Notes:

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Kristoff thought it best to give Elsa and Anna some time, so wandered away to fetch Sven and take a trip into town. He had vague plans of getting a new lute, or maybe going to see his family – Grandpabbie always seemed to somehow know what was going on in every place at every given time anyway, but it would be nice to go back and see them; he and Anna had left in a rush, and there'd been no time to talk properly.

He had no doubts about how busy Elsa would be now. He idly wondered if there was any chance the acquisition of his sled would be postponed for a while – an excuse to stay – when, just before he left the castle courtyard, he passed a small party of guards that caught his attention.

" – understand Prince Hans is not to be prosecuted until his return to the Southern Isles –"

Kristoff stopped, shocked.

"It is the express wish of Queen Elsa that no harm is to come to the Prince. The current rotation of guards will remain in place until further orders are received. Dismissed."

With a swift salute, the uniform lines of guards broke into more disparate groups, some heading back to the castle, others in the direction of the barracks and others yet towards the gates.

Kristoff exchanged a glance with Sven before stopping one of the guards.

"Sorry – I couldn't help but overhear. What exactly has the Queen said will happen to Hans?"

The guard appraised him. A few others heading in the same direction had also stopped.

"Who are you sir, that asks?"

Kristoff cleared his throat and drew back his shoulders slightly. "I am a guest of Princess Anna, at the castle."

The guard nodded, but began to reply, "I am sorry sir, but I'm not at liberty to discuss prisoners –" Another of the guards that had stopped interrupted.

"I know you. You're one of the fellas that deliver ice."

"Yes."

"And you're a guest of Princess Anna?"

Kristoff suddenly felt himself tense. "Yes."

Some of the guards had started to exchange looks of amusement.

Sven rumbled and pawed the ground angrily. Kristoff shushed him and put a hand on his side.

"Not now, Sven."

This only brought further smirks from the guards.

"Now, if you don't mind, we'll be going. I'm sure you can ask the Princess about Prince Hans when you're having afternoon tea with her later."

"I am a guest –"

But they were already turning away, several breaking out into laughter.

" – sure he's never drunk tea in his life –"

" – ice deliverer as a guest – yeah, keep dreaming –"

" – some people –"

Every muscle in his body was tense, hands curled into fists. Never, never had he been made to feel ashamed of who he was before –

Kristoff was rooted to the spot for a moment, watching the backs of the retreating guards. Then, through gritted teeth – "Come on, Sven."

Sven snorted in approval, and as Kristoff heaved himself up onto the reindeer's back, they burst through the gates and took off towards the mountains.

It was just gone noon when they arrived in the Rock Troll's clearing.

They had galloped, furious and frenzied, until the castle of Arendelle was small enough to hold between finger and thumb. Then the pace had slackened and Kristoff had slipped off Sven's back. In silence, they had trudged the rest of the familiar route to the one place Kristoff had ever been able to call home.

The Trolls were awake when they arrived – pottering around, collecting food, gathered in groups of raucous conversation.

They turned at Kristoff's approach though.

"Kristoff's home!"

They rolled over, and Kristoff could not help but smile, just a little, at their enthusiasm.

"Hey!"

Tiny Trolls were pulling at his trouser legs, all babbling at once; his adoptive mother, Bulda, balancing atop a tower of cousins and aunts, inspecting his hair, ears, eyes, sighing and tutting as usual; Grandpabbie nodding sagely from his place by the cooking pot; his favourite aunt merrily waving and bouncing up and down, saying something he couldn't make out –

"Ok, ok," Kristoff was fully grinning now. "Let me breathe."

"These are new clothes!" His mother exclaimed. "Very nice, too, where did you get these from, Kristoff? I've got some fresh ones all washed for you, but these are lovely –"

"Anna got them for me," He admitted, a little sheepishly. "Because my sled –"

"Anna, that lovely girl you brought back?"

"With the plaits?"

"And the white hair?"

"I liked her Kristoff!"

Kristoff's youngest brother leapt up surprisingly high for such a heavy little fella – Kristoff held him under the arms and grinned. "You liked her, huh?"

"Yeah, she was pretty, and I liked her snowman –"

"But come sit down, Kristoff, we'll get you some lunch –"

"Every time I see you, you've lost weight, I've always said, they don't feed you well on those ice fields –"

Kristoff was steered towards the great cooking pot and before he could say a thing he was crossed-legged on the mossy ground and wooden bowl had been pushed into his hands, brimming with a thick vegetable stew.

He inhaled deeply and smiled. This was where he belonged.

Glancing over to see Sven down on his haunches, braying with laughter as the littlest Trolls giggled and crawled all over him, Kristoff brought the bowl to his lips and took a gulp.

Grandpabbie smiled wisely at him. "It is good to have you home Kristoff. I see Elsa is queen again and Arendelle has been thawed. Though you are not so sure of your place in all of this."

Kristoff had long ago learned not to question Grandpabbie's apparent omniscience. "Yeah. Elsa gave a speech and the people accepted her again."

Grandpabbie inclined his head. "As we knew they would."

Kristoff could not help but feel faint annoyance at this. "Why didn't you tell Anna that? It would have saved her a lot of stress, believe me."

Grandpabbie shook his head. "You know our prophecies cannot be shared too liberally, Kristoff."

"I hear about most of the prophecies." He grumbled.

"But Kristoff, you are family," said three different voices. Bulda smiled at him. "That is different."

Kristoff sighed.

"Now, when are you bringing that nice young lady to see us again? We should invite her to dinner!"

"After last time? You'll be lucky if I bring her here ever again."

Bulda looked dismayed.

"Not without agreeing some ground rules first, at least." Kristoff's smile faded as he remembered the guards from that morning. "I'm not sure if she'll want to come back again, though."

"Oh, Kristoff, any girl would be lucky to have you!" said two Trolls at once, helping themselves to more stew.

"She's just been having a rough time recently, Kristoff," his aunt spoke this time. "Grandpabbie has been telling us all about the conduct of the young Prince Hans."

Angry mutterings rose from the Trolls at this.

Kristoff drank some more stew. "I know. But – she's a princess. I collect ice."

It felt good to finally get that off his chest, though his heart couldn't help but sink. Saying it aloud seemed to make the reality of it so much more tangible.

"And where would Arendelle be without ice?"

"Without a ruler!"

"And without fresh water!"

Kristoff shrugged non-committally. "Even if Anna doesn't see it that way. Other people will."

"Well, what will be will be." sang a few Trolls.

Kristoff couldn't help but roll his eyes at this – earning him a cuff round the ear from his mother – and the conversation turned to the best mushrooms to use in stew, recent ominous cloud formations, and the naming of Olga's new twins.

Elsa appraised the dignitaries before her. There were six – the French Ambassador, the Duke of Garbon, The Irish dignitary, the Duke of Pennslyn, the German Ambassador and the Danish consort. The Duke of Weselton – the only other representative to remain behind – had not been asked to join them.

"Thank you for seeing us, your highness."

There were murmurs of assent.

Elsa shook her head. "The thanks is mine to give. Your fellow guests left as soon as the fjord was thawed – you alone stayed to hear my story. For that, I must thank you." She bowed her head graciously.

"We 'eard your address zis morning, your majesty – and must commend your 'onesty and compassion for your people. It was a bold move, to place your reign in zeir 'ands, and one I believe will serve you well in years to come."

More murmurs of assent.

"I thank you. It was the least I could do. Now," Elsa leant forward, and she couldn't help but notice that a few of the men before her flinched slightly. She forced herself to ignore this. "My coronation was supposed to be an opportunity for us to renew and ratify the diplomatic partnerships and steady trade that our Kingdoms enjoyed under my father's reign. That is still my wish."

A few of the diplomats looked at each other, and then to the French Ambassador who seemed to be something of a ringleader. "Your majesty, zat bringz me ze most inexpressible comfort, for eet it is our wish also."

Elsa exhaled imperceptibly. They would hardly go against a sorcerer, would they?

"I am most glad to hear it. If you are amenable, I would put this down in writing – a formal renewal of our treaties. I do not want the discovery of my – abilities – to in any way affect our relationships."

There were nods – only the Duke of Pennslyn seemed unsure.

"Is there a problem, my lord?"

He hesitated.

"Your highness, I am not sure how we can overlook the issue of your abilities," he began. "Whilst I understand your desire for normalcy, I must think of my people. I have no doubt of the truth of your words this morning, but I must ask – will the nature and quality of your produce remain the same?" He seemed very anxious. "Will there be any need to renegotiate items of trade – or value of goods?"

Elsa fixed him with a quizzical look. "I'm not sure I comprehend your meaning, my lord."

The Duke twisted his fingers together. "Will the ice – have affected your kingdom's ability to cultivate goods? Or the value of those goods?"

Elsa was surprised. "No, I do not believe so. Having frozen my fair share of effects in my twenty-one years, sir, I cannot say I have ever had a problem with – contamination, if that is what you are implying?"

He seemed relived at this. "We have your word?"

"My solemn word."

"Then I have no objection to the renewal of all trade and peace treaties. Your father was our good ally in his time, God rest his soul, your majesty."

Elsa bowed her head in gracious acknowledgement.

The documents were drawn up, and it was as they were being signed that the Irish dignitary brought up the Duke of Weselton's absence.

"During my time in the mountains," Elsa said shortly, "The Duke of Weselton's personal guard made an attempt on my life. Ironically, it was only the intervention Prince Hans of the Southern Isles which saved me."

The paper found its way to Elsa and she signed without hesitation in a neat, flowing script.

"Needless to say, Arendelle will not be allied diplomatically or commercially with nations whose representatives cannot restrain themselves from assassination attempts."

There were smiles at this. Elsa's dry tone, only previously glimpsed by those who had spoken to her at the Coronation Ball, went down well.