Hi everyone! So, today is a big update day.

Following feedback from a couple of readers, I've gone back through the story and made a fair few tweaks and additions to the narrative - most notably in chapters 3, 5 and 11.

1. In chapter 3, it's just a few bits explaining/changing Anna's knowledge of the town layout - as DaughterNumberTwo pointed out, First Time in Forever suggests Anna's experience of the outside world is pretty limited.

2. Chapter 5 is just a small added section about Elsa's response to Hans' attempt on her life.

3. Chapter 11 has changed the date to 1833, not 1823, added in a silly bit of added salesman schmooze about sleds (this will come up again in a few chapters time, so it might be worth a look - it's just after the bit about cup holders and colours).

4. All other chapter updates are just for grammar and small bits of dialogue.

Spoiler alert for today's chapter: it is 90% fluff.

We're almost at the end of this story now really - thank you so much to everyone reading this for your continued support and interest in this story. All the love. X

Kristoff stood outside Anna's room whilst she changed for dinner.

She'd looked very puzzled when he'd asked what was wrong with the clothes she was wearing.

There was no sound from inside, and she had been gone about ten minutes – how long did it take to change?

Very cautiously, Kristoff knocked.

"Anna?

"Yeah?" Her voice was slightly muffled by the door.

"You ok?"

"Yeah. Hang on!"

Kristoff shook his head. Women.

They'd dropped off Olaf with Sven ("Olaf, you can't come to dinner, you don't eat – and the dignitaries will be there – and they've had enough shocks over the past few days without a magical snowman making small talk over entrées,") before heading back to the castle in the dusky evening sun.

A few minutes later, Anna finally emerged. The smell of sunbalm had faded – or at least had been smothered by the floral perfume she was wearing – and her hair was twisted into a bun and she was wearing plunging red dress with a skirt so wide it barely fitted through the door – but it beautifully emphasised her little waist, and the red of the dress clashed magnificently with her hair, and almost matched her sunburnt shoulders, and the bun exposed the soft furrows at the nape of her neck, and –

Kristoff was getting carried away.

He cleared his throat.

"You look… great."

Anna deflected his comment with a wave of her hand. "Pfft, this old thing?" She grinned. "Thank you. Shall we go?"

She took his arm, and as they walked in the direction of the dining room, Kristoff tried very hard not to look down – he was painfully aware that his height and the way she was dangling off his arm gave him the perfect view down the front of that damn dress.

Mercifully, they arrived at the dining room before his willpower gave out.

Anna peeked through the door.

"Ok, so there are bunch of dignitaries in there – and I don't see Elsa yet – but stick with me, and you'll be fine." She smiled at him. "The food should be extra good if we have guests."

Kristoff nodded a little queasily. Anna had explained in the library what Elsa had said about the guards – though remained suspiciously vague about why Elsa had wanted to see her in the first place – and it had eased his anxiety somewhat.

You can do this.

Anna seemed desperate for him to come to dinner – he'd been reluctant at first, because dignitaries – but it hurt him more than he cared to admit to see her so disappointed.

"Ok, fine. If it means that much to you."

"It does!"

What exactly did that mean?

Kristoff shook his head. Women.

Anna took his hand and pushed open the door.

The dignitaries looked round and rose as one. They bowed.

"My lady."

Anna curtsied, and concealed by hem of her giant dress, gave Kristoff a meaningful nudge with her foot. He dropped into his funny bow.

"My lords and dignitaries. May I present my honoured guest Kristoff – "

Anna remembered she still didn't know his last name. She looked at him with wide eyes.

" – Bjorgman," he supplied, as reading her mind. "Kristoff Bjorgman."

As Anna made a mental note of this, the dignitaries murmured their greeting.

They walked over to the long table and took their seats, side-by-side. Anna noticed with a twinge of sadness that the ice-palace from last night was gone.

No sooner had the dignitaries all settled back down than Elsa walked in, swathed in a glittering – literally glittering – gown of pale, dusky orange. It was the colour of sun hitting ice, and Anna couldn't help but notice it was of a very similar style to the now infamous blue ice-gown.

Anna raised an eyebrow at her.

Elsa answered the unasked question with a small grin.

After yet more bows and greetings and formalities, they finally all sat and dinner was brought in: for a starter, bowls of steaming soup.

Anna caught Kristoff's eye and very deliberately picked up the outmost spoon.

He copied her and she smiled.

Conversation flowed politely across the table. Each man chattered to his immediate neighbours, and paid all expected compliments to the royal sisters. Topics ranged from gossip to crops to the latest literature – though everyone pointedly avoided discussing the weather.

At the head of the table, Elsa and the French ambassador were in deep conversation. Occasionally, Anna would catch her eye and they would share a small, reassuring smile.

"Your majesty, eef I may be so bold, would eet not be an idea to show ze people ze positif side to your abilities?"

Elsa looked quizzically at the ambassador.

"I meen – to show zem you 'ave truly learnt to control your powers. I was theenking, per'aps a celebration of sorts."

Elsa looked thoughtful.

After that day's revelations, Anna was making an incredibly conscious effort to be sensitive to Kristoff's discomfort; she made sure her animated conversation always included him, and was very deliberate in her choice of cutlery.

Under the table, she couldn't help but absent-mindedly lean her leg against his.

He tried very hard to ignore this, and that dress, and focus on what was happening above the table.

As the main course was almost done, the French Ambassador said, "So, your majesty. What are ze exact arrangements for ze departure of Prince 'ans?"

He spoke to Elsa, but the whole table was listening. Anna had been halfway through explaining Frankenstein to the Irish dignitary, but trailed off mid-sentence.

"I paid a visit to Prince Hans this afternoon," said Elsa steadily, "and explained the situation to him. My men can deliver him to your ship whenever is most convenient."

The French Ambassador ran a hand through his slick-backed hair and considered. "Well, it would be advantageous for uz to leeve by about midday. Our brig iz prepared, ready and waiting for Monsieur 'ans."

Elsa nodded. "Thank you, Ambassador. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated. I intend to detail Prince Hans' conduct in a letter to his father – if you are amenable, I would send a few of my guard with you to deliver this, and to keep watch over your prisoner."

"Merci, your majesty. I am be 'onoured to be of service."

Elsa nodded. "Thank you, Ambassador."

There was quiet for a moment. The clink of knives and forks.

Kristoff couldn't contain himself.

"What will happen to Hans when he gets home?"

Everyone looked at him in surprise: Kristoff had barely said ten words since he and Anna had walked in.

Kristoff looked back at his plate in embarrassment. He felt Anna shift beside him, her less pressing more fully against his.

This did nothing to help said embarrassment.

"I don't know," sighed Elsa. "I hope he will be suitably disciplined, though it is ultimately up to his father."

"I'm sure something will be done," Anna said lightly. "Hans has twelve older brothers."

"Twelve?"

She nodded. "I don't think they'll let it slide."

There was a little more quiet. Then Anna changed the subject.

After dinner, the dignitaries drifted back to their rooms. Anna lingered for a moment to talk to Elsa.

"Confidential, Kristoff," Anna insisted, manoeuvring him to the other side of the room. "Wait here for a minute."

She skipped back over to Elsa, giant red dress bouncing with her.

"Hi."

Elsa smiled. "Hi yourself."

"About the you-know-what," she said conspiratorially. "I was thinking, I'll get up early tomorrow and get it ready – I want to get a huge bow for it and tell Sven the plan – and get a new lute – and then take Kristoff down as a surprise?"

"Slow down, Anna. A new lute?"

"Yeah. I broke it."

Elsa nodded. "Of course you did. Well, that all sounds fine to me – but there's something I want to add."

"There is?"

Elsa half-glanced to the loitering Kristoff and smiled. "I was looking through some of the old law books this afternoon – after you told me how Kristoff felt out of place. I thought we could do something to make him feel more at home, so I've named Kristoff Official Arendelle Ice Master and Deliver. All the paperwork is done, but I haven't announced it formally – I thought you'd want it to be part of the surprise."

Anna felt quite overwhelmed. "Oh, Elsa!" She threw her arms around the queen, but pulled back after a second. "Ow. Ow. Sunburn. Thank you, Elsa. That's perfect. Thank you." She settled for putting her hands onto her sister's upper arms, beaming.

"Also," Elsa held up a finger to silence any more thanks. "If you happen to feel like walking our guest Kristoff past the docks on your way to show him his new sled, you will be in full view of the entire battalion of guards. They will be lined up along the waterfront waiting to send off Prince Hans."

Anna was confused for a moment, and then put two and two together.

"Elsa. You are a genius." She beamed again and squeezed her sister's arm. "Thank you!"

"And finally," Anna's eyes grew even wider. "I get the feeling Kristoff will try to refuse the sled."

Anna looked dismayed.

"I get the feeling he's that kind of person. Am I right?"

Anna thought this over for a moment, and nodded sadly.

"If that's the case, I refuse to let him return it: it's a gift. Queen's orders."

Anna was beaming again.

"Elsa, you are the best."

With a swift kiss to her forehead, Anna bounced away to collect Kristoff.

Elsa smiled and watched them go.

Anna walked Kristoff back to his room. She had the funny feeling this was becoming a bit of a habit – and she didn't mind a bit.

"So, are you going to tell me what this big secret is?" He asked her, amused.

She shook her head. "Not a chance. If I tell you, it's not a secret anymore!"

Kristoff rolled his eyes. "Will you ever tell me?"

"Possibly." she replied, smug. Looking at him for a moment, her eyes strayed about his face and up to his hair. She gasped.

"What?" Kristoff looked up through his fringe, his mind already racing to conclusions about white streaks and frozen hearts –

"No no, nothing bad – I just remembered – this way!" And she grabbed his hand and raced away down the corridor, holding up the front of her enormous skirt.

"Where are we going?"

"My room!"

Kristoff tried to form a coherent sentence. He failed spectacularly, and just settled for a weak, "…what?"

"You'll see!"

They skidded to halt in front of Anna's door. She gave him a very cheeky grin and disappeared inside.

"Anna, what – ?"

She'd left the door open. Was this an invitation? A test? A sign? What did it mean?!

He peered into the dark room.

Suddenly –

"Ta-daa!" She appeared out of nowhere, a grin plastering her face, triumphantly holding up his little bobble hat. "I completely forgot to give it back to you!"

Frantically pulling his mind back out of overdrive, Kristoff blinked, cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "I – completely forgot you had it."

"Here," seemingly having noticed nothing – not for the first time, Kristoff found himself sending a silent prayer of thanks that she was so utterly unobservant – Anna gently fitted the hat onto his head. "Consider it returned. Thank you."

They shared a smile for a moment.

Kristoff cleared his throat.

"Well, thank you. For returning it. But we should probably go to bed – I mean – I'll see you – tomorrow?"

"Of course." She cocked an eyebrow at him. "You ok?"

"Sure. So – you're – already at your bed, so – I'll go. Good night, Anna."

"Good night Kristoff."

He hesitated for a second, then plodded awkwardly down the corridor.

"Kristoff?"

He turned around.

"Mm?"

"It's the other way, to the guest rooms."

"Oh. Of course."

He cleared his throat again, turned the other way, and as something in Anna's chest fluttered, she couldn't help beam at the sight of his furious blush.