~Chapter 11~

Anna

Rolf took the helm of one of the smaller boats to put to the sea. There was no need for a grandeur galleon or anything. Olaf and Sven were running around the bottom deck while Kristoff and I stood near Rolf. There were many questions that I had and yet was a little scared, hesitant to even ask. I wasn't sure why.

"You sure you don't need a map or anything?" Kristoff asked as we pulled out of the old Arendelle port.

"Don't worry," Rolf nodded, "I know these waters quite well."

Kristoff shrugged as I took a deep, calming breath before my next set of questions.

"So Rolf, mind telling us a little bit about yourself?"

"What? Don't trust the captain at the helm?" He raised an accusatory brow.

I opened my mouth to defend an answer, but Kristoff beat me to it.

"We mean no offense, but surely you understand our curiosity…" Kristoff said quickly.

"After what you all have been through, I understand. It's smart to be cautious." Rolf nodded, not even fazed by our interrogation of sorts.

"Thanks for your understanding." I nodded, "Please, how and when did you arrive in Arendelle?"

Rolf gripped the ship's wheel, his knuckles growing white almost like it was hard for him to speak.

"I'm a simple man. I've lived a pretty ordinary life. I'm a citizen formerly of Kalde, but now I hang my hat in many random places."

"Kalde?" I questioned.

"I was only a boy when that dreaded night of the siege occured slaughtering hundreds of my countrymen in the dead of night."

I grabbed Kristoff's hand as Rolf continued as I listened curiously.

"I can't even imagine what that night had been like." I muttered.

"Being so young, you wouldn't think I would remember, but I do."

"How young?" Kristoff interrupted.

"A teenager." Rolf replied.

"Really?" I said, raising a curious brow.

Was being a teenager considered young to him?

"That's right." Rolf answered.

"What happened that night?" I asked.

"The cries of women in the dead of night are hard to forget. Someone infiltrated the gatehouse and lowered the gate for intruders to wreak havoc in the middle of the night."

"Who came?" Kristoff pressed.

"I remember the flag of navy blue with silver stripes and a star…"

"The Southern Isles." I muttered.

"Kalde was divided into three clans. The Rhoan, Crona, and Ashen clans. The Ashen clan were our defenders who helped to stop the bloodshed as much as possible. I just remember my family fleeing the city as quickly as possible. We lost King Zane Terryn and Queen Lucia fled with the young prince in her arms barely making it out. I heard rumors that they were tracked near Arendelle around that time, but you know rumors…"

"Marcus survived in Arendelle under protection his whole life." I nodded.

"That's good to hear." Rolf nodded, "Where is young Marcus?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but Kristoff stopped me.

"He's safe." Kristoff said, "Why are you curious about him?"

Rolf looked caught off guard by our hesitation.

"Miss Anna, he is the remaining heir to the Kaldsian line. I always wish my sovereigns well as I'm sure the Arendelle people do you."

"Right, of course you do." I nodded.

"Rolf, where have you been all these years?" Kristoff asked.

"In brief, I lost my family when Kalde fell and I've been to many places since and never found one place to call home. I'm a wanderer you might say."

Rolf continued regaling us with stories about Kalde as we continued gliding across the misty waters.

We wouldn't reach the isles until daybreak. Why did everything seem so much farther traveling by sea? There were a couple of bunks below deck to rest our heads for the night. I felt bad for Rolf who would have to keep to the helm with no sleep. Though he reassured me that he was used to sleepless nights. Kristoff made us a stew with the few food items he packed on board. After dinner, Olaf begged us to play a few rounds of charades to pass the time. It was nice to distract myself for a while trying to set aside my worries. Though after the game ended and Olaf and Sven fell asleep, Kristoff and I got some time alone to talk.

"Are you warm enough?" Kristoff asked as he sat beside me against the wall of the ship.

I leaned my head against his shoulder as I nodded my response.

"I'm glad you're here with me. I appreciate all the support." I muttered.

"Where else would I be?" He replied.

Sven and Olaf were distracting nearby sawing logs in their sleep. After a while the two were almost snoring to an unusual beat and I had to hold in a laugh or two. Kristoff put his arm around me interlocking our fingers and I looked up at him curiously.

"I've missed your laugh. I haven't heard it much recently."

"I know, it's unusual. I've just been so…"

"Worried?" He answered.

"Distracted." I corrected.

Though his answer was accurate too.

"I want you to let me know how you're doing right now in this moment, Anna. Don't hold back or try to mask or stuff anything in."

"I don't hold back anything…" I complained.

Kristoff raised an accusatory brow as I rolled my eyes releasing a heavy sigh.

"Okay fine, maybe I do, but not that much." I reasoned.

"So about my question…" Kristoff urged.

"I'm fine." I shrugged.

Kristoff grimaced clearly not believing my answer the slightest.

"Anna…"

"No really," I said, "After everything my sister has put me through and all the changes to Arendelle in recent months, I'd say I'm doing fine."

"If your sister were with us right now, what would you tell her?"

I didn't even hesitate to answer.

"I'd tell her that she was stupid for running away while her powers are volatile. I would ask her why she doesn't trust me regardless of her amnesia. I've shown her I mean well and just want to help."

"Have you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Elsa has pretty much regressed back into her bubble of fear and desperately wanting isolation. Walking on eggshells around her wanting her to be her normal self and throwing memories at her right and left. It had to be overwhelming regardless of good intentions. Maybe she ran because we pushed her too hard?"

My eyes widened and his explanation made sense.

"And I pushed right to Hans and he took her," I muttered.

"I don't think he's stupid enough to kidnap your sister. My guess is that she went willingly."

"You're not seriously suggesting…"

"Hey remember, he's a new face to her and she just wanted to get away from…"

"From me," I mumbled glumly.

"No, from Arendelle." Kristoff corrected cupping my face in his hands, "Your sister loves you. She just doesn't remember it yet."

Kristoff gently kissed my forehead as the waves hitting the ship rocked us this way and that. I appreciated Kristoffs kindness and encouragement and he always knew what to say even if he fumbled over the words sometimes. Though what I was inquisitive about was why Hans even came here at all. Was he after my sister or something else entirely?