Kristoff made his way thru the castle to the king's old study. Elsa really liked the spot and was often found there, this time would be no exception. There was a roaring fire in the fireplace, as there was no shortage of wood, scrap or otherwise. She was at the window, gazing soulfully outside at the fjord where dozens of snow beasts were working the ice docks. Kristoff departed from his usual of barging in, and knocked.
"Enter... Kristoff! Your back!" Elsa rushed him and gave him a big hug, while Kristoff gingerly put his arms around her. Elsa moved her hands to his face, her ungloved hands. He panicked when she did this, grasping her by the wrists and yanking her hands away.
"It's alright Kristoff, really." He softened his grip and Elsa put her hands to his face again.
"You can touch me now? That's amazing!" Her hands were very cold, he had always suspected this.
"Lun and Gran Pabbie have been instructing me while you've been gone. So, did you find Pangari?" Once again, he would have to dish out the bad news.
"I found her burned out home. Elsa,… she was murdered to prevent her from making an antidote, answering any questions, or being helpful in any way. Whoever did this may have also stolen the Hemlosia, or its formula." She sunk to the couch. "No,... Our best solution… Gone!" Elsa pounded her head on the arm of the couch, hoping the action would knock the anguish out of her head.
"I'm so sorry, Elsa. She had been dead for quite some time. The plot to destroy Arendelle goes far back in the past." She had her head buried in her arms. He scooped her up and held her in his arms, trying to comfort her. She laid her head on his chest quietly sobbing. While he was no expert at counseling, he did make a comfortable spot to lean on, maybe too comfortable.
"Will this long nightmare ever end, Kristoff?"
"I wish I..." The door flung open and in trotted Olaf.
"Kristoff's back! It's good...to...see...you." Olaf's voice got low and quiet as he seen Elsa cradled in his arms.
"If I'm interrupting anything ... I think I'll just go see Sven,"
"No, Olaf, you're not,... I mean we weren't,... ya' know,... umm..."
"What he's trying to say is, he was just comforting me because I was sad."
"What's wrong, Elsa?"
"Kristoff's trip was in vain, Anna will not be cured just yet." Olaf hung his head so low, it fell off and he had to pick it up.
"I'll be at the stable." He turned and walked out the door, not even bothering to put his head back on.
"Poor little guy, his hopes were so high."
"Mine too."
Dinner that evening was somewhat quiet, fresh off the disappointment of his failure. Then Kristoff noticed something, he really hadn't paid that much attention to before. Elsa was lookin' good. She had filled out a bit, and her hair braid looked so much neater than when he had left. She had her face done up with that purple eye shadow she liked to use, and he found himself staring at her just a little too long….
"Kristoff, I was thinking, maybe we should go and visit the Ice Palace tomorrow. It's in need of repair, and I kind of miss it. What do you say? We could take a sleigh ride up in the morning, hmm?" There was no way he could resist this temptation. He had stood in front of this place- in slack-jawed awe- nearly in tears.
"I can't see any reason why not." Actually, He could think of a hundred reasons why not. But Elsa has never got out much, and she could probably use the break.
"Good, have Sven and yourself ready by eight."
"Sure, Elsa. If you'll excuse me, I have someone I'd like to pay a visit to before retiring for the evening."
"OK,…. Goodnight, Kristoff."
"'night, Elsa." He practically sprang from the table, and made his way down to the portrait room. All the while the knot in his stomach grew tighter. She was lit by only a few candles, but in this light she sparkled as if she was moving, the magic forever flowing in her. He walked right up to her and looked her in those cold, dead eyes and said;
"Please forgive me, my love, I've come home empty handed. While I travelled the world for you and found nothing, I'd gladly do it one hundred more times if it would bring you back to me." There would be no answer, she would be just as still as that fateful day on the fjord. He slid one of the couches over to her and slept there.
In the morning he awoke to a voice in his head just below a whisper; Kristoff!,…Help!
As reality slowly crept back in and his eyes were fully open, he wasn't sure what he just heard. Anna looked just the same as last night, or a year ago. That same echoing whisper, he heard it on the fjord that day, it drew him in the right direction, towards Anna, towards saving her, but ultimately towards death.
"Kristoff! You're late!"
"I'm sorry, your Majesty, I over slept."
"Why so formal, Kris? I'll help get Sven hooked up." She took her hand and brushed it across his jaw, sending a shiver thru him. For once she was sensibly dressed and ready for the outdoors, she really looked like she had her act together, much to Kristoff's delight.
On the ride up, Elsa was kinda' quiet, a true departure from the chatterbox that was Anna. She was content to just enjoy the ride, and feel the wind in her hair. The smile on her face had a certain tell to it, one that he couldn't quite get a handle on, what was she so happy about? Then the same problem that confronted Anna and him with the chase down by the wolves was in front of them, the ravine was still there.
"I forgot about this damn ravine,… yep, still there."
"What's still there?"
"The remnants of my sled. Anna and I were being chased by wolves, so we had to jump this ravine,… the sled didn't make it, however."
"Oh,… sorry. But it's really not a problem, watch." Elsa stepped off the sleigh and stomped her foot at the edge, magic swirled and she created a very sturdy bridge to cross the ravine, with finely decorated rails and pretty snowflakes, of course.
"Well, what do you think?" Kristoff could hear the air of pride in her voice, and honestly, she deserved to revel in this moment.
"If only all bridges looked like this!" He really liked what she could create, and she was getting better at it. But after a few miles no amount of bridges were going to help them, they'd reached the plateau that was the willow grove.
"Alright, buddy. Let's get you unhooked." It was all on foot from here on out. Once they got to the palace, the damage looked extensive, neither one of them had seen it in this state. Elsa left here out cold.
"You can fix this, right?"
"Meh, it's just a scratch." First she would repair the stairway, then Kristiff looked at Sven, remembering that he couldn't climb these steps.
"Say Elsa, how about whipping up a shelter for, ya' know…" Kristoff kinda' jerked his head in Sven's direction. She let out an almost barking laugh.
"Of course." She made a mini version of the palace, spires and all.
"This is all yours, Sven." He walked up to Elsa and gave her a friendly nuzzle, then walked inside and laid down, very content in his new digs. Elsa gave him a pat on the head. "Your welcome."
The first floor was unscathed, but the second floor was a disaster. Although, when you're magical, it's just a matter of a few seconds work to perfection. Elsa decided a little remodeling was in order, and created a much less ostentatious chandelier.
"How's that, Kris?"
"Yea, that looks less threatening." Once Elsa fixed the balcony and doors it was all back to its own version of normal. She breathed a small sigh of relief. This was her first big project, and her pièce de résistance.
"Come on; let me give you the grand tour." There was a whole lot to this place that hasn't been seen by anyone other than Elsa, well, except Marshmallow. Speaking of which…
"Hey Elsa, where's the snow monster?"
"That is a really good question. If a mound of snow suddenly springs to life, you'll know you've found him."
"What's back here?...Oh." He found the bed chamber. Her bed was a canopy four poster, with her signature snowflake design. When he touched the comforter, it sent a rush thru him. It was the smoothest material he'd ever felt, and he had recently handled some of the finest silk on the planet.
"Do you like it?" Kristoff knew he was in trouble. Her sensible outfit was gone, and replaced by the latest iteration of the ice dress. He could feel himself get flushed, and the heat was on, fearing he may melt something. She sure liked to show a lot of leg.
"Elsa! What is this?" He was a bit miffed. It was starting to feel like a trap. She slinked her way up to him.
"What does it look like, Kristoff? You and me, alone, on top of a mountain where no one can see us. No one will know."
"I will know! Elsa, you gotta' understand,… I am in love with your sister."
"She may never recover, but I am here, right now, doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"Yes, it means I should have never agreed to come up here with you alone. I love this palace, it's like every dream I've ever had come true. But I didn't know you felt this way."
"It's just,… yesterday, when you were holding me, I felt so safe in your arms…."
"Ugh,…Elsa, the question you gotta' ask yourself is, am I the man, or just a man?" She put her head in her hands, in a vain attempt to hind her shame.
"I'm so sorry, Kristoff. I feel awful. I didn't mean to…." She couldn't finish the sentence, her tears got in the way. Now Kristoff felt bad, he didn't want it to come to this. She could really use some lovin' right now, there has to be some middle ground to this situation, and he had to come up with a compromise. He walked up to her, put his hands on her face and looked her square in the eyes.
"Elsa, we can't go there, not now, and maybe not ever. The future is not set, and I have no idea what it holds. But I want to give you something, it may not be all you want, but please understand, my feelings for your sister are very strong, and I will not betray her. So let's get something to eat, then we will crawl into this bed together and sleep! I will hold you until slumber takes you to dreamland, and I will even plant some tiny kisses on your head."
"I hope I'm there the day Anna comes back to the world of the living, and you are there to hold her, my heart will melt that day. She is getting the best of what humanity has to offer, and that's why I love you Kristoff. She's the luckiest woman on earth, even if she can't appreciate that right now." She gave him a tiny peck on the cheek, then hugged him. Later that night, he did as promised, and she fell asleep in his arms.