kristoff's sled had made, and just couldn't shake the feeling that something horrible was going to go wrong.