a.n. I did something a bit different with this chapter and I hope it works out. I was having a problem figuring out what to do with each of the three separate pieces so I decided to combine them into one chapter rather than separating them into two or three individuals chapters (and I don't think it would have worked as well that way). Check out my profile for more info and remember to read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter 3: Past, Present, and Future

The midday sun was high in the sky as the trio traveled to Arendelle. The trip was silent as the sleigh made its way over the bright white snow. It had been a few hours since they left the ice palace and not much had been said since, though Kristoff's actions and behavior at the icy fortress had left the couple with plenty of questions.

After informing the reindeer of his intentions, Kristoff had headed up towards the palace. It was a moment before the couple realized that whatever business it was that had brought him up this way, it had something to do with their icy refuge. They had followed behind the mountain man as he climbed the frozen stairway, no trace of fear in his steps. They had seen his reverence and awe, the same feelings they had had, when he stepped through the door, though, they noticed, his was out of renewed wonder, not surprise. It was obvious to the couple that he had been here before. What purpose could have brought him here now?

Kristoff had had no qualms about walking into the icy abode and had purposely made his way towards the climbing staircase, his eyes taking in the scene around him. The couple trailing behind him hesitated, debating about following him any further. The memories of what they had seen the night before were fresh in their minds and they were reluctant to revisit the scene. The clunky footsteps of the mountain man trudging up the stairs made up their minds and they hurried as carefully as they could to catch up to him. It wasn't until the three of them were standing outside the double doors at the top of the stairs that they saw any sort of hesitation on Kristoff's part. He seemed to be thinking about walking into the room that lay across the threshold and they noticed that he had a serious look on his face, a look much more solemn than any they had seen from him. Taking a deep breath, the blonde-haired man stepped through the doors, the couple close on his heels and watching his every move.

He had faltered slightly as he stepped into the middle of the room but it wasn't due to the signs of destruction or the remnants of icy enchantment scattered about; the memories of the first, and last, time he had visited were brought instantly to his mind. Those terrifying images of Anna, heart struck by ice, body weakened from the frozen magic, replayed right before his eyes. He had been moments too late to push her out of the way of the icy blast; he still had nightmares about it and how close he came to losing her forever. It was a bittersweet moment as he stood there, taking in the beauty and wonder of the room: it was because of this place (well, more precisely, it's architect) that he had even met the girl, but it was also this place that set in motion the events that had very nearly caused her demise. As much as he would always be in awe of this icy retreat, there would always be a part of him that looked past the beauty to see the harshness and the danger that such an unyielding force could wield.

As much as the memories hurt him, as painful as it was for him to be standing here, he did have a task to accomplish and he was determined to follow through. He walked around the room, carefully surveying the destruction. Though terrible, it wasn't as bad as he had feared. Elsa's stories of what had transpired in this room had shocked him, and Anna even more so, and he was worried that such a wonderful place would be beyond repair. It could have been so much worse; it could have ended so much worse, for everyone. It would take a bit of work but this place would be beautiful once again. It would be a place for warm, pleasant times and new, happier memories would be made. Its fearful past would never be forgotten, especially by him, but something good, something even more wonderful, would come out of it. He would make sure of it.

Muttering to himself as he walked, he was unaware of the stares the couple was sending his way. They had noticed his hesitation and then his sure steps once they came through the door. Their initial fears over what had happened here were slightly suppressed as they watched the mountain man. The way he walked and looked over every inch of the room, unafraid, gave them hope. His initial demeanor outside had made it obvious that this was not his first visit to palace; perhaps his actions now indicated that all was not as bad as it seemed. They certainly hoped that that was what his careful observations meant.

It didn't take Kristoff more than a few minutes to peruse the area, though he seemed to take a few extra seconds every time he passed by a certain spot in the center of the grand room. The balcony at the far end was his final stop and he had had to squint his eyes at the rising sun coming over the mountains. As he turned around, he gently, carefully, closed the doors behind him and made his way to the exit. Erik and Anya moved out of the way, not wanting to intrude in any way. He gave the same gentle care to these doors as he had to those on the balcony before swiftly making his way back down the stairs. The couple followed him, stilly curious about his actions, but not quite sure how to approach him about it. He didn't give the entrance hall a second glance as he made his way out, the couple hurrying behind him. These doors he too pulled closed gently, though he ran one of his large hands reverently along the smooth face for a few moments before letting a soft sigh escape his lips. He seemed to glide down the stairs as he made his way to the sleigh, shuffling a few things around to make room for his newfound passengers. No one spoke a word as Anya and Erik were loaded into the sleigh, the slender woman taking a seat in the back amongst a heap of blankets while her husband took the passenger seat up front next to their guide. With a gentle shake of the reins, Sven took off back down the mountain, towards Arendelle.

To home.

Arendelle

"Princess Anna?" Anna started as she was pulled from her happy daydreaming by the woman in front of her. She smiled sheepishly as she once again focused her attention on the woman and the displays in front of her.

"Sorry." The older woman gave her a gentle smile and repeated herself, making sure to remind the princess of the meaning behind each of the flowers in the displays and what each one of them represented. Anna kept the smile on her face and nodded along at the woman's words. She tried her hardest to pay attention but she couldn't keep her mind from wandering. This wasn't really her forte. She wasn't the one who focused on and remembered all of the details and minutiae of every little thing; that was Elsa. She was more about just getting things done and over with so she could enjoy the rest of the day. She wished she could just grab the first thing that caught her eye, that she could just pick the first display, the first dress, the first delicious pastry she had tasted (although, she had to admit to herself, that decision had taken a little longer, and she had tasted a few more delicacies, than was probably necessary).

But she had promised herself that this was an important event and she would do her best to make a well-informed decision. She didn't want any hasty planning or quick decisions to mar what would be the most wonderful day in her life. She had made that mistake once and she would never let herself face those terrible consequences again. She shuddered slightly at what she almost let happen, at what decisions made in the heat of the moment almost cost her. Never again would that happen. She would live happily ever after with the man of her dreams, someone who loved her for her and not just her status as a princess, someone who could live with all of her quirks and her craziness, someone who would never fail to give her a kiss of true love.

A goofy grin spread across her lips as thoughts of a tall, well-built blonde invaded her mind. Kristoff may not have been the man she always imagined she'd end up with, but he was certainly the man she knew she needed. His loving smile could brighten any day and though his often too serious personality sometimes clashed with her more carefree attitude, there was a sweet, romantic side to him that never failed to make her giddy. He could leave her breathless with just a tender look or a gentle endearment. She had always assumed that when she found true love, it would be passionate and fiery, like an all-consuming inferno that burned everything in its path; she didn't know that it could also be a small, insistent spark that warmed her heart and never left. It was the kind of love that would never leave her cold, that would never abandon her. She had no idea that that kind of love even existed and now that she had discovered it, she would do her hardest to not let it slip through her fingers. She would do things slowly and properly this time. She would take her time. She owed him her life (though Elsa played a big role in that aspect too) and he needed to know that she would go through all of the tedious planning and decision-making for him.

It took her a moment to realize that the florist had stopped talking. Anna shook her head to clear her mind of her wandering thoughts once again, though this time the woman wore an exasperated look.

"Heh, sorry again. Um…thank you for your help. I need some time to think about it. And I need to talk it over with Kristoff. I'll let you know our decision as soon as I can." With that, Anna scurried as discretely as possible out the door, though she did manage to nearly knock over one of the colorful vases that stood next to the entrance on her way out. Throwing the woman an apologetic look, she shut the door behind her.

She headed down the street to the next alleyway and leant up against the wall, letting out a deep breath. "Whew. That was bad. I probably should have been paying attention. I really do need to know this stuff. Too bad Elsa wasn't here. She's a lot better at this kind of thing than I am." Anna remained there in the alley for a few moments talking quietly to herself. She really wished Elsa or Kristoff had been able to come with her. She hated being alone. She had spent thirteen years alone in the castle with no one but her parents and the servants for company. It had been a lonely childhood and while she now understood her sister's self-imposed isolation, she would never forget all of the times she had had to spend alone. Though her parents had tried to fill the void that her sister's presence had once filled, they never could give her the same joy that Elsa once brought to her life. Their deaths only created another hole in her life and she never felt more alone than she had after their passing.

But now, her life had changed. Her life of loneliness and quiet games for one had ended. There was more joy and happiness and laughter now than she ever remembered hearing. With the gates open and visiting dignitaries and ambassadors dropping by the palace more often than not, the place was almost never quiet and she was never lonesome. This last year, she hardly spent any time by herself; she was almost always with her sister or Kristoff. Olaf and Sven would even accompany her on the rare days when one of her human companions was unavailable. She discovered she enjoyed having someone else to talk with, someone who would laugh with her, someone who didn't mind her quirkiness. But Elsa was extremely busy today (aside from the quick lunch she had promised her sister she would meet her for), Kristoff was off with Sven to who knows where, and she had no idea where Olaf was hanging around. Right now, it was just her and the perpetual feeling of loneliness that she had managed to mostly forget about over the last twelve months was back and it scared her.

"Anna!"

Anna whipped her head up at the cheerful call and looked out into the street. She brightened when she saw the distinctive white blob running towards her on his stubby legs. She got down on her knees and opened her arms as the figure rushed to her, his own stick arms opened up wide.

"Olaf!" The diminutive snowman ran into her arms and she wrapped him up in a tight hug. His little arms couldn't quite reach around her, but neither one minded. She hugged him with all of the warmth and love she could muster. Their happy giggles echoed in the alleyway around them and they held each other for a long while. When they finally broke apart, both of them wore bright smiles on their faces.

"Olaf! Where have you been all day? I was beginning to worry about you." Olaf looked at the princess shyly and shuffled his feet.

"Well, I was playing tag with some of the kids in the village square and it got really intense, you know. Somehow, during all of the running, I think I tripped and I managed to lose myself. This arm here," he raised up the left stick, "ended up in the fountain. And this leg," he held up his right foot, "ended up in a bucket near the bookstore. And I'm not even gonna tell you where my nose was." Anna stifled a giggle as she looked at the snowman, amusement in her eyes. "The kids helped find my pieces and I was only just now able to pull myself together again. I thought that was enough for me for today so I came looking for you." He looked around at their surroundings, just noticing where they were for the first time. "Why are we in an alley? Are you playing hide-and-seek? Who are you hiding from? Oh, can I play too?" Despite the stressful day the poor snow creature had surely undergone, his child-like wonder and upbeat attitude never got him down and Anna was cheered up instantly at his antics.

"Oh Olaf," she giggled happily, "I'm not playing any games. I'm running errands and I just needed a break." She saw his slightly disappointed look but it wasn't long before the little snowman brightened.

"Ooh, errands! Can I come with you?" She saw the pleading look on his face and couldn't say no.

"Of course! I would be glad to have you with me! I have just a few more stops to make before I need to meet Elsa for lunch." She watched the little creature wave his arms in excitement before he turned around and headed back out into the street.

"Yay! Oh, can we stop at the market? And the flower vendor? I bet he has some fresh wildflowers that smell absolutely delightful. Ooh and chocolate too! How can I forget about the chocolate? And then we can go to the…" Anna followed closely behind him as she emerged from the alley, his excited chatter making her feel better already.

They were still some distance from Arendelle and the silence was stifling. Kristoff was too busy concentrating on the route back to initiate any conversation. Though there was still plenty of time until it grew dark, he didn't want to take any chances. He took a more circuitous route back, one that gave a wide berth to the forest and any possible creatures lurking therein. His last experience with the wolves in the area was more than enough for him and he didn't want to repeat it. It was still early enough in the day that the canines were likely still asleep and couldn't be bothered with the trespassers in their territory. But Kristoff knew that the situation could change at any moment and he was determined to do his best to keep himself, his best buddy, and his passengers safe.

The man next to him stirred slightly and Kristoff turned his attention to him. Looking at him more closely, he could see that the man looked to be around the same age as the woman, though it was hard to tell from beneath his graying beard. His brown hair sported the same gray as his beard and the combination of the two gave him a dignified, almost noble look. His eyes were tired with dark circles beneath them and the creases beneath them highlighted worry and strife. From what Kristoff could tell, Frederick was a bit wiry and slight, more so than most of the men he knew, and, like Greta, he seemed a bit too thin. The man's thin face was tanned and his lips were cracked, all indicators of hard work and lots of time spent in the outdoors, though the regal way he carried himself even now hinted at only recent hardship, not a lifetime of struggle. It was a curious contradiction.

The man at his side shifted once again, this time turning to look at Kristoff.

"How much longer do you think until we reach Arendelle?"

"Probably an hour or so, two at the most." The older man nodded and turned back around, silence once again becoming the norm. The woman in the back, desperately wanting answers, took the initiative to end the silence.

"Mr. Kristoff," she began slowly as she sat up closer to the man, watching as he turned his attention partially towards her, "you told us that whatever it was that happened back there," she gestured back towards North Mountain and the glorious ice palace they had left behind, "was not entirely your story to tell. I know we will have to wait until we are in Arendelle to hear it, but right now, I'm very curious to know what your story is though. Perhaps you could tell us a bit more about yourself." Kristoff sighed and thought about his next move. He didn't want to violate Anna and Elsa's confidence by telling these two strangers more than they should know, especially about the events that took place last year. The sisters should be around if their part of that story was to be told and he would have to hold off on regaling them with his part until then as well. But he could see no harm in telling them at least a bit more about himself. Elsa had warned him that by marrying her sister, he would be subjected not only to scrutiny but plenty of curious looks and questions from people who would wonder who he was to be marrying a princess. She told him that many of them, especially those from outside of Arendelle, would ask about him, about where he came from and how he can to be in the favor of the queen and her sister. It was a story he would have to tell over and over again, she warned him sympathetically, until the novelty of their coupling wore off. He might as well practice his storytelling now so he would be more at ease with it when the time came. He wasn't very comfortable talking to most people, let alone two people he had never met, yet there was something about this couple that he felt he could trust. There were very few people in his life that he could say that about. Aside from his troll family and Sven, there had been no one until Anna, and by association Elsa, that he ever felt truly comfortable around (and even though he loved them to death, the trolls did tend to overwhelm him most of the time).

He shrugged. "Sure." He paused, not quite sure where to begin, but Greta was patient and didn't push him to continue and he could see that Frederick was interested in what he had to say as well. "I was pretty young when my parents died and it was not long after that when I met Sven here…"