Chapter 10
Kristoff
Kristoff slowly opened his eyes.
"Up and at 'em!" Anna called from across the room. Odd. Kristoff was usually the one who had to wake her up. But there she was, fixing her hair in front of the mirror.
"You're up early." Kristoff thought aloud.
"Eh, I didn't get much sleep last night anyway. Kristoff, we need to talk to Malva again. She may know where other people are." Anna said, braiding the right side of her hair.
"Other people?"
"You know. With other elements. Stone and Energy."
"If there's anybody with energy right now, it's you." Kristoff sighed, getting out of bed.
"Why thank you." Anna said, mimicking a stereotypical Princess.
Kristoff brushed himself off, and took a well deserved bath. He then got dressed, went downstairs to the kitchen to find something to eat. Neither Stian nor Elsa were present, so Kristoff and Anna had the food all to themselves. They didn't mind. After eating, they visited the village. A few children ran up to them, asking them to sign this and that. The villagers bowed and thanked Anna for all she was doing. After visiting the village, the couple returned to the Castle, and back to their room.
Kristoff collapsed on a chair, exhausted.
"What time is it?" he asked.
"About eleven."
"Not even midday yet..." Kristoff faked a smile. Anna beamed at him, and went back to the pile of papers she had sitting on the desk in front of her.
"Whacha signing?" Kristoff asked.
"Just a few minor decrees. Elsa mainly tackles the big stuff, but I'm the Queen's Right Hand. Somebody has to do the dirty work." Anna said.
"What kind of dirty work?" Kristoff asked, sliding one of Anna's braids through his hand.
"You know, land disputes, small taxes, and advice."
"Advice?"
"We have a lot of little admirers down in the village." Anna smiled. "They ask how they can be more like Princesses, or how they can get ice powers."
"What do you tell them?"
"I tell them they need to be kind to one another, and don't let anybody tell you what you can and can't be. I also tell them ice powers are what makes Elsa special. They need to find what makes them special, and make other people happy with it." Anna explained.
Kristoff whistled, "Quite the role model, huh?" Anna shot him a silly face.
There was a sudden knock on the door. Kai was on the other side.
"Your Majesty?" he asked, obviously referring to Anna. Kristoff wasn't sure what sort of position he held in the monarchy of Arendelle, but he didn't have much of a say in anything.
"Yes?" Anna asked, not looking up from her braid, the left one this time.
"There is somebody here to meet with you."
"Is it Malva?" Anna asked.
"N-no, Your Majesty. It's... You need to come downstairs at once." he said, and left.
"He wasn't too happy." he observed.
"He never really is. I wonder who it could be." Anna said. The couple finished getting ready, and headed downstairs to the throne room, to find the guest who was waiting for them. The arrived in the throne room to find...
Nobody.
"Are you sure he isn't running late or anything?" Anna asked Kristoff. He shrugged. The doors swung open after a few minutes of waiting. Three guards marched in, followed by three more. Three in the back wore the green suit of Arendelle, and the three in the front wore orange. What kingdom had orange as their coat?
"Your Majesty." One of the guards said. Anna and Kristoff bowed, thanking them. Kristoff saw Anna shift her gaze, and gasp. She covered her mouth with her hands.
"What is he doing here?" Anna asked. Kristoff didn't see who she was talking about at first, until one of the guards parted, revealing a man hunched over. He wore a ragged shirt, which probably used to be white, and torn pants. Nothing else. His hair hung long over his head, and he was beginning to grow a facial hair. Maybe that was why Kristoff didn't recognize him. But he did now.
"State your business." Kristoff almost spat. The man slowly looked up. He was shackled by his wrists and ankles, making sure he didn't go anywhere. The man smiled, and spoke.
"I'm here to help." Hans croaked.