Hide & Seek

Hi Guys!

Sorry for the delay in getting this next chapter out. It's been a bit manic this end with not having a laptop.

Anyways I thank you for those that have followed/ favourite and commented!

I hope you enjoy the next chapter, some favourites are coming back!

So without further ado...

"Elsa!" The young red head Princess ran through the halls calling for her sister.

"Elsa, you need to come now. We have a disaster on our hands" She shouted again to the empty corridors.

Anna huffed as her cries for her sister went un-answered. Whilst stomping along the corridors in search for Elsa, she couldn't help but think that the queen had been avoiding her for the better part of two days. And now with Kristoff going away on a last minute trip to the North Mountain, something fishy was definitely going on. Even Kai had been nowhere to be found and usually he would be there by just thinking his name.

"Elsa!" she shouted more forcefully this time. "This isn't funny anymore. You are ten years too late for hide and seek" Ignoring that she had asked Elsa to play it with her and Olaf only a week ago.

"Did I hear hide and seek?" The little snowman and his flurry bounced round the corner. "I love hide and seek. You go hide and I'll count. 1, 2, 3…"

"Olaf!" Anna screeched with joy. She had finally found someone, or at least a something. She wasn't sure what Olaf was, other than a talking snowman, but he was still family. "Oh thank the heavens. Olaf, I need your help."

Olaf peeked behind his stick arms bemused. "Anna, you aren't very good at this game. I'm counting, you should be hiding." He stated in a childlike manner.

"No Olaf we haven't got time to play, there is far too much to get done by tomorrow." She gave him pleading eyes before adding. "If you help, maybe we can play later."

Olaf eyed her suspiciously. "Do I have to distract the village children again? Because it's all fun and games until your head is used as the ball."

"No Olaf," Although she giggled at the memory

"Ok, what can I help you with Anna?" He asked in his usual perky and excited tone.

"Well, I need to find Elsa, but I have been looking for the past two days and I can't seem to find her anywhere." Anna threw her arms in the air in a dramatic fashion and then let them drop to her sides in defeat.

Olaf let out a squeal of laughter as she finished. "You are never good at seeking." He laughed again as Anna eyed him curiously.

"What do you mean Olaf?" She probed.

"Elsa, is in the easiest hiding spot, with Kristoff and Kai." He stated proudly as he had found them and Anna hadn't.

"Kristoff?" Anna repeated confused.

"And Kai." Olaf added

"Olaf, where are they" She asked as sweetly as she could. However Olaf was so naïve he missed the ploy Anna was trying to pull.

"Anna that's cheating." He reminded her appalled.

Anna huffed before turning back to her little snow buddy, almost childlike. "But Olaf, we aren't playing a game, so why is everyone hiding from me?" She pouted to add effect. She knew the snowman would fall for that one.

"Oh, well they seemed very busy talking, but Sven told me that Kristoff said to him, that Elsa told Kristoff, that you are in Anna festival crazy mode and everyone should run for their lives." He giggled.

"Anna festival crazy mode. Pfft" Anna snorted "And what's so funny?" she glared at Olaf

This only made him giggle more. "You look funny when you are cross."

Anna never got angry, and she would hardly have said she was angry now, more frustrated. Her sister had been avoiding her like the plague and her one true love and fiancé, Kristoff, who was meant to be going to the North Mountain, was also hiding with her sister… and Kai.

Ohh just wait till I find them. She thought to herself.

Whilst Anna lost herself in the thoughts of the world of pain Kristoff would be in once she got a hold of him, Olaf waved his hands in front of Anna's face trying to gain her attention.

Jumping up and down and still not getting anywhere, he let out an adorable little laugh before singing his goodbyes to Anna. "Got to Bounce now Anna. Going to smell the flowers. Bye, hope you find Elsa"

Before Anna had pulled herself from the thoughts of Chinese burning Kristoff's arm, her little snow buddy had hopped off and was nowhere to be seen. Much like the rest of her family.

"I'm not crazy, I'm efficient!" she said aloud to herself. "Isn't that right Joan?" She asked her favourite painting on the wall. "This really is a disaster. I must find Elsa now!"

Anna continued her search for her sister and her fiancé silently, now knowing that they were in fact hiding from her.

"This is a task for stealthy Anna. See ya later Joan"

30 minutes earlier.

"This is the worst place to hide." Elsa stated. "She's going to find us."

Kristoff grinned. "She's going to find you, I'm going to the North Mountain remember." He pulled his sled from the stables, ready to hook it up to Sven. "Besides she would never think to look in the stables. It's the most obvious hiding place."

It definitely was the most obvious, but this was Anna. "I still don't know how you wrangled that North Mountain excuse, I'm rather jealous. But I guess you are right" Elsa sighed not completely convinced.

Still readying his sled for his escape journey to the North Mountain, Kristoff shot Elsa a quick wink and a smirk "Everything will be fine once feisty pants calms down from her festivity high."

"I'm kind of regretting making the anniversary of the Thaw, an Arendelle holiday now. It's just another time of year that Anna goes into festival crazy mode and everyone should run for their lives." Elsa shuddered but laughed lightly at her sister's holiday antics.

Both Kristoff and Elsa thought it amusing and cute the first couple of holidays together after the Thaw, but last Christmas and the spring time ball, they had found hiding was far less exhausting than taking orders from an over excited, dramatic and bossy Anna.

Kristoff snorted a laugh and turned to Sven. "See Sven. Even Elsa thinks miss feisty pants goes into crazy mode and we should run for our lives. Told ya this was a good idea"

Sven grunted in response and banged his hooves against the stable door in response

Kristoff chuckled "It's better than the alternative buddy."

Elsa shook her head and smiled at the interaction between the man and reindeer, although she had no idea what Sven had said.

"Queen Elsa! Queen Elsa!" Kai came scrambling through the stable doors, out of breath and panting.

Elsa surprised by the interruption, turned to her most trusted servant and advisor, putting a soothing hand on his back. "Slowly Kai, there is no need to rush"

"Unless you are running from Anna" Kristoff muttered. Packing the last of his supplies.

Kai tried straitening himself before speaking with his Queen. "Your Majesty, please accept my apologies. I thought I would need to hurry before Princess Anna found you."

Kristoff laughed, but Elsa caught the urgency and seriousness in Kai's tone and instantly became concerned. It was not often this man spoke with such distress, he was more warm and courteous and you never saw Kai run. His posture was always perfect as he took pride in his every step.

"Kai what is it?" She asked hastily.

Kai looked at her hesitantly before speaking. "Your Majesty, there has been some commotion and a lot of upset in the Southern Isles, as I know you are aware."

Elsa nodded. She was well aware.

The Southern Isles had lost a son. He had died in a horrific Pirate raid just off the coast of Caw Hill only a few months ago.

At the time he had been travelling to Arendelle to negotiate peace, in an attempt to rectify the fall out of Hans' actions two years prior. However after the loss, negotiations were temporarily placed on hold and a silent truce had been established between the two kingdoms.

Although Arendelle had not heard much of the investigation after Elsa had expressed her deepest condolences. They were aware that King Mikael was crying for blood of those responsible for his son's death. She assumed that Kai had some information regarding this now and her curiosity was peaked, as was Kristoff's.

"According to some scout reports, there have been rumours circling that Arendelle was involved in the conspiracy to kill the young prince before the peace treaty could be agreed." Kai repeated what one of the messengers had told him only ten minutes before.

Elsa's throat closed up, unable to process what she had heard.

"That is ridiculous!" Kristoff shouted, angry that such rumours had ever been started.

"Yes the rumours are absurd, but people listen to them and I am afraid to tell you there is more." Kai answered solemnly

"More" Elsa stuttered, her already pale complexion drained of any colour.

Kai nodded "Yes Your Majesty. Unfortunately the King Leo of Weselton has taken up alliance with the Southern Isles, as you know the Duke is the Kings right hand man and with him voicing his opinions as he does, it won't be long until his false allegations and lies are taken as truth" There was a slight change in Kai's expression to anger as he talked about the Duke. Not many would have noticed, but Elsa did. Anger was not something Elsa was used to seeing on the older man

Elsa was lost for words. She had dealt with much over the past two years, but these rumours could lead to unimaginable events that she wished upon no one's life time.

War.

If the Southern Isles believed such allegations, there was a storm headed Arendelle's way that Elsa only hoped they could weather.

As Elsa, Kai and Kristoff huddled, silently thinking to themselves and grasping the severity of what could be a crisis, Olaf entered the stables, unaware and oblivious of the serious atmosphere.

"Hello everyone" He greeted as he pushed his way between the three.

"H… Hi Olaf" Elsa replied half-heartedly, still processing the new information from Kai.

Kristoff looked down at the Snowman. Usually Olaf looking back at him with his wide innocent eyes made him smile, but thinking that Arendelle was on the brink of war, he could barely construct a sentence, his mind was all over the place. "Hey there Olaf" He finally greeted back. "Sorry buddy, but you think you could go talk to Sven? We just need to talk about something important." He led Olaf towards Sven's stall.

"Oh really. What's so important?" Olaf asked curiously.

Knowing Olaf could not keep secrets they all replied "Politics" simultaneously. A guaranteed subject to lose Olaf's interest.

"Yuk Politics! Isn't that right Sven?"

Sven nodded in agreement.

"So what's new with you Sven?"

Present

Kristoff was pacing. To say he was worried was an understatement. But not only that, it was also the only way he could stay warm. Since Kai had told them the news, the temperature in the stables had dramatically dropped.

Elsa, as much as she tried controlling her emotions, she could not pull the magic back in and the more they talked about different scenarios the colder it got. By the time they had reached the topic of what should we do? Icicles had started forming.

"What should we do your Majesty?" Kai asked, shivering.

Elsa concentrated on reining in her powers, but to no avail.

Kristoff realising Elsa's struggle answered for her. "I will go to Weselton" He declared.

That snapped Elsa out of her concentration. "What!" She shook her head vehemently "No. I will not be sending my future brother in law to Weselton. If the rumours are thought to be true they will kill you!"

"They won't kill someone they don't know." Kristoff stated "Anna and I are only recently engaged, we haven't announced it yet. Besides, other than family it wasn't widely spread that we were even courting, so why would anyone be suspicious of a Mountain Man selling Ice?" He asked rhetorically. "Trust me I'm good at hiding in plain sight by just blending in, I have done it most of my life."

"No" Said Elsa adamantly.

"Elsa!"

"Kristoff!"

The two had a stare down as each was more determined than the other. Kai stood back, not wanting to get involved.

Kristoff was the first to soften. "Elsa. I want to help you and Arendelle. And I need to protect Anna." His eyes were almost pleading when he spoke of needing to protect Anna. Kristoff was highly protective of her and everyone who knew about their relationship could see it.

The ice queen's face fell. She knew there was no way of changing his mind once it was set on protecting Anna, but she had to try. "If anything were to happen to you, Anna would be distraught. She would probably hate me for putting you in such danger. In fact I'd hate myself."

Kristoff wasn't ever considered an affectionate or comforting person, apart from when he was with Anna. And Elsa was very much the same, but they both had their moments. And in this moment, Kristoff could see that Elsa was torn. He put both his hands on Elsa's shoulders and spoke with what he hoped was comforting words.

"I will be fine. We need to know exactly what is going on and I know I can find out. All I want is for Anna and you to be safe. Anna will understand. I promise." He looked directly into Elsa's worried blue eyes before continuing. "And as for Anna hating you, that's never going to happen." He smiled at her softly, hoping his words had helped.

Elsa looked back at the rugged Mountain Man, her eyes glistening at his sincerity.

She couldn't help but feel guilty that in the first few months that he and Anna courted, she was very dubious of him and his intentions. Knowing him the way she did now, his intentions were only ever to be there for Anna and her family, including Elsa. But it had taken Elsa over a year to truly welcome Kristoff. It was a slow process, but the Mountain Man had wormed his way into the lives and hearts of the royal family.

Although they weren't technically family yet, Elsa thought of Kristoff as the brother she never had. When he had asked her permission to marry Anna, Elsa was overjoyed that her sister would marry the man of her dreams, but also Elsa was ecstatic that she was to gain an amazing brother. And although she didn't need to, she prayed Anna would say yes.

Pulling herself back into the present, Elsa focused her attention back on Kristoff.

"You know, for a man that proclaims to be a loner and no good at human interaction, you know exactly what to say" She smiled lightly "Thank-you Kristoff."

Kai smiled as he witnessed the interaction between them. The young queen, who he had watched all these years, from childhood, through to her tough adolescence and now her reign as a great ruler and queen, she had been through much, but she was stronger for it. She was a strong queen and he admired her, but just sometimes, usually when she was fearing for her sister and now her people, the small frightened girl would appear. The girl that just needed someone to comfort her and tell her it would all be alright. He was happy in the fact that she now had someone else that would be there for her.

The moment between the two ended instantly though, as an energetic red headed princess rounded the corner victoriously.

"Ah ha! There you… What the…?" her victory quickly squashed by confusion.

"Anna!" Elsa and Kristoff exclaimed, quickly separating, after realising how the situation might have looked.

"What the… How… What the heck is going on?" the young princess queried confusedly.

Elsa and Kristoff looked to each other neither sure where to begin. Both equally relieved when Kai interrupted and explained for them.

"Princess Anna, it's not what you think. Kristoff here was only comforting her majesty after some distressing news." Kai defended.

Anna tilted her head to the side, even more baffled than before. "Huh? I'm lost. Comforting? Elsa? News? What are you talking about?"

All three, Elsa, Kristoff and Kai's brows furrowed, each more lost than the other.

Kristoff stepped forward, catching Anna's smaller hands between his much larger ones.

"What you just saw, between me and Elsa, It… I was just reassuring her" He stuttered nervously. He wasn't sure why he was nervous though, it was the truth. He just couldn't stand the thoughts that must have been going through Anna's head.

Anna laughed, snorting unladylike between breathing. If the three were confused before, they were even more so now.

"Anna?" Elsa queried concerned.

"You thought that… That's hilarious" She said whilst wiping a tear from her eye. "You and Kristoff. Ha!"

Kristoff looked to his fiancé bewildered with her reaction. "So what was the 'what the heck is going on?' about?"

Anna calmed herself still giggling lightly. "Oh that. Sven was limbering up like some kind of Ballerina behind you."

Everyone turned to see Sven quietly eating his hay, lifting his head at the mention of his name.

"Right" Kristoff said dubiously, elongating the word.

Anna frowned. "Well he isn't doing it now" She muttered. "Anyway back to comforting Elsa and the news." She quickly changed the subject growing concerned.

Elsa sighed. She knew Anna needed to know, but repeating the news just made it more real somehow.

Taking a breath to calm her nerves, the queen relayed the information and the subsequent discussion the three had been having the past half an hour.

Thankfully, as they always were in her sisters' presence, her powers were under control. Although it didn't calm the situation or extremity of the whole ordeal.

After Elsa had retold the rumours and their discussion, all was quiet.

Anna stood looking into space thoughtfully, as Kristoff and Elsa watched the redhead, waiting for a reaction.

It seemed like an eternity before Anna spoke up, Kristoff had almost began panicking that his fiancé had passed out from the information, as never had he seen her so quiet.

"Kristoff should go." The red head princess finally spoke, delicately but adamant.

Kristoff smiled softly, knowing that his love would agree with his suggestion.

"Anna..." Elsa started, but was quickly cut off by her younger sister.

"I trust him Elsa, Kristoff can do this." Anna affirmed.

"See Elsa, I told you Anna would agree." Kristoff reassured the young queen.

"Maybe, but it's still dangerous." Elsa looked to the floor. "I trust you can do it, but if anything were to happen it would devastate us."

Anna ran to her sister in that moment, pulling her into a vice grip hug. "Elsa, it's scary I know. I'm not happy that Kristoff will have to go, but I trust him more than I do any scout, that as much we hate to admit it, can be bought off."

"She's right Elsa" Kristoff agreed.

"Kai?" Elsa asked, hoping that her trusted advisor had an opinion in the matter.

Kai sighed, but stood tall before answering. "I concur with Princess Anna's and Kristoff's assessment Your Majesty"

"So it's decided then, Kristoff will go to Weselton." Anna exclaimed, although more solemn than her usually joyful tone.

"I guess so" Elsa confirmed hesitantly.

Kristoff nodded once "I best start getting ready then. I will leave this evening"

The four looked to each other one last time, as if to silently agree on the plan, before they started going off their separate ways.

Kai disappeared toward the castle, back to his duties. Whilst Elsa decided to take a walk to clear her head. She also thought it best to leave her sister and future brother in law to have some time to themselves before he had to leave. A far riskier destination than his earlier planned excursion to the North Mountain.

Once Kristoff and his redheaded fiancé were alone, he pulled her close.

"Thank you for understanding Anna" He whispered, her hair muffling his words, as he buried his face into the top of her head.

"No, thank you for being the amazing person you are." Anna replied "But you make sure you come back or I'll show you what dangerous is!" she mumbled into his chest, holding tighter to Kristoff.

Kristoff chuckled softly before kissing her on the forehead.

"I will come back Anna, no matter what." Sighing deeply, Kristoff pulled Anna away so she was at arm's length distance, looking her in the eye with a sincere look, the look of a promise, he said.

"Arendelle will be safe!"

Thanks for reading! I hope you all like the chapter.

It might be a bit slow at the moment but be patient there is so much more to come. Have faith ;)

Next chapter is pretty much done and I have a lot of other chapters done as well. I have a weird habit of not writing in order, mostly by going by what inspires me that day. Anyways hope to have a couple of chapters up over the next few weeks!

Rate and review please. :) They all make me happy!

Good Morning/ Day/ Night... Shadow runner.