"You're still on time to back out."

Kristoff slowed down as we approached the place where his family lived.

He didn't mention it at any time. The day before I had kissed him when he was only pretending he was kissing me, and since then, he hadn't known why. Would that seemed normal to him? Wouldn't he cared at all? Did he know the answer and didn't want to hear it so he didn't have to reject me? Anyway, being ashamed and hiding wouldn't get me anywhere. I was terrified, but not ready to run away. Not from him.

"No! After everything you've told me, I'm looking forward to meeting them all even more!"
"I just told you that they are heavy and that they poke their nose into everything! Is that what you want to witness?"
"You've also told me that they are well-meaning and that they take a lot of care of you. Plus, it sounds like they're fun."
"Guess they are."

For some reason, the heavy snow that had covered everything hadn't gotten there. It was a warm and humid area that, somehow, made me feel a little tense; as if the place was charged with mysticism.

"Well, then. You asked for it. Meet my family."

He was right. I was not prepared for that.

Suddenly, a wild tremor shook the ground, a brutal shouting shook everything else, and like two hundred cold, rough, and suspiciously hard hands touched my face, my arms, my back, my head, and even my legs. Was that his family? How many were they supposed to be?!

"Enough! Give her space, you are overwhelming her!"

Kristoff put his body around me like a shield, and finally there was some silence.

"So you've finally found someone you care about, huh?" a mature woman's voice commented with a tone between mocking and endearing.
"Ma, this is Anna."

'He hasn't denied it… Wait, ma? Okay, now I'm nervous.'

Kristoff carefully undid the human shield he had provided me and the hand of an extremely short person took mine.

"Sorry for the fuss, dear. This is the first time that this boy has brought someone who does not have antlers."
"No… it is fine, Mrs…"
"Oh, come on. Leave the titles aside. So old do you see me?"
"She can't see you, Bulda," The voice of an old man broke in, making my little problem clear. "Her gaze is frozen."

I didn't see it coming. Did that man know about Elsa?

"What do you mean, Grand Pabbie?" Kristoff asked intrigued.
"Exactly what I said. Her gaze is frozen. Someone has put ice on her eyes, and I'm afraid it won't be easy to get the light back."
"The light? Could I get my sight back?"

'Really?!'

Until then, I had longed to regain my sight. I wanted to see the sea again, the sunset, the clouds, the faces of the people… But, at that moment, I wanted it more than ever. I wanted to see him. I wanted to see his eyes. I wanted to know how he looked at me. I wanted to see him smiling.

"It is not impossible, but certainly complicated."
"What do we need to do, Pabbie?!"
"Oh, son. The only thing that can unfreeze a frozen gaze is being able to see true love."
"What? Pabbie… that doesn't make sense."
"How am I supposed to see love if I don't see anything?"
"The answer to that question lives only in you, Anna. I cannot give it to you."

Was he laughing at me? If I could see, I wouldn't need to heal! It was clear. It was a lost dream.

"Erhm… I… I'm sorry, I know we just got here, but…" A lump in my throat made the words jerk and I half choked out, but I managed, at least, to finish my sentence. "I… I need to go get some fresh air. It has been a pleasure meeting you. Maybe… another day I…"
"It's okay, sweetie," the kind lady answered for everyone else. "Take care."

Then, she tugged on my arm and bent me down to her. There I realized, definitely, those beings were not human. Then, without allowing me to finish processing what was happening, she whispered in my ear.

"Pabbie is very old already, but he's not senile. Don't forget it."

I nodded, smiled at that… humanoid?, and turned to get out of there. It didn't take more than a second for me to feel again Kristoff's comforting hand guiding me through the darkness back to the cabin.

There was not another word until that night after supper. I sat down on the bed sad and resigned and heaved a deep sigh. Then the bed sagged next to me. Kristoff was sitting by my side.

"They're trolls, you know?"

'I knew it!'

"I don't quite understand their ways, but I have never seen them make mistakes."
"You were telling the truth. They are very special."
"Are you alright?"
"Not exactly."

"There is something I can do for you?"
"I don't think so."

Silence fell again and I knew it was time to tell him the whole truth.

"You can ask, you know?" I said inviting him to speak his mind.
"I won't ask, but I will listen to everything you want to tell me."

True. He wouldn't invade my privacy like that.

"This snowfall is my fault."
"Hey, I'm with you in that you are a very capable woman, but from there to control the weather…"
"No, that's my sister."
"What?" he said between laughs.
"This might sound strange to you, but… well, your family are trolls, so, if anyone can believe me, it has to be you. My sister has ice powers."
"Uh…"

"Seriously."

I heard him breathe slowly and deeply beside me and felt him lean forward.

"I believe you."
"You do?!"

And, then, he laughed openly.

"Yeah."
"Okay… Thank you."

His hand slid over mine, wrapping it, and making me feel safe and confident.

"When I was a kid, while Elsa and I were playing, an ice beam struck me on the head and I lost my sight. Luckily, that was all that happened to me. But she became afraid of her powers and my parents isolated us from everyone; to her for the safety of others and to me for mine. I couldn't get close to her ever again."

He squeezed my hand tighter and I could feel the rage flowing through his veins again.

"It was an accident. It wasn't her fault. However, since then, every time she worries or freaks out, her power runs out of control."
"The snowfall…"

"Yep. I think what caused this unusual snowfall was Elsa discovering that I had disappeared. So, in addition to taking up all your time and your home, I have ruined your business. Such a gem, huh?"
"It's not your fault, okay? You couldn't give up your life. Don't worry about me; I'll find a way out."
"I don't understand why you are so understanding with me. I haven't done anything good for you since we met."
"I disagree."

He released my hand to almost arrogantly cross his arms.

"I have never laughed so much in my entire life until you appeared in it. You're giving me health."
"I'd pay to see you laughing."
"Nothing exceptional."

That was what he believed, but I couldn't help but burst into tears. I wanted with all my might to see the expression he put on him when he was sassy, and how his bangs fell on his face. I wanted to see how those clothes that I swam in every day would fit on him. I wanted to see the hands that he held out to me from the first moment. I wanted to see the lips that I kissed that day.

"I suppose these words are worthless coming from someone who does see, but… it's not that serious, you know?"

He put his arm around my shoulder and settled me on his chest, letting me feel the flow of his breath and the beat of his heart.

"There are hundreds of people in Arendelle who know what color my hair is, but you are the first human who has seen through me. You're the only one who really sees me."

I couldn't say a word. Just hug him and cry on his chest. For the first time since I lost my sight, I didn't need to pretend; I could simply lose myself in those arms and cry my grief.

That night, Sven slept alone. Kristoff was busy wrapping up my sleep by burying me in his arms.