Ava's POV

I woke up cold in my room. It was pitch black. There was only silence until Hans, my father, opened the door letting light from the hall in. "Ava, see me in the study, I need to tell you something," He requested. I nodded as he left closing the door behind him. I knew he didn't want to say anything, I already knew what he was going to do and I'm not doing it again. I quietly slip out of bed and slide my boots on.

I was going to try to escape, this will be the fourth time I've tried to run away. I hate it here. My brother makes it better but doesn't understand what I've been through, I beg him to come with me but every time he just forces me to stay.

I get a satchel to carry with me. I put on my hood and leave the room treading as lightly as I can. I scurry hastily down the stairs and into the kitchen grabbing handfuls of food and water filling my bag. I escape through the stables where there are fewer guards. I run out with no plan, I don't know where I'm going but any place will be better than home I suppose.

I make my way up to the mountains so that I can be more concealed.

After walking for what feels like hours I sit down by a rock to rest. I shiver as I slowly fall asleep.

Summer's POV

I put on everything I need, boots, hat, coat, belt. "Ready?" Papa asks me grabbing his tools and his bag. I tie my belt, "Yep." I go outside and get into the sled. Papa hooks our reindeer, Sven, up to the sled and gives him a good pat. Papa gets in and takes the reins and we're off, up toward the mountains to harvest ice.

As we ride, a question pops into my head, "Hey Papa..."

"Yeah?"

"I know that King Hans is a bad king but... what about the queen?"

"She's... I don't know, I'm just an ice harvester."

"I... I heard rumors about her."

"Like what?"

"I heard that she killed her sister, and I heard that she can do magic stuff or something."

"Do you believe that stuff?"

"No, but I wonder what she's like, they say she never comes out of the castle."

Papa stayed silent. I knew he was hiding something, but I wouldn't be able to get it out of him. We finally arrived. I got out of the sled and grabbed some tools, Papa did the same. Papa unhooks Sven from the sled and makes his way towards the ice where three other men are already working. I look over and next to a rock I see what looks like a pile of clothes or something. I walk over to it without saying anything.

I jump when I notice it's Ava. I can't tell if she's alive or sleeping, without even checking I call my father who runs over. "What is it!?" he asks urgently until he sees the girl. He kneels down to her and checks her pulse. "Summer, hook Sven up to the sled and pack up everything."

"Okay."

I get all the tools we brought and put them back in the sled and hook Sven up. I get in and soon Papa comes around carrying Ava. He gets in and lays her on mine and his lap. "She's still alive but she's freezing," Papa says as he tugs the reins signaling to leave. Kristoff has Sven go faster. I feel Ava start to stir but she says nothing and barely opens her eyes.

Soon we're home. Papa carries Ava inside the house and I unhook Sven giving him a carrot and go inside.

Ava is laid on a big soft quilt in the living room. Mom is up putting a warm blanket over her. She's already changed, into my clothes and her cold wet clothes are on the floor.

"She should be okay now," Mom says. "Where did you find her?"

"Summer found her, she was laying right next to a rock."

"Poor girl, when she wakes up I'll give her some nice warm soup."

"Well, I should get back to work, Summer, you stay here and help your mom take care of this girl okay?" Papa says.

"Okay."

He nods and leaves. "I'll go get some more wood for the fire, watch her Summer, I'll be right back," Mom says.

"Okay."

She leaves and soon Ava wakes up. Ava sees me and immediately looks surprised. "Summer? Where am I...?"

"My house, I found you behind a rock and my dad brought you here, what were you doing there anyway?"

"I ran away... but please don't tell them who I am, they'll send me back, please," Ava begged me.

"Fine, but where are you gonna go after you're better?"

"I- I'll think of that later-"

Mom walks in with a wood bundle in her arms. She smiles at Ava. "You're awake!" she says joyfully.

Ava gives a shy smile. Mom puts the wood bundle down. "So did my daughter, Summer, tell you everything?"

Ava nodded.

"Good, I'm Anna, so what's your name sweetie?"

"uh, Emily," she lied.

"Emily, how'd you end up asleep in the snow sweetheart?"

"I was hiking with my family to get some supplies but we got lost in the woods and wolves came out so I split up from them and ended up falling asleep in the middle of nowhere."

"I'm so sorry... We'll do everything we can to help you find your family."

"Thank you.."

"I bet you're hungry Emily, how does vegetable soup sound?"

"That sounds good."

Mom smiled and started up the fire.

Erik's POV

I wake up for breakfast after the maid had knocked on my door. I get myself out of bed sluggishly and go downstairs. I'm only in my PJ's but no one really cares.

Mom is already at the table. "Goodmorning Erik," she says softly.

"Goodmorning."

"Where's Ava?"

I shrugged, "she must be more tired than usual today."

My father came down sluggishly, obviously hungover. Nothing was said to him.

"Hans... have you seen Ava?" mom asks him.

He shrugs unconcernedly. Breakfast is served to us but my mom doesn't eat. "I'll go check on her," she says getting up and leaving the table.

I start to worry a little too, I barely eat my breakfast.

Mom runs downstairs with tears streaming down her face. She runs to the guards. "Ava is missing!" she exclaims urgently to them.

"Your Highness, we will send as many guards as possible out to find her."

Mom nods.

My father just rolls his eyes, "ran away again..." he mutters.

I go upstairs before I let anyone see me cry. Maybe next time... I'll go with her if I ever see her again. My room feels colder and emptier, I curl up on my bed and cry.

If my father walked in and saw me right now he'd tell me how weak and pathetic I am, maybe he's right...

I get up and wipe the tears from my face, I put on some warm clothes and grab a bag, I stuff it with all the supplies I think I might need. I'm ready to leave when the thought of my mother goes through my mind, if I leave too she'll be devastated. I write a note telling her that I'm looking for Ava and that I'll be fine cause I have everything I need. I leave the note on my bed hoping that will give her some peace, and with that, I'm off, to the mountains, where she knows there won't be many guards.

I come across ice harvesters at work. All of the men were big and burly. It wouldn't hurt to ask one of them if they'd seen her. I walk up to a tall man with black hair and dark eyes. He has an intimidating appearance but I'm not very shy. "Sir, have you seen a girl around here, my age?" I speak loudly enough for him to hear me, clearly asserting myself. "The only girl that works around here is Summer," he replies. Summer works here?

"No, a girl that doesn't harvest ice, have you seen a girl with red hair and green eyes around here?"

"No... oh, wait! there was a girl here this morning laying over by a rock, didn't really see her though, Kristoff did, go ask him."

I start getting more anxious.

"Who's Kristoff?"

"The blonde one over there." He points to another tall man with blonde shaggy hair and brown eyes. "Sir, the girl you saw this morning, did she look my age and have red hair and green eyes?" my voice is less steady now and more urgent.

He looks down at me, "Yes, do you know her?"

"She's my sister, is she okay?"

"She's fine, I brought her home and my wife and daughter are taking care of her right now, I'm guessing you wanna-"

"Yes."

He nods and hooks his reindeer to his sled. I get in with him and head towards his home.

Once there I quickly get out of the sled.

"Go ahead inside," Kristoff tells me.

I don't even think of thanking him at that moment, I get inside and look to my right, there's Ava sitting on a bed beside Summer. "Erik-"