Kristoff

Kristoff woke slowly to the sun streaming in through open windows from a clear blue sky. He was lying on his back, Anna curled up against him. He realized he was in an incredibly good mood for the first time in months, despite the urgency and seriousness of their mission. The night before, after the plans had been set, Zack had insisted that the Queensguard and townspeople relax, so as to try to forget the turmoil that surrounded them, if only for a night. The food was underwhelming, but the beer was excellent, and the Queensguard drank their fill alongside the townspeople, actually managing to enjoy themselves for the first time since leaving Arendelle. Kristoff vaguely recalled Leila dancing with Baldur, an event he hoped neither of them remembered this morning, for her sake.

His head was buzzing pleasantly by the time he and Anna crawled into bed, where they had made love for the first time since before the ambush on the North Mountain, very carefully, to avoid irritating Anna's wound, then fallen asleep in each others arms. He smiled at the thought, and looked over to see his beautiful wife, wanting to gaze upon her beautiful, delicate features as she slept peacefully. She was actually snoring like a boar with her mouth hanging wide open, a steadily increasing puddle of drool forming on her pillow. Well I don't know what I expected. He leaned over and woke her with a soft kiss on the cheek. One teal eye slowly opened, and he smiled broadly.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty."

"Oh, hush, you," she said quietly. "Aurora had to have her bad days, too." She sat up, wiping the saliva from her chin and smearing it on Kristoff's face, who jumped back.

"Aw come on, that's low!" Anna giggled and stretched. Kristoff couldn't stop staring- at the delicate curve of her back, her slim waist, her legs that seemed to stretch for miles, her gorgeously messy hair, those damn freckles that drove him crazy... Heat flooded his cheeks as his mind went back to their midnight escapades. Anna saw him staring and laughed.

"Someone likes what he sees…", she purred, winking at him with a seductive smile.

Embarrassed, Kristoff shrugged. "Can't help it." He gestured to his wife. "I mean, have you seen yourself? Besides, I missed you. So much. I never want to be apart for that long again."

The smile vanished from her face. "I'm so sorry, Kristoff."

"It's not your fault."

Anna shook her head. "Yes it is. I could have talked to you about it. That alone makes it my fault."

"Anna, you didn't know how to react. I don't blame you."

"Well I do now," she said firmly. "And I promise, it will never happen again."

"I love you, Anna."

"I love you too, Kristoff," and she pulled him into a deep kiss. "Now. What's say we go get my sister back?"

"Sounds like a plan, baby. Let's get dressed." Their armor was stacked neatly in front of the door. After dressing (helping Anna, whose wound still prevented her from stretching too much), Kristoff whistled. "Man, Horst didn't lie- he's certainly made some upgrades." He looked at Anna, standing in front of the mirror, fighting with her wild hair to get it into the bun she wore when armored.

"I know what you mean," she said. "It's a lot more comfortable, too- he must have made some sizing adjustments. It feels like this armor was made for me now, rather than just barely fitting." Indeed, it did seem to fit to her form a little better now, the once too loose cuirass now hugging to her body, and the vambraces solid and sturdy on her forearms rather than hanging off and rotating around her wrists. Anna saw Kristoff looking at her in the mirror. "What?", she challenged.

"Nothing," he replied. "It's just… damn do you look good in that armor, Anna." She finished her hair and turned around.

"Really?", she asked. "I feel kind of awkward."

"Don't," Kristoff said. Her circlet was catching the sun streaming through the window, shining brilliantly out of her strawberry hair. The armor was gleaming, having been polished to a near mirror shine, and her cape and pants were again snow white, cleaned from the dust and dirt of the road, the black standing out on the white in a way that reminded Kristoff of basalt on a mountainside. "You look incredible." She smiled bashfully.

"It's not just me, Kristoff. C'mere," she said, extending a hand to him. He went to her and they faced the mirror together. He had to admit, she was right. Man, this armor could make Grand Pabbie look like he could take on an army. I actually feel like a Prince, for the first time in my life. "You know what I see in that mirror?", she asked him. "I see a couple of the most fearsome warriors to ever stride the earth!"

Kristoff laughed and pulled her into a kiss, running a hand through her hair, and she shook him off. "Hey! This took forever to do! You better not have messed it up…" She turned to the mirror and began inspecting the bun, her face drawn into a pout.

"Aww, did wittle Anna mess up her hair? Poor wittle Pwincess Anna…"

"Guards!", she called. "I need help! This man is laughing at me, I want his head!"

"Oh no, Your Highness, please, I meant no offense!"

"Too late for mercy, scum! You'll pay for this! Have at you, sir!" She drew her dagger and brandished it in a ridiculously convoluted fashion.

"If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get!", Kristoff said dramatically as he drew his sword. "Only one of us leaves here today!"

"And it will be me!", Anna cried as she leapt forward, swinging her blade lightly. Kristoff allowed the blow to land, glancing harmlessly off his armor.

"Oh! A mighty blow, but useless to stop me!" He drew back his arm and thrust his blade between her arm and her torso, Anna feigning a terrible wound, throwing an arm over her face dramatically before toppling to the ground, sticking her tongue out and lying on her back.

"What have I done?", Kristoff cried. "Oh, woe is me, I must make amends! Perhaps I can bring her back to life!" He dropped to his knees and dug his fingers into Anna's ribs between her backplate and chestplate. Instantly, Anna's eyes flew open and she squirmed around, laughing and squealing for him to stop. "Oh, I save her life, now she tells me to stop! Very well. I shall oblige." He dropped his hands to his sides and Anna scrambled away.

"No more! I yield!", she said. Kristoff was laughing. "That's cheating anyway, you know I'm ticklish!"

"I know very well! That's why I used it against you," he replied.

Anna frowned. "I thought you were better than this."

"Evidently not."

"Hmph. Help me up," she commanded, holding up her arms. Kristoff lifted her easily, setting her back on her feet. "See? I knew there was still good in you! Now… let's go get my sister back!"

The rest of the company was waiting in the tavern when they arrived, already dressed in their Queensguard armor, sitting in booths or relaxing against the walls. Zack was with them, his sword slung over his back as always. Alan saw the pair first, and waved them over.

"Good morning," he said. "The Queensguard is ready when you are, Kristoff. We have very gratefully accepted fresh mounts, so we should be able to catch up to Elsa tonight, if all goes well." Surprised, Kristoff looked at Zack, who was grinning.

"Hey, you may be on a fool's mission, but I'll be damned if I won't help you succeed."

"Thank you, Zack," said Anna. "Elsa is our Queen, but she is also my sister. Any assistance we are given will earn you not only Arendelle's gratitude, but also my own."

Zack saluted. "You honor me, Your Highness."

"Sure we can't convince you to come with us, Zack?", asked Kristoff. "Sure could use that sword of yours out there."

"I'm sorry, My Lord. I cannot leave my people. We have lost much, and there's a lot of work to do."

"I understand. You are a good man, Zack."

He saluted again, and said, "If there's anything else you need from us, you need only ask."

"I think that will do, and give our thanks to Horst- whatever he did to this armor is like nothing I've ever seen."

"Yeah, that Horst is a crafty devil. No one knows how he does it, he came here about ten years ago and started producing the finest, strongest, and most importantly, lightest steelwork I've ever seen. That's what this thing-" he tapped his sword "- is made of. How else do you think I swing this thing around?"

"So that's how you do it!", Anna exclaimed. "I wondered that since we first arrived!"

"Yup, as much as I'd like to say I'm just that strong, if it weren't for Horst's steel, a blade like this would be impossible for me. He calls it skysteel. It's twice as strong for half the weight. It's incredible."

"That it is," Anna agreed. "Please pass along our royal compliments, and if you would be so kind as to also pass along a message to him: he has a position in Arendelle's foundry should he ever choose to accept it."

"I will, Your Highness, he will be delighted to hear that. Is there anything else you require?"

"No, I don't think so. Anyone else?" He glanced around the Queensguard to a smattering of shaken heads and shrugged shoulders. "Alright then. Let's go."

Less than twelve hours later, they would be fighting for their lives. Not everyone would be successful.