Kristoff and Kirsten had been walking through the garden for some time admiring the scenery around them. Their arms were no longer linked, but they stayed close to each other. At some point during their walk toward a marble bench, Kirsten started up a conversation Kristoff.

"So, Kristoff, may I ask how things have been going with you and Anna?"

"I don't mind at all, Princess Kirsten."

"Kristoff, you can call me Kirsten."

Kristoff was unsure how to respond to Princess Kirsten's frankness. But as soon as he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder and looked at Kirsten's reassuring smile, he felt more confident about himself.

"Okay, Kirsten…Um, Anna and I are good. I mean, really good. We're pretty happy as a couple."

Kirsten slipped her hand off Kristoff's shoulder and into his arm.

"That's wonderful."

Kristoff subconsciously placed his hand over Kirsten's to secure it on his bent arm as he led her to the bench.

"Yeah, well, mine and Anna's relationship isn't perfect. I mean, neither of us are to blame, but sometimes I wish….I wish…."

"Wish what, Kristoff?"

"I sometimes wish I didn't feel like Anna was playing favorites with Elsa. I mean, I can understand that they have a lot to catch up on as sisters and I think it's great that they're doing all they can to make up for lost time, but I think there have been instances when Anna would leave me because she had promised Elsa she would meet her at a certain time or something like that. I realize that have certain duties to fulfill since they're royalty and I know I have a job to do, but I just sometimes feel like even she doesn't mean to Anna distributes her love for the people she cares about unevenly. I feel like when it comes to Anna's love, I'm second fiddle to Elsa."

All the while, Kirsten listened to Kristoff's predicament and patted his arm with her free hand and helped guide them to sit down on the marble bench.

"There, there, Kristoff. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. I'm sure it's normal for you to feel this way, but you also have to consider that Anna would love to spend equal time with you and Elsa, but she might feel obligated to be with her sister more since they've been apart for so long. And I don't think Elsa would try and hog Anna. If you and Elsa are as good of friends as you have said before then I'm sure Elsa wouldn't mind at all sharing her little sister with you. Maybe you might want to consider how long you've known each other, how well you know each other, how deeply in love you guys are and why you met in the first place."

"Well, we've only known each other for two months, but we love and trust each other enough, and we met because Anna needed my help to climb the North Mountain to meet up with Elsa."

Kirsten removed her hands from Kristoff's arm which immediately slacked from the lack of stiff contact. She rubbed his back.

"Do you see now, Kristoff? I don't think Anna loves you any less or more than her own sister, it's just a different love from that of a family member. Hopefully, one day you'll see what I mean."

"Maybe you're right, Kirsten. I guess I'm worrying over nothing. I mean, all Anna wanted to do was reunite with Elsa and I just happened to cross paths with her. I should count myself lucky to have met Anna at the trading post."

Kristoff paused. Then he took a calm breath and turned toward Kirsten smiling at her.

"Thank you, Kirsten. You really helped a lot."

Kirsten patted Kristoff's back before resting her hand at her side.

"I'm just glad you feel better now, Kristoff."

Kirsten's smile was as wide as Kristoff's. The two friends just looked at each other for a moment or two before returning their gaze back to the garden.

"It sure is a beautiful garden, isn't it?"

"Absolutely beautiful."

Kirsten leaned back slightly and breathed out a contented sigh.

"Today is such a beautiful day."

"Yeah…"

Kirsten looked over the lean yet muscular ice harvester. "Hey, Kristoff?"

"Yes, Kirsten?" Kristoff looked back at Kirsten.

"What would you and Anna typically do on a day like this?"

"We'd usually go out into town or play with Olaf and Sven and then retire for the afternoon here in the garden."

"Who are Sven and Olaf?"

"Sven is my loyal reindeer and Olaf is an enchanted snowman. He was first created by Anna and Elsa when they were little and then Elsa inadvertently recreated him on top of the North Mountain freely using her powers and because of her magic, Olaf came alive. By the way, he likes warm hugs and loves smelling flowers."

"Does he personify Anna's most inner feelings?"

"Actually I made that same mistake before. Anna wished that Olaf took more after her, but he actually is the manifestation of all of Elsa's positive feelings about the world. At first I was shocked to hear that from Anna, but when explained to me what Elsa told her after learning that my family, the trolls, have altered her memory that Elsa was one who gave Olaf a voice everything about Olaf started to make sense. But it's not a long shot from thinking that Olaf is more like Anna. I mean from the surface Anna and Elsa seem fairly different from each other with few things in common, but if you dig a little deeper with Elsa, you'll find out that she has more in common with Anna than you would think. When I realized this, I briefly had a crush on Elsa because how similar she actually was to Anna, but then I gave on my crush knowing I would want to stay faithful to Anna and that I knew why I loved Anna in first place: she was similar to her sister but in a unique way. She was herself and I could tell the two sisters apart and I wanted Anna."

"It seems you know quite a bit about the two sisters."

"Yeah. I guess you're right, Kirsten. I never thought about it that way. I mean, Elsa and I are good friends and all, but I thought we weren't that close."

"How come?"

"Well, Elsa and I are like how Elsa and Anna used to be: we're estranged siblings. I respect Elsa and see her as an older sister almost, but because we don't see each other that often as we would with Anna, it's kind of hard being so attached to each other. Anna has told me that Elsa and I should spend more time together so we can be JUST like a brother and sister instead of being kind of like them. I don't know what Anna thinks sometimes. Elsa and I are both pretty busy. We typically find time for Anna, but it's only once a great while that we see each other. That's why I was so happy to her in the castle."

"Maybe you should give yourself more credit on the type of relationship you share with Elsa. Maybe when you see Elsa again, you should ask her what she thinks where you guys are in your relationship as friends."

"Maybe I will. I never really considered what our friendship was like before."

"Well, now you know."

Kristoff and Kirsten smiled again to each other. However, just as Kristoff was about to say something to Kirsten, they both heard a cry. They whipped their heads in the direction of the sound and saw Anna dragging her feet against the cobblestone with her head drooping down. She was walking towards them without realizing it. Kristoff was the first to get up from the bench and walk over Anna. Kirsten got up as well and joined the couple. Kristoff placed tender hands on Anna's shoulders.

"Anna, are you okay?"

Anna didn't bother to process who was talking to her. She just buried her face into Kristoff's chest thinking it was a soft wall. She pressed her small hands against his chest and kept crying into his shirt. Kirsten walked over behind Anna and placed her right hand on her friend's back and rubbed her hand up and down. Kristoff was confused and sadden by his girlfriend's distraught state. He didn't know what was wrong with her or why she was crying. He wished he knew what to do. The only thing came to mind was to try and call her out.

"Anna…"

Anna hadn't responded to Kristoff, but her crying was cut down from a wallow to a series of sniffles. Kirsten pulled her hand away from Anna's back as Kristoff pulled the sniffling girl closer to him. He felt so helpless. Kirsten walked to one of Anna's sides and gently shook a shoulder.

"Anna, please, tell us what's wrong."

At last, Anna stopped crying. She shifted herself in Kristoff's arms. When she lifted her head up and looked into Kristoff's eyes, her distressed expression broke Kristoff's and Kirsten's hearts. They knew by the look on Anna's face that something deeply troubled her and she was hurting on the inside. They waited with their breaths stuck in their throats hoping Anna would speak up soon.

To Be Continued…