~Prologue~
Arendelle. A magnificent city of trade with many kingdoms connected to the fjord. King Agnarr and Queen Iduna were the beloved sovereigns of the kingdom. Eventually two little princesses were welcomed into the world, three years apart. Elsa, the eldest, born with powers of ice. Agnarr and Iduna alarmed with this revelation took their daughter to a wise, magical mountain troll found only deep in the Valley of the Living Rock. Seeking council from the troll, he urged the parents to teach their daughter to control her powers and not let them get out of control. Anna, the youngest, was taken to the troll chief as a babe and warned the king and queen, that like Elsa she had powers of her own, but weren't fully conveyed yet. Agnarr pleaded with the chief to hide his youngest's powers since training Elsa would be more than enough to manage. So the powers within young Anna were hidden and even over time forgotten, but it wouldn't last.
~Chapter 1~
Anna
Six months since Elsa's coronation and much has happened in Arendelle in that time. Elsa threw me a birthday for my nineteenth year that I wouldn't soon forget, in fact, the happiest one I had in years. She hid presents for me throughout the palace and I had to follow a string to find each one. It was pretty ingenious. Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf contributed a lot too helping Elsa since she happened to be sick on the day. It was winter again in Arendelle and we just got through Christmas and it was definitely a season to remember. It was the first Christmas in ages that Elsa and I spent together and it was wonderful. Kristoff had Sven take us on a sleigh ride through the woods around the outskirts of Arendelle. We cooked smores and cracked ridiculous jokes playfully teasing each other. All in good fun, of course. I hated it when he purposely harassed me pushing my buttons, but I loved him for it.
It was the start of a brand new year with endless possibilities. I wished and hoped that this new year would be a bright one. One morning, I had overslept missing breakfast. Mornings really weren't my favorite, I was much more of a night owl most especially when Kristoff and I were together. Brigitta, our head house maid, knocked on my door before coming in my room. I didn't stir until she threw open the curtains covering my windows. The sun hit my eyes jerking me awake as I shot up with a start.
"Good morning, princess." Brigitta murmured.
"Geez Brigitta, I really should give you a bell." I said rubbing my eyes drowsily with a stretch of my arm.
"You really should try to get to bed sooner." She replied.
"It's Kristoff's fault." I accused, "Take it up with him." I smirked.
I hopped out of bed grabbing my brush from my dresser trying to tame the beast that was my morning hair. Once I got it smoothed, I ran over to the dressing screen as Brigitta threw me a dress over the top. As I mosied around the corner after dressing, Brigitta offered me a ribbon for my hair.
"No thanks, I'll wear it down." I told her.
"Very good, m'lady. Your sister is expecting you downstairs for brunch?" Brigitta informed me.
"Brunch? But she's probably still full from breakfast." I reasoned.
"When you didn't show, she didn't want to eat without you."
I sighed heavily.
"Typical Elsa." I muttered.
I thanked Brigitta for her unnecessary wake up call and ran down the hallway hopping on top of the banister sliding my way down to the main floor. All the servants who saw me greeted me as I made my way to the dining hall. As I pushed open the double doors, Elsa was seated at the head of the table drumming her fingers on the wood rolling her eyes as I arrived.
"It's about time." She groaned.
"Hey, you didn't have to wait for me." I replied.
"I refuse to eat alone anymore..." She said, "Anyways, did you really just wake up?"
"Uh huh, how could you tell?" I replied as I yawned walking toward a seat beside her.
"Your eye boogers." Elsa replied holding back a laugh bringing a hand to her mouth.
I rolled my eyes at her teasing as I gently wiped the inner corners of my eyes clean. Once I sat down, Elsa had brunch be served and the two of us ate together. This was such a welcome change to how it used to be between us. Elsa used to be so cold and reserved, but now not only has she opened up and is more sure of herself, she is a solid queen ruling Arendelle with grace and poise. So glad that job isn't on me. Sure I was a royal by blood, but I would hate to have Elsa's job as queen.
I listened to Elsa talk about the latest news around Arendelle. I was surprised to hear that she had been working overtime to provide ice to some townsfolk because Kristoff informed her of a regional ice shortage, which was frankly laughable considering Elsa's capabilities. However, I could see it in her face, she was tired.
"I wonder if father had to face these kind of issues when he was king…" Elsa said poking a fork randomly around her plate.
"Oh I'm sure ice shortages happen to everybody." I winked.
"Anna..." Elsa frowned.
"Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood." I said.
As we finished up our food, our butler Charles, came in with an envelope on a platter with a letter opener presenting it to Elsa. I never understood letter openers. Why were they even necessary when it's easier and more entertaining to just rip open envelopes yourself? I took a sip of orange juice as I watched Elsa slice open the envelope and scan the page. Once she was done, she sighed heavily rolling her eyes.
"Another letter from the Southern Isles?" I asked.
"How'd you guess?" Elsa said dryly.
"You always sound annoyed after getting a letter from there. Is it another apology letter?"
"Yes, the king and Han's older brother, submitting another formal apology for his brother's actions. He goes on to tell me that Hans is serving a sentence for what he has done." Elsa explained.
"Good...that jerk deserves it." I replied.
Elsa suddenly stood up gripping the letter in her hand.
"I should respond…" She started.
"Say no more." I nodded, "Kristoff wanted to see me anyway. I'll see you later then?"
"Naturally." Elsa smiled.
We both left the dining room and I could tell there was something else bothering Elsa, but I didn't want to press... at least not yet.
I found Kristoff with Sven in the courtyard in front of the palace. I hustled over quickly throwing my arms around Kristoff and he around me hugging him tightly.
"I missed you this morning." I said when we pulled away.
"Sorry, I was making plans for our date today…" Kristoff winked.
"Oh?" I said raising a curious brow.
"You ready?" He asked offering me his arm.
I took it and he lead me out of the courtyard.
The sun was brightly shining today even though it was still winter. I couldn't wait for summertime where there would be lush green grass and flowers all around the hills of Arendelle. Olaf would help me make a large sandcastle and Kristoff would take me for a long walk along the shore stealing kisses as we went on our way.
"Earth to Anna…" Kristoff said suddenly pulling me from my daydream.
"Huh?" I said clearly distracted, "Sorry…"
"Where's your head today?" Kristoff smirked knuckling me in the head.
"Ow, stop it!" I said playfully pushing him.
Sven was clopping just ahead of us and kept peering back at us to make sure we were behind him. I felt like he was playing a game of "Follow the Leader" with us.
"Come on, guys." Kristoff said voicing Sven for him glancing at me.
"You know what would be nice?" I said suddenly.
"What?" Kristoff voiced for Sven again, but then quickly coughed sounding like him, "I mean, what?"
"It would be nice to go somewhere, you know, just the two of us…"
I said it quietly, so I don't think Sven heard it, but Kristoff's face froze.
"You serious?" He asked.
"Don't get me wrong, I love Sven, but it would nice for you to not include him in almost every conversation." I replied.
"He's my best friend, Anna."
"He's my friend too, but I do like alone time with you. Is that so wrong?" I reasoned.
"No it's not." Kristoff replied pressing his lips against my forehead sweetly.
We walked beyond the docks heading east from Arendelle. Kristoff and I slid down a small hill before making it to a little alcove with a big bonfire burning with Olaf adding wood to the blaze.
"You're here!" He called out.
"Thanks for keeping the fire going." Kristoff told him.
"My pleasure. Can I take Sven for a ride?" He quickly asked without missing a beat.
Sven slumped down laying in a gruff not wanting to move, but Olaf finally convinced him back on his feet. Olaf hopped on Sven's back quickly.
"We'll be back." Olaf smiled and he and Sven took off out of sight.
"So what was that you were saying about not getting me selfishly to yourself?" Kristoff smirked.
"Cute." I said crossing my arms giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
We sat down beside the bonfire and saw there was a bag of marshmallows with two long sticks already to go.
"Well you know how to spoil a girl, don't you?"
"This was all Olaf." Kristoff said raising his hands.
In one simple motion afterward, we settled down together by the fire. We each ate a marshmallow, but before too long, we were chasing each other around throwing the marshmallows at each other for points if any of them landed. Once our ammo was out, we sat down again laughing so hard it began to hurt my side.
"How old are we?" I joked.
"Nothing wrong with having fun." He nodded, "So Princess Anna, would you accompany me to your sister's birthday ball next week?"
"I will…" I smiled.
Kristoff leaned in to kiss me, but I held a finger in front of my lips clearly confusing him.
"Only if you drop the formalities…" I smirked.
"Fair enough." He agreed with a shrug.
He then suddenly stood up offering me his hand.
"What?" I asked curiously.
"Dance with me? Should get some practice in before then…" He said.
"Yeah, you could polish your steps more." I smirked holding back a laugh.
"I was talking about you."
I immediately glared at him, but then we both burst out laughing and I took his hand as he pulled me up on my feet. We stayed out most of the day goofing off together. We regrouped with Elsa for dinner and then played a myriad of games in the great hall. I loved moments like this...making lasting memories.
AN: Hello new and returning readers out there! Welcome to The Phoenix. I have been wanting to do this story since Frozen came out in 2013 and it took the teaser trailer for the sequel to kick my pursuit of this story into high gear. This story just stemmed from a whole bunch of "what ifs" in my head. This story happens after the events of Frozen, Frozen Fever short, and the Christmas special. I hope you continue to enjoy and as always feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and give the story a follow if so inclined. :D
