Elsa and Tomas headed down a grand hallway decorated with ornate paintings and statues of past royals, talking up a storm the whole way. When they entered the dining room, smells of delicious spices and meats filled their nostrils. Anna and Kristoff were already situated next to each other, giggling and playing with each other's faces. John, Tomas's advisor, was sitting unhappily at the end of the table whilst occupying himself with a knife. When Tomas and Elsa walked a bit closer to take a seat, Anna looked up briefly and her face flickered in confusion.
"Oh, hey Elsa! Hey...Tomas…?" Her blue eyes glanced downwards to their linked hands. Elsa blushed and moved aside, tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear.
"I was just...we had to...never mind." She giggled, sitting across from her sister.
"Mhm...whatever you say, Elsa." Anna looked over to Tomas shuffling awkwardly, and smiled. "Come on, Prince Tomas. Come sit down!" He looked over at Elsa and then to John, before sitting down next to Elsa.
"Ehem," he cleared his throat and folded his hands, "Thank you again for providing for us today, your majesties."
"It's the least we can do, under the circumstances." Anna smiled and nodded, looking up excitedly at the chef entering with a tray full of silver platters. John sipped his drink and nodded as well.
"Thank you again. The crew and I have enjoyed our stay here thus far. Everyone is very accomodating, and the views here in your kingdom put a man at ease." He grinned as the table was quickly filled with a wide range of fruits, vegetables, meats, and sweets. Anna wasted no time and dove into stuffing her face full of goodies, and Tomas smirked slightly.
"So...all issues are finished with Prince Hans, I think? As long as he can't cause anymore problems here, he's all yours once you and your crew arrive home." Tomas nodded and sat up straighter in his chair, leaning past Elsa to grab some green beans.
"Yes; we can set out whenever you would like us to tomorrow, as soon as my crew is ready we will be out of here like the wind." Elsa stiffened and set down her forkfull of chicken, and looked up at her sister.
"Anna, may I speak with you when you're finished?"
"Hmm? Mhmm, shurrr." She mumbled with her mouth still full. She grabbed a napkin and wiped her face clean. The two women closed the door behind them, and Tomas slouched down in his chair nervously. Kristoff raised an eyebrow at him and grinned.
"So...you're Hans's brother?" His lips curled up in a forced smile.
"Yes, unfortunately…"
"I'm not too concerned about it, I mean, so long as I'm here, no one is going to hurt Anna. But the Queen? What are your intentions with her? I'd like to assume that you aren't working with Hans on anything…" Kristoff frowned.
"If I were to be working with him, I highly doubt I'd be sitting here," Tomas scoffed slightly. "I'm just as disgusted with him as the rest of you are. My entire family is. As for Queen Elsa, she was just showing me around today to try and make the best of a poor situation."
"I see." Kristoff nodded and leaned back in his chair, picking his teeth with a fork. Tomas sighed and began occupying himself by stabbing at the leftover food on his plate.
"What's up with you, Elsa? You're acting all goofy." Anna folded her arms, eyeing up her pacing sister curiously.
"I feel so fuzzy...and stupid…" Elsa blushed and spun around in circles, laughing slightly. "Prince Tomas is so unlike Hans…"
"Oh Elsa…" Anna pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long breath. "Don't take what I said earlier so seriously. I mean, I thought Hans was great at first too, and wasn't it you who said that it's foolish to fall for someone you just met?" Her blue eyes held a serious expression, and Elsa froze mid-twirl.
"I…" Her smile faded and she looked out the window. "You're absolutely right, Anna. Forgive me. H-have a good night." She briskly ran out of the hallway and took off down the stairs towards the back mountains.
"Elsa!" Anna chased after her until she reached the doors; eyes wide. "What am I supposed to tell them?!" She gripped the door frame, groaning. Another temper tantrum like before, and Arendelle is going to be frozen over again. Elsa continued running with her braid flying behind her. A giant wave of snow engulfed her, and she used it in propelling herself up the mountainside quicker. Anna dashed back inside to the dining room to where the men were sitting idly, but jolted up at Anna's dismayed expression.
"Krist...off…" Anna huffed, doubling over on her knees, "Elsa is having...a...another tantrum...or something...She's really upset...Can you take me...up there?" She glanced up with panic in her eyes. John stood up first, and shot a glance at Tomas with crossed arms.
"She...won't freeze you again, will she?" Kristoff gulped, his skin paleing.
"Nono, I think she's more upset at someone else…" Anna glared over at Tomas, who threw up his arms. "That being said, I think that Prince Tomas should be coming with. But, someone needs to stay here…" Anna looked down at her feet. "Kristoff, do you think that you could take him up there?" Kristoff shifted uneasily, and looked over at a panicking Tomas.
"What do you think, pipsqueak? You think you can make it? I am a master ice climber, after all," Kristoff boasted. Tomas stood up taller, frowning.
"You've got an inch on me, at best. I can handle the ice just fine."
"Fine, fine," Kristoff shrugged and adjusted his vest and stepped towards Anna; scooping her face up into his beastly hands. "Can you handle the castle until we get back?" He said softly, his eyes full of worry.
"Well, I'll have to do it eventually, right? I'd rather do it myself than force you to be in charge. Just keep an eye on this guy, and come back safe."
"Of course." Kristoff nuzzled her gently, and then turned to face Tomas. "Well? Let's go get the Queen. Again." He groaned.
"Ah, alright. But, why is she upset? What did I do wrong?" He glanced back at Anna, who rolled her eyes, as if the answer was written on her face. Kristoff slipped on his wool hat and shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't need anything this time, since her stairs are still there and I have a fabulous new sled," Kristoff grinned, and Anna beamed proudly. "So let's just get going." He kissed Anna's forehead once before walking out the door, and Tomas hurried after him.
"We should hurry before anyone notices she's missing," Tomas piped up quietly.
"Agreed. The kingdom is still on iffy terms with her." Kristoff broke into a run, and slipped his glove off briefly to whistle sharply into the cool night air. "Sven! Where's the sleigh?" A fluffy brown creature dashed towards the men, and bounded around Kristoff like a little puppy. He scooped Kristoff up onto his back and the pair dashed into a nearby stable barn. Tomas did his best to keep up with the reindeer, and had to leap into the sleigh as Sven broke into a run out of the town.