She was running, running across the ice. The princess gripped her chest in terror and pain as cold bloomed within her, frost encasing the bodice of her dress and corset. White dots blinked in her vision as icy wind stung her rosy cheeks, the cold taking its toll on her frail body as her running slowed to a walk. Anna pushed on though. She had to. The pain she felt didn't matter. Not when she still had a chance.

Her legs carried her forward as a familiar scene began to appear ahead of her. Two figures and a snow drift, laid out on the ice in silence as she grew nearer. The figures became familiar, taking the shape of a man and a woman. Anna felt a wave of sickness pass over her as she pushed forward, seeing the danger her older sister faced.

Elsa was slumped on the ground, crying, as Hans raised a sword over her in position to strike and kill.

The princess felt a rush of adrenaline, pushing her, wanting her to go faster. But as she got closer, things began to change.

The silver in the queen's braid grew more vibrant, golden almost, frost dimming the shining color. It shortened to crop around her head. The ice blue dress darkened to a grey. It became more rugged, worn, as the figure became more bulky and big. It wasn't Elsa slumped before her now.

It was Kristoff.

The snow drift had changed too. Instead of being pure white, it was taking the form of an animal.

Sven's brown fur glistened with caked and frozen blood, the spots of red hardening on the ice. A sword protruded from the creatures back, its large brown eyes rolled back in its head.

Hans still stood, leaning over the fallen man with a smirk that made Anna want to gag. She was desperate to continue, to try and reach the ice cutter. Her legs moved, one step after another, as she got closer.

Her breath slowed and left her as another sword suddenly appeared in the prince's grip, a cruel and maniacal laugh erupting as the weapon swung down, and entered the mountain man's back with the sickening sound of slicing flesh as a choked breath surfaced from Kristoff. Anna felt herself weeping, the tears freezing in small drops before they could even leave her eyes.

Frost began to inch up her as she began to freeze, the ice growing and crystallizing within her as Hans turned his head to face Anna. She flinched, but found she couldn't move.

He came close, and whispered something into her ear.

"Oh Anna, if only there was somebody out there who loved you."

And then her vision went black.


"Anna dear?"

Her eyes blinked, the tears muddling her vision as a fuzzy silhouette leaned over her and made its presence known. Its voice was distinctly female; somewhat matronly.

"Elsa?"

The figure came into focus, a pudgy and round face, her dark hair braided in a bun that was hidden beneath a green bonnet.

"No dear," Gerda seemed to trail off, her voice had a distinct cracking to it, as if she was on the verge of crying herself.

Anna blinked, tears starting a slow decent down her cheeks as she realized Elsa was dead. Not that she hadn't known anyway. Hope still resided in her.

But Gerda was still company.

"I'm sorry Gerda. It's just-"

"I know dear." Gerda cut her off, her eyes falling to the floor as Anna sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"What is it?" Anna found herself looking out her window at the harbor, as if it were daytime. Instead, the lanterns of fishing vessels cast a golden glow along the shoreline in the starry night.

"I just was strolling by and heard sounds from your bedroom. Figured I should check on you." The maid shrugged.

Anna found herself smiling. Gerda and Kai, the head servants of the Arendelle castle, took to personally seeing every detail which the royals often overlooked in their schedule. In a way, they seemed like family to Anna, especially after her parents untimely deaths at sea.

It was Gerda who broke the news to Anna the day it was concluded they had drowned, and helped the princess through the grieving process with plenty rich broths and heartfelt words. Kai had the job of doing the same to Elsa, but he handled it with all the grace and kindness a father would, despite Elsa's terror and icy reaction.

In their more private moments, Anna found herself confiding in the old maid when she felt strongly enough on the matter. In recent weeks though, she was silent. This worried Kai and Gerda more than anyone, the pair used to seeing the bright doey eyes and small dimples in her freckled cheeks.

"Thank you, I just had a nightmare that's all."

Anna felt her hands drawing up to her braids, which had begun to undo themselves as they always did in her comatose-like sleep.

Gerda nodded, and motioned to a tray that sat on a side table across the room.

"Well then," She stood up and walked over to the tray. "I figured you'd want some tea. Why don't you tell me about this dream? I've got time." Gerda poured two cups and added the customary two sugars Anna always took.

Anna bit her lip, not sure if she could tell anyone. But a look at the kindly woman told her that Gerda was the best thing she had right now. Who better?

The maid sat down on the side of the bed and handed Anna her tea, only for the princess to realize she had yet to change out of her attire, with the exception of the red satin cloak that always made her wonder if the seamstress had accidentally sewed one of the dining halls curtains by accident. The cloak was tossed loosely over the vanity chair, the bright color hardly visible in the soft light of the lit candelabras.

Anna sighed, and began to speak.

"So it was on the day of the thawing… you know, when-" Her voice seized up as a lump welled in her throat. Gerda patted her on the back softly and nodded.

Anna took a gulp of her tea and continued.

"Hans; he was over Elsa, with a sword ready to kill her. I was stumbling through the ice. I saw him swing the sword."

Gerda nodded, her eyes alight with silent fear that a child would experience going into a dark closet.

"But as I got closer… it changed. The snow drift was a reindeer; his reindeer."

Gerda raised her eyebrows puzzled, and Anna realized she had never spoken of Kristoff to anyone aside from her fiance.

"Kristoff; the prisoner." She responded and the puzzled look melted away.

"But Kristoff was there; sobbing; this reindeer was his best friend, my best friend;" Anna paused and wished she could explain it better.

"And then Hans killed him."

Gerda brought a hand to her mouth. Anna paused but the woman nodded to continue.

"But then Hans came up to me; and said those words…" She trailed off.

"What words dear?" Gerda broke her silence.

Anna took a breath and knotted her hands after setting the teacup down. "Oh Anna, if only there was somebody out there who loved you."

The silence hung in the air for a long time.

"You don't love him do you?"

Anna felt nothing at this question. A week ago a flat out denial would've been the response. But things had changed; many things.

Now, Anna felt anything but love for her 'prince charming'.

"No." Anna sighed. "But we can't break this agreement. I can't. I want to but I can't." Anna felt a rush of anger and an urge to pummel Hans.

Just where was that courage when I needed it, Anna asked herself.

"Well why not?" Gerda's voice suddenly became stern, as if she were an eight year old girl asking why she couldn't have her doll fixed at cheap.

Anna gulped, and shook her head.

"I can't. He's threatened me enough already. I can't say no, even if I want to." She wished she didn't have to explain her feelings to Gerda for a moment, wishing she could leave the matter for her to handle.

"Threatened you?" Gerda's eyes flashed ever so slightly.

"With worse. I can't though."

"Can't what?"

"Fight back!" Anna snapped, gripping her crown of strawberry blonde hair and tugging at it with all her anger, the pain not even registering from the blinding rage.

Gerda stilled, the anger and sternness replaced with silence.

Anna took a deep breath, and started again.

"I can't fight back because there's too much to lose. He knows; Hans knows; about Kristoff, about everything. About us kissing, about us and our journey, Gerda," Anna's eyes darkened for a moment.

"If I fight back, Kristoff will die."


"Prince Hans?"

The royal heard a voice from the other end of his guest room door, his mind distracted for the the moment from the thick and worn novel he was reading.

"Yes? Who is it?" Hans found his response ringing with annoyance. It had been such a wonderful evening, what with his book going so well. That little Red Riding Hood, trusting strangers only to be eaten alive by a wolf.

A fate well deserved, Hans figured and almost chuckled at the irony.

"It's Kai, head servant." The responded with no change in tone. "May I come in?"

"Yes, enter. If the matter is that important." Hans rolled his eyes and set the book carelessly on the floor, the binding folding in wrinkles from the position.

The door opened and he saw an aging man with a rather unfortunately large nose. His nutmeg brown hair was balding, leaving a ring around his head with hints of grey at the roots. He had a fairly round belly that suggested decent nourishment. His evergreen uniform glowed slightly in the light of the candle he was holding.

"Now," Hans began and stood. "What is the matter that requires my attention at such a late hour?" His eyes drifted to the clock on the fireplaces mantle, the time 10:30 and far too late for him to be up unless he was bored.

"The matter in question is the imprisonment of Sir Kristoff-"

"Refrain from titles; the man is hardly deserving of any." Hans growled.

"The imprisonment of Kristoff Bjorgman." Kai continued, and set the candle to rest on a side table.

"What about it servant?"

Kai seemed slightly taken aback at the word servant, but his tone remained warm.

"I wished to discuss the matter because his trial is scheduled for next week."

The prince raised an eyebrow in skepticism, as if not having heard the elderly servant correctly. "And this is suddenly so important that it involves interrupting me?"

"I suppose not. I simply wished to check the date of the trial so there may be time to select the jury."

Kai turned to leave, but what Hans replied with stopped him in his tracks.

"You assume that a matter of attempted regicide is worthy of being judged by mere commoners?" Hans almost laughed at the apparent audacity of the servants words.

Silence followed as Kai sighed.

"Your majesty with all do respect, Kristoff Bjorgman has yet to have been viably charged of anything." The man's voice seemed to tighten like the gears of an old machine.

"Attempted regicide is something for the council to witness, not the bias of a jury that will no doubt side with their own." Hans raised his voice ever so slightly, his gaze falling on a painting that hung above the mantel.

"Your majesty, in the Southern Isles capital punishment may be more common. But while residing in Arendelle; you must obey our laws and customs."

Hans stared.

"Regardless of your title." Kai finished with a huff.

The young prince rose to his full height, which was an inch taller in the boots he'd kept on. His gaze darkened.

"You listen to me, servant." Hans' voice was cold and icy. "I don't give a damn about your government that was instituted by a homicidal ice sorceress. At the moment I am the highest power in this kingdom. My engagement to Anna entitles me all the power of a regent. You may have your disagreements about my nature. But regardless of your feelings the council will be deciding the icemans fate along with witness testimony from princess Anna, myself, and the dukes of who believed they saw him attempting murder. Do you understand me?"

Kai scowled up at him.

He nodded.

Hans felt the anger leave him.

"Yes prince Hans." Kai responded, the warm tone replaced with a begrudging and icy tone that matched Hans' in a near startling manner. The door slammed, and Hans was alone once more to continue his story.

"All the better to kill him with, my dear." Hans gave a dark chuckle and shut the book.