The magic inside
It had been mere coincidence that Kristoff had detected that magical place back in early autumn. Once on his way home late, he couldn´t let Sven drag him all the way back to town, because they had wandered far more up into the high mountains than usual. So, the young ice harvester had decided to stop and make them stay the night in that cave he had noticed, though this northern region was not that familiar to him. But they were both exhausted and a good rest was at bay.
And then, there had not been much of sleep. If ever anyone had told him that there existed a place like that, other than in the trolls´ valley that was, then he would have smirked and nodded all politely, knowing it was insanity talk. But it did exist, and it was magical…
So now, all Kristoff could think about was to bring the one and only to see this. Anna deserved the treat and he couldn´t wait for the magical moment to see her face when she was to stand on the spot where he had tried in vain to close his eyes.
Kristoff wanted to be sure that he hadn´t dreamed about this all and had sought Grand-Pabbie to talk to. The old troll had smiled kindly to him, apparently once again knowing more and not telling everything off his wise mind.
"Why is this happening there, can you tell?" Kristoff had asked in wonder, trying to comprehend the phenomenon.
"Because, Kristoff, this time there is no physics law for explanation. It´s the magic inside of you that´s causing it to occur."
And Grand-Pabbie explained the old legend to the mystery of that place. He had then placed a fatherly hand to Kristoff´s bold arm and crooked his head to his favourite boy.
"It´s an invitation, don´t fear it, favour it!"
On that, Grand-Pabbie had winked and smiled knowingly, just to roll himself back to a round rock-ball and spinning off.
That had been four weeks ago and now, Anna sat next to him in the front of the sledge, all edgy and giddy for the surprise that was awaiting her. She had wrapped herself into her purple travel cloak and with her two casual braids she reminded him so much of their first adventure up the north mountain. And still, after all those months, it still gave Kristoff the shivers when he thought of that dreadful moment of seeing Anna freeze right in front of him. But then, she was a fighter and had she not kicked off a wolve, had tricked Marshmallow and her awkward attempt of climbing that rock wall had been the sweetest, though he would not tell her because it made her frowning. And Kristoff didn´t like Anna frowning.
The autumn air had turned chillier the past few days and days were noticeably getting shorter. Good, like that he wouldn´t need to wait too long for his surprising her.
Anna had snuggled more closely up to him and braced her arms around her body and shuddered, gritting her teeth to the cold breeze that engulfed their ears and faces.
"Grrrrr. It´s getting chilly, right?"
"Yeap, hope you packed your warmest things, and no silk and lace." Kristoff grinned and laid an arm around her just to pull her closer to his side. She didn´t pull back, but instead nestled into his hold, sighing contentedly. But then, she lifted her head and grinned up.
"What would you know of silk and lace?"
"You told me, forgotten?"
"Wait, what? Did I?"
"Yes."
"Was I drunk? Have you made me drunk and asked about my nightwear?"
Kristoff laughed out loud and glanced at her with amusement.
"No, feisty pants, you complained about the blanket I offered you the last time we took shelter in that old cabin, while we had to wait for the pouring rain to stop. And there you said you´d miss your silky sheets that were soft and snuggly. Remember?"
"To be fair, your blanket was rough like a pig´s bristle."
"And what would you know of a pig´s bristle?"
"More than you of silk and laces." And she pinched his side with a mischievous grin.
"So, we´re even then?" He smirked back at her.
"Even." Anna sighed and leaned back into his warm and bold side.
A while later Kristoff heard the princess of Arendelle snore peacefully against his ribcage. She was such a sweetheart! And on top of that, she called herself his sweetheart. And that thought never failed to make his heart skip a beat.
"Anna, we´re there."
"Hm?" Anna raised her head and rubbed her eyes yawning, just to notice that they had come up far into the mountains. She watched Kristoff detach Sven from his harness and the reindeer grumbled contentedly and started skipping and running around the snow field on which Kristoff had brought the sled to stand.
She had hopped down from the sledge by herself before Kristoff could lend her a hand, and Anna walked a few steps close to the edge of the platform. That was breath-taking and simply miraculous.
"Kristoff! This is amazing. I didn´t know such wonder could possibly exist."
Anna stood and looked around in wonder, the sight to her eyes was overwhelming. The mountains driftingly sinking lower into the landscape and the valleys before Arendelle slinging with the fjords like dancing a waltz to nature´s music. And above all that lovely scenery expanding in front of them, the northern lights danced their melody and covering the world in their enchanting colours. It was all so peaceful, so utterly quiet and… magical.
Kristoff had stepped to her side and nodded understandingly.
"Yes, it´s awesome, isn´t it?"
And wait till you see the magic inside…
He reached for her hand and Anna looked up with happy eyes, this moment was perfect to her. Kristoff had turned to face her and leaned in to whisper close to her beautiful face.
"Anna, there is something I wanted to show you. It´s just, I don´t know if it will work, but I pray it does. Because to me it seems like a gift by nature´s heart, created only for you!"
"Kristoff…" she whispered back, "what is that?"
"Trust me?"
"Yes."
She crooked her head in anticipation, when Kristoff pulled out a light cloth to put it gently around Anna´s eyes to cover her sight. Anna giggled and asked if that was the revenge for her blindfolding him back in summer?
"No, my love, it´s to make the magical moment flawless. Ready?"
"Yes." She cooed, holding out her hands for her beloved mountain man to guide her to the magical surprise, all thrilled and prancing with delight. But Kristoff would not take her hands, instead, he scooped her up and carried her far inside the cave behind them.
Once inside, Kristoff took a deep breath and smiled. It was there and nature must have awaited them, because it was even more beautiful than when he had seen this spectacle before. He lowered Anna gently to the ground, now holding her hands and squeezing them, to let her know it was time. She smiled and bit her lips, clearly excited, and she squeezed his fingers in return.
"Ready?" Kristoff whispered again.
Anna nodded, smacking her lips, and heaving her shoulders. And Kristoff carefully undid the knot and took off the cloth with a gentle touch on her back. No words would be in place for that moment.
And when Anna opened her eyes, she gazed around, mouth agape. She turned on the spot, slowly, her eyes wondering about the place in every direction, up to the ceiling, down to the little pond that lay before her feet, just to notice what was going on.
The cave was lit by the northern lights. The lights were dancing within this enclosed placed and coloured the walls, the ceiling rocks, the ground on which they stood, and the greatest wonder of all, the lights seemed to shine through them.
Anna lifted her hands to see them bathed in colours, her cape was changing colours like she was being painted into a new artwork. How was that possible? And she turned to look up into these beautiful eyes, which were still the warm brown she loved so much, but other than that, Kristoff was covered too in the dancing lights.
And tears ran down her cheeks, of joy and fascination. Laughingly, she grabbed Kristoff´s hands and held them tight and then, out of sheer exaltation, Anna let go, jumped up and flung her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck!
"Thank you! Thank you! This is… so wonderful, so amazingly wonderful!"
"Anna!" Kristoff tenderly spoke to her temple, "don´t thank me. I´m not the creator of this."
"But you share this secret with me. That means so much to me. Look at that, look at how warm and beautiful this is."
"I know."
"How is that possible? There is no hole in the walls or the ceiling. How do the lights get in here? Can you explain this, what is it?"
"According to Grand-Pabbie those lights are not ordinary, there´s a legend to this place. In ancient times when the world was in creation, love and light fell in love and united in this very place. And because their love never faded, from time to time they return to the place of their union. Anna, what we are privileged to witness right here and now does not show to everybody. Grand-Pabbie says, only few can see the lights born by love."
"….." All Anna could do was gazing up, taking in that loving man, with her heart drumming in her breast, wildly and expectantly.
"So…. It´s magic?"
"Magic."
"Born by love itself…?"
And then, Kristoff pulled her close to him, and ran a hand along her cheekbone and behind her neck to hold her carefully, leaning his forehead to hers.
"It´s inside of us. That´s what Grand-Pabbie says. But I don´t know what it means. Only I have found out now that with you here, the lights shine brighter and more powerful than when I have seen them on my own."
Anna cupped his face with her slender hands and beamed up into those kind eyes smiling back at her, which warmed her whole inner being.
"Because two united hearts in love are stronger than one!"
"I… love you, Anna, and I believe you´re right."
"And I love you, Kristoff."
He pecked a soft kiss to her forehead, just to speak quietly. "There is one more thing that Grand-Pabbie said, I need to tell you."
"What is it?" She whispered softly.
"He said this moment is an invitation to favour, not to fear."
"And you don´t have an idea what that might be?" Anna tenderly ran her hands down to his chest, to keep them there and even beneath the thick tunica she could feel his heartbeat accelerating.
"I may get the notion by now…." Kristoff could sense the warmth he saw in her eyes and his core swelled with love for his princess, who smiled at him with a radiant glow.
"Me, too."
And their soft and passionate kiss was bathed in the dancing lights, which guided them magically into the wonder of blending love.