The next day I woke up surprisingly rested. Kristoff was no longer in the room and breakfast was ready on the table. I got up, scratched my body, which itched like never before, with some desperation, and looked curiously through the door to see if they had already gone to work.

Upon opening, I felt the terrible cold of the morning and the incredible warmth of that man who was playing with his reindeer friend while… 'Yuck!', they shared carrots again.

"Anna! Morning. Have you slept well?"

Sven came lovingly to meet me and I realized that never in my memory I had been greeted with such enthusiasm.

"Good morning," I answered petting Sven. "I slept very well, thank you. Is the breakfast on the table for me?"
"You've already seen it? Yes, it's yours."

'Like it had a lot of room to hide…'

"And you?"
"I've already eaten."
"Sure…"

'A balanced breakfast based on carrots and reindeer drooling.'

"We're going to work now. Today we'll arrive much sooner, so we can still go out to show you the area so that you know where you can walk and where it's dangerous. In the meantime, make yourself at home, okay?"

"No, thanks."

Kristoff offered me an awkward glance and I realized what I seemed to have said.

"No! I mean, great to go out and stuff! What I don't want is to feel like in the castle."

The freedom and warmth I was feeling in a small, icy wooden room were not comparable to the feeling of cold and loneliness I had grown up with.

His lips became in a mournful smile and he nodded before getting on the sleigh.

"Make yourself at the home you want to live in."

And with the breath of those words, they set course for the frozen lakes leaving my heart subtly shaken.

That day was a little different from the previous one. The feeling of freedom and tenderness was disturbed by the terrible itch that invaded my body. No matter how much it scratched me, it didn't seem like it meant to stop. I inspected myself for signs of biting or intoxication, but couldn't find anything. My head itched, my face, my neck, my legs, my hands, my back, everything! Absolutely the whole body!

When Kristoff and Sven got back, my nerves were already on edge.

"We're back."
"What's this?!" I yelled desperately showing him my completely red arms from scratching myself.

Clearly, this wasn't the welcome Kristoff expected, but he didn't seem particularly surprised, either. Without a word he entered, closed the door behind him, and opened a small cabinet next to the bed. From there he took out a glass vial which he handed me immediately.

"Smear this. The cold and dry mountain climate is drying out your skin, that's why it itches you. I smear it me almost every day and sometimes it still itches."
"It's just that?"
"I think so."
"Thank you!"

I began to spread my arms in a hurry and I was quickly noticing how that oil had a balm effect on my skin.

"God, that feels better…" "Use as much as you need, I have more. I'm going to get water in the meantime so you have… privacy."

'And why is he flushing right now? He doesn't care to get into the same bed as me and then he blushed because I'm going to give myself some oil.'

Kristoff came out of the hut and I spread myself with that oil that smelled a little strange from top to bottom, from one side to the other, and from front to… oh, no…

"I can't reach my back!"

That was the new greeting phrase.

"Yeah, I understand you… it never stops itching there."
"Are you kidding me? I can't take it! Spread it on me!"
"What? No!"
"It's not a question!"
"I'm not going to do that."
"Your princess orders it!"
"Hadn't you given up the charge?" he said with a teasing smile.
"Not officially. And now, do it, I beg you…"

Pleas are apparently more effective than orders, and although quite hesitant, Kristoff finally agreed to give me the blessed oil.

I uncovered my back and sat on the ground facing the fire. Kristoff sat behind me on a small wooden stool and warmed his hands by rubbing them vigorously against each other. Afterward, he took some oil that he spread on them and placed his two huge hands on the base of my neck.

The goosebump I felt didn't make the subtle trembling of his hands go unnoticed.

He ran his warm and rough hands carefully and patiently all over my back until my skin had absorbed all the oil, making me feel, not on my skin, more heat than I thought I could feel. Then, he got up without a word and turned to the door to let me get dressed again.

I put my clothes on and walked over to him.

"Thank you."
"No problem. Are we leaving now?"
"As soon as I smear the oil on you."
"Wha…?"

His eyes were so wide that I thought they would drop.

"Thanks to you I feel really relieved. I can't imagine what it's like to live always with that itchy back. Let me help you."
"There's no need."
"Even so. Let me feel even minimally useful, please."

He lowered his gaze and I enjoyed knowing how compliant he was when it came to my emotions. He was so compassionate that I felt I could do whatever I wanted with him. What a dangerous feeling.

"Okay, but you will stop using that excuse to get what you want…"

'It couldn't be that easy.'

"Deal."

Kristoff stripped off layer after layer of clothing until his bare torso was exposed.

'Sweet mother of God! Who has sculpted such a hunky body?!'

I was grateful that he had gone directly to sit on the stool in front of the fire without noticing the idiotic face that I was pulling like and I stood behind him, doubting if it was really okay that I had the privilege of walking my hands over that skin. So, I plucked up my courage, splashed some oil on my hands, and put them on his surprisingly hot back.

"Cold!" he exclaimed, jumping up. "Your hands are frozen!"

With the excitement, I had completely forgotten to warm them up.

"Oops?"

He frowned at me and I couldn't help but laugh; maybe from nerves.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm going to warm them up right now."

I put my hands to the fire and he sat down again calmer. In that instant, our faces were at the same height and barely twenty inches apart from each other. We shared a fleeting glance during which I could appreciate the vibrant light of the fire reflected in his eyes and I felt a terrible tension that I had to break before committing something crazy. I turned my face to the fire and sighed as my hands, very, very, very slowly, warmed up.

When they finally got warm, I smeared oil on him trying not to think too much about what I was doing. Without thinking about how my hands went through each of his muscles in detail, or how the skin on his back was much softer than his hands'; without thinking about what would happen if I let my mischievous hands go beyond the limits of his back and walk all over his body. 'Anna! Behave!'

When I finished, I quickly jerked from there and put on my cape and hat.

"Time to go?" I said urgently needed to change the atmosphere and, at the same time, excited to see some of the world calmly at last.
"Yeah, let's go," he replied with a smile as she covered her body again with a pile of warm layers.

During that pleasant and fun walk, I immensely enjoyed those views, the birdsong, each of the clouds in the sky, the fresh air, and the smell of the trees. This was, without a doubt, almost the most beautiful thing I had ever witnessed in my entire life; the most beautiful only after the reflection of that flame.