Kristoff found Hans relaxing in the library, reading an old tome with mild disinterest.
"Do you honestly think you can beat her?" the blonde finally asked. "You're no match for Elsa. Just give it up and go back to wherever you came from."
Hans briefly glanced up and rolled his eyes before continuing his reading. "Your hospitable nature is astounding, Kristian." He commented sarcastically. "Why don't you take a seat?"
Kristoff huffed and plopped down in the chair across from him. He said nothing, opting to glare daggers at the pompous prince instead.
Hans sighed and closed the book. "Do you know of the magical artifacts?"
The blonde shook his head.
Hans smirked and continued. "Each kingdom has one, you know. Corona had the Magical Golden Flower, Edinburgh had the Spindle of Eternal Slumber, and Erigisen had the Vambrace of Silver Lining, to name a few."
Kristoff tried not to let his surprise show on his face. Elsa had given him a magical artifact, but how did she get it? Erigisen disappeared from the map years ago…
"What's your point, Hans?" the blonde deadpanned.
The redhead raised a critical eyebrow cleared his throat pointedly.
Kristoff grit his teeth. "Sorry, Prince Hans."
The prince nodded once, appeased. "Based on my last encounter, I know now that my meager sword is no match for that ice witch's sorcery." He paused, smirking. "Which is why I intend to fight magic with magic."
He took off one of his white gloves, revealing a sinister looking obsidian colored ring. The black metal extended outwards like a talon, and a red gem glowed in the center like a molten piece of brimstone in the center of a volcano. Just looking at it made Kristoff sweat.
"Behold, the magical artifact of the Southern Isles," Hans exclaimed with barely contained wicked glee. "The Ring of the Inferno."
Inferno? Kristoff ruffled his hair to try and calm his nerves. This can't be good…
The blonde silently prayed that his unease didn't show.
"Three years I've been waiting to turn that wench to ash…" Hans flexed his fingers, an evil grin on his face. "You know what they say about ice after all, it's no match for fire."
Crap, I have to warn Elsa so she can escape! Kristoff immediately stood up, startling the prince. "I have something to do, if you'll excuse me."
He turned to leave, but was stopped by a firm grip on his arm. Prince Hans was no longer smiling. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to leave." He stated ominously, "Not after I've told you everything."
Kristoff yanked his arm away and glared at him. "What are you going to do? Lock me up?"
Hans quirked an eyebrow. "I was actually going to kill you where you stand," he shrugged as if it were no big deal, "But I've come to appreciate you, in an unfortunate way…Guards!"
Three big bulky men rushed into the room. "What is it, your highness?"
"This man has been conspiring to assassinate me!" Prince Hans shouted, "I ask that you confine him to the dungeons immediately!"
"YOU BASTARD!" Kristoff lunged at the prince, but was grappled and dragged away by the three palace guards. "YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!"
The door to the library closed, and Hans chuckled to himself. "Oh, silly Kristoff…I already have."
"What do you think would happen if you unfroze them?" Anna asked curiously. "The people, I mean."
They were walking back through the city, hand in hand this time.
Elsa guided them both around a large fallen ice pillar from one of the buildings. "I don't know." She replied quietly.
Anna observed the taller woman for several moments. "You're afraid that they'll hate you when they wake up." She finally stated. Anna remembered everything about the blonde, her habits, her mannerisms; she could always tell when Elsa was troubled or worried about something.
Elsa squeezed her hand slightly. "I've kept them trapped for fifteen years, Anna." She murmured quietly, "I can never give them back the time they've lost."
Anna gently pulled Elsa around to face her. "Look at me, love," she softly commanded, waiting for those deep blue orbs to lock with hers, "You have done absolutely nothing wrong. You saved all those people. You are so selfless, so brave…you are a hero, Elsa." She paused, giggling, "Or I guess the correct term would be heroine, wouldn't it?"
Elsa smiled. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"
Anna grinned. "My memory's a little hazy, perhaps you should remind me?"
Elsa quirked a playful brow, leaning in closer. "I'd rather show you instead."
Anna's eyelids lowered and she bit her lip. "What are you waiting for then?" she murmured breathily.
Elsa captured her lips in a passionate kiss that left both of them breathless. Anna wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck and pulled her closer. Elsa moaned and dragged her hands up Anna's back, feeling the gentle curve of her spine. The redhead shivered in delight.
Then they both pulled back slowly, panting and out of breath.
"I love you, Anna." Elsa breathed against her lips. "More than mere words can express."
"I love you too, Elsa," Anna murmured back. "Always."
Smiling, they both continued until they reached the edge of the city. Then Anna groaned, which earned an amused smile from the blonde.
"What is it?" Elsa asked.
The redhead pouted. "I just realized that we have to walk all the way back to your castle."
The taller girl kissed her hand affectionately. "I believe I have more than enough energy now, so we don't have to walk back if you do not wish to do so."
Anna beamed and clapped her hands together excitedly. "Ooh yay! What are you going to make? A horse? A reindeer? Oh! It could be Sven's best friend or something!"
Elsa watched her with affectionate amusement for a few moments. How can one person be so adorable?
"What do you think I should make, Anna?" she asked.
The redhead stopped and mulled over the question for several minutes. "How about…" her eyes lit up, "A unicorn!"
Elsa's eyes widened comically. "A unicorn?"
Anna nodded eagerly. "Please, Elsa?" she regarded the blonde with her best puppy dog eyes, "Pretty please with snowflakes on top?"
There's no way I could ever say no to that face, even if I wanted to. "Alright, a unicorn it is." She conceded with a goofy smile.
A soft blue light seeped from her fingertips, swirling around and building into a formless shape. Pale slender finger delicately moved as if they were weaving together invisible threads of magic; a figure began to take form.
"Oh! She's beautiful!" Anna exclaimed in excited awe.
A glimmering white mare made from powdery snow stood before them. Her icy mane glistened beneath the sun, along with her solid ice horn that rose from her forehead. Its glowing blue eyes regarded Anna for a moment before nuzzling into her hand.
"What are you going to call her?" Elsa asked, smiling at the two.
Anna looked up at Elsa with wide eyes. "I get to name her?"
Elsa nodded, running a gentle hand over the mare's ice mane. "I don't see why not. She seems to favor you, anyway."
Anna giggled when the unicorn nuzzled her cheek. "Okay, um, why don't we just call her Snow then? Because, you know, it's kind of what she's made of…"
Snow whinnied her approval. Elsa just chuckled. "Shall we take Snow and go home then?"
The blonde gracefully mounted the horse, offering her hand to help the redhead up. It was surprisingly comfortable like this, Anna thought, with Elsa's body pressed protectively against her back. The taller girl smiled as Anna leaned back against he ever so slightly.
This was bliss.
Kristoff was thrown into a dark, cold room. He was unable to stop his face from slamming into the opposite wall due to the fact that his wrists were bound by metal shackles.
The metal cell door slammed shut and Kristoff groaned, sitting up and wiping his face with his sleeves. "Well, that could've gone better…" he mumbled sardonically.
He carefully stood up and studied the room. The walls were made of solid stone, and the only light source came from a barred window near the ceiling. An uncomfortable looking stone bed sat in one corner, with a rusty metal bucket in the other corner. I really hope that isn't supposed to be the bathroom…
He blew a lock of messy hair out of his eyes and plopped down on the hard bed. A faint, yet annoying, dripping noise could be heard in the distance.
"Okay Kristoff," he told himself aloud, "You're in jail, and Hans is probably going to kill Elsa and burn down the kingdom, so yeah, no biggie…" he sighed, tapping his foot, "Now what?"
He sat there for several moments before he heard the deep rumbling of ship horns. He shot up from his bed and stared at the barred window with wide eyes. No way…I'm never that lucky…
He scrambled over to the wall, grabbing the bucket and turning it over so he could stand on it to see out the window.
He could see the flagships of Dun Broch, Corona, Edinburgh, China, and even a French vessel, making their way through the fjords. They're here!
"Thank ice, I'm saved!" Kristoff sighed happily, climbing down from the window and sitting on the bed of stone. After a moment, his smile faltered. How are they going to get past Hans?
Poor Kristoff...but help is on the way! Also, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter! I was really happy to read everyone's input. As far as the physical aspect of Anna and Elsa's relationship goes, I've decided to just go with the flow. If I feel an intimate scene is warranted, I will write one, if not, then I won't. I hope that's okay...
Oh! Fun fact, by the way: The Kingdom of Erigisen's name was taken from the Norwegian "Evigisen" which means "eternal ice".