How long has it been since I updated this story? Too long I can tell you that. Also I just realized this story is almost a year old...where did that time go?
As a quick refresher at this point in the story Erian is nine, and the twins are four.
"Do you have everything?"
"Yes," Kristoff chuckled, "And I know that look, don't worry, he'll be fine," He kissed his wife's forehead.
"But what if he falls in?"
"You mean like you almost did when I first took you up?"
"You might think that's funny, but it's not,"
"Anna, he's going to be fine. He has ice harvesting in his blood."
"He also has my clumsy nature in his blood,"
"I always taught Kari got the largest share of that,"
"Again, not funny,"
"Honey," Kristoff sat next to Anna, "I'll keep him safe. You know I will. But if you're really that worried I won't take him."
Anna sighed, "It would crush him if we told him now that he can't go,"
"Are you sure? I don't want you to spend the entire day fretting. It's not good for you," He rested a hand lightly on her abdomen, which was just beginning to show faintly.
"I know. He should go. It will be a good experience. I'll be fine,"
"Why don't you sound sure?"
"Go. I'll manage. I'll make Elsa do something with me as a distraction,"
"Maybe she could help look for a name," Kristoff chuckled.
"And break our tradition of bickering over the name until the baby is actually born?" Anna smiled.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure I'll find something wrong with whatever names you come up with," Kristoff laughed resting his forehead against hers.
"I'm sure you will," Anna laughed. She kissed him lightly.
"Hey, hey, daddy, are you ready?" Erian popped into the room. "Oh eww," He covered his eyes when he saw his parents kissing. They chuckled at his reaction.
"I'm ready Erian," Kristoff said standing.
"Then let's go,"
"Wait, I know you're not going to leave without giving me a hug." Anna pouted. Erian ran over to her, hugging her.
"I wouldn't do that," Erian giggled.
"I thought so," Anna smiled kissing his cheek, "Have fun today sweetheart,"
"We will," Erian grinned widely, "And you and my baby brother find something fun to do too, okay?"
Anna smirked, "You know we don't know if it's a boy or girl yet Erian,"
"It has to be a boy. I want a brother,"
"But it could be a girl,"
"No. I already have two sisters. I want a brother."
"We can talk about it later. You have ice to go harvest,"
"Right," Erian placed a quick kiss to his mother's cheek and ran from the room telling his father to hurry up.
"I'm coming," Kristoff called after him. He turned to Anna, "We'll see you later." He gave her one last kiss, "I love you."
"Love you too."
"Come on!" Erian cried hopping up and down next the sled.
"You are so your mother's child," Kristoff couldn't help but be reminded of Anna looking at the way Erian was acting.
"Hop in," Kristoff ruffed Erian's hair. The prince got into the sled while Kristoff gave Sven's reins a quick check over. Erian picked up the reins, pouting at his father. Kristoff sighed, knowing exactly what he wanted.
"Yes, you can drive," He chuckled climbing in next to his son.
Father and son talked none stop as they headed up the mountain. Erian asked questions none stop, even things he already knew.
"Erian, why are you so excited about this?" Kristoff asked.
Erian looked at him with a confused expression.
"Why wouldn't I be excited?"
"Ice harvesting isn't exactly the thing all the kids talk about doing," Kristoff knew this all too well.
"But it's what you do," Erian said this like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Kristoff started laughing.
"Daddy, when'd you know you wanted to be an ice harvester,"
"Ahh…" Kristoff thought for a second, "I'm not really sure if I tell exactly when. I just always knew I liked to harvest ice. Sven and I have been doing it since before we could remember. Isn't that right buddy?"
Sven looked back and snorted. Erian laughed.
"So you still harvest ice because you like to do it?"
"Still harvest ice? What are you talking about?"
"It's not like you have to harvest ice."
"Hey, do you think the title of Ice Master and Deliver is for nothing?"
"Yes,"
"Hey!"
Erian laughed while Kristoff started lecturing him on why ice was an important commodity.
"I know dad. But what I mean is, that you harvest ice because you want to, not because you have to."
Kristoff smiled, "But that's exactly why I harvest ice. Because I want to. Erian I'm not the imparting wisdom kind of person, but I can tell you this, no matter what you do you have to love it. I harvest ice because it's what I love to do. And I'm good at it. Plus if I wasn't an ice harvester I would have never met your mother and that's probably the best thing I ever got from harvesting. And by extension you and your sisters,"
Erian laughed.
"Okay, stay back while we cut," Kristoff took out the saw, breaking into the ice with a powerful shove. Erian looked on with an eager smile as Kristoff and the other ice harvesters cut into ice. Once they started cutting the ice into blocks Kristoff nodded Erian over.
"Now, you have to make sure you get a good grip on the ice as you pull up," Kristoff demonstrated.
"Alright," Erian grabbed the ice and planted his feet.
"Now don't feel bad if you get it on y…" Kristoff trailed off as Erian pulled up the ice out in one fluid motion. Kristoff pouted. Erian grinned brightly.
"Look daddy,"
"I see," He was still frowning, "and on your first time too,"
"Hey, that boy of yours has quiet the knack for this, eh Kristoff."
"Lad, if you ever decide you don't want to be a prince you can have a place among us,"
"Daddy did you hear that?"
"I heard. On your first time too."
"Your highness bring it over here." Someone called. Erian ran over happily, placing his block of ice on top of the pile. Kristoff was still frowning as he ran back over, grabbing another piece of ice.
"Okay, you got lucky the first time but don't worry if you can't…" Kristoff was cut again when Erian easily pulled the second block out. Sven snorted in a joyous manner.
"No he is not better than me," Kristoff said to the reindeer, moving to lift his own block of ice. As it came out of the water it slipped and fell back with a splash that left Kristoff's boots wet. He looked at his reindeer, who in turn was looking back at him in an amused manor.
"Not. A. Word." He said.
Later that day Anna, Elsa and the twins heard Erian's arrival from a ways off. The ladies were in a semi frozen sitting room, the twins playing ice tag, and the queen and crown princess discussing on whether or not 'Rapunzel' was a good middle name if the baby was a girl. When they heard his happy calls both pairs of sisters stopped what they were doing and turned towards the door. Erian came bursting through, holding a block of ice on his shoulder.
"Look at what I…" He was cut off when he ran onto the ice and slipped, falling on his back and the ice block sliding away from him. Anna and Elsa both gasped. Karianna stopped the ice while Arisol ran to his side.
"Erian, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Erian only laughed sitting up, "I'm fine. I'm fine." He waved her off, too happy to be in pain.
"Are you sure sweetheart?" Anna asked.
"I'm fine." He ran over to his ice block, "Look at the ice I harvested. I pulled it out on my own and everything. Daddy didn't have to help me."
Anna still got up and checked him over for injuries. He huffed, "Mommy! Stop it." He pushed the ice in front of her instead, "Look at this,"
"That's a big block. And you say you pulled it out on your own?" Elsa smiled. Erian nodded, grinning ear to ear.
"The kid's a natural," Kristoff walked into the room. Karianna shrieked when she saw him and ran over. He lifted her, tossing her playfully in the air once before settling her in him arms. "I see you girls had fun while we out," He smiled at the twins.
"I want to hear all about your day sweetheart," Anna said. Erian happily obliged, telling in as much detail as possible, and he was all to happy to start over when Olaf joined them.
"And, and, the other ice harvesters said I was good at cutting-"
"You let him use the saw," Anna turned sharply towards Kristoff. He drew back, shifting Kari in his arms, hoping his pregnant, hormonal wife wouldn't try to attack him while he had one of her daughters in his lap. He looked around the room for help, but realized there was none. It only got worse when he saw the look in Elsa's eyes. Great, he'd gotten his hormonal wife and all powerful queen/ice user/sister-in-law angry. In his mind it was a constant toss up of who he was more afraid of. But as of right now Anna was edging out her sister.
"He wanted too…and one of the others guys had a smaller saw and showed him how…"
"Oh, so you not only let him use the saw, but you let someone else teach him,"
"No, I was there too. I wouldn't have let anything happen, and he's fine isn't he?" Kristoff pointed to Erian.
"Mommy, I wasn't finished," Erian pouted. The sisters held their gazes on Kristoff for a few more seconds, then both turned their attention back to Erian, their expressions completely different. It was so different that Kristoff sore the room actually got warmer when they turned away from him…although that might have actually been the case. Kristoff knew he wasn't out of the fire yet (an ironic statement, considering Kristoff would probably be begging for a fire once Elsa was through with him).
"And the other ice harvesters said I should be the ice master," Erian finished his story proudly, puffing out his chest a bit. Anna and Elsa giggled.
"Maybe I should make you ice master," Elsa said, "Hopefully you won't let little children use giant saws," She glanced towards Kristoff. Both she and Anna had to bite back their laughter as Kristoff literally tried to hide behind his daughters.
If I were Kristoff I'm not sure who'd I'd be more afraid of...probably Elsa. Scary Elsa is scary. Or I might be saying that because I like writing scary Elsa. The way I wrote her in Spurious Suitors is still my favorite single scene I've written her in. I was writing it and I was a little afraid of her. But then again Anna will be this ball of unstoppable fury were her loved ones are concerned so it really is a toss up which sister scares me more.
Nardragon~ until the next page.