a.n. Here it is, Chapter 8. I actually had fun writing the first part of this chapter. It's amusing trying to get into Sven's mind. On that note, this chapter does contain the thoughts/words of Sven, which are indicated by the following: [words]. It should be clear enough whether it's Sven or Kristoff doing the talking so I hope it's not too confusing. Just a few more chapters to go before it's all over. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I can't wait to see your reviews!

Disclaimer: I realized that I never actually put a disclaimer anywhere in here for this story, so I'll do it now: I don't own Frozen or any of the characters associated with it. Disney and all affiliated people do. I only sort of kind of own Erik and Anya, at least my version of them. That is all.

Chapter 8: Conversations

Kristoff made his way towards Sven's stall located at the far end of the royal stables. One of the perks of being Arendelle's Royal Ice Master and Deliverer meant the royal reindeer, as Sven had taken to calling himself quite proudly, was given an extra large stall that had free access to a private paddock. The reindeer himself enjoyed this particular perk quite often; he could usually be found prancing around in the snow drifts of winter or lazily napping in the sun on a spring afternoon. Kristoff often had trouble pulling him away from the succulent grass when they actually had to work, and the reindeer always made his displeasure known every time.

As it was nearing dinner and the night was approaching, the mountain man figured his best friend would be hunkered in his private stall, likely napping. Or eating. The munching he heard as he rounded the corner confirmed that it was the latter. His footsteps were drowned out by the reindeer's noisy lips and he was able to see the contented look on his buddy's face as he approached the door. Sven opened one eye as he sensed Kristoff's presence and the ice harvester entered the stall, settling himself on the large pile of high in the back corner. Sometimes, he would seek refuge out here when the stresses of castle life got to him, hoping to find a quiet corner where he could just relax and avoid whatever responsibility had caused him to leave in the first place. As much as he liked having a roof over his head, a warm place to sleep, and food on his plate, and as much as he was looking forward to spending his life with Anna, he was still getting used to it all and he needed to escape every now and then. He knew Anna understood: the first time he did it, he had been worried that she would feel as if he was avoiding her and it had stressed him out even more. But Anna had only smiled that warm smile of hers and had kissed him on the cheek before sending him on his way. She knew that he could be overwhelmed with all of the new responsibilities being thrust on him and that he was new to this way of life. If a little escape now and then would help him retain his sanity, she couldn't deny him that.

Kristoff smiled as he thought of his fiancée. It was becoming less and less common for him to escape as he got more used to what would be expected of him as the husband of the princess. It was rare nowadays that he would even feel the need to hide out, something that delighted Anna to no end. But, as he relaxed next to Sven, he felt like it was one of those times where he had to stay as far from the castle for as long as he could. The stress and surprises of the day had really worn him down and he was perfectly content to remain where he was until he was sought out. He closed his eyes and it wasn't long before he heard the hay shift and a hairy head press itself against his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he saw Sven's brown orbs staring back at him. Knowing the reindeer as well as he did, he knew what he wanted.

"Hey bud. I just need some time to myself for a little bit. Do you mind?" Anyone else would not have noticed the reindeer's nod or the questioning look on the creature's face.

[What's wrong, Kristoff?]

The mountain man sighed. "Where do I start? Anna greeted us after we entered the castle and she talked to our guests while I went to go talk to Elsa. That was the easy part." The reindeer cocked his head. "After we met up with Anna again, she was making the introductions to Elsa when she blurted it out." He paused. "You see buddy, those travelers that we picked up are really Elsa and Anna's parents, the former king and queen of Arendelle." If a reindeer could express shock, Kristoff was sure this one would show it. "I know. I felt the exact same way. Elsa ran out and Anna ran after her; I think they're still talking. I stayed and got their story from them. I believe them and I know that they want to make amends, but I haven't gotten the rest of the story from Elsa so I don't know if I can fully trust them yet. I just don't know what to do now." He dropped his head into his hands with a heavy sigh. A gentle bellow let him know that Sven was trying to get his attention. Raising his head, he saw the reindeer had retreated a few steps away and had taken a seat nearby.

[What's really wrong?] It was uncanny; that reindeer seemed to read his mind.

"I guess it's just that…now that I know who they are, I'm afraid of what that means for everyone. For Elsa. For Anna. For me. I mean, these are Anna's parents. They're gonna be my in-laws! When I first started courting her, I only had to deal with Elsa and she was scary, but I knew she liked me. When I asked for Anna's hand, while I was nervous, I didn't think Elsa would say no. She's the only family Anna had and after she gave me permission and I proposed, everything else was supposed to be easy. But now, with her parents back…I never thought I would ever have to be in this situation. What if they don't want me, a commoner, marrying Anna? They just got back. Maybe they want to spend time with her before they let me into their lives. Could they forbid me to marry her? What about Anna? Will she listen to them if they tell her no? They are her parents after all. I don't think she would; I know she loves me. And she's very strong-willed. She would never let someone pressure her into…"

[You're rambling again.]

"Sorry bud. I guess Anna's rubbing off on me." The reindeer snorted.

[I'd say so.] He grinned as much of a grin as a reindeer could before getting serious again. [Do you really think they'd forbid Anna from marrying you? I'm sure they saw how much she loves you and I know you love her. Did you give them any reason to think otherwise?]

Kristoff shook his head, his shaggy blonde hair falling into his eyes. "I don't think so. Once I found out, I really tried to impress them so they wouldn't have any reason to say no, though I suppose I could have overdone it a bit." Sven gave him his What did you do now? look and Kristoff smiled sheepishly. "Well, after Anna ran off, I got a bit protective of her and Elsa. I told Fred…errr, Erik, that I would not let anyone hurt either of them and that I didn't care about who they were; I only cared about their safety and that they better not hurt either of them."

[Don't you think that was a little much?] The mountain man shrugged.

"Probably. But I was still in too much of a shock over everything that happened to really think it through; I just went with the first thing that I thought of. I know that I was a bit harsh and overbearing, but, if Elsa's words turned out to be true, I think I just wanted them to like me and I wanted to show them that I would be there to protect Anna with all that I am and with all that I have." His words sounded a little sappy to the reindeer's ears, but Sven smiled nonetheless. The red headed princess really was good for his human and while the man was still working on becoming accustomed to life in the castle, he was adapting quite nicely, though he still struggled with some of the more formal customs. The two of them had overcome many obstacles in their long years together; this would just be another challenge he would help the ice harvester face.

[So what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be in there, letting them get to know you?] He tilted his head towards the castle, his antlers clinking lightly. [Show them your true self, the person you really are. They don't need to see the stuffy, stuck-up prince that you think they want you to be. That's not the person Anna knows and loves and they need to see that. Anna loves you for you and if all they really want is Anna's happiness, they will accept that and you. You don't need to be anyone but yourself; that's all that Anna wants and that's all that matters.] Sven let out one last grunt before laying himself down on the soft hay and closing his eyes.

Kristoff stared at the reindeer in open-mouthed shock. "Wha…? When did you get so wise, bud?" His only response was another grunt. He waited until he saw the even breathing that indicated Sven was asleep before allowing himself to make a decision. He got up and brushed the hay off of his slacks. He pulled a few pieces out of his hair and made his way out of the stall and back to the castle. He should have enough time to wash up and change before heading to dinner; he certainly wanted to make a good impression this time around on his soon-to-be in-laws. Sparing one last glance at the snoozing reindeer, he smiled.

He would make sure to bring an extra bunch of carrots with him tomorrow when he came.

The hour passed by quickly for the older couple. They were too nervous to rest and they knew that neither of the girls would want to see them just yet. There wasn't much they could do but talk about what had happened in that sitting room and hope that their daughters, especially Elsa, would find it in their hearts to forgive them. It seemed only moments later before Anya and Erik were fetched from their room and led to the dining room. They were quiet as they followed the servant down familiar hallways and passed by rooms that sent a wave of nostalgia through them. It had only been a few years since they had last set foot anywhere in that place, but a lot certainly seemed to have changed. The silence gave them some time to reflect on all that they had seen and experienced in just the short time they had been back.

The room they were staying in was located in a wing that was reserved for guests and visiting dignitaries, a wing that was located on the other end of the palace, away from the royal suites. While they longed to be closer to their daughters, closer to the family that they had missed, they knew that it was probably best for them to keep some distance from the two girls. Elsa's outburst had certainly surprised them, though it was warranted; the guilt they felt even now about their past actions weighed heavily on them. She would need a lot of time to come to terms with their unexpected return. They could only hope that when she did manage to reappear, she would be able to forgive them for all that they had done and they could all be a happy family once more.

Anna, although she had been open and welcoming when they had first arrived, had likely heard the whole story from her sister by now and they feared that her initial impression of them had changed, and probably not for the better. Though she was the younger sibling, she seemed to have grown to be quite protective of her older sister. They could only assume that it had to have been a result of the events that had transpired the previous year. Just as Kristoff had warned them not to hurt either of the girls, they knew that Anna would similarly do her best to make sure that Elsa was not hurt again by their actions. They couldn't blame her either.

That brought them to Kristoff. The mountain man. The ice harvester. They had grown to like him in the few short hours they had known him. He had been kind enough to bring them back home without truly knowing who they were and he was obviously much more connected to the royal siblings than they could ever have imagined. He seemed to care deeply about both sisters, though his affection towards Anna hinted at much more than that. As Anna's beau, which all of the evidence they had seen so far seemed to hint at, he was rightfully justified in his statements, and they were glad that there was someone around who cared that much about either one of their girls, much less both of them. Now that the truth about them was fully revealed, they could only hope that whatever tension there may be between the five of them was resolved soon. They wanted their family back together and they vowed that they would do what they had to in order to see that happen.

The doors to the dining room opened before them and they tried to quash the memories and feelings that assaulted them as they walked through the doors. It all looked the same. It all felt the same. Even the smells they noticed coming from the kitchen were the same. It was if they were sent back through time, as if they hadn't been away at all the last few years. Looking around, they realized that not one of the servants attending them they recognized. It seems that Elsa, or maybe even Anna or Kristoff, had certainly taken great pains to keep their presence a secret. They were actually glad that they would able to keep hiding a little longer; they didn't want to upset the peaceful balance that Elsa had attained. They knew that by being here they could damage things unwittingly and they wanted nothing to do with that. If they wanted to gain Elsa's trust back, they had to make things easy for her, not harder, and they would do what they could to ease the young queen's troubled heart and mind.

Stepping further into the room, they could see that while most of the room had remained untouched from their days as monarchs of Arendelle, there were certainly some very noticeable changes that had taken place with the décor, more than likely brought about by the young royals. The banners and drapes that hung in the room had been refurbished and where they had once been proudly displayed in the green and purple colors of Arendelle, a bit more blue and white had been added. They even detected a snowflake or two mixed in with the crocus crests that were prominently displayed in various corners of the room. As they looked around, they realized how much more apropos it was now. The room seemed to have lost its stiff, regal atmosphere and had been transformed into a beautifully warm reflection of the current monarchy. They felt more welcome here, more a part of a family than they had since they first stepped into the palace.

They took their places at the table and were concerned when no one else entered for several minutes. They had at least hoped that one of the girls, or even the mountain man, would appear. Had their return upset everyone and everything that much that everyone felt it would be best if they were left alone? As much as it pained them to think that, it made sense and they resigned themselves to a lonely dinner.

Nearly ten minutes had passed before the doors opened once again and they looked eagerly towards the sound and were almost disappointed when they realized it was Kristoff. It wasn't the same as having either of the girls here, but at least he was making an effort to be there with them. They watched as the mountain man stood near the door awkwardly and look towards them. They could tell that he didn't really want to be left alone with them any more than he had to, but he was certainly doing his best to hide that from them. And was that…anxiety they sensed from him?

Kristoff made his way to the table and sat down across from Erik, who had seated himself next to his wife. The trio sat in silence as they all waited for someone to say something. It was Anya who spoke up first.

"So, Master Kristoff, will you be the only one joining us this evening?" Kristoff gulped visibly, which confused the couple.

"Honestly, I don't know. I don't think Elsa will join us and Anna's hard to figure out. It could go either way with her." More silence, though this time it was cut short by the arrival of the first course. All three began eating as the tension had returned. Swallowing a bite, Erik took his turn to talk.

"I know Elsa and Anna are both probably upset with us, showing up so unexpectedly. How long do you think it will be before they want to see us again?"

Kristoff shrugged. "It will probably be a while with Elsa. I don't know what scared her away, but when she's scared, it takes her some time before she opens up again. But Anna…well, her curiosity gets the best of her sometimes so I don't think it will be all that long before she comes to you. Trust me, when she wants something, she'll get it as soon as he can. And she always gets her way." Despite the tension in the room, Kristoff's lips curled up in a slight smile. "She's feisty like that." Anya smiled back.

"I can see that you care for her a great deal, young man. She told us how you met and how you came back to save her, but she failed to mention the nature of your relationship now, though we can certainly see that there is clearly more than just mere affection between you two." The nervous shuffle of the ice harvester told the couple all they really needed to know but Kristoff wouldn't let a case of nerves get the best of him.

"I really care about her; I really do. After Hans, I know she was afraid to open up and love someone again. She thought she had found true love and when he broke her heart, she was devastated." Kristoff practically seethed as he relayed the statement to the couple. "I didn't want to hurt her, I still don't, but I knew that if she let me love her, it would be a long process. I was willing to wait for her. She had to get over her own insecurities about love and she slowly let me in. Once she did, I never let her go. It wasn't long before I realized I wanted to spend my life with her," Kristoff paused for a moment before continuing, "I proposed a few weeks ago and she said yes." Kristoff's smile was brighter now and though the couple was shocked, it wasn't entirely surprising.

"Then I guess congratulations are in order," Anya spoke up, genuinely happy for the turn of events in her daughter's life. "When is the wedding?"

"It's still a few months away. Anna wanted plenty of time to plan everything down to the last detail. She wants it to be perfect. I would be happy eloping as soon as possible, but Anna just laughs at me whenever I bring that up." He caught the hard glare of Erik, the former king and his fiancée's father. "That wouldn't look good for a princess's reputation, and Elsa has certainly had more than a few words to say on the matter, but I love her and would do anything that makes her happy." The smile never left his face and he noticed that Anna's mother sported a familiarly bright smile as well. Erik's hard glare had softened a little, though it never completely disappeared. The tension that had been palpable when he had stepped into the room had diminished slightly and they resumed eating in a more comfortable atmosphere. Midway through the second course, the doors burst open and the room's occupants turned startled looks to the youngest princess as she rushed across the floor. Kristoff jumped out of his seat at the sight of his bride-to-be and made his way towards her.

"Anna, what's wrong?" She grabbed onto her mountain man as the other two occupants of the room, her parents, joined them. Looking at Kristoff, she held up a piece of paper in the hand that wasn't currently grasping Kristoff.

"Elsa…she's gone!"