Kristoff, Arendelle's Official Ice Master and Harvester, rode in his sleigh pulled by Sven along with all the other ice harvesters on their sleighs and wagons, as they came towards Arendelle after a long hard week of ice harvesting from the frozen lakes in the mountains.
Many were at first skeptical of Elsa putting Kristoff in charge of the harvest, but he soon proved himself a capable man as the quality and quantity of ice increased dramatically, earning him a place at the castle as one of Elsa's business counselors.
That was how Kristoff first came to know Princess Anna. They became good friends, as Anna would sometimes go with Kristoff to 'supervise' and 'oversee' the ice harvesting.
Then one day, they found they could no longer deny their true feeling for one another.
They kept their love a secret, but then the day came then it was proposed that Anna should marry Prince Haldor.
When Kristoff heard that, he told Anna if they married now, she wouldn't have to marry the prince, or they could run away together, and start a new life.
But Anna told Kristoff that she couldn't leave her sister or her people. She then told him that he would have to find someone else to love.
Heartbroken. Kristoff left Arendelle with the rest of the harvesters the next day without saying goodbye to Anna as she prepared for her wedding.
Kristoff had hoped that harvesting ice for the next week would help him forget Anna, but it did little to lighten his sorrowful and angry mood.
As the harvesters came within sight of Arendelle, Kristoff didn't seem to notice until his fellow harvester called to him. "Hey, Kristoff!"
"Hmm, what is it Josh?" Kristoff asked.
"its Arendelle sir, we are almost there," said Josh.
Looking ahead, Kristoff saw the village and castle of Arendelle now within eyesight. "Oh yes, so we are," he mumbled.
"Gee, it's too bad we had to leave right before the royal wedding," said one of the harvesters. "I sure would have liked to stay and enjoy the celebration."
"Well, someone has to deliver the ice for all our trading partners," said another.
Hearing the harvesters talk about wedding made Kristoff feel even more upset as they rode down towards the village.
When they got closer and saw the harbor, Josh whistled. "Would you look at all those ships. There must be dozens of them."
Kristoff saw the ships, and then realized that after all the ice they had harvested, there was still not enough for all of them.
Great, Kristoff thought. Just like last time, another supply and demand problem.
Even with Kristoff and every other harvester collecting as much ice as they possibly could. They still could not meet the quota for all their buyers across the continent.
While he was thinking this, Kristoff then heard Josh say. "Hey, look at that."
Everyone then saw two Southern Isles ships anchored at the harbor's exit, blockading all the other ships from leaving.
Something's not right, Kristoff realized when he saw this, and he singled for Sven to go faster.
When the harvesters reached the village, they were greeted by several guards, both Arendelle and Westergaard.
"Master Kristoff," said one of the guards. "Glad to see you all made it back safely."
Kristoff ignored the friendly greeting and said. "Guard, what is going on here, why is the harbor sealed off?"
The guard took a moment to answer. "It is to prevent anyone form leaving while the investigation is under way."
"What investigation?"
"The murder sir,"
"Murder, whose murder?" Kristoff demanded.
"Prince Haldor Westergaard of the Southern Isles," answered one of the Southern Isles guards as he approached Kristoff. "He was poisoned at his own wedding feast."
The news shocked Kristoff and the other ice harvesters.
"What, Prince Haldor was killed?" asked Kristoff, and the guard nodded. "By who?"
"By your Princess Anna!" Sneered the Westergaard.
The Arendelle guard then turned to him. "We don't know if it was her or not."
"It was her," said the Westergaard. I was there when she handed Haldor his cup and how he pointed right at-"
"Wait!" Kristoff yelled at the guards. "Anna is accused of killing Haldor?"
"That's right,' said the Westergaard. "She poisoned my Prince and will soon face- Hey!"
Kristoff jumped off his sleigh and grabbed the guard by his collar, then lifted him off his feet. "Where is she, what has happened to her!"
The Westergaard gagged. "She's being held in the castle, awaiting her punishment."
Kristoff then threw the guard to the ground. "Josh, take the ice to the storehouse."
Dumfounded by what Kristoff just did, Josh asked. "Alright, but what about you?"
Kristoff didn't answer, he just walked pas the other guards who were too afraid of Kristoff to stop him as he headed towards the castle.
It was nice being back in her own room instead of the prison, although bars had been placed over her windows and guards now stood outside her door, preventing her from leaving.
Anna sat at the window staring out onto the kingdom, wondering what was going on out there when she heard talking outside her door, then shouting, before the doors barged opened.
Kristoff! Anna waited until after the doors were closed behind him, before she suddenly ran from the window towards the ice harvester who met her halfway across the room.
They embraced for a long time.
Kristoff then released Anna for a moment before pressing his lips against hers Anna returned the kiss eagerly.
When they pulled apart again, Kristoff looked at her worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Anna assured him. "I'm fine."
"What happened?"
"Oh Kristoff," she said as she hugged him again, laying her head on his shoulder. "It was terrible. After the wedding, Haldor began to mock Elsa at the feast, he then told me to be a good wife and serve him his wine. But when he drank it, he suddenly choked and died."
"It's alright," said Kristoff as he looked into her fearful eyes. "You are safe now."
"But Kristoff. Everyone believes I killed him," Anan said scared.
"But you didn't… right?" Kristoff then asked.
Anna broke away from him. "What? No! How could you even say that?"
"Sorry," said Kristoff. "But from what you said of the prince, it sounds like you're glad he's dead."
"I'm not… Well, I'm glade that I'm no longer married to him, but I didn't kill him." Anna said defensively.
"I believe you," said Kristoff as he pulled her towards him again. "And don't worry. I'm sure we will find who really did this."
Anna looked unconvinced. "But Haldor's mother the Queen. She believes I am guilty and has demanded I be executed. And Hans is doing everything he can but so far hasn't found any clues yet."
"Who's Hans?" asked Kristoff.
"Prince Hans, he's Haldor's youngest brother," replied Anna.
Kristoff was surprised. "His brother?"
Anna nodded. "Yes, but he is different from Haldor. He is good and kind, and is trying to prove I am innocent."
"But what about Elsa, what has she been doing?"
Anna looked down. "She…she has been trying to keep order in Arendelle while dealing with all the guest and ambassadors from the other kingdoms as Hans investigates the murder."
"But what does she believe, does she think you're innocent?"
"I…I don't know," Anna confessed.
Kristoff understood. "She hasn't come to see you yet, has she?"
Anna sighed. "Elsa has been very busy now."
"But she could at least send word to you or something right?" asked Kristoff confused. "Why would she not come see you?"
Anna looked up at him. "I think it's my fault."
"What do you mean?" asked Kristoff.
Anna turned away from him and starred at the floor. "After you left for the mountains, I felt my heart breaking, not just because I had to leave you and marry someone else, but because it was Elsa who ordered me to do it. I was so angry with her that I said something terrible at her."
"What did you say?"
"I told her 'That, I hated her and that I never wanted to talk to her again'." Anna tearfully confessed.
"Anna," said Kristoff calmly. "You shouldn't blame your sister, she was just tying to save her kingdom."
"What do you mean?" asked Anna looking at him.
"Well, Elsa didn't want you to know this. But…" Kristoff said, scratching the back of his neck. "You see, Arendelle is having problems with its trading business. We have so many kingdoms requesting more shipments of ice, But Arendelle is such a small kingdom with so few people, that we cannot harvest enough to meet their demands. And we can't hire more workers across the sea, because we don't have the money or means of transporting them here.
"When the Westergaards of Southern Isles heard about our situation, they agreed to help us if Elsa agreed to marry you, to Prince Haldor. Elsa at first did not want to and instead tried to have Haldor marry her."
"What? Elsa never told me that," said Anna.
"She didn't want you to know," explained Kristoff. "But, the Westergaards refused Elsa's offer and said they would only marry Haldor to you. Since no one else was willing to forge an alliance with our kingdom, Elsa had no choice but to accept.
"You mean, Elsa was willing to marry that man, so I wouldn't have to?" Anna asked. Kristoff nodded.
She couldn't stopped crying as guilt welled up inside her. Kristoff did his best to calm her. "Oh, what have I done? I'm sorry, I should have never had said that to her."
"Its okay," whispered Kristoff. "I'm sure she doesn't feel badly about you. And once you are out of here, you can tell her yourself."
"But, will she forgive me?" asked Anna sadly.
"Of course she will," said Kristoff smiling. "In fact, I'm supposed to go see her about today's delivery, I can give her a message if you like."
Anna was unsure of what to say. "Um… just, tell her, I'm sorry for what I said."
Kristoff stood straight and tall. "Very well, my Princess, I will deliver your message. But, one more thing," he then knelt before Anna. "I know this may not be the right place for it, but I'm afraid if I wait too long, someone else might marry you again."
Taking her hands and looking up at Anna with his brown eyes that almost sparkled with hope. "Anna, when all of this is over. Will you be my wife?"
Anna now cried with joy. "Yes!" she almost burst. "Yes, I will marry you."
They kissed once more for a long time until Kristoff had to leave to go see Elsa.
Laying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling with her cheeks so red they almost glowed, as she thought about Kristoff, about their life they would have together, and then about Elsa.
I'm sorry Elsa, I should never have thought wrongly about you. I hope someday you will forgive me.