Penultimate chapter! Thank you everyone for all your feedback, support and for keeping up with this story.

There's a fair amount of verbatim in this chapter - I've tried to write originally in and around this to make sure I'm adding something new to these moments from the film.

I'm toying with the idea of writing a follow-up at some point, maybe going through to Frozen Fever (which I finally got round to seeing the other day and was adorable). I've enjoyed writing this so much - I've loved exploring all the awkward little moments, and it'd be fun to take that further. Watch this space.

See you tomorrow for the final chapter! X

The French ambassador kissed Elsa's hand in farewell.

"Your majesty. If I may, I will write to let you know of ze reception Prince 'ans is given in the Souzzern Isles. And I urge you to be no stranger to France."

Elsa inclined her head elegantly. "Indeed, I shall endeavour not to be. Arendelle hopes to see you soon, my lord."

She gave command to the guards to fetch Prince Hans, and handed a letter to the most senior among them.

"This letter is to be handed to the King of the Southern Isles personally. It is for his eyes only. Do you understand?"

"Yes, your majesty." The guard bowed low and saluted.

"Very well. I thank you." She turned back to the ambassador. "Farewell, Ambassador Perrault."

"Au revoir, Votre Majesté."

She watched with a slight smile as the men crossed the courtyard and left for the dock.

Kai was bustling about, flitting from ship to ship, ensuring all cargo was cleared to leave and every man was accounted for. Elsa had stressed to him earlier that morning how important it was that every dignitary left with their copy of the new commercial and diplomatic treaties that had been drawn up the previous day.

As he made his way over to the French ship, Kai saw, at a distance, Princess Anna practically flouncing past the guards lining the waterfront, hanging on the arm of her Ice Harvester guest.

Kai gave a small smile before boarding the French vessel.

He was just in the process of confirming it had all appropriate documents when he saw the French ambassador approaching. He bowed.

"My lord. All seems to be in order with your ship."

"Ah, merci. Are we cleared to sail?"

"As soon as your lordship is ready."

Kai and the ambassador stepped aside to allow the guards and Hans onboard. They followed them up the gangplank, and watched with satisfaction as the Prince of the Southern Isles was thrown unceremoniously into the brig.

Both men nodded grimly, and the ambassador accompanied Kai back towards the gangplank.

"I will return zis scoundrel to 'is country. We shall see what 'is twelve big bruzzers theenk of 'is behaviour."

"Arendelle thanks you, my lord."

Suddenly, the voice of the one dignitary Kai still had left to see interrupted them.

"This is unacceptable!"

Kai turned.

Sure enough, the Duke of Weselton was being gently but firmly led to his ship by a small group of guards.

He clearly had not taken the queen's refusal to give him an audience over the past day well.

"I am a victim of fear! I have been traumatised!" – the guards did not break stride – "Ahhh! My neck hurts! Is there a doctor, I could see…? No…?"

The guards looked at him in silent disbelief.

He made a miraculous recovery and brandished an indignant finger. "I demand to see the queen!"

Kai had seen enough. He stepped forward, unfurling his last signed contract with great satisfaction.

"Oh, I have a message from the queen." Alarmed, the Duke stuck his abnormally long chicken neck around the side of the scroll and scanned it, as if checking its authenticity. Kai glared down at him. "Arendelle will henceforth and forever no longer do business of any sort – " with thinly veiled distaste he shrugged the Duke off his arm – "with Weasel Town."

"Weselton! It's Weselton!"

And the two guards hauled the apoplectic little man up onto his ship.

Kai nodded. Justice was sweet.

Having taken an enormous detour via the docks, Anna and Kristoff doubled back through the courtyard to the end of the Great Road.

She produced the blue sash she had bought that morning.

"You know I don't trust your judgement. And your sense of direction is terrible."

"Come on! It's like a trust exercise!"

Kristoff sighed. She was practically bouncing with excitement, and he really couldn't say no to her infectious grin and enormous blue eyes.

"Fine. Blindfold me."

"Yaaaaaay!"

She bounced behind him and, on tiptoes, gently tied the sash over his eyes.

"Ok. Can you see?"

"I can't see."

"Ok!" He felt her warm little hand slip into his. "Don't worry, I got you. This way!"

She set off down the Great Road, bouncing and skipping, Kristoff in tow. He tried desperately not to stumble, but couldn't stop himself grinning. She was really, really sweet sometimes.

"Come on, come on, come on!"

"Woah, ok, hang on – "

He felt her other hand join in tugging him along, and the brush of other people they narrowly avoided.

"Ok, here I come –"

WHAM.

"Oww. Pole."

"Whoops. Sorry!"

Before he had even a second to think anything other than typical, she'd grabbed his arm again and they were off once more.

"Ok, ok. Here we are. Oh – "

The world became bright again as they came to a halt and she slipped the blindfold off.

He blinked a few times to let his eyes adjust. He could hear Anna's excited squeak beside him.

Before them stood the kind of sled he'd only ever seen from afar, with envy.

"I owe you a sled."

Sven strutted forward and proudly posed before it.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes! And it's the latest model."

"No, I can't accept this…"

It was too much, again, she was too nice, and too generous – he was so totally and utterly overwhelmed –

"You have to. No returns. No exchanges. Queen's orders."

Kristoff was speechless. He opened and closed his mouth a few times.

"She's named you the Official Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer."

For the first time, Kristoff noticed the large, shiny medallion around Sven's neck. The snowflake that decorated it looked suspiciously magical.

"What? That's not a thing."

"Oh, sure it is. And, it even has a cup holder." She paused, and looked up at him, holding her hands together. "…do you like it?"

Well that was a stupid question.

"Like it? I love it!" And he placed a hand either side of her waist and picked her up, spinning them round, and she squealed in delight and surprise and for the first time in – well, forever – he laughed a deep, genuine, joyful laugh. "I could kiss you!"

A moment. Both their faces dropped as they realised what he'd said.

He put her down very quickly, hand automatically shooting up to rub the back of his head. He looked at her, so honest and ridiculous and sweet – and he couldn't think of a single way that could have gone worse.

She felt a huge, an inexpressible warmth spreading through her chest. She looked at him, so awkward and embarrassed and uncertain – and she couldn't think of a single thing that could be more romantic than this.

"I could. I mean, I'd like to. I – may I? We me? I mean – may we? Wait, what?"

He looked away, totally confused by his own idiocy and ready to die, right there and then –

Anna had already said yes at least fifty times in her head, but watching him stumble and fumble over his words, she thought she might burst if she didn't do something –

Kristoff felt a soft, warm touch on his cheek where she kissed him.

His eyes went very wide.

"We may."

It's now or never.

He took her in his arms and kissed her.

She reciprocated. Enthusiastically.

Sven shook his head and closed his eyes in embarrassment.

When they finally broke apart after what might have been minutes – or hours, or several summer days – they were grinning like idiots.

"I, err – I meant to do that on the fjord."

Anna just grinned and pulled him in for another kiss.