If The Cold Can't Stop Her

By: SheAlwaysDies

*this story has content related to self harm and abuse*

The slick sound of the pick coming down on was even more satisfying when the ice cracked. Tiny shards splashed up, and shot towards Kristoff's face. The feel of them grazing his cheek meant he had damaged the ice quite deeply. It was his third swing and the dent he had made was still pretty meek, compared to the force he brought down on it. It reminded him of how the ice cracked under his boyish arms when he was still learning the trade. It was a laughable strike, and if he'd been with the men he worked alongside with, they would have surely jeered at the feeble mark.

Kristoff, however, was quite impressed as he ran his finger through the slit. Elsa's ice was definitely more dense than ice that was born naturally. He almost felt like a great explorer to be the first person ever to pierce her power. He knew he shouldn't feel so cocky. He'd done a test stroke on an ice block from the Ice Reserve and splintered the wood on the handle of his favourite pick. The metal had screamed in agony as it tried to strike the cold, when it came in contact with the magic it had vibrated so fiercely that the shaking had transferred into his arms. He'd felt like he was having a seizure. His arms were still sore, like if he had just done a hundred push ups. All from one strike.

He'd barely worked up the nerve to hit Elsa's power again but he inspected the ice and could feel that this seemed less enchanted. The blue of the ice blocks was deep, with colours of the ocean reflecting the night sky. If you looked at it closely you could see it was marbled, as if you could admire the magic frozen within. The cold of it pierced any clothing and made the Ice Master feel like he was naked, letting the skin on him burn, even though he was wearing his thickest set of gloves.

It was good to know, he'd have to supply his new staff with the best furs and hides if they were going to work with this so closely and for long periods. This ice would make you skin black even with the strongest protection. It was fascinating that the ice spread over Kristoff's wagon was different. It was completely clear, like the highest point of a mountain stream before the runoff taints the water's purity. Kristoff had to assume that meant the ice was less powerful. His muscles were screaming at him as he worked up the courage to make another strike. But he'd felt so useless since coming down from the Ice Reserves with Elsa. She'd confessed she planned to take Anna away and the Ice Master had vowed he would protect Anna, but he hadn't made a single stride in that direction. This was his forte and he hoped coming down on Elsa's magic would lift his spirits.

It was a long shot because he kept reminding himself that it wasn't even a whole hour. By his estimations Kristoff had spent a total of 23 minutes with Anna since he had kept vigil at her bedside, since she pushed him off of her and ran out of his arms. Pitiful 23 minutes. It was likely the same tally of waking moments he spent not thinking about the Princess of Arendelle. It was torture. He had spent more time with Elsa than he had with Anna.

The Ice Master didn't let himself think about Elsa too much. Not that he could avoid it. It drove him mad. He'd punched out a wall already, thinking about how she had so casually admitted to having incestuous feelings towards the Princess. Not only that, but she planned on pursuing those feelings. She might have already done so. And poor Anna, whose greatest fear was losing more family. Would she feel she had to answer Elsa's perversions in order to keep her sister by her side? Was that why Anna hadn't spent even a half hour with the Ice Master?

Kristoff wanted so badly to protect Anna from that pressure. Would she be able to forgive herself if she lay with that woman? Would she be able to come back to him, or would she feel forced to say yes to Elsa. Would she run away with the Ice Queen? Kristoff had not had a single opportunity to press these questions to his Princess. Any time he went to call on her she was with her.

The Ice Master hated feeling useless. He was a man, there wasn't a place he could turn and not be of use. That had actually kept him busy. His new role was taking away the time he needed to mount an attack against Elsa. Not that he wanted to attack her. He really just wanted to shake her. But more than that, he rather take the approach of being in confidence with Anna. He didn't have to hurt Elsa, if he could just get a word in with the Princess.

He had not realized how much he would hate his new job. On paper it was a dream, but in real life being a Lord meant dealing with people, more specifically council. Those men knew how to drain rooms of air. Everywhere they went was stuffy and suffocating. At every turn, Kristoff was faced with the worst of twelve men, Lord Tarik. It was quite helpful to picture that particular councilman's face while he struck at the ice Elsa had left behind in Kristoff's wagon.

Once he broke through the first time it crumbled much like ordinary ice. Kristoff had to make very calculated moves. He'd never tried to extract anything from ice before, but he was known for striking fine straight lines, his blocks almost signature even. Even if he hit the lock box it would probably be in his favour. He had to smash the thing open if he was going to look at the documents Elsa left behind the other night.

It was a long shot, that there would be something inside that would help build a case against the Queen. He wasn't looking to take anything public, but he did want to have more to take to Anna. The wedding was in the morning, and Kristoff had no idea where this was heading. He didn't know what Elsa was thinking or when she was planning to run but tomorrow was an important day in Arenedelle's history. It was best the Ice Master be ready.

Kristoff stopped for a breath. He was always so much weaker in the summertime, when trips up into the mountains were fewer, and ice was harder to find. The demand was always so high but the mountains only had so much ice, and the fight to harvest it was thick as men crowded the mountains hunting for blue gold. The only way to make money in the summer was to ride high and risk death for coin. It was Kristoff's favourite kind of work, and he was more than willing. It meant less men to ward off. The corpses left on the mountain didn't deter him. He always thought he'd be proud to become a marker for Harvester's to be able to find Kristoff's favourite spots. He'd make the bravest men in the world rich, if they were willing to stake their lives on it.

He would be out there right now if his world hadn't been so uprooted. Just a week off and he was already weaker. He hadn't known that the day he met Anna would have been his last day risking his life. He did not know that it would change the way the Ice Harvesters of Arendelle did their work. He didn't know he would be their leader. Now that it was happening he barely believed he deserved it. Kristoff could barely understand why Elsa had offered him the position in the first place.

He had thought it was permission to pursue Anna and maybe it was. But the very next day he had learned that it was either more than that or less. From his vest Kristoff pulled out a piece of paper. He'd worn it out pretty well. It wasn't an obsession to unfold it and read it over and over. It was a reminder he needed. That Elsa was not as she seemed. It was a page out of the journal he'd received from Tarik a mere few days ago.

He hadn't meant to keep the torn out page. But when he pulled the journal out of his vest and tossed it in the hearth Anna's eyes had locked onto him so intently he knew he couldn't reach for the torn out page without having to admit that he was in possession of the journal all along. Lord Tarik had given it to him his first day on the job. He had pulled him outside after the council meeting and offered him something that would be in Kristoff's best interest to have.

The Lord had ear marked a page. It had made Kristoff's stomach sink into his bowels. The wording wasn't lewd but it was the sickest thing he had ever read.

"I'm just a guy that likes to do a good deed here and there," Tarik was saying as Kristoff read the sentence over and over. He could barely believe it was true.

"There's much more of that in there for you to take to bed," sneered the councilman. Kristoff shuttered. "You have a thing for the little Princess is that right?"

Kristoff must have not had a brain because he just nodded, as he flipped a few pages to find another entry. It was sad and it was beautiful and he wanted to throw the journal in the fire right then. No one should have had to read that let alone feel it. Tarik was shoving a lit cigar at Kristoff's face, but he couldn't even move to swat the smoke away.

"You know, Anna's always been like a little sister to me. I'm giving this to you because you are in the position to protect her. With a seat at the Queen's council my hands are tied. It's a small mutual favour that you hold on to that for me, and don't let it surface unless you fear the worst. I think we both want to get the girl here. We'll be brother's before you know it." Kristoff fingered the edges of a torn out page before he shut the book and placed it over his heart inside his vest.

The Ice Master didn't want to know what could possibly be on the page Tarik chose to keep for himself.

"But if you don't want to you can toss it back in my office." Tarik said as he exhaled smoke directly into Kristoff's face. He must have read his hesitation, or maybe he was just an asshole, but Kristoff knew it wasn't an out. Knowing this secret was a burden that Tarik pointedly put on the new Ice Master's shoulders. It was unwise to receive this offering. It was akin to a paycheck for sure, and even though he didn't want it, Kristoff was officially in the councilman's pocket.

The sound of clicking heels was so deeply unsettling. Kristoff didn't even look at the direction where the sound of a woman approaching came from. These were council corridors. The only woman with any business here was the Ice Queen. Kristoff turned away immediately, it was in the opposite direction he needed to travel and forced him towards Tarik's office. He knew that he would be worse off putting the journal back. It was a test, if he kept it it spoke volumes to his desire for Anna. It meant Tarik could continue to use that against Kristoff. If he left it behind the journal would just be used to purchase someone else.

The Ice Master entered the office. It had no windows and therefore smelt like man. But not in the way Kristoff smelt. This was rich man, there was fog in the study that settled in the back of Kristoff's throat. He already regretted taking this job and he was only half a day in. He wanted to be a Lord. He wanted to take whatever moves necessary to make Anna his wife. It seemed so much more sinister and Kristoff picked a page and torn it out of the journal. It seemed like a good compromise. He'd take one damning page and leave the rest for Tarik to feed off of. It wasn't Kristoff's problem it was Elsa's and Elsa's only.

He tossed the journal back on the desk. He almost made it out the door. But he couldn't leave the book behind. Kristoff was weary of Elsa before, but he had chalked it up to jealousy. He'd thought it was just hurt, from Anna turning away from Kristoff in the centre of the storm. It was heroic, and Anna would go down in history for it. But to Kristoff it had felt like a betrayal of the love that was overwhelming him. She'd chosen death over the life Kristoff wanted to share with her. That was enough to make him harbour resentment, but this was a new level of distaste.

But even with this knowledge, Kristoff didn't want to hurt Elsa. He wanted to best her. He wanted to stand on one side of the scale opposite her and watch himself rise up and her fall when Anna chose him. If that journal fell into someone else's hands, the win would be from unfair terms. The damage it could do would invert towards Anna. Kristoff picked the journal back up and nearly ran into his adversary as he exited the study. He could barely look at her, barely form words. Tarik slung around her so casually, he was so easy about the contents in the book. Like no matter what had happened he had already won. Kristoff felt so guilty leaving Elsa behind with the likes of that man. They deserve each other, He thought. Not because he believed it but because it was the only way to alleviate the shame that was eating at him.

It was definitely karma when Kristoff was at the highest point of his life, having just poured himself all over his soulmate, that she pushed past him in a panic. They had just made love. She had just called his name, dug her nails into his back, rocked herself against him as he filled her, and she was out of control, sobbing and rambling. She fell onto the floor and her skin crawled when he reached out for her. Hadn't he just given her goosebumps with that same touch?

But she was crying about a journal and Kristoff knew then this was his penance. His body was still singing in exultation while his mind was reeling with guilt. He had brought this upon himself and Anna was not letting him fix it. When she told him to leave, while his pants were still undone, he felt despicable. The Gods were damning him. He almost gave her the copy of Elsa's journal along with hers. He had it with him, but he couldn't part with it. If he was already suffering the consequences of having accepted it, he would continue to protect it.

He hadn't expected Anna to still be so focused on the journal when the gate ceremonies began. When she whisked him away for just a moment he thought she might actually want him. But he didn't deserve that anymore and the Gods agreed. That's why he was back in Lord Tarik's office holding what Anna was so desperately looking for. The Princess trusted him so much that she didn't even question why he was able to conjure the journal in his hands without having moved a muscle. She trusted him so much, she didn't even consider that he wouldn't have had time to really know what was inside it to want to already set it ablaze.

It had been his first instinct, three words into the journal he had wanted to burn it from the face of this world, and any trace of its existence from his mind. But he could only do the first thing. So he poured some expensive vodka on the accursed thing and brought it to flames. It felt good to melt something of Elsa's. But the Gods decided he wasn't allowed to feel good for more than an instant now. When Anna claimed she could sense Elsa's approach and not only that but at what speed, his first thought wasn't of alarm but that senseless jealousy again. How was she so connected to Elsa but failed to see his blatant shortcomings? He wanted to be seen that fully by her even if that meant she saw all his flaws too. Had he already known, before even the journal, that Elsa was in love with Anna? Was that why he felt so possessive of Anna, do damned desperate, and so intolerant of Elsa.

If that was the case then both he and Elsa had been pulling the Princess each by the arm ever since they all fell into the same embrace right after the thaw. By the way Kristoff watched Anna deflate at Elsa's flirtations with the council man made it feel like Elsa was winning. But Elsa was playing dirty because chances were she was dirty. Kristoff felt torn up but it was Anna that was being jostled. It was hurting the Princess, yet Kristoff felt like he couldn't let go, even when, once again, he was asked to leave.

The Ice Master had only seen Anna once since then. She hadn't even looked him in the eye. He'd spent two hours riding Sven as hard as he could down the mountain, not because Elsa was unwell but because he had to get to the Princess. Elsa had literally almost danced her way into his good graces, she had broken his defenses, left him raw and ready to open himself to fair game but she had calculated that. When she staked an honest claim to Anna, Kristoff was renewed. But he was also useless, because it didn't matter if Elsa was rubbing herself against Tarik, or writing obscenities in her journal, or actually unconscious, she always won Anna.

The final battle was amongst them, Kristoff needed more than the page of Elsa's journal to win it. As it stood, all he had was a love letter, one that put to words what Kristoff felt for Anna but written by Elsa's hand. So he took a final blow to the ice holding back Elsa's lock box. He tried not to feel hopeful so the Gods wouldn't whisk it all away as he was able to pull the wooden box out of the ice that had been made to protect it.

With a flick of his pick it popped open. The Gods might have been mad at him but his destiny had been seen by the trolls. Even all mighty beings could not alter it, he reminded himself as he picked up the pages. The first was a map of the mountain, and Elsa had been writing notes about the access points that the Ice Harvester's could use to move supplies deeper into Arenedelle. Kristoff threw the page over his shoulder. Scientific reports about wildlife in the area, mathematical equations about the amount of ice the Reserves could hold and the Kingdom would need, reports of forces of nature that might interfere, something completely unrelated about the Kingdom of Corona, it was all useless. His muscles ached, his heart was beating rapidly only to drop his blood pressure suddenly. His last chance for an upper hand gone. He tossed the pages up in a childlike display of defeat, only to decide that he actually needed these documents for work and of course Elsa wouldn't leave them behind if they were secretive in nature. They were work related, and meant for him.

The only piece of paper he actually had to return to the Queen was about Corona. He picked it up and put it on top of the pile. He was sure he could find someone to hand it off to Elsa. Until he noticed something in the margin. Just a few words. She loves me? Except the question mark had an 'X' over it and then an exclamation point, unmarked. Kristoff thought back to their ride up the mountain. There was a point when the two enemies had relaxed. Kristoff had let his love for outdoors, which he called his real home, settle his nerves enough to just enjoy his world. Elsa had fallen into the same calm. Was that when she had written it? Was Anna the home that provided her comfort and settled her into song?

The Queen had decided, on her way up the mountains, that Anna loved her back. Elsa showed Kristoff her hand because she was bluffing, she was going to win. If it was the truth, it meant one thing. Kristoff's destiny at Anna's side was not what he thought it would be. If Anna was to be Queen, it meant both Kristoff and Elsa were going to lose. Destiny be damn if that were true. One of them had to come out on top. But Kristoff knew she would never make Anna choose. He'd decided to be the real version of himself, and that journal coming into his hands had veered him off course. It was clear now. With just a few words written in the margins that if he was going to alter destiny it was going to be for Elsa, because what was best for the Queen, was what was ultimately best for his Princess.

The Ice Master wasn't sure what the wedding would bring but he knew he had to renew his efforts to find Anna. She was the hero here, that part was always true. Everyone else was just vying for a piece of her ethereal grace, to be saved by her. She was remarkably good at it. He'd gladly spend a lifetime at her side if he got to watch her make the hard choices with little regard for herself. And maybe his greatest use would be to salve the wounds, to prolong her goodness.

He barely slept. And when the sun came out he was already at the castle. Unfortunately he wasn't the only one asking about the whereabouts of the Princess. Everyone wanted her, everyone called out for her. Her name was on the lips of the entire castle. For hours he searched her out but when the bells rang, and the masses rushed to the chapel for the best view of the Queen, Anna was still nowhere to be seen. The mob practically pushed him into the church. He felt the eyes of the Gods burning down at him as he took his reserved seat. Tarik was already on his mark and when they met eyes he actually winked at the Ice Master as if he was boosting his win.

The Chapel doors flew open and a graceless Princess practically tumbled in. Captain Ioas was escorting her, and she smiled nervously as she said with a chuckle "I object!" and everyone was roaring in laughter save for the Groom whose teeth bared up against one another. The Princess was practically thrown on her mark and the pounced on by two maids, one that adjusted her the red threads of her hair and the other that started to powder already blushing cheeks.

The Princess didn't even throw a glance in Kristoff's direction when the women receded. Her eyes went instantly to Tarik's and they both burned into each other until the choir swelled up and the entire room snapped into attention. Gasps of awe filled the chapel. Even the Gods were sighing. Kristoff was the only one not looking at the Queen of Arendelle. His eyes were on his Princess, as he saw exactly why Elsa had scratched out the question mark. Anna was in love and also very very broken.

Kristoff wanted that connection again. The one that allowed Anna to sense her sister, but for a different reason this time. He wanted it so he could put his arms around her and whisper into her ear, Don't worry, you got this. You're the hero here. Kristoff didn't take his eyes off of how unchecked Anna left her face. If the world wasn't so drawn to the magnificence that was the Ice Queen, they would all be staring at the sorrow on Anna's brows. They would have all seen the Princess recite Tarik's end of the vows to her sister's back.

The Ice Master wanted to cheer Anna on as devastation turned to determination. She stood so tall as Tarik took the Queen in for a kiss. Like if she didn't need Kristoff, she was already ready, come what may. She didn't care about the Gods either. So when the couple was pronounced King and Queen, and they were pulled along into the crowd Kristoff didn't approach Anna. She pushed her away through the masses and he let her go because he was here to take care of her when she needed it, and she was resolute. Being at Anna's side meant staying on the side lines.

Anna's name was on every one's lips again and for a second time the world speculated of her whereabouts. This time she was being coupled in with Elsa. Kristoff wondered if this was it. If they had already taken off. If that was the case then he was at peace with it. If that was the last time he saw her then he could survive with the knowledge that Anna was strong enough to ward off the destiny the Trolls read that would see the sister's apart.

The crowd was thick and angsty as they pissed about the women of the castle being such distasteful hostesses. The gossip was too much for Kristoff. Everyone was so displeased it was making Kristoff feel like he was going to choke. He was back to hating people now that the one person he loved was on her way out of Arendelle. So he veered off into the gardens, to be by himself. The staff had decided to start the reception to quell the crowd, with the party underway the garden seemed like the safest spot to be alone.

He sat there a long time waiting to get used to the idea again. Solitude. He would readjust. What was a week of hope compared to a lifetime of loneliness. It was feasible that he could go back to his old ways. But he also owed it to Anna to keep trying to be himself. She saw something good in him, maybe if she wasn't on the other side of his darkness, he should still try to make it there, for once in his life.

"I didn't picture you as a roses kind of guy, but the quiet gave you away." It was Elsa's voice at his back. He should have sensed her. There was a bit of a chill. But he was used to the cold so maybe that's why he never registered her like Anna could.

"Elsa?" Kristoff said as he turned to face her. He hadn't allowed himself to take her in at the chapel. He'd been so honed in on Anna. She wasn't in the same gown. This one was ice. The cold breeze that she brought with her was blowing at the snowy fabric. White on white on white, it made her look like a fairy. She had no makeup on her face and it made the only human thing about her that she looked so much like Anna.

"I'm hiding out here because I don't do well in crowds. It seems like Anna's always surrounded in one. Working up the nerve to ask her to dance." He wasn't sure what to say but he didn't know why he lied. Maybe it was because the least human thing about the Ice Queen was not the power that made up her gown, but the darkness in her eyes. She looked empty. She looked dead.

"I need to ask you something," There was no emotion in her voice. Kristoff was screaming, he was sure of it. He was begging to know where Anna was. He was begging to know if she was okay. But he wasn't saying anything because the deep deep blue of Elsa's eyes told him nothing was okay. That destiny could not be changed.

"Ok. Sure." he said instead, because if he could be of any use his ice pick would forever be of service to the Queens of Arendelle.

"You said the trolls foretold you would always be by Anna's side. I need to know if you can do that." Elsa's voice was low but clear. She was saying her farewells but not to him. She was saying them to Anna.

"Always and of course," He said as he put his hand on his chest. Was it really all he could do was bow down to the visions of the Trolls?

"She's strong, she doesn't need a protector. She needs support. That means she needs you to be what she needs you to be, not what you want to be for her. Do you understand that?" The firmness in her voice was the closest she got to emotion.

"I do." He said truthfully. He knew why she thought he had to be told, but he knew. He knew that now.

"Good, I'd suggest hiding out here a little longer. You're a horrible dancer, confidence is the only thing you'll have going for you." Her eyes went back to alive, but Kristoff still saw through them. It was her mask, fixed back onto her face, the one she'd spent a lifetime mastering.

"Yeah. True." Kristoff answered because he would never put his on ever again.

"Kristoff." She said before she left the stillness of the garden. "The trolls were right."

Kristoff didn't know why he had let himself doubt that. The trolls were made out of stone because what they foretold would always be written on their backs.

—

A KRISTOFF CHAPTER?! This late in the game!? Sorry guys. I'll make it up to you.

I almost didn't post this today because the stats say you all need sometime to catch up but! the next two chapters be the conclusion. I think I will polish them up together and post them back to back, same day type deal. Or else I will collapse under the pressure of writing the ending. I will try my best to get them out sooner rather than later, but don't think I've disappeared. They are coming! I will give you a heads up at the start of the chapter if something in that plan changes.

Anyone that wants a parting comment at the end, leave a review and I will respond.

Thanks everyone xx

MorticiaTheVenomous: That's your new drag name if you so choose. It can also be your slayer name if you also choose to enter this world and get your hands on Tarik. I don't believe for one second you didn't mean to write that pun! Your sassy frozen puns got us into this little friendship to begin with xx

Now I have a few guests to differentiate -.-" Next time I will require you all to make your own nicknames but here I go hope you all know who is who.

Guest(reviewchapter27) or The Little Murderer and Guest(reviewchapter27) or probablyworsethanmurdermemberfreezer: (see why you need your own handles) Well you both had the same question and the same cheekiness so I will respond to you together. The answer is yes, I will be writing some more ElsAnna later on. I have two little stories in my head and another big one. But my wife might kill me if I don't get my sh*t together, so if you see a story posted assume I'm in the dog house. Keep checking if you don't have an account to follow with.

Guest(reviewchapter27) I won't call you number three cause you your review was just so darn cute! And I don't even know why, maybe it's because of you cheering Elsa on. I won't keep you on the edge too long. Ain't nobody like a tease.

Also MemberFreezingGuest: I hope you know I will also be sad when it ends. Your feels are my feels.