Elsa stared at John's outstretched hand, an invitation into a world she had avoided all her life. She was motionless and breathless, paralyzed by indecision. She had spent over half her life avoiding contact, keeping her distance, and depriving herself of the comfort and solace that came with human interaction. Her soul had craved it, there was no doubt. How she had longed for the touch of her father's hand, the warmth of her mother's embrace, and the company of the sister she adored; but she had given it all up out of fear, fear of losing control and doing them harm. That had always been her greatest worry, that the power she could not control would lash out and harm someone, as if there were some monster inside her ready to wreak its destruction.

Perhaps that description was not far from the truth. Had not the duke twice now called her a monster? Although his opinion of the Queen of Arendelle may not be held in high regard he was most likely not the only one who held it. However, since the Great Thaw she had spent much time convincing herself that that part of her life was over, that she had forever escaped the cruel grasp of the monster inside her, but she now knew she was wrong. She could lose control again. She had lost control again. Dancing should be out of the question.

John's eyes were full of expectation as he waited, his gloved hand hovering before her, palm up, fingers outstretched. An invitation she shouldn't accept. But on the other hand, how could she refuse?

She looked out over the courtyard, at the party made possible only by his generosity and sacrifice. People were talking and laughing by the tables, their hearts full of merriment and their faces full of joy. A dozen or more couples were locked in a dancer's embrace, whirling and spinning as they lost themselves in the music and the delight of the moment. She caught a glimpse of Anna and Kristoff as they twirled by, saw the look on her sister's face, like she was lost in a dream.

Elsa's heart swelled with gratitude. John was the reason they were here, he was the spark in the night that chased away the darkness of their sorrow. She had him to thank for an event that would forever be cherished by both herself and her sister. So how could she possibly refuse his invitation?

Perhaps a life free from fear was too much to ask, but she could control her powers for one dance, couldn't she? Her powers had remained in check for the past few days. Surely she was being overly concerned about them. What did she have to fear by accepting John's invitation? She could enjoy one dance, couldn't she? How could she say no?

She stretched out her hand, a slow and deliberate act, still unsure as her fingers closed around his. He gave a gentle pull, helping her to her feet.

One of the guards stepped forward in protest.

"Your Majesty-" he started, but she held up a hand to silence him. He looked at the other guard, as if to ask what he should do, but his companion just gave him a helpless shrug.

John led Elsa toward the dance floor, his steps slow and methodical, as if he knew how difficult this was for her and was trying ease her out of her discomfort. Anna's eyes lit up in surprise as she saw them coming, and she tapped Kristoff on the shoulder, nodding her head in their direction. Kristoff looked and Elsa had a moment to glimpse a strange expression before Anna whisked him away into the tumultuous cloud of dancing couples. Elsa thought nothing of it as they reached the edge of the dance floor, she wasn't even aware that everyone was looking at them as John stopped and turned to face her. He took her hand in his and slipped his other arm around her, resting it high on her back. She placed the fingers of her free hand on his shoulder and he gave her a warm smile, counting '1...2...3' under his breath. Then they began to dance.

John stepped forward and spun to his right and they fell in with the churning crowd, becoming one with the revolving group of couples as they slid past and twirled around the other dancers. John was not aggressive with his movements, being gentle as he directed them around the dance floor; still, the dance required an understanding of its motions and an anticipation of its steps. Elsa knew what to do, relying on the many lessons she received as a child, lessons which were part of the tutorship given a princess, lessons on meal etiquette, horseback riding, and dancing.

She had always enjoyed the dancing most. However, nothing prepared her for the surge of emotions she felt as John held her close, staring into her eyes as he led her through their rhythmic steps and swirls. She was mesmerized by their moment, enraptured by the perfect mix of haunting music, warm night air, and John's piercing gaze. She was aware of every touch, sensing every motion and step as she kept her body in tune with his. They moved, not as two individuals, but as one coordinated body woven together by the music.

She was captivated by the dance, losing all connection with time and place as the soft swoosh of the air rushed around them, her dress billowing out like a silken flag and rippling in harmony with the cadence of their steps. The courtyard and its people became a blur as she focused on John, the sharpness and detail of her environment retreating to the edges of her peripheral vision. The flickering torches became yellow swirls spinning around them, their glow enhanced by the dimming landscape which faded under the approaching twilight. Then even her peripheral vision ceased as she was consumed by her focus on John and their dance, the courtyard seeming to melt into oblivion. She was aware only of the music, John's gentle touch, and her reflection in the pupil of his eyes.

She was immersed in their connection, so spellbound and enthralled by their waltz that when the music ended and John stopped she had to take a breath, as if she'd been holding it the entire time. John let go and stepped back, placing his hand on his stomach and giving her a slight bow.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. That was delightful."

She didn't get the chance to reply. A rustle of hushed voices drew her attention as Kristoff peeled away from Anna and pushed his way through the crowd, marching toward them with hunched shoulders and hands clamped into fists. Elsa was confused by such a sour demeanor and wondered what had happened to upset him. Despite her best efforts she could not for the life of her figure it out. He stopped next to John, who hadn't seen him coming, and glared at him with a fuming sort of rage, a fury Elsa was not aware he possessed. The look frightened her a little, but she was more confused than afraid. John detected that something was amiss and turned to face Kristoff, but his expression was a stark contrast to the man standing behind him, calm and with only a hint of concern.

"I want to talk to you," Kristoff said, his voice deep and husky, like a snarl. "Outside." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the gates.

John looked back at Elsa, as if he didn't understand what was happening. She understood his confusion because she had no idea what was happening either. She was trying to discern Kristoff's intentions. He was angry, she could see that, more angry than she had ever seen him, and she was so caught off guard by this that she had no response for John.

"Now!" Kristoff said.

John turned back to Kristoff and his reply was delivered without emotion. "Anything you have to say to me, you can say here."

"You think I'm afraid of these people?" Kristoff said, his cheeks flush with anger.

The other dancers had noticed the commotion and gathered around to watch the affair. Anna, who had been standing where Kristoff left her, ran over and grabbed him by the arm.

"Kristoff!" she shouted, as if he were a misbehaving child, but Kristoff shook her off and stepped forward, planting a finger on John's chest.

"I don't know who you think you are, or what you think you're doing…"

"Kristoff, I think-" John began, but Kristoff cut him off.

"If you even think about hurting Elsa, I will come down on you like a house!"

Anna gasped, her hands covering her mouth. Elsa was horrified. The surge of happy emotions which had lingered from the dance drained away, replaced by shock and embarrassment.

"Duly noted," John said.

Kristoff withdrew his finger but kept his eyes locked on John. Two of John's men approached, possibly to intervene, but John saw them first and waved them off. It was enough to break Kristoff's concentration, though, and he looked around as if noticing for the first time that they were being watched by a crowd of people. He jabbed a finger at John again and said "Mark my words!" Then he turned, brushed by Anna, and pushed his way through the crowd of onlookers as he marched away toward the gates.

Elsa stood in disbelief trying to understand what had just happened. An eerie silence crept over the courtyard, broken only by the whispers and murmuring of the people around them. John turned to her, shrugging as if to say 'what did I do?' Elsa caught a glimpse of Anna on the other side of him, hands over mouth, eyes wide with shock, and all thoughts of John suddenly escaped her. It broke her heart to see her sister looking so hurt and she rushed over to make sure she was alright.

"Are you ok?" Elsa asked, taking her hand. Anna nodded, but when Elsa hugged her she burst into tears, and she knew she was not ok. She held her for a moment as she cried, but this was no place for an emotional breakdown, with all the eyes of Arendelle upon them.

"C'mon," Elsa said, "let's go inside."

She put an arm around Anna's shoulders and walked her toward the castle. A guard tried to follow but Elsa shook her head and waved him off. Anna had her face in her hands, crying, and Elsa could feel the eyes of everyone following them. She waved a hand at the band and Kai understood the signal, leading the band in beginning another tune, hopefully to draw the attention away from them. No one responded at first, more interested in the retreating royals than the new dance song, but then an older couple clapped their hands and stomped their feet, drawing the attention of the distracted guests, and they all remembered why they were there and they joined in the dance.

Anna stifled a sob as she tried to regain her composure. Elsa walked them up the stairs and around the table, grabbing a napkin as the guard there opened the door for them. He tried to follow but, again, she shook her head.

"No, please stay here."

The guard obeyed, shutting the door behind them.

The short hallway was lit by a single flickering candle which cast a dim yellow glow up the wall and across the ceiling. Elsa handed Anna the napkin, which she used to dab at her eyes.

"Are you ok?" Elsa asked. Anna nodded, strained to hold back the tears, failed, then fell into Elsa's arms, crying again. Elsa held her close, wondering what had gone wrong. Everything had been going so well, so perfectly, and then it all had collapsed so fast. Kristoff's outburst was so strange, she had never known him to cause a scene or to lose his temper so unexpectedly.

Elsa stroked Anna's hair, her cries tapering off until only the sound of muffled music from the band outside remained. Anna stepped back, wiping at her eyes.

"How could he do that?" Anna asked, her voice wet with sorrow.

"Do you know why he was so upset?"

"No. He's been acting strange all night. I don't understand what's wrong with him."

Elsa sighed and nodded her understanding, brushing a stray hair out of her sister's face. She had noticed Kristoff was not himself too, but she never thought he would do something like this.

"Kristoff means well," Elsa said. "He just doesn't have the social graces to know how to express himself properly."

"I'll say," Anna said, rolling her eyes as she dabbed at fresh tears.

"You do remember he was raised by trolls, right?"

Anna cracked a smile at this.

"And when Grand Pabbie finds out what he did," Elsa said, "I fully expect him to bend Kristoff over his knee and give him a good paddling."

Anna laughed at this. The thought of the diminutive rock troll, who had been a father figure to Kristoff, bending anyone over his knee made Elsa smile too. Anna wiped at the remnants of her tears and handed the napkin back to her sister.

"You're right though," Anna said. "I can't expect him to behave like royalty, not after all he's been through."

Elsa knew that 'all he's been through' was code for growing up as an orphan in the wilderness of Arendelle and forced to wreak a meager living as an ice harvester. It's true that Kristoff's past was in large part responsible for the person he was, but Elsa didn't think it should be a reason to excuse such deplorable behavior.

"I mustn't be too hard on him," Anna said. "Yes, he ruined the party but I'm sure that wasn't his intention. I'm sure he feels awful about what happened."

"I hope so."

"He shouldn't be alone right now," Anna said, a spark of urgency appearing in her eyes. "I need to go find him!"

"Wait, what?"

"I need to go to him. He needs me!"

"Ok. But what about your party?"

"Keep it going. I'll bring him back and we'll make this right."

Anna hugged her again, then pushed open the door and went outside. Elsa followed but stopped at the bottom of the steps, directing one of the guards to accompany her sister. She watched as he followed Anna across the courtyard and out the gates. The speed at which Anna had gone from victim to rescuer left her head spinning, but that was nothing new. She had always found it a challenge to keep up with Anna's sudden mood swings.

The party had continued without them as if nothing had happened. The band was playing a happy song. Dancers spun and twirled. Revelers stood by the table of wine, laughing and clapping each other on the back. But now it was more like a scene she was watching through a window, a distant observer who felt none of the joy she was witnessing.

She looked for John, realizing she had left him alone in the courtyard, and saw him standing near one of the fountains that had been converted to a fire pit. He saw her too and came over, looking sullen and dejected.

"Your Majesty," John said. "I owe you an apology."

"I told you to call me Elsa. And this wasn't your fault, John."

"Either way, I think it would be wise if I took my leave."

Elsa shook her head. "No. I don't want you to go."

John smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, which were still framed with sadness.

"I appreciate that, but your sister needs to remember this evening as one of joy and happiness, not confrontation and strife. I must insist on taking my leave. My men and I will be in our barracks, should you need anything."

Elsa sighed and gave a reluctant nod.

"Very well. I'm sorry things didn't go as well as planned, but I thank you for the dance."

John bowed. "Thank you, Elsa, and good night."

Anna exited the courtyard through the open gates, starting across the bridge which was awash in the glow of lamp stands that lined either side of it. However, the line of lights turned left to follow the main road, winding up the slope and toward the people's homes, leaving the town square, where she was headed, in almost complete darkness. With the sun down and the moon not yet risen, all she could see was a jumble of dark masses where the buildings should be, silhouetted against a black, jagged mountain which was barely distinguishable from the velvet sky.

"Here, take this, Your Highness."

The guard who followed handed her a torch. She accepted it but was too distracted to thank him. All she could think about was Kristoff.

The sting of his outburst was fading and now she was just worried about finding him. She had never known Kristoff to have a temper, or to confront someone the way he had confronted John. By all accounts, Kristoff was a soft spoken, mild mannered, and gentle man. Sure, he was sometimes stubborn and occasionally unthoughtful, but she just chalked that up to an entire life spent alone, making decisions for himself, without anyone to answer to. But she had never known him to be confrontational. Protective? Yes. Aggressively so? Sometimes. Uttering threats of violence? Never. Not once had she ever heard him threaten to hurt someone.

She knew he didn't trust John. However, it was more than just a simple matter of trust, she had to admit that. Kristoff believed that John was actively seeking to undermine Arendelle, believing that he had come to finish what Hans started. It was a ridiculous notion, she thought, anyone could see that John was nothing like his brother, Hans. Anyone other than Kristoff, that is. And Alek. Oh, and some of Alek's men. Well, actually, it was probably all of Alek's men. But that wasn't the point! She could see as plain as day that John was no threat. In fact, he was the best thing to happen to Arendelle since the drought started.

She thought about the night she and Kristoff had returned from their journey and how distraught Elsa had been. Anna hadn't seen her sister so crushed or full of fear and worry since the North Mountain, and the sight of it had broken her heart. She feared for Elsa for the first time since before the Great Thaw, and though she tried to help, it seemed like there was nothing she could do. But after John arrived everything changed. Elsa had changed, too.

It was clear that John cared about Elsa and that sort of care and attention was exactly what her sister needed. Her eyeballs almost popped out of her head when she saw John leading her to the dance floor. She knew that day would arrive eventually, when Elsa could let go of her inhibitions and allow a suitor to get close to her, to help her overcome her fears and even dance with her, but she didn't expect it so soon after one of the biggest breakdowns Elsa had ever had.

John was so good for her, but Kristoff couldn't see that. She didn't know what it would take to make him see that, but she would have to figure something out.

Right now she just wanted to make sure he was alright.

She stopped where the mouth of the bridge spilled into the town square, looking for some sign of Kristoff. But it was too dark to see anything. He had come out here without a light source of any kind, so he could be standing close by and she would hardly know it. But she was pretty sure he wasn't in the square. Where had he gone then? The harbor?

She turned toward the docks, remembering how much Kristoff enjoyed skipping stones when he was deep in thought or just wanted to be alone, but then she stopped. It was still piled high with the remnants of John's ships and she doubted he would go near a bunch of stuff that reminded him of why he was so upset. So where had he gone then?

She spun around, scolding herself for overlooking the obvious, and headed for the stables.

She had never been in the town square when it was this dark. Normally every lamp stand in Arendelle would be burning on a night of celebration, but they didn't have much oil and had to conserve resources, so she could barely make out the buildings on the other side of the square. But she knew where she was going, heading for the arch between the cobbler and the bakery.

She was anxious to find him, to talk out the issue and bring him back to the party. It occurred to her that he might not want to come back to the party, but she chose not to dwell on that. She would just have to find a way to convince him, that was all.

She could hear the music drifting over the bridge and through the town square behind her, but as she entered the arch and turned left it became more distant and hollow, until the click of their shoes on the roadway was enough to drown it out. She rounded the bend and caught her first glimpse of the stables at the corner, and when she saw a vertical sliver of light seeping out the side of the barn door she knew she had found him.

She stopped at the door, listening for a moment, trying to gauge his mood by what she heard inside. Was he still angry? She tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge, secured on the other side by a metal latch, so she rapped lightly on the wooden frame.

She had a sudden surge of apprehension. What if he doesn't let me in? she thought. It may have been a silly thought but she had spent a lifetime standing before closed doors that wouldn't open no matter how much she knocked.

"Kristoff?" she called out. She waited for a response but there was no answer, then she heard footsteps and the latch disengage. She waited for the door to open but it didn't, instead the footsteps retreated back into the depths of the stables; so she slid the door open herself, pushing it along its horizontal track until she could squeeze through. She handed her torch to the guard who stayed outside, then closed the door behind her.

Sven was there to greet her, grunting and prancing as he waited for her to enter. When she did he leaped forward and nearly knocked her over in his excitement. To his delight she crouched down and scratched him behind the ears, running her fingertips through the thick fur of his mane. Then she patted him on the head before standing again, looking for Kristoff.

The stables were dim and full of shadows, a single candle burning near a bench in the corner. The floor was scuffed and covered in clumps of dirt and hay, well-worn shelves lined old walls, stocked with ice gathering tools and utensils, and near the back of the "L" shaped building, beyond a support beam that blocked her vision, rested a sleigh and a wagon.

"Kristoff?" she said again, stepping further into the stables. She found him standing with his back to her, tying barrels of water to the wagon. He glanced over his shoulder but said nothing, returning to his task of looping rope around barrels and securing it through metal rings on the rig. His white jacket hung from a nail on the wall and the purple scarf lay in a heap on the bench.

Was he going somewhere, she wondered?

"Watcha doin?" Anna asked, trying to disguise her apprehension.

Kristoff pulled on the rope, leaning his weight into it until it was taught, then tied it off with a knot. He inspected the barrels to make sure they were secure, giving each one a tug and a shove, before turning around to face Anna. He brushed his hands off on the sides of his pants.

"I'm sorry for ruining your party, Anna, but I'm not going to apologize to John."

"Our party," Anna said.

Sven went to a corner, turning circles to stamp down a pile of hay, then lay with his chin resting on his hooves.

"Are you going somewhere?"

Kristoff came over and sat on the bench, pushing the purple scarf aside. Half of it fell off and spooled onto the floor.

"I'm taking a delivery of water to my family."

Anna picked up the scarf and sat down next to him, folding the long cloth in halves and setting it in her lap. She knew he'd been wanting to take water to his adoptive family of rock trolls since John had delivered it, but Elsa had asked him to wait until after their party.

"When?"

Kristoff hesitated before answering. He fished an apple out of his pocket and tossed it to Sven in the corner. Sven bit it in half.

"Tonight," he said.

"After the party?"

He shook his head.

"You're not coming back to the party?"

Kristoff sat in silence for a time before shaking his head again, and Anna felt a tightness in her chest as her anxiety grew.

"Kristoff, you can't leave your own engagement party!"

He dug through his pockets again and produced a yellow and white checkered rag. At first she thought he meant to wipe his eyes, that maybe he was crying, but he just sat hunched over, staring at it as he pulled it through his fingers. Still, he didn't respond.

"What's wrong with you?" she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "Are you going to let John ruin one of the most important events of our lives?"

Kristoff sighed but didn't respond. She wished he would say something, anything. It didn't matter what it was, or how bad it might sound, she just wanted to know what he was thinking. Nothing he might say could be as bad as his silence.

"Please look at me," she said. She waited for him to look up, but he didn't. "Look at me!" she demanded.

He sat up and looked at her. Kristoff was a master at hiding his emotions, concealing how he was really feeling behind a mask of indifference, and he appeared expressionless. If there was one thing that bugged her about him it was that he was so stubborn when it came to showing his emotions.

"Why won't you come back to the party?" She was trying to remain calm, stave off the fear and anxiety that was rising within her, but it was difficult. She was afraid that what started as a beautiful evening would end in tragedy and embarrassment. The thought of going back to her party alone, or worse yet, not going back at all, had become a real possibility.

Kristoff looked away. "I don't want to talk about it," he said.

"You don't want to talk about it? This is the most important night of our life and you don't want to talk about it?"

She waited for a response. None came.

"Are you that mad at John?"

Still no response.

"What has he done? Why do you think he's such a bad person?"

Kristoff let out a sharp exhale of breath, but he didn't reply.

"Because he danced with Elsa?"

"Because I don't belong there!" Kristoff shouted.

"What?" Anna said, her heart sinking within her. Of all the things she expected to hear from him, that was not one of them. "Why would you say that?"

Kristoff scrubbed his face with one hand then leaned forward, elbows on knees, but he made no reply. Anna put a hand on his shoulder, no longer angry or frustrated, but scared. She couldn't fathom why he would say such a thing. She knew he had always struggled adjusting to life amongst royalty after growing up as an orphan raised by trolls, but to hear him say he didn't belong at his own engagement party, it broke her heart.

He let out a long sigh and shook his head. "Because I'm not good enough for you."

"What are you talking about?"

He sat up, leaned his back against the wall, and for the first time he cast his brown eyes upon her, really looked at her. What Anna saw there put a lump in her throat. Kristoff had always been so confident, so sure of himself and proud of who he was, so it pained her to see him looking so distraught and full of doubt.

"You are the princess of Arendelle," he said. "And what am I?"

Anna gave him a smile. "The man I love."

"No. What kind of man am I? I am an ice deliverer without any ice." He leaned his head back against the wall. "I have no purpose and nowhere to belong."

"You belong here, with me."

"No, I don't Anna. Arendelle faces extinction, and what I have I done to save it? What have I done to protect you and Elsa?"

He looked at her again and she thought she saw the faint glimmer of a tear in his eye. It shimmered and shook, not fully forming before he wiped it away.

"Nothing," he said.

"That's not true, Kristoff." She took one of his hands in hers. "You have been out there every day looking for water. You have sacrificed all of your time and energy, searching everywhere for it."

Kristoff withdrew his hand, brimming with dissatisfaction.

"And what good did that do anybody? What did that change? Nothing." His shoulders sagged as he leaned forward, staring at the floor. "Then Prince John shows up and saves the day. He puts food on our plates and a smile on your face, fulfilling every wish that you could ever hope for."

"That's not true."

"Yes it is."

"No, Kristoff."

"You deserve a prince, Anna. Someone who can take care of you and make you happy. Not an orphan ice harvester with no future."

"You can't really feel that way," Anna said. She cupped his chin, turning his face to her. "If you did, then why would you propose to me?"

"Because I thought Arendelle was doomed." He took her by the wrist and placed her hand back in her lap. "I didn't want you to have to die alone."

"Oh, Kristoff," Anna said, tears blooming in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and though he didn't struggle against her embrace, he didn't return it either. She drew back, wiping at a tear and was about to say something when Sven jerked his head up, sniffing and grunting. He sniffed at the air and then leaped up, shaking his head and mane, neighing.

"Hey, boy," Kristoff said. "What is it? Are you ok?"

Sven gave another loud neigh then went to the door, pawing at it over and over in a strange frenzy. Anna had never seen him act like that before. She exchanged a look with Kristoff, who appeared as confused as she was.

"Is everything ok in there?" came the voice of the guard outside. Kristoff went to the door, struggling against Sven's frantic pawing to get it open, but when he did Sven bolted past the guard, nearly knocking him over.

"Whoa there!" exclaimed the guard.

"Sven!" Kristoff shouted. He grabbed Anna, pulling her outside and ran after the reindeer.

They raced down the roadway, losing sight of Sven but following the furious click of hooves upon stone as he led them back to the town square.

"What's going on?" shouted the guard as he ran after them.

Anna had the same question but she said nothing as she ran with Kristoff, trying not to trip over the fringe of her dress. They passed through the arch and into the square, finding Sven prancing, and snorting, turning in circles. When they reached him Kristoff put a hand on his withers.

"Whoa, boy. What is it?"

Sven stood still, braying and waving his head toward the slopes of Arendelle. Anna and Kristoff raised their eyes at the same time, trying to figure out what had spooked Sven so much.

The town of Arendelle lay upon the side of a mountain, sloping upward away from the castle and harbor, but it was too dark to see anything. Anna listened, straining to hear something over the laboured breath of Sven and the distant music of the party, but all she could hear was the rustle of wind through the trees far up on the mountain.

"Do you hear that?" Kristoff asked, his voice a hoarse whisper.

"Hear what?" the guard said.

Kristoff hushed him. "Listen!"

They listened together for a moment.

"What, the wind?" Anna said.

"Do you feel any wind?"

He was right, Anna thought, there was no wind that she could detect. So what was that sound?

She strained again to see through the darkness, searching the ridge above Arendelle for the source of the sound. Her eyes were beginning to adjust and now she could make out the faint outline of the many homes that dotted the hillside. A line of lamp stands shone light upon the main road that wound its way up like a snake from the town square to the outer wall, but other than that, nothing.

And then there was something. She couldn't tell what it was, she just had the sense of a lot of motion or movement, like a long row of bushes had come alive at the crest of the hill above Arendelle, dancing in the wind. But there was no wind, and she knew there was no line of bushes up there.

"What is that?" Anna said, pointing up the mountain.

Kristoff didn't say anything, but she could sense his anxiety and she knew there was something wrong.

"Maybe we should go," she said.

Whatever was moving up there increased in intensity, and then she thought she saw shadows sliding downward between the houses as if whatever it was was spilling over the ridge and flowing down toward the harbor. It seemed to move with purpose, as if it was avoiding the light of the roadway.

"Yeah," Kristoff agreed, his eyes still glued to the town above them. "Let's go."

And then Anna caught a glimpse of something, a figure that strayed into the path of the light for just a moment, and what she saw startled her. It was a strange blue creature with pointy ears and a thick white mane of hair. It had long arms, like a gorilla, and it ran hunched over on all fours, supporting itself on its knuckles. It veered out of the light before she could see any more and then she saw another on the other side of the road, and then another, and she realized that the mass of shadows flowing between the houses was an entire army of these creatures.

"Run!" Kristoff shouted, grabbing her by the elbow as he dashed toward the bridge, but her feet were already moving. Sven raced ahead, bounding across the town square and onto the bridge. Despite the reindeer's speed they were not far behind.

"Close the gates!" Kristoff yelled as they ran onto the bridge. "Close the gates!"