And The Truth Will Set You Free
"There you are!" Kristoff looked up from a heavy chest he had just set down in the bed of the boat. "Jesus! What the hell happened to you guys?" he raced up the dock towards the two women who were limping towards him.
Elsa and Anna glanced at each other and shared a warm look.
"Eh," Elsa shrugged.
"It's a long story," Anna said.
Kristoff smirked and went forward to assist them. "I'll say. So you found it then? The grail?" he asked.
"Yes," Anna stated. "And this," she held out Excalibur for him to see.
"Son of a bitch," Kristoff's jaw fell slack from astonishment. "Guess that makes you queen then, doesn't it?"
"I'll say," Elsa looked at Anna again and smiled lovingly. "What about you? Are you alright?" she turned towards Kristoff with a concerned expression.
"Fine, just fine," Kristoff replied. "Great, actually!"
"What happened to you after we split up?" Anna asked.
"Eh… long story," Kristoff shrugged. "I was running back through the keep, looking for a place to lose my tail. I ended up ducking behind this statue and wouldn't you know it, there was a hidden passage just behind the thing," he stepped down into the boat, lifted the cover of the chest, and revealed its contents. "This… is what I found tucked away in a secret vault. Feast your eyes upon it ladies!"
The chest was full to bursting with all manner of gold coins, shiny gemstones, and precious jewelry.
"Holy crap," Anna's eyes widened from awe.
"Is that real?" Elsa asked, stunned.
Kristoff picked up one of the coins and held it up. "See for yourself," he flicked it over.
Elsa caught it with her free hand and inspected it closely. It was a gold coin that bore on one side the face of Julius Caesar in profile, while the other side was circumscribed by a simple wreath.
"This is an aureus," Elsa said as she examined both sides. "King Arthur must have acquired these during his conquests with the Roman empire," she passed it over.
Anna tucked the sword under her arm and lifted the coin before biting it with her teeth. "That is… un-friggin-real," she chuckled then tossed the coin back to Kristoff.
"Well, don't keep me in suspense," Kristoff said as he rubbed his hands together. "Let's see it!"
Anna nodded her head then held out the sword Elsa to take, who passed it along to Kristoff. As Kristoff graciously accepted Excalibur from Elsa's hand, Anna reached over into her satchel and withdrew the holy grail.
"Here it is," Anna said as she held it out.
"Huh," Kristoff squinted, glancing between the sword and the grail. "It's a bit underwhelming, isn't it?"
"That's alright," Elsa said. "We found something better," she turned to Anna with a tender and sweet expression on her face.
Somehow, Anna had understood her meaning and nodded. "Well, come on," she smiled warmly. "Let's go home."
... ... ...
With the boat loaded up with the treasure they had secured, Kristoff took the helm and before long, they were sailing across calm and still seas as they departed the Isle of Avalon. Much to Elsa's and Kristoff's surprise, Anna had managed to board the boat without much fuss, but insisted upon wearing a life vest and sat as far from the water as she could.
To provide some distraction, Elsa and Anna busied themselves with tending to their wounds they had sustained from the eventful day on the island. All told, they were all equally bruised, battered, and beaten but still very much alive. Once they were finished, Elsa wrapped Anna tightly in a blanket to comfort her on their short voyage over the sea, then stepped inside the cabin for a moment to check in on Kristoff.
Anna was huddled on the floor in the center of the deck, pressing her knees tightly to her chest as she watched the island slowly shrink behind them. Above, the skies had turned into deep shades of blue and purple while the last vestiges of daylight raced towards the horizon. As the sun dipped beneath the blurred line to the west, a breadcrumb trail of stars was left in its wake that appeared like tiny immaculate pinpricks of light dotted across the evening blanket that wrapped around them.
A few minutes later, Elsa stepped out of the cabin and shut the door behind her as she left Kristoff to sail the boat. She sat down next to Anna and studied the stars for a few minutes, then turned over to look at her and frowned when she saw the pensive expression on her face.
"Anna?" Elsa shuffled closer. "Is everything okay?"
She didn't answer for a long moment, dizzy as she was from seasickness and was mostly focused on trying not to vomit. Anna had never been on a boat before, and despite her earlier confidence she was beginning to feel rather queasy. Even so, that was not the only thing that was on her mind.
"I'm fine," Anna shrugged. "I just, I- I don't know really how to describe it."
Elsa nodded her understanding and did not prompt Anna further. She merely sat by Anna's side in silent support.
"I guess… I guess I thought that after finding the grail, I would be… I don't know… satisfied? Content?" Anna looked confused and unsure of herself. "And instead, I just feel this sort of emptiness."
Elsa dipped her head in acknowledgement and waited for Anna to continue.
"I never told you this, but after," Anna sighed and turned to look at Elsa. "After they died, I sort of became obsessed with finding the grail. I wanted to understand everything about it, so for a long time I learned everything I could. I followed up on every clue they did, turned over every stone. And I guess the only reason I was doing that was so I could feel just a little closer to them."
She sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"And, I was so obsessed with it for so long, because I wanted it to be real, you know? I wanted it to be real as much as they wanted it to be real, because then… they wouldn't have died for nothing. All those times that they left us wouldn't have been for some crazy, stupid, impossible dream. For a long time, I thought it was always something that I did. That I pushed them away because I wasn't good enough for them, or that they didn't really love me. So I wanted to find the grail, I guess as a way to find closure."
She paused, and shook her head glumly.
"And I think that another part of me didn't want to find it. Because then, that way, it was like I could keep a part of them alive. If I never found it, then their work stayed unfinished and it would be like they weren't fully gone. I wouldn't have to let them go or say goodbye. Now… here we are, and after so long I had hoped that it would all be worth it in the end, but it doesn't change a damn thing. They're gone, Elsa… they're really gone."
Elsa blinked slowly, and when she opened her eyes again, they stung with bitter tears of shared pain with Anna. She made no attempt to stop them, and instead offered her own sorrow to Anna as a mere pittance that could not assuage the grief they felt now.
"I just miss them," Anna began to weep softly. "I miss them so much."
As she cried, so too did Elsa. She pulled Anna into a tight hug and together, they wept as they mourned and lamented the loss of their parents for a second time. The first time they had done so alone and apart from each other. Now, there was nothing left between them.
"Me too, Anna," Elsa murmured. "I miss them too."
For a long time, neither sister spoke a word as they clung to each for support. For the first time in their lives, Elsa and Anna could let go of the pain that each of them had carried over their long years apart. Years and years of anger, confusion, and sadness that they had locked away and buried deep now clawed their way free and mercilessly tore open their old scars like vicious beasts. The shock of their sudden death and the cold reality of their new lives that had been thrust upon them at far too young an age. The rage at the man who was responsible for it all. The pining for years lost and a bond shattered between sisters. Two siblings, cleaved apart by fate and circumstance, had now achieved an understanding that purified the darkness in the hearts. Though the seas they now sailed across were calm, wave after wave of heartache crashed upon them, and through it all they held firm to themselves and to each other.
After a while, when their tears had dried, Elsa gently pulled away and lifted Anna's face so that they may look upon one another.
"Listen to me, Anna. They loved you, they did," Elsa spoke with firm resolution. "They weren't always the best parents, but they tried… and I know they loved you… they loved us."
"So why did they always have to leave?" Anna whimpered.
In that moment of vulnerability, she did not sound like a brave, young woman who swung from chandeliers, but rather a scared child who had asked herself that same question countless times.
"Because, sometimes," Elsa searched for the right response, but she herself had been unable to find an answer no matter how many times she had thought it over throughout her life. Instead, she searched her heart for the answer, and there she settled upon the truth she had always known. "Sometimes, the ones we love the most are the ones we hurt the worst."
Anna didn't respond, but sniffled again as she sighed miserably. The sight of Anna so downcast tugged on Elsa's heartstrings, and it was then that she made a choice.
No more running. No more hiding. Just the truth, Elsa thought to herself, then took a deep breath as she found her resolve.
"Anna?" Elsa pulled on her gently so they could look upon each other. "There's something that I need to say to you."
"What is it?" Anna asked softly, delicately, and so tenderly with every note laced with genuine concern. Her eyes were wide, round, and loving.
Elsa knew then that there was nowhere in the world she could hide from Anna's love. "This is going to be a lot for me to say and even more for you to hear, but, just stick with me okay? After I tell you this, you might hate me."
"What? Elsa-"
Elsa softly shushed Anna, then swallowed thickly before she continued. "When you asked me about the promise that I made, and I told you I was only trying to protect you, that wasn't all of it," she shut her eyes and braced herself. "I wasn't just protecting you… I was protecting myself."
Anna's gaze softened even more as she remained silent and waited for Elsa to continue.
"You've probably been wondering about that kiss, right?"
"Mmhmm," Anna nodded.
"Well, the thing is, for as long as I can remember… even before you and I started all this… I- I've always felt different about you. Different in a way that no sister should feel about their own sibling, and I know it's strange and bizarre and disgusting, and I know it makes me a monster-
I don't think you're a monster, Anna thought to herself. She had never once in her life considered Elsa as such and it hurt to hear her speak so lowly of herself.
"- and I've tried to hide and run from it for so long. It's why I pushed you away. And I am so… so sorry for hurting you Anna," Elsa's voice caught in her throat. "I know that it wasn't fair to you and I hated myself for so long for it, but… I was afraid, Anna. I was so scared of these feelings and what they meant, and I never wanted to hurt you ever again. So, I thought if I could hide it long enough and keep it under control then maybe it would eventually fade away… but it never did."
Elsa opened her eyes again, and when Anna looked into them, she saw enough light that brightened her whole universe. It was love, pure and whole. Simple and altogether so very frightening and rejuvenating at once. Anna saw that Elsa's eyes, long bereft of their true color and dimmed of their light, had finally returned to their full glory.
"After a while, I kept shutting you out because… I wanted you to hate me. What I feel is just so unnatural and wrong. I thought if I gave you an excuse to not want me in your life anymore, then it would make it easier for both of us to heal. You could get over all the hurt I caused you, and you could move on and forget about me. If you did that, then I would know I could never have a chance to be… with you in the way that I want you. It would have helped me accept that it could never happen. I never hoped or even wanted to believe that you could ever feel the same way, because how could you? How could anyone? I was protecting myself by closing myself off from you and that way, I thought it would make it easier. How could I miss something I could never have?"
She released a choked sob then laughed bitterly at herself as she wiped her tears.
"But you didn't make it easy on me, did you? Because even after everything I did to you, you never gave up on me. As much as I tried to keep you away, you always pulled me back and you never turned your back on me. You're amazing and beautiful, and you're so much more courageous than I could ever hope to be. I don't know how you do it. You make me happier than anything else in the world and it kills me because all I've ever done is given you pain. I love you… and I'm afraid of that love, I'm afraid of myself, and I'm afraid of hurting you again. I never wanted to hurt you Anna, I just- I don't know, I wish I could be different but this is what I feel, and I'm done running from it. I love you so much, and I don't deserve you."
After she was done, Elsa closed her eyes and braced herself for the inevitable. It was over. She had finally told Anna her final truth, and with it came the release of a great weight from her heart. Whatever came next, Elsa would accept it no matter what it was.
Anna said nothing for a long time as she gazed at Elsa. She watched as her breathing came out shaky at first, then gradually evened out as Elsa took deep calming breaths. When she was done, she kept her eyes closed, as if she was unable to face Anna for fear of what she might see there. But that didn't matter, for as she listened to Elsa finally reveal her true self, Anna became sure of her own truth more than she had ever been certain of anything else in her entire life.
Okay, Anna. Time for honesty, a small voice spoke in her mind.
Anna knew she had a tendency to be scatterbrained and her thoughts were ordinarily jumbled, but the voice that had spoken to just then had done so with such conviction that it banished any that further doubts remained in her mind. True to her fashion, Anna seized this rare clarity of conscience and acted upon it immediately. Carefully, she chose her next words.
"You… idiot."
Elsa flinched from Anna's words, but she knew she had deserved them. After a while, she heard her sister laughing and she opened her eyes in confusion. She had expected to be insulted, reprimanded, and ridiculed, but Elsa had never expected that Anna would laugh at her.
"I don't hate you, Elsa. How could I ever hate you? God, here I was thinking I'm the dumb one."
"Wha- what?"
"You're my sister, Elsa! I don't hate you," Anna repeated firmly. "I love you, you stupid idiot!"
"But… everything I just said… "
"Ugh, you know what? I'll just show you… "
Anna didn't let Elsa respond, instead, she followed her heart and damned the consequences. She gently took Elsa by her shoulders, then pulled her into a sweet and longing kiss.
Elsa stiffened in her hold and nearly pulled away. She could not believe what was happening right now. Anna was here, holding her close, working her lips daintily against her own, and it was everything she had ever wanted and everything that was right in the world.
I must have died, Elsa thought. I'm dead, that's the only explanation.
After a few seconds, Anna pulled away first, then grinned brightly. "How's that?"
"I- I... but... you," Elsa blinked dumbly and stumbled and tripped over her words until she could form a complete sentence. "This- this can't be real. This isn't happening!"
My god, she really is dense, Anna thought as she rolled her eyes. She thinks she's in dreamland? I'll pull her down to Earth.
Once again, Anna leaned forward, and to prove to Elsa that this was indeed happening, she slid her hands from her shoulders over to the back of her neck where they nestled gently in her hair. This time, Anna worked her lips more fervently at Elsa's until they became soft and pliant, which then vibrated deliciously as Elsa released a rapturous moan.
Elsa felt every last one of her nerves tingle with electricity as her senses filled with everything that was distinctively Anna. The warmth of her body filled Elsa's own with invigorating heat that started at the base of her neck where Anna's hand lay and raced down her spine, into her stomach, and settled between her legs. The scent of Anna was light and airy, like the springtime breeze that carried the effervescent essence of life; renewal and rejuvenation. The taste of Anna's lip was divinely soft and cloyingly sweet like the richest chocolate she had ever tasted. All of these sensations were achingly real, and Elsa took full advantage of this heavenly moment by wrapping her arms tenderly around Anna's waist and pulling her in as close as possible. She had never kissed anyone else before in her life, but by now, she was getting the general hang of it and decided to press forward by parting her lips slightly to widen it further, playing at Anna's lips with her tongue.
Anna felt how Elsa's tongue eagerly danced outside her mouth and reciprocated in kind. She then purred in pleasure when she felt Elsa part her lips slightly to allow Anna to slip her tongue inside her waiting mouth. By the same note, Anna felt Elsa's tongue eagerly work its way inside her mouth. Once again, she was toppled by the passion that Elsa was kissing her with now. If Elsa was a force of nature, her love was a supernatural and otherworldly power that shook Anna to the very core of the foundations of her being. Never before had her senses been so overwhelmed by everything that was Elsa. The softness of her body pressed against hers made Anna's head feel fuzzy and her body tingled with fire. Her scent was sharp and fragrant, like a fresh winter snowfall that enveloped Anna's senses. Her lips tasted clean and pronounced, like a delicate snowflake that melted on the tongue.
Just like that, they were undone. In one profound act of true love, they filled each other's hearts, minds, and souls with boundless affection and completion. Anna was comforting warmth and invigorating light. She was the sun. Elsa was refreshing coolness and inspiring hope. She was the moon. Together, they completed each other.
After several more moments, swaddled up in each other's love, they broke away but kept their foreheads pressed together so that they could catch their breath.
Gently, Anna traced one hand back over Elsa's neck, under her jawline, and settled on her cheek.
Elsa smiled and leaned into the touch. "Anna," she whispered breathlessly.
"I love you, Elsa," Anna moved her thumb in slow circles over the curve of Elsa's cheek. "You can't hurt me anymore, and you don't have to be afraid ever again."
"Re- really?" Elsa's eyes shimmered with a hope so delicate, it could shatter at any moment.
"Really," Anna smiled, then reached down to place Elsa's hand against her own heart to feel its steady beat. "Feel that? That's real, and I love you. I forgive you, and you deserve this. I will tell you that as many times as you need, and kiss you as many times as you need, and hold you as many times as you need until you believe you get it through your thick skull, you stupid idiot."
Elsa smiled brighter than the moon and blinked away happy tears. "I want this, with you, Anna. I want you, and I want to be with you in every way. Is… is that okay?"
"It's more than okay," Anna nodded happily.
"Oh… Anna!" Elsa broke down once more, but now she wept for redemption and cried for love. "I love you! I love you so much, Anna! Nothing will ever tear us apart again, I promise," she embraced Anna again, and nuzzled her nose into her neck.
"I love you too," Anna said as she felt Elsa's hot tears wash down her neck, baptizing her in the glory of their newfound joy. She was also weeping, and was certain that Elsa could feel her tears soaking against her shoulder.
Unfortunately, the celebration of their union was cut short when Anna's seasickness finally got the best of her. She pulled away sharply then turned to retch into the bucket nearby, moaning miserably as her head swam with nausea.
Elsa withdrew slightly and blinked in shock at the random turn of events. "Oh my… I'm sorry, Anna! Was I- was my kiss that bad?" she tried to sound nonchalant but could not keep the slight edge of hurt out of her voice.
Without looking up from the bucket as she held onto it tightly, Anna waved frantically with one arm to wave away Elsa's worry before she started to retch again. Once she was finished, she carefully turned and smiled thinly.
"No, no, god no, Elsa. You were amazing! I was just so lightheaded from lov- oh god!" Anna turned and heaved the remaining contents of her stomach into the bucket, then coughed wretchedly. "No… it's the boat. Sailing doesn't sit well with me. I'm barely keeping it together."
Elsa sighed in relief, then patted Anna on the shoulder. "Oh… okay, Anna. Good, I was worried… it doesn't matter, it's fine now. I'm going to get you some water and something to clean you up with okay?"
"S'okay," Anna waved weakly as she leaned back and shut her eyes. "It's not like I'm going anywhere."
As she turned to leave, Elsa gently squeezed Anna's shoulder then went back inside the cabin. Kristoff remained at the wheel, dutifully sailing the ship back to civilization
"Hey, Kristoff, how's everything up here?" Elsa asked as she walked over to the medical crate they had found stowed aboard the boat.
"Smooth sailing. We should be back soon," Kristoff replied. "How's Anna holding up?"
"She threw up. Being on the water clearly doesn't agree with her," Elsa said as she pulled out a set of antibacterial wipes and searched around the cupboards until she found a bottle of water.
Kristoff chuckled. "Well that's not surprising. She's a tough one though, she'll make it," he said reassuringly.
"That she is," Elsa agreed then started back towards the door when she stopped suddenly. "Kristoff?" she turned around.
"Yeah?" Kristoff looked back at Elsa expectantly.
"I never… I never said thank you."
Kristoff chuckled and cocked his head at Elsa. "For what?" he asked.
"For looking out for Anna," Elsa took a step forward. "All those years, when I… couldn't."
"Oh, well you don't need to thank me for that. She'd do the same for me," Kristoff shrugged. "And you."
"You're right, I want to, so… thank you, Kristoff," Elsa smiled warmly. "You're a good person."
"You're welcome," Kristoff nodded and returned the smile. "And for what it's worth, I think you're a good person too, Elsa."
Elsa chuckled softly, then nodded one last time before departing the cabin. As she made her way back to Anna, she replayed Kristoff's words in her mind.
A statement as simple and benign as that would have caused her a tremendous deal of stress in the past, for she would have felt like an impostor and a liar. However, now, after everything happened, she kept those words close to her heart.
I think you're a good person too, Elsa, Kristoff's voice echoed in her mind.
You can't hurt me anymore, and you don't have to be afraid ever again, Anna's voice followed.
Nothing will ever tear us apart, Elsa spoke with certainty that she had never felt before.
Elsa smiled to herself as she knelt d down and began tending to Anna. "Here Anna, I brought you some water," she said as she unscrewed the cap and handed it to Anna.
Anna took the water bottle and swished the liquid around in her mouth to rinse it out before spitting. She did that several times, and then she took a few thirsty gulps to settle her stomach. When she was done, Elsa took up one of the wipes and started cleaning Anna's face.
"Oh, Elsa!" Anna waved her away. "Don't do that, I'm all gross."
"Oh shush," Elsa replied easily as she began dabbing away around the edges of her mouth. "Don't be a baby and let me help you."
Anna sighed, then sat up to give Elsa better access. "Sorry for ruining the moment… that was really gross of me wasn't it?"
"It was… but that's okay. I still love you, even when you're gross."
Anna chuckled, then grinned mischievously. "You know, I'd kiss you again if my mouth wasn't all vomit-y right now."
"You can pay me back," Elsa returned the grin. "There'll be plenty of time for that later."
"Hmm" Anna shut her eyes and sighed contentedly. "Later," she repeated the word to savor every last drop of hope that it offered.
It was the first time Elsa had ever alluded to a later. Before, there had only even been the dreadful past and the uncertain present that stood between them. Now, only later remained. This first 'later' that marked the beginning of a bright and hopeful future. A new beginning for both of them that carried the promise of later, of tomorrow, and of every tomorrow that came after until the end of time.
The future stood before them, brimming with possibility and the certainty of love and hope and renewal.
... ... ...
"Oh, thank fuck!" Anna exclaimed as she leapt off the boat and tore off her life jacket then raced up the dock. "I'm never leaving you again, dry land," she fell to her knees, then lay on her stomach as she embraced the asphalt.
Elsa soon appeared behind her, carrying a long object in her arms that was wrapped in thick cloth. "So… you survived your first boat ride and you only threw up," she counted her fingers. "Three times! I'd say that's a pretty big accomplishment."
"Shut up," Anna muttered from the ground.
"Are you gonna be okay? I'm going to go check on Kristoff and the… cargo," Elsa enunciated the last word for emphasis, then fixed her prostrated sister with a wry grin. "Should I fetch your life jacket?"
"Ha ha," Anna said dryly, rolling over onto her back.
Elsa helped her up and together, they made their way back down to the dock where Kristoff had unloaded their treasure and divided it into three nondescript metal containers. As they approached him, he looked up and gestured towards them.
"Are you guys sure about this?" Kristoff asked. "I mean… there's gotta be at least a couple million here."
"Yes, Elsa and I have already talked about it," Anna replied firmly. "We want you to have our shares."
Kristoff recoiled from confusion and held up a hand. "Did you guys hit your head on the island or something?"
"As a matter of fact we did," Elsa said simply. "Several times."
"Look, Kristoff. Consider our shares as repayment for Sven. After all, it is kind of my fault you were dragged into this, and your plane did crash… so I owe you," Anna explained, then turned to Elsa to get her input.
Elsa nodded and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about us, Kristoff. We want you to have it."
"But," Anna added. "The only condition we have is that you let us keep the grail and the sword."
Kristoff squinted his eyes and looked at the treasure, then Anna, then Elsa, then back to the treasure as he considered their proposal. "Hmm," he blew a tuft of hair away from his eyes and nodded his approval. "Deal," he grinned.
"Excellent," Elsa smiled.
"So, what's next for you then Kristoff?" Anna asked as she drummed her fingers along the top of one of the containers.
"Well," Kristoff sighed and reached into his pocket for a cigar. "I'm gonna stick around here in Wales for a bit until I can offload this haul. I know of a few people who might be able to help me with this. What about you guys?" he lit the cigar with a match and took a puff.
"I have to get back to my job at some point, if I still have a job that is," Elsa chuckled. "They must think I've dropped off the Earth by now."
The three of them shared a tender moment of amicable silence together as they stared out over the water towards the Isle of Avalon. From their distance, it was no longer visible, but the experience of it was still fresh in their minds. It was an adventure that none of them would ever forget.
"Well, Kristoff," Elsa started. "As always, it has been a pleasure doing business with you," she held out her hand for him to shake.
Kristoff scoffed, then quirked an eyebrow at Elsa. "What, with a shake?" he pulled Elsa into a warm hug and patted her back. "Come on in here."
Elsa smiled, then stood up on her toes. "Thank you, again," she whispered into his ear.
"No problem. You take care of that numbskull, alright?"
"Yeah, I will," Elsa nodded, then stepped away. She started towards the end of the dock to hail a cab, looking over to Anna as she did.
"Go on, I'll catch up with you," Anna smiled and squeezed her arm gently.
Elsa nodded her understanding, then waved goodbye to Kristoff again before she made her way up the dock.
Kristoff crossed his arms and leaned towards Anna. "So, planning on taking it easy for a while?" he asked, blowing out a cloud of smoke.
Anna nodded slowly. "After the past few days we've had, I think we could all use the break. Besides," she turned down the dock to gaze at Elsa. "She and I have a lot to talk about."
"Yeah, you do," Kristoff agreed, then fixed Anna with an oddly perceptive look. "Which reminds me, I've been meaning to ask about you two."
Oh no… does he know? Did he hear our conversation? Anna stiffened up as she panicked internally. Oh crap, what's he going to think after we've lied to him about being sisters?
"You love her? Don't you?"
"Wha- hmm?"
"You love Elsa," Kristoff repeated, not as a question but a statement.
"I do," Anna answered without hesitation.
Kristoff smiled. "Well, god help her, but she sure seems to love you as well," he said as he glanced down the dock to where Elsa was standing as she flagged down a cab, then back to Anna with that look still on his face.
"Kristoff… what do you know?" Anna pried tentatively to gauge how much he was truly aware of.
"Only that you two always look at each other like love-sick puppies when you think the other one isn't watching."
"Okay… sure that's a given but… I mean… "
"Look," Kristoff placed his hand on Anna's shoulder and looked her in the eye. "Your business is your business, and it's not my place to say. We love the people we love and we can't help who we love. That's just the way it is, and… that's okay. Love is weird like that, but that's what makes it love, right?"
Anna considered what he said for a moment as realization slowly dawned on her. Kristoff had known of their true relationship for years and perhaps the entire time they've known each other. For whatever reason, he had never deigned to mention it, and Anna found herself incredibly relieved and thankful for Kristoff's tacit approval and understanding. Nonetheless, the small advice he had given proved to be greatly comforting, and Anna wondered if this love guru had always been inside of Kristoff.
Unsure of what to say, Anna simply lunged forward and hugged the larger man fiercely.
"Ah, ow! Okay, I still have a busted rib," Kristoff chuckled as he hugged Anna back.
"Thank you, Kristoff. Really… it… it means a lot," Anna murmured.
"A lot of that going around today," Kristoff mused, then stepped back as they broke off the hug.
From the end of the dock, a honk of a cab horn caught their attention as Elsa waved to Anna.
Anna chuckled, then turned to Kristof. "I guess that's my ride."
"Go on, get outta here feistypants," Kristoff shooed her off with his hands. "Vamoose."
"Take care of yourself," Anna smiled warmly to Kristoff one last time, then started making her way down the dock, walking backwards as she did. "And the next time you're in town, beers are on me!"
"I'll hold you to that!" Kristoff said as he waved her off.
And so, Elsa and Anna departed with the holy grail and Excalibur in their possession, ready to face their new future together.
