"Your majesty, how do you want to rebuild the kingdom?" the construction worker said. Anna looked up from the plans. Since the migration to the Enchanted Forest, Anna had been seen very little, as she had to oversee the rebuilding, which was going to take a week at most. During that time, the Northrulda had been integrating with the community and the kingdom, educating them on their culture and vice versa with the ones who left the tribe had been doing the same thing.
"You know, I honestly have no idea how I want to do this. The only logical explanation would be to have the kingdom rebuilt closer to the Enchanted Forest, but I don't think Yelena's council would accept that," Anna said. "I could ask but we would be back at square one and I don't want this to be a 'If you don't figure out what to do, then I'm just gonna go do it' situation," she added, remembering the battles both women had with their councils about reintegrating both cultures.
"Well, your majesty, this is your decision and we will support whatever happens," the worker said. Shaking hands with the foreman, Anna turned and headed back to the Enchanted Forest, looking downtrodden.
"Queen Anna's back!" one of the kids shouted. "Anna!" "Anna!" the kids shouted as they ran to Anna, which replaced her frown with a grin as she hugged each one of them. Elsa, Kristoff and everyone watched the situation with smiles. Elsa, having seen Anna's rapaport with the kids after ending the 13-year isolation, always told Anna she would make a great mom someday. After the kids backed off, Anna approached Elsa and Yelena.
"Elsa, Yelena, as the Tie, we need to talk,'' she said. The two nodded and followed Anna into the leader's tent.
"This doesn't look good at all," Elsa noted to their friend, noticing Anna's pained expression. She gave Elsa and Yelena the plans.
"Here's the rundown: The only logical explanation would be to rebuild near here," Anna began but Yelena immediately held her hand up.
"I'm going to stop you right there. You're basically asking us to submit to your rule," she spat. Anna hung her head.
"I was afraid you would say that. But I'm not seeing any other option here," Anna tried to get Yelena to understand her POV, but the woman remained firm: The deal was that the Northrulda would provide shelter and food for the Arendellians with no strings attached and the Queen would not do anything that would constitute trying to force them to submit. During the meeting, which lasted the whole afternoon, a consensus was reached that the Arendellians would have shelters built for them, no more, no less. Anna found herself agreeing, lest she lose the Northrulda's support, like her grandfather had done, and having some form of shelter over the heads of the citizens was more important at the moment. Rebuilding the kingdom could wait, because the rainy season was about to start soon so they couldn't begin rebuilding right away. Night fell, and the Arendelle residents were placed in a nearby cave. Anna and Kristoff were given their own tent, right next to Elsa's. Queen's orders. As Anna removed her shoes, Kristoff entered, so Anna offered him her foot, puzzling him. Since he wasn't getting what she wanted, she wiggled her toes.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to get a foot rub," she smiled. Kristoff nodded and started to caress his hands over Anna's foot. His hands were so soft as they worked their magic over Anna's aching feet. "You know how much I love you, right?" she asked.
"I know you do, but sometimes, I feel like if it will really boil down to it, you would choose Elsa over me,'' he admitted. He felt Anna's hands over his chest.
"You heard what I said before I transformed, I love both of you equally. I know when it comes to me and Elsa, you feel like you're a third wheel, but, how can I put this without offending you? I really feel like everything that had occurred lately is tied back to me and Elsa," she said. Kristoff shrugged his shoulders.
"I know it does. That's what I'm getting at is, I guess, marrying you gave me a sense of entitlement, like, okay, I'm in your family now, can I now be included in your shenanigans? Just being reminded I married into the family is like a kick in reality for me. I mean, you walked into my life, you think I had that planned? I didn't, but the more I helped you on your quest, I began to realize that you were changing me, showing me that no one needed to be alone and a human companion is all everyone needed. I thought I had what I needed, but you proved me wrong, big time", he sheepishly admitted. Anna blushed at his words.
As the two of them snuggled together, Kristoff had to admit he knew how much Anna loved him, but deep in his heart, he knew Anna would choose Elsa over him if it really came down to it, meaning he really was a third wheel when it came to the sisters.
AN: Arendelle being destroyed later is actually a reference to the earlier draft script of Frozen II, where Arendelle did get wiped out, but the writers changed it at the last second. Also, in case I wasn't clear, the Arendellians have rations, supplies and essentials, which the spirits allowed them to get before siccing the tidal wave on them. It's somewhat similar to the evacuation in the second film, where it's very strongly implied that it's a 'get whatever you need before you go, because if you don't, it'll be gone' situation, because once they left, they had to appease the spirits' anger, which was the dam. R&R!