Disclaimer: I do not own the story of Frozen or any of its original characters.
AN: Hey again! Here's Chapter 9, sooner than I anticipated so you're welcome dears. Please read and review, I love hearing your feedback. Also! Comment on what you think ought to happen next! I'm open to suggestions and love hearing what other people think. This chapter is about Kristoff and Elsa's relationship since I think it needs more love. (Pun not intended… well maybe a bit)
I am trying to remember how I came upon this place; something has dislodged the journey from my mind though. The snow is raging outside and the entrance to my secret place is racked with icicles that hang down and wobble threateningly. I hope that the storm outside was not created by my ice sculpted hands. I cannot remember if it was or not, so I suppose the best thing I can do is hope. It smells like ice; a scent not many notice I think, crisp and sharp. I am dressed completely inappropriately for the weather; wearing only my loose undershirt and a pair of black riding pants. I can remember one thing though.
Anna is pregnant. 3 weeks pregnant, if one cares to know such things. The child of course bears none of my genes; although I will say the partner she chose did bear an incredible resemblance to myself. She feels guilty for deceiving the man, but I could not care less about any of that. He fancies himself the other man of our relationship and not only a sperm donor. I have no idea what Anna views him as; a sperm donor maybe, but maybe the saviour of our fruitless marriage, maybe her true mate. I have not even met him, only seen him in the distance. He is a servant in our palace, which Gerda thought was a good idea since he would never tell anyone of importance about his role in Anna's childbearing. To me though, it is simply awkward.
Anna has not lain with me since she began to lie with him five months ago. I suppose she wanted to be thorough in ensuring a child or something, but my bed grows cold and my heart colder.
While lost in my thoughts I neglect to hear him tramping in through the icy entrance to the cave that I thought I had claimed as my own. His voice slices through me as if it were a razor and not a mouth.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I was not aware it was only your place to come to. Since I'm the king, I find that actually I own this cave." Somehow I end up sounding just like my father when I speak to him, I have not yet decided if that is a bad thing though.
"Well unless you want to throw me out, your highness, I think I will probably stay here."
He looks almost the same as did several years ago when I punched him in this cave. "How's your wife?" He sneers the question as he finds a place to sit down on the opposite edge of the cave.
"Who knows?" For some reason, my "kingly" facade just does not feel worth it today; lying to Kristoff about what is going on in my life only serves to make him hate me more. "She's been sleeping with some guy for half the year so she can have my baby."
"And how's that going for you?" He is still snickering at me though; the wind is picking up speed and I can hear the storm outside. The cave's entrance is small and curved though so the storm will not easily penetrate it.
"Well she's pregnant, so I suppose I should say it is going well." I rub my forehead with my iced fingers, my headache is coming back. Most likely since I have not eaten today.
"Doesn't sound like you're too pleased with it though." I shake my head. "I never got married. Seems no one was overly interested in the ice seller."
"Did you want to though?" He shakes his head. I lean mine back against the smooth rock wall, it is spinning. My stomach feels empty and the acids in it dance around. Since we spent about 19 years together attached by the hip, he can still tell when I am not doing well. He walks over to me and offers me some bread that was in his sack.
"Elsa, you look hungry. Would you like this?" he seems pained when he offers it to me, so I am reluctant to take it. I do not however fancy passing out here from not eating so I do.
"Thank you Kristoff, I really appreciate it." I say with sincerity that I hope does not sound force. Deep inside I really do not want to hate Kristoff. He is my oldest friend and he means a lot to me. I had to marry Anna and I still have to stay married to her, I love her and respect her a lot. But it is hard to forget and push away all of the memories of Kristoff. Especially since I have been able to forgive him and get over my anger.
"Elsa, I have missed you." I bite into the bread.
"Don't get all doe-eyed on me. I did punch you in the face remember?"
"How could I forget, you can throw a punch." He is speaking more light-heartedly now.
"Yeah and you sure can give me reasons to throw them."
I have killed the light heartedness that we gained. "You shouldn't have brought that girl, that princess, here to our place."
"Kristoff, you know I didn't bring her here. I didn't want her to find out any of it like that."
"What about me? What about how I found it all out?" He rises up and is now standing next to me as I carefully eat the bread he bestowed on me a minute ago.
"I didn't mean to bring her there." He is angry with me now, but I can tell he has grown since instead of getting closer to intimidate me, he takes a step back to breathe.
"I know, I know! You didn't mean this and you didn't mean that. You always play the victim."
"Kristoff I'm not playing the victim here, I hurt you. I did it and I had my reasons." I am standing now as well. "I'm sorry it ended like that. But I'm not sorry it ended. That was five years ago, and we were both entrapped in the fantasy we made up as kids."
"The way you did it hurt me a lot."
"And the way you screamed at my wife hurt me a lot Kristoff."
"Thought you said you weren't into it because she sleeps with other people?"
"That doesn't mean I forgot the words you said. Anna means a lot to me, even now. She is the only person who understands me in her way and I need that. I need her stability. The way you spoke to her was not alright and you'll never be able to apologize because I won't let you near her."
"Well I'm sorry to you then."
We stand in silence for a moment, Kristoff is covered in his usual fur outfit, fitting since it is storming outside.
"Els, why did you come here today?"
"I don't remember." I rub my hands together and sit back down.
"That bad?" I say nothing. "Els, does Anna love you?"
"I - I, um, I guess I don't know."
"She didn't sneak out here with you?"
I shake my head. "She's with her sister who's visiting."
"I am about to be very improper but I think you really need it." He walks over to me and takes my hand. He pulls me up to stand with him and he wraps his arms around me. He's right, I do need it; my body has almost forgotten what it feels like to be held. I allow myself to lay my face on his chest.
"Kristoff, I think you needed this."