~Chapter 13~

Anna

Hans was here! I couldn't believe it. I ran to hug him just excited to see him though I have to admit as I felt a twinge of guilt as I looked at Kristoff's face.

"It's good to see you." I smiled.

"You too." He said reaching for my hand, but I pulled it away.

It wasn't the time for this.

"If you're here, I hope summer has returned to Arendelle and everything is okay?" I asked.

"Not exactly, Anna." He replied.

"Then why are you here?" I felt nervous, something wasn't right, "How did you know where to find us?"

"I followed you of course." Hans sneered.

I backed away as Marcus lunged forward protectively, but he was off his game. He wasn't looking like himself especially as I saw more streaks of white in his hair.

"Hans, what is this? I thought you cared about me...and Arendelle."

"Not you Anna." He said matter of factly, "Just Arendelle."

Marcus pulled out his sword, but his arm was shaking and Hans just laughed mockingly.

"You can't be serious…"

He shoved Marcus to the ground and Marcus who was always good on his feet and not clumsy at all, fell to the ground.

"As last in line for my family's throne, I knew I needed to find another throne if I had any chance to rule my own kingdom in my lifetime…"

"Hans…" I stared at him in disbelief.

"Arendelle's queen needed a king," He continued, "But Elsa is just as frosty as her powers…"

"Watch it!" Marcus growled, "You know nothing about her!"

"So that's when I quite literally ran into you, Anna." Hans smiled most unpleasantly.

My heart sank and I felt sick.

"You used me." I muttered.

Kristoff came up behind me and stomped up to Hans ready to clock him, but Hans pulled out a sword holding it up toward him.

"Easy there, iceman." Hans mocked, "No need to do this the hard way."

"Kristoff, no. He's not worth it." I said grabbing his arm.

"At last Anna, we finally understand each other." Hans said.

As Hans was arrogantly applauding his deception, Marcus got up off the ground shakily. Hans didn't notice until Marcus swung a vicious right hook right into Hans' jaw. Even after a single swing, Marcus was really winded. This wasn't good.

"You idiots want to do this the hard way, huh?" Hans said wiping his bleeding lip, "Very well."

He leapt up on his feet and ran out toward the cave entrance like a coward. All of us charged after him. We wouldn't let him get away with it. As we approached the fading light of the day outside the cave, Hans wasn't alone. A small platoon of soldiers were with Hans all armed for war. Two cannons were aimed at us.

"Hans, you'd be stupid to attempt to murder a member of the royal family." Marcus growled.

"I would never, I intend to let the elements do that for me."

Hans quickly told his men to fire and two cannonballs hit the slope of the mountain above immediately causing snow to fall dumping on top of us. We all tried to retreat back into the cave, but the snow stopped us in our tracks. Pinned by the weight of snow, we were trapped. Marcus called out to see if everyone was okay. Olaf had the easiest time to maneuver because he was so small. Marcus and Sven I could hear were a bit ahead of us in the cave. Kristoff was near me, I could hear him moving about. Olaf dug through to us.

"Anna!" Kristoff called out, "You okay?"

"I'm fine. You?"

I heard for scrambling on the other side of the snow as Kristoff poked his head through.

"And you were going to marry him? You sure know how to choose em." Kristoff winked.

"Just drop it...I know." I muttered.

"Well, all I gotta say is Hans is insane. I know plenty of people who care about you. One of them happens to be here."

My heart jumped at his reply. How could a man who annoyed me to no end also make my heart skip a beat?

"Really?"

"Uh, huh." He smiled reaching out his hand toward me and I quickly grabbed it, "We'll get out of here."

"Hey Anna," Olaf interrupted, "I'm gonna go help fish Marcus out of the snow, kay?"

"Okay Olaf." I replied, "Hurry, there isn't much time."

Maybe ten minutes later, I heard Marcus say he could pull himself out of the cave.

"Marcus, you free?" I yelled.

"Yeah" He replied, "Olaf got Sven out too."

"Marcus, take Sven and hurry home to Arendelle. We'll be right behind you." Kristoff said.

"I can't leave you guys up here." Marcus insisted.

"Marcus, I'm pulling the princess card. It's your job to do what I say and I'm saying that you should leave." I insisted, "I'm not alone, so don't worry." I said glancing at Kristoff.

At first he gave no reply.

"Okay. Just be careful and stay safe. I'll see you soon." Marcus finally said.

"Count on it." I yelled.

Afterward, we heard nothing outside except a few grunts from Sven and hooves running away. Then all the sounds faded.

"Olaf, you think you're not too tired to dig us out of here?" Kristoff asked.

"No problem." Olaf smiled.

As Olaf worked his magic on digging us out, my eyes looked to the horizon and the fading light peering into the cave. It was almost sundown. Marcus had to make it back to Arendelle, he just had to.