Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, sigh, tap.
The instructor's eye twitched accompanied by his wiry beard. "Princess Anna!-" He began capturing the royal's attention with the sharp bark before he corrected himself with a lower tone. "Please, at least attempt to complete the map." he beguiled watching as his highness picked up the pencil she dropped on the desk from his abrupt interruption to her daydreams. She sighed once more gazing out the window. "Perhaps I would learn my kingdom best by actually being in it and not held up in this castle with papers shoved in my face every two seconds.
"My highness you know that your lack of going outside is due to the high tensions that are scattering about the kingdom." Anna groaned standing to abandon her work. "You would think being the next queen it would be my business to know why." She crossed her arms making it very errant she wasn't going to relent on the subject. Huffing he caved wording himself carefully. "Well there are trouble makers about who are stirring thoughts and uprisings." The princess's brows creased in thought. "Perhaps if these "Trouble makers" are brought to me then we can muster up some kind of solution of what they want and why they're doing this."
"They don't want anything Princess Anna." She regarded him with coy eyes pushing the door open with her rear walking backward. "Everyone wants something." with that she left in search of her leading future adviser. She found him talking with a group of soldiers in a hushed tone. They dispersed with low bows in response to her presence. She rose a brow in suspicion. Kai bowed smiling gently to her, a smile that was always a comfort. "Kai I have concerns of mischief makers going from town to town stirring uprisings. I- thi-" she stopped herself remembering what her father had told her never start by saying I think or believe, which she thought and believed were law and facts and should be stated as such. "These should be addressed and handled before they grow right underneath our noses."
Kai's expression changed to that of disturbance. "Princess Anna I understand your discretion whole hardheartedly but-"
"Kai don't ever rebuttal a command that I just gave out even if we are in private." Anna snapped cutting his rebuke short. "My princess I was charged with your education and Gerda of your upbringing. The coronation is not till this spring solstice. The chaos at state is being handled by the council, your only responsibility currently is to continue your studies and lessons so you are prepared to handle matters as this." Anna opened and closed her mouth as her mind tried to scrape the very depths of itself to form a argument but came back to the surface empty handed. Damn it! She brought her eyes back up to meet Kai's which held nothing but understanding and the same gentle sternness she grew up with.
"I'm going to retire." she simply replied sounding defeated. He rubbed her upper back well mannerly pushing her gently off to the direction of her bedroom. She ignored the servants and staff who bowed at her presence hushing their gossip. Entering her room Anna stood in front of the vanity mirror taking inventory of how she looked. The childish looking twin braids, her freckles, round face and simple green dress. This wasn't the physicality of a queen, the sister of a queen perhaps but certainly not the monarch herself. If only she had an older brother or cousin to rule in her stead. Sitting on the edge of her bed she wondered looking round her small room which fitted her, how was she to fit in her parents large chambers which would become hers when she was crowned queen? How could she show her subjects she cared for her troubles when she never saw them.
Her mind wandered to Kristoff bringing a smile to her lips. If they were anything like him then she loved them already? Wait love!? The echo alerted the young future queen that she had actually yelped the words out loud. She couldn't enter her reign completely ignorant of what was going on with the nation and make a fool of herself thus loosing the faith of those she would rule over. No if others surrounding her wouldn't tell her what was going on in her country then she would find out herself! And she knew just who could help her.
Standing Anna practically ran to the old abandoned escape door so many had forgotten her father built in case of siege that lay behind her large dresser. Arendelle being a peaceful nation made his subjects think it silly to themselves not daring to question the king outwardly but she thanked her father for her the escape albeit it wasn't for what was originally intended.
Grunting with the effort it took to move the dressers she opened the door with some difficulty checking the door then returning and entering the cold cob web infested stone stairway. The pitch darkness didn't deter her she knew she would reach light soon and touched the damp wall using it for some support to guide her way, who knew what a comfort it would provide the princess along this crazy choice she had made.
The orange glow of a torch was spotted and she practically ran to it careful to stop when she reached the edge of the storage room that was full of dusty barrels. Poking her red head out of the room surveying if the area was being patrolled. It wasn't perfect! Exiting knowing that there was a door that led to the sewers which would lead her smack dab into town then eventually beyond into the forest where she met Kristoff at Oaken's Wandering Trading Post. Shit. the thought struck her, what if he wasn't even there? Then she guessed she would have to find out what was going on herself as daunting as it was.
"Ah Damn it." the curse captured Anna's attention and drew her to one of the cells.
"Christopher." She gasped gripping the bars. "It's Kristoff!" the man barked head jolting up face contorted in a scowl that disappeared into surprise. "Oh, your Highness...it's Kristoff." he ended with a deadpan standing to approach her. "What are you doing in here?" Kristoff shrugged at the question. "I don't know, first thing I know is I'm heading to the north mountain an next I'm being questioned and then eventually dumped in here with no charges present except for not answering the way they wanted."
Anna frowned, just how much was going on in her own castle that she didn't know about? How ignorant was she? "So I'm guessing you're sneaking out again?" Kristoff once again snagged her attention from her whirling mind. "Sorta." she replied impishly. "There's something brewing deep in my country and I need to know what it is but no one will tell as if they want to keep me in the dark, so I came out to well find you actually."
"Me?!" Kristoffy whispered in shock. Anna nodded. "You know the kingdom better than I do and it seems I can trust you more than those who raised me sadly. I need help navigating around and talking to the people."
"No way no how." Kristoff shook his head determinedly. "Wait what? why?" she was certainly surprised by his answer, she thought he was at least a tiny bit fond of her.
"Sorry Feisty pants but I'm on a mission of my own for a very good friend who needs me urgently." Anna sighed dejectedly shoulders slumping. "What if I get you outta here?" she asked quickly the moment it struck her. "And what's to stop me from not helping you when out?" Well at least he was honest about being dishonest. Anna smirked placing her hands on her hip regarding him making the man narrow his eyes. "Payment." He hummed stroking his bare chin in thought. "Deal but we snag my friend first then handle your kingdom conspiracy theories." Anna squeaked which almost made him awe but he held it in as she rushed off to god knows where to return with a pick, picking the lock carefully cursing at failed attempts. "I gotta admit I'm impressed a princess like you knowing such a foxy skill art." Anna smirked. "Well in a castle like mine one must know how to pick locks to find out what is being kept from them." Her tone started at first light then grew annoyed as it nagged at her like a small yipping dog biting her ankles.
Kristoff shook it off and led her out of the prisons and sewers. They stuck to the corners and shadows luckily they didn't make it out of the undergrounds until it was way past the time that the lanterns were put out. The princess once again surprised the mountain man with being able to keep now if only could she keep quiet then she'd be the perfect traveling companion.
"So tell me about this friend you keep mentioning." Anna beguiled.
"Nothing to mention we grew up together and she was sold out by family to a...slave..peddler and I'm going to rescue her, your payment will help her and I start a new life somewhere for away from all this bullshit." Out of all he said Anna felt a pang in her heart at hearing "She". Her manner was noticed by the man so she quickly tried her best to fix her behavioral falter. "So she's a lover?" she asked trying to make it sound more curious then seriously inquiring. "No, a friend not my type."
"Why?" Anna continued earning a sideways glance. "Because she's sad, and I'm sad too and sad and sad don't mix, to be honest and don't tell her this when we find her she depresses me alot." Anna pursed her lips. "Why are you sad?" Kristoff halted looking as if he didn't believe she was serious but the expression on her face said it all...she was serious. "Damn you really don't know anything about life outside the palace."
Anna crossed her arms indignantly. "Well I'm sorry but the gates were shut tighter than Pandora's box since I was very young." He raised hands at her hiss chuckling. "Hey calm down Feisty pants were a prisoner to your situation as much as Elsa and I. Hey Sven good boy you waited." Kristoff cheered embracing his reindeer. "I missed you Kris." He said in a grumble voice.
Anna stopped mid step. "Elsa?...That's a pretty name." She smiled following after the man and his companion.