"Elsa!...Elsa!" The princess called out. She turned to her traveling companion. "Help me call out. You have bigger lungs than I do."
"I think she'd respond better to you. If she hears me, she'd likely thing she was being chased by some pitchfork toting mob."
She had to concede his point. She'd seen the fear in her sister's eyes. "You seem to be taking this whole magic thing pretty casually." Then she added, "You and the others from Corona."
He nodded. "We've seen magic before. I saw it when I was sailing. I've even seen mermaids."
"Oh, there's no such thing as mermaids," Anna said.
"Yeah, and there's no such thing as a girl who can control ice and snow either."
"Point taken. So how about the others?"
"Rapunzel has healing powers. Cassandra had some very destructive powers for a while. And they all dealt with an unnatural winter storm caused by an evil witch. I wasn't there for those things though. I did see the flying Dutchman once. But that's a long story."
"Tell me later."
He smiled. "Sure thing. I'll tell you about our run in with Captain Gore to."
"Captain Gore?"
"A pirate. I doubt that was his real name. But you have to admit it's good for intimidation."
"Yeah, I guess so." She called out for her sister again. "Elsa? Please it's Anna!"
With no answer she kept talking to William. "So, tell me about my cousin."
"Well, she reminds me a lot of you. Very energetic and outgoing. A very pretty young lady, again like you. She and I became fast friends when we met. And she can't seem to resist trying to play matchmaker for me."
"Oh really! Who has she considered?"
"Ha, well that I know of there's Cassandra, your sister...and you."
"Really?" Anna asked. Then she jokingly looked him over. "Not bad. Might have worked. But you'll have to tell her she's too late. I'm engaged. As for Elsa, that's not looking too good either at this point."
"Well, regardless of Rapunzel's agenda, I'm not here to find a date. I'm here to help you find your sister."
"How are you related to her? Rapunzel, I mean."
"Like you, her cousin. Although I'm related through her mother. You and Elsa are related through her father."
Anna then asked. "What do all of you think about me and Hans? Do you agree with Elsa?"
"I can't speak for the others, but it is a little fast." He continued, not allowing Anna to interrupt. "The thing that concerns me more is what Eugene said."
"What did he say?" She asked.
"Well, you may know Eugene, or Flynn Rider as he was known, used to be kind of a shady figure, a con man to put it bluntly. He says he sees the signs of the same thing in Hans."
"Well, I don't," she said emphatically.
"I understand. I'm just saying be careful. Think with your head as well as your heart."
She sighed, "I will. I just want the rest of you to keep an open mind about him."
He smiled at her. "I will, cautious but open."
Satisfied with that she returned his smile. Then she went back to calling.
"Elsa...Elsa!" She called as William kept scanning their surroundings.
William was starting to wonder how long they could stay out here. Anna wouldn't last much longer in the cold. Truth be told, he wasn't far behind her.
"Elsa it's me Anna. Your sister who didn't mean to make you freeze the summer...I'm sorry it's all my f-fault." She leaned over to whisper "Of course none of this would have happened if she'd just told me her secret. Ha, she's a stinker."
William was about to respond when the snow covering a tree in front of them fell to the ground, spooking both horses. Anna fell off and William tried to get his horse under control. He had no success though and soon was in the snow next to the princess. They watched both horses run. A moment later Anna brought another mini avalanche down on herself. William tried not to chuckle as he helped her get out.
They continued on. Anna tried to make conversation. Maybe it would take her mind off of how cold she was.
"So, we didn't really get a chance to talk. I know you came here with Rapunzel, but I don't know anything about you."
William told her about his connection to Rapunzel, about his time at sea, and about his time in the Arendelle guard. He concluded by saying. "I decided that it was time to come home to Corona. My mother would probably always wander but I'll have family there."
"Do you resent your mother for leaving like that?"
He shook his head. "I told her to. I was going to sea."
"You left for yourself, or because it would free her to go back to her adventures?"
He looked over at her. "Very intuitive. She had given up a lot for me. It was time for me to give something for her."
"So," Anna repeated her question. "Do you resent it?"
He sighed. "Maybe a little sometimes, but I love her."
Anna was silent for a while then the Princess said. "I'll bet she's proud of you."
William gave her a questioning look. She clarified. "Your mother."
He smiled. "I'd like to think so."
A few minutes later Anna said, "For what it's worth who ever Rapunzel does find for you will be a lucky lady. You seem really nice."
He chuckled, "Thank you. But don't encourage her."
"Ha, ha. I'll tttry to remember that." She said in a shivering voice.
"I'm feeling it too." He told her. "We g-got to find shelter."
They continued on. "Why couldn't my sister have had tropical magic that covered the fjord in white sand and warm. Fire."
They both smiled before Anna, again, fell. William ran after her as she landed sitting in a small stream.
William helped her up from the water. Her dress almost instantly froze. "Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold," she kept saying, looking like a porcelain doll trying to walk in the frozen dress. William walked beside her as they approached the house.
Anna found her dress made it hard to get up the step in front of the house. William lifted her by the waist to set her on the porch. "Ha, ha, thanks."
William reached up to knock the snow off of the sign. "Wandering Oaken's Trading Post...And sauna."
"Oh yeah, I know this place," William said. "Didn't recognize it in the snow." He told her. "Oaken. Big guy, works this place with a big family, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews."
They walked in, both happy for the warmth.
"Yoo who," They were greeted by the owner. "Big summer blowout." He announced, suggesting several items.
"Oh, great. For now, how about boots. Winter boots and clothes." She glanced toward William. "Men's and women's."
"That would be in our winter department." He pointed toward an almost bare corner.
"Oh." Anna walked over to get what she could find. The boots looked to be about the right size. William asked. "I don't suppose you've seen another young lady; Blond, a little taller than my friend," He gestured to Anna, "pass through here?"
The shop owner shook his head. "No one is crazy enough to be out in this weather except the two of you." Just then the door opened, and a large man covered in snow entered. Oaken added, "And this fellow."
The man, covered in snow, reminded William of stories a shipmate once told him of his supposed run in with a yeti when descending from the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Of course, William always thought that the sailor had been drinking too much rum.
Williams thoughts were interrupted as the man walked toward the Princess. William stepped between them; a warning look on his face. The man said something William couldn't quite understand. He added "Behind you."
William didn't take his eyes off the man to look. But Anna did. "Oh carrots. Um, step aside please William."
He did as she'd asked. The man went about collecting his purchases.
"A real howler in July," The proprietor said. "Wonder where it could be coming from."
"The north mountain." Was the strange man's reply.
Anna and William turned to each other. "Well, we know where to look now," William said to her.
Their attention turned back to Oaken and his other customer as they argued over prices. The Princess interrupted. "What was happening on the north mountain. Did it seem...magical."
"Yes," He said. "Now back up while I deal with this crook."
That was pushing Oaken too far. "What did you call me?" He rose from his chair to reveal his full height. Although the customer was a fairly large man, he was dwarfed by Oaken, who easily picked him up and threw him out of the store.
The proprietor returned to his remaining customers and resumed his friendly demeanor. "I'm sorry about this violence. I will add a quart of lutefisk for good feelings. Just the outfit and the boots?"
"Ah, well my traveling companion could use some warmer clothes...And how about the carrots, rope and ax."
Oaken decided. "Well after that unpleasantness I will go find something suitable for your gentleman friend." William couldn't help but smile at the slight red tint that came to Anna's face.
When Oaken left to look through his winter stock from the last year William asked. "I take it you think the ice harvester could be helpful."
"He knows these woods better than we do. Might make a good guide."
He nodded. "Makes sense."
The two walked toward the shed where the ice harvester was settling in for the night. They heard his song.
"Must be lonely," Anna said, noticing that he sang and spoke for his reindeer.
"Maybe. From those lyrics, I'd guess he hasn't done well among people."
They walked in and Anna said, "Nice duet."
He sighed. "What do you want?"
"I want you to take us up the north mountain."
Not surprisingly, he refused.
The princess threw the goods she purchased for him; saying in a more firm tone. "Take us up the north mountain." She added. "I know how to stop this winter."
Kristoff looked through the bag. He doubted that these two had any way to stop this weather that was ruining his business. But he had no better idea. And now he was in debt. A condition that never sat well with him. "We leave at dawn. And you forgot the carrots for Sven."
She threw the bag of carrots at him and demanded, she hoped it sounded commanding, "We leave now. Right now."
William walked out behind her, seeing the look on her face when she was out of their guides sight. He softly offered words of encouragement. "Well done Princess. I'm proud of you." She smiled.
Soon they were on their way to the north mountain.