"What is this, Anna?"

The maids who accompanied Elsa with breakfast and Anna's clothes for the day crept away, leaving the three of us alone as the queen's voice penetrated slowly into my dreams, causing me to react gradually and heavily.

"Anna? I think I should go now, it seems that light begins to come in," I murmured without finishing opening yet my eyes, feeling how Anna's body became tenser and tenser with each second.
"You two are…"

"Elsa!" I exclaimed, jumping out of bed as I finally processed the queen's voice. "I mean, Queen Elsa… Uh… This is…"
"Since when?" she asked coldly.
"Elsa, let me explain it to you," Anna answered obviously without having a good explanation to offer as we both fastened all the open buttons of our clothes.
"Since when?" she repeated, letting a slight tone of anger invade her words.
"Your Majesty, this is all my fault, Anna… Princess Anna… she doesn't…"

"No! None of that! I am also responsible for this! You can't blame only him!"
"Anna!" I protested seeing her nullify my absurd efforts.
"Enough," Elsa said using her imposing queen tone. "Kristoff, I'm sorry, but as of this moment you are under arrest."
"I understand."
"No! You can't arrest him! He has done nothing!"
"This is what you call doing nothing?!"

The guards entered discreetly and apprehended me, heading towards the door to accompany me to the dungeons. I didn't put up any kind of resistance, it didn't make sense; I knew there was no escape. I always knew it. However, I wouldn't leave her life forever without first apologizing for ruining it.

"Anna, I'm sorry."

Anna burst into tears before my eyes and I couldn't help but hear her crying fade into space while I was being guided to the cell that would be my last home.

"I have talked to Anna."

Elsa's voice startled me again, appearing before me out of nowhere. Somewhat more serene, she sat inside my cell on the cot that was right in front of me and pierced me with her frozen gaze.

I didn't know how many hours it had been since they had taken me to the dungeons and I was going crazy thinking about how Anna would be. How could I have got so relaxed to don't wake up in time?! It was all my fault.

"She says she loves you."
"I love her too."

There was no use in lying at that point.

The queen scrutinized me from top to bottom with apparent distrust in her eyes. Then she closed her eyes, sighed, and relaxed her posture.

"I know you do. I knew it when you jumped into the sea for her. You did what even I did not dare to do. But the truth is, I was confident that, whatever happened on that island, the two of you would have been smart enough to leave it behind."
"Is there already a sentence for me?"
"I thought about hiding it and avoiding condemnation, after all, I owe you her life. But rumors have legs, you know? A few hours ago the council met."
"Are they going to hang me?"
"I have had two proposals in that line, yes, but we will not do it."

I sighed slightly relieved. At least Anna wouldn't have to go through that.

"Most of us have agreed that we cannot kill the man who saved the princess. Well, because of that and because Anna has clearly told me that if I let them kill you, she will be next."

A strong knot settled in the center of my throat at the thought of Anna following through on her words.

"And so? What are you going to do with me?"
"I can't keep you here forever, but I can't have you coming back to her either."
"Exile?"
"I am afraid so."
"If you know something about her, you will know that she will run away to find me."
"She will not. Not knowing that there won't be a second chance for you."

I bowed my head sunk. I didn't see the difference between being hanged and not being able to see her again.

"Listen, Kristoff, I want to help you, but I don't know how."

I looked up again and gave her an attempt at a grateful smile.

"Anna insists that she resign her position."
"What?"
"She says that if she stops being a princess, there will no longer be any impediments between you."
"Can she do that?"
"Can she be born from other parents?"

"I see…"

"I have spoken to the council about giving you a title in honor of your feat and thus making you valid for it in the eyes of society, but they have refused. They say that a title is not enough, that you have to have something to contribute to be accepted."
"I will never own anything but what I am," I whispered holding back tears as I stared down at the cold stone floor under my feet.
"And yet," a familiar voice said next to us. "maybe there is something that can be done."