A/N,

Whoops! Looks like I drove the last chapter into the ditch, as apparently Elsa is not capable of seduction. I merely ask that you look at it this way. Elsa is responsible for the demise of her sister, the death of Hans, and ruining the lives of thousands of people in this story. There is going to be some level of mental illness associated with that. I'll agree that the original movie/ Frozen Fever/ Olaf's Frozen Adventure Elsa would never be capable of anything like that. But this is not that tale.

It has also been brought to my attention that Kristoff's love for Anna is a bit over the top, and I have to agree. Below the last line break is something I put together at the last minute, let me know if it works.

Kristoff had become accustomed to milder temperatures, this cold was biting. A man of the ice, he thought to himself; oh how things have changed. The ride thru town was a bit disheartening. All of the buildings had started to crumble; the brilliant colors and rosemaling had faded. The castle, on the other hand, looked flawless. Elsa had covered it in new spires and lattice work, it looked quite festive.

They got to the gates of the castle, only to find them locked. When a guard called out in a rather low and gruff voice;

"Who's there? State your business!" Kristoff recognized that voice, it was Marshmallow.

"Chi Lun, and guests."

"Enter."

When the snow beast opened the gate, he recognized Kristoff. At least his memory was still functioning perfectly.

"I thought I told you to not come back!"

"Take it easy there, big guy, I'm..."

"It's alright Em, he's with us." Lun spoke in a somewhat calming fashion.

"Ugh…, proceed." The courtyard was littered with snow mounds; Kristoff could only assume these were more guards.

The inside looked much like the outside, filled with sharp angles and a thoroughly Spartan appearance. It was all typical Elsa, until they got to the study, it was virtually untouched.

"Welcome friends! Kristoff, I've seen you've made your return, please, tell me of your adventures." Hmm, no hugs, no kisses, and barely a handshake. Kristoff was kinda' disappointed, and relieved at the same time. He had wanted her to move on, and she did, but maybe deep down, he did have feelings for her. It was easy to reject her when she was coming on strong, or was she just toying with him? Women!... Ugh! They were so damn tough to figure out.

"Lun and I will leave you two in peace while we get to work on Anna." Pabbie could feel their tension in the air around him.

"Kris, in your note you asked me to take care of Sven, yet he left with you, what was that all about?"

"You shoulda' asked Lun. He gave me sufficient funds for his fare- and then some- it was a last minute change of plans, and I already gave Lun the note, I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize, I was just curious. To be honest, I'm sorry. I scared you with my misguided seduction; I had no business doing that to you."

"It's OK, your Majesty. Frankly I enjoyed your boldness; it's a trait I liked in your sister." He saw the change of expression in her face upon the mention of Anna.

"Alright, enough drowning in our sorrows, Kristoff. Sit down and tell me of your journey..."

Kristoff rambled on for two hours, and barely made a dent in his story, when the two wizards walked into the room.

"Your Majesty, we must report we've had no success. We have a few more things to try tomorrow, but we are quickly running out of options."

"Very well, thank you for your report, if you will excuse us."

"Yes, your Majesty." Lun and Pabbie closed the door behind them. As soon as it latched, Elsa buried her head on Kristoff's chest, and again her tears would flow. He just didn't have any words for her, as he would soon be joining her in emotional release. They shared a tear together, for Anna.

Several months went past with the same news every day. Occasionally some charlatan would show up at the gate proclaiming a sure-fire cure for Anna, but with the same result every time, she was just as cold, and stiff, and dead as the day before. The tension between Elsa and Kristoff would stay at a simmer. They would try to comfort each other, a held hand here and there, the occasional kiss on the cheek. They would even share a laugh or two. While they were still holding out hope for Anna, it was fading. Their relationship would be one of convenience, and that made it just too easy. But sometimes that's how relationships are forged. Two lonely people in the right place at the right time, even if they aren't the best match.

Lun made his way to the study. Elsa was alone, buried in paperwork, as usual. Most of it wasn't even necessary, she just had to make ice and it would get loaded by her drones. Olaf did most of the real paperwork, but keeping busy was the only way Elsa could preserve her sanity, and that only works for so long. This day will be long remembered, for it was the beginning of the end.

Lun stepped through the open door; the expression on his face gave Elsa pause.

"Pardon the intrusion, your Majesty, but I believe it is time to end our search for a cure for Anna. Nothing has worked, and it is foolish to continue something where the failure is so absolute. Every once in a while, being in her presence I get the sense she is calling out, to be freed. Elsa, her spirit needs release, and we must do something that will finally bring about that freedom. You are not going to like my idea, however."

"What do you suggest, Lun?" Here it comes...

"Katla."

"The volcano?!"

"Yes, it erupted shortly after Kristoff left for the Silk Road, and the caldera should be open."

"So let me get this straight, you want me to throw my sister into an active volcano to melt her away?"

"Yes…, that about sums it up." Elsa violently swept the papers off her desk, and began tearing up the place. Lun would step out quietly, while Kristoff was coming up the hall. Hearing the commotion, he quickened his pace;

"Lun, what's wrong?"

"You better get in there; she needs you."

Kristoff was sickened by the news, he knew this day might finally come, and it was here. This was the end.

"I've booked us passage on one of the ice ships, Kristoff. It'll be here in three days. Prepare whatever eulogy you wish for her, I'm still working on mine. The Centurion will be joining us to carry Anna up the volcano."

"Are you going to be OK, Elsa?"

"No…, no I will not..."

It was time to pay one last visit to her in the gallery. Kristoff would slide a chair over to her for the last time, its legs grinding into the long neglected floor. He just sat and stared at her…, the words would not come, yet his thoughts betrayed him.

It had all been so one sided. His love grew for this woman, this thing that sits here in perpetual stillness, while she could never reciprocate. Was he in love with her, or the idea of her? They had this conversation going up the North Mountain, of how can it be true love in such a short time frame? He wasn't listening to his own advice. How did she cast this spell on him? He had circled the globe for this woman, on the slim chance they might have a life together. Yet he loved her so deeply, as if his life depended on it. As he looked into her eyes, his mind went back to the first time he seen her, as a child, and a cold chill ran through him. Is this when he fell in love with her? He did feel a certain amount of empathy for her, and hoped that Gran Pabbie could help. That would be odd, what forces of fate would seed his young mind? At that point in his life, girls seemed pretty gross. He had never really given it too much thought, considering what he had seen. He just went about his life, work and sleep, wake and repeat. The thoughts of princesses never crossing his mind, until he stumbled upon her again, this time needing his help. But there was this thing that just gnawed at him, like a dog with a grizzled bone, this strange thing about her. She must have had some kind of magic, all of this really just doesn't make any sense.

Despite these thoughts, any feelings he had at this point were worthless. In a few days, Anna would be turned to vapor. A mist on the wind as she ascends to the afterlife, a cloud and nothing more. All this time, the struggles, a fortune thrown away, on a hope, a fantasy, and nothing more.

When this would all be over, Kristoff decided it would be time to go and set out to make his own way in the world, to forget about magical queens and fairy tale princesses. They weren't really meant for him anyway.

Kristoff turned and walked out of the room, the click of the latch a deafening roar, it had such finality to it, as his heart sank.