FROZEN 2: FIRE & ICE

Chapter 6

Anna told Elsa that everything had pretty much returned to normal, "Kristoff is nearly caught up with his ice deliveries and little Christina's missing tooth is starting to grow in. Then she added, "And, there is the part about the Queen being some kind of crazy heroin." She smiled and batted her eyes at her sister.

Elsa asked, "Really?"

Anna added, "Oh yeah. There was also a new person in town. Old Bjorn, the blacksmith, finally found an apprentice. He arrived just a few days ago.

"Apprentice?" Elsa asked.

Anna giggled, "Yeah…Dreamy". She batted her eyes again.

"Dreamy?" Elsa asked.

Anna blushed and quickly responded, "…or so I'm told."

Elsa eyed Anna suspiciously, "…so you were told?" Elsa grinned.

Elsa did not have much of an appetite and was still a little unsteady when she stood up. Anna jumped to her feet and reached for her sister. Elsa assured Anna that she was alright and that she would just have to go slow. Elsa leaned over the table toward Anna, "Perhaps we should go into town tomorrow and see this…new tooth." The sisters smiled at each other.

The next morning Queen Elsa was feeling much better but decided to refrain from using magic for a while. Since her signature dress was ruined in the battle, she had to resort to the more traditional clothes in her wardrobe.

When Elsa changed she quietly gasped at the scares on Elsa's side. Apparently, mystical injuries don't heal as well as traditional wounds. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about what Elsa had done for her. Now, she loved her sister more than ever.

When Elsa finally got dressed she looked at Anna with a pouting face, "I miss my dress."

Anna came back with a request, "When you feel better perhaps you could make me another one?" Elsa grinned.

Elsa and Anna walked together through the open gates and into town unannounced. But, it didn't stay unannounced for long. People gathered around wanting to meet their brave Queen.

Anna told her sister, "It didn't take long for the story of our adventure to get out. You are a folk hero!"

The Royal Sisters greeted everyone and moved from shop to shop. They found a group of girls playing and one of them had a new tooth growing in. Christina and her playmates wanted Elsa to make another ice slide. But, Elsa wasn't sure if she would be able to and begged for forgiveness. The children understood and gave Elsa flowers that they had collected. Elsa was touched by their kindness.

Everywhere Elsa went a crowd gathered. She never felt so loved and the experience made her feel better about herself. As they made their way through town people talked about the hottest news in town—the new apprentice. He was hardworking, kind, a mystery, and he was dreamy. Sometimes, he even played with the children.

Elsa could hear a faint sound coming from the edge of town; the sound of a hammer striking an anvil in a hypnotic rhythm that resonated louder as they drew near the blacksmith shop. The front doors were swung wide open exposing the entire shop, as viewed from the street.

The crowd stopped in front of the shop and they could see a young man striking metal on his anvil. He pounded a horseshoe into shape to the tune of a popular folk song. Anna could not resist and joined in chorus for the last few words, then giggled.

Bjorn brought forward his new apprentice to meet the Queen.

He made a formal introduction, "Your majesty, may I present my new apprentice."

The young man was taller than most and quite handsome. He approached Queen Elsa, leaned down to his right to set his hammer down on the ground and then bowed.

Bjorn continued, "This is Fredrick Smith."

Queen Elsa gave a pleasant smile and said, "Hi."

Fredrick was shy so he followed formal protocol. He bowed, "You're…You're Majesty." He was visibly a little nervous.

Elsa welcomed him to Arendelle, "I hope you will like it here. Do you plan to stay long?"

Fredrick was captivated by her eyes and could only manage to nod his head yes. Bjorn nudged Fredrick.

He looked at Bjorn and said, "Oh! I love it here. I'll stay as long as Bjorn will be my master—as long as I can be of use to the people of Arendelle."

Elsa told him that she was glad he was there. She bowed slightly, turned and walked away. The crowd followed.

Fredrick bent over to pick up his hammer and then stood tall. He looked at the crowd that was leaving and he watched Queen Elsa. Elsa was interacting with the people in the crowd but still managed to look back through the sea of people and smiled at Fredrick.

That night Elsa sat at her window. She could hear the faint ringing of Fredrick's hammer. Suddenly, she found herself singing out load. It was the Folksong Fredrick sung earlier that day.

Anna walked up behind Elsa unnoticed. She could not help herself and once again chimed in for the last few words of the song. Elsa had the look of a child who just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She was busted!

Anna sat down beside her sister and leaned over toward her, "Go talk to him."

Elsa buried her face in her hands out of frustration and embarrassment, "Arugh!"

Queen Elsa wasn't sure if her feelings were guiding her or fooling her. She was conflicted. She called for Olaf.

When he trotted into the room she asked,"Olaf, you are a love expert, right?"

Olaf answered, "Yeah. Why?"

She asked him to tell her how two people make a connection. Anna squeaked with excitement.

Olaf said, "You can't make it happen; it just does."

He asked if she was talking about her meeting with the apprentice Fredrick. The queen nodded, "Yes."

Olaf continued, "When you two parted, did he look back at you? And, when you left, did you look back at him?"

Elsa answered, "I think so..." She smiled,"…and yes to the second question."

Olaf looked hard and long at Elsa. She had just answered her own question.

Elsa started pacing back and forth in front of the window. She looked out the window for a moment, "But, how do I…" She sighed.

Olaf looked up at her and said, "A man has to eat." He then looked out the window with her.

The Queen thrust her hands downward and said, "No! I can't be seen; I shouldn't be seen. I mean…I'm the Queen!" Anna and Olaf both give her the 'duh' look.

Anna reminded her of a few simple facts, "Look. I'm dating a mountain man. Punz married a notorious thief. What's the big deal? So, Fredrick is a blacksmith. Breaking rules is something that runs in our family."

Elsa didn't want to parade out the front gate, "No it just won't work." She paced back and forth ringing her hands.

Finally, Anna suggested using the side gate.

Elsa looked puzzled, "Side gate?"

Anna retorted, "Oh, that's right. You locked yourself in your room all those years. So, I'll just have to go with you!"

Elsa started to panic, "But, what do I take? You know…food!"

Olaf lifted his head up as high as he could reach, "Wine".

Anna added, "Crackers."

Olaf, "Wine."

Anna, "Sausages."

Olaf, "Wine."

Anna, "Warm Bread." Both girls looked at Olaf for a few seconds.

Olaf lowered his head back onto his body, "and Wine."

Elsa and Anna walk out of the room and Olaf trotted behind them, "Do you know what my favorite wine is?—I don't want to go to work today." He giggled. The ladies stopped, looked at Olaf and smiled. Then the sisters continued down the hallway.

Olaf followed them, "I have just one question. What does the word 'work' mean? I'm very confused about it."

Elsa and Anna prepared a basket of food and slipped out the castle's side gate. They made their way toward the blacksmith shop and as they got closer they could hear the ringing of Fredrick's Hammer. The large doors were closed but a smaller door on the side of the building was open.

Elsa stopped just outside the open door, she stood still for a second, and turned around to hurry away, "No, No, No, No! I can't do this."

Anna blocked her way, put her hands on her sister's shoulders, looked her directly in the eyes and turned Elsa around. Before Elsa realized what had happened, Anna had pushed her through the doorway and knocked really loud. Then she ducked back outside to watch through the window.

Fredrick looked up and was surprised to see Elsa. He immediately hid his glowing left hand behind his back. When he was sure she was looking away he plunged his hand into the bucket of water.

Elsa was bashful and looked at the ground. She held the basket in her left hand and tugged her ponytail with her right. Elsa looked up at Fredrick through the sides of her eyes, "Hi."

Fredrick bowed, "You're Majesty!"

"Let's be informal, please. I heard you working and thought…" Elsa raised the basket of food. Fredrick was so nervous that he did not know what to say. His mouth opened but no sound came out.

Elsa looked embarrassed and said, "Maybe…This was a bad idea. I'd better go."

Fredrick finally found his voice, "Uh…Please, stay."

Elsa quickly replied, "Great!" "I mean O.K." "Are you hungry?"

Fredrick said yes and in fact he was quite hungry. He, again, called her, "You're Majesty."

Elsa made another request, "Elsa. Please."

Fredrick cleared the bench and cleaned off a stool for Elsa; Anna was outside peering through the window doing the happy dance. Elsa and Fredrick talked for hours. They talked until the sun started to rise.

As a warning of the encroaching morning, Anna did a very bad imitation of a rooster's crow. But, Elsa got the message.

Elsa got up to leave, "I really enjoyed our visit. Let's do it again…sometime?"

Fredrick said, "Anytime." He smiled as she walked backwards toward the door.

She stumbled and bumped her way out. Just before going outside, she stopped and smiled through squinting eyes. She hurried past Anna and headed back to the castle. Anna had to run to catch up.

They finally stopped, held hands, and jumped up and down in a circle with excitement. Then they raced the rising sun back to the side gate of the castle. Elsa had finally had her first date.

Over the course of the next few weeks, Elsa and Fredrick crossed paths—a lot; sometimes by accident but mostly by design. Elsa took frequent walks through Arendelle; sometimes visiting shops, and sometimes providing snow play for the children. Somehow, she always ended up near the blacksmith shop. It seemed that every royal horse suddenly needed new shoes. There was a rash of broken hinges and locks throughout the castle. They seemed to fail due to rust—or frost.

Elsa would take a basket of food to Fredrick every other night and they would talk until the early morning. During their visits, Fredrick would teach Elsa how to forge metal. He would pound hot metal into shape and she would cool the metal with a freezing blast of cold air. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The only thing that bothered her was that he never took off his gloves. But, she never did ask him why.

After a few weeks, a letter arrived from Rapunzel warning that nearly half the kingdoms had sided with Prince Gunther, even after they heard the testimony from Rapunzel and Eugene. Nevertheless, the kingdom of Corona and her allies decided to side with Arendelle.

"This can easily turn into a full scale war!" Elsa said to Anna. "Arendelle will not suffer because of me. I will not be the cause of a war!" The Queen was very worried. Still, she found refuge in her new romance.

After one late night visit from Elsa, a figure emerged from the dark and entered the blacksmith shop. Fredrick was cleaning up and was surprised when he looked up. His demeanor had changed to one of anger, "Hans!"

Hans walked around the shop with a smug attitude, "So, this is where you have been hiding."

Fredrick removed his gloves and his hands started to glow, "Leave Hans."

Hans ignored the threat, "Does anyone know who you really are…Valund?" He kicked open the lid of a familiar trunk that was filled with Fredrick's personal belongings.

Hans turned to face Fredrick, "I wonder how the Queen would feel about you if she knew…" He picked up a red cloak and hood from the trunk. He carried it around the shop and hung it up on a nail sticking out of a support post. Hans taunted Fredrick even more, "Would Elsa love you if she knew your true colors?" Fredrick's hands blazed with fire.

As Fredrick raised his right hand Hans dismissed him, "Oh, please! I'm not afraid of you Valund."

Fredrick knew Hans had always been afraid of him; but, he decided to keep his temper—for now.

Hans continued, "You have two days. My brother…Prince Gunther, is coming. Arendelle will fall!"

Fredrick had heard enough. He raised his right hand and flicked his index finger three times. One, two, and three bolts of fire flew across the shop. The first two bolts blew the insignias off of Hans's shoulders in a puff of cinder. The third bolt tore Hans' sword and scabbard off his waist and it fell to the floor.

Hans stumbled backwards but caught his balance.

He stood tall in defiance to Fredrick, "That changes nothing!" he growled.

Fredrick placed his fists on the anvil, knuckles down, and leaned on them, "Get out!"

Hans picked up his sword and scabbard and walked toward the door, "Enjoy your fantasy while you can. And Fredrick, it is a fantasy!" Then he disappeared into the night.

Outside the shop, under the trees, Sven and Olaf watched Hans climb upon his horse and ride off. They had witnessed the entire incident; including Fredrick's use of his powers. Olaf was in disbelief.

He turned to Sven and said, "We have to tell Elsa. But, this will crush her. Sven, what do we do?"

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