The ex-royal family followed the trail deep into the woods for hours. It had been around sunset when they'd escaped, but it was well into the night now. They stopped at a clearing to rest.
"Where is this trail leading us?" Anna asked, sitting on a log.
"Well, I was told we'd be meeting someone at the end of it." Prince said, pacing. He let out a small yawn.
"You need to get some sleep buddy." Elsa told her son. "A lot of things happened today that really wore you out." Prince nodded reluctantly. Kristoff picked up his nephew and rocked him until he fell asleep, which didn't take long.
"I'll carry him. I can tell you're tired too, and an extra person to hold isn't going to help." Kristoff said to Elsa. She nodded.
"Well, I'm ready. You guys ready to keep going?" Anna said, standing up from the log. Receiving agreements from her sister and husband, Anna led the way down the trail. They walked about four hours more. At times, Prince would get a nightmare and either start struggling, whimpering, or crying. Elsa and Kristoff were able to calm him down pretty quickly though. Finally, the trail just stopped. It was pretty dark, so they couldn't get too much of a glimpse at their surroundings.
"Great! The trail ended! We're lost!" Anna started panicking.
"Anna! Get a hold of yourself. We are not lost for good." Elsa said. "I have a plan." She took Prince from Kristoff and handed him to Anna. Then she picked up a tree limb the length of her arm and the width of her hand. Kristoff, catching on to her plans, gathered some grass and branches off the forrest floor as she made a layer of special ice so the whole torch wouldn't burn up. Finally, Kristoff lit the fire on top of the stick, illuminating the woods around them.
"Wait a second! I remember this place! This is the way to Troll Valley!" Kristoff shouted triumphantly. He took the torch and led the way to the familiar clearing. As they walked, Prince slowly opened his eyes.
"Mama?" He mumbled tiredly. Anna kissed his cheek.
"No baby. It's Auntie Anna. We're coming into familiar territory, we should find some of our old friends soon." Prince looked up at her.
"Does this mean I can finally meet Daddy?" Anna shrugged.
"I don't know. We're going to see Uncle Kristoff's family first."
"I should probably warn you," Kristoff said, seeing Prince awake. "I come from a very... different... family then everyone else. Everyone can be a bit loud. And obnoxious. And heavy, really heavy."
"Don't forget stubborn." Anna interjected. Prince was absolutely baffled. Elsa took him from Anna.
"Don't worry sweetheart. They're very nice, and have been good family friends for years." She assured him. She set him down so he could walk with them. When they reached the clearing, Kristoff excitedly ran ahead and began to talk to the boulders in the valley.
"It's so good to see you guys again! I missed you!" He cried. Prince couldn't believe it.
"My uncle is a lunatic. Either that, or the PTSD from all those shootings started setting in." Elsa laughed at her son.
"Trust me, he's not crazy. Just watch." Sure enough, the boulders began to move towards Kristoff, who waved them over happily. Prince really didn't know what to think now. His mind was blown when they revealed themselves to be little rock people!
"Kristoff!! You're alive!!" One of the female trolls screamed. She hopped up on the shoulders of another troll to reach his face. The female carefully examined him, then pulled him into a hug. Suddenly, she noticed the two women and the little boy. She gasped.
"Anna! Elsa! You're okay too!" One of the other trolls shouted. Anna and Elsa made their way over to Kristoff, Prince just a few steps behind. He didn't like this, not a bit. Kristoff noticed his discomfort.
"The trolls aren't mean. They won't hurt you." He picked him up. "They took me in when I was little, when it was just me and my pet reindeer, Sven."
"So, they're like your parents?"
"Kind of. My parent figures are Cliff and Bulda. My grandfather happens to be the leader of the trolls. His name is Grandpabbie."
"You called?" Grandpabbie rolled up to Kristoff's feet. "It's so good to see you three again. I'm so glad you're okay."
"Grandpabbie! I missed you so much!" Kristoff said. He set Prince down and hugged the ancient troll. Anna and Elsa were just as excited to see him. Prince stared at the troll, then started mumbling something about PTSD hallucinations. Grandpabbie heard him and looked in his direction.
"And I see the queen was blessed with a sweet little boy. What's your name little one?" Prince looked from his family to the elder troll before replying:
"Princeton. Princeton Alexander Frost." The response was stiff, almost cold. The trolls started cramming around poor Prince to see him. Bulda didn't do anything to ease his discomfort. She increased it.
"Let me see! Handsome brown eyes, working nose, strong, bright white teeth! Oh he's absolutely adorable!" She tugged his cheek. In an instant, he was gone. The trolls were amazed. "Where'd he go?"
"He's back here." Elsa said, looking behind her. Prince glared at her as if to say "traitor". She just rolled her eyes with a smile and rubbed his head. "He's a little shy around new people. Considering he was born and grew up in a concentration camp, I can't blame him." All the trolls nodded, understanding that they needed to back off. Suddenly, Grandpabbie got this off look in his eyes.
"Elsa, why don't you and your son follow me. I have something to show you both." Elsa nodded and started to follow the troll. Prince just darted behind his uncle to hide.
"Come on, Prince. Don't be scared." Kristoff insisted, grabbing the child and handing him to his mother.
"Traitors, all of you!" Prince declared. He was dead serious.
"What did I do?" Anna feigned innocence.
"Nothing to stop these two!" Prince protested. Everyone laughed.
"Don't worry little fellow. None of us are in the practice of harming children. Kristoff lived with us his whole life and he's fine." Grandpabbie assured him. He then turned to go off into the forrest, Elsa following close behind, and Prince more than happy to leave the other trolls.
The trio approached a large hill over looking the town. When they reached the top, they looked out over Arendelle. Elsa and Prince gasped. The sight was not the picturesque village Elsa remembered, but a smoldering wasteland. The castle had been reduced to ash, and the town was completely destroyed.
"When did this happen!?" Elsa demanded, feeling angry with Hans for demolishing her kingdom. The old troll sighed sadly.
"After Hans left to visit the camp, everyone decided to rebel against the remaining guards. They stormed the castle, and were almost successful. But one of the guards knocked a torch off a wall in a scuffle, and before anyone knew it, the castle burned to the ground. People tried to flee, but they caught fire themselves and spread it to the whole town. Within the hour, Arendelle was no more. There were no survivors."
"That's awful!" Elsa cried. Prince didn't say a word. He grabbed his mother's hand and squeezed it for support. He was terrified. His life had been a mess from his first birthday. Why stop now?
"But, there is good news from this. Everyone in your camp can go free." Grandpabbie told them. "Plus, I figured you four would need to find a new home after figuring things out. My friend has a few suggestions for you. Care to meet him?" The ex-queen and her son exchanged glances before nodding. Grandpabbie smiled and whistled. Then he rolled away. When he was gone, a handsome man with silvery-white hair emerged from the brush. Elsa was shocked.
"Jack..." He smiled with tears in his eyes.
"Elsa... my dear wife." The pair came together in a loving embrace. They shared a quick, passionate kiss before really looking each other over. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too." Tears of joy slipped down their cheeks. They again shared a passionate kiss. Prince stood off to the side, watching the pair closely. Was this guy his dad? His mother had called him Jack. Was this man Jack Frost? He had to be. When Elsa and Jack finally broke apart, Elsa beckoned the little boy over. She knelt down to his level. She looked up at her husband. "Jack, this is Prince. Prince, this is your father, Jack." Jack smiled at Prince
"Another sweet little boy." He said proudly. He knelt down and held out his arms, wanting a hug from the son he'd waited so long to meet. Prince cautiously approached. "Come on buddy, give your daddy a hug. Don't be shy, I don't bite."
"That's not all true. You have been known to nip people's noses." Prince pointed out. Jack laughed and scooped his son into his arms. Then he pulled his wife into the hug. The three of them stood there for a while, enjoying the fact that they were together.
"I'm never letting you go again. I love you so much." Jack whispered to his wife and son. Prince was the first to respond.
"I love you too, Daddy."