Part Two: Sitting cross-legged on the ground

Krista can hardly believe the nightmare has ended. Can hardly believe that after everything that happened, she and Sven were asked to stay here as guests of honor at the castle.

She wakes from the best sleep she's had in recent memory to the sound of birdsong floating through the open window, curtains billowing in a warm breeze. She rises, gets washed up, marvels at the fine weave and detailed trim of the clothing that's been left for her in the wardrobe, then pulls on a freshly pressed pair of trousers, shirt and vest.

None of it feels real.

Anna is safe. Anna is alive. Anna got her sister back, Krista repeats to herself. It's all that really matters.

She's not sure what's expected of her now, after the thaw; yesterday was a blur of activity in town, the royal sisters going about mending property and relations alike, Krista accompanying them at Anna's insistence, Sven and Olaf in tow. In the end, exhaustion set in and they retired to the castle.

("Thank you," the Queen said to her emphatically at the bottom of the spiral staircase, "we'll speak more tomorrow." And when Anna said, "Good night, Krista," and touched her forearm while smiling that smile, she forgot how to respond and only managed a nod before being led away by the head butler.)

All Krista knows is she shouldn't outstay her welcome, so she puts on her sash and boots and leaves the borrowed sleeping quarters in search of her hosts.

The guest wing of the castle is quiet. It's mid-morning; most of the visiting officials and nobility have gone down to the docks by now, the ships loaded and made ready for sailing. Krista wanders the halls, nearly empty but for a handful of household staff going about their duties, one of whom stops to point her in the right direction. She helps herself to bread and brunost from the breakfast spread she finds laid out for visitors in the ballroom, pockets an apple for Sven, and heads outside to the stables.

Sven is missing from his stall; so is the bag of supplies she left with him the night before. Krista's about to start interrogating the nearest stablehand when a familiar voice draws her back out to the courtyard.

"Olaf?" she calls. "Where is everybody?"

The snowman turns his head from the fountain he's apparently been conversing with, sees Krista and runs over with a wide smile.

"Hi, Krista! Isn't it a beautiful day?" Olaf skids to a halt in front of her and clasps his twiggy fingers together. "I saw Anna taking Sven to the marketplace earlier. She wouldn't say why exactly... something about a surprise."

"Oh," says Krista. A surprise? "Okay? Thanks."

"No problem!" Olaf replies cheerily, and off he goes, chasing a butterfly.

Krista continues out the gates in a bemused state. She has to hand it to Olaf, though - it is a beautiful day. Sunlight glints in a myriad sparkles across the harbor, the waters bluer even than the sky above. The surrounding cliffs, lush once more with verdant foliage, soar up, up over the fjord, as if standing sentinel over the many steep-roofed houses that dot the mountainside.

There's movement in the corner of her eye and Krista looks toward it just in time to see a lone figure dressed in green barreling down the bridge, copper braids flying.

Anna tackles her with enough force to make her stagger backwards. "Krista!" she squeals while hugging her tight. "You're finally awake!"

Krista windmills her arms in an attempt to stay balanced. "Anna, what—"

"You're coming with me!" Anna has reached up and covered Krista's eyes with a blindfold faster than she can react.

"Why?"

"You'll see! Now come on," is all Anna says in reply. She jumps back, grabs Krista by the hand and yanks her into a run, dodging bystanders, going in the direction she just came from. "Come on, come on!"

CLANG.

"Pole," Krista wheezes.

"Sorry!" Anna tugs her to the right and stops after a few more steps. "Okay! Okay. Here we are." She whisks the blindfold off.

Krista blinks at the sudden return of light. Blinks again when she takes in what they're looking at.

"I owe you a sled." Anna sounds as pleased with herself as Sven looks; the reindeer saunters up and rests a hoof on its polished wooden bow, a gleaming silver medallion draped over his neck.

Krista's jaw drops. "Seriously? No. I can't accept this."

She's never been gifted anything before, never had the people in her life who would do such a thing. Anna is bouncing with excitement, plowing over Krista's objections with a non-stop stream of chatter, something about the Queen naming her Arendelle's official ice master and deliverer (that's not a thing… is it?), rattling off the sled's features and qualities. The words wash over Krista, bathe her in a warm glow. A wave of affection swells from somewhere deep inside her chest; she looks at Anna and in her mind's eye they're back in the valley, only now there's no danger looming, no threat of losing her, just Anna, Anna, buoyant and full of life and here.

"Do you like it?" Anna asks, eyes wide, an uncharacteristic shyness in her voice.

"Like it? I love it!" Krista lifts her clear off the cobblestones and spins around in a joyous circle. "I could kiss you!"

Krista's brain catches up to her mouth a split second later. Oh no. Not again. Not with her.

She lets go of Anna like she's been scalded, pulls back, arms folding low, and bunches her traitorous hands into fists at her waist.

"Not- not that I would," the words spill out of Krista in a panicked rush when she sees Anna's smile falter. She feels a cold, heavy pit lodge beneath her sternum. "I mean, that would be..."

"Yeesh, right?" Anna offers with a nervous chuckle.

"Right." Krista's answering laugh rings hollow in her ears. There's an awkward pause, Anna biting her lower lip and Krista staring at the ground. She forces her gaze upward, sees with a start that Anna is studying her face with an indecipherable mix of emotions in her eyes.

Feeling exposed, Krista clears her throat and lifts a hand to rub the back of her neck. "I, uh..."

"I should go," Anna blurts. She retreats a step, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Elsa's setting up an ice rink later today and I should check on her, um, in case she needs anything."

She turns to leave, makes it a few steps, turns back and adds, "But you should definitely come to that! It'll be lots of fun!"

Krista is at a loss for words.

Anna spins around to start off again and nearly collides with the same pole. She grabs hold of it with both hands, swinging around it — "And bring Sven too!" she finishes before slingshotting herself on a trajectory back to the castle. Not a moment later, she's disappeared amidst the crowd.

In a daze, Krista walks over to the sled — it really is a fine piece of craftsmanship — and slumps against its side, mouth dry, shoulders hunched. Sven nudges her.

"Yeah buddy, I know." She looks at him, looks down at her hands. It wouldn't be the first time her inability to keep her idiot mouth shut has gotten her into trouble. "I know," she sighs.