Clip clop, clip clop. The sound of horse shoes sounded through the town of Arendelle and the white and blue carriage that departed two weeks earlier made its way over the cobble stoned streets, finally making a stop in front of castle Arendelle. Anna looked out of the window and sighed. They were home.
The driver opened the door and her new husband, Kristoff, stepped out, turning back to offer her his hand. She smiled and allowed him to help her out.
'You don't have to do that,' she playfully scolded him. 'We're married now. You're a prince. Other people should be doing that for you.'
Kristoff smiled and looked into the beautiful eyes of his wife. 'I know,' he told her. 'But just because I'm a prince now it doesn't mean I'm going to act all high and mighty like one.' He balled up his hands and rested them on his sides, sticking his nose in the air and waving it around.
Anna smiled and laughed softly. 'Yeah, you're right. Stuck up doesn't really suit you.'
Kristoff smiled and wrapped his arms around Anna's waist, pulling her to him and kissing her softly.
The carriage drove away, after the driver had unloaded their luggage, as the castle doors burst open and Sven the reindeer charged towards them. A scream caused Anna and Kristoff to turn in surprise. On Sven's back sat Olaf the snowman. Although he was hardly sitting. He was bouncing up and down off Sven as he moved, hanging on for dear life to Sven's antlers as the over excited reindeer ran to greet his long-time friend.
'Woah,' Olaf cried and Sven halted suddenly in front of Kristoff, sending the snowman and his magic snow cloud flying through the air before crashing to the ground.
'Olaf,' Anna cried racing towards him as Kristoff said 'Hey Sven, I missed you too buddy,' scratching Sven behind the ears causing Sven to twitch his leg wildly, much like a puppy.
'Olaf, are you okay?' Anna knelt down beside the snowman, taking his hand and helping him to stand.
'Yes,' the snowman replied. 'Why wouldn't I be?' he asked.
'Well yo-,' Anna began before Olaf cut her off. 'Am I melting?' His eyes widened in fright as he touched his face all over frantically before twisting his entire upper body around to make sure he was still aright.
'No, Olaf,' Anna laughed and Olaf heaved an exaggerated sigh of relief before rushing forward to throw both of his arms as far as he could around Anna.
'Anna, I missed you so much!' he exclaimed. 'I'm so glad you're back.'
'I'm glad to be back too Olaf,' Anna smiled.
'Kristoff,' Olaf exclaimed removing himself from Anna, ignoring her reply, and starting towards Kristoff. Anna sat on the ground, slightly puzzled, questioning once again the snowman's short attention span.
'Hey Olaf, it's good to see you,' Kristoff greeted, kneeling down and rubbing his hand on the top of Olaf's head. Olaf threw his arms around Kristoff's leg as he straightened.
Anna stood and joined them, looking around briefly in search of her sister, who was strangely absent.
'Olaf, where's Elsa?' Anna asked after greeting Sven by patting his head.
'Um…,' the snowman replied before shrugging his shoulders leaving Anna puzzled, worried and concerned. She was sure her sister would be there to greet her.
But she needn't have worried so much. Elsa was quite alright. She was, at that very moment, curled up in bed fast asleep, recovering from her many late nights training with Jack, completely oblivious to her sister's return.
Anna and Kristoff deposited their luggage in their room, with the help of some over pushy servants after they'd insisted they could manage on their own, and went to the dining room for lunch, accompanied by Olaf and Sven.
The servants were delighted by their return and set about immediately, preparing lunch for the couple. Anna and Kristoff tried to help, insisting that they didn't need to be waited on, but the servants politely refused their requests.
Anna and Kristoff were escorted to the table by, yet another, servant. Anna, having given up on her attempts to insist she could look after herself, turned her attention to Elsa's whereabouts instead.
'She's probably sleeping, your highness,' the servant told her. 'She's been sleeping late every morning since your departure. She probably doesn't know you're back.'
Anna looked at Kristoff, puzzled. It wasn't like Elsa to do anything out of the ordinary, and sleeping late wasn't like her.
'Queen Elsa has been, how would you say it, acting a little strange since you left, princess Anna,' the servant continued. 'But I'm sure she will return to normal now that you're back,' he assured her hurriedly when he saw the frightened look on Anna's face.
'Please, sir. What exactly has she been doing?' Kristoff asked the servant.
'Well, your highness,' the servant replied. 'Ever since you left, Queen Elsa has been going to bed early, rising late, often missing breakfast. She hasn't been eating much and she has been neglecting her royal duties by not attending meetings that were organised months ago. She mainly stays in her room, but when we do see her, she appears scattered and dazed. Distracted mainly.'
Anna's eyes widened and her heart pounded in fear. Elsa had changed, from what the servant had told her. She sat stunned, unable to speak. Was Elsa's condition her fault?
'Has anyone called a doctor?' Kristoff asked. He was worried about Elsa too. He knew that Anna would want to know as much information as possible and could see that she was currently incapable of asking herself.
Anna was grateful for Kristoff's presence. He knew exactly what she wanted and was very relieved to have him there.
'We did on the third day but Queen Elsa refused him entry into her room. We tried to convince her to change her mind as politely as we could but she still refused, reminding us that she was the Queen and we take orders from her and that questioning those orders was violation. She threatened to take us of our jobs if we didn't leave. We had no choice. Your highnesses, please forgive us, but many of us have families to provide for and we could not refuse her request,' the servant explained, bowing to Anna and Kristoff once he finished.
Anna sat silently, taking it all in. She had to see her sister now. She mentally shook her body out of shock and stood suddenly.
'I have to see my sister,' she stated. 'Now.' She turned her attention to the servant. 'You have nothing to be sorry for,' she told him. 'I understand why you did what you did and I could not have asked you to sacrifice your jobs. But I must go see her now.'
'Of course your majesty,' the servant replied and proceeded to escort her out. Kristoff rose from his chair to join Anna but she shook her head at both of them.
'Please don't come with me,' she addressed Kristoff but was speaking to both of them. 'I have to do this on my own.'
Kristoff nodded in understanding and the servant bowed deeply, allowing Anna to leave the room.
Anna raced through the halls, up the stairs to her sister's room. A closed door greeted her.
She tried the handle but it wouldn't budge and after knocking on the door like she used to when she was little and calling Elsa's name repeatedly with no reply, Anna conceded and returned to Kristoff.
'I'll just see her later,' she told him sadly.
Later came that evening when Elsa emerged from her room for what she had hoped to be a brief meal before her lesson with Jack Frost. When she entered the dining room she was nearly knocked over with the surprise as Anna barrelled into her, flinging her arms around her neck.
Momentarily in shock, Elsa shook herself as the tears began to flow.
'Anna,' she cried. 'Is it really you? Are you really back?' Elsa removed Anna's arms from her and held her sister at arm's length to get a good look at her.
Anna laughed. 'Don't cry Elsa. I'm back, there's nothing to be sad about,' Elsa smiled as Anna wiped Elsa's tears away with her thumb. 'Come and have dinner with us,' Anna gestured to Kristoff, Olaf and Sven who all sat patiently at the table. 'And let's catch up.' Anna took her sister's elbow and led her to the table. 'I have so much to tell you and I want to hear all about what's been going on here while I've been gone.'
Elsa sat at the head of the table, as she was queen, with Anna on one side with Olaf next to her and Kristoff across from her with Sven next to him. As they ate a delicious meal prepared for them by the kitchen staff, Anna and Kristoff told Elsa all they had done while they were away. Elsa listened with great interest to the tales of mountain climbing, swimming and walks along the beach that flowed from her sister's mouth. When Anna spoke about how the moonlight shone off the water as she and Kristoff walked along, Elsa felt a pang of loneliness. She thought briefly of Jack Frost but pushed him out of her mind immediately. She couldn't allow herself to fall for him, or his type.
'So tell me, what have you been doing?' Anna asked Elsa. 'I hear you haven't been doing too well. You don't look too well either.' Did my leaving impact you more than I thought? Anna wondered.
'Oh, you know. Nothing really happened here. Same old same old,' Elsa replied vaguely. She didn't tell Anna about Jack. She didn't want Anna to know about Jack in fear that she might get the wrong idea.
Speaking of Jack, Elsa snuck a glance at the time. Oh no, she thought. It was almost time for Jack to arrive. She'd stayed longer than she's planned.
'Well, this has been fun,' she announced, beginning to rise. 'It's been great to see you Anna but I'm sure you must be tired from your long journey. I think I'll leave you two to get settled then.' Elsa stood and moved away from the table, her heart fluttering with fear. She had to get out.
Anna rose with her sister, determined to not let her question go unanswered. Elsa was hiding something. 'Elsa, if it was my leaving that caused you not to eat and sleep late, just tell me. I didn't mean to harm you like this,' Anna began to say but Elsa held up her hand to stop her.
'No, no. It wasn't you. I just,' she began, not sure how to proceed. 'I have to go,' she said abruptly, turning and running out the door leaving Anna and Kristoff stunned in her wake.