Author's Note: Sorry that it's been so long, but I've just been incredibly busy. But, to make it up to you, I have added this chapter (sorry it's so short) and have edited the whole story. (I have added around 4400 words.) I will try to update ASAP. Thanks, guys!
Arendelle, 3 hours after the event
Kristoff had just arrived back at the castle. He had been planning on getting some ice harvesting done, but the sudden nightfall had persuaded him otherwise. He had been wandering the castle for about fifteen minutes now, looking for Anna. So far, it seemed like she didn't even exist.
"Sir?" Kai asked as he walked around the corner, noticing Kristoff's expression. "Is there something that I can help you with?"
"Actually, there is. Have you seen Anna or the Queen?"
"Sadly, I have not for quite some time now. I can make inquiries with the Captain of the Guard, though. He always tries to keep track of where they are."
"Thank you very much. That is quite kind of you." Kristoff sometimes hated the castle, with the formal speech that seemed to prevail here. Ah well. Small sacrifices.
"Sir, I just received word from the Captain, and he says that the Queen and Princess have been in the Queen's study for the last three and a half hours. Would you care for me to show you there?"
"If you would, that would be quite helpful." He still got turned around all the time in here.
"Very good, sir. If you will come this way," Kai said with a flourish of his hand. They walked through the halls, past suits of armor, paintings, and too many doors to count, until finally Kai stopped. He turned around and gestured to the door at the end of the hall with a flourish.
Kristoff stepped forward, and knocked on the door.
Silence.
He knocked again.
Silence.
He turned to the guard by the door and gave him a questioning look. "Are they still in there?"
The guard looked more confused than Kristoff. "They have not come out, sir."
"And there is no other way out?"
"With the exception of the windows, none."
Kristoff took a deep breath. "Corporal, open the doors."
"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't do that."
"In the interests of assessing Her Majesty's…current medical situation, I would like these doors opened."
The corporal hesitated.
"It's okay," Kai said.
The guard sighed. "Yes, sir." He opened the door, and Kristoff stepped through, closely followed by Kai and the corporal. They looked around.
Neither the Queen nor Anna was there.
"Corporal, how could they have gotten out?"
"Through the windows, sir. That's the only other way."
They walked over to the one and only window that could open. Looking out, they saw that there was a three story drop straight down, and that a guard was still standing there. "Where did they go?" Kai wondered.
Kristoff wasn't paying attention. He had walked over to Elsa's desk, and noticed that the ink well had been left uncapped and the quill was lying across an important-looking paper. "Kai," he called. "Does this look peculiar to you?"
Kai walked over, and his eyes widened. "Yes, it most certainly does. Her Majesty never leaves the inkwell uncapped, and she always puts the quill up. It's a habit that must be left over from her teenage years. The only time that she would leave her desk in this manner is if she was coming back to it momentarily."
"But she isn't back here, is she?"
"No, sir."
"We need to find them!"
"Sir, we have checked every room of the castle. Twice. We have interviewed each member of the guard on duty for the last five hours, and we still have no clues as to where they have gone. Sir, this looks like foul play." They were sitting in the library of the castle, discussing what to do next.
Kristoff suddenly remembered something. "Kai, was there a crystal in the study?"
"Yes, there was. It was lying on the floor, like it had just been tossed there. Again, very unlike Her Majesty."
"May I see it?"
"Certainly. I actually have it in my case, in case it became relevant, as it just did." He handed it over to Kristoff, placing it gently on his palm.
Kristoff's eyes opened wider. "This is the crystal that I gave to Anna earlier. The trolls asked me to give it to her."
"Then why was it on the ground?"
"I don't kno…oh, CRAP!"
"What!"
Kristoff looked like he was about to break down crying. "The trolls said that it might have been a Time Crystal."
Kai was starting to panic now. "Meaning?"
"They might not even be in our time right now."
Kai sighed, and looked like the world was about to end. "Kristoff, that seems to be the most logical explanation so far."
Kristoff, seeing the sudden change in Kai's demeanor, nodded his head yes.
"Since we are agreed, there is something that I need to tell you. Kristoff, Queen Elsa has left a secret decree, known only to myself and the Captain of the Guard, that should anything happen to both the Queen and Princess at the same time, you are to be appointed Regent of Arendelle."
Kai stood and bowed. "Kristoff Bjorgman, by the power vested in me by the Royal Crown of Arendelle, I hereby appoint you to act as Regent of the Kingdom of Arendelle. May God bless you and our country during your reign."
Kristoff was incredulous. "Oh, my. You have got to be kidding me."
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