Kristoff hated the summer- Although it was good for his ice business, the heat made him go just a little crazy. He often lamented about this to his reindeer, Sven, who agreed that it was far too hot.

"I think one of these days you should pull the sleigh…" Kristoff said in his "Sven Voice", the reindeer panting in agreement. "I know buddy, but then I'd get all the carrots." Kristoff waggled his eyebrows. Sven just eyed him sadly. Kristoff shrugged. "This is our last delivery today, Bud. then we'll go swimming, okay?" Kristoff might have imagined it, but he was sure Sven rolled his eyes.

As they approached the high gates of the castle courtyard, Kristoff lent his head back to try and see the pillars of the castle. He couldn't- the gates had been built higher than before since the death of the queen.

"Name?" The guard, a slender man dressed in black stared sternly at Kristoff. "Kristoff, Kristoff Bjorgman." "What is your business here?" "Come on Lance, I'm here every week." Kristoff sighed, gesturing to the sleigh of ice slowly melting in the sun behind him. "Just let me in." The guard only stared at him. Kristoff sighed. "Ice delivery. I'm here to deliver the ice." The guard nodded once then signaled that the gates be opened. "Thank you." Kristoff said as he walked by, but the guard ignored him.

Things had been different since the Queen had died; the gates were closed constantly, everyone was just a bit more on guard, and no one ever saw the Princess, except for her wedding to Hans. Kristoff hadn't gotten a good look, he hadn't really cared much at the time, but now it was all people could talk about- "Where is their princess?"

The Princess, Anna of Arendell, was dancing around on the top floor of the castle. There was no music, but she was swinging her gown and kicking up her heels as if she was surrounded by sound and people. The paintings on the wall watched her free movements with jealousy. Her long ginger hair swung around her face like a whirlwind of flame. She smiled and laughed and raced around the room. Then the door swung open. "Anna." A cold voice swept through the room and all at once the music in her head stopped. She stopped in her tracks and looked to the doorway. "Hans. Hello." She tucked her hair behind her ears and tried to look decent. "Compose yourself, please." Anna scrambled to push her hair back into its usual bun "yes I'm sorry I was just-" Hans held up his hand and walked toward her. His boot heels clicked on the floor of the room, his back was straight and he wore fine clothes of silk and fur in a dark green that seemed to absorb the light around him. He placed his hands on her shoulders and Anna felt a chill rush down her spine. "You are royalty. Compose yourself, you look a mess."

Anna dropped her eyes but he pushed her chin up to look at him. "Do not look away from me when I'm speaking to you." Anna nodded against the hand that held her head in place. "I have come to inform you that the-" but whatever he was going to say vanished. His eyes narrowed. "What is this?" He pushed away from Anna and walked to the open window. Anna caught her breath in her chest. "I just wanted to-it's such a beautiful day-the sun."

"STOP BABBLING."

Hans shouted, slamming the windows closed with such force Anna feared the stained glass would shatter.

"How many times do I have to tell you that you do not open these windows, the doors, anything.

How many times!? Are you really that incompetent that you don't understand!? I do these things to keep you SAFE."

"I know." Anna's eyes threatened to spill over, but she knew it wouldn't help. Hans stopped and sighed.

"Come here."

He pulled Anna against him and squeezed her hard. "I know that you are not like your sister, you are not nearly as strong as she was, but I know other people may still want to hurt you. So please just...just don't give them the opportunity, okay?" Anna nodded, her guilt trapped in her throat. She was so foolish. She knew that this was for her own protection, but she just couldn't help herself.

"I'm going to meet with the council, I'll be back later." Hans patted her on the head then walked out the door, taking all the air in the room with him.

"This is less than you paid me last month." Kristoff re-counted the gold pieces in his hand. "This isn't even half." The kitchen maid who had given him the money shrugged dejectedly. "That's all we can pay. You should be glad- people have had to make do with less." She turned away and closed the door, leaving Kristoff in the shadowy alley behind the castle. He raised his fist to knock, to demand to argue his pay, then lost his will. He knew she was right- the king had begun taking more in taxes, people were simply being paid less, but the king had the power of the queen behind him, whom the kingdom still respected, and so people simply have been trying to live on what they could.

"I guess no carrots for me tonight Sven." Kristoff muttered.. At the mention of carrots Sven started to sniff excitedly around Kristoff's pockets, which caused him to laugh out loud, the sound echoing through the courtyard.

Suddenly there was a cry from above, then something very solid landed on Kristoffs head.

"Ow!?" He said, surprised. He tentatively touched the place on his skull that was now throbbing.

"What the hell…" Kristoff looked where Sven was pawing… "A shoe?"

"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry it was an accident! Are you okay!?"

Kristoff looked up. Above him, on a small balcony, stood a woman in a green dress with long red hair. She looked...nervous. "Are you okay!?" She repeated. Kristoff shook his head, then knelt down to pick up her shoe. "I'm- I'm okay! I have a thick skull!" he shouted back. A couple of servants walking by snickered behind their hands. Kristoff ignored them. "So...Can I have my shoe back?" The girl was clinging to the doorway of the patio, as though hiding. "Oh, sure!..hmmm." Kristoff looked around, then up. "Aha!"

Putting the little slipper in his pocket, he gripped the castle's rocky walls and started to climb.

"Oh...Wow..." Anna watched in awe as he made his way to the balcony, easily finding foot holds and grips where moments before had been solid rock. Kristoff hauled himself over the metal rail and, slightly panting from the heat, took the shoe from his pocket and held it out to her.

"Ma'am." He nodded his head, then paused.

She had beautiful blue eyes, bright red hair with a silver streak and freckles powdered across her nose like pollen- like apple seeds.

She looked like she was hiding, and suddenly Kristoff wondered if he'd scared her.

Now that he was so close, Anna had remembered Hans' warning that even though she wasn't as important as Elsa, people would want to harm her. She realized she was frozen, staring at the man on her balcony, and slowly moved backwards. "You can just...just leave it there." She said quietly.

"Okay." Kristoff nodded slowly, spoke softly. Gently he put the shoe on the ground, then clambered over the railing again. He descended slowly back to Sven.

"Thank you!"

Kristoff looked up; the girl was waving. "You're welcome!" Kristoff shouted in return, a smile spreading from cheek to cheek.