"Its Consequence"

Anna closed Elsa's door with a sigh and met Kristoff and Olaf in the hallway. Her red-rimmed eyes and tight face spoke of nothing but nothing.

"How's Elsa?" Kristoff asked. He put an arm around Anna's skinny shoulders and pulled her in close for a hug before they began to walk toward their shared bedroom. Olaf took up her hand into his and offered a gentle smile.

"It's been a rough couple of hours. She's been seizing on and off. Dr. Rosted says she has a high fever, especially for Elsa, but she woke up about an hour ago and was able to drink some cool water. She was understandably confused about what happened earlier today," Anna explained. "Someone has to be with her at all times right now because of the chance of more seizures. Gerda's staying with her right now, but I'll be with her tonight. I have to take care of her." Anna's voice trembled slightly as she spoke.

"Will she be okay now?"

"Dr. Rosted doesn't know," Anna said, and her voice cracked. "We don't know why she even has a fever." Anna turned into Kristoff's chest and she began to cry. Olaf fiddled with his hands helplessly. "Kristoff, what if she dies?"

"Whoa! Whoa! Anna, you know Elsa better than anyone else, and there's no way she'd leave you!" Kristoff reassured his girlfriend. She nodded and wiped at her tears with the palms of her hands. She and Kristoff began to walk again and Olaf grabbed her free hand. They arrived at their bedroom and Kristoff opened the door. "Why don't you rest for a few hours?" Kristoff suggested. "I'm going to take care of some business." Anna nodded, sniffled, and they kissed gently.

"If anything changes with Elsa – "

"You will be the first to know," Kristoff said with a smile and Anna went into the bedroom.

"Now what?" Olaf asked, watching Anna's door close.

"Now we're going to find the Duke of Weselton!" Kristoff said, and he led the little snowman through the hallway.

"Ooh," Olaf started, "Are we going to try more of his cheese? I noticed that you and Anna didn't get to try your pieces yesterday, and he didn't eat his either." Olaf prattled on. "I really enjoyed learning about Jenny Cheddar yesterday, Kristoff, didn't you? Did you notice that it wasn't orange? Cheddar isn't a naturally orange cheese like most people think," The snowman said. Kristoff nodded and pressed through the castle until they found Kai with another servant.

"Good evening, Sir, Olaf," Kai said, and the other servant left. Kristoff winced internally. He would never get used to being called sir.

"Kai, have you seen the Duke of Weselton?" Kristoff asked.

"He's currently in his quarters. Shall I show you to his room?" Kai offered and began to lead Kristoff toward another section of the castle. They walked in silence while Olaf regaled them with facts about cheese until they arrived at the castle's guest quarters. Kai bowed and excused himself when they arrived, leaving Kristoff and Olaf alone. Kristoff raised his fist and pounded on the door.

"Oh my! What sort of ruffian bangs like that? Coming!" Kristoff heard the Duke of Weselton fussing in his room before opening the door. "You!" He stated when he saw Kristoff. "Kristopher, right? You're a friend of the young princess, right?" The Duke smiled. "You've made a smart move, Kristopher. Let the Princess warm up to you and then swoop in and marry into the wealth!" Weselton chuckled and cuffed Kristoff in a friendly manner on the shoulder. Olaf looked at Kristoff curiously.

"I thought you – " Olaf started.

"I'm here about Queen Elsa," Kristoff tried to say evenly despite the infuriating comment about Anna.

"Ah, yes." Weselton studied his fingernails. "How is the fair Queen? I must say it's a shame about this afternoon. I've never seen anyone react to Jenny Cheddar in such a way. Have you come to invite me to a private dinner with her? I accept. It's about time she started taking me seriously around here." Weselton spoke in one swift run-on sentence and barely left time to breathe let alone for Kristoff to get a word in edgewise.

"I'm here about the Jenny Cheddar, Weselton," Kristoff said darkly. "Queen Elsa was the only one to eat it and she's the only one who's gotten sick." Weselton scowled at him and drew up to nearly the same height as Kristoff. Olaf gasped and glanced back and forth between the two men.

"Just what are you trying to say?" Weselton asked in a dangerous voice and leaned close. Olaf shuddered and tucked himself behind Kristoff's legs. Kristoff crossed his arms in front of his chest boldly.

"What was in the cheese, Duke?" Kristoff demanded.

"I told you this afternoon – Jenny Cheddar is made from donkey's milk. You're being absurd. I'm here on a mission of goodwill! I will not stand for this treachery! I have no reason to poison Queen Elsa!" Weselton crossed his own arms and turned away from Kristoff and Olaf.

"No one accused you of poisoning Queen Elsa." Kristoff pointed out. Weselton sighed.

"Come into my chamber," Weselton said, and Kristoff and Olaf followed. The Duke led them to a pile of luggage and wrapped gifts, and picked up the black hat box from earlier in the day. He handed it to Kristoff. "This is the Jenny Cheddar. I'll eat some now if you wish, and you may eat some as well. The Little Snowman already did, and he's fine, but I ask you to reconsider what you've said. I'm here on a mission to reestablish the bonds of our nations, and you're walking a very tenebrous tightrope, Kristopher. Does the Queen even know you're here?" Weselton worked the top off of the black box and the miasmatic smell pervaded the room.

Doffing one of his white gloves, Weselton snatched up a piece of the cheese and chewed it tenderly. "Awww, delectable as always. Would you like some?" The Duke took off a piece for Kristoff and offered another one to Olaf. Both declined the offer and he ate it. Weselton slid the black cover back on the box carefully and glared at Kristoff. "There! Are you satisfied?" Weselton barked furiously. "I've done your song and dance, and I've proven that I'm innocent! You'll be lucky if your queen is able to broker any sort of deal with Weselton now!" Kristoff put his hands up and backed away from the young Duke until he was outside of the quarters. Olaf followed.

"Duke, I'm sorry – " Kristoff began.

"I understand how things may have looked, but this is not how we do things in our world. You may live in this world now, but you will never fit in here! Think about that when Arendelle and Weselton don't restart their trading alliances again. Think about that the next time Arendelle has a hard winter and people starve when they could've had Jenny Cheddar!" Weselton slammed the door in Kristoff's face, and he smiled to himself. Then he returned to his pile of luggage and reached into a red carpetbag; from its depths he pulled a small vial filled with a noxious-looking yellow liquid, uncapped it, and drank its contents. "Oops," he said softly, "Did you need that, Queen Elsa?" He dropped the vial to the floor.